Latest News

Santa Monica Hot Dog On A Stick Update



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Hot Dog on a Stick is being painted today, Wednesday, June29, 2022. After 75 years on Ocean Front Walk, the iconic Hot Dog on a Stick was demolished and is being rebuilt. The original 440-square-foot building will be replaced with a 660-square-foot building. Hot Dog on a Stick opened in 1946."



Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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Hazardous Sea Conditions Through Holiday Weekend



Be prepared for gusty W-NW winds and choppy, steep seas throughout the waters, esp. Sunday-Monday.

Barbie & Ken Filming In Venice Beach



Filming In Venice Beach, CA 6.27.2022

Abortion Rights Activists Protest in Santa Monica



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Hundreds of abortion rights activists protest the justices' reversal of Roe v. Wade in Santa Monica on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Demonstrators chanted, "Woman's rights are human rights,"..."2,4,6,8, do not force us to procreate,"..."Get your rosaries off my overies,"..."My body, my choice,..."2,4,6,8,seperate the church from state," among other chants."



Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Pier 360 Beach Festival



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Highlights from Pier 360 at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Pier 360 celebrates the best of beach life with an awesome, FREE, all ages festival! With ocean sports competitions, live music, food and drinks, interactive games, sampling by some of your favorite brands and so much more, Pier 360 offers a peek into iconic SoCal beach culture and brings together thousands of guests for a day of good vibes. Whether you're hanging with the family, competing on land or at sea or partying with your friends–Pier 360 has got it all! Pier 360 is on Saturday and Sunday, June 25, and 26."



Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

15th Annual Santa Monica 4th of July Parad



It's back, the 15th Annual Santa Monica 4th of July Parade.
As the annual parade returns, we're proud to honor our community heroes, first responders during the pandemic years: healthcare, public safety & food service workers The 2022 parade will go the opposite direction from previous years, headed NORTH along Main Street from Marine to Pico!

For more info Click Here

Santa Monica pier 360 Festival



June 25-26, 2022 - Santa Monica Pier 360: Paddle & SUP Races (and more)!

Pier 360 celebrates the best of beach life with an awesome, FREE, all ages festival! With ocean sports competitions, live music, food and drinks, interactive games, sampling by some of your favorite brands and so much more, Pier 360 offers a peek into iconic SoCal beach culture and brings together thousands of guests for a day of good vibes. Whether you're hanging with the family, competing on land or at sea or partying with your friends–Pier 360 has got it all!

Join us for an all-day, family friendly celebration of decades of surf, skate, paddleboard and lifeguard history.

The pier deck will also feature hula dancing, beer and spirits garden, live music and a surf history museum celebrating the history of lifeguarding, paddleboarding, surfing, and skateboarding around the Santa Monica Pier. POP SK8 Roller Rink will be popping up for this year’s annual kickoff summer event!



Come skate the mini-ramp and street course at the Red Bull Skate Expierence.

SUP Yoga clinics with YOGAqua on the huge APP Pool on the pier deck. With demos from the top pros and youth clinics, the APP Pool brings the ocean lifestyle to the city in a unique and all-inclusive way.

Main Event Categories:

Saturday, June 25th
One Mile Ocean Swim
Juniors 250m Ocean Swim
One Mile Fun Paddle
Lifeguard Competition
Amateur SUP Sprints
Kids Activity Clinics

Sunday, June 26th
5k Sand Run/Walk
Malibu to SM Pier Distance Race - 10 miles



The Museum of Beach Life, exclusively at Pier 360, celebrates the Pier's role in the formation of SoCal beach culture and tells the stories of some of the legendary personalities that pioneered active beach lifestyle at the Pier. The unique attraction features surf/paddle memorabilia curated by local legends and notable collectors (Rich Wilken, Jeff Ho, Cary Weiss, Mike Young) and exhibits celebrating the birth of mainland paddleboard racing, 2-person beach volleyball, the original Muscle Beach and so much more!

Racers should leave ample time to park and check in at registration a minimum of an hour before their event start time. Day of registrations should allow at least 90 minutes to park and register.



Visit www.smpier360.com for the most updated race information.


Women’s Rights March from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach



“We Won’t Back Down” Women’s Rights March

Women’s Rights March from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach.


Location
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Time
Sunday, June 26
12:00 p.m.


For more info and to register, Click Here

Meeting at the bottom of the staircase near Big Dean’s Oceanfront Cafe at The Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica is a very pedestrian-friendly destination and visitors are encouraged to go car-free, but if you find yourself in need of parking information, here are some tips for Santa Monica parking at the beach, downtown and for metered parking. Santa Monica Beach Parking is broken down into the following three Zones: Southern Zone: Lot 4 South and Lot 5 South Central Zone: Lot 1 North (also referred to as the “beach lot”), Lot 3 North, Lot 1 South, Lot 2 South and Lot 3 South Northern Zone: Lot 4 North through Lot 9 North

Monsoon Showers And Thunderstorms This Week



We are expecting monsoon showers and thunderstorms Tue night-Wed evening, over LA and Ventura Counties.

Short-Term Surf Analysis



Monday, June 20th: 2-3’+ at better combo exposures.
Variety of small swells in the water. Old S swell, blend of NW swells (mid and shorter-periods) and a little southerly energy from TS Blas shows mostly knee-waist high waves through the better spots along the coast. Standout combo magnets go stomach to occ. chest-high on the face. Clean and peaky in the morning, with only a light+ W onshore wind due in the afternoon.
Tuesday, June 21st: 2-3’+ at better combo exposures.
Almost a copy from Monday. A small blend of S/SW and NW swells show knee-waist high waves with stomach to occ. chest-high faces at best combo breaks. We may see a little S wind around OC but mostly clean up and down the coast. Light SW onshore wind develops midday and into the afternoon.

Originally published on Surfline

Updated On The Ballona Wetlands Fire



The Chevy Tahoe, that is said to be the cause of the brush fire in the Bollona Wetlands, had been parked there for over one week, according to several people who had drove by it regularly.







Over 3 acres were scorched by the fire, a pissed off resident made a video of the aftermath:

A pissed off resident made a video of the aftermath of brush fire in the Bollona Wetlands, that scorched over 3 acres.

Venice Pavilion Art Installation Found In Trash



Back in 2018, the tagged up Venice Pavilion was recreated as an art installation for a massive street art exhibition on the edge of Chinatown, called Beyond The Streets. The photo above shows the replica graffiti filled Venice Pavilion that was created for the show..

This weekend, pieces from recreated Venice Pavilion installation were spotted being thrown to the garbage as a crew of workers was clearing out the downtown warehouse they had been stored in.

Brush Fire In Bollona Wetlands



On Saturday at approximately 5:34PM, a brush fire broke out in the Ballona Creek Wetlands.

According to Brian Humphrey of the LAFD: "LAFD ground and air response with nearby LACoFD in Automatic Aid, to one-quarter (0.25) acre light grass burning in the Ballona Creek Wetlands." Where Culver and Jefferson Bluvds meet is where the fire was burning.

A video (posted below) shows that it was most likely caused by a Chevrolet SUV that caught fire.





Whether that SUV being driving or being used as a home is not yet known.



The fire, known as the "Jefferson Fire", grew rapidly from 0.25 acre to 3.5 acres.



At 6:10PM, Humprey updated the fire's status that "The 86 LAFD responders assigned by ground and air (Joined by nearby LACoFD and Culver City FD ground crews in Automatic Aid) are making significant progress on the blaze." The fire was being held at "Major Emergency" status. No injuries and no structures were threaten. Closures of one or more lanes of Culver Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard west of Lincoln Boulevard woukld continue until LAFD operations are completed.



By 6:30PM, the updated was that the LAFD had "fully contained the perimeter of the blaze at three and one-half (3.5) acres of vegetation in less than one hour. No injury. No structures damaged."

Humprey updated the possible cause, "Though the genesis of the fire appears related to a full-sized sport utility vehicle that was well involved with fire, with flame fanned by light on-shore wind already spread into nearby volatile vegetation on LAFD arrival, the specific and official cause of the fire has yet to be determined."

Short-Term Forecast Analysis



Saturday, June 18th: S swell holds through the day, a little more NW swell blends in. 2-3’+ at better S/combo exposures. Focal points 4-5′.
S swell (190-175) holds and NW windswell picks up a notch. Better summer and combo breaks through North LA are in the waist-stomach high+ range with occasional sets to chest high through the morning tide push. Wind looks a notch lighter overall in the morning but will follow a similar trend to Friday.
Sunday, June 19th: S swell eases, NW swell lingers. 2-3’+ at better S/combo exposures. Focal points 4’+.
S swell (190-175) slowly eases and keeps fun size in the water while NW windswell lingers and keeps combo spots peaky. Better summer and combo breaks through North LA are in the waist-stomach high range with some chest-high waves still in the mix. Wind is again looking favorable with mostly light/variable flow in the early morning. Moderate westerly onshore flow sets up by mid-afternoon, easing for most zones in the evening.

Originally published on Surfline

CT Event At Venice Beach

Be sure to turn on the volume for this one (mobile viewers should turn their phones sideways so the video player loads fully).



First Annual: Venice Classic



Come make history with us at the First Annual: Venice Classic, the first dedicated car show to ever be held at the world famous Venice Boardwalk

Come join The DogTown Devils Car Club on August 27th for an event unlike any other in the Venice Boardwalks 100 year history as we celebrate Surf, Sounds and Southern California's Car Culture.

All Classics, Kustoms, Lowriders, Street Rods, Rat Rods, Pre-80's Trucks and Pre-80's Muscle Cars, WELCOME!

This family event will feature Vendors, Food Vendors, a Beer Garden, DJ, Giveaways and an Awards Ceremony presented by The DogTown Devils Car Club and the City of Venice.

For more info and to register you vehicle, Click Here.

Marina Del Rey Waterbus



Hop aboard the Marina del Rey WaterBus - a scenic way to get around the Marina! The WaterBus operates from 6/17 through 9/5 (Friday-Sunday) for $1 per person, one-way. Stops include Chace Park, Fisherman’s Village, “Mother’s” Beach & more.



For more info, Click Here.

TANDM Surf Bodyboarding Contest



Santa Monica Pier 360 celebrates the best of beach life with an awesome, FREE, all ages festival! With ocean sports competitions, live music, food and drinks, interactive games, sampling by some of your favorite brands and so much more, Santa Monica Pier 360 offers a peek into iconic SoCal beach culture and brings together thousands of guests for a day of good vibes. Whether you're hanging with the family, competing on land or at sea or partying with your friends–Pier 360 has got it all!

TANDM Surf is super excited to produce their first ever TANDM SURF Bodyboard contest in 2022. Grab a family member, partner or friend and dual off against other teams in Santa Monica's warm waters and nice waves. Same Design TANDM Boards will be provided to each team for the event at no cost to the registered teams. The top three teams bring home a wood trophy, bragging rights and WIN a TANDM Surf Bodyboard valued at $399!

Competing teams are judged on wave riding style, performance of maneuvers/tricks and demonstration of Aloha spirit.

This event takes place at 8:30 am on Sunday, June 26, 2022!

Online Registration: $60

For more info, REGISTER HERE .

Minor Beach Flooding Tonight



High tides expected around 10pm tonight, which is when the water levels will be highest and push deepest into the shore. Expect minor flooding of beaches, bike paths, and harbor walkways.

Brush Fire In Santa Monica Bluffs



On Monday evening the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to a brush fire on the Pacific Coast Highway just north of the California Incline in Santa Monica. PCH was closed in both directions until 9PM.

Video clips posted on our Instagram Story.

Homeless Meth Gladiators Battle On Venice Boardwalk

Venice Go Skate Day Cancelled Due To Threat Of Violence



The June 21st, Go Skate Day events at the Venice Skatepark have been cancelled due to a threat of violence.

"I am very sad to announce that we have to cancel GSD in Venice." Heidi Lemmon, one of the events organizers, posted to Facebook on Saturday.

"With so many mass shootings in the usa every day we believe it is best to err on the side of safety. All the signs are there, the threats are credible and we will not take any chances where kids are involved. My sincere apologies to all our sponsors, the City of Los Angeles and Venice Recreation and Parks. * this is not a local he is an out of state person."

What we little info we gathered so far, is that someone wants to control all events ($$$$$) at the Venice Skatepark and threatened Heidi and "... anyone at the park that gets in the way."

UPDATED INFO:
Heidi Lemmon and on of the other event organizers do not want to give any "airtime" to the person who made the threats, so they are not disclosing who this individual is.

Some info about the person that has be going around the rumor mill is that he is from out-of-state, but currently local (opposite of the original info given) , and he is a Hispanic male in his 40's. Also that the "authorities" consider his threats "credible".

Venice - Ozone Homeless Encampment Tour



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A tour through Ozone Ct. homeless encampment and the Venice Beach Boardwalk on Friday, June 10, 2022."



Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Police Allow Sexual Predator To Freely Roam Venice Beach Assaulting Women



Venice Library Homeless Encampment Cleaned Up



The Venice Library encampment will be swept & shut down on Monday.



Topanga Lifeguard Tower - 80+ Years of Service



"A quick look back into the archives at our Topanga station. Originally constructed in 1934 at the north end of Topanga Bach the tower has been used by lifeguards for over 80 years. A good reminder of Topanga's rish history and the role lifeguarding has played in it." - Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division



Venice of America Centennial Park Homeless Encampment Tour



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A tour through the Venice of America Centennial Park homeless encampment on Thursday, June 9, 2022."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Topless Venice Healer Arrested

Venice Trashed



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Trash overflows from the dumpsters at Venice Beach on Monday, June 6, 2022."



Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

PCH Closure On Thursday

Southbound PCH left lane closure from Coastline Dr/Topanga to McClure Tunnel/Santa Monica on Thursday June 9 from noon to 10 pm. NO LEFT TURNS allowed for 5 miles from/to PCH to allow for emergency vehicles for that Summit Of Americas event. Plan ahead. Take alternate routes.

The CA Incline will also be closed to all traffic.

UScension Volleyball Event



UScension Volleyball Event benefiting the Veterans Housing Crisis at the Pier 360 Festival

Come be part of a HUGE Santa Monica event! Join thousands of beach and sea athletes at the PIER 360 Festival while supporting our efforts in the Veteran's Housing Crisis.

Play Volleyball, Dance and Meet High VIBE people that are making an impact in the world!

BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT at the PIER 360 Festival includes a Yoga Warm-Up followed by a Coed Beach Volleyball Tournament, or choose the Volleyball CLINIC & FUN Games for those new to the sport and a fiery DJ lineup that'll have you moving and grooving all day & taking you into a special sunset DJ set before you depart!

Date and time
Sun, Jun 26, 2022, 8:30 AM PDTT

Location
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401

For more info and to register, Click Here

US Open Of SUP At Santa Monica Pier



The world-famous Santa Monica Pier will host a weekend full of World Tour and Open racing, as well as our City Paddle Festival with a $25,000 prize purse on offer.

Jun 24, 5:00 PM – Jun 27, 5:00 PM

Registration for all Pro-Am and Amateur races can be found HERE and all pre-qualified athletes will recieve entry information directly from the APP.

The US Open of SUP at Santa Monica Pier will be the most inclusive and high-profile SUP event to have taken place in the US for many years. The Event will bring together Professional Competition, with Amateur and Corporate participation, as well as youth and health and wellness enthusiasts all wrapped up into our City Paddle Festival and World Championship Tour stop.

As the US flagship stop of the APP World Championship Tour, the US Open of SUP will feature all the World’s very best Stand Up Paddle Racers as they kick off their 2022 campaign for the World Title and for the 25k prize purse at the iconic Pier.

The Sprint Racing in the surf will provide a dynamic sporting spectacle in a fast paced, elimination format that will see the top contenders competing round after round until the Final. This 300m course will provide the most spectacular racing imaginable, and the view from the Pier will be unparalleled in terms of sports entertainment. There will also be amateur, open sprint racing for all non-professional attendees.

The Pier-to-Pier Distance Race will provide an iconic and high- performance course for the World’s Best, leaving from Malibu Pier and finishing at Santa Monica Pier, a 16km/ 10-mile race. It will be particularly poignant given the significance of this stretch of coastline in history as the regular commute that California’s first Surfer of African American and Latino descent made from Santa Monica to surf up at the famed waves found in Malibu. There will also be a slightly shorter, 8km/ 5 miles distance race from Topanga to Santa Monica Pier for all non-professionals to compete in.

Whilst there will be non-stop competitive SUP action, our City Paddle Festival will provide plenty more opportunities to enjoy the water and the ‘So-Cal’ life. With SUP yoga, youth clinics, fun racing and relays, our City Paddle Festival will fully immerse you into the life of Stand Up Paddling and will provide plenty of entertainment in-between. There will be live music, entertainment and food and drinks for when you need to relax in between adventures or cheering on the pros.

Whether you're hanging with the family, competing on land or at sea or partying with your friends– the City Paddle Festival has got it all!

The Santa Monica City Paddle Festival will mark the launch of our global corporate challenge, the APP Nautical mile, which is an immersive team building experience, which takes place in the heart of Major Cities across the globe as an integrated element of the APP World Tour’s City Paddle Festivals.

Art Of Surf



The City of Malibu Arts Commission presents Art of Surf at the Malibu City Gallery located at Malibu City Hall (23825 Stuart Ranch Rd). The exhibition will be open from June 27 through August 31, 2022, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 11:00 AM. RSVP not required

For more information about the exhibition and the Malibu Arts Commission, Click Here.