26 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com LOCAL SHOPPING Just like death and taxes, one of life’s certainties is that it gets more expensive every year. Savvy holiday shoppers know that a gift’s value doesn’t rise with its price. It’s about knowing what the recipient likes and finding those little items that fit their personality. Value is measured in joy, not dollars. FOR THE BOOK WORM A book by a local author gives an insight into the community of creatives in our backyard; starting at $8.95. Henry Miller Memorial Library 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org FOR THE NATURE LOVER Let them show off their local pride with a T-shirt emblazoned with a monarch butterfly or Dusty the Bear, an iconic member of the museum’s collection; $34/adults, $30/youth. Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 648-5716, pgmuseum.org FOR THE TASTE TESTER A box set of four bottles of olive oil lets them pick and choose different flavors, making it just as much of a gift for the palate as the person; $26. Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar 751 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 242-8900, montereystastyolivebar. com FOR THE FOUR-LEGGED A sweater for the canines in their life helps them stay warm and perhaps steal the style game from the owner; sweater pictured at $45. Diggidy Dog Ocean and Monte Verde, Carmel (831) 625-1585, diggidydog.com FOR THE NOSTALGIC A poster from a vintage movie or concert lets them relive the old days, or gives them a window into a world before they were born; prices vary. Cannery Row Antique Mall 471 Wave St., Monterey (831) 655-0264, canneryrowantiquemall. com FOR THE ANALOG GAMER A day at the pinball arcade lets them rack up the high scores and engage in some friendly competition; $20/adults, $15/youth. Lynn’s Arcade: A Pinball Parlor and Can Slangery 1760 Fremont Blvd., Suite D1, Seaside (831) 641-7173, lynnsarcade.com Not So Much Cast aside inflation with these gift ideas that won’t break the bank. By Erik Chalhoub ERIK CHALHOUB KEELY RICHTER COURTESY OF PACIFIC GROVE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ERIK CHALHOUB Lynn’s Arcade: A Pinball Parlor and Can Slangery Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Henry Miller Memorial Library Diggidy Dog Cannery Row Antique Mall COURTESY OF MONTEREY’S TASTY OLIVE BAR DANIEL DREIFUSS pocket smart
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