Venice guide

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If it hadn't been for Abbot Kinney's asthma, Venice may never have been founded. Kinney, born 1850 in Brookside, New Jersey, was on a three year trip around the world when a snowstorm prevented his return to the east coast. He journeyed, instead, to Sierra Madre and was so impressed by the climate he developed a citrus ranch called Kinneloa. After his marriage in 1884, Kinney began purchasing land to the south with Francis Ryan. The partners developed Ocean Park with a walk pier and a country club. A streetcar line was extended to the site. After Ryan's untimely death in 1898, and a succession of partners with whom Kinney couldn't agree, it was decided that the land speculator would toss a coin and the winner would choose which half of the district would be his. When Kinney won the toss, he startled the other four partners by choosing the barren, marshy property. Kinney soon announced that his sand dunes and marshland would soon be a cultural city patterned after Venice, Italy. The public laughed and dubbed the plan "Kinney's Folly". They stopped laughing when trenches for canals were dug and Venetian-patterned buildings began to spring up. By July 4, 1905, Venice-of-America officially opened with a wonderful pier and exciting attractions: Italian gondoliers poling their boats down fairy-lit canals, a concert orchestra supplying music that could be heard nearly all over town, camel rides, exotic hotels catering to the best tastes and a miniature railroad circling the entire scene. The cultural diversion never flourished in Venice. The public came to ride the camels and the little train and to see the sideshow. The Doge of Venice-of America had built a cultural Renaissance by the sea. This atmosphere still prevails today.


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Featured Businesses and Services in Venice

  • C & O Trattoria

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    The C & O Trattoria (C & O) has been open since 1969. Now a well known Venice Beach landmark, serving Northern Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. It has become known for good food and friendly service in a relaxed garden setting. On May 1, 1993, C...

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  • Learn to Surf LA (2011-11-16)

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Learn to Surf LA

    Learn to Surf LA based in Venice, California offers professional surf lessons to people of all ages with great techniques that will will have you up on your board after your first lesson. Private surfing instruction is available in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Malibu and other locations.

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Other Businesses and Services in Venice

  • Joe's Restaurant

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    In September, 1991, a small restaurant on the edge of an esoteric neighbourhood in Venice, California, opened to rave reviews. Utilizing the talents and experience acquired from his training at the culinary institute of America, from cooking at such resta...

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  • Venice Beach Cotel

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Welcome to Venice Beach Cotel- Voted Top California Youth Hostel This Venice Beach hostel is a hostel with hotel standards. The Venice Beach Cotel is a cool haven for the international traveler in the heart of Venice Beach, California. For affordable h...

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  • The Venice Beach House

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    The Venice Beach House

    The Venice Beach House was built in 1911 by Warren & Carla Wilson. As the owner of the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the Wilson's friends and family included the founder of Venice, Abbot Kinney (two of Kinney sons married two of Wilson's daughters!) and a ...

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  • Surf Camp LA (2011-11-16)

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Surf Camp LA

    Surf Camp LA at Learn to Surf LA in Venice, Los Angelese and Santa Monica offer qualified and professional instructors with safety a priority, and coupled with advanced teaching techniques that will have your child going down the line by the end of the week, book today!

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  • Jin Patisserie

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    I learned about food while growing up around my mother's food mart in Singapore, but it wasn't until I was traveling regularly to Japan in my early twenties as a flight attendant that I began to appreciate the concept of cuisine. Wanting to explore the wa...

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  • On the Waterfront Cafe

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    For a visit you will not forget, Come to On the Waterfront Cafe, A fun and charming restaurant in Venice Beach. We serve the finest German beer. Delicious food with "European Flavor. Indoor/Outdoor patio dining. Directly on the famous Venice Board...

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  • Pacific Resident Theatre

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Pacific Resident Theatre

    The Pacific Resident Theatre, now fifteen years old, has outstanding local productions. Their regular season runs from October through May ... in the summer there are often additional performances.

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  • Lighthouse Stained Glass

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Lighthouse Stained Glass

    Art with design and built with craftsmanship, creating a masterpiece glass design. Lighthouse Stained Glass is a leading glass studio in Los Angeles for the fabrication of windows, window restoration and educational classes. We create standard, traditio...

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  • Learn to Surf LA Lessons (2011-11-16)

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Learn to Surf LA Lessons

    Learn to Surf LA Lessons based in Venice, CA but also available in Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Malibu, and Zuma Beach locations, offers year round surf lessons by professional instructors. Learn the perfect technique and be up on your board surfing in no time. Learn to Surf LA lessons are also available for private parties and corporate group lessons.

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  • The Sidewalk Cafe (2011-10-17)

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    The Sidewalk Cafe

    The Sidewalk Cafe is located on the world famous Venice Boardwalk and serves a variety of American, Mexican and Italian cuisine coupled with signature drinks from the full bar. Come enjoy good food and drinks as you socialise with friends and people watch in this perfect beachside location. Happy hour specials and live acoustic music are available in the evenings to complete this wonderful dining and drinking experience at the Sidewalk Cafe.

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  • Inn at Venice Beach

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Welcome to the Inn at Venice Beach where guests will enjoy our intimate and friendly ambiance. The Inn at Venice Beach is a charming hotel located one block from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, adjacent to the worlds largest man made yacht marina and in close...

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  • French Market Cafe

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Welcome Morning and early afternoons, the front patio of this intimate café is packed with laid-back locals—many of whom are Euro ex-pats. The Ratatouille and vegetable quiche are delicious. Sandwiches are all on freshly baked, w...

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  • The Cadillac Hotel

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Welcome to the historic Cadillac Hotel, a Venice Beach California hotel, located in the heart of Venice Beach. With its breathtaking views of Santa Monica Bay and the coastline to Malibu, The Cadillac Hotel is the ideal destination to experience the South...

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  • Electric Lodge Theatre

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Electric Lodge Theatre

    The Electric Lodge was conceived and created by Dr. Joel Shapiro, a performer and physician. After dancing and acting on stage for 14 years and off for over 30!) he wanted to build a home for fellow artists to work and "paint" their personal and societal ...

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  • Top Driving Trips in Venice (2009-10-19)

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Top Driving Trips in Venice

    Top Driving Trips in Venice

    Venice attracts thousands of visitors a year and rightly has maintained its place for decades as one of the most romantic tourist destinations in the world. Built on a salt water lagoon consisting of a hundred and eighteen islands, Venice is joined together by a series of bridges and waterways. In fact the Venice is often referred to as `City of Water or `City of Bridges`, amongst others. Venice is home to a population of over two hundred and seventy thousand people, although is part of a much bigger area. The transport system is based on the canals that serve the area and you can generally get to your destination by waterbus or water taxi.

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  • Off-Rose Gallery

    Located in Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States

    Off-Rose Gallery

    Off-Rose the Secret Studio-Gallery of Venice is created with the intent of providing a venue for emerging artists of high quality and unique perceptions who have not yet acquired mainstream exposure. Off-Rose intends to offer serious collectors and the g...

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