05-11-15

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining : 13 The Who’s Tommy Rocks East West Players : 19 What’s Next at Pershing Square : 5

MAY 11, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #19

LOCK IT OR LOSE IT Even That May Not Help As Bike Thefts Soar in Downtown

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DOWNTOWN READERS CHOICE

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AROUND TOWN Pick the Best of Downtown and Win a Great Prize

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o you have a favorite new restaurant in Downtown? How about a go-to destination for happy hour? Or a favorite hotel?

If you have an opinion and you’re ready to share it, then you’re in luck, because Los Angeles Downtown News has just launched its annual Best of Downtown readers poll.

Through May 31, readers can go to votebestof.com and make selections in more than 130 categories (you do have an opinion on the best yoga studio and best bicycle shop, right?). Those who fill out a lot of categories can be entered into a drawing with some big prizes: the grand prize winner will get a two-night stay at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel that includes dinner for two at Noe, $200 spending cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse and a Los Angeles Conservancy walking tour (yes, one person gets all that). Other prizes include an iPad Mini, cash, gift certificates and more. The Best of Downtown issue will be published on July 27.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

Blessing of the Bicycles Is Back

May 11, 2015

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

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ne of Downtown’s most unique events returns this week. On Tuesday, May 12, Good Samaritan Hospital hosts the 12th annual Blessing of the Bicycles. The highlight of the 8-9:30 a.m. happening is religious leaders of different faiths giving their blessing to dozens of cyclists. It takes place during Bike to Work Week, and is also intended to promote cycling as an alternative mode of transportation. Additionally, it seeks to bolster bike safety, and attendees will ride a memorial lap around the City West hospital to remember those injured or killed in cycling accidents during the past year. Also part of the proceedings is the presentation of the annual Golden Spoke Award. This year it goes to Aaron Paley, who founded the now incredibly popular CicLAvia.

The hospital is at 616 Witmer St. (at Wilshire Boulevard). Additional information is at blessingofthebicycles.wordpress.com.

City Blows Parker Center Deadline, But Wrecking Ball Still Isn’t Coming

City Council Chambers

Library Volunteer Appreciation Day

structure a city Historic-Cultural Monument was denied because the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee missed a review deadline. Committee chairman and 14th District Councilman José Huizar was under the impression that a two-week extension on the item could be granted by the City Clerk,

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he issue of whether to save or raze Parker Center took a strange twist last week, when the application to designate the 1955

04/28/2015

but that turned out not to be the case, Huizar spokesman Rick Coca said in an email. That doesn’t mean, however, that the wrecking ball is coming to the dilapidated structure designed

by Welton Becket. The city’s Office of Historic Resources will have to submit another nominaContinued on page 24

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EDITORIALS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

DT

May 11, 2015

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Progress and Questions on Grand Avenue

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ne has to feel for Related Cos. For about a decade, the developer has sought to build a mammoth Frank Gehry-designed project on Grand Avenue. Yet time and again, hurdles have been placed in its path. In every instance, Related has regrouped and found a way to move forward, even when the hurdle was a global recession that took years to overcome. In the process, the company has displayed an impressive stickto-it-iveness. As this page has noted before, many other developers would long ago have become frustrated, or decided the investment was not worth it and walked away.

The latest snafu involves an operator of the 300-room hotel and an equity investor in the entire $850 million project. In January, Related split with its partner, SBE Entertainment, which had been slated to help finance the project and run a 300-room SLS Hotel. Last month, Los Angeles Downtown News reported that the hotel would instead be an Equinox, as the upscale gym shifts into the hospitality industry.

It’s an interesting choice, and while we are hopeful that it will work, there are questions. Some of those were voiced by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, who sits on the city-county joint powers authority overseeing the project (since it would rise on publicly owned land).

Huizar wants to be sure that Equinox is the right fit, and he wants to know, for example, which guests the hotel will cater to, and what kind of outreach will occur. There are financial concerns as well, considering that Related owns part of Equinox.

These are questions worth asking, and it is to everyone’s benefit, including Related’s, to have answers as soon as possible. Equinox is an untested hotel brand — the first Equinox hotel is slated to open in New York in 2018, and the Downtown Los Angeles establishment would follow a year later — and the JPA must ensure that the framework for success is in place. This is a huge project, and the taxpayer investment, this time in terms of a piece of property, must be protected.

In addition to hearing more about hotel operations, we look forward to knowing who will chip in the up to $300 million needed to build the development across from Walt Disney Concert Hall. Related expects to select an equity partner in about a month.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who chairs the JPA, also has questions, though hers hew more to accessibility, both in terms of physical entry to the project and price point. She has publicly stated her desire that The Grand, as the project is formally known, not just be a playground for rich people (not her phrasing). She has suggested the inclusion of establishments such as a Homegirl Café. Related executives have indicated a willingness to have retailers and restaurants that appeal to diverse segments of the population. That’s a proper approach, and the company will be watched closely as this portion of the project takes shape.

Related’s ability to stay the course in the long, cumbersome process is impressive. We hope the company succeeds, for its own sake and for the benefit of Downtown.

We look forward to an open, transparent process as financial, hotel and retail plans move forward.

The War Against Skid Row Patient ‘Dumping’

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t is difficult to fathom how the “dumping” of homeless or indigent patients in Skid Row continues. The practice has been well chronicled, and three times last year area hospitals paid hefty fines after dealings with City Attorney Mike Feuer. Each also got a serious public shaming for violating the basic law of humanity against putting a patient out on the street. As part of the ongoing effort, Feuer’s office has sought to get hospitals to adopt a series of discharge protocols that would prevent other patients from being sent to Skid Row without a proper aftercare plan.

Now, there is another likely case. Last week, Los Angeles Downtown News reported on a lawsuit Feuer has filed against the Gardens Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Hawaiian Gardens.

The suit alleges that last September, a 38-year-old mentally ill woman was driven to the Union Rescue Mission and told to get out of a hospital van, despite having no identification, medication or money. The woman, clad in a hospital gown, eventually found her way to another mission.

The hospital has denied the charges, calling them “baseless, false and misleading.” However, after an investigation, Feuer also claimed that the hospital discharged the same woman a total of five times in a 10-month period, and that once she was found by her sister, covered in feces, flies and ants while sleeping behind a liquor store.

The city attorney and the hospital will continue to tangle, but clearly, whether the patient came from Gardens Regional Hospital or somewhere else, dumping continues. As this page has stated before, this is a travesty. The practice needs to stop, and Feuer should continue his aggressive and punitive stance.

We understand that hospitals have challenges when dealing with mentally ill patients, and that these individuals sometimes make irrational decisions, such as refusing medication or suddenly changing their mind about a plan for care. We also don’t think any hospital has a top-down policy that certain patients should be unceremoniously left on the streets. Instead, it is likely a series of steps and miscommunications resulting in a situation no one wants.

That is why the effort to adopt discharge protocols is so important. A deputy in Feuer’s office has been meeting with representatives of hospitals throughout the region, trying to help them take steps and create policies so that every person who leaves the facility has a proper after-care plan. It may be difficult to implement in certain instances, but it is the right thing to do.

It is also, frequently, economically sensible. The three cases Feuer has settled have resulted in a cumulative $1.45 million in fines; the fees have been escalating, and in the most recent settlement, last August, Glendale Adventist Medical Center agreed to pay $700,000 (before that, Pacifica Hospital of the Valley paid $500,000, and the Beverly Community Hospital Association shelled out $250,000). In all three instances, the hospital denied wrongdoing.

What will it take to stop dumping? We’re not sure, but we urge Feuer not to deviate from his path. We’d hope the approach of working together to achieve the common good succeeds. However, Feuer’s use of lawsuits, settlements and public shaming should continue as well. Dumping patients on the streets is reprehensible and inhumane.

May 11, 2015

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

A Prescription for Pershing Square: More Music, No Beach

Eduardo Santana of Pershing Square Renew, which is overseeing the potential redesign of the concrete-heavy Financial District park.

Events Gather Input on What People Want In the Financial District Park

By Donna Evans owntowners love live music. Also, sand is about the last thing they would like to see piled in Pershing Square.

Those were two of the findings that local leaders learned following a recent series of events to determine what people want in the park in the heart of the Financial District. They were an early step in a potentially long-running effort to upgrade the much-maligned, concrete-encrusted facility at 532 S. Olive St. For four hours on April 17, passersby at the park were asked to weigh in on what they hope to see there in the future. They gave their answers by posting blue, purple and yellow sticky notes on a seven-foot-tall board, and by scribbling notes on chalkboards. The suggestions included having art, literature and cultural events and, overwhelmingly, live music. A second event for Pershing Square took place the following day in Grand Park.

Eduardo Santana, the executive director of Pershing Square Renew, the nonprofit organization charged with overseeing changes at the park, said the plan is to make Pershing Square a place where people want to go and “absolutely love.” He said 350 people weighed in during the two-day information-gathering sessions.

City Councilman José Huizar last September announced that $2 million has been secured

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for the initial makeover, which includes two playgrounds and improved sight lines from Sixth Street. The goal is to allow people to see into what largely has been deemed a cement fortress. In an email to Los Angeles Downtown News, Huizar said the pop-up workshops are an informative and fun way to hear directly from the public.

“One of my biggest priorities with Pershing Square Renew is to make sure community outreach is an important and integral part of the process,” Huizar said in the email.

More significant, and more expensive, changes could follow. Pershing Square Renew is working with the city to raise money, conduct community outreach and launch a design competition to reimagine the five-acre park that was built in 1866, but has gone through many changes.

