San Pedro Arts District

Great studios quaint neighborhood… And the Lobsta Truck! A great cultral evening…

SUCH a great area of a growing and changing port town! The christmas lights strewn over the main streets lead you along and you forget you are near a bustling port! It’s very quaint and could be a great little date spot.
They additionally do First and Third Thursdays every month, where the shops stay open later, food trucks come down, and there’s a small Art Walk with artisans and shops displaying their ware on the sidewalks. It’s a lovely community event, and I could easily spend a great night here. It’s casual, NOT overrun with hipsters (ahem DTLA), friendly, and stress-​free.

FIRST THURSDAYS!!! GRILLED CHEESE TRUCK!!! Need I say more?
Downtown San Pedro comes alive on the first Thursday of every month for Art Walk. I know we can’t compete with other art walks (in fact, this one is pretty pathetic in comparison), but we do get credit for having AMAZING food, all thanks to the food trucks. And it gets people from other cities into San Pedro, which let’s face it, brings up the caliber of people CONSIDERABLY.
First Thursdays usually go from 6 – 11 PM. Food trucks (Grilled Cheese Truck, Nom Nom Truck, Lobster Truck, Waffles a Liege Truck, among others) start lining 6^th and 7^th streets, the art galleries (that no one knows about otherwise) open up, restaurants stay open later, musicians play openly in the street, and the dregs of society still clutter Sacred Grounds and scare everyone. *LAUGHS* Okay wait… I need to stop laughing at that last part (but it’s so true).
I have recently heard that San Pedro will be getting rid of its meters so that visitors can have free parking. I’m not really sure how much this will encourage tourism, and I imagine it to make the parking situation worse, but we’ll see. Enjoy it while you can, out-​of-​towners.

I just heard about 1^st Thursday’s at San Pedro and decided to check-​it out. I brought the family and we all had a great time. Love the food trucks! It’s true… Art, Food trucks & Music equals a good time. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one.

Came here for First Thursay twice now, and it is always a great time. Food Trucks, Art, Music = Fun!

What’s,
better than the History of your town the History of San Pedro, i love the art district its a fun cool creative way to see the sights and to meant new people along the way…
There is something for everyone here in my small buy lively town, the theater coffee shops shopping artist doing what they do best and you can always find some one singing… Plus id your feeling up to it their even a place you can get inked…
What better place to spend an afternoon or if you just wanted to do something different or try new foods, you never know what your going to find, that’s why i love it there’s just so much to do…
Oh and did i mention that every first Thursday, all the store and markets are open for first Thursday, its a great time to get out and be seen or get to know your neighbors.
Sometimes it pays to live in a small town where everyone knows your name. Your always at home when you come to San Pedro…

Tons of art galleries and lots of cool art in several different mediums. First Thursday of every month is «First Thursday» Artwalk. Always good times.

I know you rarely consider going anywhere out and about in LA if it is further than 15 or 17 minutes driving. So you always skip out to the usual places, the usual neighborhoods, et cetera et cetera. Were you aware of the up and coming arts scene in the charming, historic LA waterfront port town of San Pedro? San Pedro’s Arts District is a preferred filming location for TV and blockbuster flicks, precisely because of its location (between LA and OC) and charm. Come down fto SP to see and explore LA’s lil’ hidden secret and experience a bona-​fide, urban-​renewal-​in-​transition, up and coming hip scene, where artist are still actually «starving» so to speak, and shops and restaurants are still 1^st to 4^th generation owned (Italian, Slav, Danish, Greek and other immigrant groups that have given San Pedro its unique color and flavor), along with the added theatre of being in front of the 6^th largest port in the world, watching cruise ships and mega transport tankers glide in and out. Think a bit punk, a bit surfer, a bit artist, a bit ethnic, a lot historical, a lot unique.

I decided to review the Arts District separate from the city of San Pedro because it is such a cool area it deserves its own shout. This developing yet thriving section of San Pedro lies between Pacific Ave. & Palos Verdes St., between 8^th Street & 4^th. It’s between Pacific and the harbor, with beautiful climate and views.
To get there by freeway, take the 110 south to the end, which is Gaffey. Turn left and go to 6^th Street, take another left and you’re there.
From South Bay, I take Palos Verdes Drive along the ocean to San Pedro, it’s on the Scenic Drive register for very good reason.
I have a bunch of photos I’ve been taking over the past several weeks that will give a hint as to the flavor of this area of historic buildings. San Pedro is cool because it retains its original history, has not been torn down to make way for McMansions yet. Although… there are new loft high rises going up like mad along the harbor. I could live in one of them, I like this area so much.
Within the boundaries of the Arts District there are some 25+ art galleries and studios. And as many restaurants. And I don’t know how many antique stores and specialty shops, but there are a ton. The oldest operating bookstore in LA is there. There’s a vintage military surplus store that is a jewel. Thrift shops, too. And Little Fish Theatre. And the historic Warner Theater. And coffee houses and unique bars. The Vinegar Hill Historic District is right there too.
I have yet to explore all the cool shops, it’s gonna take some time. There so many — every time you go, you find something else to delight the eye and the palate.
I also have yet to experience the first Thursday art walk, which I am told is a big hit with a large turnout. It’s from about 6−9pm, on the first Thursday of every month, and I can’t wait to check it out.
San Pedro Arts District is well worth the trip from other parts of LA. You can walk a couple blocks down to the harbor and see the Maritime Museum while you’re there, and other harbor sights. Stay at the Crowne Plaza LA Harbor Hotel and make a weekend getaway of it, or just do a day trip. I should note that some restaurants are not open on weekends yet… this area is at its liveliest during the week.
That will change as its popularity grows. For now, it’s a partly undiscovered treasure, so now is the perfect time to hang out there. Parking is not a hassle, not yet.
So far I’ve reviewed about 6 restaurants in the district and one bar.
And the old bookstore.
More reviews to come.
Check out the photos.