Hot Picks 09.03.26

 Thursday, Sept. 3

She’s Ba-a-a-ck

Jazz flutist Ali Ryerson is returning once again to Hidden Valley Music Seminars for a new master class for up-and-coming flutists, which for us means a masterful public performance by the accomplished Ryerson, joined by Steve Rudolph on piano, Akira Tana on percussion and John Wiitala on bass. In June she released her latest album, The Ali Ryerson Quartet. It’s already ranking high on national jazz charts. Her career spans over four decades, during which time she’s released nearly 20 albums and toured all over the world. Take the opportunity to see a true master at work. [PM]

7:30pm Thursday, Sept. 3. Hidden Valley Music Seminars, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $25. (831) 659-3115, hiddenvalleymusic.org.

Joke’s on Everyone

Some comedians build up to the punchline. Others keep it going nonstop. No matter their style, these comedians will have to adapt their routine to a rigid five-minute set. The San Francisco Comedy Competition is back in Monterey County, with 32 comedians vying for the title in a prestigious competition that’s launched the careers of such stars as Dana Carvey and Ellen DeGeneres. The Folktale Winery stop marks the first in a tour throughout the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area. The first 16 comedians battle it out in this round; the other 16 perform the following week. For some, five minutes will feel like an eternity, but for others, it will fly by. The audience is just along for the ride. [EC]

7:45pm Thursday, Sept. 3 and Sept. 10. Folktale Winery & Vineyards, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $56. (831) 293-7500, folktalewinery.com.

 Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 3-6

Hear Her Roar

This wasn’t an immediate classic. When Euripides showed Medea for the first time, in 431 BC, the audience was not ready for her take on the myth of the golden fleece – the object of pursuits by the Argonauts under the leadership of Jason, who in Medea’s retelling of events is everything but a hero. In this production, the young sorceress of Colchis (today’s Georgia) is played by Jennifer Le Blanc from Oakland. Local actors Julie Hughett play the Nurse and Mike Storm plays Jason, Creon and Aegeus, embodying all forms of masculinity that oppress Medea and drive her to madness. This ultimate story of betrayal and revenge is directed by Kenneth Kelleher. [AP]

7:30pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, Sept. 3-Sept. 20. Golden Bough Playhouse’s Circle Theatre, Casanova between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $11-$46; discounted previews Sept. 3-Sept. 4. (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org.

 Thursday-Monday, Sept. 3-7

All’s Fair

Some people would have you think the so-called Lettuce Curtain is a deep divide, but the folks at the Monterey County Fair know better. This year’s theme is “Cowboy Boots and Coastal Roots,” an homage to the diverse experiences from agriculture to home crafts that are uplifted and celebrated at the fair. See the best in livestock from market steers to rabbits, chutney to upholstery, floriculture to crocheted sweaters (see p. 18). “Fairs bring people together from every corner of our state to celebrate agriculture, community, and the dedication of those who make it all possible,” California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross wrote in a letter to exhibitors. “Our fairgrounds are more than event spaces; they are year-round centers of community life.” Not to mention multiple stages with a busy lineup of live music, all the classic carnival rides and games and fair food – which, we can assure you from experience and serving size, is best shared with friends. [SR]

Noon-11pm Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 3-6, noon-10pm Monday, Sept. 7. Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. Standard admission in advance: $17; $14/seniors; $10/children ages 6-12; free/children 5 and under; various special packages and free admission available to veterans, children, seniors on certain dates. (831) 372-5863, montereycountyfair.com.

 Saturday, Sept. 5

First Again

California’s First Theatre is hosting the third annual First Theatre Fest. Consider it a community festival, with food vendors, live music, poetry and special attention to theatrical arts. Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Arts students will be on stage at 11am to share what they are working on this semester. The audience will hear readings from two upcoming plays­ – the world premiere of Margaret and The Wampus Cat (Oct. 15-25) and Tartuffe by Moliere (Nov. 12-22), shared Todd Siff on behalf of his cohort. The first is a rural, queer coming-of-age story where a restless teenager stray from her home in Tennessee to hunt a legendary monster. Poetry Friends of Monterey take the stage at 1pm. River Voices band plays live music; Café Guaraní and La Pizza Piccolo Mobile Pizza serve food. [AP]

11am-4pm Saturday, Sept. 5. California’s First Theatre, Pacific and Scott streets, Monterey. Free. mshpa.org/first-theatre-fest.

Green n’ Gold

What’s green and gold and crispy and delicious? Artichokes, but also the inaugural Green & Gold gala celebrating the special vegetable and the region’s agricultural heritage and community spirit. The gala serves as the official kickoff event for the Castroville Artichoke Festival in May 2027 where you can continue to keep the artichoke servings coming. The gala is a celebratory countdown to the most favorite artichoke day of the year; tri-tip and char-grilled barbecued chicken are served, and an auction benefits North County Regional Park District. [KR]

5-9pm Saturday, Sept. 5. North County Recreation Center, 11261 Crane St., Castroville. $75. (831) 633-3084, tinyurl.com/GalaGreenGold.

