Dogtown Ink

Bassist, board store, sneer.

Digital photograph

April 19, 2008
Mollusk
Venice, California

Surfer, jetty, sea.

Digital Photograph
© Kent Andersson

Aug. 3, 2008
Stingray Alley
Venice, California

Troubadour, tat shop, sky

Digital photograph

January 9, 2008
Ocean Front Walk
Venice, California

Spray paint, cinder block, detritus

Digital photograph

July 25, 2008
Pacific Ave
Venice, California

Woman, street art, street.

Digital photograph

January 9, 2008
Breeze Court
Venice, California

It’s not every neighborhood where you can mount gargoyles and cloven-hoofed figures all over your house without having the local home owners association up in arms.

This strange “gothic” divertissement next to another (the Morrison Hotel) is hardly Notre Dame de Paris, but as boardwalk kitsch goes (okay, it’s 100 feet off the boardwalk across Speedway), it’s a gargoyle giggle.

Westminster Ave
Venice, California

Trendy clothes — lots of Ed Hardy stuff — and Hustlerwear compete for attention in this boardwalk shop. They even have skateboards — Ed Hardy skateboards. I just bought a couple thongs there to use for my “Thonged Man denies armed robbery, decries discrimination” video. But they came from the sale basket, don’t judge the merch on my headwear choices. On the other hand, you need to get a stunt thong and a Hustler poster in a hurry, hurry on down.

The Venice Art Walls need funding. City cutbacks are leaving those trying to keep this Venice institution afloat while responding to neighbors’ concerns about tagging in the neighborhood without funding. Go spend some money on works created by some of the cream of the crop of L.A. street artists and support a good cause.

Don’t let the look of the place fool you. Rosalynn Thai serves up authentic Thai cuisine for a song. I hear the duck is exceptional.

Venician Surf Shop’s Jimmy V and partner’s new board store and more. Eco-friendly boards, decks, cloths and accessories. Opens April 27, 3pm.