𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘: Crews Roll 8-Foot Dodgers Baseball Down Promenade Ahead of Pep Rally

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, October 23, 2025 — Downtown Santa Monica crews were spotted rolling an eight-foot-tall, 200-pound baseball down the Third Street Promenade this afternoon, setting the stage for tonight’s “Catch the Blue Wave” Pep Rally in support of the Los Angeles Dodgers heading to the World Series. The oversized baseball, part of the official Dodgers Ball installation, will serve as a centerpiece for fans to sign and snap photos with during the two-hour celebration. The rally, hosted by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. and the City of Santa Monica, runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the 1300 block of the Promenade. Former Dodgers players Adrian Gonzalez, Eric Karros, and Steve Garvey are scheduled to make special appearances, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. The event will also feature the Dodgers Bobble mascot, live entertainment, giveaways, and a 360° fan photo booth to capture the “Blue Wave” spirit. The celebration marks the first time the Promenade has hosted a Dodgers-themed pep rally, transforming the heart of Santa Monica into a sea of blue ahead of the World Series opener.

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡: 2,000 Drones Light Up Santa Monica Sky in WNBA–Tissot Celebration

SANTA MONICA — Monday, October 20, 2025 — The skies above Santa Monica Beach illuminated in a dazzling display Monday night as 2,000 drones took flight in celebration of the new WNBA Shot Clock by Swiss watchmaker Tissot.

The choreographed drone show, produced by Sky Elements Drone Shows, transformed the night sky into a digital canvas above the Santa Monica Pier, featuring vivid animations and synchronized formations that paid tribute to basketball’s iconic countdown timer.

Tissot, the official timekeeper of the NBA since 2015 and the official watch of the WNBA, unveiled its latest precision innovation in partnership with the league. The event drew spectators along the beach and pier, many capturing the light show on phones as the drones formed symbols of the NBA and Tissot logos high above the Pacific.

The shot clock—introduced to the NBA in 1954 to curb stalling tactics and boost scoring—has become a defining feature of modern basketball. Today, the 24-second timer governs gameplay across professional and amateur leagues worldwide, serving as both a strategic element and a visual centerpiece of the sport.

Monday’s show not only celebrated the evolution of timekeeping in basketball but also highlighted the fusion of sports, technology, and artistry through aerial innovation.

𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡: Union Members March from City Hall to Pier, Demand Rehire Rights for Rusty’s Workers

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, October 17, 2025 — Dozens of hospitality workers, community allies, and clergy rallied outside Santa Monica City Hall, calling on city leaders to pass a Right of Recall Ordinance aimed at reinstating laid-off employees from the former Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier.

Organized by UNITE HERE Local 11, participants gathered on the City Hall steps dressed in red union T-shirts and holding picket signs that read “Rusty’s Workers Deserve a Homecoming.” The demonstration began at 4 p.m. with a petition delivery to city officials, including City Manager Oliver Chi, before the group marched through downtown Santa Monica toward the Pier.

By late afternoon, supporters picketed near the shuttered Rusty’s location as the city hosted its “Homecoming” festivities, urging officials to ensure that future businesses operating on public land give priority rehiring opportunities to former workers.

Organizers said the proposed ordinance would mirror similar Right of Recall measures already adopted in Los Angeles and Pasadena to protect hospitality workers from displacement following business closures.

UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers across Southern California and Arizona, stated that Santa Monica’s “Homecoming” celebration would not be complete without welcoming back the longtime Rusty’s employees who helped define the Pier’s legacy.

Santa Monica Closeup documented the rally, march, and picket line as part of its ongoing coverage of community events, public demonstrations, and local government action across the Westside.

𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗞𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝟲𝟲: Ford Model A Drivers Conclude the Mother Road at the Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Monday, October 13, 2025 — Eight vintage Ford Model A cars rolled onto the Santa Monica Pier, marking the completion of a three-week cross-country road trip along the historic Route 66 — known as “The Mother Road.” Spectators gathered along the Pier to admire the gleaming classics, snap photos and selfies, and chat with the proud drivers who had navigated the 2,448-mile route from Chicago to the Pacific.

The Ford Model A, produced between 1927 and 1931, represented the second major success for the Ford Motor Company following the legendary Model T. The vehicles featured an improved engine, modern controls, and a variety of body styles that helped usher in a new era of American automotive design.

The coast-to-coast convoy was chronicled in a dedicated travel blog, Route 66 Model A 2025, which documents the cars’ journey through eight states, showcasing small-town Americana, roadside diners, and iconic landmarks along the way.

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧: Bocce League Brings Life Back to the Palisades After Devastating Fire

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Thursday, October 9, 2025 — On a warm, sunlit afternoon, the courts at Veterans Gardens once again came alive as members of the Palisades Bocce Club gathered for a spirited evening of friendly competition and laughter. The sound of rolling bocce balls and cheers from teammates marked a moment of joy and renewal in a town still healing from the devastation of the Palisades Fire earlier this year.

