Friday, December 16, 2011

Venice Beach Shopping: Gifts for ‘Friends with Fur’

Venice Beach Shopping: Gifts for 'Friends with Fur'

Gifts for 'Friends with Fur': Lori Kingsnorth's tips for some great shopping finds around Venice!


The Modern Dog


The Modern Dog

Cute Canine: Annie Cleveland-Wellington (Happy client of The Modern Dog)


Guy was on path to a life in the film industry until he met JoJo his french bulldog. With her love and inspiration he found himself headed in a new direction down a path that led to the door of The Modern Dog. This beautiful bungalow shop has a contemporary feel and caters to all your pet's needs. The Modern Dog specializes in custom doggie beds that are cozy for your dog and stylish for your home.


Guy's Favorite Thing Of The Holiday Season: "Drinking hot chocolate."


venicepets


Venice Pets


Java and Mocha (Mari's sweet pets) and Lafayette (Jenny Karl's babe)


Mari started grooming dogs as a hobby and loved it. Her hobby began doing great business and the next natural step was to  open venicepets.



Customers from as far away as NY stop in when they are in town to visit this trendy shop. Your pet will make a statement wearing the apparel of venicepets.


Good to know: she offers space for posting flyers for lost pets in the area!


Mari's Favorite Part Of The Holiday Season: " A great dinner on New Years Eve."


Nature's Grooming & Boutique


Nature's Grooming & Boutique


Cute Canine: Evita (Leigh's pride and joy)


Le...




The .XXX Domain Arrives, to a World That Has Moved On

The .XXX Domain Arrives, to a World That Has Moved On

After eleven years of controversy, the .XXX domain name went on general sale last week. Its fate could determine the further expansion of new top-level domains.

Movies teach us to celebrate the holidays

Film: I Learned It At The Movies: How to celebrate the holidays

At the end of the year, the airwaves and theaters are flooded with films that give us all a picture of what the holiday season is supposed to look like, with sentiment, uplift, and happy moral teachings galore. But navigating “the most wonderful time of the year” can be overwhelming, especially for those who aren’t feeling the spirit. Fortunately, as with all things, the movies present a clear, accurate vision of the world, giving us a faultless template for how to live our lives. Thus, The A.V. Club has assembled an overview of important movie-based guidelines for navigating ...

Stefon's Christmas Card

TV: Newswire: New York's hottest Christmas card is this one with Saturday Night Live's Stefon on it

As seen in the mailboxes of the friends and associates of Saturday Night Live crew and cast members (and shared with everyone else, thanks to promoter Aaron Meier), New York’s hottest Christmas card is this one featuring Weekend Update city correspondent Stefon. It’s got everything: grandmas, abnormally large turkeys, the severed smiling heads of people from the 1940s, a bowl of just celery for some reason, and a Mormon Rockwell. That’s that thing where you freak out all the Mormons by taking one of Norman Rockwell’s paintings and putting Bill Hader’s gay, gacked-out club kid ...

Oscar Dog Showdown: Who's Cutest?

Oscar Dog Showdown: Who's Cutest?



THR Staff
These four-legged thespians stole the show in some of the season's most memorable films.

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Parenting Fails: I Mean, It’s Out Already!

Parenting Fails: I Mean, It’s Out Already


crazy parenting fails - Parenting Fails: I Mean, It's Out Already!



Changes Coming to Busy Intersection in Venice

Changes Coming to Busy Intersection in Venice

Changes are afoot at the intersection of Lincoln and Venice boulevards. We've got the details below.


Longtime Florist on Lincoln/Venice becomes Deus Ex Machina


A new custom bike, surf and skate shop, Deus Ex Machina, is moving into the former Florist Artist space on the northeast corner of Lincoln and Venice. The managers of this specialty shop, pronounced "DAYus", have been tight-lipped about their plans since buying the property one year ago.


