Back in January, the wave pool at the Palm Springs Surf Club broke down just weeks after opening. And then there was some sketchy ass drama that followed, including a magical "lightning strike", then them not wanting to admit the wave was down, pissed off customers, etc...read about that here.

People that had January reservations that got cancelled, and did not opt for an immediate refund, get an email with a link to book a new reservation, and that is not to be shared.

A comment posted online by the people who leaked the info: "They reached out to all of us who had their trips cancelled earlier for early booking, but 99% of it is midweek, unlike when we first booked. I dunno, starting to feel more Coachella hangout than surf anomaly...They also raised the prices by $50. Guess they, I mean WE, have to pay for repairs."

Appears prices are higher now.

Checking out the solar eclipse at Venice Beach with Oscar from Hecho En Venice.

The Los Angeles Police Department Operations-West Bureau Special Assault Section is investigating two incidents that occurred in the Venice Canal community on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Investigators believe that the same suspect assaulted two separate victims.

At approximately 2230 hours, a woman was walking in the 2700 block of Strong Drive when the suspect approached her from behind and struck her with a hard object, rendering her unconscious. Approximately hour later, the same suspect similarly attacked another woman walking nearby on Sherman Canal. Both victims sustained significant injuries.

The suspect fled the scene, leaving evidence behind. Residents in the area located the second victim and immediately contacted police. Pacific Patrol Division units responded to the scene and began the investigation. The suspect is described as a male Black or male Hispanic with medium to dark skin. He is between 5'10" and 6' tall and weighs 180-200 pounds with short hair that appears to be trimmed around the ears.

The Los Angeles Police Department is alerting the Venice community to these crimes to emphasize the importance of personal safety. Residents are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and notify the police of any suspicious activity or persons loitering in this area. As detectives work to identify and arrest this suspect, the LAPD will be increasing patrols in the Venice community. Residents will see additional black and white police vehicles and uniformed officers in the neighborhood. This deployment is being implemented as a precautionary measure.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tracy Park stated, "I am horrified and furious to learn of these violent and abhorrent assaults on two women in Venice over the weekend. As your councilwoman, and as a resident of this community, I am calling on LAPD to devote every resource necessary to investigate these crimes. I have been working directly with Chief Choi and Captain Applegate and remain focused on ensuring that this criminal is apprehended, charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This behavior will not be tolerated, and violent criminals will be held accountable."

Anyone with information that could lead to the identification of the suspect, additional victims or witnesses should contact Special Assault Detectives at 213-473-0447. During off hours or on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org and click on the, "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P-3 Tips" mobile app and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

On April 8, 2024, at approximately 11:00am, Santa Monica Police Officers responded to the 1200 block of the Beach for an individual threatening a lifeguard with a metallic rod. The suspect, later identified as Michael Vincent Parrett, a 38-year-old homeless male, jumped from the roof of Lifeguard Tower 12 and approached the victim with the rod, thrusting it towards him several times. The victim was able to dodge out of the way and was not injured.

Parrett was located by officers in the 400 block of Palisades Beach Road. He ignored the officers’ commands and began running on the sidewalk, approaching multiple bystanders, while still holding the rod. When the officers intervened, the subject ran into the bluffs overlooking PCH. Due to the risk of the suspect falling onto PCH and into traffic, CHP assisted in closing northbound and southbound traffic.

The suspect made multiple statements threating that he would not give up without a fight resulting in the Crisis Negotiations Team responding to the location. Dialogue with Parrett continued for over an hour and half with no impact. Parrett made statements indicating that officers would need to shoot him before he would give up. Officers attempted to use less than lethal means to have the suspect drop the rod and surrender. He continued to maintain control of the weapon, refusing to drop it. Ultimately, Parrett was taken into custody with the assistance of a department K9.

Parrett was taken to a local area hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Santa Monica Jail. He was booked for 245 (a) 1 PC – Assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to inflict great bodily injury.

Patagonia Santa Monica is the grand prize winner of the 28th annual Sustainable Quality Awards, the city announced today.

The business is among several others recognized for sustainable economic development, social responsibility and stewardship of the environment, demonstrating excellence in helping move Santa Monica toward a more sustainable future.

Five additional local businesses received excellence awards:

Angeles Investment Advisors for excellence in economic development.
Avocado Green Mattress for excellence in stewardship of the environment.
HGA for excellence in stewardship of the environment.
Physical Therapyworks for excellence in social responsibility.
Yoga-urt for excellence in economic development and stewardship of the environment.

The awards program is a partnership between the city and Santa Monica based environmental education nonprofit Sustainable Works.

The public is invited to attend the annual Sustainable Quality Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway.

A reception to celebrate the businesses for their achievements will take place after with food and beverages, exhibitor tables and networking. The ceremony will begin promptly at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Registration is required.

