ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ually bring home the gold in the beverage game. Of course they have pure classic flavors, but those are served beside more exotic fruity selections with just the right balance of sweet and tart. Whichever one you choose (or two or three, no judgment), it will have just the right amount of tequila to start your winning streak off right. BEST MARTINI C Restaurant + Bar 750 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 375-4500, thecrestaurant-monterey. com “Martini” would probably be the easiest thing to draw—and to guess—in a game of Pictionary. After all, the stemware is iconic. You wouldn’t even need to pencil in olives or a twist. But real martinis can get confusing once the glass is chosen. Gin or vodka? How much vermouth? What about espresso martinis? At C Restaurant + Bar it doesn’t matter. The bartenders are versed in the classic presentation, cool and crystal clear. But they also prepare a line of espresso martinis. That’s right, four different ones to try. Try drawing all of that before time is up. BEST CLUB/PARTY DJ Hanif Wondir (831) 320-8745, djhanifwondir.com With an arsenal of music ranging from hip-hop, funk, EDM, trance, house and soul to special requests, Hanif can be heard turning the party hardy. He also qualifies as Monterey’s renaissance man, with skills in illustration, digital composition, and design mixing classic fine art with technology to create vibrant works in mixed media, including video projection mapping and digital painting. Not only does he keep it fresh, he keeps it real, like a quick checkmate. BEST LOCAL BAND The Money Band (858) 752-3590, moneyband.org There are reasons why this group has been an omnipresent force in Monterey’s music scene for decades and it’s not just because of the infectious charisma of legendary singer/ front man Zoe Alexander. The band itself boasts astonishing versatility: expect a playlist of everything from Sublime and the Rolling Stones to Elvis, Maroon 5 and Johnny Cash and back again, like an endless game of tic-tac-toe on your local sidewalk. The result is a pulsating dance floor on into the night—every time. BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN Katherine Lavin katherinelavinmusic.com If we had to guess Katherine Lavin’s favorite party game, we’d say Twister because her band gets everybody up on their feet and moving. When this 17-year-old from Pacific Grove takes the mic with her guitar, you need energy—and not just because she’s young and brings a ton of it herself. It’s also because her 80-plus original songs ignite something in you that makes you want to groove. But she is the real master—she’s been performing since she was just 11, and big things are headed her way. Who knows? With all that music, maybe her repertoire will eventually make it into Dance Dance Revolution’s playlist. BEST COFFEE SHOP Alta Bakery 502 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 920-1018, altamonterey.com I spy with my little eye: Beautiful pastries, artisanal coffee beverages, tasty toasts and a sun-soaked outdoor space surrounded by beautiful flowers. Alta has all of that and more, making 36 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Reservations up to 60 days IN ADVANCE. ’12 ’11 ’13 ’14 RECOGNIZED BY GOLF DIGEST AS ONE OF THE “BEST DEALS IN GOLF” 77 ASILOMAR BLVD, PACIFIC GROVE • 831.648.5775 • www.playpacificgrove.com • Best Public Golf Course ’16 ’15 ’18 ’17 ’24 ’25 ’20 ’19 ’23 ’22
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