Crew from John S. Meek Company, Inc. work on the trestle at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, May 16, 2013. The year long-$8.2 million Pier Replacement Project consists of a complete demolition and reconstruction of a 360-foot long by 36-foot wide section of the Municipal Pier from the high tide line to the westerly concrete pier constructed in the late 1980s. The existing Municipal Pier in this area was constructed of timber in the 1920s. A Pier infrastructure assessment study concluded that this section is in need of complete replacement. The pier will remain open for the entire time of construction.

A young couple tie the knot at Santa Monica Beach on Monday, May 13, 2013.

The California Heritage Museum is currently exhibiting Navajo Textiles Wearing Blankets and Rugs. During the 19th century, the Native Americans of the Southwest used colorful handwoven wool textiles as clothing, cloaks, baby wraps, bedding, furnishings, saddle blankets and trade goods. Featuring 50 blankets made between 1860 and 1960, Navajo Textiles highlights the powerful aesthetics and graphic design trends that characterize the five periods of Navajo weaving. Additionally, the exhibition emphasizes the Navajo blanket weaving process including the materials, functions and design motifs. This exhibition was curated by Tobi Smith, Executive Director of the California Heritage Museum from the Mark and Jan Hilbert Collection. The California Heritage Museum is open 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Heidi Ross, AKA Elephant Mama, holds 10 elephants while the Baila Baila Band performs at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Kids ride the ponies and feed the animals at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Donkey Kong was spotted at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, May 11, 2013. He was promoting Nintendo’s new 3D Video Game.

Chris Horiuchi, 24, and Andrea Chow, 23, lawn bowl during Santa Monica Lawn Bowling Club’s Annual open House  on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Lawn bowls is a finesse-skill game, sometimes referred to as “billiards on grass”.  Although it is a sport for all ages, and played both as a recreation and highly competitive international sport, it’s low impact manner and unique social interaction appeals especially to adults and seniors.      

California’s first lawn bowling green opened in 1901 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, followed in Southern California by bowling complexes in Redlands, Pasadena and Long Beach.  Currently, the Southland has 38 lawn bowling clubs from San Diego south to Santa Maria north. 

Steve Lefler, Vice President of Modular Lifestyles, Inc., gives a tour of a Zero Energy- "Off Grid" mobile home "Accessory Dwelling Unit" (ADU) during the 10^th annual Alternative Building Materials & Design Expo (AltBuild) at  the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Saturday, May 11, 2013. The ADU features no electric bills, a 400 sq ft floor plan, revolutionary batteries, and can be outfitted with Age-in-Place technology. Just approved for City of Berkeley and Sonoma; is LA next? Some units of which have cut the costs of energy bills for tenants by as much as 90% or more.

The annual Alternative AltBuild celebrates a decade as the largest and most-respected green design and building expo in Southern California by bringing together architects, builders, contractors, engineers, and landscapers to focus on what is next for Los Angeles and figure out how to get there. Presented by the City of Santa Monica, AltBuild returned to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium serving top industry professionals, influential exhibitors, as well as a large consumer audience. The event programming and expo serves both those already committed to, and those curious about, sustainable design. The topic of what is next for Los Angeles—for professionals and residents of the region—has become one of keen interest, engaging funding, policy, and social, functional and design issues. With so many thought leaders focused on a sustainable approach to L.A.’s design-build issues, AltBuild’s mission provides a unique opportunity for discussion across the spectrum of fields involved. The Expo featured over 150 hand-picked exhibitors covering green building and design materials; modular housing; repurposed goods; energy efficiency techniques and technologies; alternative energy; water conservation and management; environmental plumbing; municipal and state agencies; and non-profit organizations.