LOST AND FOUND: If you left your blue cotton jacket at the July picnic in Veterans Park, please reply to this bulletin. Meanwhile, enjoy the many events coming up around us.
Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, 10-5 pm – Abalone Festival at the Japanese American Citizens League, 424 Adams Street (across from Jack’s Park) and other sites. This free and fascinating festival of all things abalone will include expert speakers, documentary films, live performances, cultural demonstrations, a walking tour, abalone races, and more. The event will also debut the inaugural presentation of the Roy Hattori Memorial Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to abalone heritage and conservation. One of the festival highlights will be a special “Abalone Dance” performed by Monterey Rumsen Ohlone Community on Del Monte Beach, led there by the Monterey Lion Dance Troupe at approximately 2:30 pm on Saturday. The weekend will also include a Zoom conversation with historians and researchers from Tateyama, Japan, the ancestral home of many Japanese divers who came to Monterey. An evening panel discussion and two film premiers on Saturday from 7-8:30 pm on the history of the White Abalone. Sunday morning will have a presentation and films on the Rumsen use of abalone. More details are available at www.jaclmonterey.org
July 31, 2025, 6:00-7:30 pm “The Presidios of Monterey- A Historical Talk” by Cameron Binkley, Command Historian of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, at the McCone Building, 499 Pierce Street/corner of Jefferson St. This lecture is free, and sponsored by the Old Monterey Foundation. Following the lecture, there will be a wine and cheese reception. Doors open at 5:30. Free venue parking. To get your free tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-presidios-of-monterey-tickets-1475057028279?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl .
CAR WEEK FREE EVENTS
For more complete information and information on ticketed events, visit https://whatsupmonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week/monterey-car-week or https://pebblebeachconcours.net/event-calendar/.
Friday, August 8, 5-7 pm – Monterey Kick-Off Cruise In- Free. View 30 classic race cars on the 300 block of Alvarado as you listen to music and chat with drivers. A special Car Week Driver Reception open to the public begins at 5 pm at Cibo Ristorante Italiano on Alvarado Street with complimentary appetizers until 7 pm. Live jazz music begins at 5:30 pm.
Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 17 – “Cars and Cocktails on Old Fisherman’s Wharf”– Car-themed cocktails can be purchased on the wharf August 8-17, in celebration of car week. Get in the spirit by taking a selfie on the wharf with car-themed colorful decorations.
Tuesday, August 12, 10-4 pm “Vintage Voyage; Concours for a Cause” on Ocean Avenue in Carmel. This free event, open to the public, showcases classic cars, community, local charities, and music.
Wednesday, August 13- Thursday, August 14, 10-4; Friday, August 15, 10-4pm – Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction Preview Days at Quail Lodge and Golf Club, West Field, 8000 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel. View collector motorcars. Preview days are believed to be free. Auction begins August 16 at 11 am.
Wednesday, August 13, noon to 5 pm- The Little Car Show – on Lighthouse Avenuein downtown Pacific Grove features more than 100 small vehicles 25 years and older from all over the world. Free. Take advantage of Monterey’s Free Trolley to avoid the traffic congestion.
Wednesday, August 13, approximately 3 pm – Estimated Arrival of the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic at Casa Palmero, 1700 17-Mile Drive. Catch a glimpse as the classic beauties drive to Pebble Beach from Highway One after completing the 10-day, 1500 mile trek from the Pacific Northwest down the coast, or cheer them as they arrive at Casa Palmero, in Pebble Beach.
Thursday, August 14, 7-12:00 noon- Tour d’Elegance – Catch a glimpse of beautiful, classic automobiles as they head from Pebble Beach, down 17-Mile Drive to Highway 1 on down to Big Sur and back, often with their owners in period costume! Cars line up on Portola Road in Pebble Beach. Tour departs at 9:30 and returns to Pebble Beach at 12 pm. Watching is free.
Friday, August 15, noon – 5 pm – Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally – view classic cars on Lighthouse Avenue at Forest St. Awards for best in categories is at 4 pm. Rally drive launches at 5 pm with return of cars at 6 pm. Free.
Saturday, August 16, 8 am-1:30 pm – Concours d’Lemons – at Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Avenue, Seaside. Spectators are free to view the rust buckets, misfits, ugly and truly awful of the automotive world. As cars are judged on worst in class, it is well-known and encouraged to offer bribes.
Wednesday, August 20, 7:00 pm Old Town Neighborhood Association Meeting at the McCone Building, MIIS, 499 Pierce Street/corner of Jefferson, Community Room. Besides hearing from our committees and getting updates on our social activities, our guest speaker will be Shane Strong presenting the history of the American Legion in Monterey.
Thursdays, August 28- October 23, 6:00-8:30 pm – First City Academy– This inaugural First City Academy will consist of eight, weekly sessions on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at various locations around the City, culminating in a graduation ceremony on October 23. The course is a chance to explore and learn about the inner workings or California’s First City. Participants will leave with a stronger connection to Monterey and a clearer sense of how they can contribute to creating a higher quality of life, now and for future generations.
The city is primarily looking to interest neighbors and residents over 16 years of age, who have not been part of our City’s boards/commissions/council meetings etc. or who are relatively new to our City’s various programs and opportunities to engage. The link to apply is posted at https://monterey.gov/firstcityacademy.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Monterey Free Trolley is back!
The free MST Trolley operates daily 10:00 am – 6:00 pm starting Memorial day weekend through Labor Day (May 24 through September 1, 2025). The route serves Downtown Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Monterey Museum of Art is open FREE on Sundays, 11-5 through the run of their Biennial Celebration.
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.
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
Note to residents: Please clear dry weeds from your property, as they endanger the entire neighborhood.
City of Monterey Accepting Applications for Boards, Committees, and Commissions. For position descriptions and requirements, please go to Monterey.gov/bcc.
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!
Free Public Tours of Ed Ricketts Pacific Biological Laboratories Second Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 and 11:30-12:30 pm subject to availability. Modeled after famed ecologist Ed Ricketts, “Doc” was featured prominently in John Steinbeck’s novels about Cannery Row. The Lab at 800 Cannery Row was also where the idea of the Monterey Jazz Festival was born and welcomed such prominent figures as Louis Armstrong. Reserve in advance at monterey.gov/museums or by calling 831-646-5648. Visitors are also welcome to drop by without a reservation to self-tour this historic site from 12:00-4:00 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.
Kiwanis Club of Monterey –founded in 1926, helps support community projects, scholarships, and youth groups in our community. Learn more at http://www.kiwanisclubmonterey.org or by emailing factpath-kiwanis@yahoo.com.
| 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.