Lanes Closures on PCH for Malibu's Median Improvements Project

Work starts this week on City of Malibu's PCH Median Improvements Project. Single lane closures on PCH, John Tyler Dr - Puerco Cyn 6AM - 5PM. Will increase safety by reducing illegal u-turns & wrong-direction driving. Completion expected June, 2024.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Topanga Days Festival

Happening annually on Memorial Day weekend, Topanga Days is a 3-day music festival with artisans, food, beverages, a fun zone for kids and family games that raises funds for the Topanga Community Center, a 501c3 nonprofit.

This year’s musical lineup features Grammy award winning artist, Fantastic Negrito, on Saturday, May 25th at 5:30 p.m., the catchy, synth pop sounds and dynamic stage presence of 80s Rock icons, Missing Persons, on Sunday, May 26th at 5:30 p.m., and the genre defying psychedelic folk sounds of musical savant, Jonathan Wilson, on Monday, May 27th at 5:45 p.m. In addition to the headliners, the diverse, crowd-pleasing Main Stage outdoor lineup includes, Krooked Kings, Nosotros, Venice, Deb Ryder, The FBR, Will Worden, Kummerspeck, Wynchester, Tristan Lake Leabu, Low Coast, Electric Magic, and The Dirty Lowdown.



For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Grand Theft Suspects Arrested in Santa Monica

Two suspects from Richmond, CA that went on a crime sapree in Santa Monica have been caught.

Two suspects have been arrested and charged on suspicion of committing two counts each of burglary from a vehicle and grand theft. On April 24, 2024, at 12:24 pm, a dark colored Nissan Altima with three occupants pulled into the Chevron at 1344 Santa Monica Boulevard and stopped next to the open car door of a vehicle getting gas. One of the suspects took the victim’s purse from the front seat.

At about 12:30 pm, the same Altima pulled into the Sinclair gas station at 1944 Pico Boulevard and stopped in front of the second victim’s vehicle at the pumps. The rear passenger in the Altima opened the victim’s car door, took the victim’s purse, and fled with the other suspects. About 30 minutes later, the same suspects shattered the window of a vehicle parked at the Shell station at 1866 Lincoln Boulevard and stole a laptop, iPad, and other property.

The suspects were tracked and arrested with the assistance of the Hawthorne Police Department. Officers recovered several hundred dollars and most of the victims’ property.

On April 26th, the LA County District Attorney’s office filed felony burglary and grand theft charges (487a PC and 459 PC):



Lopez, Raul Santino of Richmond, CA (DOB: 12/27/2003)

Vega, Agustin Jesus of Richmond, CA (DOB: 02/23/2003)

None of the arrestees have a significant arrest history in California.

Anyone with information related to this incident or these individuals is encouraged to contact Detective Tavera at Hector.Tavera@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.

Police respond to Man with Gun on Venice Pier

On Sunday morning, several people observed a man walking on the Venice Pier hiding what they said looked like a rifle under a jacket he was carrying. They informed some police officers that were in the area to enforce the No Dogs On the Beach law. It ended up being a fake rifle, which the man let the police have.

Venice History thru Josh Bagel Klassman's Lens

Josh “Bagel” Klassman is an Underground Documentary style Photographer from Venice. Josh grew up surfing the Venice Break Water and skating at the Venice Pavilion.

We Are Venice showcases the people and culture of Venice Beach, California and will inspire you to be the best version of yourself. This is a series of premium documentary profile pieces on Venice’s most important and influential individuals.

Meute Concert at Venice Beach

Meute is an eleven-piece self-described techno marching band from Germany. The band arranges techno, house and deep house works by well-known DJs, augmenting them with electronic beats created by marching band instruments.

Daisy The Venice Healer Feeds the Homeless at Venice Beach

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Healer Daisy along with her fiancé Jeff Kupers and a team of volunteers, stepped in to support the community by feeding the homeless on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. This initiative came as a response to the illness of Dan Hubbard, the founder and CEO of Oasis, who was recently sidelined and unable to continue his work.

Daisy and Jeff began their day early, using the Oasis van to collect donated food items from Whole Foods and Vons. They then transported these provisions to Venice Beach, where volunteers were ready to distribute them. The assortment of donated food included fresh fruits and vegetables, pastries, cookies and desserts, baked breads, and various protein options.

