| May OPA Monthly Meeting TONIGHT/MONDAY (May 11): The meeting is at the Ocean Park Library @ 2601 Main St. starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Click here to add the OPAmonthlymeeting and Zoom link to your calendar. Here is the schedule and Here’s the zoom link: |
| 6:00 – 6:30: Food, refreshments and mingling6:30 – 7:30: Guest Speakers (City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln had to reschedule):Santa Monica Travel & TourismSaMo Police DepartmentSaMo Fire DepartmentLocal Main St. Business (& OPA Gold Member!) Chi Trainer7:30 – 8:30: Board business, including the upcoming calendar of events, & more) |
| OPA Spring Mixer @ Lula Wednesday (5/20): We hope to see you at @ Lula’s back patio (2720 Main St.) from 4:00-6-30pm. Everyone is welcome and members can enjoy a FREE drink and appetizers along with the GREAT company. See you there! |
| Santa Monica Kicks Off Era With Revel Republic Leading Six Weeks of Global Fan Activations: As Los Angeles prepares to host the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup beginning June 11, Santa Monica is making its own play to become one of the region’s signature fan destinations. Santa Monica is launching six weeks public activations, cultural experiences, and community programming designed to welcome visitors, support local businesses, and showcase Santa Monica on a global stage. More details here. |
| A Hidden Crisis Is Coming for Santa Monica’s Seniors – And Sacramento Holds the Solution: The California Department of Aging is proposing changes to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Intrastate Funding Formula (IFF) – the mechanism that determines how federal aging services dollars are distributed to local programs. The proposed formula would result in a 17% reduction in annual funding for Los Angeles County. That is not an abstraction. It means nearly 396,000 fewer meals served each year, including more than 209,000 fewer home-delivered meals and over 185,000 fewer congregate meals at senior centers. It means reduced access to case management, caregiver support, elder abuse prevention services and more– the full network of services that keep seniors safe, connected, and out of far more costly care settings. More details here. |
| Metro Opens First Section of D Line Subway Extension Through Mid-City and Beverly Hills: The expansion is part of the broader D Line Extension project, formerly known as the Purple Line Extension, which aims to connect downtown Los Angeles to the Westside. The first section of the long-planned Los Angeles Metro D Line extension officially opened Friday, adding three new subway stations along the Wilshire Corridor and extending rail service farther west from Koreatown into Mid-City and Beverly Hills. The newly opened segment runs from Western Avenue to La Cienega Boulevard and includes underground stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega. More details here. |
| The Street Seen – First Christian Church (254 Hampton Dr @ Rose Ave): The First Christian Church of Ocean Park is built in 1906 on the northeast corner of Rose Avenue and Hampton Drive in Venice. From 1906 to 1969, it is a Protestant church. In 1972, it is converted to residential, before returning to spiritual uses in 2003. The building is currently vacant, pending city approval of a conversion to a new use. More details here. |
| Recycling Event at City Yards (Saturday 9am – 2pm @ City Yards, 2500 Michigan Avenue (2nd gate entrance): This is a FREE event for Santa Monica residents only. Bring your used mattresses, box springs, electronic waste, and up to 5 boxes of paper for shredding. Shredding will happen on-site and the paper will be recycled. Questions? Call (866) 311-7266. |
Things to Do This Week
- Thursday is Bike Anywhere Day and Big Blue Bus is celebrating its growing community of multimodal riders, by offering free rides to bicyclists! On May 14, your ride is FREE when you board Big Blue Bus with a bike or helmet. There’s no better way to bike and ride!
- Venice Family Clinic Art Exhibition + Auction (May 8-17): What began nearly 50 years ago as Venice Art Walk, a one-day fundraiser, has grown into Venice Family Clinic Art Exhibition + Auction – the longest-running charity art exhibition in Los Angeles. 910 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice venicefamilyclinic.org/aea26/
- Live Talks – Erin Walsh in conversation with Mindy Kaling discussing her book, The Art of Intentional Dressing: Your Essential Style Guide for Manifesting a Magnetic Life (Monday 8pm): Find your personal style, dress for your destiny, and manifest your most magnetic life in this ultimate guide from a renowned celebrity stylist. @ New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd. livetalksla.org/events/erinwalsh_mindykaling/
- Winemaker Dinner at Shutters with Quintessa (Wednesday 7pm): Quintessa stands as one of Napa’s most prestigious estates, producing biodynamic wines that embody elegance, complexity, and a sense of place. Discover the essence of Rutherford terroir with Antonia Huneeus of Quintessa Estate during a luxurious evening of exceptional wines and inspired cuisine. @ 1 Pico Blvd. More details here.
OPA and City Meetings
- Landmarks Commission Meeting (Monday 7pm): More details & agenda here.
- City Council Meeting(Tuesday 5:30 pm): Meetings are hybrid and can be viewed on this YouTube channel. Click here for agenda.
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
- Library Board Meeting (Wednesday 6pm): More details & agenda here.
- Disabilities Commission Meeting (Wednesday 6:30pm): More details & agenda here.
- Rent Control Board Meeting (Thursday 6pm): More details & agenda here.
Upcoming calendar of Events
- Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are May 6 (Demon Copperhead), June 3 (Remarkably Bright Creatures), July 8 (Trust), Aug 5 (The Night Watchman). Email alexabarrett@gmail.com for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
- OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, May 11, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
- Ocean Park Social Club Cookbook Club: A Cookbook Club is when a group of people choose 1 cookbook and each make a different recipe, and then enjoy the meal together. Our first one will Monday, June 1, 6-8pm at the Meditation Center (237 Hill Street). Our first cookbook will be: Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman. If you would like to participate or have questions, email me at samosocialclub@gmail.com.
- Ocean Park Social Club 2nd Annual June Gloom Chili Cookoff: SAVE THE DATE: June 7. Last year, our Chili Cookoff was a raging success with over 15 submissions of delicious cornbread and chili recipes by our neighbors! Come back to reignite the community and the competition. Click here to email Tess if you’d like to volunteer and RSVP here.
- Ocean Park Social Club – The Jar Returns to Ocean Park: After a wonderful first event with the national non-profit, The Jar, our friends are back for another dinner & salon on June 24. This next session will be a “Convener” model, where we invite you to bring 2-3 guests with you. This model broadens the community further, allowing us to create a more diverse room of voices. Tickets are $10/person (and includes dinner and dessert!).RSVP HEREand direct questions to samosocialclub@gmail.com and our partner abigail@jumpinthejar.org.
- Ocean Park Social Club Summer Picnic Series: Mark your calendars for our bi-weekly summer evening picnics at Hotchkiss Park on the following Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm: July 9, July 23, Aug 6, Aug 20, and Sep 3.
- Want to Volunteer for Future OPA-Sponsored Heal The Bay Adopt-A-Beach Clean-Ups? Contact Dave Tann at dogtowndave@yahoo.com. He is the coordinator for the OPA/Heal The Bay events, always meeting at Tower 26. Dates this summer are 6/28, 7/26, & 8/30.
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