Joan’s on Third: A Very LA Coloring Page (Yes, That’s a Cow on the Sidewalk)

Joan’s on Third: A Very LA Coloring Page (Yes, That’s a Cow on the Sidewalk)

If you’ve ever driven down Third Street and spotted the bustle at Joan’s on Third, you know the vibe: tiny tables packed close together, plates and lattes balancing on tabletops, conversations spilling out onto the sidewalk.

It’s one of those quintessential LA spots where you can grab a coffee, “just pop in” for something from the bakery, and end up staying long enough to people-watch half the neighborhood.

This coloring page captures that exact energy—with one very important twist: there’s a cow standing calmly by the patio fence, like it also has a table reservation.

It’s charming, a little surreal, and very on brand for a city where almost anything can happen before lunchtime.

A Sidewalk Scene Full of Little Stories

Take a slow look at the illustration:

  • The JOAN’S ON THIRD signage repeating across the storefronts, instantly recognizable to locals
  • A row of string lights under the awning, hinting at cozy evenings as well as busy brunches
  • A server in an apron mid-stride, carrying menus or plates back inside
  • A cluster of diners squeezed at small tables, deep in conversation, phones down
  • A clear menu board listing treats: gelato, bread, café, imported foods, confections, bakery, take away
  • And of course, front and center, a cow standing just outside the patio fence, next to a water bowl, as if it stopped by for a snack and stayed for the ambiance

Every part of the page invites “What’s going on here?” in the best possible way.

Using the Joan’s Page to Talk About Everyday LA Magic

Joan’s on Third is a perfect example of a place that’s both totally normal and totally special. Families stop in after school. Friends meet up for coffee. Neighbors grab something to-go. And once in a while, something delightfully odd happens—like a cow on the sidewalk.

Coloring this scene with kids is a great chance to talk about:

  • What makes a café feel special
    “Is it the food, the people, the atmosphere, or all of it together?”

  • How many different stories are happening at once
    “This table might be a work meeting, that one a first date, that one a catch-up between old friends.”

  • How cities are full of little surprises
    “What’s the weirdest or funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a sidewalk?”

Ask open-ended questions as they color:

  • “Who brought the cow?”
  • “What do you think the people at this table are talking about?”
  • “What would you order here—gelato, bread, something from the bakery?”

You’re helping them see their city as a living, layered place full of characters and tiny moments.

The Cow: Main Character Energy

Let’s be honest: the cow kind of steals the show.

It’s standing there, looking straight out of the page, like it’s checking if you’re going to color it next. That single detail transforms the whole illustration from simple sidewalk café to storybook scene.

You can turn the cow into a whole mini-activity:

  • Name the cow
    “Is this Joan? Third? Latte? Gelato? Something sillier?”

  • Decide why it’s there

    • It’s part of a pop-up farm event.
    • It belongs to a nearby urban farm.
    • It’s the star of a kids’ book signing happening inside.
    • It wandered over from a movie set.

  • Give it accessories
    Kids can draw:

    • A bandana
    • A tiny bell
    • A name tag
    • Sunglasses (very LA)

What could’ve been just décor becomes a character kids will remember.

Color Palette Ideas: From Classic Café to LA Daydream

This scene works beautifully with all kinds of color approaches:

  • Classic Sidewalk Café

    • Soft creams and whites for the façade
    • Black or dark green trim
    • Neutral tables and chairs
    • Subtle pops of color in clothing and signage

  • Bright LA Morning

    • Crisp blue sky above the awning line
    • Sunny yellow fairy lights
    • Colorful outfits on each diner—think reds, teals, pinks
    • A warm, tan sidewalk with bits of chalk or shadows

  • Playful Storybook

    • Pastel buildings and chairs
    • A rainbow sign for “Joan’s on Third”
    • A bubblegum-pink or bright purple cow
    • Funky hair colors and patterns on clothing

Kids can decide whether they want to keep things realistic or lean into the cow-powered whimsy.

Turning Coloring Time into a “Café Moment”

You can also use this coloring page as the anchor for a small at-home ritual—no drive to Third Street required.

Try this:

  1. Set the Scene

    • Clear a table
    • Bring out crayons, markers, or colored pencils
    • Put on a low-key playlist (acoustic, jazz, bossa nova—your choice)

  2. Snack Like You’re at Joan’s

    • Arrange simple café-style snacks: toast, fruit, cookies, or pastries
    • Pour milk, juice, or hot chocolate into “fancy” mugs or glasses

  3. Color Together

    • Kids color the page while you join in or doodle nearby
    • Talk about your favorite cafés, markets, or bakeries around LA

  4. Play “Find the Details”

    • How many light bulbs can you find under the awning?
    • How many chairs are in the scene?
    • Can you spot the menu words on the sign?

It becomes a little café moment at home—slower, quieter, and easier on the wallet.

Color It, Then Visit It

If Joan’s on Third is within reach for your family, this coloring page can also turn into a real-world outing.

  1. Color First

    • Let your kids color the page however they want: realistic, wild, or somewhere in between.

  2. Plan a Visit

    • Head to Joan’s for breakfast, lunch, or a bakery run.
    • Bring the finished coloring page or a phone photo.

  3. Compare the Scene

    • “What looks the same?” (string lights, sign, tables)
    • “What’s different?” (no cow today? different people? new displays?)
    • “Where on the sidewalk do you think the cow would stand in real life?”

  4. Capture a Memory

    • Snap a picture of your child holding the coloring page outside Joan’s.
    • Write the date and a quick note on the back:
      • “We shared a cookie bigger than your face.”
      • “You ordered hot chocolate and said this was your new favorite place.”

Now that one page carries both imagination and an actual LA memory.

Why Places Like Joan’s Stick in Kids’ Minds

Kids remember the “big” things—trips, holidays, theme parks—but they also hold onto smaller rituals:

  • The café where they sat shoulder-to-shoulder at sidewalk tables
  • The place with string lights and the smell of baked goods
  • The story about the time there was (or could have been) a cow outside

This coloring page is a little tribute to that kind of place:

  • A neighborhood anchor
  • A treat stop
  • A slice of everyday LA life that feels special without trying too hard

When kids color Joan’s on Third, they’re not just filling in lines. They’re exploring what it feels like to belong to a city full of cafés, characters, and little surprises.

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