Monterey Bay Aquarium is so excited to reopen and to welcome back visitors. . . unfortunately, that day won't come as soon as we had hoped. A new public health order effective July 8, 2020 requires indoor museums and zoos in Monterey County — including the Aquarium — to close for a minimum of three weeks. This means the Aquarium will not be reopening on July 13 and will not reopen until it is deemed safe by our county and state officials. Unfortunately, we have no further details we can share at this time.

We know you might be disappointed, and we are, too. But the safety of guests, staff, volunteers and animals remains our highest priority. We hope to sea you soon!

While we are closed to the public, we are still providing the highest level of care for our animals and living exhibits — and we need your help. Please make a donation or become a member today to sustain all that you love about the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the coronavirus is messing with all of us in Monterey County. The news from the State Health Department has left many frustrated and dispirited.

But there is some light in the tunnel.

All restaurants on Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey continue to offer take-out, and many offer delivery and/or curbside pick-up. There is also some outdoor dining in the district, which will increase as restaurants receive permission from the City of Monterey to place tables on the sidewalks (with ADA compliance). (We're updating our Dining Guide...again.)

Retail shops are still open for business in the Lighthouse District, and while all offer in-store shopping, many also offer online shopping and/or curbside pickup and shipping. (They're all listed at our SIP Mall.)

You can look good and feel good, too, because hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, and estheticians are back at work, all with lots of new protocols designed to help keep you (and them) safe. Fitness studios have carefully reopened, so you can work out in person or online and shed all that stress.

There are so many other kinds of businesses in the Lighthouse District - dentists, physical therapists, IT experts, realtors - and they're still busy helping people behind the scenes.

As much as we'd like it to be, this fight with the coronavirus is not over. We have to support our healthcare workers across the county by wearing masks in public and following best practices as outlined by the CDC and our County Health Department. That's the best way to thank our healthcare workers for their relentless work and sacrifices.

If you're financially able to do so, please continue to support small businesses in the Lighthouse District. The owners and employees are local residents working hard to do what they love and stay afloat in difficult times. Shop, dine, make an appointment - let's keep New Monterey's Lighthouse District the vibrant, quirky place we love and help these businesses live to fight another day.

The City of Monterey has partnered with Food Bank of Monterey County to help residents in need. Reservations are available for this month's Family and Senior Produce Distributions on July 13, 20, and 27, 10:30am-11pm at Dennis the Menace Parking Lot, 777 Pearl Street in Monterey.

Due to Covid-19, this is a no-contact drive-thru program and reservations are required. For more information and to register, please click here.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the coronavirus surely is messing with all of us in Monterey County. The news from the State Health Department has left many frustrated and dispirited.

But there is room for hope.

Outdoor dining is plentiful in Old Monterey, and will become more so as restaurants receive permission from the City of Monterey to place tables outdoors (with ADA compliance). All restaurants offer take-out, and many offer delivery and/or curbside pick-up, so you don't have to cook. (We're updating our Dining Guide...again.)

Retail shops are still open for business in Old Monterey, and while all offer in-store shopping, many also offer online shopping and/or curbside pickup and shipping. (They're all listed at our SIP Mall.)

You can look good and feel good, too, because hair salons, nail salons, estheticians, and massage therapists are back at work, all with lots of new protocols designed to help keep you (and them) safe. Fitness studios have carefully reopened, so you can practice yoga or pilates in person or online and work out all that stress.

There are so many other kinds of businesses in Old Monterey - banks and financial services, healthcare, law offices, real estate, computer repair - and they're still busy helping people behind the scenes.

As much as we'd like it to be, this fight with the coronavirus is not over. We have to support our healthcare workers across the county by wearing masks in public and following best practices as outlined by the CDC and our County Health Department. That's the best way to thank our healthcare workers for their relentless work and sacrifices.

If you're financially able to do so, please continue to support small businesses in Old Monterey. The owners and employees are local residents working hard to do what they love and stay afloat in difficult times. Shop, dine, make an appointment - let's keep Downtown Old Monterey the vibrant district we love and help these businesses live to fight another day.

For those who love Cha-ya Japanese Tea and Things: did you know you can sign up for Cha-ya's newsletter and receive 10% off your first purchase at Cha-Ya? (Tea included!)

