Now Serving At The French Market - Lily's Menu Is Back!

There's going to be a Blogtown double feature today, because there were two distinct Very Venice Valentine events last night that each deserve their own little story. First up, the absolutely fantastic news that The French Market Café is now open for dinner each Thursday - Saturday - and they're serving up our old favorites from Lily's (the neighborhood favorite French restaurant on Abbot Kinney that is now Neighbor, for those of you who may be new to the area)!

Agnes Martinez (owner of the French) and Francis Bey (former co-owner of Lily's) have teamed up to bring back the cuisine that has been SO missed by Lily's regulars like me, and last night when I finally got to order the onglet a l'echalote dish that was one of my all-time favorites. After a glass of Valentine champagne with Agnes, I tucked into my dinner, and it literally brought a mist to my eyes. A welling up of remembrance, and for people and places that are no longer here. It was as delicious as I recalled, and now I'm going to be at the French even more than I already am (next up: the moules frites!).

I had to go backstage when I finished, to hug and thank Francis for making my old culinary dreams come true again. He told me he was going to put a burger on the menu instead, but I had begged for the onglet for so long that he put it on the menu for me! I'm so grateful, and telling everyone to go there so I get to order this more often is the very least I can do. Please GO!

There are several other classic Lily's dishes, and desserts (creme brulée, tarte tatin) to go along with them. A bonus to the French being open at night is that we can finally drink all of their wine from their cellar with dinner! These are exciting times. I couldn't stay and hang out as long as I would have liked, as I had to skedaddle over to Beyond Baroque to catch the album release show for my dear pals, Suzy Williams and Michael Jost (the next story in the queue), but I was so very pleased to be able to attend the opening night of dinner service at my beloved French Market!

So ... the next time you're talking about where to go for dinner (on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, for now), hit the French (free parking!), sit outside, sip some wine, eat some Lily's food, and tell them "Carole" sent you!

The French Market
2321 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice
Dinner 6-9 pm, Thursday - Saturday

Together We Are Stronger Than Any Wall

I was walking down Abbot Kinney this morning, and stopped to admire this poster while I waited for the light to turn at Venice and Abbot Kinney. "Together we are stronger than any wall."

How true is that? And it applies not only to Trump's ridiculous wall, but to those imaginary walls that we tend to put up between us. Like in Venice now, between the Haves and the Have Nots (though that goes for the entire country/world as well). Like between "Dotard" Republicans and "Libtard" Lefties (both slags that I can't stand). Like between neighbors that don't bother to know each other, and build walls to keep themselves in and everyone else out. It's so basic to realize that by working together for a better situation for everyone absolutely makes us ALL stronger. That is elementary stuff. Golden Rule essential knowledge.

Let's learn this lesson finally, shall we? Thanks to whomever put up this excellent reminder that all the beautiful people in our community living in harmony makes the whole that much more solid. Awesome. 

North Venice Little League - A Venice Family Tradition

The North Venice Little League is a whole community that I didn't really know anything about until my little friend Quinn started playing baseball up there a few years ago. A tradition for over 50 years, NVLL provides a home for nearly 500 kids to learn baseball and softball, while making friends for life.

I went to one of Quinn's games early in the season, and it was pretty Bad News Bears (he's 9). I went to their CHAMPIONSHIP game on Sunday, and it was like a whole new team. The amount of practice and work that had gone down during the season was obvious (plus my friend, Shane, Quinn's dad, was almost always at a baseball practice) in their new super athletic prowess. Like, wow.

The A's would lose their last game to the Angels in a nail-biter that was only decided in the very last inning, and though the kids were upset, they learned the most important thing about youth sports, which is to always have fun while doing your best. They were soon shrieking with happiness, soaking each other with water pistols at the annual picnic that happened on Sunday right after their game.

Again, WOW. The vast fields and lawn were filled with hundreds of Venice (and adjacent) families, with pot luck picnic spreads and colorful tents spread out as far as the eye could see. It's a beautiful vista from up there, all the way to the ocean and mountains, and it was a glorious day for a picnic.

