I got back from my weekend excursion, and boy am I going to sleep well tonight! I went to Santa Barbara and LA. In LA we toured around the fabric district (yes, Silvia, you were right about that), Little Tokyo, the Korean part of town, etc. I only took a couple of photos, for some reason, and here they are:
That’s a small corner of Michael Levine, an amazing fabric store in the fabric district of LA. It was so overwhelming that I only managed to buy a couple zippers and some webbing! The fabric and garment districts are very lively and energetic, so it was quite fun to wander around and soak it all in.
There’s Thuy and Que in some random store that had tons of ribbon and webbing and such. I would like a room just like that.
Dinner at Soon Tofu (I think that’s what it was called). The tofu dish (the small pot in the upper left-hand corner) comes out bubbling and boiling like some crazy lava flow! I’m not that familiar with Korean food, but this was really tasty. The big bowl is bibimbap.
Note to self:
Must try Korean food!
Looks great! I really like Korean food. Maybe a trip to Korea should be in my future…
Aw man, that’s heaven! Fabric, trim and yummy food! I’d need a lay down too. Hope you had fun.
I was just in LA this weekend too! Could you tell me the general area where that ribbon store was? My gosh, I *have* to go there next time! thx! -t
Hi Mariko,
That bubbling hot pot looks like soon dubu chiggae which is a soft tofu stew. I haven’t had it in a while, but I think it’s really yummy! That huge bowl of bi bim bap looks yummy as well! =P
Oh…I’m drooling at the thought of Korean food.
Oh all that ribbon. You walked into heaven, you lucky duck.
Mmmm, now I wants me some bibimbap. Yummy!
More webbing? Didn’t you just have a divestiture of webbing season? or at least a must-not-hoard-webbing time?
I love bibimbap, but the one that is served hot in a hot stone pot.
Oh that ribbon place would be heaven/dangerous.
My favorite Korean food is the barbeque that is done with flanken ribs. It’s marinated in sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce, sugar, chili and green onion. I just turned into Pavlov’s dog.
That fabric place is heaven!
Oh, I heart Michael Levine’s! I live in Los Feliz- just a few quick subway stops from the Downtown Fashion district- and one of my very favorite ways to spend a day off is to wander Maple street. I have totally been in that ribbon store, too! Bohemian Crystal (just down the street from M Levine’s) is an incredible place to go for beads, too. How fun!
okay, so i’ve never posted here, but i love your blog and sometime recently you were rhapsodizing about a japanese dollar store in SF… i was happy to find a kindred spirit in loving those places! I used to frequent one in NYC on grand street, which i loooved, and so when i moved to LA last month i was determined to track one down. well, have i got a tip for your next trip to Los Angeles, if you don’t already know about it…. There is an *amazing* one in Torrance, on Hawthorne, just beyond the del amo fashion mall (or whatever it’s called – it’s a big ol’ mall). It’s an hour from my place on the westside, but totally worth the drive on the 405. i found it by asking the woman at the $1 store in little tokyo (which is decidedly disappointing, in my opinion) if they had any other stores, and lo and behold. they sell everything – gardening stuff, craft supplies, tons of great stationery stuff, you name it. i highly recommend planning it into your next LA trip! and thanks for the post on the fabric stores… now i have a new place to check out.
Michael Levine’s is fabric heaven. So much to see, so many incredible bargains! The Garment District is something to see in person if you get a chance. It’s easy to hit overload, but worth going at least once.
Michael Levine’s is my home away from home. I drop whole paychecks there regularly.