From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Claus lights the 24-foot-tall Christmas tree at the Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica on Friday, November 19, 2021.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony featured performances by Samohi Madrigals, Lincoln Middle School Madrigals, Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Mariachi Perla del Oeste, and Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Chamber Ensemble.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garlands deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, illuminating convenient shopping and cozy outdoor dining experiences."

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Join WAR for an epic 30-minute hometown show, filmed live from the beach in Venice Beach.

WAR burst onto the scene 50 years ago, capturing the heart and soul of America’s streets with its righteous, multi-cultural sound on hits like “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” “Low Rider” and “The Cisco Kid.”

“Our music came from the street and the challenges that everyday people struggle with, says founding member Lonnie Jordan. “We expressed the pleasures and pains of those experiences which we are still confronting all these years later.”

World Surf League event at the iconic Surfrider in Malibu, California.

Event winner Ben Skinner.

Video by Sealaka.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Boarders, skaters and cyclists roll along the Santa Monica Bike path during the 14th Annual Skate The Coast on Sunday, October 24, 2021."

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Filmed live 10/23/21 Saturday night, the first night of the event. Filmed by Cop Watch Venice

"Venice Afterburn Fest. This is the yearly after party to burning man held in Venice Beach CA every year."

Cop Watch Venice follows LAPD pacific division on world famous Venice beach, showing a point-of-view style cop watch and update on Venice's current conditions. We make edited shorts, full scenes and are working on a documentary about homelessness and city failures. Donate to Cop Watch Venice via Cop Watch Venice Paypal

On Sunday, LA County Lifeguards celebrated the Life of Retired Chief Lifeguard Bob Burnside at Zuma Beach.

Chief Burnside retired in 1983 after serving the beaches of Los Angeles County for 32 years. He is recognized as one of the inventors of the modern day rescue can, now a standard for lifeguards world wide and an iconic symbol of ocean lifeguarding. In Los Angeles County the rescue can that Chief Burnside invented is utilized on over 10,000 Ocean Rescues every year.

Log Rap's coverage of the 2021 Malibu Classic.

"That was one for the ages. By far the best contest we've ever covered. The swell actually showed up and the behind the scenes action was all time. Major props to Devon Howard for getting the tribe back together and to WSL for letting us come along for the ride. Thanks to all the surfers/family/staff members who let us film and share their stories."

Video by Log Rap.

Filmed by
Ryan Cannon
Ryan Hackbarth
Josh Valera

Edited by
Ryan Cannon

The 2020/21' Longboard Tour concludes at the Jeep Malibu Classic pres. by Havaianas beginning on October 11 and 12.

The World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Longboard Tour will conclude at the Jeep® Malibu Classic presented by Havaianas on the shores of Malibu, California's iconic First Point. The competition will run over two days, on October 11 - 12, 2021, and will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com. Event organizers determined the run days within the October 3 - 13 window after working closely with swell forecasters to decide the best possible days.

Two-time WSL Longboard Champion and current No. 3 Joel Tudor (USA) searches for a historic third World Title to join the likes of Rusty Keaulana (HAW), Colin McPhillips (USA), and Taylor Jensen (USA), who is in search of making history of his own for a fourth World Title. Tudor's 2020 Noosa Longboard Classic victory notched his first win in over a decade, after his hiatus from competing, to set him up for a big finish after earning an equal fifth at the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic. Now, the 45-year-old has the opportunity to add his name to that illustrious list.

"I've been coming to Malibu since I was a kid," reflected Tudor. "First with my parents for club contests, then with Donald Takayama where we'd meet up with his friends Skip Frye, Nat Young and so many more. There is so much history at that spot. The local surfers and characters that define the place - it has always been the place for us longboarders that defines performance. It's the best longboard wave in the world, and to win another World Title there after more than a decade break would mean a lot to me and my family."

"I was at a Final here decades ago, the last time the WSL decided a World Title at Malibu, and I lost in the final to Russ K (Keaulana)," added Tudor. "Winning here all these years later would be a heck of a way to top off a pretty good run. You need to have goals, it gets you up in the morning. Winning another Title off this incredible field of talent won't be easy, but I have a lot of experience at that wave and I intend to give it everything I've got to pull out the event win and the Title. "

Fellow two-time WSL Longboard Champion Blomfield, 22, is in the running for her third World Title on familiar shores after an immaculate win at the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic. The Oahu, Hawaii competitor's longboard career blossomed at Malibu's First Point from a young age and has taken her across the world as an inspiration to the next generation behind her, such as fellow Hawaii surfer and current No. 2, Kelis Kaleopa'a.

