Baker: Flour Power

DOWNTOWN by Linda Sheridan

LOS ANGELES

PIPLIOTTI RIST: BIG HEARTEDNESS BE MY NEIGHBOR, MOCA DOWNTOWN IS PROUD TO INCLUDE LOS ANGELES in our growing family. DTLA is a whole vibe, and we are here for it! Despite the setbacks of the past two years, 2021 yielded a record leap in residential growth for downtown LA, according to the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. Downtown magazine is your source for events, restaurants and exhibits, and hot real estate developments you need to know about now.

The Scene

ONGOING-SMORGASBURG LA The weekly food market Smorgasburg in Alameda runs from 10am-4pm every Sunday, and features a rotating list of 60+ vendors, including several vegan vendors. Try fresh pressed sugarcane juice from Sweetgrass or oysters from Jolly Oyster. la.smorgasburg.com

13TH ANNUAL SPRING MARKET AT CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER On Mother’s Day Weekend, May 7-8, explore a curated selection of 200 of the best emerging brands, designers, and up-and-coming artists so you can shop local, take part in a diverse community, and be inspired. The market will take place 10am - 4pm both days. Cmcdtla.com

The Dish

GUSTO GREEN New to the Jewelry District, Gusto Green is for those ready to embrace a more cannabis and plant forward menu. At its helm is celebrated entrepreneur Janet Zuccarini, founder and CEO of Gusto 54 (Felix Trattoria, Gusto 101, etc). gusto.green

REDBIRD Carved into one of downtown LA’s most historic architectural gems, inside the former rectory building of Vibiana, Redbird features modern American cuisine; it’s helmed by Chef Neal Fraser and Amy Knoll Fraser. redbird.la

OTIUM Located next to the Broad Museum on Grand Ave., Otium is one of downtown’s hot new restaurants. Under the helm of Chef Tim Hollingsworth, the menu focuses on rustic cooking. Rooted in Latin, otium means a place in time that can be spent on leisurely activities. otiumla.com

Bar Hopping

CHATTERBOX BAR/ SLIPPER CLUTCH The Chatterbox Bar on Broadway features a speakeasy, The Slipper Clutch, tucked in the back, that’s also stacked with vintage pinball games. chatterbox-bar.com, theslipperclutch.com

SEVEN GRAND WHISKEY BAR Serving up hand-crafted cocktails, live music, and pool tables, the handsome Seven Grand is home to the ever-popular Whiskey Society. sevengrandbars.com

GOLDEN GOPHER Originally dubbed the Golden Sun saloon in 1905, Golden Gopher remains a community attraction and everyday watering hole for DTLA residents and visitors alike. Open year-round, Golden Gopher features original exposed brick, custom-designed glass chandeliers, 16 craft beers on tap, and oldschool video games. goldengopherla.com

Property Values

THE GRAND LA, a mixed-use development by architect Frank Gehry and The Related Companies, will span an entire city block; the developers call it “a city within the city.” There will be 176,000 square feet of retail space available, alongside a 305 room hotel from the new-to-California Conrad brand. Coming in 2022. thegrandla.com

CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER Brookfield Properties is developing an entire city block as a creative office and mixed-use destination that will include 1.8 million square feet of commercial office, retail, and amenity space. California Market Center (CMC), will be reinvented to appeal to the rising influx of technology, entertainment, media, food, and beverage industries heading to DTLA. Situated on the corner of 9th & Main Streets , the project will host 13 floors across three buildings

“With the comeback of Downtown Los Angeles, and the return of incredible arts and hospitality experiences along the Grand Avenue cultural corridor, including at L.A.’s performing arts center The Music Center, we look forward to the arrival of DOWNTOWN in Los Angeles. What a wonderful time to celebrate the growth and evolution of one of the most culturally diverse counties in our nation!”

—Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO, The Music Center

with large floor plates connected by exterior bridges overlooking an interior street and public plaza. Amenities include a rooftop deck, fitness offerings, and more. cmcdtla.com

ANGELS LANDING PROJECT is Handel Architects’ newest mixed-use project in downtown LA. Plans include 422 residential units, two hotels, cultural/civic space, and 50,000 sq. ft. of retail. The site, most recently home to the temporary park known as Angels Knoll, was previously intended to be part of a re-development project decades ago. The project will connect the Financial District, the Historic Core, the Cultural District, and the Civic Center. handelarchitects.com/project/angels-landing

APPLE TOWER THEATRE, when it reopened in 2021, was seen and heard ‘round the world. Formerly The Tower Theatre, opened in 1927, it was the first film house in LA to show talking pictures. It closed in 1988. It recently received the glamorous treatment, one of downtown LA’s biggest restoration projects to date. apple.com/retail/towertheatre

“As Downtown LA (DTLA) continues to reopen and emerge from the pandemic years, innovation and creativity are advancing at a brisk pace in all sectors. DOWNTOWN Magazine LA will be a helpful resource to track and uplift the energetic progress while focusing on critical issues that affect all of us—how we live, work, play, and care for each other and the planet.”