I was here yesterday for the zombie walk, and I really loved it. The Zombies in Love gallery was amazing, especially the silicon works. There actually weren't as many people there. They served alcoholic drinks upstairs (free for zombies, I dressed up but unfortunately I was underage) along with some really great cookies. Later on, some woman dressed as a zombie was modeling and these artists were painting her. (By the way, definitely check out the upstairs, the art on the walls are amazing!) Other than the actual event, a DJ, few minutes of live performance and some raffles, there wasn't much to do. They advertised 6:30 to 11 PM, most of us ended up leaving 'round 8 or 9. My friend (he had a girlfriend but one of the dancers from the live performance was totally hitting on him) was voted first place for Best Zombie. I don't know if he got anything. The raffle prizes were alright. The actual store itself is a little pricey (anything more than $15 for a t-shirt is flabbergasting), and they have really cool stuff, but once you really think 'bout it, do you really have use for a plush heart that throbs when you shake it? I did buy two iPod covers (on sale, the sales are good) though, the art's really nice. read more

AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME! I came here a few weeks ago with friends to see the Adventure Time exhibit. I felt like my experience was really great. They actually encourage photography (!!!) and have a rad selection of quirky books, cards, and because there was an AT exhibit, a bunch of sweet Finn & Jake plastered gifts. They even had the sold-out-online Poketo/AT collab wallets! Super cool. 10/10 would return read more

This place is slow during the week but when the weekend events come it sure does get crowded. They have a lot to choose from and really nice one of a kind tshirts. read more

Nucleus - Sponge Bob OCT2013 - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

You're nerding out here. &no not the fake nerds that pretend to understand Big Bang Theory and laugh AT them as opposed to WITH them. PARKING: Back lot or street. Be careful because some of them are marked for the bank only! INVENTORY: If you have a "unique" friend, HERE is the place to buy them that housewarming gift. You'll probably find something for everyone here, including tabletop books to impress your guests, quirky tshirts, or an interesting canvas. It's really cool to explore their stock and their prints. All in all, it's a nice place to browse after you stuff your face of Gen or Boiling Crab goodies. Walk off those pounds! read more

This gallery has the best opening events. I just came back from a Harry Potter Art Exhibit where people dressed up, sat on a broom trying to catch a paper snitch, and cowered underneath a massive Voldemort statue with bulging biceps. They've also had Audrey Kawasaki and James Jean. And Flight! You KNOW Nucleus has got taste, swag and style. Their in-store selection is also very varied in price and artwork. I waited over two hours to get in, and for some reason I didn't feel anxious or regret. Gallery Nucleus really knows how to put on an opening night, and continually promised that everyone would get in. And come'on, its Harry Potter - I expected a minimum of one and a half hour wait. The idea of waiting and people watching in itself is really fun. The set up for the Harry Potter exhibit was amazing, and they really chose from a variety of media. I loved how they stamped the dark mark on my forearm when I got in! They served delicious butterbeer and had a scary table with mysterious jelly bean flavours. Licorice or skunk?? Top banana or pencil shavings?? Oddly enough, I loved the baby wipes flavour. There was a costume contest where a little girl and her parents won. I'm just going to say, how the girl did not cower with her father as Snape is very impressive. Even I was scared - entranced like I am with Alan Rickman - but so scared when he passed. Tonight was also the night I saw a very cute Draco Malfoy try to park in a full lot. He backed up and yelled, "Reducio!" (Not the right spell - Reversio would be better). I think I fell in love. Sadly tonight is also the night I will remember as "the night I was too shy to talk to Draco Malfoy." Way to feel like a school-girl again. And way to build a regret. But GALLERY NUCLEUS! RESTOCK YOUR OCTOPUS TOTE! I need it for my octopi obsession. read more

Nucleus - entry stamp for hp exhibit - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

