Rose Ave - Venice, CA

street art on Rose Ave

LA shoppings districts are often subjected to the same plight most cities in North America experience: the ritual of artists and visionaries who descend on a neighborhood transforming it into the place to be until well-known brands move in, upping the rents and forcing out the very people who made it desirable in the first place. Abbot Kinney is the most recent street subjected to this depressing cycle of gentrification. Thanks for deeming it "The coolest block in America" GQ! Jack Spade (under the Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc umbrella) has taken over the cottage that used to house my favorite boutique Undrest By The Sea... Gant, LF, and Lucky Brand are nestled together in a newly refurbished building... Who's next, The Gap? (Don't misunderstand me, I have nothing against falling into the Gap on occasion - it's just that our malls are redundant, must our communities be as well?)

Rose Ave mural

That is not to say I didn't enjoy the hour or so I spent Christmas shopping on AK this afternoon, but I have, over the last several months, felt her essence erode away as new shops popped up. 

corner of Pacific and Rose (here's the story behind the clown)

If you are looking for a fresh experience - delicious restaurants, cool shops - Rose Avenue between Pacific and 7th is the place to be. 

shop at The Golden State

chill in the courtyard

get inspired next door at Big Red Sun

eat and drink at Superba

Rose Mojito

Smoked Bucatini Carbonara

they had me at the wallpaper 

cleanse at Moon Juice so you can do it all over again 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! Tell me, have you begun to work on your Christmas list?