blogdowntown

LA welcomes first 'Beerathon'; only serious drinkers need apply

Hayley Fox — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:39:46 -0800

L.A. to get first annual Beerathon on Mar. 31. Photo by Flickr via Cambridge Brewing Company.

After five successful years in New York, the "Beerathon" beer marathon is stumbling into Downtown L.A. this March.

What exactly does this Olympics-of-drinking mean to suds lovers?

A $55 registration fee will buy you 26 beers at 26 different Downtown venues, a course map, and a VIP pass that allows for easy access in and out.

Check-in starts at noon on Mar. 31 and your cup runneth over til you can't runneth no more.

There is no pressure to finish all 26 beers, notes the official Beerathon website:

"As macho and tough as you may be, 26 beers is a A LOT of beer. If you can’t finish, don’t. It’s important to drink responsibly. Even in your college-prime, you’ll still have difficulty attempting this task."

Beerathon organizers encourage dressing comfortably for the marathon event, and, where applicable, in team uniforms.

Those who rally a gaggle of 20 or more imbibers will be rewarded by Beerathon with a group discount.

And should you find yourself wondering why you would attempt such a daunting booze feat, Beerathon has the answer:

"Because you’re an American, damn it! We accept challenges – no matter how difficult the odds. But seriously, you’ll have a ton of fun, whether or not you finish."

By Hayley Fox.

Paint testing on Spring Street bike lane delayed due to weather

Hayley Fox — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:44:59 -0800

The green paint on the Downtown bike lanes is faded and peeling after only a few months. Photo by Hayley Fox.

Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) workers planned on testing green paints this Sunday on the Spring Street bike lane, but said an unfavorable weather forecast has caused them to postpone the makeover.

According to weather.com and the weather forecast posted on City Hall's website, all looks sunny and bright for Sunday with temperatures in the mid-60s.

But on Monday and Tuesday of next week, Downtown is expecting rain and the city probably wants to avoid performing a fourth paint job on the bike lane.

The 6-foot-wide path that runs down Spring Street was first painted last November, touched up in December, and again in need of a re-coat this month.

Variables such as sun exposure and roadway composition has caused the paint to splotch and rub-off the road completely, so city crews planned to test different "infill materials" this weekend to find a type of paint that would really stick.

According to the LADOT bike blog, some of the roadworthy materials the city will eventually be testing are paint, concrete stain and thermoplastic. They will be looking for signs of durability and for a material that wont turn slippery when wet.

They said the Spring Street project is a "pilot program" for future bike lanes throughout the city, so that they can pinpoint problem areas and avoid them in the construction of other lanes.

They will coat different blocks of Spring Street with the different materials and then monitor the segments for signs of wear.

Garage access was going to be restricted for certain Spring Street residents on Sunday, but those closures are now lifted because of the project's postponement.

An alternative date hasn't been chosen yet.

Work on the Main Street bike lanes, running from 9th Street to Venice Boulevard, are still on track. Crews should be finished stripping the old markings by this Saturday and pavement markings and signs are expected to be installed by Feb. 19.

By Hayley Fox.

Naked man climbed Downtown tower; released by LAPD, admitted to hospital

Andrew Lopez — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:37:21 -0800

Photo by Via Google Maps.

A naked man taken into custody after climbing up a communications tower on the 720 block of East Temple Street Wednesday has been released and turned over for medical treatment, officer Karen Rayner said.

It's still unclear why the unnamed man chose to climb the 220-foot tower, though he seemed to be troubled.

“He was distraught,” Rayner explained. “It was deemed to be a medical issue.”

The man parked behind the police department’s personnel building just before 4 p.m. before ascending the tower.

Believed to be an Arizona resident in his 30s or 40s, the man began taking off his clothes as he climbed the structure, the L.A. Times reports.

He was eventually wrapped in a blanket and lowered to the ground in a basket at about 8:30 p.m.

Officer Rayner said that simply being naked may not always get you arrested but exposing oneself for sexual gratification would. This determination comes from Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich.

The man who climbed the tower would have been more likely to be arrested for trespassing, not for being naked, Rayner said.

By Andrew Lopez.

Fate of City Hall lawn decided; compromise between sustainability and accessibility

Hayley Fox — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:16:40 -0800

Construction to begin on City Hall lawn after council chooses Option #2 for the redesign. Photo by Hayley Fox.

Over the course of the last month City Council has been gathering input from the public as well as multiple city committees to finalize plans for the restoration and redesign of the City Hall lawn. This week, they made their decision - choosing an option that has a little something for everybody.

"I believe that the plans for our City Hall Park represent a wonderful, public and open collaboration," said councilmember Jan Perry. "When opened, the park will incorporate native plants that will reduce our city's water usage while remaining true to the history of this important open space."

After the Occupy camp was dismantled last November, councilmembers decided to not just fix areas that were damaged but give the historic lawn a complete makeover.

In January, the council released three options for the new lawn's design.

Option 1 used the most grass and was the closest to restoring the lawn to its original appearance. It also had the cheapest price tag.

Option 3 was the most dramatic departure from the original lawn as well as being the most expensive, with an estimated cost of $1 million. It used the least amount of grass and favored drought-resistant plants and expansive areas of the decomposed granite.

The Los Angeles Times reports that councilmembers voted Tuesday, 14 to 0, to approve lawn Option 2. This choice is a relative compromise between the other, more drastic choices.

Under Option 2, 51 percent of the lawn will be replaced with native plants such as succulents and California holly, the L.A. Times reports.

The central plaza area that borders 1st street will now have large patches of "low water use" plants and pathways of the granite, but also maintain a center area of grass (hybrid turf grass) for people to gather.

At a Downtown Neighborhood Council meeting earlier this month, residents emphasized the need for this part of the lawn to be preserved as a public venue. Maintaining some amount of grass was important for hosting farmers markets, rallies, concerts and facilitating an outdoor oasis Downtown.

"Many of our public spaces aren't truly public," said Valerie Watson of the Downtown Neighborhood Council.

Many "public" plazas are actually pretty private, she addded. They're tucked away between skyscrapers or removed from public view, making the City Hall lawn one of the few truly public gathering spots in Downtown.

City Hall's north lawn which lines Temple and Spring streets, will have all its grass removed and the irrigation system will be redesigned. Native, low water use plants will be put in as well as pathways connecting entrances.

According to the renderings released online, the north lawn will sill be dotted with plenty of trees and shade and the palm trees lining the walkway around the stairs will be preserved.

The entire project is expected to be finished by May.

By Hayley Fox.

Clifton's unveiled: Forest-themed cafeteria to become tiki bar, speakeasy and bakery

Hayley Fox — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:53:20 -0800

The original face and sign of Clifton's Cafeteria on Broadway. Photo by Hayley Fox.

Clifton's Cafeteria, the aged forest oasis in the midst of Broadway bustle, showed its true face today as the building's original facade was unveiled in front of a crowd of press, preservationists and curious onlookers.

Metal gates had been installed on the front of the building in the 1960s to "modernize" the restaurant at the time and they were recently removed as a large first step in the building's restoration process. Clifton's was covered with a large tarp that was dramatically hoisted upwards, off the face of the building as everyone watched from across the street.

What was revealed was a blast from the past; peeling paint, exposed brick and the weathered letters of the original "Clinton's Cafeteria" sign.

Clifton's new owner Andrew Meieran said his vision for Clifton's is an attempt to bring back the spirit of Broadway; "the adventure, exploration and imagination" of its past, he said. This process delves deeper than opening new business or renovating old buildings - it's about resurrecting the area's "golden era" when 7th and Broadway, where Clifton's is located, was one of the busiest intersections in Downtown.

"As such, the reveal of the original facade envisioned by Clifford Clinton is an important symbolic beginning to truly bringing back the Broadway of invention, hope and wonder," Meieran said.

Meieran, of the Edison, said he's sticking to the tradition of the cafeteria's original owners by making the new Clifton's a family affair (evidenced by his two young daughters clinging to his legs during his speech.) Clifton's was family-owned and run since 1935 and is the last original Clifton's in the restaurant chain. The business model used to be "pay what you can," a heartfelt effort to help get families through the Great Depression while transporting them to a fantastic, imaginative place.

Meieran seems to be taking this sense of creativity to heart in his plans for the future Clifton's. The renovated 47,000-square-foot building will include seven bars, a full-service restaurant, the original cafeteria set-up (with an updated menu) and full-service commercial bakery. The cafeteria will be open during days and evenings, and the upstairs bars and sit-down restaurants will be open during later hours to attract a nightlife crowd. There will be a speakeasy downstairs where the bathrooms are now and a tiki bar upstairs inspired by another Clifton's branch dubbed the Pacific Seas.

As of now, the cafeteria's interior looks comfortingly similar to the olden days; there's still deer perched on stairwells, flowers sprouting from the wall, quaint waterfalls and an overall dim, pinkish hue to the lighting in the dining room. The large, welcoming bear that stood in the foyer is gone - but not for good. Many of the woodsy decorations that dotted the floor have been put into storage temporarily but I was assured they'd return with the redecorating.

Councilman José Huizar credited Meieran for being one of the first entrepreneurs to commit to substantial improvements on Broadway and contribute to the momentum of the "Bringing Back Broadway" initiative as a whole. Besides the Clifton's overhaul, recent plans have been released for an Ace Hotel, Ross Dress for Less and Tarina Tarantino jeweler that will be coming to Broadway as well.

The entire Clifton's building, except for the sit-down restaurant, is expected to be up-and-running over next 18 months. The bars, lounges and restaurants will open in phases, with the cafeteria being the first to open. Soon after will come the downstairs bar and eventually the rest of the five-story historic building.

Meieran said they also expect to create over 100 new jobs, some of which will be filled through a job training program ran in conjunction with the Midnight Mission.

By Hayley Fox.

Hear ye, Hear ye! Excalibur medieval restaurant comes to Downtown

Hayley Fox — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:48:01 -0800

Excalibur Knights Place opened last weekend in Downtown L.A. Photo by via Excalibur's facebook.

Medieval-themed restaurant Excalibur Knights Place opened recently near the Staples Center, bringing the level of tourist attractions in the area to an all-time high.

Grub Street put it best when they described the restaurant as "like a sort of Medieval Times sans the show."

But there may be something here for more than just renaissance fair fans. According to Excalibur's website, the restaurant has a pretty magical history; it was founded in 2006 in Transylvania, Romania ("Dracula's native country"). It bridged the world to end up in Los Angeles with a "yearning to bring something different to the table."

Now, situated on Figueroa, it is made up of brick and stone walls and accented with stained-glass windows. Don't miss the "candle-inspired lighting" as well as the long communal wooden tables with royal chairs.

The menu is primal, knightly and surprisingly vegetarian friendly. Many of the food options are divided up into "Feast Sizes", with feasts fit for one, all the way up to six. Most have regal-sounding names too, including Excalibur's Sword (a whole roast chicken), Dinner For Milady (seasonal grilled vegetables seasoned with olive oil and salt) and even Feast on the Eve of the Battle (six chicken wings and four chicken drum sticks.)

But winning duels and wooing fair maidens is time-consuming, so the restaurant also offers a "Knights in a Rush" lunch menu that includes Merlin's Salad, goulash and schnitzel.

The restaurant pegs their menu as: "The dish you enjoy when you come here might even have been Dracula's favorite!"

And if Dracula isn't enough to get you in the door, here's an added bonus: According to the LAist, patrons can dress up in period costumes, courtesy of Excalibur, while they enjoy their royal feast.

By Hayley Fox.

Future LA Convention Center to expand over Pico; but doesn't it do that already?

Hayley Fox — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:45:25 -0800

A rendering of "Pico Passage" that would be created by the Pico expansion of the convention center. Photo by Courtesy Populous Designs.

When plans for the expansion of the L.A. Convention Center were released to a special city council committee last week, descriptions of the construction included "expanding over Pico Boulevard."

But the convention center already does that. So what exactly do the new plans entail?

Now, there is a small concourse of the convention center that bridges over Pico Boulevard, connecting the South Hall to the West Hall. The new plans indicate massive construction that may result in an entirely new "multipurpose" hall built over Pico as well as an expansion of the South Hall to form one long, contiguous hall. This will then connect the convention center to the future Farmers Field football stadium.

The area created underneath all these new Pico structures has been dubbed the catchy, "Pico Passage." It will serve as one of the convention center's featured entrances and according to the designs presented by Populous, include a decorative, futuristic-looking "LACOEX" welcome sign and a large lobby.

By Hayley Fox.

A peek inside the future of the Regent Theater: A little rock 'n' roll and a lot of restaurant

Hayley Fox — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:03:33 -0800

A rendering of the Regent Theater by Mass Architecture Photo by courtesy of Mass Architecture.

Last weekend community members were invited inside the Regent Theater on Main Street to get a peek into the possible rock 'n' roll plans for the building.

A new long term lease was signed by Mitchell Frank, founder of Spaceland and the Echo, and partners in multiple Eastside restaurants. Frank, known for his pioneering in the Silver Lake/Echo Park music scene, appears to be planning for a two-story live entertainment theater and restaurant at his new Downtown location.

Saturday's meeting included a presentation that indicated the layout of the future Regent. The designs include a restaurant and large stage area with seating on the ground floor, as well as a second-story balcony and a patio "in a public way" that can hold up to 30 people.

In total, the 11,790 square foot theater/restaurant/bar will be able to hold up to approximately 1,300 people (and maybe, four video games.)

Included in the proposal is a breakdown of the benefits Frank's new club will bring the area. These include creating 90 to 120 new jobs, hiring employees who live in or close to Downtown and establishing a job training program, possibly with local non-profit Chrysalis.

Besides creating a daily stream of customers for the Regent's restaurant, there will eventually be "events" in the building up to three times a week. The assumption is those events will be based in music.

"I fell in love with live music, mostly indie rock, which was just on the brink at the time," said Frank in one of the handouts. "And then it morphed into starting/booking a live music venue."

Frank has a track record of helping local musicians get their big break (or at least, a little exposure) at his club's residency nights, music festivals and special events. And the Regent has plans to be involved with music programs for kids as well, citing possible future collaborations with 826 LA and School of Rock.

Residents who live within 500 feet of the Regent were invited to the meeting and about 50 people showed up, said Eddie Navarrette, the expeditor on this project.

Navarrette, founder of FE Design and Consulting, has known Frank for 15 years and helped him open and expand several popular restaurants and bars, including El Prado and Malo. It's Navarrette's job to know all the ins-and-outs of permits, help secure entitlements and pass building and safety laws.

"That involves an enormous amount of paperwork and just due diligence in general," said Navarrette.

At any one time, Navarrette will be working on up to 50 projects, facilitating community outreach and knowing exactly what permits certain establishments need.

For a club like the one Frank plans to open inside the Regent, Navarrette is focused on dancing, alcohol and live entertainment permits.

He will also help decide how to best retrofit the building so that it's up to code while still maintaining the appeal of the original architecture and design features.

"How do we still make it look cool and do a good job, and still comply with current codes?" he said of the club's main issues.

Opening a new establishment in an older building always involves a significant amount of scrutiny from fire and safety boards, Navarrette said, but lately Downtown has gotten "a bit of a green light" from the city government.

The city is encouraging the creation of commerce and nightlife in Downtown, Navarrette said, so "comparatively speaking," it's a much easier place to build right now.

He likens Downtown's facelift to the cleaning up of Hollywood five to six years ago, when the government facilitated the creation of new businesses and nightlife in the area in an attempt to push out prostitution, drug dealing and other illegal activity.

Although the Regent has a lot of red tape to clear before it's officially open for business, Frank initially cited Fall 2012 as the launch date.

By Hayley Fox.