MID-CITY

It sure doesn't have a fancy or fascinating name, but it does the trick. Mid-City is indeed a very central neighborhood in Los Angeles, bordering Arlington Heights and Culver City, and close to places like Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, and Downtown LA. This dense and diverse area boasts many historic single family homes, Ray Charles' former recording studio (now a historic landmark!), and about 55,000 people (almost 40% from Mexico and El Salvador). 

Pico Boulevard, once home to nothing but auto body shops, is now a funky and inviting place to find Pilates studios, vegetarian restaurants, and homey cafes. Plans to put in landscaped medians show further signs to encourage pedestrians - in a neighborhood much less congested than most corners of LA.  You get the sense that you're on the edge of something in Mid-City, wandering into an art studio or burger joint that's either been enjoyed by locals for decades, or just popped up and has yet to be discovered by the masses. In any case, you've probably just stumbled upon something good.

Stop 1: Paper or Plastik Cafe

 

Paper or Plastik Cafe is a cool and cozy neighborhood joint, family-owned and brimming with artists, writers, dancers, and regular ol' locals jonesing for their (excellently sourced) coffee drinks. They also offer REALLY tasty bites (all local and seasonal ingredients, of course) - we just about died over our brunch special of Shakshuka with its perfect eggs and flavorful tomato sauce. We settled in with our food and several chai lattes (one with soy milk, the other with almond milk - both equally delicious) and took in the exposed brick, the community tables, the hanging plants and the industrial lighting. We can't wait to head back for their new soju cocktails!

(5772 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 2: Enamel Diction

 

We walked into this nail studio with some seriously sad nails - chipped, dull, and begging for some love. This bright space (complete with a living wall of succulents, cacti and moss) has been open just over a year, but it's already making waves in the neighborhood. With a self-described "disruptive approach" to nail art (and a very cool Instagram page!), most of the women in the salon look straight out of a fashion blog, but down to earth enough to bring their well-behaved mutts to their nail appointment. We chatted through ideas for our mani nail art, including color and design, and once we settled on something with our nail technician, swapped tips for best carne asada fries in town. Find us here every Saturday from now on.

Insider's Tip: Make appointments online. Cost for manicure with two art designs was $16 with Yelp check-in discount)

(5405 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 3: Shopping Along Pico Blvd.

 

Sure, Los Angeles is swath with vintage and antique boutiques. But everyone is shopping on Melrose, honey. To get something truly different, head on over to Pico Boulevard - shops like Deja Vu Boutique, Pinky Rose and Brainworks Home boast mid-century furniture, vintage hardware, funky jewelery, and colorful dresses. There's also a new "Third Thursday" along the boulevard, with music performances, art, and lots of in-store sales.

Stop 4: Sky's Gourmet Tacos

Tacos are easily one of our favorite LA foods, and we are loyal to our tried-and-true taco joints. Sky's has been one our go-to spots since we moved to Los Angeles, and their "Mexican with a splash of soul" approach to tacos is perfect for the neighborhood. We ordered a sampling of shrimp, filet mignon and carnitas tacos - the warmed corn tortillas, juicy meats and the sweet "Sassy Sauce" made for one mouthwatering lunch. We washed it down with a sorrel lemonade (a blend of hibiscus and lemons) and enjoyed the lively chatter and 90s R&B playing in the background. The crawfish tacos are next on our list!

(5408 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 5: Cultural Interiors

 

"This smells like my favorite yoga studio," said Ashley as we walked in. It's true - this beautiful and colorful home store has the earthy smell of incense and essential oils, creating the same peaceful feeling you get just before a yoga class. We loved the mix of African, South American, Caribbean and Indian pieces throughout the store (handmade dolls, wooden windchimes, eye-popping table cloths, beaded jewelry) and the warm greeting from the store owner.
(5406 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 6: Mateo's Ice Cream and Fruit Bars

 

Who knew that it was National Ice Cream Month?! (Well, we did!) We decided to stop by one of LA's best, Mateo's Ice Cream and Fruit Bars. It was over 90 degrees outside and PACKED inside, and it was hard to choose with all the amazing fruit bar flavors (guava, pineapple, watermelon, coconut and on and on...). We eventually settled on the mango and mango chili, which included chunks of fruit in both (the spice of the mango chili made it our personal favorite!)

Insider's Tip: cash only!

(4234 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

The Details:

Mid-City is only about three square miles, so it's very walkable. The Metro Crenshaw Line should eventually have a rail transit stop in Mid-City. 

LARCHMONT

You may have never heard of the Larchmont neighborhood, but it’s one of the oldest and most historically significant areas in Los Angeles (not to mention incredible cute!). In the early 1900s, a gentleman by the name of George A.G. Howard set out to create a family-friendly neighborhood, one with large and elegant homes like those found in the English countryside. 

