This Father’s Day, DTLA has more to offer DAD (young and old) than ever before. By the time you’re done lavishing dad with gifts from prestigious club memberships to top of the line products and services, your dad will thank you for being the absolute best gift the cosmos could have sent him. Here’s Downtown Weekly’s list 10 Great Places to For Father’s Day and the Gifts That Go With Them.
ONE. Donuts For Dad!
The first-ever DTLA Donut Festival is coming to Union Station Father’s Day Weekend. This momentously mouthwatering event will showcase donuts in all their magnificent glory. Take a stroll with dad through The Whole Donut Marketplace, a baker’s dozen of donut vendors from LA’s old-school cult favorites to trendy “fashion-forward” donuts from celebrity pastry chefs. Even Hollywood cult favorite turn donut master Danny Trejo will be adding his original recipes in plain, glazed, and filled; traditional and (of course) donut holes. www.unionstationla.com
Gift to Go with It: Sinners and Saints Dessert Shop
DTLA just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter! When it comes to desserts, we are FLOSS’n! But not all of us live on the wild side capable of digesting the sinful treats. Some of us prefer our sweets gluten free. Now, thanks to Sinners and Saints Dessert Shop, dad can enjoy cupcakes, tarts, puddings, pecan bars, cream puffs, cakes and pies, all gluten-free. Visit Corporation Food Hall at 724 S. Spring and order a gift box of desserts for dad, that taste just heavenly. www.sinnersandsaints.com
TWO. Preux & Proper
What do dads, signature cocktails and Southern hospitality have in common? If you said JUJU give yourself an oyster. Better yet, treat your dad to a dozen, or maybe some steak, pork chops, rabbit, crustaceans and jambalaya! Celebrate dad with DTLA’s most entertaining dining experience and instantly transport yourself to the French Quarter at Preux and Proper. With exposed brick, iron rods, burning oil lamps, outside patio, and upper deck, P &P is a local favorite, just as famous for its fine dining, as it is for live jazz, brass bands and zydeco. Dad is going to love this experience and make this his favorite getaway for sure, and to remind him of just how much he loves a great steak, we recommend giving him the gift of a sharp knife, so he can definitely try this at home. www.preuxandproper.com
Gift to Go with It: Ross Cutlery
Owned and operated by brothers Richard and Allen Wattenberg since 1962, Ross Cutlery was recently passed down to daughter/apprentice Jennifer Wattenberg Velazquez. Jennifer now overseas their timeless selection of knives, scissors, barbering and hunting tools in the same tradition that allowed the shop to become a DTLA landmark. Known for supplying numerous kitchens, customers revisit often taking advantage of their signature sharpening and repair services. Ross Cutlery truly does offer the best quality knives from all over the world. Thanks to you, dad is gonna cut like a master, whether it be in the kitchen, in the mirror or on the hunt. www.rossculterly.com
THREE. A Relaxing Day at Desuar Spa
Long ago, in the time before a New Downtown would step into the light, Downtown saturated us with the speakeasy effect. Back then, the Downtown underground hospitality scene had attached itself to rooftops, warehouses, in private lofts or beneath the surface of the earth. With the New Downtown came that same allure, but this time it would include not only bars and nightclubs but other types of hidden gems like sublevel basement sanctuaries like Desuar Spa. Bring dad and his muscle and skin ailments to Desuar Spa. Desuar specializes in Swedish and deep tissue massage. Dad can say goodbye to chronic aches and pains and enjoy a scalp massage, reflexology, and aromatherapy in any of the spa which eight rooms including a room that lets dad soak and sip, while he sits back and relaxes inside a deep brass tub. www.spadesuar.com
Gift to Go with It: Relaxation in style with Recliners.LA
Speaking of sitting back and relaxing. Recliner LA is open on 9th and Olive. Along with the motto “you design it, we build it”, their innovative selections make the process of buying a recliner or sofa interactive and enjoyable. With showrooms in Santa Monica, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Costa Mesa and DTLA, the company can boast they have the largest selection of styles, sizes, fabrics, legs, recliners and sofa beds in all the land. These aren’t your old grandpappies recliners either, Recliner LA’s relaxation mechanisms are built to last and bold in color and design. These are modernized personal relaxation hubs that fit anywhere; the office, the den, patio or bedroom. www.recliners.la
Great Gift: LOFTWAY
