SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Tuesday, March 17, 2026 — The Santa Monica Police Department deployed its mobile command unit to Main Street on St. Patrick’s Day as part of a public safety outreach effort aimed at reducing impaired driving during the holiday.
Officers with the department’s traffic unit were seen engaging with members of the public and offering free preliminary breathalyzer tests to individuals celebrating along the busy corridor. The initiative was designed to provide an educational opportunity, allowing participants to better understand their level of impairment before making decisions about driving.
According to what was witnessed at the scene, officers used the mobile command post as a centralized hub for outreach, encouraging open conversations with revelers about alcohol consumption and safe transportation options.
Santa Monica Police Officer Matthew Cordova said the program is part of a broader effort to prevent driving under the influence through awareness and community engagement.
“We’re giving people the opportunity to use free breathalyzers,” Cordova said. “We want you to drink responsibly and not get behind the wheel. The goal is to have a conversation and remind people that the effects of drinking and driving are just not worth it.”
Cordova also emphasized the availability of alternatives such as rideshare services, taxis, and designated drivers, urging the public to plan ahead before consuming alcohol.
The outreach comes as law enforcement agencies across the region typically increase DUI enforcement efforts during major holidays, including St. Patrick’s Day, when alcohol-related incidents historically rise.
No enforcement activity was immediately associated with the outreach operation, which remained focused on education and prevention throughout the evening.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public safety initiatives and community-based policing efforts across the city.
VENICE, Calif. — On a warm 88-degree day along the Venice shoreline, production officially got underway for the new Baywatch series, just days after the historic Venice Lifeguard Station was dedicated as the show’s new headquarters.
Crews were observed filming multiple beach sequences near the station, with actors dressed in the iconic red lifeguard uniforms moving between the sand and surf while carrying rescue buoys. Several scenes showed performers entering the water and staging lifeguard-style interactions in the shallows, as beachgoers and extras filled the background.
A full production setup was visible on the sand, including a camera vehicle rig, large overhead diffusion and reflector panels, and a boom microphone mounted on an extended pole to capture dialogue amid the ambient ocean noise. Crew members coordinated movements around the set while managing lighting and sound, with dozens of extras positioned along the shoreline to create a busy, authentic beach atmosphere.
Near the lifeguard station, additional filming activity unfolded with performers moving across the elevated deck and stairways, reinforcing the building’s role as the newly designated Baywatch Lifeguard Headquarters.
The production drew attention from beach visitors, many of whom paused to watch as scenes were reset and filmed repeatedly under clear skies and bright coastal light.
Filming follows a recent dedication ceremony that brought together lifeguards, city officials, and production leaders, marking the return of the globally recognized franchise to Los Angeles. The new series is expected to air later this year.
Santa Monica Closeup was on scene documenting the first day of filming as cameras rolled on Venice Beach, capturing the revival of a series long associated with the Southern California coastline.
VENICE, Calif. — Friday, March 13, 2026 — A ceremony at the historic Venice Lifeguard Station formally introduced the building as the new “Baywatch Lifeguard Headquarters,” marking the return of the iconic television franchise to the Los Angeles coastline.
The gathering drew a crowd on the sand and the station’s upper deck, including active-duty and retired lifeguards, Los Angeles Police Department officers, local officials, production staff, and members of the media. Lifeguard rescue boards and signage identifying the building as the Baywatch headquarters were displayed outside the station during the event.
During remarks, Greg Bonann, the original creator of Baywatch and a former Los Angeles County lifeguard, reflected on the building’s long history. The Venice Lifeguard Headquarters opened in November 1969, and Bonann recalled arriving there in April 1970 as one of 15 rookie lifeguard candidates, training on the same beach and waters where the show’s stories would later be inspired.
Bonann said the series was grounded in three core principles taught during his lifeguard training: teamwork, service, and family—values he credited with shaping both the original television show and the new production.
He also acknowledged a wide range of individuals and organizations involved in bringing the project back to Los Angeles, including Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Film Commission, Los Angeles County Fire Department leadership, LA County lifeguards, and Los Angeles officials including Councilmember Traci Park and LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. Bonann said the production team had worked for about 18 months to bring the show back to California.
Speaking at the ceremony, Matt Nix, the creative lead behind the new series, described the show as a story about first responders and community service rather than simply beach imagery and slow-motion scenes. He said the project reflects the heroism and dedication of those who protect coastal communities.
The event also included a cultural acknowledgment from Christina Connelly, a Tongva tribal representative, who welcomed attendees to the ancestral homeland known as Guasha, part of the broader Tongva region historically stretching from Malibu to Aliso Creek and including nearby Channel Islands. Connelly offered a blessing and shared the Tongva word “Awa Esco,” meaning happiness, encouraging the production team to carry that spirit forward during the project.
Another speaker emphasized the historic relationship between lifeguards and the ocean, noting that the role of lifeguards represents a long tradition of people standing watch over the shoreline to protect others from the dangers of the sea.
Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park told attendees the project represents an investment in local jobs and the regional film industry. She said city and county agencies worked together on permits, site approvals, and coordination with lifeguards and beaches officials to bring the production to Venice Beach.
Park noted that the new production will help keep the iconic Baywatch brand rooted in the place where it originated. The production team also announced filming for the new series was scheduled to begin the following week, with the show expected to air on Fox in September.
Following the ceremony, a Los Angeles County lifeguard rescue boat staged a brief display offshore, spraying a high arc of water into the air as spectators watched from the beach.
The event highlighted both the historic legacy of Venice Beach lifeguards and the cultural impact of the Baywatch franchise, which helped introduce the work of lifeguards along the Los Angeles coastline to audiences around the world. Santa Monica Closeup was on scene documenting the ceremony and the crowd gathered along the sand for the dedication.
VENICE, Calif. — Thursday, March 12, 2026 — Before sunrise Thursday morning, city crews and outreach teams gathered near the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Washington Boulevard along the Del Rey–Venice border for a coordinated Inside Safe operation aimed at relocating individuals from a large encampment into interim housing.
Several outreach workers from the office of Karen Bass were on site alongside representatives from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to begin engaging with individuals living at the encampment.
The operation prompted temporary traffic controls in the surrounding area. Personnel from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation closed portions of Beach Avenue and Del Rey Avenue in both directions to accommodate buses and service vehicles, while officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were present to provide public-safety support during the operation.
Outreach workers spoke with individuals at the encampment and assisted them as they gathered their belongings and carried them to a nearby charter bus staged for transportation. Some individuals arrived with bicycles, which were secured to racks mounted on the front of the buses. In total, three buses were used to transport participants to interim housing locations. Officials said roughly 20 individuals accepted services and were transported from the encampment to shelter or other temporary housing placements.
Speaking at the scene, Councilwoman Traci Park said the encampment had generated numerous complaints from nearby residents and businesses and that the operation was intended to restore access to the area while offering housing assistance.
“We have had a very large encampment here and a lot of complaints from neighbors and businesses,” Park said. “Today we’ve teamed up with the mayor’s Inside Safe team for a major operation, and we’re excited to return this area safe and accessible for the community.”
Juan Fregoso, district director for Park’s office, said the operation followed several weeks of planning and outreach.
“Planning for Inside Safe takes several weeks of coordination with outreach teams and service providers to make sure all the right departments are here,” Fregoso said. “Today roughly 20 people are going inside and off the streets.”
Fregoso added that the location has been approved as a future enforcement site under LAMC §41.18, with signage expected to be installed in the coming weeks restricting camping and the storage of personal property in the area.
Nick Marcone, a manager with the Inside Safe Field Intervention Team in the mayor’s office, said outreach workers had spent several weeks engaging with individuals at the site before the operation.
“Our field intervention team has been coming to this location, getting to know the individuals that live here and identifying their needs,” Marcone said. “The goal is to make sure everyone at this encampment goes inside to interim housing.”
Marcone said participants placed through the program receive a range of services including case management, meals, healthcare connections, and housing navigation aimed at helping them transition into permanent housing.
Once participants departed the site, sanitation crews began clearing the remaining debris associated with the encampment. The cleanup involved the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Environmental Compliance Inspectors, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, and outreach staff from LAHSA.
Environmental Compliance Inspectors and hazardous-materials specialists sorted through remaining items to identify potentially hazardous materials such as batteries and aerosol containers. Clean Harbors personnel handled the disposal of hazardous waste while Public Works crews removed accumulated trash and bulky debris from the sidewalks and surrounding area.
