Friday, April 25 ASH-SHI‘R AL-‘ARABĪYY Encounter the magic of Arabic music and poetry and their traditional union. The musicians are Rafid Yalda, an Iraqi-American master performer of the nay (reed flute) from Baghdad, and Ealaph Tabbaa, a bassoonist from Carmel. The poets are Mumtaz Tabbaa and Rana Issa, a writer and translator who specializes in Arabic poetry, respectively. Tabbaa is a local doctor in his daily life. Arabic music and poetry, ash-shi‘r al-‘arabīyy, can be divided into the classical poetry, from before the Arabic Renaissance, and modern. It is also known as “vertical poetry” in reference to its vertical parallel structure of its two parts. The event, cohosted by the International Poetry Gathering of Monterey, will present work rooted in the style of both eras. [AP] 5:30-7:30pm Friday, April 25. Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary.org. PET SOUNDS If one could briefly inhabit the mind of a dog or a cat, a turtle or macaw, or perhaps even a pig, it’d be interesting to know what music sounds like for them. Is Fido a connoisseur of hi-fi? Does Socks like to rock? Does Charlie prefer jazz? Would Max have a special playlist for walks? While the answers to these important questions are elusive, this Friday night, a group of CSUMB students is putting on a fundraising concert on behalf of SPCA Monterey County that will benefit our animal friends, regardless of their feelings about music. Local acts Nathan Sadly, Career Woman, The Tremolos and Sleepcycle perform. [DS] 6:30-11pm Friday, April 25. Paper Wing Theatre, 711 Cannery Row, Suite 1 (upstairs), Monterey. $10; $5/students. 3732631, spcamc.org. STAR GAZERS Every so often, the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy hosts a nighttime sky-watching party at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with plenty of telescopes on hand. It’s always a humbling experience to view the numerous stars in the sky and realize just how small we really are, and, despite what the uninformed naysayers may argue, that we are not the center of the universe. This iteration of 30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 25 YEARS OF YAC The results of quiet art-making will be on the walls for viewing, but LiveART 2025 is an “art-making ruckus,” the organizers promise. The event is the main celebration for the Youth Arts Collective’s 25th anniversary, featuring dozens of the Monterey Peninsula’s artists and musicians all coming together in support of young artists. Expect live art-making and music, an interactive sketch circle (sit while multiple artists draw you from multiple angles) and a silent auction. You may recognize established local artists including Paul Richmond, Robin Winfield, Denese Sanders, Meg Biddle and Peggy Kodl. There are also rising stars who are student artists involved in the nonprofit. Join at 5-10pm on Saturday, April 26, at YAC’s headquarters, 472 Calle Principal, Monterey ($20; $10/youth under age 18) .The above photo comes from the LiveART 2024 event. [AP] 24-30 APRIL HOT PICKS To see more local events, and add your own, visit calendar.montereycountynow.com RAVEN COOK VISUALS ROBIN M. STEARNS Based in Silicon Valley, Robin M. Stearns is one of close to 300 artists who show their work at the 480 Lighthouse Gallery (480 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove; open 11am-3pm except Mondays). This MIT graduate founded a publisher’s production company, then opened a preschool and a childcare center. She started oil painting in 2012, when she took her first painting class. She is known for her images of San Francisco. She does cityscapes, figurative art and pop art. This piece, titled “Blasphemous Rhapsody,” is one of the most striking paintings in the gallery, which is now the biggest gallery space in Monterey County. More information at robinstearns.org and 480lighthouse.com. [AP] Do you ever wonder what goes on at Moss Landing Marine Labs? At an open house, curious visitors are invited to meet the team, including Vertebrate Ecology Lab researcher Martin Tournier (left) and grad student Vicky Ooi (center). COURTESY MOSS LANDING MARINE LABORATORIES International Day of the Child falls on Wednesday, April 30. Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas is celebrating, devoting the afternoon to its youngest readers.
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