Posts from — June 2010

This weekend fans of blues music are headed to the Monterey County Fairgrounds for the 25th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival. Artists include Kenny Lattimore, Sista Monica with her Gospel Choir, Johnny Rawls, Big Daddy Cade, Artwork Jamal, Mike Hammar & the Nails, Con FunkShun, and more. There are shows Friday night, all day Saturday and all day Sunday. Grounds tickets are $85 for all three days, $25 for Friday, and $35 for Saturday or Sunday. Arena packages range from $130 to $200. Ticket holders can ride the bus free from Monterey Peninsula College to the fairgrounds and back. Buy tickets at the official ticketing website.

Friday

Still hungering for blues music after leaving the Blues Festival? Head over to Bullwacker’s for a set by John “Broadway” Tucker. 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. 8:30pm-11pm, no cover.

Local metal acts Razorhoof and Pride Subject turn their amps up to 11 tonight alongside Denver’s Kingdom of Magic and Fresno’s Spacehooker at Jose’s Lounge Underground tonight. 638 Wave Street, Monterey. 9pm, $5.

Saturday

In what may be the most unusual 5K of the year, Paraiso Vineyards hosts the Winery Walk. Each walker must raise $200 to participate. The fundraiser will support community charities, including scholarships. Participants will get an event T-shirt, a walker bag of sponsor materials, an after-walk party and more. Registration begins at 7:45am; the walk begins at 8:30am. 38060 Paraiso Springs Road, Soledad.

The Carmel Mission Basilica holds a Founder’s Day Celebration. Step back into the past with activities like spinning and weaving, wool dying, tortilla making, soap making, acorn grinding, and traditional dancing. Plus there’s a delectable olive oil tasting, live music, and more. Noon-5pm, 3080 Rio Road, Carmel. Free.

Bullwacker’s hosts the Groove Hounds, another great show for Blues Festival attendees who aren’t ready to go to bed just yet. 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. 8:30pm-midnight, no cover.

Author Eric Simons read Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle” and, amazed at the scientist’s Indiana Jones-like adventures, decided to follow in his footsteps. Tonight, he gives a talk (with slideshow) at the Henry Miller Library. We’re sure Miller would approve. 8:30pm, Highway One in Big Sur. Free.

If the Shangri-Las had traveled forward in time at their peak to record an album with Bad Brains, it might’ve sounded like Oakland’s Shannon and the Clams. If Dick Dale had recorded a Cramps-inspired album in 1964, it would have sounded like Portland’s Guantanamo Baywatch. And if Paris Hilton had used every awesome producer in Los Angeles, she still never would have sounded like Santa Cruz psychedelic jam band Wubakia. All three bands play Jose’s tonight. 638 Wave St., Monterey. 9pm, $5.

Fernwood in Big Sur will be full of a booty-shakin’ crowd tonight as the extremely danceable Afro-beat Hands on Fire Band hits the stage. If you can sit still for this show, you’ve got far more power of inertia than we do. Highway One in Big Sur. 9pm, no cover.

Sarah Ruhl’s edgy comedy The Clean House continues at Pacific Repertory Theater’s Circle Theater. Casanova between 8th and 9th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. 7:30pm. Tickets are $15, $26 and $35.

Sunday

Catch a matinee of The Clean House at the Circle Theater. Casanova between 8th and 9th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. 2pm. Tickets are $12, $22 and $30.

The Listening Place Reader’s Theater performs Anton Chekhov’s “The Marriage Proposal” and Joaquin and Serafin Alvarez Quintero’s “Sunny Morning” at the Monterey Museum of Art La Mirada. 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 1:30pm, included in admission fee.

As you may have heard, there’s a little golf tournament in town this weekend. Not heading out to watch Tiger? There’s plenty of other ways to stay busy this weekend.

Friday

If you ride a sport bike or just admire them, head to Oldtown Salinas tonight for Mazda Raceway Sportsbike Night. Sport bikes park (for free!) in the lot across from the Steinbeck Center. There’s a raffle, restaurant deals, vendor displays, ticket specials for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, and more. 6pm-8pm, 100 block of Main St., Salinas. Free.

CANCELLED: the guitarist is sick. Los Angeles roots rockers The Americans could be described as a more serious Reverend Horton Heat, a stripped-down Brian Setzer, or the lost sequel to the Johnny Cash/Elvis Presley/Carl Perkins/Jerry Lee Lewis album “Million Dollar Quartet.” In other words, they’re darn good. They play the Big Sur River Inn tonight. 7pm, Highway One, Big Sur.

Sarah Ruhl’s play “The Clean House” is a melancholy comedy about the messiness of love. The Pacific Repertory Theater tackles this play featuring a doctor, her husband, her husband’s lover, her sister, and the Brazilian cleaning woman who teaches them all how to live. 7:30pm, Circle Theater, Casanova between 8th and 9th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $15, $26 and $35 and can be purchased online.

