Thursday, April 30
Sexy Time
When you think “sex ed,” you might think of pubescent kids sitting uncomfortably in a health classroom. But seriously, we’re wondering: Why does sex ed largely stop after that awkward phase? It doesn’t have to, and Dr. Kyle Hartman, a physical therapist and sex counselor at Monterey Pelvic Health, is invested in keeping the education going. She hosts drop-in sex education chats at Pearl Hour, inviting anyone to listen (no sharing required) and learn, cozied up at the fire pit. One thing you will not do is practice pelvic thrusts; the focus of this workshop is communication. Learn about why many people struggle to ask for what they want, and how to give feedback in a way that feels natural and empowering. [SR]
7pm Thursday, April 30. Pearl Hour, 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. Free; ages 21+ only. (831) 264-7286, montereypelvichealth.com.
Dolce Valley
Monterey County can make people feel like they’ve accidentally stumbled into Italy, thanks to that lovely Mediterranean climate. And Monterey County also has some serious Italian street cred, all the way back to Sicilian fishermen and their families. A little slice of la dolce vita comes to Carmel Valley in the form of an evening concert titled “Serenata Italiana: An Evening in the Barrel Room” with musicians including Mike Marotta, Dave Marzetti, Erasmo “Orazio” Aiello, Dave Dally and the Monterey String Quartet. They’ll be playing opera, sad Neapolitan songs, some classy Rat Pack and more. Expect a night that’s warm, nostalgic and stuffed with enduring tradition (and a glass of California – not Italian – wine). [AP]
7pm Thursday, April 30. Folktale Winery, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $44-$56. (831) 293-7500, folktalewinery.com.
Play On
Michelle Djokic is the force behind curating live music at the SandBox, but she is also a musician herself. For this appearance, Djokic pairs up with Romanian pianist Alina Bercu for a night of cello/piano duets, playing varied works by Arvo Pärt, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Lucas Foss and more. The performance is also about more than the notes on the page – it is about the community of musicians (and listeners) who come together to create, and to support each other. Djokic and violinist Edwin Huizinga created a sold-out series of outdoor porch shows during the Covid-19 pandemic, birthing the Manzanita Music Collective. Huizinga is undergoing cancer treatment, and this evening is a benefit to help him while he cannot work. [SR]
7pm Thursday, April 30. The SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $40/suggested. sandboxsandcity.com.
Thursday, April 30-Sunday, May 3
Once Upon
The theater team at Monterey High School performs a remix of fairy tale tropes under the open sky with Once Upon a Mattress. In this unique spin on The Princess and the Pea, the princess Winnifred the Woebegone must pass the seemingly impossible tests of Queen Aggravin in an attempt to win the hand of Prince Dauntless, who must be married before anyone else in the kingdom can tie the knot, by decree of the queen. This whimsical play is sure to take on a magical air as the sun sets on the amphitheater. [AS]
7pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 4:30pm Sundays, April 30-May 10, Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. $28; $13/students. (831) 622-0700, pacrep.org.
Friday, May 1
Reading Score
Sports fans attend college football, basketball or other games, perhaps in the hope of seeing future stars in action. But what about those who appreciate literature? Where can they catch the next Suzanne Collins or Nicholas Sparks? Well, students of CSU Monterey Bay’s creative writing and social action courses host a public reading of original work that has been honed under the tutelage of author Ava Homa, a lecturer in the humanities and communication department. It’s an opportunity to get a glimpse of emerging literary talent. Many students will be reading their own work for the first time. [DF]
Noon-2pm Friday, May 1. Room 118 Heron Hall (building 18), CSU Monterey Bay, 4th Avenue and Inter-Garrison Road, Seaside. Free. lschiro@csumb.edu.
Art for All
May 1 is May Day, which also happens to be Friday, which means it’s First Friday – and that means it’s time for makers and musicians and everyone creative to gather in Salinas and celebrate the arts. Among other offerings, Artists Ink is back with its Craft & Cultura Market, featuring a couple dozen local artists and crafters showing off their work. (Consider purchasing something to support the arts in a material way, although the act of simply showing up matters too.) Look for live art demonstrations, pop into galleries on Main Street to meet the makers, and listen to live music. This is about uplifting artists, but also creating community and that means you. Come and soak up the spirit of the community. [SR]
5-8pm Friday, May 1. ArtWorks@Salinas, 262 Main St., Salinas (and surrounding area). Free. (831) 622-9060, arts4mc.org.
War Stories
What caused the American Civil War? That one’s easy – and no, it was not states’ rights, look up Mississippi’s articles of secession. But there is still a lot to learn. So for the third year, Woodbury Historical Tours is bringing 12 historians to Monterey for “Seldom Heard History of the Civil War Era.” The presentations range from the odyssey of a wealthy gentleman from Central Africa who ended up as a sergeant in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, the challenges met during the pivotal summer of 1864, escaped POWs, Grant through Sherman’s eyes and more – an entire weekend of Civil War scholarship, including a book sale and signings, which starts with a 5:30pm reception on Friday. [DF]
6:30-8:30pm Friday, May 1; 9am-4:30pm Saturday, May 2; 9am-3:30pm Sunday, May 3. Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $295. whtours.org.
Saturday, May 2
Salnas Time
“Salinas” is Spanish for “salt marshes,” a nod to the wetlands that once covered the valley before it became America’s Salad Bowl. It’s John Steinbeck’s hometown, host of one of the country’s biggest pro rodeos since 1911, and now the star of the second annual Salinas Day to celebrate that diverse heritage (and also the present). Expect music, history, hands-on activities and community resources for the whole family. Come celebrate the city that feeds the nation – and that knows how to throw a party. [AP]
9am-2pm Saturday, May 2. 1 Station Place, Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7201, salinas.gov/Events/Salinas-Day-2026.
On the Circuit
Seaside is a city of parks – 25 in fact – that range from small to large and are equally varied in the amenities they offer, from volleyball courts to playgrounds to barbecues. They all are hubs of native plants, trees and pollinators, and many are stewarded by the green-thumbed volunteers of Friends of Seaside Parks. It’s always a good time to go outside and explore these parks, especially during the Park Circuit Challenge. Stop by four parks – Beta, Capra, Durant and Farallones – and take part in family-friendly activities for a chance to win prizes. [EC]
11am-1pm Saturday, May 2. Durant Park, corner of Wanda Avenue between Vallejo and Darwin streets. Free. friendsofseasideparks.org.
Side by Side
Supporting mental health does not have to be a chore – it can be a joyful community activity. NAMI Monterey County hosts its very first NAMIWalks event, a one-mile and 5K walk where neighbors, friends and families can come together to spread mental health awareness. There’s no pressure to fundraise, but those who raise $100 or more earn a well-deserved T-shirt. Every dollar raised helps NAMI continue offering free, confidential services right here in the community. NAMI – the National Alliance on Mental Illness – was born in 1979 out of a mother’s love and determination, and has grown into the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S. NAMI Monterey County has been a beacon of hope since 1984. [AP]
2pm Saturday, May 2. Toro Park, 501 Highway 68, Salinas. Free; registration required; donations optional. (831) 422-6264, namiwalks.org/montereycounty.
Twang Twinning
With Molly Tuttle and Ketch Secor – frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show – coming to town, there’s a twang in the air. Boots, relaxed-fit jeans and flower dresses are the vibe around them because their music makes you want to stomp and listen. This show promises an intimate evening with this duo, so we may see another side of Tuttle and Secor as they perform their hits and works from Tuttle’s latest album. A night of well-rosined bows and fast-picking strings with a signature Americana twang awaits. [SC]
8pm Saturday, May 2. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $45-$220. (831) 649-1070, mollytuttlemusic.com.
Saturday, May 2-Sunday, May 3
Olden Days Rule
Pacific Grove has seen a lot of change in the past few years, but one thing that always remains is the fun that happens at Good Old Days. The street festival is back for its 67th go-around with the same street festival feel, music and carnival rides. The fire department will be busy that day too – not because of emergencies (we hope) but putting on the Kids Firefighter Challenge. Hungry attendees can join the Kiwanis Club for a pancake breakfast and stick around for a parade by the P.G. Rotary Club. [SC]
9am-6pm Saturday, May 2; 9am-5pm Sunday, May 3. Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 373-3304, tinyurl.com/GoodOlddDays.
Sunday, May 3
Hawk Eyes
Poet Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House and Hawk Tower are iconic landmarks of not just Carmel, but the state. Tours of the property are offered year-round, but those are extra special when the Tor House Foundation throws its annual Garden Party. Stroll through the gardens while enjoying live music, including a bagpiper at the top of Hawk Tower, and check out yarn being spun on a wheel brought here from Ireland in 1847. It’s also the only time of the year where you’re allowed to take photos, so get your camera ready. [EC]
2-5pm Sunday, May 3. Tor House, 26304 Ocean View Ave., Carmel. $30/general, $15/students. (831) 624-1813, torhouse.org.
Wednesday, May 6
Jazz Age
In honor of the late longtime board member Jackie Craghead, and to raise funds to sustain the productions and educational programs, Pacific Repertory Theatre artists create a 1920s-style speakeasy inside the Golden Bough Playhouse for its “Prohibition at the Playhouse, a Great Gatsby-inspired Speakeasy Soirée.” The immersive event features vintage cocktails, small bites and live entertainment, and takes place in multiple areas at the Golden Bough, including the Virginia Stanton Lobby, which you’ll need a password to enter. Guests are encouraged to dress in their finest 1920s-style attire with a prize for the best Gatsby-inspired getup. [AS]
6pm Wednesday, May 6. Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $185. (831) 622-0700, pacrep.org.
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