thursday 5|22

Out With A Bang
CSUMB CAPSTONE FESTIVAL They run the gamut from World War II memorials to ocean murals to miniature air particulate collectors. The 2003 graduating class of Cal State Monterey Bay presents their capstones (CSUMB lingo for senior projects) on Thursday and Friday before Saturday's commencement ceremony. Departments showing off student work range from Earth Systems Science and Policy to World Languages and Cultures. Contact individual departments for schedule of presentations. See story on the Teledramatic Arts and Technology Department Capstones, pg. 50. [BW]

8am-11pm, Thursday and Friday. Various locations on campus, Seaside. Free. 582-5100.

friday 5|23

Cool Date
FILMS IN THE FOREST There's no smelly feet poking you in the eye, no Jujubees crunching under your toes, no creaky folding seats with the springs poking out. For that experience, you could join the Matrix-obsessed hordes this weekend, or, you could spend a lot less, bring a bottle of wine and a blanket, and snuggle up under the Carmel fog to watch the Outdoor Forest Theatre's kickoff of its summer Films in the Forest series. Friday starts with the black comedy Sunset Boulevard (1950), Saturday hits the true summer fun mood with Doris Day and Rock Hudson in Lover Come Back (1961), and Sunday finishes off the weekend with Caddyshack (1980). How can you compete with Bill Murray or a character like Lacey Underall? Films start "at dusk," and tickets must be purchased at the door. Films continue through July. [BW]

Starts at dusk. Outdoor Forest Theatre, Mountain View and Santa Rita, Carmel. $5/door. 622-0100.

American Fun
HOT CARS/ COOL NITES Ever wonder what exactly that neighbor of yours is doing at all hours of the night in that noisy garage of his? Working on his hot rod probably. He's tweaking it, getting that part put in just right, flirting with what defines "street legal." Check out the fruits of his labor on the fourth Friday of the month all summer. The city of Seaside will be closing down Broadway between Fremont and the sea so you can check out local hot rods and their cars. [AS]

8pm. May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26 and October 24. No registration fee. West on Broadway Avenue from Fremont. For more information call 394-4254

Fragile Landscapes
PAINTINGS BY BILL FENWICK Fenwick's plein air paintings are being sold at the Lisa Coscino Gallery to raise awareness and money for the preservation of Elkhorn Slough, California's second largest saltwater marsh (see story pg. 52).

Reception 6-8pm. 171 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. 646-1939.

saturday 5|24

Poetry Out Your Ears
SUZANNE LUMMIS POETRY "Poetry" and "Los Angeles" in the same sentence may sound oxymoronic. But there is lovely and profound literature created in the city of Angels daily, and one of its dark stars is coming to Carmel to share her insights. Suzanne Lummis, director of the Los Angeles Poetry Festival and author of In Danger, offers a writing workshop at the Carl Cherry Center, focusing on the gritty side of life, the physical imagery of words, the dark corners where angels fear to tread. Lummis' version of L.A. goes, "It's true, here we are all blonde/ even in the dark, on Mondays/ or in slow traffic..." Reserve a spot in her day-long class for short exercises and discussions, or show up for a reading tonight. [CC]

Poetry Workshop, 10am-4pm (includes vegetarian lunch); poetry reading 7:30pm. Carl Cherry Center, Guadalupe and 4th, Carmel. $65/workshop, $8/reading. 624-7791.

We Salute You
VETERANS BENEFIT GOLF TOURNEY Enjoy the three-day weekend with a game of golf and remember why we're not working on Monday: To honor the sacrifice of Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The Veterans Transition Center wants YOU to participate in its first annual benefit golf tournament. The four-person scramble will be followed by an awards dinner with raffles and a silent auction. Non-golfers can be tee sponsors, contest sponsors or tournament sponsors. All proceeds go toward helping homeless vets towards self-sufficiency and sustainability by providing housing, case management, life skills training, support and encouragement. [JL]

Noon check-in, shotgun start at 2pm. $150 entry fee, includes green fee, 1/2 cart, box lunch and a Santa Maria BBQ buffet. Bayonet Golf Course, Fort Ord. 883-8387.

