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getting ready for a teachers’ strike Page 5

check out a $500 million project Page 8

JANUARY 7, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #1

String Theory in Little Tokyo Ukulele Program Brings Area Seniors Together

photo courtesy of Keiro

See Page 12

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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AROUND TOWN

Man Charged in Slaying of Homeless Individual

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man was charged on Dec. 23 for allegedly murdering a homeless individual in Downtown Los Angeles the previous month.

Fred Scott Johnson, 23, will be arraigned on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles Superior Court for allegedly attacking Fernando Perez, 58, as he sat on a bench at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue. Surveillance video captured the Nov. 6 assault by a man in a gray sweatshirt. The video included graphic footage of the victim being stabbed multiple times. Perez died two days later in an area hospital. Johnson and 28-year-old Savannah McKinley were arrested on Dec. 22 in Anaheim after the LAPD received an anonymous tip. Police described both as possible transients. McKinley was not charged in the case and has since been released from police custody.

Urth Caffe Vows To Return After Fire

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enizens of the Arts District awoke to the sound of sirens on Dec. 28,

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as nearly 100 firefighters responded to a blaze at Urth Caffé. The fire started at 6:45 a.m. in the popular cafe and restaurant’s coffee roasting department, according to Urth. It quickly spread to the attic, but did not damage the cafe itself. Videos on Los Angeles Fire Department social media accounts showed firefighters on the roof of the establishment at 459 S. Hewitt St. The firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to any nearby buildings. Shallom Berkman, owner of Urth Caffé, said they hope to resume operations shortly. In a Dec. 30 prepared statement, Berkman said, “We are expecting to open the cafe any day after [the] Health Department cleared us on Friday afternoon and agreed to separate the cafe from the repair work in the coffee roasting department.” According to LAFD officials, no one was injured in the fire and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. As of late last week, the cafe had yet to reopen.

City Launches Earthquake Early Warning App

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ngelenos now have something that has long been desired in the seismically active region. On Thursday, Jan. 3, local leaders launched a new mobile app, ShakeAlertLA, making Los Angeles the first city with an early warning smartphone application. Shake-

JANUARY 7, 2019

AlertLA was developed by a partnership between the office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, the United States Geological Survey, AT&T and the Annenberg Foundation. “We created the ShakeAlertLA app because getting a few seconds’ heads-up can make a big difference if you need to pull to the side of the road, get out of an elevator, or drop, cover, and hold on,” Garcetti said in a prepared statement. The system, drawn from USGS data, warns smartphone users when an earthquake of a magnitude 5.0 or greater occurs in the greater Los Angeles area. Along with the warning, it includes tips for preparing for an earthquake, and a map of recent tremors.

The app is free and also offers Spanish-language services.

Help Decide Where People Will Vote in 2020

L

os Angeles County will change its voting protocols in 2020, setting up “vote centers” instead of traditional polling places. These centers will allow people to vote over an 11-day period — elections are scheduled in March and November — rather than just on election day. In advance of that, the organization Arts for L.A. and the L.A. County Music Center are hosting a meeting on Saturday, Jan. 12, in Downtown to help people learn about the new system and get feedback on where the vote cen-

ters should be located. The event is part of the Vote Center Placement Project. The two-hour meeting starts at 10 a.m. on the second floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 135 N. Grand Ave. The event is free to attend (and includes free validated parking at the Music Center) but registration is required. The last day to register is Monday, Jan. 7. For more information and registration, visit artsforla.org/vcpp.

15 Museums Under One Roof

W

hy spend a weekend bouncing from museum to museum when you can get a taste of some of Los Angeles’ favorites in one location? More than 15 libraries, portable exhibits and mobile museums will set up shop at the Central Library on Sunday, Jan. 13, for the inaugural Mobile Museum Fair. The free, family-friendly event at 630 W. Fifth St. will feature books and activities organized by participants including the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, the African American Museum of Miniatures, the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. The event runs from 1-5 p.m. and is part of the 21 Collections: Every Object Has a Story exhibit that highlights the impact of personal collections. There is also ample onsite parking. More information is at lfla.org/event/ the-mobile-museum-fair.

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S H O P T H E L AT E S T S T Y L E S AT H & M , N O R D S T R O M R A C K , T A R G E T, Z A R A , A N D M O R E .

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TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

A Bike Project With Promise, and a Huge Price Tag

T

he Los Angeles River Bike Path Gap Closure Project sparks divergent thoughts. On the one hand, it has the potential to be a key component in a regional bike network and could offer a viable alternative to driving into Downtown Los Angeles. On the other hand, there’s a gasp-inducing, knee-shaking cost: $365 million for eight miles.

That works out to more than $45 million per mile, and this is well before construction even begins. We have seen time and again how prices rise as a project is refined and then after it breaks ground and the unexpected comes into play. While it might finish at budget, it’s also not unreasonable to expect that, by the anticipated opening date in 2025-2027, the cost could hit $400 million, or $50 million a mile for a path for two wheelers.

Is that too much? The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is spearheading the project, says the price is in line with other bike path efforts in places ranging from Oregon to New Zealand. We acknowledge that a path along the river has a wealth of geographical, engineering and logistical challenges; working around train tracks and rail yards, and in some locations building elevated or cantilevered sections, is not cheap.

Still, the total cost is hard to stomach, and one has to ask if the price can come down. The fact that the money has already been earmarked — the bike path will be funded through Measure M funds approved

by L.A. County voters in 2016 — doesn’t mean you stop searching for more economically efficient approaches.

It’s worth looking closely at the cost because this could be an important project. Once finished, it would complete an already extensive path, running along the western banks of the river in Downtown and connecting to existing bike paths to the north and south. Ultimately people would be able to pedal 32 miles uninterrupted in safe lanes along the river, traveling from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach.

The project would also complement the numerous bike-friendly endeavors in Downtown. These include the $20 million MyFigueroa that opened last year and the protected, green-striped lanes on numerous busy thoroughfares. The river project proposes four access points in the heart of Downtown and others just outside the freeway ring. This network of safe, connected paths creates an opportunity for casual cyclists to leave the car at home and pedal to work.

The bike path is years from construction, and that’s another frustrating element. It is currently in what Metro terms the conceptual design stage, which would be followed by three years of environmental clearance and design. A groundbreaking would not occur until 2023 at the soonest, and if the late completion target is hit, it would be more than eight years before this opens. It’s hard to get excited about that timeline.

We like the idea of the bike path, but something should be done regarding the cost and the timeframe. Metro has many smart, forward-thinking employees. The agency should put some of the best on this project and see what happens.