The teams all had award ceremonies, where the kids heard speeches from their coaches about themselves in a long series of touching moments illustrating their hard work and character. I especially loved that the A's gave their MVP award to the lone little girl on the team, their excellent shortstop, Lill. Awesome.

These families are so dedicated to their kids and the teams, it's really touching to witness - while creating skills and fundamental lessons that they will carry with them throughout their lives. I also learned about the importance of the "Team Mother", a crucial element to making it all work. She organizes just about everything apart from the coaching - and they are all volunteer positions. My friend Ashley is the quintessential Team Mother, and it was a delight to see her receive her credit where it is so richly due.

Ashley's son, Cash, is now moving on from NVLL to Venice High School, well prepared both for high school sports and life from having spent his formative years participating in this wonderful youth baseball program. The parents are all friends, the kids are all friends, and it's all another way to build the traditions and community that keep Venice strong and unique as a whole.

I had a grand old time enjoying America's pastime on a sunny day (that I still feel burned into my shoulders today), where we could all take a break from the world's craziness for a while, and just enjoy baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and I'm sure someone drove a Chevrolet.

Congratulations to all the teams and families of North Venice Little League on a fantastic season, and on keeping a proud Venice tradition so vital and strong. And to Quinn for being named an All Star! Take me out to the ball game, for real!

Grease Was The Word!

The annual singalong screening of Grease was held at Venice High School this past Saturday night, and was great, as ever. There was a big crowd there filling most of the football field (that is soon to be renovated, and will no longer look like it did in the movie, so this was a special screening, for sure), with a whole bunch of T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and poodle skirt wearing teeny boppers representing the greaser spirit.

Booths lined the running track (also to be updated), fundraising for various school groups, selling things like fried rice and unicorn quesadillas, in addition to a bbq, and the usual high school football game fare. Everyone has seen the film so many times that you could hear the dialogue being recited along with every word, not just the songs.

My friend visiting from out of town mentioned how it felt so small town, which is pretty remarkable, considering how big L.A. is - and it did. Friends waved to neighbors, people squeezed on to the prime blanket real estate on the grass, people shared their movie snacks, and watched other peoples' kids while they went for more. It was great. As I was thinking about it all this morning, I thought how everyone was out there just to have a good time in the community with fellow fun-havers. No one thought twice about being gathered in a big group out in public. It didn't enter our minds that someone might open fire on us all. I'm sure the revelers in Las Vegas for a concert last night didn't think that either ... until it happened. The biggest mass shooting in the United States in modern times. Over 50 dead. Over 500 injured. All for nothing. All because of guns, no gun control, and yet another crazy white man. It's the worst. The fun of the weekend feels like it didn't even happen. But it did, and that's important to remember. We can't give up having fun, or give in to fear, because then we're not living while we're alive - and every breath is precious. This tragedy in Vegas only highlights that fact even more, once again.

Take care of each other. Have fun. Love. And fight for gun control with everything you've got, because something has to stop this insanity, and it's up to We, the People. As everything now has to be.

Abbot Kinney Festival 2017 - Truly A Venice Homecoming

I always love the Abbot Kinney Festival, and have always considered it Homecoming weekend for people that have lived in and loved Venice. This year, it was especially so, as I'd been gone a month, and not exactly positive that I was coming back. Seeing all the friendly faces and having all that fun absolutely confirmed that I made the right decision in doing so.

It wasn't just "Oh, hey, hi" style bumping into people either. It was the eyes and mouths wide open, arms outstretched, grabbing each other and rocking back and forth while hugging extra tight and yelling kind. Like every two feet. The whole day was awesome, and I'd like to rewind and do it all over again so I could see even more people and cool things. So, to relive it a bit ... The day was perfect, let's just get that out of the way. Blue skies, no clouds, bright sunshine, slight breeze to make it all comfortable ... you could not ask for more, weather-wise. On the walk down to the Festival (after a resounding Vikings victory in the morning!), we came across two little enterprising kids that had a lemonade stand on the outskirts of the Festival. I didn't have my notebook along, but if memory serves, these gems were Hayden and Phoebe. It was the best customer service I had all day, and I wish them well in everything they do, the little dolls. Thumbs up!

