We made a 3 hour drive to see Ride the Cyclone. What a wonderful idea. The performers were…read morewonderful and gracious. They were patient with the fans. Yes, there were girls lined up for autographs. Thank you to the woman who took my daughters Playbill and collected staff autographs for those still backstage. Every single person was amazing. We will be back.

Wow, another cool place to add to my list of things to do around here in the summer…read more With a group of people we headed over to see the musical "Evita". I had no idea what to expect, as others did the planning, but I knew it was outside and was told they allow picnics and to bring wine. Wow- how many places can you go these days that welcome you to bring your own food AND alcohol, no restrictions, glass is fine, etc! The theatre is hidden in a grove of trees. Parking can be difficult, they have a small lot inside their main gate, otherwise it's street parking on very narrow windy streets, so get there early! Seating is generally general admission, so even more reason to get there early. (hint- try to snag one of the few rows with a railing in the front if you're doing food/drinks because you can use it as a table!). The amphitheater is small and cozy though, and there's basically no bad seats, so don't worry. I'd also suggest bringing something soft to sit on as the wood benches get hard fast! The stage/performance/acting was great. It's kinda magical out there in the dark with just the stage and two small bonfires burning on each side. It gets cold at night, so bring layers. They apparently show various plays throughout the summer, and also movies. Not sure how much the movies are, but the Evita tix were $25 with various discounts for students/seniors etc. They have a small snack bar selling everything from coffee to soda, homemade chili to 'cup of noodles, cookies, etc. Nothing to fancy or substantial so bring stuff along. The pre-show talk mentioned something about upcoming improvements like more comfortable seating and more bathrooms. Sounds good just as long as they keep the charm, though I have no doubt they will

my butt was freezing the whole time i took a fat poop…read morebackstage my toes were cold even in my shoes i love the backstage lights tho #glowing #lights #cold #brrr

An incredible facility. Many world class events and entertainment have been presented here…read more Fabulous stage area. Plenty of room. Great venue for weddings and other events. Right next to a huge park and tennis courts. Hotel is next door. Friendly people. A great place.

A wonderful children's theater performance group with a rotating cast. Great shows…read more I have watched generations of children that go through this program. Tonight's performance of A Christmas Story was no exception. Wonderful performances all around. Make sure you catch a the finale show. Tickets are $13, which is a bargain in my book.

Ariel Theatrical is committed to helping young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. You…read morecan tell by their hard work and dedication from their young actors and actresses. We saw the Disney Frozen Jr production and were so impressed! You could just feel the excitement in the audience since it was a full house and we left smiling from the experience. Bravo Ariel!

This 2-hour annual show can be viewed while enjoying shopping, entertainment, and food/drinks at…read moreOld Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. This past Sunday, boats passed by the wharf around 5:30pm (actually starting a bit earlier) and showcased their beautiful and creative light displays (some boats with music and props too), as they sailed along the coast toward Lover's Point, then passed by again on their way back to the wharf. Though they essentially line up in the form of a parade, you probably don't need to watch the entire time. I'd say either in the beginning, when each boat sails out of the harbor one-by-one, or when they return. If you want a good spot on the promenade or at the end of one of the other small piers, I'd recommend getting there early. It got pretty crowded by start time. Another option is to purchase tickets on one of the tour boats to get a better view on the water. For me, arriving early and watching from the wharf promenade for free was a lot better value. Even though the lighted boat parade already took place this past weekend (first Sunday of December), the wharf's website notes than many of the boats remain lit in the Monterey Harbor during the holiday season. A cool and unique event to get into the holiday spirit, especially if you like boats :)

Great small live theater in Salinas (I know hard to believe). Excellent value and good…read moreperformance. Unfortunately they still demand ancient Covid requirements and don't even bother to use the current recommendations of the State of California and the County of Monterey. Also you are forced to endure the pre-performance propaganda of the plight of the Native American which has absolutely no relevance to live theater. Just another liberal left wing guilt trip. Ben F Tarsitano, MD

What a lovely little theatre. It is so well appointed. The seats are so new and so comfy. The…read morestaff is very bubbly and engaging. Well with that said, let's get y o the show. We saw A View from the bridge. The play was done very well with strong characters and performances in all roles. Seems to me worthy of a return for other shows. Live theatre. Always a fun experience.

