We’re living the Santa Monica life this weekend. Will you join us?
There’s an urban cycling scavenger hunt, a special festival to kick off bike month, Yallwest, the weekend-long celebration of young adult literature, is back, and the Promenade is getting a new swanky eatery.
Urban Cycling Scavenger Hunt
AIKA Trading, an urban cycling store, and Santa Monica Spoke are teaming up to promote urban cycling with the Brompton Urban Challenge on Saturday, April 30.
“The Brompton Urban Challenge (BUC) is a two-wheeled scavenger hunt! It starts with a light breakfast at AIKA the urban cycling store, after which you’ll spend the first part of the day riding around the city, and interpreting various clues with your team,” according to organizers of the event.
“We’ll break for a late lunch, then spend the remainder of the day engaging in fun Brompton challenges amidst the beautiful backdrop of Santa Monica,” organizers said.
For those who aren’t familiar with what a Brompton is, it is a type of bike that can be folded up to roughly the same size as a small piece of luggage. Bromptons and other similar folding bikes are especially convenient for multi-modal commuters who want to take their bikes on the bus or train or for those who prefer to take their bikes with them in their destinations, rather than lock them up outside.
For tickets or more information, click here.
Gear Up! For Bike Month
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McKinley Elementary School, join the Santa Monica Bike Center, Santa Monica Spoke, Safe Routes to School, Metro, Sustainable Streets, Bike Local Santa Monica, Santa Monica College Center for Environmental and Urban Studies, the Office of L.A. City Councilmember Mike Bonin, Active Santa Monica, and Breeze Bike Share, for a day of free bike-filled fun.
“Gear Up! launches a variety events to help you get ready to ride, learn to pedal safely, and win free stuff during Bike Month!. This collaborative community celebration is brought to you with local partners to help you get a bike, learn to fix a flat, win free stuff, eat good food and have fun,” according to Santa Monica Spoke’s website.
There will be food, a bike swap, raffles, and bike art. The city of Santa Monica is sponsoring a free helmet giveaway while supplies last. There will be free clinics on bike safety, tips on shopping by bike, how to ride in a skirt, and other helpful skills.
For more information, visit smspoke.org/gearup or you can check out the Facebook event page here. Below is a schedule for the the clinics being presented at the event.
YALLWEST returns
Get ready for a two day celebration (April 30 and May 1) of the imaginative world of young adult literature. Yallwest is back and it will feature “over 113 authors including New York Times Bestsellers along with local and acclaimed young adult and middle grade writers, plus notable Hollywood directors and creators,” according to Yallwest’s website.
Yallwest features “2 days of panels, book signings, food trucks, bad jokes, rock ‘n’ roll, killer photo ops & general geeky debauchery,” according to the site.
To get tickets and to find out more, visit yallwest.com.
Monsoon Gets Replaced by Swanky New Eatery
Alright, this isn’t happening this weekend, but LAist reports that “tentatively scheduled to open… some time next month” — meaning May — Monsoon at 1212 Third Street will be replaced by an awesome two-story restaurant and bar.
“The new restaurant—which takes its name from the address, 1212—will offer globally-inspired flavors with locally-sourced ingredients from a chef who has worked at revered restaurants in Vegas and New Orleans,” LAist reports. “The massive space will also feature two bars, a private events space and an area for live music.”
1212 will be located on the northernmost block of Third Street Promenade, which is actually one of the harder places for businesses, in part due to less foot traffic than the rest of the Promenade. So, good luck to 1212! We look forward to checking it out once it’s open.
