Before entering a traditional ramen house there is a certain level of etiquette that should be understood. Speed is the name of the game. Once you are served your brim- ming bowl of soup it's time to go to town otherwise the noodles lose their intended consistency and you've now disrespected the kitchen and disgraced your family... Read more →

SM PIER — City officials got what they were hoping for in the first installation of this year’s Twilight Concert Series Thursday night. The indie-rock duo Cults played to an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 calm attendees in kicking off the 30th year of the iconic free concerts at the Santa Monica Pier. Earlier this year City Council voted to... Read more →

SM Boulevard — A Bay Area coffee shop with a cult following is now serving in the city by the sea. Philz Coffee, founded by coffee connoisseur Phil Jaber in San Francisco, has opened its first Southern California location on Santa Monica Boulevard at Fifth Street. After 25 years of coffee experimenting, Phil claims to have perfected... Read more →

Courtesy photo DOWNTOWN — “Romeo & Juliet” is a classic work of literature that almost everyone in the English speaking world has either seen or read but Santa Monica's City Shakespeare Company (City Shakes) is promising a new take for their upcoming performance. Director Brooke Bishop, who also co-founded the company, said... Read more →

Cults (Courtesy photo) SM PIER — Thousands of people will gather on and around the Santa Monica Pier Thursday night to watch the indie-rock band Cults kick off the city's iconic free summer concert series. The Twilight Concert Series starts its 30th year Thursday at 7 p.m. This year’s series, which will take place over the next... Read more →

OK Go SM PIER — The Twilight Concert Series has signed a big-name band as a late addition to its list of performers. The Los Angeles-based alternative-rock band OK Go will headline the free Santa Monica Pier concert series on Sept. 4. The Allah-Las, another L.A.-based band, will open the show. OK Go is known for its intricately... Read more →

4th of July weekend is obviously the time to celebrate all things American. And what can be more American than the hot dog? After all, it's the literal melting pot of meat, reconstituted, grilled up, slathered in mustard and thrown in between a bun. Unfortunately Santa Monica is a heath conscious community and a subsequent wiener... Read more →

File photo SM PIER — You round the bend on the Pacific Coast Highway, watch the Pacific Wheel dancing in the sunset, and see a lightshow. Dana Wyatt hears music. Wyatt, director of Operations at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, programs each frame of each light show like an animator drawing a cartoon. Each show is created to... Read more →

File photoFESTIVE: Many in the Fourth of July Parade are known to dress up in silly costumes for the occasion. (Fabian Lewkowicz santamonicacloseup.com) MAIN STREET — Santa Monica's one and only parade will fill Main Street on July 4 and organizers are encouraging residents to come down to enjoy the floats, music, horses, vintage fire... Read more →

Rev. Eric C. Shafer SUNSET PARK — Mt. Olive Lutheran Church is welcoming Rev. Eric C. Shafer as its new Senior Pastor with an official installation ceremony on July 13. Shafer, who began work in Santa Monica on April 1, has had a long and fruitful career in the church. He said coming to Santa Monica fulfilled a long-time goal of... Read more →

DOWNTOWN Local Soroptimists are hoping Santa Monican's in the mood for a movie on Saturday night will look beyond the summer blockbusters and buy a ticket for their LUNAFEST fundraiser. The event features nine short films by, for and about women. Proceeds from the event support Soroptimist programs locally and contribute towards a national... Read more →

Courtesy photo On Saturday, June 21, Santa Monica will feature a variety of performances in parks across the city. This will be the third year Santa Monica celebrates Make Music Los Angeles/MMLA, a countywide celebration of music. The event is based on France’s Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982. In... Read more →

This Sunday, June 22, the Main Street Business Improvement Association will host their 14th Annual Summer SOULstice Festival on Main Street. The festival will include live music, food, sidewalk sales, and shopping. Musical acts Black Crystal Wolf Kids, The Paul Chesne Band, the Neil Young tribute band, 'Neil Deal', and the reggae-rock band,... Read more →

Photo courtesy Do Rich Things When Clifford Leonard says “do rich things,” he hopes people take it as an inspiration to do more than seek money. He hopes the message, as promoted in his new Santa Monica-based clothing line, prompts locals to seek happiness and lead a good life. The company, called Do Rich Things, came to life in... Read more →

Jules Muck Jules Muck has become a fixture on the local arts scene but her presence on the Westside has as much to do with gas prices as it does the value of art. An East Coast native, she was traveling cross country when she ran out of gas on Electric Avenue. She adapted to the situation, living in her car as part of a homeless... Read more →