01-23-17 by Los Angeles Downtown News

Puck Yeah! The NHL All-Star Game Arrives : 5 Get Ready for Night on Broadway : 14

January 23, 2017 I VOL. 46 I #4

New Year, Healthy Eats Running Down Downtown Lunch Options That Are Good and Good For You SEE PAGES 9-13

Nina Clemente in her recently opened Arts District spot di Alba.

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Send a Free Downtown Love Line

re you too busy, lazy or forgetful to buy or make a Valentine’s Day card for your significant other? If so, you’re in luck, as you can get ahead of the game by sending a free message of amour in the pages of Los Angeles Downtown News. Our annual Love Lines are back, and will be published in the Feb. 6 issue (they’ll be online too). Downtown News readers can send a free message of 20 words or less to their husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, partner-in-crime, parent, child, etc. Just email the message to lovelines@downtownnews. com and don’t forget the name of the person you’re sending the Love Line to; also, be sure to include your name, phone number and email address. One Love Line per person (don’t be sneaky). BTW, you still might want to get that card or some flowers.

Reward Offered in Downtown Hit-and-Run Case

he City Council has voted to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a driver involved in a fatal Downtown hit and run last year. The victim, 24-year-old Jacqueline Hernandez, was killed on Nov. 7 when a car struck her as she was crossing 12th Street near Paloma Street in the Fashion Dis-

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS trict. Surveillance cameras captured the collision, but detectives were unable to make out the license plate of the vehicle. The reward motion was introduced by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. “We are asking the public to help this family, which is dealing with a profound loss, to please come forward and share any information they might have,” Huizar said in a prepared statement. “The smallest detail could help police solve this case. This was a young woman with the rest of her life in front of her.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Jose De Leon of the LAPD Central Traffic Division at (213) 833-3713.

January 23, 2017

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Public Meeting on Union Station Improvements This Week

he Metropolitan Transportation Authority is working on major, multi-pronged improvements for Union Station, and this week plans will be discussed for a transformation of the front of the historic transit hub. A public meeting to discuss the environmental impact report of what is being called the “forecourt and esplanade” will take place Thursday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. in the station ticketing concourse. Angelenos will have the opportunity to learn more about the plan and offer feedback. The proposed improvements would include pedestrian and bicycle upgrades on Alameda, Los Angeles and Arcadia streets, as well as work between the station and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Some streets would be narrowed. Union Station is at 800 N. Alameda St. Additional information is at metro.net/unionstation.

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James Conlon Renews Deal At L.A. Opera

n 2006, James Conlon made his public debut as the L.A. Opera Music Director by conducting a performance of La Traviata with Renee Fleming. He has since conducted 314 performances, more than anyone in the history of the Downtown Los Angeles company. Fortunately for local opera fans, he’s not going anywhere, as L.A. Opera General Director Plácido Domingo announced this month that Conlon has renewed his contract, keeping him at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through the

January 20, 2017

2020/21 season. “It is impossible to overstate what a profound impact James Conlon has made during his 10 years in Los Angeles,” Domingo said in a prepared statement. “The astounding energy and infectious enthusiasm that he brings to his work has made him a beloved figure for our audiences. Thanks to his prodigious musical talents, our magnificent orchestra sounds better and better every season.” Conlon’s credits with the company include conducting Wagner’s Ring cycle in 2010. This week he will conduct Mozart’s The Abduction From the Seraglio. It will be his 50th opera with the company.

January 23, 2017

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S I N C E 19 7 2

EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Emily Manthei ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt

A New Approach At the Triforium

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: January News 23, 2017 L.A. Downtown twitter: DowntownNews

ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

©2016 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.

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he Triforium, that towering curiosity at the corner of Temple and Main streets, has perplexed city officials and Los Angeles residents and workers for decades. Though intended to light up and play music, for 42 years the six-story-tall artwork has more often been silent and dark. The “why” isn’t hard to comprehend. The Triforium, created by artist Joseph Young, has drawn a mixture of criticism and head scratching since it was dedicated in 1975. It fell into disrepair a few years after opening and has never had a consistent champion inside City Hall. Though then-Downtown Councilwoman Jan Perry briefly sought to get it working about 10 years ago, the effort petered out. EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin Now, there is renewed potential, thanks to a team of volunteers. This month, Los Angeles Downtown EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie News wrote about four individuals who have formed SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton a group known as the Triforium Project. In December CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese they were awarded a $100,000 grant from the GoldCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg hirsh Foundation’s LA2050 campaign. Fischer, Emily Manthei Team members Tanner Blackman, Claire Evans, ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison Jona Bechtolt and Tom Carroll deserve congratulaASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa tions for embarking on an effort that no one else PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard was willing to try. We hope city departments and ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt officials will piggyback on their work and lend the CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway kind of technical and financial support that will help ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, S I N C E 19 7 2 modernize the Triforium and get it running again. Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtown News rings — and nearHernandez Robert Graham’s power An important factor here is that the seed money is s Los Angeles continues angling for SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 ful bronze sculptures at the Coliseum. the 2024 Summer Olympics, plans not coming from city coffers. The LA2050 grant can phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon for the proposed $5.3 billion Games and should be leveraged,•and ideally the city can LA 2024’s plan involves having the Openweb: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles are coming into focus. The LA 2024 bid DISTRIBUTION contribute to a revival effort that one team member ing Ceremonies begin with a torch lighting ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla facebook: twitter: committee recently revealed its vision to estimated at about $250,000. at the Coliseum, followed by a torch relay L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews split the Opening and Closing Ceremonies through the streets to Inglewood. The In There’s no downside to exploring the revival, espeEDITOR & PUBLISHER: Lariscan raise more money. between the Los Angeles Memorial Colisestadium cially if the Triforium Sue Project EDITORglewood & PUBLISHER: Suewould Laris host the parade of GENERAL MANAGER: Dawnis Eastin MANAGER: Dawn Eastin um in Exposition Park and the coming In-GENERAL nations, the Olympic oaths and everything Downtown Los Angeles an entirely different and EXECUTIVE Jon Regardie glewood home of the Rams and Chargers. else worth watching. The Coliseum would more lively EDITOR: place than it was when Young completed EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim be left with what LA 2024 describes as a the sculpture, and the team members point to tech This is a lousy idea that reeks of trying SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton program of live ennological advances that could make the sound, lightto be all things to all people. While the STAFF “Hollywood-produced CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese WRITER: Nicholas Slayton tertainment, top musical performances and ing and computer systems efficient and economiconcept of tying the past to the present CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese Emily Manthei has become an increasingly creative a live viewing andTom virtual-reality experience cal. Downtown sounds nice, the proposed activities are an CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Fassbender, Jeff Favre, of all Ceremony events at the LA Stadium at place during the residential effort at compromise where no compro- Greg Fischer, Emily Manthei ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison revival, so why not allow ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Hollywood Park.” some of that creativity toYumi rub Kanegawa off on the artwork? mise is needed. ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison PHOTOGRAPHER: In an ideal world, this would lead to greater There’s an obvious path here, and that is Closing ceremonies would be reversed, Gary Leonard ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa change. The Triforium is the most noticeable eleto hold the Opening and Closing Ceremowith the main activities including the extinACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ment at the Los Angeles Mall, and there is widenies at the Coliseum. This would adhere to guishing of the cauldron at the Coliseum, CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway spread recognition that the city-owned property is a history and logic, and would pay heed to ACCOUNTING: and Inglewood hosting some sort of live Ashley Schmidt ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb missed opportunity anchored in the past. However, the City of Los Angeles’ role as the principal event spectacle. SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway noCIRCULATION: one has been willing to lead the charge for a likeorganizer and chief risk-taker of the Games. This dual-stadium plan is a solution in Danielle Salmon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, lyDISTRIBUTION expensive modernization. Maybe The $2.6 billion Inglewood stadium — Brendasearch of Michael a problem. The Coliseum hosted MANAGER: Salvador Inglesreactivating the Stevens, Lamb DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Bonilla Triforium will draw more attention to theGustavo L.A. Mall OpeningClaudia and Closing Ceremonies in the which won’t even open for a couple yearsSALESthe ASSISTANT: Hernandez and prompt a renovation that fits in the 21st century. 1932 and 1984 Summer Games, giving it in— could be a fantastic, state-of-the-art ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center Inc. All rights reserved. comparable historical relevance. It is also venue, and by all means it should host News Even if that doesn’t happen, an upgraded TriforiThe Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon andcould is distributed every Monday throughout and residences Los the more central location, and while Ingleevents. However, the two most promum bring music and lightsthe tooffices the Civic Center.of Downtownsome DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Angeles. wood will boast the Lorenzo sparkle Castillo, of newness, inent spectacles belong inside the historicDISTRIBUTION That’s not a bad result. ASSISTANTS: One copy per person. Gustavo Bonilla USC, which operates the Coliseum, is planperistyle — long adorned with the Olympic

