Food & Nightlife

Varnish Featured in Esquire's Best Bars List

By Eric Richardson with Dave Bullock — May 05, 2009
1 Comment

Esquire Best Bars 2009

Barely open two months, The Varnish gets some national ink this month in the June edition of Esquire magazine. Cole's cocktail-fixated backroom gets included in a new watering hole addenda to the publication's Best Bars list.


The Original Pantry Celebrates 85 Years of No Major Changes

By Ed Fuentes — April 30, 2009
6 Comments

ExitPantry

|Photo Gallery| The Original Pantry celebrated its 85th year on Wednesday in simple Pantry style; some balloons marked the day, a small birthday cake sat in the corner, and a low-priced short stack of pancakes specials were served. It made for a no-nonsense celebration that reflected the 9th and Figueroa eatery that is never closed and never without a customer.


Win Tickets to See Third Day at Club Nokia

By Eric Richardson — April 29, 2009
12 Comments

Third Day guitarist Mark Lee and front man Mac Powell

Three time Grammy Award winning Christian rock band Third Day comes to Club Nokia on Saturday, May 2nd, and we've got five pairs of tickets to give away courtesy of Goldenvoice.


Versus Returning, Craby Joes Becomes Haven and Yojie Bringing Shabu Shabu to South Park

By Eric Richardson — April 22, 2009 — 16 Comments

Versus Eric Richardson

Versus nightclub could reopen this summer with new ownership, but first it must complete its navigation through the waters of amending the venue's complicated Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Kate Bartolo is representing the venue, and she appeared last night before DLANC's Planning committee to ask the neighborhood council's support for the project.

Also on the agenda were the conversion of former dive Craby Joe's into a new neighborhood bar named Haven and Yojie, a restaurant and sake bar that plans to offer shabu shabu at the corner of Olympic and Grand. — Continued Inside...


Touring Downtown WIFI: Bottega Louie

By Ed Fuentes — April 21, 2009
21 Comments

On the run

Bottega Louie has been a Downtown hit since its opening two weeks ago, with the space and crowds leaving passersby twisting their necks to gawk through the large windows. Along with being a restaurant, a market and a bar, Bottega Louie's also a cafe with WIFI. While the crowds make this a spot better suited to work during the off-hours, it's certainly worthy...


Now Open: Octopus

By Ed Fuentes — April 20, 2009
6 Comments

Sushi Bar

The Roosevelt's corner of downtown is getting crowded. At 7th and Flower, where you can catch the Metro, a small Famimia!! recently opened and Marie's Coffee is making a return after having been closed during construction on the building. Also a returner, but under a new name, is Octopus, a Japanese restaurant by the owners who had run California Roll &...


ESPN Zone Preps for NBA Playoffs, Offers Daily Specials

By Eric Richardson — April 17, 2009
1 Comment

ESPN Zone, L.A. Live

The Lakers begin their 2009 playoff run on Sunday, with a noon game against the Utah Jazz. A capacity crowd of approximately 19,000 will no doubt be watching from inside Staples Center, but ESPN Zone at L.A. Live is inviting those without tickets to consider watching the game from within shouting distance of the arena. The sports-themed restaurant is also...


NYC's BabyCakes Vegan Cupcakes Signs on 6th

By Eric Richardson — April 17, 2009 — 35 Comments

BabyCakes Eric Richardson

New York-based vegan cupcake shop BabyCakes is coming Downtown, but in a spot that may surprise people.

The firm today signed a lease to join The Association, Cole's and Blu LA Cafe on the 6th street side of the Pacific Electric building, between Main and Los Angeles streets. — Continued Inside...


Win Tickets to See India.Arie at Club Nokia

By Eric Richardson — April 13, 2009
17 Comments

IMG_8657.jpg

Wednesday's tax day, which means it's an excellent day to put aside the pain of writing that check (or celebrate a refund) and go see some music. Soulful singer India.Arie is playing an 8pm show at L.A. Live's Club Nokia, and we've got tickets to give you courtesy of Goldenvoice.


Pershing Parking Rate Change Passes Committee

By Eric Richardson — April 01, 2009

Pershing Square

A motion intended to encourage use of the Pershing Square garage by those coming Downtown for nightlife passed through a Council committee this afternoon. The facility currently offers a flat rate of $6.60 for those entering after 5pm, but after 1am a new $15 charge is tacked on. The current proposal would extend the reduced rate until at least 2am.