Old Monterey District Blog

Venture Gallery presents Lilly Campos, our featured local artist for May. Her latest exhibit, A Summer's Day in a California Bay, captures, in glass, the essence of a beautiful day along California’s coastline.

About Lilly Campos

Lilly Campos has been a dichroic glass and fused glass artist for 13 years. Her exhibit captures a sunny day in which sailboats, kites, and hot air balloons fill the sky, creating a dynamic and colorful scene along our beautiful coastal inlets.

About Venture Gallery

Venture Gallery is open 10am-6pm daily. Lilly Campos's artwork will be featured through May 2025. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.

MY Museum's 2025 Online Auction is now live and ready for your bids! We can't wait for you to see the incredible items. Whether you are looking for trips, spa services, gift cards to local restaurants, wine, new experiences, or family fun adventures, we've got you covered.

The online auction closes on Wednesday, April 30, at 9pm. Every penny raised from the auction goes directly to making this non-profit children's museum in Downtown Old Monterey a better, safer place for the kids of Monterey County and beyond.

Thank you so much to all of our auction donors - this would not be possible without you!

Stokes Adobe restaurant and bar is now offering caviar service daily. 28g of Osetra caviar is served with creme fraiche, chives, blinis, and potato chips.

Available for dinner (5pm-9pm) and happy hour (4pm-5:30pm) at 500 Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Indoor and outdoor patio seating is available.

Easter chocolates are now available at Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe in Downtown Old Monterey. We make everything in-house and have a variety of designs including eggs, rabbits, chickens, fish, and ladybugs.

We hope to carry our delicious chocolates right up until Easter (April 20), but we can't make any promises, so don't wait! Stop by the shop at 539 Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey and pick up yours soon.

Manasiri's Crepes and Sandwiches now proudly serves Zum Zum Tea at 321 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. If you're a tea enthusiast, these are for you!

We're offering a wide range of unique and delicious Zum Zum Teas including Lavender Earl Gray black tea, Citrus De-Stress green tea, Carrot Ginger Curcuma herbal tea, Fruit Medley herbal tea, Risky 'Biscus herbal tea, and Sunset Sangria herbal tea.

Zum Zum Tea is a local, family-run tea company offering a wide array of farm-to-cup teas from around the world. Owners Anthony and Kimberly Chavez are die-hard tea lovers with a love and deep respect for farming, Fair Trade practices, and the work that goes into creating the food and drink we consume.

It's the season for hot cross buns! Those at Ad Astra are made with dried fruit soaked in Earl Grey tea with cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and clove. Containing spelt flour, they're finished with an orange-honey glaze.

Baked fresh daily at 479 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

The Coastal Roots Hospitality Group - including Montrio restaurant at 414 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey - has designated Monterey County Film Commission as the nonprofit recipient of its Pick It Up - Pay It Forward Program for April 2025.

What does this mean? When you order takeout food from Montrio, 10% of your order will automatically be donated to this nonprofit organization which promotes our county's locations, crew and businesses to the film industry. (Please note: this offer does not apply to delivery orders.)

Freedom Bakery is offering Easter Cookie Gift Boxes! Delight your friends and family with delicious Easter cookies, including a wide selection of our shortbread photo cookies, for $24 a box.

Purchase Directly

Easter Cookie Gift boxes are available for purchase at Freedom Bakery's booth at the Old Monterey Farmers Market on Tuesdays, April 8 & 15, 4pm-7pm, on Alvarado Street.

Place an Order

Not available on Tuesday? Want specific designs printed on your shortbread cookies? Call the bakery at 831-722-5223 to place an order for pick up at our Monterey Boutique, open Friday - Sunday, 10am-1pm, at 305 Webster Street.

(Please note, unlike our many other baked goods, Easter Cookie Gift Boxes can only be ordered over the phone, not through our website.)

Customize Your Order

When you pre-order your Easter Cookie Gift Box (or boxes!), you can choose from over 20 designs including: Bluey, Super Mario Bros, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Lilo & Stitch , Pokemon, Minions, Disney Princesses, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Spiderman, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, My Little Pony, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Cocomelon, Fortnite, Minecraft, Frozen, Moana, and Toy Story.

Stokes Adobe introduces our newest menu item: Mediterranean-inspired seared octopus served with olive tapenade, nduja aioli, Marcona almonds, fresh oregano, and a burst of Meyer lemon. It's gluten free.

