Monterey

A LITERARY STAR RETURNS HOME: Many real-world boats appear in books, adding to the excitement and adventure of the tale. Readers may long to view these vessels, with the understanding that, with the passage of time, such a wish may be impossible to fulfill. The decades take a toll, boats may find their way to permanent storage, be used for…

Look for a cooking demo, and lots of great eats, at the 90th annual festival.

We’ll have the artichoke fries, please.

Like, really big: The tiny crustaceans are receiving some outsized attention, and deservedly so, on the institution’s social pages.

An on-land lark pays homage to the epic icons of the ocean.

The pull-apart, super-dippable icon is the star of a Monterey County map, one that takes eaters to ‘choke-tastic Castroville (and beyond).

We’re marking the birthday of author John Steinbeck as February concludes, which puts a visit to this vibrant destination in our hearts and minds.

The dates are set for the Monterey merriment, which has a tagline to remember: “Thistle Be Fun.”

A glittering tree, pop-up performances, and other holiday happenings will festoon the ocean-close attraction during much of December.