KINDLE DX

I often joke in my blogs about downtownster being an unfunded startup, launched in the middle of perhaps the worst economic situation in our country’s history—this is not a joke, but the truth. As downtownster grows, literally every day, I am asked with greater and greater frequency to write about the economy, politics, and relationships. Can you imagine that we live in a time that customers, in this case downtownster readers, can tell you what they want and if you have any business sense—you can oblige at the touch of a keypad. So, I woke up this morning planning to write a brilliant essay on the state of the economy. I was even going to delve into why entrepreneurs, such as myself, should be more aggressively than ever, starting companies like downtownster. But then it occurred to me to write about Amazon’s Kindle DX.

Kindle, if you are not already familiar, is an e-book reader created and sold by Amazon. The new Kindle DX is a technological marvel, which holds 3,500 book titles at a time and is close to paper-thin. The reading display utilizes ink technology, which gives the reader the closest experience possible to actually reading print. And unlike the Sony e-book reader the Kindle operates with an internal wireless 3G capability that allows books to be downloaded to the device, usually in thirty seconds or less. Yes, THE WIRELESS HOOKUP IS FREE, the cost is covered by Amazon. I should also mention the new DX model has a 9.7 inch screen— 3 inches larger than the past models.

The LA Times take on the Kindle DX, in a recent article, is, not surprisingly, whether or not Kindle will save newspapers—like the LA Times. Continue reading KINDLE DX

The Extraordinary Case of Mike Berger

Stan Lerner, editor-in-chief and creator of Downtownster is a revered cohort for whom I am indebted to Mike Berger, the subject of this entry, for making possible our acquaintance.  Mr. Lerner has been googled over 1.2 million times; his blogs (articles for Downtownster and his satirical serial Downtown Oliver Brown) have around 2 million hits; he is a screenwriter receiving residuals in seeming perpetuity; he is published in hardcover as a novelist, a long-form satirist and a children’s book author.  I am honored that he invited me to be a guest contributor to this blog and, after much consideration concerning what form to proffer (e.g., an op-ed piece, a film review, a vignette, etc.), I found it “altogether fitting and proper” to pay homage to Mr. Berger. This piece however, strictly speaking, could be classified as a restaurant review.  The restaurant is an ad hoc wine bar and it is Mr. Berger’s one-man show.

On the north side of 9th Street between Hope and Flower – as any denizen of downtown knows – is the entrance to Ralphs Market.  Its manifestation on the cityscape was like an oasis created by a meteor.  At last, under one roof, downtown had a purveyor of some of the most essential trappings of civilization.  What too many apparently do not know is, that within this architecturally unimaginative space, like gleaming crystals in a geode, lay a treasure for wine enthusiasts unparalleled anywhere in Los Angeles.  On Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between five and eight p.m., one can get both the best value and the best wines by-the-glass downtown.  For twelve hours a week, four nights of happy hours, if you will….  Don’t blink or you’ll miss out.  This is all because the store opened with an exceptional department manager.  You see, dear reader, with the advent of this civilization, like a gift from an extraterrestrial race, came a subtle, dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool service professional – a one-off, wine and spirits manager by the name of Mike Berger. That’s right, you read correctly, in Ralphs Market.
 

Part of what makes him seem like he dropped in from another planet is the complete absence of the more-knowledgeable-than-thou baggage associated with wine experts of all stripes.  Yet, Mr. Berger is at least a fourth-dan black belt in the fine art of wine and spirits.  It is equally other worldly to see one so perspicacious and sentient in a Ralphs uniform vest smiling affably at some nimrod.  Did I see him winking at another of the incognito beings sent to infuse refinement into our downtown culture?   

A large man possessing a full head of fine dark hair, and an excellent, unlined brow which presides over keen brown eyes and a remarkably smooth, pink-tinged complexion, Mr. Berger hosts the best happy hour for wine drinkers in the downtown area. He has a determined yet unaggressive mouth and is always impeccably clean-shaven. This fresh, youthful appearance makes him look a generation younger but belies a wisdom that becomes apparent to any engaged listener. There is a cultivated depth to his softly spoken tenor voice as he, with unfailingly polite deference, holds forth to the assembled imbibers a condensed education on the evening’s four or five wine offerings, like some exegete of the cannons of all-too-arcane wine jargon.  
 
The first time I heard this voice I was seeking produce and potables for a spur of the moment party invitation. This was in early September of 2007.  
Suddenly, an unusual announcement wafted over the store’s P.A. system: “…we’re tasting rosés…perfect wine for the summer months…”.  I only registered part of the message.  It’s somewhat serendipitously strange I noticed at all, since I am oblivious to such background noise in any shopping venue, as I believe most people are, just like the sound of traffic. It all translates subconsciously to: “Attention Kmart shoppers”.  Perhaps it was because of Mr. Berger’s unobtrusive vocal delivery but more likely, for me, it was the Pavlovian keywords: wine, rosés, tasting.  Having thus been skewered through the cheek with the proverbial hook, I followed his directions involuntarily to the wine tasting area.  

This sectioned off area has the highest ceiling in the store. It is separated on the entrance side by a four-foot fence-like wall dividing it from the deli and the main communal dining area.  
Shared by deli patrons, it is a sort of indoor beer garden, the effect of which is heightened by heavy, black, cast-iron garden tables and chairs.  Floor to ceiling twenty-foot high plate glass windows afford an excellent view of the street scene just south of the intersection of 9th and Hope. I later learned it has a special use alcoholic beverage license that permits wine and beer service.

I arrived to discover an unassuming but highly alert man presiding over a makeshift rolling bar that had a marvelous tray of four types of artisanal cheeses priced between $10 and $16 a pound and accompanied by a freshly sliced baguette from the peerless La Brea Bakery
.  There were likewise four wine buckets chilling dry rosé wines, three from Europe, one from California, priced between $14 and $24 per bottle.  I then met Mr. Berger, who did not presume I wanted to know his name; rather, he politely informed me that the tasting of four wines and unlimited buffet privileges would cost me seven dollars. As if this wasn’t a good enough deal, he added: “You get to keep the glass.”.  (All right, I must say the glassware was laughable.  An old-restaurant style white wine glass with a proper pedestal and stem but too conical a bowl to be good for swirling.  The kicker being the kitschy Ralphs logo in fire engine red.)  Albeit on paper plates with plastic utensils, I had this bacchanalian feast completely to myself.  This is a function of dry rosé being somewhat of an orphan wine category in the United States.   

I then began to notice that attractive women of all ages could be seen both inside and outside the store from this vantage point. I could spend all day watching the feminine form navigate sidewalks, push shopping carts, peruse display cases, hold up and evaluate items for purchase or any other thing that they do.  
The pleasure of this lifelong avocation is only enhanced by fine wines and hors-d’oeuvres.  I commented on this to Mr. Berger, as I introduced myself and learned his name. He explained: he had selected the cheeses to pair with each wine; the wines’ grape varietals, style, region, etc.; what types of food pairs well with each; and the frequency of the wine tastings themselves.  After consuming roughly three glasses, heavily weighted towards re-tasting  my favorite and sating my appetite with supercheeses, I decided to forgo the party. I had stayed until the end and Mr. Berger had suffered through some two hours of my mindless prattle and hyper-enthusiastic ranting on wine in general.  This can be pretty bad.  I’ve even been accused of being an oenophiliac: one who derives sexual pleasure from wine. Continue reading The Extraordinary Case of Mike Berger

Mannywould

21-8. 13 in a row at home to begin the season. The Dodgers seemed to be having another impressive start. However, what has become most impressive is the lack of awareness or self-control (whichever may be the truth) exhibited by the Dodgers’ premier player.

“Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me.”

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for a banned substance. I’d rather sit here and write about his 533 home runs, or his high career batting average. Instead, it’s this.

Although sorrowful, Manny now knows what overlooking or not being aware of MLB regulations will cost him: 50 games and one-third of the season’s salary. That means Manny just gave up $7.7 million dollars. He won’t be eligible to return until July 3 in San Diego. And most importantly, I can no longer partake in the Mannywood promotion the Dodgers organization recently introduced. Okay, that’s not the most important thing, but I wanted to partake in the promotion. Continue reading Mannywould

Hello Sushi And Sake Lovers!

