Santa Monica’s third annual volley-ween fundraiser raises $7,500 for Santa Monica nonprofits
Santa MoniCARES, Tourism Supporting Our Community raised $7,500 at the third annual Volley-Ween on October 30 for local Santa Monica nonprofits.
“We are honored to stand alongside fellow residents, city organizations and local businesses to support nonprofits that serve our beloved city,” said Misti Kerns, President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. “It’s a joy to be a part of such a strong community, and to raise funds for a good cause through a sport that’s integral to our city’s culture and history.”
The event welcomed community members and attendees from local organizations engaging in a friendly beach volleyball competition at Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals in support of the city’s nonprofits. This year’s tournament celebrated the Spirit Award winners from The Pierside Hotel and The Surfing Fox winning a dinner at Socalo, the Best Costume and Last Place winners from Regent Santa Monica Beach winning volleyball lessons with Santa Monica Beach Volleyball, Most Original Costume winners from Elevate Public Affairs winning Rabano and Bodega Wine Bar gift cards and tournament winners from Blum Digital Marketing winning a picnic with Santa Monica Picnic Co.
Santa MoniCARES extends a heartfelt thank you to this year’s Volley-Ween sponsors including Regent Santa Monica Beach, Hotelbeds (HBX Group), Santa Monica Daily Press, Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals, ETC Hotels, Datafy, Santa Monica Pier Corp., Santa Monica Beach Volleyball, Arthur Murray Dance Center, Lauren Schlau Consulting, Rabano, Santa Monica Picnic Co., Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and Vudu Brand, as well as Santa Monica residents and pro beach volleyball players Sinjin and Hagen Smith for showing their support for the sport and the community at this year’s Volley-Ween.
Santa MoniCARES is a coalition of representatives from Santa Monica Travel & Tourism and tourism community partners with a mission to harness the hospitable nature and generosity of Santa Monica’s tourism industry and provide support to local nonprofit agencies. All funds raised at Volley-Ween are donated to nonprofits in our community.
Submitted by SMTT
11th Street
SMC Piano Ensemble to perform concerts December 5
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Piano Ensemble is going contemporary with a concert of musical selections from the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring original and arranged works by Scott Joplin, Meredith Monk, Aaron Copland, and other major composers of our time.
Under the direction of SMC music instructor Sumy Takesue, intermediate and advanced SMC piano students will demonstrate the uniqueness and diversity of four-hand piano and piano duo compositions. The program will also feature “Suite for Toy Piano and Piano Duet,” a commissioned work by Santa Monica composer Ryan Dorin. The concerts are guaranteed to be more than twice as much fun as a solo piano performance.
A free concert will be held at 11:15am on Thursday, December 5. Complimentary tickets for the morning concert are available at the SMC Music Office (PAC 211) or at the door.
An evening program will be presented at 7pm on Thursday, December 5. Tickets for the evening concert are $10 general admission (plus a modest service charge); free for students with any student I.D. Advance tickets can be purchased online at smc.edu/tickets. Tickets may also be purchased — starting 45 minutes before the performance begins — at The Broad Stage Box Office at the SMC Performing Arts Center.
Both concerts will be held in the Music Hall at the SMC Performing Arts Center (Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street, Santa Monica). Free parking on premises. Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis.
More information is available by calling 310-434-4323. Concert is subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Submitted by SMC
Citywide
SMC’s Drescher Planetarium presents three free, live virtual shows on Fridays in December
Topics: Planetary Nebulae, Finding Constellations, and the Winter Solstice
Santa Monica College’s John Drescher Planetarium continues its Friday evening events in December 2024 with free, live virtual shows presented online at smc.edu/planetarium. This month’s friendly shows take a deep dive into planetary nebulae, explain how to find constellations in the L.A. skies, and explore the history and festivities surrounding the Winter Solstice. The Friday evening shows are at 8pm and are preceded by a streamlined virtual digest of the popular Night Sky Show at 7pm, offering the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. The shows include the chance to chat with the planetarium lecturers and ask questions.
The Dec. 2024 shows are...
