Thursday, June 25
Reflecting Pride
There are after-parties, but in this case it’s a pre-party to celebrate Pride weekend in Monterey County. Pacific Grove’s newest hotel, Kimpton Mirador, and Monterey Peninsula Pride are hosting “Prism: A Pre-Pride Courtyard Soirée,” promising to blend community spirit with “a high-energy, sophisticated lounge vibe.” Held in the hotel’s beautiful courtyard, the party includes live, disco-inspired beats by DJ Atmos and access to a full bar. All are invited with a reservation. A VIP ticket includes appetizers, an exclusive seating area, a cocktail and swag to take home. [PM]
5-9pm Thursday, June 25. Kimpton Mirador Hotel, 150 Fountain Ave., Pacific Grove. Free entry; $56/VIP ticket. (831) 393-4210, peninsulapride.org.
Walk the Walk
It can be easy to forget that two of the easiest ways to stay healthy at any age is to simply go for a stroll and socialize with friends, family or even complete strangers. With this in mind, the City of King City, inspired by the Blue Zones Project – a global organization that tries to make healthy living easier, and which was inspired by communities around the world where people live longer, healthier lives, or “Blue Zones” – is hosting a weekly walk this summer. The health-conscious amble starts at the downtown plaza in King City every Thursday. [AS]
6pm Thursdays, June 25-Aug. 13. Downtown Plaza, 326 Broadway St., King City. Free. (831) 386-5921, kingcity.com.
Friday, June 26
Bird Barrage
Birds are all around us. They are so ubiquitous that they just blend into the environment. But if you actually try to look for them, you’ll be surprised to see just how many different species you’ll discover. And if you do so with experts by your side, the number of birds you’ll spot grows exponentially. The Monterey Audubon Society leads a birding trip through El Carmelo Cemetery. Expect to see hummingbirds combing the bushes and woodpeckers living up to their namesake on the trees. Maybe there will be some turkeys causing a ruckus. There definitely won’t be any ostriches – but if you do see them, send us photos. [EC]
9:30-11:30am Friday, June 26. El Carmelo Cemetery, 68 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. RSVP at montereyaudubon.org.
Nuclear Talk
In times of international tension, there is a question returning regularly: Is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons still relevant? The treaty is vital to keep international security but is at risk during times of conflict and growing distrust among countries. Join William Potter, an expert in this field, to explore this matter. Potter is the founding director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, the largest research and training center on reducing the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the world. This Soviet specialist basically invented the field of nuclear nonproliferation studies, still highly relevant today. [CJ]
11am-2pm Friday, June 26. Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Road, Monterey. $65; $50/members World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area. (831) 224-5259, qavc1@aol.com, wacmb.org.
Saturday, June 27
Party for the USA
Nothing says the good ol’ US of A like a paper airplane contest and carnival games. The Carmel Valley Branch Library celebrates our nation’s 250th anniversary with a patriotic party. A performance by the Carmel Valley Singers kicks off the day of family-friendly activities and plenty of birthday cake. Word has it that Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and even Edgar Allan Poe will make an appearance. Try taking a selfie with them and see their confused reactions – it’s a different world from the one in the U.S.’s infancy. [EC]
10:30am-3:30pm Saturday, June 27. Carmel Valley Branch Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road. Free. (831) 647-7760, bit.ly/CarmelValleyLibrary.
Out and Proud
It’s Pride Month, and that means it’s time to don your rainbow colors or whatever makes you feel most like yourself and join the celebration with Monterey Peninsula Pride. There is a lot to celebrate when you think about how far we’ve come and how fast. In June of 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, prompting what would become known as the Stonewall Riots and launching the modern gay civil rights movement into the public eye. Of course, the work continues today – look no further than our own United States, where the current presidential administration is waging a war against LGBTQ+ identities. Partaking in a Pride parade is about more than a party – it’s also part of the work, but there’s no need for that work to be joyless. So join the parade (starting on Polk Street then moving down Pearl Street to Alvarado Street) and/or the celebration after for a lineup of queer entertainers, glitter and rainbows. [SR]
11am parade, noon celebration Saturday, June 27. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free. peninsulapride.org.
String Theory
Right now, someone somewhere in the world is learning to play the violin. Those musical adventures are their own little miracles. But there’s something especially unique about Big Sur Fiddle Camp, an annual tradition that brings experts and students together on a magnificent ranch overlooking the ocean to practice old-world, folk, Celtic, Russian and more, celebrating the joy of making music collaboratively and across generations. It’s about the fiddle but more broadly about the joy that music can bring to a rural community, and they share that spirit at the culmination of this year’s camp with a community concert. [SR]
7-10pm Saturday, June 27. Venue TBA, Big Sur. $39;$10/children. bigsurfiddlecamp.org.
