Downtown Weekly

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023

DTLA

Naughty & Nice

AFTER HOURS VINTAGE

victorioso mezcal elixir of the gods

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE ROOFTOP REVELATIONS AT CABRA

THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

on the cover: AFTER HOUR VINTAGE

VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 3

PHOTO: DANIEL MARSH @DAN _YILL LOCATION: FASHION DISTRICT

THE TOY SOLDIERS

DTLA WEEKLY

editor and chief KERI FREEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Keri Freeman JACKSON ROBERTS REBECCA DENNING jamiie herrera abel weiss cathy chu

photography GARY LEONARD shawn smith eric epperson keri Freeman

VIDEO Production @kerieatsdtla design and layout @kerieatsdtla

social media art hunter

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10 great holiday gifts ...4 after hour vintage...5 victorioso mezcal..7 cabra at hotel hoxton ..8 get2dtla event guide...10 map inside..11 DTLA WEEKLY Special thanks to...

All rights reserved. DownMAYOR OF LOS ANGELES town Weekly is a news, event, & Council district 14 LIFESTYLE & Hospitality FREE resource. No portion THE CITY OF LA ofcommunity this publication may be reproARTS DISTRICT duced without express written CHINATOWN permission from the publisher.

WEEKLY, in support of local CIVIC DISTRICT DTLA residents, businesses, workers and BUNKER HILL visitors of Downtown Los AnEXPO/USC geles, publishes DTLA WEEKLY. HISTORIC CORE Readers are recommended to LITTLE TOKYO make appropriate inquiries before wagering any sum in relaFASHION DISTRICT tion to any ad, article or feature FINANCIAL DISTRICT published herein. DTLA WEEKLY will not be liable to any person SKID ROW for loss or damage incurred or SOUTH PARK suffered as a result of his/her WAREHOUSE DISTRICT accepting, offering to accept or any invitation or advice THEGRAWN following contained in any ad, article or ARTWALK NEWS feature published herein.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WEEKLY

DTLA NEWS l EVENTS l LIFESTYLE I HOSPITALITY P.O. BOX 86601 - DTLA CA 90086 - WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 888-732-DTLA (3852) @DTLAWEEKLY

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4 DTLA HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - 10 GREAT GIFTS BY HANNY PLAYA

VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

10 Great Holiday Gifts in Downtown LA You Can Give All Year Long

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Options are endless at Pali, which serves traditional and natural-style wines.

orget the fruitcakes and fuzzy socks!

This holiday season, ditch the predictable mall mayhem and the long lines at the post office and dive into a treasure trove of unique, locallysourced gifts found within walking distance right here in the heart of DTLA. Gifts of Grapes from Pali Wines from the Arts District Last-minute gift shopping? Check out Pali Wine Co. virtual gift cards! Any wine lover can enjoy a wine tasting experience at their Arts District tasting room, find their next favorite bottle to take home, or enjoy their special New Year’s Eve Sparkling Wine Tasting & curated pairings! @paliwineco

The Gift of Beauty from Taylor Melrose Luxury Body & Skin Care

Looking for an interesting gift idea for your favorite person? Or sometimes, you just need that extra stocking stuffer for a friend or family member. Whether they are naughty or nice, Taylor Melrose is one of the most beautifying gifts this holiday season, especially for those who are hard to shop for in their lives. This LAbased brand has a vast line of products ideal for men and women, including hand wash, facial cleanser, and body wash. @taylormelrosela

GET2DTLA: LITTLE TOKYO STREET FAIR BY JACKSON ROBERTS

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6 DTLA HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: AFTER HOURS VINTAGE BY CATHY CHU

Q&A WITH Bridget & liza

VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

after hours vintage

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ridget Connelly and Liza McGowan are the two partners who own and operate After Hours Vintage. Bridget has set her sights on marrying French, so she can finally change the spelling to “Brigitte.” And it’s Liza with a 'z', not Lisa with an 's'.

How old are you?

Our combined age is somewhere between 69 and 72.

Liza McGowan & Bridget Connelly at After Hours Vintage - Photo Courtesy Daniel Marsh

What inspired you to do what you did?

We’re both financially challenged artists who needed to find a way to drink out of Baccarat.

What are you known for? Tell us how it started.

