Mar. 2: Downtown Parking Garage Could Be Replaced by a Bigger One

Welcome to another edition of The SM AM Report. Compared with Tuesday, today is poised to be warmer weather-wise and busier activity-wise.

In case you didn't stop by the site Tuesday, here's what you missed: a preview of the Santa Monica High School girls basketball team's CIF playoffs semifinal game against Mater Dei (the Vikings got trounced, 57-37); to our report on the fatal traffic collision that occurred two weeks ago at Ocean and Arizona; on the YWCA's new Women's Partnership; and on an elderly man losing his trailer home in a fire late last week.

One more thing before we get started with today's SM AM Report: Thanks again to Santa Monica Patch reader Renee Rendler-Kaplan, who has been contributing photos to this column, including the one you see above. If you have an early-morning pic you'd like to share, shoot an e-mail over to Kurt.Orzeck@patch.com.

Now, on to today:

Weather Forecast

• mostly cloudy
• high temperature: 63 degrees
• low temperature: 48 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 20 percent
• humidity: 62 percent
• sunrise: 6:21 a.m.
• sunset: 5:51 p.m.

The Main Event

• The Planning Commission will discuss replacing the 342-space public parking garage at 1431 Second St. with a bigger structure that can hold 750 cars and 90 bicycles. It would also have additional retail and storage space, as well as solar panels on the roof. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at . The full agenda is here.

The Runner-Up

• The Santa Monica Public Library is offering two "bonus" Book Discussions today. The talks pertain to The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a Citywide Reads finalist that got edged out by Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Wench. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the 's Community Meeting Room, library volunteers will coordinate a chat about the national bestseller, which revolves around a young biracial girl struggling with a tragedy in her family. Afterward, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the MLK Auditorium, author Heidi Durrow will talk about her novel, then sell and sign copies of it.

Other Happenings

• 24 Hour Fitness members who work out at location better high-tail it over there today for an extensive workout. At 8 p.m., the gym will temporarily close for renovations, and it won't be open again till June 24. While that location is closed, 24 Hour Fitness is directing members to its gyms at , 9911 Pico Blvd. and 8612 Santa Monica Blvd.
• returns to tonight from 7:30 to 10 p.m., with various speakers and writers sharing their stories slam-style. Tickets are $8. Don't worry about catching dinner beforehand; a hot dog truck will be outside the venue.
• Speaking of food trucks, the Dosa Truck will be dishing up Indian food outside the 's Wine Bar from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. It should provide relief to those at the bar as they swill various wines and beers from across the globe. The bar will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Last but Not Least

• students give another performance of the famous musical Threepenny Opera at 7 p.m. in the school's Humanities Center Theater. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Go to see photos from the premiere.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On Mar. 2, 2008, the Santa Monica Habitat Interfaith Partnership staged a benefit concert to support Habitat for Humanity. The SHIP Interfaith Choir and Orchestra—consisting of musicians from the , and —performed at First Presbyterian.