For more info and register for the event, Click Here.

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

A homeless man with a weapon shuts down PCH in Santa Monica pic.twitter.com/duTyP9L9sT

— WCoastSanta Monica (@WCoast_) April 8, 2024

Pacific Coast Highway was shut down in both directions in Santa Monica on Monday as police were in a stand off with a homeless man.

Witnesses said he threatened a lifeguard with a screwdriver, then fled across PCHand up into the bluffs just south of Patrick's Roadhouse. Police, along with the SWAT, K9-units, and the Fire Department, tried to get him to come out. Witnesses said he was threatening to jump, but looking at where he was in the video, there's nothing to jump from. Police eventually apprehended him as seen in the video. He was taken a medical facility for evaluation.

Join us on 4/12 on the 1200 Block of Third Street Promenade to watch High School Musical 1 and relive this classic with the best sing-along of your life!

For more info, Click Here.

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

A McLaren loses control and nearly hits a motorcycle police officer, then wrecks into 3 cars that are parked next to the cliff overlooking the ocean on Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, California. This happen as vehicles were leaving a supercar show being held in the Gladstone's parking lot on Sunday morning.

Join Friends of Venice Library in the library parking lot to witness the partial solar eclipse and share this experience with the community. Glasses will distributed while supplies last. Celestial snacks generously provided by Friends of Venice Library.

Monday, April 08, 2024
10 a.m. - 12 noon
Venice - Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library 501 S. Venice Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291

For more info, Click Here.

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

Part of the Venice Beach Canals that people don't like to see.

Bay Street Boards in Santa Monica was broken into again. They posted these photos late Saturday morning, earlier in the morning they were hosting a surfboard demo day down at the beach. More info on this will be posted when it becomes avaliable.

Here's surfing photos from Saturday, April 6th, during the Bay Street Boards Demo Day at Bay Street and the south side of the Santa Monica Pier.

This set of surf photos was shot on Saturday, November 18th by Six12 Media and brought to you by Body Glove.



These are just a few of the 250+ 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 galleries for this day, check them out, the links to the complete galleries are down below.














You can find about 200 more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in these 2 photo galleries:

Bay Street - Saturday 4-6-2024 Gallery #1
Bay Street - Saturday 4-6-2024Bay Street - Saturday 11-18-2023 Gallery #2


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.

An Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory has been declared for all Los Angeles County beaches. The advisory will be in effect at least until 8:00 am, Monday, April 8, 2024. This advisory may be extended depending on further rainfall.
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.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Authorities in Los Angeles are taking steps to enforce municipal regulations concerning the presence of pets on Venice Beach. On the morning of April 4, 2024, Los Angeles Recreation and Parks employees, supported by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, installed new signage along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The signage communicates a clear message: "NO DOGS ON BEACH 17.12.290 LACC VIOLATORS WILL BE CITED."

The installation of these signs follows the stipulations of the Los Angeles County Code, specifically section 17.12.290, which explicitly bans dogs and cats on beaches. Non-compliance with this ordinance carries a graduated penalty system. Beaches & Harbors detail that the initial violation of Los Angeles County Ordinance 17.12.290 will result in a $100 citation. A second infraction will escalate to a $200 fine, with a third offense incurring a $500 penalty."

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

Tour Venice Beach Boardwalk and then the Santa Monica Friday Evening Classic Car with Tonan Ruiz.

Two years ago, LAPD's Pacific Division Lieutenant Ensley was making anti-drunk driving tweets, this week he was arrested for causing an accident with injuries while he was driving drunk.

"An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant who has posted anti-drunk-driving messages online was charged with felony DUI on Wednesday in connection with a crash on the 605 Freeway in Santa Fe Springs that injured at least one person over the weekend.

Matthew Ensley was arrested at the scene late Sunday by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of felony driving under the influence. His blood alcohol level was .20, more than twice the legal limit, according to a report by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office."

Lieutenant Ensley had transfered out of Pacific Division and most recent assignment was to the Transit Division. The Pacific Division serves the communities of Del Rey, Manchester Square, Mar Vista, Oakwood, Palms, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice and Westchester.

One of his anit-drunk driving social media post:



Once he was released from custody, he deleted his Twitter account. But here are more of his old posts that people have screencapped and saved:

On Wednesday, recuers responded to a report of a vehicle that went approximately 150 feet over the side Malibu Canyon Road resulting in a fatality. This happened around 5:30 p.m. a few miles north of Pacific Coast Highway.

Tracy Vancura, 63, of Camarillo in Ventura County, died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The cuase of the accident is still unknown.

This video from the early 2000's, shows LAPD's Gang Unit also known as Crash (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums) hunting down gang members on the Venice Boardwealk on the 4th of July.