Ninth Street

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Santa

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COMMENTS

Regarding the editorial “The Crisis of Children on Skid Row”

much pollution for just one person?

Having worked in Skid Row before, I can attest that very little is being done, in spite of the passing of all the propositions. This is a travesty and the mayor should be ashamed of himself.

—Ed Olivas

Regarding the article “Richelle Huizar Quits City Council Race,” by Jon Regardie

Regarding the article “Metro Explores $365 Million Riverside Bike Path,” by Sean P. Thomas This is wonderful news. I use the river path, both the upper and lower sections. The way it is now, it is no fun to go from one to the other.

—Ruben Pages What a waste of money. This should be stopped. The city should fix the darn potholes in the roads rather than let joy riders play at the river.

—Jennifer Partlow Stop using your car. There will be no more potholes that way — money saved. What people need is to ditch the cars and use more public transportation, bicycles and scooters, which will mean less pollution and less waste.

In most cars there is only one person. Why is there so EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

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Well, it’s official. There goes that “Huizar dynasty” this very paper mentioned seemingly just the other day.

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Preparing for a Pointless Strike The Money Divide Could Be Bridged, But the Fight Between the Teachers Union and the LAUSD Continues. Why?

By Jon Regardie n Los Angeles, political power plays are the norm. The city is host to knives-out elections and kiss-the-ring machinations at their finest (or maybe at their worst). The action is often simultaneously entertaining and brutal.

This week, the situation will ratchet up a notch. That’s because, on Thursday, Jan. 10, more than 30,000 educators are

I

THE REGARDIE REPORT poised to walk out of their jobs, a move that will plunge hundreds of thousands of area families into chaos. Although I’ve followed the tumult closely for months, I finally have to admit: I don’t get what the strike is about and who ultimately stands to benefit.

Families can’t figure out whether to send their kids to school or keep them home. Parents are taking sides guided as much by emotion as rationale. A half-million kids stand to have their education kneecapped.

We can hope for a last-minute save, but if the teachers walk out, there’s no way anyone ultimately “wins.”

I know what United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing teachers, school nurses, librarians and other employees, says a strike is about, and give them credit — the union brass are totally carpe diem-ing, building on teachers’ strikes across the nation that have garnered public support.

The underpaid teacher fighting for her or his students makes for a compelling narrative, and one that gains some credence when positioned against the specter of the Los Angeles Unified School District. This is the bureaucracy that produced bungles like 2013’s super-expensive, ultimately

thwarted iPads-for-all campaign. Historically the LAUSD, with its revolving door of superintendents, has been as graceful as a herd of inebriated rhinoceroses in a crystal shop.

And yet… seemingly the biggest single issue in the dispute between UTLA and the LAUSD appears bridgeable, with recommendations from last month’s “Fact Finding” report laying out a path to resolve the matter of salary increases. The union wants a 6.5% pay hike retroactive to 2016, while the district has offered a 6% raise, with half of that going back to 2018 and the remainder to 2017.

The “Fact Finding” panel had three members, one each affiliated with the union and district side, and the third a neutral party. In the report, the neutral dude recommended that UTLA accept the LAUSD offer. So did the panel member affiliated with the teachers union.

In other words, the teachers who are about to walk out have the chance to get paid something pretty close to what they want. Given that the educators stand to lose anywhere between a few days and -a few weeks of pay while on the picket lines, one could argue that this sets the stage for the most pointless strike ever.

More Than Salary Alex Caputo-Pearl, the head of UTLA, would disagree with my assertion. I know that because, at a Dec. 19 press conference, he said as much, and then did sought to slam LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner, which is the union’s go-to public strategy.

“Austin Beutner is very clearly trying to make this a salary-only negotiation,” Caputo-Pearl said that day. He soon added, “We are not going to agree on something that is sala-

Great Friends

photo by Jon Regardie

Austin Beutner became superintendent of the LAUSD eight months ago.

He says accepting the contract terms sought by the teachers union would bankrupt the district.

ry-only. We’re not going to agree on something that is salary and a couple other things.”

Maybe I’m a dunderhead, but why not? Teachers in August voted overwhelmingly to allow UTLA to call a strike, but the district’s current raise offer wasn’t on the table then. Give the union credit for upping the pay.

UTLA maintains that other issues are equally important, particularly the need to reduce class sizes. It’s a valid argument, though one with plenty of nuances — a skilled teacher with a strong support network can handle a class whether it’s 28 or 36 students or more. On the other hand, a couple disruptive kids can torpedo a classroom even if there are only 24 students. The mitigating factors go on and on.

The neutral member of the “Fact Finding” panel suggested that the LAUSD set aside money equivalent to 1%-3% of the total salary increase for more hires. The LAUSD has offered up Continued on page 11

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By Nicholas Slayton our months ago, city and county leaders gathered around five trailers in a former parking lot near El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument to open the first “A Bridge Home” transitional housing shelter. The 45-bed facility, formally known as El Puente, was the first in a series of shelters scheduled to open in all 15 Los Angeles City Council districts as the region seeks to address a homelessness crisis.

The Bridge Home shelters, large ly planned for areas near where clusters of tent encampments have arisen, have proved controversial, with neighbors in many communities charging that they will create a permanent base for homeless individuals and attract crime and even more tents. In pushing for the program, Mayor Eric Garcetti promised that communities where the shelters rise will see increased security and street cleaning on neighboring blocks, and the prohibition of tent encampments during the day.

El Puente opened Sept. 10, and city officials say that no major problems have been reported. Yet even before the project debuted, some concern was expressed about enforcement activities aimed at homeless individuals who have nowhere else to go.

The shelter’s 45 beds — 30 for men and 15 for women — are full, said Amy Perkins, associate director for LAHSA’s Access and Engagement Department, and seven people have been matched with permanent supportive housing (although not all of them have moved into new homes).

F

The space at 711 N. Alameda St. comprises a deck and five trailers (three with 15 beds each, one with bathrooms and laundry facilities, and one with offices for case workers) and is operated by the nonprofit The People Concern. It is scheduled to run for three years; the first year is budgeted at $2.4 million with each subsequent year costing $1.3 million.

“When the site opened, the beds filled in 48 hours. We have over 50 people who have interest in going into the site when a bed opens,” said Christina Miller, Garcetti’s deputy mayor for city homeless initiatives.

“The People Concern has case managers on site 24 hours a day. We have twice a week calls with them to see if any needs they have are addressed.”

As part of A Bridge Home, LAHSA has outreach teams working in the surrounding community four days a week, Perkins said. Those teams connect with homeless individuals and try to persuade them to accept emergency housing or help put them on the path to taking a bed in the El Puente shelter. It has been estimated that people would stay at El Puente for three to six months before they transition to more permanent housing.

