Favorite Store Alert: Mush

Roar!*

I don't know how I get so side-tracked. I constantly think I'm not busy at all and then weeks go by and I'm like Oh my God I have a freakin blog! Shit! 

It's like exercise for me. When I exercise, even after a respite, I remember why I do it. BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. Same with the blog. It makes me feel good. And really for many reasons: I get to write differently, it's a true hobby with no monetary gain to be had (meaning I don't have to answer to anyone), hopefully I'm helping people find out about some very good under-the-radar places and things in LA they might not know about otherwise and finally, writing these posts remind me of how much beauty is all around me... if I just look.

I'm so grateful to those in LA - the small business owners especially - who take the time to make their store just right; those who choose what they sell so carefully. They're like curators to me. And there's one person in particular who really speaks to me. I see her as much an artist as a store owner. This would be Michelle van der Heijden, owner of Mush in Silverlake.

I first met Michelle and her husband Emmanuel Todorov when they started Mush over in the Little Armenia section of Hollywood. They were right on the Boulevard, near a cafe and a Boxes Etc. store. Frankly I have no idea what drew me to the store - wasn't THE nicest block I ever saw. Maybe I liked the name. Mush. Never asked her where that came from. Fun to say. Muuuuuuush. Now that I think about it, they always had these wind chimes hanging in front. And they weren't frou frou or flowery. They looked mod and cool and like if I had the perfect home they would be hanging in it (or outside of it). Yeah, I guess it made sense why I went in.

And go in I would. For every single occasion. I don't have a friend who doesn't have a present from me from Mush (Louise's birthday scarf, Max's earrings, a candle for Ellen). There was stuff for me too. Of course. I remember when I fell in love with a piece of art from Maud Simmons. It was a little out of my range but Michelle and her husband put me on a payment plan. I don't think I paid interest. And now it hangs in my home. Where it was always meant to be.

Art by Maud Simmons

But rent went up in their 'hood and they needed to get out. I ended up writing a little article about when they finally found their new home for The Eastsider. (That's a free little online rag if you ever want to get super local. Anyway...)

Their new spot is on the 7-11 side of the strip of Silverlake Boulevard below The Reservoir. Mush is on the same side as Spaceland but down a ways, across from Yolk. There are a lot of stores in this small area vying for your attention. And without making a big to do about it, Michelle always puts something outside that catches my eye. Last time I was there it was $3.00 TV Guides.

This Bill Cosby stuff is beyond disturbing. And don't you think that TV Guide might be worth more than 3 bucks? For such an awful reason. Yikes. Yikes Yikes Yikes.

The other places might seem nice but this place has my number. It's as eclectic as I think I am. I don't know if I really am but you know, I'm not one thing. I'm not just mid-century modern or totally Art Deco. I'm a bit of this and that.

When I go in I'm always ALWAYS so pleasantly surprised. Michelle scours the freakin planet to get the stuff I think she herself would like to own or at the very least, stuff which brings up feelings or a memory for her. I often envision her with one of those beeping gadgets walking on the beach, combing for metals.

And because I'm not willing to rifle through the world's stuff to find all the gems, I'm glad she is.

Vintage Children's Rocking Chair $85. Dangerous $110.

But don't be mistaken. It's not all vintage. It's a mix-up of old and new - and it all has a story; a history...

Navajo Royston Turquoise Jewelry

Last time I was in, Michelle told me about these beautiful pieces of Navajo jewelry. They aren't vintage but they're made by the same tribe with methods passed down for generations. There is a resurgence and truly they are so special. The turquoise is real (which is a big deal since most of it has been mined to death) and frankly I don't even love Turquoise. It's maybe my least favorite part of visiting New Mexico, but I go for this Nevadan Royston blue.  

HINT.

Some of her pieces are just fun. Fun to look at, fun to touch, fun to feel. 

Fabulous Vintage 80's Mesh Necklace for $75

The above necklace or better yet neck piece is like this coin purse my mom gave to me when I was a kid that I loved to mush around in my fingers or suck on when no one was looking. (Addict in the making). With the right plunging neckline, this thing would kill.

