02-11-19

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FEBRUARY 11, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #6

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AROUND TOWN

New Plans for 70-Story High-Rise in South Park

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resh renderings for the Crown Group’s proposed tower at 11th and Hill streets show that the developer has significantly altered its plans. Images from the Australian firm Koichi Takada Architects reveal a 70-story building, an increase from an original 52-story proposal.

Last year the developer detailed plans for 528 condominiums in the tower at 1111 S. Hill St.; it is unclear if that number has changed. The project is being labeled the “Sky Trees,” for the design inspired by California’s redwood trees, according to Koichi Takada Architects. Renderings of the glass and steel complex show reddish-bronze metal, evoking the trees. It consists of two masses, one significantly taller than the other, that both sport sloped roofs topped with trees and green space. No budget or timeline have been revealed. The Australian website CommercialRealEstate.com first reported on the new designs.

A Groundbreaking For The Grand

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he last of the “tinker toy” parking structure on Bunker Hill is gone, and now

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developer Related Cos. is ready to officially start work on the massive mixed-use development The Grand. A ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking of the $1 billion development being designed by Frank Gehry is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 11, at 10:30 a.m. Located at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and First Street, the project on city- and county-owned land was originally awarded to Related 15 years ago.

The developer prepared a $2 billion proposal, but it was killed by the onset of the recession. Related later revived the project with new designs. The Grand will include a 39-story tower with 436 residential units (20% set aside as affordable housing), and a 20-story building with a 314-room Equinox Hotel. There will also be a movie theater and 200,000 square feet of retail space. The project is expected to open in 2022.

Typhus Concerns Reach City Hall

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he outbreak of a flea-borne disease last fall prompted local officials to declare a large portion of central Downtown the “typhus zone.” Now another part of the community is feeling the effects: City Hall. On Wednesday, Feb. 6, Council President Herb Wesson filed a motion calling for the Department of General Services to provide a cost estimate to remove all carpets in City Hall, as well as an overview of pest control protocols for the Civic Center, and an assessment of all live plants in city-

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owned buildings in Downtown. The motion said that staffers became aware of vermin (which eat the plants) and fleas in Wesson’s City Hall office in November, and later removed the carpeting. The motion came days after NBC4 reported that a city employee working in City Hall was diagnosed with typhus. In September, the County Department of Public Health declared the typhus outbreak in Downtown, and 17 cases of the disease have been linked to the community. “It is imperative that City leadership take the necessary immediate steps and precautionary measures to prevent any further psychological or health-related issues affecting City employees, residents and other individuals who work within or visit the Civic Center complex,” the motion reads.

Warner Music Group Finally Moving Into Arts District

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fter a series of delays, Warner Music Group is finally taking over the Ford Factory Building. Last week the company announced that it will relocate into the five-story Arts District structure at 777 S. Santa Fe Ave. in two phases. Warner/Chappell, its publishing branch, will arrive first, starting on Feb. 25. Warner Bros. Records (including staff for Atlantic, Rhino and other labels) will set up on March 18. Shorenstein Properties acquired and renovated the 1912 edifice, which formerly served as a Ford plant, and turned it into a campus with

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creative office space. In 2016, Warner Music Group announced it would lease the entire 254,000-square-foot building and relocate its headquarters from Burbank to Downtown. The company has a 13-year lease on the property.

Demolition Underway at Pickle Works Building

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fter being heavily damaged by a fire last year and deemed a safety risk, the James K. Hill and Sons Pickle Works Building is being demolished. That marks a defining turn for the structure at 1001 E. First St. that had been the focus of debate between preservation advocates and government officials. Crews have taken down the charred walls and are removing the last block of the building, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The full demolition is expected to wrap early next month.

The property is owned by the city, and Metro had sought to acquire the Pickle Works Building and tear down part of it to make way for a “turnback” facility, which will allow for speedier turnaround times for Red and Purple line trains arriving at Union Station.

Preservationists argued against the demolition, saying the structure originally built in 1888 (other parts were added in later years) was historic. The building caught fire on Nov. 9, and the city Department of Building and Safety eventually deemed it unsafe. Metro is still in the process of acquiring the building, according to an agency spokesman.

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 3

LOVE LINES Valentine’s Day Is Here, and So Are Downtowners’ Public Proclamations of Affection

Mrs. Sandoval… My love of 15 years, you are and always will be my hot wife, loved you since day one…

Mr. Sandoval Pedzy… Every year my love of and my amazement for you grows! 19 years and growing everyday! Thank you!… Keithers COCO… Much Love to you. You’re as lovely as the first day I saw you. Love Always… Ice GT TB129… Every year with you is better than the last.

Thinking of you sparks immense joy, and other feelings… Love, RJR Single & Hungry… Love you so much and you’re my ROCK STAR. From your biggest fan… Da Bone Dear dear… Happy Valentine’s day, te quiero mucho and you can always count on me…

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Your carnicero Hugo To Josie Trevizo… My 4ever work crush! Happy V-Day, you’re getting prettier and more sophisticated by the day.

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Mi campeon Dearest Sergio… You are amazing in every way and I’m so blessed to have you as my Valentine… Love, Gabriel Guendoli… 2 years later, and we have our Nico Bear!

Looking forward to a grand year! … Love, Barkev

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EDITORIALS

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FEBRUARY 11, 2019

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

A Mayor’s Chance To Refocus

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n Jan. 29 Mayor Eric Garcetti ended about 18 months of speculation by announcing that he will not run for president of the United States in 2020. Although securing the Democratic party nomination was always a reach, his try would have focused more national attention on a blossoming Los Angeles. Somehow we expect that, in the future, Garcetti will again insert himself into the national political discussion.

In the meantime, this provides the mayor the opportunity to refocus on the city that overwhelmingly re-elected him in 2017. That’s good, because in the next four years (his term was extended thanks to a shift in city election dates) Los Angeles faces plenty of challenges, and residents can use his smarts, attention and analytical focus on results.

First and foremost, Garcetti has the opportunity to make more headway in addressing the homelessness crisis. The mayor has worked hard on the matter, often partnering with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in a joint city-county approach. Still, tent encampments proliferate and the housing people hoped would rise in the wake of voters’ passage of Proposition HHH in 2016 has been slow to materialize. It often feels as if Los Angeles is only treading water in resolving homelessness. Garcetti must continue to be a visible leader on this issue.

Then there is education. Garcetti described helping mediate the recent six-day teachers’ strike as a “kick in the pants.” We hope that kick reverberates, because before the strike Garcetti paid little public attention to education. Although the Los Angeles Unified School District is not under the mayor’s purview, he can exert influence through the bully pulpit and personal relationships. The district faces a financial challenge and needs more money from Sacramento. We hope Garcetti will aggressively lobby for those funds, and that he can be a bridge for district, union and charter school leaders who often distrust each other.

