Los Angeles - February 26, 2004

East Side Story

Lucas Spa in Echo Park

News flash: East Siders like to be pampered and groomed as much as everyone else in L.A. They wax. They tweeze. They primp. And they don’t cut their own hair. (Well, not all of them.)

Which is why we’ve always been mystified by the dearth of quality spa services on that side of town.

Lucas, a new salon and spa from Taylor Lucas (ex co-owner of Lather), offers color, waxing, facials, and massage in a spot as cool as Echo Park and its denizens. The space is utilitarian but cute, done up mostly in white and raw-wood tones with adorable girlie accents. (Love the pink neon sign!) The treatments are just like what you get on the West Side, so expect to pay for the privilege. It will seem like a deal when you realize that Lucas is a stone’s throw from your doorstep.

As everybody knows, nothing cancels out the effects of the best massage like 45 minutes of L.A. traffic.

Lucas, 1541 Echo Park Avenue, just north of Scott Street (213-250-7992).