The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Mercedes-Benz have chosen Monterey County Youth Museum as one of the local nonprofit organizations to benefit from their annual car drawing. The winner of the drawing will receive a beautiful new Compact Luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV GLA 250 (MSRP $40,695).

MY Museum has been given 2,000 tickets to sell for $100 per ticket. All funds raised will be used for MY Museum's educational programs and exhibits and will support our commitment to providing subsidized museum visits for schools and families in challenging circumstances.

The drawing will be held on August 20, 2023 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (you need not to be present to win). Tickets can be purchased in person at MY Museum, over the phone at 831-649-6444, or by reserving tickets online - we will call you for payment. Once payment is made we will mail you your tickets and receipt.

Help us bring joy and learning through play to children! Be assured that every time someone buys a ticket (or two or three) for the car drawing, MY Museum staff do the happy dance in the office.

Please note: winner of the car will be responsible for all applicable taxes, licensing, and transfer fees. Delivery is limited to within the USA only.

Alta Bakery and Cafe is happy to announce our July drink of the month, a bay laurel latte. Come and try it - we're located at 502 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Exciting Week Ahead!

Join us for a week packed with fun and FREE activities! Here's what's coming up:

July 10th - Mindful Monday (Free)

July 11th - Open Gym Volleyball (Free with pre-registration)

July 12th - Touch a Truck Event (Free)

July 13th - Summer Concert at Orchard City Green (Free)

July 14th - Museum Family Day (Free)

July 15th - Ainsley House Tours (Free)

July 16th - Downtown Walking Tour (Free)

July 17th - Cornhole Contest (Free with pre-registration)

July 18th - Otter Pop Day (Free)

July 19th - Yoga in the Park (Free with pre-registration)

Mark your calendars and bring your friends and family along for a week filled with incredible experiences and unforgettable memories. Don't miss out on these fantastic opportunities!...Read More

Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center's newest exhibit is a tribute to the 177th anniversary of Sloat's Landing.

Journey through time and relive the pivotal moment of Sloat's Landing with an extraordinary exhibit and captivating documentary that unveil the significance and impact of this historic event in Monterey's history. A display of paintings and other items is on exhibit at the Stanton Center through July 31.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Sloat's Landing in Monterey with a captivating 20-minute documentary featuring Thom Diggins that chronicles the pivotal event on July 7, 1846, transporting you back in time to witness the monumental landing and its profound impact on the region.

On July 7, 1846, commanded by Commodore John D. Sloat, the frigate Savannah and the sloops Cyane and Levant of the United States sailed into Monterey Bay to claim Alta California in the name of the United States. Captain William Mervine of the Cyane came ashore with a small party from the Savannah. At 7:30 a.m., Captain Mervine sought the surrender of the port. Mexican commandant, Capt. Mariano Silva said that he was "not authorized to surrender the place”. 225 sailors and marines from Sloat's three ships landed and gathered before the Custom House. Purser Rodman M. Price read Sloat's proclamation and posted it in English and Spanish, declaring that a state of war existed between the United States and Mexico and that "henceforth California would be a portion of the United States." The group then raised the flag of the United States at the Custom House. Each of the three ships fired a 21-gun salute to celebrate.

The Stanton Center is open Saturday through Thursday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Sloat Landing Exhibit and Documentary is free to visitors.

Park and Recreation Month - July 10

Embrace Mindful Monday: A Time to Reflect and Cultivate Gratitude

Share with us how you cultivate gratitude. Email a photo and a brief description to laurenc@campbellca.gov with subject Mindful Monday to be entered into a drawing for a I heart Campbell t-shirt! Email by 11:59pm on Monday, July 10th.

For all Park and Recreation Month activities and events, visit www.campbellca.gov/prm. Share online and tag us @campbellrecreation on Instagram and Facebook.

Construction will take place in front of Monterey Public Library, July 6-13, 2023, replacing the sidewalk along Pacific Street.

During that time, the library will only be accessible through the back entrance. the Library's back parking lot will be closed to vehicles, and the book return on Pacific Street will be temporarily moved to the driveway.

Need a place to park when you visit the library? Parking Lot C, next to Colton Inn, will be open.

If you have questions or need to renew a book, please call library staff at (831) 646-3933.

The Coastal Roots Hospitality Group - including Montrio restaurant at 414 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey - has designated MY Museum as the nonprofit recipient of its Pick It Up - Pay It Forward Program for July and August 2023.

What does this mean? When you order takeout food from Montrio, 10% of your order will automatically be donated to this nonprofit children's museum in Downtown Old Monterey where curiosity and creativity flourish and both children and adults can discover the thrill of lifelong learning. (Please note: this offer does not apply to delivery orders.)

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 article.

Weldon Webb remembers a time when a gay bar was the center of the local LGBTQ+ scene. How times have changed. [Pearl Hour]
by Agata Popeda
Monterey County Weekly, 06/29/23

Lilify now carries a mesmerizing collection of work by local ceramic artist, Lesley Pretorius, in our shop at 281 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Lesley’s hand-built, hand-etched pieces are informed by her childhood in South Africa, her time working in Argentina and Mexico, and her love of California’s Central Coast. This delicate work is only sold in our store, not on our website.

Venture Gallery presents the paintings of Edi Matsumoto, our featured artist for July. Her exhibit, entitled In Full Bloom, is a celebration of life featuring beautiful flowers and people.

We are finally coming out of three years of confinement and restriction due to COVID. We realize the fragility of our lives and, therefore, we should treasure the ephemeral yet abundant beauty, colors, lives, love, and light all around us. Edi's collection includes portraits of Hollywood actresses and others plus paintings of colorful flowers in full bloom.

Edi Matsumoto is known for her realistic portraits, figures, and still-life paintings. Her work has won many awards and has been shown at galleries and museums locally and nationally. She was named an A.R.C. Living Artist and an American Women Artists Member with Distinction.

Venture Gallery is now open 10am-6pm six days a week and 2pm-6pm on Tuesdays. Edi Matsumoto's artwork will be featured through July 2023. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.

Old Monterey Book Co. has re-opened its doors as The Rose Books & Obscurities. The Rose Books & Obscurities, specializing in rare and used books, has had an established online following since its advent in 2019. Owned and operated by husband and wife Ernest and Yasmine Rodriguez, the shop is now operating under regular business hours at 136 Bonifacio Place.

The Rose Books offers a diverse selection of second hand, collectible, and rare books in a variety of subjects. With an emphasis on classic titles, the in-store experience attempts to preserve the essence of antiquarian bookshops of the past both in aesthetic and selection.

Hours of operation: Monday, closed; Tuesday, 1pm-6pm; Wednesday, closed; Thursday - Sunday, 12pm-5pm