Old Monterey District Blog

Portola Hotel & Spa is excited to welcome new Chef de Cuisine, Daniel Williston! With a background in California coastal cuisine, Williston is thrilled to bring his expertise and passion to the hotel’s refined restaurant, Jack’s Monterey. Chef Williston will spearhead the culinary team in creating menus for specialty dinners at the Portola, including wine pairing and scotch pairing events.

In 2010, Williston began as a line chef at Aubergine in Carmel by the Sea, eventually working his way up to Executive Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine over his seven years at the fine dining restaurant. He then moved to Los Angeles to assist in opening NoMAd as Sous Chef as well as the hotspot Otium, where he was also Sous Chef.

At Jack's Monterey, Chef Williston aims to tempt the taste buds at every visit and enhance the restaurant's reputation for serving sustainable and locally-sourced California Cultural Cuisine. Chef Williston fuses his love for seafood with flavors reminiscent of Japanese cuisine, using premium ingredients and minimalist plating while staying true to his California coastal influences.

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, October 18-24, 2019. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

RAISE HELL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOLLY IVINS
Weekdays at 2:15pm, 4:15pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:45am, 2:15pm, 4:15pm, 6:30pm
Special Q&A with director Janice Engel on Friday at 6:30pm
This documentary tells the story of media firebrand Molly Ivins, six feet of Texas trouble who took on the Good Old Boy corruption wherever she found it. Her razor sharp wit left both sides of the aisle laughing and craving ink in her columns. She knew the Bill of Rights was in peril, and said "Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country." Molly's words have proved prescient. Watch the trailer.

LUCY IN THE SKY
Weekdays at 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Natalie Portman plays Lucy Cola, a strong woman whose determination and drive as an astronaut take her to space, where she’s deeply moved by the transcendent experience of seeing her life from afar. Back home as Lucy’s world suddenly feels too small, her connection with reality slowly unravels. Watch the trailer.

FANTASTIC FUNGI
Daily at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
This consciousness-shifting documentary takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet. Watch the trailer.

MONOS
Daily at 1:45pm, 6:15pm
Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 1:45pm, 6:15pm
On a faraway mountaintop, eight kids with guns watch over a hostage and a conscripted milk cow. But order descends into chaos and the strong begin to prey on the weak in this vivid, cautionary fever-dream of a film. Watch the trailer.

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Daily at 1:45pm
Horn player, bandleader, innovator. The very embodiment of cool. The man with a sound so beautiful it could break your heart: Miles Davis. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, this documentary tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the man behind the horn. Watch the trailer.

LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE
Weekdays at 4:15pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:45am, 4:15pm, 6:30pm
A musical biography of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century and one of the most...Read More

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, October 11-17, 2019. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

EL CAMINO: A BREAKING BAD MOVIE
Fri at 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:15am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
After escaping Jack and his gang, Jesse Pinkman goes on the run from the police and tries to escape his own inner turmoil. This is a limited release film, screening Friday-Sunday at Osio. Watch the trailer.

FANTASTIC FUNGI
Daily at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
This consciousness-shifting documentary takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet. Watch the trailer.

MONOS
Daily at 1:45pm, 6:15pm
On a faraway mountaintop, eight kids with guns watch over a hostage and a conscripted milk cow. But order descends into chaos and the strong begin to prey on the weak in this vivid, cautionary fever-dream of a film. Watch the trailer.

TEL AVIV ON FIRE
Weekdays at 4:15pm
Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 4:15pm
Salam, a 30-year-old Palestinian living in Jerusalem, works as an intern on a popular soap opera. Every day he must pass through an arduous Israeli checkpoint to reach the television studios. After meeting the commander of the check point, Assi, whose wife is a huge fan of the show, gets involved in the writing of the show. Salam soon realizes that Assi’s ideas could get him a promotion but when Assi and the soap’s financial backers disagree on how the show should end, Salam must solve his problems with a final master stroke. Watch the trailer.

