No Pozer - The Art Of Jeff Ho

Much of old school Venice turned out Saturday night at the C.A.V.E. Gallery for the opening of the solo exhibition of art from Dogtown/Z-Boys legend, Jeff Ho.

The crowd spilled outside in front and back, and if you hadn't seen someone from Venice around for a while ... they were probably there. It was awesome.

Tunes were pumping, surf videos were playing, and people were partying, surrounded by the bright colors and classic graphics that let you know it's a Ho original.

The works were done with aerosol on surfboards and canvas, and the hardest part was figuring out which one you liked best.

If you live in or care about Venice and its history, these were pieces you'd like to have.

Depicting graffiti from the P.O.P. skate era, and Zephyr tags, this is about as legit in the world of skate art as you can get.

The ones that said, "Locals Only" and "Go Home" and the show's theme, "No Pozer" also made points that were well taken in this day and age ... with humor, but still.

Ho was there, accepting congratulations and embraces from all the friends and fans he's made over the decades as a leader in our surf and skate culture. And clearly having a blast himself.

All the homies were there in support of Ho, and Abbot Kinney was back to keeping it real, even if just for the night. It felt fun, it felt like a community, and it felt like we were all in on something that was special, that needs to continually be celebrated and preserved.

The party could have gone on all night, and most likely did, as the revelers branched off to see what trouble we could get into next.

Looking back at the gallery and all the people gathered outside, not wanting to leave, everything felt all good in the hood. No pozers in sight.

No Pozer is on view through August 2nd, 2015

C.A.V.E. Gallery
1108 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
310-450-6960

Pier Concerts Kick Off With The Minneapolis Funk!

The Twilight Concert Series began last night on the Santa Monica Pier, and as usual, it was a complete blast. We were extra excited because the band booked to start the Summer concerts off right was Morris Day and The Time. Minneapolis legends! Hometown heroes! We couldn't wait.

This was also exciting because it would be the first concert of the Minneapolis sound for the young kids in our group, all with Minnesota roots. We got there a little late so the pier was jam packed and we had to go in all the way at the back. Usually we post up on the sand, but we wanted to actually see and hear the self-proclaimed sexiness of Morris Day up closer. (In fact, Day mentioned that when "Uptown Funk" says, "I had to kiss myself, I'm so pretty", he actually said that first 30 years ago).

Yes, it was all about the sexiness, as Day brought a bunch of ladies up on stage to dance around with him. Everyone was all smiles and dancing, and the kids up on our shoulders told us that it looked pretty good up on the stage too. They played all the crowd pleasers ... we danced and did "The Bird", we walked back up the pier singing "Jungle Love". Good, good times.

Pier concerts are about as Southern California Summer perfect as it gets, and the line-up this year is really good. Sister Nancy, Ariel Pink, Jefferson Starship ... come on. And it's all free, outside, in the fresh air, under a sunset, with all your friends. Every Thursday.

Happy Summer!

Abbot Kinney Reflections

I love to wander around the neighborhood and happen upon a new work by Robin Murez. Her Venice Public Art mission is one of the best and coolest attempts to keep Venice so very special. The latest one is on Electric and San Juan Avenues, and features a portrait of Abbot Kinney with a reflecting mirror. Very cool.

Kinney dreamed up this wonderful place, and we who live here are all stewards of his vision. I wonder what he would think about artists and lower income families being pushed out of the home that they also love? The little earthquakes we've had this year may just be him rolling over in his grave.

But maybe not. Because there are still people like Murez out there thinking up - and executing - creative ways to show appreciation and love for Venice. I thank her, and all of you who keep making Venice the most interesting place ever to live. Sincerely.


*Honorable Mention - Kudos must be paid to the fantastic dame in the dark last night. My street butts right up to Abbot Kinney Boulevard and unfortunately, The Brig. Tools with big mouths come out of there and stumble to their cars parked on our street regularly, and that's ok. We live in an urban area and that's to be expected. What is NOT expected is those tools going to sit in their parked car after bar close, blasting lame music so loud with their windows down that my windows shook in their panes. Literally. That and their very poor singing along at the top of their lungs woke up the entire neighborhood.

I couldn't quite figure out where it was coming from at first, but when I looked out the window, I finally saw an older woman march out of the alley, right up to the car window and shout, "What is wrong with you?!" I couldn't make out the tirade unleashed back at her, just her repeatedly saying, "Just go home. Go home." The music turned down and she turned and headed back down her alley, There wasn't time for me to get down there, so I yelled out into the night, "THANK YOU!!!" and hoped that both the woman and the carload of little dicks heard me. The car squealed out and the driver yelled, "BITCH!!!!" at her. It reminded me exactly of the attitude in that Ariana Grande video going around, just entitled little brats that have no respect for anything.

