District Blog

Monterey Hostel, located at 778 Hawthorne Avenue, is thrilled to announce that we are now a Certified California Green Business. This certification recognizes businesses that excel in sustainable practices like energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, helping protect the future of the California coastline.

Now that we've achieved the Certified Level, we're already working toward the Innovator Level as we continue building sustainability into our daily operations.

A special thank you to our team member, Shelby (pictured here with the Hostel's Executive Director Ryan Oetting), for overseeing the certification process and helping guide the Hostel toward this important milestone.

Want to experience Monterey Hostel for yourself? Visit our website and book an overnight stay. Or, if you live in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello!

The excitement is just beginning for the Downtown Monterey 4th of July Parade! Join us as the City of Monterey proudly celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

This special event, organized in partnership with the Old Monterey Business Association and Old Monterey Foundation, will feature musical and performance artists, colorful floats, military units, community groups, civic leaders, and an anticipated audience of 20,000 people.

Parade Sponsorships

You're invited to be a part of this grand celebration as a valued sponsor with your 2026 tax-exempt donation. Your support helps make this milestone event possible!

Sponsorship levels range from $250 to $20,000. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your business and engage with the community. Download the Parade Sponsorship Form and return it to the OMBA by May 31, 2026.

Please note: Checks must be received before May 31 to guarantee the organization will be named in print and advertising materials.

Questions? Call the OMBA office at 831-655-8070.

Sponsorship Benefits

Sponsorship benefits include digital exposure with a link to your business, your business name or logo in print ads and materials, local press coverage, an opportunity for employee team building, and great community outreach to an anticipated 20,000 parade attendees. Learn more.

The Old Monterey Business Association and Old Monterey Foundation are seeking volunteers for the annual 4th of July Parade in Downtown Monterey!

Parade Details

This old fashioned community parade, with marching bands, dancers, giant balloons, and community groups is a wonderful Monterey tradition that draws thousands of locals and visitors of all ages for a morning of family-friendly fun.

Volunteer Details

Volunteers will serve 8am-12pm on Saturday, July 4. As a volunteer, you may end up marching in the parade or placed along the route for crowd and parade control. Because of this, it is very important that you be able to walk a mile and stand for a few hours.

Interested? Fill out this short form and you'll be contacted by the Parade Volunteer Coordinator. If you have questions, please contact Sabrina Hiltunen at 831-655-8070.

PLEASE NOTE: PARADE APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.

Join Monterey's 4th of July Parade! Together as a community, we'll bring entertainment, excitement, and a whole lot of fun to Downtown Monterey on Independence Day.

The Old Monterey Business Association is now accepting applications to participate in the 2026 4th of July Parade, to be held at 10am on Saturday, July 4 in Downtown Monterey. Entries are required to be entertaining, creative, and exciting. We welcome bands, floats, drill teams, dance groups, equestrians, comical groups, etc.. Get creative and think outside the box!

Entry deadline is Friday, May 29, 2026. Fill out the parade entry form. Parade organizers will notify you via e-mail if your entry is accepted.

Monterey Hostel, a nonprofit lodging provider located at 778 Hawthorne Street in Monterey, would welcome help from local volunteers in our garden or with building a Little Free Library for our garden. If anyone is interested or would like more information, please contact Ryan by email or call/text 831-677-6060.

Gardening and Weeding

Right now, our biggest need is help with gardening and weeding. We have four container gardens, several perimeter beds, and a large concrete planter with two California live oak trees. We need volunteers to help with weeding, planting, and generally caring for our drought-tolerant gardens. We’re also hoping to plant herbs that neighbors can share and enjoy!

Building Little Free Library

Monterey Hostel is also hoping to add a Little Free Library to our garden so neighbors can share books. If there are any community members with carpentry skills, we'd love to collaborate with a volunteer to build one. We believe we can get the materials donated. Here’s an example of a design we like.

At Namaste India Bistro in the Lighthouse District, our menu reflects the diversity of Indian cooking. Whether you’re new to Indian food or grew up eating it, there’s something here for everyone!

From rich, comforting curries like Butter Chicken and Saag Paneer, to flavorful vegetarian dishes such as Chana Masala and Aloo Gobi, every dish is prepared fresh using traditional spices and techniques.

We also offer favorites like tandoori dishes, biryani, and freshly baked naan, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available. We invite you to visit us at 538 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Heaven on Earth Cleaning, an independently owned cleaning service headquartered in the Lighthouse District, is now offering laundry pickup and delivery! We'll pick up your laundry and return it within 24-48 hours, ready to put away.

Details

Skip the loads and get your time back. Heaven On Earth Cleaning now offers convenient wash-and-fold service with doorstep pickup and drop-off. Your clothes return fresh, clean, and neatly folded - without the hassle. Learn more and schedule a pickup.

Heaven on Earth Cleaning is a reliable local service that offers door-to-door convenience, professional care, a quick turnaround, and easy online booking. We serve Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, and nearby areas.

Fees

Fees for our fluff and fold laundry service are:
$35 per load (up to 15 lbs.)
Weekly: $32 per load
Bi-weekly: $33 per load

Learn more and schedule your pickup here.

