The Walk of Remembrance combines multiple activities. You can learn about the Chinese history of Monterey County in a variety of events, and join a one-mile walk, with many colors and sounds to focus on.
Thursday, May 8
Word and Sound
Southern California songwriter Blake Flattley and Nashville poet Tanner Olson work together, combining their crafts for the better good. And that includes creating a space for relaxation, rest and maybe even a bit of creativity for listeners during their performances. One such show takes place in Seaside. Olson’s poetry is not what you remember from school, the organizers promise – it’s more of a storytelling. The artists declare honesty, not escaping from hard subjects, while striving to preserve hope for the future. Ready to get inspired? [AP]
7pm Thursday, May 8. Faith Lutheran Church, 1460 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. 394-1312, writtentospeak.com/music-and-words.
Friday, May 9
Disenchanted
Glass slippers. Prince Charming. Poisoned apples. Who needs ’em? A princess posse unlike one you’ve ever seen before is coming to the Sunset Center this Mother’s Day, for a musical that’s wildly different from your kids’ fairy tale – so leave the little ones at home. This comedic spin on Disney classics hilariously unravels the myths surrounding iconic princesses who are fed up with how their stories have been told. Your favorite storybook heroines – from Cinderella to Snow White to Sleeping Beauty – take the stage to set the record straight. The critically acclaimed musical has toured in various interpretations nationwide, with these royal renegades reclaiming their narratives. Forget happily ever after. Get Disenchanted. [KR]
7:30pm Friday, May 9. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $40-$70. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Friday, May 9-Saturday, May 10
Imagine Dragons
Say you’re the innkeeper of the Dancing Dragon Inn, struggling to keep your business afloat and you strike upon an ingenious idea: What if there’s a horrible dragon terrorizing the land? If the story gets out, surely brave souls will come to confront the dragon – and of course they’ll need a place to stay. That’s the premise of Imagine a Dragon, an enchanting children’s musical featuring catchy tunes and endearing characters, including courageous princesses and heroes out to protect their fame. Is the dragon real or imaginary? What will happen when it’s time for a showdown? [PM]
7pm Friday, May 9; 2pm and 7pm Saturday, May 10. Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 S. Main St., Salinas. $11.50-$13.50. 775-0976, arieltheatrical.org.
Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11
Past, Present, Future
In 1851, Cantonese fishermen took a dangerous voyage across the Pacific Ocean all the way to California. They shipwrecked at what is now Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and built a life there. In 1859, a baby girl named Quock Mui was born – the first documented Chinese American born in the Monterey Bay area. It is fitting that her great-granddaughter, Gerry Low-Sabado, committed much of her life to restoring the suppressed stories of her ancestors, including attention to the mysterious 1906 fire that destroyed an established Chinese fishing village at Point Alones in Pacific Grove. Low-Sabado died in 2021, and part of her legacy is the Walk of Remembrance, bringing attention to the narrative of this immigrant community that helped shape Monterey County’s culture and economy. This year features a series of events, kicking off with a panel discussion on May 9 titled “Immigrant Voices,” as relevant now as ever. The walk itself begins at 1pm and ends a mile away at Hopkins Marine Station. [SR]
Panel discussion: 6:15pm Friday, May 9 at Monterey Bay Aquarium; Various presentations 10am-3pm (walk at 1pm) Saturday, May 10 at Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and surrounding locations; Guided tours: 10am-noon Sunday, May 11 at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Free; RSVP encouraged. 648-5716, pgmuseum.org.
Unsinkable Feeling
Others survived the sinking of the Titanic. But Molly Brown helped rescue passengers, rowed the lifeboat and even threatened to toss the crewman in charge off the lifeboat after he repeatedly refused to go back to find more survivors. After that, she organized assistance for second- and third-class survivors. Later she ran for the Senate, helped the poor, served in the Red Cross, fought for women’s rights – her causes and philanthropic list is so long that her children feared she was wasting their inheritance on lowly sorts. If her life doesn’t deserve a musical, then no one does. Seaside High School isn’t presenting the rollicking 1960 version of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. This is the revised musical, with more historic accuracy. Learning, after all, can be fun. [DF]
7:30pm Friday-Saturday, May 9-10; 2pm Sunday, May 11; also 7:30pm Thursday-Friday, May 15-16, 2pm Sunday, May 18. Seaside High School, Blackbox Theater, 2200 Noche Buena St., Seaside. $5-$15; free/mothers on Mother’s Day; no one turned away for inability to pay. 392-3530, shs.mpusd.net.
Saturday, May 10
Space Race
Every spring the Big Sur Land Trust organizes Race for Open Space. The event is open to all ages and can be as short as one mile (Palo Corona to Southbank Trail) or as long as over 35K (the Lunch Bench Lollipop route). The choice is yours.
It is said that experience is the best teacher, and there’s no better way to learn about the work of the Big Sur Land Trust than by witnessing the land it is working to conserve. The Race for Open Space takes runners and walkers through the trails on and around Palo Corona Regional Park. Participants can choose runs that vary from 5K up to 35K as they traverse the backcountry that is typically closed to the public. The 10,000-acre park is considered the largest land conservation project in Monterey County’s history, and events such as the Race for Open Space help the Big Sur Land Trust in its mission to save more land from development in the future. [EC]
Check-in begins at 7am Saturday, May 10. Palo Corona Regional Park, 4860 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $25/one-mile fun run; $125/35K. 625-5523, bigsurlandtrust.org/event/race-for-open-space-may-10.