Abbot Kinney the street has gotten too cool for its own good. People like that last night should know before they come here that we're not having it. And that woman last night was more O.G. than anything I've seen out of anyone around here in a while. Good on her. And thanks again!

Windward Juice - Serving Juice In The Alley

Some of the best things about Venice are its hidden treasures. It's always a treat to turn a corner and be delighted by something unexpected ... something special ... something great. So it was when I walked down the alley behind Windward and discovered Windward Juice.

I'll be honest, I was tipped off. Windward Juice is in the back of Animal House, and owner Ronny Kleyweg is one of my all time Venice favorites. He had some space in the back of the shop, back where they store all the Vans, and he thought, "Why not turn this into a juice shop?" Because, why not? Juice is delicious. Alleys are cool. Bam.

The little door in the alley looks like you could be anywhere in Europe, all brick and charming. There are little shelves that detach and go in for the night, and in case they're hustling up front, there's a little button to "Press For Juice". Get it?

We made our first stop on fourth of July, and it was such a calm reprieve from the madhouse of the beach and Boardwalk back there in the alley, sipping on juice with my friends. I got the "Quench", which was watermelon, mint and lime - perfect for the Summer holiday. Delish. All the juices are locally made by Clover Juices.

All the good vibes are also locally made. Get in there and get yours!

Windward Juice
66 Windward Court/Animal House
310-392-5411


They open at 8 am!

All Hail The Hatchet Hall!

The wait is over ... Hatchet Hall opens tomorrow! We celebrated that fact over the holiday weekend with a friends and family dinner that was one for the ages. We ate. We drank. And there was no way to not be merry.

Co-owners Louie and Netty Ryan (of Temple Bar, Townhouse, Menotti's fame), and Owners/partners from the beginning, Jonathan Strader and Chef Brian Dunsmoor took over the old Waterloo & City space, and it has been beautifully transformed into the place that we're going to constantly be hanging out at. I was in there just about a month ago when it was completely gutted inside, and the incredible amount of hard work, elbow grease, and evident labor of love that has happened is truly impressive. The place is simply gorgeous.

From the airy entrance and outdoor patio that greets you, all the way to the back bar (our new headquarters) where the wooden walls and floors are so cozy and inviting, you will never want to leave. And that's without even talking about the food yet.

The FOOD. Chef Brian Dunsmoor is back with his Southern home cooking, and it's seriously ridiculous. Plate after plate of delights would show up, and disappear before I could even do that foodie take a picture of your food thing. We ate so many perfect and delicious oysters that one in my party said, "Uh oh, this is going to make me randy." Ha! True though.

As it was the friends and family opening, we just kind of sat back and let the kitchen bring out whatever they wanted to. The menu is big, and every last thing sounds eye-rollingly delectable, so we could not go wrong. In fact, in the partying that ensued in the back bar after dinner, when comparing notes with our fellow diners, almost all of us had a different favorite. Some other peoples' favorites were things I hadn't even tried, so there will be more than enough to keep each visit interesting to the palate. Oh my goodness, is it all so good.

Highlights for me that night were the dandelion salad, super flavorful and not at all just a boring salad. The chopped steak on grilled bread ... delish. The grilled octopus was one of the best things I've ever tasted, right up there with the ridgeback prawns with carolina gold rice, oyster mushrooms and bacon. WHAT?! Yep.

The skillet rainbow trout was perfection and made you feel like you were truly in the hunting lodge that the back bar feels like, complete with antler and taxidermy decor. The grilled carrots were among the best carrots I've had prepared, and the roasted game hen with bread salad was top shelf. That already sounds like so much food (we were sharing) but we hadn't even scratched the surface.

Other friends' faves were the lamb sausage ("My favorite thing BY FAR" - Nicely), the tea smoked duck, and the beef fat potatoes (simply an ecstatic groan from our friend who had them). Maybe the top best thing I had though was when Dunsmoor came out of the hectic first night kitchen to greet us, and bestow upon us thin, delectable, melt in your mouth like cotton candy slabs of country ham, followed with a bourbon chaser. Ham and bourbon! It was pretty decadent, and I instantly felt like a smooth old man ... in the best possible way. YUM! There is even a cocktail on the impressive drink program that is called the In Fashioned, and that one has ham bourbon and pecans going on, about as Southern as you can get.

Then we got to drinking ... and forgot about dessert (But I heard the blueberry peach crisp was Summer itself). Oh well, another among a million other reasons to go back. This is going to be our SPOT.

