GO! By CJ Gronner is now live on Substack

 Hi Friends!

 

It's been a while. I haven't posted stories here for quite some time because Blogtown was created to tell stories about Venice, California ... and I'm not there. I've felt a little strange about telling stories under the Blogtown umbrella when most of them weren't taking place there now. Blogtown is for DOGTOWN!

 

As I'm in Minnesota now taking care of family, I needed to figure out how to keep telling stories. I just finally decided to do a Substack newsletter called GO! By CJ Gronner, since that what I'm always telling people to do anyway. Go here! See this! Try that! It's all about finding the fun in these crazy times we find ourselves in, and I'm happy to help with that in any way I can.  

 Please know how MUCH I miss Venice, and writing about it ... but there are SO many cool places in the world. We just have to GO! See you there. 

 Much love, and so much gratitude for reading all of these year! 

 

XO, CJG

 

 

For Your Oscar Consideration - UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality

 UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality is in consideration for the Academy Awards and the deep consideration starts TODAY! Please pass this along to any and all Academy members that you know, as I really can't think of many more important topics than making sure our fellow humans are housed. It's THE most basic human right, yet we allow so many of our citizens to sleep out on the streets in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It's just not right. And we all need to be talking about it until we can really be called a decent civilization, by providing the very least anyone can ask for - shelter. It was an honor and a privilege to help produce this film, and our team, led by director Colin Gray, is all in on doing whatever we can to help make it a world where the most basic needs are being met ... by raising the roof!

 

Many, if not most, Academy members live in Los Angeles and can see the massive and outrageous problem of people living on the streets every day. One can complain about it, or one can do something about it. We chose the latter by making this film. The intent we set out with was to at least start the conversation to find solutions, rather than look the other way, as so many do when faced with this situation. 

A good starting point with any tough subject is always EMPATHY. The NIMBY people who don't care what happens as long as they don't have to see houseless HUMANS in their neighborhood don't seem to realize how quickly it could be them. You lose a job, a family member gets an illness, your rent gets raised, and BOOM.  I've seen it happen to more than one person I know, and no one is as stable as they think they are. We have to start CARING more, because we truly are all in this together. 

 

 

We held a screening at Beyond Baroque on Monday night for Oscar voters to consider UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality as a worthy competitor for the Academy Awards, and to raise awareness for our #RaiseTheRoof Impact Hub.  This is a resource that goes beyond the film to help people find help and resources in their area, as well as for those who want TO help and OFFER resources. It was clear that this topic truly affects us all, and it's high time we all did something about it. That is why we're pushing hard for an Oscar nomination. It's not about any personal glory for any of us. but a means to get the word out on a much larger scale, not only about the film, but the ISSUE - and the ways we can all work together to ENSURE that Housing is enshrined as a basic human right. Because it is. 

UNZIPPED is also a finalist for the Anthem Awards in the Awareness and Media category, and we'd be so honored if you would help this project by voting for us there too (anyone can, no need to be in the Academy!). It's nice that we're in the Awareness category, because that's exactly what we're trying to raise - along with roofs. Please vote here - https://celebrate.anthemawards.com/PublicVoting/#/2024/humanitarian-action-services/awareness-media-categories/. Thank you!

I know there are a lot of qualified documentaries, and a lot of very deeply important topics covered, but I really wonder which affect Los Angeles more than our homeless pandemic? Or the world, for that matter. I think about the Olympics coming up in L.A. in 2028, and wonder how they'll erase the inescapable sadness that is the homeless situation all over town? How they'll justify housing an entire Olympic Village for the athletes when they can't find affordable housing for our full time citizens? It's pretty heavy.  I'm currently in Minneapolis taking care of family, where it is starting to get cold. There are major homeless encampments in the city, and people with signs for help at freeway exits and busy intersections all around the Twin Cities and their suburbs. It's the holiday season, and I just don't know how any of us can feel good about any of us sleeping out in the cold. It's truly time to RAISE THE ROOF (that is a hot link for you to follow and get involved!!) for everyone, and I hope so much that you can all help us make it a reality where everyone has safe shelter and enough to eat. This is America, and we need to do far better by our People. We CAN. And we MUST.

UNZIPPED is available to watch now on Amazon Prime and Vimeo, and eligible for you to consider it for the Academy Awards right NOW! Thank you so much for helping us to #RaiseTheRoof!!! We truly appreciate it, and so will all the people we can help together. 

