Los Angeles Philharmonic Store
Downtown LA
The shimmering, swerving Disney Concert Hall has been described as “frozen music.” Designed by Frank Gehry as the new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the architectural wonder is one of the most popular destinations in the city’s downtown core. Visitors can capture a bit of the hall’s magic with a trip to Disney Hall’s gift shop, a storehouse of recordings by featured performers, departing conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and arriving conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Young music lovers can find a large selection of toys, books, mouse pads, musical instruments and for future prodigies, a conductor’s baton. 131 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, 213.972.3440, www.laphilstore.com.
It’s A Wrap
Burbank, San Fernando Valley
When wardrobe departments from TV shows and movies need to dispense of the clothes their actors have worn, Burbank’s resale clothing shop It’s a Wrap gets the call. The large, two-story store in the heart of the San Fernando Valley’s studio district is a favorite haunt of bargain shoppers. There’s perhaps no better way to buy the shirt off an actor’s back—and the matching accessories. In-store signs help shoppers decode the origins of many items, too. 3315 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 818.567.7366, www.itsawraphollywood.com; or 1164 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills 310.246.9727.
Souvenirs of Hollywood
Hollywood
You can relive, almost, the feeling of walking down the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre, home to the Academy Awards, by having your own “Oscar.” Hollywood fans can cross the street to a sprawling shop, Souvenirs of Hollywood, and buy an imitation Oscar statuette. The physical and online store each offer half a dozen small golden trophies that can be personalized with categories such as “Best Friend,” “Best Teacher,” or “For Achievement.” We like “Drama Queen.” Trophies $9.99 and up at Souvenirs of Hollywood, 6800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, 323.962.8510, or www.HollywoodMegastore.com.
Dodger Stadium
Elysian Park
Buying tickets for one of the 56,000 seats at the remodeled Dodger Stadium isn’t nearly as hard as figuring out which memento to bring home. You can spend five innings just cruising the stadium’s souvenir stands that sell entire wardrobes of Dodger gear, golden collectible baseballs and of course, oversized blue foam fingers. The best deal? A little plush teddy bear wearing a logo-embroidered sweatshirt for a penny shy of $10. 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, http://shop.mlb.com.
Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills
If you’re not one of the many children who come to the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel for family vacations, then you can still take home the same pink rubber duckie that’s given to pint-sized hotel guests. The bathtub toy includes the hotel’s famous hunter green logo, which has made it a popular gift and collectible. It’s available in the hotel gift shop or in the novelties section on the hotel’s website. Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.276.2251, www.thebeverlyhillshotel.com.
Rose Café
Venice Beach
For entertainment, you can go watch chain saw jugglers and tattooed, roller skating grandmas on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. For a meal, go where the locals go, the Rose Café. The airy eatery has become an institution in the laid-back beach community because of its no-fuss atmosphere, reliable comfort food and art-filled walls. The gift shop’s eclectic inventory is one of the city’s best restaurant boutiques. 220 Rose Ave., Venice, 310.399.0711, www.rosecafe.com.
Samuel French Bookshop
San Fernando Valley & Hollywood
Film fans and book lovers can find common ground in one of two branches of the Samuel French Bookshop, where theatrical plays, screenplays, books, anthologies, biographies, cast recordings and guides to the writer’s and actor’s craft fill floor-to-ceiling shelves. Samuel French is a store (online and brick-and-mortar) and publisher that stocks such classics as “Our Town” and “The Odd Couple,” or the dialogue and lyrics to musicals such as “Chicago” and “Grease.” For laughs, we like the comedies, such as playwright Sarah Ruhl’s new Broadway hit, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.” 7623 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 323.876.0570, or 11963 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818.762.0535, www.samuelfrench.com.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
San Pedro
Visitors can see aquatic science projects in action, the world’s largest collection of Southern California marine life and the Frank Gehry-designed aquarium at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles and the Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park. The center also stages programs and a festival to honor the grunion, a small fish that washes onto shores to lay eggs from March through August. The center’s gift shop offers unique toys, books, glassware and jewelry, including the boxed grunion pin. Logo T-shirts and hats are sold in the online shop. 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro, 310.548.7562, www.cabrillomarineacquarium.org.
Goorin Hat Shop
Melrose Ave., Westside
Few cities can rival Los Angeles for its unapologetic fashion flamboyance. The epicenter of that studded-beaded-shredded style is Melrose Avenue. The street’s motto could be “Where Real Rock Stars Shop” because generations of rock gods have found their skull belt buckles, brocade coats with epaulettes and leopard-print leggings. The Goorin Hat Shop is among the few outlets where ordinary mortals can buy quality millinery, such as felt bowlers, straw fedoras or eyelet lace floppy hats. Check out the sale shelf where prices are up to 75 percent off. 7627 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323.951.0393, www.goorin.com.
Chinatown, Downtown LA
Just a few blocks from downtown Los Angeles, a thriving collection of restaurants, gift shops and tea emporiums make up Chinatown. Though many of the region’s ethnic Chinese have moved to nearby suburbs, Chinatown allows visitors to immerse in authentic traditions. Stroll down Broadway and you’re likely to find shopkeepers dispensing herbal medicines, selling exotic varieties of tea and offering cheongsam dresses, jewelry and paper lanterns. Our favorite gift shop sells paper and fabric parasols for just $4 to $5; cell phone charms are $1. 711 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, 213.680.3078.
