Get Your Shop On: Echo Park

 

Nestled between Silver Lake and Downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park has plenty of retail gems sprinkled along Sunset Blvd. Parking is easy to snag and in five essential stops you can satiate all your purchase cravings.

SPITFIRE GIRL: Best place to pick up a gift for your best friend, significant other or heck, yourself! Stocked with stationary, adorable home goods and a new in-house line of handmade dolls. Who can resist gnomes? Trust me, you will not leave this place empty handed.

TIME TRAVEL MART: Located in the front of 826LA, this quirky market offers everything from posters and literary zines to fake mustaches and Viking helmets. I am not kidding you. This place is a fantastical quicky-mart of curiosities. All sale proceeds go towards the nonprofit tutoring & writing center located in the back. So you should feel good that the robot toupee you're going to buy is giving back to the kids. 

SIRENS & SAILORS: An irresistible selection of accessories, bags, new and vintage fashion. One foot into this adorable craftsman house and you will feel like you've stepped into the most fashionable pixie closet. I can guarantee that you will fall in love with the range of independent designers and leave with a few pieces that no one else will be sporting.

ECHO COUNTRY OUTPOST: For those of us living in the city and want to channel our inner woodsman, this cabin-like boutique offers an assortment of fine leather moccasins, incense, pine cones, and a collection of hand made objects from around the world. One visit here and you'll suddenly forget all about traffic jams and poor air quality.

K9 LOFT: Fido needs shop love too. Not only is this cheery space a grooming daycare facility, it is also one of the largest pet supply stores in town. Stylish and eco friendly brands such as Luca for Dogs and West Paw in addition to healthy and organic treats. The staff is knowledgeable offering recommendations on behavioral toys for any quirky pups and always remember your best buddy's name when you bring them along for a visit.

Need to refuel mid shopping spree? Grab a coffee or ice tea at The Fix,  Chango, or Stories Café. Are you shopping bags full but your stomach isn't? Drop into Two Boots Pizza, Delilah Bakery or  track down the Taco Zone Truck and get your snack on. Once you've rebalanced it's time to boost our economy some more... Get out there already!

Hometown Hero

Citid is a project (and possible printed book) where pretty much anyone with a computer and the need to claim they have the most city pride can submit an original logo of their city. Yes, even a logo for Lake Oswego. I don't want to pressure anyone...but I've yet to see any good ones for Los Angeles. In fact, Melbourne hasn't even got ONE entry (you don't want Sydney beating you out, do you?!)

Common friends...you know who you are! And you better tell us when it's been posted.

Portland Image by Santiago Uceda

London Image by Sawdust

Ole!

Today is our 4th annual Mayo Madness. Today is going to be a good day.

Arc Dreams: Hollywood Hotel

Danish Architecture group BAYARCH came up with a pretty swanky multiplex hotel and entertainment center concept in the midst of Los Angeles' biggest turf war. I suppose I can cancel my reservation now that the bunny man saved the sign.

Staycation!

Nothing like a jammed packed weekend on your home turf to really appreciate everything a bit more. A nice hotel room and a few glasses of champers doesn't hurt either!

Spicy Business

The Spice Station in Silver Lake is finally open! White and black truffle salt, beat powder, tapioca pearls, a cornucopia of rubs and dried peppers. Olfactory overload! Best yet, it's just a beautifully designed outpost. Walls lined with glass containers of spices and teas, the colors and textures are absolutely gorgeous. I'm already plotting new menu ideas just to incorporate some of the unusual flair. Mmm.

Alpaca Amore

How can you resist a face like this?! While at Intelligentsia this weekend, I was instantly smitten (and a bunch of ooh awe ahh's bursted out of me) with the current art installation by local Angeleno artist Jilian Kliewer.

w'end:thumbs

The weekend was so good it's really put me off my blogging game.

Cuisinerd: Lazy Ox Canteen

Unmarked and on a quiet street just off downtown's Little Tokyo hub, The Lazy Ox Canteen is hiding some serious goodness behind their wooden door. On a whim and with hopes that the rain would prevent a long wait, we were able to snag a corner seat at the bar. Greeted with an impressive wine list and and an even more impressive list of specials - per usual our eyes were larger than our belly.

Crispy pig ear with a tart horseradish dipping sauce and homemade pickles. Lamb Cheeks so tender you want to ask for another helping. Grilled Octopus on top of spicy greens and citrus fruits. Brick roasted muscles with a spicy house sriracha. There is a definite yin and yang to all these dishes - muscles are spicy, but the french feta clams it down. There is always an element of powerful herb or acid on the plate which perfectly compliments the main event.

On the way out a gentleman shook his finger and advised that people turn around. Much to his dissatisfaction "There's too much flavor going on in all their food"!

I couldn't possibly agree more. And it's not the least bit of a bad thing.

Honestly, it doesn't get better than this. Bravo Lazy Ox! Bravo!

Nice to Meat You

Open Since 1876, Victor Churchill Butchery in Sydney Australia is showcasing quality meats in a divine space like it was a Louis Vuitton Showroom. Design highlights include brick walls made from hand carved salt rock as well as solid copper sausage cabinet hardware which were cast from their own inventory. I appreciate taking an old world trade and giving it the attention to detail and class that it deserves. This is like the Savile Row of meat!

If you're unable to jump a jet for your lamb roast this evening, I must highly suggest McCall's Meat & Fish Co. located in Los Feliz. In addition to a vast selection of wild caught and free range goodness, feel free to get adventurous and take home some bone marrow or sweat breads. There is nothing but tasty quality coming out of this place, such a great addition to the neighborhood. Just a warning: they are no long open on Sundays.