In the Fairfax district, the new cozies up to the familiar

While the iconic Farmers Market may be ground zero of the Fairfax district, the area farther north on Fairfax Avenue has become a fascinating mix of generations and cultures. Historically a center for the city’s Jewish community, the street of kosher shops and bakeries is morphing into a new oasis for urban explorers with clothing, music and book stores, revamped theaters, galleries and significant new restaurants.

Sunday bargains

A successful fundraiser for Fairfax High School for the last 10 years, the Sunday flea market Melrose Trading Post (at Fairfax and Melrose) is great for browsing the bazaar or hunting the bizarre. With the pennies saved, head to Greenway Court Theatre, (544 N. Fairfax, [323] 655-7679; www.greenwayarts.org) for innovative productions and a weekly poetry lounge.

Silent no more

With brand-new cine-passionate owners, the 1942 Silent Movie Theatre (611 N. Fairfax, [323] 655-2510; www.silentmovietheatre.com) has been completely restored and vamped. It still pays homage to the golden era of silent stars with weekly screenings but now also programs an eclectic blend of new American, European and cult films.

Wear it well

A vast array of stores, including HUF (410 N. Fairfax Ave, [323] 944-0017; www.hufsf.com) and New York-based Supreme (439 N. Fairfax, [323] 655-6205; www.supremenewyork.com) have made this strip skateboarder heaven. Flight Club (503 N. Fairfax, [323] 782-8616; www.flightclub.com) caters to those with expensive sneaker fetishes, while Turntable Lab (424 N. Fairfax [323] 782 0173; www.turntablelab.com) is for vinyl lovers. For a one-of-a-kind bookshop, drop into Family (436 N. Fairfax, [323] 782-9221; www.familylosangeles.com) for graphic novels, cool fiction titles and obscure DVDs.

Get your nosh

Keeping the area’s “Kosher Canyon” rep alive are neighborhood stalwarts Western Kosher (444 N. Fairfax, [323] 655-8870) for kosher groceries, the newly refurbished Schwartz Bakery (433 N. Fairfax, [323] 653-1683) for bagels, challah and other sweet goodies, and the L.A. landmark Canter’s Deli (419 N. Fairfax Ave, [323] 651-2030; www.cantersdeli.com), open 24 hours for that fix of piled-high pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.

New tastes in town

Trendy chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (from Food Network’s “Two Dudes Catering”) have made their meat-centric restaurant without a sign, Animal (435 N. Fairfax, [323] 782-9225; www.animalrestaurant.com), into an L.A. hit. While they like to shake up the menu regularly, favorites like pork belly with kimchi and their bacon chocolate crunch bar remain. The newly opened Golden State, (426 N. Fairfax, [323] 782-8331; www.goldenstatecafe.com) pays homage to local Cal producers with killer hamburgers, sandwiches, Scoops ice cream and a great beer list.

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