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The New Look for Pershing Square : 5 Get Ready for ‘La Cage’ in Little Tokyo : 22

MAY 16, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #20

Stompie, Winner of DTLA’s Cutest Critter Contest

Cute Critters, Expert Animal Advice and a Downtown Pet Guide in This Week’s DTLA Pets Special Section SEE PAGES 7-17

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Santa Monica Museum of Art Moving to Arts District

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n December, Los Angeles Downtown News reported that the Santa Monica Museum of Art, which had left its longtime home in the Bergamot Station arts complex in the spring, was aiming to move to Downtown.

The museum has pulled the trigger, and on May 6 announced that it is coming to the Arts District, though with a new moniker: the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, or simply ICA LA. “As nascent Los Angeles art communities have reoriented around our city’s cultural center of gravity, ICA LA is thrilled to be part of this seismic shift,” Elsa Longhauser, executive director of the museum, wrote on the institution’s website. ICA LA will be filling a 12,700-square-foot former factory at 1717 E. Seventh St. in the Arts District, across the street from the Greyhound station. The exhibition space will be about 7,000 square feet, a roughly 2,000-square-foot upgrade from the Bergamot Station locale. Architecture firm wHY is spearheading the rede-

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS sign of the structure. The museum operates on an annual budget of about $2 million, according to media reports, and has exhibited works from artists such as Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari and Brian Weil. No timeline for an opening has been announced.

May 16, 2016

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Broad to Launch Summer Series

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his summer, The Broad museum won’t just be a place to look at art: The $140 million Grand Avenue institution will also have an entertainment lineup that utilizes indoor and outdoor space. Museum officials last week announced the launch of the nighttime series Nonobject(ive): Summer Happenings at The Broad. The events that take place one Saturday a month starting June 25 will be co-curated by writer Bradford Nordeen and Brandon Stosuy, the director of editorial operations at music website Pitchfork. The evenings will be inspired by art in the museum, and each night will include a slate of musicians, performers and multimedia artists; the opening event takes cues from the upcoming Cindy Sherman exhibit and will feature orchestrations from Perfume Genius and choreography by Narcissister, along with a pop-up beauty salon run by the performance collective Mutant Salon. Tickets are $35.

Winners

Pershing Square Redesign Competition

Additionally, The Broad will launch a film series, Doll Parts, that takes place every other Thursday starting June 23. Films will be shown in the museum’s Oculus Hall and will be inspired by Sherman’s works. Tickets and additional information are at thebroad.org.

5/12/2016

Suspect Identified in Fatal Standard Hotel Shooting

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he Los Angeles Police Department has identified and released new footage of a man Continued on page 20

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May 16, 2016

EDITORIALS

We Ask Again: Are L.A.’s Elected Officials Capable of Leading the Fight Against Homelessness? The Answer Seems to Be No

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photo by Gary Leonard

ome city officials and other local leaders were in spin mode earlier this month, pointing to a decrease in the number of homeless veterans and homeless families in Los Angeles County, and touting the creation of comprehensive strategic plans to help get people living on the streets and in shoddy encampments back into permanent housing. No one should be swayed by the PR: The crisis is worsening. The effort to reduce homelessness is failing.

That much is evident in the most important findings from the 2016 Homeless Count conducted over three nights in January by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. It found that homelessness in the city increased 11% in the past 12 months. The county saw a rise of 5.7%.

There are now more than 47,000 homeless individuals in the county, according to LAHSA. It is not just more people, but more reminders of the poverty and suffering. LAHSA found that the number of individuals living in tents, vehicles and makeshift shelters grew 20% in the past year, and has more than doubled since 2013.

No one who spends time in Downtown Los Angeles, however, needs a report. The worsening situation has long been obvious on the streets and the sometimes-impassable sidewalks.

We would not say that local leaders are fiddling while Rome burns, but even after the situation began to generate the level of attention it has long deserved, many of our regional representatives have been slow on the uptake and/ or lack the skills to take the comprehensive response required. Last September, when we could have used concrete action, Mayor Eric Garcetti and some City Council members gathered on the steps of City Hall to announce a “homelessness emergency” in the quest to free up $100 million in federal funds. Yet the emergency was never formally declared, and officials backed off when it became clear that the tactic had not been thoroughly thought through.

At this point we have to ask, again, the question we posed on this page last October: Are L.A.’s elected officials capable of leading the fight against homelessness?

We think the answer is no, and the sooner those in charge recognize that and take dramatic and unprecedented steps, the better. They don’t need to lead, but they should bring in someone who can.

Los Angeles needs not a government-led approach but a CEO-style system, one where local elected officials hire an outsider who can focus on the issue full time. This person needs a staff and must be granted the authority to make strategic decisions without having to get constant ap-

provals from a coalition of city and county politicians. Perhaps it’s a veteran business leader or homeless services expert, or maybe it’s someone with upper-level experience in Washington who has connections to federal dollars. Whatever the path, it must be smart and it must be radical.

We don’t think anyone in local government is underplaying the problem. Although area leaders long sought to turn a blind eye to homelessness when it was largely confined to Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles, the emergence of encampments across the region has forced everyone to confront the reality of decades of insufficient attention. Homelessness is rampant and constituents are sometimes angry and sometimes scared.

Garcetti is budgeting $138 million for homeless services in the upcoming fiscal year. That is far more than the city has ever allocated, and we credit him for a serious response, even if not all of the money is cemented (for example, some of it would be generated by the sales of city-owned property). This comes as county leaders have moved to set aside $100 million annually for the creation of affordable housing and homeless services.

Money is vital, but we wonder whether those in charge can effect change when they have been unable to do so, and when there has been ample warning of the coming crisis. In 2011 Los Angeles Downtown News laid out the potential with the three-part series “Skid Row’s Perfect Storm.” In June 2014, LAPD Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph described the changing state of the streets with the Downtown News Guest Opinion “Skid Row Is in a Mental Health State of Emergency.” That September, City Councilman José Huizar, whose 14th District includes Skid Row, also penned a Guest Opinion, this one titled “The True Mark of Downtown’s Success Will Be How It Responds to Homelessness.” It called for a “community approach” and the hiring of a homelessness czar.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The first warning came five years ago. Huizar’s piece was written 20 months ago. As stated above, the situation has only grown more severe. We fear that with money not yet in hand, it will get still worse before it gets better.

Garcetti ran for mayor on a “Back to Basics” agenda and pledged to make metrics and accountability hallmarks of his administration.

