I attended the Venice Beach Fest. While roaming around Windward Avenue, the only street that…read moreremains from Abbot Kinney's Venice of America other than the 6 canals, I went into the Del Monte Speakeasy. Located in the basement of Townhouse in Venice, the Del Monte Speakeasy has been a hidden hideout since 1915. During Prohibition, Townhouse secretly operated the space located underneath a grocery store that served illegal hooch smuggled from the former Abbot Kinney Pier through underground tunnels. Today, the hooch is done, replaced instead with fancy-pants handcrafted cocktails, as well as live entertainment including local bands, comedy, jazz and vaudeville acts.

Bouncer/security guard outside said "no, we do not let dogs inside, not even service animals, dog"…read morewas inside the bar there the other night with my dog at the townhouse bar in venice. The next day i come back they did not let me in anymore, he said service animal, dogs only allowed on the patio. Well, this place should hire security and manager that a service dog is allowed inside and anywhere in public spaces by law. I have been to other speakeasy in orange county and las vegas, they did let me in. This place is just disappointing. The guy in the picture does not know what service animals are for people with disabilities. Places like this should educate their employees.

You can really enjoy the bag scene with good food while enjoying being outside…read more Staff are great

Really cool interior with great vibes. One of the bartenders was kinda rude and dismissive but I…read moregot my drink nonetheless. Lots of seating available

Dang it looks like my review never posted but oh well. Went there on a Saturday night and the…read moreplace had just opened so there was only a few heads in the place. Got a nice couch facing the band where my wife and I had a great time. But those few heads very quickly turned into a full house. A funny side note, the drummer was a young dude and his band mates were easily in their 50s and 60s. The music for the night was a New Orleans style. Nice thing is there were no hoodrats in the place. All decent good people there to enjoy good drinks and good music. Rick, the bartender, makes a great margarita.

Killer Yacht Club is located inside the venerable Killer Shrimp restaurant, on their 2nd floor, in…read morewhat is, no doubt, their longstanding event space. They've done a nice job of turning this into a hangout you can enjoy anytime. It still has the vaulted ceiling and wood beams of a nautical-themed building, but the decor has been darkened into a Speakeasy feel, with muted colors and subtle lighting. Went to their New Year's Eve party, which featured a live band and a burlesque show. Seems like they transformed the space a bit for NYE, with cabaret tables and such, which is different than other descriptions, but worked well for the type of evening. Food was not being served during the NYE event, so we ate downstairs at Killer Shrimp first (separate review). Staff up in the Yacht Club Speakeasy was friendly and welcoming, and the bar was nicely stocked, though they only had large, plastic cups (20oz college kegger size), and all drinks were served in them, which was a bit of a contrast to the supposedly upscale NYE vibe. No matter, this is a very minor point. The dance floor is ample, and the live band was very good. The band was primarily playing older rock and American songbook standards rather than contemporary tracks, again because the crowd was mostly on the older side; different, I assume, from the regular crowd. I'm excited to come back and see what the vibe is like on a regular night.

Amazing service and live music! This spot has been a favorite of mine! You can go alone or with a…read moregroup and have a blast all night.

I never miss an opportunity to catch a burlesque show, and after seeing more than my fair share,…read moreI've come to really appreciate the difference between a good show and a great one. Harvelle's is the latter. Tucked close to the beach in Santa Monica, this tiny little place might not look like much at first. The setup is a tightly woven arrangement of vintage chairs and tables, with a long row of couches hugging the wall. But once you're inside, you realize they have their reasons for their layout. If you're lucky enough to grab a front-row seat or one of the coveted bar stools, you'll start to notice the details: metal pipes, and rods that spark the imagination. You're in for a treat! What I really appreciate about Harvelle's is that they don't charge you an arm and a leg for tickets. The artists are humble, talented, and consistently engaging. I've been to burlesque shows where the performers feel like they're just there, going through the motions. But not at Harvelle's. Every time I've gone, the women bring something artful, classy, and unapologetically bold to the stage. It's burlesque, yes, but not cheap in style or spirit. Anytime a friend's visiting from out of town, this is the spot I take them to. It's a must-see in Santa Monica. And honestly, what other place is giving you burlesque seven nights a week?

