arts and entertainment BEST LOCAL BAND The Money Band (858) 752-3590, moneyband.org John Steinbeck once observed, “You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.” This group of four ace musicians has made a dynasty of doing just that, from venue to venue, crowd to crowd and back again over many, many years. In the end, it’s their ability to really connect with their audiences, to “feel them in yourself” that has made them such a crowd fave. From Golden Oldies to today’s modern rock these guys have all the bases covered, fronted by the highly charismatic and local legendary lead singer Zoe Alexander. Party on. BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN Dennis Murphy 171 Webster St., Monterey (831) 920-1310, dennismurphyschoolofmusic.com Dennis Murphy is a guitarist and bassist, but more than that, he’s a music educator. And it’s no wonder that the Best Local Musician is also a fantastic teacher—he shares music because he loves it. And Murphy has the clout, having played at beloved local institutions such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, as well as earning three Grammy nominations. If you hear about a concert featuring this superb teacher, don’t miss it. BEST COFFEE SHOP Alta Bakery 502 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 920-1018, altamonterey.com What makes a good coffee shop? Good coffee, of course. While that pretty much goes without saying, Alta brings something more to the coffee game. They mix up the regulars by featuring a special latte of the month, for one. Sweet treats are important too—check. But we’d argue that what really makes a coffee shop the best is when it’s a nice place to hang out, to savor that lavender latte or read a book (or, ahem, the paper) or catch up with friends. And space is what really sets Alta apart—whether you choose to sit ensconced in adobe or out back in the inviting garden. BEST LOCAL THEATER COMPANY Pacific Repertory Theater Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org The Pacific Repertory Theatre has been operating in Carmel since 1982. In 1994, the nonprofit theater company acquired the historic site of the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel and announced plans to establish a professional theater for the region. While the Golden Bough itself is under renovation, the show must go on—PacRep also manages the beloved 540-seat outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel, the oldest outdoor theater west of the Rockies. The company presents dozens of performances each year, from choreographed musicals to Shakespeare. BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION OF 2023 Much Ado About Nothing New Canon Theatre Co. P.O. Box 1955, Seaside (831) 275-1441, newcanontheatre.org After productions of Macbeth, Henry V and The Taming of the Shrew, startup nonprofit theater company New Canon Theatre Co. began its second season with a tavern-style Much Ado About Nothing held at Blue Fox Cellars in Carmel Valley. The crew moved the Shakespearean classic’s setting from 16th-century Sicily to the U.S. at the end of World War II, gender-flipped 36 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2023 mcweekly.com/bestof Crown & Anchor BRITISH OWNED AND OPERATED 150 WEST FRANKLIN | DOWNTOWN MONTEREY | 831-649-6496 WWW.CROWNANDANCHOR.NET | OPEN DAILY Thank You For Your Wonderful Support and Voting Us BEST PUB for the 20Th TimE When visiting Historic Old Town Monterey, The Crown and Anchor is a must for tourists and locals alike. Pop in and soak in the ambiance of a true British Pub and Restaurant. Open mon-Fri 4pm, Sat & Sun 12pm, inside and Outside Dining Full menu served until 10pm, with Vegetarian and Vegan choices Children’s menu heated “Full Service” Patio 20 international and Craft beers on tap Full Liquor Bar including single malts and classic irish whiskeys ’23 Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Tap, Acrobatics, and More! BEGINNING THROUGH PRE-PROFESSIONAL LEVELS CLASSES FOR AGES 12 MONTHS THROUGH ADULT Join us this Season! Season beginning August 2022 through June 2023 Enroll Online www.dancecarmel.com Best Dance Studio 2017– 2023 Thank you to our community for selecting us!
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