Just like this stunned gargoyle that sits atop a gate post to keep out too curious folk, you will be stunned stupid when gazing on this canal community. Once home of major hippies, Jim Morrison of the Doors, and a wide variety of artists and musicians, this neighborhood has become so upscale that many of the less renown ones have had to move out.
I never questioned how the name of Venice, California came into being, but as it happens a very rich and influential Abbot Kinney wanted to make a city of canals much like Venice, Italy.This was the turn of the century—1904—and by July 4, 1905, the city of Venice was officially open.
As horse and buggy were soon replaced by horseless carriages, the canals got filled in and when the town ran out of money for that and stopped, there remained a small network of canals and road alleyways that make up the Venice Canals of Venice, California. I've been to LA numerous times, but never knew about these hidden treasures until my son and I were out exploring and he wanted to find the "canals" that he had seen in a recent movie, Valentine's Day. Here are some scenes from our walk along the canals and over the bridges. These pictures do no justice to the charm, the lush colors, the architectural variety, and the cozy, friendly vibe of this long-cultivated community of artists. I recommend that you put your cursor over the images and click to enlarge them so you can begin to see some of the details of this unique neighborhood.
This needs to be appreciated in person. It's a water wall. Water spills down the undulating glass tile surfaces which gleam in the bright California sunshine.
Every window in this house is an original leaded glass design. Some clear, some with elaborate designs and colors.
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