friday, September 6, 2024

Celebrate over a century of fun and community at the Santa Monica Pier's 115th Birthday Bash! Partnering with Street Food Cinema, we're throwing a party you won't forget, packed with a FREE outdoor screening of the Barbie Movie, live entertainment, and nostalgic moments.

What to What to Expect

FREE, Family-Friendly Outdoor Movie:
Grab your blankets and enjoy a free movie under the stars on the pier deck! We’re showing the fabulous Barbie Movie for all ages to enjoy.

Live Music & Performances:
Get ready to dance and sing along to an amazing lineup of local musicians and entertainers. The pier will be buzzing with incredible performances!

Birthday Cake & Ice Cream:
What’s a birthday without cake and ice cream? Enjoy these tasty treats as we celebrate this special milestone.

Kids Activities:
Games, face painting, and more – there’s something for every kid (and kid at heart) to enjoy!

Delicious Food, Drinks & Treats:
Feast on a variety of yummy goodies from our local food vendors, offering everything from classic pier treats to gourmet delights.

Surprise Birthday Spectacle:
We’ve got a surprise in store that will leave you in awe – you won’t want to miss it!

Picnic on the Pier Deck:
Bring your blankets and set up a cozy picnic on the pier deck. Enjoy the festivities with family and friends in the beautiful ocean breeze.

Furry Friends Welcome:
The whole family is invited, including your furry pals! Bring them along for the fun.

Exclusive Merchandise:
Don’t forget to stop by our merchandise booths to pick up exclusive Pier merch! From t-shirts to hats, take home a piece of the Pier.

Interactive Photo Booth:
Capture the memories of this special day at our interactive photo booth. With fun props and instant prints, you’ll have a keepsake to remember the celebration.

Community Spotlight:
We’re highlighting local businesses and organizations that have been part of the pier’s journey. Learn more about our community partners and their contributions.

For more info, Click Here.

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

On Thursday, there wa a huge promotion for Amazon's Fallout TV Series on the Santa Monica Pier, which included 33-cent Churros.

Here's surfing photos from Easter Sunday at the Venice Breakwater. This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by Jack's Surfboards.                                                                

Here's surfing photos from Thursday, August 15th at the Venice Breakwater.

This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by Jack's Surfboards.

These are just a few of the 100 photos from this session. If you were out there, you probably got some surfing shots, probably multiple photos, they will be in the complete photo gallery for this day, check them out, the link to the complete gallery is down below.














You can find 170+ more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

Venice Breakwater - Thursday 8-15-2024 Photo Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool surfing shots of you, go check them out!

Wanna see photos from previous days at this and other local surf spots from this photographer?
Click Surf Spot Galleries and look for the spot and then the date.

The Santa Monica Police are seeking the community's assistance in locating Mychelle Dias Hespanhol who was last seen on August 11th near 4th and Broadway. She may not be familiar with the area and could require assistance.

Mychelle, 26 years old, is 5'3", weighing approximately 128 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She may suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

If you have seen Mychelle or have any information, please contact us at 310-458-8491. Please share this to help spread the word.

Here's surfing photos from Wednesday, August 14th at Topanga.

This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by BodyGlove.com.

These are just a few of the 100+ photos from this session. If you were out there, you probably got some surfing shots, probably multiple photos, they will be in the complete photo gallery for this day, check them out, the link to the complete gallery is down below.











You can find over 100 photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

Topanga - Wednesday 8-14-2024 - Photo Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool surfing shots of you, go check them out!

Wanna see photos from previous days at this and other local surf spots from this photographer?
Click Surf Spot Galleries and look for the spot and then the date.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans a slope restoration project at postmile 4.9 on State Route 27 (SR-27) south of Circle Trail beginning Tuesday, Aug. 20. The work will require reducing about a half-mile of SR-27 to one lane with flaggers directing alternating traffic during off-peak hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., for four weeks. Signs will be posted. Motorists can expect delays.



