Big Plans for the Convention Center | 6 Potential Changes for the DASH System | 9
May 14, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #20
ATowering
photo by Gary Leonard
Bavel Bestia Founders Ori Menashe And Genevieve Gergis Open a Middle-Eastern Restaurant In the Arts District SEE PAGE 14
2018
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HURRY, LAST CHANCE TO ENTER YOUR PET! DTLA’S BEST PET CONTEST SEE PAGE 22 FOR DETAILS!
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AROUND TOWN Final Days for the Pet Contest
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our dog or cat is the best animal in history, right? Prove it by entering Downtown News’ second DTLA Best Pet Contest. We’re asking readers who live or work in Downtown to submit their cutest photo of their dog, cat, bird, reptile, etc., and one will be named Pet of the Year. The winner will appear on the cover of our May 21 issue, and its human companion will receive a $100 gift card to Palermo Italian Restaurant and a gift package from Pussy & Pooch. All photos must be submitted by Tuesday, May 15, at 5 p.m. To enter, email a high-resolution photo, your name, phone number and the pet’s name to contests@downtownnews. com. One entry per person, and submissions may be published in Downtown News and on downtownnews.com. Submissions become the property of Downtown News.
Two More South Park Towers
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prominent Downtown developer is starting the next phase of a $1.2 billion
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development. Last week Mack Urban filed plans with the Department of City Planning for a pair of high-rises in South Park. The first, at 1120 S. Olive St., would be a 60-story residential tower with 713 units. The second would be nearby, at 1115 S. Olive St., and slightly smaller: a 51-story structure with 536 residences. Mack Urban previously indicated that all of the units would be rentals. In 2014 Mack Urban spent $80 million on six acres of land in South Park. The ultimate goal is to create a network of six buildings with more than 2,000 units. The first phase of the project, the 362-unit Wren, opened at 1230 S. Olive St. last June. The second phase, the 38-story, 536-apartment Aven, is under construction at 1120 S. Grand Ave. The timeline and budget for the next two buildings have not been disclosed.
Co-working Space Coming to Little Tokyo
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Portland-based provider of co-working office space has closed a deal to lease more than 29,000 square feet in Little Tokyo’s Brunswig Square. The deal between Centrl Office and building owner Jamestown Development Company was announced late last month. In a press release, Centrl colorfully described its co-working spaces as, “A hotel with no beds. A house without the barking dog. A pub without the drunks. A coffee shop with meeting rooms.” The compa-
ny’s sites offer concierge service, high-speed Wi-Fi and various-sized meeting rooms. “It’s contemporary to the nth degree,” Colliers Executive Vice President Nico Vilgiate, who represented Centrl Office, said in a prepared statement. Located at Second Street and Central Avenue, the eight-story building is an easy walk to the Arts District and the Historic Core. According to Vilgiate, Centrl Office will open by the end of summer. The Little Tokyo location is Centrl Office’s first project outside Oregon. Terms of the 10-year deal were not revealed.
Athletic Club Finishes Next Phase of Renovations
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owntown’s first private club has completed the latest round of work in its $10 million modernization process. The Los Angeles Athletic Club wrapped the second phase of the long-running project last month, finishing five new meeting rooms and a new women’s locker room with saunas and steam rooms. Work included creating the tropical and surfing-themed Kahuna Room, a dining space with a menu from Rice Bar’s Charles Olalia. The L.A.-based SKR Architects designed the upgrades. The Athletic Club, founded in 1880, occupies a 12-story building at 431 W. Seventh St. in the Financial District, across from the just-opened NoMad Hotel. The second phase cost $3 million. The full project is expected to be complete by the
MAY 14, 2018
end of the year, with the final additions including a spa, barbershop and a remodeled lounge near the pool.
Huge High School Choir Festival In Downtown
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owntown will be filled with hundreds of voices singing in harmony this week, though none will be professionals. That’s because the Los Angeles Master Chorale is bringing its 29th annual High School Choir Festival to Walt Disney Concert Hall. The program on Friday, May 18, includes approximately 900 students from 29 Southern California schools singing the works of Joseph Hayden, Astor Piazzolla and Paul Simon among others. There will also be a performance by the 16-person Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Ensemble. The event begins at 11 a.m. and is open to the public and free to attend. Seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis, but a limited number of tickets can be reserved at lamasterchorale.org.
Correction
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he April 30 story “Upgrades Completed at Pico Station,” about the South Park Business Improvement District’s renovations to the Pico/Chick Hearn Metro rail station, incorrectly said that work lasted two months. In fact, work started in March 2017, not March 2018.
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EDITORIALS
MAY 14, 2018
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
John Chiang for Governor
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hen history looks back at Gov. Jerry Brown’s third and fourth terms, he may be best remembered for repairing California’s battered economy. Through a series of tough if not always popular moves — think shuttering Community Redevelopment Agencies across the state — he eradicated a $27 billion deficit left by his predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Governors have many tasks, but maintaining a healthy economy is the most important, as fiscal status impacts so much else, including funding for schools. That is why, on election day, Californians should look for someone who can continue Brown’s economic legacy, while also taking a responsible approach toward the environment and some social issues. The person who can best achieve those aims is John Chiang. Chiang is not the flashiest candidate in the race — not even close — but his eight years as state controller and four as treasurer (his current post) makes him the best prepared to helm a diverse state with nearly 40 million residents and a $190 billion budget. His experience dovetails with a unique combination of wonkish responsibility and surprising toughness — recall 2008, when, amid a budget battle, the low-profile controller stymied Gov. Schwarzenegger’s threat to slash the pay of state employees to minimum wage. Chiang has other qualifications. In 2016 he released a hefty financial blueprint for the state (titled “Building California’s Future Begins Today”). On the campaign trail he has discussed using state tax credits to spur more affordable housing. He understands the importance of getting a handle on pensions and improving California’s infrastructure. He’s been a board member of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles. Chiang may not be as progressive as some other candidates, but being progressive for its own sake is not what California most needs (he amusingly dubs himself the “fiscally responsible progressive”). Competence, wisdom and the ability to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle are more important. We do hope that, if elected, Chiang improves his ability to connect with Californians — people want a leader they can get behind, someone who excites them. We prefer Chiang over Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. While Newsom carries the race’s most impressive record on social causes such as marriage equality, and has been active on gun control, we question how fiscally stringent he’d be as governor, and if he could take tough positions that anger his supporters. Additionally, over seven years as lieutenant governor he seems to have been most focused on getting to the governor’s mansion. Then there’s Antonio Villaraigosa. We believe the best predictor of future success is past performance. While the former L.A. mayor scored a huge victory by championing Measure R, which kicked off L.A.’s mass transit building boom, his tenure was marked more by flash than substance, with personal foibles and too much me-first ambition undermining his potential to benefit Angelenos. California can do better. Delaine Eastin brings a strong resume and a fiery approach, but lacks the fiscal experience of Chiang. The two leading Republican candidates, John Cox and Travis Allen, have right-leaning agendas that are out of step with California in 2018. The time is right for John Chiang.
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COMMENTS
May 8, 2018
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Regarding the article “Think Small: Are Micro-Units in Downtown’s Future?” about the possibility of creating apartments smaller than 350 square feet, by Nicholas Slayton
his is inevitable. A hundred years from now we’ll laugh that what we now call “micro” offers so much space. Think of it: Some units have their own bathrooms! Luxury! Keep in mind, zoning is what guides these trends. Allow people to sleep in their cars, and we’ll have 2 million people sleeping in their cars. Require people to have “conventional” apartments that cost a fortune, and most with lesser means will choose to live elsewhere. There really are a lot of places to live in this country where it doesn’t cost thousands and thousands of dollars for a tiny apartment. For those of us who live here already, the choice is simple: Accommodate everyone who might possibly want to move here and deal with the resulting masses like those living in Mexico City or Mumbai, or maintain standards that put a limit on crowding and keep a city expensive but livable. We actually do get to choose our future. —Edward Marineves
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Hey You! Speak Up!
Regarding the editorial “The L.A. Times to El Segundo? Really?”
