Happy Tenth Birthday, Venice Skatepark!

The Venice Skatepark opened on October 3, 2009 (Here's that story), and today celebrates its ten year anniversary! This true diamond in the rough of Venice has become a second home for a new generation of skaters, all looking to carry on the legend of Dogtown and Venice skaters.

There have been too many memories to count, from skate contests to film shoots to Life Rolls On events to just regular weekdays after school giving the kids of Venice and the surrounding areas a place to go to hang out and get good at a sport that is truly one of the things that defines Venice.

There is a great movie about the long road to getting a Skatepark built in Venice, called Made In Venice, and it's a must-see for anyone who cares about either skating or Venice, but preferably both. It lets you know how important Jesse Martinez has been to the Skatepark, and its maintenance, and how Los Angeles really needs to compensate the man properly, and let him do his job. This park is a wonderful GIFT to our community, and we all need to make sure it stays beautiful for many years to come. A skater friend of mine in Minneapolis told me it's the best Skatepark he's ever been to, "Because it's SO beautiful!" - and it really is. There's the ocean right there, and the most famous Boardwalk in the world right over there. It's a treasure.

Happy First Decade, Venice Skatepark! We love you.

*First photo I took today.
 *Second photo is Ray Rae I believe!

Community Service Saturday!

This past Saturday was all about the Community in Venice. You can feel Summer's approach, and everyone was out and about doing their weekend thing. A few different groups were having events to continue to work on our sense of that community, and maybe grow a bit more empathy for each other while they were at it. The first stop (after coffee at The French Market, of course) was the Venice Community Housing Chalk Art Festival in the parking lot between North and South Venice on Pacific Avenue. I could hear drumming in the distance as I walked down Venice Boulevard, and it made me kick it up a notch, so I was practically race-walking to get there to see what was happening.

What was happening was a fantastic female drumming group called Bloco Obini, who were brightly dressed in African fabrics and banging their hearts out, watched over by the mural of Abbot Kinney - who I'm pretty sure would whole-heartedly approve. They were drumming next to the beautiful chalk mandala that Gary Palmer had created with kids and other members of the community at this event meant to bring awareness to trying to solve the homelessness problem. It also served to spotlight the fact that Venice is meant to be about ART (stay tuned for another awesome art situation Gary and I have in the works!) - at every level.

There was a giant chalk message spelling out "We Are All Venice" - Truth! - and that was also the message on the buttons that the VCH Arts Collective were handing out. Taylor Barnes was also there, creating a chalk Goddess of Venice, and it was all just lovely, and exactly what you want to see going down in Venice on the weekend ... Art plus FUN!

Next stop was the Ladies Jam contest at the Venice Skatepark, where big crowds surrounded the Skatepark to watch the girls have the place all to themselves - and they RIPPED.

It's mesmerizing and inspiring (and makes you super jealous) to watch the strong, talented ladies tear it up just as hard as the boys ... and more gracefully. Skater girls are the best, and it was a joy to see them all get their moment in the sun (and the clouds, but still!). The Skatepark is another gem that means the world to so many of the youth (and grownups too), that gives them their own sense of community, and keeps them out of real trouble. What a treasure!

I could have stayed all day to watch the female skaters, but spots on the railing were at a premium, and I had to get over to The Brig parking lot before their event for S.P.Y. (Safe Place For Youth) was over. The parking lot was packed with people there to support the work of S.P.Y. and meet, greet, and congratulate the youth who have been through their program and come out the other side. We have worked with S.P.Y. on our documentary 90291: VENICE UNZIPPED, and I can tell you that I have seen first-hand the special place that this is. I honestly don't know what so many young people would do without them. They provide food, showers, clothes, check-ups, computer training, job outreach, and so much more they really deserve the accolades being presented to them at this event.

I again couldn't stay that long as I had even more things to get to (not in Venice and off the record), but was encouraged to see such a large crowd there yes, to enjoy the day drinking at the outside bar (tended by former S.P.Y. attendees), but also to applaud and hold up the great work being done by S.P.Y. for all to see.

Thank you to David Paris for hosting the event, and for letting me know about it!

As I was taking off, I thought it was appropriate to see that the homeless Abbot Kinney had been painted on to the side of The Brig, needing money for the now outrageous Venice rents - like many of the S.P.Y. kids, like the people that the VCH serves, and like myself. We're all doing our best to stay in the place that we love, and there isn't enough thanks for the people and organizations that still care about their community being housed. Hopefully events like these will serve to kick the ones in the pants that still need to get it. That we're all in this together, and that we know the problems all day - yet some strive for solutions, and do their best to implement them the best that they can. They're doing SOMETHING ... which is a lot more than a lot of people can say.

