Monterey has a rich culture, including our annual First Night celebration. We hope to see you there and at other events coming up:
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – 3 pm to Midnight – First Night Monterey 2025 Celebration. Nine hours of fabulous art, music, dance and fun for the entire family with over 60 performances at 15+ venues. Free, crafts, art and music begins at 3 pm at Colton Hall Lawn. A twilight procession will leave from there. Music and entertainment continue up until midnight. Indoor venues require an admission button, which are $31 for adults, $20 for youth 6-15. Free for children five and under. Purchase buttons at Safeway, Andronico’s, Grove Market, buy online, or at the event. A free shuttle is available at Del Monte Center. To purchase buttons, volunteer, get the event map or for more information, go to: https://www.firstnightmonterey.org
Saturday, January 4, 2025, 10 am – “Tales of the Tides: Monterey Bay’s Fishing Legacy”, a wharf walk with Tim Thomas, Maritime Historian. See announcements below with details for signing up for this or future walks (they often are full, so be sure to reserve asap for this free walk
Saturday, January 4, 2025 2-4 pm – Jewelry Artist Reception at Venture Gallery, 260 Alvarado Street. This January reception features three jewelry artists: Lilly Campos creates mesmerizing fused glass with the colors of the sea; Vanessa Martin creates stunning modern and classic designs with pearls, gems, gold and silver: Sandra Saldivar creates dramatic yet classic designs with Austrian crystals, abalone, and gems. Each artist creates necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that are delicious “eye candy”. Visit the artists at this special reception and learn how the art is created, or stop by during January to see the special exhibit.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 7-9 pm. Old Town Neighborhood Association Meeting, MIIS McKone Building Conference Room, 399 Pierce Street, corner of Jefferson. All residents of Old Town are encouraged to come. Our special speaker from the Monterey Institute of International Studies will discuss the critical need for affordable student housing. Hear also the latest news from our committees. Our annual elections will be in March, so if you are interested in serving on the board of directors or a committee, please reply to this email. Come to our meeting in person or watch it on Zoom:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://middlebury.zoom.us/j/91943195657?pwd=npx43JV60j7G1XCdwayY2v5m2s0X6G.1
Password: 495057
Friday, January 10, 2025, 7-9 Reception for New Exhibits at Pacific Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Enjoy this first new exhibition of 2025 while listening to special music by Chris Gourley on guitar and Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Karen Lehman on ukulele and guitar. Enjoy new exhibits:
Elizabeth Murray’s “Rites of Nature-in Kinship with Trees” exhibit in the Gill Gallery shows this bestselling author, gardener, and international teacher’s passion for nature in oil and watercoler; Oya Yilmaz Bolgun’s exhibit, “Layers of Existence” in the Dyke Gallery merges vibrant colors, bold shapes and intricate textures to create immersive experiences; Yuliya Greben’s “Inner Universe” exhibit in the Annand Gallery features oil paintings with female figures representing our desire for a better life; PGHS Winter Exhibit “It’s Cool to be Square” in the Boyer Gallery by the advanced and AO art students of Pacific Grove High School, shows their creations on square wood panels; Monterey High School’s Arts-Media Performance Academy exhibits 32 artworks in the small halls that shows their range of skills.
The reception is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. The new exhibits can be viewed through February, Wednesday-Fridays, noon to 5 pm and Saturdays noon to 4 pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
City of Monterey Music Video Holiday Greeting – If you haven’t yet seen the City of Monterey’s terrific 3-minute Holiday Greeting video with original music and photography, you can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrjmC1QsvOM
November 22-January 5 – Ice Skating by the Bay returns to Custom House Plaza. $15 plus $5 skate rental
Free Wharf Walks by Maritime Historian Tim Thomas the first Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Hear and experience a two hour cultural maritime history tour, with themes changing monthly. Meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf near the pink Harbor House store. Free, but advance reservations are required and can be made by contacting Tim Thomas at 831-521-3304 or by email at timsardine@yahoo.com. Participants must be 10 and above with a maximum group of 15 people.
