Customers look at antique tiles during the California Heritage Museum's 13th annual Antique and Contemporary Tile Show on Saturday, June 8, 2013.The show featured Antique Tiles, Art Pottery, Contemporary Tiles, Monterey Furniture, and much much.

Attendees look at ceramic totem trees by artist Leslie Codina during the 28th annual Contemporary Crafts Market at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Sunday, June 09, 2013.

The premiere event for one-of-a-kind functional and decorative crafts feature the distinctive works of over 240 of the nation’s finest artists and craftspeople -- ranging from intricate jewelry, unique glassware and ceramics to hand-painted textiles, custom furniture, mixed-media creations and much more. All items on display and for sale have been jury-selected for their exceptional quality. 

The Contemporary Crafts Market has been a showcase for burgeoning and established talent since its inception 28 years ago. The market brings together an eclectic mix of artisans, while also allowing visitors to meet the artists behind some of the nation’s finest crafts. Roy Helms, Contemporary Crafts Market founder, has continually sought to raise awareness offine crafts as a serious art form by highlighting talented artists who have created a name for themselves and whose works can be found in national and international museums or galleries. 

“Each year, the Contemporary Crafts Market provides shoppers and collectors with some of the finest craft pieces from across the United States,” Helms explains. “This year is no exception, as these artists have provided visitors with a truly extraordinary array of pieces that are perfect gifts for friends and family.”

The market will relocate to the Pasadena Civic Center during the renovations, beginning with the November 2013 show.

Representatives from Starline Tours, Santa Monica Place, Downtown Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrate the launch of Starline Tours' new route connecting the LAX Area to Santa Monica.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held today launching Starline Tour's recently expanded CitySightseeing service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) area hotels to Santa Monica via Fisherman's Village made possible by a partnership with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. and Santa Monica Place. Representatives from Starline Tours, Santa Monica Place, Downtown Santa Monica, the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) came together as the "first bus" drove through to break the ribbon.

"70% of Santa Monica hotel visitors never use a car while they are here and we are continually working to increase visitor spending while reducing impact to the local community," said Misti Kerns, SMCVB CEO/President. "These new routes provide visitors a convenient connection from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) area hotels to the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, allowing them to access and explore Santa Monica car-free."

With shopping and dining at the top of visitor itineraries, partnering with Starline Tour's popular and convenient Hop on, Hop off service was a key strategic move for Downtown Santa Monica to attract a larger share of visitors. Riders are invited to present a voucher at the Santa Monica Place Concierge desk located in Center Plaza (level 1), to receive a complimentary Visitor Rewards Book with over $1,000 in savings when shopping & dining in Downtown Santa Monica.

"We are thrilled to be part of this initiative. Delivering guests to the heart of Downtown Santa Monica via Starline Tours Hop-on, Hop-off invites visitors and locals to enjoy our pedestrian-friendly shopping, al fresco dining and endless entertainment experiences without ever needing a car," said Kathleen Rawson, CEO Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

Recognizing the increasing importance of international visitors to Los Angeles, Starline Tours has recently introduced multilingual tour narration onto its Citywide Double-Decker Hop-on Hop-off Tour service. This August, every passenger will be given new individual disposable earphones when boarding offering tour narration in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French or Italian. The tour multilingual narration is triggered by GPS as the Starline CitySightseeing buses travel around their fixed tour routes.

"With the addition of these new routes, Starline Tours’ coverage expands to more than 100 miles of touring routes, making it the world’s largest CitySightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour," said Philip Ferentinos, Director of Starline Tours. "Our enhanced international services are designed to let all visitors know that they are welcome in Los Angeles and Santa Monica is a huge part of that experience."

In 2012, 57% of Santa Monica visitors came from outside the U.S. The Santa Monica Tourism Economic Impact Study consistently shows that international visitors tend to stay in the destination longer, use public transportation and spend more money while they are here.

"Visitors from all over the world are drawn by Santa Monica Place’s luxury brands and beautiful location, two blocks from the Pacific Ocean, " said Julia Ladd, Senior Property Manager at Santa Monica Place. "Our full service concierge offers informational literature and services for people of all languages and we look forward to welcoming guests via Starline Tours at our central location."

Matt Bradford performs at McCabe's Guitar Shop during Pico Improvement Organization (PIO) Neighborhood Mixer on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.

In honor of National CPR Week, Santa Monica Firefighter Matt Bailey teaches Julia Ladd  to perform  Hands-Only CPR at Santa Monica Place on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.  Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths. It involves two easy steps: Call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest. Don't stop until help or an AED arrives.  Anyone can perform Hands-Only CPR and everyone should perform it if they aren't confident in their CPR skills or haven't learned conventional CPR.   Hands-Only CPR is easy to remember and results in delivery of more, uninterrupted chest compressions until more advanced care arrives on the scene.  Bystanders must take action when they see someone suddenly collapse and stop breathing normally. When effective bystander CPR is given immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a victim's chance of survival. Hands-Only CPR can help save lives. Do not give Hands-Only CPR to infants and children -- all infants and children who have a sudden cardiac arrest need conventional CPR.  Adults who nearly-drown or have cardiac arrest due to a respiratory cause need conventional CPR. Check out this AHA video for more information http://www.youtube.com/americanheartassoc

One hundred cyclist spin at the Santa Monica Pier during 'Pedal on the Pier 100 Mile-A-Thon' on Sunday, June 2 2013. This event was organized to raise funds for the Harold Robinson Foundation which provides underprivileged children the means, free of cost, to attend a safe, nurturing and non-competitive camp environment where they will experience nature and participate in diverse recreational programs designed to strengthen confidence and independence, build character and develop leadership skills. It is the vision of the Harold Robinson Foundation to provide a level playing field for our community's underserved children.

Santa Monica Festival - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Highlight's from the 22nd Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park on Saturday, June 1, 2013. The festival is co-presented by the City of Santa Monica’s Cultural Affairs Division and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, the festival reflects the intersection of art and the environment.

Nick Gabaldón Day - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Surfers celebrate Nick Gabaldón Day at Santa Monica's "Inkwell" beach on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Nick Gabaldón Day honors the legacy of Los Angeles' First Surfer of Color. Nick Gabaldón was a Santa Monica High School student who in the 1940s became the first documented surfer of African American and Mexican descent at a beach site formerly referred to as the “Ink Well.” Gabaldón’s legacy has inspired many surfers of color and otherwise to consider him as a role model. The event includes free surf lessons, beach and history exploration and a screening of White Wash," a documentary exploring the complexity of race in America through the eyes of the ocean. Nick Gabaldón Day is sponsored by Heal the Bay.