Hot Picks 10.29.26

 Thursday, Oct. 29

Spooky Shelves

We all know reading books gives you tons of ideas. Here’s your chance to make those ideas into a costume (encouraged, but not required) for a Halloween experience at the library. The children’s room transforms into a haunted space with a pumpkin patch and a graveyard. Those aren’t goblins, but middle-schoolers volunteering to set up this immersive experience, recommended for children 12 and under. (Adults accompanying children are welcome too – costumes are also encouraged.) The rest of the library is open during this time – needless to say, costumes are optional there, as well. It’s Halloween season, after all. [SR]

3:30-5:30pm Thursday, Oct. 29. Children’s room at Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary.org.

Life Story

Welcome to the last 2026 iteration of the series that took Carmel by storm last year, sending hordes to the tiny black box stage of the Carl Cherry Center. In PorchLight Stories, eight storytellers take the stage, each presenting a five- to seven-minute true story about themselves without prompts or notes. “This round of stories includes tales of adventure, strange lands, jobs gone sideways, saying goodbye, employment mishaps and paying your rent,” according to the organizers. The storytellers include artists Anna Rheim and Polly Osborne; Student Debt Crisis Center founder Natalia Abrams; community activist Joan Costello; events producer Joe Fletcher; seamstress Holly Goodwin; adventurer Dixie Dixon; and sculptor JP Frary. The next show is planned for late February 2027; storytellers can submit their ideas through Sunday, Jan. 24. [AP]

5pm and 7:30pm Thursday, Oct. 29. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, 729 4th Ave., Carmel. $25; Sold out. (831) 624-7491, carlcherrycenter.org.

 Friday, Oct. 30

We Lovett

Texas singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett burst onto the scene in the mid-1980s, with a shock of hair and a sound that was country and yet at the same time not of country, blending in jazz, folk and pop. His first self-titled album in 1986 produced several songs that hit the top 40 country charts. His second album, Pontiac, made its way into the mainstream. There have been 15 albums since and four Grammy awards, cementing Lovett’s place in the pantheon of musical artists. After 40 years he is still touring, currently with his Small Large Band, bringing his eclectic, rich songs to grateful audiences. [PM]

7pm Friday, Oct. 30. Sunset Center, 908 San Carlos St., Carmel. $96-$181. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

Down Home

Joe Newberry was born and raised in the Ozarks and April Verch hails from the Ottawa Valley, but when the two met they discovered they shared a devotion to traditional bluegrass music that runs deep within them both. They teamed up to create Newberry & Verch, performing traditional music and original tunes on banjo, guitar and fiddle, with Verch at times dancing the jigs she learned as a child. “The tunes we play feel like family to me,” Verch said in a video. For Newberry, when he sings it takes him home to the Ozarks and the people he grew up with. “They’re never far from us,” he said. [PM]

7pm Friday, Oct. 30. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $35; free/ages 15 and under. otteropry.org.

Things That Go Boing

To stand out in the 1980s music scene, some bands tried hair gel. Others went for bizarre names (remember Kajagoogoo?). But in 1981, an L.A. band thought to bring the two together while actually playing great, groundbreaking music. Yes, we’re talking about Oingo Boingo. Hearing “Grey Matter,” “Weird Science,” or “Dead Man’s Party,” you realized this was a band that defied MTV genre logic. And the band continues to impress. Vatos Hernandez, Sluggo Phipps and Steve Bartek form the core of Oingo Boingo Former Members, with a familiar lineup of horns and keys driving the sound and a few new but welcome faces. [DF]

8pm Friday, Oct. 30. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $36-$95. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

Fire Dancers

It’s going to be hot down in the Barrel Room at Folktale Winery. Pay a visit to those who have dearly departed – dancers of disco. The winery’s Halloween Party: Disco Inferno seeks to resurrect the dance craze from the underworld. The sparkling Rosé will be good for cooling you off, should you need it. Attire fitting for the inferno will be necessary for this party as DJ BADDJ makes sure the disco ball keeps on shining. Is that red wine or fire? You be the judge. [SC]

7:30-10pm Friday, Oct. 30. Folktale Winery, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $70. Ages 21+. (831) 293-7500, folktalewinery.com.

 Saturday, Oct. 31

Monster Mash

On any other afternoon, a monster raising a ruckus would bring a quick “shoosh” from a librarian. But on Halloween, two creatures will run amok at Monterey Public Library in an event that will not only get people in the proper mood, but also show a little Hollywood history. A Tribute to Classic Monster Movies features the pioneering 1931 hit Frankenstein and The Wolf Man from 1941. This was Hollywood’s golden age, and the artistry – from makeup to acting and cinematography – is as captivating as the stories themselves. Boris Karloff plays the monster in the 1931 film, with Colin Clive as Dr. Henry Frankenstein. It does not end well for one of the two. Lon Chaney is the wolf man and the cast includes legends such as Claude Rains and Bela Lugosi. Just make sure to check your palms before watching The Wolf Man. The library will provide refreshments that will help you keep your nerves cool. [DF]

2-5pm Saturday, Oct. 31. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/library.

