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.

Knitted Branches Of A Community

My birthday was on Monday, and I was pretty slow to rise after festivities the night before (THANK YOU, all my friends at Hatchet Hall!). My head hurt, thanks to very generous friends plying me with very generous drinks (with flowers in them!). When you feel like that, it starts you thinking too, not always in the most positive light. It was not the way I'd pictured my day going, but it was my birthday, so I had to rally.

Each year on my birthday, I have to - have to - immerse myself in a natural body of water for a little dose of rebirth. It can be a lake, river, swimming hole, or the sea, but it just has to be. With that in mind, and knowing that a dip in the ocean always helps with these kinds of mornings, I set off for Playa De Los Amigos, on a perfect blue sky afternoon. Ok, late afternoon.

Several things aligned. My friends at the French Market knew it was my birthday, and hooked me up with the perfect mocha to get my head straight. My friend, Lacey, was also up for a dip, and in fact offered to pick me up so I didn't even have to drag myself there under my own power. Then, if you can imagine, we found a perfect parking spot right on Pacific, right near our spot. Butterflies flitted around us like it was an old Disney movie, perfectly charming.

Then, we crossed (Ok, jay walked) the street to find THIS oasis of pure fun and happiness ... an entire yard with its tree branches dressed up in colorful knitted outfits! We'd already been saying it was a magical day, and then just total icing on my birthday cake of a day.

Some cool people on 24th Avenue get HIGH praise for this colorful creation, that for me, instantly became a metaphor about community. About Venice. About how we're all knitted into this place together. About keeping things fun, interesting, unique, and yes, magical.

A post up the street got in on the action too, and by now, my spirits were so lifted that the dash into the ocean was immediate, and also an absolutely instant reward and remedy. We all know that saltwater is the cure for everything (sweat, tears, and the sea - Emerson), and on this day, nothing was more true. I was BACK! It was perfectly awesome.

As I floated on my back in the warm water, I let the sun warm my body and my friends and town and knitted yarn trees warm my heart. I reflected on the past year's joys and aches and looked forward to my new year's opportunities to knock and examine the ideas I have up my sleeves ... and knew that I'm definitely on the right path ... one with beautiful, fanciful trees!

*And Happy Venice Birthday today to Jenny Everhart!

Weekend Beach House

ALL weekend spent on the beach means you need provisions ... and sometimes shelter.

My beach friends created this awesome set-up to wile away the hours ... they even added decor, like sea shell mobiles a sand castle shovel arrow.

It was one of the most beautiful weekends ever, and a long one at that, so the beach was home the whole time. The water is so warm right now, it was the perfect stay-cation. As hard as it is to be back inside right now ... the absolute glory and appreciation of this Venice beach weekend will carry me through, I know it.

If you by chance got today off too ... you should only be swimming. This only lasts so long. Enjoy!

Spring Fling At The Beach

Last Saturday was the Venice Spring Fling and it was the perfect day to be at the beach. In fact, I had my first ocean swim of the season, though it was as quick one as the water still has a ways to go before it's actually warm. But it was great.

The Spring Fling was in full swing when I got there, with tourists and locals alike all taking in the bright sunshine, perfect breeze, food, music, hula hooping, art booths ... the kind of day that really shows off Venice at its best and most authentic.

Everyone was walking and biking or skating, catching up with old friends and making new ones. The Boardwalk was packed, and everyone seemed to be smiling and happy to be here.

I hung out at the Free Venice Beachhead booth for a while, and got to talk to lots of our good readers. It's always a pleasure to hear what people are interested in, mad at, happy about, and what stories they think need to happen in our local paper, so it's good when there are these events that allow the people behind the stories to connect.

A big deal in Venice right now is the battle over OPDs (Overnight parking permits) that pretty much no one I know wants. Venice is supposed to be FREE and open to everyone. Overnight parking passes that you have to pay for are for other, more uptight towns, not us. David Busch was there with petitions to sign against the OPD ordinance, and spreading his demand for MORE LOVE! Yes, please.

Meet Me At The Pub and The Untouchables kept the crowd moving when I was there ... moving and moshing. Live music at the beach, with the blue ocean and skies as the backdrop, is the best.

This was one of those days - again - that you really can't ask for more from. It's all there. It's all good.