LOling at the the fact that yelp reviews from drum circles exist ^_^…read more L.A woman born and raised! The drum circles been part of my life since I was old enough to remember things. My mother used to take me to watch them and watch all the wonderful wacky people at Venice beach. The energy and the vibes are amazing. It's crazy to hear how easily the drumming starts and stops, how fast the patterns change, and to just listen to the different types of beats going on on each side of the circle. Primal. That's seriously the best way to describe the circle. There's no conductor and no rules. People just play and it's amazing. Dancing is always appreciated and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get in the middle of a bunch of people and dance with no judgement. Be transported to some crazy jungle, enjoy yelling at the helicopters, and catch mad contact highs!

Wanted to show my friend from France, searched for exact location, found a wrong address. Even…read moreasked the police if they knew where to go,they said no clue. We were at Parks and Recreation building and told another mile north on the beach, too far to walk carrying drum, chair and bags. Had already paid for parking. Ended up window shopping and excellent lunch from vendor out of the parking lot. Someone needs to improve the location post and inform the authorities, put up written notices please.

Midnight RidaZZ. Nuff Said…read more Ha. Actually, I could leave it as that, but you'll need to know the AWESOME POWER they bring. I've been on couple of rides since moving here 2 months ago. I've earned my nerdy spoke cards, which I'm very proud of, but you'll definitely find a ride that fits you. If you want to ride fast go with hustle, if you are a G-Ma and can only ride on the weekend, like this author, check out THE FMLY ride (usually every 1st Saturday). Great music, awesome RIDAZZ and just a general Happy-Go-Lucky time riding your bicycle in the streets of LA. It'll make you say "I F-ING LOVE LA!"

The ultimate party on wheels! Midnight Ridazz happens the second Friday night of every month. What…read morestarted as a small group of friends riding bikes through the city after dark has grown into a phenomenon of more than 1400 people reclaiming the roads of Los Angeles in the name of bicycle culture, and has inspired similar rides both within Los Angeles and in several other cities. The ride is similar to the Critical Mass in that they both are about promoting bicycles. But whereas Critical Mass is much more political and confrontational with the motoring world (occurring during rush hour), Midnight Ridazz begins around 10pm after the roads have cleared and is more about having fun rather than having an agenda, thus attracting riders of all experience levels and backgrounds. As a result, I would argue that it is largely responsible for the sort of bicycle renaissance happening in this car-centric city. Midnight Ridazz rides used to regularly congregate at the Pioneer Chicken parking lot, but now the meet-up point changes every month. Check the website the week of the ride to get the details. The routes are usually around 15 miles long and go at a very easy pace so everyone can keep up. The saying is "No rider left behind" so even if you get a flat tire or something else should go wrong, there'll be people there to back you up. Bring a bike, a flask, and a serious appetite for a good time and remember: when they say, "Midnight Ridazz!" you say, "RIDE ON!"

We came here early in the afternoon to see the exhibits in the museum and stayed there the entire…read moreday. While we were already there, we decided we might as well check out the show. People started camping out over an hour before the showed started with beach towels and blankets to claim their piece of real estate near the action. Many came with their picnic baskets along with a wide variety of food items. A large bar area is setup that sells beer and wine. The atmosphere is upbeat and vibrant. Tip: Line is long and the bar closes promptly at 8:30PM. Both cash and credit cards are accepted. The live music started promptly at 7:15pm, the advertised show time. Tonight's (8/24/13) band is La Santa Cecilia, a local band in Los Angeles. They performed upbeat dance-friendly tunes in both Spanish and English. The performance is cool and the crowd is enjoying it. There is a huge presence of security, almost to the extent of being intrusive. There are security guards everywhere and you are not allowed to stand in many places. There are walkways that you are not allowed to stand and take a picture and you have to keep moving. The security is excessive in what is mostly a family-oriented event inside the complex of a museum. We were in the Montreal Rock Festival just recently which is about 100 times the size of this event and we didn't see this kind of security presence. Overall it was an above-average experience, and we attended the event since we were there in the museum already. However, we probably won't drive up there just for this event.

Oh my God. As a random guy walking by said to us "  this is the worst band I've ever seen. Did you…read moreenter hear of The Emperor's New Clothes? Why is everyone going along with it? "  Thank you Aco for speaking the truth. Pick better bands.

If you're in Santa Monica and don't take a ride down the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, you're missing…read morehalf the fun. Honestly, one of the first things I wanted to do was grab a scooter and hit the trail. Best decision of the day. We cruised a couple of miles down the beach, laughing the whole way, then turned around and took the trail back. It was one of those simple moments that ends up being your favorite memory. The path is wide, clean, and well-marked, with plenty of room for walkers, runners, bikes, scooters, and people like me who occasionally forget they're not training for the Olympics. Along the way you've got beautiful ocean views, lifeguard towers, beach access points, restrooms, little docks and overlooks, and enough postcard-worthy scenery to fill up your phone storage. What I loved most is how this trail ties everything together. The beach, the pier, the parks, the people-watching, the ocean breeze it's all right there. You can go as hard or as easy as you want. Fair warning: what starts as "Let's just go for a quick ride" can quickly turn into two hours of cruising around with a giant grin on your face. This trail isn't just a path. It's part of the Santa Monica experience. Grab a scooter, grab a bike, grab a friend, and go make some memories. Your legs might be tired afterward, but your smile won't be.

