Ocean Ave.
Luxury homes bring in new restaurants
Three restaurants have signed up for the newly constructed Ocean Avenue South building located adjacent to Tongva Park.
The three dining concepts include Joan's On Third, Hakkasan Group's Searsucker, as well as a Starbucks Evenings concept. Ocean Avenue South comprises two luxury residential buildings, The Waverly and The Seychelle, and 20,000 square feet of commercial space.
The plaza level of The Waverly, will welcome Joan's on Third and Starbucks, while The Seychelle will host Searsucker's first location in Los Angeles. This array of dining options will offer residents of Ocean Avenue South a destination restaurant, a gourmet marketplace, and a premium coffee shop.
"We are thrilled to announce our first retail partners to join the Ocean Avenue South community," said Gino Canori, Executive Vice President of Related California. "Each partner will bring its own unique offerings, from a sophisticated sit-down dining experience and a gourmet marketplace and delicatessen to a premium neighborhood coffee house."
Originally opened in 1998 as a catering company on Third Street in Los Angeles, Joan's on Third blossomed into a Los Angeles culinary landmark. Family-owned and operated, the company offers an extensive gourmet marketplace, delicatessen and full-service catering and event planning company. The Santa Monica location is slated to open in late 2014.
"We couldn't be more excited to join the Ocean Avenue South neighborhood later this year," said Joan McNamara, founder of Joan's on Third. "We love our customers and always welcome them with delicious food and excellent service in a warm atmosphere. Ocean Avenue offers the attention to detail and quality that we provide our guests every day."
Hakkasan Group is pleased to introduce Angelenos to the Searsucker concept, which is known for its adventurous spin on New American classics. With locations in Austin, San Diego and Del Mar, Searsucker's Santa Monica location will feature a menu of unique twists on classic home-style dishes, paired with a lively ambience that will encourage guests to stay long after their meal is enjoyed.
"Ocean Avenue South is elevating the Santa Monica lifestyle," said James Brennan, Searsucker Partner. "Today, Santa Monica is seeing so many exciting design, real estate and tech developments, creating a playground for both the business professional and creative dreamer. I see the opening of Searsucker as an extension of this blueprint and look forward to making our guests feel right at home in this idyllic location."
Starbucks will bring its premium coffeehouse experience to The Waverly with its new "Evenings" concept serving its Starbucks Reserve coffee and, after 4 p.m., wine, beer and small plates.
"This is an exciting time to be at Ocean Avenue South with our first residents moving into The Waverly and sales underway at The Seychelle. Having a variety of high-caliber dining options in this spectacular location just steps from the beach is a game-changer for Santa Monica and just one of the many amenities that will make living at Ocean Avenue South so desirable," said Canori.
The Waverly and The Seychelle occupy a 3.7-acre site along Ocean Avenue, just one block from the Pacific Ocean. The property is bordered on the south by the Viceroy Santa Monica, and to the north by Tongva Park.
For more information about Ocean Avenue South, visit www.oceanavenuesouth.com or call 310-394-1100.
- Edited by Matthew Hall
Pacific Palisades
OMD CEO Steps Up to Fight Kidney Disease
Monica Karo, of Pacific Palisades, has been named Chair of the National Kidney Foundation's Los Angeles Kidney Walk being held Sunday, November 2, at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Karo is the chief executive of OMD in North America - OMD is the most awarded media communications agency in the world.
"Monica understands the power of messaging and building awareness, it's what OMD has mastered under her leadership," said Pier Merone, Division President for the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California. "We're privileged to have Monica support the vital mission of raising awareness of kidney disease in the community."
In California alone, more than 55,000 people receive dialysis treatment for kidney failure and 18,000 are on the waiting list for a life-saving kidney transplant. It is estimated that 1 in 9 Californians have kidney disease, and most don't know it because symptoms usually appear late in the disease's progression.
"I am honored to lead this inspirational event because kidney disease affects so many here in Southern California," said Karo. "This is such an important public health issue in our country, and I am happy to lend my support to the cause."
