Dover Street Market Los Angeles, Rose Bakery LA (of Paris), and People of Elysian Valley

Dover Street Market Los Angeles - DTLA Arts District

On November 3rd, Dover Street Market opened their West Coast location with a line around the block of people eager to take a look inside this avant-garde fashion mecca.  Dover Street Market is the first West Coast location of this emporium of established and emerging fashion from Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo and her husband, Adrian Joffe,  president of Comme des Garçons. It's located on a quiet street in the Arts District. You won't know this store is there unless you look for it using your GPS.

Rose Bakery LA

I usually get excited when we get an import from Japan or France arrives in Los Angeles. And, as soon I discovered this bakery opened, I had to go try their pastries.

I don't think there was much fanfare for the opening of this café from an English home baker, Rose Carrarini, and her French husband Jean-Charles. Rose Carrarini is the sister of Adrian Joffe.

Rose Bakery his an Anglo-French restaurant which has locations around the globe including Paris, London, Tokyo, and New York. In 2002, the original location opened in Paris and is a favorite with the fashionable set. I think this is their first location with an outdoor patio which is perfect for our weather.

Located inside the Dover Street Market, which reminded me of Fred Segal. Some of the brands you'll see at Neiman Marcus and also some up-and-coming labels and designers. It's a mix of high fashion from Maison Margiela to Gucci, up-and-coming and classic streetwear labels such as Stüssy (a brand I wore in the early 90s) and a Nike section. You'll also find contemporary art hanging from the ceiling and throughout the store.

The purpose of this visit was to try the pastries at the cafe, so I sat at their outdoor patio and ordered their famous carrot cake and the square quiche. The quiche was very good and flaky, but it was bland and lacked salt. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. The famous carrot cake they usually sell out of at their other locations was delicious and something you have to order if you love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Parisians love this carrot cake.

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When Rose Bakery opened their first location in Paris back in 2002, Parisians went crazy for this carrot cake and pound cakes.

It is suggested to pair the sweet pastries with tea. "...apple and ginger tea with the carrot cake, and a simple English breakfast tea with the pound cake."

They serve Lamill coffee which isn't too exciting of a coffee to me, so I passed on getting a coffee. Most trendy spots these days are currently serving Tartine Manufactory coffee it seems. You'll see cortado and other espresso drinks on the menu.

Square quiche (really flaky, but bland and needed salt)

​If you're a brunch or pastry (scones, cakes, quiches) lover, add this place to your list now. More so for people watching and eat as Parisians do.

Art installation by Masakatsu Shimoda

I imagine parking will be tough in this area of the Arts District. I showed up on a weekday and street parking was full with a few spots left at lunch time. The weekends must be a madhouse.

Dover Street Market Los Angeles / Rose Bakery LA
608 Imperial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021​
losangeles.doverstreetmarket.com/

The People of Elysian Valley

The People of Elysian Valley

This public art installation by Freyja Bardell is a traffic stopper. I've past by these "eggshell people" once before and I was determined to one day to return and get a closer look.

Located in Cypress Park, it is located at a traffic circle roundabout near a Home Depot past the Lincoln Park Jail. I found parking under the bridge in a parking lot adjacent to Home Depot and walked on over. It doesn't look like there is an area to get a closer look since it is in the middle of a roundabout, so you'll have look at the installation from across the street.

​While I was there I literally saw someone stop, turn their head, and stare at it as I did when I first spotted it. That made me smile. I love LA. There's always someone new to discover.