tionship with humans, per se, but on its relationship with the environment. Specifically, the focus is on our local wetlands, like Elkhorn Slough, and the critical role they play in filtering pollutants out of our ecosystems—one amazing thing about wetlands is, they can transform a toxic chemical into something harmless. It’s one of nature’s great magic tricks, and Rachel Clifford, a resident and masters student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, will reveal mud’s secrets. Kids are most welcome, and to that end there will be refreshments and snacks (but no actual mud, as far as we know). [DS] 10:15am Saturday, April 1. Carmel Valley Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. Free. 647-7760. April 2 On the (Egg) Hunt The first Easter egg hunts in America were brought over by German immigrants in the 1700s and soon caught on in popularity as a fun Easter tradition. Early hunts were for hard boiled eggs, but once candy and prizes were introduced—along with the idea of a big, fluffy bunny doing the hiding—egg hunts became a beloved tradition everywhere. The volunteers behind the Aromas Community Center Foundation created their own Easter egg hunt tradition as a way to raise money for the Aromas Sport Park, a 17.5-acre sports and recreation park for the residents of Aromas and the surrounding region. The day’s fun events include egg hunts by age, craft tables, bubbles, a petting farm, photo with a bunny and children’s music. Bring a basket or purchase one at the event to further help out the community cause. [PM] Noon-3pm Sunday, April 2. Aromas Sport Park, 300 Aromas Road, Aromas. $10/child, presale; $12/ child at the door. aromassportspark@gmail.org, aromassportspark.org/ new-events-1. Hot Picks by Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, Dave Faries, Kyarra Harris, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Rey Mashayekhi, Agata Pop˛eda, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz. 28 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY march 30-april 5, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Send ideas to calendar@mcweekly.com HOT PICKS Space Race It’s time once again for the Big Sur Land Trust’s annual Race for Open Space fundraiser. The fundraiser is an opportunity to run, walk or hike through the Big Sur Land Trust’s nature preserves, many of which are not easily accessible to the public at other times. Enjoy a self-guided run or hike through Glen Deven Ranch or the Mitteldorf Preserve any time in the month of April ($35) or sign up for a guided hike with a group. There are also live trail races at a variety of distances, from a two-mile fun run to a 21-mile out-and-back through Palo Corona and the Mitteldorf Preserve. The event is mainly held throughout April, with self-guided hikes taking place at a date/time of your choosing April 1-30. Some of the guided hikes and the trail races, however, will take place in May this year due to winter’s impacts on many trails. Get out in nature while supporting open space conservation—and scoping destinations that are often inaccessible, during a time of year that the grass is green and wildflowers may be in peak bloom. [TCL] April 1-30. Various locations. Prices vary, $35-$100. runsignup.com/Race/Info/CA/ Monterey/BigSurLandTrust. David Loutzenheiser outside and learn about the Junior League’s mission to train the next generation of local leaders. [SR] 5-7:30pm Friday, March 31. Carmel Woman’s Club, San Carlos at 9th Avenue, Carmel. $50. 402-4705, lunafest.org. March 31-April 1 World’s Greatest Band Pacific Repertory Theatre is bringing back last year’s hit production of Celebrating the Beatles! with two live performances at Carmel’s historic Outdoor Forest Theater. Celebrating the Beatles! is a multimedia performance featuring live musicians, video clips, images and storytelling. It tells the story of the world’s greatest band, from its beginnings in Liverpool through the 13 albums recorded between 1963 and 1969, to the group’s breakup in April 1970. The show features the Monterey Peninsula’s own The Nowhere Band playing 25 Beatles hits. The show was conceived, written and is narrated by Mark Shilstone-Laurent. The Nowhere Band consists of Anne and Pete Sibley, Doug Fearnside, Dustin Carroll, Sam Salerno, Justin Noseworthy and Shilstone-Laurent. And this show goes back into cultivating the next generation of performers: Proceeds benefit the Peppy Garner-Darnell Whitt School of Dramatic Arts. [AP] 8pm Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1. Outdoor Forest Theater, Mountain View and Santa Rita, Carmel. $13-$37. 622-0100, pacrep.org. March 31-April 2 Super Squirrel The beloved Marvel Comics hero Squirrel Girl is taking the Salinas stage in Squirrel Girl Goes to College by Karen Zacarias. The family-friendly play follows the adventures of Doreen Green as she starts college in hopes of making new friends. When trouble ensues, she must put trust in these new friends to stop the villains. Squirrel Girl is said to be unbeatable because of her positivity and, of course, her squirrel-like abilities. The show is a mustsee for young comic book fans, and for anyone who loves a good superhero story with a side of college humor. [KH] 7:30pm Friday-Saturday, March 31-April 1 and 2pm Sunday, April 2. Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $18. 755-6816, westernstage.com. April 1 Mud Actually Mud can’t get no respect. Perhaps that’s because it gets on our shoes, can track into our homes, and get things “dirty.” This despite the fact that not only is “dirt don’t hurt” a true statement, exposure to dirt boosts our immune systems, whereas antibacterial soaps do the opposite. But this presentation about the science of mud, hosted by the Friends of Carmel Valley Library as part of their First Saturday Series, doesn’t focus on mud’s relaOne of the short films in Lunafest, Swimming Through, tells the story of three friends— who commit to a daily sunrise plunge in Lake Michigan as they brave a brutal Chicago winter and impacts of a global pandemic. COURTESY lunafest
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