Fun Free Event in Mar Vista w/ Milk & Bookies This Saturday 5/25 2-4pm
Free Milk, Free Cookies, Free Ice Cream – AND Free Books!
Milk & Bookies is celebrating
National Military Appreciation and National Foster Care Awareness Month
this Saturday, May 25th, from 2-4pm in Mar Vista.
Space is limited; RSVP’s required!
Email events@MilkandBookies.org with the number in your party and they will provide you with the address.
David Sharif, Mar Vista Teen & Star of Youtube Viral Video About Autism
Meet David Sharif, Teenager, Mar Vista Resident, Star of a Viral Video on Youtube about Autism called My Name Is David, and Autism Awareness Advocate.
David wrote a speech about being autistic for his Bar Mitzvah project a few years ago, and has performed the speech all over, to crowds of students and adults, in an effort to raise awareness about Autism.
The organization Autism Speaks loved his speech so much, they had it made into a claymation video by Matt Manning, one of the creators of the claymation hit series Robot Chicken.
It was a huge thrill for David to be a part of it (even though he told me he’s never seen Robot Chicken), and also to be honored for his work at the premiere screening when he was presented with the figure model of himself that was actually used in the movie.
The other reason it was so thrilling was that he got to meet both Matt Asner, Executive Director of Autism Speaks in Southern California, and his Father Ed Asner, who stars in one of David’s favorite films: Up.
David’s goal of raising awareness about autism got a big boost from the exposure the Youtube video has received. As of the publication date, the video has been viewed over 622,700 times. With David’s 16th birthday approaching on May 28th, he and his family are hoping to get to 1 Million by that symbolic date, so take a moment and please help spread autism awareness by watching his video.
And then check out the video interview I did with him and his adoring Mom.
Stone Fruit: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up May 19, 2013
We’re knee-deep in Spring here in Mar Vista and the Stone Fruit is plentiful at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market. Apricots, Yellow Peaches, White Peaches, Nectarines and Cherries are in abundance and will be for some time. Enjoy!




How about wearing this gorgeous apron when grilling your Memorial Day BBQ feast?
Take a look at these radishes, rainbow chard, deep purple cauliflower/broccoli, and purple kale.



Gloria’s has these three kinds of cherry tomatoes.
And how about these beautiful flowers?

Debbie Rochlin of One Hour Organizing was in the MVCC Green Tent today, letting people know how to reduce the amount of junk mail they get.
E-Waste Recycling at Mar Vista Park Saturday, May 18 8am – 2pm
Open Studio At Grand View Fine Arts May 18th and May 19th
Saturday, May 18th from 6-9pm and Sunday, May 19th from 10am – 1pm the Grand View Fine Arts Studios will be open to the public. Enjoy!
Mother’s Day at The Mar Vista Farmer’s Market May 12, 2013
The weather was spectacular at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market today, clearly in honor of Mother’s Day.
Naylor’s is back with organic nectarines,
strawberries are so perfectly in season right now,
these peppers are so pretty, 
In The Garden Of… practically paints a picture every week with their lettuce,
and I really want to eat these purple baby artichokes – anybody have a recipe?
The kids from the Venice High School Learning Garden were selling some of their hyper-local produce,
these kids from Walgrove Elementary have a band called Room 23 – and they’re like 8 years old,
the Kosher Palate has joined the Food Truck ranks,
there were Mother’s Day Bouquets to be made, 

and if anyone has interest in hosting exchange students, please check out EF Educational Homestay Programs.
Grand Opening Trim Hair Salon & Gallery Saturday, May 11, 7-11pm
Check out our hip neighbors on Rose Ave. in Venice! Trim salon in Venice is having a blowout Grand Opening Party this Saturday Night, May 11, from 7pm – 11pm. 
Game Truck & Pitfire Pizza Make For One Amazing Party + Discount Code
Mar Vista was the site of an awesome party one recent Friday night: the Game Truck came to town and Pitfire Pizza was served.
For those of you who don’t know, the Game Truck is a rolling arcade in a trailer that pulls up, ready to go, with games on every system out there, plenty of screens for a big crowd of kids, and even a technician to make sure they’re all in working order. Everything you need for a party except the food.
So I called Pitfire Pizza for that! They brought us a few of their seasonal special Brussels Sprouts & Bacon pizzas, their signature Field Mushrooms pizzas, and my personal favorite: the Shredded Kale Salad, which is a seasonal special, too, that I hope they keep on their menu forever.
Here are 5 great things about a Game Truck party:
1. The kids are completely occupied, so the parents can sit and relax.
2. The technicians can make sure that only the games you want your kids to play are available. No interest in first-person shooter games? They will be hidden from view. Not even an option for the kids at that party.
3. No need to clean up the living room or worry about kids getting pizza on your living room couch: all the action takes place inside the Truck. You just have to have enough room for them to park on your street.
4. Kids love playing video games, and this way all the kids can play at once, without having to wait for a controller to open up.
5. Discount Code! Book your Los Angeles area Summer party by June 1st – and mention Mar Vista Mom – and you can take $50 off the price of your party! Sweet!
Call (310) 890-4263 or click over to their website to get in touch with them.
And what more can I say about Pitfire Pizza? I can tell you how much I love their food, although I’ve done that before, many times. Did you know they run Fundraiser Nights on Wednesdays? They do. From 5-9pm the Mar Vista location offers school groups the chance to earn money by rallying their community for some terrific food in a great atmosphere. It’s a win-win-win. So check them out!
{Full Disclosure: Game Truck donated the two-hour party to us so I could write this review. Ditto Pitfire Pizza. I was not compensated and neither were my friends and neighbors, unless you count video game play time and pizza as compensated. I do not.}
Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up May 5, 2013
Cinco de Mayo was a big day at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market and I am indebted to Diana Rodgers, Market Manager, for her photos!
Social Paella was there and will now be in residence on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Opa Opa played salsa music and people danced! Kids from the Grand View Blvd. Elementary School Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program performed a wonderful dance. Stone Fruit and Corn were in evidence. The Kosher Palate got in the swing of things. There were crafts for sale from Oaxaca. And there was a piñata for the kids!
- The Kosher Palate
- Flowers from In the Garden Of…
- Social Paella
- Opa Opa got them dancing!
- Corn!
- Stone Fruit
- Stone Fruit is back!
- Crafts from Oaxaca
- Piñata
- Piñata Aftermath
- Grand View is grateful
- Paella!
- Grand View Dancers
- Grand View Dual Language Dancers
- Grand View kids Dancing
- Grand View Elementary School Kids





