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he answer to your question in the editorial — “Or is it just easier to go to a property [Patrick Soon-Shiong] controls?” — is yes. Soon-Shiong was initially planning to make the 2300 E. Imperial Highway property a cancer immunotherapy center. —Richard Horgan
currently live in a former hotel room. Excluding the bath and closet, it is exactly 150 square feet of floor space... with nine-foot ceilings. Because I live alone (with two small dogs) it is ideal. I don’t need more than two burners. A toaster oven is just the right size for my meals. A “dorm” fridge holds enough food for a week, and I have ample cabinet space for dry goods. I like to imagine that I live in something the size of the International Space Station, but to be honest, I bet I have more room than they do. —Liam Bean
EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre,
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Beutner and the Board Is the Seven-Member Elected Panel the Biggest Threat to the New LAUSD Superintendent? And Is it Time to Look at a New Model? By Jon Regardie s Austin Beutner embarks on something like his 16th different career, this time as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, people are already talking about the things that could kneecap him: There’s the climbing pension and healthcare costs that threaten to gobble up an increasing percentage of the district’s $7.5 billion budget. There’s declining enrollment, as more students leave traditional public schools for charter schools, causing
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THE REGARDIE REPORT the LAUSD to lose the per-kid stipend it gets from the state. There’s the entrenched bureaucracy, the powerful United Teachers Los Angeles union, and the threat of laser sharks (no wait; the last one was from The Lego Movie). Then there’s the threat that no one is talking about: the LAUSD board itself. The seven-member board just awarded Beutner the $350,000-a-year gig, but what it giveth it can take away. The panel that has handed control of district operations to the veteran businessman and civic leader also has a reputation for meddling. Beutner, who thinks big and is known for moving quickly to eradicate stale practices, is jumping into a job where his nominal bosses have the ability to be somewhere between annoying and intrusive — and two of the seven members responded to his hiring by releasing public statements slamming him (seriously). When and whether Beutner’s foes will interfere remains to be seen, but his high-up opponents could make life hard for him.
So could his supporters. History bears this out. When John Deasy became superintendent of the LAUSD in 2011, he was heralded as a reformer by those who hired him. Three short years later he had lost the support of the board and was out on his tuchis. Much of that was Deasy’s fault, as he failed to garner enough political alliances and sought to ram through an iPad-for-all-students initiative that was as off-target as an intoxicated laser shark. But the point is, the guy who once had the board’s backing lost it quickly. That doesn’t mean this will happen to Beutner, who arrives with extensive public and behind-the-scenes allies, but the threat is lurking like a clown in the sewer. It all raises a question that should be at the top of the list when it comes to the district: Does the governance structure of seven elected board members even make sense anymore? Or is time to go in a different direction, one that will give the superintendent — whether Beutner or someone 20 years from now — a real chance to succeed? Big Money, Big Money The problem with the board in 2018 isn’t the board in 2018. Rather, it’s the board in 2020, or in any year when some of its members face re-election. As has been chronicled, the board has devolved into two camps that make the Capulets and the Montagues look cozy. Members are either pro-charter school or pro-UTLA, and never the twain shall meet. For years the union side held sway, but in 2017 a charter majority was elected for the first time. This didn’t come cheap. Including independent expenditures, a stupid $16.4 million was spent in races to elect char-
The seven-member board of the Los Angeles Unified School District recently hired Austin Beutner to oversee the district.
photo by Gary Leonard
ter supporters Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez (the latter won an open seat; the former bested an incumbent, union-backed Steve Zimmer). By comparison, Mayor Eric Garcetti spent about $3.9 million on his 2017 re-election. Yes, $16.4 million went not to LAUSD kids, but to warring adults. (It’s worth noting that some people see the school board as a steppingstone to higher office.) These sums almost ensure that the LAUSD board will remain divided on any charter-union matter: Board members voted 4-3 on April 20 to begin negotiations with Beutner (a 5-2 majority approved his contract). It was that slim. Add to this mix Ref Rodriguez. Elected from the charter camp in 2015, he’s facing criminal charges for alleged money laundering. Although he resigned his seat as board president, he has refused some loud calls to quit the board entirely. This is probably what the pro-charter camp silently wants, Continued on page 13
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MAY 14, 2018
AEG Unveils Convention Center Plan, Complete With New Hotel $1.2 Billion Effort Would Modernize the Complex and Bring a 40-Story Tower By Nicholas Slayton he stop-start effort to modernize and expand the Los Angeles Convention Center is beginning again, this time with a familiar player: Anschutz Entertainment Group. AEG, which has spent more than $4 billion in Downtown on Staples Center, L.A. Live, the J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel and the Convention Center itself (which it operates through an agreement with the city), has stepped forward with a plan that would grow the facility and create an additional 850 hotel rooms. AEG unveiled the full details of its $1.2 billion proposal on Tuesday, May 8. It calls for bridging the Convention Center’s South and West halls and adding roughly 350,000 square feet of new space, giving the venue a total of 1.18 million square feet of space. It would also address the complex’s longstanding problems of having the complex split into two buildings. Additionally, the project would overhaul public space along Figueroa Street, and create the city’s largest hotel ballroom at 51,300 square feet. Sky bridges would link the new hotel, also branded as a J.W. Marriott, to both the older hotel and the Convention Center, creating an extended indoor path for exhibition goers. The proposal continues a concept
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image courtesy Anschutz Entertainment Group
AEG, which owns L.A. Live and operates the Los Angeles Convention Center, is planning a major expansion of the latter facility in an effort to make it more attractive to meeting planners. AEG would also build a 40-story hotel as part of its plan.
broached by AEG in November 2016. This current plan is an “evolution” of that vision, according to AEG, and has been developed in consultation with the city over the course
of several months. AEG’s proposal would establish deeper links between the exhibition facility and L.A. Live, said Ted Fikre, vice chairman of AEG.
“Our goal here is to expand the Convention Center and the hotel. Those are desperately needed to enhance L.A.’s competitive position in the convention business,” Fikre
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said. “The big opportunity, and what has us excited, is realizing a 100-acre campus in the heart of L.A., offering a combo of events, meeting and entertainment spaces.” The new plan, which includes the $500 million Convention Center expansion and a $700 million, 40-story hotel, holds elements seen in two previous scrapped proposals. AEG had pledged to modernize and expand the Convention Center as part of its deal to build the Farmers Field football stadium, a project that died when Stan Kroenke chose to move the St. Louis Rams to Inglewood. Additionally, AEG had previously been planning a 755-room hotel along Olympic Boulevard. The company backed out of the $500 project, also an expansion of the J.W. Marriott, in the summer of 2016 after a dispute with the city. The hotel now would rise on about 20% of the parking structure that houses the L.A. Live “Event Deck.” The part of the structure not converted into a tower would become 55,000 square feet of meeting space. The underground parking would remain. The plan also calls for turning Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, currently used mainly as a bus hub, into a 140,000-square-foot green space that could host events. Additionally, AEG plans to replace an existing, aged parking structure adjacent to the 110 Freeway with a new version. AEG and its investment partners would pay for the entire Convention Center expansion. However, the company is seeking annual payments from the city (in an amount to be determined) for the upgrades; this would allow the city to not take on debt for the
project. Negotiations for such an arrangement have not taken place. AEG would also pay for the hotel, but would seek incentives. It could take the form of relief from the transient occupancy tax, also known as the bed tax; a similar bed tax deal was worked out for the original J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton at L.A. Live. The city has approved multiple similar deals; last year the City Council authorized an agreement allowing the developer Lightstone, which is creating a two-tower project with 1,130 hotel rooms in South Park, to hold on to $67.4 million in TOT over a period of 25 years. The precise amount of TOT relief that AEG is seeking still needs to be determined. Competitive Disadvantage City and tourism officials have long complained about the state of the Convention Center, saying the split space, along with an overall lack of nearby hotel rooms, has prevented Los Angeles from competing with its biggest regional rivals, such as Anaheim and San Diego, for trade shows and meetings that can pump millions of dollars into the local economy. Although thousands of hotel rooms are opening in and around South Park, there have been a number of failed and stalled attempts to address the Convention Center’s inadequacies. After the football stadium fell through, the city continued working on an expansion plan, with Populous and HMC Architects chosen through a design competition. In the fall of 2016, then-City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana proposed setting
up a public-private partnership to reduce the city’s financial burden and also create hotels, housing and shops on the southern side of the Convention Center. The new AEG proposal would not include those features. The AEG project would allow Los Angeles to stay competitive in the convention business, according to Tourism and Convention Board President and CEO Ernest Wooden. He said the city loses an average of $1 billion a year in economic impact from conventions that bypass the city. “This satisfies our greatest needs. It fixes the contiguous space issue,” Wooden said. “At the same time we’re modernizing the center and tasking ourselves to futurize it. We’re anticipating what meetings and conventions will look like 15 years from now.” He said AEG’s emphasis on creating flexible meeting space and multipurpose rooms is key to the project, as many large trade shows and conventions need that kind of flexibility. Doane Liu, executive director of the city Department of Convention and Tourism Development, echoed the point, saying that having nearly 800,000 square feet of contiguous event space will allow the Convention Center to lure some of the larger technology and medical shows that normally go elsewhere. The new configuration would also make it easier to subdivide the space, allowing the facility to host three or four smaller events at the same time. The proposal has the initial support of Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Transforming the Convention Center into a world-class facility has been a priority of
mine since I became mayor,” Garcetti said in a statement. “The AEG proposal has the potential to be a game-changer for Los Angeles, as we prepare to host global events like the 2022 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” City Councilman Curren Price, whose Ninth District covers the Convention Center, also voiced support for the project, saying in a statement to Los Angeles Downtown News that it would address the shortage of hotel rooms and allow the city to host larger conventions. “Placing an on-site hotel will make L.A. more attractive for major conventions, create more jobs and provide much needed revenue for the City,” Price said. Jessica Lall, president and CEO of the Central City Association, said the plan would fit L.A.’s needs. She added that the green space overhaul of Gilbert Lindsay Plaza would benefit the surrounding communities, creating a new open space for South Park residents, as well as people from nearby Pico-Union and South L.A. AEG is looking at a quick timeline. The company believes that entitlements and environmental studies completed for the football stadium will mostly cover what is required to get the Convention Center expansion approved, while entitlements for a hotel expansion were handled in the 2001 master plan that AEG developed for L.A. Live. AEG hopes to have the approvals done within a year and start building soon after. The goal is to finish work in 2021. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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Next stop: halfway there! free community event saturday, may 19, 2018 11am–2pm japanese american national museum plaza 100 N Central Av, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Join us in celebrating the construction progress of the Regional Connector Transit Project. Come out for FREE family fun, workshops and live entertainment.
