Billy Higgins, Founder of World Stage in Leimert Park
In Leimert Park Village, between Downtown LA and the Westside, drummers often head to the park to play together. The group's music usually represents the area's African roots — fitting, since the neighborhood of Leimert Park Village has become the predominant enclave for African American culture in LA. It’s a place where musicians and artists chat at local coffee shops, exchanging dialogue about jazz and poetry, and where community continues to build strong relationships through its people, stores and activities.
Today, the Leimert Park’s music scene is the beating heart of the neighborhood, particularly with venues such as World Stage, where jazz has evolved from the days when Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles lived here. There’s hip-hop at KAOS Network and blues at Babes and Ricky’s Inn, which has hosted blues greats like B.B. King and Bobby Bland.
Residents liken Leimert Park to the Harlem of the 1920s, when artists, poets and musicians fueled a renaissance. And where there are artists, there are coffeeshops. The two places where creativity comes to life are 5th Street Dick’s Coffeehouse and La Casa Blue. At 5th Street Dick’s, live jazz and spoken word take the stage, while La Casa Blue offers karaoke and independent films for a mix of entertainment and culture.
The growing number of local-owned retail shops has also added to Leimert Park’s appeal. When Eso Won Books, an LA institution focusing on African American literature, periodicals and gifts, moved into the neighborhood, it was a testament to Leimert Park’s strong cultural roots. The bookstore was an integral edition to numerous afro-inspired shops: Africa by the Yard, which sells a variety of African masks and books; Gallery Plus, offering an ever-changing array of African American artwork; and Zambizi Bazaar, which features rare books and magazine, out-of-print records and hard-to-find prints, all of which promote African American culture in some way.
At the end of the day, Leimert Park Village is a beacon for African American culture, visible in the neighborhood’s shops and venues — and also in the residents, who share frequent exchanges of warm-hearted greetings. For visitors, it’s an opportunity to experience modern, living culture first-hand.
