𝗣𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡: Farmers Market Reopens After Fire Closure

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — On Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market returned to Swarthmore Avenue for the first time since the January 2025 Palisades Fire forced the market to close. The reopening began with remarks before a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m., followed by market hours from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1035 Swarthmore Ave., adjacent to Palisades Village. Melissa Farwell, director of the Palisades Farmers Market, spoke before the ribbon cutting alongside Jennifer McClem, the market’s founder. Farwell said the market first opened on Sept. 17, 2000, on Swarthmore Avenue and had served as a gathering place for nearly 26 years. Farwell said many of the farmers and vendors at the reopening had been part of the market for 10, 20 or even 26 years. “Thank you for welcoming us home,” Farwell said. Rick Caruso, developer of Palisades Village, also welcomed the market’s return and encouraged residents from Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Santa Monica to support the farmers and vendors. Caruso described the market as a needed grocery option for the community as larger supermarket service continues to return. “This is now your supermarket,” Caruso said during the ceremony. Caruso said the reopening marked another major step in the commercial district’s recovery, citing strong customer traffic and sales at Palisades Village businesses since reopening over the weekend. Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park also spoke at the ceremony, calling the market’s return part of a week of recovery milestones in the Palisades. Park noted that Palisades Charter High School had returned to campus for the new school year and that more than 40 businesses had reopened at Palisades Village. California farmers and local vendors offered fresh produce, flowers, prepared foods and artisan goods as shoppers returned to the outdoor market. The market also introduced a new weekly schedule, shifting from its former Sunday morning hours to Wednesday afternoons. Its returning footprint was limited to Swarthmore Avenue. Before the closure, vendors operated along portions of both Swarthmore Avenue and Antioch Street. Raw Inspiration, the nonprofit organization behind California Certified Farmers Markets, has operated the Pacific Palisades market since 2000. The market’s return restored a longtime community gathering place as businesses, schools and public spaces continued reopening across Pacific Palisades. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document community events, public spaces and recovery milestones across Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and the Westside.

𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛: SMPD, Salvation Army Connect Homeless Veteran With VA

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 — Santa Monica Police Department officers and the Salvation Army Santa Monica Corps Homeless Outreach Team helped connect an unhoused veteran with Veterans Affairs services during a coordinated outreach operation on Santa Monica Beach Wednesday morning.

Officers assigned to SMPD’s Homeless Liaison Program initially contacted the man Tuesday and learned that he was a veteran. When officers returned Wednesday with the Salvation Army outreach team, they introduced the man to outreach personnel and began working to connect him with veteran-specific assistance.

The Salvation Army team accompanies SMPD’s Homeless Liaison officers during their Wednesday outreach patrols. After speaking with the veteran, team members contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs Street Outreach team and requested assistance.

VA outreach personnel arrived a short time later in a van and spoke with the veteran. They then helped gather and load his belongings before transporting him from the beach. According to information learned at the scene, the veteran was taken to the VA’s West Los Angeles campus for housing assistance and additional services.

Following the beach outreach, Salvation Army Lt. David Aviles invited Santa Monica Closeup to the organization’s community center on Fourth Street in downtown Santa Monica. Aviles provided a tour of the facility and discussed the Salvation Army’s local outreach work during an on-camera interview inside the center’s chapel.

Aviles and his wife, Lt. Monnique Aviles, serve as corps officers at the Santa Monica Community Center. He said the Salvation Army’s outreach team works with people experiencing homelessness and other challenges, helping connect them with services and support intended to restore stability.

Aviles said Wednesday’s coordinated response allowed the veteran to reconnect with the VA and take a step toward housing and additional assistance.

“That’s what we strive here at the Salvation Army—to connect people, whether they are experiencing homelessness or any challenges in general, to services and support,” Aviles said.

The Salvation Army Santa Monica Community Center also provides community meals at 6 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and sack lunches at 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for people seeking information about available services.

The center holds Sunday worship services at 11 a.m., preceded by coffee, pastries and Bible study beginning at 10 a.m.

