Let’s face it: everything good is here, starting with the Vista Theater (4473 Sunset Blvd.). This historical movie house that sits on the cusp of Silver Lake and Los Feliz is one of the coolest in town.
True, it’s not as high-tech as Hollywood’s swanky ArcLight Cinemas, but that’s what makes it so spectacular. The aisles are roomy and allow the perfect amount of big-city detachment. And the draperies contribute to a wonderfully retro theatrical experience.
But afternoon matinees aren’t the only fun to be had in this part of town. For the art lover in you, there’s Thinkspace Art Gallery (4210 Santa Monica Blvd.). Jason Dugan and Eleanor Yap have shown here, with the promise of many hot discoveries to come. You couldn’t pick a better place to take a first date, especially on Friday nights when the space is jam-packed.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump down Sunset Blvd. is another great staple of this hood. It’s the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. This real-life School of Rock was founded by Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and boasts instructors that are proficient in every music discipline under the sun.
Whether you desire to rock like drummer Matt Barrick of the Walkmen, or keyboard like Ben Pringle from the Rentals, your fantasy can be realized here. And all that learning won’t break the bank (classes start around $80). Not to mention the fact that it is located smack-dab in the middle of Sunset Junction.
If you’ll think back to a sweet little film called Shopgirl (Claire Danes, Jason Schwarzman), you’ll surely remember all the hustle and flow surrounding this busy intersection. Cinematic romance was pondered here as well in the Ashton Kutcher/Amanda Peete romantic comedy, A Lot Like Love.
Walking around the junction is the perfect way to meet eligible local creatives. (Brian Aubert from the Silversun Pickups has been spotted here on numerous occasions and even derived his band’s name from a nearby liquor store.)
Clever little cafes and killer shopping are in abundance. Regardless of whether your style is cool like Ben Sherman or campy like EmLala, boutiques such as Pull My Daisy (3908 Sunset Blvd.) are ready to serve. For the 21 and over set, the 4100 Bar (4100 Sunset Blvd., just off the Junction) is a winner. Go here to get your drink on in one of the most electric nightspots this area has to offer.
Sunset Junction also plays host to a fantastic music and arts festival of the same name each summer. Unlike its monolith counterparts Coachella and the UK’s Reading Festival, Sunset Junction possesses a homegrown, block party vibe that has people from all over the city flocking to it.
This neighborhood truly comes alive when the rockabilly crowd meets the indie rockers and the cholos make friends with the yuppies. It’s all done against the backdrop of fantastic bands like the Eels and Sonic Youth – just a couple of the acts who have played here.
One great performer who has left his mark in Silver Lake is the late Elliott Smith. Although this gifted singer-songwriter committed suicide in 2003, his memory lives on in the form of a beautiful and understated memorial on the wall of Solutions Audio on Sunset Blvd. (at Hyperion Ave.). Fans of the shy musician continue to pay homage to Smith via written messages of condolence and affection signed on a mural that adorned the cover of his first major-label release, Figure 8.
Other great musical acts like Quazar and the Bamboozled, along with quirky songstress Gwendolyn are well known to the area. Respectively, they have rocked stages throughout Silver Lake, most notably at famous venues like Spaceland (1717 Silverlake Blvd.).
This club sits just down the road from the reservoir. Any band truly serious about making a name for itself among die-hard music fans ends up here. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Ex-Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur’s short-lived side project, the Chelsea and the White Stripes have all gotten their start on this stage.
Spaceland’s nearest musical compadre is the Silverlake Lounge (2906 Sunset Blvd.). This is a truly unique dive bar that blends mom-and-pop charm with deconstructed sex appeal.
Groups like Iceland’s Lay Low and L.A.’s the Good Listeners can be seen here. But the best aspect of the Lounge is that you’re always likely to run into a long-lost friend and have a great time catching up in these warm surroundings.
Still, for those who don’t follow the music scene, this historical neighborhood still has your back. The Silverlake Dog Park (1850 W. Silverlake Drive) is a cool way to hook up with locals – oh, and to walk your mutt.
Take a stroll among the scenic hills, swimming in Mediterranean-style bungalows. Or cap off your journey with a trek alongside the famous reservoir. At night, the view is utterly breathtaking.
But don’t just take my word for it. Go see it for yourself. There are many more sights and sounds here, yet to be discovered. Silver Lake is the most eclectic way to fall in love with L.A.
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