Next time you visit the library, do yourself a favor and take the five-block stroll to the Stevenson House at 520 Houston. (If you need directions, just ask a librarian!) An art exhibit opened there yesterday featuring works by several of Monterey’s renowned artists from the period that spanned the 1870’s through the 1930’s.

This is a small exhibit in the sense that there are only twelve pieces on display and they are each quite small in size - jewel-like. But the exhibit is large in my mind, in the sense that it represents a big step forward in interpreting another aspect of this historic building as a once-popular gathering place for Monterey’s community of bohemian artists. I believe the building’s other famous resident, Robert Louis Stevenson, would have approved.

While you’re at Stevenson House, be sure to take a stroll in the garden. It is a place of great serenity and beauty throughout the year, but right now it is an explosion of colorful blossoms. The art exhibit runs through December 2007, and by then the foxglove and roses will have given way to some other seasonal delight.

The offerings at Stevenson House are just another example of the rich history and beauty that can be found at almost every turn in downtown Monterey. So, make the most of your trip to the library. Allow yourself an extra half-hour to explore the neighborhood on foot, and you’ll be richly rewarded. For more information about Stevenson House visit www.parks.ca.gov/mshp.