SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town include holiday shopping at Renegade, free theater, Diwali dining and a little Santa Monica history!
Frost on Fifth Brings Holiday Skating Downtown: Because nothing screams 'winter wonderland' quite like doing triple axels in a T-shirt fifty yards from the Pacific Ocean. SaMo’s outdoor ice-skating rink returns for the holidays, bringing a winter tradition to a decidedly less wintry setting just steps from the beach and Third Street Promenade. The rink opens Thursday, Nov. 5, and runs through Monday, Jan. 18, 1324 Fifth St. frostonfifth.com
Venice Holiday Shopping Market: Nobody panic, but holiday shopping season kinda starts now. Find gifts (for yourself and others) at this evening neighborhood market featuring local vendors and plenty of opportunities to get a head start on your holiday list. 🛍️ Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 - 9:30 p.m., Venice https://www.instagram.com/p/De2L9ZAGVXL/
First Friday on Abbot Kinney: The Venice street turns into a street-food playground, with dozens of rotating food trucks serving everything from international favorites to creative new bites. Local shops and businesses also stay open late, making it an easy excuse to eat, browse and people-watch your way down the boulevard. Friday, Nov. 6, 5–9:30 p.m., abbotkinneyblvd.com/firstfridays
Binge Fringe Fest Offers Free Theater: Catch a variety of theatrical performances during Santa Monica Playhouse’s Binge Fringe festival, offering a chance to discover new work without spending a dime on tickets. Free theater is a pretty good excuse to give the couch a night off. Friday, Nov. 6, 7–10 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, 1–4:30 p.m., 1211 Fourth St. santamonicaplayhouse.com/the-bff-calendar-of-events.html
Renegade Craft Market Returns to Santa Monica Airport: Get a jump on holiday shopping at this open-air marketplace featuring more than 275 independent artists and makers selling everything from ceramics and jewelry to prints, clothing and home goods. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and support small creative businesses while finding something you won't see at the mall. Free parking; Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 3233 Donald Douglas Loop S. renegadecraft.com/event/los-angeles-winter
UNMASKED: Nude Art LA: Halloween may be over, but apparently the costumes aren’t coming off just yet. This is a one-night celebration of figurative fine art, with painters, sculptors and photographers displaying original work across four floors and a rooftop deck. The evening also features live programming, a working life-drawing studio, red-carpet moments and the Bare As You Dare after-Halloween costume contest. Saturday, Nov. 7, 8–10 p.m., West LA nudeartla.com/unmasked
Michael Lewis in Conversation at LiveTalksLA: The bestselling author discusses his latest book and the stories behind his work, in a conversation exploring the people, ideas and real-world events that have fueled some of his most acclaimed books. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m., New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd. livetalksla.org/events/michael-lewis-nov10
Annual Nov. 11 Veterans Day Ceremony Moves to a New Beachside Location for 2026: The city of Santa Monica will join the U.S. Army for a Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in Beach Parking Lot 4, between Santa Monica Beach and Crescent Bay Park. Now in its seventh year, the event will feature live performances, a Chinook helicopter flyover, remarks from senior military leaders and local elected officials and more. More details here.
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 road’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. Thursday, Nov. 12, 5–7 p.m. (opening reception); exhibition runs through June 2027, 1350 7th St. santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/creating-route-66/#OPENING
Take the Mic at Main Library: Poetry, storytelling, comedy, acoustic music, magic and other creative talents are welcome at this free adult open mic night. You can perform for up to six minutes or simply enjoy the show — and there's no pressure to reveal your hidden talent if it's best kept hidden. Thursday, Nov. 12, 6–7:30 p.m., 601 Santa Monica Blvd. santamonica.enterprise.localist.com/event/listen-to-this-open-mic-at-main
ONGOING: Museum of Illusions; The CUBE VR; Splatter Studio; Locals' Night Third Thursdays;
WHAT'S NEW & DELICIOUS?
Diwali Specials at Fitoor: Celebrate Diwali with a modern Indian twist at Fitoor, where they are serving three limited-time dishes, including heirloom tomato and bufala chaat, grilled chicken seekh kebab and semolina halwa cake with matcha ice cream. Available all day for three days only, it's a festive excuse to revisit one of my favorite SaMo restaurants. Friday, Nov. 6–Sunday, Nov. 8, 1755 Ocean Ave. eatdrinkfitoor.com/diwali-dining-in-santa-monica-ca
Celebrate Diwali at Khan Saab: Celebrate Diwali with a special menu showcasing vibrant Pakistani and Indian flavors with a modern twist at this six-time MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurant. Friday, Nov. 6 - Thursday, Nov. 12, 115 Santa Monica Blvd. sm.khansaabus.com
La Diperie Dishes Out Dipped Desserts on Main Street: The Montreal-born dessert chain has opened its first West Coast location in Santa Monica, offering customizable soft-serve cones, cookies, donuts and other sweets dipped in chocolate and finished with your choice of toppings. With over 20 dipping and topping combinations, your New Year's resolutions are officially dead before Thanksgiving. Thanks, Main Street. 2441 Main St. Explore the menu.
SaMo Dominating the Infatuation's "Best Bakeries in LA" List: Matilda's (3200 Airport Ave.), Jyan Isaac Bread (1620 Ocean Park Blvd.), and Petitgrain Boulangerie (1209 Wilshire Blvd) all earn spots on this roundup of L.A.'s best bakeries. Not a bad showing for a city that takes its croissants, sourdough and pastries seriously. theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-bakeries-la
Heavy Handed Makes The Infatuation's Best Smashburgers List: The Main Street walk-up window is the only Santa Monica spot on the list, serving short-rib burgers on buttery potato rolls alongside beef tallow fries and dipped soft-serve cones. The patties may be more seared than smashed, but after a beach day, who's complaining? 2912 Main St. theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-smashburgers-los-angeles
Looking Ahead: SaMo Pier Swiss Winter Village (opens 11/18); Regent Santa Monica Beach Tree Lighting (11/19); 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 or instagram.com/seanbesser. Check out my past Around Town columns here.