Hot Picks 11.20.25

 Thursday, Nov. 20– Friday, Nov. 21

Horn Resounding

Imagine Babe Ruth pinch hitting for Lou Gehrig or Mick Jagger subbing in for John Lennon. That’s pretty much what’s happening at the SandBox. One jazz great, singer and pianist Tammy L. Hall, is paying tribute to another – the one and only Shirley Horn. In other words, the profound and hypnotic Hall reflecting on the aching tempo of Horn, who played with the likes of Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis – you know, the best – in a performance titled Here’s to Shirley! Jason Lewis (drums, Nov. 20), Leon Joyce Jr. (drums, Nov. 21) and Kevin Goldberg (contrabass) join Hall in this tribute, one star to another. [DF]

7pm Thursday-Friday, Nov. 20-21. SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $41; $26/students, military. sandboxsandcity.com.

 Saturday, Nov. 22

Craftapalooza

Imagine getting the bulk of your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop. Ahead of Black Friday, there is a craft fair extravaganza where you can browse, snack and get inspired for the holidays. This Saturday, there are not only one, not two, but four craft shows happening on the same day, all within walking distance of one another in Carmel. In the lineup, there’s the 54th Homecrafters Marketplace, featuring over 70 craft vendors. The Carmel Woman’s Club is hosting its annual artisan event, offering unique crafts, succulents and vintage Christmas decor. The Church of the Wayfarer is hosting its Holiday Fair with delicious baked goods and jewelry, while the All Saints Episcopal Church presents its own Arts and Crafts Fair, with beautifully handcrafted items and hot Indian lunch. [KR]

9am-3pm Saturday, Nov. 22. 54th Homecrafters’ Marketplace. Sunset Center, North parking lot, San Carlos and 8th; Arts & Crafts Fair, Dolores and 9th; Annual Artisan Event, San Carlos and 9th; Annual Holiday Fair, Lincoln and 7th. Free. (831) 620-2020, carmelcalifornia.com.

Sea Sequoias

Kelp forests are fascinating ecosystems. They cover a quarter of the world’s coastlines and sequester large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. They are also home to some of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, providing shelter for otters and urchins, octopus and garibaldi. If you’ve ever been scuba diving in one – or perhaps visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium – you’ve seen how they move with the ocean in a way that feels incredibly alive, like a breathing forest. But over the years, much of that life has disappeared, creating a devastating ripple effect. More than 95 percent of the kelp forests along the Northern California coast have vanished – a reality underscored by a new film called Sequoias of the Sea. The documentary weaves together the environmental, cultural and economic impacts on a coastal town that lost its kelp forest. It has already been selected for several awards and film festivals and screens locally this Saturday. [KR]

2-4pm Saturday, Nov. 22. Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. info@sequoiasofthesea.org, sequoiasofthesea.org.

Seeing Clearly

Joe Xavier believes that people with disabilities have immense potential – he knows this to be true, because he lives it. Xavier is blind and has firsthand experience receiving services from the California Department of Rehabilitation. He rose up from humble beginnings, as an immigrant from the Azores speaking only Portuguese in 1966 who repeated third grade and lost his vision due to the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa. Xavier went on to lead the DOR as director, and now shares his success story – and insight into how others with limited vision can achieve success. He is the keynote speaker at this year’s gala fundraiser for the Blind & Visually Impaired Center. The event opens with a reception featuring live classical guitarist Terrence Farrell, followed by a short program emceed by Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez and three-course meal. The evening wraps with a live auction. [SR]

4:30-8:40pm Saturday, Nov. 22. Monterey Marriott (Ferrante ballroom), 350 Calle Principal, Monterey. $150. (831) 649-3505, blindandlowvision.org.

Night Gazers

Daylight Saving Time has ended, or, as we’ve heard an astronomer once say, “nighttime wasting period.” It gets dark quickly these days, which means there’s more time to explore the night sky. The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy holds a public stargazing event to show everyone what’s above our heads at all times of the night (and day). This group of enthusiastic astronomers will have plenty of telescopes on hand, and will gladly show you how to take a peek at the wonders of the galaxy. Wear warm clothing, and check with MIRA before you go, because bad weather cancels the event. [EC]

5:30-7:30pm Saturday, Nov. 22. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Hospitality Island, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. Free. (831) 883-1000, mira.org.

