‘Naturally, There Will be Food Trucks’: Public Memorial for Jonathan Gold Set for Sunday in Downtown

[dropcap size=big]F[/dropcap]ans of the late Jonathan Gold will have a chance to remember the acclaimed writer Sunday at a public event hosted by Los Angeles Times staff writer Carolina A. Miranda.

Prior to the event, the city and Grand Central Market owners will unveil a "plaque and new historic light posts decorated in his honor" on the Broadway side of Grand Central Market.

Councilmember José Huizar introduced a motion this week for a Jonathan Gold Plaza memorial site to honor the Pulitzer-prize winning writer, who passed away in July at age 57.

In a statement, the city said it would also be unveiling other "permanent Gold-enhanced elements on historic light posts and, eventually, the sidewalk area will also highlight Jonathan Gold Plaza.”

Immediately following the unveiling, a free memorial festival will be held at Grand Park Performance lawn on Hill Street in downtown, where attendees will get an opportunity to eat, hear remembrances from friends and family, and watch previously unreleased footage from City of Gold, the documentary about his love of L.A. food, people, and culture.

Miranda will host a collectionof friends and family – including Gold’s younger brother Mark and KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman – who will speak about the many ways Gold touched their lives.

“This will function as a public service of sorts,” Mirandatold L.A. Taco. “It's an opportunity to celebrate a man who celebrated us. Naturally, there will be food trucks.” A private memorial was held last month at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

RELATED: One Chef's Day: What It Was like to Cater at Jonathan Gold's Family Farewell

Sunday's trucks at the event will start at 5:30 pm and include Gold favorites Carnitas El Momo and Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla.

The public remembrances will also include Providence chef Michael Cimarusti and Guelaguetza co-owner Bricia Lopez. That portion of the event will begin at 6:30 pm followed by the City of Gold footage at 7:30. Miranda said the event will highlight Gold's love for Los Angeles.

“I think what made Jonathan such an essential figure in Los Angeles is that, above, all, he understood and celebrated Los Angeles for what it was,” Miranda said. “Through food, he told stories about the city's music, art and architecture."

"And he told the story of the Los Angeles that most of us know: not the L.A. that's all show business, but the jumbled city of immigrants who hail from all over, and bring with them a world of traditions — from Iowa to Zacatecas to Sichuan.”

RELATED: 7 Classic Jonathan Gold Quotes About Los Angeles

WHO:  Carolina Miranda, LA Times; Councilmember José Huizar; Mark Gold (Jonathan’s brother and UCLA Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability); Adam Daneshgar, (Owner Grand Central Market); Evan Kleiman(KCRW “Good Food”); Laura Gabbert (Producer-Director “City of Gold”); Michael Cimarusti (Chef and Co-Owner of Providence); Bricia Lopez (Co-Proprietor at Guelaguetza); Sang Yoon (Chef and Proprietor of Lukshon); and Carl Stone (Composer).

WHAT: Monument Unveiling at Grand Central Market for Jonathan Gold followed by Public Tribute at Grand Park

WHEN: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 5:30 pm

WHERE:

Monument Unveiling – Grand Central Market 
317 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Public Festival – Grand Park Performance Lawn
201 N. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

[UPDATED, Aug. 25]