Follow My Coffee: April 2019

On the first warm day of spring, I donned a flowy floral dress and the husband and I made our way to Silverlake, California. Silverlake is a Los Angeles county city located just east of Hollywood and is in close proximity to the population dense Downtown L.A.. Previously the site of rampant gang violence, Silverlake and next door Echo Park, brought fear to those who wished to see the cities lakes (man-made) and historical place markers. The city of Silverlake was recently transformed out of the ugly “ghetto” title when it underwent gentrification and brought in a new era of sophistication and probably out-priced the prior tenants. Very little graffiti is seen, as blank wall space is now filled from foundations to the highest bricks at the rooftops with colorful murals, street art, and expressions of culture and community. Many people do not know of the hidden staircases in Los Angeles yet several can be found in this very town. They have been here all along but were formerly used to conceal nefarious deeds and have now become Instagram photo session backdrops.
With a younger generation running the show, there seems to be an ample amount of mom and pop shops, diverse options for food, shopping, religious outlets, and an incredibly massive amount of coffee shops and cafes crammed into the given square footage. In some cases, you could exit one independent coffee shop and go to the next shop over for a totally different coffee experience, while both businesses shared walls and growing profits. Seeing as the town is comprised mostly of people my age, picking a coffee house should be as easy as thinking like the locals; #WWJGD.
Of course that refers to the all important question; What Would Jeff Goldblum Do?
The jazz musician and 90’s cinema icon drives many Gen X’er and Millennial to bask in his ironic but hip aura. And nothing screams J.G. like Dinosaur, the wood-clad coffee shop with a slight prehistoric theme. Ok, that’s not really how I found this shop but it certainly sounds plausible, right? Not gonna lie, my generation is sometimes endearing. To tell the truth, when you Google coffee shops in Silverlake it is one of the top three to come up. As well as options to see what else there is to do in the area. As I learned, every Saturday, on a nearby elementary school yard, the city hosts a free flea market. SOLD. That was the plan.
Whizzing down the 101 through the butterfly migration was a wonderful bonus to view on our way to Dinosaur. Upon arrival, the outside seating was mostly filled up by guests and their furry companions and inside the crowd was moving quickly through which is always a sign of a good place to get a cup of Joe. However, the parking situation, as I would learn runs common in Silverlake, was not so positive. The back parking lot is for employees only and the street offered maybe 3 spots when no one else was parked there. Seeing as we hadn’t had breakfast yet, we parked in the adjacent McDonald’s lot and sat long enough to scarf a quick meal so we didn’t abuse the ample parking they offered before walking over to get drinks.
The price board above the counter was on the high end and as I see the pre-stamped logo on the to-go cups, I realize the prices reflect the (not-verified) local coffee and not the portion sizes. The cashier and Google reviews had made recommendations for the mocha, the cappuccino, and the costly espresso. I wanted the true flavor without the caffeine twitch so I went with a simple warm latte. The husband ordered two teas off the seasonal clipboard menu which we also shared. Indoors, the seating is communal which was a nice change of pace from the two-seater set up at most coffee shops. Large family style tables filled most of the shop, the center was comprised of the entire stainless steel kitchen surrounded by barstools, a small selection of board games sat on a shelf, taking up noticeably less space than the two separate areas used to hock branded merchandise, and the sun shone in from the large front and back windows and skylights. I was informed that all pastries were made in house, yet, on a counter to the side, not with any effort of trying to conceal, were two extra large pink donut boxes and most of the donuts laid on a try atop the pastries for sale. Odd, but I wasn’t there for any carbs, just coffee.
My latte was delicious. Thick with a light roasted flavor and not bitter. As for the teas, the silver needle white tea was clean and the apricot flavor actually came through, and the Cloud and Mist tea was an earthy green tea but not as hardy as I usually like my green tea. Gazing around while we sipped, the clientele reflected a mutual age and child-free status, with a majority of the men sporting identical facial area combos and flannel shirts. These are indeed my peers. I’d be willing to bet on their love for a certain charming, chaotic-neutral actor that is rumored to have his own show on the new Disney+ streaming service lineup this fall.
After I lost the feeling in my back from the steel barstool, we left and took the winding backstreets to find the flea market. It also boasted free parking, but that was a lie. Filled, stacked parking totaling 15 cars in the school lot, and a long white zone in front of the church across the way meant sure, free parking, if you’re willing to walk. And walk we did. It was a beautiful spring day and we slowly meandered through the cute market that was filled with vintage tees, old electronics, and that weird flea market smell. I fell in love with one 50’s style green dress but decided to pass due to awkward shape and we left empty handed. As the temperature started to quickly heat up we passed a food truck and stopped nearby to see the community garden. On the very corner of the schoolyard was one of those tiny free libraries that are commonplace in my neighborhood.
On the whole, I felt very welcomed in the former gangland territory. Everyone was nice and there are so many inviting little businesses I’d still like to check out. I don’t think Dinosaur needs my return visit but I’m not NOT recommending it. Nearby places that can easily be located when looking up this locality are Dodger Stadium, the La Brea Tar Pits, and The Broad Museum. However, I found a couple of places of note to share while doing some extra research. Not too far from Dinosaur is a vegan cafe named Little Pine, opened by famous musician Moby. Reservations can be made to dine there while the proceeds go toward helping animal organizations. Right at the halfway point between Dinosaur and the flea market is a pub that is also an unsuspecting historical-cultural monument. The Black Cat (current name) on Sunset Blvd was a place of police brutality and protests in the early months of 1967. The patrons of the bar, mostly comprised of the LGBTQ community, were raided by police as they rang in New Year’s midnight clock strike in each other’s arm, and were beaten and dragged into the streets on the pretenses of “lewd conduct”. In response, the community held a peaceful protest against police brutality and discrimination laws. It is one of the earliest known demonstrations of LGBTQ civil rights and the court case that followed the lewd conduct allegations was legally significant in that it was the first time gay men were defended in a case as equal under the Constitution. The bar has gone through many name changes but was given the historical honor in 2008. This bit of cultural trivial piqued my interests to try and find more historically relevant places that are close to home. Another neighboring event is the 2019 Lotus Festival being held July 13 and 14 at Echo Park Lake. I might find myself back in the area that weekend for the flowers and another coffee shop. Rumor has it; Jeff Goldblum plays piano at a jazz club in abutting Los Feliz (Rockwell Table and Stage).