a city council race heats up Page 8
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BIG BUSINESS The Massive Manufactory Arrives At Row DTLA See Page 10
Chad Robertson (left) and Chris Jordan at Row DTLA, where their 40,000-squarefoot Manufactory includes two restaurants, a bakery, a cafe and more.
photo by Gary Leonard
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Gaming Company Wins Competition for Free Office Space
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n November, landlord Brookfield Office Properties announced a contest called Launchpad, with the winner getting two years of free office space for a company with up to 20 employees at its Wells Fargo Center property at 333 S. Grand Ave. Last month, Brookfield announced that Flying Mollusk, an independent video game studio, has captured the prize. Flying Mollusk, which is known for making the adventure game Nevermind, moved in last month, filling approximately 3,000 square feet operated by the coworking firm Convene. Brookfield started the Launchpad contest as a way to engage with the tech and start-up industries that would not normally look for offices in Bunker Hill Class A towers.
Fashion District Housing Shelter Approved
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he City Council has given approval for a new temporary housing facility at a warehouse at 1426 Paloma St. The Fashion District space will be part of Mayor Eric Garcet-
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ti’s A Bridge Home program intended to create emergency housing that gets people in tent encampments off the streets and on the path to permanent housing. Part of the building will hold 115 beds, as well as space for case workers to provide services. “While our long-term goal remains supportive housing with services through Measure HHH, this is another definitive step forward in addressing homelessness,” 14th District City Councilman José Huizar said in a prepared statement. The warehouse will undergo minor improvements and the shelter could open in as soon as three months. The first Bridge Home shelter, the 45-bed El Puente facility, debuted on a city-owned parking lot near El Pueblo in September.
More Information Revealed For Olive Street Market
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ast year, South Korean company PK Retail Holdings announced it would lease the lower three levels of the six-story L.A. Jewelry Mart at 712 S. Olive St. The announcement came with news that a high-end grocery store, PK Market would open. Documents recently submitted to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council shed more detail on the coming store. The 35,224-squarefoot market will occupy the first two floors of the building and will have up to 11 eating spaces with seating for 205 people. PK Retail Holdings also is hoping to serve a full range of alcohol offerings. Documents note that the market will have a vaguely farm aes-
thetic, and might feature Korean trucks being used as display spaces for produce. The store is expected to open by the end of the year.
Former L.A. Phil Music Director Previn Dies
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cclaimed composer and conductor André Previn passed away last week. Previn, who was music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1985-1989, died on Thursday, Feb. 28, at the age of 89. Born in Berlin in 1929, he trained as a pianist and was a prolific jazz and chamber music performer. He worked frequently as a conductor, joining the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Previn also worked in Hollywood and won four Academy Awards, including for the original scores of Irma La Douce and My Fair Lady.
Chinatown Jewelry Theft Suspects Sought by LAPD
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he Los Angeles Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two suspects, one who was allegedly involved with a Chinatown jewelry store robbery, and another who impersonated a police officer. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, officers responded to a theft at a jewelry store on Broadway. Officers arrested 19-year-old Gerald Robert, but a second suspect, described as a black man with black hair, brown eyes, and 6 feet tall and approximately 190
MARCH 4, 2019
pounds, is still at large. Almost four hours later, another man, who identified himself as a police officer, entered the same store, seeking to purchase a chain similar to one stolen earlier. According to a LAPD news release, the store owner was uncomfortable with the request and asked for a business card, which the man provided before leaving. He is described as Hispanic and in his 20s, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches and 180 pounds. It is unclear if the two incidents were connected. Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD detectives at (213) 996-1860 or (213) 996-1877. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call (800) 222-8477.
Charges Filed Against Suspect for Punching Two Women
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he office of City Attorney Mike Feuer last week filed multiple battery charges against a Sylmar man who allegedly punched two women outside of a Downtown Los Angeles restaurant. According to Feuer’s office, Arka Sangbaran Oroojian, 30, was caught on video repeatedly punching two women at Sixth and Spring streets on Jan. 26 after they came to the aid of a hot dog vendor who Oroojian was arguing with. Oroojian fled the scene, but after video of the incident was circulated on the Internet, he turned himself in to police. “We will not tolerate a brutal assault on the streets of DTLA, or any neighborhood,” Feuer said in a preContinued on page 7
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Uphill Road for Pershing Square Stop in Future Rail Line Downtown Groups Want Station, But Metro CEO Cites Concerns of Connections and Construction By Jon Regardie number of Downtown Los Angeles business leaders were angered late last year when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority eliminated Pershing Square from consideration as a terminus for the upcoming $4.6 billion West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor. The stakeholders have maintained that, as Metro conducts environmental studies for the project, the agency should be open to a route that funnels people from Southeast Los Angeles County into the heart of the city. The prospect of a Pershing Square stop is looking increasingly dim. On Monday, Feb. 25, Metro CEO Phil Washington indicated that it would be an added expense for a proposal that is unlikely to be realized. “We’re not saying that we are going to just say no completely, but there are operational and there are constructability challenges with bringing that line into Pershing Square,” Washington said during a luncheon at The Palm hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum. “There are foundational issues. There are all kinds of issues with doing that.” Most of the 20-mile route has been determined, though discussion of where the line will end in Downtown has gone on for months. Metro has sought to balance the mission of getting riders close to their jobs in Downtown while ensuring that people who need to connect to other trains or transit systems will be able to do so easily. A stop in the center of Downtown has not been elim-
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inated, as Metro continues to consider a terminus near Eighth and Flower streets, which would have a walkable connection to the Seventh Street/Metro Center station. The rail hub Union Station is also being considered. Downtown stakeholders have charged that Metro had not been transparent when Pershing Square was pulled from consideration in December. They also maintain that the move was premature, and that all options should be on the table before a final route is selected. The project, which is being funded by Measure M money approved by county voters, is not expected to break ground until 2022. After being informed of Washington’s comments, Kate Bartolo, a spokesperson for the community coalition seeking to keep Pershing Square under consideration, said the group’s perspective has not changed. She called the elimination of Pershing Square from the environmental study “both premature and high risk.” “It is only through a study that one can actually identify and quantify issues or challenges any alignment may present,” Bartolo said in an email. Referring to the Eighth and Flower and Union Station options, she added, “CEO Washington’s comments about constructability and operations at Pershing may directly apply to the other two options. You just don’t know until you study them. By far, the cheapest money you can spend is upfront by including all viable alternatives — including Pershing Square — for further study.” Continued on page 11
image courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The $4.6 billion West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor will connect the city of Artesia in Southeast L.A. County with Downtown. Metro is currently considering ending the line at either Union Station or a spot near Eighth and Flower streets.
