Elise Limbaga, Author at Circa LA

Discover DTLA’s Artisanal Bakeries & Bread Bars

Did you know that Los Angeles is in the midst of a baking renaissance? In the last decade or so, the LA region has seen a wealth of independent bread bars and bakeries spring up, spearheaded by talented local entrepreneurs with a passion for bringing the freshest, handmade artisanal offerings to the community, many just a short distance from Circa. From traditional breads and baked goods, to elegant European pastries and historic shops serving unique confections, you’ll discover there’s plenty of loaves to love when you shop DTLA’s artisanal bakeries and bread bars. Check websites for opening hours, pickup and delivery.

Bread Lounge Bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Bread Lounge Bakery 700 S Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Since 2010, Bread Lounge has brought the art of baking to the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles. Handcrafted and baked fresh daily, they pride themselves in using only all natural ingredients: water, flour, natural yeast and salt. This European-stye bakery & cafe serves traditional European baked goods along with the flavors of Mediterranean food. You can order online for pick up and delivery from their website HERE

Clark Street Bread bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Clark Street Bread Grand Central Market 317 S Broadway A-1 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Clark Street Bread is an organic bakery specializing in naturally leavened, traditional European hearth breads. In addition to their handcrafted loaves, baguettes and croissants, they also offer a bread-centric breakfast and lunch menu. Clark Street was founded in 2014 by Zack Hall out of his apartment in West Hollywood. After spending the summer at his wife’s family’s town working in a wood-fired bakery in the Swedish countryside and falling in love with the craft, Hall returned home to become a full-time bread baker. In 2015 Hall set up shop in Grand Central Market and today has four locations in Los Angeles.

Fat & Flour bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Fat & Flour Grand Central Market 317 S Broadway A-1 Los Angeles, CA 90013

While you’re at Grand Central Market, make sure you visit Fat & Flour, a pie and cookie shop from Los Angeles chef and author Nicole Rucker. Rucker is known internationally for her rustic desserts and has won several awards for her homespun pies, including the 2012 National Pie Championship, KCRW Good Food Pie contest, and a Star Chef award for baking. Her first cookbook, Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers, was recently nominated for a James Beard Award for baking.

Pitchoun Bakery & Café near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Pitchoun Bakery & Café 545 S Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Pitchoun is a family owned French bakery, pastry store and bistro, offering fresh artisan breads and home-made pastries and cakes, along with an array of healthy salads, sandwiches, hot dishes, soups, and more. Using traditional French family recipes, everything is home-made daily from scratch, using house-made starter levain and organic or local ingredients. The flavors are crisp, authentic, and clean, and all products aim for pure simplicity and high quality.

Hygge Bakery & Cafe near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Hygge Bakery & Cafe 1106 S Hope St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Hygge Bakery & Cafe opened their doors to give the bustling city of Los Angeles something it was missing – hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”). Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for an attitude of coziness, wellness and contentment. Hygge Bakery & Cafe takes a nod to this mood with fresh pastries, cakes, coffee, and comfort. Available for takeout and delivery.

Cafe Dulce bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Cafe Dulce ROW DTLA 777 S Alameda Street Unit 150 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Cafe Dulce has expanded to ROW, serving fresh baked goods delivered daily from their original kitchen in Little Tokyo. This local favorite is widely known for its signature hand-crafted beverages including the Vietnamese iced coffee, single origin pourovers, blueberry matcha lattes, and green tea donuts. Stop by to enjoy a little break in your morning or afternoon.

Paris Baguette bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Paris Baguette 404 W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Paris Baguette is an international, premium bakery-café specializing in yummy assortments of breads, pastries and cakes baked daily. Their mission is to bring happiness to everyone by adapting to people’s ever-expanding palates with decadent, unique and sophisticated baked goods. They serve a variety of treats ranging from coffee, tea, smoothies, and frappes, to appetizing snacks, delicious cakes for all occasions, and chef-inspired sandwiches and salads.

La Tropézienne Bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

La Tropézienne Bakery 757 S Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Born and classically trained in France, La Tropézienne Bakery’s founders bring French savoir-faire to DTLA with the traditional taste of classic viennoiseries and pastries. Named after the famous dessert, La Tropézienne, their traditional baked goods are available all day long, including croissants, brioche, pain au chocolat, and original creations such as tasty macarons and a delicious almond and pistachio croissant.

Fugetsu-Do bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Fugetsu-Do 315 E 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fugetsu-Do is a family-owned mochi and manju sweet shop in Little Tokyo since 1903. Fugetsu-do creates the finest Japanese mochi and manju in Los Angeles by expert artisans. Mochi is a Japanese confection, usually found in the shape of a small round rice cake, which can be eaten with condiments such as kinako (roasted soy bean flour), manju (sweet red bean paste), soy sauce dip, and seaweed. Traditionally, mochi is made by pounding steamed glutinous rice in a large wooden mortar, called the usu, with a wooden mallet called the kine. The store is open for in-person shopping or you can order your mochi online from Japansuper.com and have it delivered fresh to your door.

Phoenix Bakery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Phoenix Bakery 969 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012

A real Chinatown icon, Phoenix Bakery has been creating delectable cakes and pastries since 1938. Founded by, and still operated by the Chan Family, the bakery serves families and celebrities alike for all occasions. Famous for their fresh strawberry whipped cream cake, Phoenix Bakery cakes have become a tradition across generations as families and friends celebrate special occasions from kids birthday parties to quincineras, retirement parties and more. If you’re just stopping by, try their yummy sugar butterflies and almond cookies – the perfect bite to sweeten your day.

Amandine Patisserie Cafe near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Amandine Patisserie Cafe 650 S Hill St k10, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Located in historic Saint Vincent Court, Amandine Patisserie Cafe’s delicious French Japanese style breads, cakes and pastries are all made in-house from scratch and baked fresh daily. Since 2002, Amandine Patisserie Cafe has been combining the finest baking traditions from France and Japan to create unforgettable gourmet experiences. Every day they source local fresh ingredients from the finest suppliers to create mouthwateringly fresh dishes made to order.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Paris Baguette

Photo #2: Bread Lounge Bakery

Photo #3: Clark Street Bread

Photo #4: Fat & Flour

Photo #5: Pitchoun Bakery & Café

Photo #6: Hygge Bakery & Cafe

Photo #7: Cafe Dulce

Photo #8: Paris Baguette

Photo #9: La Tropézienne Bakery

Photo #10: Fugetsu-Do

Photo #11: Phoenix Bakery

Photo #12: Amandine Patisserie Cafe

Home Interior Design Trends For Spring 2021

Spring is in the air. Ready to give your home a stylish new signature look? 2021 is all about livable luxury, versatility, and effortless chic. Circa’s lavish living spaces, with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking views, provide the perfect canvas for the latest home interior design trends. One of the top trends is color, so we were excited when Pantone announced not one, but two Colors of the Year: Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow. Multipurpose spaces are making news, as many of us have added workspaces to our living rooms and gyms to our bedrooms.

Other major trends include neutral tones, earthy palettes, plaid fabrics, decorative smart lighting, curved shapes, plush velvets, raw materials such as rattan and reclaimed wood, and lots of texture. Great news for vintage lovers – nostalgia will continue to be a favorite design mood in the coming year. And nature lovers can bring the outdoors inside, as houseplants and indoor trees continue their ascent as a home design mainstay. We’ve rounded up some inspiring ideas, along with local DTLA resources, so can get the look you love. Check websites for hours, appointments, and health guidelines.