“We’re asking, and listening, to the Downtown community and to visitors to Downtown about what sort of public space activities and programming they would like to see, what type of experiences they would like to have here that would bring them and their family and friends back again,” Santana said.

With the idea that visitors and Downtown Los Angeles residents will inform the future of the park, Pershing Square Renew teamed with the nonprofit design organization Project for Public Spaces. Santana said additional events

photo by Donna Evans

will take place this summer, particularly on days when there are concerts and farmers markets. The organization began collecting data through an online survey last year.

Once all the data has been collected, it will be analyzed and used in a report prepared by the Project for Public Spaces. Design teams will be expected to use that information when coming up with options for a park makeover.

“We’re taking extensive efforts to collect data, so it’s critical that any designs submitted are based on the community input,” Santana said.

Pershing Square already has a healthy lineup of free summer concerts and film screenings, and the park also offers free yoga and Zumba classes in a community room. There is an ice skating rink during the winter and food trucks every Friday.

At the public events, people were given the opportunity to pick other events and design elements by looking at pictures snapped from cities across the globe. Choices included large sculptures, an eating area with vendors, community exercise classes, an outdoor stage for concerts, a place to study and an outdoor fountain.

Dozens of stickers were posted on photos of

community art happenings and bands playing music, indicating that is what people want. Only a handful of stickers dotted the beach scene.

Although Pershing Square has a fountain, East Los Angeles resident Fermin Rodriguez said he’d like to see a larger, more attractive water feature. He’d also like the statue of the park’s namesake, World War I Gen. John J. Pershing, to be more prominently located.

Montebello resident Nelson Rivera had no idea when he spent his vacation day in Pershing Square on April 17 that he’d be opining on the facility’s future. Still, he marked “more visible, no walls” on a sticky note. He would also like to see more food trucks more frequently, he said.

“This place is awesome and I think more people would enjoy it if there was more to do,” he said.

Priti Patel, a designer at Project for Public Spaces, agrees. She said the key to making a public facility vibrant is to allow the programming to be supported by the design. The people who use and will use this space live, work and visit Downtown, so the goal, she said, is to learn what they consider attractive and engaging. donna@downtownnews.com

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6 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

Bike Theft Spikes in Downtown With an Almost 60% Increase This Year, Central Division Is On Pace to See 400 Bikes Stolen in 2015

By Donna Evans tanding in the shadow of the parking garage, the thieves waited patiently for a car to drive up and open the gate. With a bag of tools in hand, they slipped into the garage as the vehicle entered. They waited until the driver was gone, then approached the bike rack. They snapped several locks like they were breaking popsicle sticks.

A video caught the suspects sneaking into the garage and helped lead to one arrest for a crime that has become shockingly common in Downtown Los Angeles: Bicycle thefts have spiked 59% over last year, with 138 reported taken from Jan. 1 to May 2, according to statistics from the LAPD’s Central Division, which covers most of Downtown. During the same period in 2014, 87 bikes were stolen.

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That means Central City riders are on pace to have more than 400 bikes stolen in 2015.

“We’re getting hammered on bike thefts,” said Lt. Armando Munoz. “Unless it’s a U-lock, they’re going to snap it.”

Restaurants, the Central Library and coffee shops are prime places for thieves to rip off bikes, said Munoz. Data show that most crimes happen on Thursdays, with thefts primarily occurring between noon and 6 p.m. (though incidents are reported every day and around the clock). The thefts are spread across Downtown.

Stolen two-wheelers frequently wind up on Skid Row, where myriad individuals use them as “community bikes,” Munoz said.

Munoz attributed the spike to the effects of Proposition 47, passed by California voters last November. The effort, intended to reduce

How to Lock Your Bike

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t may be impossible to stop a bike theft, but whatever Downtowners can do to deter crime helps. LAPD Lt. Armando Munoz said a U-lock is the most effective type of anti-theft device. However, don’t just snap it on, he advises. Instead, whenever possible, riders should remove the front tire and affix it to the body, then run the U-

lock through both parts before securing it to a pole or other intractable object. Simply slipping the lock through the tire could mean you return to a missing frame.

Daniel Menendez, who works at DTLA Bikes, agrees that a U-lock is the best deterrent. He also suggests combining the lock with a cable lock for the frame and wheels.

photo by Donna Evans

Bike thefts in Downtown have soared, with 138 reported taken so far in 2015.

prison overcrowding by reclassifying six felony crimes as misdemeanors, has emboldened criminals, Munoz said.

“There are no real consequences for committing property crimes anymore,” he said. “The emphasis is on violent crime, not low-grade burglaries, and the criminals know this.”

The LAPD lacks the personnel to create units that target thefts of two-wheelers. Instead, they attempt to be proactive with a “Lock it, hide it, keep it” campaign on social media. A complementary effort is underway in South Park, where the South Park Business Improvement District has launched a pilot program in partnership with the LAPD for registering bicycles, said Executive Director Jessica Lall.

The move came after the BID’s security manager attended weekly crime briefings and took note of the rise in bike thefts. The registrations 2015 HOPE - AD - DOWNTOWN NEWS.pdf

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give officers a record of the bike if it is stolen and recovered.

Word of the thefts is spreading quickly. Daniel Menendez, who works at DTLA Bikes at 425 S. Broadway, said one or two customers a week walk in to say their bike was stolen. He added that someone enters nearly every day needing a seat or another piece of a bike that was taken.

One victim was Central City East resident Jack Diaz. He put his $800 bike in a locker at the Little Tokyo/Arts District Gold Line station, along with his lock, but there was nothing to affix it to inside the container. When he returned, he found that thieves had pried the bolts out of the ground and tipped over the container. He lost his bike, helmet, U-lock and pump.

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8 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

The Central City Crime Report

stole power tools, which were recovered by police after the 10 p.m. incident. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities

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

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Parking Lot Blues: A man with eight felony convictions for crimes including burglary and robbery was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle. Alex Halverson allegedly broke into a locked car parked in a lot in the 700 block of West Seventh Street at 2 p.m. on April 26.

Don’t Do Drugs: A man told police he was smoking crack with a friend at 7 a.m. on April 26, and got out of his car at Seventh

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and San Pedro streets to buy more drugs. When he returned to his car, it was gone.

Blocked at the Biltmore: An unidentified man who pretended to be a construction worker at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, at 506 S. Grand Ave., on April 26 cut the lock to a basement door and tried to steal a $2,000 power generator and $160 worth of tools. The suspect fled without the items during the 7:45 p.m. incident.

Acrobatic Burglary: A man climbed on top of a garbage bin to enter the window of a construction site at the Title Insurance Building, at 433 S. Spring St., on April 27. The man allegedly

Traffic and Guns: A 2 p.m. traffic accident on May 2 at First and Olive streets prompted the driver of one car to pull out a gun and point it at the other person.

More Bikes Stolen: Seven bikes parked around Downtown from April 26 to May 2 were stolen. The thefts occurred from various locations, including the Central Library, Evans Adult School and a fitness center. In six of the cases, the thieves cut the bike lock. See related story on p. 6.

Clothing Caper: A woman with five misdemeanor convictions for shoplifting and burglarizing cars was arrested on suspicion of theft just before 7 p.m. on May 2. Authorities caught her with $2,000 worth of unpaid merchandise (clothes and shoes) at a store at 750 W. Seventh St.

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Vote online now at

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Fill out the ballot and your e-mail address will be entered in our drawing. The grand prize winner will receive a complimentary two-night stay with overnight parking at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel that includes dinner for two at Noé, $200 spending cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse and a Los Angeles Conservancy private walking tour for up to 15 people. It’s a great package, if we do say so ourselves, worth more than $1,000.

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10 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

‘If I’m Going to Do Something, I’m Going to Try to Make a Difference’ In Her Own Words, CCA and DCBID President and CEO Carol Schatz Describes Her 25 Years in Downtown As told to Jon Regardie “ joined the Central City Association on July 2, 1990. At the time, Downtown was dark, dreary and largely empty.

There were very few amenities. It was the quintessential 9-5 Downtown. People rolled in for work and rolled out afterwards.

“It was not that I had a plan to go elsewhere, but it didn’t seem to be something I would do for the remainder of my career. But it is sort of my personality, if you will, that if I’m going to do something, I’m going to try to make a difference. So I have to make it worth my time and everybody else’s. So when I became CEO in 1995, I thought bringing this place back is a very tall order, but I would do my best.

“I became involved with an organization called the International Downtown Association, and it allowed me to visit downtowns all over the country. The first thing you learned was that a business improvement district is probably the best way to provide resources to a particular commercial area. I began to see what places like Denver had done with a BID, Houston, just about everywhere but cities in California.

“In 1994 I got our Assembly member to author a bill that would allow property-based-BIDs in the state. That bill went into effect in the beginning of 1995. The Fashion District was the first BID to be formed under that bill. We were the second BID to go into effect in Los Angeles. Our BID opened up for business at the start of 1998.

“I have always said the BC and AD of our revitalization effort was the opening of Staples Center in 1999. We were involved in that effort from ’97 on, when the decision was made to try to build an arena at its current site. The importance of it was it gave people a reason to come Downtown.

Many residents of L.A. had stopped coming Downtown unless they worked here or had a subscription to the Music Center. So it gave people an opportunity to take another look.

photo by Gary Leonard

“If someone in 1990 told me what Downtown would be like today, I would have thought they were crazy,” said Carol Schatz. “I couldn’t envision this happening.”

