The first fifty people (16 years and older) to test ride a Pedego Electric Bike will receive a FREE colorful sports WATCH.

Stressed?
Who isn’t?  So come and join us for our special Stress Reduction drum circle.  We will blend the sounds of chimes, gongs, bells, Native American flutes, and didgeridoos with our drumming to produce calming rhythms and vibrational healing.  Come prepared to be transported to an unparalleled feeling of calm and bliss.  If you have any instruments that you feel will complement this stress reduction drum circle, please bring them.

Join Ossie Mair at the YWCA for our drum circle! We have drums available for your use, but you’re welcome to bring your own! Drumming is an ancient approach that uses rhythm to promote healing and self-expression. Recent research reviews indicate that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and produces feelings of well-being, a release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self.

OSSIE MAIR, MA, LMFT
OSSIE MAIR is the OM of OM Rhythm Circles.
Ossie facilitates numerous private and corporate drum circles in and around the Greater Los Angeles area, and is a regular facilitator for the REMO Recreational Music Center’s Tuesday and Thursday nights’ free community drum circles. He has studied with Arthur Hull, of Village Music Circles, the originator of community Drum Circle Facilitation and Facilitation Trainings, and Christine Stevens, REMO Health Rhythms instructor. To learn more about Ossie and the work he does, please visit his websites: omrhythmcircles.com and omtherapist.com

Adults: $10, Kids 12 and under FREE!

To register: Call (310) 452-3881 or visit http://www.smywca.org

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7-8:30pm The Film Living Downstream

Based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Living Downstream is an eloquent and cinematic documentary film. This poetic film follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. Sandra’s personal journey and her scientific exploration, Living Downstream is a powerful reminder of the intimate connection between the health of our bodies and the health of our air, land, and water.

8:30-9pm The Movement Discussion Walking Upstream

Join us as we discuss solutions, strategies and opportunities to support the health of our bodies and the health of our air, land and water with our two expert speakers, Karl Bruskotter and Carly Harrill.

Cat Show Podcast Presents the third You’re Not My Real Dad Comedy Show.  It’s a squeezed from the ripe fruit of a dysfunctional childhood.  Featuring Dean Richards, April O’Connor, Justin Foster, Michael Malone with headliner Mike Muratore and host Jacob Bunney. You’re Not My Real Dad at Trip 2101 Lincoln Blvd.

Contact: Sion Roy smdemocrats@roadrunner.com, 310-488-7431

Healthcare Reform Is Here:

Find Out What’s Ahead & What It Means for You!

What:             SM Democratic Club general membership meeting

When:            Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Where:          The Professional Development Learning Center

(formerly known as Washington West Preschool)

2802 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, 90405

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones will be the featured guest speaker at the monthly general membership meeting of the Santa Monica Democratic Club on Wednesday, May 22.  He will be addressing the Affordable Care Act, focusing on how it is being implemented in California and will answer questions from the audience.

The program will be emceed by Dr. Gene Oppenheim and Dr. Steve Tarzynski. Both of these physicians are longtime members of the Club, and active with Physicians for a National Plan, which advocates for single-payer health insurance.

Topics and questions may include:

•What are the new “health insurance exchanges,” and how will they work?

•What will the coming changes to the system mean for Californians?

•The proposed ballot initiative to give the insurance commissioner enforcement power over rates–why is it needed?

•What about single payer–can California lead the way?

The meeting will take place at the Professional Development Learning Center, at 2802 Fourth Street, Santa Monica (west side of the street, between Hill and Ashland), at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22.  The program is free of charge and open to the general public.  Refreshments will be served and free parking is available at the location.

We all know what really happened after you poured out your heart to your diary about your undying 9th grade love for Barry Jameson and how badly you wish he would ask you out. Nothing much, really.

But what if you got the courage to talk to him the next day at school?

Improv Diary…(Uh) is a choose your own adventure long form improv comedy show revealing the future of your past, now. Three brave diary-ders uncover their real secrets to inspire alternate improv reality. Does Barry like you back? Will he ignore you at school but make out with you secretly? Is your alternate reality worse than your actual reality was?
Watch your shitty younger years come back to a life of their own.