Since COVID began, this meandering trail has been my balm. I'm often on it before daylight and…read moreride a 40-mile back-and-forth. Initially, I thought I would get bored and look for other trails but this one always delights. From the sunrise to the surprisingly ever-changing coastal weather to the new people to be seen, every ride is different and gratifyingly curious. We all have our various shades of 2020 horror stories. Has the year been good for you in some way? Hopefully, all the negatives will fade from memory. Renewing my bicycling habit and riding this trail religiously will be what I remember most.

A fantastic open water swimming workout for all levels and abilities…read more Loops around a buoy so no fear of being left behind. You're never off the back...you're just way ahead. We get everyone from top ITU pros and elite ocean swimmers to totall n00bs. Hit us up on Facebook (Ocean Speed Circuit) and join us from April through end of September, every year since 2002!

This is an ad-hoc event that occurs every Wednesday 6:30AM to about 7:30am from April to end of…read moreSept. lead by LA Triathlon Club. During those months, many triathletes and open water swimmers make this their weekly ritual. At times hundreds of people show up to swim! Whenever I go to this event, it just makes my day and I almost feel like being on a beach holiday. The meeting location is at the lifeguard tower 26, very close to Barnard Way and Ocean Park Blvd. Parking is available on street and also in lot (payment required). It's also very close to some outdoor showers and bathrooms so you can rinse down and change before going home (or work!). One key thing is that no lifeguard is on duty at the time so you should be a proficient swimmer before considering going into the water. Wetsuits are not required, but highly recommended.

I really enjoyed running on this Path while I was staying in the area!!…read more The path is wide enough for everyone, walking, biking, running, skating, whatever you want to do!! Plenty of places to rent bikes are nearby, which seems like the way to go if you want to see more. It's on the beach, and it was hot hot hot out there for real, even in the morning. So I started at the Santa Monica Pier, running underneath it, and only went a few miles, mostly going north as it was less busy that way. So, going south takes you to Venice Beach and beyond, and going north takes you as far as Will Rogers Beach, I think. If it was a little cooler, I would have went farther, next time for sure!!!

I enjoy all the Bike Path's, but the SANTA MONICA Bike Path is a lot of fun because of the pier and…read morePerry's pizza and all that good stuff. This is just a part of the Marvin Broudy Bike Path which is about 26 miles long from the north end which is near Temescal Canyon all the way to Torrance Beach. If you have a lot of time, this is the Bike Path you want to do!

Because of COVID-19, lots of places are closed but, the bike path was open. Always check-out the…read moreonline link to ensure it's open on the day you select to go riding. There is nothing better than the Bike Path as you won't be dealing with any cars but, you will be dealing with people walking on or near the bike bath. Be careful as many of the people walking are not paying attention to the cyclists. I can often be heard yelling "HELLO" to get their attention. I started at Will Rogers Beach (one again, check to make sure the parking lot & beach are open) and work my way down through Santa Monica, Marina del Rey (you will ride in a bike lane on a road for a short distance in MDR), Dockweiler beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach at the end which is about 25~26 miles or so. It can get very crowded on the weekends so, always be careful, wear a helmet and keep your eyes on the bike path. Sunglasses and Sunblock along with plenty ow water is a must. Have fun!!

I love the Venice Beach and Marvin Braude Bike Path. In the area near Venice Beach there's a lot of…read morepeople selling stuff and some music and different things and it's always fun to go through the area. The one thing I wish is that people who are pedestrians don't walk on the bike path because it's very dangerous, especially in the twists and turns

Perry's Cafe is a beach rental cafe near the Santa Monica Pier. They have multiple locations along…read morethe beach. They serve coffee, juices, breakfast and lunch. I came in the morning to grab some Iced Coffee. It was very refreshing. Prices at Perry's can be pricey but some were fair. Moreover, they have beach seats. Service was spot on. Staff were nice and competent. Overall, I enjoyed my iced coffee.

If you're looking for a place to rent beach cruisers in Santa Monica / Venice, this is your spot…read more The price per hour was reasonable. Friendly and helpful service. It was also convenient that they had multiple locations along the way so we didn't have to bike all the way back the way we came in order to return the rentals. Thanks for making my friends and I's first bike renting experience smooth. Also tip, we attempted the tandem bike but don't try it unless you're v strong. Compared to the single rider bikes, the tandem ones were heavy. Not sure how anyone can coordinate riding them.