Speaking of bedrooms… Close your eyes! Okay…now open them! When your dad opens his eyes and realizes he’s sitting in his new recliner in his new home, you’ll have the proudest dad in the DT. Yeah, dad needs a loft. LOFTWAY is a full-service Real Estate brokerage founded by Christiano Sampaio on the principles of customization and personal service and has been catering to LOFT dwellers since 2003. Since LOFTWAY has moved away from the model of the mammoth real estate company by being light and fast and able to move with the market and adapt to its ever-changing environment without missing a beat. Dad will join the ranks of hundreds of happy clients who have keys to their new homes thanks to their expertise. www.loftway.com
FOUR: Celebrate with LA BULLA
Let’s get ready to ruummmmble…. La Plaza De Cultura y Artes will host The 4th Annual “La Bulla”, A Lucha Libre Experience on Saturday, June 16. In the spirit of Lucha Libre the celebration will feature activities including an art exhibit showcasing the talents of over 100 various artists. One of a kind Lucha Libre art themed pieces will be up for sale alongside a live art competition; fashion show, vendors, photography exhibit; movie screenings and two stages of entertainment. Drinks and music abound, dad will have the best time with or without a mask. www.lapca.org
Gift to Go with It: Membership at Rise Athletics
Should your dad yearn for more wrestling excitement or just love a great workout, may we suggest a membership to Rise Athletics? Rise Athletics is “Downtown for Workout“… it’s as mean as these streets located behind a caged door that hides the concrete stairs leading you down to their basement gym with plenty of space for one on one contact. If dad was ever too strict, here’s your chance to show him who much you appreciated those childhood moments – in the ring. Rise Athletics offers boxing and martial arts training within the cage, on the mat, in the boxing ring, or puts you up against an army of punching bags. This is where real boxers train without the glamour or the shine. Sweat and determination decorate this gym. From one on one sessions to Crossfit, Rise Athletics offers it all. They even host DTLAs only cryospa add-on (Downtown CryoSpa) to help relieve dad from any pain acquired from your boxing match. Cryotherapy can also help him get a better night’s rest and slow the effects of aging. www.riseathleticsla.com
FIVE: Daphne of the Dunes at REDCAT
This weekend, Grammy aware winning Partch presents a new world premiere of music and ecclectic choreography to REDCAT. Partch’s dance-drama Daphne of the Dunes, and his ever-popular Barstow feature music by Ben Johnston’s exquisite String Quartet #9. Keep in mind, this type of theater involves free form expression, keeping your nerves on edge. If you feel the need to giggle out of nervousness as barefoot grownups writhe to the sounds of the symphony, don’t! Save your giggles for later, we know just the place. www.redcat.org
Gift to Go with It: Dinner & Comedy at UNCABERET at Au LAC
UnCabaret is DTLAs legendary venue for wildly fun, idiosyncratic, conversational comedy, now celebrating its 25th year. This is a place to let it all out as comedy luminaries and their musical muses perform live every Sunday at Au Lac. Here’s an intimate night of story-based comedy inside of one of LAs longest-running shows that dad will remember forever. Just up the road from REDCAT, Au Lac is across the street from Walt Disney Hall. They also serve a full menu of vegan cuisine with a full bar with organic choices plus kombucha on tap and various coconut and other healthy green drinks. www.aulac.com
SIX: FIFA World Cup Meets LA Beer Week
There’s just something about a worldwide competition that makes you wanna represent! Well done FIFA, this year you’ve landed smack dab in the middle of LA Beer Week. If you and dad love a hearty hop variety like we know you do, you’ll want to spend Father’s Day watch the games and relate over a few brews. Expect a bit of rowdy in DTLA as the bars fill up this weekend but rest assured there are still cozy hideaways that remind us of hearth and the heart stone. Treat dad to Stocking Frame, DTLA’s favorite little cabin in the woods where you two can watch the games, remanence and soak up the suds with hearty American comfort foods including DTLA’s Weekly’s Burger World Cup 2017 Winner, the Gold Foil Burger. www.thestockingframe.com
SEVEN: LA Athletic Club
All exclusive memberships to Downtown’s most prestigious clubs always make for cherished gifts. Private membershipclubs boast generations of members, leaders in business, industry, and government and are often located in landmark structures accentuated with meticulously maintained fine antiques, handcrafted furniture and rich imported fabrics which speak to their grace and elegance.For more than 125 years, The Los Angeles Athletic Club has remained dedicated to task offering state-of-the-art athletic and spa facilities, award-winning restaurants, bars, luxury conference rooms, and hotel amenities perfect for dad as he enjoys his “home away from home”.
Gift to Go with It: The LA Athletic Club has completed over 2 years of renovations including a hidden Blue Room bar, and new male and female spa facilities making Father’s Day at LA Athletic Club a great place to celebrate and a great gift as well. www.laac.com
EIGHT: Celebrate with Sunday Grooves at FIGat7th
DTLA loves a great shopping experience. Thanks to Brookfield and its artistic grandson, Arts Brookfield, Figat7th has it all. Best of all its a one-stop shop for entertaining, feeding and finding the perfect gift for dad. From sporting goods to slacks DTLA can shop Figat7th for well-known brands while enjoying live music, guest djs, film, theater, and rotating art exhibits from world-class talents all year round.
Gift to Go with It: Anything from Nordstrom’s Rack, Zara, or even maybe a big screen from Target …It’s smack dead in the middle of the City and promises the best shopping experience you’ll ever have with validated parking and courtyard eateries, and fine dining just the right fit for us urban dwellers. www.figat7th.com
NINE: Smorgasburg at The Row
Remember that old dusty part of town that only fisherman and inspiring high school models dared to frequent? You know, DTLA’s vast Warehouse district, famous for its welcoming row of tents, fresh fish, produce and gigantic American Apparel outlet. Well, it’s gone. Although some remnants such as the produce and fish outlets still remain, the Warehouse District, like many of DTLA’s neighboring hoods is now polished so shiny it’s attracting thousands of new consumers each week. Dressed to impress and quiet in nature these new fans seek entertainment, food, retail and commercial real estate their businesses can call home. Leading the way in DTLA Warehouse renaissance is TheRow, which hit a growth spurt of hospitality in the last 2 years with a slew of new restaurants, retail outlets, and well-attended events. www.rowdtla.com
Gift to Go with It: Every Sunday, the Row greets the hungry minions of Smogasburg, allowing space under its huge oak tree for those who seek to empty their plates as they exit Smorgasburg, a cornucopia of culinary variety that also features indie artisans who just happen to offer one of a kind gifts. If dad loves music he’ll love browsing the many vintage record vendors of Beat Swap Meet, while the rest of Smorgasburg takes on the hordes. www.la.smorgasburg.com
TEN: A Day at the Museum
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition! The discovery of King Tut’s tomb is one of the greatest archeological finds in modern history. The wealth of knowledge gained from his life and death has renewed worldwide interest in the treasures Egypt has to offer. This Father’s Day, celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb at the California Science Center with the world premiere of KING TUT: TREASURES OF THE GOLDEN PHARAOH–the largest King Tut exhibition ever toured! Discover over 150 authentic artifacts from King Tut’s celebrated tomb–60 of which have never traveled outside of Egypt, until now.
Gift to Go with It: You may never be able to afford any of these priceless treasures (if you’re thinking about buying one of them for a gift for dad) or explain how King Tut looks so good for a 3,300-year-old mummy, but you can still use this joyful annual to treat dad like a king. www.californiasciencecenter.org
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