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A 12-year veteran, Marcos is an outstanding Maintenance Specialist assigned to the Metro Blue Line. Marcos says he enjoys the variety in his work day, as he splits his time between the Metro Blue Line and the rail yard at Division 11 in Long Beach. Marcos and his team of Maintenance Specialists work every day to ensure that rail cars are fit for service.

In his spare time, Marcos likes to volunteer at his local church.

We salute Marcos and all the Metro Maintenance Specialists who serve you every day.

“Metro is inexpensive and can help save you money on parking.”

– marcos martinez

15-1882jp ©2015 lacmta

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“The other critical event was the passage of the adaptive reuse ordinance, which made it easier to convert old office buildings into housing. That went into effect in the spring of 1999, and Staples opened in October of 1999.

“I was surprised to see the change that followed. If you had asked me at the time, would adaptive reuse have spawned all of this, I would have said, probably not, and I would have been wrong. We had Tom Gilmore at Fourth and Main, which was the most unlikely place I could have imagined as the cradle of our residential movement. It was the edge of Skid Row. Then we had other pioneers like Izek Shomof [in the Historic Core], Jeff Lee [in South Park] and Mark Weinstein [in the Fashion District] who saw how the ordinance shaved a lot of money off their development efforts and made these initial investments, which were hugely risky, possible. People forget that now: Who ever thought people would move to live in the heart of Downtown?

“Another big step was in 2001. I went to see Eli Broad, who has been a hugely important pioneer of what we have in Downtown, with his work at MOCA and Disney Hall. I said, ‘Eli, do we have enough going on to go to New York, hold a conference for investment bankers and developers, to tell them what is happening in Downtown L.A.?’ He said he thought so. He led each one of these delegations — we had them in 2002, ’04 and ’06. Mayor Jim Hahn came, so did our chief of police and Tim Leiweke of AEG. As a result of those conferences, we had people who came out to Los Angeles to tour, and put money down here in terms of investment. It opened the eyes of people who had written off Downtown as a place to invest.

“Downtown has grown by leaps and bounds despite the problem of homelessness. But this problem keeps Downtown from fulfilling its full potential. Solutions seem to be very difficult — there don’t seem to be solutions that really give you

May 11, 2015

Downtown News 11

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

hope that this can be resolved. Obviously we want to see more services for those that are addicted and are mentally ill, and there has been a failure at every level of government, in my opinion, to provide the resources to do that. But we also know unfortunately there are people who live on the streets who have continually resisted the outreach and services. What do we do in those situations? How do we help those individuals who may not want to be helped?

“When people ask what do I want to see going forward in the next five years, I answer with one word: ‘More.’ I want more housing, more office, more cultural institutions. I want to see more restaurants, bars and clubs. This is the place where you can and should have density.

“This is something I continue to enjoy. I am a workaholic, so the idea of retiring, I can’t even imagine what I would do with myself. I have no plans to leave.

As long as it remains something I enjoy, I will do it.

A Downtown Treasure Trove

“If someone in 1990 told me what Downtown would be like today, I would have thought they were crazy. I couldn’t envision this happening. When I got to CCA I acquired the knowledge and skills I think I needed to help push this forward, and had staff that were just as passionate as I was about making this happen. Little by little we made it happen. What I tried to do was set priorities and pick out things we could to make a difference, and fortunately I think the initiatives that we pushed did make a difference.

“There is still room for growth. All you have to do is look at Downtown from any vantage point, and you see a very small collection of buildings that are sticking up over the vast, flat metropolis. There is a lot more investment that we can tolerate here, because we have, in a sense, just begun to create the Downtown that the second largest city in the country deserves to have.” regardie@downtownnews.com

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very spring, the Central City Association expands its borders a bit, hosting the “Treasures of Los Angeles” event that honors people who have pushed the city forward. The happening takes place Thursday, May 14, at noon at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel (404 S. Figueroa St.).

Five prominent Angelenos will be feted, starting with CCA President and CEO Carol Schatz, who will receive the organization’s Heart of the City Award for her 25 years of

work to improve Downtown. The Spirit of Los Angeles prize will go to Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge, who will be termed out in July, and Treasures of Los Angeles honors will be given to Marvel Comics mastermind Stan Lee and Howard Marks of StartEngine LLC. A Special Recognition award will be presented to Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey, who is retiring soon.

Tickets and additional information are at ccala.org.

BREAKTHROUGH KNEE PAIN TREATMENT NO SURGERY FDA APPROVED SIMPLE INJECTION CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

DOWNTOWN ALIVE!

(213) 296-6256

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www.Flexogenix.com

Presented by TITLE SPONSOR HOST SPONSOR PRESENTING SPONSORS

SAPPHIRE SPONSORS

AEG

Honoring:

Chairman Emeritus, Marvel Comics

TREASURES OF Stan Lee CCO/Founder, POW! Entertainment LOS ANGELES “The Real Superhero of the Comics”

Brookfield Bank of America, Hazens Group/Jia Yuan USA, Co., System Property Development Company, Inc., Wells Fargo, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites The Broad Foundation, Greenland USA/Metropolis, LBA Realty, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Downtown News, Rising Realty Partners, University of Southern California

Thursday, May 14, 2015

President & CEO

HEART OF Carol E. Schatz Central City Association THE CITY “Celebrating 25 Years Leading the Downtown Renaissance”

Howard Marks

Managing Partner, StartEngine, LLC

“Funding the Innovators of Tomorrow”

SPIRIT OF Tom LaBonge Councilmember, CD 4 LOS ANGELES “Los Angeles’ Greatest Booster” SPECIAL Gina Marie Lindsey RECOGNITION “She Made LAX Soar”

Executive Director Los Angeles World Airports

With Special Participation by The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Herb J. Wesson, Jr., President, Los Angeles City Council

Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites

404 S. Figueroa St., Downtown Los Angeles

Reception & Registration | 11 AM Luncheon & Awards Program | Noon to 2 PM

Parking | $24 Hotel Valet u $15 Self-Parking at City National Parking Garage

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

12 Downtown News

Restaurant Buzz More Po’Boy Sandwiches, a Master Class on Pickles and Other Food Happenings

By Eddie Kim Tale of Two Cities: In the past eight months, Downtown has welcomed three Cajun and Creole eateries: Proux & Proper, Little Easy and Little Jewel of New Orleans. Now, make it four, as an outpost of Inglewood’s much-loved Orleans & York Deli began serving in a small space at 333 S. Spring St. last week. As the name suggests, the eatery offers both New Orleans-style po’boys and New York City-style hero sandwiches. Favorites include

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the fried shrimp, oyster and catfish po’boys.

There are also muffalettas (thick pressed sandwiches filled with cold cuts and condiments) and platters of fried seafood served with fries and coleslaw. On the “York” side are 14 heroes filled with everything from pastrami to spicy Italian capocollo. Most items are around $10.

At 333 S. Spring St. or orleansandyorkdeli.com.

Eastern Promises: The dining scene at L.A. Live is growing, thanks to the pending arrival

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May 11, 2015

of Triple 8, a Cantonese restaurant from the owners of Wokcano and EMC Seafood. The eatery is slated to soft-open on Friday, May 15, according to Kerry Moy, who is a partner in the project with M2K Group cohort Michael Kwan.

Located in the former Trader Vic’s space, Triple 8 will offer dishes in the style of Hong Kong and parts of China’s Guangdong province, such as crisp-skinned Peking duck, savory stir fries, steamed seafood dishes and traditional dim sum. The restaurant will be open all day, and Moy anticipates offering late-night eats for the post-game and concert crowds at L.A. Live.

Coming to 888 W. Olympic Blvd.

scratch? Do you also love pickles? Well, lucky you: Ernest Miller, a historian and the co-leader of the Slow Foods L.A. movement, is hosting an intimate workshop on making dill pickles through the traditional fermentation process, which uses salt, sugar and friendly bacteria instead of a more common vinegar brine. The Saturday, May 16, event at Maker City L.A. will also examine the lore behind old-school pickles and their myriad uses as an ingredient. Tickets for the two-hour class are $12, and each guest takes home a quart jar of their own fermenting pickles.

At 1933 S. Broadway; tickets at eventbrite.com.

That’s a Nice Thai: The construction of chef Andy Ricker’s Northern Thai restaurant Pok Pok, coming to Mandarin Plaza on North Broadway, is on track to finish soon, as the restaurant is looking for staff on Craigslist. Pok Pok’s posts on the website say the restaurant will open in “early summer.” The chef, who started Pok Pok in Portland, has an obsession with hyper-regional Thai dishes and plans to keep the menu compact at the Chinatown restaurant, according to a recent Associated Press interview. (Repeated calls to Ricker were not returned, likely because he is traveling through Thailand.) Ricker’s casual noodle concept Pok Pok Phat Thai has been open for a few months at the nearby Far East Plaza. The new restaurant will be much bigger, filling a two-level, 6,000-square-foot space with about 200 seats.

Word of the hiring push first came from the website Eater L.A. Coming to 731 N. Broadway.

New Look, New Tastes: With specialized restaurants popping up across Los Angeles, franchises like California Pizza Kitchen have to evolve and adapt. CPK is trying to do just that with its “Next Chapter” program, and the Downtown location at the FIGat7th mall is one of the first of 80 locations nationwide to receive the upgrade. The program brings some aesthetic changes, namely the use of rustic reclaimed wood for tables and chairs, the installation of interior herb gardens, and the creation of an open kitchen. The menu has seen some upscale tweaks, too, with new items such as the cedar plank-roasted halibut with butternut squash farro and the grilled ribeye steak with “Pinot Noir sea salt” and bleu cheese butter. CPK also has introduced a “lunch duo” option that allows diners to pair a personal pizza or half sandwich with soup or salad.

