Westside Classics Car Club presents Cinco de Mayo celebration at Venice Beach on May 4th 2025.

For more info, Click Here

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

Progress has been made on the clean up of several of the beach front homes along the Malibu coast near Big Rock. Most homes have been fully cleared of alltheir fire debris, while a couple have not. This was filmed right after the rain storm on Saturday afternoon, April 26th, 2025, exploring the area from the beach.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Come out to join us to celebrate the Historical Venice Cinco de Mayo Parade & Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10AM to 6PM on 7th Ave between California Ave and Broadway. Parade will begin at 10AM on California Ave and Lincoln Blvd. There will be food trucks, Folklorico Dancers, Horses and Charros,Banda, Aztec Dancers, Venice High School Band, Santa Monica College Cheerleaders, Classic Cars, DJ, Piñata, raffles,Photo Booth, and much more.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style at Oakwood Recreation Park. Join us for a day filled with vibrant parades, delicious food, live music, and fun activities for the whole family. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Venice while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Don't miss out on this exciting event that brings the community together to honor Mexican heritage and commemorate the Battle of Puebla. Bring your friends and family for a day of celebration and cultural appreciation. See you there!

Video from last year:

For more info, Click Here

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

The Saturday morning rain brought down debris that's blocking both directions of Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga, Tuna and Big Rock, prompying a full hard closure between Topanga and Carbon Beach Terrace.



Crews are making good progress but still have to clear mud at Peña Road. PCH will remain closed tonight and will reopen Sunday at 6 a.m. to the same soft closure (residents w/burn scar passes, contractors, emergency responders and designated Metro, school buses.)

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

Santa Monica’s AMP (Art, Music, Promenade) Fest; a shoppable art & music festival happening at the Third Street Promenade. Get ready to immerse yourself in vibrant art created by talented local artists!
AMP (Art, Music, Promenade) Fest
Date: April 27th, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Address: Third Street Promenade, (1200 & 1300 Block).



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 morning, April 23, 2025, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and LAPD officers responded to reports of an unresponsive man lying near the public restrooms along Ocean Front Walk.

First responders assessed the individual and determined he was deceased at the scene. LAPD officers erected a privacy tent around the body as standard protocol and awaited the arrival of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Roughly ninety minutes later, coroner personnel arrived to examine and transport the body. The official cause of death has not yet been released. Authorities have not confirmed whether foul play or overdose is suspected.

The investigation is ongoing."

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.

Ivan Angel Plancarte, 20-years-old, DOB 05/20/2004; San Gabriel Resident; Charge: 664/187 PC Attempted Murder' $1,000,000 Bail; Pending 4/23/2025 court appearance

On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 2:26 AM, Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officers responded to a radio call regarding a reported stabbing in the 1700 block of Ocean Front Walk. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Officers arrived on scene within two minutes and discovered two individuals who had been stabbed. The first victim, an adult male, sustained multiple stab wounds to the upper torso. SMPD personnel provided initial medical aid to the victim. Upon their arrival, Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) paramedics continued medical treatment and then transported the individual to a local area hospital. At the time of this release, the victim was in critical, but stable condition.

The second victim, an adult female, was also discovered to have sustained stab wounds. She was also transported to the hospital for treatment and released.

Witnesses reported that suspects fled the scene on foot, traveling southbound after the stabbing.

A preliminary investigation revealed the following suspect descriptions:

Suspect 1: Male, Hispanic, thin build, wearing a grey sweater and a blue bandana or face mask.

Suspect 2: Male, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants.

Suspect #2, 20-year-old Ivan Angel Plancarte from San Gabriel, CA was taken into custody on Monday, April 21, 2025 and charged with attempted murder (664/187 PC).

Suspect #1 remains outstanding.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this crime is encouraged to contact the Det. Zamfirov at (310)458-8398, Det. Sgt. Lozano at (310)458-8774, or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.

Here are answers to questions we've been getting about the status of surfing at Sunset:

NOTE: This is solely to give answersto the numerous questions we have been receiving about surfing at Sunset. This is not encouragepeople to ho surf or to break any kaws, just answering questions with the knowledge we have observed.

Is Sunset open for surfing?
It was never really closed.

Is PCH open?
It is only open to those that have a proper pass. The closure/checkpoint is at Chautauqua/W Channel Rd. Only vehicles with passes are allowed to continue on PCH. So without a pass, you can not drive a vehicle up to Sunset.

Can I bike up PCH?
If you have the proper pass, it depends on who is at the checkpoint, some gaurds let you through, some say "No bikes...too dangerous".

As of Friday, 4/25, CHP was stationed near Sunset turning back people riding bikes and walking up PCH. stuff changes constantly.

How have people been surfing there, and at Topanga?
They have passes to be in the area, or they snuck in.

Is Will Rogers open?
Yes, the beach and the bike path are now open.

Can I get to Sunset from Will Rogers?
Yes, but the main Will Rogers parking lot is still closed. The small parking lot at Entrada is open, that lot is before the PCH closure. If you park there you can walk or bike up the path to the Bay Club then go around the Club to Sunset. There has been no beach closures, the beach is open all the way to Sunset.


How far is it from the parking lot (the small lot) to Sunset?
About 2.3 miles. A 10 minute bike ride at an easy pace.



I heard there's a secret route to go there and to Topanga?
First Rule and Second Rule

Can I park at Sunset?
The Gladstones lot is closed, it is being used by a constuction company. Vehicles have been parking along PCH.

Is Randy still there/Is he okay?
He is still there, he appears okay.

How's the water?
It appears the same as Santa Monica. There are mixed answers to this.

Is the bike path the only way to get to Sunset for those without a pass?
As of Friday, 4/25, it is possible to ride the bike path to the very end o the Will Rogers Parking where the Bay Club is, then walk the beach over to the rocks at Sunset. CHP was stationed near Sunset turning back people riding bikes and walking up PCH.

Is there police and National Gaurd all over PCH?
There is a heavy presence of both CHP and LAPD all along PCH. A lot of vehicles have been seen getting pulled over. The National Gaurd is stationed at specific areas.

On Saturtday morning, about 2:26 a.m., Santa Monica Police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 1700 block of Ocean Front Walk.

The only information out right now is that two people were taken to the hospital with stab wounds. Police said they remained in stable condition as of Saturday afternoon. No information on whether any suspects were detained or identified in this stabbing.

The victims were reported to be brother and sister. And reports say they were asttacked by to drunk men who were seen on scooters.

The sister spoke to the news service

"She said it was around 1 a.m. on Saturday when her group went down to the beach, just wanting to dip their toes in the water. Before they got to the sand, the sister said they noticed two men from a distance, seeming to be drinking and riding their scooters on the boardwalk.

The sister said she found it suspicious, but they carried on. They later again noticed the same men who seemed to be getting closer to her group.

The two men eventually approached her and her brother and began harassing them, she said. The sister said that her brother was trying to protect her and his girlfriend and her other friends during the confrontation.

The men pulled out pocket knives and began threatening them, the woman said. She and others in the group managed to record the suspects.

The sister begged the two men to leave her and her brother alone, but the suspects didn't listen, and instead attacked and lunged at both of them with their knives.

The group was able to escape to safety, and the sister said she and her brother ran toward the parking lot to get to their car.

The woman said she was stabbed four times -- in her head, her back and under her armpit area. Her brother was stabbed five times -- with hits to his stomach and back."