Monterey Rentals

Quite a bit! On February 2nd the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will rock the halls of Carmel’s beautiful Sunset Center. Come join the party as this sizzling group keeps the spirit of New Orleans alive.

Speaking of spirit, the irrepressible Joan Rivers hits the stage on Friday, February 10 at 8 pm. Adults only, please… with Joan, nothing’s off limits!

Looking for a quiet retreat after all that music and comedy? May we present the newest property in our inventory: SEASHELL COTTAGE, a charming 3 bedroom/2 bath bungalow that reflects the Carmel cottages of yesteryear.

You’ll love the two fireplaces (one in the master), the flowering garden, and the cheerful sun room.

And if you’re in the mood to perform, there’s an upright Steinway in the living room.

January 22nd, 2012 | Tags: Carmel, Joan Rivers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Rental, Sunset Center, Vacation | Category: What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

Where to find the most fabulous wardrobe on the Monterey Peninsula?  Marita’s Boutique has something for every style, every size, in any color a fashionista desires!  And those accessories!  Yum!  Not sure how to pull it all together?  No problem!

Marita and the chic ladies of her boutique are wardrobe wizards!  Just a few words about what you are looking for, and head straight to the dressing room.  They will bring you an infinite number of choices!

Visit their website.

January 16th, 2012 | Category: General | Leave a comment

Tiger Woods is returning to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time in 10 years.

He’s coming back…but is he back?

That’s the question of the day. It’s been two years since he’s won a tournament on the PGA Tour, but everyone knows that when he’s on, Woods has the talent to win at just about any golf course in the world.

And judging from his performances at the end of 2011, there’s plenty of evidence that the king of the golf galaxy just might be getting his mojo back.

Tournament ticket sales are through the roof since the Woods announcement, but we still have a few accommodations available in Pebble Beach for the AT&T week, Feb. 6-12.

Looking for Pebble Beach without the price tag? We have one bedrooms starting at $1,065/week and two bedroom ocean view condos from $2,668.

Email our resident golfer/reservationist Kyle Burritt, or give him a call at 831 233-7972.

January 14th, 2012 | Tags: AT&T, Pebble Beach, rentals, tiger woods | Category: Golf, What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

This is it, folks. The center of the Golf Universe: the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Feb. 6-12.

Since 1937, this mix of four parts professional golfers to one part show business and sports celebrities has been one of the top golfing events of the year.

The first three days are played simultaneously over three courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course. Teams rotate each of the three days, with the final round played on the fourth day at Pebble Beach.

Celebs playing along with the pros this year include Huey Lewis, Ray Romano and Bill Murray (last year’s winner).

Assuming you are not two-time champion Dustin Johnson, there are several ways to participate in this epic tournament.

On Monday, Feb. 6, for as low as $10, you can watch one of your favorite golfers play practice rounds at Spyglass or Pebble Beach. And it goes up from there:

• Good Any One Day Package • $75 One admission 2/6 – 2/12. Includes “Cover Stories,” a coffee table book showcasing the unique artwork on tournament souvenir program covers dating back to the first Crosby, with a foreword by Clint Eastwood.
• Tuesday 2/7 Practice Round Ticket • $20 ($30 after 2/4)
• Wednesday 2/8 Practice Round Ticket • $20 ($30 after 2/4)
• Tournament Rounds: 2/9 – 2/12 • $50 ($60 after 2/4) Choose from Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday: valid at all three courses with grandstand seating (space available).
• Season Badges: 2/6 – 2/12 • $125 ($150 after 2/4) Grounds admission to all 3 courses. Valid for all 7 days, Monday-Sunday.
• Any-Day Ticket Book • $425 ($600 after 2/4) Ten coupons, exchangeable at the gate on any one day for a daily ticket.

The following have limited availability and must be purchased in advance and shipped (not available at the gates):

• Champions Club Tournament Rounds 2/9 – 2/12 • $450/day or $1600/weekly View all the action from the Champions Club overlooking the 15th green. Luxurious spectator experience with cafe style seating, sumptuous breakfast/luncheon buffets, afternoon hors d’oeuvres, full bar, etc.
• Partners Package • $350 Two season badges – valid for all seven days at all three courses. Includes two golf caps, two souvenir programs, one tournament poster, one sleeve of logo golf balls, and one discount coupon for AT&T logo merchandise purchased at the pro shops during the tournament.
• Executive Booster Package • $2400 12 season badges with Grey Goose Lounge access (between Pebble Beach holes #6 and #8) Thurs. – Sun. Package includes three any-day ticket books (30 daily tickets), 20 souvenir programs, six commemorative gifts, six tournament golf caps, and two weekly parking passes inside Pebble Beach.

Now, all you need is a place to stay, right?

Email our resident golfer Kyle Burritt, or call him at 831 233-7972. He’ll tee you right up.

January 9th, 2012 | Tags: AT&T National Pro-Am, golf, Pebble Beach | Category: Golf, What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

Eighty-eight year old Skippy Blair—an icon in the world of dance—is the headliner at this year’s Monterey Swingfest January 12-16.

Daily classes start at 10am, followed by workshops, open dancing, contests and awards into the wee hours, with free basic swing classes Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 1pm.

The event concludes Monday with Blair teaching West Coast Swing at 11am, followed by a three hour dance workshop from 12-3pm. (How does she do it?)

Admission is $145 per person, and all classes will be held at the Monterey Hyatt Regency.

