Maria and I ducked out of the Grammys early (we had seen the performances we'd wanted to see, like the Police, Gnarls Barkley and Mary J. Blige) in order to hit the Warner Music Group after-party before the crowd crunch.
Indeed, when we arrived at the old St. Vibiana's Cathedral -- now just known as the Cathedral -- the place was just starting to get hopping. And because Maria was a nominee, we were immediately shuttled inside -- no waiting! Indeed, being nominated has its privileges.
Once inside, we marveled at the restoration of what was once the center of the L.A. Archdiocese. Can you believe the church wanted to tear down St. Vibiana's?! Thankfully, the L.A. Conservancy stepped in and the building was saved. There's no doubt what this building once was -- above, check out the confessionals.
More views from inside the Warner Music Group party. Among notables spotted in the crowd: Scarlett Johansson, Dangermouse from Gnarls Barkley and Quentin Tarantino.
The event also included a gospel choir (above, sticking with the Cathedral theme, natch) performing contemporary songs, including this year's nominated singles.
Food passed around included Kobe beef burgers, crab cakes, skirt steak with wasabi mashed potatoes, ahi tuna on rice crackers... and our favorite, above: Fried donuts covered in powdered sugar. Ohsogood.
It's not sacriligious if it's no longer a church. Above, I confess my sins.
And Maria does the same.
Some of the great details from St. Vibiana's is still there. I never got a chance to see it as a cathedral; the 1994 Northridge earthquake had shut the place down by the time I arrived in Los Angeles in 1996. Built in 1876, St. Vibiana's is surprisingly small -- but obviously perfectly fit the tiny Los Angeles of the time. The city had obviously outgrown the cathedral a century later. A compromise by the city swapped land near the 101 (now the home of the new Cathedral) in exchange for St. Vibiana's (which the Archdiocese was starting to tear down). Tom Gilmore now operates the site, which has been touted as a new community arts center. More details here.
The front of St. Vibiana's, as the Warner Music Group Grammy party begins.
[Updated with some corrections and new info.]
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