There is good news in reducing the number of homeless veterans and families, but even he can’t escape the most basic fact: Three years ago there were 22,993 homeless individuals in the city of Los Angeles, according to LAHSA. In the 2016 count, that had climbed to 28,464 homeless men, women and children.

We don’t pretend the issue is easily solvable or that we have all of the answers. It took decades to end up where we are and homelessness has many faces, from the mentally ill and drug addicted to those on the streets due to medical bills to women who have suffered domestic abuse. Similarly, any solution involves numerous components, and the buzz-phrase of “permanent supportive housing” is just one part. Downtown’s missions desperately need funding, as do rapid rehousing efforts, storage facilities for homeless people’s possessions and job training programs. The list goes on and on.

It is so extensive that it demands a level of attention beyond what anyone doing another job in city or county government can provide. A regional response and powerful, autonomous leadership is required. Maybe the person’s formal title is “homelessness czar” or maybe it’s something else.

Whatever the moniker, the current path has not worked, and while intentions for improvement across the board are real, we lack confidence that things will change given the status quo. Local leaders should remain involved and play a key role, but it is time to rethink who has ownership of the issue.

May 16, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 5

French Firm Chosen to Redesign Pershing Square Jury and Public Select Agence Ter and Its Vision of ‘Radical Flatness’

By Eddie Kim eople who live and work in Downtown Los Angeles have long asked for a change at Pershing Square, which was originally a park filled with greenery, but for several decades has been better described as a parking garage with a faded concrete plaza.

Now, the path to a greener, more vibrant and more accessible park is in play. On the morning of Thursday, May 12, the nonprofit Pershing Square Renew and 14th District City Councilman José Huizar announced that Paris-based Agence Ter won a competition to redesign the Financial District park.

Agence Ter beat out three other finalists. The team’s design features a large lawn stretching across most of the property, with hardscaped plazas and other gathering spaces dotting the perimeter.

“From the very launch of Pershing Square Renew, our goal was to create an open, warm and inviting design that was focused on serving people and not form,” Huizar said in a prepared statement, “one that would allow Pershing Square, the city’s oldest park, to reclaim its place as the true heart of Downtown Los Angeles.”

Henri Bava, the founder and director of Agence Ter, said the redesign involves “radical flatness.” That encompasses his vision to lower the flat expanse of Pershing Square — the public park sits atop a parking garage — so that it is level with surrounding streets. This will create easy access and views from Fifth, Sixth, Olive and Hill streets.

A “smart canopy,” a lengthy structure that would run along Hill Street from Fifth to Sixth streets, will provide an expanse of shade, with shops and cafes underneath. Akin to a large-scale pergola, the slats of the canopy will light up at night to create what the firm calls a “digital fireplace.”

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renderings courtesy Pershing Square Renew/Agence Ter

The “Great Lawn” would host public events such as film screenings. renderings courtesy Pershing Square Renew/Agence Ter

Paris-based architecture firm Agence Ter won the bid to redesign Pershing Square. No timeline or budget has been announced.

Another plaza would sit on the Sixth Street side of the park, while the western portion would hold gardens with edible plants, water features (including a reflecting pool directly across from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel) and more. The central “Great Lawn” would host concerts, film screenings and other community events.

Agence Ter is working with 10 Los Angeles-based consultants on the design. Bava stressed the firm’s commitment to harvesting knowledge from Downtown experts.

“Agence Ter will open an office in Downtown so that the design team is always present and available locally,” Bava added.

The firm and its partners will work with Pershing Square Re-

new to finalize designs over the next seven to eight months while the nonprofit searches for funding, Huizar said. While each team had to keep to a $50 million construction budget, only a small portion of the funds — less than $1 million, according to Huizar — has been secured. More details on how the park will be financed will come in about two weeks, Huizar said.

The selection of Agence Ter marks the culmination of a design competition that began last summer, when Pershing Square Renew asked architects and landscape designers from around the world to reimagine Pershing Square. Dozens of applicants were whittled down to four; those teams presented their final designs to the public at a splashy event at the Palace Theatre on April 28.

Two weeks later, after having asked for public feedback, the jury for Pershing Square Renew made its final choice. Pershing Square Renew officials said choice was unanimous between the nine-member jury and the public. eddie@downtownnews.com

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

6 Downtown News

May 16, 2016

The Inn Crowd Goes Small Fourteen-Room Tuck Hotel Aims to Open This Summer in Fashion District

By Nicholas Slayton owntown Los Angeles hotels are often mammoth affairs. The proposed $500 million J.W. Marriott expansion at L.A. Live, for example, will stand 38 stories tall and create 755 rooms.

A project at 820 S. Spring St. is going smaller — much smaller. Signage went up in April for the Tuck Hotel. The 14room establishment is awaiting inspections and the goal is to open in late summer.

The 9,000-square-foot boutique hotel comes from Juan Pablo Torre and the hospitality group he is part of, Tuck Ventures. The Fashion District project has been in the works since late 2013 and was originally known as the Dart Hotel.

Tuck Ventures has opened restaurants and hotels in cities such as Madrid and Berlin. Torre, who lives in Los Angeles and previously consulted with the Arts District restaurant Eat. Drink.Americano, had wanted to expand into California, and was looking for a possible restaurant space. He ultimately decided that Downtown would be the best location. He and a group of investors spent $5 million to buy and renovate the three-story property.

“I felt like Downtown has a lot of similarities with Europe,” Torre said during a recent phone conversation. “I was amazed at the structures of Downtown.”

The 1922 building just south of the intersection of Eighth and Spring streets initially functioned as a warehouse. For a time, Torre said, it was a brothel, though in recent years it stood empty. He acknowledged that renovating the building, bringing it up to code and securing permits has taken longer than anticipated.

Construction is complete, Torre said, and the guest rooms average 400 square feet, with some going up to 500 square feet. The upper floors have sleek, black hallways and modern rooms adorned with paintings and sculptures. The look is

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“eclectic,” according to Torre, who wanted each room to have distinct works of art.

Room rates will be $200-$300 a night, similar to other boutique hotels in the area.

The project, which includes a restaurant, has a slightly minimalist interior. A three-dimensional artistic map of Los Angeles greets visitors as they enter off Spring Street. Guests will check in at the bar, which features a hand-carved wooden counter.

The 70-seat ground-floor restaurant will serve lunch and dinner. Torre will be head chef for the space that includes some outdoor seating.