This is an amazing weeklong event that has been celebrated over 100 years in Pacific Grove…read more Conceptual artists, take note; It is completely made up! Begun as the closing ceremonies to the annual summer Chautauqua lectures, some think as early as the 1890's. No one is positively sure when it started but the official year is now 1905. Well worth bringing the kids to see this day long pageant and pet parade as well as chicken dinner and many other events including Wednesday which is cake cutting day and kids get to draw on the sidewalks outside Chautauqua Hall. All free! Don't miss the great fireworks including Chinese fireworks! Update in response to the very poor review by AJ: Feast of Lanterns has very little to do with any real Chinese history. It is a faux Chinese pageant which is based on an English play. It has been offensive to some Asian people who don't understand that it started as a celebration of other cultures and was an American interpretation of the Japanese Obon festival circa 1900, in the 1920's it turned into a bathing beauty contest, was not celebrated during WWII, then re-emerged as a faux Chinese American festival, probably due to anti-Japanese sentiment. What has remained are small vestiges of the original Obon with lanterns being lit down at the beach as well as the boat parade. It is a celebration, like many in America which has changed with the times and has only traces of actual history. Pacific Grove had the longest active Chinese fishing community on the west coast. Feast of Lanterns was very Japanese oriented when the Chinese lived there. As far as their involvement, it was probably limited to the lighted boat parade, one of the few consistent traditions of the event. As far as the history of the actual Chinese families that lived at the village, it was a fairly peaceful relationship until the end when several entities were interested in the land. Not the local residents, but rather developers and Stanford University. I do agree, this event should have some basis in actual Asian history, but it has become it's own unique event. To that end, it is hard to be offended by something that has no roots in any particular culture but it's own, and yet, started because of a very open-minded interest in other cultures circa 1900.

Location is beautiful, event amazing, but the food is such a rip off. We got a "philly cheese…read moresteak" which was some cooked deli beef with jalapeños inside a tiny hotdog bun for $11. No cheese. Yes, no cheese for a cheese steak. For a tiny cup of hot chocolate it was five bucks, for a sparse and minuscule amount of curly fries, $6. Such a waste of money so strongly suggest bringing your own food.

Review for Independent Marketplace - Take Two - May 3, 2012…read more (first Thursday every month) Cinco de Mayo theme... I only have less than an hour here and didn't buy any veggies besides a bunch if organic baby carrots so I didn't get a chance to leave them at the "veggie valet"... I kid you not. How sic! Tequila sampling by Surf & Sand from the lovely family that owns Bruno's Market in Carmel by the Sea... I got a good deal on a bottle of Jimador - Reposado that came in a gift box with a free keepsake glass (I've bough this same set before at Terrace Liquors on Seaside) just to get a free Jimador hat... I'm a sucker like that. Fun craft soda booth, Mundaka was there in full effect representing the 5th with churros served with a side of warm Mexican chocolate and some thin tortas using their popular acorn fed Jamon Iberico.. sold out within an hour. I had my old friend Dr. NiNi and her Mom meet me there since they were visiting from out of town, Oakland and Los Gatos respectively. Nicole and I attended York together over a decade ago so they are very familiar with 831 culture and they warmly surprised and happy to feel the buzz and the foodie forward revolution going down in Sand City. Oh the Vallarta Splash cocktails didn't hurt either!

Now that they're charging a $5 cover, I expect a bit more…read more The good: the hot food served outside (you can get this without paying a cover). Vendors vary from month to month, but on this visit my buddies had pork shoulder tacos ($4 each or $10 for three, I think) from Carmel Valley Ranch, which they said were incredible. My vegetarian tacos (2 for $4) made with Sweet Earth Natural Foods seitan were also very good, though they were rather messy, and the vendor had no forks. I also heard from friends that the Happy Girl Kitchen Thai food was good. The Penny Ice Creamery ice cream inside was also excellent (I had a variation on rocky road, and my friend had butterscotch.) Also, the proximity to the Post No Bills beer venue is nice. Crowds at the Marketplace seem to be less dense now that they charge to get in, which is a positive, IMHO. The not-so-good: the DJ inside, playing hip hop & dance music at a rather high volume. A few people were dancing, but I think most of us were barely tolerating it. I hope that live music returns to the Marketplace. Also, the funky penny they give you when you pay your cover charge is supposed to be good at vendor booths, but it's of very limited value. For example, you can buy two ice creams and get one free, or get $1 off some excellent but rather pricey artisanal cheese. Much of the space is devoted to kids/kids' activities, but it didn't seem to be getting used much by the time we got there (shortly after 6:00). Some additional seating space would be nice, too.

We attended "Best of the Fest" this past weekend, on the final day of the 2023 event (favorites…read moreselected by artistic director, Grete Pederson). At first, it felt like I was at church, with the cathedral-like interior architecture at the Sunset Center, and Bach's background and history of writing church music, unmistakable with the initial performances seemingly dominated by the magnificent choir on stage. But it grew into so much more. An abundance of talent on display showcasing their musical expertise on a plethora of instruments, including some I rarely see performed, like the theorbo (lute) and harp. The concert included the music of Bach, Mozart, George Frideric Handel (Concerto for Organ), Haydn (excerpts from The Creation), Karin Rehnqvist (moving performance of Breaking the Ice)... even a Beethoven teaser for next year's festival! But my fave was Fire and Grace, with Edwin Huizibga on the violin and William Coulter on the guitar, their version of "folk and baroque" (Irish Jig, Bach Gigue, Irish Reel). Tower music on the trumpets and trombones in the courtyard during intermission, with charming string lights to help set the mood. Easy access to the event, parking available within the neighborhood, and workers quick to scan tickets. Staff included 130 volunteers, which is amazing, as that kind of dedication makes this all possible. Though I've certainly been to better venues and music events, I enjoyed my experience here, listening to the extraordinary performances of various classical works of art organized beautifully into the program.

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular,…read morebut he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.