We had a slight game plan for doing and seeing it all, but when you keep bumping into the incredible people of Venice, plans change. I honestly could have stood in one spot all day and just talked and caught up with everyone going by, but we did our best to keep it moving. We had to stop into The Green House and have our annual Festival photo with our longtime friends, who I LOVE, and was so happy to see.

The Brig (and all the Beer Gardens) and Trim were going off with more fun, as usual, and the lines were long everywhere you looked. This might have been the most packed Festival I can remember. When you got to the area where the food booths were on both sides, the middle of the street was nearly impassable. Yet no one really seemed to mind.

Patience was key. As was love, as Venice legendary activist, David Busch was there to remind us. "Love is not a point, but a circle." And I was enveloped within that circle all day long.

The Venice Historical Society was there to remind people of what has come before ... and to emphasize those great days when there were no chain stores on Abbot Kinney - where they do not belong. It re-inspired me to get my Venice book launched, as people today need to know what made this place so cool to begin with ... and it certainly wasn't the rampant greed you see today. I had a friend say today that he didn't go yesterday, because he felt it was all about commerce now. That's too bad, because this day really is about so much more - mainly COMMUNITY and our NEIGHBORHOODS. That was felt ... so much more than the presence of the brand name jerks. In fact, I didn't even notice them with all the great people around. I also saw several "Snapchat Must Go" type shirts and stickers. Good for them/us.

It was a delight to see my friends at the Venice Pride booth, all happy and celebrating the recent victories of both the Rainbow Lifeguard Tower becoming a permanent fixture on the beach, and the announcement that The Roosterfish will indeed by reopening, by the fine fellows of South End up the street.

It was rumored that The Fish would be open as a pop-up for the Festival (which we all wanted dearly, not least because the ladies bathroom lines have historically always been the shortest there), but that didn't happen. Not sure why. There was a BBQ place out front, so it felt all festive there anyway.

There was sensational music all day, on a slew of stages. We caught some great funk, we missed the Superbroke Orchestra, heard Citizen Cope was playing somewhere ... but you've only got one body, and you do your best.

The Venice-Brooks Festival again piggy-backed on the Abbot Kinney Festival this year, making it even harder to do and see it all. Which is fine, because it was really fun, with reggae d.j.'s making it feel like a tropical get-away all day.

They had AWESOME music, great cocktails, cool merchants, fun people ... I just wish it was its own Festival day, so we wouldn't have to be spread so thin, racing from one end of Venice to the other all day (you definitely get your steps in on this day). Too much of a good thing is not a bad thing.

General Admission and Fioré Designs put on the alternative festival, and it gets better every year. I would have loved to have hung there all day, but my good friends were playing at the "Locals" stage on Andalusia, and we had to get back over there to reunite with all the homies.

I didn't really stop in to the Kids Area, but was very impressed to see this one little girl giving her all at the hammer game thing. Girl Power! We almost got our faces painted for the fun of it, but those dang kids made the lines too long. Oh, well.

Speaking of kids, I got to meet my new, little friend Coyote, enjoying his very first Abbot Kinney Festival! He seconded that it was one of the best ever. Shout out to Laura and Strader for bringing such a cool cat into Venice ... we'll need him.

The sidewalk chalk street was great again this year, with neighbors and friends all coming together to create a mandala of love and creativity. I can't wait until the Chalk Festival is its real own thing. (A different day than the Abbot Kinney Festival, please!)

I was happy to see the fine Venice activists still at it, showing all who came by that it's a tradition in Venice to resist. And resist we will.

The Locals stage was well under way by the time we got there (after again stopping every two feet to greet a new face that I loved), and it was truly a headquarters of all the longtime Venice beloved family.

Logistics made me miss Lacey K. Cowden, Blue Eyed Son, and Steve McCormick (dang it!), but we got there just as Matt Ellis took over the stage, bringing up Paul Chesne just as we arrived for the aptly titled, "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To". Yes, of course, it was awesome.

With so many of the friends now gathered in one spot, it made it difficult to leave. Especially when the backstage area featured refreshments and a bathroom. We posted up here for pretty much the rest of the fest ... it was just too easy.