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A neat bookstore/art gallery to check out especially during events like book signings and art exhibits. In some cases, there are exhibits where you can submit your own pieces. There are also workshops and other social events for the artist community. Most of the stuff they curate are modern and pop culture art. I always go crazy and end up broke here (event or not) because I splurge on the art books and prints. There's also cool little knick knacks like blind box toys and shirts. Staff is a mixed bag. They do not greet you when you enter the store and will only talk if you are at the counter purchasing something. Some are friendly and awesome, but to those that look like they want you gone once you walk in the store, smile! Looks of hostility just make me want to resort to online shopping. The recent event I checked out is their current 'Like a Rolling Stone' exhibit with Andrew Robinson's book signing. Really nice pieces but I feel that there could've been more. It's kinda iffy that the band they got started playing during the book signing. I couldn't even talk to the artist over the music. I wished they moved the signing booth upstairs so I could at least get my name across. Other than that, artists and those interested in pop culture should check this place out. They're pretty chill if you take photographs if the pieces, which is a plus. read more

Nucleus - Andrew Robinson art piece - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

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A quaint little gallery with quirky art books for sale: that's Nucleus in a nutshell. I came here on a whim on a Saturday night for the Heroes in a Half-Shell exhibit, and I have to say it didn't disappoint. The art was unique, centrally themed, and well spread out over the gallery walls. The one downside was the oppressive heat in the upstairs portion of the gallery, but besides that I have no complaints. Other bonuses included: the gallery was quiet and felt very spacious, there was plenty of street parking, and bars/restaurants nearby for after art snackage. I can't wait for their next exhibit! I'll definitely be back. read more

Nucleus - Heroes in a half shell - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Great art gallery with changing exhibitions - both an upstairs and downstairs area. Came here recently for the Beauty and the Beast exhibit and was pleasantly surprised. Apparently they serve free alcoholic drinks and little bites for you - bonus! Albeit... the drink line was crazy long and wasn't worth the weight (imo). Outside of the ever changing exhibits, they have a great selection of art books, zines, prints, toys, cards, etc. They host a bevvy of events, including many signings. Come by if you haven't already - it's worth your time! read more

THE EYE CANDY SHOP The Nucleus is a strong word. This shop lives up to its title. I feel that stores like this really do a great job in helping out a city. When I was a kid I had a shop that really inspired me and gave my life a purpose, which was art. I can totally see children coming here and totally being inspired becoming empowered by their love of art. If you are going to give your child candy, take them here and give them the eye candy that will help them grow strong mentally. A great resource for artists looking for sweet reference / inspiration / geeking out material. Especially for those who want to get into the animation industry, illustration, motion graphics, + toy design. The gallery shows they host are also a lot of fun. Some are so popular there are lines out the door! They also have artist signings at some of these events! Why go to comic con?! Maybe this is Comic-con on the cellular level. Kinda like the... Nucleus... read more

Came here for the Corgi Art Gallery Opening! The store is in the front and the larger gallery space is behind it. But upstairs is where the Corgi art is! The store is not very big so there's not too much selecton - there were also some prints I liked in the gallery but could not find in the store. Otherwise, they have interesting signed coffee table art books, prints, adorable shirts, and cards! read more

This place is such a whole in the wall exhibition studio! I had previous been here for a Harry Potter exhibit that was amazing and most recently their Pixar exhibition! There were free drinks and plenty of art available for purchase that were surprisingly very affordable! read more

