Friday, May 30
Soul Work
Have we lost touch with our inner selves? Author Mary Reynolds Thompson offers a pathway back in her talk, “Reclaiming Your Wild Soul,” at the Pacific Grove Public Library. Thompson, a pioneer in the spiritual ecology movement, has written The Way of the Wild Soul Woman and Reclaiming the Wild Soul, proposing that through using metaphors from nature we can become fully alive and embrace our true selves. The talk is open to all ages. [PM]
5:30-6:30pm Friday, May 30. Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary.org.
Peace in Estonia
The Monterey Peace and Justice Center brings local audiences stories of struggle from all over the world. This time, they present a screening of a 2006 documentary titled The Singing Revolution. The film describes a successful mass protest by Estonian people during and after the fall of the Soviet Union to push for independence. Traditions of singing and songs are part of Estonian culture, and the Estonian Song Festival is a cultural staple. After spontaneous singing that gradually turned into political mass singing in Tallinn, Estonian artist Heinz Valka coined the term “singing revolution.” Similar events took place in other Baltic countries in late 1980s and early 1990s. It’s time to rethink singing together as an exercise in solidarity. [AP]
6-8pm Friday, May 30. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free. 899-7322, montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com, peacecentral.wordpress.com.
The Youth
This Basque band is considered a legend, recognized especially for their song “Eres Tú,” which won in Eurovision in the 1970s and was one of the few songs from Spain to end up becoming a Top 10 hit in the U.S. It’s a sweet, dramatic tune about love and heartbreak delivered by a nostalgic female voice. It’s been a while, but Mocedades – now split into two bands – are touring again, now celebrating 50 years of existence. They are still young at heart though – fitting, since mocedades means the youth. Their charm comes from the uniqueness of the Basque autonomous region located in the north of Spain, which has its own distinct culture and language from outside of the Indo-European linguistic group. [AP]
8:30pm Friday, May 30. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $81-$123. 758-8459, angel@foxtheatersalinas.com, foxtheatersalinas.com.
Saturday, May 31
The Finale
Pacific Grove Pops Orchestra will end its season with a finale concert at the Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center, bringing musicians of all ages together.
This is the final concert of Pacific Grove Pops Orchestra’s season, fittingly titled Dance Into Summer. Led by Artistic Director Barbara Priest, the ensemble presents an uplifting program of dance-themed music. The repertoire includes Strauss’ “Thunder and Lightning Polka,” Mendelssohn’s “A Dance of Clowns,” Sheldon’s “Danzas Cubanas,” and Bizet’s “Habanera,” alongside Galante’s “Genesis,” Mendelssohn’s “Nocturne,” Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” theme, Badelt’s “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Minnie the Moocher” by Calloway and Mills. That’s a lot of variety to listen to (and maybe even dance to, or at least tap your toes). This intergenerational community orchestra thrives on bringing people together on stage, and within the audience. [AP]
2pm Saturday, May 31. Pacific Grove Arts Center, 835 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. info@pgpopsorchestra.com, pgpopsorchestra.com.
Pop and Folk
The Nashville-born folk duo Haunted Like Human is nostalgic but real. “Darling don’t go digging up graves,” they sing in “Afterlife,” from their 2021 record Tall Tales & Fables. Dale Chapman from Georgia takes care of vocals and lyrics, and Cody Clark from Oregon writes songs and plays guitar, percussion and more. Lyrically, they look into the past with a focus on scene-setting and storytelling, set against beautiful melodies. [AP]
5pm Saturday, May 31. Pop and Hiss, 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $5. info@popandhiss.net, popandhiss.net.
Play Day
Theater doesn’t just happen… Um, let’s qualify that, because you can watch all the absurdist theater you want thanks to the Trump administration. Great, provocative theater doesn’t just happen. It takes scripts, actors, a venue, people behind the scenes and – most of all – money. And so the not-for-profit company New Canon Theatre Co. is launching into its fourth season with a fundraising event. “An Evening of Legends” introduces some of their artists and the plays on schedule, such as An Iliad, Othello and Life Sucks. There will be an auction, raffles, live music and more (wine, bites, etc.). All proceeds go toward the productions, and they are hoping to raise $5,000. [DF]
6:30-8:30pm Saturday, May 31. Monterey History & Art at Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $45; $25/community access. 275-1441, newcanontheatre.org.
Sing Along
Some people sing only when alone, some people sing in the shower, and then there is the karaoke crowd. All types (and beyond) are invited to sing with Choir! Choir! Choir!
Are you the kind of audience member who attends a concert and cannot help yourself from singing along, even if it means generating some eyerolls from the people around you? Do you stomp or clap along to the performer from your seat, finding participation in the music just irresistible? Here’s your chance at validation. Choir! Choir! Choir! (exclamation points included!) comprises Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, who take to the stage to direct you to sing with them. This participatory concert requires only a love of music and willingness to blur the line between audience member and performer; they will teach you so that you can sing along in style. [SR]
7pm Saturday, May 31. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $37-$73.649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Cup Runneth
Monterey Bay FC defender Carlos Guzmán tries to distance himself from Miami FC’s Daltyn Knutson during a 1-1 draw at Cardinale Stadium earlier this month.
