Tag: asteridla

Unique & Romantic Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. And there are so many unique and romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day near Circa. Fly high on a private helicopter tour, or treat your SO to a glamorous night at the opera. Looking for something more offbeat? The Acey-Deucey Club is hosting an immersive Tiki cocktail party. Or take in a spooky Valentine-themed movie at the Million Dollar Theater. Who says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers? Angel City Brewery is hosting Circus of Broken Hearts for singles, third wheels, and everything in between. And Galentine’s Day on February 13 honors the other important relationships we cherish – our girlfriends. With something for everyone in your life, February is truly the month of love! 

LA Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

LA Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mozart’s greatest comedy sparkles with disguises, wit, trickery and humanity, all under the masterful baton of Music Director James Conlon. The magic goes even further with an enchanting new production directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray, with costumes designed by celebrated fashion designer Christian Lacroix. (Yes, that’s a shameless name drop.) Arrive early before the performance on February 23 and enjoy live music from KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole and Happy Hour exclusive Drink + Food specials on the plaza.  

American Contemporary Ballet Astaire Dance Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

American Contemporary Ballet: Astaire Dances Two California Plaza 350 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

Love is just a few steps away. Astaire Dances by American Contemporary Ballet has become a favorite tradition for Los Angeles. This year’s show features classics such as Dancing In The Dark, All  Of You, and I’m Old Fashioned. The original dances are brought to life with live renditions of the songs that inspired them. Astaire Dances is paired with a new ballet by ACB Director Lincoln Jones, The Charlestons, featuring the music of Ellington, Morton, Armstrong, and Dodds. Hear scorching jazz played by some of LA’s hottest musicians, and danced by its most compelling dancers. The evening also includes the comedy of Brian Kiley.

Candlelight Concerts Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Candlelight Concerts Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club 1210 4th St. Santa Monica, CA, 90401

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations in Los Angeles. For Valentine’s Day, the program includes romantic favorites like the theme from Romeo and Juliet, Flower Duet by Delibes, Moon River by Henry Mancini, and many more. The historic Woman’s Club of Santa Monica is a beautiful venue built in 1912. The club features a grand ballroom, a garden, and a number of smaller event spaces. 

Angel City Brewery Broken Hearts Circus Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Broken Hearts Circus Angel City Brewery & Public House 216 S Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Who says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers? That’s why every February Angel City Brewery throws its Circus of Broken Hearts – a celebration of the single, the third wheels, and everything in between.  Come run away with a circus of aerialists, stilt-walkers, contortionists, jugglers, sword swallowers, tarot card readers, and more as the Public House transforms into a big top tent for the day. Revel in the spectacles while enjoying fine suds, specialty slushies, and flight + candy pairings, with vegan candy options for those with specific dietary needs. Bring your crew, all are welcome, especially pups.

Flutter Experience Galentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Galentine’s Day at Flutter 217 S La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Art has never been this fun! Flutter is a one-of-a-kind adventure like no other. Soar away from the mundane and swoop into a world of art, play, and pure imagination. Flutter is all about having the ultimate playful, imaginative and unforgettable experience. Flutter guides are eager to take you on a 90-minute adventure filled with excitement and wonder. Get ready for a blast of projection mapping, relaxing sound healing, an action-packed alien escape room, time travel, and a revealing AI aura reading. Grab your gal pals and let your heart take flight.

Orbic Air Helicopter Tours Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Orbic Air Helicopter Tours 10750 Sherman Way, Burbank, CA 91505

Orbic Air is offering Valentine’s Day Helicopter Specials from February 10 to February 19. All Valentine’s Day packages will be booked as private flights, and will include complimentary champagne, a rose for the special someone, an assortment of chocolates and berries, and a souvenir photo to remember the experience. For the past 29 years, Orbic Air has been providing guests with the most unforgettable helicopter experiences in LA, with views of the Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica mountains, and Southern California’s miles of coastline.

Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Astra Lumina South Coast Botanic Garden 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90274

Take an enchanted night walk amongst the stars. Astra Lumina LA welcomes you to an extraordinary place, a garden right here on earth that shares a special connection with the sky above. Come nightfall, the garden sets the stage for a phenomenal event: a visit from the stars. Stargazers are invited to set off across the garden’s celestial pathway to encounter the wonder of the stars and embrace their own human light. As the night unfolds, these luminous orbs regenerate, rise, and reunite in the night sky, to shine brighter than ever before.

Ballymaloe Dessert Trolley at Caldo Verde Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Ballymaloe Desserts at Caldo Verde Proper Hotel DTLA 1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

This Valentine’s Day, join award-winning Pastry Chef JR Ryall for a decadent dining experience of seasonally-inspired sweets from his debut book Ballymaloe Desserts. Indulge in JR Ryall’s renowned dessert trolley that will feature 18 unique treats as he discusses his delicious culinary journey in the pastry kitchen. JR Ryall’s iconic dessert recipes will be paired with a prix fixe menu of Portuguese flavors and old California sensibilities curated by James Beard Award winners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.