It's just so great, I can't say enough about how wonderful it all turned out, and how happy I am for the Ryans, Dunsmoor, Strader, and all the excellent Hatchet Hall staff (many of whom have come along from other the Dunsmoor collabs: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, Hart and the Hunter, and The Ladies Gunboat Society). It's a hot spot before it even opens tomorrow!

Lacey Kay Cowden is also back with her exceptional art, adorning the walls, menus and the sign out front. Her whimsical animals are seen fishing and hunting and wielding their hatchets, all the better for us to eat with.

As the night wound down in the wooden bar, we all just went nuts. Laughing and celebrating and rejoicing in the fact that Hatchet Hall is open, and couldn't be more awesome. There is soul in this place, from the old tile ceilings laid in the walls from Menotti's, the taxidermy from The Townhouse, and the hearts of all the longtime Venice residents who all came together to make this a clubhouse for great food and great times, for years to come.

All Hail Hatchet Hall!!!

It all starts tomorrow.


Hatchet Hall
12517 Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, 90066
310-391-4222

Defend Venice - Happy 110th!

As we prepare to celebrate our Independence as a country all long weekend long, let's not forget that it is also the 110th birthday of our Venice on July 4th. This is a great time to spend enjoying all the things that make Abbot Kinney's dream town such a wonderful place to live and visit. Go to the beach, hit the skatepark, stroll the canals, surf the Breakwater, cruise the Boardwalk, check out the murals, visit the galleries, support your local businesses ... just appreciate the bejesus out of it. Love it. Because then it will really make you want to defend it.

It's not the first time in its history that Venice has had to face down corporate and foreign money, or the rapid encroachment of chains and those days' hipsters. It's always been a challenge, but a challenge that has always been met with defiance and passion.

The photo above is from the archives of The Free Venice Beachhead. Bulldozers were coming to tear down another beloved house and the tree in front of it, and that dude was not having it. Nor should we.

Defend your Venice. Celebrate your Venice. Wish it at least another 110 years of being a home for all of us who don't want to be like everyone and everywhere else. Above all, have FUN while you're doing it!

Happy 110th Birthday, Venice! We sure do love you.

*I believe Tshirts and Posters of this image are still available at FreeVenice.org

Lacey Kay Cowden + Matt Ellis = Bright Moments

Well, Lacey Kay Cowden sure ended her June residency at The Townhouse with a slam bang finish! Phew.

After entrancing audiences each Tuesday in June with her dulcet tones, Cowden wrapped it up last night with perhaps her strongest performance ever. We're great friends, so I've seen her play a lot, but last night was something special. The confidence and strength displayed as she wove her musical tales of rambling and roaming, loving and learning was of a performer both feeling it, and knowing it, down to her bones. Her backing band made it all extra powerful, with a real T-Bone Burnett kind of sound that we all just loved.

*{Note to Mr. Burnett - You should probably work with Cowden. You'll love it.}

Playing the stories off of her Go Great Guns ep, Cowden simply killed it. Like, I watched people fall in love with her in front of my eyes. I love it when you see people get turned on to new music that they DIG. It's a special kind of alchemy that only comes along every so often. Rad.

Another great friend (and Cowden's ep producer) took the stage next, and similarly scorched it. Matt Ellis and his band brought their rock and roll heat to the already boiling room, where even my hair was almost curling down there in the Del Monte Speakeasy. It really felt like Summer finally, the heat and rock and fun with your friends that pretty much define this season.

Friends! That's the best part of these shows, that everyone on the bill are friends, so all of the mutual friends are in the audience too, and everywhere you turn it's another happy greeting, another heartfelt embrace, another story to tell, another rug to cut. It was also the very last night of my friend Mario's 30's, so we got DOWN in fine fashion (there was even a little break dancing going on).

Ellis regaled us with his catchy-ass songs (mainly off his excellent most recent album, The Greatest Escape), that always stick in my head for days after I hear them. He brought up his lovely wife, Vavine, to join him on my favorite number, "Seven Years At Sea". It's so lush and sublime, and watching them sing this beauty together is so great I can barely stand it. Seriously.

I was pretty much going nuts with my friends the whole time, thus not doing any note taking, but I can tell you that every song placed Ellis and company more firmly in the collective palm of our hands. I realize there's some hyperbole going on here today, but that's what it felt like to me, so there. Aside from the two Ellis hecklers right in front (aka bff's), that is.

All that good music only made us want more, and we got it from DJ Bright Moments (Paddy Wilkins). That dude spun us right up into a frenzy, jamming everything from Prince to "Happy Birthday" for Mario. Bright Moments will not only get you dancing, but remind you that in that moment are actually experiencing for yourself a blindingly bright moment.

We collapsed out the door, singing and dancing all the way home under the almost full bright Summer moon moments.

Stoked.