Monterey Bay’s favorite reggae party band, Jonah and the Whalewatchers, play Bullwacker’s tonight. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, no cover.

San Francisco’s Slow Trucks play fun, spirited indie rock, as if Archers of Loaf all wound up at a party together and thought playing a surprise reunion gig was a good idea. San Jose’s Ugly Winner’s emotional indie rock sounds like Modest Mouse ran a bulldozer through an Interpol recording session. The two bands back to back should make a lively show at Jose’s Lounge Underground tonight. They’re joined by Monterey’s low-fi The Rugers and Visalia’s energetic, experimental Rapids. 8pm, 638 Wave Street, no cover.

Saturday

Celebrate Father’s Day a day early with a Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast at the Del Monte Center. All proceeds benefit local Lions Clubs charities. 9am-1pm. Del Monte Center, Munras Avenue and Highway One, Monterey. $6 adults, $4 kids under 12.

The City of Pacific Grove hosts the first Pacific Grove Fine Arts and Crafts Festival today and tomorrow. The event features arts and crafts vendors, live music, and great food. 9am-5pm, Jewell Park (Central Avenue and 16th Street), Pacific Grove. Free to attend.

Sarah Ruhl’s melancholy comedy “The Clean House” continues at the Pacific Repertory Theater’s Circle Theater. 7:30pm, Casanova between 8th and 9th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $15, $26 and $35 and can be purchased online.

Monterey’s Trusting Lucy’s sound has been described as sounding like a more rocking Indigo Girls, and as like “a dream duo of Grace Slick and Melissa Etheridge.” They play Bullwackers tonight. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, no cover.

And the winner of the Most Interesting Lineup of the Weekend award is…Jose’s, which hosts a CD release party for Salinas alt-rockers (emphasis on “rockers”) Tumbleweed. They’re joined by metal reggae (yes, we just wrote that) band Euphoria v.SC and groovy SoCal electroacoustic act qiensave? 9pm, 638 Wave Street, $5.

Groove to the sounds of Grateful Dead cover band China Cats at Fernwood Resort. 9pm, Highway One in Big Sur, no cover.

Sunday

The Pacific Grove Fine Arts Festival continues, featuring arts and crafts vendors, live music, and great food. 9am-5pm, Jewell Park (Central Avenue and 16th Street), Pacific Grove. Free to attend.

Take Dad out for a jazz brunch with Tim Jackson and Real Time at the Big Sur River Inn. 1pm-5pm, Highway One in Big Sur, no cover.

The Listening Place Reader’s Theater performs two romantic one-act plays, Anton Checkhov’s “The Marriage Proposal” and Joaquin and Serafin Alvarez Quintero’s “Sunny Morning,” at the Monterey Museum of Art La Mirada. 1:30pm, 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. $5 non-members (free for members).

See Sarah Ruhl’s melancholy comedy “The Clean House” in a matinee performance at the Pacific Repertory Theater’s Circle Theater. 2pm, Casanova between 8th and 9th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $12, $22 and $30 and can be purchased online.

Monday marks the beginning of golf’s greatest annual tournament, the U.S. Open, held this year at Pebble Beach. Whether you’re in town early for the big week or just looking for some fun, here’s some things to keep you busy until Tiger hits the links.

Friday

Monterey County’s oldest wine festival, the Monterey Wine Festival, holds a grand tasting of new releases from Monterey County, Oregon, Washington and Australia. Try hundreds of different wines, gourmet food, and more. 5pm-9pm. Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, Monterey. $99; tickets can be purchased at the official website.

The National Steinbeck Center reaches out to the Carrie Bradshaws and Lady Gagas of Monterey County with its first ever Fashion Night at the Museum. The event includes a fashion show, DJ booth, and cash bar. 6:30pm-11:30pm. One Main Street, Salinas. $10.

Santa Cruz electro-funk glam band Trip Delight Fantastic returns to Bullwackers for another night of Latin-influenced dancing. 8:30pm. 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover.

Naomi and the Courteous Rude Boys back up Naomi’s seductive voice with a sound that’s a mix of ’70s funk, reggae, and the occasional Steely Dan-esque slinky horns and beats. They play Fernwood in Big Sur tonight. 9pm, Highway One, no cover.

It’s another thrash-tastic Friday at Jose’s, with Monterey’s Counter Clockwise and Santa Cruz’s Thirty9Fingers and Pariah Faction. 9pm, 638 Wave St. Monterey, $5.

Saturday

The showers we’ve had all spring have led to some amazing wildflowers throughout the county. Check out the stunning natural beauty at Garland Ranch Regional Park’s Annual Summer Wildflower Show. Today and tomorrow take in a summer wildflower display, the Spring Flowers Photo Exhibit, and enjoy a reception at noon. 10am-4pm, 700 West Carmel Valley Road. Free admission.

Carmel Valley shows off its vinicultural and artistic flair at the 6th Annual Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration. Check out arts and crafts from over 60 artisans, taste great food, enjoy live entertainment and taste the best in Carmel Valley wines. 11am-5pm, Carmel Valley Village, free to attend ($20 for 5 wine tasting tickets and commemorative wine glass). Note: The Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce has just announced you can ride the Grapevine Express for free to the celebration.

The Monterey Wine Festival continues with the West Coast Chowder Cook-off and Wine Tasting. Noon-3pm. Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, Monterey. $45; tickets can be purchased at the official website.

What’s better than flying kites? Flying stunt kites. Learn to do all kinds of cool things with aerodynamically designed dual-line kites. 2pm-4pm. Marina State Beach, Reservation Road, Marina. $11 ($10 for district residents); reserve online under “Family Discoveries.”

Santa Cruz band Wooster combines echoes of a more mature Sublime with a little bit of Pink and a passion all their own. 9pm. Fernwood on Highway One in Big Sur. No cover.

Sunday

Garland Ranch Regional Park’s 11th Annual Summer Wildflower Show continues. Admire the summer wildflower display, the Spring Flowers Photo Exhibit, and learn something at the “Science of Wildflowers” lecture from 10am-noon and the watercolor art demo from noon-1pm. 10am-4pm, 700 West Carmel Valley Road. Free admission.

The Mission San Antonio, located deep in the southern part of Monterey County, is said by many to be the only mission that Father Junipero Serra would recognize if he were to arrive at it today. Today the Mission celebrates its heritage with it’s big yearly family event, the annual Fiesta. Celebrate a Fiesta Mass at 11am. Afterwards, enjoy bluegrass, mariachi and Christian rock bands while browsing works from local artisans and dining on chicken and tri-tip roasted over an oak-fired barbecue. There will be plenty of kids’ games as well. 11am Mass, Fiesta noon-4pm. Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission Road, Jolon.

Nashville singer-songwriters Rebecca Sayre, Kristin Porter and Rachel Pearl have joined forces to tour the country together as SugarBeat. The tour hits the Henry Miller Library today. 3pm, Highway One in Big Sur, $15 (plus $1.36 fee). Tickets are available online.

If you noticed thousands of cyclists on the road in Monterey County yesterday, you weren’t hallucinating. 2,400 cyclists rode from Santa Cruz to King City, 107.6 miles, on day 2 of the AIDS/Lifecycle event. It’s the longest ride of the event, and the only day that riders will exceed 100 miles.

Each cyclist must raise a minimum of $3,000 to participate. The ride, which it’s estimated will raise $10 million for AIDS charities this year, goes 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Cyclists rode a route that took them through Moss Landing, past the sand dunes and farms near Castroville…

…and past Pezzini Farm, where hundreds stopped for deep-fried artichokes.

The cyclists on the AIDS/Lifecycle ride were overwhelmingly cheerful and positive, whether they were chatting at a rest stop or waving with a smile as bystanders cheered them on.

Many cyclists decorate their helmets or ride in costume.

Riders pressed on via back roads into Marina, where a local Girl Scout troop sponsored a rest stop. In their honor, some of the traffic directors dressed as Girl Scouts.

Some riders took a break…

but some just headed on to Central Park in Salinas, where lunch took place, and then headed through the Salinas Valley.

The cyclists camped in King City’s San Lorenzo Park for the night. Both the magnitude and the efficiency of the camping operation are astounding. About 500 volunteers, the “roadies,” start at 5:30am, hand out bikes and get the cyclists on the road, break down bike parking, drive to the next location, set it all up again, and then welcome the cyclists back until nightfall. Cyclist Clair High, who came from Atlanta to participate in the event, said, “The roadies are really the heroes here. We just ride our bikes. The roadies do the hard work.”

Cyclists must set up their own tent. There’s two cyclists (or roadies) to a tent, which translates to almost 1,500 tents total. It was impossible to capture them all in one photo.

In the evening, cyclists gather under a huge shade tent to eat dinner. Speakers give information on the next day’s ride and tell moving stories about the triumphs and trials of the event, as well as sometimes funny stories of rides past. Even riders who ate dinner hours before join the group in order to hear the stories and lend their support.

To learn more about the AIDS/Lifecycle ride through Monterey County yesterday, see this article in The Californian. For more information about the AIDS/Lifecycle event, see the official website. For more photos, see our AIDS/Lifecycle Flickr set.

Who knew an article on 10 Great Places to Have a Beer would turn into the most controversial story we ever ran in our newsletter? It turns out, however, that we weren’t kidding when we said Monterey County has a burgeoning beer scene. As evidenced by the emails and phone calls both visitors to and residents of Monterey County are quite passionate about their beer. To our shock, we even got a callout in the Monterey County Weekly’s food section this past Thursday for the article.

