Voice of Santa Monica – Santa Monica's News, Events and Entertainment Source

The 26th Twilight Dance Series will conclude today with American music icon, the legendary Dr. John & the Lower 911′ performance. The performance begins at 7 p.m….and you know what they say about the last performances, they are usually the best!

From the Santa Monica pier website:

An icon of American music born in New Orleans, Dr. John is indelibly linked to the traditions and singularity of the city’s musical and cultural heritage. Mac Rebennack burst onto the rock & roll scene in the late 60s as Dr. John, the Night Tripper, merging the Rhythm and Blues, voodoo rhythms and chants of his native New Orleans to create a persona perfect for the psychedelic era. Over the years he’s thrown Jazz, Classic American Songbook, Zydeco, Boogie Woogie and Rock into the musical mix. Read more about Dr. John.

Once again like 2009, Twilight Dance Series assembled a string of some fantastic musicians that moved our hearts and souls and made us remember the reasons why we always look forward to the Twilight Dance Series every year.

25 modern masters of yoga, meditation and mindfulness descend to the big screen with the world premier of “Titans of Yoga” at Aero Theater in Santa Monica tomorrow, Sept. 1 at 7.30pm. Preceding the film Q& A with Shiva Rea, Vinnie Marino, Larry Payne, Sara Ivanhoe & others will follow. You also get the chance to win a personal meeting with a TITAN, yoga retreats, books, yoga clothing, DVDs and more. Admission tickets are $11 and $20.

This idea of sustainability has been strongly contested from the outset with several critics arguing ‘sustainable cities’ as an oxymoron. However with the growing concerns of global warming on fast depleting natural resources has led communities,organizations and individuals to collectively lay more emphasis on implementing sustainable practices.

Over the past years, Santa Monica city has taken several steps in this direction by introducing a string of eco-friendly and sustainable measures ranging from promoting sustainable foods through its Be Hot, Eat Cool pledge, Solar Santa Monica a city-sponsored free program geared towards reducing energy dependency on fossil fuels, encouraging people to buy local and the introduction of the new state-of-the-art green Big Blue Bus maintenance facility to name a few. In fact Santa Monica’s office of sustainability and the environment has listed 10 ways in which you can promote sustainability at home, office and school for it’s residence.

However even with all these efforts, at the heart lies the problem that we still refuse to accept – the problem of consumption. Saul Alinsky, founder of modern community organizing in America puts this dilemma of individual action succinctly when he writes most people are eagerly groping for some medium, some way in which they can bridge the gap between their morals and their practices. He further adds that, “unfortunately planting a tree, buying a bike will not save the World, unless you believe you are making a difference by planting one tree and cutting four.”

So the question that we need to ask ourselves is that are we consuming more than we are contributing?

Join the fun at the Back to School Safety Fair on August 31, between 1:30pm – 4:30pm at Virginia Avenue Park, Water Play Area. Free school supplies for kids in grade 6-12… while the stock lasts!

The Big Blue Bus has restructured its fare and pass programs which would be effective beginning August 29, 2010. Under the new plan, regular passengers and students fare will go from 75 cents to $1 for local services and $1.75 to $2 for Express services. Senior, disabled and Medicare passengers paying cash while boarding will have to pay 50 cents from the previous 25 cents. Defending this fare increase, Big Blue Bus in its press release stated that, “this is the first increase to the senior/disabled/Medicare fare in 25 years, and only the second increase to the base fares for students and regular riders in the last quarter of a century.”  Dan Dawson, Big Blue Bus customer relations manager further stated that, “the agency is not looking to passengers to close the budget gaps, but is continuing to identify ways to increase local revenue sources, and to help reduce costs through operating efficiencies.”

In order to better it’s current high level of services while streamlining the entire fare collection process, Big Blue Bus has introduced two new value-added passes – the 13 Rides Pass and the 30 Day Pass to its passengers.

