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Echo Park Time Travel Mart

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Time Out says

At first glance, the inside of this storefront resembles any other market in the area—but look closer and you’ll find a collection of “time travel” curiosities that one might need in order to visit the distant past or future. For example, Robot Toupees, Barbarian Repellent, Primordial Soup In a Can and vast collection of books. What gives? The place is a cover business: While everything in it is indeed for sale, the store is actually a front for 826LA, a literary nonprofit founded by author Dave Eggers. Enter through a secret door in the back of the shop, and you'll find a classroom, where free tutoring and creative writing classes are offered to kids ages 6 to 18; in fact, all the books in the store are written by those kids. (Many are even professionally published and sold on Amazon). Another inside tip: If you come up with a cool idea for a product to sell in the mart, employees will help you design it for sale to the public. Which might spur others to drop some dough and thus contribute to this awesome nonprofit. The Time Travel Mart is one of seven themed stores from 826 National, including Brooklyn's Superhero Supply Co. and DC's Museum of Unnatural History.

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Echo Park Time Travel Mart

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Echo Park Time Travel Mart - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• (0.39 mi) The Lexmar - Dodger Stadium / Hollywood
• (0.37 mi) Noon on Sunset Hill
• (1.28 mi) The Metric - Los Angeles
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• (1.69 mi) Silver Lake Pool and Inn
• (0.01 mi) Silverback Coffee Of Rwanda
• (0.03 mi) Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery
• (0.04 mi) Masa of Echo Park
• (0.06 mi) The Echo
• (0.06 mi) Sticky Rice Echo Park

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One-of-a-Kind LA Keepsakes

The Time Travel Mart offers unusual gifts and souvenirs that let you take a piece of Los Angeles back home. Support local students while you shop.

826LA Souvenirs

To Do in Echo Park

• Visit 826LAs Time Travel Mart
• Stroll around Echo Park Lake
• Take a ride on the Echo Park Swan Boats
• Grab coffee or a snack or even a meal on Sunset Blvd.
• While you're on Sunset stop at the nearby shops (including the Time Travel Mart)
• Walk through Angelino Heights neighborhood to see the beautiful Victorian homes

The Time Travel Mart

Find us at:

1714 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Mon - Sun 12p-6p

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Echo Park Time Travel Mart

Hours updated 3 months ago

Services Offered

Verified by Business

Community Service/Non-Profit

Review Highlights

“ The canned mammoth chunks, bottled robot milk and time travel telephone booth really did it for me. ” in 13 reviews

“ The place is kept in business by Dave Eggers and other benefactors and of course by your purchases. ” in 5 reviews

“ In the back there are tutoring and creative writing classes offered throughout the summer and after school. ” in 7 reviews

Location & Hours

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1714 W Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Upcoming Special Hours

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About the Business

We are the convenience store for all of your time traveling needs! No matter the era, we have something for your travels. All proceeds from The Time Travel Mart support 826LA. We also have a sister store located in Mar Vista, CA! 826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. …

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130 reviews

The Echo Park Time Travel Mart... Because sometimes you want your pet dinosaur and robot maid's groceries under one roof. _C$

A few days ago I gave this place a one star review and elaborated on how uncomfortable the establishment made me feel and how I did not even understand it's purpose. To my pleasant surprise this morning I got a message from Lauren explaining the purpose of the Time Travel Mart. I had no idea that it was a non profit organization! The mere act of having someone go out of there way to explain this place to me (even after I was so rude with my original review) goes to show you how genuine the people who run this establishment are! Who knows one of these days I may stop in and buy myself Mammoth Chunks :)

I love bringing friends here just to see the looks on their faces. The Time Travel Mart sells joke merchandise to raise money for 826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center for kids. Most of the stuff you'll find here has no real use or purpose, but they make FANTASTIC white elephant gifts. Some of my favorites included Time Travel Sickness Pills, Duel Starting Kit (literally a glove in a box with a warning label), various microchips labeled Robot Emotions, and Victorian iPods (tiny music boxes). They did a very clever job decorating this place -- every time I come back I notice something I didn't see before. Make sure you watch the "surveillance footage" playing on the TV screen - very funny.