So — now that you’re sated from this weekend’s Monterey Beer Festival — what venues did we miss? Should we have included the not-yet-open Cannery Row Brewing Company? Stuck strictly to places that brew their own beer? What’s your iconic beer spot in Monterey County? Tell us in the comments section.

Friday

It’s time for the Salinas First Fridays Art Walk! Catch live music, art exhibits and more. 5pm-8pm, 100-300 blocks of Main Street and surrounding areas, Salinas.

Pacific Grove offers its own take on the same theme with the Wine, Art and Music Walk, which lives up to its descriptive title. 6pm-9pm throughout downtown Pacific Grove; pick up a map at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, 584 Central Avenue. Free.

UK folk trio Three for a Girl have a signature style featuring close vocal harmonies; imagine a more classic and acoustic Indigo Girls, with additional voices. Jono Harrison has a tone that’s a little like Neil Finn, a little like a more focused Sufjan Stevens, with completely unique vocals. Their tour swings through Monterey County this weekend. Tonight they appear at the Big Sur River Inn. 7pm-11:30pm, Highway One in Big Sur, no cover.

Choreographer Jirí Kylián’s landmark ballet “Petite Mort” (above), originally created for the 1991 Salzburg Festival, has received accolades for its use of foils along with the male and female dancers. The Smuin Ballet will perform it tonight at the Sunset Center in Carmel, along with a comedic dance piece by choreographer Ma Cong and Michael Smuin’s Songs of Mahler. 8pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel. Tickets are $40 and $55 and can be purchased online at the Sunset Center ticketing site.

Saturday

The U.S. National Parks Service has declared this weekend a fee-free weekend at over 100 national parks -- and one of them is Pinnacles National Monument! Get there early; the parking lots have been filling up fast and this weekend will be no exception.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day all weekend. This year’s event also commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” Along with readings of the Dr. Seuss book, there will be children’s activities, a family craft room, a sustainable cooking demonstration, animal feeding shows, live musical performances and more. And it’s all included in the price of admission! 10am-6pm, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey.

Celebrate Monterey’s 240th birthday at The Merienda. There’s music, wine, barbecue, and a 6-layer cake with living roses on top. Noon, Memory Garden behind Pacific House at Custom House Plaza Monterey. $100.

The Monterey Beer Festival rocked last year. This year promises to be even better with the addition of the Short Pour Film Fest. 12:30pm-5pm, Monterey County Fairgrounds, $35. It’s almost sold out; buy tickets at the official website.

The Smuin Ballet performs a program of Jirí Kylián’s Petit Mort, Ma Kong’s “French Twist” and Michael Smuin’s “Songs of Mahler” at the Sunset Center. 2pm and 8pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel. Tickets are $40 and $55 and can be purchased online at the Sunset Center ticketing site.

Learn more about the evocative work of photographer Ryuijie at “In Conversation: Ryuijie and Marcelle Polednik” at the Monterey Museum of Art. 3pm, 559 Pacific Street Monterey, included in admission fee.

It’s a headbanger’s ball at Jose’s Lounge Underground tonight, with Nevada’s Kut-Pile and locals Pride Subject and cover band Dead Ringers. 8pm, 638 Wave St. Monterey, $5. 21+.

The Caribbean Jazz Band plays a laid-back blend of Caribbean, Latin, jazz and reggae tonight at Fernwood in Big Sur. 9pm, Highway One in Big Sur, no cover.

Sunday

Catch some great bike racing today in downtown Pacific Grove at the Butterfly Criterium. The course runs down Lighthouse, Central and Fountain. The races begin at 7:30am and go through 5pm.

Fee-free weekend continues at Pinnacles National Monument. Remember, Bear Gulch Cave is closed this weekend, but Balconies Cave is open!

World Oceans Day continues at the Monterey Bay Aquarium with readings of Dr. Seuss’ “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” children’s activities, a family craft room, a sustainable cooking demonstration, animal feeding shows, live musical performances and more. All activities included in the price of admission. 10am-6pm, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey.

Celebrate the Monterey road that John Steinbeck made famous at the Cannery Row Block Party. There will be live music from Jonah and the Whalewatchers, Zebop and Trusting Lucy, live animal presentations from Wild Things, a balloon artist, a stilt walker, a Ghiardelli Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contest from 2:45-3:15pm, and more! 11am-5pm, Cannery Row, free; see the Cannery Row site for a schedule of events.

Three for a Girl and Jono Harrison’s mini-tour of Monterey County continues tonight at Bullwacker’s. 8:30pm-midnight, 653 Cannery Row Monterey, no cover.

Psychedelic rock bands The Reflectacles and Insects vs. Robots play Fernwood in Big Sur tonight. 9pm, Highway One, no cover.