Thursday, Sept. 11
The Priestess
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Sheva Elliot is described as a rock, blues and Americana composer and performer. Yet, her music comes with a characteristic old-school rock vibe that makes it hard for a listener to place her in time, or even tell her age. Her voice is full of color and her lyrics personal, often analyzing the tricky subject of love. She debuted in 2023 with the Pay the Priestess album, followed by Sheva Elliot (Live at The Troubadour) in 2024. Elliot’s music has been compared to Brandi Carlile and Susan Tedeschi, but her singular sound is all her own. [AP]
8pm Thursday, Sept. 11. Pop & Hiss, 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. No cover. info@popandhiss.net, popandhiss.net.
Thursday, Sept. 11-Tuesday, Sept. 16
Zone, Out
It’s time to celebrate. Blue Zones Project is finalizing its mission in Monterey County with events all across the county. We are the first county in California to be certified as a Blue Zones Community.
The Blue Zones Project got its start over five years ago in Salinas, eventually growing to encompass Monterey County, with a goal of nudging all of us to be just a little healthier. Recently the national organization declared that Blue Zones Project Monterey County had achieved its goals and officially named us as the first Certified Blue Zones County in California. The local staff is celebrating in line with their original mission – a series of events promoting, what else, a healthier lifestyle. The BZPMC Celebration Week is already underway and continues through Tuesday, Sept. 16 with a community walk, a hike (with wine – healthy need not be boring), cooking demonstration and party featuring Blue Zones-inspired bites and live music. [PM]
King City Community Walk: 6-7pm Thursday, Sept. 11 at Downtown Plaza, 326 Broadway St., King City; La Cocina Celebrates: 5-7pm Friday, Sept. 12 at La Cocina Restaurant, 815 Broadway St., King City; Hike & Wine: 10am-noon Sunday, Sept. 14 at CRU Winery, 37500 Foothill Road, Soledad; Cooking Demo: 4-5pm Tuesday, Sept. 16 at El Gabilan Library, 1400 N. Main St., Salinas. Events are free with registration at montereycounty.bluezonesproject.com. bzpmontereycounty@bluezones.com.
Friday, Sept. 12- Sunday, Sept. 14
Seeing Red
The Ferrari Challenge North America series probably requires some explanation. But come on – these are Ferraris that you never see outside the track. The Ferrari 296 Challenge is constructed only for competition. They are quick. They are nimble. And because every car on track is the same, it makes for some tight battles among the pros and amateurs. Yes, each race fields both professionals and qualified amateurs, so there are two class winners each time the checkered flag drops. Practice takes place on Friday, with qualifying (morning) and racing (afternoon) on Saturday and Sunday. [DF]
8:30am Friday-Sunday, Sept. 12-14. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. $10/Friday; $72/Saturday, Sunday; free/15 and under with adult. 242-8201, weathertechraceway.com.
Friday, Sept. 12
Far and Away
James Michael Dorsey, a world traveler and author, has many stories to tell, and returns with a new series he’s titled “Off the Beaten Path.” This Friday, Dorsey takes us to the remote Omo Valley in Ethiopia, a place where the villages evolved in linguistic and stylistic isolation until the mid-20th century. With photos and videos, Dorsey takes attendees up close to wildlife, a bizarre and brutal wedding ceremony, part of this “journey into unknown Africa.” If you can’t make it to the Omo Valley to check it out yourself, this is a chance to explore the unknown right here at home. [DS]
5-6pm Friday, Sept. 12. Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. Register at monterey.gov/library or 646-3933.
Queen’s Honor
The Queen tribute band Queen Nation features Gregory Finsley on vocals and keyboards as Freddie Mercury; guitarist Mike McManus as Brian May; drummer Pete Burke as Roger Taylor and Parker Combs on bass as John Deacon.
You already know these songs by heart – “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Fat Bottomed Girls” – because Queen made an indelible musical impression on generations of listeners. This quartet, featuring Gregory Finsley on vocals and keyboards as Freddie Mercury, has been embodying Queen and performing the greatest hits for 15 years and counting. (According to the band, they are the “undisputed no. 1 ranked” Queen tribute band, something we don’t dispute but also cannot fact check.) This is a chance to sing along to your faves, and embrace a tribute band devoted to historical accuracy and detail – not only do they perform the music in keeping with the originals, they have studied the musicians’ style and 1970s attire, and perform them as characters. Serious stuff, for serious fun. [SR]
7pm Friday, Sept. 12. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $35-$76. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Saturday, Sept. 13- Sunday, Sept. 14
Succulent Delights
Here are a couple of fun facts about succulents you may not have known. Unlike most plants, succulents are nighttime breathers, taking in carbon dioxide after dark to conserve water. And: fossils of succulents date back millions of years, showing how they’ve adapted to extreme environments since prehistoric times. If you found that interesting, perhaps you are a succulent appreciator, or collector, and an event hosted by the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society may pique your interest. The fall cactus and succulent show and sale has arrived, with experts on hand to answer any questions you might have. [KR]
9am-5pm Saturday, Sept. 13; 9am-3pm Sunday, Sept. 14. Portuguese Community Hall, 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville. Free. mbsucculent.org.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Wild Things
The Elkhorn Slough, with all its natural treasures, is waiting for you. California Biodiversity Day on Saturday, Sept. 13 is a great opportunity to explore the reserve.
