• Chamberlain Coffee has opened. The owner is a 24 year old influencer. Geez!
• Went in to Abbot's Pizza Factory. Menu has no pricing. The reasons why it would have no pricing do not bode well for the biz. I give the place a year before it closes.
• New shop, Lil Sweet Treat. Bins full of candy you scoop into a bag and pay by weight.
• A lot of entrepreneurs have their tables/vans full of goods at the curb. I was always pleased to see them until a shop owner told me they take up parking spaces that would go to a customer. It looks like Birkenstock is fighting fire with fire, getting their own customized van to park in front of their store.
• Pleased to see the tuxedo rabbits mural is still intact throughout the many changes of the store it is in front of.
• Wasn't there a plaque on top of the stands at the rainbow crosswalk? Wonder what happened to them.
• I don't understand the business model of food trucks. It seems like the food should cost less as they don't have the overhead that a brick and mortar restaurant has. Low cost comfort food I thought would be their selling point. But they charge the same, if not more. GamGam burger, for example. $11 for a burger, $7 for fries and $3 for a drink. I guess it's for tourists with disposable income that happen to walk by and have no idea or care about the price. But every food truck every where has crazy pricing.

Feel free to post your own update about different aspects or area of Venice.

• Great, roads closed.
• Last race, I was at Cow's End and wanted to get to Westminster dog park. Pacific Ave to get to Westminster was closed and the only way to get there was to go down Washington Blvd to Sepulveda, get on Santa Monica Blvd and head back only to find that road closures at Rose Ave and Pacific prevented the same access.
• This can't be good for businesses. There's a huge walkway called the boardwalk aka Ocean Front Walk that would require no closures, be perfect for spectators and great for businsesses.
• Why not have these races on the boardwalk?
• https://runvenicebeach.com/venicebeachhalf/race-day

​Hey everyone,

​I just wanted to introduce myself to the neighborhood. I'm Dan, and I recently launched my new food setup, Uncle Dan, right inside the Saint Maxime coffee truck here on Rose Ave, Venice.

​I know food trucks are everywhere around the Westside, but

​We keep the menu tight and focused so we can do it right:

​Lox Salmon ($14): We cure the Faroe salmon ourselves. It is served with whipped cream cheese, capers, and house pickled red onions.

​The Forager ($12): A hearty, savory orhanic mushroom sautee cooked down with white wine, organic arugula plus ricotta and gruyere cheese.

​Maxime's Favorite ($11): The classic hazelnut chocolate spread from Bellwether Provisions with fresh organic strawberries or bananas. We measure the spread so it balances perfectly without drowning the fresh fruit.

​Maple + Butter ($7): Just a crispy, perfectly browned crepe with a drizzle of organic maple syrup and butter. Served in like a cigar roll topped with Maison Bordier Butter.

​We are keeping it simple, focusing on the best ingredients and organic(where it possible), and serving everything in sturdy, eco-friendly, compostable trays.

​If you are stopping by Saint Maxime for your morning coffee, come say hi and grab a bite. We are really excited to feed the neighborhood!

Inside Saint Maxime, 560 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

We are open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm.

Jim Morrison office space and

The Doors event space

Older adults across Los Angeles County could lose critical services that support their health, independence, and dignity.
 
The California Department of Aging is proposing changes to the distribution of Older Americans Act funding across the state, including a 17% budget reduction for Los Angeles County. This could reduce essential services for older adults such as home-delivered meals, congregate dining, senior centers, case management, transportation, and caregiver support.
 
State leaders can still revise the funding formula before it is finalized. Your voice can help protect services, ensure funding reflects Los Angeles County’s needs, and prevent harmful cuts.
 
Simply submit a public comment to the Department of Aging by 5:00 p.m. on May 12, 2026, via email at: CA2030@aging.ca.gov. You can access a template letter here.

Read our op-ed on this topic in today’s Santa Monica Daily Press here.