With Friday's Race Car Classics exhibition in Downtown Monterey, 2026's Monterey Car Week is officially underway. We hope you were able to come down and enjoy these amazing speedsters from auto-racing history with us.
KSBW Action 8 News was there for the scoop from the OMBA's Executive Director, Sabrina Hiltunen:
Monterey's Lighthouse District has a bunch of businesses that made it to the finals in Monterey County Weekly's Best of 2026 Reader's Poll.
Now we need you to vote! The Lighthouse District mostly consists of small, owner-operated businesses, but we pack a great punch when it comes to quality food, goods, and services. Final voting is open until August 28, 2026. Go ahead, make our day!
Caregivers Count Conference is an annual event created for family members, friends, and others who provide care for a loved one. This conference offers valuable information, practical tools, and support through presentations led by experienced professionals covering a variety of caregiving topics.
The 2026 conference includes two sessions:
The in-person session will be held at the Campbell Community Center, Roosevelt Rooms Q-80 & Q-84, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008.
Whether you are new to caregiving or have been supporting a loved one for years, this conference provides resources, education, and encouragement to help you navigate your caregiving journey.
Sovino Wine and Beer Bar hosts Karaoke with Ryan Rico every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 7pm-10pm. Come get a drink and enjoy the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of this locally-owned establishment at 241 Alvarado Street in Downtown Monterey.
The Fall Activity Guide is available online and available at the Campbell Recreation Office. Registration for fall classes begins at 9am on Tuesday, August 4th for Campbell Residents and 9am on Wednesday, August 5th for everyone!
Beginning August 30, Old Capitol Books will host a year-long monthly reading group to tackle Karl Marx's magnum opus, Capital (a.k.a. Das Kapital). We'll meet on the last Sunday of every month at 10am.
Each meeting, we'll introduce key ideas from that month's readings, watch a lecture by CUNY professor David Harvey, and then move to a cafe to discuss main ideas and dive deeper into the texts.
All meetings begin at 10am at Old Capitol Books.
August 30, 2026: First meeting, Introduction
September 27, 2026: Chapter 1
October 25, 2026: Chapters 2 & 3
November 29, 2026: Chapters 4, 5 & 6
December 27, 2026: Chapters 7, 8 & 9
January 31, 2027: Chapters 10 & 11
February 28, 2027: Chapters 12, 13 & 14
March 28, 2027: Chapter 15 (first part)
April 25, 2027: Chapter 15 (second part)
May 20, 2027: Chapters 23 & 24
June 27, 2027: Chapter 25
July 25, 2027: Chapters 26-33
Venture Gallery presents the work of Deborah Russell, our featured local artist for August. Her new exhibit of paintings, entitled Asian Fusion, is an exploration of iconic Asian elements intertwined with floral and avian motifs.
This exhibit celebrates Deborah's deep appreciation for Asian aesthetics, featuring iconic cultural elements combined with a continuing focus on stunning, vibrant images of flowers and birds.
Venture Gallery is open 10am-6pm daily. Deborah Russell's artwork will be featured through August 2026. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.
This fall, Dream Lab at Play Full Ground welcomes a new program for ages 13-19: the Creative Research Lab. This 8-week journey in creative inquiry, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-3pm, September 8 - October 29, is an intensive studio residency for teens who are ready to develop original artwork and build their creative portfolios.
Through research, making, sharing, and reflection, participants will develop creative projects rooted in their own questions, interests, and observations. Projects may become installations, films, performances, community events, publications, photographs, or something entirely unexpected.
Together, our small group will explore personal questions, the creative process, experimentation, and original visual language. We'll learn that research is not only about finding answers - it can also be a way of paying attention, following curiosity, and discovering new possibilities through creative practice.
Mai Ryuno, founder of Play Full Ground, is an artist and educator who believes learning begins with curiosity. For the past 20 years, she has supported young people in developing creative work through inquiry, mentorship, and community engagement, including roles at SFAI's PreCollege Program, UC Berkeley's Y-PLAN, and as an IB Visual Art examiner.
Tuition is $850 (sliding scale available). Registration deadline is September 1, 2026. Interested students and families should email instructor Mai Ryuno to learn more and begin the registration process.
Before enrolling, the student and family can arrange a studio visit with Mai to talk about the student's interests and goals and make sure the program is a good fit.
This fall session, September 8 - October 29, 2026, is designed specifically for students with flexible schedules. If a student is interested but unable to attend during daytime hours, please email Mai, as she may offer an additional class if there is enough interest.
Flexible studio access is available by arrangement.
InSight Eyewear is excited to announce that Swissflex frames are back in our showroom at 490 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.
Stop by and explore the latest styles, colors, and customizable options now available. We can't wait to help you find your perfect pair!
Swissflex Eyewear specializes in ultra-light, individually customizable frames made in Switzerland. The goal is maximum comfort without pressure points.
The wait is over… after a short closure for renovation, Sahara Sun Tanning Salon has now reopened with a beautiful new interior and the same sun-soaked energy.
Step inside the new Sahara Sun at 585 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Every corner is designed to make you feel like you’re already on vacation. We're open daily, 9am-2pm and 2:30pm-8pm.
Hair loss affects millions of women every year. At Oya Salon, we help women regain confidence with custom toppers and wigs that blend seamlessly with their natural hair and add volume and fullness.
No pressure. No judgment. Just beautiful, natural results. Our services are private, personalized, and compassionate.
Book your private consultation today by phoning Oya at 831-656-0570. We're located at 201 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.
