Adidas No Longer Defining Venice

Special Late Thursday Afternoon Edition:

Well, it took a week, but apparently Adidas is no longer "Defining Venice". They heard the People.

The incredibly insulting sign is now gone, with merely their logo in its place. This is encouraging. This means that we still have the Community here in Venice, and we will still stand up together when something is outrageously wrong. The real deal Venice neighbors came out of the woodwork with their displeasure on this one, spoke up, did something about it, and now it's gone. This has to keep happening, not only here, but in this crazy country right now. Unity creates change. WE create the Venice - and the World - we want to live in.

While we're at it, let's do things about the BIG things, not just signs. Help the homeless, stop the big chains and developers, resist Snapchat and their ilk ... you know. Stuff like that. We can do it. We've proved that Venice isn't "over", and many, many awesome people who have made Venice their beloved home are still here. Solid. 

Good job, Everybody! THANK YOU to everyone who made their voices heard. Don't let up.
Power to the People!

Venice Definers

I was in the desert over the weekend, and when I turned my phone back on there was a message showing that a friend of mine had altered the Adidas store "Defining Venice" sign to read "Defacing Venice". She (because all the best protesters these days are women) put paper over the glass, so no  damage was done, and the point was not only made, but applauded. By the time I got back, it was already taken down, but the completely insulting and totally audacious Adidas one was not. They're dumb. Shout out also to Skylark, who has a great "Already Defined (but Thanks)" sign in their window across the street.

This very blog was started because I wanted to tell the stories of those people, places, and events that have helped to define Venice over the years. To share the many story tiles of our Community that make up the entire beautifully diverse mosaic that is our home. I walked by Great Western Hoagie today when I was out and about, and remembered how much I love this mural on the side of their little hut that I also love. This mural made up of true Venice definers (after the one like it at the beach). I don't see one apparent tech person (there's a uniform), one apparent billionaire (because anyone might be in Venice, but it's cooler not to act like it), or any Adidas. Curious.

I will continue to tell the real stories of the real definers. You will never read about a corporate chain store or company here, unless it's to scold them. Or unless they try doing something good for once (not just for p.r. and cameras - that doesn't count). The good news is that this site for stories has been around since 2009, we're approaching 1,000 stories, and there is no end to good, legit Venice material in sight. Venice has so many stories it's actually impossible for any one to define it. (Ahem.)

Please always feel free to suggest subjects for me to explore. There are so, so many cool nouns (persons/places/things) to discover in Venice, it's hard for me to keep up! Thank you for that still being the case, everyone that is still cool! Love you.

Sorry, Adidas. You Do NOT Define Venice.

It's true. The old Hal's space is going to be an Adidas store. ADIDAS! In a town where we never had chain stores, they now think they are going to DEFINE Venice. Oh, really? How completely offensive to everyone who ever made Venice what is is. The REAL definers of this Community. I'm livid.

Adidas, I have a suggestion for you. The first thing you should do is fire whatever marketing exec came up with this campaign, along with everyone who agreed to it. They clearly did no homework on the Community they're about to enter, or they'd know we would not take kindly to some chain claiming they define the legend that is Venice. A massive Germany-based global corporation is going to move on to Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and think that they are suddenly going to be "Defining Venice"?! Yeah. Right. This is as bad as the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad.

Venice has never been defined by any one thing, but it certainly wouldn't ever be a chain shoe store. It is defined by the artists, the skaters, the surfers, the gangsters, the beach bums, the regular bums, the free spirits, the hippies, the innovators, the edgy ones, the bikers, the teachers, the mom and pop stores, the laid back attitude ... the FREEDOM. How DARE some international conglomerate have the audacity to think they're going to come into a storied, historic place like Venice and DEFINE it. I could puke right on their doorstep. And probably will. That's as close as I'll ever get to stepping inside, unless I see someone I know in there and have to go drag them out by their ear in a big scene. *You've been warned.

I was ranting about it at the French Market after seeing this outrage of a window sign, and some affected girl behind me in line said, "Venice is all just Snapchat now anyway." No, it goddamn isn't, young lady. Go to an art opening. Go to a house party. Go to a non-chain store. Go to a town council meeting. Go to a school event. Go to the dog park. Go to the actual sand on the beach. Go to Hinano's. There you will find people that not only aren't Snapchat, but LOATHE Snapchat, and their ilk. I suggest you branch out. Learn your history. Have some respect.

I was walking home from a friend's last night and heard a group of Millenials sitting in the street talking about their NDA's (Non-Disclosure Agreements), and how they were so important they couldn't even talk to each other about their lame stuff. I have a feeling it was Tech stuff. Blech stuff. (I'm a known Luddite). I was so disgusted to think that this gentrification cancer has spread so much that youngsters think that his garbage IS Venice. It simply isn't, and those lame asses won't last here. Watch.

And I suspect neither will Adidas. No one comes to Venice, California to go to chain stores they have at their own mall in every city. They come for the unexpected. The weird. The "Freaks". The Art. The beach. The Boardwalk. The Skatepark. The Surf. The bike path. The beach. Not some store that the only thought I've ever had about them is that we used to think it stood for "All Day I Dream About Sex" as kids, and think that was racy. I certainly never thought they'd be so dumb as to come into Venice and have the utter nerve to think they can in any way "Define" this classic beach town. They're practically begging for vandalism (which I don't condone, of course, but would surely understand). The fact that all the good times we had inside that building when it was Hal's will now be taken over by corporate drones fitting people into overpriced sneakers makes me physically ill. WHO thought this could ever be a good idea? They were seriously misguided.

Just past the self-important Millenial jokers in the street, I saw this sidewalk chalk missive on Hampton Drive. "Try to not be a dick for once". I have a feeling it was meant for a specific someone, but it can sure apply to everyone doing their best to bury the Venice we know and love. Knock it off. Stop being dicks. For ONCE.

Please.

The Adidas boycott starts now. Not that we ever wore them anyway. This is a Vans town.