INSIDE
Tar & Roses set to close in Santa Monica after 15 years on Santa Monica Boulevard smmirror.com
October 16 – October 22, 2026 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
See Page 6
Red Flag Warning issued as Santa Ana winds bring severe wildfire threat to Los Angeles mountain areas. Gusts reaching 70 mph and singledigit humidity are expected to create extreme fire risks. By Carlos Reyes. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has announced dangerous wildfire conditions are expected after forecasters issued a Red Flag Warning from Thursday morning through Friday night. The National Weather Service upgraded previous weather watches to official Red Flag Warnings as moderate-to-strong Santa Ana winds prepare to sweep across the Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains, including the Santa Monica Mountains
Recreational Area. Forecasters project northeast-to-east winds ranging from 20 to 40 mph, with isolated gusts reaching up to 70 mph in the windiest corridors. The wind event is expected to peak Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon before gradually tapering off over the weekend. An incoming dry air mass will rapidly evaporate moisture from recent rainfall, driving relative humidity levels down between 8% and 20%. Meteorologists warned that any new fire ignition under these dry, windy conditions could trigger rapid, extreme wildfire behavior that poses immediate threats to life and property. The National Weather Service urges residents living near wildland boundaries to exercise extreme caution with potential spark sources and review personal evacuation plans ahead of Thursday morning.
LA Opera returns to Santa Monica Pier with free seaside simulcast of Carmen The 13th annual Opera at the Beach broadcasts opening night live from downtown on massive LED screens. By Carlos Reyes. Music lovers can experience LA Opera’s opening night performance of Georges Bizet’s "Carmen" live along the coast on Oct. 17 during the 13th annual Opera at the Beach. The free outdoor event at the Santa Monica Pier will broadcast the live downtown performance from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion onto giant LED screens, complete with English and Spanish subtitles. Pre-show community activities begin at 4 p.m., featuring arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, food vendors, and live
local performances. The high-definition broadcast starts at 6 p.m. Newly appointed Music Director Domingo Hindoyan makes his debut conducting the production, which features direction by Thaddeus Strassberger and flamenco choreography by Antonio Najarro. Mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb stars in the title role alongside tenor Joshua Guerrero as Don José. “I’m thrilled to welcome LA Opera back to the Santa Monica Pier for a free simulcast of Carmen, bringing world-class opera directly to our communities,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who represents the Third District. “Free events like this make the arts more accessible and create opportunities for Angelenos to come together and enjoy something special. Gather your friends
and family, bring a blanket, and join us for an unforgettable night of music by the Pacific.” Attendees may bring picnics, blankets, and low lawn chairs. Alcoholic beverages, large coolers, canopies, tents, sun umbrellas, and pets are prohibited. Arrive early to take part in fun activities such as: ● Explore your artsy side and make family-friendly crafts with LA Opera Connects ● Enjoy free balloon art, caricature portraits, face-painting, and cornhole ● Experience live performances by local artists before the show starts ● Pick up some free LA Opera merchandise*, spin the prize wheel, and enter a drawing for a luxury gift basket ● Stop by our food vendors and other
booths for pre-show treats and fun Parking information can be found at SantaMonica.com/transportation/parking. Attendees can arrive by public transit, exiting the Metro E Line at Downtown Santa Monica Station. Funding supported by Los Angeles County and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath enables free admission to the event. LA Opera will also host a simultaneous free park broadcast at William Steinmetz Park in Hacienda Heights. Guests can reserve free gifts in advance by registering at LAOpera.org/Beach.
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October 16 – October 22, 2026
Paramount Pictures and Caruso partner to reopen Pacific Palisades’ only cinema, the Bay Theater Luxury dine-in company THE LOT will manage day-today operations at the Palisades Village theater. By Dolores Quintana There is finally news about the future of The Bay Theater in Palisades Village. It was one of the landmarks of the Carusoowned shopping center that has been sorely missed on the Westside, especially among film fans. Today, Caruso and Paramount Pictures announced that they would bring The Bay, the only cinema in Pacific Palisades, back under a new longterm leasing agreement. David Ellison, Chairman & CEO of Skydance, said, “Together with Caruso, we are proud to help bring the Bay back
to life as a place for the Pacific Palisades community to gather around the shared experience of cinema. This theater has always meant more than movies alone – it’s woven into the fabric of this neighborhood, and helping restore it is a privilege. We’re inspired by the resilience of Pacific Palisades residents, and we’re honored to help support this community’s comeback.” Netflix formerly leased the theater starting in 2021, and it closed after the tragic Palisades Fire in 2025. The Bay Theater was built in 2018. Day-to-day management of the theater, which will screen first-run Paramount releases, repertory screenings, “experiential activations…curated events, and special programming,” will be taken over by the luxury cinema company THE LOT. It is a luxury dine-in theater with four other locations in Northern California, Orange County, and San Diego. Culinary offerings are provided by ZENTRL Kitchen in the theater group’s other locations, but it is not yet known if they will also run the kitchen at The Bay Theater. The theater will also have a craft cocktail menu.
A grand opening date for the theater will be announced in the coming weeks. Rick Caruso, Founder and Executive Chairman of Caruso: "The Bay has always been at the heart of the Palisades, and its return is one of the most meaningful signs yet that this community, following the
reopening of the Palisades Village this summer, is coming back stronger than ever. David Ellison and I have a shared ambition to make it one of Los Angeles’ premier moviegoing destinations. I am grateful for David’s leadership and commitment to Los Angeles and the entertainment industry."
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October 16 – October 22, 2026
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FILM REVIEW VERITY
BEHIND THE SCREEN By Kathryn Whitney Boole Verity is an opulent classic mystery/ romance novel in movie form. The locations and sets are well-chosen to portray rich, warm, and isolated. The pace is slow and languid, reflecting star Dakota Johnson’s fluid calmness, one of her signature traits. The camera often stays a moment or two longer than normal on her delicate hands. The film is based on the novel of the same name by prolific author Colleen Hoover, whose recent work, It Ends with Us, was also made into a film. Hoover wrote her first novel in 2011 so her mom could have something to put on her Kindle. Since then, she has had ten of her novels on the New York Times Best Sellers List, including Verity, which she wrote in 2018. She has sold over 20 million books. The story in Verity will not leave you on the edge of your seat, but it builds up a sense of alternate realities playing against each other, depending on whose story is taking the front seat at any given moment. The overarching theme explores writers and imagination - how the creative mind takes over from reality and establishes its own plane of existence.
This brings up the age-old philosophical debate about story- if someone tells a narrative about something that happened, and maybe adds a few embellishments or exaggerations, or even incidents that do not match the actual play-by-play of the real incident, does the story that reaches listeners or readers then become as much of a reality as the original true happening? In the film, there are three main characters: “Lowen,” played by Johnson; “Jeremy,” played by Josh Hartnett; and Anne Hathaway’s “Verity.” Lowen is a young, aspiring novelist in New York City who is offered the job of finishing a novel for world-famous writer Verity, who has
October 16 – October 22, 2026