The new 30 Day Pass will be beneficial for riders who would like to have the ability to ride an unlimited number of times during a 30-day time period. The pass will be available as a 30 Day local pass for local service, or as a 30 Day Express Pass, which includes entry to all local lines and the Line 10 Express bus connecting downtown Santa Monica with downtown Los Angles.

The second value-added pass the 13 Rides Pass will provide passengers 13 rides for the price of 12. This pass is best suited for people who travel less frequently and don’t want to be running around finding the exact change when they do. You can purchase the pass at the Big Blue Bus Transit Store, located at 223 Broadway near the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica or online at BigBlueBus.com.

New Fare Structure Summary:

Note: Little Blue Cards, Student Punch Cards and certain types of Day Passes (Student and Express) will no longer be sold now.

CASH FARES:
Regular/Student: $1 for Local service; $2 for Express.
Senior (62+)/Disabled/Medicare: 50 cents for Local service; $1 for Express.
Big Blue Bus Tokens: One token for Local service; two tokens for Express.
Children 4 and under (limit two) – No charge when accompanied by a paying customer.

DISCOUNT PASSES:
Regular/Student Fares:
Day Pass – $4. Can be purchased on board the bus.
13 Rides Pass – $12.
30 Day Pass – Regular: $60; Express: $80; Student: $40.

Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fares:
Day Pass – $1.50. (Good for both Local and Express Service). Can be purchased on board.
13 Rides Pass – $6.
30 Day Pass – Local: $24; Express: $40.

Students: (UCLA & SMC)
SMC Students: No change to “Any Line Any Time” program. Student I.D. cards must have valid semester sticker. UCLA Students: “BruinGo!” card plus Flash Pass or 35 cent co-pay.

Creating awareness about youth homelessness which constitutes nearly 40% of the homeless population, KooDooZ and Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club is organizing a youth sleep-out event inviting young boys and girls to spend an evening together, making no-sew blankets, and learning from community peers about youth homelessness and how to make a difference. The event will be held at Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica located on 1238 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401o on August 27th, 2010 from 6pm – 8am. 7-year old Jonas Corona will be the special guest at the sleep-out event, sharing his experiences working with the homeless kids through his organization “Love In The Mirror”, which assembles backpacks for the homeless kids. It is a great way for kids to understand and learn the challenge of youth homelessness and how they can make an impact.

Participating Main Street businesses will stay open late with special events lined up this Friday, August 27, as a part of the last Friday’s on Main street. There will be a free bike valet for cyclists in front of the library Alehouse located on 2911 Main st. from 5p.m to midnight. There will be live music on the California Heritage Museum lawn! Full list of merchants participating in the Last Friday, Aug. 27 can be viewed at the Main street website. Some of them include:

Gioia

…will be open till 8pm, serving prosecco and chocolate. 10% off all purchases 5pm – 8pm.

Euphoria Loves RAWvolution

…will be featuring the music of ” Ketchup Soup”

The Powerhouse Theatre

…will offer 2 for 1 tickets for the Fri evening performance of critically acclaimed production, The WarCycle: Wounded, as well as free wine for ticket holders. Tickets are available at the Powerhouse Theatre using the discount code main

Puzzle Zoo

…will offer 10% Discount on your entire purchase from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. *Applies to regular priced merchandise not valid with anyother promotion or discount. Excludes sale merchandise. Only valid at 2910 Mini Puzzle Zoo location on Main Street.

Rudy’s Barbershop

…will be open til 9pm.

Yoga Works

…will offer 10% off all non-sale merchandise on Last Friday from 5pm-8pm.

Jodi Fuchs Art

…will be open until 8pm.Wine and snacks will be served.

How did Last Friday’s on Main street started?:

Gary Gordon, Executive Director, Main Street Business Improvement Association told Voice of Santa Monica that the “Last Fridays” event plan had been hatched way back in September 2001, however the implementation took nearly 9 years due to the unfavourable political and economic climate. However after noticing the success of Abbot Kinney’s First Fridays in Venice, the MSBIA decided to take the  plunge.”We noticed Abbot Kinney’s success and saw similar potential for Santa Monica,” says Gordon. He feels that last Friday will be a good start and hopes to include several features to the event like live entertainment among others as the event grows in size and popularity.The First last Friday began on January 29.

The Santa Monica Cat Club presents their annual cat show – Tiki Time on August 28-29 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. If you think your furry friend is the cutest out there, contact Regina Shaffer at (951) 769-2949 or email her at caprino@verizon.net before August 24th for entry information. Admission ticket is $10 for adults and $7 for children and senior citizens.

Show Hours:
Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

See you there. Purr!

CRY SoCal is gearing for their annual event, CRY SoCal 5K Walk/Run on October 9th 2010 along Santa Monica Beach and they are providing free support group to train for the big day. So, if you are trying to loose weight or just stay healthy and are looking for motivation or a group of friends to keep you on track and off that comfortable couch – CRY’s Ouch to Couch campaign is just for you.

The training group meets every Sunday at 9:00 am near Santa Monica Pier. The training session will continue till Oct 9. You can register for the event at: http://america.cry.org/cryevents/walk/CRY_SOCAL_WALK_LA_2010. Learn more about the fitness sessions on their facebook page: CRY “Couch to Ouch”

Yes, you heard it right! As a part of the Twilight Dance Series this summer, Beatlesfest, a three day tribute, that started five years ago will be providing you with three-Beatle filled days beginning Thursday, August 26, 2010. The whole day live entertainment at the Pier will continue till Saturday, August 28, from 10 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Fans will be treated to “Abbey Road” on Thursday who opens the night with an acoustic set of the Beatles, followed by Los Angeles based Led Zepagain, performing with hard rock Beatles tribute musician Mike Albert, the all-female Lady Beatles, and Rolling Stones tribute band Sticky Fingers. Following days will see Beatles karaoke, Beatles movies (“Help!” and “Let it Be.”), memorabilia, Beatle history, Beatle food……just kidding!

On Saturday night, the award winning musical ‘Ticket to Ride’ featuring Abbey Road will perform at the Barnum Hall at Santa Monica High. Chris Carter of ‘Breakfast with the Beatles’ on 95.5 KLOS will host the event. Tickets are available for $25 at all ticket master locations. Get ready for the Beatle mania!!!

About the Beatles Festival 2010:
“The Beatles Festival 2010 features Ticket to Ride Musical, the award winning, smash hit musical biography of the Beatles as seen through the eyes of their manager Brian Epstein. This family friendly musical tale is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades and features the live music of internationally renowned Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road. The musical plays on Saturday night of each Festival. ” Read more about the Beatles festival.

5pm festivities begin with “Happy Hour Live” at Santa Monica’s Newest Bar/Live Music venue, CENTRAL, located on 1348, 14th St, Santa Monica, CA on August 27. RSVP to kim@spinprgroup.com

Featuring Live Performances by Koffeehouse Artists
Noah Needleman 6:30
John Clinebell & Ariana Hall 7:30
Samantha Stollenwerck 8:30
Just Off Turner 9:30

Extended Happy Hour
5pm-9pm

$3 domestic draft & bottles
$3 PBR tall boys
$4 micro draft and import
$5 wells

Free Eats Sponsored by Joe’s Pizza

10pm Celebrity DJ Casey Connor
Paying Tribute to Michael Jackson’s B-Day

“We like our freedom mutual, put the tit on constitutional”, rapped Kat  Kaplan (above) as the stronghold of topless women and bikini-clad men, shouting slogans and holding Go-topless banners marched their way from the Ocean front walk to the windward circle. Busting with energy and enthusiasm, first time participant, Kaplan or Trip K as she likes to call herself, said that she enjoyed participating in the movement and hopes that Venice Beach will revert back to a topless beach or at least have designated topless sites.

