A car crashed through a Long Beach dining parklet late Wednesday night at Michaels on Naples. Though no one was hurt, the sidewalk extension in dining area was completely demolished.

As reported by the Long Beach Post (where you can see a surveillance photo of the damage), a witness saw a driver crash his white sedan while speed racing on the wrong side of the road at 11:20 p.m. The impact was so severe that the car flipped on its side in front of the Belmont Shore restaurant. Restaurant owner Michael Dene alleges the driver fled in a second vehicle before police arrived. Long Beach Police report the driver also struck city-designated barricades.

These temporary parklet dining areas are popping up throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles. Since indoor dining is still restricted in LA County, parklets provide restaurants with much-needed outdoor seating to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In other news:

The Los Angeles Times published a thoughtful explainer on ghost kitchens, its expanding presence during COVID-19, and how Los Angeles is now the national epicenter for this billion dollar side of the restaurant industry.

The Gold Coast, West Hollywoods 39-year-old bar, became the fourth LGBTQ bar to close due to COVID-19, according to WeHoTimes. Over the last two months, Gym Bar, Flaming Saddles, and Rage announced closings. All bars were prominent spots in Boystown on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Santa Barbaras Paradise Cafe announced it will close permanently. The 37-year-old restaurant closed in March and never reopened. Acme Hospitality group announced the closure via email, and noted that a future restaurant is in the works.

Restaurant reservation app Resy is hosting a drive-thru experience on October 15 through 16 with 10 participating chefs and restaurants. The Resy Drive Thru will transform the Hollywood Palladium into a maze where diners can eat a 10-course meal in the comfort of a car at designated stops. Its a steady bunch of LA players with Alta Adamss Keith Corbin, Nightshades Mei Lin, Curtis Stone, Jon & Vinnys, Trap Kitchen, and Nyesha Arrington and others. Tickets are $95 per person on Resy.com/DriveThru. Tickets go on sale September 30.

Hermosa Beachs MOSA Coastal re-opened with a new completely revamped menu. Chef Ray Martin transformed the former seafood and pasta house into one that features chilaquiles, fish and chips, and skirt steak with chimichurri.

Alta Adams announced a fall friends dinner series every Monday. Chef Keith Corbin prepped a four-course vegan dinner last Monday. On September 28, visiting chef Dominique Crenn will produce a $195 five-course menu. The ticket price includes a signed copy of Crenns book Rebel Chef: In Search Of What Matters. Book reservations on Resy.

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Driver Racing Crashes Into And Demolishes Long Beach Restaurant Parklet - Eater LA