Drift beyond Westwood for coffee worth quaffing
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 20, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21, 1998
Drift beyond Westwood for coffee worth quaffing
CAFES: Many quaint joints blend entertainment with beverages;
students just need to know where to look
By Jessica Holt
Daily Bruin Contributor
It is that time of the year again, and no, this is not a story
about Christmas. Midterms are right around the corner and, like
kids to a candy store, college students flock toward the aroma of
coffee.
If Starbucks and The Coffee Bean (we will not even discuss
campus coffeehouses) don’t make the grade, perhaps it’s time to
explore the cafes that fall outside of Westwood’s borders.
Cafes throughout Los Angeles offer an eclectic ambiance, and
musical and comedic entertainment, not to mention strong coffee
with plenty of table space to study. Located near the UCLA
community, several coffeehouses stand out.
Anastasia’s Asylum
1028 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica
(310) 394-7113
Located due west on Wilshire, Anastasia’s Asylum is a quaint
hole-in-the-wall about six blocks from the big business Third
Street Promenade. Situated next to an Irish pub, this small,
charismatic cafe advertises itself as a "coffeehouse, sanctuary,
asylum."
Indeed, it seems that one could become lost in the
home-away-from home atmosphere. The long, narrow room is drenched
in soft, amber light, complementing the colorful paintings that
adorn the spongy orange walls. Funky old chairs and cushy, antique
couches fill the room. After 8, music wafts down from the band
playing in a lofty performance space.
Anastasia’s Asylum serves up strong coffee and espresso drinks
in big, colorful pottery cups atop mismatched saucers. It also has
an extensive menu offering soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza and
burritos – all for under $7.
On any given night, a cool jazz trio may play as some customers
type away on laptops; others engage in serious conversation and
still others play games of chess.
In order to find a seat in this small cafe, many find it wise to
come before the entertainment begins. Even if all the tables are
taken, customers pull up chairs beside fellow patrons. In a place
this laid back, almost anything goes.
Un-urban Coffee House
3301 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica
(310) 315-0056
Those wishing to stay in the Santa Monica area should head on
over to the Un-urban Coffee House on Pico. Sitting in the shadow of
the 10 freeway, it seems unlikely that this thrift
shop-cafe-performance space could be found anywhere but in an urban
setting.
Oxymoron aside, this unpretentious little cafe lets java
drinkers cuddle up on a leopard-print couch or study on colorful
old wooden tables. Served in random coffee mugs from businesses and
corporations, (such as a Kaiser Permanente’s Cultural Diversity
Fair mug) the coffee will keep customers awake well into next
morning’s class. It’s all just part of the cafe’s kitschy
charm.
After 8:00 p.m., one might hear live music, spoken word, and
open mic music and comedy.
Petterson Frisch Rost
10019 Venice Blvd.
(310) 839-3359
Several miles east on Venice, Petterson’s Frisch Rost provides
an antidote to the campy appeal of previous cafes. This cafe reeks
of Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks’ influence, offering the best
alternative for those who want to get out of Westwood but still
desire that "corporate" ambiance.
This coffee joint combines coffee beans from around the world
with a newsmagazine shop and a large performance space. Interesting
chicken, shrimp and vegetarian wraps, bowls and salads are all
reasonably priced below $6.50.
Jazz, blues, folk, spoken-word, rock and open mic comedy can be
heard every night. Touted as one of the best in town, the Tuesday
night comedy show provides a unique experience. But beware: many a
comic will crash and burn before that one gem finally appears.
Little Frida’s Coffee House
8730 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood
(310) 854-5421
Moving into West Hollywood, Little Frida’s Coffee House serves
up a healthy dose of attitude with strong coffee. The burnt orange
and amber-colored walls showcase local art on one side of the cafe
while yellow and green stripes on the other wall feature bulls and
swans.
The colorful atmosphere serves as the perfect backdrop for
various forms of entertainment. One night, the room inspired a
musical comedy farce wherein the stage had been transformed fairy
tale-style, complete with puffy cumulus clouds and a cottage with a
blue thatched roof.
Little Frida’s features soups, salads and sandwiches to nibble
on while enjoying performance pieces, poetry readings and music. A
wide of array of colorful, secondhand couches and tables make
viewing performances and studying comfortable.
Moondog Cafe
7160 Melrose Ave.
(323) 936-4604
The Moondog Cafe acts as more of a diner that serves coffee than
a chic, L.A. coffeehouse. Although customers can get a cup of joe
and the ubiquitous espresso drink in the central room, the joint’s
back lounge provides the real charm.
Many order coffee in the checkerboard-patterned diner and then
duck into the back where an eclectic line-up of musicians, poets
and comics delight and entertain. On many nights, soul-searching
singer-songwriters captivate the small audiences for around two
hours. The comfy, intimate and relaxing lounge provides a perfect
escape for the tired student.
This is only a sampling of the many cafes and coffeehouses
around the L.A. area. Many more await discovery. The eclectic blend
of coffee, food, ambiance and performance that these cafes share
creates an experience that the corporate world of Westwood
seriously lacks.
So come on. Venture out beyond UCLA’s small perimeters and
discover that there is life after Starbucks.
RESTAURANTS: All entertainment usually begins after 8 p.m. Call
for exact times, listings, and cover information.Photos by KIT
TARROZA
Many performers try out their material in front of Anastasia’s
Asylum. Customers lounge to the band Taken, whose guitarist
performs in the loft overlooking the cafe.
Little Frida’s, located at 8730A Santa Monica Blvd., is another
west L.A. cafe featuring live music.
Comments, feedback, problems?
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