by Joshua J. Pinkay | Feb 5, 2021
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM), has embarked on a process to develop a comprehensive private space plan to revitalize Third Street Promenade. The Third Street Promenade Stabilization and Economic Vitality Plan (Vitality Plan) will endeavor to build upon the Promenade’s legacy as an enthralling, dynamic and inclusive city center by focusing on the use of private properties and the development of new zoning elements that will create opportunities for modern and attractive uses like experiential retail, live entertainment, nightlife, museums, small scale manufacturing, and more.
“The last year brought unprecedented challenges to our community and business owners and while there are still difficult days ahead, we stand at the precipice of reinvention today,” said DTSM, Inc. CEO Kathleen Rawson. “The pandemic only exacerbated the impacts of online shopping on brick and mortar retail, we have been working on how to best counteract these effects for some time now. This new Vitality Plan concentrates primarily on private uses and creative zoning that will spark the change we need.”
DTSM has enlisted the help of world-renowned experts in public space environments and retail strategy from MIG and Streetsense to work with the City of Santa Monica, private stakeholders and a Project Advisory Committee, composed of longtime property owners and professionals in the fields of architecture/urban design, marketing and hospitality.
Over the next three months, the partners will be meeting with stakeholder focus groups, and the Santa Monica City Council to develop the Vitality Plan. The first City Council study session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9. A draft plan of action is expected to be delivered in March with final adoption by the DTSM board of directors in April of 2021.
For more information on the Vitality Plan, visit downtownsm.com/promenade. For the latest resources and information, follow @DTSantaMonica on Instagram and Twitter or DowntownSantaMonica on Facebook.
by Joshua J. Pinkay | Feb 2, 2021
Even with a backyard full of adventure, Southern California has been significantly affected by strict lockdown guidelines due to the overwhelming rise of Covid-19. The overall impact of the virus has severely limited the types of socially distant activities we can partake in – and while we encourage everyone to remain at home and limit interaction with outside members of your household, we thought we’d share at least one excellent option of escape during this time.
If there is nothing truer about Southern California and its great weather, is that SoCal has a landscape of beauty that can truly be appreciated in a variety of ways, especially “off-road”. Yes, that’s right, imagine yourself on an off-road adventure on the most top of the line all-terrain vehicles available, cruising through an incredible desert and mountain trail. That’s exactly the type of experience Polaris Adventures offers with the Glamis North Hot Springs Resort.
Located in Glamis, CA, Glamis North Hot Springs Resort has been able to create one of the most effective, minimum to no-contact experiences in the region by providing a completely contact-less booking and check-in procedure to one of their many themed lodges and cabins. Booking was easy, and the digital door check-in makes the process so convenient. It’s what helped make SoCal Mag’s experience even more reassuring in the first place.*
(*Establishment note: Keeping riders and customers safe is our top priority. Each of our individually operated Outfitter locations adheres to local and state laws. Glamis North Hot Springs is currently open for business with outdoor activities such as off-roading, while all food and beverage services are closed. Our business is strictly following social distancing, mask-wearing, sanitizing and keeping up with all California health and safety regulations.)
Our team at SoCal had the chance to embark on the full experience first hand from lodging to off-road adventure. We knew we were in store for something different and exciting, but we had no clue that the entire experience would highly exceed our expectations.
We checked into what they call the “Route 66 Motor Lodge” with an interior completely decorated in homage to the iconic highway accented with Americana styling and road paraphernalia. The walls are lined with license plates from all over the country and the living room is even decorated with an impressive and very real motorcycle as one of the standout pieces in the room. Each lodge includes a full kitchen with utensils and kitchenware, along with furnished rooms and bathrooms. You only have to provide your own bedding and towels.
Now, the most exciting part of the entire experience was of course the RZR Rentals for our off-road excursion. RZR’s are top of the line all-terrain vehicles that were designed to navigate all kinds of environments – and the self-guided tours and trails at Glamis North offer it all.
You can choose between either a 2-seater or 4-seater RZR so that you can share the experience with others. Each rental includes a self-guided trip with built-in GPS navigation system for easy traveling. To note, the driver must be 18+ and show a driver’s license when retrieving the vehicle. Once all of that is squared away, it’s just you and the land ahead. The views throughout the Red Canyon, Chiriaco Summit, Bat Caves, Bradshaw Trail, and Hotel California were stunning. The only real way to experience that type of terrain is through these vehicles. The guided GPS makes exploration secure and safe, while still feeling the rush and excitement of discovery in this environment.
After the excursion, guests can enjoy the more relaxing experience Glamis North has to offer through its all natural hot spring pools and tubs. This water is naturally composed of minerals with a variety of healing benefits. Coming out at searing 160 degrees, the healing waters are cooled just enough before entering one of two therapeutic pools and an additional 14 individual hot tubs to choose from. Keep in mind, there are no chemicals in this water, so you can allow yourself to simply bask in its essence without heavy chlorine or sulfur smells. There’s nothing like it, really, and it certainly made us feel relaxed after our riding day.
Overall, Glamis North Hot Springs Resort is a great escape during these times. We’ve never experienced anything like it and hope our readers get a chance to experience it as well. The ability to explore the vast trails in this way was incredible. Imagine, these all-terrain RZR’s were designed to maneuver all types of ground. The way you can travel on these vehicles can’t ever compare to something you’d experience in your own car. It’s the opportunity to really explore the lay of the land and unite yourself with this environment that really makes it the exciting experience that it is.
To learn more and make a reservation, visit Glamis North Hot Springs.
And to learn more about other Polaris Adventures locations and experiences, Click Here.
(Photography by: ProView Imaging)
by zuke oshiro | Nov 23, 2019
If you’re travelling with a budget in mind, KAYAK offers a great service: find locations for travel based on location and price worldwide. Here’s how it works: Go to the flight section, under “anywhere” click and you wil find explore your options with anywhere search. Click on any price and it will give you the current price AND a forward look at upcoming prices. Deal of the day would appear to be Kahului, Hawaii. Also known as Maui, a roundtrip today would coast $338, roundtrip. If you like adventure and can afford it, you might take an expensive flight to Tolinaro in Madagascar for $3343.
https://www.kayak.com/
Meet Zuke Oshiro
Zuke Oshiro was born in raised in Hokkaido, the north island of Japan, and moved to Los Angeles in 1999. While he had his own educational agency business, Zuke has continuously traveled around world, and writes for numerious publications and journals.
info@socalmag.com