Activities include: > Entertainment by local performers > Artmaking with Metro artists > Small business resources > Plus much more!
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Big Changes Recommended for Downtown DASH Routes Proposal Could Bring Longer Hours, Weekend Service and Buses to the Arts District By Sean P. Thomas ajor changes are being discussed for the DASH bus system, the short-distance shuttle service that operates in individual neighborhoods and complements mass transit on bus and rail. Chief among the proposals is a vast expansion of routes in Downtown Los Angeles in response to the community’s exploding residential base. The current proposals follow a transit analysis that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, which operates the DASH system, began in 2014. If everything works out as planned, Downtowners could expect to see certain shifts in service times by this summer, and bigger changes to routes by 2019. “LADOT Transit conducts community needs assessments every five years to understand where our service is most useful and complementary within the existing transportation network,” said Corinne Ralph, chief of LADOT Transit. In Downtown, the expansion would add more evening and weekend DASH buses, including to neighborhoods such as the Arts District where there is a paucity of service.
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Additionally, daytime service would increase to every 15 minutes on most routes. According to maps posted on the LADOT website, there would be one new Downtown route (Route C; one of 10 new routes citywide) and five current Downtown routes would be altered. The main elements are: ■ Downtown Route A: The route currently runs in a loop around Little Tokyo, with a main spine on First Street, then moves down Flower Street, jogs into City West and returns up Figueroa Street. The alteration mostly eliminates the path west of the 110 Freeway and instead loops down to L.A. Live. The route would also receive Saturday and Sunday service and longer weekday hours. ■ Route B: The route now connects the Financial District with Hill Street in Chinatown. It would be vastly extended, going from Pico Boulevard and the L.A. Live area up through the Financial District, serving main corridors in Chinatown and then running to neighborhoods east of the 5 Freeway. It would include weekend service and extended weekday hours. ■ Route C: LADOT recommends a new route that would operate similar to the former Route A. It would connect Little Tokyo
The DASH bus system of small shuttle-style buses could see a major expansion in Downtown. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation is looking at a proposal to expand five routes in the area and create a sixth.
photo by Sean P. Thomas
with the Financial District and City West, primarily using First, Flower and Figueroa streets. The City West jog would utilize Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard. It would operate on weekdays; no weekend service is recommended. ■ Route D: The route that runs from Union Station and proceeds on Temple Street before going through the Historic Core and South Park, and then down past California Hospital Medical Center and Los Angeles Trade Technical College, would stay mostly
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similar, though its southern portion would operate on Broadway rather than Grand Avenue. Weekend and extended weekday hours would be added. ■ Route E: A route that connects City West with the Seventh Street corridor and the Fashion District, and the area around Washington Boulevard and San Pedro Street, would also be relatively similar, though the western terminus would run toward MacArthur Park. Hours would be extended Continued on page 10
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10 DOWNTOWN NEWS
MAY 14, 2018
DOWNTOWN DASH F - RECOMMENDED ROUTE CHANGE
DASH, 9 throughout the week. n Route F: This route would see more of an expansion than a change. Currently it ferries riders between the University of Southern California and the Financial District via Figueroa Street. Under the new proposal, once it gets to South Park it would head east, pass along Ninth Street, move up to Seventh Street, then proceed all the way through the Arts District on Mateo Street, ultimately going to Cesar Chavez Avenue. There would be extended weekday and weekend hours. Neighborhood Rides The DASH bus system was founded in 1985 to fill gaps left by longer commuter services, such as Metro’s train and bus system. It runs shorter loops in Downtown and 27 other neighborhoods, and rides are 50 cents (25 cents for seniors), with the purpose of making it easy for people who need to run erNEW Route rands and make quick trips. OLD Route The system has not had a major route overhaul in Downtown since 2010, the year of its last transit service analysis. Since then, the community has expanded significantly. That prompted LADOT to begin a new sur-
A map of the proposed changes to Downtown DASH Route F (the solid line is the current route) shows how service would be expanded to the Arts District, which has previously been underserved by the system. The LADOT cautioned that routes are still being finalized and could change from what is shown here.
image courtesy LADOT
vey, which involved gathering comments from thousands of riders and holding town hall discussions in numerous neighborhoods. The general consensus, according to Oliver Hou, a transportation engineer with LADOT, was that riders wanted more — more bus
0 mi
0.5
1
routes, more buses on the road and longer hours of operation. But more routes means higher costs. The city currently allocates a total of $71.8 million for DASH services through Proposition A funds, which provide for local trans-
1.5
2
portation costs. Implementing the changes would require the purchase of 96 additional buses to augment the 206 vehicles currently in the DASH fleet. According to the LADOT, each bus would cost $750,000-$850,000. According to LADOT reports, it would take 12-
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18 months to purchase and receive the buses from a manufacturer. The proposed route shifts are drawing applause from Downtown stakeholders. Ellen Riotto, executive director of the South Park Business Improvement District, said area residents spoke out frequently during the town hall portion of the analysis, calling for more service. “We pushed for expanded routes and hours,” she said. “We’ve been working very hard to bring this to the forefront of LADOT’s mind as they consider how to improve that service.” Miguel Vargas, executive director of the Arts District BID, said that the proposed changes would be a welcome addition to a neighborhood that is increasingly becoming an attraction for residents and businesses, including Warner Music Group, which is slated to open in the Ford Factory Building on Seventh Street in the fall. “Without a doubt this is going to create more avenues to get to and from the Arts District,” Vargas said. “People are going to take advantage of it.” The proposed DASH expansion comes as other major transportation projects are underway in Downtown. The Regional Connector will create three new Downtown stations and streamline rail travel across the region. Metro’s West Santa Ana Branch line, scheduled to break ground in 2022, would hold multiple Downtown stops, including potentially one in the Arts District. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar, who has called for more transpor-
5
tation service in the Arts District, while also proposing a Broadway streetcar, expressed enthusiasm for the proposed DASH changes. “Increasing public transit service is key to ensuring that we have a vibrant, accessible and walkable Downtown Los Angeles,” Huizar said in an emailed statement to Downtown News. “Combined with the streetcar’s alignment, the new routes will improve access to neighborhoods such as the Arts District, South Park and the Fashion District. Additionally, the proposal to extend service on nights and weekends will dramatically improve access to all of Downtown for residents, visitors and our workforce.” Ellen Endo, president of the Little Tokyo BID, honed in on the possibility of increased weekend availability. She noted that seven-day service would benefit a district that has ballooned from 1,500 residents 10 years ago to 6,000 currently. “It’s something that I think will improve the general economy and allow people to experience Little Tokyo who might not have had the opportunity otherwise.” City Ride, the LADOT run, on-demand shuttle service for the elderly and disabled, would also see some expansions in service. What happens next is still to be determined. The City Administrative Office is currently preparing a funding study for the proposed changes. According to a representative of the office, that is expected to be complete by August. Ultimately the shifts would need to be approved by the City Council and the mayor. sean@dowtownnews.com
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Scenes From the Downtown Art Walk
PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD The Downtown Art Walk is in its 14th year, and while it may not have the buzz of a decade ago, it still draws a big crowd. Thousands flocked to the Historic Core on the evening of Thursday, May 10, to check out the creative wares in dozens of galleries, while the Art Walk Lounge on Spring Street hosted the wheatpaste word works of the artist Morley. As usual, the streets and sidewalks were crowded, as were the restaurants and bars.
