When we saw Michael Cimarusti over the weekend, he excitedly reminded us that the first 5x5 Collective Dinner is less than two weeks away. Providence kicks things off on May 19, and there are only about 10 tables left (5:30 or 9pm, 9:30pm). This year the chefs---Cimarusti, Josiah Citrin, David Lefevre, Walter Manzke, Gino Angelini---changed it up by inviting some friends to join the fun. First up is Manresa's David Kinch, a 2008 James Beard nom for Best Chef of the West. One not to miss. The next dinner is in June at Bastide, but with all the chef shuffling going on there, plans might change; we'll know more soon. Manzke will still participate in the Providence dinner. Time to drool over the May 19 menu.

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Atwater Village Newbie, Flickr

ATWATER VILLAGE: For those of you wondering what's going on at Asia Los Feliz, there are new owners, a new name (now called Asia Bistro), a new chef, and new menu. Well, the menu is different but it's still Asian-European-Californian fusion and may still be suffering an identity crisis. [EaterWire Inbox]

MID-CITY: You know how the owners of Sonora Cafe on La Brea were just waiting for the right buyer before they shuttered the 20-year-old restaurant for good? Well, this just in from a reader: "The site has been leased to a operation called Yummie's (upscale grocery operation) whom I understand will sell some food items." Consider this the first unconfirmed, unresearched breadcrumb. Follow up to…follow. [EaterWire Inbox]

DOWNTOWN: Everyone's favorite pirate-themed Redwood Bar added weekend brunch for the downtownizens. Steak and eggs, French toast, sliders, omelets, crab cakes and the like, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm. Arrrrgh. [Angelenic]

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The Geisha House painted red makes sense and fits Hollywood. But as noted by a reader and snapped thoroughly by one of our compadres, Dolce Enoteca on Melrose and Sweetzer is going from dirt brown to red. What...leftover paint from Geisha? The Dolce Group's new bold signature color? Dolce celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, maybe it was just time for something new. Or is that crazy Lonnie Moore/Mike Malin crew just trying to shock the neighborhood, circa 2005, when partygoers covered the building in graffiti? Oh, what a quirky bunch.
· Is Paint Job Graffiti or Decoration? [LAT via No Graffiti]
· Geisha House Goes Red, Really, Really Red [~ELA~]

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Here we have some bonus weekend Dish. Got a little debut dish dying to get out? Window #2, please.

CULVER CITY: Cafe, shop, art space all in one, Royal/T opened its doors for LA Art Weeekend. The menu is "influenced by Tokyo's Akihabara district"; they call it "Japanese comfort food with a California twist" i.e. rice bowls, sandwiches with wasabi mayonaise, green tea desserts. And it's true: The servers wear maid outfits. (8910 Washington Blvd., 310.559.6300)

MID-CITY: The former Soul Vegetarian is now Vegan Village Internet Cafe, still owned by Jewel Thais-Williams but under new management. The menu sticks to non-meat, no-dairy fixin's but includes BBQ dumplings, "hot wings," tostadas, burritos, tacos, "faux shrimp and fries," smoothies and ice cream. (4061 W. Pico Blvd., 323.766.9377)

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Welcome to a new weekend feature, Week in Eater, where we divulge the best stories of the week that was. This is a special Sunday edition, but look for us on Saturdays from now on.

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Century City Breeds New Asian Concepts; South Opens in SM; Adolfo Suaya Making Charcoal a Gaucho Grill; Culver City Mega-Plywood; Pinkberry Settles Lawsuit, Finally Divulges Ingredients; Crumbs to Buy Larchmont Villagers Love With Free Cupcakes; The Delancey Compound; and There is Only One Roscoe's.

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Larchmont Villagers, be forewarned: There will be a day, probably sometime in mid-May, when free cupcakes will be thrust upon you by Crumbs Bake Shop. And we're not talking mini-cakes with cute little candy dots on top. Crumbs are ginormous sticky-sweet flavor bombs like Oreo, Fluffernutter and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. The free thing, well, it's just what they do when a new store opens: In Beverly Hills free cupcakes were given to the first 1,000 customers.
· NYC to LA: Cupcake Wars of Beverly Hills [~ELA~]
· Yep, the Chains Are Coming to Larchmont [~ELA~]
· Sweet Monday: Crumbs Opens, Freebies [~ELA~]

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MID-CITY: According to a tipster, the Kokomo Café move to the Eat Well location on Beverly and Martel will happen "sometime in the next week." We still haven't heard what's moving in to the Kokomo space at the Farmers Market. (Photo credit: Flickr) [EaterWire]

GLASSELL PARK: The low-key beer-lover's Verdugo Bar finally escapes the "soft open" phase and goes to six days a week starting April 8. There's also Beer Pong. Beer Pong! [UrbanDaddy]

WOODLAND HILLS: Valley sports fans will have to find another bar to overtake: Yankee Doodles will close after tonight's NCAA championship game. The Santa Monica location will remain open. [WHWC]

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After seven years of decent 'cue, The Pig shuttered its La Brea location last September. There were rumors that the Dalys would continue catering, but we have no confirmation that they're still in business at all. Around the time of the closure, a liquor license app hung in the window, but as these snaps reveal, that faded sign is still there, the building is still for lease, and the interior has seen better days. What's to come of that location? Anything? We know Mark Peel's keeping the Oasis space across the street, and Cube is still doing well considering La Brea's horrible parking, so there's a chance something can succeed. We'll take your guesses/info/goss in Comments, please.
· Summer's Really Over: The Pig, Shuttered [~ELA~]

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If there's one thing we've learned in our oh-so-many years of restaurant working and watching: Nothing's set in stone. Last year we learned that Campanile chef/owner Mark Peel and his GM and wine director Jay Perrin would open a new wine bar concept in the former Oasis space on La Brea. Several months later, a reader spotted a "for lease" sign on the location, and Perrin told us they were taking the whole shebang to Culver City. We haven't heard much until today: Peel and Perrin decided to stay in the Oasis location but it's no longer a wine bar and now all about mixology.

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Photo via Blackburn and Sweetzer

What was supposed to be a quick remodel at Doughboys has turned into an all-out demolition, as noted by the pics above. Also noted: the space next door is under construction as well, so perhaps there's an expanded Doughboys in the works. The number is currently disconnected, but a staffer at the Highland location confirmed that 8136 W. Third Street is still Doughboys, but doesn't know when "renovations" will be finished. Stripped to the beams, it can't be anytime soon.
· Doughboys Shuttered by DOH Again [~ELA~]
· EaterWire Update: Doughboys Still Closed [~ELA~]
· Demolition at Doughboys [Blackburn and Sweetzer]

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SILVER LAKE: From a tipster: "I live in silverlake, and I LOVE tomato pie on melrose near fairfax. I learned a few weeks ago that they were planning a silverlake location. I just saw this myspace bulletin." The second Tomato Pie officially opened at 2457 Hyperion, across from Baller Hardware. Free delivery, too. [EaterWire]

MID-CITY: Confirmed: Ita-Cho added lunch service two weeks ago. Now open Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30pm and reopens for dinner at 6pm. Weekend nights are still packed. [EaterWire]

MID-CITY: There are wine, sake, beer and cheese tastings, but here's something you don't see every day. Food Court LA on Third Street will have a Saltistry artisanal salt tasting with an entire menu of nibbles (watermelon and cantaloupe with coconut black sea salt, chile salt pepitas, kumomoto oysters with citrus salts) and specialty cocktails, featuring, yes, salt. All for only $25 (at the door). March 31, 6-9pm. [EaterWire]

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