The 2017 Venice Mardi Gras Parade and Party!

Though the real Mardi Gras isn't until next Tuesday, Venice celebrated it a little early this past Saturday ... mainly because our organizers are attending the real one in New Orleans next week! There has been a lot of marching around town lately, but none of them have featured as many smiles and pure fun as this march down the Venice Boardwalk.

It rained all day the day before, and parade organizers insisted that the good times would roll, rain or shine. It was still raining on Saturday morning, but as it got closer to noon and parade meet-up time, the drops stopped and became merely grey skies. I put on my purple pants (the Windward Krewe color!) and "Here Comes The Sun" shirt ... and sure enough, here the sun came!

I had a couple other things going on so got down to the Boardwalk a little late, relieved that we're almost always on Venice Standard Time - meaning things don't usually start very on the dot. I headed down the Boardwalk toward Rose Avenue, not seeing or hearing any sign off the festivities. As I kept on walking, I thought I saw a glimmer of sparkle a ways down, and then I heard the unmistakable distant sound of a sousaphone's oom pah. It was on! Here comes the parade!!

I was swallowed up by the paraders, and we all danced and sang on down the Boardwalk, to the delight of tourists that had no idea it was coming. Faces lit up and cameras came out, as beads were tossed and passersby were invited to join along in our promenade down the beach.

The windows and balconies facing Ocean Front Walk had people hanging off of them, straining to catch beads - though it was only males that I saw flashing their boobs. One guy had those confetti blasters (that I should have stocked up on in Chinatown at the Golden Dragon Parade!) and was showering it all down on us as we passed, making everyone hoot and holler in appreciation.

 The street performers along the Boardwalk would join in as the parade went by, and I particularly loved this couple that accompanied us on guitar and washboard. Adorable.

Participants really had the Mardi Gras spirit for this year's theme of "Circ Du L.A." (frankly, I think we all just needed to blow off some steam), and the costumes were great. The handsome King Ravi (of the late Danny's Deli fame) and his Queen Toni presided over the event, giving it all a very regal flair.

I think Best Costume has to go to the Clown in his own basket with a sly fake dog on his back. There was a lot of effort and color involved, and that dog looked like he was checking everyone out. Classic.

Also impressive was this costume actually made out of Mardi Gras beads, that shook like a flapper girl when she danced down the Boardwalk...

Miss Jessica Long led the parade, as its founder and most enthusiastic Mardi Gras reveler. She has a home in New Orleans, and is on her way there for the real thing, with an excellent head start from what she has created here in Venice. It was SO. FUN. Thank you, Miss Jessica!

Once the parade ended up at Windward, there was a full-on dance party there, with everyone joining in. The hula hoopers hooped and made a circle that became a dance off centerpiece, with the brass band playing all the while. The sun was now out and the party was now ON.

As Danny's Deli has closed, the after-party was held at Larry's Venice there on Speedway. The Gumbo Brothers (who I learned began as a result of this very parade) played their Dixieland tunes for everyone to dance along to, there were New Orleans themed drinks like Sazeracs, and the Mardi Gras treat of King Cake was served - though I never heard who got the baby.

Feather masks were handed out to those that didn't have their own, so soon everyone was both looking and acting the part of official Mardi Gras Reveler. The Dayger raged on well past sunset, and I can report that the bon temps definitely roulered.

This day was so fun, and so needed. Times have been so heavy and the chance to come together with your community in the name of simple fun should always be taken. I had a friend say the next day, "I hear about these things and I never go." I think that's a real shame, because there is something very great and healing about being all united for just a good time. THAT is what Venice has always been about, that and the art ... We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams, right? This kind of day solidifies that joy in our hearts, and reminds us all of what long ago made Venice the place to be ... not money, not greed, not corporate b.s., but FUN.

I love you, Venice. Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Larry's Venice - The Art and Venice of Larry Bell

Renowned artist, Larry Bell, is a true Venice treasure. His profile, with hat and signature cigar, has been sighted all over town for decades, and is now the inspiration behind a new neighborhood hang about to open at the corner of Windward and Speedway, the aptly named "Larry's" (Currently featuring a sign outside reading "Who in the Heaven is Spanto? [sic]", which used to say "Larry" until someone graffiti'd over it with the name of our dearly departed friend, Sponto).


I got the chance to sit down and chat with Mr. Bell the other day in his Market Street art studio, and discover that he's even nicer than I already thought he was. Surrounded by his beautiful works of art, both finished and in progress, we sat and talked about his Venice, then and now.


