23 Apr 2012
Venice Beach is a Hybrid of Art, Activity and Well-Toned Abs
Seaside Neighborhood Offers an Eclectic Blend of
Bohemian Splendor and Urban Discoveries
LOS ANGELES—(April 23, 2012)— Venice Beach has a well-deserved reputation for being LA's fun and funky neighborhood, Its vibrant boardwalk and boutique-lined streets attract a mélange of people who converge on this quintessential seaside community to flex their muscles, admire original works of art, and awaken their palates at one of several award-winning restaurants.
The Venice Beach Boardwalk, an iconic walkway of pavement that runs parallel to the Pacific, is a never-ending parade of street performers ranging from musicians and singers to mimes, magicians and fortune tellers. Intermingled with all this activity is a wide array of vendors selling everything from sunglasses to souvenir t-shirts. Perhaps the most famous attraction along this sandy stretch is Muscle Beach, a magnet for bodybuilders who pump iron as wide-eyed passersby look on.
Venice Beach also has a burgeoning art scene along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a street named for the town's founder. A collection of galleries feature original artwork while the street's one-of-a-kind shops like Kamofie and Co., which gained international fame when Lindsay Lohan allegedly walked out of the store wearing a $2500 necklace she didn't pay for, and boutiques, such as Jack Spade (the male counterpart to Kate Spade). Abbot Kinney is also known for its culinary arts and features restaurants, such as local favorite Joe's Restaurant and Axe, whose chefs have landed between the pages of some popular culinary magazines. Oenophiles can sip boutique vintages as intimate tasting rooms at such places as the wine merchant Elvino or Primotivo Wine Bistro, while gourmands can prowl the aisles of gourmet markets stocked with hard-to-find spices.
Free monthly events, such as First Fridays and the Venice Art Crawl, have also turned ordinary evenings into extraordinary outings for both residents and visitors. The merchants of Venice along Abbot Kinney Boulevard stay open late on First Fridays staging art openings, grand openings and giveaways. The Venice Art Crawl, which takes place the third Thursday of every month, features a backdrop of "pop-up" galleries, a display of artwork by both new and seasoned Venice artists and more. The weekly Farmer's Market, held every Friday from 7-11 a.m., is a must taste for die-hard foodies with produce and wares grown by local farmers.
Neighboring Venice Beach is the community of Marina del Rey, home to one of the world's largest manmade marinas with more than 4,300 slips and vessels. Located just four miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, Marina del Rey is an ideal destination for aquatic adventures. The area is teeming with shops and restaurants, including the effervescent CAFE del REY. Inspired by the coast towns that dot the Mediterranean, CAFE del REY's menu is of simple and flavorful ingredients. Fresh seafood, seasonal California and Mediterranean influences, and an extensive cocktail and wine list are served against a waterfront backdrop.
Contacts:
Jay Mark Johnson Studio
001-310-822-6970
www.jaymarkjohnson.com
Jay Mark Johnson
As a resident and working artist of Venice Beach, Jay Mark Johnson is known for his space-time artworks which explore the possibilities for timeline photography by challenging the norms of perception. His thought-provoking visual and conceptual experiments are painterly, poetic and critically engaging having an effect on observers much like Alice did when she stepped "through the looking glass."
CAFE del REY
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
001-310-823-6395
www.cafedelreymarina.com
Media contact: Kelsey Veniasch, Wagstaff Worldwide
001-323-871-1151 x117
Kelsey@wagstaffworldwide.com
Chef Daniel Roberts
Growing up as part of an Italian family in New York City, food was an intrinsic part of Chef Daniel Roberts life from an early age. Roberts' culinary training was secured not in the classroom, but in the kitchens of an impressive list of restaurants from New York to California—a career he started at the age of 19. At CAFE del REY, Roberts crafts seasonal menus that focus on the flavors of the French and Italian rivieras, with additional accents from throughout the Mediterranean and a commitment to utilizing fresh local produce and the highest quality seafood.
About The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Though not part of City government, Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com. Please visit our FaceBook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow us on Twitter @discover_LA.
Los Angeles International Pow Wow is supported by the following Premiere Partners; Brand USA, Los Angeles World Airports, and Visit California. The Premiere Event sponsors are Cirque du Soleil, Hollywood & Highland and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Platinum sponsors are The GRAMMY Museum, LA Waterfront, Metro, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The Gold sponsors are Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, CityPASS, Coach America, DFS, Downtown Business Improvement District, The Grove, Hollywood Entertainment District, Merlin Entertainments Group, Miles Marketing Destinations, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Original Farmers Market, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Starline Tours & Tour Coach Charters, Temecula Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The Silver sponsors are Beverly Center, The Capital Grille, Citadel Outlets, City of Santa Clarita, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Malibu Family Wines, Premium Outlets, and Visit Mendocino County. The Bronze sponsors are da Vinci Villa, El Monte RV, Integrated Transportation Services, and Japanese Assistance Network.
Media contacts:
Carol Martinez Beth Brett
Vice President, Communications Director, Communications
phn: 213/236-2357, fax 213/425-1457 phn:213/236-2397, fax 213/452-1497
cmartinez@LATourism.org bbrett@LATourism.org
For more information on Los Angeles visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com
Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFan
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tourism_LA
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(04/12)
