ELEGANT ADOBES: Monterey County's historic homes are plentiful, yes, but they don't necessarily adhere to a single style. The pocket-sized cottages that dot Carmel proper, or the rock-studded estates of 17 Mile Drive, attest to that. Yet everyone, regardless of architectural taste, is pretty sweet on the two dozen adobes in downtown Monterey. After all, they're historic and gorgeous and boast all sorts of tales. And when they go Christmasy? Yep, it is a big night. Or nights, rather. The nights are called Christmas in the Adobes, they're on on Dec. 8 and Dec. 10, and each night stretches over four hours, so you'll get your fill of adobe-based goodness in.
HISTORIC HAPPENINGS: The adobes will offer several festive doings, but we like the "period dance lessons at the Custom House." And the promised sweets at the Robert Louis Stevenson abode don't sound half bad, either. If you can't make the Dec. 10 event, but still will be in Monterey over the holidays, note that there is an ice rink up at the Custom House Plaza, if that's your thing. And shouldn't it be around this time of year?
