Covid-19

Monterey County moved into California's Covid-19 Yellow Tier on Wednesday, June 2. 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 Yellow Tier status:

**Restaurants can increase indoor seating up to 50% capacity

**Gyms and fitness studios can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Family entertainment centers can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Museums and the Aquarium can open for indoor visitors at 100% capacity

**Bars not serving meals can open indoors up to 25% capacity

**Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

The State of California has started an incentive program to get as many people as possible vaccinated for Covid-19 by June 15. Californians who have received the vaccine are already entered for cash prizes, and those who haven't yet been vaccinated are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to become eligible for $50 gift cards and drawings for $50,000 (June 4 & 11) and $1.5 million (June 15). Read details here.

Monterey Fire Department will offer free Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccinations for ages 18 and up at the Old Monterey Farmer's Market on Alvarado Street every Tuesday, 4pm-6pm. No appointment necessary - just stop by. (They'll sign you up for a gift card!) Find more vaccination locations here.

The Old Monterey Marketplace and Farmer's Market is back! The market is returning to Alvarado Street every Tuesday, 4pm-8pm. We're beginning with a limited farmer's market, featuring local produce and some crafts, as we work our way towards a full reopening on June 15.

The market will take place rain or shine. For the safety of vendors and at-risk individuals, all shoppers must continue to wear a mask over their nose and mouth and maintain social distance. At this time, no sales are allowed to individuals not wearing a face covering. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the market.

Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Cafe invites you to try our lemon bichon - it's gonna blow your mind. It's layers of flaky puff pastry (feuilletage) rolled in sugar for a crisp caramelization and filled with a small amount of vanilla bean pastry cream and lemon zest. It proves that the simple things in life can be real treasures. Try it here at 539 Hartnell Street.

Haute Beauty Guide boutique, located at 71 Pearl Street, is proud to carry Savon de Carmel's 150G French Utility Soap. It's a 72% plant-based bar soap, infused with lavender and inspired by the traditional Savon de Marseille soaps of France, but made nearby in Carmel Valley! Available in bars (small) or cubes (large) both in the store and online for curbside pickup or shipping.

Peter B's Brewpub, located at 2 Portola Plaza behind the Portola Hotel & Spa, is thrilled to announce Natalie Mika as the new Head Brewer. Mika has been brewing beer at Peter B's since 2019.

A Monterey County native, Mika is a self-proclaimed lab nerd and has worked with fermentation science since 2013. She's now back in the brewery, working to have your favorite Peter B's beer ready for a planned reopening in the summer of 2021.

Franklin Street Collaborative invites you to join us on Saturday, May 22, 11am-2pm, for Miss Lippe's Dumplings and Nitro Cycle Coffee. Miss Lippe's will be holding tutorials in how to make dumplings! If you preorder a pork dumpling-making...

Monterey Museum of Art invites you to join London-based artist Kaffe Fassett and his niece, Big Sur-based artist Erin Lee Gafill, in their respective studios for a virtual showcase of their joint still life painting process on Thursday, May 27, 11am-12pm. Fee is $10. Register in advance online.

Mythic Games, located at 561 Tyler Street, is happy to announce that you can now preorder Magic The Gathering: Modern Horizons 2 on our website . It's scheduled to be released on June 18 - you can choose to pick it up at the shop or have it shipped to you. Please support your local gaming spots!

The Monterey History and Art Association Salvador Dali Exhibition is happy to reopen our doors to the public on Friday, May 28 in the Stanton Center at 5 Custom Plaza. This exhibition includes Dali's original lithographs, etchings, mixed media, rare sculptures, and tapestries. Contactless tickets for the Dali Exhibition will be available on our website .

An important reminder from the Monterey County Health Department: Monterey County is still under California State masking guidelines. At this time, people fully vaccinated for Covid still need to wear a mask indoors when they are out in the community.

On May 17, the State of California's Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, announced that California will keep the current mask mandate in place until June 15. Read Dr. Ghaly's full statement here.

Knitters rejoice - it's a yarn sale! Now through May 17, all yarns on Slowfiber's website - including new, organic, and recycled - are marked at 20% off. You can pick-up your purchase at the store at 517B Hartnell Street or have it shipped to you.

Monterey County Youth Museum, located at 425 Washington Street, is happy announce we'll be reopening to members on June 17 and to the general public on July 1. Online reservations are required - tickets will be available on our website for members on June 1 and for the general public on June 15. We have missed you sooooo much!

Did you have a MY Museum membership when the pandemic closed everything down in 2020? Your membership was frozen the day we closed and will be reactivated on June 16.

Paris Bakery, a family owned business, is now hiring! We are looking for a full time Pastry Chef, full time Baker's Helper, part time Dishwasher, and part time Counter Help/Cashier/Deli Helper. Please come in person to Paris Bakery at 271 Bonifacio Place or e-mail your resume to us .