Garcetti may face a crisis in the FBI investigation into City Hall. No one knows where the feds are going, though the November raid on the home and offices of Downtown Councilman José Huizar, and a warrant seeking emails from former Deputy Mayor Ray Chan, indicate that the investigation could be far-reaching. This may take time to play out, and even if he is not directly involved (no arrests have been made or charges filed), as the chief executive of the city Garcetti has a leading role in ensuring that Angelenos can trust their government.

There will be financial issues that demand the mayor’s attention — City Controller Ron Galperin’s recent report on the 2018 fiscal year cites concerns including pension and retiree healthcare obligations as well as an increased debt load. Many people expect a coming economic downturn, and Garcetti must ensure that the city can get through it without cutting services.

A Los Angeles mayor will always be pressed to address public safety shifts and be ready in the event of a natural disaster. There remain infrastructure and mass transit concerns. The list is long.

Garcetti will still travel — fostering strong relationships with leaders across the country is part of his job. But now that he doesn’t have to worry about caucuses and primaries, we look forward to seeing him focus on matters close to home.

City Hall Black History Month Antonio Fargas, John Szabo & Fred Williamson Feb. 5, 2019

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COMMENTS

Regarding the article “Four Months in, El Pueblo Shelter Draws Mixed Reviews,” by Nicholas Slayton The first year is budgeted to cost $2.4 million. Would the 45 residents in the facility be better off with a supervised grant of $53,333.33 each, if you divided the funds equally?

—J. Scott Bovitz Regarding the article “Long-Awaited Chinatown Park Breaks Ground” The city government has done an unacceptable job by making residents of the area go 10 years without a park.

The children’s playground will not do any good for the kids who could not use it over the last 10 years, and who have now outgrown the need for it.

—Dominick Falzone Regarding the editorial “The Worsening Downtown Crime Rate,” which details a significant rise over 2014 crime levels in Downtown Prop 47 doesn’t help. We need to gather and organize enough voices who are tired of this happening in our community to make change happen. There are plenty of those who are angry but there is nowhere to direct that EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

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to a productive path toward real positive change. DTLA residents feel helpless as a result.

—Brigham Yen Regarding the article “Jan Perry Enters Supervisor’s Race,” by Jon Regardie I love it! Thanks Jan for taking on Machiavellian Herb Wesson. Much appreciated.

—Yuval Kremer Jan will be great for L.A. County. Herb Wesson needs to be gone.

—Joe Faulkner

Hey You! Speak Up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like, or dislike, a story or editorial, let us know. Or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Post a comment online at the bottom of any story, or go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, email regardie@downtownnews.com.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

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Getting Ready for Some Brutal Battles in 2020

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photo courtesy Jan Perry for Supervisor

By Jon Regardie eople across the United States are eagerly looking forward to the November 2020 election, when a Democratic party nominee not named Eric Garcetti will square off against President Donald Trump. If 2016 was any indication, then we could witness the nastiest race in history.

photo by Gary Leonard

Los Angeles Will See Several Fierce Elections, and They Are Only a Year Away

THE REGARDIE REPORT In Los Angeles, however, the real battles will occur eight months before, and just a little more than a year from now. That’s because the March 2020 primary is shaping up to be full of locally explosive races. The opening of some juicy posts will bring both fresh faces seeking to make their mark, and the return of some political heavyweights.

What could be more fun? Well, if you squint, you can also see the first vestiges of the 2022 mayor’s race, when Garcetti will be termed out.

Behold, an early rundown of some of Los Angeles’ most fascinating showdowns.

The 14th District Battle: Once upon a time — about four months ago — this race looked to be over. Councilman José Huizar had spent more than a year buttering up residents and donors in Downtown Los Angeles and elsewhere for his wife Richelle’s run.

The #TeamHuizar machine burst out of the

When Jan Perry was on the City Council, she had a fierce clash with Council President Herb Wesson. Now the two are running against each other for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors.

gate with a slick campaign and some money-spurting fundraisers. They quickly soaked up more than $100,000, according to documents filed with the City Ethics Commission.

Then, faster than you can say FBI, everything blew up. The raid of the councilman’s home and offices on Nov. 7 made the campaign the political equivalent of Wile E. Coyote holding a stick of dynamite. Richelle Huizar withdrew from the race on Nov. 21.

Five individuals have already filed papers to raise money for the contest, though none has much of a political profile. Now a battery

of connected figures across the district are known to be considering running.

The two names generating the most buzz are former state Senate President Kevin de León and current Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, whose 53th District includes Downtown. It’d be a big step for either — you make nearly $200,000 a year on the council, you get to be king of a district with 250,000 residents, and who really likes spending all that time in Sacramento anyway? The question is, would they both run and rip each other to shreds, or would they reach an agree-

ment in which one steps aside and the other gets a giant cookie, a lucrative appointment or some other consolation prize?

Expect one to enter, though he won’t have a free ride. A number of people will seek the seat, and a Downtown resident with a base of support could do damage. Local observers also thinks district denizens would be especially receptive to a strong female candidate.

Ultimately this could wind up like a wrestling battle royale where a dozen people or more climb into the ring, clobber each other in the noggin, and the unpredictable happens.

County Calamity: Nearly a decade ago, then-Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose Ninth District included Downtown, tangled with Council President Herb Wesson. Wesson responded by slicing apart her territory in the city redistricting process. Another councilman, Bernard Parks, was also involved in the tiff, and he saw his Eighth District butchered

by Wesson. It was a power play won by Wesson, though he didn’t emerge with New England Patriots-style glory.

Now, Perry and Wesson are squaring off for the Second District County Supervisor’s seat being vacated by a termed-out Mark Ridley-Thomas. It’s a huge territory with nearly 2 million inhabitants.

Wesson is the favorite, and a campaign press release last month boasted about raising $500,000, which is a ridiculous starting point. Still, Perry has a lot of admirers, and she’s a savvy veteran of political campaigns Continued on page 12

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FEBRUARY 11, 2019

As Crime Rises, The Community Responds Residents and Workers Come Together — Online and in the Real World — In Effort to Keep Neighborhood Safe

By Sean P. Thomas n recent years, a stream of violent incidents in Downtown Los Angeles has sparked community meetings and calls for more officers on the streets. Now a group of local residents is seeking to further raise awareness and get involved in the response.

In October, a group of business owners and residents came together to form WatchDTLA, joining another group, DTLA Strong, that has been pushing to get more police officers on the streets. Although neighborhood watches are nothing new, WatchDTLA differs from past similar bodies by a near constant social media presence that draws attention to criminal activity.

The group emerged from a September town hall. The discussion involved providing insight on ways to report crime, as well as other public safety concerns.

Shawn Smith, a Historic Core resident who helped found WatchDTLA, said the goal is to increase awareness about crime trends and provide tips such as contact information for Senior Lead Officers — LAPD members who work closely with specific

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neighborhoods — and Business Improvement District safety patrols.

“I saw that people were highlighting the issues and complaining about the issues, and some people were upset about certain things, so I started sharing on that forum and was trying to be solution-based and positive,” Smith said. “Pointing a finger is really important to highlight an issue, but you shouldn’t just point a finger. You should lift a hand.”

The group initially focused on Smith’s Spring Street apartment building, but has expanded to the greater Historic Core. Smith said residents from outside that neighborhood are joining in increasing numbers.

Concern has been sparked by a few troubling incidents. One occurred in June when a homeless man swung a piece of plywood with a nail protruding out of it at a Downtown resident; the LAPD said it was an unprovoked attack.

Smith said that the largest increase in members came after a Dec. 5 incident, when Albert Davtyan, the owner of Albert’s Tailoring on Eighth Street, was pushed in front of an oncoming truck by a transient.

photo by Sean P. Thomas

LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sylvia Padilla spoke with Downtown residents who showed up at a recent meeting of WatchDTLA, a neighborhood watch group. The organization has regular meetings and an online Facebook group with more than 300 members.

The attack was unprovoked and Davtyan suffered serious injuries. The assault drew national headlines.

The watch’s Facebook group has about 300 members and there have been five in-person meetings, including one on Jan. 29 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center that drew about 30 people. Attendees included multiple Downtown SLOs and representatives of several business improvement districts.

WatchDTLA is emerging as crime is rising

in Downtown. The LAPD’s Central Division, which covers Downtown, reported a 6.1% spike in serious crime in 2018 in the area over the previous year. Crime has risen for five consecutive years in Central.

Property crime has surged in that time, with a particular spike in thefts from cars.

In 2018 Central Division recorded a total of 5,517 property crimes, up from 4,877 the previous year. In 2014, there were 3,240 Continued on page 11

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

After Huge Project Stalls, Questions Rise External Factors May Have Played Role in Work Stoppage At South Park’s $1 Billion Oceanwide Plaza

By Nicholas Slayton n South Park, one of the most-watched projects is the one where absolutely nothing is happening.

As observers wait for work to resume on the $1 billion Oceanwide Plaza, some are wondering if the situation will go from bad to worse.

In mid-January, crews from Lendlease, the primary contractor on the mega-development, stopped work. Although ver tical construction was completed last year on the project with two 40-story buildings and a 49-story tower, the site resembles a ghost town, with no workers and many portions of the structures open to the elements. Concrete-slab floors and hanging cables can be seen from the street.

Developer Oceanwide Holdings said that it intends to restart construction later photo by Jon Regardie this month after recapitalizCrews stopped construction on Oceanwide Plaza last month.

An opening ing the project across from has been pushed back to 2020 for the three-tower complex that would Staples Center. But the slowhave 504 condominiums and a 184-room Park Hyatt hotel. down occurred as the Beijing-based company deals with changing economic conditions in its struction in 2020. Previously Oceanwide had been looking to open this year. homeland.

“In an effort to prioritize construction acDr. William Yu, an economist with UCLA’s Anderson Forecast and an expert on the tivity, and while we restructure capital for the Chinese economy and its impact on the project, interior construction at Oceanwide United States, said that the Chinese gov- Plaza is temporarily on hold,” Oceanwide’s ernment has recently altered its approach statement said. “Our decision to provisionally to money flowing out of the country. Chi- pause construction is solely based on these na’s foreign currency reserve has plum- internal factors and nothing else. With more meted rapidly since 2014, Yu said, and for- than $1 billion of equity already invested in eign direct investment that peaked in 2016 Oceanwide Plaza, we look forward to investhas declined over the last two years. Now, ing more capital into the property and tohe noted, Beijing is using its leverage and gether, with Lendlease, remain committed to capital control efforts to stanch the flow of building this landmark project for L.A.” Retail and a Billboard cash, with the goal of keeping more money The site at 1101 S. Flower St. has had a within China.

“It’s becoming very difficult for corpora- troubled history. In the years before the 2008 recession, it was owned by New York’s Mointions to move money out of China,” Yu said.

Dale Goldsmith, a partner with the land ian Group, which planed a major mixed-used use consulting firm Armbruster Goldsmith & complex that would build on the momentum Delvac, and a veteran of the Downtown de- of Staples Center and L.A. Live. It never broke velopment scene, echoed Yu’s take, saying ground.

The property was sold, and Oceanwide that the currency slowdown in China is having an impact on development in the United announced its plans in 2014. Oceanwide States. He added that, in the case of Ocean- Plaza would have a total of 504 condominiwide, Chinese domestic issues are likely more ums and a 184-room Park Hyatt hotel. There of a factor than anything tied to the Down- would also be 153,000 square feet of comtown real estate market. He noted that in- mercial space and 37,000 square feet of vestment and interest in Downtown Los An- outdoor space.

Downtown-based architecture firm Calligeles remains strong.

Clues as to what will happen next with the sonRTKL designed the development, which project are hard to come by, and Oceanwide would include a sweeping landscaped ameniwas guarded in a prepared statement be- ties deck overlooking Figueroa Street and Stayond declaring that the goal is to finish conContinued on page 8

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Chinese developers have been active in Downtown, though there have also been recent signs of financial uncertainty. Greenland, the developer of the Metropolis complex along the 110 Freeway, last year put two of the project’s four towers up for sale (including one building not yet finished). Construction had halted until Greenland USA was able to secure $310 million in financing for the last building.

As China’s foreign currency reserve has diminished, the Chinese government has seen its growth rate decline in the last year; at the same time, there have been trade tensions with the United States. Still, Yu said the biggest factor in the development market remains Beijing’s capital control efforts.

The Oceanwide project has drawn attention in other ways, too. Oceanwide was one of several Chinese developers that are working in Downtown that was mentioned in a federal search warrant related to an apparent corruption investigation. The July warrant sought email correspondence from former Deputy Mayor Ray Chan.

No charges have been filed and the ultimate aim of the investigation remains unknown. Oceanwide said the construction halt was based solely on financing issues and not any external factor.

The project has also been the source of legal action. On Jan. 31, Webcor Construc-

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tion, a contractor on the project, filed suit against multiple parties including Lendlease and Oceanwide Holdings. The suit alleges breach of contract and charges that $52.8 million owed to Webcor has not been paid. A spokesperson for Oceanwide declined to comment on the matter. At press time, Webcor’s lawyer had not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Ellen Riotto, executive director of the South Park Business Improvement District, said that work had previously slowed on Oceanwide Plaza, so the halt in construction was not a complete surprise. She hopes the project restarts quickly.

“Any time there’s a construction site, it’s good for the neighborhood. The sooner they can get back to work though, the better,” she said. “Right now it’s a lot of scaffolding up, disrupting pedestrian and vehicular traffic.”

