Monthly Archives: April 2011

U.S. Debut: Planetalis Restaurant (from France) Coming to Downtown LA

Posted on April 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The French organic restaurant, Planetalis, will be opening in Downtown LA (the first one outside of Europe)

I was disappointed to see the Japanese convenience store Famima close up shop at 800 S Figueroa St almost a year and half ago (especially since that was the first store I recruited to Downtown LA when I worked at the Downtown Center BID). The space sat vacant (which I hate to see) but next to one of the most popular restaurants in Downtown LA, the very successful Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion restaurant. So maybe that’s one of the reasons why the French organic restaurant, Planetalis, decided to open up at this location in the former Famima space.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, food, restaurants

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Cafe Dulce Opens: Little Tokyo Revitalization in Progress

Posted on April 28, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Cafe Dulce has been open for less than a month in Little Tokyo

The transformation that has been happening in Little Tokyo over the past few years is nothing short of amazing. I remember going to Kouraku for late night dining back in high school with my cousin, and with the exception of said restaurant, the entire ethnic Japanese district was completely dead. It was almost scary for this suburbanite coming from Monterey Park to venture into the depths of a place so foreign to me, yet right in my backyard, so-to-speak.

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Apple Store in Old Pasadena Now Boarded Up

Posted on April 28, 2011 by | 5 Comments

The Apple Store in Old Pasadena is currently closed for remodeling to reopen in 9 months to a year from now

A quick update with a picture I took this week of the Apple Store remodel/expansion going on in Old Pasadena shows that the entire front of the store is now covered in plywood board. A temporary Apple store has popped up just a few doors down. More information about the expansion plans have also emerged.

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Posted in retail

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15% OFF at Eco-Asian in Downtown LA for BrighamYen.com Readers*

Posted on April 27, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Perfect for lunch or dinner if you live, work, or play downtown! Eco-Asian restaurant is located at 521 W 7th Street (right across from Bottega Louie).

→ Click here for the full menu (with lots of delicious food pics)!

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Posted in discounts, downtown los angeles, food, restaurants

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Workshop Series: A New Urban Park for Playhouse District in Pasadena

Posted on April 27, 2011 by | 5 Comments

Click to view more info on workshop scheduling

Please consider attending this fun and engaging workshop tomorrow (Thursday evening) where anyone interested in the future urban park planned for Union/El Molino in the Playhouse District will be able to brainstorm and shoot out ideas that will be collected and used to help design the new park. This is the first of four workshop meetings planned for April, May, and June.

Please see below for more info:

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Posted in education, events, pedestrian oriented, public spaces

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Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) Spruces Up with Renovations in Downtown LA

Posted on April 26, 2011 by | 2 Comments

The LA Athletic Club receives a complete exterior renovation in Downtown LA

The venerable Los Angeles Athletic Club (built in 1912), standing prominently on bustling 7th Street in the heart of Downtown LA, has been going through a major renovation recently that has spruced up the historic structure with dramatic results. The renovations began in February 2011 and includes several objectives in its renovation process.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, environmentally green

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Pasadena’s “Watch 4 Pedestrians” Safety Campaign Begins

Posted on April 26, 2011 by | 2 Comments

"Stop B4 The Line" billboard at the corner of Fair Oaks and Holly St in Old Pasadena

This may come as a shock to many (as it did for me) that Pasadena was ranked as the second most dangerous mid-sized city in California when it comes to pedestrians being injured or killed by motorists. As a result, Pasadena was recently awarded a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to run a pedestrian safety campaign, titled “watch4pedestrians.”

Please check out the press release below regarding this important message to both drivers and pedestrians in Pasadena (and elsewhere).

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Posted in education, pedestrian oriented

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The Burton Mixed-Use Condo Project Planned for Pasadena

Posted on April 20, 2011 by | 6 Comments

A surrounding site plan for The Burton located directly north of the historic Livingstone

From the developers that brought us The Livingstone condos in Pasadena, approvals are working its way through the city to construct a brand new, ground-up mixed-use condo building called The Burton that would rise right next to The Livingstone on Los Robles Ave (just north of The Livingstone).

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Posted in mixed-use development, pedestrian oriented, real estate, smart growth

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One 22-Story Tower, Two New Marriott Hotels Announced for Downtown LA

Posted on April 19, 2011 by | 1 Comment

A rendering of the 22-story Marriott hotel tower across from LA Live and the Ritz-Carlton/JW Marriott (Photo courtesy of LA Times)

Some great news will be formally announced today at a press conference in Downtown LA. Two new Marriott hotel brands are being planned for the lot across the street from LA Live/Ritz Carlton (NW corner of Olympic and Francisco St). The two hotel brands, confirmed by the LA Times today, will be the Residence Inn by Marriott and Courtyard Marriott and both hotels will be combined into one 22-story tower.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, hotels, pedestrian oriented, real estate, smart growth

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Update: Urth Caffe to Open in Pasadena by 2013

Posted on April 18, 2011 by | 4 Comments

An Urth Caffe rendering gives us an idea what's coming to Pasadena

Just a quick update on the very much anticipated Urth Caffe that will eventually open in the Playhouse District in Pasadena. A new building that will house the new Urth Caffe will replace both the Zinke’s Drive-In shoe repair shop at the corner of Colorado and Madison and also the White Hut burger joint that will close in November.

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Posted in food, pedestrian oriented, restaurants

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