Shopping
The Merchants of Venice Beach
The neighbourhood that defines L.A. by constantly redefining itself is now one of the city’s hottest shopping and eating destinations.
Venice Beach has always had a knack for reinventing itself – first as Muscle Beach, then as Dogtown (home to the pioneering Z-Boys skateboard team) and now as a hip shopping enclave. Abbot Kinney, the main drag that runs through the centre of the neighbourhood, embodies the spirit of the moment. But with rapid turnover among shops and restaurants, staying ahead of the curve can be brutal. Here are a few spots we’re hoping will stick around.
Tortoise
Husband-and-wife team Keiko and Taku Shinomoto moved to Los Angeles from Tokyo in 1993. Seeing opportunity in the fast-paced lives of Americans and Japanese, they decided to apply the Slow Food idea to what they call slow things. From Japanese scissors to lanterns to teak couches, all of the objects in Tortoise must satisfy three conditions: They’ve been around for a long time; they draw on traditional techniques; and they reflect classic design. Slow and steady wins the race. tortoiselife.com
Mona Moore
The Montreal team of Anna Varriano and Lisa Bush has added a second shop to the Mona brand, spreading the gospel of Haider Ackermann, Phi, Zoraide and Rick Owens (bien sûr) to the West Coast. If you don’t feel like battling L.A. traffic, just call the shop for same-day delivery anywhere in the city. monamoore.com
Equator Books
This offbeat store reflects Venice’s artsy bent with its stunning array of collectable books and vinyl, focusing on photography, art, design and poetry. Then there are the specialty sections – Surf & Skate; Prostitution & Call Girls; Circus Freaks & Bullfighting – which offer a peek into the neighbourhood’s signature eclecticism. A great place to hang out on a Saturday afternoon. equatorbooks.com
The Stronghold
The original Stronghold was launched in 1895 as the first denim manufacturer in California. Fast-forward to 2004, when the guys behind Von Dutch relaunched the brand based on the original designs. The store carries only those brands that existed during the years of the first Stronghold – Stetson Hats, American Optical, White’s Boots – all of which make you feel like you’re part of the gold rush. And you’d have to be: Stronghold’s made-to-measure custom trousers can run you anywhere from US$280 to US$480. 1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 310-399-7200
Gjelina
The last time I had brunch at Gjelina, I ate Niman Ranch bacon and blueberry buckwheat pancakes, sandwiched between Rosario Dawson and Harvey Keitel. Not a bad way to start the day, but if you’re arriving a little later, try one of the wood-oven thin-crust pizzas. My fave is the spicy salami with caramelized fennel and tomato confit. The dining room is small, but the terrace is the best in the city. gjelina.com
Intelligentsia coffee
Intelligentsia’s newest Los Angeles coffee bar is a butcher block at the end of an ivy-covered alleyway where a barista meets you and takes your order. The decor is L.A. diner, complete with a neon sign of a smoking cuppa joe outside. It’s a takeout experience that you’ll want to stick around for. intelligentsiacoffee.com
(Meredith Erickson is a Montreal-based writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Elle. She is currently writing for the food program à la di Stasio.)
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TOP IMAGE: TOP IMAGE: VERONICA
MONA MOORE: DENISE MALONE
INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE: PHILLIP KIM
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