BAR REVIEW: The Edendale - Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire Station
Many of the bars I've been reviewing here have been located on the east side of Los Angeles. Part of the reason for this is that I live here and why would I ever go to somewhere like Brentwood to not drink? I would need another reason to go, like a fondue party or an intimate house concert with Crosby, Stills and Nash. I'm not sure how I'd get myself invited to something like that, but I could always crash the party by posing undercover as a caterer. CSN and pulled-pork sandwiches? Can't lose with that.
Another thing that pulls me toward the east side hot spots is the availability of [free] parking. A fine establishment such as The Edendale (2838 Rowena Avenue, Silverlake) has valet service, but if you look at a map of the neighborhood, you'll find these nearby side streets that lack any distinctive parking restrictions. You might have to walk (gasp!) just a block or two through a residential area to get back to the bar, but remember, that might be the most exercise you get all day.
As the story goes, the Edendale was formerly a neighborhood fire station until fire stations went out of style in 1989 and as bars grew in popularity around 2002, this fashionable change-up happened with great force, attracting scores of patrons who love to drink socially in former fire stations. A good thing too. When I was there, I think I was the only person who wasn't celebrating a birthday. Yes, it was a whole building filled with Capricorns on the cusp with Aquariuses. Not that I follow that crap.
This all makes sense to me. The Edendale is a great place to bring a large crowd of people and also mingle with other large crowds of people. I haven't seen a neighborhood bar so hoppin' since an army of kangaroos stormed the Dresden on Flag Day of '11.
Learn more about the history of the Edendale in their own words.