OPA Holiday Party Details: Reminder that our party is on the Victorian Main Patio THIS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 3pm-5:30pm. It is free for members and $5 for guests and includes food and drinks. Hope to see you there!
OPA Drawing for an iPad: All paid members will be entered into the drawing at the Dec. 9 Holiday party and all new members and members who pay their 2024 dues between now and then will get an additional entry. Click here to join or pay your 2024 dues now.
Miracle on Main St.: Main St.’s annual holiday street festival is also this Saturday, Dec. 9, with kids activities, Santa and the tree lighting on the Heritage Museum lawn. Plus, carolers & street-wide festivities and holiday parties into the night! More details here and here’s a snapshot of the schedule:
- 3 p.m. Kid Corner, Face Painting and more
- 4 p.m. Santa Claus Arrives
- 5:30 p.m. Tree Lighting
- 5:45 p.m. Candlelight walk to Edgemar Shopping Cart Tree
- 6 p.m. Streetwide Holiday parties
Thank You JaZoo’s Japan for Joining OPA as a “Silver Business Member”! Jazoo is a new shop at 2400 Main St. selling a variety of Japanese goods, including kimonos and serving ware. Here’s their Facebook page with some video tours of their store. We encourage all community members to share their appreciation with them for their community support. If other businesses are interested in joining, business memberships range from $50-$250 and include a variety of benefits. Individual and family memberships start at only $10! More details here or reply to this newsletter with any questions.
Santa Monica Rents Drop After Hot Streak: This SaMoMirror report details a “-1.7 percent drop comes after local rents increased 5.1 percent between August and October.”
SaMo Mirror Highlights Via Veneto on Main St.: This TikTok video report showcases the “classic Italian restaurant with real ingredients and delicacies from Italy. You can tell that the restaurant is a neighborhood favorite with many regulars who come by with friends and family. The maitre d’ Simone and staff are experts at making you feel welcome and assisting guests in making their dining selections. The food is incredible, fresh pumpkin and duck ravioli with seasonal specials depending on the current ingredients that are available. Everything they serve is delectable, carefully prepared, and served in style.”
The Street Seen: Latter Day Saints 2301: This week’s write-up gives the history of the Mormon church at 2nd St @ Strand.
Things To Do This Week:
- SaMo Public Library Holiday Card Making Workshop (Monday, Dec. 4 & Tuesday 3 – 5pm): During the month of December Santa Monica Public Library invites the community to upcycle old holiday cards into festive bookmarks and new greeting cards at the Main Library, Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Bring your gently used cards to make a new one in a cozy atmosphere amidst the hectic season.
- Fairview Branch Library presents an Open House and Children’s Holiday Book Fair (Tuesday 12 – 8pm): Library patrons are invited to bring their cards and learn how to sign up for the branch’s unique self-service system, find out a little bit of history of the branch and its place in the Sunset Park Community, browse and check out books and other media, enjoy crafts with the kids, as well as light refreshments. And from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m., the branch will host a children’s holiday book fair, where kids 18 and under will be able to “shop” for free books for their parents, siblings, or anyone special to them. The library will also provide supplies, and assistance if needed, to wrap their book gifts and have them ready to share this holiday season. More details here.
- Wednesdays on Ice: Ugly Holiday Sweater: Over the river and through the sand, to Grandmother’s house we go! Where else do you think we’d find an ugly sweater to wear to the ice rink? If Grandma doesn’t have any she can spare, head to the thrift store or dig out that vest Aunt Millie knitted for you, and embrace sweater weather. Ice at Santa Monica, 1324 5th St. www.iceatsantamonica.com
- Ha Ha Hanukkah Comedy Show (Tuesday & Thursday 8pm): “Join us for a night of the best Jewish comedians from HBO, Comedy Central, and Netflix. 50% of the proceeds from the comedy show will benefit SOVA (part of JFSLA).” The Crow, 2525 Michigan Ave. More details here.
- Tech & Tasks (Thursday 2 – 4pm): Need a little help? This program offers one-on-one assistance from SMPL tutors. Staff and volunteers can assist with reading, writing, and technology related tasks. Drop-in to get help with completing online forms and applications, resume writing, device help, improving reading skills, email, downloading eBooks, and much more. More details here.
OPA & City Meetings:
- Disabilities Commission Meeting (Monday 6:30pm): More details & agenda here.
- Public Safety Reform & Oversight Commission Meeting (Tuesday 5:30pm): More details & agenda here.
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link or Click Here to add it to your calendar.
- Planning Commission Meeting (Wednesday 6pm): More details & agenda here.
- Housing Commission Meeting (Thursday 6pm): Click Here for agenda.
