Thursday, July 30 CELEBRATION TIME Bay Area-based hip-hop artist Jason Smith, better known as Lil Bean, is having his official new record release party in Salinas. Hear the songs from his upcoming album, YEAH BOP! This 30-year-old artist has been in the rap scene since 2018 and has already worked with well-known rappers including G-Eazy, Karri and ALLBLACK. Lil Bean was raised in San Francisco’s Geneva Towers housing project and became popular for such hits as “Side of Me” “Investments” and “Swervin.” DJ Neato plays music throughout the night. [RH] 9pm-3am Saturday, Aug. 1. Hacienda Mexican Grill, 1449 N. Davis Road, Salinas. $29-$34; ages 18+. (831) 424-6400, tinyurl.com/LilBeanSalinas. Friday, July 31 PAINT THE TOWN Summer is a season for whatever you want it to be—some families might spend it at the beach, others diving into a big stack of books, others learning a new skill with a little extra free time. City of Monterey officials at the public library, Parks and Rec Department and Sports Center each contributed their skills and inspiration to help thousands of people along those various paths, and now they wrap it up with a party. Join this all-ages party with music, crafts and interactive activities that are all fun any time—it’s never too late to bring some summer spirit to your life. [SR] 5-7pm Friday, July 31. Jacks Park, 451 Adams St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3866, monterey.gov. THREE B’S For those that enjoy barbecue, beer and belly laughter, look no further than the Spreckels Comedy Showcase, hosted at the T&A Cafe. The monthly night of up-and-coming comedians from across the Central Coast and Bay Area is free to attend but you’ll have to fork over some dough for the beer and award-winning barbecue from the Kleinfeldt Family, who took over the T&A Cafe in 2020 following a successful run slinging their barbecue from a custom trailer. Because the show is free, the space fills up fast, so get there early before it’s standing room 24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LESLEY ANNE SPOWART Multimedia abstract artist Lesley Anne Spowart is featured in a new show, Creative & Beyond, along with 30 local artists from the Monterey Peninsula Art Forum. Originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and now a Monterey resident, Spowart is attracted to diverse media, using beeswax, tar, photographic xerography and acrylic paint. “I love color, abstraction, impressionism and expressionism,” the artist wrote on her website. Look for her “free-flowing, sentient mark-making,” the organizers suggest. “She remains open to all possible outcomes using her arsenal of techniques: sanding, transferring, collaging and scraping.” The exhibit opens on Saturday, Aug 1 the MPAF gallery at 425 Cannery Row, Monterey. Open daily 11am-5pm; on display until Oct. 24. [AP] HOT PICKS JULY 30–AUGUST 05 To see more local events, and add your own, visit montereycountynow.com/events LESLEY ANNE SPOWART MARCIA F. DEVOE VISUALS MARCIA F. DEVOE In the years 1976-1985, the Cooper-Molera Adobe in Monterey was under a major restoration. Volunteer photographer Marcia F. DeVoe (19172008) chronicled the whole process with her camera—and those images are now on display at the museum. “DeVoe’s photography transcends mere documentation—it is a vital act of preservation,” wrote Karyn Lee-Garcia, executive director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation property, which dates to 1827 and in its current day is home to a bakery and restaurant, as well as a historically inspired garden. Hidden Stewards, as the title of the show suggests, is an homage to volunteers, often women, in cultural institutions. DeVoe was born in Pacific Grove and resided in Carmel until her death. An opening reception is at 5:30pm Thursday, July 30 at 506 Munras Ave., Monterey. On display until Sept. 13. [AP] Things heat up when the Quintet of the Hot Club of San Francisco brings gypsy jazz to SandBox. Catch their concert on Wednesday, Aug. 5 (see p. 27 for details). FOTOSRIVAS National Night Out means police officers in many local cities (including Salinas, above) are out and about on Aug. 4—with fun and community in mind (see p. 26). COURTESY SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
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