Fleet Feet Sports is presenting the Run Monterey Bay Race Series 2017. With distances between 5k and 15k, this race series will take you to three of the most scenic locations in the Monterey Bay area. Each race has a free Kids 1K presented by Kennolyn Camps.

Run Fore Fun Fairway Race, January 15th: This unique 4 mile race takes you off the road and onto the cart path of one of the area's most beautiful and prestigious golf courses - Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach.

Superhero Race, June 18th: Give your superman costume something to do before Halloween and wear it while running a 5k, 10k, or 15k race up the paved fire road through one of our area's greatest treasures - The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

Monterey Bay 15K, September 24th: The series finishes with 5K and 15K options through the exquisitely maintained roads of Ford Ord Dunes State Park in Marina, where expansive views of the ocean await you from the overlooking bluffs.

Runners, walkers, walk/runners and golfers are all welcome and encouraged for all races! Proceeds from each race will go to local charitable organizations designated for each race. Each race comes with its own technical t-shirt. Sign up for all three races and get the custom half-zip pullover with the Run Monterey Bay Race Series 2017 logo. This coveted piece of outerwear is only available for those who pre-register for all three races together.

Race Awards given for Overall Top Male and Top Female Finisher and 1st Place Male and Female in the following age divisions for each distance: Awards given for the top male and female finishers in the following age divisions: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 & over. Awards will be presented in a brief ceremony at each race. Awards not picked up at the race can be picked up at Fleet Feet Sports Monterey.

Right around the holidays, Alvarado Street Brewery is releasing some delicious beers! Visit them at 426 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey.

Minesweeper IPA - 7%, ~55 IBU
Available in draft & cans on 12/21
Style: American IPA
Hop hazed and incredibly juicy, this was our first ever brewed IPA and remains our top selling beer and local favorite at our Monterey brewpub. It's brewed with 100% British Maris Otter pale malt as its base, which contributes a creamy texture and a tad more body than your typical dry, West Coast IPA. As with most of our hoppy beers, a majority of the bitterness comes directly from whirlpool additions in the boil, with the intent of maximizing hop aroma and flavor. Minesweeper is dry hopped excessively with Simcoe and Citra hops.

Cherry & Bright - 5%, ~3 IBU
Available in cans on 12/21
Style: Kettle Sour Ale
What may be the first ever kettle soured beer on nitro available in a can, this holiday inspired tart ale is conditioned on Montmorency, Bing, and Royal Anne cherries along with vanilla. Tiny nitrogen bubbles gives this pleasantly acidic beer a silky creaminess that complements the vanilla and fruit. As printed on the can, shake and pour hard for the best cascading effect in the glass.

Riot Punch - 8.5%, 45 IBU
Available in draft on 12/27
Style: Double India Pale Ale
New age double IPA that's heavily impacted by the bright peach and stonefruit notes imparted by an East Coast yeast strain. Simple dry hop consisting purely of Citra, resulting in a citrusy/tropical mélange of hop aroma and flavor; passion fruit, tangerine, pineapple, white wine-esque grape character. Alcohol is subdued, mouthfeel is full and soft, light bitterness.

Vengeful Barbarian - 7.2%, 35 IBU
Available in draft & cans on 12/28
Style: India Pale Ale
Bright, peach heavy tones from an East Coast yeast strain fermentation and a dry hop of Citra and Amarillo. The result is a hop aroma and flavor chock full of ripe, juicy grapefruit and apricot jam. On the back end, we've loaded up the beer with lots of oats, so it has a soft, creamy texture to support mild hop bitterness.

Peninsula Pilsner - 5.2%, 30 IBU
Available in draft & cans on 12/28
Style: German Pilsner
This Pilsner is all about the delicate balance of soft European malt and floral, spicy notes from classic Noble hops used, which include Czech Saaz and German Tettnang. Our house lager strain adds a pleasant minerality and attenuates fully for a crisp, clean, and dry finish. Basically, we brewed this beer selfishly so we could have a hoppy pils to drink. Super refreshing, tons of flavor, sessionable for any occasion.

Local Shred Red - 6.8%, 35 IBU
Available...Read More

Old Capitol Books now carries the beautiful, hand-crafted Mutanabbi Bookmark Corner by Kamel, made in California. Save your place in a book by simply slipping it onto the corner of the a page and closing the book. It will keep your place until you return, and is designed with a thumb tab for easy opening.

Handcrafted from eco-tanned camel leather, each bookmark corner is meticulously cut and stitched by hand with French linen thread. The size is about 2.75″ x 1.25″ (6.8cm x 3cm). This is a beautiful and thoughtful gift idea for the book-lover in your life!

Bella's Studio has the perfect gift for the sewing enthusiast on your list...or anyone with whom you want to share a hand-sewn treasure! Here, you can see Bella's Hostess Gift Set. This handmade set, crafted by Bella herself, contains a special apron, matching dish towel, and a quilted basket. It's only $65.

Does someone you love have a sewing machine on his/her Christmas list? Santa has left some at Bella's Studio, all wrapped up and ready to put under the tree! Bella recommends The Elizabeth sewing machine by Back Lock, priced at $799. For a beginner sewer or anyone wanting a simpler machine, Bella recommends The Innova-ise 85e sewing machine by Brother, part of their Project Runway Series, priced at $499.