saturday 1|25

Flying People

MORTON MARCUS POETRY READING Prolific author of a novel and nine volumes of poetry, including When People Could Fly, Morton Marcus, 1999 Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year, presents The Lost World of the Imagination, a talk and poetry reading. Lauded as both a readable and intensely creative poet, Marcus uses imagery that pierces the soul-like a description of death that reads: "Then an old man come to his final rest/whose last shout is his whole life, a torch-/thrown against the darkness-that for an instant/slides like a falling star across the night." Let Marcus illuminate your creative darkness today. [BW]
2pm. The Pine Inn, Ocean Ave. between Lincoln and Monte Verde, Carmel. Free. 624-1813.

Eyes Wide Shut

BEST "BLIND TASTED" CHARDONNAY Ever feel miffed that sommeliers get to do all the choosing of fine wines-or wonder if certain vintages are picked for awards based on reputation but not actual taste? At A Taste of Monterey People's Choice Awards, the power is in your hands, baby. The public gets to sample 18 local wineries and decide the top three Chardonnays over $20. The catch is the tasting will be blind. So belly up to the bar with your blindfold, and start sipping. [BW]
6pm. A Taste of Monterey Wine Visitors' Center, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. $25/$20 wine club members. RSVP 751-1980 ext. 10.

Major Talent

BILL MINOR POETRY READING Some people are so creative that they can't limit themselves to simply one outlet. Multimedia artist Bill Minor expresses himself through poetry, novels, short fiction, woodcuts, paintings, jazz composition, journalism, and (whew!) teaching at Monterey Peninsula College. As part of the Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series and in conjunction with the City of Pacific Grove, Minor, a PG resident, will read tonight at Bookworks from his vast body of work. [AS]
7pm. Bookworks, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 372-2553.

Queen Of The Row

PARTY FOR KALISA MOORE She's stood at the helm of Cannery Row's La Ida Café since 1958, is the founding force behind the Row's annual John Steinbeck celebration, hosts great shindigs every Friday night, and knows everyone in town (see story pg. 28). Tonight the Aquarium is feting its own Kalisa Moore, who turns 77 this week, in a blow-out tribute party with music by Along Came Betty, belly dancing, tours of Doc's Lab, and lots more fun. Proceeds benefit Kalisa, although she doesn't like people to know that-but we're proud of her, and wish her well. [SF]
7-10pm. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Monterey. $15 advance, $20 at the door; additional $5 for buffet meal provided by local restaurants. Children under 12 are free. (For those unable to attend, a bank account has been set up in the name of Kalisa Moore at First National Bank.) Ticket and information: 648-4937.

Like Leafing Through A Really Great Photo Album

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE MARGARET WESTON COLLECTION Maggi Weston has been associated with fine art photography since the early 1970s, when her friend Ansel Adams encouraged her to open a gallery. She has an extensive private collection of photographs, and will be drawing on two periods for this exhibition at the Monterey Museum of Art-European photographs from 1840 to 1870, and works by noted photographers of the early 20th century (see story pg. 46). [SF]
Exhibit opens today to the general public; members-only reception took place yesterday. Monterey Museum of Art's Civic Center, 559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477.

sunday 1|26

If It Ain't Baroque…

NACHTMUSIQUE In a 1782 letter to his sister, Mozart wrote of inspiration coming from playing the works of Handl and Bach for his wife Constanze."Now since she had heard me frequently improvise fugues, she asked me whether I had never written any down, and when I said 'no,' she gave me a proper scolding for not wanting to write the most intricate beautiful kind of music, and she did not give up begging me until I wrote her a fugue…" Come enjoy the Master's works, along with those from Haydn and Beethoven, played by a European ensemble featuring a pair of clarinets, bassoons, and horns. The evening is part of the Carmel Bach Festival's Bravissima concert series. [BW]
8:30pm. Carmel Mission Basilica, Rio Road, Carmel. $30. 624-2046.

monday 1|27

Where Were You On 9/11?

WHY U.S.? FILM In the months following the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, film producer Cody Shearer and director Dan Lindsay traveled around the world to find out why 9/11 happened, and what Americans can do to ensure it never happens again. They interviewed survivors of the attacks, political analysts and office-holders, writers and foreign citizens, and produced Why U.S.?, a documentary that will receive its local premiere tonight. The film contains exclusive footage with Al Qaeda sympathizers, offering a disturbing and informative look at what they think and why they think it. The program is organized by the Conflict Resolution Association of the Monterey Institute for International Studies, and Cody Shearer will be present for a post-film discussion. [SF]
7pm. Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free. 647-6426.

tuesday 1|28

Return To Earth

BUZZ ALDRIN We could compose all kinds of witty puns here. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin will touch down in Monterey today. Rocket Man Buzz Aldrin will take a giant leap for mankind at the Monterey Conference Center. We'll just tell you that Mr. Aldrin-of landing on the moon fame-is speaking at the joint annual meeting of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula's Auxiliary and Community Hospital Foundation. Aside from landing on the moon in front of the largest worldwide television audience ever on July 20, 1969, Aldrin is the author of Return to Earth, Men from Earth, and the science fiction novel Encounter with Tiber, and was recently appointed to the federal Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry. But maybe today, he'll discuss the really important stuff-like did his parents score with a name like "Buzz" for a future astronaut, or what? And isn't he just a teensy bit jealous of Neil Armstrong? [JL]
Noon. Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, Monterey. $22 (seating is limited). Formal registration closed Jan. 21, but call for availability. 625-4506.

wednesday 1|29

Blowin' In The Windscape

CHAMBER MUSIC MONTEREY Windscape is a five-person woodwind quintet from New York, here tonight with "East Meets West," a synthesis of French Impressionistic and contemporary Japanese music accompanied by a slide montage of French and Japanese art (see story pg. 38). And if you can think of anything more obscure and wonderful, let us know. [SF]
8pm. Morgan Stock Theater at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $25 adults, $15 students with ID. 625-2212.