Post by Alex Stowell The Venice Chamber is, well, exactly what it sounds like: a group of hustling business owners in the local community.  They have fun mixers the last Wednesday of every month.  And, as I have attended several, I can tell you first hand that the food and drink are always great and the raffle alone is worth the price of admission.  It cost $5 for members and $20 for non-members.  However, first time...more

In this photo:  Far right:  French Market Cafe's Patrice and Agnes. My heart cries for the family, friends and patrons of French Market Cafe. Yesterday, I received a phone call. My heart sank after hearing the news that French Market Cafe owner Patrice Martinez died instantly in a motorcycle accident in South America. My first thought after hearing the news was,  Agnes, his wife, how is she doing?    I can only imagine how it might feel...more

Dear Friend of Venice, When Abbot Kinney officially introduced the world to Venice-of-America in 1905 he did it in style.  Across Windward Avenue at Pacific (then Trolley Way), 3-foot high letters glowed to electric life and spelled out the place to be on that 4th of July - in VENICE.  Historic Windward Avenue with its Italianate architecture and colonnade began life as the entrance to the wonderful amusement pier.  Today it remains our gateway to the remarkable...more

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Support and/or volunteer! Venice Paparazzi would like to thank Amy Dewhurst and the Beachhead for this great list of Venice non-profits. www.freevenice.org ----------------------------------- 826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.  Our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.  With...more

A must thing to do while in Venice.  While at the beach, pick up a printed copy of A Walking Tour of Venice, Ca at Danny's and take a self guided and free tour.  Danny's  23 Windward Ave. Venice, Ca  www.dannysvenice.com Click on image for larger version and to print, or pick up a hard copy at Danny's  23 Windward Ave. Venice, Ca  www.dannysvenice.com...more

A native makes the best guide.  Take a Venice Beach Walking Tour.  Every week Fri., Sat., Sun., 11am-2pm CURRENT RATES: $40 (Tour Only) and  $60 (Includes lunch, tax, and tip at Danny's Venice) Discover why Venice Beach is the #1 sightseeing and tourist attraction in Los Angeles. Venice Beach Walking tours offers Special Group Rates!    For more info:   at 310.396.1585 or  www.venicebeachwalkingtours.com Venice Beach Walking Tours has been created to uncover the hidden stories and salty past of an...more

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY: Check out the "Tour of Venice Murals" on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. ADMISSION FEE: Free WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Anyone TOUR OF VENICE MURALS ON THE VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK: Look for the concrete barrier that divides the parking lot and the Venice Beach Boardwalk between Navy and Rose Ave. There are images and text of current and past murals of Venice and L.A. ABOUT: The Tour of Venice Murals was created by the Social and...more

There is so much to do in Venice daily.  Here are a few activities we suggest you try: Visit Muscle Beach gym, the facility where  Arnold Scharzenegger and Franco Columbu once worked out.  A gym day pass is $10. $50 for a 7 day pass. The Paddle Tennis, Handball courts, volleyball courts, boxing, and gymnastic areas, as well as the basketball courts(made famous by movies such as White Man Can’t Jump and American History X) are available free to the...more

BEACH WHEELCHAIRS FOR PUBLIC USE. Info from: http://www.patdemar.com/beach.htm) Pat DeMar started the California Beach Wheelchair Program in 1993. Money has been donated by individuals and corporations to purchase over 34 beach wheelchairs which were donated to the lifeguards on California beaches. From San Diego to Santa Cruz these unique wheelchairs are available for public beach use. (See list of locations below.) For more information: 310 394-3261 For donation information please contact Michael Laux...more

BEACH WATER QUALITY REPORT: http://www.healthebay.org/brcv2/default.aspx RULES OF THE BEACH: Venice open from 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Do not touch, feed, or disturb any marine life on the beach. Animals on the beach are wild and may bite. If you see an injured animal on the beach, ask a lifeguard to call animal rescue. California Marine and Wild Life. 310-457-9453 No alcohol on the beach. No smoking on the beach. Throw your trash in the garbage...more

There is so much to do in Venice daily.  Here are a few activities we suggest you try: Visit Muscle Beach gym, the facility where  Arnold Scharzenegger and Franco Columbu once worked out.  A gym day pass is $10. $50 for a 7 day pass. The Paddle Tennis, Handball courts, volleyball courts, boxing, and gymnastic areas, as well as the basketball courts(made famous by movies such as White Man Can’t Jump and American History X) are available free to the...more

For FILM PERMTS, contact: 1.  EIDC (Entertainment Industry Developent Corportation) at 323-957-1000 2.  Recreation and Parks Film Permit Office at 323-644-6220 3.  The Film L.A. Inc .  213-977-8600...more

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY: Visit or paint at the Venice Art Walls.  Also the Art Walls are a great photo backdrop. The Venice Art Walls are located on the sand in Venice Beach.  1800 Ocean Front Walk.  Venice, CA 90291   310.535.7729  www.veniceartwalls.com Directions: The Venice Public Art Walls are located on the sand in the heart of Venice Beach, west of the bike path between Windward Street to the south and Market Street to the north. The walls...more

The Venice Beach Boardwalk and Muscle Beach facilities are run by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. The Muscle Beach facilities include basketball, handball and paddle tennis courts, gymnastics and boxing areas, skate parks, Public Art walls, children's play areas, and more. Check our calendar of a event for basketball, handball, paddle tennis, bodybuilding, powerlifting and skate competitions that occur almost weekly in Venice. Participate and enjoy all that Muscle Beach has to...more