The day always go by too fast, but then the after-parties kick in. There were several to choose from, so we went to the one that our friends were going to be playing more music at ... the party spot at the corner of South Venice and Abbot Kinney. We got turned on to a great new band there, Fox Trails (We thought they were saying Fox Hills, but I'm pretty sure it's Fox Trails), that we dug a lot. They sounded like new Harry Styles a bit - and that's a compliment I'm surprised to be giving, but it's true. There's maybe a little Incubus vibes in there too ... good stuff. Good times.

It was such a perfect Venice day, and I was so happy to be back, you just wanted it to go on and on and on ... and it did, until fatigue and dehydration forced us to throw in the towel long after the sun had set. Always the best day of the year in Venice, this year's Abbot Kinney Festival was even better than usual, perhaps because there was no taking it for granted. I KNOW how much I love it here, I KNOW how much the people mean to me, I KNOW that this is still where I belong, and deep down, this is still the Venice we all know and love ... you just have to feel it like we did yesterday, and you'll know too that Venice Lives!

Thank you to one and all for a most excellent Venice Homecoming! It was beyond special. I love you all.

Venice Definers

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

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

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

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

Venice Vs. Snapchat - Communities, Not Corporations!

Snapchat, the awful corporation currently trying to ruin Venice, is poised to go public with their IPO tomorrow, and our Venice community had something to say about it. A hastily planned protest went down yesterday on Market Street right out in front of Snap Inc's headquarters to let them know we're not at all pleased.

Venice locals and concerned members of our community gathered on Pacific and Market, armed with signs letting these tech jerks know exactly what we're thinking.

There was a pretty good turnout considering it was a Tuesday (Fat Tuesday, at that!) in the afternoon, and it was encouraging to see all the familiar faces we've known and loved around Venice for years come together in the name of preserving our bohemian beach town that we all deeply love. We live here because it's different - and we like that.

As citizens marched up and down the sidewalks in front of Snapchat, they chanted hilarious (and true) rhymes and waved their signs ("Evan Spiegel is the Trump of Venice!) for the news outlets gathered. Protest organizer, Jim Robb, was interviewed by USA Today here, letting the whole country know that we think they're lame if they choose to invest in a company that cares so little about one of the coolest places on Earth.

I added that the app itself is so lame that no respectable adult should be using that thing for flower crowns and animal faces, it's never made a profit, and basically, it's a stupid fad that we're not willing to give up on our town for. If you've ever enjoyed a visit to Venice, you shouldn't be supporting it or investing in it either. Period.

It was easy to tell who the Snapchat workers were - that dared to come outside, that is. They all wear the boring, Millenial tech worker bland uniform of neutrals with zero character. No flair. No personality at all. A couple of the corporate drone douchebags walked through the protest actually Snapchatting it, drawing our jeers and ire. The less brave peeked out the office windows and took pictures. It's all just SO not Venice, that it's hard to believe THEY even want to be here. They simply do not fit in. Nor do they even try. Why be someplace where you're so extremely unwanted? That's never a good feeling. The overarching sentiment of the day was really just Go Away, Snapchat! ASAP.

 With the Snap, Inc. IPO looming tomorrow, it stand to make this dumb company even more money, which would allow them to gobble up even more of Venice, displacing all the wonderful originality that made Venice a destination to begin with. Money and greed running all the cool out of town to create a corporate campus of rich, little brats that think life in Venice is all about them - which it plainly is not.

The Snapchat security (notoriously known to be dicks) skulked around the fringe, occasionally doing laps in their dumb little golf carts or plain cars, and we all just yelled louder. The cops on the scene were pretty chill, mostly staying out of our way unless someone tried to jaywalk outside of the crosswalk or march in the street instead of the sidewalks, which was mostly about just safety.  Cars would drive by and honk their support and solidarity, drawing louder cheers each time. The best was when a gang of motorcycles did laps around Market, revving their superloud motors right outside the front doors of Snapchat. I bet not that much got done in there yesterday. Good.

