Newsflash! Check out Simply Smashing's fab 50% Off Sale Section ... nearly 100 square feet of our boutique, filled to the brim with Simply Smashing Style at HALF PRICE! Now through Sunday, May 17, 2015. Don't miss it, daaahlings!
We have some featured items this month at Cha-ya Japanese Tea and Things! They are gorgeous lamps, made by a California artist from 100% re-purposed/recycled materials (including disk brake parts, old copper pipes, pennies and even guitar strings). The lampshades are made from various pulps, adding a rich and textured depth to each lamp.
The lamps come in 3 sizes: "condo size" table lamp, regular table lamp, and floor lamp. They are stunning and provide a warm accent to any room. Please stop by and take a look!
Peter B’s Brewpub, located behind the Portola Hotel & Spa, is thrilled to announce the debut of their brand new Barrel Room. The all-new Barrel Room is located next to the Brewery entrance inside of Peter B’s Brewpub. The room now features a table designed and crafted by local artisan Todd Wilde. The table design was inspired by wine barrels used for aging the craft beers brewed at Peter B’s. The table seats 16 and is made from Randazzo Salvage wood. This new barrel room is the ideal setting for private dinners and tastings.
The Barrel Room is also the new location for Peter B’s Brewer’s Dinners. The first official brewer’s dinner held in the Barrel Room was on May 11, 2015 featuring a 5 course meal carefully prepared and paired by Executive Chef Jason Giles and Head Brewer Kevin Clark.
In early 2014, Peter B’s Brewpub introduced a revamped menu full of new tastes and great brews with delicious, locally brewed beer, 18 high-definition televisions, and a delicious pub menu stocked with innovative, local favorites.
Warriors fans we've got the game on in Downtown Campbell! Throughout the 2015 NBA Playoffs, you can come Downtown and keep up with the latest action at many of our restaurants, bars, and shops. Here's just a partial list of places that will have the game on. Some places may not have audio on.
Khartoum (Bar)
Special: Buy a $10 Warriors glass and draft beers are 1/2 off during Warriors games!
Tessora's Barra di Vino (Wine Bar)
Spread (Deli)
Liquid Bread (Gastropub)
Sound on in back patio seating only.
El Guapo's (Restaurant)
Willard Hicks (Restaurant)
Opa's (Restaurant)
The Socialight (Restaurant)
Blue Line Pizza (Restaurant)
Campbell Brewing Company (Brewpub)
The Spot (Bar / Nightclub)
This is Sheldon Chang, one of the organizers of Sundown Cinema. I’ve been putting off writing this message because it’s not the message that I wanted to be writing at this time of year.
We’re going to be without summer movies in Downtown Campbell for another year. The reason this year is mostly due to personal reasons for me. Sundown Cinema is a huge commitment as an organizer and I wouldn't be able to fulfill the role I would need to fill to make it happen and happen in a way that I want it to. This is especially the case since we would need to get used to running the movies series in a new location.
I can’t really say one way or another what the possibility for summer movies looks like next summer except that it’s something I still very much want to see happen and something that my co-organizer, Jim Aspinwall, would like to see happen. We face some pretty stiff challenges in getting the movies rolling again, but the desire is still there so we're not ready to say we're done yet.
A number of people have asked how they could help to increase the chances that we'll be able to do this next year. The main thing that we're missing are people who have the skills and the commitment to help with the technical end of things. These are things like setting up and running the sound and projection. The ability to commit for at least five or even all ten weeks of our usual ten week run is very important. It doesn't do us much good to have a core person drop in for one or two nights.
We'll also need to restock our list of volunteers for all positions so if you might be able to help as a greeter, concessions person, clean-up person, etc.; I'd like to invite you to sign up for the Sundown Cinema mailing list. When we want to call for volunteers, we'll hit up that email list to see what we've got.
The list of volunteers also extends to replacing or sharing the duties for both me and Jim. I'm the event organizer and administrative lead. Jim Aspinwall is the tech lead. If the idea of being one of our main organizers appeals to you, let us know directly at sundown@downtowncampbell.com.
