Watch a video of La Cañada’s freeway cap park over the 210 freeway
Last week, I attended the Friends of Park 101 meeting in El Pueblo where a panel of city planning experts and an urban conscious audience converged to discuss the exciting future of capping the 101 freeway through Downtown LA with a park.
Posted in architecture, community involvement, downtown los angeles, economic development, environmentally green, Ideas for Downtown LA, parks, pedestrian oriented, people, public spaces, smart growth
Tagged 101 freeway cap park, freeway cap parks in los angeles, freeway cap parks in united states, freeways damage communities, friends of park 101, la canada freeway cap park
Fresh seafood displayed at the bar counter at the newly renovated Water Grill
It’s been a little over a month since I first posted about Water Grill’s amazing $1.5 million renovation, which sped through construction at lightning speed transforming the restaurant from a dated 90′s era version to the modern classic look it is today. Well, after stopping in on Saturday night this past weekend, I can say with great excitement that the renovation was a huge success as the restaurant was teeming with energy. It was so wonderful to see the place packed with happy diners. Truly a beautiful sight for those who dream of LA becoming a vibrant urban city. We are so much closer than ever before.
Take a look for yourself (below).
OZERO Tea and Desserts is now open in Little Tokyo
A new cafe lounge called OZERO by Cofftea is now open in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA on the ground floor of the Hikari Apartments. With its original location in Alhambra in the San Gabriel Valley (an area known to have some of the best Chinese food on this side of the Pacific Ocean), OZERO brings to Little Tokyo coffee, tea, desserts, and boba. The new cafe with a modern design opens up next to Johnny Rockets and Flying Pig and across from Yogurtland and Shin Sen Gumi.
The Aon Center Tower is the second tallest building in California
For those of you into skyscrapers (like I am), you are likely aware that the tallest building west of Chicago stands here in Downtown LA: the Library Tower (aka US Bank Tower) featured in countless movies and TV shows. But perhaps you didn’t know that the second tallest building in California is also here in Downtown LA. The Aon Center Tower, with its stealthy black slender look, was completed in 1973 and held the title of the tallest building west of Chicago until 1982, but remained the tallest in Los Angeles until the Library Tower (1,018 feet) was completed in 1989. Standing at 858 feet tall, it is 5 feet taller than the Transamerica building in Downtown San Francisco.
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, an early home for the Oscars, has begun a multi-phase renovation plan aimed at keeping the hotel relevant in Downtown LA
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel–one of the most beautiful historic hotels in Los Angeles–is gearing up for a multi-phase renovation aimed at keeping the hotel competitive within Downtown LA, which is increasing in relevancy within the region as Downtown LA continues to evolve into an attractive destination for visitors and tourists.
Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, hotels, restaurants
Tagged asian food in downtown la, biltmore hotel downtown la, biltmore hotel los angeles, japanese food in downtown la, millennium biltmore hotel los angeles, sai sai downtown la, sai sai restaurant los angeles, vietnamese food in downtown la, vietnamese pho downtown la
Work crews install new escalators that mark a milestone in the new shopping center's extensive remodel (Photo: Gary Leonard)
The active construction going on at FIGat7th–currently undergoing a $41 million remodeling job–continues to chug along toward an expected fall 2012 grand opening as new escalators were installed over the past weekend on Saturday morning (2/11/12). A crane was brought in to hoist the new escalators into place creating a new pedestrian-oriented entrance along Figueroa St. The placement of the escalators along the sidewalk allows pedestrians to access the newly remodeled FIGat7th with ease instead of the former placement of escalators tucked away, hidden in the back of the complex.
Seen here in Jan 2012, an LAPD officer writes an unsuspecting jaywalker a ticket for crossing mid-block on 9th Street in Downtown LA
For someone who jaywalks whenever I am in Manhattan, I’ve always found it liberating and even empowering as a pedestrian to cross a street wherever and whenever I felt it was safe to do so. The process is simple: You look down the usual one way street, and if there are no cars coming, you cross. Even though it is technically illegal to jaywalk in New York, thousands upon thousands do it daily in Manhattan, adding to a sense of “urban legitimacy” because of the power of choice given to pedestrians and free will to roam.
100 limited edition love and heart inspired pieces are for sale this month (Photo: DTLA Art Walk)
If you love Downtown LA’s monthly Art Walk (taking place tonight) and appreciate the overwhelming positive attention it has brought to Downtown LA over the past several years, then consider supporting it through a tax deductible purchase where “100 limited edition love & heart inspired pieces of art” will be offered by the Downtown LA Art Walk organization. Prices range from $25 to $100, and again, are tax deductible (according DTLA Art Walk website).
More details at: http://downtownartwalk.org/artwalk-lounge/
Watch the video of the unveiling of Clifton’s Cafeteria in Downtown LA
For decades, one of the most architecturally beautiful streets in the country has remained derelict and forgotten, left behind for the suburbs to let our city’s most treasured historic buildings sit vacant and uncared-for. Swap meets and check cashing centers dot the landscape where grand department stores and movie palaces once attracted people from far and wide. Nevertheless, Broadway has been waiting patiently for a new generation of Angelenos who care enough and understand the tremendous potential of this amazing part of Los Angeles to become one of the greatest city centers in the country. And the time has come.
The sign for Simply Salad announcing their arrival in the Old Bank District went up this week at the Medallion Apartments
Thanks to Downtown LA resident Joshua Levi for alerting me this week about Simply Salad putting up their “Coming Soon” sign this past Monday at the Medallion apartments ground floor retail space. Owners Cameron Lewis and Bruce Teichman opened up their first and only other Simply Salad in early 2010 at the Ralphs Market Lofts in South Park. According to Simply Salad, the fast casual restaurant “specializes in the freshest custom-built signature salads and wraps with 65+ toppings and 25+ dressings.”
