Monterey County Health Director Edward Moreno has issued a new stay at home order for Monterey County that will go into effective on Sunday, December 13 at 10pm and extend until January 11 at 6am. (This order may be extended depending on ICU availability.)

As of Sunday at 10pm, restaurants and food service establishments will be restricted to pick-up and delivery service only (no outdoor dining); retail shops will operate at no more than 20% capacity; and barbershops, hair salons, and personal services will close (this includes nail and skin care studios and tattoo parlors). Outdoor exercise classes can continue to operate and essential businesses will remain open. Please note that the 10pm curfew also remains in effect.

Currently, Covid-!9 cases are surging in our area following the Thanksgiving holiday. Capacity at CHOMP and regional hospitals has been dangerously reduced here in Monterey and throughout California. Protecting hospital capacity saves lives from an entire range of preventable deaths, not just from Covid-19.

We encourage all residents to continue to support small, locally owned businesses during this difficult time. Please use our Dining Guide to see which restaurants and cafes are open for take-out and delivery; shop safely at home using our Gift Ideas Gallery and SIP Mall; and purchase gift cards to support your favorite Lighthouse District business owners.

We all know that the next few months will be extremely difficult as we face this surge in Covid-19 cases and we await the coronavirus vaccines. Please remain alert and keep doing the important job of wearing a mask over your nose and mouth, frequently washing your hands, and practicing social distancing. Staying healthy and beating back the coronavirus will save lives, protect our dedicated healthcare workers, and save jobs and businesses. Please do your part.

Monterey County Health Director Edward Moreno has issued a new stay at home order for Monterey County that will go into effective on Sunday, December 13 at 10pm and extend until January 11 at 6am. (This order may be extended depending on ICU availability.)

As of Sunday at 10pm, restaurants and food service establishments will be restricted to pick-up and delivery service only (no outdoor dining); retail shops will operate at no more than 20% capacity; and barbershops, hair salons, and personal services will close (this includes nail and skin care studios and tattoo parlors). Outdoor exercise classes can continue to operate and essential businesses will remain open. Please note that the 10pm curfew also remains in effect.

Currently, Covid-!9 cases are surging in our area following the Thanksgiving holiday. Capacity at CHOMP and regional hospitals has been dangerously reduced here in Monterey and throughout California. Protecting hospital capacity saves lives from an entire range of preventable deaths, not just from Covid-19.

Old Monterey encourages all residents to continue to support small, locally owned businesses during this difficult time. Please use our Dining Guide to see which restaurants and cafes are open for take-out and delivery; shop safely at home using our Gift Ideas Gallery and Shelter-in-Place Mall; and purchase gift cards to support your favorite Old Monterey business owners.

We all know that the next few months will be extremely difficult as we face this surge in Covid-19 cases and we await the coronavirus vaccines. Please remain alert and keep doing the important job of wearing a mask over your nose and mouth, frequently washing your hands, and practicing social distancing. Staying healthy and beating back the coronavirus will save lives, protect our dedicated healthcare workers, and save jobs and businesses. Please do your part.

Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is hosting an online painting class with local artist Bunny Paivine on Saturday, December 12 at 6pm. Learn how to paint this picture from the comfort of your own home! Fee is $30 per person and includes paint, supplies, and their delivery. (You can order wine from us, too!)

Purchase your tickets here. Class details will be sent to you following your purchase. Please purchase your tickets by Thursday night, December 13, to ensure delivery of supplies.

Union Yoga is happy to announce that outdoor classes in the gardens of Cooper-Molera Adobe begin December 6, 2020. If you haven't been to this space, you'll find it's the perfect spot for yoga classes as well as grabbing a coffee with a friend afterward at Alta Bakery and Cafe. Cooper-Molera Adobe is at 506 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Cooper-Molera Class Schedule
Monday, 12pm-1pm: Flow with Taira
Tuesday, 9:30am-10:30am: Foundations with Kelli
Wednesday, 12pm-1:15pm: 1 hr Flow & 15 min Meditation with Sabrina
Thursday, 12pm-1pm: Foundations with Michael
Friday, 9:30am-10:30am: Foundations to Flow with Kelli
Sunday, 11am-12:15pm: Flow with Kelli or Sabrina

Online registration in advance is strongly encouraged. Classes are weather permitting - check our website or Instagram during inclement weather. Bring a blanket or beach towel and mat. The grounds are crushed granite. Layering provides stability and keeps your mat clean. All classes are socially distanced for everyone not in a pod or with family. Please wear a mask until you are on your mat. Respect others' space of 6 feet. Wear layers as it can be chilly in the shaded areas.

Union Yoga is continuing to stream classes and workshops, offering private pods, and outdoor classes on Saturdays with Rebekah Cordell at Monterey Tides Beach Hotel. As always, we will be adjusting our schedule based on needs and temperature.

You know how people were joking that April felt like an entire year? I think that's how December's going to feel.

A day after Governor Newsom warned all regions of the state of California to be prepared to enter a new Shelter-in-Place order once ICU capacity in each area's hospitals dips below 15%, the largest counties in the Bay Area made a joint decision to pull the emergency brake a week early rather than a week late.

This will hurt our already struggling businesses, but it's the right thing to do. Santa Clara County is already dangerously close to maxing out ICU capacity while hospitalizations are still ramping up and the expected surge from Thanksgiving gatherings hasn't even begun. Protecting ICU capacity saves lives from an entire range of preventable deaths, not just from Covid-19.

The new December Shelter-in-Place order will go into effect on Monday, December 7th (technically it starts at 10PM on Sunday).

Here's a summary of what to expect once the order takes effect.

• No outdoor dining. Takeout and delivery is OK.

• Barbershops, salons, and personal services (i.e. skin care) must close.

• Retail will be allowed to operate at 20% of capacity.

• Outdoor gyms can continue to operate.

• The Farmers' Market is not affected.

Those of you who are keen of eye may notice that retail capacity actually went up from 10% to 20%. Santa Clara County had previously imposed a stricter standard than the state was requiring, but decided to go with the State's guidelines. From what we know of our county's public health department, it's surprising, but not as random as it appears. With no outdoor dining, there's a reduced chance of crowding (and you don't need to take your mask off to shop). For many of our shops, a 10% increase in capacity only means an extra 1 or 2 people are allowed into the shop at the same time.

Retail will still be limited to 10% this weekend though, but you'll have an opportunity to get a last chance outdoor meal, haircut, facial, color, or massage. The earliest the Shelter-in-Place can be lifted will be January 4th, 2021.

The only way that's going to happen is if we all do as epidemiologists have been telling us to do all along. Avoid gatherings with people outside...Read More