Astons on the Avenue returns to Carmel for a second year

CARMEL >> For the second straight year, Monterey Peninsula locals and visitors can expect Astons on the Avenue to help fill the Concours-on-the-Avenue-shaped hole in Classic Car Week.

Building on last year’s Aston Martin pop-up, this year will see a bigger spectacle of the famous British brand. Hosted by Simon Bull, owner of Meuse Gallery, the show will take place Wednesday on Ocean Avenue between the blocks of Dolores and Monte Verde. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m., spectators can admire the free show and vote for their favorite car.

“I always used to love Concours on the Avenue. That was a very special event to me, not just as a car owner, but as a resident in Carmel because it was so open and free,” said Bull. “You could just wander around and there it was … It’s been my absolute pleasure to be able to bring some of that spirit back to Carmel and once again thrill the public with a great car show right there on the avenue.”

Artist Simon Bull’s Aston Martin named “Cupcake” parked outside of Meuse Gallery during Car Week 2023. The vehicle will be on display again this year. (Courtesy of Meuse Gallery)

Ever since Concours on the Avenue founder Doug Freedman’s sudden death in 2021, Carmel has missed out on its large shows during Classic Car Week. Freedman and his wife Genie founded the event in 2007, five years after he came up with the idea. The official event has been canceled since Freedman’s death, but local business owners like Bull are stepping up to bring classic cars back to Carmel.

Meuse Gallery has hosted private Aston Martin events in the past, but Bull said last year they decided “it would be good to take it out of the gallery and onto the streets.”

Located in the heart of downtown Carmel, the gallery features art by Bull, Bekah Bull, Kurz and Banksy. Visitors can stop by the gallery to check out some art and vote for their favorite car to win the People’s Choice Award. The show will also feature live painting by Bull.

In addition to the live painting, Bull’s latest exhibition, “British Racing Green,” featuring various automotive works, will be unveiled. As with many of Car Week’s events, Astons on the Avenue has dedicated a portion of its proceeds to charity.

Simon Bull’s painting “Furka Pass” is on display at Meuse Gallery. A portion of the proceeds from Bull’s paintings will be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. (Courtesy of Meuse Gallery)

This year, proceeds from the show and the sale of Bull’s paintings will go toward the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated toward research and treatment advancements for the disease. The choice is personal for Bull, as his wife Joanna battles the disease.

“It’s something that’s very important to us to try and find a permanent cure so sufferers from a disease like Multiple Myeloma can have a treatment and then say that they’re cured and move on,” said Bull.

Last year, Bull organized a lower-stakes version of the event by reserving some parking spaces and having local Aston Martin owners join and show off their vehicles. This year, he said “we’ve upgraded to what you might call a proper car show.”

Guests can expect over 30 featured Aston Martin’s ranging from 1950s classics to 2025 new releases. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at a private VIP awards ceremony and reception at the gallery.