OPA Membership Drive: If you enjoy this newsletter and all the events and community work OPA is leading (like this week’s parade), please help our efforts by becoming a member or making a donation. Most memberships are $20/year but there is also a $10/year option. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OR DONATE.
Preview of OPA Monthly Meeting Agenda Monday July 10 6:30pm @ Alfalfa:
- Guest – SMPD: Update on recent work
- Guest – Michele Wittig: Santa Monica Coalition for Police Reform
- Guest – Karen Reitz: Santa Monica Public Library
- Sharing an Open Main St is Back! Mark your calendars now for the weekends of August 12-13, September 9-10, and October 21-22! We need community members to get involved to help plan our annual celebration. Click here to email Robbie Leer or simply reply to this email to learn more.
4th of July Parade Wrap Up: Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s parade! Parade organizer Jeff Jarow wanted to share a message as well: “We have heard from several parade spectators that they were annoyed to see a political group marching in the parade. Everyone in the parade has to register who and what they are, and to be completely transparent. Occasionally people misrepresent themselves under a different name, with different intentions. Usually, when we catch it, we remind them that this is a NON-political parade, as stated in their registration contract, along with all of the other rules and regulations. In 16 years, we have had only a couple of participants that have ignored this rule, and they were never asked back. Please look at the positive side of this parade !!…the biggest event in the city… all inclusive … and free! … We look forward to seeing all of you again next year! Thanks!”
Vice President Kamala Harris visits Alfalfa on Main St: Here’s a video of the Veep stopping in for lunch on Wednesday, July 5.
It’s “Plastic Free July” – What’s Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July is about individuals making small changes to create a collective impact. This SantaMonica.gov post lists local businesses offering reuse discounts, including Cafe K and Starbucks.
SMMUSD Tree Removal @ Muir/Smash: The district shared this memo and this map detailing upcoming tree removal process at Muir/Smash “Required for Infrastructure Preservation.”
LA County Homeless Count Reports 45% Increase in West LA: This SMDP report and this SaMoNext report dig further into the data.
What’s Next Podcast Interviews Councilmember Jesse Zwick: Here’s a link to the podcast that covers a variety of topics including Third Street Promenade needs, the best way to get input from the public, and bike lanes.
“Woman Pays $1,600/Month to Live in a Tiny Home by the Beach”: This NBC report details the 140-square-foot tiny home in Santa Monica.
Where to Eat?
- Blue Plate Oysterette Is Back: The Lucky Yu popup that had taken over the space since May transitioned back to BPO this past weekend at 1355 Ocean Ave. More details here.
- SaMo Mirror Video Profiles Dogtown Coffee on Main Street: Click here to view.
- Bludso’s BBQ: The legendary spot just opened on the corner of 14th Street and Santa Monica Blvd. Here’s the EaterLA article about it.
- Shirubē Izakaya Opens at 424 Wilshire Blvd: The old Mushi space is reborn with with Tokyo transplant’s first US location focusing on “grilled meats and seafood, together with fresh vegetables from Southern California farmers markets.” More details here.
Things To Do This Weekend:
- In The Heights (Friday & Saturday 8p.m. & Sunday 2p.m.): SaMo’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre is staging the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical throughout July. More details here.
- Plastic-Free July Cleanup Challenge at SaMo Beach Tower 20 (Saturday, July 8, 9a.m.): “LA Waterkeeper’s annual beach and river cleanups raise awareness of our growing plastics problem, motivating people to reduce their plastic use year-round and encouraging them to push decision-makers to address the issue on a society-wide scale.” Register here.
- SaMo Reads Summer Reading Program Presents Andrew & Polly Concert for Kids (Saturday, July 8, 10:30-11:15a.m.): “Andrew & Polly, and their band The Gabes, share some seriously catchy earworms and re-imaginings of classic favorites.” More details here.
- City of Hope’s Annual ‘Ride With Josh’ Fundraising Bike Ride (Saturday, July 8, 8a.m.): “Ride With Josh” was founded by Sterling Simms, after his late brother Joshua, who lost his battle with diabetes at age 19. Inspired by this cause, Rapha and City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group have come together to raise awareness for diabetes and fundraise for research that may help lead to cures for a condition that affects 1 in 10 Americans. More details here.
- Community Garden Open House (Saturday, July 8, 9-11a.m.): Come tour the Community Garden at 2318 Main St. with complimentary refreshments and conversations with Community Gardeners. “Looking to get answers to some gardening questions? Need some summer vegetable seeds to get started? This is the place and time to get these handled.” More details here.
- Jenny Yurshansky: “Rinsing the Bones” Exhibition Opening (Saturday, July 8, 3-6p.m.): The exhibition explores how generational displacement passes the embodied trauma of dislocation onto future generations. The FREE opening celebration includes a curator and artist-led walkthrough, and an ability to participate in Unfolded Narratives, an all-ages drawing workshop and engagement with the artist and The Running Stitch collective. More details here.
- Family Festival: Medieval Play @ The Getty(Sunday, July 9, 10a.m. – 5p.m.): “Arrive in costume or create your own custom tunic and immerse yourself in a medieval village where you can learn a courtly dance, sing with wandering minstrels, and meet Angel, a medieval-breed pony. Play traditional games, try your hand at sword fighting, or storm the castle with foam swords and shields on the Getty’s expansive garden lawns.” More details here.
- Sunday Main St Farmers Market: “It’s Stone Fruit Season at the Main Street Farmers Market! With local favorites, GM Jazz Quartet at 10am-1pm. It’s your last chance to take the Climate Action Santa Monica survey to receive a cotton produce bag and to enter in the Induction Stove raffle. Here is the full July events calendar.
