Just north of Silver Lake and east of Los Feliz lies the neighborhood of Atwater Village. By LA standards, the neighborhood is teeny-tiny, but what it lacks in size (and population), it more than makes up for in cute, cultural boutiques.
I explored a lovely 2-3 block stretch of Glendale Boulevard—an area that is easily compared to Sunset Junction in Silver Lake. Both have coffee shops and cafes, small shops filled with art, housewares, and clothing; and tattooed hipsters. However, because the boulevard is so expansive, I firmly believe that the blocks could never reach the level of claustrophobia conjured on a sunny Saturday in Silver Lake. Unless there were throngs of people meandering through the cars and tripping over dogs as they lay on the sidewalk, the area just seemed peaceful, and downright airy. It was about noon on Saturday—a bit early to hit a madcap rush, but this neighborhood is best explored during the lonlier hours. Parking was plentiful (with cheap meters), and the blocks easily walkable.
My first stop was a dark alcove called This or Die (featured above). A bit, ominous, sure, but the clothing inside was indie-meets-office-chic. Pencil skirts and slacks, with lacy tops were great for any LA workplace. A few jersey tops and dresses hung about the racks, and are appropriate for nights out. They got points for playing Band of Horses as their store soundtrack. Lost points for pyramid-studded belts.
Under the Table sells “artist made goodies.” This includes independent comic books, stationary, and the occasional $500 ceramic sculpture. There is an overwhelming vibe of Japanese art, and the space was a tad empty. The shop has been open for five months, and I was assured that the shelves would be restocked as they recovered from the holiday season.
To round out the shopping we had Amelia Fitzwater. Cute and colorful, the shop is run by two women in their late twenties. It is filled with what they call “retro throwbacks”—old school valentines, reprinted Golden Books, and office supplies that are a unique notch above what one may find at Anthropologie. They also carry every conceivable silhouette of Moleskine notebooks. Although none of their stock is particularly unique, I certainly prefer supporting independent shops to major mall chains—especially when the shops are closer to my apartment than The Grove.
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