OPA is Looking for 2026 Board Nominations: Sunday, November 9 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.
Enterprise Fish Co. Update: This construction notice has been posted at 174 Kinney (aka Enterprise Fish Co.) indicating interior demolition renovating existing restaurant and the addition of a new “speak easy bar.” Rumor is that the work will take many many months, but it is great to see that work is well underway. What we do know is that the previous rumors of Chef Wes Whitsell seem to have fallen though. Stay tuned for more news.
Ocean Ave. Mental Health Housing Project Terminated: LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath terminated plans to convert two Ocean Avenue senior facilities into interim housing for people with serious mental illness. More details here.
City Council Approves Sweeping Realignment Plan that Doubles Down on Recovery with MAJOR investments: The Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive realignment plan Tuesday aimed at restoring public safety, revitalizing the downtown core and achieving fiscal stability by 2028, marking what officials called a pivotal moment for the coastal city’s recovery from years of pandemic-era decline. The multi-year framework responds to mounting challenges, including rising homelessness, deteriorating public spaces, declining tourism revenues and a projected $29.6 million structural deficit by fiscal year 2026-27. The plan will deploy $60 million in previously allocated reserves to fund immediate investments in public safety, capital improvements and organizational capacity while pursuing new revenue streams to balance the city’s operating budget. More details here.
Halloween & Dia de los Muertos Safety Tips: This city post is filled with tips for having a safe and fun weekend.
Related California Opens $385M 700 Broadway Complex in Downtown SaMo: This SaMo Mirror post details the “the project, located at 700 Broadway, combines 196 market-rate apartments with 84 affordable units, alongside major retail anchors including a 60,000-square-foot Vons supermarket and a 34,000-square-foot Equinox Fitness Club. The eight-story development occupies a full city block bordered by Broadway, 7th Street, and Lincoln Boulevard.”
Bread + Butter @ 2645 Main St. Ranked as the #5 Best Croissants In LA: SaMo appears to be the king of croissants, grabbing four of the top 11 on this Infatuation list. “Originally from Tasmania, this small-batch bakery on Main St. crafts tightly coiled croissants with deeply yellow, cultured butter, infusing their airy insides with a savory butter flavor and making their shell so thin and crackly that it sounds like you’ve stepped on a pile of fall leaves when you tear them apart. Bread + Butter also bakes a caramel-glazed version, too, if you prefer a sweeter morning pastry.”
Gladstones Clears Coastal Hurdle; Palisades Residents Call It ‘Tone-Deaf’: The new project is designed by architect Frank Gehry for celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. AB 178 passed the California legislature in September 2024 and prevents residents from having input about the upcoming Gladstone’s project. Residents worry that if the area is considered a transit stop, then SB 79 (high density housing) goes into effect, in an area that had evacuation issues during the Palisades Fire. More details here and in this SMDP article.
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Things to Do This Weekend
Museum of Illusions Now Open on 3rd St. Promenade: The museum boasts a collection of over 80 exhibits and is designed for all ages. The museum will teach visitors about vision, perception, the human brain and science, helping them understand why the eyes see things that the brain cannot comprehend. 1232 3rd St. moisantamonica.com
World Series Watch Parties on the Promenade (Friday and Saturday (HOPEFULLY)) starting at 5:08pm): All games will be shown on a giant outdoor LED screen right in front of the Dodgers Clubhouse (1343 Third Street Promenade) with plenty of space to hang out, grab a drink (adult beverages available since it is in the Entertainment Zone), and enjoy the games together. It’s a great way to soak up the fall evenings downtown and cheer on the home team.
Halloween Party on the Promenade with Free Trick-or-Treating Throughout Downtown (Friday 3 – 6pm): This free, family-friendly Halloween celebration brings the community together with trick-or-treating at participating businesses throughout Downtown Santa Monica and a Halloween party on the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trick-or-treat-downtown-santa-monica-tickets-1731327791029
Not No Bar Halloween Bash (Friday starting at 5pm): 🪦 Costumes are mandatory at Six Feet Under The Disco! Not No Bar will have a spread of spiked punch and wicked pizza to make the night magical.2424 Main St. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQNwV1BiUgi/
Santa Monica Pier Celebrates Día de los Muertos (Saturday and Sunday): Event Highlights include a parade, mariachi, and dance and band performances. Guests can enjoy face painting, art displays, vendor offerings, and hot chocolate from Soda Jerks while strolling through the transformed venue. Guests are encouraged to bring a photo of a loved one to contribute to the community ofrenda. santamonicapier.org/diadelosmuertos
Papille Gustative Tales from a Lavish Crib Halloween Party (Saturday 6:30 – 10:30pm): Enjoy waves of champagne, caviar, seafood, steaks, sweets, and more along with a DJ on the patio, dancing, games, tarot readings, and best costume prizes. $95/person. I am going to this one…see you there? 2823 Main St. instagram.com/papillegustativela
Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm):Come join us this Sunday at the Main Street Farmers Market starting at 9am with singer songwriter, Alex Chaiet and at 10am-1pm get ready to do a toe tapping foot stomping boogie through the market with local favorites, DJ and the Main Street Jam! Also joining us, the Sunnyside Chalkers are back starting at 9am. And, My Gym will be on the lawn.
Santa Monica Mosaic Watch Party – When Landmarks Fall (Sunday 5pm): This is the third and final installment of the 2025 Mosaic series dedicated to Pacific Palisades. This event is more than a viewing – it’s a moment for our community to come together and stand with our Pacific Palisades neighbors as they continue their road to recovery. https://smc.givecloud.co/loss-of-landmark
OPICA presents “Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Behaviors” at SaMo Main Library (Monday 1 – 3pm): Community Health Educator Monica R. Moore, MSG, provides an understanding of the challenging behaviors often associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and encourages proactive learning and self-care. This workshop covers cognitive health, aging, and brain function and is targeted to family caregivers of individuals with memory loss. More details here.
Looking for more Halloween Weekend things to do? Here’s my weekly SaMo Daily Press column of events around town.
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