Zócalo Public Square took over the grand ticket hall at Union Station Saturday night for its first fundraiser, featuring the LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold, who praised Zócalo as an essential L.A. institution, and sample tastes from Mozza (bufala and alici salad and the butterscotch budino dessert), Comme Ca (steak tartare sliders), Church & State (pig burgers) and a half-dozen other L.A. restaurants. Cocktail culture was the theme of the evening, and Gold's panel discussion included Downtown club impresario Cedd Moses, Providence chef Michael Cimarusti, Varnish bartender Eric Alperin and Vincenzo Marianella, head barman at Copa d'Oro. I spotted some local journalists (Dana Goodyear of The New Yorker, Nick Goldberg and Meghan Daum of the L.A. Times, Amy Wilentz, Laurie Ochoa, Oscar Garza), some bloggers (Mickey Kaus, Carolyn Kellogg, Ed Fuentes) and a mix of civic types and foodies. Zócalo founder Gregory Rodriguez seemed thrilled by the turnout, which supports the group's events. While its calendar remains very rooted in Los Angeles, Zócalo has been branching out geographically -- to Berlin last July and this Friday in New Orleans for a discussion on race and immigration in post-Katrina America.

Noted: LA Observed is a media sponsor of Zócalo Public Square events.

Photo: Ed Fuentes