OPA Oct Monthly Meeting Recap: Here is the full meeting recording that included a talk with SMPD (here), a talk with SMFD (here), a discussion of the potential to develop the Main St. parking lots into housing (here), and general board business (here). We are planning an in depth discussion of the history and potential for the city to development the Main St. parking lots for our November 9 meeting. See you there!
OPA is Looking for 2027 Board Nominations: November 6 is the deadline for 2027 OPA Board Nominations: Reply to this email asap if you’re interested in joining the board, want to learn more about it, and/or want to nominate someone else.
The Main Street Block Party returns THIS Sunday, Oct. 18! Main Street is shutting down to vehicles for the annual massive, free community festival presented in partnership with the Day of the Dog—the largest pet festival in North America! More details here and here:
- Day of the Dog (12-5pm): Bring your furry friends for an epic day of fun, featuring dog surfing, pool parties, pup yoga, and over 100 pet exhibitors. More details here.
- Live Music & Entertainment: Enjoy live performances from 12-5pm between Ocean Park and Pier.
- Ashland Hill Beer Garden (1-6pm): Unwind in the beer garden with live music. $10 ticket includes a drink. Pre-buy tickets here.
- Free Fitness Classes: The WRX is doing classes at 12pm and 3pm at 2215 Main St.
- 🎂 100 YEARS OF ROUTE 66 — IN CAKE! 3:00 PM — Main Street Stage at Pier Ave Ina Bakes Studio & Santa Monica Travel & Tourism are helping celebrate with a one-of-a-kind community cake and treats for our four-legged friends. Serving up complimentary mini cupcakes + dog treats while supplies last!
- Kids’ Corner (1 – 5pm): Little one’s can enjoy sports demos, free face painting, crafts, and musical story time with Books & Cookies at The Pump Station
Volunteers Needed to Staff OPA Booth at 10/18 Day of the Dog Main St. Event: Volunteering for an hour or two at the OPA tent is the best way to get to know other people in the organization and community! Reply to this email to learn more or click here to sign up on our online form.
New law aims to protect Californians from losing home insurance coverage: SB 1301 requires insurers to explain why they are dropping a policyholder, including by identifying a specific risk to the property. Insurers must then give the policyholder a chance to keep coverage by addressing that risk to meet the insurer’s underwriting standards. The protections take effect Jan. 1, 2028. More details here.
The Blue Notebook – A Weekly SMPD Recap – September 20-26: “This week’s incidents included a death investigation, burglary, retail theft, narcotics activity, and recurring neighborhood concerns. SMART Center personnel helped officers locate a retail theft suspect and supported a coordinated narcotics operation Downtown. Investigative work also included the seizure of evidence of narcotics sales during a search warrant operation with federal partners.” More details here.
OPA Platinum Member Raphael Barragan’s Monthly LA Real Estate Report includes updates on Pacific Palisades Real Estate (1300+ permits issued), wealth, national real estate, and real estate investment reports. Click here to read it the informative report.
Tar & Roses Announces Closure on Oct. 24: Downtown Santa Monica’s beloved culinary anchor, Tar & Roses, has announced it will close its doors after 15 incredible years. Chef-owner Mark Gold and the team shared a heartfelt farewell to the community, thanking loyal diners and staff who have gathered there over the last decade and a half. Their final day of service will be Saturday, Oct. 24, giving fans two weeks to stop by, share a final meal, and raise a glass together. 602 Broadway. instagram.com/tarandrosesla
Pasjoli Listed by The Infatuation as One of “The Best French Restaurants In LA”: “Pasjoli used to be a fancy restaurant with tableside pressed duck and a multi-course tasting menu. But it’s more laidback these days, with a menu that leans in the direction of decadent bar food, like deboned cordon bleu chicken wings stuffed with prosciutto and molten cheese, a gooey burger with marrow aioli, and a french onion soup capped with gruyère that explodes when your spoon pokes in. The prices aren’t too daunting for a random Tuesday night dinner, but Pasjoli is still the kind of spot where you might overhear a business deal or spot a celebrity couple on a discreet date. Oh, and the pressed duck remains—for $350.” 2732 Main St. https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/the-best-french-restaurants-in-la
Art in Motion programming launches on the Promenade: The Art in Motion program brings short-form digital video art by local and nationally recognized artists to downtown Santa Monica. Throughout September and October, experience works by Nancy Baker Cahill, Ranu Mukherjee, and Maggie West at the top of the hour, and by Arte Museum at the half hour, at the digital displays on the Promenade at Arizona Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The program is part of the City’s new Digital Display District, centered at major intersections along the iconic pedestrian street. Through public benefit agreements with private billboard operators, 20% of display time is dedicated to City content, creating new opportunities to bring art into everyday public spaces alongside City announcements. More details here.
Aging and Disability Action Plan Moves from Vision to Action: This City post details how “The city of Santa Monica has officially launched its Aging and Disability Action Plan, a three-year roadmap to improve community livability for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. Adopted by the City Council in fall 2025 following extensive community engagement, the Action Plan includes 26 goals focused on mobility, social connection, housing stability, communication and emergency preparedness.”
Councilmember Dan Hall Special Edition Newsletter – Reimagining Vision Zero: Vision Zero is an approach to traffic safety adopted by Santa Monica in 2016 that is rooted in science, data, and the principle that no death or severe injury on our streets is acceptable… ‘zero’ deaths on our streets by 2026 was the goal. This report details how the City is advancing several projects this year to improve street safety: new street diverters at Chelsea and Santa Monica in front of McKinley Elementary School, No-Right-Turn-on-Red signs throughout Downtown, and new speed warning signage..
Things to Do This Weekend
- 50 Years of Dogtown – Locals Night at the Pier: Santa Monica celebrates 50 years of Dogtown and the legendary Z-Boys with a free, all-ages Locals’ Night. The celebration features a 7:30 p.m. drive-in screening of “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” a live vinyl DJ set by original Z-Boy and skateboarding legend Tony Alva, a skate ramp, classic cars, live music, salsa, and more. Free advance reservations are required for the drive-in, chair seating and skate ramp. Thursday, Oct. 15, 3:30–10 p.m. santamonicapier.org/localsnight
- Nancy Silverton’s Spacca Tutto Opens in the Palisades: One of LA’s biggest culinary names is bringing a new restaurant to the reborn Palisades Village. Spacca Tutto, from James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton, is a modern Italian-American steakhouse inspired in part by her acclaimed Chi Spacca. Expect a serious steak program alongside seasonal seafood and vegetables, plus Chi Spacca favorites including Focaccia di Recco and chicken pot pie. There will also be nearly 250 wines, martinis and aperitivos—because apparently the Palisades is coming back hungry. Thursday, Oct. 15, 15255 Palisades Village Lane, Pacific Palisades. spaccatutto.com
- Airport Conversion Event – Saturday, October 17 – 1 to 4 PM Memorial Park Gym, 1401 Olympic Blvd. The City of Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project team will host an important community event, and will unveil its Draft Master Plan for the future of the airport site following the airport’s closure at the end of 2028. This will be one of the most important events in the planning process for the future Great Park. Once approved, the proposed design will provide the framework for the project’s environmental (CEQA) review next year and help shape the future of this extraordinary public space. Airport Conversion Project website.
- Samohi Serenade: Music That Makes a Difference: Join Samohi Choir October 17 at Barnum Hall for ensembles, solos, and small groups supporting its program. Tickets, auction, donations, and questions below. Tickets here. Auction and donations here. Questions: samoserenade@gmail.com
- Opera at the Beach Returns to the Pier: Who says opera has to involve fancy clothes and a stuffy theater? The annual Opera at the Beach simulcast is back at the Pier, where you can watch a live broadcast of Bizet’s Carmen on a giant screen under the stars. Arrive early for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon art, live performances, food vendors and other pre-show activities, then settle in with a blanket or lawn chair for the three-and-a-half-hour production. Best of all, it’s free. Saturday, Oct. 17, pre-show activities at 4 p.m., opera at 6 p.m., Santa Monica Pier. More details here.
- The Victorian’s Once Last Dance Bash: The Victorian is throwing a farewell party with an outdoor stage, music, and plenty of dancing. instagram.com/p/DeaL3tmSXmL
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm): Get ready for another Sunday Fun Day as the Main Street Farmers Market hits the street! On stage from 10am-1pm the UCLA Going Outside Band is back! Find all of your favorite market vendors and a couple of new ones including Kreung LA Cambodian BBQ and the Farm to Glass Cafe popup with farmer inspired mocktails! On the lawn in the Kid Zone, we will have special guests City Council Member, Lana Negrete with activities for the kids and the Santa Monica Fire Department pop up! Don’t miss it!
Upcoming Calendar of Events
- COOKBOOK CLUB (Oct. 19): Cookbook club returns this fall! If you are not familiar, a Cookbook Club is when a group of people choose 1 cookbook or 1 author and each make a different recipe, and then enjoy the meal together, potluck style. This quarter we will be cooking from any of Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbooks! Check out his broad base of books HERE. I personally have Plenty More, but have never made anything from it so Cookbook Club seems like a great way to break it open and give it a try! If you would like to participate or have questions, email me at samosocialclub@gmail.com.
- OPA Book Club: Next planned dates are 11/4 (James), and 12/2 (The Year of Living Danishly). Email alexabarrett@gmail.com for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
- OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, Nov. 9, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
