News / Spotlights

Artists for the Arts Concerts Raise $125,000 for SMMUSD Programs

2013-05-24T17:24:07Z

Santa Monica Patch: Jackson Browne, Gary Wright and Venice teamed with student musicians to deliver two shows benefiting Santa Monica-Malibu public schools art programs. Arts programs in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will get a financial boost after the 10th Annual Artists for the Arts benefit concert raised $125,000.

Over the course of two nights, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jackson Brown, rock icon Gary Wright and local band Venice teamed with students to deliver shows that will benefit the public schools.

The funds raised will be added to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation’s For The Arts endowment, which supports visual and performing arts education throughout SMMUSD.

"Arts in high school are really important," Browne said. "Arts make the individual complete. Arts connect us to the rest of society. And arts, like sports, are really important for people who are developing."

Buy Local B2B Quarterly Newsletter

2013-03-08T00:23:58Z

Here's a link to our quarterly Buy Local SM Business-to-Business (B2B) Newsletter! We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it!

https://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/preview/219327949/#

An Ex's (Loving) Message Painted Across Vidiots

2013-03-05T22:01:48Z

SM Patch: New Easter egg-colored paint on Vidiots' brick facade is a coded message to the local painter's ex-girlfriend.

Santa Monica-based artist Joe Nicoletti said it represents a "very beautiful" and "colorful" year-long relationship with a woman he dated in 2012....The work was part of the city's Buy Local Artist Storefront Improvement Project, a partnership among Santa Monica's four business improvement district (BID) groups. The goal is to match local artists to Santa Monica businesses to help beautify and enhance storefronts.

The Santa Monica Farmers Market with FIG's Ray Garcia

2013-03-01T02:18:16Z

Eater LA: The Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers Market, the largest grower-only Certified Farmers Market in Southern California, attracts the who's who of Los Angeles culinary talent. Stop by at 9 a.m. any given Wednesday, and one will note chefs left, right, and center, some scurrying between farm stands, while others loiter at Arizona and 3rd to shoot the breeze over a Rockenwagner coffee and a pretzel roll, or two.

Chef Ray Garcia of nearby FIG restaurant inside the Fairmont Mirimar Hotel is no exception. Garcia chooses to shop at farmers markets because he believes it's important to know what goes into one's food. On a recent Wednesday morning Eater caught up with the chef to chat about seasonal ingredients, menu inspiration, and some of his favorite farms.

More with Garcia, after the jump. >>

In general, the market rules Garcia's menu. He likes to discover ingredients and challenge himself to create new plates as opposed to staying within his comfort zone and always preparing ingredients with which he is familiar. On this given Wednesday Garcia was especially excited about a modest bunch of blossoming rapini flowers he had procured to garnish salads later that evening. The chef explains that sometimes growers have such small quantities of product and he has to buy everything he can. Some farmers will sell all to chefs, other farmers will save product for the regular shoppers later in the day.

2013 Sustainable Quality Award Winners Announced

2013-02-21T00:39:24Z

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Works and the City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment, are pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Sustainable Quality Awards. The Sustainable Quality Awards (SQA) recognize businesses in Santa Monica that have made significant achievements in the areas of sustainable economic development, social responsibility and stewardship of the natural environment.

Buy Local B2B business spotlight: DSJ Printing on Pico Blvd.

2013-01-29T00:08:14Z

Buy Local SM Quarterly Business News: DSJ Printing personifies small business. This family owned commercial printing, pre-press, and bindery service, has been operating locally in Santa Monica for 60 years. Founded in 1953 by Tillie Vaughan, DSJ is now run by the second and third generation Vaughan family--Jeff Vaughan Sr. along with his children who assist in every facet of the business from accounting to graphic design. DSJ’s services have not changed too much through the years, but the way they do business certainly has.

New grant targets storefronts

2013-01-18T02:02:00Z

SM Daily Press: PICO BOULEVARD —When Peter and Eleanor Path open the doors to their store Acapillow Friday evening, they’ll have more to show off than their new product line.

Acapillow, a furnishing store that sells locally-made products made out of recycled materials, is the first business to participate in a pilot project conceived by the Buy Local campaign to encourage businesses to spruce up their storefronts by partnering with local artists.

Read the full article > > >

Popeye To Ring In The New Year With Santa Monica Eat Well Week Jan. 6-13

2013-01-02T16:04:48Z

SM Mirror: Is one of your New Year’s resolutions going to be eat healthier?

Well if you answered ‘yes,’ more than a dozen of Santa Monica’s top restaurants will make the resolution a little easier with the arrival of “Eat Well Week” where discounted pre-fixe menus and new healthy menu options will be offered Jan. 6 through Jan. 13.

Read the article> > >

Buy Local Santa Monica Unwrapped This Holiday Season

2012-12-19T01:06:19Z

Santa Monica Mirror: This holiday season, as you’re filling the stockings, lighting the candles, shopping for last minute gifts and preparing for festive meals, please buy local. When you shop at a local business, not only are you getting unique products and quality services from your neighbors, but you’re also giving a gift back to your community.

Record Black Friday: So, Who Really Wins?

2012-12-02T01:30:00Z

SM Mirror, Steve Stajich: Congratulations, everybody. We had yet another record Black Friday. The number of people busting doors for “Door Buster!” values was up 9 percent from last year. Total spending over the four-day family holiday intended for thanking God for blessings hit $59.1 billion, producing a 13 percent increase over last year and strong evidence that toys heavily advertised to children can still pull a long train even in this economy.

On average, shoppers shelled-out $ 423 each....To read the full article > > >