Bow & Truss Buzzing: Open This Summer

Posted on May 10, 2012 by J. Ryan

Update: new construction photos below. (05/13/12)

The last time I talked about the opening of the second Knitting Factory restaurant in NoHo, Bow & Truss, the grand opening was scheduled for May. Well, May is here and it’s easy to see from the street at 11122 Magnolia Blvd. more work still needs to be done before Latin-themed restaurant is camera ready. News out of the Knitting Factory camp is that the restaurant we dubbed “The Federal (La Segunda Parte)” will have its grand-opening sometime this summer, with a soft-opening anticipated around Memorial Day.

The patio doesn't quite look like this yet...

In the past week, a series of articles about the new location popped up at Eater LA and in the The Daily News and LA Times. But what’s best about these articles, particularly the last two, is that not only do they promote the obvious–the restaurants and the company–but the neighborhood too. From the articles:

Continue reading →

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Brick Yard Pub: Yuengling Lager and Late-Night Grill

Posted on April 10, 2012 by J. Ryan

The recently opened Brick Yard Pub at 11130 Magnolia Blvd continues to find ways to work within its limitations (the previous tenant only had a beer / malt liquor license and no kitchen) as its owners work toward establishing their bar as a NoHo mainstay.

The Pub got its first post-opening buzz last week when news spread that the bar is now serving the venerable Yuengling Lager (LAist was the first to jump on it). If you know what it is, I shouldn’t have to say more. If you don’t, then ask one of your East Coast friends (it’s LA, they’re everywhere) and just know that you won’t find it many places in Southern California.

Lookin' good. And it's only 10 AM...

The latest news coming out of the Brick Yard involves its gustatory offerings. A little known fact–in addition to the bar’s more promoted features which include a wide beer selection, pool tables, pong tables and shuffleboard–is that guests are allowed to bring or order-in their own food. To supplement this, the plan was to satiate hungry bar-goers by scheduling food trucks to park outside. But, according to the owners, this food truck arrangement hasn’t panned out the way it was envisioned because the vendors weren’t sticking around late enough.

Well, ever the innovators and with no kitchen to work from, a late-night patio grill menu is in the works. The menu itself was still being touched-up when I looked, but when it’s final, it will be posted here. Until then, expect typical grill-fare with some specialty items. Depending on clearance from the health inspector, the patio grill could be a late-night option as early as later next week.

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Update: Metro Red Line/Orange Line Pedestrian Tunnel

Posted on March 29, 2012 by J. Ryan

Following up from on our post last month concerning the Metro Red Line/Orange Line Pedestrian Tunnel, word is that the Design-Build project is on the street.

According to Metro’s website, the tunnel, which will pass directly underneath Lankershim Boulevard, will be around 150 feet and stretch from the west (underground) mezzanine of the Red Line station to a location near the Orange Line platforms (above ground).

Looking up to the station's only current entrance/exit.

Award of the contract is currently scheduled for July, which means if all goes according to plan, the contractor will begin drafting designs of the project around late summer, with construction beginning soon after. More to come…

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Eyesore: The Blob Over Lankershim

Posted on March 10, 2012 by J. Ryan

Whether or not you thought the scrolling marquee above the NoHo Commons was an eye-sore or you actually enjoyed the incandescent glow of the thing spouting off famous movie quotes, you’re clearly not a fan of the state it has been in since December: flickering a pixelated blob of white.

All Quiet On Lankershim...

...until the "glitching blob" appears.

Requests for clarification from the NoHo Common’s management have gone unanswered. Some one must be responsible for this thing. But who? NoHo Art’s District.com’s Nancy Bianconi as well as Patch’s Editor Craig Clough seem to be at a loss of who is in charge of its maintenance and management now that the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency is defunct. Though the search continues.

The NoHo Scrolling Marquee, officially known as “Drive By,” was a project installed by a team of artists a few years back called Electroland (www.electroland.net), though the City of of LA pulled the plug on the project over signage issues until last spring when it was turned back on. When it’s functioning, it scrolls through famous movie quotes over the course of the night:

"Say Hello To My Little Friend"

Needless to say, either keep it off or get it working again! Having a flickering eyesore in the center of NoHo is much worse than either of these two options. Hopefully we’ll get more information on this soon.

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More On The Brick Yard Pub & Grand Opening

Posted on March 6, 2012 by J. Ryan

Just an FYI for those looking to check out NoHo’s latest nightlife addition. The Brick Yard Pub (MAP), which we mentioned last week, will be having its Grand Opening this Thursday night, March 8th.

Dubbed the “Happy Hour Grand Opening,” the Thursday night event is an open call for all NoHo locals and business owners to stop on by from 6 PM – 10 PM for beer tasters, complimentary hors d’ouerves and free darts and pool. And if you can’t make it Thursday, the grand opening celebration continues Friday night starting at 8 PM.

