Issue: Winter 2014-15

Shopping Hollywood

Hollywood is a great place to shop with an amazing array to choose from. Whether you like designer boutiques or unique clothing stores, numerous great gifts are available for purchase throughout the area!

It's easy to forget the holiday spirit, if you have to deal with insane crowds at the mall. But for a much more relaxed experience, try the outdoor shopping mall, Hollywood & Highland Center, where parking is much easier! Considered the entertainment center of Los Angeles for tourists and locals, H & H is steeped in Hollywood history, close to legendary landmarks such as the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's), where red carpet movie premieres take place and, of course, Hollywood & Highland also features the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards!   This iconic destination features over 70 luxury retailers, from Louis Vuitton, L'Occitane, Victoria's Secret and MAC to quintessential California stores like GAP, Kitson, Oakley, Shoe Palace and Lucky Brand Jeans. After a busy day of shopping at H&H, you can enjoy 25 full-service and fast-casual restaurants such as The Grill on Hollywood, Hard Rock Café (and great gift shop), Trastevere Ristorante, California Pizza Kitchen and Cabo Wabo Cantina.


Sweet!

A day of holiday shopping might well tire you out, so if you want a quick pick me up, check out SWEET! Hollywood, the candy store chock full of fantastic gift items for kids of all ages! The impressive 30,000 square foot store, can be found on Level 2, next to the Dolby.

"We're confident that everyone will find the perfect gift or holiday enhancer at Sweet! Hollywood," said Jonathan Clough, director of marketing and events. "Our custom chocolate lab allows guests to create their own holiday recipe for what is sure to be unique and delicious holiday treat, while our Sticky candy makers are creating hand-made candy canes, a very popular and delicious addition to sweeten any holiday event."

Clough added: "We also have unique partnerships that allow s Sweet! to be the creative gift destination for anyone looking for a gift of a lifetime. Artist Jason Mesier's one of a kind candy art depicts celebrity portraits. Jasonseamlessly unites pop culture with candy, creating portraits of everyone from Miley Cyrus and Judge Judy to Candy Corn portraits of the 'Orange is the New Black' cast."

Odyssey LA Fashionistas looking for one of a kind, fun fashion from creative Los Angeles designers, can check out H&H's Odyssey LA, on the second floor. "We have really beautiful, hand crocheted items brought in every week!" enthused owner Olivier DeCamp. "People from all over the world who shop here which is why we carry both winter and summer clothing all year round. Our style is very high quality bohemian, but very affordable! There's nothing in the store priced higher than $45! And we plan to have more for men in the coming year."

Hot Topic

Another unique store at H&H is Hot Topic, the place to holiday shop for the music and pop culture junkie in your life. You'll find exclusive items for fan favorites like BBC's "Doctor Who," "Batman," AMC's "The Walking Dead" and Disney as well as band merchandise from 5 Seconds of Summer, Black Veil Brides and The Beatles.

Over the last 10 years, the Hot Topic Foundation gave nearly $9 million  to nonprofit organizations that create music and arts programs for young people across the country, so if you  round up your gift purchases to the next dollar, the change will go right to the Foundation!

Searching for the perfect gift for your teen or best friend (or you!), there's Sephora for cosmetics, and fashion at Express, American Eagle, the Gap and Forever 21-all popular with those forever 21.  And just across the street, closer than running the length of an average shopping mall, you'll find American Apparel and H&M.  By now your shopping bags should be jammed full.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Holiday gifts don't have to come in wrapped packages! You could give your friends and family the ultimate celebrity experience--tickets to Madame Tussauds Hollywood, where you get up close to 125 amazingly life-like wax figures of the world's most famous faces.

"This holiday season, visitors can get up close to our new One Direction wax figures, who are now in Hollywood until February 27th!" said Rebecca Binford, marketing manager. Don't leave Madame Tussauds Hollywood, until you've checked out their gift shop, which has lots of fun souvenirs for you to remember your visit!

Steps past the Chinese Theatre, the new Marshall's is an exciting addition to the boulevard shopping experience and if it's shoes you're after, DSW Shoe Warehouse can't be beat for selection and price.

Of course, there's souvenir shops catering to visitors, but your friends bak home will love some "authentic" Hollywood kitch-great gifts related to "tinseltown."

But if you're looking for a more laid back excursion, you won't be disappointed with a visit to Space 15 Twenty.  Not only will you find Hollywood's favorite bookstore, Hennessy and Ingels, there's an Urban Outfitters and smaller shops all with a cool urban feel.

And while you're in the neighborhood, less than a block away you'll find Amoeba Music, the place to find vintage vinyl records and new CDs for your favorite music enthusiast

Amoeba has two floors, so plan to spend a few hours! All kinds of music lovers can be satisfied; they have everything from jazz and classical to dance and hip hop music. There are also numerous films on DVD and video. Best of all, if you have any cd's you are no longer listening to, you can bring them in and Amoeba will buy them from you, so you can have extra cash to spend on gifts for the holidays!

West Hollywood Gateway

If its high end electronics and the awesome variety only Target can offer, something on everyone's wish list can be found at West Hollywood Gateway at Santa Monica Blvd and La Brea Avenue.  Stock up on holiday spirit at Bev Mo, browse the newest in technology at Best Buy and grab a bit of Hollywood noir at the venerable Formosa Café-ample, easy parking too (and one hour free for you fast shoppers).

So, if you're visiting, we know you'll enjoy browsing the many stores Hollywood has to offer and if you live close by, take advantage of the easy parking, great selection, convenience and fun Hollywood atmosphere.  Satisfaction guaranteed!