Unique LA: Summer 2011

The DIY of the past has had a bad rap:  half made scarves in your closet, glib sayings on needlepoint that don’t apply to anyone, stuff made out of pipe cleaners and tongue depressors.  However with the advent of Etsy and Make magazine, DIY has  emerged from it’s monogrammed and crocheted-teddy-bear-pillow cocoon into the 21st century looking very hipster indeed.

You know when you overhear that catch phrase “Buy Local” at your local coffee shop?  Well, Unique L.A. is what they mean.  Sonja Rasula decided to create a home for all of the creative knicks and knacks that L.A. had to offer and what was born was Unique LA.

http://vimeo.com/17980625

Video by The Video Mouse of Unique LA 2010 Holiday Show Downtown

The vendors are all hand picked from LA’s finest creators of stuff of all kinds.  You can even try out some hands-on-DIY, yourself, through the workshops happening all day.  Unique LA has a show semi-annually but this weekend is their first summer show.  Sonia is also the mastermind behind LA Street Food Fest so… you can expect some tasty local treats parked outside.

I was able to score a few amazing art pieces from one of my favorite local artists: Bughouse in Eagle Rock, a UniqueLA alumnus

LA is filled with so many talented people who eventually sell their hipster wares to places like Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie, but you have a chance to see them before they sell-out.  Just kidding.  Not really.  So, if the idea of local doesn’t get you, then how about free drinks (IZZE, Dry Soda, Black Star Beer), a free photo booth, a DJ (that’s free music), gourmet food trucks and the chance to say you were there when… all for $10… or $8 if you buy your tickets early.  Better yet, do it for your conscience:

The 1st Annual Summer Show, July 30 & 31, 2011 (11am – 6pm both days)

Where: The Barker Hangar (3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90405)
Cost: $10 at the door or $8 in advance (kids 12 and under are free)