Southern California Attractions and Santa Monica Events Calendar

"Emerging Artists for Emerging Collectors" Art Opening / Artist Reception

• Date(s): 01/06/2012
• Recurring every 2 weeks on Friday
• Times: 5 - 8 pm
• Location: haleARTS S P A C E
• Contact: Sean Hemeon
• Phone: (310) 314-8038
• Admission: Free

"Emerging artists for emerging collectors" - New local artist featured every other friday with reception.

Our Town starring Helen Hunt

• Date(s): 01/13/2012 - 02/12/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: 2pm & 7:30pm, except Mondays
• Location: The Broad Stage
• Contact: Box Office
• Phone: (310) 434-3200
• Admission: $40 to $175

Oscar winner Helen Hunt stars in this groundbreaking new version of Wilder’s iconic American play. Our Town tells the story of young lovers George and Emily, whose life in a small New England town becomes a microcosm of every day life. The wisdom of the play, rendered through a deceptively simple story, makes Our Town an enduring treasure of the American theater. This electrifying new production is directed by Broadway director David Cromer in his LA debut. Most of the seating for this production will be on stage with the actors.

Helen K. Garber: Encaustic Noir Brassai & Other Vintage Noir Photographers

• Date(s): 01/14/2012 - 02/25/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: Opening Night: January 14, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
• Location: dnj Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave, J1

Helen K. Garber Encaustic Series, Gallery II: Brassai and other Noir photographers Vintage Noir works

Cirque du Soleil OVO

• Date(s): 01/20/2012 - 03/20/2012
• Recurring daily
• Location: Under the Big Top at the Santa Monica Pier
• Contact: Cirque du Soleil
• Phone: (800) 450-1480

OVO is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

It's love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye - and the feeling is mutual. OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.

Fireside at the Miles Memorial Playhouse

• Date(s): 01/20/2012 - 02/25/2012
• Recurring every 6 weeks on Friday, Saturday
• Times: 8pm & 10pm
• Location: Miles Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd
• Phone: (310) 458-8634
• Admission: $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and youth 17/under

For the third year in a row the Miles is proud to present the always-inviting, always warm "Fireside at the Miles" Series! Friday, enjoy six weekends and thirteen separate events featuring contemporary music, opera, jazz, dance, puppetry, poetry, beat boxing, a capella singing and more. Performances take place beside the huge vintage fireplace with a cheery eco-logs fire. Comfy couches, cozy candles, organic beverages and pastries all await you inside the historic playhouse.

All events are suitable for adults and mature teens, and most are also appropriate for children; call for details. 

Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam

• Date(s): 01/21/2012 - 02/12/2012
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm
• Location: 2627 Pico Boulevard (Pico @ 27th Street)
• Contact: Mary Beth Sciarabba
• Phone: (310) 828-7519
• Admission: $18 ($15 students/seniors)

Woody Allen’s hilarious and actually rather moving comedy, PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM, is the second show of our 2011-2012 season. Allan Felix, film critic and recently-deserted husband, lives in a lonely apartment and talks to his imaginary idol, Humphrey Bogart. When his friends Dick and Linda try to set him up with women, his attempts to be suave and sexy lead to a series of comic disasters – until Allan starts to fall for Linda, his best friend’s wife….

Film series Japanese Animation The Masters of Studio Ghibli

• Date(s): 01/26/2012 - 02/12/2012
• Recurring every 3 weeks on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Location: Aero Theater & Egyptian Theatre
• Phone: (323) 466-3456
• Admission: Tickets To Each Film: $11 General Admission, $9 Student/Senior, $7 American Cinematheque Member

Studio Ghibli, founded in Tokyo in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is one of the most successful and well-respected animation studios in the world. Cultivating a creative force of talented directors, animators and storytellers under the revered brilliance of Miyazaki and Takahata, Studio Ghibli's films have been praised for their originality, dazzling animation and epic storytelling. Hayao Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002, and in 2005 Miyazaki was named one of "the most influential people" by TIME magazine.

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to present a comprehensive retrospective of Studio Ghibli’s films, including new 35mm prints of several films that have never been released in North America. Half of the films will be presented in the original Japanese language versions with English subtitles, and half will be dubbed in English for a more family-friendly experience. The series is listed below in chronological order, so please be sure to note whether the film is playing at the Egyptian Theatre or Aero Theatre.

Otis Portable Parks IV Project

• Date(s): 01/27/2012 - 02/05/2012
• Recurring daily
• Location: Santa Monica Place, Center Plaza, 395 Santa Monica Place
• Phone: (310) 260-8333

Santa Monica Place will host a collaborative partnership between Otis College of Art and Design, and The Getty Foundation’s Research Institute, PST’s Public Art and Performance Festival called the Portable Parks IV Project. The Portable Parks IV will temporarily transform the Center Plaza into a garden setting; raising awareness of environmental sustainability and unveiling different aspects of consumer culture to the diverse visitors to Santa Monica Place.

