West Third Street

With so many coveted boutiques and hip restaurants on one street, West 3rd Street is definitely the best stretch in Los Angeles to park your car, and shop with a friend! There’s so much to discover when you bring a friend to West 3rd Street, so this winter we gave away three fabulous prize packages from some of the hottest spots on West 3rd Street to three lucky shoppers and their entourage.

And the winners are . . .

Karla U.  (pictured below with Bedhead Pajamas manager Florence R. and her shopping-buddy) won two $150 gift cards to Bedhead Pajamas!

Bedhead Pajamas are renowned for their bright, quirky prints. Making their loungewear the first choice for Hollywood costume designers. Chances are if you see a TV or movie star in pjs, they’re actually wearing Bedhead Pajamas! Bedhead Pajamas are made from superior fabrics and offer women’s and men’s styles, jammies for little ones,  plus slippers, soothing candles and other bedtime accoutrements!

Ron B. (pictured below with his wife and Frederic, the owner of The Little Door) won a $200 gift card to The Little Door or The Little Next Door!

Both The Little Door and The Little Next Door specialize in artisanal European fare and led the locavore food movement in Los Angeles long before most restaurants touted ‘seasonal’ cuisine. At  The Little Next Door, you’ll find scrumptious pastries and espresso, choice cheeses and charceuterie, house-made preserves and a full lunch/dinner menu. For a truly unforgettable evening, make a reservation and get sauced at The Little Door: Wine Spectator Magazine awarded The Little Door “Best Wine Menu” for five consecutive years!

Tina B. (pictured below with Pyrrha manager Joselyn) won two $150 gift cards to Pyrrha!

At the Pyrrha showroom on West 3rd Street you can see many of the talismans and jewelry pieces worn by your favorite celebs! Pyrrha talismans are cast in silver and bronze from antique wax seals by artists Wade Papin and Danielle Wilmore. Each piece resonates with special meaning in the form of mottos or symbols, which makes for subtle yet significant lockets, pendants, bracelets, rings and more. Every month Pyrrha awards proceeds from select jewelry sales to an important cause, such as Habitat for Humanity, Greater L.A. It’s a very special kind of bling, found exclusively on West 3rd!

Thank you again, to everyone who entered our “Bring a Friend to West 3rd” giveaway. And a  special thank you to Bedhead Pajamas, The Little Door and Pyrrha for supporting our community through their generous prize packages!

Did you miss out on the giveaway?
Keep up with your favorite street: find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Happy trails!
-Emma G.

Don’t miss the Holiday Street Party December 6th, on West Third Street! It’s one of our favorite events on West Third Street because every business is brimming with holiday cheer and, more importantly, special sales and discounts for shoppers! Several lucky shoppers will be selected to win gifts from our Holiday Street Party Raffle !

Shop and party on West Third Street from 6 – 9 PM, and saunter over to the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for the after-party! Hot music, raffle winners announced and great food from Joan’s on Third, Plancha Tacos, Simplethings Sandwich and Pie Shop, and The Little Next Door!

Check out our handy Holiday Street Party sales guide:

HOLIDAY STREET PARTY – 2012

3RD STREET STATION (8486 W 3rd) - $4 Select European beers-on-tap, $5 Select Red & White glass of wine, $5 Cocktail Special…ALL DAY & NIGHT LONG!

ALEXIS BITTAR (8383 W 3rd) – champagne and holiday treats.

ALPHA & APT2B HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS POP-UP SHOP @SATINE (8134 W 3rd) – 15% off gifts and other discounts throughout the evening.

AREA (8307 W 3rd St) – refreshments including traditional Swedish holiday drink glögg.

BEAD BOUTIQUE (8313 W 3rd St) – 20% off all purchases, food and drink.

BEDHEAD PAJAMAS (8336 W 3rd St) – 15% off entire purchase, FREE gift (one per customer), gift card raffle every 30 minutes ($50, $100, $150), cocktails, DJ and food.

BENEFIT COSMETICS (8387 W 3rd) – 10% off all products (excludes any Holiday sets), raffle and prizes, DJ and champagne!

CIVILIANAIRE (8312 W 3rd) – “Ugly Sweater” Contest – winner will receive a free pair of our indigo raw denim.  Live band, tequila, beer and appetizers.

THE CHURCHILL (8384 W 3rd) – $7.00 Old Fashioneds all day, straight off our specialty cocktail list!