The Elkhorn Slough is a special place, a wildlife hotspot home to otters, innumerable birds and a whole lot of life that, to really appreciate, you to have to stop, bend down and take a closer look. Celebrating that biodiversity is the plan for Sept. 13 at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve – it’s California Biodiversity Day – when volunteers lead guided hikes at 10am and 11am to highlight all the wonders. At the visitor’s center, a “Bioblitz” booth teaches visitors how to participate in the iNaturalist app’s challenge to find 30 species on Biodiversity Day. [DS]
9:30am-4:30pm Saturday, Sept. 13. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Elkhorn. Free. 728-2822, elkhornslough.org.
Crafts and Ponies
Arts and crafts are always a little more fun when animals are involved, right? In this case, the animals have long beautiful hair, and like to eat hay. The East Garrison Art Community is hosting an art festival at yes, an equestrian center, where they’ll be bringing together 30 local artists, crafters, live music, food trucks and English Ales for the adults to enjoy. It’s a perfect family-fun weekend with activities for all ages, and in the company of horses and maybe a few other lovable barnyard critters. Face painting and pony rides are available for the kiddos. [KR]
10am-4pm Saturday, Sept. 13. Marina Equestrian Center, 2830 5th Ave., Marina. Free. arts4mc.org.
Pump it Up
The pumpkin patch might be made of glass, but everything else at MEarth’s Hilton Bialek Habitat in Carmel is growing out of the ground – including grassroots support at this annual fundraiser.
Raise your hand if you wish a pumpkin could last forever. Sure, their lifespans last much longer if you don’t carve them, but there’s always that moment months later when you try to pick them up, only to find the dreaded mold at their base. But what if we told you there are pumpkins that not only last forever (with great care, of course), but are also all colors of the rainbow? The secret is glass. Returning for the 13th year, the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel features thousands of hand-blown glass pumpkins created by artists Nick Leonoff and Kevin Chong. The event is MEarth’s largest fundraiser of the year, and also includes organic produce, live music, interactive educational activities and more. [EC]
10am-5pm Saturday, Sept. 13 and 10am-4pm Sunday, Sept. 14. Hilton Bialek Habitat, 4380 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free. 624-1032, mearthcarmel.org/glass-pumpkin-patch.
Tiki-Taco
As the season nears its conclusion, each match becomes ever more crucial. Monterey Bay FC entered last weekend in 11th in the USL Championship Western Conference, yet just a win (and a few losses by some other teams) from a playoff berth. But enough of that. Saturday is taco fest at Cardinale Stadium. Before (and perhaps after) the game there will be nine taco trucks on hand, plus live music and dancing (and great beer, per usual). So you will be in fine spirits no matter what happens between MBFC and Hartford Athletic. The visitors, by the way, are 5th in the Eastern Conference. Go tacos! [DF]
7pm Saturday, Sept. 13. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $24-$59. montereybayfc.com.
Teen Idol
Frankie Avalon is still here. The 1960s teen heartthrob, who was forever immortalized in the 1978 movie Grease singing the ode “Beauty School Dropout,” is still touring and offering up melodic nostalgia to all generations. Born Francis Thomas Avallone in Philadelphia, still in his teens he became Frankie Avalon and in 1959 released the chart-topping single “Venus,” sealing his fate, even 60-plus years later. This is music from a simpler time, even if, as Avalon sings in Grease, “the world is cruel… wipe off that angel face and go back to high school.” [SR]
7:30pm Saturday, Sept. 13. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $65-$115. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Sand Lots
A sand castle is every child’s beach dream. Adults are obsessed with them too, apparently, as each annual Great Sandcastle Contest in Carmel proves. See p. 29.
Grab your buckets, shovels and rakes, because it’s time to get building. The Great Sandcastle Contest is back for its 62nd year, presented by the City of Carmel and Monterey Bay chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This year’s theme is “Carmel’s Nature,” so sandcastles (or forts, or homes, or cottages, use your imagination) should incorporate some of the defining features found in the small village. How about the Sunset Center made out of sand? Or Comstock’s cottages? Make it happen, builders – or just come to admire others’ work. [EC]
7am (building begins), 11am (judging) Sunday, Sept. 14. Carmel Beach, between 10th and 12th. Free. 620-2020, communityactivities.ci.carmel.ca.us.
Tuesday, Sept. 16- Wednesday, Sept. 17
City of Love
Every year the Monterey Symphony shares its love for a particular place through movie scores, this year they’re sending musical adoration to the very romantic city of Paris. Hollywood has always loved Paris as well, making it the star of many films. The symphony plays tribute with songs from popular movies like An American in Paris, Beauty and the Beast, Ratatouille and The Phantom of the Opera, as well as films like Orpheus in the Underworld, Amélie and Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. Dress up as a character from one of the films and you might win a prize in the costume contest. On t’aime Paris! [PM]
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