Photo: Marley Freedom Flag

Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA. This calls for some Bob Marley music; here's a cover of "High Tide or Low Tide" by Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. --Stef McDonald

Photo: Sunset on the Skate Park

Photo taken at the Venice Beach Skate Park.

World Ocean Day

Photos taken in Venice Beach, CA.

It's been a busy week and we missed World Oceans Day on June 8. I live where I get to see (and hear and smell) the ocean every day (and think I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world for that). Protecting our oceans is vital; huge kudos to those who make it their mission to do so, like the fine folks who work for Heal the Bay and Surfrider. --Stef McDonald

John Wooden's Lessons

Basketball is not a board sport, but I have been a fan of the game for as long as I can remember (before I ever dreamed of riding waves on a surfboard!). There were many moving tributes last week following news of the passing of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and I went to his website to explore more about his career and teachings. Like all good coaches, he was a teacher whose lessons went beyond getting the ball across the court and into the basket. His widely used "pyramid of success" can be applied off the court as well, and has been adopted by businesses and others. I love that some of the "12 Lessons in Leadership" (see above and more on his website) are also lessons for life, including "Make each day your masterpiece."--Stef McDonald

Lifeguard Tower Art: Venice Flower Power

I was a happy participant in the "Portraits of Hope Life Guard Towers" public art project (posted earlier about it here). This week, the sunny and bright art floral panels were added to the tower.--Stef McDonald

Skateboarding Dog in Venice

Photos taken in Venice Beach, CA. The skateboarding dog's name? Bony Hawk. --Stef McDonald

Oil Spill Reaction Online

I saw on Facebook that some friends had joined a group calling for the use of BP executives to plug the hole--and then I heard about this fake BP Twitter account that tackles the subject of the oil spill with razor-sharp satire (we'll see how long it's up before BP takes it down--betting they'll be able to stop this faster than the mess they made in our seas). Of course, it's an environmental tragedy that is breaking our hearts--but sometimes you've gotta use humor to deal with news this bad. Oh, and it also feels good to do something to support those environmental organizations that work tirelessly to protect our seas. (Here in LA, we salute Heal the Bay and Surfrider.)--Stef McDonald

Public Art Rules: Lifeguard Tower Painting

We were public art servants today, painting a local lifeguard tower for the "Portraits of Hope Life Guard Towers" project. 100 towers in Southern California were painted vibrant colors today -- the Venice one I worked on with fellow art-loving neighbors was orange -- and panels will soon be added for the installation, which will be on display May through September. --Stef McDonald

Lifeguard Tower Art in Los Angeles

We just heard about a public art program involving kids called Portraits of Hope, which has been given the go-ahead to transform lifeguard towers with art in Los Angeles this year. 100 towers will be covered in panels and painted along 30 miles of beach May through September of 2010. Sweet!--Stef McDonald

Video: Over Venice

You can get a great view of the Venice skate park on this video, taken with a camera attached to a remote-controlled toy plane.

Venice Skate Park: Website

There's a networking hub on the web now for the Venice Skate Park, where users post photos and videos and connect with one another.

Shark Spotting: Los Angeles

Our friend and owner of Horizons West Surf Shop, Randy Wright, caught this sequence of a shark breaching just off the LA coast line on Saturday. Yikes!--Rebecca Heller

Venice Skate Park: Dogtown Graffiti

During opening day of the Venice Skate Park, I took photos of this graffiti work, honoring Venice's skateboarding heritage: Dogtown.

Read an interview with Peggy Oki, the sole woman of the original Zephyr skateboarding team from the Dogtown days, on our Surf Like a Girl site.

For more graffiti art in Venice, see posts on the subject on my other blog, Sideshow by the Seashore.)--Stef McDonald

New Venice Skate Park: Open for Ripping

Below, photos from opening day at the Venice Beach Skate Park. I biked down to the park early, with my morning cup of coffee in hand, and took photos before the official opening. Then I returned in the afternoon to see the action. Hundreds were there to take to the concrete. The action shots below capture a couple of girls ripping.--Stef McDonald

Weekend Fun: Venice Skate Park

The new Venice Skate Park opens Saturday, October 3 (the photo above was taken last week), with expected appearances by Dogtown Boyz Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Jessie Martinez, and Geri Lewis. Photo of the finished park after we visit.--Stef McDonald

Surfrider: 25 Years of Kicking Butt

The Surfrider Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an event in Los Angeles on Friday, October 9 that features an auction of ocean- and surf-inspired art. Get details on the Anniversary Gala on their website.

Just for Fun: Sumo Wrestler

Photo taken at a street fair in Venice, CA. --Stef McDonald

Give a Hoot: Coastal Cleanup Day '09

Saturday was Heal the Bay's Coastal Cleanup Day. Records were set for participation (more than 14,000 registered volunteers) and production (more than 300,000 pounds of trash), with organized trash collection efforts taking place in 60 countries, 60 of them in Los Angeles. The photo above was taken near my home, where I was heartened to see lots parents with their kids at work. Of course, if people would only pick up after themselves, the trash take would be lower and there would be no real need for such volunteer efforts. If only... a girl can dream, right?--Stef McDonald

Below, some classic public service commercials on the subject.

Santa Monica Pier Centennial: Dick Dale

We sat on blankets on the beach for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Santa Monica Pier last night and heard surf rock legend Dick Dale perform. Live music coming from one side, waves lapping on the other--and then a spectacular fireworks show. Pretty perfect.

All Girl Skate Jam

Empowering Girls Through Skateboarding
All Ages, All Abilities, All Girls
All Girl Skate Jam at Vans Warped Tour
August 22nd Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre San Diego, CA
August 23rd Home Depot Center Los Angeles, CA

Following the LA stop:

Patty Segovia Solo Girls Skateboarders Photo Exhibit

445 E. Wishire Blvd Fullerton

For more information go to the All Girl Skate Jam website.