Project Save Our Surf returns to Tower 26 to clean the beach. Buckets, gloves and light snacks will be provided.



Come join Project Save Our Surf for a fun afternoon of music and refreshments cleaning the beach. Buckets and gloves will also be provided for the cleanup. Connect with others in Los Angeles working to support our environment.

We have also partnered with Project Pop Drop to collect items for the homeless that we will be delivering to a homeless shelter on the last Saturday of the month (each month is a different shelter and details will be available at the cleanup for those who want to attend that event as well). We are collecting non- perishable foods and new toiletries, new socks, new underwear, new clothing etc.

Saturday, April 12 · 11am - 1pm
Santa Monica Beach Tower 26
2559 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica, CA 90405

For more info, Click Here.

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

After almost 3 months, homes on the beach in Malibu are finally being fully cleared of all fire debris.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Celebrate the Easter season at Third Street Promenade with fun, games, and FREE photos with the Easter Bunny!

On Sunday, April 6th from 12-4PM, celebrate the Easter season at Third Street Promenade!

This event is FREE and for ALL AGES!

There will be fun activities for all ages including:
Photos with the Easter Bunny (pets welcome!)
Live Childrens’ music + entertainment
Arts & crafts + games
Balloon twisters + face painters

Photos with the Easter Bunny will be first-come, first-served. There will be a (2) picture limit per group with the Easter Bunny.
There will be no egg hunt, rather Easter Eggs will be handed out .

Event will be on the 1200 Block of Third Street Promenade (between Arizona & Wilshire)

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

If you passed by the intersection of Main Street and Pico Boulevard this morning, you may have noticed some exciting activity taking place just outside the southwest corner of the shuttered Civic Auditorium.

Early this morning, a pair of mobile buildings were delivered to the parking lot. These trailers will soon house SaMo Bridge, a new city diversion program set to launch this month.

The SaMo Bridge program will join STEP Court and the Alternatives to Incarceration Pre-Filing Diversion Program as the latest tool to help the city intercept individuals experiencing homelessness or behavioral health issues before they enter the criminal justice system – and offer a different path.

The program is a key component of the city’s innovative strategy to address homelessness by focusing on sustainable solutions with lasting impacts.

When Santa Monica Police Department, or SMPD, personnel contact an individual who has committed a low-level crime – such as violating the city’s camping ordinance – they can now offer the person two choices: go to jail or go to the SaMo Bridge “respite hub.”

If the person chooses jail, they are usually either cited or booked and then released, with an obligation to appear in court in 30 days. But in the intervening month, they may pick up more offenses or have to wait to be connected with resources.

The idea is that the 24/7 respite hub is a more attractive option, with the goal of getting people off the street and connected to services. It also offers SMPD a new and much-needed resource to refer people to after hours.

At the respite hub, the individual can have a snack, take a shower and temporarily rest in a safe place. This environment makes it more likely the individual will be receptive to meeting with an onsite case manager to help find long-term solutions to the issues that brought them into contact with law enforcement.

Exodus Recovery Inc., the city’s nonprofit partner for existing diversion programs, will provide SaMo Bridge’s onsite, around-the-clock case management services.

Case managers will work with participants to create a 90-day care plan focused on housing and treatment. For participants who complete the 90-day plan, the City Attorney’s Office will not file the misdemeanor criminal case for which they were picked up, providing significant motivation to follow through with the program.

The SaMo Bridge respite hub will consist of two mobile trailers, one for Exodus staff and one for time-limited use by participants. The space has capacity to host three to four individuals at any given time.

Participation in the program is by SMPD referral only, and no loitering or walk-ups will be permitted outside the trailers. The site will have a 24/7 security guard, staffed by Exodus, with additional video monitoring by SMPD.

SaMo Bridge is a three-year pilot program fully funded by a grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections. While the concept of “respite hubs” is not new, this is the first program of its kind to serve Santa Monica, and joins a host of innovative, holistic strategies for addressing homelessness within the city.

On March 25, the Santa Monica City Council approved an interim zoning ordinance that allows for SaMo Bridge’s location next to the Civic Auditorium. If conversations about reactivating the Civic Auditorium proceed before the three-year pilot is up, the location of SaMo Bridge could change if needed.

Authored By
Jenna Grigsby-Taggart
Santa Monica Deputy City Attorney

The City of Malibu, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath from LA County’s Third Supervisorial District, LA County’s Third Supervisorial District, LA County Sheriff’s Department, LA County Public Works, Caltrans and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for an important discussion on the impacts of the Palisades Fire on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), its progress and ongoing recovery efforts.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

The landmark Santa Monica Civic Auditorium opened in 1958 as a public gathering place for cultural, educational, and community events. Designed by noted architect Welton Beckett, the classic Streamline Modern building is the architectural focal point for the southern sector of Santa Monica's Civic Center. Regular operation of the Civic Auditorium was suspended in June 2013, due to the loss of redevelopment funds needed to rehabilitate the facility.

The Santa Monica City Council Tuesday approved execution of an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with development team Revitalization Partners Group, to renovate, operate and program the shuttered Civic Auditorium.

