Around Town bought this ranch in 1986. Slated at the time to become a condo development, he brought back its old-time charm, with a deck overlooking grazing sheep at the mouth of the Carmel River. Maybe it’s that scenery that draws very important people, maybe it’s the rollicking piano bar or maybe it’s the small chance you’ll run into Eastwood himself, or another face you recognize from the big screen. BEST PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN Old Monterey Farmers Market Tuesday afternoons on Alvarado Street between Del Monte and Pearl, Monterey (831) 655-2607, oldmonterey.org Nothing brings out the townsfolk like the Old Monterey Farmers Market, making it the best weekly occasion to see and be seen. You can stop by to parlé with vendors, or better yet, shop at the many amazing stalls. You can take a slow stroll right down the middle of the street (closed to traffic), or hitch up at one of the town’s beloved eateries or saloons with a sidewalk station to enjoy a drink or a bite and take it all in from the outskirts. BEST PLACE TO READ THE WEEKLY At Home Every town that grew along the Transcontinental Railroad or the gritty mining camps had a newspaper. The Western Nebraska Observer was one. The Virginia City Territorial Enterprise was another. In fact, Mark Twain got his start at the latter. The humorist’s first fictional hit, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” came from a tale he heard at a California hotel. While a lot of good information hummed along the telegraph lines, there were tall tales to sort out, too. Sorting fact from fiction and to weave tales with all the nuance the news deserves would be, we’d argue, the role of the Weekly. And for years, readers have decided the best place to keep up with the news in all its forms—digital, print, and special magazines—is the very place we like to hang our boots: home sweet home (on the range or not). BEST PLACE TO GET MARRIED Lovers Point 17th Street and Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove (831) 648-3134, cityofpacificgrove.org Once the courtin’ is over, couples gather with family and friends at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove for the ceremony, all decked out in their best bonnets and topcoats. The ocean, rocks, seagulls and overfed squirrels are the best witnesses if you are looking for a simple, local, spiritual and inexpensive ceremony. And the daguerreotypes taken afterward will be lovely with that world-class backdrop. BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY Tipsy Putt 95 Prescott Ave., Monterey (831) 297--9048, tipsyputt.com A saloon like Tipsy Putt with all the available tables would have drawn people for rapid-fire games of faro. But for a modern crowd, especially a party, table golf is much more of a crowd-pleaser. No wonder Tipsy Putt had been voted the best place in town for a birthday party. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a large celebration, you can enjoy rounds of mini golf, a game of shuffleboard and a beer for some good old-fashioned fun. BEST PLACE TO EAVESDROP Vesuvio 6th and Junipero, Carmel (831) 625-1766, chefpepe.com Situated across the street from Devendorf Park in Carmel, Vesuvio— and especially its rooftop bar—is the best place to overhear the news of the 20 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof hartnell.edu Thank you for voting us Richard Chapman Best Local Ag Educator Best Professor: • •
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