The Tuck Hotel comes as a wave of boutique hotels are opening or are planned in Downtown. The Ace Hotel debuted at 929 S. Broadway in early 2014. Developer the Kor Group is part of a team working to turn the former Case Hotel at 11th Street and Broadway into a 148-room Proper Hotel. Meanwhile, the London-based investment firm Ennismore recently purchased the Los Angeles Railway Building at 1060 S. Broadway, with the goal of converting it into a branch of its boutique hotel chain, the Hoxton.

Kent Smith, the executive director of the Fashion District Business Improvement District, said that even with its small size, the Tuck will draw people to the area. He sees both locals and visitors patronizing the hotel and restaurant.

The blocks around the Ace are becoming a “boomtown,” according to Michael Condon Jr., executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield’s capital markets and industrial team.

Condon, who has worked on a number of building sales in the area, including the Case Hotel and Railway Building, said that developers, retailers and restaurants are eagerly eyeing the area’s historic building stock. The portion of the neighborhood that edges onto the Fashion District has a number of decadesold structures that are attractive to developers, Condon said, even if they’re smaller.

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Juan Pablo Torre is working on opening the Tuck Hotel at 820 S. Spring St. The 14-room establishment would include a 70-seat restaurant.

“There’s something to be said for these projects under 30,000 square feet because there is more of an entrepreneurial feel,” Condon said. “A lot of people don’t want to be in the big behemoth high-rise. They instead want that smaller community feeling.”

Condon expects that the Tuck Hotel will be important to future development by showcasing what can be done with smaller properties. Smith said that the Fashion District’s large number of outdated buildings could prove useful as the market continues to grow.

Torre said that with the infrastructure and construction done, crews are now furnishing the rooms while the hotel goes through final inspections. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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May 16, 2016

Downtown News 7

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Downtown’s Cutest Critters

Last month, Los Angeles Downtown News asked our readers to send in some photographs of their animal companion for our inaugural Cutest Critters Contest. Little did we know how effusive they would be.

We received scores of photos of happy dogs and cats, as well as one picture each of a bunny rabbit and an iguana. Some were shown at home and others out in the world. We got playful pups and resting kitties. A surprising number of people put their dog in clothes.

The contest was open to people who live or work in Downtown and winners were chosen by staffers from Downtown News and our partners in the photo contest from the Financial District complex The Bloc. The first prize went to Matt Avallone for a photo of his cat, Stompie. He wins a customized gift package from Pussy & Pooch and a $100 gift card to Patina Restaurant Group.

Second place went to Jessica Baldelomar for a photo of her pooch Monte Bella. Kelly C. Quinn, who shot her dog Clover, came in third place. Baldelomar and Quinn will each receive a gift basket from Pussy & Pooch and a $50 gift card from Patina Restaurant Group.

The following pages show a few dozen of the submissions, and all of the pet photos are online in the Cutest Critters Photo Gallery at downtownnews.com. Even though we had to name some winners, we admit it: All of them were pretty cute.

DORIS

BINX

TWINKY

SABINE

BLUE

MAXX

CHEWIE SPARTACUS

CHEECH

CHARLOTTE

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May 16, 2016

NATIONAL PET MONTH

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NATIONAL PET MONTH

Downtown News 9

The Ultimate Downtown Pet Guide 30 Local Shops, Events, Services, Celebrity Dogs and Other Things Every Area Animal Owner Should Know

By Dan Johnson he residential revolution of the last 15 years has brought more than just humans to Downtown Los Angeles. It has also brought resident pets.

In the early years of the housing boom, dogs were often cited as an important community-building tool, and the Dog Day Afternoon event was founded on the idea that people who might never talk to each other would begin conversations when their leashed canines began sniffing.

Downtown’s pet evolution has only furthered that trend, though it is no longer confined to dogs. The number of pet services, stores, salons and other options that have sprung up means that owners of cats and other animals are meeting each other every day.

In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News runs down 30 of the local shops, services, events and more that every pet owner should know. Fido and Fifi are well served in this urban jungle.

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form the core of Just Food For Dogs’ menu. DIY (that’s “do it yourself” not “dig in yourself”) food kits with a variety of lamb, fish, chicken and beef flavors will run you about $20, but make 30 pounds of pet meals. A run of supplements and specialty diets are also available. Your pets will love the food. The hard part is not trying it yourself.

At 333 S. Spring St., (213) 709-2963 or justfoodfordogs.com.

Pet Project LA Do you need wet food or dry food? How about toys and bedding? Egads, where do you get something to remove stains caused by your beloved animal? All can be found at Pet Project LA on Spring Street just north of Sixth. Open at 10 a.m. seven days a week, the Historic Core shop also offers a full line of grooming gear that promises to leave your animal looking chic and your loft fur-free. Did we mention bunny rabbits? Yes, the mass-reproducing pets that have become a fixture of the Skid Row animal black market receive special attention at Pet Project LA, where food, bedding and treats are always in high supply.

At 548 S. Spring St. #107, (213) 688-7752 or petprojectla.com.

Working types can let their pooch cavort at Go Dog LA, where there are indoor and outdoor play areas.

photo by Gary Leonard

and canine needs. The windows are dressed with a variety of seasonally appropriate pet couture indicative of the fine wares (including raw and organic pet treats) held on the copious racks. Monthly “mutt” and “meow” mingles offer an opportunity for your animals to socialize, and if you also happen to meet an interesting human at one of these gatherings, then good for you. Additionally, P&P holds the Bathhouse, a well-attended salon offering just about any cosmetic service your pet requires. Those animals craving a snack (read: all animals) can saddle up to the Pawbar for a little taste before you

literally have to drag them home.

At 564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or pussyandpooch.com.

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Just Food For Dogs If our lean years taught us anything, it’s that grub fit for canine consumption will likely sustain a human as well. The theory holds up remarkably well with Just Food For Dogs, the newly arrived joint next to DTLA Vets. Ready made, vacuum-sealed meals starting around $3

Pussy & Pooch As the saucy name implies, the boutique Historic Core pet supply shop caters to both feline

EVENTS

Blessing of the Animals Dating back to the third century, the Blessing of the Animals is a relic of the days of St. Anthony that has bestowed heavenly protection upon our canine, feline, avian and reptilian counterparts. Here in Los Angeles, the Blessing takes place at the Plaza at Olvera Street on the SaturContinued on page 11

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10 Downtown News

May 16, 2016

NATIONAL PET MONTH

A Chat With Downtown’s Animal Experts The Founders of DTLA Vets Discuss Common Ailments, Pet Safety and the Community’s Fat Cats

By Tom Fassbender octors Eve Flores and Leia Castañeda started making house calls to Downtown Los Angeles pet owners in 2011. Two years later they opened the DTLA Vets office at 333 S. Spring St., giving the community its first-ever full-service veterinary clinic.

