Bits and Pieces

:: Congrats to the Save the Derby folk, who successfully convinced the L.A. City Council to declare the building -- now home to the Derby nightclub and Louise's Trattoria, but once an outpost of famed Hollywood eatery chain the Brown Derby -- a Historic Cultural Monument.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge helped push for the council vote, which was unanimous (10-0). That means the building (at the corner of Hillhurst and Los Feliz) will be saved. But it's still not clear how property owners Adler Realty will preserve the building and still go forward with their condo plans, notes blogging.la:

In spite of the good news, the Derby's fate may not be entirely safe.

LaBonge's newsletter adds that Adler Realty, the present owners, will instead incorporate the current structure into its plan to create condos and retail spaces. However, its currently unclear if the Derby was granted Full Landmark designation that would keep the Derby 100% intact, instead of a recent compromise by the developers to only 30% of the Derby.

Somewhat foreboding is a quote from Adler Realty VP Richard Gablegiven to the Associated Press: "Our plans are to maintain the existing structure, or at least most of it."

:: Last chance today to register if you want to vote in the June primaries. Of course, given how lackluster both Steve Westly and Phil Angelides have performed so far, I'm sure you're not exactly chomping at the bit.

Still, the entirely unexciting choice between candidates to go up against Schwarzenegger in the fall shouldn't stop you from voting; pick up the form here. We'll talk candidates and Prop 82 in a few days here.

:: Westwood's Eurochow is history, reports Curbed L.A. (as well as Chowhound and L.A. Observed, among others).

L.A. Observed calls the late restaurant's home "arguably the most recognizable structure in Westwood Village":

The domed landmark where Westwood Boulevard, Kinross and Broxton intersect was built in the late 1920s as the headquarters of Janss Investment Company, developers of residential Westwood and Holmby Hills, UCLA and the "Mediterranean village" south of campus. (Allison and Allison, designers of UCLA and Wilshire Boulevard Temple, were the architects.) Under the dome at times have been a Bank of America branch that was a frequent target of student protests during the 1960s, Glendale Federal Savings, Wherehouse Records and I think a Contempo Casuals store.

I remember the building as an outpost of the Wherehouse record store; at least, that's what it was when I arrived to L.A. in 1996. I never ate at Eurochow, but have never been impressed with Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, so I can't say I feel like I missed anything.

:: Doesn't it seem like there's a wine bar opening every other week here in L.A.? I'm not complaining -- I love the trend.

But sheesh, L.A., couldn't you have discovered wine bars before Blogger Baby was born? We've been dying to try some (we love Vinoteca Farfalla, but need to expand our horizons) -- but it's not exactly the kind of place you want to take a little guy.

For now, we'll continue to live vicariously through other bloggers. Like Sha in LA, who writes about her recent visit to downtown's new 626 Reserve.

:: Seriously: Rain? In May? Hey, if it brings clear skies tomorrow -- and makes my yellowing lawn a tad more green -- I'm all for it. The rest of the week, however, looks sunny, with Wednesday particularly warm: