Alvarado Gallery at Monterey Conference Center has a new art exhibit - the community "Tree of Hearts" are now on display to enjoy. You're invited to browse the collages made up of hundreds of paper hearts, each featuring a special message from a community member to fellow residents and their loved ones, originally created in March 2021 to hang on a tree in front of City Hall to commemorate the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in Monterey.

Alvarado Gallery is open to the public weekdays, 8am-5pm, and located on the mezzanine of Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey. Masks are recommended. (We believe that the exhibit will be on display for the rest of 2021, but a formal decision has not yet been made - stop by soon if you don't want to miss this remarkable historic snapshot.)

The Old Monterey Business Association would like to congratulate the 29 Old Monterey businesses and organizations that won Monterey County Weekly’s Best of Monterey County 2021. Click the links to read what the Weekly’s writers and editors had to say about each business.

Alta Bakery and Cafe
Best Coffee Shop
Best Cappuccino / Latte

Alvarado Street Brewery
Best Local Beer / Brewery
Best Bar for Gen X'ers
Best Place to See and Be Seen

Ambrosia India Bistro
Best Indian Restaurant

Bagel Bakery
Best Bagel

Britannia Arms
Best Place for Karaoke

Crown and Anchor
Best Pub / Best Late Night Hangout

Easy Street Billiards
Best Place to Shoot Pool

Euphoria Salon and Spa
Best Salon - Women

Federico's Shoe Service
Best Shoe Repair...Read More

The New Monterey Business Association would like to congratulate the 15 Lighthouse District businesses that won Monterey County Weekly’s Best of Monterey County 2021. Click the links below to read what the Weekly’s writers and editors had to say about each business.

Crystal Fish
Best Japanese / Sushi Restaurant

Escape Room 831
Best Place for a Birthday Party

First Awakenings
Best Breakfast
Best Huevos Rancheros

Gianni's Pizza
Best Pizza

Gold Coast Tattoo
Best Tattoo Parlor

Goodwill
Best Thrift Shop

Hula's Island Grill
Best Bartender (Maddie Malmo)
Best Happy Hour
Best Restaurant - Monterey
Best Appetizers / Small Plates

International Market and Deli
Best International Market

Monterey Bay Aquarium
...Read More

Have you noticed the (not so) new Strike Brewing Company Taproom just outside of Downtown Campbell? They arrived in late 2019 and barely managed to celebrate its grand opening before 2020 happened so we're finally getting around to giving them the welcome they deserve.

Strike Brewing Co is a local brewery that produces delicious classic and modern American beer styles and is distributed throughout California. Their Campbell taproom has the honor of being their first location to open away from their San Jose brewpub. On any given day, they'll have 16 rotating taps of Strike Beer for you to try (including seltzers and sours). No matter what kind of beer lover you are, you're sure to find something for you here.

Strike's Campbell Taproom's is here for you if you want a place to hold a birthday party, watch the game, or just relax with a beer from the tap. It's family friendy, dog friendly, and has outdoor patio seating so you can enjoy a cold beer and fresh air at the same time. They sometimes also invite exciting local food vendors that go well with their beers.

If you haven't checked them out yet, please go and give them a warm belated Downtown Campbell welcome! They're located near the light rail tracks at 469 E. Campbell Ave. and are open Saturday through Wednesday (M–W: 3-8pm, Sat: 12-8, Sun: 12-6pm).

November is just around the corner and so is a new session of classes! There are new classes available for everyone from youth to adults to seniors. Don’t miss your chance to join us this fall! For more information or to register, click the links below.

Youth Enrichment

Fun with Circuits (6-14 YRS) begins 11/10
Checkmate Chess (6-14 YRS) begins 11/10
Music Together (0-5 YRS)
Private Music Lessons (7+ YRS)
Yoga Kids (6-10 YRS) begins 10/27
Rhythmic Gymnastics Dance (5.5-10 YRS) begins 11/1
Cheerleading (6-10 YRS) begins 11/1

Youth Sports

Skateboarding (6-14 YRS) begins 10/24
Tennis (5-15 YRS) begins 11/3-11/6
Futsal Kings (5-12 YRS) begins 11/7
Hoopster Tots (3-5 YRS) begins 11/8
Flag Football (7-12 yrs) begins 11/9
Basketball (6-11 YRS) begins 11/12
World Cup Soccer (4-9 YRS) begins 11/13

Adult Classes

Pilates *Virtual* begins 10/29 & 11/1
Tennis begins 11/3
...Read More

Openings available in the Campbell Recreation Pre-School for ages 4 to 5.5! For more information or to register, visit

https://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/352/Pre-School

Current Openings in the following classrooms:

Kinder Kids M-T 9:30-12:00PM

Kinder Kids M-W 12:30-3:00PM

Kindergarten Prep M-Th 8:30-11:30AM

Slowfiber is happy to announce we now carry Daruma embroidery thread and sashiko needles from Japan that are perfect for mending. You can find them both on the Slowfiber website and in the shop at 517A Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Daruma thread can be used for its original intent, sashiko stitching, or, like me, you can use it for boro-style patching. (Your jeans will love you for it!) Designed for mending and repairing clothing, this thread is stronger than typical embroidery floss, and the colors are fabulous.

Calling all local authors! Old Capitol Books invites you to participate in our Holiday Season Lit Expo on Friday, December 3 at 6pm. To sign up, please e-mail us. Our shop is located at 482 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

This stunning cocktail midi dress from Cypress Boutique Monterey is the go-to outfit for any formal event or evening date night, and it's amazingly comfortable and stretchy. We love how it accentuates your beautiful body shape.

Now available online and in the store at 800 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite C in Monterey. Cypress Boutique is a small, locally-owned shop that's dedicated to helping you look your best.

The only way to get better is to show up for yourself one class at a time. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's Gracie Combatives program for beginning adults consists of 23 one-hour classes covering 36 essential techniques to be safe in a street fight. All classes can be completed in any order because no previous experience is necessary to participate.

Gracie Combatives is taught Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30pm-7:30pm; Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm; and Saturdays, 11am-12pm. To opt into our 10-day free trial, contact Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Monterey through our website or phone 831-332-9876. We're located at 636 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Plato's Closet is starting walk-in buys on October 15 and we are in need of your gently used denim! Stop by the shop at 402 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Plato’s Closet buys and sells gently used teen and young adult clothing and accessories.

Are you still washing your hands? Good. Now you can do it in style with the sweet and spicy scent of autumn! Lilify is selling beautiful, natural soap handmade in small batches in Monterey by Connie Mardon.

The copaiba and clove scented bar soap pictured here offers a creamy, balsamic caramel with a sweet, spicy top note that's perfect for fall. Weighing in at 4oz., it contains olive oil, rice bran oil, and coconut oil as well as shea butter and cocoa butter.

All of Lilify's handmade soaps are available online and in our store at 281 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Catalyst Consignment has a wide selection of jackets and coats for fall! Whether you prefer leather, wool, tweed, or corduroy, we have a little of everything for men and women, including top name brands.

Catalyst Consignment is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11am-5pm, and Sunday, 12pm-4pm, at 801 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A in Monterey.