Santa Monica’s beloved Pacific Park celebrates 30th anniversary

Santa Monica’s beloved Pacific Park celebrates 30th anniversary

Santa Monica’s iconic Pacific Park is officially turning 30, marking three decades since amusement rides returned to the famed Santa Monica Pier for the first time since the 1930s. The beloved oceanfront attraction celebrated the milestone Tuesday with a birthday-themed light show on its world-famous Pacific Wheel, displaying “Happy Birthday” messages, anniversary graphics, and a … Read more

Inside Santa Monica’s boozy street drinking plan to save struggling outdoor mall

Inside Santa Monica’s boozy street drinking plan to save struggling outdoor mall

Finally some good news about the Third Street Promenade area of Santa Monica, which has seen rampant closures in recent months and years. Mayor Caroline Torosis told the California Post the Entertainment Zone model that allows for open alcohol consumption, adopted in the summer of 2025, is working. “We’re testing out what works and what … Read more

The empty storefronts haunting Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade

The empty storefronts haunting Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade

A Santa Monica product designer is putting hard numbers to what locals have long known in their bones: nearly three in 10 storefronts on the Third Street Promenade sit empty. The designer built an interactive map tracking occupancy along the corridor, and the numbers aren’t pretty — 28.5% of storefronts are vacant, a bleak snapshot … Read more