If you missed the 2005 Venice Garden Tour in Los Angeles, here's a guide to the 
best homes and gardens along the Venice canals and the funky/elegant community that is LA's East Village and is celebrating its centennial this summer. The tour was billed as gardens but in many cases the homes were featured, too. They won't likely be open as you walk by, but you can get a good flavor of the rich architectural and esthetic variety. One of them by architect David Hertz is featured in Sunset Magazine.
Of the 30 homes and gardens on the tour, here are our favorites (besides the Hertz home) -- a widely assorted group, including those designed by architects, lived in by actors and artists, and created under the artful hands of their owners. Some homes are actually three connected California Craftsman bungalows; others tripled their original tiny size with second and third floors that go deep into the lots.
Pick up a free map along Abbot Kinney Blvd. in one of the electic clothing, Art Deco, vintage, and California lifestyle boutiques.
Here's the list of best bets.
Be sure to check out the Venice Canal portion. Created as a Venice-of-America tourism fantasy by Abbot Kinney in 1905, the canal district fell into disrepair and by 1929, when all but six canals were turned into pave streets and renamed. Fortunately the area has undergone a rebirth.
Check out:
- 717 California Ave.
- 1336 Electric Ave.
- 745 Millwood
- 514, 528, 540, 542 Altair
- 2409 McKinley
- 2420 McKinley
- 410 Sherman Canal
- 413 Linnie Canal
- 19, 20 Grand Canal
- 700 Palms
A great break -- pause at Jin Patisserie, a delightful and uniquely Asian-inspired indoor-outdoor tearoom on Abbot Kinney Blvd. for lunch and pastries en route.
