Melrose

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Melrose (Specifically, Melrose Avenue)

Area: Mid Los Angeles

Overview: Melrose is a street but about a handful of blocks of it make up a legendary and slick and hipster neighborhood (did I say hipster already?). Grab a cup of coffee at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Melrose and Gardner, sit on the patio and people watch or stroll around, people watch and dare to enter one of the stores on Melrose Ave. The famed Melrose Ave can be considered an area because local angelenos usually say, “I’m going to Melrose” or “I went to Melrose.” The part of Los Angeles in focus starts at the intersection of Doheny Dr, where Melrose Ave starts and splits off from Santa Monica Blvd. The funked out walking and browsing area, however, starts just a little east of Fairfax Ave and ends at La Brea Ave.

There’s a lot happening on Melrose. The biggest and brightest names of comedy and movies have all appeared on Melrose at one time or another. Most of your favorite comedians made one of their first stage appearances at the legendary Improv. The list goes on but some notable comedians include Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfield and Jay Leno. I’ve even seen Chris Rock get up and give an impromptu act. Some ways down from the Improv is the well-respected and historic Groundlings, a school for improvisation (acting, comedy and writing) and a live theatre with regular shows. Some of your favorite groundlings include Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow. Much further east on Melrose and Gower stretches out the largest Hollywood Studios, Paramount Studios. You’re familiar with all the Mission Impossible movies, Titantic and Indiana Jones. For Tours, (323) 956-4848.

But, comedy and movies are secondary to the hipsters casually overlooking you on Melrose (unless you’re taking photos of them). Though Melrose’ luster has faded slightly in the face of Silverlake and the mainstream, Melrose’ real attraction are the people and the funk. The people bring the funk and the funk is splattered everywhere on Melrose, especially on clothes. Check out the designer toy and retail store Munky King with all their crazy, off the wall toys and clothes. Slow and Wasteland are trendy thrift shops which you’ll have to plow through and sort out. Slow does have some great clothes. Melrose does have lots of pricey botique shops and even $200.00 vintage t-shirt shops. Many of the shops are surprisingly operated by hipster eastern European girls. And the some of the beautiful women of L.A. work at Fred Segal (8100 Melrose). Here, the Hollywood cool of stars and celebrities fuse with the exclusive funk of Melrose.

Man can’t live on comedy, shopping and people watching alone. You’ll have to eat. Well deserving of its reputation and popularity on Melrose is Sweet Lady jane. Known for its decadent, specially crafted cakes, Sweet Lady Jane’s reputation has lured both stars and locals for wedding cakes. But, it has more than just cakes: Sweet Lady Jane does have tables and regular food in its charming abode. If Lady Jane doesn’t appeal to your taste buds, have a hamburger and fries at the original Johnny Rockets at Gardner and Melrose or some superb Italian food at Chianti Restorante and Cucina, which has a very nice, romantic room in the back.

Accessibility: Melrose is wheelchair accessible.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com