Flores and Castañeda have built up the business and added doctors, and today their practice consists of about 6,800 animal clients, primarily cats and dogs; services range from check-ups to emergency care. That has put them on the front lines of the Downtown animal scene. They spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about the state of local pet ownership, common ailments and the strangest creatures to come into their office.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: You’ve seen a lot in the past few years. What should potential pet owners know about living with an animal in Downtown?

Eve Flores: There are high expectations for Downtown pets, but especially dogs. Because residents live in close proximity, dogs have to learn to be polite, both on the street and in your home.

If your dog has separation anxiety, that can be can be hard for the neighbors as well as your pet.

Leia Castañeda: Downtown is a noisy place, and this can be stressful to pets. We see many behavioral issues like aggression and bike and skateboard fears. Downtown pets often live at great heights, and that can result in some tragic accidents, like falls from balconies.

Flores: Pet owners can expect a higher-than-normal incidence of disease here due to living in close quarters.

Q: What are some of the diseases, ailments and injuries you see frequently in Downtown pets?

Castañeda: We see a lot of infectious diseases transmitted from pet to pet in our community. Some of the big ones are gastrointestinal parasites like giardia, a lot of fleas, and papillomas — contagious viral warts.

Flores: We’re entering summer, so we’ll see a lot of heatstroke cases. Any pet can succumb to heatstroke, even when just out for a walk, but braciacephalic dogs — pugs, bulldogs and boxers — are especially susceptible.

Castañeda: About two or three times a month we see a pet with drug toxicosis from eating some kind of drug paraphernalia, like marijuana, methamphetamine or discarded needles, as well as prescription drugs like Prozac, muscle relaxers and Viagra.

Flores: We also see about two to three dog bites a week.

Q: How can an owner minimize street encounters with aggressive dogs?

Castañeda: Downtown dogs need to be well-trained on a leash and social with other dogs. If your dog is a biter, it needs to wear a basket muzzle when walking on the street. Training your dog and learning to read the body language of animals — not just your own, but of other dogs as well — goes a long way to preventing encounters.

Dr. Leia Casteñeda (right) and Dr. Eve Flores opened DTLA Vets in 2013.

photo by Gary Leonard

Q: What about training? Is there something specific that Downtowners should be teaching their pets?

Flores: Establishing basic guidelines and setting rules when your pets are young is important in order to stop certain behaviors. Having this in place is really helpful before training begins.

Castañeda: There are many service providers who teach dog training, but the community would benefit if we had more puppy training classes where puppies can learn early on how to handle situations unique to the Downtown environment.

for every pet, but it’s important to know that a chip is not animal Lojack. It offers information, not geolocation.

Q: Do you recommend flea and tick treatment for animals living Downtown?

Flores: Absolutely. Owners associate fleas with dirt, but fleas are very common. Every living furry creature has them, even indooronly cats.

Q: What’s the most unusual animal you’ve seen at your practice?

Flores: We don’t really see exotic pets or pocket pets, but one of the most interesting cases was a red-tailed hawk that [the late] Rickey the Pirate brought in. We don’t have any experience with hawks, so we drove it to California Wildlife Rescue in Calabasas.

It passed, unfortunately.

Castañeda: We also have had people trying to pass off wolves as dogs thinking we won’t notice the difference. And we have one client with a caracal, which is a wild cat.

Q: Do most of the pets you see get enough exercise?

Flores: Most Downtown dog owners walk their pets about three to four times a day. But often they miss out on a great opportunity for exercise: the urban environment, which offers everything from stair climbing to teaching a dog to wind in and out of stair railings.

Castañeda: It can be harder for indoor cats to get exercise. We see as many fat cats here as any practice I’ve worked in.

Q: Do you recommend implanting a microchip in pets?

Flores: The microchip is the new collar, and we recommend one

Q: You used to make house calls before opening the clinic. Do you still do that?

Castañeda: It’s not something we provide on a regular basis anymore, but we will make an exception if an owner is in need of euthanasia and would like it to happen in the home. That’s a nice and special way to say goodbye to a pet.

Q: What does the future hold for DTLA Vets?

Flores: Right now we have four veterinarians on staff. When we opened we had the intention of growing to six. We hope that will be true in the near future.

DTLA Vets is at 333 S. Spring St., (213) 613-1537 or dtlavets. com. Hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday.

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May 16, 2016

Downtown News 11

NATIONAL PET MONTH

PET GUIDE, 9 day before Easter. Archbishop José Gomez presides over a procession of dogs, cats, snakes, turtles, birds, rodents and more, and offers his blessing and a sprinkle of Holy Water. The allages event is free.

At the Plaza or online at calleolvera.com.

The Historic Core’s Pet Project LA offers all manner of food, toys and bedding.

Cat Con While it sounds like something in a David Mamet film, Cat Con is actually a celebration of all things feline that takes place June 25-26 at The Reef. Part expo, part symposium and part market, Cat Con will have a slate of speakers, and a highlight will be the Cat Video Fest on Saturday evening at the Theatre at Ace Hotel.

More than 12,000 people attended the inaugural Cat Con last year, and the numbers could increase for a happening that will stock all manner of toys, furniture, art and more. Can it get better? Yes! That’s because celebricat Lil’ Bub will be in the house.

At 1933 S. Broadway or catconla.com.

Dog Day Afternoon The ultimate Downtown pets-and-people confab, Dog Day Afternoon takes place every summer on the plaza of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Recent events have drawn more than 1,600 humans and 1,000 dogs. All the pets are on leashes, and for a few hours in the evening they mill about the plaza, sniffing and playing while the humans converse, enjoy food and drinks and check out booths from local pet operations. There are puppy adoptions and even a few cats looking for a permanent home.

The event is sponsored by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, and this

nal Perso l a Practic e siv s e Progr

photo by Gary Leonard

year’s happening, scheduled for July 13, will be the 10th installment.

At downtownla.com.

