District Blog

Wondering when to buy or sell your home? Get a free consultation with Christian Viollaz of Chez Christian Real Estate, located right down the street at 191 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A3.

An independent brokerage in operation for more than 20 years, we know it's often difficult to get relevant information when you're looking to buy or sell a home. Let us help you. Phone for an appointment, 831-393-0324.

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Monterey Trolley Returns May 24, 2025

Posted on May 8th, 2025 by lighthouseave

The Monterey trolley is returning! This free service will operate May 24 - September 1, 10am-6pm daily. Trolleys run every 10-15 minutes. Look for the green MST Trolley signs to board along the route.

Park and Ride

Park in the Downtown Monterey Garage (340 Tyler Street) or the Cannery Row Garage (601 Foam Street) and get a free ride to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the Lighthouse District, Downtown Old Monterey, and Old Fisherman's Wharf.

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The New Monterey Business Association belatedly welcomes Carmel Valley Guitar to the Lighthouse District! This gem of a shop, which moved to 623B Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey in February, is owned and operated by master luthier Bernie Hefner.

About the Shop

Carmel Valley Guitar is a complete guitar and amplifier repair shop - actually, it's fully equipped to handle any stringed instrument repair or restoration. You'll also find an array of acoustic and electric guitars for sale on consignment as well as fresh necessities like guitar strings. The inventory is growing every day!

The shop is open Tue-Sat, 10am-6pm. Come meet and speak with Bernie, who has has 39 years of experience in the guitar manufacturing industry. No appointment necessary.

Building a Supportive Musical Community

Carmel Valley Guitar is a great place for guitar enthusiasts of all ages. Owner Bernie Hefner aims to develop a supportive environment where knowledge, experience, and instruments are shared, fostering a thriving musical community.

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American Burger presents....the Carnitas Burger! A meeting of North American and Central American cuisines, the Carnitas Burger features tender pork carnitas with cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, and avocado on a hamburger bun. Come try it!

American Burger is a family-run restaurant bringing big smiles and great food to all ages at 738 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Mattress Nation is offering the best deals and the best prices of the season during the Memorial Day Sale, now through June 3, 2025.

Save up to $800 on select adjustable mattress sets from Stearns & Foster and up to $500 off select adjustable mattress sets from Tempur-Pedic and Sealy.

Visit Salesperson Laura and her friendly little dog, Hannah, at Mattress Nation at 296 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey and let them help you. Mattress Nation is locally owned and the service can't be beat.

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To all the mothers out there: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Monterey invites you to celebrate Mother's Day by taking the first step in your Jiu-Jitsu journey and giving yourself the empowerment and community you deserve. Our Women Empowered Program is the perfect place to build confidence while learning essential self defense skills. No previous experience necessary.

In the month of May 2025, moms who are new students to the studio can train for free. Check out our website to learn more and register. We look forward to seeing you on the mat at 800 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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CSUMB students! Need a place to celebrate your graduation with friends and family? Look no further than Bulldog Sports Pub. Our kitchen is open late and we have an outdoor patio if we fill up indoors.

Make your reservations now, before you have to scramble to find a venue. Call us at 831-658-0686 to book your spot at 611 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Oystertown Open Five Days a Week!

Posted on May 6th, 2025 by Oystertown

The Lighthouse District's newest restaurant, Oystertown, is now open Thursday - Monday! Stop by, meet owners Phil Wojtowicz and Monica Schweiger, and try out their menu at 281 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

About Oystertown

Oystertown, true to its name, serves the freshest oysters in town plus a selection of seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes. And don't miss the desserts - they're heavenly. No reservations, walk-ins only.

Hours

Thursday - Saturday, 4:30pm-9pm
Sunday, 11:30am-4:40pm
Monday, 4:30pm-9pm

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Apply for the 2025 Queer Youth Recognition Scholarship

Posted on May 2nd, 2025 by lighthouseave

In support of local queer youth, Monterey Peninsula Pride announces its second annual Queer Youth Recognition Scholarship. High school seniors and juniors who have demonstrated resilience in the face of challenges, advocated for the queer community, or have contributed positively to the community on the Monterey Peninsula are encouraged to apply here.

Applications are open May 1-31, 2025. Queer youth selected for the scholarships will be recognized at the Monterey Peninsula Pride Celebration on June 28 at Custom House Plaza in Downtown Old Monterey.

Recipients who are high school seniors will receive a $1000 scholarship, recipients who are high school juniors will receive a $500 scholarship. Funds are intended to: be used towards the student's educational or personal goals, better the queer community on the Monterey Peninsula, or alleviate some financial stress in the student's family.

Applicants are required to submit a 500 word statement - please refer to the application form for details.

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The Perfect Crumb Bakery serves our popular breakfast sandwiches Wed-Sun, 7:30am-12:30pm. Made with freshly baked biscuits, two eggs, hash browns, and cheese, they're a great way to get your morning started. (Add bacon or ham by request.)

Is your mouth watering? Find them at The Perfect Crumb, located at 301 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, a small, independently owned bakery.

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Play Full Ground's new micro high school is now accepting student applications for the 2025-2026 school year!

Founder Mai Ryuno invites students and their families seeking a high school education rooted in creativity and community to join her in building this vision. The goal? To make high school education a valuable experience of learning and growth and to nurture the creativity and happiness of young people.

About Play Full Ground's Micro School

The new Play Full Ground micro school, led by artist and educator Mai Ryuno, will be dedicated to offering students in grades 9-12 the education to cultivate independence, prepare for the future after high school, and become active participants in their community and society. Learn more here.