Pantone Colors 2021 home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Pantone Colors of 2021

Get ready for a brighter future. Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow are a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting. Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. These hues will inspire your lifestyle, from fashion and beauty to design and home decor

A + R home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

A + R Row DTLA 777 S Alameda St #100 Los Angeles, CA 90021

A + R stands for Andy and Rose: British ex-pat Andy Griffith, a former film editor and self-avowed design junkie, and Rose Apodaca, a pop culture and style journalist and author. From sofas to stools, clocks to carafes, tables to lightning, A + R’s oeuvre is design that charms, functions and inspires. Need some style advice? A + R has a knowledgable team in-store and behind the scenes, who will share their enthusiasm for design, bound by the pursuit of aesthetics and innovative ideas.

Poketo home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Poketo ROW DTLA777 S. Alameda St. B1 Suite 174 Los Angeles, CA 90021

No home decor shopping spree would be complete without checking out Poketo. Since its foundation in 2003 by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, Poketo has grown from a small startup into a creative hub and online destination for design-driven goods infused with aesthetic intentionality. Collections include everything from furniture & lighting to apothecary, tabletop, textiles, books & prints, and apparel.

Hawkins New York home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Hawkins New York ROW DTLA 767 S Alameda St. B2 Suite 152 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Hawkins New York was born out of a palpable void in the lifestyle market for quality, accessible, home goods. Citing a lack of range in small-scale home goods production, Hawkins was founded on the aim to incorporate the concept of artisanal collective production, while maintaining a modern sensibility in design. Their vision aims to not only enhances the physical environments in which their customers live and work, but creates a greater understanding and appreciation for responsible, aesthetically minded design. Shopping by private appointment only.

KINTO home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

KINTO Tableware & Lifestyle Goods ROW DTLA 767 S Alameda St B2 Ste. 188 Los Angeles, CA 90021

KINTO is a Japanese brand that develops coffeeware, teaware, tableware and lifestyle accessories valuing the balance between usability and aesthetics. To slow down and see the beauty of nature, to unwind and feel connected with your loved one, KINTO imagines scenes that enrich your life to bring you products with genuine creativity and thoughtfulness.

The Good Liver home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Good Liver 705 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

The Good Liver is a modern day version of a general store that sets out to inform, inspire and ultimately suggest a better way of living through a conscientious collection of enduring, quality goods from around the world. The store offers a carefully selected range of objects from international brands and makers, showcasing the history, philosophy and craftsmanship behind each of our items. Helpful staff share stories behind each product’s creation, illustrating the The Good Liver’s thoughtful curation and dedication to the good life.

Wayfair Maston Task Chair home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Maston Task Chair from Wayfair

Brighten up your home office with a statement task chair while adding a pop of Pantone’s new Illuminating Yellow. The Maston Task Chair from Wayfair offers lots of comfort thanks to its ergonomic shape, and features a durable frame with soft filling. The bright colorful finish will blend with most color palettes, and this chic design is height-adjustable to personally tailor your space.

Plaid Duvet Pottery Barn home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Pottery Barn Plaid Duvet & Pillow Sham

Perk up your bedroom with a wee pinch of plaid. Inspired by historic kilts of the Scottish highlands, tartan is now a favorite for decking out holiday halls. This timeless design was reimagined to work with any style, from contemporary to traditional. Layer this cotton bedding with all-white linens for a classic look or iconic holiday patterns for a more playful ensemble.

Pottery Barn Tonal Palette Pillow Collection

Nodding to nature, tonal palettes bring a touch of the outdoors in and create a curated, layered look. Inspired by warm vanilla and sandy shores, these cream-colored accents span the tonal spectrum to complete your space with rich texture and a soothing sensibility.

The Hunt Vintage Home Furnishing Store home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Hunt Vintage Home Furnishing Store 812 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

The Hunt Vintage is a vintage furniture store located in the DTLA Arts District. Hunt through their eclectic collection of mid-century and custom seating, desks, tables, lighting, storage, and table top. They also carry vintage yarn art wall hangings, framed posters, and lithographs.

Eric's Architectural Salvage home interior design trends near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Eric’s Architectural Salvage 1540 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90017

Looking for that perfect accent piece or unique statement item? Family-owned Eric’s Architectural Salvage has been collecting items hands-on for over 18 years and is dedicated to the reuse way of life. Their goal is to save quality doors, windows, fireplaces, tile, sinks, tubs, vintage hardware and period lighting from old historic homes or buildings that are being torn down and destroyed every single day. Just imagine, with your help, a 100 year old piece of history can continue its life as an architecturally salvaged treasure.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Crate and Barrel

Photo #2: Pantone Colors of 2021

Photo #3: A + R

Photo #4: Poketo

Photo #5: Hawkins New York

Photo #6: KINTO Tableware & Lifestyle Goods

Photo #7: The Good Liver

Photo #8: Wayfair

Photo #9: Pottery Barn

Photo #10: Pottery Barn

Photo #11: The Hunt Vintage Home Furnishing Store

Photo #12: Eric’s Architectural Salvage

Freshen Up Your Home With Plants

If you’re searching for the perfect accessory to spruce up your home this spring, consider becoming a plant parent. Houseplants are ideal for urban living – they bring nature indoors, and studies indicate that plants reduce stress, help purify the air, reduce noise, improve wellness, and even increase your creativity. Plants also add drama and energy to your home decor. You’ll find local nurseries and plant purveyors near Circa that offer an extensive array of plants, accessories, gardening products, and planting services. If you have a furry friend, make sure that your new plant family members are non-toxic to nibbling pooches and felines. Check out this list of pet-friendly flowers and plants from Telaflora. Now that you’re ready for plant-parenthood, here are some inspiring ideas to get you started.

Apartment Therapy/Margaret Wright plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

7 Big Leaf Houseplants to Bring Big Style to Your Home

As with any kind of home decor, a houseplant collection looks best when you’ve got variety – of leaf, shape, texture, color, and size. And that means sometimes you have to go big. Large leaf houseplants can tie a room together and lend an air of tropical tranquility your little desk cactus just can’t achieve, no matter how hard it tries. Looking for inspiration? Apartment Therapy has some great suggestions for big leaf houseplants to bring big style to your home HERE

Peace Lily/Hunker plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Plants That Purify the Air

According to a NASA study, several houseplant species are particularly adept at cleaning the air in your home, removing pollutants that either originate inside or slip in from the outside world. Like the trees outside your window, houseplants photosynthesize. During this process, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, a mechanism often characterized as a kind of reverse-breathing. Having plants around can also improve your health in other ways, including lifting your mood, easing anxiety, and even increasing productivity. Discover NASA’s top air purifying plants picks HERE

City Home & Garden plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

City Home & Garden 737 San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

City Home & Garden is the largest wholesale/retail indoor plants store in the DTLA Flower District. This full service nursery provides quality houseplants, orchids, and pottery for wholesale, commercial and retail customers. They also make flower and plant arrangements for commercial and retail customers. You can select pottery from the shop or bring your own for planting or custom arrangement service. Local delivery and set up are available.

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market 754 Wall St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

A DTLA icon since 1921 located in the heart of the Los Angeles Flower District, The Original Los Angeles Flower Market is an expansive indoor floral marketplace open to both the trade and the general public. Virtually every in-season, commercially sold variety of cut flower is available here from growers all over the globe, along with houseplants, pottery, and home decor. The selection and quality are remarkable, and so are the prices. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to check out the approximately 200 adjacent wholesale and retail floral businesses, shops, malls and marts within the surrounding six-block area.

Rolling Greens Nursery plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Rolling Greens Nursery 1005 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Rolling Greens Nursery is Los Angeles’ premier home and garden retailer with an extensive assortment of faux and live plants, containers, and unique home accessories. Liven up your home with a great selection of air purifying plants, hanging plants, succulents, orchids and more. You can shop in-store or online for local delivery or pickup.

The Plant Provocateur plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Plant Provocateur Online plant shop Los Angeles, CA

Owner Hank Jenkins admits that he’s obsessed with plants and how they influence beauty, design, and lifestyle. Specializing in unique and sometimes hard-to-find house plants, The Plant Provocateur also sells planting supplies and a curated selection of vases, jars, pots, and other interesting display vessels. In these extraordinary times, The Plant Provocateur comes to you with a new online business model. Plants are collected and curated as they become available. Because demand in this current pandemic environment has skyrocketed, plants can appear daily, weekly, or monthly, based on the market supply.

Bloomscape plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Bloomscape Subscription Service for Plants

Everyone should live with a little more greenery and Bloomscape is here to help strengthen your relationship with plants. They make buying plants easy by delivering healthy, ready-to-go plants straight to your door and setting you up with the tips and tricks you need to help your plants thrive. Bloomscape comes from five generations of greenhouse growers and floral industry innovators, and their roots go all the way back to ancestors who were pioneers in the Netherlands’ horticulture industry. Plants are shipped with care and experience, at the right temperature to protect their roots and keep them healthy while they travel from the greenhouse to your home.

PlantWave plants for home near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Let Your Plants Play Music with PlantWave

Featured in Wired, Buzzfeed, TED, NPR and more, PlantWave turns a plant’s biorhythms into music. Just attach two sensors to a plant’s leaves and PlantWave connects wirelessly to an iOS or Android device running the app. PlantWave converts the electrical conductivity of houseplants into audio, giving plants the chance to sing by detecting slight electrical variations on the leaves. These variations are graphed as a wave, which is translated into pitch messages that play musical instruments designed by the PlantWave team. Other characteristics of the wave change the textural qualities of those sounds. The result is a continuous stream of pleasing music that gives you a sonic window into the secret life of plants.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Bloomscape

Photo #2: Apartment Therapy/Photo credit: Margaret Wright

Photo #3: Hunker

Photo #4: City Home & Garden

Photo #5: The Original Los Angeles Flower Market

Photo #6: Rolling Greens Nursery

Photo #7: The Plant Provocateur

Photo #8: Bloomscape

Photo #9: PlantWave

LA’s Best Urban Adventures to Safely Explore Now

With beautiful weather on the horizon, it’s time to get out and discover new places to safely explore near Circa. Los Angeles is bustling with urban adventures, from immersive drive-thru entertainment to Instagram-worthy outdoor art installations, gorgeous gardens, and even a decadent drive-thru Fair Food festival. Did you know the LA Zoo just reopened? Many of the animals are endangered species, and support for the zoo helps to save these creatures from extinction. You might even meet a meerkat or two. Please note that many venues require tickets to be purchased in advance. Check websites for details.

Jerry Moss Plaza urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

A Quiet Scene Installation The Music Center 135 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles 90012

The Music Center is presenting a new public screening and sound installation exhibited on LED screens at the Jerry Moss Plaza, in collaboration with non-profit radio station dublab. The screening includes more than 100 short film finalists and winning entries from A Quiet Scene, an audio-visual project created by pioneering ambient music artists and brothers Roger Eno and Brian Eno. The video project arose from a public competition by record label Deutsche Grammophon in support of the brothers’ first collaborative studio album, Mixing Colours, which was released in 2020.

Stranger Things urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience ROW DTLA 777 Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Attention all Stranger Things fans. It’s time to travel back in time to 1985 and become a Hawkins resident – in real life. Adventure calls, so gather your friends and drive to the Starcourt Mall. Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Stranger Things, where you will take part in a drive thru experience like no other. Unlock the story of Hawkins in this unique format as you savor some of the best moments from this Netflix series, and maybe even witness some unforeseen and unusual occurrences.

Electric Mile urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Electric Mile Santa Anita Park 285 W Huntington Dr. Arcadia, CA 91007

Explore the Insomniac Worlds on your voyage through Electric Mile, a drive thru audiovisual adventure from the minds behind Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). Journey through seven unique worlds of Insomniac’s most iconic festivals and brands, including EDC, Beyond Wonderland, Nocturnal Wonderland, Escape, and Countdown, complete with music, lights, art, visual effects, installations, and more, in a COVID-friendly environment.

LACMA Miss Forest urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

LACMA Outdoor Installations 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Although LACMA’s indoor galleries are closed and the museum is undergoing a major renovation, three iconic, large-scale outdoor installations – Chris Burden’s Urban Light, Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass, and Yoshitomo Nara’s Miss Forest – are available to view. Miss Forest (LACMA Version) (2020), is Nara’s largest outdoor sculpture to date and the newest iteration in this series. Created for LACMA’s exhibition Yoshitomo Nara, the sculpture is currently installed at the southeast corner of BCAM along Wilshire Boulevard. More details HERE

LACMA Levitated Mass urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer

Located in LACMA’s backyard, this ginormous 340 ton chunk of a granite lies over a concrete trench that you can walk through to get a closer view, or stand under the oversized rock. The artist originally conceived of the art piece in 1969, but only recently did he find the right boulder to actualize his vision for this art installation. The boulder was found in Riverside and transported to LACMA in 2012, and has since become a “rock star” in the art world. It’s free to check during LACMA’s operating hours and is a great piece for “forced perspective” shots.

Museum of Dream Space urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Museum of Dream Space Beverly Center 8500 Beverly Blvd. #656 Los Angeles, CA 90048

Museum of Dream Space (MODS) has reopened with special safety guidelines. MODS is the first museum mainly exhibiting digital art in the United States. The design concept of MODS is inspired by art design from renowned artist Yayoi Kusama (famous for infinite rooms) and the development of digital art. The aim of MODS is to provide an immersive, magical and unique art appreciative experiences to the visitors. The uniqueness of MODS is to break the limitation of physical media, extend the art by digital technology and to provide the largest freedom of visitors experiencing the arts, which realize the physical extension of the arts.

The Huntington Library Chinese Garden urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

New views await in the The Huntington’s Chinese Garden. Visitors can now explore an additional 13 acres of gardens and pavilions in the newly expanded Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance. In 1903 Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch, a working ranch with citrus groves, nut and fruit orchards, alfalfa crops, a small herd of cows, and poultry. Today, the estate is home to 16 spectacular themed gardens spread across 120 acres, including Desert Garden, Camellia & Rose Gardens, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, and Herb Garden. The gardens are open but galleries remain closed. All visitors including members must reserve tickets online in advance.