SMPD’s Homeless Liaison Program consists of a sergeant and six officers who coordinate with the City Attorney’s Office, Santa Monica Fire Department, the city’s Housing and Human Services Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. The team responds to situations involving homelessness, substance-use concerns and behavioral-health needs while connecting individuals with available city, county and community resources when appropriate.

Santa Monica Closeup continues to document outreach efforts, public-safety activity and community services across Santa Monica.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬: Fans Flood Venice Beach to Celebrate Spain's Triumph

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Spain supporters and soccer fans gathered Sunday at the end of Washington Boulevard near the Venice Beach Fishing Pier to celebrate the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Spain's World Cup championship victory. The free outdoor block party featured live performances on stage, DJs, dancing, and a festive atmosphere as hundreds of attendees filled the street. Fans waved Spanish flags, sang along with performers, enjoyed food and beer, and celebrated into the evening following the tournament final. The event, presented by Revival, marked the closing celebration of the month-long FIFA World Cup, which brought matches and fan events to Los Angeles and energized communities across Southern California.

𝗞-𝟵 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟: Santa Monica Police Canine Teams Sweep COAST 2026 Festival Before World Cup Final

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Santa Monica Police Department K-9 officers conducted a security sweep along Ocean Avenue Sunday morning ahead of the COAST 2026 open-streets festival, a citywide celebration marking the FIFA World Cup Final.

Santa Monica Closeup accompanied the K-9 teams for approximately 30 minutes as they patrolled the event footprint, moving methodically from booth to booth and through high-traffic gathering areas. The feature video offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the important role police canines play in securing large public events before crowds arrive.

The department's K-9 teams, K-9 Jack and K-9 Mylo, worked alongside their handlers, carefully inspecting vendor tents, equipment, staging areas, and other locations throughout the festival route. While the Santa Monica Police Department did not publicly detail the specific purpose of the operation, such pre-event sweeps are commonly conducted to detect explosives and other potential threats before major public gatherings.

The officers and their canine partners continued along Ocean Avenue from the Santa Monica Pier area through the festival grounds, with the dogs using their highly trained sense of smell to examine locations inaccessible to conventional security screening.

The Santa Monica Police Department's K-9 Unit serves as a specialized resource supporting patrol operations, public safety, and critical incident response. Depending on each dog's certification and training, police canines may assist with explosive detection, suspect apprehension, evidence recovery, building searches, area searches, and locating missing persons. Their ability to rapidly screen large areas makes them an important asset during major events attended by thousands of people.

This year's COAST 2026 festival transformed more than a mile of downtown Santa Monica into a car-free pedestrian zone extending from the Third Street Promenade and Metro E Line Station to Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, Arizona Avenue, and the Santa Monica Pier. The free community event featured live entertainment, food vendors, art installations, family activities, and large-screen viewing of the FIFA World Cup Final.

Security planning for events of this size involves coordination among law enforcement, city staff, and event organizers to help provide a safe environment for attendees while minimizing disruptions to the festivities. The K-9 sweep represented one visible component of those preparations before thousands of visitors filled the streets.

Santa Monica Closeup followed K-9 Jack, K-9 Mylo, and their handlers throughout the morning patrol, providing an extended look at the professionalism, discipline, and teamwork involved in preparing one of Santa Monica's largest public events for the day ahead.

Santa Monica Closeup covers public safety, community events, civic life, and breaking news throughout Santa Monica and the surrounding communities.

𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘: Remote Workers Trade Cubicles for Sand and Surf in Venice

VENICE, Calif. — Friday, July 17, 2026 — Remote-work advocate and social media personality Scott Muirhead brought his popular outdoor meetup concept to Venice Beach on Friday, transforming a stretch of sand into an unconventional open-air office.

Muirhead, known online as “The Remote Work Guy,” curates gatherings in scenic locations where participants can work outside traditional offices while connecting with other remote professionals.

Dozens of participants worked from laptops beneath beach umbrellas as sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s provided comfortable conditions along the coast.

Some attendees wore bathing suits and bikinis, while others arrived with surfboards or brought their dogs. Makeshift workstations—including portable desks, folding tables and beach chairs—were arranged across the sand, blending a typical workday with the relaxed atmosphere of Venice Beach.