In its third year, the Go Topless Day march has gained considerable support from the locals, both men and women. Melinie Rice, a bystander felt that the march was important as “where would you be if there was not this conflict.” She further pointed out that unlike Europe, women’s sensuality and sexuality in US was seen in parts rather as a whole. Another bystander, Steven Johnson quoted from the banner, “women and men have nipples- why should women hide theirs?”

Highlighting the underlining principle of the movement, Nadine Gary, Raelian Priestess and President of Gotopless.org, said that women have to stand up for their rights, if a man is allowed to bare so should a woman. “The excuse that families and children may be uncomfortable around topless women mustn’t be considered, as it was the same excused used for segregation 50 years ago,” she further added. At present women who dare to be topless in public in the US are arrested, fined, humiliated and criminalized.

At the march we met with Venice resident, Ravi Kristin (above), an ardent go-topless supporter. We came to realize the reason soon. Kristen who has been residing in Venice since the last 38 years, lived through the glorious nudist days of the Venice beach.”It wasn’t as developed as it is now, almost a slum driving in many tourists to the nude beach. However things changed shortly after the city council passed the law banning nudity citing morality grounds”,he points out.

The story goes that the Los Angeles City Councilman John Ferraro declared that the beach is for young people and families and not for people who want to display their wares in public. According to a LA Times article, in mid-July the L.A. City Council passed an ordinance banning nude sunbathing, which was signed by Mayor Tom Bradley. As the proposal to establish “clothing-optional zones” was also rejected, it signaled the end of the Venice’s nude beach.

The go-topless day march concluded with live entertainment from some of the participants and the hope that maybe next year they don’t have to protest!

Missed the Go topless day event? Check out the pictures:

Just for kicks!

I spotted this dude(above) handing out some little packets to women as the march progressed. On a closer look, guess what I saw – Vibrators. Yes, you heard that right! His bag soon emptied out,as hoards of women rushed towards him to get the freebies. Whoa what a day!

On August 22, 2010, the GoTopless rally will be held at Venice Beach California. Santa Monica steered away from it last year, but we wonder if this year we will see any participation from community.

Aimed at conveying the message that the sight of a top free women in public is as natural as the sight of top free men, this years rally will be held in honor of the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and Women’s Equality Day.

We witnessed hundreds of men and women throng the Venice beach topless, in bikini’s and bras last year.  See the slideshow below:

From Go Topless website:

Gotopless.org claims constitutional equality between men and women on being topless in public. Topless women have rallied in great numbers across the USA to protest this gross inequality in the law and have demanded that their fundamental right to be topless be acknowledged where men already enjoy that right according to the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

Why in August? On August 26, 1920, following a 72-year struggle, the U.S. Constitution was amended to grant women the right to vote. And in 1970, as an ongoing reminder of women’s equality, Congress declared August 26 “Women’s Equality Day.” But even in the 21st century, women need to stand up and demand that equality in fact – not just in words.

Back in April, Heal the Bay, seeked your support in spreading the word about plastic bags in Trashing Your Friends campaigns. They now need your support in the bill to ban single-use bags which is now in the Senate for a vote. AB 1998 will create one uniform policy across California for addressing all types of single-use bags to encourage consumers to use reusable bags, the most sustainable alternative.

If passed, AB 1998 would:

Ban single-use plastic bags at supermarkets, convenience stores and large retail establishments with pharmacies. The ban would not apply to bags used to carry bulk items, produce or raw meat to the checkout.
Limit the distribution of paper bags at these stores to encourage consumers to use reusable bags.
Require reusable bags be available for purchase at these stores instead of using single-use carryout bags.

To help pass this bill, Heal the Bay has created a 4 minute mockumentary called the Majestic Plastic Bag, narrated by Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons, which hammers home the stark reality of California’s plastic bag pollution situation.

Pass this video along to others via email, post to your Facebook page, re-tweet on Twitter, and use the YouTube embed code to post on your blog or website. Spread the word about AB 1998 — the time to ban single-use plastic bags is now!

