01-05-15

JANUARY 5, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #1

015

2014

THE 71 PEOPLE, PLACES AND PROJECTS EVERY DOWNTOWNER NEEDS TO KNOW IN THE NEW YEAR

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

2 Downtown News

January 5, 2015

Coming Soon to a Community Near You

supermarket on the ground floor. Cool fact: Carmel utilized a construction method called the ConX system that snaps together steel beams in an erector set-like manner.

10 Downtown Projects Slated to Open This Year

By Donna Evans, Eddie Kim and Jon Regardie aying that 2015 will be a big year for development in Downtown Los Angele is an understatement — a landmark year is more like it. Some of the most noteworthy projects in the better part of a decade are scheduled to open in the next 12 months, among them a major art museum, a couple controversial hotels and a huge park.

Here are 10 projects that will move the community forward in the coming year. Get ready for the ribbon cuttings.

Bloc Party: Downtowners who have complained for decades about the fortress-like Macy’s Plaza will smile in October, when the complex, now named The Bloc, reopens. Developer Wayne Ratkovich is spending $180 million to transform the hulking 1973 complex bounded

by Seventh, Eighth, Hope and Flower streets.

The project will feature an open-air space on the street level, with the towering, unfriendly brick walls being replaced by windows and dining terraces. A highlight will be a nine-screen, 800-seat Alamo Drafthouse, allowing people to quaff beer and eat food while they watch a movie. Additionally, the existing Macy’s will be transformed, with a new furniture department to cater to the growing Downtown residential population.

S

Art Attack: The most anticipated project of 2015 was also the most anticipated project of 2014. However, last September Eli Broad announced that his $160 million Bunker Hill museum The Broad would be delayed, and the current timeline involves a debut this fall.

The Grand Avenue project designed by New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro is rising between the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the just-opened Emerson apartment tower, and will house the 2,000 works that philanthropist Broad and his wife Edythe have collected over five decades, most of which will be displayed in a third-floor gallery illuminated by 318 skylights. The 120,000-square-foot museum will debut with an exhibition of 200 works in a variety of media, and the project will include a 24,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard with century-old olive trees, as well as a restaurant.

When it opens, general admission will be free.

photo by Gary Leonard

The scaffolding on the $160 million museum The Broad came down in December, revealing the lattice-like exterior designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Philanthropist Eli Broad’s Grand Avenue attraction is expected to open in the fall.

Expect a tourist influx so big it even helps the older art museum across the street.

Whole-y Moley: No project in Downtown is bringing as many residences online at once as Carmel Partners’ Eighth and Grand apartments: The seven-story structure at the south-

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

ern end of the Financial District will offer 700 apartments when it debuts by the second quarter of 2015. Each unit will have floor-toceiling windows and balconies, and residents will have access to multiple courtyards, a rooftop pool deck and, best of all for the rest of Downtown, a 42,000-square-foot Whole Foods

Old Building, New Future: Skid Row Housing Trust’s 69-unit New Pershing Apartments is expected to begin leasing in January. Construction on the development at Fifth and Main streets was mostly finished in December, with only some finishing touches left, said SRHT Executive Director Mike Alvidrez. The $16 million project stands out because it utilizes the Victorian facade of two aged buildings — the former Pershing Hotel dates to 1889, and the Roma Hotel was erected in 1905 — in a modern lowincome housing development. The renovation will create studio and one-bedroom residences (350-500 square feet) and amenities will include a landscaped courtyard and community Continued on page 5

Let's Do

Lunch Downtowners are hungry for lunch.

What's new at your restaurant?

Advertise in our first restaurant section of 2015.

Find out at the landmark location near Downtown. Home of the original Chili-burger.

Quality and value since 1946:

Chili Hamburger .............. $2.40 Chili Cheeseburger ........... $2.90

Burgers • Italian • Pizza • Chinese Japanese • Mexican • Sandwiches Salads • Seafood • Vegetarian Special edition publishes January 26, 2015.

You must reserve space by January 21, 2015.

e For moorn call i t informa 8

-144 1 8 4 3 21

Many Imitate, But None Compare!

January 5, 2015

Downtown News 3

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Real People, Real Stories

DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS 1801 S. Figueroa St. 888-319-8762 mbzla.com

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-685-5426 porschedowntownla.com

I was looking for service and our GPS took us to the right place: Porsche of Downtown L.A. We were greeted by coffee, cookies and many smiles! This is the place for service!

I got my new Nissan Sentra from Nissan of Downtown L.A. They worked out good credit terms for me. They had faith in me, and I’m happy.

— Genova Medina

— Lori Warwick

The people at Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. are handsdown the friendliest, nonpushy guys in the business.

I will be a customer for life!

— Rachel Rodriguez

At Carson Nissan, I never felt pressured the entire time. From start to finish, they gave me the best car buying experience I’ve ever had! I love my new Nissan Rogue.

— Robin Russo

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-583-0981 audidtla.com

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-781-8102 vwdowntownla.com

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-574-4891 toyotaofdowntownla.com

Everyone at Felix Chevrolet, particularly Anthony Sanchez (right), was great. These people go out of their way to be helpful and friendly. I love my Camaro.

At Toyota of Downtown L.A., Karina Cardenas (right) was amazing. I’ve referred three of my friends and they have all become part of the Toyota of Downtown L.A. family.

— Jessica Garcia

Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes Benz is the best, both for sales and service. My salesperson was very honest, professional, friendly and customer oriented.

— Sylvia Herrera

Ray Gutierrez at Audi of Downtown L.A. was knowledgeable, friendly and very patient – he worked with me over a month! When I was finally ready, he found my perfect car!

— Chad W. Shannon

SCION OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-560-9174 scionofdowntownla.com

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 635 W. Washington Blvd.

888-838-5089 downtownnissan.com

— Qizhao Chen CARSON

Downtown L.A. Auto Group Family Owned & Operated Since 1955 W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

NISSAN

1505 E. 223rd St. 888-845-2267 carsonnissan.com

FELIX CHEVROLET 3330 S. Figueroa St. 888-304-7039 felixchevrolet.com

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

4 Downtown News

January 5, 2015

You Wanna Be Starting Something Seven Groundbreakings Downtown Is Waiting for in 2015

By Donna Evans, Eddie Kim and Jon Regardie ometimes the simplest statements say it best: Downtown is hot.

This isn’t just in the mode of restaurants and bars. Rather, the Central City is now a highly desired destination for investors, and money is pouring into the community. Area residents and workers will get constant reminders of that in the coming year, as a steady diet of groundbreakings is scheduled, with hotels, housing towers and even a couple mega-projects.

Here are seven of the most anticipated new developments.

S

Heart of Glass: Plans for a condominium high-rise on the northeast corner of 11th Street and Grand Avenue fizzled amid the recession. Then, last June, San Francisco-based Trumark Urban bought the site of the already entitled structure, known as the Glass Tower, and announced it would spend $100 million on a 24-story edifice. photo by Gary Leonard image courtesy Trumark Urban/HansonLA Trumark is aiming to break The old Commercial Exchange Building at 416 W. Eighth St. will San Francisco-based Trumark Urban aims to break ground this month, with plans begin a transformation into a hotel in the third quarter. The project, ground this month on a $100 million, 24-story to open by the end of 2016. dubbed the Freehand Hotel, will have 226 guest rooms geared housing complex at 11th Street and Grand Avenue.

The 151-unit tower is being detoward young travelers.

The project was originally broached by another signed by Downtown architecdeveloper before the recession. ture firm HansonLA, and initial Yucaipa Company and the Sydell Group, is scheduled to open in renderings depict several Rubik’s Cube-like accents jutting out the summer of 2016. along an edge of the structure.

Grand Visions: At one time, developer Related Cos.’ Downtown mega-project The Grand was the most anticipated groundbreaking of 2008. The recession halted the effort, and only in the past 15 months have things changed. Architect Frank Gehry is still on board, though designs have shifted, and Related has a new partner in SLS Hotel owner Sam Nazarian. Current plans call for a groundbreaking in December. The $850 million project would reinvent the upper reaches of Grand Avenue with a 300room SLS Hotel that would contain 25-35 condominiums, and a residential tower that would be approximately 420 feet tall with up to 450 apartments. There would also be a podium with a stacked mix of shops and restaurants situated around a central plaza that opens to Grand Avenue. If all goes according to plan, The Grand would open in late 2018.

Going Big: One of the most-discussed and debated projects in the Arts District, 950 E. Third St., is expected to break ground in the first quarter. The project has already been through several designs, as developers Legendary Development and Associated Estates scrapped an initial vision after neighbors complained it would not fit with the area. Current designs of the 472-unit residential complex include more green and communal space and a public walkway from Third Street to Traction Avenue. Although there’s been no word yet on tenants for the approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space, the developers have said they want independent stores, not chains.

The Inn Crowd, Part I: The ties between the Financial District and South Park will strengthen when the renovation of the old Commercial Exchange Building at 416 W. Eighth St. begins in the third quarter. The 1924 edifice at the southeast corner of Eighth and Olive streets will become the Freehand Hotel, with 226 rooms geared toward young travelers. The project, with a number of hostel-style rooms with up to eight beds, will be a complement to the increasing number of luxury hotels opening in Downtown. The Freehand, a partnership between Ron Burkle’s

The Inn Crowd, Part II: The transformation of the southern part of Broadway will get another boost when a renovation of the Case Hotel begins. Work is expected to start early in the year on the 1924 building at 1106 S. Broadway. Developers Channing Henry, Frank Stork and the Kor Group intend to turn the 13-story property across the street from the Herald Examiner Building into a four-star boutique hotel with 151 rooms. The developers have said they hope to open the project, which is two blocks south of the Ace Hotel, in the first half of 2016.

Take the Fifth: Before the recession, plans for a 73-story, $1.3 billion tower were broached for the parking lot at the northeast corner of Olive and Fifth streets. The project known as Park Fifth never got off the ground. Developer MacFarlane Partners acquired the site last summer and now aims to build on the property overlooking Pershing Square, though the vision isn’t quite as grand: A seven-story residential building with 315 apartments is expected to break ground this year, according to a project representative. A 24-story tower with 300 units would follow, though the developer has not announced a construction start date.

A Second Taste of Carmel: San Francisco-based Carmel Partners, which is nearing completion on a massive apartment complex with a Whole Foods at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue, is only getting started in Downtown: The developer expects to break ground on a 27-story apartment tower at 801 S. Olive St. in the first quarter. The high-rise will bring 363 units, with studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments and four penthouses.

The project being designed by GMP Architects will include a fifth-floor deck with a fitness center, a dog park, a rooftop deck and a pool. There would also be 10,000 square feet of street-facing retail space as part of a three-story parking podium, which would be wrapped in translucent panels. The company expects construction to last about two-and-a-half years, with an anticipated opening in the third quarter of 2017.

January 5, 2015

OPENINGS, 2

the 303 units in September. The $100 million edifice stands out as one of the few new high-rise projects on the northern edge of South Park.

room with a full kitchen. The project, designed by the firm Killefer Flammang, will also expand the building’s footprint from 37,000 to 60,000 square feet. Operators are looking for tenants for the ground-floor retail space.

Looking Up: Vancouver-based developer Onni Group has three Downtown projects in the works, and the first is scheduled to come online early this year. The 33-story Onni Tower, at 888 S. Olive St., will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments. Crews began interior work on

A Really Big Park: It’s been a strange career arc for Los Angeles State Historic Park: The whale-shaped site was used as an art project for a year, then in 2006 it became a park. Just seven years later it closed for a year-long renovation that will transform the site long known as the Cornfield from a mostly flat expanse of grass to a full-on recreation facility with a visitor’s center, a restored wetlands area, a promenade for markets and other events, bathrooms and additional features. Expect a wide variety of parkbased programming to arrive, and possibly the return of some loud, late-night summer concerts. The $20 million upgrade is expected to be completed in the middle of the year.

photo by Gary Leonard

A piece of the past will be part of the future when the New Pershing Apartments opens at Fifth and Main streets. Skid Row Housing Trust’s 69-unit low-income structure will begin leasing this month.

Commercial Office Space for Lease

A Hotel Double Play: Two Downtown structures that have long been closed, and that have long frustrated area stakeholders by being closed, are slated to come online this year. New Yorkbased developer Chetrit Group is scheduled to open the 347-room Clark Hotel, at 426 S. Hill St., by March, and the 183-room Embassy Hotel, at 831 S. Grand Ave., is expected to come online by July. Chetrit has owned the

The

Petroleum Building .com

Third Floor

Carmel Partners’ Eighth and Grand will deliver 700 apartments and Downtown’s first Whole Foods.

photo by Gary Leonard

properties for more than a decade, and sat on them for years. When the effort to reopen them finally moved forward, it was delayed by challenges from a union. Now, with the union beaten back and the hotels’ permits secured, only a few elements in each need completing. The Embassy will include the refurbishment of the grand Trinity Auditorium.

Getting Techy: Construction on the La Kretz Innovation Campus is progressing, including a December groundbreaking for a half-acre park on the property’s northern end. The project is expected to open in the second quarter. The 30,000-square-foot clean technology project, part of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, at 525 S. Hewitt St. will serve as a home for young companies, and will include conference facilities, research and development labs and other

SUITES AVAILABLE 400 to 20,000 Sq. Ft. Open Creative Space Available Build-Out Options Showroom Open Soon PROTECT

E! BL A IL VA A S ION T OP G SIN A E L AT E GR

Second Floor

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

tools. The Arts District campus will vastly increase the number of entrepreneurs the current building houses and helps.

Now That’s Italian: Another project that many have long been waiting for, the Italian American Museum, is now slated to open early this year. The $4.5 million development in the building known as the Italian Hall, at 125 Paseo de la Plaza near Olvera Street, will display rare photos, documents, maps and artifacts illustrating the legacy of Italian Americans in the region. The interactive museum will offer historical exhibitions and host film screenings and language classes, as well as other community events. The building originally opened in 1908 and functioned as a gathering place for Italian Americans. Corsini Stark Architects is leading the redesign.

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

SeRViCe

PROTECT YOUR TOYOTA PROTECT YOUR TOYO

SPeCiAlS

YOUR TOYOTA with servicewith designed bydesigne service with service designed by Will Consider Division the people who made it. the people who made it. the people who made and Space Build-Outs

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS Price Range $1.75 to $3.00 per Sq. Ft. 24 Hour Security On Premises Beautiful 239,000 Sq. Ft. 11 Story Building Conference Room Parking Available

714 W. OLYMPIC BLVD.

LOS ANGELES, CA 90015 213.746.6300 Ext.1455 Fax: 213.765.1910 ghollis@shammasgroup.com

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Drop Off & Pick-Up

FREE shuttle service drop-off & pick-up

5,000 Mile SCHeDUleD

MAiNTeNANCe

Recommended every 5K, 10K, 20K, 25K, 35K, 40K, 50K miles or 4 months, whichever comes first.

SERVICE INCLUDES: * Replace engine oil with up to 5 quarts of Genuine Toyota conventional motor oil * Replace dual stage oil filter * Lube chasis* * Visually inspect brakes * Rotate tires * Multi-point inspection

REG. $99.98

69.95

$

PLUS TAX & HAZ WASTE FEE

Synthetic oil additional. Some models additional. Must present coupon at time of order.

May not be applied to previous charges. Toyotas only. Excludes Scion. One per transaction.

Valid only at Toyota Downtown L.A. * If applicable. Offer expires 1/31/15.

FREE shuttle service drop-off & pick-up

COMPLIMENTARY

ALIGNMENT INSPECTION

* Perform alignment check on drive in minutes. * Accurate digital printout status of the alignment of all 4 wheels. * Complimentary! (previous alignment checks require more labor and therefore cost more time and money). * One Stop Shop! Most “Big Box” stores do not offer alignment. nly If alaignment needed: O $ 95 PLUS TAX

89.

Must present coupon at time of order. May not be applied to previous charges.

Toyotas only. Excludes Scion. One per transaction. Valid only at Toyota Downtown L.A. Offer expires 1/31/15.

1-800-454-4138

1600 S. Figueroa (at Venice), LA 90015

MON - FRI: 6AM TO 6PM SAT: 6AM TO 5PM

FREE s drop-o

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

6 Downtown News

January 5, 2015

The Waiting Game Six Big Projects That May or May Not Move Forward in the New Year

By Eddie Kim he Central City is buzzing, and 2015 will be filled with groundbreakings and project openings. Others developments and key pieces of infrastructure, however, remain in a state of limbo, and while they might kick into gear this year, they might not. Below are six projects — including one that broke down — that have big question marks hanging over them.

T

A Streetcar Named Expensive: The Los Angeles Streetcar, once pegged at $125 million, is now expected to cost $250 million or more. Up to $85 million of that could be secured through taxes levied on area property owners, but the rest of it — well, there’s the rub. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar, who has spearheaded the project as part of his Bringing Back Broadway initiative, intends to seek federal funds, including a $75 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, for the project. Huizar’s office has also discussed public-private funding mechanisms. However, financing for the 3.8-mile streetcar that would loop from South Park to the Civic Center, with a main spur on Broadway, remains unsettled. Perhaps things will become clearer once the project’s draft environmental impact report is completed early this year.

Follow the Bouncing Football: Talk about all or nothing: Anschutz Entertainment Group’s proposed L.A. Live football stadium will either be Downtown Los Angeles’ biggest project or an expensive pipe dream. In October the city gave AEG a sixmonth extension on its plan to build the 68,000-seat Farmers Field. Its fate should be known in February, as that is when any NFL team intending to relocate has to inform the league of its plans, and AEG has long said it won’t put shovels in the ground without a deal with a team and the league. All environmental documents have been secured and AEG officials in the past said they have spent tens of millions of dollars on the project so far.

If it does move forward, the $1.4 billion effort will change not only L.A.’s football future, but will include a renovation of the Convention Center.

February will be a big month for Anschutz Entertainment Group and the proposed Farmers Field. That’s when any team looking to relocate to Los Angeles has to inform the league of its plans. rendering courtesy of Anschutz Entertainment Group

Clifton’s Edge: When will the renovation of the 1935 Clifton’s Cafeteria be complete? Who knows? Property owner Andrew Meieran has hit delay after delay after delay after delay since beginning a renovation of the oxtails and Jell-O serving landmark at 648 S. Broadway. If it does open in 2015, the renamed Clifton’s Cabinet of Curiosities would offer multiple dining and drinking establishments, including a version of the classic cafeteria, a tiki bar, a steakhouse and a bakery.

Taking the ‘Fun’ Out of Funicular: The only action at Angels Flight, the short railway that connects Cal Plaza and Hill Street across from Grand Central Market, is the occasional test run. The funicular derailed in September 2013 and a subsequent investigation found both mechanical issues and human errors. The biggest reveal was that Angels Flight operators, faced with an electrical problem that made the railway run erratically, used a tree branch to keep a start/stop button depressed. The National Transportation Safety Board and the California Public Utilities Commission have said they will not OK a reopening until the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, which runs the funicular, builds a track-adjacent evacuation walkway. There are still no plans for that to happen, which means that people going from the Historic Core to Cal Plaza continue to get the exercise that comes from climbing 153 steps.

Green Dreams: The concrete remains of a former state office building have been cleared from the northwest corner of First and Spring streets. Now it’s a big spread of dirt that will become a city park. The question is, what kind of park, and how will it tie in to the adjacent Grand Park? The design process for the pro-

Angels Flight has been closed since derailing in September 2013. Regulators have said they will not OK a reopening until a track-adjacent evacuation walkway is added. No one knows if that will happen in 2015. photo by Gary Leonard

posed $10 million attraction will take place throughout 2015, with multiple opportunities for public input on features. Although no timeline for construction has been announced, even the present state is a welcome turnaround: The nearly two-acre site had been sitting stagnant since 1971, when the office structure was shuttered following the Sylmar earthquake. It soon became a graffiti-scarred eyesore across from City Hall.

Blaze of Non-Glory: One of the two buildings in developer Geoff Palmer’s massive five-story, 526-unit apartment complex the Da Vinci went up in flames in the early morning hours of Dec. 8. In the days after the fire Palmer said he intends to open the other part of the Italian/Mediterranean-style complex, at 909 W. Temple St., as soon as this month, and that he will rebuild the structure that burned down. Whether this will actually happen remains unknown. eddie@downtownnews.com

What’s in Store in 2015 The retail scene at The Bloc will be transformed amid a $180 million renovation of the Financial District complex. Among the openings there this year will be an Alamo Drafthouse theater and the men’s shop Wingtip.

The Local Retail Scene Will Expand in the New Year

By Donna Evans owntown has boomed on the residential front, and the bars and restaurants have multiplied. One area where the community still lags, however, is retail.

While arrivals such as Urban Outfitters and Ross Dress for Less on Broadway, and H&M and Zara at the FIGat7th shopping center, have shifted the landscape a bit, no one pretends the Central City is a prime shopping zone. It’s a still a situation where every new addition is important.

Here are some of the stores and locations where the retail scene will expand in 2015. Business boosters are hoping this is just the start.

D

Adding Sparkle to the Street: A Tarina Tarantino jewelry and accessories store, dubbed the Sparkle Factory, is expected to open on the second floor of the building at 908 S. Broadway in March, according to Alfonso Campos, Tarantino’s business partner and husband. The couple own the 1914 building across from the Ace Hotel, and the upscale New York boutique Oak opened a street-front space last March.

While the pink-haired Tarantino’s online and Melrose Avenue shops (the latter is closing this month) offer jewelry, hair clips, handbags

and a variety of accessories, the 2,000-squarefoot Downtown spot will add clothing, home items and art.

More Than Art in the Arts District: The One Santa Fe complex stands out for its huge footprint and 438 apartments. In the first quarter of 2015, it will also add to the Arts District’s retail and restaurant scene, as businesses begin to open in the 78,000-square-foot portion of the project dubbed The Yards. Stores already announced include Wittmore, which will sell clothes from more than 30 brands including Levi’s, Officine General and M. Nii, and the Voyager Shop, which will offer clothing, housewares and luxury goods. Another tenant will be Malin + Goetz, which specializes in natural products for the face, body and hair. The most prominent addition will be Grow, a family-owned market based in Manhattan Beach. The grocery store will fill a 5,300-square-foot space and sell organic produce, grass-fed beef and prepared foods. Ultimately The Yards will have about 25 food and shopping options.

Mall Makeover: Developer Wayne Ratko­ vich’s $180 million The Bloc is among the

photo by Gary Leonard

most anticipated projects in Downtown, and an upgrade of the shopping center portion of the project is a major component.

The Bloc, formerly known as Macy’s Plaza, will still have a Macy’s, through Downtown residents will find more options there as the 250,000-square-foot store adds a furniture department. The mall’s most prominent addition to the tenant roster so far is a ninescreen, 800-seat Alamo Drafthouse. Another arrival will be a Downtown Los Angeles outpost of the San Francisco men’s brand Wingtip, which will sell clothes, leather goods, cigars and more. Expect more stores to be

announced soon. The Bloc is slated to open in October.

Broadway Boutique: The ready-to-wear shop A.P.C. is readying a ground-floor space at 123-125 W. Ninth St., near the bustling corner of Ninth and Broadway. Steve Needleman, who owns the Anjac Fashion building where the store will open, said the retailer is moving slowly, but anticipates a 2015 opening. A.P.C., short for Atelier de Production et de Creation, is based in France and has stores in 31 countries.

It sells men’s and women’s clothing and shoes. donna@downtownnews.com

January 5, 2015

Downtown News 7

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Political Players to Watch in 2015 Council Elections and New Arrivals Will Make for an Entertaining Year

It Takes Two to Tangle: Downtown’s clash of the titans election will arrive March 3, when 14th District voters choose between nine-year incumbent José Huizar and Gloria Molina, who just finished a two-decade stint as a county supervisor. Both carry high name recognition and each probably has an equal number of friends and enemies. The race to date has been quiet, but in the next two months expect the results of the opposition research campaigns to be splashed across the district like blood in a Tarantino movie. Huizar is on pace to raise more than $1 million, and while Molina won’t match him, she’ll likely have more than enough to run an effective campaign. At some point the issue of Huizar’s affair and legal settlement with a former staffer will get bandied about, probably on mailers. The race may not even

Hilda Solis (right) is the new county supervisor for the First District, which includes parts of Downtown Los Angeles. She was sworn in Dec. 1 and succeeded Gloria Molina.

The County Line: Speaking of Molina, her old supervisor seat is now filled by former U.S. Labor Secretary and Congresswoman Hilda Solis.

Solis was sworn in Dec. 1 and is in charge of a district that counts approximately 2 million residents and runs from Silver Lake to Claremont.

The longtime friend of labor will be watched closely in 2015, including in Downtown Los Angeles. The county has a prominent role in the area around Olvera Street, where a huge housing and retail project is planned. Solis also will also be involved, along with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, in coordinating the county’s response to the homelessness crisis.

photo by Gary Leonard

Chief Concerns: LAPD Chief Charlie Beck was appointed to a second and final five-year term last August, but the road was rockier than initially anticipated, and in the next 12 months he’ll have to continue to make nice with his bosses on the Police Commission. While he is highly respected and by most accounts has performed well as chief, Beck lacks the charisma of his predecessor, William Bratton, and has never been able to work the media like the exchief did. Another hurdle: The LAPD came under fire last year for some questionable classification of certain crimes, and the annual crime

One of the most closely watched people in L.A. County this year will be Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who will seek to turn around a department that was battered under the leadership of former Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka.

photo by Gary Leonard

stats that will become public early this year could lead to some shocked reactions. Beck has a good relationship with Mayor Eric Garcetti, which he’ll have to maintain in 2015.