VETERINARIANS

DTLA Vets It was only a matter of time before an enterprising veterinarian set up shop near the Historic Core, where a multitude of caring pet owners were starved for accessible care. Doctors Leia Castañeda and Eve Flores begin doing house calls and a monthly clinic at Pussy & Pooch in 2011, and two years later they opened the 6,000-square-foot clinic at 333 S. Spring St. Open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on week-

days and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, DTLA Vets (two other doctors are also on staff ) offers a broad spectrum of medical services ranging from routine check-ups to emergency walkins. On the more esoteric side of the care menu, you’ll find Chinese and holistic healing, dental care and surgery.

At 333 S. Spring St., (213) 613-1537 or dtlavets.com.

Little Tokyo Pet Clinic The Little Tokyo Pet Clinic has a very limited website and Facebook page, and Yelp, as is often the case, reveals a deeply polarizing split between glowing reviews and harshly critical

rebuffs. Beyond that, we were able to discern that the Alameda Street establishment is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekends. While other information was scant, we were able to confirm that Dr. Hye-Ok Chung is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of California and that the California Veterinary Medical Association vouches for her practice.

At 333 S. Alameda St. #222 or (213) 537-0989.

DOG PARKS AND PLAY SPOTS

Arts District Dog Park At the corner of Fourth and Molino streets in the heart of the Arts District, the Honda Family donated the use of a corner parcel of land for a dog park. A 2014 kerfuffle resulted in a lock suddenly appearing on the park’s gate and a quest for paid admission, but that has been eradicated, as a group of donors worked with the Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association and the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar to ensure that all twoand four-legged creatures can enter for free.

Nowadays, crushed granite, a separate small dog area, a dog water fountain, benches and a mural make for a lovely experience while a timed lock (courtesy of Huizar’s office) stands sentinel, keeping the park open from 5 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

At 1004 E. Fourth St. or laraba.org/dog-park.

Grand Park Dog Park Grand Park is known as “the park for everyone.”

It is also the park for every dog, providing they don’t all come at once. A fenced-in, postage stamp-sized dog run in the Civic Center park Continued on page 12

12 Downtown News

PET GUIDE, 11 opened in the fall of 2012. The space near City Hall is about 2,000 square feet, and an olive tree in the middle provides some much-needed shade. There are benches so humans can sit while the canines romp. Get in on the action from 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

On Spring Street between Temple and First streets.

L.A. Live Dog Park Not only does the L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex mean food, bars, games, concerts and public gatherings, it also means dog time! Anschutz Entertainment Group opened the L.A. Live Dog Park in late 2013, and from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily you can drag your doggy down to a little swath of fenced-in park in the shadow of the 110 Freeway. Behind the iron fence the pets can canoodle and carouse to their heart’s content without the threat of traffic or an overzealous sports fan. There are benches, water fountains and areas for small and large dogs. Not that you would want to force your pet to self-identify one way or another. It’s just a courtesy for those that do.

At L.A. Live Way between Olympic Boulevard and Eleventh Street.

LAPD “Dog Park” The park behind the Police Administration Building on Second between Spring and Main streets isn’t a “dog park” per se. Okay, technically it’s not a dog park at all, as it was designed solely for the two-legged set, whether or not they are members of the LAPD. Still, on any given afternoon, a gaggle of doggies from the surrounding residential areas parade into the park for a quick socializing jaunt and perhaps a few rounds of catch. The self-policing park (see what we did there!) is widely cherished, but pet owners beware: There is no fence separating the park from the streets beyond. Rigid discipline must be instilled before you unleash your pup.

On Second between Spring and Main streets.

Spring Street Park We instantly regret even bringing the subject up, but now that we’re on the topic of Downtown’s most controversial parcel of land, let’s clear the air: The nearly one-acre former parking lot between the Rowan and El Dorado lofts is intended primarily for human use. No, this is not a dog park just because you have used it as such. Yes, the Historic Core deserves an exclusively purposed dog park. No, your dog may not be off leash. Yes, that security guard does

May 16, 2016

NATIONAL PET MONTH have authority. No, he will not give you a ticket.

Yes, that park ranger might. No, no one likes it when you let your dog run and urinate and kill the grass on the small hill. Yes, everyone does it anyway. No, you may not access the park at 11 p.m., for the hours are sunrise to sunset.

At 428 S. Spring St. or friendsofspringstreetpark.com.

CELEBRITIES

Buddy Canines have been in Downtown Los Angeles almost as long as people, but when it came to the post-2000 residential revolution, Buddy the golden retriever was more or less the First Dog of Downtown. Buddy belonged to area superbooster Hal Bastian, and the two of them were a familiar sight on the street, with Buddy being a conversation starter in those early years.

Buddy also had another role: Almost every time a new dog arrived in the Old Bank District, Buddy would have an informal play date with the arrival. Buddy passed away at the age of 12 in 2008, and he remains the only dog ever to have an obituary in Downtown News. These days Scooter is Bastian’s animal companion, but Buddy has never been forgotten.

Spartacus During Councilman José Huizar’s somewhat fractious re-election campaign in 2015, local resident Josh Albrektson jokingly ran his King Charles Spaniel, Spartacus, as a competing candidate. The canine ambassador to the world of local politics became an emblem not only of the election, but also of Downtown dog ownership. Though his candidacy was eventually abandoned in favor of a Huizar endorsement, Spartacus’ legacy lives on in an abundance of public sightings, Godzilla-inspired memes and a collaborative electrical box portrait from artists James Wilde and Dirt Cobain at the corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets.

On Instagram @DTLASpartacus.

WALKING, TRAINING, BOARDING AND OTHER SERVICES Bark & Clark Bark & Clark headmistress Tamara Clark’s doggy discipline philosophy has been fine-tuned to satisfy three goals: a canine’s need for both physical and cerebral work, ample play time and good old-fashioned love. The Historic Core dog trainer touts years of experience and certification, bonding and licensing via the Animal Behavior College (it does too exist). Beyond standard group training and private sessions

The Dog Day Afternoon event each July at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles draws more than 1,000 dogs.

photo by Gary Leonard

for recalcitrant pups, Bark & Clark offers an intriguing $50 Pooch Parade class in which owners accompany their be-pawed companions on a jaunt through the city intended to impart basic obedience lessons relevant to the street.

At (213) 321-6319 or barkandclark.com.

package offers more routine visitation with an emphasis on draining excess energy and alleviating bladder capacity. Not to be neglected, Dog Day LA will even pop in on your feline to brighten their day.

At (213) 986-8293 or dogday.la.