Going Viral

There’s plenty of dumb videos on the internet. Some would argue too many, and they are right. Daniel Tosh grew his career by saying out loud what we all think when we watch these videos. His Comedy Central show, Tosh.0, ran for 12 seasons with more than 300 episodes, featuring the comedian watching popular videos and making snarky commentary about them. Who cares about beating the record for most mayonnaise eaten in under three minutes? “What was the previous record, one teaspoon?” Tosh quipped. Tosh brings his stand-up tour to Monterey, and he’s sure to make the audience laugh uncomfortably along with his style of dark humor. [EC]

6pm and 9pm Saturday, Nov. 22. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $55-$180. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

Playfest

This is an offer for instant gratification lovers who like to browse through different stories and learn about different characters, all in one seating. In just two hours, the audience at Soapbox Stageworks will see six brand-new short plays about various topics ranging from long-term relationships to keeping secrets and more. Love one or love them all, it’s a lot of variety. [CJ]

7-9pm Saturday, Nov. 22. Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $36. (831) 664-6587, soapboxstageworks.org.

In the City

“Tequila Sunrise.” “New Kid In Town.” “Hotel California.” “Life in the Fast Lane.” Do we really need to keep offering clues? The Eagles are an iconic group with a lengthy playlist of hits. But what you might not know is that Life in the Fast Lane is also a touring Eagles tribute band – one that stands out. You see, fans appreciate the group not because they make themselves up to resemble Henley, Frey and company – they don’t – but because they capture the layered harmonies and rich guitar arrangements of the group to sound like the Eagles in their prime. They don’t take it easy, they work to get it right. [DF]

7:30pm Saturday, Nov. 22. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $43-$65. (831) 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com.

The Land is Me

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is honoring local Indigenous tribes with a screening of The Eternal Song, a 2015 documentary that shares wisdom of Indigenous people. “We were co-creators,” one voice says in the trailer for the film. “We moved with the creation energy.” They explain how native people lived, deeply connected to the land, before the Europeans arrived in the Americas, spreading Christianity, a religion that emphasizes the concept of sin. “We closed our eyes and our land was gone,” another voice says. The movie is a beautiful journey through colors and rituals that show a different, healthier way of life, based on the connection with the land and with one’s ancestors. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. [AP]

8pm Friday, Nov. 21. MIIS, McCone Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free. (831) 647-6568, middlebury.edu.

Saturday, Nov. 22– Sunday, Nov. 23

The Cheer is Here

Even if you have been naughty this year, you can still join in the holiday spirit – and the walk-through light show, holiday market and wafting scent of treats are sure to soften the heart of even the Scrooge in your crew. The Winter Wonderfest transforms the Monterey Fairgrounds into a place for seasonal cheer. Santa visits every Saturday, and during Christmas week the event takes place daily (except Dec. 25, when the elves are otherwise occupied). Join in the warm, fuzzy vibes, drink a hot chocolate, eat a tamale, and start working on your wishlist. [SR]

5-9pm Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 22-Dec. 28. Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $20/general admission; $25/general admission Saturdays; $10/children 6-12; free/children 5 and under. (831) 372-5863, winterwonderfestmonterey.com.

Romantic Sounds

Monterey Symphony presents two musical pieces of European romanticism – Symphony No. 9 by Austrian composer and organist Anton Bruckner (1924-1896) and a piano concerto by Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843-1907). Bruckner, who dedicated the piece “to the beloved God,” left his ninth symphony unfinished; some parts got lost and the piece had to be reconstructed. Grieg brought the music of Norway to fame, using its folk music in his compositions. The concerto features soloist Orion Weiss; Jayce Ogren is music director and conductor. The concert opens with Jonathan Bailey Holland’s “Dream Elegy.” [AP]

7:30pm Saturday, Nov. 22; 3pm Sunday, Nov. 23. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $50-$90; $12/student, teacher, military. (831) 646-8511, montereysymphony.org.

 Monday, Nov. 24

Fall Fest

Spending time with family is a great way to start the Thanksgiving break. This Monday community members of all ages are welcome at El Gabilan Library, which hosts its annual fall family festival. Kids and adults are invited to enjoy a fun afternoon and participate in a range of activities including playing games, making crafts, dancing and more. If you’d like, browse the stacks for great books to read over the holiday. [CJ]

1-3pm Monday, Nov. 24. El Gabilan Library, 1400 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7302, library.salinas.gov.

 Thursday, Nov. 27

Track Time

A timed lap around WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca of 22 minutes may seem painfully slow. But keep in mind that is walking – at a pretty good clip – around the famed 2.238-mile track. Also keep in mind that the victory goes to someone in need. On Thanksgiving morning, Laguna Seca hosts the annual Turkey Trot, with all proceeds going to Food Bank for Monterey County. And there is no need to walk fast. You can jog, push a stroller, walk a dog (on a leash), stroll or even try to run (just keep in mind there are some steep bits). It’s a good workout before the big meal, and for a good cause. [DF]

7-11am Thursday, Nov. 27. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. $10 (cash/check) or nonperishable food items. (831) 242-8201, weathertechraceway.com.

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