About Mai Ryuno

Mai Ryuno brings more than 15 years of experience as a community-based artist and creative educator to this micro high school initiative. Her expertise in interdisciplinary, inquiry-based, and project-based learning will contribute to developing an engaging, personalized, and collaborative educational model with the school's founding families.

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Meet River, a furry, four-legged design consultant at Carpets and Floors, Inc. in Monterey. River wants to tell you about carpet runners.

Why are they a MUST for pets?

* Traction. No more slipping and sliding like Bambi on hardwood.

* Comfy paws = happy pups. It’s like a runway for naps and zoomies.

* Cleaner floors. Runners catch all the fur, dirt, and drool before it spreads.

* Style points. Look at these sample options - River looks fabulous on all of them!

Pro tip: Choose a carpet runner that’s durable and easy to clean, because accidents do happen.

10/10 dogs recommend them.

Visit River's team at Carpets and Floors at 471 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey to view all the options. Carpets and Floors, Inc. is a small, locally-owned business.

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Off The Charts Monterey Grand Opening Ceremony

Posted on April 18th, 2025 by OffTheCharts

Off the Charts Monterey, the first licensed cannabis dispensary in the city, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 5, 2025.

The event was led by Off the Charts Monterey's co-owner Anthony Gonzales and joined by Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, City Councilmember Gino Garcia, Chamber of Commerce President Monica Lal, and the Off The Charts team.

Mayor Williamson addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of diversifying Monterey’s economy. The dispensary is proud to serve the residents of Monterey and the millions of visitors who travel to this iconic coastal destination each year.

Visit Off The Charts Monterey at 734 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Call the shop for hours, 831-884-5012.

Photos by Gabe Rodriguez

Lighthouse District in the News, 04/07/25

Posted on April 7th, 2025 by lighthouseave

Welcome to Lighthouse District in the News, an occasional post featuring recent news articles on Monterey's Lighthouse District. Please click the link below to read the articles.

Shucking Great News [Oystertown]
by Jacqueline Weixel
Monterey County NOW, 03/20/25

Area restaurants, breweries and winemakers prepare to bear the tariff burden [Mission 19 Taqueria]
by Dave Faries
Monterey County NOW, 03/27/25

A two-alarm fire destroys Carl's Jr. near Cannery Row; nine trucks and 39 firefighters fight the blaze
by Dave Faries
Monterey County NOW, 04/03/25

Fire destroys 44-year-old Carl's Jr. in Monterey; investigation ongoing
by Brooke Kinebrew
KSBW, 04/03/25

Powell Peralta’s Bones Brigade Series 16 skateboards are out and now available at On The Beach Surf Shop. We've got the Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Tommy Guerrero and Mike McGill designs.

Only a fixed number of decks were made and each is numbered...get them while they last! The gold, red, and black finish looks even better in person.

Visit On The Beach at 693 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, or give us a call at 831-646-9283 to place your order for shipping.

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Make your Easter celebration complete with Eastern European delights from Malinka Mini Market including Easter bread ("kulich"), egg wrappers and paints, and Kagor wine.

Visit Malinka at 484 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Open Tue-Sat, 10am-7pm, and Sun-Mon, 10am-6pm.

Egg Wrappers and Paints

Kids of all ages love to decorate eggs for Easter! Malinka has a wonderful selection of beautiful wrappers that are easy to apply as well as paints for the more artistically inclined.

Easter Bread

Traditional Eastern European Easter bread (or "kulich," in Russian) is tall, round, topped with icing, and tastes almost like Italian panettone. This is a special seasonal treat.

Kagor Red Dessert Wine

Malinka carries Kagor red dessert wine under the Pastoral and Armenia labels. Kagor wine is made in Eastern Europe from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and has an intense, dark ruby color.

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Poppleton's Handcrafted Furniture & Interior Design announces our Stickley Spring Sale, April 3-15, 2025. Receive 35% off the Stickley Furniture line. (Some exclusions may apply.)

Stop by our showroom and chat with our designers about the possibilities! Poppleton's is open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, and Sun, 12pm-5pm, at 299 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

About Stickley Furniture

For more than 120 years, Stickley has stood for unparalleled American craft. Over 90% of our products are handcrafted in Upstate New York or Archdale, North Carolina, by teams of talented local artisans and skilled workers. Thoughtful and time-honored construction features make the difference.

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On a film set they say "Take Two!" But this month, the Monterey County Film Commission says "Take Out!"

In April 2025, if you order takeout food from any of Coastal Roots Hospitality's restaurants - Montrio, Rio Grill, or Tarpy's - 10 percent of the cost will be donated to Monterey County Film Commission as part of the Pick It Up - Pay It Forward Program.

About Monterey County Film Commission

Monterey County Film Commission, a nonprofit organization founded by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1987, promotes Monterey County locations, crew, and businesses to the film industry. Its office is located in Monterey's Lighthouse District.

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Volunteer with Monterey Pride 2025

Posted on April 4th, 2025 by Pearl Hour

Calling all volunteers! Monterey Peninsula Pride is getting ready for our annual Pride Parade and Celebration in Downtown Old Monterey on Saturday, June 28. We rely heavily on community members just like YOU to pull off this joyful, family-friendly celebration.

Interested in volunteering on June 28? Sign up here. We have a lot of fun, and it's a great way to give back to the community and get to know local LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies.

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You can now enjoy the amazing BBQ of Bon Ton L'Roy's Lighthouse Smokehouse seven days a week! That's right, our dining room and bar is open Wednesdays through Mondays, 11am-10pm, and we're now open on Tuesdays for takeout, 11am-9pm.

For years, Bon Ton L'Roy's family-operated restaurant has been serving up the big flavors of the Southern U.S. along with some classic Russian dishes thrown in for good measure. It's all made with skill and love at 794 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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