Downtown

Perch is a new rooftop bar and restaurant that's making downtown L.A. rethink the way it does night life. Unlike downtown's most famous rooftop bar — the ostentatious poolside lounge crowning the Standard Hotel — Perch doesn't have a pool or red Astroturf or gaggles of scantily clad partiers. It doesn't have a million-dollar lighting system or a make-believe speak-easy either. What Perch does have is a fine cocktail program, an impressive selection of French wines and spirits, a French-inspired dinner menu, panoramic views, live music and a palpable lack of pretension.

EVENTS Now in its 15th year, Pershing Square's "Downtown on Ice" continues to offer its geographically improbable wonders for holiday revelers and frustrated hockey enthusiasts of all types. The rink is even open on Thanksgiving for those looking for a way to burn off the turkey and stuffing for themselves or visiting family members. 532 S. Olive St., L.A. Daily through Jan. 21. $6 per hour, $2 skate rental. http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/.

After 10 years of running their brand online, Poketo designers Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan recently opened their first brick-and-mortar store in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District. The interior of the 4,000-square-foot store is clean, minimal and modern so that products, such as  Eric Trine's knockout chairs, above, can shine. “Poketo to us is about art and fun,” Vadakan said by phone from Comic-Con. “It's a very modern aesthetic.” On a recent afternoon, as the lunch crowd from Wurstküche spilled into Poketo's sunny space, shoppers browsed Poketo T-shirts, backpacks, fleece laptop covers, journals, sketch pads and limited-edition wallets by Tim Biskup , Japanese illustrator PCP and Matt Furie , among others.

Thousands of Angelenos turned out Sunday to enjoy the music and food offered up at the 24th annual Fiesta Broadway.  Many took advantage of picture-perfect weather to stroll the many food, craft and merchandise booths lining Broadway. A number of streets near City Hall are closed for the festival, which runs until 6 p.m. Broadway is closed from Temple to 4th Street; Spring Street from Temple to 1st Street; and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th streets between Spring and Hill streets. Road closures will be lifted before 5 a.m. Monday.    ALSO: Road closures begin for Fiesta Broadway in downtown L.A. Bellflower man dies after his car veers off Highway 91 in Cerritos Granada Hills wins third national Academic Decathlon competition carlos.lozano@latimes.com

Here is a lovely country-in-the-city walk, with delightful views, varied greenery and an unlikely hilltop lake - all within 15 minutes of downtown Los Angeles. The Stats Distance: 3.5 miles Duration: 1 hour Difficulty: 2.5 (on a scale of 1 to 5) Details: Park at Hermon Park off Via Marisol or take Metro bus No. 256. FOR THE RECORD: L.A. Walks: In an article in the Jan. 19 Saturday section detailing a hike at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, the "Stats" box gave an incorrect duration for the hike.

EVENTS Downtown on Ice, Los Angeles' answer to the ice rink at New York's Rockefeller Center, offers frosty holiday fun even on balmy evenings. Framed by skyscrapers and twinkling lights, the outdoor rink is a festive environment for skating, special exhibitions, concerts, games and more. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., L.A. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Skating session $6, skate rental $2. (213) 847-4970. http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare

The grand opening of a Target store in downtown Los Angeles - and the prospect of freebies for the first shoppers - dragged a crowd of locals out of bed Sunday morning. By 7:30 a.m., about 100 people - many clad in sweat pants and rubbing sleepy eyes - were lined up outside the front doors of the store, tucked into the Figat7th shopping center. Standing at the head of the line was Louis Salazar and his brother William, who had been waiting outside since 2 a.m. They were up early, anyway, to watch the space shuttle Endeavour on its way to Exposition Park.

Mediterranean, Brazilian, Mexican and more await you in downtown Los Angeles. And what's more, the area is wonderfully walkable. So put on some comfy shoes and spend an afternoon combing the colorful landscape. Tacos Tumbras a Tomas: Inside Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Stall A-5, (213) 620-1071, http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/vendors Sultan Chicken Restaurant: 311 W. 6th St., (213) 236-0604, http://www.sultanchicken.com Masis Armenian Sandwiches: 411 W. 7th St., 2nd Floor, (213)

Sandwiched between Los Angeles and Main streets off a tiny road called Winston, the new downtown L.A. club the Lash may be situated off an alley, but from there any sense of place starts feeling a little fuzzy. A glowing door in a wall painted with diagonal black-and-white strips leads to a small set of steps that take you to the club's main bar. Inside, walls made of smashed white subway tiles, modern modular furniture, off-kilter mirrors and bleacher seating create an oddly cold but inviting minimalist space.