Today these impressive homes seem slightly out of place in this Southern Californian city, just blocks from Spanish bungalows and brightly-tiled courtyards, but they offer a unique charm to this little ‘hood only minutes from Koreatown and Hollywood. And don’t be mistaken, Larchmont is charming. Strolling down Larchmont Boulevard is an almost-Pleasantville experience: a small cupcake shop, a quaint bookstore, a darling florist. And everyone seems to know their neighbors – you’ll catch people smiling hello and shouting out greetings from across the road. 

We had out-of-town visitors during this MyBestLADay (one set of parents!) and we happily introduced them to all our favorite places in this lesser-known part of town. So take the afternoon off from big city living. Park your car, slow your pace, and heck, buy a cupcake. Larchmont might be tiny, but it’s got plenty to offer for a fantastically charming and full day.

Stop 1: Bricks & Scones

This darling coffeeshop and café is a favorite for students and screen writers alike, and it's easy to see why. The interior feels like a friend's cozy study, and the garden patio is the perfect place to enjoy an iced coffee with your pooch. The sandwiches and scones are pretty darn delicious, too. We ordered a chocolate chip scone (divine!) and loved the latte with almond milk. 

Insider's tip: we recommend the Black Velvet (the pour-over house coffee)

(403 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 2: Hardwear

Nobody loves a romper as much as we do, so we were delighted with the selection of clothes at Hardwear. This is where Angelenos want to shop for summer, with staples like maxi dresses, statement jewelry, printed tops, and shorts. And almost everything is under $50! Score.
(152 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 3: Chevalier's Books

Bookshops are a rare sight these days, so even though Chevalier's Books is tiny, it's one of LA's last standing independent bookstores and it deserves ardent support. It's been around since 1940, and still hosts author signings and a weekly story hour. You'll find the usual suspects - The New York Times best sellers, classic children's stories, and a selection of travel guides. If that's not enough, it may be tempting to stop in just for the glorious smell of books.

(126 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 4: Village Heights

Friend's birthday coming up? House-warming party? Baby shower? It looks like Village Heights has you covered! This adorable shop is full of unique and funky trinkets for the home, including plastic wine glasses for picnics, Queen Elizabeth bobble heads, handmade cards, and scrumptious-smelling candles. We're definitely going back for the "Venice" rocks glasses.
(122 1/2 Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 5: Larchmont Village Wine & Cheese

Since cheese and wine are probably two of our favorite things ever, Larchmont Village Wine & Cheese is usually a no-brainer. They have some of the very best sandwiches in Los Angeles, and all sorts of yummy snacks to keep you preoccupied while you wait in line to order (cuz there's ALWAYS a line - it's that good, people!)

We got the #3 (soppressata salami, Manchego cheese, sundried tomato spread) on a baguette, and the #6 (vegetarian with avocado, tomato, roasted red and yellow peppers, black olive tapenade) on ciabatta. You order in the line to the left, and pay at the register in the front. Order two and take one home - we promise you'll thank us later.

(223 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 6: Larchmont Beauty

This is one of the best beauty supply stores we have ever stepped foot into. We're talking rows and rows of beautifying goodies, including face masks, nail polishes, skincare products, hair treatments, and make-up. If they don't have it, we swear it doesn't exist. And if you don't leave with at least a new lipstick, you're probably no friend of ours.

(208 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 7: Go Get 'Em Tiger

Go Get Em Tiger is the brainchild of Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski (the "G" and "B" of G&B Coffee in Grand Central Market) and an important new speciality coffee stop in Los Angeles. 

Now here's the skinny: don't come here if you're in a rush. We stopped by at 2pm and saddled up to the bar, where we waited over 10 minutes for an iced coffee and an iced latte. The process is compelling - baristas use cocktail shakers to create drinks - and we did get to enjoy a sample of sparkling tea while we waited. The iced coffee was too bitter for our taste, although the iced latte with house-made almond milk was quite delicious. Because of our love for G&B Coffee and its commitment to quality espresso, we'll probably be back to give GGET another go.

(230 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 8: Larchmont Little Free Library

The Larchmont Little Free Library debuted in May 2013, and is part of a movement of little free libraries popping up all over the place. The idea is that you may take a book if you leave a book, with the goal of promoting literacy and encouraging community. This miniature house has a collection of rather diverse books, and is a charming addition to the neighborhood. So lovely!

(443 N Larchmont Boulevard)

Stop 9: 'Lette Macarons

There are so many fantastical places to buy treats in Larchmont, and we had a difficult time choosing a spot for sweets. But we chose well, because 'Lette Macarons proved to be out-of-this-world-delectable! We ordered a colorful box of lemon, chocolate, salted caramel, pistachio, coffee, violet cassis, raspberry, and passionfruit macarons...and nearly finished them before we left the shop! If taste buds could smile, ours would. 

(122 N Larchmont Boulevard)

The Details:

This is probably our easiest day ever, since visitors just stick to one street. And Larchmont is smaller than a square mile, so getting around on foot or bike is your best option. We parked just off Larchmont Boulevard, and then walked the rest of the day.

A map of our day looks like this: