Mr. Intensome...why does Venice/LA suck?

[jwb]

I always stay south of the airport around hermosa beach etc... venice is a dump

[knny187]

I was referring to how obviously flamboyant they are down on Santa Monica Blvd. Not so much if at all are they like that down on 2nd st. or Laguna Beach, they don't sex stores with dildos in the windows for decoration or TS crossdressing maniquins !!

Santa Monica & La Cienega = fruitville


I used to manage a business for a company about 6 years ago in the funny little section.

The guys from my old company thought it would be a funny joke to assign it to me.

[Max_Rep]

I was referring to how obviously flamboyant they are down on Santa Monica Blvd. Not so much if at all are they like that down on 2nd st. or Laguna Beach, they don't sex stores with dildos in the windows for decoration or TS crossdressing maniquins !!

Okay I wont argue with you there. But none of that is recent. I remember when I moved here in 1980 and Gold's was still on 2nd street in Santa Monica. Even back then the prominence of openly gay couples all over Santa Monica really started to wear on me. I try to be open-minded but sometimes it was just… enough already. I don't know about dildos in the windows. I don’t ever remember seeing that. I know what you mean about wanting to run back to a nice safe neighborhood where I know I’m not going to encounter that stuff.

I’m not sure I even remember what my point was?   

[timfogarty]

I don't know about dildos in the windows. I don’t ever remember seeing that. I know what you mean about wanting to run back to a nice safe neighborhood where I know I’m not going to encounter that stuff.

there are a few sexually explicit store fronts in the predominately gay areas.  there are a few in predominately straight areas aimed at that market as well.   bad taste is not limited to any one demographic

[divcom]

Of course everyone has a demo tape of a head shot...It's LA...where they make movies.

Now, If everyone in Boise, Idaho were kickin around with those...I might find it a little strange.

Thanks for letting me know that.

[tommywishbone]

If gay people are a problem, you might as well leave the planet. If openly gay people are a problem, just stay out of most large cosmopolitan cities. Sorry.

[Alex23]

Yes and yours involves you, your mom and a poodle. Sickie.

Hahahahahaha and that cuming from the "guy" pimping himself on myspace like little twat... nice shot the "showstoppa"

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=96420392

[sgt. d]

Hahahahahaha and that cuming from the "guy" pimping himself on myspace like little twat... nice shot the "showstoppa"

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=96420392

That is showstoppa? 

Teh Squad is not having a good year

[Alex23]

That is showstoppa? 
Teh Squad is not having a good year

You bet. The sugar bear first denied it and later confirmed when fully exposed and nowhere to run..

[the choad]

You bet. The sugar bear first denied it and later confirmed when fully exposed and nowhere to run..

I thought this was a bodybuilding board....Showstappa is even fatter than alex23..

[Vince B]

Years and years ago you could drive to Santa Monica or Venice Beach and park there for free. Those days are gone. If you go to Gold's Venice you see quite a place with muscleheads galore. You still have to look for parking and hope you don't get a ticket. I guess that is what happens in a city where there are too many cars and not enough places to park them in the popular areas.

The smog is really bad especially when it is hot there. I remember seeing the San Gabriel Mountains behind the city and I can't remember seeing them before. You usually cannot see very far in the distance with any clarity. When you fly in you can see the hanging smog and wonder why on earth anyone would live there.

Hollywood has changed because the buildings became old and the only businesses that can pay the rent are those dedicated to tourism. It is still okay to walk around there in the daytime because they don't have the misfits around. The police are always present there to keep the place looking passable.

Santa Monica wasn't that impressive the last time I was there 2 years ago. The  greater city long ago became a conglomerate of separated shopping areas. The downtown LA area isn't too viable but there are areas where the people from Mexico have shops.

It certainly is a huge city and I dare say it has something for everyone. If there was no smog there it would be an exciting place to live. I guess no one actually feels at home there. Notice how most people living in the area say they are usually glad to get back to where they live.

I agree that the Redondo Beach area is preferred by many to hang out at instead of Venice. Heck, I like zillions of people and excitement.

[timfogarty]

hollywood has been rejuvinated.  all the old office buildings on Hollywood Blvd are being turned into million dollar condos.  and such redevelopment projects are selling out in days.   new night clubs have opened all along the blvd. 

traffic is much worse that in the past, but the smog is much better.   once every couple of years will the entire region have a bad air day (usually related to our brush fires).  but we have so many micro-climates and it's likely that one of them will have smog while the others are clear.   with an on-shore flow, the smog will get trapped up against the mountains.   but with a thick marine layer and wind from the east, the smog will get trapped along the coast.

Venice was the last affordable beach community, but no more.    It's all been gentrified.

[Mark1]

I liked LA the weather was good and there was plenty of hot babes about also the boys at World gym let me train there for free. Great guys.
The things I didnt like were the smog, the dirty water and people constantly tooting their horns. I also caught the big blue bus which was quite the experience. I didnt realise it wasnt safe to walk the streets. i was shit faced most nights and walking the streets by myself going from pub to pub.

[Slick Vic]

So in a nutshell, the Venice/Santa Monica area is a dump? 

[jwb]

So in a nutshell, the Venice/Santa Monica area is a dump? 

Venice ain't that bad but don't expect paradise... the beach is terrible - zero waves - lots of $2 shops and street people etc. Golds is cool obviously.

Santa Monica ain't bad imo - good place to see a movie at night since there are about 4 theatres.

Hollywood I don't mind personally but I like to see live gigs etc - the roxy, viper room etc are on sunset.

Golds in west hollywood is a good gym - lots of gays but that doesn't bother me personally since they never bother me much anyway...

Beach wise go to manhatten beach and hermosa beach south of the airport. hermosa has pretty good night life with lots of partying going on and at least the beach has some waves for a surf even if they are pretty small.

If you don't like LA jump across to vegas, it's a nice drive mid week imo...

[Slick Vic]

Venice ain't that bad but don't expect paradise... the beach is terrible - zero waves - lots of $2 shops and street people etc. Golds is cool obviously.

Santa Monica ain't bad imo - good place to see a movie at night since there are about 4 theatres.

Hollywood I don't mind personally but I like to see like gigs etc - the roxy, viper room etc are on sunset.

Golds in west hollywood is a good gym - lots of gays but that doesn't bother me personally since they never bother me much anyway...

Beach wise go to manhatten beach and hermosa beach south of the airport. hermosa has pretty good night life with lots of partying going on and at least the beach has some waves for a surf even if they are pretty small.

If you don't like LA jump across to vegas, it's a nice drive mid week imo...

Thanks for the lowdown, JWB. 

[Tre]

Because it's in L.A.

'Nuff said.

[pumpster]

Venice ain't that bad but don't expect paradise... the beach is terrible - zero waves - lots of $2 shops and street people etc. Golds is cool obviously.

To visit on the weekend, Venice Beach is still magic; was there a few weeks ago. An eclectic scene reminiscent of Central Park or the east village along a beach that includes vestiges of BB history.

Most of the negatives have to do with living there, during which time cynicism would creep in given the LA mentality. As far as other beaches if you just want a standard beach, there are others. Some who have lived in the area for a long while probably don't see it or appreciate Venice the way others do.

[pumpster]

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[pumpster]

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[pumpster]

[nycbull]

hollywood has been rejuvinated.  all the old office buildings on Hollywood Blvd are being turned into million dollar condos.  and such redevelopment projects are selling out in days.   new night clubs have opened all along the blvd. 

True, is was just there a week ago. Looks like the yuppies are moving in. I hope it doesn't drive away all the young creative types that hang out along the blvd. They are individulaistic, fun and rebellious and ultra Americana, sans 70's and 80's. Not many of those neighboorhoods left after uncreative types come in and bring their tasteless new wealth aesthetic. Its the artists that make neighborhoods and the new rich that ruin them.

[stuntmovie]

I've been visiting Los Angeles since the early 50's, and that includes the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica and Venice, so my memories of those places goes back quite a ways.

Some of you could be interested on how things were back then so I'll add some posts until I'm asked to quit.

I regret that all those photos I took back then have been misplaced along life's highway, but I recently returned and shot some new photos just so I could recall how things have so drastically changed.

I'll add those recent photos and make appropriated old-time comments as soon as I can get them reduced to an appropriated posting size.

Keith, I'm gonna send some of these photos to you to get reduced but please allow me to post them personally so I can add the comments. OK?

[onlyme]

The canal is supposed to be really nice now.  There for a decade or more it was really run down.  Venice is a place to visit more than a place to live.  Drugs are everywhere.  I grew up in Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach.  I like it south to.