Have you been curious about beginning a meditation practice but don't know where to start? Om Studios has created an online 5 day meditation series and these 10 minute meditations are the perfect way to kick-start your mindfulness practice.

In Om's virtual studio, livestream classes are now included alongside more than 200 of our pre-recorded classes. Your first week is free, and then it's $39 per month. For more info, please visit our website .

Shelley Bennett Skincare is now open for in-store retail shopping at 588 Houston Street by appointment - please phone 831-324-4611. All of Shelley Bennett's own line of skincare products, Caudalie's full line of products, and Image Skincare's clinical line are also available on her website .

For a limited time, esthetician Shelley Bennett is offering free 10-15 minute consultations, including what ingredients and steps are most important for your unique skin plus tips to have a results driven, easy, home skincare regimen. Please call for an appointment.

Monterey Conference Center has installed new public art for all of us to enjoy in Jeffers Plaza, an outdoor space connecting the Conference Center with Portola Hotel and Spa. The plaza is named after Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), an influential local poet and icon of the environmental movement.

The bronze sculptures of Jeffers were created by local artists Will Pettee and Carol Matranga Courtney . We encourage you to go in person and check it out the next time you're in Downtown Old Monterey. Monterey Conference Center is located at 1 Portola Plaza.

Alta Bakery and Cafe is happy to announce our September drink of the month, a pine and huckleberry latte with your choice of milk. Come and try it this month - we're located at 502 Munras Ave.

Melville Tavern is serving up brunch on Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 10am-3pm. That's right, folks: it's three days of bottomless mimosas! But there's great food, too, including chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, croque monsieur, and huevos rancheros, all available for patio dining and take-out. Located at 484 Washington Street, you can make a reservation on our website or call us at 831-643-9525.

Looking for something like lunch or dinner? We're also serving our regular lunch and dinner menu, 12pm-8pm, which includes wood-fired pizzas, burgers, pastas, sandwiches, and salads.

Comanche Cellars Wine Room is pleased to announce our new tasting menu ! Our five-flight tasting is $20 per person - if you make a two bottle purchase, we'll waive one tasting fee. Located at 412 Alvarado Street, we're open for outdoor wine tasting and retail wine sales. Curbside pick-up is available.

Breaking news: If you have a body, you can do yoga! Om Studios has a huge selection of gentle/beginner-friendly yoga classes in our on-demand virtual studio. Or, if you're looking for more detailed and personalized instruction, try a private session held over Zoom or outdoors. We would love to help you on your journey. For more information, please visit our website .

The Downtown Campbell temporary parklet program has been extended once again. The program is now scheduled to continue until October 2022.

Well, this is going to come as a big disappointment for a lot of people, but we're going to have to call off the Bunnies and Bonnets Parade for another year.

Most of you have probably heard that the State of California and Monterey County lifted the indoor mask mandate on February 16 for people who are vaccinated for Covid.**

As of February 16, businesses in Monterey's Lighthouse District are not required to enforce masking and social distancing for anyone who's been vaccinated. Keep in mind that they can still request that everyone wear a mask while on their premises.

Please remember that each small business is run by someone who has a family and is dealing with challenges that you can't see. If a business is still requiring everyone to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status, they surely have a good reason for doing so.

Please help us by being your most compassionate and understanding self. If wearing a mask is not something you're willing to do, just take your money to another business until their rules change.

What if you want to keep wearing a mask? If you're vaccinated but still want to wear a mask, that's your business. You're allowed to do that regardless of what other people are doing around you.

**Not vaccinated? Please keep your mask on indoors. Want to get vaccinated and/or boosted? You can make an appointment here.

At this time, in order to be admitted to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, all visitors ages 12 and over must present either proof of full vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result (either rapid antigen or PCR test).

Please note that, beginning January 10, those Covid-19 tests will need to be taken within 24 hours of your visit. Results from at-home tests will not be accepted. Find information on Covid testing sites in Monterey County here .