Regent Theater

I keep falling even more in love with Downtown!

Went to MOCA Thursday to help with a special young alumni group initiative they're starting (ask me about special discount membership to MOCA) which began with a tour of Dan Graham's Beyond, and then the DT Art Walk.

Happy to see soo many people out and about for the walk! Only really stopped into Deborah Martin's gallery, which was packed! Even had a band playing and a bar set up. Jammed with people - it was so hot. Couple cool leather and jewelry vendors set up, too. Bumped into a guy who agrees that the Crocker Club would be amazing if only the owner would go back to West Hollywood. Then ran into the bohemian parents of one of my middle school friends... who were checking out our high school photography teacher's show at the Museum of Neon Art.

Met up with my friend at Little Radio (after managing to slip into the Regent Theater for a quick listen to some crazy dancing/drum beats). We headed over to Varnish (you're surprised?) to see our favorite bartender and have some Eastsides.... and he introduced us to the Angel Face. Though I don't remember leaving, I do know we went back to Regent to catch Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. What a fun troupe!! My friend went to school with the accordion player, but if I hadn't known that, I could have totally believed they were a gypsy circus of players from the early 70s transported in space and time.... such a fun show! I counted I think 11 players on stage. And the Regent! How lovely it's become - gone are the concrete floors and how welcome are the red carpet draperies and the newly carpeted floor. It's by no means gorgeous, but I like that they've spruced it up. It is such a great little venue!

Ended the night with my first overnight at The Standard.... and the decision that I need to start saving for a personal chauffeur. Ha! My cab from the hotel to where my car was parked at Disney Concert Hall was $5.... if that was half a mile... what would it have cost the whole way home? Lord.

Food-Related Thoughts

Picked up a short stack of peanut butter cookies at Malibu Kitchen today... almost $6! They were good, but for some reason, I always leave MK a little unsettled. Not the best customer experience... Everything in there is overpriced. It has the potential to be a nice spot, but for whatever reason, the management doesn't really work to promote an atmosphere conducive for hanging out... I always just want to get in and out and not linger on the patio area.

Before this, I had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich at Coogies (having abandoned my plan to attend the Grilled Cheese Invitational). It was good, but reinforced my position on sourdough bread - Somehow or other, sourdough deviates from the typical bread experience... it's not yummy and I would never eat it in a bread basket. My waitress was nice, though, and I read "Still Life With Woodpecker" while I waited. It's windy and a little chilly today, though, so I didn't linger long there, either.

Thursday I had "Sunny Toast" at Banquette Cafe on Main St. downtown before going to the Nokia Theater. It was cozy and surprisingly bustling. And, they serve breakfast food all day!

400 South Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90013-1314 - (213) 626-2768

I did end up going to CorkBar, and while my wine was good (I got something red from Justin) and the mac n cheese was terrific, I didn't really like the neighborhood. It's in the generic part of downtown right by Staples and it's mostly surrounded with faceless newer buildings and men overzealously directing you to their $7 parking lot. I prefer the areas from Spring to Main and 5th to 7th.

Little Radio is planning to have regular programming in the theater on Main and talk of opening a cafe is in the works. I think that would be really cool! Hope it goes through.