Henry Miller Memorial Library

Now it’s time for a pop quiz.  The question is: How often can you see a living legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer perform an intimate show in Big Sur, CA for a mere $20?

Answer: Practically never.

Which is why we are so excited about: “A Special Afternoon with Danish Mystic Lars Muhl and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys,” July 6th at the Henry Miller Library!

The afternoon will include a talk by Lars, who will share his  experiences from his journeys in Southern France, and Israel.  He and his wife Ghita Ben-David will perform songs of healing from their CD, Healing the Space Between Us.

After that, Big Sur local and founding member of the Beach Boys, Al Jardine, will talk about his own spiritual journey gleaned from a mind-boggling 50-year career that includes recording the greatest album of all time and, just last year, completing a 75-date reunion world tour where he performed for hundreds of thousands of people.

Al will also perform at this event.

Reserve your spot HERE!

What are those bewitching sounds currently filling the Library you say?  Why it’s an ultra-rare copy of The Pentangle’s “Solomon’s Seal” on wax.

That’s right: as if the new ping pong table isn’t reason enough to stop by the Library, we just went on a mega vinyl buying binge.

So in addition to the (amazingly reasonably priced;  nary a scratch) Pentangle platter, we’re now carrying the following gems: Waylon and Willie, Sons of the Pioneers (“Room Full of Roses”), “Meet the Beatles,” “The Girls” featuring Fran Warren, Polly Bergen, and Lynn Roberts (see pick) and so much more!

It’s a sunny one here in Big Sur – come on down!  (Specifically 25 miles south of Carmel; 1/4 miles south of Nepenthe. 831-667-2574.)

Also Happy Father’s day!

So today is Saturday and we have just finished digesting lunch and in addition, Week 1 of the Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series.  (Film recap here.)

Whatd’ya think?

I must say my favorite was “Curfew.”  Everyone loves a happy ending, although in this case the ending was happy in the short term.  Who knew if dude would make it — that is, stay alive — until that Friday when he was supposed to babysite for his neice Sophia?

That’s real! No green screen or whatever!

Anyway, it makes sense as to why that one won an Oscar.

“Magnetic Connection” was visually stunning, and no, there was no CGI action: all of those luminous shot were real.  The Jim O’Rourke soundtrack was also amazing.

You may recall the film actually started with a poem about God’s grandeur (the making-the-world-in-six-days kind, we presume; not, say, the Book of Job kind.)

To that end, we thought it was a nice thematic segue into the last film, “the Big Leap,” which examined the arguments for the existence of a loving, omnipotent God.  I personally thought that the recent economic collapse was an odd platform for this kind of discussion.  After all, religious folks like to point to free will as a kind of skeleton key to extract them from any particularly tricky theological trap.  And in this case, they’re right.

For example, the angry atheist railed against the existence of God because he was laid off by a rapacious corporate executive.  C’mon man.  You (more or less) chose to work that job. You could have been a stone mason.  But you got a job in Accounting for a some large global conglomerate and got laid off.  It happens.  That doesn’t prove there is no God.

I digress.

Now don’t get me wrong: this isn’t to say I didn’t like “The Big Leap.”  I did.  And besides, isn’t that what great art is supposed to do?  Conjure up discussion?

Indeed.

So if you wanna get in on the fun, join us for Week 2 on June 19th in Monterey at Osio Cinema (tickets here); and June 20th in Big Sur at the HML (tickets here.)

And with that, the floor is all y’alls: what was your favorite film of week 1?  And why?

Tonight at the The Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur: Exclusive screening of “Reincarnated” – a film about the… reincarnation of Snoop Dogg into Snoop Lion.

Doors at 8; movies start at sunset. $10 suggested donation; you can reserve your spot by clicking the link below.

We’re 25 miles south of Carmel; 1/4 miles south of Nepenthe.  Questions?  Call us!  831-667-2574

See you there!
http://reincarnated-eorg.eventbrite.com/

Tonight at Henry Miller Library!  Week 1 of the 8th annual Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series.

Five incredible films under the redwoods!  The world’s best popcorn!  Nice people!  and more!

Tickets are by donation ($10-20 suggested.)  Reserve your spot by clicking here.

(We’re located 25 miles south of Carmel; 1/4 mile south of Nepenthe.)  Questions?  Call us at 831-667-2574.

TONIGHT!!! At Osio Cinemas in Downtown Monterey, 450 Alvarado St!

Short films from Poland, Sweden, the US and more! Only $9.75! Tell your friends!!!

Get your ticket here:  http://bigsurfilmatosio.eventbrite.com/

FB event here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/113764292167261/

Hot off the presses!

Last year, Magnus and co. experimented with showing parts of this short film series “in town,” as Big Sur folk call it, including at Museum of Monterey and Outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel, to make it more accessible. It worked.

So it’s back for the entire 11-week run, June 12 to Aug. 28, at Osio (350 Alvarado in Monterey) with Magnus present for interactive film talk, the independent movie house’s new digital projector, and all the attendant conveniences of nearby restaurants and bars for pre- or post-screening gathering. (The films are not suitable for children, fyi.)

[Ed: Tickets HERE.]

The 850-900 submissions, from Morocco, Norway, U.S., U.K. and far-flung points all over the globe, have been paired down to a manageable and diverse series of about five films per night.

And for those who cherish the outdoor experience of watching these at Henry Miller Library, that’s still on: the Thursday after the Wednesday Osio screenings, the films show at the library for free (donations appreciated, though).”

This is the week we’ve all been waiting for: week 1 of the Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series.

Want to see these five amazing films but are tied up in town?  Fine – we’ll come to you!  We’ll be showing them at 8 pm at OSIO Cinemas in downtown Monterey on Wednesday June 12th.  Tickets are only $9.75

Get your tickets for Wednesday’s screening in Monterey here.

Conversely, you’d rather see the films amongst the towering redwoods and “the world’s best popcorn” (WBP.)  Who can blame you?  Then come see the this Thursday, June 13th at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur; 25 miles south of Carmel, 1/4 miles south of Nepenthe.  This is by donation ($10-20 suggested.)

Get your tickets for Thursday’s screening in Big Sur here.

Phew.

And here are the movies we are showing!
Week 1 – Big Sur Int’l Short Film Screening Series Program (June 12/13)

Curfew by Brenden Hubbard – USA

Magnetic Reconnection by Kyle Armstrong – Canada

To Kill A Child by Alexander Skarsgård – Sweden

The River – by Sam Handel – USA

The Big Leap – by Kristoffer Rus - Poland/Sweden

Does God exists? – everything started with this universal question that the Swedish director, Kristoffer Rus, wanted to ask in the era of a global financial crisis. With the help of pitch black humor, The Big Leap stresses the moral dilemmas that erupt when the protagonists realize that everything they have fought for is gone.

They meet atop a skyscraper and they have the same intention – to commit suicide due to a major financial crisis. The conflict quickly escalates when they discover that they all represent a different conviction about the afterlife. The only way to find out who’s right is to take The Big Leap.

OK, so has everyone bought a ticket to movie night on Wed. Osio Cinemas in Monterey yet?

Anyone? Beuller?

Tickets are **only** $9.75 and the program is going to be AMAZING. We’ll have flix from Canada, the USA, Sweden (sigh…) and Poland.

(Opening night, guns will be blazing. To paraphrase the old Head and Shoulder’s commercial, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”)

I mean, $9.75. That’s like…what, 2 lattes or something?

Join the FB event (below), invite friends, and follow the link to the ticketing page!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/113764292167261/