Goldsmith said that if capital remains an issue for Oceanwide, the developer could seek an investment partner, or even sell the project. He said it is possible, although unlikely, that the project could stall entirely.

In addition to Oceanwide and Metropolis, other Chinese firms are investing in Downtown. Shenzhen Hazens is planning a two-tower, $700 million replacement for the Luxe Hotel, also near L.A. Live. Chinese firm CCCG Overseas Real Estate Pte. Ltd., also known as CORE, is investing $290 million in The Grand, the Frank Gehry-designed mega-project on Bunker Hill. That project will break ground on Monday Feb. 11. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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FEBRUARY 11, 2019

REDCAT Executive Director to Step Down

Getting Tricky

Mark Murphy to Depart After 16 Years Leading Avant-Garde Venue

By Sean P. Thomas or the first time in its 16-year history, REDCAT is preparing for life without founding Executive Director Mark Murphy.

The California Institute of the Arts, which launched and oversees REDCAT, announced on Tuesday, Feb. 5, that Murphy will depart the Bunker Hill experimental performing arts space when the current season ends in June. Murphy said he intends to focus on new programing and productions across the U.S. and in international cities.

“It has been consistently thrilling to present and organize more than 150 events year-round for 16 seasons, and I’m very proud of our work, the team we’ve built and the audience and community that has made REDCAT an important home for innovation and experimentation,” Murphy said in a prepared statement.

Murphy was in place before REDCAT opened in the rear of Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003. Under his watch, the programmer brought in established and emerging performers and groups from across the United States and 70 countries, including the Wooster Group, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ronald K. Brown.

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REDCAT — which stands for the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater — programmed productions in a wide variety of disciplines. It hosted theater and dance troupes as well as musical acts. It also has a regular film series.

During his tenure Murphy oversaw the creation of REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival, a showcase for up-and-coming acts from Southern California, and its annual International Children’s Film Festival. In 2018, he played a lead role in organizing the Pacific Standard Time: Live Art LA/LA festival, which included more than 200 artists and 75 separate performances across Los Angeles.

“The Board of Trustees is deeply appreciative of Mark’s exemplary service to REDCAT and CalArts,” Tim Disney, chairman of the California Institute of the Arts, said in a prepared statement.

“His strong leadership and foresight have served CalArts well, and he has laid a solid foundation for continued growth and the support of artistic exploration in Los Angeles.”

Edgar Miramontes, REDCAT’s associate director, will take on additional roles and fill in for Murphy until a permanent appointment is hired. The executive search firm Phillips Oppenheim will

Harlem Globetrotters Return to Downtown

By Sean P. Thomas akers fans are bummed out after Magic Johnson last week failed to trade the entire team for New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis.

But there’s still a basketball bright side in Downtown Los Angeles: Another collection of superstars will throw down rim-rattling dunks and trick passes this week.

The sounds of “Sweet Georgia Brown” will ring throughout Staples Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, when the Harlem Globetrotters storm the court. Tickets start at $25.

Globetrotter Zeus McClurkin, who holds the Guinness world record for the most dunks in a minute with 16, is returning to Downtown for the fourth time. He said the current tour is all about expanding the fan experience.

“We’re hoping to get up close and personal with the fans,” McClurkin said. “More than we ever have before.”

Now in their 93rd year, and with more than 20,000 victories in their record book, the Globetrotters have done seemingly everything there is to do on a basketball court. McClurkin says that fans aren’t looking for what is fresh or new, but rather are seeking the nostalgia from some of the Globetrotters’ trademark moves.

“I don’t think it’s all about keeping things fresh. It’s about the lasting impression we leave with people,” McClurkin said. “They want to see the bucket of water, the bucket of confetti. They want to see us walking through the stands. It reminds them of their childhood.”

Continued on page 11

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photo by Gary Leonard

Mark Murphy, who has helmed REDCAT for nearly 17 years, is stepping down from his post at the end of the current season in June. No replacement has been announcement.

conduct a “broad international search” for Murphy’s replacement, according to the press release.

A representative for CalArts said that the search will start this week, but there is no timeline for when they expect to select a new leader. The upcoming season has already been largely scheduled, with a few additional performances still to be penciled in, the representative added. sean@downtownnews.com

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There are a few additions to this year’s show. The Globetrotters have released a mobile app, which allows access to a Globetrotters’ augmented reality game.

The augmented reality will be nice, but there’s nothing like the real Magic Circle and the live sounds of “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

The Harlem Globetrotters play Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. (213) 742-7340 or harlemglobetrotters.com. sean@downtownnews.com

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photo by Brett Meister

Zeus McClurkin and the rest of the Harlem Globetrotters return to Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 17.

property crimes.

Community-Police Partnership SLO Mike Flanagan, who patrols portions of the Historic Core, keeps in regular contact with the group’s organizers and has fielded reports and crime tips from members.

“We can’t do it all by ourselves, said Flanagan. “That is the main message that we’re trying to get out.”

Flanagan said the majority of the calls he receives are about drug sales. The group had been particularly active in reporting suspected dealers loitering outside of the CVS at Seventh and Spring streets. Flanagan said the resulting activity by police prompted the group to move to Seventh and Main in front of the Dearden’s building. But the calls have kept coming, and the police have continued to respond.

On Twitter, newly appointed Central Division Commanding Officer Scott Harrelson noted that three people were arrested for drug-related crimes at the corner.

“We heard the complaints of blatant and aggressive drug sales on the area of Seventh and Main, and your [LAPD] narcotics officers took action,” the Jan. 10 post said.

At last month’s meeting, SLO Jamilah Jones-Linton, who has worked closely with Smith, said 41 arrests were made in the area bounded by Broadway and Sixth, Eighth and Main streets from Jan. 1-29. She said that information gathered by the group was passed along to officers, which allowed police to formulate a response.

Flanagan, who patrolled Downtown Los Angeles in two separate past stints, said that he has not previously seen this level of involvement from community members.

“They are trying to do anything they can to help keep the community safe, and I’m going to do anything I can to help support them,” Flanagan said.

Kirk A. Gaw, who in the past operated a different crime watch group with Flanagan, and helped get WatchDTLA off

the ground, said that the visible crime in the area has made locals increasingly receptive to an active neighborhood watch.

“In the past, I never noticed people being involved like they are now,” Gaw said.

Other neighborhood watches have formed in Downtown in the past, only to fizzle out. That included a 2008 effort in the Little Tokyo/Toy District area, and a 2003 effort in the Historic Core that was built around neighborhood walks with community members and police officers.

The most recent effort was in South Park, where the community’s Business Improvement District last held a neighborhood watch meeting in June 2017. Ellen Rioto, executive director of the South Park BID, said in an email that the watch was terminated due to poor turnout, and that the organization has shifted its focus to supporting groups including WatchDTLA and DTLA Strong. The latter group, led by Sara Hernandez, a former staffer in the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, has been circulating a petition for increased LAPD foot beats Downtown.

Rena Masten Leddy, executive director of the Fashion District Business Improvement District, attended the Jan. 29 meeting. After the event, she said the emergence of groups like WatchDTLA and DTLA Strong shows that people are growing increasingly concerned about public safety.

“The big point right now is that there are now two organizations, two residential groups, that have taken it upon themselves to volunteer because they are worried about public safety in Downtown. I think that says a lot about what is going on,” Leddy said.

Smith said that the goal is to expand the group to more Downtown neighborhoods and to hold more frequent meetings. At the Jan. 29 event, he also reiterated that the purpose of WatchDTLA is to be visually active but not physically involved — the mission, he said, is to relay information to the community and the LAPD, and not to try to stop a crime. The latter is the job of police. sean@downtownnews.com

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2020 ELECTION, 5 (including a failed run for mayor in 2013).

Plus, Wesson has some vulnerabilities, and district residents can expect to receive opposition mailers reminding them that 1) his chief of staff has been mentioned as part of the FBI investigation into City Hall, and 2) Wesson himself has had a cascade of personal financial stumbles, including trouble paying his mortgage and his credit card bill.

Other candidates could get in the race.

Don’t be surprised if there’s a runoff and the top two finishers battle again in November.

The Eighth District Coronation: Speaking of Ridley-Thomas, the outgoing supervisor and former member of the state Assembly, the state Senate and the City Council is gunning for another City Council term.

Although he previously represented the Eighth District on the council, now he is seeking the 10th District post being vacated by Wesson. Tradesies!

I’m not sure what the record for money raised in a City Council race is, but Ridley-Thomas could obliterate it if he tries.

He has wins in a variety of sectors from health to development to public transit to working on homelessness. His relationships with labor and the business community run crazy deep. Though he sometimes operates in a low-key public manner, MRT is a wizard of a powerbroker.

There will be competition, and one opponent, Grace Yoo, has already raised a

not-shabby $51,000. She also knows the turf and ran against Wesson in 2015.

Yoo’s base will be Korean-Americans in the district, but the 4,200 votes she won in 2015 amounted to less than 30% of the ballots. Unless she starts driving to campaign appearances in the Ghostbusters car and offers every voter in the district a puppy, she’s probably gonna get steamrolled by Ridley-Thomas.

Rubber Stamp Races: Incumbent council members almost never lose in Los Angeles, and current office holders Paul Krekorian, David Ryu, Nury Martinez and Marqueece Harris-Dawson should all skate to victory.

The one interesting race could be in the Fourth District, where Sarah Kate Levy is challenging Ryu. I’d never heard of her until last week, but the $83,000 she has raised makes her worth watching. Her website notes that she is the president of the local chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus. It also mentions that she wrote the screenplay for the film No Way Jose, which is not a documentary about Huizar, but instead was a feature that has a measly 17% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s interesting, because outgunned council challengers frequently earn about 17% of the vote.

Ryu is the prohibitive favorite and has already raised a gargantuan $335,000. He’s an intriguing figure, and gained notice for pushing a proposal to prohibit real estate developers with local projects from contributing to political campaigns. Still, his war

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will be termed out of his seat in 2020, but he has entered the 10th District City Council race. He previously represented the Eighth District on the L.A. City Council. The primary is 13 months away. photo by Martin Zamora/courtesy office of Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas

chest is jammed with $800 contributions (the maximum amount allowed for an individual) from attorneys, realtors, consultants and others — clearly Ryu knows how the power game is played.

Looking Ahead to 2022: Garcetti has nearly four more years in office, but it’s never too early to look to the future and ponder who the next mayor of Los Angeles will be. That is particularly the case considering one abovementioned individual: Ridley-Thomas.

Yes, Ridley-Thomas is running for a council seat, and he would never publicly mention hoping to trampoline to another spot, but… many people see him as a likely and very formidable mayoral candidate.

We’ve seen this path before. In 2003, former state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa knocked off incumbent 14th District

Councilman Nick Pacheco. Though AnVil promised during the campaign not to run for mayor two years later, he reversed himself and did exactly that, and then bounced another incumbent, Mayor Jim Hahn.

If Ridley-Thomas runs in 2022, he could see a challenge from someone else mentioned here: Many people think de León sees mayor of L.A. as a step on his career ladder, and though he got creamed by Dianne Feinstein in a race for the U.S. Senate last year, he has plenty of backers who would surely write checks.

This is all a long ways off, and one never knows what will happen. After all, just a few months ago everyone though Garcetti would run for president and a Huizar would continue to represent the 14th.

Funny thing, politics. regardie@downtownnews.com

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EDUCATION GUIDE Abundance in West Adams Workshops Available at Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens

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he Guasti Villa stands as an image of old-world abundance at 3500 W. Adams Blvd. Built in 1910, the mansion was designed in the style of a grand villa by Italian native Secundo Guasti, who brought craftsmen from Europe to complete its construction. Later, in 1937, famed Hollywood director and cho-

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FEBRUARY 11, 2019

An Urban Oasis

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A New Sports Field Helps Pilgrim School Students Grow and Thrive

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ilgrim School’s new regulation-sized sports field, innovative new playground and sensory-rich Early Education outdoor space truly create an oasis in the heart of the city. Pilgrim students have the best of all worlds as they learn and play in a park-like setting while having

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

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CALENDAR

Faith, Doub t and Deceit in Bangkok Four T

photo by Michael Lamont

eens on a Missiona In Thaila r y Trip nd Find T heir Priv Violated acy in Ea Dark Com st West Players’ edy ‘Man of God’

East West Players’ world premiere of Anna Moench’s Man of God follows four teenage Christian missionary students who are visiting Thailand. Their world is turned upside down when they discover that a camera has been planted in their hotel room.

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By Nicholas Slayton hat happens when you find your privacy violated and your world turned upside down? Do you lash out and seek revenge?

Do you panic? Or do you try to keep going as if nothing happened?

That’s the central conceit in Man of God, a play written by Anna Moench that is making its world premiere at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Little Tokyo. Mounted by the venerable Asian-American theater company East West Players, Man of God opened Thursday, Feb. 7, and runs through Feb. 24.

The plays follows four teenage Korean-American girls on a Christian missionary trip to Thailand. It opens in Bangkok, and the girls quickly make a startling discovery: A camera has been planted in their hotel room.

They freak out, but show it in different ways. Mimi is angry and wants revenge on whoever put the camera there. Jen is afraid of what this means for her future. Samantha feels betrayed, while Kyung-Hwa wants to calm down and reassess the situation.

They come to terms with what has happened.

Then, said director Jesca Prudencio, they decide to take action against the person they believe planted it.

