Irish Tea Leaf Reader Ms. Patricia McCarthy Donnelly reads a fortune at the Third Street Promenade on Sunday, December 23, 2012.

Santa Monica Bay amid the sunset on Monday, December 24, 2012.

American Dan cycles down Broadway Ave. on Tuesday, December 25, 2012.

Street performers dressed as Darth Vader, Mickey Mouse and Stormtrooper stroll along Arizona Ave on Sunday, December 23, 2012.

Love the new "Fables of The Pier" banners at the Santa Monica Pier. (Sunday, December 23, 2012)

Pacific Park’s mascot Inkie wearing a  Santa’s cap for the holidays. (Saturday December 22, 2012)

The historic Santa Monica Pier neon sign  amid the sunset on Thursday, December 20, 2012.  The neon sign was installed in 1940 by the Santa Monica Businessmen's Association to celebrate the opening of the pier's newly built ramp. Today it stands as a symbol for the California lifestyle and is a huge tourist destination all year long. The Santa Monica Pier was named a Los Angeles County Landmark in 1975 and designated a City of Santa Monica Landmark in August, 1976.

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The sun can be seen setting through Baile Oakes' interactive wood sculpture entitled, "Gestation III," 1991, marking the beginning of the winter solstice at Palisades Park on Thursday, December 20, 2012. The Sun sets exactly in the middle of the sculpture's opening only during the winter solstice. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still) literally means 'Sun Stands Still.' During the solstice the position of the sun remains in the same position for three days. The day of the Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The days will begin to get longer after the winter solstice.