Thursday, Oct. 8- Saturday, Oct. 10
Down the Rabbit Hole
Step into Alice’s world in Wonderland! at ARIEL Theatrical, where a magical adventure awaits. Follow the journey down the rabbit hole and discover a world where nothing is quite what it seems. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of this beloved story or experiencing Wonderland for the first time, there’s a lesson to be learned about patience, persistence and accountability. Let the real life chess game begin. [RH]
7pm Thursday-Friday, Oct. 8-9, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, Oct. 10. ARIEL Theatrical, 320 Main St., Salinas. $13-17. (831) 775-0976, arieltheatrical.org.
Friday, Oct. 9-Saturday, Oct. 10
Wild Ride
Do drinking and driving ever mix? Of course – when you are doing the drinking and someone else is behind the handlebars. Biers & Gears is a two-day festival celebrating Oktoberfest with cold brews and flat track motorcycle racing. There is also live music, when you can hear it (which won’t be Friday during moto practice or Saturday, when racing happens from 2-5pm), and food vendors. If that’s not enough, the grounds also host a vintage motorcycle show. Just one word of advice: if you pick a spot in the corner to catch the race, cover your stein when the bikes skid by. A shower of dirt can ruin a good beer. [DF]
3-10pm Friday, Oct. 9; 10am-10pm Saturday, Oct. 10. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $27-$53; free/children 10 and under. (831) 372-5863, montereycountyfair.com.
Horrifying Comedy
They say that the only way to experience The Rocky Horror Show is at a live showing of the 1975 film (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) or an actual performance, compared to just watching the movie at home, which some describe as being like judging a roller coaster by watching videos of people riding it on YouTube. For those looking for a local rendition of the classic horror comedy musical, look no further than Paper Wing Theatre, where a cast of local characters play the classic roles of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, made famous by the late Tim Curry, and others, with evening and midnight performances throughout October. Audience members: You are part of this story, come prepared. [AS]
7:30pm Fridays-Saturdays and 11:59pm Saturdays, Oct. 9-31. Paper Wing Theatre, 711 Cannery Row (second floor), Monterey. $35. (831) 905-5684, paperwing.com.
Friday, Oct. 9
Rewilded
What has their own language, yet does not speak; what does not move, yet shakes in the wind; what stands alone, yet defends their communities? The Language of Trees is a deeply thoughtful collection written by Katie Holten, where she investigates the relationships between humans and the natural world. Her book is both an anthology and a visual masterpiece, fusing ecology, art and literature. In it, she famously invented a 26-letter alphabet where each letter corresponds to a hand-drawn silhouette of a specific tree. And what betterplace to hear her unpack her writing and join a journey to connect with our wild spaces than under the redwoods at Henry Miller Library? [KR]
Noon Friday, Oct. 9. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. (831) 667-2574, bit.ly/TreeTalk26.
Get Owned
Your laugh is unique to you, but J. Valentino wants you to not just use it, but to own it. The comedian is coming to Salinas for what promises to be an entertaining evening hosted by other comedic voices such as Tyson Paul, Leonard Madrid, Veronica Arent and Julian Gonzalez. Valentino is an expert in entertainment, having been a strip club DJ and known for his funny YouTube short videos with his mama. So you can decide for yourself who really owns the stage, and discover how to own your laugh. [SC]
7pm Friday, Oct. 9. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $25-$40. Ages 21-plus. (831) 758-8459, tickets831.com.
Saturday, Oct. 10
Tip Top
Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy has gained a reputation for turning out outstanding young chefs, which is why anytime these students put on a dinner, people flock to taste whatever they’ve cooked up. Rancho Cielo is partnering with the Carmel Youth Center to put on a Community BBQ & Fundraiser in Carmel, featuring a Santa Maria-style tri-tip and homemade sides prepared by culinary students. They’re bringing along their Classic Car Restoration students, along with the 1929 Model A restored by the students for display during Car Week. The students’ handiwork is amazing to behold. All proceeds from the event go to benefit Carmel Youth Center’s Teen Innovation Lab and Rancho Cielo’s technical programs. [PM]
2pm Saturday, Oct. 10. Carmel Youth Center. 412 4th St., Carmel. $25. (831) 624-3285, carmelyouth.org.
Meet Your Maker
Care to go for a stroll? Twelve square blocks of Carmel will be dedicated to Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk, where for an entry fee, you can listen to live music and sip Monterey County wines while exploring charming galleries featuring everything from contemporary to abstract art, fine art photography and more. Of course, you must be 21 or older to attend this seventh annual wine and art event that starts at Devendorf Park. Go meet the makers, but please don’t drink enough to meet your maker. [CO]
4-7pm Saturday, Oct. 10. Devendorf Park, 455 Junipero Ave., Carmel. $50. (831) 624-2522, carmelcalifornia.com.
