Old Monterey District Blog

Introducing the newest product in the Shelley Bennett Skincare Collection: Spot It Drying Lotion. This little pink powerhouse is made of soothing calamine lotion to reduce redness and calm inflammation, plus salicylic acid helps to clear up, dry up, and prevent bacteria from spreading. The added eucalyptus oil also provides antibacterial benefits.

Shelley, the local aesthetician who designed this product, recommends it for use on insect bites and to spot treat pimples at night after using moisturizer. Available now online. A small, locally-owned business, Shelley Bennett Skincare is located at 588 Houston Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

What is it that you feel called to bring forth into the world this year? When you pause to listen, what is it you need to take that next step? If that voice of wisdom is saying that a workspace outside your home may support you in bringing your vision to reality, now is the time.

For the month of January, get 22% off your first month of membership at The Pearl Works, Old Monterey's newest co-working space, when you commit to at least 3 months. The Pearl Works is located at 288 Pearl Street. Book a tour here!

Craving some heat this winter? Sample The Spicy Bee, our newest specialty pizza at MidiCi Monterey! Our signature bianca base is topped with calabrese (spicy Italian salami), creamy ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and a drizzle of spicy honey.

Order The Spicy Bee for dine-in, to-go (via the Toast app), or delivery (through DoorDash or GrubHub). MidiCi is located at 467 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Every Sunday, 11am-7pm, Epsilon Restaurant and Savvy Bar have joined forces to present a delicious brunch menu on the premises of Savvy, 420 Tyler Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Join us for great food, live music, and no dress code.

No password is needed for brunch at Savvy (unlike other times during the week!), but reservations are recommended. Please make your reservation online or give us a call at 831-402-2904.

One of the most frequent questions we get asked at Nacho Bizness is why we use Taco Works chips. And we're all for keeping a little mystery in our lives, but today we're giving you the answer.

When we first opened Nacho Bizness in a very small space on Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, we knew we couldn’t have a deep fryer so we set on a mission to find the most flavorful chips that would stand up to our house made cheese sauce. After an exhaustive search, Taco Works came out king! Light and crispy, they paired perfectly and made a delicious bed for our 'chos. Plus, Taco Works is a California company, located in San Luis Obispo.

When Nacho Bizness moved to our Alvarado Street spot in 2020, we made the decision to stick with Taco Works chips because they are a huge part of what we do! Bi-weekly deliveries ensure a crisp and delicious chip every time you dig into your nachos.

Come and try these outstanding chips yourself, if you haven't already. Nacho Bizness is located at 470 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Venture Gallery presents the work of local artist Dorothy Stonely, our featured artist for January. Her show, entitled The Poetry of Color, exhibits Dorothy’s love and mastery of the color spectrum.

Venture Gallery is now open daily, 10am-6pm. Dorothy Stonely's artwork will be featured through January 2022. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.

Camp Craft Jars make great gifts for the holiday season! Just add 12 oz. of alcohol, refrigerate for three days, and shake before serving, OR add boiling water, allow to cool in the refrigerator, strain, and add to hot or iced tea, sparkling water, or fruit juice.

Now through the end of December, buy 2 jars at full price at Shear Addiction Barbershop and Hair Studio and get the third jar at half off. Visit us at 160 Webster Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe is now offering five flavors of Buche de Noel (Yule Log), including several gluten-free options! Please place your orders for Christmas by Monday, December 20. Visit us at 539 Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey or phone us at 831-641-9188.

Buche de Noel Flavors

Chocolate and Spice
ginger spice cake with chocolate mousse, cinnamon Bavarian and candied citrus

Chocolate-Espresso (gluten free)
chocolate mousse and espresso mousse with caramelized hazelnuts

Triple Chocolate (gluten free)
chocolate mousse, chocolate creme brulee, and flourless chocolate cake

Chocolate, Passion Fruit & Coconut (gluten free)
chocolate mousse with passion fruit cream and coconut dacquoise

Chocolate Raspberry
chocolate mousse with raspberries and pistachio cake

Monterey Public Library is accepting food for fines all month long! December 1-31, bring in any non-perishable food donation for the Food Bank and the library will waive all fines on your library account. (Please note: this offer does not apply to replacement fees for lost or damaged items - only overdue book fees.)

Items recommended for donation:
Canned tuna, chicken, or salmon
Peanut butter
Meals in a can (soup, stew, chili)
Low-sodium canned vegetables
Canned fruit in its own juice or water
Olive or canola oil
Spices (cinnamon, chili powder, cumin, salt-free spice blends)
Canned foos with pop-top lids
Low-sugar, whole-grain cereals
Healthy snakes (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit)
(Please avoid items packed in glass.)

Monterey Public Library is located at 625 Pacific Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Laugh it up all year long! Subscribe to the Foolish Times. New subscribers will get 12 issues for $34 and you'll receive a free, autographed copy of Dana B. Larrabee's Positively MAD About Godzelda mini-comic / zine with behind-the-scenes pics and info on the making of Godzelda Destroys Salinas. Offer ends December 31, 2021.

To subscribe, please call 831-638-1038, e-mail the office of the Foolish Times, or visit our website.

Paris Bakery is now offering freshly baked Christmas cookies, which they're selling individually, in bags of 6, and in larger numbers on platters. These decorated cookies are a bright bit of delicious fun for the holiday season that's perfect for a gift or for a stay-at-home treat.

The bakery also has a full complement of special holiday baked goods including Stollen (German fruit bread), Pannetone (Italian sweet bread), candy cane shaped bread, and Buche de Noel (Yule log cake). Buche de Noel are available in four different flavors: chocolate, coffee, hazelnut, and Grand Marnier.

All of these items are available daily until Christmas Eve at Paris Bakery, a family-owned business located at 271 Bonifacio Place in Old Monterey, but ordering items in advance is always recommended so you don't miss out on your heart's desire. Just call the shop at 831-646-1620.

For a limited time this holiday season, Comanche Cellars is offering Secret Santa Six Packs of wine for $100. They're specially curated for holiday entertaining and boxed and decorated for easy grab and go.

You can choose from one of three options:
1) Mixed reds & whites
2) Medium bodied reds
3) Bold reds

Please stop by our wine room at 412 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, or call us at 831-747-2244 for more information and to place your order.

Plans for Old Monterey's Cella Restaurant & Bar are coming together and we are looking for passionate staff for front and back of house. Please e-mail us to apply. Cella will open soon in the historic Spear Warehouse - the building behind Alta Bakery on the grounds of the Cooper Molera Adobe.