There's also a splash of cuteness here and there. Case in point, this cherub...

Cute as shit cherub playing the flute, $125

And this adorable vintage Bull Dog that could be a door stop or your pretend dog if you're allergic.

Authentic Cast Iron Bull Dog out of Boston for $275.

The knives are apparently a favorite with vegans.

Pewter & Silver Steak Knives. $275 for a set of 6

But remember those gifts?  If you're like me $275 might be a bit pricey for a friend's birthday (if not, look me up). Mush carries those things you can just run in on your way to a birthday dinner and you know there'll be something.

k.hall soaps & candles

The above is a good example. Michelle says she's been stocking k.hall for years because people love and come back for their products. The soaps are only $12 and one bar can last up to 2 months.

These necklaces are kick-ass as well. The chains are gold-filled and the stones are Chalcedony. $35 to $54 each. 

As you can see, there's a bit of everything. It all comes together. Old and new work so seamlessly in tandem. Because it all comes from one eye. One sense of style.

The phone WORKS! From the 40's. Only one owner. Super score. 

Oh my God. I wrote all this stuff and just realized regardless of why she called it Mush I get in my mind what it means. Everything all together WORKS. Duh. Just took me 7 years to figure that one out.

Mush is at 1617 Silverlake Boulevard, Silverlake, LA 90026. 323.664.6874. Through the end of the year, they'll be open every day from 10am to 6:30pm. Street parking available but always check the signs. Also if you're not in LA but interested in what they have to offer, go to their very vibrant and active online store. You'll find a lot more furniture there as well as stuff not found in their store. They ship anywhere. Check out mush.co for more info.

Wooden Bowls, hand-turned by Gerry Martin. From $65-260.

Enjoy! 

*The Tiger's head is a prop from the 80's with realistic glass eyes. Signed by the artist. $250.00

My Favorite Salad

Just have to make a quick and fast recommendation for one of my favorite salads. Actually it's one of my favorite lunch spots.

On Sunset, just a couple of blocks east of Silverlake Boulevard, sandwiched between Sumi's and Hemingway & Pickett, is Food + Lab. Now there's another Food + Lab in West Hollywood, and that one is fine, but this is the one I love and I can't for the life of me say there's any real major difference aside from the fact that...

...it's in Silverlake.

Food + Lab is simple. Good food. Fresh food. Well prepared. But also the entire place is clean and mellow. New York tiled, metal but comf chairs and and I'm a big fan of the mirror and the artwork and hanging-low light fixtures:

There aren't that many restaurants where I feel I can really think. I can be alone and it's okay. This though is one of them. And though it has delicious sammys...

Grilled Cheese with Kale Salad at Food + Lab

...tons of sides like kale salad and white bean salad, and Deluscious Cookies (which are at the counter and just trust me you should get one, they are fabulous) the reason I go is for one reason and one reason alone.

The Cobb Salad at Food + Lab

This is my favorite salad: The Chicken Cobb. Grilled chicken, yummy little tomatoes, spring lettuce, gorgonzola. It comes with 1 dressing but I ask for two and mix them because they're both AMAZING. They're not fattening, they whip the dressing so they taste rich and have a silky texure and it's a salad and who cares? One is the House Vinaigrette, the other, Lemon. The salad comes with bacon and egg but I don't get either. I feel indulgent with the bacon and I dislike cooked egg. So for me they usually just throw in some more of something like the cheese or the avocado or the tomato. Doesn't matter to me which component is added because they're all so good and the chicken, seriously, is grilled to perfection, charred - a hint of salt. So tasty Tom Colicchio (and it's his voice I hear in my head when I bite into it) would say, "The chicken is cooked perfectly."

Grilled Veggie Salad. Which is good too. But it isn't the Cobb.

They have other salads too, obviously. They can't just serve one. Like they have the extremely popular grilled veggie with goat cheese but I likes what I likes and you'll rarely see me diverge from my original setting.

While you're on the block, it's worth going to the places that align Food + Lab. They're both good little stores -- though one is about to move. Sumi's is going to Vermont which is a shame but they're there for now and the handmade jewelry is really lovely.