The Acey-Deucey Club: A Submarine-Themed Tiki Bar Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Acey-Deucey Club: A Submarine-Themed Tiki Bar 613 Imperial St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

All aboard! Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Acey-Deucey Club, a nostalgic pop-up tiki bar set inside a kitschy submarine-themed lounge. The crew of the USS Clusterwink invites you to sip on premium tiki cocktails and revel in the dazzling live performance of Captain Vic and the Clusterwink jazz band. It’s going to be a jaunty social cruise ripe with curiosity, surprises, and merriment. You will be transported to a long-lost vintage era onboard the submarine – and if you’re lucky, you may even get a personal tour of the deepest corners of the Clusterwink.

Bloody Valentine at Million Dollar Theater Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Bloody Valentines at Million Dollar Theater 307 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Street Food Cinema and TIL Events presents Bloody Valentines at Million Dollar Theater. Spooky movies include Queen of the Damned, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Jennifer’s Body. Bring your special someone and enjoy a bloody underground photo opp, audience games and more. You can order wine, beer and specialty cocktails at their Lovers Lounge. Valentines Slides are available for purchase. You can also grab a bite from Grand Central Market’s 40+ vendors; food is welcome in the theater.

asterid by Ray Garcia Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

asterid by Ray Garcia 141 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

One of Michelin Guide’s New Discoveries, asterid is offering a special four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $125 per person, with optional cocktail pairing at $50 per person or wine pairing at $55 per person. There is also a 6-course option at $160 per person. Located in Walt Disney Concert Hall, asterid uses a unique and joyful expanse of local, hyper-seasonal ingredients that bring celebration to life at its tables through a familial dining experience. Authentically from and for Los Angeles, Chef Garcia’s Modern American menu and bar program is unexpected, offering contemporary sensibility, inspiring curiosity, and paying respect to the independent spirit of L.A. For more Michelin restaurants near Circa, check out our recent blog post.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: Orbic Air

Photo #2: LA Opera

Photo #3: American Contemporary Ballet

Photo #4: Secret Los Angeles

Photo #5: Angel City Brewery

Photo #6: Flutter

Photo #7: Orbic Air

Photo #8: Astra Lumina

Photo #9: Ballymaloe Desserts

Photo #10: The Acey-Deucey Club

Photo #11: Street Food Cinema

Photo #12: asterid by Ray Garcia 

Your Essential Guide to DTLA’s Michelin Restaurants 

Gourmet diners rejoice! Michelin Guide recently updated its coveted awards, recognizing a wide swath of downtown Los Angeles restaurants, many not far from Circa. DTLA currently boasts four Michelin Star restaurants, as our city continues to be a magnet for talented chefs and restauranteurs. While Michelin’s celebrated stars tend to skew more upscale, the organization also recognizes smaller, casual, and more affordable places with its Bib Gourmand Awards, a non-starred honor that still carries a lot of clout. And Michelin judges have added a number of “new discovery” restaurants to their Michelin Guide California selection, including several in downtown LA. Whether these restaurants will receive a Michelin Star or a Bib Gourmand is yet to be determined, but it’s a great vote of confidence for our culinary community.

Michelin Stars

Orsa & Winston Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Orsa & Winston 122 W 4th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

One star, awarded 2019 & 2021. The restaurant was also chosen as L.A. Times restaurant of the year in 2020. Named after two little dogs, Orsa & Winston is inspired by Italian and Japanese flavors, connected by the creativity of chef Josef Centeno. They offer a five-course tasting menu for $125 per person, plus an optional beverage pairing for $80 per person. Beer, wine and sake are available. The tasting menu changes daily, served during two dinner seatings each evening, by reservation only. They are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, allergies, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free requests with ample notice.

Shibumi Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Shibumi 815 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

One star, awarded 2019. Chef David Schlosser’s Shibumi is a Kappo-style restaurant, offering multi-course meals that are left entirely up to the chef. Kappo simply means “to cut and to cook,” an all-encompassing word for a less formal cuisine that emphasizes the proximity between the diner and the chef who is cutting and cooking the food. Presiding over his dining bar, fashioned from a single 400-year-old cypress trunk, Chef Schlosser prepares his dishes with a with a unique tool made from sandpaper-rough sharkskin.

Kato Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Kato Restaurant 777 S Alameda St. Building 1 Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021

One star, awarded 2019. Helmed by Chef Jon Yao, Kato serves Omakase-style multicourse feasts in his spacious and polished space in ROW DTLA. Imbued with Taiwanese and Japanese influences, the tasting menu offers contemporary food that is at once simple and complex. The dishes (some of which are made by a local artisan) are as elegant as they are inventive, such as the torn bluefin with caramelized onion or the sea urchin donut with rich uni, hand cut jamon Iberico, and brown butter. 

Hayato Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Hayato 1320 E 7th St. #126 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Two stars, awarded 2019 & 2021. Serving traditional Japanese fare, Hayato assumes the responsibility of showcasing the work of master craftspeople in many fields. Potters, fishmongers, carpenters, kimono makers, tea masters, sake brewers and countless other artisans are all part of the team, to help create an exceptional dining experience. According to Michelin, Chef Brandon Go’s multi-course kaiseki remains one of the top experiences in the city.

Bib Gourmand Awards 

Moo's Craft Barbecue Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Moo’s Craft Barbecue 2118 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031

Recognized by Food & Wine’s Best Barbecue 2020 and acclaimed by LA Times and Eater LA as the best underground barbecue cooking in Los Angeles, Moo’s Craft Barbecue started as a BBQ pop up in a small East Los Angeles backyard in 2017. Inspired by Texas Barbecue, Moo’s uses old school techniques to produce delicious, melt in your mouth smoked meats with a Cali Mex twist. 

Pizzeria Bianco Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Pizzeria Bianco 1320 E 7th St. #100 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Due to popular demand, Chef Chris Bianco has at last opened Pizzeria Bianco in downtown Los Angeles. Located in ROW DTLA, the restaurant is an adaptive reuse of a former coffee roaster and cafe. While much of the space remains intact, a wood-burning oven now inhabits the room where the roasting machine was formerly housed, and a large window offers diners a view of pizzas being made. The menu features a selection of sandwiches on house-baked focaccia and salads, as well as New York style pizza by the slice, small plates, salads, and sides. A focused list of food-friendly wines and beers complement the meal.

New Discoveries

asterid by Ray Garcia Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

asterid by Ray Garcia 141 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Located in Walt Disney Concert Hall, asterid is named after the largest group of flowering plants, ranging from colorful vegetables and fragrant herbs to radiant florals. The restaurant  uses a unique and joyful expanse of local, hyper-seasonal ingredients that bring celebration to life at its tables through a familial dining experience. Authentically from and for Los Angeles, Chef Garcia’s Modern American menu and bar program is unexpected, offering contemporary sensibility, inspiring curiosity, and paying respect to the independent spirit of L.A. Culinary traditions and techniques are both cherished and evolved in imaginative and bright ways at asterid, to share the spirit of its cultural home.

Camphor Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Camphor 923 E 3rd St. Suite 109 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Camphor is a modern bistro located in DTLA’s bustling Arts District, led by Co-Executive Chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George. Camphor is all about easy and relaxed eating, and letting classic French flavors and culinary techniques do the talking. With a menu replete with personal nods to both chefs’ global upbringing, expect a mix of refreshing, refined, yet light fare in a convivial setting that harkens back to the basics with a shareable feast of small plates, alongside a vast selection of curated wines and curated cocktails to pair. 

Damian Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Damian 2132 E 7th Pl. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Housed within a repurposed warehouse in DTLA’s Arts District, Damian serves contemporary cuisine rooted in Mexican culture. Founded by Chef Enrique Olvera, Damian is Inspired by the Pacific coast’s culinary traditions, while celebrating seasonal Californian produce. Damian’s beverage program focuses on artisanal spirits and mirrors its cuisine, letting the high quality ingredients shine through.

LA Cha Cha Chá Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

LA Cha Cha Chá 812 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

The sister location of Terraza Cha Cha Chá in Mexico City, LA Cha Cha Chá is located in a chic outdoor rooftop space in the LA Arts District. The restaurant presents gorgeous views of DTLA and a notable menu by Mexico City-born, LA-raised chef Alejandro Guzman, serving traditional starters like aguachile and ceviche, chicharos de sierra with fresh peas, serrano aioli, and crispy potato – a revamped family recipe. Cha Cha Chá also offers a tacos and tostada menu, along with more substantial dishes like grilled fish, charcoal roasted chicken, and pork shoulder confit carnitas.

San Laurel at Conrad Los Angeles Michelin Guide restaurant near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

San Laurel at Conrad Los Angeles 100 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

San Laurel, a signature dining experience from Chef José Andrés, offers the flavors of Spain as seen through a California lens, highlighting the beautiful ingredients of the abundant Golden State. Heralded by the vision of legendary architect Frank Gehry, Conrad Hotel is an elegant oasis with 305 modern rooms, a rooftop terrace with private pool deck, a full-service spa, and locally inspired dining. Framed by dramatic views of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and downtown LA, discover energizing experiences that will ignite your inspiration.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: Orsa & Winston

Photo #2: Orsa & Winston

Photo #3: Shibumi

Photo #4: Kato Restaurant

Photo #5: Hayato

Photo #6: Moo’s Craft Barbecue

Photo #7: Pizzeria Bianco

Photo #8: asterid by Ray Garcia

Photo #9: Camphor

Photo #10: Damian

Photo #11: LA Cha Cha Chá 

Photo #12: San Laurel