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

Olympic Ceremonies Belong at the Coliseum

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

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©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown ning a $270 million renovation of theNews stais a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. dium. It will almost certainly all newsthe The Los Angeles Downtown News is thehave must-read paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every modern amenities to satisfy Olympic staffMonday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Angeles. ers,Los sponsors and viewers. One copy per person. Plus, consider the ubiquitous aerial shot seen when TV networks cut to a commercial: What will be more impressive, the Inglewood stadium surrounded by streets, or the Coliseum close to landmarks including the coming $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art? Then there’s the risk factor, as the city could be on the S Ihook N C Efor1up 9 7to 2 $250 million if the are more expensive LosGames Angeles Downtown News than an1264 W.During First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 ticipated. a recent appearance be213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 forephone: the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum, web: DowntownNews.com Cityemail: Councilman Paul Krekorian reiterated realpeople@downtownnews.com that Los Angeles is the city taking an economic gamble facebook: with the Games. If L.A., not L.A. Downtown News Inglewood, has skin in the game, he argued, twitter: it should also get the rewards of the most DowntownNews prominent events. We agree completely. We’ll watch the compet©2016happily Civic Center News, Inc. Losathletes Angeles Downtown is aInglewood trademark of Civic Center But Newswhen Inc. All ingNews in the stadium. rights reserved. Los Angeles News is the must-read theThe entire worldDowntown views the start and end newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is disof the Games, those international eyeballs tributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. should be on the venue with history, charOne copy per person. acter and centrality.

One copy per person.

January 23, 2017

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The Puck Stops Here NHL All-Star Game and Festivities Will Bring 70,000 People to Downtown This Week By Eddie Kim he 2017 season stands to be a memorable one for the National Hockey League, as it’s the 100th year of its existence. There’s a local hook too, as this season marks the 50th birthday of the Los Angeles Kings. The stars are quite literally aligning this weekend, as the NHL brings its All-Star Game and festivities to Downtown Los Angeles. Players such as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid will show off on the rink inside Staples Center for the All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 28, with the All-Star Game the following day. The bad news is that both events were sold out at press time (although resale tickets are available). The good news is the main events are just the tip of the iceberg, and activities will take place throughout L.A. Live and the Convention Center. The NHL is also bringing its huge Fan Fair, with affordable tickets and a broad array of activities for families, diehard fans and hockey newbies alike. The sport’s biggest personalities are scheduled to make appearances and sign autographs, including perhaps the greatest player of all time, Wayne Gretzky. Then there’s the centerpiece of the centennial celebration: NHL 100, the reveal of the league’s 100 greatest players in a sort of

awards-show format. Hosted by Jon Hamm and John Legend, the Friday event at Microsoft Theater is open to the public, with tickets running from $80 to $300. “We’re expecting close to around 70,000 people over the course of the weekend,” said L.A. Kings Chief Operating Officer Kelly Cheeseman. “We approached the NHL to prepare for our 50th anniversary, also the 50th year of hockey being on the West Coast. The focus was to pitch the league on making the weekend more than just the All-Star Game — to make it more of a big media event.” This marks the third time that Los Angeles has hosted the NHL All-Star Game, with the most recent being in 2002, shortly after Staples Center opened. For the Kings, the courtship of the league began nearly two years ago. The alignment of the 100th and 50th anniversaries was an attractive coincidence, but L.A.’s status as a behemoth media market with glitz and celebrity flair sealed the deal, Cheeseman said. The synergy of Staples Center, the Convention Center and L.A. Live also caught the attention of league officials, Cheeseman said, adding that the success of last year’s All-Star weekend in downtown Nashville, Tenn. has swayed the NHL to consider more centralized, urban locales for the event. The weekend kicks off Thursday, as the Fan Fair begins at the Convention Center. This will be the draw for a majority of visitors, with

Los Angeles Kings fans thronged Downtown when the team appeared in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in 2012 and 2014 (the Kings won both times). Even bigger hockey crowds are expected this week when Staples Center plays host to the NHL All-Star Game.

photo by Gary Leonard

30,000 people expected to check out the vendors, games, interactive exhibits and more from Jan. 26-28. Daily tickets are $20 for adults, and there is a $15 ticket for students, military members and others, plus discounted three-day and group passes. The price of admission includes access to the NHL 100 “Fan Arena” exhibit, hockey skills games, a trading card and memorabilia show,

meet-and-greets and Q&A seminars with hockey legends, and other activities. Guests can even take a picture with the actual Stanley Cup. Approximately 5,000 people are expected to attend the NHL 100 reveal on Friday. That’s followed on Saturday afternoon with the athletes participating in a series of competitive contests. The All-Star Game itself takes place on SunContinued on page 6

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“We’re fully booked up, and everyone around here feels the impact of this kind of event,” he said. “The nice thing about the All-Star Game is that there’s a national audience in both those physically attending and viewing on TV. That helps our tourism picture, which in Downtown L.A. has been pretty bright. We’re seeing steady continued growth in our numbers.” All-Star games in various sports have a hefty impact on local economies because visitors tend to spend heavily on food, drink and accommodations in a short period of time without using up too many city resources, essentially creating a burst of net tax dollars. Then there’s the national attention that comes from having a game, top athletes and hundreds of media members in a city. The 2011 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles generated $85 million in spending, according to L.A.-based analysis firm Micronomics Inc. The firm found similar impacts with the 2010 X Games, which sparked $50 million in spending for Los Angeles. More recently the 2014 Grammy Awards at Staples Center stim-

day. Unlike in other sports, where players take part in an often listless version of the usual game, the NHL reinvents the competition. The game will feature a 3-on-3 format between four teams with players from each division, and the stakes are (kind of) real: The winning players — 11 on each team — get to split $1 million. A Big-Budget Bounce The Downtown business and hospitality community, meanwhile, is gearing up for the presence of 70,000 visitors from around the city and country. Cheeseman estimates that about 6,500 hotel room nights have been booked around L.A. Live, with many more bookings in nearby neighborhoods. The All-Star weekend is one of many multi-day conventions and festivals that have been elevating South Park as a tourism destination over the past several years, said Javier Cano, general manager of the 1,001-room Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott complex at L.A. Live.

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ulated “at least $82 million in immediate, identifiable benefits to Los Angeles County,” according to a Micronomics report. It’s a win-win for Downtown and the Kings, and Cheeseman particularly hopes to see people who aren’t hockey fans, or who are passing through Downtown, get swept up in the celebration. “This is a sport with a lot of history, and I think everyone will feel that excitement,” he said. “Getting to participate and see legends that your parents and grandparents adored while they were growing up is a rare and unforgettable experience.” Downtowners, meanwhile, should get used to the crowds. The NBA last year announced that its 67th annual All-Star Game will take place at Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 18. It will be the third time Staples has hosted the game, and its sixth time in Los Angeles. The NHL All-Star Weekend runs Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 26-29, at Staples Center, L.A. Live and the Convention Center. Tickets and more information are at nhl.com/fans/all-star. eddie@downtownnews.com

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January 23, 2017

Downtown News 7

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Development Watch New Projects Slated for South Park and The Historic Core By Nicholas Slayton ore Housing in City West: The Delijani family owns a lot of Downtown Los Angeles property, including four theaters on Broadway. While many have been hoping for major renovations of those venues, the family is turning its attention to a new residential project in City West. The current proposal is for a seven-story development with 220 residential units at 136 S. Beaudry Ave. Plans also call for three levels of parking (including two underground) as well as 7,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The project spans the length of the block between First and Second streets, and

runs up against the 110 Freeway. The roughly 1.44-acre site south of the Canvas L.A. apartments currently holds a pair of parking lots and a medical office building. No timeline or budget have been revealed. Broadway Project Gets a Green Light: Developer Barry Shy’s residential building at 955 S. Broadway has received approvals from the Department of City Planning. Known as the Broadway Lofts, the 15-story project would hold 163 condominiums and 202 parking spaces. Designs from David Takacs Architects show a modern mid-rise with balconies jutting out from the structure. Work on the long-discussed project would continue a residential boom just south of the Ace Hotel; already developer Geoff Palmer is deep into construction on the Broadway Palace, a two-building project at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway that will create nearly 700 apartments. Shy has not announced a groundbreaking date, but when work begins construction is expected to take 18 months. Moving Forward on Main: Renderings have been revealed for a unique 12-story project in the Historic Core. Parking lot operator the L&R Group of Companies is partnering with the System Property Development Company on the Main Tower, which would have 196 apartments and 167 parking spaces. New designs from Nardi Associates for the project at 433 S. Main St. show a modern mid-rise with some balconies jutting out along Main Street, and a frame of horizontal slats running across the façade. The centerpiece of the design is a large open-air courtyard in the middle of the building that extends upward and out to Main Street. The timeline and budget have not been revealed.

image by Nardi Associates

The 12-story Main Tower at 433 S. Main St. would feature a large open space in the middle of the building. It would have 196 apartments.

Another Day, Another Skyscraper: Look south and look up! That’s because a 66-story tower has been proposed for 925 S. Figueroa St. The recently announced project from Glendalebased developer Regalion would create 200 residential units and 220 hotel rooms on what is currently a parking lot. Plans filed with the Department of City Planning also call for 94,080 square feet of commercial space, and there could be up to 10 bars and restaurants. The development would rise north of the

image by Daryoush Safai

The Delijani family has proposed a 220-unit residential building at 136 S. Beaudry Ave. in City West.

Hotel Figueroa, which is slated to reopen shortly, and south of Metropolis, the multi-phase complex that is beginning move-ins this month. News of the Regalion project was first reported by the website Urbanize. New Project Near Old El Pueblo: Chinatown-based developer Redcar filed plans on Jan. 10 with the Department of City Planning for a mixed-use project on a 1.1-acre lot on the edge of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The development at 643 N. Spring St. would create 203 residential units, along with 212 parking stalls and 203 bicycle parking spaces. It would also have 21,049 square feet of commercial space and 70 parking stalls for store visitors. A timeline and budget have not been revealed. The lot currently holds the historic King Hing Theater. The developer has not specified what would happen to the venue.

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January 23, 2017

Restaurant Buzz Banh Mi Returns to the Historic Core, Italian Meals Via Budapest, and Other Food Happenings By Eddie Kim ungary for More: Have you ever wondered whether Downtown Los Angeles needs a branch of a Budapest-based Italian restaurant? However you feel, the question is moot now that Tom George has opened at the former Coco Laurent spot at the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Grand Avenue. The massive space has been redecorated in an Art Deco-meets-Mid-Century-Modern vibe, and the menu flaunts a list of Italian-leaning appetizers, pizzas, housemade pastas, bigger entrees (check out the duck confit with farro “risotto”) and even goulash, as a nod to its Hungarian roots. Tom George is in a prime location (across from Bottega Louie) that’s nonetheless struggled in previous iterations. At 707 S. Grand Ave., (424) 362-6263 or tomgeorgela.com.

Chick Chat: A few blocks west of Tom George is a more familiar arrival: Chick-Fil-A. The Atlantabased fast-food chain is building out a restaurant on the ground floor of Figueroa Tower at the northeast corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets, and an opening is expected this year. The brand may be controversial to some for the anti-LGBT activities of its ownership, but it remains popular because of the sheer deliciousness of its fried chicken sandwiches; the closest location, at USC/Expo Park, is constantly busy. The news was first reported by the blog DTLA Rising. Coming to 725 S. Figueroa St.

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Mi Time: Eric Park’s Historic Core banh mi outlet Hero Shop won raves when it opened in early 2015 — but then he flipped it in July into Ohana Poke Co. That restaurant is relocating into the food hall at the FIGat7th shopping complex, and Park reopened the first space as Hero Shop 2.0 this month. The menu’s been tweaked to make it more affordable, with all sandwiches either $5 or $6 (you can add a fried egg for $1) and a selection of $7-$8 coconutrice bowls served with a slow-cooked egg and toppings like fatty brisket and soy-ginger tofu. Don’t miss the breakfast banh mi served from 9-11 a.m. Bonus: A portion of proceeds go to Skid Row’s Union Rescue Mission. At 130 E. Sixth St., (213) 265-7561 or heroshopla.com. All About That Dough: Another day, another gorgeous little Arts District eatery that will no doubt be a big hit on Instagram. This time it’s di Alba, a small cafe specializing in freshbaked Roman-style focaccia breads. The project, attached to the beautiful Shinola boutique on Third Street, comes from chef Nina Clemente (The Standard) and partners Matt Kliegman, Carlos Quirarte and Melia Marden of New York City’s The Smile. The focaccia comes in three varieties — rustic, spelt (a kind of wheat) and gluten-free — and with toppings ranging from classic mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil to a breakfast iteration with smoked salmon. There’s also a bevy of salads,

The

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photo courtesy of Hero Shop

plus sweets from sous chef Zena Scharf. At 827 E. Third St., (213) 620-6244 or eatdialba.com. No Joke: South Park has a new bar and venue for live music. Prank is the latest project from barman Dave Whitton, who has worked with the Golden Gopher, Seven Grand and Villains Tavern. It is filling a two-level space at 11th and Hope streets, across from the sorely underrated Briks restaurant. Prank, which officially opened on Thursday, Jan. 19, focuses on approachable beers, cocktails and special non-alcoholic elixirs paired with food from chef Ricardo Sanchez. With proximity to L.A. Live, Prank could become a hotspot for locals and tourists alike. At 1100 S. Hope St. or prankdtla.com. Power Up: Quinn and Karen Hatfield have

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More Boozy Fun: Another day, another Downtown bar. When will it end? Not anytime soon, especially if it’s 213 Nightlife making moves. The hospitality company with a huge presence in Downtown (Golden Gopher, Seven Grand, Las Perlas, etc.) last week opened Bar Clacson, a bar and restaurant with a heavy Euro influence and a laid-back feel. The cafe portion serves coffee and snacks during the day (open at 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon on Saturday and Sunday), with the bar opening in the late afternoon and serving until 2 a.m. The coolest attraction at Bar Clacson may be its indoor court for petanque, which is like a French take on bocce ball. Partners in the project include barman Eric Alperin (The Varnish) and Richard Boccato (Dutch Kills in NYC). That means the drinks should be good. At 351 S. Broadway, (213) 265-SIPS or barclacson.com. Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.

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won fans for great food and ambiance at The Sycamore Kitchen and more recently Odys + Penelope, the Fairfax District hotspot that focuses on wood-fire cooking. Now the culinary power couple’s got plans for an all-day spot in the Historic Core. Details on the tentatively titled The Mighty are slim, but here’s what you can expect: a proper morning menu with Stumptown coffee, full breakfast dishes and Karen Hatfield’s signature pastries, plus lunch and dinner service that emphasizes Quinn Hatfield’s casual-but-precise California cooking (think simple roast meats, hearty salads, Mediterranean influences and friendly price points). The Mighty will likely open in late spring. The news was first reported by the blog Eater L.A. Coming to 108 W. Second St.

