5:15-6:15pm Docents available at the Marion Davies Guest House to discuss the site
6:30-8:00pm Talk

Local columnist Frank Gruber speaks about the Belmar Triangle, an African-American neighborhood nestled between Pico Boulevard, Main and Fourth Streets that was destroyed in the 1950s by the City of Santa Monica to build the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Not only did many African-Americans live in the area, on both sides of Pico, but the neighborhood was just a few blocks from the “Inkwell,” the area of the Santa Monica Beach that many African-Americans from around the region frequented and was an important center for Black-owned businesses. Gruber traces the neighborhood's history from the early 20th century to the 1950s.

At that time the City of Santa Monica wanted to improve its tourist facilities by building a new Civic Auditorium, and the Belmar Triangle became a target of "urban renewal." What was home and a vibrant community to those who lived and owned businesses there was categorized as “blighted” by the City, which used eminent domain to condemn black-owned properties, leveled the homes and businesses, and built the Civic Auditorium and its parking lot. Ironically, within a few years the auditorium was considered a white elephant. ‪Gruber talks about its history and future plans for the area‬.

Frank Gruber, a lawyer by profession, moved to Santa Monica in the '80s and became involved in Santa Monica politics in the '90s.  He ultimately served four years on the Planning Commission, from 1995 to 1999.  In 2000 he started to write a weekly column, called "What I Say," for the Santa Monica Lookout News, a pioneering local news website that had been created two years earlier after the city's century-old newspaper was closed down. Frank's aim in writing the column has been to treat local life and politics in Santa Monica with the same kind of attention typically applied in American journalism to national affairs. He's now been writing the column for almost eleven years. He is the author of the book, Urban Worrier: Making Politics Personal.

Stop by early for information on the Beach House by docents from the Santa Monica Conservancy before every Beach=Culture evening, from 5:15-6:15pm.Tickets are free but seating is limited and reservations are required. If you would like to attend, please reserve online. Please plan to arrive by 6:15pm to retain your reservation. Late seating, even for reservation-holders, is not guaranteed. To adjust or cancel your reservation for this event, email beachhouse@smgov.net. We appreciate your keeping in touch!

Directions: The Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90402 on the west side of Pacific Coast Highway, a half mile north of the California Incline and a half mile south of Chautauqua Blvd. Plenty of public parking is available - enter off PCH at the Beach House Way traffic light. The facility is easily accessible by foot or bike from the beach bike path, although the Beach closes at sunset. There is ample bike parking at racks throughout the site - remember to bring your own lock.

Parking: There is an hourly/daily parking charge at the park and pay machines available in three areas of the ACBH parking lot. Fees change; please check the website for details.

Other events: To view & make reservations for future free Beach=Culture events, check http://annenbergbeachhouse.com/beachculture.

General Info: For hours, events and more, visit http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com, or call 310-458-4904. Back on the Beach Café hours.