SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes a Off-the-Hook Pier Seafood Festival, Oktoberfest at the Miramar, Evan Funke back at Rustic Canyon, and much more!
Friday Night Jazz Returns to SMC: Jazz fans have a couple of good reasons to head to Santa Monica College this fall. The college’s long-running Friday Night Jazz Series returns Oct. 16 with the Marvin “Smitty” Smith Octet, led by the veteran drummer who spent 15 years behind the kit on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The series continues Nov. 13 with an all-star benefit concert celebrating more than 40 years of Friday night jazz at SMC. Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., SMC Music Hall, 1310 11th St. smc.edu/tickets
Navigate the Stars—Even After the Zombie Apocalypse: Looking for something a little more out-of-this-world? Santa Monica College’s Planetarium is hosting live astronomy shows throughout October, exploring everything from exoplanets and the life cycles of stars to the latest happenings in space. The month wraps up with “Stellar Navigation (for the Zombie Apocalypse),” a look at how ancient navigators crossed oceans without GPS—because you never know when that skill might come in handy. Fridays in October, 6 and 7 p.m., plus a Sunday Family Matinée Oct. 11, SMC Planetarium, 1900 Pico Blvd. smc.edu/planetarium
Wilmont Movies in the Park: The Wilmont is wrapping up its free Movies in the Park series with a family-friendly night featuring live music, picnicking and a screening of The Lego Movie. Free popcorn is included, because apparently we’ve finally found a movie night with the right priorities. Saturday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m., Reed Park, 1133 Seventh St. Free. wilmont.org
Bouquets, Bottles, & BENZz Autumn Social: Looking for a unique Saturday date night? Head to goodboybob on Broadway for a neighborhood block party featuring showcase cars, live music, and local vendors. Sip on wine, beer, or matcha while grabbing smash burgers, floral bouquets, and specialty cakes from Atelier Pistache, plus live screen-printed merch. Saturday, Oct. 10, 4 – 8 p.m. goodboybob coffee roasters, 2058 Broadway goodboybob.com
Halloween Block Fest: Third Street Promenade is turning into a giant Halloween party for the latest edition of Santa Monica Block Fest. The free, all-ages festival takes over all three blocks with multiple stages of live DJs, a food night market, vendor village, pop-up bars and plenty of Halloween atmosphere. There’s also an official after-party that keeps things going until 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m.–midnight, Third Street Promenade. More details here.
Inspired Art: Paired Visions: This exhibition showcases work from multiple artists in a free evening event at bG Gallery. Sunday, Oct. 11, 4–9 p.m., bG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Space A2 Free. RSVP at instagram.com/inspiredart_shows
Celebrating Belmar History & Black Santa Monica: Historic Belmar Park will come alive with “Continuum”, a free, all-ages celebration honoring the history and legacy of Black Santa Monica. The afternoon features live music, KCRW DJs, a vendor village curated by Black Market Flea, art and historical exhibits, and conversations about Belmar’s history with journalist Sam Sanders and historian Alison Rose Jefferson. There will also be a Bloom Bar, family-friendly art activities and more. Sunday, Oct. 11, noon–5 p.m., 1650 Seventh St. Free. More details here.
Off the Hook Seafood Festival: Seafood lovers, prepare to get shucking. This signature event returns to the Santa Monica Pier for its eighth annual celebration, featuring tastings from more than 20 local chefs and restaurants, wine and beverage tastings, live yacht rock, and oyster shucking and slurping competitions. The event also raises funds and awareness for Heal the Bay, making it a pretty good excuse to eat your way through a Sunday afternoon. Sunday, Oct. 11, 4–7 p.m., Santa Monica Pier. 21+. offthehookseafoodfest.com
Western Wednesday Returns: Dust off those boots and head to Santa Monica Place for Western Wednesday, a free weekly line-dancing night with professional instructors leading lessons for beginners and seasoned dancers alike. Stick around for happy-hour specials at participating restaurants, and don’t miss the Halloween-themed finale on Oct. 28—costumes are encouraged. Every Wednesday in October, 6–8 p.m., Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place santamonicaplace.com/events
ONGOING: Museum of Illusions; The CUBE VR; Splatter Studio; Wellness & Waves (Saturdays through 10/17); Locals' Night Third Thursdays; Perrys Beach House DJ Event (Saturdays and Sundays in Sept.); “Into the Woods” at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre (through 10/18)
WHAT'S NEW & DELICIOUS?
