What’s Striking at Highland Park Bowl

Bowling has always been a friendly way to hang out with friends for a little competitive spirit, drinks and snacks, and let’s not forget the funny shoes!

Recently, Highland Park Bowl reopened with a new take on an old classic. Known as LA’s oldest bowling alley, the venue dates back to 1927, when the bowling alley was a clever front for serving alcohol during Prohibition. From there it went through several incarnations from a blue-collar bowling alley to the band venue Mr. T’s featuring punk and hip-hop indie bands playing in front of the shuttered bowling lanes throughout the 1990’s. The then owner passed away in 2003 and the place staggered on until 2014 when it shut down.

Thank goodness for the 1933 Group, who have brought many LA historical venues back to life, including the Valley’s Idle Hour, and created gorgeous vintage-inspired hangs such as Harlowe and Sassafras. They swooped in and gave the bowling alley a much-needed makeover to restore its antique beauty.

Now it’s simply breathtaking – from the front bar to the bowling area that features enormous horseshoe-shaped bars, bowling pin lamps, restored wood details and the original pin machines. Once again teams of fun-lovers fill the alleys and balls roar down the restored wooden lanes.

Even if you weren’t planning to play ball, the place is just an elegant hang and the perfect spot to flaunt your vintage wear. Indulge in signature cocktails, craft beers, pizza, salad and nibbles as you wallow in the ambiance. The Highland Park Bowl may have working class punk in its blood, but it definitely cleans up real nice!

What I Wore

Who says girls can’t bowl in a dress? While I didn’t plan to hit the lanes, I definitely could have in this velvet vintage repro dress in shades of dusty pink and brown with a zig-zag pattern. The full-skirt provided volume and enough fullness to comfortably bend if I decided to bowl a strike! But I decided to keep my t-strap shoes on and indulge in good company and cocktails instead!

What to Wear

Whether you plan to bowl or just hang out in the lovely setting, you’ll be ready to roll in a flirty jumper and sweet pink blouse with Peter Pan collar. Add some pinky retro-inspired heels and antique-style handbag and you are good to go! Click the links to shop this look!

Highland Park Bowl is located at 5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Rock ‘n’ roll!
Kastle

*Disclosure

Venue photos by Danielle Bernabe and Wonho Frank Lee courtesy of Highland Park Bowl

Getting High on Poppies

Spring has officially sprung in California, and with all the rain we had in our actual winter weather this year, the wildflowers are in major bloom. Everybody has been talking about the poppies out in Antelope Valley, which are turning the hillsides into blankets of flaming orange. So it was time for a day trip to see them.

About an hour outside of Los Angeles is the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, a national park that protects the precious California state flower. Long trails wind around the hillsides, and you can take a gorgeous walk to admire the blooms. However, you are not allowed walk in, lie in or pick the flowers – it’s a reserve, people! Plus, there are rattlesnakes in them there hills, and you don’t want to meet one of those!

Since the flowers are particularly festive this year, it seems everyone and their baby was headed out to the reserve and the place was packed. We had better luck finding a field of poppies on the roads leading up to it, where we stopped and frolicked among the flowers with no rules. We just had to watch for those snakes!

If you go, bring water and snacks because there are not many places to make a pitstop for sustenance. Also, bring a jacket because the wind can be a bit chilly.

What I Wore

I wanted to dress for all the color we would see, but also be comfortable enough for a walk and warm enough for the chilly winds. So some capri pants, a vintage ‘60s floral top, my yellow Converse high-top sneakers and a denim jacket did the trick. I had a big sunhat, but I had to leave it the car as it would have been gone with the wind in a heartbeat!

What to Wear

What better way to celebrate poppy season than a bright poppy sundress? Throw on some low-heel matching sandals and a basket-weave sunhat with a sweet bow, and you’re good to go. Don’t forget the sunscreen and a sweater, like this cute cropped one that works with a swing dress! Click the links to shop* this look.

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is located at 15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, CA 93536.

The poppies should be in bloom through mid-April.

Take time to stop and smell the poppies!
Kastle

*Disclosure

Gift Shopping at Wacko

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping. One of my favorite places for finding cool and unique gifts is Wacko (aka Soap Plant.) This store has a long history as an icon of Los Angeles for their massive selection of pop culture-related toys, books, candles, housewares and just plain oddities. I usually find something crazy or humorous for my offbeat, rock ‘n’ roll friends.

Wacko began as a family run business called Soap Plant in Los Feliz. The store specialized in hand-crafted soaps made by founder Barbara Shire. Her husband Hank designed the graphics and their sons Billy and Peter contributed authentic leatherwear and ceramics.

Billy’s unique leather designs caught the attention of rock stars including Elton John and The New York Dolls and he earned fame for his creativity and vision. In the 1980s, Billy became the sole owner of the store and moved it to Melrose where he could see the area was becoming an explosion of unique boutiques that would soon earn world fame. Melrose became the epicenter of Los Angeles’ offbeat, rock ‘n’ roll culture, frequented by budding rock stars including members of Guns N’ Roses, Faster Pussycat, Jane’s Addition and the Red Hot Chili Pepper. You couldn’t shop or work there without being dressed to the hilt in your punk, goth or glam gear. Read more on the history here.

Soap Plant was in the middle of it all and Billy was a sharp businessman catering to the eclectic tastes of his shoppers, adding an inventory of pop culture books, jewelry, kitschy housewares and curiosities. He then opened an adjacent store called Wacko and filled it with what they called “toys with a punk rock attitude.” In 1986 they opened an art gallery upstairs called La Luz de Jesus showcasing alternative and underground art.

I distinctly remember the gallery reception parties because this was about the time I moved to Los Angeles and frequented the lively scene happening along Melrose. I would usually see an aspiring or established rock star behind the counter, most notably Andy Prieboy and the assortment of characters and scenesters who would become my friends.

Today, Wacko is located back in Los Feliz along Hollywood Boulevard and combines all of the beloved quirkiness of Soap Plant, Wacko and the La Luz gallery combined. They still host regular gallery reception parties, and it is the perfect place to find unique gifts for friends and family, whether you need a guitar-shaped spatula, a set of Tiki mugs, an incense burner or an Albert Einstein doll.

What I Wore

I stopped by recently to do a little gift shopping of my own. A day out shopping calls for a casual but stylish look such as this fun face-print dress, colorful, vintage bakelite bracelet and big pink statement earrings. I kept the purse simple with a vintage patent leather handbag and patent leather Mary Jane shoes.

What to Wear

You’ll want to dress with some personality when shopping at a store like Wacko. With its dazzling array of colorful items, you’ll fit right in with this geometric print sweater dress with a mod silhouette. Bold statement earrings balance the look. Silver booties and handbag can take you from daytime shopping to one of their evening art gallery receptions. Wacko is also open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights for you night owls like myself! Click the links to shop* this look!

Wacko is located at 4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Happy shopping,

Kastle

*Disclosure