𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡: Firefighters and Police Lead Candy Cane Drive Convoy Across Santa Monica

Santa Claus traded his sleigh for a firetruck on Saturday as Santa Monica marked its 33rd annual Candy Cane Drive, a rolling holiday celebration led by first responders and welcomed by families across the city. The longstanding tradition, organized by the Santa Monica Firefighters’ & Police Officers’ Association, brought Santa on an early holiday tour with firefighters, police officers, and Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete riding alongside.

Throughout the morning, the convoy visited Douglas Park, Reed Park, Virginia Avenue Park, and Clover Park, where families gathered to greet Santa and receive candy canes. Lights, sirens, and holiday music accompanied each stop, creating a cheerful atmosphere that drew residents of all ages.

Now more than three decades old, the Candy Cane Drive remains one of Santa Monica’s most recognizable holiday traditions, offering a moment of connection between first responders and the community. The event highlights the spirit of generosity that defines the season while underscoring the vital public-safety roles these agencies perform year-round.

The continued commitment of the Santa Monica Firefighters’ & Police Officers’ Association to hosting the drive reflects their broader dedication to community engagement. For many families, the Candy Cane Drive marks the unofficial start of the holiday season—a joyful reminder of the bonds that bring the city together.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧: Santa Claus Lights the Christmas Tree at Santa Monica’s Official Holiday Ceremony

The Third Street Promenade hosted a festive start to the holiday season on Thursday, December 4, 2025, as the City of Santa Monica held its official tree lighting ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. The event brought families, visitors, and local residents together for an evening of performances, seasonal activities, and a snowfall display under clear night skies. Santa Claus led the countdown and illuminated the city’s holiday tree on the 1300 block of the Promenade, situated between Santa Monica Boulevard and Arizona Avenue. The celebration featured live performances by local choirs and a special presentation from The Nutcracker, drawing an enthusiastic crowd around the main stage. Following the ceremony, attendees of all ages took part in a series of complimentary activities, including photos with Santa, holiday-themed craft stations, and hot cocoa served along the walkway. A DJ kept the energy high with a holiday dance party, while “snow” drifted through the air, creating a winter-themed backdrop in the heart of downtown Santa Monica. A holiday market lined the Promenade with seasonal gifts and treats, and visitors stopped for photos with Big Blue Bus’ decorated holiday wrap. Goodies and giveaways rounded out the evening as the city officially welcomed the start of the holiday season. Santa Monica Closeup will continue documenting community celebrations throughout the season.

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗦 𝗨𝗣: Piano Man Receives Donated Piano After Local Haulers Deliver to Boardwalk

VENICE, CA — Saturday, November 29, 2025 — Community stepped up on the Venice Beach Boardwalk today, as a donated piano was delivered to longtime performer Nathan “The Piano Man” Pino with the help of two small Westside businesses who volunteered their time, trucks, and hands to get him playing again.

Blue Mule Hauling, a family-run local hauling company owned by Amanda Arreola and her husband, coordinated the pick-up of the donated piano in Los Angeles after seeing Santa Monica Closeup’s coverage of Pino’s instruments being removed and destroyed during recent city cleanups. They brought in additional support from Scotties Flatbed, another Westside independent hauler, who volunteered a larger truck to safely transport the upright to the boardwalk.

“We saw Nathan had gotten his piano taken away and we were able to help him find a new piano and bring it down here for him to play for everybody,” said Amanda Arreola. “We got some help from Scotty’s tow to get it down here — it was a little bigger than our truck could handle. We’re looking forward to having lunch at the Sidewalk Café and listening to him play.”

Amanda said the pickup was easier than expected thanks to the flatbed truck’s extendable bed, eliminating the need to carry the instrument down stairs. The donor, who inherited the piano from her mother — a woman who walked the Venice shoreline every morning and knew Pino’s music — was “very happy” to see it go to him.

