Snow and the beach don't exist in two different universes, as much as advertising likes to portray the beach as the all-sunny, all-tan, all-toasty place all the time, and mountains as the only place where the snow goes.
We know that the fluffy white stuff falls on the sand in cooler climes. Santa Monica does not qualify in the "cooler climes" category, but it sees its own snowfall, come the holidays, and you don't need to check the weather to find out when: It's happening every night through Dec. 18 at Wilshire Boulevard and the Third Street Promenade at 6 o'clock on the dot.
If only all snowfall predictions were as intersection-specific and down to the minute.
It's part of Winterlit, Downtown Santa Monica's annual fa-la-la festivity which encompasses ICE (that's the sweet rink at Arizona and 5th), the evening snowfalls (as mentioned, be at Wilshire and the Promenade at 6 p.m., then look up), photos with Santa, a glittery tree, and, on special December days, pet pictures with Mr. Kringle.
It's like all the stuffing inside of a turkey or Christmas cracker, only not edible, nor poppable, but rather spread out along the promenade.
A place that is, yes, just a short walk from one of Southern California's most iconic sunny beaches. Even snow can fall near the Santa Monica Pier, with a little behind-the-scenes elbow grease and some happy suspension of disbelief.
But believe this: Snow is falling on Thanksgiving night, if you need a merry spot to take the relatives to, post-games, post-feasting, and post-nap.