“We’ve heard from outreach teams since it opened that many people experiencing homelessness in the area who might have been hesitant before are now saying yes, if a bed opens I’d like to go inside,” Perkins said.

Miller said that El Puente has not functioned as a magnet for homeless people

JANUARY 7, 2019

from elsewhere in Downtown. The number of unsheltered individuals in the area has decreased, she said, and people are not coming to the neighborhood for the new services.

Matters of Enforcement The Bridge Home program includes a sidewalk cleaning and enforcement policy. Inside a “special enforcement zone,” bounded by Broadway, Arcadia and Alameda streets and Cesar Chavez Avenue, there are sidewalk cleanings every weekday (smaller ones Monday and Wednesday-Friday, and a “comprehensive” cleanup every Tuesday that the Bureau of Sanitation organizes). There are also security patrols to prevent tents from going up on sidewalks during the day from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

The enforcement has had a noticeable impact, according to Chris Espinosa, general manager of El Pueblo, which is a city department. He said the number of tents in the area had previously been increasing.

Initial plans called for enforcement efforts to begin Oct. 10, but program operators have sought to be lenient and work with homeless individuals in the area to try to avoid citations. Perkins said that approach continues, as LAHSA’s outreach teams are taking the lead instead of police.

Perkins added that the teams are working to get homeless individuals to voluntarily get rid of their trash by handing it over to Bureau of Sanitation workers.

When plans for the enforcement zone were announced, concerns were raised. The Legal Aid Foundation, a law firm that represents lower-income individuals, sent a letter to Garcetti’s office, saying that homeless people need more sanitation and health resources, “not encampment sweeps and criminalization.”

“Our clients do not object to street cleanings or the provision of sanitation services; in fact, some have been advocating for those services for years” the letter continued.

Legal Aid representatives would not discuss the activity on surrounding streets since El Puente opened. However, in a prepared statement to Los Angeles Downtown News, Legal Aid Foundation staff attorney Shayla Myers was critical of the enforcement zones, calling them “another form of segregation,” and questioned whether they provide any benefits.”

“The increased presence of police around the shelter does not help the more than 50 people on the waiting list for El Puente and is a waste of critical financial resources,” Myers said in the statement. “It also perpetuates the false narrative that homeless people are to blame for their lack of housing, instead of placing the blame on a massive affordable housing crisis and 30 years of failed housing policy.”

Miller would not specifically address Legal Aid’s letter or other criticisms, but said that authorities want to avoid any conflict and help homeless individuals safely store their belongings. She said that outreach teams have focused on getting people to voluntarily comply with the enforcement rules, and have not had to issue many citations.

“There’s little or no interest on the city’s part to confiscate people’s belongings,” she said.

During the day, there are noticeably fewer tents inside the enforcement zone than before El Puente opened. Arcadia Street, which Espinosa said had the largest concentration of encampments before the shelter debuted, is clear, while streets just south and outside of the zone, such as Aliso Street, have a scattering of tents. Espinosa said El Pueblo staff have noticed improvements during the day.

“Of course, people can still come and sleep at Continued on page 9

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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JANUARY 7, 2019

The Residential High Life Massive $500 Million Circa Project Comes Online

photo by Nicholas Slayton

Circa apartments rent for $3.50-$4.75 per square foot, with the largest penthouses going for $25,000 a month.

Units include travertine countertops, Bosch appliances and Nest thermostats.

By Nicholas Slayton n a supercharged development scene, it barely counts as news anymore when a Downtown housing project opens. As Los Angeles Downtown News recently reported, eight market-rate developments are coming online in the South Park area in the space of about six months, bringing a total of more than 3,300 rental units.

Yet amid that torrid pace, the Circa project stands out. That happens with a $500 million budget and a design that literally alters the Downtown Los Angeles skyline.

Circa, from a development team of Hankey Investment Company and Jamison Services, began move-ins on Oct. 1. It marks the culmination of a project that was first announced six years ago.

The development at 1200 S. Figueroa St. consists of a pair of curving, 35-story towers with a total of 648 luxury-priced units. It has an 18,000-square-foot wraparound digital screen on the podium.

The decision to build an upscale project came from analyzing market trends and growth in the South Park neighborhood, according to Scott Dobbins, president of Hankey Investment Company. He pointed to the development’s location — just steps from both the Los Angeles Convention Center and

UPCOMING

I

the southern entrance of Staples Center — and said the investment team saw an opportunity to cater to a luxury market that didn’t want to plunk down seven figures for permanent ownership.

“Many of the developments nearby are condominiums. There was an untapped opportunity in the South Park neighborhood to erect the first residences that are both luxury and that are rentals,” Dobbins said.

The project is 25% leased, according to general manager Chad Vasquez of Greystar, which is managing the building. Full occupancy is expected by the end of 2019.

Circa’s twin glass-and-steel towers are linked by a seven-story podium with a twoacre amenities deck on the eighth floor. The deck offers two pools as well as two dog parks — one for large canines, the other for smaller ones. There is also a fitness center next to one pool, as well as barbecues and fire pits.

The eighth floor deck also has lounges at the base of each tower. The east tower’s lounge is designed like a library, though in addition to the bookshelves there is a bar.

The west tower sports billiard tables and another bar. There’s a also a business center with a conference room and private meeting spaces.

photo by Gary Leonard

The project at 1200 S. Figueroa St. has 648 apartments and an 18,000-square-foot digital billboard.

Rents at Circa go for $3.50-$4.75 per square foot, which puts them on the upper end of the local pricing spectrum. An 800-square-foot one-bedroom apartment on the 20th floor is priced at $3,800 per month, Vasquez said. A 1,898-square-foot two-bedroom unit on the same level of the west tower is $7,000. The top three floors in both

buildings hold penthouses, the most expensive of which rents for $25,000. Vasquez said rates in the west tower are slightly higher, due to its views overlooking the Convention Center and Staples Center.

The units themselves are sleek, sporting travertine counters and translucent, offwhite kitchen cabinets and doors. There are

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EL PUEBLO, 7

photo by Nicholas Slayton

Circa’s eighth floor deck has two pools as well as a pair of dog runs.

Nest thermostats, Bosch stoves and washer and dryers.

Residences have keyless entry systems, walk-in closets and 9-foot 6-inch ceilings. A majority of apartments have small balconies.

Crowded Field The mega-project was first broached in 2012, when the construction scene started to pick up momentum after emerging from the recession. The development team acquired a 2.7-acre parcel that had been used as a parking lot.

