German in Venice reoprts from the huge fire in Malibu.

"Last night I happened to drive around in the early morning hours and I got a notification on my phone that there is a huge wildfire in Malibu. I drove from Venice Beach all the way to Malibu at 1 AM. I could not believe my eyes how many different fires I saw in the Malibu Hills hundreds of firefighters lots of fire engines helicopters with water try to fight the fire. I left a Malibu at six in the morning and the fires are still burning."

For more on the Franklin Fire, Click Here.

This Saturday is the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon, here is a video of the contest from 10 years ago.

>Registrstion for the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon is open. The contest will be held on Saturday, December 14th at the Venice Pier.



Divisions will be: Boys 14U
Girls 14U
Boys 18U
Open Women
Open Men
Open Longboard Women
Open Longboard Men
Women 40ish
Men's 50+
Body Surfing
Body Boarding
Foamie Expression Session



Entry fee is $30 and that includes a contest t-shirt.

To register, Click Here

Stay tuned for more updates.

See photos from last year, Click Here

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

The Holiday Boat Parade is a tried-and-true tradition of the Venice Canals held in December to celebrate the holidays. The Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade is a showcase of the unique community, coming together to honor our wonderful neighborhood.

Saturday, December 7th from 6 - 9 pm!

Join the Venice Chamber of Commerce, special guests, and your community for a beloved tradition—the annual changing of the Venice Sign lights to festive red and green for the holidays!

Now in its 13th year, this special celebration will take place on Windward Avenue (east of Pacific Avenue), with street closures to make room for live music and family-friendly activities. Don’t miss this magical start to the season!

For more info, Click Here.

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

This week at the Venice Pier.

The legendary Rose Cafe in Venice Beach has announce that after 45 years, they will be closing for good.

"Forty-five years is really something. A lot of smiles, morning coffees, and celebrations for more than four decades. It is with sincere gratitude and sadness to announce that The Rose Venice is bidding our beloved corner of Rose and Main a fond farewell. Our last day of service will be Sunday brunch on December 15th. Hope to see you!"

Registrstion for the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon is open. The contest will be held on Saturday, December 14th at the Venice Pier.

Divisions will be: Boys 14U
Girls 14U
Boys 18U
Open Women
Open Men
Open Longboard Women
Open Longboard Men
Women 40ish
Men's 50+
Body Surfing
Body Boarding
Foamie Expression Session



Entry fee is $30 and that includes a contest t-shirt.

To register, Click Here

Stay tuned for more updates.

See photos from last year, Click Here

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

CAF and PlayLA hosted a series of adaptive surfing clinics in Venice Beach. Athletes with physical disabilities came together to catch waves, build confidence, and show that the ocean is for everyone.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Beach Boardwalk, Saturday, November 30, 2024 — Crews were busy cleaning up after a dramatic smash-and-grab robbery at the iconic Good See Co. eyewear store early this morning. At approximately 4 a.m., a vehicle rammed through the store's security gates and wall, causing substantial damage to the building. Good See Co., known for its extensive selection of designer sunglasses and optical frames, was the target of the heist. An eyewitness account from a local homeless individual, identified as "Dragon," revealed that two vehicles were involved in the incident. The Los Angeles Police Department responded swiftly, including deploying a helicopter to assist in the investigation. Good See Co. has been a Venice Beach staple for over 35 years, offering one of the most comprehensive selections of eyewear in the country. The store boasts over 100,000 items in stock, featuring 200 unique brands, custom lenses, and on-site optical services. Its oceanfront location has made it a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike. While repairs to the damage are underway, the community remains on edge as LAPD investigates the incident. The smash-and-grab serves as a stark reminder of rising concerns about crime on the boardwalk."

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.

Mark your calendar and get ready to join the jolliest run in Southern California! The 47th annual Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run returns on December 14, 2024. Experience this historic and festive event in person as you dash down the beautiful streets of Santa Monica and Venice, California, including a long stretch along the famous Venice Beach boardwalk.



Sleigh one of the 5K, 10K, or Youth Run courses before jinglin’ your way across the finish line where a holiday bash will be waiting for you with delicious treats and festive beverages that would make Santa’s reindeer jealous.

For more info, Click Here.

