16 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Monica - Atlas Obscura
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Santa Monica

16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Monica, California

Unusual Attractions in Santa Monica

Atlas Obscura Trips

Dark Skies, Desert Beasts: A Night Photography Workshop in Borrego Springs, California

May 7—May 10, 2019

Journey deep into the desert of Southern California to explore and photograph the Dark Sky Sculptural Oasis of Borrego Springs.

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Explore Santa Monica, California

Launch Map

Upcoming Events Near Santa Monica

Homeboy Electronics Recycling.
Feb 22
Los Angeles, California

Trash Transformation

Explore two places where waste is collected, then remade into treasures.
Learning lock picking in Los Angeles.
Feb 23
Los Angeles, California

Lock Picking and Spirit Tasting

A tasting of locally distilled liquors, followed by a hands-on workshop on the fascinating art of lock picking.
The ONE Archives main room.
Feb 23
Los Angeles, California

Sleuthing the Secret Life of Science Fiction

Mapping Queer Science Fiction with a talk and tour of the ONE Archive.
A lush section of the river.
Feb 24
Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles River Adventure

Hop from Frogtown to Mallard Mound.
Harpsichord studio.
Mar 3
Los Angeles, California

It Doesn't Want to Sound Good

Hurdy-gurdies, harpsichords, and the craft of making an instrument sing.
John Gaughan's Turk.
Mar 6
Los Angeles, California

Meet the Chess-Playing Mechanical Turk

An evening with one of the most controversial figures of the 19th century and the man who brought him back to life.
The library at PRS.
Mar 7
Los Angeles, California

Wisdom Literature and Esoterica at the Philosophical Research Society

Visit a repository of everything you're not supposed to know.
Karen Centerfold and Johnny Stunodi live on stage.
Mar 9
Los Angeles, California

Public Access Talent Show

A screening of Public Access TV’s greatest performances.
The Wende Museum.
Mar 10
Culver City, California

The Wende Museum: Hot Topics on the Cold War

Located in an empty Cold War Armory in Culver City, the Wende Museum is one of the world's largest collections of Cold War-era ephemera, paraphernalia, artifacts, and archives.
Arthur Benjamin during a TED Talk.
Mar 15
Los Angeles, Califorina

Magical Pi Day Pie Party

Celebrate a Mathematic Cornerstone with Magic, Cartoons and Pie!
Palisades and Movie Colony, Santa Monica, California.
Mar 23
Santa Monica, California

Hollywood's First Hidden Getaway

Discover Santa Monica's scandalous past during a beachfront tour of the Gold Coast.
Aly Moore leading the way.
Mar 27
West Hollywood, California

Would You Like Bugs With That Wine?

A gastro-entomological adventure for your taste buds.

Santa Monica Leaderboard

Recent Santa Monica Activity

nsmss wants to go to Route 66: End of the Trail
nsmss wants to go to Jadis
triumphofalltheoldmen wants to go to Origami Intersections
MaddaHari MaddaHari wants to go to Route 66: End of the Trail
gregoryiron wants to go to Chain Reaction

Stories About Santa Monica

Ricky Grigg, unknown, Vicki Williams, and Nick Gabaldón enjoying Malibu, California, ca. late 1940s–early 1950s.

The Legendary Black Surfer Who Challenged Stereotypes

In his short 24 years, Nick Gabaldón made an impact on California surfing culture that is still felt today.
by Anna Kusmer
October 04, 2018

Lists Featuring Santa Monica

19 Unusual Hotels in California
Look familiar?
The ivy covered hotel.
Hotel Vertigo
Mid Eastern-themed billiards room

19 Unusual Hotels in California

Remarkable places to stay—or at least visit—in the Golden State.

19

Including The Ahwahnee Hotel, Venice Beach House, and Hotel Vertigo

11 Homes Transformed Into Amazing Mosaics
(Flickr/andreakw)
La Maison Picassiette
The bathroom
Some of the decorations include broken crockery that have been priced back together

11 Homes Transformed Into Amazing Mosaics

If you own your property, why not bedazzle it?

11

Including Wyckoff Street Mosaic, La Maison Picassiette, and House of Mirrors