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karen
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Artist, living in LA http://www.karenkimmel.com/
Los Angeles - What's up in Atwater Village
So, here is a little ditty that talks about my hood, Atwater Village. It was written my dear friend, Sarah Cohen. Originally written for a magazine (that shall remain nameless) that cut and shredded it down to a sound bite, I wanted to give it its proper do and help spread the good word about this charming little secret tucked away on the boarder of Glendale. When you are at home one night fighting with your friends or mate over were the hell to go for dinner. Pick your ass up, get in the car (again) or get on your bike (if you dare) and come check it out. The vibe is good, there is food within walking distance and the rents are still manageable, maybe I should have kept it to myself.....
Over the River
by Sarah Cohen
As an art advisor and independent curator I'm often drawn to neighborhoods in transition because I'm likely to find a burgeoning community of creatives looking for large, inexpensive spaces and seeking a close knit community to call home. And Atwater Village is a perfect example. Most often referred to as "Los Feliz Adjacent" and sandwiched between the grand mansions in the hills surrounding Griffith Park, Glendale's Brand Boulevard of Cars and close to the 5 and 2 Freeways, Atwater Village is one of the few remaining small Los Angeles neighborhoods with big time appeal. Take, for instance, the Beastie Boys who, always ahead of their time, had their studio in Atwater in the mid-90s. Back in 2001, the band Black Eye Peas auditioned Fergie at their studio on Glendale Boulevard.Their attraction to Atwater Village anticipated an influx of boutiques, restaurants, artist's studios, and families lured by wide tree-lined streets and two of LA's greatest assets, Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, around the corner.
Even though Atwater Village has seen tremendous growth during the booming housing market of the past several years, it has managed to retain its Pleasantville character. It boasts a Post Office with no lines (or attitudes), a public library, yoga, dance, and Pilates studios and has one other perk rarely found in other LA neighborhoods - free parking.
Here are some of my highlights:
Canele (pronounced can-eh-LAY) a restaurant opened by two former New York restaurateurs a little over a year ago put Atwater on the culinary map. Named for a small French pastry with a soft custard center and a dark, thick caramelized crust, which are offered a parting gift, Canelé has a hearty French bistro inspired menu featuring local and seasonal ingredients. They don't take reservations but it's worth the wait. 3219 Glendale Blvd., www.canele-la.com, 323 666 7133
An offshoot of Silver Lake's Soy Café, Viet Noodle Bar is likely to become another local obsession. The menu is small and the décor is simple but there's an air of true authenticity that permeates the food, service and experience. The food is healthy, simple and delicious. Cash only! 3133 ½ Glendale Blvd., 323 906 1575
Spring comes with verdant days and cool evenings that begin the months of outdoor living Los Angeles is famous for and whether your style is bohemian, urban or minimal, Potted is a one-stop shop for all your green garden needs. You'll find pots, vintage garden furniture, books, fountains, sculpture and my personal favorite, the Flattop Wok outdoor fireplace for cool LA nights. For the environmentally conscious Potted offers recycled wares so you can doll up your garden without sacrificing your style or beliefs. 3158 Los Feliz Blvd, www.pot-ted.com, 323 665 3801
WOOF, formerly located in the Burbank Towne Center, moved to Atwater when their previous landlord mandated a "no dogs allowed" policy and for a pet store that prides itself on being pet-friendly, that was simply unacceptable. The store is packed with every conceivable collar and leash for the teacup pup to the largest beasts. Gourmet dog snacks and food, sweaters, and of course costumes for every occasion and holiday, WOOF is a treasure trove for the hip pooch. And, as expected, the owners give back by working with local animal shelters to help lost pets find their way home. 3172 Glendale Blvd., www.woofdogboutique.com, 323-661-7722
