There aren’t many kids downtown (yet), but residents do love their babies of the canine variety. We found a few four-legged locals and some pup-friendly spots.
Photographs by Christina Gandolfo
Bowie
Will Beg For: A walk through Grand Park—on leash, of course! 227 N. Spring St.
hat a difference a year makes. The patch of Broadway adjacent to the fashion district was once a hodgepodge of faded theaters and dusty discount stores that sold quinceañera gowns and cheap luggage. Then came Urban Outfitters and the Ace Hotel, two powerful businesses that gave global brands the confidence to set up shop. Here are a few luxury boutiques braving the retail frontier. —Nancy Miller
Thanks to the ambitious Bringing Back Broadway campaign, a street that was lost in the past gets a makeover By Linda Immediato
Acne Studios
855 S. Broadway
When the Swedish retailer opened in the Eastern Columbia Building in late 2013, style mavens were intrigued. The 5,000-square-foot location is the company’s first West Coast effort and its largest store to date. Young Hollywood trendsetters flock to Acne’s racks of metallic suits and brightly colored dresses that line the pink terrazzo and blue carpeted floors. What to buy: The printed leather moto jacket is the signature piece owned by every seasoned fashion blogger. Nobody has to know that the only runways you’ve seen are the ones at LAX.
Aesop
862 S. Broadway
Sure, the nearby Walgreens suffices for Q-tips and TP, but no drugstore offerings can top a body lotion made from more exotic plants than those found in the flower district. The Australian apothecary rejuvenated an old check-cashing place in May, and since then its amber bottles of shampoo and tubes of exfoliants with natural ingredients have helped give the hood more polish. What to buy: Post-Poo Drops (created in collaboration with A.P.C.) are a modern miracle. The citrus- and floral-scented oils dissipate the most disagreeable bathroom odors—which can prove useful when you need impromptu relief from some of downtown’s sour smells.
Tanner Goods
860 S. Broadway
The area’s rough edges can make some men switch to survival mode. It’s Tanner Goods to the rescue. The Portland, Oregon-based company’s stock-in-trade is its refined Paul Bunyan style rendered in high-quality handcrafted leather bags, belts, wallets, and other accessories. The store also sells dog collars and leashes for the manly man’s best friend. What to buy: A stowable boot bag sleekly protects the rest of the items in your weekender from a pair of mud-caked boots. Remember: You’re an urban lumberjack and you’re OK.
Oak
910 S. Broadway
The New York City-based clothier recently brought its monochromatic minimalism to the area with a 2,200-square-foot space in Tarina Tarantino’s Sparkle Factory (formerly the Western Costume Co. building). Besides the brand’s signature line of cheeky slogan T-shirts, Goth-chic types go for the more out-there pieces from Costume National and the edgy streetwear from Won Hundred. What to buy: A peekaboo swimsuit by KORE will come in handy when you head to the rooftop pool at the Ace Hotel for an afternoon dip.
Unseen DTLA: Tower Theater
802 S. Broadway
The baroque movie palace was built in 1927 and closed after 60 years. Later it appeared as a popular movie location, serving as a nightclub in The Mambo Kings and as a backdrop in Fight Club. Longtime owner Ezat Delijani (who operated several theaters, including the nearby Palace) passed away in 2011. His heirs have applied for permits to turn these unused venues into nearly a dozen bars and lounges.
A neighborhood that was established in 1938 and is still referred to as “New Chinatown” is telling: Change along the pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare Chung King Road happens slowly. But the cautious addition of a bar here and a gallery there has its benefits; the area has strategically preserved the old while ushering in the new. Case in point—Roy Choi (of Kogi food truck fame) relocated his first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Chego!, from Palms to downtown in 2013. “The community has accepted me as one of their own,” Choi says. “The grandmas still elbow me on the street on their way to the market. All is good here. I’m living the dream.” Among other projects in development, Blossom Plaza, a 237-unit mixed-use building, just began construction. Get acquainted with your future favorite hangout.
Hot summer days mean flip-flops, floral parasols, and fresh ice cream from one of the city’s best parlors. Get two scoops for three bucks—that’s a sweet deal.