UPDATE: SUMI'S HAS MOVED TO 1812 NORTH VERMONT, LA, CA 90027.

Sumi sells both some of her own designs, some of local designers. Very tasteful stuff and a close friend actually got her wedding ring here. 

Wrapped Necklace at Sumi $143

Classy and simple Rose Gold Earrings, designed by Sumi $46

There are also these very cute handmade Carita Viola bags from Finland, tons of artwork and pretty little knick knacks. 

Gorgeous scarf at Sumi $22

On the other side of Food + Lab is Hemingway & Pickett. Also a totally charming and unique store.

$12 for the pair of Territorial Beer Holders

Awesome retro clocks by Bruno. $55.

Terra Nova Natur Oil, 10 bucks.

Original cards.

They're great places. Probably worth the trip alone. But for me, it's very clear why I'm coming to this stretch of land...

Food + Lab is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and caters. Hours are 10 to 9 on weekdays, 9 to 9 on weekends. It's located at 3206 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles 90026. Metered parking is available on Sunset, free side street parking is also worth the hunt but as always, check the signs. 323.661.2666. Their other location is 7253 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood 90046. Hours are 8-8 daily. There's metered parking on Santa Monica and free parking available in the back. 323.851.7120.

Sumi's is at 3204 Sunset. 1812 North Vermont, LA, CA 90027. Monday thru Saturday 10-8. Sundays 11-6. 323.660.0869.

Hemingway & Pickett is at 3208 Sunset. Tuesday thru Saturday, 11-7. Sunday and Monday, 11-5. 323.660.4200.

This Weekend in LA: Parachute Market

Huge fun. A quarterly and seasonal design fair takes place this weekend that I am definitely going to. About 40 vendors - indie local designers - will be showing off and selling their most fabulous creations and vintage finds at Parachute Market.

Clothing, jewelry, art (wearable and otherwise), textiles, furniture -- lots and lots of gorgeous, interesting, provocative, cool stuff will be on display and ready for purchase. You'll find designers such as Brendan Ravenhill, Brook & Lyn, Kathleen Whiteaker, Cast and Combed, Victoria Morris Pottery and vintage giant A Current Affair.

As stated, it's quarterly and seasonal. This weekend participants will be paying homage to the Fall Equinox. Not sure what that's going to mean for us in terms of what everyone brings to the table but it will be interesting to find out.

So you don't drop while you shop a food market, curated by Kinfolk Magazine, will be on hand. Doling out the goods, amongst others will be Horse Thief BBQ (I hear their brisket is very tender) Sweet Clementime, Moon Juice and Bling Bling Dumpling. If it's a dumpling, I will try it! Oh, and Handsome Coffee will be there as well. As you may know by now, I need my coffee.

There's free valet parking as well as street parking. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by going to Brown Paper Tickets or you can buy them at the door for 8 bucks. A percentage of all ticket sales go to Inner-City Arts, a fantastic organization providing art education for inner city children in the heart of skid row. So freakin cool.

Parachute Market is this Saturday and Sunday, September 21st & 22nd. The address is 405 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Again, tix are 6 bucks online and 8 at the door. Saturday the hours are 12-7. Sunday, 12-6.

See you there and...

Jewelry by Cast and Combed. Photo by JUCO

ENJOY!

Homey Stuff for Hip People: Clover and some other cool places on Rowena

LA works in strips or blocks. If there are at least 3 decent things to see, do or visit on a block, I will go back. One of those blocks, despite the city's best efforts to make everyone stay far away, is the section of Silverlake on Rowena between Fletcher and Hyperion.

The city seems to always be doing some construction on at least one little stretch of this area if not more than a little stretch. Meaning there's traffic. There! I said it. Traffic.

And yet... if you're parking and walking around, who the hell cares?

Because there is good reason to park

My favorite thing in Clover: Cast Iron Dog Coat Hooks. On sale for $16.

Owned by an adorable couple with impeccable taste (Nicole & Danny), what really stands out about Clover is it has some of the most unique, tasteful and wonderful home furnishings, decor, knick knacks and tchotchkes in the city**. Whatever you find here not only serves as great gifts for others but also really nice treats for your very fine self.  I kind of think of it as high-endy type stuff for low-endy type pocketbook owners like myself.

