St. Monica Catholic Church, originally Saint Monica Parish, was established in 1886 when Santa Monica was still an unincorporated part of LA County and of Ballona Township. The church was named for Saint Monica of Thagaste and was originally located on what is now the Third Street Promenade between Santa Monica Blvd and Arizona Ave.
St. Monica served as the inspiration for the 1944 film classic Going My Way, starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Crosby’s character was partly inspired by Msgr. Nicholas Conneally, who was the pastor of St. Monica for 26 years from 1923 to 1949. The film's director and writer Leo McCarey was a parishioner and friend of Msgr. Conneally.
The current church opened for Christmas in 1925.
Located: 701 California Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Shutters on the Beach opened on June 8, 1993 on Santa Monica's beachfront. It was built by Hill Architects on property that had been occupied by various beach clubs since 1925. Its Craftsman-style exterior was meant to reference Southern California resorts and cottages of the 1920s. At the time of its opening, it was the only hotel in Santa Monica with direct beach access.
In the 2003 film Something's Gotta Give, Shutters' One Pico restaurant stood in for a Hamptons, New York restaurant where Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves's characters go on a date.
Shutters has been referred to as "Hollywood's Beach House" and is known as a popular hotel and dining spot among Hollywood actors and actresses. It’s also known for being among the most environmentally friendly hotels in Los Angeles.
Location: 1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405