Everyday Living

The Mayoral Candidates Tackle Broadway

By Eric Richardson — February 18, 2005

The LA Conservancy has on their website a special election edition newsletter (PDF). Inside are interviews with the mayoral candidates focused on historic preservation. One of the questions deals with Downtown, specifically the Broadway theaters. I recommend reading the whole thing, but I wanted to address a few of the candidates points here.


Twenty Years: I'd Still Like that Cafe

By Eric Richardson — February 16, 2005
6 Comments

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...


Mmmm... Crepes

By Eric Richardson — February 16, 2005
1 Comment

I mentioned late last month that the italian cafe in the Hayward Hotel building was soon to be opening. It turns out it got beat by Eric’s other project to the south. Now open in the building on the northwest corner of 7th and Spring is a new cafe serving juice, ice cream and crepes. It’s open until 8 or 9pm right now, but Eric promises that as soon...


Flowers on Valentines Day

By Eric Richardson — February 15, 2005

For the sake of surprise (one which went very well, thank you), I had to hold off posting this story for a day. Yesterday, though, I got up and walked a few blocks east from my apartment to the LA Flower District. I’ve been there once before with my mom last summer, so I knew basically where I was going and what I should expect. That said, it was intimidating...


New Downtown Blogs

By Eric Richardson — February 15, 2005
4 Comments

This morning I added the first two new downtown blogs to the sidebar on the right. That excites me. Celia, whose blog is titled 5th and Spring emailed me last night, so I checked out her site this morning. Then I added a link to Don Garza’s Central City East blog. Don’s everywhere Downtown, and these days he’s doing a great job of taking pictures...


Parking, a Tow-Truck, and the EIDC

By Eric Richardson — February 14, 2005
2 Comments

I heard this morning that they were towing cars parked in the lot next to my building. This is a pay lot, but one that’s only staffed 8am - 6pm. Outside of those times it’s left unlocked, and is often used by residents as evening and occassional overnight parking – just make sure to have your car out by 7:45am, or you’ll have to pay. ...


Fighting Your Way Through

By Eric Richardson — February 12, 2005
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I know those of you who live Downtown already understand this, but I think it’s fascinating to take a look at all the ways traffic around here gets snarled on the weekends. Just now I walked by the setup for a Mountain Dew commercial that had 7th Street blocked off between Broadway and Hill. Anyone who’s come up Figueroa in the last week has seen...


A Great Life Downtown

By Eric Richardson — February 11, 2005

I mentioned Biddy Mason park in my walking tour write-up a few days ago. The LA Times just finished re-running a five part series on Biddy Mason and her remarkable story (I’m linking into part 5, since it has parts 1 - 4 in the related links). Yes, the series was in the Kids’ Reading Room section, but we could all use being kids every once in a while...


Recognizing the Under-35 Crowd: Movers & Shakers

By Eric Richardson — February 10, 2005
2 Comments

I mentioned earlier today that I was going to be attending the CCA’s Movers and Shakers event this evening. I just got back a few minutes ago, and have to say that I enjoyed myself. Ostensibly the night was an awards ceremony – the CCA recognized young “Movers and Shakers” in the Downtown community – but really it was more of a networking...


Just a Reminder: Art Walk

By Eric Richardson — February 10, 2005

Just a reminder that tonight is the monthly Downtown Art Walk. Over twenty galleries are participating this time around, including the (as far as I know) grand opening of Mickey Kaplan’s Modern Art Downtown in my basement. I’m going to have to be creative to fit everything around the (apparently sold out) Movers and Shakers Event put on by the CCA...