The Venice Corner Ball Park

It's been raining so much lately (Finally! - more to come this weekend!) that California has greened up considerably. Returning from my walk at the beach this morning, I noticed that the little Corner Ball Park at Ocean Avenue and Venice Boulevard is really starting to look like an actual park.

Robin Murez and her Venice Public Art have been working on this project for years (there's always red tape and money involved with these kinds of things), and it's nice to see grass growing and a real area to take a break in. The mosaic balls (depicting sea weed, a Venice column, and triangles for the Silver Triangle neighborhood) are there as both decor and something to sit on. What used to be a beat down old concrete corner is now an inviting little oasis for Venice. Enjoy!

Thanks to Robin and the rain!

Now if that little market across the street would ever re-open up for biz ... !!!???

Kim's Food Corner - Gone Too

I was walking to the beach the other day and noticed that Kim's Food Corner at 600 Mildred was gone. I guess it finally happened last month, but it's not my every day go to market (we go to the Abbot Kinney liquor store - for now) so I only just saw the shuttered doors now. It's sad.

Another little Mom and Pop shop gone. I wonder if the people with all the big ideas lately are going to put in a Walmart? Wouldn't that be the greatest?! I actually hear it's going to be a restaurant, which I guess is fine - as long as it's not a chain. I'll miss stopping in for beach provisions on my way down the boulevard. I'll miss the little small talk with nice Mr. Kim. I'll miss yet another spot where there was something affordable inside for anyone to buy. I'll miss the mural of the canals on the side.

With all of this happening so much lately, I truly hope it never comes to the day when I have to say "I miss Venice" because I then live in some remote village, unreachable by greedy landlords or giant corporations. I truly hope.

RIP, Kim's! You were really good neighbors, already missed.