Neighborhood: Venice

The Electric Lodge Performing and Visual Arts Center in Venice will once again play gracious host to the Kulov Tea Festival. Since 2000, the Kulov has celebrated the exotic culinary and cultural traditions that are literally “steeped” in tea. This year’s Kulov features the “teas and flavors of China,” and is only a short walk from artsy Abbot Kinney Blvd, with its hip restaurants and galleries.

“Every year around Valentines Day we host a cultural event honoring a country with a strong tradition of tea,” explains event producer Kulov. “Last year we celebrated Japan, the year before that, India. This year will coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Rat.”

Local and International tea retailers, wholesalers and importers will be on hand. Exhibitors include the Art of Tea, famous for their rare, organic Ayurvedic teas, Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden and Herbal Emporium, which specializes in medicinal teas and herbal tonics, and 1001 Plateaus, known for the freshness of their high quality imported teas such as Jasmine Pearl ball, Long Jing, and Da Hong Pao.

Specialty foods, dim sum, and a grand tea ceremony with tea tasting, are among the culinary delights. Participation is encouraged, and workshops in herbal medicine, calligraphy, music and dance will be offered, as well as fine art displays, installations and a raffle. No matter what your taste, at the Kulov there is much to see and do.

Last year’s Japanese celebration included workshops in the crafts of origami and calligraphy, as well as demonstrations on how to make sushi, and mochi ice cream, and a Japanese tea ceremony. Every year the Festival features memorable live performances of folk music, as well as exhibits in both traditional crafts and contemporary art of the country. This year the UCLA Chinese Cultural Dance Club, and the American Chinese Cultural Association will round out the day with performances at 6:30 pm in the Electric Lodge theatre. Claudla Chol, Katherine Lee, Yujin Ono and Cathy Wang will also perform.

From Feb 7-28, in conjunction with the Tea Festival, Kulov contemporary and sixspace present an Exhibition of Chinese Contemporary Art also at the Electric Lodge. The exhibit will feature the works of Emily Cheng, Hong Hao, Alexander Lee and Zhang Xlanyong.

“The [Electric Lodge] is in a wonderful part of Venice just off of Abbot Kinney Blvd.,” says Kulov. “One of the goals of our tea festivals is to generate curiosity and good will that extend into the community at large,” he explains. “With so much to discover, people come from all over Los Angeles, as well as out of state, spending many happy hours exploring the neighborhood.”

Admission to the Tea Festival is $10 in advance, and $15 at the door, plus anywhere from $1-$3 for goodies and workshops. The event is free for children under 12. The Electric Lodge is located at 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, CA 90291. For more information email info[at]kulov.com visit: http://www.kulovteafest.com or call (310) 699-7271.

Nestled along a narrow street right off of the Venice Beach Boardwalk, Piccolo Ristorante is a cozy little Italian restaurant that’s only a stones throw away from the water. With only about a dozen tables in total, 10 inside and 2 outside, the atmosphere at this neighborhood spot is awfully romantic.

Piccolo Ristorante opens its doors at 5pm and doesn’t accept reservations, so you’ll have to either come in early or be prepared for about an hour wait (depending on how busy it is of course). If you find yourself on the waiting list then you have a few options. There is a neighborhood bar right around the corner where you can enjoy some drinks and live music. You can also hang out inside the restaurant, but you’ll have to settle for sitting on the steps (with a bottle of wine of course).

All of its dishes are prepared using only the freshest ingredients and accentuate the flavors of Northern Italy. Their wine list isn’t particularly amazing, but they do have a pretty good selection of Italian wines. The food at Piccolo Ristorante has always been consistent, but I wasn’t crazy about it the last time I visited. Their signature dish – the Potatoes and Fig Tortellini was excellent, but the rest of the food came out a little too salty (something everyone in my party noticed). I’m not one of those people who complain and send the food back, so I did end up eating it all. Since this wasn’t my first time at the restaurant and I was happy in the past, I’ll just treat this as an isolated incident.

The food is not cheap; a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and dessert will run you about $150 (with tip).

Getting Here

Parking in Venice Beach can be a little tricky, so your best bet is to park at the lot on Rose Ave & Speedway for $4. After parking your car, take the Boardwalk a few blocks south and then make a left on Dudley Street; Piccolo Ristorante will be on your left.

With summer right around the corner, nothing beats spending a day at the beach. Although Los Angeles is home to a plethora of wonderful beaches, I have always been particularly fond of Venice.

This strip of beach is about 1.5 miles in length (north to south) and it’s bordered by Navy St and Washington Blvd. Besides the typical beach activities like playing frisbee, flying kites, swimming, and laying out on the sand...there are plenty of other things to see and do at Venice Beach.

The Boardwalk

Lined with souvenir shops, artists, musicians, and street performers – the Boardwalk at Venice Beach is a great spot for an afternoon stroll. If you’re looking for a little more activity, rent a pair of rollerblades or a bike for about $20 and then head off in any direction. The Boardwalk is part of the South Bay Bicycle Trail which spans 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County...so make sure you have enough energy for the trip back

Bars & Cafes

There are plenty of cafes along the boardwalk where you can sit down and enjoy the view; it’s also great for people watching. For something quick and affordable, grab a slice of pizza and then find a bench facing the ocean. On a hot day, why not grab a cold beer (or cola) at a neighborhood bar to cool down.

Souvenirs & Art

If you’re looking for some cheap souvenirs or pieces of art for the house, you’ve come to the right place. Venice Beach is home to tons of vendors who will sell you everything from fake designer sunglasses to hand carved trinkets.

Tarot Card Readings

Another thing you’ll find abundant at Venice Beach are the Palm and Tarot Card Readers…about 2-3 per block. Some have their own shops while others are nestled along the boardwalk between the street performers and the animal rights activists.

Parking

Parking in Venice is no picnic and you’ll be really lucky to find an available space along the street. Make sure you read the signs carefully because you don’t want to get a ticket, or worse, have your car towed away. If you don’t find parking along the street, there’s a lot on Rose Ave and Speedway that charges $4. Interestingly enough, there is another parking lot a few blocks south that charges $14.