Brick Yard Pub @ 11130 Magnolia Blvd

Now a little more about the new locale: the bar features over 75 bottled beers, tables well-suited for large groups, darts and shuffleboard in the front, and eight pool tables located in a separate, large back room. The front area feels much more like, well, a bar (and that’s a good thing), whereas the back room with pool tables is brighter, more open and contain two large screen televisions. There are snacks like popcorn and pretzels available throughout the night, but food trucks will also be parked outside on select nights (the Grilled Cheese Truck making its appearance next Tuesday night). And if you really need to eat and the snacks and food trucks just aren’t doing it for you, the Pub’s owners have you covered: you can bring in your own food or even have it delivered to the bar.

The Bar @ Brick Yard Pub

On our visit Saturday night, on what was supposed to be a “soft” opening, the place was bustling. Despite having only a license to serve beer and malt liquor–which is a remnant from the previous tenant, North Hollywood Billiards–the three owners are endeavering to find creative ways to cater to all types of drinker’s tastes and styles. For instance, their drink menu offered three shots, which were surprisingly tasty mixes of a variety of beers and malt liquor. In addition to the large assortment of macro-brews, craft beers, ciders and malt liquor (yes, even your old favorites Mickey’s and Steel Reserve make an appearance), there are still other alternatives. In addition, for those who still aren’t on board with the all-beer concept, the pub is toying with the idea of featuring a variety of drinks that will challenge your notion of what “beer” is–like Lindeman’s Framboise or Sea Dog Blueberry Ale. Obviously, the Brick Yard Pub has no intention to be your poppy’s beer and pool hall (sorry dad). See their current beer menu here.

A Sample of Brick Yard Pub Beer Selection

The owners of the pub said they were initially attracted to North Hollywood due to its growth the past few years, and after visiting the site last fall, they were sold by the neighborhood’s vibe and its burgeoning night-life potential. Now, a few months later, they intend to contribute to that vibe. Based on what we’ve seen and heard so far, they should fit right in.

Make sure you stop on by this Thursday (or any time, really) to see what the Brick Yard Pub has to offer.

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The Depot: Behind The Green Fence

Posted on March 6, 2012 by J. Ryan

News of the Lankershim Depot project moving forward hit the local blogosphere yesterday. Instead of re-hashing the news we’ve been following the past year, we present to you a “photo tribute” to the end days of the Lankershim Depot as we’ve known it the past decade: forgettable. For those of you who lived and worked around NoHo and wondered what was hiding behind that green tarp-covered fence, you can take a peek in the photos below. Though much like you probably expected, you were never missing much.

So with the start of what will likely be a long process with an end result that’s still uncertain, we hope these photos will someday be used as a comparison of what the Depot once was and what it will become. Though there are a lot of people that would just as well have it torn down, there are those that see beyond the peeling paint, deteriorated beams and boarded-up windows, and see a place that could become–amidst the theaters and dance studios–a hallmark location for North Hollywood and the Arts District.

But no matter your stance, you’ve got to be happy at least something is happening.

 

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The Federal (La Segunda Parte): The Bow & Truss

Posted on March 5, 2012 by J. Ryan

It’s no secret. Knitting Factory Entertainment’s Federal Bar located at 5303 Lankershim Blvd has been quite the success and has done much to invigorate NoHo’s night life. With the Federal going on nearly a year of existence, Morgan Margolis and his group plan on making its second claim in the Arts District with the introduction of The Bow & Truss restaurant, slated to open in May.

Future site of Bow & Truss

The new restaurant, located at 11122 Magnolia Boulevard, will cultivate much of the same vibe as the Federal but with a Latin-influenced menu. The same features that make the Federal a pleasurable place to drink and eat are sure to be carried over to the B&T–literally, including The Federal’s food curator (Shad Davis), chef (Stefhanie Meyers) and its GM, who will all be moving down the block. Even so, the Bow & Truss has one welcome feature that the Federal can’t claim: al fresco (outdoor) dining.

Bow & Truss Interior Rendering

Eater LA has been posting the most extensive coverage of the development of this new location. Margolis applied for a full liquor license earlier late last year and just announced a name last week. Work on the former auto-garage has been ongoing throughout the winter.

As for our perspective on this, if you’ve read any posts on this site, you know that we’re huge proponents of opening up store fronts with big windows and/or outdoor eating so clearly, to us this development is absolutely what the area needs. Add to this news that right next door, both the Brickyard Pub (which added larger windows to the old poolhall facade) and The Republic of Pie (which features large windows and outdoor seating) have recently set up shop. This section of Magnolia is beginning to live up to its potential as a key activity center for the center of the Arts District neighborhood. It’s not just Eat anymore.

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NoHo: Walker’s Paradise? It Depends

Posted on March 2, 2012 by J. Ryan

It’s fairly obvious strolling down Magnolia or Lankershim Boulevard that North Hollywood is becoming a place you can conveniently and safely get yourself to a variety of destinations just by walking. If simply observing the increasing amount of people on the district’s street wasn’t enough to convince you that NoHo is growing into the pedestrian-friendly urban village it was envisioned to be, now there’s even a score to back it up.

photo by srd515 via Flickr

Walker's Paradise?