 Sunday, Sept. 6

Piano Story

During the pandemic, jazz pianist Bob Phillips showed up at Wild Fish that had morphed into a to-go factory, offering a piano for free. They said yes. The next day, Phillips and his son wheeled the piano into the restaurant, where it became a soundtrack for the people picking up their to-go orders, and Phillips was playing for a world of people on the other side of the glass, all masked up. Eventually, he migrated outside to play in the restaurant’s parklet. In 2020, Phillips and other musicians at Wild Fish formed the beginnings of the Lighthouse Jazz Quartet, a group featuring Stu Reynolds, Dennis Murphy, Bob Phillips, Paul Contos and Mike Shannon. Since then, the ensemble has recorded an album produced by Wild Fish. This Sunday, they celebrate the release of the vinyl while celebrating Phillips’ 90th birthday. [KR]

2-4pm Sunday, Sept. 6. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. $50. (831) 624-7491, tinyurl.com/WildFishJazz.

Folk Rocks

Galen Fraser is the son of legendary Celtic fiddler Alasdair Fraser. So it is no surprise that Strings magazine would praise the younger Fraser’s bow work, noting that it “entwines the robust crunch and skirl of the old world with the airy ostinato and shimmering tremolo of the new.” But guess what? The same is said of Maria San Miguel. And the duo are equally celebrated on the pandareta and cittern. And San Miguel Fraser is charting an unfamiliar yet welcome course for Castilian and Celtic folk. In both their original music and imaginative takes on tradition, they craft a sound and voice that is effervescent and engaging, with a spirit that binds audiences to the communities from which the folk tradition emerged – something they share both on stage and on their new album, Dots of Light. [DF]

3pm Sunday, Sept. 6. St. Mary’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $31; $13/children 12 and under. (831) 373-4441, celticsociety.org.

Indie Toons

There’s just something tantalizing about the incomplete nature of short stories, whether they are on paper, film or animated, they leave one thinking about the narrative and how it could have gone if it were a full-length piece. And there is infinite creative potential in animated shorts, which will be on full display at the PULP Pop-Up event, a one-day animation screening highlighting bold, experimental and independent contemporary shorts from acclaimed animators around the globe who have been featured on Adult Swim, HBO, Hulu and Nickelodeon, among others. [AS]

6pm Sunday, Sept. 6. Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $12/in advance; $15/at the door. (831) 375-2208, pgartcenter.org.

Ancient Fun

A variant of a sport that has been played for over 3,000 years in Mesoamerica – a region from Central Mexico to Central America – is coming to town. Juego de Pelota Mixteco or Mixteco Ballgame is a live variant of the Mesoamerican Ballgame, a game that simulated the celestial fight between day and night or served to resolve disputes. The Mixteco Ballgame has been passed down through generations and across borders following the Mixtec and Zapotec diaspora, and for the first time, it will be played officially in Monterey County. The game includes two teams of five, each called quinta. It is similar to tennis, with a long court divided in two halves. There is no net and instead of a racket, players use a glove. Come cheer them on. [CJ]

10am Sunday, Sept. 6. Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, 1440 Constitution Blvd., Salinas. Free; $5/parking. (831) 800-6115, salinassoccer.org.

 Monday, Sept. 7

Labor Love

We have two-day weekends thanks to the American labor movement, which is reason enough, among many, to celebrate that movement with a three-day weekend so we can make good use of that time relaxing and even taking in some good music. For the third year in a row, Monterey County Pops! entertains an audience on the Seaside City Hall lawn, performing songs of celebration. This year the concert features Salinas vocalists Tiana and Tahlia Magdaleno and Diego Ramirez. The three Hartnell College students are recipients of the Killian Scholarship and competed in a national collegiate singing competition. [PM]

2pm Monday, Sept. 7. Seaside City Hall lawn, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 484-5511, montereycountypops.org.

Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 8-9

Four Forever

They’ve gone through different iterations over time, but that’s to be expected when you’ve been on stage and in the studio since 1960. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are one of the top-selling musical groups in history, and anyone who was around in the 1960s will immediately recognize the opening notes to such hits as “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Rag Doll.” Heck, even Gen Z will know these timeless classics that have been covered by modern-day artists. “Walk Like A Man,” in addition to being a number-one hit by The Four Seasons, is also the name of a tribute concert presented by PacRep Theatre and led by Val Martinez, who once toured alongside Valli. [EC]

7:30pm Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9. Founders Theatre, Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $41-$61. (831) 622-0100, pacrep.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.