Quick Bites: Butterflies, sardine cakes and a surprise Carmel restaurant closure.

This would be my kind of birthday cake(s).

We're talking sardine cakes (Paluca Trattoria), Golden State golden fried crab cakes (Abalonetti Bar and Grill), First City wild salmon cakes (Big Fish Grill), seafood cakes with lobster, crab and shrimp (Crab Louie's Bistro), Liberty crab and shrimp combo cakes (Liberty Fish) and, yes, classic crab cakes (Old Fisherman’s Grotto), all around $12-$15.

It's a nice reminder of how many strong spots set up on the wharf, despite being overlooked by tourist-dreading locals. In fact, many of the very best locals deals happen there. (Abalonetti has my favorite; definitely inquire after it next visit.)

And it's a way to celebrate the pier's 170th birthday, amid Monterey's History Fest, 11am-5pm Sunday, Oct. 4.

It's also one of a number of foodie-friendly ways to eat and drink through the weekend, including the Aquarium's Cooking for Solutions spinoff Make It Sustainable, Monterey Bay Oktoberfest and Taste of Carmel.

More on those and other news nibbles below:  

• OK, it's not so much food-focused as fitness, but the Monterey Beach Sportsfest at Del Monte Beach from early in the morning until early afternoon Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, is a beautiful thing, with volleyball, open-water swims, stand-up paddleboard races, sandcastle building competition (judged on Sunday at 1:30pm), ocean conservation information and active opportunities everywhere.

• Pacific's Edge has some new dishes from Exec Chef Chad Minton like a robust rib chop, lamb loin and zucchini carpaccio.

• Bummer: One of my favorite spots for breakfast, and home of the best bacon waffle these taste buds have touched, Em Le, has closed after an expired lease and renewal beef with the landlords.

• Monarchs are coming back to the hood. P.G. Museum of Natural History will be staffing the sanctuary starting this weekend.

• Hahn Winery will be the latest to join the Carmel tasting room menagerie with a spot in Carmel Plaza to complement the River Road tasting space.

• Taste of Carmel pulls in 20+ restaurants and as many wineries and breweries Thursday, Oct. 1, and also throws a big Cantinetta Luca-Caraccioli dinner at the city's event center as part of expanding activities all week.

• Make It Sustainable Weekend happens this Saturday and Sunday at Monterey Bay Aquarium, with celeb chefs, demos, tastings and a big Oct. 3 party.

• Oktoberfest happens at the Fairgrounds this weekend with plenty of oompa and steins and lederhosen.

• Barmel (626-3400) next to Mundaka, with its underestimated food and top-dog dancefloor, can now stay open until 2am. Yee haw.

• Folllow @MontereyMCA on Twitter.

• Carmel Valley Ranch is hosting a celebration of the resort’s grape harvest from its very own four-acre pinot noir vineyard with a special Harvest Weekend, October 9-11, 2015. More at the CVR website. 

• The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association announced distributions totaling $250,000 to 138 different charities and non-profit organizations this year, for nearly $11 million over the life of the festival.