Hot Picks 10.23.25

 Thursday, Oct. 23

Silent Piano

Public pianos are a little gift to all of us – sure, you might walk by and hear a kid practicing “Chopsticks,” but you might catch a bit of stunning musical skill at the airport or in a hotel lobby. What if the setting for a piano was the beach, and the pianist was an acclaimed composer and mindfulness teacher? That’s what happens at this concert where Murray Hidary performs, accompanied by the natural sounds of the waves and the birds. Attendees receive headphones for a live “silent” set, performed at sunset. Arrive at least 20 minutes early to get situated, and layers are suggested; bring a blanket or chair if you’d like, and open your mind and your ears for a journey. [SR]

5:30-7:30pm Thursday, Oct. 23. Del Monte Beach, in front of 588 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey. $57; $30/children 12 and under. mindtravel.com.

For the Record

There’s already an old-timey elegance to the vibe at La Playa’s hotel bar, Bud’s. Add DJs spinning their favorite selection of vinyl and it get a little more lively. FolkYeah hosts the series Fadeaway Sessions, and this week brings Chris Veltri. The proprietor of the Lower Haight record shop Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco has quite the collection at his fingertips. Hear what he’s vibing right now, and order a classic cocktail if you wish. [SR]

6pm Thursday, Oct. 23. Bud’s at La Playa, Camino Real and 8th Avenue, Carmel. No cover. (831) 293-6100, fadeawaysessions.com.

 Friday, Oct. 24

Collecting Change

Michael Shaikh has traveled and experienced the cuisines of some rather exotic places. And if that sounds delightful, understand that most of those travels were to locations wracked by political and human rights crises, armed conflict or all three. He has worked as an investigator for several international organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Center for Civilians in Conflict and the UN. He talks about all of this in a conversation called “From the Andes to Afghanistan: Conflict, Cuisine and Change.” Afterwards, he will sign copies of his book The Last Sweet Bite, a collection of stories and recipes (and probably a lot of insight). The book will be available for purchase if you come empty-handed. [DF]

5:30-7pm Friday, Oct. 24. Irvine Auditorium, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free; registration required. go.miis.edu.

Laugh Out Loud

Perhaps the name of this comedy night tells you everything you need to know: “Somes Hombres o Payasos?” Pipirin and Rogelio Ramos ask, or “Are we men or clowns?” There is no clear answer promised, but a lot of laughter is as this duo from Mexico tours through Salinas. The show is in Spanish. [SR]

9pm Friday, Oct. 24. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $69-$133. (831) 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com.

 Friday-Saturday, Oct. 24-25

Cult Classic

It’s a cult classic for a reason – and if you’re not already a member of the cult, the audience on any night of this Halloween-season run is sure to invite you to join in the not-so-secret society of heckling the performers and other audience participation moments, like using squirt guns to create a rainstorm effect. Janet and Brad have no idea what they’re in for, but the cast sure does – the Paper Wing Theatre team has The Rocky Horror Show dialed in after 24 years. The cast will indeed do the Time Warp again as they bring this 1973 musical back to the stage. (Fun fact: It was a stage performance before it was adapted for film.) [SR]

8pm Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 24-Nov. 1 (plus a special performance at midnight on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31). Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row, Suite I (upstairs), Monterey. $36. (831) 905-5684, paperwing.com.

 Saturday, Oct. 25

Sea Worlds

The ocean teems with life, and its denizens have inspired countless generations of artists to pay tribute to this wonderful world that’s in our backyard. Here’s a chance to see what the next generation is cooking up. SpectorDance’s Ocean Arts Festival showcases visual and performing arts created by young artists, all with a theme of the sea. More than 200 works will be on display created by students from across Monterey County. In addition, Peter Weiss and the Earth Rangers will get the audience to sing-along to songs about the environment and science, while Amy Byington leads a movement workshop, among other activities. [EC]

1-4pm Saturday, Oct. 25. YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula, 600 Camino El Estero, Monterey. Free. (831) 601-8510, spectordance.org/oaf.

Village Party

There’s a party in the village – for the village, by the village. The Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee (CVVIC), founded in 1978, is a nonprofit and volunteer-run organization with a mission to preserve the rural lifestyle of Carmel Valley Village, and make improvements that benefit businesses, visitors and residents. They do everything from cleaning up trash to maintaining the gardens and pathways, and working on safety improvements to make sure the village stays vibrant and welcoming. They host their 12th annual party at Hidden Valley Music Seminars, where you can come dance to a full lineup of local bands, including the country artist Rose Merrill and indie rock group Greasy Peaceful, with the Al James Band headlining the night. Your ticket gets you a Kiwanis barbecue dinner: chicken with all the trimmings, salad, beans, grilled veggies and more. Drinks are available for purchase. You don’t have to be from the village to come party and dance, just be sure to get your ticket online before 5pm Oct. 24, or before noon at one of the outlets. [KR]

5:30pm Saturday, Oct. 25. Hidden Valley Music Seminars, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $65. (831) 236-7511, cvviv.org.

