Walking in L.A.

"Many of the original properties--small bungalows clustered together--have maintained their character, despite gentrification of the neighborhood, said several longtime residents. But nearby Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where locals hang out in droves, was not always a place that attracted the wealthy.
"'About 18 years ago, the area was pretty seedy,' said Suzy Frank, a longtime Venice resident and owner of Abbot Kinney Real Estate. 'It mostly attracted hippies and artists who wanted to be close to the water.'"

Leah Ziskin in the Los Angeles Times takes a stroll through the walk-streets section of Venice.