City Strut Perhaps you know Bonnie Dias as the rollerblading dog walker. Her balance is indeed impressive, yet even more awe-inspiring is the breadth of her training services. An acolyte of celebrity trainer and wolf master Jennifer McCarthy, Dias’ skill set runs from basic obedience training to pet CPR. City Strut offers a variety of training options, from basic Skype sessions on the low end to week-long, boarding-included intensives. For pups new to Downtown or timid beasts, Dias offers almost weekly workshops that run $60.

At (213) 361-4321 or city-strut.com.

Downtown Doggies U Wash The name is slightly misleading given the spectrum of full-service grooming (starting at $45 for small dogs) offered at Downtown Doggies U Wash. However, most dog owners who pop in to the Hill Street location pay $13-$15, depending on the size of the canine, to give old Fido a bath with their own hands. Downtown Doggies U Wash provides the facility, shampoo and blow drier. While you may regret not handing over your pooch’s matted fur to a professional groomer, the price point on self-washing for space-poor loft dwellers is a steal. Downtown Doggies U Wash is open from 9:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.

At 744 S. Hill St. or (213) 623-8100.

Dog Day LA Downtown transplant Dan Tracy got his start in the pet-care biz in Baltimore. Nowadays, the intrepid Tracy has a crew of walkers who spend their weekdays trotting through South Park, the Arts District and all points in between to briefly liberate your beloved canine. The nutsand-bolts dog-walking service focuses on individualized interaction. Starting at $10 per 15 minutes, all walks are exclusive to your best friend — no group walking here. For youthful and more exuberant doggies, the puppy

Downtown Pet Lovers With an incredibly broad name that smacks of the obvious, Downtown Pet Lovers is, yes, an option for comprehensive pooch care. The leash-masters preside over individual and group walks for clients whose canine companions are not enrolled in their half- and full-day doggy daycare (walking prices are $25 for 30 minutes solo and $15 for 30 minutes in a group

Training, Boarding, Dayplay & Classes 5 star rating on

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THEZENDOG.com • 1754 N. Main St., LA 90031 • 323.ITS.DOGS

May 16, 2016

Downtown News 13

NATIONAL PET MONTH your choosing. As a topper, a regimen of extensive training options can help prepare your dog to do just about anything short of your taxes.

At 1320 S. Grand Ave., (213) 747-3649 or southparkdoggie.com.

Go Dog LA There is a legend passed between dogs in a language of eager pants and whispered woofs (we might have made that up): Somewhere south of the great, yawning 10 Freeway, there is an Elysium for man’s best friends.

Go Dog LA, as it is known in human, offers spacious indoor and outdoor areas reminiscent of parks. Careful screening ensures that the puppy equivalents of roid-rage bros and catty diva gossip queens are excluded. The resulting social mélange is a daily delight of active and playful dogs living as happily as possible without the company of their beloved humans. Some of these dogs even spend the night from time to time or return home freshly bathed. Miracles do happen. Day care starts at $20 for a half-day.

At 1726 Maple Ave., (213) 748-4364 or godogla.com.

Muttropolitan In the heart of Little Tokyo, Muttropolitan provides comprehensive grooming for the furry canine in your life. All-inclusive packages such as Refresh, Touch-Up and Make-Over offer headto-tail grooming. This is literally the case, as Muttropolitan services include trimming facial

photo courtesy Cat Con

Celebrity cat Lil’ Bub will be in town when Cat Con returns to The Reef June 25-26.

hair and cutting those pesky nails. If your dog isn’t in the mood to have a stranger’s hands all over them, self-service pet washing stations are available. Treat yourself to a Galvatron shot at nearby Bar C afterwards.

At 408 E. Second St., (213) 626-8887 or muttropolitan.com.

Roxy’s Doggy Daycare The Arts District Roxy’s Doggy Daycare is paradoxically run by a woman not named Roxy.

Kathleen is a veteran of veterinary intervention with laurels for helping reunite owners with their furry friends after Hurricane Katrina. Nowadays, you can unleash your hound in her concrete-lined Central Avenue canine warren for a mere 28 bones a day (and by bones, we mean dollars). A mere $120 gets you five days and an even $400 will be sufficient to keep your companion happy and entertained between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. for an entire month. Grooming options are also available.

At 611 S. Central Ave., (213) 239-0309 or roxysdoggydaycare.com.

South Park Doggie Daycare Voyeurism and dogs: Two of the hallmarks of our digital age merge at South Park Doggie Daycare, where doting puppy parents are invited to spy on their furry children via an uninterrupted webcam stream throughout the day.

And what a day it is: South Park Doggie Daycare advertises a schedule rife with playtime, walks, “tugs” and toys. Rates vary, but unlike some competitors, South Park Doggie Daycare allows pet owners to purchase daycare in five-, 10- or 20-day increments that can be used on days of

• Fresh, whole food diets for healthy & sick dogs and cats • Nutritionally balanced & proven healthy

Downtown Los Angeles Pantry:

333 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (next door to DTLAvets) Additional Locations in Newport Beach, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Manhattan Beach, and Capistrano Beach

866.726.9509

Walka-Walka Besides being a local face about town and a modular synthesizer connoisseur, Brad Apodaca helms Walka Walka Dog Walking Service.

His troop of leash masters have been guiding packs of four or fewer dogs through the streets of Downtown since 2007, instilling quality elevator manners and socialization skills all the while. You, the doting dog owner, have a choice of one or two 30-minute walks per day, starting at $15. If you work a lot and want to go monthly, there are single and double daily walk options for up to $300. It’s not cheap, but repeated carpet cleaning from a housebound canine will cost a lot more.

At (206) 459-3077 or walkawalka.com.

photo by Martin Cox

Buddy the golden retriever, shown with human companion Hal Bastian, was known as the “First Dog” of Downtown. He died in 2008 at the age of 12.

GROUPS

DTLA Dogs As has become vogue across the Facebook-accessible world, dog owners have gathered in a community of DTLA locals to express their undying love for canis familiaris. The 364 members of DTLA Dogs post a variety of pictures advertising the perks and pitfalls of pooch ownership. You’ve got your standard discussions of affordable vets, advertisements for dogs seeking “forever homes,” garden variety dog-ailment warnings, meet-up and socialization event invites and a bucket full of other canine digital ephemera.

At facebook.com/groups/dtladogs.

