Old Monterey District Blog

Following service on Sunday, November 29, Cult Taco, located at 481 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, will be taking a pause this winter. As with so many downtown Monterey businesses, we've been crippled by the impacts of Covid-19. We look forward to a day when we can once again gather and celebrate on Alvarado Street.

We don’t know what the future has in store, but we remain hopeful to bring a re-imagined dining experience to Monterey in 2021. Until then, we hope you will join us at Cultura Comida y Bebida in Carmel - where some of your Cult Taco favorites will be made available in the interim.

We want to thank our wonderful teammates, return guests, and community for all your love and support.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay hopeful,
Team Cult Taco

City of Monterey staff have worked diligently to prepare the big tree on the lawn of Colton Hall for the holiday season with lights and other ornaments. While our customary tree lighting event won't happen this year because of the pandemic, there's still an opportunity to share in the spirit of the holidays and enjoy the outdoor decorations. Beginning December 1, the tree will be lit each night until the end of 2020. We hope you can stop by and enjoy the beautiful sight!

Colton Hall Lawn is located at 570 Pacific Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Let's plan for sea level rise in Monterey! The City of Monterey is hosting a community meeting online to discuss the Transportation Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan on Monday, December 8 at 7pm during the regular Planning Commission Meeting. The program will include: a summary of previous sea level rise studies and outreach efforts, an introduction to the three adaptation strategies, and the gathering of community input.

Three strategies have already been identified to keep Monterey moving in the face of sea level rise:

1. Elevate the Recreation Trail into a sea wall or protect it behind a sea wall.

2. Elevate Del Monte Avenue into a viaduct with ocean water flowing underneath.

3. Move Recreation Trail and Del Monte Avenue traffic to Pearl and North Fremont Streets with enhancements made to these streets.

The draft of the Transportation Adaptation Plan is available for viewing here.

All Monterey residents are welcome at the meeting. To participate, please log in to the Zoom meeting (details on the second page of this press release) or you can view without participating on YouTube.

The Cooper-Molera Museum is happy to announce that we now have rose compost for sale. Made in the Cooper-Molera Garden using organic materials, this is a special rose compost we are offering by the bag for $25. (How big is the bag? There are about four shovels in each one.)

To purchase rose compost or plants propagated from the Cooper-Molera Adobe Garden, please stop by the Cooper-Molera Adobe Museum entrance Wednesday - Sunday, 10am-4pm or call 831-332-0172 x7776. Face masks and social distancing are required. Payment by cash or check only. Proceeds go towards the Cooper-Molera Adobe and Gardens.

The Cooper-Molera Adobe Museum is located at 506 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Franklin Street Collaborative, located at 201 W. Franklin Street in Downtown Old Monterey, is proud to host a Women's Marketplace throughout the month of December, sharing the talent and work of 20 local women designers and artists. It's perfect for holiday shopping!

Our pop-up holiday marketplace features:
Abalone
Aubrey Girl
Color and Paper Collective
Eclipse Creations Bath & Body
Happy Nest
Jaz Gandi Beauty
KH Craft
Let It Flow Maps
Lilac & Dahlia Skincare
Maican Bacon Jewelry
Monterey Bay Food Tours
Mountains to the Sea
One Trick Pony
Sugared Tumbleweed
Sweets of Eden
The Glowing Mommy
Valley Botanicals
Whimsy Pickins
Vitousek Illustration

Bella's Studio, a sewing, craft, and design studio, is offering handmade gifts this holiday season all wrapped and ready to put under the tree.

For the sewist in your life, we offer colorful totes full of sewing necessities, treasures, and inspiration; sewing themed notecards; adorable pincushon chickens handmade by Bella; and the Eversewn Sewing Starter Kit. For the cooks on your list, we have vintage-inspired aprons and matching dish towels handmade by Bella. Gift certificates are always available.

Bella's Studio is located at 140 W. Franklin Street, Suite 309 in Downtown Old Monterey. To purchase any of these items, please e-mail Bella or call 831-920-2272 to arrange for curbside pick-up or one-on-one shopping at the studio. Cash and checks only.

Support MY Museum during this difficult time and enjoy some holiday fun for you and your family. Although MY Museum's Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza may look different this year, we have everything that you need for the perfect at-home gingerbread house decorating celebration. We are keeping with tradition and have two fun options: one is for kids (or kids at heart) and one is for ages 21 and over!

Gingerbread Extravaganza Kits will be available for pick-up on December 5, 10am-12:30 at MY Museum, 425 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Online reservations are required! Masks and social distancing will be enforced. We are thrilled to announce we will have 10 of the Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theater's past Nutcracker cast members lining the streets during pick-up times for everyone to enjoy their amazing costumes.

Kid Ticket (or Kid at Heart), $40: includes pre-built ready to decorate house with tons of embellishments and frosting, chef apron and hat, a large cookie from Layers Bakery, and a hands-on craft.

21 & Over Ticket, $50: includes pre-built ready to decorate house with tons of embellishments and frosting, sweet treats, and a bottle of wine.

This holiday season, Cha-Ya Japanese Tea and Things is proud to offer beautiful gift items handmade by a local artist. Working with Japanese kimono fabric and obi (kimono sashes), Ruth creates distinctive hair scrunchies, hair clips, business card and credit card holders, clutch purses, and jackets. Photos of each of these items appear below.

We invite you to visit Cha-ya at 118 Webster Street in Downtown Old Monterey or call us at 831-646-5486 for more information or to purchase an item over the phone for curbside pick-up or shipping. Thank you for supporting our local, owner-operated business and local artists!

Casual Island has undergone a name change: we're now The Feral Market! We're still the same family-run operation we've always been, but we've turned the business fully over to the next generation.

At The Feral Market you'll not only find comfortable, affordable women's fashion, you'll also find a great selection of fun gifts and novelty items that are perfect for holiday shopping. Visit us at 261 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, or check out our online store for a taste of what we have in the shop.

Gasper's Jewelers, located at 447 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, offers beautiful and elegant gifts for the discerning holiday shopper. Owner Gasper Spadaro is now taking phone orders for his top-selling Everlasting Hand-Dipped 24k Gold Roses as well as custom made jewelry such as earrings, pendants, and bracelets.

Please phone Gasper at 831-594-2773 to discuss your order and place your deposit. (Be sure to leave a message if he's not able to pick up the phone when you call.) Having provided high quality jewelry designs in Monterey since 1989, he can help you find just the right gift.

Are you looking for the perfect addition to your shelter-in-place Thanksgiving dinner? Paris Bakery is offering a beautiful selection of pies - pumpkin, pecan, apple, blueberry, cherry key lime, and lemon meringue - in addition to special Thanksgiving cookies and a full assortment of fresh breads and baked goods.

Please preorder your Thanksgiving delights by Monday, November 23 for pick-up on Wednesday, November 25 - call us at 831-646-1620. A family-owned business, Paris Bakery is located at 271 Bonifacio Place in Downtown Old Monterey.