We stumbled upon our first estate sale while walking in the Hollywood Hills in 2019. It was the home of Art Babbitt, a legendary animator who created the “Goofy” character, and Barbara Perry, an actress and dancer. Their home was packed with 100 years of memorabilia that Our current collection features mostly 80's told the story of their lives, and the family Deco; everything looks like it could have needed help liquidating it. been pulled from the set of “Scarface,” so we’ve been referring to it as “cocaine Bridget and Liza helped by spreading the decor." Bridget loves the 80’s sleaze, and word about the sale to their friends and Liza gravitates towards bold postmodern sorting animation cels for a donation pieces. Everything we have has a wild to the AFI. We walked out of there with history. We have a collection of vintage crystal decanters, opera records, and a furs, some of which came from the “Carol new addiction: estate sales. We started Burnett” show. Don't worry, vegans; the frequenting them every weekend, reveling minks were dead before you were alive. in the history and story behind the people We're a vintage boutique that sells extravagant furniture, art, and accessories. Our pieces and showroom are available for rental, and we also offer interior styling services and art direction.

Any formal education?

(school of hard knocks, etc.)...

Both of us are from the Midwest, where Lazy Boys with cup holders in the arms were all the rage, so we bonded over having to overcompensate in the style department. Bridget is an interior designer who has a background in historic home renovation, and Liza has a background in marketing and video production and currently works in TV.

who lived in the homes and the pieces we found. We built relationships with estate brokers who Bridget began working with, staging and selling.

Tell us how's it going?

We're located in the back corner of "Deep House Design," which is a modern furniture store that is also home to artists and fashion designers (@Joancheri_ art and @ximenavalero). We’re like a speakeasy back there; stop in and join us for a cognac and biscotti.

Because we’re vintage, our clients get quality pieces that aren’t made of particle board and won’t end up sticking out of a dolphin’s spiracle. We promote up-andcoming local artists. We currently feature the work of Patrick Connelly (@pconcave).

He does some really sinister film noirthemed linocut prints. We plan to bring the community together by hosting events at our showroom. We’d love to partner with any of the French restaurants Bridget has been fired from to cross-promote our businesses. Shout out to L’Appart and Mignon.

Are there any obstacles, and if so, how do you overcome them?

Bridget drives a Mini Cooper with a coolant leak, and Liza sports a cobalt blue chevy cobalt with an odometer reading worthy of the Guinness Book of World Records. Every delivery is an obstacle.

Any plans for the future?

We’re taking on more styling and design gigs and would love to be the go-to cocaine decor and art deco broads for art directors in entertainment. We’d love to be involved in the restoration of historic landmarks like the Hotel Cecil and Barclay projects or any of the theaters on Broadway, plus be a part of the design teams involved in section 8 housing.

After Hours Vinage is located at 725 S. Spring Street, LA CA 90014 @afterhoursvintagela

DTLA HAPPIEST HOURS: VICTORIOSO MEZCAL BY KERI FREEMAN

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Today, his grandson, Eugenio Sernas Jr., and wife, Yelena, carry the torch forward. As a third-generation Maestro Mezcalero, working with his father, Eugenio, learned every step of the process and embraced the love for agave, mezcal and Oaxacan culture. With every bottle of Victorioso Mezcal, their mission is to preserve the quality of mezcal and to create the spirit that would make his ancestors proud.

victorioso mezcal exlixir of the gods

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f all the gods of the ancient Aztecs, the legend of Mayáhuel, the goddess of agave, is the most intoxicating, a swirling tale of love, life, and lightning that would someday birth the elixir of the gods, Victorioso Mezcal.

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fter escaping a celestial prison to spend eternity with her lover, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, their forbidden love ended with her being dismembered by a jealous relative and her remains being scattered across the land.

Photo Courtesy Victorioso Mezcal

Once days had passed, Eugenio would cool the hearts and chop the malleable pieces down further later, giving them to his trusted horse to mill. Tied to a huge grinding stone, Eugenio’s horse spent days grinding the hearts down until the juices ran free.

Using the weather to dictate the fermentation process, Eugenio’s final task would be to taste each batch. Needless to say, Eugenio must have loved his job.

Nurtured by sweat water from the mountains and valleys of Oaxaca, Victorioso Mezcal produces four varieties of mezcal, using only mature agave, each with its own whispers of smoke, sweetness, and complexity of flavors. Three of these mezcals are made from wild agaves that cannot be cultivated and are very hard to obtain.

Sip and savor.

Victorioso eschews any shortcuts. Each small batch is cooked individually, allowing the unique character of the agave to shine through. This isn't a spirit to be rushed; it's a drink to be savored, with no added sugar (hence it is the purest spirit with no hangover and better for people who trying to preserve their bodies but still want to enjoy drinking).