Hello Wine and Sake lovers.  Tonight May 8th at 5pm until 8pm I will be serving Sushi and Sake for a fun Friday night.  Sushi and traditional Sake at Ralphs is a great way to start your evening festivities. Sake is an alcohol product distilled  from the rice grain.  Originating Japan and slowly made its way around the world.  Sake is consumed so often  that one in three  drinks consumed is  a sake-based product.  Many bars and sushi houses are serving Sake-tini  drinks. Continue reading Hello Sushi And Sake Lovers!

Thought Tools

Foreword by Stan Lerner: Many  years ago I had the great opportunity to learn with Rabbi Daniel Lapen who is one of the greatest thinkers of our time. His move from California to Washington State in many ways left an empty desert where a sea of knowledge had flourished. Now because of the internet and blogs like downtownster the sea of knowledge has returned to our dry land.  

 Finger Pointing 101

Have you ever been put down by a silent sneer?  Have you ever sensed harsh criticism in nothing more than a raised eyebrow?  Have you ever felt your value as a person, as a friend, or as a relative minimized by someone finding fault in you or dismissing an achievement of yours as insignificant?  

Weve all been hurt by insults and criticism.  Now, how about the other way around?  Do you find too much fault with others?  Do your children fear telling you of their activities and their thoughts?  Are you far more lavish with criticism than praise?

If so, though you may be unaware, your friends, family, and co-workers may subconsciously avoid having to spend more time with you than they absolutely must.

If so, you are dogged by invisible forces that impede your progress.  They place barriers in your way and suck the joy out of your existence.  When life is good, it is often because you are surrounded by individuals who like you and want things to go well for you.  They place opportunities in your way, they introduce you to people you should meet, and they correct false impressions about you.  All of this takes place beyond your awareness.

However when the individuals who populate the broader reaches of your life view you as constantly critical, they may respect you, they may love you but they feel less comfortable with you.  Naturally, they do not go out of their way to help you.

Though they may not do anything actually to hurt you, merely the absence of their active support translates into hidden specters that obstruct much of what you seek in life.  The good news is that you can change this. Continue reading Thought Tools

LOVE ‘N DANCING

Yes, folks.  There are other films opening this week besides STAR TREK.  And while they may be overshadowed by the legends of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the U.S.S. Enterprise, they are equally deserving of attention, if not moreso.  And while other films may not beam their way into your heart at warp speed, there is one that dazzles, sparkles, sashays, hops, lindies and swings its way in – LOVE ‘N DANCING.

Continue reading LOVE ‘N DANCING

Houston Blasts Off

I checked the twitter status again. NBA now streams the league’s latest scores through twitter. It’s a whole new world, folks. But that’s not the source of my disbelief. I check the stream again.

I rub my eyes like a sleepy toddler in a later showing of Monsters versus Aliens.
Wow. This is really happening.  
Although I couldn’t watch the game live (due to work commitments), I could envision the Lakers shaking their heads. I could imagine Houston’s Ron Artest back-stepping down the court, nodding his head and smirking.
When I watched the game in replay, the apparitions were confirmed. Disgusting. Continue reading Houston Blasts Off

Mistress of the MUST

When I’m not holed up in my loft, battering the keyboard of my Macbook like a diligent young writer, you can usually find me at my local haunt. Sometimes with a glass of wine, sometimes with a fluffernutter sandwich.

