EDITORS’ PICKS protection ordinances, but proponents were not going to be so easily defeated. Under the banner Protect Salinas Renters, they pounded the pavement, gathering signatures for a referendum to undo the repeal, producing more than 6,998 valid signatures required in 30 days, a massive undertaking. Now the matter is set to go directly to voters, a win for democracy, no matter which side of the issue you are on. BEST MURAL WRAPPED AROUND A MOVIE THEATER Signs by Van’s Ocean Mural Cinemark Century, 100 10th St., Marina Traditionally, the excitement happens inside a movie theater, not outside. Cinemark Century bucks this trend with a massive mural that wraps around its exterior walls, created by Prunedale-based Signs by Van and muralist Dong Sun Kim. The mural captures the marine life of the Monterey Bay while also paying tribute to the history of Fort Ord by depicting World War II-era divers. It’s a vibrant centerpiece of The Dunes Promenade, which continued its rise this year, with new businesses and homes going live. BEST FLASHY AG TECH The LaserWeeder Some agricultural technologies seem like they’re playing their own game just by doing what they do. Case in point: the LaserWeeder. At first glance, this million-dollar machine roams through fields zapping weeds like Harry Potter zaps Dementors. The “magic” behind it comes from an array of cameras working with artificial intelligence to scan the ground with precision—targeting weeds while leaving crops untouched. Zap zap, goodbye, weeds. (Did we mention it zaps weeds?) Farmers in Monterey County are keeping a close eye on this kind of high-tech sorcery, hereby named the Best Flashy Ag Tech. BEST PLACE TO REST IN A HAMMOCK AND ORDER EMPANADAS BECAUSE THEY COME WITH CHIMICHURRI Café Guaraní 111 Central Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 747-1551, cafeguarani.com Empanadas are the best. They are the culinary equivalent of Silly Putty. They are portable. They have their own case. And talk about versatility! OK, so they don’t bounce and can’t transfer newsprint. But they can be anything you want: Filled with shredded brisket, pulled pork, yucca, guava and so on. That said, while you can lounge on a patio hammock and stretch Silly Putty all day, chimichurri would be a pointless addition. But, if you order empanadas at Café Guaraní, they are Best New Way to Make Friends and Get in Your Steps at the Same Time | Walk Every Street PG 126 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Thank you for voting us Best Farmers Market Vendor! All markets accept CalFresh/EBT & provide a 60% discount on all EBT purchases up to $30 ($30 = $75!) through Market Match Sunday Marina 10am-2pm Monday Pacific Grove 3pm-7pm Tuesday Alisal 11am-4pm Wednesday Natividad 10am-2:30pm Thursday Seaside 3pm-7pm Friday SVH 11:30am-4:30pm www.everyonesharvest.org for more info! SERVING FAMILIES IN MONTEREY COUNTY SALINAS SEASIDE PACIFIC GROVE MARINA
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