The gathering reflected the continued flexibility of remote employment, allowing participants to conduct business while spending the day beside the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica Closeup covers news, community events and coastal lifestyle throughout Santa Monica, Venice and surrounding communities.

𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗟𝗔𝗫: JSX Makes Flying Into Santa Monica Fast, Easy and Surprisingly Affordable

 

One of the best parts of my recent trip wasn't just Cozumel—it was flying home from Scottsdale directly into Santa Monica Airport.

After spending a couple of days in Arizona following my trip to Cozumel, I headed to Scottsdale Airport and boarded a JSX flight to Santa Monica. The convenience was remarkable. Instead of flying into LAX, waiting for a shuttle, and then catching an Uber from the rideshare lot, I was home in about 10 minutes. It was one of the smoothest and most enjoyable travel experiences I've had.

One thing that surprised me was the cost. Once I factored in the value of free checked baggage, arriving only about 20 minutes before departure, the ability to bring my own beverages onboard, and not having to worry about the typical TSA liquid restrictions, the overall cost was about the same as flying through a major commercial airport. You don't have to be a celebrity or a business executive to fly JSX. For anyone who lives near Santa Monica or on Los Angeles' Westside, it can be a convenient, cost-effective, and low-stress alternative to LAX.

The experience also served as a reminder that Santa Monica Airport is currently scheduled to close on December 31, 2028, with the 227-acre property planned for redevelopment as a public park.

Beyond passenger convenience, the airport serves several other important functions. It supports aircraft maintenance, fueling, charter operations, flight instruction, and other aviation-related businesses that provide local jobs. It also serves as a training airport for student pilots and flight schools, and its closure would shift more training activity to surrounding airports. Visitors arriving by private aircraft also contribute to the local economy by staying in local hotels and patronizing restaurants and businesses.

The airport also plays a role in regional emergency preparedness. Located on the Westside, it provides an aviation resource that could be valuable if a major earthquake or other disaster were to limit access to LAX or make road travel difficult.

Since the airport opened in 1919, aircraft accidents have occurred, but there have been no reported fatalities involving a person on the ground struck by an aircraft.

Have you ever flown into or out of Santa Monica Airport? What was your experience?

𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗘: California Roadhouse Founder Publishes Open Letter Urging Resolution of Vacant Restaurant Space

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sean Ahaus, founder of California Roadhouse, Inc., has released an open letter calling on Santa Monica city leaders to resolve the long-running lease dispute over the former Rusty's Surf Ranch restaurant space on the Santa Monica Pier.

In the letter, Ahaus says the restaurant group remains prepared to move forward with a California-themed restaurant and live music venue but contends that negotiations have stalled over labor-related provisions included in the City's proposed lease. He writes that California Roadhouse has agreed to the commercial terms of the lease and believes the remaining dispute involves issues governed by state and federal labor law rather than the City's role as landlord.

Ahaus also states that his company has repeatedly sought meetings with members of the City Council, the City Manager, and the City Attorney in an effort to resolve the matter. He acknowledges Councilmember Lana Negrete for meeting with the company to discuss its concerns.

According to the letter, the prolonged vacancy has delayed job creation, reduced potential tax revenue, and left a prominent commercial space on the Pier unused while also limiting opportunities for local musicians and neighboring businesses that could benefit from increased visitor activity.

Ahaus calls for renewed good-faith negotiations and greater transparency regarding the lease provisions, stating that California Roadhouse remains prepared to sign a lawful lease and begin construction and hiring.

Santa Monica Closeup has not independently verified the legal claims contained in the letter. The City of Santa Monica has not responded publicly to the issues raised by the author.

Photo Caption: The former Rusty's Surf Ranch building on the Santa Monica Pier, shown before its closure. The property has been proposed as the future home of California Roadhouse.

Editor's Note

The following open letter was submitted by Sean Ahaus, founder of California Roadhouse, Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Santa Monica Closeup. The letter is published in the interest of informing readers about a matter of public interest concerning the Santa Monica Pier. The letter has been edited only for formatting.

