24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY May 16-22, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com receiving the most audience votes, and the grand prize, worth $1,500. The festival’s finale is A Long Road to Tao, which includes in the cast Salinas resident Mike Clancy (see story, p. 29). [PM] 1pm Saturday, May 18 and 5pm Sunday, May 19. Lighthouse Cinema & Event Center, 525 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $20/twoday pass; $15/single day. 641-0747, lighthousecinema4events.com. Cherry on top The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel announces the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards for 2024, showcasing local, young poets growing up all over Monterey County. The event includes a reading and an awards ceremony—this is your chance to hear from the next generation of rising poets first. The program, formerly called the Robert Campbell Monterey County High School Poetry Awards, was renamed last year to honor local poet (and president of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation) Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, who provided inspiration and writing instruction to thousands of area high school students. [AP] 2-4pm Saturday, May 18. Carl Cherry Center, 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. Free. 624-7491, carlcherrycenter.org. On the Block Following last year’s success, the Downtown Business District of Pacific Grove comes back with the second annual “Chalk the Block” event. A sidewalk art competition on Lighthouse Avenue is open to all levels, from beginners to experts. The theme of the event is: “Happiness is…”. You can sign up online for individuals or teams of up to four (organizers suggest keeping groups small, so you have enough space to get creative without bumping elbows). You’ll receive a starter set of non-toxic, eco-friendly chalk to use, or you can bring your own. Envision your artwork, draw it, and then see what all the others groups have created. Judging takes place at 2pm. Space is limited, so register early. [AP] 10am-2pm Saturday, May 18. Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free. tinyurl. com/4ne4vjeb. Art o Music and art are not mutually exclusive; art is music, and music is art. They will seamlessly combine under one roof at the Pacific Grove Art Center, when new music by local composers Carleton Macy and Kenny Hill will be performed in an hour-long concert. Hill, a guitarist, will be joined by Anthony DeMers and Guitar Ensemble Monterey. Macy also performs on the recorder, along with clarinetist Igor Poklad and the Youth Music Monterey County Woodwind Quartet. While you’re there, check out the four new exhibits at the center while being serenaded with the tunes before heading out to a Saturday evening dinner. Among the exhibits are works by the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association, as well as paintings by Gerald Huth in the aptly named show “Hearing the Music.” [EC] 5:30pm Saturday, May 18. Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $10 donation suggested. 375-2208, pgartcenter.org. Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19 At the Pinnacle The 77th season of the Monterey Symphony has played up ideas of local places, with concerts and corresponding posters themed “Santa Lucia,” “Ventana” and “Palo Corona.” It’s fitSend ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com HOT PICKS to visit Ishxenta, guided by State Parks interpretive staff, to learn about the cultural and natural history (and present) of this beautiful place. The hike is about three miles; wear good hiking shoes and layers. [SR] 9:30am-12:30pm Saturday, May 18. Meet at Palo Corona Regional Park, 4860 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free; registration required. 372-3196, mprpd.org/let-s-go-outdoors. Know the Past In 1942, the men of Company C, 194th Tank Battalion, were engaged in a vicious battle to slow the Japanese drive across the Philippines and the Bataan Peninsula. These were the dark days of World War II for America—and for Salinas. The men were from Salinas and the Pajaro Valley. Of the 105 who made up Company C, only six died in combat. But 50 died in captivity—on the Bataan Death March or in prison camps. On Saturday, the Monterey County Historical Society rededicates the restored Bataan Monument (11am). But just so the event is not all somber, they also dedicate a new Victorian library (1pm). As a bonus, fine art photographer Lynn Butler will be on hand to sign her photo book, Flames Against the Dark: Saving America’s Sacred Sites, which features images from sacred indigenous lands across the continent, including in Monterey County. (See story, p. 28.) [DF] 10am-3pm Saturday, May 18. Monterey County Historical Society, 333 Boronda Road, Salinas. Free. 757-8085, mchsmuseum.com. 50th Birthday Bash For 50 years, the Friends of the Pacific Grove Library has faithfully worked to support the town’s public library through thick and thin. More recently they helped raise over $3 million to restore the library’s historic building, a project completed in 2020. The friends are throwing a big birthday celebration to commemorate their 50 years, with cake, of course, but also music by the Palenke Arts Latin Jazz Combo, readings by local children’s author Anne Ylvisaker (One Alley Summer, Iamasaurus; see story, p. 30), crafts, bubbles, games, book giveaways for all ages and an appearance by the library’s new electric book vehicle, MOVe. [PM] 10am-noon Saturday, May 18. Jewell Park, corner of Grand and Central avenues, Pacific Grove. Free. ffpgpl@gmail.com, ffpgpl.com. Film Festivities Oh sure, the fancy Hollywood types will be in France next week for the Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes, if you’re really fancy), but even Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig and other top directors had to start somewhere. That’s where the Central Coast’s own Beacon Film Festival comes in. It’s a chance for aspiring filmmakers to show their best creations, and for us, the audience, to catch a glimpse of the future of film. The festival runs over two days, showing submitted short films (from two to 15 minutes each), that will be judged by a panel. The winners will be announced Sunday, including the Audience Choice Award, the short Calling small and big artists alike: “Chalk the Block” is coming back to Pacific Grove after a successful debut in 2023, when the motif was marine; this year, it’s happiness. Bart Hays The Monterey Symphony concludes its season with a performance around the theme of “Pinnacles.” Expect the same soaring, cohesive sound this ensemble regularly delivers. randy tunnell
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