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January 23, 2017

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Downtown News 9

LET’S DO LUNCH y h t l ea H a

Eat, Drink and Be Healthy Eight Places Where You Can Find a Good Meal That’s Good for You By Eddie Kim or many, a new year means resolutions to eat healthier. Four weeks into 2017, it’s fair to assume that many of those resolutions have fallen by the wayside, because eating healthy is much easier said than done. Prepping a nutritious lunch every day can be difficult for the uninitiated, while eating out is akin to walking a minefield, except the explosives are replaced by saturated fats. The restaurant boom in Downtown Los Angeles means there are more options than ever before, as well as more land mines. Los Angeles Downtown News is here to help, with a guide to eight healthy hotspots both new and old. Remember, this is just a starting point. Happy eating.

The Spring holds a vegan restaurant as well as other wellness options.

Hero Shop

Eric Park’s cool little sandwich and rice-bowl joint has reopened after the relocation of his Ohana Poke Co., and the menu’s health factor is secondary to the addictive flavors. The focus is on Vietnamese banh mi, or crunchy baguettes stuffed with an assortment of meaty fillings and lightly pickled vegetables. Hero Shop has delicious headcheese, fatty brisket and pork belly options, but those counting calories and watching their cholesterol might opt for the rich soy-ginger tofu or the spiceand-sour grilled chicken. If you are avoiding carbs or gluten, those options also come in bowl form. At 130 E. Sixth St., (213) 265-7561 or photo by Gary Leonard heroshopla.com.

photo courtesy The Springs

Seasalt Fish Grill An oldie but goodie, Seasalt sits on a busy stretch of Seventh Street that’s convenient for Financial District office workers who need a hearty, but healthful, lunch option. The menu

has some starters, a selection of poke bowls, and the main event: grilled fish served with rice and vegetables and a choice of sauce. The “creamy garlic butter” is hard to resist, but the soy-ginger glaze or spicy Cajun may be a better option. Or ditch the sauce altogether and just

enjoy some grilled seafood. There are also tacos and burritos for those who want their grilled fish in a neater package. At 812 W. Seventh St., (213) 243-5700 or seasaltfishgrill.com. Continued on page 10

10 Downtown News

January 23, 2017

LET’S DO A (HEALTHY) LUNCH

LUNCH, 9

There are also non-vegan options, and many dishes come with the option to add a poached egg. At 608 Mateo St., (213) 223-6226 or thespringsla.com.

Au Lac

Wake and Late

This Vietnamese-inflected vegan spot is tucked in a corner of a nondescript Bunker Hill strip mall just west of Walt Disney Concert Hall, which makes it easy to miss. That would be a mistake, as Au Lac has earned a great reputation for dishes that even carnivores can love. The “eggrolls” stuffed with mushrooms, jicama, taro and other veggies make for a great starter, as does Da Bowl salad with a spicy dressing, avocado, greens and flax chips. Follow it up with vegan pho noodle soup or a plate of wild rice topped with an intense vegetable curry. At 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com.

Yuko Kitchen

As the name suggests, Wake and Late is open early and open late, with items that appeal to both times of day. Almost everything on the menu focuses on a nutritious blend of grains, greens and proteins. The “Green Eggs” bowl has sauteed kale, an egg and avocado on top of brown rice that’s flavored with a house-made pesto. For dinner there’s the spicy cauliflower bowl or the chopped kale salad topped with grilled chicken or tofu. There are even a few smoothies, including the Power Green with kale, banana, blueberries, whey protein, almond milk and Greek yogurt. Wake and Late recently kicked off weekend brunch, too. At 105 E. Sixth St., (213) 537-0820 or wakeandlate.com.

This newcomer was a hit in Mid-City before expanding to the Historic Core last year. The name of the game is crowd-pleasing Japanese fusion: There are sushi rolls, a bevy of salads, rice bowls and wraps (clumsily called “bowl-litos”) that largely highlight raw fish, though there are plenty of cooked dishes as well. You can’t go wrong here as long as you avoid a few deep-fried or heavily sauced options. The spicy salmon bowl and garlic albacore sashimi salad are standouts. Everything is around $10. At 101 W. Fifth St., (213) 266-0046 or yukokitchen.com.

The Springs

Maybe you’re already a fan of The Springs, the retail-restaurantwellness complex in the Arts District. Or maybe its claims of helping you achieve a “perfect lifestyle of balance” make your eyes roll. No matter — the mostly vegan food at The Springs is delicious and filling and not a ripoff, unlike some other spots around L.A. Try the Shimoda roll (with tempeh, cucumber, greens, spiced “mayo” and seaweed) or the Forbidden Fried Rice, a vegan take on Korean bibimbap bowls. There’s some clever cooking here, as with the kelp “carbonara” that closely mimics the creamy egg- and cheese-laden sauce of the original pasta.

Tabachines Cocina

This Mexican restaurant has quietly developed a following thanks to its bright flavors, casual ambiance and unpretentious prices. While some dishes can be very rich, the lunch menu offers soups, salads and entrees that can satisfy a craving without dropping a grease-bomb on your stomach. Check out the green ceviche, which has whitefish marinated in lime juice and spices and is blended with corn, cucumber and arugula — it’s a great starter to share. Elsewhere are potato-andkale tacos, “hamburguesas” with turkey chorizo or tofu, seared sea bass with arugula salad and a soothing chicken soup with garbanzo beans and vegetables. At 517 S. Spring St., (213) 489-2950 or tabachinescocina.com.

Localita and the Badasserie

Fat chance forgetting about this vegan spot once you see the name. Its dishes stand out, too. The operation started as a pop-up but now is going strong in the Fashion District, serv-

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Tabachines Cocina on Spring Street has a number of tacos and other dishes that will satisfy those looking for a healthy meal.

ing bowls and sandwiches packed with vegetables in cooked, raw and pickled form. There’s no way a vegan Reuben can succeed, right? Wrong. It’s delicious and a crowd favorite. Or try the OG Badass, which is filled with a sausage patty, “cheddar,” chipotle sauce and maple syrup. Then there are the various quinoa bowls, vegan chili or a breakfast bowl with fruit and grains. Just know it’s easy to miss this little hole-in-the-wall while walking down Los Angeles Street. At 817 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 623-3223 or localita.co. eddie@downtownnews.com

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January 23, 2017

Downtown News 11

LET’S DO A (HEALTHY) LUNCH

By Tom Fassbender udy Han spent nearly eight years as the corporate executive chef at Mendocino Farms, which is known for the upscale, high-quality sandwiches served to Downtowners at lunch. Last February, she decided to strike out with her own, but didn’t go far. She opened Eko Eats, a vegan-friendly Korean restaurant, in the Financial District. It allowed her to build on her past and try new approaches.

HEALTHY EATING TIPS FROM THE CHEFS Whether Eating at Home or Going Out, Three Local Kitchen Experts Have Some Helpful Advice

Los Angeles Downtown News: What’s your advice for making a healthy lunch? Judy Han: Limiting the amount of meat you eat every day and having a varied diet is really critical to eating healthy. It’s also important to watch portion sizes and stay away from saturated fats and red meats as much as you can. But you can’t deprive yourself too much if you crave fatty stuff. Just be sure to balance it out with healthier veggies. Q: What do you reach for when you need a quick, healthy meal? A: I work at the restaurant five days a week, and I usually eat bibimbap, which is a traditional Korean rice bowl with vegetables. Ours is vegan with 10 different veggies, which gives it a lot of different textures, colors and flavors. It’s one of the healthiest things on our menu.

BIBIMBAP AND BEYOND >>>>>>>>> JUDY HAN OF EKO EATS FINDS NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW MEALS AT HER MODERN KOREAN CAFÉ

Q: How do you come up with healthy recipes? A: I don’t think so much about recipes as being healthy — it’s just the way I generally want to eat. Rich foods that are super salty and fatty make my body feel heavy and lethargic, so I tend to cook vegan-friendly food. I’ve found vegan cooking is a good way to get a lot of interesting flavors and textures without saturated fats and cholesterol. Q: How did you get started in healthy cooking? A: I’ve lived in Southern California for 20 years, so my interest in a healthy lifestyle developed naturally. In that time I’ve studied and tasted a lot of vegan food. I learned to cook vegan at Mendocino Farms, where I tried to introduce a new vegan sandwich quarterly. Q: What’s the biggest change in your cooking style at Eko Eats compared to your past? A: I’m cooking a lot more Korean food, which I grew up eating and cooking at home, but which I’ve never had the opportunity to cook in restaurants. I’m Korean, and sharing a part of my culture with other people is quite different and more rewarding than any other cooking experience I’ve had. Q: What’s the most important aspect of healthy eating? A: Keep the food interesting and keep the palate excited and satisfied. I’m not one who thinks that extremes are necessary, but it’s generally easier to live a healthy lifestyle with the occasional guilty pleasure, like a piece of fried food or a cookie.

Judy Han, who spent eight years at the Downtown sandwich purveyor Mendocino Farms, went out on her own last year, opening Eko Eats in the Historic Core.

Q: What do you suggest people try at Eko Eats if they’re new to the menu? A: I’ve already mentioned the bibimbap, and our vegan ramen is one of the healthier ramens in Los Angeles. For non-vegans I recommend trying the chicken jook, which is a savory rice porridge, like a chicken soup with rice. It’s healthy comfort food. Eko Eats is at 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 622-1616 or ekoeats.com.

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12 Downtown News

January 23, 2017

photos by Gary Leonard

LET’S DO A (HEALTHY) LUNCH

By Tom Fassbender he restaurant di Alba, a collaboration between chef Nina Clemente and the team behind New York City’s The Smile, opened in the Arts District on Jan. 4. The small space, which is attached to the boutique Shinola on Third Street, offers farmers market-fresh Mediterranean and Southern Italian fare with a focus on focaccia. Clemente spoke about the healthy midday meal options.

Los Angeles Downtown News: Let’s say you’re at home and have to whip up a quick lunch. Where do you begin? Nina Clemente: By mid-day I need power food, so I try to make meals with some greens and lentils or quinoa — they pack in more protein than pasta and they’re quick to cook. Then I’ll blanch some vegetables, a technique that keeps them very vibrant, and sauté them with a little garlic, chili and olive oil. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or take a lot of time to eat healthy. Q: What steps do you take to develop healthy recipes? A: With savory cooking, the beauty is you can experiment a lot more than you can with baking. In Southern California, we’re lucky enough to have access to incredible daily farmers markets. So I’ll start with a great, fresh ingredient, make some minimal alterations, and let the vegetables and protein speak for themselves. And olive oil goes a long way — it’s my go-to flavor infuser.

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Q: How did you get started in healthy cooking? A: I was spoiled by incredible meals early on. I was born in Italy and spent summers in Amalfi, a seaside town in Italy. We had a tiered garden, so I grew up picking fresh produce that my mom would transform into a meal without doing much to it. When I found out not everyone had such an experience, I wanted to make healthy eating more accessible and spread it as much as I can. Q: What’s the biggest change in your cooking style at di Alba compared to your past? A: I’ve maintained a very steady expression of my food throughout my career, but this is my first time delving deeply into making focaccia. I have no ego with my food. I want to feed as many people as I can and make them feel good. Q: What do you suggest people try at di Alba if they’re new to the menu? A: We have different focaccia topped with seasonal items sourced from local farmers markets. I recommend our Bianca Foccacia. It’s got a spelt base with two cheeses — taleggio and fontina — along with both trumpet and oyster mushrooms sautéed in garlic and olive oil. Then the whole thing is topped with fresh arugula. We also offer many seasonal salads and grains that are healthy and delicious. Plus, we can add a poached egg and Italian sausage to any focaccia to turn it into an open-faced breakfast sandwich — and we have a great coffee program to go with it. di Alba is at 827 E. Third St., (213) 620-6244 or eatdialba.com.

Nina Clemente opened di Alba in the Arts District this month. It focuses on focaccia bread, and offers a variety of toppings.

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Q: What are you on the lookout for when eating out? A: We over-consume meat products, so when I go out to eat, I try to limit my meat portions. I order heavier on the veggies and grains and steer clear of deep-fried foods.

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January 23, 2017

Downtown News 13

photos by Gary Leonard

LET’S DO A (HEALTHY) LUNCH

By Tom Fassbender ich Torres is both a 10-year Downtown resident and a longtime advocate of healthy eating. In November he brought those two elements together with Wild Living Foods, an all plant-based and 100% gluten-free restaurant. The Historic Core establishment serves a wide range of healthy dishes as well as cold-pressed juices and elixirs.

Los Angeles Downtown News: What’s your advice for making a healthy lunch at home? Rich Torres: One of the main things people can do is rotate more organic fresh food into their diet and be mindful of how often they’re eating fresh food versus food that is microwaved, deep-fried, or comes from a box. It’s all about being more aware of your food choices. Q: Let’s say you’re at home and have to whip up a quick lunch. Where do you begin? A: Begin with an avocado. In order to feel full and satiated, you need some good healthy fat to carry you through the day, and an avocado is a good place to start. From there you can build a whole meal — an avocado salad or even an avocado smoothie with blueberries and dates. Other starting options would be bananas or nuts and seeds to make a good trail mix.

A LUNCH ON THE WILD SIDE >>>>> RICH TORRES OFFERS PLANT-BASED, GLUTEN-FREE MEALS AT WILD LIVING FOODS

Rich Torres has lived in Downtown for a decade. In November, he opened Wild Living Foods on Main Street. In addition to meals, it serves cold-pressed juices and elixirs.

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Q: What do you reach for when you need a quick, healthy meal? A: For me, hands down, it’s fruit. To help with hydration, I look for snacks that have a high water content, like berries and stone fruits. I tend to stock up on blueberries — they’re good for you, hydrating and they taste great. Q: How do you develop healthy recipes? A: I’ll look at different versions of traditional recipes, like a pesto sauce, then see how we can substitute ingredients that will make it better. And I always use high-quality ingredients. Once you’re committed to that, creating a tasty dish is much easier. Q: How did you get started in healthy eating? A: It was a long process. When I was in high school I listened to a lot of public radio, and that exposed me to concepts about different foods. From there I started looking into the options we have and how we can improve them to have a say in our food choices. That got me interested in finding out what is actually beneficial for people to eat that makes them feel good and have clean digestion and lots of energy. The answer to that, honestly, is fruits, vegetables and whole foods. Q: What do you suggest people try at Wild Living Foods if they’re new to the menu? A: Our coconut-based gelato is a great introduction to the type of food we’re doing where we take something traditional and make it better than the original. For non-dessert, our Rainbow Wrap is pretty popular. It’s a coconut sun-dried tomato wrap with sunflower-almond paté and seasonings layered with red cabbage, carrots and our house-made ranch dressing with cashew cream. Oh, and of course there’s avocado in there, too. Wild Living Foods is at 760 S. Main St., (213) 266-8254 or wildlivingfoods.com.

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January 23, 2017

More than 60,000 people turned out for last year’s iteration of Night on Broadway. The third annual event takes place Saturday, Jan. 28, and features performers in historic theaters, street vendors, art and more.

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If You Only Do Eight Things at Night on Broadway…

photo by Gary Leonard

14 Downtown News

Running Down Some of the Highlights at This Week’s Celebration of a Historic Downtown Street By Eddie Kim he first Day on Broadway took place in 2014 as a celebration of Bringing Back Broadway, 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s effort to revitalize the historic Downtown corridor — 3,000 people showed up. It became Night on Broadway in 2015, and quickly turned into one of Los Angeles’ biggest one-day festivals. Last year more than 60,000 people thronged nearly a dozen blocks along the street. The free array of activities, street vendors and performances — many of the latter take place in normally quiet historic theaters — is expected to draw huge crowds again when Night on Broadway returns from 4-11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28. Be prepared for long lines and congestion. A smart bet is to brainstorm a schedule in advance. We’re here to help. Below are eight of the many highlights.

