LA in your dorm
In a sea of Bed, Bath & Beyond foldable laundry baskets and plastic Ikea storage containers, it can be hard to differentiate one dorm room from another. As the year starts to pick up and late nights in Leavey become more commonplace, it becomes more and more difficult to find time to properly decorate your dorm in a way that’s unique and entirely you. Especially as a freshman trying to find time to orient oneself in new surroundings, it can seem particularly daunting. Though having countless collages on our wall with photos from home is an easy way to decorate any space, USC’s location in Los Angeles provides a variety of exciting opportunities to customize and personalize your home for the next year — all while exploring one of the greatest cities in the United States.
The Melrose Trading Post, also known as the Fairfax Flea, has been a mainstay for Angelenos and tourists alike for more than 20 years. Every Sunday, antique and vintage dealers stock their booths with clothing, furniture, knickknacks and other odds and ends. Entrance to the market costs $3, and once you’re inside it’s easy to understand why the Flea is such a must-see. A couple hours perusing the aisles of the marketplace (Fairfax High School’s converted parking lot),and you’re bound to pick up a handmade trinket or graphic print to hang up on a dorm wall. If you get hungry, the makeshift food court houses several vendors offering everything from the perfect street taco to a refreshing Brazilian salad to Nutella crepes. The only problem with the Fairfax Flea is that it’s small, which leads us to our second option.
Generally regarded as the much bigger sister to the Fairfax Flea, the Rose Bowl Flea Market takes place the second Sunday of every month and packs in almost 20,000 buyers from all over California. Located in Pasadena, the market has over 2,500 booths to choose from; it would be wise to dedicate an entire Sunday to perusing the place — and even then, it’s almost impossible to get through. With such a collection, saving money can be difficult while walking among the rows of vintage cameras, antique tea cups and old picture frames, so be prepared to say goodbye to a lot of amazing pieces (but also hello to a few things you’d never expect). Coming prepared with a list of general items you want is necessary to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Like the Fairfax Flea, the Rose Bowl also offers dining options . Bring $8 for the entrance fee, plenty of sunscreen and a bottle of water — Los Angeles is very sunny, but Pasadena feels even sunnier.
If outside markets don’t sound fun, thrift stores are another option for decorating your space affordably and uniquely. While it’s great for deadstock garments from the nearby fashion district downtown, the Goodwill near USC doesn’t offer much in the furniture or décor department. The Vine Goodwill (1218 Vine St.) and Out of the Closet (6210 Sunset Blvd.) are better options for dorm-enhancing items. The prime location of both of these thrift shops means they get the leftovers from both classic Old Hollywood estates and new starlets’ closets. Of course, every thrift store is hit or miss depending on the day, so regular outings to a few of these throughout the fall is necessary. Whether it’s a vintage 1970s owl print to hang up on the wall above your desk or a quirky set of ceramic figurines, thrift stores always have an amazing array of options, and you never know what you’ll bring back to campus. Once you’re done shopping at either of these locations, you can walk a few blocks (or bus it) to the nearby Amoeba Records for a few CDs or to the Arclight Cinema for this month’s latest blockbuster. If you’re looking for a meal, there are plenty of dining options in the surrounding areas — Umami Burger, anyone?
And if all else fails, you can just head over to Urban Outfitters in the Space 15 Twenty complex to pick up a couple trendy scented candles or wall decals to outfit your dorm in your own personal (albeit mass-produced) way. Hey, at least it’s not the same old Bed, Bath & Beyond, right?