MAY 14, 2018
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LAUSD, 5 because without him it loses its majority. Beutner has the backing to operate as he sees fit at least until the 2020 elections, and one schools expert I spoke with thinks the charter majority will hold sway for years to come, no matter what happens with Rollercoaster Rodriguez. But the divided board creates an atmosphere of general instability, though as another schools source observed, “Instability is a kind word for it.” Ultimately this creates three related problems: 1) You only need four votes to gain control, 2) It’s hella expensive to get control, and 3) When control flips, an early step may be axing the superintendent. A seven-member elected school board may have made sense in the pre-charter era, but now the squabbling is worse than the Democrat-Republican divide in Washington, D.C. So what other options are there? Six Solutions A number of shifts in board make-up might make sense. I spoke to a boatload of education experts for ideas, offering anonymity so as not to jeopardize relationships. Here are six possibilities: ■ Put the mayor in charge. In New York and Chicago the city’s chief executive appoints the top education official. This ensures stability, at least for as long as a mayor and the schools boss remain buddies. The problem is that mayors can get it horribly wrong, as Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel did — two of his school chief appointees resigned amid scandal. There are local challenges: The LAUSD extends well beyond the boundaries of the city of Los Angeles. Plus, you need a mayor who wants the power: While Richard Riordan and Antonio Villaraigosa sought influence over the schools, Garcetti has gone ghost in the public discussion of choosing a new superintendent, almost as if he’s avoiding an issue that could impact his 2020 presidential run.
■ Toss the election and have a board of regional leaders, who in turn pick the superintendent. The model here is the Metro system, where the L.A. mayor sits on the board and appoints three others people; each of the five county supervisors has a seat; and the mayors of some small cities also have a vote. The Metro board chooses a CEO, and the system has been stable with little top-shelf turnover. The downside is this creates another big panel with a lot of egos, and high-profile elected officials could meddle even more than LAUSD board members.
THE LAUSD BOARD HAS DEVOLVED INTO TWO CAMPS THAT MAKE THE CAPULETS AND THE MONTAGUES LOOK COZY. MEMBERS ARE EITHER PRO-CHARTER SCHOOL OR PRO-UTLA, AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET. ■ Alter the board’s role: People I spoke with said the LAUSD board often sets policy, and its members expect a superintendent to act on those matters. One observer suggested redefining the board’s mission to concentrate on oversight, and basically determine if the superintendent is making progress and meeting benchmarks. In this option members would lose power — which they would only do kicking and screaming — and see their mission redefined. “What is the board’s job? What do we want it to do?” the person asked. ■ Elect a superintendent. This probably magnifies the problem of expensive board member elections and could be unworkable given the charter-union divide, but there is prec-
edent — the state has a Superintendent of Public Instruction. And on the entertainment front, an LAUSD superintendent election could be the bloodiest battle in the history of L.A. If $16.4 million was dropped in two school board races, would the fighting groups spend $30 million to elect a superintendent? $50 million? $100 million? ■ Have an actual superintendent term. A mayor serves four years, as does each LAUSD board member. The LAPD chief has the job for five years and can be reappointed. An LAUSD superintendent serves for, well, there is no set limit. A term of at least four years could free a supe to institute an agenda that might take time to realize, eliminating shortterm pressure and some meddling. It would also allow the board to judge a full body of work when determining whether to reappoint. The downside is that the guy or gal gets the job for four years and the rest of the world is stuck waiting. Witness Donald Trump. ■ Have more elected board members. The idea is that expanding the panel dilutes the importance of each member, thus possibly diminishing some of the pricey campaigns. Freeing board members from the influence of well-heeled backers could allow independence and more kid-focused decisions. The downside is that additional board members could lead to greater tinkering. Plus, people generally hate the idea of adding more politicians. Could any of this happen? It wouldn’t be easy. The only thing more difficult than effecting change is effecting change in the LAUSD. The options above would require everything from bylaw alterations to state legislation, all of which would introduce a fleet of lobbyists and special interests out to protect something or other. But maybe one idea, or a variation on one, is worth pursuing. Actually, there’s one other option: Appoint a board of laser sharks. After all, that can’t be any worse than what we have now. regardie@downtownnews.com
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MAY 14, 2018
From Italy to the Middle East to Los Angeles Ori Menashe and Geneieve Gergis, the husband-and-wife duo behind the highly acclaimed Bestia, have opened their second restaurant, Bavel, after a five-year wait.
After the Success of Bestia, Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis Bring Bavel to Downtown By Sean P. Thomas hen husband-and-wife team Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis opened Bestia, a rustic Italian spot in a quiet corner of the Arts District in 2012, they couldn’t have been prepared for the avalanche of adulation that ensued. Bestia was praised by critics and became one of the toughest reservations in town, and when the duo hinted at a second spot, attention was high. Now, finally, that dream has come to fruition. On April 20, the pair opened their sophomore effort, the Middle-Eastern establishment Bavel, bringing with them the lessons learned during the first few years of Bestia. And there have been a lot of lessons. “Both of us have grown,” Menashe said during an early afternoon break while relaxing in a lattice-backed wooden loveseat. “It’s been five and a half years of understanding what things are right and what things are wrong. Of understanding how to be more in control of the environment and of how not to micromanage your staff. Being able to trust people more.” Gone are the issues of ill-fitting kitchen
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space, inadequate equipment and an unfamiliar staff that Menashe said plagued Bestia during its first year of operation. Menashe said that he works close to 18 hours a day, but they are no longer stressful 18 hours, if that’s possible. It helps that about 15% of the staff, including director of operations Leah Bunch, traveled a few blocks from Bestia’s home at 2121 E. Seventh Pl. to the new location at 500 Mateo St. Meanwhile, consistency continues at the older location, with Bestia’s chef de cuisine and pastry chef remaining in place. If immediate attention is required, Menashe notes that it’s easy to hop from one spot to the other. “We’re figuring it out,” Menashe said. “It’s good that we opened them so close together.” While Menashe feels a weight of sorts has been lifted from his shoulders, Gergis said that the stress of opening a new eatery is almost heavier than the first time. Although she served as pastry chef at Bestia, she admits she didn’t consider herself a professional chef and didn’t fully know what to expect. Now, Gergis realizes that expectations are high.
photo by Gary Leonard
“I understand the consequences of things now,” she said. “It’s just a little different for me.” Communication Breakdown The name Bavel is pulled from the biblical tale of the Tower of Babel. As the story goes, multiple tribes attempted to build a tower to heaven. Angered by the attempt, God cursed the tribesmen with different dialects to prevent them from communicating to continue work on the tower. The name harkens back to an idea of a unified Middle East, and a unified Middle East-
ern cuisine. Menashe and Gergis both trace their roots to the region. Though each was born and raised in Los Angeles, they have a combined heritage across Turkey, Morocco, Georgia, Egypt and Israel. Menashe spent 16 years working in Italian kitchens such as Pizzeria Mozza, but he said the plan was always to open a Middle Eastern location at some point in time. Still, the process was slow: The original vision was to debut in the Arts District by the end of 2014. They later decided it was better to take
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things slow. When they finally moved forward, they worked with Sprout, the restaurant development company that had helped create Bestia (though former company head Bill Chait is no longer with Sprout). The menu at Bavel holds variations on the dishes that Menashe and Gergis ate as children, though with twists and turns learned from their travels across the region. They considered close to 100 items before eventually settling on 30. The menu includes a selection of spreads including hummus and baba ghanoush, lamb and chicken flatbreads, and 10 appetizers such as grilled octopus and oyster mushrooms. Among the entrees are wagyu beef cheek Tangine, confit tumeric and slow roasted lamb neck swarma. “I want to expose people to this cuisine with its robust flavors and intensities,” Menashe said. “I don’t want to dumb it down or Americanize it.” There are six desserts, including paglava, a flaky Georgian pastry served with soft farm cheese. It’s akin to baglava, and is a treat that Gergis enjoyed growing up. Menashe has more recent memories. “It’s dangerous,’ Menashe said. “I snack on it all the time.” From Horn to Sweets Gergis originally pursued a career as a French horn player. Now, in addition to creating her restaurant’s menu of sweets, she also has a hand in the design, and worked with Studio UNLTD on the new location. The restaurant features a striking marble bar top
with rose gold chairs; the brick structure has ample natural light. Planters hang almost directly below a gaping skylight, blending lush greenery with the tan brick walls. The restaurant seats a healthy 170 people, with 110 spots indoors, and 60 on the soon-to-be completed patio. With so much history and architecture spread across the Middle East, Gergis said there was plenty of influence to draw from, but her focus landed almost directly on Morocco. “I have always loved the Moroccan style,” Gergis said. “It’s on top of Africa, so they have a lot of coastal inspiration. It’s like a coastal desert, which is very L.A.” The initial response has been positive, which has put Menashe at ease. Previously unsure of how Los Angeles would react to the ample spices in the dishes, he said he’s heard consistent praise. “There was always a bar for me that I wanted to reach,” Menashe said. “I feel like we’re there.” The restaurant currently only offers dinner, but there are plans to expand to lunch service in the near future. With a cookbook coming out in the fall (fittingly titled Bestia) and a 4-year-old at home, there is still a lot on the horizon for Menashe and Gergis. But for the moment, they’re relaxing as best as they can, knowing that Bavel is off to the start they imagined. Bavel is at 500 Mateo Blvd., (213)232-4966 or baveldtla.com. sean@downtownnews.com
The Arts District establishment, designed by Gergis and Studio UNLTD, seats 110 inside, and a soon-to-be-finished patio area will hold 60 people.
