Event Details:
Tuesday, Aug 6th 5pm – 7pm
Forest Cove Park

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

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will host FREE Olympic and Paralympic Viewing Parties. Join us for live streams of the summer games and sports activities for youth. The viewing parties and youth activities are sponsored for the department and its PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program. About PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports: The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks PlayLA Youth & Adaptive Youth Sports Program is a city-wide initiative that provides access to quality sports programming for youth of all abilities between the ages of 5 and 17. Made possible by an investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), PlayLA is the single largest commitment to youth sports development in California and serves as a legacy before, during and after the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Friday, August 9 · 10am - 1pm

1800 Ocean Front Walk Los Angeles, CA 90291

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

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

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

For more info, Click Here.

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

Local surfer who helps the community by giving his full heart to the special needs and gifted community providing surf therapy with his companySoCal Surf Therapy, has been in a terrible accident, Timothy Murphy was hit by a truck last week. A gofundme has been set up to help him recover:

"First and most importantly, I know I can speak on behalf of all of us to say we are incredibly fortunate that Timothy is still with us today bringing his optimism and beautiful spirit to the world.

On Friday morning Timothy was walking across the street with his breakfast and was hit by a truck going 35 mph and thrown 15 feet. What he remembers is vague, he was starting to cross the street and then next thing he knows he woke up in an MRI machine.

The immediate injuries that were noted are a concussion, 20+ stitches to the face, road rash wounds, cuts, pain circulating between neck, chest and shoulder, and a lower spine irregularity. As time goes on the soreness and aches will begin to come through more as can be expected after an accident such as this, and the initial trauma heals.

Timothy selflessly helps the community by giving his full heart to the special needs and gifted community providing surf therapy with his company SoCal Surf Therapy. His passions shine through in all that he does, whether it be volunteering at events, doing photography, spending time in nature or being surrounded by those he loves.

This is our opportunity to give back and help Timothy heal and assist him with medical bills (ambulance, hospital visits, ongoing healing) as all his work he does requires his physical body.

If you are unable to help financially a share goes a long way.

Thank you so much!"

To donate, Click Here.

Roller Skate in Santa Monica

Roll @ Santa Monica is more than just a rink – it's a summer celebration!



From August 10 to October 14, our vibrant rink will transform downtown Santa Monica into a lively hub of excitement and nostalgia. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a first-timer, Roll @ Santa Monica offers an unforgettable experience for all ages and skill levels.

Picture this: gliding under the sunny California sky, surrounded by the energy of fellow skaters and the iconic sights of Santa Monica. It’s the perfect backdrop for creating memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime.



Just the Facts

Located at 1324 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Opens August 10, 2024 through October 14, 2024

Hours of operation are Sundays through Thursdays 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Admission including skate rental: $15

Lockers, socks and party tent available to rent/purchase.

Private Party (Buyout) Available!

For more info and to buy tickets, Click Here.

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

Police Chief Ramon Batista and the members of the Santa Monica Police Department would like to invite the Santa Monica community to celebrate this year’s National Night Out (NNO) in front of City Hall (1685 Main Street). NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, aimed at making our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live.

This year’s National Night out theme: Past, Present, and Future! will have an 80s/90s nostalgia theme, filled with reminiscent snacks and games. We will be showcasing historic PD items, displaying our current technology, and also presenting our plans for the future.

Participants can meet police personnel (human and 4-legged), ask questions about our police vehicles and equipment, and enjoy music, food, and family-friendly activities.

Event Details:
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 6, 2024; 5:30 - 8:00 PM
​Location: City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Tuesday morning, July 31, 2024, Los Angeles Police Officers and Firefighters, along with Paramedics, responded to an assault on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. A homeless man allegedly kicked a local man in the face while he was having a cup of coffee, an unprovoked attack on a stranger. Police apprehended the suspect, who resisted arrest, necessitating sedation by paramedics before transport to a hospital. The suspect was arrested for battery.

The victim, who suffered a minor cut to the eyelid and a black eye, described the incident: "I was sitting on my skateboard by Brooks, having a cup of coffee, when he walked up and kicked me in the face. He was yelling about Allah and seemed to dislike me for some reason." He added, "After kicking me, he climbed on top of me, demanding I say something. I was just sitting there, trying to understand what was happening." The victim, who had never seen the assailant before, noted the attacker's behavior: "He circled around me a few times before attacking, which made it clear he had some issue with me."

Witnesses were alarmed, but the victim chose not to retaliate, explaining, "I knew that if I fought back, it would be considered a fight, and neither of us would be taken to jail. So, I stayed calm and let him hit me, knowing it would result in his arrest." After the incident, paramedics assessed the victim's condition. Reflecting on the ordeal, he said, "I'll take a black eye any day if it means keeping Venice safe from people like him." Authorities continue to investigate the incident to ensure community safety."

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.