The exclamation point is Roy Choi’s, but we share his enthusiasm for rice dishes like the Chubby Pork Belly bowl. Its Far East Plaza location puts it dangerously close to Scoops.
The pop-up restaurant is sticking around, with lunch served inside the Far East Plaza and dinner at Grand Star Jazz Club. Go for the Vietnamese minced beef.
This Chinese apothecary-style bar, a former celebrity haunt in the heart of Chinatown, serves funky (and fungi) twists on classic cocktails, including an old-fashioned with reishi mushrooms.
Bartenders here know their history. The cocktail menu has a rye-based drink called Little Italy in Chinatown—a nod to the neighborhood’s origins as an Italian district in the 19th century.
Tacky and tactile, velvet paintings have gone beyond the garage sale and into this storefront museum, which opened in 2013. Owners Carl Anderson and Caren Baldwin have amassed a collection of more than 400 far-out pieces. 711 New High St.
Paige Wery, former publisher of Artillery magazine, opened this art space for amateurs and outsiders. One show included the debut work of a 103-year-old sculptor.
Nearly 70 years old, the music venue is still in the swing of things, featuring an eclectic groove of jazz acts, hip-hop and R&B nights, and retro-French pop parties.
Bar Jackalope The cozy back bar inside Seven Grand is for the most serious swillers of whiskey. There are 120 varieties, including rarities like Pappy and Balvenie Tun 1401. » 515 W. 7th St., 213-614-0736.
Invention Nothing’s more refreshing than a postworkout cocktail, but only Los Angeles Athletic Club members have access to the 100-year-old bar with a brand-new cocktail program. » 431 W. 7th St., 213-625-2211.
Ham & Eggs Tavern Low-key can be hard to find in L.A., which is why we love this unassuming live music venue. » 433 W. 8th St., 213-891-6939.
Packed with Flavor
Once a food wasteland, this humble strip is abloom with great restaurants By Daniela Galarza
When Bottega Louie opened at 7th and Grand in 2009, the intersection in front of the 225-seat restaurant and patisserie was so neglected, it didn’t have a streetlight, never mind a $20 artichoke pizza. Bar maestro Cedd Moses had primed the block for a lively drinking scene with Seven Grand just a few years earlier, but a single malt goes down smoother before or after a nice meal. Bottega Louie’s success has inspired several new restaurants, many a macaron’s throw away. There are more in development, including Red Bird, a culinary collaboration between restaurant investor Bill Chait (Rivera, Bestia) and BLD’s Neal Fraser.
Thrills and Gills → Q Hiroyuki Naruke offers only 26 seats, making his 20-course Edo-style sushi (a technique dating to the 1700s) experience as intimate as the fish is flavorful. 521 W. 7th St., 213-225-6285.
→ Sugarfish Popular chef Kazunori Nozawa added this gem (the chain’s third) to the jewelry district. 600 W. 7th St., 213-627-3000.
Latin Class → Más Malo The crispy beef-and-pickle tacos are just as addictive as they are at the Silver Lake location, but here they’re slightly groovier. 515 W. 7th St., 213-985-4332.
→ Mo-Chica Alpaca stew? Don’t knock it till you’ve tried Ricardo Zarate’s Peruvian home-style cooking. 514 W. 7th St., 213-622-3744.
Boba Fete → Boba 7 (aka Labobatory) In the back of the casual and consistently crowded Thai restaurant Soi 7 is one of L.A.’s most distinctive speakeasies: a cocktail bar that makes drinks with sweet tapioca-ball tea as the main ingredient. 518 W. 7th St. 213-538-8022
Unseen DTLA: Trinity Auditorium
831 S. Grand Ave.
A century ago architect Thornton Fitzhugh created the beaux arts building for the Methodist church. News reports at the time noted that the nine-story house of worship also had a hotel, cafeteria, rooftop garden, library, gymnasium, smoking room, bowling alley, nursery, barbershop, and hospital as well as 16 club rooms. After the building closed, the property was sold to the New York-based Chetrit Group in 1998. Plans for its restoration seem to be on hold. Chetrit also owns the shuttered Clark Hotel and Giannini Place nearby.