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TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Time to Expand the L.A. City Council
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any people feel that the last thing society needs is more politicians. It’s an understandable take given the mistrust in elected officials and the frequent screaming headlines of misdeeds by those entrusted with doing the public’s business. Yet this page believes that the city of Los Angeles desperately needs more politicians. Specifically, it is time to begin a serious discussion about expanding the City Council beyond the current 15 members. Los Angeles has about 4 million residents, and each council member represents approximately 250,000 people (ironically, in some elections only about 10,000 district residents vote). Council reps function as virtual kings or queens of their district and have extraordinary influence over whether projects in their territory move forward. In short, we think these individuals have too much power over too broad an area, and the size of each district puts them at too far a remove from most constituents. Expanding the council would allow for a more representative and responsive city government. With Angelenos going to the polls one year from this week for the March 2020 primary, and the corruption scandal currently floating over Los Angeles, this is the right time to look at altering the status quo. Los Angeles’ first City Charter, written in the late 1800s, created a nine-member council. A 15-member council went into effect in 1925. In 1930, the city had about 1.23 million residents, so although the population has more than tripled in the last nearly 90 years, the size of the governing body has remained the same. Los Angeles has few politicians on a per-capita basis compared to some other big cities. New York City counts 51 council members for a metropolis of 8.6 million, meaning each elected official represents about 169,000 constituents. Chicago’s 2.7 million inhabitants are served by 50 aldermen — that’s about 54,000 residents per ward. Houston has a similar-sized council to Los Angeles, with 16 members (11 representing geographic districts and five at-large seats), but has a population of just 2.3 million people. What’s the right size in L.A.? That’s hard to say at this time, but something in the range of 30-40 council members would probably be appropriate. Such a number could bring government closer to the people. It could allow for reasonable geographically organized territories instead of the huge, politically gerrymandered monstrosities that exist now. Additionally, this could facilitate the election of members of ethnic and other communities that have been under-represented in city government. Expanding the City Council would require voter approval, and one can be certain that office holders would fight any attempt to dilute their influence. That’s where the discussion begins — how big should the council be? Should salary be reduced along with district size? What happens to office staff? Should an increase take effect four years down the line? Or eight years later so current office holders have a reason to sign on? And what about those five County Supervisors who each represent 2 million people? Reaching consensus won’t come quickly, but the size of L.A.’s City Council should grow. It’s time to start the discussion, with the focus on people rather than power.
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COMMENTS
Regarding the Guest Opinion “A View From the Typhus Zone,” about dealing with the disease and trash on the streets, by Brittany Kamerschen I could not agree more, and trying to post photos of trash and locations on the City’s My311 app feels like it only makes a dent. There is a much bigger issue to be addressed. We have volunteered to bring food and walked the streets meeting people. It’s only a Band-Aid, as the people stay there, and the food only assuages for a moment. —Lisa Fulbright My partner and I have lived in the area for 15 years. We have never contracted typhus or hepatitis, but outreach services need to be more present, every day, on the streets. It should not be easier to buy heroin than it is to get help for heroin addiction. We need outreach vans parked on street corners every day to treat addiction and mental health issues. The Department of Mental Health has to provide clients immediate access to housing and healthcare. Just because someone has a mental illness doesn’t mean they have to be homeless on the streets or in a shelter. Everyone deserves access to low-income housing. Building luxury towers next to homeless shelters makes no sense. Skid Row is a community that needs resources for low-income residents. Housing creates healthy streets. —Andrea Theodore Teodorescu EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre
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Groundbreaking
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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 Understandably, we don’t have many water features in L.A. It’s nice to know this one is up and running again. —Liam Bean I remember as a little boy driving with my dad Downtown many times and he’d point it out. It was this beautiful waterfall and I always look for it as we passed. I’m so grateful the city and county realized it was worth restoring. As a faithful taxpayer I completely support that expenditure. —John K. Cervenka
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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MARCH 4, 2019
The Unending Oddities of the School Board Election 10 Candidates! Gobs of Money! Let’s Do This, Then Do It Again Soon By Jon Regardie he year 2019 has been a wild one for education in Los Angeles, and the calendar is only 16% complete. The crazy part is that the next 10 months could be even more tumultuous. Yes, more tumultuous than the six-day teachers’ strike that hijacked the education of 500,000 students and cost the Los Angeles
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and ask voters to approve a parcel tax before the educational enthusiasm subsides. If passed it would raise approximately $500 million a year. Before all that, however, there is a juicy and pivotal event, and it takes place this week. On Tuesday, March 5, voters in the LAUSD Fifth District will go to the polls to
This election is fascinating, expensive, and fascinatingly expensive, and it’s only part one of a two-step process. Ten people are on the ballot, and if no one gets more than 50% of the vote — and there’s no way anyone is getting more than 50% of the vote — then the top two finishers will advance to a May runoff.
Vernon, Huntington Park and Maywood on the south. The poles of the Fifth District have about as much in common as mink stoles and horseradish, while almost everything in between, except for a sliver on the eastern edge, is taken up by the Second District. Turn a map on its side and it looks like the Second District is a head wearing the Fifth District as a pair of bulky earmuffs. What else is nutty? Turnout! Voters in Los Angeles are notoriously lethargic, but they really exhibit disinterest when it comes to selecting school board members. In the Fifth
THE REGARDIE REPORT Unified School District more than $100 million in lost revenue from the state. In the coming months the public will likely get a glimpse of Supt. Austin Beutner’s proposal to re-engineer the district’s central administrative set-up. The LAUSD bureaucracy is sort of like a Rube Goldberg machine filled with trap doors and rabbit holes that has mated with a hydra where every head is whipping in a different direction. I’ve got no idea how, short of blowing up the entire thing and starting over, Beutner will corral this beast, but trust that the process will be fascinating. Then there’s the district’s sudden speedy move to put a money-raising proposition on the June ballot. The one thing everyone agreed on during the strike was the LAUSD doesn’t have close to enough cash to take care of students, faculty, other staff and 9,000 additional things, and Beutner and the school board are seeking to seize the day
photo by Gary Leonard
Last month, nine candidates running for a seat on the LAUSD board showed up at a forum in Mt. Washington. The election is Tuesday, March 5. Candidates and independent groups backing them have already spent about $2.5 million on the race.
choose a replacement for disgraced former School Board member Ref Rodriguez. In case you forgot — and how could anyone possibly forget this gem? — there was a campaign money-laundering investigation and Rodriguez pleaded guilty last July to conspiracy and resigned his seat. This race is to finish his term, and the next regularly scheduled election is in March 2020, or a year from now. So in pure Groundhog Day fashion, someone will campaign, win, wake up and have to campaign again.