This will be our third summer without movies after there were nine straight years of a full summer movie schedule between us and the original organizer of Sundown Cinema. Keep your fingers crossed and hope that the stars line up right next year.
Welcome to Lighthouse District in the News, an occasional post featuring recent news articles on Monterey's Lighthouse District. Please click the link below to read the full article.
The Future Is Hot. So Are These 10 Up-and-Coming Ethnic Dishes. [Zab Zab Thai Cuisine]
by Shiho Fukushima
Monterey County Weekly, 04/30/15
At Simply Smashing Boutique, our amazing spring and summer styles keep coming and we need to make more room. So our spring sale just got real...Super Real!
Our crazy cool (not to mention sizable) selection of sale styles are now only $39-$89. That's up to 85% off! All seasons and most of our designers are represented in the sale. Our Super Sale starts April 29, 2015 and ends May 11, 2015. Don't miss it.
This is a very exciting time of year for tea lovers! As we have done in previous years, Cha-ya Japanese Tea and Things is offering a 10% discount for those of you who wish to pre-order Hashiri Shincha by April 30 and pre-order Shincha Kunpu and Shincha Houryoku by May 7. This year’s crop is aromatic, flavorful, and well finished.
Hashiri Shincha: Hashiri means “first harvest of the season”. It is made from very young leaves and buds of the tea plant. It was picked by hand.
2 oz for $26 (after 4/30, $30)
1 lb for $170 (after 4/30, $190)
Shincha Kunpu: Kunpu means “aromatic wind” and comes form the Honyama region of Shizuoka. It is lightly steamed with a woodsy aroma and a natural sweetness similar to fresh green vegetables.
2 oz for $24 (after 5/7, $28)
1 lb for $140 (after 5/7, $160)
Shincha Houryoku: Houryoku means “sprouting green” and is from the Makinohara region. It is a Fukumushi Sencha steamed longer than Kunpu. It produces an emerald liquid full of herbaceous flavor.
2 oz for $24 (after 5/7, $28)
1 lb for $140 (after 5/7, $160)
Cha-ya accepts orders by phone, 831-646-5486. 1 lb. packages must be pre-paid in store or over the phone. All other tea may be paid for upon pick-up. The tea will arrive early May.
In the third full week of April 2015, Alvarado Street Brewery released three fresh batches of beer. They always offer a rotating collection of house-made brews, but we thought we’d open up the curtain and give you a peek into details on two the latest ones, to give you an idea of the kind of thought and care that goes into each creation.
Minesweeper IPA: Minesweeper was Alvarado Street Brewery’s very first IPA released, and this will be the 9th or 10th batch since their opening. It recently won a Silver Medal in the American IPA division at the 2015 L.A. International Beer Competition! Nothing is done to minimize the beautiful hop haze that you might notice in the glass - the cloudiness of this beer is something they’re proud of, as it contributes to added hop flavor, aroma, and lends a rich, coating mouthfeel, leaving the glass caked in hop oils and foam. The hops they use for Minesweeper are Simcoe and Citra - both contribute intense, orangey citrus and pineapple notes that carry through in the flavor. Not the most bitter IPA - like most of Alvarado Street’s hoppy beers, they like to keep it approachable and aroma heavy.
Duane's World IPA: Duane's World is an IPA that relies on the use of a unique New Zealand hop variety called Nelson Sauvin. This hop is one of Head Brewer J.C. Hill’s personal favorites, and in this beer it’s combine with Citra for an intense tropical character - lots of lychee, gooseberry, and passion fruit. The name comes from the owner of the local homebrew shop, Duane, who sourced some Nelson for Alvarado Street Brewery last summer so they could make this beer. This is the third version, and the first time they’ve had it back in about 6-8 months.
The Art Beat is pleased offer Canvas Nights the second weekend of every month! Our instructor will guide you step by step to create an amazing masterpiece! Absolutely no experience is necessary. So grab a friend, family member, coworker or neighbor and come down to an actual art studio for a relaxing evening with art and music.
$35 per person for the evening.
Reservations are required.
Family Night is ages 7 & up. Children under 15 are $25!
