Old Monterey District Blog

After over a year of closure, Monterey State Historic Park has reopened its museums and gift shops and resumed tours with Covid-19 safety precautions in place. Everyone is invited to take a tour of the park or visit our free museums!

Custom House Museum & Gift Shop Now Open
1 Custom House Plaza, Old Monterey
Museum Hours: Tuesday-Sunday & Monday holidays,10am-4pm
Gift Shop Hours: Friday-Monday, 11am-3pm
Admission is free

Pacific House Museum & Gift Shop Now Open
20 Custom House Plaza, Old Monterey
Tuesday-Sunday & Monday holidays, 10am-4pm
Admission is free

Monterey State Historic Park Tours
Meet at Custom House Museum, 1 Custom House Plaza
Tours offered Thursday-Sunday: 11am, 1pm, 3pm
This is an approximately one-hour tour of Monterey Historic Park led by a State Parks guide. Tickets are $10 per person; ages 12 & under are free (must be accompanied by an adult). Purchase tickets at Custom House Museum. Tours may also be requested on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by calling 831-649-2907 in advance.

We want to congratulate Monterey Recreation's adult softball league champion teams sponsored by Downtown Old Monterey businesses! Los Borrachos, sponsored by Nacho Bizness and El Jefe Tequila, won the 2021 Spring Men's Softball (Open) Division. And the Pirate Squad, sponsored by Britannia Arms of Monterey, won the 2021 Spring Co-Ed Softball (A) Division.

Nacho Bizness is located at 470 Alvarado Street and Britannia Arms is located at 444 Alvarado Street. We thank them for their community involvement, and we know they're excited to add more winning plates to their walls in seasons to come. Go teams!

Learn more about Monterey Recreation's youth and adult field sports programs here.

The Monterey County Health Department has verified that Monterey County will move into California’s Covid-19 Yellow Tier as of Wednesday, June 2, 2021. What that means is businesses, residents, and visitors, working in partnership with the City of Monterey, have demonstrated their commitment to safety and health protocols and all of us are benefiting from it. Thanks to all of you!

With Yellow Tier status:

**Restaurants can increase indoor seating up to 50% capacity

**Gyms and fitness studios can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Family entertainment centers can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Museums and the Aquarium can open for indoor visitors at 100% capacity

**Bars not serving meals can open indoors up to 25% capacity

**Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

Everyone, please keep up the good work! Continue to wear your face mask and socially distance so that we can continue to stay in the Yellow Tier and we can move safely forward to California’s reopening of the economy on June 15, when capacity and distancing restrictions will be lifted for most businesses and activities.

Summer is here and Jamba, located at 398 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, offers a variety of gift cards for you to share in a number of ways. Pick up a gift card and give someone the gift of a refreshing smoothie, bowl, or other grab 'n' go item.

Jamba gift cards never expire, and cards sold in stores can be loaded with any amount between $5 and $100. The best part: Jamba gift cards are versatile! They can be purchased in person at Jamba Monterey, or you can purchase them online as eGift cards or in bulk (good for businesses and organizations).

Venture Gallery presents a show by Elizabeth Ingebretsen, our featured artist for June. An artist used to packing a bag and taking off for parts unknown, since the beginning of the pandemic Elizabeth has been tethered to the Central Coast, painting local waterways and crashing waves. Come view her this exhibition of her recent work.

Venture Gallery is now open daily, 10am-6pm. Elizabeth Ingebretsen's artwork will be featured through June 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.

The Old Monterey Marketplace and Farmer's Market is back! The market is returning to Alvarado Street every Tuesday, 4pm-8pm. We're beginning with a limited farmer's market, featuring local produce and some crafts, as we work our way towards a full reopening on June 15.

The market will take place rain or shine. For the safety of vendors and at-risk individuals, all shoppers must continue to wear a mask over their nose and mouth and maintain social distance. At this time, no sales are allowed to individuals not wearing a face covering. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the market.

Every Tuesday, 4pm-6pm, Monterey Fire Department will offer the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine at the market. No appointment necessary - just show up.

In celebration of international Fashion Revolution Week in April 2021, Old Monterey's own Slowfiber organized a virtual fashion show featuring the creative powers and considerable skill of Monterey County residents and Slowfiber customers who sewed, knitted, upcycled, and mended their own clothing and accessories in this past year. And now you can watch the entire 27 minute fashion show on YouTube!

Featuring Slowfiber owner Jaki Canterbury, with creative contributions from 24 makers and menders, this fashion show video is fun, wonderfully artistic, and revolutionary, throwing off the shackles of fast fashion and moving towards a more sustainable future. This small but mighty first show by Slowfiber brings together a hive mind of makers, menders, and supporters. Enjoy!

Slowfiber is a retail store and educational studio that encourages everyone to explore sustainable fashion through its construction and preservation. Visit Slowfiber at 517B Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Sunny days are on the way, and Fleet Feet Monterey has goodr sunglasses in the shop. The new Cosmic Crystal line from goodr is perfect for manifesting good times and blocking the sun. They are no-slip, no-bounce, and polarized - perfect for running.

Visit Fleet Feet at 472 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey and try on the sunglasses of the summer!

The Old Monterey Marketplace and Farmer's Market is returning to Alvarado Street on Tuesday, May 25 at 4pm! We're beginning with a limited farmer's market for the first couple of weeks, featuring local produce and some crafts, as we work our way towards a full reopening on June 15.

The market will take place rain or shine every Tuesday, 4pm-8pm. For the safety of vendors and at-risk individuals, all shoppers must continue to wear a mask over their nose and mouth and maintain social distance. At this time, no sales are allowed to individuals not wearing a face covering. There will be hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the market. We look forward to seeing you!

On May 25, 4pm-6pm, Monterey Fire Department will offer the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine at the market. No appointment necessary - just show up.

Monterey Museum of Art invites you to join London-based artist Kaffe Fassett and his niece, Big Sur-based artist Erin Lee Gafill, in their respective studios for a showcase of their joint still life painting process online on Thursday, May 27, 11am-12pm. Fee is $10. Register in advance online.

Inspired by the pair’s twelve years of annual creative retreats, which were recently interrupted by the pandemic, Kaffe Fassett and Erin Lee Gafill will once again paint the same arrangement of objects in unison. But instead of sitting side-by-side, Kaffe and Erin will be working together virtually, as they sit on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. After the session, connect and reflect with the two artists during a question-and-answer session.

Portola Hotel & Spa is thrilled to share that Jacks Monterey is reopening on May 19. Jacks will be open Wednesday - Sunday for breakfast, 6:30am-10:30am, and dinner, 4pm-10pm. Reservations are available through OpenTable or by phoning 831-649-7830.

Jacks Monterey serves a variety of dishes made from fresh, local ingredients (including guest favorites such as the Monterey Bay Salmon, Portola Burger, and seasonal salads) paired with award-winning cocktails and wine. View the full breakfast menu or dinner menu.

In addition to indoor dining, enjoy outdoor dining on Jacks Terrace, featuring pet-friendly seating, fire pits, and bistro lighting. Locals and members of the military enjoy 15% off at Jacks Monterey (excludes alcohol).

Jacks Monterey is located inside Portola Hotel & Spa at 2 Portola Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey.