Throughout Monterey County, face masks will be required to be worn indoors in public spaces beginning Friday, November 5, 2021. This is because Monterey County has reached the “substantial” community transmission level of Covid-19 according to the CDC. For details, please read this short article in Monterey County Weekly by Pam Marino.

There are some exceptions to the mask mandate, all covered in the article. These exceptions include indoor dining, situations in which a mask would “impede a medical or cosmetic procedure,” or at a meeting where all vaccinated people have shown proof of vaccination (but unvaccinated people still have to wear masks).

We thank you for your patience, your compassion in these unusual times, and your continued support of Downtown Old Monterey's small, locally-owned businesses.

The Presidio of Monterey Museum has reopened after nearly 600 days of closure! Located at the Lower Presidio Historic Park, the museum is free and open to the public, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. There is no entrance fee.

The museum shows visitors the military history of Monterey from the indigenous peoples of the area to the modern-day Presidio and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

After your visit, take a walk up to Presidio Hill to find one of the best views of the Monterey Bay and visit the towering 111 year-old Sloat Monument. For more information, check out this great new article by the U.S. Army.

The Presidio of Monterey Museum is located at 76th Artillery Street & Corporal Ewing Road, Bldg. 113, in Monterey near the Lighthouse District.

For years, artist Mai Ryuno, owner of Play Full Ground, has been making her signature Happy Monterey Sardine pillows to bring people joy. Each sardine has been a handmade, one-of-a kind piece.

Now, you can make your own Happy Monterey Sardine! Mai has recently published a step-by-step instruction video on her YouTube channel and provided a downloadable sewing pattern here. It's a new way to own, gift, and enjoy these fun, colorful fish.

You can make your own sardine(s) as a solo sewing project or with your family and friends! And you can keep it for yourself or give it as a handcrafted, unique gift for the holidays and other special occasions.

Check out the video, download the pattern, and have fun making, playing, and sharing.

Do you want to learn about sewing in a more personal and interactive way with Mai by working with her on a project like this or one of your own? Consider signing up for Play Full Ground's Creativity-Based Learning Program and learn how to sew, make, and explore your creativity!
 

Monterey State Historic Park is excited to announce that our guided tours of Larkin House and Stevenson House have returned! House tours, lasting 45-60 minutes, are now offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Stevenson House tours are offered at 10am on those days; Larkin House tours are offered at 2pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults; free for children 17 and under. Tickets can be purchased on location starting 15 minutes before the tour. Group size is limited to 8 people per tour. For more information, please visit our website or contact the Pacific House Museum at 831-649-2907. (Pacific House, located at 10 Custom House Plaza, is open Tuesday - Sunday,10am-4pm.)

Monterey State Historic Park House Tours showcase both the buildings’ important roles in Monterey’s history along with the impressive art work and antiques located inside each home.

Stevenson House (530 Houston Street) was a temporary home of the world-famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson in 1879. Though he only spent a few months staying in the boardinghouse that occupied the adobe structure at that time, his family later donated many of his personal possessions to the building, where they are currently on display. It is now one of the best collections of Stevenson artifacts found in the world today. The building’s rich history includes a stint as the hub of Monterey’s art scene in the 1920s and as a showroom for interior designer Frances Elkin after that.

Larkin House (464 Calle Principal), built in 1835, is a two-story adobe brick building that is known for being one of the area’s best examples of Monterey Colonial architecture. It is also notable for being the home of Thomas Larkin, the first and only U.S. consul to California during Mexican rule. Its interior is furnished with striking artwork and furniture from around the world.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is looking for people passionate about conservation of the ocean for several volunteer opportunities.

Please register here to attend one of our info sessions:

Virtual session
Wednesday, November 10
7pm–8:30pm

In-person session
Saturday, November 13
8:30am-10 am

As of October 7, 2021, open volunteer positions include:

Seasonal Aquarium guide
Help inspire conservation of the ocean by sharing Aquarium exhibits with our guests from around the world.

Animal care volunteer
Help us care for animal collection whether it is working in our food room, assisting with the care of our shorebirds and penguins or caring for and feeding our fish and invertebrate collections.

Otter care volunteer
Help us care for abandoned, ill or injured sea otters and release them back into the wild.

Learn more on Monterey Bay Aquarium's volunteer page.

Melville Tavern invites you to join us for Happy Hour, Sunday - Thursday, 4pm-6pm, featuring food, beer and wine specials. We're located at 484 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Happy Hour Specials include $4 bottled beer, $5 draft beer, $6 & $8 glasses of wine, plus a delightful array of eats including pork mole tacos, garlic-parmesan tater tots, fried artichoke hearts, chili-cheese fries, chicken wings, and bacon-wrapped hotdogs.

Melville Tavern is open daily for indoor and patio dining for both lunch and dinner. On weekends and holidays, we offer brunch 10am-3pm with bottomless mimosas! Come watch your favorite sports on our TVs (including our 10 ft. big screen).

Because of continuing concerns about Covid-19, Lighthouse Avenue businesses in Monterey will not be hosting our regular community trick-or-treat in 2021.

We wish all of you a happy Halloween this fall and we look forward to welcoming you back for sweet and ridiculous family fun with us in October 2022.

Tickets are now on sale for Monterey's signature holiday event, Christmas in the Adobes, on December 10 & 11. Stroll the streets of Monterey and tour any one of 15 beautifully decorated adobes with soft holiday lights and entertainment.

Tickets are $25 per night for adults, $2 for children ages 6-17 when accompanied by a paying adult, and free for children age 5 and under. (Buy early and save! Now until November 1, single night tickets are only $20 for adults.) Tickets may be purchased online or in person - visit the website for details.

Proceeds benefit Monterey State Historic Park children's educational and school history programs.