This is an awesome spot to get your steps in while exploring local small creators and makers…read more Admission is free. There are at least twenty vendors offering clothes, snacks, accessories, ceramics, and more. I also noticed a handful of dog-friendly booths. The crowd was lively, and depending on the booth, space could get a bit tight. Thankfully, there was ample shade so it never felt too warm. I'm not sure if any vendors accepted cash but every vendor I purchased from welcomed credit cards. Since it's an outdoor event, dogs are welcome--just be mindful of the blacktop asphalt. Parking is free from the first two hours and the shops close by are open as well. This event happens semi-annually, and I highly recommend checking it out!

Unfortunately, Character Shop is another store in Universal Studios Hollywood that I'm not going to…read morerecommend, especially for the drinks. This Super Mario-themed store is usually known for Toys, Kids' Clothing, Popcorn, Snacks, Drinks, and Fruity Cream Soda. I went to this store to try their viral Mario's Strawberry Soda, but my first two attempts to get this drink were not successful since they ran out of syrup due to high demand. And finally in the evening, I was able to get the viral Mario's Strawberry Soda. After my first sip, two words came out of my mouth right away - Overpriced and Overhyped! This was literally the worst drink I've ever tried in my life! The drink had a weird combination of Strawberry Syrup, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Popping Pearls. It was too sweet to drink, didn't go with my taste buds, and I couldn't finish it. The price was also too high, considering the quality of the drink, and not worth it.

Character Shop! I…read morewas delightfully surprised when I walked over. They have mini plushies!!!!! The cute, little ones are adorable! I wanted them all! They also sell the cutest headbands here! I didn't see headbands anywhere else in the park. Oh well, maybe one other place I did. The Character Store had a bigger selection of headbands though. I really wanted to grab the Boo ghost headbands. They were kind of pricy though. I passed on them. But I definitely grabbed a plushie! Drop by this store! It's worth a peek.

Los Angeles is an extremely important region when it comes to the history of the Gay Leather…read moreCommunity in the United States. Many people know all about NYC and the seminal Stonewall Rebellion. And "Gay Ghettos" like the Castro district in San Francisco. They are much less likely, however, to be aware that Los Angeles is the home to the longest continually existing gay organization in the world: the Satyr's Motorcycle Club, celebrating its 70th year. In fact, when you do a little research, you will find that Gay and Leather culture has an embarrassment of riches in Los Angeles. Tom of Finland (born Touko Valio Laaksonen) is an artist whose forty-plus years of work portrayed sexy, masculine Gay men. His depictions of such men has had an enormous impact on how Gay Men across the globe have presented themselves to the world. It is damn near impossible to go to a Gay Men's bar (Leather or not) and not find his imagery somewhere in the decor. The Tom of Finland Foundation, celebrating its 40th year in 2024, is dedicated to the work of Tom of Finland and promoting erotic art, including hosting up-and-coming artists. It was founded by Tom and former partner and muse, Durk Dehner in 1984. The ToFF is located is located in the former home of Tom, who died in 1991. The home is a 1912 Craftsmen style house in the Echo Park/Silverlake neighborhood. Besides for being kept in beautiful condition, every possible space is utilized to feature the work of Tom or other erotic artists. As Betty Wood put it, is the "phallus-filled former home of artist Tom of Finland." And at the summit of this grand estate is the former bedroom of Tom, lovingly kept as it was prior to his death. As an organization, the ToFF hosts an array of events. These include such things as salons for drawing live nudes (in various levels of eroticism), hosting dinner parties for Gay Men who enjoy uniforms and leather formal wear and tours of the house's enormous art collection. As the ToFF serves as a museum and cultural center AND the living quarters of the co-founder Mr. Dehner, his partner and the various artists-in-residence, it is not open for regular hours. Luckily, the online calendar is frequently updated, so you can determine when a particular event or tour is available. The Tom of Finland Foundation is a non-profit organization. They rely on donations from various groups and individuals to keep the house and foundation afloat. For most events, the entrance fee is about 25 dollars. This was all I payed for a single evening, which included dinner, at a Yule-tide themed party. Again, know that this money is going directly to supporting this organization and the artists-in-residence. If you have any interest in Gay and/or Leather history, this place is absolutely not-to-be-missed. This is the home of easily the most famous Gay erotic artist, the house is beautifully maintained and the art collection is always in flux and I have been to dozens of events here and have always thoroughly enjoyed myself. Highly recommended.

What an experience at the historic Tom House of the Tom of Finland Foundation…read more A collection of wonderful and exotic art highlighting sexuality, culture, gender, and creativity over the last four (since 1984) decades that is literally in, on and/or apart of every crevice, patched crack, updated fixture, beam, pillar and inch of the entire property... From front to back. Came for a Saturday tour with my friend Andrew for his extended birthday weekend. They have a few slots, the first at 2PM, we got there a few minutes after due to high volume traffic for St Patty's weekend, but thankfully there's a little relaxing portions on the porch with a cool mix match assortment of furniture and fixtures. Durk Dehner, one of the co-founding members and a former partner of Tom himself, was our guide... He talks about the story of how it all came about as well as Tom House eventually becoming a historical and cultural landmark for the City of Los Angeles. The tour is two hours so where good shoes and bring a water, though they do have bottles as well. It goes by super fast and taking pictures is allowed as well as encouraged. During our tour we got to meet some artist staying at the house, a lot of volunteers and staff archiving and planning away. Everyone was incredibly warm, just like this estate. I haven't been lucky enough to attend an event, just yet, but hopefully in the very not to distance future as they have some fun stuff on their event calendar. They have the coolest multi-level backyard and landscaping you'll ever find in LA... Lush with plant life, paths an actual full bar, multiple lounge areas, more art (of course) including along the driveway and on the sides of the house. The gift shop is pretty cool (I got a few fun things, including a pin for under ten and a complimentary Tom of Finland dog tag). We got to meet the home kitty, Durks pretty snowy mixed, cool cat waking from an afternoon nap at the end of our tour... A purrfect highlight. As a not for profit, ToFF aka Tom of Finland Foundation is beyond dedicated to preserving as well as protecting art and artists, being an advocate for the lgbtq+ community and highlighting queer creatives, erotic art, sexuality and freedom of expression. All are welcome and celebrated at ToFF. All are encouraged to enjoy! Q-Tip: They do have memberships which include cool club cards, a member patch, invitations to special events as well as discounted tickets for selected ToFF events. Tom's Kale ensures the above, but if that's a bit steep supporting them with the Tom's Friend membership is more than okay. If you're an artist you reap some cool rewards and a great value.

I have been to Baldwin Plaza in Arcadia many times in the past primarily for visits at JJ Bakery…read more(great baked goods and cakes), Chef's Tony Dim Sum (delicious dim sum all day), and Phoenix Food Boutique (refreshing drinks and desserts along with foods). I haven't tried Kai Ramen yet, but it will be on my list to visit in the near future. There are a few other tenants as well... Uncle Fossil Wine & Spirits, Lucky Pharmacy, California Bank & Trust, Sushi Kisen, and Eve Bank. I haven't checked them out yet. Sushi Kisen sounds interesting though. It's a very small plaza with limited free parking. Btw, Molly Tea will be a new tenant here very soon. Yay! Can't wait for their soft and grand opening. It'll be busier than ever at this plaza so plan your visits now.