CLARK NOVA SALON (8118 ½ W 3rd) – 15% off all full-size retail products, free blowouts and consultations and complimentary prosecco and wine!

CRAFT IN AMERICAN STUDY CENTER (8413 W 3rd) – Live holiday music in The Window! Classic songs by our vocal and instrumental ensemble. Come sing along and go next door to Freehand (15% off) for shopping and refreshments.

DAN DEUTSCH OPTICAL OUTLOOK (8358 W 3rd) – Churros cart + $100 off prescription frames and $75 off non-prescription. Excludes Ray-Bans.

DL RHEIN (8300 ½ W 3rd) – 20% 0ff all merchandise + wine, treats and live entertainment!

DOUGLAS FIR & DF FEET (8311 + 8318 ½ W 3rd) – annual Taco Stand BEHIND our store in our courtyard.  The courtyard also features our new shoe and custom showroom for George Esquivel, who will also be represented with a sample sale with men’s and women’s shoes.

DUNCAN QUINN (8234 W 3rd) – 15% off in store items.

EGGY (8365 W 3rd) – cookies and refreshments + 15% off all clothing.

ETHEL BOUTIQUE (8236 W 3rd) – jewelry trunk show with Amireh Pastabar of RAPZ, champagne & truffles

FLIGHT 001 (8321 W 3rd) – refreshments, snacks, and an evening discount.  Art Show LITTLE POP – a digital series inspired by “Iconic images”.

FREEHAND GALLERY(8415 W 3rd) – 15% off all items in the store + holiday refreshments!

GOAL (8334 W 3rd) – Happy Hour draft beer all night!

GOGOSHA OPTIQUE (8238 W 3rd) – $100 off frames with purchase of prescription lenses, or $50 off frames with no prescription.

HAUS INTERIOR (8211 W 3rd) – Hot toddies, churro stand and 15% off all purchases (excluding lighting, furniture and rugs).

JANE  (8478 W 3rd) – Snaps Photo Booth, live window modeling, candy bar and spiced cider, holiday music, complimentary gift wrap, 20% off all day!

JOAN’S ON THIRD (8350 W 3rd) – serving Joan’s delicious beef chili, macaroni and cheese, and hot apple cider.

KATHRYN AMBERLEIGH (8130 W 3rd) – 10% off for all customers!

KNIT CULTURE STUDIO (8118 W 3rd) – “Holiday Yarn and Craft Fair” + 15% off yarns in-stock!

LE LABO (8385 W 3rd) – Organic wine for holiday visitors.  Guests will be given their choice of up to 3 FREE 1.5ml samples from unisex Eau de Parfum collection (retail value of $18).  This fragrance collection is vegan and free of preservatives.

LITTLE NEXT DOOR (8164 W 3rd)- Sample holiday wines & more for gifting ideas.

LOTTA STENSSON (8372 W 3rd) – Serving “Lotta’s Special Drink”, special trunk shows featuring jewelry by Rebecca Norman and natural body products from Natures Golden Era, table full of fab items at BLOW OUT prices ($1-25) and 25% off entire full-price items all day!

MAMA’S SECRET CAFÉ (8316 W 3rd) – mezze samplers with fresh toasted pita bread, 15% discount all day!

MATCHA SOURCE (8036 W 3rd) – Free Bamboo Tea Scoop with purchase of any tea!

MERCEDES BENZ DRIVING ACADEMY (8231 W 3rd) – Live entertainment and snacks!

NATHALIE SEAVER (8360 W 3rd) – Pink French bubbly and gourmet nibbles with up to 40% off clothes and 10% on other selected gift and baby items

NOODLE STORIES (8323 W 3rd) – Gelato stand!

OPTICAL SPHERE (8026 W 3rd) – 20% off +FREE tint &UV.

PAINT SHOP (7938 W 3rd) – Snow machine and a popcorn machine + raffle giveaway!

PLASTICA (8405 W 3rd) – I HEART PIES to dish up free samples of their tasty treats. Come by, sample and order your holiday pies!

POLKADOTS AND MOONBEAMS (8381 / 8367 W 3rd) – Music, food, wine, markdowns + additional sales on selected items.

PORTOLA PAINTS & GLAZES (8213 W 3rd) – Holiday Ornament Painting Party! Pick an ornament and paint it with gorgeous Portola custom colors! 6 – 9 PM.

PYRRHA (8315 W 3rd) – Join our mailing list to win a $150 Gift Certificate + $10 from the sale of selected talismans will be donated to Habitat For Humanity, Greater LA. Enjoy drinks and Vegetarian treats!