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Daily at 1:45pm, 6:30pm
Horn player, bandleader, innovator. The very embodiment of cool. The man with a sound so beautiful it could break your heart: Miles Davis. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, this documentary tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the man behind the horn. Watch the trailer.

LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE
Weekdays at 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11:45am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
A musical biography of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century and one of the most successful recording artists of all time. At the height of unprecedented success, Ronstadt, a restless and adventurous artist, turned away from pop music to...Read More

Did you know that this Thanksgiving you can order a feast to go from Estéban Restaurant? Skip the cooking but still enjoy a festive feast with your loved ones from the comfort of your home. Visit their website for more details, including menu offerings.

Estéban's take home Thanksgiving Feast allows guests the option to dine in the comfort of their own home. This festive feast is the perfect amount for 8-12 people. Orders must be made by Thursday, November 21, 2019 and are available for Thursday, November 28 - Sunday, December 1, 2019. To order, please call 831-324-6773.

The Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner features classic dishes, including; Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque, Mixed Baby Lettuce Salad, Harvest Vegetable Escabeche, Caggiano Sausage and Brioche Stuffing, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Roast Diestel Ranch Turkey, and Apple and Pumpkin Pie. The Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is $595 plus tax and gratuity.

For an extra special dinner, additions include: Artisanal Cheese and Charcuterie Board for $115, plus tax and gratuity; Truffle Mac & Cheese for $75 plus tax and gratuity; or Chilled Prawns with cocktail sauce and lemon aioli for $36 per dozen, plus tax and gratuity.

Estéban Restaurant is located at Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa, 700 Munras Ave in Downtown Old Monterey.

The Intimacy, Sexuality and Gender Center of Monterey (ISGC) is happy to announce that our founder and director, Stephen Braveman, will receive the Unity Award from Monterey Peninsula Pride. The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 13, 4pm-8pm, at Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave Street in Monterey. The purpose of this event is to highlight leaders who have dedicated their time, energy, and available resources to advocating and providing for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Monterey County.

Those of you who know Stephen Braveman, LMFT, DST know that he is a passionately dedicated clinician. Stephen literally helped to found and create the organization that today is Monterey Peninsula Pride. After decades of selfless service on behalf of our community, Stephen graciously stepped into the role of advisor, supporting a new generation of leaders to define and create an organization that will serve our community for decades to come.

This will be the first time that Monterey Peninsula Pride has honored Stephen. It is meaningful and appropriate that Stephen will receive "The Unity Award" because it underscores Stephen's achievement. He embodies the qualities and ethics that those in our profession aspire to achieve in their advocacy efforts: using our voice, knowledge, and potential power in the community to create spaces for our clients to safely gather, share, connect, and grow together. Stephen's work clearly demonstrates that joining together in unity can offer the foundation to create something that could not be achieved by one person alone.

To learn more about the awards ceremony and to sign up online click here. To learn more about Stephen and his work click here. Congratulations, Stephen, from the Downtown Old Monterey community!

ISGC is located at 494 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. They can be reached by phone at 831-375-7553.

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, October 4-10, 2019. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

TEL AVIV ON FIRE
Weekdays at 2pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 2pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
Salam, a 30-year-old Palestinian living in Jerusalem, works as an intern on a popular soap opera. Every day he must pass through an arduous Israeli checkpoint to reach the television studios. After meeting the commander of the check point, Assi, whose wife is a huge fan of the show, gets involved in the writing of the show. Salam soon realizes that Assi’s ideas could get him a promotion but when Assi and the soap’s financial backers disagree on how the show should end, Salam must solve his problems with a final master stroke. Watch the trailer.

MS. PURPLE
Daily at 4pm
Kasie and Carey, a brother and sister who were abandoned by their mother and brought up by their father, now face the struggle of his imminent death. With their father on his death bed, the estranged Carey comes how to help Kasie take care of him. Watch the trailer.

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Weekdays at 1:45pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:15am, 1:45pm, 6:30pm
Horn player, bandleader, innovator. The very embodiment of cool. The man with a sound so beautiful it could break your heart: Miles Davis. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, this documentary tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the man behind the horn. Watch the trailer.

FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES
Daily at 4pm
The origin story behind one of Broadway's most beloved musicals, Fiddler on The Roof, and its creative roots in early 1960s New York, when "tradition" was on the wane as gender roles, sexuality, race relations and religion were evolving. Watch the trailer.

BECOMING NOBODY
Daily at 6pm
This documentary is the quintessential portal to Ram Dass's life and teachings. His ability to entertain and his sense of humor are abundantly evident in a conversation that brings us around to address the vast question of ultimate freedom. Watch the trailer.

LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE
Weekdays at 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11:45am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
A musical biography of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century and one of the most successful recording...Read More

Code NInjas is happy to announce our newest program, Code Ninjas JR., for grades K-2. Our innovative new partnership with codeSpark® is specialized for kids as young as 5 years old to be introduced to programming concepts, hands on STEM activities, and problem solving. Your child will have a blast working alongside our Code Senseis and peers in our dojo, building confidence and valuable new skill sets.

We will be offering classes on Saturdays, 12pm-1pm and 1pm-2pm, beginning October 5, 2019. The introductory session has limited space, so be sure to contact us soon for more information and to register, 831-200-3924. We're located at 469 Pacific Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, September 27 - October 3, 2019. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

SNOOPY, COME HOME
Sun at 10am, 12pm
Charlie Brown's beloved dog, Snoopy, receives a letter from his original owner, Lila, who has been sick in the hospital. With his bird friend, Woodstock, Snoopy goes to visit Lila, making his way across the country despite seeing "no dogs allowed" signs everywhere. When Lila gets better, she asks Snoopy to live with her. After a farewell party, he sets out to live with Lila, leaving Charlie Brown depressed. Watch the trailer.

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Weekdays at 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
Sat & Sun at 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
Horn player, bandleader, innovator. The very embodiment of cool. The man with a sound so beautiful it could break your heart: Miles Davis. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, this documentary tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the man behind the horn. Watch the trailer.

ONE CHILD NATION
Daily at 2:30pm, 7pm
This documentary is a stunning, nuanced indictment of the mindset that prioritizes national agenda over human life, and serves as a first-of-its-kind oral history of this collective tragedy – bearing witness to the truth as China has already begun to erase the horrors of its “population war” from public record and memory. Watch the trailer.

FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES
Daily at 4pm
The origin story behind one of Broadway's most beloved musicals, Fiddler on The Roof, and its creative roots in early 1960s New York, when "tradition" was on the wane as gender roles, sexuality, race relations and religion were evolving. Watch the trailer.

BECOMING NOBODY
Daily at 2pm, 6pm
This documentary is the quintessential portal to Ram Dass's life and teachings. His ability to entertain and his sense of humor are abundantly evident in a conversation that brings us around to address the vast question of ultimate freedom. Watch the trailer.

LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE
Weekdays at 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11:45am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7pm
A musical biography of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century and one of the most successful recording artists of all time. At the height of unprecedented success,...Read More

Show your love for Selfieville and find fun gifts for all occasions in our gift shop at 417 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. The shop is filled with custom shirts, lollipops, charms, and lots more. Plus, 20% of proceeds are donated to non-profits supporting Foster Care in California. View our selection on our website.

Selfieville is an interactive attraction and experiential museum. You begin your journey at with an outstanding 3-D light show developed by the award-winning designer Bart Kresa, and your adventure continues as you experience fantasy worlds that give you countless opportunities to take the perfect selfies.

Does your office need a vacation? Well, we at Pacific Bowls and Rolls can't give you that but we CAN cater deliciousness straight to your desk! Our fresh, organic ingredients will make it feel like you're relaxing on a private beach, and you even get 20% off your first catering order. Call us at 831-583-8433 to place your order. A 24-hour advance notice is required.

Pacific Bowls and Rolls, serving up scrumptious rice bowls, salads, bahn mi, and nori rolls for omnivores and vegetarians alike is located at 475 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.