Silverlake

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

About     Know the Neighborhoods     Getting Around     Attractions     Hotels    
Eats & Nightlife     Essentials & Practicals

Silverlake and Echo Park

Area: East, North of Downtown LA

Overview: The term “hipster” is bordering on extinction these days but there is no other way to describe the Silver Lake area in Los Angeles. Kind of cliched as “too school for cool” (yes that’s right. Too school for cool) these days but still the place to live and hang out in for the younger folk, Silverlake and its surrounding counterparts such as Echo Park and Edendale offer a relaxed, creative and open atmosphere.

Just east of Hollywood, Silverlake was originally named after the Department of Water and Power’s Silverlake Reservoir, which in turn was named after Herman Silver. Probably 99% of the Silverlake population couldn’t tell you that. Instead, what they can tell you, is that Silver Lake, which has no real, well-known attraction, is the attraction itself. The population tends to be on the younger side and is made up of very ethnically diverse people. The diversity of Silverlake includes types and lifestyles such as bohemian, rocker, whatever kind of creative, indie and alternative. Silverlake also has a large population of same-sex couples.

These folks have turned Silver Lake into a desirable area to hang out and live in. Hanging out is pretty much what you do. Take a short stroll and hang out for hours somewhere. Browse around at the local comic book store, Secret Headquarters, or the local boutique retail shops. Even get an organic facial at Le Pink & Co. There are no malls in Silver Lake. Malls are blasphemous as far as Silverlakers are concerned. Anti-mall signs hang everywhere. Not really but you get the idea. The folks with their independent spirits do not want standard, mainstream mega mall action here. Then, eat at the Moroccan-themed, Casbah Cafe (3900 Sunset Blvd), the somewhat pricey Intelligentsia Cafe, which features “seasonal coffee”, or Eat Well. Catch a flick at the Vista Theatre or check out a band at any of the bars and clubs such as the Silverlake Lounge.

The main thing Silver Lake is known for is its annual Sunset Junction Street Fair during the end of the summer. The Sunset Junction is aptly named after the area in which it is held – at the junction of Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd. The street fair brings in well-known music acts and bustles with a variety of food and arts and crafts booths. The purpose of the street fair is to celebrate Silver Lake’s diversity.

Accessibility: Silver Lake in Los Angeles is wheelchair accessible for the most part. More often than not, however, the homes in Silver Lake have steps and the residential areas are a bit hilly.

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