Cibo Ristorante Italiano is pleased to announce the return of our Happy Hour every night, 5pm-7pm, on our patio. Enjoy $3 well drinks, beer, and house wine plus great eats such as panini, bruschetta, calamari, and sweet potato fries.
Located at 301 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, Cibo is now open for limited indoor dining, outdoor dining, take-out, and delivery.
Business is picking up at Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe! As a result, we are now hiring counter help, a barista, and a baker. Applications are available at our 539 Hartnell Street location in Downtown Old Monterey. Once you fill out the application, please return it in person to the shop so you can meet us, Tuesday - Saturday, 9am-3pm.
Franklin Street Collaborative is excited that local science illustrator and designer Liana Matson Vitousek of Vitousek Illustration has brought us more of her best selling prints of local destinations. At $25 a pop, these images of Monterey, Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove, and Seaside are incredible gifts and wonderful art to hang in your own space. View them here.
Pair with a Carmel Candle Lab hand poured candle and an Eddison and Melrose tea blend and you’ve got yourself a truly locals-only experience, all available at Franklin Street Collaborative, 201 West Franklin Street in Downtown Old Monterey.
Even in a community that loves its library, public funding alone has never been enough to provide all the important resources our residents seek.
In March 2020, Monterey Public Library’s doors closed because of the global pandemic. The pandemic’s impact on tourism and the local economy drastically reduced City revenue. As a result, the City of Monterey reduced the Library’s budget by over 65%, cut the staff by 80%, and eliminated the book budget entirely.
In response, the Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation publicly launched the year-long Monterey Learns! fundraising campaign in February 2021.
What does this fundraising campaign aim to accomplish? Make sure kids and teens have the tools they need to become strong readers. Put more books in the hands of adults. Present meaningful programs for all ages — from toddlers to teens to seniors. Ensure that information from the library's unique historical archive is accessible so the community and to researchers worldwide. Ease the strain of distance-learning for our families and teachers by ensuring that a trusted librarian is just a phone call away, and that reliable, carefully curated online resources remain available.
Libraries are at the heart of community, culture, education, and democracy. Learn more about the campaign and find out how to donate here.
The Monterey County Health Department has verified that Monterey County will move into California’s Covid-19 Orange Tier as of Wednesday, April 7. 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 Orange Tier status:
**Restaurants can increase indoor seating to 50% capacity
**Retail stores can increase indoor shopping to 100% capacity
**Gyms and fitness studios can welcome people indoors up to 25% capacity
**Family entertainment centers can open indoors up to 25% capacity
**Museums and the Aquarium can open for indoor visitors up to 50% capacity
**Bars not serving meals can open outdoors with modifications
**Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can open indoors up to 25% capacity
Everyone, please keep up the good work! Continue to wear your face mask and socially distance so that we can continue to move forward to fewer restrictions and increased activity.
Great news, everyone! Old Capitol Books is reopening on Thursday, April 8. At our new home on the second floor of 482 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, we're open Thursdays - Sundays, 12pm-6pm.
Drop-in customers are always welcome when there's enough space. But, because the number of simultaneous customers is limited by Covid regulations, you can make an appointment online for opening weekend that will ensure you up to one hour of shelf-browsing pleasure.
Accessing Our Store
If you enter through the front doors of 482 Alvarado Street, you can either use the elevator or the stairs to get to the second floor. Accessible parking is located behind the building at 499 Calle Principal. From that lot, you can enter through the back door of the building directly onto the second floor.
Though the store is a work in progress, the entrance to the shop and the open aisles are 34-36 inches across. Bookstore staff are always happy to help you access hard-to-reach high shelves.
Doran, a licensed esthetician and the owner of the Haute Beauty Guide retail store, is really excited about the new soaps she's designed and created, each inspired by her favorite spots on the Monterey Peninsula.
After almost a year of research and trials, Doran's soaps are now available online and at Haute Beauty Guide at 71 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey. (Expect more great scents to come this summer!)
Haute Beauty Guide's signature soaps include:
Pebble Beach
A calm, tranquil scent with herbal notes of earl grey tea leaves, bergamot, and vanilla.
Carmel
A fresh, sophisticated scent with notes of white tea, ginger, lemon, pepper, and earl grey.
Monterey
The beautiful clean aroma of natural sea salt brings freshness to your day.
Cambria
A light, refreshing aromatic blend of cucumber and green tea.
Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe happily presents the latest addition to our selection of cakes: apricot creme brulee. This is chocolate mousse layered with lavender crème brulee, apricot, and genoise cake (Italian sponge cake). It's now available daily as an individual cake, or you can give us a call and order an 8” cake that serves 10.
Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe is located at 539 Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Our phone number is 831-641-9188.
We all know that Crepes of Brittany serves crepes, but have you tried their breakfast sandwich? With bacon or ham, eggs, and cheese on a lightly toasted bun, this sandwich will have you and your taste buds ready to enjoy the day.
Crepes of Brittany is now open for outdoor dining, limited indoor dining, and take-out orders at 211 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.
Alta Bakery and Cafe is happy to announce our April drink of the month, a chamomile honey latte with cinnamon and bee pollen. Come and try it - we're located at 502 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.
On April 10, 10am-4pm, Monterey Public Library will host the 2nd Annual Local History Slam online. This free, all-day immersion in the richly layered history of the Monterey Peninsula features 10-15 minute talks about topics such as: the porthole in Robinson Jeffers’ Hawk Tower; Joseph Campbell’s connection to Monterey and Star Wars; Ed Ricketts and the ecology of Monterey Bay; Flora Woods, the legendary Cannery Row Madame; the Chinese village at Point Alones; local Japanese American flower growers; and much more!
A schedule of the day's presentations will be posted on the library's website. Please register in advance online at least one hour prior to the event. For questions, please contact Monterey Public Library at 831-646-3933.
This event is co-sponsored by the Western Flyer Foundation, the Cannery Row Company, the Cannery Row Foundation, and Monterey Museums and Cultural Arts.
Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) has announced that it will provide a free Day Pass to those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine. MST recognizes the importance of everyone getting vaccinated in the recovery of our community. To further encourage Monterey County residents, MST is providing a free Day Pass to anyone just for getting their shot!
Individuals must simply present their Covid-19 vaccination card to an MST Customer Service Representative at any of its customer service window locations. (This includes the Monterey Bus Stop Shop at 201 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey.) You will then receive a free Day Pass to use at any time. Passes are available for each dose received.
For more information please call MST at 1-888-MST-BUS1 (1-888-678-2871).
It's spring! Why not order a delicious organic ice cream cake from Revival and enjoy a cool, refreshing dessert to celebrate the season? You can have a custom cake made with your favorite Revival flavors and your choice of gluten free chocolate or yellow sponge cake.
Order your cake on Revival Ice Cream's website and either pick it up at the shop at 463 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey or have it shipped to you or your loved one anywhere in the U.S. For more information, please call us at 831-747-2113. Please note that custom cake orders must be placed 72 hours in advance.
Beginning May 13, 2021, Monterey Museum of Art at 559 Pacific Street will be open Thursdays - Saturdays. While planning for our re-opening has been ongoing, we now need to finish installation of required safety measures, hire and train visitor-facing staff, and ensure that all of our exhibitions for the spring season are ready for the public’s enjoyment. We're looking forward to seeing you!
We'll begin with a members-only weekend May 13-16 to celebrate the opening of our summer exhibitions “Color Duets: Kaffe Fassett and Erin Lee Gafill” and “Transformations: Photography by William Giles”. After that, we'll welcome the general public to the museum.
MMA will be instituting the following safety protocols for the well-being of our visitors and our staff: mask and physical distancing requirements; contactless timed entry (purchase tickets on our website in advance); hand sanitizer stations; and limited visitor capacity at 25%.
Comanche Cellars Wine Room is pleased to announce our new tasting menu! Visit us and try the 2019 Pet Gnat Sparkling Rose of Pinot Noir, 2019 Comanche Cellars Chardonnay, 2018 Comanche Cellars Pinot Noir, 2018 Dog & Pony Grenache, and the 2018 Comanche Cellars Maverick. Our five-flight tasting is $20 per person - if you make a two bottle purchase, we'll waive one tasting fee.
We're located at 412 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, and now open for outdoor wine tasting and retail wine sales. Curbside pickup of wine bottle purchases is available.
Venture Gallery presents a show by Linda Elling and Maria Poroy, our featured artists for April. From Linda's glowing, life-like flowers to Maria's expressive modern still life, there will be something for everyone!
Venture Gallery is now open for in-store shopping Thursdays - Sundays, 10am-6pm. Linda Elling and Maria Poroy's artwork will be featured through April 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.
Monterey Marriott Hotel invites you to leave the cooking to Chef Josh Silva-Arias on Easter Sunday, April 4, 11am-5pm, and enjoy our special menu for limited dine-in service or take-out.
Our Easter menu includes: cucumber salad; choice of glazed ham, prime rib, or salmon; scalloped cauliflower-potatoes; steamed rainbow carrots with vinaigrette; asparagus ragout; and lemon cake. View full menu here.
Price is $42 per plate plus 9.25% tax. No take-out pre-orders or dine-in reservations accepted - just stop by on April 4, 11am-5pm. Monterey Marriott is located at 350 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey. For more information, please call 831-649-4234.
Paris Bakery has a wonderfully bright and cheery selection of sweet treats for Easter! They're offering Easter cookies, Easter bunny bread, and Easter-themed cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops. Stop by the shop at 271 Bonifacio Place in Downtown Old Monterey, Wednesday - Monday, 6:30am-3pm (closed Tuesday) or call to pre-order, 831-646-1620.
In celebration of Monterey's entry into the less restrictive Red Tier of Covid regulations, Downtown Old Monterey has updated our online Dining Guide!
Wondering where you can eat indoors, outdoors, or get great take-out or curbside pick-up? Trying to figure out your favorite restaurant's current hours? It's all right here.
The Dining Guide's "Dine-in" category includes all establishments offering indoor or outdoor dining. Just click on a specific restaurant in any category to see the specific dining options available there, hours of operation, and food photos. (Yum!)
Join Monterey Museum of Art online for a live conversation with artists Amy Díaz-Infante and Angelica Muro on April 8 at 4pm, as they share insights about their creative practices and their personal journeys as artists and educators.
In our dialogue with Amy and Angelica we will explore their experiences teaching, leading, and creating, and discuss how to advance equity in the art world and in museums. Fee is $15. Register online in advance.
Amy Díaz-Infante is a visual artist living and working in San Francisco. Díaz-Infante is a full-time faculty member in Printmaking, Drawing, and Design at the City College of San Francisco.
Angelica Muro is an artist and curator who is Chair and Assoc. Professor of Integrated Media and Photography in the Visual and Public Art Department at CSUMB as well as the Director of the Visual and Public Art Gallery at CSUMB. Muro teaches photography, media analysis courses, and community engaged practices.