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# Around Town: Holiday Markets, Music and Mischief & $5 Kids' Bowls
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/around-town-holiday-markets-music-and-mischief-5-kids-bowls/
- Published: 2026-11-12T17:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-12T17:00:00.000Z
- Author: Sean Besser
- Tags: Events, Santa Monica

**SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes jazz legends, a naughty holiday show, and the first signs of the season's festivities!**

**Route 66 Exhibit: Road, Legend, Community:** Santa Monica’s role as the western terminus of Route 66 gets the spotlight in this new exhibition exploring the iconic highway’s history and cultural impact. Historic photographs, artifacts, roadside signage and a first edition of The Grapes of Wrath trace the highway's origins, Dust Bowl migration, roadside Americana and its enduring influence on film, music and literature. Visitors can also add their own journeys to an interactive map—though we suspect most locals will just trace the 10 Freeway traffic back to Main St. **Thursday, Nov. 12, 5–7 p.m. (opening reception); exhibition runs through June 2027, 1350 7th St.** [santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/creating-route-66/#OPENING](http://santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/creating-route-66/?ref=smdp.com#OPENING)

**Friday Night Jazz Benefit Concert:** More than 40 years of Friday night jazz deserves a pretty good party. Santa Monica College’s Friday Night Jazz Series celebrates its long history with Some of My Best Musicians are Friends, an all-star benefit concert featuring Eric Scott Reed, Ralph Moore, Ira Nepus, Edwin Livingston, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gilbert Castellanos, Clay Jenkins and surprise guests. Expect small ensembles, big-band material and, eventually, a celebratory jam session. **Friday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., SMC Music Hall, 1310 11th St.** [smc.edu/tickets](http://smc.edu/tickets?ref=smdp.com)

**Santa Monica Block Fest on the Third Street Promenade:** Block Fest now runs on the second Saturday of every month through December, and recent editions drew more than 20,000 people. Guests 21 and older can drink outdoors in the Entertainment Zone. **Saturday, Nov. 14, 5p.m. - late,** [instagram.com/santamonicablockfest](http://instagram.com/santamonicablockfest?ref=smdp.com)

**Nightmare Before Strip-Mas Gets Cheeky:** Halloween Town crashes Christmas in this adults-only burlesque spectacle inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas. Dirty Little Secrets Burlesque brings Jack, Sally and their spooky crew to the stage for a naughty holiday mashup featuring sultry snowflakes, creepy candy canes, dazzling choreography and plenty of sass. Consider it a little early holiday cheer with a decidedly less wholesome twist. **Saturday, Nov. 14, doors 8 p.m., show 9:15 p.m., Illusion Magic Lounge, 1418 4th St.** [illusionmagiclounge.com/show/nightmare-before-strip-mas-2](http://illusionmagiclounge.com/show/nightmare-before-strip-mas-2?ref=smdp.com)

**From Verdi to Verismo:** If you think opera is all kings, gods and people singing very loudly about their feelings, the Verdi Chorus would like a word. Its fall concert explores verismo opera—the dramatic, often violent stories of ordinary people, where jealous lovers, corrupt cops and cheating spouses tend to make for some very bad evenings (and, frequently, someone winds up dead). The program features works by Verdi and Puccini, including a slightly abridged second act of La Bohème. **Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 2nd St,.** [verdichorus.org](http://verdichorus.org/?ref=smdp.com)

**A Simple Machine Bike Ride & Movie Premiere:** Leave the car at home and ride to the movies. Santa Monica Spoke is hosting a free community bike ride to the Santa Monica premiere of A Simple Machine, an award-winning independent film about a recent college grad who makes radical choices to escape debt—and discovers the financial and emotional freedom that can come with living on two wheels. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Mark Alan Hoffman and lead actor Richard Blackmon. **Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St.** [instagram.com/asimplemachfilm](http://instagram.com/asimplemachfilm?ref=smdp.com)

**Soundwaves Presents an Evening of New Music:** Discover the work of Southern California composers at the latest Soundwaves concert, featuring pianist Brendan White performing contemporary pieces by six local composers, including Jordan Nelson, Stephen Cohn and Daniel Lentz. The program ranges from lush and serene to driving and experimental, with some works incorporating synthesizers and electronic effects. The evening also features a collaborative performance by CalArts faculty members Andrew McIntosh on violin and viola and Jack Dettling on keyboards, exploring alternative tuning systems and unconventional sounds. A suggested donation of $20 supports the series. **Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., 12424 Wilshire Blvd., West LA.**[ ](http://soundwavesnewmusic.com/?ref=smdp.com)[More information](http://soundwavesnewmusic.com/?ref=smdp.com).

