SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes Santa Monica Place "Fall into Wellness" Event , Free Movie in the Park , Americana in the Park, and much more!
Dance MDR Salsa Night: Every Friday night in September, shimmy over to Burton Chace Park for an evening of dance featuring beginner lessons from top L.A.'s dance teachers plus DJ spun tunes to get into the groove. This week, the series kicks off with a focus on Salsa. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dancing starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dance-mdr-salsa-night-tickets-943278179427
Santa Monica Place "Fall into Wellness" Event: Two days of interactive, informative, and engaging health and wellness activities feature complimentary pop-up fitness classes, mini spa treatments, product sampling, live DJ music performed by DJ Ohla, and more. Saturday, Sept. 14, 10a.m. - 2p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 15, 11a.m. - 3p.m. https://www.santamonicaplace.com/Events/Details/576294
"Second Saturdays of Summer" Free Movie in the Park: Wilmont Neighborhood Coalition is hosting "free live music and movies" along with free popcorn & lemonade for kids, too. This month’s movie is "Monsters, Inc." Saturday Sept. 14, 7:00p.m., Reed Park, 1133 7th St. https://www.wilmont.org/?mc_cid=2b4b60a192&mc_eid=141281ef42
Michelin-Starred Chef Chef Josiah Citrin and City Garage Special Event: This special performance of "If I Needed Someone" by Neil LaBute brings two Santa Monica stars together. Saturday, Sept. 14. Light bites by Chef Citrin served from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, followed by the performance. https://city-garage.ticketleap.com/if-i-needed-someone-private-event/
Marina del Rey Movie Nights : Catch a FREE movie at Burton Chace Park every Saturday night in September, with 50 First Dates on Sept. 14, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on Sept. 21 and Sixteen Candles on Sept. 28. Saturdays, 8:00p.m. at 13650 Mindanao Way. More info here:
Americana in the Park: Head over to Gandara Park for this annual music concert series featuring two bands each week every Sunday in September. Bring your picnic, blankets, and beach chairs to soak up the sounds of Americana music, from its roots to modern forms. Enjoy craft activities for all ages, tasty treats from local food trucks, and a vibrant community experience in Gandara Park, 1819 Stewart St. Sunday, Sept. 15, 4:00 - 7:00p.m. features guitarists and songwriters Rick Shea & Tony Gilkyson open with Southern California band Mustangs of the West headlining with all styles of country music. https://www.santamonica.gov/events/47r9kfcs2wb7jsajwmg8whrkmb/202409011600
What to Eat & Drink?
Pasjoli Switches to Prix Fixe Menu: Dave Beran’s acclaimed French restaurant at 2732 Main St. is transitioning to a prix fixe only menu starting Sept. 16. Beran has previously tested the prix fixe format at Pasjoli the duck-focused canard a la pressed will come in at $125. The bar will remain a la carte and walk in only with new additions to its menu like a burger and duck wings. An abbreviated three course prix fixe priced at $65 also be available in the main dining room until 6 p.m. More details here:
James Beard Foundation "Good Food for Good" Event at Xuntos: Meaning "together" in Gallego, Xuntos serves sharable plates inspired by the cuisines of Northern Spain. For the event, chef Sandra will create a multi-course tapas menu inspired by the summers spent on her family’s farm in Galicia. 30% of proceeds go towards the Foundation’s national programming that is rooted in advocacy, racial equity, sustainability, and women’s leadership for the culinary industry. Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6:30p.m.,516 Santa Monica Blvd. https://www.squadup.com/events/jbf-greens-la-x-xuntos
Gourmet Burger Atelier for National Cheeseburger Day: Head to Sirena at the Georgian Hotel to indulge in a dry-aged prime beef burger (7oz) on a house-made brioche bun, paired with steak fries or a fresh Farmers Market salad. Elevate your burger with premium cheeses, sweet onion jam, tomato jam, and caper pickle relish, accompanied by three gourmet dipping sauces. To quench your thirst, Sandy Beer, an award-winning family-owned brewery, will be featuring 1/2 off their Blonde Ale on draft. $40 per person. Wednesday, Sept. 18, 4:00 - 7:00p.m., 1415 Ocean Ave. https://www.thegeorgian.com/events-calendar.aspx
Mon Ami Barcelona Dinner: One night per month the restaurant will present a menu curated to mirror the flavors of the featured city, from the beaches of Mallorca to the canals of Venice. At sunset, dive into vibrant nightlife with live music and themed cocktails. Thursday, Sept. 19 f eatures Barcelona with flamenco dancers, live entertainment, a custom passport, great vibes, and a menu that’ll make you feel like you’re dining in Spain. Check out the menu and grab a reservation here: www.monamism.com/first-class
Gladstones Malibu Launches Endless Summer Menu with a"Pyramid of the Pacific Foot High Nacho Tower." This towering creation of nacho goodness features a foot tall nacho pyramid smothered in cheese, guacamole, sour cream with grilled chicken, shrimp, steak and topped with a cold-water Australian lobster tail ($75). Also, for football season, the restaurant has a "First & $10 menu." and will have NFL games on 10 big TV screens across the inside and outside bar areas. https://www.gladstones.com/
Further Afield: Halloween Horror Nights (September 5- November 3) kicks off at Universal Studios and Knott’s Scary Farm (September 19 – November 2) returns with their signature lineup of haunted attractions, mazes and thousands of monsters ready to scare the living daylight out of you and your crew. More info here for Knotts and here for Universal.
Looking Ahead: LA Times Food Bowl (9/20-22) Opera at the Beach(9/21),Montana Ave. Art Walk(9/28); Thai Feast by the Beach (9/28); Americana in the Park(Sundays in September); Off the Hook SaMo Seafood Festival (10/12), Cirque du Soleil (10/19 -1/10)
If there’s something you think is worth highlighting, you can reach out directly to me at mailto:sean@smdp.com.Here are my past columns and let me know if you have any feedback on Around Town: Outdoor Activities Abound