I felt pretty good about our Community as I went off to start my evening, because there are clearly still so many good people doing so many good things. That's the way I want to be, and that's what the world needs the very most right now. No more bad news. Let's concentrate on how good we CAN be. Please join us, won't you?

Happy Monday - and the opportunity to do more good this week!

Skateboarding Through Venice In The 80's With Josh Bagel Klassman

There was a cool photo show last night at a space called the Red Bull ConsuLAte (?) on Abbot Kinney, with all sorts of great skate images from Dogtown's prime taken by Venice's own Josh "Bagel" Klassman.

There was a guest list, there were beverages (shout out to House Beer!), and there were skaters sitting on couches watching skate videos like it was at their own pad. Mellow.

The fact that it was sponsored by Red Bull in a seemingly pop-up space ("ConsuLAte is an inspiring space and bespoke {"Bespoke!"} resource offering curated experiences through the lens of Red Bull {or Venice locals' lenses} for atheletes and special guests {Ooh! You mean famous people?!} on Abbot Kinney smacked of "Hey, let's do a show by a beloved local to gain a little street cred here on this hip shopping boulevard in the home of skateboard culture, guys!" I can just hear the meeting - but, Bagel IS beloved, and we'll all drink your drinks and look at fantastic shots of local skate legends like Joey Tran ...

... And Christian Hosoi, and Jay Adams (RIP), and all the names who made this place a place that brands like Red Bull now want a piece of. Only instead of being like Adidas and making the ridiculously bold claim that they were "Defining Venice" (before they had even opened the old Hal's doors), now brands are feting the locals and trying to gain respect through the actual respect that these O.G.'s really have. I get it. And I'm happy for the guys like Bagel who are getting the recognition they so richly deserve.

This is Dogtown, and they can smell legit a mile away - so let's celebrate it all over again! And if it's on the corporate dime? It's about time. Take it. That's right. They weren't there, but you were, and that's why we love you and tolerate them. Sometimes. Times like this. Get it.

Long live Dogtown! (why there's a Blogtown).

Have A Real Venice Weekend!

I've been running around all over the place and not had as much time to either really enjoy or write about Venice as much the past few weeks. So, it was with extra anticipation and enthusiasm that I finally got to enjoy a fully Venice weekend last week. And I'm about to do it all over again ...

Both weekend days were beach days, though Saturday was a lot cloudier than Sunday. No matter, as you still get that Vitamin D through the haze, and it was plenty warm enough. With a TON going on. There was a Venice Festival (don't know who put that on, but there were booths and food and live music - by the likes of Venice's own Venice's Mark Lennon and John Vester - and a bunch of fun and good vibes). There was a skate contest at the skatepark (I got there when it seemed to be for the 50+ age group still getting it!).

Walking to the beach, I noticed a perfectly Venice patio, all colorful and inviting, with just enough kitsch to make it feel like groovy old Venice.

I ran into people I knew all both days, which is always the best part about a great day in Venice. I had the breakfast burrito from Hinano's for breakfast on the beach. I swam in the Pacific, whose water has finally warmed up enough to make it a delight, with almost zero easing in time. Especially Sunday, when the sun was all the way out and it REALLY felt like Summer.

While on my human rotisserie beach blanket, I used my new koozie from the funeral of my dearest friends' dad's (Larry Hendrickson) funeral (funeral merch!), and thought about its wording ... "The PriZe is worth the PriCe." That is almost always true, and it could apply to so many situations, but I was thinking of Venice ... and how hard it is to still live here, with the ridiculous rents, the annoying Bird/Lime users, the BUBs, the traffic, the scenester restaurants, people who walk down Abbot Kinney like it's the airport, all slow and haphazardly, the corporate chain stores, the line at Salt & Straw, the "New Venice" people that warrant constant eye rolls, sad gentrification, etc ...

... but then you see your pals, and watch the skaters, and swim in the Pacific, and find out there's a new store for old school rollerskates in town (Moxi Rollerskates on Main Street), and you get that the Venice Vibe is still very much alive and well. As are the people that love it and want to keep it cool. I know, because I saw a ton of them last weekend. And I hope to see even more on this one ... starting very soon.

So, get out there and enjoy all the Venice you can - and get funky. Wear a costume. Paint a mural on your house. Go for a rollerskate. Jump in that awesome water. High five an O.G. Be happy ... because Real Venice is still here for your enjoyment. Dig that.

Made In Venice Out Now - On The Venice Skatepark's 8th Birthday!

On Tuesday, I was standing on the street corner talking to a former neighbor when a car drove by and someone yelled, "Nice hat!" I was wearing my Made In Venice baseball hat, and the yeller was one of the stars of that excellent documentary, Jesse Martinez. It was fitting that I would run into him on that day, as it was both the release date on DVD and online for the film, and also the 8th birthday of the Venice Skatepark - cause for much celebration!

This story had to lag a couple days as Martinez is not the easiest cat to get a hold of, and I wanted to talk to him about the State of the Skatepark today at eight years old, and we got to have a good chat about it all just this morning. Now that the movie is available for all to see, everyone will have a better idea about what all went into making the dream of a world class Skatepark in Venice become a reality. It was a years long effort by many, many people, and Made In Venice tells it exactly as it went down. 

The hope with telling this story is that audiences will know how much the park means to the people of Venice, and by sharing the story, garner more support for the people that continue to make it all happen ... especially Jesse Martinez. Though everyone knows Martinez as the Dogtown icon that he is, I'm not sure everyone knows how hard he works every day to maintain the park, and how little he gets in return. He has been there nearly every day of its 8 year existence, usually at about 4 a.m., making sure the Skatepark is clean and safe for everyone to use. He does it because it means the world to him, not because he's paid - because he's not. Martinez goes out of pocket for cleaning supplies, donates his time and labor, and put his own skating career on hold to see that the park is well maintained ... and it truly seems that the City of L.A. just doesn't care.

The city makes a lot of money off of that park, with filming fees, rentals, and tourist dollars, and none of it comes back to the park. Zero of it goes to Martinez and his cleaning crew (friends and skaters that just volunteer), not even for supplies. And it's just not right. There has been nothing but a run-around from the city, and Councilman Mike Bonin. Bonin promised to push through a contract for Martinez to be an official member of City staff to maintain the park ... well, that was three years ago, and nothing has happened. Nada. They won't offer a Skatepark budget of any kind, though Martinez has saved the city an astronomical amount of money by doing the work himself. The contract they would offer was so unfair that everyone urged Martinez not to sign it, and the City replied that it was that or nothing. Martinez thought about walking away, and did so for a couple of weeks, only to return to find the Skatepark in the absolute worst condition of its relatively young life. Which is dangerous for skaters, and bad for everyone. The park is a major tourist attraction, "the most commercialized Skatepark in the history of Skateparks," according to Martinez, and it's high time the City of L.A. recognizes the massive worth of both the park and Martinez.

"It's like they were kids that were bullied, and now they're trying to get back at us," said Martinez about the suits that make these kinds of decisions. Which is about the only thing that makes sense, as anyone who hears about the way Martinez is treated by the City finds it completely outrageous. Including the Pacific Division cops, who routinely stop and thank Martinez for the work he does, and for keeping all of those kids out of trouble while skating. Parents thank him for the same thing. Skaters hold him in the very highest regard, and follow his example of respecting those around them, as well as the park itself. "It's not a Me, it's a We," says Martinez. "It's a community that does this."

A community that Councilman Bonin and his cronies need to also respect, or soon find themselves out of their jobs. We're supposed to be talking about how great a film Made In Venice is, and how much it can help Martinez out (after paying back the investors, especially the mother of its director, Jonathan Penson), as he will see monies from the film returned back to helping maintain the park - but Bonin never even attended a screening. They've sent hundreds of emails to the Mayor of L.A. requesting a little help, without a single one being returned. "Everything changed once Bill Rosendahl died. He was such a Venice local, and such a good man ... everything was great when he was alive," Martinez explained to me. And I'm sure Councilman Rosendahl would be rolling over in his grave if he now knew how his friends at the Skatepark (that he greatly helped with bringing to life) were being dismissed. If you know anything about the history of Venice, you know it's not real wise to become the villian to Dogtown ... just saying. Especially when their backs are against the wall, which Martinez feels they now are. He can come with an army of skaters over 18 to protest all of this, and you can be sure that none of them will be voting to re-elect Bonin (who everyone knows can use all the support he can get these days).

