OPA Board Member Spotlight - Andrew Lee (and family)
OPA Board Member Spotlight - Andrew Lee: Andrew moved to Santa Monica with his wife, Elizabeth, in 2022. They had spent the previous two years living nomadically throughout the United States, trying to figure out where they wanted to plant roots. After driving through 33 states and visiting 18 National Parks, they decided there was no place better in the world than Santa Monica, specifically Ocean Park. Now Andrew & Elizabeth have a brand-new baby boy, born in Santa Monica, and they own a small condo in Ocean Park. By day, Andrew works in the technology industry. He is excited to help contribute to OPA as the 2026 Secretary.
Upcoming OPA Events:
Ocean Park Social Club - Special Event this Friday (Feb. 20) 7pm: You're invited to experience The Jar for an evening of art, conversation, and community. Here's a Washington Post feature on The Jar. The Jar brings people together through cultural gatherings that spark connection across difference, especially with those who don’t look, pray, or love like them. I'm inviting you (and your partner) to join us and ask that you bring along one other neighbor with you. Someone you enjoy, someone you’re curious about, or someone you’d love to experience this with. There'll be art, there'll be dinner, there'll be dessert! Would you like to be part of this evening? @ 235 Hill St. RSVP: HERE (It is free, donation optional)
OPA Happy Hour March 4: Our next community gathering will be at Lula’s. Stay tuned for more info.
2028 Olympic Road Race Course Planned to go Down Main St: Phil Gaimon is a well-known American professional road cyclist, author, and cycling personality and in this video he details the leaked plans he has seen detailing that route from Venice to Malibu via Main St.
Chez Luna Bringing Pet Adoptions And Lattes To Main St: An exciting new concept is heading to 2929 Main St. Window paper is up announcing the arrival of Chez Luna. Chez Luna is billing itself as a pet “adoption cafe” and describes itself as: “A first-of-its-kind space where premium lattes meet live puppy love.” Coffee and pooches? Sign me up. They are aiming for a summer opening. More details here.
From the Desk of Councilmember Dan Hall: Here is the Councilmember’s newsletter covering a variety of topics, including how they are working to Achieve Safe Neighborhoods & Clean Streets, Activate Economic Opportunity & Growth, and Develop Affordable, Livable, & Secure Housing for All. He highlights major visible park upgrades that were completed at Palisades Park, Marine Park, and Memorial Park, the Valentine’s Day “rave on the Promenade” that drew 10,000 visitors according to organizers, new padel courts opening downtown, and multiple new businesses are slated to open across Montana, Wilshire, Main, Lincoln, and Ocean Park.
New LA City law aims to unlock 50 million sq. ft. of empty office space: Housing development across Los Angeles is expected to accelerate this month as a new citywide adaptive reuse ordinance takes effect...Under the new law, commercial properties throughout the city are eligible for potential residential reuse. More details here.
Airport Closure Update: The City's Airport Conversion (SMAC) Project Team has released its proposed framework for the land post-closure. The team will be presenting the "Framework Diagram" at various board and commission meetings over the next two months. You can learn more about the proposed framework here.
Seascape magazine is coming back — first print edition since 2022: The City's community newsletter magazine will land in roughly 60,000 Santa Monica mailboxes at the end of March. The Spring 2026 edition focuses on "Realignment in Action" — featuring a visual scorecard of early results, stories on public safety, SaMoBridge, mobility improvements, library reopenings, the Pier Bridge project, housing, and the new Ambulance Operator Program. A second edition is planned for October.
Voting Now Open “Most Loved” Businesses: The annual "Most Loved Business" competition is back. Vote for all your favorites here through March 13: smdp.com/vote
Will Your Retirement Income Last?
A successful retirement can depend on having a clear plan. Fisher Investments’ The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income can help you calculate your future costs and structure your portfolio to meet your needs. Get the insights you need to help build a durable income strategy for the long term.
