02-25-19 by Los Angeles Downtown News

taking a look at those city hall rats Page 5

big plans for the downtown skyline Page 7

FEBRUARY 25, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #8

A Look Through Annie’s Eye The Early Work of Legendary Photographer Annie Leibovitz Is At the Hauser & Wirth Gallery See Page 11

2012© AnnieLeibovitz

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2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

AROUND TOWN

Fashion District Gets a Farmers Market

here is another farmers market in Downtown Los Angeles, this time in the Fashion District. The new market will take place every Wednesday, starting Feb. 27, at the California Market Center at Ninth and Main streets. Visitors will be able to buy seasonal vegetables and fruits, as well as seafood, flowers and artisanal creations. The market will be located at the CMC plaza from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and California Produced, a Southern California farmers market operator, is a partner in the endeavor. “Our aim is to connect the Fashion District, our neighbors and the numerous makers who live, work and visit our beloved district with fresh, locally sourced food options while at the same time supporting local farmers and small businesses,” CMC’s website reads. More information is at cmcdtla.com.

Bob Baker Theater Finds New Home

n November, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater did its final show in the City West building it had occupied for 55 years. Now, it has revealed its future home, and it is not in

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Downtown. Last week, the leaders of the puppet theater announced that they have signed a lease for a building at 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park. The 10,000-square-foot space, which most recently served as a Korean church, will be redesigned using old sketches made by the late Baker. The new venue will be almost 40% larger than the previous theater at 1345 W. First St. A developer plans to build a new housing complex at the troupe’s former home. The puppet theater expects to begin previews at the new site in summer with a grand opening slated for the fall. The theater is currently holding monthly shows at the Miracle Mile Toy Hall, with the next one on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m.

Arrests Made in Biltmore Smash and Grab

hree men from Inglewood were arrested on Feb. 12 for possible involvement with a brazen jewelry theft at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel last month. The Los Angeles Police Department announced that the three individuals were arrested for allegedly taking $13,000 in precious materials from Arka Designs Fine Jewelry at 500 S. Olive St. on Jan. 18. The suspects were not identified. Three men entered the store, located inside the lobby, around 2:45 p.m. with surgical masks covering their faces. The suspects reportedly used a hammer to break into a display case. After grabbing the items, the men jumped into a silver Lexus to make their escape. The crime left one employee injured.

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WeWork Taking Space On Broadway

he co-working giant WeWork is on an expansion tear in Downtown. This month the company secured a lease for four floors in the Western Pacific Building at 1023 S. Broadway, making it their fourth Central City location. Developer Onni Group is turning the 12-story building into a creative office structure, with each floor holding approximately 20,000 square feet of space. WeWork will occupy 78,000 square feet, and will provide a set-up similar to the company’s other locations, with rentable meeting rooms, tables, and office and business amenities. No movein date was announced and terms of the deal were not disclosed. WeWork’s Western Pacific lease comes not long after the company signed on for approximately 100,000 square feet of space in Hudson Pacific Properties’ Maxwell project in the Arts District. WeWork also has space in the Fine Arts Building on Seventh Street and the Gas Company Tower in the Financial District.

Wayfinding Signs Go Up in South Park

hose traipsing through South Park now will now find it easier than ever to get to their destination. On Wednesday, Feb. 20, the South Park Business Improvement District announced the installation of a set of 23 vinyl wayfinding signs that include maps and iden-

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

tify points of interest in the neighborhood. The project, known as Urban Backyard, details landmarks such as Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center, as well as local shops and green spaces. The wrappings, which are applied to utility boxes throughout the area, also detail some walking distances. “The BID is committed to meeting the needs of this rapidly growing neighborhood. Lighter, faster, cheaper interventions like the utility box wayfinding project allows us to provide crucial information, beautify the neighborhood, and are easy to adapt and update as the neighborhood continues to transform,” Ellen Riotto, executive director of the SPBID, said in a prepared statement. The boxes were funded by South Park businesses and organizations.

Details Revealed for Wayfarer Hotel

nother hotel is prepping for an opening this summer. Hospitality group Pacifica Hotels has announced the slate of amenities for the 158-room Wayfarer Hotel. The 12-story project will have four dining options, including a communal kitchen on the first floor and a beer bar and bistro dubbed the Gaslighter Social Club in the lobby. There will also be a rooftop bar and event space, and the main bar, Lily Rose, in the basement. The Wayfarer will replace the 180-room Ritz-Milner Hotel at 813 S. Flower St., which shut down in August 2017. The hotel is expected to open in July. Wayfarer will offer a mix of traditional hotel rooms and some shared, hostel-style rooms.

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

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Fur Ban Sparks Division Animal Rights Activists Applaud Council Vote, But Some Downtowners Say They’ll Be Put Out of Business By Sean P. Thomas n Feb. 12, the City Council approved an ordinance that would ban the manufacturing and sale of new fur products in Los Angeles. The decision has sparked outrage from the Downtown businesses active in the fur trade, who argue that their industry is being unfairly targeted. The council voted 13-1 in favor of the ban, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021 (the ban does not impact the sale of used fur products). The lack of a unanimous vote prompted a second ballot on Feb. 19. The move, which is procedural, cemented the ban. Animal rights activists have cheered the decision, which pushes Los Angeles past San Francisco as the largest city in the United States to ban fur products. But Daniel Wachtenheim, the owner of sales shop Wachtenheim Furs Inc., expressed the feeling of numerous Downtown fur business proprietors who maintain that the council has overstepped its boundaries. “The City Council should not be deciding what people should eat or what they should wear,” Wachtenheim said during an interview with Los Angeles Downtown News at his Financial District business. “The animal activists have been trying for decades to get people

to change their opinions but people want to do what they want to do. So now they have found a way to go through City Hall and get what they want.” Third District City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who authored the fur ban motion last year along with Fifth District representative Paul Koretz, said in a statement that he is proud of the city’s move, calling the fur trade “inhumane.” “We said, loud and clear, fur will not have a future in Los Angeles,” Blumenfield said in a statement. “I am proud that our city made a giant step in ending the unnecessary killing of animals, but we must continue toward finally eliminating this vile market.” Family Businesses Fur sales have been debated across the country, and some cities have enacted bans. Along with San Francisco, West Hollywood has outlawed the practice within city limits. Proponents of the Los Angeles ban — which applies to hats, jackets, scarves and other fur products — have called the fur industry largely unnecessary and cruel to animals. Some designers including Armani, Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Versace, have stepped away from using furs in favor of synthetic materials, though luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Canada Goose and Fendi continue

Convenience

photo by Gary Leonard

Daniel Wachtenheim, the owner of the 62-year-old Downtown business Wachtenheim Furs Inc., is one of the people whose livelihood will be impacted by the City Council’s vote to ban fur sales in Los Angeles.

to sell fur products. The division in Los Angeles has been stark. Lisa Lange, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, praised the council for its decision.

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EDITORIALS

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FEBRUARY 25, 2019

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

The 14th District Deserves A Robust Council Race

n Feb. 11, former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León announced his candidacy for the 14th District City Council seat being vacated next year by a termed-out José Huizar. With his connections, legislative record and fundraising ability, de León instantly vaults to frontrunner status. While he is the candidate against whom others in the race will be measured, we hope for the good of the district that he is not the only person on the March 2020 ballot with a recognizable name, deep connections within the community and a serious war chest. We hope he is ultimately challenged by at least one prominent competitor (five others have filed papers to raise money for the race, but none has much of a political resume). The 14th District deserves a robust and competitive race. To all potential candidates: Do not be scared off by someone of de León’s stature. Los Angeles has seen all manner of surprising election victories against apparently insurmountable odds — just consider new Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who was discounted by virtually every political observer before his upset win over incumbent Jim McDonnell last year. This is not criticism of de León or a suggestion that he is not the right fit for the job. The political veteran carries an impressive record and has a progressive vision that could mesh well with the views of many constituents. But voters won’t have the best sense of what de León will bring to the diverse district (which includes Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and communities in Northeast L.A.) unless he faces real competition. Los Angeles has seen too many elections that wind up as little more than rubber-stamp contests. In March 2017 Mayor Eric Garcetti garnered 81% of the vote in a re-election bid against minor opposition. In that same race, City Attorney Mike Feuer and Controller Ron Galperin ran unopposed. Numerous incumbent council members and county supervisors have also faced no opposition. This is never good for democracy. There are many important issues facing the 14th District, and candidates must clearly express their views on myriad subjects. We’ll want to know how they will respond to the homelessness crisis, both in Skid Row and in other portions of the 14th. We’ll want their ideas on housing creation, including affordable and workforce housing. We’ll need their plans regarding aging infrastructure and making Downtown pedestrian friendly. We’ll want to know their position on the Downtown Streetcar, a project Huizar has long championed, but that has never come close to breaking ground. That’s just the start. Voters should know candidates’ plans to create more green space and hear about their relationships with developers, unions and others across the political spectrum. We need to understand how they will continue Downtown’s incredible revival amid fears of an economic downturn. All these positions and stances become clearer when a candidate has a serious opponent. But if politicians run unopposed or face minimal competition, they can skate by with few specifics. It’s good to know that in de León the district has one quality candidate. Now, we need more.

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COMMENTS

Regarding the article “A Downtown Waterfall Is Flowing for the First Time in 42 Years,” about the upgrades to the Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial, by Sean P. Thomas My stepdad used to work as a night janitor when this building was the LAUSD headquarters, and he would be in charge of turning the waterfall off at night back in 1974. It was a big thrill for me to watch him from a distance shutting the water on and off. Happy to hear it’s back. —Annette Cruz Regarding the column “It’s My LAnniversary: 25 Years of Living in Los Angeles,” by Jon Regardie Other great cities jump out and are in your face. They say, “Here I am.” Los Angeles says, “You find me.” That you’ve accomplished. —Cary Adams Congratulations on your 25th LAnniversary. Imagine what it’s like for those of us who were born and raised here to see the rebirth of our beloved DTLA. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the 1960s and early 1970s. My mother was a native New Yorker who appreciated urban life and culture; I remember trips “over the hill” in our EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

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February 21, 2019

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’64 Impala to my art class at the then-new LACMA. I also remember a ride on the original Angels Flight before it closed in 1969. Not only was I born here, my father was born in a Croatian boarding house near Sunset and Grand in 1913. His mother shopped at the then-new Grand Central Market and my father worked at the Bullock’s flagship store at Seventh and Broadway while attending UCLA, which was in a country village called Westwood. While I am very happy to see the rebirth of DTLA, I am absolutely sickened and disgusted by the worsening homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. It’s a cliché, but if we can put a man on the moon, we can solve this vexing problem. —Thomas Simmons

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. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Lake Trout

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FEBRUARY 25, 2019

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

SO A RAT MEETS A COUNCILMAN… A Rodent and a City Hall Politician Discuss Infestations and Investigations

By Jon Regardie n the past few months some employees in City Hall have grown alarmed by rodent activity. Rat traps were set in the office of Council President Herb Wesson and, with concerns about fleas that could spread

