The streets of Monterey will be draped in red, white and blue when the annual Fourth of July parade rolls (and rides and walks) around downtown on Thursday, July 4 (of course). The event draws a large crowd.
Thursday, June 27
Paws Cause
When someone invites you to a “pawty,” it’s certain there is an animal theme. But when the crack real estate agents from Coldwell Banker’s The Heinrich Team use the playful word, they are not just being cute. There is a cause behind it – in this case, the third annual Pawty benefits the local nonprofit Peace of Mind Dog Rescue. The event, which involves food, wine, mingling and The Heinrich Team’s own mascot dogs, Puddin’ and Delta, will help Peace of Mind continue their mission of finding new homes for dogs whose best human friends can no longer care for them. Hofsas House plays host to this worthy pawty. So don’t sit, but do get down. [DF]
5-7pm Thursday, June 27. Hofsas House, San Carlos Street at Camino Del Monte, Carmel. $50. 747-7455, eventbrite.com.
Thursday, June 27 – Sunday, June 30
New Hamlet
“The great George Bernard Shaw once wrote of the ‘innumerable volumes of nonsense written about the meaning of Hamlet,’” says J. Matthew Gordon, founding artistic director of New Canon Theatre Co. “One could theorize that due to the play’s unquantifiable depth, we – as reader, occasional scholar and, most importantly, audience to these five acts, are adrift in a sea of questions that try to expose what this great work aims ‘to be, or not to be.’” Get ready to hear live original music, outdoors under the stars, while sipping on Blue Fox Cellars’ curated wine list and taking in the big questions Hamlet poses, with a fresh sensibility. Preview night is Thursday, June 27 and opening night is June 28, followed by a ticketed reception. [AP]
7:30pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 5:30pm Sundays, June 27-July 14. Blue Fox Cellars, 25 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley. $48; $38/seniors, teachers, military; $15/students. 275-1441, newcanontheatre.org.
To be, or not to be? That is one question New Canon Theatre Co.’s production of Hamlet is asking. The Shakespeare classic also asks: “Who’s there?” You can be, if you attend.
Friday, June 28
Colorful Tasting
Brushes, paint and wine are a great combo to test your art skills at the National Steinbeck Center. It’s a night to spend among new friends, old friends or family members. With each sip of wine and brush stroke you are closer to a beautiful painting you can hang on the wall… or hide in the closet. The idea is not about becoming the next Vincent van Gogh; it is about having fun. The paint and sip evening is led by teacher Bunny of Illusion of Perfection. To add to the fun, a prize drawing gives attendees a chance to win museum passes, a gift basket and more wine. [CJ]
6-9pm Friday, June 28. National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St., Salinas. $40/members; $50/nonmembers. 775-4721, steinbeck.org.
London Calling
In an essay for the Library of Congress, Cary O’Dell noted that “When you listen to Julie London, suddenly the room is dark and smoke-filled.” That’s pretty sultry stuff for an august library housing some of the nation’s most significant works. But keep in mind that London’s first single, “Cry Me A River,” which she recorded with guitar player Barney Kessel, is part of the National Registry. Pamela and Bruce Forman recreate London’s visceral, defiant, come-hither purr and Kessel’s accompaniment on this and other standards in “Cry Me A River: The Julie London & Barney Kessel Show.” There’s a no-host bar, but visit before things go dim and you’re caught up in Forman’s channeling of the legendary singer. [DF]
7pm Friday, June 28. Carmel Valley Lodge, 8 Ford Road, Carmel Valley. $49. 659-2261, valleylodge.com.
Harpist and singer Destiny Muhammad comes from Compton, known more for its rap than harp music. This former barbershop owner now plays with the best local symphonies.
