New Tiny Guy On The Block

Canoga Park.. No wait! Don’t click away!  Sure Canoga Park, California doesn’t have the best reputation but it isn’t because they aren’t trying.  I’m pretty sure what happened is as the neighboring communities improved (West Hills, Chatsworth, Warner Center, Northridge), Canoga Park continues to stay true to its “historic” heritage so it’s not improving as fast as others, keeping rents cheap but making progression slow.  Sadly, some restaurants and shops have changed their listed city to not be associated while still being clearly within city limits. The city is overall safe and loaded with small businesses, many that have been around for decades, yet it is the housing that is in desperate need for improvement.  On the surface or even just by name, Canoga Park is often scoffed at and ignored. They have recently repaved many of the streets, including laying brick crosswalks, offer ample public transportation options (including a large, airy biking/walking path), and hosts a Farmers Market every Saturday with live music (Check out the unique sound of Oak Street Blues who often play there).  My older sister (who doesn’t make it into nearly enough of my blogs) moved away from this area at the end of 2017 but still holds a strong connection to it. She tells me whenever they host a street fair or holiday parade which is more often than any other city in the vicinity.

  

My sister still follows the city’s goings-on and in the ‘related stories’ to a news break, she found an article on a newly opened crepe and boba shop.  On a side street next to a party supply shop, the recently opened Itty Bitty Cafe boasted boba tea, smoothies, fresh juices, coffee, and crepes with free WiFi and a welcoming community driven feel.  My ears perked up and I told my sister that we should meet there as soon as we can to check it out.

After a couple of weeks of busy schedules, the husband and I met up with my sis at the cafe for some pre-dinner drinks and a snack.  A little known positive attribute about Canoga Park is how most of the streets are lined with parking meters but a large portion of businesses offer free parking behind their establishments.

The cafe lives up to its name as there are 2 tightly squeezed tables inside and a window bar with some tabletop games sitting against a wall of windows creating a very hot interior.  A single table and most of the chairs outside were being used by some other customers but the minute they left, we took over a nice shady spot on the side of the building. The shop seemed to be run by a lone girl whose stature matched the header on the front of the building.  She was to bursting at the seams, bubbling about, while giving me all my options.  

“Everything is made to order.  All the milk tea flavors can be added to the iced coffees.  We’ve only been open about a month (as of March 2019).”

Big sis ordered a Nutella smoothie, the husband ordered a guava milk tea, I got an iced coffee with vanilla and begged the others to split a crepe with me.  

As stated, everything was truly made to order, which meant we waited a long time for the single employee to complete our order.  Lucky for us, there was only one other guy in the shop at the time and I think he was just a friend of hers. My sis was unimpressed with her smoothie as it had a gritty texture, like powder not fully mixed in.  The husband and I liked our drinks but there was nothing special about them. The matcha crepe with Nutella filling I finally chose was the exact opposite of all the descriptions I’ve made so far. It was colossal with its edges pouring over the full sized paper plate.  It had a very light matcha flavor and oozed Nutella with every bite. The menu boasts so many items and I am curious of all of the offered flavors. I feel my review is mixed but leaning toward a positive light. Across the street is a charming used bookstore with towering walls of previously read and lovingly collected vintage books for reasonable prices.  The older gentleman that runs Next Chapter Books usually sits silently unless you have a question. He then becomes like one of the aged encyclopedias in the glass beneath the register. Additionally, on the same street are several thrift shops, a small performance theater, lots of restaurants including a vegetarian/vegan place with a market called Follow Your Heart that has been there since the 1970’s.  There seems to always be a reason to go to Canoga Park and this micro cafe with big personality and varied menu is just another opportunity to check out this underrated, terrific town.

Menus, Menus, Menus! So many choices!

Art plastered the entry wall.

Tiny board games for a tiny shop!

Talkin' Bout My Generation

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).

Silver needle tea and latte.

Cloud and Mist tea.

Looks like dinosaur bones hanging from the ceiling.

Horrible deceased Muppet art that was thrown-up all over the shop Instagram. 

Merch.

More merch.

Even more merch.

Merch I actually liked.

Love this view.

Very L.A. scenery.

Vintage tee's at the flea market.  Yes, the 90's Cross-Colors Looney Tunes is now "vintage".

Hey, a theme!

One of many hidden stairways in L.A. that was being fixed up.

