Honestly guys, this morning I woke up itching to check out that fancy new Taschen store everyone’s buzzing about in Beverly Hills. You know, the art book people? Figured I’d just wing it, hop in the car, and find the place. Simple, right? Yeah, not so much.
The Actual Journey
Cranked up Google Maps, typed in “Taschen Beverly Hills”. Directions popped up pointing me towards Beverly Hills, obviously. Drove my usual route down Wilshire Boulevard, figured it couldn’t be that hard. Saw all the usual high-end stores, Rodeo Drive vibes, you know the scene. Totally missed the turning. Ended up circling around twice near some side streets off Little Santa Monica Boulevard before I spotted it. Classic me.
Finding the Spot
It wasn’t some huge flashy sign screaming “TASCHEN!”. Nope. The place is kinda tucked in. Found it at 342 North Rodeo Drive, right near the corner with Little Santa Monica. Big glass windows, sleek look – definitely fits the Beverly Hills aesthetic. Saw some seriously cool art books piled up inside even from the sidewalk. Felt that instant “Oooh, nice” moment.
The Parking Saga (The Real Story)
Alright, here’s where the “fun” really began. Beverly Hills parking. Need I say more?
- Street Parking? Forget it. Drove up and down every street nearby. Zip. Nada. Every spot was taken, meters flashing red like angry little robots.
- Public Lots: Okay, so there are definitely structures around. Found one a couple blocks south on Dayton Way. Sign said “Public Parking”. Sweet relief! Pulled in… saw the rates… nearly choked. We’re talking Beverly Hills prices, folks. Felt like they wanted a kidney for two hours.
- Sucked it up. Yeah, I paid. Parked, fed the meter machine what felt like a small fortune, and started walking. Took me a solid 10 minutes just hoofing it back to Taschen. My own fault for thinking Beverly Hills would be easy, I guess.
Walking In & Hanging Out
Finally pushed open the door. Immediate vibe shift. Super calm and quiet inside, total opposite of the chaotic parking scene outside. Beautifully lit books everywhere – massive art monographs, architecture stuff, photography. Seriously drool-worthy. Flipped through some insane giant book about some photographer I kinda recognized. Staff left me alone to browse, which I appreciated. No pressure. Snapped a few sneaky pics (don’t tell them!) because the displays were just too good not to. Spent probably an hour just wandering slowly, touching expensive paper. Very satisfying.
Wrapping It Up
Did I buy anything? Nah. My wallet was still recovering from the parking shakedown. But honestly? Just soaking in the vibe and seeing all those incredible books was worth the hassle. Mostly. Would I go back? For sure, if I’m feeling fancy or need a specific art book fix. But next time? Budget extra time for the parking hunt. And maybe pack a small loan. Seriously, Beverly Hills isn’t playing around. Lesson learned the hard way!
