Old Monterey District Blog

It's so important to protect your lips from ultraviolet rays and keep them moisturized. The Shelley Bennett Skincare SPF 15 Lip Conditioner not only protects your lips from damaging rays but also softens them with certified organic sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil, and vitamin E.

Shelley Bennett Skincare also offers Tinted Lip Balm in “SB Red” (for a pop of color) and “SB Nude” (for a more subtle look). Both colors are ultra-moisturizing and have amazing buildable color so you can achieve your desired look.

When you buy any of these products, you're supporting a small skincare business located in Downtown Old Monterey. Both the lip conditioner ($3) and the lip tints ($10) are available at Shelley Bennett Skincare's online store for shipping or pickup at her studio at 588 Houston Street.

Classic Sushi Fly t-shirts are back in stock! Come and get yours and show your Sushi Fly pride. We're located at 413 Alvarado Street in the heart of Downtown Old Monterey.

Sushi Fly has great food. But more than that, it's fun. We pride ourselves on the quality of our ingredients, which we use in unique ways. Expect our chefs to be innovative with the selection of sashimi, nigiri, classic makis, chicken teriyaki, and other staples.

Photo by Jem San Pedro.

Alvarado Street Brewery is so proud of our Monterey team for earning the award for Monterey Peninsula’s Best Food & Beverage Company at the 34th Annual Business Excellence Awards! Thanks to the Monterey Chamber of Commerce for the recognition, and congratulations to all the finalists - we’re incredibly honored to receive this.

Our staff works diligently every day to make Alvarado Street a welcoming space with great beer, food, and cocktails. We'd like to give a shoutout to our kitchen team, our servers, our bartenders, our support staff, our brewers, and our amazing management team for this achievement. We love you, Monterey!

Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill is located at 426 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

With the NFL Sunday Ticket & College Football Package on 18 HDTVs and award-winning craft beer, there is no better place to be to catch all the NFL action this fall than Peter B's Brewpub! September 12, 2021 - January 23, 2022, we'll be kicking off Sunday mornings with football and breakfast, 9:30am-11am, at 2 Portola Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey.

BREAKFAST SPECIALS - $10 EACH

Cinnamon French Toast
with syrup, butter, seasonal berries, & powdered sugar

Huevos Rancheros
eggs over easy, salsa verde, & a corn tortilla

Buttermilk Pancakes
with syrup, butter, & blueberries

Smothered Breakfast Burrito
eggs, cheese, & potatoes with choice of chorizo, bacon, or sausage

Traditional Breakfast
two eggs any style, country potatoes, & choice of bacon, sausage or ham, & choice of toast

SUNDAY DRINK SPECIALS
excludes imperial and specialty ales

Pint of craft beer $8
Mimosa $8
Bloody Mary $8
Tito’s Brewer Bloody Mary $10

East Village Cafe is happy to present our latest: the vegetarian pesto caprese sandwich, featuring delicious mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and pesto sauce served up on ciabatta bread. We're adding more food items day by day. Visit us at 498 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey and get something good to eat!

Keeping in mind the victims of the devastating Caldor Fire, Haute Beauty Guide is donating 10% of all sales in September from our retail shop and online store to the Red Cross's California Gold Country Region to help with fire evacuations, pet safety, and other Red Cross services. Visit Haute Beauty Guide at 71 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Doran, the owner of Haute Beauty Guide, writes: "Lake Tahoe is our family’s favorite getaway. In winter the trees and snow are like magic for this beach girl. Some of our favorite memories as a family are because of Lake Tahoe. My heart aches for our favorite town and everyone effected by the Caldor Fire."

Monterey Magic and Comedy Club is pleased to announce that our Magic Fusion show will feature comic magician Eric Buss August 26 - September 7, with performances every night at 7pm plus Friday and Saturday at 9pm and Saturday and Sunday at 4:30pm. Purchase your tickets online today.

Eric Buss's innovative and high-energy brand of comedy and magic has earned him some of the industry’s top awards and a reputation as one of the funniest and most original magicians working today. Eric is an imaginative, exciting performer with a knack for fun. Throughout his show, he invites the audience into his world where hysterical antics are brought to life.

Monterey Magic Club is located inside the Stanton Center at 5 Custom House Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey.

Venture Gallery presents the work of local painter Cheryl Kampe, our featured artist for September, with an exhibit entitled Unintended Icons.

Normally, Cheryl paints landscapes and still life in oil or watercolors. But during the Covid lockdown she decided to paint portraits to honor voices for change, people who stood out in the struggle for human rights and who became unintended icons. The exhibit features portraits of John Lewis, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Cesar Chavez, George Floyd, Emma Gonzales, and Amanda Gorman.

Venture Gallery is now open daily, 10am-6pm. Cheryl Kampe's artwork will be featured through September 2021. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.

Alta Bakery and Cafe is excited to announce a new exhibit of photographs by Rachael Short in our dining room, the Diaz Adobe. Come view Rachael's beautiful work at 502 Munras Avenue (open daily, 7am-4pm) and enjoy breakfast or lunch plus our breads, pastries, sweets, and coffee and tea.

Ever since she picked up her father’s camera at the age of twelve, photography has remained Rachael Short's passion. In 2000, this California native moved to Santa Barbara to study photography at the Brooks Institute of Photography. Over the following decade Rachael established a thriving wedding photography and portraiture business. In addition, with an artist colleague she launched Gallery EXPOSED in the heart of Carmel. Her formal shooting pursuits ended abruptly in 2010 when her neck broke in a car accident, leaving her a quadriplegic.

Rachael now divides her time between physical therapy and capturing images with her iPhone. Photographs of nature, people and places allow her to explore the relationship between light and shadow—images she transforms into platinum prints.

Nacho Bizness, located at 470 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, is now hiring. We're busy and we need more folks who are enthusiastic about getting down with us. Work in a fun, fast-paced environment where the owners encourage you and give you positive feedback.

Pay is $15 hourly plus tips. To apply, please e-mail us or DM us on Instagram.

Looking for a talented hairdresser to help you get ready for a wedding or special event? Whether you're a bride, a bridesmaid, or just wanting to look your best, let Sunshine Salon Monterey create an updo hairstyle that's right for you. Contact salon owner and stylist Jay for more information and to make an appointment, 831-915-0197.

Sunshine Salon is located at 147 Webster Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Monterey Magic and Comedy Club is pleased to announce that our Magic Fusion show will feature comic magician Robert Hall August 12-24, with performances every night at 7pm plus Friday and Saturday at 9pm and Saturday and Sunday at 4:30pm. Purchase your tickets online today.

Robert Hall has performed at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and in major theaters, performing arts centers, and casinos around the world. With puzzling illusions, innovative magic, and side-splitting comedy, Hall’s performances never fail to leave audience members theorizing for weeks after the show.

Monterey Magic Club is located inside the Stanton Center at 5 Custom House Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey.