Food & Nightlife

Calle 13 and Kinky Bring Latin Debut to Club Nokia

By Camilo Smith — November 17, 2008 — 4 Comments

Calle 13 at Club Nokia Eric Richardson
Kinky at Club Nokia Eric Richardson
Kinky at Club Nokia Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| Newly-minted Club Nokia welcomed its first Latin show on Saturday, drawing a heavy crowd for the energetic electro-rock of Monterrey, Mexico-bred Kinky and the Puerto Rican alterna-rap and reggaeton of Calle 13.

Club Nokia, part of the L.A. Live complex, opened just over a week ago with two shows by Beck. On Saturday night, both bands had the new 2,300 capacity venue bouncing. — Continued Inside...


An Intersection of Locals

By Stan Lerner — November 13, 2008
30 Comments

1100 Wilshire had been an office building with no tenants before the most recent housing boom came along and made it a place that people who enjoy a sky-pool call home. Frankly, the pool at the Skyline, where I am currently borrowing a rich friend’s place, is probably the nicest in Downtown—I’ve used it once. Anyway, it was David Kean’s fortieth birthday so there...


Two Packed Nights as Beck Opens Club Nokia

By Camilo Smith — November 11, 2008 — 2 Comments

Beck Flickr user hobogirl923

Singer Beck helped break in the latest module of the multi-billion dollar L.A. Live complex this weekend, opening Club Nokia over a packed two-night stint that ended Monday night.

The 2,300 capacity club is something of a smaller, more intimate sibling to the sprawling Nokia Theatre, which has been showcasing larger shows for just over a year. Entering the VIP entrance off of Figueroa Street, concertgoers are greeted by draped lounge areas, curved walls and neon ambient lighting that give the room the feel of a cool spaceship. — Continued Inside...


Hanging with Stretch

By Stan Lerner — November 05, 2008
2 Comments

“Hey Oliver, slow down a second.” I stopped half a block short of 7th on Flower so my homeless buddy Stretch could put a torch lighter to the pipe in his hand. I call him Stretch because he’s almost seven- feet-tall and looks like he weighs one-sixty or less. “Stretch, you know I don’t approve of you smoking crack.” “Oliver, I’m a homeless black man with HIV—give...


Introducing Oliver

By Stan Lerner — November 03, 2008
7 Comments

“I just dropped Kevin off at the airport, so I can come hang out,” Joe’s voice rang out through my iphone. “Where are you?” “I’m at Starbucks on 11th and Grand—come pick me up,” I answered back, wondering how I was going to get my hair cut at Salon Eleven and meet Joe in the same one hour time frame—oh well. Some background: Joe, like most of my friends, has...


With Opening Close, Cole's Launches New Website

By Eric Richardson — November 03, 2008
1 Comment

Cole's Neon Gets Relit

With its opening nearing, Cole's French Dip launched a new website on Friday. While still light on content, there's word on hours and a few tightly cropped shots of the bar's interior. The site also lists a "100 Anniversary Celebration" taking place Thursday, December 4th, through Saturday, December 6th.


D-town Burger Bar Gets a Slick New Sign

By Eric Richardson — November 01, 2008
7 Comments

D-town Burger Bar

|Photo Gallery| D-town Burger Bar and nearby Crack Gallery got slick new signs Friday, part of the transformation of the retail space in the Hayward Hotel. The under-construction eatery already had an eye-catching ad plastered over its floor-to-ceiling glass front.


Urth Caffe Finds Arts District is Far From the Westside

By Ed Fuentes — October 28, 2008 — 6 Comments

urth caffe Ed Fuentes

It didn't take long for the Arts District to adapt its routine to yesterday's opening of Urth Caffe. Today, a table of L.A. Times staffers discussed how they are still L.A. Times staffers, while tattoed denizens mixed with civic workers. Inside, Jonathan Jerald of Bedlam Magazine, artist/curator Mark Walsh and curator/man-about-town Edgar Varela of EVFA met for the Arts District version of a power lunch.

The new staff, trained at Urth's westside locations, should find their Arts District patrons a little more laid-back than those in Beverly Hills. Now the cafe is making some changes to fit with the needs of their new neighborhood — Continued Inside...


San Antonio Offers a Taste of Napa in Your Backyard

By Samantha Page — October 27, 2008
1 Comment

Bottles

The San Antonio Winery hosted the Riboli Family Winemaker's Dinner on Saturday, opening its doors to about 50 wine enthusiasts and wanna-be enthusiasts for a dinner and tasting menu. The family-owned winery, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, might be one of Downtown's most under-appreciated spots. If you didn't know there is a world-class winery...


Philippe's Celebrates 100 Years with Fans of the French Dip

By Ed Fuentes — October 07, 2008
4 Comments

kiss.jpg

|Photo Gallery| When Philippe the Original announced they would drop the price of its French dip sandwiches for a few hours on the day of its 100th anniversay, there was no surprise the line for ten cent French Dips would reach around the block. This wasn’t about waiting for an affordable meal. This was a pilgrimage of French Dip lovers who wanted to celebrate this particular...