Shopping in Los Angeles
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Crossroads of the World
One of the LA's first malls, Robert Derrah's 1936 Streamline Moderne complex has an eye-catching nautical theme. The central structure is shaped like a ship, with its bow topped by a tower crowned with a rotating globe. The surrounding cottages, many in mock-Tudor style, house the offices of Taschen publishing.
reviewed
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B
Accents Jewelry
Pretty baubles to adorn just about every body part from ears to toes fill the glass vitrines at this friendly little store on bustling Main St. Besides owner Steven Hanna's own creations, you'll be tempted by dozens of other lines, most of them in sterling silver and many designed by his former students.
reviewed
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C
Skeletons in the Closet
This ghoulish gift shop, operated by the LA County Coroner's Office, is located two floors above the morgue. Best sellers include personalized toe-tags, body-outline beach towels, even travel garment body bags.' Proceeds benefit the Youthful Drunk Driving Visitation Program, an alternative sentencing program.
reviewed
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D
ADHD
Extreme Makeover star Ty Pennington knows about style and now he's sharing it with the rest of us in his new furniture and home-accessories boutique. The name stands for Art Design Home Decor but is also a pun on Ty's attention-deficit hyperactive disorder about which he's been very outspoken.
reviewed
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E
Beverly Center
Despite the Soviet-style exterior, this is LA’s glamour mall, easily accessed by Hollywood Hills celebs in need of one-stop shopping. Show your hotel key at guest services for discounts, then lose yourself in over 160 boutique shops, department stores and restaurants. Parking is $1 for the first four hours.
reviewed
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F
Lisa Kline
Lisa Kline offers bright cheery digs, friendly service and casual couture that has kept flip-flop fashionistas and the Hollywood elite looking fab for more than a decade. You can also check Lisa Kline Men (143 S Robertson Blvd) and Lisa Kline Kids (123 S Robertson Blvd).
reviewed
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G
St Vincent Court
One of Downtown's newest oddities is St Vincent Court, a recently restored alleyway supposed to look like a quaint Parisian street, and lined with Middle Eastern cafés where clusters of men sip minty tea, and workers, shoppers and the occasional hipster chow down on gyro and kebabs.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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I
Puzzle Zoo
Those searching galaxy-wide for the caped Lando Calrissian action figure, look no more. Puzzle Zoo stocks every imaginable Star Wars figurine this side of Endor. For non–Star Wars fans and kids, there are hundreds of puzzles, board games and toys jockeying for space on scruffy, floor-to-ceiling shelves.
reviewed
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J
Helms Bakery Complex
If you're in Culver City continue east on Washington and you'll hit upon the fabulous Helms Bakery Complex , a giant former bakery turned furniture and design district. One of LA's best jazz venues, the Jazz Bakery has also found a home here, as have fabulous restaurants such as Beacon.
reviewed
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Babeland
This women-owned store quite literally puts 'babes in Toyland' but don't expect the PG variety. Neatly arranged between candy-colored walls are dildos, handcuffs, strap-ons, vibes and other tools to tickle your fancy – or whatever. All staff are 'sex educators' happy to advise on how to play.
reviewed
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Lululemon
Yoga-lovers yen for Lululemon’s zen – where fashionable yogawear and knowledgeable staff quicken your search for perfect peace, not to mention the most flattering pair of workout pants. Wary about the yoga thing? This upbeat, colorful store offers free one-day classes on Sundays. Newbies encouraged.
reviewed
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M
Jewelry District
For bargain bling head to this bustling Downtown district where you can snap up watches, gold, silver and gemstones at up to 70% off retail. The mostly traditional designs are unlikely to be seen on Paris or Angelina, but the selection is unquestionably huge. Quality varies, though, so buyer beware.
reviewed
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N
Lush
Scrubbing bubbles never looked so good. In fact, the homemade bath bombs loading the bins at this soap-scented store look so fresh, fruity and fancy that you’re almost tempted to take a bite. But no worries here, the fun-loving staff are happy to explain the proper path for primo sudsy pampering.
reviewed
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Matrushka
Who says fashion has to be superficial? Not Lara Howe and Beth Ann Whitaker who infuse many of their handmade tees, dresses, pants and skirts with a lefty political touch. Everything's made from eye-catching fabrics, no two pieces are alike, it's OK to be size 12 and prices are comrade-friendly.
reviewed
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P
Toy Jungle
Follow the happy frogs to this bright, two-room store, just east of and up the hill from the Hermosa Beach Pier. Its towering shelves are crammed with Playmobile dump trucks, puppy puzzles and the latest in Hello Kitty. Curious George and others beckon to the tots from the cozy corner Book Nook.
reviewed
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Q
Hollywood Book & Poster
Budding screenwriters know this hardscrabble shop is the place to purchase blueprints for future success – hundreds of TV and movie scripts all for sale between $10 and $15. If you bring one they want but don’t have, they’ll barter. Rare movie posters and life-size Elvis cutouts also available.
reviewed
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R
Babystyle
The chicest babies in town kick their strollers toward the bright colors and cool fashions of Babystyle, cruising the stroller ramp into a wide selection of clothes and accessories perfect for every stage of mother- and babyhood. The tees for tots – ‘Preschool is cool’ – are impossibly cute.
reviewed
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S
Under G's
This pretty store stocks tightly edited designer unmentionables – G-rated body slips to itsy-bitsy G-strings – from hot labels like La Perla, Eberjey, Cosabella and Ritratti. No matter whether you're tiny or titanic, the winsome sales ladies will help you find a flattering fit.
reviewed
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Marie Mason Apothecary
The baby-blue walls, white shelves and antler chandeliers here exude the feel of an intimate beach bungalow and create a breezy setting for the exclusive beauty goods available at this Brentwood Country Mart boutique. Look for hard-to-find Trilogy from Australia and local Sage body lotions.
reviewed
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Flight 001
Get ready for take-off at this stylish store designed to look like an airplane cabin. All the predictables are there – luggage to locks to guidebooks – plus some fun but handy items like pill towels that inflate in water, single soap sheets and cool lomo fish-eye cameras.
reviewed
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REI
This 'cathedral to outdoor gear' has finally moved to a central location, making it easier to stock up on everything from wool socks to speed-dry underwear, rolling backpacks to Everest-capable sleeping bags. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. REI also rents camping equipment.
reviewed
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W
Galco's Soda Pop Stop
Nostalgia buffs go nuts at this little corner store stocked with a peerless selection of rare and old-time soda pops, from Boylan's root beer to Faygo's Rock & Rye Cola. If want your kids to know what junk food grandma used to love, check out the old-fashioned candy assortment.
reviewed
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Apothia @ Fred Segal
Beauty purveyor to the stars for a quarter century, Apothia has all the hottest, hard-to-find A-lister products that the glossies say you can't live without. Best sellers include Bella Bronze self-tanning cream and DuWop pink shimmer lip venom. It's inside the Fred Segal boutique.
reviewed
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Y
Erewhon Natural Food Market
The 'mother' of all natural-food stores supplies organic, hormone-free and sustainable anything to a hyper-conscious crowd that includes a sizeable smattering of celebs. Vitamin-pill poppers comb through multiple aisles while deli dabblers enjoy healthy soups, wraps and salads.
reviewed