Los Angeles is a ways from San Francisco but we still have beer
I'm not real familiar with the watering holes but but Santa Monica is real close to Hollywood, Sunset Strip & all that good stuff. You shouldn't have trouble in that catagory.
As far as car events I usually hop up to La Canada Flintridge on Saturday mornings from 7-9 to check out the cars. Usually a good showing of Cobras (real ones too!!!) vintage rod's, American & European. You'll even see the odd GT & GT40 Replica's Ferarri's & Lambo. Good Stuff & about 25 miles from Santa Monica.