[ksep]

i think it would be nice to have a thread that highlights all the nightlife in downtown los angeles. given that it is a save bet to say that downtown is on the brink of a massive nightlife renaissance - on the heels of the current construction boom - it should make for tons of interesting postings.

we all know how important a vital and exciting nightlife scene is for any big city. so please, let's make this the place where to post all your information, photos and rumors about CURRENT and FUTURE restaurants, bars and clubs, or anything that is open in the evening.

let's party: :leek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0285.jpg

warung: in the old bank district. i wish it was open on the weekends.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0316.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0314.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0313.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0315.jpg

philippes: the best french dip sandwiches and cole slaw anywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0297.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0304.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0298.jpg

liberty grill: i have never heard anything about this place. this is right across the street from the met lofts. seems like they are renovating and expanding this little brick structure that was standing there - interesting. anyone have some more info on this one?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0278.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0282.jpg

[danparker276]

You don't have to worry about the nightlife. All the big hollywood club owners said they're gonna move down there. Once LA live starts and award shows move downtown, things will be a lot different.

I wonder if Paris will have her own condo at the LA live hilton, or just always use the best suite.

[citywatch]

warung: in the old bank district. i wish it was open on the weekends.

That's why it's so important that way more apts & condos are built around the OBD & DT in general. The hood & certainly its new shops need all the ppl they can get, which is why I'm very impatient about the Medallion proj, as one example, across from Pete's Cafe being built ASAP.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Medallion - we're looking at February of 2006 for the earliest

[colemonkee]

ksep, great idea for a thread.

I'll put my two cents in. Nightlife is and has been picking up around downtown for about a year. The Golden Gopher and Standard Hotel really set the foundation for this a while ago, and both places are still pretty strong almost every night (save for Saturday). Then we have the Broadway Bar, which is a great space and has decent crowds most of the week.

Last night I went to the Daily Grill with an out-of-town friend and had to wait 45 minutes for a table. That's a Monday night. Not too shabby. Then we went up to the Standard for drinks and there was still a strong crowd there. We returned back to the Higgins building around 10:30pm to see the last of the crowd still finishing up at Pitfire Pizza!! Pitfire is consistently busy every day of the week. And Pete's was buzzing pretty well during Sunday brunch.

So, downtown nightlife is picking up, but with a lot of projects in the pipeline, and some already under construction (like Harlem Place bar at the Higgins), it should only get better.

[colemonkee]

^ Medallion - we're looking at February of 2006 for the earliest

Well even with a "delay", it's still good to hear that this project isn't dead. I'd rather it start later than never, and Feb, Mar, Apr or even May of 2006 is fine with me. Not ideal, but good enough. Thanks for the update, LAB!

[danparker276]

Anyone know how the plans for neon building lights and gas lamps on Broadway and Spring are going?

740 broadway opened up earlier this year. I haven't been yet.
http://www.740la.com/home.html

Also there's a club soho and the mayan

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Np colemonkee,


Thanks for the info on 740 dan. I think I might go there pretty soon

[citywatch]

Last night I went to the Daily Grill with an out-of-town friend and had to wait 45 minutes for a table. That's a Monday night.

2 things that I can never get too much of here on this board: Photos of ongoing changes in & improvements to DT, & first hand descriptions of the hood's scene, esp when it sounds positive enough to get a...

:tup:

^ Medallion - we're looking at February of 2006 for the earliest

Damn, I thought maybe by Nov or Dec (of THIS yr) I'd see major things happening on that site. But better to know something specific then to keep wondering & waiting.

I drove by 4th & Spring a few days ago & again noticed the only possible sign that something might happen to it in the future is a sign that lists the name of the company that handled the property's sale.

[LAMetroGuy]

Anyone know how the plans for neon building lights and gas lamps on Broadway and Spring are going?

740 broadway opened up earlier this year. I haven't been yet.
http://www.740la.com/home.html



Which historic theater is 740 in???

[ChrisLA]

From what I've been seeing there is a lot going on downtown every night. A friend of mine lives across from Disney Hall, and her and the neighbors are discovering all kinds of thinks happening in the area. They even told me they sometimes dress up and sneak in (or just walk in) to a number of private parties over at the Music Center. Thus far no one has questioned them, and it probably has to do with how they present themselves.

I took my neice to Union Station Sunday evening to catch the Metrolink home. I was actually surprised at how busy the station was on a Sunday. It was packed, and even my sister (who almost never goes downtown) was impressed. Olvera Street was packed, Little Toyko was busy, and around Staples Center (due to a Hockey Game) was busy with people walking around, and lots of traffic.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

went to the Palms after the Kings game tonight and they had a decent bar crowd at 10:30 -11:30. seemed like a bunch of regulars and King fans plus Van Earl right.

[ksep]

Which historic theater is 740 in???
^
club 740 is inside the GLOBE THEATER at 740 broadway. until recently, the place was known as club orion, a popular all ages rave venue. i think the owner changed and they did some remodeling inside and turned it in to a more mainstream club. it looks good from the pictures, but i have not been there myself since it became 740. the place has like 3 or 4 levels and is set-up similar as most "theater clubs", like the palace or the mayan (my personal favorite). unfortunately they kept the entrance in the back through the alley. so on the broadway side everything looks as shitty as usual. maybe if they are successful and the general area improves, they will be encouraged to also fix-up the outside of the globe theater.

[ksep]

click here (http://www.bar107.com/index.html) for the website of BAR 107, the old bank districts very own gay bar. (formerly THE SCORE)

a review on it here (http://www.la.com/nightlife/barspubslounges/bar107/42458)

[RAlossi]

I didn't know there was a gay bar in DTLA. I was wondering about that. There's certainly a demand.