Blomfield's young career has also been challenged by World Title contenders such as Brazil's Chloe Calmon, two-time World Title runner-up; current No. 6 Alice Lemoigne (FRA); and Longboard Tour veteran, Lindsay Steinriede (USA).

"It's pretty exciting to be up for a third Title and I'm really stoked to have won a contest, which I feel puts me in a good place to give it a real chance," expressed Blomfield. "It's going to be hard work and anything can happen at Malibu. I've surfed a lot of events and I know how it can go. But, it would be pretty special to win the World Title here. It's where I did my first event, got my first board sponsor, and really felt like where my career started over a decade ago."

"It's amazing to see everyone at the point where we're all nearly at the same level now," added Blomfield. "There's been a few standouts over the last few years but this year everyone looks incredible. We've all been working hard, especially over the last year, and it was really exciting to showcase the work I've been putting in on my switch-stance and trying to progress my surfing at the last event."

Watch LIVE
The Jeep Malibu Classic presented by Havaianas will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app beginning October 11 at 7:00 a.m. PDT. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.

*The WSL Longboard Tour is proudly supported by our partners, Jeep, Havaianas, Hydro Flask, Expedia, Athletic Brewing, US Army, Aviator Nation, Firewire, and Flying Embers.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A lowrider hops at Santa Monica Cruisin' Classics meetup at Santa Monica Beach on Friday, October 1, 2021. The car club meets-up every Friday night at Santa Monica Beach"

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Nick Gabaldón Day will take place on Saturday, October 9, 2021.

Nick Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love, and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.

In 2013, with the help of African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts. Nick Gabaldón Day, in its current form, is now in its 9th year and will be held on October 9, 2021. This innovative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

The shoreline and waters at Bay Street in Santa Monica were an active hub of African American beach life during the Jim Crow era. This beach was popular from the 1900s to early 1960s among African American people, who sought to avoid hostile and racial discrimination they might experience at other southland beaches. Racial discrimination and restrictive covenants prevented African Americans from buying property throughout the Los Angeles region, but their community’s presence and agency sustained their oceanfront usage in Santa Monica.

In 2008, the City of Santa Monica officially recognized the “Inkwell” and Nick Gabaldón with a landmark monument at Bay Street and the Oceanfront Walk. In 2019, this same beach was listed as the Bay Street Beach Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in the African American experience and American history.

Nick Gabaldón Day introduces young and old from inland communities to the magic of the coast through free surf and ocean safety lessons, beach ecology exploration, and a history lesson about a man who followed his passion and a community who challenged anti-Black discrimination to enjoy the beach.

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, and the Santa Monica Conservancy collaborate for Nick Gabaldón Day to reach families in resource-challenged communities and connect them to meaningful educational programming. Together, we are helping build personal experiences with cultural, historical, natural heritage, and civic engagement that make up the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of heritage conservation and environmental leaders.

For more info, Click Here.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Highlights from the Santa Monica Pier Classic “End of Summer” Car Show on Saturday, September 11, 2021. The classic car show was presented by the Pico Youth and Family Center to support Latino/Hispanic heritage month."

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

"Today was the annual Malibu Chili Cook Off. It is also a fair or carnival, lots of rides, lots of fun, and food. When I hear Malibu, it automatically feels like vacation. I was surprised how many people went to this event."

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

Scheduled to open by Memorial Day, the Venice Pier remains decidedly closed. For Venetians who had hoped to enjoy a stroll on the beloved pier this summer, that dream is all but waning. “With all the challenges we’ve had to suffer though this year the fact that a project in a public outdoor space like this has been so dragged out is just ridiculous,” said longtime Venice resident Guy Okazaki. The $5 million dollar restoration projec By Nicole Lynch


Scheduled to open by Memorial Day, the Venice Pier remains decidedly closed. For Venetians who had hoped to enjoy a stroll on the beloved pier this summer, that dream is all but waning. “With all the challenges we’ve had to suffer though this year the fact that a project in a public outdoor space like this has been so dragged out is just ridiculous,” said longtime Venice resident Guy Okazaki.

The $5 million dollar restoration project was approved after a June 2018 electrical fire caused by a homeless encampment under the pier burned a 15-foot section near the lifeguard tower. An eyewitness to the scene said that an unhoused person tapped into the electrical system and was attempting to use a microwave oven.

When the scaffolding came down and the construction equipment staging location cleared out nearly a month ago, it seemed as though reopening was imminent. However, weeks passed with little activity. “It’s like nobody’s managing it. There’s been no information, it’s absurd,” Guy continued.