Rabindra Watson, MD, UCLA gastroenterologist, will discuss the mechanisms of weight gain, how bariatric surgery works, why many pateints regain weight after surgery, endoscopic techniques to treat weight regain, and some new completely endoscopic techniques to treat obesity. Thursday, May 23, Noon to 1:30 pm. TO RSVP: (800) 516-5323

The 3rd Annual Westside Shodown Standup Competition.
Come vote for your favorite comedian!
Winner gets $500 cash, a paid gig at LMU, meetings with CAA, WME, Consortium Ent. and Levity Ent.
To submit go to westsidecomedy.com/shodown

Friday 5/24, 4-6pm

Cost: $10. Pregister at 1527 4th St. or online at: https://recenroll.smgov.net/adet.sdi?activity_id=33062 – acct. creation req’d.

Or drop in for $12 cash at the door – call (310) 458-2239 to make sure there’s room.
…
Learn about photographic techniques and thematic considerations, then put your knowledge to work taking digital photographs capturing the colors, shadows, reflections and vistas where the sea meets the sky (and the shoppers hit the streets) on the bluffs of Palisades Park and streetscape of Ocean Avenue. Bring your smartphone or digital camera. Participants can upload their photos to an album at facebook.com/1450ocean for sharing and discussion. This workshop is open to all, no experience required. Smartphones are preferred for ease of upload, but digital cameras and other phones can be used (please bring a USB transfer cable).

Fabian Lewkowicz is a professional photojournalist, event, portrait and commercial photographer whose work can be seen internationally. As a freelance press photographer, his work has been published in the Santa Monica Daily Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica Observer, and the Los Angeles Times and has been picked up by the Associated Press (AP). Fabian publishes SantaMonicaCloseup.com, a photo journal of everyday life in Santa Monica that receives visitors from 205 countries worldwide and gets about 1000 hits per day. He is an active member of the community, and currently serves or has served as a board member for the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Visitors Center, Santa Monica Kiwanis Club, the Santa Monica Police Activities League, Santa Monica Family YMCA and the Santa Monica College General Advisory Board. He contributes to numerous charities and non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay, American Red Cross, Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club and many more. Fabian’s photos are currently being exhibited at Santa Monica Place in The Marker on the third floor. His work is also on display at the California Heritage Museum and the Santa Monica History Museum.

Location/Hours: 1450 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica CA 90401 in Palisades Park between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd. Open for class registrants Mon – Fri 9am – 3pm & Sat 11am – 4pm. All are welcome to visit the Camera Obscura during those hours; leave a picture ID with staff to access.

Registration

Online: create an account and view classes at recenroll.smgov.net. Sort by location to view “1450 Ocean”. Note that it can take up to 24 hours to create an account. Website takes credit card payments. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

In Person: For cash or check, advance registration accepted at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St., Santa Monica CA 90401 (just south of Broadway), between 8:30-5pm M-Th & every other Friday. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

Day-of: Call 310-458-2239 to confirm availability; plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of class with cash payment.

Refunds/Transfers: A $15.00 processing fee applies for each activity session refunded. Refunds/transfers will be issued only if requested within one business day after the first class meeting. Requests must be made in person or by mail, fax (310-899-0840), or email communityclasses@smgov.net.

Parking and Transport: Parking is free for first 1.5 hours in Parking Structure 7 (off Broadway west of 4th) or 8 (off 2nd St. north of Colorado) adjacent to the Santa Monica Place Mall. The next hour is $1 followed by $1.50 every 30 min. thereafter to a maximum of $14. There are also meters on Ocean Avenue, $2/hr maximum 2 hours. Buses that serve 1450 Ocean include Routes 1, 7 and Rapid 7, 10. Visit bigbluebus.com for more information.

General Info: For more information about classes and registration, please contact Community Classes at (310) 458-2239 or communityclasses@smgov.net. http://facebook.com/1450ocean

Beach Cities Symphony Concert Friday, May 24, 2013

The Beach Cities Symphony will play its last free concert of the season on Friday, May 24, at 8:15 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College (intersection of Crenshaw and Redondo Beach Boulevards) in Torrance. The program, conducted by Barry Brisk, features the 2013 winners of the Artists of the Future Concerto Competition sponsored by the South Bay Branch of Music Teachers Association of California. Soloists ranging in age from 11 to 17 will play music by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky. Also featured: Overure to La gazza ladra by Rossini and Slavonic Dances #s 2 & 8 by Dvorák.  Special pre-concert lecture for young audience members at 7:30 in the mezzanine lobby. Admission to pre-concert lectures at 7:30 and to the concert is free; on-campus parking is $2. Phone (310) 379-9725, 310-539-4649, or see BeachCitiesSymphony.org for more information.