To look at the positive side of things, I asked Martinez about the current generation of Dogtown skaters. "I'm more than proud to call these kids Dogtown boys {and girls}, I couldn't be any happier with them. My main goal was to assure that there would be a third generation {at least} of Venice skaters, and the new age of Venice skaters is out there just DESTROYING that park. Everything I've been working for, there it is! It's WHY I've been doing this for 38 years, why I put my own career on hold, why I've given EVERYTHING to that park ... but the financial hardship is too much, and I've gotta draw the line. I'd love to stay on at the Skatepark for the next 20 years, and then pass the torch to someone younger, but I don't know. The City has completely let me down. I'm a skateboarder, so I might move on ...". And no one could blame him.

Watch Made In Venice and you'll realize how much Martinez has given of his life to this wonderful Skatepark, but he certainly hasn't done it for the money - or the glory. Martinez has carried the weight of all of this around for years, but now says, "I'm beyond proud of how this movie came out. A lot of good has come out of it. I was worried because people take Venice very seriously, and I didn't want to disgrace the neighborhood. And it's a real story, with less tricks and things than your typical skate film, so I wasn't sure how skaters would react, but I've traveled all around the country to screenings, and the reaction has been nothing but good. There's not one bad review. I just wish Jay Adams and Shogo Kubo could have seen it, but their sons are around, so they're still here."

It's a great film, and really provides a wonderful insight about what it means to be from, or live in, or simply love Venice, California. "I hope it inspires kids long after I'm gone to be proud of Venice. Dogtown will never die, it's worldwide. I love Venice, I just wish I could live there." It's a very sad thing (which I totally get and am also dealing with) when someone like Martinez - born, raised, and a true legend of Venice - can no longer afford to live here, especially considering how much of his life he has dedicated to this town, in every way. People trying to just make bank off of this very special place simply don't get it. And never will.

Please support Venice, its Skatepark, and its champion, Martinez by purchasing Made In Venice (and its merch!) to ensure that future generations will indeed be able to proudly call themselves Dogtown skaters.

Made In Venice is available now everywhere.

Venice Skatepark Vandalized

OK. This is not good.

The Venice park was vandalized sometime last night. The investigation has begun anyone who knows anything please contact Jesse Martinez or Parks and Rec ASAP. 👊🏼✌🏼

A post shared by Dan Levy (@juicedan) on Apr 15, 2017 at 8:30am PDT

WHO in their right mind would vandalize the Skatepark?! All the work that it took to get built (See the Made In Venice movie), all the work that it takes to maintain it (Thanks to Jesse Martinez), and all the goodness it brings to kids and the Community, and someone is going to come in overnight and slegdehammer off the coping?! I can't even imagine how mad the Venice Skate Alliance is right now, and I can't imagine what's going to happen when they find out who is responsible. But I can begin to.

You know what though? Legends don't even need coping. So there.

Please relay any information about this to Venice Park and Recs down by the Skatepark. This is bad. 

*Top Photo by Juice Dan Levy/Juice Magazine
*Bottom Photo of Jesse Martinez by Bill Ferrell

Tommyland? Hmmm.

There's a whole big thing going down at the beach today in Venice ... which has suddenly been transformed into "Tommyland". Meaning Tommy Hilfiger, not Tommy Lee (shoot). Big corporate clothing empire Tommy Hilfiger, taking over the Boardwalk. Great. If California is a "Donor State", Venice is definitely a Donor City.

I'm told there is a fashion show this evening starring It Girl, Gigi Hadid. All of Venice will be hearing shrill teen girl screams right about sunset (Do not be alarmed). There is clearly a decent budget for this big deal, so I wonder if any of those shooting fees will find there way back into Venice? I wonder if they will pay to clean it up? I wonder if the people that are pimping out the Boardwalk and its cool are thinking about taking care of the actual people that made it cool in the first place? If they showcase the skatepark (which I'm sure they will), will Jesse Martinez and his cleaning crew get actually paid for once for doing all that they do every single day, big budget or not? I wonder if some of the money made off of this endeavor will find its way to the houseless citizens of Venice, who will no doubt be kept out of the area that they call home? I sure hope so.

Tommy Hilfiger has recently said it would be an honor to dress Melania Trump. OK, Bro. Not a very popular stance here in town. Venice has never been about big corporations, though those companies have always sought to profit of of the innate edge that Venice has naturally. I'm sure the awful Snapchat has its mitts all over this, and for that alone, I'll be nowhere near this hubbub. Nah thanks.

