El Bordello Alexandra
In wacky Venice Beach, and even wackier apartment building stands outIs it a castle, a bordello, a movie set, or a schizophrenic funhouse? It's hard to tell just what you're looking at when you approach the apartments of Tony Wells and Brittany Stevenson, and it could be any of those things, or all of those things thrown together. Demons leer and gargoyles crouch behind patina ironwork, framing murals of women in various stages of undress peeking through curtains. Another mural depicts a more medieval scene, a scantily clad warrior woman riding a dragon into battle, and among the devils and nymph statues, a regal centaur rears up, bow and arrow in hand. This jumble of myths and fantasy artwork is not a haunted house or a film prop retailer, but simply the not-so-humble apartment building of two free spirits who rent to artists, musicians, and other like-minded folk who don't mind their home being gawked at.
El Bordello Alexandra used to be just that – a rumored bordello and heroin den with a slumlord that had little interest in caring for the historical 2-story building. When Tony and Brittany purchased the apartments over a decade ago, they gutted the promising structure and started from scratch. After the initial repair work was done, the two started hiring local artists to make it a place worthy of the label “bizarre” in a city that flies its freak flag so high it's barely visible, and worthy it is. With its contrasting themes all represented with bold-colored murals, life-sized statues and some of the busiest detail in town, El Bordello Alexandra has managed to stand out in a place where it's practically impossible to earn a double-take.
Read more about El Bordello Alexandra on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Commercial Curiosities, Odd Accommodations, Architectural Oddities
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Edited by: Rachel, RogueTowel