Hot Picks 09.18.25

Thursday, Sept. 18-Saturday, Sept. 20

Sizzling Soapbox

Local theater company Soapbox Stageworks presents September Sizzlers, four one-act plays with an intermission. Within one evening, the audience can see: Amusing Willie by Donald Loftus (a take on Shakespeare’s creative writing process), Ramifications by Alex Bernstein (a young man seeks direction from an unusual source), Rubbish by Earl Crittendon (a simple rummage sale spirals into a tug-of-war over history, legacy and identity) and Maltese Monkey by Margie Semilof (in which an attorney must determine which of two warring adult children is worthy of a precious family jewel). All plays are contemporary and last between 7-12 minutes. [AP]

7pm Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 18-20; Friday-Saturday, Sept. 26-27. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. $36. 664-6587, soapboxstageworks@gmail.com, soapboxstageworks.org.

 Friday, Sept. 19

Original Blends

Coffee shops in other cities are analogous to wine bars in Monterey. And if artists like Jewel, Taylor Swift or Ray LaMontagne were hanging around Cannery Row before they were famous, they’d probably be discovered playing at Bargetto Winery’s Monterey Music Showcase event, kicking off third Thursdays of each month. Musicians who have three to five (or more) original tunes to share are welcome to plug in and take the microphone to show off what they’ve been working on. And if you’re worried about affording wine tasting on a musician’s budget, fear not because Bargetto is offering discounts on their wine flights during the performances. No covers – paid or musical – are to be found here. [SC]

3-7pm Friday, Sept. 19. Bargetto Winery, 700-G Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover. 373-4053, bargetto.com.

Triple Play

It’s fitting for the Miranda Perl Trio to be performing in the Pacific Grove Public Library’s monthly Rhythm & Reads concert series, because Perl’s melodic voice, accompanied with gentle jazz instruments, sounds like it could score a movie montage. You can just picture it: a reflective character walking along the beach or in a park, reading at a cafe, watching TV alone with their dog or cat. The Trio’s sound is one to relax to, to let wash over you in an otherwise quiet place. You could bring a friend, or even something to read. [DS]

5:30pm Friday, Sept. 19. Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary.org.

Under Fire

The devastating war in Gaza that began just after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 continues today. Its human toll has been well documented in the media, thanks largely to Palestinian journalists working inside Gaza. Their work has become increasingly perilous, with at least 189 journalists killed and 90 imprisoned, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In the documentary Gaza: Journalists Under Fire, filmmaker Robert Greenwald documents the lives and deaths of three Palestinian journalists: Belal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadla and Ismail al-Ghoul. In a statement last month following an Israeli strike that killed five journalists in Gaza – the deadliest such strike – CPJ called for an investigation and wrote, “it is part of a wider, deeply troubling pattern of lethal attacks on the media. The press cannot function under fire. When journalists die without answers, truth dies with them.” This screening and panel discussion cannot promise to provide the answers, but at least to provoke conversation. [SR]

7pm Friday, Sept. 19. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 490 Aguajito Road, Carmel. Free. montereypalestineevents.com.

Southern Comfort

When naming a band, it is important to capture something of its essence in the words. Not all bands are successful, of course. But Red Beans & Rice nailed it. The music hails from delta shotgun shacks and New Orleans music halls, the worn wood dance floors that echo Texas swing and the smoky blues haunts of Chicago. This is truth, hardship and comfort rolled into sound. And they are not to be missed – especially when the poetic spirit Rags Rosenberg shares the bill. [DF]

7pm Friday, Sept. 19. Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave St., Monterey. $25. wavestreetlive774.com.

 Friday, Sept. 19-Saturday, Sept. 20

Take it Easy

Chaz Bear, perhaps better known by his stage name Toro y Moi, knows how to chill out, and it’s something we should all aspire to do. He’s credited as being a pioneer of the chillwave genre, a dreamy retro sound meant to evoke feelings of nostalgia. It’s only fitting that Bear will perform in Big Sur, the land of dreamy landscapes that attracts all sorts of creatives. In this concert and camping experience presented by folkYeah! and Fernwood Resort, Bear is joined by some of his musical friends over two days of shows. It’ll be a chill time. [EC]

Noon-10pm Friday-Saturday, Sept. 19-20. Fernwood Resort, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. $882-$1,744. 667-2422, bit.ly/ToroyMoiFernwood.

 Saturday, Sept. 20

Across Cultures

With a diverse array of cultures from around the world represented in our county, what better way to share the richness of those cultures with each other than with a big celebration, including food, performances, crafts and activities? The City of Marina Recreation & Cultural Services Department is throwing that celebration with the 2025 Marina Multi-Cultural Festival. Performers include the Monterey Bay Chinese Association, the FilAm Community Club of the Monterey Peninsula, Huli A hai Mai la ‘U, Sampaguita Dancers of St. Jude Church, Marina Uu Dam Temple, Om Shanti Om Bollywood Dance Group and others. Make sure to bring a blanket to settle in and watch. [PM]

11am-3pm Saturday, Sept. 20. Vince DiMaggio Park, 3200 Del Monte Blvd., Marina. Free. 884-1253, cityofmarina.org.

