Thursday, January 22, 2025
Today is National Blonde Brownie Day
☀️ Good Morning, Santa Monica!
It’s National Blonde Brownie Day, so consider this your official excuse to grab something sweet with your morning coffee. And speaking of fresh starts, tomorrow — January 23 — marks Kindergarten Roundup Day across all SMMUSD elementary schools! It’s a special opportunity for parents to meet teachers, chat with administrators, and get ready for the 2026–27 school year. Here’s everything else you need to know for the week ahead…
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Another new parcel tax in Santa Monica?
The City Council will consider at its next meeting whether to ask voters to approve a new $540 per parcel tax to “maintain funding for homelessness, firefighters, 911 emergency services and libraries.” If it makes the ballot, the measure would require a 66.7% supermajority to pass. Lookout
Plus…
▶︎ Makenna Koffee set to open on Wilshire
The beach-inspired cafe will take over the former Del Taco next to Douglas Park. Mirror
▶︎ Santa Monica BMW has a new owner
Mega car dealer Fletcher Jones scooped up the business for an undisclosed amount. Auto Remarketing
https://www.autoremarketing.com/ar/retail/fletcher-jones-adds-to-california-luxury-collection-with-purchase-of-santa-monica-bmw/
▶︎ Pontu Peruvian Restaurant coming to Ocean Park
Takes oveFormer OP Cafe
https://toddrickallen.com/2026/01/20/pontu-bringing-peruvian-to-santa-monica/
Singing contest in Rio prison provides creative outlet for women
Why Rhode Island may ditch Mr. Potato Head license plates. AP
Tuesday, January 27 |
Seven things you don’t want to miss in the week ahead…
1. Frozen @ Lincoln Middle School
For the first time in forever, the LMS Theatre students present one of Disney’s most beloved musicals. Performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 1501 California Ave
2. Live from New York…
Teyana Taylor hosts an all new edition of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Geese Saturday @ 11:35 PM | NBC
3. Taylor Swift Drag Brunch @ Beaches Tropicana
Break out the friendship bracelets as drag queens take you on a musical trip through entire The Eras Tour and beyond. Saturday & Sunday | 8911 Santa Monica Blvd.
4. Tom Papa @ The Comedy & Magic Club
It’s worth the short drive to check out this fan favorite from America’s Got Talent. Thursday @ 8 PM | 211 Hermosa Avenue, HB
5. Volo Sports LA Launch Party @ Santa Monica BrewWorks
This free event features bar games and a live DJ. Thursday @ 6:00 PM | 1920 Colorado Ave.
6. She Speaks @ The Crow
All ages story‑sharing night centered on women’s voices. Thursday @ 8:00 a.m. | 2525 Michigan Ave.
7. Tarantino Live!
A rock‑musical revue of Tarantino film scores; fun for movie buffs and night‑out groups. Thursday – Sunday | 6356 Hollywood Blvd.
8. Planting Seeds: Remembering the LA Wildfires @ Art Center College of Design
Plant poppy seeds to mark the one year anniversary of the Palisades and Altadena fires. Saturday @ 10:00 a.m. | 1700 Lida St., Pasadena
9. American Idol season 24 premiere
Carrie, Lionel and Luke return to the judges table for season 24 of TV’s original music competition. Monday @ 8:00 p.m. | ABC
10. Shrinking season 3 premiere
The first of 11 all new episodes drops Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. on AppleTV+
Netflix Is A Joke returns to LA with more than 300 comedy shows. TimeOut
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ON SALE NOW Charlie Puth
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Splatter Studio LA
321 Santa Monica Blvd.
424-316-5092 | www.SplatterStudioLA.com
Splatter Studio LA in Santa Monica is what happens when a paint fight and a night out decide to become best friends. It’s a high-energy, splatter-filled art space where you trade quiet brushstrokes for full-body action painting — think flicking, flinging, and dripping paint onto canvas while music bumps in the background.
The studio offers different ways to get messy: the Classic Splatter session, bigger party-style experiences, and the super popular Black Light “Date & Create,” where neon paint glows under UV lights. Every booking includes your canvas, paints, gear to keep your clothes (mostly) safe, and a way to bring your masterpiece home. It’s a go-to spot for date nights, birthdays, girls’ nights out, and even corporate teams who need to blow off some steam in a more colorful way.
Founded by best friends Juan Carlos Franco and Michael Chavez, Splatter Studio LA grew out of a shared dream to give people a fun, low-pressure way to reconnect with creativity after the pandemic era. Their focus on play over perfection is baked into every session, so you never have to worry about being “good at art” to have a blast.
WE SAY: Splatter Studio it one of the most memorable, joy-filled nights out on the Westside — and you walk out with a custom canvas as proof!
Panels for the Paley Fest 2026 will be announced on Monday, January 26 at 9:00 a.m. Tickets for the multi-week event at the Dolby Theatre will be made available first to Paley members.
- R.I.P.:Unleashed By Petco set to close - February 18, 2026
- Hotsheet 2/19/26: Will SMMUSD eliminate teachers? - February 17, 2026
- Hotsheet 2/5/26:SMC in ‘financial crisis’; Cat cafe opens - February 5, 2026
