Friday, May 2, 2025 5-7 pm First Friday at the Monterey Museum of Art 559 Pacific Street. Enjoy free after-hours access at the museum, create art inspired by our current exhibitions and listen to live music. Channel the fusion of human anatomy and marine biology with a clay sculpture activity inspired by the designs of Annette Goodfriend. Local beverages for sale while you enjoy an acoustic set by Glenn Bell.
Friday, May 2, 2025, 7-9 pm – Opening Reception at the Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free, but donations are appreciated. See “Hidden Gems” in the Gill Gallery by Monterey Bay Plein Art Painters’ Association, “Making Impressions” by MPC Printmakers in the Dyke Gallery, “In Plain Sight” by Norman Muhl in the Annand Gallery, and PGHS Capstone Portfolios in the Boyer Gallery and Small Halls. In addition to the art, and music by Glenn Leon-Guerrero, culinary students will be showcasing their culinary skills.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 3-5 pm – Artist Reception for Lilly Campos at Venture Gallery, Portola Hotel Building at Alvarado St. See her show titled “A Summer’s Day in a California Bay”, artwork with fused glass, May 1-31, 10-6 pm daily. Free reception.
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Mother’s Day on the Wharf – Enjoy fun with festive Mother’s Day decorations perfect for photo ops. New Short Essay Contest– “Show Mom Some Love”. Write a short (200 words or less) essay sharing a favorite memory about your mom (one entry per person) and email by midnight, May 11 to brickman@brickmanmarketing.com with the subject line “Wharf Mother’s Day Essay Contest”. Winners of Wharf Dollars ($25-$100) will be announced May 17, 2025. Full info at montereywharf.com.
Monday, May 12, 5:30 pm MPUSD Facilities Master Planning Community Night at Monterey High School. Look for signs to direct you. Discussion of the needs and plans throughout the district. Open to the whole community, and feedback is encouraged.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 7 pm Old Town Neighborhood Association Meeting at the McKone Building Conference Room, 499 Pierce Street, corner of Jefferson. Our speaker will be from the Old Monterey Business Association, plus we will hear updates from committees. All are welcome. Come in person or join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://middlebury.zoom.us/j/93041916597?pwd=V9DamFMoXDyLtcxRhnUTJVaGkE15fa.1
Password: 6422
Sunday, May 24, 10 am – Beach Clean up in front of the Monterey Beach Hotel South in Sand City. Register at Monterey.surfrider.org. Free Beach yoga at 9 am prior to the clean-up.
Monday, May 26, 12:45 Memorial Day Concert on Colton Hall Lawn – Hear Heartstrings Monterey at 12:45, Soquel High School Jazz Singers at 1:15 and the Monterey Pops Orchestra at 2 pm at this free, live concert of popular and patriotic music. Bring lawn chairs and picnic snacks. Fun for the whole family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rice and Roots, a new restaurant featuring Vietnamese cuisine, has just opened in the former Epsilon space at 422 Tyler Street. Please help welcome the new owners, Ty and Niki Nguyen, by patronizing theirnew restaurant.
Annual Residential Parking Passes are available to residents of Monterey and active military for $20, good for two hours at both East and West Downtown Garages, Cannery Row Garage and the Waterfront lot. Bring proof of residency, vehicle registration and ID to Parking office, 340 Tyler Street in the East Garage. See Monterey.org/parking for more information.
Rental Registry changes requiring owners of up to 4 units to also register was passed by City Council. All landlords must register rental units annually, with few exceptions. Year 2 of the rental registry opens May 1, 2025 at 8 am and must be completed by July 1, 2025. An in-person help desk opens May 2 and continues every Wednesday and Friday through July 30 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Monterey Public Library. Visit the housing website for more information: https://monterey.gov/city_hall/departments/housing_programs/index.php
WILDFIRE READY Links from February 27 Town Hall Meeting:
Panel Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N3njGF6g6c
Tree Standards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cInp6kC0PP8
Defensible Space Inspections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDk7zxULL2M
City of Monterey Accepting Applications for Boards, Committees, and Commissions. There are vacancies in the Architectural Review Committee and the Building and Housing Appeals Board. For position descriptions and requirements, please go to Monterey.gov/bcc.
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 for members of MHAA cost of $100 (plus $50 to join, if applicable). The cost is $125 for non MHAA members. For more information or to get tickets, go to montereyhistory.org.
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. MIIS is 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.
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.