Thursday, Dec. 21
Muppet Time
A classic story that is a must-watch with family and friends during the holidays is the 1992 musical The Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s an adaptation of the novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – but with muppets. Most main characters are played by muppets – Gonzo narrates the story, Kermit the Frog is Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy is Emily Cratchit, Fozzie Bear is Fozziwig and Robin the Frog is Tiny Tim. The only human person in the main cast is Michael Caine, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge. The story is about Scrooge, a rich but miserly man, who is forced to reflect on his life decisions during the holidays. Spoiler: He becomes a better version of himself. Head to the Marina branch library to catch this showing. [CJ]
4-6pm Thursday, Dec. 21. Marina branch library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. 883-7507, mcfl.org.
Thursday, Dec. 21 – Sunday, Dec. 31
Ice Ice Baby
Thank the Victorians for our idealized version of a white Christmas, with snow, horse-drawn sleighs and skaters elegantly gliding over a frozen pond. Ice skating was a popular image on Christmas cards and later in movies and TV shows, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, which opens with Snoopy and the Peanuts blissfully skating as “Christmas Time is Here” plays in the background. Of course there is no snow or frozen pond in Monterey, but thanks to Ice Skating by the Bay and local sponsors, there is an ice skating rink in Custom House Plaza this holiday season up through New Year’s Eve. If you’re feeling nostalgic for a wintry white Christmas, lace up some skates and imagine the snowflakes floating all around as you take a few spins around the rink. [PM]
11am-10pm Monday-Saturday; 11am-8pm Sunday, including holidays; through Sunday, Dec. 31. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $15/adults; $13/children 12 and under; $5/skate rental. iceskatingbythebay.com.
Friday, Dec. 22
Story Time
In the beloved 1983 holiday film A Christmas Story, 9-year-old Ralphie must dodge his bully and the disapproval of various people in his life in pursuit of his ideal Christmas gift – a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Just this year, Lighthouse Cinema in Pacific Grove has doggedly pursued a different goal – to stay open. The theater closed abruptly in March, then reopened in May. These two storylines come together for a movie night and fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 22. Go watch the movie and buy some raffle tickets; all proceeds will go directly toward essential repairs and improvements for the theater. The big prize? A NECA Leg Lamp, as seen in the film. It’s a win-win, and a fun night out for all. [TCL]
6:30pm Friday, Dec. 22. Lighthouse Cinema and Event Center, 525 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $20 (raffle tickets are also $20). 641-0747, lighthousecinema4events.com.
Winter is Here…
Many cultures around the world celebrate light during this time of year when the days are short and darkness fills the hours. The Monterey Museum of Art leaned into that idea this winter with its Illuminado exhibit, featuring artworks that celebrate this idea of light in interactive ways. Different types of trees invite visitors to write messages of gratitude and light; one tree literally lights up with the touch of a human hand. For the solstice, MMA invites the public back for the closing of this exhibit, tunes from DJ Gwynneth and food and drink for sale – in short, a party full of brightness on this shortest day of the year. Admission is free, and a donation to support the nonprofit museum via Monterey County Gives! gets you a raffle ticket for a chance to take home a tiny piece of artwork in the Miniatures exhibit, which will also be raffled off at this event. [SR]
5:30-7:30pm Friday, Dec. 22. Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 372-5477, montereyart.org.
P-Funk It Up
When you have two bands – one with a doo-wop background, the other brimming with funk and psychedelic rock sensibilities – and one legendary figurehead, what do you get? How about six No. 1 hits, more than a dozen Top 10 singles, and Rock Hall of Fame status. And if you’re still unclear about who we are talking about, well, we’re about to put a Bootzilla up your… OK, you know. Parliament-Funkadelic featuring George Clinton brings their holiday jam to Golden State Theatre in a show that can’t be missed. The collective band with its rotating lineup is responsible for “Flash Light,” “One Nation Under A Groove,” “Bop Gun” and other far-reaching songs. Trying to describe them is like trying to clearly define the parenthetical to Parliament’s 1978 single “Aqua Boogie.” Their explanation? “A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop.” Got it? Well, you will when they take the stage. [DF]
8pm Friday, Dec. 22. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $49-$150. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Rock It
This week, Big Sur rockers Pfeiffer Beach Hotel are making the winding drive up the coast to Monterey for a show – their first on the Peninsula – at Pearl Hour. The group is composed of a bunch of local musicians each accomplished in their own right, and is known for their fun, danceable tunes. What better way to mark the day after the winter solstice, as the light is beginning to return and the days are getting incrementally longer, than with a party? You won’t want to miss this one. [TCL]
9-11pm Friday, Dec. 22. Pearl Hour, 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. $10. 657-9447, pearlhour.com.
Friday, Dec. 22-Saturday, Dec. 23
Holidays, the Celtic Way
The 17th annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration will once again crisscross the Golden State for the Yuletide season (originally a pagan holiday to celebrate the winter solstice that mashed with Christianity). This year the shows in St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church spotlight the mandolin and banjo skills of a young local prodigy, Tyler Weed. The band includes his father, John Weed, on fiddle and Stuart Mason on guitar and bouzouki. Amelia Hogan joins them on vocals and bodhran, and Marisa Gilman presents Irish dance. Piper Lane Olson is a special guest. Expect traditional Irish music and jolly, festive songs. [AP]
7pm Friday, Dec. 27 and 3pm Saturday, Dec. 23. St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $30 advance/$35 at the door. 373-4441, celticsociety.org.
Sunday, Dec. 24
Coming to Town
It’s perhaps not widely known, but Santa doesn’t drink all the milk left out for him in the various homes he visits – a person can only drink so much milk. That’s especially true if he decides to take a load off right before takeoff and have a milk punch with Mrs. Claus, as it’s a lot of stress running a sweatshop full of elves who, while good-natured, can be clever and mischievous. On that note, all are invited – Santa impersonators, most of all – to downtown Monterey to be Santa for a night, as YASSS Monterey hosts a free SantaCon event at Compact Disco. Doors open at 4pm on Christmas Eve, and at 10pm, there’s a Santa costume contest with $500 in prize money. Attendees who want to leave and come back will get in-and-out wristbands so they can eat or drink elsewhere for a while and really make a night of it. That said, the Compact is slinging special cocktails and offering holiday treats (though there’s no word yet if milk punch is on the menu). While the event is free, it’s a fundraiser for Cal Fire, so donations are most appreciated along with your best Santa laugh and holiday spirit. [DS]
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