LeVice and Dj Hanif Wondir turn it out at CRBC on NYE

• There was really no way for the Henry Miller Memorial Library to avoid the hard irony of promoting and showing The Nightmare Before Christmas at Golden State Theatre on Dec. 22 while addressing the Big Sur fire that spared the library but not 22 other structures, including 15 homes, before Christmas. The movie, a gothic holiday classic, was scheduled way in advance, but the library folks did as honorable a job of combining the two as could be expected. They said they would show pictures and talk about the fire, and offer ways people could help relief efforts.

• Did you know that West Coast Swing is the California State Dance? That’s according to Pacific Grove Dance, which is offering to teach it to you Dec. 27 (393-4567). I think I’m going to write a letter to my congressperson.

• Monterey County Free Libraries has designated January 2014 as Fine-Free Month. So get those overdue books back into their forgiving hands.

• Bryant Austin’s Beautiful Whale exhibition migrates out of the Museum of Monterey (5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey) Thursday, Jan. 9, with a closing reception 7:30-10pm. It’s the last time it will be seen in the U.S. until 2015. RSVP by Jan. 3 at MarineMammalCenter.org/BeautifulWhale or 415-289-7335.

• The Central Coast Art Association will hold their first reception of the year Jan. 10 at The Sally Griffin Center (700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove, 373-2019) near Lovers Point. The artists will be Heidi McGurrin, Julie Heilman and Sarah Leonard.

• The Arts Council for Monterey County is hosting their Champions of the Arts gala Jan. 18 at the Portola Hotel and Spa, honoring Jane Smiley, Will Bullas, Armando Sarabia, Kim Solano, Carol Lenters, Jayson Fann and YOSAL. It’s one of the funnest nights of the year. Save your spot by calling 622-9060.

• Off on the horizon is the Salinas Valley Comic Con at the National Steinbeck Center. Don’t act surprised. Executive Director Colleen Bailey’s long been a supporter of the comic book and graphic novel genre as a means to stimulate literacy and imagination, especially in young people. And back in 2011, for the Steinbeck Festival, they brought over Swiss graphic novelist Pierre-Alain who had just created a graphic novel of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The comic convention will feature comic dealers, comic book artists, collectibles, panels and special guests. Dust off those costumes of Spidey, Magneto, Elektra, Afro Samurai, Rorschach or Wonder Woman.