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Venice residents worried about the breakneck pace of gentrification in their corner of the city are planning to protest a GQ event being held on Abbot Kinney, which the magazine once named "The Coolest Block In America."The magazine that protesters have taken to calling "Gentrification Quarterly" is holding an all-day event that includes name-brand tequila-tasting, fancy watches, food trucks and, of course, a booth for stylish gents to show off their style. GQ says it's "taking over the coolest block in America." Protesters say that's the whole problem: gentrifiers and tastemakers like GQ are taking over the bohemian hood, pushing rents up for everyone.
The GQ event is a symbol of the pressures of gentrification, and protesters say they want to "hijack" it (h/t Fishbowl NY). The protest's Facebook event says:
Lets give GQ a warm welcome to Venice this Saturday in front of the Brig. Does anyone remember paying $5 for a beer or even coffee on Abbot Kinney? Is anyone stoked about paying $14 for a sandwich? Are you tired of your rent increasing and afraid you will never be able to afford a home in the place you call home? Are you worried about being forced to move inland to make ends meet? Do we really need GQ bringing yet more unwelcome pressure to our corner of the Pacific by pumping the ridiculously gentrified and overpriced Abbot Kinney (formerly West Washington Blvd) yet more as the "coolest block in America"? Come represent this Saturday during GQ's "Style Bible" sponsored Shopping Glutstravaganza. Don't let the Endless Summer become the Endless Bummer. Make a big sign, rock it and represent the dispirited of Venice by telling GQ and anyone else who wants to capitalize on our beach community they can Google themselves the heck out of here. Suggested themes are "Welcome to Venice, Now Go Home." or "Google Yourself Out of Here."
The protest will be from noon until 1 p.m. in front of The Brig.
