Video portrait featuring Taro Watanabe.

Craft brews, Hot Dog on a Stick Lemonade, adoptable pups from HIT Living Foundation & FREE dog-friendly goodies

Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer with us at Santa Monica Brew Works for a pawsome dog-friendly event on August 11th! Join us for an afternoon of craft brews, adoptable pups from HIT Living Foundation, and free goodies from: Milk-Bone, JustFoodForDogs, ZippyPaws, PupLid, and Joya Diamonds for Dogs.

At the event, you can plan to:

Stop by our booths for freebies and fun!
Enjoy Hot Dog on a Stick Hand-Stomped Lemonade by donating what you can to Hit Living Foundation.
Sip for a cause - $1 from every 310 Stomped Shandy goes to Hit Living Foundation.
Pose with your pup at our lemonade stand dog photo booth!

Sunday, August 11 · 12 - 3pm
Santa Monica Brew Works
1920 Colorado Avenue #suite c
Santa Monica, CA 90404

For more info, Click Here.

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, approximately a dozen Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers responded to a call at Whole Foods in Venice. The officers detained a homeless man in handcuffs while investigating the situation.

According to the LAPD Sergeant on the scene, the incident began with a radio call from an unidentified individual who refused further contact. The caller reported a person wearing what appeared to be a tactical vest, acting abnormally.

Upon arrival, officers identified the man as someone well-known in the area. The Sergeant clarified that the vest was not ballistic but tactical, which likely led to the concern and subsequent call to the police.

The Sergeant further explained that the officers were in the process of either releasing the man or contacting the mental health unit to determine if additional resources were needed for him. "It's not illegal to have a vest like that," the Sergeant stated, emphasizing that the vest was merely a carrier.

The investigation concluded with the man being released without further action."

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:

"On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers responded to a complaint regarding the disruption of a Starbucks commercial filming on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Starbucks was in the process of filming an autumn-themed commercial at the Venice Beach Boardwalk Pagodas when the incident occurred.

Adjacent to the commercial setup, BBOY KydSteez (@kydsteezinc), a regular street performer and comedian, was conducting his daily performance using amplification. The production company claimed that the loud sound from the performer was interfering with their filming, prompting them to contact the police.

The street performer contended that amplification is permitted on the boardwalk. An LAPD sergeant clarified that the production company had a filming permit, which led to a discussion about the boundaries and perimeters defined in the permit. The street performer argued that no clear boundaries had been established.

After discussions between the police and the street performer, an agreement was reached. The performer agreed to cease using amplification for his comedy routine and to rely solely on his voice without a public address system. Additionally, the comedian alleged that a member of the production's security team had placed his hand on his gun while making demands. The comedian intends to file a formal complaint regarding this incident."

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.

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:

August 07, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove

The entire swim area.

· Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove

100 yards up and down the coast from the Paradise Cove Pier.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Ballona Creek at Dockweiler State Beach. Near Dockweiler Tower 40

100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

· Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Big Rock Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Rose Avenue Storm Drain at Venice Beach

The entire swim area.

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

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC) presents the 4th Annual Westside Unity Classic Car Show on the Santa Monica Pier. Lowride for a Cause!

Lowride for a Cause. All proceeds will benefit youth services and after-school programming for underserved youth in Santa Monica and Los Angeles County.

Last year, more than 3,000 people attended this family-friendly event. The event is free for all spectators and guests on foot. This year, over 200 classic cars of various makes and models, some dating back to 1930’s will be on display.

All Solo Riders and Classic Car Clubs can register now for $50 or for $60 at the Pier (Day of event).

Roll-in Time: 7am to 9am, will be strictly enforced.

For more information, please email us at carshow@picoyouth.org

Call us at (310) 804-3965 or (424) 480-8716.

More Background:

We are hosting this Classic Car Show to bring unity and awareness to the community that lowriding culture still thrives in the Westside of Los Angeles. Through this family-friendly event we plan to educate and inspire everyone, but especially our youth, to have pride in our culture and to contribute to the continuation of this beautiful art form that we know as low rider culture.

“At a time when low-income residents of all backgrounds, especially Latino and African American residents, are being pushed out of Westside communities due to gentrification we feel that unity, awareness and visibility is needed more than ever. This car show is necessary to celebrate our region’s cultural diversity that is at risk of extinction,” stated Oscar de la Torre, Santa Monica City Councilman.

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Monday, August 5, 2024, a Los Angeles police officer faced a tense situation with an aggressive individual during a camping enforcement operation at the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The incident began when police requested a homeless man to move away from the boardwalk with his belongings. The individual asked for medical assistance, prompting the police to call Los Angeles Firefighter Paramedics. The paramedics arrived shortly and transferred the man to the hospital.

Sanitation workers later arrived to dispose of the remaining items, which the homeless man had relinquished. During this time, another homeless individual who was also asked to move did not cooperate, yelling and threatening the police. The police were prepared to use force, but after a brief standoff, the man ultimately walked away with his suitcase of belongings."

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:

"Venice Beach saw an unusual scene on Monday, August 5, 2024, as the Los Angeles Police Department and firefighters responded to a vehicle stuck in the sand. An elderly man had inadvertently driven his car onto the beach, leading to the vehicle becoming entrenched in the sand.

The front end of the vehicle displayed damage from a prior incident. Emergency services, including fire paramedics, attended to the scene, ensuring the elderly driver was unharmed. He waited in an ambulance for his family to arrive and take him home. A tow truck successfully extricated the car from the sand before impounding it."

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:

"Just after sunset on Sunday night, August 4, 2024, Santa Monica Police Officers, Santa Monica Firefighters, Los Angeles County Lifeguards, and Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers responded to a report of a potential drowning at Santa Monica Beach. Following an extensive search, authorities concluded that the witness had mistaken a buoy for a person in distress. The lifeguard on duty reassured the witness that reporting the sighting was the correct action. Buoys, which are floating objects anchored at specific locations, serve to guide or warn mariners, mark the positions of submerged objects, or moor vessels. "

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.