NO DICE, A Novel, By Mar Preston

Tweet Herewith, the first novel to be serialized in the Santa Monica Dispatch. It’s a mystery, set in Santa Monica, and its author, Mar Preston, used to live here. Preston was a burnt out academic researcher for decades, then grant writer, editor, and creative writing teacher. At the same time, she was a political insider during Santa Monica’s rent control and living wage wars. She says, “Getting a good mystery out of what goes on behind the scenes makes all those council... Read More

Whither…The Excitement

Tweet By Ava Tramer Beaches Mostly sunny Highs: 66-69; Lows: 55-59 Inland Warm and sunny Highs: 71-82; Lows: 49-57 Deserts Sunny and hot Highs: 76-95; Lows: 58-69 And Santa Monica… If you’re looking for something exciting to do this holiday weekend, I suggest you get out of town. Because I can tell you, the weather around here is going to be ever so boring. If you want to wake up on Saturday, and be like, “What day is it today? Is it Saturday? Sunday? Monday?”... Read More

WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?

Tweet America’s founding fathers took pains to curb what they saw as democracy’s principal pitfall, “the tyranny of the majority,” but today Santa Monica suffers from what can only be seen as the tyranny of a minority, with the will of a relatively small number of people in City Hall regularly prevailing over the wishes of a relatively large number of residents. In the last couple of decades, City Hall has devolved from an agency charged with managing and maintaining... Read More

Lisa See To Sign New Novel at the Broad

Tweet Lisa See was born in Paris, grew up in Topanga and Los Angeles, and writes novels set in China. Her seventh novel, DREAMS OF JOY, was published last week, and a movie based on an earlier novel, SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN, directed by Wayne Wang, will open July 15. See’s novels regularly appear on New York Times best-seller lists. She will appear in Santa Monica on the Broad Stage patio on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m. for a talk and book signing. The Broad is located... Read More

Autism Insurance Reforms Stalled

Tweet AB 171, the autism insurance reform bill, is still on hold, in the suspend file, despite countless phone calls from people who want immediate action on the bill. Autism Speaks/Autism Votes believes “where there is action, there is hope,” and urges that reform advocates continue to press Chairman Felipe Fuentes to move the bill, as well as convincing ten friends to demand prompt passage of this vital bill and to post all the information on Facebook. FAX Speaker John... Read More

TO SANTA MONICA RESIDENTS: THE CLOCK IS TICKING

Tweet Over the past several weeks I have received concerned calls and email from many of you about the pending plans to update and rehab the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I assured you all that the landmarks designation was solid and the plans were not in conflict with that. What I didn’t know was that our City Council could actually choose not to fund the rehab and might instead opt to MOTH BALL the CIVIC which would soon put the rehab out of financial reach, leading to... Read More

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TODAY!

Tweet Plans for renovation of the Civic Auditorium, to revitalize the under-utilized landmark as a premier theater and concert venue while supporting many current community uses have been underway for several years. Redevelopment funds were to be the main source for the project, which requires seismic strengthening, ADA access, and updating of performance capabilities. City Council, acting also as Redevelopment Agency, approved a group of projects for redevelopment funding on... Read More

JAVA DRAMA AND DANCE SHOWCASE AT SAMOHI

Tweet 1. JAVA DRAMA HAS 2 DIFFERENT SHOWS OVER 2 WEEKENDS Thank you for supporting the arts at SAMOHI: SAMOHI Choirs, SAMOHI Orchestras, SAMOHI Bands, SAMOHI Visual Arts, SAMOHI Theatre What IS Java Drama? We’re glad you asked! Imagine an evening of memorable short plays, surrounded by soul-stirring music selections, along with a dash of dance, poetry, and even puppetry — all performed in an intimate coffeehouse atmosphere where students serve you desserts and espresso... Read More

SMMUSD ENDS YEAR FESTIVELY

Tweet SMMUSD school concerts, film and theatre events, and art exhibits: – May 26 (7 PM), May 28 (5 & 8 PM), June 3 (7 PM), June 4 (5 & 8 PM) — Samohi JAVA Drama — Santa Monica High School Humanities Center – May 31 — Santa Monica High School Dance Showcase — Barnum Hall — 6 PM – June 2 — Lincoln Middle School “Pops” Concert — Lincoln Auditorium — 7 PM – June 2 —... Read More

Arlington West To Hold Candlelight Vigil Sun.

Tweet ARLINGTON WEST SANTA MONICA, a project of Veterans For Peace-Los Angeles, will be in place Saturday, Sunday and Monday this Memorial Day weekend, with a candlelight vigil Sunday evening. Arlington West, a field of crosses on the sand, just north of the Santa Monica Pier, honors the fallen and wounded American military in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, provides a place to grieve, to acknowledge the human cost of war, to encourage dialogue among people with varied points... Read More