Season's Greetings to All! I miss you, Venice!

The Venice Premiere of UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality - A True Venice Reunion!

The Venice Premiere of UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality was held last weekend at the Mishkon Temple on Main Street, on a beautiful night in a historic building filled with friends. 

 

I had never been inside the Temple, and you would never know how big it is inside ... and how full it would soon be with all of our Venice loved ones. A long line formed outside, and the buzz was building as friends happily greeted each other and caught up as fast as they could before the movie was to begin.

 

The long road to getting this film out into the world began in Venice, and was made for and by Venetians. To finally get to see it in a room jam-packed with people that also care deeply about our chosen home was both very exciting and very moving. I was close to tears the entire evening. 

As I'm still deep in caregiver mode for my family in Minnesota, I had to just zoom in for the event. That made it even more special and emotional, because I had to soak it all in for just one night, and try to get to see and talk to everyone at once who I miss so dearly. Of course, that was impossible, so please consider this both my thank you note and my love letter to all of you who were there to support us and our Venice movie. 

All of the happy reunions and catching up of course meant that the film had to start on "Venice Standard Time" - which is always a little later than stated. Once we got everyone seated, there was a land acknowledgement and welcome from Carol Levy, the Mishkon President, as well as an update and welcome from Kristina von Hoffman, President of the Venice Heritage Museum. The VHM was one of our chosen beneficiaries of the evening, as well as a valuable resource throughout the making of our film. We all learned that it looks like the VHM will have a home as soon as this year! Great news! It will be a wonderful place for people to learn all about our beloved town that has given so much to the American culture. Venice Family Clinic was also there as a beneficiary and partner, and the good they do for our community is on full display in our film. THANK YOU, VFC!

UNZIPPED is not a documentary trying to tell you how things should be. It is a vehicle to get a conversation started about how we can all find solutions together for the unhoused situation that has gotten out of control in Los Angeles in recent years. And get a conversation started it definitely did - even DURING the film! In true Venetian fashion, audience members were shouting back to the screen, cheering for faces they know and love, jeering at others who maybe are missing that empathy chip that is so crucial to any hope of harmony in our world. It was awesome. 

Cheers rang out as Run The Jewels kicked in and the credits ran, and then it was time for more socializing and catching up. As hoped, there was much discussion about the homeless issue, and what everyone thinks is best for Venice. PERFECT. Keep it up! We need to not look away, and we need to look out for each other - whether we have housing or not. It's a very complicated issue (as the audience let us know), but we don't have the option of looking away. We can all do better. We all MUST do better. And we don't want it to stop with seeing the film and having discussion about it. There are SO many ways to get involved in our #RaiseTheRoof campaign ... there are so many ways to help in the world - just pick ONE. 

It was all over way too soon, and I didn't even nearly get to talk to everyone I wanted to, but I saw your faces and felt your love, and carried it all back with me the next day (after the crucial and glorious beach afternoon, followed by Hinano's!) with a smile on my face and in my heart. 

If you weren't able to join us at the Venice screening, you're still in luck! The Oscar qualifying run of UNZIPPED begins TODAY at the Santa Monica Laemmle for one week. There will be a Q and A with our director, Colin Gray, after the Tuesday screening (that I will HATE to not be at), and I hope you can get there to see it in a proper theater. There will also be a New York premiere in May, and a big Hollywood red carpet whole deal premiere on June 1st, and a streaming release that will make it available in 192 countries right on your own tvs. Please stay tuned for all of the developments regarding the film, and please try to get involved in your own way. 

 

Affordable housing needs to be enshrined as a HUMAN RIGHT. It is unconscionable that there is even one person living on the street in a country this wealthy, never mind whole tent cities. It's really embarrassing, and as one of our interview subjects in the film says, other countries in developing parts of the world look at US as backwards. As they should. And we all know we can do better. 

There was a lot of work and heart and emotion put into this film, and our whole team has a deep love for Venice that is up on the screen for all to see. I miss our groovy old Venice, and anyone who lived there in those times knows what I mean. The magic is still there in Venice, it's just maybe a little harder to find than it was back in the day ... unless you know where to look. And all you had to do last Saturday was sit down in a darkened theater among your COMMUNITY gathered together to know that you were surrounded by that only in Venice vibe that will always be kept alive in each one of us, wherever we may go. 

