Think Fast Improv is short for improvisation, which is an already shortened way to say “making stuff up as you go along.” Yet improv as an art form is not quite that simple; if it was, then George Santos would be an improv master—but you see, he’s not all that funny. The “I’m a stable genius” guy and that “I am not a crook” character? They did more harm than good. The team at Monterey Comedy Improv, however, has the genre down right. They take suggestions from the audience, craft a scenario on the spot and play it out to laughter and applause. The troupe is quick-witted and hilarious. Yes, it’s all fabricated on the spot. But audience members are better off for it. Indeed, Monterey Comedy Improv turns making stuff up into an art form. [DF] 7pm Saturday, Jan. 21. The Carl Cherry Center, 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. $20. 624-7491, carlcherrycenter.org. Sing it Out The bi-monthly hootenanny at the Pacific Grove Art Center has been happening since 1996 and is typically attended by anywhere from 30-70 people. Not even the pandemic stopped this cheerful bunch—the singing simply migrated online. While the word “hootenanny” originates from an Indiana expression denoting a “loose or unorganized gathering,” the modern hootenanny came to life in the late ’50s when Woody Guthrie used the term to label the acoustic jam sessions and group singalongs that were the backbone of the folk music revival of the early ’60s. The group’s guardian angel, Vic Selby, is a former high school teacher and choir instructor who over years developed a thick songbook for community singing. [AP] 7-9:30pm Saturday, Jan. 21. Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 375-2208, pgartcenter.org. Hot Picks by Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, Dave Faries, Kyarra Harris, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Rey Mashayekhi, Agata Pop˛eda, Sara Rubin, David Schmalz. 30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY january 19-25, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Send ideas to calendar@mcweekly.com HOT PICKS Sowing, Reaping There are few outdoor activities as therapeutic as gardening. While one can get great joy from seeing plants one buys grow—inside or outside—there’s a singular pleasure is sowing wildflower seeds in tilled, weeded soil, then waiting for some rain to hit and see what comes up. It’s both cheaper, and it’s more mysterious—you never know what’s going to sprout and take root. These are, in essence, what some gardeners like to call “volunteers”—plants, usually flowers, a gardener wants, but that grew up on their own. And an added bonus is that volunteers often prove more hardy than store-bought plants, because they’ve already established they can call the soil home. There’s no better time than the present to get some seeds in the soil if you want to see them bloom into flowers by the spring. An added bonus is knowing the plants haven’t been treated with any pesticides that might harm pollinators, which are an essential part of the ecosystem often taken for granted. It’s easy: just clear out a patch of soil and amend it with compost if necessary, do some tilling and spread the seeds, then push them under the soil with your fingertips so they don’t become birdfeed. Let the rains hit, and when the sun comes out again you will start watching your seeds spring to life. The experience is uniquely gratifying. Seed packets—native plants are best—are available most anywhere that plants are sold. Beauty awaits you. [DS] david schmalz outside DANCING QUEEN What is it that they say about aiming for the moon? For those of us without a dance background (or, um, much coordination), Argentine tango is not the easiest dance to learn. It is, however, incredibly beautiful and captivating, so we understand why one might be interested learning. Good news for locals who want to learn to tango—Monterey Bay Tango is teaching a recurring Thursday evening tango basics class, targeted at beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of this dance. There’s an intermediate class later the same night for all you fast learners. [TCL] 7-9pm Thursday, Jan. 19. House of Four Winds, 540 Calle Principal, Monterey. $10. tangomontereybay.com. Jan. 20 RAMBLE ON The California Bluegrass Association’s Otter Opry is back at Monterey United Methodist Church this week with a performance by Canadian bluegrass band The Slocan Ramblers. The Juno Award-nominated group will bring their twangy, acoustic take on American roots music to the Peninsula, including songs from their most recent album Up the Hill and Through the Fog, released last June. Per Otter Opry tradition, the evening will be preceded by a public jam and an outdoor dinner before the Ramblers hit the stage. [RM] 4pm public jam; 5:30pm outside dinner; 7pm concert, Friday, Jan. 20. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $35; $30/CBA members; free/ages 15 and under. Pre-show dinner $17.50. 375-8285, otteropry.org. Jan. 21 SONGS OF THE SOUL Like other dimensions of Jewish ritual and tradition, cantorial music has a rich history. The role of the Jewish cantor as a musical and spiritual leader emerged during the seventh century. While many of the prayers and songs that cantors lead today come from those ancient sounds, there are also modern melodies in the mix. And cantor Linda Hirschhorn embodies that bridge between ancient and contemporary, spiritual and relatable. She is the director and primary composer for Vocolot, the first-ever Jewish women’s a cappella ensemble; she organized and directed the first Jewish Women’s International Chorus in Kiev in 1994; and from her role as cantor at Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro, she continues sharing her voice and her love for music with others, including at a vocal workshop and concert at Congregation Beth Israel in Carmel. Sing along, or just listen. [SR] 2:30-4pm vocal workshop; 7:30-9pm concert Saturday, Jan. 21. Congregation Beth Israel, 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $25 (covers both workshop and concert); RSVP required. 624-2015, carmelbethisrael.org. Join Monterey Bay Tango at House of Four Winds on Thursday nights to learn the basics of tango, that beautiful, alluring dance from Argentina. instagram.com/irina.s_albums
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