Dotted with ethnic enclaves (Olvera Street, Chinatown, Koreatown) and several large, open-air shopping venues (the Fashion District, the Flower Mart, Grand Central Market and the Jewelry District), downtown L.A. offers an urban shopping experience to counterbalance the precious atmosphere cultivated by the boutiques of the Westside. Check out Santee Alley, where street vendors hawk trendy clothing -- and plenty of knock-off designer sunglasses and purses. You can also buy materials to make your own fashions in the area's numerous fabric stores; the most popular of these, Michael Levine, offers free parking with purchase.