Southern California Attractions and Santa Monica Events Calendar

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

• Date(s): 10/16/2009 - 12/20/2009
• Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Times: Monday-No Show, Tuesday-Thursday 8pm, Friday-Saturday 4pm and 8pm, Sunday 1pm and 5pm
• Location: Tent will be located at the 1550 lot, north of the Pier
• Phone: (800) 450-1480
• Admission: Adults: $60-$135; Children (ages 2-12): $42-$94.50; Students and Seniors: $54-$112.50

Cirque du Soleil returns to the Santa Monica Pier for its 25th anniversary with its performance of KOOZA. KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

ICE at Santa Monica

• Date(s): 10/27/2009 - 01/31/2010
• Recurring daily
• Times: 10am-10pm weekdays, 10am-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (including Halloween, Christmas Day and New Years Day)
• Location: Third Street Promenade at Arizona and 5th Street
• Admission: $10 and includes rental skates

Bring back childhood memories — or create new ones — as you slice through the ice in a festive atmosphere filled with holiday cheer and balmy ocean breezes. Located at 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, less than two blocks from the Third Street Promenade, the rink is open daily. The $10 admission includes skate rental. The rink is periodically cleared for short periods to groom the ice. If raining, the rink will remain open in light rain or drizzle conditions, closing only for heavy downpours.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica - Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

• Date(s): 11/16/2009 - 11/24/2009
• Recurring daily
• Times: Donation drop off times are Mon. - Fri. 9am-7pm and Sat. 10am-3pm
• Location: Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, 1238 Lincoln Blvd.
• Contact: Kristin Andre
• Phone: (310) 394-2582

We need your help! Mission Real Estate Group and the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Santa Monica would like to cordially invite you to participate in our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner & Canned Food Drive. Each year, the Club of Santa Monica prepares a Thanksgiving feast for Club members and their families – last year they had over 200 people attend the event, most of whom thought there wouldn’t even be a Thanksgiving dinner. At that event, we also like to give our neediest families a basket of Thanksgiving food items with gift cards for turkeys, so they can have their very own Thanksgiving Meal on Thanksgiving Day. Our goal is to provide families in need with a bountiful meal on Thanksgiving Day. In order to make this a reality we need to collect all the things that go into making a Thanksgiving Dinner!

Cause for Creativity: Furoshiki Food Drive & Workshop

• Date(s): 11/16/2009 - 11/20/2009
• Recurring every week day
• Times: Nov. 16 - 21: 11am - 6pm / Nov. 22: 2 pm - 5 pm
• Location: Santa Monica Museum of Art: 2525 Michigan Ave., G1
• Contact: Asuka Hisa
• Phone: (310) 586-6488
• Admission: FREE for SMMoA Members and food drive donors; $10 without donation

Join SMMoA for a food drive and art workshop to benefit the individuals at the Ocean Park Community Center (OPCC) - the most comprehensive Westside provider of housing and services to homeless individuals and families. Make an original furoshiki - a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth - with creative techniques demonstrated by artist Jay Lizo. Learn versatile tying and wrapping methods. All of the beautiful furoshiki Thanksgiving packages to be donated to OPCC.

Edgemar Shopping Cart Tree

• Date(s): 11/17/2009
• Recurring daily
• Times: Daily 12pm to 8pm
• Location: Edgemar, 2449 Main Street in the Courtyard
• Contact: Anthony
• Admission: Free

The building of the Edgemar Shopping Cart Tree by artist Anthony Schmitt. Enjoy a Peet's Coffee and see the tree getting decorated, or even a haircut at Piero and still have a view of the event. The tree will be up and complete by this weekend. Join us on the 5th of December for the Candle Light Walk. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Cache Art Program

• Date(s): 11/17/2009 - 01/17/2010
• Recurring daily
• Location: Cache, 3110 Main St
• Contact: Jannis Swerman & Company
• Phone: (818) 789-7747

Cache Restaurant invites friends and diners to share an exhibition of painting and assemblage by artists Ed Moses and Paulin Paris. Cache's second show, “International Contrasts” is an exhibition of recent work by world renowned Ed Moses and Paulin Paris. The exhibition is next installment of an on-going series of shows and art events in the Cache dining room, designed to honor both prominent and emerging artists.

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

Comfort Food Nights

• Date(s): 11/19/2008
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Thursday
• Times: Wednesday and Thursday nights
• Location: Cezanne at Le Merigot Beach Hotel and Spa, 1740 Ocean Ave
• Phone: Reservations: 310-395-9700

Come and cozy up with us at Cézanne restaurant this season where Chef Desi Szonntagh has created a new “comfort foods menu” with French specialties. This menu includes a delectable array of recipes to tantalize your palate. Comfort Food Nights are every Wednesday and Thursday with weekly rotating specials. Come hungry and we promise to leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and delightfully full!

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.

Live Music Wednesdays

• Date(s): 03/18/2009
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday
• Times: 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• Location: First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica
• Contact: Michelle Jones
• Phone: (310) 451-1303
• Admission: Free

Enjoy beautiful live musical performances by various artists in the Sanctuary most Wednesdays. Shopping the Farmers Market around noon? We are on Second Street, between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona. Work in the area? Drop in on your lunch break with your coworkers. For more information call 310.451.1303.

Running is Fun

• Date(s): 07/15/2009
• Recurring weekly on Wednesday
• Times: 6:30pm
• Location: Top to Top, 2621 Wilshire Blvd
• Phone: (310) 829-7030
• Admission: Free

Whether you're training for a marathon or just starting the running thing, join Top to Top for a fun way to stay in shape. Runners meet in front of the Santa Monica store ever Wednesday for announcements and special guests before the run. Participants choose between 5k, 5 miles or 10k loops. Food and water are provided.

Call (310) 829-7030 for more information.

First Presbyterian Features Works of Laddie John Dill

• Date(s): 07/20/2009
• Recurring daily
• Location: 1220 Second St
• Phone: (310) 451-1303
• Admission: Free

Painter/sculptor Laddie John Dill was born in Long Beach, California in 1943. He graduated from Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles, in 1968 with a BFA degree. Dill was influenced by Rauschenberg, Keith Sonnier, and environmental artists Robert Smithson, Dennis Oppenheim and Robert Irwin, who were exploring alternatives to easel painting.

Featured work is displayed outside on the First Presbyterian gate. 

Skateboard: Evolution and Art in California

• Date(s): 11/14/2009 - 05/30/2010
• Recurring daily
• Times: Wednesday through Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm
• Location: California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main St
• Phone: (310) 392-8537
• Admission: General Admission: $3.00, Seniors, Students: $2.00, Members, Children under twelve: Free

The California Heritage Museum is proud to present “SKATEBOARD: Evolution and Art in California.” Guest curated by legendary Z-boy Nathan Pratt in conjunction with museum staff curator Michael Trotter and advisory committee members Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom (Zephyr co-founders), Cris Dawson (1966 Hobie Champ), Z-Boys Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, and 1980’s world champion Christian Hosoi, the exhibition traces the evolution of boards from pre-1950 to the present showcasing the riders, designers, artists, and manufacturers that created the California phenomenon known as the skateboard.

This is the first exhibition of the California skate movement to be shown in “Dog Town”, the Santa Monica/Ocean Park area where modern skateboarding was born and the skate became an art form. The California Heritage Museum is located in the vortex at Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard.