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. It was at this location that the first movies were filmed in Southern California. The building then became a 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.
The Authentic Baverian Beer Garden at the Red Lion. A Silver Lake favorite.
Homes around Rowena are in the mid range for Silver Lake. The majority of homes are in the mid to high six figure range, but there are a handful of vintage and architectural homes that sell in the seven figure range. Parents wanting their children to attend Ivanhoe school are willing to pay a premium for these properties.
Silver Lake Locals Tour 
