Open Santa Monica

Inside a Seashell

2013-06-19T04:22:59Z

Singer/guitarist/songwriter Clint Lapointe, with percussionist Ryan Stockbridge sings, "Inside a Seashell" on the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

Santa Monica Shootings Prompt Plans to Quell Youth Violence

2013-06-18T22:05:49Z

Santa Monica officials are addressing youth and family violence in the wake of a shooting rampage.

Santa Monica Opens Free Counseling Center Following Shootings

2013-06-18T05:55:11Z

The city of Santa Monica set up a Community & Connections Support Center for residents who have found it difficult to cope with a series of unrelated shootings.

The first shooting took place on June 7 and claimed six lives. One person was killed

RIP Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: Former Punk Haven Finished Holding Concerts

2013-06-18T05:30:02Z

For the last 55 years, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has had all types of boring conventions, cat shows and craft fairs. But it's also held some amazing concerts; truth be told, its importan...

Lennon Family Charity Event This Friday, Saturday In Santa Monica

2013-06-18T02:30:00Z

The third annual Lennon Family Charity Event and Fundraiser will be held at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club this Friday and Saturday. The Lennon Sisters, the band VENICE, Lennon Brothers and Gail Lennon, Michael Cathcart, Tom Lennon, and the extended musical Lennon family come together in harmony to raise awareness and funds for MyStuffBags.org, Susan Love Research Foundation, B.R.A.I.N., and the historic Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club. Santa Monica residents are encouraged to attend to celebrate The Lennon Sisters’ career that spans more than 50 years since they were first featured on the Lawrence Welk Show. The Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club is located at 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica. For tickets (starting at $60) or more information, visit http://lennon-concert-2013.brownpapertickets.com.

Funeral Service Held For Santa Monica Shooter And His Father, Brother

2013-06-18T03:40:35Z

The 23-year-old man accused of killing five people in a shooting rampage in Santa Monica was buried Monday along with his father and brother, his first two victims.

John Zawahri is accused of killing his father, 55-year-old Samir, and his 25-year-old brother, Christopher, at their Yorkshire Avenue home before going on a shooting spree on city streets and at Santa Monica College that killed three others.

He was eventually gunned down by police in the school’s library.

The shooter’s uncle, Mansour El Zawahri, traveled from Canada to attend the service at a chapel in Santa Monica. All three men were buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

CBS2 was granted exclusive access to the service.

“We would like to give our condolences to all the victims’ families,” El Zawahri told CBS2′s Jeff Nguyen.

“Samir was gentle, sensitive, hard-working,” he said.

Randa Abdou, the suspect’s mother, did not speak to reporters, and reportedly kept her distance from her former in-laws.

“She’s not talking to me,” said El Zawahri. “She does not give any condolences or anything like that.”

According to her in-laws, Abdou said she spoke to John Zawahri from Lebanon 30 minutes before the shooting rampage began, and had purchased the clothes Zawahri was wearing in a surveillance photo taken at Santa Monica College.

It is still unknown how the 23-year-old Zawahri obtained the guns and ammunition used to carry out the attack.

“We know from his mother that he was fascinated with guns,” his uncle said.

According to his family, his father Samir did his best to provide for his son and they are angered by his actions. The Zawahri family said they have not read the note John Zawahri left behind.

They also said it was John who lived with his father, contrary to earlier reports.

“John unfortunately was spoiled, ungrateful,” he said. “And what he did is evil, evil, evil.”

Skateboarding Mama

2013-06-18T04:02:26Z

Liz Bevington, 89, aka "Skateboarding Mama" roller blades along Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica on Monday, June 17. 2013. Skateboarding Mama has been skateboarding since she was 52 years old. Here is a video of her wind skating at the age of 84:https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TrLUB4vIrTM#!

MAN OF STEEL

2013-06-18T03:56:21Z

Superman was spotted flying above Santa Monica amid the sunset on Monday, June 17. 2013. Superman has super-everything—strength, speed, flight, invulnerability as well as his renowned X-ray and heat vision. He remains the most powerful being on the planet. His incredible powers are legendary, his famous red-and-blue costume is unmistakable and the S-shield emblazoned across his chest is iconic. Born Kal-El on the doomed planet Krypton, rocketed to Earth and raised by the kindly Kents he was destined to battle evil as Superman, The Man of Steel.

Grants Coordinator Position

2013-06-18T01:18:47Z

We are looking for a highly motivated, organized and capable multi-tasker with 3 to 5 years of experience in writing LOIs and grant proposal that are compelling, persuasive and well written. Must have experience meeting with funding source representatives, generating increased funding from current and new funding resources, and preparing overviews for consideration by CEO/President and Director of Development. Read the full job description here.

Skills/Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university or equivalent experience.
A minimum of five years experience in writing grants and building partnerships.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of accounting principles as they relate to grant administration.
Knowledge of and comfort with funder databases, MS Office, Adobe, other relevant software and online grant application systems.
Knowledge of foundations and the corporate community, especially those who invest in youth programs.
Ability to manage timelines, multiple grant deadlines, work independently and as a team.

Administrative Assistant Position

2013-06-18T01:15:56Z

We are looking for a highly motivated, organized and capable multi-tasker with 2+ years of experience in providing clerical and administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer and Development Team. The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative and executive support related tasks and be able to work independently with little or no supervision. Must be exceedingly well organized, flexible and enjoy the challenges of supporting a small office of diverse people and programs. Read the full job description here.

Skills/Requirements:

2+ years experience of administrative support at executive level.
Excellent calendar management skills including coordination of complex meetings.
Strong knowledge of MS Office; Word, Excel, and Outlook, experience with creation of PowerPoint presentations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent scheduling travel arrangements.
Strong organization and customer relations skills.
Be detail oriented.
Able to maintain strict confidentiality.

Strongly prefer:

2+ years support experience in public relations, sales and/or marketing environment.
Experience with creating and/or modifying operational processes
Bachelor’s degree.

Santa Monica Residents Call for Peace

2013-06-17T13:52:05Z

After back-to-back, deadly shootings in Santa Monica, community members have taken to the streets to call for peace. More than 100 people walked through the streets of Santa Monica on

Wanderlust Festival Brings Yoga In The City To Santa Monica Pier

2013-06-17T13:00:00Z

(credit: Kelsey Tucker)

If you’ve never practiced yoga in the great outdoors, your chance has arrived, and it won’t be like anything you’ve ever experienced. Yoga in the City (YITC) is coming to town on Sunday, June 30 from 1 to 6 p.m., welcoming the masses to come gather in modern yogic celebration on the Santa Monica Pier.

YITC brings the essence of the wildly popular Wanderlust Festival into the city to give Angelenos a taste of their signature lifestyle events that focus on yoga, music and wellness. “Over the past three years they have been met with increasing popularity, bringing together top-of-the line talent, like-minded sponsorships and a strong, mindful community of people that make up the fabric of our brand. Every year we bring the Wanderlust experience to more people in new locations, driving forward this movement of wellness enthusiasts, and this year is no exception,” Wanderlust co-founder Jeff Krasno said.

(credit: Jennifer DeAngelis)

Top local instructors will lead large classes infused with musical performances that will accompany the sound of the waves under your warrior pose. Scheduled classes will be lead by Cristi Chistensen (Exhale Venice), Bryan Kest (Power Yoga Santa Monica), Mia Togo (Yoga Works Santa Monica), Brock Cahill (Equinox/Yoga Works Santa Monica) and Ashley Turner (Santa Monica). Check the schedule for details so you don’t miss your favorite teacher!

MC Yogi, whose current album (Pilgrimage) fuses world beat, hip-hop, Bollywood, reggae, dancehall, house and dub will showcase his talents alongside DJ Drez, an artist that blends yesterday’s roots with the innovative urban beats of today. When not making music, both artists are also yoga teachers that literally practice what they preach.

(credit: Joy Bitonio)

Attendees will be fueled by a number of healthy vendors including LYFE Kitchen, which will provide culinary demonstrations and a menu of chef-inspired, good-for-you meals and Luna, which will offer samples of its nutrition bars made with organic ingredients. Avocado Pineapple Smoothies and Avocado Toast samples will be available from Avocados from Mexico and resource®, sustainably sourced 100% Natural Spring Water, will keep practitioners hydrated.

Visit the Health Lounge to relax and recharge between classes and receive great fitness, nutrition, and beauty advice from the experts. Giveaways for the mind, body and soul will be available for the taking here. Also, don’t miss your opportunity to be a Health Magazine cover model on a special Wanderlust issue!

Attendees won’t be able to resist moving their flexible post-savasana bodies to the beat of MC Yogi’s Yogi Revolution w/ DJ Drez, resulting in an all out ocean side dance party to close out the event just before the sun sets over the horizon.