Need a place to put your feet up after all that dancing?

Decorated in soothing pastels, this fully-furnished one bedroom, 1.5 bath Monterey apartment has balconies with bay views.

January 1st, 2012 | Tags: dance in Monterey, monterey swingfest | Category: What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

Don’t sleep in late on January 1, 2012!

Head down to the 22nd Annual Rio Grill’s Resolution Run instead. This New Year’s Day tradition benefits the Community Partnership for Youth – and it’s an excellent way to start your year (plus you get a cool t-shirt).

Two courses (5 and 10K) start at the Rio Grill in the Crossroads Shopping Village at Highway 1 and Rio Road in Carmel. This fun family event is open to runners, walkers, strollers and (this being Carmel), well-behaved dogs on leashes.

After crossing the finish line at the Carmel Mission Basilica, participants will hoof it back to the Crossroads for brunch, the awards ceremony, and a random prize drawing.

Registration online is $36 for adults and $23 for kids 12 & under through December 31.
 Registration on Race Day is $39 for adults, $26 for kids 12 & under.

The race starts at 9am sharp. (You can nap later.)

December 29th, 2011 | Tags: Carmel run, New Year's Run, Rio Grill Resolution Run | Category: What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

It takes place on the “last” night of the year, but trust us: First Night Monterey is the place to be on December 31st.

This family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s celebration takes place at over 25 performance sites downtown (most venues are indoors). This year’s theme is “A Fantasea,” and Alvarado Street will be illuminated in colorful blue and green “aquarium” lights as more than 200 artists join to “dance, act, play, perform, create, and sing our way into 2012!”

After the opening ceremony on Colton Lawn and Pacific Street at 3 pm, Kids Night Out! kicks off with face painting, henna tattoo artists, puppet art theater, folk music and a magic show.

At 5:30 pm, all are welcome to join the Twilight Procession down Alvarado Street from Portola Plaza to Pearl Street with stilt walkers, dancers, marchers, giant puppets, and parade floats.

“First Night” will feature over nine hours of entertainment – from classical to jazz, blues to rock, hip-hop to folk:

• John “Broadway” Tucker (with an all-star cast of Bay Area musicians)
• Blues at Eleven (eclectic mix of blues, rock, funk and jazz)
• The Black Irish Band (Irish, Scottish, Italian and American folk music)
• First Night Rock Star (your chance to be a “virtual” rock star)
• Greek Village Dancers (audience participation welcome!)
• Grumbling Ginger (acoustic folk rock with a Celtic twist)
• I Cantori di Carmel (choral music: classical to Broadway)
• James Hurley (top-rated acoustic singer/songwriter)
• Junkman Jam (infectious grooves performed on “junk” and recycled materials)
• Kuzanga Marimba (music from Africa)
• MC Lars (hip-hop artist)
• Monterey Bay Lion Dance Team (high energy dance)
• Park Avenue Studio of Belly Dance
• Shinsho Mugen Daiko (Taiko drummers)
• Sambahemians (Brazilian percussion)
• Smoking Gun (rock ‘n roll)
• Sophia Songhealer (uplifting vocals)
• Thom and his Cats (Big Band: 40s, 50s and 60s)
• Trio Amaha (Brazilian music)
• The Wharf Rats (smooth rock)

Warning: “Art Attacks!”—spontaneous celebrations with drummers, dancers and stilt walkers—can occur anywhere, anytime!

Advance purchase buttons are $12 (age 6-15) and $20 (16 and up). Children 5 and under are free.

December 20th, 2011 | Tags: family activities in Monterey, New Year's Eve Monterey | Category: What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

Well, maybe not exactly with Tom Cruise, but definitely starring Tom Cruise.

The former IMAX theater just re-opened two blocks from our office – and we can’t wait to head over to see “Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” starring you-know-who.

What could be better than dinner (or Happy Hour) and a movie on Cannery Row? Let’s see… Johnny Rockets for a burger? Outrageous clam chowder at the Fish Hopper? Prime rib sliders at the Chart House?

Mmmmm… this is a very good dilemma to have.

The Cinemark Monterey Cannery Row XD is at 640 Wave Street. The “XD” stands for extra large, extreme entertainment—ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall screen, custom sound, and premium seating which promises to deliver “an intense sensory experience” to every seat.

See you there!

December 19th, 2011 | Tags: Cannery Row movie theater, Mission Impossible, monterey movies, Tom Cruise | Category: What the Locals Know | Leave a comment

Holy Smokes, who knew that Cheech Marin (of Cheech and Chong fame) was also an art aficionado?

An avid collector of Chicano art, Marin will exhibit “Chicanitas”—small paintings from his collection—at the Museum of Monterey (MOM) through April 1, with an opening reception December 10.

Subtitled “size doesn’t matter,” the collection includes 65 works (all under 16″x16″) from established and emerging Chicano artists in a variety of media: abstracts, portraits, landscapes, and photo-realism.

The actor/comedian will treat members of MOM to a private reception and walk through from 4-5 pm, with a public reception following from 5-7 pm.

Admission is $10 general and $5 for children under 12. The Museum is located at 5 Custom House Plaza and is open Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm and Sundays from noon to 5pm.

December 5th, 2011 | Tags: art in Monterey, cheech marin exhibit, museum of Monterey, things to do in Monterey | Category: General, What the Locals Know | Leave a comment