At 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 228-8500 or cpk.com.

Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.

Pickle Power: Are you one of those food lovers who take pleasure in making foods from

Palmdale to Burbank Project Section

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE MEETING SERIES: MAY 16 - JUNE 6, 2015 PACOIMA BURBANK Saturday, May 16, 2015 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Charles Maclay Middle School Buena Vista Branch Library 12540 Pierce Ave 300 N Buena Vista St Pacoima, CA 91331 Burbank, CA 91505

SUN VALLEY Tuesday, May 19, 2015 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sun Valley High School 9171 Telfair Ave Sun Valley, CA 91352

SYLMAR Wednesday, May 27, 2015 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Olive Vista Middle School Miles Hall (on Borden Ave) 14600 Tyler St Sylmar, CA 91342

SAN FERNANDO FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES SANTA CLARITA VALLEY PALMDALE Thursday, May 28, 2015 Tuesday, June 2, 2015 Saturday, May 30, 2015 Monday, June 1, 2015 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Las Palmas Park - Gymnasium Verdugo Hills High School Santa Clarita Activities Center Chimbole Cultural Center 505 S Huntington St 10625 Plainview Ave 38350 Sierra Highway 20880 Centre Pointe Pkwy San Fernando, CA 91340 Tujunga, CA 91042 Palmdale, CA 93550 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 + Spanish & English Mtg. + Live Webcast (English) + Live Webcast (Span. & Eng.) ACTON/AGUA DULCE Saturday, June 6, 2015 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

High Desert School 3620 Antelope Woods Rd Acton, CA 93510

+ Visit hsr.ca.gov for additional details LANGUAGE AND OTHER NEEDS Interpretación en Español será disponible en todas las reuniones.

Palace Theatre

CLASSIC FILMS and LIVE ENTERTAINMENT in DOWNTOWN’S HISTORIC THEATRES June 10-27 WEDNESDAy, JuNE 10, 8pM

SATuRDAy, JuNE 13, 8pM

psycho (1960)

City Lights (1931)

WEDNESDAy, JuNE 17, 8pM

SATuRDAy, JuNE 20, 8pM

Dios se lo pague

(God Bless you) (Argentina, 1948)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

WEDNESDAy, JuNE 24, 8pM

SATuRDAy, JuNE 27, 2pM & 8pM

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Raiders of the Lost Ark

산타클라리타 모임에서 한국어 통역이 제공됩니다.

На собрании в Силмар будут предоставлены услуги устного перевода на русском языке.

Magkakaroon ng mga serbisyo ng pag-i-interpret para sa wikang Tagalog sa pagpupulong sa.

Other language requests must be submitted 72 hours in advance. Meeting facilities are accessible for persons with disabilities. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please call (800) 630-1039 or the Authority’s TTY/TTD number at (916) 403-6943 for assistance. www.hsr.ca.gov | (800) 630-1039 | palmdale_burbank@hsr.ca.gov

(1981)

Conservancy members at the $500 and above level are invited to the opening night reception and receive a pair of reserved seats on opening night.

Please call 213-430-4204 to join or upgrade your membership.

INFO & TICKETS AT laconservancy.org LRS_LADowntownNews2015_quarterpage.indd 1

pHOTO By GARy LEONARD ALL pROGRAMS SuBJECT TO CHANGE 4/6/15 8:18 PM

May 11, 2015

Downtown News 13

photos by Gary Leonard

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertainment I

Tips From the Experts

n a growing Downtown, there is an everincreasing need for event space. Whether it’s for an office gathering, a business meeting or simply a friendly celebration, the com community’s residents, workers and visitors need places to go.

Finding that spot is step one. Then comes the harder part: figuring out exactly what you need to satisfy a crowd. That’s where the event planner comes into play. Fortunately,

A Plant-Based Party

New Arrival Au Lac Offers Summer Events and a Vegan Menu

By Heidi Kulicke n the mid ’90s, Mai Nguyen was overweight, had high cholesterol and was a borderline diabetic. When she was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, she resolved to change her life. She turned to holistic remedies, including a plantbased, vegan diet. It proved to be her cure.

Having improved her own life, she set out to

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help others, said her daughter, Linh Nguyen. In 1997, Mai Nguyen opened the vegan restaurant Au Lac in Orange County. This past January, the mother-daughter team opened a second outpost, in Downtown, in the old First and Hope space on Bunker Hill.

Linh Nguyen explained how Au Lac can do summer parties, vegan style.

prime steaks. Legendary service.

Fine Wine • private dining • exquisite menu

many Downtown restaurants and hotels have an on-site person who can help make sure that everything comes off without a hitch.

Much of it involves asking the questions you never knew to ask.

In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News gets tips from five local corporate catering and summer entertaining experts.

Wherever you go, keep one thing in mind: Book your event as soon as possible.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning a summer event?

Linh Nguyen: At least a month in advance. It gives our event planner time to create a menu and really cater to the needs of the party.

Q: Is having a theme a good idea?

A: I think it’s a great idea. We already have a 1920s Prohibition theme in the party room, but guests are welcome to bring in their own decorations.

Q: What trends do you expect to be hot this summer?

A: Cool refreshing juices and drinks. We have a Hawaiian blend, which is orange, pineapple and mango juices with a hint of ginger. Our green juice is coconut-based with spirulina and greens. Our hemp mac milk is a creamy drink popular with non-vegans. It’s a hemp seed and macadamia nut blend with cinnamon and saffron.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person?

A: About $40 per person for an appetizer, entree and cocktail.

Continued on page 17

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Mon-Fri (except holidays) at $1.99 per order! just a few favorite dishes

DICED BEEF STEAK FRENCH STYLE I HOUSE SPECIAL FRIED RICE CHICKEN WITH ORANGE SAUCE I HONEY WALNUT SHRIMP GOLDEN DRAGON CHOP SUEY I TANGERINE BEEF Downtown | 735 South Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90017 | 213 - 553- 4566 mortons.com/losangeles

Full Bar • Party Trays • Banquet/Meeting Room Live Seafood • Free Parking w/Validation

Golden draGon restaurant Chinatown | 960 north Broadway | 213-626-2039

14 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

CORPORATE CATERING & SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Tasting the Mediterranean in Downtown

and you can get your choice of a premium bar or a well bar. Dinners are $45, $55 or $65, plus beverages. The $55 is where most people land, and it’s four courses — hot and cold mezze appetizers, a choice of about five different entrees, and desserts.

10e Offers a Big Menu and a Loft For Summertime Parties

By Eddie Kim he Mediterranean restaurant 10e opened last summer on the ground floor of the historic Fine Arts Building on Seventh Street, just off Figueroa. It’s hard to imagine that the space, which gleams with white tile, intricate moldings and modern furnishings, was once a dowdy McDonald’s.

10e’s menu of dishes from Armenia, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries is a big upgrade from chicken nuggets and Big Macs.

Its sleek ambiance and a loft level with a separate bar make it an attractive party option, too.

Catherine Darakjian, event coordinator for 10e, gave a few tips on how hosts can make event planning a smooth experience at this Financial District eatery.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning a summer event?

Catherine Darakjian: As soon as possible!

I’ve already gotten reservations into October. I do have dates in July and in September, though, and we can always work to try and carve out a time.

Q: Do people ever want themed events at 10e?

A: We’re in a beautiful historical building with a lot of interior details, so we don’t put anything on the walls. But sometimes we get music requests, which we can work with. We even have a vocalist who does the standards from Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, in Spanish, Italian, English — he can do it all.

Q: What’s the best way to craft a menu for an event?

A: I usually guide them in menu creation by giving them an idea of how much the options are and what they would be sharing. We have an abbreviated menu to simplify things. A lot of people pick the spreads, like our hummus and baba ganoush and labne, to share. The Brussels sprouts and cauliflower dishes are big, and so are the kabobs. We can work with dietary restrictions, too.

photo by Gary Leonard

Event Coordinator Catherine Darakjian says parties for up to 60 people are the best fit for 10e. Expect food from Armenia, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.

Q: What kinds of events do you host at 10e?

A: People come to us for cocktail parties, for dinners, for lunches. Corporate clients sometimes just want to do cocktails and appetizers. Sometimes there are groups that want to do a sit-down dinner. For a graduation event or something like that, people often enjoy family-style dining. We’ve done passed appetizers. We can do a lot of varied things for each event, depending on the budget and whether it’s more a business gathering or a celebration.

Q: How many guests can you accommodate for an event?

A: The restaurant has a loft area that we book for smaller parties. Overall, 10e is not a large space, but events that are about 60 people fit great. If it’s more, we can arrange to use the hallway adjacent to the restaurant, too.

Q: How much should someone expect to spend per person for an event?

A: For cocktail parties it’s about $35 a head, plus alcohol. We charge by the glass for drinks,

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Usually I don’t let them make any mistakes, since we really guide them through the process. I would say that top shelf alcohol can get really costly, and I usually don’t recommend it.

The biggest common mistake is people overshooting their attendance number. They’ll say 100 people, and then when you check on the party, it’s actually like 75 or 80 people.

Q: On the flip side, is there anything you suggest people always consider when planning?

A: I always ask them if they want valet service.

They sometimes forget about who’s bringing cars and all that. Also, another good tip is to send us an email as well as call.

