Retired player of the Los Angeles Lakers and former coach of both the NBA and WNBA, Michael Cooper plays a game of "Horse” with Club youth members on Monday, August 12, 2013. This event is part of a donation from a generous supporter of the Club who purchased the item at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s 35^th Annual Auction & Dinner. Michael Cooper is a Boys & Girls Club supporter and is known to give back to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Los Angeles. Cooper was most recently the head coach of the USC Women of Troy college basketball team. As an alumni of the Boys & Girls Club, Cooper has been a supporter of local Clubs for several years.

Singer-songwriter Hanni El Khatib runs through a sound check for the Twilight Dance Concert at the Santa Monica Pier.  His musical style includes elements of garage rock and blues.  (Thursday, August 8, 2013)

People hold hands around the iconic 26-foot tall 'Chain Reaction' during the 'Hiroshima Candlelight Remembrance and Peace Vigil' on Tuesday, Aug, 6, 2013. The event was held to remember the victims of the August 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, and to support efforts leading to a nuclear weapons-free world. 

The vigil included speakers from Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and other peace group activists who are concerned that there is still a worldwide danger that exists from nuclear weapons. Also speaking were community activists with Save Chain Reaction, who are working to save and restore the threatened sculpture that was designed, created and gifted to Santa Monica by the late 3-time Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Paul Conrad. The sculpture has been standing in the Civic Center since 1991, and last year was designated as a Santa Monica landmark by the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission.

The vigil opened with the presentation of the Hiroshima Eternal Peace Flame, which was brought to the event by Regina Sakurai and Michiyo Masubuchi of the Koyassan Temple in Los Angeles.

Speakers included Dr. William E. Perkins, a pediatrician who served as a PSR-LA board member for over 25 years ; Denise Duffield, PSR-LA Associate Director ; Ron Kovic, a paraplegic Vietnam war veteran, peace activist and author of 'Born on the Fourth of July'; Harvey Wasserman, a leading strategist and organizer in the anti-nuclear movement ; Dave Conrad, leader of Save Chain Reaction and son of 'Chain Reaction' sculptor Paul Conrad ; and Jerry Rubin, a Santa Monica peace activist and Save Chain Reaction member.

The vigil concluded with a 'Candlelight Circle of Peace' surrounding the iconic 'Chain Reaction' warning monument.

The event was sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and Save Chain Reaction.

The sculpture is located on the 1800 block of Main Street just north of Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica.

Highlights from the 30th Annual National Night Out at Santa Monica Civic on Tuesday, Aug, 6, 2013. National Night Out will involve over 15,325 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world.

National Night Out is an opportunity for the Santa Monica Police Department to honor the exceptional relationship our police and community share together. This partnership allows the City of Santa Monica to be a safe place to live, work and visit. The event is designed to generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts. It strengthens neighborhood and police-community partnerships and sends a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. 

The event will be held in the Santa Monica Civic Center parking lot from 6 – 8pm. Along with showcasing the Department personnel and equipment, there will be local bicycle vendors, Safe Kids, driving demonstrations, giant inflatable fire engine slide, rock climbing wall, carnival games, food trucks and more. Free food and drinks will also be available and free parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure located directly across the street from the Public Safety Building. 

Some of the sponsors of this year’s event include the Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association, 7-Eleven, Ocean Park Pizza, La Monarcha Bakery, Santa Monica – UCLA, and Chabad Santa Monica.

Festival of Chariots - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

The Shakti Dance Company performs during the 37th Annual Festival of Chariots at Venice Beach on Sunday, August 4, 2013. 

Harre Krishna's hand-pull three fully decorated, 40-foot tall chariots along Main Street during the 37th Annual Festival of Chariots on Sunday, August 4, 2013. The Festival of the Chariots featured free feast for thousands, free entertainment, exhibits and booths all bringing together the finest in Indian culture. The festival celebrates Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, and is put on by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The Festival of the Chariots is now performed in every country across the world and dates back 5 thousand years to Jagannatha Puri, India.

"Lift Off With Blake Griffin" pop-up art installation at Santa Monica Place promoting the new Jordan Super.Fly 2 onSaturday, August 3, 2013.