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Open Letter to Santa Monica City Leaders: It's Time to Resolve the California Roadhouse Lease

By Sean Ahaus

For nearly two years, one of the Santa Monica Pier's most visible restaurant spaces has remained vacant.

That vacancy represents more than an empty building. It represents delayed jobs, unrealized tax revenue, lost opportunities for local musicians and performers, and another missed opportunity to strengthen one of Santa Monica's most recognizable public destinations.

My name is Sean Ahaus, founder of California Roadhouse, Inc. Our vision is to create a California-themed restaurant and live music venue celebrating the culture, music, and hospitality that have made Southern California famous around the world. We remain ready to move forward immediately.

Many people assume this project has stalled because of financing, construction, or permitting. It has not.

California Roadhouse has agreed to the commercial terms of the City's proposed lease. The remaining disagreement concerns labor-related provisions that we believe improperly extend beyond the City's role as a landlord and into matters governed by state and federal labor law.

Reasonable people may disagree with our legal position. That is exactly why these issues deserve open discussion rather than prolonged silence.

For months, we have repeatedly requested meetings with members of the City Council, the City Manager, and the City Attorney to explain our concerns and discuss a path toward resolution. Those requests have produced very little meaningful dialogue.

I want to acknowledge Councilmember Lana Negrete, who took the time to meet with us and hear our concerns directly. Whether or not elected officials ultimately agree with us, the willingness to listen is an important part of public service.

This issue is about more than one lease. It raises larger questions about how Santa Monica works with businesses that want to invest in the community. How should public property be managed? When should government act as a landlord, and when does it risk becoming a regulator? How do we encourage economic investment while respecting the legal rights of employers and employees alike?

The public also deserves transparency. Residents should understand how the disputed lease provisions were developed, who participated in those discussions, and why they remain necessary. When significant policy questions affect a publicly owned property and the future of dozens of jobs, transparency is fundamental to public trust.

Meanwhile, the consequences continue to grow. A public restaurant space remains vacant. Prospective employees continue waiting for work. Local musicians lose another potential stage. Visitors lose another destination on the Pier. Nearby businesses lose the additional activity that a successful restaurant could generate.

California Roadhouse remains prepared to sign a lawful lease and begin hiring immediately. We continue to believe this project can become a positive addition to the Santa Monica Pier while creating jobs, supporting local artists, attracting visitors, and contributing to the City's economic recovery.

My hope is simple: that City leaders return to good-faith negotiations, openly address the remaining issues, and allow this project to move forward.

The Santa Monica Pier deserves to be known for opportunity, not prolonged vacancies. Most importantly, the residents of Santa Monica deserve a transparent government that welcomes dialogue, encourages investment, and works to put people back to work.

Respectfully,

Sean Ahaus

Founder

California Roadhouse, Inc..

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Santa Monica Closeup has not independently verified the legal claims contained in the letter. The City of Santa Monica had not provided comment to Santa Monica Closeup at the time of publication.

𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥: First-Ever Slackline Stretches Across Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Spectators looked on in amazement as members of Slackademic walked a 200-foot slackline suspended above the Pacific Ocean during the Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival.

The installation marked the first time a slackline has been rigged across the Santa Monica Pier, allowing athletes to carefully traverse from one side of the pier to the other high above the crashing waves. The exhibition drew steady crowds throughout the day as participants demonstrated remarkable balance, focus and control.

Leading the effort was Los Angeles-based slackliner Jim Galli, founder of Slackademic. Galli began slacklining in Santa Monica in 2016 after backgrounds in skateboarding, soccer, water polo and other sports. Within months, he advanced to highlining and went on to set and break records, pioneer new lines and develop new tricks while teaching the sport to others. He is an International Slackline Association (ISA) certified rigger, an IRATA Level 3 Rope Access Technician and SPRAT Level 2 certified.

According to Galli, Slackademic was created to share the physical and mental benefits of slacklining with others. He says the sport teaches patience, focus, determination and confidence while emphasizing the importance of breathing and remaining calm under pressure. Galli believes those same skills can help people navigate everyday challenges beyond the slackline itself.

The slackline demonstration was one of many attractions featured during the Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival, a free, all-ages celebration of Southern California beach culture featuring ocean sports competitions, live entertainment, food, interactive activities and family-friendly programming.

