THE MAYOR OF VENICE BEACH
#DailyNugget
Yes, he is a clown, but that’s another story.
This particular effigy dangles from the corner of the CVS Pharmacy building at Main Street and Rose Avenue in Venice.
It’s our history, don’t knock it.
~ The Nug
MsCheevious
Ms. Cheevious is the alter-ego of Lisa Jey Davis (former publicist, and television talent manager, current award-winning writer & author, & health and fitness pro). Though Ms. Cheevious has become known for humor via the blog and social media, offering a lighter and brighter look at life… the blog was originally a precursor to Lisa Jey's long overdue book "Ms. Cheevious in Hollywood" which offers a fabulous, funny peek into what really goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood… a Hollywood with Lisa Jey and her funny “serendipities” in it. Think Lucille Ball meets Chelsea Handler meets the girl next door (with a little chocolate and vodka). It depicts with hilarity the innocent mistakes Lisa Jey made when launched back into the big, bad single jungle, as an unassuming single-mother in the City of Angels. It’s also about the beautiful, interesting life she led while her loving, incredible sons kept her grounded and sane amid fantastic events, new friends, parties and field trips. It also shows the turmoil and heartbreak that comes with dating and single mom life. All blog content © 2015 Ms. Cheevious aka Lisa Jey Davis
Venice HISTORY – c’mon! Way back, honest to God before you were born, I used to hang out some in Venice. This is when beatniks embarrassed San Francisco and a few moved to Venice. A lascivious character called “Big Daddy” (he came in at about 250 lbs) took up residence as the Baron of what was once a drugstore on the beach at Strand and Windward. A charitable wish-he-was-a-beatnik lawyer paid the rent on the disused building. The “All night Poetry and Coffee” shop/restaurant, “Venice West Café,” at 10 Dudley St. operating at that time was rented and operated by none other than my freshman room mate at Harvard. Venice West Café was shut down from time to time because the poetry reading out loud was taken as providing entertainment without a license. John went on to be a functionary of the Peace and Freedom Party headquartered in Venice. He was a vociferous spokesman against the gentrification of Venice. He died from general malnutrition Google on “John R. Haag.” Real Italian cooking was provided at Venice West by John’s wife whom he had married in Rome. When she immigrated they lived with bachelor me and for some six months my household language was Italian. Va bene. Google on “Anna Ricci Haag.” They split up and to about 15 years ago Anna was a well known and well liked character in the Venice scene. She became ill from general malnutrition and went to Colorado where her daughter DuAnna lived and there died. Anna’s son (full parentage TBD) owns a bicycle shop on Main St. Venice had a few producing artists that were nearby. I have a painting by one who called himself Mike Modigliani; he wasn’t too stable and committed suicide. My son has my copy of a large print of Venice West Café done by someone whose name I forget. I’ve been away from the Venice scene for a very long time, but my son has a well gentrified home on a walk-in street a half block from the beach. Its real estate value has risen about $1,000,000 since he bought it 10 or so years ago. I should be so smart!!
Wow Eaeme! Nice history lesson! But you still didn’t tell us why there is a male ballerina dangling from the CVS in Venice. I’m told he’s been there all the while as the building has hosted several different business establishments.