GTA Deli opened recently at 1427 Abbot Kinney, next to hugely popular Gjelina and the name stands for Gjelina Take Away Deli. It had a long line out the door on a recent Sunday afternoon and there wasn’t even a sign for it! Owner & Venetian Travis Lett is limiting hours for now from 7am- 4pm since he wants great quality products. Serving up sandwiches with bread baked onsite, plus pizzas, along with salads using locally grown produce (namely from farmers markets) wherever possible. Prices are very reasonable for the pricey real estate on AKB – food value is important and Travis wants to encourage people to walk or bike to the deli. In addition there are pastries and breakfast food. Just by tasting the fresh baked bread, the rest of the menu is sure to be delish!
Another new business is Hot Moon Collection on Windward Circle at 1501 Main Street. It carries an eclectic ensemble of glassware, antiques, clothing, vintage and new jewelry, sopas and more.It’s a real treasure trove and nice to have another business like this on the Circle, since similar businesses were closed a few years ago.
Owner Gabby Ruvolo hails from Topanga and is very enthusiastic about becoming part of the Venice community. Stop into her shop – it’s a real treasure trove!
Ascended Living has been on the boulevard for several years providing Holistic solutions that nourish your body, mind and spirit. Beauty inside and out by owner Toni O’Bryan. Services include AcuLight, Alphabiotics, Avesa Quantum Healing™, Nanocurrent Facelifts, Quantum Regenerative Facials, to name a few and some of the products carried are: Living Herbs, Probiotics, Elixirs, Skincare, Regenerative Lasers, Ascended Health and more. It’s on the 2nd floor (also shared with a new Thai Massage business) at 1418 Abbot Kinney Blvd. open on Wednesdays. See their website for details: www.ascendedliving.com
Starting the weekend off…
Friday at Figtree’s Cafe, a Venice beachside cafe that’s been around for some time, has provided hungry Venetians and tourists with healthy and delicious California/ Mediteranean flavored cuisine. They also serve up free live music and have great happy hour specials starting at 4pm til close on food and drinks. This Friday at 6pm you will be treated to the live music of Fefe Lee, from the band Los Pinguos playing solo and singing Beatles songs. 429 Ocean Front Walk aka the Boardwalk, 2 blocks south of Rose Ave. look for the blue awning over the outdoor patio.
Friday night – Art & Live Acoustic music with guitar wizard Michael Jost at Cafe 212 (this used to be the Novel Cafe) from 7-11pm. Artists Sister Calypso and Milo Gonzalez and others will have their art too.This is just on the border of Venice/Santa Monica at 212 Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Grab a cup o’ coffee and a sandwich or pastry while you’re at it. There are other eclectic events hosted here throughout the week.
Saturday Fireworks at Santa Monica College – the fireworks are a couple of weeks in advance of hte holiday, but it will still be fun and festive Starting at 4pm parking lots at SMC will openand Corsair field opens at 5pm. Live entertainment with the Chris Mulkey band starts at 7pm. the fireworks are on at 9pm. Note the lots close at 8pm. 1900 Pico Blvd., Parking $5, enter at Pico & 17 Street. No animals, no chairs with pointed legs.
Sunday Summer Solstice in Santa Monica on Main Street! This annual event stretches from Pier ave. to close to Pico and is an all day event with bands, sidewalk sales (both Saturday & Sunday) at the stores and more. 11am – 7pm. Live music all day! While it’s mostly cover bands it’s a blast. A few friends that are veterans to this event suggested these bands with original music: Ben Vaughn and the Lost Mind Ramblers and Leftover Cuties.
Tentative line-up; schedule subject to change:
(south to north)
Pier Ave.
1pm – Cubensis – The Grateful Dead Tribute
3pm – Southbound (Allman Bros. tribute)
5pm – Surfin’ USA (Beach Boys tribute)
Kinney Ave.
1pm – Highway 61 Revisited (Dylan tribute)
3pm – Neil Deal (Neil Young tribute)
5pm – Petty Theft (Tom Petty tribute)
Wildflour Lot (east side of Main, between Ashland & Hill)
1pm – Gilbert Hurricane – A Gary Gordon Tribute Band
2pm – Ben Vaughn & The Lost Mind Ramblers
3pm – The Ghouls
3:30pm – Helios Jive
5:15pm – Elviss Simmons & The Memphis Strutters
New Orleans Bldg. Courtyard (presented by Agabhumi)
1pm – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
5pm – Bryan Titus
Museum Lawn (presented by The Basement), 2640 Main
3pm – The Devil’s Box
4pm – City Fritter
5pm – Dustbowl Revival
6pm – The Get Down Boys
Edgemar Courtyard (2443 Main)
2:15pm – The Texas House Party
4:30pm – Dr. Wu (Steely Dan tribute)
Elias Lot (NE corner Main & Strand, presented by Euphoria Loves RAWvolution)
1pm – Rock the Shakti with Micheline Berry, DJ Drez and Ensemble
2pm – Breath of Life Tribe
3pm – Rocky Dawuni
3:45pm – Tom Freund
5pm – Leftover Cuties
6pm – Surprise Special Guest