Monthly Archives: July 2011

Downtown LA Style: Dane Mazzei (Freelance Hair Stylist)

Posted on July 29, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Dane Mazzei in L.A. Financial District

Dane Mazzei, 28, is wearing a button down shirt from Armani Jeans, denim from G-Star RAW with custom-made chain purchased on Melrose, vintage combat boots, sunglasses from Paul Smith, and jewelry (earring and ring) from the Pasadena Rose Bowl flea market. Dane is originally from Temecula, CA and is now a freelance hair stylist living in Echo Park. He tells us that he loves the “downtown [LA] vibe” and that “The Standard at 6th and Flower is a great spot for anything: drink, lounge, or even get a haircut at Rudy’s Barbershop.”

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Towne Food & Drink Begins Construction on Restaurant Space in Downtown LA

Posted on July 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Towne Food & Drink began construction this week, building out this large space in the Watermarke luxury rental tower in South Park

Exciting news for Downtown LA fans and foodies alike as Towne Food & Drink has started construction in South Park in the ground floor retail space of the Watermarke luxury rental tower. I stopped by yesterday and found the space being gutted and tractors hauling away debris. The new pan-Mediterranean restaurant is replacing H Studio, a modern furniture store that needed more space than the 16,800 SF at the Watermarke tower, and as a result, will be relocating to a larger space in the Historic Core at 7th/Spring.

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Vertical Wine Brings Gourmet Burgers to Old Pasadena

Posted on July 27, 2011 by | 1 Comment

M Bison Burger at Vertical Wine in Old Pasadena (Photo: Bread & Butter)

Since taking over the helm of the kitchen at Vertical Wine Bistro last November, Chef Laurent Quenioux has left a tasty imprint on the restaurant’s newly refined menu which offers a nice array of small and large plates such as the mussels with chorizo or the duck breast with leg confit and ras el hanout jus among others. Expanding upon Vertical’s refined, yet casual menu, Quenioux has introduced a new gourmet burger night every Thursday.

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H&M Men’s Department Expands in Old Pasadena

Posted on July 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A larger men's department coming to the Old Pasadena H&M store

When H&M first opened in Old Pasadena back in the fall of 2006, it was a bittersweet moment for me. It was great because it was the first H&M store to open in the LA market, and as a result, it caused a lot of fanfare on the opening day with a line that wrapped around the entire block. However, it was also disappointing at the time because this was going to be the only store in the LA market that would not carry men’s clothing. For someone who enjoyed shopping at H&M stores in New York pre-2006, it was a big let down not being able to shop in my own neighborhood store.

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Italian Restaurant “Il Mare” to Open in South Park in Downtown LA

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | 2 Comments

A new Italian seafood restaurant is coming to South Park in Downtown LA, a stone's throw from Staples Center and LA Live

South Park, a burgeoning district of Downtown LA that includes the Staples Center/LA Live and possible NFL stadium, is getting another restaurant sometime soon as a new Italian restaurant currently dubbed “Il Mare Italiano” is making its way through the city process to obtain a conditional use permit to serve beer and wine through a Type 41 alcohol license.

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Downtown LA Style: Kylie Wittler (Student)

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Kylie Wittler in South Park, L.A.

Kylie Wittler, 22, is wearing a top from Gap, jeans from New York & Company, boots from Cathy Jean and sunglasses from Revlon. Kylie tells us her ethnic background is half Korean, a quarter Italian, and a quarter German. She was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and is currently a student at FIDM studying Visual Communications. She adds that she loves all the new restaurants opening up in Downtown LA. 

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Historic Downtown Los Angeles Guided Tour with Brady Westwater

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Brady Westwater (in the cowboy hat) leads us on a 2.5 hour journey of architecture and history around Downtown LA's historic core starting at 5th/Spring

If you are curious and want to learn more about Downtown LA’s historic core and the rich history that makes up one of LA’s oldest neighborhoods (yes! LA has tons of history as I learned on the tour), you should consider checking out Brady Westwater’s guided tour that takes place this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. I had a fantastic time and learned a lot and I think you will too.

The group meets at The Last Bookstore at 5th/Spring and it’s just $15 per person for 2.5 hours. For times and more info, check out Brady’s blog.

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Posted in architecture, art and culture, downtown los angeles, education, entertainment, events

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Pasadena Hotel Constance Renovation Project in Progress

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Green construction fencing wraps around the Hotel Constance property as it under goes a complete renovation

As part of a larger mixed-use project slated to be constructed at the SE corner of Colorado and Lake Ave, the former Hotel Constance was completed in 1926 during what was considered the “Golden Age of Pasadena.” However, the hotel has gone through its ups and downs (more downs) over the past several decades, and luckily there’s a happy ending as it is currently being renovated and will be brought back as a boutique hotel.

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Posted in economic development, hotels, mixed-use development, pedestrian oriented

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Sushi Kimagure Ike Coming Soon to Gold Line Del Mar Station in Pasadena

Posted on July 21, 2011 by | 5 Comments

A new sushi restaurant replaces Philly's Best at the Del Mar station in Pasadena

A new Japanese sushi restaurant called Kimagure has been in the works for many months now at the Del Mar station, building out a space that was once occupied by the fast casual restaurant Philly’s Best, which served cheesesteaks and hoagies. Unfortunately, Philly’s Best was never able to attract enough customers to pay their rent even though there was always a decent amount of transit riders getting on and off at Del Mar station, not to mention 347 apartment units that make up the residential portion of the station itself.

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Tossed (Salads & Sandwiches) Coming to Downtown LA from New York City

Posted on July 20, 2011 by | 15 Comments

Tossed is coming to 700 Wilshire Blvd in Downtown LA

Tossed is coming to Downtown LA’s Financial District near Wilshire/Hope and will be the first one to open on the West Coast in the country (2nd one if you count Vancouver, Canada). According to the Tossed website, this health-conscious restaurant–serving up “garden fresh salads, crepe wraps and sandwiches”–was started in Manhattan in 1998 where the first location was at Park Ave/23rd St (near Madison Square Park).

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