Around Classic Ivanhoe-Rowena, Hyperion and Glendale
Written by sky
Monday, 19 October 2009 00:45
This is a tour for people who may not be familiar with the Silver Lake area. As Realtors, we work here often and love sharing our knowledge about this special pocket of Los Angeles. Enjoy and please email us with any contributions/pics/video etc.
Silver Lake was originally founded by a Scotsman who named it Ivanhoe from the classic book by Sir Walter Scott. Many of the streets in Silver Lake have names from the novel and Rowena Avenue is one of the more notable ones. It a short street that connects Silver Lake with the neighborhood of Los Feliz just West of Hyperion and merges into Glendale Blvd to the East. Rowena is less than two miles long but it is packed with numerous attractions- top schools, restaurants, galleries and boutiques. The houses in the hills above Rowena are among the most sought after in Silver Lake for their views and proximity to this centralized and classy strip.
Homes in the Ivanhoe school district are lusted after by parents for their stellar academic performances and emphasis on a creative curriculum. Ivanhoe Elementary has consistently ranked in the top 5 best elementary schools in the Los Angeles area since it was first opened in 1889. True to form for the Silver Lake creative class and tech savvy climate, Ivanhoe elementary has it's own Facebook page and many families are active in the school and for fundraising through the Friends of Ivanhoe.
Ivanhoe Elementary School, pride of Silver Lake CA
Rowena Ave. also plays host to some fantastic restaurants. For fine dining, try Blair's or Edendale Grill. Both restaurants serve fantastic food. Blair's feels very New York-ey inside and has a great and extensive beer and wine list. The Edendale Grill is inside a historic and beautifully restored movie studio then firehouse. Its outdoor seating could serve as a backdrop for a romantic and beautiful day in the South of France. The indoor bar, Mixville is gorgeous and the Tarragon Blue Cheese Fries are superb! In addition to fine dining, Nicky D's Wood Fired Pizza rarely disappoints and we've yet to visit the somewhat new Italian restaurant, Michelangelo's. The Coffee Table is always a great, casual experience with yummy salads and if you're in the mood for some funkiness, check out the witchcraft store up the street called, Cauldron. There's even a little vintage ice cream and novelty shop next door.
Edendale Grill one of the choice eateries in Silver Lake CA
Both the east and west sides of the Rowena strip intersect with Hyperion and Glendale. The hot spots never seem to end in our little blog! Hyperion boasts THE Silver Lake Trader Joe's and boy, can it be a scene! Always packed but we must say, we think the Silver Lake Trader Joe's is our favorite Trader Joe's in the city, if for no other reason than the friendly, smiling patrons. Along Hyperion are cafes, funky restaurants, thrift stores, exercise, yoga and dance studios, clothing boutiques and alas, even a Pink Berry. Casita Del Campo is a great Mexican joint in a beautiful garden-like fiesta setting. Be careful how quickly you guzzle their uber strength margaritas. There's even a great, 99-seat playhouse called Lyric Theatre holding classic theatrical performances for all audiences. The theatre has an attached quaint coffee shop open daily. YAS is a new phenomenon exploding onto the Hyperion thoroughfare. Yoga and spinning, combined or separate for a complete full body workout. Hyperion offers pretty much anything one would ever want or need in their Silver Lake lives.
Trader Joe's on Hyperion. Argueably the epicenter of Silver Lake.
Glendale blvd offers some of the best bars in Silver Lake. Similar to the crowd at Spaceland (see Silver Lake blvd article), Cha Cha lounge is a tiki-type dive bar, chocked full of character. Silverlake Wine has excellent weekly flights based on an honor system. Its about $12 for 3 full glasses of some of the best wine you'll have in the city. The crowd is sophisticated and the staff knows their vino. Next door is Rockaway Records housing collectibles, vinyls, cds and dvds and serving the public since 1979. Rockaway has a great old stash with some of the all time greats. Also nearby is the German Beer Garden, The Red Lion established in 1959. Themed to a gargantuan T, one should always be prepared for a great evening at this German pub. The beer fraus serve about in braids and peasant dresses, the German beer selection is excellent, the food is authentic and the mood is always cheerful. Each room of the bar is reminiscent of an old German town and the beer garden is divine on a nice day.
There are countless more sights to see around Hyperion, Glendale and Rowena. For more information on Silver Lake Real Estate Contact Sky Minor at 310-709-8283 or Rachel Mintz at 323-632-5020. RealEstatesilverlake.com is a California DRE licensed Real Estate Broker.
The Authentic Baverian Beer Garden at the Red Lion. A Silver Lake favorite.
Silver Lake Boulevard is the eponymous road going through the hills of Silver Lake. It begins just North of the 101 freeway and passes under Sunset Boulevard then passes the two Silver Lake Dog Parks, and the hiking trail that runs alongside Silver Lake's namesake reservoir before it ends at Glendale Blvd.
Silver Lake Blvd. Through the hills of Silver Lake CA.
Throughout the years this scenic, winding street has become more urbanized and polished while never compromising it's artsy, laid back style. Silver Lake Boulevard has never had a shortage of culture. It houses popular music venues like Spaceland and The Silverlake Lounge. The crowd here is typically young and excruciatingly hip, but even just going for the people watching is a quintessential Silver Lake Experience. For the more mature crowd, Silver Lake Blvd offers fantastic shops, cafes and restaurants. Reservoir and LA Mill Coffee are two newer eateries which recently popped up on the blvd and are always packed with the creative, intellectual Silverlakers who come down from their homes and estates in the hills above. The boutiques that line the street are fashion-forward, artistic and cater to the higher-brow crowd.
As the street crests the hill and runs alongside the reservoir, some of Silver Lake's architectural treasure properties can be seen peeking out through the lush foliage. Silver Lake has more architecturally significant properties per square mile than any other area of Los Angeles. Now-famous architects Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, John Lautner and many others created breathtaking Modern and Avant Garde buildings in the middle part of the 20th century. The star among the group was a Frank Lloyd Wright understudy named Richard Neutra. He was so revered he even had his own cul-de sac just off Silver Lake Blvd called Neutra Place with about 10 modern masterpieces designed in "Pavillion" style. These modern homes have strong horizontal lines and large windows to take in the stunning views. Truly distinctive and unique properties abound in this region of Silver Lake. There are more Neutra homes in Silver Lake than any other place.
One of Richard Neutra's architecturally significant properties in Silver Lake CA.
Silverlake reservoir itself is surrounded by hills speckled with these gorgeous homes, a running track on the peripherals of the lake, 2 dog parks (separated by big and little, gotta remember the little guys), tennis courts, a rec center, meeting places, community sports activities and more. The reservoir was named after Herman Silver who was an early Los Angeles water commissioner in the 1900's. This reservoir was one of many built around the LA metro area by the DWP for water management. The reservoir does not provide water for the Silver Lake neighborhood, it actually comes from Eagle Rock.
The World Famous Silver Lake Reservoir. In the background is the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory.
Silver Lake Reservoir and the San Gabriel mountains in the distance.
When Silver Lake ends on Glendale Blvd, drivers can see the brand new Silver Lake library, a stunning example of modern architecture that is perfectly suited for Silver Lake's rich modernist architectural history.
If you are interested in buying or selling a home or property in Silver Lake, Please contact us.
Silver Lake Locals Tour