Consider this the most important thing in the school year that few people are bothering to watch. Head With Earmuffs A lot of things make the race interesting, starting with the physical make-up of the Fifth District. If you look at a map it’s impossible to comprehend how anyone could decide that a territory with these boundaries is logical. It contains communities including Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and Highland Park on the north, and the small cities of
District, historically about nine in 10 eligible voters opt to do anything but cast a ballot. I looked at figures for the last four Fifth District elections and found that turnout is even lower than the Lakers’ winning percentage in games without LeBron James. In the March 2015 primary 12.56% of eligible voters cast ballots, and in the May runoff that ushered Rodriguez into office, it was even worse — just 10.04%. The 2011 returns showed this was no anomaly: Only 15.47% participated in the priContinued on page 11
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County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (speaking), Councilman Curren Price (left) and Mayor Eric Garcetti were among the crowd who gathered at the California African American Museum last week to discuss a new report on homelessness among black people. The study said that although African-American people comprise just 9% of the population of Los Angeles County, they make up one-third of the homeless population.
By Sean P. Thomas nstitutional racism and unconscious biases are leading drivers in the disproportionate number of black people experiencing homelessness, according to a study released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority last week. According to the study, titled the “Report and Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness,” despite comprising just 9% of the population of Los Angeles County, African-American people make up one-third of the homeless population. Nationally, black people make up 14% of the population, but account for 40% of those living without shelter. City and county leaders gathered at the California African American Museum on Monday, Feb. 25, for the release of the 115page report, which is being described as the first step in addressing the larger issue of homelessness among African-American Angelenos. It pinpoints lasting racial disparities in public policy, criminal justice systems, affordable housing and employment opportunities as main drivers behind African Americans’ overrepresentation in the homeless community. “This is an exciting day because it’s a call to action,” Ninth District City Councilman Curren Price said at the event. “Now we have the documented proof that these steps are necessary to take.” The findings are the product of nine months of work by LAHSA’s 26-member Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness. It includes scientific data as well as anecdotal evidence, and touches on communities including Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. The report highlights a bevy of concerns, including the lack of affordable housing options, stagnant wages, housing and employment discrimination, and the connection be-
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tween mass incarceration rates and homelessness. Second District County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas cited substance abuse, affordability and mental health issues as principal reasons behind homelessness, and added that these factors impact African Americans to a greater degree when coupled with longstanding racial biases. “When it relates to African-Americans, there is simply no denying the fact that race does matter,” Ridley-Thomas said. “The history of racism and the underinvestment in addressing this problem has caused it to be as profound as it is.” Instituting Recommendations The report offers 67 recommendations for civic leaders to pursue, including improving data collection strategies, getting more detailed analysis and research, and better training to prepare service providers for interactions with African Americans who are experiencing homelessness. Some of the recommendations are already in the works. According to LAHSA, the organization has begun partnering with the city and county to develop an ordinance to prohibit “source of income” discrimination, which was cited as a barrier to those seeking to use housing vouchers. Legislation is expected to make its way through City Hall this year. LAHSA is also partnering with the USC Price Center for Social Innovation to research ways to better understand and track issues impacting the African-American community. Ad Hoc Committee member Reba Stevens, who was homeless for 21 years, cited the importance of finding someone willing to listen to her specific issues when she was seeking services. “When I walked through the Department of Mental Health with my head hanging down there was a beautiful lady who changed my life and it was simply because
MARCH 4, 2019
she listened,” Stevens said. “She exercised listening — culturally competent, culturally sensitive — and it was the first time that I felt heard and cared for, and that was the beginning.” Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, a national racial equity research organization, said the findings in the LAHSA report and the solutions that might follow could be extrapolated to help other demographics as well. “I want to be clear that focusing in on black folks is really about looking at who is the most vulnerable in our communities and recognizing that if we find solutions that work for them, then we might find solutions that work for all of us,” Harris said. This is not the first time the city has sought to shine a light on systemic issues impacting African Americans. In 1991, in the wake of the beating of motorist Rodney King by four white police officers, Mayor Tom Bradley convened the Christopher Commission to examine racial concerns and other issues within the Los Angeles Police Department. More recently, in 2016, the office of Eighth District City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson released a report that examined homelessness in South L.A. and found similar concerns with the disproportionate number of homeless African Americans. However, Harris-Dawson called the latest report “sobering.” “We should rightfully celebrate this report, and celebrate the work that has been done and all that has been accomplished,” Harris-Dawson said. “But we must all hold our feet to the fire so that this time we get it done and we get it done in the right way.” Jacqueline Waggoner, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, said that the group is in the process of developing an action plan and timeline to institute some of the other recommendations. The committee will meet twice a year to gauge progress. sean@downtownnews.com
AROUND TOWN, 2 pared statement. In interviews with reporters after the incident, Oroojian claimed that he was defending himself. The victims suffered a concussion and a broken finger. Oroojian has been charged with five counts of battery and is facing up to 30 months in jail and $10,000 in fines if convicted.
Jerde Acquires Chinatown Urban Planning Firm
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he Downtown-based architecture and urban design firm Jerde announced recently that it has acquired the Chinatown-based landscape architecture company Superjacent. The Superjacent staff is being integrated into Jerde and reforming as the Superjacent Studio of Jerde. The Superjacent employees will leave offices at 1635 N. Spring St. and move into Jerde’s space in the CalEdison Building at 601 W. Fifth St. Superjacent has worked on projects across Southern California and contributed designs to developer RYDA’s creative office redevelopment at 806 E. Third St. “We were very attracted to Superjacent based upon our shared values of placemaking and designing unique public spaces,” John Simones, Jerde chairman and design director, said in a prepared statement. “Landscape and architecture — working together as one — creates a totality where ideas and experiences flow indoors and out.” Jerde in 2017 signed a lease to leave its longtime home in Venice and move Downtown.
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EXPERIENCE PACIFICA at our Information Day
Friday, March 22, 2019
Experience a day in the life of a Pacifica Graduate Institute student. This one-day introduction showcases the distinctive educational features of our masters and doctoral programs in depth psychology, counseling, mythology, and the humanities. At our March 22nd Introduction Day, you will: Experience Pacifica’s unique interdisciplinary degree programs led by our renowned faculty. Hear from alumni about their experiences & career outcomes. Listen to a talk by Pacifica alum Dr. Siri Sat Nam. Tour both of our beautiful campuses including the Joseph Campbell Archives and the Research Library. Learn how to navigate the admissions and financial aid processes to make graduate school a reality. Enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. We will be giving away a $200 bookstore gift certificate.
March 22, 2019 | 9:30 am — 4:00 pm 801 Ladera Lane, Santa Barbara, CA
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The Pocket Guru Guidance and Mantras for Spiritual Awakening and Emotional Wisdom
Dr. Siri Sat Nam provides insight to his new book The Pocket Guru, which offers emotional centeredness and mental peace. Using Dr. Siri’s calming style, the book presents readers with 108 topics to focus on—including commitment, forgiveness, intimacy, and love—and mantras to help them find personal growth and fulfillment.