10e is at 811 W. Seventh St., (213) 488-1096 or 10erestaurant.com. eddie@downtownnews.com

May 11, 2015

CORPORATE CATERING & SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Raise the Roof, and Have an Event There, Too DoubleTree Hotel Offers Indoor and Outdoor Spaces for a Summer Soiree

By Heidi Kulicke onsai trees, waterfalls and reflecting pools on a rooftop are not something that one expects to find in Downtown Los Angeles. Nor are they things people commonly ask for when throwing summer parties.

Those elements, however, are just part of what makes the DoubleTree by Hilton stand out. The Little Tokyo institution has a rooftop outdoor space, the Kyoto Gardens, that can be booked for private affairs. There are also ball-

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rooms and other indoor spots, and food choices that specialize in Asian fusion cuisine.

Rebecca Young, the hotel’s director of catering, talked about what it takes to bring off a summer event at the Doubletree.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning a summer event?

Rebecca Young: Anywhere from 30 to 60 days in advance. If you need to send out an RSVP, it’s better to plan further ahead. But if it’s just

for employees or a private event it could be 30 days or less. We ask for at least 24 hours notice.

Q: What trends do you expect to be hot this summer?

A: Anything outdoors is popular, especially in Downtown. Quick and light is a trend on the food side. Our guests tend to prefer light and healthy options. So for lunch we do unique salad stations or an international sandwich buffet.

We focus on creative items that are not necessarily heavy or elaborate.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an event?

A: I would give a range of $55-$100 per person.

Q: How do you determine the menu?

A: We work closely with our guests. We have some preset menus you can select from or you can customize a menu with our executive chef if you have a particular theme in mind.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Not ordering enough food. Sometimes guests are trying to be so budget-minded they don’t order enough food, especially for cocktail receptions.

photo by Gary Leonard

The top summer party draw at the DoubleTree hotel in Little Tokyo is the Kyoto Gardens, an outdoor space with waterfalls and reflecting pools. It can hold up to 400 people for a party, said the hotel’s Rebecca Young.

Q: Do you have a drink, dish or dessert that is a specialty?

A: We specialize in Japanese American and Asian fusion cuisine. Popular options include a

Downtown News 15 sushi bar, teppan-style grill, and our Asian taco bar featuring Korean short rib tacos, pork belly steamed bun tacos and mini chicken banh mi sandwiches.

Q: Where do you hold events?

A: In the summer the number one spot is our Kyoto Gardens, a fourth floor rooftop garden that overlooks Downtown. We also have two large ballrooms, the Golden State Ballroom and Thousand Cranes Ballroom. We host more intimate events in our private meeting rooms.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: In the garden we can have up to 400 people, but we also take smaller groups. The ballrooms can accommodate anywhere from 180-280 max.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: It’s not a problem. We accommodate all requests including dairy-free and gluten-free. We have great vegetarian items due to our Asian fusion menu. We use tofu and don’t rely on pasta like other places might.

Q: What do you always wish people would ask that they forget to ask?

A: Parking! We try to remind guests, but sometimes they forget about parking availability and rates. Plan ahead so your guests can have a seamless arrival to the event and know what to expect. If your guests aren’t familiar with Downtown, it can be a bit daunting.

DoubleTree by Hilton is at 120 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 253-9227 or doubletreeladowntown.com. heidi@downtownnews.com

16 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

CORPORATE CATERING & SUMMER ENTERTAINING

For Summer Parties, Redbird Is the Word

a drink, having a glass of champagne, at a work function. You can have a good time without getting out of hand. Remember when it used to be common to have a three-martini lunch?

Neal and Amy Fraser’s Restaurant Offers a Unique Space and an Acclaimed Menu

Q: Well then, what adult beverages do you recommend for the summer?

A: One of our beers, our Gina Ale, is made by one of our barbacks. He has a brewery in his garage and we stock it on our shelves and he’s got it in a few stores. It’s the only bottled beer we have and it outsells our six draft beers every day. As for cocktails, I recommend the bird of paradise: gin, lime, raspberry syrup, cream, egg whites, charged water and orange blossom water. It is topped with a flower for good measure.

By Donna Evans edbird opened in December, putting an end to a long, difficult gestation period.

The establishment from chef Neal Fraser and his wife Amy, in partnership with restaurateur Bill Chait, was one of Downtown’s mostanticipated eateries in years.

The Redbird reviews have been stellar, and diners have, er, flocked to the space in the former rectory of the deconsecrated St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. Redbird event director Lee Farrell described how the restaurant is preparing for its inaugural summer party season.

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Q: When should you start planning a summer event?

A: For us, I would say mid-April, early May.

Q: Is having a theme good idea?

A: It can be a great idea, but it depends on the crowd and how you want your evening to flow.

It can be really fun, but you have to work with the venue on the menu and cocktails. If you’re going to do a theme, really do it. Don’t be shy about it.

Shared-style menus are also popular, and since the ban has been lifted on foie gras, Redbird has seen customers ordering plenty of dishes of the delicacy. The most popular is green Thai curry foie gras with black rice and a papaya salad on top. It’s a real specialty. You won’t find anything else like it in the city.

Q: What trends are you seeing for the summer?

A: Donuts have been big for a while. They are big for us and always draw a sizable crowd.

Q: Should alcohol be available at corporate events?

A: Definitely. There’s nothing wrong with having

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Q: How many people can you accommodate for a seated dinner, and what does it cost?

A: We can seat 85 for a sit-down dinner and 200 for a cocktail party. You should expect to pay between $125 and $150 per person.

photo by Gary Leonard

Lee Farrell is the event director for Redbird, which opened in December. The space in the rectory of the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral has a retractable roof.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: What can Redbird offer that’s unique among Downtown restaurants?

Lee Farrell: We have a private dining room where chef will cook right in front of you.

The room holds 16 people inside and 32 outside on the patio or 45 for cocktails. There’s a $3,500 food and beverage minimum but we’ll make each event custom for you and what your party wants.

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Dim Sum

Lunch and Dinner • An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices • Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance • Live Lobster Tank

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Q: How do you accommodate people with food allergies or restricted diets: vegetarians, vegans or gluten-free eaters?

A: Chef will go out of his way, even minutes before a guest arrives, to accommodate everything and anything a diner needs. Pretty much, whatever anybody wants, we can make it happen. It’s all about the customer at the end of the day. We want to create a nice experience for everybody when they go out.

Q: What common mistake do people make when booking an event?

A: I would say people can sometimes try to get too involved. Tell us what you want and let us take care of you. That is our job. We can create a menu based on what you suggest and we’ll match wines to that menu. Too much back and forth isn’t necessary. Just let us do our thing.

Redbird is at 114 E. Second St. (213) 788-1191 or redbird.la. donna@downtownnews.com

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Au Lac, 13 Q: How do you determine the menu?

A: It’s based on guest preference and budget. We are very flexible with menu options and are happy to do smaller portion siz-

photo by Gary Leonard

Au Lac general manager Linh Nguyen is gearing up for the vegan restaurant’s first summer party season. Events take place in a private room with a 1920s Prohibition theme.

es to fit a budget. We have a fixed menu available or guests can customize their own.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Not knowing how many people will actually be there. Collecting RSVPs as soon as possible helps the restaurant make your event a success. Also, communicate if you’d like the food served casual buffet-style or if you’d prefer a more formal sitdown dinner.

Q: If someone is planning an event, what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: Envisioning how you want the event to pan out. Know your goals and take the necessary steps to make it happen. That includes being able to troubleshoot if something needs to be fixed.

Q: Do you have a drink, dish or dessert that is a specialty?

A: We have a number of signature desserts. The baklava is unique because it tastes just like baklava but is vegan, with no sugar or butter. It’s sweetened by coconut nectar and the layers are made from coconut meat. Our gelato is a nut-based raw vegan gelato with flavors like blueberry rum, coconut vanilla and orange durian.

Q: What else do you offer for a private affair? Entertainment?

Decorations?

A: The restaurant hosts burlesque dancers on Friday and Saturday nights and a variety show on Sunday nights. You could have a private show during your event.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: The party room capacity is 80 people with 60 able to sit comfortably and 20 standing at the bar.

Q: As a vegan restaurant, how do you satisfy meat lovers?

A: For meat eaters I recommend our tostada or garlic basil noodles with soy sausage. Another option is the sweet and spicy tempeh, a fermented soy meat substitute with excellent health benefits. The pho is meatless and often we have guests try it who can’t believe it doesn’t have meat.

Q: What do you always wish people would ask that they forget to ask?

A: Sometimes they don’t communicate how long to space out the meal. So if they can coordinate with us on the timing it makes things run a lot smoother.

Au Lac is at 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. heidi@downtownnews.com

Downtown News 17

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May 11, 2015

CORPORATE CATERING & SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Big Screens and a Big Show Tom’s Urban at L.A. Live Can Host Parties Ranging From Intimate to Huge

By Heidi Kulicke n the night of May 2, there was a line around the corner to get into Tom’s Urban at L.A. Live. That was because the restaurant in the former ESPN Zone was showing the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on its more than 60 TVs. Normally, it’s much easier to get a seat at the restaurant across the street from Staples Center, and party planners are already helping Downtowners do that by booking summer events there. The massive spot has massive range, and can hold anywhere from 10 to 600 people for parties and special events. All those TVs can be put to use too, though instead of a game or a fight, they might be themed to the entity throwing the soiree.

Paige Cram, director of marketing and events, talked up what Tom’s Urban has in store you this summer. xclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, Artisan House gives endless

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Flavor, freshness, imagination, and service. Artisan House Partnering Catering is everything thatexclusively Artisan with House stands for brought straight to you wherever you are. For what ever the occassion —Artisan House’s discriminating palate and its uncompromising service await you.