Lead artist Bonnie Sherk has designed “The Flower Unfolding”, a large garden of edible plants conceived specifically for the Santa Monica Place Center Plaza. Additional events, performances, and public programs will draw visitors from the Southern California region to SMP. Major support is from Santa Monica Place, Macerich and Valley Crest Landscape Companies. Additionally, students from the Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences have created hand-painted botanical labels to educate the public about all the plants in the gardens.

The opening events on Saturday January 28, from 11 am – 2 pm will include a welcome and lecture by artist Bonnie Sherk, Green Tours, chess tournaments, and other performances to be announced.

Ruskin Group Theatre Presents "The Lonesome West"

• Date(s): 01/27/2012 - 02/10/2012
• Recurring every 4 weeks on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: 7pm
• Location: Ruskin Group, 3000 Airport Ave
• Phone: (310) 397-3244
• Admission: $25

An idealistic and flawed young man stumbles into the lurid world of two brothers, who are locked in an endless cycle of petty grudges. He puts his life on the line in an effort to get them to reconcile. Is there hope for the brothers…in this comedy of unexpected proportions?

dineLA Restaurant Week

• Date(s): 01/29/2012 - 02/03/2012
• Recurring daily
• Location: Participating Santa Monica Restaurants & throughout Los Angeles

Eat, drink & dineLA - celebrating five years of brining together friends, family and food. Lunches $16, $22 or $28. Dinners $26, $34 or $44.

Los Angeles Premiere of Surf Doc Splinters at Aero Theatre

• Date(s): 02/03/2012
• Times: 7:30pm
• Location: Aero Theater 1328 Montana Ave
• Admission: General Admission $11.00

Adam Pesce and Perrin Chiles present the L.A. premiere of their documentary Splinters about four focused surfers living in Papua, New Guinea. Discussion following with director Adam Pesce and producer Perrin Chiles.

Santa Monica High School's Cafe Samo

• Date(s): 02/03/2012 - 02/04/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: Friday, February 3, 7:30pm Saturday, February 4, 3:30 & 7:30pm
• Location: Santa Monica High School, 601 Pico Blvd., Humanities Center Theater, 2nd Floor, English Building
• Phone: (310) 395-3204
• Admission: Café Samo is a delightful, cabaret- style show produced annually by the Samohi Choir Program, featuring dozens of talented student performers who create and produce their own musical acts. This year t

Café Samo is a delightful, cabaret- style show produced annually by the Samohi Choir Program, featuring dozens of talented student performers who create and produce their own musical acts. This year there are three shows.

The Choral Music Program of Santa Monica High School, under the direction of Jeffe Huls, is one of the most accomplished in the region, winning awards, competing in state and national vocal music competitions, and touring nationally and internationally. Approximately 175 students participate in one of the five choirs in the program.

Who's Hungry – Santa Monica

• Date(s): 02/03/2012 - 02/04/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: 8:30pm
• Location: Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St
• Phone: (310) 315-1459
• Admission: $20 general admission,$15 members/students/seniors

Highways Performance Space and 501 (see three) ARTS present Who's Hungry - Santa Monica, part of an ongoing series of experimental tabletop puppet plays that give a voice and face to hunger. The plays, produced and written by Dan Froot, designed and directed by Dan Hurlin, with music by Amy Denio, aim to raise awareness of the lives of those of us who, on a daily basis, must choose between life’s basic necessities – food or rent, food or medicine, food or bus fare. The production weaves together the stories of five homeless and/or hungry residents of Santa Monica incorporating puppetry, dance, music, and text.

Art Opening: "Our Shifting Subconscious: Form vs. Perception"

• Date(s): 02/04/2012
• Times: 5-8pm
• Location: TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave. D3
• Phone: (310) 829-9556
• Admission: Free admission

TAG Gallery presents Our Shifting Subconscious: Form vs. Perception an exhibit featuring artists Ty Bowman, Jane Peterson and David Twamley. Bowman blurs the line between perceptions of the natural world and the creative potential of imagination. Distorting form, Bowman manipulates his subjects, transforming them from recognizable objects and foreign locales into images that transcend time. Peterson hones in on the powerful essences of the Australian Bush and invokes Jungian-like archetypes and playful animal symbology to explore the palliative effects of these exotic plants. Twamlely brings collage smack into the world of abstract-expressionism. Like Matisse-cutouts dipped in a Miles Davis soundtrack, Twamley infuses his collages with a jazz-fueled improvisational aesthetic.