A luxury spirit, Victorioso Mezcal, By 1955, his son Juan Sernas had taken makes for the perfect gift. Each bottle the reins, establishing one of the first five is priced appropriately for an artisan registered palenques and mezcal brands in tequila true to its craft. Each limitedthe region. batch, numbered bottle is forged to echo the lightning of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec Twenty years later, when manufacturers calendar, and the pyramids of Oaxaca. threatened to compromise the integrity In 1927, Eugenio Sernas Sr. began of mezcal by rushing its production and Awarded the platinum medal at the LA cultivating agave in Matatlan, Oaxaca, introducing additives, Juan, was the Spirit Awards for Best Mezcal of 2022 laying the foundation for a legacy that pioneer who stood defiantly as Mayáhuel in blind tasting among 30 brands, would span generations. to ensure the process of mezcal remained Victorioso Mezcal mixes well with focused on the love of the craft rather than traditional cocktail ingredients, can Risking dehydration and injury, seeking just making profits. be found online in boutique hotels and out wild agaves which found him away bespoke liquor stores, and is quickly from home. Eugenio shaved each thorny He financed and organized a twobecoming a fixture at more and more succulent down to its core with his month strike that angered the upscale restaurants in downtown Los machete. manufacturers, blocking trucks along Angeles.

Iturbide Road. His passionate fight led Harvesting only a small batch at a time to stricter regulations and a union to This holiday season, celebrate every before carefully placing his hearts in a safeguard the true essence of mezcal, life’s moment with Victorioso Mezcal roasting pit for several days, he covered and raise a glass for love of the Gods and them with mesquite wood and volcanic which might have even cost Juan Sernas in honor of tradition. @victoriosomezcal rocks that gave his mezcal its own unique his life and earning him a place in the Museum of Mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico. flavor.

In the baron desert of Oaxaca, Mexico soon sprouted her new form, an agave plant, which, in anger, Quetzalcoatl would strike by lightning, bringing forth a heated, intoxicating nectar from within the heart of the plant.

8 DTLA APPETITE: CABRA AT THE HOXTON HOTEL BY KERI FREEMAN

VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

cabra at the hoxton hotel

rooftop revelations on top of the world

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or a long time before the 2016 Renaissance, sanctuary in Downtown LA came only in the form of iconic rooftops with majestic views that paled off into the distance. For those lucky enough to escape the trials and tribulations of the urban grind below, this meant cool breezes and bird-eye views over the city landscape by day and unmatched serenity amongst the stars by night.

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nd just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, a constellation of culinary havens began ascending, merging starlit solace with the festivity of clinking glasses and skyward symphonies of flavor.

Soon after 2019, the Hoxton Hotel would open on Broadway, followed shortly by the hotel’s adoption by some of America’s most acclaimed culinary masters. Chef Stephanie Izard and Boka Restaurant Group powerhouses Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm would reveal Cabra Restaurant to the world. A vibrant flavor and atmosphere, set against the stunning backdrop of the DTLA skyline.

Cabra quickly became a sweetspot for locals and travelers seeking unforgettable experiences in downtown.

Photo Courtesy Cabra Los Angeles

Sharing Hoxton’s 12-story platform with an iridescent swimming pool and outdoor sun deck, Cabra’s city views beckon a good time. With the aroma of approaching plates coming from an open kitchen and a full cocktail program complete with fine wines and artisan brews, anticipation for positive experiences just comes naturally at Cabra, allowing visitors to empathetically bond with servers and staff.

Forget solo entrees and predictable dining.

Cabra champions a family-style feast, forcing the elevated joys to flow over the top.

Cabra opens at 5 p.m., with diner reservations allowing guests to sit indoors or out and making room for private parties.

Well seasoned and ready to start each dining experience with a menu of starters that include favorites like hot chorizo and queso dip, beef or chicken empanadas, followed by main courses of wood-fired skirt steak, Roasted Mary’s Hen, and crispy pork shank, accompanied by a list of hearty salads and delicious pairings of bass or salmon ceviche.

Although Monday and Friday patrons dine with a sunset backdrop, Cabra does serve brunch.

Brunch dishes include the creamy crab cassa and wood-fired skirt steak and eggs, drizzled with the magic of saltado sauce.

Brunch is a daytime paradise where cityscapes and all-you-can drink mimosas collide, with bottomless mimosas and creative delights like shrimphash pancakes and tomato-strawberry Cabra omelettes. Cabra’s DIY Mimosa Party is $35 per person with any purchase and happens every Saturday and Sunday during brunch (10:30am – 3pm).

From the moment you step onto the rooftop, a sense of anticipation washes over you.

