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Congratulations to artist and educator Mai Ryuno, the founder of Play Full Ground, who has been awarded a Vela Grant to support her continuing work offering meaningful, creative learning experiences for youth in Monterey.

VELA is a nonprofit organization that invests in community-driven, creative education projects, trusting educators and learners to design learning that meets their communities’ needs. The VELA grant will help Mai continue to explore how art, education, and community can come together to create meaningful learning experiences.

At Play Full Ground, this work happens in collaboration with both young learners and adult community members - blending art, education, and community building. For example, Mai and Emily Gottlieb (an environmental education consultant, artist, and ecologist) are developing an Earth Day Inquiry and Ecology Workshop, to be offered this April, exploring environmental themes through creative, hands-on experiences. (Stay tuned for more info!)

Each project at Play Full Ground is an opportunity to explore how art can become a medium for learning, reflection, and connection. The studio, located at 550 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite E in Monterey, also offers after-school programs for middle school and high school students and one-on-one creative mentorship for adults.

California State Parks presents Los Exploradores de Monterey Summer Day Camp at Monterey State Historic Park, a day camp for students grades 3-5 located in the heart of Old Monterey.

Activities

In this unique summer program, day campers will experience Monterey’s historical buildings and colorful gardens through hands-on activities such as: period games and play, toys, crafts, food, songs, dances, nature observation, and interactive guided tours throughout Monterey State Historic Park and beyond.

Schedule and Fees

All four 5-day sessions will be held in June and July - see the schedule here, and list of activities here. Fee is $325 per week, or $550 for two sessions. Financial assistance is available - please email MSHP for details.

Registration

Los Exploradores is sponsored by Monterey State Historic Park Association and led by California State Park Staff. For more information and to register, visit the Los Exploradores webpage.

Esteban Restaurant invites you to enjoy a Monday night seaside fiesta with our West Coast Shellfish Boil Special, offered every Monday, 4:30pm-8:30pm, at 700 Munras Avenue in Monterey. $30 per pan.

Indoor and outdoor dining are available. Parking is available and free for Esteban's guests. Reservations are recommended - please call 831-375-0176.

West Coast Shellfish Boil

From New England to the American South, and finally the West Coast, a shellfish boil is one of America’s great communal dining traditions. Esteban Restaurant offers a unique twist, infusing this feast with vibrant Spanish influences.

Served tableside in paella pans, the West Coast Shellfish Boil includes peel-and-eat prawns, clams, mussels, corn cob pieces, Spanish chorizo sausage, fingerling potatoes, and Chef Steven’s secret Cajun spice.

This lively, hands-on feast celebrates California’s seafood and Spain's culinary traditions.

Tapas Hour & Dinner Menu

Esteban's nightly Tapas Hour, 4:30-6pm, and our full seasonal dinner menu will also be available.

Crepes of Brittany, located at 211 Alvarado Street in Monterey, is launching a new Crepes of Brittany Seniors Program to honor local residents age 55 and over. Seniors who show a current Monterey County ID will receive a 15% discount daily through March 31, 2026. After March 31, this offer will be good Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Thank-you to the community that has supported the restaurant over its 16 years in business!

About Crepes of Brittany

Owned by Daniel Peron and Thierry Crocquet, both natives of Northern France, Crepes of Brittany is inspired by the authentic regional flavors of Brittany and Normandy. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of sweet and savory French favorites. Its breads and pastries are prepared with imported dough that gives them a distinctive and delicious flavor.

Hours

Crepes of Brittany is open Monday - Thursday, 7am-2:30pm, and Saturday - Sunday, 7am-4pm.

Have you tried the warm concha treats at Scoops Ice Cream Parlor? On a cool day, come try our Hot Chocolate Filled Concha or our warm pressed Concha Ice Cream Sandwich! Our conchas (fluffy Mexican sweet breads) are all baked locally in Soledad by Jmiss Reposteria and pair perfectly with our homemade hot chocolate and Marianne's ice cream.

Warm Concha Ice Cream Sandwich

How to take the ice cream sandwich to the next level? At Scoops, we take a soft, fresh concha, fill it with your favorite Marianne’s Ice Cream and toppings, then warm-press it until it’s toasty on the outside and perfectly cold and creamy on the inside.

Hot Chocolate Filled Concha

Imagine a warm concha carved into a bowl, lined with rich Nutella, then filled with velvety hot chocolate. The Nutella melts into the cocoa and bread… and it’s topped with whipped cream and sprinkles like it just won prom king. It's honestly unfair how good it is.

Scoops Hot Chocolate

Whether it's served in a concha cup or in a regular cup, Scoops hot chocolate is made in-house with real chocolate. No powder used at all. We melt the chocolate down the right way so it’s thick, smooth, and ridiculously indulgent. This isn’t “add water and stir.” This is chocolate therapy.

About Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

Located at 595 Munras Avenue, Ste 103, in Downtown Monterey, Scoops has a large and cheerful indoor parlor where you can sit and enjoy treats in any weather. We're an independent, locally-owned shop serving legendary Marianne's Ice Cream in both traditional and creative ways. We like to have fun here!

