Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events 28 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com ran in the same circles as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Henri Matisse, Armin Hansen and Ansel Adams. Although celebrated for their art through the 1920s and 1930s, they never sought fame and declined to promote themselves. They eventually fell into obscurity, until recently, when Monterey librarian and author Wendy Van Wyck Good published her book Sisters in Art: The Biography of Margaret, Esther and Helen Bruton. Good brings the story to life in a talk at California’s First Theatre to commemorate Women’s History Month. Learn more about these three women who pushed the boundaries and were central to the local Bohemian scene in the talk, titled “Modernist Women: The Bruton Sisters and the 1920s Art Scene.” [PM] 2-3pm Saturday, March 7. California’s First Theatre, Pacific and Scott streets, Monterey. Free. (831) 649-2907. SOUNDS OF ROMANCE Music is inherently romantic, isn’t it? The sway of the tempo or the vulnerability in the lyrics can transport you to another time, place or feeling. In classical music, sometimes even more so, emotion is conveyed through a tapestry of sound—the singing tone drawn from a violin’s bow, the strum of the guitar or the intimate dialogue between instruments. Ensemble Monterey invites you to its third concert of the season, Romantic Ideals! The program features two intimate and expressive works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw—I’ll Fly Away and Other Songs—performed by area favorite Lori Schulman, soprano. The evening also includes Franz Schubert’s beloved Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, “The Trout.” Come travel across centuries of music that celebrates life, love and even a little joy along the way. [KR] 7pm Saturday, March 7. First Presbyterian Church, 501 El Dorado St., Monterey. $63; $12/children; $22/students; $53/seniors. (831) 333-1283, ensemblemonterey.org. LAST DANCE Pull on your favorite dancing shoes and spiked, patch-laden jacket for a groovy blend of quebradita, cumbia, and punk rock at the Live@Heirloom Pizza Company in Salinas for the venue’s final event before it shutters permanently. The last dance at the Salinas location of Heirloom features Valley Wolf, which blends Latin beats, psychedelic rock, funk, punk and cumbia, and Spaghetti Cumbia, which fuses cumbia with rock, punk and Western vibes. Salinas-grown artist Kaefan will open the night and DJ Baby Dizzle will keep everyone dancing between sets and into the night. [AS] 8-11pm Saturday, March 7. Live@Heirloom Pizza, 344 Main St., Salinas. $15-$80. (831) 998-8824, heirloompizzapie.com. Sunday, March 8 HELPING CLAWS Baby cats aka kittens. Do we have your attention now? If so, Hitchcock Road Animal Services could use your help because each year, hundreds of these tiny, frisky felines are left without a mother to raise and care for them. Sad. That’s where you come in: Be a hero to these little guys by learning how to care for them, bottle-feed them and understand how foster homes play a vital role in ensuring that these kitties grow up to be strong, independent and loving companions. It’s only fair to say that neonatal kittens need round-the-clock care when they’re at their most vulnerable, but we dare you to try and look away when they come out for a demonstration at the neonatal kitten workshop. [SC] HOT PICKS pouring from eight different venues. What you’re envisioning is Jazz Bash by the Bay, three days (four if you attend the special events on Thursday) of classic jazz from more than 100 musicians from across the country. And “classic,” in their interpretation—well, here are some examples: After Midnight reflects sounds from the golden age; Blue Street is all about Dixieland; Natalie Mendoza’s Tiger Five are swinging; Brian Holland & The Ragabonds are ragtime; and the Zydeco Flames…well, you get the point. It’s a solid three-day weekend of jazz, played by top-notch musicians. [DF] 11:30am-10:35pm Friday, March 6; 10am-10:20pm Saturday, March 7; 9am-4:05pm Sunday, March 8. Monterey Conference Center and Portola Hotel & Spa, 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey. $50-$125. (888) 349-6879, jazzbashmonterey.com. Friday, March 6 XX VOICES There are many ways of celebrating women, from building a community and protesting for a better future to learning about history and honoring the women who came before us. CSU Monterey Bay is celebrating its third International Women’s Day summit. This year’s theme is “Gain to give.” The event offers a series of workshops led by community leaders about topics including self-image, self-defense and art expression. The keynote speaker is Bre Upton, a Black, Polynesian zine maker who will demonstrate how to create mini magazines, or zines, and use them as a mode of self-expression. Participants will have the opportunity to celebrate their identity and share their passions in this uplifting event dedicated to creative expression. Open to women and gender-diverse individuals. [CJ] 10am-5pm Friday, March 6. Otter Student Union, 3118 Inter-Garrison Road, Seaside. Free. (831) 582-3329, tinyurl.com/womencsumb. Saturday, March 7 BAND AID Back again for another year, Community Human Services is hosting its “Banding Together” music festival fundraiser, featuring local music artists, family-friendly activities, interactive stations, food vendors and craft vendors. This year the festival is headlined by DannyV, aka Eduardo Vargas, a young singer from Watsonville who blends R&B and hip-hop with a sprinkling of oldies vibes. More crowd-pleasing music comes from high-energy acts The Rumba Madre and SEA.LVL, plus a performance by rapper Richie Cunning with DJBadDJ and Colton Bell. All proceeds go to the work of nonprofit CHS, which provides mental health, substance use and homeless services to Monterey County residents. Pro tip: Bring your own beach chairs and get comfortable. [PM] Noon-5pm Saturday, March 7. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $40. (831) 658-3811, chservices.org. SISTER ACT A century ago in Monterey, three sisters—Margaret, Esther and Helen Bruton—were dazzling artists who The talented Bruton sisters mingled with the bohemian arts community in Monterey and Carmel in the 1920s and 1930s. From left to right: Their mother Helen Bruton, best friend Ina Perham, sisters Esther, Margaret and Helen (named after her mother). COURTESY OF WENDY VAN WYCK GOOD The Tiger Five is a rip-roaring swing quintet, led by songstress Natalie Hanna Mendoza. They will play all three nights (March 6-8) at Jazz Bash by the Bay in Monterey. COURTESY OF JAZZ BASH
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