Hot Picks 03.24.24

Thursday, March 28

Bring a Cape

Your pooch may not sound like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Kevin Hart, but they can dress up like them… at least as the characters the celebrities voiced in the 2022 animated film DC League of Super-Pets. As part of the One Book, One Village project, organized by the Friends of Carmel Valley Library, four-legged family members and their human counterparts are invited to march in a parade and then settle down at the Carmel Valley Community Youth Center to watch the aforementioned film about super-powered pets saving their equally talented owners. Since January, the public has been invited to read Loving Edie: How a Dog Afraid of Everything Taught Me to Be Brave by local author Meredith May to prepare for a series of events in March. The story, available at the Carmel Valley branch of Monterey County Free Libraries, follows a fearful golden labrador puppy who grew up into a healthy adult dog. [EC]

4pm Thursday, March 28. Carmel Valley Community Youth Center, 25 Ford Road, Carmel Valley. Free, RSVP at focvl.org/one-book-one-village. info@focvl.org, focvl.org.

Friday, March 29

Dark Secret of the Sea

Ghost Fleet, a 2018 documentary, asks the question: Is your seafood caught by enslaved people? This event includes a movie screening, a discussion and a talk by Patima Tungpuchayakul, a co-founder of the Labour Protection Network. The subject is forced labor, one of the darkest secrets of the sea. There will be an opportunity to donate to the Fund to End Forced Labor. The global fishing industry is cast under a harsh light in this documentary, following Thai human-rights activists as she and her team seek to bring home workers essentially enslaved at sea. We normally think of slavery as something historical. But in the global fishing industry, it still takes place far away where no one can bear witness. Thailand has the fourth-largest seafood market in the world. Your frozen shrimp ring likely came from there. [AP]

6-8pm Friday, March 29. This is an in-person event, as well as virtual via Zoom. Irvine Auditorium at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, 499 Pierce St., Monterey; also virtually. Free. brownpapertickets.com/event/6252560.

Saturday, March 30

Hop On

Welcome to Bunnyland. Most days of the year, this place is known simply as Devendorf Park, but for Easter it transforms into an immersive experience with face painting, carnival games and lots of prizes, dancing, crafts and photo ops with the eponymous Easter Bunny. The organizers promise this is a different kind of family-friendly Easter gathering with fun for all: “This is not an Easter egg hunt,” they proclaim. But you can get your fill of eggs at a breakfast hosted by the Carmel Lions Club (the Easter Bunny will be there, naturally) featuring pancakes, sausage and a scramble. [SR]

8:30am-noon Saturday, March 30. Devendorf Park, Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street, Carmel. $10; breakfast is additional $12, $6/children ages 12 and younger, or $30/family of two adults and two children. 624-5636, e-clubhouse.org/sites/carmelhost.

Local Noise

The Fragonards are a singer-songwriter/indie-folk band from Monterey. The members are Gin Fragonard (vocals, ukulele, guitar and piano), Kito Rayburn (percussion), Jason Thompson (bass) and Alex Bezdjian (electric guitar). As inspiration, the band mentions Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple and The Head and The Heart. Fragonard’s diverse set of original songs have captured the ears of Central Coast listeners. Other musicians playing will be Alexandra the Author and Samantha Henson. [AP]

7pm Saturday, March 30. Paper Wing Theatre and Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row (second floor), Monterey. $15. 905-5684. paperwing.com.

Rabbit, Run

Rabbits are quick and agile. But there’s a lesson from the fairy tale canon that is important here. These speedy creatures can be beaten by an ambling tortoise. So there’s no excuse for opting out of the Rabbit Run, hosted by the King City Rotary Club. You don’t need to be fast. Hell, you don’t even need to run. And if the 5K distance over the rolling hills of the San Bernabe Vineyards bugs you, there’s a flat one-mile course. Again, no excuses. Have to tend to the child? Strollers are accepted. Dogs, too. Each runner/walker/ambler is awarded with a T-shirt and a participation ribbon – a step down from a trophy, but a nice gesture nonetheless. It’s not about winning, so nothing to get Updike about. The event raises funds for the Rotary Club’s scholarship program aiding King City High School students. There is a wine tasting after. While the Rabbit Run is for all ages, the wine tasting, however, is 21 and older. [DF]

10am Saturday, March 30. San Bernabe Vineyards, 53001 Oasis Road, King City. $15-$40. 257-2502, webscorer.com.

Last Chance

This is your last chance to visit the Arts Council for Monterey County’s ArtWorks @ Seaside, where for the past year four artists – Carly Ganley (painter), Shagufta Khan (painter), Michelle Robertson (digital photography) and Andrew Jackson (painter) – have kept their respective four studios, exchanging thoughts and artistic ideas in the common room. They met thanks to Arts4MC, which has been offering inexpensive studio spaces to local artists since 2017. Now, it’s time to move out and the quartet will be separated. Come see their works in Seaside while you still can. [AP]

11am-4pm Saturday, March 30. ArtWorks @ Seaside, 1123 Fremont Blvd., Suite C (entrance on Williams Avenue), Seaside. Free. 622-9060, arts4mc.org.

Planting the Future

Cesar Chavez was an American hero. When he looked around and saw the abysmal working conditions for farm workers in California, it sparked a career of activism and ultimately, the creation of the United Farm Workers labor union. The movement led to much improved working conditions for those in the fields, but also made him a polarizing figure – he spent 10 days in the county jail in Salinas for violating a court injunction, stemming from an action brought by Bud Antle to prevent farm workers from striking and leaving lettuce dying in the fields. To honor Chavez’s legacy on what would have been the eve of his 92nd birthday, Return of the Natives is hosting a park cleanup and planting day at Cesar Chavez Park in Salinas. It’s free, family friendly, and all tools, water and light snacks will be provided – just be sure to layer up and wear some sturdy shoes. The event isn’t exactly rain or shine – it will be postponed if it’s raining hard, and you can find out by calling the number below by 8:30am on the day of the event. A voicemail recording will let you know. [DS]

10am-1pm Saturday, March 30. Cesar Chavez Park, N. Hebbron Avenue (entrance north of East Market Street), Salinas. Free. 582-3686, csumb.edu/RON.

Sunday, March 31

Wet Safari

Early birds who enjoy boats, local fauna and photography can jump on Elkhorn Slough Safari’s boat and enjoy a spring specialty photo tour in Elkhorn Slough and feel the sea breeze and waves while on board. Participants will have the opportunity to see and photograph local flora and fauna. The Elkhorn Slough is an important coastal wetland in California where the sea and the land meet, creating a unique habitat for plants and animals including sea otters, shorebirds, harbor seals and more. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to participate for a chance to get a Nat Geo-worthy shot. This event recurs, with the next photo boat tour taking place Sunday, April 14. [CJ]

6:45-9am Sunday, March 31. Elkhorn Slough Safari, 7881 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing. $53. 633-5555, elkhornslough.com.

Wednesday, April 3

Jazz Study

Monterey Jazz Festival’s Trading Fours is back. Trading Fours is a jazz ensemble class for intermediate to advanced-level adult musicians. Led by jazz pianist Bill Spencer, the group will meet on select Wednesdays from 7-9pm through October, and will deliver a live performance as its final project. The class must meet minimum enrollment of six students on keyboard, bass, drums, guitar, horns and strings. [AP]

7-9pm select Wednesdays April 3-Nov. 13. 171 Webster St., Monterey. $175/month. 373-3366, montereyjazzfestival.org.

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