REBECCA MOLAYEM GALLERY (8304 W 3rd) – Solo exhibition and holiday party. “REFLECTIONS”: a collection of new paintings and sculptures by Rebecca Molayem. FREE gift with any purchase over $100 + special prices on selected work at the gallery!

RICO ADAIR (8400 W 3rd) – “Build a Scarf” event – select cashmere pieces and designer Rico Adair will construct a custom scarf on the spot!

SHOPAHOLIC SAMPLE SALES (8032 W 3rd) –  20% off store-wide, + wine  and cheese.

SHOW PONY (8363 W 3rd) – FREE Show Pony eco-friendly tote bag with any purchase over $100.  Refreshments and holiday treats!

SIMPLETHINGS SANDWICH & PIE SHOP (8310 W 3rd) – Samples of assorted cutie pie flavors. Order a Holiday pie for pick up between the dates of 12/9 – 12/24 and get a one-time 20% discount.  Applies to pies only – not be combined with any other offer.

SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES LA (8222 W 3rd) – 20% discount on all regular priced merchandise, champagne cocktails and other holiday treats, raffle for a great gift bag every 30 minutes and psychic readings by Isaac!

SPECTACLE MAKER DR. YORK SINCE 1947 – free single vision lenses with the purchase of any frame. Exhibition of photographs by Aldo Orestano,  refreshments and organic wine.

SUSHI ROKU (8445 W 3rd) -  Special set menu only $35.00 per person + $8 holiday cocktails!

SWERVE (8250 W 3rd) – 20% off everything in the boutique, $20 rack & hot toddies!

TABOO HAIR SALON (8446 W 3rd) – Blow Out Party! Complimentary blow drys in a very festive and fun environment. Prosecco and sweets to delight the palate and blowing out some beautiful hair!

TRAVELER’S BOOKCASE (8375 W 3rd) – Holiday snacks,  refreshments and a 10% discount!

TRINA TURK (8008 W 3rd) - Shop Trina Turk’s latest collection and receive 25% off full-price merchandise and a FREE gift with purchase! Plus, enjoy festive holiday refreshments and treats!  (discount not to be combined with any other offers).

UVASUN (8242 W 3rd) – Hot chocolate, spirits, candy canes and treats for the kids! In addition to our holiday party atmosphere, we are offering huge discounts on all of our award-winning light therapy treatments for health and wellness!

VINTAGEWEAVE INTERIORS (7928 W 3rd)- FREE French Lavender Sachet with every purchase over $25; 10% off all orders that night!

WOODLEY & BUNNY APOTHECARY (8318 ½ W 3rd) -   Be pampered by our team of professional makeup artists who will be performing complimentary Brad Biophotonic Skincare mini facials, makeup applications and lessons to achieve the latest seasonal looks! PLUS, 15% off  hard-to-find products, and FREE gifts with purchase!

YOUR STYLE LOUNGE (8215 W 3rd) – 20% off purchase + mimosas and snacks!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest West Third Holiday Street Party news!
See you there!
-Emma G.

On West Third Street you can find the best eats in LA, shop eclectic goods, or get pampered from head-to-toe! We’re known for artisan products and exemplary services, which is why time after time you’ll find our shops and stylists making headlines. But, hey, if you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re well acquainted with our goods! Let us treat you and a friend shopping and dining on West Third Street!

Bring a Friend to West Third Street!
We’re giving away awesome prize packages made for sharing! Simply “like” West Third Street on Facebook and enter for your chance to win something fab for you and your shopping buddy!

You could win . . .

Not one, but TWO $150 gift cards to Bedhead Pajamas!

Or TWO $150 gift cards to Pyrrha!

Or,  a $200 gift card to The Little Door or The Little Next Door!

Click the image to the right, or click the link below, to enter our giveaway on our Facebook page! It’s completely free!

After you’ve entered to win, be sure to share with your friends to increase your odds of scoring a sweet gift from your friends on West Third Street!

Good luck!
-Emma G.

Useful links:
Find us on Facebook, and enter to win!
Browse the West Third Street merchant directory!
Check out the pjs at Bedhead Pajamas!
Check out the talismans at Pyrrha!
Check out the menu at The Little Door!

With all the über inventive people roaming West Third Street, our neighborhood is definitely the place to go if you want to sync with creative contacts. And if you’re a newbie? Great! The business owners of West Third Street put on lots of introductory classes and special events to share their passion for bread, books, theater, paint, travel, etc. with the local and national community.

