Community & Special Events

Special Events

Saturday, Dec 29

Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel, discover ways to enrich your life and to resolve everyday problems, Santa Monica Main Public Library, 1343 6th St., 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., (323) 469-2325.

Monday, Dec 31

Free Towing: The Auto Club of America will tow anyone home for up to seven miles, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., within the 13 areas the Auto Club serves. The number to call is 1 (800) 400-4AAA. Please tell the operator that you need a “tipsy tow.”

Ongoing Community Events

Ballroom Dancing every Saturday in the auditorium of the Felicia Mahood Senior Center, $2 per person, 1 - 3 p.m., (310) 479-4119.
Bereaved Parents of America, a support group, free for parents, grandparents or siblings meets the first Thursday of every month at Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 478-3379.
Caring Support for people 55 and over - weekly groups and individual sessions with trained peer counselors, for Healthy Aging, 2125 Arizona Ave, (310) 576-2554, ext. 217.
Chi Kong, and ancient Chinese exercise based on inner body energy, for Seniors; free classes taught by Paul Tseng, Wednesdays, 2 to 3:50 p.m., 1433 2nd Street, free, (310) 434-4306.
Citizenship classes offered to the city of Santa Monica with legal assistance, inquiries and follow-up, Citizenship Application completed on site, all free of charge, Fairview Branch Library, Saturdays, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., (323) 890-1555, Ext. 122.
Community Yoga Classes offered to students of all levels. $6, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., Saturday 2:00 p.m., Santa Monica Yoga, 1640 Ocean Park Blvd., (310) 396-4040.
CPR and other courses in First Aid, including pet and infant, offered weekly by the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, (310) 394-3773.
Drop in Yoga Vedanta Center, schedules vary throughout the week, 1746 Abbot Kinney Blvd., (310) 822-9642.
Farmer’s Market - four weekly markets of fresh produce and flowers, 2nd & Arizona Ave., Wed. 9a.m. - 2 p.m. & Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Pico Blvd. & Cloverfield Blvd. Sat. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Main Street & Ocean Park, The Victorian at Heritage Square, Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Live music, pony rides, coffee, omelets, crepes & free craft workshop; (310) 458-8712.
Fitness Programs for Women with Cancer - Team Survivor, a nonprofit providing free health and fitness programs for women in cancer treatment and recovery, holds weekly walking groups and exercise classes in the Santa Monica area. Other programs available. Call (310) 829-7849 for locations and information.
Food Addicts Anonymous meets every Sunday from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., and every Thursday evening from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 4427 Overland Avenue, Room 7, Culver City, no dues or fees, (310) 412-6620.
Free Hatha Yoga Classes, Tuesday and Thursday 1:30 - 3 p.m. and Sunday 6:45 to 8:15 p.m., taught by Benjamin Haffner, Shiatsu, Kung Fu, and other free classes offered, Massage School of California, 2309 Main St., (310) 396-4877.
Free Speechreading (lipreading) classes for the Hard of Hearing and their family and friends, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Felicia Mahood Senior Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 477-2094.
Food Addicts Anonymous meets every Sunday evening, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., 8831 Venice Blvd., in the Board Room, (310) 412-6620.
Grief Support Group, sponsored by Saint John’s Health Center, 10 weeks, geared toward helping individuals and other family members cope with loss, (310) 829-8992.
Health workshops and lectures, some free, some at cost, ranging in topics from blood pressure to breastfeeding to parenting to care for the elderly, Monica-UCLA Medical Center, (800) 516-5323.
Just Between Men - Prostate Cancer Networking Group, the second Monday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m., The Wellness Community, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., #1040, (310) 314-2555, (310) 314-7586.
Karate Club, operates off the principle that no child will be turned away for lack of funds, 2013 Colorado Ave, (310) 892-KICK; www.CaliforniaKarateClub.com.
Le Tip Westside Business Exchange meets for breakfast on Thursdays in Santa Monica to exchange business referrals. For information and location, call (310) 829-5916.
Low-Cost Law Clinic, daily consultations with a different attorney for just $20, with topics as follows: Mondays & Thursdays - employment law; Tuesdays - personal injury, landlord/tenant, auto accidents, real estate, and small claims; Wednesdays - family law; Saturdays - estate planning, The Legal Grind, 2640 Lincoln Blvd., (310) 452-8160.
Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club, the first Monday of every month, Venice Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, 6:30 - 8 p.m., (310) 821-1769.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Santa Monica College Emeritus Band, Lincoln Middle School, Tuesdays, 7 p.m. in the Bandroom, California and 14th Sts., (310) 474-5271.
New Widow and Widower Bereavement Group for those with recent losses, PICA Adults Day Services and Counseling Center offers a group to help cope with loss, recognize strengths and make new friends, Thursdays, 2 - 3 p.m., $8 per session, pre-registration required, (310) 478-0226.
Painting/drawing classes for children ages 4 - 11, to promote self-expression and communication through visual arts, Art Works Painting Studio, 13051 W. Washington Blvd., (310) 202-1894.
Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group of Los Angeles meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the UCLA Medical Center on the campus. There is always an informed speaker on some aspect of Neuropathy and group discussions on different meds and their results. Contact Cappy Fogel for information, (310) 286-7442.
Pre & Post Natal Yoga Class, offered daily, Iyenger-style yoga, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., babies welcome, Yoga Garden, 2236 26th St., (310) 450-0133.
Santa Monica College’s Emeritus College offers two on-going classes in Widow-To-Widower Support. The classes both meet on Tuesday at 1433 Second St., Santa Monica, Room 104. One meets from 12 to1:50 p.m., the other at 7 p.m. These classes are specifically for those who have lost spouses, there is no fee, (310) 841-2174.
Santa Monica Strutters, a walking program for seniors sponsored by UCLA Healthcare, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 8 - 10 a.m. in the 3rd level Community Room at Santa Monica Place, (310) 319-4560.
Senior Suppers, discounted meals for people over 55, 3:30 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, 1250 16th Street, $3.25 plus tax, (310) 319-4837.
Teen Youth Group - All high schoolers welcome for games, snacks, and hanging out. Every Friday 8-10 p.m., Santa Monica Quaker Meeting House, 1440 Harvard Ave. Bring a friend! (Totally non-religious content.) Joanna or Jos: (310) 815-9730.
Toddler Time on Thursdays, a fun-filled, theme-based program designed for parents and toddlers (2 to 4) using a hands-on approach to explore the museum, play and tell stories, advance registration required, $10 (general), $6 members, The Skirball Cultural Center, 10 - 11:15 a.m., (310) 440-4636.
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly), every Tuesday, Santa Monica Public Library, Ocean Park Branch, 2601 Main St., 6:30 - 8 p.m., (310) 396-3385.
Volunteer as a Technical Reader for Blind & Dyslexic Students, there is urgent need for technical readers who can also do a decent job describing the graphs, charts, illustrations or maps to those with vision impairments, to volunteer, please call (310) 226-6055.