This is the story of Pacific Ocean Park. Once a rival to Disneyland, this popular so-cal amusement park built on a pier, would quickly become abandoned. What went wrong?
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The City of Santa Monica's Planning Manager Jing Yeo answered questions about the proposed first-of-its kind "Entertainment Zone" on the 3rd Street Promenade. This zone would allow adults 21+ to purchase an adult beverage from a Promenade business and consume it outdoors as they walk along the Promenade, play an outdoor game or listen to a performer, and enjoy the beautiful weather our city is known for. This is one of the city’s many new initiatives to make the Third Street Promenade a fun, engaging, desirable destination for visitors and residents alike.
Where is the proposed Entertainment Zone?
The Entertainment Zone would encompass the 1200-1400 blocks of the Third Street Promenade, between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway. No other areas of the city would be included at this time.
What is proposed for the Entertainment Zone?
The Promenade would remain open, as usual, to families and visitors of all ages.
Patrons who are of legal drinking age will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages at a business on the Promenade that has a license to serve alcohol from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. They can then consume that drink outside within the designated zone, which will run the three blocks of the Promenade.
Participating businesses will need to opt-in and sign a Participation Agreement with the city. The business will be responsible for checking IDs as they normally would when serving alcohol, and they will then provide the customer with an official city-provided wristband that they must wear while consuming the drink outdoors. Business owners will supply their own to-go cups (they must not be made of metal or glass per state law).
Per California law, the five essential rules of the Entertainment Zone are:
You must be 21+ and wear an official wristband to enjoy alcoholic drinks to-go.
Only alcoholic drinks purchased from participating businesses are allowed.
Alcohol taken to-go must be in a non-glass, non-metal container.
Finish your drink before exploring another bar, restaurant or shop.
Enjoy your alcoholic beverages within the Entertainment Zone boundaries.
The ordinance under consideration for the May 13 meeting would officially create Santa Monica’s Entertainment Zone in the city code. If approved by the council, city staff will develop a Management Plan that spells out more specific details, regulations and parameters.
Can I bring my own alcohol to drink on the Promenade?
No. Patrons in the Entertainment Zone can only consume alcoholic beverages purchased at participating establishments registered with the city.
Only individuals wearing an official wristband will be allowed to consume alcohol on the Promenade.
How will underage drinking be prevented?
Businesses will be responsible for checking IDs before selling alcohol, in accordance with their normal practices. All servers of alcoholic beverages on the Promenade are required to undergo alcohol server training with the Santa Monica Police Department, and those same rules – checking IDs, not serving to minors, not serving to anyone who is obviously intoxicated, etc. – still apply. Wristbands will only be provided to individuals who are 21+.
Can I go shopping with my drink?
Only window shopping. Individuals will not be permitted to take their beverage into any other businesses.
What if someone is drinking on the Promenade and gets rowdy?
The Santa Monica Police Department has been in close coordination with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.’s private security firm for the Promenade, Legion, on the Entertainment Zone rollout and guidelines. In addition to Santa Monica Police Department’s routine patrols downtown, private security will maintain a regular presence on the Promenade during all hours the Entertainment Zone is operational.
The city, Legion and Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. will monitor and continuously evaluate the program to assess whether updates need to be made or the program must be paused for reconsideration due to participant conduct or other impacts.
The Community Development Department has identified a number of metrics that we hope will provide insight into the positives of the Entertainment Zone – such as sales tax revenue and foot traffic – as well as any potential negatives, such as calls for police service, increased promenade maintenance and trash collection needs, etc. The first formal staff evaluation of the Entertainment Zone will occur six months after its official activation.
What are the hours of the Entertainment Zone?
As currently proposed, the hours would be 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. These hours can be limited in the activation of the Entertainment Zone to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone.
How will tourists or others from out-of-town know the rules?
There will be signs posted throughout the Promenade and at the boundaries of the Entertainment Zone denoting the five essential rules. Each participating business will also be required to post the rules at their establishment.
The Community Development Department is also working closely with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., Santa Monica Police Department, Public Works Department, the city’s Office of Communications and others to ensure a smooth rollout of the Entertainment Zone should it be approved by the City Council.
What options is the council considering on May 13?
Proceed with the expanded program as outlined in the staff report and this FAQ
Move forward with an events-based model similar to what was presented at the April 22 City Council meeting
Make adjustments to the expanded proposal, such as limiting hours, days, etc.
Decline to establish the Entertainment Zone
If approved by the City Council, when will the Entertainment Zone be effective?
The city is aiming to begin activating the program in early June, with the Pride on the Promenade event on June 21 being the official, celebratory launch.
Any activation of the Entertainment Zone — whether as a daily occurrence or tied to a special event — will require approval by the city. Further, the city has no obligation to allow activation of the Entertainment Zone if there are safety or operational concerns.
On Saturday, around noon, 2 guys were chased down and arrested by Santa Monica Police after they were seen breaking into vehicles in the Ocean Park Beach Parking lot.
They drove to the beach in a white Inifinti SUV, parked in Lot 5 and went out to break into the vehicles of people visiting the beach. They were seen checking the doors of several vehicles, and at least one victim was able to retrieve what was taken from her when the police searched the Infiniti. She said they got into her vehicle by forcing something into her door lock.