Rated R 114 Minutes Wide Release October 2nd been paralyzed and rendered mute by a mysterious accident. There is an interesting scene where Lowen lays out 3X5 cards on the floor filled with excerpts and notes from Verity’s unfinished novel, as she pieces together the narrative for the book. Many authors and screenwriters work with such 3X5 cards to organize their thoughts and ideas. There is a line spoken by Hartnett’s Jeremy, Verity’s tragically patient husband, as he describes Lowen. He notes that she has an expression which he calls “standing bored face.” That’s a common meme which pictures a face with a blank, disinterested, or exhausted expression. Johnson worked as a model and runway model before becoming an actress, so she’s a master at standing bored face, the preferred expression of such models. Lowen’s blank look, however, seems to be a cover for a state of deep thought. Her standing bored face here is almost an inside joke. The movie was directed by Michael Showalter, who helmed Wet, Hot American Summer in 2001 and The Big Sick in 2017. The soundtrack is very well done, by veteran composer Volker Bertelmann, illuminating the constant unease and restlessness shading this cerebral cliffhanger. Hathaway and Johnson make superb screen partners. Both have extremely subtle emotional palettes, but in different
directions. Hathaway’s more dark and mysterious balances Johnson’s lighter and innocent. Hathaway’s career took off in 2001 with The Princess Diaries. She intentionally broke away from fairy tale roles and shaped her career with Havoc and Brokeback Mountain in 2005 – films in which she appeared nude. She continues to star in a wide variety of roles, dramatic and comedic. Before her first roles as an actress, she was one of the top sopranos in NYC. Johnson, as the daughter of stars Melanie Griffith and stepdaughter of Antonio Banderas, has forged her career independently. From her days as a model
for Mango’s jeans line in 2009, she worked her way up in film and TV, starring in a long list of varied projects such as Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequel, and then in The Lost Daughter in 2015 and Bad Times at the El Royale in 2018. She continues to choose roles outside of generic audiencepleasers. Hartnett was born in St. Paul, MN. His Mom moved away after his parents divorced, so he was parented by his dad, who was a former guitarist for Al Green. Hartnett blew his knee out playing football in high school, so he turned to theatre as an alternate focus for his energy. Watching films as a young clerk in a video store inspired him to take acting seriously. In 1997, he was cast on a short-lived TV series, then performed in plays and national commercials. His big break was a role in Pearl Harbor in 2001. He has worked steadily in film and TV since then, including in the popular Irish series Penny Dreadful. His most recent roles are “Frank” in The Bear (2024-2026) and Oppenheimer in 2023. Hartnett now lives in Surrey in England with his wife, actress Tamsin
Egerton, and their four children. He finds fame “uncomfortable” and recently took a 15-month break from acting. The character who really ties the players and the story together is Hartnett’s Jeremy. He keeps his cards close to the vest throughout all the drama. You can put the many psychological pieces together in different configurations to try to comprehend the real motivations for these characters. Interesting facts - Lowen means happy, joyful, dear friend in Old English and Cornish. Verity is the quality or state of being true, real, or factual. In the end, you’re not sure - nor is anyone in the movie - of the truth. No one can verify the “verite” - French for “truth.” Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
October 16 – October 22, 2026
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Eight-story housing development redesigned for former Boys & Girls Club site in Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s Architectural Review Board staff recommends approving the 232unit project
By Carlos Reyes. Development plans moving through city review reveal new details for an eight-story residential project on the former Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica site, as reported by Urbanize Los Angeles. Dallas-based developer Lincoln Property Company is proposing a 232-unit apartment complex at 1238 Lincoln Blvd., spanning studio, one-bedroom, and two-
bedroom layouts alongside three levels of subterranean parking for 306 vehicles. Designed by Patrick Tighe Architecture, the proposed 85-foot-tall building incorporates state density bonus provisions by reserving 24 apartments for moderate-, low-, and very low-income households. In exchange for the affordable housing commitment, developers received zoning incentives to add 77 market-rate units beyond baseline limits. Plans call for a U-shaped structure
featuring public and private open spaces, recessed upper levels, and ground-floor setbacks designed to enhance pedestrian activity between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue. Demolition permits were previously approved to remove the existing two-story facility and playground on the 37,460-square-foot lot. Staff for the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board recommended approval for the design, colors, and materials ahead of the board's initial public review.
