Main Street Block Party
The Main Street Block Party returns THIS Sunday, Oct. 19th! Main Street is shutting down to vehicles for a massive, free community festival presented in partnership with the Day of the Dog—the largest pet festival in North America! This all-ages event features:
Day of the Dog (12-5pm): Bring your furry friends for an epic day of fun, featuring dog surfing, pool parties, pup yoga, and over 100 pet exhibitors.
Live Music & Entertainment: Enjoy live performances all day, including a powerhouse female Black Sabbath Tribute band (Mistress of Reality).
VCA Howloween Costume Contest (4-6pm): Get your pets and humans ready to compete for cash prizes in the annual costume contest. Thank you OPA Gold Member Ted Winterer, who is also sponsoring this event. Register for free here.
Ashland Hill Beer Garden (FREE!): Unwind in the beer garden with live music and cash bars, supporting the Ocean Park Association.
Kids’ Corner: Little one’s can enjoy sports demos, free face painting, crafts, and musical story time with Books & Cookies.
Volunteers Wanted to Staff OPA Booth at 10/19 Day of the Dog Main St. Event: Volunteering for an hour or two at the OPA tent is the best way to get to know other people in the organization and community! Reply to this email to learn more or click here to sign up on our online form.
OPA Meeting Recap
OPA October Monthly Meeting Recap: Here is the full recording and here are some highlights from the meeting:
SMPD: Click here to see the discussion of recent police activity.
SMFD: Click here to see the discussion with our local engine company.
Jing Yeo (SaMo Director of Community Development): Click here to see her discuss various city projects and more.
Zennon Ulyate-Crow (Abundance): Click here to see his discussion of the organization.
Click here to watch the Board business, including upcoming calendar of events and more.
News
OPA is Looking for 2026 Board Nominations: Early November is the deadline for 2026 OPA Board Nominations: Reply to this email asap if you’re interested in joining the board and want to learn more about it and/or want to nominate someone else.
No Kings Day Protest Saturday: The “No Kings” protest is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the corner of Montana Avenue and Ocean Avenue. The event will feature a DJ but no scheduled speakers, according to organizers Santa Monica Volunteers. All participants are asked to park south of Montana Avenue. Organizers emphasize their commitment to nonviolent protest and have trained volunteers in de-escalation techniques. More details in this SMDP article and the Police Dept. is posting best practices for participants on their Instagram page here.
Ocean Park Neighborhood School Updates: Carey Upton will be at our Nov. 10 monthly meeting to update the community on the new school name and opening date. There are rumors that it will be called the “Ocean Park School House” and we will update the community as we know more.
Grand Opening of Vons on Lincoln & Broadway This Friday: Vons will host a ribbon-cutting celebration for their brand-new Santa Monica location at 710 Broadway. The store will open to the public for the first time that morning at 8:00am.
County Pauses Ocean Ave. Mental Health Facilities: Yesterday, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced that, “in response to concerns raised by constituents” at our NOMA meeting last Thursday, the two mental health facilities on Ocean Avenue will be paused “to allow for more community engagement.” More details here.
Not No Bar Listing on The Infatuation’s “The Most Fun Dinner Spots In LA” List: “A night at No Bar Bar is frenetic and a bit lawless. Walk into this pizzeria-cocktail bar from the Dudley Market people in Santa Monica and you’ll find dates smooshed up against the bar and groups packed into booths. On Friday and Saturday nights, you’ll probably have to wait in line for a little bit while DJs spin throwback Euro disco over the hi-fi. A spacious table is never a guarantee, but the reward is excellent tiki-inspired cocktails and bubbly-crusted pizza that goes toe-to-toe with the best on the Westside.” 2424 Main St. More details here.
Ocean Park’s Robert Maschio Returns to Scrubs TV Reboot on ABC: Variety News & ABC just announced here that long time Ocean Park resident & successful Compass real estate broker Robert Maschio is set to return to the Scrubs Reboot this spring. He played the fan favorite character “The Todd” from 2001-2010. High Five Robert!
Things to Do This Weekend
Sunset Jazz & Pizza Night at The Lobster (Thursday 6 – 9pm): Featuring Sonrisa Puerto Rican Rum, enjoy an extended happy hour with their unique Fiery Spiny Lobster Pizza. This event promises complimentary rum sips, $8 mojitos, and live music. We will fill up, so come early and grab your spot or bar stool. 1602 Ocean Ave.
NO KINGS Santa Monica (Saturday 11a.m.-1p.m.): “Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.” @ Palisades Park at Montana Avenue on October 18. https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/840831/
Annual 3rd St. Promenade Día de los Muertos Celebration (Saturday 2 – 7pm): Expect public art by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero 💀🌼, live performances 🎤💃🏻, kid and pet-friendly activities, a Latinx pop-up market hosted 🛍️, competition for the best dressed catrina / catrin, and community altars, and more. More details here.
Oh My Gourd! (Saturday 9 – 11am @ Ishihara Park Learning Garden): Join us for a day celebrating the diversity of the gourd family. Knuckleheads, Warty Goblins and a 4-foot Trombetta Squash will take center stage. Many of these are considered decoration and then simply discarded (hopefully in the green bins). More details here.
Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm):Enjoy special guests Cadre Scott starting at 9am and the Dakota Dry Duo starting at 11am. The City Clerks Office will have voter information and a bookmark craft activity for kids. On the lawn, back by popular demand, the Adventures of Doc JC and a special noontime pilates class with Mighty Pilates. So bring your yoga mat! Fat Uncle is now every 1st and 3rd Sundays with this season’s crop of organic dry-farmed almonds and heritage grains plus granola, wholegrain sourdough bread and their new wholegrain pancake mix.
The Artist Fair (Sunday 10am – 5pm): This outdoor gallery market showcases all different types of artists like painters, woodworkers, jewelry, clothing, sculptures and music! Bringing the community together to enjoy the park in this family dog friendly event! Come enjoy some cool tunes and meet the artists. 🎨👨🎨 FREE. Near Tower 25 in Ocean Park (2410 Ocean Front Walk)
Off the Hook SaMo Seafood Festival (Sunday): This ocean-inspired tasting event brings together the city’s top chefs and restaurants to showcase their favorite underwater ingredients. Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster shucking and eating competitions, games, and more fun in the sun with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop. $75 for GA and $150 for VIP @ Santa Monica Pier https://offthehookseafoodfest.com
SaMo Conservancy Fall Garden Tour (Sunday 2 – 3:30pm): The Shotgun House Native PlantGarden Tour returns. Hilda Weiss describes the garden’s fall lifecycle. Attendees then walk back into the Shotgun House for a tea and seedball-making workshop. Register here.
Santa Monica History Museum History is Not Trivial Gala (Sunday 4:30pm): Come together not only to mark Santa Monica’s 150th birthday, but also to honor our History Museum that has preserved its stories, safeguarded its heritage, and connected generations through history. $150. @ SaMo Bay Woman’s Club, 1210 4th St. https://santamonicahistory.ejoinme.org/2025Gala
Upcoming Events
- Main St. Day of the Dog Festival (Sunday 10/19)
- OPA Halloween Mixer (Tentatively Wednesday 10/29)
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