SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes Tech Street event, Free Movies, Vamos Al Parque!, and much more!
Commercial Brokers International Exotic Car Show: Get up close to some of the coolest exotic cars in town and chat with fellow car enthusiasts. Register at the event to receive a wristband for exclusive discounts to nearby restaurants and retailers. Saturday, Oct. 11, 3 – 6p.m., 3rd St. Promenade https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-exotic-car-show-santa-monica-tickets-1766457143869
Wilmont's Celebration & Movie in Reed Park: Picnic starts at 4:30p.m., live music at 5:30p.m., and screening of Wall-E at 6:30p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 https://www.wilmont.org
Vamos Al Parque! (Let's Go to the Park): The free, family-friendly event will highlight Indigenous and Latine heritage through performances, hands-on workshops and cultural activities. Attendees can enjoy lounging areas, all-ages artmaking, an Aztec dance performance, Native music, craft vendors, fresh fruit bowls and more Sunday, Oct. 12 · 10a.m. - 2p.m., Pacific Palisades Park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vamos-al-parque-lets-go-to-the-park-tickets-1485148462029
Vinyl Pop Up Market 🎧 Find some new vinyl for your collection at Santa Monica Brew Works’ pop-up Vinyl Market. Sunday, Oct. 12 12 - 4p.m., 1920 Colorado Ave.
Cinema Sundays at Sunset on the Promenade: Wizard of Oz: This summer, Third Street Promenade transforms into Santa Monica's most charming outdoor movie theater every weekend. Sunday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m., in front of the Apple Store, 1415 3rd Street Promenade https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cinema-sundays-at-sunset-tickets-1588204385069
New Afterschool Kitchen Club Helps Kids Build Confidence and Cooking Skills: With back-to-school season in full swing, The Gourmandise School at Santa Monica Place is making afterschool activities extra tasty with the launch of Kitchen Club, a brand-new cooking series designed for kids ages 8–13. Each week introduces a new theme, from Bake Sale Bests and Breakfast Pastries to Halloween Treats and French Macarons. Kids work in pairs to practice cooking basics, gain confidence, and create recipes completely from scratch—then take their tasty creations home to share. 395 Santa Monica Place https://thegourmandiseschool.com/kids-teens/#kitchen-club
Tech St. Santa Monica: Turning Ocean Avenue and parts of Palisades Park into a vibrant showcase of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community spirit, this event celebrates 150 years of innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, investment into the community, music, entertainment & culture of the City of Santa Monica. This one-day outdoor festival will gather 3,000+ founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators for a full day of connection, innovation, and culture. Monday, Oct. 13, Ocean Ave. tech-week.com
Live Talks: An Evening with Werner Herzog: From legendary filmmaker and author Werner Herzog, a compact, effervescent, and deeply personal exploration of art, philosophy, and history that unravels one of our most elusive and contested questions: What is truth—and how to find it in our “post-truth” era? Tuesday, Oct. 14, 8p.m., New Roads School 3131 Olympic Blvd. https://livetalksla.org/events/werner-herzog/
Broadstage Palisades’ Road to Recovery - An AirTalk Live Event: AirTalk host Larry Mantle will talk with guests about what the road to rebuilding looks like and how best to navigate this new reality. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7:30p.m., 1310 11th St. https://broadstage.org/tickets-shows/calendar/palisades-road-to-recovery/
Binge Free Festival: The month-long festival of FREE shows at Santa Monica Playhouse, returns for a Tenth Anniversary Season. Following extensive repair and renovation to our Main Stage due to a flooding incident, we plan to re-open our refurbished Main Stage with the opening of our new Binge Free Festival. Opens Oct. 14 santamonicaplayhouse.com
ONGOING: “Two Bit Circus” Pop-Up; LiteBrite Experience; Wellness & Waves (through 10/11); Weekly Western Wednesday Line Dancing (through 10/29); Penmar Sunset Sessions (through 10/31)
What to Eat & Drink?
Wine N' Jazz at Canal Club 🍷 Enjoy live jazz by Babo, delicious wines by Doctors Order Wines and curated food pairings. Your ticket includes wine sampling, food, and access to our jazz concert on the patio. Saturday, Oct. 11, 600 Mildred Ave., Venice thecanalmarket.com/goods/p/jazz-night
Rustic Cantina: Enjoy the sounds of cumbia, salsa, and boleros while you dine at Rustic Canyon. Thursday, Oct. 9, 1223 Wilshire Blvd.
Sunset Jazz & Pizza Night at The Lobster: Featuring Sonrisa Puerto Rican Rum, enjoy an extended happy hour with their unique Fiery Spiny Lobster Pizza. This event promises complimentary rum sips, $8 mojitos, and live music. We will fill up, so come early and grab your spot or bar stool. Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 - 9p.m. 1602 Ocean Ave. instagram.com/thelobstersm
Wags & Witches at Fairmont Miramar Hotel: Join a howling good time sipping on spooky cocktails, showing off your most creative Halloween looks, and taking part in a spirited costume contest with prizes for the best dressed. Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 - 8p.m., 101 Wilshire Blvd. https://www.fairmont-miramar.com/explore/event-calendar/#!/e/wags-witches-with-wags-walks-07f1cd11
Petitgrain Boulangerie Listed #3 on "Best Cinnamon Rolls In LA" List: The Infatuation states "Santa Monica’s Petitgrain is already on our list for the best cookies and best croissants, so we weren't exactly shocked when their beautiful snail-shaped roll wowed us. What is surprising, however, is the way Petitgrain lends a savvy French accent to the classic formula. The buttery laminated dough is off-the-charts flaky, and there’s a nutty, sesame-like flavor to the caramelized bottom layer, á la a great kouign aman. The icing is more of a thin, glossy glaze that crackles like a candy shell and adds sweetness without distracting from the pastry." 1209 Wilshire Blvd. https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-cinnamon-rolls-la
Mouth Watering Video Review of Pasjoli: Insta Influencer @BrittanyVHEats highlights the hits on the new menu of the Main St. Michelin recognized brasserie. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPO3nrpDhuq/
LA Times Profiles New Jade Rabbit by Former Cassia Chef: "Love Panda Express? This new fast-casual restaurant is redefining Chinese American food." https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-10-06/jade-rabbit-panda-express-chinese-american-restaurant-santa-monica
Further Afield:Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch: Culver City's favorite pumpkin village offers plenty of family fun, including photo ops in front of giant pumpkin installations, a straw maze, a super slide, petting zoo, giant rocking horses, and pumpkin decorating sessions. Open daily through Oct. 31. mrbonespumpkinpatch.com
Even Further Afield: Carved at Descanso Gardens This family-friendly Carved returns for 2025 with a freshly thought out pumpkin wonderland featuring a new route, hundreds of carved pumpkins, and kid-friendly activities. Nightly through Oct. 30. descansogardens.org/events-and-activities/carved/
Looking Ahead: 3rd St. Promenade Dia de los Muertos Celebration (10/18); Main St. Day of the Dog Festival (10/19); OTH Santa Monica Seafood Festival (10/19); LA Wine & Food Festival (11/7-9)
If there’s something you think is worth highlighting, you can reach out directly to me at sean@smdp.com. Here are my past columns and let me know if you have any feedback on Around Town: Community, Park & Halloween Events