The Monday Project spends a day in LOS FELIZ - L.A. neighborhood (2.61 square miles in size) snuggled between East Hollywood, Silverlake and Griffith Park.
Put a little bit of East in your West, baby. Los Feliz has a bit of an East Coast vibe going for it. The streets are tree-lined and pedestrian-friendly, not always an easy thing to find in car-hungry L.A. The hood's main hub, Los Feliz Village, is cluttered with restaurants, bars, a holy-moly amount of vintage stores and boutiques, an Art Deco movie theater from the 30’s and an independent book store. The area's a nice balance of chic and bohemian.
Here’s a list of some of The Monday Project's Los Feliz Favorites
SHOP
under the more bohemian banner of shopping, we got…
Wacko / Soap Plant: The 2nd Happiest Place on Earth
“A pop culture toy shop with a punk rock attitude.” It’s a kook of a store. Big. Fiilled with postcards, novelties, a huge selection of offbeat books, original art. It’s bloody kitsch galore up in here. It’s like a Toys-R-Us for adults. You’ll need nothing and want everything.
Also, it’s got a cool history. Opened in 1971 and family run always. Check out the link to learn more: http://soapplant.com/about-us.aspx
located:
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
90027
Ozzie Dots
Next door to Wacko is Ozzie Dots, which was named for a bulldog in a polka-dotted bandana. Next time you want to play dress up, check out OD before you go to Etsy or a pop-up Halloween megastore. It has vintage clothes, costumes, accessory pieces, wigs, hats, eyelashes, mustaches, beards, lamps - the important stuff.
located:
4637 Hollywood Blvd.
90027
Y-Que Trading Post
This place is a goldmine of quirky t-shirts, curios and has the friendliest damn shopkeep. Billy Wyatt, the maestro behind Y-Que, wanted to get out of the T-shirt business when he opened his shop. But when you’re good at something, it has a habit of sticking around. Remember the “Free Winona” tee, when Winona Ryder got arrested for shoplifting? That was Billy. If a T-shirt shop could be a bar like Cheers, Billy would be Sam Malone.
located:
1770 N. Vermont Ave.
90027
under the more chic banner of shopping, we got…
Co-Op 28
A gifts shop / boutique with artisanal jewelry, art, candles, posters, postcards. Lots of what you’ll find is from local LA artists and craftsmen. There is also a vintage section and a section for home decor. This is like Wackso’s slightly older, richer and more refine Auntie.
located:
1728 N. Vermont Ave.
90027
Una Mae’s
Mostly a clothing store, it has a mix of vintage and new designer clothing (lots from independent designers), shoes, accessories, knickknacks. Come here to satisfy your ever-expanding Herschel needs.
located:
1768 N. Vermont Ave.
90027
Kingswell
This may be the swankiest, boutique-est skate shop ever. Not only is it a skate shop, but it’s a fully functioning tattoo shop (by appointment only), and it hosts monthly art openings and photography shows. According to them, they’re the “artistic and forwarding thinking side of skateboarding and street culture. Dope.
Fun fact: It’s the location of Walt Disney’s very first animation studio. So, like, cool things are meant to happen here.
located:
4651 Kingswell Ave.
90027
DRINK
Tiki-Ti
Get on in here. Belly up to the bar for an umbrella festooned mai-thai. Enjoy the soothing trickles from the waterfall behind the bar. Count how many different state license plates you can find on the wall. This place, as it’s name hints, is a tiki bar. It’s a little hole in the wall thing decorated tiki to its brims. It’s a regular’s hang. If you’re lucky enough to call yourself a regular, you’ll get your name on a little placard for the wall. Unlike some regular’s haunts, though, this one is inviting to all. Hell, the night we went, someone had made civeche and kabobs to share with the bar. Tiki-Ti’s also has a rich history. Check it out here: http://www.tiki-ti.com/pages/tiki-ti-story.html
located:
4427 W. Sunset
90027
Good Luck Bar
Another Bar for your tropical swallows. There are red lanters that hang from the ceilings and they set of nice little lounge-like mood. If you come on a night that bartender Li is working, strike up a convo. He’s great. (Don't forget to tip).
located:
1514 Hillhurst Ave.
90027
The Dresden
Know that movie Swingers? Well, that’s pretty much Dresden’s claim to fame. Even without that, though, the place is awesome. White leather booths. Come in shorts or wear your mink. It’s been open since 1954, and it’s home to the longest running live act at the same venue in Hollywood history. Marty and Elayne Roberts are a husband and wife performing duo who have been married for 35 years and performing five nights a week at the Dresden for 34.
located:
1716 N. Vermont Ave.
90027
PLAY
Barnsdall Park
Park enthusiasts. Beauty enthusiasts. Ladies, gentleman. This may very well be the best park in all L.A, and L.A. has some pretty great parks. It’s at the top of a hill. It has views that rival the views from the Observatory… only better maybe, because you get to see the Observatory. The Hollyhock House is at Barnsdall. There is a Farmer’s market (on the smaller side) every Monday. There’s also movie nights a Barsdall in the fall.
located:
4800 Hollywood Blvd.
90027
The Clubhouse
Arguably the best Indie Improv spot in the city.
Skylight Books
So many amazing events and an awesome collection of books. Support local bookshops!
located:
1607 N. Vermont Ave.
90027