WalkScore.com, a website whose mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods, creates “walkability” scores based on a particular address’ location to transit, parks, restaurants and bars, grocery stores and other amenities. According to these methods, it’s clear the NoHo Arts District is a place where a car is not necessarily needed. The score for the center of the Arts District, which for our purposes is considered Magnolia Boulevard and Lankershim Boulevard is a whopping 95 out of 100, earning it the title of a “Walker’s Paradise.” Other small neighborhoods with the same score include New York’s Harlem and Central Park neighborhoods, Dearborn Park in Chicago, North Beach in San Francisco, Portland’s Pearl District and Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.

Though it’s probably not surprising that when you look further north of the Arts District,  the neighborhood loses its pedestrian appeal as it allows for more single-family homes,  stores and retail made with parking as priority, and the warehouse and back-lot districts. The inclusion of the broader North Hollywood area brings down the areas total score to 74, placing North Hollywood proper at #26 of all the neighborhoods in Los Angeles (click here to see a color-coded regional map). Which isn’t necessarily bad. Westwood, notorious for Westwood Village and UCLA, shares the same score, and many other districts like Venice, Echo Park and Eagle Rock fall within a few points (though none of these are served by a major transit line).

So what’s your take on this? Is the NoHo Arts District really a “Walker’s Paradise”, and if you think so, what can be done to expand this concept to the rest of North Hollywood? If you think it’s not, what are we missing and could the area ever really become one?

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What’s (Going) Up In NoHo: Apartments, Apparently

Posted on February 28, 2012 by J. Ryan

A brief photo update on a development we first discussed last fall at 5031 Fair Avenue and the addition of a less exciting complex some of you may have seen rising north of the Red Line station the past few months.

First, as you can see below, the planned six-story, 308-unit residential complex is in full construction mode now. Though, as the developer promised, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of area for “green space.” I’m hoping it’s just a statement of the construction progress and not necessarily an indicator of the end result (landscaping, for self-explanatory reasons, is usually one of the last things completed).

Columns and early construction progress.

Columns, looking west. Not much open space here.

Based on the photo below, underground parking seems to be the mode of choice for this structure.

Progress looking SW. Note ramp to under ground at left.

You might also notice a large patch of dirt in the background of the above picture. Presumably, this will be part of the green space previously mentioned and the dominant  entrance on Morrison St. A good way to check out the perimeter is to use Google Maps (click here). What I do know for sure though is that with a six-story structure, you won’t be getting much sun on Otsego (the side of the street the photo was taken on). The price to pay for density I suppose?

Lastly, over the past few months a multi-story complex has risen in the skyline just north of Cumpston St. at 5525 Klump Avenue. This complex is to be the NoHo Senior Apartments, one of the last remaining projects started by the now defunct Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles.

NoHo Senior

NoHo: Where Seniors Are Soon To Be The Bees-Knees

For the younger crowd, this news might not be that exciting. I mean, isn’t there already one of those being built? Yes, but hey, Los Angeles has the highest number of new seniors in the country and they need to live somewhere, so why not in slick new pads in NoHo? Can’t blame them.

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NoHo’s Latest: Brick Yard Pub Opening Soon

Posted on February 25, 2012 by J. Ryan

03/07/12 – Update: The Brick Yard Pub had their “soft” opening this weekend. They are currently open to train staff and allow people to look around. The grand opening will be announced soon. We’ll be posting something more on them soon when we get a firm grand opening date. See Grand Opening information here.

Earlier this week, I reported on the newest bar setting up shop in the former home of the the NoHo mainstay, North Hollywood Billiards at 11130 Magnolia Boulevard. All the information we had at the time was derived from what we saw happening to its facade. This included the installation of new windows, exterior lights, door, and most recently the hanging of the soon-to-be pub’s sign. Now we’ve been given a little more information as well as a potential opening–as early as next weekend if inspections go well.

Front facade.

After querying the owners, we were told that the Brick Yard will be a “beer pub with over 75 beers” with a “classy vibe [and an] upscale pool hall in the rear.” Though quick to note the pub’s emphasis on food won’t be more than standard bar snack affairs like popcorn, peanuts and chips, the possibility of collaborating with food trucks to park outside in the evenings was suggested. There will also be catering and large event options.

Their website, though still mostly bare, is now up and running at www.brickyardnoho.com and includes their beer menu.

I’m interested to see how this pans out. I’m glad to see they at least are preserving the notion of NoHo Billiards by keeping a few pool tables in the back. Hopefully the goal here is to modernize the concept to attract a broader crowd. NoHo Billiard’s failure to do this, in concert with a harsh economy–not the location–likely contributed to its closure.

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