Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [179]
Meltdown Comics & Collectibles (Map; 323-851-7223; 7522 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood; 11am-10pm) LA’s coolest comics store beckons with indie and mainstream books, from Japanese manga to graphic novels by Daniel Clowes of Ghost World fame. Also here is the kid-oriented store-within-a-store called Baby Melt, with a great if smallish selection of offbeat books, clothing and toys. Look for Hello Kitty goods, Roman Dirge’s mix-and-match Halfsies mini-figures, and reprints of Tin Tin in several languages.
Skeletons in the Closet (off Map; 323-343-0760; 1104 N Mission Rd, Downtown; 8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri) 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.
Outdoor & Travel
For travel-oriented bookstores, see Distant Lands and Traveler’s Bookcase on Click here.
REI (Map; 310-458-4370; 402 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica; 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm Sat, 11am-7pm Sun) 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.
Flight 001 (Map; 323-966-0001; 8235 W 3rd St, Mid-City; 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun) 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 a cool lomo fish-eye camera.
Magellan’s (Map; 310-394-9417; 1006 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica; 10am-7pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun; ) This brick-and-mortar version of the popular mail-order store has a huge assortment of clothing, accessories, books, maps, games and whatever else you need for a pleasant trip.
Shopping Malls
Grove (Map; 323-900-8080; 189 The Grove Dr, Mid-City; 10am-9pm Mon-Thu, 10am-10pm Fri & Sat, 11am-8pm Sun; ) Power shoppers love this outdoor mall next to the Farmers Market, made to look like a European streetscape but really all-American marketing genius. Highlights include little-girl fave American Girl Place and big-girl boutique Theodore.
Westfield Shoppingtown Century City (Map; 310-277-3898; 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Century City; 10am-9pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun; ) A complete revamp has catapulted this Beverly Hills-adjacent alfresco mall into the 21st century, even though its labyrinth of lanes is as confusing as ever. Godiva, Kenneth Cole, and Abercrombie & Fitch are among more than 100 mostly high-end stores anchored by Bloomingdales and Macy’s. LA’s best food court is upstairs, next to the high-tech AMC Century City 15 movie theater Click here.
Beverly Center (Map; 310-854-0071; 8500 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood; 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat, 11am-6pm Sun) Despite the bunkerlike looks, this is LA’s glamour mall, popular with Hollywood celebs in need of some one-stop shopping. Show your hotel key at guest services for discounts, then lose yourself in over 160 boutique shops, department stores, and restaurants.
Citadel Outlets (Map; 323-888-1724; 5675 E Telegraph Rd, City of Commerce; 10am-8pm; ) For some great bargains, steer your chariot down the I-5 freeway to a Babylonian ‘palace’ reborn as LA’s recently enlarged outlet mall. The fanciful facade now conceals about 80 brand-name retailers, including Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, Calvin Klein and Ann Taylor. It’s about 9 miles south of Downtown off the Atlantic Blvd N exit.
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
Air
The main LA gateway