GOOD VIBES IN VENICE/ VENICE CALIFORNIA

Vivacious Venice

VENICE | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

WORDS AND PHOTO BY JONAS LARSSON The beachfront neighborhood of Venice in Los Angeles is a popular place to live, known for its bohemian spirit and lifestyle. But like many parts of the city, Venice too is now becoming increasingly more expensive to live in, meaning the artists and creative souls who helped create this atmosphere are having to seek residence elsewhere in the city. That aside, Venice still manages to keep its brilliant charm. Rent a bike and slowly cruise down the palm-lined streets, take a coffee or a glass of wine at one of the many bars, or hit the sand and stroll down the beach taking in the beautiful canals. What was once a marsh back in the early 1900s, Venice sprung into existence from the dreams of the tobacco tycoon Abbot Kinney, who decided that this was the ideal location to build a resort. The Venice of Italy served as inspiration, complete with its system of canals, parks, and renaissance architecture. The official inauguration of Venice Beach was on the 4th of July 1905, and it was a massive success. Kinney would go on to build piers, boardwalks, restaurants, and pools to enhance the vehement Venetian lifestyle. Towards the end of the 1920s, the canals were filled in and cemented over to make room for the evermore dominating presence of the car in the urban space. During the 50s and 60s, Venice became an enclave for beatniks, hippies, creatives, artists, and musicians with the likes of Jim Morrison of the Doors. Over time though, Venice became a bit derelict, run down, not really the type of place many would want to live in. Though today, many of the buildings, boardwalks, and canals are now restored to their former glory.