Friday, July 17 SOUNDS OF SUMMER Is there anything better than sitting in a plaza on a Friday evening listening to live music? OK, yeah— winning the lottery is better. Being called up from the minor leagues, also better. So let’s rephrase: Is there anything that brings a community together in a more fun and relaxing way? Hardly. That’s where Carmel’s Summer Live Music Series comes in—three Fridays of music and enjoyment, starting with The Money Band. And it’s Carmel, so there is good food, wine and mocktails. Bonus: Purchase food and beverages and you benefit local nonprofits— Animal Friends Rescue Project and Peace of Mind Dog Rescue. [DF] 5-7pm Friday, July 17. Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission, Carmel. Free; $25/food and drink package. (831) 624-0138, carmelplaza.com. LISTEN AND LEARN Throughout the week, teachers have been touring sites along the Monterey Peninsula, learning about Asian American communities and their contributions to this area that they will bring back to their students. We can all be students when the teachers report back on what they’ve learned during a celebration at the conclusion of the week-long activity organized by the Quock Mui Foundation. The public is invited to listen to stories of Asian American history while enjoying food and listening to jazz saxophonist Francis Wong. The gathering takes place in the home of Quock Mui, the first documented Chinese American woman born on the Monterey Peninsula, whose family was involved in the thriving fishing community. [EC] 5:30-7:30pm Friday, July 17. Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave St., Monterey. Free. (831) 655-2010, RSVP at quockmuifoundation.org. HER STORY Singer songwriter Rachel Sumner and her band Traveling Light created a whole new genre of music they call Femericana, described as sharp-edged Americana with a splash of feminist rage. Her song “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)” won the 2021 John Lennon Award in the folk category, a haunting yet beautiful song about the devastating impact of radium on the women who painted glow-in-the-dark clock faces during World War I. It’s become some26 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 16-22, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com SANDIE MCCAFFERTY Photography Begins With Seeing is the title of a new photographic print show by the Padre Trails Camera Club. One of the artist members, Sandie McCafferty, also serves as the club’s hospitality chair; one of her works is shown above. “To create an impactful photograph, one must truly see and engage with a subject rather than simply look at it,” the artists offer in a collective statement for the exhibit. “While technology has made photography more accessible than ever, the photographer’s vision remains the most vital part of the process; the eye and mind are far more critical to the art than the tools themselves.” An artists’ reception takes place at 6pm Friday, July 17. On display until Sept. 4 at Walter Lee Avery Gallery (inside Seaside City Hall) at 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Open 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. [AP] 16-22 JULY HOT PICKS To see more local events, and add your own, visit montereycountynow.com/events SANDIE MCCAFFERTY VISUALS BECKY OLVERA SCHULTZ Native American/Southwestern art by Indigenous artist Becky Olvera Schultz is now hanging on the walls at Sweet Elena’s Bakery & Cafe. Aptosbased Schultz continues to re-create the world of her ancestors via mixed-media pieces, from clay masks to photography. Her colors—red always being emphasized—are striking; one of her recurring themes is that of the warrior. The Sand City show presents some older and some new works. The bakery is located at 465 Olympia Ave., Suite D, Sand City and is open 7am-3pm Monday to Saturday and 8am-1pm Sundays. On display until July 31. [AP] BECKY OLVERA SCHULTZ Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light bring insightful lyrics to the stage on Friday, July 17 at the SandBox in Sand City. The genre they invented has been dubbed “Femericana.” BEN STALEY Enjoy a live painting event that benefits the whales. P.G. Artist Kristy Chettle will paint with her hands in her hometown on Saturday, July 18 (details, p. 28). COURTESY OF SAVE THE WHALES
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==