A New Sheriff in Town: Under former Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department received so much bad press — much of it concerning jail violence perpetrated by deputies against inmates — that it overshadowed the good work done by most star-wearing employees. LAPD veteran and former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell wiped Tanaka off the map in a November runoff election, and now he has the challenge of turning the department around and convincing the public that things are getting better. Already McDonnell is working with the County Board of Supervisors on a department oversight plan, but a key factor will be if the panel is given any real power. McDonnell also has to eradicate the tattooed cliques that have harmed the department’s reputation.

In Labor: How do you replace one of the most powerful people in Southern California? That’s question number one for Rusty Hicks, who this year will succeed Maria-Elena Durazo as executive secretary-treasurer of the L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. The County Fed, with approximately 600,000 members, has been a force in local politics for decades, but in her

nine years at the top Durazo raised its status further, and even though it backed the wrong horse in a number of elections (most notably Wendy Greuel over Eric Garcetti), its clout hasn’t lessened. Hicks, the union’s former political director, is seen as a comer, but you never know what it’s like to run the organization and grow its ranks until you’re doing it. He’ll be in the spotlight right away as the city looks to raise the minimum wage.

Independent Voice: Eighth District City Councilman Bernard Parks doesn’t have the same role he did when Eric Garcetti was council president and Parks chaired the Budget and Finance Committee. Additionally, he’ll be termed out in June. However, Parks, also a former LAPD chief, isn’t one to go out meekly, and with no need to please anyone politically, he’s got the freedom to be frank about the city, its policies, its finances and its future. In other words, he’ll speak bluntly, including in his often entertaining and sharply worded weekly newsletters. In his remaining months maybe he’ll even revive his “Catch 22” plan, a March 2013 prescription of 22 steps to help the city’s budget which, by the way, still starts each fiscal year with a huge deficit. Parks may not find many allies among sitting council members, who tend to fall in line with the directives from Council President Herb Wesson, but his independent voice is rare indeed. regardie@downtownnews.com

AL A VE

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM KNEE PAIN? Start to Feel Good Again!

Flexogenix Multidisciplinary Approach: • Free initial consultation.

• Advanced Image guidance.

• Thorough directed medical examination.

Most treatments provided • Cutting edge diagnostic medical imaging. are covered by Medicare & most medical insurance!

• Detailed treatment plan.

• Nonsurgical joint viscosupplementation & regenerative joint therapy.

• Advanced joint stabilization bracing techniques.

• Careful follow-up & evaluation in order to monitor therapeutic success.

219 W. 7th St., # 207

Quickly return to your daily activities with minimal risk or side effects.

Same day outpatient procedure with almost no recovery downtime.

S CE

©

NOW OPEN! A Winning Combination

| 1-800-695-6330 | healthyknees@flexogenix.com

T

OL YM

PI

C

BL VD

H

PROPANE, GAS & DIESEL 1800 E. Olympic Blvd.

24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

Nonsurgical Treatment of Degenerative Knee Pain Using Advanced Image Guidance

7 TH S

NTR

Have you been told that you need a total knee replacement?

DO YOU WANT A NONSURGICAL SOLUTION?

ST

P

end in March: Three other candidates are on the ballot and will make it hard for either Huizar or Molina to grab an outright majority, raising the possibility of a May runoff.

S ALAMEDA

By Jon Regardie olitics in Los Angeles is an ever-shifting beast, and you don’t have to be in public office to be a player. The ongoing series of elections, term limits and special intereststinged fights ensure that things keep bubbling.

That’s the case again in 2015. The early part of the year will be dominated by Downtown’s most intense election in a decade, and the second quarter will see the arrival of new faces in City Hall and the departure of some old ones.

Meanwhile, there are a couple big additions to county government. Here are some people and events to watch in the coming year.

Fast & Friendly Service Se Habla Español

(On the corner of Olympic and S. Alameda St.)

213-627-5008

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

8 Downtown News

January 5, 2015

Problems and Policies A Few Bubbling Issues Could Become Battle Points in 2015

By Eddie Kim owntown is growing, and with the change comes growing pains. As neighborhoods evolve, debate rises, and people don’t always agree.

Here are a few of the legislative and policy issues that will have sparks flying between residents, business owners, developers and city officials in 2015.

D

Get in the Zone: The Arts District is a hotbed of development, but the fact that most of the neighborhood is zoned as an industrial area makes it difficult to permit new housing and retail projects. The Department of City Planning has drafted a new Arts District zoning policy that could make development much simpler, with incentives and mandates for underground parking, art spaces, green building and more. That, however, is sparking a backlash from community members who fear the arrival of large complexes that will be out of place in the neighborhood. Expect this to pop soon, as there will be a round of outreach meetings before the city Planning Commission takes up the matter, potentially this month.

To Vend or Not to Vend: Ever eat a baconwrapped hot dog or buy a pair of sunglasses from a sidewalk vendor? If so, you’ve taken part in an illegal transaction. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar and Ninth District Councilman Curren Price are leading a city effort to change that by pushing legislation to legal-

ize and regulate sidewalk vending. While the move is cheered by some, a lack of details on enforcement and protecting bricks-and-mortar businesses has Downtown business leaders worried. They’ll push the city for more information this year before pledging any support.

Walk on the Wild Side: A wave of construction in Downtown, particularly in the South Park area, has led to a bunch of closed-off sidewalks. That presents a problem for pedestrians, and numerous people have been spotted walking in the street alongside a shuttered sidewalk. Area stakeholders brought their concerns to the city, and last August Huizar authored a motion to investigate ways to create protected walkways along construction sites, whether by having developers leave room at their projects or by shutting down traffic lanes. No permanent action has been proposed beyond that, but with more projects breaking ground this year, more sidewalks will be shuttered, putting more pedestrians mere inches from cars speeding through the streets.

Enduring Issue : Even as Downtown booms, homelessness remains the community’s most pressing issue. Much of the activity is concentrated in Skid Row, and while new permanent supportive housing projects have opened across Downtown in the past year, many say the problem is worsening, particularly when it comes to those suffering from mental illness. The city and county are trying to allevi-

photo by Gary Leonard

Although some city officials are pushing a proposal to legalize and regulate sidewalk vending, Downtown business leaders say funding for enforcement is unclear, and worry about the impact on store owners.

ate the situation through Operation Healthy Streets, which orchestrates six deep cleanings and outreach sessions annually. The impact of the passage of Prop 47 by voters in November also remains to be seen; the policy would allow people to avoid prison for some nonviolent crimes such as personal drug use. With more people moving Downtown, expect the topic to remain as thorny as ever.

The Downside of Looking Up: In November, city officials struck down an appeal by some residents of the Flower Street Lofts, clearing the way for Vancouver, Canada-based developer Amacon to proceed with work on a 28-story

South Park housing project. It was the first notable case of Downtown residents protesting development on an open lot, but with empty parcels being snapped up and high-rises announced with increasing frequency, it may not be the last. NIMBYism hasn’t been an issue in Downtown like it is in more established neighborhoods, and area business leaders warn that no one who buys a condo or rents an apartment should expect that the open space out their window will remain open. Still, people will take action to protect their interests and views, so don’t be surprised if the new year brings more objections to new tall projects. eddie@downtownnews.com

Got A Love Or Worst Date Story?

Win a Romantic Night Downtown!

Tell your...

• Best Wedding Day/Engagement Story • Most Romantic Story • Best Worst First Date Story (for those less bullish on Feb. 14) Stories should be no more than 200 words!

! d e c n u o n n A e B o T Prizes Must be 21 years of age to enter. Room night subject to availability. Performance tickets subject to availability, artist and program subject to change. Performance tickets will be held at will call under the winners name.

All other prizes will be mailed to winners.

ENTRIES: Deadline Monday, February 2 at 5 p.m.

Email it contests@downtownnews.com (subject line: Love Story Contest) Mail it 1264 W. First St., Los Angeles CA 90026 (postmarked by Feb. 1st) All or part of the submissions may be published in our special Romance in the City issue (or online), which hits stands Feb. 10 and become the property of Los Angeles Downtown News.

January 5, 2015

Downtown News 9

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Waiting With a Craving Nine Coming Restaurants That Have Downtown Drooling

Fine Art, Fine Food: Take the former chef of one of the best restaurants in the country, an acclaimed Los Angeles restaurateur and one of the city’s best bartenders, and what do you get?

The upcoming, as-yet unnamed restaurant at The Broad museum on Bunker Hill, that’s what.

Tim Hollingsworth, whose resume includes leading Napa’s French Laundry, is partnering with Bill Chait and mixologist Julian Cox on the project, which is slated to open in April. Details on the menu are scant, but expect refined French-California flavors and techniques.

Take Two: Factory Kitchen owner Matteo Ferdinandi and chef Angelo Auriana regularly impress diners at their Arts District Italian trattoria. They’re looking to keep the ball rolling with a protein-centric sequel dubbed Officine Brera. It’s slated to open in March in the same complex as Factory Kitchen, at 629 S. Central

Tickets to Thailand: Andy Ricker has been traveling to Thailand for more than two decades, and his trove of regional recipes and flavors have attracted hype and big crowds to his Portland restaurant Pok Pok. Ricker gives Chinatown a double dose of his food in 2015, with an outpost of the eatery opening at 970 N. Broadway and an accompanying pad Thai noodle joint debuting at 720 N. Broadway. The former is gunning for an April opening, while the noodle shop would come earlier in the year.

Artsy Beer: Cedd Moses, proprietor of Downtown bar juggernaut 213 Nightlife, is developing a 17,000-square-foot brewpub, bar and restaurant at 830 Traction Ave. in the old Crazy Gideon’s space, in the Arts District. More than half of the unnamed project would be dedicated to the kitchen and the brewing operation, which could pump out up to 5,000 barrels of beer a year to be sold off-site.

The Austrian Connection: Chef Bernhard Mairinger got lots of praise for his Beverly Hills Austrian bistro BierBeisl, but it closed at the end

photo by Gary Leonard

Downtowners have been waiting for years for Neal Fraser to open Redbird. The restaurant in the rectory adjacent to the former St. Vibiana’s cathedral will hold a grand opening this month.

of 2013. He’s bringing a more casual version of the restaurant, dubbed BierBeisl Imbiss, to the Spring Arcade Building in the Historic Core, which is quickly emerging as a foodie hub. The space at 541 S. Spring St. will offer schnitzel, sausages, breads, pastries and plenty of beer on tap.

Taste of Tuscany: An outpost of West Hollywood Italian hotspot Ago, dubbed Vespaio, is slated to arrive at The Emerson, the 20-story luxury apartment tower adjacent to the upcoming Broad museum, early this year. Developer Related Cos. opened the building in October, and the groundfloor restaurant will feature chef Agostino Sciandri’s refined take on Tuscan flavors.

Flight of Fancy: Downtown has been waiting for years for Neal Fraser’s Redbird to open in the rectory adjacent to the old St. Vibiana’s cathedral. Well, it soft opened in mid-December and a grand opening will occur this month, potentially as soon as Tuesday, Jan. 6. Fraser’s menu roughly falls under the “New American” category, with influences from Latin and Asian cuisines. One highlight is the “pozole” with braised pork, hominy, chiles and a slab of crisp pork belly. Redbird, at 214 S. Main St., marks Fraser’s return to the relaxed fine-dining style that won him acclaim at Grace, which closed in 2010.

photo by Gary Leonard

Factory Kitchen owner Matteo Ferdinandi (right) and chef Angelo Auriana are opening Officine Brera in 2015.

http://issuu.com/ladtn Follow Us on ISSUU

5 OFF $

LUNCH

SPECIAL

*ANY PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE. 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER, PER VISIT. EXPIRES 1/30/15

Friendly Staff

New Patient Offer

Gentle Doctor

FREE WHITENING included with:

(for a limited time)

Complete Exam • All Necessary X-Rays Personal Consultation • Professional Cleaning* $99 I Regularly: $575 I You Save $476 *Unless certain dental conditions exist.

E BE S T TH

255 South Grand Ave., #204, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Call us now! 213-634-2960

t

is

Gourmet Fast Casual Restaurant Since 1973 7 Days-7am to 10pm • FREE Parking • We Cater 1657 W. 3rd St. at Union Ave. • 213-483-8885

*

Say “No” to Cavities & “Yes” to Healthy Gums

Guessing Game: Businessman Bill Chait has his hand in some of the city’s buzziest and tastiest restaurants, working with chefs to open, among others, Downtown’s Bestia and Rivera. So it’s probably great news that Chait is buying a nearly 7,000-square-foot space at 515 Molino St. in the Arts District. A project spokesperson said the plan is to open this year. What’s coming remains a mystery: The spokesperson said it’s neither Menashe’s Middle Eastern eatery nor a Downtown outpost of another Chait project, Superba Snack Bar. Chait’s proclivity for investing in wildly varying restaurants makes this one a tricky, albeit exciting, nut to crack. eddie@downtownnews.com

Dent

Flip through the DT News print edition on your mobile device, with 6 plus years of past issues available!

Homecoming: Bestia co-owner and chef Ori

Menashe was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Israel, so he’s bound to miss the cuisine of his youth. He’s taking the craving into his own hands with plans to open a Middle Eastern eatery in Downtown. Menashe is reportedly a fiend at making perfect falafel, which is reason enough to want this restaurant. He has also talked about showing off regional charcuterie, wood-fired stews, house-made pita and rustic lamb dishes. The name and location of the restaurant haven’t been disclosed, but whispers say it will be near Bestia (and almost certainly in the Arts District) and may be called Saffron.

fice

E

Ave., and will offer Northern Italian preparations of meat and seafood. It’ll be larger than Factory Kitchen, with two banquet rooms and a patio in addition to a 90-seat dining room.

or

of

By Eddie Kim veryone knows that Downtown Los Angeles is full of excellent eateries. The only thing better than the culinary present is the future: A number of prominent chefs are deep in preparations to open new establishments in the Central City.

Below are nine restaurants that everyone will be talking about even before they begin serving.

d e n ta

l

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

10 Downtown News

DT THE NEW CALENDAR

SHOWTIME ERA 2015 Will Be Full of Music, Dance, Theater, Museum Exhibits and More

By Donna Evans, Eddie Kim and Jon Regardie f there’s one thing that can be said about the cultural scene in Downtown Los Angeles, it’s that it’s diverse. The community offers a wealth of theater, museums, readings, festivals and all kinds of music. Some fancy venues charge top dollar and some outdoor spaces specialize in free entertainment.

The wildly varied lineup will be on display throughout 2015, and although the calendar has just turned, it is already easy to plan something to do almost every month. Here is a quick rundown of 17 arts and entertainment highlights of the new year.

I

What a Dahl: Downtown Los Angeles finally gets a glimpse of the musical adaptation of author Roald Dahl’s book Matilda when it lands at the Ahmanson Theatre on May 29-July 12. The show, which debuted in 2010, follows the trials and tribulations of a genius girl, Matilda, who is mistreated by her father and often ignored by her mother. She bonds instead with her kind teacher, Miss Honey, who sees her intellect. Along the way, Matilda develops telekinetic powers, which she uses in both mischievous

and brilliant ways.

At 135 N. Grand Ave, (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

The Good Kind of Riot: There will be yuks aplenty in the Historic Core on Jan. 16-18 when the alternative comedy festival Riot L.A. returns. Venues including the Downtown Independent, The Smell and the Regent will host a cavalcade of shows and comedians. Some of the dozens of reliably funny people on the docket include Norm MacDonald, Maria Bamford, Eddie Pepitone, Todd Glass and Bil Dwyer.

There will be comedy films, a presentation of KCRW’s “UnFictional” series and even an openair gathering space on Main Street with food trucks, skeeball and more.

At riotla.com Copycat: Over on Bunker Hill, MOCA is diving into the 50-year career of Elaine Sturtevant, who is known for her re-creations of her peers’ artworks. In other words, Sturtevant was a pioneer in artistic copying, especially works from Pop Art luminaries such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. MOCA’s exhibition, dubbed Sturtevant: Double Trouble, is the first comprehensive look at the artist and the only institutional presentation of her work since 1973. Visit MOCA on March 21-July 27 to decide for yourself whether Sturtevant is an intriguing artistic figure or just a brilliant copycat.

At 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org Seeing God: Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark 1972 film The Godfather leaps from the screen to the concert hall on Jan. 24, when the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live hosts a screening that will be accompanied by a live orchestra. The nearly three-hour opus will be shown in high definition on the big screen while an in-house symphony plays Nino Rota’s iconic score live, as well as some traditional Italian folk music and

January 5, 2015

jazz. You may have seen the film, which won three Academy Awards, many times before, but it’s never been shown (or heard) quite like this. Catch Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in a couple of unforgettable performances.

