dylan at royal claytons: his first english pub

we met up with friends last night at royal claytons, in the nitty-gritty artists lofts district just to the east of downtown's little tokyo for vivian's birthday. the pub, in a brick warehouse setting, is in the toy lofts building---the area is both burgeoning hot spot and former homeless alley while the pub is a glorified pool hall for the downtown set with okay pub grub. dylan had a chance to say hi to his new baby friends klee and eden before he pooped out -- so he couldn't stay to try the menu items--bangers and mash, bubble and squeak, fish and chips. worth another visit? the wait staff even brought out a high chair for dylan, while all his uncles and aunties cooed, bounced, and jostled him about, like we were in a dylan mosh pit. rock on, dylan!

From october 2008

dylan wants the bubble and squeak!

From october 2008

ina, gregory, emily, heseon and pumpkin head.

Royal Claytons
1855 Industrial St
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 622-0512
www.royalclaytonstavern.com

palin-trash-talkin' in silver lake

From october 2008

winner of the coolest obama shirt! min's been EXPANDING her political views for obama. picture taken at local in silver lake. dylan sports a very eco-friendly bum genius diaper. take that, you liberal media elite.

we met up with fellow obama-ites min and john in silver lake for a political pow-wow and dinner at a new eatery, local, in silver lake---which means while we put down republican candidates sarah palin and john mccain with food in our mouths, and expounded on the last presidential debate, we chowed down on locally grown vittles--at local, the chicken, pork, greens, cheese on the menu are all locally grown and sourced. who knew that someone could grow a chicken so tasty, with such little bones, so tender and succulent, in the silver lake area? wow! who knew that the pulled pork on john's plate came from a little pig, that grew up right here in urban los angeles? i didn't say local was a vegan place, but their small menu was excellent, i can't recommend it enough. dylan helped us toast each other's company and helped us make friends with the local crowd, and even made a little friend with another baby diner, as is dylan's sunny personality's want. we finished off with a caramelized peach dessert that was the white flag of surrender to yumminess. ha!

From october 2008

min's jersey wins for the coolest obama 08 shirt, hands down.

From october 2008

dylan wants more peaches, not pundits, and no politicos. just peaches, thank you, local.

From october 2008

we'll definitely be back to local!

Local
2943 W. Sunset Blvd., between Parkman Avenue and Hamilton Way, Silver Lake
323-662-4740
BABY FRIENDLY: 2 STARS
GOOD: organic food, good for baby. life-size mannequin in restroom, not good for baby. a bit scary, really.

brunch: casa arigato, south redondo

while we had salmon omelettes at the improbably named casa arigato by the beach in the hollywood riviera (south redondo beach), dylan had baby yogurt. dylan is growing up (sniff, sniff!). i do declare when we play with him, this has to be the cutest time in a baby's life. he is always happy, always up for a show, to play, to smile, to learn--and to eat. here he is, at a little over nine months, climbing on top of the tables.
while casa arigato had extremely friendly servers, this sunny cafe steps from the beach had a small breakfast menu--but tasty, healthy, veggie-based, fresh. they brought out a baby bowl, spoon, and a cup of water with a straw, which was a nice touch. it's nice to go somewhere where they're making dylan feel at home, even helping to pick up the plastic thomas the tank engine bowl that dylan kept throwing onto the floor. we'll be back, casa arigato!

Casa Arigato
215 Avenue I # 101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 316-8988‎
BABY FRIENDLY: 4 STARS
high chair, nice wait staff, baby bowl, water.