2014 YELP 365 CHALLENGE - 337/365 3.5 stars. Came here during my day of SGV exploration because it seemed like a cool unique shop/art gallery to check out. I am SO bummed I missed the Big Bang Theory exhibit last year because I LOVE THAT SHOW! T__T Nucleus is located in the heart of Alhambra on Main St. There is a ton of street parking around and it's FREE, so luckily my roomie and I were able to find a spot not too far away! It does get really congested on Main St though, so just be careful when driving in the area. The space is divided into 2 parts (or what I could see, anyways). There is a gift shop in the front half of the store that has lots of art prints, t-shirts, books, and small bits and baubles. I was really looking forward to the store because I wanted to find some cute little knick knacks or novelty gift items. Unfortunately I didn't find ANYTHING that I liked! It was so upsetting! I guess I just had an idea of what I was looking for in my head and I didn't seen anything along those lines. I did enjoy looking at all the prints they had for sale, but I did find it rather frustrating trying to look through all of the prints because they way they were displayed wasn't very practical. They are sorted by artist and it was difficult flipping through them because they were all different sizes, and were probably mixed up because of other people who had looked at them before me. The girl working there looked bored out of her mind. She was very nice, but definitely looked like she was browsing Facebook or something behind the counter. The second half of the building is the actual art gallery. It is very small, only the size of maybe one room in a normal art museum/gallery, but it was very nice and spacious and well lit. I only looked at a few of the art pieces because I didn't recognize the artist or the theme, but it was really cool. You can look at their website to see what they currently have, what they've had in the past, and what is to come in the future! Overall, I did like the idea of Nucleus and it was definitely cool to visit, but I was just disappointed because I REALLY wanted to buy something from the gift shop and I didn't find anything that I liked. read more

my apartment is slowly transforming into a second nucleus gallery. love chris appelhans, and i'm still trying to complete my kozyndan's bunnies/seasons collection that they feature - so clever. (click here to see bunnies winter: http://www.gallerynucleus.com/detail/4772). cute, right? it's only at nucleus that i find such unique art...that i would buy and hang. their exhibits are fun. they usu have a deejay & wine, and everyone is civilized - no loud artwalk crowd. they also have cute toys, t-shirts & books on design and art that you won't find at barnes & noble. i bought a mounted worm head, and fellow yelper Joe H. helped me hang it by my door so that it could, in his words, give my visitors a "worm welcome". har har har. read more

Really cool shop and art gallery. The upstairs area doesn't seem to have air conditioning, so during the heat time, dress accordingly. The downstairs is really cool. There are books and shirts and just interesting things being sold. There is a $10 shirt section and they are all really cute stuff. There wasn't an art gallery there when I went but I can see how cool it'd be if there was one. This is also an available rented space for parties and small events. It's really cool for a party. Can't wait to come to one of the art galleries. read more

It's a small gallery, but awesome stuff. I buy my vinyl toys here and also bought a painting as well. I can't say that there's anything bad about it. The people who work there (that i've met) are cool. I did an art show there once. As a model that is. The show came out great for Sexy Ink Girls. Anyways, check it out! It's fun. Won't take much of your time. read more

Think of this Nucleus as a much improved version of its predecessor store a couple blocks down Main St. This new location has a much smaller storefront, but a much larger gallery section. If you go to just the galleries held here alone, then you will the diversity of the works from month to month. If you are looking for some nice art book, you will really only find mostly contemporary art. There are a decent selection of graphic novels and art prints. The selection has shrunk a decent amount. But if you are a Angry Asian Girl fan, there is still a ton of merchandise. The staff here are really nice and polite. They know their stuff, and even if they don't, you will be able to find what you're looking for. I was at the Ronnie Del Carmen (Pixar) art presentation today, and it was really cool. A lot of enthusiasts and fans showed up. Artsy folks unite here, but who the heck am i? read more

Downtown Alhambra..odd little scene. You have your cute little boutiques and sneaker stores surrounded by American chain joints ike Tony Roma's, Subway, etc. It's the most commercial yet unasian strip in all of MP. Nestled in the middle is Nucleus, an adorable (like me!) art gallery/store. Without an exhibit, the store is cute but not really that functional (like me!). They have a lot of Angry Little Girls (hey that's me!) products and artsy T-shirts. If I wore T-shirts, i'd like this store a lot more. Nucleus has a huge collection of various art books and prints for purchase. It would make a great birthday gift (for me!). I came for the Grafuck exhibit and the space was cool. Semi loft - bi level exhibit. Very sexual material. Pretty cool stuff. They've had a lot of asian artists here such as the popular Audrey Kawasaki. They are having a new exhibit on 1/5 - Nature of Water (an Art Exhibition Inspired by the Philosophies of Bruce Lee). It's a cute date spot. You should really consider taking your next date there before a movie and dinner (like me!). read more