The atmosphere is electric, charged with the promise of good times and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a night out with friends, or simply seeking a sophisticated escape, Cabra delivers an experience that will leave you feeling on top of the world. @cabralosangeles

DTLA HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - 10 GREAT GIFTS BY HANNY PLAYA

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holiday gifts all year round cont...

The Gift of Health and Stylet from InStyler in the Fashion District

To support local businesses and encourage locals to consider a strong 2024 start, InStyler CEO, Dan Fugardi has sponsored one-half of an already discounted $450 3-session holiday gift package from Pilates by Nadia. This offer is valid for the first 15 purchases and is non-refundable but transferable in order to make for the perfect gift. In addition, InStyler supplements hair health with a high-quality InStyler hair tools & products set, redeemable at the completion of your sessions! Claim this valuable gift bundle all for $225, and have yourself a happy, healthy holiday. @InStylerhair

Gift of DTLA Apparel from Undisputed Principles in the Historic Core Downtown Los Angeles is a dream to some and a nightmare to others. Nothing embodies this mixture of chaos and luxury like DTLA’s favorite Unofficial Gift Shop. Located in the Historic Core on 6th and Spring, Undisputed Principles is a revolutionary gift shop that celebrates DTLA’s individuality via apparel with thought-provoking graphics, speaking to the toxicity of our relationship with the city and establishing their pieces as a great conversation piece or icebreaker on the hottest of summer days. @undisputedprinciples

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COMING IN 2024...

8TH ANNUAL STAY HEALTHY DTLA FROM DT WEEKLY

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DTLA CITY

GUIDE BECAUSE ...ISNT IT ABOUT TIME WE SHOW OUR ANGEL WINGS?

FIND YOURSELF IN DTLA Find.

Downtown LA attracts a diverse array of visitors from all over the world.

Connect.

The DTLA City Guide bridges connections.

Thrive.

As part of our commitment to supporting the local community, $5 from every listing goes directly to a designated local charity.

Envision the joy of our Downtown Los Angeles charity recipients when they open their monthly DTLA City Guide Donation Letter listing the local businesses that have contributed to their causes.

Thank you for helping us reach our goals. *DTLA City Guide listings are open to every Angeleno, however, only charities based in Downtown Los Angeles will receive a portion of the proceeds. www.dtlacityguide.com @DTLACITYGUIDE

10 DTLA HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 10 GREAT GIFTS: BY HANNY PLAYA

VOL 20. NO. 3 DEC 21 - DEC 27, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

Swanky Gifts from Arketa on Broadway

holiday gifts all year round cont...

The Gift of Creativity at the LA Art Show coming to South Park LA Art Show 2024 is returning on Valentine’s Day, February 14–18, to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Tickets to the international art event featuring world-class galleries, museums, nonprofit arts organizations, and individual artists from around the world are on sale now. The annual showcase is the largest and most prestigious art show in South California and will be exhibiting painting, sculpture, works on paper, installation, photography, design, video, and performance.

Giving tickets to the LA Art Show is like two endearing holiday gifts in one, and any purchase may increase that endearment's value far into the future. @ laartshow

Experience the holidays with Arketa.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect fur coat, leather gloves, or kneehigh boots to complete your holiday look, Arketa has got you covered.

Stop by Arketa’s new flagship store in DTLA to shop the holiday collection that will leave you vibing all holiday season long. @arketa_la

Photo by Arke

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Gift the gift of nature with Bellissima Prosecco.

Give the bliss of the sip with a luxury collection of premium Prosecco and wines, all grown organically and thoughtfully made in Italy. In Italian, Bellissima doesn’t just mean beautiful, but “most beautiful."

Bellissima grapes grow naturally, beautifully, and express their natural qualities. Their wines have no residuals of pesticides, herbicides, or any other nasty chemicals, they are just clean and delicious. @bellissimaprosecco

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esy B

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Bozu Plant: The Gift of Good Luck from Little Tokyo

Yukio from Bozu of Little Tokyo and his two children have been pairing exotic plants with one-of-a kind handcrafted pots for the past five years.

Making each BOZU design unique and personally mated with its new owner, a few of their plants, like the sacred bonsai, are traditionally known for bringing in good luck.

Photo Courtesy Bozu Best of all, they are becoming easier to find, branching off to new locations, including the Arts District DTLA at Boxx Coffee Roasters, Rice & Nori in Little Tokyo, and during the Little Tokyo Street Fair held every other month in Weller’s Court. @bozu_la

MONUMENTS IN TIME BY KERI FREEMAN

VOL 20. NO. 1 NOV 23 - NOV 29, 2023 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 11