Jules Tavernier’s “Indian Sun Dance,” published in Harper’s Weekly in 1875. Tavernier, a French-American painter, founded an art colony in Monterey in the 1870s. Author and historian Claudine Chalmers shares more at MIIS on Thursday, Nov. 16.
Thursday, Nov. 16
Histoires de Vie
Decades ago, when Claudine Chalmers immigrated to California from her native France, she grew fascinated by the French place names in the Golden State, and set about researching the stories behind them. After compiling those stories for a decade, they became the subject of her first book, Splendide Californie: Impressions of the Golden State by French Artists, which was published in 2001. The author and art historian has published several books since, and in her latest – Barbizon-by-the-Pacific: The Early Days of Monterey’s Bohemian Art Colony with Jules Tavernier, Jules Simoneau and Robert Louis Stevenson – she turns her lens onto the Monterey Peninsula in the late 19th century, a time when the region was carving out its identity in the post-Mexican era. The Old Monterey Foundation invited Chalmers, who now resides in Nevada City, to come speak about her latest book. The nonprofit will host a free lecture and wine reception at MIIS. Early arrival is encouraged to get a good seat; all ages welcome. It promises to be enlightening. [DS]
6-8pm Thursday, Nov. 16. (Lecture 6-7pm, Q&A 7-7:15pm, wine reception 7:15-8pm.) Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free. oldmontereyfoundation.org.
Ayodele Nzinga has many talents to her name: actress, director, playwright, poet, educator and more. She comes to speak at the Sunset Center as Oakland’s poet laureate.
Poet at Sunset
The Carmel Public Library Foundation presents a community night with the library titled Cultural Architect: A Poet’s Path to Building Community. The public is invited to hear Ayodele Nzinga, the City of Oakland’s first and current poet laureate, in a poetry reading and thought-provoking presentation on the importance of fostering and building a stronger community through the advancement of arts and culture. Known by many as a renaissance woman, Nzinga’s contributions have positively influenced the downtown Oakland community in various ways. Nzinga holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing and Consciousness and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Transformative Education & Change. [AP]
7pm Thursday, Nov. 16. Carpenter Hall inside Sunset Center, San Carlos and 8th, Carmel. Free. 620-2020, carmelpubliclibraryfoundation.org.
Friday, Nov. 17
New Wave
Director Bruce Brown tapped into a previously unrecognized public fascination with watching a few guys travel the world to surf. His popular 1966 film The Endless Summer was followed up by a 1994 sequel. But how did it all come about? That part of the story has been missing – until now. Director Richard Yellen premieres Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis at Lighthouse Cinema, and it’s a red carpet affair. Yellen will be there. Former pro surfer Jamie Brisick is scheduled to appear, as well, along with Robert “Wingnut” Weaver of Endless Summer II fame. That should be enough, but there’s actually more. To get the party started (and keep it going), free beer from Alvarado Street is flowing and free popcorn is, well, popping. Or it will be, come Friday. [DF]
6pm Friday, Nov. 17. Lighthouse Cinema, 525 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $20/in advance; $25/at the door. 641-0747, bit.ly/BirthofEndlessSummer.
Friday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 19
Timeless Cyrano
The Monterey High Players are a troupe of Monterey High School student-actors and backstage technicians who are dedicated to promoting the performing arts and bringing high-quality theatrical events to the community. They are now proudly presenting Cyrano, based on the original 1897 play by French poet Edmond Rostand, which introduced audiences to the character of Cyrano de Bergerac. De Bergerac was a historical figure, a 17th-century French novelist, playwright, epistolarian and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th century. Today, he is best known as the inspiration for Rostand’s most noted drama, a classic and beloved romance, in which his conspicuously large nose poses a challenge to wooing Roxane. Monterey High students bring their twist to the classic story this weekend. [AP]
7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 2pm Sunday, Nov. 17-19. Monterey High School Welch Theatre, 101 Herrmann Dr., Monterey. $7-$15. mhsplayers.com.
Saturday, Nov. 18
There are not one or two but four separate craft fairs happening in Carmel on Saturday, Nov. 18. Stroll through, check out arts and crafts by local vendors, and maybe get started on holiday shopping.
Gift Extravaganza
What’s better than one craft fair in one city on a single day? Two? Three? Try four separate craft fairs all located within walking distance of each other in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea. The holiday fairs include the granddaddy of them all, the 52nd Annual Homecrafters’ Marketplace, featuring over 50 vendors selling everything from jewelry and ornaments to art, ceramics and so much more. Each vendor was carefully selected by a jury panel to ensure the highest-quality and widest variety of goods. The other shopping opportunities include the All Saints’ Episcopal Church Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, the Carmel Women’s Club Annual Artisan Event and the Church of the Wayfarer Annual Holiday Fair. You’ll need to refuel during this gift-shopping marathon and lucky for you, all four locations are selling hot lunches. [PM]
9am-3pm Saturday, Nov. 18. Free. Homecrafters’ Marketplace: Sunset Center North Lot, 8th Avenue between Mission and San Carlos streets, Carmel, [email protected]; All Saints’ Episcopal Church: Dolores Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel, [email protected]; Carmel Women’s Club: San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel, carmelwomensclubca.org; Church of the Wayfarer: Lincoln Street and 7th Avenue, Carmel, 624-3550.
Laugh Out Loud
This is a lineup of serious talent, but the show is anything but serious. Comedian Q hosts a night of standup, featuring multiple touring stars. From Dallas-based Fonzo Crow, expect searing and smart observations about life – marriage and divorce, parenting and daily routines. From Lisa Love of Detroit, puns that capture many meanings (as she recently posted, “these hot flashes make me a hot girl summer, a hot mess, a hot ho, a stove and a microwave”). And from headliner Piper the Comedian, some of the classics should be featured in his “retirement tour” (allegedly, at least). That surely means his famous call-and-response with the audience – “Won’t he do it?” greeted by the response, “If you let him!” And the audience should be prepared to laugh, if you let them. [SR]
7pm doors, 8pm show Saturday, Nov. 18. Deja Blue, 500 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $35; $50/VIP. 324-0044, dejabluelive.com.
Saturday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 19
True Classics
Monterey Symphony’s 77th season continues with “Pfeiffer,” named after a family of early Big Sur settlers whose land in Big Sur is now preserved as a state park. As such, the pieces are meant to evoke a connection to a given place – such as the Anne Clyne composition “Pivot,” which was inspired by her time in Edinburgh and borrows from a Scottish fiddle tune. There are also selections from Liszt (“Les préludes,” inspired by the French poets Autran and Lamartine) and Brahms (his Violin Concerto in D major, which deploys the style hongrois as an homage to his Hungarian friend and collaborator Joseph Joachim). First-chair violinist Christina Mok features on the Brahms piece, while the entire program is guest-conducted by Andrew Grams. There will also be a pre-concert screening of Composing Big Sur, a documentary showcasing the creative journey of John Wineglass, the Monterey Symphony’s composer-in-residence. [RM]