Latest News
Story by Jorge Casuso
An iconic half-century old mural that has become emblematic of Santa Monica's laid-back beach culture will be removed soon under a settlement between the owner and the City. City officials confirmed that Mark Leevan, the owner of the former savings and loan building on the corner of 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard, is moving forward with plans to remove the large mural composed of colored mosaic tiles.

Created by renowned artist Millard Sheets, the 40 foot by 16-and-a-half foot mural above the entry depicts a day at the beach that for generations has captured the essence of the community.

"The City has received notice that the owner has worked with the artist’s son to find a willing recipient for the mural," said Constance Farrell, the City's spokesperson.

"The owner has therefore requested to proceed with removing the mural, which is permissible under the terms of the settlement agreement. The City is reviewing the request at this time."

The Santa Monica Conservancy sent an email alert Friday noting that the mural on the prominent Y-shaped building that was designated a landmark in 2017 could soon be removed.

"See it now before it's gone!" the Conservancy wrote in its alert.

The building, the email said, "will soon lose its remarkable artworks, including the impressive mosaic mural depicting a beach scene."

"While the Conservancy is glad that a recipient has been found, the fact remains that this iconic Santa Monica landmark is being torn apart, its artwork removed from its original architectural setting, and a landmark lost."

Read more on this at Iconic Santa Monica Beach Mural Will Soon Be Removed


On Saturday June 22, join Surfrider LA for a special spring beach cleanup with the LA Galaxy at the Venice Pier. Come team up with fans and players to give a some TLC to one of our favorite local beaches!

REGISTRATION REQUIRED – register here

Life Rolls On need some help. More volunteers are needed to help with this Saturday's They Will Surf Again event setup. Help is needed on Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1. See the details in the flyer above. Please contact Michael@liferollson.org if you are able to help.
Surfing spots like Sunset where there's no showers, or Venice where the showers are filled with bum piss, portable showers are a good thing to have. Check out this one:

The Helio™ LX has 5.8 gallon tank with a foot pump that with occasional pumps you can keep fully pressurized for 7-10 minutes of strong continuous spray. Shower in a parking lot, blast the dishes at your campsite, wash off your dog at the trail head …super useful little device.



Unlike gravity camp showers that need to be hung overhead and produce dismal water pressure, Helio™ LX rests securely on the ground and delivers the pressure you need to wash hair, do the dishes, rinse off gear, water your plants, or wash the dog.

You can quickly and easily pressurize the 5.8-gallon tank with a foot pump – and with occasional pumps you can keep it fully pressurized for 7-10 minutes of strong, continuous spray. The tank cannot be over-inflated. Set the black tank in the sun to warm up gradually, or you can fill it directly with hot water for a warm shower.

Unlike other pressurized showers, Helio™ LX can be refilled anywhere, even without a hose. The 7-foot neoprene hose is long enough to hold it overhead for a shower, or to reach all angles of dirty gear, muddy paws, or salty wetsuits.

Generous 5.8-gallon / 22-liter capacity.
7-10 minutes of continuous, steady water pressure.
7-foot neoprene sprayer hose with spray nozzle.
No need to hang; sits securely on the ground.
Refill anywhere; no hose required.
Warm in the sun or fill directly with hot water for a hot shower or dirty dishes.
Safety strap prevents accidental opening and provides easy transport.
Compact ventilated carrying case stows tank, hose, nozzle, and pump neatly.
Pair with Heliopolis privacy shelter for hands-free overhead shower.
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Come out to Patagonia Santa Monica for their annual Community Board Swap! They will also have an epic FCD board sale on select past season boards. Coffee and snacks are free, there will also be June Shine Hard Kombucha serving throughout the event. Stop by to score an awesome deal on a new board or a new-to-you board!

Event is from 10am-1pm but get there early to get the best deals as they are first come first served!

Interested in selling a board at the swap? Please call the store to register your board(s) by June 7th (they won't be accepting boards day of the swap) and they can give you all the details.

(310) 395-6985

Patagonia Santa Monica store
1344 4th Street ,
Santa Monica , California , 90401



Nick Gabaldón Day honors the legacy of L.A.'s early surfer of color! Celebrate Nick with us on June 1.

Nick Gabaldon (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.


In 2013, with the help of African American historian, Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts.

Nick Gabaldón Day in its current form is now in its 7th year and will be held on June 1, 2019. This innovative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical and natural heritage.


The shoreline and waters at Bay Street in Santa Monica were an active hub of African American beach life during the Jim Crow era. This beach was popular in the 1900s to early 1960s among African Americans, who sought to avoid hostile and racial discrimination they might experience at other southland beaches. Racial discrimination and restrictive covenants prevented African Americans from buying property throughout the Los Angeles region, but their community’s presence and agency sustained their oceanfront usage in Santa Monica.

In 2008 the City of Santa Monica officially recognized the “Inkwell” and Nick Gabaldon with a landmark monument at Bay Street and the Oceanfront Walk.


Nick Gabaldón Day introduces young and old from inland communities to the magic of the coast through free surf and ocean safety lessons; beach ecology exploration; and a history lesson about a man who followed his passion against all odds.

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay , Surf Bus Foundation, Santa Monica Conservancy , The Wilderness Society and other organizations partner on the Nick Gabaldón Day experience to reach out to families in under-served communities to inspire, engage and empower them through meaningful educational programming. We are helping to build personal and shared experiences with cultural, historical and nature heritage and civic engagement that are the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of civic, heritage conservation, and environmental leaders.

Check the Heal the Bay Event Page for more info.

Nick Gabaldón Day 2019 Event Schedule
9am Welcome Ceremony at Bay Street Beach & Memorial Paddle Out for Nick
10am-1pm Free surf lessons, beach exploration and cleanup. Surfers must register in advance
12:30 Raffle at the beach
1pm-5pm The Nick Gabaldón Day celebration continues at Heal the Bay’s Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier (Aquarium Admission is free in honor of Nick!*)
1pm Documentary “12 Miles North: The Nick Gabaldón Story”
2pm Children’s Story Time with Joel Harper
3pm Documentary “White Wash”
4:30pm Documentary “La Maestra (The Teacher)”.
*The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium will be free for all visitors in honor of Nick on Saturday, June 1st thanks to a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy and the Wilderness Society.
Heads up! For you dawn patrollers, Caltrans will be closing the right lane of Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) overnight in Santa Monica and Topanga this week for paving work. Closures will be in place from 9pm-5am. Here's the notice:
Heads up! For you dawn patrollers, this week Caltrans will be fully closing the Topanga Canyon Blvd during the night. Here's their announcement:

Overnight FULL closures of Topanga Canyon Blvd (SR-27), from PCH to Grand View Drive, continue tonight. The closure will be in place Tuesday-Thursday from 10pm-5am. See the alternate route below.

The OFFICIAL @clistboards Board Swap flyer just dropped:




The first time for this new board swap, it's being held at The Waterfront Venice on Sunday, June 2. It starts at 9am.

The Waterfront
205 Ocean Front Walk,
Venice, CA 90291
(424) 309-5331