I had to give a five star! I missed the event tonight, I had to pick up some art I bought at an earlier show, plus there were other artists showing that I like, Adolie Day, and Benjamine Lacombe. I bought a print, and some other goodies. I have to say that Wade who is there, not sure of his title was super awesome, helpful, and really, really cool! I had a fantastic experience there tonight. i was very pleased. I highly recommend this gallery for seeing shows, doing shows, and I even found out they rent out the space from time to time. It has two floors, and I see an event coming on. I will post my pictures from tonight soon! Plus, I got a preview last night, and Wade reserved some pieces for me. Yes I love Gallery Nucleus! read more

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I came here this past Sunday to see their "All Together Now: A Tribute to the Beatles" exhibition. First off, I am so glad that they are open on Sundays! I didn't have any other time to stop by, and this also meant that I was able to find street parking in front of the venue really easily. I'm not sure how I found out about this, but I am so glad that I did! I really enjoyed the artwork they had on display. Some of the artwork in the exhition had prints on sale, but even though I was eyeing a couple of them, I really couldn't afford to purchase any. Not only because I'm broke, but also because I have nowhere to display them :/ The gallery is in the back half of the bottom floor and continues up the stairs to a smaller upstairs room. Word of warning: the upstairs room doesn't have AC so it can get pretty hot. On the walls of the stairway they had displayed promos for all their previous exhibitions and I am kicking myself for not having found out about this place sooner! They had a lot of really cool past exhibits that I'm sad I missed. But I am now on their mailing list, so I shall miss no more! The front half of the bottom floor is the store and they sold pretty cute novelty items/toys and shirts. They also had a lot of awesome art books (which I looked at longingly). I think it's really awesome of Nucleus to exhibit work from local and up-and-coming artists (in addition to well-established artists) and to have this venue where "the art loving community" (as they phrase on their website) can come to appreciate art in person and also purchase prints and books. So while the venue is out of the way for me and I won't be able to buy anything from there in the foreseeable future, I'm giving them all five stars. read more

Located in 'downtown' Alhambra is this store consisting of artsy t-shirts, books, figurines, bags, accessories, toys, etc. I've bought a book on Japanese fashion and their current obsessions. A nice section of books for art, fashion, photograpy, etc. If you like t-shirts with progressive designs, you have a good variety to choose from here. For you art lovers, this place is perfect for you. Towards the back is an Art Gallery. As time passes, different artists are given a chance to feature their work in there. If you don't want to buy anything, it is also a good place for window shopping. read more

Sadly, I have to knock them down for the recent trip I took to LA. I took a trip just to check out the "Terribleyelloweyes" exhibit and left disappointed. Not because the artwork was lacking - all the pieces were amazing! However, the woman behind the counter was on the other end of the spectrum. She barely greeted us (we were the only ones in the store) and was just super rude, unfriendly, unprofessional the entire time we were there. Read Noah C.'s review for details. I still love the artwork they carry and I haven't had a problem with their online store, but they really need to work on hiring people that have some idea of customer service. Completely ignoring a paying customer and yelling across the room to tell the manager that she's going to the bank (clearly not an emergency) was plain rude and stupid. read more

Hi, my name is Analily V. and I am a Harry Potter addict. When I saw that Gallery Nucleus was going to hold a Harry Potter exhibit with an opening that boasted Butterbeer, Bertie Botts every flavor beans tasting, find the snitch games, and Harry Potter trivia, I knew that I had to go, stat. Like all addicts I thought I was alone and/or that there were only a few like me, especially in Alhambra but boy was I wrong. My fiance (the enabler) and I got there at 6pm which was an hour before the exhibit opened and the line was already 100 people deep. At 7 pm, there were at least 500 people in line. It was insane. I loved it! I saw Snape, Dobby, Hermione, Bellatrix, Slytherins (yuck), Gryffindors (yay!), and Harry Potters of all ages and sizes. People went all out. It made the three hour wait bearable. Yes, I did say three hour wait. Gallery Nucleus is small so they were only able to allow a certain number of people in at a time which meant that we didn't get to go in til 9 pm. Once inside, all I could focus on was the MASSIVE figurine of he-who-must-not-be-named. It got me very excited. The art was great. Gallery Nucleus has two floors so both floors displayed Harry Potter art. Unfortunately it was crowded and hot so I didn't get to enjoy the art as I would have liked so I ended up returning another day and I'm glad I did. There were only 5 people when I went the second time around which gave me enough time to genuinely appreciate the art. I really liked seeing how every artist portrayed their version of a character. Thank you Gallery Nucleus for allowing me to continue enjoying Harry even though the books and movies are done. Mischief Managed. read more