Art Opening: Olga de Amaral "Boundaries"

• Date(s): 02/04/2012
• Times: 5-7pm
• Location: Latin American Masters, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave. E2
• Phone: (310) 829-4455
• Admission: Free admission

Latin American Masters gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of mixed-media works by Colombian born artist Olga de Amaral. Her evolving technique, incorporating fiber, paint, gesso and precious metals transforms two-dimensional textiles into three-dimensional objects, and in so doing creates works that are essentially unclassifiable. Olga de Amaral’s use of gold, inspired by the intertwined histories of pre-Hispanic and Colonial art, gives her work a presence, at once sensual and otherworldly. An important figure in the development of post-war Latin American abstraction, de Amaral’s creation of “off stretcher” works, using non-traditional materials, acquires greater historical resonance with each passing year. On view through April 14.

BetterYou.com Launch Event

• Date(s): 02/04/2012
• Times: 10am-2pm
• Location: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy

Sweat it out with complimentary heart-pumping classes and revitalizing yoga taught by the most sought after experts in the fitness industry. Don't want to break a sweat? No problem! Pamper yourself at the BetterYou Beauty Camp where you can enjoy blowouts, make overs, manicures, massages and more.

Sip champagne, feel the sand beneath your toes and enjoy special offers and giveaways while mingling with celebrities and the people who make them better.

Gallery Talk: Adam Berg and Lisa Melandri at the Santa Monica Museum of Art

• Date(s): 02/04/2012
• Times: 2 pm
• Location: Santa Monica Museum of Art
• Phone: (310) 586-6488
• Admission: Free

Santa Monica Museum of Art Gallery Talk: Adam Berg and Lisa Melandri 2 pm Join artist Adam Berg and Deputy Director Lisa Melandri for a conversation in the gallery about Adam Berg: Endangered Spaces and the new annual project room series NY/LA. Free admission

Jonathan Bickart / Towering Moments

• Date(s): 02/04/2012
• Times: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
• Location: ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY, Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave./B7 Gallery
• Phone: (310) 586-9128

Robert Berman Gallery presents Towering Moments, the premiere exhibition of Los Angeles artist Jonathan Bickart. Best known for his large commissions, Bickart’s work can be seen from the famous 14-foot monument of Colonel Griffith J. Griffith on Riverside Drive at the entrance to Griffith Park, to the bronze bust in the center of the Tennis Center at the Rivera Country Club, and most recently the inspirational larger-than-life bust of G.W.Carver for LA Unified School District at Carver Middle School in South LA.

Towering Moments captures a compelling moment in the artist/muse relationship, exhibiting the creation of surrealistic icons of gesture through human form. Inspired by images of Javier Marin, Egon Schiele, and Rodin. "I try to incorporate the artist/muse relationship symbolically with figurative surrealism through optical illusion, distortion, and an expressionist style." Through these sculptures, Bickart attempts to fuse our subconscious visuals with our aesthetic sensibilities. Bickart's work includes the use of many materials, such as polychromed terracotta, steel, concrete, hydrocal, brass, and well as found objects. Bickart’s clients include: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Foster, Ted Kotcheff, Marcy Carsey, Kenny G, Peter Guber, Fred Ward, Inner City Games, Mandalay Bay Hotel, National Congressional Medal of Honor Monument, City of Los Angeles, Griffith Park Trust, and numerous private collectors.

Romeo and Juliet or The Old "You-Know-I-Really-Love-You-But-My-Father-Really-Hates-You" Blues

• Date(s): 02/04/2012 - 02/19/2012
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Saturday
• Times: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM
• Location: Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard
• Contact: Box Office
• Phone: (310) 828-7519
• Admission: Adults $10, Children under 12 $7

Throw away everything you think you know about Shakespeare---and for that matter, about theatre. Join two raucous, irreverent storytellers, spinning the tale of Romeo and Juliet. The story’s about, well, frankly, teenagers. You know the species. They fall in love at the drop of a hat always with the very person Mom and Dad can't stand. And in the case of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, their families have hated one another for as long as anyone can remember. Except…no one actually remembers WHY. Grownups act that way sometimes, ya know? This fast-paced adaptation of Shakespeare's play tracks the star-crossed lovers and their cross-purposed families through the tumbling courtship to its tragic conclusion.

Stogie Kenyatta’s The World is My Home – The Life of Paul Robeson to celebrate Black History Month

• Date(s): 02/04/2012 - 02/11/2012
• Recurring weekly on Saturday
• Times: 8:00 PM
• Location: Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage, 1211 4th Street
• Contact: Santa Monica Playhouse Box Office
• Phone: 3103949779ext1
• Admission: $30

Powerful and poignant, heartfelt and humorous, and in honor of Black History Month, Santa Monica Playhouse is proud to present two special performances of film, television and stage personality Stogie Kenyatta’s acclaimed show about African-American artist-activist Paul Robeson. Robeson – internationally renowned actor, recording artist, concert singer, football player, All-American athlete and Phi Beta Kappa Society laureate at Rugters University, was witness to the artistic wonders of the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz/Be-bop era, the horrors of the slave trade, the shame of the Holocaust, McCarthyism, blacklists, racism and oppression. His life’s work celebrates our common humanity as he fought globally for social justice.