photo by Gary Leonard
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MAY 14, 2018
Passion AND Politics IN A
MUSICAL HYBRID
The 2016 Election, China and Romance Come Together in David Henry Hwang’s World Premiere ‘Soft Power’
T
By Nicholas Slayton he 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I is known for lavish dance numbers and heartbreaking songs, such as “Shall We Dance,” about the burgeoning romance between Western tutor Anna and the King of Siam. In the decades since its debut, however, it’s been criticized for patronizing, Western-centric politics and a history of casting white actors as Asian figures. Soft Power aims to flip that cultural perspective. The show, a collaboration between Downtown juggernaut the Center Theatre Group and Little Tokyo’s pioneering East West Players, was written by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly, Flower Drum Song and Yellow Face, among others), with music by Tony-winning Fun Home composer Jeanine Tesori. The show peers at modern American politics, China’s rise as a superpower and a romance of sorts between people from opposite ends of the Pacific. The production, which debuts at the Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, May 16, is also satire. Put it all together and
photo by Craig Schwartz
The Ahmanson world premiere Soft Power both embraces and satirizes the traditional American musical.
it’s a heavy slate, acknowledged the show’s director, Leigh Silverman. “One of the things I love most about working with David Hwang is that he’s challenging himself to break his format,” Silverman said. “Those kind of stylistic shifts in Soft Power can be so satisfying for the audience. You’re asking people to go on one kind of ride and then go to another. This piece is really a shape shifter.” Conrad Ricamora stars as Xue Xing, a Chinese businessman in the United States in 2016. He’s working with author DHH (Francis Jue, playing a character based on the playwright) to create a Shanghai-set television series. At a political fundraiser he meets Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (Alyse Alan Louis), and the two begin talking. That encounter later becomes sensationalized. One twist in Soft Power is that the entire first half of the show is staged like a play, with no song and dance elements as it follows Xue and his interactions with Clinton, along with his conversations with DHH. About midway through, it dives into a musical based on the events of the first half. It’s somewhat metatextual and meant to satirize traditional American musicals, but at the same time Silverman said the back
half contains all of the song and dance pieces of a Broadway show such as, well, The King and I. “We have a 23-person orchestra and huge dance numbers. When we go into musical numbers, we go big,” Silverman said. “Part of what the show is doing is delivering all of the promises of a giant musical, while asking you to examine what a musical is and what the delivery system is for the message it’s telling.” Given that a character is named DHH, audiences might wonder how much of what occurs is autobiographical. Jue, who is bald, joked that he wanted a wig for the part — “David has the most spectacular hair!” — but that didn’t happen. Turning serious, he said DHH is not meant to be Hwang, although Hwang and the character have similar experiences, including a close brush with death. Jue avoided imitating the playwright’s mannerisms and worked with Silverman to craft the role. “The one thing David has insisted on, actually, is the pen I use to take notes in the play must be like the pen he uses to write,” Jue said. Jue added that, from a broad perspective, Soft Power is a Continued on page 19
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Restaurant Buzz A Big Evening Food Festival, More Oysters and Some Goodbyes By Sean P. Thomas octurnal Market: It’s 8 p.m. You are hungry. But you don’t want to pull up a chair at one of your normal food haunts in Downtown. Lucky for you, some of the best options in Los Angeles’ dynamic food scene will be packed into Grand Park this week. On Wednesday-Sunday, May 1620, the second annual Night Market will take over the park that runs between the Music Center and City Hall. Part of the Los Angeles Times’ month-long Food Bowl happening, the event features DJs, live music and more than 50 restaurants and food trucks. It’s diverse and dynamic, with a Taco Alley (participants include Bunker Hill’s Pez Cantina), a Lantern Garden with an array of donuts and fried chicken, and a huge collection of food trucks. Admission is free, but $10 buys entry to an area where additional food vendors, seating and bars are available. The event runs 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday-Thursday, and extends to 11 p.m. on Friday. It’s open 3-11 p.m. on Saturday and 3-9 p.m. on Sunday. At 200 N. Grand Ave. or lafoodbowl.com.
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Oysters on Deck: Do oysters splash? We’re not sure, but Rappahannock Oyster Bar, which is seeking to make a splash on the
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West Coast, opened its doors on May 2, bringing a bit of an East Coast river to the Central City. The latest culinary addition to the massive Row DTLA project, Rappahannock Oyster Bar offers up a line of seafood staples including lobster rolls, crab, clams and shrimp. Then, of course, there are the oysters: Take a stool at the marble counter and munch on Chesapeake Bay-farmed oysters from the 125-year-old Rappahannock Oyster Co. There is also a rotating selection of West Coast oysters. Chef Nick Erven oversees the menu that features small and large plates. Studio UNLTD has packed an East Coast maritime theme into a quaint 500-square-foot space. Currently the restaurant is only offering lunch, but plans to expand into dinner service by the end of June. At 787 S. Alameda St., (323) 435-4004 or rroysters.com. Say It Ain’t So, Cuppa Joe!: For this writer, there is no more integral part of a morning than grabbing a mug of coffee. So when a coffee shop closes, or a new one springs up, it certainly grabs attention. Eater LA first reported that the popular Arts District caffeine hub Blacktop Coffee shuttered after a fouryear-run. The news likely came as a shock to many, though the community remains packed with coffee-slinging joints. But when one cafe door closes, another opens. Joining Rappahannock Oyster Co., Paramount Coffee Project, an Australian shop, touched down at Row DTLA last week. The location also serves eggs, noodles, tacos and baked goods to pair with your favorite coffee drink.
MAY 14, 2018
photo courtesy of Hock + Hoof
Hock + Hoof, which seeks to utilize every single part of the animal, opened last week in the Historic Core, offering dishes such as beef heart tartare (pictured) and Scandinavian dumplings.
Taking advantage of the complex’s warehouse aesthetic, Paramount Coffee Project operates with plenty of natural light in its almost open-air setting. The location is open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. At 1320 E. Seventh St., (323) 746 5480 or pcpfx.com. That Offal Feeling: Meat lovers — and we mean full-on snout-to-tail meat lovers — rejoice! Hock + Hoof, a carnivore’s fever dream, is now serving in the Historic Core. Kat Hu and Justin Yi’s eatery opened to the public on Monday, May 7, offering a full brunch and dinner menu, with plenty of cocktails to wash everything down. The meals involve French techniques, American concepts and Asian ingredients and flavors,
but what really stands out is the way the team utilizes every part of the animal. In addition to traditional options such as a burger, Hock + Hoof serves a chicken liver mousse, beef heart tartare and a pig’s head. The joint in the former Tabachines Cocina space at the base of the Alexandria Hotel also has a 48-ounce tomahawk steak that sells for $120. Yes, that’s a three-pound steak. Please, don’t try to eat it alone. The debut caps an odd recent occurrence, as the restaurant appeared in the L.A. Weekly’s 99 Essentials list, though it had not yet begun serving the public (a writer had a sneak preview). Now, all can enjoy, providing they are willing to try something different. At 517 S. Spring St., (213) 279-9983 or hockandhoof.com.
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SOFT POWER, 16
photo by Dan Steinberg
Grand Park will come alive with dozens of food trucks and stalls for the Night Market. The gathering, part of the L.A. Times’ Food Bowl, runs May 16-20.
Hawaiian Heaven: Southern California may set the trend when it comes to great-tasting tacos, but the Hawaiian islands have a thing or two to add. Coconut’s Fish Café, a taco restaurant with a Hawaiian twist, is slated to open on Monday, May 14, in South Park. The establishment has gained a following for its massive seven-layer seafood tacos and the blackened ono burger, and excitement was high after rumors swirled that there would be a Downtown Los Angeles outpost. The Maui-based chain opened its first location in 2009, and later expanded to Arizona, Sacramento and Cupertino. At 809 S. Hill St. or coconufishcafe.com.