My fav small gallery. Nice that it's local to me, but even better is the fact that their opening receptions are fun and the exhibits well chosen. I have no excuse for missing the zombie exhibit, but I was at the opening night for "Curiouser and Curiouser" last night and really enjoyed it. When I first walked in, I saw an Alice holding a basket with two cute (live) fuzzy bunnies. Next to her was another Alice with a (fake) bunny head on a plate. Inside was a mix of festive costumed attendees and not. The artwork and exhibits were very cool, although it's a small gallery so not that many... maybe 25? Upstairs I was hoping there would be Alice models to draw, but I settled for the Champagne Punch next to the "Drink Me" signs. Tons of people. Great DJ. Cool stuff in the gift shop (i.e. Zombie Doll with come apart limbs!!! lol). Glad I'm on the mailing list - because I want to see them all! Five stars because it's a fun event that's FREE! Great job Nucleus! read more

Nucleus - View of the gallery from upstairs - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

Nucleus always do fun stuff! i was here last saturday at the Final Fantasy X/X-2 event and sure i did not make the first 200 people but im glad they started processing the line 2 hours before the event started. I'm kinda glad they threw off a charity to my country (Philippines) for the Yolanda victims, i'm really touched Square Enix!! but this isnt the first time i went here though, i came here when May Anne Licudine (MALL) had her exhibit show. there werent as many people there when i came but its nice to see 2 different point of views from empty-quiet to crowded with a lot of people! i just didnt like how they formed a line at the parking lot, where its so hot with zig-zag lines. it took me 5 1/2 hours just to buy the Final Fantasy X/X2 game. that wasnt fun at all but im glad they provided water for us. that was awesome! read more

I'm not an angry little Asian girl, angry Russian/Finnish girl, yes! But I always feel welcome stepping through the doors of Nucleus. They have a neat gallery that rotates art pretty frequently, and doesn't have the air of pretention that other galleries do. Good book selection, fun toys, prints, etc. I'm not that well-versed in the designers, artists, but it seems to be decent. The staff is always conversational and friendly. Which is good. I can't take another retail store with some hip looking jerk that sits on the computer and doesn't acknowledge your existence. So A+ for you Nucleus staff! read more

They've got a nice selection of art, t-shirts and books. However, the customer service isn't so great. The employees aren't particularly crappy but they aren't really helpful either. I bought a print last month and decided to get it framed. I was told "It takes 10 days but we usually get them back sooner than that." So I figured why not? The print itself is pretty small, smaller than an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. For whatever reason I still haven't gotten the print back and I've been constantly calling them to ask them what the heck is going on. Each time I've called they said "it should be in tomorrow" I'm not even exaggerating and I've called about everyday this week asking if it was in. Until finally today I called in the morning and they said "We're picking up the prints at 3:00pm from our framer." So I waited until 3 to call them back and they STILL HAVEN'T PICKED UP the prints. I've been pretty lenient about this crap especially since they're utilizing a service to get the print framed but don't flat out lie to me or tell me information that you're not sure about. That's very poor customer service. I'm not saying the products themselves aren't great, I really like a lot of the art work and I'm glad for places that help promote local artists but the employees there weren't dependable at least not in this experience. I won't be utilizing their framing service if I go back there again. read more

