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Let's get something straight, here, Los Angeles.
Wise and eminent Abbot Kinney himself (or whomever designated the street names in this charismatic, little enclave we call Venice) did not call 'Ocean Front Walk' - 'Boardwalk' - for a very simple reason. He didn't do so - because it's NOT A BOARDWALK!
Asbury Park, NJ. Atlantic City, NJ. Ocean City, MD. Coney Island, NY.
What do they have in common? They are world-famous 'Boardwalks'. Why are they 'boardwalks', while our beautiful and human-curiosity-populated beachside promenade is not? Because - wait for it -
they are comprised of BOARDS that you WALK on.
Sheesh! This country really has no appreciation for words. It's a wonder we don't ban the English language ourselves, instead of feigning outrage when immigrants don't want to learn it, either.
http://dictionary.refe...
Remember that song, "Under the Boardwalk," by the Drifters? You tell me how you can get "UNDER" the Venice 'Boardwalk', and I'll tell you who really shot JFK. Deal?
Now that rant aside, Venice's Ocean Front Walk is awesome. It's where all the freaks come out, and while it's definitely not an everyday thing for me, it's a must visit when my WASPY mom comes out to visit me for the first time.
I can't wait to hear her squeal, gasp, and clutch her purse...
People thought this was:
Highly Entertaining!! If you can't take the weirdness and the freakies, stay away!.. lol Otherwise it's so cool and artsy! Lots to see. You'll see lots of tourists with camera, or even locals like myself with camera snapping away..lol
You'll see bums, homeless, hippies, surfers, and just plain weirdos.. !
Make sure you know where you want to go or you will end up walking like 15 blocks which is cool if you are just entertaining and not rushing to go to a specific restaurant or shop.
I think I will spend a few weekends here to do some walking excercise. You'll be sweating and entertained and before you even know it, you probably burned off a few few hundred calories already. :-)
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I love going to the boardwalk! I only wish I can go out there more often since it isn't all that far from where I live. I would have to say that the best time to go, would have to be during the early afternoon/late morning. Seeing those stores and having a lot of foot activity makes you just want to be apart of this little strip of life. True, some of the stores I would probably never be interested in buying anything from, but there are some great little shops here and there and restaurants. I love sitting on the grass while having a nice pizza and just looking at the passersby.
One downside I would have to say about the Boardwalk, is that there is now an American Apparel square in the middle, calling the attention for anyone and everyone. It's in a very modern-like building and it takes away the feeling of independence from the Boardwalk. Everywhere you go, there is a corporate store, and the Boardwalk was the only place that took you away from that. But I gueses not even that place can escape. Just as long as they don't have a Starbucks there (Which is everywhere), I'll be fine.
But the Boardwalk is great nontheless! Go there whenever you can! ;)
Love it. Find a Russian card game and join in!
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While visiting the fair city of Los Angeles recently, I felt compelled to take my chances and look for a FREE parking spot, whereby I might enjoy some quality time on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Lucky for me. I picked the right alley of Washington to cruise & voila-a spot near the beach! So I am all set to take on the Boardwalk and rent a bike to check it out! Even though the weather is shitty-I am curious. So off I go and the first thought that hits me is: they are so upfront about medical marijuana here. I even saw a DOCTOR in a white lab coat standing outside a pot pusher..excuse me-Medical Dispensary business-handing out prescriptions! The evil District Attorney's office here in San Diego would be all over that stuff like a bad rash!
Yes-the smell of incense is over-riding, along with beach sweat and the thrill of enjoying the Rubber Woman and an enormous man in one of those BORAT bathing suits that leave NOTHING to the imagination! I thought I was gonna fall off my bike at the sight of that-and NOT in a good way! Still-I must admit-it was quite the scene and as I traveled along I marveled at all the mass of humanity that is out on the weekends there-I guess enjoying themselves.
I tried to stay on that special set-aside bike path area but sometimes would haul off into the alleys and they totally reminded me of Mission Beach here in San Diego-only a lot MORE colorful! I loved riding under the Santa Monica Pier and hearing all the noise and clattering above me. I just wish it had been sunnier and less overcast so I could show off my new polka-dot bikini! Oh well...A little of the Venice Boardwalk goes a long way for me..I'll take the subdued rustic Malibu beaches over this miasma of show-off-ery anyday.
Still I am glad I made the effort and even biked it over to the canals and checked those out too. If you are feeling energetic and are in pretty good shape-get to Venice Beach and hope to park. Then if luck is with you, find a decent bike to rent and off you go...Just make sure to avert your eyes if that Borat bathing suit guy comes your way-I feel like the sight of "that" might have done irreparable damage to my psyche! Good luck in Venice.
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Some of my best childhood memories consist of my oldest brother teaching me to surf in Venice, then taking me to see the drum circle and finishing off with a slice of cheap, greasy pizza. Now a days, we pretty much do the same thing except that I don't need him to teach me anymore :-P
I love the boardwalk, its the one place in LA where everyone can just "be." From wide eyed tourists enjoying the scene, to locals, beach bums, surfers, artists, hippies, wannabes and the occasional mentally deranged individual, everyone can partake in the fun without fear of judgment. Its this vibe that makes Venice Beach so special.
I love the shops, especially the ones with all the ethnic jewelry. You can find original designs as well as just fun t shirts and ethnic inspired skirts, belts, accessories.
The food offerings may not be haute cuisine but New York City Pizza, Lydia's Pupusas, Bombay and Monkee Burger do the trick!
Muscle gym and the eye candy there is just an added bonus :-P
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Living in SoCal how did not make it up to Venice Beach? The boardwalk is fantastic. It's so full of life. I saw the break dancing group, ate at Jodi Maroni's, watched the golden statue guy and his dog scare the crap out of some old Asian lady, and watched a guy on rolling around playing an electric guitar.
I've talked with people from LA and they really take this place for granted. This place is truly unique. I will be back.
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Ok, let' be honest here. Everyone likes the circus, but how often do you actually go? The evil looking clowns, the PETA hating elephant trainers, the creepy organ music, the stinky and over priced food.
Now close your eyes and envision that 300 feet from the water, and you have Venice Beach.
I don't mean to hate, but this place can only be handled in small doses. Especially if you are susceptible to a contact buzz. The place is often over crowded (if you work a 9-5 M-F job and can only go on weekends). The vendors are annoying and often in your face. Just walking though the massive crowds of people while guarding your bag is exhausting in itself. At least looking at the freaks is free - unless they try to get you to donate to their "Pot for Punks" or "Kick me for $5" campaigns in exchange for a picture to prove you have indeed been to the freak show in LA.
If you have guests in town who are on the adventurous side and like free freak shows, then by all means, take them here. You will have more than enough within an hour. Especially since parking can be a nightmare. Bring your camera and appetite for the interesting (to say the least). The beach itself is nice and "normal" if you will, though there are better beaches near LAX.
I'm sorry, Venice Beach, I think it's time we take a break and start seeing other people.
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If you don't like Venice Beach, you don't belong in California...
No, seriously get the hell out! This place is awesome! I love the atmosphere! Everyone's so chill. My only advice is be picky about the crazy people who perform their stunts, some of them aren't worth it, lol and I think they just spend the money on crack
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So, I used to live near this beach back in the 90s. And honestly I do miss the boardwalk. The smell of the salty air, the views of the street performers, and hell even the dirty homeless people. I Love It There. The street performers are basically the icing on the cake. Tourists are a big part of Venice and all the taggings are just amazing. I miss it there alot... Oh alot of skateboarders, bicyclists and rollerbladers too. (Who rollerblades still...) heh. Well anyways if you want a nice spot when visiting Los Angeles, Venice is a fun place.
Quickie Yelpie:
Love the sunglasses, ponchos, silly shirts with like "i put ketchup on my ketchup" written on it, henna tattoos, randoms on the street, mary-j licenses, wall artwork...
I especially thought the bums with a "Parents killed by ninja monkey. Help me pay for karate lessons" sign and a "I'm not going to lie, I want weed" sign were special.
The "Gym" was lovely... especially for the miami-looking, way too tanned, get-off-the-juice kinda men were weight lifting. Special again.
The whole time made me sing "I'm in L.A. Trick!"
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This was my 2nd time coming here in the past year where I have brought a gf and her daughter who's never been. And it's great seeing their reactions to the eye circus.
My friend's daughter Maddie got to see the freak show which included the 2 headed turtle. We saw a couple breakdancing shows (one in which her mom was plucked to be a part of), a giant python, witnessed and heard from afar a growing drum circle.
She got herself a couple henna tattoos. We bought pizzas by the slice, soft serve ice cream, I got myself a pretty waterpipe... It was absolutely awesome!
The people-watching is always tops. I never let this place get old to me and so it remains to me, the best place where experience is worth way more than those friendship bracelets.
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If you're a hippy, an artist, a true liberal (i.e., not the latte-sippin' variety), a narcissist, have "special talents", hail from the deep 'hood or any combination of those things, and you're looking to chill at the beach, you'll find this to be the best part of LA.
If you're bible-thumpin' right-winger on the other hand, you'll most definitely find this place to be a bastion of debauchery, so you just might wanna stay closer to the "more family friendly" Santa Monica pier.
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How can you not love a Southern California beach?
We camped out here all day, mixing it up with simple sunning, reading, and splashing in the water. A perfect 75 degrees and sunny. My only complaint is my own stupidity at missing spots while applying the SPF and coming home with souveniers of burny pain. The people watching is fun too, and gotta love the sailboats.
On the actual boardwalk, the people watching is excellent. Watch out for bikers, skateboarders, and rollerbladers. I was amused by all the colorful characters and the makeshift shops of incense, henna, sunglasses, flip flops, and knick knacks. My fave: extreme henna! For the rebellious yet un-committed.
Oh, and where else can you walk into a restaurant in your bikini and suntan? That's right.
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You really can't go wrong with Venice. There are a lot of great food spots in the area. Great shops. If your looking for something to do, check out venice.
if your someone whos really into the norm, its not for you. i've taken some friends and they've been weirded out. the hollywood type haters. its a place to express yourself. check out the drum circle on the weekeends. Good music, shops, food, art, and more!
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This is THE PLACE to get a pair of shades, or 2, or 10! SUPER Cheap and every style and color you can imagine. There are also some cool artists who look like they are truly starving that pop up little tables on the strip, a good spot to look if you want some unique jewelry or art for the house and want to support some local, possibly homeless people at the same time.
Or save your money and just be entertained by all the fun weirdos out there! Watch out though, there are some not-so-fun crazies...
Anyways, Venice Beach rules. It's a refreshing little part of L.A.
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I've been a patron of the boardwalk, since my birth 23 years ago. I distinctly remember, almost every Sunday, the family would head down to the boardwalk. My mom pushing me in the stroller, my dad characteristically walking a mile ahead and Nellie (my old dog) trying to herd us back together. My sister used to work at the Fig Tree Cafe, back when the Red Hot Chili Peppers used to visit, back when things weren't $15 a plate, so we would end up there most Sundays, or I would beg for an ice cream.
I remember all of Venice before the intense gentrification transformation took hold. It was dirty, crazy, smelly, on the whole characters were a lot more real. And although it still has shadows of its former self, the boardwalk has definitely cleaned up a bit. There are new bathrooms, they tore down all the graffiti buildings, there are cops everywhere, people can buy their weed in stores, freaking American Apparel has a rummage sale going on, most of the apartment buildings are now vacation rentals.
Although when I was 8 the trips every Sunday stopped because of my parents divorce, I still visited on and off randomly over the years. Less frequently in recent ones however. But it's always a trip back in time. Especially when you see familiar faces in the booths. Sadly this micro-community is changing for the worst.
DONT: I wouldn't recommend coming down here during the height of summer, tourists jam the street shoulder to shoulder. I wouldn't even recommend using the bike path unless it's early in the morning. Stupid pedestrians like to walk on it, or tourists crash into you on their rented segways. Don't bring your dog, you can get a ticket these days. Dogs have been banned for several years now, because folks used to carry on with illegal dog fighting on the beach. (and no, my dog, was not one of them haha.) Plus its a very stressful environment and your pooch will probably be miserable.
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i love venice beach...or "muscle beach" if you prefer..lol but i dunno which i hate more.. the smell of sage burning... or the smell of some of the peoples B.O. lol but everyone here is super cool... i think they are like the realist people you will ever meet! haha it is very interesting to walk down the boardwalk and just observe everything that goes on around you.. musicians trying to sell you their cds, that bronze guy that wont battle me at poplocking, and doesnt do the robot, he just wants your dollar!! lol dance crews sturring up a crowd... the homeless man playing a keyboard with no batteries, hoping to get enough spare change to maybe buy batteries.. guys sitting around with signs that say [spare some change? im just trying to get high today] hahaha the smoke shops, tattoo and piercing shops, gift shops, jewelry stands.. beach bums skating along the boardwalk that remind me of lords of dogtown..all the restaurants outside of the boardwalk are cool too, there are alot of vegetarian/vegan spots here..
I just LOVE venice beach!! i think anyone that comes to southern california has to come here atleast once!!
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I love Venice Beach. It's one of my favorite places in Los Angeles. I try to avoid it on Summer weekends though. It gets packed. We used to come here all the time during the week. It's practically deserted. There aren't any street performers though. You can rent bikes and stuff. Get some gross fast food. Buy a bong. Get a tattoo. Buy crappy t-shirts that shrink after one wash...not that I did or anything.
If you've never been here on a Summer weekend, you should check it out at least once. The freaks come out. Plus there are half naked women walking around too. Nice.
This review is for the dude wearing the denim dress & turban while riding around on roller skates playing the guitar, because he was by far my favorite part of the whole scene. He rocks!
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LA is a city of extremes. Uber rich upper class, desolate ghettos and urban sprawl. If you're feeling intimidated by the Beverly Hills folks, the Venice Beach Boardwalk just might be the place to put your world back into perspective.
I love walking down here and taking in all the crazy people watching. It's shoulder-to-shoulder packed 7 days a week but you can always walk along the sand for a breather. I like to stock up on $10 Havaianas and sun hats and dresses down here. There's lots of cheap crap but a few places are decent and have unbeatable prices.
On another note, the beach house architecture in this stretch of beach is unparalleled in terms of creativity. Worth a wander through for an urban dwellings buff.
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The Venice Beach Boardwalk IS a required stop for all tourists.
A mile plus of boardwalk (sidewalk) with Muscle Beach, basketball and racquetball at the south end. Then going north there are booths selling sunglasses, tshirts, etc. Vendors on the west side selling henna tattoos, psychics, spray paint pictures (need to see), homeless, street artists, activists, etc.
Add to the circus some of the best people watching of people skating, biking, walk, stumbling and more.
People think California is full of freaks. Prove them right - take them here.
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No thanks...We walked the boardwalk to kill time until a restaurant that we wanted to go to in Venice Beach opened..I've never been to Coney Island, but I imagine this comes close. If you like T-shirt shops, bad art, henna booths and all the junk food the world has to offer, this is the place for you.
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So I needed to get away from the "stuffiness" of the South OC and I was determined to find something along my drive along PCH, which started at San Onofre / San Clemente that early morning.
The first thing I realized about places like Venice is that all of life can be boiled down to a mathematical equation. Venice Beach and other similar places to exist to balance out the equation.
I was determined to go in there with an open mind, without making judgments on what others hold in esteem. The thought for that day was "Everyone on the planet is doing the very best they can during every moment and every second of their life" -This thought extends to people whether they are in school (undergrad, graduate, doctorate), people at work, people with they're family, people on drugs, people on religion. They're doing the best they can with the education and belief system they choose to implement.
This attitude made my day/evening an fun roller coaster-like adventure!
Things we saw on that beautiful Sunday afternoon:
*A man who held up the sign "Why lie? I need the money to buy weed" -First thought: Good Karma. He is honest. Most homeless people I've helped have asked for money for food. So when I take them to a restaurant to hear about their life and have conversation, before the order is placed (or shortly after) the topic of 'free money without a reason' is brought up in many forms, which guise themselves as: "You don't need to buy me food, just give me the money and I'll get it myself." Weird.
*Catching the eyes of beautiful women, who might not really even be women (Cool if that's your thing, but that's not mine)
*Man and woman who were as close to naked as they could get yet still have clothing on. When I directed my thoughts in their direction, the woman said she was "starting to trip...couldn't handle it...and that it was too much" -Shortly after that, they disappeared into an alley way. Weird, but I might've been there back in high school... However that couple looked as if they were in their 40's. Weird.
*The world's best wino who sang for $1
*A viewing of the 2-headed turtle for $1
*All sorts of street vendors selling sage, incense, rocks and minerals, artwork, funny silkscreen shirts and of course food
*Other types of street vendors trying to get tourists (and anyone who would listen for that matter) to get into their shops to get a medical marijuana cards. Funny.
*A man playing solo the cuatro guitar Good music!
*Group of guys catching a rhythm in a drum circle
*Tons of street preachers (Muslims, Christians, and Hindus) Depending on how you view life. Essentially, they are saying the exact thing. (I thank Quantum Physics for that understanding!)
*Tons of psychics and tarot card readers All these realities existing at once. Yet you determine what's really REAL: Cool.
*A man rubbing a mannequin's breasts and crotch
*A guy in dark sunglasses, without a smile on his face, having plenty of tatoos and a Dodger jersey -who kept staring in my direction which was scary on many levels. I thought I probably picked up this karmic energy from radiating judgment attitude about the woman who had bad tripped earlier that day. Anyways, not a fun type of energy....
*Another guy in a mechanical wheelchair looking like Stephen Hawking insomuch as having seemingly having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -that freaked me out for a blitz second. I thought he was there to take in vibe as much as the next person, until I saw his own form of cardboard advertisement on the back of his mechanical wheelchair
*A person who was able to snap a soft top surfboard and earn a trip by lifeguard paramedic to the hospital. Venice (at least that day) was definitely NOT the place to surf. So much west wind, lots of undertow and suck along 6-7 foot close out wall faces. I spoke with some local surfers along the pier while the poor guy was being worked on by lifeguards and paramedics. I hope he's ok.
*A woman performing a sage cleansing ceremony on a man who looked scared to death
*A street DJ
*A Basketball tournament
*2 People playing chess
Great experience. Would do it again. Great way for any astronauts interested in space travel!
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I love Venice Beach because they are photographer friendly. I've done a couple of simple shoots there and never had a problem. One time, I didn't even know a patrol car had pulled up behind me until the person I was taking photos of pointed it out. I turned and looked and he just stayed in the car and watched for a minute or two and left. Anywhere else, like the SM Pier, they would have hassled me about needing a permit.
Best time to go is in the off season, Oct - May. Less people, cheaper parking and still a lot of freaks to people watch.
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And they say the sideshow's a thing of the past! Step right up folks and see the Whatinhellareyougetawayfrommeyoufreak. The only one in captivity. Summer weekends only. Step right up.
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I'm not going to lie - this is my happy place. Whether you want to wander and see the freaks and funk, play some volleyball or play in the surf, fish or simply walk the boardwalk - there really is something for everyone.
I come here each time I come to LA and each time find something new to be impressed or amused by - fake breasts on rollerblades or a guy declaring the end of the world, the beauty of the Pacific or the obsurdity of the houses along the boardwalk - all with that California attitude that we so sorely lack in the Midwest.
Last time out I simply wandered the pier while listening to My Morning Jacket on my headphones. I smiled - until I got attacked by a pelican....after I was safe I smiled again and was glad to be in Venice.
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I have been here a couple times now, and although it is grimey and filled with weird people, it's a great place to spend a weekend. Here are my thoughts:
1. I hate those guys who want you to listen to their music. I've had the unfortunate luck to have stopped once and listen, and it sucks.
2. I always see that guy who sells tongue whistles. I think the price is 5 different whistles for a dollar. I can't think of anything in this world that I would want less to spend a dollar on.
3. Is it just me or is their something weird about getting a tattoo at Venice Beach.
4. My favorite thing to do by far is to sit near the basketball courts and listen to the players lecture each other on the fundamentals of basketball.
5. Parking sucks. Either pay $20 to park in one of the lots or park on one of the streets 17 miles away.
6. All the times I've been there, there is a guy in an American flag speedo hanging outside the Venice Beach gym. I wonder if he actually works out there or if he just stands outside it all day.
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Venice Beach is the melting pot for the crazies and such. Parking on a Saturday is an evil bitch, but you'll make it. Then there's the characters, the beautiful beach, the dirty streets. It's just one of those LA places you have to go to sometimes. Just to say you went to the beach on a Saturday with your pal.
You know.
xxx C
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Nothing's better than a day out at the beach on a Sunday afternoon....Except of course, a day out at this Beach on a Sunday Afternoon!
It's not that i come here to laugh at the public because that would be wrong, but I do like to laugh at life that's occurring around the public. Forget renting that Ben Stiller movie, if you want to have fun and laugh come to this place.
Venice Beach Boardwalk is the best freak convention in Southern California, and the best part is this Convention is going on every time you go to Venice Beach. Have you ever seen a guy spray paint himself and act like a statue at your local beach? How about a priest on roller skates? Pothead meetings? Dancing Crack Heads? How about a Beach that if you get in the water you will be sick for a week? I'm sure the answer to at least one of those questions is no, which is why this beach is the best in the west.
Go ahead, put your gym shoes on, because you will walk a mile to the Beach from where ever you can find parking. This reviewer suggestion is to rent a bicycle from the bike renter so you can cruise, laugh , and enjoy a fun day in the sun with those who represent L.A. the best.
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My first thought when visiting Venice Beach was:
'Hey, it's the Jersey Shore with Palm Trees!' my companion agreed.
Then I saw "Xanadu" on a rainy day. My perspective changed. Amazing! Rollerskates and hot pants! Street Performers not yet on crack! I immediately purchased roller skates with green stoppers.
My awe and respect for the Venice of yore is undiminished. However, I still only go there to take tourists.
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The beach scene is not really my cup of tea without the rest of the crew. I can stomach it by myself for so long till I get bored. Fortunately I am running through here with my sisters. It is alright weather and I walk in and out a couple of stores. There's a number of shops that I wouldn't mind getting ink'd at but then I remind myself that there are a number of world renowned places to go else where in LA. Over all the area is ok. Would I come back... perhaps when the weather gets better.
So here I am walking down the boardwalk minding my own business. Howeve as we are about to leave I hear an ever faint beat. I look around and I see a fire about 100 yards out onto the beach. I walk closer where the sand meets the pavement and listen.
.
.
.
*rave music and a bunch of half naked folks dancing around the fire
chanting... "ZION ZION ZION!"
*I say to myself...
"that's nice."
.
.
.
and then continue on my merry lil way.
;D
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I love Venice! It's one of the more funky and colorful areas of LA. From the ultra modern beach houses, to the crummy little tourist shops; the stoned out hippies, to the muscle men...this place is a real melting pot. Yeah, there are lots of people trying to hustle their goods, but if that really annoys you, maybe you should just hang out in Beverly Hills for the Valley. Walking around Venice is like taking a step back into the 70s and the LA of Jim Morrison. I can imagine the area having the exact same feel back then (well, maybe less developed.)
This is a good place to just come for a relaxing stroll to people watch and admire the architecture and scenery. If I had to live in LA, I would want to live around here.
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Murals, Muscle Men, people watching and shit for sale, that's Venice. Buskers that paint and sing and walk in stilts can be seen and a shot with a camera is fine but it's nice to give a donation since they did just dress up for you ;)
This is a must do if you have a lot of energy. However it's not a good idea to take in Venice if you're tired, because the stimulus overload of looking at everything and everyone will burn your dehydrated soul into the pavement to never be seen again.
I think it's one of those required things while visiting L.A. If you need to pick up a "Los Angeles Life Guard" t-shirt this is your place. If you need to just pick up the life guard, you're on our own.
Nearby are the Venice canals that are man-made but also a must see. I wouldn't want to be there late at night after it's dark by the way, and I wouldn't eat at any places nearby with a B rating, make sure it's got an A, there is a good reason for those signs.
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At the age of nine I loved this place. Best Churros from an old Mexican Man who made them with love. He sprinkled the sugar/cinnamon so generously with his loving, weathered hands. He would smile and nod, passing off the hot, crisp sweet dough to my small hands.
I would then roll on my skateboard down the crowded boulevard--soaking in all the graffiti, talented street performers--and guys showing off to other guys how macho they were by oiling their hard bodies and lifting excessive weight--all while hoping that the other guy they were trying to impress didn't notice that "missed" shaved spot on their left thigh.
Oh how things change.
TWENTY YEARS LATER:
Too many tourists. How many fucking sunglass vendors do I need to pass before I get to see something worth looking at? Why is the Churro Man now a McDonald's-Owned Corporate Vendor? Why is the Republican Committee having a stupid Schwarzenegger Press Conference here--Get the fuck out of town!
Why did I spend two damn hours trying to park? Why did they tear down most of the old graffiti walls? Why are all the skaters now confined to a sad little park like dogs on short leashes?
Why did I ever come back?
Venice--I give you one star for the summer of 2008--and one more for the sun drenched memories you left me from my childhood.
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Homeless people, drug addicts, and filth.
How sad that a community would allow this environment to thrive in the name of profit.
Your tax dollars at work California, bravo for extending peoples misery and suffering.
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i remember the first time i visited venice beach boardwalk. it was in 1987 during the lakers playoff run. i was visiting from out of town. i was still living in mexico.
what an experience that was. VBB is a societal microcosm of both L.A. and west coast cliches. you have your hippies, your war veterans, your muscle beach people, your painter artists and tons and tons of merchants.
then there is also the food, tons of food, fast food, mexican food, bars and bars, and all the teenage skaters, and the cholos, and the beach bums and bunnies. it's an amalgamation of peace and chaos, art and muscle, beauty and the sight of a homeless dying or barfing. it really does leave a lasting impression when you're young and from out of town.
nowadays however, the digital age rules supreme, everything is at your fingerprints, information at your disposal, food delivery at no charge, the world at the click of a mouse. it doesn't seem so special like it used to be. what's worse than a cliche? an outdated cliche.
come for the drum circles, perhaps, the sun setting across the west horizon. come for the remnants of a faded old glory, if you're able to find parking, that is.
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Its amazing how different the look and feel is of Venice compared to Marina Del Ray and Santa Monica. Its very expensive to live in any of them. So, its surprising to me how beat down some of the streets in Venice looked compared to 2-3 blocks away in Marina Del Ray.
The beach was really nice. The views were amazing. The sunset was magnificent. It was very cold - but they sure cant do anything about that. LOL
The little shops are interesting. The gym right out on the beach is amusing. The bike trail is really nice. Parking is relatively cheap.
Some really awesome graffiti. And generally a poor artist feel.
People thought this was:
This boardwalk is pretty nice, fairly clean, and full of Venice locals. All the stores along the beach can help you with your food fix or whatever beach gear you need. You'll also enjoy a lot of colorful characters, weirdos, junkies, hipsters, and hotties.
This place is famous, it's busy, and it's fun. The Venice Beach boardwalk is always a bustling place if the sun is shining. First thing you'll notice is the scent of Sage and...what, was that pot? Then you'll hear the ridicule and mutterings of protesters and local goons who wander around harassing and performing candid stand up. But behind all this, there's the skaters, the surfers, the tourists, the music, the Freak Show, the food and beer, and of course the souvenirs.
This is the heart of Venice. It's touristy, but if you like randomness, there's always something new here. I was blown away by these people swinging around in these giant hula hoops, and then skaters wiping out time after time on the hot pavement. If you're on a bike, don't be distracted here, because the path turns quickly and you'll end up looking like a fool, face first in the sand...and I'll laugh if I see that.
Best on the weekends if you don't mind crowds.
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Neighborhood: Marina Del Rey
Buy 10 Specialty drinks-Get 1…
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Venice, CA
Category: Bikes
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Local Flavor
Neighborhood: Marina Del Rey
Category: Bike Rentals
Neighborhood: Venice
Category: Motorcycle Dealers
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Bikes
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