Circa is one of a handful of large, luxury-focused projects to emerge around the Convention Center and Staples Center. Greenland USA’s four-tower Metropolis complex is bringing 1,558 condominiums over three phases and a 350-room Hotel Indigo; the development is budgeted at $1 billion. Another $1 billion effort, Oceanwide Plaza, is rising just north of Circa, and will create 504 condos and a 184room Park Hyatt hotel, as well as 166,000 square feet of retail space.

Both of those projects come from Chinese developers, as does a third effort planned for the site of the Luxe City Center Hotel across from L.A. Live. Developer Shenzhen Hazens plans a $700 million mixed-use effort that will have 435 condos and a 300-room hotel.

Dobbins declined to specify a target demographic for Circa residents, but noted that some of the initial tenants have relocated from San Francisco and New York City.

Steve Basham, senior market analyst with the firm Costar, said Circa will likely be a local draw, with people relocating from the Westside. He noted that many people already commute to Downtown from Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.

Alex LiMandri, founding principal partner of the residential brokerage firm DTLA Life, agreed, saying that Circa will likely lure people from Hollywood and Santa Monica.

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As part of new enforcement rules that came with the shelter, sidewalks around El Pueblo are kept clear of tents during the day.

night. It’s their right,” Espinosa added.

Espinosa said there has been a mixed reaction to the shelter from merchants at nearby Olvera Street, but that people are noticing things like the clearer sidewalks.

Helping matters is a pair of storage trailers set up by the nonprofit Chrysalis. The trailers, next to the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic church, each hold 40 bins, and allow people to voluntarily store their belongings during the day. One is full, Espinosa said, while the other is about one-quarter filled.

City leaders said additional benefits come from having a stable, safe shelter program. City Councilman José Huizar, whose 14th District includes Downtown Los Angeles and El Pueblo, said in a statement that having a place to live is transformative for those on the streets.

“While our goal for all of these individuals is longterm housing, we cannot underestimate the immense benefit, stability and clarity they all get from having the same bed to sleep in, access to restrooms, showers and meals, along with an array of social, health, job and rehabilitative services,” Huizar said in a statement to Downtown News.

Other A Bridge Home spaces are in the works. The former Hollywood Studio Club has been converted into a facility. Late last year, the City Council approved a 154bed shelter in Venice. The city is also looking at two other spaces in Downtown, including the former Los Angeles Children’s Museum near City Hall. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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However, Basham pointed out that the potential tenant pool at this price point is limited.

“There are only so many households and families that can afford that much a month for an apartment,” he said.

“But Downtown has become more of a viable option for those who can.”

Still more residential buildings that charge in the vicinity of $4 a square foot are opening. The 888 Grand Hope Park debuted in September, and the Onni Group’s 825 South Hill is expected to open this month. Dobbins said the investment team does not anticipate being negatively affected by those projects, saying Circa, as a luxury project, is not directly competing for the same tenant base.

LiMandri said that Circa’s viability in the market is strong, in part because more people who can afford luxury units are moving out of the Westside and heading Downtown.

Basham said that, according to data from a wave of projects that opened in 2014-2016, Downtown developments take approximately a year to reach full occupancy. He said the 25% leasing level in the early stage is a good start and it indicates an appetite for projects with that price point and level of amenities.

Dobbins is naturally optimistic for Circa, and pointed to the imbalance of jobs versus residents in the Central City — it is estimated that more than 400,000 people work in the neighborhood, while only about 70,000 live here, forcing everyone else to commute.

Dobbins expects that Downtown can continue to absorb more units.

As for the massive video screen wrapped around Circa’s podium, it is being used for ads. Perhaps because it is so close to a major sports center, on a recent day it was showing advertisements for Nike. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

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STRIKE, 5 to $30 million annually on that aim. There’s no agreement, but the issue of hiring more staff — which leads to more union members — seems like something where there could be more discussion.

The problem is, well, the discussion and the history of it. Negotiations over a new contract have been ongoing for 20 months — Beutner, by the way, only became superintendent last May — and the parties have rarely played well in the sandbox together.

The “Fact Finding” report noted that there have been more than 20 bargaining sessions and there remain 21 points of dispute. The report then stated, “From the information provided to the Neutral Panel member regarding this bargaining history, there seems to have been almost no progress made on any issue, which normally would be reflected in multiple counter offers being exchanged by each side that reduces the issues between the parties. “ I would say besides that everything is peachy, but that’s not the case. At the press conference Caputo-Pearl said UTLA was done negotiating unless LAUSD materially changes its offer. He then set the strike date.

The Audit Letter So what’s really going on? Much of it concerns money and trust. The LAUSD currently has a reserve fund of about $1.8 billion.

That’s huge, but the district says long-term financial trends make the future unsteady.

Enrollment across the LAUSD has been de-

clining, and the district gets a payment from the state for each student; fewer students means less money. At the same time, pension and healthcare costs are soaring. The district maintains that about $500 million of the reserve is already allocated for the current school year, and warns that the enrollment/pension-healthcare equation will cause it to lose hundreds of millions of dollars each year in the future. Beutner says the district could be insolvent in a few years.

UTLA says poppycock, though privately its leaders probably use a different word. They point out that past projections of future district deficits proved illusory, and predict the same will happen now. They want hundreds of millions to be spent immediately.

I understand the mistrust based on past projections, but still, some things are hinky.

Beutner has offered to allow UTLA to audit its books. At the press conference, Caputo-Pearl was asked if he had taken the district up on the offer.

“We have,” he responded. “About three months ago we sent a letter… saying that we want to audit the books. They have not responded.”

Perchance I don’t understand the complexities of bargaining, but what?! If I were about to bring 30,000 people to picket lines and throw the education of 500,000 K-12 students into uncertainty, then I’d do everything possible to get a complete grasp on district finances. I’m not sure how sending one letter exhausts all possibilities. Heck, an audit that finds that money is available for immediate spending would be the best possible ammu-

At a press conference last month, Alex Caputo-Pearl, head of the union United Teachers Los Angeles, announced that 30,000 teachers, librarians, school nurses and other employees will strike on Thursday, Jan. 10, unless the LAUSD substantially changes its contract offer. photo by Jon Regardie

nition for a strike.

Additionally, UTLA’s announcement that it would stop negotiating was bizarre. The release of the “Fact Finding” report should be the impetus for more talks. The union followed that up two days later by calling for a moratorium on new charter schools. That’s a nice attention grabber, but it has nothing to do with the matter at hand.

Of course, saying you won’t negotiate is just a negotiating tactic. But things are scary.

On Wednesday, Jan. 2, LAUSD sent a press release saying UTLA has refused to come to the table.

