Italians worked on the railroad or as marble craftsmen on churches being built. They lived side by side with large pockets of Yugoslavian, Russian and Jewish immigrants. There was St. Peter s Church and St. Anthony s Church down here, explains Steve Riboli. They were hubs of worship and community for new immigrants, who turned to a parish for their initial connection to American life. Today, the Los Angeles River is paved and industry has replaced vineyards.
Modern immigrants come from places such as El Salvador, Mexico, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
It s a place where St. Anthony, who was an immigrant himself, would feel at home. San Antonio Winery, still in its original location on Lamar Street and not far from Union Station, has been designated a Cultural Historical Landmark. Many scenes from Murder, She Wrote and Falcon Crest were filmed at the site. The winery offers a restaurant, banquet facilities, tasting room and wine shop. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Al Pacino are among the celebrities served in the dining hall, a popular spot where banquets for city officials are often booked far in advance.