If you're looking for a big fancy store and tourist trap type of thing, this isn't it. It's definitely cute, time travel objects ready to be bought, from dinosaur eggs to industrial sludge to robot feelings to wonderfully designed posters. The store prices are a little high for the items, but all the funds help a tutoring and writing space for students. You can even buy some of their stories and works at the counter. If you're in the area, come check it out but don't come all the way over through LA traffic expecting to spend all day there. It's not a museum, you know.

walked inside blank faced. 5 minutes pass -- my expression grows to an enormous childish grin.

I stumbled upon this little gem of the world after a magnificent breakfast at Millies. Let's go ahead and get out of the way that I am an RPG playing, Dr. Who loving, Magic the Gathering collecting nerd..and so is the man who occupies the other side of my everything (bed, car, couch, xbox, heart, brain). At first, I just thought I had found the most incredible store in the whole universe. And then, the rad employee behind the counter talked to us about what they are. They're part of a non-profit that holds field trips, workshops, etc. centered around Creative Writing for kids/teens. They publish the books the future adults write and sell them. I'm in love. The selection is just really fun. Its the kind of stuff that true, is probably not generally useable- but it's rad. And it will make you laugh every time you see it. And you'll be the only person who has the King Tut action figure sarcophagus (action figure sold separately.) If you're a nerd, into sci-fi, or just like supporting kids being creative you should come here. Also- how happy would one of your friends be if instead of giving them some lame birthday gift once again that they'll feel obligated to wear/display/talk about liking- get them fresh robot milk. or a can of pure horsemilk..no ponies.

A fun store, with great products any time traveler would enjoy. It's a novelty store with a heart of gold. The money goes to help a children and youth writing program.

The Echo Park Time Travel Mart met all of my time traveling needs. I made two visits, 400 years a part, and each time the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful and their shelves were well stocked. Parking was ample and each trip was particularly refreshing.

What a cool place. When i walked in i asked what year it was and the store staff said 2013... i was so bum that it wasn't the future. oh well. this is a quirky little store that deserves more attention. it's a fun little place if you're in the area. They sell a few cool vintage and quirky toys. But the best of all, they are actually a tutoring center! what a great cause. Make sure to stop by and see what this place is all about.

I'd probably put the Echo Park Time Travel Mart in the same folder as the Museum of Jurassic Technology - it's full of treasures you'd never imagine, and impossible to fully explain to another human being. The Mart carries a wide selection of what you might call "ephemera" or "tchotzkes" - little things that are weird or can make you laugh. An absolutely great place to hunt for interesting gifts for adults and children alike. Best of all, proceeds benefit the non-profit 826LA nearby.

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The Time Travel Mart

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The tiny shopfront, which benefits the non-profit literacy advocacy 826LA, stocks anything and everything you need for armchair time travel. Think dinosaur eggs to canned “mammoth chunks,” spare robot parts to cod-scented “vikingodorants.”

More Recommendations

Time traveling in echo park, go back to the future without a delorean.

Get in on the ruse at this one-stop shop for all of your past, present, and future travel needs. You can purchase Van Warwijck’s Dodo Chow—imported fresh from the 1600s—for your dodo since these birds are “notoriously finicky eaters and require a complex variety of nutrients to stay healthy.” Or, get to the source of the origin of life with a can of Wallace’s Primordial Soup. Take your time perusing the small space and note the detail that goes into everything. You’ll see grainy, closed-circuit TV security monitors capturing time travelers from other eras who wander the aisles, as well as an epoch-crossing bulletin board. What’s it all about, Alfie? The Echo Park Time Travel Mart is really a front for 826LA, a nonprofit after-school tutoring and writing center for kids. The friendly clerk will be more than happy to tell you about it or sign you up as a volunteer tutor, if you’re so inclined. All of the goods are for sale, and proceeds benefit 826LA. I bought a booklet of student writings to support the cause. You can find another L.A. outpost in Mar Vista. There are more stores scattered across the country, including the Boring Store in Chicago , which is not a secret agent supply store.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

The Quirky Market In Southern California Where You’ll Find Terrific Treasures

Angela is the staff writer for Only in Your State - Southern California.

