Week 3

Week Three: Venice

A walk through Abbot Kinney and dinner at Cafe Gratitude 

 

This week I went down to explore the artsy side of Venice. I visited Abbot Kinney, a street full of hip shops and eateries. Clothing and design stores dominated the landscape. The street provided a very welcoming California atmosphere and it was a beautiful day to be outside, strolling through boutiques. Most people had their dogs by there sides and many were also cruising through the streets on their bicycles. They were also very well dressed, and it was evident that this is a hipster hang out.  This diverse neighborhood of Los Angeles can be thought of as a segment because it is a group in society that is internally homogenous. This community shares the same interests in art and sustainability, showing a different focus than most in the urban metropolis of Los Angeles and therefore defining its difference. The vibe of this community embodies a back to nature attitude, although this specific area was definitely high end. The prices of products and services were not affordable to common folk, but perhaps those who were most likely liberal professionals. Venice serves as a great example of centralized decentralization, which I believe has really affected Los Angeles. It can be described as a, “sub-business center which has grown up in out-lying zones” (Burgess) of the downtown or centralized area of Los Angeles. 

 I was able to further investigate the niche community by dining at a vegan restaurant called Cafe Gratitude on nearby Rose Street. It was an experience that was very foreign to my friends who had not been exposed to vegan cuisine, but was welcomed by those whom were long time vegetarians. Even within my group this difference amongst dietary habits, had a profound affect on each individual’s experience of the restaurant. I would like to comment on what Sibley writes,  “the spaces to which are assigned those who belong and those who are excluded.” Even though this space was not formally “assigned” it clearly made some feel comfortable and included, while others, who were not part of that niche community may have felt exclusion. I think it is important to recognize that social difference does not just stem from race and class, though it is most commonly associated with these two attributes. In this situation, I discovered that social difference can also be found in believes and cultural practices regarding food.