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October 16 – October 22, 2026
Tar & Roses set to close in Santa Monica after 15 years on Santa Monica Boulevard
The wood-fired dining staple announces final dinner service to the community. By Sarah Lin Acclaimed local dining staple Tar &
Roses will permanently shut its doors later this month, bringing an end to a 15-year run on Santa Monica Boulevard. The end of the Tar & Roses era was announced through a farewell message to patrons on social media, setting Saturday, Oct. 24, as the restaurant's final night of service. Management expressed gratitude to current and former employees along with regular diners who helped transform the wood-fired dining room, led by Chef Andrew Kirschner, into a neighborhood
centerpiece since its debut. Commenters mentioned having first dates, proposing marriage, and just simply having a great meal at the restaurant, which says a lot about a restaurant and its importance to the community. Tar & Roses noted that over a decade and a half of operations, the establishment evolved into a vital gathering space for community celebrations, shared meals, and long-standing friendships. The post said, “We hope that over these final two weeks we’ll have the opportunity to see
many familiar faces, welcome back old friends, share a few more meals, raise a glass together, and say thank you in person. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for an unforgettable 15 years. We will miss you, and we will always be grateful.” Diners have two remaining weeks to visit the establishment, raise a final glass, and say goodbye to staff in person before doors close permanently following dinner service on Oct. 24.
October 16 – October 22, 2026
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Guest Column: SMO Part 2 of 2
By Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, President, Santa Monica Conservancy
Last week SM.a.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) wrote an article about the exceptional history of Santa Monica’s Airport (SMO) and its importance to the City and to Aviation. See https://smmirror.com/santa-monica-airporthistory-the-douglas-aircraft-legacy/ . We are not the first ones to recognize the importance of this unique place and its significant history. In fact, through the decades, there have been at least seven attempts to build a memorial or monument to what happened here. One attempt even included erecting an 192 foot tall sculpture. Unfortunately, all these attempts failed essentially because of the lack of money. Now it's our turn, and we have this last chance to permanently recognize the Airport’s history before it is erased forever by the coming Great Park. Fortunately to recognize that story, we do not have to erect any new expensive memorials. That history is told very well by the historic elements that still and already exist at SMO. All we have to do is selectively save a small number of the existing historical elements and the story tells itself. There are about a dozen candidate pieces for preservation. Two navigation aids are already landmarked: the Compass Rose and the 1920s rotating beacon. The rest of the story would be anchored by the control tower, by a selected part of the runway/ taxiways, by a few significant hangars, by the VOR (Very high frequency Omni Directional Ranging: an important navigational device that functioned universally before navigation became satellite-based) and finally by the Museum of Flying. Most of those elements would find a second useful life via adaptive reuse. The control tower, or a reasonable facsimile, would be rehabilitated as a lookout over the whole park. The preserved piece of the runway could be where hobbyists could fly radio-controlled planes and drones (within view of the control tower, of course). The rest of the removed runway might be perhaps identified by landscaping or lights or other park-useful indicators. The betterpreserved of the various sized hangers could be repurposed as art galleries, clubhouses for various sports activities, park maintenance storage, classrooms, public meeting rooms, etc.. Barker Hangar, of course, would remain fully functional as a multipurpose convention center, exhibit hall, and performance space. Its use would not change at all. Each of these historic elements would be highlighted by appropriate instructional plaques. The totality of this curated collection of historic elements would take up such a small part of the Great Park that they would not adversely impact any plausible park development. By extending the eastern edge of the trail to the perimeter road and fencing the east and west end of the runway, the trail (except the control tower) could even be partially established even now with airport still running, since most of the trail runs along Airport Avenue,