Hey, LAB, what about a Hamburger Mary's for the after-work crowd, eh? I'd LOVE that. Have to wait till I'm 21, though... but only for a couple more months!!

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^Aren't Hamburger Mary's changing names or something?

[ksep]

^Aren't Hamburger Mary's changing names or something?

i know the owner changed a while ago. is this a chain, btw? i'm only aware of the one in weho.

[Codex Borgia]

Quote by Ksep
i know the owner changed a while ago. is this a chain, btw? i'm only aware of the one in weho.

Yes it is has been a franchise for several years now, with Southern California locations in Long Beach, Palm Springs and San Diego. The WeHo location opened in 2002 about a year after the venerable Original Hamburger Mary's closed it's doors on Folsom Street in San Francisco after an 30 year run. In my estimation the new chain has all the charm of an Applebees compared to the riot of kitsch and community that was a mainstay of the Folsom Street location for years. But hey, that's the price we pay for free enterprise and rampant commercialization. Away with the organic community institutions and bring on the Starbucks on every street corner from L.A. to Poughkeepsie. :no:

[SaF9]

Which historic theater is 740 in???
^
club 740 is inside the GLOBE THEATER at 740 broadway. until recently, the place was known as club orion, a popular all ages rave venue. i think the owner changed and they did some remodeling inside and turned it in to a more mainstream club. it looks good from the pictures, but i have not been there myself since it became 740. the place has like 3 or 4 levels and is set-up similar as most "theater clubs", like the palace or the mayan (my personal favorite). unfortunately they kept the entrance in the back through the alley. so on the broadway side everything looks as shitty as usual. maybe if they are successful and the general area improves, they will be encouraged to also fix-up the outside of the globe theater.

I will forever miss the orion. Lot's of good memories from that place.

[ksep]

I will forever miss the orion. Lot's of good memories from that place.

yeah, but not quite as good as the memories from the masterdome.......:cry:

[ksep]

btw, for all of you that don't have plans for tonight yet and like to party hardy,
tonight is MONSTER MASSIVE (http://monstermassive.com/2005/index.html) in the downtown los angeles sports arena. :rock:

[HailStorm]

wow - I hadn't been to Score in about 6 months...had no idea it had been remodeled and renamed! thx for the heads up!

[LAMetroGuy]

click here (http://www.bar107.com/index.html) for the website of BAR 107, the old bank districts very own gay bar. (formerly THE SCORE)

a review on it here (http://www.la.com/nightlife/barspubslounges/bar107/42458)

From reading the review it doesn't sound like it is a gay bar anymore, more of an urban loft dweller bar, right?

[ksep]

click here (http://www.bar107.com/index.html) for the website of BAR 107, the old bank districts very own gay bar. (formerly THE SCORE)

a review on it here (http://www.la.com/nightlife/barspubslounges/bar107/42458)

From reading the review it doesn't sound like it is a gay bar anymore, more of an urban loft dweller bar, right?

yes, a gay urban loft dweller bar that is ;). when i walked in it was very gay (which is a good thing).

maybe i should add that, like with most gay bars, everybody is welcome.

[ksep]

don't forget downtown l.a.'s new years eve bash - THE GIANT VILLAGE (http://www.giantclub.com/nye2005/). a six block area (even bigger than last year) around wilshire blvd in the financial district will be blocked off to traffic. dj's and live performances on 5 stages. (don't miss john digweed). plenty of room for you and 15000 of your closest friends to ring in the new year.

this was last year:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/giantvillage6.jpg

[ksep]

here are a few pictures from a recent visit to pitfire pizza company.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0870.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0866.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0862.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0857.jpg

the crust you can trust
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0864.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0855.jpg

the pizzas there are pretty good, but they could be a bit more generous with the toppings.

[ksep]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0874.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0875.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0876.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0877.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0911.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0909.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0914.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0907.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0880.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0891.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0884.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0892.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0897.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0895.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0898.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0900.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0896.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0905.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0902.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0904.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/sepbach/CIMG0917.jpg

[citywatch]

Those are great pics, ksep. I'm glad you're another contributor to this board. And I'm relieved to read elsewhere that Pitfire Pizza & the Standard have been doing quite well (although I've read that about its rooftop bar, not necessarily its ground floor restaurant), because otherwise I'd wonder if the time of day you took those shots meant there weren't as many potential customers as the owners would like. I'd want to ask, OK, ppl, where are you??!! Fill up those tables & chairs!! Get some $$ flowing into those businesses!!!

[ksep]

yes, the pictures of pitfire pizza and the standard where both taken in the late afternoons, before the dinner crowd. that explains the empty tables. i have only been to pitfire once so far, so i don't know how busy it gets. i know the standard rooftop can get very busy in the evenings and the weekends, and that's also when thay start charging a cover just to get up there (no thanx :p). the standard restaurant gets a very decent crowd at dinnertime. that said, i believe that most of these new places exaggerate a bit when they talk about their instant success. the only places that i have seen consistently packed whenever i was there are golden gopher, the mayan (on special nights), grand ave club and philippe's

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

how about the daily grill? ive been there a couple times and its been packed.

[citywatch]

i believe that most of these new places exaggerate a bit when they talk about their instant success.
I know that's true of ppl in the real estate industry, if not the retail industry, although the guy who is with CIM, the devlpr of the Ralphs proj, was upfront enough to tell an LA Times writer not long ago that DT was mostly deserted on wkends & that getting retailers to be more interested in the hood would remain a tough sell.

Whatever is happening right now (& if descriptions in the media & by ppl like LASF have been accurate, thank god for the daily grill), I'm sure most owners wouldn't mind having a lot more customers in the hood. That's a big reason I get antsy when new projs take too long to get going & be completed.