Jamaican born and Brooklyn bred Stogie Kenyatta has been seen on everything from sitcoms and film to soap operas, from Bernie Mac and Jake and the Fat Man to HBO’s Tyson (Co-star) to The Bold and The Beautiful. He co-headlined a USO comedy tour in Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa. “The World Is My Home – The Life of Paul Robeson” had its first performance at the National Civil Rights Museum and has become the number one show on the American college scene. Back by popular demand for two nights only. By public transportation: take the Santa Monica Blue Bus or the LA Metro Rapid #720, exit 4th and Wilshire.

Vintage Fashion Expo

• Date(s): 02/04/2012 - 02/05/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: 9-6pm
• Location: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St
• Contact: Vintage Expositions
• Phone: (707) 793-0773
• Admission: Regular Admission $10.00. Sat Early Buy Admission $20.00.

The original vintage fashion expo. You are invited to join your fellow clotheshorses, fashion designers, costumers, celebs and fashion editors from all over the globe who visit our 5 yearly shows. Featuring 85 dealers of vintage clothing, accessories, textiles and more.

Saturday early buying hours 9:00 am - 10:30 am. Early buying admission $20.00. Regular hours Saturday 10:30 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.

American Cinematheque Screenings: Aero Theatre

• Date(s): 01/01/2008
• Recurring daily
• Location: 1328 Montana Avenue at 14th Street
• Phone: (323) 466-3456
• Admission: Tickets $10 or $7 for members

Movie presentations by American Cinematheque, a non-profit, viewer-supported cultural organization, dedicated to the public presentation of the moving picture in all its forms, from classics to the outer frontiers of the art form. Weekly screenings of art, independent and classic films. Also sneak peaks of upcoming movies with celebrity guest appearances and discussions with film-makers. Call for program information: 323-466-3456. Tickets $10 or $7 for members.

Downtown Farmers' Market

• Date(s): 01/02/2008
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Saturday
• Times: Wednesday 8:30am-1:30pm; Saturday 8:30am-1:00pm
• Location: Arizona Avenue between Second and Third Street
• Phone: (310) 458-8712
• Admission: Free

Enjoy one of Santa Monica's farmers markets, widely considered to be among the best on the west coast and featuring field-fresh produce, hundreds of kinds of vegetables, brilliant cut flowers, breads, cheeses, delicious foods, live music and more.

Farmers' Market Locations: Wednesdays at Arizona Ave & 2nd St and Saturdays at Arizona & 3rd St

Pico Farmers' Market

• Date(s): 01/05/2008
• Recurring weekly on Saturday
• Times: 8:00am-1:00pm
• Location: Virginia Park at Pico and Cloverfield
• Phone: (310) 458-8712
• Admission: Free

Enjoy one of Santa Monica's farmers markets, widely considered to be among the best on the west coast and featuring field-fresh produce, hundreds of kinds of vegetables, brilliant cut flowers, breads, cheeses, delicious foods, live music and more.

Santa Monica Conservancy Walking Tours of Downtown Santa Monica

• Date(s): 01/05/2008
• Recurring weekly on Saturday
• Times: Every Saturday morning, 10am
• Location: 1436 2nd St (between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd)
• Phone: (310) 496-3146
• Admission: $5 for members, $10 for public

Presented by the Santa Monica Conservancy, discover more than 130 years of Santa Monica history. In approx. 2 hours and six blocks, the walk traverses more than 130 years of Santa Monica History, from its Wild West frontier beginnings to the sophisticated metropolis of today. RSVP the Thursday prior to the tour at (310) 496-3146.

Tours are every Saturday morning, $5 for members, $10 for public. Parking is available in the city parking structure opposite the hostel on the east side of 2nd Street. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Note that this tour is not suitable for young children.

Tours are rain or shine, but "rain checks" are offered if you call or email to reschedule.

Main Street Farmers' Market

• Date(s): 01/06/2008
• Recurring weekly on Sunday
• Times: 9:30am-1:00pm
• Location: Main Street at Ocean Park Boulevard
• Phone: (310) 458-8712
• Admission: Free

Enjoy one of Santa Monica's farmers markets, widely considered to be among the best on the west coast and featuring field-fresh produce, hundreds of kinds of vegetables, brilliant cut flowers, breads, cheeses, delicious foods, live music and more.

The People's Voice

• Date(s): 01/06/2008
• Recurring weekly on Sunday
• Times: Every Sunday, 10am-12noon
• Location: Palisades Park at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulveard and Ocean Ave.
• Admission: Free

Emulating the centuries-old tradition of Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park, the People's Voice puts up a weekly soap box and microphone for anyone to freely speak his or her piece. The sky's the limit! Free. Every Sunday.

John Muir Art, Antique and Flea Market

• Date(s): 12/06/2008
• Recurring monthly on the 1st Saturday
• Times: 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 8am - 3pm
• Location: 2510 Lincoln Blvd, corner of Ocean Park and Lincoln in the school parking lot
• Contact: Diana Rodgers
• Phone: (310) 570-6483
• Admission: $1

A long standing collectibles event with many high quality vendors selling items ranging from antique jewelry, furniture, music, books, antique crystal collectibles and novelties from around the world. A traditional flea market with real deals and real finds. All proceeds are used to support essential educational opportunities throughout the Santa Monica and Malibu Unified School District.

Ballroom by the Bay

• Date(s): 03/04/2009
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday
• Times: 7pm-11pm, Dance Lesson 7-7:40 pm
• Location: Santa Monica Bay Women's Club, 1210 4th St
• Phone: (310) 487-0911
• Admission: $10, $8 Students and USA Dance with ID

Join us every Wednesday night for Ballroom Dancing at its finest.  We have a great crowd of dancers of all ages and levels of experience.  Dance to todays hits and old standards provided by our experienced DJ’s. Waltz, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, Tango, Salsa, Swing and more! Dance mixers and a drawing for free passes. Light snacks provided, bottled water for sale.

Poetry and Verse

• Date(s): 04/07/2009
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday
• Times: 10:30am
• Location: Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade

Mixing enlightened analysis with innovative authorship, join Bill Robertson of Santa Monica Emeritus College and strengthen your poetry dedication, appreciation and creation. Please visit www.greenpoets.com for more information.

Spin Cycle @ TRiP

• Date(s): 05/07/2009
• Recurring monthly on the 1st Thursday
• Times: 8pm until 2am
• Location: 2101 Lincoln Blvd
• Contact: Keith
• Phone: (310) 409-8001
• Admission: $5

A Monthly Showcase featuring the best local and regional jam bands, reggae, bluegrass, worldmusic, jazz, funk, and more.. Roots based, the local spot for real westside artists. Guest Dj's and games between sets. Great drink specials and the cover is only $5.

Meditation For Health & Well-Being with Rebecca Underwood

• Date(s): 07/30/2009
• Recurring weekly on Thursday
• Times: Weekly, Thursday's at 1:00 pm
• Location: Santa Monica Senior Center - 1450 Ocean Ave
• Contact: Jaime Fiallos
• Phone: (310) 458-8644
• Admission: Free, must be at least 50 years of age to attend

In this Guided Meditation, participants engage in a process that is very restful and rejuvenating and that may free old emotions and thoughts lodged in the body and/or mind. In addition, participants learn to use this Meditation in their everyday lives. It is also fun and has immediate and well as long-term benefits. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the community of people who are enjoying life and stepping into true health. Look forward to seeing you there!

Heal One World Free Yoga

• Date(s): 06/22/2010
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday
• Times: Tuesdays 5:15-6:20pm, Wednesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm
• Location: 1318 2nd St, #21
• Phone: (310) 826-1971
• Admission: Free (donation only basis)

FREE (donation only basis) classes for beginners in need of Wellness Help.

Monday Night Jazz at Typhoon

• Date(s): 11/22/2010
• Recurring weekly on Monday
• Times: 8-9:30pm
• Location: Typhoon, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop South, 2nd Floor
• Phone: (310) 390-6565
• Admission: No cover - No Minimum

Join us for the best live jazz on the Westside every Monday Night!

Nike Santa Monica Presents...Nike Training Club

• Date(s): 01/11/2011 - 03/27/2012
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday
• Times: Every Tuesday at 6:30PM
• Location: Nike Store

Get fit with Nike Training Club. There will be a certified trainer leading every workout every Tuesday at 6:30PM. Sessions are free and open to everyone!

Santa Monica Downtown Walking Tours

• Date(s): 02/04/2011
• Recurring daily
• Times: as early as 7:00am up until dark
• Location: Downtown Santa Monica, Main St., &/or Montana Ave
• Phone: (310) 595-4526
• Admission: $20.00 per person

Guided, exciting & informative "Daily" Santa Monica Walking Tours in Downtown Santa Monica, Main St., &/or Montana Ave. All Walking Tours honor the greatness of our popular city by the beach! Energetic, year around, varied Walking Tours, Shopping Tours, Walking Fitness, "Talk Walks", etc., highlight Santa Monica's "Hottest" Stores, Restaurants, Art, Entertainment, Sustainability, City Involvement, New Happenings, Special Events, & History, with entertaining stories/surprises designed to create lasting memories! Our Walking Tours promote fitness as well! Individuals/Groups/Privates are welcome! Approximately 2 hour Walking Tours. The "Santa Monica Downtown Walking Tours" (varied walking tours) are "open hours" by schedule via phone or e-mail scheduled appointments.

Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club Artists League

• Date(s): 02/15/2011
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday
• Times: Tuesdays 10 am to 1 pm
• Location: 1210 4th Street
• Contact: Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club
• Phone: (310) 310-2273
• Admission: free

Join fellow artists every Tuesday from 10 am to 1 pm to work on your own projects in watercolor, gouache, acrylic or collage. Our historic building provides a quiet space that will allow your creativity to blossom and working with other artists will provide you with valuable feedback and new inspiration.

Naturalist Presentation at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

• Date(s): 03/05/2011
• Recurring weekly on Saturday
• Times: 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk
• Phone: (800) HEAL-BAY

Join us every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for a naturalist presentation. Learn awesome facts about the animals as you watch us feed the octopus, create your own marine themed craft, or listen to a story about one of the other amazing animals here at the Aquarium.

Shark Sundays at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

• Date(s): 03/06/2011
• Recurring weekly on Sunday
• Times: 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk
• Phone: (800) HEAL-BAY

Shark Sundays are a favorite weekly feature at the Aquarium. At 3:30 p.m. every Sunday, you can watch and listen to an informative presentation about these often misunderstood animals while our horn and swell sharks cruise around the tank, noses out of the water, mouths open, anticipating the meal to come.  Expect a splash of seawater if you’re close enough to the exhibit. Watch a shark-themed film – they’re shown at scheduled intervals throughout the afternoon. Also, stop by our pier exhibit, and see if you can find our Pacific angel shark. Everyone is invited to make a fun shark craft project to take home.

Santa Monica: A Journey Into An Extraordinary Past Permanent Exhibit Gallery

• Date(s): 03/30/2011
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays 12pm - 8pm Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 10am - 5pm
• Location: The Santa Monica History Museum, 1350 Seventh Street
• Phone: (310) 395-2290
• Admission: $5 general, $3 seniors & students, free for children under 12

Come experience the remarkable chapters of Santa Monica’s history in the permanent exhibit gallery. Place yourself in the front-page news of a past era, explore Santa Monica landmarks, or step into a re-created section of a Douglas C-47. Here you will discover the compelling people and stories that have shaped the extraordinary city of Santa Monica.

Four themed exhibit rooms delve into the rich and colorful history of Santa Monica: A Town in the Arts, A Town in the News, A Town at Work, and A Town at Play. Each themed exhibit showcases original artifacts, photographs, and documents. In addition, there are three hands on interactive exhibits that bring the history to life.

The Punk House - Standup Comedy @ M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater

• Date(s): 06/22/2011
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday
• Times: 9:00-10:30 PM
• Location: 1323-A 3rd Street Promenade
• Contact: Sean Casey
• Phone: (310) 451-0850
• Admission: $8.00

Westside Comedy Theater's weekly cutting-edge standup show hosted by Ed Galvez! Every week features a hot new set of headlining comics, as well as hardcore up-and-comers and selected musical guests.

The Grind @ M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater

• Date(s): 06/23/2011
• Recurring weekly on Thursday
• Times: 10:00 PM
• Location: 1323-A 3rd Street Promenade (in the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets)
• Contact: Sean Casey
• Phone: (310) 451-0850
• Admission: Free!

The WCT's hottest long-form improv show. The Grind features players from the Mission IMPROVable National Touring company and the owners of M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater. CAST: Lloyd Ahlquist, Colin Sweeney, Sean Monahan, Sean Casey, Chris Gorbos, Bryce Wissel and Patrick MacIntyre

The Jam @ M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater

• Date(s): 06/23/2011
• Recurring weekly on Thursday
• Times: 11:00 PM
• Location: 1323-A 3rd Street Promenade (in the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets)
• Contact: Sean Casey
• Phone: (310) 451-0850
• Admission: Free!

The Jam is the WCT's weekly open improv show where anyone from the audience can come onstage and try their hand at improv comedy. Hosts Cole Stratton and Morgan Christensen draw names at random to jump up on stage and perform 2-to-3-person scenes. After everyone has performed, all are invited onstage for a free-form montage.

The Mission IMPROVable Show

• Date(s): 06/24/2011
• Recurring weekly on Friday, Saturday
• Times: 10:00 PM
• Location: 1323-A 3rd Street Promenade (in the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets).
• Contact: Sean Casey
• Phone: (310) 451-0850
• Admission: $10.00

Now twice weekly due to popular demand! The nation's #1 touring improv show comes home to the theater that bears its name. The Mission IMPROVable Show is the fastest and funniest improv show you've ever seen. Come see the show that's delighted audiences across the country for the last 10 years. Can't make it out on Friday? Now see it on Saturday, too!

The Waterbrains @ M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater

• Date(s): 06/24/2011
• Recurring weekly on Friday
• Times: 9:00 PM
• Location: 1323-A 3rd Street Promenade (in the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets).
• Contact: Sean Casey
• Phone: (310) 451-0850
• Admission: $10

The Waterbrains have performed their brand of improv comedy over 700 times in shows across Los Angeles. Now based in Santa Monica at M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater, their trademark clap-in long-form style generally works into a comedy frenzy by the show's end. Conceived by director Stan Wells.

Marion Davies Guest House & Docent Tours

• Date(s): 06/25/2011
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Location: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway
• Phone: (310) 458-4904
• Admission: Free

Learn about the rich history of the Beach House from a Santa Monica Conservancy docent. Tours are free, last approximately 30 minutes, and no reservations are required. Tours at 11 am, noon and 1 pm on the dates listed below. Please note: Guest House hours are subject to change. Changes to the below schedule will be posted with as much notice as possible. Call 310-458-4904 to confirm hours.

Guest House open and docents available 11 am – 2 pm on dates below:

January - Friday 1/20 *first floor only + 6 – 8 pm, Saturday 1/21, Sunday 1/22, Monday 1/23 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm + 5:15 – 6:30 pm, Thursday 1/26, Friday 1/27, Sunday 1/29, Monday 1/30 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm.

February - Friday 2/3, Sunday 2/5, Monday 2/6 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm + 5:15 - 6:30 pm, Thursday 2/9, Friday 2/10, Sunday 2/12, Monday 2/13 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm, Tuesday 2/14* *5:15 - 6:30 pm only, Friday 2/17, Saturday 2/18 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm, Sunday 2/19, Monday 2/20 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm, Thursday 2/23, Friday 2/24 *first floor only, Saturday 2/25 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm, Sunday 2/26, Monday 2/27 + Lucy Wang office hours 11 am - 1 pm + 5:15 - 6:30 pm.

Free tours at 11 am, noon, and 1 pm

Gourmet Food Trucks at California Heritage Museum

• Date(s): 07/12/2011
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday
• Times: 5:30pm-9:30pm
• Location: California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main St
• Phone: (310) 392-8537

Gourmet Food Trucks, sit-down eating accommodations and facilities. Free parking in the Museum parking lot. Metered parking in the adjacent lots. Free bicycle valet! Proceeds benefit the Museum.

Prime Night Tours

• Date(s): 08/09/2011
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday
• Times: Registration and Appetizers from 6 PM-7 PM
• Location: Ozumo's
• Contact: Corinthian "D. Platinum" Kelly
• Phone: (310) 991-9938
• Admission: $30 per person

Prime Night Tours offers our guests a fun and energetic tour of Santa Monica's nightlife like you have never seen it before... We will be your official guides, ensuring that you are well taken care of and having the time of your life while partaking in the best bars and nightlife which Los Angeles has to offer. Our international and local guests makes it happen each Tuesday night. Good conversation, Good People, Good Times, and a safe environment. PRIME Night Tours and YOU will be the Life of the Party!!! Includes entry into all clubs, free welcome shots, and drink discounts!

ShortBoard Revolution at The California Heritage Museum

• Date(s): 08/18/2011 - 04/22/2012
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Location: California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main St
• Phone: (310) 392-8537

Curated by original Z-Boy and celebrated Malibu surfer Nathan Pratt, the exhibition traces the evolution of the surfboard from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, showcasing the shapers, designers, artists and riders that created the phenomenon known as “the shortboard”. Through the display of colorful, vintage boards and iconic imagery, Shortboard Revolution illustrates the evolution of the modern surfboard. Highlighting the period between the Gidget Era “Malibu Chip” longboards and contemporary high-flying aerial performance boards, the exhibition emphasizes the surfboard’s rapid, yet substantial technological and design developments—developments that allowed surfers’ capabilities on a wave to be limited only by their imaginations. From the earliest Vee Bottom boards of the 1960s to Pintails, Guns, Super Shorts, and Wingers, this exhibition offers a variety of boards and images that spotlight the innovations that changed surfing forever.

This exhibition was funded, in part, by a major grant from Hurley, and additional funding from Wells Fargo, Copyland, the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Department, The LLWW Foundation, The Fairfield County Foundation, The Victorian/Calamigos Ranch, Dawson Design, as well as generous corporate, foundation and private individual donations.

Aloha Spirit at The California Heritage Museum

• Date(s): 08/19/2011 - 04/22/2012
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday
• Location: California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main St
• Phone: (310) 392-8537

Aloha Spirit explores the many artifacts, objects and designs that have decorated the rooms of mainland homes. It captures the casual elegance that has charmed visitors to the Islands and reveals why these unique styles have found their way into the repertoire of many designers and homeowners who have yet to step foot in the pacific paradise. Decorated in rattan, rich fabrics and Hawaiian ceramics, the enchantment of the Aloha Spirit begins as you enter the museum. Tiki mugs, Tepco palm print dinnerware, hula lamps and vintage bar paraphernalia boldly compliment and enhance the natural beauty of high-gloss rattan furniture. Assembled from the world’s leading Hawaiiana collectors and enthusiasts—including Tropical Sun Rattan, Aloha Spirit, Island Trading Company, Pamela Clinton Singleton and Michael Trotter—the exhibition uses the Heritage Museum’s downstairs period rooms to recreate a 1940s-50s Hawaiian-style living room and dining room. Guaranteed to captivate and delight visitors all ages and backgrounds, Aloha Spirit is not to be missed!

This exhibition was funded, in part, by Wells Fargo, Copyland, the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Department, The LLWW Foundation, The Fairfield County Foundation, The Victorian/Calamigos Ranch, Dawson Design, as well as generous corporate, foundation and private individual donations.

Beatrice Wood: Career Woman—Drawings, Paintings, Vessels, and Objects

• Date(s): 09/10/2011 - 03/03/2012
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Location: Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station G-1, 2525 Michigan Ave
• Phone: (310) 586-6488

Beatrice Wood: Career Woman—Drawings, Paintings, Vessels, and Objects

Pacific Standard Time Art in LA 1945-1980

• Date(s): 10/01/2011 - 04/01/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: Various times
• Location: Various locations throughout Santa Monica & LA

Pacific Standard Time is an unprecedented collaboration of cultural institutions across Southern California coming together to celebrate the birth of the L.A. art scene. Beginning October 2011, over 60 cultural institutions will make their contributions to this region-wide initiative encompassing every major L.A. art movement from 1945 to 1980. Celebrate the era that continues to inspire the world. Focus week 10-21-23, 2011 Santa Monica/Westside region.

Comedy Nights in the Basement

• Date(s): 10/05/2011
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday
• Times: 8pm-12midnight
• Location: Yankee Doodles - 1410 Third Street Promenade
• Contact: Jordan Reynolds
• Phone: (310) 985-4143
• Admission: Free w/ $20 minimum purchase during show

Stand-Up Comedy Night - Hosted by LA's #1 Comedy Show Producer Jay Davis. Talent from Comedy Central, Showtime Presents, and HBO specials. Many comedians have headlined their own US and International tours. Please join us at The Basement Under Yankee Doodles for great food, cold beverages, and superior service! No cover!

Gallery at Annenberg Community Beach House

• Date(s): 10/10/2011
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: 9-3pm, Gallery hours are subject to change. Upcoming closures will be posted here with as much notice as possible.
• Location: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway
• Phone: (310) 458-4904

Cultural Abstraction, Contemporary Figurations: the Work of Seven Contemporary Figurative Painters in Santa Monica.

July 28 - December 4, 2011
An exhibition of work by seven artists from the Santa Monica College Art Mentor Program. Francisco Cabas, Quinne Larson, Abdul Mazid, Kathleen Melian, Jessica Nicol, Elizabeth Weber and Elena Wolek spin the narrative in their work into a thread that joins seemingly incongruent concepts in a visual dialogue, investigating and reporting ideas about cultural identity, gender empowerment, dislocation, consumption and human regeneration. The works display constant movement in delicate balance between figurative and abstract representations.

Wall Works: Peter Shire - The Walls Have Eyes

• Date(s): 10/27/2011 - 02/25/2012
• Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Location: Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station G-1, 2525 Michigan Ave
• Phone: (310) 586-6488

Enjoy the Wall Works public art project created by K-12 students in collaboration with artist Peter Shire and Echo Park Pottery.

Los Angeles—Icons and Other Impressions

• Date(s): 01/20/2012 - 04/15/2012
• Recurring daily
• Times: Daily 9 am - 3 pm (Please note: Gallery hours are subject to change)
• Location: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy
• Phone: (310) 458-4904

Participants in The Los Angeles Photography Project display images that explore the theme of LA’s diversity—its people, architecture, and natural and cultural environments. Capturing the unique buildings, special places and other physical properties of one of the most fascinating and progressive cities in the world, they seek a composite view accreted by different individual approaches and photographic techniques. Artists: Z.T. Fang, Rita Hamilton, Lorna Hart, Bill Johnson, Ronald S. Litvak, Judith Raffel, Robert L. Sherman, Margaret K. Tsai, Leonard Waits, and David Williams.

The Los Angeles Photography project was organized in early 2009 and is a consortium of LA-based artists with a mission to produce photographic work in and about the city and county of Los Angeles.