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8 DOWNTOWN NEWS
MARCH 4, 2019
Mónica Garcia Enters 14th District City Council Race Longtime School Board Member Seeks to Succeed Huizar By Jon Regardie oters won’t go to the polls for another year, but the race to replace 14th District City Councilman José Huizar is heating up, with a new, politically connected candidate throwing her hat in the ring. On Monday, Feb. 25, Mónica Garcia, the president of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, announced her candidacy for the seat. The election to replace Huizar, who will be termed out next year, is in March 2020. Garcia has served on the LAUSD board for 12 years, and has spent the majority of that time as president of the body that, among other tasks, hires the superintendent and oversees a $7 billion annual budget. She was born in East L.A. and lives in the community of Rose Hills, near El Sereno. Garcia said “community wellness,” a term she uses to encompass issues such as education and public safety, will be a driver in her campaign. The 14th District encompasses Downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights, and extends up to Northeast L.A. neighborhoods including Eagle Rock and portions of Highland Park. District inhabitants, said Garcia, “need a new lens on the role of government and the role of community.” Garcia was elected to the school board in 2006 and has won four elections. Her territory includes much of the 14th Council District. The daughter of a father who worked at a furniture manu800.900.5788 I Broadband I Voice and I WiFi I HDTVwho raised facturing business a mother five children and then worked at a pharmacy in Boyle Heights, Garcia is a grad-
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uate of USC and UC Berkeley. She has also worked as a social worker. Garcia has a long history in the political sphere, too. She served as Huizar’s chief of staff when he sat on the LAUSD board. After Huizar was elected to the City Council, she won a race to fill his school board seat. Huizar has been under scrutiny since last fall, when FBI agents searched his home and offices as part of an apparent corruption investigation. Although no one has been arrested and no charges have been filed, Huizar in November was stripped of his council committee assignments by Council President Herb Wesson. Additionally, Huizar’s wife, Richelle Huizar, abandoned her own run for the 14th District seat two months after she had entered the race. When asked how she would restore community trust in the wake of the proceedings that enveloped Huizar, Garcia said, “Let’s be clear: It is beyond this council district, but we must start in this council district. I’ve known Councilmember Huizar and his wife and family for more than 25 years. I’m very sad about the situation they find themselves in, but this campaign is about the people of the 14th and community and the appropriate role of government. We start by saying we trust the people of the 14th, we trust that the residents and stakeholders are clear in who they are and what they want. They want people who are partners in dealing with their own issues.” aerioconnect.com Garcia’s entrance into the race came two weeks after former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León an-
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LAUSD School Board President Mónica Garcia, shown here with Superintendent Austin Beutner, will seek to fill the 14th District City Council seat that will be vacated next year by a termed-out José Huizar. The district includes Downtown Los Angeles.
nounced his candidacy. A longtime political powerbroker, de León’s territory also included portions of the 14th Council District. Last year he failed in an effort to topple U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Garcia, 50, acknowledged that the election will be tough, but said that is par for the course. “I’ve never had an easy election,” she said. “I’m the third Latina in 155 years to be on the school board.” In addition to Garcia and de León, five other people have filed papers to raise money for the race. If no one earns a majority of the vote in the March primary, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff eight months later. regardie@downtownnews.com
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At Row DTLA, a Big, Aromatic Vision
MARCH 4, 2019
After a Nearly Three-Year Wait, The Massive Manufactory Finally Opens By Sean P. Thomas hen you step out of the 10-story parking structure at the Row DTLA complex these days, the first thing you notice is the smell. As you march toward the collection of offices and stores in the refashioned concrete warehouses, the aroma of fresh-baked bread wafts through the air. The olfactory element is new, an asterisk of The Manufactory. The restaurant and retail operation from the San Francisco-based Tartine brand opened in the Industrial District complex on Jan. 29. The Manufactory has been one of the most anticipated projects in Downtown Los Angeles. First announced nearly three years ago, and initially expected to open in the fall of 2017, it is a collaboration between Tartine founders and James Beard Award-winning chefs Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson, and Chris Bianco, who gained notoriety for an Arizona pizza restaurant. They managed to endure through a seeming never-ending series of changes and setbacks. On a recent Thursday afternoon, Robertson sat down with Tartine Chief Operating Officer Chris Jordan to discuss the project. Although Robinson has spent almost 30 years in the food business and is one of the better-known bakers in the world, he admitted
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a coffee roastery, a walk-up window, a market and a coffee lab. The most attention-grabbing element is Tartine Bianco. Bright and sunny during the daytime hours, and bustling and sleek during the evening, the collaboration between Robertson and Bianco features an open kitchen, a bar and 148 indoor and outdoor seats. The menu is accessible, with options including plates of seasonal fish, lamb shank and rotisserie chicken. On the other side of the complex is the Alameda Supper Club, which is scheduled to open March 16. The space, which will serve dinner and weekend brunch, contains a 16-person private dining room, an indoor bar, and an outdoor patio and bar space. The Market, located in the corner of the building, provides a space for customers to purchase both items produced by The Manufactory, and options made elsewhere. Those looking to grab a quick bite can head to a walk-up window to snag smaller items such as pastries and coffees. A quick ride in the elevator reveals the 6,000-square foot Coffee Manufactory Roastery, which is highlighted by the almost 60-year-old German Probat coffee roaster dubbed Bertha. At top efficiency it can roast nearly 70,000 pounds of coffee beans per week.
Once at top capacity, the bakery will be able to produce up to 5,000 loaves of bread per day.
photo by Gary Leonard
that nothing could prepare him for the arduous process of stripping down the two-story, 40,000-square-foot space and transforming it into a modern culinary mecca. “I couldn’t have imagined how it all came together,” Robertson said. “It was daunting, but it all came together and we’re starting to get some really great feedback.” Built in one of Row DTLA’s six buildings at 757 S. Alameda St., The Manufactory functions almost like a living organism, with seven different components all operating independently while still serving as part of the whole — there are two restaurants, a bakery,
Jordan, who had recently returned from a bean-sourcing trip to Ethiopia, said that while Bertha dates back to 1961, the roastery is otherwise filled with state-of-the-art equipment that makes the roasting process more efficient. This includes mechanical arms to lift the 150-pound bags of coffee beans. “We had the opportunity to build something from scratch,” Jordan said. “You see it as this big thing, but it’s the nuanced things, like this machine, like the grain elevators, that make this a really great place to work.” Then, of course, there is the massive bakery. Visible from Row’s ground level through
photo by Gary Leonard
Chad Robertson (left) and Chris Jordan are two of the partners involved with The Manufactory, the long-anticipated restaurant-and-retail complex at Row DTLA. The 40,000-square-foot enterprise opened last month.
