Customers sit at tables at Cafe Gratitude on Rose Avenue in Venice, California November 7, 2014. Venice Beach, one of the few spots in car-choked Los Angeles with a vibrant street life, has been a cultural melting pot for more than half a century, welcoming everyone from hippies and homeless wanderers to the latest generation of tech executives. The neighborhood known for its palm trees and cool Pacific breezes has been on a winning streak in recent years, transforming from the "Slum by the Sea" into "Silicon Beach", thanks to the digital giants who have set up shop. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY FOOD TRAVEL)