Friday, November 18, 2011

Third Street Adventures

Originally the reason for coming to Third Street was to find some amazing new places to eat (because lets be honest when are we not thinking about food) but unexpectedly we stumbled upon some great shopping and original boutiques as well. We met so many friendly, helpful store owners and every store we stopped in was so unique and refreshing to see. We may have found our new favorite shopping and eating spot!

SimpleThings:
This was our original destination for the day in hopes of trying out some great food and pie. And wow this place was amazing! From the unique yet approachable menu to the adorable 'cutie' pies this place was a win in our book. I had a soup & sandwich combo with the popular sweet potato sandwich and their vegan butternut squash & coconut soup. The sweet potato sandwich looked intimidating at first with the different assortment of ingredients (grilled sweet potatoes, apples, jammy onions, chevre spread, avocado, cumin coleslaw & pretzel roll) but it all came together so wonderfully! Just be careful it can get messy. The soup was also particularly good it had great flavor and had a homemade taste, not the usual watered down restaurant soup. Jessica had the steak & lager pot pie which was as equally amazing as the sandwich! It was comforting, warm and rich in savory flavor and the combination of the potatoes and gravy was enough to take us back to childhood. Of course we had to try out dessert as well and got an assortment of the mini 'cutie' pies. We chose peach, banana and salted caramel and they were all so delicious! By far salted caramel was the winner of the group with the decadent sweet caramel mixed with the bitter salt creating a mouth watering sensation. Overall we had an amazing experience at SimpleThings. The homey, comforting food was the perfect choice on a gloomy LA day and reminded us of childhood meals. This is the perfect place for anyone who needs a little comfort and a taste of home.




Boutiques:


After stuffing our bellies full of goodies we needed to walk around to burn off the calories. 3rd street has the best independent boutiques and shopping. From vintage, to book to home decor stores this street has something for everyone. Here is our reviews on our favorite shops we came across.

Milena's Boutique:


For any candle lover, Milena's Boutique is the place for you! We both have a sick obsession with candles and body butter, this place is filled from floor to ceiling with body butter in almost possible scent you could think of. Black Orchid, Creme Brulee, Birthday Cake, Blackberry Vanilla, Banana Pudding and Little black dress are just a few of many unique scents they carry in both body butter and candles. Milenas also carries soaps, scrubs and perfumes, and the bonus? All natural ! The ambiance of her boutique is just as relaxing as her fragrances the dark rich wood floors contrast beautifully with her soft pink and chocolate brown color scheme. Celebrities such as Tim Allen and Leona Lewis are just a few of the many who also love Milenas selection of tasteful products!




D.L Rhein:

Right next door the Milenas was one of our favorite boutiques we went into. D.L. Rhein was a mix of home decor, knick knacks, clothing, jewelry, fragrance and everything in-between! One thing you cant beat at independent boutiques is the quality of service. We spent almost thirty minutes in the store chatting with the owners brother Andy. We shared great stories and even got some great information about 3rd street and up and coming events! Andy told us that on December 8th the stores and restaraunts on 3rd street provide free food and boos and shopping specials...who could pass up an opportunity to miss that event! The visual merchandising of this store was great too, all items were organized by color and theme which was not only eye catching but made it easy to shop for what you were looking for. Every nook and cranny was filled with the cutest of product! I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a great gift for a friend or a unique accessory for themselves!






Jessica Needed a break !


Polkadots & Moonbeams:


Our last stop of the day was one of our favorites! Once again the plus about independent boutiques is the great service you get. The owner Wendy greeted us with warmth and had us try on some vintage jackets! Polkadots & Moonbeams is an amazing vintage store filled with some of the best finds. Sunglasses from the 50's and 60's, fur coats, and costume jewelry. This was like a candy shop of bright colored vintage clothing and accessories! Wendy snapped some pictures of us posing in a great fur shrug and structured jacket. Wendy's told us that Polkadots & Moonbeams has been setting trends since 1982 and recently opened a store down the street featuring new and old clothing. She says her and her staff have costumed shows such as Gossip Girl and 90210. She also helps designers create lines based on old vintage inspiration and fabrics. Polkadots & Moonbeams is a great find and we will definitely be heading back when we need a rad vintage dress or killer costume jewelry.





Us posing in our finds! 


This Concludes our 3rd Street adventure, remember to support local restaurants and boutiques !

Xo!
Jessica && Krystena