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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
There's a Mini-Vegas in Downtown L.A. You Didn't Know About—Here's a Look Inside
Los Angeles is certainly not short of nightlife hotspots, but taking a weekend trip to Las Vegas to live it up at clubs, restaurants, and casinos is something of a rite of passage for most Angelenos. However, there's a place in downtown L.A. that offers a Sin City experience without the six-hour car ride: Level 8. Level 8 is located on the eighth floor of the 37-story building that houses the Moxy Downtown Los Angeles and the AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. It's in downtown L.A., just across the street from both the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Arena. Needless to say, Downtown L.A. has gotten a bad rap in recent years, but this particular pocket of the neighborhood is quiet and laidback, with attractions like the Grammy Museum and dining options like the Taiwanese casual eatery, Pine & Crane DTLA, in easy walking distance. Between the Moxy and the AC Hotel, there are a whopping 727 rooms. But despite sharing the same building, there are some striking differences between the two Yabu Pushelberg-designed properties. The Moxy is Marriott's playful, design-forward, yet affordable lifestyle brand. The design of this particular Moxy is inspired by the 1969 motorcycle flick 'Easy Rider' and the rebellious, artistic past of the Southern Californian desert. During their stay, guests can spot things like sandstone sculptures, rope art, and a motorcycle in the lobby as well as things like rope art, succulent planters, and cheeky alien wallpaper throughout the rest of the space. Rooms here start around 185 square feet, and while they are on the small side, they make use of every inch of space with underbed storage and a creative, minimalist clothes hanger that does double duty as a TV stand. 'Basically, the thought process was that we would make a deal with the traveler,' says Mitchell Hochberg, president of The Lightstone Group, the development company behind the Moxy and AC Hotel in downtown L.A., as well as the Moxys in New York City. 'We would give you an affordable rate, and in return, you would sacrifice something in size because the room would be smaller. But, it would be highly appointed with great design, and we would give you very activated public spaces.' During my time at the Moxy, I stayed in a corner room with a king-size bed and loved watching the traffic of the city pass me by from the comfort of my bed through floor-to-ceiling windows. It was also fun to find all the 'Easy Rider'–inspired details that were peppered throughout the room: there were motorcycle handlebars mounted on the wall as if they were a game trophy, hobo signs (a written language used among drifters to communicate with one another on the road) painted throughout the space, and shimmering gold tiles near the bathroom that were meant to evoke the Southern Californian sunset. Its sibling hotel, the AC, is just steps away from the Moxy, but the vibe couldn't be more different. While the lobby of the Moxy is located on the bottom floor of the building, you'll need to ride the elevator up 34 stories to reach the AC's 'sky lobby." Hochberg likes to imagine both hotels' personalities as people. "Let's think of that nomad, that countercultural person [from the Moxy]," Hochberg says. "They've now grown up, right? 'He,' who's the guy from 'Easy Rider,' is really now a 'she,' because the AC is a bit more feminine. She paints, she sculpts. She's decided to slow down a bit." The Mediterranean-esque, artsy ambiance is palpable as soon as you step foot in the lobby, with abstract paintings and textile art on the walls, Dr. Seuss-like succulents branching toward the ceiling from terracotta pots, and a large, homey wooden table in the center of it all. The rates here are, on average, about $20 to $30 more than the Moxy, but you get slightly larger rooms (they start at around 225 square feet) and things like a couch and desk area, for those who like to work from hotel. Whatever accommodations you choose, the real appeal of staying at either the Moxy or the AC Hotel is that it puts you just a stone's throw from Level 8. 'Food and beverage, we feel, is critical to this overall experience of experiential travel,' says Hochberg. The self-described 'multi-dimensional dining, drinking, and entertainment concept' clocks in at a whopping 30,000 square feet and is home to eight different venues set in a labyrinthian layout. The show-stopping shebang was dreamed up by Hochberg in collaboration with Mark and Jonnie Houston of Houston Hospitality, who are behind Hollywood bars like Madame Siam and Dirty Laundry. Even though I stayed here two nights (one night at the Moxy and AC Hotel, respectively), I didn't have enough time to experience every restaurant here. There's Qué Bárbaro, where you can watch your meal—think pork chops, hanger steaks, and prime cuts of wagyu—grilled over open flames. Lucky Mizu, with its charming wall of smiling maneki-neko, specializes in Japanese shabu shabu and sushi. Maison Kasai takes a decidedly Vegas-style spin on the traditional teppanyaki experience—throughout your meal, you'll see magicians from L.A.'s legendary Magic Castle flitting from table to table as they perform sleight of hand card tricks. However, out of all the dining experiences available, I was perhaps most taken by Mother of Pearl, the al fresco seafood-focused eatery helmed by chef Joshua Gil, who was the chef de cuisine at the erstwhile Michelin-starred Joe's Restaurant in Venice. While there are things like caviar bumps and ceviche on the menu, I recommend springing for one of the oh-so Instagrammable seafood towers. Pro-tip: this is a great place for a date night—if there's a better place to experience golden hour over a dozen oysters in downtown L.A., I've yet to find it. Many people do come to Level 8 to indulge in the restaurants, but make no mistake, this is a nightlife venue, and an expertly designed one at that. Being able to move from bar to bar without having to cross a street or order a car is a major bonus for a night out in Downtown L.A. As the sun begins to set, head to the rooftop pool bar Golden Hour, where you can show off your moves at DJ-led dance parties that go long into the wee hours of the night. Then move on to the entertainment venue Mr. Wanderlust, where you'll find a rotating piano stage, live bands, burlesque shows, and an aerialist who performs out front. However, the most unique offering here is arguably Sinners y Santos. The idea here is that the bar was an 'abandoned 19th-century cathedral that has been converted into a clandestine wrestling theater.' To me, it's worth the trip up to Level 8 just to see the edgy, cathedral-inspired decor—i.e. the pipe organ DJ booth, votive candles, and tin ceiling—but make sure to stick around until midnight, when a wrestling ring drops from the ceiling over the bar, and masked luchadores wrestle amid scantily clad bottle girls. Finish the night off with a Californian-style burrito (which means they're stuffed with French fries) from the L.A. taco truck-inspired Brown Sheep, which serves things like quesabirria tacos. In the morning, after all the festivities are over, grab a coffee from Bluestone Lane, conveniently located on the bottom floor of the building in the Moxy. Though you may need several days to get a taste of all that Level 8 has to offer, one thing is for certain: a night here is nothing if not memorable—and fun. "I honestly believe this does not exist anywhere else in the world, " Hochberg says. "There's nothing like it. It's a journey."
Time Out
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Out
These Downtown L.A. area restaurants are closing early due to the nightly curfew
Since last Friday, much of L.A. has been in uproar over widespread immigration raids, with many Angelenos taking to the streets to protest and others still turning to grassroots organizations to make an impact through donations, grocery drop-offs, reporting suspected ICE activity and other mutual aid efforts. In the city's hospitality industry, where a sizable portion of the workforce is made up of immigrants, restaurants and bars have been preparing for the possibility of ICE raids. Now, with the nightly curfew Mayor Karen Bass imposed on greater Downtown L.A. last night, restaurants, bars and other businesses in the area have been forced to adjust their hours, with some closing entirely out of an abundance of caution, either due to the ongoing raids or due to the possibility of civil unrest. Others, aware of confirmed ICE activity in the area, have opted to close their doors temporarily to protect immigrant communities. It's important not to underestimate the gravity of these business decisions; between the wildfires and the lingering impacts of the slowdown in the entertainment industry, many places in L.A. have already been quietly struggling with fewer guests. In alphabetical order, here is a confirmed list of restaurants, bars and other food-related businesses in and around the nightly curfew zone—which includes Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and parts of Boyle Heights—which have either closed or announced curtailed hours to allow workers and guests to get home safely, without police interference. When applicable, I've included any statements related to the closures and truncated hours. Downtown L.A. area eateries with confirmed schedule changes View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lasita (@ Camélia — closing 'early' (check Instagram for further updates) De La Nonna — closing at 8pm DS Night Market — closed for the weekend of June 13 to 15 Grand Central Market — closing at 7:30pm Holbox (outside the curfew zone) — closing at 7pm Holy Basil DTLA — closing at 7pm, Atwater