That decision prompts the girls to leave their hotel and venture onto the streets of Bangkok, where they encounter smoke and neon-filled clubs and go-go bars, as well as cold, marbled bathrooms with a morgue-like quality. Their roaring rampage of revenge is challenged throughout the journey, as the

girls debate the ethics of their actions and just how much their world was violated.

Moench started working on Man of God two years ago and Prudencio helped her refine the script. She said she is glad that East West Players took a chance on the new play, and that recent previews helped the creative team tweak parts of the show. That includes the ending, which was honed to make sure the themes and message hit audiences as Moench intended.

Prudencio’s familiarity with the material, along with her time spent briefly living in Bangkok, helps balance the show’s many tonal elements. She described Man of God as a “dark comedy,” saying that the 80-minute one-act play is at heart a funny and heartfelt rapport between the young women. At the same time, she said, it addresses serious issues and drops the humor when necessary.

“It’s not this lighthearted thing, but it’s also not a dark horror story,” Prudencio remarked.

Michele Selene Ang, who plays Jen, said her character tries to keep the group grounded and not get carried away with paranoid hypotheticals or revenge plans. She described Jen as “kind of a know-it-all” who loves showing off her knowledge. Ang said the character is unprepared for what the girls encounter, but at the same time, wants the others not to overreact.

“She knows the facts. She reminds them of what it’s like in the real world,” Ang said. “But while she’s very book smart, there are others who are smarter emotionally and have more life experience.”

Prudencio said a key aim is to avoid treating the

setting and the characters as clichés or stereotypes.

Even though the girls are on a missionary trip to “save these prostitutes from sin,” as Prudencio said, the creative team seeks to avoid being one-dimensional. As part of the effort she and Moench worked with the young cast — including two 19-year-old college students — to make sure the teens sound like real teens.

The fact that the characters are teenagers plays into their decision-making, Prudencio said. The girls see the world around them, and their revenge plan, through a limited lens that is challenged as the play progresses. Ang added that the script doesn’t leave things tidy with a simple answer to the foursome’s struggles, and that they are left with some unease and have to reevaluate their beliefs.

Part of the play’s tone comes from its set, which includes neon lights that help create the atmosphere for the clubs and streets of Bangkok at night. The flexible arrangement also has beds for the hotel room, and scaffolding in the background is used to convey distance in phone calls.

Prudencio said the themes are topical and involve feminist issues, and she thinks Man of God fits as part of the larger conversation in the #MeToo era.

She hopes it sparks a conversation among audience members about the impacts of harassment and violation, and why some women choose to speak out, and others remain silent.

Man of God runs through Feb. 24 at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

Back to the Ball Ahmanson Returns to Matthew Bourne’s Visually Stunning and Unique Take on ‘Cinderella’

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dance they share is delicately amusing.

The show’s strongest and weakest segments appear in Act Two, beginning with the mesmerizing opening. Café de Paris, a real location that was wrecked during the war by bombs that killed many people, is wound back in time by the Angel. The lifeless bodies arise and begin to dance again as Lez Brotherston’s elaborate set transforms from rubble into pristine shape.

Two impressive dances in the middle act provide the show’s heart and soul. Cinderella and Harry fall in love in the evening’s most romantic choreography, and Brennan steals the show with her hilarious StepContinued on page 17

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What makes it distinctly Bourne, though, is how each character is defined by specific moves that reflect their personalities. The Stepmother’s head bobs and staggers, belying her snooty attitude as well as a drinking problem. The Angel’s flowing strides are otherworldly, and Cinderella’s playful prancing shows her to be stronger than her family thinks. Each character’s signature moves speak as loudly as a monologue.

Likewise, Bourne employs humor throughout the show. In Act One, a clever dance begins between Cinderella and a tailor’s dummy on wheels, only to transform into Harry. Her pretend prince, though, retains the stiffness of the mannequin, so the purposefully clunky

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the major elements, and that includes mining the somber aspects of Prokofiev’s music. He was writing during World War II, and Bourne plays off that resonance by setting the story during the middle of the war in London, with citizens under near constant threat of bombing raids.

It’s a disservice that a synopsis isn’t provided in the program (it’s available at the New Adventures website) because without dialogue some of the story may be confusing, in particular the dream-like elements of Act Two. It begins, though, with the plot you know, albeit with a few extra characters. Cinderella (Ashley Shaw on opening night) lives with her unpleasant Stepsisters (Sophia Hurdley and Anjali Mehra), her smarmy Stepbrothers (Jackson Fisch, Dan Wright and Stephen Murray) and a wickedly funny Stepmother (Madelaine Brennan). They are all headed to a ball, but not Cinderella, who will stay with her wheelchair-bound father (Alan Vincent).

Her prince in this case is a wayward and injured pilot named Harry (Andrew Monaghan). The magic needed to get them together comes not from a fairy godmother, but courtesy of an Angel (Liam Mower).

The extensive research that has been conducted is clear in the costumes, certain dance moves and other era-specific visual elements.

G N andent I s t r R A SP Entertainm photo by

By Jeff Favre n the 20 years since Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella glided elegantly across the Ahmanson Theatre stage, the groundbreaking English choreographer has become a fixture in Downtown Los Angeles. That’s because about a dozen other works from his New Adventures company have been produced here.

Bourne’s combination of ballet, theatrical movement and modern dance — wrapped in sumptuous scenic designs and emotionally rich lighting — has made him unique. His only true competition is himself.

In comparison to his stellar record, the return of the twice-revised Cinderella isn’t quite as imaginative as Play Without Words or as impeccably structured as The Red Shoes. At two-and-a-half hours and three acts it occasionally feels overly burdened

by Sergei Prokofiev’s 1945 composition, which was intended for a traditional ballet of the classic fairytale.

Those quibbles aside, it’s still Bourne, and it’s still a fascinating, humorous and visually stunning production that deserves this return engagement. It runs through March 10 and employs a needed split cast for the physically demanding roles.

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Ashley Shaw is the title character and falls for a prince, who in this case is an injured pilot played by Andrew Monaghan.

photo by Johan Persson

mother antics as she tries to woo Harry. At one point he tries to walk away, and, holding onto him, she slides down on her knees, refusing to let go.

The momentum slows when Bourne adds a couple of numbers that don’t further the story or overly impress with the choreography. Yet those shortcomings do not take away from the breathtaking visuals. Each scene has the look and feel of a mysterious noir film. Brotherston’s palette for Cinderella is mostly black and white and shades of gray, so even the funniest moments are steeped in the bleakness of war.

Bourne has the eye of a movie director when it comes to framing. At several points he fills the stage with dancers, but it never

feels overcrowded. Instead, through intricate movement, each character has purpose, so wherever you look something fascinating is happening.

War or not, it is Cinderella, so a happy ending is both required and satisfying.

Bourne may be closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but even if he never returns to the Ahmanson, the shows that have wowed audiences over the last 20 years, including this enjoyable version of Cinderella, have cemented his legacy as one of the most important artists in the theater’s history.

