The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel was Lights off except rim, 1 hr on Saturday, March 25 in recognition of Earth Hour 2023. Earth Hour, one of the largest global grassroots movements for the environment, will bring together millions of people, businesses and leaders from around the world to raise awareness on the urgent need to address nature loss and climate change.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"The Venice Love Fest, held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in downtown Mar Vista on Venice Blvd, was a celebration of local artists, designers, musicians, and businesses. The fest was located between Centinela & Inglewood Blvd, and the city had closed Venice Blvd for the event. The festival was a complete takeover of Venice Blvd in the heart of Mar Vista, featuring an assortment of LA's most curated brands and artists."

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

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

"Today, my friend called me and let me know that there is a free concert car show and a silent disco on the Santa Monica Pier. I believe spring break started already. Lots of people walked on the pier in Santa Monica. We had fun listening to the free concert. The car show was amazing with classic cars and super cars. We also walked around the ferris wheel and all the other rides on the pier it was a fun day, lots of things to see.."

If you would like to support German in Venice with some gas money or you want to buy him a coffee, you are welcome to donate to his paypal account: https://paypal.me/germaninvenice

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Skateboarders gathered at Santa Monica Beach for Beyond the Board's meet-up on Saturday, March 11th, 2023. Beyond the Board is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to empower people with confidence and community through longboarding. By creating safe and inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds to explore their creativity, Beyond the Board promotes a culture of belonging among riders of all skill levels." >

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"The Beaucoup Brass Band with Queen Heatha Bee & King Toussaint lead the Mardi Gras Parade along the Venice Beach Boardwalk on Saturday, February 11, 2023."

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica Cruisin' Classics, with other neighboring car clubs, meetup at Santa Monica Beach on Friday, February 10, 2023. The car clubs meet every Friday night at Santa Monica Beach."

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Highlights from the WestSide VolksWagen Club & Monthly VW Coffee Meet at Santa Monica Beach on February 5, 2023. WestSide VW Club & Monthly VW Coffee Meet meets the first Sunday of every month."

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

Oscar from Hecho En Venice goes to Bay Street Boards in Santa Monica to check out their Board Swap.

The 29th Annual Venice surf-A-Thon was a great success!

We had over 60 athletes signed up, and we completed our event in perfect conditions but small waves!

After everything was all said and done, we had a surplus that we are donating to 2 charities, the first charity we have dontated to is Casa Del Pastor.



Casa Del Pastor is a home in Baja California, Mexico for women and their children who are abandoned and abused. Its goal is to minister to their spiritual needs while helping with their physical needs.



These was an online donation, but we decided to create this checks to commemorate this day!



The Venice Surf-A-Thon would not have been possible with out everyone's help. Our contest sponsor's are a huge part of making the Venice Surf-A-Thon possible, please check out our list of sponsors below. Follow their Instagrams, visit their shops, buy from them, use their services, recommend them to friends, or just thank them for helping out with the Venice Surf-A-Thon.

Anderson Surfboards

Arbor

Baja Wey Mexican Blanket Surfboard Bags

Cow's End Cafe

Dogtown 

Durable Goods 

Fat Sal’s - Venice Beach 

Hecho En Venice

Interiors Made Eezzy

isbx

Landlocd

Krillyz Backyard BBQ

Mercedes

Naybor Hoodiez

Rodeo Show

Sandborn Swim 

Santa Monica Pride Plumbing

Shacked Mag 

Sister Betsy's Surf Wax 

Six12 Media

Spliffmode

Venice Brand

Venice Cannabiz

Venice Pier Project

Venice Street Wear

Venice Surf Shack

The Venice Whaler

Yoga Nest Venice

And a huge thanks again to Ger-I Lewis for trusting us with your contest!

For more info, visit the Casa Del Pastor website.

Here's the final heat resaults from the 29th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon that took place on December 17th.

Here are videos from the New Year's Eve Fireworks Shows in Marina Del Rey. First video is the 9PM show, second video is the Midnight show. Videos were shot by SidewaySmileyFace.

Shot by SidewaySmileyFace.

Youtuber @iamwalking filmed the entire first heat of the Venice Surf-A-Thon.

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The registration for the 29th Annual Venice Surfathon has closed!

There may be spots avaliable on Sunday morning.

This year's sponsors:

This year's sponsors:

Anderson Surfboards

Baja Wey Mexican Blanket Surfboard Bags

Cow's End Cafe

Dogtown 

Durable Goods 

Fat Sal’s - Venice Beach 

Hecho En Venice

Interiors Made Eezzy

isbx

Landlocd

Mercedes Bar & Grille

Rodeo Show

Sandborn Swim 

Santa Monica Pride Plumbing

Shacked Mag 

Sister Betsy's Surf Wax 

Six12 Media

Venice Street Wear

The Venice Whaler

Yoga Nest Venice

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Highlights from the 15th Annual Muscle Beach Toy Drive at Muscle Beach on Sunday, December 4, 2022. The toys will be delivered to LAPD Pacific Division to support their, “Winter Wonderland Distribution Drive” held at their station one week later."

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

Video recap of the 2022 Haunted Heats, featuring all the costume performance, some surfing, and the awards ceremony.

Held by ZJ Boarding House, this Halloween contest is part surfing, part costume performance.

Check out the all the photos in our 2022 Haunted Heats Photo Gallery, this Halloween contest