Consider OPA for End of Year Charitable Giving: We’re proud of the year we’ve had that included multiple “Open Main St.” street closure festivals, our 4th of July Parade, publishing about 100 newsletters, expanding our newsletter reach to nearly 2200 community members, advocating to the city on a variety of neighborhood issues, and much more! And we’ve done it all on a shoestring budget with all the work being done by community volunteers. As you make your end of the year donations, please consider joining and/or donating to YOUR neighborhood organization. OPA is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. CLICK HERE TO GIVE OR JOIN
First OPA Meeting of 2025 is Jan 6: It’s a great time to check out the organization and help set our 2025 priorities. This month’s meeting will be at the 2601 Main St. Library with food and mingling at 6:10pm and the meeting starting at 6:30pm. The schedule includes and SMPD update, a talk from new Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya, a discussion of the future of the SaMo Airport land including presentations from advocates from the “Great Park Coalition” and for alterntive options for the land, and board business including electing 2024 Exec Board, determining key 2025 priorities, and more!
Holiday Season Brings Opportunities to Give Back: This SaMo Mirror post details opportunities with the California State Employees Food Drive, LA Regional Food Bank Holiday Campaign, Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND) Annual Christmas Basket Program, and Westside Food Bank Holiday Food Drive.
Justice, Equity & Diversity: Equity and Inclusion Officers implement projects in 2024: This SaMo.gov post details projects this past year.
Addressing Homelessness – City Council Authorizes Moving Forward with Affordable Housing on City-Owned Wilshire Lots: More details here on the plan to develop 130 affordable apartments, including 40 supportive housing apartments with onsite case management services tailored to meet individual client needs, on city-owned properties along Wilshire Boulevard.
Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project – New Survey: Community members can weigh in on the draft Guiding Principles for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project in a new online survey open through January 5. Take the survey here.
City Holiday Calendar: Click here for a list of City holiday closures and services changes Click here
The Street Seen: Main St Feed and Fuel 2620 – 2622 Main Street @ Ocean Park Blvd.: This is the second in a series obsessing over the southwest corner of Main St and Ocean Park Blvd. A corner that didn’t exist until 1909.
New Indian Restaurant Spices up Ocean Ave. Dining: This SMDP report details the new Fitoor that recently opened at 1701 Ocean Ave.
Ayessha Curry Opens Sweet July Cafe at Regent SaMo: This Jamaican inspired cafe founded by Steph Curry’s wife croissants and other pastries. 1700 Ocean Ave. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDfMDz-y2Ep/
Things To Do This Week:
- Nightly Menorah Lightings on 3rd St. Promenade: Celebrate the Festival of Lights with nightly ceremonies from Dec. 25 – Jan. 2 at 5:45 p.m. @ 1300 Block Third Street Promenade https://downtownsm.com/holiday-happenings
- Mishkon Temple Candle Lighting, Chinese Food, and Movie Night (Wednesday 3 – 9pm): Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with Chinese food and a movie! We will start the evening with a family-friendly film, followed by menorah lighting and songs on the steps of our historic synagogue a few blocks from the ocean. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a catered Kosher Chinese meal, paired with schmoozing and a feature film. More details here.
- Papille Gustative Christmas Cookie Giveaway (Tuesday & Wednesday): The Main St. cafe is offering FREE fresh-baked cookies for FREE with no purchase necessary…they are gifts from Santa! Choose from a variety of Chocolate Chip, Granola, Coffee, Pistachio, Gooey. 2823 Main St. https://papillegustativela.com/
- Christmas Day @ Jameson’s Pub: Expect an All You Can Eat Holiday Dinner on Christmas Day for $19.90 per person. Diners get a choice of roasted turkey, honey baked ham, or prime rib roast with all the fixins. They’ll also be serving up triple-sized Holiday “Spirits”!
- Orla Christmas Day Dinner (Wednesday 2 – 8pm): Enjoy ocean views and a celebratory prix fixe holiday dinner with a Mediterranean twist, blending seasonal flavors for an exceptional dining experience from Chef Michael Mina. Price: $125 for adults and $45 for children ages 3-10 More details here.
- Hotel Casa del Mar Christmas Day Brunch & Dinner (Wednesday): Brunch includes an appetizer such as butternut squash soup or French toast as well as an entrée such as Dungeness crab cake benedict or glazed ham. Dinner includes appetizers such as winter kale salad or Dungeness crab tart and an entrée such as prime rib roast or stuffed conchiglioni. Both include desserts such as sticky toffee cakes, apple pie, eggnog crème brulee, peppermint brownies, gingerbread holiday cookies, and more. $125/person. https://www.hotelcasadelmar.com/dining/terrazza-lounge
- SportsFest Grand Opening Party (Friday 6 – 10pm): This is a 7,500 sq. ft venue with gamefied batting cages, a full bar, and a hidden speakeasy. The opening party features free game play & a complimentary cocktail flight. @ 1330 4th St. More details here.
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm): Get an early start this Sunday and boogie into the New Year with the Bear Bottom Boys at the Main Street Farmers Market 10am-1pm. Make sure to stalk up on everything you need for juicing! Buon Gusto is back with their Nuevo Olio!
