Send ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com 24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 20-26, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy, aka MIRA, will be on hand at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to help observe this phenomenon during the “Race to Space” public stargazing event. They’ll also help you see through telescopes the season’s constellations and other sights. One caveat: cloud cover cancels; check the website two hours before the event for a cancellation notice. [PM] 8-10pm Friday, Feb. 21. Hospitality Island, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. Free. mac@mira.org, go.nasa.gov/3EOkrNl. Saturday, Feb. 22 BLACK HISTORY The Friends of the Marina Library showcase the classic 1964 movie Nothing But a Man. The story follows the life of railroad worker Duff Anderson and his wife Josie, a teacher, and challenges they face along the way in a segregated South. The movie displays the hardships, racism and oppression Black people faced in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as their complicated family issues. It was filmed at the peak of the American civil rights movement. When released, the movie faced distribution challenges. Many people were unaware of it until it came out from obscurity and was re-released (and added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress) in the early 1990s. The movie is considered a great example of neorealism in American cinema. And its themes are as relevant today as ever. [CJ] 2:30-4:30pm Saturday, Feb. 22. Marina Library Branch, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. Recommended for ages 14+. 883-7507, eMCFL.org. JOKES ON YOU What can you do with this information: Colonel Mustard, conservatory, wrench. Well, if you are playing Clue, that’s one thing. But give the same info to the cast of Monterey Comedy Improv and the results will be completely different. The troupe is known for making up skits on the spot based upon a few prompts from the audience—with hilarious results. Monterey County Improv makes regular appearances at Lighthouse Cinema. This time, however, there is a twist—a 6:30pm pre-show at Hops & Fog before the real deal continues. [DF] 7pm Saturday, Feb. 22. Lighthouse Cinema, 525 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $20. 6410747, lighthousecinema4events.com. FOUR PLAY The Rolling Stones have been called the greatest rock band in the world. Their equal in the chamber music world is the Juilliard String Quartet. Grammys? They have them. Recognition from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences? Yep—the only string quartet so honored. The foursome come to Carmel at the behest of Chamber Music Monterey Bay to perform selections from Dvorák, Janácek and some guy named Beethoven. Areta Zhulla and Ronald Copes have violin duties, with Molly Carr on viola and Astrid Schween wielding the cello. So important is this quartet that there will be a pre-concert talk at 6:30pm. Mick and Keith are not that important. [DF] 7:30pm Saturday, Feb. 22. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. $25-$75. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org. SWEET SKILLS “Dang!” “Lucky!” If these words come with a heavy-breathy inflection in your mind, then you’re in luck because the Golden State Theatre is hosting a screening of the 2004 insta-classic Napoleon Dynamite. But why stop HOT PICKS LOVE CONNECTION Just when you thought Valentine’s was over, the XYZ Comedy Series brings us “Lovers Know Best: The Live Gameshow for Couples,” where three couples compete to see who has the most solid bond. (If you’re old enough to remember The Newlywed Game, this may sound familiar. If not, Google it.) “Lovers Know Best” is described as “intriguing, a little provocative and an absolute ton of fun.” It’s hosted by improv and sketch comedy veteran Sean Perlmutter, in his second year with the show. His co-host is actor and comedian Brooke Burgstahler. Bring your special someone and get ready for some laughs. [PM] 8pm Thursday, Feb. 20. Studio 105, Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos Street at 9th Avenue, Carmel. $35-$59. 620-2048, sunset center.org. Friday, Feb. 21 SOUNDS OF SONATA The sonatas are coming to Carmel Valley Community Chapel. No, we’re not talking about a show featuring Hyundai’s mid-sized sedan. Rather, these sonatas have a much more pleasant sound than the drone of an underpowered four-cylinder engine. Artist Migration presents a program featuring Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 10 in G Major and Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor. The former sonata has been described as a pivotal moment in Beethoven’s career, while the latter is viewed as a technically demanding masterpiece. Featured in this concert are British violinist Madeleine Mitchell and Greek pianist Elektra Schmidt, both of whom have performed extensively worldwide to international acclaim. This will be the first in a series of benefit concerts for the chapel. [EC] 7pm Friday, Feb. 21. Carmel Valley Community Chapel, 42 Village Drive, Carmel Valley. $35-$60/suggested donation. 6592278, artistmigration.com/cvccbenefit. BRINGING THE SAX If you’ve listened to jazz sometime over the last 30 years, you’ve likely heard the work of saxophonist and keyboardist Gary Meek. Scratch that— if you’ve listened to music over the last three decades, you’ve probably heard the Monterey-based musician’s craft. Meek has not only recorded seven solo albums, but he’s also appeared on more than 200 records and toured with artists around the world. The saxophone you hear on Green Day’s “Jackass”? That’s Meek. What about Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Dave Weckl? Yeah, Meek has worked with him for more than 20 years. [EC] 7pm Friday, Feb. 21. Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave St., Monterey. $45. 655-2010, wavestreetstudios.com. STAR POWER You may have heard about the “parade of planets” that’s been visible in night skies since last month. The planetary alignment has included Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus (still a planet, per NASA) and Neptune. They have formed a line across the sky, visible just after sunset. As we get farther along in February the alignment becomes a little trickier to see, but take heart! Local astronomers from Love and comedy go together just as well as love and drama. Valentine’s Day has passed, but this chance to laugh with a significant other is still ahead. Couples are invited to this gameshow experience hosted by the XYZ Comedy series. COURTESY OF SUNSET CENTER The above image comes from the 1975 Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules. From left: organizers Maxine Singer, Norton Zander, Sydney Brennas and Paul Berg. The event’s 50th anniversary takes place from Feb. 23-25. MIT
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