Tommyland. Yep. See you at Hinano's instead.

Silvia Estrada - Managing Venice Trim

When my dear friend and longtime hair stylist, Stephanie Hobgood, left to move to Oregon, I was bummed for many reasons, but one was certainly who was going to cut my hair now? A good friend and beloved Venetian, Silvia Estrada, manages Trim around the corner on Abbot Kinney. She always looks good and always has happy clients sitting there in her window station, so I thought I'd see if she could help me out. She not only really could, but it also gave us the chance to catch up and get to know each other even better.

Estrada was born in Guatemala, and is, as she says, "A proud immigrant". (And really ... we're ALL immigrants unless you're Native American. So there.) Her family came to California when she was three, and she's been here ever since. Estrada has done pretty much every job you can think of (Fashion, Dental assistant, Ball girl, Retail, Valet, Coffee barista, sold insurance ...) but the thing she always wanted to do was hair. She was always discouraged from it by her father, who didn't think she'd ever be able to make a living in that profession (because he always got cheap haircuts).

"My whole life I knew I belonged in Venice," says Estrada. "This is where the weirdos were, my people." Her Dad would bring here down to Venice on the weekends, and that began her love affair with this town, and made her sure that this was where she wanted to live - plus she loved Three's Company.

Estrada attended the Abbot Kinney Festival one year and had friends at the Trim salon on Abbot Kinney. They had a DJ going, and all the people were fun, and then owner Nik Falco told her that she needed to do hair. Her boss at the Insurance company had even been telling her that she needed to do something creative, so she quit, moved home to save money, and attended hair school in the nights while assisting at Trim during the days. One day after someone had quit, Falco told her it was time to get on the floor, and now she's been beautifying the people of Venice there on Abbot Kinney for 15 years. She is now also the manager, and says, "I love Trim. I owe Nik my life forever for helping me to make this happen."

Community is special to Estrada, as she has raised her son Kai here since he was born in 2009. She loves her local clients, watching them grow and have kids and share in the stories of our lives here in Venice. People move away and come back, and one of Estrada's favorite things is when she sees a familiar face show up from "Old Venice". "No amount of money can ever take away the reason why I fell in love with the old Venice. If you saw Venice through my eyes growing up, you'd know what I mean." I know exactly what she means. Fancy houses and greedy businesses can't take away the vibes that make Venice special. Estrada wanted to be sure to shout out Jesse Martinez for all of his hard work in creating and maintaining the Venice Skatepark, which her son Kai loves loves loves.

I get what Estrada meant when she said she loves running into friends from back in the day ... I feel that way every time I see her.

You too can get your hair done beautifully by Silvia Estrada at Trim by calling to make an appointment at #310-396-3330.

Made In Venice - In Theaters Now!

The theatrical premiere of the wonderful documentary Made In Venice was held last night at the (newly refurbished and slick) Laemmle in Santa Monica, and it was awesome. The audience was almost entirely Venetian and friends, as evidenced by the hoots and hollers throughout the film. Made In Venice tells the story of the struggle to get the Venice Skatepark built, and the history of modern skateboarding where it was invented.

When the Skatepark finally opened in October of 2009, it was a massive accomplishment, and a huge celebration ... but the struggle to keep it a world class venue continues. The maintenance and upkeep of the Park is handled almost entirely by Dogtown legend, Jesse Martinez, who with his band of friends has kept the park clean every single day since it opened. For free. With no help from the City of Los Angeles, that does nothing but benefit from the tourism this excellent facility brings. It's downright criminal, and now, even worse than I thought.

I'd already seen the film at a cast and crew screening last month, and it's just downright great. The fight to get the Park built is extra moving, and there are laugh out loud moments throughout as you get to know all the people that made this dream come true. There was a Q &A after the film, with the ever-reluctant to be in the spotlight Martinez. You see how hard he works in the film - every day - and then we find out after the film that Martinez could now be arrested for doing all of the hard work that he isn't paid for, because the Venice Skate Foundation has lost their "Right Of Entry" permit, which gives them the legal right to be there. Yes, even though Martinez performs the unbelievably hard work of keeping the Skatepark clean, the City of L.A. continues to give him harder obstacles than any he could ever skateboard on. It's not right.

