SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes a theatrical salute to the Pier, YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Parsons Dance at BroadStage, Earth Day events, Masters of Taste Food Fest, and much more!
Springtime at the Pier: 'Locals' Night' Returns April 16 with Live Music, Art, Salsa, and 'Save the Pier!' Play: Enjoy two stages of live music, Spring art mart, salsa dancing, classic cars, and live theater come together for one night at the Santa Monica Pier. Thursday, April 16, starting at 4p.m. santamonicapier.org/localsnight
YMCA Healthy Kids Day: There will be plenty of fun activities for families, including a bouncy house, rock climbing, and face painting. The goal is to promote healthy habits and positive lifestyles for youth in an engaging and interactive way. FREE. Saturday, April 18, 10am-1pm @ Santa Monica YMCA, 1332 6th St. instagram.com/santamonicaymca
Natural HERStory: A Drag Musical: Join us for Natural HERstory, a joyful 30-minute STEAM musical created with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where dazzling drag performance meets real science. Designed for elementary-age learners and aligned with California education standards, the show explores fossils, arthropods, and birds while inspiring creativity, curiosity, and empathy. Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Annenberg Community Beach House santamonica.gov/events/4xgq6x4fcrkp8vgqsww6d728m1/202604181100
Parsons Dance at BroadStage: The internationally acclaimed Parsons Dance company brings its athletic and high-energy contemporary choreography to Santa Monica for a special two-night engagement. The program features a mix of classic works and new premieres that showcase the company’s signature "strobe-light" precision and Joyous movement. Saturday & Sunday, April 18 & 19, 1310 11th St. broadstage.org/tickets-shows/
Verdi Chorus Presents "Verdi in España" Spanish-Themed Concert: The Verdi Chorus continues its 42nd season with "Verdi in España," a Spanish-themed concert featuring operatic works by Verdi, Bizet and Spanish composers, for two performances. Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St. verdichorus.org
Palisades Earth Day & Veg Fest 2026 at the Palisades Village Green: Join Resilient Palisades for a joyful afternoon featuring a vibrant lineup of vegan food vendors, a native plant sale, music, kids activities, and opportunities to learn from local organizations working to support a healthier and more resilient community. Saturday, April 19 eventbrite.com/e/palisades-earth-day-veg-fest-2026-at-the-palisades-village-green-tickets-1983835154350
Urban Jungle Plants and Pottery Second Anniversary: Celebrate with us as Urban Jungle Plants & Pottery turns two! Join us for a special day filled with food, beverages, plant giveaways, and a warm community atmosphere. Whether you are a longtime supporter or visiting for the first time, we would love to have you be part of this milestone celebration. Saturday, April 18, 3113 Lincoln Blvd. instagram.com/urbanjungleplantsandpottery
Free Bike Rodeo and Bike Skills Workshop for All Students: In preparation for National Bike Month in May and Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week (May 4–8), the city of Santa Monica and Walk ’n Rollers are hosting the free workshop at Lincoln Middle School. This fun, hands-on event will give students the opportunity to practice important biking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Participants will rotate through interactive skill stations where they can practice starting and stopping, signaling, maneuvering around obstacles, and learning basic traffic safety tips for riding in their neighborhood. Sunday, April 19, 9a.m. - 12p.m. santamonica.gov/blog/get-ready-to-ride-free-bike-rodeo-for-all-students
Yom Hashoah Film Screening of “The Stamp Thief” Followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers: Mishkon will be screening the 2025 film “The Stamp Thief,” followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. The documentary investigates a tale dating back to the Holocaust: A mysterious Nazi stole priceless stamp collections from concentration camp victims and buried the stolen stamps in a small town in Poland. RSVP here. Sunday, April 19, 3:30p.m., 206 Main Street, Venice mishkon.org/event/Stamp-Thief.html
Pepperdine Earth Day Fair: The fair features sustainability-focused activities and booths, connecting students, faculty, and community members with environmental organizations and climate solutions as part of Pepperdine’s Climate Calling 2026 conference. Monday, April 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. malibucity.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/2052
Stand Up for Democracy Comedy Fundraising Show: Enjoy an unforgettable night of stand-up comedy packed with big laughs and even bigger impact. Every donation supports Field Team 6 — a volunteer-driven, grassroots organization registering Democratic voters in battleground states and flippable districts where it matters most. And every dollar turns into another Democratic vote. So you're making a huge difference. Thursday, April 23, 7:30p.m., Unurban Café, 3301 Pico Blvd. secure.actblue.com/donate/ft6i-standupfordemocracy
ONGOING: Museum of Illusions; The CUBE VR; Splatter Studio; Arts, Culture & Creativity Month (April); Wellness & Waves (through 10/17)
What to Eat & Drink?
