Code Ninjas Monterey is holding free Overwatch e-sports league tryouts for the future Monterey Bay Whales team on May 9 and May 16, 2pm-5pm. We're very excited about this amazing opportunity for those with a passion for fun, friendly, and cooperative gaming. Code Ninjas has been working on this seasonal project for months and we finally have all the pieces in place!

Overwatch is an online multiplayer e-sports game played on the PC. The league is approved for ages 8-14. Twelve players will receive an invite after our tryouts. Players will receive team jerseys and team swag. League pricing will be explained during tryouts.

The season will run 8 weeks, including a 2-week playoff. Games will be played each Saturday or Sunday, June 1 - July 31, 2020. HP-Omen Gaming Laptops are provided, and are the preferred sponsor of the Overwatch Professional League. Parent involvement is highly encouraged. Teams will be coached by Center Director Julian Torres, and Sensei Morgan Caldwell.

If you have questions please email us or phone us at 831-200-3924. You can sign up for a tryout online. Code Ninjas is located at 469 Pacific Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Layoffs have affected many members of our community. If you have a steady job or savings and know a local friend, neighbor, or family member who's struggling financially, purchase a gift card or gift certificate from one of our local grocers listed below and give that person the gift of free food they can select themselves. Nervous about gifting? Be a Secret Santa (or Easter Bunny). It's a great way to support our local residents and support our local businesses.

International Market & Deli
580 Lighthouse Avenue, Monterey
International Market and Deli carries a remarkable selection of nonperishable items in addition to breads, cheese, meat, snacks, sweets, and more. Owners Gloria and Adil offer curbside shopping - call or e-mail your order and arrange for a pick-up time - and free home delivery to local seniors, families with children, and those with disabilities. Please phone to purchase your gift certificate, 831-375-9451.

Troia Foods
801 Foam Street, Monterey
Troia Foods is now offering a weekly Pantry Essentials Kit available for no-contact pick up, consisting of dairy, pantry, and household items. Products may vary from week to week, but will be listed weekly on their website. You may purchase gift certificates for Pantry Essentials Kits online.

Andronico's Community Market
900 Lighthouse Avenue, Monterey
Andronico's Community Market offers fresh local choices, groceries, specialty items, and made-from-scratch meals and treats. They sell gift cards in-store at check-out stands.

Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is here for your quarantine needs with our Warehouse Sale! Why buy grocery store wine when you can support a small business and drink great wine at crazy prices? We are now offering complimentary delivery in Monterey and surrounding cities as well as $5 shipping when you order 3 bottles within California. Go to our website and check out our latest price sheet.

Prices will last until our current stock is gone. Call 831-641-9463 or e-mail us to place your order and make your payment. Not all wine is available in our online store due to limited quantity.

Pearl Hour is happy to announce that we are now offering Cocktail Boxes, delivered directly to your door! Please check out our menu here. Our boxes come with cocktail recipes, and we'll be offering cocktail tutorials on our Facebook page.

To place your Cocktail Box order, you can text message us at 831-229-4132, e-mail us, or send us a DM on Instagram. Please support us during this difficult time through your purchases.

We look forward to going back to being your neighborhood bar at 214 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey when the shelter-in-place order is lifted.

The City of Monterey has coordinated with the National Guard and has requested the food distribution of MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) during the shelter-in-place order. Each individual will receive a three day supply of non-perishable meals every three days on a recurring basis for the duration of the shelter-in-place order. The food distribution site will be available at ​El Estero Park near the Skate Park.

Several non-profits are also providing meal assistance throughout the week and on weekends at the Monterey Skate Park at El Estero (Saturdays, 9am), Window on the Bay (Sundays, 8am) and the Recreation Trail parking lot across from the Naval Postgraduate School (Mon-Fri, 11:15 am and Sun, 11 am)​.

The Monterey Food Bank has opened additional food distributions that it will post on its Facebook page​, or you can phone them at 831-758-1523.

Shoreline Community Church (2500 Garden Road) is distributing food on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12pm-2:30pm. (ID required, once per household per month).

The City of Monterey also wants you to know that people may always call 2-1-1 for assistance with food or other services.

The City of Monterey has coordinated with the National Guard and has requested the food distribution of MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) during the shelter-in-place order. Each individual will receive a three day supply of non-perishable meals every three days on a recurring basis for the duration of the shelter-in-place order. The food distribution site will be available at ​El Estero Park near the Skate Park.

Several non-profits are also providing meal assistance throughout the week and on weekends at Monterey Skate Park at El Estero (Saturdays, 9am), Window on the Bay (Sundays, 8am) and the Recreation Trail parking lot across from the Naval Postgraduate School (Mon-Fri, 11:15 am and Sun, 11 am)​.

The Monterey Food Bank has opened additional food distributions that it will post on its Facebook page​, or you can phone them at 831-758-1523.

Shoreline Community Church (2500 Garden Road) is distributing food on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12pm-2:30pm. (ID required, once per household per month).

The City of Monterey also wants you to know that people may always call 2-1-1 for assistance with food or other services.

It’s been over 20 days since Youth Arts Collective (YAC) had to shutter our studios in Downtown Old Monterey, but we didn’t disappear. We moved YAC’s program to an online clubhouse to keep them engaged with their art, each other, and their mentors. Mentors are currently working on demos and other videos, and we’re hoping to do some of our next Artist Interviews and Alumni Profiles in video format.

In addition, we have two Zoom meetups a week where we come together and do art while we talk… like an afternoon at YAC studios. It’s a touchstone in these weird times offering inspiration and comfort so they stay productive and a little less lonely. We also call every one of them every other week to check in personally and let them know we are here for them.

You can follow YAC on our usual Instagram and Facebook accounts where we’ll periodically share some of our clubhouse activity with YAC friends and supporters.

Since the YACsters are now adjusting to many hours a day online with their schoolwork, we are starting a new set of weekly (rather than daily) art prompts. And as an outreach to our community, we invite the public to join in. Stay tuned on our website - it starts this week and it’s going to be fun! Join us! All ages - artists and non-artists - are welcome.