Honky Tonk
For nearly 60 years, the American Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel – born in 1970 in Paw Paw, West Virginia and reared in Austin, Texas – has inspired generations of fans to slap their knees and break out into a jig with the group’s honky tonk hits. They also lead fans to reflect on their place in the world with the group’s rendition of more contemplative country tracks like George Strait’s “All my Exes Live in Texas.” Over the decades, Asleep at the Wheel has released more than 20 albums, with a slew of singles making it on the Billboard country charts, including “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read.” [AS]
7pm Saturday, June 27. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $42-$77. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Saturday, June 27-Sunday, June 28
Glass Menagerie
Where some may see sea glass as just some ordinary flotsam washed up on the beach, others see beauty and possibility. Avid collectors of sea glass – or those who are attracted to the pretty glass colors and the endless creations that can be made of the glass – have a unique opportunity when the 21st International Sea Glass Festival comes to Monterey. The festival hasn’t been in the region since 2007 when it was held in Santa Cruz. Attracting sea glass lovers and artisans from around the world, the event includes artwork displays, presentations by experts, a collector’s corner and children’s activities. Bring your own sea glass, pottery shards or washed-ashore bottles or toys for a chance to win a contest. The event is organized by the International Sea Glass Association, dedicated to supporting sea and beach glass collectors and restoration of waterways everywhere. [PM]
10am-5pm Saturday-Sunday, June 27-28. Hyatt Regency, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey. $7/one-day ticket, $10/Saturday VIP ticket. festival@seaglassassociation.org, seaglassassociation.org.
Sunday, June 28
Witchy Workshop
The gift of divination may not be for everyone. But those who feel they want to take their power a step further into the beyond are welcome to the psychic tarot workshop. The event promises to elevate skills of those beyond simply reading a tarot deck to cartomancy under the professional guidance of full-time reader Pheroze Karai. Any level is welcome to join, so whether you’re simply curious about a tarot deck’s secrets or you have been practicing for years, grab a cocktail and join to unveil mysteries of the cards. [SC]
1-3:30pm Sunday, June 28. Gallery Nila, 225 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $66; RSVP required. (831) 667-5088, me@pheroze.com.
Next Steps
While it is billed as a summer recital by dance students, this performance promises something more. Faldas y Flores dance studio instructors have prepared their students well for an exploration of Mexican dance tradition. They toured the Mayan Peninsula, learning different folk stories and styles. They took workshops in Tamaulipas and attended folklórico festivals. So this is a recital at the end of a semester of learning, but it is also an exhibition of appreciation for the art of dance through the centuries to today. [DF]
2:30-4pm Sunday, June 28. Boys & Girls Club, 85 Maryal Drive, Salinas. $34. faldasyflores.eventbrite.com.
Sing Sur
Open your heart and nourish your voice. All voices are welcome at the big sing-along in Big Sur, no previous experience required. Participants will learn the songs under the redwoods and – hopefully – enjoy and benefit from this community-building powerful exercise in togetherness. Seasoned sing leader Lindsey Scott is the guide in your journey to find your voice and join the chorus. [AP]
5:30-7pm Sunday, June 28. Grange Hall, 47090 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. wholeheartedsinging@gmail.com, wholeheartedcommunitysongcircles.com.
Chicken Dinner
If you have ever eaten a steaming bowl of chicken soup, you know that it’s nourishing fare. What you might not know is that traditional Jewish foods – chicken included – provide nourishment to a community, and that Jewish chicken ranchers have a long story in Petaluma. The film A Home on the Range: The Jewish Chicken Ranchers tells that story, followed by a discussion with Terry Piotrkowski, a descendant of the Sovel family that thrived in the industry. [SR]
7pm reception, 7:30pm film Sunday, June 28. Congregation Beth Israel, 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $25. (831) 624-2015, carmelbethisrael.org.
Monday, June 29
Spotlight on Lupita
Lupita’s Bakery is welcoming a mural. Designed by Marina-based artist Jorge Torres, it highlights the storied history of Lupita’s Bakery and its enduring connection to Seaside and San Pablo in Oaxaca. The mural weaves together themes of migration, entrepreneurship and family, marking the bakery as a landmark of community pride. The celebration features remarks from the artist, followed by an official unveiling, a community photo session and treats provided by the bakery. [AP]
Noon-1pm Monday, June 29. 1048 Broadway Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 394-0188, arts4mc.org.
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