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, August 10 · 11am - 1pm
Santa Monica Beach Tower 26

For more info and to register, Click Here

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

The 48th Annual Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots is happening on August 4, 2024 from 10AM - 7PM. This is a FREE festival!

Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots, also known as Ratha Yatra, is a vibrant and joyous celebration. This annual event, held in the heart of Los Angeles, features the grand procession of elaborately decorated chariots carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Accompanied by traditional music, dancing, and chanting, devotees and visitors pull the chariots through the streets. The festival also includes cultural performances, delicious vegetarian cuisine, and a marketplace showcasing Indian arts and crafts. It's a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds to experience the rich cultural heritage and spiritual essence of India.

The festivities begin with a parade of three 40-foot tall chariots, which begins at Pico and Main in Santa Monica. The parade proceeds down Main Street until Rose Avenue, when it turns on to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The parade ends at the festival site, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza at 12 PM.

The festival, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza, runs from 12-7 PM. Come out for amazing cultural entertainment, a free feast, gift shop, and other food booths. You do not want to miss this once yearly festival.

Video from last year:

For more info, Click Here

Some scenes of Venice Beach on an early Monday morning.

Early in the morning, police are called to for an out-of-his-mind homeless person who is getting into confrontations with people at the Venice Pier. An hour earlier this same person had been harassing a 12-year old surfer until two people stopped him and "encouraged him" to leave. But he returned and other individuals called the police on him. Unfortunately, as usual , all the police did make him leave the pier.

Then police are called to an office building on the Boardwalk that had a break in. Employees arrived to to work to find a broken glass and evidence that someone entered the building and may still be inside.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica Police Officers arrested a homeless man for public nudity at Palisades Park on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The man, known to the officers, was lying on a sleeping bag that did not properly cover his private parts. This individual often sleeps on the sidewalk, occasionally blocking the walkway, prompting police to frequently ask him to move onto the grass.

This is not the first incident involving this individual. Less than two weeks ago, on July 20, Santa Monica Closeup documented another response by police to a call from residents across the street, reporting the man lying with his private parts exposed."

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.

This is an update to an incident from January 2023. On the evening of January 18th, 2023, SMPD Officers responded to a ‘Shots Fired’ call in the 1500 block of Palisades Park. Responding officers discovered a victim who was shot in the face and subsequently transported to a local hospital.

During the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence that on that date and time the victim was in an argument with three subjects. One of the subjects, later identified as Angel Diaz, 21, a resident of Los Angeles, produced a handgun and shot the victim once in the face. The incident is believed to be gang-related.

Detectives discovered the suspect discarded evidence at the crime scene, which was later confirmed via DNA as belonging to Diaz. In addition, Diaz was captured on CCTV footage as he fled the area on foot.

During the investigation, SMPD detectives discovered Diaz was arrested on February 10th, 2023, by LAPD for attempted murder with a handgun. Ballistic evidence proved that the handgun used in the SMPD case was also used in the LAPD case.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed attempted murder charges against Diaz for the SMPD and LAPD incidents. On July 9, 2024, Diaz pled guilty to 245(b) PC – Assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Diaz was sentenced to nine years in state prison. This sentence is to run concurrent with his sentence for the LAPD case.

For additional information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Ismael Tavera at 310-458-2256 or Lieutenant Aklufi at 310-458-8493

This special piece is a really long time in the making, and Bay Street Boards is super stoked to finally reveal the long awaited collaboration between Bay Street Boards and Skater Made!

Bart Saric, the owner of local skateboard brand Skater Made, is an insanely talented artist and great friend and we have been talking about joining forces for a t-shirt design forever! We have been trading sketches for literally years, and we are excited to unveil the finalized piece, both as shirts and prints.

Join us on Friday 8/9 to get some signed prints and tees, hang out and enjoy some dope art and good times!



Bay Street Boards
3216 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica,
CA 90404, United States

For more info, Click Here.

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Hundreds of minibikers descended upon Venice Beach on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The minibikers, hailing from several groups across the Los Angeles area, showcased their skills and passion for the sport. Some participants traveled from as far away as Montebello to join the meetup. Alongside the minibikes, dirt motorcycles were also a prominent feature of the event, adding to the excitement and energy on the streets of Venice.

The event drew significant attention from locals and visitors alike, with many stopping to watch the impressive display of stunts and camaraderie. The atmosphere was charged with the roar of engines and the scent of burning rubber as riders performed daring maneuvers. The gathering highlighted the strong community spirit among minibike enthusiasts, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to share their love for the sport."

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.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica firefighters responded to a fire on the 800 block of the Palisades Park Bluff on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue were temporarily closed as crews battled the blaze, which may have been started by an unhoused individual camping on the bluffs,

Local resident Miles Mallory witnessed the fire and called 911 at 6:27 p.m. In an interview with Santa Monica Closeup, Mallory described the scene: "We were walking downstairs and saw a tiny brush fire. Within minutes, it grew into a large flame, about 15 feet wide and 20 feet tall. My wife and I called 911, and firefighters arrived within two minutes. They attacked the fire from all sides of the cliff with a big truck."

After the fire was extinguished, Santa Monica Fire Captain Johnny Maccini provided details on their response: "We were called out to a brush fire in Palisades Park. We made access with one engine from the top and one from the bottom. Using personnel from the truck company with hand tools, including chainsaws and shovels, we made an aggressive attack from both directions and successfully put it out."

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.."

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.