Old Monterey District Blog

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.

Franklin Street Collaborative presents our January pop-up shop, The Glow Up Marketplace! Curated to inspire your new year glow up with locally made, hand made, and human made home, beauty, and lifestyle goods. Begin 2021 with this self-care shopping experience at our store at 201 Franklin Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Featuring products from:
A&E Straws - zero waste living
Abalone - shells & things
Aubrey Girl - handmade accessories
Eclipse Creations - handmade bath & body products
The Glowing Mommy - hand poured soy candles
Happy Nest - handmade accessories
Jazgandi Beauty - handcrafted vegan lip products
Kat Delina - handmade turban hats
KH Craft - ceramics
Koahware - vintage & boho home decor
Leah Mark Designs - handmade jewelry
Nicole Maican - handmade jewelry
Manuzon - handmade clay dishes & keychains
Mask Effect
Megan Gnekow - art & illustration
Meninas - handmade children's clothing
Monterey Bay Food Tours - local artisan food & gifts
Mountains to the Sea - consciously created lifestyle goods
Picnic by the Sea
Ponder Knit
Sugar and T - handcrafted candles & bath treats
Sugared Tumbleweed - vintage treasures
Urth Angel LA - macrame plant hangers
Valley Botanicals...Read More

Are you setting goals for the new year? Let Haute Beauty Guide's planners help you! From budgeting to five-year goals, to day-to-day, to a quick month-at-a-glance, we have something for everyone. View and purchase them in our online store or pop into the shop at 71 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey to check them out in person - we're open Monday - Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Haute Beauty Guide is a locally owned retail boutique featuring skincare products, home decor, toys and activities for small children, adornments, and more. We celebrate the work of small California artisans and creators.

Mythic Games, located at 561 Tyler Street in Downtown Old Monterey, is happy to announce that you can now preorder Magic The Gathering: Kaldheim on our website. It's scheduled to be released on February 5, 2021 - you can choose to pick it up at our store, or have it shipped to you. Prerelease kits are $30, and draft booster boxes are $110.

Please shop at small businesses and support your favorite local gaming spots in 2021.