SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - "The Energy Issue " | Page 21

When shopping is on the agenda, forgo Rodeo
Drive for local, only-in-L.A. talent. The ROW DTLA
(777 Alameda St) has transformed 32 acres of historic
warehouse structures, streets, and plazas into its
own vibrant ecosystem of independent merchants,
emerging brands and creative offices, making it the
ultimate open-air, anti-mall mall. One of it’s best kept
(semi)-secrets is the location of streetwear boutique
Bodega, which cleverly honours the building's
origins as a major hub of produce by hiding its
entrance behind a set of plastic blinds and rotating
boxes of fresh fruit. Honestly, you have to know, to
know. Otherwise, you might just find yourself waiting
for the latest sneaker drop in shipping and receiving.
When hunger strikes, pull up a seat under the
string lighting at Rappahannock Oyster Bar (787
Alameda St), a seafood-focused restaurant with
an emphasis on sustainability. The spaces copper
accents, exposed wood and marble raw bar make
it feel like the restaurant has picked up from the
East Coast and moved to L.A. to follow its dreams.
If you squint while the sun's glare hits your eyes in
just the right way, you would swear you're sitting
on Chesapeake Bay - where the restaurant sources
oysters from its own farm. Speaking of Chesapeake
Bay-farmed oysters, they are a must on every table!
And while my most puritanical belief is that oysters
should be slurped "au natural," the house-made
kimchi mignonette and "awesome sauce" did sneak
their way into a mouthful or two. The staff is friendly
and attentive, so there is no need to be shy when
asking for an extra wet nap.
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m
Blink and you'll miss it. Pan-Latin restaurant,
DAMA, is a tropical oasis tucked in City Market South
- another revitalization project aimed at breathing
new life into a collection of industrial buildings in
Downtown L.A.’s Fashion District. And by tucked
in, I mean totally and completely hidden from sight.
Before you have words with your Lyft driver for
dropping you off in what, at first glance, seems like
a maze of shuttered stalls, look around. The familiar
silhouette of a valet stand in the distance is a sure
sign that you have arrived.
Removed from the traffic and noise synonymous
with any metropolitan city, dining on DAMA’s stunning
200-seat outdoor patio is so idyllic (including candy-
coloured banquets and tree-lined courtyard) it almost
feels like a movie set. The majority of the menu items
are small plates made for sharing (think crispy squash
flowers and seafood tostada) making it the perfect
spot for rolling deep with a large group of food-loving
friends. But it's snuggled up in the lush leather seats
of DAMA's moody cocktail den, that I really feel the
city melt away. I grow quite acquainted with the Latin
Lover, a refreshing combination of tequila, cachaça,
pineapple and lime and I'm thankful for the breeze
created by a wicker ceiling fan, especially when I
switch to mezcal. The interior channels some serious
Ernest Hemingway vibes and so am I, deciding to
scrawl ideas for a book on a napkin. The food game
is strong, but the drinks might be stronger.
The Energy Issue
21