Ciao Anatra: When the white-tablecloth Italian restaurant Anatra opened in the Fashion District last year, there were high hopes that the location would provide a more elegant affair in a sea of casual dining spots. That dream died last week, as the Fashion District eatery served its final meal just six months after opening. Chef and co-owner Peymen Rasi’s menu at the Eighth Street location featured a mix of coastal Italian and French dishes, paired with a selection of wines and cocktails. Got any juice food news? If so, email Restaurant Buzz at sean@downtownnews.com
look at cultural appropriation and stereotypes. It’s both a reflection of Hwang’s love-hate relationship with The King and I and an effort to simultaneously satirize that plot while creating a show that still enthralls an audience. Silverman noted that it is difficult to balance the tonal shifts in the show, but she also said the mix of humor, romance and political commentary keeps the work timely and relevant. She said Soft Power explores the fractured state of American politics and the fallout of the 2016 presidential election. Still, she said the Hillary Clinton of Soft Power is kind of an everyman — or an everywoman — character. “She’s as much Hillary Clinton as the king in The King and I was the real king of Siam,” said Silverman. The show contains a broad array of musical styles and genres. Numbers bounce from militaristic and nationalist to upbeat and comedic. The musical half of the show contains more elaborate staging, with large stands made of oversized Budweiser cans — remember its claim to be “the king of beers” — and characters decked out in futuristic McDonald’s uniforms. Silverman described Soft Power as “wildly subversive.” It’s also diverse. She pointed out that the cast is majority Asian American, with the lone white actor being a woman. “For Center Theatre Group to put the kind of energy, trust and resources in a musical made by women and people of color is extraordinary,” Silverman said. That’s why, for all of the comedy and skewering of the musical genre Soft Power delivers, Silverman said that at its core the show is a commentary on the current political climate. She said she hopes that audience members leave “disturbed in all of the right ways.” Soft Power runs May 16-June 10 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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“Neither Old, Nor Young” Talk Ninth Church of Christ, Scientist, Los Angeles, 3435 Wilshire Blvd., suite 105, (213) 383-7738 or christiansciencelosangeles.com. May 20, 1:30 p.m.: Heloisa Gelber Rivas will give a discussion on the topic and explain that, “God knows us as neither old nor young, but whole and valuable.” There is free parking and child care and the talk will also be given in Spanish at 3:30 p.m. What Is Scientology? Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, 4810 W. Sunset Blvd., (323) 953-3206 7 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: What is Scientology? Find out for yourself by attending recorded lectures by L. Ron Hubbard available at the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles. Call now to reserve your seats.
EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 Ece Temulkuran at The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 8 p.m.: The author celebrates the release of her new novel, “The Time of Mute Swans.” The Duplass Brothers at The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. 8 p.m.: The lo-fi indie television and film producers, directors, writers and actors Mark and Jay Duplass discuss their new memoir about growing up and working together. THURSDAY, MAY 17 Yanis Varoufakis at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:30 p.m.: The former Greek finance minister and noted enemy of austerity sits down with KPCC’s Alex Cohen to discuss his new book and his political activism. Molly Crabapple at The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: The journalist and artist comes to Downtown to talk about her new book, “Brothers of the Gun: A Memoir of the Syrian War,” which she co-authored with Marwan Hisham. FRIDAY, MAY 18 Rival Consoles at Union Station 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com. 7:30 p.m.: Union Station becomes an immersive electronic music show, with composer Rival Consoles backed by John Tejada and Tottie. SATURDAY, MAY 19 L.A. Live Block Party Microsoft Square, 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com. 6-11 p.m.: More than 40 craft vendors, live painters and street performers will be out, and there will also be tunes from live musicians and DJs. L.A. Live restaurants will have $5 food and drink specials. Silent PLAY Experiment Undisclosed location, silentplayexperiment.splashthat.com. 9:30 p.m.: A group of up to 30 strangers will come together for a riff on an immersive theater experience. Participants will throw a ball, build a fort and otherwise play with those they have never met. No talking is allowed, and shoes must be left at the door.
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Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/losangeles. May 14: The legendary songwriter John Prine is on tour in support of his first album in 13 years. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Continued on next page
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MAY 14, 2018
1 Summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, but let’s face it — in Downtown Los Angeles the heat arrives early. So why not kick off the “summer” right by attending a happening pop-up party. The L.A. Live Block Party, taking place on Saturday, May 19, at Microsoft Square, will feature more than 40 craft vendors, live painters and street performers, all to the backdrop of tunes from live musicians and DJs. If you get a little thirsty or peckish in the heat, nearby restaurants Katsuya, Cleo, Tom’s Urban, Rosa Mexicano and more will have $5 food and drink menus. The event runs from 6-11 p.m. and admission is free. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com.
What happens when you take an angry jester, a shamed daughter and a devious duke and throw them into a pot? You get Rigoletto, Verdi’s classic tale of betrayal and revenge, which continues this week at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Conducted by the San Francisco Opera’s Matthew Aucoin, Rigoletto tells the story of a deformed jester’s fight to protect his daughter from a ruthless royal. Juan Jésus Rodriguez and Ambrogio Maestri split the role of the titular Rigoletto, opposite Lisette Oropesa and Adela Zaharia as his daughter Gilda. The L.A. Opera production opened on May 12, and performances this week are Wednesday and Saturday, May 16 and 19, at 7:30 p.m. The run continues through June 3. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0711 or laopera.org.
photo courtesy of AEG
2
photo courtesy of LA Opera
3 The fleeting encounter between a 14-year-old African-American youth and a 21-year-old white woman led to one of the darkest incidents in American history. The exchange between Carolyn Bryant and Emmett Till that preceded the boy’s murder in 1955 is examined at REDCAT in The Carolyn Bryant Project. Created by Nataki Garrett and Andrea LeBlanc, and co-presented by the CalArts Center for New Performance, the show uses video imagery, historical transcripts and onstage reimagining to dissect what occurred in Mississippi between Till and Bryant. Performances are Thursday-Saturday, May 17-19, at 8:30 p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. photo courtesy of CalArts Center for New Performance
4 German composer Robert Schumann was taken from the world prematurely, but his impact on the musical landscape is everlasting. One of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, Schumann is known for his lively and warm-hearted mid19th century piano and orchestra compositions. This week, L.A. Phil Music Director Gustavo Dudamel will grab the baton, and be joined by pianist Mitsuko Uchida, for a dive into Schumann’s work at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. There are a total of four performances this week, with 8 p.m. shows on Thursday-Saturday, May 17-19, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. This is part of a three-weekend cycle of Schumann’s work, running though June 3. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com
photo courtesy of Los Angeles Philharmonic, photo by Anna Hult
5 Writers. Directors. Actors. Producers. At just 41 and 45, the Duplass brothers, known for television shows such as “The League” and “The Mindy Project,” have done it all in Hollywood, joining the ranks of other fraternal powerhouses like the Wayans and Russo brothers. What’s the secret to their success? Mark and Jay Duplass will detail their creative process and their experiences at The Regent on Wednesday, May 17. Hosted by the Los Angeles Times’ Mark Olson, the brothers will discuss (and sign) their memoir, fittingly titled Like Brothers. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the fun starts at 8 p.m. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 2845727 or theregenttheater.com photo courtesy of Carissa Dorson/ Penguin Random Hous
BY SEAN P. THOM AS Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
MAY 14, 2018
LISTINGS, 20 May 14: John Raymond & Reel Feels. May 15: Count to five with the Perry Smith Quintet. May 16: Nikos Syropoulos’ Rozalia. May 17: TrioKAIT. May 18: Larry Koonse, Peter Sprague. May 19: Rastegar, Chamberlain, Binney. May 20: Anton Schwartz Quintet. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. May 14: Toliver and Eddington continue their residency. May 15: Henry Wolfe’s new music is a throwback to old genres. Time is a flat circle. May 16: Pianist and rocker Sarah Walk is here for a residency. May 17: Horse Feathers sounds like an indie-folk band. Turns out, it is an indie-folk band. May 18: HoneyHoney’s Suzanne Santo is here performing work from her debut solo album. Café Fedora/Au Lac 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. May 19: Jazz vocalist and luminary Dwight Trible is behind the microphone. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. May 18: Abby & The Myth, The Tens. May 20: The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers have seen the light. It’s in Skidrokyo. It’s flourescent. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. May 17: Lil Dicky. May 18: Solardo, Harvard Bass. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. May 16: If his show at the Theatre at Ace Hotel was too big for you, John Prine is appearing in a more intimate venue for a discussion and short performance. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St. or themoroccan.com. May 14: It is almost infuriating how easily HER’s song “Five Minutes” gets stuck in your head. May 15: Pedro the Lion has a mighty roar and can rock out. May 16: Funk act Con Brio’s bio quickly dives into the spiritual, so expect some psychedelic tracks. May 17: VHS Collection reminds us that even though we’re nearly 20 years removed from the ’90s, they still feel fresh. May 18: The Lighthouse and the Whaler is not a lost Hemingway novel. May 20: This calendar section refuses to be cowed by Gangs of Youths. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. May 14: Crystales, Santoros, Lunch Lady, Miguel Mendez and the Lords of the Apocalypse. May 15: Swimsuit Issue is apparently fronted by a model and a punk guitarist and has, as far as we can tell, no ties to Sports Illustrated. Still, how has this band not received a cease-and-desist letter? May 16: Monotonix guitarist Yonatan Gat is playing solo. May 19: Hank Wood and the Hammerheads are on the West Coast to represent New York punk. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. May 14: I scream, you scream, we all scream for Whiskey River. And whiskey in general. May 15: Groovy Tuesday. May 16: Midnight Blues Revue. May 17: Rhythm Nation has been sanctioned by the Trump Administration. May 19: Wes and the Iconic Smiths. May 20: Los 440s. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. May 19: Shoreline Mafia, an argument for moving to the Inland Empire. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. May 14: Gene Taylor, Chris Ruest, Dead End West, and X’s own DJ Bonebrake. May 16: Sean Wheeler and the Reluctant Messengers want to remind you: Don’t hate the player, hate the game, as the game is structurally rigged to protect people of wealth and power. May 18: Biblical Proof of UFOs, Kurt Stifle and the Swing Shift, Meco Cardovas. Listen, we’re not saying Biblical Proof of UFOs is a show on the History Channel, but we’re not ruling it out. May 19: The International Swingers has members of Blondie and Generation X, so there’s some classic punk and post-punk talent here. May 20: XO, Black Sea, Wellness.