MOVERS AND MAKERS
Take business owner Carol Sauvion, for instance: after twenty-five years of working with talented artisans at Freehand Gallery, Carol founded the non-profit organization Craft in America to rekindle America’s appreciation for handmade, functional art objects. Craft in America has since blossomed into a multidimensional non-profit with its home base right on West Third Street. The Craft in America Study Center on West Third Street features rotating exhibits, artist lectures, acoustic music events, plus affordable artist-led workshops!

IT’S A CLASSY PLACE
A couple Saturdays ago, I signed up for a monotype printmaking class at The Craft in America Study Center, one of the more interesting craft boutiques in Los Angles. After grabbing coffee at Magnolia Bakery, I settled in amongst a diverse group of students and waited for artist Christina Carroll, to get us started. There were tools and materials on the table to accommodate all levels of artistic ability; from water-soluble crayons and Q-Tips, to boar bristle brushes, palette knives, and tubes of water miscible paint with serious-sounding monikers like ‘Carnelian’, ‘Cadmium’, ‘Ochre’, etc. Christina kept the preamble short and instructive. She encouraged us to dive in, make a bit of a mess, and make adjustments after cranking out (literally) our first print.

Monotype printmaking is printing method that produces one unique print at a time. However, you can create a series of prints that share some of the same elements and motifs by refreshing the paint on your plate, or utilizing stencils. After the plate has been painted, dampened printing paper is placed on top of the plate, and then sent through the press. The final print is a mirror image of whatever was originally painted on the plate.

I’m not much of a painter, but that didn’t stop me from slathering my printing plate and running it through Christina’s press. One of the coolest things about this printing technique was how a gooey, streaky paint mess (in the case of my print plate) could translate into an image with depth and nuance.

It was caprice of the medium that drew Christina in the first place. “You can make a mess or you can be controlled [ . . . ]and when you print it, when you lift the monotype, it’s got these polite crisp edges,” says Christina,  “and so it has a lot of impulse and spontaneity, but then when it’s printed it’s neat and tidy.”  Christina Carroll, a California native, earned her degree in art from Connecticut College, and fell in love with monotype printmaking at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She currently makes art, works at the Craft in America Study Center and Freehand Gallery, and teaches monotype printmaking – lugging her printing press from site to site – throughout the southern U.S.

SHOWTIME
You can find pieces from artists featured in the Craft in America film series on display at the Craft in America Study Center. Right now, the gallery space is bedecked in silver, gold and precious stones for the “Redefining the San Andreas Faultline: Women Jewelers” exhibition. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday, and also by appointment. So if your school group is planning an art field trip, or maybe you’re visiting from out of town, you can call ahead and make an appointment to visit the Craft in America Study Center.

CRAFT FOR THE PEOPLE
Because Craft in America is dedicated to expanding our appreciation of traditional craft, you do not need to be vetted artist to use the resources at the Craft in America Study Center. Inside the Craft in America Study Center there is a trove of art books, craft magazines and artist videos that anyone can peruse, plus computer workstations for accessing all of their digital resources. Carol Sauvion started the collection with books and magazines from her personal library. Since that time, the library burgeoned with book donations from artisans, craftsmen and patrons. The library shelves enclose a peaceful reading area at the back of the exhibition space.

In keeping with the street-wide, come-as-you-are vibe: you can simply walk in, pull a couple books down and get completely absorbed in art and craft until closing.

If you’re interested in taking a class or attending an artist talk, simply check out the Craft in America Study Center website for upcoming events and exhibitions.

See you there!
- Emma G.

Thanks to Carol Sauvion and Angela Mattioli of the Craft in America Study Center for the photos.

I probably drink too much coffee. It’s a beverage habit born out of soggy Oregon mornings that means instant dehydration in the land of rolling blackouts. Besides, the market for adrenaline-jolting java is this country is $18 billion . . .  Starbucks won’t be missing my $1.60. On a recent afternoon, I was in the mood for something decidedly more interesting. And “interesting” is in healthy supply along the Los Angeles boutiques shopping strip, known simply as West Third Street.

I wandered into Matcha Source, a soft-spoken tea refuge from the heat and hassle of lunch traffic. Shelves are neatly stocked with artisan tea accessories (shibori tea towls, hand-thrown matcha bowls) and other goodies to enhance your matcha tea experience.  Everything from milk frothers, martini shakers, to ceramic whisk holders  invites curious inspection from matcha neophytes like
myself.

