Category: Mar Vista

Venice Blvd Closed 5/18/25 for Half Marathon
Venice Blvd. will be closed on Sunday, May 18th from Ocean Front Walk to Sepulveda for the inaugural running of the Venice Beach Half Marathon.

The road will be closed and there will be no way to cross Venice to go North or South West of Sepulveda during the race, which is expected to last until at least 11am. So plan ahead.

Race Map Venice Beach Half Marathon

More Information About the Venice Half Marathon

RACE DAY START TIMES
- 7:10 A.M. – Wave 1 / Half Marathon
- 7:20 A.M.. – Wave 2 / Half Marathon
- 8:00 A.M. – Wave 1 / 5k
- 8:10 A.M. – Wave 2 / 5k
- 8:30 A.M. – Junior Dash (1.1 Mile)
- 8:40 A.M. – Family Dash (1.1 Mile)
- 10:00 A.M. – Kids gRUNion run
About the Race Course

Ocean Front Walk, Muscle Beach, the Venice Canals, Venice High School, the original Venice Police Station and Fire Stations before a spectacular finish under the historic Venice Sign!

Where’s the Finish Line for the Venice Beach Half Marathon?

Right under the historic Venice Sign!
May 16, 2025
Venice Love Fest Happening March 18th

The Venice Fest is back with a Spring street festival happening on Saturday, March 18th from 11am – 7pm. Venice Blvd will be closed to traffic from Inglewood to Centinela and instead it will be filled with thousands of people having fun.

The festival supports local small businesses in Mar Vista and is a terrific way to see neighbors and friends. There will be music, games, dancing, dining, drinking, and shopping, too! There’s even a Vintage Car Show at the Venice Love Fest.

Follow The Venice Fest on Instagram to get the latest scoop.

The Venice Love Fest takes place March 18, 2023

March 1, 2023
The Venice Fest on November 20th

Support local small businesses “in the heart of Mar Vista” this Saturday, November 20th from 3-8pm when Venice Blvd. gets turned into a block party for The Venice Fest!

The Venice Fest will take over Venice Blvd. – and it will be closed between Grand View Blvd. and Centinela Ave. in order for this fantastic celebration to take place, so be aware of that.

This event is hosted by The Gym Venice, and will feature shopping at local shops, booths with local vendors, games, crafts, live music, food, drinks, and more!

All are welcome and this event is dog-friendly as well. Follow them on Instagram to get the up-to-the-minute scoop on vendors and entertainment.

November 15, 2021
New Robeks Opening in Mar Vista

We love to support small businesses! There’s a new Robeks Smoothies and Juices spot opening at the corner of National Blvd. and Barrington. And they’re having a Grand Opening on Sunday, November 14th.

There will be many fun activities for all attendees, like giveaways, a photobooth, fun art project activities, face painting, live performance of The Wong Quadruplets, and more surprises – plus there will be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

This new business is investing in our community, too, and they will donate 50% of the day’s proceeds to Mar Vista Elementary School.

Robeks Mar Vista Grand Opening Sunday, November 14th

Robeks Smoothies and Juices
11700 National Blvd, Unit K, Los Angeles CA 90064

November 10, 2021
National Night Out 2021

Celebrate National Night Out with the LAPD Pacific Division on Tuesday, August 3rd at Penmar Park. This annual event is designed to help foster building a better community, and for creating strong bonds between neighborhoods and police.

The LAPD Pacific Division has a long tradition of hosting these events, and each one has always been an opportunity for fun, eating good food, and getting to know each other better. Past events have been held in Playa Vista, Venice, Mar Vista, and this year it’ll take place at Penmar Park.

Join the fun starting at 6pm and lasting until 9pm. The event is FREE and open to all. Get more information on the LAPD Pacific Division Facebook Event Page.

There will be an inflatable obstacle course, Face painting, a Balloon artist, and more!

National Night Out

Founded in Pennsylvania in 1984 as a way to bring police and community members together under positive circumstances, National Night Out events now take place in communities all across the country, always on the first Tuesday in August.

Typically, volunteers help organize the food donations and gear to set up one of these events, and that’s true this year as well.

National Night Out Pacific Division 2021

This year’s event takes place at Penmar Park, 1341 Lake Street, Venice 90291, from 6-9pm on Tuesday, August 3rd.

Sarah Auerswald is the founder of Mar Vista Mom.

July 30, 2021
MV Shop

Welcome to my shop: all products have been created by Me (Mar Vista Mom) and Art by Jim Carroll (aka, the Mar Vista Dad),

This is just a sampling of the designs and products in my Mar Vista Mom RedBubble store. Click through to shop them all.

Masks

I’ve got a selection of masks for us all to be more stylish while we’re being as safe as possible. Click to see all my mask designs in my Redbubble shop.

My Name is NOT Karen Mask – comes in adult plus kid’s size.

Blue and Gold Sword Mask – comes in adult plus kid’s size.

This is Bananas
Mask – comes in adult plus kid’s size.