For private parties, a 10,000 sq. ft. 9th floor space that was once home to the Jonathan Club, is available for the asking. Pricing on request. View our group dining options and see why the Artisan House can be yours anywhere you want to be.

photo by Gary Leonard

Paige Cram, director of marketing and events at Tom’s Urban, says one popular food option for parties is the restaurant’s sticky belly street tacos. Drinks-wise, she says this will be the summer of the Moscow mule.

Paige Cram: We always recommend the sooner the better, but we are fortunate that our space is quite large. We can’t guarantee availability with little notice, although we’ll try our best.

front, like how many people are coming.

The more information we have, the better chance we have at making the event really successful. A head count is really important so we have an idea of what to expect.

Q: What trends do you expect to be hot this summer?

A: As far as drinks, Moscow mules and margaritas are popular. We have an outdoor patio bar because people like to be outside.

Q: If someone is planning an event, what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: Start early. You can never start too early in terms of collecting information and making sure the venue is available. We can accommodate parties with at least 48 hours notice, but of course the earlier, the better.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an event?

A: It depends if they want an open bar, or just wine, or just food. The lunch buffet is twitter.com/ArtisanHouseLA instagram.com/artisanhouseLA $15 per person and dinner options range For Pick-Up and Delivery of from $25-$50 per person.

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Q: Do you have a drink, dish or dessert that is a specialty?

A: Our signature menu item is our sticky belly street tacos made with crispy pork belly, chipotle aioli, fresh orange and cilantro served on corn tortillas. Our signature house dessert is our pineapple upside down cake.

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Q: How do you determine the menu?

A: We let the client take the lead. We have menus based on our most popular items.

Download It Today From: We are very flexible and like to work with Q: What else do you offer for a private afwhat they’re looking for and the preferfair? Entertainment? Decorations? ences of the group. Our menu is based on e gives you endless A: The venue has 62 high-definition flat small plates so it’s ideal for sharing and Partnering exclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, Artisan House gives you endless screen TVs, so we have tremendous audiogroups.

Or Text DTLA to 33733 to go or join us coffee and breakfast options to get your day started right. Grab somethingvisual to gocapability. or join usAll screens are completePartnering exclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, Artisan House givesmarket you endless at our indoor/outdoor café. ly customizable and are available for a Q: What’s the biggest make coffee and breakfast options to get your day started right. Grab something to gomistake or join people us presentation or logo display. If they want when planning an event? e t o F with IntelligentsiasCoffee and Babycakes, Artisan House gives you endless o V r e Us at our indoor/outdoor market café. t V something to go or join us A: Not collecting enough information up- to bring in decorations or entertainment, lea st options to get your day started right. a Grab

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Q: Where do you hold events?

A: We rent out our outdoor patio, three private loft suites that could be combined into one room, the entire second floor, or even the entire restaurant if needed.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: Total capacity is 600 for standing reception style. Seated capacity is 450.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: Our menu is really varied. We have options for everyone. For our tacos we use corn tortillas that are gluten free, and we also have vegan and vegetarian options.

Our menu is quite large so we have something for everyone.

Q: What do you always wish people would ask that they forget to ask?

A: Sometimes people forget to mention specific details, like if there are special needs as far as equipment or food. Giving the venue as much information as possible upfront is essential.

Tom’s Urban is at 1011 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-8667 or tomsurban.com. heidi@downtownnews.com

Partnering exclusively with

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East West Players Takes On The Who’s Rock Opera ‘Tommy’

d r a z i W l l a b n i P e h t e e S Off to

By Eddie Kim n 1964, four musicians in London came together to form what would become one of rock and roll’s most influential bands. A year later and about 5,500 miles away, a small theater company was born with the mission of representing Asian-Pacific artists from around the world.

The Who is now on its 50th anniversary tour, which the band says will be its final round of live performances. In a fitting coincidence, Little Tokyo’s East West Players is staging The Who’s beloved rock opera, Tommy, as the biggest show of its 50th anniversary season. With a cost of about $275,000 and a cast of 17, it also stands as the most expensive production in company history, according to Artistic Director Tim Dang.

The Who’s Tommy runs through June 7 at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Little Tokyo. Previews began last week and opening night is Wednesday, May 13.

The rock opera, which many people know from the 1975 film directed by Ken Russell, begins amid World War II, with Tommy’s father, a British captain, lost and presumed dead. Tommy’s mother takes a new lover near the end of the war, but trouble erupts when his father returns home and confronts the couple, ultimately shooting the boyfriend dead.

He then realizes that Tommy has watched the murder and reacts by violently shaking the boy, telling Tommy that he hasn’t seen or heard anything. The shock of the incident turns Tommy deaf, blind and mute. It also triggers

I

a strange, years-long habit of Tommy gazing deeply into a mirror in the house.

Much of the roughly two-hour show’s first act revolves around a mute and mysterious Tommy, whose parents try, and fail, to find a cure for him. The young boy’s life is tragic, full of bullying and even sexual molestation at the hands of an alcoholic uncle. Things change dramatically, however, when Tommy turns out to be a pinball wizard, earning him fame and a legion of fans. In the second act, he breaks out of his catatonic state and transforms into a cocksure superstar.

Tommy’s vast palette of emotion and character development demands a deft guiding hand, and that would usually come from Dang, who has directed nearly every EWP musical in his more than 20 years with the company. In this case, however, he’s given the reins to artistic associate Snehal Desai. It marks only his second directorial effort at East West Players, following last year’s dramedy A Nice Indian Boy. “Living up to Tim’s standard is a lot of pressure,” Desai said. “None of us have seen the show, and we can’t replicate the Broadway production. So we wanted to create a fresh new world.”

As with all shows at EWP, the Tommy cast is far more diverse than usually seen in other productions.

“The generational and racial mix in the show is something that I am very proud of,” Dang noted. “It all gives me the realization that one day, our world is actually going to look this diverse.”

The team has taken a visceral approach onstage, visualizing Tommy’s internal feelings and imagination for the audience, Desai said.

Sometimes that means using odd and playful costumes. The scene with the hit song “Pinball Wizard,” for instance, features people dressed in outfits that feature actual bits of puzzles and board games. Other scenes utilize dramatic lighting, projections and a two-level stage to confuse viewers’ senses.

“We talked a lot about Tommy’s world of illusions, where your senses can’t be trusted or are turned upside down,” Desai said. “I wanted to create that experience of the world as an M.C. Escher painting or an optical illusion, in a sense.”

‘Go Big’ East West Players wanted to “go big” and stage a well-known musical for its golden anniversary season, Dang noted. With Tommy, the thrills come in equal measure from the bombastic score, played live by a five-piece band, and the iconic lead character, whose story is easy to grasp yet full of drama, he said.

Meanwhile, the extremes within the lead role presented a tricky situation for Jason Morales, who stars as the adolescent and early-20s Tommy. A self-professed “geek,” Morales dug deep to find both his inner superstar and the nuances of a quiet, unresponsive young man.

“We watched videos of Van Halen and Tom Cruise’s role in Magnolia to tap into the rock star,” Morales said. “On the other hand, portraying him when he’s mute is all in the physical expressions, and I’ve been working to develop

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Joseph Morales plays the lead role in East West Players’ Tommy. The Who’s classic rock opera follows a deaf, dumb and blind boy’s rise to fame thanks to his otherworldly pinball skills.

characteristics for when he’s nervous or happy or thinking about certain things.”

The production also weaves in some clever nods to Asian culture. When doctors can’t find a cure for Tommy’s condition, for example, his parents seek out Eastern medical treatments such as acupuncture and herbal remedies. Another scene with a young Tommy depicts him tinkering with a few musical instruments. His mother beams when he considers the elegant instrument that so many Asian moms seem to prefer: the violin.

Beyond the tongue-in-cheek Asian references, however, lie the broader themes of identity, alienation and acceptance. People of color often contend with these ideas as they try to find their place in American society, Desai said.

“As minorities and artists, what we fight for is recognition and visibility,” Desai said. “The lyric ‘See me, feel me, touch me’ — so much of what we’re saying has to do with being seen as who we really are.”

In another way, Tommy speaks to the bubbles we occupy in everyday life, Morales added.

We’re all immersed in a reality based on our perspective and experiences, he said, but the thrills of life come from the relationships we can create with others — even if you are blind, deaf and mute.

The Who’s Tommy runs through June 7 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 6257000 or eastwestplayers.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

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May 11, 2015

JANM Acquires Collection of Internment Camps’ Items An oil painting by Estelle Peck Ishigo, created during World War II, is one of the 450 items Downtown’s Japanese American National Museum has acquired. She lived in a Wyoming internment camp during the war.

Arrival of 450 Artifacts Comes With the Help of George Takei and a Social Media Outcry

By Heidi Kulicke oughly 450 pieces of art and artifacts created by Japanese Americans held in World War II internment camps will soon land in Downtown Los Angeles. Their arrival comes courtesy of a museum, an actor and an Internet outcry.

The Japanese American National Museum recently announced that it has acquired the collection assembled by Allen Hendershott Eaton for his 1952 book Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: The Arts of Our Japanese in War Relocation Camps.

“The internment of Japanese Americans was one of the greatest constitutional violations in American history,” said Greg Kimura, JANM president and CEO. “We’re very appreciative of the public support we received. Our acquisition might not have happened without it.”