The Last Angry Punk
JELLO BIAFRA He will always be referred to as the former Dead Kennedy's frontman (even though a band calling itself the DK's is--absurdly--touring without him), but by now Jello Biafra has spent most of his career doing what he will be doing in Big Sur today. It's difficult in many cases to determine exactly what distinguishes "spoken-word" performance from speechifying, but in this case, the radicality of Biafra's anger, the depth of his rage, and the edge on his wit elevate his work to the level of art. His latest CD, Machine Gun In The Clown's Hand, includes diatribes on the War On Terrorism, Joey Ramone, corporate media, the "Spirit Of Seattle," and the unsung eco-heros Darryl Cherney and Judi Bari. Expect to hear much on these topics and a lot more, and count on being provoked. [AG]

3pm. Henry Miller Library, Highway 1, 35 miles south of Carmel. Big Sur. $10. 667-2574.

Memorial Day Weekend Music 5|23-25

Groovin' Trio
JOHNNY RAWLS & CO. Johnny Rawls' high school band director discovered his musical talent at an early age, and offered Rawls a position in his own touring band. Since then, Rawls has played behind southern blues greats like Willie Cobbs, Little Johnny Taylor and Z.Z. Hill. Now he's finally getting his due as a solo artist. His first solo album, Here We Go, released in 1996, showcases his best material, and his recent cover feature in Living Blues Magazine suggests that this bluesman's career may have just begun. See him this Saturday at Sly's. For the full flavor of a funky M-day weekend, on Friday, catch the Groove Kings dance music, and on Sunday, groove further with the Unknown Jeromes. [ST]

9pm. Sly McFly's, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. Cover Charge. 372-3225.

Blues Are Patriotic
RED, WHITE & A LITTLE BLUES Celebrate Memorial Day with Red, White and a Little Blues, and some rock and Latin, too, at a red, white and blue festival in downtown Monterey. Barbeque and blues will be the focus of this party, and attendees will enjoy summertime foods, face painting, clowns, jugglers, arts and crafts, and continuous music on two live stages. On the Lower Alvarado Street Stage, John "Broadway" Tucker returns to the festival with soulful blues on Saturday from 1:15-5pm, while Coco Beat keeps the crowd moving on upper Alvarado. On Sunday, enjoy the danceable gumbo blues of another local favorite, Red Beans & Rice from 1:15-5pm on lower Alvarado, or cruise up the street for some rock-n-roll by the Chicano All Stars. [JL]

11am-6pm. Old Monterey, all along Alvarado Street. Parking available in the West Garage, Tyler Street between Del Monte and Franklin. 655-8070.

Sunday 5|25

Take Me Out...
SALINAS PACKERS BASEBALL It's summer almost, and at least in Salinas, the temperature reflects that. And just in time for those "lazy, hazy, crazy, days" of "soda and pretzels and beer," is baseball. But you don't have to drive to San Francisco to catch a game. Salinas Packers' opening day is May 25 at 1:30pm, with the Packers playing the San Francisco Angels. If you don't make opening day, the Packers play all summer. [AS]

1:30pm. Home games at Salinas Memorial Stadium, 175 Maryal Dr. Laurel Avenue exit off Highway 101, Salinas. Box seat/$8. Ticket information at 770-0865 or www.salinaspackers.com.

This Old House
FAMILY SUNDAY Tomorrow's a holiday. Get a little crazy. Go on a walking tour in Monterey's oldest neighborhood, and visit the "Hidden Adobe, Casa Boronda." Museum on Wheels will make a special appearance, and the family-oriented day will also include music, dancing, performances, storytelling, refreshments and more. [JL]

1-4pm. Free to Monterey Museum of Art members and kids under 12. $10/non-members. La Mirada, 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 372-5477.