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

Rosine's Restaurant is excited to announce new menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A few new breakfast items include avocado toast, biscuits and gravy, waffles, and new eggs benedict creations. For lunch, more main entrées, new salads, pastas, and an already popular grilled vegetable sandwich. For dinner, new items include porcini mushroom truffle ravioli, short ribs, and chicken piccata.

And good news for vegetarians and the gluten intolerant! Rosine's now offers plant-based menu items such as the new garden bistro burger as well as gluten-free pasta and breads.

Want to share a drink with friends? John has created a new signature craft cocktail menu featuring a strawberry basil refresher, coconut martini, the classic Rosine's old fashioned, his special 'Vesper', fruit mojitos, and brand new mocktails.

Curious? View all our menus on our website, then visit us at 434 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey for dine-in service or take-out.

With the trailer out now for Marvel's Kraven the Hunter, scheduled to hit movie theaters in October, stop by Current Comics this summer to pick up a copy of the classic Kraven's Last Hunt graphic novel or Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, Vol 17, which includes the stories of Kraven's Last Hunt, the encounter with Wolverine that changes Spidey's life, and Peter Parker's proposal to Mary Jane.

Current Comics is located at 400 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. All of our comics are also available on our website.

InSight Eyewear, located at 490 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, now carries the newest styles in glasses from L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani. We invite you to visit us and check out some of the 3,000 frames we have in stock.

InSight Eyewear is a full service optical boutique. If you're struggling to read your mail, watch TV, or see street signs, it's probably time for an eye exam and new glasses. Don't hesitate to give us a call at 831-373-4400.

The Perfect Crumb Bakery now offers ice cream sandwiches! Pick a fresh cookie, pick an ice cream flavor, and enjoy a cool, delicious summer treat. Visit us at 301 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Poppleton's Interiors is having an accessories sale, June 16 - July 16, 2023, featuring 25% off all accessories located in our showroom. That includes silk floral options, lighting, decorative pillows and throws, rugs, and more. Visit us at 299 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey to view our selection.

Please note: custom orders are excluded from this sale. Only items on the floor in the showroom are included.

Workhorse Bicycles is very excited to announce the newest bike bag company at the shop, Swift Industries! Swift, based in Seattle, is woman-owned and the bags are made from recycled materials.

Our staff really likes Swift Industries' Sidekick stem pouch that can hold a Nalgene bottle or your cell phone and some snacks. Most other companies' “small feed bags” can feel lacking in room at times, forcing you to upsize to a bigger, more expensive bag, but the Sidekick is a great handlebar bag.

Workhorse staff is also fond of the cylindrical Bandito bag, which can hold a lot of stuff including tools, a windbreaker, and your hopes and dreams. It'll be perfectly at home on your handlebars or under the saddle.

We invite you to stop by the shop at 486 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey and check out all the Swift Industries bags we have in stock!

Board and Brush Monterey is having a sale on pre-made wooden signs throughout June 2023. Come check out all the great samples we have on our walls and help us make room for new stock. We're offering large signs for $45, medium signs for $30, and small signs for $20.

Board and Brush is located at 458 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Are you craving pizza? Melville Tavern, located at 484 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey, offers some great wood-fired pizzas.

Try our Tavern Pizza (pictured here) which includes housemade sausage, pepperoni, cremini mushrooms, mozzarella, red onions, and tomato. Or try our Mediterranean Pizza, featuring kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, tomato, red onion, and feta cheese.

We have many pizza options on our menu in addition to all the great entrees, sandwiches, burgers, and salads.