Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [177]
Moondance Jewelry Gallery (Map; 310-395-5516; 1530 Montana Ave, Santa Monica; 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun) You’ll be over the moon with delight at this go-to place for the latest baubles by Me & Ro, Anthony Nak, Temple St Clair and other hot jewelry artists. Marcia Cross, Arnold and Reese Witherspoon are among loyal fans of this gorgeous, gallery-like store.
Accents Jewelry (Map; 310-396-2284; 2900 Main St, Santa Monica) 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.
You’re guaranteed superior quality, with corresponding price tags, at any of the shops on Rodeo Dr in Beverly Hills. For those of us who failed to triple our net worth during the most recent bull run, even a pair of tiny diamond stud earrings may remain elusive at $4000. But, hey, there’s no cost for oohing and aahing at the trio of treasure chests listed below.
Tiffany (Map; 310-273-8880; 210 N Rodeo Dr)
Cartier (Map; 310-275-4272; 370 N Rodeo Dr)
Harry Winston (Map; 310-271-8554; 310 N Rodeo Dr) The ultimate diamond purveyor to the stars.
Kids’ Stuff
Whimsic Alley (Map; 310-453-2370; 2717-1/2 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica; 11am-5pm Wed-Sun) Muggles love LA’s own Diagon Alley, where Harry Potter and friends seem to wait just one portkey away. Flip through Hogwarts sweaters and capes at Haber & Dasher, find your favorite wand at Phoenix Wands, or poke around nooks overflowing with Harry Potter memorabilia and like-minded literature on piratology, dragons and wandmaking.
American Girl Place (Map; 877-247-5223; 189 The Grove Dr, Grove Mall, Mid-City; 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm Sun; ) Little girls go ga-ga for this make-believe toyland where they can take their plastic friends to lunch or afternoon tea at the café or a revue-style show, get photographed for a mock American Girls magazine cover at the photo studio or give them a makeover in the doll hair salon. Make reservations early for the café and the show.
La La Ling (Map; 323-664-4400; 1810 N Vermont Ave, Los Feliz; 10am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-4pm Sun) Hip babies and toddlers keen on making a fashion statement in kindergarten should drag their parents to this self-proclaimed ‘baby lifestyle boutique’ to stock up on camouflage pants, Darth Vader onesies and miniature Paper Denim & Cloth jeans. While you shop, your bambinos can take art, music and even language lessons to say ‘merci beaucoup’ for their cool new stuff.
Puzzle Zoo (Map; 310-393-9201; 1413 Third St Promenade, Santa Monica; 10am-10pm Sun-Thu, 10am-midnight Fri & Sat) 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. Also crowding the floor-to-ceiling shelves: an encyclopedic selection of puzzles, board games and toys.
Munky King (Map; 213-620-8787; 441 Gin Ling Way, Downtown; noon-7pm Sun-Thu, 11am-8pm Fri & Sat) How do you catch a unique Moofia mini? You ‘nique up on it. Or head to this tiny toy temple in Chinatown where fanciful figurines – part toy, part art, part guilty pleasure – dot shelves like colorful candy confections.
Babystyle (Map; 310-434-9590; 1324 Montana Ave, Santa Monica; 10am-6pm Sun-Fri, 10am-7pm Sat) Style-conscious babies kick their strollers toward the bright colors and cool clothes and accessories perfect for every stage of mother and babyhood. The tees for tots – ‘Preschool is cool’ – are impossibly cute.
Kitson Kids (Map; 310-246-3829; 108 S Robertson Blvd; 10am-7pm) For fashion-forward kiddies.
Home & Hearth
ADHD (Map; 310-581-8579; 1337 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice; 10am-6pm Wed-Sun) Extreme Makeover star