Downtown at the corner of 9th and Hope a large billboard shows a Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn pointing at the LA home of Project Runway, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). Outside the gates food trucks park to offer up lunch options (Last Friday we spotted The Manila Machine, The Dim Sum Truck and The Patty Wagon). Inside the gates you will find fashion students bustling about. The current exhibit in the FIDM Gallery features dioramas of costumes from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. more ›

A branch-shaded brick alleyway slopes downward, as the midday sun illuminates the large blackboard bearing the names of spices familiar and unusual. Follow the cheery yellow and orange placards with the arrows down to a calming courtyard with a fountain, then take a deep breath and prepare to enter a world of flavor and aroma. more ›

Playmountain, one of Japan’s most respected design and home interiors store, has set up a summer pop up shop at Heath Ceramics Los Angeles store. LAist popped in to the pop up to see what items have made the journey from Tokyo. The shelves and table are filled with carved wood, modern and traditional pottery, leather and metal accessories, that give a glimpse into the magic of Playmoutain. more ›

Caviar is synonymous with luxury and decadence and the name Petrossian evokes images of posh people eating copious amount of lavish caviar presentations while laughing about their private planes and yachting adventures. But then we walked into Petrossian in West Hollywood and realized that caviar is not always an untouchable indulgence. more ›

When LAist stumbled upon the gorgeous 20s bungalow that houses the Society of the Spectacle eyewear boutique in Highland Park/Eagle Rock, we fell in love. LAist recently caught up with co-owner Katie O'Connell to learn about the history of the shop, tips everyone should keep in mind when selecting new eyewear, and why Highland Park is such a fantastic and "mysteriously convenient" neighborhood. more ›

Here at LAist, we love to shop local. This year in our "LAist Goes Shopping" series, from downtown to Abbot Kinney we found amazing things by talented independent designers, as well as vintage jewelry, Japanese housewares, and pop culture themed pop-up shops. House of Love & Luck On La Cienega next to The Roger Room and Largo at the Coronet, The House of Love & Luck is full of beautiful vintage costume jewelry. more ›

It's not too late to check out Unique LA. The show features over 300 independent designers and artists selling clothes, jewelry, accessories, arts, housewares, toys and more. Unique LA asks the people of LA to, "Support local design and our economy." New to the Unique LA Holiday Show this year is a room downstairs with more than 50 eco designers. more ›

It's November and that means time to start holiday shopping. Here at LAist we encourage our readers to shop local, buy items that raise money for good causes, and celebrate the great things about our city. more ›

LAist went shopping at Hotel De Ville Vintage Eyewear to check out their unique frames and vintage deadstock. Even in the current economy, people who need eyeglasses want to find something that they love. Vintage deadstock refers to pieces that have never been worn. This virtually guarantees the customer that they won't be wearing the same frames as everyone else. The sunglasses selection is top notch too. more ›

Jeremy Shapiro wanted to open a store that specialized in the bright, fun sportswear that was the rage when he was in high school. Last May the Los Angeles native opened &Still Clothing (And Still.) “I was wearing all of this,” said Shapiro of the 1990-1994 gear which illuminated his high school years in New Jersey. “All of it.” more ›

Here at LAist, we love to shop local. In 2008, "LAist Goes Shopping" found places to buy toys, clothes, housewares, instruments, art, and more. These diverse stores all feature locally owned businesses and amazing things to see and buy. more ›

On Beverly Boulevard at Vista, the amazing new idie concept boutique TenOverSix is bound to catch your eye. Currently the window features a new installation by Shepard Fairey. Many more collaborations with visual artists and designers are yet to come. more ›