• Friday, December 6, at 8pm (following The Night Sky Show at 7pm): Deep Sky Deep Dive: Planetary Nebulae — Planetarium Lecturer Sarah Vincent. Some dying stars explode in supernovae, some disappear into black holes, and some, like the Sun, leave behind stunning planetary nebulae. But this is not an event without casualties. When the Sun dies, if it doesn’t destroy Earth completely, it will leave Earth a scorched cinder orbiting a dead star. Earth’s fate might be to become a zombie planet. Free. Zoom at smc.edu/planetarium.
• Friday, December 13, at 8pm (following The Night Sky Show at 7pm): Constellations — Planetarium Lecturer Sarah Vincent. Humans love to find patterns in randomness, and the stars are no exception. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognizes 88 official constellations, and several sub-patterns called asterisms. Tonight’s show highlights several and offers tips for finding them through LA’s light-polluted skies. Free. Zoom at smc.edu/planetarium.
• Friday, December 20, at 8pm (following The Night Sky Show at 7pm): A Winter’s Solstice — Lecturer Jim Mahon. People have long faced the coming of winter with festivities, and customs like the burning of the “Yule Log” and hanging of evergreens far predate the celebration of Christmas in December. Tonight’s show examines the history of various ancient observances of the Winter Solstice and how they have evolved and melded with Judeo-Christian holidays, and looks at a remarkable planetary conjunction in 2 BC, a leading candidate for a scientific explanation for the Star of Bethlehem. Free. Zoom at smc.edu/planetarium.
More information is available online at smc.edu/planetarium or by calling 310-434-3005. All shows subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Submitted by SMC
Pico
Santa Monica College to Hold Holiday Glass Sales on December 7 and 8
Santa Monica College will hold two special fundraising Holiday Glass Sales offering wonderful opportunities to buy handcrafted vases, jewelry, platters, and other artworks created by SMC glass artists. Each glass piece is a unique work of art that can add seasonal home and office decor, as well as take care of holiday, anniversary, birthday, and other gift needs.
The first SMC Holiday Glass Sale will be held Saturday, December 7, from 8am to 3pm at Virginia Avenue Park, located at 2200 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica. Proceeds from this sale will benefit the SMC Art Department and the Santa Monica Public Library Pico Branch.
The second SMC Holiday Glass Sale will be held Sunday, December 8, from 11am to 4:30pm at Palisades-Malibu YMCA's Simon Meadow at Temescal Gateway Park, located at 15601 Sunset Blvd. (corner of Temescal and Sunset), Pacific Palisades. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the SMC Art Department, the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, and local artists.
More information about the SMC Holiday Glass Sales is available by sending an email with "Holiday Glass" in the Subject line. All events subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Submitted by SMC
Citywide
Clean your closets for charity and donate to Flair’s 22nd annual holiday clothing and shoe drive
It’s time to clean our closets for charity and support the Flair Cleaners 22nd Annual Holiday Clothing and Shoe Drive from November 29 through December 31, 2024. Customers and community members can donate at any of Flair Cleaners four locations. Pickup and Delivery customers may leave a clearly marked bag out with their orders. Donations will be given to the National Council of Jewish Women, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission and The Salvation Army Santa Monica.
“The holiday season offers us the opportunity to reflect on what is most dear to us as we head into a New Year ready to start fresh. When it comes to clothing, at Flair, we like to use that opportunity to pass on well-loved items that we no longer need to those less fortunate,” said Gary Futterman, owner of Flair Cleaners. “In the past year, the unemployment rate in Los Angeles has risen over half a percentage point. Our annual clothing and shoe drive brings our customers together to not only clean their closets of unused items but also helps those in our communities at their most vulnerable.”
Items needed most:
• Clothing in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes
• Extra-large and tall sizes are needed (XL, XXL, XXXL shirts)
• Business attire
• New socks and undergarments (used items will not be accepted)
• Baby and maternity clothes (new preferred)
• Sun hats and ball caps
• Shoes in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes
• Coats, beanies and gloves
• Pajamas, tops and bottoms
Donating Tips:
• Before donating, consider the dignity of the person receiving your donation.
• Never give something you wouldn’t be willing to wear.
• Be sure that all used clothing is clean, of good quality, and ready to wear (no repairs needed).
• Remember to empty all pockets before donating.
For more information on Flair Cleaners, its community service, or its green environmental practices and awards, visit FlairCleaners.com.
Bonnie Quintanilla