Perch L.A. Feel on top of the world (while overlooking Bunker Hill) at the Parisian-style rooftop lounge with nonpareil views of the city. » 448 S. Hill St., 213-802-1770.
Honeycut Bartenders love to boogie down at the late-night discotheque, so it’s got to be good. » 819 S. Flower St., 213-688-0888.
Sixth Street Tavern Is it beer before liquor or liquor before beer? The answer here is both—at the same time—with “beer-tails” like the Rumnesiac, which is rum mixed with Indian Pale Ale. » 630 W. 6th St., 213-614-1900.
Unseen DTLA: Variety Arts Center
940 S. Figueroa St.
Built in 1924, the five-story clubhouse was best known as the Variety Arts Center during the 1970s. In the ’90s, it was a music venue before closing in 2009. Robhana Management bought it in 2012 and plans to reopen it next year.
Center of Attention
The financial district is home to its first mall in decades. Blogger Brigham Yen of DTLA Rising explains why the city’s core needs a suburban staple
The restaurants and the cool chefs are what put downtown on the map, but there were no heavy-hitter retailers. The arrival of City Target in October 2012 was a milestone. We were dancing in the streets because we could finally buy a mop. Before that, you had to go to Hollywood or Pasadena. Then it was, “OK, what about some big retailers?” When I learned that Zara and H&M were opening their flagship stores—the biggest in Southern California—I thought, “Wow.” Name brands attract the masses, and indie businesses can feed off of the people coming into downtown.
Malls have a bad rap in the United States, like they belong in the San Fernando Valley and the other suburbs, not in a city center. I’m from a Taiwanese background. When I visit my dad in Taiwan, there are malls everywhere in Taipei, which is as urban as it gets. I also hear complaints from downtown people about certain businesses—if they don’t shop there, they don’t want them. But that’s not a holistic way of looking at the long-term planning. There should be a Big Lots and a Prada. If it’s too high-end, it turns into Beverly Hills. Too low, and it becomes slummy. You need a balance. Streets like Broadway and Hill were the “high streets” of Los Angeles in the 1930s. The influx of stores is just bringing the neighborhood back to what it used to be.
Don’t Call It A Food Court
You won’t find a Panda Express inside Taste, the dining area on the ground floor of FIGat7th. Instead the cafeteria space features mini versions of (mostly) L.A. restaurants. Grab a bite at one of these spots By Daniela Galarza
The Melt San Francisco’s Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina is behind the pit stop for gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and creamy tomato soup.
The Flying Pig Cafe The food truck has expanded, selling pork, tofu, and fish-stuffed buns and pulled-pork sandwiches that will leave fingerprints all over those new Sunglass Hut shades.
Juicy Lucy Paul Shoemaker fills his organic burger patties with cheddar and American cheese. McDonald’s, we hardly knew ye.
Oleego Korean-style barbecue bowls are the star at this offshoot of Park’s BBQ in K-town.
Photographs courtesy: Sixth Street Tavern, Variety Arts Center: Squire Fox; The Melt: facebook.com/TheMelt; The Flying Pig Cafe: flickr.com/ricardodiaz11; Juicy Lucy: facebook.com/JuicyLucyLA; Oleego: facebook.com/Oleego
Wolf & Crane Tired of ten-ingredient cocktails squeezed into four-ounce glasses? You’ll enjoy the simple approach at the Little Tokyo bar that serves its spirits mostly with soda, on the rocks and in a highball glass. » 366 E. 2nd St., 213-935-8249.
Eat.Drink.Americano The chalkboard walls and exposed-wood beams decorating the two-year-old gastropub add some spot-on ambience to the neighborhood, as does the extensive California craft beer and wine list. » 923 E. 3rd St., 213-620-0781.
XLanes LA Calling it a “bowling alley” doesn’t quite capture the 50,000-square-foot entertainment complex, which features private karaoke rooms, nine billiards tables, and an arcade. Factor in the full bar, with 25 beers on tap, and you may never leave. » 333 S. Alameda St., 213-229-8910.