almost floor-to-ceiling windows, the facility also has state-of-the art equipment, though on a recent visit the machines were covered in flecks of flour as employees wrangled massive globs of dough from the huge mixers. Robertson described the scene as a smaller industrial bakery. “We’re using industrial technology, but we’ve scaled it down,” Robertson said. “It’s like walking into a Transformer. We’re using technology to enhance the artisanal process.” Building a Team The Manufactory is Robertson and Prueitt’s seventh project since they opened the first Tartine Bakery in the Bay Area in 2002. There is now the flagship Tartine Manufactory in San Francisco’s Mission District, as well as three locations in South Korea. There are plans to open a cafe in Japan. Despite the international growth, Robertson said he and Prueitt knew that they wanted to expand to Southern California. They were introduced to Row DTLA in 2016. Development firm Atlas Capital acquired the complex in 2014 and has since been transforming the aged collection of buildings — previously best known as the home to American Apparel — into a modern destination filled with businesses seeking creative office space, and a collection of independent shops and restaurants. While Robertson said that he was instantly intrigued by the property, he was unsure of what to do with such a large space. When it came time to move forward, he and Prueitt partnered with Bianco, who was known for his Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, and Jordan, who had worked as a coffee taster (also known as a cupper) for Starbucks. The team faced challenges from the beginning. The warehouses were originally con-
structed in the 1920s by Southern Pacific Railroad as the Los Angeles Terminal Market. Crews essentially had to strip the building down to its core and completely rebuild and retrofit the space. Studio BBA was hired to handle designs. After the fall 2017 opening was missed, other anticipated debut dates came and went. The team encountered difficulties common in Los Angeles. “Between all the permits and the people involved, it’s so big that it’s almost like a city project,” Robertson said. “But the harder you work for it, it’s almost like you appreciate it more.” The team behind the Manufactory sees the project as just its first move in Los Angeles. It plans to open three smaller cafes across the region this year, starting with a spot in Silver Lake at 3921 W. Sunset Blvd. That will be followed by outposts in Hollywood and Santa Monica. The bakery is capable of pumping out about 5,000 loaves of bread a day, and the Downtown operation will employ a total of 300 people once it hits full capacity. After the other locations open, the goods manufactured at Row DTLA will spread out across Los Angeles. That is in the future, and right now the focus is on The Manufactory. Robertson said that early reactions have been positive, though there have been some jabs tied to the elongated opening process. He understands the comments, but is more focused on the scent of fresh bread and the people who will eat it. The Manufactory is at 757 S. Alameda St., (213) 375-3315 or tartinebakery.com. It is open daily from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. sean@downtownnews.com
MARCH 4, 2019
ELECTION, 5 mary. In the runoff won by Bennett Kayser, turnout was a measly 8.92%. But hold off before you declare that no one cares: The candidates do, and so do the special interests that love them! That’s in part because there are only seven seats on the board, so every one matters if you’re trying to build a bloc. In the 2011 primary and runoff, the candidates spent a total of $389,000, while independent groups dropped more than $3 million supporting one person or attacking another. The figures ticked up four years later when Rodriguez faced off against Kayser, who was backed by the teachers’ union United Teachers Los Angeles: The candidates in the primary and runoff spent $625,000, while independent groups unleashed almost $3.5 million. To understand where things are going, it helps to revisit 2017, when a pair of LAUSD seats were up for grabs, and sides affiliated with charter school interests and UTLA went to war in the effort to secure a majority: In the primary and runoff for the Second and Fourth District seats, the factions spent an astonishing $16.5 million. Even more amazing? Only about $2 million of that came from the candidates, while independent groups upchucked $14.5 million. If you’ve ever wondered why the public questions whether politicians can remain independent and say no to the people
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who backed them, this is a prime example of what sparks that skepticism. Few Bozos All of that brings us to the present, and there’s good news and bad. The good is that, of the 10 candidates, almost none are utter bozos. I moderated a forum in Mt. Washington last month where nine showed up, and they were almost uniformly thoughtful. A significant number had legitimate experience with either education, managing a large budget or both. You never know how effective someone will be until they are sworn in, but Fifth District residents at least have a choice among people with distinct track records and ideologies. The bad news is that it may be impossible for most of these ideologies to come across, because, again, they could be steamrolled by big spenders. By Thursday, Feb. 28, according to documents filed with the City Ethics Commission, the candidates had already spent $859,000, which is well more than Rodriguez and Kayser together dropped in the combined 2015 primary and runoff. The biggest check writer so far is Heather Repenning, a former aide to Mayor Eric Garcetti and an ex-appointee to the City Board of Public Works, who has unleashed $247,000. Other heavy spenders are Graciela Ortiz ($162,000), a school counselor and member of the Huntington Park City Council; Allison Bajracharya ($152,000), who most recently worked for a charter school network; and Jackie Goldberg
($117,000), the political veteran whose resume includes time on the L.A. City Council and, yes, the LAUSD board. But again, independent expenditure campaigns could be the tsunami that drenches everything. Already more than $1.6 million has been dropped, with $710,000 supporting Repenning and almost $557,000 for Goldberg. Another $112,000 has gone to producing grainy mailers slamming Goldberg. Put it all together and about $2.5 million has been dumped into the race. And that’s before you get tallies for 11th-hour phone banking and last-minute hit pieces. Then you’ll get the runoff spending! It’s worth noting that while money is influential in Los Angeles races, spikes can be thrown into the wheels of the political machine. More than one candidate with a strong grass-roots network has felled a giant — just consider new Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who last year was vastly outspent by Jim McDonnell, but still upset the incumbent. Even Garcetti was outspent in his 2013 primary, as more money and big union backing went to Wendy Greuel. There’s a lot of chatter about who will emerge from Tuesday’s election, but with turnout that could fall in the single digits, this race is up for grabs. About the only thing you can be certain of is that we’ll get round two on May 14. Then there will be a victor, and then we’ll do it all again next year. regardie@downtownnews.com
RAIL LINE, 3 Washington recognized the opposition to the elimination of Pershing Square, but said that removing it from consideration is the appropriate decision in an era of limited resources. “There are some people who say, ‘Study it anyway Phil. Just study it anyway,’” Washington said at the Current Affairs Forum luncheon. “And then you’re looking at a 12-month delay and millions of dollar more just to study something that you know probably will be eliminated at the end of the day.” Uber and Lyft During the event, Washington touched on other subjects that impact Downtown Los Angeles. That included the idea of seeking to put regulations, and perhaps some sort of tax, on Uber, Lyft and other shared-ride vehicles. The app-based services are ubiquitous in Downtown and other communities. Washington’s comments came in advance of a Thursday Metro Board of Directors meeting at which the subject was broached. Although no specifics regarding pricing or enforcement have been revealed, Washington said there is concern when for-profit companies are using public roads. “Why should the Ubers and Lyfts of the world use public rights-of-way to become millionaires and get rich?” Washington asked. “We should be regulating that in some way.” Washington called for a report on the idea of looking at regulating the businesses, also known as TNCs (for Transportation Network Company). That is expected to be delivered next month. regardie@downtownnews.com
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Thought Experiments was created by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller. Visitors see unexpected elements as they wander the building, including the L.A. Phil perform in an otherwise empty room.