THANK YOU, VENICE!! I LOVE YOU! Now go see UNZIPPED, let us know what you think, and let's roll up our sleeves together to make our Community - and the WORLD - a better, even MORE magical place. 

#RaiseTheRoof !!!!

Happy International Women's Day!

 Hi Friends and Readers I haven't yet met ...  !

Blogtown has been on a little hiatus while I work on bigger writing projects and care for my family in Minnesota ... but it will all be worth it one of these days when I can share the work with you. In the meantime, read some golden oldies and be sure to join us for the VENICE premiere of our VENICE film, UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality on March 25, 2023 at the Mishkon Temple on Rose. 

 

Information below - Please come! I can't wait to catch up with all of you! LOVE! VIVA VENICE!!!

The Green House Smoke Shop - Gone, But Never Forgotten

 I can't believe I have to write this, but the beloved Green House Smoke Shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California is gone. GONE. Yep. Another victim of gentrification, the long standing purveyor of all smoking needs and community catch ups has shut its doors, leaving a massive hole in the hearts of so many old school Venetians. The landlord decided to cash in on their building, gave them a 60 day notice, and Green House owners Bunny Lua and Sandor Caplan found themselves having to pack up everything in order to close up shop on what has been nearly their entire existence the past two decades. The Green House was one of the last cool Mom and Pop shops on the boulevard, and now it's pretty much down to Abbot's Pizza, The Brig, and Burro. It's so sad, it really does feel like yet another death in the Venice family. 

I've written about the Green House in the past, but I would never be prepared to write about it not being there.  I wrote about Bunny in the past for Women's Day in Venice, too, but when I talked to her about her shop closing, we were both real emotional about it - for good reason. The Green House was not just a store, but a hub of the community, where you might not need anything to smoke that day, but you would stop in anyway, to catch up with your friends and hear about what was the latest in the neighborhood. I have spent hours on the couch behind the counter talking with Bunny, and saw first hand just how much this place meant to so many. 

Having survived the worst part of the Covid pandemic (so far), even though they were considered "non-essential" (and many would argue with that distinction), it was an especially hard gut-punch to be told that they had to clear out 20 years of Smoke Shop history, all while having no idea of what they were to do next. The Green House is quintessentially Venice, so relocating is a challenge ... plus they need time to grieve what was a true and deep loss in this community. 

As they had to be out pretty quickly, the Green House closed up shop without much fanfare. Longtime customers had no idea - and might still not know - that their go-to on Abbot Kinney was now gone. Empty. The stories and memories of a crucial Venice generation are now just that. Memories. Great ones. 

Bunny, Sandor, and their son, Leaf, as well as their extended family members are so dear to me, I have always considered them my Venice Ohana. The first memory I have of Leaf is of him banging on a conga drum at out annual 4/20 Sponto Croquet Tournament when he was just a little toddler. I painted his face with little leaves, and adored him ever since. Leaf would have little sales of his toys (I still have a Smurf!) on the sidewalk in front of the shop, and then when he got bigger (a LOT bigger, he's way taller than me now), he would practice his basketball moves on a hoop Sandor installed in front. Everyone on the block knew and loved Leaf, and he truly grew up inside that little shop. 

 

Bunny's dad tended to a slew of plants and succulents in the yard of the shop, and that was one of the saddest things to me ... seeing them all cleared out and gone. So much vibrancy, so much life, so many good vibes ... all just gone. For what? Caplan told me so many locals had told him over the years that if it wasn't for the Green House, they would never go to the Abbot Kinney anymore. When you take all the character out of a place, what's the point of going there? Everywhere has mall shops. And we don't like malls. 

They chose Abbot Kinney for their shop because the rent was cheap (!), as the block was as ghost town in those days - I honestly can recall a tumbleweed blowing down the road! Abbot Kinney (Formerly West Washington!) ran through the heart of town, was a main street for locals, and far enough away from the Boardwalk that they catered more to people who lived here than to the tourist crowd. Oh, how things very quickly changed. Green House never advertised - they didn't have to. It was all friends and word of mouth customers who quickly became friends. "To many, the shop stood as the last beacon of the true Venice, the Venice they remembered and fell in love with when they first arrived, and the Shop was locked in that time. It was so familiar, it made you feel at home - always the same, but a little different - when you came back years later," explained Caplan in what I think is a perfect summation of why the Green House was so special to so many. It encapsulated a moment in time in Venice ... a time that I think most will agree was way better.

The main thing both Lua and Caplan wanted to express was their deep gratitude for all the wonderful years of business, and all their friendships that were made. In the shop's last days, those who knew they were closing came in to thank THEM - showing just how crucial they were to so many's Venice experience. Those customers taught them things, and vice-versa. They supported the Green House, and in turn, the Green House supported so many Venice entities, from the Abbot Kinney Festival to getting new trashcans put in on the boulevard, to sometimes just listening to a friend cry on their shoulders (me). It doesn't even seem real to me that the next time I stroll down Abbot Kinney, I won't be able to pop into the Green House to see my dear, dear friends. And that SUCKS.

We all know things change and blah blah, but this one is real tough to swallow. Things are still a bit up in the air as this is all pretty new, but Lua has a CBD business she's getting off the ground called Vertbiotic, which you can follow on Instagram until there is a proper launch. (You can also keep in touch with the Green House family on Instagram. If you have any smoke needs or just want to know what they're up to, or would like to offer them your own thanks, you can DM them at Greenhousesmokeshopvenice on IG, or at Facebook.com/GreenHouseVenice) I know that Vertbiotic will be a great business endeavor for Bunny, but still ... it sure won't be the same as dropping in to the good old Green House to catch on up with the news of the day. Those days are now gone. 

I'd like to offer my own deep thanks and gratitude to Bunny, Sandor, and Leaf. For the visits, the support, the pipes, the news, the laughs, the copies of Vice I would pick up there, the hugs ... but most importantly, for the years of friendship and memories that will be guaranteed to bring a smile to my face for the rest of my life. THANK YOU, FRIENDS! And Cheers to you for creating something special that will live on in the hearts of all the Venice locals who loved you for so long. WE LOVED YOU, GREEN HOUSE SMOKE SHOP! ALWAYS. 

 

IG: GreenHouseSmokeShopVenice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenHouseVenice

Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality Has Its World Festival Premiere In Newport Beach - And Wins!

The journey to bring our feature documentary UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality to the big screen kicked off on October 24th, 2021 at the Newport Beach Film Festival. This is just the beginning of our larger mission to catalyze debate, awareness, and action around the already massive - and growing - affordable housing (and humanity) crisis in the United States and around the globe with this film.

When we set out to make UNZIPPED in 2018, we could never have predicted how much the world would change with the Covid-19 pandemic as we were filming ... or how much worse the affordable housing crisis was going to get. We who have lived and loved in our beautiful home of Venice, California (an "INTENTIONAL Beach community of color" - Naomi Nightingale, as quoted in the film) have been watching the outrageous and growing income inequality and lack of affordable housing (THE issues of our time, along with the climate CRISIS - which are all related) push our friends and neighbors out of their homes for years, all while gentrification continues to demolish the very soul of our town in real time. This isn't new. 

UNZIPPED follows the artists and stakeholders of Venice as they struggle to remain both housed and committed to their art, and to their/our community. We interviewed those on all sides who have been impacted by lack of affordable housing, homelessness, and rapid gentrification in our neighborhood. The overwhelming realization upon finally watching the finished film all unfold on the screen is that no matter what, we are all connected. All of us. We are ALL affected by the heartbreaking situation of families living outside on the streets, of people being evicted from their homes, of people struggling to remain in their community - and we can all do far better. We are one human family, and though some in our family are sorely lacking in empathy, it doesn't change that absolute fact. 

A fantastic crowd from Venice made the trip down to Newport Beach to see all of our hard work manifest into something beautiful there in the darkened theater of the NBFF. It was a joy to see all of the familiar faces, as well as most of the cast and crew of our movie, led by writer/director, Colin K. Gray. If you have lived in Venice for any amount of time in recent years, you will recognize many people in it, as we filmed in and around Venice for the last three years (including over 55 shoot days, 80+ interviews, and hundreds of hours of footage). It is a very heated issue, and that comes across in the film. We tried to give voice to the different opinions on these staggeringly complex issues - in search of actual, positive solutions - so that maybe Venice, CA. 90291 can be more than just a cautionary tale of how NOT to let byzantine zoning laws, developers,  and divisive rhetoric run roughshod over a town, and possibly find a way to maintain the beauty of its character. There is still time. Time to remember - and honor - that Venice is the PEOPLE'S beach.