Pino arrived to find the piano waiting at his regular spot and expressed gratitude to the crews who made the delivery possible. With help from neighbors and small business owners, he is once again equipped to share music with visitors, locals, skaters, families, and longtime boardwalk regulars — a reminder of how quickly the Venice community can rally around one of its own.

UPDATE: After the delivery, Pino discovered several problem keys and said he would attempt quick repairs to make the instrument playable, including gluing broken pieces. Blue Mule Hauling clarified its role in a public comment, noting that after seeing coverage of Pino’s situation the company offered transportation if he found a piano, and that Pino contacted them after locating this one on Craigslist. The company said it was unaware of the instrument’s condition, that Nathan will continue searching for a better piano while working to get this one playable, and that when he finds a suitable replacement they will return to pick up and dispose of the current unit. Santa Monica Closeup will continue following developments as Pino and community partners work toward a permanent, performance-ready piano for daily music on the boardwalk.

𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘: Chariot and Warriors March Down the Boardwalk for Spartacus Promo

A column of armored performers and a horse-drawn chariot moved through the Venice Beach Boardwalk on Saturday, November 29, 2025, turning heads along the coastal walkway as crowds paused to watch a scene reminiscent of ancient Rome. The group — dressed in leather skirts, metal arm guards, and carrying round shields and spears — advanced in formation beneath bright morning light, their sandals striking the pavement between souvenir shops and beach vendors. Behind them, two draft horses pulled an ornate chariot. An actor in red and blue robes gestured to onlookers, while another held the reins steady as the procession pushed forward. The spectacle appeared to be a promotional march for Spartacus: House of Ashurlo, the new STARZ Original series expanding the well-known Spartacus franchise. The campaign leaned heavily into historical imagery, using full costume, props, and live horses to evoke the world portrayed in the show. Visitors filmed with phones, stepped back to allow the group to pass, and gathered around the boardwalk corridor as the troupe continued north. The sight offered a striking contrast — ancient-style warriors moving past modern storefronts, roller skaters, and weekend foot traffic. The promotion comes ahead of the release of Spartacus: House of Ashur, a series that imagines the gladiator Ashur surviving to claim control over the very training ground where he once fought. The production stars Nick E. Tarabay, Graham McTavish, and Tenika Davis. Santa Monica Closeup observed the full procession along the beach walkway, documenting the moment as art, commerce, and performance intersected with everyday life at Venice Beach.

𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡: Venice’s Iconic Binoculars Undergo Restoration at Google-Occupied Landmark

 

Under clear coastal light on Friday, November 28, 2025, crews were seen high on lift platforms actively refurbishing the Giant Binoculars on Main Street — a rare restoration on one of Venice’s most recognizable landmarks. Primer patches and resurfaced sections marked visible progress on the sculpture’s exterior, signaling an ongoing effort to preserve its distinctive matte finish and structural detail.

Designed in 1991 by architect Frank Gehry in collaboration with artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, the oversized binoculars have long served as both sculpture and functional gateway. For years, vehicles passed directly through the lenses to enter the courtyard, a signature example of postmodern design that blurred the boundary between utility and monumental art. The structure remains a defining presence in Venice’s architectural identity — surreal, playful, unmistakably bold.

The building that sits behind the binoculars, once home to the advertising agency Chiat/Day, is now occupied by Google, extending the location’s creative legacy into the digital era along the booming tech corridor known as Silicon Beach.

The refurbishment is being carried out by Randall/McAnany, a Southern California company established in 1978 by William A. Randall and Timothy J. McAnany. Originally operating from a 200-square-foot office with a small warehouse, the firm has since grown into a Gardena headquarters with 1,800 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of warehouse capacity. After Randall’s retirement in 1994, McAnany became President and C.E.O., later transitioning to Chairman of the Board as Stefan Politz stepped into the executive role in 2009 — marking nearly five decades of continuous operation in the region.

Workers appeared to be sanding, resurfacing, and applying new coatings to the binoculars throughout the day — part of a larger preservation effort to ensure the sculpture remains structurally sound and visually striking for years to come. Once refinished, the binoculars are expected to return to their deep, uniform tone, restoring the iconic street-level silhouette that has drawn curiosity, cameras, and architectural study for more than thirty years.

Still standing at the crossroads of art, industry, and imagination, Venice’s binoculars remain a landmark worth watching.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘: 13th Annual Block Party Delivers Hot Meals, Shoes & Support to the Unhoused

On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Lost Angels Organization marked its 13th annual holiday block party on Rose Avenue in Venice — extending hot meals, essential supplies, and a sense of community to those living without housing. The block, stretching from Hampton Drive to Main Street, filled with folding tables, serving lines, and volunteers working shoulder-to-shoulder to bring comfort and connection into the holiday.

Guests were offered warm Thanksgiving plates with all the traditional fixings and invited to move through a distribution area where new shoes, clothing, socks, and toiletries were provided. A structured support system paired participants with volunteers who guided them through food service, clothing selection, and other resources, ensuring no one drifted through the event unnoticed or alone. The buddy approach emphasized personal interaction — conversations at the serving table, shared moments of gratitude, and a reassuring reminder that the community continues to show up.

Along the sidewalk, volunteers prepared hot trays, handed out cups of water, fitted shoes, sorted donated goods, and checked in with people one by one. The effort reflected the organization’s long-standing philosophy that no one gets left behind, a sentiment visible in the steady line of warm plates, the careful matching of shoe sizes, and the time taken to speak with individuals who arrived.

Lost Angels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, relies on public support and volunteer labor to sustain its annual outreach — including its upcoming December distribution. Those wishing to participate or donate may visit @LosAngelsOrg on Instagram or LostAngelsLA.org.

Thirteen years into its tradition, the Thanksgiving block party once again turned a stretch of Venice pavement into a space of generosity and dignity. For many who attended, the holiday meal served as nourishment and connection, reflecting the enduring impact of small acts of care.

Santa Monica Closeup will continue documenting community-driven efforts like this one, highlighting the people and stories shaping life on the Westside.

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘: Daisy the Venice Healer Joins Grassroots Effort to Stock Free Pantry in Venice

 

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Venice-based organizer Michael Brandt, founder of the evangelical outreach group Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, stood beside a sidewalk pantry on Pacific Avenue near Horizon in Venice, joined by local healer and community figure Daisy, to help restock and beautify the space with fresh plants and flowers.

The pantry, located behind the Trading Post at 1324 Pacific Avenue, operates as a 24-hour, zero-barrier food and essentials station—offering round-the-clock access for those in need, and an open invitation to the public to donate freely. Brandt described the project as a pilot meant to demonstrate how community-led solutions can bypass bureaucracy while fostering direct mutual aid.

“It’s a 24-hour, zero-barrier, no-bottleneck pantry for the public—and it’s free,” said Brandt. “We wanted to show people you can just do things if you do it the right way. Anyone can donate at any time, and likewise, anyone can take what they need.”

Daisy, known across Venice as “the healer,” volunteered her time to organize the pantry and plant flowers around the base. Her efforts drew praise from Brandt, who credited her with bringing people together and adding spiritual and aesthetic warmth to the initiative.

Neighbors Feeding Neighbors was originally formed in response to the rollback of emergency SNAP food benefits, which left many low-income families without reliable access to meals. Brandt emphasized the need for a modernized food relief model—one that partners with local restaurants, rewards donors with gift cards or experiences, and allows businesses to contribute without harming their brand reputation.

“If you're a family and walk into a restaurant saying you can’t feed your kids, they have to say no—because there’s no system in place,” Brandt said. “We’re building that system so the answer can be yes.”

Currently, the group is hosting a coat drive through the end of November, and encourages community members to drop off clean, gently used coats and nonperishable foods. Donors who tag @feedingneighbors on social media may be gifted a local experience or gift card as thanks.

“Neighbors speak to neighbors,” said Brandt. “And that’s what this is all about.”

Santa Monica Closeup will continue following developments from this community effort in the weeks ahead.