As it stands now, Martinez is keeping it clean every morning anyway. He's no longer that interested in a job from the City, he just wants his ROE back so he can do his (unpaid) job without the hassle. Councilman Mike Bonin is no Bill Rosendahl when it comes to the Skatepark, as Martinez explained that his calls routinely go unanswered for weeks, if they're returned at all. If it were left up to the City, it would take a month to get a tag removed by the one guy servicing all the parks in all of Los Angeles, and up to a YEAR to get a tile replaced. Martinez and Company are not having that, and as a young lady says to open the film, "There's a lot of places that people don't fight for what they believe in - we don't stand for that here." So, they take matters into their own hands. As usual.

There was a righteous indignation that you could feel from everyone in the audience. Like, this is wrong and what are WE going to do about it?! "Venice has a way of somehow providing," said Martinez when asked what we could do for him. He said he'll continue cleaning the Skatepark for another 8 years or so (!), and then it's time for the kids of the neighborhood to take over. As they should. The City needs to realize that this gem that attracts people from around the world should be handled and kept up by the very people that made it happen, who know what's best for it. Until then, we can donate via the donation button on the Made In Venice movie page. We can purchase merchandise (cool shirts and hats!) of which all proceeds go to Martinez. We can keep talking about it, and demanding better for our incredible Venice Skatepark and the equally incredible people that made it happen, and continue to make it the superhot attraction that it is.

Moderator Dan Levy from Juice Magazine closed the event by saying that we all need to continue to fight for Jesse, for the Right Of Entry, and always, The Skatepark itself. Martinez thanked everyone for their support, and the crowd filed out to attend the after-party at Danny's Deli ("If you don't know where that is, you don't need to go!" - Victor Blue). Please go see this fantastic tribute to Venice and its people while it's in its limited theater release. The Venice Skatepark is a source of great pride in our Community, and Made In Venice lays it all out just exactly why.

The fight continues ... and we have their back. Thank you to ALL involved - always.

*Go fast! It's only at the Laemmle in Santa Monica until August 31st!

"Made In Venice" Premieres In Venice

The long anticipated, years in the making documentary Made In Venice premiered in Venice last Saturday at The Electric Lodge, and was more than worth the wait. It was a screening for the cast and crew, most of whom were in attendance. This wonderful film tells the story of how the dream of a Venice Skatepark came to be a fantastic reality, and all the struggle that went into it.

The movie covers the history of skating in Venice, and how it came to be known as the legendary Dogtown ("This town ain't fit for a dog!"). Though modern skateboarding was pretty much invented here, it took until 2009 for Venice to have its own skatepark, and would never had happened without the tireless work and absolute belief in the project on the behalf of skaters and activists in the community. As the audience filtered in, you saw one cast member after another arrive ... Christian Hosoi, Jeff Ho, Bart Saric (who did the film's animation sequences), Victor Blue, Tonan, Aaron Murray, Masao Miyashiro, Lauren Wiley, Dan Levy and Juice Magazine ... and finally, the true hero of the story, Jesse Martinez.

Martinez introduced the film along with its director, Jonathan Penson, who both told about the years and hurdles it took to make. They also explained that though we do now have this beautiful skatepark, the struggle continues, as the city of Los Angeles relies on Martinez and his crew to maintain and clean the park every day - without any compensation from the city. Unbelievable. But they do it. Every day, seven days a week.

The documentary is so good because the subject matter is beloved by Venice. It's incredibly lump in the throat touching at times, and laugh out loud funny at others. Venice does not lack for characters, and the ones you get to know in Made In Venice are some of our best. As pro skater Tuma Britton says in the film, "We don't do boring. This is Venice." Exactly.

"We were the bad stepsons of Venice, we were raising hell on this beach. If you were considered a Dogtown boy, you had made it," says Martinez in a clip to explain what it all meant to people. We are taken through the history of the rise and fall of both skating and skateparks, including a time when the area was briefly taken over by Rollerbladers. Dark days indeed. "We'd do almost anything to protect Dogtown," says Martinez at one point - and they certainly did.

Spearheaded by a mighty group of skatepark supporters who truly believed that skaters were the heart and soul of Venice, the dream for a world class skatepark was kept alive, and seen through. Ger-I Lewis teamed up with Heidi Lemmon (of Skatepark Association USA), and along with the tireless help of our late Councilman Bill Rosendahl (who found funds from an old oil fund!), the spirited group finally won approval for a skatepark. It was a unanimous decision from the Coastal Commission, after a touching speech by Martinez who spoke to the fact that skating had changed lives for the much better. And then it took four more years of redtape.

