Home > Round Up >

Local Positioning: Fairfax Ave between Oakwood and Rosewood

A guide to eating, shopping and book-ing on Fairfax Ave

By Jaime Honkawa

Special to Metromix
August 13, 2008

0 comments | Add Your Own

Email
Print View
Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Facebook
- Furl
- Google
- Reddit
- Mixx
- Mister Wong
- Yahoo Buzz
- Yahoo
Add to Favorites
Add to playlist

Local Positioning: Fairfax Ave between Oakwood and Rosewood

(Credit: Alexander Gallardo/Los Angeles Times )

Too-hot-for-the-hot-tub shops are popping up all over the block of Fairfax Avenue between Oakwood and Rosewood—an area once known as the Kosher Canyon for its copious Jewish bakeries and businesses, the most famous being Canter’s Deli and its adjoining Kibitz Room. Now, in one fell swoop you can get fresh kicks, score some new vinyl, find a good read, and finish it all off with a knish and a stiff drink at the neighborhood bar. Welcome to the club, kids.

SLB

501. N. Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-655-4752

This is a store for the man’s man. Owned by legendary skateboarder Sal Barbier, SLB boasts digs by SLBarbier, Levi’s, Converse, Weesner, Thrasher and more. Everything a well-rounded alpha male (or aggro she-babe) would need is in this shop, including skate decks, mags, knives (yes, knives), bikes and tons of other garage-like items—all sold by some of the nicest, most helpful dudes you can imagine.

Catwalk Designer Vintage

459 N. Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-951-9255

With a buzzer on the door and some scruffy canines on duty, this place is on serious lockdown. And it’s got every reason to be, because Catwalk houses some of the best vintage around. From Gucci to Valentino, it’s all here—preserved in O.G. condition, no less.

The Dime

442 N. Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-651-4421

The Dime is the perfect dive—with a welcome touch of class. The bar serves it up straight (no girlie-girl drinks here, thank you), keeps the tunes spinning and checks the pretension at the door. On any given night this small space will be brimming with 20-somethings, future directors and locals with stiff drinks in hand while the Pixies fill the room.

Animal

435 N. Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-782-9225

Started by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo from the Food Network’s 2 Dudes Catering, this restaurant has poor signage and a minimalist interior, but the menu is spot on. With a lot of the other white meat (pancetta, pork ribs, bacon vinaigrette, bacon chocolate crunch bars) mixed with fresh, radical combos like squash blossoms, heirloom tomatoes, grits and quail eggs, there is no end to the tasty delights at this creative upscale eatery.

Family

436 N. Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-782-9221

You could easily pass this unassuming bookstore. It’s tiny, narrow and marked by a small sign. Make the wise decision to enter and you’ll see the phenomenally edited selection of gorgeous hardback fiction (lots o’ McSweeney’s love), zines, graphic novels, rare (and sometimes just random) DVDs, 7-inch vinyl and art books.

Turntable Lab

424 North Fairfax Ave. - Los Angeles

323-782-0173

These folks are serious about vinyl, DJ’ing and the accompanying lifestyle. Their stellar music selection has a little bit of everything, but it’s heavy on the hip-hop, world and beats—mad beats! There’s also a nice selection of equipment for your home studio, DJ gigs or just plain ol’ messin’ around.