Old Monterey District Blog

Venture Gallery is proud to feature the work of several local artists who make metal, glass, and mixed media jewelry and gifts that would make wonderful Valentine's Day presents. Listed below are a few of the items and prices.

Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. It is now open for in-store shopping Thursday-Monday, 10am-6pm.

Valentine Gift Ideas from Venture Gallery Artists
(photos below)

Maria Poroy
Heart reproductions on metal ready to hang - $67
Heart reproductions on paper - $35+
Heart reproductions, sets of 4 coasters - $35

Johna Toy Thomas
Sterling silver heart earrings, 1 1/4" long - $26
Copper drop earrings, 1 1/2" long - $28

Vanessa Martin
White coin pearl spiral earrings - $52
Abalone, pearl, & sterling silver earrings - $68
Abalone & freshwater pearl necklace, silver clasp - $175

Lilly Campos
Spring heart, glass - $315
Aquarium pendant, glass - $69

East Village Cafe now has CENTR in our grab-and-go fridge - a refreshingly light, sparkling CBD-infused drink with notes of citrus. East Village Cafe is located at 498 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey and is open daily, 7am-3pm, for take-out. To order this and all our other drinks and bakery treats in advance for pick-up or delivery, please click here.

The Old Monterey Business Association is happy to announce the opening of Perfectly Pressed at 491 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. A small, locally-owned business, Perfectly Pressed makes raw, all natural cold pressed juices, cleanses, smoothies, and acai bowls.

Juices are made fresh every day using produce grown right here in the Salinas Valley! Stop by and enjoy some delicious, healthy fare. They're open Monday - Friday, 7am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am-4pm. Want to place your order in advance for pick-up? Simply click here.

Want to have some fun with your little one on Valentine's Day? Haute Beauty Guide has a wide selection of gifts and activities for small children available online and in the store, including lollipops, crayons, sensory bins, friendship bracelets, dolls, and books (including a Valentine's Day themed Baby Shark book). Check out the selection online!

Haute Beauty Guide is a small business owned and operated by the mother of a young child. It's located at 71 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey, and also features a lot of skin care, home decor, and gift items for women. Curbside pick-up and shipping is available.

Gasper's Jewelers, located at 447 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, is now taking phone orders for top-selling Everlasting Hand-Dipped 24k Gold Roses. Gold dipped roses are priced at $110, gold trimmed roses of different colors (such as the one pictured here) are priced at $78. Gasper's also offers beautiful custom made jewelry such as earrings, pendants, and bracelets.

Please phone owner Gasper Spadaro at 831-594-2773 to discuss your order and place your deposit. (Be sure to leave a message if he's not able to pick up the phone when you call.) Having provided high quality jewelry designs in Monterey since 1989, he can help you find just the right gift.

Due to devastating budget cuts, volunteers age 18 and older are helping provide vital support to Monterey Public Library so that the library might continue offering services. We are currently accepting applications for Collections Volunteers, who sort books and other materials, collect holds, straighten shelves, shelve books and materials, and more. For more information and to fill out a volunteer application form, please click here.

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

Have you felt like you’ve needed more support inside your running or walking shoes? If so, insoles are a great place to start. Every person has a different arch height and most of the time each of your feet has a different arch.

Fleet Feet Monterey invites you to stop by our store, where we can scan your foot to see what arch height you have and which arch support would work best for you - we carry a variety of insoles at 472 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Know what kind of gear you need already? Check out our online store.

Montrio Bistro, located at 414 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey, has extended its "Pick It Up - Pay It Forward" fundraising campaign. Now through February 28, 10% of all proceeds from all take-out orders made at Montrio will be donated to JCM United. (Please note: this is for take-out orders only, and does not apply to delivery orders.)

Jews Christians Muslims (JCM) United is a charitable, non-profit organization led by a group of interfaith religious leaders from the Monterey Peninsula. The organization's purpose is to offer opportunities for people of these three faiths to work, learn, love, and grow in relationship with one another by running the Abraham's Tent Soup Kitchen in Seaside as well as by providing other educational and social activities.