 

Venice is one of the most vibrant and exciting places in the world, with a rich history of pop culture forming within its boundaries. Art, music, surf, skating, style, writers, and eccentrics all combined to be the creative vortex we were all drawn to. I truly believe that will never fully change, but landlords and corporations and just plain greed are trying their very best to wring the cool out of it. Well, we're not having it. Hence, this film. Hence, all the organizations and good people rallying around it to make things a little more righteous ... a hopefully a little more just, equitable, and compassionate going forward. To that end, we filmmakers have teamed up with The Illumination Foundation, an O.C. based homeless advocacy organization, as well as the co-host of our NBFF premiere. We will also be rolling out a comprehensive social impact campaign along side the film release - #RaiseTheRoof - which will support other local and national affordable housing initiatives.  We will also be donating 10% of the film’s proceeds to leading organizations active in the affordable housing, anti-displacement and homelessness spaces. 

We're also excited to announce Cargo Film and Releasing will now be representing UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality for both domestic and foreign sales, as we all know that this issue has reached global proportions. Lack of affordable housing is a truly global crisis with over 1.6 billion people living in sub-standard housing.  UNZIPPED is a deliberately local lens on this growing national and global issue and we’re excited for it now to be shared with a worldwide audience. We're also thrilled to announce that Lucy Liu recently came on board as one of our Executive Producers, and that the incredible rap duo Run The Jewels has graciously allowed us to use their music for our opening and closing tracks ("A Report to the Shareholders/Kill Your Masters" and "Sea Legs", respectively)! 

It was so wonderful and emotional to see it all come together in such a heartfelt and beautiful way at NBFF after the eye-opening journey of working on this film. I really hope everyone will embrace our film, and I also really think it can help. The key way to gain progress on any issue is opening up the discussion, and our film is both a provocative and intimate starting point. Once communicating openly, we as a nation can begin to both heal and advance our causes in a humanitarian way. And we MUST. 

After the applause died down, and the tears were wiped away, we all assembled at a restaurant nearby to celebrate and catch up, as many of us had not seen each other throughout the pandemic (it was the first indoor movie for many!). The overwhelming feeling was not one of despair, but of hope. Hope that there is still time for America to fulfill its true destiny, as a nation by and FOR the PEOPLE. A nation that cares about ALL of its citizens, including the marginalized, and not just the ones with money. UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality holds a mirror up to our country's collective face - and right now, it's actually kind of ugly and in need of a total makeover. We have the means, we just need the will. Our planet and its People are dying in front of our eyes. It doesn't have to be this way. We can do better. We must do better. We WILL do better. 

 

JUST as I was about to send this in for global publication, we got the news that UNZIPPED won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Newport Beach Film Festival! That's the one that's voted on by the people in attendance, not the industry panel of judges, which is even cooler, because this is a film for the PEOPLE. YES. Onward. UPward. Until it's totally normal that everyone has the basic human right of housing. C'mon.

UNZIPPED will next be in competition at the American Black Film Festival November 3-28, 2021, showing virtually from Miami this year. You can register at ABFFPlay.com for free to see the film, as well as a wide range of scripted features, documentaries, and short films. Following that, we anticipate a Venice premiere and national release in early 2022. Tremendous thanks to all involved who helped to make this important film possible. Please see it as soon as you can, and let us know what you think, follow our socials @UnzippedMovie, and get more festival screening, release, and social impact information at www.UnzippedMovie.com . Our hope is that it will touch your heart and move you to become involved in the growing movement to enshrine housing as a human right. Thank you!

#RaiseTheRoof!!! 

 

Blogtown Is 12 Today!

Blogtown is twelve years old today, and I just wanted to acknowledge that. It has been a privilege and an honor to tell the stories of Venice, California - and in more recent days, Minneapolis, Minnesota - in an effort to shine a light on the cool people and places that are doing good things and making our world a little better. 

 I hope you will continue to read along as I keep spinning the yarns that matter to me. Thank you!

The Venice Heritage Museum - Know Your History!

