2017 kicked off with a fabulous Business Development Series event, the Annual Marketing Breakfast. Over 90 members enjoyed delicious breakfast at OB Warehouse and an informative seminar by Brown Marketing Strategies and OBMA staff. We introduced our 2017 theme: the 25th anniversary of the OB Farmers Market.
Later in January, we held our Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration. Over 45 member businesses were recognized for their contributions to Ocean Beach in economic development, promotion, design, public safety, and community involvement. The festive and well-attended celebration featured food and raffle prizes from dozens of member businesses. Special awards were presented to Julie Klein (the "Sherrif of OB" Award) and Dave Martin (the Mike Hardin "Like a Boss" Award).
In February, OBMA Board Members and staff members attended the California Main Street Alliance conference in Monterey, California, to learn from a wide variety of speakers and experts in main streets and downtowns and to participate in team-building activities.
In March, Edward Jones organized and hosted a Business Development Series event featuring a Health and Finance program. The seminar addressed physical, mental, and financial health and featured wonderful breakfast at Wonderland Ocean Pub with coffee from OB Beans.
District 2 San Diego City Councilmember Lorie Zapf and I Love A Clean San Diego hosted a community cleanup in Ocean Beach in March. Over 300 volunteers came together to paint bike racks, pick up trash, and wash sidewalks. Coordinating efforts by the OBMA North OB Committee worked to clean up the Voltaire commercial corridor.
The March Sundowner at Details SalonSpa was co-hosted by Details, Raglan Public House, and Tami Fuller's Real Estate Team. It was a great evening with delicious food and beverages, wonderful raffle prizes, and excellent networking!
In April, District 2 Councilmember Lorie Zapf put on a Council District 2 Volunteer Appreciation Day where a number of our deserving members were honored, including Julie Klein (nominated by OBMA), Dave Martin (nominated by OBCDC), Laura Dennison (nominated by OB Friends of the Library), and Gloryanna Post (treasurer of OB Woman's Club). Also in April, OBMA hosted another Business Development Series on social media. The Social Media Workshop was sponsored by Aliro Marketing, Intrepid Network, and Brown Marketing, who collaborated to produce a terrific seminar on setting businesses up for social media success. Wonderland provided the venue and delicious food, and Pirate's Cove Tiki Port sponsored the coffee for the morning. The well-attended April Sundowner was held at the Pearl Hotel and featured wonderful food and a fun atmosphere.
We celebrated 25th Anniversary of the OB Farmers Market in May with two special markets that featured great party favors: free reusable produce bag giveaways (generously sponsored by Seaport Realtors, Inn at Sunset Cliffs, Sunshine Co Saloon, House of Yogi, OB Surf Lodge, Newport Quikstop Liquor/Cafe Bella, Catrina Russell, Pioneer, Velvet Hair Lounge, Wonderland Ocean Pub, Beach Sweets, Newbreak Church, Tami Fuller's Real Estate Team, Swanky Sugar, Tony's, Raglan Public House, OB Sands, and Electric Chair Salon) and veggie-themed coloring book giveaways for kids. The Peninsula Beacon sponsored a coloring contest for adults with prizes from OB Brewery, Raglan Public House, Wonderland Ocean Pub, and Newport Pizza and Ale House that garnered dozens of entries. District 2 City Councilmember Lorie Zapf honored the market's anniversary with remarks and a certificate proclaiming May 17, 2017, OB Farmers Market 25th Anniversary Day in the City of San Diego. We debuted a new OB Farmers Market logo designed by AJ Knox in conjunction with the celebration.
The delightful May Sundowner was held at Gianni Buonomo Vintners with food provided by Ortega's. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful winery event space and delicious sangria and other treats!
The 38th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival on Saturday, June 24, 2017, was another great success. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love with festive community murals, incredible music, delicious fair food, a fierce chili cook-off, and tons of vendors lining the commercial streets in downtown OB for a fantastic day! The 4th of July Fireworks off the OB Pier were spectacular, too.
Chris Wilmot, CPA, retired from the OBMA Board of Directors after many years of service at the end of his term in July 2017. CC Summerfield, Realtor, was elected to fill his seat and joined the Board at their July 2017 meeting. At their August meeting, the Board re-elected the slate of executive board members: President Barbara Iacometti, Details SalonSpa; 1st VP Julie Klein, Julie Designs; 2nd VP Mike Akey, Pacific View Real Estate; Secretary Mary Orem, Morland Properties; and Treasurer Mike Stifano, Winstons.
We enjoyed two wonderful summer Sundowners. The July Sundowner at Newbreak Church co-hosted by Clayhomes, Raglan Public House, and Lighthouse Ice Cream provided delicious food and amazing live entertainment, including live music and hilarious stand-up comedy. The August Sundowner at Velvet Hair Lounge with food by Four Seasons Foods Catering was a wonderful celebration of Velvet's 1-year anniversary including cake and champagne toasts. Kudos to all our summer hosts!
Fall kicked off with a festive September Sundowner hosted by the North OB Committee at Ocean Villa Inn. Contributors included OB Deli, Car's Jars, BO-beau, Surf Rider Pizza, Mike Hess Brewing, OB People's, and Smokin J's. Michael Head provided music.
The 2017 OB Oktoberfest was a rollicking success with great music and fundraising for community groups. New this year was the OktoberStretch mini yoga festival by the beach. The October Sundowner was hosted by Catrina Russell Real Estate, Bird's Surf Shed, and Surf Rider Pizza, and everyone had a wonderful time!
In the late fall, Deco Bikes at the pier lot were replaced with regular bike racks.
As the holiday season rolled around, we once again enjoyed the generosity of a dedicated team of volunteers who created, restored, and installed the festive street decorations in our BID before Thanksgiving. Next up was Small Business Saturday, and our celebration of OB's small businesses was supported by the Small Business Saturday Coalition. We kicked off our first-ever Passport to OB (a punch-card program for customers to visit local businesses and then enter win fabulous prizes) with a launch event on Small Business Saturday with a giant sand sculpture celebrating Ocean Beach and shopping small along with fun giveaways at the foot of Newport Ave. Our popular Storefront Decorating Contest returned in 2017 with an unprecedented number of participating merchants making OB's commercial districts merry and bright. The festive holiday Sundowner in December was hosted by Brown Marketing Strategies and featured an ugly sweater contest and a toy collection for the OB Food & Toy Drive.