Hundreds of volunteers, people of all ages with disabilities, and entire families come together for an epic day in the ocean.
Whether you’ve surfed with us for years, are a beginner, or just want to meet people and hang out for the day…YOU BELONG HERE. Everyone is welcome.
You’ll be amazed who you meet at a Life Rolls On event. Heroic people navigating life with various disabilities, and heroic volunteers making freedom possible. The 2025 season is about to get underway. Registration for “They Will Surf Again” Santa Monica opens Wednesday May 7th at 9am PST. We are extremely excited to see everyone on June 21st for the first surf event of the 2025 “Get On Board” Tour.
Lifeguard Tower 28
2600 Barnard Way
Santa Monica CA 90405
For more info and to register, Click Here.
Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.
It’s time again for the annual Venice Beach Firefighters Station 63 pancake breakfast.
Come out and support your local heroes at Station 63 this Saturday from 8 AM – 1 PM!
Join the Venice firefighters as they fire up the griddle and serve up a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, and orange juice – all for a great cause. Bring your appetite, your friends, and your community spirit and enjoy station tours, live music and jumpers for the kids. Let’s show some love to the brave men and women who keep Venice safe! See you there.
Saturday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Los Angeles Fire Dept. Station 63 1930 Shell Ave
Venice, CA 90291
For more info, Click Here
While surfers are surfing, skaters are skating, and tourists are touristing, officials are investigating a body found on the beach next to the Venice Graffiti Wall and Skatepark. Said to possibly be a homeless man in his 40's, LAPD recieved the call about the discovery around 3am Tuesday morning, and the investigation lasted till around 11am.
To our friends and neighbors from Pacific Palisades to Malibu to Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre...
In the wake of the fires that changed our lives, we invite you to join us for a special evening at the Santa Monica Pier dedicated exclusively to the survivors.
This night is about us—a time for unity, joy, and celebrating the unbreakable spirit of our community, as we come together to heal and reconnect.
📍 Santa Monica Pier
Tuesday May 6, 2025
5pm-10pm
7:30-8:30 Esteemed Leaders & Hero's Awards
*This event is exclusively for fire victims. Please be mindful this private gathering is intended for neighbors to connect with one another.
This evening has one purpose: to reconnect.
🎤MC Jimmy Dunne
❤️ Handprint Unity Wall
A creative station where guests dip their hands in paint and leave their handprints on a large banner, creating a visual representation of their unity and commitment to rebuilding.
❤️Pali Strong Time Capsule
Each attendee brings a small personal item, note, or memento (e.g., a photo, a written wish, a token of remembrance) to be placed inside a sealed time capsule that will be permanently stored in the Palisades. This capsule will serve as a testament to the strength and unity of those who lived through this moment in history.
❤️Filiming Histories booth
Step into the Filming Histories Booth to share your personal experience of the Palisades fires. This is a space to record your story—whether it’s a moment of loss, resilience, or hope—for future generations to remember. Your voice becomes part of a collective archive, ensuring our community’s history is never forgotten.
❤️Tiles for future placement on DT Palisades wall
Leave your mark on the Palisades by contributing a personalized tile to be placed on the future downtown wall. Each tile tells a story—honoring resilience, remembering the past, and celebrating our community’s strength. Be part of this lasting tribute that will stand for generations to come. (Palisades residents only please)
Throughout the evening, there will be special booths and interactive spaces designed to stir your heart, honor our shared journey, and celebrate the strength of our community. From symbolic keepsakes to collaborative art and storytelling, each experience has been carefully curated to help us reconnect, reflect, and contribute to something lasting. Get ready for moments you’ll carry with you long after the night ends.
For more info and to register, Click Here
Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.
Construction at Beach Parking Lot 1N started and parking remains available for all visitors.
Construction started early March at Beach Parking Lot 1N in preparation for the upcoming Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement, set to start in late 2025. This project involves relocating electrical equipment located underneath the bridge to a permanent location in the Beach Parking Lot 1N. The move will ensure uninterrupted electrical connection for businesses on the pier during construction.
The 85-year-old bridge, built in 1939, has served as the only access point for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Colorado Ave to the Pier. The city contracted Doty Bros. Equipment Company for the project. Their responsibilities include setting up staging areas, installing fencing, and potholing existing utility structures within Beach Parking Lot 1N, where new power equipment will be stored. The Beach Parking Lot 1N, where the new electrical infrastructure will be housed. This portion of the project is expected to be completed by September 2025.
The Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project aims to make the bridge more accessible for cars and pedestrians, and plans to make seismic safety upgrades for earthquake protection. New railing, lighting, and expanded sidewalks are new features that will be introduced to the bridge to make it more accessible for visitors. This $29 million project includes the removal, rehabilitation, and reinstallation of the historic Santa Monica Pier sign. The target finish date is set ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, in anticipation of hundreds of thousands of additional visitors in the city.
Parking remains available during construction at Beach Parking Lot 1N for all visitors.
For additional questions regarding Beach Parking Lot 1N construction or the Pier Replacement Project, contact Santa Monica City Senior Civil Engineer Jason Hoang at 310-351-7913
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