We all know how much Venice has already changed, and that change is inevitable. There is, however, a respectful way to implement change, and that is not the course being laid out by Snapchat. They release little statements about how they want to be a part of and give back to the community, but it's all b.s. They think Venice is their Snap world, and we're just living in it -while we still can afford it. We were there yesterday to let them know that the opposite is true. They are in OUR town, and we're not going anywhere. We can chant and protest every day. They can go somewhere else and be an office park in a place established for that, not turn one of the most beloved Southern California destinations into one.

Speakers chanted and orated about their love for Venice over a makeshift P.A., and a playlist of protest-appropriate jams blared in between. Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Rage Against The Machine ... a soundtrack for the resistance that we all sang and danced along with ... because Venice follows the Emma Goldman dictate of "If I can't dance, I don't want to part of your Revolution." Venice protests - like everything else - are fun. And that's what we're fighting for. We don't want to be a corporate playground, and no one that visits here wants that. We/They want that funky, unique, exciting, unpredictable Venice. Think about it. Mull it over, Snapchat, because you picked the wrong group of People to fight with. We won't go away.

We won't go away because of little dudes like our friend, Kingston, here. He was born and is being raised here in Venice, by parents that love it here and want a cool Venice to bring their son up in. No one wants to tell their kids that it USED to be hip here. Why would any company want to be responsible for that? Why would anyone support a company that would do that to a World landmark without a second thought? It's disgraceful.

Little Kingston felt it. He could not be contained, insisting on getting right out in the street with his tiny fist raised, all on his own. He is why we were there. We want to make sure he gets to be proud of his Venice. People don't move here or come here or stay here because they want to be like everywhere else. They're here because they felt that something special that is Venice, and don't want to be anywhere else. Chants like "Keep Venice Weird" kept up until after sunset, and as the rush hour traffic on Pacific grew, so did the noise. If I worked at Snapchat (which I never would), I'd be embarrassed. First, for adding nothing to society but a time-waster, and second, for working for a company that is so widely despised and unwanted here. Clearly.

We're all hoping this IPO fully tanks, and soon the unfriendly ghost of Snapchat will just be a bad nightmare memory here in Venice, and we can all go back to gathering in the name of good vibes. Venice vibes. No matter what happens with it, they can expect to keep hearing from the still very strong Venice community, loudly and proudly.

Resist! Keep Venice Weird!

Casa Linda is Back - With Margaritas!

As last night was Taco Tuesday, it was time to go check out the newly reopened Casa Linda in its new location, down in the old Meditrina/Primitivo space. Before I even made it inside, I was greeted by my friend, the former chef at Hal's, Manual Mares. It was so good to see Manuel again, as it was to see that they still have the beautiful mural created by Judy Baca in the new dining room.

It was a balmy Indian Summer (still!) evening, so we sat out back on the patio, which is an improvement on the former space that had no outdoor seating. The other major improvement is that they now have a full liquor license, so we finally got to have a perfecto margarita along with our tacos. Mine was hibiscus, and absolutely delicious.

The menu remains pretty much the same, and I got to have my fish tacos again, only this time, outside and accompanied by a Mexican cocktail - as it should be. The back patio is all colorful painted beams and lights strung overhead, kind of reminding me of the old Mobay (which then became Lilly's, now Willie Jane), all bright and festive.

With all the change and turnover on Abbot Kinney these days, it was extra great to feel at home, to feel comfortable, to see people I knew at the other tables, to see people I knew making the food and drinks. It was also really great to see my friend, Cam, sitting outside, telling me about his poems, just as it's always been for us here in our neighborhood.

Casa Linda is back, Amigos! With tequila. See you there - soon!

Casa Linda
1025 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice
#310-664-1177

Tales From The Venice Crypt

I walk by my neighbor's house most every day, and always kind of laugh to be greeted by this character, all year round. Rialto gets decked out for Halloween every year, so maybe they just get a jump on decorating by leaving him there, but I always get a kick out of it.

On the other side of the sidewalk is a crazy, metal sculpture, and the point seems just to be fun.

I don't yet know these neighbors, but I want to. They're doing their part to keep Venice groovy and interesting ... what are you doing?

I'm excited to see.