The Monterey County Film Commission is pleased to announce that Chelsea Amarillas, a student at CSUMB, was the winner of the 2015 Monterey County Film Commission's Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship Award.
Amarillas, who is originally from Modesto and now lives in Marina, is a senior in the Cinematic Arts & Technology Department at CSUMB. She'll use the $2,000 award to help cover costs for her final thesis project, A Father’s Love. She describes the story as a dark and enchanting tale that illustrates the importance of family. Filming will be begin in the fall, and she has begun looking for locations in Monterey County, including a Victorian-style house.
For more information on the scholarship fund and Chelsea Amarillas, please click here or phone MCFC at 831-646-0910.
Alyssa Jones Pilates, located at 801 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite 213, is now offering a Grand Opening Special of three private Pilates sessions for only $120!
Pilates is an amazing workout for everyone no matter what your fitness level may be. Alyssa Jones Pilates specializes in private and semi-private sessions for those needing rehabilitation, athletic improvement, or pre- and postnatal program designs. These sessions are personalized to your fitness goals and needs. Please contact Alyssa Jones Pilates at (858) 232-9741 or alyssajonespilates@yahoo.com for more information or to schedule an appointment. Please note: this offer is only good through July 31, 2015.
Employees of Bay Physical Therapy and the Law Office of Kenneth Kroopf have formed a team to walk in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on May 16, 2015 at Monterey Fairgrounds. The team, called “Tumor Humor” is walking in honor of a friend who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and has been driving to San Francisco every day from Salinas for chemotherapy treatment to prolong his life. This team wants a cure for cancer!
Please help Tumor Humor raise money for the American Cancer Society. No donation is too small. You can make a monetary donation online here, or team leader Jamie Oler of Bay PT is happy to pick up a check or in-kind donation such as a gift cards to be given to cancer survivors, a small gift to be raffled, or balloons. All donations are appreciated.
For more information, please phone Bay Physical Therapy at 831-375-5909. When the event is over, the team will be posting a thank you on their website naming all of the people and companies that helped.
On the Beach Surf Shop is proud to sponsor the 2015 Monterey Bay Skate Jam Series! The one and only monthly skateboarding event on the Monterey Peninsula, our skate jams are designed to be a fun and interactive competitive event for riders, friends, and family alike. With a live DJ, product tosses, food, and drinks (and, on occasion, demos, games of skate, and other fun events), we invite skaters, friends, and family to come out and enjoy the day with us.
There are 4 age divisions: 8 and under, 9-12, 13-15, and 16 and up. Riders will be judged based on (in order of importance): creativity, style, consistency, variety (in tricks and use of obstacles), and difficulty.
Sign-ups start at 9am, contests start at 10am. Normally, the event runs until 3pm. Dates and locations are as follows:
April 18 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
May 16 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
June 20 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
July 18 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
(Please note the change of venue on July 18 to Marina Skate Park!)
August 15 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
September 19 - Marina Skate Park, Marina City Teen Center, 304 Hillcrest Ave
The Portola Hotel & Spa is proud to now offer a full 1 gigabit (Gbps) Internet connection to support meetings, events, and guests of the property. The enterprise grade connection supports wi-fi, fiber, and ethernet connections to meet the needs of conferences and tech-savvy event planners.
Along with The Portola Hotel & Spa’s Event Technology Group, which has 40+ years of combined technical expertise, this versatility and precedent-setting Internet capability distinguishes the property by having one of the best and fastest guest networks in the area. The connection type, speeds up to 1Gbps, and public static IP addresses may be customized for individual clients’ needs. This is beneficial for supporting the varying needs of presenters and groups, many of which now rely on cloud based services. The Hotel's new gigabit connection has increased previous Internet capacity by tenfold.
Other highlights from Portola Hotel’s technology upgrade include: all event technology equipment is onsite and owned by Portola Hotel & Spa; fiber optic infrastructure offers maximum flexibility throughout the property; the finest multi-media systems, including High Impact HD20K Barco Projectors and Barco Video Switcher; and 16:9 wide screens to support today’s video presentation formats.