 It always kind of amazes me how very little people know about the history of Venice. People that have lived here quite a while that have never heard of the Neptune Parade! That don't know who Arthur L. Reese was, and what he did for Venice. Or Irving Tabor! That don't know how Abbot Kinney chose the land that became Venice of America. That don't know the Black History of the Oakwood neighborhood. Maybe if they did, there wouldn't be people like the Penskes trying to buy a historical church for their personal residence? Well, the Venice Heritage Museum is about to make sure that all Venetians know their history. 

The idea of a museum for Venice has been discussed for nearly the entire time our seaside community has existed, but now there is really something happening with it. Founded by Venice collectors such as Todd Von Hoffman and his band of merry pranksters. I met with VHM Board members Kristina Von Hoffman, Marilyn Ramirez, and Takara Adair at the proposed site of the new museum earlier this month when I was back in my beloved Venice checking up on it and getting a badly needed break from caregiving back in Minneapolis. We sat down in the grass there in Centennial Park, and I wondered if most current Venetians even know where that is? Well, it's the expanse between Venice Boulevard, in front of the Abbot Kinney Memorial branch of the Library - and that is where the Venice Heritage Museum is going to be located, in the perfect spot to welcome all to Venice. 

The proposal features a restored classic Red Line Trolley to house the actual museum, along with a copy of the original Tokio Station where you would (will) buy tickets and get information, as well as a stage to host musicians, talent shows, storytelling, and all that good stuff that brings people together. The inside will feature the collections, archives, photographs, virtual reality interaction, and many, many stories of Venice past as our town gears up to celebrate its 116th Anniversary on July 4th this year! That's a lot of history, and it simply must be preserved to show future generations just how this groovy enclave became all that it is, including Dogtown and the designation as the "Last Beach Community of Color" in Los Angeles. 

I remember when the gentrification was really gearing up after the turn of this century, and I started Blogtown in 2009 in order to capture some of the stories and characters of a Bohemian Surf community that I could already feel starting to disappear as the big money came in. Greedy landlords drove out so much of the artistic, creative, eccentric, hippie spirit of the place ... but not all of it. Venice has an indomitable spirit that refuses to be snuffed out, and I saw all of it still very much intact on my far too brief of a return trip back. It's there. It's vital. It must be celebrated. It must be kept intact, and handled in a way that knows how precious and rare it is. That is up to all of us who love Venice. 

No one moves to Venice to live in a regular, humdrum place. When you become a resident of this Community, you must recognize where you are moving into. You cannot expect it to change to your personal desires - you're new, and much came before you. YOU have to change to become Venice (or not, if you're already somewhat cool). You come into such a place with RESPECT - for what came before you, and for what it is now. 

 

The only way forward for a place such as Venice is by treating all with that respect, with listening, learning, empathy, and kindness. The way you learn is by knowing your history, which you will learn from your neighbors, of course, but soon there will be an actual place to bone up on your Venice knowledge with the Venice Heritage Museum. 

There have been several successful fundraising events to make this dream happen, from a launch at Beyond Baroque, a party at Hama Sushi, and a car wash at Great Western Hoagies to a wrap party for the Go Fund Me campaign that was held at the beach parking lot. With all of the negativity surrounding Venice in the past few years, residents have been eager to have something positive to focus on, which this project most certainly is. This museum is wanted, and there is a clear will to make it happen. The hope is to break ground on the campus before the end of this year, with an eye on opening in July of 2023 in time for Venice's birthday! 

There is still a great deal of work to be done, and will take the involvement of the entire Community as the VHM strives to be an inclusive space that shares the stories of all. This space will bring together residents and tourists alike for very Venice events, which is the whole point - to show that the culture and that SPIRIT of Venice is still very much alive and well. They need your memorabilia, your photos, your written stories, and yes, your dollars to make it happen. Please reach out to the Venice Heritage Museum team via their Website, and help bring yet another Venice dream come true. 

 

Thank you so much for caring about the history and preservation of our Venice. 

Donate to the Venice Heritage Museum HERE. 

*Photos courtesy Venice Heritage Museum.

Return To Venice! A Love Letter.

