OPA Holiday Party THIS Saturday: Our annual party is on the Victorian Main Patio THIS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 3pm-5:30pm. It is FREE for members and $5 for guests and includes food and drinks. Hope to see you there!
OPA Board Elections: OPA elects new board members starting at Saturday’s party and continuing online next week. Here’s more information on the candidates. You need to be an OPA member in good standing to vote. Click here to join or renew your membership today.
OPA Drawing for an iPad: All paid members will be entered into the drawing at the Dec. 9 Holiday party and all new members and members who pay their 2024 dues between now and then will get an additional entry. Click here to join or pay your 2024 dues now.
Miracle on Main St.: The annual holiday street festival is also this Saturday with kids activities, Santa and the tree lighting on the Heritage Museum lawn. Plus, carolers & street-wide festivities and holiday parties into the night! More details here and here’s a snapshot of the schedule:
- 3:30-5:30PM: Holiday Kid Corner: Free Face painting, Instrument Petting Zoo, Soft Play Area, Games & Cub Scout pack 67 Holiday Bake Sale.
- 4PM: Santa & Mrs. Claus: Witness the grand entrance of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus as they arrive in a festive fire truck at 4:00 PM.
- 5:30PM: Tree Lighting Countdown: Join the joyous countdown to the tree lighting ceremony, followed by a heartwarming candlelight walk to the iconic Edgemar Shopping Cart Tree.
- 6PM: Edgemar Shopping Cart Tree: Festivities continue at Edgemar, where you can capture cherished moments with Santa, revel in the captivating tunes of Off the Jingle Bell Rockers, and indulge in a delightful array of holiday treats at the enchanting home of the world-renowned Shopping Cart Tree.
Alfalfa Toy Drive (now through Dec. 19): Donate a toy in store and get 15% off your in-store order. Toys must be new, unwrapped, and in their original packaging. Toys are being donated to Toys for Tots. More details here.
SaMo Mirror Profiles Triple Beam Pizza on Main St.: This TikTok video report teases up the forthcoming opening of acclaimed Chef Nancy Silverton’s Roman pizza chain serving squared slices.
City Hosted Landlord & Tenant Workshops (Tuesday, Dec. 12, 9:30 – 11am): Topics include basic info for new owners of rent-controlled properties, anti-discrimination laws, rules for repayment of outstanding COVID-19 rental debt, mold and excessive moisture requirements, etc. More details here.
LGBTQ+ Community Listening Session (Wed, Dec 13): Out in Santa Monica invites you to contribute to the City of Santa Monica’s equity roadmap. This is a free, in-person event hosted at Highways Performance Space and Gallery in Santa Monica. To learn more or RSVP, contact Christopher Smith @ christopher.j.smith@santamonica.gov
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Hanukkah Menorah Lighting: From Thursday, Dec. 7 through Dec. 14, guests are welcome to celebrate the Festival of Lights during the Hanukkah season at the Third Street Promenade with nightly Menorah Lightings beginning at sundown @ 1400 block of Third Street Promenade (located between Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway). More details here.
- Venice Art Crawl (Thursday 6 – 10pm): “This special holiday Venice Art Crawl focused on Abbot Kinney and a group of artists at Podshare. The event showcases local talent, from street artists to established galleries.” VeniceArtCrawl.com
- Free Compost: The City is giving away compost at the City Yards (2500 Michigan Ave) this weekend Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. Please bring gloves and your own containers. Free food scraps recycling pails are available (while supplies last and one per household).
- Main Street Community Garden Holiday Celebration with Open House & Recipe Swap (Saturday 9 – 11 am): “Bring your favorite recipe (holiday or not) to share and pick up some new ideas from our gardeners. Complete with a cooking demonstration by one of our own! Grab a cup of coffee, enjoy a stroll through the winter gardens, revel in the cool weather crops and get ready to make that Chard Shuffle, Rhubarb Pie or Fava Bean Salad. Hope to see y’all at Main Street Community Garden.” More details here.
- Bergamot Station Arts Center Winter Open House (Saturday): “This day-long experience will feature a diverse array of exhibitions, performances, and interactive experiences across multiple galleries, making it a must-attend event for art enthusiasts!” More details here.
- Marina Boat Parade (Saturday 4 – 8pm): “This free event showcases beautifully decorated boats in the Marina channel, adorned in holiday lights, inflatables, other festive decorations. Most viewers go to Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village to watch the parade. Music and live announcements will play during the parade at both locations. There will also be food trucks, carolers, face painting and a fun photo booth at the park.” More details here.
- Main St. Sunday Farmers Market: “This Sunday is Kids’ Day at the Main Street Farmers Market with Miss Me and the Music Castle from 10am-1pm with special guests Cabeza de Vaca Folklorico at 11:15am.” Here is the complete December calendar. Note the market is CLOSED Dec 24 & 31.
- Meet Me Under the Fig Tree Event @ the Fairmont (Sunday 2 – 5pm): The annual community holiday event features live entertainment, seasonal crafts, photos with Santa, and more. Please bring non-perishable food items or gently worn business attire for donation to support the Westside Food Bank and Chrysalis. More details here.
- Hanukkah Party @ Mishkon Temple on Main St. (Sunday 4:30 – 8 pm): “You’re invited to celebrate with Mishkon’s welcoming community as we light our menorah, enjoy brisket, make and share latkes, all the while singing and dancing the night away at our beautiful temple located a few blocks from the ocean. December 10 from 4:30 – 8 pm $36 for adults and free for kids. Dinner will be provided.” More details here.
- Jerry Rubin’s 80th Birthday Party (Monday 6 – 8pm): Join Jerry at the Gaslite Karaoke Bar at 2030 Wilshire Blvd. Charles Andrews wrote this homage to him to honor the big day.