Cage Dodgeball: Do you love the rush of hurling a rubber ball into your enemy’s stomach? Those with a lust for dodgeball superiority have an opportunity to flex in public. The battles will take place inside a custom cage court at Eighth and Broadway, and you can register either as a solo player or a twosome, to be grouped into a six-player team. Open play kicks off at 4:30; the round-robin style tournament starts at 6, with the playoffs at 9 p.m. Registration is $5 per person, and for liability reasons, players must be 21+. Also for liability reasons, headhunting is not allowed. 4:30-10 p.m. at Eighth and Broadway. Registration at theyachtclub.org/nob Oingo Boingo Dance Party: Oingo Boingo disbanded in ’95, but two decades later the influence of their buoyant, synthheavy pop lives on. Will youngsters even realize that Oingo Boingo is an old band when its former members jam on the outdoor Olympic Stage? No matter. It’ll be a good time as original drummer Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez leads old faces (like saxman Sam “Sluggo” Phipps and keyboardist Carl Graves) and new bandmates alike at this 8:30 party. Expect to hear the big-

gest hits, including “Weird Science” and “Dead Man’s Party.” 8:30-9:30 p.m. at the Olympic Stage KCRW’s Silent Disco: Stumbling onto a silent disco can be a bizarre sight, with the revelers seemingly dancing in sync to nothing but street and crowd noise. Look closer: They’re wearing headphones that are all transmitting the same DJ set. KCRW is hosting a silent dance party at Broadway and Ninth Street, where people can borrow a set of headphones. Two KCRW DJs will hit the decks in each set, with the “winner” determined by how hard the crowd grooves. Sets are at 5, 6:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m., with the final slot featuring the station’s Anthony Valadez and Jason Bentley. 5-9:30 p.m. at Ninth and Broadway M. Geddes Gengras: Interior Architecture, Gengras’ challenging 2016 album of experimental electronic music, is the culmination of six years of work by the L.A.-based producer. Glimmering with rich digital textures and alien voices, and largely free of rhythmic percussion, it’s heady stuff — more appropriate for meditating than dancing, certainly. Gengras will take the stage at the Theatre at Ace Hotel as the venue’s final act on Saturday, and his set will either astound or confuse you to pieces. 10-11 p.m. at the Theatre at Ace Hotel Chessboxing: Despite their obvious differences, chess and boxing have a lot in common. Both require intense training, a fluid knowledge of an opponent’s tendencies and instinctive execution. So why not mash ’em up? Boxers with mediocre chess skills and chess players with terrible footwork collide at this wait-itcan’t-be-real competition at Third and Broadway. Competitors will take turns duking it out on the chessboard and in an actual boxing ring for three-minute rounds; whomever scores a knockout or checkmate first wins. Please don’t come for boxing or chess excellence. Do come to laugh and cheer on this ridiculous spectacle, which features four fights from 4:30-7:30 p.m. 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Third and Broadway

Baked! With Brendon Small and Steve Agee: Forgive our fanboying, but Brendon Small is a creative genius. Best known for his adult cartoon shows (“Home Movies,” “Metalocalypse”), Small is also a stand-up comedian, accomplished guitarist, writer, producer and voice actor. He’s teaming up with comedian Steve Agee — a veteran of “The Sarah Silverman Program” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — to host a live show that melds music and comedy. A bevy of stand-up comedians will take the stage at the Palace Theatre to do a spoken set, followed by a performance of a popular song with the house band. 8:25-9:10 p.m. at Palace Theatre Mayer Hawthorne: Bruno Mars may be the current king of poppy R&B and funk, but this page favors the guy who opened for Mars a few years back. Mayer Hawthorne (real name: Andrew Cohen) is headlining the Olympic stage to pump out sweetly soulful melodies and dance-floor rhythms. Whether from his funk-focused side-project Tuxedo or 2016’s effervescent solo record Man About Town, Hawthorne’s tunes are crowd-pleasers designed to get feet tapping. 10-11 p.m. at the Olympic Stage DTLA Proud: Located between Broadway and Hill on Fourth Street, the DTLA Proud block party is a celebration of L.A.’s LGBT community and the diversity of Downtown’s neighborhoods. L.A.’s legendary nightlife figures the Boulet Brothers will hold court as a bevy of performers, including Laganja Estranja (“Rupaul’s Drag Race”) and DJ Pogo Pope, entertain the crowds. The block party culminates with the “Rainbow Rat Queen” pageant, which will showcase amateur drag queens. The winner of the pageant will go on to perform in August’s DTLA Proud Festival. 4-11 p.m. on Fourth Street between Broadway and Hill. More information and registration at dtlaproud.org. Night on Broadway is Saturday, Jan. 28, on Broadway between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard. Information and a full schedule are at nightonbroadway.la. eddie@downtownnews.com

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New Show, Vintage Rides Classic Auto Show Debuts at the Convention Center By Nicholas Slayton ith its freeways and sprawl, Los Angeles is considered the quintessential “car city.” In addition to the vehicles gridlocking the streets, there are ubiquitous auto miles filled with dealerships. Then there’s the Los Angeles Auto Show, which has been running for 109 years. Each November approximately 1 million people flock to the Convention Center to check out the latest models. Now Los Angeles is launching another tribute to the automobile, though with a focus on the past. The inaugural Classic Auto Show will take place at the Convention Center on Friday-Sunday, Jan. 27-29. It will features hundreds of vehicles from the past century, ranging from

American muscle cars to early luxury vehicles, courtesy of car clubs and private collectors. Also on the bill are panel discussions and even chances to buy a classic car. The Downtown Los Angeles event is based on the Classic Motor Show, held each year in the United Kingdom. Michael Carlucci, the senior vice president of specialty shows with Urban Expo, which helps organize the Classic Motor Show, said that some of the programmers saw the opportunity for a similar event across the Atlantic Ocean. A series of conversations in 2015 led to the auto-focused cable channel Velocity joining in as an organizer. “We talked about replicating it with a U.S. flair,” Carlucci said. “We jumped at the opportunity.”

The inaugural Classic Auto Show runs Jan. 27-29 at the Convention Center. It will feature hundreds of cars, including Rolls Royces, Packards, Alfa Romeos and more.

photos courtesy of Classic Auto Show

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The organizers considered different U.S. cities, but settled on Los Angeles because of its strong car culture, both in local clubs and in events such as the L.A. Auto Show. Carlucci said that Los Angeles offers the biggest initial punch. The show will fill approximately 347,000 square feet of space in the Convention Center’s South Hall. Its centerpiece is the Grand Boulevard, an indoor exhibition of more than 50 automobiles that stretch back as far as 100 years. The cars will be lined up chronologically, allowing visitors to see both the progression of automotive technology and the changing styles through the years. Vehicles range from rare town cars to powerful muscle machines. Models on display will include a 1915 American La France Speedster, a 1925 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1955 Chevrolet 150. Single-day tickets are $25 in advance ($30 on site), and a three-day VIP pass is $100. Organizers expect approximately 25,000 people to walk through the doors over the weekend. Terry Angstadt, a managing consultant with Autogeek, a car parts company that is both one of the Classic Auto Show’s sponsors and exhibitors, said that the market for hot rods and vintage cars is strong in Southern California. Not only is there an active interest in collecting and restoring vehicles, he said, the region is particularly inviting to those cars. “When you see classic cars and longevity, you think of Southern California,” Angstadt said. He noted that the climate is part of it, since the warm weather helps older vehicles. That is augmented by people who like to show cars off — just consider the weekly Friday night event at the Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, where dozens