Opened by a former set designer, Grain, one of the first and best-known stores to open in the neighborhood, specializes in mid-century modern furniture, contemporary sculpture and accessories. Large wood organically shaped sculptures and outdoor furniture from the 50s and 60s dominate the space. Small and well-edited, make it regular stop on your Atwater visit as inventory moves quickly. 3133 Glendale Blvd, 323 664 3130
Named for the neighborhood in which the studio is located, Atwater Pottery founded by RISD graduate Adam Silverman, is the poster child for the Atwater's chic transformation. Hand thrown and fired with the most delicate glazes, such as the Volcanic glaze that resembles hardened lava, the forms are both brutal and refined. Silverman's work is so refined that every piece is both an object and a sculpture. While Atwater Pottery can be found in local high end design stores such as OK on Third Street, Silverman has made the leap from Master Potter to influential contemporary artist showing at important international contemporary art galleries such as Tomio Koyama in Tokyo. 3609 Edenhurst, www.atwaterpottery.com, 323 666 3963
Karen Kimmel has been a fixture in the worlds of art, design and fashion for years. Kimmel was first known in Los Angeles as one half of the couple that owned KBond from 1999-2003 (husband James Bond, her partner), a groundbreaking menswear store/art gallery/performance venue. Primarily a fine artist and designer, Kimmel moved her studio to Atwater Village several years ago. Kimmel's practice is rooted in drawing and the use of stencils. Stencils, typically thought to guarantee precision and uniformity, as employed by Kimmel offer a starting point to explore the aesthetic and social boundaries of individual expression. Recent group exhibitions include Above Ground at Mary Goldman Gallery, Los Angeles and Wall Works 3 at Traywick Contemporary in Berkley, CA. Kimmel's work is currently on view in the group exhibition "Renaissance" at the Salvatore Ferragamo Gallery located in its flagship Madison Avenue store in New York. 3201 Casitas, www.karenkimmel.com, 323 459 5324
CalArts Graduate Geoff McFetridge's work moves seamlessly between visual art and graphic design. While working in Atwater Village as art director for the Beastie Boy's Grand Royal Magazine in the mid to late 90's, McFetridge founded his own graphic design studio, Champion Graphics. Champion Graphics, located on Glendale Boulevard, focuses on innovative commercial design working with such style and fashion giants as MTV and The New York Times. Other commercial projects include designing billboards, logotypes and graphics for skateboards, toys, wallpaper, and even a shoe for Nike. His paintings and drawings provide the inspiration for his famed design work and he often exhibits both practices together pairing paintings and drawings with wallpaper and graphics. 3003 Glendale Blvd, www.championdontstop.com, 323 666 1897
Over the River
by Sarah Cohen
As an art advisor and independent curator I'm often drawn to neighborhoods in transition because I'm likely to find a burgeoning community of creatives looking for large, inexpensive spaces and seeking a close knit community to call home. And Atwater Village is a perfect example. Most often referred to as "Los Feliz Adjacent" and sandwiched between the grand mansions in the hills surrounding Griffith Park, Glendale's Brand Boulevard of Cars and close to the 5 and 2 Freeways, Atwater Village is one of the few remaining small Los Angeles neighborhoods with big time appeal. Take, for instance, the Beastie Boys who, always ahead of their time, had their studio in Atwater in the mid-90s. Back in 2001, the band Black Eye Peas auditioned Fergie at their studio on Glendale Boulevard.Their attraction to Atwater Village anticipated an influx of boutiques, restaurants, artist's studios, and families lured by wide tree-lined streets and two of LA's greatest assets, Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, around the corner.
Even though Atwater Village has seen tremendous growth during the booming housing market of the past several years, it has managed to retain its Pleasantville character. It boasts a Post Office with no lines (or attitudes), a public library, yoga, dance, and Pilates studios and has one other perk rarely found in other LA neighborhoods - free parking.
