District Blog

Be honest...have you brought your diving gear in for service lately? If Covid-19 has kept you out of the water for the past year, you're not alone, but remember that Scuba gear is life-saving equipment and it's important to get it serviced every year whether it gets wet or not. Make sure things are in tip-top shape before your next dive!

Bamboo Reef Dive Shop, located at 614 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, invites you to bring your gear into the shop or send it in by mail for servicing. Learn more about our gear service program here.

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Planning on grabbing a bite to eat at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Cafe? The Cafe, located inside the Aquarium, is open for dine-in meals 10am-4:30pm. Seating is available only to patrons of the Cafe, and has been reconfigured to maintain physical distancing.

Now there are two new ways to order food at the Cafe. Guests visiting onsite will be able to order via their mobile device or via our new kiosk touch screens. Even better, the entire process is cashless, making ordering your favorite meals and snacks even more convenient.

Please note: no outside food or drink may be consumed inside the Aquarium. View a sample Cafe menu here.

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On The Beach Surf Shop now has new OTIS sunglasses in stock. This eco-friendly eyewear uses scratch-resistant mineral glass lenses sourced from elements such as sand and soda ash instead of plastic, and OTIS's line of eco-acetate frames are made from renewable resources such as cottonseeds and plant matter.

Come check them out! On The Beach is located at 693 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Are you still washing your hands? Good. Do it in style with beautiful, all-natural artisan soaps handmade in Monterey by Eclipse Creations, now available at Catalyst Consignment.

Catalyst, located at 801 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A in Monterey, has a large selection of scented soaps available. Shop owner Cortina's two favorite scents so far are Lavender Sea Moss and Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey. Stop by today and pick some up - your skin will thank you.

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Cypress Boutique Monterey is happy to announce that we now carry men's clothing from Jachs NY. Come and check out our selection at 800 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite C in Monterey.

Founded in 2008, Jachs NY epitomizes intricate attention to detail and a blend of the classic and modern. Starting with custom fabrics and ending with contemporary, versatile designs, each piece is unique. From classic outerwear to everyday shirts, chinos, and sweaters, Jachs NY makes essentials for daily life and adventures.

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Pearl Hour invites you to join us for Lions and Pearls, an evening celebrating Sri Lankan cuisine and spirits. This pop-up engagement on June 9 at 7pm will feature Jasmine Senaveratna, a restaurant professional who loves storytelling and curating experiences.

The four cocktails for this evening will open up a conversation about arrack, distilled from the sap of the coconut flower, and the people who make this spirit. The cocktails will be paired with four Sri Lankan dishes. Imagine this experience as an outdoor house party with music and food for thought.

Fee is $125 per person. Seating is limited. Please reserve your table on our website. Pearl Hour is located at 214 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Recycled Records will once again participate in Record Store Day. This year there are two days to celebrate - June 12 and July 17 - each with their own special vinyl releases available that day only. On June 12, there will be 30 special releases plus a variety of albums dropping in our New Arrivals bin.

We will open at 10am on June 12 - don't miss it! Our store is located at 604 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Monterey Moves into the Yellow Tier

Posted on June 1st, 2021 by lighthouseave

The Monterey County Health Department has verified that Monterey County will move into California’s Covid-19 Yellow Tier as of Wednesday, June 2, 2021. What that means is businesses, residents, and visitors, working in partnership with the City of Monterey, have demonstrated their commitment to safety and health protocols and all of us are benefiting from it. Thanks to all of you!

With Yellow Tier status:

**Restaurants can increase indoor seating up to 50% capacity

**Gyms and fitness studios can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Family entertainment centers can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

**Museums and the Aquarium can open for indoor visitors at 100% capacity

**Bars not serving meals can open indoors up to 25% capacity

**Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can increase the number of people indoors up to 50% capacity

Everyone, please keep up the good work! Continue to wear your face mask and socially distance so that we can continue to stay in the Yellow Tier and we can move safely forward to California’s reopening of the economy on June 15, when capacity and distancing restrictions will be lifted for most businesses and activities.

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Get Vaccinated for Covid-19 for a Chance to Win Cash

Posted on May 31st, 2021 by lighthouseave

The State of California has started an incentive program to get as many people as possible vaccinated for Covid-19 by June 15, 2021. Californians who have received the vaccine are already entered for cash prizes, and those who haven’t yet been vaccinated are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to become eligible. Read details here.