Unseen DTLA: Hills Bros. Building
635 Mateo St.
San Francisco-based Hills Bros. Coffee built its headquarters here in 1929, just half a block from Nabisco’s headquarters, whose offices became the Biscuit Lofts in 2007. The Moorish fortress has been a popular TV and film location for decades; it made a gritty appearance on CSI: NY and had a cameo in Child’s Play 2, starring Chucky, the freakish doll.
Broad Strokes
Ask Chris columnist Chris Nichols offers a quick history of the arts district from its industrial heyday to its hip rebirth
Which streets define the arts district? The specific boundaries were codified in 2007: A rectangular section—just east of Alameda Street, north of 7th Street, south of the 10 freeway, and bordering the L.A. River—is mapped out as the arts district. Some people home in on the more established blocks around 3rd Street and Traction Avenue as its epicenter.
When was its industrial heyday? The factories were built in the 1870s and kept humming until after World War II, when manufacturing moved a few miles south. A loft development on Factory Place once housed a fish smokery. The L.A. Art Share building, on Hewitt, was a rag factory. The Robert Arranaga produce company, which sold crates of lettuce, is now Angel City Brewery.
When did the area become an artists’ enclave? Beginning in the early ’70s, artists looking for lots of space and cheap rent moved into the empty industrial buildings. Steve Seemayer, a painter and longtime resident, remembers paying five cents per square foot for the third floor of a display-case factory. In 1981, the city passed an “artist in residence” ordinance, legalizing the use of creative live/work spaces. As interest in the vintage buildings grew, real estate developers began converting factories into pricey lofts for non-artists, who coveted open floor plans, large windows, and exposed-brick walls.
Do artists still live there, or is it now filled only with rich poseurs? A creative class is thriving, but the days of the starving sculptor who has 30,000 square feet are long gone. The area around 7th and Mateo streets skipped the raw-artist moment entirely, going from abandoned loading docks to a trendy neighborhood with a Handsome Coffee Roasters.
Master Class
You’ve done the Art Walk, the gallery tour, and the bar crawl. There are plenty of arts district spots you should experience next, from creative spaces to grown-up arcades. By Elina Shatkin
Poketo Nearly a decade after establishing a quirky design firm that became famous for its funky foldover wallets, Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan opened a shop full of bright, playful tchotchkes and housewares. Claire Vivier clutches are displayed along with colorful notebooks and commissioned items from a roster of international artists. » 820 E. 3rd St., 213-537-0751.
Woo Souvenir Shop Staci Woo launched her line of sandals, soft cotton and linen loungewear, and children’s threads in 1997, but she didn’t open her storefront until late 2013. Located on a side street, the place is easy to miss—but Woo’s mostly California-made finery is hard to forget. » 209 S. Garey St., 213-687-4800.
Apolis: Common Gallery Whether it’s leather sandals made in Israel, scarves woven in India, or messenger bags constructed in Uganda, this shop feels like a global bazaar and acts like one, too. Brothers Raan and Shea Parton, who founded the business in 2004, partner with manufacturers from around the world to connect stylish menswear with sustainable commerce. The space also hosts exhibitions and lectures. » 806 E. 3rd St., 213-613-9626.
The Unique Space After turning Unique L.A., a marketplace for independent artisans, into one of the city’s most popular biannual events, Sonja Rasula wanted to foster a more permanent community. She turned an 18,000-square-foot building into a creative hive, with 14 studios and enough room for 60 people to work. » 1275 E. 6th St., 213-486-9821.
EightyTwo Go full tilt at the pinball machines or relive the glory of 16-bit graphics with a round of Centipede at this new arcade (top). The place offers 40-plus old-school video games, where you can relish one of childhood’s greatest pleasures while sipping an adult beverage from the full bar. » 707 E. 4th Pl., 213-626-8200.
Knott’s Berry Farm debuted the newly improved Calico Mine Train this morning and I was thrilled to take a ride. Yee-haw! What an adventure – that little railroad is as sweet as Cordelia Knott’s boysenberry pie. Even with a dramatic renovation that dug deep into the 54-year old mountain, replacing all the ancient works with hidden tech, the enhanced theming department at Knott’s did a tremendous job rebuilding the classic dark ride while keeping the mood intact. Like all good restorations, that work is invisible behind new scenes that feel more alive and authentic than ever. Walter Knott loved the desert ghost town of Calico so much he bought it in the 1950s and made it into a roadside attraction. Back in Buena Park, every robot miner has dramatically come to life, and every color is brighter and more intense. You can finally see all 8000 stalactites and stalagmites and hear their lovely organ song. Steam and explosions and bubbling water engage all the senses. The glory hole has never been more glorious.