Like most businesses on West Third Street, Matcha Source is owned and run by a single, caring proprietor – in this case Alissa White, a recovering graphic design and e-commerce entrepreneur. As she whisked up my first cup of matcha, we talked about her background, and how she became the proud owner of a thriving matcha store. “Complete left turn!” enthuses White. “But I fell in love with the beauty of it, and I like the opportunity to introduce a healthy beverage to Americans.” She founded her haven of health and mindfulness in 2006 to introduce Americans to the benefits of traditional matcha tea.

So what exactly IS matcha?
Enjoyed in Japan for centuries, matcha is powdered tea made from green tea leaves. Transforming those leaves into matcha is a labor-intensive process. Before harvesting, the tea plants are covered by shade structures to boost chlorophyll content, giving the tea its luminous green shade. After harvesting, the leaves are lightly steamed, air-dried and finally, ground into a fine powder. Unlike traditional steeping, Matcha teas are brewed in a bowl using a strainer, bamboo whisk and tea scoop. In Japan, these humble bamboo tools become precious possessions to be passed from tea master to student.  Using just these utensils, you can prepare either thick (koicha) or thin (usucha) matcha tea for you and your guests.

Health Benefits
Only recently hailed by Western nutrition experts for its astounding health benefits, Matcha has a high concentration of two important anti-cancer nutrients currently recommended by oncologists: catechins and the antioxidant EGCg. Catechins help kill cancerous cells, and EGCg, which is found only in green tea, significantly inhibits tumors. One bowl of matcha has four times the catechins and ten times the EGCg of conventional green tea!
Those very same catechins that help kill cancerous cells also block the enzyme responsible for breaking up complex starch into simple glucose. “Matcha is ideal for diabetics because it actually helps to prevent the production of glucose in the body, ” says White. Matcha is rich in vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc, magnesium and is a detoxifying agent that helps fight bacteria and viruses in your body.  For centuries, matcha’s high concentration of L-Theanine made it a staple for monks who wanted to remain alert yet relaxed during meditation.

“It’s really a mega dose of nutrients,” says Alissa, ”if you think about it in terms of time and money value – even to get that much nutrients into your body – there’s a kind of efficiency there.”

But matcha isn’t meant to be taken like a vitamin or supplement. It’s meant to be sipped and savored like tea or coffee!

Home Brew
Brewing traditional matcha tea at home is simple once you have the utensils.

What You Need:
- tea grade matcha (I really like the Matcha Source “Morning Matcha”)
- good quality water
- matcha tea bowl
- bamboo whisk
- tea sifter
- tea scoop
- spoon rests (optional)

1) Heat your water until it is hot, but not quite boiling.

2) Using your bamboo tea scoop, measure two almond-size scoops into your tea sifter. Hold the sifter above your matcha bowl, and use the tea scoop to break up any clumps  in the matcha powder. Be sure to use all the powder!

3) Add 2 – 3 oz. of hot water to your matcha bowl.

4) Using a zig-zag motion, whisk the matcha and the water rapidly. The goal is to add a fine layer of  foam while incorporating oxygen to enhance the flavor of the tea. Much like the crema atop of a perfect cup of espresso.

5) Once your tea has a nice layer of foam on top, you’re ready to enjoy. Sip your matcha right out of the bowl!

The first sip surprised me: I was expecting something acidic or bitter, like a wheatgrass shot. But matcha is smooth, silky and tastes like spring. The pleasant, vegetal flavor of the tea combined with the comforting feeling of holding a warm bowl in two hands made for a lovely afternoon break. Unlike the buzz you get with coffee, the caffeine in matcha tea delivers a sustained alertness and mental clarity.

Getting Good Grades

Like chardonnay grapes or coffee beans, the flavor of the tea leaves is directly impacted by growing conditions: the slope of the tea field, the way the water drains, the intensity and amount of sunlight, etc. Premium grade matcha powders, like Match Source Kama Matcha, are made from only the youngest and most delicate tea leaves from the top of the plant, early harvest, that have been completely de-stemmed and de-veined before being ground into a powder. The resulting brilliant green matcha produces a vibrant full-bodied concoction without the bitter notes found in kitchen grade matcha. Kitchen grade matcha is equally nutritious, but better suited to blending with other ingredents.