To attend YITC, register online. Admission is free — just bring a yoga mat, wear sunscreen and enjoy! Biking, walking and carpooling is encouraged. Attendees can check the City of Santa Monica’s parking map for real-time parking availability in lots, structures and metered spaces online, or download the parking app.

Wanderlust Yoga In The City

Santa Monica Pier
321 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
la.wanderlustfestival.com

Joy Bitonio has the phrase “Joie de Vivre” tattooed on her shoulder, a reminder to enjoy life every single day. She has a voracious appetite for fun, adventure, food, good cocktails and works out like a madwoman to keep it all together. Check out her other articles on CBS L.A. She also covers fitness on Examiner. Follow her on Twitter.

Lawmakers should close bullet-buying loophole

2013-06-17T02:15:00Z

Santa Monica gunman John Zawahri's stockpile of 1,300 bullets shows the need for legislation to restrict ammunition purchases.

From what I've been reading, the Santa Monica killer was packing an illegal assault rifle and 40 high-capacity ammunition magazines. He sprayed 100 bullets and had access to 1,300.

Make Music Los Angeles in Santa Monica This Friday, June 21 At Palisades Park

2013-06-16T21:21:00Z

The City of Santa Monica will partner with Make Music Los Angeles this Friday to join a countywide celebration by hosting musical performances throughout the day in Palisades Park. The event is based on France’s Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982. Make Music Los Angeles/MMLA is an 11-hour celebration of music taking place on the summer solstice, Friday, June 21, from 11 am to 10 pm. Music performances will pop up organically with concerts taking place in a variety of locations, including community gardens, plazas, schools, courtyards and parks. The festival has become an international phenomenon celebrated on the same day in more than 460 cities in 110 countries. Amateurs, students, professionals and established artists are all invited to perform. Musicians and other participants volunteer their time and talents and admission to all events is free. “Our hope is to inspire new creative works, develop new audiences and celebrate our cultural differences by crisscrossing the county and discovering the hidden musical gems L.A. has to offer,” said MMLA Founder/Executive Director, Dorsay Dujon. In addition to musicians being able to perform in Santa Monica parks, on sidewalks and at the beach, the City will host a stage in Palisades Park at Santa Monica Blvd. from 11:45 am to 6:45 pm. The day kicks off with “The 100 Hohner Harmonica Project”, where attendees can participate in a community lesson and performance led by Tom Nolan, musician, leader of the Tom Nolan Band and Dean of Students at Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences. The project encourages people to have fun while learning to play. Hohner harmonicas will be generously donated to the public by Hohner, a 156 year old musical instrument company, and Alfred Music, the world’s largest educational music publisher, will be donating sheet music. Other featured musicians include the band Under the Sky, playing acoustic folk-grass, west coast roots rock, Chicago blues/jazz and more; Tee-m, a pop balladeer, who has been selected as a Music Connection Magazine’s 10 Hottest Unsigned Artists five years in a row; renowned cellist Jen Kuhn; Desi Ramone who plays exclusively Johnny Cash, Johnny Ramone and Johnnie B Goode; Bernadette Bentley, an English songwriter whose lyrics are inspired by life in the margins of East London; Dave Ellis, a teacher at Santa Monica’s McCabe’s Guitar Shop who plays Spanish, flamenco and classical guitar; Jaq Mackenzie, a John Adams Middle School student and singer/songwriter; Rhythm Child, performing soulful percussion music for children, and national recording artist Katrina Carlson, performing songs from her new CD “Sunshine State of Mind” that blend catchy hooks, feel-good lyrics and upbeat grooves. “By participating in Make Music LA, Santa Monica aims to provide a platform for local musicians and expose residents and tourists to some of our unique, homegrown talent,” says City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Supervisor, Allison Ostrovsky. For more information about Make Music LA, contact Dorsay Dujon, 323.377.7444; Email: D.Dujon@MakeMusicLA.org, or go to www.MakeMusicLA.org. .

The Counter Giving Free Burgers Today For Father’s Day

2013-06-16T16:26:00Z

Today is Father’s Day -- and The Counter is giving families the chance to show their dads how much they appreciate all the big and little things by hooking him up with a free burger. The Counter Custom Built Burgers will buy each dad a burger (just for being a “big ****ing deal”) for any guest who tells their server, “My dad is a BFD.” Offer valid for one standard 1/3 lb. burger (excluding bison and market select burgers), additional and premium toppings are extra. One per Dad with a paying guest. Who: All Dads What: The Counter BFD – Burger for Dad When: On Father’s Day only, Sunday, June 16 Where: All The Counter’s U.S. locations. The Counter Santa Monica is located at 2901 Ocean Park Avenue.

