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EaterWire: Crown City Closing, Suede Lounge Opening

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PASADENA: Sad day for beer aficionados in the 'Dena: Crown City Brewery will close after May 31. From lafoodblogging: "Crown opened in 1988 just south of Pasadena’s Central Park and began serving their Arroyo Amber and Mount Wilson Wheat to the masses. On top of their house beers, the pub stocks over a hundred bottled beers and 30 more draft beers, an astonishing selection for our burg. Until the brewery finally broke down in 2002, Crown held the distinction of being Los Angeles’ oldest operating brewpub. Pasadena’s Craftsman Brewing picked up the slack and provides the pub with its flagship brews." The closure is blamed on inadequate parking, tough competition and, most importantly, the landlord's refusal to grant a new long-term lease. The remaining partners are searching for a space to reopen. [lafoodblogging]

Next: A new happy hour Downtown >>

EaterWire: Intelligentsia's "Best Barista in the U.S.", Pinkberry at Americana, BLT Does Lunch

Move over bacon, there's something newsier. Got something for the EaterWire? In the tip jar, please.

SILVER LAKE: One more reason why we're lucky to have Intelligentsia in LA: We have the "best barista in America" right here. Kyle Glanville, barista and Manager of Espresso Research, just won the US Barista Competition in Minneapolis this weekend. What does one have to do to win such an honor? Wow the judges by preparing and serving four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation---all within a 15-minute timeframe. Next up is the World Barista Competition in Copenhagen, and if he wins that, he can start calling himself the "Best Barista in the World." Someone might dump coffee grounds on his head if he does, but he can still say it. [EaterWire Inbox]

WEST HOLLYWOOD: In case a three-martini lunch still sounds like a good idea---and really, when doesn't it---Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak now serves lunch on the Sunset Strip. [UrbanDaddy]

GLENDALE: You know you wanted to know: Pinkberry is officially swirling at the Americana at Brand. By our count, almost all the AAB restaurants are now open, save for Frida and the kiosks. [EaterWire Inbox]

EaterWire: Dakota Bridge, Micky's Finally Rebuilding, Panini Grill for Splash, SM Farmer's Market Gala

Dakota on The Bridge

HOLLYWOOD: This summer, Dakota at the Hollywood Roosevelt will offer dinner on the bridge overlooking Tropicana Bar and the David Hockney pool. Full dining experience Thu-Sat nights with---brace---access to the Tropicana Bar after. Also note: New(ish) exec chef Jason Johnston streamlined the menu over the last few months, and chef de cuisine Jeremy Strubel recently came on board. Reservations are recommended for the restaurant, required for the bridge experience (323.466.7000). [EaterWire Inbox]

WEHO: Landmark gay bar Micky's burnt down last summer and sat dark for months and months, but we have an update from a reader: "Rebuilding has begun. It seems they are now expanding the bar to include a restaurant and take over the previously unused 2nd floor. Kind of along the lines of what Eleven did. They are doing some major iron work across the front work and it seems like the project is pretty big in scale." [EaterWire Inbox]

NEXT: Panini Grill replacing Splash in WeHO, Farmer's Market Gala in SM >>

EaterWire: Asia Los Feliz Now Asia Bistro, Sonora Cafe Maybe Leased, Pirate's Brunch at Redwood

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]

EaterWire: King King on Fire? Lunch at Bastide, Cheese Store of Beverly Hills Tastings

HOLLYWOOD: Wait, is King King (6555 Hollywood Blvd) on fire now? From Metromix: "I just heard from James Sinclair, owner of bar/clubs Element, L'Scorpion and La Cantina, that King King is on fire. There's no news on this anywhere. Does anyone know what's up?" One day after Basque burned down, just a few more after Off Vine did. Hollywood's hot, folks. On fire. UPDATE (Fri): A commenter walked by and said they didn't see a fire. [Metromix]

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Manzke and Co. started lunch at Bastide (Tue-Fri), which should be just lovely in that garden. And a bargain: The three-course menu is only $38. [EaterWire]

BEVERLY HILLS: Norbert Wabnig and Tony Prinicotta from the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills throws little tasting parties from time to time---we went to one loaded with truffles a couple years ago. Next one is May 7-8 and 13-14 featuring wines (reds and whites) and cheeses from Southern France and "other fresh surprises." Takes places on the Shakey's patio. $60, call 310.278.2855 for reservations. [EaterWire]

EaterWire: Inside LA Mill's Retail Boutique, New Chef at Loews SM, Charles Perry Retires from LAT

LA Mill boutique, via Racked

SILVER LAKE: Racked LA has some spiffy pics of the new LA Mill retail space and all the goodies you'll find within. Chemex? Check. Glassware, teas? Check and check. [Racked LA]

SANTA MONICA: Gregory Foos is the new executive chef at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. He replaces Gregg Wangard who left last year. Foos, who hails from a Loews property in St. Pete Beach, FL, will oversee all culinary ops, including Ocean and Vine restaurant, which, coincidentally, will have a new menu soon. [EaterWire Inbox]

Charlie Perry leaving the Times Food section >>

EaterWire: More Nights at Ingredients, More Coffee and Vaudeville Downtown, Greenleaf Delayed

Time once again for the EaterWire. Got something for the tip jar? Well, drop it.

Casual nights at Ingredients

MONTROSE/GLENDALE: Things are going well for Michael Ruiz's gourmet shop/casual eatery Ingredients, which he opened after leaving Bistro Verdu to become Bashan. There are now more opportunities to get the small plates menu, and the Thursday tasting menus are going so well that he's looking to add more nights to "accommodate the demand." New hours are Tue-Fri (4pm-9pm) and Sat (12p-9p). [EaterWire Inbox]

BEVERLY HILLS: Looks like the May 1 debut for Greenleaf was just a tad ambitious. The made-to-order salad shop will open on May 8. [EaterWire Inbox]

Lot 44 soft opens downtown, and the trippy Lucent Dossier hits Edison >>

Taco Truck Wars: Save the Tacos on May 1

From Save Our Taco Trucks

The messy East LA Taco Truck War makes headlines in Time this week, with a big shout out to the guys who started the revolution:

Taco truck patrons are getting fired up, too. About 2,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the law to be repealed at Saveourtacotrucks.org, a web site created by two teachers, Aaron Sonderleiter and Chris Rutherford. Signers have left comments like, "The revolution will be served on a paper plate," "This is for you, Taco Zone. Your al pastor tacos have warmed my soul on many a cold night," and "Quit punishing people for bringing us taco-induced joy! Viva los taco trucks!"

Sonerleiter and Rutherford want to gather 5,000 signatures to stop the ordinance and send to Gloria Molina and the Board of Supervisors by May 1. They also designated May 1 as Taco Truck Night: "Take your family, your friends, or anybody else who loves tacos. Go out, get some carne asada or al pastor and support your local hard working taco vendor. While you’re there be sure to hand out some posters and tell your fellow Angelenos what’s happening to our beloved Taco Trucks."
· The Great Taco Truck War [~ELA~]
· An Outpouring of Taco Truck Love [~ELA~]
· Taco Truck Night is May 1 [SaveOurTacoTrucks.org]

EaterWire: More Tapas For Venice, Farmer's Kitchen Delayed Again, CPK's "Thank You" Surprise

HOLLYWOOD: Getting testy with signage: "You know that Farmer's Market Kitchen that's supposed to have moved into the Sunset/Vine condos, like, forever ago? Staring at that dumb sign and empty storefront pissed me off enough to call the number on the sign: Someone actually answered and said the Kitchen will open in September." Delayed, again. [EaterWire Inbox]

VENICE: From a long-time reader, first-time tipster (but probably a shill): "A friend of a friend of a friend is working on a new restaurant on Abbot-Kinney in Venice set to be called Pascho to be opened in June. It's on the end of AK that is closer to Beechwood, on the block just beyond Stroh's. Great design with an OUTDOOR PATIO (!!!) in the back. The chef is from the W and they are planning charcuterie (no word on whether it's house-made) and tapas. To be casual yet high end. It should fit right in." [EaterWire Inbox]

