April 2, 2017 7:10 pm
I just love the city of Venice. It was built in the early 1900’s from marshland as part of a stretch of amusement parks, and included attractions such as a saltwater lagoon, gondola rides through canals, and dancing. The point was to make Venice, California feel like its original counterpart in Italy. Eventually, it was annexed by LA and many of the original canals were bulldozed, but the charm of the city remains to this day.
Venice Has Creative Roots
In the 1940’s, rents in the area were low. This led to a boom of artists that wanted to live on the coast but couldn’t afford it elsewhere. Where there are artists, there is creativity. Before long, Venice was the hotspot for architectural experimentation. And today, the creativity has held fast, even moving to startups in the technology world like Snapchat.
If you like the idea of surrounding yourself with a creative vibe, then this vibrant city is still a great choice. The upscale neighborhoods alongside the grittier boardwalk makes it the perfect place to live, eat, work, and play.
Eating Out
Venice is known for its fabulous restaurants of every variety. Whether you are looking for something simple and cheap like a greasy taco truck or classy and expensive like white wine and chef-inspired creations, this city has you covered.
Discover Los Angeles has created a great list of eateries you should do your best to try out.
Architecture
The experimentation of the 70’s and 80’s led to some incredible architecture in the area. If you enjoy bold, funky, and different, then you’ll love a stroll through Venice. Some sights to consider include:
- Eames Workshops
- Frank Gehry’s Binoculars
- Abbot Kinney galleries
- Ballerina With Clown Head Sculpture
- Dennis Hopper’s Former Home
- Arnoldi Studio and Triplex
- Bay Cities Garage
- Ed Moses Studio
- And More
If you’d like to do a tour, here is a great link to get you started: https://www.laconservancy.org/sites/default/files/files/documents/VeniceEclecticBook_Final4Web_LR.pdf
Venice Beach
The beach is amazing, as are most beaches on the Westside, but Venice has a lot to offer for all walks of life. Surfing? Skateboarding? Bicycles? Fishing? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Add to the list interesting graffiti, amazing sunsets, and fun sidewalk performers, and you can see how spending a day at the beach means more than just a dip in the ocean and some time in the sun.
The thing I love most about Venice is that anyone can fit in. No matter what lifestyle you want to live, this city accommodates it, and its residents embrace it. Venice is eclectic and loves it. If you would like more information about this area of Westside, please contact me. I’d love to tell you what I know and help you find a way to make Venice your new home.
Categorised in: Blog, Westside Spotlight