DTLA Dog Park Campaign This niche collective focuses on efforts to convert the bare lot at First and Broadway into a dog park. It may be a tough sell given that the city is moving forward with plans for a traditional human-oriented park and has gotten drawings from four finalists, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The DTLA Dog Park Campaign is nonetheless a positive venue for pro-dog action.

It’s a got a long name with a bunch of numbers, so just search for it on Facebook.

DOWNTOWN LA NG ENOI N P O SO AT Ca

2

• Two veterinarians on staff

Walk Fido This bare bones (bones not provided) walking service caters to Downtown dog owners whose canine would feel confident amid other quadrupeds. On the low end, a 30-minute group walk will run $15. For those seeking a full work week of accident-forestalling intervention, five days of group walks cost from $60-$100 depending on how long you’d like Sir Barks-a-Lot to hit the streets. Other services include park trips, vet visits, cat sitting and a vaunted $75 private training walk. No, you can’t use that for summer interns, just dogs.

At 500 Molino St., (213) 479-2426 or walkfido.com.

aza

Fetch! Pet Care You can find a Fetch! Pet Care branch in 29 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Why there is no location in Arkansas, we are unsure.

Suffice it to say, local operator Elizabeth Hollendoner oversees a “pet concierge” service active in communities including Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino and Downtown Los Angeles. Pet owners can shell out for sitting, group hikes or private dog walking. Perhaps most appealing are “almost overnights,” prolonged in-home pet care that keeps your animal companion content for two extra hours at night and one additional hour in the morning while you are off doing busy, adult things.

At (626) 768-0387 or fetchpetcare.com/la-downtown.

Uptown Pup Located on the southern edge of the Arts District, Uptown Pup offers 3,000 square feet of pristine play space. Beyond customary halfday, full-day, week, month and other extended-stay rates, Uptown Pup offers an $8 hourly rate for those times when the pup just can’t come along for that afternoon errand to the Valley. Introvert dogs who prefer to stay at home can also benefit from Uptown Pup’s dog-walking services, which offer a variety of options from $15 group walks that run 30 minutes to $35 one-hour solo treks. As is customary, grooming, boarding and training options offer ample opportunities to get your dog in line and keep them happy while you go on about your life. But please, hurry back from the Valley.

At 819 Mateo St., (213) 935-8171 or uptownpupinc.com.

Pl

walk). Those terriers, labs, Chihuahuas and errant Shih Tzus lucky enough to spend time with no more than four four-pawed companions are all guaranteed to be mature, fixed and vaccinated. Homebody pets can enjoy 30-, 45and 60-minute check-ins throughout the day, meaning your furry friend won’t be home alone all day while you work to pay for kibble. Ducking out of town for the night? Downtown Pet Lovers has overnight pet sitting as well.

At 123 S. Figueroa St., (213) 290-4686 or downtownladogwalker.com.

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14 Downtown News

May 16, 2016

NATIONAL PET MONTH

THE DOWNTOWN MAN AND WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND

Arts District Dog Park

Meeting Pets and Their Human Companions at Local Dog Parks PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD

By Emily Manthei here was a time when one of the biggest complaints from Downtown Los Angeles dog owners was the lack of places where their pets could play. While people still clamor for more options, Downtown now has a healthy handful of dog parks, and they are spread across the community.

Los Angeles Downtown News visited four of the most popular dog gathering spots to meet some pets and their two-legged companions, and to learn a bit about their likes and dislikes. Some of what we heard was expected, and other elements were surprising. Here is a snapshot of the people and pets at Downtown dog parks.

T

Arts District Dog Park Who’s Hanging Out: Rachel and Winnie, who is a few months old. “It’s short for Winston, because we live on Winston Street.”

Home: The Jeffries In Downtown Since: October 2015 Rachel’s Favorite Place: Brunch and fried chicken Mondays are equally important at Ledlow. “We also love Grand Park, but I might be biased, since I work there.”

Winnie’s Favorite Place: “She loves the dog park. She barks when she sees it across the street.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “It’s a friendly community of dog owners with friendly dogs.”

Worst Thing: The lack of green space to let dogs off leash. “Everyone loves the park behind the LAPD building, but it doesn’t have a fence, which is a bit scary.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Chelsea and Buddy, a pitbull mix Home: Mozaic Apartments In Downtown Since: 2015. “I’m a traveling nurse from Minnesota, so unfortunately I’ll have to move on soon.”

Chelsea’s Favorite Place: Little Tokyo. “I love walking through the streets because there’s always something open. Daikokuya is particularly bustling.”

Buddy’s Favorite Place: “Anywhere he can chase a ball.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “It’s easy to connect with other people through your dog. It’s like an instant support group that meets at the dog park.”

Worst Thing: Not all buildings accept dogs, making it a bit tricky to find housing.

Arts District Dog Park Who’s Hanging Out: Evelyn and 3-year-old Miko Home: South of Washington Boulevard, near USC In Downtown Since: 2014 Evelyn’s Favorite Place: Angel City Brewery. “There are lots of dogs and dog owners there, so we always have lots of friends.”

Miko’s Favorite Place: Arts District Dog Park. “It’s one of the closest parks to where we live, and Miko loves hanging out with other dogs.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: Lots of outdoor seating at restaurants and dog-friendly places.

Arts District Dog Park Who’s Hanging Out: Burt and Bianca Home: Hart Hotel In Downtown Since: 2014 “I’m from Berlin, but I came Downtown after living in Brooklyn for 25 years.”

Burt’s Favorite Place: Resident bar Bianca’s Favorite Place: “I can’t go past Angel City Brewery without stopping.

Bianca loves interacting with people, and there’s always a crowd there.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: Walkability. “I can do all of my errands with my dog in tow.”

Worst Thing: Lack of grass and shade for dogs to run around and play.

May 16, 2016

Downtown News 15

NATIONAL PET MONTH

Spring Street Park

Spring Street Park

Spring Street Park

Who’s Hanging Out: Mark and Puppy-Chulo. “He’s 1 yearold, but I’m gonna call him ‘Puppy’ forever because he’s so cute.”

Home: Alexandria Hotel In Downtown Since: August 2015. “I work for the Skid Row Housing Trust, so it’s pretty convenient.”

Puppy-Chulo’s Favorite Place: “He loves the park behind the police headquarters. There are always so many dogs there!”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “I meet a lot of people with him around. I’m shy, and when I’m with him, everybody says hi.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Rachelle and Angelo, and their dogs Modoc and Wac-aak Home: Santee Court In Downtown Since: November 2015. “We moved from Brooklyn for our jobs. It’s great to commute by bike now.”

