20 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof AROUND TOWN bly is that famous movie, film or political star. Mission Ranch has long been the local celebrity hot spot, and like everyone else, they’re probably there for a solid happy hour and bar menu. But don’t expect to walk away with a selfie; Mission Ranch doesn’t allow cellphones—for a very good reason. BEST LOCAL EVENT/FESTIVAL Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey (831) 373-3366, montereyjazz.org Big names have graced the Monterey Jazz Festival’s stage over its six-decade-plus history: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Sonic the Hedgehog—just checking to see if you are paying attention. The list goes on, of course. What’s even more special about the festival is its focus on giving the next generation of musicians the tools they need to succeed. It offers various educational programs for young musicians, giving many of them a chance to perform on stages throughout Monterey County, including at the festival itself. Attend a Monterey Jazz Festival, and you can say you were one of the first to witness a future big name. BEST FOOD EVENT Pebble Beach Food & Wine pebblebeachfoodandwine.com Andrew Zimmern. That would be the answer to “Which celebrity chef hosts Bizarre Foods?” And if you were playing Trivial Pursuit, you would get a piece of pie…Hey—Zimmern, he was at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. So was Alice Waters and Maneet Chauhan. PBF&W is an annual gathering of the finest chefs, dishes, wine and spirits in the U.S. and around the world. It features dinners, seminars, tastings and more over four days. And while the setting (and the celebrities) suggest that it’s all upscale, some events focus on barbecue or burgers. And pie? You bet. BEST PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN Old Monterey Farmers Market 4-7pm Tuesdays Alvarado Street, Monterey (831) 655-2607, oldmonterey.org My neighbor, with a zucchini, near the acoustic musician. No, this isn’t a new version of Clue—it’s the delightful reality of the bustling Old Monterey Farmers Market. If you swing by downtown Monterey on any Tuesday afternoon, you may see a professor or a colonel, but you’ll definitely be among friends. While past years’ winners of this category were typically breweries, Weekly readers have chosen Old Monterey Farmers Market as the Best Place to See and Be Seen for the third consecutive year. But please, leave your candlestick at home. BEST PLACE TO PICK UP THE WEEKLY The Library There are mainly two things people do at the library—read, or pick up something to read. That being the case, it makes sense the library is where most people prefer to pick up the Weekly— it’s something to read, with some beautiful images too. And it’s not just anything to read, it’s about the local community, its people and stories, and you never know what you’ll find in its pages from one week to the next. Who knows? You might even find a board game. It wouldn’t be the first time. And here’s a fun fact: the Monterey County Free Libraries branch in Prunedale keeps the Weekly’s back issues until they run out, so if you missed a recent week or two, you might still find a copy. BEST PLACE TO GET MARRIED Lovers Point Park & Beach Ocean View and 17th, Pacific Grove (831) 648-3100, cityofpacificgrove.gov Marriage is part of The Game of Life. So are Millionaire Acres and the Poor Farm, but no need to face the Day of Reckoning board space yet. You just got married. And if Milton Bradley had known about Lovers Point, the Get Married space on the popular board game would have featured the park. It’s pretty. There’s a beach. And it’s a city park, so it will not ruin your credit (important, if you want to win The Game of Life). You feed your guests with the scenery—the ocean waves hitting the rocky coast, the greenery of the park and the splendor of the sky. BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY MY Museum 425 Washington St., Monterey (831) 649-6444, mymuseum.org It’s all fun and games until…no, actually, it’s always fun and games at MY Museum, Monterey County’s best place for a birthday party. Birthday boys and girls get exclusive access to this children’s museum during these high-energy private parties, with interactive exhibits catered to youth under 8. Party guests can explore Best Hotel | Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==