OPA Holiday Party Details: Mark your calendar to join us on Lula’s patio Sunday, Dec. 8, from 3:00pm – 6:00pm. Food and soda and one drink are free for OPA members and $10 for guests. We will be having a raffle for gift cards from these generous neighborhood businesses (please thank them!) and hopefully more:
- Blue Plate Restaurant Group
- Dolcenero Gelato
- Edgemar
- Holey Grail Donuts
- Jameson’s Irish Pub
- Papille Gustative
- Pilatesmith
- Rustic Canyon Restaurants (Rustic Canyon, Birdie G, Milo & Olive)
- Salt & Straw Ice Cream
- Shore Hotel
OPA Raffle Tickets: Want to participate in the raffle but can’t make the party? Buy them by replying to this email. They cost $10 for 10 tickets and you can pick which prizes you want to enter them for.
Looking for a Sponsor for the Holiday Party: We could use one or two $500 sponsors to help cover the costs of the holiday party. Please reply to this email if you might be interested in helping. Thanks!
2025 OPA Board Nominees: We’re excited to share that these seven people are running to be on the OPA Board next year: Learn more about them here. Voting will be at our Dec. 8 Holiday Party and the following week online.
Small Business Saturday on Main St.: Look for orange balloons to see which stores are participating in the citywide sale this Saturday. More details here.
Volunteer Collective Listing Volunteer Opportunities: Click here to browse the list for adults including serving meals at local shelters, hosting or participating in toy drives, assisting with winter clothing drives, and supporting elderly communities. Click here for the “Student Volunteer Program.”
Santa Monica Named the Best Beach Destination in North America by Travel & Leisure Magazine: “With a sandy, boardwalk-flanked beach on one side and a lush mountain range on the other, the 8.5-square-mile Santa Monica is like the poster child for that idyllic Southern California vacation. As the westernmost point of Route 66, you can only imagine how many roadtrippers have set their sights on Santa Monica over the decades. The growth and development of luxury lifestyle venues — from five-star hotels to Michelin-starred restaurants — over the last couple of years have only made it more desirable.” Read more here.
The Great Park Coalition: A group of individuals and organizations are forming this group to focus on transforming the Santa Monica Airport site into a park. More details and join here.
The Street Seen: 2015 Main St. (between Bay & Bicknell): “In 1923, an automotive sales showroom is built at 2015 Main St. At the end of WWII, a variance is approved to allow plastics manufacturing on the property. Between 1960 and 1982, the space is used for furniture and antiques. In 1982, fresh fruit and vegetable store Santa Monica Farms moves in.” Read more here.
Thanksgiving Restaurant Meal Options:
- Papille Gustative: They are offering this multicourse meal for $49 on Thursday, 5:30 – 9:30pm. 2823 Main St. papillegustativela.com
- Jameson’s Pub All You Can Eat Feast: $19.90 per person includes your choice of Prime Rib Roast, Honey Baked Ham, or Roasted Turkey with all the fixin’s. Served from 12pm til they run out. 2702 Main St. santamonica.jamesonsirishpub.com
- Meat On Ocean: Their feast features a starter of clam chowder or mixed organic greens; an entrée of roasted turkey, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, traditional cranberry sauce, house-made sourdough apple-celery stuffing and turkey gravy; and a dessert of either pumpkin cheesecake or old-fashioned chocolate cake. $72 per adult and $26 per child (under 12). Thursday, 11:00am – 8:00pm, 1501 Ocean Ave. www.meatonocean.com
- Sirena: Celebrate with a 3-course prix fixe spread in the colorful Art Deco dining room of the historic Santa Monica hotel. Thursday, Nov. 28, 11:00am – 8:00pm Book here.
- Water Grill: This year’s three-course menu features a choice of starter (clam chowder or mixed organic greens), entrée (roasted turkey served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, traditional cranberry sauce, house-made sourdough apple-celery stuffing and turkey gravy) and dessert (pumpkin cheesecake or caramel bread pudding) for $72 per adult and $26 for children under 12. Thursday, 11:00am – 8:00pm, 1401 Ocean Ave. watergrill.com/sm
- Jamaica Bay Inn: Their festive three-course prix fixe includes Butternut Squash Bisque, a traditional Turkey Dinner or Spiral Ham with all the fixings, and a slice of Pumpkin or Pecan Pie. Thursday, 12:00 – 10:00p.m., 14160 Palawan Way, Marina Del Rey Book here.
- Marina del Rey Hotel: Options include Mary’s Organic Turkey Breast & Confit of Thigh or Maple Glazed Ham with all the fixings: sage gravy, maple-cranberry sauce, ciabatta stuffing, candied yams, haricot verts, parker house rolls – $65 Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie $13. Thursday, 3:00 – 10:00p.m. Book here.
Things To Do This Week:
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
- Thanksgiving in Venice – Feed The Homeless (Thursday 6:00 – 10:00am): Come celebrate this holiday season by giving back to the community with Lost Angels at their Annual Feed the Homeless Event. Gather at Venice Beach to provide meals, essential items, and warm holiday cheer to those in need. Your participation and support make this event possible! 219 Rose Ave. More details here.
- Santa Monica Turkey Trot (Thursday 7:30am): It’s time for the Turkey Trot 5k, 10k, 15k, or Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. Pick your speed and work up an appetite running along Santa Monica’s beautiful beach path. All finishers will receive a medal and goodie bag. @ 2000 Ocean Ave.https://www.santamonica.com/event/turkey-trot/
- Skatesgiving 10K Race & Food Drive (Thursday): Celebrate Thanksgiving by starting the day out with skating and giving back to the community. @ Barnard Linear Way Park, 2440 Barnard Way More details here.
- Holiday Cheer on the Pier (Nov. 21 – Dec. 19): The SaMo Pier is bringing the holiday cheer this year with a month of programming sure to bring a smile to everyone in the family, including holiday performances, decking out the windows of the historic Merry Go-Round windows, and photos with Santa. https://www.santamonicapier.org/cheeronthepier/
