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Cinco de Mayo: Great Mexican Food in Monterey County

Cinco de Mayo at El Mariachi in Monterey California

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and that always puts me in the mood for Mexican food.

But then again, I’m always in the mood for Mexican food.

So I took a poll among Monterey Vacation Rental agents, because this team is all about having fun on the Monterey Peninsula – and here are the results:

Sarah Borgomini gives Michael’s Taqueria in Pacific Grove three (!!!) exclamation points. “But it’s not authentic refried beans,” she warns, “it’s more black beans and grilled blackened shrimp.” Sounds good to me.

Agent Rhiannon McCraner swears by Lopez Mexican Restaurant in Monterey because, well, “it’s “yummy.” Matt Collins recommends Jose’s and El Palomar in Monterey, while Lindsay Napoli loves La Tortuga in Seaside and Peppers in Pacific Grove.

But when agent Frank Gallagher heard the above he told me not to pay any attention. “Go to Island Taco at the Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel for the best fish tacos,” he commanded. (A motion that was seconded by Howard Hartman, who calls their chicken rice bowls “muy bueno.”)

After dinner and drinks – or heck, even a shot or two of Patron – you might consider heading upstairs to El Mariachi on Cannery Row. Because after a few margaritas, riding a mechanical bull might suddenly seem like a great idea.

Share the Aloha

Luxury Princeville Kauai Vacation Home RentalSix nights in a luxury 4 bedroom home on Kauai?

And that’s just the second prize!

We’re holding a fundraiser for Jay Killen, a long time friend and client of Monterey Bay Property Management. Jay was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease ten years ago and has recently undergone deep brain surgery – his resources are exhausted and he needs our help with medical bills, treatment and medications.

We’re having a drawing on Labor Day, September 5th: first prize winner will receive 50% of total ticket sales (with the other half going to the Jay Killen Fund), second prize is a 7-day/6-night stay at Lei Aloha in Princeville, Kauai (valued at over $3,000), and third prize is a set of Hawaiian earrings, necklace, and bracelet handmade by Jay’s wife Vance.

Tickets are $5 each, or five tickets for $20. Look for the Monterey Bay Property Management booth at the Good Old Days Festival in Pacific Grove this weekend, April 9-10, or buy tickets at our Pacific Grove office, 650 Lighthouse Ave., Suite 105.

California Bloomin’

wildflowers_pacificgrove_pink50th ANNUAL WILDFLOWER SHOW

The hills are alive… April is peak wildflower season in Monterey County-and the 50th Annual Wildflower Show April 15-17 in Pacific Grove is a rare opportunity to view over 600 varieties at one of largest such shows in the world.

This Golden Anniversary event, held at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, will feature the wildflowers of the California central coast as well as basket weaving demonstrations, sketching classes, lectures, and arts-and-crafts for kids.

WILDFLOWER WALKS AT POINT LOBOS

Meanwhile, everything’s coming up Eschscholzia californica (California poppies) at Point Lobos, where the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will lead an easy four-mile “Peak of Wildflower Season” walk on April 20. For more info, or to make a reservation call (831) 375-7777.

547afamily_jpgNEED A PLACE TO STAY IN PACIFIC GROVE (WHILE PERUSING POSIES)?

Sea otters, seals, tidepools, pocket beaches and a mile-long coastal trail…

If you love the beach, look no further than this 4 bedroom/3 bath beauty just one block from the white sand dunes of Asilomar State Beach.

BIG SUR MARATHON AND HIGHWAY ONE UPDATE

032211-landslide-630You may have heard about the catastrophic road failure on Highway One south of Carmel (photo) but due to a rockslide further south near Limekiln State Park on March 24, about forty miles of Highway One on the Big Sur coast were closed briefly to all traffic.

However, as of March 26, Caltrans announced a plan to open one lane of Highway 1 at the site of the southern slide for an hour at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and then continuously overnight beginning at 6 p.m.  The highway is still closed at Rocky Creek in the north, and may be impassable for another month.

Due to the highway closure, the May 1st Big Sur International Marathon will take place on an alternate “out and back” course. This newly created course will begin just before the Carmel River Bridge and head south on Highway One to a turnaround point in the vicinity of Rocky Creek Bridge, and will detour through Point Lobos State Park on the return trip.

Marathon organizers are encouraging participants who had planned to stay in Big Sur to secure alternate accommodations in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside or Carmel. Meanwhile, we are extremely happy to report that it looks like some sunny weather is coming our way this week! For up to date highway info, call Caltrans toll-free hotline at 888.836.0866.

YES, We Have Green Beer

The next morning, Pamela Burns (now there’s a good Irish lass), owner of Monterey’s Wild Plum Café and Bakery (731 Munras Ave in Monterey) will serve St. Patrick’s Day Scones (currant with lemon curd – yum!), Irish Soda Bread, and of course, Corned Beef with Cabbage.

That evening, Great Big Sea (“two parts Irish Rovers crossed with AC/DC”) will deliver a tsunami of music when they take the stage at the beautiful Sunset Center at Ninth and San Carlos in Carmel-By-the-Sea:

Meanwhile, Fandango Restaurant at 223 17th Street in Pacific Grove will offer a wee bit of Irish tradition: Irish Stew or Corned Beef and Cabbage for $17.95, and two special $5 “green” drinks: Midori Cosmopolitan or Midori Sours. St. Paddy’s Day diners will also be invited to enter a drawing for a “mini-pot of gold:” a $50 gift certificate.

And for a real local pub experience, well, you can’t beat the Mucky Duck, 479 Alvarado, Monterey. Voted Best Singles Bar for fourteen years in a row, the Mucky Duck has indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a full bar, flat screens, dartboards, dancing, and Happy Hour everyday from 4-7pm ($3 draft beers, $3 well drinks, and 50% off appetizers).