Lita Albuquerque Red Earth urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Lita Albuquerque Red Earth Huntington Botanical Gardens1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

As part of its Centennial Celebration, The Huntington commissioned an art installation by Los Angeles-based artist Lita Albuquerque. Installed near the southern entrance to the Japanese Garden, Albuquerque’s Red Earth features an approximately six-by-four-foot rock slab coated with bright red pigment and surrounded by bamboo stalks affixed with copper-colored bands. The work contrasts dramatically with the cool greens of the shady bamboo grove and is intended to mark its specific location in time and space. Red Earth incorporates color and light to convey motion and stillness “because only through stillness can we discover the motion of the cosmos,” says Albuquerque.

Fair Food Fest urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Fair Food Fest Rose Bowl Drive Through 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. Pasadena, CA 91103

Fair Foodie Fest is hosting their free drive through event at the Rose Bowl Stadium every weekend through February. Customers can enjoy free admission to a safe no contact drive thru fair experience featuring all of your crave-able fair food favorites for purchase including giant turkey legs, Krispy Kreme donut cheeseburgers, roasted corn, Hawaiian teriyaki chicken pineapple bowls, taco plates, BBQ, and more. Attendees who register and claim their free car entry ticket will receive a free mini powdered sugar funnel cake (limit 1 per car, while supplies last). Free tickets are available HERE

LA Zoo urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens 5333 Zoo Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027

The LA Zoo is back. And lots of adorable babies were born last year, including a litter of meerkat pups, a baby gorilla, a cute condor chick, and a sweet little bighorn lamb. Come and see how these young ones are growing and thriving. Many of the animal are endangered species, and support for the zoo helps to save these creatures from extinction. Throughout the closure, the zoo continued to provide the 1,400 animals with world-class care, even without visitors and the critical revenue they provide. Advance timed-entry reservation is required for all guests including members.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Stranger Things

Photo #2: The Music Center

Photo #3: Stranger Things

Photo #4: Electric Mile

Photo #5: LACMA

Photo #6: Levitated Mass Photo by Tom Vinetz

Photo #7: Museum of Dream Space

Photo #8: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #9: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #10: Fair Food Fest

Photo #11: LA Zoo

A Little Romance: Celebrate Valentine’s Day in DTLA

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, outdoor dining is back. And your favorite DTLA restaurants are pulling out all the stops for a little romance this weekend. From Modern American to Italian, French, Brazilian, and Baja cuisine, top eateries are offering chef-driven Valentine’s Day dinners à deux, with gourmet menus and expert wine pairings. If you’re in the mood for a romantic staycation, Hotel Figueroa is offering a sweet package, with complimentary flowers and desserts. Speaking of sweets, Gelateria Uli is offering heart shaped cakes and sweetheart popsicles for pre-order. No SO? No problem. Grab your crew and toast the important people in your life – friends and family. Whatever your relationship goals, you’ll find endless ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day when you live at Circa. Check websites for reservations, pick up, and delivery details.

Redbird Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Redbird Valentine’s Day Weekend 114 E 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend at Redbird. Chef Neal Fraser and team will be serving a celebratory three-course dinner in their three outdoor dining rooms, with optional wine pairings. Some of our favorite menu items include Winter Citrus & Endive Salad, Diver Scallops, Smoked Tofu with fried rice and mustard greens, and Garden Lemon Custard. Redbird is carved into one of the city’s most historic architectural gems – the former rectory building of Vibiana, cathedral-turned-event-venue. Redbird features Modern American cuisine that is refined yet approachable and highlights the multi-cultural influences of Fraser’s native city, Los Angeles.

Rossoblu Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Rossoblu City Market South 1124 San Julian St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Although Rossoblu won’t open their spacious patio for outdoor dining until February 18, they are offering a Valentine’s Weekend Dinner for pickup. Menu includes Antipasti, Pasta, Duck Breast, and a choice of sweets. Vegan and allergy-friendly options are available. These individual meals are presented refrigerated with simple heating instructions. Rossoblu is an homage to Chef Steve Samson’s heritage, inspired by childhood memories spent in Bologna and Emilia Romagna. The restaurant features handmade pastas, fresh produce, and an extensive in-house butchery and salumi program. The wine list offers unique Italian and Californian varietals.

Pez Cantina Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Pez Cantina 401 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

Chef Bret Thompson and the Pez team are serving an exclusive Three-Course Valentine’s Day Weekend Menu for dining on their lush outdoor patio. Pez Cantina is a sustainable Coastal Mexican-style restaurant and bar serving the freshest sea-to-land dishes. Inspired by his travels to Loreto, a sleepy fishing town in Baja California, Chef Bret Thompson captures the complexity and spirit of the food he loves. The menu focuses on dishes from the many distinct regions of Mexico – from Baja, to Oaxaca, to the Yucatan Peninsula. A fine-tuned selection of bright and eclectic cocktails, California-focused wine list, and craft beers round out the Pez Cantina menu.

Zinqué Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Le Weekend de St Valentin at Zinqué 939 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90015

Add some French savoir faire to your Valentine’s Day celebration with the one your love. Le Weekend de St Valentin at Zinqué is offering a three-course menu for $90 per person. Choices include Smoked Salmon Carpaccio, Roasted Lobster Tail, Grilled Hanger Steak, Truffled Mac & Cheese, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Berries with Chantilly, and more. Zinqué is a hip neighborhood restaurant with French-inspired dishes and small plates, along with a craft cocktail menu and uniquely curated wine & beer selection.

Perch LA Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Perch LA 448 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Elevate your Valentine’s Day celebration at Perch LA with a 4 Course Prix Fixe Dinner. Perch is a French-inspired rooftop bistro that offers unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles that will make you feel as if you’re floating over the skyline. Executive Chef Gerardo Benitez has created a playful menu inspired by French culinary classics utilizing the freshest of seasonal ingredients. Choices include Chef’s Collection of Fromage & Charcuterie, Ahi Tartare, Butternut Squash Soup, Filet Mignon, Lamb Osso Buco, and White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Vegetarian menu is available as well.

Flouring LA Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Flour + Flower Pop Up Shop Hotel Figueroa 939 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

During the month of February, Flouring LA and Vases to Vases are hosting a pop up shop in the Hotel Figueroa lobby bar, offering freshly made desserts and custom mixed bouquets. Flouring’s Chef Heather Wong has created an 8-piece Valentine’s-inspired sweets box and dessert charcuterie boards. Stephanie Casteneda, also known as Vases to Vases, will offer bouquets and vase arrangements. Chef Wong has been baking for Los Angeles since 2009, using sustainably sourced, organic ingredients from local farmers and vendors. Vases to Vases is a floral design studio founded by Casteneda in 2020, known for creating uniquely artistic pieces.

Hotel Figueroa Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Hotel Figueroa Staycation 939 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Make your Valentine’s Day celebration even sweeter with The Fig’s™ Suite Staycation Package. Book a suite for Valentine’s Day weekend and receive a complimentary Vases to Vases flower arrangement alongside a tasting of Flouring LA desserts. The historic Figueroa Hotel has been a downtown LA icon for nearly a century. Located just steps from the Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Figueroa corridor, home of the hotel, is a resurgent capital of arts, entertainment and culture for forward-thinkers from around the globe.

Gelateria Uli Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Gelateria Uli 541 S Spring St #104 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Nothing says “you make me melt” like these sweet treats from Gelateria Uli. Pre-order your heart shaped cakes and sweetheart popsicles for that special someone this Valentine’s Day. Named Best Ice Cream 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine, Gelateria Uli was founded by Uli Nasibova, who’s originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Uli opened her gelato shop in 2014 with the goal to make European-style ice cream, which has lower fat and air content than the American variety. Uli personally creates all recipes and sources the best possible ingredients for a taste treat that can’t be beat.

H&H Brazilian Steakhouse Valentine's Day near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

H&H Brazilian Steakhouse 518 W 7th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

This Valentine’s day, H&H Brazilian Steakhouse is serving a 5-course meal, with live Brazilian Music all day long on their patio. Start with a glass of champagne and a selection of appetizers, then move on to 16 types of meats with side dishes, and finish with a choice of dessert. $100 per person. H&H Brazilian Steakhouse is a new take on Brazilian food, brimming with healthful recipes. The restaurant was founded by Henrique Huyer with the mission of bringing authentic, traditional Brazilian barbecue to the American market. The menu caters to nearly every food preference including gluten-free, naturally organic, vegetarian and vegan offerings.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Pez Cantina

Photo #2: Redbird

Photo #3: Rossoblu

Photo #4: Pez Cantina

Photo #5: Zinqué

Photo #6: Perch LA

Photo #7: Flouring LA

Photo #8: Hotel Figueroa

Photo #9: Gelateria Uli

Photo #10: H&H Brazilian Steakhouse

Wineries & Breweries Now Open For Outdoor Dining

Great news – LA County recently updated their rules for outdoor dining, allowing wineries and breweries to open on site as long as food is served. Many of your favorite DTLA craft beer spots are owned by passionate entrepreneurs making topflight brews, from great lagers to awesome ales, sumptuous stouts, and hoppy IPAs. Did you know that family-owned San Antonio Winery, a downtown icon since 1917, has the distinction of being Los Angeles’ only working winery. With warmer weather on the horizon, now is the perfect time to support these local businesses, many just a short distance from Circa. Check websites for hours, reservations, safety guidelines, and pick up/delivery options.

Flying Embers Taproom near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Flying Embers Taproom 581 Industrial St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

The Arts District’s newest brewery, Flying Embers, was born in Ojai, CA during a massive wildfire that threatened their homes and their brewery. A single ember could have been the end, but for them it was just the beginning. Today Flying Embers donates a portion of their proceeds to firefighters and first responders for their service to the community. Known for their bubbly hard kombucha in tasty fruity flavors, Flying Embers is open with a taproom, a brewing facility, and a food menu from Downtown’s Comfort LA. Open for in-person dining Thursday – Sunday. Reservations are encouraged. Please limit your party to 6 people.

Arts District Brewing Co brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Arts District Brewing Co. 828 Traction Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Open now with limited hours, Arts District Brewing Co. has transformed its parking lot into a full-fledged outdoor beer garden. Choose from their curated craft beer list, which is updated on a regular basis. The hearty food menu offers a beer-appropriate selection of wings, burgers, fires, salads, fried calamari, fish tacos, and nachos. One of Los Angeles’ few craft brewpubs, Arts District Brewing Company has an on-site 15-barrel brewhouse capable of producing 3,300 barrels of beer each year.

Boomtown Brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Boomtown Brewery 700 Jackson St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Boomtown Brewery is open for safe outdoor dining Thursday through Sunday. Meals are provided by Corazon LA, serving wood fired meats, tacos, and tortillas made to order from fresh masa. Walkups are welcome and beer pickup is available 7 days a week. In the mid-1800s, the boomtowns of California were points of convergence for those lured by potential riches and discovery. Today, Los Angeles maintains a similar allure for those who move in every year to pursue their dreams. Boomtown Brewery was founded to speak to that audience and showcase their commitment to the arts and the DTLA Arts District.

Indie Brewing Company brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Indie Brewing Company 2350 Sunrise St. Los Angeles, CA 90023

Located in Boyle Heights, Indie Brewing Company is opening its tasting room for safe outdoor dining with limited hours. You must order a meal to have a beer and they will have a food truck on site. No outside food is allowed. Indie Brewing Company was founded by four guys who set out to give L.A. some amazing local beer and the tasting room it so deserves. Reservations are not required, but recommended on OpenTable.

Frogtown Brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Frogtown Brewery 2931 Gilroy St. Los Angeles, CA 90039

An independent craft brewery and tap room along the L.A. River, Frogtown Brewery is owned by long time friends and home brewers Adam and Mike, who had the crazy dream to one day open their own brewery. With a new outdoor beer garden, Frogtown Brewery is now open for contactless ordering and table service from a selection of delicious food trucks. Extra heaters and tents are provided to keep you warm on chilly nights. Reservations are required a day in advance for up to 6 people.

Highland Park Brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Highland Park Brewery 1220 N Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Highland Park Brewery’s patio is not quite ready for in person dining just yet. In the meantime, they will continue to operate on a to-go basis, offering house brew and seasonal beer. Highland Park Brewery was founded with the goal of making excellent beer in LA, focusing on fresh hoppy beers, lagers, and mixed culture fermentation, using local ingredients. Check their Instagram page for opening updates HERE

Golden Road Brewery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Golden Road Brewery 5430 San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90039

Golden Road Brewery just opened their Atwater location with expanded outdoor seating. Inspired by the California lifestyle, Golden Road’s year-round offerings include Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Wolf Pup Session IPA, Point the Way IPA, Get Up Offa That Brown and Golden Road Hefeweizen. Along with the core beers, Golden Road brewers are constantly experimenting with the freshest ingredients through a collection of rotating, seasonal and limited-edition brews, canned and ready to be enjoyed straight from the source.

Pali Wine Co winery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Pali Wine Co. 811 Traction Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Take a seat and have a sip in the open patio at Pali Wine Co. in LA’s buzzing Arts District. Founded in 2005 with the intent to produce Burgundy-inspired wines from California’s Central Coast, Pali Wine Co. now consists of three brands with distinct focuses. The original Pali brand focuses on premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced primarily from Pali’s own Santa Rita Hills and Sonoma vineyards. The newest brand, Neighborhood Winery, specializes in interesting blends that often push the boundaries of conventional wine flavor profiles. All wines are meticulously crafted at Pali’s Lompoc-based winery under the direction of its long-time winemaker, Aaron Walker.

San Antonio Winery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

San Antonio Winery 737 Lamar St. Los Angeles, CA 90031

San Antonio Winery is now open. Although the winery experience looks a little different during these unprecedented times, you can expect the same welcoming hospitality, authentic Italian cuisine, and seasonal wine flights to enjoy on their outdoor patio. A historical landmark since 1965, San Antonio Winery is Los Angeles’ only working winery. Founded in 1917 by Santo Cambianica, the winery continues to be a family-owned and operated business, with four generations of the Riboli Family.