Cinderella runs through March 10 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.com.

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During Hollywood’s golden era, no dance duo could hold a candle to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The two cut a rug in 10 films, including Roberta and Shall We Dance, garnering both box office and critical acclaim. The Downtown-based American Contemporary Ballet is taking a page from the pair’s playbook in its latest performance, dubbed Astaire Dances 2: Fred and Ginger. The romantic works, being performed on the 11th floor of the Cooper Design Space in the Fashion District, will have some of the couple’s best-known dances set to the original score. There are five chances to catch the show: Thursday-Friday, Feb. 14-15, at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and a double shot on Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m. At 860 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 3043408 or acbdances.com.

Whether you know it or not, you’ve seen a shanshuihua, or Chinese landscape painting. The Chinese American Museum is inviting people to take a gander at a different kind of landscape painting in the recently opened exhibit Lightscapes: Re-envisioning the Shanshuihua. While traditional shanshuihua paintings utilized ink brush strokes, contemporary artists such as Nick Dong and Wu Chi-Tsung (both are in the CAM show) have expanded the approach. This can mean using digital, acrylic and other methods. The El Pueblo area museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. At 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 4858567 or camla.org.

photo by Mark Sommerfeld

TUESDAY, FEB. 12 The Afrofuturism Book Club The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: This month the club discusses P. Djéli Clark’s alternate history Civil War novel “The Black God’s Drums.”

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13 Barbara Imhof at SCI-Arc 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu.

7 p.m.: Imhof, a space architect, talks about space exploration, Mars and more in a talk inspired by David Bowie.

Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.

8 p.m.: It’s a celebration of music supervision in TV, film and more in the ninth annual edition of the awards show.

Lucha VaVoom The Mayan Theatre, 1038 S. Hill St. or luchavavoom.com.

7 p.m.: It’s almost Valentine’s Day, so get romantic with masked wrestlers drop kicking each other, plus some comedy and burlesque. The show repeats on Feb. 14.

THURSDAY, FEB. 14 Superfine! Art Fair Magic Box at The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway or superfine.world.

12 p.m.: The East Coast contemporary art show makes its Los Angeles debut with a focus on affordable works. Through Feb. 17.

Union Station Kind of Love Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com/happenings.

8 p.m.: Classic do-wop and soul to get in the mood for Valentine’s Day. SATURDAY, FEB. 16 Risk! Live Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.org.

7:30 p.m.: The true-story podcast is back for another live show with Kai Choyce, Jonathan Bradley Welch, Liz Glazer and Danielle Perez.

SUNDAY, FEB. 17 Airtalk’s Filmweek: 2019 Oscar Preview Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.

1 p.m.: KPCC’s film awards show preview returns to talk about this year’s favorites and potential upsets. Go Richard E. Grant!

After years of playing alongside acts including Nas, Talib Kweli and GZA, the New Orleans-based brass outfit The Soul Rebels are hitting the road on their own.

The Rebels mix elements of jazz, funk, hip-hop and pop music to foster a party-like atmosphere, which will be on display when the eight-piece act barnstorms the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 16. The group is on its The Way Up Tour, and will be joined by guests Big Freedia, the self-proclaimed Queen of Bounce, along with soul icon Macy Gray. Doors open at 8 p.m. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or theatre. acehotel.com.

3 The Arts District nightspot Resident this week has something on the calendar for both hip-hop heads and the acoustic crowd. First, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m., the Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett and singer-songwriter Kendell Marvel will join Nashville-based country artist Elizabeth Cook for an evening of easy-listening acoustic tunes. Then, on Friday at 8 p.m., former Poet Laureate of Edmonton Cadence Weapon (shown here) is bringing his biting lyricism to the venue. The Canada native will be joined by Chicago rapper Lando Chill. Enjoy one, or go both nights. Your call. At 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

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Downtowners will hear the words of poet Charles Anthony Silvestri in an entirely different way this week. That’s because the Los Angeles Master Chorale is springboarding off his creations during two nights at Walt Disney Concert Hall. In an event dubbed “The Sacred Veil,” composer Eric Whitacre is taking Silvestri’s poems and creating an entire concert exploring the line between love and loss; it will be performed on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m., and again on Sunday at 7 p.m. The concert will also include a performance of “I Fall,” which the beautiful voices of the LAMC previously showcased in 2017. A pre-concert talk will be held an hour prior to each show.

At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or lamasterchorale.org.

photo by Tao Ruspoli/Marie Noorbergen

EVENTS

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

CALENDAR LISTINGS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

THE DON'T MISS LIST

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18 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

Feb. 14-15: Two nights of Kacey Musgraves.

Feb. 16: The Soul Rebels bring that New Orleans brass band sound to L.A., with help from Macy Gray. That’s onstage musical help, and not Gray helping carry drums and amplifiers.

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

Feb. 11: Trio Eclectic.

Feb. 12: Pretinho da Serrinha.

Feb. 13: Hadrien Feraud Group.

Feb. 14-15: The Bad Plus.

Feb. 16: The fourth annual fundraiser for Blue Whale.

Expect some jazz.

Feb. 17: Kei Akagi Tokyo Trio.

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

Feb. 11: Ken Wakan.

Feb. 12: Wrabel has written songs for Ke$ha, the Backstreet Boys, and more. Now he performs on his own.

Feb. 13: Spooky Mansion is a surf rock band with a great name.

Feb. 14: Lukas Frank is Storefront Church. Does it work the other way around?

Feb. 15: Mike Krol is not Dan Kroll.

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

Feb. 15: Skinnytubbs, More!More!, Rudy Nuno.

Feb. 17: June Clivas & the Ditty Boys.

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

Feb. 14: Enjoy Valentine’s Day with the Glitch Mob. Feb. 15: Alpha Porta, Astrix, Ace Ventura. We don’t think it’s Jim Carrey in character as the Pet Detective, but Downtown is weird.

Feb. 16: Andrew Rayel is doing a three-hour set.

Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com.

Feb. 12: The Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration concert will be live-taped for later broadcast.

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

Feb. 11: Brunch with Biskwiq, Atwood, Forrest and Chris Wright.

Feb. 12: Le Butcherettes will maul you.

Feb. 13: Rave music with Yoshi Flower.

Feb. 14: Pop-mysticism band Amo Amo gives you Valentine’s Day music, because what says love like esoteric style in the vein of Silver Lake?

Feb. 15: Part retro rockabilly throwback, part 21st century psycho rocker, Daniel Romano is 100% going to be in the Arts District this night.

Feb. 16: SunSquabi wants to get funky.

Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

Feb. 12: Box of Beats, Lillian Frances and Divinci spin at Sample and Hold.

Feb. 13: Elizabeth Cook, Kendell Marvel, and the Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett play a night of acoustic music.