EVERYWHERE: California Pizza Kitchen is saying "Thank You" to its fan base through May 16 by giving a "surprise" envelope for every check---which must remain sealed until the giftee's return to a CPK---with prizes that range from discounts to a whopping $25,000 payout. Either is better than the "surprise" topping Mike recently found on his chipotle chicken pizza. [EaterWire Inbox]

EaterWire: El Prado Open, Still Unsure What It Is, Izakaya Katsu-ya Cutting Back, Top Chef Cookbook Signing

El Prado via The Guide

ECHO PARK: We mentioned yesterday that El Prado looked like it was open but there was really no telling what it was, when it was, or what it served. Turns out that's exactly what the owners want: "Everything — drinks, food, music, and even the tableau set with bags of apples and a vintage bike — is subject to change. There’s no telling when." For now, it's Belgian brews, radish and butter sandwiches, maybe some charcuterie and cheese. [Daily Candy

"The stock market" affects Izakaya by Katsu-ya, Top Cheffers sign cookbooks, wedding announcements >>

EaterWire: New Echo Park Wine Bar, Drago Downtown, Melograno's Earth Day, Crudobar at BreadBar

ECHO PARK: A tipster emailed that Mitchell Frank's (Echo co-owner) wine bar in the former El Prado space (1805 W Sunset Blvd) opened last Friday night; another went by and saw lights on yesterday. With the gate pulled during the day and no one answering the phone, we don't really know if it's open, if the name has changed, or if there's wine to be sipped, but anything's possible. [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN: While his brothers Tanino and Giacomino are busy readying their new Beverly Hills restaurant Gitano, Celestino Drago is working his new project---Drago Centro, scheduled to open between the two Arco towers at City National Plaza in September. [EaterWire]

Melgrano's Earth Day, Crudobar replaces Ludobites >>

The Worst Table in LA: A Special Eater Contest!

From Eater SF

The above picture exposes what is probably one of the worst tables in San Francisco. And as noted yesterday, LA has its fair share of bad seats (table #7 at Providence, for example). One we personally experienced: The table directly next to the sushi bar server station at the new Nobu; the banquette side is great, but servers carry away plates over the head of the nervous-looking preson in the chair. Depending on your perspective, the "kiddie room" tables at Osteria Mozza are either perfect or horrible. We tried this last year, but since our siblings to the north and east want to make a competition out of it: Send in your candidates for the worst tables in the city (with a picture if you can) to la@eater.com or leave it in the comments, and we'll put it to a vote next week. If this local primary goes well, expect a national election soon.
· Eater LA's Worst Tables [~ELA~]
· Dining in Solitude at Osteria Mozza: Good or Bad? [~ELA~]
· LA's Worst Tables [~ELA~]
· Bad Table Alert: Sidewalk Dining Gets Creative [~ESF~]

EaterWire: Samurai Sam's, The Point Delivers, Crumbs' Passover

We save the remnants and tidbits for EaterWire. Got some news, goss, dish to share? We'll take it in tip jar, please..

MID-WILSHIRE: A reader queries: "Can you do some snooping into what Samurai Sam's is and when it will open? All of the workers at the office complexes nearby (including Variety, Us Weekly, E! Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Dimension Films, SAG and more) are dying to know what the new lunch option will be. Everyone is sick of Baja Fresh, Koo Koo Roo, etc." Sorry to burst your bubble, but Samurai Sam's looks to be a Baja Fresh/Koo Koo Roo for teriyaki, in the same corporate family as Cold Stone Creamery and Blimpie subs. They toss around words like "fresh, crisp and healthy" a lot, so there's hope. There are others (Downtown, Manhattan Beach, Palms-ish) and another location slated near the Vermont station on Wilshire; both newbies have Q4 targeted as opening dates. [EaterWire Inbox]

NEXT: Holy Moses cupcakes, The Point starts bicycle delivery >>