Stokes Adobe restaurant and bar, located at 500 Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey, is open daily for dinner and happy hour. Indoor and outdoor patio dining are available. Visit our website to see our dinner and drink menus and make a reservation.

Just in time for Easter, soft pretzel bunnies have hopped into Paris Bakery! Come and get yours at 271 Bonifacio Place in Downtown Old Monterey. They're fun for all ages and delicious, too.

Esteban Restaurant offers dining specials every Sunday and Wednesday, 4:30pm-8:30pm. On Wednesday, order a Signature Esteban Burger, fries, and an adult libation for only $18. Every Sunday, enjoy $1 West Coast oysters and half-priced bottled wines.

Esteban Restaurant is located at 700 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey at Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa. Indoor and patio seating is available. Reservations are recommended, phone 831-375-0176.

Wednesday Burger Special

Join Esteban for a relaxing Wednesday evening as we celebrate with our Burger Night. Enjoy a Signature Estéban Burger, fries, and adult libation (a draft beer or Spanish house wine)for $18.

Our handcrafted burger features a delicious blend of Wagyu, chuck, and short rib beef, topped with lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, house-made dill pickles, pickled red onions, fire-roasted jalapenos, and arugula aioli, all nestled in a brioche bun.

Shucking Social Sundays

Toast to the sea! Every Sunday, come enjoy Esteban's Shucking Social Sundays Special featuring $1 West Coast oysters and half priced bottled wines - choose from a variety of Spanish and Monterey County wines.
Our skilled team will be shucking fresh oysters right at the bar. Try them with a squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of Chef Steven's spiced house-made hot sauce.

Slowfiber is hosting Closet Camp, a creative sewing camp for grown-ups, at St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista from Friday, June 13 through Monday, June 16, 2025. Enjoy three full days of working with textiles and fellow sewing enthusiasts in the woods. Learn more here.

About Closet Camp

Slowfiber Closet Camp is 3 days of luxuriating in working on what we wear, gaining agency over our closets, and goofing off with the clothes that aren't working for us. Bring your sewing box, your sewing machine, or some needles and thread for hand-sewing along with the clothing you want to modify.

You'll work on your own projects with the benefit of demo-masters Nancy, Jaki, Becky. This time, Patti is offering her apron class (you asked for it!) and we'll have each other as inspiration.

Self-starters who already know how to sew and aren't afraid to take risks as well as those you can be supportive of colleagues are going to have a great time this weekend. Registration is capped at 30 people - register here. Slowfiber is located at 517A Hartnell St in Downtown Old Monterey.

Esteban Restaurant at Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa is thrilled to announce the appointment of Steven Patlan as Executive Chef. A passionate supporter of local sourcing, Chef Patlan is dedicated to collaborating with local artisans, farmers, ranchers, and fishers.

Chef Patlan’s most passionate change to Esteban's menu is inspired by his love of the sea. The new Esteban Raw Bar features Marin Miyagi and Kumamoto Oysters on the half shell and Monterey Bay Rockfish Ceviche with mango, cucumber, pickled red onion, Fresno chili agave, yuzu, and crispy plantains.

Chef Patlan's remarkable career includes notable positions at prestigious establishments such as The Inn at Spanish Bay, Quail Lodge & Golf Club, Sardine Factory, Ventana Big Sur, Wild Fish, and most recently, he served as Executive Chef at Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen in Aptos. A third generation California native, Patlan currently resides in Marina.

We invite you to dine at Esteban Restaurant and try Chef Patlan's vibrant, aromatic, and deeply satisfying cuisine. We're located at 700 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Have you stopped playing piano because of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or performance anxiety? Or maybe you’ve never had the chance to truly create your own music?

Wendi Kirby, a pianist, educator, and founder of Wendi Kirby Music, announces Piano Freeology, a membership-based online program designed to help pianists reconnect with your love for the piano, overcome limiting beliefs, and rediscover the joy of playing with freedom, creativity, and confidence. Learn more here.

Member Enrollment

Founding Member Enrollment is March 15 - 22, 2025. Join by March 22 for $27 per month or $270 per year. After March 22, memberships will be $47 per month or $500 per year.

Member Benefits

As a member, you’ll gain: transformative mindset shifts to break through barriers. guided improvisation sessions, tools to compose and notate your own pieces with ease, and a supportive community where creativity and connection thrive.

Benefits include twice monthly 1-hour group workshops, access to the membership hub, pop-up creativity boosters, and a 20% discount for Piano Freeology creative retreats. Learn more.