Karo and OMD employees will participate in the Los Angeles Kidney Walk on November 2. The Kidney Walk is a non-competitive event that raises funds to fight kidney disease through awareness, prevention and treatment programs. Walkers participate as individuals or form teams with family, friends or colleagues. Kidney walks are held in cities across the country throughout the year. To join an event or support a walker, visit www.kidneywalk.org.
"Whether you are a friend, family member, co-worker or someone personally affected by kidney disease, one person's action can have an impact," said Karo. "Take your own bold steps and join us as we work together to fight kidney disease."
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and tens of millions of Americans at risk. For more information, visit www.kidney.org.
- MH
Virginia Park
Pizza with the police
Dozens of neighbors enjoyed free pizza during a warm summer day at Virginia Park while hobnobbing with members of the Santa Monica Police Department. "Pizza with the Police" is one of several outreach programs designed to strengthen ties between the Police Department and its community members.
Neighbors get an opportunity to put a name to the face of the Officers and Crime Prevention Coordinators assigned to their beat. Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks was very pleased with the turn out and the positive feedback. "These forums give us an opportunity to stay connected with our community and to share mutual concerns," she said. "It also affords us the opportunity to get the word out about the upcoming National Night Out event."
National Night Out, "America's Night Out Against Crime" is a nationwide effort. An initiative started in 1984 geared to promote community involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
National Night Out involves over 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide!
Santa Monica's National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, August 5 at the Civic Auditorium Parking Lot, on Main Street and Pico Blvd from 6 - 8 p.m.
For more information regarding this event call the S.M.P.D Community Affairs Unit at (310) 458-8474 or visit their website at www.santamonicapd.org or their facebook page at http://facebook.com/santamonicapd.
- MH
Citywide
Big Blue Bus hosts community workshops to share proposed Expo service plan
All community Members interested in local transit planning related to upcoming light rail service on the Expo Line are invited to attend informational workshops on July 22, 23 and 24. Big Blue Bus staff and consultants from Nelson/Nygaard will make a presentation and be available for questions related to service planning integration.
The workshop on Tuesday, July 22 will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Felicia Mahood Senior Citizen Center, Community Room 11338 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, 90028 The public can ride BBB Routes 1 or 4. Parking is available on surrounding streets and the parking lot across the street. Parking validation will not be provided at this location.
The workshop on Wednesday, July 23 will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium, East Wing 1855 Main St. Santa Monica, 90401 Ride BBB Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, Rapid 3, Rapid 7 or Rapid 10. Parking is available at Civic Center Lot. Parking validation will be provided at this location.
The workshop on Thursday, July 24 will be held from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Santa Monica Main Library, Multi-Purpose Room 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, 90401 Ride BBB Routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, Rapid 3, Rapid 7 or Rapid 10. Parking is available in the library garage (enter on 7th St. just north of Santa Monica Blvd.). Parking validation will be provided at this location.
The completion of light rail service in Santa Monica in early 2016 will have significant impact on public transportation to and from Santa Monica. The final Phase 2 expansion will bring rail from the fringes of the BBB service area into its center. Of the seven new rail stations that will open in Phase 2, three are within the City of Santa Monica city limits, including the western terminus for the line. Projected weekday ridership for the Exposition Line is 64,000 boardings per weekday as of 2030.
This is a significant change of conditions for a system that has served rail only at the periphery until now. Additionally, changes in demographics, zoning, and land use are forming pockets of increasing density in designated commercial and mixed-use areas in order to conserve Santa Monica's existing diverse residential areas. More resources are being dedicated to walking, biking, ridesharing, and transit to optimize the efficiency of the transportation system, and this change is remaking the fabric of the service area.
The goal for Big Blue Bus Service Changes is to create service connections making transit and rail an even more convenient and attractive option for residents and visitors in the West side.
In addition to public meetings, Big Blue Bus invites customer feedback on the proposed Expo Service Plan at: http://expo.bigbluebus.com/survey.
- MH
