Hot Picks 06.19.25

Thursday, June 19

Origin Story

When John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts ventured to the Sea of Cortez (aka Gulf of California) in 1940 aboard the Western Flyer, the trip became much more than just two friends on an adventure – their expedition and writings about it helped launch a renaissance of marine biology and science writing and changed the way we see the world. The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is hosting experts to speak on the legacy of Steinbeck, Ricketts and the Sea of Cortez: Lisa Josephs, an archivist with the National Steinbeck Center, Sherry Flumerfelt, executive director of the Western Flyer Foundation and Gregor Caillet, a retired professor from Moss Landing Marine Labs. English Ales is pouring for a “happy half-hour” at 5:30pm; talks start at 6pm. [DS]

5:30-7:30pm Thursday, June 19. Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $25, $15/member; free/student with ID. 648-5716, pgmuseum.org.

 Thursday, June 19 - Sunday, June 22

Pie in the Sky

Theater goes well with pie, well – sort of. Bringing an actual baked and flaky treat could prove somewhat disastrous in your lap while distracting those around you. There are a lot of twists and turns and unforeseen conflicts in doing so. It may have the same inspiration for Pacific Repertory Theatre’s production of Waitress though. The play follows Jenna, a waitress stuck in a small town in a loveless marriage with dreams of opening her own pie shop. But an unexpected pregnancy threatens her dream – until she enters a baking contest. Probably best to leave the pie to the professionals this time. [SC]

7:30pm Thursdays, Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, June 19-July 27. Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $8-$28; Ages 14+; 622-0100, pacrep.org.

 Friday, June 20 - Sunday, June 22

Skates On

It’s time to put your skates on. Monterey Skates is back with a weekend full of roller skating fun that includes family skate, open skate and adult night sessions. Starting with a weekend-long event last year, Monterey Skates has been filling the void that local skating enthusiasts felt. Max Troyer and Morgan Goyette, two members of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Roller Derby league, started thinking about ways to bring a rink back. They found a permanent space at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, where children and adults can practice safely and have fun. The grand opening this weekend features an adult night 7-10pm on Sunday with DJs from Pop and Hiss, spinning roller disco classics and vinyl grooves. [DS]

6-11pm Friday, June 20; 10am-11pm Saturday, June 21; 1-10pm Sunday, June 22. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $15-$23. 855-2758, montereyskates.com.

 Saturday, June 21

Car Hop

There was a time when rock music and cruisin’ went hand in hand – windows down, tape deck cranked, rollin’ on down the highway. Some call those “the good old days.” But you can relive the good life (without the cruising, granted) at the Monterey Rock & Rod Festival. The one-day event features 150 cars and trucks on display – street rods, muscle cars, that sort of thing – food and merchandise vendors and five live bands, including Heart by Heart, featuring Steve Fossen and Michael Derosier of Heart, playing songs by you know who. The event is a fundraiser benefitting Gateway Center of Monterey County. Magic, man. [DF]

10am-6pm Saturday, June 21. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free. montereyrockrod.com.

Tastes Like Anarchy

F* Your Boss, Eat My Sauce is, yes, a cookbook – but it’s also a statement. It’s a labor of love by fino burgos, a clinical herbalist and chef who began their work in Big Sur and now lives in northern New Mexico. The book blends herbalism, recipes and essays focused not just on sauce, but also on resistance to dominance and coercion in the workplace – all 52 pages bound together with poetic threads of punk and anarchist undertones. As the author puts it, it’s a “feed your friends – not capitalism” cookbook. RSVP is required for this book release event. [KR]

Noon-2pm Saturday, June 21. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. 667-2574, henrymiller.org.

June Fun

More Juneteenth events? Yes, please. The Juneteenth Coalition is planning a “takeover” of Pop and Hiss this Saturday night. Expect music, food, whiskey, books, games and prizes. Live Ekene’s set starts at 8:30pm. “We are taking over!” Coalition cofounder Maddox Haberdasher announced on Instagram. “Don’t miss out.” [AP]

2-10pm Saturday, June 21. Pop and Hiss, 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $2. juneteenthcoalition.org.

Summer Vibes

Have a story to share? What about a song to debut? Here’s an audience that’s just waiting to hear what you’ve created. Asilomar welcomes the summer solstice with an evening that’s sure to be creative and inspirational. The open mic-style event welcomes all levels of stories, songs, poems and spoken word pieces that are up to five minutes in length. If the thought of performing in front of the public terrifies you, you should feel at ease here – the audience and performers are here to support each other. It’s in the rules, after all. [EC]

7-9pm Saturday, June 21. Asilomar Conference Grounds, Scripps Lodge, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free, register in advance. 646-6440, bit.ly/SolsticeSlam2025.

Setting Goals

After flirting with the top spot during the early part of the season, Monterey Bay FC remains in the playoff hunt – 6th place in the USL Championship Western Conference race with a record of 5-4-4, and still just three points out of the lead. MBFC hosts 4th-place El Paso, and a win could vault the Union back into 2nd, the race is that tight. Paul Gindiri, Anton Søjberg and Mayele Malango are always threats to score and goalkeeper Nico Campuzano is like a quickly darting wall in the net, leading the entire league in saves. [DF]

7pm Saturday, June 21. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $22-$61. 324-2560, montereybayfc.com.

Mr. Las Vegas Live!

Is Wayne Newton really still performing? Yes, Mr. Las Vegas himself is still singing “Danke Schoen” at age 83, after an astonishing 73-year career. Newton has been headlining in Vegas since 1963, and appearing on TV shows since he was a teen, as well as appearing in many films. Most recently he was seen on Hacks, The Bachelorette and the Golden Bachelorette. By 2019 he had performed more than 30,000 shows on the Vegas strip over a period of 60 years, as well as released nearly 60 records. He’s now on his “Upclose and Personal Tour with Wayne Newton,” bringing his songs and his story to audiences around the country. [PM]

7pm Saturday, June 21, Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $88-$159. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

Funky and Velvety

Velour tracksuits were born in the late 1970s, which may be why the band Velour adopted the popular athleisure wear, in an homage to the funky music of the time. The band takes its inspiration from such groups as American funk bands The Meters and Galactic, as well as the soul-jazz group The Greyboy Allstars and jazz-fusion band the New Mastersounds. Velour blends funk with acid jazz and improvisation for a groovy sound that is hard not to move to. The four-man band brings their funk and their velvety tracksuits to Fernwood Resort for an exciting late-night listening and dance experience. For ages 21 and up. [PM]

10pm Saturday, June 21. Fernwood Resort, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. 667-2422, fernwoodbigsur.com.

 Saturday, June 21 - Sunday, June 22

Honk, Honk

Ugly Ducklings, unite. It’s time to retell the classic Hans Christian Andersen fable, “Ugly Duckling,” that likely broke your heart in childhood. Mama Duck is sitting on a bunch of eggs but one egg seems different than others. When this “duck” hatches from an egg, things get even worse – it’s so big, so gray and so ugly that even its mother doesn’t want to do anything with it. The Western Stage presents Honk!, a musical adaptation of this ultimate tale of rejection faced by someone who is the wrong shape and color. Fear not, every “ugly duckling” finds its community and a real family away from home. [AP]

7:30pm Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, June 21-July 13. The Western Stage, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $12-$30. 755-6816, westernstage@hartnell.edu, westernstage.com.

 Sunday, June 22

Party in the Parks

If you build a swingset, kids will come. If you plant native plants, pollinators will come. These observations and more hold true at Seaside’s parks that in recent years have been undergoing a transformation from sand pits to beautiful, lovingly tended, functional destinations. That’s thanks in large part to the efforts of the nonprofit Friends of Seaside Parks Association, and they invite you to see what they’ve been up to. This self-guided tour invites people to nine parks to see the latest upgrades, meet park stewards and learn about pollinator plants (as well as get plants and tips for your home garden). Prizes are available for the first 10 people who visit all nine parks, to be picked up at Highland Otis Park. Or visit just one and stop to smell the flowers. [SR]

1-4pm Sunday, June 22. Nine parks throughout Seaside. Free. View a map at friendsofseasideparks.org; fospa.info@gmail.com.

 Wednesday, June 25

Turn and Burn

What’s it like to watch the sunset while riding down the Corkscrew on two wheels, powered by only pedals and gravity? Just how long would it take you to pedal around WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s famed 2.238-mile course? These important questions can be answered at “Twilight Cycling,” which happens a few times a year at the famed, 11-turn racetrack, and June 25 is one of them. You might even make a new friend or two, as riders tend to be a sociable bunch. Helmets are required, entry fee is $10 per rider and Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed. [DS]

5:30-7pm Wednesday, June 25. 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. $10. 242-8201, weathertechraceway.com.

 Thursday, June 26

Color Flash

Water, pigments, paper, brushes and imagination are the ingredients people need to venture into watercolor painting. It’s a delicate balance between water and pigment to get the desired shape or color. To make it more fun, artists will learn how to do this at a fast pace during a Sol Treasures speed watercolor class. Participants will learn how to mix colors and paint quickly so they can paint on the go wherever they are. Supplies included. [CJ]

3:30-5pm Thursday, June 26. Sol Treasures, 519 Broadway St., King City. $25. 386-1381, soltreasures.com.

HOT PICKS by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz.