There will be no OPA Update on Thanksgiving Thursday. Hope you have a cornucopia of fun and don’t be a turkey, be grateful!
OPA Holiday Party Details: Mark your calendar to join us the Edgemar Restaurant Sunday, Dec. 7, from 3:00pm - 6:00pm. Click here to add the holiday party to your calendar.
OPA Holiday Party Sponsor Match: Jeff Jarow, Patty & Dave Tann have generously offered to collectively match any donations towards the holiday party up to $250. Click here and/or reply to this email to help us achieve the match! THANK YOU SPONSORS!!!
SaMo Bridge Program Far Exceeding Goal: A total of 270 people have been referred by police to the SaMo Bridge program since opening at a "respite hub" inside two trailers on the Civic Auditorium lot on May 12. The program connects participants to temporary housing; detox and substance use treatment; Project Homecoming, which reunites them with their families; mental health and medical services. More details here.
The Street Seen: Civic Lanes (234 Pico Blvd.): In 1959, the Civic Lanes bowling center opens on Pico Blvd between Main and 3rd St. The name changes to Bay Shore Bowl in 1972 and then to Bowlmor in 2013. The bowling alley closes in 2020 and is demolished in 2024 to make way for a mixed-use housing project. More details here.
Santa Monica Nonprofit Launches #35toThrive Campaign to Transform Children’s Lives Globally: A Santa Monica-based nonprofit that has expanded from helping 20 children in Tanzania to reaching more than 450,000 young people worldwide is launching its #35toThrive campaign this week, demonstrating how a modest donation can create measurable change in vulnerable children's lives. GO Campaign, which stands for Giving Opportunity, will run its #35toThrive initiative from Nov. 18 through Dec. 31, featuring a matching promotion that begins on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, and continues through year's end. More details here.
Waymo Robotaxis Begin Using Freeways In Los Angeles: Waymo has begun offering autonomous robotaxi service using freeways for the first time. Waymo indicated freeway access will not be available to all riders at first, and riders who want to enable freeway rides can select their preference in the Waymo app and may be matched with a freeway trip. More details here.
Residents File Lawsuit against Santa Monica over Airport Commercial Operations Permit: Measure LC Defense, along with residents Alan Levenson and Zina Josephs (vocal critics of the Santa Monica Airport), filed the case in Los Angeles Superior Court last week. The lawsuit challenges the city's Oct. 9 approval of a commercial operations permit for Delux Public Charter LLC, doing business as JSX Air, to operate scheduled public charter air service at the airport.. More details here.
Small Business Saturday on Main St.: Look for orange balloons to see which stores are participating in the citywide sale this Saturday. More details here.
AJA Vineyards Thanksgiving Wine Sale: On Wednesday 11/26 (day before Thanksgiving) enjoy BOTTLES TO GO discounts up to 25% off bottles to go, holiday grab and go bags and more. Hours of Operations 12-7pm at the Tasting Room and via online order pick up. More details here on how to support this great OPA Gold Member!
Miracle on Main St. Holiday Tree Lighting (Sunday, Dec. 7 3:30-6pm): The 20-ft Shopping Cart Tree is BACK! Enjoy kids’ activities, holiday music, Santa’s grand entrance at 4:00 PM, plus a pop-up bar by The Victorian and pizza from Triple Beam. More details here.
50 Homer Simpson Clones Invade the 3rd Street Promenade: “The invasion of the Homer clones came without warning as part of a promotional stunt for the Fortnite season, a collaboration between the video game Fortnite and the popular cartoon series The Simpsons….” More details here & here’s a video of the invasion.
Thanksgiving Restaurant Meal Options:
Jameson's Pub All You Can Eat Thanksgiving: You get your choice of turkey, ham, or prime rib with all the fixin's for $19.99 per person while getting to watch all the NFL Thanksgiving games. 2702 Main St. santamonica.jamesonsirishpub.com
Papille Gustative Thanksgiving: Enjoy a celebratory feast that includes bread with truffle butter, braised short rib, salmon, butternut squash and scallop risotto, and a chocolate and berry cake. $69/person. 2823 Main St. More details here.
Thanksgiving at Regent Santa Monica Beach: Celebrate the holiday at their on-site fine dining restaurant, Orla by Michael Mina, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, while enjoying timeless holiday classics made with a California-twist. $65/Person for children and $135/Person for Adults. 1700 Ocean Ave. More details here.
For more options around town, check out the list in my weekly Santa Monica Daily Press column.
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Things to Do This Week
A Talk Through Pier History: 🎠 Come to A Talk Through Pier History on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6pm inside the iconic Merry Go Round Building. It’s FREE and includes a VIP tour upstairs, a rare peek at the historic space where The Sting was filmed! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-talk-through-pier-history-tickets-1273134382209
Santa Monica Turkey Trot: It’s time for the Turkey Trot 5k, 10k, 15k, or Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. Pick your speed and work up an appetite running along Santa Monica’s beautiful beach path. All finishers will receive a medal and goodie bag. Thursday, Nov. 27, 7:30a.m., 2000 Ocean Ave. https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SantaMonica/SantaMonicaTurkeyTrotKKHalfMarathon
Thanksgiving in Venice - Feed The Homeless (Thursday 6:30 - 10:00am): Come celebrate this holiday season by giving back to the community with Lost Angels at their Annual Feed the Homeless Event. Gather at Venice Beach to provide meals, essential items, and warm holiday cheer to those in need. Your participation and support make this event possible! 219 Rose Ave. More details here.
Santa Monica Turkey Trot (Thursday 7:30am): It’s time for the Turkey Trot 5k, 10k, 15k, or Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. Pick your speed and work up an appetite running along Santa Monica’s beautiful beach path. All finishers will receive a medal and goodie bag. @ 2000 Ocean Ave. More details here.
Holiday Cheer on the Pier (Now - Dec. 18): The SaMo Pier is bringing the holiday cheer this year with a month of programming sure to bring a smile to everyone in the family, including holiday performances, decking out the windows of the historic Merry Go-Round windows, and photos with Santa. https://www.santamonicapier.org/cheeronthepier/
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OPA & City Meetings/Matters
Santa Monica 311: The program provides easy access to all non-emergency City services and information. Users can submit a request, ask a question, provide feedback, or report something using one of 4 convenient methods. More details here.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
OPA Holiday Party (Sunday, Dec. 7, 3-6pm) @ Edgemar Restaurant
Miracle on Main St. Holiday Tree Lighting (Sunday, Dec. 7 3:30-6pm): The 20-ft Shopping Cart Tree is BACK! Enjoy kids’ activities, holiday music, Santa’s grand entrance at 4:00 PM, plus a pop-up bar by The Victorian and pizza from Triple Beam. More details here.
Ocean Park Social Club Holiday Potluck and Cookie Exchange (Sunday, Dec. 14, 3:30-5pm): Location is TBD, but the idea is that attendees mix and mingle while assembling a box of assorted cookies made by your neighbors! Attendees should bake and bring at least 1 dozen cookies, a tupperware, and an ingredient list for your cookies. RSVP to [email protected].
Holiday Potluck and Festivities (Sunday, Dec. 14 5:30-7:30pm @ The Church in Ocean Park): Stay tuned for details, how to RSVP, and potluck sign up sheet!
Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are December 3, January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1. Email [email protected] for more info.
