Friday, Feb. 16
Wild Things
If you’ve been missing the self-proclaimed “unique, quirky, vibrant group of misfit dancers” – and who wouldn’t, given the description? – there is some good news. After a slight pause (remember Covid?) Freestyle Dance Jam is back and anyone who wants to get down (some of us a from the ’70s). Providing the sounds will be DJ Junai Fantastic. Providing the moves will be anyone who shows up at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove on Friday night. As you know, Saturday night’s alright for fighting, but Friday – put on your boogie shoes… or the current day equivalent. Evolution Transformative Arts is organizing the first of what they hope will be a return to a regular schedule. [DF]
8-9:30pm Friday, Feb. 16. Chautaqua Hall, 16th Street at Central Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free, donations accepted.
Canned Heat
Live music on Cannery Row. The thought isn’t so farfetched, as venues like Salty Seal have been hosting acts for some time. When Paper Wing Theatre brings live music to the stage, however, it’s in the form of Seth Anderson and Kito Rayburn. The latter you probably know – he plays with a number of local bands and has a podcast devoted to area musicians. Anderson is someone you should know. He’s a powerful singer-songwriter with an emphasis on both, pounding out rock, punk and folk-influenced songs with a powerful conviction to his lyrics, inspired by the truths he finds in events, in people, through his travels – in life, essentially. He’s one of those artists who is both emerging and already there. Now that’s how you do live music. [DF]
8pm Friday, Feb. 16. Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row, Suite I, Monterey. $15. 905-5684, paperwing.com.
The Patchoulis
Compact Disco hosts an unforgettable evening with the internationally acclaimed The Patchouli Brothers, known the world over for their love of the esoteric side of disco and house – plus, naturally, DJ Kenny Summit, who conceived of this small downtown dance club. The Patchouli Brothers play raw and eclectic disco, house, jazz-funk, soul and world sounds. They first began throwing parties in an Albanian dive bar in Toronto’s east end, but have gone on to grace the stage at a spectrum of the city’s establishments, and have played parties from California to Amsterdam. [AP]
8pm Friday, Feb. 16. Compact Disco, 420 Tyler St., Monterey. $10/in advance at ra.co; $20/at the door. Ages 21+. 920-2518, compactdisco.org
Friday, Feb. 16-Monday, Feb. 19
Jurassic Time
When the organizers sent us photos of this event, our editorial team at first thought the plotline of Jurassic Park was really happening. It turns out this is just a lifelike (but totally safe, and totally not alive) dinosaur experience. Realistic-looking dinosaurs – and real fossils – invite people of all ages to explore science in a fun and engaging way. There’s a “triceratots” play area for little ones, kids can race in “raptor runs” and adults might dig up a new fact or two about these amazing animals that once roamed the Earth. All are welcome to join in a fossil dig and dinosaur-themed rides in this immersive experience. The Jurassic Quest stops for one weekend only in Monterey before it packs up and continues on its tour. [SR]
Noon-8pm Friday, Feb. 16; 9am-8pm Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 17-18; 9am-4pm Monday, Feb. 19. Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $22/general admission; $36/kids with unlimited activities; $19/seniors; free/children under 2; $5 off for entry after 4pm. customerservice@jurassicquest.com, jurassicquest.com.
Saturday, Feb. 17
Coming Alive
The Dead Cassettes, a Salinas-based indie rock band, is starting to find its sea legs: After a number of shows over the past few years at places like Folktale Winery in Carmel Valley to the West End Festival in Sand City, the band is finally ready to announce itself to the world with a debut album show at Paper Wing Theatre in Monterey. Their melodic rock, while it charges hard, shows the range and depth of artists tapped into the mainframe of their emotional spectrum – they’re good, and probably getting better with every practice, and it sounds like they know it. This show is a chance to catch them on the upswing, a rare opportunity for music fans in the 831. [DS]
7:30pm (doors 6:30pm) Saturday, Feb. 17. Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row, Suite I, Monterey. $20/at the door. 905-5684, paperwing.com.
Saturday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 18
Romancing the Vine
Valentine’s Day in the middle of a work week presents challenges to a proper celebration, so extend the love to the weekend and celebrate in style with an all-new Valentine’s Passport experience on the Monterey Wine Trail. Each passport gives you tasting experiences at three of Monterey County’s finest vineyards – six if you buy a two-day pass – plus a curated charcuterie box for your journey and a souvenir wine glass. Eight wineries are participating, including Rustique Wines, Wrath Wines and Scheid Family Wines, to name a few. Indulge in the finest wines our region has to offer and create an unforgettable Valentine’s experience with someone special. [PM]
11:30am-4pm Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Salinas Valley, various locations. $110/two-day passport, per person; $65/single day; $45/two-day designated driver; $25/single-day designated driver. 915-6621, kim@montereywines.org, montereywines.org/events.
Sound of Place
Monterey Symphony presents “Palo Corona,” concerts featuring works by Beethoven, Weber, Jennifer Higdon and a “trailblazing pianist Lara Downes in the world premiere of ‘The Great Migration,’ a new piano concerto by Monterey Symphony Composer-in-Residence John Wineglass,” says Jayce Ogren, the Monterey Symphony’s music director. Both concerts include pre-concert lectures in the main concert hall. Lectures are 30 minutes and are held 6:30pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. On Sunday, all concert attendees are welcome to stay for a post-concert Talk Back and a glass of wine with Ogren and Wineglass in the lobby. It’s Monterey Symphony 77th season. [AP]
7:30pm Saturday, Feb. 17 and 3pm Sunday, Feb. 18. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $45-$88. 646-8511. montereysymphony.org.
Wednesday, Feb 21
Black Boys
The second Monterey County Black History Month Film Festival shows nationally acclaimed films with interviews and discussions with the filmmakers – all about the Black experience in the U.S. Black Boys (2020) is a film by Sonia Lowman that shows the consequences of being perceived by a whole society as a threat as a young Black man. It is the fourth of all five events (the last takes place Wednesday, Feb. 28). The festival is organized by Black Leaders and Allies Collaborative (BLAAC) and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. This is its second installation, after a debut in 2023, to bring hard conversations to the local screen and to our community. [AP]
6:30pm Wednesday, Feb 21. Irvine Auditorium, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, McCone Building, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. $10-$100; donate what you can. Free parking. 337-8995, blaac.org/events.
Slippery Slopes
Travel through volcanic craters, desert peaks and other spectacular natural phenomena across the globe without ever leaving your chair. Sunset Cultural Center screens the film All.I.Can, directed by Eric Crosland, Dave Mossop and JP Auclair. The action sports documentary, which the directors say was shot on six continents over two years, is meant to highlight the challenges big mountain skiers face during the climate crisis. All.I.Can received a slew of awards following its 2011 release, including Movie of the Year by Powder Video Awards and Best Film of the Year from the Adventure Film Festival. [EC]
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