Feb. 14: It’s Valentine’s Day. Celebrate with DJ Shiva.

Feb. 15: Cadence Weapon, Lando Chill, Hevin.

Feb. 17: It’s a night of tropical funk, cumbia and more at El Santo Golpe Meets Cara Borracho.

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

Feb. 14: Noted Fyre Fest involvee Ja Rule teams up with Ashanti for a Valentine’s Day show.

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

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Mail resume to Cavalini, Inc., 1536 S Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 19TRCP00009 Petitioner (name of each) JODY PFAFFMANN, 6457 West 81st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045 filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a.

JODY PFAFFMANN Proposed name: a.

JODY MICHELE THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be

Feb. 11: modus, warsaw pact, shiro, and spyderland all reject ideas like capitalization.

Feb. 12: Patrolled By Radar.

Feb. 13: The Asteroid Shop’s second week features guests Circa 62, Teen Models and the Black Heartthrobs.

Feb. 14: Ley Valentine, The Coolers and Late Slip will set the romantic mood.

Feb. 15: Punk rock from He Who Cannot Be Named. Also, The Sold! And Bones, Angry Samoan(s) Later Years, Bite and Black Adidas.

Feb. 16: States of Nature, Ugly, Exterminio Definitivo, The Beat Killers, Hot Laundry, Thee Spectors, and Wascally Wabbits, who win best band name of the week.

The Regent 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com.

Feb. 15: It is with a heavy sigh that this calendar section informs you that Insane Clown Posse is coming to Downtown for a release party for its new album “Fearless Fred Fury.” We hope you like Faygo.

Feb. 16: Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, Make Them Suffer, and Kingdom of Giants are here to bring the hardcore sounds to purge the last night away.

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

Feb. 15: The High Curbs, Hexed, The Chonks, Daylake.

Feb. 16: Oort Smog, Corrvus, Taunt.

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

Feb. 14: The Village of Love concert benefits Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles and features a stacked lineup including Kathleen Hanna and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz. Be there.

Feb. 15: The Kongos were responsible for that one song “Come With Me Now,” which was inescapable for the last few years.

granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of hearing Date: 03/15/2019 Time: 8:30 AM Dept.: B Room: 340 The address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503.

Branch Name: Southwest A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county.

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

Deputy: M. Loretto Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 825 Maple Avenue Torrance, CA 90503

PURCHASING MANAGER

LEGAL NAME CHANGE Superior court of California, County of Los Angeles ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019 023667 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) ALADDIN BAIL BONDS, 1420 E. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90806, LA COUNTY. Mailing address if different: 1000 AVIARA PARKWAY SUITE 300, CARLSBAD, CA 92011 are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) TWO JINN, INC. 1000 AVIARA PARKWAY SUITE 300, CARLSBAD, CA 92011. This business is

THEATER

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

Feb. 12-15, 8 p.m., Feb. 16, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Feb. 17, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: This is the last week to see the tragic and twisted comedy from playwright Tracey Letts. Having just turned 50 and hit rock bottom, a man named Wheeler moves out of his ex-wife’s basement and seeks to turn his life around, including meeting some women. Through Feb. 17.

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.

2YOUR EVENT INFO

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

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

conducted by a Corporation.

Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 04/2004.

This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on January 28, 2019.

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. 2/11, 2/18, 2/25 and 3/4.

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Daily and weekly excellent location.

Furnished. Daily from $60, weekly from $250. 1214 W. 8th Street.

Call Sal at 323-875-6767 CONDOMINNIUM/FURNISHED CONDO 1BD. PARKING amenities, view, central air/heat, water/gas paid. $1950 Mo. Mid Wilshire/Korea Town. Call 213385-3474.

Place your DBA and legal ads

for wholesale clothing co. in LA.

Mail resume to Cavalini, Inc., 1536 S Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Branch Name: Southwest Date: January 17, 2019 Hon. Ramona See Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 1/28, 2/4, 2/11 and 2/18/2019.

Feb. 16: Psychedelic rock from Post Animal.

Feb. 17: Teens from Salt Lake City mix indie pop and semi-topical puns as Ritt Momney.

‘ Helping Everyone Find their Place in Downtown Los Angeles Since 2002 ’ Bill Cooper 213.598.7555 • LARealEstateExpert.com Bill@LARealEstateExpert.com

with the

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20 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Three Questions With: An Art Show Organizer

TRILOGY

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

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Alex Mitow Discusses Superfine!, Where the Focus Is on Affordability and Diversity

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photo courtesy Superfine! Art Fair

The Superfine! art fair that previously operated in East Coast cities is coming to Los Angeles this week. More than 2,000 works of contemporary art, including “Motel Room” by Amaia Marzabal, will up for sale at the Magic Box at The Reef.

By Nicholas Slayton his week, the Superfine! art fair lands at the Magic Box at The Reef. More than 2,000 works of contemporary art will be on display, everything from large installations to small photographs and paintings. Superfine! is built on accessibility, with an emphasis on prices lower than other art shows — roughly 90% of all works sell for less than $5,000.

Show co-founder Alex Mitow explained how Superfine! is different from other art shows.

T

PROMENADE TOWERS 123 South Figueroa Street 213-617-3777 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

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How does Superfine! fit into the L.A. art scene?

Alex Mitow: We are an alternative to the larger fairs, but we aren’t fully alternative. We’re very similar to the experience you’ll have at a larger one, but we’re more friendly. Superfine! is a place where you or I can find art we love and actually take it home. We want to redefine what a collector is. We’re not looking at age, race or gender. We’re talking works that range from $100-$5,000, stuff that almost anyone can afford.

Q: Why focus on that price range?

A: In short, because it’s the only economy that’s growing. No matter how much we love art, it is a discretionary purchase.

Relying on a few extremely wealthy people to grow a market is not really a good way of doing things. Our goal was to build an emerging collector market. One thing people say a lot is, “If I don’t see the price, I probably can’t afford it.’” But it’s awkward to see something with no price on it in commercial settings. Pricing is mandatory at Superfine!

Q: Superfine! also has a focus on diverse artists. How do you choose the works you display,?

A: Our team’s been down four or five times in the past year and a half, reaching out to the local base. One of the rules with the art fair is that all of the works at Superfine! must be created by living, emerging artists. We try not to focus on name-brand artists; you’ll see artists you don’t normally see.

In terms of diversity, we include Jasjyot Singh Hans, an Indian artist from Baltimore, who’s doing larger-than-life panels of women that defy typical beauty standards. There will be 42 feet of that in our lounge. We also have Pansy Ass Ceramics, this fun, queer, sex-positive ceramics collective out of Toronto. They’ll create a 6,000-square-foot space called Pansyland that’s done like a Roman bacchanalia for Valentine’s Day. They’re edgy but cute.

Superfine! runs Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 14-17, at the Magic Box at The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway or superfine.world. nicholas@downtownnews.com