Musical Legacy
Hungarian composer and pianist Béla Bartók built a musical reputation for charting new territory. But as an ethnomusicologist, he also brought very old sounds to a wider audience. Starting around 1910, he traveled to Transylvanian villages, recording folk music on an Edison cylinder recorder. He went on to transcribe the songs and incorporate elements into his work – and a century later, others are still doing the same. Romanian pianist Lucian Ban and American violist Mat Maneri used Bartók’s work as springboards for what became their 2022 live recording called Transylvanian Dance. They bring that merging of old and new to Sand City amid tour stops on both sides of the Atlantic. [SR]
7-9pm Saturday, Oct. 10. SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $50; $30/students, military. sandboxsandcity@gmail.com, sandboxsandcity.com.
Life is Funny
Brian Regan loves Disneyland, but doesn’t like the other people who are there. The worst are the line-cutters who disrespect the hierarchy of the queue – adults and children alike. We’ve been the victims of line-cutters also, and that’s the style of Regan’s comedy: riffing on relatable, everyday situations that are hilarious because they are true. Regan is known for his stand-up routines that are void of profanity, preferring to let the absurdity of life add the punch to his humor. He’s been active in the stand-up world since the 1980s, and has a slew of television appearances and comedy specials to his name. Most of all, he has a message to Disneyland line-cutters everywhere: “I want my family flying around on elephants before your family.” [EC]
7pm Saturday, Oct. 10. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $62-$97. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Sunday, Oct. 11
Happy Birthday
With all the work it’s had done on it over the years, it’s hard to tell that the Old Fisherman’s Wharf will be celebrating 181 years in existence this year. To mark the milestone, the Fisherman’s Wharf Association is throwing a birthday bash for the structure (and attractions it supports) with a slate of family-friendly activities for all ages, live music from the Money Band and free birthday cake. Veteran radio personality David Marzetti is the master of ceremonies. Get there early and catch one of two hour-long Wharf Walks with local historian Tim Thomas. [AS]
10am-5pm Sunday, Oct. 11. Fisherman’s Wharf, 201 Washington St., Monterey. Free. (831) 238-0777, montereywharf.com.
Dance Cure
Are Zumba instructors dance teachers or fitness fanatics? However you feel about the exercise craze, one of the motivators is to help those living with breast cancer to meet essential living expenses. The Breast Cancer Assistance Group of Monterey County wants you to move to the music – and get a chance to meet the women who will benefit from your sweat. This fundraiser includes prize giveaways, and participants are encouraged to wear their hottest pink outfits to really stand out – and spread awareness. [SC]
2:30-5pm Sunday, Oct. 11. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. $20/in advance; $25/same day; $40/VIP. (831) 649-6365, bcagmc.org.
Piano Dance
Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe, better known as Anderson & Roe, combine their instrumental talents to open up an entirely new dimension of piano playing. Together, they entertain, they enthrall and they channel magnificent artistic expression through the keys and draw listeners into the world of classical music. The two work in tandem, dancing across the piano and building on one another to unearth genre-transcending pieces that quite literally test the boundaries of their instruments. They’ve toured the world and released five critically acclaimed albums along the way. [KR]
3pm Sunday, Oct. 11. Sunset Center, 908 San Carlos St., Carmel. $45-$65. (831) 620-2048, carmelmusic.org.
Monday, Oct. 12
Lemon Law
Finding a car for $500 these days is a challenge. Finding one at that price point that runs is all-but impossible. But the thrill of the hunt is only part of the fun for competitors in the 24 Hours of Lemons. For the first time, the clunker-car endurance racing series makes its way to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Teams must buy a car for $500 or less, then bring it up to race-spec with safety equipment and other components that do not count toward the price limit. You might see a clapped-out Volkswagen Rabbit with rally stripes barreling through the Corkscrew (terrifying) or a Ford Fiesta with no headlights battling for position on the final stretch (sounds painfully slow). It’s all absurd fun on a world-famous track known for the incredible cars and drivers that have graced the course over the decades. [EC]
9am-4pm Monday, Oct. 12. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. Free for spectators, get tickets at bit.ly/4xcOtQm. 24hoursoflemons.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
One-Man Orchestra
All Ian Maksin needs to fill the room is his cello and his voice. Born in St. Petersburg, he started playing instruments at age 3, and cello at age 6. His specialty became global folk songs, which he performs in over 40 languages, traveling the globe. From regional Georgian songs to the healing songs of the Navajo people, Maksin shares hyperlocal treasures with wide audiences. Get immersed in the deep, resonant vibrations of the cello. [AP]
7pm Tuesday, Oct. 13. Monterey Center for Spiritual Living, 52 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $30; $20/youth, students. (831) 372-7326, montereycsl.org.
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