Old Monterey District Blog

Old Capitol Books is unable to pay the rent on our current building, located at 559 Tyler Street in Downtown Old Monterey, and we're going to have to move very quickly. We're not certain where our new space will be, but we're confident that we'll find a new home soon.

The good news for your library is that you can stock up on books and help Old Capitol Books move at the same time! Buy a banker box of surprise books - you can select up to two preferred genres for your books - and pick it up while we're packing! Each banker box will contain 20-30 books depending on the books' sizes. And the price is only $40. Order your box now online.

This weekend, Monterey County Health Department lifted some business restrictions. We are happy to report that hair salons and barbershops are now open for business, in-store shopping is now permitted at retail stores, and restaurants are now permitted to offer dine-in services.

Rest assured, many businesses continue to offer a variety of low-to-no contact options for customers. Most restaurants continue to offer take-out, curbside pickup, and delivery, while many retail stores welcome orders online and over the phone along with curbside pickup, delivery, and shipping.

At OldMonterey.org, we will continue to update the Old Monterey Dining Guide and the Old Monterey SIP Mall to reflect the latest information from our district businesses so you can find the places with the options that best meet your needs.

Welcome back to Downtown Old Monterey! When visiting, please remember to maintain physical distancing and wear a face mask. (Be a hero!)

Monterey Public Library Frequently Asked Questions
June 1, 2020

When will the Monterey Public Library and Bookmobile Reopen? Due to drastic budget reductions, the Monterey Public Library will be reopening in phases that are dependent upon staffing and available funding. The next phase entails curbside pick up service for material holds. Bookmobile service will continue to be suspended due to physical distancing requirements and budgetary constraints.

Due Dates: Loan periods for Monterey and Pacific Grove Public Library material have been extended to July 31, 2020.

Returns: We encourage you to keep books and materials at home until we reopen. Our reopen date has not been determined.

Holds: We will continue to hold materials for you, and your hold will not expire while we are closed.

Fines: Monterey and Pacific Grove public libraries are not charging overdue fines during the closure.

Library Cards: If you don’t have a card or have misplaced it, you can apply online and we will mail you one. If you have a card and forgot your PIN, you can reset it by visiting My Account. If the card was set to expire, the expiration date has been extended.

Need help navigating virtual services? Have a reference question, or a question about other City services? Library staff are here to help. Call 831-646-3933 or email us Monday - Friday, 10am-6pm.

Venture Gallery is now offering 15% off our artwork in June 2020 because you need more beauty in your life right now! Call it a Shelter-in-Place Sale or a Stimulus Check Sale - give yourself a gift today that will make your "shelter" more welcoming and make you smile every time you enter the room.

To view our work, visit the Venture Gallery website or walk by our windows at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. We have over 30 local artists who would appreciate your support. The doors of our gallery are currently closed to visitors, but our artists are selling their work online and will do their best to help you make a selection and get it safely home.

Beginning June 12, Venture Gallery will be opening its doors to customers on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-6pm.

Revival Ice Cream's newest limited edition flavor - Fig Leaf and Blackberry Jam - is set to hit our shop on June 4, but you can pre-order your taste of this exciting flavor now!

Fig trees are blooming at this time of year with leaves that are highly fragrant. We infuse the leaves into our handcrafted ice cream base, where they add a fruity, slightly coconut, and nutty flavor. Then we swirl fresh blackberries into the ice cream, bursting with sweet berry goodness.

Warning: our limited seasonal flavors go fast and are released only once a year, so place your order online now and stock up!

Revival Ice Cream is now offering counter service; take-out orders of sandwiches, bars, and pint and half-gallon containers; and local delivery on Thursdays to Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. We're located at 463 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Sovino Wine Bar & Merchant is happy to announce that we're now open for take-out orders, Friday-Sunday, 2pm-6pm. We're offering wine by the bottle, wine by the glass (with food order), and food orders including cheese and fruit, charcuterie, paté, and flatbread with hummus. And you can still order wine by the bottle and the case as well as select beers through our website.