Quack Attack
History doesn’t agree on the location of the first rubber duck race that took place circa 1980. Check out the one in Arroyo Seco; it comes with a good cause.
Thousands of ducks will battle it out along the Arroyo Seco River to see who’s the fastest. That’s a lot of quacking, but there’s no earplugs being handed out at the Arroyo Seco Duck Race. That’s because these ducks are made of rubber. The annual event benefits the Arroyo Seco Citizen’s Association, Monterey Kiwanis, Marina Kiwanis, the Kiwanis Literacy Club Foundation and the Salinas Kiwanis Literacy Club Foundation. Up to an hour before the event, the public can “adopt” a duck (or six, or 13, etc.) by making a donation. On race day, these ducks, with tag numbers signifying who adopted them, will be dumped into the river by a front loader, and whichever duck rides the current the fastest will be crowned the winner – with cash prizes for their corresponding humans. [EC]
9am-3pm Saturday, May 10. Coelho Ranch, 47201 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield. $5/minimum donation. 731-0259, duckrace.com/arroyoseco.
Mother Earth
This Mother’s Day weekend, considering celebrating with Mother Earth at the annual MEarth Day event benefiting this nonprofit, located adjacent to Carmel Middle School. Tour the beautifully blooming garden, taste its bounty, purchase some produce or some native plants for your own garden, and get creative in the eco-art zone. Our planet deserves her own party. [SR]
10am-4pm Saturday, May 10. Hilton Bialek Habitat, 4380 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free entry. 624-1032, mearthcarmel.org.
May on Ice
Monterey Skates is a 2024 initiative by local roller-skating aficionados who have long been pushing for a local family entertainment center for skating sessions (see story, p. 12). The opening event is a special session for those who already have skates (soon Monterey Skates will offer rental skates in all sizes); the organizers bring the lights, the sound and set up a snack bar. The music will remain family-friendly until 7pm, when it’s time for children to go home and adults to have some fun. [AP]
4-9pm Saturday, May 10. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $10. 855-2758, info@montereyskates.com, montereyskates.com.
Bay Be Blue
Brad “Guitar” Wilson’s moniker follows in the well-worn tradition of artists being nicknamed after their instruments – Bill “Quill” Shakespeare, “Mallet Mike” Michelangelo and Zamfir “Master of the Pan Flute,” to name a few. Wilson, a gifted frontman and entertainer, brings his old-school, feel-good rock-and-roll to Carmel, and will be joined by Red Beans and Rice – a staple on the local music scene for three decades. It’s Blues by the Bay in Carmel-by-the-Sea. [DS]
7:30pm Saturday, May 10. Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde Street between 8th and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $30-$50. pacrep.org/blues-by-the-bay.
Sunday, May 11
Sunday Funday
San Francisco comedians are coming back to Folktale Winery & Vineyards. For the Mother’s Day show, comedian Kira Soltanovich will tell you about the funny side of motherhood.
Being a mom takes responsibility. Take it from stand-up comic Kira Soltanovich, who offers searing commentary about the demands of parenthood – there’s always an ass to wipe. How do you respond when your husband gives you a scale for your birthday? Soltanovich has some ideas she may share when she headlines the Mother’s Day Edition of the Best of San Francisco Comedy Competition in Folktale’s wine garden. So after the brunch and flowers formality, you can get down to some actual fun. Oh, and if your husband gives you a scale for your birthday because he believes women are obsessed with their weight? Soltanovich suggests you give him a ruler for his. [DF]
4pm Sunday, May 11. Folktale Winery & Vineyards, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $30-$50. 293-7625, folktalewinery.com.
Wednesday, May 14
Spaghetti Western
Clint Eastwood’s first leading role was in the low-budget 1964 film A Fistful of Dollars, filmed in Spain by Italian director Sergio Leone. Eastwood was paid $15,000 for his performance, just under $155,000 in today’s money. Fast forward to the present, when the Pacific Repertory Theatre is cashing in on the former Carmel mayor’s humble acting beginnings with a Western-themed fundraiser, named after Eastwood’s movie. The event includes cocktails, a barbecue dinner, music and a live auction for high-ticket trips, dinners and a PacRep VIP ticket package, plus other goods. The evening is capped off with a screening of the movie itself. [PM]
6pm Wednesday, May 14. Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita Street and Mountain View Avenue, Carmel. $150. 622-0100, pacrep.org.
Pluck and Strum
Caltucky’s bluegrass style was forged in the jam-band scene of the Sierra foothills. The quartet is bringing their craft to the Wave Street Studios in Monterey.
Hailing from the pine-scented hills of California’s gold country, Caltucky’s sound is of that place – earthy, deep and filled with sunshine, winding down the mountain like a babbling brook. The four-piece jamgrass band bring their strings to Wave Street for a midweek show, with local bluegrass band Sunny Side of the Mountain opening. And much in the spirit of NPR’s “Tiny Desk” concerts, Wednesday night’s show will be filmed and recorded. It promises to be a scene. [DS]
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