Hot Picks 02.29.24

Friday, March 1 – Saturday, March 2

Good Show

As Weekly readers know (because we wrote about it – shameless plug), Pacific Grove native Daniel Troia rode his bicycle cross country, starting with no food and no money, and learned something about the basic goodness of so many people. That’s nice to hear in a world where some froth about mass deportations and spew racist rhetoric. Troia also made a documentary along the way, and each time he shows the film, it’s for a good cause. This time he brings We Are All in This Together back to Lighthouse Cinema for two nights, and 100 percent of ticket sales benefit the Salinas homeless shelter Dorothy’s Place. There’s a Q&A session with the filmmaker and long rider after. But be careful if you’re a hater. Speaking to Troia could make you a better person. [DF]

7pm Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Lighthouse Cinema and Event Center, 525 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $15. 641-0747, lighthousecinema4events.com.

Roll the Dice

It’s the matchup no one knew they wanted to see: Shakespeare’s iconic characters facing off against the terrifying monsters from Dungeons & Dragons. Paper Wing Theatre and Supper Club is bringing its version of classical tales versus modern RPGs, where perhaps Hamlet will slay a Lich to become a king. Or will Juliet be fooled by a mimic disguising itself as Romeo? It’ll all be determined by the roll of a dice and the choices of the audience. [EC]

7pm Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row, Suite I, Monterey. $15. 905-5684, paperwing.com.

Friday, March 1 – Sunday, March 3

History of War

Civil War history buffs, here’s something for you. Immerse yourself in the “1864 to War’s End” conference, a three-day Monterey exploration of the pivotal year in the American Civil War. The speakers include prominent historians of the subject, such as Gary Gallagher, Harold Holzer, Gordon Rhea, Craig Symonds and Joan Waugh. Their presentations will provide analyses and perspectives on the crucial events of 1864, shedding light on the war’s unfolding dynamics and unraveling the complexities and consequences of the Civil War during this transformative period. [AP]

9am-4pm Friday, March 1 to Sunday, March 3. Monterey History & Art at Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $285 for three days. 372-2608, whtours.org.

Saturday, March 2-Sunday, March 3

Marvelous Nights

Just how is it possible that Van Morrison has only two Grammys? Two! This is Van the Man, after all – Rock Hall of Fame, 18 top 40 albums in the U.S., top 10 albums in the UK over four straight decades, some of the most influential music of all time. He’s been on the charts since even before “Brown Eyed Girl” was released in 1967. “Moondance” came out a couple years later, but did he rest on his laurels? No way. He’s still going strong. His two most recent albums made the UK top 40. Hell, he was even knighted in 2016. So only two Grammys? That’s rich. Oh, well – Morrison’s live performances remain things of rock legend, and his local fans (and who isn’t one?) can experience this over two nights… although tickets are selling fast. [DF]

8pm Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $399-$599. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

Sunday, March 3

Local History

Monterey is a small city with a rich history. Once upon a time it was the capital of California. It has a plethora of historical buildings, including San Carlos Cathedral, the Custom House (the oldest public building in the state) and Casa Serrano, home to the first school in California. The city is a perfect destination for those interested in the stories old buildings can tell about local characters and history. Local art expert, Terry Trotter, will submerge attendees in Casa Serrano’s history and take them back in time. Trotter shares stories and information on its historical significance to the area. The Monterey History and Art Association sponsors this event, focused on one of many historic local gems. [CJ]

2-4pm Sunday, March 3. Casa Serrano, 412 Pacific St., Monterey. Free/MHAA members; $10/non-members. MHAA.org1931@gmail.com, montereyhistory.org.

Car and Bikini Show

Streetlow Magazine is not only the center of the time-honored lowriding tradition. Streetlow, launched in 2000, is also an organizer of annual car show tours all over the world. Come to the 22nd Annual Lowrider Car Show (and concert) and see some of the “badass” lowrider cars, trucks and bicycles. They even have something for children just in case they get tired of walking around and want to try a bounce house. “It’s a part of the Latino and African-American culture,” says Anthony Faulkner, a Seaside fan, who will attend the event. Faulkner himself is building a lowrider, not his first one, a bicycle that he calls Redbandit. After he’s done with it, Faulkner intends to join a bike club called Blvd Kings. “It’s amazing,” Faulkner adds about the car show. “It’s the first show of the year and there are models in bikinis who pose in front of cars. It’s very cool.” [AP]

Noon-6pm Sunday, March 3. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. $25 in advance; the price goes up at the door; free/ children 8 and under. 775-3100, tinyurl.com/bdefz8yt.

Tuesday, March 5

Honey Pot

Mexico has the highest rate of death from sugary drinks of any country in the world. In places where mothers worried about giving their children polluted water, cola proved a ready and welcome substitute. Habitual addictions to the beverages took hold, and diabetes rates in the country spiked. The documentary El Susto – Spanish for “the alarm” – attacks that issue head on, identifying both the perpetrators and those who are trying to change it. Nonprofit Blue Zones Project Monterey County is screening the film (in Spanish with English subtitles) for free in Seaside, a city where about 45 percent of the residents are Latino, and in a county where about 61 percent of them are. And anyone who pops into a convenience store from time to time would know it’s usually the sugary drinks people are bringing to the register, along with sugary or salty snacks, all highly processed and themselves part of the diabetes epidemic. The free screening is a chance for residents to empower themselves with information, and hopefully inspire a healthier community. [DS]

5:30pm Tuesday, March 5. Dual Language Academy, 1650 Sonoma Ave., Seaside. Free. bit.ly/ElSustoBZPMC.

Wednesday, March 6

Getting Warmer

In her book California Against the Sea, Los Angeles Times reporter Rosanna Xia wrote, “It can take tens of thousands of years to cycle through a geological epoch, just a couple of hundred for industrialization to make a mess of the planet, and only a decade or two to delude people into making decisions based on flawed time frames – whether it’s a 30-year mortgage or a political term that resets every four years.” Have you ever read anything so concise that sets up the climate change crisis so well? Didn’t think so. But it’s why Middlebury Institute of International Studies could give Xia just one hour to explain the whole mess, and how news outlets are covering the issue, in a talk open to the public. She can pack a lot of story in a small space. Registration requested, but not required. Reception and book signing to follow. [DF]

6:30-7:30pm Wednesday, March 6. Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free. 647-4183, middlebury.edu.

HOT PICKS by Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz.