Electric Avenue Wisdom for 2011

I just took a walk down to Electric Avenue ... and let it take me higher. Because as I was cruising along, reflecting on the great things that happened in 2010, and how I want it all to go in 2011, I came upon this brightly painted - and smart - garage door.


Much like on my last (and glorious!) beach walk of the decade (!) this morning, when my Ipod on shuffle seemed to be speaking directly to me and my thoughts/feelings about the year we're just wrapping up, and the epic one we're about to begin. From Jimi to Jeff Buckley to Rage to Nick Drake to Bjork to Simon & Garfunkel to Ben Harper to Gabby Pahinui to Jimmy Cliff ... and on and on ... it felt like I was receiving messages straight from the Heavens via an Apple product.

Then I later happened upon this garage and it reiterated the vibe I'd already been floating upon ...

Smile.
Your feelings are just your feelings and your feelings are a choice.
We are who we are and that is that!!!
Be the change you wish to see in the world. (of course)
Courage.
Grace.
Compassion.
Trust.
Expression.
Forgiveness.
Joy.
Balance.
Dance!
Sing!
Love is the shift.
Let your heart guide you.

And above all ... PEACE to you in your heart, your soul, and your world, as we take another spin around in it together, in the already magical feeling 20ELEVEN!

Happy New Year to ALL!

{Noisemakers! Yells! Champagne corks popping! Lips smacking!}

Santa Lists & Holiday Re-Runs

I was at my friends' house the other day and saw their son's Christmas list for Santa on the table. I was so pleased to see that kids still do that, and nearly welled up at the sweet innocence that it all is (and the purity of spelling things like they sound to a kid).


I was talking to his Dad about it, and he said dryly, "Oh, it's a new list every day". Ha! My favorite is "and maby a stuftanamal". I hope young Cash gets a bunch of stuff on his list, as he really is a good boy ... but not all of it. Spoiled kids grow up to be jerky adults, and we don't need any more of those around. The excitement on the faces of every kid I saw out and about today (and the near constant threats to be good or Santa wouldn't come!) reminds us that Christmas is best when experienced through the fun and belief in good that is preserved in young children. Awesome.

And in another holiday tradition, I share with you a Re-run of a story I wrote this time last year, that I still smile at remembering ...

The Del Taco Super Special Show!!

Apparently there really is something called The Del Taco Super Special Show (I saw a commercial), but that's not what I'm talking about. This is a little story that happened amid the mad frenzy of holiday fun and getting ready to leave town, that I wanted to share then, and just remembered now (when I saw that commercial).

A few days before Christmas a bunch of us were at The Red Garter to see Shooter Jennings, Carter Falco, and Dan Coakley play. When the Garter closes, there aren't many late night dining options, so we walked down the street to Del Taco. I'm not proud. Once inside the garishly lit establishment (which I'd never been inside of ... it's more of a drive-thru venue), we were delighted to be met with the beautiful strummings of a Mexican man on his guitar. He didn't care if anyone was listening or not, he was completely immersed in his own special vibe.


Now I'm not gonna lie to you, we had all partaken in some holiday cheer of a whiskey nature, and that may have contributed to our festive camaraderie, but I'd like to think it would've happened anyway. When he finished one lovely song, I said, "Gracias! Feliz Navidad!" He smiled and began playing "Feliz Navidad".

The whole place started singing along. The guy (I think his name might have been Pablo, but that part's hazy, I'm embarrassed to say). Us. The entire Del Taco staff - all the way back to the fry area). The Drive-Thru customers. We were in full-throated unison when some gangster-y looking guys came in and cracked up. They didn't exactly sing, but I heard one of them humming.

It was adorable, and kinda special. I said to the guy ringing us up, "I didn't know you had entertainment here!" He replied with a grin, "Um, this is the first time." Classic.

Sometimes the best musicians (or best people, period) are the ones without any glory or acclaim, who are just doing what they love, for the love of it. This was clearly the case with this wonderful, warm and open fellow, sharing his gift just for the heck of it in a fast food restaurant.


We started chatting, and in the guy's limited English, he explained that he was Michoacan, he loved giant belt buckles, and that his guitar was 26 years old, and has been his very best amigo. My brother, Paul (also sometimes referred to as Pablo) said that he played guitar too, and Michoacan "Pablo" held out his beloved guitar for him to play. Paul started strumming one of his own songs, and one minute later, Pablo started singing along perfectly, down to the exact pauses, and creating perfect harmonies with the chords. It was all in Spanish, but I recognized "Corazon" and "Te Amo", and that's all I needed to know. Both men had huge smiles on their faces the whole time, as did everyone listening.

After much clapping and laughter, we all shook hands and went off into the chilly night, warmed to the core by one of life's perfect moments that we'd all just shared. It could have happened anywhere, but it happened in Venice.


Ahh, yes. It's that time of year again ... magical and bright. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I ran around a lot with a gang of cool guys, in kind of our own little Rat Pack of Swingers, who you may know now too - Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsley, etc ... I've been thinking of them a bunch this week, as Vince just became a father (Congratulations V.V.!), Jon's Elf is on t.v. on nearly a loop, as is Peter B's A Christmas Story. One night at a holiday party, I was getting ready to leave, and said, "Happy Holidays, Vince!" I never forgot him looking me in the eye, and saying, "Carol, we both know it's 'Merry Christmas'."

I laughed then, I laugh now, and I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Glogg Fest 2010!

Glogg Fest 2010! It was a dark and stormy night in Venice, California on Monday, but spirits were high, and warmth was yours the minute you walked in the door. For the uninitiated, Glogg (Scandinavian mulled wine) Fest was something I started a bunch of years back (I lost track and have to look it up, but I'm not attached to numbers ... ask my former math teachers) to share my Norwegian family traditions, and get my friends all smashed together with holiday cheer before we scatter around the world for the holidays.


It has grown in size and legend (one friend asked me in October what day it would be this year so she could take the next day off - ha!) over the years, but the crucial elements of coziness and friendship are what I believe makes it fun, and perhaps even a holiday staple for some by now.

There was a change in venue this year to my brother, Paul's, house, as, well, I got new carpeting and it's a maroon beverage. He also has a fresh rooftop deck that was bedecked for the season with all sorts of bright lights - that unfortunately shorted out in the pouring rain. That same storm forced us all to remain inside, roof-less, but that just made it all the warmer. I thought people might blow it off as it was on a busy holiday Monday in a downpour (Glogg does not compete with other holiday jams, which is why it's not on a weekend night), but nope! Some came on bikes in rain ponchos, holding umbrellas. Some walked. Some took cabs. Some actually found parking near the beach! Even Knuckles, the funniest dog in Venice, came out for some holiday belly rubs and adoration.


Each year, my dear friend Brigette and I bake hundreds of cookies, in a now 15 (!) year tradition. We give them away to our friends and colleagues, and then what's left become the treats for the Glogg Fest.


This year, the lefse (Norwegian tortilla type thing made out of mashed potatoes) for the party arrived on my doorstep from Minnesota just a couple of hours before tip-off! Very perfect.


It was appropriate that we were all drinking the Viking beverage, as our beloved football Vikings were playing this night in Minnesota OUTSIDE for the first time in like 29 years, after the Metrodome collapsed under heavy snow a couple of weeks ago. They lost, but we won, each time a glass was refilled and SKOL!!! was yelled, with increasingly more gusto. Viking style.


Hugs, kisses, Christmas carols on the hi-fi, holiday sweaters, cookie crumbs in beards ... all made for a warm feeling as we ultimately departed back into the dark night, (where somewhere buried in the clouds, a lunar eclipse was going down - another reason the rooftop would have been radical, alas) unless that feeling was actually a buzz ... but still.


Every time I glanced around from my post ladling the steamy Christmas potion into another cup, I could only beam at the fun and revelry swirling all around me. THAT is the point after all ... not the stress, not the stuff, not that there's one poor guy working at the Venice P.O. on the busiest shipping day of the year, not telling people what you want for a gift ... it's KNOWING that you already have such unbelievable gifts in your life, and recognizing that with fierce gratitude. Every single day, but especially now.


We came together to share and celebrate our warmth, laughter, friendship and love ... and wrap up another year feeling super blessed to have each other in this crazy world.


TUSEN TAKK! SKOL!! GOD JUL!!! ... To you and yours!

A Christmas Miracle - London the Cat is Back!

No way! Just yesterday we talked about my little pal Amelia's missing kitten, London, having gone missing. For two weeks. With this crazy storming out, it didn't look good ... but for some reason we felt positive about it when discussing it during a night of revelry together last night (we'll get to that in a bit). TODAY, Amelia's Mom, Christina, texted me to say coincidence or no, London was coming home! A neighbor had found her and taken her in, and as London wore no collar, and is an indoor cat, didn't know it was a neighbor's, and hadn't been home when they'd gone knocking around the area.

She took it to the Marina pet hospital, as London and they scanned her over and got the info off her futuristic cyborg style microchip and BAM! London was on her way home.

They surprised Amelia with her return, and I think both their faces say it all:


How great! Just in time for Christmas!! AND today is her brother, Truman's, birthday!! Christina just sent this email out:

KITTEN FOUND!!

London has been returned home.

She was residing with a neighbor

(who I guess did not see our signs or come to the door when

we asked around)

Thank you all for taking note and spreading the

word.

BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER for Amelia!!

Awesome!

xoxo

I mean, really. Another wonderful Venice story, that makes you truly believe in the power of positivity ... and Christmas miracles.

Fa la la la la, la la la LAAAAAAAA!

Please Help Find Lost Kitten For Christmas!

Oh, man. My young friend Amelia's little kitten, London, has gone missing. It's raining Londons and Dogs out there, and it's real sad to think about the little thing all soaked and alone. Hopefully someone brought her in, but Amelia would be so happy to get her pet back for Christmas!


Here's the info her Mom sent out:

Amelia's little kitten escaped over the weekend and we still have not found her.

We called the shelters, posted on craigslist, put up signs, asked the neighbors, etc...

I just want to put the word out, maybe you know someone who just found a cute little

grey kitten?

She's about 5 months old. No collar, but she has a microchip, and was spayed a few

weeks ago and still had a little stitch on her belly. Her name is London.

I've attached a picture.

She escaped from our house on Flower Ave. just East of Lincoln near the Smart and Final.

C'mon, Venice! Let's find London! Email Blogtownbycjg@yahoo.com if you have any leads.

Thanks, Merry Makers!

A December SUNday in Venice

Sunday (yesterday) was to be our hard core Christmas baking day, a verrrry serious annual tradition. Things began to fall apart even before I awoke on Sunday morning to find that SUMMER had actually finally arrived in Venice! It was a perfect 80 degrees and sunny out. Now I love Christmas, but I'm not a masochist. This had to be at least in part a Beach Day. The baking would have to come after the kitchen wasn't too hot to turn on the oven!


Meanwhile, in Minnesota it had snowed so much that the Metrodome caved in and the Vikings game had to be relocated to Detroit to be played today. I know this because I talked to one of my hometown BFF's while laying on the beach in my bathing suit. Surrealism. While hearing tales of my friend's kids bundled up to brave the -30 degrees to sled in Minneapolis, I watched the Venice kids sliding down the winter sand hills on those round disc sleds. While talking, it was clear that we were both a little jealous of each other. But really ... I was pretty happy to be right where I was.


I was even more happy to be here in the evening, when we went to the cutest thing in the entire world, the Venice Canals Boat Parade. All the lovely homes were lit up for the holidays, the bridges were lit with lights and words like JOY.


That emotion was written all over the faces of every single person we passed ... even the little kid in a Spidey costume who insisted on spraying imaginary web stuff on me for blocks. (I egged him on though. Imagination is grand).


It appeared that every Canal dweller was having a big, fun party, and as we strolled past, we felt the Christmas spirit in full effect ... even though we were wearing flip-flops and the night air was balmier than it's been all year long.


If all that didn't warm your heart, my friends texted me a number that you can call and get real live college kids to sing you a Christmas Carol for free, and for fun!


Really, call up #217.332.1882 and have a song you love in mind, and those guys will whoop it up for you right then and there. That's the thing to remember amid all the madness of the Season - and believe me, I'm feeling that part of it all - that the whole idea behind it is to come together, celebrate, and be united in the feelings of peace and goodwill.


Enjoy it all, wherever you are, and whatever the weather.

PEACE!!!


Daytime photos by Jennifer Everhart. Nighttime by PaulGronner.com.

Venice Beach Closed!

The Shore Erosion project to fix up the beach near the Breakwater is underway, and totally jacks up our morning walk. The entire area from about Rose south to the main Lifeguard Station at Venice Blvd. is closed to anyone other than "Unauthorized Personnel", so they have guards posted at each entrance to the red construction fence to keep you out. This depresses me greatly, but I also get why they have to do it. (A big dip in the beach from erosion needs to be shored up with sand from north of the Breakwater). It's going to take a MONTH!

Yesterday, I walked right past the guard, as I am wont to do in lieu of a hassle in any situation. He said nothing. Today we approached the fence opening, and a new guy said, "Sorry, the beach is closed." I said "What about all those surfers down there?" "It's closed to everyone but the surfers." After trying to trick him that someone was already down there with my board and wetsuit and I was meeting them, I told him that I was here every day, and I was going in, just like the surfers, or he was discriminating blah blah ... (in a nice way, of course). He didn't take much arm twisting at all, shrugged at me, and we sailed on through the fence for our superfog walk.

A band of regular Dawn Patrollers were sitting on the wall watching the waves as best they could in the dense mist, and they hooted and hollered at the guard for being so lenient with us. It was awesome, and we laughed all the way to the shore.


The trucks came out of the fog towards us down the beach, and looked spooky and rather military-esque, like Close Encounters or something. I don't like it. But it's just for a month, I guess. The guard on our return passage was not as much of a pushover, so we had to go the long way up and along the bike path. The silver lining here was that we heard the Native American store blasting its usual soothing soundtrack of R. Carlos Nakai style flute music, only it was Christmas songs! I'm going back tomorrow to get that thing. It was just as surreal as the morning itself.

So be careful down there ... if you can get past the guys, that is. (It's worth it).


*Foggy photo by Jennifer Everhart.

Venice Village

Venice was a real village this past weekend. A real small town vibe permeated all the proceedings, beginning with First Fridays. The Abbot Kinney merchants finally banded together to get a No Parking permit for the evening, so no cars - or Food Trucks - were allowed to park on the Boulevard from 4-11 pm. It was SO much better, I can't begin to praise the businesses enough. I could actually MOVE down the sidewalks! I could see friends ACROSS the street and wave to them, unblocked by massive food peddlers and their lines. The stores were PACKED - with actual shoppers doing shopping! - proving wrong anyone who thought the dang trucks brought more business with them.


The sole defiant business, touting "We Support Food Trucks" right on their windows was Trim, who must have their reasons, but everyone else I spoke to were SO much happier with the night, and the business they did (and I suspect Trim might change their tune as well if it were a mobile hair salon parked out front of their space).


There were still food trucks if you needed to eat off a grill that has no health regulations whatsoever, but they were all parked at The Brig - per usual. The mist made it feel like you were inside a snow shaker the whole night, as we toasted marshmallows for S'mores at a decked out for the holidays Zingara. We got delicious chocolate at Elvino, who were toasting the season with a fun wine tasting. We stood around the fire pit at Robin's Sculpture Garden where we heard live music again at First Fridays (also at Trim! Also Carolers!). We saw MOSTLY people we knew for a change - some of whom said they hadn't been to a First Friday in months (if not longer), so turned off were they by the trucks. It felt great, and neighborly, and VENICE vs. Carny Fair. I even returned to my bike at the end of the night to find not ONE piece of trash in my basket. For that alone, I hope the Merchants chip in every month for the First Friday parking ban ... because it once again ruled.


Also ruling this weekend was the Holiday Stroll fun that was centered at The Brig. With REAL SNOW! Perhaps feeling some heat from the locals for all those food trucks normally parked there, Brig Dave lent out his normally packed with trucks parking lot to become a Winter Wonderland - complete with snow!


They took a pile of hay bales and covered them up with man-made snow to make a little sledding hill, that the kids super dug (especially since they could be in short sleeved shirts while riding!). One young whippersnapper, who appeared to be about two, kept following me around throwing little icy snowballs at me. I let it slide, as it was pretty exciting.


Carolers caroled, there were holiday arts & crafts projects, and even face painting. The very spare room left over in the lot did allow for a couple food trucks to get in and vend some hot pink chocolate snowball things, and hot dogs. Overall it seemed that everyone pretty much had their socks charmed off. "This is so great" ... "Adorable" ... "This was so nice of them" ... "My kids have never seen snow!" "It feels so small town!" ... were snippets of many conversations I overheard, and that is exactly what I love and try to promote about the special place we live.


The good FAR outweighs the bad. Whatever beefs you have in your corner of the town, about whatever small picture thing, when you see kids of the community beaming with red cheeks from hustling up the slippery hay slope, and people still arriving despite the rain that began to fall (and melt the snow) - in easy strolls, like "who cares about a little rain, check out how fun this is!", and coming out in droves just to enjoy each other and some frivolity, well, you just get it.


It indeed takes a village, and last weekend proved that we have that, in abundance.

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Willem de Kooning in Venice

I am a lucky girl. I just had a chunk of time to kill and remembered that the Willem de Kooning exhibit Figure & Light is up now through January 15, 2011 up the street at my neighbor's place (L & M Arts).


The show covers a wide time range, from his more realistic Women series of paintings of the 1950's on up until he got a lot more abstract in the 80's (and some say a lot more crazy). Val Kilmer played de Kooning in Pollack, but after you read up a bit about de Kooning himself, you want to see the movie about HIM.


This picture of de Kooning is joined by his quote, "Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you're getting any better but I have a feeling I can do it better now." Decide for yourself.

I can't tell you how nice it is to just zip on my bike or stroll a half block to see world class art - for free - and escape the whirlwind of Venice Boulevard by staring at paintings from another time in the total silence of the Gallery. We were the only people there ... maybe the best way to view art, uninfluenced by any other factors at all, save for your own thoughts.


I intentionally kept the photograph I took inside far away so you can go in there and conjure up your own thoughts about it, letting your mind wander where it may.

Enjoy the head trip.

And Happy First December Friday!