Jessica Koslow

Within walking distance to Dave Harper’s new Aussie/SoCal-inspired Bower Surf Club are not one, two or three but at least five schools: Village School,New Roads, Little Dolphins, Hill & Dale andWestside Waldorf Elementary and Middle School. That is a lot of parents and caregivers dropping off and picking up their little ones who need a lot of coffee and possibly a cheddar scallion biscuit. As of September 10, when it opened its doors, this is exactly what the Colorado Avenue café in Santa Monica is offering its guests.

 “Other than Subway, there’s not too much to servicethem, not many cool, aesthetically pleasing restaurants,” said Harper. “I would like to be a breath of freshair in the day of the mum who’s dropping off their kid after a stressful morning, the office worker who wants their morning coffee ritual or needs something for lunch that’s affordable, or someone who wants to have a happy hour drink after work. People in corporate areas are used to that coming with a pretty underwhelmingaesthetic.”

Bower Surf Club is located in a commercial space, Colorado Center, yet it is beautifully designed in white and natural colors and decorated with a variety of root burls, rocks, driftwood and plants from Harper’s personal collection. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf threw itself a 63rd birthday community. The prize wheel was spinning at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, cold brew samples were available and the brand’s official mascot Mr. Ice Blended was taking photos with fans and dancing along to the Power 106 DJ in the pop-up booth, who was raffling off fun prizes. Coffee Bean’s birthday festivities kicked off on Sept. 29, National Coffee Day, and will last all month long with exclusive collectibles and special offers.

Although competition is fierce in the coffee space, Coffee Bean is proud to be born and raised in LA. All of its coffee is roasted in Camarillo — and has been roasted locally since the brand launched in 1963. According to Dana Castaneda, Coffee Bean’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Herbert Hyman launched the company before coffee was as popular as it is today.

“We were the ones that started the movement of the ice blended and cold brew coffee,” Castaneda said. “There were a lot of things that we were doing ahead of most of our competition. What I love is we are deeply rooted in LA, and we’re a big part of the community.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

It is not every day someone gets the opportunity to eat on the 34th floor in LA But that is exactly where AC Bar & Bistro sits, overlooking Crypto.com Arena, LA Convention Center and the entire city. It is where diners can order a well-reviewed burger and then walk across the floor to La Lo La Rooftop for the same sweeping 360 views and a different menu: tapas and cocktails. These are just two of the 13 places to eat and drink inside the Moxy + AC Hotel located at 1260 South Figueroa Street.

The newest addition as of September is Wild Angels, a grab-and-go all-day cafe just off the Moxy lobby with an entrance on Figueroa Street. Formerly operated by Bluestone Lane, the property decided to assume operations in order to offer a wider range of options.

“It is exciting to get an opportunity to reopen the coffee shop as Wild Angels and tie into some of those hallmarks of Los Angeles: great cup of coffee, great breakfast sandwich, pastries,” said Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage Jason Johnston, who oversees the hotel’s four restaurants, catering and banquet events. “L.A. is a breakfast town.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.