Photos by Haley Laningham
Far, far down Sunset Boulevard, a rugged and beautiful corner of LA awaits. It is a place filled with artists, musicians and the working class. Crime is high. Traffic is crazy. But one thing is for sure — this place is filled with life and the free-spirited. Having spent a lot of time in this side of town (a best friend of mine is a resident), part of me wants to keep it a secret, seeing every wall covered in street art, every stranger’s sunny face speeding past on a 10-speed. To me, it’s a place that feels like home, even if I may never see it again after Pepperdine, my grad school wishes promising to whisk me away. LA may not seem like home over here in Malibu, but to live so close and never soak it in seems foolish. That being said, here are three suggestions for an Echo Park experience that may make you wish you pulled a starving artist after high school.
For your morning coffee:
Intelligentsia Coffee
3922 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
The shop is gorgeous. From the first moments inside the patio, the open architecture of the place speaks. Giant windows separate inside and outside seating, left up to you depending on how crowded it is with locals at work on their computers and sketchbooks, and maybe a tourist or two. “This coffee bar attracts many people looking for a remote working environment, however, it isn’t for everyone,” said Lead Retail Educator Kevin Tabor, “We often become very busy and the atmosphere tends to be very loud and lively, which isn’t ideal for people needing a quiet place to focus on their work. Much of the work being done here is actually social; we offer a great environment for the surrounding community to gather and interact.”
Every single time I go, I get whatever their daily iced coffee brew happens to be. Anywhere else, I end up using cream in my coffee, but here, each is too diverse to be experienced with the mediation of fillers. The experience is meant to be a little different each time, but all are equally delicious.
Food and drinks:
Mohawk Bend
2141 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026-3124
With relaxed servers and a very diverse food and drink menu, this place is a wonderful spot to post up in the hot hours of the day. Despite the vegan theme and the work of local artists featured in the back room, this place could also earn the name of “sports bar,” while simultaneously being worth your time for a nice date.
In addition, rarely have I come across a place that does both vegan and non-vegan food so well. If you’re not someone who restricts your diet, you might happen to find a favorite menu item that just happens to be vegan. For example, I love their buffalo-style cauliflower. Never knew it was vegan. They do vegetables right. At the same time though, you can get one of the best pizzas or burgers around, and for over-21-year-olds, this place has a tap the length of a small pool.
Dance:
The Echo
1822 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026-3227
Right after you’re done eating, you can walk right over to The Echo to see what’s going on. Some nights they do shows in the early evening for an hour or so, then become full-on bars after hours. On Saturday, the after-hours event was a weekly thing called “Funky Sole.”After dinner, I went with some friends to dance. It was crowded, but the people were, for the most part, cool and inviting, and very free. To end your night with some color, look no further. Just prepare for a small cover charge, and expect many events to be 18 or 21 over. To ask about events, call their number at (213) 413-8200.
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Follow Haley Laningham on Twitter: @haleylanz