Mission 19 Taqueria introduces our new Shrimp Cocktail! Made with fresh shrimp marinated in our signature cocktail sauce with lime, tomato, onion, cilantro, and a touch of spice, it's zesty and delicious.
Stop by Mission 19 Taqueria and taste summer in every bite. We're located at 598 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.
Meet Mr. Stripes. One of Play Full Ground's students spent hours creating him as a birthday gift for another student and brought him to Play Full Ground's Co-Creation Studio, which meets Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
The birthday student named him Mr. Stripes, and he sat on a plate of Japanese snacks, quietly observing what happened during the session.
After all that sewing, the student announced: "No sewing today." So, we did something else.
But during studio time, Mr. Stripes received a few more additions: a tie and socks. Because sometimes a creation is finished...until it asks for one more thing.
At Play Full Ground's Co-Creation Studio, we don't always know where an idea will lead. A project grows through making, noticing, conversations, and unexpected moments.
What happens when one idea is still growing and another one arrives? Sometimes, they grow together. Learn more about Play Full Ground's educational program here.
Sovino Wine and Beer Bar is now pouring a deliciously complex Syrah from Story of Soil. This organic wine from winemaker Jessica Gasca embodies her passion for small-batch, high quality wines.
As one of the few Latina winemakers in California, Jessica Gasca is a strong advocate for farm workers and female entrepreneurs. Come enjoy this wine and help us support a fellow female business owner.
Sovino, located at 241 Alvarado Street in Monterey, is open Monday & Tuesday, 3pm-9pm; Wednesday - Friday, 3pm-10pm; Saturday, 12pm-10pm; and
Sunday, 3pm-8pm.
As a small winery, Story of Soil can put time, attention, and care into our wines. In order to make wines of the highest quality, we select vineyards that are farmed with the greatest level of care, focus on a single varietal and a single vineyard, keep lots small, and put our hearts and souls into the making of the wine. Our entire operation is aimed at producing high quality and balanced wines.
The Old Monterey Business Association wants to thank Montage Health for stepping up to be our Presenting Independence Day Sponsor for the 2026 4th of July Parade.
If you were at the parade, you might remember the cheerful float commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Its presence in the parade, and all the smiling people on board, was thanks to Montage Health!
Montage Health is a nonprofit collection - a montage - of entities based in Monterey County that are designed to keep people healthy and connected.
The collection of organizations that make up Montage Health includes: Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Montage Medical Group, Montage Health Foundation, Montage Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Montage Wellness Center, Aspire Health, and MoGo Urgent Care.
A message from Mia, the owner of Bliss Boutique:
Thanks to you, Bliss Boutique has celebrated 25 incredible years in business. This journey has been exciting, rewarding, and deeply fulfilling. Along the way, we’ve built lifelong friendships with our amazing customers and have shared many special and touching moments.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of the Bliss story. With a full heart, I want to share that our brick-and-mortar location in Monterey on Alvarado Street is now closed, and our Salinas location is expected to close in August.
If you have a gift certificate and would like to use it, please shop our Salinas location at 300 Main Street.
We are planning a closing event at 380 Alvarado Street, Suite 101 in Monterey on Saturday, August 1, selling all of our fixtures and displays.
In honor of Monterey Car Week, the Monterey History and Art Museum at Stanton Center, located at 5 Custom House Plaza in Downtown Monterey, will host a special exhibit entitled Racing to Del Monte & Pebble Beach: A Landmark Celebration of Early Monterey Bay Motoring Culture. Open August 7-17, 12pm-4pm daily.
This immersive exhibit explores the birth of Monterey Bay automotive culture at the dawn of the horseless carriage age and the pioneering racing spirit that shaped California’s early motoring history. Enjoy antique racing vehicles, local history presentations, rare silent film screenings, and a vintage photo gallery.
In partnership with History San Jose, the exhibit includes rare early racing vehicles and original artifacts and memorabilia, including an 1899 Osen & Hunt (the first automobile built in San Jose), a 1907 Mitchell touring car, and a 1903 Haynes-Apperson, plus rare motorcycles, bicycles, and more.
The exhibit will also include rare photographs from the 1903 inaugural races from San Jose to the famed Del Monte Hotel race track and Pebble Beach as well as photos from the groundbreaking hill climbs along Carmel Hill.
August 7-17, presentations on historic racing and film screenings will be featured in the Stanton Center theater throughout the week. Plaese view our calendar for the schedule!
Admission fees are: adult - $15; senior and military - $12, youth under age 18 - free. MHAA members are admitted free of charge. Become a member of the nonprofit MHAA today!
New t-shirts are available from La Bahia! On the front, it declares: "La Bahia - hustle in our blood." On the back, there's a dynamic drawing of our seahorse logo. Available in sizes Small - 2XL.
La Bahia is a family business, and we take pride in the hustle, because we know success doesn't come overnight. It takes work, and it takes commitment. We love what we do, we're not afraid to work hard every day, and we want to share great food with you and your family.
Stop by the restaurant at 675 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, eat some Jeezy Shrimp Tacos, and pick up a shirt to show your New Monterey neighborhood pride around town.
Oystertown is proud to introduce O-Town Espresso Bar at 281 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Open Monday - Saturday, 8am-1pm. You don't have to leave your neighborhood for morning treats!
Proudly serving ACME Coffee, Red River teas, Red's Donuts, and Ad Astra pastries. Come and make your morning awesome.
That's right - we're a coffee bar by day, an oyster bar by night. Great food, great vibes always.