Acclaimed Iranian poet Majid Naficy sent us this poem sharing his experiences living in Venice Beach.

Far from my homeland
I want a pigeon tower, here
In this very room
In Venice.

When I look out from my balcony
The white waves smile at me
And when I come back to my room
A thousand migrating doves peek out
From a thousand dark corners.

No, the pigeon tower of Isfahanak (1)
Does not please me any more:
The spring rains have washed away its auburn roof,
The farmers of hot summer afternoons
Have left the shelter of its cool shades
And my winter forbidden fliers
Have decayed in its hiding place.

And Yet, I still feel the weight of the feathers
Which I gathered from the pigeon tower
Hanging from my hair and belt.

1. Isfahanak is a village in Kerarj district near Isfahan, Iran. The farmers of this district have build beautiful, muddy pigeon towers in their melon farms to make fertilizer from bird dropping.

My gratitude to Ali Kiafar who originally rendered this poem into English.

Water is critical for living and sustaining life. But how often do we appreciate and celebrate ocean and its gift of life to us? Well here is your chance. Stop by at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Ocean Appreciation Weekend on August 21st and 22nd, at 1600 Ocean Front Walk (beneath the carousel at the Pier) between 12.30pm – 6pm to say thank you. If you have more time stay on to learn about the ways ocean impacts us and the issues surrounding ocean as a result of global climatic changes. Weekend celebrations also include a string of interesting activities for children like creating sea monsters out of materials that threaten aquatic life, musical presentations and engaging eco-art projects.

Admission is free for children under 13 and $5 per person donation is suggested. For more information on events schedule visit: Heal the Bay. It is a great event to connect yourself and your children to the surrounding, specially ocean and understanding what goes down below and beyond.

Daniella Monet, Star of Nickelodeon’s Victorious will be hosting the 3rd annual “Tour De Fitness” to advocate being active, eating healthy and raising awareness for the importance of youth health & wellness. Read more.

When:
August 14th, 2010, 8:30am – 3:30pm

Where:
Santa Monica (Civic Center)
1855 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

What:
08:30am – Civic Center (check-in for walk)
09:00am – Yoga (park by the Pier) w/ Yoga Works
10:00am – Scavenger Hunt (Farmer’s Market)
10:45am – Derby Girl Work Out
11:30am – Lunch
01:15pm – Dion Jackson Pumps It Up (Santa Monica Pier)
02:15pm – Stamina w/ Accusplit
02:50pm – Dance w/ Ilyse Baker (City Hall)
03:30pm – Wrap w/ Natasha Kufa (K-Swiss)

TMD in collaboration with URS Corp., Consensus Inc., and TransTrack Systems is reviewing Big Blue Bus ridership, service, and operations while conducting an AA for potential corridors connecting the upcoming Expo LRT and future Purple Line subway. According to the TMD website the company recently completed the first phase of the project, “which included a full system ridecheck and passenger survey”. It also indicated that further tasks would include “extensive ridership and operational analysis, recommendations for system improvements and corridor study of various alignments, which would connect the future Exposition light rail line with key areas in Santa Monica.”

18th Street Art Center will host its annual summer ArtNight on August 7 from 6-10pm, featuring exhibitions by Pain Management 100 and Tianguis, performance by guitarist The Genie, Lowriders Car Club, tattoo-art installations, karaoke party and an opportunity for visitors to discover the other art and social organizations referred to as the 18th Street Connect.

From 18th Street Art Center website:

18th Street Arts Center values art making as an essential component of a vibrant, just, and healthy society. Its mission is “to provoke public dialogue through contemporary art making,” with a focus on supporting creative projects by California artists, 18th Street’s residency program helps build and strengthen the creative community of the State.

Venue:
18th Street Art Center
1639 18th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404-3807
(310) 453-3711

If you hear a whoop whoop sound when you are hanging out at the newly opened Santa Monica Place…chances are it is not a dog.