Downtown News 15 of throwback rides are on display. More than 50 auto clubs, many of them local, will come Downtown for this week’s show. In addition to displaying their rides — which include Mustangs, DeLoreans, Thunderbirds, Cadillacs and Alfa Romeos — Carlucci said that the clubs offer a chance for both enthusiasts and casual fans to learn more about the classic car scene. The show floor will have more than 200 exhibitors selling parts, refurbishing tools and offering advice on maintenance. Angstadt acknowledged that car culture can be complex, with a lot of technical vocabulary and niche parts, but said most vendors will be offering advice and information to neophytes. The event also includes panel discussions and Q&A sessions with Velocity show hosts on car restoration and maintenance. Additionally, there will be panels from historic car test driver Casey Annis, plus a series of discussions with the Historic Vehicle Association. Another option is a swap meet. There’s even a dealers’ area, so visitors can purchase a vintage car. Prices will vary based on the model and condition, but Carlucci said to expect a range of tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands. The organizers hope to make the Classic Auto Show an annual event in Los Angeles. Carlucci suggested that anyone into cars should stop by, since it’s a good chance to learn about the history of the vehicles. You may even drive home in something new — even if the new is actually decades old. The Classic Auto Show runs Friday-Sunday, Jan. 27-29, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. or theclassicautoshow.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 C. Nicole Mason at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: There’s a dash of unassuming Horatio Alger mixed with globs of structural socioeconomic critiques of American society as C. Nicole Mason discusses her roughshod childhood and upward mobility as portrayed in her latest book, “Born Bright.” James Hamblin at Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30: The gifted writer pens stuff for The Atlantic and studies the body. No, he does not want to feel your vestigial tail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 Didier Fiuza Faustino at SCI-Arc SCI-Arc, 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: Faustino specializes in relationships between body and space, which, as I understand it, is just about every human pursuit. Stephen E. Cummings at Town Hall-Los Angeles City Club, 555 S. Flower, (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 12 p.m.: MUFG is the leading bank in Japan (but you already knew that). Thus, by proxy, MUFG President & CEO Cummings must himself be huge. Lunch will be served as Cummings pontificates on concepts such as “synergy,” “liquid capital” and other things that are above our pay grade. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 Alison Gopnik at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: The Berkeley-based psychologist delves into the astounding creative mechanisms of a child’s brain to ask why adults suffer from a limited imagination. Silke Otto-Knapp at MOCA MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: The water colorist with the Buddy Holly shades weighs the merits of MOCA-exhibited artist R.H. Quaytman. The Un-Private Collection: Thomas Houseago with Flea Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. 8 p.m.: The Broad museum presents this unlikely pairing of a pop rock bass player with a noted sculptor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 Night Out On Broadway Broadway or nightonbroadway.la. 4-11 p.m.: For one day each year, Broadway becomes synonymous with prosperity, urban vitality, live music and community. This year’s seven-hour celebration features live music at the Ace Hotel, the Orpheum and the Olympic, among other venues. There’s also chess boxing, wrestling, a Ferris wheel and much more. SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 Sundays With The Gardener Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel.com. 11 a.m.: The upstart art gallery assumes they have the market on urban gardening cornered, despite being so close to so many apparently empty warehouses. Stop by for pro tips on cultivating that green thumb in the middle of a concrete jungle.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. Jan. 28, 7 p.m.: Peter Kavanaugh. Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or belascous.com. Jan. 24: The 10th anniversary of August Burns Red's album “Messengers” will be met with much applause and, later, tacos. Jan. 28: Pop-country duo Locash is here to prove that popcountry is a thing. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Continued on next page

C AL

’ s s The i M t ’ n List o ‘D

Last week, the Chinese American Museum opened the doors to a new exhibit. In Roots: Asian American Movements in Los Angeles (1968-80s), the museum at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument explores an era of social and political awakening among, yes, Asian Americans. With more than 100 posters, photographs and other artifacts, and a backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement, the show delves into a time of change and examines how disparate groups in this here City of Angels came together. Get a unique lesson in the shaping of the city. Roots continues through June 11. At 425 N. Los Angeles St. or camla.org.

You can’t escape the Red Hot Chili Peppers in California, whether it’s their memory of drugs and an old Downtown viaduct in “Under the Bridge,” or their 1999 mega-pop-rock-Golden-Statebranded opus Californication. One member of the gang is in the local spotlight this week. On Thursday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m., Flea (right) will be taking the day off from his bass duties to accompany sculptor Thomas Houseago in a talk at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. The event is part of The Broad’s “Un-Private Collection” lecture series, in which artists from disparate creative disciplines ruminate on one another’s work. At 933 S. Broadway, (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org.

photo courtesy of the Merrill H. Scott family

photo by Ari Marcopoulos

photo by Clara Balzary

You can always rely on REDCAT for a cultural and performing arts mash-up. That comes into play again this week, as curator Meg Stuart brings her solo dance show Hunter to Downtown Los Angeles for three performances. At 8:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-28, Stuart will augment her dancing with video and tricked-out lighting. What’s it all about? We’ll let REDCAT describe it: “Hunter explores [Stuart’s] own body as an archive populated with personal and cultural memories, ancestors and artistic heroes, fantasies and invisible forces.” That clears everything up, right? At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

There was another hip-hop once, long before the yawning pseudo-intelligible trap mumble and Auto-Tune revolutions arrived. Back then, an MC’s flow, rhyme, cunning and tempo mattered more than gear and Twitter posturing. Recall that golden era on Tuesday, Jan. 24, when The Regent opens its doors to mic-murdering New York duo The Beatnuts. Their first record came out in 1993, and 18 years ago they scored a hit with the bouncy, slightly whimsical single “Watch Out Now.” The Beatnuts will get a little (sizeable) help from Big Pooh. Think of the night as a tutorial in prowess and aplomb staged for those scant few left with a sense of taste. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheatre.com. image courtesy The Regent

EVENTS

OM ON WS.C S N E JOH NN AN NTOW D B Y D OW R@ NDA

photo courtesy Chinese American Museum

CALENDAR LISTINGS

January 23, 2017

image © Maarten Vanden Abeele

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16 Downtown News

In a unique cocktail of levity, old wives’ tales iconoclasm, physiological curiosity and literary exploration, The Atlantic magazine’s James Hamblin has taken a bizarre and highly readable odyssey into understanding the sevenlayer body suit as it pertains to the human mind. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m., Hamblin joins Hallie Bateman at the Last Bookstore to discuss and eventually sign his latest collection of bodily wit and knowledge, If Our Bodies Could Talk. The talk is free, but be a swell guy or gal and consider buying the book. At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