After the debris was cleared, sanitation workers power-washed the sidewalk and nearby street, restoring the area following the encampment removal.
City officials said the operation marked another deployment of the Inside Safe initiative, which aims to move people from encampments into interim housing while connecting them with supportive services and long-term housing pathways.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public events of local significance across the Westside, including homelessness outreach operations, law enforcement activity, and ongoing efforts to address the region’s housing crisis.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A traveler and clothing maker who goes by the name “Mushroom” spoke with Santa Monica Closeup at Palisades Park while stopping in Santa Monica during a cross-country journey with his dog, Rhapsody.
Mushroom said he began the current trip in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and traveled south through Big Sur before arriving in Santa Monica. He described the journey as an attempt to “circle America” using a motorized bicycle and a large custom-built trailer that serves as both a mobile workshop and living space. He said the route could eventually cover about 12,000 miles and may take roughly a year to complete.
According to Mushroom, he plans to continue east from Santa Monica through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. He said he expects to remain in Santa Monica through much of March while making clothing, selling garments, and gathering supplies needed for the next leg of the trip, including replacement tires and other equipment.
The trailer, decorated with colorful artwork and “Spunco” branding, was seen set up near the sidewalk at Palisades Park with tie-dye shirts hanging outside for sale. Mushroom said he supports himself on the road by making and selling clothing, including shorts, jackets, hoodies, hats, and tie-dye items. He described his work as upcycled fashion, explaining that he takes apart used garments and rebuilds them into custom pieces. During the interview, he showed a pair of patchwork shorts he said took about 16 hours to make and said he typically sells such pieces for around $300, though prices vary.
Inside the trailer, Mushroom was also seen using a hand-crank sewing machine, which he said he has relied on for custom garment work while traveling. He said the machine allows him to sew more efficiently than working entirely by hand. During the encounter, he was also preparing pizza inside the trailer using a pan on low heat.
Mushroom said the bicycle is powered by a four-stroke, 79cc gas engine and that he built the custom trailer and hitch system himself. He said the setup presents ongoing mechanical challenges, especially with the rear wheel and spokes due to the weight of the trailer, the dog, and rough road conditions. He added that he performs most of the repairs himself.
He identified his dog, Rhapsody, as his travel companion and said the animal accompanies him on the road as he moves from city to city. Throughout the stop at Palisades Park, pedestrians and cyclists passed by while Mushroom worked from the trailer and displayed his clothing.
Mushroom said his work can be found under the name Spunco on YouTube and Instagram. He explained that the name refers to fabric being spun together and serves as the identity for the clothing and project he is building while traveling.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document the people, projects, and public-life moments unfolding across Santa Monica.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Santa Monica Closeup joined Meals on Wheels West Executive Director Kaylee Hawkins for a behind-the-scenes look at how the organization prepares and delivers meals to homebound residents across the Westside.
During a tour of the Santa Monica facility, Hawkins explained how meals are received and organized before volunteers depart on daily delivery routes.
Clients typically receive a hot entrée, a cold side dish, and fruit, along with a frozen meal intended for the following day to help ensure consistent nutrition between deliveries. Meals are delivered three times per week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—with frozen meals provided for the days in between.
Meals on Wheels West also accommodates vegetarian and medically tailored diets, including options designed for individuals managing conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease. All meals are approved by a Los Angeles County registered dietitian.
According to Hawkins, the program delivers meals to approximately 400 to 450 clients each day across about 40 delivery routes, with volunteers typically serving around ten clients per route.
The organization has operated in the region for more than 50 years, serving residents across Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu.
Beyond nutrition, Hawkins said the deliveries also provide an important point of human connection for many clients who live alone.
“More than 80 percent of our clients live completely on their own,” Hawkins said. “We’re not only delivering food—we’re delivering social connection.”
Volunteers also serve as informal wellness checks. If something appears unusual during a visit, Meals on Wheels West staff can connect clients with additional support services through a network of community partners.
Following the facility tour, Santa Monica Closeup accompanied Hawkins on a delivery route where meals were delivered to several local clients.
One Santa Monica resident, who identified herself as “Miss Lulu,” invited the team into her apartment and described how the program helps her manage a limited budget and difficulty getting to the grocery store.
“Meals on Wheels helps me out,” she said. “When you’re choosing between rent and food, it makes a big difference.”
