Old Monterey District Blog

Cha-ya Japanese Tea and Things welcomes spring with a celebration! March 3 is Hinamatsuri, a day to wish girls good health and long life. Most families with daughters celebrate by displaying hina dolls. Nowadays, it's customary to give dolls to the first born daughter. It's also customary to prepare special foods during this time of celebration.

In the same spirit of celebration, May 5 is Children’s Day, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children. It became a national holiday in 1948, but it has been a day of celebration in Japan since ancient times. The fifth day of the fifth month was traditionally called Tango no Sekku and was a festival for boys.

In honor of the season, Cha-ya has quite a large, diverse selection of dolls for sale! We invite you to stop by and take a look. These dolls are the perfect gift for a girl or boy in your life.

Our website, OldMonterey.org, has made it into the final round of the Best of Monterey County Readers Poll 2016! Explore our events, blog, dining guide, and more and vote for us for Best Local Website in the "Around Town" category. Voting ends Wednesday, February 24.

OldMonterey.org is the website of the Old Monterey Business Association, a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing and promoting the economic vitality and community spirit of Old Monterey.

There will be an AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Express Shuttle to and from Monterey from Thursday, February 11 through Sunday, February 14, 2016. Hours are Thursday - Saturday, 6am-6pm, and Sunday, 6am-5pm. Round-trip ticket is $20 per day per person, $10 per day with military ID. Cash only.

Shuttle buses leave from Monterey and Pebble Beach every 30 minutes. Please note: during peak hours, the wait may be longer.

There are two pick-up locations:

Cannery Row
At the corner of Cannery Row and Prescott Street next to Steinbeck Plaza (map: 700 Cannery Row). Parking is available for $5 at the Cannery Row Garage, 600 Foam Street.

Downtown Old Monterey
At the corner of Calle Principal and Del Monte Avenue, across from the Conference Center (map: 98 Del Monte Ave). Parking is available for $5 at the Downtown West Garage, 372 Tyler Street.

Keeping with the theme of "simple done well," Chef Jeremiah Tydeman and General Manager John Ferguson have decided to roll out a new burger section on the menu of Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill, offering five new varieties, including one that is entirely vegan. That's right! The 100% "Vegan Double Double" burger is unlikely anything you'd expect - two stacked, house-made vegan patties with melted vegan cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and "Animal Style" sauce made entirely with vegan products.

For the meat lover, the "Kolohe" burger features grilled spam, pineapple, fried onions, scallions, hoisin and sriracha aioli. And Chef Jeremiah is most excited about his signature patty melt, with caramelized onions, Gruyére and American cheeses, and "secret sauce" on griddled sourdough. Come on in and try one!

Planning a party? Impress your guests with hot fun at the ol' firehouse! With three delightful spaces onsite, creative menus, and an experienced team, Montrio Bistro adds the polish to special occasions.

Our distinct space can accommodate groups from 20 to 150 people. Floral arrangements, A/V equipment, unique cocktails or performers - no request is out of our range. And our diverse menus suit the most discerning of palates and budgets. Let us help you pull off a fabulous bash! Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Do you like what you see on our website, OldMonterey.org? Explore our events, blog, dining guide, and more and consider nominating us for Best Local Website in the Best of Monterey County Readers Poll 2016! Nominations end Friday, January 29 at midnight.

OldMonterey.org is the website of the Old Monterey Business Association, a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing and promoting the economic vitality and community spirit of Old Monterey.

JANUARY 19, 2016

THE 300 BLOCK OF ALVARADO (FROM FRANKLIN STREET TO DEL MONTE AVE) WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR TRAFFIC AND PARKING.

FARMERS MARKET WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN PEARL STREET AND FRANKLIN STREET.

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL (831) 655-2607.

Pinkberry is welcoming the new year with some old favorites! We’re reintroducing two flavors: Grapefruit Pinkberry, a tangy frozen yogurt made with real grapefruit puree, and Peanut Butter Pinkberry, a light and refreshing frozen yogurt made with real peanut butter that's the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Come and enjoy at the Pinkberry in Old Monterey at 316 Alvarado Street.

JANUARY 5, 2016

THE 300 BLOCK OF ALVARADO (FROM FRANKLIN STREET TO DEL MONTE AVE) WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR TRAFFIC AND PARKING.

FARMERS MARKET WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN PEARL STREET AND FRANKLIN STREET.

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL (831) 655-2607.

First Night Monterey will take place on Thursday, December 31 from 3pm to midnight. Please be aware that First Night festivities will close the following streets in Old Monterey:

* Pacific Street, between Madison Street and Jefferson Street, 1pm-6pm

* Alvarado Street, 2pm-12:30am

* Bonifacio Place, between Alvarado Street and Tyler Street, 2pm-12:30am

* Franklin Street, between Calle Principal and Tyler Street, 4pm-12:30am

* Jefferson Street, between Van Buren Street and Pacific Street, 6pm-10:30pm

* Pierce Street, 6pm-10:30pm

* King Street, 6pm-10:30pm

Event parking is available in the Old Monterey garages, as well as the MIIS and City Hall parking lots.

Want to sell your old bike? Bay Bikes is now accepting trade-ins on ALL makes and models for store credit. Plus, we're offering discounted bikes for the whole family at huge blow-out prices. Stop by our shop in Old Monterey to learn more!

Restaurant 1833 has just kicked off their new Social Hour, held Sunday - Thursday, 5pm-7pm on the patio and in the bar and lounge. Enjoy select classic cocktails for $9 and a pair of tasty tacos with all the fixings for $5. They're now offering a dynamic duo of chicken mole and birria-style pulled pork tacos on housemade tortillas with a side of chef Jason Franey's habanero-carrot hot sauce. Yum!