Take one part pop-up marketplace, neighborhood social, and small business mixer and you'll get the first Lighthouse District Meet and Greet Open House. It was our first time doing this and we couldn't be happier at how well it went on February 26, 2026. Thank you to everyone from the New Monterey neighborhood and business community who came out to join us.

On the surface, our first Meet and Greet event might seem like just a good excuse for a party, but it was intended to be more than that. You see, it's no secret that we're facing some difficult and uncertain times. More than ever, community matters.

When people come together, culture is created. When culture is created, community is the byproduct and where there's a vibrant small business scene, there are more opportunities for both culture and community to take root.

Creating more connections is how we get through hard times and build out in the good ones. We only invited people who live or work in the New Monterey neighborhood to this event because it wasn't our intent for it to be just a party. As with many of our events as a district, it was about community and always has been.

View Event Photos

Thank you to Michelle Robertson for photographing the event. You can see more of her work at michellerobertsonphotography.com.

Writer: Sheldon Chang (Not AI)

The Alliance on Aging has volunteer tax counselors that can prepare 2025 Federal and California income tax returns at no cost for low income taxpayers ages 60 and over.

Appointments Only

Assistance is by appointment only, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, February 3 - April 14, 2026, at Scholze Park Community Center, 280 Dickman Avenue in Monterey.

Please phone 831-655-1334 to schedule your appointment, or book online. The IRS deadline to file is April 15, 2026.

What to Bring

What to bring to your appointment: your 2024 tax returns, a photo ID, Social Security card, W-2 form, 1099 form (if you have any).

Monterey Hostel is proud to announce we are now a year-round drop off site for the Food Bank for Monterey County!

Neighbors can bring canned and dry goods to the hostel at 778 Hawthorne Street in Monterey any day between 9am and 8pm to support local families in need.

About Monterey Hostel

The nonprofit Monterey Hostel offers overnight lodging for school groups, families, and adventure travelers. The newly renovated hostel has 13 rooms with space to host around 50 overnight guests.

Gold Coast Tattoo, located at 639 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, now has a piercer in-house and they're accepting appointments Friday - Monday, 12pm–10pm. (Walk-in clients are always welcome, but appointments are preferred to guarantee your spot.)

Whether you’re adding something new or upgrading your jewelry, they’ve got you covered. Learn more and make a reservation.

Artist Casey Starks, owner of Casey Starks Studio at 550 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A in Monterey, has officially shifted her popular pottery workshops to become fully customizable private group events!

In the past, Casey offered workshops with set dates and individual sign-ups - but behind the scenes, that system took a lot of energy and admin to manage. So she's redesigned her workshop offerings to be more flexible and customizable for you.

What's New

Workshops are now available only as private events for groups of 2-10 people on site. YOU pick the date and time that works for your group (a great option for folks visiting from out of town). You can choose from hand building project options such as Make a Mug, Ceramic Jewelry, or Intro to Slab-Building.

Your group gets a relaxed, personalized experience - perfect for special occasions, office team-building, or creative get-togethers with your favorite people.

Why

This move to private groups allows Casey to give each group her full attention, create a more enjoyable experience, and reduce the behind-the-scenes admin for herself. It’s a win for everyone.

Learn More

If you’ve been wanting to plan a workshop or a creative outing, Casey would love to host your group. See all the details and submit a request here.

The New Monterey Business Association (NMBA), the organization of small businesses in the Lighthouse District, is excited to announce that our new Administrator, Sabrina Hiltunen, will participate in the City of Monterey's First City Academy in Spring 2026 as a strategic community partner.

Meeting weekly March 4 - May 14, First City Academy, a community program presented by the City of Monterey, teaches participants about topics such as city management, community engagement, community services, public works, police, community development, fire and emergency management, economic development, budgeting, technology, and human resources. In short, it covers how the City is funded, how services are delivered, and how decisions are made.

An integral part of Sabrina Hiltunen's job in serving and representing the businesses in the Lighthouse District and Downtown Old Monterey is to work with the City of Monterey to conduct day-to-day operations, coordinate community events, and fulfill the districts’ visions.

Sabrina writes, "I recognize First City Academy will teach me invaluable information and processes into how local government operates that will not only benefit me but our businesses and the City of Monterey staff I work closely with. As a Monterey native and civic engagement aficionado, I am looking forward to learning about our government programs and services as well as getting to know the civil servants who dedicate their lives and careers to making our city a vibrant community to live, work, and play."

Namaste India Bistro has been part of Monterey's Lighthouse District for nearly a decade, offering authentic Indian cuisine made with care, tradition, and a whole lot of heart.

We’ve recently refreshed our interior to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, perfect for a casual lunch, family dinner, or a relaxed night out. Our goal is simple: to make every guest feel welcome the moment they walk through our door at 538 Lighthouse Avenue.

If you’ve been meaning to try Namaste or haven’t visited in a while, we invite you to stop by and experience it for yourself. Supporting local restaurants keeps the Lighthouse District vibrant.