Things to Do This Weekend
Locals' Night: Jazz Night (Thursday 3:30 - 10 pm): Locals’ Night is bringing the rhythm with BroadStage's Jazz Night featuring phenomenal alumni from Stanley Clarke's Artist Residency program. Enjoy serious grooves to celebrate Black History Month, while Offhand Wine Bar keeps the vibe smooth with perfectly paired selections. @ Santa Monica Pier santamonicapier.org/jazznight
PJ & Friends Bistro Dinners: Pasjoli is has a series of dinner collabs with chef friends from the LA area in March and April. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 20. @ 2732 Main St. instagram.com/pasjoli.sm
Lunar New Year Celebration (Saturday 2 – 5pm): Celebrate the Year of the Horse with lion dancers, live music, dazzling arts and cultural traditions at Santa Monica Place. This afternoon event offers festive vibes and interactive activities perfect for community gatherings and family fun. @ Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place More details here.
Gladstones Malibu Honors LAFD Heroes One Year After the Fires (Friday 11am): This event honors the real heroes of the Malibu coastline - the brave men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department who stood on the front lines to protect the community, the coastline, and the beloved oceanfront landmark. To mark the one-year anniversary, Gladstone’s invites the public to take part in this special gathering - a heartfelt tribute honoring the firefighters who helped protect Malibu. Guests will enjoy complimentary light bites and refreshments, followed by a special plaque unveiling. @ 17300 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu More details here.
Mishkon Temple Sake Tasting and Havdalah (Saturday 6:15 - 8 pm): This year’s annual tasting event will feature sake, the traditional rice beverage of Japan. The evening includes the tasting, kosher Japanese snacks (including sushi), and your very own sake tasting cup to take home! Non-alcoholic sake available on request, and soft drinks will be served. Learn more and get your tickets here. @ 206 Main St., Venice mishkon.org/event/sake-tasting.html
Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am - 1:30pm):
Venice Beach Mardi Gras (Sunday 12 - 6pm): Venice Beach brings the Big Easy to the boardwalk with a colorful Mardi Gras celebration full of live music, costumed revelers, brass bands, and plenty of beads flying through the salty air. Expect high-energy performances, festive parades, and that unmistakable Venice flair — where New Orleans spirit meets beachside weird in the best possible way. @ Venice Board Walk More details here.
What investment is rudimentary for billionaires but ‘revolutionary’ for 70,571+ investors entering 2026?
Imagine this. You open your phone to an alert. It says, “you spent $236,000,000 more this month than you did last month.”
If you were the top bidder at Sotheby’s fall auctions, it could be reality.
Sounds crazy, right? But when the ultra-wealthy spend staggering amounts on blue-chip art, it’s not just for decoration.
The scarcity of these treasured artworks has helped drive their prices, in exceptional cases, to thin-air heights, without moving in lockstep with other asset classes.
The contemporary and post war segments have even outpaced the S&P 500 overall since 1995.*
Now, over 70,000 people have invested $1.2 billion+ across 500 iconic artworks featuring Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.
How? You don’t need Medici money to invest in multimillion dollar artworks with Masterworks.
Thousands of members have gotten annualized net returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% from 26 sales to date.
*Based on Masterworks data. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are March 4 (The Vanishing Half), April 1 (The Housemaid), May 6 (Demon Copperhead), June 3: (Remarkably Bright Creatures). Email [email protected] for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
OPA Happy Hour March 4: Our next community gathering will be at Lula’s. Stay tuned for more info.
OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, March 9, 6p.m. @ Ocean Park Library
Pi Day (3/14) Pie Baking 101: 🥧 Back by popular demand, join Lissa and Tess for Pi(e) Day! We are planning to make apple pies with pie pastry using this ridiculously easy recipe from the 1978 Betty Crocker cookbook (flaky! inexpensive! takes 10 minutes start to finish! no packaging waste! vegan! delicious!), so if you want to learn to make pie, come on over for Pie Baking 101. RSVP to [email protected]
Want to Volunteer for Future OPA-Sponsored Heal The Bay Adopt-A-Beach Clean-Ups? Contact Dave Tann at [email protected]. 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.
Santa Monica 311. Submit non-emergency requests to the City.
Santa Monica Alerts. Sign up for emergency text and email alerts.
SaMoNews. Subscribe to the official newsletter of the City of Santa Monica.
Board and Commission Openings. Volunteer to serve the community!
City of Santa Monica Career Opportunities. Get paid to serve the community!
Santa Monica Animal Shelter. Support our municipal Animal Shelter!