She said she has been receiving the meals for several years and sometimes struggles to travel to the store.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to get out,” she said. “Having the meals has really helped get me through.”
Another recipient visited during the route was Charles, a military veteran recovering from cancer treatment. Charles said the program provided support during a difficult period when he was undergoing chemotherapy and rebuilding his life.
“They were going out of their way to help me out,” he said of Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers. “It was life-saving.”
Charles, who served as a corpsman during the Vietnam War and later worked as a nurse for decades, said the deliveries not only provide food but also emotional support.
“They check on me and keep my spirits up,” he said. “It’s been a great help.”
A third delivery was made to Joseph, a Santa Monica resident who is blind and said the program has been helpful in maintaining regular meals.
“It’s been helpful,” Joseph said of the deliveries.
Joseph said he appreciates the volunteers who bring the meals and encouraged community members to support the program.
“It would be nice if we could get more volunteers,” he said.
For all three residents, the deliveries represent more than just food — they provide consistency, contact, and support during challenging circumstances.
Hawkins said the organization relies heavily on community support to sustain the program. While some funding comes from government sources, much of Meals on Wheels West’s operating budget comes from private donations and community partnerships.
With food costs continuing to rise and demand for services increasing, the organization encourages residents interested in helping to volunteer or donate.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document community programs and local efforts supporting residents across Santa Monica and the Westside.
SANTA MONICA — Saturday, January 18, 2026 — Volunteers with The Bay Foundation took part in a morning planting effort at Santa Monica Beach as the organization continued expanding its coastal dune restoration work along the shoreline.
The volunteer event focused on installing native plants and seeds as part of the foundation’s ongoing Coastal Adaptation Program, which uses nature-based solutions to reduce erosion, improve biodiversity, and increase resilience to sea-level rise and coastal flooding. Participants planted California sunflower and California poppy seedlings while also dispersing a native seed mix containing approximately 20 different species expected to emerge over time as conditions allow.
Heather Burdick, Director of Programs for The Bay Foundation, said the effort relies on plant growth to naturally build dunes. As native vegetation establishes itself, wind-driven sand accumulates around the plants, allowing dunes to gradually rise and strengthen without mechanical intervention. Volunteers assisted with planting and site preparation throughout the morning.
The dune restoration approach replaces traditional beach-flattening maintenance practices that remove vegetation and destabilize sand. By allowing dunes to form naturally, the project aims to raise beach elevation, absorb wave energy during storms, and create habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. Previous restoration efforts at Santa Monica Beach have been credited with supporting the return of species such as the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover.
The Bay Foundation emphasized the role of community participation in maintaining and expanding the restored areas, noting that volunteers contribute not only labor but long-term stewardship and public awareness. The organization continues to encourage public involvement in future planting and restoration events.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document environmental restoration efforts and public space projects shaping the Westside coastline.
On Sunday afternoon, January 25, 2026, a birthday celebration honoring silent-film actress and famed hostess Marion Davies was held at the Marion Davies Guest House at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.
Presented by the Santa Monica Conservancy, the event drew visitors dressed in vintage attire and period-inspired costumes reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting the era in which Davies became known as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated social figures.
The afternoon program included live music by Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys, along with brief dance demonstrations introducing classic 1920s steps led by James Zimmer and Cynthia Harper, co-founders of the Historical Ballroom Dance Club at University of California, Los Angeles. Guests also viewed a fashion presentation by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, highlighting styles inspired by the interwar period.
Author Lara Gabrielle spoke with attendees about Davies’ life and legacy, drawing from her biography Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies and recounting stories of the lavish gatherings once hosted at Davies’ beachfront estate.
Throughout the event, Santa Monica Conservancy docents provided guided tours of the Marion Davies Guest House, offering historical context and inviting guests to imagine what daily life was like at the beachfront property during Davies’ residency.
The free, all-ages celebration ran from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and was open to the public, with RSVPs requested. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document local cultural events and community gatherings across Santa Monica.
SANTA MONICA — On Saturday, January 17, 2026, installation artist Kate Mueller presented a temporary, site-specific artwork along the Santa Monica Beach shoreline during low tide, drawing onlookers as afternoon light shifted into a vivid orange sunset.