Here's your chance to stay up-to-date with all the latest offers from Cha-ya and save a little on your first purchase of their wonderful tea, gifts, cards, jewelry, and home accessories. Sign up today.

Cha-ya is located at 118 Webster Street in Downtown Old Monterey. It is now open for in-store shopping and no-contact curbside pick-up.

Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is hosting an online painting class with local artist Bunny Paivine on Saturday, July 11, at 6pm. Learn how to paint this picture from the comfort of your own home! Fee is $30 per person and includes paint, supplies, and delivery of the paint and supplies. (You can order wine or beer from us, too!)

Purchase your tickets here. Class details will be sent to you following your purchase. Please purchase your tickets by Thursday night, July 9, to ensure delivery of supplies.

The California State Health Officer orders that as of Wednesday, July 8, 2020, for at least three weeks:

The following sectors are ordered to close both indoor and outdoor operations and service:
Bars, breweries, pubs, and brewpubs, including bars located at permitted indoor and outdoor food facilities.

The following sectors are allowed to continue to operate with restrictions:

1) Dine-in restaurants must close indoor seating to customers. During this closure all dine-in restaurants may continue to utilize outdoor seating and must comply with the guidance for dine-in restaurants. Restaurants should continue to encourage takeout and delivery service whenever possible.

2) Wineries and tasting rooms must close indoor services to customers. During this closure all wineries and tasting rooms must comply with the guidance for restaurants, wineries, and bars.

3) Family entertainment centers and movie theaters must close indoor services and attractions to customers. Family entertainment centers may continue to provide outdoor services to customers and must comply with the guidance for movie theaters and family entertainment centers. Drive-in movie theaters may continue to operate and should follow additional applicable guidance for retailers of Drive-In Movie Theaters.

4) Indoor attractions at zoos and museums must close to visitors. Zoos and museums may continue to operate outdoor attractions and must follow the guidance for zoos, museums.

5) Cardrooms must close indoor services to customers and must follow the guidance for cardrooms.

Read the complete California State order here.

The California State Health Officer orders that as of Wednesday, July 8, 2020, for at least three weeks:

The following sectors are ordered to close both indoor and outdoor operations and service:
Bars, breweries, pubs, and brewpubs, including bars located at permitted indoor and outdoor food facilities.

The following sectors are allowed to continue to operate with restrictions:

1) Dine-in restaurants must close indoor seating to customers. During this closure all dine-in restaurants may continue to utilize outdoor seating and must comply with the guidance for dine-in restaurants. Restaurants should continue to encourage takeout and delivery service whenever possible.

2) Wineries and tasting rooms must close indoor services to customers. During this closure all wineries and tasting rooms must comply with the guidance for restaurants, wineries, and bars.

3) Family entertainment centers and movie theaters must close indoor services and attractions to customers. Family entertainment centers may continue to provide outdoor services to customers and must comply with the guidance for movie theaters and family entertainment centers. Drive-in movie theaters may continue to operate and should follow additional applicable guidance for retailers of Drive-In Movie Theaters.

4) Indoor attractions at zoos and museums must close to visitors. Zoos and museums may continue to operate outdoor attractions and must follow the guidance for zoos, museums.

5) Cardrooms must close indoor services to customers and must follow the guidance for cardrooms.

Read the complete California State order here.

Venture Gallery presents a show by local artist Elizabeth Ingebretsen entitled "Blooming in Place." We welcome you to come and view these moments of joy in an otherwise disturbing time. Venture Gallery is now open for in-store shopping Thursdays - Sundays, 10am-6pm.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, artist Elizabeth Ingebretsen has made it a priority to have vases of fresh flowers in her home. They are not elaborate arrangements from a florist, but whatever she could pick up as she quickly ducked in and out of the market. As temperatures rose with the onset of summer, her garden bloomed outdoors.

While global media stream reports on the untold suffering of many who do not have the luxury of sheltering-in-place, Elizabeth is thankful she can take refuge in creating. Her work documents this solitary time, as we each face some form of sacrifice and hardship during the pandemic.

Blooming in Place will be on exhibit through August 2020. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.