a street not likely to change in any park plan. Finally these historic elements would be strung together by a walkable, skateable, bikeable path wandering from the northeast corner of the park to the southwest corner. The path would be woven into the naturally developed roadway/fire lane/maintenance access system being planned for the park. The Trail could have many appropriate names: the Douglas Trail? the Aviation Innovation Trail? etc. The final name choice should be discussed publicly because it's what it will be known as “for all time”. I favor calling it the Clover Field Trail. Clover Field was SMO’s original name, honoring Greayer Clover, a young American aviator killed in WWI. Historic trails are a very common part of history-making. A wellknown example is the Freedom Trail in Boston, which links important buildings and spaces and celebrates the beginning of the American Revolution, which freed the young colony from the tyranny of King George. The Clover Field Trail would celebrate Santa Monica’s role in aviation, which freed the whole world from the tyranny of gravity. The Trail would start at the control tower and would end at a lookout between the Compass Rose and the VOR. At that end would be a view of the Pacific Ocean that was conquered by the military and civilian planes built and flown from here. While the exact path of the Trail need not be precise (eg it should be determined by park needs), the flow from northeast to southwest is very important because it mimics two important aspects of the story. First, the airport itself grew starting from Ocean Park Blvd. southward and then westward. Second, the path follows the fabrication of airplanes here and their typical takeoff path from east to west. In this manner, a visitor’s path follows the historical movement we are celebrating;
thus history becomes a living experience. The proposed path is not too long: about a mile and a half or about the same length as our Palisades Park. The Museum of Flying is at the midpoint as a suitable stopping point for resting and/or for deepening your understanding of aviation history. When the Airport closes, the Museum of Flying’s pedestal-mounted DC-3 will be the only publicly visible airplane in the entire park. This airplane is probably the single most important historical element on the Clover Field Trail. There is an urgency to evaluate the historical value and actual condition of our airport’s historical elements. Then the best ones can be selected and preserved and added early in the planning for the proposed park. Their value should be appraised in the upcoming EIR. Already a lot of historic fabric has been lost. For example, the Douglas main plant, the biggest factory ever built in Santa Monica, was demolished in the late 1970’s. It vanished without a trace (no plaque, no cornerstone, nothing) to build the Ocean Park Business Park. Likewise, the last remaining WWII historic building, the Army Building, is being altered today and may lose its historically defining features. As the leases of various facilities expire, there is a tendency to forego maintenance knowing the buildings will soon be demolished. This demolition by neglect always sets in early when big changes are coming. Essentially, the airport is already being choked off before it even closes by a process of neglect similar to what’s happening at Bergamot Station. Again, this is not about saving every building. But eventually, sooner or later, we will need to decide which of the dozen or so of the candidate historic elements should be preserved so we can tell the full story of SMO for generations to come.
Creating a Great Park and keeping its valuable open space will require a huge financial, governing, and management commitment by the City. Because of its scale and opportunity it presents for fully telling SMO’s amazing story, this proposed trail will enhance every park-goer's experience. The Clover Field Trail does not encumber the Great Park; it actually makes it a more interesting park. If we are losing the airport, the least we can do is to preserve its story. The Clover Field Trail is the perfect tool to tell that fabulous story for future generations. If you want additional information about the Santa Monica Airport, please read Nina Fresco’s definitive book about our Airport’s history: First Around the World, available at your public library. Finally, to participate in the rollout of the Airport’s conversion Draft Master Plan, please attend the public meeting from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Memorial Park this Saturday, October 17. A full mockup of the conversion plan will be laid out in the main gym.
Visual Designer (5) sought by Specs Inc. (Santa Monica, CA) *Hybrid work permitted - Specs practices a “default together” approach & expects team members to work in Santa Monica ofc at least 80% of time (avg 4 days/wk). Define & Champion visual & art direction of Snap OS. Base salary: $190,000$284,000/yr. Eligible for equity in form of RSUs. Our Benefits: https://careers.snap.com/benefits. Apply through this website link: https://tinyurl.com/43zf6udr. EOE.
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SA N TA
MO N I C A
October 16 – October 22, 2026
CO L L E GE
CAMPUS EVENTS Photo by Amy Williams
FALL 2026 & WINTER 2027
Exciting events happening at SMC! Santa Monica College has a lively lineup of events scheduled, so mark your calendar!
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Sion Roy, Chair; Dr. Tom Peters, Vice Chair; Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón; Anastasia Foster; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Audrey Liljegren, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu
• Art Shows • Dance Performances & Master Classes • Intercollegiate Athletic Competitions • Music Concerts • Planetarium Shows • Santa Monica Review Issue Launch Party • Theatre Arts Performances • And Much More!
Visit smc.edu/events for more information.