In 1905, artist Christian "Chris" Jorgensen—an accomplished painter known for his evocative watercolors of California landscapes—started construction on La Playa in the remote and wild dunes of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was to be a winter home and studio for Jorgensen and his wife, Angela Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli was heiress to the San Francisco chocolate empire, but despite her … [Read more...] about Historic La Playa
The Opulence of an Earlier Era
The Sardine Factory Celebrates 55 Years of Distinctive Dining in Monterey
Certain places demand a certain level of formality, nothing pretentious or unattainable, just an expectation to put your best foot forward. In times past, there were more places in society that required such a heightened level of formality—be it a weekly trip to a place of worship or just working as a sales girl at Saks 5th Avenue in the Carmel Plaza, where a strict dress code … [Read more...] about The Opulence of an Earlier Era
95 Years of Art
Celebrating an Association That Shaped Carmel
This year marks the 95th anniversary of the Carmel Art Association (CAA)—the second oldest continuously operating artist cooperative in the nation and the oldest west of the Mississippi—and to celebrate this milestone, a 95th anniversary historic exhibition and sale benefiting the CAA, entitled "95 Years," is taking place both in the gallery and online. Art is at the very … [Read more...] about 95 Years of Art
A Culinary Legacy of Elegance and Grace
The History of Gallatin’s at Stokes Adobe
After sitting dormant for the last four years, a warm glow can once again be seen emanating from the windows and garden firepits of historic Stokes Adobe. A new restaurant of the same name has brought the building back to life and its history back into the spotlight. Since the 1980s, whenever the storied adobe at 500 Hartnell Street in Monterey has changed hands and a new … [Read more...] about A Culinary Legacy of Elegance and Grace