www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 39 CHILL Without a menu of signature cocktails on the table, guests might never know Rosine’s Restaurant serves good stiff drinks. “It’s incredible what we can produce without a bar,” says John Culcasi, who creates the recipes and changes up the menu—seasonally, with a bonus round for Christmas. The new fall lineup will arrive in a few weeks. For the trailing end of summer, one can still sample a margarita freshened with muddled strawberries or the popular Mango Mule, among others, all prepared back of the house. John’s Old Fashioned is Culcasi’s simple tweak of the classic cocktail. Notes of toasted wood drift into impressions of cured cherry and orange zest—rich and bittersweet. Instead of the clean simplicity of bar syrup, he creates a treacle from demerara sugar that blends into and soothes the bourbon. La Rosina is an homage to the family matriarch and restaurant namesake. Based on the Cosmopolitan, but with citrus liqueur and a float of prosecco, it is bright, brisk and festive, yet with a depth to the fruit. “That’s my biggest thing—balance,” Culcasi says of his cocktail philosophy. Although Rosine’s received its liquor license eight years ago, Culcasi says people are still surprised to find a cocktail menu, with no bar in sight. On the other hand, Rosine’s has both cocktail and cake regulars. As for his favorite? “You can’t go wrong with John’s Old Fashioned,” he says. “Not biased at all.” Rosine’s Restaurant, 434 Alvarado St., Monterey. 375-1400, rosinesmonterey.com. Hidden Gin Rosine’s is a beloved family restaurant, but guess what? The craft cocktails are another draw. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@montereycountynow.com DAVE FARIES ARIES (March 21-April 19): In some Buddhist mandalas, the outer circle depicts a wall of fire. It marks the boundary between the chaotic external world and the sacred space within. For seekers and devotees, it’s a symbol of the transformation they must undergo to commune with deeper truths. I think you’re ready to create or bolster your own flame wall, Aries. What is non-negotiable for your peace, your creativity, your worth? Who or what belongs in your inner circle? And what must stay outside? Be clear about the boundaries you need to be your authentic self. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Centuries ago, builders in Venice, Italy, drove countless wooden pilings deep into the waterlogged mud of the lagoon to create a stable base for future structures. These timber foundations were essential because the soil was too weak to support stone buildings directly. Eventually, the wood absorbed minerals from the surrounding muddy water and became exceptionally hard and durable: capable of supporting heavy buildings. Taurus, you may soon glimpse how something you’ve built your life upon—a value, a relationship, or a daily ritual—is more enduring than you imagined. Its power is in its rootedness, its long conversation with the invisible. My advice: Trust what once seemed soft but has become solid. Thank life for blessing you with its secret alchemy. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Inuit myth, Sedna is the goddess who lives at the bottom of the sea and oversees all marine life. If humans harm nature or neglect spiritual truths, Sedna may stop allowing them to catch sea creatures for food, leading to starvation. Then shamans from the world above must swim down to sing her songs and comb her long black hair. If they win her favor, she restores balance. I propose that you take direction from this myth, Gemini. Some neglected beauty and wisdom in your emotional depths is asking for your attention. What part of you needs reverence, tenderness, and ceremonial care? CANCER (June 21-July 22): In ancient Rome, the lararium was a home altar. It wasn’t used for momentous appeals to the heavyweight deities like Jupiter, Venus, Apollo, Juno, and Mars. Instead, it was there that people performed daily rituals, seeking prosperity, protection and health from their ancestors and minor household gods. I think now is a fine time to create your own version of a lararium, Cancerian. How could you fortify your home base to make it more nurturing and uplifting? What rituals and playful ceremonies might you do to generate everyday blessings? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Persian miniature painting, entire epics are compressed into exquisite images the size of a hand. Each creation contains worlds within worlds, myths tucked into detail. I suggest you draw inspiration from this approach, Leo. Rather than imagining your life as a grand performance, play with the theme of sacred compression. Be alert for seemingly transitory moments that carry enormous weight. Proceed on the assumption that a brief phrase or lucky accident may spark sweet changes. What might it look like to condense your full glory into small gifts that people can readily use? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In Andean cosmology, the condor and the hummingbird are both sacred messengers. One soars majestically at high altitudes, a symbolic bridge between the earth and heaven. The other moves with supple efficiency and detailed precision, an icon of resilience and high energy. Let’s make these birds your spirit creatures for the coming months. Your challenging but feasible assignment is to both see the big picture and attend skillfully to the intimate details. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the ancient Greek myth of Psyche, one of her trials is to gather golden wool from violent rams. She succeeds by waiting until the torrid heat of midday passes, and the rams are resting in the cool shade. She safely collects the wool from branches without confronting the rams directly. Let this be a lesson, Libra. To succeed at your challenges, rely on strategy rather than confrontation. It’s true that what you want may feel blocked by difficult energies, like chaotic schedules or reactive people. But don’t act impulsively. Wait. Listen. Watch. Openings will happen when the noise settles and others tire themselves out. You don’t need to overpower. You just need to time your grace. Golden wool is waiting, but it can’t be taken by force. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1911, two teams tried to become the first humans to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen’s group succeeded, but Robert Falcon Scott’s did not. Why? Amundsen had studied with Indigenous people who were familiar with frigid environments. He adopted their clothing choices (fur and layering), their travel techniques (dogsledding), and their measured pacing, including lots of rest. Scott exhausted himself and his people with bursts of intense effort and British strategies. Take your cues from Amundsen, Scorpio. Get advice from real experts. Be consistent rather than melodramatic. Opt for discipline instead of heroics. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A lighthouse isn’t concerned with whether ships are watching it from a distance. It simply shines, no questions asked. Its purpose is steady illumination, not recognition. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I ask you and encourage you to be like a lighthouse. Be loyal to your own gleam. Do what you do best because it pleases you. The ones who need your signal will find you. You don’t have to chase them across the waves. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the fourth African American woman to be granted a U.S. patent. Her invention was ingenious: a folding cabinet bed that could be transformed into a roll-top desk. It appealed to people who lived in small apartments and needed to save space. I believe you’re primed and ready for a similar advance in practical resourcefulness, Capricorn. You may be able to combine two seemingly unrelated needs into one brilliant solution— turning space, time or resources into something more graceful and useful. Let your mind play with hybrid inventions and unlikely pairings. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I expect you will be smart during the coming weeks, Aquarius. But I hope you will also be wise and savvy. You must be ingenious as you figure out the precise ways to translate your intelligence. For example: You may feel compelled to be authentic in a situation where you have been reticent. Don’t stay silent, but also: Don’t blurt. Articulate your reality checks with elegance and discernment. The right message delivered at the wrong moment could make a mess, whereas that same message will be a blessing if offered at the exact turning point. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Liubai is a Chinese term that means “to leave blank.” In traditional ink painting, it referred to the portions of the canvas the artist chose not to fill in. Those unpainted areas were not considered empty. They carried emotional weight, inviting the eye to rest and the mind to wander. I believe your near future could benefit from this idea, Pisces. Don’t feel you have to spell everything out or tie up each thread. It may be important not to explain and reveal some things. What’s left unsaid, incomplete or open-ended may bring you more gifts than constant effort. FREEWILLASTROLOGY In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny offers EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. To buy access, go to www.RealAstrology.com. Audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700. By Rob Brezsny • August 28-September 3, 2025 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! 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