| COAST 2026 (Sunday): The revival of the COAST Open Streets festival will serve as the grand finale for Santa Monica’s soccer celebrations. Spanning from the Promenade and Metro E Line station across to Ocean Park, Colorado, Arizona and the iconic Santa Monica Pier, the city will come together for an HUGE day of music, food and culture. More details here. |
| OPA July Monthly Meeting Recap: Here is the full meeting recording that included a discussion with SMPD (here), a talk with State Senate candidate John Erickson (here), and a discussion of the evolution of the Victorian and the Farmers Market moving ONTO Main St. with a test run of that planned for Aug. 23 (here). |
| Beachella Details: The official name is Ocean Way Festival and is produced by Goldenvoice, which also produces Coachella. This SMDP column offers quite a few details and here are a few of them: |
| “The original concept called for an event drawing 30,000 to 35,000 attendees with 12 to 15 artists, returning annually in fall 2027 and fall 2028.”The festival will be multi-genre and multi-generational. The main stage will sit at the base of the Pier facing south so that the Pier will be the backdrop.Plans include a food component featuring West Side restaurants, a “beach club” area designed with input from Santa Monica-based designers or hospitality partners in place of a traditional VIP section and a farmers market-style vendor strip.Community programming will include a high school day and college day pairing students with industry professionals, free concerts at Reed Park and Tongva Park around the festival dates and beach cleanups with Heal the Bay. |
| City Council Briefs: SaMoNext published this summary of this week’s meeting, including Ballot Measures for SMMUD, Tenant Protections, Progress on the Civic, Punt on SB 79 and More. |
| California Coastal Commission Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest: This annual contest is free and open to all amateur photographers. An amateur photographer is defined as someone who earns less than 50 percent of their income from photography. See www.coastal.ca.gov/photo for previous winners, rules, categories, and prizes. |
| Composer Hans Zimmer & tech executives back Santa Monica piano school eyeing L.A. growth: Payam Music, whose Santa Monica school teaches beginners to play piano through a proprietary alphanumeric notation rather than traditional sheet music, said it has partnered with composer Hans Zimmer and raised funding from a group of technology and media executives to expand across Southern California and the country. More details here. |
| New movie shoot marks largest production in Santa Monica history: “Paris Paramount” is filming at the Fairmont Miramar and is closing a section of Ocean Ave for several days during the shoot. It follows a young filmmaker who falls for a producer, according to a plot description. After the pair make several hit films together, they break up — only to be forced back into each other’s orbit to complete a high-profile project featuring volatile movie stars. The film’s cast includes Penélope Cruz, Owen Wilson, Jude Law, Tony Hale, Kieran Culkin, Beverly D’Angelo, Erin Doherty and Apple Martin. More details here. |
| Hotel guests, not day trippers, drive Santa Monica’s tourism economy: “Santa Monica’s recovery strategy rests heavily on Transient Occupancy Tax revenue, the 15% levy on overnight hotel stays that flows directly into the city’s General Fund and represents one of its single largest revenue sources. In 2025, the City of Santa Monica generated $54.4 million in Transient Occupancy Tax, a 13.2% decrease from the $62.7 million generated in 2024.” “The principal driver of 2025’s spending gains was the continued growth of international visitation. International travelers now account for 50% of all Santa Monica visitors, up from 44% in 2024 and just 24% in 2023 — a dramatic compositional shift in who is actually coming to the city.” This SMDP report has a lot more details. |
| Six Men Arrested for Poaching Lobsters off SaMo Pier: Officials said the poaching suspects hid the stolen lobsters in duffle bags, cars and a baby stroller. More details here. |
| Councilmember Lana Negrete Newsletter: Here is her weekly newsletter with updates on Public Safety, Economic Development, Education, Around Town & Community Highlights, Election & Voting, and more. OPA Gold Member Alfalfa on Main St. Has a new Summer Menu: The seasonal offerings include Watermelon Coconut Lemonade, Watermelon Feta Salad, and Heirloom Tomato Salad. Please support the businesses that support OPA! |
Things to Do This Weekend
- Annenberg Beach House Sunset Picnic – Route 66 Edition (Thursday 5-8pm): Bring your own picnic and enjoy a relaxed night by the ocean. Come with friends, family, or on your own and join a communal table. There’s live music, ocean views, complimentary s’mores (while supplies last) & board games. @ 415 PCH More details here.
- The Lobster Celebrates 27th Anniversary (Thursday 6 – 9pm): Enjoy freshly-made pizzas by Chef Govind Armstrong, a live DJ, drink specials, and happy hour pricing all night as the iconic oceanfront restaurant toasts 27 years in Santa Monica. @ 1602 Ocean Ave. thelobster.com/events
- Fun Guy Summer Series (Thursday 8-10pm): Have fun with your health at this wellness party at Likeminded Studios, where you can detox with communal sauna, cold plunge, local DJs, and free doses of Fun Guy Flow or Chill. @ 116 Washington Blvd., Venice instagram.com/p/DZay6gGyVXx
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm):Hey, all of you World Cup Fans, come join us this Sunday at the Main Street Farmers Market for a pre-game show featuring local singer song writers Sierra Levesque 9am-11am followed by Megan Ukoh 11am-1pm! Adventures with Doc JC will be on the lawn. In case you missed it.. Dancing Crow Vineyard is at the market with their award-winning sustainable wines! It’s a great time of the year to shop the market for all of your BBQ and picnic needs.
- Luft x Forta : 5k, Matcha, & Make-Up (Sunday 9am): Join a 5k run/walk followed by pastries, matcha, and charms. @ 1930 Lincoln Blvd., Venice More details here.
- Sunday, July 19 is National Ice Cream Day: Yes, this is a thing! And it’s just the escapist thing we may need right now!
- Rori’s Artisanal Creamery: Buy any single scoop and get it upgraded to a double scoop for FREE. 910 Montana Ave. instagram.com/roriscreamery
- McConnell’s: Get a free extra scoop when you buy a single cone or cup. 1456 3rd Street Promenade mcconnells.com
- Salt & Straw: “Serving Scoops for Local Charities”: A portion of the day’s proceeds will go to the organization that receives the most mentions. 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd. More details here.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
- OPA Book Club: Next planned date is 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, July 13, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
- 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 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 7/26 & 8/30.
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