Sunday Main St. Farmers Market NEEDS Our Support! Last week was a VERY slow weekend and the farmers are really struggling with the loss of business since the fires. Please come out this Sunday and show your support! See you Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm with this planned: “This week we have singer, song writer, Sophia Vandenberg at 9am and the soulful sounds of Megan Ukoh from 10am-1pm. We hope you will join us to celebrate the recent rains and our farmers who are here for you every Sunday rain or shine! Look for Harry’s Berries, Garcia Organic Farm and Frecker Farms all organic with amazing offerings. And here’s an updated February calendar.”
Feb 10 is Next OPA Monthly Meeting: Mark your calendars for dinner and socializing from 6:00 – 6:30pm and the meeting from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Main St. library. The agenda includes new Council-Member Ellis Raskin, Jenna Grigsby (Chief Deputy City Attorney) discussing SaMo Bridge, a new diversion pilot program planned on the Civic Center grounds, and setting the 2025 OPA priorities list.
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Rescheduled to Feb. 20: This count is critical for determining how much money gets allotted to communities for homeless services. The count was postponed due to the L.A. fires and the new date for Santa Monica is 20. Learn more and register to volunteer here or reply to this email to join the OPA team.
TODAY (1/30) is the deadline to register for the biannual Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM): This is an internal election of the California Democratic Party in which residents of AD51 will get to choose 14 delegates to represent our district at the state party’s annual convention. Delegates decide on party endorsements, pass resolutions, endorse legislation, update the party platform, and meet elected officials from around the state and the country. Note: Because this is an internal party election, the County Registrar will not automatically send you a ballot in the mail. You need to sign up here to receive a ballot in the mail.
Toxic Wildfire Runoff Closes Local Beaches Indefinitely: A quarter of LA County’s coastline may be impacted by wildfire runoff. Officials issued an Ocean Water Closure for the 9-mile stretch of coast from Malibu to Santa Monica Beaches. Additional information about water quality at beaches is available on the health department’s website or by calling 800-525-5662. More details here.
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Hosting Disaster Relief Loan Counseling: Businesses my qualify for US Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance based on loss of sales (not just loss of physical space). Come to the Chamber’s offices at 2525 Main Street, #103 on Mon, Tues, or Wed between 9 am to 5 pm to learn more or click here for the SBA site.
Support the Samohi Band Tour Fund at “Bands on the Road” Event (Wednesday Feb. 5): Light bites will be available for purchase along with a silent auction, wine pull, and quilt raffle. @ First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St, 6pm. Learn more and order tickets here.
39 Santa Monica Restaurants Join Dining Out Restaurant Week: Here’s a list and link to special deal menus for the 2 week event. As the region recovers from the recent wildfires, Dine LA producer LA Tourism will donate $5 to the American Red Cross for each reservation made through the Dine LA website, with a match from Banc of California, for a total donation of up to $100,000, organizers said.
Papille Gustative Farmer’s Market Brunch + Dine LA Menu: “Offering the best ingredients available at local farmers markets” on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Their DineLA menu is $35/person. 2823 Main St. https://papillegustativela.com/
Fitoor on Ocean Ave. Donating Portion of DineLA Proceeds to Wildfire Relief: In addition to the $5 committed to the Red Cross, Fitoor will also donate a percentage of proceeds from its Dine LA Menu to Restaurants Care. 1755 Ocean Ave. https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/eat-drink/fitoor/dinela
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Roots and Branches Exhibition – A Tree’s View of Santa Monica (Opening Friday, Jan. 31): The Santa Monica History Museum celebrates the city’s 150th anniversary with an immersive exhibition that delves into the intricate connections between the City’s trees, urban development, and the cultural and environmental history. 1350 7th St. More details here.
- Penmar Sunset Session Fire Relief & Recovery Fundraiser (Friday 4 – 9pm): Stop by a special Sunset Sessions at The Penmar and have a good time for a great cause. The Fire Relief and Recovery Fundraiser includes golf, live music, raffles, DJ’s, and much more. Proceeds to benefit: LAFD, Watch Duty, NDLON, and others. 1233 Rose Ave, Venice https://www.instagram.com/thepenmar/
- Saturday is “Ice Cream for Breakfast Day”: Yes, that’s a thing and maybe a thing we need right now! It’s the ultimate excuse to don your favorite PJs, grab a spoon, and make ice cream the star of your morning. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is celebrating it with early shop opening, a brand-new limited-time flavor, breakfast-inspired menu pairings (including a dreamy L’affogato and Parfait special), plus fun extras like kids’ activity sheets, stickers, and exclusive swag to pledge your love for the day. Saturday, Feb. 1, @ 64 Windward Ave, Venice https://jenis.com/pages/ice-cream-for-breakfast-day
- Recycling Event at City Yards (Saturday 9am – 2pm): The City is hosting a FREE recycling event Saturday, February 1st, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Santa Monica residents only. Bring your used mattresses, box springs, electronic waste, and up to five boxes of paper for shredding! Shredding will happen on-site and the paper will be recycled. @ 2500 Michigan Ave. More details here.
- Black History Month Film Screening & Panel Discussion (Saturday 1, 2 – 4pm): Celebrate Black History Month with a deep dive into the history of Black surfing. The screening of Wade in the Water will be followed by a panel discussion with Director David Mesfin; Sharon Schaffer, the first Black pro surfer; Greg Rachal of the Black Surfers Collective; Cristyne Lawson, retired Dean at CalArts; and historian Alison R. Jefferson. @ Main Library More details here.
- The Crow Comedy Club: “If You’re Ready to Laugh, We’re Ready to Have You!” Multiple shows are lined up over the weekend including the NDA Show (about dreams and nightmares), Megan Gailey stand-up show, BYObaby show for parents by parents, and more. 2525 Michigan Ave. https://crowcomedy.com/