At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com Patti’s Cake: The godmother of punk, Patti Smith, returns to Los Angeles with back-toback shows at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Jan. 29-30.

Smith, a Chicago-born singersongwriter, poet, author and artist, burst onto the New York City scene in 1975 with her debut album Horses. Perhaps best known for her song “Because the Night” (trivia item: it was co-written by Bruce Springsteen), Smith is the rare artist who has both been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won the National Book Award (for her 2010 memoir Just Kids).

At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

photo courtesy MOCA

On March 21, MOCA’s Grand Avenue location debuts an exhibit on Elaine Sturtevant, who made a career of copying the work of other artists. This references a piece by Jasper Johns.

The New History: Normally, drinking and dancing inside a museum will get you kicked out. At the Natural History Museum’s First Fridays series, it’s virtually required. The Exposition Park destination revives its program that make history and science cool on Feb. 6, and events will take place on, yes, the first Friday of every month through June. The theme this year is “Do-It-Yourself Science,” with inspiration from social media and groupthink. Each event will include lectures, gallery tours and some intriguing bands and DJs. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org.

A Is for Alvin: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater never disappoints. It’s a crowd pleaser, which explains why the company founded in 1958 will have three programs and a cumulative six shows during its April 15-19 visit to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as part of the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center series. It will be a welcome return for the company that first visited the Music Center 17 years ago. Plan to arrive an hour early for the dance talk.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org.

photo courtesy of Wooster Group

New York’s always-inventive and thought-provoking Wooster Group returns to its West Coast home-away-from-home, REDCAT, on Jan. 21-Feb. 1. This gang will present the play Early Shaker Spirituals.

JAN 5

Tall Tales: You might know They Might Be Giants merely as the band that played the theme song of “Malcolm in the Middle.” Or maybe you’ve been following the duo since their wacky “Dial-A-Song” answering-machine days.

Either way, it’s hard to argue that TMBG is one

of the most sweetly weird and prolific alternative bands in modern American rock history.

See for yourself on May 1, when John Flansburgh and John Linnell come to the newly restored Regent in the Old Bank District.

At 448 S. Main St., (213) or theregenttheater.com.

EWP Hears a Who: Legendary rock band The Who’s groundbreaking musical Tommy arrives Downtown May 7-June 7 thanks to East West Players. Tommy is a deaf, dumb and blind kid for whom there appears to be no hope. Then, one day, it’s discovered that he is an incredible pinball player, which rockets him to fame, for better and worse. Come for the wildly popular songs such as “Pinball Wizard” and stay for the dramatic themes of growing up, betrayal and broken family dynamics. It’s another highlight in EWP’s 50th anniversary season.

At 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

Heart of Darkness: The L.A. Philharmonic’s music director and ace conductor Gustavo Dudamel tackles one of his favorite composers, Gustav Mahler, on March 5-8. Dudamel will lead the Phil in a rendition of Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, widely considered one of his darkest and most tragic pieces of music. The 70-minute work has plenty of drama, and the final movement even involves a very special “instrument”: a massive wood box getting slammed by an also-massive sledgehammer.

At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

! dtowWnNein s/L.Aan U e k Li ws wn .Do com Facebook.

Like Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!

Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings DowntownNews.com

Starts Jan. 9 / 16

January 5, 2015

Downtown News 11

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Basketball Hijinks: Here are some things to expect when the Harlem Globetrotters dribble into Staples Center on Feb. 15: They’ll pull the old ball-on-a-string routine; they’ll chase each other into the stands and throw confetti on a surprised crowd; they’ll make a bunch of crazy trick shots; and they’ll beat the heck out of the Washington Generals or whichever team they play. It’s true, the Globetrotters don’t change a lot, but change isn’t the point. These clown princes of the hardwood are out to entertain and they never fail to do so. So expect one ’Trotter to sit on the rim, another to pants an opponent and so on.

At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or axs.com.

Spooky Music: The L.A. Opera debuts a new production in The Ghosts of Versailles, a modern opera with music from composer John Corigliano and a libretto by William Hoffman. The opera, which runs Feb. 7-March 1 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, follows a playwright who stages a show to cheer up the ghost of Marie Antoinette, who is depressed after her beheading (and who can blame her?). So begins the opera-within-anopera, which features characters from The Marriage of Figaro. Trouble looms, however, when the ghost of Figaro tries to break free of the production. Yes, this is different.

At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org.

Modesty Rules: In 1980, Wooster Group co-founder and current director Elizabeth LeCompte, along with a number of company members, visited the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community in Maine and met with its spiritual leader, Sister R. Mildred Barker. The experimental theater company is circling back to that fate-

in their deceased father’s apartment for the purpose of looking through his belongings.

During the dig, they uncover motives for happenings that long ago damaged their relationship. The Price, starring Kate Burton and the always-compelling Alan Mandell, runs through March 22.

At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7353 or centertheatregroup.org

photo by xxxxx

The Regent welcomes the sweetly weird and prolific alternative band They Might Be Giants on May 1.

ful meeting with a REDCAT production based on Barker’s 1976 record of Shaker hymns, anthems, marches and testimonies. Early Shaker Spirituals will feature a “live rendering” of the songs, according to the Woosters, accompanied by dance and narration. The always inventive company mounts the show at REDCAT on Jan. 21-Feb. 1.

At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

City Hall. In celebration of the Heidi Ducker Dance Theatre’s 30th anniversary, she’ll present the new show Night Market in Downtown’s Central Wholesale Market. Audiences will travel from stall to stall as the dancers perform unique vignettes in front of rolling doors. The interactive work will even give attendees the chance to take selfies that get incorporated into the show.

At heididuckler.org.

To Market We Go: For three decades, Heidi Duckler has been staging site-specific dance performances in unexpected places all across the city, from a laundromat to Downtown locations such as the Herald Examiner Building and

This Price Is Right: Family dynamics take center stage when Arthur Miller’s play The Price opens at the Mark Taper Forum on Feb. 11.

Tony winner Gary Hynes will direct the 1968 work about two estranged brothers who meet

Sunday, January 11 – 11:00am

Music & Painting

Sunday, January 18 – 11:00am

Celebrate Jazz

Sunday, January 25 – 11:00am

Celebrate Opera

Worship Service Sundays at 11:00am

540 S. Commonwealth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90020 • tel 213.385.1341 • www.FCCLA.org

A Swift Return: Taylor Swift, the queen supreme of exacting romantic vengeance through candidly autobiographical lyrics, returns to Staples Center for five shows on Aug. 21-26. The tour is in support of her new album 1989, which officially marks the end of Swift’s country-pop era and the start of her run as an electro-pop diva. Regardless of the musical shift, expect loyal fans to snap up tickets early for all the dates. If that happens, then just shake it off and check StubHub. Hey, look what we did there!

At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or axs.com.

You Better, You Better, You Bette: The Divine Miss M is on her first major tour in a decade, and Bette Midler lands at Staples Center on May 28. The concert will feature material from throughout her career, as well as songs from her new album, It’s the Girls, a tribute to girl groups of the 20th century. The music includes odes to the World War II-era Andrews Sisters, ’60s groups the Supremes and the Shirelles and the ’90s R&B trio TLC. Since it’s Bette Midler, you should also expect plenty of unpredictable outrageousness.

At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

The New Year Starts With Lakers Players, Beautiful Music and a Live Film Score

T

uesday, Jan. 6, is going to be a magical day for Lakers fans. For that’s when the 11th annual Lakers All-Access takes place. The event presented by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission kicks off at 5 p.m. in Staples Center, with a tour of the Lake Show’s locker room and an on-court shooting session. Next there’ll be a buffet dinner and a quick photo-friendly meet-and-greet with current and past players and related team personnel. Later a panel discussion from Lakers alumni will up the purple and gold ante. Tickets start at $550 and the event raises money for the LASEC and the Lakers Youth Foundation. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 7427100 or lasec.net.

A

ll good things must come to an end. For the wealthy Romans living in the rich suburb of Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., that meant getting buried alive under several feet of hot ash. For Angelenos in anno domini 2015, it means that Pompeii: The Exhibition at the California Science Center is closing. This volcano of an exhibit will get capped on Sunday, Jan. 11. While we’re sad to see the detailed collection of original artifacts from the Pompeii dig site go, we’re also grateful that our experience hasn’t ended in legendary cataclysm. Yet. At 700 Exposition Park Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

FILM

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Blithe Spirit Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Jan. 6-9, 8 p.m. and Jan. 11, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Angela Lansbury stars in this staging of Noel Coward’s supernatural comedy.

Bob Baker’s Nutcracker Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

Jan. 8-9, 10:30 a.m. and Jan. 10-11, 2:30 p.m.: The March of the Sugarplum Fairy will never be the same after marionettes have their way with Bob Baker’s version of The Nutcracker.

Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

Jan. 6, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

S

ince 1995, Michael Tilson Thomas has been synonymous with the San Francisco Symphony, which he proudly directs. Well, as the great maestro turns 70, we stop to celebrate his roots in Los Angeles. Tilson Thomas attended USC, and this week he returns to take the baton at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic through Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. On FridaySaturday, Jan. 9-10, at 8 p.m., and again on Sunday at 2 p.m., you can bask in the splendor of MTT’s gilded birthday celebration. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 8502000 or laphil.com.

photo by Kristen Loken

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

See website for schedule.

IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Galapagos 3D. If it was good enough to blow Charles Darwin’s mind, it’s probably good enough for you!

Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction..

Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. MOCA 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

Jan. 6, 7 p.m.: Female filmmakers are the order of the day at Filmforum at MOCA. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/ movies.

See website for schedule.

Regent 448 S. Main St. or TheRegentTheater.com.

Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m.: Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin screens with accompaniment from Wild Up! and the Wordless Music Orchestra under the direction of conductor Mica Levi.

photo by Gary Leonard

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

Jan. 5, 8:30 p.m.: Dare we call brash pop indie band Sego’s new residency at the Bootleg a genesis? A Sego genesis? Get it?

Anyone?

Jan. 7, 8 p.m.: The only problem with Bad Lands’ comparing their music to “if pistol black mascara, fairy dust, Technicolor palm trees, dangerous love and kaleidoscopes could be mixed in a blender” is that most of the items listed are either abstract entities or too large to fit in a conventional blender.

Jan. 8, 8 p.m.: Jr. will be offering up some of their ethereal indie rock.

Jan. 10, 8 p.m.: KXLU’s Bubble Gum Punk-Ladies Night features a hefty dose of females making music. *Ian*, French Vanilla, Feels and Winter are all on the bill.

Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com.

Jan. 9: Twoloud.

Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

Jan. 7, 6 p.m.: The People’s Choice Awards. It’s what you’ve been waiting for, right?

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

Jan. 6, 10 p.m.: Just because The Makers don’t have clear memories of what they did on New Year’s Eve doesn’t make them bad people.

By Dan Johnson calendar@downtownnews.com

photo courtesy of the California Science Center

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

January 5, 2015

W

hen it comes to classical music, few musicians in Los Angeles are as versatile as Mark Robson. From chamber music to orchestral conducting to teaching, Robson is famous for his virtuoso ability on the old 88s. This week, Robson will trot in to Zipper Hall at the Colburn School for a Piano Spheres program. The title of the show at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, is True Life Stories. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or pianospheres.org.

O

n the far end of the modern classical music spectrum is the Wordless Music Orchestra.

While the gang sometimes performs bits of non-film music, their shtick of choice is flawlessly executing live movie soundtracks. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, their fine and sharp minds will accumulate at the Regent Theatre to join composer Mica Levi in accompanying a pair of screenings of Under the Skin. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as an alien out to snag men off the streets of Glasgow. There are 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. performances. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.

photo by George Phillips

12 Downtown News

Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

January 5, 2015

Downtown News 13

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

CLASSICAL MUSIC

…And A GrAmmy new yeAr

Tuesday, January 6 Mark Robson True Life Stories Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu.

8 p.m.: Piano Spheres returns with celebrated ivory tickler Mark Robson playing a world premiere of his own.

A

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

photo by Duffy-Marie Arnoult

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie sunday, 11 stAFF writErs: DonnaJanuary Evans, Eddie Kim Anthony Newman Organ Recital coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese Walt Disney ConcertwritErs: Hall, 111 S.Jeff Grand Ave., (213) 972- Kristin Friedrich, coNtributiNG Favre, Greg Fischer, Kylie Jane Wakefield 7211 or musiccenter.org.

MUSEUMS

and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

739-747 N. Main St. Los Angeles, 90012 213.680.3333 Regentchinainn.com FREE PARKING

kids toys. This hands-on exhibit engages museum visitors with Dominos, Sails and Roller Coasters in a fun, but informational primer on friction, momentum and chain reactions.

Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are usually interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and Forty Years of Space Photography. The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The new Ecosystems exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes.

Continued on next page

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

 Los Angeles Downtown News

coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield

One copy per person.

✤ Live Lobster and Crab ✤ Delivery, Minimum Order $15 ✤ Lunch Special $4.95 – Mon.-Fri. 11-5, Sat.-Sun. 11-3 ✤ Party Tray Available

Ongoing: The multi-functional Gallery of Discovery offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of actual living slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past.

California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris Through January 11: Evocative archaeological artifacts, GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin volcanology and social history form the nucleus of Pompeii: The ExEcutivE Exhibition. Editor: Jon Regardie Ongoing: MissionDonna 26: The Big Endeavour presents stAFF writErs: Evans, Eddie Kim Los Angeles’ very own space shuttle/tree all its splendor. coNtributiNG Editor:destroyer KathryninMaese

20% OFF

★OPEN 24/7★ ★ ✔ Free Wi-Fi ✔ Free Parking ✔ Drive-Thru ✔ Breakfast All Day

FOR ORDERS OVER $15 *

*Exp. 1/30/15. Bring in ad for discount.

50% OFF SUSHI

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

OPEN HOUR: circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon (Sun~ Thurs)Ingles 11:00am~10:30pm distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador and Sat) 11:00am~11:00pm distributioN AssistANts:(FriLorenzo Castillo, JOE’S AUTO PARK 319 E. 2nd St. #206 Gustavo Bonilla

213-228-8999 | farmerboysla.com 726 Alameda St. (Bay & Alameda)

UNION BANK

213-687-7780

Los Angeles,CA90012

*Behind Union Bank Parking Validated*

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

twitter: DowntownNews

S I N C E 19 7 2 

donated by Monique Fink, wife of artist Peter Fink, who worked for Monsieur Lelong as package designer and interior decorator.

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard Ongoing: Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion African American Museum Collection surveys footwear, fans, gloves, purses and hats.

AccouNtiNG: AshleyFirefighter Schmidt 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org.

California African American Museum clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, includ- 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway ingsAlEs a 1940AssistANt: Pirsch ladderClaudia truck, anHernandez 1890 hose wagon, uniforms Through March 1: The figurative work of Michael Kilgore and from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, Anthony “Eve” Kemp are featured in Curvature: Lines and Shapes. helmets, photographs and other artifacts.

Through March 1: The untold prejudices inherent to albinism circulAtioN: FIDM MuseumDanielle Salmon are the creative catalysts behind this exhibit of Yrneh Gabon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or Brown’s work. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla fidmmuseum.org.

Through July 5: Formerly of Watts Tower Arts Center fame, Ongoing: The FIDM Museum presents Artfully Adorned, an ex- Mark Steven Greenfield’s lengthy career in the arts receives its ©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center ceptional collection of fragrance, cosmetics, and ephemera from due in Lookin’ Back in Front of Me: Selected Works.

News Inc. All rights reserved. theThe house LucienDowntown Lelong. This group objects was graciously Through May 3: From Women’s Hands features work from five Losof Angeles News is theofmust-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles African-American women housed within the CAAM Courtyard. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

Ongoing: Science in Toyland presents physics through favorite One copy per person.

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: Dim Sum L.A. Downtown News

Lunch and Dinner

twitter: • An Extensive Seafood DowntownNews Menu including

Dim Sum at

Prices ©2014 Civic Center News, Inc.Moderate Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center Dining News Inc. • Relaxed in anAll rights reserved.

Elegant Ambiance The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown •Los LiveAngeles Lobsterand Tankis distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

One copy per person.

Free Parking Next to Restaurant

Tel: 213.617.2323



7:30 p.m.: From Mozart to Stravinsky, Hurricane Mama will be Art dirEctor: Brian Allison getting quite a workout.

AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa

clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez



Friday, January 9 Michael Tilson Thomas at 70: Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org.

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News Jan. 9-10, 8 p.m. and Jan. 2 p.m.: Celebrated 1264 W. First Street, Los11, Angeles, CA 90026conductor Michael Tilson Thomas takes over baton duties for the Los Angephone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 les web: Philharmonic.

DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Dosan Philharmonic Orchestra facebook: twitter: Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews colburnschool.edu.

7:30 p.m.: If you’re not too busy celebrating MTT’s leap into Editor & PublishEr: septuagenarianism, check outSue theLaris Dosan Philharmonic’s Second GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin Concert.

new year means plenty of new personal resolutions, and if one of those goals is improving your understanding of music and pop culture history, the Grammy Museum has you covered, as an eclectic slate of exhibits continues this month. The Comedic Genius of Rodney Dangerfield, curated with widow Joan Dangerfield, features the beloved photos, S I N C E performer’s 19 7 2 props and Downtown awards. Pride & Joy reviews Los Angeles News the W. work the late guitarist 1264 FirstofStreet, Losblues Angeles, CA 90026 Stevie213-481-1448 Ray Vaughan.

And213-250-4617 don’t miss phone: • fax: web: BlueDowntownNews.com Note Records: The Finest in Jazz, email: realpeople@downtownnews.com a retrospective on the glory years of the esteemed label. It runs through facebook: Jan. 11. L.A. Downtown News At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765twitter: 6800 or grammymuseum.org.

DowntownNews

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

One copy per person.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

14 Downtown News

.

R E V O D L HE E G U H INGS VERY SAV ON E USED K TOC EW & N NS CLE I VEHI

Y A D N U S S D N E ..

LA MOTORS 1801 S. Figueroa St. 888-319-8762 mbzla.com

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-685-5426 porschedowntownla.com

AUDI 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-583-0981 audidtla.com

RIGHT!

SAVE BIG WITH

0%

DOWNTOWN

OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

Event

START THE YEAR OFF

January 5, 2015

FINANCING

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-781-8102 vwdowntownla.com

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-399-6132 toyotaofdowntownla.com

SCION OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-560-9174 scionofdowntownla.com

0

$

DRIVE OFF AVAILABLE

4000

OVER

NEW & USED VEHICLES IN STOCK & ON SALE NOW!

NISSAN 635 W. Washington Blvd.

888-838-5089 downtownnissan.com

CARSON

NISSAN

1505 E. 223rd St. 888-845-2267 carsonnissan.com

DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP 888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352)

w w w.DTLAMOTORS.com

SERVING THE COMMUNIT Y SINCE 1955

Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

2YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

On any new or used vehicle in stock on approved credit.

HUGE INVENTORY

MORE LISTINGS

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Up to 72 months on select models on approved credit.

NO OUT-OF-POCKET

Continued from previous page Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.

Permanent: Origins presents the story of the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles.

Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration, an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, each is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a description and a personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 124 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-8372 or elpueblo.lacity.org.

Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of this monument’s 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the monument’s Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century fire-fighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check its website for a full slate of fiestas, including Cinco de Mayo, Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in November and December’s beautiful candlelight procession, Las Posadas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary.

Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

Through 2015: Leadbelly: A Musical Legacy tracks the career of famous bluesman Huddie William Ledbetter.

Through Winter 2015: The 75th anniversary of the illustrious jazz label gets the museum treatment with Blue Note: The Finest in Jazz.

Through July 2015: Late great guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legacy and career merge in an exhibit rich in personal memorabilia, instruments, clothing and his famous “Number One” strat.

Through Spring 2015: Dresses, personal items and gold records illuminate the life of the “Queen of Disco” in Donna Summer: Four Seasons Of Love.

Through May 2015: Shake off your expectations and dive right in to everyone’s favorite pop country icon in The Taylor Swift Experience.

Ongoing: 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Columbia Records’ history and offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia’s pivotal technological as well as business innovations, including its invention of the LP. Ongoing: Featuring copious memorabilia including drum kits and a cape, Ringo: Peace & Love is the first major exhibit to be dedicated to a drummer at the museum.

Ongoing: White sequined gloves and other wardrobe pieces are the focal point of the new exhibit case paying tribute to the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. This special display serves as a follow-up to the Museum’s past exhibitions, Michael Jackson: HIStyle and Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy. Housed on the Museum’s third floor, the launch of the new exhibit coincided with the second anniversary of Jackson’s death.

FELIX CHEVROLET 3330 S. Figueroa St. 888-304-7039 felixchevrolet.com

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

January 5, 2015

DT

CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL

FOR RENT

homes for sale

Large home near Convention Center/USC 1629 Toberman Street. 4Bedrooms 2 baths, Formal Dining with Firepl. Den, Foyer, Long Driveway, Needs some repairs. Walking distance to Staple Center. must see today. Call Now.

(310)356-3867 / (310)419-7900 lofts for sale

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555

downtownnews.com

loft/UnfUrnished

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,295 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com

LEGAL name Change SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. ES018586 Petitioner (name of each) Kyle Stephen Shafer, 11126 Huston Street, #5, North

Downtown News 15

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Hollywood, CA 91601, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: KYLE STEPHEN SHAFER Proposed name: JACE CAMRoN THE CoURT oRDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NoTICE oF HEARING Date: 01/23/2015 Time: 08:30 a.m.

Dept.: NC-A The address of the court is 300 East olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91502. A copy of this order to Show Cause shall be published

at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DoWNToWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Ange-

les, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county.

Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter, Executive Office/Clerk.

Burbank Courthouse -

Want to find an amazing rental in SoCal? • Over 10,000 Listings

• 8 Retail Locations

• Over 6,000 Petfriendly

• Free Mobile Apps

• Over 65,000 Photos

Call 310.395.7368

North Central District 300 East olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91502 Date: December 08, 2014 Hon. Mary Thornton House

Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 12/15, 12/22, 12/29, 01/05/2015

the LOFT expert!

TM

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555 TheLoftExpertGroup.com DRE # 01309009

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

TheLoftExpertGroup.com BRE #01309009

Voted BEST Downtown Residential Real Estate Agent!

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $795 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA.

Monthly from $700+ utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

16 Downtown News

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

January 5, 2015

Six More People Worth Watching A Few Downtowners Who Will Shake Up the Scene in 2015

By Eddie Kim and Jon Regardie wisting the Times: Former big-shot businessman and first deputy mayor Austin Beutner became publisher of the L.A. Times in August, and his first big move was killing the LatExtra section and reviving the California section. It was a good start, but given the shifting economics of the news biz, it’s just that — a start. In 2015 Beutner, along with his new deputy

T

Grand Tower

255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

Promenade Towers

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

museum Tower

225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

photo by Gary Leonard

In 2015, L.A. Times publisher Austin Beutner has to take L.A.’s biggest news vehicle into the future.

publisher, Internet whiz Nicco Mele, need to figure out the paper’s future digital strategy.

The Art of Change: MOCA’s disastrous years under Director Jeffrey Deitch are in the past, but the future of the institution is hardly clear. Philippe Vergne was named director last January, and this year his curatorial focus will come into view, in part with exhibits of work by William Pope and Matthew Barney. However, MOCA is about to get a huge new competitor across the street in The Broad, and while the economy has recovered, raising money still isn’t easy.

Crime and Punishment: City Attorney Mike Feuer had a strong 2014, with advances in the fight against illegal pot clinics and billboards. He revived the neighborhood prosecutor program and, in Downtown, made some big splashes in combating “dumping” of homeless people in Skid Row. Still, dumping endures, and the pot shops and billboards continue to proliferate.

Feuer is a rising figure in the city, but he can’t afford to relax.

Clip Ship: Angelenos rejoiced when Donald Sterling gave up the Clippers last year and billionaire Steve Ballmer took over.

The Seattle-ite has been a breath of loud, fresh air, but now it’s all about winning. Ballmer has empowered coach Doc Rivers, but is there anything he can do from the owner’s suite to help get Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and co. past the second round of the playoffs? If nothing else, Ballmer is a blast to watch at games.

Transportation Equation: Seleta Reynolds became general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation in August after three years with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. She has a lot of ideas about pedestrian safety, improving streetscapes and using big data to track behavior.

Will Reynolds, who had never lived in L.A., be able to handle the sprawling agency? Will she be able to handle the bike lobby, local politics and the other challenges? Time will tell.

Culinary Challenge: The undisputed king of Historic Core restaurants is Josef Centeno, as he now runs four Old Bank District eateries: Bar Amá, Orsa & Winston, Baco Mercat and Pete’s, which last month became Ledlow Swan. The Pete’s change has sparked plenty of clucking from former regulars who dislike the more expensive dishes and the austere decor. But Centeno remains one of the city’s best chefs, and plenty of people will be eating his food, and weighing in on it, throughout the year.