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In the digital era, where everything (or almost everything) can be easily found, there is still a good slice of individuals deeply connected to the media. The first thing that could come to mind is the ebook. Even today, I wonder, how can it be that so many people prefer an eReader to a good book. Not to mention the newspapers. I love the smell of newspapers. Open the newspaper. Feel the paper in your hands.
I love, above all, getting my hands on a vinyl.
Already from the cover.
Put the wonderful 30×30 covers in your hands. Put a nice disc on the plate. The rustling of the background. Listening to a live record on vinyl is something unparalleled, like a ride in the largest, stocked, varied store in the world.
When, for the first time, I set foot in the Amoeba Hollywood, I felt that strange feeling that I had probably tried only as a child. Probably, the same feeling felt by the children who set foot in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
“Fuck. Then Heaven exists” were the words of Marco, always my faithful travel companion. And I could not blame him
Amoeba Hollywood is one of those places worth spending an entire day on. Not only by those who, like myself, were lovers of vinyls, rock and music in general.
Amoeba is a place to get lost in the endless row of shelves. Here, under one roof, you will find the most incredible, wide and varied collection of music and films on the planet. At least I think so.
Millions of CDs, DVDs and crammed vinyls. Even if you have no intention of buying, at the end of the visit you will leave the Amoeba Hollywood loaded with items. Seeing is believing.
Visiting the Amoeba Hollywood is like going to a museum. You will find thousands of people, including enthusiasts or just curious. The particularly experienced staff can give you all the information you need. Thanks to the rich collection of used articles, you can find, perhaps, your desired CD or vinyl. Of course, the collection changes in a very short time. You will also have to be lucky to find what you are looking for!
The Amoeba Hollywood is also the ideal place to meet people and, above all, get in touch with independent or internationally renowned artists. Not infrequently, in fact, you can attend live performances by great artists. Here are past Elvis Costello, Black Flag, Los Lobos, Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, The Roots, Terence Blanchard, John Cale, P.J. Harvey, Nancy Sinatra, The Melvins, Blind Boys of Alabama, Paul Westerberg, Lucinda Williams, Pat Benatar, Poncho Sanchez, Ben Harper, Belle & Sebastian, The Rapture, Queens of the Stone Age, Supergrass, The Raconteurs.
The extraordinary performances were then recorded on disk.
PRACTICAL INFO
The Amoeba Hollywood was inaugurated in November 2001, after San Francisco (1997) and the first Amoeba Berkeley, in 1990.
TIMETABLES
The Amoeba Hollywood is open every day, with the following times:
from Monday to Saturday, from 10:30 to 23:00. Sunday, 11:00 to 22:00
Amoeba – Trade Counter Hours, is open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 to 21:00. Sunday, 11:00 to 20:00
HOW TO GET TO AMOEBA HOLLYWOOD
The store is located at 6400 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, CA 90028. It can be easily reached by car or public transport.
By metro, take the Red Line 802, and get off at the Hollywood / Vine stop. You arrive in less than 10 minutes on foot.
The 2/302 bus, instead, stops right in front of the shop. Get off at the Sunset / Ivar stop.
If you arrive by car, you can park for free at the two large areas on Cahuenga St. Ad Ivar, instead, just near the Store, there is a small parking lot: very unlikely that you will find a free place in the latter. Please note that for those who use free parking, the car must only stay for two hours. It is therefore advisable to use the large parking lot at the Arclight Cinemas complex, not far from here.