Agua Dulce Winery near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Agua Dulce Winery 9640 Sierra Hwy. Santa Clarita, CA 91390

If you want to take a fun day trip, Agua Dulce Winery is a 90 acre, family owned and operated winery and vineyard located just 45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles. Open now for outdoor dining, reserve your seat in advance and select your bottle of locally sourced wine. Wines from Agua Dulce Winery have won multiple medals in several national wine competitions, recognized for their hand-crafted approach to wine making, along with a vineyard blessed with natural soils, and climatic and geographic advantages unique to the Sierra Pelona Valley.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: San Antonio Winery

Photo #2: Flying Embers Taproom

Photo #3: Boomtown Brewery

Photo #4: Indie Brewing Company

Photo #5: Frogtown Brewery

Photo #6: Highland Park Brewery

Photo #7: Golden Road Brewery

Photo #8: Pali Wine Co.

Photo #9: San Antonio Winery

Photo #10: Agua Dulce Winery

Discover DTLA’s Secret Underground

Did you know that deep beneath the Los Angeles Civic Center lies a system of underground tunnels? Beginning in 1901, workers dug under the Bunker and Hill Street area to create subterranean passages to help mitigate traffic on downtown’s congested streets. Pacific Electric Red Cars had their own system of tunnels, and there were many old passages under Olvera Street and Old Chinatown, some dating to the 19th century. Smaller underground service passages were used to link various buildings around downtown. Although tunnel tours are not available at this time due to health concerns, you can still view the exteriors of some of the most notorious buildings near Circa, such as Coles, Hotel Rosslyn, and the King Eddy Saloon.

Los Angeles Tunnels secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

By the 1920s, many of these underground spaces fell into disuse, including Pacific Electric’s network of tunnels and old subterranean equestrian passages. During Prohibition, this underground warren was commandeered by opportunistic bootleggers. In addition, some 11 miles of service tunnels became passageways to basement speakeasies with innocent-looking store fronts above ground. The Hotel Rosslyn had a basement bar and a marble-lined tunnel beneath 5th Street so that customers could discreetly come and go.

Los Angeles Hall of Records secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The tunnels that currently run under the Hall of Records and Hall of Administration were often used to run booze, and also kept captured bootleggers and gangsters away from the eyes and cameras of the photographers up top. It was rumored that the tunnels were even used by coroners and mobsters to store bodies.

The Edison Lounge secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

With nowhere to go for a drink in public, people turned to speakeasies to get their buzz. Some of DTLA’s oldest bars, including the King Eddy Saloon and Cole’s the Original French Dip, had their day of infamy as speakeasies and havens for mobsters. Most speakeasies required a secret code in order to enter. A word was whispered through a small slit in a wooden door in a shady back alley, allowing the patrons inside.

Los Angele Tunnels secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The corruption went beyond mere mobsters, all the way to City Hall, where Mayor Cryer’s office ran the supply of hootch. Local politicians, the LAPD, and their cronies were all complicit in the bootleg trade. Things escalated during the 1925 mayor election, which pitted the incumbent Cryer against a candidate favored by Harry Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times. Cryer won the election, which triggered a series of exposes from the Los Angeles Times on the inner workings of “the City Hall Gang.” Prohibition lost its popularity and was repealed in 1933. The remaining bootleggers and gamblers in Los Angeles left for Las Vegas, where they became the city’s “founding fathers.”

King Eddy Saloon secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

King Eddy Saloon 131 E 5th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Known as one of downtown LA’s legendary dive bars, The King Eddy opened as the high-class King Edward Hotel in 1906. During Prohibition, The King Eddy opened a speakeasy in its basement, while operating the upstairs as a piano store front on the street. Luckily, local officials took no issue with The King Eddy’s sudden interest in music, and the speakeasy business took off. Today, the basement still remains part of the old bootlegger tunnel system, littered with crumbling brick lines and graffiti murals.

Cole's French Dip secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Cole’s French Dip 118 E 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Cole’s, Originator of the French Dip Sandwich, opened in 1908 on the bottom floor of the 10-story Pacific Electric building, which was LA’s tallest skyscraper in the early 1900s and for years the terminus for the Red Car trolley line. During Prohibition, Cole’s was a favorite hangout for gangsters like Mickey Cohen (If you were a regular customer, your “coffee” came with a little something extra!). The late Jimmy Barela, who tended bar at Cole’s for 56 years, substituted bitters (at 3 cents a shot) and “near beer” (at a dime a glass) for the real stuff. Founder Henry Cole also operated Los Angeles’s first check cashing service from the restaurant. Cole was later arrested in 1942 by the Federal Government for fraud.

The Edison 108 W 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Edison is located in the sub-basement of the historic Higgins Building, the site of a revolutionary private power plant designed to signal a new future for Downtown Los Angeles. After spending many years neglected and underwater, the building was finally rescued by entrepreneurs Andrew Meieran and Marc Smith, who opened The Edison in 2007, a post-industrial steampunk-styled nightclub in the building’s basement.Today the space retains many of the power plant’s architectural and mechanical artifacts which are incorporated in The Edison’s interior design.

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Gold Room secret underground near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel 506 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

During the Prohibition era, The Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s famous Gold Room served as a speakeasy and nightclub, complete with a hidden door to help revelers avoid police and paparazzi with an escape onto Olive Street. The door is still there, connecting to a room that has a wooden counter top, coat hooks and bathroom. Although the exit to Olive St. has been sealed in brick, you can still see a small “paparazzi window” in the corner of the ballroom ceiling.

Sources: KCET and Atlas Obscura

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Cole’s French Dip

Photo #2: Atlas Obscura/Alyssa Walker

Photo #3: Atlas Obscura

Photo #4: The Edison

Photo #5: Atlas Obscura/Alyssa Walker

Photo #6: King Eddy Saloon/LA Downtowner

Photo #7: Coles French Dip

Photo #8: The Edison

Photo #9: The Millennium Biltmore Hotel

Kitchen Inspiration: Tips To Set Up Your Gourmet Pantry

The kitchens at Circa are legendary. From high-end stainless steel appliances to elegant fixtures and finishes, you’ll find endless sophistication and refinement at your fingertips. Whether you’re a novice cook or experienced epicurean, now is the perfect time to level up your culinary game with a gourmet pantry. We found some tasty ingredients, tools of the trade, and unique products to spark your imagination. Shop local. DTLA is host to some amazing resources where you’ll find everything from restaurant grade cookware to stylish tableware, textiles, kitchen accessories, and food essentials. Check websites for store hours, private appointments, pick up and delivery details.

HexClad Cookware gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

How to Stock Your Pantry

Refinery 29 has some great tips on how to stock your pantry with basic food essentials, from spices to legumes, oils, vinegars, sauces, and more. You’ll find ideas on how to purchase the items, and how to incorporate them into your meal routine. Although the article is geared to non-cooks, even experienced home culinary enthusiasts will find this compendium of kitchen staples useful and inspiring.

Bamboo Cutting Board Bon Appetit gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Top Kitchen Tools & Accessories

Bon Appetit magazine has rounded up some of their favorite kitchen accessories, from baking pans and steamers to sourdough supplies. We especially like the Five Two Bamboo Cutting Board (pictured). And who can resist the colorful Italian-made Calzuro Clogs, perfect for keeping your feet nice and comfy as you chop, mix and stir. More info on the clogs HERE

The Good Liver gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The Good Liver 705 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

The Good Liver is a modern day version of a general store that sets out to inform, inspire and ultimately suggest a better way of living through a conscientious collection of enduring, quality goods from around the world. The store offers a carefully selected range of objects from international brands and makers, showcasing the history, philosophy and craftsmanship behind each of their items. You’ll find everything from glassware and ceramics to carbon steel knives and useful household tools. Open by appointment only.

