Amy Herzog, executive director of Visit Carmel, told city officials that the fifth annual Carmel Culinary Week will expand into village streets this week and includes a mix of ticketed community events aimed primarily at Monterey County residents and returning visitors.

Herzog said the festival, which was created to boost local overnight stays and support restaurants during a typically slow early June period, will feature two street events: La Dolce Vita, described as an Italian family-style dinner on South Dolores, on Tuesday evening; and Boho Bites and Beats, a food-and-arts street event on Dolores Street a week from Friday. She said a Soiree by the Sea at the La Playa Hotel is scheduled for Wednesday and a culinary showdown will take place in the park during the farmers market.

"We're taking it to the streets," Herzog said, describing two half-block street closures for curated, village-scale gatherings. She encouraged advance purchases and noted ticket sales typically accelerate in the final 10 days before events. "I strongly recommend tickets in advance. The party in the plaza is today starting at 2:30 for VIPs, and then 3:00 for general admission, and I was just looking, and I think there's like 50 tickets left," Herzog said.

Organizers emphasized the festival is locally focused and intended to preserve the village character, not to become a larger-scale event: "It's our city's event. It's not a big... like car week type of..." Herzog said, adding the street closures will be small and designed to maintain community visibility rather than be cordoned off.

Herzog thanked Carmel public works and public safety staff for logistical support, including banners and no-parking signage, and acknowledged the operational lift those departments manage for the events. She also noted a free community event, "Pancakes with the PD," will be held tomorrow morning at the police department; organizers invited residents to meet Commander Treuer there.

Separately during the announcements, officials noted that city budget adoption is on Tuesday and urged community participation in that process. They also announced Juanita Menig is leaving city employment and that today is her last day; speakers thanked her for her years of service greeting visitors at City Hall.

Event details and ticket availability were directed to Visit Carmel's website; organizers repeated the festival's goal of encouraging local community spirit and supporting hotels and restaurants during a traditionally slow tourism period.