Hello, Cali

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Crazy fast trip to LA to surprise my bestie on her 50th. Also got in some great hang time with some of my favorite people and got in some quick shopping along Abbot Kinney in Venice. Back when I lived in Cali, I would go to Venice Beach and check out your standard fare of boardwalk shops. (My favorite being Small World Books.) I had no idea Abbot Kinney existed until a friend introduced me. If you’re looking for unique, then definitely check out these fun and fabulous shops. Some are rather expensive, but there are also some that are surprisingly inexpensive. My recommendation is start with breakfast at Gjelina. (This will keep you from eating too many donuts from Blue Star up the street, which is where you’ll want to stop to pick up breakfast for the following day.) Get there early to avoid a long wait and get a table on the patio. This wonderful breakfast will set you up for shopping success. Here are some of the places we visited:

~ Tortoise General Store, run by husband and wife team from Tokyo. The store stocks products by Japanese artists as well as by artists who use traditional Japanese techniques. (Visa only, as I sadly found out when trying to purchase some lovely items.)

~ Huset sells modern Scandinavian design for the home as well as textiles, gifts and clothing. The store also takes other forms of plastic aside from Visa, which allowed me to pick up a TV tray and typography poster. Shoutout to the kind attendants on United who tucked my top and bottom wood-framed poster away for safe keeping.

~ Burro, a stationery, home decor and gifts for the young and old. I picked up a few cards here and asked that they be wrapped in tissue paper. I’m not a tissue paper kind of gal, but I really wanted the pattern on the paper so I could take it home and put it in a little frame.

~ Aviator Nation. Check out the back patio. The image for this blog post came from AV. The store’s owner took her inspiration from the music and fashion of the ’70s, sewing her own vintage-inspired pieces and selling them at a local street fair. Her brand grew, and in 2013, she created a collection for GQ and Gap. Which explains the high price tag you will come across for a T-shirt ($76) and other items. I settled for some pictures of the patio and photos of me sitting in an Eero Aarnio Ball Chair along with a business card.

~ Toms Flagship Store. Mixing shoes, bags and a coffee in a fun space that invites the visitor to hang out. The couch at the front of the store looks vey cozy and the back patio space is perfect for dogs.

~ Marine Layer. I didn’t know this store existed within walking distance of the office. Which is actually great because it gives me an excuse to go back and purchase another super-soft cotton tee for the summer.

~ Avocado. This activewear boutique sits in lovely bungelow on Abbot Kinney and offers not only affordable clothing but also free classes in its backyard space. I left with a very cozy sweatshirt.

This was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning and I look forward to going back and checking out even more shops. Oh, and I’ll remember to bring along the Visa card, too.

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