[colemonkee]

I've been to the Daily Grill once, on a Monday night, and had to wait 45 minutes to get a table. Pitfire Pizza and Warung Cafe both have lines out the door at lunch hour on weekdays (I got this direct from both owners), and I've been to Sunday brunch at Pete's Cafe and Bar twice when both the dining room and patio were 75% full. I don't think these businesses are exagerating when they talk about their successes. I've seen them first hand.

As for the Standard, that's been around for over 3 years now, so it's almost a downtown institution. Also, keep in mind that the average check on the rooftop is probably $80 (I've averaged well over $100 for my last three trips), so they don't need a full crowd to turn a profit. That rooftop is largely seasonal, despite the LA weather. In the summer, you can't even get up there on a Saturday or Sunday without knowing someone or ponying up $200 for a room. In the winter months, there's less foot traffic, but even during the USC-Washington State game, there were 50 people up there drinking away at 5:00pm on a Saturday.

[ksep]

(I've averaged well over $100 for my last three trips)

holy cow! i'm already buzzed after one martini :cheers:

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Don't forget the Patina Group's restaurants (Patina, Zucca, Cafe Pinot, Nick and Stef's, etc.) do very, very well.

The new Roy's is also PACKED at night.

The Palms restaurant also gets fantastic business, esp after a game or concert.

[citywatch]

^ That's the kind of accounts, esp when they're from direct involvement, I like to hear.

It wasn't too reassuring when the guy from CIM, I guess based partly on his experience with the Gas Co lofts, sounded skeptical about the hood's potential to add a lot more retail. However, I kept confusing his firm with the company that built the Pegasus, which would be KOR, where the Daily grill is located. I'm sure the ppl at KOR are breathing easier knowing their tenant a few blocks north of CIM's bldgs is doing well.

[colemonkee]

From Rolling Stone:

STEVIE WONDER will be honored at the Grammy Jam on December 10th at Los Angeles' Orpheum Theater. The tribute will feature performances by INDIA.ARIE, HERBIE HANCOCK, AARON NEVILLE and ERIC BENET, with appearances by JOSH GROBAN, GEORGE BENSON, HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH, SLASH and RAPHAEL SAADIQ. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts and Music Education Initiative. Wonder released his first record in ten years, "A Time to Love," last month, featuring the songs "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved" with gospel star KIM BURRELL and "Positivity" with his daughter AISHA MORRIS.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

and "Positivity" with his daughter AISHA MORRIS.


Wow, he has a daughter? Talk about making love in the dark! :crazy:

[citywatch]

^ How about Ray Charles?! He not only had lots of kids but he was well known for being a major player, wives & gfs all over the place.

Good to see the Orpheum being used a lot more & bringing life to that part of the hood.

[LAMetroGuy]

Good to see the Orpheum being used a lot more & bringing life to that part of the hood.

yeah, check out their schedule... more hollywood stuff is going to happen in downtown LA!~

http://laorpheum.com/calendar.html

[Codex Borgia]

GREAT NEWS For L.A.!!!

[colemonkee]

Wow. Comedy Central's last laugh. The Producers. Broadway's makin' a comeback!

[badtz_00]

more photos please :D

[LAMetroGuy]

City to Consider New Night Club at 3rd & Alameda - News




Publish Date : 12/07/2005

A well-known night club operator hopes to make his next splash in the Neptune Building at 3rd and Alameda streets, where the music and booze would flow four floors above a spot where Little Tokyo, the Arts District, the Toy District and Skid Row come together.
Cedd Moses—a co-founder of the Golden Gopher night club on the 400 block of W. 8th Street and proprietor of the Broadway Bar on the 800 block of S. Broadway—now hopes to open a 8,770-square-foot location with capacity for 170 patrons on the rooftop of the Neptune Building at 701 E. 3rd Street. Moses’ request for a conditional use permit says the place would have a “full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption with live entertainment and incidental public dancing.”

The request seeks permission to operate the club from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. during weekdays, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

It remained unclear, as of presstime, how much parking would be available at the site, or whether patrons arriving by car would rely primarily on parking spaces on streets surrounding the club.

The proposed night club is due to be considered during a public hearing by the city’s Office of Zoning Administration at 2:30 p.m. on December 22.

“The purpose of the hearing is to obtain testimony from affected and/or interested persons regarding the request prior to the hearing, according to the city’s notice. “The environmental impact will be among the matters considered at the hearing.”

[LAMetroGuy]

Friday December 16, 2005 Jamie Foxx Unpredictable
Music special showcasing the talents of Jamie Foxx featuring major musical guest stars including Stevie Wonder and more
Hours: 7:30 p.m. to approx. 10:30 p.m.
Doors @ 6 pmish
Tickets available thru Audiences Unlimited only
For tickets or more info go to audiencesunlimited.com


http://audiencesunlimited.com/ad240/240jamie.jpg

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Is this really free??? Is anyone actually going?

http://audiencesunlimited.com/fmi/xsl/shows/browserecord.xsl?&Show=jamie

[bobcat]

If it's a TV show taping then it's probably free. The catch is there's no guarantee you'll get in even if you get a ticket.

[colemonkee]

Either that or they are casting for the sections adjacent to the stage to make sure that the crowd has the right "look" for camera sweeps. Similar to what they do for the Grammy's, MTV music awards, etc.

[POLA]

So, this place isn't a nightclub. But its the only cafe other then pete's that is open till midnight. The owner is a really cool lady. They have lots of stuff to eat and drink. So, if your in southpark late at night and need something that's open, check out the BISHOP CAFE at South Park lofts.
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/6747/img04559kf.jpg

[LongBeachUrbanist]

Good call, I'll have to check that place out. It's incredibly important to support little places like these as often as possible, since they can really help the vibe of the area, and thus enable more investment there.

If I'm correct, that's the stretch of Grand Avenue, betw. 7th and 9th, that for some reason has no overhead streetlamp lighting. At least that's how it was last time I was down there, all the streetlamps were off. Not very good for pedestrian traffic, IMO.

[BobbyWLA]

Is this really free??? Is anyone actually going?

http://audiencesunlimited.com/fmi/xsl/shows/browserecord.xsl?&Show=jamie

I was gonna go, but it looks like there were no available tickets when I checked the website.

[RAlossi]

Ooh... that Bishop Cafe needs some new furniture outside.

Isn't Richard Riordan's diner open 24 hours?

[colemonkee]

I got this in my email from Pitfire Pizza. What impresses me about this picture is how many people this place employs. We need more places like this providing jobs and getting people downtown. Here's hoping that Loft Wok has similar success and a like-sized payroll.

Oh, and Happy Holidays to SSP from Pitfire Pizza!

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/9019/pitfirethingy2qs.jpg

[bobcat]

Slowly but surely, more public events are being booked in downtown's historic theaters.

LA Theater Organ Society is presenting a showing of Fritz Lang's classic film "Metropolis" at the Orpheum Theatre which will be accompanied by a live organist. Advance tickets are $15 and must be purchased by Jan 10.

http://www.latos.org/SilentMoviesLA/main.html

Lyric Opera of LA will be presenting 6 performances of the opera "Manon Lescaut" at the Los Angeles Theatre in April. Tickets range from $10-30.

http://www.lyricoperala.org/

BTW, I didn't realize the LA Theatre was hosting public events. I thought only the Orpheum and the Million Dollar (in the near future) were.

[colemonkee]

The premiere of the Coachella Documentary film will be at the Orpheum on January 18th, I believe.

[RAlossi]

I got this in my email from Pitfire Pizza. What impresses me about this picture is how many people this place employs. We need more places like this providing jobs and getting people downtown.

Didn't see this post till today. I've helped open a few pizza places, cafes, retail stores... and the first month or two will always have a huge number of employees, if it's a well-funded operation. After a month, the firings start -- or the hours are cut -- as things start to smooth out, schedules are fine-tuned, and efficiency is improved. But we do definitely need more people working Downtown! Hopefully, if these types of businesses stay open later, it'll make things safer and livelier for locals.

[ksep]

the LOST SOULS CAFE in the old bank district openend a few weeks ago. it's located inside the alley behind the hellman building. this is the kind of independently owned business we need lot's more of in downtown. we stopped by there twice last weekend, for some of their pressed and toasted sandwiches and pastries. they also have a large variety of coffee drinks smoothies and shakes. the shakes are really good and very smooth and creamy. try the ube or the green tea shake.
the interior design could use a little tweaking, but otherwise it's a great addition to the downtown streetlife.
enter harlem place alley from 4th st. they are open until midnight on friday and saturdays, weekdays to 10pm.

http://static.flickr.com/39/95603627_f085139914_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/23/95603632_4d8eb37767_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/28/95603630_35ab49ed73_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/28/95603634_24414c2159_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/23/95603628_fd31bb513d_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/31/95604793_cb0ad773d7_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/29/95603636_cacf7648d5_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/26/95604794_800f34edac_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/25/95604797_0998cec2c1_o.jpg

[colemonkee]

^ The breakfast panini's (from Claude's Panino) are to die for, and the staff are cool as shit. It's run by a group of young entrepreneurs who live in the immediate area. If you go in there on a Saturday, give a shout out to Victor.

This is my favorite new spot and I go there regularly. Thankfully their business has picked up significantly over the last few weeks. The first time I went in there when my mom was in town and we were the only people in there. When I went in there last weekend, it was lively and I shared a table with a couple of people I had never met.

From the alley (in ksep's first picture) you can see the El Dorado lofts being converted. Once that opens up, this whole area should be booming.

[citywatch]

the interior design could use a little tweaking
Thanks for the pics. I'm sure the owners are on a modest budget, & so I guess it's correct to say they've left a lot of the original space intact or as-is, inc the tile floors & walls. That may be a bit more "keepin it authentic" for some ppl's taste (was the paint brush purposefully rolled over part of the tile wall?), but the important thing is they do enough business to remain in business.

And I was wondering what that bldg was seen from the alley. Good to know it's the El Dorado &, based on a few articles over the past several months, that it's finally being converted into lofts.

[MapGoulet]

Actually, the building you see on the right behind the break in the alley is the Rowan Building. The El Dorado is last building on the right before the wall ends. The building with the cafe (that adjoins the El Dorado) is the Hellman Third Annex which fronts Spring Street.

The good news is that ALL three buildings are being converted to housing! The first two as condos and the third as probably apartment rentals.

There will be a parking garage across the alley from the OBD garage on Main. It will front Spring street midway between the Rowan and the El Dorado. The El Dorado will have balconies created on the south side that will overlook a new grassy park! Someone at Killefer Flammang told me that the El Dorado is well underway and that the architect is well into the CA (Construction Administration) phase. Partay!

:banana:

[ksep]

^ The breakfast panini's (from Claude's Panino) are to die for, and the staff are cool as shit.

colemonkee, where is claude's panino located? i must try it. what are their hours?