Construction finally began on the park on December 31, 2008 and the official opening was on October 3, 2009 - a triumphant and emotional highpoint of the film. "We did it! And I'm not too old to use it!" - Ger - I Lewis says, with obvious joy across his face. The opening day scenes are so happy and exciting ... but the work didn't/doesn't stop there.

Martinez is out there at the skatepark every morning, pre-dawn, making sure it's clean and safe to skate. This means hand scrubbing off the graffiti, cleaning up after the homeless and partiers that wreak havoc overnight, and generally 100% taking care of the park's maintenance on their own. For free. Often out of their own pockets. This clearly isn't right, and one of the hopes of the film is not only to showcase the park that more pro skaters come out of than any other in the world, but also to show its value to the City of L.A. and get these tireless workers some sorely needed compensation, although money is very obviously not what drives Martinez and his volunteer crew.

"Money you won't be remembered for, but to be a Dogtown boy {or girl}, you'll be remembered forever. This skatepark is the legacy I'll leave behind one day for my sons," says Martinez, and it's true. Both the film and the audience were filled with kids and skaters of the up and coming generations who will continue to benefit from all of the hard work and history of the Venice legends who gave them what they have today. And the future is bright.

Made In Venice closes with a soundbite from the late skate legend and friend, Jay Adams, who says, "You know how some people say, 'Oh, I love it, I'd do it for free'. Well, Jesse IS doing it for free. Why don't some of you guys start paying him?" Yes. WHY don't we? In typical Martinez fashion, he was nowhere to be found when the hoots, hollers, whistles, and "Thank you, Jesse!'s" rang out over the closing credits. I found him outside after the film, far from the crowd, and visibly uncomfortable with the attention and praise. So much so that he'll probably never even see the film, but the important thing is that now everyone else can see it and know what a true hero he is to our community. A true hero Made In Venice.

Made in Venice will debut in theaters August 25, 2016. It's a must see for anyone who knows and loves Venice.

*Merch proceeds from the film will go towards the upkeep of the Skatepark. Get yours!

A Springtime Ladies Jam At The Venice Skatepark

Last Saturday was one of the most glorious days possible, with all the perks of Spring ... bright sunshine, fresh air, flowers blossoming ... and the Venice Skatepark full of females for the Springtime Ladies Jam.

It was an all day affair, with everyone from little, tiny girls in their pink helmets to seriously ripping adult women, all fearlessly showing their stuff to the hoots and shouts of the appreciative observers ringing the skatepark.

The place was packed all day, with a festive atmosphere due to all the vendor booths and the pumping tunes from the D.J.s. There were plenty of boys in attendance, both to watch and to sneak in their own runs between official contest stuff. It was good to see them all being so supportive of their female counterparts, all yelling and fist pumping for the tricks being performed that would be tough for anyone, no matter the gender.

It was one of those days with a ton of places to be, so I couldn't stay and hang out to see who won what, but I will tell you that ALL of Venice won on Saturday. Because when you have people of all ages, sizes, colors, languages, all coming together in the name of empowering and encouraging young girls to be and do whatever they want ... the whole world wins.

Thanks to all involved for a wonderful afternoon at our Venice Skatepark, and for the much appreciated message to all that "Girl Is Not A 4 Letter Word." These girls, in fact, RULE.

Postcards From The Edge

I guess I still have Thanksgiving stuck in my craw, because this morning as I took my walk on the beach, I was so overcome with gratitude I had tears in my eyes. It was one of the most beautiful mornings on this Earth, and one sight was lovelier than the next.

It felt pretty selfish to have all this all to myself, so I thought you might like to join me on my heart-swelling stroll. Blue skies and bright sunshine accompanied me every step of the way, and the only way you knew it was December was the big sand berms built for the winter swells.

Surfers were out in droves this morning on the glassy water, and every wave was a party wave.

 I've always thought it was weird that surfers and skaters had the rep of being slackers and ne'er do wells, when those guys and girls are the early birds, out there getting it before most worker drones have even gotten out of bed.

The graffiti walls were brightly painted, and where one side looked like a glazed-out Jesus watching the surfers ...

... the other side proclaimed that He rocks. On a day this gorgeous, it would be hard to disagree.

