All the voices right here, right now.
Venice’s vibracy extends far beyond its physical boundaries—its unique perspective pervades the virtual as well! Some of Venice’s voices provide commentary on the neighborhood; others are committed to public service on the neighborhood council, Chamber of Commerce, and more. Here is just a small sample of the Venice web presence:
News
Yo! Venice! A blog with an attitude, Yo! Venice! reports local news regularly and precisely. Covering the important neighborhood stories without becoming sensationalist, this blog is great one-stop shopping for a quick hit of Venice news. It also boasts a forum with an active Politics and Community section for residents to sound off.
Free Venice Beachhead This paper is a labor of love that started in 1968, and the monthly is still going strong. Providing more in-depth coverage of Venice issues, the Free Venice Beachhead is available in paper version and online, and, as the name implies, both versions are free of charge (with a $35 subscription for the home delivery option).
KCET Venice KCET is the Southern California public broadcasting station of record and a PBS affiliate. Not only is their Venice coverage second to none, but its website features a fantastic multimedia introduction to the micro-neighborhoods of the area.
Government and Business
Venice Chamber of Commerce Far from a stodgy business site, even the Venice Chamber of Commerce website channels the hip vibe of the neighborhood. It has information available for current and prospective members of the Chamber and acts as an online guide to activities and destinations around Venice.
Venice Neighborhood Council As part of the City of Los Angeles, Venice does not have a City Council in its own right; instead, its local affairs are administered by the VNC. Its website allows residents to submit requests for motions to be added to the Council’s agenda, subject to review, and provides information about the affairs of the local government of Venice. Essential for an insight to the official operations of the neighborhood.
Art and Tourism
There are so many galleries in this artsy part of town that a blog could be devoted to them all by itself. Here are just some of the hotspots for art in Venice:
You can catch these and more on the Venice art crawl. Highly recommended for novices and Venice veterans alike, the art crawl was founded in the spirit of Downtown LA’s hugely successful art walk. Arguably even more art-focused than Downtown, Venice’s many galleries offer something new each art crawl, so it is well worth doing again and again. Every third Thursday of the month.
Venice Beach Walking Tours It is easy as a tourist to stick to the carnie-like craziness of the famed Venice Boardwalk. Venice Beach Walking Tours covers that area, of course, but also pushes visitors beyond the Boardwalk to other parts of Venice, showing tourists the canals and the ethnic enclaves that add to the ever-present local color. The next time you need some time away from your visiting relatives, drop them off with this tour company and they will return sunburned and satisfied.
Venice Historical Society For the history geek in all of us, the Venice Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the structures and history of this century-old Los Angeles neighborhood. Lest this seem too sober for against the backdrop of muscle men and breakdancers at the beach, remember that Venice hosted both luminaries like Ray Bradbury and celebrities like Elijah Wood and Julia Roberts. The Historical Society hosts events and also provides membership to the society to continue supporting the neighborhood and maintaining its interest as the biggest attraction of Southern California this side of Disneyland.
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