Village location open regular hours Hop Woo —closing at 8pm Lasita — temporarily closed as of Tuesday, June 10 (check Instagram for further updates) "Out of an abundance of caution, we've made the difficult decision to close our doors tonight due to the ICE raids happening near the restaurant. Closing up shop today wasn't what we anticipated, but the safety of our team, our guests and our community comes first. We are actively taking steps to ensure a safe environment before reopening and will keep you updated with any changes." Level 8 — all restaurants and bars closed on Wednesday, June 11 "Out of respect for our Los Angeles community and in light of recent events unfolding across the city, Level 8 will be closed tomorrow. The safety and well-being of our staff and guests is always our top priority. We're taking this step out of an abundance of caution and solidarity during this time." Philippe the Original — closing at 7pm Pizzeria Bianco — closing at 8pm Temaki Society — closing at 7pm Sonoratown DTLA — closing at 6pm Downtown L.A. area bars affected Arts District Brewing Co — closed due to area curfew Bar CDMX — closed due to area curfew Bar Jackalope — closed due to area curfew Everson Royce Bar — closing early Death & Co – closed through Sunday, June 15 (unless curfew lifts earlier) Golden Gopher — closed due to area curfew Level 8 — all restaurants and bars closed on Wednesday, June 11
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Murdered 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's last film to premiere at festival year after his death
One year after beloved "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor was murdered in downtown Los Angeles after a work shift, his final film is set to premiere at the upcoming 2025 Dances with Films Festival. Wactor, 37, was shot and killed on May 25, 2024, when police said he was "confronted by three individuals" who had his car "raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter." The actor's final work was filmed in 2022, according to FOX 11, but is now about to hit the big screen. Friends and family of Wactor confirmed to the outlet that the film, "Ciao, Mama," will premiere at L.A.'s Dances with Films Festival on June 24 at TCL Cinemas in Hollywood. "It's really important to me, and his family, that his legacy lives on for the incredible things he brought to the world," fellow actor and friend, Micah Joe Parker, told FOX 11. Parker described the movie to the outlet, saying it was about family, friendship and love, something he believes is directly correlated with his late best friend's life. Wactor was working at Level 8, a rooftop bar, and was leaving work with his co-worker, Anita Joy, in the early hours of May 25 last year when the fatal altercation took place. In a previous interview with the Daily Mail, Joy said staff had been complaining for months over the lack of parking available to them but that their concerns were brushed off. According to Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, her son had protected Joy in his final moments of life. "They were walking to their car, and when they get there, Johnny's car, which was parked in front of the co-worker's, looked like it was jacked to one side, and from what I understand, he said, 'Hey, man, you towing my car?'… And the person looked up and had a mask, and so then I guess he knew they weren't doing that, and so he stepped in front of the co-worker and then backed up and put his hands up or both, and the person shot him," Scarlett Wactor previously told Fox News Digital. "He had no problem stepping into the fray," Parker echoed. "It's how he went out from this world, stepping in front of his friend to take a bullet. [When that happened] I said, I'll take the swings and arrows for him now." Days following the murder, Joy shared harrowing details about the events that led to his death on her Instagram page. "I've needed to take some time to collect myself and my thoughts. I was with Johnny in his last moments, and I'm here to be his voice after such unimaginable events," she wrote. "He was killed senselessly by a coward who reacted without care of the gorgeous life he was taking," she wrote in her post. "I'm angry, I'm sad, and I'm all the feelings at once, but above all, I am here for Johnny's justice." Nearly three months after Wactor's murder, police arrested four suspected Florencia 13 gang members in connection with his slaying. "Johnny was a victim," said Parker. "He was a victim of this crime, but he lived his life as anything but a victim. He was a doer. He was a dreamer. So, that's where we're turning the page now." Wactor got his start on television in the series "Army Wives" before appearing in other shows like "Animal Kingdom," "Criminal Minds" and "Westworld." He was best known for his role as Brando Corbin in 164 episodes of "General Hospital" from 2020 to 2022. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
