• FOOD / DRINK / COFFEE

  • Urth Cafe (next door)​

  • Peet's Coffee (next door)

  • Amelia's (hands down the best little cafe)

  • Starbucks (in every direction)

  • Perry's Beach Cafe (just straight down to the sand) 

  • Shoop's (next door, I eat here at least once a week) 

  • Thai Vegan (next door, addicting) 

  • The Galley (my Cheer's) 

  • Brick + Mortar (I can see it from my front door) 

  • Finn McCool's (fav place for Sunday games and live Irish music)

  • Lula's (be careful, the margaritas are insane and sneak up on you) 

  • That Italian place Mike works at (I'll think of it in minute)

  • Ashland Hill (Hipster heaven, best wine and beer list) 

  • The Pink Elephant (dance. love it) 

  • Coffee Bean (outdoor fireplace) 

  • Holy Guacamole (eat tacos all day)

  • Circle Bar (it lives up to it's reputation)

  • Rick's (burgers and beer, sometimes that's is all one needs)

  • Library Ale House (Piny on TAP... come on!) 

  • Enterprise Fish Co. (always eat at the bar. it's great) 

  • La Vecchia (this is where Mike works. Excellent) 

  • Sunny Blue (go here. Eat Japanese hand rolls. Be happy)

  • Ben & Jerry's (across the street. I can smell them baking brownies) 

  • The Victorian (Bar, Taco Trucks and Farmers Market. 

  • The Bird Cage (perfect gay bar) 

  • The Basement (perfect speakeasy) 

  • Chinois On Main (Super fancy. Fun to see who is sitting in the windows) 

  • Bareburger (pretty much sums it up)

  • Hinterland (Newest hipster heaven) 

  • Sam's Bagels (So. Damn. Good.)

  • Tsukji Sushi (Waiters wear t-shirts that say "eat my roll" - no joke) 

  • Manchego (Great date spot) 

  • Aussie Pie (one days calories in one meal) 

  • Dhaba (homestyle Indian food) 

  • M Street Kitchen (great local restaurant - get their english muffins to go) 

  • Stella Barra (pizza that is awesome) 

  • Jinya (ramen bar, because, yes) 

OK - this is all in 4 blocks. And just Main Street. I'll stop there. There is so much more in Santa Monica and Venice. It will take a year to explore all of it! 

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• FITNESS 

  • Famous beach boardwalk, bike path and muscle beach areas. All free. 

  • Crossfit Santa Monica (across the street. Go here. Say hi to Kaj and Carter. Thank me later) ​

  • Yoga Works (classic) 

  • Y.A.S. (Yoga and spinning. Sign up for Julie's class. Tell her you live in my place. She will love you dearly. 

  • Equinox (downtown Santa Monica) 

  • Gold's Gym (You will see Arnold Schwarzenegger pass the house each morning after his work out. Say hi. He is super friendly for a Terminator. 

  • 24 Hour Fitness (but this one is only open like 18 hours)

There are a TON more places... everything you can think of. Very fitness oriented area for sure.

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• SHOP

  • Main Street​ (Boutique shops)

  • Abbot Kinney (SoHo has landed in LA)

  • Santa Monica Place (Bloomy's, Nordstrom, Tiffany, Louis, etc) 

  • Venice Boardwalk (Anything you want) 

  • 3rd Street Promenade (Mall of America) 

  • Montana Ave (shop with the stars. No, really.) 

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• ENTERTAINMENT

  • Santa Monica Pier (Ferris Wheel is kinda awesome)​

  • Venice Beach Boardwalk (always entertaining) 

  • 3rd Street Promenade (Touristy, but built for it) 

  • The Beach (nothing better than sand between the toes, surfing, swimming, tanning, people watching, picnicking, volleyball-ing, bike riding. Endless fun :) 

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• FESTIVALS

  • Summer Concert Series on the Pier (HUGE. Fun. Thursdays all summer)

  • Main Street Parades (so many! They put up lots of flyers to advertise them)

  • Main Street Summer Soulstice (annual music festival) 

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• ART

  • Galleries are everywhere.... (just stoll and pop in)

  • Getty Villa (Go here.)

  • The Getty Center (And here.)

  • Street art in Venice is amazing. (DM @Venice_life600 on IG and get a low-cost personal tour. Tell him I sent you, he will give you the better tour :) Bring a camera and be amazed. )

  • Art Walk / Art Crawl / Art Fests (held weekly / monthly / annually)

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• MOVIES

  • Archlight Santa Monica (on top of Bloomingdale's) 

  • Laemmle Monica Film Center (best indie house in LA) 

  • AMC 4 (One of two) 

  • AMC 7 (The other one, a block from the other)

  • American Cinematheque at Areo (great programs, Q&A's with filmmakers) 

  • Laemmle Royal (all foreign films, all the time. Magical) 

  • Landmark NuArt (Rocky Horror is a staple here) 

  • The Landmark (a favorite spot. great theaters and great films) 

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This is off the top of my head. If there is something you are looking for, ping me. :) 

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