Underground Sound

Let go of the fear of not finding a good underground grunge rock show on Halloween: 6th Avenue Studios’ third Terror Fest is sure to haunt your ears. Release your monsters in the mosh pit or headbang so hard you look like you’re getting an exorcism. However you like to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, consider seeing the hyperlocal bands Rosewood, Empire Grade, Sydona, From Us and Note to the Void. Bring a costume, and your cash – a couple small vendors will sell clothes and bracelets. [CO]

7pm Saturday, Oct. 31. 6th Avenue Studios, 4420 6th Ave., Seaside. $10. (831) 200-3432, 6ave.studio.

Masks On

If you haven’t planned your epic costume yet, it’s not too late (but let’s be honest, you are going to be at a disadvantage to win prizes in this costume contest – a lot of serious creativity, humor and originality go into the costumes at the annual Bal Masque). Whatever your costume is, we recommend excellent dancing shoes so you can groove to live music by Scarlet. Admission includes Nepenthe’s famous “ambrosia burgers” and veggie burgers, and drinks are available for purchase. The epic view at sunset and of the night sky is, of course, also included, but you’ll want to look away for entertainment by BiG SuRCus, and the famous costume contest. This epic party is a beloved Halloween tradition, kicked off by Bill and Madelaine Fassett in the first year the place opened, in 1949. [SR]

6pm-midnight Saturday, Oct. 31. Nepenthe, 48510 Highway 1, Big Sur. $45; $15/ages 12 and under. (831) 667-2345, nepenthe.com.

Space Terrors

Space is awe-inspiring. It’s also terrifying – black holes, anyone? That makes it the perfect backdrop to go trick-or-treating. Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy’s Haunted Observatory is back. There is the “Hall of Dead Astronomers” illuminated by a blood-red light and plenty of space-themed candy to nab, for children and the young at heart. Attendees also have a chance to peer through a 14-inch telescope to view Saturn and its famous rings, and view the rock closest to the sun, Mercury. That planet is also in its “retrograde” phase, and if that means anything to you, it will be the scariest thing of the night. [EC]

6:30-9:30pm Saturday, Oct. 31. Weaver Student Observatory, 200 Eighth St., Marina. Free. (831) 883-1000, mira.org.

 Sunday, Nov. 1

Wake Up

This Bay Area band’s name, Wake the Dead, works on multiple levels. The group brings to life the songs of the Grateful Dead, the iconic band, most of whose founding members are no longer with us. And they just know how to throw a party that will certainly wake those from an eternal slumber. The septet combines Irish jigs with the songs of other ’60s bands, not just the Dead, bringing a unique Celtic twist to the songs that have been part of pop culture for decades. ’Tis the season for the dead. [EC]

3pm Sunday, Nov. 1. St. Mary’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $31; $13/children 12 and under. celticsociety.org.

Honoring Muertos 

For its 33rd year celebrating Día de los Muertos, folklórico group Tonatiuh - Danzantes del Quinto Sol brings Sones y Cempasúchil. The vibrant event honors Mexican culture, traditions and heritage. Children’s groups take the stage alongside the lively sounds of Mariachi Jalisciense. Attendees can experience the beauty of traditional dance along with live music to honor Mexican roots and celebrate shared history. [RH]

3-5pm Sunday, Nov. 1. Sherwood Hall, 40 N Main St., Salinas. $28; $18/youth; $39/VIP. (831) 758-7477, tinyurl.com/CempasuchilSalinas.

Hard Boiled

In his debut crime thriller, Tear the City Down: A Coltrane Novel, former NFL running back Andre Hardy takes readers on a journey through the underbelly of San Diego through the eyes of Coltrane Davis, a man who wants out of his life as a fixer so that he can give his life to his family and leave the crime world behind. Hardy’s former life as a football player lends to the plot of the noir novel, which combines the worlds of jazz, football and crime. Join Hardy and local scientist and author Jennifer Carson for a conversation about the book. [AS]

6-7:30pm Sunday, Nov. 1. BookWorks, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $40 (includes signed book). tothelighthouse.net.

 Tuesday, Nov. 3

Life Hack

Ayurveda is an ancient alternative medicine practiced in India and Nepal. It comes with its own way of eating, combining certain food and spices. This introductory class teaches how to choose food that is better for you and more readily digested. Attendees learn how to set up home kitchens for this new lifestyle, including identifying best cooking vessels. Learn the role of spices in digestion and how to use them to your advantage. Simple dishes will be cooked and sampled together. [AP]

5:30-8:30pm Tuesday, Nov. 3. Happy Girl Kitchen, 173 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. $135. (831) 373-4475, happygirlkitchen.com.

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HOT PICKS by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Royvi Hernandez, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Chrissa Olson, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and Aric Sleeper.