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Remix Vintage Shoes
Feet feeling retro? Check out the never-worn vintage and reproduction footwear from the 1940s to '60s sold here. From baby-doll pumps to two-tone wingtips, your feet will be trippin' the light fantastic.
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Riviera Village
Shoppers unite! Shake off the chains that bind you along the charming sidewalks of Riviera Village, where 150 boutiques, specialty stores, restaurants and salons fill six bustling blocks, with nary a Gap or B Dalton's in sight. From the beachy stylings of Lisa Z (1901 S Catalina Ave) to the Tommy Bahama flair of Threads (1907 S Catalina Ave) to the precious PJs of Little Moon (1813 S Catalina Ave), you'll find something you want to bring home.
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Skylight Books
If bookstores were judged on the quality of resident cats, indie Skylight Books would win paws down. Fortunately, Skylight's fiction, poetry and California travel sections are just as noteworthy as lurking feline Lucy. Exposed brick walls, a willowy tree and nameworthy skylight add to the friendly vibe.
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Small World Books
Look closely or you'll miss Small World Books, tucked beside the overflowing patio of Sidewalk Café. Small but jam-packed - with requisite cat - this welcoming indie has an eclectic inventory reflecting the interests of Venice denizens: film, Eastern philosophy and travel, to name just a few. Vampires will appreciate the dark spookiness of the crammed mystery annex. Plenty of beach reads too.
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Squaresville
Square never felt so right at this two-story corner shop jam-packed with gently used - but oh-so-happenin' - t-shirts, jeans, dresses and accessories. Upstairs you'll find men's and shoes. They buy, sell and trade.
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Strange Invisible Perfumes
Walk-ins welcome at this upscale but accessible perfumery where fragrances are personally crafted. Discover that perfect soulful scent at the consultation bar or wander past cool, lavender-toned walls for an equally fascinating array of naturally fragranced cleansers, scrubs and creams that will leave you feeling neither strange nor invisible.
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The Grove
This outdoor mall is one of LA's most popular shopping destinations. Its recipe for success? Fill a faux Italian palazzo with 40 name-brand stores and restaurants, toss in a fountain, the Pacific Theatres and a sprinkling of celebrities, then top it off with a trolley rolling back and forth down the middle. PT Barnum would be proud. Check out the roof of the parking garage for stellar city views. Highlights include little-girl fave American Girl Place and grown-up-gal boutique Theodore.
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Travelers Bookcase
Sate your travel palate at tiny Travelers Bookcase, where daytrippers and vagabonds alike find it hard to leave empty-handed. Guidebooks, adventure lit and chick-trip tomes camp out in front while maps, sanitizers and yoga mats loiter in back. At Cook's Library (323-655-3141; www.cookslibrary.com; 8373 W 3rd St) next door, cuisine queens and toast-burners alike savor cookbooks, how-tos and dining guides.
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Undefeated
Sneaker lovers camp outside this pint-sized store for the latest 'Outside the Box' styles from Nike, Converse, Vans and Adidas, each pair specially selected from the manufacturer by the manager. Word spreads on the internet and voila, sidewalk campouts. Also in Mid-City (323-937-6077; 112½; S La Brea Ave; - Mon-Sat, - Sun).
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Universal City Walk
With flashing video screens, oversized facades and garish colors, City Walk hovers like a reject from the Blade Runner -meets- Willy Wonka school of architecture. Opened in 1993 as a shopping adjunct to the theme park, this outdoor mall evolved into a local's hangout that can feel like a middle school mecca on weekends. Its 65 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues offer mid- and low-brow attractions, with low leading by a nose.
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Vroman's Bookstore
Loiterers and laptops are welcome at friendly Vroman's, SoCal's oldest and largest independent bookstore. Working hard to keep customers happy, Vroman's has wi-fi, weekly story times, a MySpace page, a blog, a coffee shop and regular author signings. Inveterate bookhounds and page-flippers love the combined 85,000-book inventory.
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Wacko
There's a present for every member of your dysfunctional circle at this eclectic, bursting-with-kitsch, garishly painted giftorium: dashboard Jesuses, tiki statues, soap plant candles, and tomes on cult cinema. Staff loiter like bored British rockers but a fun Elvis section makes up for perceived indifference. For a low-culture immersion, wander back to the La Luz de Jesus gallery and its intriguing array of edgy, post-pop art.
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Whimsic Alley
Muggles love this magical little store at 2717.5 where Harry Potter and friends seem to wait just one portkey away. Superbly designed to invoke visions of Diagon Alley, you can flip through Hogwarts sweaters and capes at Haber & Dasher, find your favorite wand at Phoenix Wands, or simply poke around numerous nooks overflowing with Harry Potter memorabilia and like-minded literature on piratology, dragons and wandmaking.
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Wright's
This cozy corner boutique proffers racks and stacks of high-end designer labels for the beach chic set - Velvet, Habit and Rozae Nichols to name a few. If you fancy some fashion for your favorite tot, Baby Wright's (1146 Highland Ave) is just a stroller push away, with Paul Frank, tiny lumberjack shirts, Naturino booties - it's all just simply adorable.
