(This newsletter is lightly edited to remove events that happened yesterday, a non-publishing day for Santa Monica Next.)
OPA Nov. 11 Monthly Meeting Monday: This month’s meeting is the last one of the year. It will be at the 2601 Main St. Library starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Here is the Zoom link to join the meeting starting at 6:30pm. Here’s the draft agenda and here’s schedule:
- 6:00 – 6:30pm: Food, refreshments and mingling
- 6:30 – 6:55pm: Newly elected City Council-Member Dan Hall
- 6:55 – 7:20: Parks & Recreation Director Jenny Rogers
- 7:20 – 7:30: Hunter Hall, End of Year Main St. Update
- 7:30 – 8:30: Board business, including upcoming calendar of events (12/8 Holiday Party, OPA Election, & more)
Veterans Day Ceremony at the Pier (TODAY/Monday 11am): Now in its fifth year, the City joins the U.S. Army for a Veterans Day ceremony featuring performances, military demonstrations and a flyover, as well as remarks from senior military leaders and local elected officials. The ceremony, which will take place on the Pier’s west parking deck, is free and open to the public.
Design Tweaks for Mixed-Use Project at 2307 Lincoln Blvd. Call for 69 Apartments with Ground-Floor Commercial Space: “After receiving mixed reviews at a Sept. hearing, the developer has returned to the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board with an updated look for the project. Coast Meridian Properties, the project applicant, plans to replace a shuttered automobile repair shop with a new seven-story building featuring 69 one-bedroom apartments above 1,800 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 59 vehicles. A staff report once again recommends approval of the project application.” More details and pics here.
City Prepares to Spend $29 Million to Rebuild Pier Bridge: “After more than a decade of planning and delays, the City is taking the initial steps to begin replacing the Santa Monica Pier bridge that has been standing since the start of World War II…They plan to replace the 85-year-old bridge connecting the Pier to Palisades Park and Colorado Avenue. The Pier will remain open for business and accessible to visitors throughout the construction period.” More details here.
Jersey Mike’s Subs Opening on Main St.: Franchise owner Juancarlos Chacon will hold a grand opening and fundraiser from Wednesday, Nov. 13 to Sunday, Nov. 17 to support the Friends of Westminster Elementary School and Broadway Elementary School. 245 Main St., Venice https://www.jerseymikes.com/20417/venice-ca
Multiple SaMo Spots on The Infatuation’s Best Patios in LA List: Fia, The Great Outdoor, Michaels and Big Deans all make the latest version of this list.
Holey Grail Donuts Launches New “Zach + Donald 4EVA” Collab w/ Zach Braff + Donald Faison of Scrubs Fame: The new chocolate peanut butter fluff donut is available now through Nov. 24. 2441 Main St. https://www.instagram.com/holeygraildonuts/
The Street Seen: 2701 Main Street (Young): This week’s write-up details how “from 1902 to 1923 there is a 1-story wood frame building on the SEC Main & Hill. From 1904 to 1915, Lee H. Young has a grocery store. The building no longer exists – demolished in 1923.
Things To Do This Week:
- LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder Now Open: This is a reimagining of the iconic Hasbro toy, featuring 11 interactive rooms across three unique worlds—Underwater, Prehistoric and Outer Space. Visitors can dive into larger-than-life, glowing artwork, explore sensory play stations, and engage with dynamic, gamified experiences. Launched Nov. 7 at Santa Monica Place More details here.
- Community Visit to Kuruvungna Springs (Wednesday 11am): Join the City of Santa Monica’s DEI Team and the Gabrielino~Tongva Springs Foundation for a visit to this sacred site to the people of Tovaangar in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. Learn about the significance of Kuruvungna Springs, the history of the people of Tovaangar, and how Santa Monica got its name. More details here.
- Cannabis Social Equity Community Workshop (Wednesday 6pm): Cannabis social equity is an important issue that Santa Monica is engaged in to better understand the disproportionate impacts of the criminalization of cannabis. Participate in the first community workshop on cannabis equity to learn about the impacts in Santa Monica, a general overview of the cannabis industry, and what to expect in future phases of this work as the cannabis program develops. Ken Edwards Center 1527 4th Street, Room 105 More details here.
- Update on Alzheimer’s Research (Thursday 12:30pm @ Main Library Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.): Monica Moore, from the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care at UCLA, discusses the latest findings related to the symptoms and causes of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about the latest treatments available and research being conducted to find a cure.
- Garrison Brother’s Whiskey Dinner (Thursday 7pm): Enjoy a night of flowing whiskey with the Garrison Brothers, paired with flights and bites. @ Marina del Rey Hotel,13534 Bali Way More details here.
OPA & City Meetings:
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
- Building & Fire-Life Safety Commission Meeting (Wednesday 3pm): More details here.
- Clean Beaches Committee Meeting (Wednesday 6:30pm): More details here.