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, rapidly expanded amid extreme drought and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. The blaze scorched 23,448 acres, destroyed 6,837 structures, and displaced over 100,000 residents before firefighters finally contained it on January 31, 2025. The disaster left deep physical and emotional scars across the community — including the loss of much of the Palisades Village, once the heart of local life.

Nine months later, scenes like Thursday’s gathering at Veterans Gardens signal a return of the human spirit. With the sun setting behind the Santa Monica Mountains and the ocean breeze drifting inland, dozens of players — from their twenties to their seventies — competed, laughed, and reconnected in the park’s welcoming atmosphere.

“This has everything to do with creating belonging and creating community,” said Jimmy Dunne, co-founder of the Palisades Bocce Club. “When this town needs it more than ever, it’s about buddies getting together — the Sweet Peas, the Killer Peas, the Chai Rollers, the Sunset Patriots — they love to come out, play, and celebrate being Palisadians.”

Once a neglected section of Palisades Park, Veterans Gardens was reborn through community effort and local donations, transforming a barren patch of ground into a lush gathering space. Conceived by residents including Dunne and Bill McGregor, the Gardens symbolize the Palisades’ enduring commitment to unity and resilience.

Since its founding, nearly a thousand residents have participated in the bocce leagues, which now feature multiple divisions such as the Dolphin League on Tuesday mornings and the Sunset League on Wednesday evenings. The games have sparked friendships that stretch far beyond the courts — from neighborhood dinners to Palm Springs getaways.

“The beauty of it,” Dunne added, “is that many of these teams started as strangers. Now they’re cheering for each other, going out to eat, celebrating birthdays, and traveling together. That’s what belonging looks like.”

Beyond the competition, Veterans Gardens has become a central gathering place for the community — hosting picnics, family celebrations, and quiet afternoons under the shade of newly planted trees. Dunne calls it “a garden that is a mirror of who we were, who we are, and who we dream to become.”

For many in the Palisades, the revival of activity at Veterans Gardens represents more than just recreation. It’s a sign of renewal — proof that after tragedy, the bonds of community continue to grow stronger.

Residents interested in joining future bocce leagues or learning more about Veterans Gardens can visit www.veteransgardens.com.

𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔: Santa Monica Installs Temporary Landmark Ahead of $35M Bridge Project

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, October 2, 2025 — Crews from Front Signs have spent the past three days installing a half-scale replica of the iconic Santa Monica Pier Harbor sign, ensuring visitors can continue to capture the classic photo opportunity even as major changes loom for the Pier’s historic entryway. Santa Monica Pier Executive Director Jim Harris said the installation preserves an essential part of the visitor experience. He explained that the original sign will soon be taken down and placed into storage for a complete refurbishment while the aging Pier Bridge is demolished and rebuilt. “We don’t want people to lose that chance to have their photo under the Pier sign,” Harris said, noting that the temporary replica has been placed in the central plaza of the Pier near Pier Burger and Pacific Park so it remains easily accessible to the public. The replica sign marks the first visible step in the long-anticipated replacement of the 86-year-old Pier Bridge. Built in 1939, the bridge connects Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier and is slated for a $35 million overhaul led by Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., a nationally recognized infrastructure contractor. The new bridge will be seismically upgraded, more accessible, and designed to last 75 years. Construction is expected to begin in November 2025 and conclude by December 2027, well ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. City officials have emphasized that the Pier will remain open throughout the process. Restaurants, shops, and attractions will continue to welcome visitors while temporary pedestrian and vehicle access routes are put in place. A comprehensive wayfinding program will guide guests during the bridge demolition and rebuilding phases. Under the current schedule, the original Pier sign will be removed in early 2026, refurbished over the following 18 months, and reinstalled in September 2027, elevated for improved visibility. The bridge demolition is planned for summer 2026, with full construction running into late 2027. More than three-quarters of the project’s cost is being funded through the Federal Highway Bridge Program, with the balance supported by local transportation funds. City outreach has included more than 30 meetings with Pier businesses and stakeholders to minimize disruptions during the two-year construction period. For now, visitors will enjoy a rare sight: two Pier signs standing side by side — one a temporary replica, the other awaiting its careful restoration — as Santa Monica readies a new gateway to its world-famous pier.

𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡: Police Arrest Man Near Samohi After Gun Report

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Monday, September 29, 2025 — Santa Monica High School was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution this afternoon after police received a report of a man believed to be armed near the campus.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded at approximately 3:20 p.m. and quickly located the individual. The weapon was determined to be a BB gun.

Initial reports state the suspect had been waving the item and pointing it toward passersby before officers intervened. Officers physically subdued the man, who was then transported by ambulance as a routine precaution.

The suspect was taken into custody and the lockdown was lifted soon after. Police emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the community.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department’s Daily Arrest Log, the man was booked on multiple charges, including:

• 11364(a): Controlled Substance – Possess Paraphernalia

• 30305(a)(1): Prohibited Person Own/Possess Ammunition

• 626.10 PC: Possession of a Weapon While on School Grounds

• Bench Warrant: Santa Monica

In a statement, SMPD thanked community members for their vigilance, noting that public reports play a vital role in maintaining safety: “If you see something, say something.”

No further details about the suspect have been released.