The couple plans to continue this vital service, providing meals to the unhoused while Dan is recovering. Their efforts align with the broader mission of Oasis Network, which has a long-standing tradition of reaching out to the homeless, not only on weekends at Venice Beach but also on weekdays in Redondo.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

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.

SMPD Bike/Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for 5/3/2024

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Police Department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

These extra enforcement efforts will take place on Friday, May 3, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

Pedestrians

· Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.

· Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

· Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

· Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

· Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

· Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

· Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

· Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

· Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

· Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

· If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

· Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

Cinco de Mayo Ferris Wheel Lighting on Santa Monica Pier

The Pacific Wheel will light up in red, white, and green from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 in celebration of Cinco de Mayo 2024.

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “Fifth of May”, is a yearly celebration held on May 5. It commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This victory is notable because the Mexican army prevailed over the larger and better equipped French force.

Widely celebrated in Southern California, Cinco de Mayo was first commemorated in Columbia, California, just days after the historic battle. Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news of the victory that they spontaneously let off fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made speeches.

Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day. This is celebrated on September 16, and commemorates the “Cry of Delores” (the call to revolt) that initiated the Mexican War of Independence. Cinco de Mayo has now become associated with a more general celebration of Mexican-American culture.

We’re honoring the occasion by lighting the Pacific Wheel in the colors of Mexico. Enjoy this special event from Friday, May 3 through to Sunday, May 5. You can see the Pacific Wheel lights from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

21 Miles Film Screening for Safe on PCH Week

As part of Safe on PCH week, the Michel Shane film, 21 Miles Film, will be screened at Malibu High School on Wednesday, May 1st.

As part of Safe on PCH Week, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, in partnership with Malibu High School, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and Malibu High School PTSA, will be hosting a film screening of the Michel Shane film, 21 Miles Film.

Panelists: Captain Jenn Seetoo, Captain Dennis Ford, Robert D Cohen, Michel Shane, & Bridget Thompson

"21 Miles in Malibu" follows the incredible history of Malibu, the story of the Pacific Coast Highway, and the people most affected by it all. It shows the dichotomy of this small town - a seemingly idyllic paradise devastated by a high-speed highway ripping through its heart. The documentary chronicles the lives of those affected, further exemplifying the dangers of the frequently traveled road and leaving viewers wondering why stricter regulations are not in place to prevent future damage.

Wednesday, May 1 · 6:30 - 8:30pm PDT Malibu High School
30215 Morning View Drive Malibu, CA 90265

For more info & to RSVP (required) for this free event, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

A Walk On Water returns to Malibu

Who’s counting days til May 4th at Malibu?!?! We can’t wait to share the stoke, countless smiles and good times with all our AWOW Athletes, volunteers, families and friends. Come support if you can and big thanks to all our ‘Bu partners and people who make these events possible. See ya soon




For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Surf Photos - Sunset Point - Wednesday 4-17-2024

Here's surfing photos from Wednesday, April 17th at Sunset.

This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by Body Glove.



These are just a few of the 100+ photos from this session. If you were out there, you probably got some surfing shots, probably multiple photos, they will be in the complete photo galleries for this day, check them out, the links to the complete galleries are down below.














You can find about 100+ more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

Sunset - Wednesday 4-17-2024 Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool surfing shots of you, go check them out!

Wanna see photos from previous days at this and other local surf spots from this photographer?
Click Surf Spot Galleries and look for the spot and then the date.

May the 4th Be with you Beach Cleanup

Pick Up for Paradise, Rebel Alliance Beach Cleanup


Attention all rebels and Jedi knights! Join us for a galactic beach cleanup on May the 4th at Life Guard Tower 1550 in Santa Monica! Harness the power of the Force as we unite to clean the shores of Santa Monica Beach. Don your Jedi robes, bring your lightsabers (or grabbers), and prepare to restore balance to our coastal paradise. Together, we'll make a difference and leave a lasting impact on our galaxy. May the 4th be with you as we embark on our Pick Up For Paradise mission!

Saturday, May 4 · 9 - 11:30am Northside of the Santa Monica Pier


For more info & to sign up for this free event, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Ocean Water Use Warning for LA Beaches

April 26, 2024

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu.

100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

· Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach. Near Will Rogers Tower 18

100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20

100 yards up and down the coast of the storm drain.

· Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

Venice Carnival of Chaos Punk Rock Show

The 1st Annual Carnival of Chaos at Venice Beach held in the Muscle Beach Amphitheater on Ocean Front Walk. This free concert had 11 bands preforming.

Featured Bands in this video:

No Reaction

Neighborhood Watch

Pinche Perro

Seaside Screams

Xcomm

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Ferris Wheel Lighting at Santa Monica Pier

The Pacific Wheel will be lit red on Wednesday, May 1 in recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, 2024.

The month of May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This annual celebration recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

To mark the occasion, we’ll be illuminating the world-famous Pacific Wheel with a special lighting program in red. This is an auspicious color in Chinese culture associated with vitality, passion, good fortune, and celebration.

You can view the AAPI Heritage Month Ferris wheel lights from dusk until midnight on May 1. The best views of the Pacific Wheel light programs are from the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk just west of the amusement park or on the beaches south of the Pier.

For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

High Surf & Dangerous Seas This Weekend

Strong to gale force winds and dangerous choppy seas will affect all coastal waters through the weekend.

Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet with local sets to 8 feet and dangerous rip currents. Surf will be highest on west-facing beaches. This alert lasts until 10 AM PDT Saturday.

Shooting Death in Malibu

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators responded to a shooting death investigation on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at approximately 2:55 p.m., at the 800 Block of Westlake, Malibu.

The male adult victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim off the main roadway in an area that appears to be only accessible and used for 4-wheel drive vehicles to traverse.

The victim was located by a person who was doing the 4-wheel drive trail and noticed a vehicle at the top unoccupied. As the passer-by started down the trail, he noticed a person down and notified the Lost Hills Station.

Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel responded, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has not been positively identified but appears to be a male Hispanic between 20 to 30 years old.

The investigation is ongoing, and currently, there is no additional information.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477)

Venice Boardwalk Freestyle with Daisy the Venice Healer & Friends

Venice Healer Daisy anmd her group do a Freestyle Rap Concert on the Venice Boardwalk.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Santa Monica E-Bike Voucher Program

How to Get an E-Bike Voucher

The application for Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program is open!

The City of Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program will award approximately 90 vouchers to qualified Santa Monica residents to cover the cost of an e-bike, and safety equipment like a helmet, lights, and/or a bike lock. Each voucher is worth up to $2,000 to be used at the time of purchase and will be awarded through a series of lotteries. To be eligible to receive a voucher, residents must meet defined income criteria. Vouchers will be redeemable at several participating Santa Monica shops.

It is important to note that Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program is not a rebate program. Residents must apply and be awarded a voucher prior to purchasing their e-bike. No reimbursement for the purchase of an e-bike will be made prior to being awarded a voucher.

Increasing equity in access to e-bikes and their benefits is a key pillar of this program. Distinct from the City’s Electrify Santa Monica Rebate Program, the E-Bike Voucher program aims to serve low- and moderate-income households and waives any upfront costs that typically exclude such communities from taking advantage of rebate programs. If selected to receive an e-bike voucher, recipients will not need to pay any upfront costs to the bike shop or wait for reimbursement. The voucher will directly cover the cost of the e-bike and accompanying equipment (up to $2,000) at the time of sale.

Applications will remain open until all funds are exhausted. Due to limited funding, vouchers will be awarded through a lottery system, NOT first-come-first-served basis. All applicants, regardless of the date they apply, will be entered into a lottery to receive an e-bike voucher.

To learn more about the voucher process, Click Here.

Palm Spring Surf Club Shuts Down Again

Just 2 weeks ago the Palm Springs Surf Club reopened after they shut down back in January due so some magical "lightning strike" that lead to a lot of pissed of customers because of the shady manner in how they didn't inform anyone. You can read about that drama here.

This time, they actually admitted they had to shut down, here's the email they sent out to those that had sessions booked:



"Your booking has been cancelled

Dear valued customers,

We regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, we are temporarily suspending all surf sessions at this time. We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and we sincerely apologize.

Refunds: Rest assured that full refunds will be processed immediately.

