Banker Likes Flying Out of SMO for Lunch

For "," an ongoing and open-ended series, we ask prominent figures in the community what they most enjoy about the city. In this edition, we touch base with Matt Olsen, who recently joined Boston Private Bank & Trust Company in their Santa Monica office (located at 520 Broadway Ave.).

Olsen has lived in Southern California since 1990, when he transferred here with Pan American World Airways. While he's pretty much a local, he says he's enjoying working this close to for the first time in his banking career.

Here is where you can find Olsen when he is not working on loan and deposit opportunities for Boston Private Bank:

1. Rollerblading at : "There is no better pavement anywhere from Temescal Canyon to Palos Verdes. I enjoy speed, so for me the smoothest sidewalk equals the fastest pace. Also, the bike-path curves around the pier make for some great crossovers at speed. After work, I hitch on my five-wheel skates and try to keep up with the bikes.”

2. : "I have to hand it to the . They really did an amazing job on renovating the mall and turning it into a great place to visit. It has a lot of options for entertaining clients, and it is open and fun to take my wife and daughter to on evenings and weekends.”

3. "It might be considered a little old-school these days, but it was the second restaurant for Wolfgang Puck, and it still has the creative flair and definitive fusion cooking he pioneered.”

4. : “As a pilot, I love being this close to the field and being able to fly somewhere for lunch. Several airports in Southern California have great restaurants, and I can get there in about the same amount of time it takes me to go from my office to downtown L.A. in my car. Plus the traffic I have to deal with is way easier than navigating the freeways!”

What Santa Monica places, events, activities, etc. do you love the most? Tell the Santa Monica Patch audience in the comments box below.