January 5, 2024 Events Bulletin

Happy New Year from the Board of Old Town Neighborhood Association!  Don’t miss our Old Town Neighborhood Meeting next Wednesday-See Jan 10.  Also a volunteer opportunity benefiting First Night Monterey will let you into the Pebble Beach ATT Pro-Am.  See announcements, plus many events coming up in or near our neighborhood.

Friday, January 5, 2024  7-9 pm – Opening Reception for Five New Exhibits at the Pacific Grove Art Center, 168 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove.  See David Hohmann’s “Back at it” exhibit in the Gill Gallery, Amy Small’s “Soul Direction” in the Dyke Gallery, Helen MacKinlay’s “Cosmogonies: Creation Myths” in the Annand Gallery, Lee Cox’s exhibit of “Time Capsules” in the Boyer Gallery, and Monterey High School’s “Urban Fantasies” exhibit in the Small Halls. 

Saturday,  January 6, 2024 10-noon – Free Wharf Walk “Tales of the Sea: Stories from Monterey Bay”.  This walking tour of the wharf with Marine Historian Tim Thomas will enhance your knowledge of this historic area.  Advance reservations are required by calling Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email timsardine@yahoo.com. The tour is for ages 10-adult only, with no more than 15 people.  Tours start near the pink Harbor House on Fisherman’s Wharf.   

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 7 pm-8:30 – Old Town Neighborhood Association Meeting at the McKone Building of MIIS, 499 Pierce Street.   Old Town resident Bill Leone will present information on the Neighborhood Watch program, plus we will hear updates from committees, discuss NCIP proposals, and how to involve the city in making safe evacuation routes, fire safety, and preventing power outages.   In addition, if you are interested in serving on the board or on a committee, please let us know.  We will hold elections for our seven directors in March.   Please note that as of January 1, 2024, all memberships will remain at $20 per household and be for the calendar year, although residents can pay in advance.   Residents can view and participate in the meeting on Zoom at https://middlebury.zoom.us/j/95304056025?pwd=bGpnU21nUnhPUlVTTVNhVVZ1VjB2dz09

    Password: 174127

Saturday, January 13, 2024,  9 and 10:30 am – Free Tour of the Pacific Biological Laboratory, 800 Cannery Row.  The lab played a pivotal role in the life and work of marine biologist, Ed Ricketts, his friendship and collaboration with author John Steinbeck, their circle of friends, and the PBL Members who bought the Lab in the mid-1950’s and founded the Monterey Jazz Festival.  The tours are docent lead and last one hour.   Free, but donations are appreciated.  Tours are subject to space available, and requires registration at https://montereypl.libcal.com/event/11543228.

Saturday, January 13, 2024, 7-9:30 Community Hootenanny at the Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove.  Bring your musical instruments and voices to join in this 20th year of community gatherings to celebrate song.  Free, but donations are appreciated.  More information here: https://pgartcenter.org/Events/Coming-Events.php.

Friday, January 19, 5:30-6:30 – “Before They Vanish: Ethiopia’s Omo Valley” by explorer and award-winning author James Michael Dorsey, at the Community Room of the Monterey Public Library.  Hear the untold stories of one of rural Africa’s most isolated regions, with tribes that had no connections to the outside.  Free, but registration required at https://montereypl.libcal.com/event/11516110.

Friday, February 2, 2024- First Friday at the Monterey Museum of Art. Enjoy free after-hours access to the museum for an evening of art, music, and community.

Saturday, February 3, 2024 2-4 pm – Reception for Sachiko Yokota’s new exhibit “Enso (circular form) Zen” at Venture Gallery, Portola Hotel.  Free reception to view the artist’s ceramics and other household art items that express minimalism of Japanese aesthetics.   Exhibition through February 29, 10-6 pm.   

Saturday, February 24, 2024, 4-7 pm  – “Chocolate and Wine” fundraiser benefiting the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific Street.    Early bird pricing of $60 until February 1.  Silent auction, wonderful food, and wines make this 19th annual fundraiser an event not to be missed!    For more information and to make reservations, visit https://www.investinmpl.org/event/19th-annual-chocolate-wine.

ANNOUNCEMENTS  

FREE ADMISSION TO THE ATT PEBBLE BEACH PRO AM WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER.  VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for the ATT Pebble Beach Pro Am Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4th, 2024.  Get free admission to the event and help support First Night Monterey by volunteering to help at the hospitality tent on the Pebble Beach links course 15th hole.  Many shifts available.   Find more information and form to volunteer at: https://www.firstnightmonterey.org/Volunteers/index.php.

Monterey’s Rental Registry Opens.   Effective January 1, 2024, owners of rental property in Monterey must register their rental unit on the city’s new Rental Inventory Portal prior to March 1.  If an owner owns and manages three or less rental units in Monterey, an exemption may be requested, but filing for the exemption must also be done by March 1.  More information and the form to register can be found at https://monterey.org/residents/neighborhoods___housing/rental_inventory.php

“Extraordinary Valor: The Lost History of the Buffalo Solders in Monterey” new exhibit open on Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm at the Lower Presidio Museum.  Free.

UNDERGROUNDING SURVEYIf you haven’t yet, please go to montereyundergrounding.net and complete an important survey.   Also, let them know if you want to be part of this committee.

Old Town Neighborhood Association’s website is LIVEVisit 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. 

Not Yet a Member of Old Town Neighborhood Association? Annual membership dues are just $20 for two adults in your household, which helps support social events and technical costs of website, Zoom meetings, and newsletter. 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