Holy Basil Santa Monica x Nana Thai Collab Dinner: For the evening, an exclusive collaborative menu by Chef Deau Arpapornnopparat and Chef Nik Ramirez will be offered. Sunday, April 19, 2828 Santa Monica Blvd. https://www.opentable.com/r/holy-basil-santa-monica
Newly Opened - Santinos: This Argentinian restaurant closed over a decade ago, and has now reopened in the same location under the same ownership (lesson: it's never too late for a comeback). The menu has a lot going on with tapas like gambas al ajillo and crispy mollejas, pizzas, salads, steaks, and paninis. Also, they're hosting parrillada dinners cooked on an outdoor grill every Sunday night. 3021 Lincoln Blvd. theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/santinos
The Infatuation Declares the Cereal Milk French Toast at Jyan Isaac Bread is one of the Best Dishes in SoCal: "I don’t know what sorcery Jyan Isaac partakes in, but his Japanese-style milk bread somehow stays fluffy and cloud-like even after the chef from Ghisallo—responsible for the Santa Monica bakery's weekend brunch menu—soaks it in sweet cereal milk. The saucer-shaped French toast is great for sharing (the sections peel apart like Hawaiian rolls), and the cultured butter on top adds a nice tang to balance the maple syrup." 1620 Ocean Park Blvd. https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-dishes-infatuation-la-march-2026
Badmaash Brings the Tikka Poutine Invasion Abbot Kinney: Expect the brand’s signature irreverent hits—like the legendary Chicken Tikka Poutine and spiced lamb burgers—alongside new, Venice-exclusive additions like whipped ricotta toast with tamarind and kumquat jam. With a flashy orange marquee, a semi-open kitchen, and the brand's first-ever outdoor patio and the debut of its first-ever beverage program, it’s a massive upgrade for the block and a must-visit for anyone craving bold flavors and a hip-hop soundtrack. 1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice badmaashla.com
NBC4 Video Report on "Crudo e Nudo celebrates 5 years of sustainable seafood in Santa Monica": This video report “visits Crudo e Nudo to meet chef-owner Brian Bornemann and learn how the restaurant highlights responsible seafood practices. Plus, get an exclusive preview of the restaurant’s week-long anniversary celebration featuring collaborations with top chefs and winemakers from across California.”
Further Afield: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: 📚 The largest book festival in the U.S. makes its annual return to USC with authors, publishers, panel discussions and performances for readers of all ages. It’s a major cultural draw for bibliophiles across Southern California and a great way to showcase Santa Monica authors and literary voices. Saturday & Sunday, April 18 & 19, University of Southern California latimes.com/events/festival-of-books
More Further Afield: Santa Monica Flavors Take Center Stage at the 2026 Masters of Taste: The Rose Bowl’s iconic turf is about to become the city's most exclusive dining room. On Sunday, April 19, the eighth annual Masters of Taste returns, and this year, multiple SaMo local culinary stars are trekking east to dominate the field. Leading the charge are neighborhood favorites like the modern Indian powerhouse Fitoor and the minimalist sushi masters at UCHI, proving that while the event is in Pasadena, the soul of the menu is pure Westside. 100% of the proceeds benefit Union Station Homeless Services so you can indulge in the best of L.A.’s food scene while supporting the fight against homelessness. I will definitely be there and you can use the code LAMEDIA26 for $10 off. mastersoftastela.com
Looking Ahead: SaMo International Jazz Festival (5/1-9); Venice Beach Cinco de Mayo Parade (5/2); Netflix Is A Joke Fest (5/4-10); EEEEEATSCON (5/16-17); Montana Ave. Annual Sidewalk Sale & Wellness Walk (5/16); MAINopoly Taste of Main Street (5/24); U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship (6/2-5);
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: Pier Locals’ Night, Earth Day Events, & Food Fests