On Sunday, Venice Beach celebrated its 116th birthday! It opened to the public on July 4th, 1905. In the advertisements luring people to the new resort town on the beach, it was called the Venice of America. On its opening day, it drew thousands of visitors. Today, this city still draws tourists from all over the world. This post kicks off my deep dive into Venice and all of the…
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Santa Monica 101: The Santa Monica Pier
This is where the iconic Route 66 ends. The song, (Get Your Kicks) On Route 66, popularized by Chuck Berry, talks about this super-connected interstate that winds its way across this country, ending at the tip of the Santa Monica Pier. In this post, I…
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Los Feliz’s Everything Space: Hollyhock House and Barnsdall Art Park
On top of Olive Hill, in Los Feliz, is a compound for the arts. It is the legacy of Aline Barnsdall, who dreamed of an art utopia overlooking a valley. Although tiny and not as well known as neighboring Griffith Park, Barnsdall Art Park is…
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Where Hollywood Began: Edendale
Before we leave Hollywood, it is important that we make a pit stop. We will head east from Charlie Chaplin’s former home to the town of Edendale which was integral in making him a star. If you are one of the many people who walk…
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Old Hollywood Bonus Features: The oldest restaurant in Hollywood
This next location is famous, although you might only recognize it from movies or television shows. You might have read about its interior described in books by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald or Charles Bukowski. If either author were to look at Los Angeles today,…