The interactive installation, titled String of Light That Connects All Things (S.O.L.T.C.A.T.), was installed in the mid-afternoon and removed at dusk, timed to the day’s tidal conditions. As waves moved in and out, beachgoers gathered near the waterline to observe the steel forms, take photographs, and speak with the artist about the work.
According to the artist, this month’s installation consisted of five steel sculptural elements corresponding to the star points of the constellation Capricorn. The arrangement translates the celestial pattern into a physical form placed directly within the coastal environment, reflecting Mueller’s ongoing exploration of the relationship between astronomy, natural cycles, and human presence.
S.O.L.T.C.A.T. is part of an ongoing series of monthly pop-up installations that imagine the California coast through the lens of light and space. Each installation references a constellation visible in that month’s night sky, drawing a parallel between celestial movement and ocean tides, and inviting viewers to consider their place within a shared environmental moment.
During daylight hours, the welded steel forms cast stark linear shadows across the sand, evoking comparisons to ancient time-marking structures. As sunset approached, the pieces became silhouetted against the sky, while wet sand created reflective surfaces that shifted with the viewer’s position. Passing sailboats, birds in flight, footprints, and the advancing tide became part of the installation’s evolving visual field.
Each installation consists of four to seven lightweight steel structures designed to be approachable and interactive without obstructing coastal views. Rather than dominating the landscape, the forms are intended to subtly reframe a familiar shoreline, emphasizing environmental change and the passage of time.
Mueller, an installation artist based in Los Angeles, incorporates welding and woodworking techniques to create large-scale, immersive works that invite physical movement and public engagement. Her practice emphasizes sustainability and frequently employs reclaimed and found materials. Her work explores themes of shared humanity, awareness, and the experience of occupying a specific place at a specific moment.
Raised in Oxnard and influenced by extensive travel and site-specific exploration, Mueller has created interactive installations across Santa Monica, Downtown Los Angeles, and Ventura County. Her ongoing work continues to focus on the relationship between environment, perception, and interconnected systems.
This installation was made possible in part by the City of Santa Monica Art of Recovery grant.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public art, cultural activity, and community moments along the Westside shoreline as they unfold.
SANTA MONICA — Thursday, January 15, 2026 — The Bay Foundation is expanding its coastal dune restoration project at Santa Monica Beach this week, continuing a multi-year effort to transform sections of the shoreline into living, plant-supported dunes designed to reduce erosion, improve biodiversity, and strengthen resilience against sea-level rise and coastal flooding.
The project is part of The Bay Foundation’s Coastal Adaptation Program, which replaces traditional beach-flattening maintenance practices with nature-based solutions. Rather than mechanically raking sand flat — a process that removes plant life and destabilizes dunes — crews are planting native California beach species and allowing sand to accumulate naturally around their roots and branches.
Native species introduced and encouraged in the dunes include California poppy, beach evening primrose, California red sand verbena, and seacliff buckwheat. These plants stabilize sand, create habitat for insects and birds, and support broader coastal ecosystems. Invasive species such as ice plant, European sea rocket, and non-native grasses are removed to allow native communities to recover.
Los Angeles County’s beaches have been heavily modified over decades by seawalls, imported sand, and heavy maintenance equipment. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, California could lose up to 75 percent of its beaches over the next 75 years due to rising sea levels, with Southern California facing particularly significant impacts by the end of the century. Dune restoration is intended to counteract that trend by raising beach elevation naturally and absorbing wave energy during storms and king tides.
The Bay Foundation reports that dunes can grow up to three feet tall within about four years, significantly improving storm protection and erosion resistance. At Santa Monica’s pilot dune site, the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover returned to nest in 2016 — the first documented nesting in the Los Angeles region in nearly 70 years. Today, dozens of plovers can be observed feeding and resting in the restored dune habitat depending on the season.
Volunteers have played a central role in the success of the project, contributing labor, monitoring, and long-term stewardship. The foundation also emphasizes public education as part of the program, encouraging visitors to see beaches not as static landscapes but as living systems that support both wildlife and human communities.
Millions of residents and visitors now experience these revitalized shoreline areas each year, where native plants, birds, insects, and natural dune formations coexist alongside recreation. The project reflects a growing shift toward climate-adaptive coastal management focused on restoration rather than mechanical control.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document environmental restoration efforts, infrastructure changes, and public space projects shaping the Westside’s coastline and community life.