January 23, 2016 Jan. 23: Rebecca Kleinmann Trio with Fabiano Do Nascimento. Jan. 24: Atomic Ape is neither atomic nor an ape. Jan. 25: Ferenc Nemeth Double Piano Trio. Jan. 26: Danny Janklow Quartet featuring Eric Reed. Jan. 27-28: The Sky Remains: Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Los Angeles. Jan. 29: Orenda Records third anniversary. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Jan. 23: The fleet that is Albert and His Dreamboats is apparently still under steam as the residency continues. Jan. 24: If you’re looking to eschew the mainstream at a point of departure three or so notches beneath Mr. Bungle, we recommend The Alexander Noice Sextet. Jan. 25: A veritable who’s who of Bootleggers from Jackson Browne to Gus Seyffert filter in for the Eleni Mandell Tribute Record Release Show to benefit Plastic Pollution Coalition. Jan. 26: Theo Katzman plays drums and guitar for Vulfpeck and sounds like the dude from Wheatus. Jan. 27-29: Three days of Girls School features a whole lot of gifted ladies topping out with Chelsea Wolfe and Francisca Valenzuela. Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality.com. Jan. 24: Sitara Son. Jan. 25: Bossa Zusu. Jan. 26: Joey De Leon. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Jan. 24: Whitherward ironically has the same name as the seminar our parents forced us to attend as young men. Jan. 25: (Insert obligatory overwrought cannabis reference) with Jeremiah & The Red Eyes! Zing-a! Jan. 26: The Deco-hectics are offshoots of DECA, the premiere high school extracurricular marketing association. Jan. 27: The Vignes Rooftop Revival pay tribute to bail bondsmen and police helicopters. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Jan. 27: Sunnery and James Ryan. Jan. 28: Motez. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Jan. 23: Rodney Crowell is an Americana legend like John Henry. Jan. 25: For indie rock steeped in references to Silver Lake liquor stores, dose yourself liberally with Silversun Pickups. Jan. 26: Singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson took his press photo in Katz’s delicatessen, home of the phrase “send a salami to your boy in the army.” Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com. Jan. 23: Jose Perez. Jan. 24: Francisco Torres. Jan. 25: La Victoria. Jan. 26: Mento Buru. Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com. Jan. 28, 3 p.m.: Yes, it’s true. Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet along with Nena, Naked Eyes and The English Beat will be on hand for 80s Weekend Night #3. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Jan. 23: Muscle Beach. Jan. 24: Jack Rabbit Jade. Jan. 25: The Great Sadness and Annie Hardy. Jan. 27: Turkish Techno. Jan. 28: Des’ Birthday & Surprise. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. Jan. 23: Groves, Bogan Via, Daise and NONA. Jan. 24: Wilderado. Jan. 25: Defend L.A. Featuring Facial. Jan. 26: Howe Gelb and Mark Eitzel. Jan. 27: Feminist Friday Featuring Katelyn Tarver. Jan. 28: Choir Boy, Deaf Dance and Boa Constrictors. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Jan. 23: The Gandolfini Brothers immediately conjure thoughts of Mario and Luigi that are despicable if only because they were implanted during a childhood spent inoculating ourselves to the psychic radiation of video games. Jan. 24: Four days into Trump’s America and The Makers haven’t really noticed any appreciable difference in their lives, except for the sound of mysterious radio signals filtering through their tooth fillings and the inordinate need to bathe in petroleum. Jan. 25: Rosa Lee Brooks is constantly battling the desire to play a game of pool mid-set. Jan. 28: Trio Kait, the consolation prize of Saturday night threesomes. Jan. 29: With this cold snap, the California Feet Warmers’ name has become un-ironic for the first time. Continued on page 18

Downtown News 17

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18 Downtown News The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Jan. 27: DJ Printz crests the bill on R&B Only. Jan. 28: L.A.-curated jams mark Soulection’s six-year anniversary. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Jan. 23: Engaging stories abound at The Moth Grandslam. Jan. 24: The Beatnuts and Big Pooh deliver on good oldfashioned hip-hop. Jan. 25: Sam Morrow has a residency, just like he always wanted. Jan. 26: Pharoas, Maria Minerva and Magic Touch all contribute to Rest in Power: An Oakland Fire Relief Gathering. Jan. 27: The anti-vowel agenda goes unchecked with TWRP. Jan. 28: Safetysuit just got off the road with the Goo Goo Dolls. You bros OK? The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Jan. 25: Feels, CFM, Flat Worms, Fernando & The Teenage and Narcs. Jan. 26: Sloppy Jane, Nani and Poppy Jean Crawford. Jan. 27: Sister Mantos, Kim Free, r.r. barbadas and NAPS. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Jan. 28: Shy Girls’ opening act, Tiffany Gouche, pronounces her name Goo-Shay, not, you know, Gooch. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.: Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs is exactly that — the famed actor singing at least one Annie Lennox tune.

CROSSWORD

THEATER

The Abduction From The Seraglio LA Opera, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m.: Where Wolfgang Amadeus meets Tinseltown, you will find this operatic classic reimagined as a fitful journey on the Orient Express. James Conlon conducts the staging directed by James Robinson, Through Feb. 19. Bob Baker’s Fiesta Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Jan. 28-29, 2:30 p.m.: It would not be a full-fledged Los Angeles fiesta without the storied marionettes from the Bob Baker shop. Meg Stuart: HUNTER REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Jan. 26-28, 8:30 p.m.: A poet of the body, Meg Stuart recasts the human narrative in the solo show “Hunter.”

CLASSICAL MUSIC MONDAY, JANUARY 23 Julius Eastman: Gay Guerrilla Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or mondayeveningconcerts.org. 8 p.m.: The Colburn School’s Monday Evening Concerts series returns with the minimalist sounds of Julius Eastman. It’s a tribute to the black, gay composer who was an avant-garde star in the 1960s and ’70s. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 Itzhak Perlman Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9720777 or musiccenter.org.

January 23, 2016

Jan. 24, 8 p.m.: If you like the violin, then you like Perlman. It’s that simple. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 Dudamel & Emanuel Ax Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9720777 or musiccenter.org. Jan. 26-27, 8 p.m. and Jan. 28, 2 p.m.: You know what we said above about the violin and Perlman? Sub in the words “piano” and “Emanuel Ax” in this case. It’s even better with Gustavo conducting. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 Chamber Music Master Class Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 7 p.m.: The Calder Quartet steps in to instruct the youngins on the proper way to flaunt talent blended with hyperbolic youth. SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 Colburn Chamber Music Society Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 3 p.m.: The Calder Quartet yet again takes the stage to do justice to Boccherini, John Luther Adams and Schubert.

FILM

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Jan. 22, 5 p.m. and Jan. 23-24, 7 p.m.: The uncut Sailor Moon R: The Movie hits theaters for the first time. Jan. 28, 3 p.m.: Are you going to bark all day, little doggie, or are you going to bite into this Reservoir Dogs screening from Film Force Five?

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January 23, 2017

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LEGAL NOTICE MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from qualified general contractors wishing to become prequalified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a firm that will provide construction services to build a new security kiosk at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at: https://goo.gl/forms/ Ya33sRwl1gjWz40s1 . Completed forms are due on or before close of business by February 3rd, 2017. Submissions received after 5:00pm on February 3rd, 2017 will be rejected.

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20 Downtown News

January 23, 2017

More Towers for South Park

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.

Re Ne no wl va y te d

255 GRAND

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

Developer City Century Plans ThreePronged Project Near L.A. Live By Nicholas Slayton outh Park is no stranger to multi-tower mega-projects. Already a pair of $1 billion developments, Metropolis and Oceanwide Plaza, and the $500 million Circa, are under construction. Other giant deals are in the planning and entitlement stage. Get ready for one more. Developer City Century recently unveiled plans for a three-tower project at 1015 W. Olympic Blvd. near L.A. Live. It would transform a set of parking lots into a mega-structure with 1,367 market-rate apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. “Downtown L.A. has proven to be a viable 24/7 neighborhood,” City Century Executive Vice President Stuart Morkun said. “The idea is to provide market rate units to meet the growing

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

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MUSEUM TOWER

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

TOWERS

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image courtesy of City Century

The three-tower Olympia would rise across from the L.A. Live movie complex and create more than 1,300 market-rate apartments.

demand in Downtown for housing. This project, with the location adjacent to L.A. Live and its strong visibility on the western edge of Downtown, can accomplish those things.” The project, known as the Olympia, is being designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the firm that also worked on Downtown’s recently opened Federal Courthouse in the Civic Center. No budget or timeline have been revealed. Early designs show three glass-fronted high-rises on a parcel across the street from the L.A. Live movie theaters. A single podium complex would wrap around the trio of structures. The project would tower over the 110 Freeway. Plans also call for more than 115,000 square feet of open space, with numerous gardens. A plaza along Olympic Boulevard would be open to the public. Morkun said the three towers fit with Downtown Los Angeles design standards and also attempt to strike a balance between indoor and outdoor space. City Century, the American subsidiary of the Shanghai-based Shenglong Group, acquired the site about a year ago from a group of investors, Morkun said. The developer anticipates the project having enough environmentally sensitive and sustainable elements to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the second area project for City Century. Last spring, the company announced plans to erect a 24-story building at 1233 S. Grand Ave. The development, known as the Grand Residences, would have a slightly hexagonal shape and contain 161 apartments. Plans to break ground by the end of 2016 have been slightly delayed. Morkun said that although many South Park mega-projects are under construction or in the planning stage, he is not worried about the neighborhood becoming overcrowded. “Bring on the saturation. The quicker we build this kind of density and get that urban environment together, the better,” Morkun said. “This site is next to these really dynamic and great projects. We’re hoping it fills up.” nicholas@downtownnews.com