Deus Ex Machina started out as a custom motorcycle shop, then expanded to include custom-made surf boards, fixed gear bicycles, skateboards and a clothing line. Newly named U.S motorcycle design director, Michael Woolaway, will be building bikes right on the property.


The building will also house a coffee shop with a drive-thru, which customer service manager Stefan Wigand said is part of the culture Deus wants to propagate.


Wigand said there is a symmetry between the inherent philosophies of Venice and the core culture at Deus.


"We looked into Orange County, but Venice is where the advent of this core culture began," Wigand said. "We just like building beautiful objects and not for show. It's just what we do."


This flagship Venice location will be the first shop in the United States and one of five worldwide. The others are located in Australia, New Zealand and Bali.


Deus will also hold monthly events, such as film screenings and bike swaps. The company wants to propagate a culture and that's where the coffee shop comes in, Wigand said.


"We want people to come and hang out here," he said.. "Just come and have fun."


Deus Ex Machine's Emporium of Postmodern Activities, as the new store will be called, is on track to open early next year. To check out more about their custom work and clothing line, visit their Web site.


A graphic rendering of the new shop is shown on their website here.


Deus Ex Machina


1001 Venice Boulvard


Venice, CA 90291


Old Marina Car Wash becomes new Beach Cities Car Wash


Just across the street from Deus on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Venice, sits the long-closed and embattled Marina Car Wash. New owner and car wash entrepreneur Steve Spunt aims to give the place a much needed face lift and transform it into Beach Cities Car Wash.


After a $6.6 million lawsuit by state prosecutors over labor laws, the Marina Car Wash property was entrusted back to the land owner and then sold to Orange County resident Spunt.


Spunt has been making some improvements to the exterior of the property, as well as reviving the interior with all new decor. He said it will no longer be a hand wash, but will be more efficiently machine operated.


"It's safer, faster and does a better wash," Spunt said.


Prices will remain the same and a less expensive exterior-only wash for $7 or $8 also will be offered, Spunt said.


Spunt has met with representatives of the United Steel Workers Union (675), in light of recent events that prompted car wash employees on the Westside to unionize. Spunt said he has invited the union to send him applicants to interview and their presence won't change the way he operates.


"I've always followed California labor laws," Spunt said.


He said that he's aiminng to invite former workers at Marina Car Wash to work for Beach Cities Car Wash.


The new Beach Cities Car Wash is set to open in January 2012.


Marina Car Wash


2305 Lincoln Boulevard


Venice, CA 90291


Old Venice Hostel to become new commercial/production space rental


Reconstruction has just started on the old Venice Beach Hostel, located just north of the old Marina Car Wash at 2221 Lincoln Boulevard.


The newly designed 10,000-square-foot building will have the largest commercial space available in Venice, according to property managers Linda and David Thind from Coldwell Banker.


The space will feature an interiour courtyard, a Zen garden, elevator service and hardwood and concrete floors, making it ideal for production, the property managers said. Thirty-four parking spaces also will be offered.


The space has been available for leasing at $3.50 a square foot per month. The previous owners of the Venice Hostel still own the property.


Interested parties should contact David and Jennifer Thind at (310) 442-1625.


New Commercial Space


2221 Lincoln Boulevard


Venice, CA 90291

Extra, Extra: Los Angeles' Most Googled Terms, 'Lob City!' T-shirts and Where Harold & Kumar Will Not Go

Extra, Extra: Los Angeles' Most Googled Terms, 'Lob City!' T-shirts and Where Harold & Kumar Will Not Go

Extra, Extra: Los Angeles' Most Googled Terms, 'Lob City!' T-shirts and Where Harold & Kumar Will Not Go

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Los Angeles' most Googled phrases, so-called "literary snobs" defend themselves and the local artist that is designing Obama's Christmas cards (hint: not Shepard Fairey!) Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. [ more › ]