[ksep]

here is a quick photo update on the progress of the LIBERTY GRILL construction on flower street, right across the street fom the met lofts.

i just love how more and more restaurants keep opening up in all of downtown areas. especially in south park where there has never been any real living neighborhood, ever.

i like that little tower. it reminds me of maggiano's at the grove. could this be a rooftop bar?
http://static.flickr.com/31/96603604_1f9f6d570d_o.jpg

hopefully there will be outdoor seating.
http://static.flickr.com/34/96603605_3360bf26dd_o.jpg

[ksep]

February 11 (Saturday) - Give Love 2 �by Tyco Prod

Area One (Love For All): Thomas Michael ( Teknoklub),�Jason Blakemore�(Life Music), Thee-O (Biohazard), Jason Dey (Phunked Up Recs),�Nic Nax�(Motivation LA),�Erick Brian�(Global Noize/Tyco), Decible Brothers (Nocturnal Rampage). Area Two (Heart Felt Bass):� RAW�x SDF-1 (B-boy 3000 / Dirty Deeds), Jo-S (Grapevinez/Asr Recs),�Hazen (Temple of Boom), Jayvon & MC XYZ (Temple of Boom),�Tony C�(Tyco), RH Factor (Drumz Network/NV),�TRYXx (Dirty Deeds Mafia). Area Three (Cupid Core): Joshua Hardcore *SF*� x�Kiddo (HC4TP / TYCO),�Michaels�x�Somatic�(HRE),�En3rgy�x� Delusion (Natas Rec.),�Arcid�x� Orise (So. Cali),�2b�Happy�x Liquid-NRG (CandyFlip/AMS). Located at the Alexandria, 501 S Spring St, Downtown L.A.. All ages, full bars for 21+.�8pm-5am. $25 door. Infoline 310.561.5996

www.ravelinks.com

[ferneynism2]

colemonkee, where is claude's panino located? i must try it. what are their hours?

I also would like to check this place out, looks yummy!!!!:tomato:

[ChrisLA]

Cool, I'm so excited about what is happening in downtown LA. I was a bit sad that I wouldn't be living in southern california to witness and experience the changes. Now things are falling in place after 3 years of under employment. I have a new well paying job starting Monday, so this helped in my decision to stay put. I'm so looking forward to checking out many of these new establishments. :banana:

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

great to hear that your staying in LA! With Long Beach and Downtown and Hollywood and Wilshire and CC, were gonna be loving life the next couple of years.

[badtz_00]

awesome pics ksep. I tried the Ube shake there recently and it is DELICIOUS!!!!! :P

[colemonkee]

colemonkee, where is claude's panino located? i must try it. what are their hours?

Claude's Panino is located in Santa Monica, but they deliver all over the city. They sent a delivery guy to my office in Culver City for over a year, but stopped all of the sudden with no explanation. If you want one of their sandwiches or salads (both are very good), they have most of them at Lost Soul's Cafe downtown, or a number of other stores like that. I'm just not sure what those other stores are.

But based on your pictures it looks like you already had one of their sandwiches...

chrisla, congrats on the well-paying job! :cheers: And more importantly, on staying in LA!

[ksep]

omg. i totally misread your post. i thought claude's panino is a new place in downtown, which is now your favorite spot. i didn't realize you were talking about lost souls cafe, haha.

so they are not making those sandwiches themself? that's a little bit of a turn off. but whatever, i'd still go back there.

[ksep]

multi post

[ksep]

multi post

[colemonkee]

I wouldn't let the fact that they don't make the sandwiches there turn you off. Most, if not all coffee house type places buy their baked goods and sandwiches from other local or regional businesses (cough-Starbucks-cough), but that doesn't make the products any less good or less fresh. I for one go to Lost Souls because they carry Claude's Panino sandwiches. They're really good, and not easy to find. Plus Lost Souls is a local business run by local residents. I always like to support those types of places. They just seem to try harder and have much more character.

EDIT - I just noticed that I wrote "less good". That grammar's so fantabulous, I'm leaving it in!

[citywatch]

Cool, I'm so excited about what is happening in downtown LA. I was a bit sad that I wouldn't be living in southern california to witness and experience the changes. Now things are falling in place after 3 years of under employment. I have a new well paying job starting Monday, so this helped in my decision to stay put.
Fantastic! You've had some of the best photo essays at SSP.

This board needs every LA/So CA person possible, or ppl who can post the latest news, describe their trips to various hoods & esp provide photo updates. However, I hope your new job doesn't mean you'll have less time than in the past to take shots of various hoods in So Ca, esp DTLA (or LB too).

[logandankr]

Went here (Lost Souls Cafe) Sunday night. Very cute place - in the back of an alley but they've hung lights and have some outdoor seating. I brought my dog and they brought out a water bowl for him. It wasn't crowded, but it did seem like they had a pretty steady stream of customers. Hope more places like this start opening up - sitting there in the alley made me feel like I was drinking a cappuccino in the village or paris. Could have done without the enormous (pigeon-sized) rat that kept creeping around outside, but i told the owners about it and they said they'd take care of it.

I wouldn't let the fact that they don't make the sandwiches there turn you off. Most, if not all coffee house type places buy their baked goods and sandwiches from other local or regional businesses (cough-Starbucks-cough), but that doesn't make the products any less good or less fresh. I for one go to Lost Souls because they carry Claude's Panino sandwiches. They're really good, and not easy to find. Plus Lost Souls is a local business run by local residents. I always like to support those types of places. They just seem to try harder and have much more character.

EDIT - I just noticed that I wrote "less good". That grammar's so fantabulous, I'm leaving it in!

[WesTheAngelino]

^ Went to Lost Souls on Saturday afternoon. It's now on my top ten list of places to go in LA. The panino....good god it was good. Definitely going back and bringing some friends with me.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Cool, I'm so excited about what is happening in downtown LA. I was a bit sad that I wouldn't be living in southern california to witness and experience the changes. Now things are falling in place after 3 years of under employment. I have a new well paying job starting Monday, so this helped in my decision to stay put. I'm so looking forward to checking out many of these new establishments. :banana:


Yay you're staying! :cheers:

[ChrisLA]

Yep I'm staying now, I had orientation yesterday, and my new boss told me not to come in aftewards and take it easy. I'll start tonight, and I hopefully I don't fall alsleep. It will take some getting used to working the graveyard shift, but I'm a night owl so I don't expect it to be a big problem. Besides I wanted this shift, less politics and I'll be working alone for the most part.

Citywatch I haven't retired from taking pictures, I will be posting more once I'm more settled in with my new job.

[citywatch]

This doesn't deal directly with nightlife in DT, but it does show the hood has more potential than what many ppl thought was the case until not too long ago:


Louie Feinstein, vice president of operations for Grill Concepts, said the company was lured to Downtown because of the area's recovery. "We believe we timed our opening perfectly for what was going on," he said, adding that the Downtown Daily Grill is now the most profitable of the chain's nine Los Angeles locations. "We hit it right and it's been great."


I've read that Roy's, which recently opened in DT, & the Palm restaurant, which has been operating in the hood for a few yrs, also have found that their DTLA locations are among the most successful in their chains.

[bobcat]

BUZZ CLUBS
Heidi Siegmund Cuda

March 23, 2006

Downtown getting an uptown feel

Now here's a match made in clubland heaven. Cedd Moses and Mitchell Frank are teaming up to open a live music venue in 2007. Although they're still
scoping out locations, here's why it's such good news: Moses, who brought us such fabulous and artistic watering holes as Liquid Kitty, Golden Gopher and Broadway Bar, is a big part of the drive to revitalize downtown. And Frank is the guy who put the Eastside on the map. His Spaceland and Echo nightclubs attract worldwide talent, not because they're state-of-the-art music facilities (to be sure, he takes funky dives and leaves them funky) but because he and his crew get first-rate talent.The duo plan to build a most excellent club, but don't worry, they're not going Hollywood. They're keeping it real and looking at downtown venues.

In more exciting downtown news, restaurateur Fred Eric's new Tiara Café is throwing a ballroom blitz hosted by Designers & Agents Friday night titled the "Feast Fantasy Ball." Eric, who teamed up with Don and Andy Camacho to create the new downtown restaurant and fresh food marketplace, is planning to open Tiara to the public on April 3.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ I was at a fashion show next to the grand opening of the Tiara, and let me tell u! we need to meld the fashion district with the westside of downtown! the two energetic centers are distinctly disparate, but there needs to be some kind of effort to bring the fashion world into all of Downtown LA. The energy at the CMC and Tiara Cafe gala was intense!

[ksep]

:previous: and where please was your camera to capture all that intensity?

ssp'rs should never leave for downtown without a camera :gaah: < i just love this emoticon. :haha:

[colemonkee]

You can't carry around a camera with you at all times. C'mon, we can only be skyscraper nerds, like 85% of the time. ;)

In more restaurant news, there's a new Vietnamese restaurant that just opened up on Main Street just south of 4th. It's in the building with the Regent Theater. That neighborhood is really coming into it's own.

http://www.blossomrestaurant.com/

[POLA]

My girlfriend's band, Que Sera (http://www.myspace.com/queseramusic), is playing Wen at 10 at Bar 107 (www.bar107.com). FREE before 9:30!!! $5 after. There will also be DJ's. Across the street from Lost Souls Cafe. So, I'll be there.

Also, does anyone know of some good local bars/coffee shops/ venues that have local rock/indie bands play at. We know about the trendy spots like the echo and spaceland. Maybe some more down to earth type places. Thanks.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

The fashion+club mix was hugely important to the revitalization of downtown Manhattan. It's definitely a good thing. I only wish there were a variety of hostels and non-SRO hotels in the Historic Core, especially along Lower Broadway/Spring.

BTW, I am growing incredibly impatient w. the revitalization of the Lower Historic Core. I thought more would be happening there by now. With the exception of the Eastern Columbia block, it seems like the building owners are very resistant to cleaning up that part of town. They need to start replacing the junk vendors with quality retail/restaurant spaces. Or if they're not going to replace the retail, at least clean up the ground floors, put up nice signs and awnings, and enforce rules about boombox decibel levels.

[colemonkee]

My girlfriend's band, Que Sera (http://www.myspace.com/queseramusic), is playing Wen at 10 at Bar 107 (www.bar107.com). FREE before 9:30!!! $5 after. There will also be DJ's. Across the street from Lost Souls Cafe. So, I'll be there.
So tomorrow night, huh? I'll be there.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

BTW, I am growing incredibly impatient w. the revitalization of the Lower Historic Core. I thought more would be happening there by now. With the exception of the Eastern Columbia block, it seems like the building owners are very resistant to cleaning up that part of town. They need to start replacing the junk vendors with quality retail/restaurant spaces. Or if they're not going to replace the retail, at least clean up the ground floors, put up nice signs and awnings, and enforce rules about boombox decibel levels.


here you go, some new stuff coming up according to Brady.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Grand Avenue, Parks - and Parking!
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_3622331

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2006/03/grand_ave_park.php

http://lavoice.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1661

There is understandable confusion about my testimony before the Grand Avenue Authority last Monday regarding parking spaces lost by the construction of the new Civic Park when my remarks were, by necessity, condensed into a single line.

My first point was that a major parking lot directly west of City Hall is going to be lost due to the speed with which the park’s plan is being developed.

The problem is that the park’s developer - The Related Companies - was just authorized to start planning the park last Monday (and their contract had originally called for them to start building the park by the end of this year) - even though none of the public agencies developing the overall plan had yet even publicly considered the possibility of putting of an underground garage under that site like the garages that currently exist under the other parts of the park.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that the project's EIR is still not completed and will not be complete for several more months.

And the construction of a garage is also not only not part of Related's scope of work - but Related does not even have the legal authority to even consider if or how such a public garage should be built there.

That is strictly a County/City decision.

To even more complicate the situation, due to the multi-agency jurisdiction of the land - and the multi-agency ownership for the some of the parcels - with the state, city and county individually and jointly owning parcels, there is no one single person or agency who has the ability to make this parking garage happen.

So, once I discovered this oversight at the previous meeting, I spoke with the County's parking people, LADOT - the City's major provider of parking downtown and the private developer who manages most of the County's parking facilities in the area to see if they could develop a joint financial plan for developing that garage.

Then at Monday’s meeting, the Grand Avenue Authority - rightly so - agreed that adding this garage's construction to their oversight would unduly complicate their already massive scope of work, so they suggested that talks be undertaken among the various parking providers – public and private - to see if a financial plan to build that garage can be developed in tandem with the process of planning and building the park - but as a totally legally separate project from the park.

And hopefully that can now happen.

As a side note, the reconstruction of the earthquake damaged county garage under the Courtyard of Flags block of the park (which is one block due west of the proposed new parking garage) will replace some - but not all of the parking spaces to be displaced in the lot west of City Hall.

Now as for when I was quoted as saying that thousands of spaces were being lost within one block, I was NOT referring to spaces lost by the construction the park and I did NOT mean just within one block, but due to the extreme complexity of the situation I was trying to explain in a few minutes, I can understand the confusion.

When I first mentioned within one block of the park, I was mainly referring to the new Police Headquarters now being constructed, the new Federal Court House about be built and the fact that old Hall of Justice will likely become the new County Sheriff’s headquarters.

And these projects have already displaced several large surface parking lots. Further compounding the problem, while each of these buildings will have parking garages - 100% of those spaces will be reserved - for security reasons - for government employees - and none of the public coming to those buildings will be allowed to park in them.

So not only do we lose existing spaces, but there will be a considerable demand for parking created by each of those three high rise buildings that will not be met by these projects. That is what I primarily meant when I said that one block of the park - and that is not what my several thousand parking spaces figure was meant to append.

When I was referring to the thousands of parking spaces, I meant to refer to the slightly larger area surrounding the park and - not just the one block - since virtually every surface lot in the area is slated for high rise development.

Plus in the adjacent Historic Core area not only are virtually all surface lots being lost - but right now three parking garages are in escrow that will be torn down and several more are going to have high rises built on top of them, after which those now public parking spaces will be turned into private spaces for those condo projects.

However, since most of these projects have not only not been made been public yet, and since most people are not even aware that those properties are in escrow, no one involved in the planning process for the area now has the necessary information to fully understand just how critical the parking shortage is about to become in the Civic Center/Historic Core area of downtown.

Added to that, long term contracts are also being negotiated by developers of adaptive reuse loft buildings for existing parking garages and even some surface lots, further reducing the amount of parking spaces open to the public. And - again - none of this loss of public parking is being factored into the debate on parking within the affected area.

Then when you add the parking needs that will be created by a civic park regularly attracting thousands of people to events - you can see the scope of the problem facing this area.

Next, the second point I made at the hearing - and which I feel is an even more important one - was not addressed in any of the articles - and that is the nature of the civic plaza proposed in front of City Hall.

As of right now, all civic celebrations will be held on the steps of City Hall facing the park west of City Hall. And this will necessitate the closure of Spring Street every time any event is held.

Now since Spring Street is a main feeder of bus lines to Union Station, each time this happens, it completely disrupts bus service throughout the central part of the city - and causes missed connections not only throughout downtown - but as far away as Hollywood and Koreatown since each affected bus line runs later and later due to the increasing congestion.

Then by the end of the event, the near-by left hand turn lanes have as many as ten buses backed up trying to make the detour around the street closures.

So any time there is a major public event - between bus and car traffic being gridlocked throughout the area - the public has a very difficult time getting to that event. But once another 100,000 people are living and working downtown a couple decades from now - it will result in total gridlock - unless we address this problem - now.

Additionally, having civic events in the middle of a street simply isn't... very civic. So what I have proposed is that a bridge be built from the first landing of steps from City Hall over Spring - and Spring would be dropped five or six meet to provide proper clearance below the bridge - to create a proper civic plaza that would extend from City Hall's west steps across Spring and clear up to Broadway.

This would then be true civic gathering spot that will NOT create traffic deadlock during each event and it will allow thus the public to actually get to the event.

And, ideally the construction of at least the basic infrastructure for this civic plaza should be concurrent with the parking garage, since when one is excavating and building retaining walls for the garage, one can also lower Spring Street at the same time, creating a considerable savings.

But - again - this is no way part of the scope of work for the park’s developer - Related. It has nothing to do with the present design process of the park. So this needs to be a joint City/County effort which needs to start planning... now.

I might add that the LA Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne has already come out in favor of this civic plaza/bridge as has Bud Ovrom in the past when he was the head of the CRA.

Now as for as how to pay for this - that was addressed in the third point I made at the last two hearings.

Right now, the 501c3 that is scheduled to run the completed park does not exist and there is no legal mechanism to accept private donations for the park. There is also no legal mechanism to offer naming rights to donors for projects within the park - such as the civic plaza, a band shell or larger park amenities that are not now planned for the first phase of the park.

So that foundation - or at least a temporary mechanism - needs to be set up now so that the park can be planned properly and so that a Civic Plaza can be created that does not gridlock downtown every single time a civic event is held.

In closing – as you can see – when a reporter has one line to cover what I had to say - 99% of what I had to say had to be left out. But the great news is that Troy Anderson’s Daily News article has - finally - created a true public debate on how our new civic park needs to be developed.

# posted by Brady Westwater @ 9:15 AM

[LongBeachUrbanist]

^ Thanks, I read that earlier this morning. I got the impression he was talking about some new projects near the OBD, near Grand Square Park. I'm very intrigued by the possibility of new high-rises replacing parking structures, but I share his concern about the disappearance of so many parking spaces, that it could kill the Downtown boom.

What I was referring to was projects farther south, below say 5th Street, i.e., between 5th and Olympic. Although I'm happy about how focused all of the development has been in Downtown, esp. around the OBD, I'm honestly surprised that the southern part of the Historic Core hasn't really had the same success in becoming a focal point of development.