Hawkins New York gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Hawkins New York ROW DTLA 767 S Alameda St. B2 Suite 152 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Hawkins New York was born out of a palpable void in the lifestyle market for quality, accessible, home goods. Citing a lack of range in small-scale home goods production, Hawkins was founded with the goal to incorporate the concept of artisanal collective production, while maintaining a modern sensibility in design. Their vision aims to not only enhances the physical environments in which their customers live and work, but creates a greater understanding and appreciation for responsible, aesthetically minded design. Shopping by private appointment only.

Poketo gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Poketo ROW DTLA 777 S. Alameda St. B1 Suite 174 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Since its foundation in 2003 by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, Poketo has grown from a small startup into a creative hub and online destination for design-driven goods infused with aesthetic intentionality. They carry an amazing assortment of tabletop items and textiles, along with candles, woven baskets, and other household accessories. Shop in-store or online.

HexClad Cookware 458 S Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Recommended by Michelin Star Chefs and featured on CNN, Forbes, and Town & Country, HexClad offers restaurant quality pots, pans, lids, sets, and woks with a lifetime warranty. Using a laser etching process, they have created a patented HexClad hexagonal design on the cookware. This unique design creates a series of peaks and valleys. The peaks are your stainless steel, which will give you that great golden brown sear and also protect the pan against peeling and flaking. The valleys provide your pan with easy cleanup and the ability to cook with little or no butter, grease or oil.

Surfas Culinary District gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Surfas Culinary District 3225 W Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018

Surfas is a storied kitchenwares shop dispensing pro-level cooking tools and gadgets, along with gourmet imported and domestic food products. Stock your pantry with everything you need, from seasonings and spices to condiments, oils & vinegars, and baking essentials. Family owned and operated since 1937, Surfas has served architects, chefs, food and beverage professionals, restaurateurs, and even hot dog stands, by fulfilling their food service needs for over 80 years. The Los Angeles warehouse sales/showroom is stocked with thousands of items for serious food enthusiasts and culinary professional alike.

Utsuwa-No-Yakata gourmet pantry near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Utsuwa-No-Yakata Little Tokyo Galleria 333 Alameda St. #114 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Utsuwa-no-yakata (House of Pottery) was founded in Los Angeles by Shinji Nimura after coming to America in 1981, with the mission to introduce beautiful Japanese tableware to the world. The wide selection of products is imported directly from Japan, with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, and decorative to practical. About half of their products are handmade in small kilns in Japan, so each piece is a unique creation. The tableware is not only for Japanese cuisine, but can be matched with any type of food regardless of gastronomic background.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: HexClad Cookware

Photo #2: HexClad Cookware

Photo #3: Five Two Bamboo Cutting Board/Bon Appetit

Photo #4: The Good Liver

Photo #5: Hawkins New York

Photo #6: Poketo

Photo #7: HexClad Cookware

Photo #8: Surfas Culinary District

Photo #9: Utsuwa-No-Yakata

Ramen Round Up: DTLA’s Best Noodle Shops

Whether you’re craving the perfect comfort food for chilly weather or a light satisfying meal on a warm sunny day, the time is always right for ramen. While Little Tokyo is the obvious DTLA destination for authentic Japanese ramen, don’t overlook Chinatown, Grand Central Market, or other local neighborhoods, many conveniently close to Circa. Did you know there’s a Michelin rated ramen restaurant in downtown LA? And catering to the health-conscious crowd, a number of noodle shops offer vegan, gluten-free and macrobiotic options. DTLA boasts some of the best bowls in town, and we’re not just noodlin’ around. Check websites for pick up & delivery detaIls.

Ramen Hood near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Ramen Hood Grand Central Market 317 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013

Ramen Hood is a destination vegan ramen shop located in Downtown LA’s historic Grand Central Market. The food is one hundred percent vegan, with broth made by simmering kelp and shiitake mushrooms to extract their maximum umami. The “egg” is completely vegan, made in two parts. The “white” of the egg starts as locally made GMO-free soy milk, seasoned with salt and pepper and gelled with agar, a seaweed extract. The “yolk” is a combination of nutritional yeast, back salt and sodium alginate, which is spherified and placed it in the center of the white so that the yolk pops just like the real thing.

DTLA Ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

DTLA Ramen 952 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90015

DTLA Ramen offers Japanese ramen with a modern California spin. You have a choice of broth for your ramen, including pork, chicken, vegetarian, soy milk, and no broth at all, with a selection of add ons, such as ground spicy chicken, spicy miso paste, injected egg, or hard boiled egg, and chashu belly. In true DTLA spirit, the restaurant offers interesting craft beers, with an emphasis on Japanese brews. They also serve mochi ice cream in six delicious flavors.

9th Street Ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

9th St. Ramen 111 W 9th St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

This modern Japanese restaurant from Chef Luke Reyes features big hearty bowls of ramen and a rotating collection of Japanese specialties including tsukune from a robata, enoki mushroom tempura, albacore donburi, spicy lamb ramen, and charcoal-grilled chicken tori paitan ramen. The noodles are made from toasted wheat and rye flour. They also offer a selection of natural wine and sake for delivery.

Okiboru House of Tsukemen ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Okiboru House of Tsukemen 635 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012

The only Michelin rated ramen restaurant in LA, Okiboru is located in the heart of Chinatown. The founders, who trained in Japan to master the tsukemen craft, are on a mission to introduce this style of “dipping ramen” to a wider audience of eaters. With tsukemen, unlike its traditional ramen cousin, the noodles are served on the side separate from the broth, hence the name “dipping ramen.” Okiboru makes their own noodles on-site from scratch using their proprietary recipe. The broth is painstakingly brewed over a period of time, twice as long as the typical ramen broth, until the consistency is perfect for dipping. The chefs have also created a delicious vegetarian broth which is available in both tsukemen and ramen dishes.

Shojin ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Shojin 333 S. Alameda St. Suite 310 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Shojin presents a unique vegan, macrobiotic, gluten free Japanese dining experience, offering natural, organic cuisine for health-conscious customers. The ramen is onion and garlic free, made from cabbage, carrot, celery and olive oil. Add ons include garlic, ginger, kale, extra noodles, shitake mushrooms, and extra chile oil. The in-house delivery service is provided by Shojin’s own employees. By choosing to order directly from the restaurant, you will be helping to support their staff.

Rakkan Ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Rakkan Ramen 359 E 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

In 2011, Rakkan Ramen began as a tiny, four seated ramen bar in Tokyo. In 2017, with a passion for the world to taste their authentic Japanese Ramen, they opened their first overseas location in Los Angeles. Rakkan Ramen’s 100 percent plant-based broth is made with Dashi, a traditional Japanese soup stock full of umami, bringing out the best in each ingredient. Then they slowly simmer the carefully chosen vegetables and kombu (kelp) to extract the best flavor and lock in the umami. The marriage between the Oishii Japanese broth and silky slim noodles will help you discover the existence of another level of pleasure for your palate. Take a slurp!

