Travelling down Pacific Coast Highway from Topanga to Santa Monica looking at all the damage done by the Palisades Fire as it still burns. Police were evacuating the area. There were a lot of people that rode all kinds of things over here to see the destruction.

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

Palisades Fire Damage - Sunset Mesa & Pacific View Estates - Malibu and Pacific Palisades, CA 1/9/25

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

Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates has been completely destroyed in the Palisades Fire. This video is a walk through the area to view what it looks like now..

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

The Palisade Fire completely destroyed the Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home park on Pacific Coast Highway across from Will Rogers Beach, which also had their maintenance yard burned, including several of the work vehicles.

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

The Palisades Fire jumped over PCH and several beach structures got fire at Will Rogers Beach.

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

Several homes and buildings along PCH catch fire from the windstorm wildfire in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, January 7th,

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

Two lifeguard towers completely burn down when the Palisades Fire reaches Pacific Coast Highway and ignite brush at Will Rogers Beach.

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Sunday, January 5, 2025, a large group of minibikers gathered at Santa Monica Beach and Ocean Front Walk, drawing attention from onlookers with the sound of engines and visible displays of skill. Riders performed stunts near pedestrian areas, which sparked mixed reactions from those present. While some viewed the gathering as a vibrant display of minibike culture, others raised concerns about safety, particularly given the high pedestrian traffic in the area."

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 Friday, January 3, 2025, a multi-agency task force conducted a scheduled cleanup operation beneath the Venice Beach Fishing Pier, targeting ongoing safety and sanitation concerns in one of Los Angeles’ most visited public spaces. The coordinated effort brought together several departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Park Rangers, the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors and specialists from Clean Harbors Environmental Inc

During the operation, Park Rangers encountered a homeless individual sleeping beneath the pier alongside a large quantity of personal belongings and scattered debris. When informed that he needed to vacate the area, the man expressed frustration but eventually gathered some of his items and departed, leaving behind a significant amount of trash. Sanitation crews promptly moved in to clear the remaining debris, ensuring that the area was thoroughly cleaned."

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 first big swell of winter 2024/25 at Topanga aka "Topangry". And well over 130 surfers out there.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Georgia Pranksters , a Marine veteran battling depression, has found joy in bringing laughter to others. “Making people smile and laugh is what makes me happy,” he shared. Having honed his pranking skills since childhood, he now spreads positivity with his signature "bushman pranks."

Many pier visitors were caught off guard, with reactions ranging from shock to hearty laughter, as the prankster reminded passersby of the power of humor. Despite his camouflaged appearance, the veteran’s mission is clear: to share his laughter and happiness with the world."

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.

Over 140 surfers were out in the line up at Sunset Point on Sunday morning as the first big swell of the season hit.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Santa Monica police arrested a man for allegedly using a recording device to film a woman in a gender-neutral public restroom. Officers responded to a disturbance call and discovered that the individual had been involved in an altercation. Upon investigation, authorities determined the man had violated California Penal Code Section 647(j), which prohibits the unlawful invasion of privacy.

Under PC 647(j), it is illegal to use a device to record or view someone in a private setting without their consent. A conviction for this misdemeanor carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

According to the police sergeant, the suspect, who was apprehended at the scene, also had an outstanding $50,000 warrant for a similar offense in another jurisdiction. The incident occurred when the suspect allegedly used a stall to record another person, who noticed the intrusion and reported it to authorities. Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspect before he fled the area."

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.

Welcome to Meet the Fleet: the show that takes you inside the cab and under the hood of LA County's fleet of vehicles. On this episode, meet LA County's fleet of tractors and sanitizers keeping the coastline clean and pristine.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Monday, December 16, 2024, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters swiftly responded to a structure fire in a historic three-story building located at 15 Horizon Avenue in Venice. Built in 1912, the 112-year-old building showcased the resilience of modern safety systems in protecting older structures.

According to LAFD Captain Steve Marquez, crews from Station 63, Engine 62, and Battalion 4 arrived on the scene to find a small grease fire on a stove in a second-floor unit. The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems activated, containing the fire to a minor scale before firefighters extinguished it.

Captain Marquez confirmed that all occupants were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries. Firefighters also shut off the sprinkler system, cleared water from the affected area, and ensured residents could return to their homes."

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.

New video from Real Skate Stories.

"Dive into the legacy of Jay Adams, the controversial and outspoken skateboarding icon whose rebellious spirit and unmistakable style revolutionized the sport. From his early days with the Dogtown Z-Boys to shaping the skate culture of the 70s and 80s, discover how his punk rock energy and artistic expression made him a legend, influencing generations of skaters and redefining the essence of skateboarding. I knew Jay well, and throughout the decades we had many experiences together, in this video I share a few."

4th Annual Santa Cruise in Santa Monica! A festive holiday ride & party for skateboarders, rollerbladers, bikers, and more...

Franklin Fire burns multiple homes within hours of ignition.

For more on the Franklin Fire, Click Here.

German in Venice reoprts from the huge fire in Malibu.

"Last night I happened to drive around in the early morning hours and I got a notification on my phone that there is a huge wildfire in Malibu. I drove from Venice Beach all the way to Malibu at 1 AM. I could not believe my eyes how many different fires I saw in the Malibu Hills hundreds of firefighters lots of fire engines helicopters with water try to fight the fire. I left a Malibu at six in the morning and the fires are still burning."

For more on the Franklin Fire, Click Here.

This Saturday is the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon, here is a video of the contest from 10 years ago.

>Registrstion for the 31st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon is open. The contest will be held on Saturday, December 14th at the Venice Pier.



Divisions will be: Boys 14U
Girls 14U
Boys 18U
Open Women
Open Men
Open Longboard Women
Open Longboard Men
Women 40ish
Men's 50+
Body Surfing
Body Boarding
Foamie Expression Session



Entry fee is $30 and that includes a contest t-shirt.

To register, Click Here

Stay tuned for more updates.

See photos from last year, Click Here

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