Circus Witches

What’s your sign? And is it really true to who you are? Whether you believe in astrology or not, fantastic aerialists, fire artists, belly dancers, poets and burlesque performers will be here to sweep you away at the Zodiac Circus. Each circus member performs acts around the zodiac attributed to their sign. You can expect lots of fire from Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, flow from Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio, earthiness from Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo and an homage to the air by Aquarius, Libra and Gemini. Find out which elements you vibe the most with. [SC]

6:30-8:30pm Saturday, Oct. 25. The Art Park, 525 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $35; ages 18+. events.humanitix.com/zodiac-circus.

Fight Song

Name someone with a degree in applied science and mathematics who also has platinum albums, a string of Top 40 singles and loves to watch hockey players wail on each other. If you’re thinking that no such Renaissance man could exist, you obviously don’t love to watch the last bit. Pianist Five for Fighting is known for such soft rock hits as “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” “100 Years,” “World” and more. He has also recorded for a number of television shows and films. The L.A. native and singer-songwriter appears in Monterey with a string quartet. Like we said, Renaissance man. [DF]

8pm Saturday, Oct. 25. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $30-$85. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

 Sunday, Oct. 26

Big Fall Fun

There’s perhaps no better way to raise money for small-town charitable causes than through a big community gathering where neighbors come together for fun, food and laughter and visitors are welcomed with open arms. In Big Sur the community gets together each year for Big Sur Fall Fest, this year supporting The Big Sur Big Share and Big Sur Park School. There will be a Halloween costume parade, art workshops, pumpkin carving, a pie walk, crafts and games, plus live music from Wayward Jerry, Big Survivors and Andy Pankakes. A seasonal menu will be offered by Chef John Harry and Chef Adam Silverstein, with beer and wine from the region. A festival of fall delights, all for a good cause. [PM]

1-6pm Sunday, Oct. 26. Henry Miller Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. $25/suggested donation; free/kids in costume. bit.ly/BigSurFallFest2025.

Jam On It

The Embassy Suites atrium comes alive with music and energy on the last Sunday of the month – until Oct. 26, which marks the end of the season with a grand finale of the Sunday Jazz Jam, a tradition for nearly 30 years. Co-hosts Lee Durley and Jim Vanderzwaan keep the groove alive, welcoming players of all levels for a night of blues, R&B and bebop. For the finale show, the most requested act returns. Latin Jazz Collective cranks out Afro-Cuban and Caribbean rhythms, blending originals and reimagined classics into tight, joyful, deeply human music. Even as the jazz session season comes to an end, it’s not too late to join the grooves. [TE]

1-4pm Sunday, Oct. 26. Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. Free. (831) 393-1115, hilton.com.

Sips and Songs

If your perfect Sunday afternoon is sipping fine wine while listening to beautiful music, De Tierra’s tasting room in downtown Carmel has you covered, and on Oct. 26, RJ Demarco – who sings and plays guitar, among other instruments – will fill the room with song. De Tierra’s tasting room is dog-friendly; reservations are recommended, but not required. [DS]

3-5pm Sunday, Oct. 26. De Tierra Vineyards, 5th and Mission, Carmel. One-glass minimum. (831) 622-9704, detierra.com.

 Tuesday, Oct. 28

Get Out

If you’re locked inside a room, all you need to do is turn the lock on the door handle to get out, right? Well, in most instances, that’d be true. But not here. The Pacific Grove Library challenges teens in grades 6 through 12 to an escape game. Teams will work together to solve puzzles that will eventually lead to an unlocked door. Oh, and it’s themed to Halloween, so expect some scary (but fun) surprises. The key to freedom is not as easy as grabbing a door handle – it requires a little more brain power. Call ahead to reserve a spot. [EC]

3:30-4:15pm and 4:30-5:15pm Tuesday, Oct. 28. Jewell Park, Central and Grand avenues, Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary.org.

 Wednesday, Oct. 29

Scary, Scary Night

In this spooky season, Pacific Repertory Theatre’s annual fall fundraiser known as Starry, Starry Night joins in the spirit with a “Scary Edition” (that we guess will lean more fun than scary). It starts out at the luxurious La Playa Hotel with a wine reception and dinner, live auction and “Mystery Box Drawing.” Then guests saunter over to the Golden Bough Playhouse to catch a sneak peak of a private rehearsal of the upcoming production of Gypsy. It’s all to support PacRep (and Halloween spirit). [PM]

5:30pm Wednesday, Oct. 29. La Playa Hotel, Camino Real and 8th Avenue, Carmel. $398. (831) 322-0643, pacrep.org.

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