This Week on the Central Coast…
New businesses in Carmel and Santa Cruz, help for small businesses and community health, and a Santa Cruz School is going to Finland.
Monterey
New El Bistro by the Sea Opens in Carmel
A new restaurant opened about a month ago in Carmel by the Sea. El Bistro by the Sea is located on Mission Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues (closer to Fifth).
The menu features an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch items that fuse Mexican, French, and California cuisines. Dishes like the French Toast Bacon Sandwich, Chile Relleno Omelette, and Pambazo (“Guajillo-dunked Telera Sandwich”) bring a fresh set of flavors to the French and Italian-filled city of Carmel.
Give them a try next time you’re in town! Be sure to follow their Instagram account for secret menu items, like the Nutella Lava Cake French Toast.
Mobile Health Clinic Launches in Monterey
A mobile health clinic, offered by the Monterey Health Department’s Clinic Services Bureau, will start serving the community this week. The mobile clinic boasts two exam rooms and will offer dental services, mental health care, and primary care to those who use it, with the hope of “bringing essential health care services directly to the communities that need them most.”
The program began at Sherwood Elementary, helping with dental services. This month, the clinic will offer dental services once a week at the Health Department Administration building in Salinas. Then, later in the year, services will be sent to various school and community sites across Monterey County for a total of forty hours per week. The mobile health clinic hopes to “ensure that no one is left behind due to barriers to care”.
Small Business Development Center Opening in Monterey County
A new Small Business Development Center will open in Monterey County next month. The center will offer “business advisory services, training programs and resources to entrepreneurs, start-ups and small business owners.” All services are offered for free via the center’s workshops, which can be registered for on their website.
The grand opening of the Salinas Headquarters will be on June 5 from 4 to 5:30pm on Capitol Street.
The Monterey Outreach Center will open on June 10 from 5 to 6:30pm at 353 Camino El Estero.
The Soledad Outreach Center will open on June 28 from 4 to 5:30pm at 502 Front Street.
Santa Cruz
Board Game Cafe Opening in Santa Cruz
The Game and Merriment Emporium (GAME) Santa Cruz is a new board game cafe opening in its namesake city. The unique cafe will offer coffee, baked goods and snacks, and, eventually, alcohol, as well as over 300 board games.
Wes Pannell, co-owner, has always been into boardgames, even as he worked as a bartender and retail associate. In his free time, Pannell ran a board game group which held weekly game events at local coffee shops. Those groups often attracted up to 20 people. Pannell hopes “to create a comfortable gaming spot for everyone, particularly those who might feel like outsiders”.
Visitors will be able to rent space in the cafe for two-hour periods. Prices range from $24 to $42, depending on the size of the table. He also plans to offer “concierge services” where he will help groups learn the rules and even make suggestions for games they might like based on their interests and experience. Gamers can also choose to purchase the game they played.
GAME Santa Cruz plans to open in mid-June and will be open from 10am to 9pm. You can find them at 1101 Cedar Street, the former site of Tabby Cat Cafe.
Santa Cruz County School Selected for Music Workshop in Finland
El Sistema is a music education program in Santa Cruz County. It’s part of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities program. This week, the program got some great news. It was selected from a pool of over 500 submissions to present at the 2024 International Society of Music Education (ISME) Conference in Helsinki, Finland.
ISME will bring together eight lucky students from Radcliff Elementary School, teachers from El Sistema, the Sibelius Academy, and a Finish elementary school. The conference will compare the different styles of music education from different cultural and geographical backgrounds. Participants will gain insight on different teaching methods and cultural influences, allowing them to gain a deeper appreciation for music education around the world. The workshop will include interactive sessions and discussions as well as collaborative performances. Educators hope to gain “valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance their own music education programs”.
The 2024 ISME Conference will take place from July 28 through August 2.