Yesterday I wanted to watch the Germany/Spain match so headed over to The Down & Out where I met up with neighbor Sara J. and had a very peaceable time watching the match. There was a good crowd and after the first half we were able to move up to the bar to sit and watch the three screens.
It was my first time at the Down & Out and based on my experience I would definitely go back. I still got to find out what that pear cider I had was. It was alright. =)
Babycakes NYC has been open on 6th near Los Angeles for a while now, and since I have a friend that was interested in gluten-free options, I meant to get there eventually. I had heard not-so good things about them, so it wasn't on the top of my list. Then I happened to be in the area.. so what better time?
they have quite a selection of vegan and spelt cupcakes..
I wasn't sure what to choose, so I got a carrot cupcake since the carrotcake is my favorite at "Big Man Bakes" ('compare what you know' is my default).
I also got an agave brownie, and a slice of banana bread.. the total came to about $10 for the 3 items.
carrot cupcake..
you can see the bits of carrot..
The frosting was sweet.. and the carrot cupcake was rather dry and bland. The frosting didn't make up for it, but at least helped it go down.
Agave brownie
at 1.50 you won't feel too guilty wasting your money on one of these.. but your taste-buds might complain. Of the three items, this was the most "diet" tasting. It was small and gritty and just not tasty. I love chocolate and brownies are one of my favorite treats. From experience, I know brownies can vary from being just good to moist & tasty to sweet & decadent. IMHO, this was just nasty. I'll stick with my boxed brownie mix, thank you!
Banana Bread!
you can see a piece of actual banana in the bread..
This last one was my favorite of the three. It was moist and tasty. It actually tasted like banana.. I didn't like that the chunks were big enough to see (that kinda grossed me out, actually) but however they make it, it's the one I would order again if I was in the neighborhood.
Babycakes NYC
130 E 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 623-5555
Cupcake Update: Since I last did a cupcake post, Lot44 Coffee has closed up and is no longer a cupcake option. Pitfire Pizza hasn't had it's Aunty Em's cupcakes in ages, and so the local options are limited to Big Man Bakes and BabyCakes NYC.
Babycakes NYC is the only vegan/gluten-free/spelt option downtown, but if you, like me, are not limited by what you can ingest, Big Man Bakes is the better (if more limited) option. The carrotcake cupcakes and pumpkin spice @ Big Man Bakes are still my favorite.. I'm still hunting for a truly moist & delicious red velvet (since I can't get Aunty Em's downtown). Suggestions?
A couple weeks back we headed over to UCLA for the LA Times Festival of Books.. We were able to get in at a few of the great panels we were really wanting to hit..
2010 Featured LATfob artist David Shannon was signing his books.
SUNDAY..
Sebastian Junger talked about his experience with the 173rd Airborne brigade in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, featured in his new book, War
Our DTLA buddy Eric Lynxwiler was signing copies of his book Knott's Preserved
Charles Phoenix was on hand for signings too!
Here he is with Sean after just signing my book Southern Californialand.
Father Gregory Boyle, famously of his work with HomeBoy Industries, discussing stories from his book, Tattoos on the Heart (which I'll write more about in a future post).
The last panel on Sunday that we attended, was the Publishing in the "new media" panel.
This was the the Wil Wheaton panel I kept tweeting about. =) Pablo Defindini was a great addition, talking about his publishing with TOR and I still didn't figure out what Dana Goodyear was talking about.. but that's more my fault than hers I'm sure! (something about text stories that are popular in Japan).
I thought Wil Wheaton did great (I saw him as part of another panel on Social Media a previous year). He best epitomizes the role of social media and the new media publishing.. Self-publishing his stories and blog postings.
Overall it was a great Book Fest! I just wish Ray Bradbury was there.. I don't blame him though. When will the LA Times bring back the book review section?? Book Reviews are still an important part of the discussion. (otherwise why have a festival?)
Happy Easter! Happy Spring.. Speaking of new beginnings and all that..
Yesterday was a day of Firsts (actually last weekend was too.. but that's later) Since the cat woke us up around 4am, we stayed awake and had breakfast at LA Cafe on Spring. It was ok.
The real surprise came later.. we were headed out to run errands and SeanYoda recalled a place I've been wanting to go with him for a while but the timing was always off (I always seem to remember when they were closed on Sundays and often our plans don't work out otherwise). Langer's.
We went to Langer's!!!
I've eaten at Langer's a couple times while assisting in Blogging support a year or so ago. While SeanYoda reminded me he has had Langer's before (he recalled my bringing home leftovers from an event one time), he had yet to visit the location for lunch. So here we are!!
We waited to be seated.. and it helped we came in already knowing what we wanted.. (hint is in photo) It was just a matter if we were going to split an order, or get our own...
We ended up splitting of course!
my half of the #19 Our server kindly put our halves on our own plate and I'm not sure, but think she may have given us an extra pickle..
Sean bites into his half..
We also got a side order of potato salad just in case the 1/2 wasn't enough.. (it was though as I ended up offering the remnant of my 2nd pickle half to Sean and left very full!)
One order of the #19 (pastrami w/ swiss & slaw), a side of potato salad & 2 iced teas came to $25 plus tip..
We parked at the Langer's lot at 7th & Westlake.. (and they do validate at Langer's)
Langer's is the BEST pastrami sandwich in LA (if not the world..) with Canter's being 2nd... You can take the Red Line out there to MacArthur Park if you don't have a car.. and if you do have a car.. like we happened to have this Easter weekend, then you now know where to park! =)
While my Easter egg hunting days are pretty much over, I don't begrudge someone else's little one a chance to have a run in the grass..
New City Church
It seems that there's going to be a bit of a festival atmosphere at Grand Hope Park (that's that green area where dogs aren't allowed despite the sculptures hinting otherwise) near the FIDM at 9th & Hope in South Park.
Next Sunday New City Church is hosting an "Easter Fest" with an Easter egg hunt, arts & craft-y stuff and the ubiquitous bounce house.
Easter falls on the 4th of April and the fest will run from 12-3pm. I don't know much else so you'll want to contact the folks at New City Church with any questions.
Easter@newcitychurchla.com or 213-471-2415
I'm not active in any churches at the moment so I have no personal agenda with this, just figuring with the uptick of folks with little ones, they'd want to know about this.
Our Lady of the Angels
For a less boisterous and not-so-kid-friendly way to spend Easter the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is hosting (with advanced reservation required) an Easter Champagne Brunch.
The Champagne Brunch is after Mass and is prepared by the chefs at the Center at Cathedral Plaza.. Adults $30, Children (2-12) $20 plus tax.; For more information & reservations please call (213) 680-5271.
J Restaurant & Lounge
Can't make up your mind?? J Restaurant and Lounge will be hosting a family friendly Easter Sunday Brunch from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Easter Sunday at 1119 S. Olive Street in South Park. Brunch will be served on the outdoor patio and an Easter egg hunt will be held for the kids.
There's plenty of churches around downtown and they may also have some Easter Sunday activities.. The ones I listed are the ones I knew about.. I'm not suggesting you go to any of these but if you want to there you go..
As for me, I'll probably end up at Disneyland. Unless Botegga Louie is open.. mmmmm Botegga Louie. For me the holidays are about food of course.
What ended up being a false alarm, had the LAFD making a run to the Rossyln late Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning. A prankster residents had pulled the alarm.
Meet Toni Duarte of Pet's Concierge.. Toni out walking her clients' dogs..
I don't think Toni dresses up like this every day! =) I caught up with her on St Patrick's Day walking a couple dogs. Toni has an event coordinator business as well a pet care service.. Toni watched our cats, Kiki & Alexander while we were recently in New Orleans.
Toni lives and works downtown, supporting other downtown dwellers. She's super friendly and easy to work with.. She walks dogs, does petcare visits, as well day & overnight care (if available). While a lot of her clients are dog owners, she has plenty of small animal and cat owner clients as well.
As briefly mentioned in my previous post, I was running errands yesterday in South Park. Walking up Flower and meandering back towards the Historic Core I noticed a couple new places.. (I may not be the first but I haven't noticed it blogged yet)..
The first was at the Gas Company Lofts..
Evy According to Evy of California's website they are "manufacturers of sportswear and occasional dresses for girls sizes newborn to junior." While it's not something I'm in the market for, I'm sure there are plenty of New Downtowners with children of a certain age that will be so happy to have a fashion place for their families.
Also noted on Evy's site is a Hello Kitty line! I know a particular someone that might be keen on that.. (assuming it's something more than just little kids' clothes).
Another place I spotted is the street level of Market Lofts.. on the Hope Street side.
YAS! ( Yoga and Spinning Center ) "Yoga for Athletes" proclaims a sign in their window.. The Yoga and Spinning spot should be open late April or early May.. YAS has other locations in Silverlake and Costa Mesa. They plan locations in Redondo and Manhattan Beach as well..
I was sort of keen on the place til I saw the "Yoga for Athletes" sign.. I am far from it.. and would love to try a spinning class sometime. I would love a place to go where I could be around other folks lumpy like me.. but until I lose the first 30lbs I'd still be wary of being around other exercising people.. Why are only skinny folks hanging out at the gym?? Where do the fat people go?? LOL
Ok. this wasn't supposed to get personal.. so something to look forward to in our ever evolving, and growing downtown.. Yay for new businesses!
Yesterday, I was walking back to the Historic Core from running errands in South Park. I was heading to Starry Kitchen for lunch and was about to turn off Broadway & Hill (the escalator was running up to Cal Plaza) when I spotted a most excellent reason to take the stairs up Angels Knoll..
Angels Flight Testing!!! Yes.. they were running the cars intermittently.. I video-taped it a few times but my cell phone did a pretty good job too...
Saturday night was an open mic night at Banquette Cafe & Wine Bar. While the spouse was under the weather, I went downstairs and checked out Richard McDowell and others performing in the small interior of Banquette..
Richard had advised me he'd be performing at 8pm. It was more near 9pm, since there was a couple musical groups that performed ahead of the poetry readings..
I caught the last number of this act when I first arrived..
This act performed quite a while.. they were alright, but I think having them perform some 8 or 9 songs (I lost count) in one set was a bit much.. I think they could have broken the sets up and let the poets perform in between. IMHO of course.. I mean I don't work at the Cafe so my opinion is pointless..
FINALLY.. Richard and a couple other folks got to perform..
I made a couple videos.. (I goofed w/ Richard's by holding the camera wrong, but righted it after a little bit.. ) I may link to those at some point.. sooner or later..
UPDATE: (*again, apologies for messing up the camera angle.. corrected in seconds 9/10) video1* "Life as a Poet"
video2 "Jiggsaw"
We even got treated to some comedy.. which went from weirdly uncomfortable to LOL funny and back again a couple times. I guess good comedy does that.