As I felt so much love inside for Venice as I walked around, it was reflected back at me everywhere I went. The ocean air, the palm trees, the colorful characters, past and present, (as I definitely felt the presence of some Venice ghosts this morning ... Bobby Brown - The World's Greatest Wino, Dr. Geek the rapper, and Dr. John the activist were all on my mind and profoundly felt), friends waving as you pass by, all the art, waves, the Skatepark, the mom and pop stores hanging in there ... I love it all so much. And I'll fight to keep it a place "Where the weather is warm, and the people are cool". And I'm not alone.

Heading back home in a hurry - as I'd spent a little too much time in reflection and appreciation mode - I got one more affirmation peeking through the trees.

I hope you've enjoyed your postcards from the Western edge even a fraction as much as I enjoyed living it in the moment.

We love you, Venice!



*It's now later in the afternoon. There was just another mass shooting in America, this time in California. After reading absolutely insane comments from people in other parts of the country about it all online, I want to add how EXTRA grateful I am to live in the Venice bubble. Where people tend to talk reasonably, be informed, keep an open mind, and practice tolerance and love with everyone from all walks of life. At least in my world. THANK YOU!

Life Rolls On Into Reggae On The Mountain!

This past weekend was a series of one great moment after another ... the whole time. Things came together effortlessly, and the sun was shining bright (and HOT!) from the crack of dawn on. Friends showed up at Playa De Los Amigos where we enjoyed the unusually warm water and frolicked around in the ocean all day long. It was the best.

Then we had to check out the Life Rolls On event at the Venice Skateboard, always one of the most inspiring days of the Summer. This year the day dedicated to people with physical limitations getting out there and keeping their stoke alive coincided with the arrival of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles, so there was a great feeling of support and encouragement pervading the already great vibes of the day.

Kids and adults in wheelchairs and on crutches got in the bowls of the skatepark and showed that they can still impress with their stunts and tricks as good as their able-bodied friends - if not more so due to their limitations. It's super inspiring, and I always leave with a happy - and grateful - spring in my step.

That only got bouncier when we headed up the mountain for the wonderful two day love fest of good vibrations that is Reggae On The Mountain in Topanga Canyon.

The day was perfect for such a festival - blazing hot, a mountain top breeze and absolutely everyone all the way invested in having a great time. Which one couldn't help but do with all the fantastic music, bright smiles, and colorful festivities all around.

Right as we walked up the mountain I ran into my family friends, the Ellis kids. Though I've known them since they were wee babes, they've grown up and Brooks Ellis is now the founder and organizer of Reggae On The Mountain, and I couldn't be more proud of him (above with his lovely sister, Sydney). He reminds me of a young Michael Lang (you two have to meet!) with his curly hair, bright smile, and relaxed way of making an entire family fun festival come off with ease and positivity. I was so impressed.

A big glass of icy sangria was handed to me, and we went and ate delicious jerk chicken as we listened to the sounds of John Brown's Body drift up the hill to us. I also got an awesome rasta umbrella that is begging for some more rain.

The true order of business (and pleasure!) for us was to see the Easy Star All Stars. I've been a massive fan of theirs since their sublime album Dub Side Of The Moon, but my love was truly cemented with their absolute genius album Radiodread. The Easy Stars were playing the main ROTM Mountain stage and we were right there in front for every note.

Hippies with didgeridoos danced alongside true Rastamen and simply rasta loving white girls like me. A little boy stood there and looked cool while barely swaying in time to the music, adding to the show in his own unselfconscious way.

One Rastaman stood there the entire time holding up a photo of Haile Selassie and giving out pamphlets and suckers. He was the real deal.

The Easy Stars had everyone dancing the entire time, never mind the truly sweltering heat. No matter. No worries. No problem. All we did was dance more and smile bigger.

They played selections from the above mentioned albums, as well as from their Michael Jackson epic Thrillah, and even teased a bit of "Kashmir" at the end, making me speculate that we might be getting a Led Zeppelin reggae album soon?! Ooooh. Kirsty Rock just rocks it. The horns roll it. Everyone is perfect. They're so so so good. People took shelter in the shade, lounging in tree branches and hammocks, with dream catchers there to beautify their daydreams. It was totally idyllic.

We danced and sang along until the sun began to set, then sang more all the way back down the mountain. Oceanside drinks at Moonshadows bled into the next day of beach day all day, followed by Hinanos and backyard nightcaps with best friends. This was truly a quintessential Los Angeles weekend, and I'm so happy and grateful to all who made it so honestly awesome.

Let the Good Vibrations roll on! One Love.

Thanks, Brooks!!!