Monterey Fire Department will be offering free Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccinations to ages 18 and up at the Old Monterey Farmer's Market on Alvarado Street every Tuesday, 4pm-6pm. No appointment necessary - just stop by. (They'll sign you up for a gift card!) Find more vaccination locations here.

PRIZES

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATES
The first 2 million Californians to be vaccinated after May 27 will receive a $50 Virtual Prepaid Card (which can be spent online or in-store wherever major debit cards are accepted), OR a $50 grocery gift card for Kroger (Ralphs, Food 4 Less) or Albertsons (Safeway, Vons, Albertsons, Andronico’s).

DRAWINGS FOR $50,000 - JUNE 4 & 11
Thirty vaccinated California residents will win $50,000 each in cash. There will be 15 prize winners selected on June 4 and another 15 prize winners selected on June 11. Californians with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine who are 12 years of age and older will be eligible to win. (If someone under 18 wins, the cash will be put in a savings account for them until they turn 18.)

DRAWINGS FOR $1,500,000 - JUNE 15
Ten vaccinated California residents will be selected on June 15 to win cash prizes of $1.5 million each. Californians with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine who are 12 years of age and older will be eligible to win. (If someone under 18 wins, the cash will be put in a savings account for them until they turn 18.)

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Mai Ryuno, artist and owner of Play Full Ground and co-founder of RfCC (Relation, Fashion, Creation & Connection), was recently featured along with local artist Linda Lay in a virtual fashion show, now available for viewing on YouTube!

The 27 minute show, organized by Monterey retail shop Slowfiber to celebrate international Fashion Revolution Week, features the creativity and skill of Monterey County residents who sewed, knitted, upcycled, and mended their own clothing and accessories to create some wonderfully artistic pieces in the past year.

RfCC is a socially engaged art and fashion project by Linda Lay and Mai Ryuno, through which they create garments for each other and share a playful, encouraging, thoughtful and vulnerable approach and process via social media. View more of their work, as well as Mai Ryuno's solo projects, on Play Full Ground's YouTube Channel. Play Full Ground is located at 550 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite E in Monterey.

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The Perfect Crumb Bakery is now offering fresh sourdough bread made in-house! We have a variety of flavors available including mocha, jalapeño cheddar, garlic rosemary, and plain. Stop by the shop and try our new sourdoughs and enjoy our usual sweet treats. We're located at 301 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey and open Thursday-Sunday, 8am-2pm.

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Heading out to freedive but not yet certified? Join Bamboo Reef on June 2 or 16, 6pm-7:30pm, for our NAUI Safe Buddy Course, where we'll increase your freediver safety awareness by learning things like safety and problem management, safety signals for static, recovery breathing, buddy separation, LMC and surface blackout, and much more.

Bamboo Reef Dive Shop is located at 614 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Course fee is $150. Please register online.

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Pearl Hour cocktail bar introduces our new Lemon Drop Cocktail! It all begins with California Citrus Vodka by St. George (made from California Bergamot, Valencia, and Seville oranges), shaken with Manadrincello, California Amaro Angeleno, and lemon juice.

We suggest pairing this refreshing drink with Castelvetrano olives from our new Bar Snack Menu. Visit us at 214 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Recycled Records is proud to carry recordings by local musicians! Come and check out our hometown selection, including work by El Kallpa and Sensory Sound System.

Recycled Records also carries indie store exclusives such as the new album by Lord Huron, "Long Lost" on vinyl. (It was in stock on May 24, but it may not be for long...) Visit us at 604 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

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Are all the stressors of the Covid pandemic getting you down? The Monterey Bay Aquarium has reopened for in-person visits, but their Live Cams are still available for viewing on their website. Be delighted by the antics of the sea otters or mellow out to the hypnotic drifting of the jellies, it's all a great stress reliever you can experience no matter where you are.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean. You can make a donation today and help them pay for the ongoing care of their wonderful animals and the maintenance of this legendary gem.

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Wherever you're headed, the Verve+ 3 Lowstep, now at Epicenter Cycling, is the best way to get there. This electric hybrid bike from Trek is ultra-comfortable, super intuitive to use, and a ton of fun to ride. You can power up hills, easily carry groceries, and explore new destinations knowing you'll have more than enough boost to do it all.

The Bosch pedal-assist system is powerful and reliable, and the battery is fully encased in the frame for great looks and better balance. Plus, this e-bike comes equipped with parts that put your comfort and safety first, including a road-smoothing suspension seatpost, wide tires, and front and rear lights.

Visit Epicenter Cycling, located at 230 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey to give it a test ride!

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