Thursday, December 15, 2011

What I Like About Scrooge

What I Like About Scrooge


Here's what I like about Ebenezer Scrooge: His meager lodgings were dark because darkness is cheap, and barely heated because coal is not free. His dinner was gruel, which he prepared himself. Scrooge paid no man to wait on him.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Film: Newswire: Spike Jonze, Benicio Del Toro, 24-hour telethon for repertory cinema

Film: Newswire: Spike Jonze, Benicio Del Toro, Neil Hamburger, Elliott Gould, and Michael Cera take part in 24-hour telethon for repertory cinema

Los Angeles' The Cinefamily programs one of the city's finest lineups of repertory films, cult classics, carefully curated theme nights, and celebrity events, all in a low-tech, intimate setting that aims to make moviegoing a celebratory, communal experience, aided by cupcakes and beer. And normally you'd have to actually head down to The Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax Ave. and sit on one of Cinefamily's notoriously uncomfortable folding chairs to take part, but on Dec. 17 that's not true: As part of its first-ever fundraiser, Cinefamily is hosting a free, 24-hour telethon filled with unusual screenings ...


In Holland, Santa Doesn’t Have Elves. He Has Slaves.

In Holland, Santa Doesn't Have Elves. He Has Slaves.

As a newcomer to the Netherlands, I do many things wrong. I forget to bring gifts to dinner parties, I thank people too profusely, and often speak too personally with people I've just met. But no slip-up has provoked a more troubled response than when I've brought up my concerns about Santa Claus.


10 Live Action Short Films Make Oscar Shortlist

10 Live Action Short Films Make Oscar Shortlist



Rebecca Ford
The AMPAS announced the films that will move on in the voting process for the 84th Academy Awards.

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How Does The Brain Perceive Art?

How Does The Brain Perceive Art?

A clever neuroscience experiment showed most people's brains can't detect any difference between a real Rembrandt and a fake. The findings pair nicely with studies of wine tasting. Frontal Cortex blogger Jonah Lehrer reports.



Artwork inspired by Big Fish

Artwork inspired by Big Fish

The Silver Screen Society chose Big Fish as their December project, asking designers to come up with concept art rather than traditional one-sheets. The results are pretty great.



Brad Woodward’s illustration does a particularly nice job tracking Edward’s journey in the movie, including two visits to Spectre:



big fish brad woodward



Thanks to Matt Salisbury for the link.

'American Horror Story' Mansion on Sale for $4.5 Million

'American Horror Story' Mansion on Sale for $4.5 Million



Philiana Ng
The six-bedroom, five-bath Los Angeles home "evokes the quality and grandeur of a bygone era," the listing says.

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Butternut, the King of Winter Squash

Seasonal Eats: Butternut, the King of Winter Squash

Seasonal Eats: Butternut, the King of Winter Squash

Butternut squash are right in the middle of their Southern California season, which starts at the end of September and runs until the beginning of March. As one of the more popular winter squash, butternut has a sweet and nutty taste similar to pumpkin, with deep orange fleshy pulp. [ more › ]

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade 2011 Pictures

Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade 2011 Pictures

As always, the best event of the year in Venice!



Click here to view the slide show “real size”, or here to see them individually! Feel free to support the wonderful Venice Canals Association that makes this event happen by clicking here!


Join the forum discussion on this post

Monday, December 12, 2011

Baby Sloth Orphanage: The Cutest Place on Earth

Baby Sloth Orphanage: The Cutest Place on Earth

The cutest place on Earth is the world's only baby sloth orphanage. Wired has a video preview and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of an upcoming Animal Planet documentary on the orphanage.



Black List 2011: 'Star Wars' Satire and Zombies Among Top 10 Screenplays

Black List 2011: 'Star Wars' Satire and Zombies Among Top 10 Screenplays

Jay A. Fernandez
Franklin Leonard's annual list of the "most-liked" unproduced scripts hit the town Monday.

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Coffee Pot Physics

Coffee Pot Physics

When you flip on an electric coffee pot, complex thermodynamics go to work. Dot Physics blogger Rhett Allain delivers a hot mug of science regarding the morning routine.

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