Visit Montrio's website to view our take-out menu and place your pick-up / take-out order at 831-648-8880.

Chef Delfino has introduced a new special at Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill. The Fried Calamari Sandwich features fried tubes and tentacles, tartar sauce, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, red onion, jalapeno aioli, brioche bun, and is served with your choice of fries or salad.

We're now open for take-out Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm-7pm. Check out our menu and give us a call at 831-655-2337 to place your order for pick-up. We're located at 426 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is offering crazy deals during the stay-at-home order, with 25% or more off all wine! And we're back at the delivery game, offering free next-day local delivery and pick-up by appointment. We even offer shipping to all 50 states. Not sure what to get? Don't hesitate to DM Claire Sutton, Sovino's owner and in-house sommelier, through Instagram or Facebook.

Sovino is located at 241 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, across from the Portola Hotel & Spa. Thank you for supporting locally-owned small businesses.

Have questions about the Covid-19 vaccine and its local rollout? Monterey County Health Department will hold a Covid-19 Vaccine Informational Town Hall this Thursday, January 14, at 5:30pm on Zoom. Please click here to join and use passcode 714517, or phone 1-699-900-6833 and use webinar ID# 982 0247 2160. Spanish translation will be available. Submit questions in advance to Juliana De La Paz.

Alta Bakery and Cafe is throwing a huge outdoor bake sale on Saturday, January 16, from 9am until everything sells out. Joining forces with Parker-Lusseau Pastries, Ad Astra Bread Co., Rise and Roam, Aubergine, and Tazzina Coffee, we're throwing a big outdoor fundraiser at Cooper Molera Adobe to benefit Parker-Lusseau employee Cheryl Graham who is recovering from a recent stroke. Wear your face masks and be ready to physically distance, and our happy crew will bring the amazing taste treats and the fun.

All proceeds from this sale will go to helping Parker-Lusseau employee Cheryl Graham get back on her feet after she suffered a stroke in December. Visit Cheryl Graham's GoFundMe page to donate and learn more about Cheryl.

Alta Bakery and Cafe is located at Cooper Molera Adobe, 502 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Comanche Cellars invites you to join us for a virtual wine tasting of our new releases: Sparking Albariño, Negrette, Tondre Pinot, Grenache, and Merlot on Friday, January 22 at 5:30pm via Zoom.

Fee is $75 for wines, tasting notes, and presentation. (To upgrade to our Reserve Tondre Pinot, the total fee is $85.) Wines can be picked-up at our wine room at 412 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey or shipped for $15. Please sign up for the virtual tasting on our website.

Through January 2021, Om Studios is offering new students a 40 day membership for unlimited livestream and outdoor yoga classes for only $69. This 40 day membership for new OM students is about igniting your yoga practice and exploring new ways to make it your own. (This offer is also good for anyone who hasn't participated in Om classes in 6 months.)

There is a long held spiritual belief to the number 40, the philosophy behind it stating that it takes 20 days to break old habits and 20 days to form new ones. For many of us developing and sustaining a yoga practice can be challenging. By knowing how long it takes to change behavior and create new patterns we are somewhat more in control of achieving lasting change and transformation.

New members: sign up here. Returning members: please e-mail Om Studios.

Now through January 28, there are three great reasons to choose Montrio Bistro for take-out. For the next three weeks, three new promotions mean you can pick and choose your faves. But please note: promotions can not be combined - only one promotion can be used for each complete order. Montrio Bistro is located at 414 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey.

$3 BEVERAGES
$3 handcrafted wine by the glass, $3 premium draft beer, or $3 well drink
Minimum purchase of 1 entree (2 appetizers equals 1 entree)
Maximum of 2 beverages with every entree (i.e., 1 wine and 1 beer)

BUY THREE, GET THE 4th FREE
Buy any 3 entrees, get the 4th at no cost
Free entree must be of equal or lesser value

BUY THREE, GET A BOTTLE FOR $3
Buy any 3 entrees and purchase a bottle of wine for only $3
Offer good only for select restaurant wines

All entrees/orders must be purchased as one - one promotion for each complete order. Good through January 28, 2021.