The whole park seems to be heading back to its rural roots. New trails, splashier waterfalls, and barrels of cactus go a long way towards the suspension of disbelief and help put you in the imaginary Old West town of Walter Knott’s dreams.
The Camp Snoopy theming is so extreme that Snoopy himself will come tuck you into bed in special rooms at the refurbished Hotel. That might be a little much, but I’m elated that Knott’s has finally seen the light and invested in renewing the classic attractions (the Timber Mountain Log Ride was rehabbed last year), enhancing their art department, and even snagging Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies from their competition in Anaheim. Here’s hoping next year brings a waxed moustache melodrama to the Bird Cage Theater.
There’s a downside to binge-watching: the come-down. What’s left after a weekend-long marathon of your newest addiction? What do you do?
We’re already planning for the aftermath of Orange is the New Black season two, which drops on Friday (June 6). Based on the memoir of Piper Kerman, a self-described WASP who landed in prison after laundering money for her then-girlfriend, the show stars Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman who’s trying to maintain her marriage on the outside while avoiding trouble on the inside during her stint in jail.
Once you’re done with OITNB, here are five other prison shows to bunk with.
5. Prison Break The central premise of Prison Break, which ended in 2009 after four seasons, involves a successful architect quitting his job, tattooing an elaborate map of the prison his brother is incarcerated in on his body, and committing a felony that lands him in the same cell block. If that synopsis doesn’t sell you on it, we don’t know what will.
4. Prisoners’ Wives Prisoners’ Wives is at times gut wrenching, but it’s performed in that uniquely British tone that suggests most problems should be met with a stiff upper lip and a hot cup of tea. The show follows the travails of four women from different social backgrounds who all have husbands in jail. You may recognize tough guy gangster Paul Miller, who’s played by Iain Glen (Jorah mormont) from Game of Thrones. Prisoners’ Wives is a BBC 1 production, but there are rumors of an American adaptation in the works.
3. The Prisoner The Prisoner is one of the most humorous and intellectually curious portraits of incarceration in TV history. The iconic show, which ran from ’67 to ‘68, stars Patrick McGoohan, who also wrote and directed several episodes, as a secret agent abducted to a remote seaside village and left to solve the mystery of his own disappearance. The show’s postmodern bona fides abound, from the fact that McGoohan’s previous starring role was as the titular Danger Man on the early ‘60s Scottish secret agent drama to its sharp commentary on the events of the day and trippy visual style.
2. Oz Like its fictional namesake, Oz is a surreal and at times terrifying world (but with fewer songs, demon monkeys or friendly anthropomorphized creatures). HBO’s drama, which ran for six seasons in the late ‘90s/early aughts, follows the life and times of an ensemble cast behind bars in a maximum security prison in New York. It can be incredibly brutal, and if you’ve ever wanted to see what Christopher Meloni of Law & Order: SVU looks like on the other side of the justice system, here’s your chance.
1. Rectify Set in a small town in Georgia, Rectify follows Daniel (Aden Young), a thirty-something man who was falsely convicted of murder at age 18 and has spent all of his adult life on death row—until his release in the first episode. Rectify is affecting, beautifully acted, and encourages viewers to question the death penalty and our system of incarceration. The show’s first season aired on SundanceTV last year. The second season premieres later this summer.
