Welcome to the Carmel Residents Association WebsiteSince 1987, the Carmel Residents Association has been the premier community civic non-profit organization for full and part-time residents and owners or renters in Carmel-by-the-Sea and everyone who cares for and wants to stay connected to everything in our "Village in the Forest by the Sea". You can now also join, renew and make donations to the CRA, register and pay for CRA-sponsored events and much more, all online. Click here for a more detailed overview. Why should you join or renew? Here's why. Monday October 23rd We gathered over 100 community residents and guests, plus our honored panelists at the Carmel Highschool Center for the Performing Arts. We heard from our California State - Sacramento Senator John Laird and Assembly Member Dawn Addis who represent our Coastal Community. Paul Miller, Publisher of the Carmel Pine Cone moderated this session exploring the latest in recent Housing legislation. Learn more about about critical housing laws and explore protecting Land Use and Zoning Local Controls in our Monterey Peninsula Community. Visit this page for a full transcript, more details, coverage and related information on our Town Hall. YouTube of our Program is available HERE.
CRA's - Hot Topics, The Voice, News You Can Use, Events and More Upcoming & Ongoing "Hot Topics" We've compiled important history and background information on these pages. Each of these receive frequent updates as these initiatives continue to receive Council or Board/Commission updates via City Teams. Please check them out and provide your suggestions and comments. * Housing Element & RHNA Challenges - All meetings information, background and push back efforts are on our page. Our Housing Element draft was approved by City Council Aug 1st and submitted to HCD in Sacramento. Sacramento passed more housing legislation in October that removes local control (see list here). A Special Housing Ad Hoc meeting was held Nov 13th to review the HCD response provided on Nov 1. The Nov 13th meeting summary, links to the staff report, YouTube and presentation doc are on our Housing page. Our 120 day deadline for final State approval of our Housing Element is April 14, 2024. The Voice - Nov/Dec HERE Articles include: The Gifts of Carmel, Character Matters, a Ghost House - Scout's Honor, highlights from our October Town Hall on Housing Legislation and our 2023 CRA Membership Survey, more insights from the 1920's Pine Cone Editorials, Welcome to two new CRA Board Members, Activities recent and coming up in our Village, two new CRA informational programs - save the dates, and Cheers & Chides to close out the year. News You Can Use - November November 20th Issue HERE Articles include: Happy Thanksgiving, Last Call for Reservations for the CRA Gala on Saturday December 2nd, and highlights on last weeks FIVE Civic meeting blitz, a Community Created Tree Petition and reminder on the Friday December 1st City Holiday Celebration. Thanks to the 132 CRA Members who provided your views on these Carmel hot topics making headlines and influencing the future character of this Village where we choose to live, play, or work and always enjoy. The full report, background and coverage on this Survey can be found HERE. And check out our Updated "Carmel Eats & Drinks" Listing HERE. ...as of 10/13/2023 Archives of these email and printed publications can be found HERE. For Your Upcoming CRA Calendar: Tuesday January 23rd CRA will be hosting Paul Miller, the owner, publisher, editor of the Carmel Pine Cone, at the Carmel Woman’s Club, doors open at 6:30 PM. Paul will share a “Behind the Curtain” views into what makes this our Village weekly “must read” – with time for your questions too. Open to the public. More to follow. Wednesday February 21st CRA will be hosting our “Carmel’s City Directors - On Point” – at the Carmel Woman’s Club, doors open at 6:30 PM. Familiar staff names including Wright, Harary, Gullo, Tomasi, Swanson will be sharing updates and insights with what happens behind-the-scenes as well. Yes, and time for your questions too. Open to the public. More to follow. More CRA events and programs coming your way in 2024 Mid March next CRA No-Host Gathering - date & location to be announced. Here are the past No-Host Gathering details.
End of May - CRA's Annual Meeting - date & location to be announced. Here are the prior years Annual Meeting details.
Saturday September 7th - CRA Members - Feast in the Forest in Pebble Beach. Here is the 2023 Feast in the Forest detail.
Tuesday September 17th - CRA's Residential City of Carmel Candidates Forum, open to the public. Here is the 2022 CRA Candidates Forum detail.
Saturday December 7th - CRA's Members Holiday Gala. Here are the 2023 Holiday Gala details.
Plus you can always find us at the CRA Beach Clean Up - every 3rd Saturday at the bottom of Ocean avenue from 9:30-Noon (March-October).
And the at the Carmel Weekly Farmers Market - but we are there on the last Thursday of each Month at a Community Table (except November & December). Be sure to stop by! CRA's & Carmel's Past EventsDecember 2nd - CRA's Annual Holiday Gala We hope you were able to join us for this traditional dinner celebration of everything and everyone in our amazing Village in 2023! We gathered once again at La Playa beginning at 5:30-6:30 for wine, cocktails and holiday cheer. Then dinner was served between 6:30 and 9:00PM. All of the evening details are HERE. HERE is a video of this great gathering! Tuesday November 14th CRA Members gathered for a No-Host at Flaherty's - bwt San Carlos and Dolores on 6th. Find more information and photos from No Host Gathering HERE. Thanks to all who joined us! October 31st - Carmel's 107 Birthday Parade - a Halloween Tradition. CRA Board and our Members joined us to march through our Village downtown with many other organizations. Tons of fun kids and adults alike Photo's from this year and past years are available HERE. October 18th - CRA No-Host All new Members and those who've been Members since day one connected in the bar at Little Napoli - NE Corner of Dolores and 7th. Pictures and details of all of our No-Hosts are available HERE. October 14th - We Celebrated Ken White as Bohemian of the Year 2023 - at Forest Theater. It was a great time to honor this great Carmel Citizen with the most! And Learn more of Ken's contributions to our Village and beyond, with pictures and more click here.
![]() September 22nd Carmel High Homecoming Parade - where CRA has sponsored the Class of 2027! Join in the fun on Ocean Ave as everyone celebrates our next generation of Carmel-ites! September 9th our Feast in the Forest in Pebble Beach, this year with a Greek theme - OLA! Enjoy the photo's and event details HERE ![]() July 4th Celebration in Devendorf Park - Great music, munching and mingling. Thanks to Monterey County Pops fitting holiday tunes and a barbershop performance by the Monterey Peninsula Cypressaires. Plus thanks to City Staff and Volunteers who produced this event for our enjoyment. June 11th CRA Members Only Beach Gathering. We met at the bottom of the 13th Avenue stairs in Cooke's Cove on Carmel City Beach for Wine or Beer on us. More details and past year's picture's can be found here. Good times had by all...2 legged and 4 legged too! May 18th was our CRA Members-Only Annual Meeting - where we held a Q&A Session with Chip & Dave (our Village Mayor Dave Potter and Administrator Chip Rerig). We also honored Café Carmel as our Carmel Business of the year and our Carmel Public Library with a Lifetime Achievement. More details and past years programs can be found here. ![]() Apr 19 - Mock City Council Session. CRA Board Members Ken White & Graeme Robertson supported the City Council, City Staff and Carmel High School (CHS) Leadership to create this Student Government Day. 12 CHS Students engaged in a serious relevant (and definitely humorous) meeting for our annual budget approval. HERE. Here is the YouTube Video from this year! TWO Fun in Devendorf (yes, pun intended) Apr 20 - "Third Thursday" in Devendorf Park - City Activities & Farmers Market teams host this every third Thursday April through October, with Fun, Food, Music and Activities for all. Your CRA Board Members hosted the adult beverages section this month. Good times had by all. Plus April 22nd was was Carmel's Annual Earth Day Celebration, tree planting, activities and more, also in Devendorf Park. Apr 5th - CRA's Members Only No-Host Gathering was held at La Balena. This and prior No-Host Gatherings pictures plus, can be found HERE. Mar 26 - Citizen of the Year Celebration - was our biannual award & recognition program celebration. For more information on our program this year and Donna Jett as well as the past 2021 year program, nomination process and prior honorees please visit this page HERE. Fred Bologna, President of CRA says "Donna is an extraordinary example of a sustained committed volunteer for our Village. With over 25 years on nonprofit boards and event leadership, her contributions are almost too many to mention. ... We are pleased to add her to our honor role of Citizens of the Year." Feb 22 2023 - CRA Hosts, the coauthor of "Humbled, How Monterey Bay Escaped Industrial Ruin" with Katheryn McKenz Program details are available HERE. Feb 2 2023 - CRA's No-Host Gathering at Seventh & Dolores. Once again a great gathering! All of our recent No-Hosts & pictures are shown HERE. Sadly, the CRA family extends our warmest thoughts to all of the Family and Friends of Skip Lloyd who passed in March of 2023. Skip was a co-founder of Carmel Residents Association and its President in 1989. He was a Carmel and area Champion throughout his life and will be missed with lasting memories. Learn more about Skip HERE. Jan 26 2023 - CRA proudly Hosted "Experience the Monterey Bay as Seen by early California Artists" at the Carmel Woman's Club. Full details are available HERE. Dec 9 2022 - We help our Annual CRA Members Holiday Gala & Dinner at La Playa - Details are available HERE. Nov 3rd 2022 - CRA's No Host Gathering was held at Edwin's - Details are available HERE. Oct 31 2022 - Halloween - CRA Board, our Members & more marched in the Carmel-by-the-Sea Anniversary Parade. Pictures from 2022 and 2021 can be found here. Sadly Carmel lost a former Mayor, former CRA Board Member, Citizen of the Year and long term champion for our Village on 10/31/2022 - Charlotte Townsend, may she Rest In Peace. Video interview and 4 articles on Charlotte's life and times are available on this page. She will be missed. Oct 19 2022- CRA Hosts - John Sanders with new insights on 17 Mile Drive and Del Monte Hotel - Details are available Here Sept 21 2022 - CRA Hosts - Our 17th Biannual CANDIDATES FORUM - Details are available Here. CRA Beach Clean Up Season - every 3rd Saturday at 9:30AM - See You in OctoberThis year marks our 30th Anniversary of this great community volunteer event. We are starting a month early this year, beginning in March through October. Farmers Market Serving Carmel Area - WeeklyThursdays - from 10 AM to 2 PM In Carmel by the Sea - just behind Devendorf Park on Sixth Avenue between Junipero and Mission Streets on 6th. PLUS - CRA leadership hosts the Community Table there at the corner of 6th and Junipero - EVERY LAST THURSDAY of EACH MONTH! (taking off Nov & Dec) Please stop by to pick up your reusable, free "Loving Carmel-by-the-Sea" shopping bag. Enjoy local certified organic fresh farm produce, plants, fresh cut flowers, baked good and various specialty items...and some entertainment too. Please Support our VIP Business MembersTake a look at the list of the local businesses with offers for our membership that are participating in the CRA's Village Incentive Program here. All current CRA members receive a yearly new VIP card with their renewal or when they join. For more information on this program and membership benefit visit this page. Carmel Chamber of Commerce Catalyst NewsletterSign Up for the Chamber's Catalyst online newsletters here. It provides great information on and to our valued local Businesses. Sign up for the Weekly Carmel Friday LetterOur Village City Administrator and Staff produce a weekly update with a highlight video and other key info on the current week and week to come. Be sure to signup for this important information here and check out past issues there too. More...As always, please stay safe and healthy. Thank you for working to keep our community strong. (see Carmel Code) |