Baseball, football and most other sports have a regular season, playoffs and a championship game. But soccer clubs have more goals (get it?). There are all of the above, plus the US Open Cup and the USL Jägermeister Cup. Call them seasons within the season. While Monterey Bay FC has been eliminated from the US Open Cup, their USL Cup campaign is just getting underway. The tournament puts USL Championship and League One sides into six groups. Group play runs through July 26, with winners advancing to the knockout rounds. MBFC opened group play on May 28 (after the Weekly’s press deadline). They host a familiar foe, Orange County SC, in cup play on Saturday. [DF]
7pm Saturday, May 31. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $22-$61. 324-2560, montereybayfc.com.
Saturday, May 31- Sunday, June 1
The Body’s the Limit
Spartan Race is the brand, but let’s think about the brand the company took over, the tale about ancient Sparta as a land of healthy youth, athletic might and physicality. Try your strength or observe, with Toro Park as the race setting.
Crawling under sharp barbed wire in a mud pit. Leaping over fire. Carrying a 60-pound sand bag up a mountain. Climbing up an inverted wall. For many, this sounds like a form of torture. For the elite athletes who endure this punishment, they live for the experience. But all can agree: The setting is incredible. The Spartan Race makes its return to Toro Park, where the rolling hills and rugged terrain are ideal for such a competition. There are various levels of competitions, varied by the number of obstacles, from 20 to 25, as well as a race for the kids. Yes, you can also arrive at the competition just to spectate. Maybe you’ll be inspired to compete next year. [EC]
Registration begins 6am Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 1. Toro Park, 501 Highway 68, Salinas. $24/spectators; $29-$199/competitions. spartan.com.
Hotbox Harry’s Songs
What’s on Hotbox Harry’s playlist? Songs Hotbox Harry Taught Us is a Big Sur band that at present consists of Magnus Toren, Mike Scutari, Tracy Chesebrough, Rick Chelew, Howe Cochran, Nick Leahy, Daniel Cortes and Jerry Moxley. Their repertoire hovers around 20 rockabilly and country albums, inspired by – the story goes – a song list written on a napkin at a bar in Arcata by “a roly poly drifter-type character,” aka Hotbox Harry. The band is a tribute to his memory and his musical taste. Whatever your musical taste, this band is really all about having a good old time, listening to music and dancing. They bring lively shows to Fernwood and River Inn. [AP]
10pm Saturday, May 31 at Fernwood Tavern, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur; noon-4pm Sunday, June 1 at River Inn, 46800 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. 667-2129, fernwoodbigsur.com; 667-2700, bigsurriverinn.com.
Sunday, June 1
Winged Victory
The story of Condor 171’s near-death experience and efforts to save her are a moving example of years-long efforts to save California condors from near-extinction. Learn more in a documentary screening about this important bird.
Condor 171 – aka Traveler – is the matriarch of the Central Coast flock of California condors, and perhaps its most storied bird because of the famously long flights she’s taken in her life. But in 2022, Traveler – then 25 years old – began to suffer from lead poisoning after eating a contaminated carcass, and it was determined that only emergency surgery to remove a lead fragment from her stomach would save her life, So nonprofit Ventana Wildlife Society, launched – with help from its partners at Pinnacles and the Oakland and L.A. zoos – a mission to save Traveler’s life. It was a story so inspiring that VWS made a feature-length documentary about it last year, Condor Canyon, which VWS is screening Sunday morning at its Discovery Center at Andrew Molera State Park (the film, which run 57 minutes, also airs on PBS June 4 at 8pm). It’s a unique chance to get an inside story about one of the most magnificent creatures on Earth. [DS]
10am Sunday, June 1. Discovery Center at Andrew Molera State Park, 45500 Highway 1, Big Sur. $10/vehicle. 667-2315, ventanaws.org.
Arty Party
Summer is just about here, the perfect time for a family-friendly and multicultural outdoor celebration, specifically the 9th Annual Palenke Arts Festival. Expect an event filled with lots of music, art, dancing, food and artisan booths. In addition to talented student performers, the festival features a live art demonstration by Paul Richmond, art activities for kids and adults, and performances by Grammy Award winning jazz and soul singer Pher, as well as the regional Mexican group Banda Tierra Menguarense. Aztec dance group Calpulli Ocelocihuatl opens the festival, accompanied by Palenke’s Danza Mexika students. Bring your dancing shoes, plus lawn chairs for well-deserved breaks. [PM]
11am-5pm Sunday, June 1. Laguna Grande Park, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. Free. 899-9909, palenkearts.com.
Wednesday, June 4
History and Dessert
Art comes in different colors, shapes or forms. How about food as art? Some of it can be an explosion of textures and flavors that will delight even a snobby eater. While viewers unfortunately won’t be able to taste chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s menu, they will be able to follow his journey in a documentary titled Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, in which he and a team of pastry chefs prepare a series of cakes inspired by the court of Versailles. Documentarian Laura Gabert brings viewers closer to the history of French monarchy and upper-class culture through a fine dining experience. It’s sure to leave viewers feeling hungry. [CJ]
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