Hot Picks 08.06.26

 Thursday, Aug. 6

By Moonlight

A dimly lit room with exquisite cocktails in the hands of travelers from all over the world is cool enough to make anyone want to be at Bud’s at La Playa. Such is the signature of the bar. But Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips – aka Dean & Britta – are also going to be there for this week’s edition of Folkyeah’s vinyl-driven music residency called Fadeaway Sessions. The dreamy duo will be spinning records in the corner while patrons sip, dine and sway to the luminescent tunes in their collection. Usually bright lights aren’t welcome in Bud’s, but a little bit of moonlight is acceptable by the two who created the group Luna back in the 1990s. [SC]

6-9pm Thursday, Aug. 6. Bud’s at La Playa, Camino Real and 8th, Carmel. No cover. (831) 293-6100, fadeawaysessions.com.

 Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 6-9

Under the Sea

For generations, Ariel the mermaid has been capturing the hearts and imaginations of children (and sure, some adults too – you probably remember many of the songs from the 1999 Disney film adaptation of the story. Join Ariel at the bottom of the sea, where she will swims along with her fish friend Flounder and the calypso-singing crab Sebastian. They sing the memorable classics like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Accompany Ariel on a journey of self-discovery, as she follows her dreams and navigates between two different worlds. The Little Mermaid transforms the stage of the Outdoor Forest Theater into an underwater seascape. [CJ]

7:30pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 4pm Sundays, Aug. 6-Sept. 20. Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. $11-$46. (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org/the-little-mermaid.

 Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 6-8

What’s Up, Doc

Where exactly did Mack and the Boys hang out? How about Dora’s bordello? If you don’t know what we’re talking about, Walking with Steinbeck is probably not the place to start. However, for fans of Cannery Row this walking tour pinpoints the exact locations where Doc and the other characters roamed. It will help you understand Steinbeck’s inspiration and the world that he experienced. Best of all, the 90-minute tour is free. Unfortunately, the walk is limited to 25 people, but that means everyone can interact with the guide. The daily summer schedule ends this week. [DF]

10am Thursday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 8. Cannery Row Plaza, Prescott Street and Cannery Row, Monterey. Free; registration required. steinbeckexperience.org.

 Friday, Aug. 7

To The Lighthouse

“A silvery, misty-looking tower with a yellow eye, that opened suddenly, and softly in the evening.” That’s how author Virginia Woolf described the mystery of the lighthouse, as seen by a child who longs to come closer. The fact that we, on Aug. 7, observe National Lighthouse Day speaks volume about our idyll of the lighthouse, these days mostly symbolic. It is associated with hope, endurance and loneliness – of both those who see its light and those who cast it. Point Pinos Lighthouse hosts a book talk for the occasion with local historian and author Stuart McDowell, who discusses his titles The Sinking of SS Montebello and The Last Lightkeeper, followed by a book signing. [AP]

11am-noon Friday, Aug. 7. Point Pinos Lighthouse, 80 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free (lighthouse tours are $7; $3/children). acolony@cityofpacificgrove.org, tinyurl.com/PointPinos.

Modern Poetics

Can one learn to become a poet? Some say you have to be born with it. That said, it’s worth a try. Every other Friday, a poetry-writing workshop at the most independent of independent bookstores, Old Capitol Books, has been nurturing poets for years. Currently it is run by poet Brian Sheffield. The same cohort of poets are at the heart of the annual Monterey Poetry Festival, which takes place every spring. Try your hand, and maybe you can join them. [AP]

7pm Friday, Aug. 7. Old Capitol Books, 482 Alvarado St., Monterey. Free. (831) 747-1322, oldcapitolbooks.com.

Smooth Sounds

Singer Sammy Johnson has made a name for himself as a defining voice of contemporary Pacific reggae, although that may be putting him in a box – his style of music encompasses so much more, including R&B, soul, jazz and music influenced by the Pacific Islands. Johnson comes by it naturally, with Maori and Polynesian roots, having been born in Fiji and raised in Australia. His smooth sound has been called both exhilarating and intoxicating. His song “Don’t Say Goodbye” was his big break on YouTube, with over 10 million views, landing him a record deal. [PM]

8pm Friday, Aug. 7. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $37-$43. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

 Saturday, Aug. 8

Chess, Mate

The Salinas Valley Chess Festival combines a rapid tournament format open to all players (ages 5 to 105, novice to master) and a blitz tournament limited to chessplayers experienced with the chess clock. We feel the pressure just thinking about it. The event is sponsored and hosted by Salinas Valley Chess Club. [AP]

9:15am rapid tournament; 5pm blitz Saturday, Aug. 8. Salinas Valley Community Church, 368 San Juan Grade Road, Salinas. $12; free/students in grades K-12, SVCC members. (831) 524-4488, new.uschess.org/salinas-valley-chess-festival.