T-shirts

Who doesn’t love T-shirts? We can support a cause, make people laugh, or just tell people something about us, all by wearing a cool T-shirt. Click to see all my shirt designs in my Redbubble shop.

My Name is Not Karen Shirt – comes in various styles and sizes

I’m a Rule Follower – comes in various styles and sizes

Phone Cases

We carry around these amazing computers in our pockets and they get so much of our attention – why not encase them in style? Click to see all my phone case designs in my Redbubble shop. Sizes to fit most iPhone and Android models.

Bananas

Morning Glory

NOT Karen

Roses

Blue & Gold

Jigsaw Puzzles

I love doing puzzles! Someday I hope to own a home with so many rooms I can have tables in every one of them with the puzzles I have going, then I’ll never have to put them away… Click to see all my puzzle designs in my Redbubble shop.

Bananas Puzzle

Blue & Gold Puzzle

Morning Glory

Please keep checking back as I add more products to the store. Thanks!

September 24, 2020
Gift Ideas for Dads and Grads

This post contains affiliate links.

We’re in the midst of two gifting seasons right now: Graduation and Father’s Day. Are you ready? Do you have gift ideas in mind, or would you like a few suggestions?

I hope you said “suggestions,” because that is what I have for you today! You’ll find great ideas for kids graduating from High School and College, especially this year since it’s probably not exactly the ceremony any of you hoped for.

And I’ll give you my best gift ideas for celebrating Father’s Day, even if, let’s face it, it’s really the junior varsity holiday compared to Mother’s Day, if we’re being honest. All the more reason to give them something extra nice this year! Wink, wink.

Graduation Gift Ideas

The first thing graduates need is cash, or at least gift cards, so check out the Amazon gift cards and feel free to add zeros – they’re going to need it (and so are their parents).

How about a wallet? For all that cash you’re going to give them…

OK, what about some luggage for moving across the country (or across town)?

Good books to read are always helpful and appreciated…

Whatever you buy for the graduates in your life, we hope they enjoy them – and we thank you for shopping via our links.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Whether you’re helping your children honor their Father (your partner), or whether you’re getting a gift for your own Dad, this is a great time to get creative. Once upon a time, dads were lucky to get a tie rack, but we’re in the 21st Century now, so let’s step up the game a bit.

What about a Kayak?
Check out this inflatable kayak. How fun is this? Get this gift and the Dad in your life will have a ball! And maybe you can borrow it once in a while.

Or what about these cool BBQ gloves? They come with “meat claws”!

Come on, who’s not going to love this Sriracha mug for Father’s Day?

I’ve always loved calling something a “Dopp Kit,” even though it’s full of toiletries, not Dopps, but OK. This one’s nice.

Whatever you choose as a gift we hope you have a great Father’s Day or Graduation ceremony – and we thank you for shopping with our links!

As you are shopping on Amazon for your basic essentials (or gifts) these days, I’m asking for your support by using my affiliate links. The clicks bring in small commissions that add up for my small business, owned by a local Mom, but come at no extra cost to you.

May 21, 2020
Amazon Shopping to Support MVM

This are unprecedented times we’re living in, and we all need to support each other and our communities. Mar Vista has always been exceptional at coming together and we are truly lucky because of that.

As you are shopping on Amazon for your basic essentials these days, I’m asking for your support by using my affiliate links. The clicks bring in small commissions that add up for my business, but come at no extra cost to you.

Here are a few things I think you might be shopping for right now, all with affiliate links directly to Amazon. Please know how much I appreciate it. (A lot!)

Products you might want on Amazon

Do you have an Alexa yet? This Echo Dot is on sale – just click on the photo.

Do you have a Ring Doorbell? Super cool technology.

Are you signed up for Amazon Prime? It’s a great service and offers streaming videos and music, and so much more.

What about a puzzle? It’s a great way to pass the time, especially with kids. This Space Puzzle looks fun (and hard!).

Maybe you’re doing craft projects with kids? Here’s some construction paper, which always comes in handy.

Of course, Amazon was known for books, once upon a time. These are a few of my favorite books, for your reading pleasure.

Thank you for your support!

By purchasing via these affiliate links, you’ll be supporting a local small business, at no extra cost to you.

April 20, 2020
Santa Visited Mar Vista This Week

It’s true! Santa came to town! He and his sleigh, pulled by a very accommodating LAPD Pacific Division SUV, and with a police escort to boot, stopped several places all over town this week. It’s a show of community spirit on the LAPD’s part, and it’s a heart-warming event for the kids — and kids-at-heart. There are even elves. This year’s most requested items, according to Santa? Computers and video game consoles. I guess we have a very high-tech group of kids here in Mar Vista.

Thanks, Pacific Division! Bye, Santa! See you next year.

December 12, 2009
Mar Vista Business Profile: Celeste’s Tailoring

Celeste has been here in Mar Vista for 7 years, doing alterations and some basic seamstress work. She’s well-known for doing alterations on Burning Man costumes, just FYI.

Celeste’s Tailoring, 12028 Venice Blvd., open M – F 9am – 7pm, and weekends 10am – 5pm. (310) 391-4708.

November 5, 2009