Guys and gals, there’s still time to get your prom dresses and tuxedoes at Bride N' Formal by the Bay! Beautiful prom dresses in varied styles are arriving weekly. We also have the very latest, very classy tux by Michael Kors available for rent - it’s really sharp. Come on by and take a look!
There’s some construction in front of our shop, but don’t worry, we’re still open!
Was Green Chalk Contemporary once an alley? Located between a restaurant and a dive shop, it is only 12 ft. wide but 65 ft. long with pipes hanging along brick walls. A 1929 picture shows that while it was not an "official" alley, Green Chalk was once a walk-through between Lighthouse Avenue and the old lumber yard near Cannery Row.
May 2 - May 31, the highly imaginative artist Laurel Farrin will transform Green Chalk into The Back Alley. For this provocative exhibit, Ms. Farrin will use assemblages of paint, cardboard, and debris typically found in any alley. All are welcome to the opening reception on Saturday, May 2, 5pm-8pm.
Ms. Farrin says, “This show is about what’s in an alley - where stuff goes that no longer fits or doesn’t fit together - the leftovers, the forgotten, the unwanted, the discards. The back alley is where broken things are left, where weeds grow. The back alley is where kids play. The back alley is where we go to to hide, to abandon and sometimes to find and rescue rare treasures.”
Green Chalk Contemporary art gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday, 1:30pm-6pm and by appointment. For more information, please phone Gail Enns at 831-718-7232.
Welcome to Lighthouse District in the News, an occasional post featuring recent news articles on Monterey's Lighthouse District. Please click the links below to read the full articles.
Espresso Love: Local Baristas Talk About What Makes a Good Shot, and What Makes a Great Barista, Too [Bright Coffee]
by Nic Coury
Monterey County Weekly, 04/09/15
New York Singer-Songwriter Milton Makes His Monterey Debut at L'Roy Lighthouse Smokehouse
by Adam Joseph
Monterey County Weekly, 04/09/15
Peter B’s invites adults age 21 and older to enter our first-ever Wing Sauce Competition! Each original recipe must include a Peter B’s Original Craft Brew and all entries must be submitted via our Peter B’s Brewpub Official Facebook page by May 8, 2015 and include #PeterBsWingsContest.
Just stop by Peter B’s Brewpub to purchase a growler or buy a bottle brew (please ask the bartender which seasonal beers are available to use in the competition), then create your recipe and post the recipe to Peter B’s Brewpub Official Facebook page with the #peterbswingscontest
Judging will take place during the live broadcast of KRML’s Pub Talk with the Beer Geek on May 13, 2015. The grand prize winner will be awarded a one-night stay at the Portola Hotel & Spa with dinner for two at Peter B’s and, of course, bragging rights!
Please note: Must be 21 years or older to enter. Competition not open to employees of the Portola Hotel & Spa. Winner does not need to be present the day of judging.
The City of Monterey has announced that construction to revitalize the Monterey Conference Center is scheduled to begin in late November 2015. The renovation will infuse up to $45 million in physical and technological improvements into the building. The first floor of the revitalized center is scheduled to be re-opened by late summer 2016, and the grand opening of the entire center is expected in early 2017.
Conference Center staff is working with groups who are booked into the facility during construction to provide alternative locations for conferences and events. A temporary pavilion will accommodate many groups. Adjacent hotels, the Portola Hotel & Spa and the Monterey Marriott, do not expect to be affected by the remodel and are open for business.
The Conference Center renovation will create more flexible meeting space, more usable pre-function space, advanced technology, and the ability to host multiple meetings simultaneously in a silver LEED-certified building with a contemporary exterior that evokes the Monterey style. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP is providing architecture, interiors, and engineering for the renovation.
Set on the spectacular coast of central California, the Monterey Conference Center is located in the heart of Old Monterey. The Monterey Conference Center opened April 30, 1977 and quickly became an important economic engine for the growth of the hospitality and tourism industries in the City of Monterey and Monterey County. The Monterey City Council authorized renovation of the Conference Center in 2013 based on a study by experts in the field. The project will be financed by a bond.