Happy 113th Birthday

It was 1913 when the Young Women’s Christian Association founded its permanent summer campgrounds, Asilomar. Now within the purview of California State Parks, Asilomar Day celebrates the founding of the conference grounds with a party, cake and all. In the morning, ride in a vintage car provided by the Salinas Valley Horseless Carriage Club. Throughout the day get a look at never-before-seen personal effects of architect Julia Morgan who designed Asilomar’s iconic buildings. There are also guided tours of the historic buildings, a swing dance workshop, live music from Ricketts Folly and a wildflower tour in the dunes. And of course birthday cake, served at 2pm while it lasts. [PM]

10am-4pm Saturday, Aug. 8. Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 646-6440, bit.ly/AsilomarDay2026.

Fight Night

Although it may seem counterintuitive, those that have studied martial arts or combat sports like boxing discover that learning to fight also teaches one how to avoid physical confrontations outside of a ring or off the mat. Learning to temper one’s temper and gain confidence through training and discipline can be life-changing, for young people especially, which is what MXN Boxing Center in Salinas is all about. The gym is hosting its “Gloves for the Youth,” amateur boxing night this August to allow its youngest fighters a chance to show off their skills and compete for glory in front of a cheering crowd. [AS]

Noon Saturday, August 8. Fox Theater, 241 S. Main St., Salinas. $20/presale, $25/at the door. (831) 758-8459, foxtheatresalinas.com.

Listen to the Light

Ricki Byars is a singer-songwriter, an inspiring leader, an activist and the founding choir director and music director at Agape International Spiritual Center in LA. But her expansive resume does not quite convey what she offers musically in a genre you might think of as modern spiritual – moving and relatable to churchgoers or people of any denomination (or no denomination) seeking something transcendent and connective in music. Byars brings her inspirational music and famously captivating stage presence to Pacific Grove for what is sure to be an uplifting, soulful experience. [SR]

4-6pm Saturday, Aug. 8. Center for Spiritual Awakening, 255 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. $55. (831) 372-1942, centerforspiritualawakening.com.

Kick Stand

After early season struggles, Monterey Bay FC has shown some life. The USL Championship side is still stranded in last place in the Western Conference, but has gone from 2 points to 15 points over the last two months. They host a tough New Mexico United club that put together a three-win run to climb to 5th in the standings. [DF]

7pm Saturday, Aug. 8. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $25-$65. montereybayfc.com.

Small Orchestra

There’s a nostalgic vibe to the rich, layered orchestral arrangements singer-songwriter Mia Wilson is known for on her debut album (titled Mia Wilson), released in 2025. Based in Southern California, she brings her leisurely sound and soothing mezzo-soprano vocal to the stage at Fernwood, accompanied by Omar Velasco and Nydia Gonzalez. The intimacy of a trio does not mean you should expect a diminished sound, with layered piano chords and guitar supporting her introspective, thoughtful lyrics. [SR]

10pm Saturday, Aug. 8. Fernwood Resort, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. No cover; ages 21+. (831) 667-2422, fernwoodbigsur.com.

 Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 8-9

WEEKENDS WITH LUCY

With hots dogs, ice cream and an idyllic setting, Lucy’s on Lighthouse has its very own vibe. The venue’s live music schedule is packed for the summer, with El Brick (a rockabilly band from Santa Cruz) and Across the Street set to play on Saturday afternoon; Seadogs play on Sunday. Live local and regional music is guaranteed for the rest of August, if you stop by on weekend afternoons to hang out on the inviting patio. Upcoming bands are Rogue Roosters, River Voices and Silver Train. [AP]

2-4pm Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 8-9. 1120 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 920-2006, lucyspg.com.

 Sunday, Aug. 9

Summer Songs

The Monterey County Composers’ Forum is a group that gives songwriters and largely contemporary composers an inclusive space to share new work. The group, a regional nonprofit founded in 2000 by local musician and teacher Steve Ettinger, produces just three concerts a year that feature a range of genres, from classical and folk to popular music. The group has hosted hundreds of world premieres for local artists, sometimes featuring instrumentalists and other times uplifting local vocalists performing freshly written pieces. “Summer Songs” is a perfect ode to a Sunday afternoon. [KR]

3pm Sunday, Aug. 9. Hidden Valley Music Seminars, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $20. (831) 385-0973, hiddenvalleymusic.org.

 Tuesday, Aug. 11

Noisy Colors

Wild parrots have transformed into modern Los Angeles icons, claiming the city as their own. Why and how are they thriving there? In a talk titled “The Science of L.A.’s Wild Parrots,” evolutionary biologist John McCormack from Occidental College separates urban legend from science, using genetics, field research and thousands of public photos. [AP]

6pm Tuesday, Aug. 11. Hopkins Marine Station, 120 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove. Free. montereyaudubon.org.

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