Uncovering Los Angeles’ hidden gems
Here are five underrated spots to check out when you want to eat, watch or smoke.
By DAILY TROJAN FEATURES STAFF
From running to class to working the clock, time is scarce as it is. So, it’s no surprise that many of us haven’t been able to check out Los Angeles’ many, many businesses. Good thing we looked for you — check out these five unique spots in L.A. that often go under the radar.
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Pink & Boujee fuses Mexican food with a colorful twist
If you’re a lover of Mexican food and anything pink, you have to visit Pink & Boujee, located only twenty minutes from USC. This Mexican American-owned small business with the slogan “not your basic taqueria” serves tacos, chilaquiles, loaded Hot Cheetos, aguas frescas, coffee and even pink pancakes.
Founded by Boyle Heights resident Yesenia Castro, the taqueria came from wanting to share her mother’s traditional cooking while adding her personal touch of pink. The business originally started in a mobile truck, but “Pink & Boujee” opened its doors to its current location in February 2023.
Not only is the food delicious, the aesthetic is perfect for anyone who loves pink flair. Various neon signs, cushy hot pink booths and pink flowers make for a beautiful eating ambiance. If it’s your first time at Pink & Boujee, order the taco trio — with pink tortillas, of course — and a drink from their wide selection of options. You can either go for a traditional cappuccino or branch out and get a pink glitter latte.
If you’re ever in the mood for delicious tacos and want a change of scenery, head over to Pink & Boujee for a savory and colorful experience.
— Daniela Mattson, Features Staff Writer
Green Qween is a dispensary inspired by the first legal medical dispensaries in San Francisco. (India Brown / Daily Trojan)
The ‘Qween’ of dispensaries
In the modern age of L.A., where marijuana is as ubiquitous legally as it has been culturally, there seems to be a dispensary on every street corner trying to lure in your business. Whether it’s with nondescript decals of cannabis leaves on the window or promises of quality products unlike anything you’ve ever smoked before, it’s safe to say the market is vast and oversaturated.
For the customer, they can all start to blur together — each one an indistinct facade housing a trendy and voguish-looking interior of neon lights and marble counters. So what makes one stand out? That’s a dilemma Green Qween certainly solved.
Just a 10-minute drive from USC, Green Qween is inspired by the first legal medical dispensaries in the Castro District of San Francisco, a historic LGBTQIA+ neighborhood that offered cannabis to people affected by HIV and AIDS. Their ethos is grounded in representing people of all sexualities within the marijuana industry.
Green Qween offers products from marginalized brands and donates a percentage of their profits to DTLA Proud, a nonprofit community center that provides housing, employment, legal services and more to queer people of all ages. On top of their philanthropic business model, Green Qween offers great products and exceptional service — check it out to see for yourself.
— India Brown, Features Staff Writer
Retrofit LA removes the need to sift through clothing with its ideal thrifting selection.
The allure of a “hidden” gem is that it’s a secret. Spots that are too good to be true are often gatekept to maintain exclusivity, and these places with little foot traffic, charming personalities, quaint atmospheres and great deals get unfairly low recognition.
So, retrofit la – a thrift store that is truly a gem – sits on Vermont Avenue, just south of West Adams Boulevard. From USC merch to Kobe-embossed jeans and vintage Guess tees, the store contains one-of-a-kind pieces.
Natasha Sanker owns retrofit la with her brother, and the siblings are both passionate about “costume design and fashion design.” With rack after rack of clothing and accessories, there is undoubtedly something for everyone.
“I don’t feel like the kids have a place to come to hang out and find cool stuff,” Sanker said. “We just wanted something a bit more affordable for the kids in the community and in college.”
With products that are perfect for the college budget and even better for fashionistas, it’s safe to say that this hidden gem is more akin to a gold mine, with no shortage of priceless jewels inside.
— Ava O’Connor, Features Staff Writer
The New Beverly Cinema, a revival movie theater, screens movies on 35-millimeter film. (The New Beverly Cinema)
Keep it classic at Tarantino’s underground theater
Nestled on bustling Beverly Boulevard rests an old movie theater, seemingly taken straight from the past. The New Beverly Cinema has a rich history, ranging from ice cream shop to adult movie theater before becoming a revival movie theater.
Bought in 2010 by director Quentin Tarantino, the cinema is known for only showing movies on 35-millimeter film, most from Tarantino’s personal collection. For $11-15 per ticket, film lovers and casual moviegoers alike can find a sense of community.
“It’s a cool environment to watch a film in, to know that the people that you’re seeing it with are also engaged in it in a similar way that you are,” said William Grosse, a member of USC’s Delta Kappa Alpha film society and a junior majoring in film and TV production.
Movies from a diverse range of directors, such as Sidney Poitier, the Shaw brothers, Akira Kurosawa and Sofia Coppola, have all been shown at the theater. However, there are also events such as Tarantino midnights showings, family matinees and double features that have shown romantic dramedies, such as “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) or “Twilight” (2008). There’s a place for everyone at the New Beverly.
— Katherine Meloch-Perez, Features Staff Writer
Small businesses like this dessert stand collaborate with A Good Used Book. (Emily Cao / Daily Trojan)
Community flourishes at A Good Used Book
French crullers brushed with a guajillo chili glaze, tchotchkes fresh from the kiln, complimentary soft drinks and, of course, books — for A Good Used Book, this is the recipe for a perfect Sunday.
The local bookstore, three miles from USC on Glendale Boulevard, hosts “Sunday Funday” every other week with a new roster of local vendors. A mix of makers and small vintage businesses share the space with new and used books curated by shop owners Chris Capizzi and Jenny Yang.
“We want it to be something you know is happening all the time, so you can kind of just pop in and be surprised,” Capizzi said. “What we’re trying to provide is fertile ground for discovery of inspiration or nostalgia and reconnecting with tangible items and other people who share the same things you like — or even meeting someone that is so different from you that in any other circumstance you wouldn’t really be close.”
Now approaching its storefront’s first anniversary, A Good Used Book started out as a pop-up in 2017, selling their books at flea markets, including the Melrose Trading Post and Rose Bowl Flea Market. The coronavirus pandemic forced them to start from scratch, which eventually gave them the confidence to open their own shop even as online retail became the default business model.
“Other than just the immediate satisfaction of buying something and having it, there’s also the community aspect,” Lissa Compton, a stylist and bookstore frequenter, said. “[A Good Used Book has] a great selection and lovely vibes, and I love that they have vendors here.”
Spencer Richardson, a vendor selling Japanese retro electronics, said that “in Los Angeles, there’s a lot of empty retail, a lot of places that haven’t recovered. Places that do have retail spaces like this [and are] able to offer that space to other people who make and sell things is definitely important.”
A Good Used Book will continue to host events weekly, including a fundraiser raffle for a local volunteer project (@hifistairs) to celebrate their one-year anniversary Friday.
— Emily Cao, Features Staff Writer