☀️ Summer Preview is HERE! Get a sneak peek at 2026 Summer Camps & Swim Lessons with Campbell Recreation! The Summer Preview is available online only and highlights all the fun we have planned for the season ahead. www.campbellca.gov/activityguide

✨ Don't just explore the summer offerings online! Join us at our Open House this Saturday, March 7th from 10am–1pm at the Campbell Community Center!

• Meet our camp instructors

• Enjoy activities in the Kids’ Zone including sensory stations + arts & crafts

• Participate in a hands-on cooking demo and jump into sports activities led by the Campbell Youth Commission

RSVP and attend for a chance to win prize drawings

RSVP: https://campbellopenhouse2026.eventbrite.com

Students looking to complete community...Read More

Take one part pop-up marketplace, neighborhood social, and small business mixer and you'll get the first Lighthouse District Meet and Greet Open House. It was our first time doing this and we couldn't be happier at how well it went on February 26, 2026. Thank you to everyone from the New Monterey neighborhood and business community who came out to join us.

On the surface, our first Meet and Greet event might seem like just a good excuse for a party, but it was intended to be more than that. You see, it's no secret that we're facing some difficult and uncertain times. More than ever, community matters.

When people come together, culture is created. When culture is created, community is the byproduct and where there's a vibrant small business scene, there are more opportunities for both culture and community to take root.

Creating more connections is how we get through hard times and build out in the good ones. We only invited people who live or work in the New Monterey neighborhood to this event because it wasn't our intent for it to be just a party. As with many of our events as a district, it was about community and always has been.

View Event Photos

Thank you to Michelle Robertson for photographing the event. You can see more of her work at michellerobertsonphotography.com.

Writer: Sheldon Chang (Not AI)

Franklin Street Collaborative now carries Maria Nila products. These professional, vegan hair care products, manufactured in Sweden, are designed for performance - without sulfates, parabens, or animal testing. Come take a look at Franklin Street Collaborative, 201 W. Franklin Street in Monterey.

Freedom Bakery is happy to introduce Chocolate Hazelnut Cake to our menu! It's a moist chocolate cake with a layer of Belgian chocolate ganache and hazelnut mousse. Every bite is perfectly balanced.

If you like a good chocolate cake and love the rich, buttery, nutty flavor of hazelnut, this cake is for you. A gluten-free version is available on our menu, too.

Free Samples

Come try a free sample at Freedom Bakery's Monterey boutique located at 305 Webster Street. We're open Tues-Sun, 10am-1pm.

Ordering

Sheet cakes are available with next day turnaround. Specialty cakes require 10 days advance notice. Please place your order on our website.

The Alliance on Aging has volunteer tax counselors that can prepare 2025 Federal and California income tax returns at no cost for low income taxpayers ages 60 and over.

Appointments Only

Assistance is by appointment only, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, February 3 - April 14, 2026, at Scholze Park Community Center, 280 Dickman Avenue in Monterey.

Please phone 831-655-1334 to schedule your appointment, or book online. The IRS deadline to file is April 15, 2026.

What to Bring

What to bring to your appointment: your 2024 tax returns, a photo ID, Social Security card, W-2 form, 1099 form (if you have any).

Venture Gallery presents the work of Al Shamble, our featured local artist for March, and his new exhibit of paintings entitled Peaks and Crests: Adventures in the High Sierras and Along the Coast.

About the Exhibit

Al Shamble is drawn to the light and majesty of the High Sierras and the magnificence of the great Pacific Ocean. As an environmentalist, he hopes that his plein air and studio paintings convey the need to recognize and preserve our natural resources.

About Venture Gallery

Venture Gallery is open 10am-6pm daily. Al Shamble's artwork will be featured through March 2026. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.

Bobalicious and Bites in Downtown Monterey now hosts birthday parties for all ages! We have karaoke, a big screen TV, board games, wi-fi, plenty of space for kids to play, lots of handcrafted boba drinks made to order, and mango and cookie monster ice cream and ice cream shakes.

Come have fun and celebrate your special day with us at 474 Tyler Street in Monterey. Birthday party prices are reasonable - for more information, please email the owner, Klair, or call 831-666-7030.

About Bobalicious and Bites

Bobalicious and Bites is a local, family-run shop that's passionate about making your drink delicious and our space welcoming for adults and kids. We serve a variety of boba milk teas and non-milk teas plus a limited number of ice cream flavors and milkshakes, each carefully handcrafted and customized to your preference.

Slaughterbeck Floors has been named 2026 Best Flooring Company in the Mercury News’ Best in Silicon Valley Awards. This recognition marks the ninth time the Campbell-based floor store has received the honor.

The annual awards highlight businesses across Silicon Valley that receive strong community support and votes from local residents. The continued recognition reflects the trust and loyalty of customers throughout the region.