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If you’ve lived in Southern California long enough, you already know it’s filled with some pretty weird, wonderful and wacky destinations. Perhaps one of the wackiest of all is this unique market that sells everything under the sun for the seasoned time traveler. Yes, you read that correctly — time traveler . Here’s a closer look at this quirky market you can explore right here in Southern California.

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Have you ever visited this quirky market? You can check out the Time Travel Mart at 1714 W Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park in Los Angeles.

For more unique stores and SoCal experiences, head to our homepage at Only In Your State to find all sorts of ideas for things to do and places to explore in Southern California.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Time Travel Mart and 826LA in Echo Park

Ever since I first heard about this place, I have wanted to check it out. I mean, how can you not love a store that tells you it is selling to all eras of history as an official time travel mart? When I walked into the store I got even more excited because I was greeted by the man behind the counter telling me “hello again, I saw your future self in the store today, he told me you would be coming in.” That inherent cheesiness is what makes the Time Travel Mart such a success. Also, once you get to know them, you realize it is merely a front to provide funds for 826LA , their center for reading and writing that helps all the neighborhood children to succeed, which is awesome. Read on for my full review.

Based on what the man working behind the counter told me, they have multiple stores like these in cities like Chicago and San Francisco. Chicago’s is a spy shop called The Boring Store, and San Francisco’s is a Pirate shop. The story goes like this: the man who started the first reading center in San Francisco was told by the city that he needed a storefront, so he set out to create the silly pirate shop that has become the flagship for their stores so that he could continue his nonprofit. This was such a success that he tried other ideas for his different locations.

The store itself is part of 826LA — a non-profit tutoring center for students and budding literary enthusiasts ages 6-18. It specializes in after-school tutoring, workshops, and programs. The kids are encouraged to be creative, and once a month, one of their stories gets published and put into the store for people to purchase. They also taught the kids skills like music and created a CD of original lyrics the kids wrote. These songs have been performed by bands like Cold War Kids, Fiona Apple, and She and Him. This is such a cool idea that makes me like the store even more.

Shop Online

If you are interested in helping out the store/nonprofit but aren’t in the area, consider shopping for all of their fun gifts online here . Who doesn’t need a “ what happens in the tar pits stays in the tar pits shirt ” added to their wardrobe?

The Time Travel Mart

Now that we have gotten the history and awesome non-profit stuff out of the way, we can talk about the epic store that is The Time Travel Mart. I fancy myself to be somewhat of a nerd, and I could just as easily have a blog that debates the subtler points of the new Batman comics as a travel blog, so I am a fan of things that are unique like this. The store itself is pretty small, but from the moment you walk up to it and see a caveman shaking hands with a robot you know, it’s going to be fun.

The three small aisles are broken down into different time periods, catering to their time traveling customers. The oldest section has barbarian, chain mail, and dinosaur stuff.

A middle ages section has gems like medical leeches, cause who wouldn’t want those?

The future section has robot milk and ray guns. There is also a section dedicated to the work the kids have been creating in their program.

Every detail of this store is thought out. The employee of the month program spotlights people from all periods of history, and the surveillance camera in the corner shows cavemen, robots, and Victorian people all walking the store on its four screens.

This is one of those places you just keep laughing at. My personal favorite was the shade tree with directions that stated: “take the seed, travel back in time, plant it, return to the present and relax under your tree.” It is the little things in life.

The guy working behind the counter said almost everything in the store is made by the people that work there, and while the prices seem high, all of the proceeds go to the nonprofit. This makes it easier to spend your money on an “I would rather be tricking cavemen” bumper sticker or a new can of barbarian repellent.

Lastly, they have a “wanted ads” section in the back of the store that has everything from volunteers to solve the bubonic plague to a future message about finding a cat, which is a possum, super fun.

As you can tell, I loved this store. It is small in size but big in heart, and I was happy to purchase something that benefited the kids they were working with. I recommend you check it out for yourself, you can get directions below, and if you are from the future, you can shop online as well.

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Mission Statement

826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

What's New?

Learn more about our programs. Information for parents, teachers, and volunteers inside.

826LA provides students with the individualized support they need to discover their voices through writing.

Ready to volunteer? We’d love to have you!

Volunteers serve as tutors, mentors, and role models for students; lead writing workshops; support publishing projects; illustrate student-written books; guide students through the storytelling process, and more!

Please consider making your contribution today.

Over 9,000 students receive the benefit of 826LA’s free programs each year, but it’s only possible with your generous support. A tax-deductible donation of any amount helps keep our programs accessible to the students who need them most.

Learn the latest from 826LA.

Want to get involved? Find out what’s happening at 826LA on our blog. 

Time Travel Mart

Looking for a toupee for your robot? Maybe you need some item from the past. Head to the Time Travel Mart for those and more! Remember, whenever you are, we’re already then.

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From book release parties and personal statement workshops to fundraisers and volunteer appreciation, there’s always something happening at 826LA. Follow us on social media to get the latest on what’s happening.

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19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

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Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

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Moscow's Urban Movement: Is There Hope for a Better Future?

• Written by Mari Chichagova
• Published on December 09, 2015

In 2010, following the election of a new mayor, the Moscow city government began to work towards a comfortable urban environment in which citizens would feel like residents rather than mere users of the city. The emphasis was on creating public spaces in which Muscovites could fulfill their potential and feel that the city was their home.

Gorky Park was at the forefront of the changes. During the 1990s, the "Central Park of Culture and Leisure" accumulated a collection of fairground rides and became a sort of amusement park popular principally among visitors from other cities; Muscovites hardly went there. Three years ago, the city government made it their mission to overturn the park's image and bring Moscow's residents back. A full-scale reconstruction and restoration began in spring 2011.

Today, Gorky Park is a new level of urban space – one centered around people and boasting a scrupulously conceived infrastructure. All of the changes were aimed at creating a comfortable environment for life - for strolling and sport, work and study, culture and leisure. Moreover, in a short time the park has developed an effective economic model whereby it receives one half of its budget from the city and generates the other half itself.

The regeneration of Gorky Park was followed by a flurry of changes. The city began to invest intensively in the development of other Moscow parks (by 2015, 240 new parks had been opened, 160 of which were in residential areas), in cycling mobility and infrastructure (by 2015, 241.7 kilometers of cycle track and around 10,000 bike parking spaces had been installed), and in street design and refurbishment (to date, 50 streets and squares have been repaired and 72 pedestrian zones created). Pedestrians are now the priority user group in the urban environment.

The work undertaken in 2015 has been more than impressive in its scale: sidewalks have been widened; 30,000 trees have been planted; 10,000 unauthorized advertising structures have been demolished; the facades of 943 buildings have been repaired, 178 hectares of lawn have been replanted, and 1.1 million square meters of flowerbed have been arranged and planted.

The redevelopment of Krymskaya embankment , completed in 2013, is one of the most successful projects to be implemented in recent years. In accordance with the design by Wowhaus Architecture Bureau , the embankment was completely pedestrianized. Cycle paths were demarcated and later became part of a single 8 kilometer cycle track along the Moskva River linking the Pushkinskaya, Andreevskaya, and Vorobyovskaya embankments. The historical identity of the area was also taken into account: artists have sold their work on the Krymskaya embankment since Soviet times; in light of the tradition, a covered wooden arcade was built to accommodate them. Nearby, a summer cinema and a lecture theater have sprung up. Meanwhile, plentiful benches were installed, along with an open fountain which has become a favorite spot for both locals and tourists.

Triumfalnaya square, which opened in its new guise in September 2015, is another successful urban project. As part of the reconstruction, vehicular access to the square was blocked, the street-level parking was removed, and the section of road from the Garden ring onto Tverskaya Street was closed off. The concept, by the architecture studio Buromoscow , was selected as part of a competition which attracted over forty entries. The design also included new trees, swings, and benches, as well as pavilions where residents and tourists might buy tea, coffee and a newspaper, or find out information about the city.

Despite the obvious positive dynamic - Moscow's gradual transition from a city of disconnected “islands” with a closed, unfriendly urban environment to a European style city where pedestrians are the priority user group - there remain a plethora of issues.

Yes, Moscow is continually holding round tables, forums, and discussions of its future urban development. Yes, it can now be said that the government has long-term planning objectives and a concept for how the city ought to look in three, five or ten years’ time.