Mocha, But Hold the Latte

Best way to enjoy matcha?  “Dark chocolate,” says Alissa, “at 4 PM in the afternoon, have a bowl of matcha tea and a piece of dark chocolate and you’re set. It holds you over until dinner, gives you energy. And the flavor profile of the matcha and the chocolate go really well together.”

Coffee, Tea or Cookies
Because matcha is such a finely milled powder, it can be incorporated into a plethora of different recipes. You may have seen green tea lattes at coffee shops and or green tea ice cream – that’s matcha. It’s delicious made into a latte with almond milk!

If a steaming bowl of matcha tea or matcha latte is not your thing, try adding a spoonful of Matcha Source Dakota Grade to your next fruit smoothie. Alissa’s smoothie suggestions (which you can find on her site) are simple, refreshing and have a low glycemic index. There’s no right or wrong way to add this nutrient-rich tea into your diet.

Whether you’re a beverage aficionado, vigilant about your health, or simply pining for a new experience with organic food in LA, find your way down West Third Street. Leave the grounds behind and enjoy a emerald bowl of restorative matcha, courtesy of Matcha Source.

- Emma G.

Our summer evening of shopping, eating, drinking, live music, and liveliness hits the street Thursday July 26th at 5pm. Snap Yourself! photobooth will be in attendance to capture the fun on film. Parking worried? Don’t be. Our valet is always easy, affordable, and our valet signs easy to spot. Come shop. Come stroll. And, check out what your favorite W3ST businesses have planned for the evening below.

3RD STREET STATION PUB & BRASSERIE: Serving up drink specials: $6 Watermelon Mojitos (Cruzan rum, fresh lime & watermelon, mint leaves, simple syrup, soda, over ice) and $5 draft lagers (Kronenbourg, Stella, Peroni)

ALEXIS BITTAR: Enjoy White Sangria and hors d’oeuvres as you shop the NEW fall collection.

AREA: 20% off all regularly priced linen, including washed linen throws, decorative pillows, sheets and duvets. Also, serving refreshing drinks and snacks.

BEAD BOUTIQUE: 20% off pre-made jewelry. 30% off all chain. 40% off natural strands. Plus, delicious refreshments while you shop.

BEDHEAD PAJAMAS: 15% off  your entire purchase: featuring the new 2012 Spring/Summer Collection.  Join the Bedhead crew for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. And, don’t miss their raffle giveaways throughout the evening (raffle starts at 7:00 p.m.)

BENEFIT: FREE gift with purchase. Plus, DJ in store, raffle, and prizes.

THE CHURCHILL: Extended Happy Hour menu + happy hour fun until 10pm + live music/DJ.
Spring Stroll after party starts at The Churchill at 9pm and the fun runs until close.

CIVILIANAIRE: Serving beer, tequila, and hors d’oeuvres. Plus, live music.

D.L. RHEIN: 30% off all merchandise. Plus, fine snacks and wine and live music.

DAN DEUTSCH OPTICAL: Complimentary personalized eyewear styling and gift bags from Dan Deutsch. Appointments highly recommended since space is limited (323.658.6181) Plus, live DJ and champagne.

DOUGLAS FIR and DF Feet: Come shop their Annual Summer Sale and look for additional savings from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

EGGY: Super 40-70% off Sale rack. Plus, enjoy refreshments while you shop.

ELAINE KIM  10% off regular merchandise and an additional 10% off sale merchandise. Plus, complimentary champagne.

ETHEL BOUTIQUE: Trunk Show featuring jewelry by RAPZ designer Amireh Parstabar. Plus, 20% off all merchandise between 5 and 9pm.

FLIGHT 001: Kicking off their big Summer Sale. Plus, 10% off all non-sale items for the evening and refreshments for shoppers.

FREEHAND GALLERY and CRAFT IN AMERICA STUDY CENTER: Take advantage of Craft in America’s extended hours for the evening + visit their politically charged textile exhibit Looming Election: Woven Works.

FONUTS: 20% off Fonut’s NEW Sundaes. Plus, complimentary coffee with purchase.

GOAL SPORTS CAFE: Happy Hour priced beer and cocktails til 10pm

HAUS INTERIOR: Serving Prosecco, mini cupcakes, and offering 20% off entire purchases (excludes furniture, lighting & rugs).

JOAN’S ON THIRD: Serving Joan’s homemade potato chips and sampling mini corn dogs.

KATHRYN AMBERLEIGH: Purchase any 2 pairs of shoes and receive the 3rd pair FREE.

