I found the red kimono I was searching for in
Little Tokyo
and
the first place I wore it was to
LA's Silverlake.
This was my first time to Silverlake
and
having heard it was a hip and creative community
I was not disappointed!
Looking for the Casbah store
I had read about in my hip little LA book
we tracked it down to the
Sunset Junction
which ended up to be a small plaza
filled with the most interesting of shops
and
a delightful bar and restaurant!
The people were as intriguing as any of the shops!
I have never seen more individuals
with such succinct and unique personal style in one area of
Southern California!
Even getting coffee was an artful experience!
My favorite find to be sure
The Stella Bar.
It felt like a sliver of Paris
and the closet thing I have found in SoCal
to my very favorite Parisian bar
L'Ecler.
We took the stairs down
to the airy but moody bar.
Even though it's downstairs
it still has a fresh feeling
as the patio opens up to a private courtyard
where you would forget you were actually sitting on Sunset Boulevard!
It's handcrafted cocktails all the way here too!
It was in Paris a couple of years ago
that I became aware of the
new romance and trend
of the hand crafted cocktail!
Even thoughI a still
prefer my chardonnay
I am always so intrigued with
the crafting of cocktails
and all that goes into
such beautiful creations!
Jeff ordered the burger
that came plated on a wooden plank
large enough to act as a TV tray
in the cozy bar.
Besides the hip romantic ambiance
and
cocktails
my favorite part had to be the people watching!
Again it reminded me of Paris
in that such creative care
was taken in assembling individual looks
and
all still with an easy
Southern California vibe!
Living theater with cocktails
was my Stella Bar experience!
Eclectic mixing all the way around!
If you find yourself in Silverlake
The Stella Bar
would be my top pick
for a Sunday afternoon lunch and cocktail!
Afterwards there are plenty of shops to explore.
One of the most interesting
The Bar Keeper.
In keeping with the hand crafted cocktail trend
inside is everything
to make your very own creations come to life!
Presented in a beautifully
organized manner
but still complete
with stylish kitsch!
The bar accessories were plentiful
as were
a large array of bitters
and
specialty brews!
We found the Casbah
that led our search.
A lovely tittle
shop complete with a cafe.
As is so often in exploring new areas
my favorite part of the Casbah
was the search
because it led us to one of the most
creatively vital areas I have found in
Southern California.
With each new fabulous discovery
I am left asking myself
What other grand things
are waiting to be discovered
in our own backyard!
As always my friends
I wish you love and joy
as you style your life
