Old Monterey District Blog

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 Hours 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
...Read More

Want a delicious take-and-bake pizza you can make in the comfort of your own home? In response to popular demand, MidiCI Monterey now offers take home pizza kits for everyone to enjoy. Experience MidiCi in your own kitchen! Order your pizza kit today for delivery or takeout.

MidiCi, the Neapoltian Pizza Company, is located at 467 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Please visit our website to check out our menu.

Old Catpiol Books and the Close to Home Collective present their first online workshop, Sublime Imprecision: The Magic of Rough Edges, led by Janice Blaze Rocke and Marc Zegans on Thursday, May 28, 7pm-9pm. Registration is required. Please register online here.

In this workshop we will explore nuanced ways of writing about topical issues and events, emphasizing the role of the senses in grounding oneself in the writing process. We’ll examine how subtle and offbeat approaches can help consumers of our creative work think mindfully about complex phenomena that on the surface appear simple.

Osio Theater is offering new independent films to rent and screen at home! View the list of currently available and upcoming films here. A portion of the proceeds from your rental benefits Osio. For general technical support on how to view your rental on your smart TV or device, please visit Osio's Streaming Support Page.

VIRTUAL SCREENINGS BEGINNING MAY 22, 2020

MILITARY WIVES
This feel-good, crowd-pleasing British film inspired by true events centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Faced with their loved ones’ absences, they come together to form the very first military wives choir, helping each other through some of life’s most difficult moments, and quickly find themselves on an international stage. Watch the trailer.

ON A MAGICAL NIGHT
In this playful new film we meet Maria, a woman dissatisfied with her marriage who, after a heated argument with her husband of 20 years, spends the night in a hotel room across the street from their home. There, she has a bird's eye view of her apartment, her husband, and her marriage. In this comic romp, she confronts her past lovers and relationships on one magical night, fantasizing about the lives she could've lived and wondering if she's made the right decisions. Watch the trailer.

OTHER MUSIC
Other Music was an influential and uncompromising New York City record store that was vital to the city’s early 2000s indie music scene. But when the store is forced to close its doors due to rent increases, the homogenization of urban culture, and the shift from CDs to downloadable and streaming music, a cultural landmark is lost. Through vibrant storytelling, this documentary captures the record store’s vital role in the musical and cultural life of the city, and highlights the artists whose careers it helped launch. Watch the trailer.

CRESCENDO
When world-famous conductor Eduard Sporck accepts the task of creating an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra, he is quickly drawn into a tempest of unsolvable problems. Having grown up in a state of war, suppression, and the constant risk of terror attacks, the young musicians on both sides are far from able to form a team. Will Sporck succeed and make the young people forget their hatred, at least for the three weeks until the concert? Watch the trailer.

UP FROM THE STREETS
The documentary is Michael Murphy's omnibus celebration of the music that shaped the culture of New Orleans. It features...Read More

Want your house to smell amazing with a strawberry and rhubarb pie or an apple crisp in the oven? Alta Bakery and Cafe is now offering take-and-bake pies and crisps / crumbles! Give us a call at 831-920-1018. We're located at 502 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

MidiCi Monterey is happy to announce the arrival of the Supremo pizza on our menu. The Supremo is made with our Italian tomato sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, house made sausage, sliced garlic, green bell peppers, black olives, red onions, and sliced mushrooms. Yum!

MidiCi Monterey, The Neapolitan Pizza Company, is located at 467 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. We are now open for take-out, pick-up, and delivery orders.

New in stock at Grace Lifestyle Boutique: a hand sanitizer that's actually good for your skin! We now carry hand sanitizer from Natural Inspirations, a moisturizing gel that contains aloe vera and Vitamin E and is paraben free. It has a beautiful citrus fragrance. Please phone us to purchase and arrange for curbside pickup or shipping, 831-324-4200.

Grace Lifestyle Boutique, locally owned and operated, is located at 459 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Osio Theater is rolling out new independent films to rent and screen at home! View the list of currently available and upcoming films here. A portion of the proceeds from your rental benefits Osio. For general technical support on how to view your rental on your smart TV or device, please visit Osio's Streaming Support Page.

VIRTUAL SCREENINGS BEGINNING MAY 15, 2020

CRESCENDO
When world-famous conductor Eduard Sporck accepts the task of creating an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra, he is quickly drawn into a tempest of unsolvable problems. Having grown up in a state of war, suppression, and the constant risk of terror attacks, the young musicians on both sides are far from able to form a team. Will Sporck succeed and make the young people forget their hatred, at least for the three weeks until the concert? Watch the trailer.

UP FROM THE STREETS
The documentary is Michael Murphy's omnibus celebration of the music that shaped the culture of New Orleans. It features personal reflections from New Orleans’ most impactful musicians including, but not limited to, Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick, Jr, Wynton Marsalis, Mannie Fresh, Dr. Michael White, and commentary by national and international musicians along with archival and newly filmed performances by Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, and The Neville Brothers. Watch the trailer.

CORPUS CHRISTI
Corpus Christi is the story of 20-year-old Daniel who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a youth detention center. He wants to become a priest but this is impossible because of his criminal record. When he is sent to work at a carpenter's workshop in a small town, on arrival he dresses up as a priest and accidentally takes over the local parish. The arrival of the young, charismatic preacher is an opportunity for the local community to begin the healing process after a tragedy that happened there. Watch the trailer.

DRIVEWAYS
Cody is a sweet, sensitive boy who doesn't always fit in easily with other kids his age. He's not bothered by spending the summer in an unfamiliar New York town while his mother, Kathy, cleans out the house left behind by his recently deceased aunt, trying to ready it for sale. As Kathy--estranged from her reclusive sister for years--learns how much she didn't know about the woman, Cody strikes up a surprising friendship with A gruff Korean War vet who lives next door. Watch the trailer.

AND THEN WE DANCED
A passionate...Read More

The past two months have presented unparalleled challenges to our Monterey community and there will certainly be additional unforeseeable challenges as we move through the next phases in social distancing and toward a new and different "normal" in our daily lives.

Sushi Fly would like to thank our guests and employees for being so patient and for doing their part to slow the spread of Covid-19. Your loyal support of our restaurant over the past two years has been greatly appreciated.

As we look toward the future, we have been planning for a new and different reality that might include a new and more limited menu, waiters with face masks and gloves, disposable menus, and tables six feet apart,

Because we anticipate that we will have to reduce the capacity of our already small restaurant, we will be introducing to-go orders, online ordering, and curbside pick-up.

Our hours of operation will be Fridays and Saturdays starting May 15, 3pm-8pm. Please have your orders placed before 7:30pm. You can place your orders on our website.

Our staff has been extremely patient with our closing and we thank them for sticking with us during these trying times. All of us are looking forward to seeing you again.

-Mike Adams
Owner, Sushi Fly

Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill is now open for walk-up, curbside service at 426 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey! Monday and Tuesday we're open for beer only, 2pm-7pm. Wednesday through Sunday, we're open 12pm-7pm with a new takeout menu posted on our website. It features burgers, daily meal specials, and cocktails, bottled wine, and beer to-go.

Abiding by social distancing regulations, we have taped off 6ft standing positions and have a one-way line system set up right on Alvarado Street. Please phone in your food orders in advance so things don't get crowded on Alvarado Street, 831-655-2337.

Come and say wassup to Wade and Dre as they are slinging all of this week’s releases as well as Anniversary Ale VI. We're pumped to be back, y’all!