By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov
The full moon over Monterey Bay is a fascinating view to behold. Especially with a themed Moonlight Cocktail in hand, and from a heated patio of Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Located in the oceanfront section of Monterey, known as Cannery Row and immortalized by John Steinbeck, this majestic hotel was built on a footprint of the historical cannery and occupies four and a half acres of land – almost an entire city block.
These nights, during the full moon, hotel guests and Monterey Peninsula locals congregate on its expansive open deck over water to celebrate “Moonlight on the Bay.” Designed for the chilly autumn nights, “Moonlight on the Bay” promotion includes specialty cocktails, like Blue Moontini made of Pearl plum vodka, lavender elixir, and plum bitters, and Harvest Moon Coffee with Tuaca, spiced rum, Frangelico, coffee, whipped cream, and nutmeg. Valley of the Moon wines and gourmet pizza are also a part of the popular deck-side reveries of the lunar cycle.
In fact, Schooners’ Caprese pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomato, fragrant basil and a sprinkle of balsamic is offered in honor of the classic Dean Martin’s song with its famous funny lyrics, “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza-pie, that’s amore…” Wrapped in warm blankets provided by the restaurant’s attentive staff, and obviously overcome by amore, Schooners’ patrons tend to linger on the patio, suspended over the waters of Monterey Bay. The newly remodeled restaurant, lead by the Executive Chef James Waller, is known for its California-fresh contemporary American cuisine and sustainable seafood.
Local seasonal Dungeness is a star of roasted corn and crab chowder from Holiday Specials menu.
A troll-caught in Washington state King salmon from Fish Stories menu is pan-seared and served on a bed of beans and shrimp in a wonderfully mildly-spiced Peruvian mole sauce. 
All desserts are made in house, and warm Schooners’ brownie with vanilla ice-cream and shaved dark chocolate is sure to warm anyone’s heart. 
A good-night sleep guaranteed in a hotel room where the only sound that comes through the open balcony door is the sound of waves splashing underneath. 
The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa has 290 deluxe guestrooms decorated with classic Biedermeier-style furniture and fabrics, and even equipped with sea binoculars. 
It is easy to spend hours on a cozy balcony over the Bay contemplating leisurely kayakers surrounded by sea otters, seals, dolphins, seagulls, and pelicans. They can also be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows from any table of the Schooners main dining room at breakfast.
Some of the immensely popular breakfast treats here are California Crab Cake Benedict with grilled Portobello mushroom and Béarnaise sauce, and Cinnamon Blueberry French Toast with maple syrup and blueberry compote. 
After breakfast, the nicest short walk along Cannery Row takes hotel guests to all the area attractions and activities. Bicycling, kayaking, sailing, whale watching, scuba diving in the protected marine sanctuary of Monterey Bay, and golf at 19 local championship courses are readily available. The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is just three blocks away. Its enormous well-appointed space is dedicated to all forms of marine life on the ocean’s edge and at the open sea.
From jewel-like coral reef fish to giant octopi the Open Sea exhibits are teeming with wondrous creatures. Touch Pools bring to the surface bat rays, sea stars, and sea slugs. 
Leopard sharks with bright cat eyes swim through the kelp forest in Monterey Bay Habitats.
Graceful multicolored seahorses, sea dragons, and pipefish populate the mind-boggling show The Secret Lives of Seahorses. 
In the Jellies exhibit there are giant violet Crown Jellies – first time on display anywhere in the world; and Blue Blubber Jellies of all colors from baby blue to deep purple; and – suitable for the occasion pale Moon Jellies – very much in tune with the full moon and all things moonlight. 
“Moonlight on the Bay” promotion at the Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar’s patio continues through November 30 from 5-11 p.m., but the holiday season in Monterey goes on way beyond the full moon phase. The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is located at 400 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940. For information and reservations call: (831) 646-1700 or (800) 334-3999 or visit: www.montereyplazahotel.com
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