Details Of Firearms Used By Santa Monica Mass Shooting Suspect Released

2013-06-14T16:17:00Z

The Santa Monica Police Department has released details of the weapons used by last Friday’s mass shooting suspect John Zawahri who killed five people and wounded three others before he was killed by two SMPD officers and a Santa Monica College police officer on the campus of SMC at 12:05 pm. SMPD Sgt. Richard Lewis said one critical piece of evidence that was collected was the rifle that Zawahri used. “Detectives learned that this rifle, a .223 caliber assault rifle that consists of what is referred to an 80 percent lower, does not have a serial number,” Lewis said. “The upper assembly, also has no markings.” Lewis said all of the .223 magazines recovered were capable of holding 30 rounds -- adding these are illegal to possess in California. “At least one case consisting of 1000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition was shipped to Zawahri from northern California,” he said. “Detectives are still looking into how he obtained additional ammunition.” A .44 caliber “black powder” revolver had been converted to fire .45 caliber rounds, Lewis said. “Detectives recovered evidence that indicates Zawahri obtained various documents and the parts needed to convert the non-firing ‘black powder’ handgun to a serviceable (firing) revolver,” he said. “Detectives also recovered three ‘Zip Guns’ from Zawahri. These weapons are illegal to possess and appear to have been handmade.” Lewis said several other replica handguns were also recovered during the search of his room. He said evidence collected in the investigation indicates that the assault rifle (upper assembly and the 80 percent lower), a number of the magazines and several components to modify both of the firearms, shipped from locations outside California. A letter from the Department of Justice dated October 1, 2011 was also located in his bedroom. The letter informed Zawahri that he was not eligible to purchase a firearm. Lewis said no firearms are registered to John Zawahri and based on the investigation thus far, the family does not have any registered firearms. A three page note was recovered from Zawahri’s body by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, but it did not give a motive for his actions, Lewis said. “The Santa Monica Fire Department continues to investigate the cause of the fire, but at this time it does appear that it is arson related,” he said.

Huck Finn Day

2013-06-16T01:13:00Z

Kids compete in a pie eating contest during the Santa Monica Jaycees' Huck Finn Day! at Douglas park on Saturday, June 15, 2013. Huck Finn Day is based on Mark Twain’s novel that tackles some of the most difficult social issues our country faces. However, the novel also embodies a powerful message of freedom and friendship that stem from expanding perspectives as Huck and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, escape together on a journey down the Mississippi river. Huck Finn Day is focused on Learn to Fish, a spin-off of the River theme, and allows children to experience this activity in a supervised and exciting environment.

Huck Finn Day

2013-06-16T01:08:50Z

Kids compete in a sack race during Santa Monica Jaycees' Huck Finn Day! at Douglas park on Saturday, June 15, 2013. Huck Finn Day is based on Mark Twain’s novel that tackles some of the most difficult social issues our country faces. However, the novel also embodies a powerful message of freedom and friendship that stem from expanding perspectives as Huck and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, escape together on a journey down the Mississippi river. Huck Finn Day is focused on Learn to Fish, a spin-off of the River theme, and allows children to experience this activity in a supervised and exciting environment.

Despicablimp

2013-06-16T01:04:06Z

The Despicablimp floats above Santa Monica on Saturday, June 15, 2013. The Despicablimp is one of the largest airships in the world at 165-feet long, 55-feet high and 46-feet wide, and is shaped like one of the jabbering, pill-shaped beings featured in Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me" franchise, starring Steve Carell's voice as a mad scientist who becomes a father for the first time. The sequel is out July 3. The blimp will travel approximately 20,000 miles, crisscrossing the country three times over the course of its six-month journey and will have multiple stops across the continental U.S.

Starline Tours Launches New Route From LAX To Santa Monica

2013-06-15T14:45:00Z

Starline Tours recently expanded its CitySightseeing service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) area hotels to Santa Monica via Fisherman’s Village. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held last Thursday to celebrate the new route made possible by a partnership with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. and Santa Monica Place. Representatives from Starline Tours, Santa Monica Place, Downtown Santa Monica, the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) came together as the “first bus” drove through to break the ribbon. “With the addition of these new routes, Starline Tours’ coverage expands to more than 100 miles of touring routes, making it the world’s largest CitySightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour,” said Philip Ferentinos, Director of Starline Tours.