My Go To Supermarket

Business #1: Trader Joes
Business #2: Tacos Por Favor
Business #3: Bay Cities

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Trader Joes: Trader Joes is my go to supermarket. The food sold is healthy and unique so going shopping is interesting and fun. The microwavable dinners are one of the best things at Trader Joes. They don’t taste fake or flavorless like other easy to make dinners taste at more traditional supermarkets and I am always excited to eat dinner! Another aspect of Trader Joes that I love is their seasonal food. For each season they bring in new foods, mixes, and desserts that always help me to feel festive. Shopping at this supermarket is always so enjoyable, especially with the friendly staff and delicious meals.

Tacos Por Favor: I love Tacos Por Favor! I have a bad habit of getting sick of food really easily if I eat a certain meal too many times in a row but I have never once gotten sick of my meals at Tacos Por Favor. A black bean and cheese burrito is my go to pick as it always hits the spot and gives me instant satisfaction. The food never lets me down and is consistently tasty.

Bay Cities: Santa Monica would not be the same without Bay Cities. My dad and I go once a week to get freshly baked bread that tastes amazing! Most of the time when we get the bread, it is still warm and we eat the whole baguette within just one day. The staff is also really great. For Thanksgiving I created a cheese platter and the staff at Bay Cities was so nice and helped me to pick the best cheeses for the platter and gave great advice on how to keep the bread tasting good for longer than just one day. My experiences at Bay Cities have always been so pleasant and I always look forward to shopping there!

Submitted by: Anonymous

Make your day a little sweeter

Business #1: Cielo
Business #2: Bay Cities Deli
Business #3: Ben and Jerry's

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Cielo is a small, vibrant café, located on Main Street.  A quaint café on the corner, neighbors a barbershop, and has upscale condominiums that are apart of the same building.  Cielo has great drinks and assortment of pastries that range from cinnabuns to brownies to poppy seed muffins.  The café is small a great place to do homework or cozy up with some hot tea.  There are small marble top tables inside, as well as two small bar areas, and there is plenty of seating outside.

Bay Cities Deli is probably the best place to buy sandwiches. Subway has nothing on them.  They make delicious bread that is baked fresh everyday.  The outside is crispy and golden brown and on the inside it’s soft, and moist.  They have many different signature sandwiches like the Godmother, or Caprese, or you can customize your sandwich to your liking.  The line there is usually long so you might want to order ahead of time online and pick it up, its much faster. 

Ben and Jerry’s has rich, delicious and sometimes unusual flavors of ice cream that can make any ones day a little sweeter.  There ice creams range in flavors from Cherry Garcia, Phish Food, and Cake Batter to Chocolate Fudge Brownie and your traditional vanilla.  Not only do they have delicious ice creams, but they also have yummy toppings like chocolate peace signs and cows, gummy worms and sprinkles.  They also have great cones that can be dipped in chocolate or cover chocolate or rainbow sprinkles.  Ben and Jerry’s is a perfect summer treat or a great way to end a long day.

Submitted by: Dalia Kaufman

A workout with a view

Business #1: Slice Pizza
Business #2: The Shack
Business #3: Burn Fitness

Why I can't live without these three businesses: I love Slice Pizza, mainly because it is 3 blocks from my house, and the pizza and wings are really good. Also, the food is relatively cheap. When my family and I order pizza from here we can enjoy a large pizza, with 12 wings for only twenty dollars. The employees there are very friendly, and i am never disappointed with the food.

The Shack is probably one of my favorite restaurants to eat at. The owner is always there and is extremely friendly. Their menu offers a wide variety of food, and everything is equally tasty. My favorite part about The Shack is that they are Philadelphia Eagles fans, and so it is a great place to go and enjoy Eagles football games. With affordable prices, great food, and a fun environment, The Shack is the place to be.

Since my old gym got closed down, I have started going to Burn Fitness, and I love it. It is located on the Promenade, on the 5th floor of a building and has a great view from the balcony. It is a fairly new gym, so it has nice equipment and the people who work there are very friendly. It is a cool place to workout at, and to meet cool people.

Submitted by: Anonymous

Friendly Atmosphere

Business #1: Joe's Cafe
Business #2: ZJ's Boarding
Business #3: Holy Guacamole

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Joe's Cafe: what makes Joe's so special is the people that work their and the friendly atmosphere. My family and I have been going to Joe's Cafe for years now and the waitresses have taken the time to know us. Not only is the staff very nice but the food is great too. many times after surfing at ocean park we have gone to Joe's and ordered breakfast. The breakfast's ranges from your classic 2x2x2 to really Delicious Huevos Rancheros. Art work is also displayed and sold on the walls and get changed almost every month giving the customers something new to look at each time.

ZJ's Boarding House: Ever since I started skateboarding and surfing ZJs has always been the shop I have gone to. I have been so loyal to this shop because the people who work their actual do the sports that they sell products for. Seeing the employees out in the water gives me confidence that I will get the best advice and gear out there. Not only is ZJs one of the best shops out there but its has a rich history in Santa Monica, that is why I choose ZJs over a chain shop like Active.

Holy Guacamole: This place is literally a hole in the wall, it is so narrow and small if you blink your eyes you might miss it. Inside hanging from the ceiling is a large recreation of Michelangeo Buonarroti's painting 'The Creation of Adam' but instead of god touching adams hand he is handing him an avocado.On the walls there is a large selection of hot sauces ranging from mild to extremely hot for sale. The food is very good and the guacamole is of course excellent as well. the standout items on the menu to me is the fish tacos, any of the massive burritos and off coarse and ice cold Jarritos soda.

Submitted by: Jack Schwartzman

Holiday Spirit

Business #1: Bob' Market
Business #2: Michaels
Business #3: Coffee Bean

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Bob's Market is a well known market in the Santa Monica Community. I play soccer at Jams a few times a week and either before of after practice i'm in there buying food. When I go before practice I am usually getting water and when I go after practice most of the time I get Potato Wedges. When I am  hungry after practice the taste of warm crispy Potato Wedges are the best way to fill me up.

Michaels is where I go with my sister around the holidays, it's kind of our tradition. I love the holiday spirit that the store has to offer. The store is a great place to find holiday decorations and arts and crafts. It has also been helpful when looking for materials to make school projects more creative.

Coffee Bean is a nice warm place that helps keep me warm in the winter. I love the new names of drinks that they come up with during different holidays. My sister used to work at Coffee Bean and the costomer serves was always great. I like the way the  "baristas" made my drinks and the speed they would make them at. It is a welcoming place and a good way to start off your day.

Submitted by: Anonymous