Daikokuya Little Tokyo ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Daikokuya Little Tokyo 327 E 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Featured on ABC News, LA Eater, Thrillist, LA Times, Zagat, LA Weekly, Sunset magazine, and more, Daikokuya is known for their original soup made from soy sauce and pork bones, which are simmered for a full day. The signature Daikokuya Ramen consists of noodles, boiled egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, and green onions, with tender slices of homemade pork belly chashu. Eggs are soaked in a special sauce all through the night before serving. Be sure to try their premium brand sake, handmade by Daikokuya/Bishamon Group.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen 132 S Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

This classic ramen restaurant is located in the heart of Little Tokyo. Pronounced shin sen goo-me, the name was taken from the historical samurai clan who fought for a great “cause” during a civil war in Japan. Their commitment to excellence and sincerity of service to the nation became the restaurant’s model for serving excellent, traditional Japanese cuisine. Choose which size ramen bowl you want, then choose your noodles and finally, pick all the extra toppings you want to customize your ramen bowl just the way you like it. Extra toppings include wontons, spicy miso, curry, chili oil, pork cutlet, hard boiled egg, seaweed, corn and more.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: DTLA Ramen

Photo #2: Ramen Hood

Photo #3: DTLA Ramen

Photo #4: 9th St. Ramen

Photo #5: Okiboru House of Tsukemen

Photo #6: Shojin

Photo #7: Rakkan Ramen

Photo #8: Daikokuya Little Tokyo

Photo #9: Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen

Pedal to the Metal: Discover Cycling in LA

In the past year, cycling has become more popular than ever, both as a form of exercise and an alternative method of transport. In fact, bike sales have soared across the world, and many major cities are beefing up their cycling infrastructure to accommodate this new trend. Beyond the fun factor, there are some excellent health benefits of traveling by bike. According to Harvard Medical School, not only does cycling provides an aerobic workout and trigger the body’s feel-good endorphins, but it’s also easy on the joints, builds muscle, increases bone density, and helps with everyday activities. DTLA boasts some of the best bicycle shops and bike services around, many just short distance from Circa. You’ll also find easy access countless bike trails from the mountains to the ocean. So put your pedal to the metal and discover cycling in LA.

Spinlister Global Bike Rental near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

LA River Glendale Narrows and Elysian Valley Path

The Los Angeles River is host to a Class 1 bicycle and pedestrian path that runs 51 miles from Canoga Park to the Port of Los Angeles, but the most bike-centric activity is along the Glendale Narrows and Elysian Valley Bicycle Path, which cuts through Frogtown near DTLA. This 7.4 mile path, which goes from Victory Boulevard and Riverside Drive to Elysian Valley’s Egret Park, takes you along one of the nicest soft-bottom sections of the river. Although there are concrete and freeway-close areas, the best parts pass through a prettier, greener segment, ending near the spot where the city of Los Angeles was founded. The upper part of the route, which passes through the Glendale Narrows, offers unfettered views of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains.

Topanga Creek Outpost near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

The 8 Best Bike Rides In Los Angeles

From the mountains to the beach, and everywhere in between, you can pedal your way across the city and enjoy almost endless biking opportunities. Take a ride along the coast on the Marvin Braude/Pacific Coast Bike Path or venture up to Cogswell Dam, tucked in the San Gabriel Mountains above Azusa. Closesr to home, you’ll find biking aplenty in Griffith Park or the Rose Bowl. So pack your favorite snack, strap on your water bottle and start exploring.

DTLA Bikes near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

DTLA Bikes 425 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013

What started as an underground basement shop on Broadway has emerged into the premier bicycle shop in Downtown Los Angeles. Located in an 18,000 square foot shop spanning three floors, DTLA Bikes is a cycling destination for fixed gear messengers, urban commuters, weekend warriors, hard core roadies, and leisure riders alike. The shop has over 500 bicycles in stock, including Aventon Electric Bikes, along with thousands of accessories. The knowledgeable staff members, who love to ride to work, include skilled mechanics and service techs.

Tokyo Bike near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Tokyo Bike Row DTLA 1320 E 7th St #120 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Tokyo Bike is a small, independent bicycle company founded in 2002 in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Yanaka, Japan. Based on the concept of Tokyo Slow, the bicycles are designed to explore the places you love and call home. With a Tokyo Bike, it is as much about the journey as the destination. Private shopping by appointment only. Book appointment HERE

Just Ride L.A. near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Just Ride L.A. 1626 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

LA made and family-owned, Just Ride L.A. is more than just a cycling shop, it’s a lifestyle. Established in downtown Los Angeles in 2008, Just Ride has been the go-to destination for Los Angeles’ active city cycling community. From small-scale repairs to the highest quality bikes on the market, this award-winning store is a one-stop shop for all of your cycling needs.

Hoopty Bikes near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Hoopty Bikes 305 E 9th St. #219 Los Angeles, CA 90015

Hoopty Bikes is a mobil bike repair shop for all types of bicycles, including ebikes, classic 10-speeds, basic commuters, and beach cruiser. Founder Chris Duncan, an X Games pro BMXer, mountain biker, and master bicycle mechanic, started Hoopty Bikes in 2009 in the heart of San Francisco’s cycling scene after developing a love of restoring vintage road bikes. In 2015, he moved the company to Los Angeles and grew Hoopty Bikes into a full-service mobil repair center, along with sales of vintage road bikes. To book an appointment, just text a picture of your bike with your location to 310-308-0252

Topanga Creek Outpost 1273 N Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290

Topanga Creek Outpost has been building quality custom bicycles since opening their shop over fifteen years ago. They offer customized bicycles crafted with the highest standards based on your needs, budget and style to make each bike uniquely yours. The friendly staff will guide you through the entire process, from initial design to component specification and work completion, with a straight approach and open communication. They are also an authorized Los Angeles dealer for complete bicycles, bicycle frames, parts and accessories.

CLIP.bike near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

CLIP ebike converter

Turn any bike into an ebike with CLIP, a new design which attaches to the front wheel of a bike in seconds. Two arms lock around the bike’s fork and the other end connects with the front of the wheel. A tiny controller attached to the handlebars has a button that you can push to boost your bike’s speed as you pedal up a hill with a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour. Optimized for the urban commuter, CLIP is as light as a laptop, fits in your backpack, and looks great charging on your desk. Activate CLIP when you face an uphill climb or to coast that last stretch to your destination. CLIP.bike is based in Brooklyn, New York, with a mission of empowering the world to adopt biking as their primary choice for urban mobility.

Spinlister Bike Rentals 12575 Beatrice St. Los Angeles, CA 90066

Spinlister is a global bike rental and sharing service that provides a platform to connect bike owners with active people looking to rent or borrow around the world. Through their service, owners list their bikes, renters search for a bike in whatever area they want, and complete the rental process easily through their website, mobile app, or in-store kiosks. they even offer various protection options and delivery services to make everyone happy.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: DTLA Bikes

Photo #2: Spinlister

Photo #3: Topanga Creek Outpost

Photo #4: DTLA Bikes

Photo #5: Tokyo Bike

Photo #6: Just Ride LA

Photo #7: Hoopty Bikes

Photo #8: Topanga Creek Outpost

Photo #9: CLIP.bike

Photo #10: Spinlister Bike Rentals