2 years documenting Mar Vista, as of today. Thank you, loyal readers and occasional fans! Here’s to a great 3rd year and beyond!

The deadline for filing the completed candidate filing form is fast approaching! Download the form here if you are interested, and quickly fill it out and send it back in.

Why, you may ask, would anyone be interested? The MVCC (and a few dozen tireless volunteers) has been a catalyst for turning Mar Vista from “that part of town you drive through on the way to Venice” into the green, farmer’s market oasis you now see before you. Green Garden Showcase? Sustainable Works? Education forum? Mar Vista’s 80th Birthday festival? Countless beautification grants and school grants? All that and more is courtesy of the MVCC.

And I applaud the decision.

Mar Vista has its share of medical marijuana shops already — in my opinion, more than its share. So, many are welcoming this action by the Council. I know I am. I hope it will mean closing some of these stores, one of which just opened recently 2 blocks from 2 schools. Please understand that I believe marijuana can be used medically — and that it should be available for those who need it. I just don’t like seeing a pot dispensary on every corner. Having a Starbucks everywhere is bad enough. I would feel the same way if there were liquor stores cropping up all over my neighborhood. The market is saturated, people. Find another way to do business: form co-ops and collectives with each other.

Saturday and Sunday come shop for bargains and help raise funds for Community Magnet School at a giant garage sale. 8am – 3pm, 11364 Nutmeg Avenue 90066 (behind the DMV office on Washington Blvd.)

Saturday First Lutheran School of Venice will hold an Open House and Book Fair with children’s book authors Stephen Cook (Day Out With Daddy) and Maureen McGrath (Spunky’s Special Friend). 11am, 815 Venice Blvd. Crafts for the kids and tours for the parents.

Saturday Night check out TubaZar at the Fanatic Salon, some hilarious music at a great local spot. 8pm, $10.

Sunday morning come by the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market for all your veggie needs, plus the MVCC Green Committee will hold it’s monthly meeting from 9:30am until 11am, and their guest in the Green Booth will be the Master Gardeners. Also: Yvonne’s Gluten Free Goodies will be there with lemon cranberry loaves, vegan chocolate cupcakes and agave muffins — all gluten-free and yummy.

Calling all those of you who care about the Arts in public schools. Please sign this online petition to make sure the School Board knows how many of us think this is a bad idea.

Today, inspired by my recent viewing of the movie Food, Inc., I am profiling an organic vendor here at the market. Givens Farms is located in Santa Barbara County and has been in operation since 1980. Here at the market, Kristi Curtis and William Herbe run the booth, but John Givens is the farmer. He’s dedicated to local organic, sustainable farming, and his produce his gorgeous and delicious! Today in the Green Booth, Sara Carnochan of Heart Beet Gardening, was demonstrating how easily, cheaply and organically you can convert your lawn into a garden. And today the market introduced ChocoVivo chocolates. Um, YUM!

This is an original post by Sarah Auerswald, the Mar Vista Mom.

Lots of work being done at the old Crest House. Rumors about some fancy Culver City restaurant opening an outpost here have been floating about. But do tell — what have you heard? And Cora’s has closed, but something’s coming to take it’s place. I wonder…

Love to hear what you’ve all heard. OOO — I hope they’re both good, whatever they turn out to be!!

Today I got a preview of our neighborhood’s newest restaurant-to-come: Pit Fire Pizza on Washington Blvd. The building used to be a Shakey’s, but I think if you didn’t know that history, you’d never suspect it once you walk into Pit Fire. It’s gorgeous, even under construction! Big, open space inside, counter seating, indoor-outdoor eating areas — and not a mojo potato in sight, thank goodness.

Owner Paul Hibler showed me around and says they’ll be opening in a week or so. Stay tuned for the announcement! He’s quite proud of his hand-built pizza oven, called a mugnaini in Italian, just in case you didn’t know (I didn’t), as well he should be. Here’s some of the wood for that very oven, which is being seasoned in preparation for the start of pizza business.The menu will include not just pizzas, but salads and paninis as well, and since I’ve actually eaten at their North Hollywood location before — I can tell you, it’s very good.

Paul says it will be even better here in Mar Vista, and you know what? I believe him.

Pit Fire Pizza, 12924 Washington Blvd., 90066  www.pitfirepizza.com

Cheers to Bill Rosendahl, our City Councilman, for persuading DWP to complete their environmental impact study on the underground power line project that would run through Mar Vista and Westchester before actually starting to dig.

Thanks, Bill! You’ve once again earned my vote.

Stay tuned for more information on the project as it develops…