**Swiss Winter Village Brings Alpine Magic to the Pier:** The Santa Monica Pier gets a European holiday makeover with the debut of Swiss Winter Village, a festive market featuring more than 60 wooden chalets filled with artisan gifts, crafts and seasonal treats. Visitors can feast on Swiss raclette, sip mulled wine, browse local makers’ wares and enjoy an oceanfront ice rink, live entertainment, family activities and visits with Santa. Admission starts at $12.90 for adults, with discounted tickets for children and Santa Monica residents. **Wednesday, Nov. 18 – Sunday, Jan. 3, 200 Santa Monica Pier** [swisswintervillage.com/santa-monica](http://swisswintervillage.com/santa-monica?ref=smdp.com)

**Regent Hotel Holiday Tree Lighting:** Nothing says “holiday season in Santa Monica” quite like lighting a Christmas tree with the Pacific Ocean in the background. Regent Santa Monica Beach kicks off the season with its annual holiday tree lighting, bringing festive music, seasonal treats and plenty of holiday cheer to its oceanfront property. **FREE.** **Thursday, Nov. 19, 4:30–7 p.m., 1700 Ocean Ave.** [Details here](http://santamonica.regenthotels.com/experience/bookable-experiences/?ref=smdp.com#!/e/regent-holiday-tree-lighting-celebration-7d94dad5)

**Andy Richter Talks "Elf" at LiveTalksLA:** Get an insider's look at one of the most beloved holiday classics as actor and comedian Andy Richter takes the stage at Santa Monica's Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre\[cite: 2\]. Celebrating his new oral history Elf Unwrapped, Richter explores how the quirky Will Ferrell comedy went from an unproduced script to a Christmas institution **Thursday, Nov. 19, 8p.m., New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd.** [livetalksla.org/events/andy-richter](http://livetalksla.org/events/andy-richter?ref=smdp.com)

**ONGOING:** [Museum of Illusions](https://moisantamonica.com/?ref=smdp.com); [The CUBE VR](https://www.thecubeevents.com/santamonicaexperiences?ref=smdp.com); [Splatter Studio](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/california-live/paint-sip-and-create-in-santa-monica/3834517/?ref=smdp.com); [Locals' Night Third Thursdays](https://www.santamonicapier.org/localsnight?ref=smdp.com); [Frost on Fifth](https://frostonfifth.com/?ref=smdp.com) (through 1/18)

**WHAT'S NEW & DELICIOUS?**

**Get Merry & Mixed:** Get into the holiday spirit at this hands-on mixology class at the Viceroy Santa Monica. Learn to shake and stir seasonal cocktails, from spiced winter sips to refreshing holiday classics, with festive garnishes and flavors designed to carry you through the holidays and into the New Year. **Sunday, Nov. 15,**[](https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santa-monica?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)**1819 Ocean Ave.** [viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santa-monica/calendar-of-events](http://viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santa-monica/calendar-of-events?ref=smdp.com)

**Main St.’s New Bar Fortuna Adds Late-Night Hours:** Ocean Park native Brian Bornemann’s new Italian-inspired cocktail and wine bar is giving neighborhood night owls another reason to linger on Main Street. Bar Fortuna is now staying open until midnight, making room for another Negroni, a glass of wine or a late-night bite. [smdp.com/ocean-park-natives-main-street-bar-adds-late-night-hours](http://smdp.com/ocean-park-natives-main-street-bar-adds-late-night-hours?ref=smdp.com)

**Jade Rabbit Offers a $5 Kids' Dinner:** Here's a family dining deal that's hard to beat. Jade Rabbit, recently recognized on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list, offers kids 12 and under a $5 bowl with one scoop each of a base, vegetable and main. It's an easy, affordable way to introduce the family to one of Santa Monica's acclaimed restaurants without breaking the dinner budget. **Available** **Fridays and Saturdays, 4–9 p.m. (one bowl per child; in-person orders only), 2301 Santa Monica Blvd.** [eatjaderabbit.com](http://eatjaderabbit.com/?ref=smdp.com)

**Tamales Make a Holiday Comeback at Tocaya:** Tocaya is bringing back its popular holiday tamales, with a new Chicken Verde variety joining the returning Sweet Corn favorite. Handmade daily, the tamales feature braised chicken with tomatillo salsa or grilled sweet corn with poblano peppers and roasted tomato salsa. **507 Wilshire Blvd.** [tocaya.com](https://tocaya.com/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)

**Further Afield:** **BikeLA BikeFest Celebrates Better Biking:** wap four wheels for two at this family-friendly celebration of all things cycling, featuring group rides, safety workshops, vendor booths, live music, and local food trucks. Whether you're a hardcore commuter or haven't ridden since middle school, it's a great excuse to get out on the coast. **Saturday, Nov. 14, Highland Park Brewery, 1220 N Spring St, LA**[ ](https://www.smspoke.org/2026/11/05/bikela-bikefest-2026/?ref=smdp.com)[tickets and details](https://www.smspoke.org/2026/11/05/bikela-bikefest-2026/?ref=smdp.com).

**Looking Ahead:** Promenade Holiday Tree Lighting (11/22); Hanukkah on the Promenade (12/4-12); Main St. Tree Lighting & Holiday Party (12/6)

**Know something I missed?** Send tips, events and questionable culinary decisions to [sean@smdp.com](mailto:sean@smdp.com) or[ ](https://www.instagram.com/seanbesser/?ref=smdp.com)[instagram.com/seanbesser](https://www.instagram.com/seanbesser/?ref=smdp.com).[ ](https://smdp.com/author/sean/?ref=smdp.com)[Check out my past Around Town columns here](https://smdp.com/author/sean/?ref=smdp.com).