Art of Place

Museum-goers experience the art on the walls, the informational placards, the impeccable lighting. What goes into how that experience is envisioned, defined and created? Curators spend hours selecting pieces to display and thinking about how to convey a story. This event features four guest curators – Wendy Van Wyck Good, David D. Keaton, John Rexine and Magnus Torén – whose four exhibits now fill MMA’s Pacific Street galleries with different takes on the theme of mid-century Big Sur. The day kicks off at 11:30am with a discussion led by MMA Executive Director Corey Madden, followed by lunch in the rose garden from 1-3pm. Learn about the discoveries, logic and intention behind these exhibits – and maybe a behind-the-scenes discovery or two that was made along the way. [SR]

11:30am-3pm Saturday, Sept. 20. Monterey Museum of Art - La Mirada, 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. $1,000; $1,500/two tickets; $5,000/table of eight; discounts for MMA members. 372-5477, montereyart.org.

Bier Here

It’s a sad fact, but not everyone can make it to Munich for Oktoberfest. Tut mir leid. Fortunately, Alvarado Street Brewery’s J.C. Hill studied traditional Bavarian brewing there. And for the first time, he’s bringing Oktoberfest to Monterey. There will be German-style beers from Alvarado, plus more than 30 taps pouring brews from other craft brewers, both local and from across the U.S. There will be artisanal German sausages from The Meatery – yes, bratwurst, but also styles such as käsekainer. Pretzels and apple strudel, too, plus vendors, music and games. Tickets include a crystal tankard and four beer tokens ($4 each for more). So weit, ist es gut. There is, however, one problem. Oktoberfest in Monterey lasts just a few hours. Feiern Sie, solange Sie können. [DF]

1-5pm Saturday, Sept. 20. Colton Hall lawn, 570 Pacific St., Monterey. $55; $66/door; $18/designated driver; free/12 and under with adult. eventbrite.com.

Expo Time

The Pacific Grove Art Center has put together a large multimedia event, Pacific Grove Art Expo, with a vision of transforming Lighthouse Avenue into a corridor of creativity. Look for film screenings, street vendors and performances in the neighborhood. The expo celebrates collaboration and diversity in the arts. Screenings will be hosted at venues throughout downtown P.G. [AP]

3-9pm Saturday, Sept. 20. Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. $12. 375-2208, generalinfopgac@gmail.com, tinyurl.com/3rv2d539.

Sowing Support

Everyone deserves the opportunity to grow, and have access to tools that improve their quality of life. In Spanish, siembra means “to sow” – a reflection of the Siembra Latinos Fund’s mission to support educational, economic and mental health initiatives for Latino communities in Monterey County. The organization provides grants to nonprofits and public agencies that promote college and career preparation, STEM education, and economic stability – especially for immigrant women – and more. Their 8th annual celebration is hosted at CRŪ Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This special reception celebrates the impact of the Latino community and the power of collective giving, featuring a delicious dinner, wine and live music by Nancy Cordiel, while honoring a local champion for empowerment (see story, p. 32). [KR]

4-6:30pm Saturday, Sept. 20. CRŪ Winery, 37500 Foothill Road, Soledad. $75. 375-9712, cfmco.org/siembra2025.

More to Tango

Hip-hop and electronica paired with flamenco and tango might sound like an odd combination, but the Latin Grammy-nominated Los Tangueros del Oeste makes it work – seamlessly. The ensemble is steeped in the Nuevo Tango sound, combining influences of modern and classic with a mix of work from the masters of their genres. Founder Sascha Jacobsen, a bassist and composer, can trace his musical family to at least five generations, when one member performed as a bassist for the Moscow Opera in the early 19th century. He’s joined by other masters of their craft to create music that is sure to resonate with a broad audience. [EC]

7-9pm Saturday, Sept. 20. Palenke Arts, 1713 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $30. bit.ly/TanguerosConcertSept20.

 Sunday, Sept. 21

Potluck For Peace

The world may be roiled in violence, but the International Peace Day Potluck, hosted by the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in honor of the annual International Day of Peace (first established unanimously by a United Nations resolution in 1981) is here. This year the event recognizes the seven mayors on the Monterey Peninsula who are members of Mayor for Peace – a network of about 8,600 mayors across 166 countries who are working toward a peaceful and nuclear-free future. The potluck will be full of good food and meaningful conversation, with special guest Jackie Cabasso, an activist for nuclear disarmament and the North American coordinator of the U.S. Mayors for Peace. [KR]

3-5:30pm Sunday, Sept. 21. Monterey Peace & Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free. 899-7322, tinyurl.com/2s3urh5k.

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