THE REGARDIE REPORT typhus, carpets in his office were removed. A motion calling for a report on the scope of vermin and pest control issues was approved by the full council on Feb. 12. The effort to address the situation has also involved secret back-channel negotiations between a leading councilman and a leading rat. Identities were not revealed, but I was invited to witness the first meeting, which was held in the basement of City Hall. This is what really, truly, 100% happened. Councilman: Thanks for showing up. Want a drink? There’s a squeakeasy nearby. Rat: Dude, are you serious? Do you how many more there are of us than there are of you? Councilman: Sorry. I’m nervous. People in City Hall aren’t used to all these rats. How did you get in here? Rat: We squeezed in through tiny cracks in the side of the building. How’d you get in here? Councilman: I got elected. Rat: With the help of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and independent expenditures, right? Councilman: Yeah.

Rat: My way’s easier. Councilman: Touché. What do you call a group of rats anyway? Rat: We’re a “mischief.” Like you have a gaggle of geese or a parliament of owls. It’s a mischief of rats. Councilman: Are you joking? Rat: I’m serious. What are you guys called. Councilman: A group of Los Angeles politicians is called a council. But people sometimes call us other things. I can’t repeat those. Rat: So what’s the deal? Why am I here? Councilman: We’ve seen a lot of rats in Downtown Los Angeles recently. We’re concerned about all the vermin activity in the trash piles in and around Skid Row. Rat: Lemme get this straight: You’re concerned about the rats in Skid Row trash piles — the piles that the city is taking forever to clean up in the neighborhood that barely gets cleaned up. Councilman: I hadn’t thought of it that way. Rat: We’re rats. You leave trash. We go there. It’s not rocket science. Councilman: You know, we labeled a large portion of that neighborhood the Typhus Zone, but it hasn’t changed much. Rat: We call the area around City Hall the [expletive] Zone, but that hasn’t changed much of what happens here, either. Councilman: Ouch. Let’s talk about this infestation in City Hall. Rat: That’s funny. Councilman: What’s funny? Rat: You’re talking about an infestation in Continued on page 16

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FEBRUARY 25, 2019

Helen Coleman Dies at 87 Believed to Be the Longest-Tenured Resident of Bunker Hill, at Nearly 50 Years By Lisa Napoli very morning in recent years, Helen Coleman would shut the door of the 16th floor studio apartment where she’d lived for five decades on Bunker Hill, ride the elevator down to the street, and make her way to the McDonald’s at the Wells Fargo Center off Grand Avenue. Along her route through a maze of towering office buildings, every single security guard would stop and greet the lady with a thick mop of silver hair and a bright smile. They often gave her a hug. Coleman died on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the age of 87. She was eight weeks shy of her 88th birthday. She had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. A native of Water Valley, Mississippi, Coleman moved into the Bunker Hill Apartments on Nov. 14, 1969, shortly after the south tower in the development opened. She is believed to have been the longest-tenured resident of Bunker Hill. Coleman came to the building after taking a tour of Downtown, as the neighborhood was being revitalized as part of the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Bunker Hill Redevelopment Plan. While on the tour she noticed that the price of a studio apartment was a quarter of her monthly salary as a secretary at an electric company: $160. That was far more than the $75 she was spending with her sister for a one-bedroom apartment with a shared bath on Normandie. But in the fancy new apartment building she’d have her own space, access to a swimming pool and tennis courts, and her own private bathroom. There was even a garden plot to tend in the fallow parcel of land adjacent to what now is the Bunker Hill Condominiums. The biggest plus? Being able to walk to work, instead of

taking the bus she’d been riding into Downtown each day. The neighborhood was undergoing sweeping changes when she arrived that continue to this day. She relished the evolution. The site where the World Trade Center now sits was just a “field of flowers,” Coleman told me last fall. Still, there was enough to keep her busy in the slice of Los Angeles she considered to be her own Bel-Air. She loved frequenting The Itchy Foot, a now-defunct restaurant on Temple Street. With her friend and folkdance partner George, she’d grab a slice of pie and a cup of coffee at the Fred Harvey restaurant at the Music Center. Coleman walked with a cane in her later years, but that didn’t stop her from getting around. She’d take two buses and a train out to Pasadena to study with a piano teacher — before a kind neighbor explained that she could take her lesson more conveniently at Grand Avenue’s Colburn School. During the last few years, Coleman experienced a parade of loss. Her friend George died, as did each of her eight siblings, including the two sisters she had followed west — one of whom had retired to Bunker Hill. Though she didn’t drive, she prized the1965 Ford Mustang she inherited from her sister, who had owned it since it rolled off the assembly line. She was known to corral young friends in the community to take her for a spin for ice cream. A life-long animal lover who helped build an animal shelter in her home state, Coleman doted on her cat, Betty, who died this fall, too. When her breakfast spot, McDonald’s, shut down a few years ago, Coleman routed herself to another outpost of the fast-food chain, this one underground at Fifth and Flower streets, in the building longtime Downtowners still refer to as ARCO Plaza. When that, too, closed, she’d walk each morning

photo by Lisa Napoli

Helen Coleman, who moved to Bunker Hill in 1969. A neighborhood fixture, she passed away last week.

for breakfast to a cafe in the Westin-Bonaventure Hotel. Coleman loved her twice-annual trips back home to Mississippi, which she embarked on via Amtrak. Porters at Union Station happily gave the cheerful solo traveler a ride to the track for the long voyage. It was on a visit back east this fall for a cruise on the Mississippi River that she experienced health problems, which preceded her death. A kind presence that had been part of the Downtown landscape for 50 years is gone. Lisa Napoli is a writer and longtime resident of Bunker Hill.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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Jade Enterprises’ Main Street Tower would bring 363 apartments to 1123 S. Main St. It would have landscaping on both the street level and amenities deck.

By Nicholas Slayton ade Looks Up, Part I: Developer Jade Enterprises recently unveiled new information for a proposed South Park highrise. At the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the developer revealed new renderings of the blue-tinted Main Street Tower. The 30-story edifice at 1123 S. Main St. would include 363 apartments. Designs from architecture firm MVE+Partners include a landscaped amenities deck on top of the parking podium at the southern end of the site. The podium would have screens and other elements to prevent car lights from disturbing the neighborhood, according to Jade Director of Development Daniel Taban. The building would rise at an intersection where Jade is already active; its Harris Building office structure is on the southwest corner, while Jade also envisions erecting the eight-story, 379-unit Main Street Park housing complex at 1100 S. Main St. Taban told DLANC that Main Street Park and Main Street Tower are meant to play off each other, with a crosswalk linking the tower to the former’s ground-level plaza. No timeline or budget for the Main Street Tower have been revealed.

Jade Looks Up, Part II: The developer Jade Enterprises has another high-rise complex it hopes to build in Downtown, and also revealed details at the Feb. 19 DLANC meeting. Jade’s South Park Towers, at 1600 S. Flower St., would create a pair of 23-story buildings just north of the 10 Freeway. One structure, on the eastern end of the lot, would house 250 apartments, while the edifice on the western side would have two hotels with a total of 300 rooms. The residential tower would be designed by architecture firm AC Martin and include a rooftop amenities deck. Plans for the project also include a large LED sign facing the freeway from the southern end of the hotel’s amenities deck. The bud-

get and timeline for the project have not been disclosed. Olympia Okay: The development firm City Century, a subsidiary of China’s Shenglong Group, is one step closer to breaking ground on its three-pronged Olympia mega-project. The City Planning Commission approved the $1 billion development on Feb. 14. Set to rise adjacent to the 110 Freeway at 1001 Olympic Blvd., the complex would have towers that stand 65, 53 and 43 stories tall. The buildings would be connected by a podium with 40,000 square feet of retail space. Olympia would have a 1,000-room hotel in the tallest tower, while 879 residential spaces would be split between the other two buildings. The complex is awaiting approval from the City Council. No groundbreaking or completion date has been announced. Industrial Overhaul: In the Industrial District, there are new plans to revive an aging four-story building at 787 Towne Ave. The site is owned by David Baradarian, and at the Feb. 19 DLANC meeting a representative of the project discussed plans to turn the upper levels of the structure into 60 live/work units that average 738 square feet. Most of the ground floor would remain geared toward commercial purposes. Currently the ground level is mostly occupied by fashion and textile businesses, while the upper levels are empty or used for storage, according to the project representative. The building would have no parking, and the representative told the DLANC committee that no major changes to the property’s exterior are planned. No budget or timeline were revealed. Rising Over Figueroa: This month, more details of the proposed Figueroa Centre highrise came out, and last week representatives from developer Regalian and architecture firm CallisonRTKL broke down the plans for Continued on page 10

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8 DOWNTOWN NEWS

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

The Demise of Downtown’s Dishware District The Dish Factory, the Last in a String of Local Suppliers, Is Closing By Sean P. Thomas n a recent Monday afternoon, Charlie Wyatt stood outside of his Toy District store, in between spurts of rain and sunshine. He pointed down the street and remarked on how much Downtown Los Angeles has changed. Old buildings that once housed mom-andpop shops are now being purchased by developers looking to build high-rise condos, he said. He added that people who would not have been caught walking in Downtown 20 years ago today strut to the ritzy restaurants and glamorous nightclubs. “There is an influx and an exodus and the business climate is changing,” Wyatt, 70, said. “There are restaurants down here now that are five stars. You can’t get a reservation and a glass of water costs you eight bucks.” Wyatt would know. For almost 40 years he has owned and operated the Dish Factory at 310 S. Los Angeles St. Three decades ago it was one of about a dozen restaurant supply businesses that lined the street. Today it is the last shop standing. It won’t be for long. In December, Wyatt announced that he is calling it quits and will close The Dish Factory at an as-yet unspecified date. “This used to be the wholesale restaurant

photo by Sean P. Thomas

Charlie Wyatt has owned the Dish Factory at 310 S. Los Angeles St. for nearly 40 years. He is liquidating his stock and plans to close in the coming months.

supply district,” Wyatt lamented. “That used to be what Los Angeles Street was all about.” Some of the dish supply businesses were

sold and closed, Wyatt said. Other relocated. For many, the crushing blow came from Internet businesses that can beat the physical

stores on pricing. As he seeks to clear his shelves, Wyatt has slashed his prices. Most items are 20% off, with select items listed at 50% off. A case of a dozen water glasses that once went for $65 is now selling for $32. Wyatt is not sure how long it will take to liquidate the four-level business, which is operating on a month-to-month lease. Indeed, two months after announcing the closure the space is still filled to the brim with restaurant items. That said, there is an undeniable sense of emotion. “It’s a sad story, because all of the Downtown restaurants, if you mentioned the Dish Factory, pretty much everybody knows it,” Wyatt said. Need for Volume Wyatt’s father-in-law Arnold Jacobsen opened the Dish Factory in 1980 after moving his family from Chicago. Wyatt purchased half of the business, then acquired the remainder when Jacobsen retired. Wyatt built the business on what the industry calls “seconds,” products from manufacturers with virtually unnoticeable defects. Wyatt said that restaurants mainly used the Dish Factory as a replenishment vehicle to replace broken or worn-out items. He built a loyal clientele. That includes

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Downtown resident Jennifer Ingles, who was browsing in the store recently with her husband. She said she frequently looks for items for her home kitchen. She had no idea the Dish Factory was closing until she drove past and saw the large red banner in front of the building. “It’s a shame really,” Ingles said. “This has become my go-to place.” As Ingles talked, other Downtown residents were looking through the 60,000-square-foot building in search of a deal on plates or wine glasses. Wyatt welcomed the business, but noted that it was large orders from restaurants that kept Dish Factory afloat. “I’ve lost a lot of my trade over the years,” Wyatt said. “Households come and buy, but that’s not all of what I need. I need volume.” Wyatt cited numerous factors for the downturn, though the biggest is competition from online shopping sites. He also mentioned a steady increase in rent for his building. That became increasingly difficult to justify as business sputtered. The Dish Factory’s fate is something that Paul Pruitt, with the Los Angeles-based consulting firm New School, has heard before. In an email, Pruitt said that the Dish Factory was one of the more well-known supply businesses in the area. “[It’s] quite a sad day as they were but one of a handful of frequented local vendors for affordable restaurant supplies

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and the primary Downtown go-to,” Pruitt said. He said that bigger brands have been making a concerted push into the restaurant wares industry. Additionally, smaller businesses have suffered as big-box stores such as Ikea offer reasonably priced options for restaurants. Pruitt also cited the online competition, and added that those sites can frequently offer unique and higher quality plateware and glassware options than many independent brick-and-mortar shops sell. Although Wyatt is shuttering the Downtown shop, he is not completely leaving the field. He also has a dishware supply store in Colton, nearly 50 miles from Downtown (he has closed other dish business in the San Fernando Valley and Bakersfield). He mentioned that he owns the building in Colton and has no plans to close. Wyatt said that most of his nearly 20 employees have found jobs and will be able to work after the Downtown store closes. He said that puts his mind somewhat at ease. However, while pointing out fixtures of the building, including a medieval knight statue that used to stand guard near the entrance, and a large Mexico City lithograph that hung in his father-in-law’s office, the emotion crept up again. Wyatt expects to close the doors for good in a few months. sean@downtownnews.com

By Nicholas Slayton n the Central City Crime Report, we survey a recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.

■ On the afternoon of Jan. 20, an unidentified individual grabbed clothing from a Broadway store and tried to leave without paying. The thief threatened others in the store and pushed an employee before departing. ■ An unidentified individual went to a gas station at Alameda and Alpine streets on the afternoon of Jan. 20, grabbed food, cigarettes and other items, and then ran out without paying. ■ Someone entered a Broadway cell phone store on Jan. 21, grabbed an iPad and left with it. ■ Two people got into an argument on Maple Avenue on Jan. 21 after one person tried to sell the other a speaker stand. The confrontation escalated, and one person called the other a homophobic slur, then hit the victim. ■ Two people snuck up on a child at 12th Street and Broadway on the afternoon of Jan. 21. They snatched the kid’s cell phone, then fled in a car. ■ On Jan. 22, an unidentified individual broke

into a Toyota parked in a Second Street garage. The car’s registration, a tablet computer and a makeup bag were stolen. ■ A man on the sidewalk at Sixth and San Pedro streets at 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 was hit in the head and knocked out. When he woke up, his money and wallet were gone. ■ Two people tried to grab a man’s backpack near the Pershing Square Metro station late on Jan. 23. The would-be victim went to a store and called police. The suspects fled. ■ One person stabbed another in the stomach with a screwdriver at a Grand Avenue warehouse on Jan. 25. ■ Three people attacked another person at Fifth and Spring streets shortly before midnight on Jan. 25. The victim was repeatedly punched and kicked. ■ On the morning of Jan. 26, someone broke into a bicycle storage room at an Olive Street apartment building and made off with a bike. ■ Two people were arguing over drugs on Towne Avenue on the evening of Jan. 26. One person hit the other with a metal pipe, breaking the victim’s arm. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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DEVELOPMENT, 7

FUR BAN, 3

the 66-story mixed-use development. The project site is at 911 S. Figueroa St., which is adjacent to the Hotel Figueroa and just south of the Original Pantry Café; a CallisonRTKL representatives described the site as shaped similar to the state of Texas, with a small portion jutting out to James M. Wood Blvd. The design features a glass atrium on the Figueroa Street side of the project, with the tower rising on the eastern portion of the site. Figueroa Centre would be split between residential use and a 220-room hotel, with amenities on lower levels, guest rooms on floors 13-27, and 200 condominiums on floors 30-63. The hotel would have a “sky lobby” on the roof deck. Plans also include 15,000 square feet of space that could be used either as a school or split between restaurant and office purposes. Justin Leong, the head of Regalian, told DLANC that the company’s intention is to house a school. nicholas@downtownnews.com

image courtesy of CallistonRTKL photo courtesy the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council

The property owner of 787 Towne Ave. wants to convert the upper levels of the four-story building into 60 live/work lofts.

New details were recently revealed for the 66-story Figueroa Centre. The South Park project would have a nine-story podium, a 220-room hotel, and 200 condominiums on the upper levels.

That is countered by some Downtown business owners who say the council decision will cause the demise of numerous family-owned businesses, including some that have operated for decades. Wachtenheim, whose sales shop has been around for 62 years, and is one of three fur businesses in a building on Seventh Street, said that he is most worried about the future of his employees. “It’s not just six employees, it’s also their families,” Wachtenheim said. “One employee of mine, I think he has seven children and grandchildren and he is the breadwinner for his family. I don’t know what he is going to do. This is the only thing that he knows.” Donna Pappas, owner of the 69-year-old Stomper Furs on Washington Boulevard, pleaded in a Feb. 6 letter to Koretz and Council President Herb Wesson to consider a “grandfather policy” to exempt existing furriers from the ban. No such clause was included when the ordinance passed. At a recent council meeting, Koretz said that the loss of industry jobs was not a major concern. The economic impact of the council decision is unclear. The office of the Chief Legislative Analyst said in a report that the city does not specifically track the sale of fur products. There is no record of how many fur businesses are in Downtown, but there appear to be at least a couple dozen where some or all of the trade involves either the sale or manufacture of fur products. The ordinance allows for a few exceptions to

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

the ban, including fur from animals trapped by California Fish and Game license holders. The International Fur Federation, an industry trade group, criticized the vote as largely symbolic. According to a representative for the organization, the IFF reached out to the City Council in the months leading up to the vote, offering tours of farms and information on the fur trade. The organization also issued an eightpage letter to the council seeking to debunk a list of beliefs found in a 2009 Humane Society letter that the IFF believes was used as the basis of the ban motion. In a prepared statement, IFF Vice President Nancy Daigneault charged that the council, “failed to exercise proper due diligence here with little response or consideration given to efforts by the fur industry to educate council members.” In a press release, the IFF said that the ban opens the door for potential legal action against the city. Wachtenheim said that the ban seems to push a philosophical belief, and voiced concern that the move is the beginning of a “slippery slope” for regulating personal decisions. “Why should Koretz and his animal activist friends be deciding what people should choose?” Wachtenheim said. “People have the choice to eat meat, and they have the choice to be vegetarian. He’s taking away people’s personal choices to pass a personal agenda and it’s not right.” Wachtenheim said that it is too early to know what he will do, but added that two years is not enough time to tie up loose ends with his business. sean@downtownnews.com

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CALENDAR

photo by Sean P. Thomas

Visitors can get a glimpse at the early career of decorated photojournalist Annie Leibovitz in a new exhibit at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles. It shows thousands of the photos she snapped from 1970 to 1983, including images of then-Gov. Jerry Brown.

ANNIE D LEIBOVITZ LOOKS BACK THE FORMATIVE YEARS OF A LEGENDARY PHOTOJOURNALIST ARE THE SUBJECT OF A NEW EXHIBIT AT HAUSER & WIRTH LOS ANGELES

By Sean P. Thomas uring the summer of 1968, a freshman at the San Francisco Art Institute named Annie Leibovitz purchased her first camera. At the time she was a painting major, but was a fan of photography masters such as Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Leibovitz soon began spending her spare time traveling from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, attempting along the way to emulate the intimate and candid style of the pair who would later become her mentors. Now, 50 years later, Leibovitz is the master, and while she still shoots frequently, she is also looking to shepherd a new generation in the ways of the still image. One avenue for that pursuit is Annie Leibovitz: The Early Years, 1970—1983: Archive Project No. 1, which opened this month at the Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles gallery in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. The exhibit at 901 E. Third St. continues through April 14. Admission is free. During a media tour on a recent Wednesday afternoon, Leibovitz, dressed in her signature black turtleneck and glasses, called the exhibit an “ode to a young photographer,” and said it depicts the tenacity and drive that characterized her early years behind the camera. She considers the show a learning tool for photographers looking to break into the industry. “I can sort of stand outside of myself and think of myself as this young girl worrying about how to take pictures,” Leibovitz said shortly before starting the tour. “But also I think this show itself is something for a young photographer to look at and see what it takes to be a photographer; to have that burn and that strength.” Archive Project No.1 is a version of a 2017 exhibit that the LUMA Foundation mounted in Arles, Continued on page 13

12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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Playwright Jonathan Caren’s Canyon follows two families from different economic backgrounds that find themselves at odds on a holiday weekend. It opens this week at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Shown are Geoffrey Rivas (left) and Brandon Scott.

Double Play at —

The LATC Two Shows, ‘Home’ and ‘Canyon,’ Deal with People Learning About, or Trying to Express, Who They Are

photo by Martha Benedict

Also at the LATC is Home, Nancy Ma’s autobiographical one-act. She plays 15 characters in the one-woman show.

photo by Robert Mahaffie

By Nicholas Slayton wo West Coast families wind up in a tense confrontation on what should be a relaxing holiday. Across the country in New York City, the young daughter of Chinese immigrants tries to escape her parents’ world and be her own person. All of the central characters struggle with how they perceive themselves and each other, and confront their own biases. Those issues are at the heart of a pair of plays opening this week at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in the Historic Core. Canyon, from playwright Jonathan Caren, opens Thursday, Feb. 28, and Nancy Ma’s Home bows on Saturday, March 2. Both close on March 24. The shows cover similar themes, but in a kind of reverse style, according to the playwrights. Home, which was presented at the 2017 Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, is writer and performer Nancy Ma’s autobi-

ographical one-woman play. Canyon, a world premiere, is a fictional tale inspired by real events. Canyon follows a pair of upper-class newlyweds who cross paths with a Latino father and son on Labor Day weekend in 2016. They meet in a backyard deep in a canyon. The situation is tense from the outset, due to the father’s stress and efforts to keep working to provide for his family. When an accident occurs, the families find themselves at odds, both unsure of what to do or how to back down. Caren started working on the play before the 2016 presidential election brought Donald Trump to office. Although he said the ideas Canyon explores — including the United States’ paradoxical love of cheap labor and paranoia over immigration — have been topical subjects for years, he opted to set the play two months before the election in the effort to show in part how the country ended up in its current divided state. “It’s also benefitted from having a long gestation period,” Caren said. “Working with Latino artists and the Latino Theater Company, it became much more human and complex.” The father, Eduardo, who is played by Geoffrey Rivas, is a humble man going through tough times. Rivas (who is also a member of the Latino Theater Company, which is producing the show along with the IAMA Theatre Company), said Eduardo works seven days a week as a laborer, but that he often finds himself ignored or at risk of being cast aside. Rivas, who helped develop the one-act show, which is directed by Whitney White, said he was drawn to Canyon by the message and ambiguity of the script. “We did a workshop of it two years ago, and there were public discussions afterward,” he said. “I realized Jonathan was on to something, because it created such a spectrum of ideas in the discussions. It touches on so many hot-button issues.” The set is designed to be immersive, and the production designers seek to make the entire theater feel like the backyard where the play takes place, Caren said. That means the actors sometimes move out among the audience members. “It’s not kitchen theater,” he said, “but it is based in this groundedness of how we actually communicate with each other.”

15 Characters, One Actor Ma based Home on her own childhood and early adult experience of having to serve as a kind of guide and interpreter for her parents, who emigrated to the United States from China. She veers from helping her parents to striking out on her own, leaving New York City’s Chinatown to explore the United States. The show is expansive, but Ma tackles it all. She plays 15 characters in the one-act work, including family members and friends. “A lot of it is done through accents or characteristic gestures. Like, one family member, he always has a cigarette in his hand,” Ma said. “Also, my family speaks this dialect of Chinese, so a third of the show is in [Taishanese].” She said that even though most audience members don’t speak the language, they will be able to follow along, based on her responses in English, as well as the emotions and cadence expressed by the characters. The set for Home is minimal, with Ma onstage accompanied only by three chairs. At some points she moves off stage and provides wider narration to frame the proceedings. Rivas, who is also directing Home, said the show features some fourth-wall breaking. “In a way it’s more like a presentation, when she’s interacting with the audience, then jumping back into a scene,” he said. “We’re creating the environment around her with light and sound. The rest is just her acting carrying it. Rivas sees parallels between the plays. Both deal with identity, but Canyon is more about people who know who they are, while Home follows a woman seeking to define who she is. “The way Jonathan has written Canyon, the audience members are going to have to decide who you side with, who you show empathy with,” Rivas said. “With Nancy, it’s her story, with a couple vignettes. You could plug in a different ethnicity and it would ring true.” Ma echoed that take, saying Home is a personal story, but she hopes that it will resonate with audiences of all backgrounds. Canyon runs Thursday, Feb. 28-March 24; Home runs Saturday, March 2-24, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St. or thelatc.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

LEIBOVITZ, 11

France. Leibovitz edited the selections, which covers her time as a budding college student and a whirlwind 13 years working for the then-new Rolling Stone magazine. “It became like a river of work,” Leibovitz said. “I decided to do a very liberal edit. I can’t believe that LUMA and Hauser & Wirth put up with me because I just let it rip.” The sheer volume of the exhibit is almost overwhelming at first glance. More than 4,000 images are displayed behind wide Plexiglas walls spread across seven rooms. Leibovitz said the layout is entirely intentional. Almost akin to a photographer’s studio, the photos are pinned to the wall, separated by strings. Although small numbers and dots at the bottom of each photo correspond to almost unnoticeable identification signs, there are no placards that provide information or historical context. “You’re meant to go through and find things that interest you and that mean something for you,” Leibovitz said. “You’re not meant to sort of stop at every picture and kind of study it for a long time.” Displayed in chronological order, the exhibit functions like a timeline of a tumultuous period. Rolling Stone is heavily featured — Leibovitz shot almost 150 covers for the

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

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magazine — and the walls hold images of music luminaries such as Rod Stewart, Sly Stone and Ray Charles. Leibovitz’s work ran the gamut, and the musician shots are displayed next to images of political leaders including Henry Kissinger and Gov. Jerry Brown (in his first stint). An entire wall is dedicated to President Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation, captured by Leibovitz as she worked with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Another wall depicts the time Leibovitz spent with Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones as the band toured the United States in 1975. Leibovitz said her experience with the Stones changed her as a photographer. “I came out thinking I wasn’t ever going to throw myself into something like this again,” Leibovitz said. “I was never going to give The exhibit documents Leibovitz’s early career, including shots from a Philippines air base in 1968 (shown here), and images related myself over like that unless I truly to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974 (below). believed in what I was doing.” Stacen Berg, Hauser & Wirth Los Leibovitz, meanwhile, is grateful as she name most people are very familiar with, but Angeles’ senior director, said that the gallery whose contributions, as a radically inventive is ecstatic to display the formative years of looks back. “I’ve been so lucky,” she said during the artist and originator of conceptualism, might the landmark photographer, and will publish a book of the work titled Archive Project No. 1. tour. “I’ve had this incredible career and I feel be less familiar than you expect,” Berg said. more responsible to it than ever. “There are a lot of surprises here in this show.” Rosalia Pasqualino di Marineo, Manzoni’s I’m going to go out with a camera niece and the director of the Piero Manzoni in my hand.” Foundation in Milan, Italy, curated the exhibit. Material Guy Materials of His Time includes the display Also on display at Hauser & Wirth is Piero Manzoni. Materials of of a project that Manzoni never realized: It His Time, an exhibit dedicated to a has two rooms, one with the walls and floor covered entirely in white fur, and the seclate Italian artist. In the late 1960s, Manzoni ond coated wall-to-wall in fluorescent white helped champion Conceptual Art paint. The rooms depict Manzoni’s idea of by turning away from tradition- “total space,” or completely enveloping envial creative materials such as paint ronments. Manzoni described the pieces in a 1961 and ink. Instead, he utilized a bevy of unconventional options, among letter to fellow artist Henk Peeters. Manzoni died before he could construct the project, them fur and stones. The exhibit showcases 70 of but New York-based artist Stephanie Goto Manzoni’s 800 “achromes,” what stepped in to help design the rooms based the artist called paintings without on the descriptions in Manzoni’s letter. Annie Leibovitz: The Early Years, 1970color. They are displayed in picture frames and glass cases and fea- 1983: Archive Project No.1 and Piero Manture materials such as cloth, cotton zoni. Materials of His Time are on display at balls, fiberglass, and other natural Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles, 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirth.com. and synthetic options. sean@downtownnews.com “Manzoni is an artist whose

