Pepperdine’s culture is certainly a unique one. Some students know their ways around Shanghai and Buenos Aires before even experiencing the urban jungle of Los Angeles just down the road. African street performers dance amateur jewelers weave and decorate their goods a world-famous drum circle and countless other characters await— and you don’t have to buy plane tickets to experience it all. The famous boardwalk at Venice Beach is just 20 minutes south of Malibu on Pacific Cost Highway.
The spring issue of Currents Magazine hitting stands Thursday April 15 features freshmen Kacie Scherler’s and Brody Wooton’s experiences in Venice meeting homeless residents and attending the drum circle. Their adventures have introduced them to hoards of interesting people and perspectives.
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Meet Juño— a hippie with a sticker-sealed guitar case and a big heart for others. He frequents the boardwalk talking to people of all kinds playing music and selling handmade flower leis. He’s an avid supporter of “vegan vegetarianism.” He also works for a charity called “Heartbeat of Global Unity” (Heartbeatofglobalunity.com) and distributes food donations to the homeless of Venice regularly. His most recent effort involves organizing a special drum circle that includes all religions countries and ethnicities to represent the multifaceted cultures of Los Angeles and promote tolerance in the Venice community.
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Julio has attended the drum circle for 40 years. Formerly homeless he returns to Venice every weekend to celebrate and sleep alongside his old friends.
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“Tree Man” walks on stilts and has branches for arms but he’s actually an artist named Lionel who brags that he has the “smallest art gallery in the world” on the boardwalk. It is hardly large enough for one person to enter. He lives in a motel hostel on Rose Street.
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Scherler has forged an especially close bond with a teen her own age— Derek— who has lived on the streets of Venice for almost eight months now since being kicked out of his home and spending a few months in Tijuana. His first night in Venice he received a fur coat from the other homeless people because he did not have his own jacket.
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Peter is a quiet middle-aged man who spends all his time sitting in the grass and reading. He has told Wooton that he knows he could exist among other people but he chooses to spend his time pursuing knowledge through reading.
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Scherler says Jay from Kenya is one of her “new BFFs according to Scherler. Scherler said he sells legit” beanies on the boardwalk and has a thick accent that all the ladies drool over.
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During an outreach organized by Pepperdine students on Valentine’s Day they met Taurus a street vendor with whom they shared their tent and spot on the boardwalk. He ended up giving away more than he sold.
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As far as what people can do at Venice the options are limitless. While many enjoy the beach or skateboard rollerblade or ride bicycles on the boardwalk others choose to take the road less traveled.
Venice is one of the most popular places to get a tattoo in the area and tattoo parlors line the boardwalk.
House of Ink has received reviews as one of the cleanest and most professional venues and it is also where Wooton got his own tattoo.
If you’re looking for a less permanent souvenir many street vendors offer hair wraps in different colors. Many visitors opt for red yellow and green— the Rastafarian colors. Christian hippies fill the streets to play music and evangelize. Street artists offer customized masterpieces and are willing to haggle. Rustic Mexican food is available every few steps.
Then of course… there’s the drum circle.
Every weekend locals and visitors convene on the beach in celebration of life— dancing eating and drumming. The drum circle welcomes individuals of all backgrounds races religions and ideologies to join in feeling the rhythm and enjoying living in the moment.
Scherler and Wooton say they recommend exploring Venice for yourself to see what kinds of characters you might meet. To find out more about their experiences check out Currents.
