SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Public Library is unleashing Santa Monica Eats!, a six-week event of programs, screenings, hands-on activities and displays exploring the food culture of Santa Monica. Programs will be held at the Main Library and all four Branch Libraries and are offered for foodies of all ages. The series runs from Thursday, October 5 through November 11.

According to a press release from the city of Santa Monica, the city’s culinary history includes food for beachgoers (Hot Dog on a Stick was founded here in 1946) to the sublime cuisine of many of the country’s top chefs today. Santa Monica has been at the focal point of the sustainable food movement, with the Santa Monica Farmers Market’s emphasis on local organic produce and Heal the Bay’s efforts to promote ocean-friendly seafood.

The series kicks off with the following events listed below For a complete list of programs, see: www.smpl.org/santamonicaeats.

Handmade Cookbook Workshop

Debra Disman teaches you how to create an accordion-style cookbook to collect your favorite recipes. For adults, teens and children ages 10 and up. The event will be held on Saturday, October 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

Author/Illustrator Talk: Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix

June Jo Lee and graffiti artist Man One discuss their children’s biography about famed local chef Roy Choi. An art demonstration and activity follow. The event will be held on Saturday, October 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Virginia Avenue Park located at 2200 Virginia Avenue.

Sustainable Seafood

Nick Fash, Education Manager for Heal the Bay, discusses the history, future of, and issues surrounding our love affair with seafood and offers tools for making ocean-friendly choices. The event is being co-presented with the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, and will be held on Tuesday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

Mobile Meals: Street Food, Pop-ups and Meal Kits

Local food writers dish on the latest food trends. With Farley Elliott (senior editor at Eater Los Angeles and author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks), Bill Esparza (James Beard Award-winning writer at Los Angeles Magazine and author of L.A. Mexicano), Tien Nguyen (co-author of L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food with Roy Choi and Natasha Phan, and founder of Coffee L.A.) and Katherine Spiers (food editor at L.A. Weekly and host of the food history podcast Smart Mouth). A book sale and  book signing will take place after the event which will be held on Thursday, October 12 at 7 p.m. at the Main Library.

Photos of Santa Monica restaurants, a slideshow of vintage menus from local eateries, and magazine spreads showing food trends and advertisements from previous decades will be on display at the Main Library throughout the six-week series.

Funding for Santa Monica Eats! is provided by the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library. Programs are free to the public to attend. Space is limited and is based on a first arrival basis. The Santa Monica Public Library is wheelchair accessible. For disability-related accommodations, contact the Library Administration at (310) 458-8606 at least one week prior to event. All Library locations are served by the Big Blue Bus. Bicycle parking racks are available at the library.