Stay Connected: We appreciate your understanding during this challenging period. Our team is actively working to resolve the situation, and we hope to resume surf sessions as soon as possible. In the meantime, please stay connected with us through our website and social media channels for further updates. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
-The Palm Springs Surf Club

An update from the Palm Springs Surf Club

First, we want to apologize to the people who wanted to come out and surf. We know many of you have scheduled trips to come surf and we have disappointed you. Again, we are sorry. If you have a surf session booked with us, you will receive a cancellation email along with a full refund. The goal of this business is to serve up great waves, delicious food and drinks, fun music, and good times. Please know we are trying our hardest to bring the magic of surfing to the desert of Palm Springs.

Manufacturing Waves is Difficult

When you talk with the executives at the other wave pool clubs in the USA and hear their stories, we appreciate and respect the hard work and incredible journey those teams traveled to get their waves operational. Modern wave pool technology is an emerging field that is young and complex.

Our Status
Our surf wave is down but the rest of the park remains open. We expect to be back serving up waves again in the very near future. We will keep you updated on our progress in the coming weeks. Our restaurant, Amala, is fully operational, along with our water slides, resort pool, and lazy river. Additionally, we're thrilled to announce exciting performances for the upcoming Stagecoach weekend. For more details, please visit our website

The Good

We have many committed employees who are pouring themselves into making Palm Springs Surf Club awesome. We have amazing customers and we feel your energy. It's what motivates us.

Thank you for your patience, support and enthusiasm.
-Vinny Smith
Ownership and Leadership Team
You've been refunded"

They also made announcement on their Instagram account, but they turned off comments (which is pretty shady).

Skateside Fest

SKATESIDE FEST: A FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT FOR ALL AGES AT BILL BOTT'S PARK IN CULVER CITY

Saturday, May 18 · 10am - 6pm
9910 Jefferson Boulevard Culver City, CA 90232


This event will be enjoyable for both skaters and non skaters of all ages. Come celebrate the joy of skateborading and rollerskating at SKATESIDE FEST with lots of family-centered activities, creativity, music and community spirit! This event has something for everyone.

Highlights Include:

- Beginner Skateboard Lessons: Ages 5 + Ticket necessary to particpate. Rental equipment available on a first come first serve basis.Ticket necessary to partipate.
- Beginner Roller Skate Lessons: Ages 5 + Ticket necessary to partipate. Rental equipment available on a first come first serve basis.
- Art Activities: Get creative with skate-themed art and craft stations.
- Contests and Competitions: Showcase your skills in our skateboarding and roller skating contests. Categories will be available for different age groups and abilities with tons of prizes to be won!
-Family Fun Zone presented by Bones Love Milk: Engage in a variety of fun games and activities suitable for the whole family. There’s plenty of fun to keep everyone entertained throughout the day.
- Raffles and Giveaways: Enter our festival raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes including new skateboards, roller skates, gear, toys, exclusive Skateside merchandise & more. Plus, enjoy spontaneous giveaways throughout the day!
- Local Food and Vendors: Refuel with delicious bites from local food trucks and browse vendor stalls offering unique goods and skate-related products.
- Live Music and Entertainment: Enjoy live performances and DJs that will keep the festival vibes going all day long.

Tickets:

- VIP Passes Available for purchase: Gain exclusive access to skip lines, additional activities, gifts and more with a VIP pass!

More info:

- Parking: Street parking available on site.
- Safety Gear: Rent Helmets and safety gear for your lessons. Limited supplies available for rent.

Mark your calendars and bring your crew for a day of fun. Whether you're a pro skater or just love watching, there's something for everyone at SKATESIDE FEST. Don't miss out on this rad event!

Prepare for a day of fun, laughter, and community. Bring your friends and family to SKATESIDE FEST and make memories that will last a lifetime! Skate on!

For more info and to reserve a spot, Click Here.

Chubbies Splash Down at the Santa Monica Pier

Giant inflatable water slide. Free swim trunks. Need we say more?

Chubbies is taking over the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, April 27th to bring you the first annual CHUBBIES SPLASHDOWN.

Chubbies is setting up a giant inflatable water slide on the Santa Monica Pier and those brave enough to slide down it will receive a FREE pair of Chubbies swim trunks .*

If water slides aren’t your thing (weird but okay), we’ve still got TONS to do and see, including:

Live DJ
Free food & drinks
A giant hammer carnival game
360 photobooth
Swag giveaways
Custom tote bag station
…and so much more. We may have outdone ourselves here.

The party goes from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. April 27. All ages welcome. SEE YOU THERE!

*While supplies last.

For more info and to reserve a spot, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.