Thursday, May 15- Sunday, May 18
Fair Play
The Salinas Valley Fair in King City brings families together. Meet the best pigs in Monterey County and their often very young caretakers. Fair food, from corn dogs to churros, are available too, next to live music and games.
There is much more to the Salinas Valley Fair than fun– and there is a whole lot of fun. But lost in the frenzy of activities such as carnival rides, live music, wine tasting, petting zoos, stilt walkers, motorcycle dirt track racing and more (the list is pretty long), are educational activities and the true purpose of the fair. Students in 4-H and FFA put a lot of effort and study into their projects and their animals, an effort that will shape the future of American farming and ranching. So by all means ride the tilt-a-whirl and listen to country star Chase Bryant. But check out the showmanship and other competitions, applaud the work of the students and maybe bid at the livestock auction. It will make a weekend to remember. [DF]
8am-10pm Thursday, May 15; 8am-midnight Friday-Saturday, May 16-17; 8am-10pm Sunday, May 18. Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, 625 Division St., King City. $12; $8/children 6-17, seniors; free/children 5 and under. Additional charges for carnival, other events. 385-3243, salinasvalleyfair.com.
Thursday, May 15
Finding Resilience
Bodies are meant to be moved. In today’s society, too many jobs require sitting at a desk for eight hours at a time, and the health problems associated with this are well-documented. But movement doesn’t have to be rigorous– gentle motions are just as important. Domini Anne, known for her holistic approach to fitness, leads a workshop on how to relieve chronic tension in the body through subtle movements, helping attendees learn how to regulate their nervous systems, which are overstressed in these chaotic times. Listen to your body– it knows when things are wrong. [EC]
6-7pm Thursday, May 15. Pilgrim’s Way Community Bookstore and Secret Garden, Dolores Street between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. $25. 624-4955, pilgrimsway.com.
Inside the Box
Before there were marketing professionals, composers could create hits with titles such as “Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69” or “Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87.” The first was from Beethoven while the second is Brahms– neither one slouches in terms of fame. Today it would be “That’s not gonna sell, Ludwig. Let’s change it to ‘Girl at Home’– and let’s work on your name.” The point is, Beethoven and Brahms did not need to fit a mold. And three masters– Livia Sohn (violin), Luigi Piovano (cello) and Bernadene Blaha (piano) will give these pieces full chamber music expression. The program is “Timeless Titans”– a catchy name for music that needs no marketing. [DF]
7pm Thursday, May 15. SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $40; $25/students, military. sandboxsandcity.com.
Eclectic Strings
Ty Segall is a California musician who plays this weekend at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. He combines elements of garage rock, lo-fi, indie rock and psychedelic rock.
If you’re seeking a versatile performance and enjoy catchy lyrics, Ty Segall, a singer-songwriter who is also a multi-instrumentalist, will capture your ear. The slow-fi singer is a prolific musician with more than a dozen albums under his belt. On May 30 he will release his latest album, titled Possession. Segall’s music has elements including psych rock, indie rock and garage rock. His repertoire includes songs such as “My Lady Is On Fire” and “Feel and Distraction.” Cass McCombs, an alternative singer-songwriter, opens. [CJ]
7pm Thursday, May 15. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Tickets start at $110. info@folkyeah.com, folkyeah.com/ty-segall-big-sur-515.
Friday, May 16- Sunday, May 18
Brush Hour
Visit Carmel Art Festival downtown Carmel, where art will be produced and shown outdoors at Devendorf Park.
The Carmel Art Festival is far from your average arts event. Here’s how it works: Sixty plein air artists from around the world– including a few international talents– will arrive in Monterey to capture scenes from the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur. Starting Wednesday, May 14, the artists have just two days to complete their pieces, selecting two finished works to submit by Friday afternoon. That submission marks the kickoff of the three-day festival. At 4pm Friday, a panel judges the works and selects the top pieces, which are then made available for public sale into the evening. Those who purchase a painting, or donate $75 are invited to an exclusive gala, featuring food and wine from local tasting rooms such as Albatross Ridge and Folktale, all set to live music by San Francisco artist Carlos Reyes. Saturday brings a more intense challenge: the Quick Draw competition. Artists have just two hours to create a new painting of coastal Carmel to be auctioned off that afternoon. Throughout the weekend, enjoy live music, local bites and beverages– and watch as some of your favorite coastal landscapes are transformed into vibrant works of art. [KR]
2-9pm Friday, May 16; 9am-2:30pm Saturday, May 18; 9am-3pm Sunday, May 19. Devendorf Park, 6th Avenue and Mission Street; “Quick Draw” and auction, Mission Street between Ocean and 6th, Carmel. Free; $75/gala. 626-4000, carmelartfestivalcalifornia.com.
Friday, May 16
Jamming Into Summer
Rooted in the great singing traditions of Latin America, Flaco El Jandro speaks and sings in Spanglish, the Chicano language of California. This Salinas-based musician’s given name is Alejandro Gomez.