As part of its centennial, the Los Angeles Philharmonic last week launched Thought Experiments in F# Minor, a cross between a guided tour and an augmented reality set-up. Visitors use an iPad and a headset as they walk through the building. A woman who thinks she is a cat appears multiple times.
Disney Hall, Like You’ve Never Seen It High-Tech Tour Uses Augmented Reality to Guide Visitors Through the Venue
By Nicholas Slayton woman who thinks she is a cat takes off her gloves and dances to a faint tune. Classical musicians practice in the halls and back corners of a venue before a show. A composer and her friend grab a glass of wine while discussing a 20th century science-fiction writer. These are all things visitors to Walt Disney Concert Hall will encounter in a new tour. And none of the are “real.” Thought Experiments in F# Minor, which launched on Friday, March 1, is an augmented reality experience at the shimmering venue designed by Frank Gehry. For the 40-minute excursion, visitors get an iPad Mini, don a headset, and follow a set path that wends from the lobby to the underground parking structure to the main performance space to the building’s various pathways and balconies. Along the way they come across dancers, an unexpected wedding, impromptu drum sessions and more. Created by the husband and wife team
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of Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, Thought Experiments is inspired by the building’s architecture, a short story by sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick, texts from colleagues of the creators and even a real violent incident that happened in Vancouver, Canada. “We call it physical cinema, as opposed to augmented reality,” Miller said. “We keep it pretty simple. We’re not interested in moving into where a satellite knows where you are.” Miller and Cardiff have been creating immersive experiences such as audio and video tours for 20 years. Yet Miller emphasized that Thought Experiments is more of a guided narrative and performance through the venue than the free-flowing, enhanced experience commonly found in augmented reality set-ups. The tour is free and continues through the close of the L.A. Philharmonic’s season in May. There are 30 kits available most days from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visitors pick up the iPads and headsets in the main lobby of Disney Hall. The L.A. Phil commissioned the piece as part of its centennial, with company Art-
ist-Collaborator Yuval Sharon curating some of the elements and bringing in the artistic team. Thought Experiments follows Refik Anadol’s WDCH Dreams, which put digital projections on the stainless steel skin of the concert hall from Sept. 28-Oct. 6. Miller and Cardiff developed the piece last fall and winter, and shot video over approximately 10 days. Users begin the tour by sitting on a lobby bench while Cardiff narrates. She is accompanied by her friend Schroeda (actress Jena Malone), a woman who thinks she is a cat and wears an extremely detailed and slightly creepy feline mask, plus a fanciful suit. Schroeda weaves in and out of the piece, as Cardiff guides users around different levels of Disney Hall. Thought Experiments takes people in and out of the building, and lands upon some unusual happenings, including a children’s magic show and a wedding that is being photographed. L.A. Phil performers also make an immersive visit. In the effort to make the experience as natural as possible, Miller recorded all of
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the sound using binaural microphones, which mimic human ears, so the music plays as if users are truly walking next to the musicians. The tour includes a new composition from Ellen Reid, which the Phil commissioned for Thought Experiments. Sharon introduced Reid to Cardiff and Miller, who found that she had the conceptual skills to compose work that could be heard in a three-dimensional environment. Cardiff and Miller said an influences on Thought Experiments was Dick’s short story “The Preserving Machine.” In it, a scientist tries to save works of classical music in the event of an apocalypse; he uses a machine that turns compositions into living creatures, and Bach’s “Fugue in F-sharp minor” becomes a beetle. That composition is briefly performed in Thought Experiments. Later, people on the tour wind up in an atrium, where the orchestra performs Reid’s “#Bang huM oFFice ruin,” which riffs on Bach’s work. “All of the fast strings are basically a different rhythm of the Fugue melody. And in the very
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beginning you have the Fugue, but reharmonized so it sounds more modern,” Reid said. As the tour continues and users become fully immersed in the visuals and sounds, Miller said that the experience becomes almost like a time machine. He added that it is best experienced when users line up their point of view with the camera angle of what’s on screen. “It’s about this overlapping of realities, about past and present aligning,” Miller said. Cardiff said that most of the story in Thought Experiments was developed from walking through Disney Hall and developing a path for the tour. There are some ideas she and Miller always intended to explore, while others arrived seemingly by serendipity. “Some things just come to you, like when you look over the top and see these guys
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loading carts with chairs and they’re bored out of their tree, you think, well, why not make them dance?” Cardiff said. “So then you hire a dancer and have them do that scene.” Thought Experiments is not intended to replace the traditional audio tour of Disney Hall, which details the history of the venue and other components. Rather, the intent is to use the building as a launch pad for a story-focused experience. Cardiff said that if Thought Experiments works as intended, then users will feel both in the moment and like they are stepping into the past. Thought Experiments in F# Minor is at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com nicholas@downtownnews.com
“one of the more interesting artists working in the gap between art and politics” —The New York Times
Restaurant Buzz A Glassblowing Bar, Sweet Treats, the Closing of a Fashion District Spot and More Food and Drink News
Those looking to mix glassblowing with craft beer are in luck now that the Seafood District’s High Tide has opened. It is on Fourth Street.
photo courtesy High Tide
By Sean P. Thomas here Once Was a Bar in Downtown…: The Downtown outpost of sports bar Rock and Reilly’s shuttered, but the space at 615 S. Flower St. didn’t remain empty for long. The Financial District spot has gone through a rebranding with a new owner and now holds the Downtown version of Limericks Tavern (the fourth Limericks in Southern California). Service began on Jan. 31, and as the name suggests, Limericks has an Irish tavern vibe, albeit in a gastropub setting. It serves 60 beers and there are flat-screen TVs showing sports. Hours are 11:30 a.m.-midnight on Sunday-Thursday, and 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. At 615 S. Flower St., (213) 537-0554 or limerickstavern.com.
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Dough Nuts: The uber-popular Highland Park sweet spot Donut Friend is now serving in the Historic Core. The vegan-friendly shop opened a space on Broadway on Jan. 22. Donut Friend boasts a long list of colorful and out-there concepts including the Polar Berry Club and a lineup of offerings named for punk and post-punk bands, including the Fudgegazi, Rites of Sprinkles and the GG Almond. According to the shop’s website, the most pop-
ular choice is the Strawberrylab, a donut filled with whipped cream, strawberries and topped with chocolate glaze. Donut Friend is the brainchild of Mark Trombino, a former drummer for punk outfit Drive Like Jehu who has also produced records for bands including Jimmy Eat World and Blink-182. Hours are 6 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 6 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday-Saturday. At 543 S. Broadway, (213) 995-6191 or donutfriend.com. Class Act at LA Plaza: The LA Plaza Village housing complex near El Pueblo is steaming ahead. The project will include the museum/teaching kitchen LA Plaza Cocina, and the upcoming schedule of classis open to the public was recently announced. The programming is arranged into four categories: Hecho con Amor, 16-person hands-on cooking classes with L.A. chefs; Pláticas y Pruebas, a 50-person class that brings audiences together in a classroom setting with authors and Mexican food and beverage experts; Sabor a México, which celebrates the cuisine of Mexican regions and holidays; and events that focus on documentary film screenings and tastings. The first class took place Feb. 9, and highlighted Continued on page 16
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Past Tense Fri, Mar 8 @ 8pm The Theatre at Ace Hotel cap.ucla.edu 310 825 2101
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A LISTING:
EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com
There’s just one week left to enjoy the wonder of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. Set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev and performed at the Ahmanson Theatre, Bourne puts his twist on the classic fairytale by moving the setting to World War II-era London amidst the constant threat of German air raids. In typical Bourne fashion, the performance doesn’t have any dialogue, but also doesn’t suffer from that choice, as the story is told through dance, theatrical movement and some brilliant sets. There are daily 8 p.m. performances on Tuesday-Saturday, March 5-9, with 2 p.m. matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Cinderella wraps on Sunday with a 1 p.m. show. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.com.
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2 In the ever-colliding space between art and politics stands Carrie Mae Weems. The artist has a new performance-based work dubbed Past Tense, which is rife with themes of social justice, politics and violence. Past Tense comes to Broadway’s beautiful Theatre at Ace Hotel on Friday, March 8. Presented by UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, the show examines Sophocles’ Antigone and its relevance to contemporary life via the use of text, music, stage projections and videos. The show starts at 8 p.m. and will feature a collection of guest singers including Imani Uzuri and Eisa Davis. At 929 S. Broadway, (310) 825-2101 or cap.ucla.edu. photo by Jamie Wdziekonski
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews. com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
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Pianist Yuja Wang brings her captivating stage presence to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for four performances this week. What could be better? Well, she’s appearing alongside Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who you may have seen on last year’s Oscars broadcast. The team will take part in the world premiere of composer John Adams’ latest piano concerto, “Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?” as well as a rendition of Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1.” The performances are Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9, at 8 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Yes, there will be plenty of chatter about what Wang wears. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. photo by Johan Persson
MONDAY, MARCH 4 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, MARCH 5 “Lady From the Black Lagoon” with Mallory O’Meara The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: Author O’Meara reads from and discusses her new book on animator and designer Millicent Patrick, who created the look of the infamous Creature From the Black Lagoon. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 Are American Presidents Above the Law? National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave. or zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: In a topical discussion, KCRW’s Madeliene Brand and a panel of legal and political scholars weigh on Robert Mueller, Donald Trump, Richard Nixon and decades of shady executive actions. FRIDAY, MARCH 8 Andrea Cadioli: Weak Postures SCI-Arc, 950 E. Third St. or sciarc.edu. 1 p.m.: Theoretical arts architect Cadioli sits down to discuss how new digital elements allow architects to engage architecture in new ways. Or maybe she stands. We have no idea. Carrie Mae Weems: Past Tense Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles. 8 p.m.: Presented by CAP UCLA, artist Carrie Mae Weems mixes spoken word, song, video and multimedia to explore the lasting impact of “Antigone.”
photo by Kirk Edward
EVENTS
3 Downtown’s Colburn School has a doubleheader at Zipper Hall this week, and no, we’re not talking baseball. First up, on Friday, March 8, is Georgian (the country, not the state) pianist Elisso Virsaladze, who will perform a rare show for the Colburn Chamber Music Society. The 7:30 p.m. performance features works from Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Robert Schumann. A day later at 6 p.m., the piano is moved out in favor of some hoofers, as Tap Fest: Screen to Stage brings a collection of worldclass performers who will interpret classic tap numbers from classic films. The lineup includes Jillian Meyers and Melinda Sullivan from La La Land. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6321-1050 or colburnschool.edu.
5 When thinking of psychedelic hotspots, one doesn’t immediately consider Tokyo, Japan. That’s a mistake. The nation has a very active psychedelic rock scene that has produced a batch of solid acts, none of which has gotten more recent notice than the former busking group Kikagaku Moyo. Lauded for their experimental yet accessible sound, the five-person outfit has become a mainstay of the festival circuit in the wake of their 2018 album Masana Temples. The group continues its worldwide exploits with a stop in Downtown Los Angeles at The Regent on Wednesday, March 6. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
MARCH 4, 2019
DT
CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL LOFTS FOR SALE
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Call Sal at 323-875-6767
LEGAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019 039460 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) FUTUR SOCIÉTÉ, 111 N EUCALYPTUS AVE #23, INGLEWOOD CA 90301 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) JI YOUNG SILVIA KIM, 111 N EUCALYPTUS AVE #23, INGLEWOOD, CA 90301 LA COUNTY. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 02/2019. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on February 14, 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. 2/25, 3/4, 3/11 and 3/18. 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 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. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019 049249 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) DARKLIFE PUBLISHING, 548 S SPRING ST #406, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) DARKLIFE PUBLISHING, 548 S SPRING ST #406, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2019. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on February 27, 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
EMPLOYMENT GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SOLUTION ENGINEER: Research & develop geospatial information solutions. Send resume: Attn: President, Nag Inc., 355 S. Grand Ave. # 2450, Los Angeles, CA 90071.
