Rescuers are looking for a 22-year-old man who jumped off the Redondo Beach Pier late last night and disappeared underneath the waves. An unidentified woman who took the plunge with him survived. Scuba divers and a helicopter crew have been looking for the missing man David Thompson all day today to no avail. more ›

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, a 38-year-old San Clemente man was walking along the San Clemente pier Monday evening saying he was going to jump off at the edge and commit suicide, reports the OC Register. more ›

The Pismo Beach Pier is home to hundreds of roosting pigeons, and their droppings are leaving behind more than just an unpleasant splotch for visitors, according to cbs2. more ›

A car chase ended with a splash late last night when the suspect waded into the water near the Santa Monica Pier. The LAPD had been in pursuit of a man they suspected was driving a stolen SUV since about 11:30 p.m. last night. During the course of the chase the suspect drove in loops through Beverly Hills, ultimately opting to head to Santa Monica via Sunset Boulevard. "There he walked out on the jetty, jumped down into the sand and went into the ocean," explains LA Now. The authorities talked him out of the water and he was taken into custody. more ›

To go along with our wordy look at the 100 years of history of the Santa Monica Pier, our LAist Featured Photos pool just happens to be brimming over with images of the iconic landmark that we couldn't keep to ourselves. more ›

Google's Street View has gone off roading--in a sense--with their cutely named Google Trike, which has "3 bicycle wheels, a mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image collecting gadgetry," according to the company. more ›

While we await Cirque du Soleil's arrival to Hollywood & Highland, the group is heading to Santa Monica and Orange County beginning in October. First on the Santa Monica pier, where it's been 10 years since the group brought its Grand Chapiteau (big top), and then to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine in January. “Cirque du Soleil brings a global distinction to the Great Park," said City of Irvine Mayor and Great Park Director Sukhee Kang. "As we unveil each new component of this great metropolitan park, we feel that we are moving closer and closer to our vision as an unforgettable destination for visitors from all over the world. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Cirque.” Tickets go on sale via their website on June 15 for Cirque Club members and the general public the day after. more ›

Sunday is the last day to catch Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) refugee camp at the Santa Monica Pier. The exhibit, which began last week in Griffith Park, provides visitors with an in-depth perspective into how a refugee camp operates. Aid workers lead small groups around the "camp" and recount their own experiences in the field as they explain what MSF does to provide mental and physical services to the 42 million people around the world uprooted by war. more ›

While not generally synonymous, Los Angeles and barbeque food have a lot in common. Both seem to attract the eccentrics, the slightly misguided. Both have a worldwide appreciation, but not many people talk about the greasy, slimy mess that gets left behind when all else is gone. And both are responsible for a lot of bad gas issues, and a sizable hole in the ozone layer. more ›

An estimated 44,000 people visited the first Glow Festival tonight in Santa Monica (Update: the estimates are now to 200,000 people total with the highest peak at one time at 75,000 people, according to police) . The 10 Freeway was jammed late into the night and the oceanside city was packed from the promenade to the beach. Tons of people were having a good time, but many were overheard saying, "where's the art?" How was the festival for you? Chime in on the comments below and let it be known... more ›

How cool is this? A free all-night festival on the beach and pier in Santa Monica with over 20 multi-media artists and music from KCRW, Machine Project, Dub Lab and other to-be-announced artists? That's what's happening at Glow, a dusk-to-dawn (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) event put on by the city of Santa Monica on July 19. more ›

Last month, the classic ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier at Pacific Park went up for sale on eBay, eventually selling for $132,400 (it originally costs $800,000), raising $65,000 for Special Olympics Southern California. Tonight, pier goers and city officials welcome the new wheel, dazzling in its solar power, energy efficient glory. more ›

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

Santa Monica's Pacific Park ferris wheel has a new owner, thanks to an eBay auction that ended at noon yesterday. more ›

Photo by puck90 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. more ›

You can find all kinds of stuff on eBay, from trash to treasure, and so long as you are the highest bidder and can cough up the shipping fee, it's yours. more ›

With the near completion of the Central Los Angeles High School #9, or the LAUSD High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, on Grand Avenue more folks are talking about the architecture stylings of Coop Himmelblau and the monument to the arts that they’ve created. Driving along the 101, people have speculated as to the meaning and purpose of the tall structure that creates an entry along with the Cathedral bell tower across the 101. more ›

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A few weeks back I promised to continue the photo essay of my next-door neighbor, the Redondo Beach Pier, where there is always something weird and wonderful to see and do. The Fun Factory is the next best thing to a cheesy, down-the-shore/midway arcade. Sure, Santa Monica Pier has its Ferris wheel, calliope and similar games of chance, but The Fun Factory has such an extensive jumble of bizarre coin operated artifacts, games, kiddy rides, crane machines, fortune tellers, pinball machines, vintage video games and whatever else you can think to stick a token into, that it just wins the prize for coolest, redemption palace in LA county. "Redemption" is how they describe those novelty amusements that devour all your laundry money. By the way, this 300+ game space can be enjoyed even on the most blustery of days, as it is an indoor attraction. Neener-neener-neener, SM Pier! more ›

After a visit to the doctor for my yearly oil change and lube, I was in the need of a bit of fresh air. Don't you just hate the irony of a heavy-set doctor telling you that your blood pressure is closer to high than it should be and that losing all the weight you gained back might be a really good idea? Yeah, me too. Damn it, I really wasn't planning on any New Year's Resolutions! Nevertheless, in lieu of my regularly scheduled veg out in front of the computer, I decided to take a brisk walk on a bright and blustery day in my neighborhood, a neighborhood conveniently located near an off-season tourist spot.
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In remembrance of the many lives lost in the 2004 South Asian tsunami, the public is invited to gather at a candlelight vigil with representatives of Sri Lankan organizations on Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica Pier. Prayers will be offered by several religious denominations (Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim), followed by a moment of silence. Participants will release flowers into the ocean as the memorial service comes to an end. more ›

I know you haven't been to Gambrinus on the Redondo Pier and had their "Russian style hamburger" called belashi, which they describe as meat-filled fried bread. IF you have, skip this post... But if you haven't then what are you doing wasting your time with these stupid American hamburgers?! more ›

After a five-week hiatus, LAist is back to taking you on its weekly trip down to Orange County to uncover the unique dining experiences that await adventurous eaters willing to explore beyond the county line. more ›

It’s a beautiful, wonderful day! Why, you ask? Have they pulled the troops from Iraq? Is America’s Next Top Model going to be syndicated twice a night, every night? Has the retail industry decided that Christmas should just be about spending time with family and loved ones, and yanked their holiday marketing bonanzas? No…it’s even better. For those of you who missed it this morning…Dunkin’ Donuts coffee will now be available for purchase in... more ›

A mysterious email appeared in our inbox this morning, notifying us of a Dunkin' Donuts Shopping Cart Derby being held at the Santa Monica Pier tomorrow morning (check-in begins at 9am, you can register here through the Thrillist website). The event is being hosted by Maria Menounos, and the lucky winning team will receive a two-year supply of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, revered by many as the morning brew of choice. But wait just a... more ›

"The surf was so big, no one was surfing here and the Pier was closed. Apparently, all the surfers were in Redondo," explains LAist Featured Photos contributer, Jake Rome, about yesterday's surf. LA Times: No big waves yesterday. We beg to differ. [LAist] Lure of waves draws many from workaday world [LA Times] The Day of Waves [Daily Breeze] Photo by jakerome via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr... more ›

Today we are all supposed to be thankful, so that's exactly what I am going to do, right now, in enumerated fashion, just for you. more ›

Redd Kross, Santa Monica Pier, 1982 Redd Kross @ The Echoplex The Bronx, The Mercy Killers @ Safari Sam's The Polyphonic Spree, Rooney @ Henry Fonda Yo La Tengo @ The Ivar Dropkick Murphys @ The Wiltern Jon Brion @ Largo Mezzanine Owls, The Black Kites @ The Echo Dax Riggs @ Spaceland Ferraby Lionheart, The Hundred Days @ The Bordello Low Vs Diamond, Something For Rockets @ Viper Room The Monolators, Correatown, Frankel,... more ›

That's an average of 90.1 mph for the 2,794 miles between Classic Car Club in Manhattan and the Santa Monica Pier in California. Get this, and no traffic stops, no tickets (that would cost a detrimental 15-minutes). Feel bad now about getting pulled over recently? more ›