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The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. May 18: Skate-punk stalwarts Strung Out are here to show the rock and roll spirit of Simi Valley. May 19: The Vans Warped tour ends this year, but tour veterans and pop-punk providers The Wonder Years carry on. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. May 18: DIVOLA, Closet Goth, CHUD, The Uni. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. May 14: Rocker Pedro the Lion is not an actual lion. Though that would be cool. And dangerous. May 16: If you need psychedelic rock and roll, Ezra Furman is who you should see. May 17: Many subgenres of rock come through Downtown, and Larkin Poe is one of the few acts to play roots rock, so cherish the moment. May 18: As far as we know, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles do not consist of the R&B singer and 12 other people.
THEATER
Bob Baker Marionette Theater: The Circus! Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. May 16-18, 10:30 a.m. and May 19-20, 2:30 p.m.: The puppet masters at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater have brought back a 1948 show with lions, elephants, clowns and puppet acrobats. Antigone, or Are We Rebels Asking for the Storm? Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. May 17-19, 7 p.m. and May 20, 2 p.m.: Based on a letter from the frontwoman of the Russian band Pussy Riot, this play puts a modern twist on Sophocles’ work. Through June 2.
ICE 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., (213) 745-6516 or 24thstreet.org. May 19-20, 3 p.m. and May 19, 7:30 p.m.: This timely, family-friendly comedy follows two Mexican baseball players who come to the U.S. They lack documents but dream of being successful restaurateurs. But before they can do that, they must contend with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The show is recommended for ages 8 and up. Through June 10. The Carolyn Bryant Project REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. May 17-19, 8:30 p.m., and May 20, 3 p.m.: Nataki Garrett and Andrea LeBlanc build a work off the exchange between Carolyn Bryant and Emmett Till that preceded the boy’s murder in 1955. The show uses video imagery, historical transcripts and on-stage reimagining of the initial event. Soft Power Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-1967 or centertheatregroup.org. May 15-19, 8 p.m., May 19, 2 p.m. and May 20, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: East and west collide in this modern spin on “The King & I” from Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. Centered around the 2016 presidential election, a Chinese businessman finds himself in the United States and has a chance encounter with Hillary Clinton. Through June 10.
FILM
Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. May 14: Ramen and comedy collide in Tampopo. May 16: It’s heartwarming family drama in A Touch of Spice. May 20: The restored 1959 documentary Araya examines the lives of salt miners in Venezuela.
MAY 14, 2018
Rooftop Cinema Club Level DTLA, 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com/los-angeles. May 15: Hijinks and heart to hearts in Girls Trip. May 16: Let’s be masochists and get horribly scared with It. May 17: We feel like Happy Death Day has an ironic name. May 18: It’s La La Land, AKA the 2016 Ryan Gosling film set in Los Angeles where he doesn’t team up Russell Crowe to solve crimes. May 19: Sing along with Coco. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. It’s a throwback trip to a bio-diverse land in Amazon Adventure 3D. The film follows the journey that naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Yates undertook through the Amazon rainforest in the 1850s. Who doesn’t love pandas? The adorable bears take center stage in the appropriately titled Pandas 3D? Kristen Bell narrates the film about the efforts to reintroduced captive-born pandas into the wild. It’s all about space in Hubble 3D, which carries audiences on a celestial journey, touching on everything from spacewalking astronauts to distant galaxies. Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through May 20: Breaking In (12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50 and 10:20 p.m.); Life of the Party (1:20, 4:20, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m.); Nothing to Lose (11:40 a.m., 3:10, 7:30 and 9:50 p.m.); Raazi (6:40 and 10 p.m.); Bad Samaritan (10:50 p.m.); Overboard (11:50 a.m., 12:10, 2:50, 3:20, 6. 6:20, 9 and 9:20 p.m.); Tully (1:10, 4, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.); Avengers: Infinity War (11:30 and 11:50 a.m., 12:30, 12:50, 1:30, 3, 3:20, 4, 4:40, 5:10, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8:30, 9, 10, 10:30 and 11:10 p.m.); I Feel Pretty (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.); A Quiet Place (12, 3, 5:40, 8:20 and 10:50 p.m.)
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Itzhak Perlman Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. May 14, 8 p.m.: Joined by Rohan De Silva on piano, the iconic violinist performs a series of sonatas from Schubert, Beethoven and Dvorak. Schumman’s Symphony No. 1 and Piano Concerto Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. May 17-18, 8 p.m.: Pianist Mitsuko Uchida joins Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for an evening of two works from the German composer.
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
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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.
HURRY, LAST CHANCE TO ENTER YOUR PET!
B A’s
ntest Partne Pet Co r est
DT
YOUR FURRY (OR NOT SO FURRY) FRIEND COULD BE DOWNTOWN’S PET OF THE YEAR!
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DTLA’S BEST PET CONTEST
Downtown News’ 2018 DTLA’s Best Pet Contest is dedicated to all things animal, from four-legged friends to birds and other wildlife. Show us your best shot. Eligibility: You must live or work in Downtown Los Angeles.
GRAND PRIZE:
Your pet’s photo on the cover of the May 21st DT News Issue, a $100 gift card to Palermo Italian Restaurant and a fantastic gift package from Pussy and Pooch.
2ND & 3RD PLACE: Each will receive a $50 gift card to Palermo Italian Restaurant and more.
HOW TO ENTER
Entry Deadline: Tuesday, May 15 @ 5 p.m.
Email your high resolution photo, your name, phone number and pet’s name to: contests@downtownnews.com (subject line: DTLA’s Best Pet) ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. ALL OR PART OF THE SUBMISSIONS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN OUR MAY 21 ISSUE OR ONLINE AND BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE L.A. DOWNTOWN NEWS.
MAY 14, 2018
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To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448 Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm. FOR for 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.
LEGAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 23
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Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018097517 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) FRANKIES PARKING, 1406 W. 7TH STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 LA COUNTY and 1016 W. 22ND STREET APT. #02, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) FRANCISCO ROCHA, 1016 W. 22ND STREET APT. #02, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on APRIL 20, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name
statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 and 5/28. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018089145 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) AMERICAN CREATOR AGENCY, 626 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 500, LOS ANGELES, CA 90017, LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) WILLIAM PARKER MARSHALL, 479 RUSTIC DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90065. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on April 11, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name
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statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 and 5/21. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018061851 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) Bar Line Tours, LLC, 10715 Missouri Ave Apt 305, Los Angeles CA 90025, LA COUNTY (2) Bar Line, 10715 Missouri Ave Apt 305, Los Angeles, CA 90025, LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) Bar Line Tours, LLC, 10715 Missouri Ave #305, Los Angeles, CA 90025. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names list-
ed above: 01/2017. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on March 13, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 3/19, 3/26, 4/2 and 4/9
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EMPLOYMENT SR. PROGRAMMER ANALYST (JAVA): Design, build, test, implement, maintain, and enhance Java-based enterprise applications. Send resume to: Nam Ly, Technical Specialist, ITD-Enterprise Applications, Los Angeles Unified School District, 333 S Beaudry Ave., 9/Fl, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMER ANALYST (ORACLE): Design, build, test, implement, maintain, and enhance Oracle-based applications. Send resume to: Felipe de Bustamante, Enterprise Reporting & Integration Dept., Los Angeles Unified School District, 333 S Beaudry Ave. 10/F #10-145, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
EMPLOYMENT .NET DEVELOPER: Design, develop, test, document, and implement .NET-based software applications & components. Send resumes to: Attn: Sr. Director IS, Enterprise Applications, Los Angeles Unified School District, 333 S. Beaudry Ave. 9/Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90017
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EMPLOYMENT SQL DEVELOPERS: Design, build, test, implement & maintain SQLbased software applications & components including database objects, reports & scripts for large-scale enterprise applications. Send resume to: J Terada, ITD, Los Angeles Unified School District, 333 S. Beaudry Ave. 10/Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
EMPLOYMENT SAP ABAP DEVELOPER: Analyze user requirements to design, develop and enhance SAP Public sector (USA) applications utilizing ABAP. Send resume to: Douglas Le, Los Angeles Unified School District, 333 S. Beaudry Ave. 27/Fl, Rm 27-200, Los Angeles, CA 90017
ELECTION NOTICE NOTICE OF POLLING PLACES AND DESIGNATION OF CENTRAL TALLY LOCATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk’s office located at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, California 90650 has designated polling places and will be the central tally location for the STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION scheduled to be held on JUNE 5, 2018. The RegistrarRecorder/County Clerk’s facility and polling places shall be open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on JUNE 5, 2018. Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Armenian, Cambodian/ Khmer, Chinese, Farsi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Thai or Vietnamese regarding information in the notice may call (800) 481-8683. POLLING PLACES 9000464B EVANS COMMUNITY ADULT SCHOOL 717 N FIGUEROA ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9000471A ALPINE RECREATION CENTER 817 YALE ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9000493A THE ROSSLYN LOFTS 451 S MAIN ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9000501B NEW CITY CHURCH OF L A 453 S SPRING ST SUITE B2 LOS ANGELES 90013 9000618A THE ROSSLYN LOFTS 451 S MAIN ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9001047B KOLPING HOUSE 1225 S UNION AVE LOS ANGELES 90015 9001105A NEW CITY CHURCH OF L A 453 S SPRING ST SUITE B2 LOS ANGELES 90013 9001236A ANGELUS PLAZA 255 S HILL ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9001288A LOS ANGELES JOB CORP 1031 S HILL ST LOS ANGELES 90015 9001372A THE MIDNIGHT MISSION 601 S SAN PEDRO ST LOS ANGELES 90014 9001407B ANNE DOUGLAS CTR (LA MISSION) 310 WINSTON ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9001499A UNION FERRARO TOWERS 455 S UNION AVE LOS ANGELES 90017 9001686A WILLIAM MEAD HOMES 1300 CARDINAL ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9001704C ESPERANZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 680 LITTLE ST LOS ANGELES 90017 9001742A KOLPING HOUSE 1225 S UNION AVE LOS ANGELES 90015 9002072D EVANS COMMUNITY ADULT SCHOOL 717 N FIGUEROA ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9002094A WEINGART CENTER 554 S SAN PEDRO ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9002159A LOS ANGELES JOB CORP 1031 S HILL ST LOS ANGELES 90015 9002364A TOBERMAN RECREATION CENTER 1725 TOBERMAN ST LOS ANGELES 90015 9003185A BUNKER HILL TOWERS 800 W 001ST ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9003886A CORNERSTONE THEATER CO 708 TRACTION AVE LOS ANGELES 90013 9003923A JAMES WOODS COMMUNITY CENTER 400 E 005TH ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9003951B FIRE STATION #10 1335 S OLIVE ST LOS ANGELES 90015 9005022A HAYWARD MANOR APARTMENTS 206 W 006TH ST LOS ANGELES 90014 9005543C EVANS COMMUNITY ADULT SCHOOL 717 N FIGUEROA ST LOS ANGELES 90012 9005769B KOLPING HOUSE 1225 S UNION AVE LOS ANGELES 90015 9007015A DOWNTOWN WOMEN CENTER 442 S SAN PEDRO ST LOS ANGELES 90013 9007016A LITTLE TOKYO TOWERS 455 E 003RD ST LOS ANGELES 90013 DEAN C. LOGAN Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk County of Los Angeles 5/14/18 CNS-3130112# DOWNTOWN NEWS
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24 DOWNTOWN NEWS
Three Questions With: A City Hall Historian
TRILOGY
Downtown...It’s Not Just Big Business Anymore! 255 GRAND 255 South Grand Avenue 213-229-9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Terrace Heated Pool & Spa Custom-Designed Interiors 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Wi-Fi Lounge State-of-the-Art HD Theater Gourmet BBQ Areas / Gas Fire Pits Contemporary Lounge with Gourmet Kitchen
Stephen Gee Dives Into the Landmark Building in a New Book
Apartment Amenities: Breathtaking Views Spacious Floorplans Central Air & Heating Balconies / Urban Patios (Most Units) Deep Soaking Tubs Luxury Stainless Appliances & Finishes Sky Level 27th Floor Penthouse Units: Complimentary Wi-Fi & Basic Cable Waterfall Countertops Bosch Appliances Nest 3rd Generation Thermostats Up to 2 Parking Spaces Included On-Site: Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants
photo courtesy Angel City Press
Casper Gruenfeld, a member of the City Hall design team, with an early model of the building. The image appears in a new book on the landmark by Stephen Gee.
By Nicholas Slayton uch has been written about City Hall. Now there’s more. Stephen Gee’s new Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon (Angel City Press) is a deep dive into the history of the 1928 Art Deco landmark. Gee believes the building, designed by John Parkinson, John C. Austin and Albert C. Martin, represents the city in a way no other building does. Gee will be in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, May 19, for a signing at the Arts District bookstore Hennessey + Ingalls. In advance of the appearance, he talked about the building and the book.
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PROMENADE TOWERS 123 South Figueroa Street 213-617-3777 www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com
Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Patio with BBQ Grills Heated Pool & Spa 24 hr. Manned Lobby Fitness Center Parking Garage
On-Site: Convenience Store / Café / Beauty Salon / Yoga Studio Private Fitness Training Apartment Amenities: Floor-to-Ceiling Windows City Skyline Views Solarium and/or Balconies
MUSEUM TOWER 225 South Olive Street 213-626-1500 www.THEMUSEUMTOWERAPTS.com
Community Amenities: 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Heated Pool & Spa Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Outdoor Patio Gas BBQ Grills Recreation Room State-of-the-Art HD Theater Rooftop Patio with Views
MAY 14, 2018
Apartment Amenities: City and Mountain Views Luxury Appliances & Finishes Central Air & Heating Balconies (Most Units) Basic Cable *All Amenities Under Renovation
RESIDENCES STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOMS PENTHOUSE UNITS • CORPORATE HOUSING
Los Angeles Downtown News: When City Hall was first designed and constructed, what was its impact on Los Angeles? Was it just seen as another civic office building? Stephen Gee: This building made such a statement when it opened. We had half a million people on the streets for the opening day celebration. The population at the time in 1928 was 1.4 million. I think it’s almost easy to forget what a big transitional moment that was in L.A. history. The statement was Los Angeles had gone from an outpost to a metropolis. Those people who came out for the parade were there for an incredible show, but also there for a sense of purpose that came with the completion of this building. Q: What stands out to you about the design and construction? A: The one thing that really just surprised me, and changed how I look at the building, was how much of it was not built. The emphasis was getting it ready and operational and a functional building for the city. When it came to a lot of money on decorations, if the politicians were seen as being extravagant, they would have caught a lot of feedback they didn’t want. You see a lot of blank spaces, such as where you’re supposed to walk in on the west entrance. You were supposed to see two giant statues. Once you go inside the doors, the vestibules have spaces for two enormous statues that never got built. Q: What makes City Hall so enduring? A: It’s just a remarkable symbol of L.A. that’s known around the world. The political history of the city and the building are so interwoven with one another. And it’s a clear achievement of the three architects who designed it, and they had worked heavily on early Los Angeles. Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon is out now from Angel City Press. Stephen Gee will appear at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at Hennessey + Ingalls, 300 S. Santa Fe Ave., (213) 4372130 or hennesseyingalls.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com