I've taken many, many classes at The Institute for Art and Olfaction at this point, and I think…read moreI've managed to work my way through just about every teacher. I can genuinely say I've enjoyed every one of them. What makes this place so special is that you don't simply learn about perfumery. You smell, formulate, experiment, make mistakes, change your mind, smell again, and somehow walk out understanding fragrance differently than when you walked in. Most recently I took Shades of Blue and Shades of Yellow with Saskia Wilson-Brown, the founder and lovely owner of the Institute. These classes are brilliant because Saskia asks you to forget, for a moment, what a perfume is "supposed" to smell like and instead asks: What does a color smell like? Blue and Yellow could not have been more different. You're given this beautifully curated palette of materials and then challenged to translate something visual and emotional into scent. Saskia has a wonderful way of teaching that gives you enough direction to understand what you're doing without telling you what you're supposed to create. That freedom is where the magic happens. Then there was Banana Accord with Julianne Lee, which was ridiculously fun. We explored banana from green and barely ripe to creamy, sweet, tropical and candy-like, then learned how to actually construct the illusion ourselves. There were even banana sodas involved. Because apparently serious perfume education occasionally requires soda. And then there is Citrus: Raw to Refined with Jeffrey Paul. I hesitate to say Jeff puts the other teachers to shame because the teachers here are genuinely amazing... but the man BAKED US A CAKE WITH BERGAMOT. I mean, come on. Julianne brought banana sodas and I thought the bar had been set. Then Jeff walked in with a homemade bergamot cake. The banana sodas never stood a chance. Joking aside, that little detail actually says something important about the teaching at IAO. These instructors don't just lecture about aromatic materials. They find ways to make you understand them, experience them and remember them. Whether you are completely new to fragrance or already working seriously with materials, there is something to learn here. I've taken beginner classes, accord classes, material-focused classes and conceptual classes, and I continue to leave with something I didn't know when I walked in. And perhaps my favorite thing about IAO is that curiosity seems to matter more than ego. Perfumery can be an intimidating world. The Institute somehow manages to take the craft seriously without taking itself too seriously. That is a rare combination. Saskia has created something genuinely special in Los Angeles: part perfume school, part laboratory, part art space and part playground for people who cannot stop wondering what the world smells like. I keep signing up for classes. At this point, that is probably the best review I can give.

Completed Perfumery 101 and the class is simply awesome! Amazing resources, lots of hands on…read morelearning with materials and tons of expert guidance in a fun and safe atmosphere. Affordable classes taught in smaller participatory classes all hands on.

The store's warm and inviting ambiance immediately caught my attention! The horse clothing rack was…read morea unique feature that piqued my interest and led me to explore the rest of the store. They have a lot of nick-nacks for sale, which I love! Their hats have original designs that I found tempting but had to hold off on. They also sell shirts, mugs and a variety of other sculptures. There was so much to see. I purchased a sheet of stickers for $8 and a ceramic cup I plan to use as a spoon holder went for $35 . Katie Kimmel, the artist/owner, was welcoming and engaging! She wrapped my ceramic cup in the cutest tissue paper! Overall, I enjoyed my visit and will be back again!

stumbled upon here while frolicking around row dtla on a saturday morning and omg as soon as i…read moreentered i felt like a kid in my arts and crafts class!! every item is so niche and unique and stylish and handmade and out of this world

What if I told you there was a hidden garden patio with a fish pond tucked between Lafayette Park…read moreand MacArthur Park? Would you believe it? The space is so tranquil, I forgot I was in K-town or Westlake. They have a variety of events, from poetry nights to local vendor markets. I came to check out Failing Coffee's three-day residency. Shout out to Ofelia for putting me on to this dope spot! I'm adding it to my rotation! They have a 2nd level that I did not get to check out. There was plenty of seating, perfect for lounging. They also sell an assortment of goods ranging from jewelry to books. There was a good amount of metered parking available, which was nice, and the place is easy to find. Highly recommend!

incredible food, eastern hospitality, healing & magical space, beautiful community, cultural…read moredeepening, art. it's my favorite place in LA

Small, modern gallery that just had their opening reception in mid-November. Very interesting…read morepieces from leading edge artists from around the world such as Bas Jan Ader, a video artist, Vito Acconci, a New York sculptor and installation artist, and Hans Bellmer a french surrealist. On view until the end of December. Located two doors east of the tatoo business, on the south side of Sunset, just west of Sierra Bonita, hours are 12 - 5pm. Four stars, as the parking is very limited here, and the area is also a bit shady.