angelenic: downtown los angeles

Michael Ilic and his business partner Oliver Rosen have plans to begin feeding Fashion District denizens possibly as soon as July 1. Their new restaurant, Gram and Papas — a homely name considering the fashionista setting — is to be located at 9th and Los Angeles, just half a block from the California Market Center.

The name Gram and Papas is a tribute to the owners’ grandparents. The concept: “high-end quick service food with a focus on simple combinations of fresh, house-prepared ingredients.” It is essentially “slow food fast,” where flavorful, labor-intensive fare meets the fast-paced lifestyle of working Angelenos.

What can one expect from the dining experience?…

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It doesn’t look like much from the outside — a low brick building somewhere in quazi-no man’s land just across the LA River off North Main Street. A few cars parked on the quiet street and a couple people emerging with wine boxes did little to indicate the existence of a restaurant and wine store on the other side of the wall.

When I opened the door to San Antonio Winery I was in for a bit of a shock. The place was brightly lit and bustling with activity as if Christmas came early to the wine store. This is not at all what I was expecting on a Friday afternoon. When asked if they were always this busy a store attendant replied, “Actually, this is kind of slow for us.”

More San Antonio Winery shock and awe…

An obvious destination for wine enthusiasts in Downtown is 626 Reserve Wine Bar. The name says it all, right?

626 Reserve, located on Spring Street in the City Lofts building, has been quietly serving up food, wine and jazz for the past 2 years.

Owner Barbara Taylor-Gray reports their busiest nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays when they have live musical performances and Art Walk nights are even busier. Depending on how many guests hang around the musicians may stay as late as 10 or 11pm.

The dark interior and terracotta-colored walls give 626 Reserve a warm and cozy atmosphere suitable for romantic dates and intimate gatherings. It is difficult to pinpoint the decor but it almost has an African Art Deco-ish flavor. Some of their artwork is from the gallery next door and rotates on a regular basis.

Read more on this local wine haunt…

This weekend kicks off the first annual Taiwan Fest-LA at the historic landmark El Pueblo across from Union Station. You are probably wondering why this event would be held at a Mexican-American landmark instead of, say, Chinatown. I wondered the same thing. My only guess is the event would cause traffic problems in the narrow streets and sidewalks of Chinatown.

In any case, I decided to check out this event. Though I was born and raised in Los Angeles, my parents immigrated from Taiwan over 30 years ago. I don’t get much chance to keep my language and culture alive, so if there’s a part of me remotely Taiwanese I would probably find it here, at Taiwan Fest-LA.

More on turning Taiwanese after the jump…

As all new wine enthusiasts know describing the taste and aroma of a wine can be very elusive. The experts say “just go with what you like” or “there’s no right or wrong way to describe a wine.” I think they say that just to make the newbies feel better.

I am very new to the wine world. In fact, I’m pretty sure the sommelier wants to stab himself whenever I describe a wine as “grape-y” or having a “Robitussin finish.” At the very least it’s as entertaining as a trainwreck. I am a wine retard, or at least my tastebuds are. Some people are just born with an exquisite palate, but I clearly need help defining and communicating my wine impressions.

More on my

Who or what is Poketo? Poketo is a network of artists founded by Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung. They describe themselves as “Totally eclectic and 100% unique.” The first Poketo wallets were launched in 2003 as limited edition pieces to accompany the work of a small group of artists, as a calling card of sorts. Now, these pieces are collectors items.

The Poketo Studio on Hewitt Street is opening for a $5-$10 warehouse sale this Saturday, May 10 from 10am-5pm. A cupcake social will also accompany this event, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth and fuel your shopping energy.

The products are graphic-driven, modern and a little funky. Items for sale include stationary, wallets, clothing, prints and housewares. At $5-$10 a piece that is quite a bargain. You might even consider doing some early Christmas shopping or, heaven forbid, last minute Mother’s Day shopping.

Poketo Studio
510 S. Hewitt Street #506
Los Angeles, CA 90013

$5-$10 Warehouse Sale and Cupcake Social
Saturday May 10
 10am-5pm

Thanks to reader Elaine for the tip!

While wine tasting at Ralph’s supermarket may not be glamorous, it is a regularly scheduled event and one of the only wine tasting shows in town. Some nights can be more quiet than others, but in general these events have built up a decent crowd over the past few months. It is a good place to hobnob with fellow members of the community and is frequented by many regulars.

The range of attendees includes USC students, employees of the housing authority and local residents among others. The atmosphere is jovial, even more so after the tasting commences. The last two times I’ve attended definitely had a sense of community and camaraderie.

Several tastings are held each week from 5-8pm in the little easy-to-miss eating area behind the deli. The events range from $8-$15 depending on the prices of the 4 wines featured.

Read more on wine tasting at Ralph’s…