Bell was born in Chicago in 1939, and moved to L.A. with his family at the age of five. He always had interest in art and music, and thought he'd get into animation over at Disney. As part of his art school (Chouinard Art Institute) curriculum, he had to study painting, which soon became his focus ... to the extent that now his painting and sculptures can be seen in museums all around the world - and in his big, light Venice studio, where he likes to "meet the people who want to own my stuff."

At 19, Bell moved to Venice ... "because it was cheap." At that time, it was full of empty storefronts and considered dangerous, so he was able to secure his studio space for a mere $70 a month. Perfect for aspiring artists. A group of about 6-10 people started from scratch what became a true community of artists, and put Venice on the map as an art destination. Much of the gang became "The Cool School" (see the documentary of the same name to really get it), and gained fame worldwide. As we spoke about his work, Bell told me that "I'm interested in creating images I haven't seen before ... It's an organic cycle, I'm not in control, I'm more like the middle man." Interesting, as I've heard guitarist Leo Kottke say about the same thing, and it was then that I noticed Bell's 12 string guitar standing by. He claims to only noodle on it, but I have a feeling he's being overly humble, considering the concentration he seems to apply to everything.

In 1972, Bell "fell in love with a beautiful girl, and wanted to get her away from the competition", so he moved with her to Taos, New Mexico, where he traded his art for his new property. The marriage ultimately split up, and it was time to return to Venice. By some strange stroke of kismet, his exact same studio space was open and available on Market Street, unchanged and ready for him to get to work. He had built the doors on the front wall himself, in order to get large pieces and equipment in and out easier, and all remained intact. The only thing that changed was the Venice outside the doors.


About that, Bell says, "Venice inherited a mystique about being a creative place, which is extraordinary because it IS ... Nothing lasts, and Venice is an organic, changing place, and you can't stop that or it's Knott's Berry Farm." The place remains special, and will always draw people because of, "The AIR! The ionized air from the sea ... the weather is perfect here all the time" (Well ... it certainly was the day we were talking). He also finds special that there isn't high density housing at the beach. It's still mostly individual homes and small apartment buildings, adding to the neighborhood vibe. We talked about cityhood for Venice, which he doesn't think possible for just the basic economic facts, like who would pay the cops, firemen, etc ... and added, "The best way to protect the funky edge of Venice is to get it historical status." Hmm ... an interesting idea, for sure.

In the years that Bell lived in Taos, he would always stay at the Marina Pacific Hotel when in Venice. He became fast friends with the owner, Erwin Sokol, and when the Marina Pacific became the Hotel Erwin a couple of years ago, Bell not only moved in, but helped design the lighting, and each room in the Erwin now contains a work by Larry Bell. He was invited to the hotel meetings to offer his input on various issues, and when the time came for Mr. Sokol to open a bar/restaurant in the ideal, hotel-adjacent location of Windward and Speedway, they all met to discuss possible names.


Bell offered up "Altoon's" (after John Altoon, a fellow Venice artist in the 50's and 60's, who lived nearby and died in 1969) as his choice, but was out-voted by the eventual winner - "Larry's".


Bell drew his self-portrait in hat and cigar for the neon sign, and his paintings are featured inside. He also made a list of Venice artists, past and present, to be a mural on the outside wall of Larry's - honoring the people and art that has made Venice the place that it is - wearing the very heart of Venice on its sleeve. I spoke to owner, Erwin Sokol, and he hopes that Larry's will be open for business in the next couple of months, as they're sorting out the Chef/kitchen part of it all now. It now looks like Larry's will be open to greet the Summer along with the rest of us, and I can't wait to watch Venice roll by as we sit on the patio and appreciate it all from the namesake spot of one of our coolest residents.


As we were wrapping up our time together, Bell's son, Oliver, and beloved American Bulldog, Pinky, came back from a walk, and we all turned our attention to that sweet dog. Market Street was abuzz outside, with people getting ready for the Art Crawl, and soaking up the warm afternoon sunshine. Bell walked me out, and as we said our goodbyes, he saw a girl sitting in the next doorway, headphones on, a million miles away. Bell held out his arms and said, "Look, beautiful girls sitting in doorways, on a beautiful day ..."


There was nothing else for me to say but, "We're lucky people." He turned and smiled rakishly, "Yes, we sure are."




An added bonus video of Bell's current exhibit in Nimes, Franceby, by his son Ollie:

Larry Bell "In Perspective" Carre d' Art Nimes France from Ollie Bell on Vimeo.