Login Using Facebook The Inside Word for The Edison
LA Weekly Best Of
Los Angeles, CABest Weeknight Cabaret
If you make your way down Harlem Place, past the man in the fedora guarding the door, and step into the caverns of the Edison on a Wednesday evening, you will find yourself head-deep in Roaring-'20s Berlin. A quartet of flapper girls adorns the stage while contortionists spiral from the ceiling to the floor to the chairs to the bar. Characters like Candy, a redhead with décolletage bejeweled in strawberry cotton candy, sit casually on the banquettes. A man in stripes paints a portrait of his lady friend, a circus escapee draped over a black leather chair. The barman removes his hat momentarily to dish out absinthe cocktails and applejack shots, served in vintage-style take-home bottles to extend the entertainment long after the show ends. The perma-packed Edison enlisted the help of the Lucent Dossier cabaret company six months back to jump-start its weeknights, and after a brief hiatus, the players have returned by popular demand. Their weekly appearances have been dubbed "sensual vaudeville," a sexy reconstruction of a time when everybody was looking to escape from their suit and tie. As you crawl out of the foggy underground and back up to street level, you feel as though you've escaped away to another world entirely. And for $15, it sure beats dinner and a movie.—Sara Lerner
J S P
Female / 39 / Los Angeles, CAA must if you come downtown. And no sneakers!
One of the most unique nightspots I've been to in LA. Totally worth checking out, just to see the space. A lot of my fascination with the place has to do with the decor and how they decided to use the space, but it's still a cool place to hang.
They converted a former power plant into a bar/lounge and it's just a trip to walk through the place. The old generators and such are part of the decor so it's pretty wild to see how they chose to put it all together. It does have that industrial thing going. I came with friends who said it felt like an S&M bar (must be all the chains, pipes, and the burlesque show.) But hey - whatever works.
The entrance is in an alley about 1/3 of the way up 2nd street (south side of the street), between Main & Spring. You'll know you're in the right alley cuz there'll be a bouncer hanging out. Be warned - NO BASEBALL HATS, NO SNEAKERS. Some people bitch about this but I happen to love this. It's nice to go out and see people dressed nicely and put some effort it. I look at it as weeding out the riff raff.
The first thing that hit me was the size of the place. Coming down the stairs, you don't realize how big it actually is. But it's a lot of different rooms, with a bunch of different places to sit. They do a burlesque show and have had live music (jazz) the times that I've been. I know they recently had DJs there so maybe they're trying to change up the music, which would be nice - so long as it doesn't get corny, top 40 or hip-hop. The jazz-y thing only interests me for so long and unless I'm on a date, I'm over it pretty quickly.
The next thing was the crowd. It wasn't your typical Hollywood crowd (Thank God - this is downtown). Good mix of people and it just felt...I don't know...mature? Not sure if that's the right word, but it didn't look like your body-shots, dancing-on-the-tables-screaming "Woo hoo!" crowd. Thank God once again.
The bartenders have always been great - really friendly and quick and I didn't find the prices to be offensive.
One thing is - the place is on the dark side. I've come during the summer and keep thinking how nice it'll be to come here in the winter time - the dim lighting, dark interiors, leather and velvet give it that sort of feel.
If you're looking for a laid back spot to kick back with the homeys, this probably might seem a little pretentious or try-too-hard for you. But I like it a lot - it's different, I feel like people know how to act when they come here, and hell - it's walking distance from home for me. Can't beat that.
But be warned - get there early, especially on the weekend nights. I've gotten there at 10 and been told it's an 1 1/2 hour wait. So plan ahead and make the most of your night.
Jenny D
Female / Los Angeles, CAThe interior
is one of its own. They did a great job in turning it into a cool looking nightspot. (I'd imagine.) I've actually only been here for two different films that used it for locations, but next time I go out downtown, this will be the first place I check out.
BobD
Male / 41 / Culver City, CAA must see
over and over and over!
intimate and grandiose at the same time!
Robert
Male / Los Angeles, CAThis is one of the most interesting places in LA, LA first private power plant turned into a cool bar, with lots of features that make you feel like your going back in time.
Also where in LA can you get happy hour Martinis (on Thursday's) at 1910 prices 35 cent! Plus a great offer on Friday's with 25% net proceeds going to local charities.
Bob D
Male / Culver City, CAA must see! Must drink place...
An amazing bar that can only be experienced by with a group of friends... I rec sitting in the room with all the pipes. Search for it!
SoundsVinyl
Male / 26 / Arcadia, CAThe cougars are on the hunt at this place. Maybe it's just me but 30 something ladies are extra flirty here. Cool vibe, nice and 20s style.
JCMed12
Female / 25 / Los Angeles, CANothing like the Edison. The atmosphere is one of a kind. They also have burlesque dancers on occasion and they are amazing. Great food, great drinks!
KimberlyB
Female / Los Angeles, CASeriously overpriced food, but good drinks. Cool atmosphere and a wandering Absinthe fairy! Apparently they now film "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" nearby.
Minkus
Male / 22 / Los Angeles, CAIt is the coolest bar I have ever been to. The decor is really classy.