Oktoberfest at The Miramar - Forget Munich: Oktoberfest is coming to Santa Monica. The Fairmont Miramar is transforming The Bungalow into a Bavarian beer garden with Paulaner and Sam Adams Oktoberfest beers, bratwurst, roasted chicken, pretzels, apple strudel, traditional games, polka and live bands. Admission is free, and lederhosen are presumably encouraged. Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 8–10, 5–10 p.m., 101 Wilshire Blvd. fairmont-miramar.com/events/oktoberfest-at-the-miramar-2
Wine Night at La Petite Monique: Looking for a cute excuse to drink wine by the beach? Venice Beach Wine Club is taking over La Petite Monique for an intimate evening of wine, bites and good company at the Oceana. Expect a relaxed night of tasting and mingling in a beautiful Santa Monica setting. Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:00 pm, La Petite Monique at the Oceana, 849 Ocean Ave. tickpick.com/organizer/event/wine-night-at-the-oceana-69669890
Biscuits, Blues & Sweet Tea: Fresh-baked Southern biscuits with vanilla-spiced honey butter, strawberry jam, sweet tea and live blues? Say less. This Santa Monica gathering brings together all the ingredients for a very good afternoon: buttery biscuits, cold sweet tea, live music and a little Southern hospitality. Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m., 2421 Michigan Ave. instagram.com/p/Ddr06dKEo41
Rustic Canyon 20th Anniversary: “The Funke Years” Dinner: Acclaimed chef Evan Funke (Felix, Mother Wolf, Funke) returns to the kitchen he led from 2008 to 2012, where he first crafted his signature approach to regional Italian cooking. Funke collaborates with the current kitchen team on a multi-course prix-fixe menu, accompanied by pours from former Rustic sommelier Jenna Isaac and Red Car Wines co-owners Richard and Allison Crowell. Tuesday, Oct. 13 Rustic Canyon, 1119 Wilshire Blvd. resy.com/cities/los-angeles-ca/venues/rustic-canyon
Penfolds & La Monique 75th Anniversary Dinner: Celebrate a pair of major milestones as La Monique marks its first anniversary while teaming up with legendary Australian estate Penfolds for the 75th anniversary of Grange. Hosted by Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, the intimate evening features rare library vintages, the new 100-point Grange and the 50-Year-Old Rare Tawny, paired with a curated menu by Chef David Fricaud featuring dishes like Beef Wellington and Butternut Squash Agnolotti. Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m., 849 Ocean Ave., $500 per person. opentable.com/r/la-monique-santa-monica
Multiple SaMo Spots on The Infatuation's Best Happy Hours In LA List: Fig, Rustic Canyon and Pacific Catch prove you don’t have to cross the 405 to find a good happy hour. Fig offers 50% off its food and drinks during “Fig at 5,” Rustic Canyon has $10 cocktails and wines plus discounted snacks, and Pacific Catch offers $9 cocktails and wine, $6 beer and $10 ceviche. Because sometimes the best way to celebrate making it through the day is to make your wallet slightly happier, too. theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-happy-hour-deals-la
Kogen Omakase Brings High-End Sushi to Santa Monica: There’s a new omakase option in town—and this one is not exactly a casual Tuesday night sushi run. Kogen Omakase, a 10-seat sushi counter just steps from the ocean, features a seasonal 20-course experience from Chef Yasu Iwai, who previously worked at Taikun at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. Expect fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, seasonal California ingredients and plenty of high-end touches, including caviar and truffle. 109 Santa Monica Blvd.The 20-course experience is $295. More details here.
Further Afield: CHAIN Takes Over Topanga Social: B.J. Novak’s CHAIN has opened a six-month residency at Westfield Topanga’s Topanga Social, bringing together exclusive creations from chefs Roy Choi, Calvin Eng, Mason Hereford and Mei Lin. The menu mixes nostalgic chain-food favorites with a decidedly chef-y spin, alongside CHAIN classics and a new General Mills-inspired snack and dessert menu featuring Lucky Charms, Reese’s Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Through March 2027, Westfield Topanga, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park. More details here.
More Further Afield: 130 Musicians, 10 Arts Organizations & One Big Experiment: Experimental music collective Wild Up launches the inaugural Democracy Sessions, bringing together 10 of L.A.'s leading arts organizations for a month of performances exploring music as a collective practice. Now through Nov. 4, various locations locations.wildup.org/series/democracy-sessions-2026
Looking Ahead: Main St. Day of the Dog Festival (10/18); LA Times Food Bowl (10/23-24); Montana Avenue Halloween Hop (10/31); DĂa de los Muertos at the Pier (10/31); SaMo Pier Swiss Winter Village (11/14 - 1/3)
Know something I missed? Send tips, events and questionable culinary decisions to sean@smdp.com or instagram.com/seanbesser. Check out my past Around Town columns here.