The works, which include oil and watercolor paintings, wood carvings and other items created in 10 internment camps across the country, had been passed down to Eaton’s daughter, Martha, then tucked away in a Connecticut house for decades. The collection was set to be auctioned by David Rago, who owns an auction house in Lambertville, N.J., on behalf of the seller, John Ryan, a marketing executive who inherited the collection from his father. Ryan’s father served as executor of Martha Eaton’s estate and received her property after she died.

R

When word spread that the collection was going to be sold, members of the Japanese American community protested. An online petition through change.org was created to stop the auction, garnering about 8,000 signatures. A Facebook group dubbed “Japanese American History: NOT for Sale” earned more than 7,000 likes.

Then came the involvement of George Takei, the “Star Trek” actor and longtime supporter of JANM and Little Tokyo causes. He became involved after reading about the auction in the New York Times.

“My first thought was to buy the items and donate them to the Japanese American museum,” said Takei, who with his family was held in internment camps during the war, starting when he was 5 years old.

Takei contacted Rago, who said there was interest in the collection from several universities and museums. Takei sought to convince him that JANM would be the best home for the collection. He also made a personal appeal.

“I explained to him the emotional reaction people had to the auction,” Takei said in a phone interview. “Some people recognized their parents or grandparents in the photos, which were taken during an unjust incarceration.”

Takei, who is a founding member of JANM and the chairman emeritus of its board of trustees, introduced Rago to Kimura. The museum head was

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able to convince Rago and the collection owner to cancel the auction and instead sell the items to JANM. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

Historic Injustice An estimated 120,000 Japanese Americans were held in internment camps by their own government from 1942-’46. That period has been a core focus of JANM. The Little Tokyo museum includes the permanent exhibit Common Ground: The Heart of Community, which features an original barracks housing structure salvaged from the Heart Mountain camp in Wyoming.

Since the JANM acquisition, Rago has come to Los Angeles. He attended a recent gala at which Takei received the museum’s medal of honor for lifetime achievement and public service. Rago brought with him two watercolors from the Eaton collection painted by Estelle Peck Ishigo. The rest of the pieces will be arriving “soon,” said Kimura.

The items will be evaluated and restored if necessary. Kimura expects an exhibit built around the

work to be mounted in three to five years.

Long-term plans for the collection, he added, include a traveling exhibit to internment camp sites or nearby universities, said Kimura.

Takei and Kimura are both pleased with the outcome, and hope the works will educate younger generations to help them learn from the past and honor a chapter of civil injustice in American history.

“As a teenager I read about the shining ideals of our democracy and couldn’t reconcile what I had experienced as a child,” said Takei. “I had long conversations with my father and learned of my parent’s pain, anguish, and loss during that time.”

Takei said the time and money required to make the collection into an exhibit is well worth it as current issues of racial profiling and police brutality resonate across the country. In a time of turmoil, he said, the injustice Japanese Americans experienced 70-plus years ago is just as relevant today. heidi@downtownnews.com

WEDNESDay, May 13 Steven S. Koblik at Town Hall-Los Angeles City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la. org.

11:30 a.m.: The outgoing president of the Huntington Library discusses endowments, the future of museums and the strength of the nonprofit with the beautiful gardens.

ThuRSDay, May 14 CalArts Writers Showcase at REDCAT REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

8:30 p.m.: Graduating participants in the CalArts Creative Writing MFA program strut their stuff.

Downtown Art Walk In the Historic Core or at Downtownartwalk.org.

5 p.m.: Galleries swing doors wide open, white trashcans appear as if by magic, the police mount up on horses and countless neighborhood bars go into the black for the month as Art Walk returns.

Jennifer Clement at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: The Mexico City author shares from her latest work of fiction, Prayers For the Stolen, a tale rooted in the sorrows of Mexico’s drug trade.

FRIDay, May 15 John Casich at Town Hall-Los Angeles City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la. org.

11:30 a.m.: Ohio governor and presumptive Republican presidential candidate John Casich comes into the heart of a very blue city in a very blue state.

SaTuRDay, May 16 SuNDay, May 17 Mad Men: Live Read and Series Finale Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel. com.

6 p.m.: Jason Reitman hosts a star-studded, to-be-announced cast in a live reading of the “Mad Men” series finale before screening said finale.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelascotheater.com.

May 14, 8 p.m.: Chris Brown is Tappahannock, Virginia’s biggest contribution to the American cultural palette. I’ll bet they’re very proud.

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

May 11: Avishai Cohen.

May 12: Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble jam session.

May 13: Charles Ruggiero Quartet.

May 14: Afro-Cuban song and dance.

May 15-16: Ben Williams Group.

May 17: Madaline Tasquin Group.

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

May 11, 8 p.m.: Golden Coast night two promises further bleached blonde, California musical sycophancy.

May 12, 9 p.m.: From his bio, we’ve been able to determine that singer/songwriter Nick Mulvey was once in Honduras.

May 13, 8 p.m.: We’re pretty sure the Temperance MoveContinued on next page

Music, Theater, the Art Walk And More Downtown Fun

By Dan Johnson calendar@downtownnews.com

photo by Rebecca Sapp/WireImage.com

Sounds of LA 333 S. Grand Ave. or artsbrookfield.com/event/ soundsofla_wfc Arts Brookfield presents the free lunchtime concert series Sounds of LA at the Wells Fargo Center. The shows feature Sam Marsey, May 13; J Mosley, May 20; Quetzal Guerrero, May 27; Moonchild, June 3 and Iliana, June 10.

From the Beatles to Massive Attack to MIA, a whole slew of musicians owe a creative debt to the great Ravi Shankar. Beyond being a prodigious sitar player, Shankar bridged gaps between the music of his native India and the world of pop culture to encourage the burgeoning world music genre.

The Grammy Museum celebrates this with the just-opened exhibit Ravi Shankar: A Life in Music. Featuring a gaggle of sitars, performance attire and memorabilia, the exhibit, which runs through next spring, is a comprehensive look at the life, work and legacy of the musical guru. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

3

photo by Gary Leonard

2

May 14 is the second Thursday of the month, which means your alimony is due and it’s the Downtown Art Walk! Dozens of galleries will throw open their door, and down at the Art Walk Lounge (634 S. Spring St.), Oaxaca’s Eduardo Talledos’ paintings will blur the line between surrealistic fiction and rigid fact. Elsewhere, Fifth Street’s CB1 Gallery features the mind-melding Jack Davidson’s polychromatic take on the textures of life. Over on Fourth Street, the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art celebrates 11 years in the game with a group show featuring dozens of design artists. In the Historic Core or at downtownartwalk.org.

4 The central tenets of punk are as follows: a willingness to appropriate cultural items from their proper context by whatever means possible while creating public and often visceral statements that contradict dominant ideology and social hierarchies. Enter Turbonegra and Des and the Cendents (shown here), two allfemale punk cover bands who pay loving tribute to, respectively, Norwegian punks Turbonegro and Manhattan Beach proto-pessimists the Descendents. Both bands will be rocking out on the small stage at the Redwood Bar and Grill on Friday, May 15. At 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

It’s terpsichorean splendor on Bunker Hill this week, as the Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía De Danza takes the stage at the Ahmanson Theatre. Featured in the program is the L.A. premiere of “Ex-Statis,” an emotive dialogue perpetuated through dance, as well as “Made in Mexico,” a love letter to Pérez-Salas’ native land. The choreographer has made a name for herself drawing inspiration from influential texts and icons across media and genre. Shows are Friday-Saturday, May 15-16, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. Warning: The show contains brief partial nudity. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.

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On December 28, 1998, 19-year-old Tyisha Miller was found partially unconscious in her aunt’s Nissan Sentra at a filling station in Riverside. Finding her in possession of a pistol, four police officers shot her 12 times. Now in its last week at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Dreamscape tracks each fatal bullet in a sort of psycho-forensics that maps out issues of place, race, circumstance and duty. Topical theater continues in Generation Sex (shown here), an exploration of dating from the female perspectives in the Tinder age. This too is in its last week. Both shows close May 17. At 514 S. Spring St. (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org.

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

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Plus tax and license. Security deposit waived. Model 2546. $0.15 per mile for all mileage over 12k miles/yr., $24,890 MSRP. $1,999 Drive Off, Credit available through Toyota Financial Services to qualified Tier 1+ credit customers. 3 at this price: T150482/875717, T150555/877542, T150757/881692. Offer ends 5/31/15.

$8,999 2009 Nissan Cube SL .............................. $10,499 Brilliant Silver. N150887-1/122332 2010 Nissan Sentra Sl ............................ $11,999 NvyBlu, Auto, 4 dr sedan. N151181-1/AL694589

2011 Toyota Tacoma ..............................

2011 Nissan Versa S ..................................

Drk Grey, Auto, 4 dr hatchbk. N151599-1/463164

$16,288 2012 Toyota Rav4 ................................... $16,888 Red, Certified, Traction Control. T151232-1/132035 2012 Honda Accord Sedan .................... $18,988 Black, 4dr I4 Auto Ex-L, Leather, Loaded. T141826-1/202016 White, 2WD Reg I4 at 2.7LI4, Auto, 47k Miles. T151393D1/007572

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Manual trans. $1,999 due at signing excludes title, tax, options, $625 acquisition fee and dealer fees. Residual value $10,109.At lease end lessees responsible for $.020/mile over 30,000 miles and excessive wear and tear. Closed-end lease offered to highly qualified lessees on approved credit by VW credit. Call dealer for details. 1 at this price. Offfer ends 5/31/15 FM298351

$15,495 2010 BMW 1 Series 135i ..................... $19,732 Blue/Blk, Auto, 2 dr coup, 18/25 mpg. ZV3497/K95940 2012 VW Passat TDI 2.0 Turbo ............