I love it here! Ever since their remodel, this has been a go to spot for me. The ambience is…read moreamazing, low light but enough to still set the tone. I had a Miami Manny and boy was that thing smacking. That mezcal boy o boy.... Our bartender was super cool and helped navigate through the wide selection of drinks. I highly recommend going here!

great spot that slowly turns into a full-on club as the night picks up. Starts off chill, but give…read moreit some time and it gets packed... like barely-room-to-walk packed. Energy goes way up with it though. Music is consistently great and the crowd matches it. Mostly a younger, high-energy vibe. If you actually want to enjoy your drinks and maybe chat with the bartenders, show up early. Once it gets going, it's all motion and noise. It's never disappointed us. You kind of know what you're signing up for, and it delivers every time. Ambiance leans classy without feeling vintage. Dim lighting, a touch of rustic, and just enough polish to set the tone without overdoing it. They've got a patio too, which comes in clutch when you need a breather or want to actually hear the person next to you. We usually do street parking and it's not too bad if you're willing to walk a bit. Reservation needed: Not really, unless you've got a big group and want your own section Parking: 6/10 - Street Crowd: 8/10 Vibe: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Music: 9/10 Drinks: 8/10 Price: $$

A casual speakeasy next to the Venice sign that serves decent drink with a pool table…read more Cocktails are nothing exquisite (not watered down, nice). It's just a great speakeasy without loud music that you can hold conversation during the weekdays (not sure about weekend, also never been to their rooftop). I think drinks selection here are a bit limited to my tastes in terms of cocktails, their speciality cocktails aren't unique. Service is standard, no attitude. Ambience is cool, dimmed, casual and somewhat intimate. The bar and bathroom are clean, nothing to complain about. Wouldn't travel all the way to here for this but would stop by again if I happen to be in the area, if I want somewhere not loud and don't want to be interrupted. Overall, there are other bars on the same street. So it's not a bad idea to start here and bar hop, if you want to be elsewhere that's more vibey.

Ok - i'll admit it. In full disclosure, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to venturing out for…read morenightlife in Venice - the slum by the sea and these dive bar type places - but this place nails it. Now there were definitely some weirdos but they were at a minimum. - Attended this place as the recommendation of a friend for my birthday as they were hosting a DJ at the lower level of this place. The music and vibe in this place was perfect. You can't go wrong with a pool table, intimate lighting and some R&B background vibes. - The bartenders were great. Attentive. Accommodating. True professionals. - The DJ was actually better than I anticipated and there was a nice little group out even with it being a Coachella weekend.

2013 marks the 13th year of the free Summer Concerts in Marina del Rey at Burton Chace Park. Who…read moresaid 13 was an unlucky number? Thursdays: Classical orchestra music. Saturdays: Pop stars of the past (like Taylor Dayne and Billy Ocean) *** Free *** * Starts at 7 p.m. * Parking isn't free unless you want to walk a few blocks. * Lot #4 (1-block), Lot #5 (3-blocks), & Dock 52 (3-blocks) are options * Plan about 20 minutes or more for walking from your car to the park venue * Take the $1 (each way) Water Bus from 6 other stops * Come early if you want to get one of the rental chairs * Come early if you want a spot on the grass with a view of the stage * Plan to sit outdoors enjoying the music; Relax and view the water & boats * Bring your own lawn chair if you need it * Jackets, Blankets, Food, Drink, etc. are a must * There is a small stand selling sodas and such. Bring your own *** 2013 Marina Summer Concerts Schedule *** - July 11 - Classical Thursday: "A Night at the Opera" - July 20 - "Pop" Saturday: Billy Ocean - July 25 - Classical Thursday: Ruslan Biryukov, Cello - August 3 - "Pop" Saturday: Taylor Dayne - August 8 - Classical Thursday: Rufus Choi, Piano - August 17 - "Pop" Saturday: Poncho Sanchez - August 22 - Classical Thursday: Roberto Cani, Violin - August 31 - "Pop" Saturday: Rose Royce

What a great evening! We packed up the dogs and headed to the Marina. We parked in lot 4 - not much…read morechoice as that is were they directed everyone. It is a couple of minute walk to the concert spot - no big deal. Tonight's theme: Lights. Camera. Movie Music - Yana Reznik- Piano We planned to eat the the food trucks that are there. There was only one this night, India Jones Chow Truck. I happen to love Indian so that worked out great. We brought a bottle of wine and a couple of blankets with us. We found a great spot on the lawn. The stage was lit beautifully and the sound was wonderful (see my video). It is fantastic that you can bring your dogs and so many people did. Lots of children as well. Everyone had a great time! This is a free event because it is sponsored. So thanks to the Los Angeles County, Department of Beaches and Harbors with additional support from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. DOS 8/7/14

One of the best black box theaters in LA. I've seen two shows here and enjoyed it every time.read more

Got invited to a last minute screening of a couple of Venice Producer/Directors...who just happened…read moreto be friends of ours too! John, Stuart, and Bruno put their feelings on film...as well as their visions! After the films, was a Q & A session - downstairs, where the elite meet and eat. An assortment of brownie bits, cookies, cheese and cracker platters, lots of roasted almonds, and even a surprise Birthday Cake were available to feast on! And along with a tended bar of wines, waters and sodas. A wonderful jazz trio played in the background, and, above head height, there were cartoons being projected on the wall. Saw people we knew, and met friends we didn't know, until we met them. And it was nice to be out and about, (it's been a while) The staff was great, going the extra mile to get a chair for a senior holding a cane. We'll be back!