Calls and emails to the Department of Recreation and Parks were not returned.

On Saturday, August 14th, Life Rolls On host They Will Skate Again at the Venice Skatepark.

They Will Skate Again is an adaptive skate clinic. Adaptive athletes of all ages come and learn how to ride a skatepark from some of the top adaptive skaters and wheelchair athletes, including Nitro Circus' Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham , as well as regular Venice Skatepark adaptive athletes Tracie Garacochea and Jesse Swalley

These photos were shot by Six12 Media
















You can find about 150+ more photos from this event, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

They Will Skate Again 2021 Photo Gallery


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

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

"Mayor Eric Garcetti agreed on no more camping on Venice Beach. It is legal now. Friday, July 30 was the deadlin,e all tents have to be removed from Venice Beach. I was there at 2:30 AM to see how the city clean the beach."

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:

"Los Angeles County Lifeguards tryout to compete in the Taplin Lifeguard Championship, Santa Monica Beach, Wednesday, July 14, 2021."

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LA Sanitation & Environment's Statement regarding Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant discharge today.:

Sunday afternoon, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant became inundated with overwhelming quantities of debris, causing backup of the headworks facilities. The plant's relief system was triggered and sewage flows were controlled through use of the plant's one-mile outfall and discharge of untreated sewage into Santa Monica Bay. Normally the discharge of treated sewage is through the five-mile outfall. During the eight hours of discharge through the one-mile outfall, approximately 17 million gallons of sewage (representing six percent of a daily load) was discharged as an emergency measure to prevent the plant from going completely offline and discharging much more raw sewage.

Protocols for notifying regulatory agencies and the State's Office of Emergency Services were followed, plant staff was onsite all night and resolved the issue early this morning. Water quality sampling and testing of shoreline (beach) samples are currently being conducted, and our monitoring vessel traveled to both outfalls to make observations and take samples for analyses following regulatory permit protocols. Thanks to these efforts, and significant equipment improvements that have been made in recent years in partnership with several environmental groups, the amount of flow into the ocean was mitigated and the plant remained online.

These improvements included the reconfiguring of in-plant storm basins to pump sewage back into the plant in cases of emergency; screens were installed on all catch basins to prevent untreated debris from entering the storm drains and out to the ocean; and a Headworks Bypass had been installed to prevent raw sewage overflowing out of the Headworks building and into the street.

At this time, all flow is being treated through its standard treatment processes. We are investigating the cause of the debris and repairing damaged equipment.

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: 17 million gallons of raw sewage were spilled into the Santa Monica Bay on July 11-12. Currently Dockweiler State Beach and El Segundo Beach are closed to the public. The City of Los Angeles and LA County Department of Public Health are testing beaches and water in the Santa Monica Bay.

This is a developing story from Heal The Bay and we will update information as new details come to light.

When did the spill occur? The sewage spill started at 7 pm on 7/11/2021 and stopped at about 5 am on 7/12/2021. We are told by City of LA’s Bureau of Sanitation that the spill was stopped early this morning at around 5 am and all sewage is now being treated normally.

How much was spilled? We understand 17 million gallons of raw sewage were spilled through the 1-mile outfall, which is directly offshore from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in El Segundo.

Which beaches are impacted? Currently Dockweiler State Beach and El Segundo Beach are closed to the public. The City of Los Angeles and LA County Department of Public Health are testing beaches and water in the Santa Monica Bay.

What should the public do to protect themselves? We recommend the public stay out of the water until further notice. Also, check the Beach Report Card for the latest ocean water quality alerts in California, and review the River Report Card for water quality information about freshwater swimming holes in Los Angeles County.

What issues does this cause to people and to ocean wildlife? Bacteria and viruses in raw sewage are extremely dangerous to people and can carry a variety of diseases. Debris such as tampons and plastic trash, when released into the Bay, can harbor bacteria and can cause entanglement of wildlife, but it seems in this case those debris were successfully filtered out of the spill before it made it to the Bay.

Why did this happen? We understand the inflow to the Hyperion plant in El Segundo was severely clogged and flooded the facility. The sewage left the facility untreated through the 1-mile pipe and outfall.

More info at Heal The Bay

Video by Sealaka.

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

"Los Angeles is completely open, no more restrictions. Everybody enjoyed Machine Gun Kelly’s and Travis Barkers Free concert on the rooftop in Venice Beach, California. Hundreds of spectators enjoyed the great music and the fun in the sun. It was incredible to see so many people dancing and having fun."

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