I've been a bit busy lately, so it's been awhile since I've posted. There was a lot of stuff goin on around good ol' DTLA, but I swear, if I hear someone use the phrase "Downtown Renaissance" in all seriousness, one more time, I'm gonna lose my shit. Is it anything other than a feel good about yourself way of saying "Downtown Gentrification?" Answer: no.

So anyway, lots of stuff... lots of stuff...

There was a big march for gay rights Downtown last weekend, one of the many around the country spurred on by the riculousness of Prop 8 passing. If you missed it, there's some great pics of the event up on flickr. Even better, there's another rally and march going on Monday, put on by community based activist internet radio station IM Radio. The rally is set to meet for a "sign making party" in the alley at Lost Souls Cafe (Harlem Place Alley, 124 W 4th St) at 4pm and leaves from there at 5pm. Afterward, there's a big bash at Bar 107 with bands and DJs (Crass Mondays has been bumped again). Here's the flyer for the event:



The anticipated Blu LA Cafe (no relation to LA Cafe, on Spring) opened last week below the Pac-Electric Lofts on 6th St, between Main and Los Angeles. I had the opportunity to stroll in on Art Walk Thursday and was happy to see a big sign with words that read, "Art Walk Special," and then immediately dumbfounded by those words being paired with, "$25." Hmm... $25 dollar... special? The only thing special about that is it's the most overpriced feed on the block. I mean, really, how the hell do you charge $25 for a special, next door to the place where I used to get the best Turkey Dips in town for around $5? Good fucking luck Blu LA Cafe... Downtown Renaissance my ass.

Speaking of those awesome Turkey Dips... legendary Cole's, the REAL inventor of the French Dip sandwich (that's right, forget what you heard about Phillipe's) is back! I have yet to eat there since it's become another piece in Cedd Moses' bar monopoly. Let's hope they didn't fuck up what used to be part of Downtown's daily diet. I'll have a review later next week.

Let's see, what else... oh... Downtown was blanketed in even worse air quality than normal on Monday and Tuesday due to the raging wildfires around the Southland. It was like we were in a permanent twilight with the sun's light getting diffused through a bajillion layers of smoke. I was actually surprised I didn't see a single person with a protective mask on.

Hmm... there was one more thing... oh yeah! Downtown on Ice has returned. Who wants to go skating in our glorious 91º fall climate? WTF weather? Enough of this heatwave, I'm ready for some cold front. According to weather forcasts we'll be dropping out of the 80s and 90s and down to some chilly 70s and (gasp) high 60s next week. Time to break out those parkas and moon boots.