Harping On It
Destiny Muhammad calls herself a “sound sculptress” and a “harpist from the hood,” and declares her genre of music as “Celtic to Coltrane.” She describes the genre as “cool and eclectic with a feel of jazz and storytelling to round out the sonic experience.” That summarizes Muhammad’s music precisely: It is definitely very cool and very eclectic. For jazz aficionados who appreciate the moment seemingly discordant notes suddenly coalesce into something harmonious and melodic, Muhammad’s harp playing and soulful vocals will delight. No wonder – she draws upon the inspiration of jazz harp legends Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Muhammad is joined by Leon Joyce, Jr. on drums and Arthur “Chico & the FAM” Lopez on bass to make the Destiny Muhammad Jazz Trio, billed as a band that “turns every piece into a soulful adventure.” [PM]
7:30-9pm Friday, June 28. Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave St., Monterey. $40/in advance; $60/at the door. 655-2010, bit.ly/dmuhammadtix.
Friday, June 28-Saturday, June 29
Spots Light
In the long list of nefarious characters, Cruella de Vil ranks near the top. The Mad Hatter? Mr. Applegate? They hardly qualify as villians by comparison – and Mr. Applegate is the Devil himself. It takes 101 dogs, plus a cast of good guys, to defeat her evil intention. You know this, of course, from the Disney classic 101 Dalmations. Now ARIEL Theatrical brings the fur-raising adventure Disney’s 101 Dalmations KIDS! to the stage. The actors are ages 6-16 (maybe younger, if they are dogs) and the production is short, sweet and a whole lot of fun. The play is part of ARIEL’s summer theater camp for kids. [DF]
7pm Friday; 2pm, 7pm Saturday, June 28-29. Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main St., Salinas. $12; $11/students, teachers, military; $10 children 3-10; free/3 and under. 775-0976, arieltheatrical.org.
Saturday, June 29
Soul and R&B artist Allen Stone is a Washington native with a voice that’s reminiscent of the likes of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
Sound Of Stone
Soul and R&B singer-songwriter Allen Stone started singing at 3 years old at the church in Washington State where his father was a minister, and by the time he was 14, he added guitar playing into the mix. The YouTube video of Stone’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, which was recorded February 2020 right before the world was upended, gives a great sense for his conversational style, empathy and highlights the dulcet tones of his voice. Stone and his band are making a tour stop in Monterey June 29 for a show at Golden State. It promises to deliver good vibes and very chill music. [DS]
7pm Saturday, June 29. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $37.50-$62.50; $142.50 – $291.50/VIP packages. goldenstatetheatre.com/shows/allen-stone.
Sunday, June 30
In the Mall
Northridge Mall in Salinas is celebrating 50 years, so it’s a perfect time to reminisce about the businesses whose time has passed. For those of us who grew up in the 1990s, Toys R’ Us was the place to be, and a trip to the store was a weekend activity that was something to look forward to while sitting in class every weekday in elementary school. Remember buying Nintendo 64 video games with allowance money? To celebrate the golden anniversary, the mall will transform with a walk through the decades, highlighting the best fashion and music of the time periods, as well as feature performances by the Circus Caballero troupe and other family-friendly activities. It’s also a great time to look into the future – Dave and Buster’s, Burlington and more are planned to open in the former Sears building, with Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers set to be built next door. [EC]
11am-4pm Sunday, June 30. Northridge Mall, 796 Northridge Drive, Salinas. Free. shop-northridge-mall.com.
Mental Care
The Lighthouse author event is back with novelists Anastasia Zadeik and JJ Elliott. Zadeik debuted with The Other Side of Nothing in May, a novel that touches on depression, loss, suicide and second chances. Elliot is a bestselling and award-winning author of the novel There Are No Rules for This, a story about an unexpected suicide and the impact it left behind. Zadeik and Elliott will talk about portrayals in fiction of how people experience and navigate mental illness, and what it reflects about real life. Society more than ever is talking about mental health and bringing awareness to suicide, when suicide is one of the leading causes of death among teenagers – authenticity in literature might just be able to help. [CJ]
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