Hey here’s a bar so old it’s new. Cause trees and disco are seventies cool. The subway line’s crammed, you say that’s fine. Downtown now, don’t have to stand in line. Get socialized, different is fun. Let’s start to encourage everyone. To ah satiate your thirst and stop. And avoid the, oh yeah life starts tomorrow trap, cause;
On Spring street is a straight up downtown bar called The Falls. It’s pretty and a little gritty, which suits as one of the proprietors is Michelle Marini of the late Lava Lounge. Food for thought, there are pizzas, appetizers and salads too not just drinks. So, if you haven’t stopped in here yet you may feel like a debutante in your first dance class, but we’re sure you’ll soon be able to hustle.
A protective yet friendly bouncer guards the door. Once you’re in, soak in the sexy yet laid back vibe. The room is small but spacious, earthy and glam. There are large booths off to the side that are fun for socializing with people you don’t know yet. Under the glow of chandeliers you can travel back in time to the 70’s and depending on what you’ve thrown down the hatch, you can see who you’re talking to. The tables are gilt tree trunks and this theme is mirrored in the walls which are lined with tree trunks of the un-gilt variety. Check out the sculpture of waterfalls behind the bar. It’s mesmerizing, and as you sit on your contoured wooden stool, relaxing.
Ok, now it’s time to put your liver to work. Take a look at the nice list of exclusive house cocktails. Worth a try is The Rustic, a blend of gin, grapefruit and agave over ice. Agave is good, agave and alcohol together are good. These cocktails are like smoothies but different. Everything on the menu seems worth a go. The price tag can seem a little costly at $13, but The Falls bar is not plying you with cheap booze. There’s no mixology here, but they use fresh ingredients making it a pretty good bang for the buck. If liquor’s not your thing man, don’t freak out. The Falls also has a balanced list of Wine and Beer. There are reds, whites and bubbles or get your groove on with one of the bottled or draft beers on tap.
The night wears on as the crowd at The Falls shifts. Early on it’s a young after work finance crew. And though the 70’s tunes are jamming in the background, the girls on the bar stools next to you might never have never heard of The Partridge Family or gasp David Cassidy or double gasp robin’s egg blue satin Shaun Cassidy jackets, zoinks girls, zoinks! What happened? Did you get trapped in a cave?
Spelunking jokes aside, give credit where credit is due. The financiers of tomorrow are a bunch of sophisticated drinkers who are pretty good at putting it away. Lucky for them the bartenders at The Falls are worthy opponents, lucky for us all said bartenders are happy to create custom cocktails. One lucky duck finance girl takes the plunge and orders a custom blend of Vodka Saint Germaine, mint and lime. It’s good; this fearless financier’s got taste and a good bartender in front of her. This cocktail might even make the Partridge Family forgive her the faux pas of not even knowing they exist. Later hipsters and locals roll in, a friendly though focused lot. But they know The Partridge Family or pretend to because they’re polite.
The Skinny: The Falls, Mon – Fri, 5pm – 2am, Sat – Sun 1pm – 2am
Where: 626 S Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90014. 213-612-0072
Who: You, Shawn Cassidy, maybe the Partridge Family
What: Signature cocktails $13, Beer $7-8, Wine varies, Food $ 6 -13
Why: Because you can hustle…
