The opening scene in Kendell Shaffer's novel Kalifornia Blu takes place late night at the Venice Skate Park where her main character, Kal, gets busted by the cops. As Kal figures out a way to deal with her situation, readers explore Venice from a teen's perspective visiting local landmarks, such as Frank Gehry's Binocular Building, and neighborhood hangouts that are more of a nod from Shaffer to her fellow Venice residents. Here she gives us the top five spots that inspired her book.

"Like a teenager, Venice is going through a growth spurt and an identity crisis," says Shaffer. "The city is awkward, unpredictable and energetic. It’s a teenage city and it’s the perfect setting for my YA novel, Kalifornia Blu."

Originally from Baltimore, Shaffer studied film at New York University and moved west to be in the entertainment industry, eventually settling in Venice by way of Hollywood. She produces and writes for television and teaches screenwriting to high school students throughout Los Angeles with the Writer's Guild Foundation and the Neighborhood Youth Association. When this super stylish Venice mom is not at Rose Cafe writing novels and scripts, she spends time with her family, teaches kids to dance at JillyJazz Kids at Electric Lodge, which she co-founded, and raises bees on her roof. You can learn more about your incredibly creative neighbor or stop by to say hello at kendellshaffer.com.  

And you can pick up a copy of Kalifornia Blu in paperback or on Kindle through Amazon.com. 

Top 5 Spots That Inspired Kalifornia Blu by Kendell Shaffer

Zelda's Corner
Have you ever had one of the hot bubbly greasy dough balls dropped into a paper bag and tossed with sugar on a hot summer day or a cold winter morning? Anytime, it’s not just the perfect taste, but the ritual of watching the donuts bathe in oil and drop hot and steamy onto the metal tray. When Kalifornia Blu is finally bailed out and hungry, there is only one thing she wants for breakfast: Mini Donuts at Zelda’s Corner.

Zelda's Corner
9 Westminster Ave., Venice, CA 90291

Rose Cafe
Most of Kalifornia Blu was written at the Rose Cafe but I didn’t use it as a location because it’s not the kind of place where a fifteen year-old would hang out. I like a cafe where you can order food and pay for it and sit down and everyone leaves you alone. I have spent hours at the Rose Cafe on the beautiful patio. The food is yummy and the espresso is super strong. You get to see all kinds of people in there from movie stars to body builders to tourists to locals. That’s where I first noticed the old man in white who had four inch-long finger nails painted bubble gum pink. Kalifornia notices him too.

Rose Cafe & Market
220 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291 

 Mao's Kitchen
Always busy and buzzin’. Love the small hand-made places to sit and the Orange Ginger Chicken. The whole corner of Windward and Pacific is very inspirational. It’s the heart of Venice. The lights, the Youth Hostel, the skateboard shops, the original architecture, and Mao’s Kitchen. Kalifornia and her pals dine in a restaurant called Ping’s Place, but the inspiration for it was Mao’s.

Mao's Kitchen 
1512 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291 

Dogtown Dogs Food Truck
One night I got home around midnight after working on a movie. I was in a super bad mood and took a late night walk down Abbot Kinney. At the end of the street, the Brig was spilling out onto the sidewalk and some folks were hanging outside of a food truck called Downtown Dogs. I took refuge that night with a California Dog and a bag of Tots. Something about the late night discovery and the crispy tots changed my mood. It felt a bit rebellious to have a dog in the middle of the night, but who cares. I could. It was Venice. The truck shows up at the Brig on Tuesday nights and I make it a ritual to find it. I have the truck parked at Venice Beach High School in my book. It becomes just as comforting for Kalifornia to find the truck and when asked what her last meal would be she says, “Tots with Cheese.”

Dogtown Dogs Food Truck

Take A Ride
There is nothing like jumping on a city bus to become inspired. And the Metro and Blue Buses give you a window seat to see Venice in a different light. All sorts of characters ride the bus. Lots of students who don’t drive, crazies, moms and toddlers, hipsters. You can make up tons of stories about people just by watching them for a few stops.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Pretty much every time I started to write Kalifornia Blu, I'd listen to The Red Hot Chili Peppers or watch "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" video which was shot un-permitted on a rooftop overlooking the Boardwalk on a sunny Sunday in July. The Chili Peppers represent Venice musically to me. The rhythm and energy and their stories. I met Anthony Kiedis once as he walked up Paloma Avenue wet, wearing a wetsuit pulled down to his waist and barefoot carrying a surfboard. He was late on his way to have dinner with my then neighbor, Maggie.