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2024, the Lost Angels Organization hosted its 12th annual block party on Rose Avenue in Venice, providing vital support and holiday cheer to the homeless community. The event, held between Hampton Drive and Main Street, transformed the area into a haven of generosity and community connection.

Founder Tina Marie Wright expressed her passion for giving back during the event. "Hi guys, my name is Tina Wright. I'm the founder of Los Angeles Nonprofit Organization. This is our 12th year doing our event in Venice Beach. We give back to a less fortunate community, the homeless. We mainly give out hot, warm plates of Thanksgiving and Christmas food, brand-new shoes, and toiletries."

Tina's sister Linda, who plays a key role in organizing the event, elaborated on the program's thoughtful structure. "We have a hot food station where participants get to pick their warm dishes, brand-new fitted shoes, and we also pair them up with a volunteer in a buddy system. The volunteers guide them throughout the event, ensuring they feel cared for, loved, and reminded that the community is here for them."

Attendees enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings, while also receiving clothing, shoes, and essential toiletries. Volunteers embodied the organization's motto, "No one ever gets left behind," as they worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere of kindness and hope."

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.

Mike, aka German in Venice, vlogs about daily life in Venice Beach, and the nearby communities.

"When I came to Venice Beach today, I could not believe my eyes within 20 minutes the whole Venice beach was covered in mist or fog. It looked really scary and eerie. You don’t see this too often, but it gives you an opportunity to take some really cool pictures."

"About half of Venice Electric Light Parade goes through Santa Monica. If you want to join us, we leave from Windward Plaza in Venice at sunset every Sunday. We ride up the Marvin Braude Bike Trail to the SM Pier, then we make our way back along the beach, down Main Street, jog over to Abbot Kinney, Venice Sign, Venice Pier, then a little dance break at the end on Washington Street.

Join in anywhere along the route. I’m usually there on my yellow bike with disco balls and multi-colored LED lights. Lots of fun people and community building focused on bike safety and sober riding.

Come hang out with us!" - Mandy Zelinka

Registrstion for the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon is open. The contest will be held on Saturday, December 14th at the Venice Pier.

To register, Click Here

Stay tuned for more updates.

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

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:

November 22, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach

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

· Big Rock Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.·

Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Topanga Canyon Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

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.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Beach saw a coordinated enforcement effort on Wednesday, November 20, 2027, as Los Angeles Animal Control officers, accompanied by LAPD officers, issued citations to individuals violating pet-related ordinances. Violations included unlicensed animals, dogs off-leash, and bringing dogs onto the beach, all prohibited under city and state laws."

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.

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:

November 18, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach

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

· Big Rock Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

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

• Herondo Street storm drain in Hermosa Beach. Near Hermosa Tower TK

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

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

BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

· Pico-Kenter Storm Drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20.

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

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.

Here's surfing photos from Saturday at the Venice Breakwater. This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by Jack's Surfboards.                                                                

Here's surfing photos from Saturday, November 16th at the Venice Breakwater.

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

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 gallery for this day, check them out, the link to the complete gallery is down below.










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

Venice Breakwater - Saturday 11-16-2024 Photo 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.

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:

November 15, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Pico-Kenter Storm Drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20.

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

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach

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

· Big Rock Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

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

BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

· Dockweiler State Beach. Westchester Storm Drain.

· Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach.

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.

"Today Danny Slant was walking up to the Smart & Final grocery store at the corner of Sunset Ave and Lincoln Blvd, and he witnessed the invesitgation and treatment of victim who was shot as part of a road rage agressive driving dispute between three cars loads of suspected gang members. Danny Slant took footage of the LAPD helicopter, Fox News Helicopter, LAFD paramedics and fire department, LAPD. Some of the friends and relatives of the victim were very aggressive and did not want to be interviewed. Danny interviewed eye witness , a young 20's man named Ryan. Who witnessed that the vehicles were driving erratically down Lincoln Blvd., proceeded to hit a homeless persons shopping cart, and then came into the parking lot, where they had a shoot out. The victim ran into the Valentino's Taco Truck catering restaurant in the outdoor parking lot shopping center that was formerly the Venice Fox Theatre. One of the suspects is still on foot, and police are canvassing the neighborhood looking for him. Definitely keeping it real here in the ol' Venice Beach neighborhood. Everybody please be safe, so we can go back to just riding our bicycles along our beautiful beaches and not have to worry about problems in our grocery store parking lots."