My neighborhood bar downtown happens to be the Must. Which is a more successful resident of the space previously known as…whatever good intentioned restaurant venture failed before it. I can’t remember the name, sorry. I heard they served Americanized tacos?? I can’t imagine why they closed…

Anyway, the Must opened its doors and is here to stay. This is why I think so:

They have a secret art gallery corridor behind the main dining room that features local talent. The wide range of food, beer, and wine selections bear the marks of a selective palate. Humboldt Fog grilled cheese sandwiches, Continue reading Mistress of the MUST

ROY’S — STARING ROY YAMAGUCHI AS HIMSELF

Over the past few years, since Roy’s opened Downtown at 8th and Figueroa, I’d guess I’ve eaten there around two hundred times. The sheer size of this number could lead one to believe that Roy’s is somehow commonplace—it’s not. I love food, I could have eaten anywhere, Roy’s is simply that good. And I should point out here that while Roy’s is a chain each Roy’s does offer dishes that are unique to each and every location—so consider this a story about Roy’s Downtown and Roy’s Downtown only.

            The story of Roy’s Downtown requires Roy’s to be considered, like Staples Center and The Standard Hotel before it and Ralphs Market and Bottega Louie after it, to be a game changer. I came to the story early on. Literally, when the space was under construction and I ran into Leslie Kaden who was working out of a temporary construction office (Now a private dining room) in the back of the space. Leslie as I recall was in charge of something to do with wine and what not. Frankly, what I recall with greater clarity was how nice she was. And after running into her a few more times she invited me into the office of humble beginnings to meet the rest of the management team responsible for opening Roy’s Downtown.

            It’s funny now to think back—how serious Matty was in those days. Matty, is the managing partner of Roy’s Downtown. Sharply dressed with a ponytail and a history with Roy Yamaguchi, the founder of Roy’s, that dates back almost twenty years, impressive under any circumstance, but particularly impressive given Matty looks all of thirty-years-old. I remember asking him something to the effect, “What, did you start working for Roy when you were ten or something?” He laughed and probably wondered why there was a writer hanging out in his construction office. I was writing a little 620 page novel titled “Stan Lerner’s Criminal” back then.

Well, Roy’s opened and became one of the most successful restaurants in our city and probably the country for that matter. My novel came out, earned rave reviews and won the Grand Prize at the Hollywood Book Festival. And Matty got used to me always being around—and eating most of the time. But more than this intersection of restaurant, restaurateur, and novelist is the sum. By sum I mean that Roy’s, Matty, and your humble writer along with tens of thousands of others became part of a community, which blessedly is greater than the sum of its parts. So, with our story now firmly standing on a foundation of a vibrant and successful community the extraordinary can now take place.

I stopped in one afternoon a few weeks ago at the DCBID’s Marketing Round Table Event—several restaurants were represented, I of course was there on behalf of downtownster. I should mention here that if you own or operate a business in Downtown and you’re not involved with DCBID and going to its’ events you’re absolutely missing out on opportunities to grow your business and meet some very good people. After the formal part of the Round Table I was chatting it up with a few of the cool people in attendance—including Aya from Roy’s.

“I’ve been wanting to do a story on Roy’s, I’ve just been waiting for something out of the ordinary to write about,” I said.

“How about May Day? We’re having a party and Roy himself is going to be there.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“And there’ll be hula girls dancing—“

“Put me down for two. I’ll be there for sure.”

Later, it struck me that Roy’s was the only restaurant I knew of doing something for this pre-Christian Holiday. I know most people think of May Day as being a Celtic celebration of the weather turning nice. But the first May Day was actually celebrated in Rome. It celebrated the Goddess Flora the Goddess of flowers and to this day it is a tradition to give flowers on May Day. So with a bit of reflection and the help of a poet you can see how this caught on in Hawaii.  

In Hawaii, May Day is also known as Lei Day, and is normally set aside as a day to celebrate island culture in general and native Hawaiian culture in particular. Continue reading ROY’S — STARING ROY YAMAGUCHI AS HIMSELF

Dodging Losses Right and Left

“How (explicative) good are the Dodgers?” my buddy Nick remarks.

“Real (explicative) good,” I chuckle. “So damn good, I’m going to include that little quote of yours in my next blog.”

They are that good. And to think, I could be sitting here, taking the time to write about the epic contest that was Pacquiao – Hatton. Wait a minute. I really could not.

Did you catch it? The fight? The scrappy Patton versus the skilled and primed, able-to-go southpaw and work the angles Pacquiao? Continue reading Dodging Losses Right and Left