OPA Holiday Party Details: We hope to see you THIS Sunday, Dec. 8, from 3:00 – 6:00pm on Lula’s patio (2720 Main St.). 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!):
- Blow Me Candle Co.: Gift box ($50 value)
- Blue Plate Restaurant Group: $50 gift card
- Divine Winery: Wine Flight ($25 value)
- Dolcenero Gelato: $20 gift card
- F45 Training: 5 class pack ($175 value)
- Holey Grail Donuts: 5 $10 gift cards
- Papille Gustative: 2 $50 gift cards (drawing 2 names)
- Pilatesmith: 3 Group Workouts
- Pump Station: Doona Liki trike (here) ($300 value)
- Rustic Canyon Restaurants (Rustic Canyon, Birdie G, Milo & Olive): $150 gift card
- Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Details TBD
- Shore Hotel: 1 free night hotel stay
- Triple Beam Pizza: $50 gift card
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.
Will Burrington & Cam Meyer of Harmony Partners, LLC joins Jameson’s in Sponsoring OPA Holiday Party: Thank you both for agreeing to help sponsor the party with $250 donations! We could use one or two additional 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.
Miracle on Main St. Tree Lighting Celebration (Sunday starting 3:30pm): Celebrate the holidays on Main St. with a festive afternoon of holiday cheer, starting at 3:30p.m. at the California Heritage Museum. Enjoy activities for kids, holiday music, and Santa’s grand entrance at 4:00p.m. and the tree lighting at 5:30p.m. More details here.
The Rose Cafe to Close on Dec. 15: First opened in 1979 in on Main St. and Rose Ave. in Venice, it announced via this Instagram post “Forty-five years is really something. A lot of smiles, morning coffees, and celebrations for more than four decades. It is with sincere gratitude and sadness to announce that The Rose Venice is bidding our beloved corner of Rose and Main a fond farewell. Our last day of service will be Sunday brunch on Dec. 15th.” This SaMoMirror report on the closure includes some of the restaurant’s history.
Pasjoli Chef Dave Opened a New Fine Dining Restaurant on Main St.: This Eater report details Seline, which opened this week “with 15-plus courses of ambitious cuisine” for $295. @ 3110 Main St.
Jyan Isaac Bread Holiday Bagels and Panettone: They are taking orders for their popular seasonal items now. @ 1620 Ocean Park Blvd. https://jyanisaacbread.com
The Blue Notebook – A Weekly SMPD Recap Nov. 23 – 29: Here is a recap of last week’s SaMo police activity.
Workshop for SaMo Landlords & Tenants (Monday 5:30 – 8:30pm): Residential landlords, tenants, property managers, service providers and city staff are set to discuss the latest information in landlord/tenant topics at the popular free annual Landlord/Tenant Forum at the Main Public Library’s Martin Luther King Auditorium. More details here.
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Holiday Cheer on the Pier (Thursday, Dec. 5, 12, & 19, 4 – 8pm): The SaMo Pier is bringing the holiday cheer this year with holiday music and performances, puppetry, singalongs, and holiday cheer. https://www.santamonicapier.org/cheeronthepier/
- Airport2Park Community Event (Saturday 1 – 4pm): Come hear the results of the Airport Conversion Project survey and determine a sustainable concept for Santa Monica Airport! December 7th at Memorial Park Gym from 1pm to 4pm. Save the date! Please join us to hear the results of the Airport Conversion survey that closed October 20th and see how your feedback helped determine the draft Guiding Principles at the Phase 2 Community Event. @ Memorial Park Gym, 1401 Olympic Boulevard (entrance on 14th). Check out www.smacproject.com for more information.
- Holiday Concert & Ukulele Strum-Along (Saturday 2 – 3:15pm): Play along, sing along, and enjoy seasonal and uplifting tunes at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. More details here.
- Montana Avenue Holiday Walk and Marketplace (Saturday 3 – 8pm): The street will be closed to cars, transforming into a winter wonderland. Enjoy free photos with Santa, roaming carolers, live music, and appearances by the Grinch, Cindy Lou, and Princess Elsa. Don’t miss this magical marketplace, presented by our premier real estate offices! More details here.
- 13th Annual Venice Holiday Sign Lighting (Saturday 6 – 9pm): Celebrate community, light up the night, and kick off the holiday season Venice-style. @ the VENICE Sign, 100 Windward Ave. More details here.
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm): Join for a fun filled Sunday starting at 9am with singer songwriter, Sophia Vandenberg followed by the Laura Jean Music Academy at 10am. Then from 10:30am-1pm, local favorites the GM Jazz Quintet with special guests Cabeza de la Vaca Cultural Center Folklorico dancers at 11:30am. Look for the Brentwood School BuddyBots interactive robotics project and demo. Plus lots of great farmers and food vendors for ultimate holiday feasting! Here is the complete December calendar.
- Muscle Beach Toy Drive (Sunday 10am – 3pm): For the last 17 years, Muscle Beach Venice has partnered with the LAPD Pacific Division to support their “Winter Wonderland Distribution Drive” held at their station one week later. More details here.
- Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade (Sunday 4pm): Originally founded in 1989, the parade has grown to become a highlight of the holiday season in the community. Each year, residents and visitors gather along the canals to enjoy the lights, music, and creative displays as boaters compete for best decoration awards. https://venicecanals.org/events/
