Monrovia Old Town Report: The Wine Walk is back!

By, Shawn Spencer

The Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board and the City of Monrovia are at it again! The Wine Walk is normally held in April. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Wine Walk was canceled, and one was held in October, in lieu of our beloved Taste of Old Town. As the city gets back on track, schedule wise, we lucky Monrovians get to “Sip, Shop, Support” again!  

Please, save the date for April 23. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite. They will soon also be available at the Community Center and Charlie’s House. The event is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get your ticket early, as this event sold out in October! The cost per ticket is $40 presale and $50 day of, and if you spend $100 in Old Town in one shopping/dining experience, you may purchase two pre-sale tickets for $35 each, saving $10 (receipt must be provided).  

If you are a local business owner, there are still sponsorship opportunities available. Are you looking for a way to get more involved with your community? It really takes a village to put on wonderful events like this. If you would like to get more information, please contact one of our amazing Community Services staff members at the Community Center: 626-256-8246. This is a perfect way to participate in your local community and get some recognition for your business while you’re at it!

With one hand I bringeth good news. With the other, I taketh away. It looks like the Taste of Old Town will once again be canceled this year. We did not have one in 2020 or 2021, due to the pandemic. While restrictions have been lifted and the event could be put on in a safe and thoughtful manner, it was decided to hold off for one more year. Our local Kiwanis organization is responsible for putting on the Taste of Old Town. It is a huge endeavor that they take on with grace and skill, in an effort to raise money for their scholarship program.  Our Kiwanians felt that it would be thoughtless to ask our local restaurants to participate in such a large undertaking when they have already been through so much.  

Last year, since the Taste of Old Town was Covid-canceled, the Kiwanians put on a corn hole competition in the parking lot of Bowden Development. There was music, corn hole, tacos, beer and wine. A lot of fun was had by all, and Kiwanis raised enough to award ten $1000 scholarships to local students.  

It was such a great event that Kiwanis is running it back again this year on June 4 — a little birdy whispered that this year’s event might even have margaritas! It looks like Kiwanis might make this as a permanent event on their dance card, in addition to the Taste of Old Town, which will return [fingers-crossed] in October 2023.

Pssst…we also have a birthday coming soon! Monrovia is turning 136; And boy does she look good for her age! Monrovia Days, the best birthday party ever, will be on May 13 through May 15. Stay tuned for more info. Spring has almost sprung and with it a lot of fun, upcoming events. Be sure to mark your calendars!

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