The Santa Monica Police Department invites the community to National Night Out 2025 on Tuesday, August 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Santa Monica City Hall (1685 Main Street). This year’s theme, “Santa Monica All Stars,” brings the community together for a sports-inspired evening of fun, food, and connection.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. This year's event will feature free food, games, music, and plenty of opportunities to meet the officers and staff who serve Santa Monica.

“This event is a chance for us to thank our community, strengthen relationships, and enjoy a fun evening together,” said Chief Ramon Batista. “Whether you're new to Santa Monica or have lived here for decades, we invite you to come out, bring your family, and be part of the team.”

The Big Blue Bus will be providing free rides to and from City Hall, making it easy and accessible for everyone to join in.

Join LA Tri Club for thier Epic FREE coached led open water swims each Friday at 6:30am. 10 Speed Coffee and Donuts are served afterwards.

These swims are FREE but there are many costs that come with putting on these swims.

"We highly recommend joining LA Tri Club if you attend our swims regularly to help off-set the cost for the Permits, Lifeguards, Coffee and Donuts plus you'll be part of an amazing community and get our weekly newsletter with all kinds of important information and updates about what we have planned throughout the year."

For more info, Click Here.

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

UNITE HERE Local 11, who represents over 32,000 workers employed in hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas, and convention centers throughout Southern California and Arizona, has accused the recently closed Marnia Del Rey restuarant, Tony P's Dockside Grill, of Wage Theft.

In a letter to California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower, from UNITE HERE Staff Attorney Juan Fernando Luna requests an investigation into the Compliance with Wage and Hour Laws at Rick Caruso-Owned Tony P’s Dockside Grill

The letter states that workers at Tony P's have reported that throughout their employment they regularly missed rest breaks and meal periods to which they are legally entitled and were not provided with premium pay and that workers worked off-the-clock without compensation.

"The Restaurant's former employees report that they were unable to take rest and meal breaks because of excessive workload demands, a failure to provide coverage to enable breaks, and other practices. According to these former workers, supervisors knew or should have known that employees were unable to take rest breaks and meal periods. Tony P’s apparently failed to institute an adequate policy or process for authorizing and permitting the required rest breaks. The Restaurant also allegedly failed to provide meal periods to employees who worked more than five hours. Instead, employees reportedly labored through their legally required rest breaks and meal periods without premium pay, and as result, received inaccurate wage statements. This practice potentially violates the Wage Order and Labor Code section 226. It also constitutes an unfair business practice under California law"

The full letter can be viewed here

Some scenes from a typical weekday on the Venice Beach Boardwak. A homeless guy has his axe taken away by the Park Rangers during the one of the weekly Boardwalk encampment clean up. Also free food is given out to those in need, and Dragon drops his chow mein.

The 49th Annual Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots is happening on August 4, 2025 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 a previous year:

For more info, Click Here

Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Program pier jump drill at the Venice Pier on Friday morning.

🔧 Work includes: Cross gutter reconstruction and street paving

📅 Monday, Aug. 4 – Friday, Aug. 8

🕗 Full closure, 24 hours/day

The City of Santa Monica has contracted with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. (EBEI) to implement Phase 1, Pedestrian and Street Lighting Upgrade, of Lincoln Boulevard Neighborhood Corridor (LiNC) Streetscape Project. The Project will remove all old high-voltage streetlights and replace them with new energy-efficient pedestrian and street lighting along Lincoln Boulevard. The project aims to enhance pedestrian safety with new lighting. The work on Lincoln Blvd. spans from Interstate 10 freeway (I-10 Fwy) to Ozone Avenue at the southern city limit. In addition, the Project includes traffic signal and sidewalk improvements between Michigan Avenue and I-10 freeway.

This work includes installation of new small size electrical conduit, new foundations, new pedestrian and street light poles with new LED type fixtures, and removal of old streetlight poles. Furthermore, the pedestrian crossings at Olympic Blvd and at Michigan Ave on Lincoln Blvd will be reconfigured and improved with curb ramp extensions, additional signage and traffic signal modifications. Additionally, at Olympic crossings, a new pedestrian refuge median island will be installed with a two-phased safe crossing.

Construction is expected to begin in September 2024 and last approximately until December 2025. As the construction work encompasses a large section of Lincoln Blvd., the work will be performed in phases. The work is anticipated to begin at the southern city limit (Ozone Ave.) and gradually progress towards north to I-10 Fwy. During the construction, part of the street parking and sidewalks restrictions will occur temporarily. Safety barricades and signage will be provided at work locations. Driveway and building accesses will be maintained. Traffic flow will be maintained.

The operation of heavy equipment necessary to construct this project will create intermittent loud noise. We understand this process is inconvenient and we will make every effort to minimize any inconvenience that this work may cause.

Residential and commercial power service will be uninterrupted and maintained during the project. Power service for street lighting is isolated from residential and commercial power service.

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

Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025 / domingo 17 de agosto 2025

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Connecting Culver City, Mar Vista, and Venice



CicLAvia is a non-profit organization that has been opening streets throughout LA County since 2010. Come experience car-free open streets at our 61st event, CicLAvia—Culver City meets Venice.

Enjoy the pop-up park for the day in your favorite people-powered way, whether that's walking, jogging, biking, roller skating, skating, or simply spectating! All ages and abilities are welcome.

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

Caltrans has announced that thier crews have completed some work on Pacific Coast Highway & some changes have been made:

- McClure Tunnel to Temescal Canyon Road: No more cones, 45 mph speed limit

- Temescal to Sunset Blvd: Reduced cones & signage, 35 mph speed limit

- Sunset to Carbon Beach Terrace: Active work zone, 25 mph speed limit

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.