Michael Revil Madjus Deer Mugs.

Above: Rustic, modern designs by Michael Revil Madjus,just $20 per mug.

Adorable little earrings. No brainer gift op.

This is why I always end up at this place. They have this array of cute little earrings that are usually just about 12 to 14 bucks and I always wear them and someone always notices. They're good staple earrings.

Eyeglasses Porn.

My uncle always does this. He buys glasses at CVS or wherever that hopefully fits his prescription. I find this to be totally insane. I would never do this. That being said, these glasses are super cute and pretty inexpensive. They range from the late teens to about 35 bucks.

Birdie Man Plates by Donna Wilson. $37.

I think these are so cute! Makes me want to hug a plate. And as you can see, they also seem to like cakes here. In fact, much that you'll see is homey, fun, cute-- ergo good wedding gift choices. And good buys for domesticats who like to entertain.

$8 per spoon. Talisman Designs.

The book, the spoon and the not pictured vintage-inspired aprons... all combine to make a nice trio of goodies that go together. Perfect for the hip and happening cook; gay, straight, male, female. If I left anyone out, I'm sorry.

Luscious and rich colors for the kitchen. Reminds me of California's Mexican roots. Each cup is 11 bucks and the vase is $45.

Below are these snazzy purses. I call them Barbie Purses.

I had a long, lovely conversation this past weekend where I bonded with a woman over our love for perfumes and the blessings and deficits our having sensitive shnozzes...

Tokyo Milk Perfumes. $33 a bottle. 

These perfumes (pictured above) are great buys and they're awesome. My favorite is Kabuki, Number 9. 33 buckaroos.

Clover's sort of this rockin little find, you know? But like I said, I go back if there are at least 3 things about a stretch I like. So let me continue...

If you walk a little ways west down the same side of the street, set back from the sidewalk you'll find the ever so lovely and peaceful Raven Spa.

Heaven awaits at The Raven Spa, Silverlake

It's been FOREVER since I've gone but seriously if you have a little coin to splurge, DO IT. You walk in and it's like walking into another country. The sidewalk seems SO far away.

Zoning out seems not to be optional

Nikom is my favorite masseuse here - he is amazing. And yet I have a feeling whomever you choose, you won't be disappointed. Pure bliss.

And just a little further down (closer to Hyperion) is a new-ish cafe. I think it's been there for about 2 1/2 years now. The Broome Street General Store. Very cute. They have little gifts and such as well. A bit of a higher price point but really nice stuff. And yet all I care about is...

And these little hand-made pies. YUM.

Rowena is a full little shopping/self-care/nourishment stretch. Slightly annoying due to the 100 year long street construction, but so worth it. I think/bet/hope they're almost done with all that mishegoss soon but in the meantime, there's good reason to park it and hang out.

Clover is located at 2756 Rowena Avenue, LA, CA 90039. Their hours are Mon-Sat, 10-7. Sundays they're open 12-6. There's free parking available behind the store. And by the way: While I didn't make a big deal of it, there are very nice clothes for both men and women at Clover. This includes a very complete and nice array of high-end style jeans from makers like Paige and Citizens for Humanity. You can pick up a pair of sweats there too, which I often do, for under 20 bucks.

The Raven is located at 2910 Rowena Avenue, LA, CA 90039. Their hours are Daily from 10-9. Call 323-644-0240 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but they can't guarantee an opening. Traditional Thai Massages start at $70. The Custom, where you sort of design your massage with your therapist, is $100 for 1 hour. And the Rock Star is $185 for 2 hours and combines a whole slew of services. It's a real nice treat. There's metered parking available on Rowena.

Broome Street General Store is located at 2912 Rowena Avenue, LA, CA 90039. Check their website for hours, as it changes between Summer and Winter. There is outdoor seating.

ENJOY!

**I'm embarrassed to write the words knick knacks and tchotchkes. I feel so strange and conservative and like if you didn't know me, you'd think I was always walking around with a bun and sensible heels. But I did it because that's what those things are and they're the right words.