thursday 11|13

Romantic Rascals

PARIS BOHEMIANS One could imagine that the Left Bank of Paris in the 1930s was an artistic scene on par with the San Francisco 1969 scene, with slightly different drugs. Thirza Vallois, a Parisian historian, will reveal the true story this weekend in three lecture events about French and American bohemians. Tonight, "Paris of Artists and Writers" comes to life at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, to celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson's birthday. Saturday, Vallois joins Magnus Toren, one of Henry Miller's biggest fans (and manager of his memorial library in Big Sur), at a reading and lecture about "Paris-smitten romantic rascals"--especially the fun-loving Miller. (Ask Toren to sing the "Marilyn Monroe" song.) Finally on Sunday, indulge in wine and cheese (what could be more Parisian?) with Vallois at Fifi's Bistro to learn about "Left Bank Paris." Vallois is well-versed in French culture: she contributes to PBS, the BBC, The Discovery Channel, and Conde Nast Traveller. [CC]

Thursday, 12:15pm, MIIS Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Saturday, 3:30pm, Thunderbird Bookstore, The Barnyard, Highway 1 and Rio Rd., Carmel. Sunday, 3-5pm, 1188 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 624-1803.

Singing About the Dark Times

THE POETRY OF RESISTANCE A propos of recent world events, three local poets converge tonight in Carmel to read verse that refuses to follow political leaders into the dark woods. Frances Payne Adler, author of five books and director of the Creative Writing and Social Action Program at CSUMB, will read from her new collection The Making of a Matriot: Poetry and Prose. Local attorneys Michael Stamp and Bill Monning will read a variety of their own and others poems, including excerpts from Poems for the Nation, a collection edited by Allen Ginsberg. [MB]

7:30pm. The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe Avenues, Carmel. $8. 624-7491.

friday 11|14

The Pen Is Mightier...

BUI-BURTON/ ATKINSON READING The local chapter of the National Writers Union continues to take advantage of the gold mine of local writers, presenting a poetry reading by Kim Ly Bui-Burton and Charles Atkinson at the Thunderbird Bookstore Friday. Bui-Burton, when not writing about her Vietnamese ancestry and a "love of the wild world," works surrounded by books at the Monterey Public Library. Atkinson teaches writing at UC Santa Cruz and has won the Emily Dickinson Award for his poetry. In the 2002 War Poetry Contest, he won second prize for "Because We are Men": Awake. Those war-whooping days we retrieved the paper/dog-eared on the steps in the damp, and spread it/first thing on the counter with coffee... [CC]

7pm. Thunderbird Bookstore in The Barnyard, Highway 1 and Rio Road, Carmel. $5. 684-0854.

Six Make 58

THE DINING ROOM Watch six actors portray 58 characters in The Dining Room, a play centered in the dining room of an affluent household, by the author of Sylvia (the play about the dog, not the poet). Sunday's 2pm performance is $35 and includes a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception after the show. Actors Richard Boynton, Laura Cote, Dawn Flood, Tim Hart, Fred Herro and Elizabeth Miles and director Elsa Con work with scenes of upper middle class Americans in the script that The New York Times describes as "often funny and rueful, and, by the end, very moving." [BW]

7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, through 12/14. $20; $17/members, seniors, students and military. Magic Circle Center, 8 El Caminito Rd., Carmel Valley. 659-1108.

Beyond The Easel

JO MORA EXHIBITS Until Feb. 28, the Monterey History and Art Association hosts two exhibits of illustrations, manuscripts and sculpture by Jo Mora, one of California's most distinguished artists. Jo Mora: From Pencil To Publication will be held in the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas and From the Studio: Jo Mora can be seen at the Maritime Museum in Monterey. An opening reception at the Steinbeck Center tonight from 5-7:30pm kicks off the exhibit with a slide presentation. [MB]

10-5pm daily at the National Steinbeck Center, Salinas. $10. 11am-5pm, Tues-Sun at the Maritime Museum of Monterey next to the Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $5. 372-2608.

Renaissance Man

PIANIST ROBERTO BUFFO The recently named main conductor of the 65-member, professional Tucumán Symphony Orchestra, will perform "A Celebration of Spanish and Argentine Music," featuring the music of Carlos Guastavino, Isaac Albeniz, Juan Jose Castro and Manuel de Falla. Buffo received his bachelor's degree in piano performance and music education from the Tucumán Conservatory before performing extensively throughout Argentina as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. He later moved to the US, earned his master's in piano and orchestral conducting, and a doctorate in the same field. But no, that wasn't good enough for Buffo, who as specializes in the late Romantic repertoire as well as Spanish and Argentine composers. He's also a scientist, with a master's and doctorate in pharmacy and agricultural/food engineering who has published more than 20 scientific papers. If his bio alone doesn't knock your socks off, his music tonight will. [JL]

9am and 10am lecture/demonstration. 7:30pm performance. Free. Hartnell College Performing Arts Center, Room 125, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6906.

saturday 11|15

Something Cool

TIERNEY SUTTON Singers with great voices can do anything they want. Remember what Whitney Houston did to "The Star Spangled Banner"? With a voice compared to Ella Fitzgerald's, Tierney Sutton sang over jazz instrumentals by Wayne Shorter and Dizzy Gillespie on her 1999 release, Unsung Heroes. Her new CD, Something Cool, features her takes on "Route 66," Willie Nelson's "Crazy" and "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead." [ST]

7:30pm. The Jazz and Blues Company, 236 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel. $40. 624-6431.

Arts 'n' Angels

STUDIO ONE BENEFIT Down the coast, artist and community leader Erin Gafill invites everyone to an open studio celebration and a benefit for the Big Sur Arts Initiative. Gafill grew up at Nepenthe in Big Sur and she is showing her "Fractured Light" series of oils and watercolors born from the natural beauty of Big Sur. A reception is held at her new Studio One next to the Big Sur River Inn, from 1-6pm. Also that afternoon (1-3pm) is the kick-off of the Angel Project, a Big Sur Arts Initiative workshop to make angel ornaments. All materials are provided and it should be a good family activity to help the BSAI. Angels will be sold during the Harvest Faire on Thanksgiving weekend. [CC]

1-6pm. Studio One, 22 miles south of Rio Road, Big Sur. Call either 667-2066 or 667-0481.

Liquid State

PUNK METAL DOUBLE BILL What is the best way to unwind after a stressful week of work? A) Down 20 beers B) Relax with aromatherapy C) See a punk rock metal show. Though A is a nice try, C is the correct answer. Hate For State plays old school punk rock, while Liquid 8 singer Paul Hastey says his group sounds like a cross between Mundayne, Slipknot and Pantera. Tonight, be sure to buy Hastey and Hate For State guitarist Tyee Miles a drink, because it's their birthday. [ST]

10pm. Lava Lounge, Club Octane, 321 Alvarado St., Monterey. No cover. 646-9244.

Blues Belter

KAYE BOHLER After performing the Nevada casino circuit and touring Japan with the American Can Can Review, entertainer Kaye Bohler discovered the blues. Though Bohler was sidetracked in 1998 when she joined the Santa Cruz world beat band Pele Juju, the powerful vocalist now has her own blues band. Come join Bohler for a night celebrating the release of her new album, Live at Moe's Alley. [ST]

9pm. Sly McFly's, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. 649-8050.

sunday 11|16

Run Away! Run Away!

BIG SUR HALF MARATHON ON MONTEREY BAY The Big Sur International Marathon is a legendary local event and a coveted arrow in the quiver for serious long-distance runners. For the first time, the same crew that puts on the BSIM will be running a half marathon that starts in Monterey at 7am and follows the edge of the Bay to Asilomar, turns around and comes back. The fast runners will be coming over the finish line in a bit more than an hour, after running 13.1 miles. The half marathon is closed, so head to the race course and cheer on the runners, but if you want to compete, the Run Forrest Run 5K race is less than half full. Kids are welcome. [AS]

The Run Forrest Run 5K starts at 8:30am at Irving and Wave, Monterey. $25. 625-6226 or www.bsim.org.

Battle Royale

BLUES FESTIVAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS Both Shane Dwight and Karen Tyler's careers have soared since winning the Monterey Blues Festival's Battle of the Blues Band. Now 10 regional blues groups hope to score a spot on next year's Blues Festival's main stage. For blues fans, this is a great chance to see some of the best up-and-coming blues performers on the west coast. For the judges, it will be an afternoon of heavy deliberations. [ST]

2pm. Serra Ballroom, Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. $5. 394-2652.

Symphonic Guest Appearance

MONTEREY SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE World-renowned pianist Dubravka Tomsic returns from her recent appearances at Carnegie Hall to collaborate once more with the Monterey Symphony in the newly renovated, acoustically ingenious Sunset Center. The Symphony will perform a Schumann piano concerto featuring Tomsic as well as an overture by Brahms and Dvorak's New World Symphony. Latvian native Imant Kotsinsh will be conducting in what is to be his first subscription concert. [MB]

8pm Sunday and Monday at Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th Street, Carmel. 8pm Tuesday at Sherwood Hall, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. $15-56. 624-8511.

monday 11|17

Fields Of Gold

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT Photographer Jim Kasson shows Salinas Valley agriculture as glimpses seen from a fast-moving car. "I used panning to emphasize parts of the scene and to blur others," he says. "The selective blurring and muted colors render the workers anonymous, making the image less a portrayal of a particular time and place, and more an archetype for all similar activity." His new exhibition, Pastures of Plenty: Farm Workers of the Salinas Valley, opens today, and will run through Dec.18. [JL]

Hartnell College Gallery, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6792. Gallery hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am-1pm and 6pm-8pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-1pm.