Every Wednesday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, stop by Montrio Bistro for a glass of wine with your four-legged friend on our pet-friendly parklet. One dollar from every glass of wine purchased will benefit the Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP), and your four-legged friends get a special house-made dog treat created by Chef Tony Baker.

Oya Salon owner Brian Bode Brian is dedicating Tuesdays to continuous education for our stylists. He's structuring the courses by relevant trends and allowing time for everyone to perfect new techniques. He's also bringing in guest artists and other hair care professionals to educate the stylists on the Kérastase and R+Co product lines as well as our color line, Wella. If you're interested in a free service on a Tuesday, stop by and fill out a model form or call for the class schedule, 831-656-0570.

Ritual Day Spa now offers Eyelash Extensions on site through an independent business called Lashes by Thi. Owner Trinh Tran has been doing extensions for almost 10 years, and uses only the highest-quality lashes to ensure long lasting results.

You can book with her directly at:

email: lashesbythi@gmail.com
phone/text: 408-784-6499

For prices and more info: http://ritual-spa.com/lash-extensions/

This is a very exciting time of year for tea lovers. This year’s tea crop is aromatic, flavorful and well finished. As we have done in previous years, Cha-ya Japanese Tea & Things is offering a 10% discount for those of you who wish to pre-order until May 1, 2016. We will be offering three Shincha teas at the discounted price. All tea may be paid by phone or upon pick up. The tea will arrive in early May. Please call today to place your order, 831-646-5486.

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 May 1, $30)

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 May 1, $28)

Shincha Houryoku: Houryoku, meaning “sprouting green,” 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 May 1, $28)

As the Monterey Conference Center renovation continues to make great progress, Portola Hotel & Spa is thrilled to announce the start of the construction on Portola Plaza. On April 25, 2016, the City of Monterey will be replacing the Portola Plaza driveway at the main entrance to the Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center with an extensive remodel slated for completion in early September 2016. Designed by the world renowned architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the sleek design of the driveway will complement the modern architectural elements being incorporated into the Monterey Conference Center renovation.

While the driveway is in the process of being replaced, the Portola Hotel & Spa’s front entrance will be temporarily closed. Access to the Portola Hotel & Spa will be through the hotel’s parking garage, located on the right hand side of Del Monte Avenue. Our guests’ experience throughout this renovation is very important to us and we have taken extra steps to ensure a smooth arrival process for each and every one. A check-in valet will be stationed to greet and direct all arriving guests, along with a garage attendant to answer any questions.

Portola Plaza is home to a bronze statue of Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish soldier and administrator in New Spain who became the founder and first governor of Alta California, which held Monterey as its capital. The statue, donated to the City of Monterey by King Juan Carlos I of Spain to honor the bicentennial of the US, was personally dedicated by King Juan Carlos I during his trip here in 1987. In the new design of Portola Plaza, the statue will remain an integral part of the plaza and will give visitors a better opportunity to capture a fantastic photo with a piece of Monterey history.