The slope along Topanga Creek was seriously eroded by February rainstorms, which undermines a section of the southbound roadway shoulder. Caltrans' aim is to rebuild the slope with native dirt and rocks before the rainy season. What the work involves:

One lane closure from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Extended one lane closure Friday to Saturday - 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Hours were determined to avoid disrupting peak commuting periods. • K-rails will be installed along the southbound fog line as a safety measure. • Daytime slope repair work behind k-rails.

Flaggers will communicate via radio to minimize traffic delays in both directions. Motorists will have access to Circle Trail.

In the event of an emergency such as evacuation due to fire danger, work will be suspended to open lanes in both directions.

All work is subject to change due to weather or construction-related issues. Residents and businesses located near the freeway may experience noise, vibrations and dust associated with construction activities.

Caltrans reminds drivers to "Be Work Zone Alert" and to "Slow for the Cone Zone."

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

From Santa Monica Close Up:

" On Thursday, August 8, 2024, Santa Monica Police officers issued a citation to street performer Lionel Jean-Baptiste, known on Instagram as @icecreamsongs1, for violating Santa Monica Municipal Ordinance (SMMO) 4.08.750, which prohibits solicitation in certain locations. The incident occurred at Ocean Front Walk, in front of Shutters on the Beach hotel, where Lionel has been performing regularly for over a year.

Lionel was asked to pack up his equipment and stop performing. He was cooperative and complied with the officers' requests, who stood by to ensure his compliance. During this time, a nearby resident expressed frustration with the police action, criticizing the allocation of resources to the incident when more pressing crimes were happening elsewhere. The resident spoke with Lionel, offering her support, and then confronted the officers, questioning their priorities.

Lionel, a former elementary school teacher with over a decade of experience in Los Angeles' inner-city schools, calmly acknowledged the citation. He explained that he would make adjustments to comply with the ordinance and mentioned plans to reach out to the Santa Monica Police Department’s lieutenant for further discussion and clarification. Despite this setback, Lionel intends to continue performing at the same location, adapting his approach to stay within the bounds of the law. "I was told if I continue to play today, there was a possibility I'd be arrested," Lionel said, emphasizing his decision to temporarily stop playing to avoid further conflict.

Before becoming a street performer, Lionel dedicated 10 years of his life to educating young children, creating educational music designed to engage and inspire students. His website, IceCreamSongs.com, features a collection of songs aimed at teaching children basic skills through music, including tracks like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Wheels on the Bus" for younger kids, as well as educational rap songs focused on subjects like multiplication for older students. This commitment to education and community service has won Lionel a dedicated following, both online and in the local community.

The incident on Ocean Front Walk has brought to light the ongoing tensions between street performers, local businesses, and law enforcement in Santa Monica. The resident’s vocal support for Lionel, coupled with his respectful response to the situation, underscores a broader concern about resource allocation and community priorities in the city. Lionel's background as an educator and his transition to street performance add a layer of complexity to this narrative, highlighting the challenges and resilience of those who seek to share their talents in public spaces."

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.

This information is from the Santa Monica Police Department:

Sexual Assault in Palisades Park

Last Month, in the 300 block of Palisades Park, a woman was walking in the park when the suspect approached her and groped her breast. Officers responded, located the suspect nearby, and took him into custody. The suspect is homeless.

This information is from the Santa Monica Police Department:

Arrest of Child Annoying Suspect

On Saturday at 2:11 pm, Santa Monica's Direct Action Response Team (DART) Officers were patrolling the beach on a MUV when they were flagged by a mother in the 1600 block of the beach regarding a male taking photographs of her 16-year-old daughter in her bathing suit.

The suspect is an active sex registrant. He was in possession of multiple photographs of multiple underage females in their bathing suits. The suspect was arrested for Felony 647.6(c)(1) PC-Child annoyance under the age of 18 with prior conviction. He has a prior conviction for 288(a)1 PC -lewd and lascivious acts with a child.