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| AKFF Blog – It’s All About Venice! |
Happy New Year to All of our Readers from Venice to Vegas & beyond!
Yes, the AKFF Blog has a local, national & international following.
Now that the holidays are done, let’s move on to our monthly holiday, the 1st Friday of the month on Abbot Kinney Boulevard! See our Contest too!
You know, the blvd. called “the hottest shopping district in the US” by GQ Magazine, who also hosted an event on Abbot Kinney last year!
Check out our Brand new AKFF Logo! You’ll be seeing more of it!
First Fridays of the month – January 3, 2014
The AKFF Editor is working fast and furiously on what’s happening tonight, so please visit again very soon today and the scoop will be here for you! Plus, see the AKFF Facebook Page for any last minute haps! As for the naysayers that proclaim First Fridays is dead you’re flat out mistaken! (Did you know a local art blog wanted to to diss the AKFF Blog by spreading rumors about 1st Fridays being dead? Yup she did, yet, the blog is simply not competition for the AKFF Blog!)
Zingara – has been around since 1st Fridays started and is one of the original shops on the boulevard to start the event. Tonight, they will feature their famous s’more on the back patio, and the Cooking Channel will be there, filming it all for Real Girls Kitchen with Haylie Duff. Make sure to check out the fair trade clothing, accessories and gifts- the AKFF loves their jewelry – and walk thru to the back to sip hot cider and enjoy the s’mores!
1507 Abbot Kinney Bl.
G2 Gallery – this gallery has become known for their nature photography and conservation oriented themes. G2 is open until 8pm. A few doors down from Zingara.
1503 Abbot Kinney Bl.
Kolu – women’s designer boutique is having a huge sale up to 70% off, and will stay open until 8/9pm tonight so make sure to stop in and check out the back rack. Near Lemonade, where the AKFF Editor stops for a bite before heading to 1st Fridays.
1653 Abbot Kinney Bl.
WIN these earrings from Agabhumi on Main Street in Santa Monica!
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The AKFF has a Secret to share with our blog readers FIRST!
A new blog will launch this month, My Venice Life! It’s all VENICE all the time! Created by Jagmedia, parent company of the AKFF Blog.
What happened to Abbot Kinney Boulevard last year?
It exploded! Causing even more controversy, that’s what! Chain stores like Lucky Brand, Gant, Heavenly Couture moved in while some smaller local shops moved out. Bohemian Exchange moved to Main Street along with some others… Local restaurant chain, Kreation Organic moved into the former Jin Patisserie space and did an amazing job of opening up the space, adding more spots to sit down and check out what’s happening on AKB, while eating healthy Middle Eastern food- yum! Also Feed opened up and Local 1207 finally got it together with an interesting menu with more than over-priced sandwiches and smoothies!
Numerous pop up shops came and went, with the latest Intel Experience shop opening around Thanksgiving and still there for a few more weeks. They gave away some nice sweatshirts from Alternative down the street and free food from local places like Casa Linda.
Then there was the GQ event in November, which stirred a bit of controversy with a small vocal group of Venetians… well, it’s a little late to whine. If you wanted to stop large chains and companies from being on AKB, you’re a few years too late! The one constant in Venice and on AKB is change. Yes, it may go to the dogs, of course fancy ones in high end designer clothing like the thousand dollar dresses at Pamela Barrish and Guilded Edge that most of the opulus can’t even touch! It is ashame that the colorful, bohemian culture is almost gone from the hotttest boulevard in America! What’s your take on it? See our comments link below.
Yes, there was also the Aussie invasion with fashionable boutique Aust opening last year. Aust is hosting an artist closing show and barbeque on Saturday from 3 – 10pm so stop by, check out some cute clothes, and the art of Venice Artist, Garrett Wasserman. 1617 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Another Aussie boutique, Made in Earth, featuring gem filled jewelry opened a few years ago… Next door to it is newcomer Aesop, carrying body products.
So that’s the scoop from the AKFF! Enjoy 1st Fridays and your weekend!