Travelers: Madelyn Somers in Los Angeles
Art director and Made Some Souvenirs designer Madelyn Somers grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by a creative family. After living in New York for seven years, she just returned to LA and is now based in Los Feliz, in a colorful paradise full of vintage treasures and items that bring nothing but happiness. Step inside her colorful world and let her give us a tour to sunny LA.
Los Angeles. 8 am, where to wake up?
In Los Feliz in my light filled bedroom and straight to my ice coffee and mango!
How is LA an inspiration for you as designer?
LA is very eclectic, colorful and full of diverse architecture from art deco to mid-century modern. I love visiting all the historical homes in LA like the Case Study House #22, Hollyhock house and Eames House. I can also walk from my home to the Griffith Park Observatory which is one of my favorite places in LA.
Favorite neighborhood?
Los Feliz and Highland Park (I use to love Venice, but it’s changed a lot since moving back)
Where is brunch?
Rick’s Produce Market - it’s a small shack in Virgil Village with the best seasonal acai bowls and it also has really fresh produce.
Gjusta in Venice is always delicious - I love their lox bagel with scallion labneh!
Any shopping spots only locals would know?
LCD for finding out about new emerging designers
Counter-Space for art and objects
Owl Bureau for hard to find art, fashion and design books
Cookbook for speciality produce, prepared foods and spices from a local green grocer
The Good Liver in the Arts District is a Japanese home goods store with the most beautiful homeware.
We know you love vintage. Where are the hidden spots to shop?
Vintage shopping and flea markets give me such a surge of serotonin especially when I find something unique. I spend a lot of time on etsy and ebay. I love Sleeper vintage for 90s designer pieces (it’s hard to find and underground), Pickwick Vintage Show which is now held outside and has a great curated selection. Society of the Spectacle for vintage sunglasses, Long Beach flea market for furniture, Hunt Vintage and Sunbeam Vintage for mid-century modern, and obviously the Rose Bowl Flea Market for just about EVERYTHING.
Your all-time favorite restaurant for lunch?
Well lunch is my FAVORITE meal of the day. My ideal lunch would be a Tuna Nicoise salad and All Time on Hillhurst makes an amazing one. I also grew up on Bay Cities sandwiches, a true LA institution for sandwiches you take to the beach.
Best street food for a casual bite?
Marisco Jalisco food truck for the best fried shrimp tacos
Isla Bonita food truck for super fresh ceviche tostadas!
Needing inspiration. Any art galleries, museums, or inspirational places to go?
Hauser and Wirth for both emerging and established artists
Frieze Los Angeles - a big art fair for all galleries worldwide that takes place on the Paramount Studio Lot
Where do we go for dinner with friends?
Salazar for mexican food in Frogtown is always a good time - large picnic tables outside under twinkly lights, plus they make delicious prickly pear margaritas!
and for a date?
Speranza in Silverlake is just the best vibe for casual italian food outside -
they even give you blankets to get cozy with your date.
Melody is a neighborhood wine bar in a bungalow with a rotating food pop-up. It’s really charming!
Any tourist traps to avoid?
Hollywood! There is no need to go there unless for the farmers market which is actually a really good one.
Where would we find you on a day off?
Probably beachside. I love driving up PCH to Malibu, laying in the sun with friends and then having dinner in a friend’s backyard. I also have been really into playing tennis since moving back to Los Angeles - I’ll go with a few friends at the Vermont Canyon Courts in Griffith Park or take a lesson. But my home is my real happy place right now. I installed a projector during quarantine and it’s my favorite new home feature.
Where would you find the most creative people in Los Angeles and why?
Highland Park! You just see really interesting people walking down Figueroa and York. There are artist’s studios, vintage stores and new restaurants popping up all the time. Growing up in LA, I had never even heard of Highland Park until maybe 5 years ago - it’s really blossomed into something cool.
Where should we explore to get a good sense of LA’s artistic identity?
The Arts District downtown for gallery openings.
The thing you miss most when you’re away?
I’m a big traveller and this year has been really hard, so I actually would love to miss LA a little and go somewhere new. But when I do go, I miss my family, friends, mexican food and my home that I’ve created.
LA’s best-kept secret?
There are a lot of secrets in LA, it’s one of those places you have to get to know before finding those hidden gems. One of my favorites is Wat Thai Temple in the valley - the largest Buddhist temple in Los Angeles that turns it’s parking lot into a thai street food market on the weekends. The food is so authentic!