Plywood Report Downtown Edition: Nickel Diner, Drago Centro, Urth Caffe and More

Our five cents, photo by Rich Alossi, Angelenic

NICKEL DINER: The retro "diner restaurant" will debut next Wednesday, says Angelenic, with breakfast and lunch, including something awesomely named the "Hangover Helper." (We'll take two.) An incredible story about the Main Street location: When crews took down a bizarre "clowns playing grab-ass" mural, it revealed hand-painted signage from when the space was a diner sometime in the 1930s. Truly amazing. [POST-PLY]

DRAGO CENTRO: Celestino Drago reveals more details for his $7 million project in a former Bank of America branch: The 250-seat restaurant have fancy Italian touches like Murano glass, Carrara marble and a 16-foot "wine tower." Still on track for late September. [PLYWOOD]

URTH CAFFE: New photos of the Barker Block location are up, which broke ground earlier this year. Interior work is mostly complete, brick and colorful tile, and a corner fireplace in place. Could open as soon as next month. [PLYWOOD]

MA PETIT: Located in the Douglas Building at 3rd and Spring, the French bistro-inspired cafe should open in the next two weeks. Expect soups and sandwiches, and a counterful of house-baked goods including quiche and croissants. Angelenic has photos. Here's the website. [POST-PLY]

CALIYOGURT: A tipster says construction on a new yogurteria is going "great guns" in the bottom floor of the South Park Lofts. CaliYogurt already has locations in Torrance and Florida and bills itself as froyo "ice cream." Way to try and confuse us, you know you can't be both. [PLYWOOD]