An Exclusive Negotiating Agreement, or ENA, provides a specified period during which involved parties can conduct due diligence to evaluate the feasibility of a project and negotiate terms for a final agreement, which in this case would be a Disposition and Development Agreement.

Under the ENA, the city agrees to negotiate solely with Revitalization Partners Group, or RPG, to determine the feasibility for redeveloping the Civic Auditorium site. The ENA also sets forth agreed upon timelines and performance schedules, creates financial responsibilities and outlines future discussions.

The term of the agreement is six months.

The next step includes the city coordinating with RPG to complete various site analyses to understand the feasibility of redevelopment and renovation. As part of the ENA, RPG will submit a cost recovery deposit of $250,000 to cover staff and consultant costs for analysis of the Civic project.

“As a city we are pursuing multiple strategies to bolster our economic recovery,” Director of Community Development Arminé Chaparyan said. “From streamlining permitting processes to advancing revitalization projects such as the Civic Auditorium, we’re focused on continuing to push forward initiatives that support our businesses and local economy.”

The process of selecting the development team kicked off in late 2023 when the City Council directed staff to seek Letters of Interest from entities with demonstrated financial capacity and extensive redevelopment experience. 

RPG was selected for the ENA based on their experience and financial resources to renovate, operate and program entertainment venues that have historical attributes. 

Here's surfing photos from Friday, April 28th, at the Venice Breakwater. This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media.                                                                

Here's some surfing photos from Friday, April 28th, 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 90+ 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 90+ more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

Venice Breakwater - Friday 3-28-2025 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.

Touring the devastating damage from the Palisades Fire to all the homes on the hillside above the "Alphabet Streets" in the Pacific Palisades. These homes had beautiful views of the ocean, several are tagged as dangerous as they are in danger of falling onto the hilside.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

UPDATE AS OF 3/25: Dukes Malibu is temporarily closed due to the mudslide that caused extensive damage. However, they are anticipate reopening this summer once they complete the cleanup and repairs. ds, Click Here.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

March 24, 2025

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 (NON-FIRE RELATED):

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

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

OCEAN WATER ADVISORY DUE TO FIRE IMPACTS:

The ocean water advisory due to fire impacts from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice.

Beach goers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory.


For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Beachside Benefit at Perry's Cafe on the beach in Santa Monica. Zuma Cars & Coffee gather at this event honoring the great Malibu, Altadena and Pasadena Fire Fighters. This event directly benefits California Fire Foundation, Pasadena Humane Society, and Palisades Forever, three incredible organizations assisting fire-impacted communities through emergency aid, pet rescue and care, and essential supplies for families in crisis.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Cruising around the Venice Love Fest 2025 - a celebration of all things love in the heart of the Westside. This free community festival brings together an incredible lineup of live music, delicious food trucks, over 400 locally made brands and artists, beer gardens, games, and family-friendly activities on Venice Blvd in Downtown Mar Vista, CA

"Inspired By Cannabis is coming to Santa Monica! Come on out, pick up some trash, win some stuff in the raffle :) hang out with the chilliest peeps you'll ever meet!"

No need to sign up or bring anything supplies are provided just look for the tents and bring your great vibes!

Sunday, March 30 · 10am - 1pm PST
Bicknell Ave Beach Parking Lot
Santa Monica, CA 9040

For more info, Click Here.

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

PACIFIC PALISADES A home on Castellammare Drive that survived the Palisades Fire was completely destroyed when the hill behind it came sliding down crushing it and covering the street.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) remains closed to the public for safety reasons between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View as extensive cleanup and repairs continue. The closure is to protect the public from serious injuries and fatalities.

Caltrans is prepared to open the road as soon as it is safe to do so in coordination with the California Highway Patrol, utilities and local public agencies.

Caltrans expects to open one lane to school buses during designated times with an escort this week and is working on a plan with its partners to also allow essential business travel during this timeframe.



Progress has been made in cleanup efforts, with at least 8,600 cubic yards of mud and debris — equivalent to 860 truckloads — removed so far of the 33,000 cubic yards that came down on the highway after the February storm. All mud and debris are being pushed to the side of the road and tested. Clean dirt will be sent to Oxnard farms for reuse. To date, all dirt has tested clean.

Caltrans and its partners are working to restore Topanga Canyon Boulevard by building retaining walls in three locations and rebuilding the shoulder and lane where the road was washed away. Rebuilding the shoulder and lane will take at least a month, once a design is in place. Additionally, multiple locations throughout SR-27 will require the installation of debris flow barriers and installation of larger culverts. These improvements will help minimize the impacts of future debris/mudflows on SR-27 due to the extensive burn scars in the canyon..



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

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Several trash bins in the area have been set on fire over the past week.. On Sunday, arch 16, 2025, the trash bin behind the McDonald's next to the Santa Monica Pier was set on fire, this time a witness saw it happened and reported it. SMPD found the suspect a block away and he was identified and arrested. He was wearing a shirt that says "Not Above The Law".

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

A updated tour of the current status of The Village (downtown area) of the Pacific Palisades.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

On Sunday evening, reports of over a dozen cars were vandalized and broken into in the 3700 block Clarington Ave. in Venice.

Then according to the LAPD, a suspect entered an apartment complex and broke into a car. They then stole the keys and used them to steal another vehicle from the same owner. <