Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, who died on July 21 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, was recognized on July 28 on what would have been Gold’s 58th birthday with tributes on many buildings and landmarks citywide.

(photo by Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times © 2018)

Buildings were illuminated in gold and many featured special messages honoring the man affectionately known as “the Belly of Los Angeles.”

The Los Angeles Times paid tribute to Gold on its new building in El Segundo as the sun set. Landmarks illuminated in gold included Los Angeles City Hall, the Wilshire Grand Center, The Broad, U.S. Bank Tower, Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain in Grand Park, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the pylons at LAX and the Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier.

The Wiltern, the Ford Theatres, The Theatre at Ace Hotel, Chinatown Summer Nights and the Fairplex in Pomona displayed messages and projections in Gold’s honor.

Gold was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early July. He and his wife, Los Angeles Times arts and entertainment editor Laurie Ochoa, have two children – 23-year-old Isabel and 15-year-old Leon.

The Gold-Ochoa family asks that in lieu of flowers, people support the nonprofits L.A. Regional Food Bank, Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Heal the Bay and Al Otro Lado. Friends of the Gold-Ochoa family have also created a GoFundMe campaign to assist with the children’s education.

A public event celebrating Gold’s life is being planned on Sunday, Aug. 26 with details to be announced soon. Share photos of the tribute using #LAGold.