[dcmcgov]

I'm very intrigued by the possibility of new high-rises replacing parking structures, but I share his concern about the disappearance of so many parking spaces, that it could kill the Downtown boom.

I'm hearing this concern voiced more and more frequently, but I couldn't disagree more. I think this is just what L.A. needs: an urban core that obtains what other L.A. hot spots don't: Foot Traffic, by elimating what other L.A. hotspots have too much of: Vehicle Traffic.
I do not live in downtown, but when I go there, I take the Gold Line and walk around (albeit, not at night quite yet). I think it is a bold step to replace parking with high rises in car-dependant L.A., but I think it is a needed step to reclaim a pedestrian urbanity in our downtown.
What do you think?

[LosAngelesBeauty]

My dream of having those County Buildings torn down are coming true!!!!!!!!!

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

100%???? please link something official, although i obviously trust you. This is great news.

[bobcat]

In more restaurant news, there's a new Vietnamese restaurant that just opened up on Main Street just south of 4th. It's in the building with the Regent Theater. That neighborhood is really coming into it's own.

http://www.blossomrestaurant.com/

The early buzz on this place at Chowhound is positive and that business is brisk. A great addition for the area.


My dream of having those County Buildings torn down are coming true!!!!!!!!!

Please elaborate! (And it would probably be better if you replied on the Grand Ave Project thread.;))

[citywatch]

I read this & have to say that making hoods 12 miles east of Sawtelle, towards DT, successful & popular isn't coming a second too soon. That's esp true when Little Tokyo is considered one of the more ppl & sidewalk friendly parts of DT.



It's another jammed weekend night at one of the best-loved clubs on a three-block stretch of Sawtelle Boulevard in West L.A., and the scene at Karaoke Bleu is indicative of the area's multicultural appeal...Sawtelle is sometimes called Little Osaka and is still deeply Japanese, with its nurseries and Buddhist temples and boba tea shops, but it is experiencing what many are calling a third phase in its identity.

"It's thriving. Period. I think that's a great thing, in itself," says Audrey Shiomi, 29, a reporter for L.A. Japanese-language newspaper the Rafu Shimpo. She grew up mere blocks away from Sawtelle, and her parents and grandparents still live there.

"It's indicative of the changes in the Japanese community," she adds. Her office, she explains, is in Little Tokyo, where the story is much different. "Little Tokyo is already pretty much dead. We're a struggling community out here. People look at our institutions, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and the Japanese American Citizens League, and think that it's still very strong. But compared to before, you just don't see people walking on the street on the weekends, coming here to go to the Japanese market."

Sawtelle's Nijiya Market, by contrast, is jammed on weekends.

[colemonkee]

My dream of having those County Buildings torn down are coming true!!!!!!!!!
:tup: Great news, man! Is there any way you can elaborate on this?

[LongBeachUrbanist]

"Little Tokyo is already pretty much dead. We're a struggling community out here. People look at our institutions, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and the Japanese American Citizens League, and think that it's still very strong. But compared to before, you just don't see people walking on the street on the weekends, coming here to go to the Japanese market."

Sawtelle's Nijiya Market, by contrast, is jammed on weekends.

It's no secret DTLA has been struggling for many years, and Little Tokyo is no exception. In addition, the Japanese population that has held on is aging, so the institutions aren't as relevant to the younger generation.

I think its important to see the general progress, and then figure out what specifically can be done to draw younger Japanese to Downtown. I think a dense, vibrant urban environment is key.

But most of all, I'd like to see the local ethnic leadership (e.g., Japanese Chamber of Commerce) show some foresight and push for more modern, youthful amenities in the area, rather than more retirement communities, monuments and knick-knack shops.

What businesses would appeal to Japanese youth? Video arcades? Technology stores? More clothing stores? Famima? Hip restaurants (as opposed to stuffy old-person joints)? I can't answer this, but somebody in Little Tokyo should.

[citywatch]

It's no secret DTLA has been struggling for many years, and Little Tokyo is no exception.
It's the logical result of yrs & yrs of burbanization, where ppl with $$ have moved farther & farther away from the ctr of LA. In that respect, LA has a lot in common with those cities that also have ended up very burban strong, very urban weak.

A lot of this is because too many hoods in or around DT never were nice enough in the first place, & it's far easier for ppl to walk away from places like that than those they really respect & care about. That's why the ongoing devlpt of new condos, apts & lofts is so important. Those projs really represent the first time ever that better quality housing, at least beyond a token handful, has been introduced to DT.

[ksep]

SUMMER IN THE CITY !!!

http://www.giantvillage.com/ :banana: :omg: :tomato: :drummer: :eeekk: :rock: :cucumber: :dancing: :thrasher: :leek: :apple: :upload_71700: :pepper: :rainbow: :awesome: :fruit:

[LongBeachUrbanist]

^ Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

[ksep]

well, with a little luck it wont sprinkle this time around ;)

as sketchy and dubious the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the past nye event were, it should also be recognized that GIANT has a long and solid track record in pulling of club events of similar scale.

[ferneynism2]

[QUOTE=ksep]well, with a little luck it wont sprinkle his time around ;)



^What are the chances........ Anyhow something to look forward to. All I need is more eeeeeeeeeeeeemotions!!!!

[LosAngelesBeauty]

I wonder if you can use the tickets from the last cancelled event to go to this one??? :)

[blogdowntown]

I wonder if you can use the tickets from the last cancelled event to go to this one??? :)

That's at least what they're telling the people who still haven't gotten their money back from New Years.

http://blogdowntown.com/blog/2104#c4653

The way Giant has handled the entire New Years fiasco makes me very wary about Downtown streets being given over to them again. The City better demand their payments upfront.