Four years ago today I was the Neptune Queen of Venice. It was the happiest, brightest, best day of Summer ever ... and a week later, everything unraveled. My landlord jacked up the rent so high it was not possible, and I began a year of house sitting and couch surfing while trying desperately to stay in Venice, my home of 25 years. I got supremely ghosted by someone I loved. Then my beloved Mom got a bone infection in her toe, and I flew home to help her through it, putting my stuff into storage at 4th and Rose - thinking I'd be back in a few weeks. Then Mom's leg had to be amputated. Then the home where she was to live had a staff member that broke Mom's shoulder, so I had to get her out of there, signing up to be her caregiver myself. Then the pandemic hit. Then my brother who lives with my Mom had three strokes. Then George Floyd was murdered by the police here in Minneapolis ... and then we all got vaccinated and it was finally time for my return to Venice. After all the stories I had heard over the past year, I was nervous as to what state I might find my cherished chosen home town to be in, and had to see for myself. 

What I found was that yes, there were a LOT of changes. Many of my favorite places (The French Market!) have closed, some not to return. There are a LOT more homeless, but honestly, that's everywhere, not just Venice. It might seem terrible at the beach, but take a drive through Hollywood. It's a living nightmare. Look at the freeway exit ramps in Minneapolis in the middle of winter. I don't blame people for getting to the beach if they're homeless - wouldn't you? We're all in this together - a very important reminder.

There was rumors and realities of terrible violence, but that's always been the case in Venice, but I didn't see or feel or hear of any during my two weeks back, thankfully. And in many ways, it felt like I never left - we all just picked up where we left off before the pandemic! But most importantly, the SPIRIT of Venice and its COMMUNITY, are still very much intact - if you know where to look for it. And I do.

 

I always start at the beach. I dove right into the frigid Pacific water, that I had missed so very much. My skin drying off from saltwater in the sunshine is possibly my favorite feeling in life, and I got a lot of it. It was fitting that I was met with a big heart of rose petals right in front of where I have always spent my time on the sand, what we call Playa de Los Amigos. Heaven. 

The next stop is always the Skatepark, because it's the centerpiece of the entire Boardwalk - and I love it. There is always good skating to watch, and almost always a friendly face from the neighborhood. 

When I first arrived, the entire area of the Boardwalk from the Skatepark all the way north was one big homeless encampment. By the time I left it was mostly cleaned up. I don't know what happened in between, and I hope there was compassion and empathy involved - because that is one big thing I saw lacking. There is a lot of fighting and complaining by some Venetians, but very few solutions being offered by those griping. 

The VNC Election was happening while I was there ... and that was kind of ugly too. I'm very disappointed that Jim Murez was elected President, as I have yet to hear empathy or compassion from him in all the years that I've known him. Let's all hope that this position will help him find that part of himself within, because otherwise I don't see much harmony on deck for Venice. Everyone needs to make sure it's not just about those with property value concerns over People. I was also very disappointed that Sergio Perez from Great Western Hoagies didn't get in, because you don't get much more local or more awesome than him. But good for Mike Bravo, Jim Robb, and Alley Bean! We need people that CARE in leadership, and not just about their property values, but the COMMUNITY - which includes EVERYONE. 

The beach is a good place to start not only for the water, but for the art and entertainment as well. There weren't as many street performers out down there, but murals everywhere, starting with the updated Starry Night by Rip Cronk. Beautiful! (Leave it alone, taggers!) ...

There were two by Jules Muck honoring luminaries from Venice's past, like Arthur L. Reese, the first Black resident of Venice, known as "The Wizard of Venice" for his inventions and decorations - like floats for Venice Mardi Gras! He sounded like a great time. 

Right next to that is another Muck piece, featuring early Venice residents, Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, and Abbot Kinney himself. There is so much history in Venice, all of which will be celebrated in the new Venice Heritage Museum - coming soon! 

 

A short stroll down the Boardwalk and you'll see a tribute to Kobe and Gigi Bryant - a loss that is still hard to believe, especially because I wasn't in L.A. at the time when it happened. Simply tragic. 

Also tragic was the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. I had heard about the solidarity marches and support in Venice, and it was great to see images of George Floyd all the way across the country in the town that I love. Thank you! (and his filthy murderer Chauvin was just convicted for 22.5 years! Change begins now.)

Shepard Fairey has a new one on Pacific letting you know that PATIENTS HAVE RIGHTS. I've been entangled in our broken healthcare system for going on two years now, and it is a serious battle every single day. It SUCKS, and needs to be moved to the top of America's problem list - with the CLIMATE (Remember that? It does). 

Hampton Drive had a fantastic new piece celebrating all things Venice, and I love everything about it. The color palette, the images, the spirit! 

