PHOTOS: The Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill in downtown Monterey debuts this Wednesday with big benefit party.

The old theater across the Golden State Theatre had been empty and dilapidated and filled with pigeons and the things they bring and drop off for so long it would've been an upgrade to downtown Monterey if it became a car garage.

Nothing against parking professionals and their lot, but instead of an upgrade this Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill (655-BEER) and its nearly 5,000-square-foot, 110-seat, 20-foot-tall expanse is a game-changer, and basically the best redevelopment/foodie news in the downtown area for some time.

The grand opening celebration ($50) happens 6:30pm until close this Wednesday, May 7, with a spread of their favorite food and drink (read: a lot of surprisingly current snacks and honest-to-hops craft beer), DJ Hanif Wondir on the turntables, giveaways and a raffle. 

A full 100 percent of the proceeds from the event flow to the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula’s Carol Hatton Breast Cancer Fund, which enjoys some historic symmetry since owner and Head Brewer J.C. Hill's grandfather helped to design and build the hospital.

"I can’t think of a better way to start giving back,” Hill says. 

I can't think of a better chef to have helm it.

Aaron Haas has worked with Jerry Regester at C Restaurant (375-4800) and run his own show at Evergreen Lodge in Yosemite, but what has me more excited is his time resetting the Pagrovian palate at jenini kitchen + wine bar (920-2662) doing vibrant and enlightening geo-Mediterranean fare with charcuterie savant and Exec Chef Jeffrey Weiss.

They got so in sync Haas laughs at the outcomes. 

"There would be moments when we'd say, 'Get outta my head,'" he says. "A lot of times we'd be thinking same thing, just a little tweak to it. Same same, but different."

When I ask for an example, he says he likes to pickle his green strawberries with a touch more ripeness than Weiss.

Other same-same examples appear with the way he cures items like duck ham for the grilled pineapple and picked chilies pizza ($13) and the tasso for the charred asparagus with soft-boiled egg ($9). 

Other enticing menu items aren't hard to find, including the triple cheese flatbread with brie, manchengo, aged gruyere, arugula and a red ale tomato sauce ($13); smoked mussels in a citrus-curry-toasted grain broth; and messy-sexy poutines (a pool of delicious cheese curds, fries and beer gravy).

General Manager Kris Cowdrey seems most eager to see the impact the new anchor has on the heart of downtown Monterey. 

“We're truly poised to help revitalize downtown Monterey,” he says, “with a newly designed space that is comfortable and welcoming and offering a fresh, locally sourced, ingredient-driven menu.

"We hope to reintroduce locals and visitors alike to the history and excitement of Alvarado Street.” 

I like the way the chef and brewmaster are working together, a la Jason Giles and Kevin Clark at Peter B's (649-2699). And the fact downtown Monterey now has two on-site brew operations with quality outputs. 

And I'm just fine parking on the street.

Tickets for the opening night event can be purchased online at www.alvaradostreetbrewery.com, or by calling (831) 655-BEER.