Take A Moment - An Unplugged Event & Day of Rest

Take A Moment - An Unplugged Event & Day of Rest invites you to slow down and experience rest in all its forms. 

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and National Water Safety Month, this site-wide event brings together a range of offerings designed to support your well-being, reflection, and connection. 

Rooted in Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s concept of the seven types of rest—physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual—the Annenberg Community Beach House transforms into a space intentionally designed for you to reset and restore. 

This is not a typical Beach House pool day. Instead of large-scale programming, you’ll find smaller, more intentional and intimate experiences throughout the grounds, designed to feel grounded, welcoming, and accessible for families, youth, and adults alike. 

From quiet reading areas to guided water experiences, each space offers you a different way to engage at your own pace. Explore what interests you, stay for a while, or simply take a moment for yourself. 

Some workshops have limited capacity, so we encourage you to RSVP for any activities you’d like to attend. On the day of the event, check-in will take place at Guest Services. Signage will be available throughout the grounds to help guide you through the experience. 

Experience Rest Across the Site 

Throughout the day, you can explore: 

• Physical Rest through floating sessions, water safety workshops, and gentle movement in the pool 
• Mental Rest in a cozy reading nook with free books for all ages 
• Emotional Rest through Plant Therapy, a hands-on, nature-based experience exploring the healing benefits of working with soil and plant materials 
• Sensory Rest with calming environments, sound baths, and coastal ambiance 
• Creative Rest through live music, artistic workshops, and inspiration 
• Social Rest with open, low-pressure spaces to gather or simply exist alongside others 
• Spiritual Rest through grounding experiences like sound baths and quiet reflection 

Featured Programming Schedule 

1:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Book Nook | Sand & Sea Room 

Settle into a quiet reading nook with books for all ages, courtesy of Friends of the Library, or bring your own. Stay for a few pages or linger longer in this thoughtfully designed space. 

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Plant Therapy | Courtyard 

Spend time with Plant Therapy, presented by the Office of Sustainability & the Environment. Engage in simple, grounding activities like planting and pressed flower-making. 

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | WHALE Tales | Garden Terrace Lounge 

Explore Longfellow WHALE Tales with coloring books and stickers available for you and your family to enjoy together, courtesy of Recreation & the Santa Monica Swim Center. 

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Art Making with Artist in Residence Seda Saar | Garden Terrace Room 

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore light, transparency, and perception through simple geometric compositions. Using pre-cut translucent shapes—circles and soft linear elements—you’ll layer materials to create a light-responsive piece. 

As forms overlap, subtle shifts in color, depth, and atmosphere emerge—echoing natural elements like horizon light, water, and sky. The process is intuitive and exploratory, inviting you to experiment with placement, balance, and light. 

You’ll leave with a finished piece that continues to change as it interacts with light throughout the day. 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Floating & Water Safety Workshops | Pool Deck 

Join one of three 20-minute sessions and explore the basics of floating and water safety in a supportive, low-pressure setting—open to all swimming levels. Each workshop has a capacity of 20 participants, and a waitlist will be available the morning of at the Beach House front desk. 

• 1:30 – 1:50 PM | Families | Ages 6 months–8 years (parent supervision required)  
• 1:50 – 2:10 PM | Youth | Ages 9 – 17  
• 2:10 – 2:30 PM | Adults | Ages 18+  

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Intro to Floating Fitness | Pool Deck 

Ease into a gentle, meditative approach to stretching, yoga postures, and water safety. Open to ages 18+. Each session has a capacity of 20 participants, with a waitlist available the morning of at the Beach House front desk. 

• 2:30 – 2:50 PM (18+)
• 2:50 – 3:10 PM (18+)
• 3:10 – 3:30 PM (18+) 

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM & 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Sound Bath | Sand & Sea Room 

Take a pause with guided sound bath sessions led by Camille Langston—an invitation to settle into stillness. 

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Adult Swim (18+) 

Wind down with an adults-only open swim in the historic pool. Let the afternoon carry you with live music on the pool deck: 

• 4:00 – 4:45 PM | DJ Set by Johnny Young (BLACKMUSEUMIST) 
• 4:45 – 5:15 PM | Live Harp Performance by Nailah Hunter  
• 5:15 – 6:00 PM | DJ Set by Johnny Young (BLACKMUSEUMIST)