Venice (90291, 90292, 90293, 90294, 90295, 90296), located south of Santa Monica and east of Culver City, was founded in 1905 by tobacco millionaire, Abbot Kinney and so named because of the miles of canals built to drain the area's marshes. Kinney also built a Venetian-style arcaded business street which remains today.
Most of the canals were paved over by the City of Los Angeles in 1929 to as it was felt that more streets were needed.
Over the years, Venice was sorely neglected and by the 1950s it was known as the slum by the sea. Homes were run-down, rents were low and the area became unsafe.
Venice has now gone through gentrification, is one of the more eclectic and lively areas in Southern California., and like Santa Monica, is liberal-leaning. The Venice Family Clinic is the largest free clinic in the country.
Venice, has a diversity of areas, from the multiple pedestrian-only streets running from the beach to Ocean Avenue, to upscale Abbot Kinney with its trendy restaurants, art galleries, bars, nightclubs, and art deco clothing stores. From the multi-million dollar cottages bordering the canals, and the nearby "Walk Streets" to the extremely modest homes, rentals and condos dotted throughout the area.
World famous Venice Beach and Muscle Beach are a huge tourist draw, and during the summer it is impossible to find parking in the area. One cannot visit Los Angeles without walking along the boardwalk of Venice Beach to see all the stores, hawkers, street entertainers, and oddballs who inhabit the area.
Venice is also the home of many stars, including Julia Roberts, Nicholas Cage, Kate Beckinsale, Viggo Mortenson, to name but a few.
The schools are in the Los Angeles Unified School District where you can search for a school by address.
Some useful local links are:
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Venice Beach and Muscle Beach are definitely places I'd want to check out! Great info again, Jane.
Thank you guys.
Jane, I remember visiting LA back in the 80's and getting a huge kick out of Venice Beach. There were lots of street "entertainers" and colorful characters. And I really love your photo!
This is a great series about the areas in your marketplace! It helps that you have such colorful areas to write about too! I'd even use them as a travel guide for a great trip to LA!
Thank you, Patricia, and come again!
SarahGray, I must say, L.A. certainly has a mix of areas. And that's a great idea. I can write my own travel guide in my spare time :)
Travel, indeed. I want to come visit you! That photo is AWESOME!
Hey, Lori, we can tootle around in the car listening to all the new Greek music I have.