“We are willing to work around the clock to resolve all of the outstanding issues, but we cannot make progress if UTLA will not even meet or engage in any discussions,” Beutner said in the statement.

This process has more twists than a David Mamet movie, and after the LAUSD statement UTLA called for talks to begin again on Monday, Jan. 7. The LAUSD agreed, so there’s hope.

Will it prevent a strike? I’d bet four shiny pennies this will lead to a breakthrough, but that’s only because I don’t mind losing four shiny pennies.

So again, what’s really going on? LAUSD has suggested that Caputo-Pearl wants a strike, whether for bargaining reasons or something else. UTLA denies the assertion, but its public rhetoric has frequently been poisonous and personal.

The worst could come on Thursday. The hope that Mayor Eric Garcetti or another leader would insert him or herself into the proceedings and find common ground has not yet happened.

Los Angeles is about to enter a bitter era, one where some students march with their picketing teachers and others walk by them to enter school. No one knows how long a strike will last. No one knows how devastating it will be.

But I have to ask, with the key money issue apparently solvable, is this really worth it? regardie@downtownnews.com

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NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE

1st & BROADWAY CIVIC CENTER PARK PROJECT

PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING: The project site is located at the northeast corner of 1st Street and Broadway in the Civic Center area of downtown Los Angeles. The address is at 126 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. The project site is generally bound by Los Angeles County’s Grand Park adjacent on the north, Spring Street on the east, 1st Street on the south, and Broadway on the west. The project site is currently a vacant dirt lot that is fenced in to restrict access. The area immediately surrounding the project site is completely urbanized and developed with Grand Park and a Los Angeles County courthouse to the north, the Los Angeles City Hall and City Hall Park to the east, the Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters to the southeast, office buildings and the Times Mirror building (formerly the Los Angeles Times building) to the south, the Los Angeles Federal Courthouse to the southwest, and the Los Angeles Law Library to the west.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In 2013, the City of Los Angeles acquired the project site from the State of California, with the intent to seek development opportunities that would reduce blight, and increase the health and safety at the site. The acquisition process included site demolition, and hazardous materials remediation and abatement activities. The project site is currently a vacant dirt lot that is used as a surface parking facility and holds occasional special events. The proposed project includes construction of a 1.96-acre park, featuring both landscaped and hardscaped areas to accommodate a wide variety of park activities, programs, and events, at the northeast corner of West 1st Street and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. The proposed project would also include a new two-story, 19,200-square-foot building for restaurant uses. Other site improvements would include a bicycle parking area, outdoor seating areas, landscaping with a variety of plants and trees for public enjoyment, walking pathways and passive recreational uses, and new lighting. The intent of the proposed project is to create a world-class iconic park at the core of Los Angeles’ Civic Center area. Construction of the proposed project would last for approximately two years beginning in Summer/ Fall 2019 and concluding in Summer/Fall 2021.

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PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: The proposed project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration will be circulated for a thirty (30) day public review period, beginning on January 3, 2019 and ending on February 4, 2019. Copies of the document are available for review at the following locations:

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4. Council District 14 Office, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 5. City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, EMG, 1149 S. Broadway, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90015 A copy of the document may also be obtained by contacting Talmage Maxwell Jordan of the Bureau of Engineering at (213) 485-5754, by visiting the office address listed below, or by viewing the Bureau of Engineering website at: http://eng.lacity.org/techdocs/emg/projects.htm.

All comments must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 4, 2019 by mailing, emailing (please include “First and Broadway Civic Center Park Comments” in the subject line), faxing to (213) 847-0656, or hand delivery to: Talmage Maxwell Jordan, City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, 1149 S Broadway, Suite 600, Mail Stop 939, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Comments may also be submitted by email to Talmage.Jordan@lacity.org.

PUBLIC MEETING: A public meeting will be held during the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration public review period to solicit comments from interested parties on the content of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium, 100 W 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

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12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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photo courtesy of Keiro

Building Bridges Through Ukuleles The Ukes for Little Tokyo program was launched in an effort to prevent social isolation and spark a sense of camaraderie amongst area residents. Every week 25 to 30 students attend.

Little Tokyo Program Brings Seniors Together With Music

By Sean P. Thomas hen Tadao Sakamoto was a young man in Japan, he played the shamisen, a long-necked, three-stringed taiko instrument similar to a guitar or banjo. The shamisen is a staple in traditional Japanese folk songs such as “Sakura” and “Soran Bushi.”

Now, 82 and a resident of Little Tokyo, Sakamoto is still plucking away. The only difference is, he’s added a string.

On a Thursday afternoon, Sakamoto was one of about 25 senior citizens who had gathered on the first floor of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center to learn the ukulele. It was the JACCC’s weekly Ukes for Little Tokyo class, a program intended to combat social isolation amongst Japanese-speaking elderly individuals.

Through an interpreter, Sakamoto said that the class gives him an activity to look forward to each week now that he no longer works.

“I can learn to play the songs that I learned as a child,” he said. “It’s very nostalgic. But also, I have made new friends through this. Those are exciting moments for me.”

Making connections is the focus of Ukes for Little Tokyo, according to program curator Jason Arimoto. The hour-long class helps entice an older generation to leave their homes and mingle with other individuals. The goal is to foster connections

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through an instrument he described as “accessible to the population that we are trying to serve.”

The class is free. Each student is given a ukulele to practice with, and after 25 hours of the program the seniors are allowed to keep the instrument. Although there is no hard-and-fast age limit, students tend to be 64 to 83, said Kent Marume, community engagement coordinator at the JACCC. The learning curve is simultaneously obtainable yet challenging enough to keep the musicians engaged, Arimoto said. With just three chords, hundreds of familiar songs and melodies can be composed.

The focus is less on technical expertise and more on creating a welcoming environment through music, Arimoto said.

While arthritis or other muscle and joint conditions can make it hard for seniors to glide their hands and digits across the neck of the instrument, that’s not a problem in this classroom.

“If you can get three out of the four strings, that’s good,” Arimoto said. “It’s about enjoying it. It’s about empowering people and bringing the community together so they can share in this experience of creating music.”

Communal Focus The program began more than two years ago with a grant from the Annenberg Foundation. The funding lasted a year and

provided ukulele classes at the JACCC in Japanese, Korean, English and Spanish.

Arimoto, who runs USpace, an amalgamation of a coffee shop and a ukulele store at the JACCC, organized the 20-week program.

After the grant expired, the Los Angeles-based Keiro organization stepped in.

Keiro, founded in 1961, focuses on quality-of-life improvements for Japanese and Japanese-American senior citizens, with a focus on reducing social isolation.

“We felt that this was a really innovative and unique approach to engaging Japanese-American older adults who live in the area,” said Brandon Masashige Leong, Keiro’s director of programs and strategic partnerships.

Marume said the Japanese-language classes were the most popular (they are now the only ones the center offers). He partly credited that to lead instructor Chester Ikei.

“He’s older and bilingual,” said Marume.

“The students are able to appeal to him on a peer-to-peer level. They are able to connect with him.”

Ikei works with Arimoto to ensure the program fits the needs of the students.

He said that when he and Arimoto select songs to practice in class, they lean on works that the participants would have sung during their youth. The reason is twofold: The songs jog the students’ memories, and help exercise their brain and hand-eye

coordination.

“Singing and playing instruments are two different things,” Ikei said. “If you want to sing and play, it can be hard.

But it’s easier because they don’t have to memorize everything. They already remember the melodies. It’s just a fun time they can spend singing and practicing.”

Jane Sakamoto, 70, who lives in the Little Tokyo Towers, said that singing the songs of her childhood is her favorite part of the class.

“There are so many songs that I hadn’t heard in years,” said Sakamoto, who is not related to Tadao Sakamoto “It’s so much fun.”

Sakamoto was introduced to the class through a friend almost a year ago. The playing doesn’t end at the JACCC door, as she often joins three or four friends every week to practice on their own before retuning to class.

“We kind of have our own little ukulele session,” she said with a smile.

The students also get an opportunity to perform in public. Marume said that the JACCC lines up two or three shows a year, including a Christmas program during the holiday season.

Leong views the program as a success on multiple levels: The students learn music, he said, and make new friends.

“I think it’s doing exactly what we intended it to do,” Leong said. sean@downtownnews.com

JANUARY 7, 2019

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Restaurant Buzz

“raucous, gungy, irresistibly exuberant...[and] exceptionally virtuosic.”

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Fried Chicken Sandwiches, the Big Diesel Returns to L.A. Live, and More Food and Drink News

photo courtesy The Red Chickz

The fried chicken craze in Downtown continues with the addition of another spicy poultry spot. The Red Chickz is scheduled to host its grand opening on Thursday, Jan. 10.

By Sean P. Thomas elebrity Cuisine: You can now book a table at “Top Chef” winner Mei Lin’s first restaurant. Lin began serving at her new Arts District establishment Nightshade on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

The space can best be described as an upscale casual dinner spot, with a menu that blends modern takes on Asian cuisine with influences from other cultures. Baja bay scallops, beef tartare and pork ragu lasagna are a few of the options on the menu. Nightshade squeezes into the space previously filled by Cerveteca. “Ultimately, my aim is to re-create dishes I’ve come to love over the course of my career and lifetime, learning how to do things the traditional ways, but infusing new flavors and maybe some non-conventional techniques to achieve my ideal version of it,” Lin said in a prepared statement. The location is open Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 5:30-10:30 p.m., and 5:30-11:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday.

At 923 E. Third St., (213) 626-8888 or nightshadela.com.

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Bring the Heat: Does Downtown need even more hot chicken? According to the proprietors of Nashville, Tenn. hot chicken joint The Red Chickz, absolutely. A grand opening for the Historic Core establishment is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10. The menu is flush with variations of fried chicken, fried shrimp and chicken sandwiches, and Red Chickz will also serve chicken and waffles during weekend brunch. If you’re not into searing your taste buds, the restaurant offers six levels of heat, from “Cool” to “Inferno.” Sides include potato wedges, coleslaw and baked beans. Most entree options fall in the $10$15 range. The 1,000-square-foot space can hold 40 people.

Coming to 557 S. Spring St. or theredchickz.com.

Darken the Dance Floor: Downtown Los Angeles has seen its first big closure of the new year in the food and drink scene. The nightclub and cocktail bar Honeycut shut its doors on Sunday, Jan. 6, following news that the establishment was sold last month by 213 Hospitality. A representative for the previous owner did not identify the buyer, but did provide a statement from 213 Hospitality Director of Operations Dave Fernie. “All good things must come to an end,” the statement read. “When an offer to part ways with this disco baby became available, it was with a heavy heart that we accepted.” Honeycut, located at 819 S. Flower St. in South Park, opened in 2013 and became known for its Technicolor dance floor. No information was available as to what will replace Honeycut and how long the space will be closed.

Salad Surplus: The local roster of healthy eating options has expanded. Veggie Grill, a fast-casual vegetarian restaurant, opened its first Downtown outpost on Dec. 18. Veggie Grill, which launched in Irvine in 2006, has restaurants in four states.

The chain is known for its plant-based menu including the VG Beyond Burger, Mediterranean Supergreens salad and Santa Fe Crispy Chickin.’ “With this opening, Veggie Grill will be a part of Downtown Los Angeles’ revitalization and cater to a dynamic community who believes in our purpose — better for you. Better for the planet,” Veggie Grill CEO Steve Heely said in a prepared statement. The location is open from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends.

At 523 W. Sixth St. or veggiegrill.com.

The Big Diesel: The good news: Shaquille O’Neal is returning to Downtown Los Angeles this month. The bad news: He won’t be rejoining LeBron and the rest of the Continued on page 16

NADIA SIROTA: LIVING MUSIC LIVE! with wild Up

featuring Andrew Norman & Caroline Shaw

Sat, Jan 12 @ 8pm The Theatre at Ace Hotel cap.ucla.edu 310 825 2101

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Contemporary composition is in the spotlight this week at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. On Saturday, Jan. 12, Peabody Award winner Nadia Sirota, who is also the host of the podcast “Meet the Composer,” helms an evening featuring the work of Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw and the also highly decorated Andrew Norman. The evening, part of the CAP UCLA series, will feature a mix of interviews and live performances of large and small ensemble works, with musical help from Wild Up. Get ready to learn about the composers’ career paths in a wholly original and unpredictable way. The performance begins at 8 p.m. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or cap.ucla.edu.

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Does anything make you feel the passage of time more than growing children? No! Photographer and filmmaker Sharon Lockhart knows that and put it into the artistic process when she shot the children of the sleepy Southern California town Pine Flat over the course of three years.

Her work, “Pine Flat,” can be glimpsed at The Broad as part of the exhibition A Journey That Wasn’t, and this week is the subject of a film of the same name that will be screened at REDCAT. Taking place on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m., it follows Lockhart’s work with 12, ten-minute takes that reveal the subtle changes in the children’s appearance over time. At 631 W. Second St. or redcat.org.

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Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.

Jan. 13: More than a dozen musicians — including Mike Mills of REM — team up for a benefit concert supporting the victims of the recent wildfires.

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E.S. Onizuka St. Suite 301, (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

Jan. 7: øCOASTensemble has an album release show.

Jan. 8: The Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz Ensemble jams.

Jan. 10: Jacob Mann Trio.

Jan. 11: Daniel Rotem Group.

Jan. 12: Sarah Reich also has an album release show.

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

Jan. 7: Justus Proffit keeps puns alive in the new year.

Jan. 9: Albert and His Dreamboats used to be session musicians, so they can play.

Jan. 10: Chris Crofton is here.

Jan. 11: Circuit Des Yeux’s Haley Fohr has a show called “Wordless Music.” Go find out what that entails.

Jan. 12: Back to Back Live features Amin Elhassan, Zach Harper, Big Wos and more.

Jan. 13: The Memories, Super Lunch, Adult Beverage, and Shuggie Shooter all have pretty solid names.

The Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com.

Jan. 11: The Tens.

Jan. 13: Wicklow Atwater is in Skidrokyo. Time is a flat circle.

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

Jan. 11: Makj.

Jan. 12: Moon Boots, Miguel Migs, Marques Wyatt, Joseph Ashworth.

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

Jan. 8: Singer Trisha Yearwood performs songs off her new album of Frank Sinatra covers.

Ham and Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com.

Jan. 11: Sam Slick, Pulitzer, Riadosa, Faded Echo.

Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.

Jan. 7: Noice somehow blends punk rock and synth-tinged prog rock, plus a name straight out of the Internet. Also the amusingly named rockers Brother, Sister open.

Continued on next page

What happens when two rookie criminals plan a kidnapping? It doesn’t go well, as those who saw Desert Rats late last year can attest. The play written by Rufus Edelman earned strong reviews and is back at the Los Angeles Theatre Center for a short run. The show follows two brothers in the town of Barstow who attempt a kidnapping, but things hardly go as planned. Desert Rats, directed by Angie Scott, is a one-act that runs a concise 90 minutes, and it continues through Jan. 20. Performances this week are at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, and 4 p.m. on Sunday. At 514 S. Spring St. or thelatc.org.

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It’s the return of an L.A. favorite as John Adams grabs the baton at Walt Disney Concert Hall this week. What could make the performances on Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 10-13, better? How about Adams overseeing a program featuring both a world premiere of a piece by minimalist composer Phillip Glass, and a celebration of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s centennial season? In the aptly named “Adams & Glass” performances, Adams leads the Phil through Gabriella Smith’s Tumblebird Contrails and his own Grand Pianola Music. Then, after the intermission, it’s on to the world premiere of Symphony No. 12, Lodger, Glass’ take on David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy. Wow! Showtime is 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.org.

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SATURDAY, JAN. 12 Rock ‘n’ Roll Flea Market The Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com 11 a.m.: It’s a new year, so it’s time for new styles. So go get a bunch of old band shirts.

Nadia Sirota: Living Music Live!

With Wild Up Featuring Andrew Norman and Caroline Shaw The Theatre at Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.

8 p.m.: Sirota hosts a night of music, comedy and discussion about music and digs into the artistic development of composers Shaw and Norman.

SUNDAY, JAN. 13 We’re All Gonna Die! Dystopian Book Club with Peter Clines The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: It’s a new year, but we’re all still doomed. So enjoy a discussion of Margaret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake.”

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

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Turning 50 is hard enough. Imagine hitting the half-century mark with some of the world’s greatest comedians cracking jokes at your expense.

Kevin Hart (shown here), Nick Cannon, Cedric The Entertainer, Tony Rock and Tommy Davidson are just a few of the funnymen scheduled to help take Hollywood veteran Guy Torry down a few pegs at the Torry’s 50th Birthday Roast at The Novo on Friday, Jan. 11. Expect some jabs at Torry’s history of minor appearances in shows including “Moesha,” “Martin” and ”Good News.” Sports personality Jemele Hill will host and the laughs begin at 8 p.m. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovodtla.com.

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EVENTS

THE DON'T MISS LIST

JANUARY 7, 2019

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

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14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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

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JANUARY 7, 2019

Jan. 9: Do you understand what rock band Convey is conveying to you? We apologize for this joke.

Jan. 10: Dirtwire mixes bluegrass, rock and even electronica.

Jan. 11: Zooluxx calls its funk sound “hoodoo boogaloo.” Do with that information what you will.

Jan. 12: The Undercover Dream Lovers will seduce you unconsciously.

Jan. 13: Experimental, avant-garde pop from SILENTSHOUT. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

Jan. 10: New rap from Slim Bambino.

The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovodtla.com.

Jan. 12: Fronted by former members of Sublime, the Long Beach Dub Allstars are doing a $5 show.

The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

Jan. 7: Doc Gun, Water Tower, Apollo Era. Jan. 8: The Mike Livingston Duo. Jan. 9: Death on the Radio, Tarah Who? Jan. 10: King Cardinal, The Storytellers, The Broadcast Station.

Jan. 11: The Claws, The Paper Hearts, Villains in Vogue.

Jan. 12: Get hardcore with Diabology, Invader, BRaIN DEaD and, for the best band name of the week, Zombie Eating Horse.

The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

Jan. 11: The Blank Minds, Truck Box, Jungle Chainz, Dr. Cosdem.

Jan. 12: Cinder Cone, RedRumsey, Oxox.

Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

Jan. 11: Amen Dunes brings his brand of experimental folk rock to City West.

Jan. 12: Emo Night Brooklyn.

THEATER

Linda Vista Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Jan. 9-12, 8 p.m., and Jan. 13, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: Having just turned 50, a man who has hit rock bottom tries to get his life together in this tragic comedy from playwright Tracy Letts.

Through Feb. 17.

Desert Rats The Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org.

Jan. 12, 8 p.m. and Jan. 13, 4 p.m.: This dark comedy returns for a second run in Downtown. Two brothers plot a kidnapping in Barstow and things inevitably go wrong. Through Jan. 20.

Noche de Tablao Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m.: Flamenco star Briseyda Zárate dances and sings through the night.

FILM

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

Who doesn’t love pandas? The adorable bears take center stage in the appropriately titled Pandas 3D. Kristen Bell narrates the film about the efforts to reintroduce captive-born pandas into the wild.

Patrick Stewart narrates Journey to Space 3D, about the effort to send astronauts to Mars. Since we’ll never go to space ourselves, at least we can hear Captain Jean-Luc Picard talk about it.

Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt.

Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or

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Through Jan. 13: Escape Room (12:50, 3:40, 6:40 and 9:40 p.m.); Holmes and Watson (1:40, 3:20, 7:40 and 10:20 p.m.); If Beale Street Could Talk (1, 4:10, 7:40 and 10:40 p.m.); Vice (12:50, 4, 6 and 9:20 p.m.); Aquaman (12, 12:20, 12:40, 3:30, 4:10, 6:20, 6:40, 7, 9:50 and 10:40 p.m.); Bumblebee (1:30, 3:50, 4:30, 7:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m.); Mary, Queen of Scots (1:20, 4:30, 7:10 and 9:30 p.m.); Second Act (12:30, 4:20, 7:20 and 10:20 p.m.); Welcome to Marwen (9:10 p.m.); Mary Poppins Returns (12:30, 3:50, 7:10 and 10:30 p.m.); Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse (12:10, 3:10, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m.); The Mule (12, 3 and 6:10 p.m.); Ralph Breaks the Internet (12:20, 3:30, 6:30 and 10:10 p.m.).

CLASSICAL

Dvorák Masterworks Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

Jan. 8, 8 p.m.: Get your chamber music on as pianist Marc-André Hamelin joins members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the Czech composer’s “Piano Quintet No. 2.”

Adams and Glass Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

Jan. 10-11, 8 p.m. and Jan. 13, 2 p.m.: Conductor John Adams takes the reins of the L.A. Phil for a world premiere of Philip Glass’ “Symphony No. 12, Lodger,” inspired by David Bowie’s iconic Berlin trilogy.

MUSEUMS

A+D Architecture and Design Museum 900 E. Fourth St., (213) 346-9734 or aplusd.org.

Through Feb. 17: See all sorts of unsound and unappealing dishes in the “Disgusting Food Museum.”

Through Feb. 17: Explore how architecture adapts and is added onto as time changes in “Persistent.”

African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org.

Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters,

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badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts.

Broad Museum 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org.

Ongoing: In the galleries at the Grand Avenue institution are about 250 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. It’s big-time blue chip, with work from Rauschenberg, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Kruger and every other big name.

Through Feb. 2019: The Broad explores the passage of time with “A Journey That Wasn’t.”

FIDM Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidmmuseum.org.

Ongoing: “Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection” surveys footwear, fans, gloves, purses and hats.

California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

Through Feb. 17: Mixed media works from the New Yorkbased artist in “Robert Pruitt: Devotion.”

Through Jan. 20: “Nina Chanel Abney: Royal Flush” offers a survey of 10 years of the artist’s paintings.

Through Jan. 21: “California Bound: Slavery on the New Frontier, 1848-1865” explores the Golden State’s history in slavery.

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 former 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.

Ongoing: “Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” presents Los Angeles’ very own Space Shuttle in all of its splendor.

Ongoing: “Science in Toyland” presents physics through favorite 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 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, Continued on page 16

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License No. 197493625

EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT: Jobsite/Resume/ Ad: LA Metropolitan Home Health, 17100 Pioneer Blvd, Suite 313, Artesia, CA 90701

LEGAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name

Statement File No. 2018307985 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) CRAZY YET BEAUTIFUL, 1145 ROSWELL AVE #309, LONG BEACH, CA 90804 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) ALYSSA ROSE GLASS, 1145 ROSWELL AVENUE #309, LONG BEACH, CA 90804. This business is conducted by an Individual.

Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on DECEMBER 11, 2018.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).

Pub. 12/17, 12/24, 12/31/2018 AND 1/7/2019.

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JANUARY 7, 2019

RESTAURANT BUZZ, 13

TRILOGY

Downtown...It’s Not Just Big Business Anymore!

255 GRAND 255 South Grand Avenue 213-229-9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Terrace Heated Pool & Spa Custom-Designed Interiors 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Wi-Fi Lounge State-of-the-Art HD Theater Gourmet BBQ Areas / Gas Fire Pits Contemporary Lounge with Gourmet Kitchen

Apartment Amenities: Breathtaking Views Spacious Floorplans Central Air & Heating Balconies / Urban Patios (Most Units) Deep Soaking Tubs Luxury Stainless Appliances & Finishes Sky Level 27th Floor Penthouse Units: Complimentary Wi-Fi & Basic Cable Waterfall Countertops Bosch Appliances Nest 3rd Generation Thermostats Up to 2 Parking Spaces Included On-Site: Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

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PROMENADE TOWERS 123 South Figueroa Street 213-617-3777

The Buffet Way: Downtowners can now get their fill at a fresh pan-Asian restaurant. MOA Kitchen, a buffet-style eatery on Seventh Street, began serving on Dec. 20. The restaurant focuses on Asian cuisine, but also serves American dishes in an impressively large buffet spread. Be wary of how much food you pile on your plate however, as MOA charges $8.99 per pound. The space is sleek, with hardwood furniture and ceramic buffet tabletops. Diners can expect a further transformation with plans for a cocktail space called Ahn’s Bar, though it is unclear when that will debut. MOA Kitchen is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and on weekends from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.

At 611 W. Seventh St., (213) 265-7579 or moakitchen.com.

Have any juicy restaurant news? Email sean@downtownnews.com JANUARY 7, 2019

LISTINGS, 15

www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com

Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Patio with BBQ Grills Heated Pool & Spa 24 hr. Manned Lobby Fitness Center Parking Garage

On-Site: Convenience Store / Café / Beauty Salon / Private Fitness Training Apartment Amenities: Floor-to-Ceiling Windows City Skyline Views Solarium and/or Balconies

MUSEUM TOWER 225 South Olive Street 213-626-1500 www.THEMUSEUMTOWERAPTS.com

Community Amenities: 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Heated Pool & Spa Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Outdoor Patio Gas BBQ Grills Recreation Room State-of-the-Art HD Theater Rooftop Patio with Views

Lakers. Instead, he is the force behind Shaquille’s, the restaurant coming to L.A. Live in the space previously filled by Cleo and, before that, the Farm at Beverly Hills. The restaurant is eyeing a late January opening, and has already begun hiring staff. It remains unclear what kind of food Shaquille’s will serve, but if it is similar to O’Neal’s first restaurant venture, Big Chicken in Las Vegas, expect chicken sandwiches and homestyle sides.

Coming to 800 Olympic Blvd. or shaquilles.com.

Apartment Amenities: City and Mountain Views Luxury Appliances & Finishes Central Air & Heating Balconies (Most Units) Basic Cable *All Amenities Under Renovation

RESIDENCES STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOMS PENTHOUSE UNITS • CORPORATE HOUSING

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 “Ecosystems” exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes.

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 the 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century firefighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check the website for a full slate of fiestas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary.

MORE LISTINGS 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.

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