Christmas on the Wharf– See dazzling decorations and enjoy free live entertainment weekends on the wharf throughout December until January 2. Santa visits Fridays, December 6, 13, and 20 from 5-9 pm, Saturdays, December 7, 14 and 21 from 11am-9 pm; and Sundays, December 8, 15, and 22 from 1-6 pm. Special toy drive to benefit the Salvation Army. More information and schedule of entertainment can be found on Montereywharf.com.
Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, offers free admission the entire month of December!
The Presidio Museum of Monterey is open Saturdays and Sundays 10-4 pm – Learn the fascinating history of our Presidio, including the early indigenous settlers, the founding of the fort, the history during three wars, and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. An interpretive walk with great views of the bay lead up to the Sloat Monument. You can take a short cut from Van Buren over the creek bridge to reach it from Old Town. Free.
Second Saturdays, 9-10 and 10:30-11:30 am- Tours of Ed Ricketts Pacific Biological Laboratory subject to availability. “Doc Ricketts” was featured prominently in John Steinbeck’s novels about Cannery Row, and the lab at 600 Cannery Row was the site where the idea of a Monterey Jazz festival was born. Tours are free, but limited in size. As waiting lists fill quickly, this item is listed as announcements so you can reserve in advance at this link: https://montereypl.libcal.com/calendar/pbl?cid=15157&t=g&d=0000-00-00&cal=15157&inc=0. You are also welcome to drop by without a reservation to self-tour this historic site from 12-4 pm on the second Saturday.
Casa Serano, the historic adobe at 412 Pacific Street, is now open for free visits on Saturday and Sunday 2-4 pm. Docents can help you learn the interesting history of this adobe built in 1843, as you peruse the art and furnishings.
Old Town Neighborhood Association’s website is LIVE! Visit oldtownmonterey.org for the latest on events, issues, and to find the Historic Homes self-guided walk featuring historic homes in our Old Town neighborhood. Photos of the July 13 picnic are now posted on the social page of the website.
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CLUBS
Are you interested in finding others with your interests? Below are some of the other local organizations that welcome new members:
American Association of University Women – This national organization promotes equity for women in the workplace and in education. In addition to supporting education through scholarships, they have book clubs, social events, monthly speakers, a Romancing the Coast monthly adventure, a hiking/walking group, and other interesting events. See http://mpb-ca.aauw.net for more information.
Monterey Civic Club – Founded in 1906, the club owns and meets monthly at the House of the Four Winds, located at 540 Calle Principal. This beautiful and historic adobe is believed to be the oldest women’s clubhouse in continuous use in the United States. Members meet the first Tuesday of each month for lunch and a social program ($20), often with a speaker of importance to members. Contact (831) 747-1072 for more information.
Gentrain Society is an organization for life-long learners. They generally meet the first and third Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 at the Monterey Peninsula College Lecture Forum #103. Lectures are free and open to the public (except $3.00 parking fee). Topics range from drama, history, and understanding civilizations and more. Courses are also offered, along with trips organized for special events. Note: Gentrain has arranged a special bus trip to tour the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento on October 27. For more information, visit gentrain.org – Special events.
————————————
Not Yet a Member of Old Town Neighborhood Association? Annual membership dues are just $20 for two adults in your household which covers the calendar year in which paid. Your dues help support social events and technical costs of website, Zoom meetings, and newsletter. Members can be renters, owners or landlords of a property in Old Town. Learn how to become a member on our website! If you have any questions, contact us! All residents living above Pacific St between the creek near Madison and the Presidio/DLI are eligible. Checks to OTNA can be mailed, along with your names, address, phone and email to our address below. Old Town Neighborhood Association P O Box 724, Monterey, CA 93942 |
This information is being shared as a service by Old Town Neighborhood Association. Information is presumed accurate, but is not guaranteed, and always subject to change. Visit our website at oldtownmonterey.org.