Serving Campbell and greater Silicon Valley, Slaughterbeck Floors provides residential and commercial flooring solutions, including product selection and professional installation services. The company has long maintained a presence in the local area and continues to support homeowners, businesses, and building projects throughout Silicon Valley.

The full award results can be viewed here:
https://issuu.com/bayareanewsgroup_marketing/docs/02.22.26_best_in_silicon_valley_2026/44

UPDATE: Applications extended to Wednesday, March 25th.

Applications are now open for groups who wish to be a part of Downtown Campbell's annual Bunnies and Bonnets Parade! This year's parade will be held on Saturday, April 4th. We will be accepting applications through Wednesday, March 25th.

Parade Application

This annual parade is always a very big afternoon in Downtown Campbell so besides being a lot of fun to participate in, it's great exposure for your group. Space in the parade is limited so if you want your group to be in the parade, please get your applications in as early as possible.

We're looking forward to seeing you in our parade!

Monterey Hostel is proud to announce we are now a year-round drop off site for the Food Bank for Monterey County!

Neighbors can bring canned and dry goods to the hostel at 778 Hawthorne Street in Monterey any day between 9am and 8pm to support local families in need.

About Monterey Hostel

The nonprofit Monterey Hostel offers overnight lodging for school groups, families, and adventure travelers. The newly renovated hostel has 13 rooms with space to host around 50 overnight guests.

Gold Coast Tattoo, located at 639 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, now has a piercer in-house and they're accepting appointments Friday - Monday, 12pm–10pm. (Walk-in clients are always welcome, but appointments are preferred to guarantee your spot.)

Whether you’re adding something new or upgrading your jewelry, they’ve got you covered. Learn more and make a reservation.

Artist Casey Starks, owner of Casey Starks Studio at 550 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A in Monterey, has officially shifted her popular pottery workshops to become fully customizable private group events!

In the past, Casey offered workshops with set dates and individual sign-ups - but behind the scenes, that system took a lot of energy and admin to manage. So she's redesigned her workshop offerings to be more flexible and customizable for you.

What's New

Workshops are now available only as private events for groups of 2-10 people on site. YOU pick the date and time that works for your group (a great option for folks visiting from out of town). You can choose from hand building project options such as Make a Mug, Ceramic Jewelry, or Intro to Slab-Building.

Your group gets a relaxed, personalized experience - perfect for special occasions, office team-building, or creative get-togethers with your favorite people.

Why

This move to private groups allows Casey to give each group her full attention, create a more enjoyable experience, and reduce the behind-the-scenes admin for herself. It’s a win for everyone.

Learn More

If you’ve been wanting to plan a workshop or a creative outing, Casey would love to host your group. See all the details and submit a request here.

NMBA's Sabrina Hiltunen Participates in First City Academy 2026

Posted on February 19th, 2026 by lighthouseave

The New Monterey Business Association (NMBA), the organization of small businesses in the Lighthouse District, is excited to announce that our new Administrator, Sabrina Hiltunen, will participate in the City of Monterey's First City Academy in Spring 2026 as a strategic community partner.

Meeting weekly March 4 - May 14, First City Academy, a community program presented by the City of Monterey, teaches participants about topics such as city management, community engagement, community services, public works, police, community development, fire and emergency management, economic development, budgeting, technology, and human resources. In short, it covers how the City is funded, how services are delivered, and how decisions are made.

An integral part of Sabrina Hiltunen's job in serving and representing the businesses in the Lighthouse District and Downtown Old Monterey is to work with the City of Monterey to conduct day-to-day operations, coordinate community events, and fulfill the districts’ visions.

Sabrina writes, "I recognize First City Academy will teach me invaluable information and processes into how local government operates that will not only benefit me but our businesses and the City of Monterey staff I work closely with. As a Monterey native and civic engagement aficionado, I am looking forward to learning about our government programs and services as well as getting to know the civil servants who dedicate their lives and careers to making our city a vibrant community to live, work, and play."

The Old Monterey Business Association (OMBA) is excited to announce that our new Executive Director, Sabrina Hiltunen, will participate in the City of Monterey's First City Academy in Spring 2026 as a strategic community partner.

Meeting weekly March 4 - May 14, First City Academy, a community program presented by the City of Monterey, teaches participants about topics such as city management, community engagement, community services, public works, police, community development, fire and emergency management, economic development, budgeting, technology, and human resources. In short, it covers how the City is funded, how services are delivered, and how decisions are made.

An integral part of Sabrina Hiltunen's job in serving and representing the businesses in Downtown Old Monterey and the Lighthouse District is to work with the City of Monterey to conduct day-to-day operations, coordinate community events, and fulfill the districts’ visions.

Sabrina writes, "I recognize First City Academy will teach me invaluable information and processes into how local government operates that will not only benefit me but our businesses and the City of Monterey staff I work closely with. As a Monterey native and civic engagement aficionado, I am looking forward to learning about our government programs and services as well as getting to know the civil servants who dedicate their lives and careers to making our city a vibrant community to live, work, and play."

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