Twenty Years: I'd Still Like that Cafe
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I pass the Los Angeles Theatre Center two days a week taking the DASH to Union Station. It's a fascinating building; the classic bank architecture is contrasted against a modern addition and a 1980's sci-fi font. But it's also a troubled building, even leaving aside the management issues. The front of the LATC has to be close to number one in terms of the number of bums hanging around out front. Supposedly "plans" are in the works, but, well, plans have been in the works forever. It's interesting to read some of the newspaper quotes from a couple decades ago...
From a September 1985 LA Times article just after the center's expansion:
The facade of the bank building has been left alone, except for the addition of a modest logo for the center and two immodest lampposts (happily, to be replaced). Also left alone, unfortunately, is the brutalistic concrete facade of the addition. Though well scaled, the facade needs the sidewalk cafe that has been designed to go there, and/or some plantings, to soften it. Also needed for some character and identity-if not tradition-is a marquee, or at least a kiosk.
Sidewalk cafe? That sounds cool. Tell me more:
"If this place works the way I think, the (the outdoor) Terrace Cafe will eventually be open to the wee hours of the dawn and people are going to sit out there and discuss what they've seen in these theaters, talk about what's hanging on the walls, or simply argue over their chess game."
(from an article four days earlier, quoting theatre director Bill Bushnell)
Who knows, maybe twenty years is the charm.
Does anyone know if the cafe was ever there, and then closed? Or did it just never happen? I've got my money on the latter, but I'd like to be told I'm wrong.
Don GArza on February 16, 2005, at 07:51PM – #1
Don't worry Eric. ONce that builing on the corner of 5th and spring is opened up . Your" bums" will not be there for long. I use nofels's pharmacy across the street and I watch how folks sit there and but crack. I ahve even watched the police try and move one person who had lit a pipe . It was sort of funny. But not.
celia on February 16, 2005, at 10:08PM – #2
There is a nice restaurant with tables on the sidewalk right across the street from the LATC, right next to the pharmacy that Don mentioned. I go there all the time, but the name escapes me right now. I think it's called La Parilla? In any case, they've got the sidewalk tables behind ivy-covered lattice fences, the seafood is wonderful (really good shrimp cocktail), it draws good lunchtime crowds but is open until 9pm. Don't wait for that cafe to enjoy dining al fresco, just use the ones that are already around.
e; on February 16, 2005, at 10:53PM – #3
Celia: I can't remember the name either, but I have been to that resturant. I ate inside, but I had coconut shrimp and really liked it. I think they close earlier than 9 on the weekends, though. -e;
ed on February 17, 2005, at 09:02AM – #4
I think the seafood restaurant is called Ensenada Mariscos. It is on Spring between 6th and 7th.
ed on February 17, 2005, at 09:03AM – #5
Actually between 6th and 4th...
celia on February 18, 2005, at 03:37AM – #6
ed, i think we're talking about different restaurants. this is on spring between 5th and 6th, directly across from the los angeles theater center.