From Brad Jacobson:

"The Surf Showdown, who's winning the Crowd Wars? Malibu or Doheny?

While both are insanely crowded, the mindset is completely different. Different surfers, different attitudes."

Pan African Beach Days arescheduled for the summer on Sunday August 13th, September 10th and October 8th. Meet 9-1pm at tower 24 in Santa Monica. South lot 4, 2030 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA.

There will be two, one hour sessions, capped at 25 students each. You must pre-sign up to reserve a spot.

ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER RELEASING ALL PARTIES OF LIABILITY IN THE EVENT OF PERSONAL INJURY. Please use the form below to insure that if you attend you will have an opportunity to try to "catch a wave"!

For more info and to register, Click Here

West LA MEGA Garage Sale with more than 80 homes participating neighborhood-wide! From National Blvd to Pico Blvd, Bundy/Centinela to Westwood Blvd. This Saturday, August 5, from 9AM-1PM.



For more info, Click Here

August 02, 2023

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

BEACH AREAS WARNINGS:

· Sapphire Street Extension at Redondo County Beach

100 yards up and down the coast of Sapphire Street.

· Avenue I Storm Drain at Redondo County Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Bluff Cove at Palos Verdes Beach

The entire swim area.

· Malaga Cove Creek at Palos Verdes Beach

The entire swim area.

· Hermosa Beach Pier at Hermosa Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

Avoid water contact at the swim area.

· Malibu Pier in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Malibu Lagoon State Beach at Surfrider Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Sweet Water Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach

Avoid water contact at the swim area

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the County's beach closure hotline: 1-800- 525-5662.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

On Sunday night, CHP & LACoFD transported two patients via air after three vehicles crashed while racing in the area of Stunt Rd & Saddle Peak Rd in Malibu. Upon arrival one vehicle was found on fire, another was 30FT down an embankment, and another with substantial rollover damage per CHP. Due to the area LACoFD established 2 patients to be airlifted to UCLA hospital in Westwood with unknown injuries.

Reports of the vehicles racing were called in to CHP and LASD Lost Hills Sheriff's prior to the accident.

Learn the basics of this exciting activity and enjoy the world-famous Santa Monica State Beach from a whole new perspective. Participants learn water safety, entering and exiting the water with the board and paddle, and the basic positions, techniques, and strokes needed to enjoy their time on the water. Class fee includes use of paddleboard, paddle, and Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device.

August 5, 12, 19, and 26
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA 90402

For more info and to register, Click Here or call Guest Services at (310) 458-4904

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"In a swift response, several Santa Monica Police Officers were dispatched to effectively subdue a man who appeared to be homeless, wielding a knife and causing distress among visitors at the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, August 2, 2023.

The alarming incident unfolded when reports of a knife-wielding individual aggressively shouting at passersby and employees surfaced, prompting the authorities to act promptly with an abundance of caution to ensure no one was injured.

Upon arriving at the scene, the well-coordinated police team carefully approached the agitated man, employing commendable restraint and professionalism to bring the situation under control. Their primary focus was to safeguard the safety of both the public and the subject in question.

With a swift and efficient operation, the officers managed to disarm the individual and subsequently apprehend him without causing harm to innocent bystanders. The subject was later booked for Public Intoxication, leading to his swift custody and transportation to the city jail."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The Police Department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. 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.

These extra enforcement efforts will take place on Thursday, August 3rd and Friday, August 4th between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

“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.”

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
· Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
· 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. 

The 47th Annual Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots is happening on August 6, 2023 from 10AM - 7PM. This is a FREE festival!

The festivities begin with a parade of three 40-foot tall chariots, which begins at Pico and Main in Santa Monica. The parade proceeds down Main Street until Rose Avenue, when it turns on to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The parade ends at the festival site, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza at 12 PM.

The festival, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza, runs from 12-7 PM. Come out for amazing cultural entertainment, a free feast, gift shop, and other food booths. You do not want to miss this once yearly festival.



For more info, Click Here