And yet - despite the involvement of world class experts such as Jan Gehl , Renzo Piano , and Diller Sconfidio + Renfro , despite the numerous architectural competitions involving a jury, the expert community, and the citizens themselves - the quality and implementation of this city-scale project leaves much to be desired.

A good illustration of this is the Moscow government's ongoing program "My Street," which is intended to improve Moscow's public spaces. The project sets aside 100 billion roubles for the redevelopment of 4,000 streets by 2018. Nevertheless, the quality of the work carried out over the summer of 2015 (scheduled for completion in time for the Moscow City Day celebrations in early September) was far from ideal. After the hurried redevelopment works, it was hard not to notice the high, unwieldy curbs, the drains appearing unexpectedly in the middle of cycle-tracks, the tarmac laid on top of paving slabs, or the paving slabs laid on top of tarmac.

Often, an important date (such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup or City Day) is the best motivation for civil servants to get things done. But should it be that way?

There is a flip-side to chasing after statistics. Firstly, quality of execution suffers. Secondly, the choice of contractor and the professionalism of the people hired to supervise and implement the work leaves much to be desired.

The absence of professionals with the skills, experience and enthusiasm to finish a project to a high standard is becoming increasingly apparent. The contractors' main concern is currently to finish the work as fast as possible (usually to a low standard) and pick up their pay check. Companies rarely invest in skilled personnel, preferring to hire cheap labor.

The winners of architectural contests should be permitted, at a legislative level, to supervise the realization of their spatial development concepts. If this is not done, then contracting organizations will continue to profiteer and to alter concepts at the master-planning stage, condemning the original designs to remain mere ideas, a collection of pretty architectural renders in the official documentation. If third parties continue to oversee work, as opposed to the authors of the concepts, then the question must be answered: how will the quality of future projects be guaranteed?

There is no doubt about the mayor's desire to invest in the visual face of Moscow and to improve the city's quality of life. Yet the need remains for a more careful approach to project implementation and to hiring and contracting decisions. There also needs to be more active work with citizens - they are the main users of urban space, and they, ultimately, are the clients.

Mari Chichagova graduated with honours degree from the Faculty of Philology of Lomonosov Moscow State University in 2009. In 2010 she started working at "Interior + Design," a magazine dedicated to architecture, design, culture and about people who were defining and driving those processes, from Norman Foster to Le Corbusier and Zaha Hadid. Afterwards she worked as a PR specialist at the Strelka Institute of Media, Architecture and Design , a Russian institution that is working in the field of urban studies, using a multi-disciplinary approach.

Since 2013 she has worked as a Deputy PR Director and then as an Acting PR Director at Gorky Park , Moscow ’s Central park. In addition to PR duties, she initiated contacts with other significant parks and organizations around the globe such as International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration, the San Francisco Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Central Park of New York among others.

All images of Gorky Park (excluding image of Garage Museum) via Shutterstock.com

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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1 Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

2 Kolomenskoye

3 Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

4 all-russian exhibition center, 5 sokolniki park.

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6 Zaryadye Park

7 moscow zoo, 8 izmailovsky park, 9 muzeon park of arts, 10 neskuchny garden, 11 bauman garden, 12 park krasnaya presnya, 13 moscow state university, 14 vorobyovy gory, 15 family park skazka..

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16 Nebo Trampoline park

17 happylon, 18 the rink, 19 fishpoint, 20 vorob'yevy gory, 21 moscow-850, park attraktsionov i razvlecheniy, 22 gulliver, 23 le parterre, 24 vorob'yevy gory, 25 apothecary garden.

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26 Alexander Garden

27 kuskovo estate museum, 28 patriarch's ponds, 29 hermitage garden, 30 main botanical garden of the russian academy of sciences, 31 nudistskiy plyazh v serebryanom boru, 32 yekaterininskiy park, 33 city farm, 34 pokrovskoye-streshnevo park, 35 park ostankino.

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46 Mitino landscape park

47 park druzhby, 48 lefortovo park, 49 trubetskoy estate, 50 park sadovniki, top searches in moscow, popular road trips from moscow, what's the weather like in moscow.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Moscow for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

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