Here are some of my highlights:
Canele (pronounced can-eh-LAY) a restaurant opened by two former New York restaurateurs a little over a year ago put Atwater on the culinary map. Named for a small French pastry with a soft custard center and a dark, thick caramelized crust, which are offered a parting gift, Canelé has a hearty French bistro inspired menu featuring local and seasonal ingredients. They don't take reservations but it's worth the wait. 3219 Glendale Blvd., www.canele-la.com, 323 666 7133
An offshoot of Silver Lake's Soy Café, Viet Noodle Bar is likely to become another local obsession. The menu is small and the décor is simple but there's an air of true authenticity that permeates the food, service and experience. The food is healthy, simple and delicious. Cash only! 3133 ½ Glendale Blvd., 323 906 1575
Spring comes with verdant days and cool evenings that begin the months of outdoor living Los Angeles is famous for and whether your style is bohemian, urban or minimal, Potted is a one-stop shop for all your green garden needs. You'll find pots, vintage garden furniture, books, fountains, sculpture and my personal favorite, the Flattop Wok outdoor fireplace for cool LA nights. For the environmentally conscious Potted offers recycled wares so you can doll up your garden without sacrificing your style or beliefs. 3158 Los Feliz Blvd, www.pot-ted.com, 323 665 3801
WOOF, formerly located in the Burbank Towne Center, moved to Atwater when their previous landlord mandated a "no dogs allowed" policy and for a pet store that prides itself on being pet-friendly, that was simply unacceptable. The store is packed with every conceivable collar and leash for the teacup pup to the largest beasts. Gourmet dog snacks and food, sweaters, and of course costumes for every occasion and holiday, WOOF is a treasure trove for the hip pooch. And, as expected, the owners give back by working with local animal shelters to help lost pets find their way home. 3172 Glendale Blvd., www.woofdogboutique.com, 323-661-7722
Opened by a former set designer, Grain, one of the first and best-known stores to open in the neighborhood, specializes in mid-century modern furniture, contemporary sculpture and accessories. Large wood organically shaped sculptures and outdoor furniture from the 50s and 60s dominate the space. Small and well-edited, make it regular stop on your Atwater visit as inventory moves quickly. 3133 Glendale Blvd, 323 664 3130
Named for the neighborhood in which the studio is located, Atwater Pottery founded by RISD graduate Adam Silverman, is the poster child for the Atwater's chic transformation. Hand thrown and fired with the most delicate glazes, such as the Volcanic glaze that resembles hardened lava, the forms are both brutal and refined. Silverman's work is so refined that every piece is both an object and a sculpture. While Atwater Pottery can be found in local high end design stores such as OK on Third Street, Silverman has made the leap from Master Potter to influential contemporary artist showing at important international contemporary art galleries such as Tomio Koyama in Tokyo. 3609 Edenhurst, www.atwaterpottery.com, 323 666 3963
Karen Kimmel has been a fixture in the worlds of art, design and fashion for years. Kimmel was first known in Los Angeles as one half of the couple that owned KBond from 1999-2003 (husband James Bond, her partner), a groundbreaking menswear store/art gallery/performance venue. Primarily a fine artist and designer, Kimmel moved her studio to Atwater Village several years ago. Kimmel's practice is rooted in drawing and the use of stencils. Stencils, typically thought to guarantee precision and uniformity, as employed by Kimmel offer a starting point to explore the aesthetic and social boundaries of individual expression. Recent group exhibitions include Above Ground at Mary Goldman Gallery, Los Angeles and Wall Works 3 at Traywick Contemporary in Berkley, CA. Kimmel's work is currently on view in the group exhibition "Renaissance" at the Salvatore Ferragamo Gallery located in its flagship Madison Avenue store in New York. 3201 Casitas, www.karenkimmel.com, 323 459 5324
CalArts Graduate Geoff McFetridge's work moves seamlessly between visual art and graphic design. While working in Atwater Village as art director for the Beastie Boy's Grand Royal Magazine in the mid to late 90's, McFetridge founded his own graphic design studio, Champion Graphics. Champion Graphics, located on Glendale Boulevard, focuses on innovative commercial design working with such style and fashion giants as MTV and The New York Times. Other commercial projects include designing billboards, logotypes and graphics for skateboards, toys, wallpaper, and even a shoe for Nike. His paintings and drawings provide the inspiration for his famed design work and he often exhibits both practices together pairing paintings and drawings with wallpaper and graphics. 3003 Glendale Blvd, www.championdontstop.com, 323 666 1897
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