Summer officially starts in about a month, but you don’t need to wait for the solstice for things to start feeling like the season. Example: Terrace Hour is back. Sunset Cultural Center’s annual outdoor concert series features local musicians who have already made a name for themselves. Case in point is Flaco El Jandro, the first artist to kick off the weekly series for this year. The Chicano singer/songwriter, whose given name is Alejandro Gomez, from Salinas was a social media sensation in 2022 when his cumbia tune “Mi Encendedor” went viral. Gomez and his band Los Perros Callejeros were chosen to perform for the 2024 NPR Tiny Desk Contest on the Road, and recently released a music video for their song “Heridas” that was filmed at Pop & Hiss in Pacific Grove. Every week, check out the talent that’s right in our backyard, for a price that can’t be beat. [EC]
6-7pm Friday, May 16. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. Free. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Life’s a Movie
Folktale Winery & Vineyards is one of the prettiest garden winery settings, especially when the night is warm. Add candles for soft lighting, and then music to bring out emotions on people’s faces. Make that some of the most emotive music out there– film and TV music, which adds another layer of nostalgia. Monterey String Quartet will play music from iconic scores, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, Pinocchio, Dirty Dancing and more. A menu of food and beverages will be available for purchase, from the comfort of your seat. [AP]
7-9:30pm Friday, May 16. Folktale Winery & Winyards, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $50. 293-7500, folktalewinery.com.
Saturday, May 17
Blues by the Sea
It’s a double-header featuring some of the most beloved local blues artists, on a stage in the middle of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s moody landscape. Blues in the Forest includes sets by the Shane Dwight Band and the Al James Band, each delivering class rootsy, soulful songs. Wear your layers for this outdoor show, and prepare to dance– or lie back and listen to the music, looking up at the forest above you, and take it all in. [SR]
5pm Saturday, May 17. Outdoor Forest Theater, Mountain View Avenue and Santa Rita Street, Carmel. $30. 622-0100, pacrep.org/blues-in-the-forest.
Saturday, May 17- Sunday, May 18
Rural Life
Many people know everyday life in a rural community, especially Monterey County residents. But instead of modern rural California, this story for the stage happens in another time and place. Outside Mullingar, is set on a cattle ranch in the Midlands of Ireland, where dating options are quite limited. The play, written by John Patrick Shanley, explores family disagreements, romance, land disputes and more, with as a sprinkle of eccentricity and misfit characters willing to dive into universal topics like the complexity of love and second chances. [CJ]
7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, May 17-June 8. The Western Stage Studio Theater, 411 Central Ave., Building K, Salinas. $12-$28. 755-6816, westernstage.com.
Home Grown
Monterey Symphony President and CEO Nicola Shangrow Reilly usually welcomes audiences before each performance with remarks, but in the symphony’s final show of the season she’ll be welcomed as the guest violinist playing Tchaikovsky’s haunting piece “Mélodie.” She won’t be the only hometown talent– Conductor Jayce Ogren will be conducting his own composition called “Intertidal,” inspired by murmurations of shorebirds on the Pacific coast. The season closes with what Ogren called “one of the most beloved and powerful pieces of classical music,” Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring the debut of pianist Joyce Yang. It sounds like a rousing end to a successful season. [PM]
7:30pm Saturday, May 17 and 3pm Sunday, May 18. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $45-$88. 646-8511, montereysymphony.org.
Sunday, May 18
Treasure Hunt
What mysteries lie in our families’ histories, made all the harder to uncover when family members don’t want to talk about a painful past? The documentary Family Treasures Lost and Found shares the story of one woman who was determined to uncover the secrets of her Jewish family, originally from Poland and Germany. She uses sleuthing skills to uncover the harrowing experiences of her father during the rise of the Nazis and World War II and better understand her family’s journey. This screening includes a dessert reception and conversation with director Marcia Rock and producer and author Karen A. Frenkel after the film. [PM]
7pm Sunday, May 18. Congregation Beth Israel, 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $36. 624-2015, carmelbethisrael.org.
Monday, May 19
Deep Listening
Overlapping Halos comprises (from left) violinist Edwin Huizinga, Penny Vieregge reciting poetry by Hafiz, and Deva Munay on singing bowls, together layering sounds and words into a unique, meditative experience.
The story starts like this: Three creative people, generations apart and working in different mediums, met under a flowering plum tree in Big Sur during the isolation of the pandemic. They find a sense of connection as humans, and as artists. The result of their collaboration is a trio project called Overlapping Halos, and it is just that– ideas that are distinct but delivered in overlapping form, inviting listeners to tune in to one or all at once. Penny Vieregge recites poetry by Hafiz; Edwin Huizinga improvises on violin; Deva Munay harmonizes the vibrations of crystal singing bowls. The sum total of these sounds is some sort of alchemy, meant to transport listeners during a one-hour performance. [SR]
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