In gearing up for the Downtown artwalk tomorrow, figure write a review about an art gallery. I first started going here when they had a Kevin Dart "World of Yuki 7" exhibit and have been hooked since. First, the gallery deals with lots of fantasy items; I've seen Avatar, Alice, Where Wild Things are, and other exhibits that dealt with ninjas, flying rabbits, dragons... I think this focus on imaginative, fantastical, and free-spirited pieces along with an Asian-ish inspired style draws me again and again. Artwork is affordable; there's definitely a lot of cute, post on your wall pictures and paintings in various bins. I had my typical difficult decision process going; I wanted to get just one painting, but I ended up getting three, since I couldn't decide among them. There's also coffee table books and funny t-shirts that would be fun additions to any household. Oh, and they also have lots of events, so its easy to stay in love with this store too. I wish I saw it, but they had a Valentine's Day Zombie walk, where people dressed up as Zombies and paraded down Main St. Yeah, Nucleus is interesting I tell you. read more

edit 7/10/07: it had been a while since I went, so when I stopped in last week, I was both startled and disappointed. The book and toy selections have been cut down dramatically, and now Nucleus seems to be specializing in...tote bags? People apparently can't get enough of the Angry Little Girl ones, plus Nucleus puts out their own. Thwir art is still very good, and it seems they're selling more and more prints, which I like. I'd originally given Nucleus 5 stars, but now I've cut it down. Nucleus is the hip art gallery/store where the employees don't scowl at you; yes, reminiscent of Giant Robot, but far larger. If you have a good suggestion for a product they should carry, you can suggest it and it'll be taken into serious consideration. There's a new art opening every month, with DJs, food, and oodles of people. The art is usually fairly varied, and always interesting, as well as generally reasonably priced. Nucleus is a FANTASTIC place to go if you need to buy a gift. I like supporting independent businesses, and this is a difficult place not to drop some cash. If you're looking for books (so many kinds!), zines, shirts, toys, or Pocky, this is the place for you. I think every friend I've brought there bought something. read more

Cool little art gallery in a place you never expected. Amidst the endless banks, clothing stores, health stores, and tea & sushi shops, there lies appreciation for painting, drawing, sketches, and photographs in Alhambra. The front of the store is stocked with cool artwork, t-shirts, and collectibles. Walk around the corner and the place opens up. I happened to come across a science fair, free sushi, free hard lemonade, and free fluff Ice. I love how the walls are aligned with paintings and framed pictures. The stairway is a sight to see. Definitely check out this humble, yet perfectly sized place. read more

Could this be the "coolest" store in all of the SGV? Great selection of J-pop objects and gallery shows in the large space to the back of the store. Definitely worth spending some time in if you're already in Alhambra. It's like Giant Robot east. If you like GR and GR2, then you'll like this place as well. read more

Half art/hipster book store in front, with a mini SOHO style art gallery in back that has ever rotating exhibits. Parking is easy. Prices range. Some of the stuff up front is cool, but it's not an extensive amount of stuff to buy. You can get reasonable prints in the back. And some originals for a more upscale price. I guess right now it feels out of place in the area, but the strip is changing quickly to a much more upscale Alhambra, so maybe they will fit in and find their place in the near future. Still a nice place for the area. Better than nothing. read more

This has to be one my most favorite galleries. There's so many fun things going on in one place! The only downside I could find with this place was the location. Alhambra is so far away!!!!!!! (seems like it is anyways) I saw a Scott Campbell show there and the space was great. There's a lot of fun events that go on there too involving authors and artists in the industries. It's near a boba shop too!!! It's a great place to find gifts for people that you might not find anywhere else and the selection of artists that show there are great. I definitely suggest going there if you're into any type of art, especially if you're into pop art or just want to see what's happening in the local LA art scene. Hey Nucleus, open up a gallery closer to Hollywood please! read more

It's June 29th at 12:23pm. Came from out of town to visit the gallery. Everything indicates that they should be open at 12pm on Sundays. This is definitely not the case. Either the gallery did not message that this day would be opening at a different time than indicated or there is an extremely unprofessional employee that failed to open the gallery in a timely fashion. Its a real shame because we came out specifically to check out the current exhibit and support the local artists and now we won't be able to experience it at all. read more

I miss the old location. It moved up a few blocks and it lost something. It's new space focuses more on the art gallery, which houses good exhibitions but at the same time is not my main attraction to the place. I am not an art buyer, I cannot afford a few hundred-dollar pieces, and so my main attraction was with the merchandise they offered. I would come here and look around when I didnt feel like paying shipping for a Threadless shirt (they carry some of those, or used to). The new location just doesn't have as much stuff. Bags, shirts, little toys, Japanese junk food, art books...all fun to look at and very cute. The new location is too far away, and especially since Mervyn's closed down, I dont think too many people are going to venture that far away from the central part of Main. read more

Hip bookstore/gallery/gift shop for the person who has everything and needs nothing. I was drawn to the displays of anime figurines and cool little gadgets. I could definitely find a bunch of hard to put down books for my coffee table here. (You know the type of book that wouldn't just sit on your bookshelf but the vibrant colored hardcovers with the warped titles and even more warped photos that you thumb through millions of times and always see something new?) Good vibe as you walk in - the DJ is mixing the shiz up and it kinda put me in the bumpin' comfort zone, if you know what i mean. Nice crowd - some real pretty people mingling and browsing. I'd for sure make the trip to check out another opening. read more

+4 stars for being cooler than I could ever be. -1 star for overpricing the homemade toys. I used to make them back in middle school with my bff Katie in her attic and then we sold them at our school fairs for fake money. +1 star for giving me the idea of reliving my childhood days and making these toys again - only this time, maybe I can make some real money. read more

Lots of neat and interesting and unique books here. Most of the books aren't the type that you would really read, more like peruse when you have a moment or leave on the coffee table or in the bathroom for guests. Still, the amount of time and talent that went into making all the books, and the effort to create something radically different than what has come before (the books themselves are works of art) is exciting and fun to read. I'm not sure how many I would actually buy, but I love checking them out. The back half of the store is an art gallery which is has a rotating show every few weeks. It's a pretty good space, open with plenty of room to accommodate everyone. I just saw The Endless 20th Anniversary exhibition there and thoroughly enjoyed it. The artwork was displayed very well. For a small space, it seemed big. They also sell some T-shirts, art prints and various accessories, all with varying price and varying quality. The prints are really cool and I'd like to go back some time and buy some when I have the money. read more

When it comes to hip, colorful art spaces, with occasional Japanese-street style and look, this is the place to be. It has a nice, white and sleek look, with various art books/collectibles on sale, and of course, pieces of art that are on display. They've had special exhibits such as Alice and Wonderland and Tron: Legacy, with the artists from the films showing up to talk about their work. I've been told they have had annual exhibits relating to ninjas or Street Fighter. This is an art gallery that will certainly draw the hip, 20-something crowd as well as the older ones. There's also a second floor, which holds more work. Many of the works appear to be illustrative, eccentric, cutesy, or sometimes disturbing. This art space isn't huge, but every space is efficiently organized. read more

I love coming here!! They always have really amazing exhibits in the gallery in the back of the store/upstairs. It's a good place to buy a gift for someone on the nerdy/creative side. read more

Who would have thought? And in Alhambra too! The place is sooo neat! In the well-lit store, you can browse an eclectic variety of eye-catching art books and prints, play with handmade dolls like the well-known Uglydolls, for instance, tinker with the cute but slightly intricate wind-up toys, or stare at the hand-painted cartoon figurines. I was inspired to load up on gifts for friends and maybe snag a tote bag or two. They have some awesome tote bags and t-shirts with unique designs as well as the Angry girl stuff. Really soft cotton shirts; I spent enough time pawing them, I would know. There's an art gallery at the back of the store. I didn't get around to checking that out, but I wish I had. One other thing: I thought that their art would be very expensive, but I find that Nucleus is very fair from what I've seen. I believe that Nucleus is a necessary and significant addition to the San Gabriel Valley. I learned about young and talented artists who are completely new to me and now I know a local place to check out their artwork and even buy their works. Again, who knew? And oh, the essential parking info: parking lot right around the back shared with Pho 79 and the stores around there. There's no back entrance to Nucleus, so you just take a short walk around to the storefront. read more