Not sure what to do for the office holiday party this year? How about a private Paint & Sip Party via Zoom! Hosted by Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant and featuring art teacher Bunny Paivine, you'll receive an easy-to-follow painting class online and create a lovely image to keep. It's a lot of fun to do, and the online class is perfect for our physically-distanced time. Please e-mail Sovino for pricing and further details.

Give the gift of fitness this holiday season! During our She Trains 8-week virtual training program (Jan. 18 - Mar. 14), each participant will prepare and train virtually for the 11th Annual She Is Beautiful 5K/10K , March 15-21, with the support and camaraderie of our Fleet Feet running community. Fee is $70 (does not include race registration fee). Register online here.

Before a team of devious marketing executives unleashed pumpkin spice on the masses, America once enjoyed a wide range of winter flavors in its holiday glasses, cups, and mugs. From mulled wine and hot cider to boozy eggnog and velvety...

City of Monterey staff have worked diligently to prepare the big tree on the lawn of Colton Hall for the holiday season with lights and other ornaments. Beginning December 1, the tree will be lit each night until the end of 2020. We invite you to share in the spirit of the holidays and drive by to enjoy the beautiful outdoor decorations. Colton Hall Lawn is located at 570 Pacific Street.

Sea level rise will impact New Monterey, so let's get involved in planning for it! The City of Monterey is hosting a community meeting online to discuss the Transportation Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan on Monday, Dec. 8 at 7pm during the regular Planning Commission Meeting.

The program will include: a summary of previous sea level rise studies and outreach efforts, an introduction to the three adaptation strategies, and the gathering of community input. All local residents are welcome to join and give comments. Details posted here.

The Cooper-Molera Museum is happy to announce that we now have rose compost for sale. Made in the Cooper-Molera Garden using organic materials, this is a special rose compost we are offering by the bag for $25. (How big is the bag? There are about four shovels in each one.) Read details here.

Franklin Street Collaborative, located at 201 W. Franklin Street, is proud to host a Women's Marketplace throughout the month of December, sharing the talent and work of 20 local women designers and artists. It's perfect for holiday shopping! View the list of featured businesses here.

Because of the pandemic, the Food Bank for Monterey County is holding a virtual food drive this holiday season. The need has never been greater: food donations have dropped by 56% while need has quadrupled.

Instead of giving canned and non-perishable food this year, the Food Bank asks the community to please donate money which they can use to purchase necessary goods. No gift is too small! To donate, visit their website.

As you probably know, Santa Clara County's Covid-19 risk status was changed from Moderate (Orange) to Widespread (Purple) on November 16 by an order of Santa Clara County's Public Health Department. The consequences of this rapid 2 tier drop is concentrated in a few areas, but won't affect most people very much.

Union Yoga is excited to invite you to our Annual Thanksgiving Family-Style Yoga Class by Donation with proceeds going to the Food Bank for Monterey County. Class will be held outdoors in the beautiful gardens of Cooper-Molera Adobe on Thursday,...

Shelley Bennett Skincare is celebrating Small Business Saturday on November 28. Our retail shop will be open 12pm-2pm that day and offering 15% off your purchase of $50 or more - please visit us at 588 Houston Street in Downtown...

As many of you know Tessora's is a family run business. Carol, her two daughters Jenni & Nikki, and what have now become family in her team, have carried us through amazing times and what are now very trying times....

Small Business Saturday, a celebration of small, locally-owned businesses traditionally held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, may come and go in a daze this year. So let's celebrate all season long!

You want to give someone a gift to make them smile? The Lighthouse District's got you covered. We have clothing and fashion accessories, home decor, books, bikes, dive and surf gear, and a lot more. View our Holiday Gift Ideas Gallery to get started.

We're selling gifts in-store, online, and over the phone. Many shops are offering curbside pick-up and shipping - view our Shelter-in-Place Mall for the list. Most of our stores are staffed by the owner, so our customer service is the best.

We've made it this far through 2020. So take a deep breath. We're gonna do this holiday thing together - small and bright.

BookBuyers has in stock a selection of 2021 calendars, including those created by photographer Michael Santa Cruz. Featuring beautiful photos of local scenery, Santa Cruz's calendars make perfect gifts for family and friends! Stop by the bookshop at 600 Lighthouse Avenue and check them out.