KNIT CULTURE STUDIO: Homemade guacamole and snacks. 15% off all yarn and books in the store. Plus, a raffle with great crafty prizes and coupons for your next visit.

LOTTA STENSSON: 20% off all merchandise, cocktails, and a Sidewalk Sale rack full of $1-$20 items.

MAMA’S SECRET BAKERY + CAFE: 15% off purchases during the Summer Stroll. Place your order quickly and easily online!

NATHALIE SEAVER: Traditional gourmet treats from a Hollywood private chef and pink bubbly for the tasting.

PLANCHA: A TACO JOINT: Serving their special fresh tamales (2 for $5)

PLASTICA: Meet the Designers from 5-9pm. Local LA based designers Agnes Baddoo (room scents), Artecnica (hanging mobiles), I. Ronni Kappos (jewelry), Pad Outdoor (planters), and Smiling Planet (kids dishes and more) will be in store to shop and chat with. Plus, refreshments will be served.

POLKADOTS & MOONBEAMS: Shop your favorites from Michael Stars, Splendid, Ella Moss, Hudson Jeans, WildFox, Toms Shoes, Bailey 44, Free People, and more with champagne, wine, music and other in store fun. Plus, 20% off any one item of your choice (offer valid on one item per person)

PYRRHA: Offering their 15% off Friends and Family Discount for all customers to show their appreciation. Also, enjoy vegetarian treats and drinks.

SHAREEN: Owner Shareen Mitchell will be in store answering questions and presenting new styles. Shoppers will be entered in a drawing to win a SHAREEN dress (style of their choosing) and custom dress fitting.  Plus, enjoy champagne and treats while you shop.

SHOPAHOLIC SAMPLE SALES: 20% off store-wide for the evening. Plus, enjoy wine + cheese as you shop.

SHOW PONY: 20% off all purchases. Plus, a FREE gift with purchase

SIMPLETHINGS SANDWICH + PIE SHOP: Mini Cutie Pie samples for the tasting.

SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES LA: 15% discount on all purchases and a FREE gift with all purchases over $100.  Plus, wine and small nibbles, while you shop.

SUSHI ROKU: All Night Happy Hour: happy hour menu at happy hour prices all night long.

SWERVE STUDIO: Don’t miss the $10 only Sale rack at the Swerve boutique.

TABOO HAIRCARE: Complimentary Blow Drys all evening. Plus, Prosecco for the tasting.

TRAVELER’S BOOKCASE: 50% off kids toys and books table. Plus, refreshments and snacks while you shop.

TRINA TURK: Kicking off The Trina Turk Sample Sale. (Sale starts at the Spring Stroll July 26 and runs through July 29th.) Get first dibs on great Trina Turk, Mr Turk and Residential samples for up to 75% off.

VINTAGEWEAVE INTERIORS: Summer Textile Sale: Save 20% off any one vintage/antique pillow. Look for a large sale table of fabulous French Finds: from tablecloths to napkins to French tote bags. Enjoy French Rosé, tasty Brie bites, music, and laughs as you shop. And, log onto Foursquare when you arrive for more goodies.

WOKCANO: $6 Lychee Martinis & $5 well drinks for the evening

WOODLEY & BUNNY: The beauty experts at Woodley & Bunny’ will be offering mini makeovers: mini facials, makeup applications, and summer hairstyling. Customers will receive a complimentary gift with any purchase of $75 or more.

YOUR STYLE LOUNGE: 15% off your entire purchase. Plus, enjoy Mimosas and snacks while you shop.

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Happy Summer from West 3rd Street. See you at the Summer Stroll!

En route to the beach or a 4th of July LA party, swing by West 3rd Street for a one of Joan’s picnic baskets or some delicious star-spangled supplies. Simplethings Sandwich + Pie Shop will be open from 11am-2pm for all your last-minute pie needs. Magnolia Bakery will be serving up their 4th of July friendly cupcakes and more cupcakes all day long. Then wash your 4th of July down with Sushi Roku‘s all night happy hour. And while you are here, take a photo or two. The W3ST Staycation photo contest is STILL going strong until July 19th. Win a night’s stay at the Orlando Hotel, stylish travel gear from Flight 001, or a $50 gift certificate to Joan’s on Third.

Show Pony has been a fashion fixture in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood for the last four years, carrying affordably priced handmade, one-of-a-kind, organic, and sustainable clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts from local and independent designers. Exposing shoppers to some lesser known labels and smaller designers’ work to a farther reaching audience. And, now that reach has grabbed Los Angeles and West 3rd Street.

When it came time to launch a second location, owner Stephanie Hara was sure Los Angeles was the spot and West 3^rd Street the neighborhood for Show Pony’s LA retail residence. Fitting in perfectly to West 3rd Street’s distinctly unique retail scene, while bringing something a little different to the street.

The Los Angeles store carries many of the local and lesser known Northwest designers that owner Stephanie and her customers fell in love with in the flagship store, and a number of independent lesser known Los Angeles and California designers as well.  Looking for something for yourself or for someone else? The store is loaded with accessories and gifts you’ve never seen before and clothing you wont see on anyone else. Hoped for a different color, size, or something even more unique? Many of the designers Show Pony works with do special custom order pieces. The recession getting your wallet down? Show Pony proves you don’t have to shop boring on a budget.

The Show Pony team puts a lot of love in to finding the lines and designers they carry and want to help you leave the store with something or some things you love. So stop by to shop, chat, and welcome Show Pony and its adorable resident bulldog Pushkin to the sunshine and neighborhood.

In honor of their recent arrival, Show Pony wants to treat West 3rd Street Facebook fans to a special discount of 20% off ALL jewelry (valid through June 30th.) Just show you are Facebook friends with us at the register to redeem. And, don’t forget to like Show Pony Los Angeles on Facebook.

Step inside Show Pony below and at 8363 West 3rd Street.

A few show ponies

Daly Bird leather earrings

Milk bottle vases for your favorite flowers

Scarve-necklaces made from fashionably repurposed materials from Saako

Aubrey Summers handmade handbags

Tara Gasparian vintage-inspired cast flower earrings

Must have additions to your summer wardrobe from Suzabelle and more

Neil Silverman and Amy Bengtson’s handmade  jewelry respectively

Sarah J one of a kind handmade earrings

Tuesday reversible multi-purpose circle scarves made from repurposed fabrics

Adorn your walls with collages by Erica Maule

Perfectly adorable cards from Ilee Papergoods

Comfortably organic from Prairie Underground, Revival Ink, and more.

The dressing room scenery can’t be beat

Fragrances from Lulu Beauty

Rachael Ryen necklaces

Dads can be notoriously hard to please. With his big day rapidly approaching, the question is what to do in LA with dad. Well, West 3rd Street to the rescue. Duncan Quinn, Douglas Fir, and DF Feet  are excellent shopping options for men’s designer clothes and distinguished dads. And, the street is lined with uniquely delicious restaurants, eateries, and bakeries perfect to brunch, lunch, or  just to munch with foodie fathers. Dad more of a watch the game and a have a beer type? We got you covered. 3rd Street Station and The Churchill both have enormous plasma televisions and enormous drink menus. Just don’t forget to stop at Magnolia Bakery and get him a Father’s Day cupcake before the day is through.

And while you and dad are out and about this weekend, take a shot at our Staycation photo contest. Just snap a photo of anything on West 3rd Street in the shops or on the street. Food, friends, fashion, fun, fathers…  Then post it on the W3ST Staycation Facebook Photo Contest page. Then tell your Facebook friends to vote for your photo because the photos with the most votes win. 1st prize will receive a night’s stay at unique boutique hotel The Orlando Hotel. 2nd place will receive super stylish luggage from innovative travel emporium Flight 001. And, 3rd place will receive a $50 gift certificate to gourmet marketplace and eatery  Joan’s on Third.  Contest ends Tuesday (June 19th) at 11:59pm. Good luck + safe travels.

And, of course Happy Father’s Day!

Pride weekend is upon us. The streets of West Hollywood will be filled with music, festivities, fun and floats of course. The L.A. Pride parade, the oldest LGBT parade in the world, will out do itself again Sunday morning with Grand Marshal 80s teen queen Molly Ringwald at the helm. In from out of town? The Orlando Hotel, one of everyone’s favorite Los Angeles boutique hotels, is offering a special Pride Package just for you. Looking for things to do in LA? W3ST is lined with fashionably unique boutiques and out of this world eateries. And, Magnolia Bakery has been baking just for the occasion.

And while you are on W3ST this weekend, take a shot at our Staycation photo contest. All you have to do to is take a shot of your favorite part of West 3rd Street  inside or out and you’ll be entered to win a night’s stay at The Orlando Hotel, sleekly unique luggage from innovative travel emporium Flight 001, or a $50 gift certificate to delicious dining destination Joan’s on Third. (Contest ends June 19th)