The high-flying exhibition added a dramatic new element to this year's festival, giving visitors a rare opportunity to witness athletes balancing hundreds of feet across open water against the backdrop of one of Southern California's most recognizable landmarks.

Santa Monica Closeup remains committed to documenting the people, places and events that shape the Santa Monica community—one story at a time. 

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗞𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗢𝗙𝗙: 2,500 Drones Light Up Santa Monica Beach

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — On Thursday evening, June 11, 2026, 2,500 drones illuminated the skies above Santa Monica Beach in a spectacular drone light show celebrating the arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the opening of the Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club at the Santa Monica Pier. Hundreds of spectators gathered along the beach, Pier, and surrounding areas to watch the synchronized aerial display as the drones performed a series of animated formations above the Pacific coastline. The show was produced by Pixis Drones, a leading U.S.-based drone light show company known for creating large-scale aerial displays for major brands, professional sports teams, entertainment companies, and high-profile events. The company has produced shows for organizations including the NFL, NASCAR, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros., and specializes in using coordinated drone swarms to create large-scale visual storytelling in the sky. The drone show was part of an invite-only kickoff event launching the Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club, a temporary fan destination created in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup. The opening-night celebration featured appearances and performances by comedian Kevin Hart, rapper Snoop Dogg, DJ Pee .Wee, Disco Lines, soccer legends, and celebrity guests. Following the private launch event, the 21-and-over Pitchside Club will open to the public from June 12 through June 25. The activation will feature live World Cup match broadcasts, DJs, freestyle soccer demonstrations, interactive games, jersey customization stations, soccer-themed challenges, and special appearances tied to tournament events. The Santa Monica Pier activation is one of several World Cup-related events taking place throughout Southern California as the region hosts matches during FIFA World Cup 2026. Organizers selected the iconic Santa Monica Pier as a gathering place for soccer fans from around the world during the tournament. Santa Monica Closeup documented the drone show and the crowds that gathered along Santa Monica Beach to witness the spectacle.

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞: Feral Cat Hunts Squirrel on Palisades Park Bluffs

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday morning, June 4, 2026 — A feral cat living along the Palisades Park bluffs was observed hunting and capturing a juvenile ground squirrel near the edge of the coastal bluff overlooking Pacific Coast Highway. The encounter unfolded in an area where dozens of California ground squirrels live among a network of burrows carved into the hillside. After stalking the young squirrel, the cat successfully captured it and carried it away into the vegetation. The sight serves as a reminder of the complex wildlife dynamics taking place within Palisades Park, where an abundant population of ground squirrels coexists with a small colony of feral cats inhabiting the bluff areas overlooking Pacific Coast Highway. Santa Monica has posted signs throughout the park asking visitors not to feed squirrels or birds, warning that feeding wildlife creates an imbalance in the native ecology and increases animals' dependence on people for food. Despite those warnings, many of the park's squirrels have become accustomed to human interaction and frequently approach visitors in search of food. The squirrel population has become a frequent topic of discussion among residents, visitors, and city officials. Wildlife experts have noted that feeding squirrels can contribute to population growth and encourage the animals to congregate in unusually high numbers. Some residents have also expressed concerns that extensive squirrel burrowing may contribute to erosion along portions of the coastal bluff. The feral cats appear to be supported by volunteers who conduct trap-neuter-return efforts aimed at stabilizing the colony population. Several makeshift shelters constructed from large plastic storage totes were visible Thursday morning on the bluff side of the fence, along with food and water bowls placed nearby. The structures appeared to provide refuge for cats living in the area. Residents remain divided over the issue. Some view the cats as a natural predator helping control the squirrel population, while others raise concerns about the impact free-roaming cats can have on local wildlife. Likewise, opinions differ regarding the large squirrel population, with some residents enjoying their presence and others worried about the effects of thousands of burrows throughout the bluff area. Thursday's encounter illustrated a natural predator-prey interaction within an urban coastal environment where wildlife, human activity, and ongoing management efforts continue to intersect. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document the people, wildlife, and changing landscape of Palisades Park.