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MONDAY, FEB. 25 Mystic Monday Comedy Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. 8 p.m.: More than a half dozen comedians step to the mic to try to make you laugh. TUESDAY, FEB. 27 State of the Union Book Club The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: Los Angeles Times race and justice correspondent Jaweed Kaleem hosts this new book club, which is launching with a discussion of Alexandra Natapoff’s “Punishment Without Crime.” THURSDAY, FEB. 28 Is the Digital Age Making Museums Obsolete? National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave. or zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Director Lori Bettison-Varga and other museum officials weigh in on the role that brick and mortar spaces can play in the time of smart phones. FRIDAY, MARCH 1 Bloco Obini Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com. 4 p.m.: The drum ensemble performs and marches through Union Station to celebrate Brazil’s tradition of Carnaval. SATURDAY, MARCH 2 Mardi Gras Carnivale Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.org. 7 p.m.: It’s a night of live music, food, dance, drinks, comedy, performances and general revelry. The one and only John C. Reilly hosts the evening. There will even be marionettes.

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Those hoping to learn a bit about dinosaurs, ancient Egyptian pharaohs and fire, and have a drink while doing it, should look down the Figueroa Corridor. That’s because First Fridays, the Natural History Museum’s annual after-hours museum-meets-party series, is back. The theme this year is “Forces of Nature,” and the first installment starts at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1. The halls will be open and there will be gallery tours, and at 6:30 p.m. there’s a discussion on a disaster Californians known all too well: wildfires. Two musical acts are on the roster — prog-rock outfit Pinky Pinky, and country-inspired vocalist Shannon Shaw. DJs Novena Carmel and KCRW’s Aaron Byrd will spin. Drink, dance, learn and repeat. The fun continues until 10 p.m. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org.

photo courtesy of Maryam Jafri

photo courtesy the Teragram Ballroom

The Scottish band Teenage Fanclub has been around for 31 years, so the moniker may no longer be apropos. That said, the music dished out by Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley and the rest of the crew is as fresh and jaggedly catchy, in a post-punk alt-rock way, as ever. Last year the band re-released five of its old albums, which will be the focus when Teenage Fanclub takes the stage at the Teragram Ballroom on Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 26-27. Expect to hear tracks from their 1991 breakthrough Bandwagonesque and their follow-up United Kingdom chart-topper Thirteen (eat your heart out, Taylor Swift). The shows begin at 8 p.m. and indie rockers The Love Language will open. At 1234 W. Seventh St., (213) 689-9100 or teragramballroom.com.

Remember 20 years ago when green and purple ketchup was all the rage? Well, two decades later red has regained its standing as the burger condiment of choice, but that hasn’t stopped companies from trying to flip the script when it comes to food staples. Danish artist Maryam Jafri is taking a look at some of those trends in a new exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles called I Drank the Kool-Aid But I Didn’t Inhale. Jafri’s first solo exhibit in the United States, the show utilizes text, pictures and objects to showcases failed food products from the 1960s to the present day. It’s all part of an artistic effort to highlight the trends and corporate greed that propel failed decisions. At 1717 E. Seventh St. or theicala.org. FOUR

If you’re looking for a different kind of alt rock from across the pond, then you are still in luck this week. That’s because the English post-punk proto-goth band Bauhaus is slinking into The Novo at L.A. Live on Thursday, Feb. 28. The final stop on its “Ruby Tour,” in celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary, Bauhaus has original members including lead vocalist Peter Murphy and bassist David J. The group will play its 1980 debut album In the Flat Field in its entirety, alongside a spattering of other Bauhaus favorites such as “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and “Kick in the Eye.” The show starts at 8 p.m. Expect almost everyone in the joint to be wearing all black. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. photo courtesy Goldenvoice

What Is Soul Transcendence? Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, 3500 W Adams Blvd., (323) 737-4055 or peacelabyrinth/ events Tuesday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.: Join Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens for a fun, experiential evening discovering more of who you truly are. Facilitated by Dr. Pauli Sanderson.

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When you watch an Egypt 80 performance, you’re not only catching a collection of extraordinary musicians, you’re also witnessing the continuation of a musical lineage. Now headed by alto saxophonist Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat pioneer, civil rights activist and original band leader Fela Kuti, Egypt 80 performances feature a combination of recorded material from Seun Kuti and snippets of his father’s sets that never touched a studio booth. Expect to hear something completely fresh when the Nigerian band performs at The Regent at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Rest assured, there will also be selections from the band’s 2018 album Black Times. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

photo by Johann Sauty