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DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM 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. 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 and 3/25. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code. The undersigned will sell on the 12th day of March 2019 at 11: 00 A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following: Name of owner: Space number Description of goods Amount Mary McChesney D-75 Personal effects $356.00 Antonio Arellano C-49 Personal effects $235.00 Bienvenido Quino D-72 Personal effects $385.00 Adam Tamberg A-29 Personal effects $247.00
Joshua Mark Spafford A-4 Personal effects $615.00 Naked Faces U-8 Personal effects $259.00 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is” basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party. Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager March 4, 2019. LEGAL SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Case No. BD 656574 Petitioner’s Name is: SAIDA BEN-YAIR Notice to Respondent: RAFAEL BEN-YAIR NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: RAFAEL BEN-YAIR You are being sued. PETITIONER’S NAME: SAIDA BEN-YAIR. Read the following information. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-110) The respondent cannot with reasonable diligence be served in any manner specified in Code of Civil Procedure sections 415.10 through 415.40 based on the declaration below Declaration: Describe how you tried to find the respondent. This search may include
checking with respondent’s last known address; respondent’s friends and family, respondent’s current and past employers and any unions, internet research, and the tax assessor records in the county of respondent’s last known address or any county in which you think the respondent may live. List all steps, the date you took each step, and the results. a. I last saw or had contact with the respondent on (date): 01/01/2009 at (location): 146 South Mansfield Ave., Los Angeles CA 90036 b. The last address I have respondent is: 448 North Alfred Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 c. The last work or business address I have respondent is: 448 North Alfred Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 d. I have taken the following steps to try to find the respondent: The previous attorney hired Calwest Attorney Services to locate and serve the respondent, Calwest Attorney Services attempted to serve the respondent at 246 S. Mansfield Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036 on September 12, 15 and the 19th unsuccessfully- current occupied said the respondent does not live there. Calwest then conducted a skip-trace to locate the respondent and found an address at
448 North Alfred Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Calwest server attempted service of the respondent on September 23, 26, 29, also in October 2, 5, 8 and 11, and was unsuccessful, occupant notified that the respondent does not reside there and there is no other address pulling up for the respondent., attached copy of the previous skip tracing report that was declined by the court for publication in the newspaper. My name is Esther Knafo from Legal Buzz Inc 15928 Ventura Blvd., #233, Encino, CA 91436. In January 02, 2019 I pulled up from Truthfinder Official Report on the respondent including possible relatives list. I did contact some of the relatives and the neighbors and I was told there is no information about him for years and no address or any other contact information that they can give me. Respondent phone number is disconnected. I did search the social media for any information about the respondent unsuccessfully. In 01/02/2019 I emailed the respondent at (yairrafi@netvision.net.il) and the email address was not found. I have tried to contact him through Face Book and Twitter and Instagram with no luck. I Esther Knafo declare under penalty of perjury under laws of the State of California the
foregoing is true and correct. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courts.ca.gov/selfhelp), at the California Legal Services website (www.lawhelpca.org), or by contacting your local county bar association. NOTICE: Restraining orders are on page 2: These restraining orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. They are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of it. The name and address of the court is: LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT – FAMILY LAW DIVISION 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-3117 Case Number: BD 656574 Dated: January 16, 2019 Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk By: Carmen Mehaffle, Deputy The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of the petitioner’s attorney or petitioner without an attorney are: Esther Knafo Legal Buzz inc. 15928 Ventura Blvd., #233 Encino, CA 91436 Pub. 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 and 3/25
LEGAL NOTICE MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from consultants wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a firm that will provide consultant services at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at:https:// goo.gl/forms/wtNFjZSlIhXMZI903. Completed forms are due on or before close of business by April 2, 2019. Submissions received after 5:00pm on April 2, 2019 will be rejected.
LEGAL NOTICE
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MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from consultants wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a firm that will provide consultant services at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at:https:// goo.gl/forms/H23RYtG7Dl5qjpVI2. Completed forms are due on or before close of business by April 2, 2019. Submissions received after 5:00pm on April 2, 2019 will be rejected.
LEGAL NOTICE MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from general contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a firm that will provide construction services at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at:https://goo.gl/forms/DOiT3OiJJPyffo2i1. Completed forms are due on or before close of business by April 17, 2019. Submissions received after 5:00pm on April 17, 2019 will be rejected.
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TRILOGY
Downtown...It’s Not Just Big Business Anymore! 255 GRAND 255 South Grand Avenue 213-229-9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Terrace Heated Pool & Spa Custom-Designed Interiors 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Wi-Fi Lounge State-of-the-Art HD Theater Gourmet BBQ Areas / Gas Fire Pits Contemporary Lounge with Gourmet Kitchen
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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
Apartment Amenities: City and Mountain Views Luxury Appliances & Finishes Central Air & Heating Balconies (Most Units) Basic Cable *All Amenities Under Renovation
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offerings from Valle de Guadalupe, a budding wine region in Mexico. The next class, on March 14, will shine a spotlight on the female pioneers of Mexican cuisine, including cookbook authors Vincenta Torres de Rubio and Josefina Velasquez de Leon. A full schedule is at lapca.org. At 501 N. Main St., (213) 542-6259 or lapca.org. Glassblowing and Beer: The Central City now has a place to enjoy craft beer, wine, frozen cocktails and… wait for it… ornate glassblowing. High Tide, a bar wedged between the Arts District and the Little Tokyo, opened on Jan. 18. It is a partnership between glassblower Flynn Helper and Brandon Bustillos, who in 2016 opened the Little Spaces Gallery next to High Tide’s current home. The operators plan to hold informational glassblowing classes as well as a lineup of concerts and events. There is also a menu with seafood options from executive chef James Reamy. The bar has an outdoor patio and a look full of pink and turquoise pastel touches that may make you think of 1980s Miami. High Tide is open on Tuesday-Friday from noon-1 a.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. At 605 E. Fourth St., (213) 221-7317 or hightidedtla.com. Slam Dunk: The Big Diesel in back in the place where he won three NBA championships, albeit not on the court. Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal opened a restaurant, fittingly called Shaquille’s, adjacent to Staples Center at L.A. Live on Feb. 1. The space is clearly marked, adorned with a massive purple sign bearing the Hall of Famer’s name, and serves modern takes on traditional Southern cuisine. Shaquille’s comes flush with a list of cocktails, like the London Smash, a Bulldog gin and fresh blackberries mix, and the Celebration, a prosecco, cucumber and St. Germain concoction. There is also a list of craft beers, both local and imported. Shaquille’s is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. At 800 Olympic Blvd., (213) 746-7427 or shaquilles.com. A Departure for B.S.: A favorite place in Downtown to grab tacos is preparing to close. Chef Ray Garcia’s B.S. Taqueria is ending its four-year stint on Seventh Street on April 13, after failing to lock down a new lease with the space’s landlord. A representative for the restaurant cited a “change in the real estate landscape” as a contributor to the decision. Garcia opened B.S. Taqueria in 2015. It remains unclear if he will look for another location in Downtown. “Chef Ray Garcia and his team love being a part of the DTLA community and invite Angelenos to continue to enjoy the taqueria in the coming weeks,” a statement from the restaurant read. The move does not impact Garcia’s other Downtown restaurants, Broken Spanish at 1050 S. Flower St., and the Staples Center outpost of B.S. Taqueria. Eater LA first reported the news. At 514 Seventh St., (213) 6222-3744 or bstaqueria.com. Good Times at Bon Temps: Inspired by the cafe-filled alleys of Paris, Bon Temps (which translates to “good times” in French) is expected to open in the Arts District in April. A firm date has not been set, according to a project representative. The establishment will focus on French cuisine, including pastries from owner and chef Lincoln Carson, whose 30-year career has included stops at Le Bernardin, La Cote Basque and the Walfdorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley. Plans call for all-day service. The Klein Agency is designing the space. Coming to 712 S. Sante Fe Ave. or bontempsla.com. Bye-bye Bar Garcia: Just eight months after opening, Bar Garcia is gone. The space at the base of the boutique Tuck Hotel in the Fashion District plans to reopen in the future. Bar Garcia, which was owned by chef Juan Pablo Torre, is looking to “restructure,” according to an employee at the hotel. It is unclear whether it will return as Bar Garcia or under another name. Prior to being Bar Garcia, the space was known as the Tuck Hotel Bar. Have any juicy food and restaurant news? Send an email to sean@downtownnews.com