John C. Turner is spilling the beans and sharing secrets behind a successful hotel on Cannery Row. General Manager of the InterContinental the Clement Monterey, Turner reports the hotel is off to a bustling start to the year. “The first months of 2025 we had an abundance of special events,” Turner said, including a Steinbeck-themed dinner that was so successful it will now become an annual event. Under the guidance of C restaurant + bar’s longtime executive chef Matt Bolton, special dining events will continue through the spring. Guests can choose between the hotel’s popular weekday happy hour or sit down for a new Thursday prime rib entree. A much-anticipated Japanese whisky dinner is planned for Thursday, May 22 and tickets are expected to go fast.”Japanese whisky is very hot in the food and beverage world right now,” Turner says. In addition to events, Turner says that pastry chef Michelle Lee is the hotel’s “secret weapon,” who has freshly revamped its entire dessert menu. “She is a whiz at pastry,” Turner said, describing Lee’s dramatic Basque cheesecakes and chocolate creations. Turner’s favorite is a reimagined Baked Alaska, a challenging, retro dessert. “I begged her not to take that off the menu,” he said. While not a secret, Turner said his guests get a unique chance to appreciate Cannery Row’s unmatched beauty from its location at 750 Cannery Row. “During daylight hours, guests can see sailboats, kayaks and an array of marine life from the property,” Turner said, noting migrating gray whales can be spotted this time of year. “Sunrise is particularly spectacular at our hotel.” ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/ monterey/mryha/hoteldetail (888) 424-6835 While spring “feels like a jump start” for nonstop summer fun, Barrie Riddoch of Oscar’s Playground and Escape Room 831 says that winter was plenty busy too. “We get a lot of locals,” said Riddoch, who owns Cannery Row’s Oscar’s Playground and four Escape Room 831 locations with his wife, Christina. Riddoch reports that following a steady winter, “we are booked solid with birthday parties every weekend until May.” For Riddoch, catering to locals makes perfect business sense— and has proven an effective way to offset slower visitor numbers in the off-season months. “Locals keep us alive during the off season.” As a lifelong resident of Monterey, Riddoch remembers riding his bike to Cannery Row for the carousel, arcades and pizza. Now, he is inspired to reimagine that experience for a new generation. “For years Cannery Row’s arcade and carousel were the epitome of fun. We wanted to bring the magic back,” Riddoch said. “ We wanted to give our customers the same dopamine hit we had as kids.” Oscar’s Playground, located on the third floor of 685 Cannery Row, has dopamine down—offering skee-ball, pinball and modern arcade games. And if you’re wondering, yes it is named after Oscar Hossenfelder’s – the original arcade and carousel on the Row. Riddoch says another unique benefit of Oscar’s Playground is that it offers people a place to rest. “We created a space for them to sit and plan,” Riddoch said. “We want our lounge to be a hub for Cannery Row. You come in here and everyone’s welcome and encouraged to have fun.” oscarsplayground.com (831) 241-6616 InterContinental the Clement Monterey Oscar’s Playground and Escape Room 831 MEET THE NEIGHBORS
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