Monthly Archives: March 2011

Buy Local EXPO 2011 & Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk

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This is an action packed weekend coming up.  This Saturday, March 19th the city has some local events planned aimed at highlighting the local community and its merchants.
When you ride a bike supporting your local community is second nature.  That’s just what we do.  Here is what Santa Monica is doing to promote this concept.  Add bikes in the mix and the sky is the limit…..
The LA Marathon arrives Sunday, but Saturday proves to be full of fun and excitement here in town as well.

Buy Local EXPO 2011

Location:  Third Street Promenade + participating businesses across Santa Monica!

Time:  11am  – 4 pm (Expo @ 3rd St) with live music + sidewalk sale festivities going on until up to 9 p.m.

The Buy Local Expo on Saturday, March 19 at the 3rd Street Promenade is a free community event dedicated to showcasing local businesses and the importance of buying local.  The day includes vendors, live music and performances, children’s activities, the famous SM Farmers Market and a “Get Caught With Your Receipt Showing” raffle competition with chance to win a shopping spree at SM Place and other great prizes from local businesses.

In addition, Main Street, Montana Avenue, Pico Boulevard, SM Airport and Downtown Santa Monica districts will be having special festivities to celebrate Santa Monica’s first official “Buy Local Day“  (March 19th!), including:

  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. –10 blocks of live music, fun events, trunk shows + sales and a Buy Local Art Contest of kids at Montana Avenue.
  • 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.  Sidewalk sale + live music @ participating businesses on Main St.
  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.–Sidewalk sale at participating businesses on Pico Blvd and throughout Downtown Santa Monica.
  • 12 noon to 5 p.m.–SM Airport Art Walk

For more info on the EXPO, click here.

To check out the great local business discounts currently available, please visit www.buylocalmarket.com. Proceeds from the Buy Local Market.com sales will be donated to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation in support of local schools.

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Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk

Location:  Participating art sudios + businesses at SM Airport (2800 – 3050 Airport Avenue)

12-5 p.m.

More than 60 local artists and performers will have their private studios and works on view at the fifth annual Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk, including Santa Monica Art Studios, Santa Monica College Art Mentor Program and Ceramic Arts and the Ruskin Group Theatre. The airport arts community is a unique, cultural resource located in one of L.A. County’s oldest operating airfields. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media will be represented. Throughout the day there will be firing demonstrations of Raku Japanese pottery, highlights from the Ruskin Group Theatre’s popular monthly offering L.A. Café Plays, theater and art workshops for kids, live music and food from local restaurants and food trucks.

Organized by the City of Santa Monica in partnership with SM Airport Artist Studios, Ruskin Theatre Group, SM Art Studios, Arena 1 Gallery and Santa Monica College.

For more info:  click here.

 

 

Community Workshop for Downtown 5th/4th & Arizona Site

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The City of Santa Monica invites you to attend a special Planning Commission workshop on Wednesday, March 16 to discuss future opportunities for the City-owned site at 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, and to explore options for new uses and activities that benefit the Downtown and the entire community.  There will also be a duplicate workshop hosted by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (formerly Bayside Corp) on, March 24.

The Planning Commission workshop will be held at The Civic Auditorium East Wing located at 1855 Main Street.  The Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. workshop will be held at the Main Library located at 601 Santa Monica Boulevard.

 

Please join us on March 16th or March 24 at 7:00PM to discuss:

  • DOWNTOWN’S HISTORY: the evolution of the City’s cultural and economic heart
  • EXISTING CONDITIONS & IDENTITY: attributes and characteristics, mix of uses, pedestrian-orientation and ways of getting around Downtown
  • OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN: realizing the LUCE vision for new uses and community benefits that will enhance the quality and vibrancy of the Downtown

Your input will help to create a vision for this opportunity site and will also inform the upcoming Downtown Specific Plan.

RSVP to ensure accurate accommodations

DowntownPlan@smgov.net or 310.458.8341

Big Blue Bus lines 2, 3, Rapid 3, 7 and 9 serve the Civic Center.  Lines 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 serve the Library.  Bike parking will be available.

 

PBIC launches new Bike to Work Website CHAPEL HILL, NC

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Why is this important if it’s happening in North Carolina?
….. read on

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has launched a new Website containing resources and guidance on commuting by bike throughout the year. The new site – http://www.pedbikeinfo.org – focuses on providing resources to beginner and advanced bicycle commuters and to others who want to promote bike commuting.

Visit the site to find downloads for event organizers, tips for individual
riders, facts for the news media as well as information for employers and
sponsors. Within the “Programs in Motion” section, visitors to the site can
read about success stories from Bike to Work programs around the U.S. The
Website also features a discussion forum that will allow bike commuters to
network with one another. Using the Web forum, you can post questions about how
to get a bike to work event off the ground or offer your tips for holding a
successful event. Riding a bicycle provides a fun way to get around while
increasing physical activity, reducing traffic congestion, helping the
environment and even saving money! While the yearly cost of owning and
operating a vehicle is over $9,000, or 18 percent of the average household’s
incomeii, owning and maintaining a bicycle can cost as little as $120 per year

May is National Bike Month and holds many opportunities to promote bicycle
use and safety. Coordinated by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike
Month will be celebrated with various activities around the nation, including
Bike-to-Work Week from May 16 to 20. This year, Bike-to-Work Day will take
place on Friday, May 20. Additional Resources National Bike Month
http://www.bikeleague.org/ Bicycle Maps Directory

Here at Spoke we are working on similar programs to include on our resource pages. Do you have something you would like to see here? Let us know.

Bicyclists Rejoice Over New LA Bike Plan

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From LACBC

Yesterday we quietly high-fived each over the LA City Council’s unanimous approval of the 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Plan, and today the local bike community came together for the LA Bike Plan press conference and celebration! Roughly 100 members of the local bike community gathered at the steps of City Hall on this crisp morning to celebrate a vision and blueprint for a more bike-friendly Los Angeles that has been several years in the making.

Mayor Villaraigosa speaks at the LA Bike Plan press conference and celebration. Photo: Conor Collins / LACBCMayor Villaraigosa speaks at the LA Bike Plan press conference and celebration. Photo: Conor Collins / LACBC 

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