From Venice's long history of resistance (never needed more than today!) to Muscle Beach and regular beach people, to tigers and lifeguard towers and ice cream - it's simply wonderful. 

There's a great new mural over at Hoagie's too, and the day I saw it was the day Hecho En Venice had a booth set up in front of it and Oscar was the perfect photo subject to capture it with! 

The parking lot that runs behind Abbot Kinney is full of murals always, and I really dug the new one of Stevie Nicks back there. 

The rainbow crosswalk isn't really a mural, but it is really Venice. 

You can see art just walking the regular streets of Venice, like this happy rainbow wall.  

My favorite part of walking or biking around Venice is always the people that make the place. One smile from Fred at the Gonzo Africa Rasta booth at the beach will make your whole day. 

I had so many happy reunions I don't know where to start, but one of the most important ones was with my great friend Beckett, who has a bunch of new teeth since I saw him last! We were stoked. 

On my third night back there was a music night at The Penmar, the new venue at the Penmar Golf Course. I got my pals Paul Chesne and Lacey Cowden to join Blue Eyed Son and The Coastal Folk for a night of live music FINALLY, and it was simply the best. I got to see SO many friends all at once - without masks - and it was a true highlight of my return. Thank you to everyone there! 

Hinano's was, of course, one of my first (and last!) stops, and it was so good to grab an exceptional burger, a frosty beer (they were out of Red Stripe though, what?!), and especially a hug from my pal, Melissa! 

It was a blast to be just walking along a street and run into someone I adored that didn't even know I was back. It happened a lot, and was a boost to the soul each time - like when I randomly ran into my old pal and Skateboard Hall of Famer Ray Flores! Awesome. 

 

The beach is sincerely holy to me - my Church, really - and I need as much time there as possible. It is truly healing for me, and I miss it deeply every day that I can't just walk to it. What a life giver! 

The beach and ocean are the focus of nature for me in Venice, but natural beauty is also everywhere. I was so happy that I didn't miss the jacarandas this year! I came from purple lilacs in Minnesota and was met by the purple rain of jacaranda blossoms in Venice. Thankful! 

The community garden at Beyond Baroque is thriving, and was a lovely spot to sit and take it all in for a moment. 

 

 

The Venice Canals are as gorgeous as ever (if a little low!). A walk through the canals is always beautiful, peaceful, and transformative ... as well as aspirational for me. It is my dream location to live one day, if not right on the beach.

I missed Venice sunsets so much. The free show every night was one of my favorite things to stop and appreciate and be grateful for. You come to realize that they're beautiful everywhere - just different. It's really more about the people that you spend them with ... and I try to view them with people I love whenever I look, so it's still been lovely. Just not Venice. 

 

The creative spirit is what initially drew me to Venice, and it remains everywhere. Not just in the arts, but in the hearts, minds, and souls of its people. When the pandemic hit, people were still able to gather, because Venice folks thought up The Music Box - an actual box that performers get in to play music out on the sand (where all could be safe and distanced and still enjoy each other and the entertainment). I got to go on my last night in town, and it was exactly what I needed to sustain me until I'm back full time. Sunset, music, ocean waves on background vocals, and most importantly, FRIENDS. I just loved loved loved it. (and it's TONIGHT if you're in Venice!)

Time with my friends that are my family was the very best part of this return trip that FLEW by waaaaaay too fast, People! Phone calls and Facetimes and Zooms and texts and snail mail and everything is great, but to hug someone and look into their eyes as they well up with happiness to be back in each others' arms was an absolute elixir for my soul, one that I have carried with me through all the craziness that ensued the moment I got back to Minneapolis. I love my friends! 

The Ladies! (Christina, Steph, Lacey, Mandy)

Deb!

Jenny! (Thank you for letting me stay at your pad!)

 Erinn!

Paddy and Lacey! 

Suzy Williams! 

Karen!

Tonan!

Brigette! 

James and Danny! (Thank you for the excellent farewell Drag Brunch!)

Rebekah! (Thank you for letting me stay in the Shack!)

And so many more that I saw and didn't get photos with ... and that I sadly didn't see because the time went too fast (or they just didn't try!) that I love but will have to see in the future. But ALL of Venice, please know this. I'll be back ... and YOU ARE LOVED. 

ALWAYS. XOXO, Your CJ