The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a traffic safety operation on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.

SMPD offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians

Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.
Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross. 

Police officers escort parking enforcement officers as they go after all the delivery trucks parked "illegally" while making deliveries to Venice Beach businesses.

An Tuesday afternoon, according to witnesses, a car sped down Ocean Ave and through the intersection at Bicknell hitting a pedestrian who was standing with her daughter next to her parked SUV. The woman was badl injuried and was tken to the hospital, along with her daughter. The driver, who was heard saying her car malfunctioned, was also taken to the hospital, Ocean Ave was closed for 2 blocks as forsenics investigated the crash. No information avaliable on the condition of all invovled.

Escape to the 1st Annual Santa Monica Pier Fundraiser September 6

The Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC) invites the community to celebrate an evening of connection, cocktails, and purpose at its inaugural fundraising event, “A PIERfect Benefit,”. A PIERfect Benefit will take place on Friday, September 6 from 3:30 to 7:30 PM inside the historic Merry Go-Round Building.

Guests will enjoy signature cocktails, curated appetizers, live entertainment, and engaging programming that reflects the Pier’s vibrant past, present, and future. All proceeds will benefit SMPC’s mission to keep the Pier magical, meaningful, and accessible for all. Funds raised will support future free events and maybe even the return of beloved concerts on the Pier deck.

Additionally, 10% of all ticket sales will be donated to Pali Strong Foundation, a community-led effort providing direct relief to those affected by the recent Palisades Fires.

Tickets are now available Click Here .

“This event kicks off a new tradition for one of the most iconic places in California,” said Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation. “We’re not the City—we’re a nonprofit with heart, and we rely on the generosity of the community to continue curating the Pier experience for locals, visitors, and admirers alike.”

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

A Venice Boardwalk tattoo artist got stabbed by a known crazy homeless girl. She locks herself in the public restrooms when the police arrive. Officers manage to get her out and place her under arrest.

"After much consideration, the Abbot Kinney Festival Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s festival. This decision was influenced by several factors, including the recent slowdown in sponsorships affecting many festivals and events this year." the event organizer announced.

"As a non-profit event organized by dedicated Venice community volunteers and stakeholders, our mission has always been to celebrate the unique spirit of our neighborhood. We look forward to using this next year to restructure, retool, and return with an even bigger and more vibrant festival."

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

On August 30th, 7th House Screenings proudly present EndThis Summer, a three program afternoon-evening festival of surf filmmaking that captures the natural art in all its cinematic splendor through sandy psychedelic surf oddities and cult classics, a program of radical contemporary short films, and a sea-soaked outsider epic.

Location: Philosophical Research Society
3910 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027

Discounted tickets are now available Click Here .

This discounted pass will grant access to all three of the festival's programs:

2:00pm – PSYCH SURF feat. MORNING OF THE EARTH (1972) co-presented by EXP TV
A deep dive into the psychedelic surf film genre that sprayed forth from the countercultural wave, ft. Albert Falzon's earthy cult classic!

5:00pm - SHREDDING: A NEW LENS IN SURF FILMMAKING
SHREDDING is a short surf film program that invites both lifelong diehards and the uninitiated alike to re-examine how surfing is culturally framed. Within the context of the sport, the term “shredding” has had difficulty escaping its mocking association with a certain archetypal image of the surfer, caricatures like Jeff Spicoli, Bodhi, Zack Morris, etc. Rather than merely decrying this apparent lack of representation, SHREDDING affirmatively undermines those cumbersome and outdated stereotypes by sharing the experiences of those whose very presence on a board redefines the discourse. Through contemporary lenses from as far afield as Morocco to up and down the California coast, we get to see how people are expanding the surf space today. Myriad perspectives, uniquely shaped by similar challenges: feeling seen, gaining access, and eventually, changing that archetypal image of what a surfer looks like.

8:00pm - SURFER: TEEN CONFFRONTS FEAR presented by Hollywood Entertainment
An existential spiritual epic, an intimate family portrait, a conspiracy thriller, and so much more—there has never been a movie or a mystical experience like SURFER: TEEN CONFRONTS FEAR. Equally at home in the slow cinema tradition of Béla Tarr and the classic surf rhythms of Big Wednesday, we invite you to dip into the profound waves of this journey.

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

Join us at Crescent Bay Park in Santa Monica Beach for the Beach Cleanup Sport -SPOGOMI USA Round, a sport where teams (3people/per team) compete for points based on the amount and types of garbage collected within a time limit in a designated area.

The prize for the winning team is a roundtrip airfare to Japan with hotel accommodations, where the World Cup will be held at Tokyo on October 29th.

It's a great way to give back to the community and stay active at the same time. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference. See you there!

For more info, Click Here .

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

The Westside Classics Car Show is rolling into Venice Beach for 2025! Bringing the shine and style of Southern California’s most beloved classics to the oceanfront, this event promises a day filled with timeless automotive beauty and community spirit.

Set right along the iconic Ocean Front Walk in Venice Beach, Los Angeles County, the show is perfectly placed in one of SoCal’s most recognizable and vibrant beachside spots. Attendees can expect to see an impressive variety of vehicles, from pristine vintage sedans and low-slung cruisers to unique custom builds that reflect the region’s deep car culture. With palm trees framing the view and the Pacific Ocean just steps away, the setting alone makes it a standout on the Southern California car show calendar.

Hosted by the Westside Classics Car Club, a group known for preserving and celebrating classic cars while bringing enthusiasts together, the event is all about showcasing automotive craftsmanship. While there won’t be hoppers or roll-ins after the morning staging time, the curated lineup ensures each vehicle earns its place in the spotlight. Vendors will also be on-site, offering gear, memorabilia, and other automotive-related finds for enthusiasts and collectors alike.

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