Sovino Wine Bar & Merchant is located at 241 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Are you feeling stiff? Sitting too much? Feeling anxious? We can all agree that most of us have been doing way too much sitting in recent weeks. Om Studios invites you to join us for a 3-week Gentle Yoga Class held live on Zoom beginning Wednesday, June 3 at 9:30am. It's the perfect weekly, 45 minute yoga class for beginners, the tight bodied, the injured, or those dealing with chronic pain. Can't make the scheduled live class? No problem! A recorded version can be sent to you.

Om Studios owner Lindsay Wetterau will teach you how to increase your flexibility and strengthen your body in an effective and safe way from the comfort of your home. We will meet the first three weeks in June for a feel-good sequence with lots of modifications based on what your unique body needs.

Fee is $39 for the complete three week series or you can use your Om Studio class card. Students will be given a PDF after week three of what we learned so that they might continue their yoga practice at home.

Help stop the spread of Covid-19! When you wear a face mask, you're a hero to the hard-working owners and employees of small businesses in Downtown Old Monterey, keeping them and their families safe.

Customers in Monterey County are required to wear a face covering while waiting in line and entering businesses. Don't make them ask, just wear a mask!

Crepes of Brittany is happy to reopen for take-out orders! Chefs Daniel and Theirry are back. Come enjoy their delicious sweet crepes and savory galettes made fresh in the same fashion as the creperies of Brittany. It's like a quick trip overseas in your mind.

Located at 211 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, we're open Mon-Thurs, 7am-2pm, and Fri-Sun, 7am-3pm. View our menu online.

Because of Monterey County's Covid-19 shelter-in-place order, the City of Monterey's Parking Division temporarily suspended paid parking for a short time. Please note that, on June 1, 2020, paid parking resumes and will be fully enforced.

The Parking Division encourages people who use the lots and garages to download the ParkMobile app for a quick and convenient payment method that makes it easy to maintain physical distancing.

For more information, please visit the Parking Division's webpage, or call the Parking Office at 831-646-3953.

Old Capitol Books and Close to Home Collective present Femmes and Folx, a livestream concert on June 6 at 7:30pm featuring angel dolores, Symphonie Constant, Nelson G Nelson, and Malinda DeRouen. Watch it live on Close to Home's Facebook page!

Now, by popular demand, Sazon Express presents our very own Asada Nachos! Loaded with Pop’s traditional carne asada, re-fried Peruvian beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapeños, and grill-melted Monterey Jack, we guarantee these nachos are worth the wait.

Sazon Express is located at 431 Tyler Street in Downtown Old Monterey. We are now open for take-out and delivery only. Check out our menu on our website and order there or over the phone, 831-230-0570.

The all new Specialized bike, Diverge, is in stock at Work Horse Bicycles! With tons of tire clearance, lots of mounting and packing options (including the integrated swat box for racks, bags, and whatever your adventure calls for), wide bars, future shock, and GRX shifting, this bike will keep you smiling for all of the miles.

Located at 486 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey, we are currently open 1pm-6pm, Monday-Friday.

Esteban Restaurant is excited to announce that we have added nightly dinner specials to our current Curbside Dinner Menu and we're now offering Sunday brunch to go. Chef Gus has brought back some favorites and added a few new items the entire family can enjoy!

Dinner is served daily, 4pm-8pm, and Sunday brunch is served 9am-12pm. Take a look at our Specials and Sunday Brunch menus below, view our regular dinner menu on our website, and give us a call at 831-375-0176.

Our current nightly specials are:

Monday & Tuesday
3-course Paella Dinner

Wednesday & Thursday
14 oz. Ribeye Steak
Grilled Pacific Catch
Chickpea Stew

Friday & Saturday
Pizza & Wings for the Family