Hot and Cold

Polar Vortex super freezing the northeast, rains and mudslides moving earth in the southwest, temperatures varying 50 degrees within one week, snow in Los Angeles!  The only thing to do with such a forecast is hide inside, Marie Kondo your closets, and watch murder documentaries on Netflix.  Instead of dreading opening the curtains each morning, let me take you back a few months, to the early weeks of December, while autumn slowly fades to a grey winter, to a city where the golden hour seems to last all day.  Though nightfall comes earlier each day, it does not signify the end but rather the start of some schedules.  A friend of mine wants to celebrate the start of her last year in her 20’s.  She says, “something different, something fun, but not Vegas again” and I have just the answer: Palm Springs.
The undeniable diversity of people and activities, the mild climate throughout the majority of the year, the clear blue skies against the desert mountains make this quaint Riverside County city perfect for a getaway.  This is not solely my opinion.  In the 50’s and 60’s, celebrities flocked to the area.  Desi Arnaz and Lucy build a grand hotel with a place for live music in the lobby and with some other famous names, built up a golf resort town with courses dotting the land.  Bob Hope keeps a very unique looking home in the hills, and Elvis and Priscilla established a Honeymoon home for themselves which is now a museum that is open for tours.  {pricey tours so i haven’t gone yet but it's on my list}  Aside from the Hollywood ties, Palm Springs offers many public art works, including the bronze Lucy bench statue in my blogger profile picture, a bronze statue of the late mayor of the city, Sonny Bono, metal works and Mid-century modern themed homes, hotels, and fountains, and downtown has its own Stars Walk of Fame.  This is the location of the first Star given to Adam West, a truly great actor who deserved more recognition for his life’s work.  {Recommended reading; Back to the Batcave}  Beyond the artificial beauty of the community, the Aerial Tramway into the San Jacinto Mountains is breathtaking, The Living Desert is an animal and botanical zoo that is educational and charming, and a short drive away is the historically controversial Salton Sea; once a romantic retreat, man-handled into a sulfur fish cemetery and the effects of its decline caused the surrounding city to jump ship, even just from the fumes.  
While my friend and I were lucky enough to catch a sunset Tramway up into the snowy mountains, {currently closed due to severe rains washing out the only access road to it} we spent a few days having a relaxing time amongst some of the friendliest people we ever met.  That is, until we went to Koffi, a local coffee chain of four locations within short mileage of each other.  The location we chose had an onsite roastery and the area that held the readied beans was in open view to the public.  It made for an interesting take on the store decor that was not out of place but didn’t mesh seamlessly with the piles of branded merchandise they were trying to hock on the counters and it added no warmth as I’ve experienced in other homebrewed shops.  The people in line were pushy, which was off for a late weekday morning, and if you didn’t know your order immediately, there was an audible sigh from seemingly everyone in the building.  I ordered a mildly roasted house drip coffee and my friend ordered a matcha latte.  We tried to sit outside but decided to continue to explore the city so I went back in and had to ask for a lid for my drink.  Not having a full coffee station irked me, as lids are usually right along with the stirrers, napkins, and sugar.  It was like pulling teeth from the cold staff and I could feel the inconvenience I was placing on the customers in line.  Finally heading toward a large charity shop run by the local hospital volunteer staff {all sweet elderly people}, I took a sip of my coffee; lukewarm and bitter, like the aura from where it was purchased.  My friend’s latte; not even a latte.  Just matcha powder and water.  We had enjoyed thrift shopping, bar hopping, scenery, delicious food, and waited until our last day in the area to try this place we passed many times during our adventures.  We didn’t let this one stop ruin our time.  There was free coffee at our hotel that we took advantage of.  At the top of the of the Tramway tour, is a large building and museum before you exit to the other side into the mountains for snowy trails and gorgeous forestry.  Inside said building is a walk up cafe, an evening view-filled restaurant, and a bar.  At the bar I’d had a hot Irish coffee to combat the snow surrounding us and let that keep as my memory of good coffee while in the desert.  
There is so much to see and do in Palm Springs that I could go on and on sounding like the head of tourism.  If you find yourself headed there, Frank in Bun on the main drag has hands down the best spicy vegan chili I’ve ever inhaled.  There are bars and clubs for every theme, including one karaoke joint that has a square shaped bar so everyone can admire the main attraction; a giant chandelier {they also offered free pizza from the shop down the street}.  I can’t help but gush about the kitch and welcoming nature of the Palm Desert and its people which is why I found myself so disappointed with Koffi.  I do wonder if a different location would treat the patrons as miserable as the current pre-spring weather is acting.  I will return to Palm Springs again soon but I will have to do some research to find some great coffee while there.  {Maybe I should try the coffee at Toucans.}

The base of the tram.  After 5pm, tickets to ride up are deeply discounted.

Fall colors going up the gondola.  This system rotates for full views of the city or the drastic weather patterns as you climb in elevation.

Snow was everywhere at the top.

Palm Springs at dusk.

The dark curved inlet at the bottom right of this photo is the Salton Sea. Limitless views.

An excellent cup of "coffee".

The chandelier at this bar is decorated for all holidays.  Mirrors on the walls give the small square foot of the building an overwhelming presence.  

Another karaoke bar, themed to a 50's diner with vinyl records pasted from floor to ceiling.

Cabazon art at at cash only games bar, with pool and darts, and a bartender with a story for every tattoo that covered his large frame.

This was my favorite thing to see in all the charity shops we stopped in.  They even sold supplies for pets like birdcages and small carpet squares of all colors and textures.