Santa Monica Travel & Tourism has appointed Charlie Lopez-Quintana as Chairman of its 2026 Board of Directors Executive Committee, along with Jeff Klocke as Vice Chair, Simon Fricker as Treasurer, and Karen Ginsberg as Secretary, as the city prepares for major upcoming events.
The Moomat Ahiko Way off-ramp from southbound Pacific Coast Highway will close for two weeks starting February 9 as part of Santa Monica's Pier Bridge Replacement Project. Detours are available and the pier will remain open to visitors.
Downtown Santa Monica Inc. presents Block Fest Vol. III on February 14, transforming the Third Street Promenade into a free nightlife festival with live DJs, custom stages, and pop-up bars featuring Mardi Gras and Valentine's themes across all three blocks.
ARCANE Space Gallery in Venice will host an artist talk with multidisciplinary artist Morleigh Steinberg on February 7, 2026, discussing her exhibition that reconsiders Irish landscape painting through migration and memory.
Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a revised Memorial Park expansion plan, eliminating elevated tennis and pickleball courts to save $17M amid funding shortfalls. The 30-year project will expand the park from 10.3 to 13.2 acres but still faces a $45-58M funding gap.
Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis has been selected for the prestigious 2026 Just City Mayoral Fellowship at Harvard, joining seven other mayors nationwide to advance equity-centered projects during a time of rapid change and uncertainty.
The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to establish a $3.5 million restorative justice program addressing decades of historical harms against African American residents and marginalized communities, funded through a development agreement with RAND Corporation.
Los Angeles County officials report the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires continue to have severe economic impacts, with rebuilding efforts expected to generate up to 209,000 job-years. Employment losses reached approximately 19% in Eaton and 26% in Palisades fire areas.
Santa Monica Place welcomes families to celebrate Lunar New Year with a free event on Saturday, February 21 from 2-5 p.m. The celebration features traditional lion dances, martial arts performances, calligraphy, crafts, and special red envelope promotions to usher in the Year of the Horse.
The Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a 25-year Parks and Recreation Vision Plan but amended a key policy to re-evaluate existing artificial turf fields for potential replacement with natural grass alternatives at the end of their lifespan.
The Malibu City Council voted 4-0 to develop plans for temporary regulation-sized soccer fields at the Ioki property while continuing design work on a multigenerational community center at Heathercliff, balancing community needs with post-fire recovery efforts.
Big Blue Bus will offer free rides on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, honoring Rosa Parks' birthday and Transit Equity Day. This national day of action supports equitable, affordable, accessible transit with this year's theme 'Transit Moves Democracy'.
