OPA May Monthly Meeting Recap: Here is the full meeting video and here are the highlights from our first meeting in the library in more than 4 years that had about 40 in person attendees:
- Public Library Services Overview: Nancy Bender & Susan Lamb from the SMPL briefed us on various services and programs they are offering. Click here to view the presentation.
- Police Update: Here is the video update that included police activity stats over the past couple months, strategies for responding to suspicious activity, and more.
- Matthew Wells, City of Santa Monica, Public Landscape Manager: Here is the video of his presentation regarding “urban tree canapy assessment” (sorry, but we lost audio for a couple minutes).
- Amanda Ventura, Waymo: Here is the video of her presentation regarding regarding their progress with their autonymous ride sharing platform.
- Here is the video of Board business that included upcoming calendar of events (MAINopoly, Make Music Day, July 4 Parade, & more), OPA advocating for increased pedestrian safety issues in the area with speed bumps and other measures, Lincoln Blvd. improvement funding, Stella Barra space seems to be leased, etc.
- NEXT MEETING: Mark your calendar now for the Monday June 10 meeting that will feature Santa Monica Fire Department, Rev Janet and Kera Blades-Snell, and more!
MAINopoly This Weekend (Sunday 1-5pm): The 9th annual “Taste of Main Street” event is this Sunday May 19, featuring a “culinary tasting tour and real-life board game adventure all-in-one!” Celebrate Main Street’s finest restaurants, bars, and eateries at MAINopoly! This all-ages event is an interactive take on the classic board game where participating locations allow you to exchange your fake MAINopoly money for food tastings at restaurants such as The Victorian, Jameson’s, Somaosa House, Ashland Hill, Pasjoli, Sunny Blue, and more local favorites. PASS GO and go directly to the “Go to Jail” VIP Beer Garden sponsored by Venice Duck Brewing Co, JuneShine, and Duce Vida Tequila! Complete your MAINopoly gameboard for a chance to win a prize package valued at over $1,000! More details here and here’s the Santa Monica Daily Press write-up on the event, which is one of my personal favorite days on Main St. every year.
Lincoln Blvd. Task Force Meeting Wednesday Next Week (May 22): Join us in the basement meeting room of the Ocean Park Library at 2601 Main St. “It looks like funding may be increased and we can talk about a refreshed e-survey. The times are 5:30PM ’til 7PM and there will be light snacks.” Click here to email Dave Tann for more info and we hope to see you there!
45 Apartments Planned at 901 Pico Blvd.: This report has images of and a link to the ARB filing for the proposed project where “a pair of commercial buildings could be razed and redeveloped with a mixed-use apartment complex.”
City Quarterly Recycling Event This Saturday: “The City is hosting a FREE recycling event Saturday, May 18, 9am to 2pm for SaMo residents only. Bring your used mattresses, box springs, electronic waste, and up to five boxes of paper for shredding! Shredding will happen on-site and the paper will be recycled.” More details here.
City sets up ‘Celebrate28 initiative’ in Preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games: This SMDP report states “The City has taken the first steps to create what it’s calling the “Celebrate28 initiative” by inviting relevant members of City staff, along with key community leaders and business representatives ‘to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our city in preparation for this global event.’”
Pasjoli Makes the Infatuation’s “25 Best Restaurants In LA” List: Nabbing the #14 spot, this review states “Rather than offering a trendy take on an onion tart that no one asked for, the French cooking at Pasjoli is all about good old-fashioned animal fat and the technique required to back it up. In the $200 duck extravaganza for two, you’ll eat every part of the bird—from the juices in a wine-cognac gravy to the crispy skin over a simple salad—and go home with duck-leg bread pudding leftovers for breakfast. Pasjoli is by no means reinventing the wheel, but the unforgettable food makes it an all-time great special occasion spot and wholly worth the bill.”
NEXT WEEK: The SaMo Office of Emergency Management Online Presentation/Workshop on Natural Hazards (earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, etc.) (Tuesday 7 – 8:30pm): “The workshop will present information on the natural hazards that exist in Santa Monica and present potential disaster impacts. Seismic, wildfire, climate change, and flooding hazards will be covered… just to name a few. The goal of this workshop is to hear community concerns/questions and collect ideas on preparedness and mitigation measures to reduce City hazard vulnerability.” Sign up here. [Thanks OPA board member Abe Sassoon for sharing!]
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Montana Ave. Sidewalk Sale (Saturday 10am-6pm): This beloved Sidewalk Sale is BACK, and it’s the perfect occasion to support local shops while snagging amazing deals on new arrivals! Join us on Saturday, May 18th for a day filled with great shopping and explore some of the best dining the West Side has to offer. Enjoy the neighborhood’s vibrant atmosphere and welcome the season in style with friends and family.
- SaMo Airport ArtWalk Returns (Saturday 1 – 4 pm): Situated in one of the oldest airports in the United States, the SaMo Airport hosts a vibrant community of over 60 artists, creative venues, and a spirited aviation scene. https://18thstreet.org/event/santa-monica-airport-artwalk/
- AAPI Heritage KiKi (Saturday 6-8pm): Celebrate Asian Pacific Islander History Month with locals including performances artist, Dan Kwong and others. “This is a free, monthly get together and our invited guests include 18th Street Arts performance artist, Dan Kwong. Light snacks and refreshments. Reach out to office@CIOP4JUSTICE.org with any questions and/or click here for more information.
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am-1:30pm): This Sunday at the Main Street Farmers Market we welcome special guest, Megan Ukoh at 10am, Kiki and the Sunnyside Chalkers and Hands only CPR! Mainopolyry season! Erickson Family Farm will be joining the market this Sunday bringing lots of sweet delicious organic cherries! Mainopoly starts at noon.. Here’s the full May calendar of events.
- Kidical Mass Bike Ride (Sunday 9am – 12pm): Co-hosted by Santa Monica Spoke, this Kidical Mass bike ride + Mental Health & Wellness Fair is back at Clover Park! Remember to wear GREEN for Mental Health Awareness! This group ride will help all participants develop skills and comfort for bike riding in the city. Riders can stop by BBQ #1 area (near the trailers) of Clover Park between 11:00AM and 3:00PM to learn more about the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project at this community engagement kick-off.
- The Artist Fair – An Outdoor Gallery Market in the Park (Sunday 10am – 5pm): This space was created “so artists and people that are creating pieces by hand can have a safe space to sell more upscale items without the hassle of having cheap vintage, or cheaper items that dilute the aesthetics and vibe of the event. All vendors are either artists, painters, designers, metal workers doing jewelry, wood workers making amazing house pieces and other items but the important thing is that everything is handmade and sold by the artist itself. This event is for the community to come meet the artists and shop their creations.” FREE near Tower 25 in Ocean Park (2410 Ocean Front Walk) https://www.instagram.com/theartistfair
- Public Works Week Kicks Off With “We Are Essential” Community Festival (Sunday 11 am – 2 pm): This FREE event will feature activities for the whole family @ Gandara Park
- The Future of the Santa Monica Airport Kick-off Event (Sunday 11am – 3pm): The City of Santa Monica’s Public Works Department invites community members to an engagement kick-off event for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project (SMACP). @ Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica; adjacent to BBQ #1 area (near the trailers). More details here.