Select Prem. , Blue/Beige, Auto, 30/40 mpg. V150228D-1/079908 $20,995 CARSON NISSAN 2012 VW Beetle 2.0 Turbo ..................

Blk Pearl/Blk, MT, 2 dr hatch, 21/30 mpg. V150413-1/637383

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$13,888 2007 Honda Pilot, EX-L SUV ............... $13,888 Moonroof, Leather, Alum Wheels. CU1782P-2/037442 2013 Kia Soul + Hatchback .................

Carfax 1 Owner, Dune Ext, Excellent Condition! CU1621R/7534754 $14,888 FELIX CHEVROLET 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan SE Van ....

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MSRP ........................................................ $26,670 FELIX DISCOUNT .................................. - $2,475 CONSUMER CASH ................................ -$1,500 GM TRADE ALLOWANCE ................... - $2,000

per month for 36 mos

Plus tax, 36 Month closed end lease on approved credit through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. $2,499 CAP reduction, $795 acquisition fee. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep and additional options No security deposit required. 25¢ per mile in excess of 30,000 miles. Offer good on all with MSRP $33,925.

$34,881 2012 Mercedes S550 .............................. $52,882 Certified, Prem Pkg2, Sport Pkg. 8094P/CA464476 2012 Mercedes CLS550 ......................... $53,881 Certified, Prem Pkg 1, Keyless Go 8092C/CA045005 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2012 Mercedes E350 Coupe .................

Certified, Prem Pkg 1, Nav Syst, Pano Roof. 8091C/CF157651

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315

$

per month for 42 mos

Plus tax 42 month closed end lease on approved credit. $2199 down, plus first month pay payment, tax, title, licensing fees and $695 bank acquisition fee.$0 Sec. Dep. Must qualify for the Audi Loyalty or Audi Acquisition Rebate of $1,000. $0.25 per miles over 10,000 miles/year. 1 at this offer EN022577.

$12,988 2012 Toyota Prius .................................. $15,988 Only 35k Miles, Black Pkg A151255P-1/C5512 2012 Honda Accord Coupe ................... $17,988 Blk/Blk, Only 24,000 miles, Loaded! STK#ZA10956-#CA004388 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2006 Audi A3 ..........................................

Lthr, Concert Sound, Full Pwr. ZA10919-1/66A072752

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NEW ’14 PANAMERA 4S Executive

BUY FOR ONLY

LEASE FOR ONLY

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$

18,945

1,299

NET COST

GM SELECT BONUS CASH ................. - $1,750 TOTAL SAVINGS ........................... $7,725 * Program subject to change, see dealer for details.

$12,888 2014 Ford Fiesta .................................... $12,888 White/Gray, 36 MPG HWY, Auto., 102437 2013 Chevy Malibu ................................ $18,888 Silver/Gray, 34 MPG HWY, Auto, 2.5L. 325774 2012 Chevy Impala ................................

Black/Gray, Auto., 3.6L, UC1629R-1/251967

329

$

per month for 36 mos

$169 Plus tax, 36 months on above average approved credit. $1999 down, plus tax, license and fees. Payment net of $1550 Nissan Lease Rebate and $600 Nissan College Grad Rebate. College Grad Rebate requires recent college graduation and proof of employment. $0 security deposit. 12k miles per year, 36k total miles with 15 cents per mile thereafter.

Model#13115, 2 available: C151099/393207, C151155/394876. Offer expires 05/31/15.

1 at this price. (F14782D)

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888-319-8762 1801 S. FIGUEROA ST. • MBZLA.COM

Continued from previous page ment’s band name isn’t serious. Tell us we’re correct. Please?

May 14, 9 p.m.: “Hotly-tipped Swedish-Australian band Say Lou Lou” has us wondering if the A&R people at Capitol Records signed the female duo for their painfully accessible music or their potential for photo ops.

May 15, 9 p.m.: Sonos is now known as Arora, aka the band playing tonight.

May 16, 8 p.m.: Hobart W. Fink has a good punk pedigree.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

May 17, 10:30 a.m.: Another morning scheduled dance party recreational excuse to pay for cardio makes its debut with Get Up and Groov3. The “3” instead of an “E” tells you it’s going to be hip.

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

May 17, 10 p.m.: At least we can count on RT N the 44s.

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

May 15: Solarstone.

May 16: Bamboo.

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

May 13, 7:30 p.m.: A&R pioneer Ralph S. Peer has been dead for 55 years, but tonight the Grammy Museum pauses to honor the man’s legacy in forging musical genres for roots music.

Mayan Theatre 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com.

May 15, 6:30 p.m.: You know early 2000s prog-rock band Muse has their finger on the pulse of society because their counter-authority message uses “we” and “us” and their lead singer used to date Kate Hudson.

Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

May 16, 9 p.m.: The titan of Tehran, Dariush, pulls selections from his 25-album catalog.

Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com.

May 11: Rubber with Scott Seiver, Paul Bryon, Tim Yong and Jeff Babko.

May 12: The Sand Babes.

May 14: Thursday Night Booty.

May 15: Turbonegra, Des & The Cendents, Barrio Tiger, Christ Killer and Nick Oliveri’s Uncontrollable.

May 16: Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Western Settings, Drew and Lucky Eejits.

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

May 11, 7:30 p.m.: Mexrrissey has us appalled that no one thought to blend Mexican culture and Morrissey music in one genre of despair before.

May 13, 8 p.m.: Timber Timbre is a creatively titled Canadian band. Lumberjack musicians. Get it?

per month for 36 mos

$7,995 due at lease signing. Excludes tax, title, and license fees. No security deposit required. P14802, 10k miles per year, VIN#EL064132, residual $73,097.60, 1 at this price.

Down payment excludes tax, DMV fees, $895 Bank Acquisition fee, first payment and document fees. Rates based on approved Tier1 credit through Porsche Financial Services.

$45,898 2014 Boxster .........................................

Blk/Blk, CPO, PDK, Infotainment Pkgs., Only 10k Miles. ES120116 $52,898 2013 Cayenne S Demo ........................... $69,988 Silver/Blk, Nav, XM, Prem, Pkg., PASM, Pk. 5k miles. DLA85183 2011 Cayman S ......................................

Blue/Beige, CPO, 6 Spd, Navi, Bose (BU780672)

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.

2

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR

EVENT INFO

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

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

May 11, 2015

DT

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Downtown News 23

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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24 Downtown News

May 11, 2015

bike ThefT, 6

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to it,” he said. He added that the bicycle was his sole mode of transportation and he will have to save up for another one.

Another victim was Josh Albrektson. He stowed his and his neighbor’s bikes inside a storage unit in his Downtown building’s basement, but didn’t realize the door to the unit was ajar.

While he never recovered his bike, another time he saw one of the repercussions of the crime spike.

“I had a guy offer to sell me a bike he was riding down Fifth Street,” Albrektson said.

At the Barker Block, video from the garage’s security camera helped police identify a 36-year-old woman who admitted being part of the crime, and who has been arrested, Munoz said.

Police detained another suspect, but detectives released the man due to a lack of evidence, Munoz added. According to Russell Roney, president of the complex’s homeowners association, four bikes were stolen on two separate occasions within a threeday period last month.

Munoz warned that opportunity abounds for thieves.

“Downtown is a cherry orchard,” Munoz said. “You can be blind and stick out your hand and steal something. It’s a targetrich environment.” donna@downtownnews.com

AROUND TOWN, 2 tion, and Huizar said in the May 5 committee meeting that despite the hiccup, local leaders now have the opportunity to review the building and the greater area. Previously, the city Bureau of Engineering had suggested tearing down the former police headquarters and building a new city office building with significantly more space. A new Huizar motion asks city staff to consider an alternative that would preserve Parker Center and build an adjacent tower taller than the one analyzed in the project’s already complete environmental impact report. It also suggests reviewing the reuse of properties such as the L.A. Mall and City Hall South in the broader context of Civic Center needs.

Groundbreaking Tuesday for Pershing Square Playgrounds

T

he effort to make Downtown more kid-friendly continues this week, with the groundbreaking of a pair of playgrounds at Pershing Square. The kickoff ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 12, at 9 a.m. at the corner of Sixth and Olive streets. Last September, 14th District City Councilman José Huizar announced that $2 million has been secured for an initial makeover of the park; the work includes the playgrounds, one for 2- to 5-year-olds and the other for kids ages 5-12. The work will also improve sight lines into the facility from Sixth Street. It is part of an overall, and still unfunded effort to upgrade the cement-heavy park. Last month, representatives from Pershing Square Renew, the nonprofit organization charged with overseeing changes to the park, and the Project for Public Spaces, collected ideas from people about what they want to see at the park in the future.

Ohio Governor and Potential Presidential Candidate Comes Downtown

L

ast month, the organization Town Hall-Los Angeles hosted Florida Senator and presumptive Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio at a Downtown luncheon. This week, another oft-discussed GOP contender makes the trip. On Friday, May 15, Ohio Gov. John Kasich will speak at a Town Hall event at the City Club (555 S. Flower St., 51st floor). A former congressman and Ohio’s chief executive since 2011, Kasich’s track record includes closing an $8 billion budget shortfall without a tax increase and reducing taxes by more than $3 billion in the state. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event, which includes an audience Q&A, starts at noon. Tickets are $55$75. Information and tickets are at townhall-la.org.