Los Angelesmagazine and Concern Foundation invite you to “Fiesta GrandeCelebración de Vida” honoring the founding partners of Partners Trust Real Estate Brokerage and Acqusitions Nick Segal, F. Ron Smith, Richard Sterns and Hugh Evens III and Jackly Smith and celebrating
The event will feature musical entertainment and dancing from four different stages with performances from Cartaya’s Enclave, Trios Ellas, Jose Garcia and The Love Experience, Caro Pierotto and Marbella plus D’City Sound with MC Dwayne; casino style gaming; interactive activities; live auction featuring travel destinations and one-of-a-kind opportunities; silent auction with over 150 great items and packages; digital photo booth by Brian Kramer Photography; spa services by Marinello Schools of Beauty; wine, beer and specialty drink tastings; and samplings from over 60 of LA’s finest restaurant, beverage and dessert vendors including:
RESTAURANTS Abigaile Akasha Bar Hayama BLVD 16 Breadbar California Sushi Academy Casablanca Restaurant Clif/Luna Bar Crustacean Dia de Campo DOMA Restaurant Factor’s Famous Deli Fogo de Chao Freshology Goldie’s LA Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz Il Cielo Lawry’s Catering Lenny’s Deli Little Sister M Café Maria’s Italian Kitchen Mr. Ardi’s Catering Pink’s Hot Dogs Porta Via Public School on Tap Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Samba Brazilian Steakhouse Savore Cuisine & Events Schaffer’s Genuine Foods Seasons 52 Slater’s 50/50 SITK – Someone’s in the Kitchen Star King BBQ State Social House Stonefire Grill Sushi Roku TAKE A BAO Tanino Ristorante & Via Alloro Restaurant
Tavern The Capital Grill The Glendon Bar & Kitchen The Grill on the Alley The Mark for Events The Urban Oven Wildcraft Sourdough Pizza
BEVERAGES Adam Carolla’s Mangria Asahi Beer U.S.A., Inc. Ca di Frara Oltrepo Pavese CocaCola Products Fireman’s Brew Grand Avenue Coffee J. Malcolm Riddle Ludlows Cocktail Co. Michelob Ultra Pasquini Espresso Co. Reed’s Ginger Brews Stella Artois Tito’s Handmade Vodka Veev Acai Spirit Ventura Limoncello Company Weaver’s Coffee and Tea
DESSERTS ChocoBoost Cookies for a Koz Dandy Don’s Homemade Ice Cream DeLuscious Cookies & Milk Gluten Free Goddess La Provence Patisserie Marino Ristorante Rita’s Italian Ice Se’La Vi Sweets Sweets for the Soul Sugarfina
To participate in the silent auction with over 150 great items and packages visit blockpartyla.org
Experience theBest of LA® 2014 on Los Angeles magazine’s street with
A Mercedes-Benz interactive lounge
An ARIA Resort & Casino photo booth
A Stella Artois beer garden
Servings of artisan coffee from Grand Avenue Coffee
Tasty snacks compliments of Clif and Luna Bar
Manicures from Nail in Your Room
Saturday, July 12 6:00pm Paramount Studios 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood
For ticket information, please visit www.concernfoundation.org or call 310-360-6100 Ticket price: $400
Join us on May 27 as we celebrate L.A.’s 75 Best Restaurants with an exclusive collaborative dinner at our #1 spot, A.O.C. Chef Suzanne Goin will be joined by chef Jessica Koslow of Sqirl (#7) for a family-style feast that honors not just two of the highest ranking spots in our May issue cover story, “The 75 Best Restaurants in L.A.,” but also the women chefs that are currently ruling the local food scene.
What: The intimate, 35-person event will include a unique collaborative family-style meal with dishes cooked by Suzanne Goin and Jessica Koslow, a signature Flor de Caña rum cocktail by A.O.C. barman Christiaan Rollich, and optional wine pairings by A.O.C.’s co-owner and James Beard Award-nominated sommelier, Caroline Styne. Los Angeles magazine dine editor Lesley Suter and Digest blog editor Garrett Snyder will also be in attendance. When: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. Where:A.O.C., 8700 W. 3rd St., L.A. Price: $65 per person (not inclusive of tax and gratuity), wine pairings are an additional $20 How: Call A.O.C. for reservations at 310-859-9859. A credit card number will be required to hold your spot.
hat a difference a year makes. The patch of Broadway adjacent to the fashion district was once a hodgepodge of faded theaters and dusty discount stores that sold quinceañera gowns and cheap luggage. Then came Urban Outfitters and the Ace Hotel, two powerful businesses that gave global brands the confidence to set up shop. Here are a few luxury boutiques braving the retail frontier. —Nancy Miller
