Merienda Tickets are on sale for members of Monterey History and Art Association. This special festival on Saturday, June 7 from 11:15-3pm celebrates the founding of Monterey and is the highlight of the Monterey social calendar. Held in the beautiful memory gardens behind the Pacific House off Custom House Plaza, guests enjoy pageantry, folklorico dancing, mariachis, music and an abundant, fiesta barbecue buffet with meats of all kinds, fabulous sides, wine, beer, cake, all prepared by the city’s finest chefs. As it normally sells out, tickets are only available to members of MHAA until April 1 at a cost of $100 (plus $50 to join, if applicable). For more information or to get tickets, go to montereyhistory.org. If you would like to sit at one of two Old Town member tables, ask for this on your reservation form and send us an email reply to this bulletin.
Wednesday, March 5, 9-11 am- Coffee with a Cop – Chat with one of Monterey’s finest at Tidal Coffee, 400 Cannery Row near the Monterey Plaza Hotel.
Thursday, March 6, 6-8 pm Monterey Local Roadway Safety Plan Community Meeting at the Monterey Library Community Room. This is your opportunity to hear proposals for roadway safety and share your input and concerns.
Friday, March 7, 2025 – 5-7 pm – First Friday at the Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey. Enjoy music, community and free admission to the museum.
Friday, March 7, 2025, 7-9 pm. – Pacific Grove Exhibit Opening Reception at the Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Enjoy special live music by Chris Gourlay, Sandor Nagyszalanczy, and Karen Lehman while viewing Ralph Joachim’s “An Abstract Landscape” in the Gill Gallery, Shaheen Schmidt’s “New Beginniings” in the Dyke Gallery, Christine Watten, Tim Hill and Rima West’s “Then and Now” exhibit in the Annand Gallery, Romanoos, Gordon Schacher, Jackie Steakley and Susan Loewy’s “Monterey Glass Room Artists in the Boyer Gallery, and Big Sur Charter School’s “Exploring Nature and the Cosmos” in the Small Halls. Free, but donoations are greatly appreciated. Exhibits will be on display through April 24Weds-Friday, 12-5pm and Saturday Noon -4 pm.
Monday, March 10, 2025, 6:30 pm – “How the Pat Hathaway Collection of Historic Photos Came to the Monterey County Historical Society” a presentation by James Perry, Director of the MCHS, Kent Seavey, historian, and Susan Klusmire at the Casa Serano, 412 Pacific Street, sponsored by Native Daughters of the Golden West. $10 suggested donation. RSVP by emailing brickman@brickmanmarketing.com or calling 831-633-4444.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 7 pm – Old Town Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting at MIIS McKone Building Conference Room, 499 Pierce Street/corner of Jefferson. Mayor Tyller Williamson will be our speaker at this annual meeting, open to the entire community. Bring your questions, as this is a chance to address local issues. We will also have our election for the seven directors on Old Town Neighborhood Association’s Board of Directors. As of this writing, we have seven candidates who have indicated they will run for the board (alphabetically): Phyllis Bussey, Mary Grove, Joyce Haferman, Susan Ricketson, Gari Soule’, Nancy Soule’ and Max Troyer. If you are interested in running for a board position or serving on a board committee, please let us know, as we always welcome new people! Come in person or join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://middlebury.zoom.us/j/92976733664?pwd=vkTm2JlPxAd3AoBWXcHPLapi2juZWA.1
Password: 6422
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 6-8:30 pm – “Tales from the Western Flyer-Stories, Legends and the Voyage Ahead” at the Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. The event celebrates the expedition that Doc Ricketts and John Steinbeck immortalized 85 years ago. It includes drinks, appetizers, and access to the Stanton Center’s “Steinbeck in Monterey and Bounty of the Sea” exhibits. Tickets ($30) are required and available at www.westernflyer.org/events/. Among speakers are Susan Schillinglaw, professor and expert on all things John Steinbeck.
Sunday, March 16, 2025, 11-3 pm Free Community Celebration of the Western Flyer’s Historic Return to the Gulf of California and Sendoff from the Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Sunday’s continuance of the celebration includes live music and dancing, with Ballet Folklorico, swing dancers, jazz, and rollicking sea shanties by the Fishwives. There will also be a 1940’s costume contest, where you can strike a pose with “Ed Ricketts” and win prizes, hands-on science and art activities for kids and adults, and limited edition commemorative T-Shirts and merchandise for sale. Tours of the Western flyer will be given (details to come), and the Western Flyer will depart at 3 pm with a fireboat escort and celebratory ship horn farewell! More info at www.westernflyer.org/events and westernflyer.org/newsletter/.
Thursday, March 27, 5:30 pm Residential Parking Program Community Meeting at City Council Chambers. Hear about proposed changes to the Residential Parking Program. Give your input in their survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R3HNXRR.
Saturday, April 5, 11-4 pm – Monterey Museum of Art Block Party – Calle Principal will be closed off for a day of fun, music, art and crafts. Free and fun for all ages.
Saturday, April 5, 8-10 pm – Evening Dance Party at the Monterey Museum of Art for adults 21+. Enjoy music and light experience, craft beer and wine from Other Brother Beer Co and Scheid Vineyards, and a lineup of specialty coctails, delicious treats from a variety of local vendors, art themed activities and free museum admission. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at https://www.montereyart.org/event/dance-party-2/.
Saturday, April 12-Sunday April 13 Whalefest returns! More details to follow.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Fisherman’s Wharf “Ode to Calemari” Contest Winners – Of 36 entries to the January contest, the winners are 1st place- Sandra Yagyu; 2nd place Kate Bauer; 3rd place- Anna Simmons. The poems can be found on the Monterey Wharf website: https://www.montereywharf.com/event/ode-to-calamari-contest-poems/761.html. Thanks to all who entered!
MIIS Student Housing Needed! Do you have an extra bedroom in your house or a local rental? Consider renting to a Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) student! The housing crisis in Monterey is deeply affecting our student population with low inventory and high prices. We are reaching out to our community to form partnerships with local landlords and homeowners. For more information, go to this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGb0hGd1Qk/V0hDlFvuILlZKtzRyIWIcQ/view?utm_content=DAGb0hGd1Qk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hba13c991dc. Still have questions? Contact the MIIS Landlord Coordinator Naomi Braswell at nbraswell@middlebury.edu or at (831) 647-4120.
START OF OLD TOWN EVENTS BULLETIN
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 at monterey.gov/library/events or by calling 831-646-3933. This tour is recommended for ages 10 and up with a maximum group of 15 people.
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. Please consider volunteering as a docent for this great museum!
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 monterey.gov/library/events. 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 ($25), 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.
Native Daughters of the Golden West – founded in 1880s, for women born in California. The Monterey Junipero Parlor No 141 meets at 6:30 pm in the Casa Serrano on the second Monday of each month. An added benefit is that members can stay at the NDGW home designed by Julia Morgan on Baker Street in San Francisco. For more information, call or text Jerilynn Crivello at 831-320-2080.
| 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.