Rachelle’s Favorite Place: The Last Bookstore and Las Perlas Modoc and Wac-aak’s Favorite Place: Pet Project. “They are super nice in there, and they always give the guys some treats.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: All of the friendly dog owners in the neighborhood.

Worst Thing: “This spot is close to our loft, but we wish there was a bigger place for the dogs to run around,” says Rachelle.

Who’s Hanging Out: Brent and Bear Home: Rowan Building In Downtown Since: 2010. “I guess I’m old school.”

Brent’s Favorite Place: “Everywhere I can walk to.”

Bear’s Favorite Place: “Definitely the park at the police building.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: All the other dog owners and dogs.

Worst Thing: Finding space for your dog to take care of business. “The streets are definitely a little bit dirty, thanks to all the dogs.”

Continued on page 16

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L.A. Live Dog Park

May 16, 2016

NATIONAL PET MONTH

L.A. Live Dog Park

LAPD Park (Second between Main and Spring) Who’s Hanging Out: Aaron and Lord Byron, a 2 1/2-yearold bear of a dog who weighs 150 pounds.

Home: SB Grand In Downtown Since: 2010. “But I’ve worked at Psychic Bunny, a little production company Downtown, for the past 10 years.”

Aaron’s Favorite Place: “I like my rooftop a whole lot.”

Lord Byron’s Favorite Place: “Right here with all the other dogs after work. We spend at least an hour here every day.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “All of the attention I get with Byron can be fun. I definitely meet a lot of new people.”

Worst Thing: “Also the attention. People can get really freaked out by how big this guy is.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Carlos and his kids Josue (age 7) and Abraham (9) with Winter Home: Venice Boulevard and Hoover Street In Downtown Since: “I’ve lived around Downtown my whole life,” says Carlos.

Carlos’ Favorite Place: Staples Center Winter’s Favorite Place: “He loves the dog park,” says Carlos. “The kids like to race with him.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Ariel with Dantes Home: Metropolitan Building In Downtown Since: 2014 Ariel’s Favorite Place: Continental Club for cocktails and Grand Park for a nice walk.

Dantes’ Favorite Place: “He loves the whole city, anywhere we can walk around together.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: Meeting people with a dog by your side. “He’s a weird dog, so that’s always an ice breaker.”

Worst Thing: Dealing with dog droppings on the sidewalk. “There’s been a good effort to clean it up, but it’s still pretty gross.”

L.A. Live Dog Park

L.A. Live Dog Park

L.A. Live Dog Park

Who’s Hanging Out: Mike with Arya, a black pug/chihuahua mix Home: Flower Street Lofts In Downtown Since: 2009 Mike’s Favorite Places: BottleRock and Broken Spanish.

Arya’s Favorite Place: “She loves play dates with Karen’s dogs. Kandie is the love of her life.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “I love walking everywhere. I can work at home in my loft, and my life is all within walking distance, so Arya always comes along.”

Worst Thing: Broken glass on the sidewalk. “The best way to get to the street is to walk through the alley, so that’s a little tricky with Arya. We have to be careful.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Anne-Sophie with Boo Home: Sante Fe Lofts In Downtown Since: 2014 Anne-Sophie’s Favorite Place: “I love Spring Street.

There are always new places.”

Boo’s Favorite Place: “Grand Park, the park on Second Street by the police building, and of course here at the L.A. Live Dog Park.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “Some owners really care a lot about their dogs, and they’re really friendly.”

Worst Thing: “Summers in Downtown smell pretty bad.

Most people do a good job cleaning up after their dogs, but it still smells gross.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Karen with Kiki and Kandie. “Their birthdays were last week!”

Home: Market Lofts In Downtown Since: 2008 Karen’s Favorite Place: Takami Sushi. “They’ve got really great bartenders and great views.”

Kiki and Kandie’s Favorite Place: “Kiki likes to sneak onto the grass at FIDM. Kandie loves it here at the dog park because he met his girlfriend Arya here.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “The dog parks, for sure. Kandie is afraid of walking on the street, so we come to the dog park a lot.”

Worst Thing: The lack of grass Downtown. “FIDM’s lawn is off-limits for dogs, and it would be a great place for a dog park.”

May 16, 2016

Downtown News 17

NATIONAL PET MONTH

LAPD Park

LAPD Park

LAPD Park

Who’s Hanging Out: Sabrina with Gucci and Lambchop Home: Higgins Building In Downtown Since: 2014 Sabrina’s Favorite Place: “I love the growth I’ve seen Downtown. Au Lac is a favorite right now.”

Gucci and Lambchop’s Favorite Place: “Here. It’s right across the street from my loft, so we’re here every night.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “My dogs can get maximum satisfaction with minimal walking for me because this park is so close.”

Worst Thing: When dogs urinate on the sidewalk.

Who’s Hanging Out: Sean and Stubs. “It’s short for Stubborn.”

Home: Ava Little Tokyo In Downtown Since: 2014 Sean’s Favorite Place: “I love exploring all the new places. Ledlow is a current favorite.”

Stubs’ Favorite Place: “Right here. We’re here at least an hour or two every night.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “Most other dog owners are pretty responsible and they have very socialized dogs.”

Worst Thing: The few owners who don’t take responsibility for their dogs. “I’ve broken up a few dog fights. One guy went to the ER for a dog bite, and the owner just walked away without even making sure he was okay.”

Who’s Hanging Out: Carla (and human friend) with Gale and Balto Home: First and Boyle streets in Boyle Heights Easy Visit: “We’ve lived in Boyle Heights for four years, but it’s easy to walk over here so we spend a lot of time at this dog park.”

Carla’s Favorite Place: Down & Out Gale and Balto’s Favorite Place: “Right here! They love it. Ever since we got Gale, we’ve been here almost every day.”

Best Thing About Downtown for a Dog Owner: “The dogs have become very socialized here and developed their own personalities. So have I.”

Los Angeles Conservancy

cLaSSIc fILmS in downtown’S hIStorIc theatreS

June 2016

LAST REMAINING

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30th Season 1987–2016

saturday, June 4, 2pm & 8pm

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top Gun (1986)

to Kill a mockingbird (1962)

Los Angeles Theatre

Million Dollar Theatre

SponSored by:

SponSored by:

saturday, June 11, 8pm

Some Like It hot (1959)

Los Angeles Theatre

laconservancy.org

The Theatre at Ace Hotel

Palace Theatre

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hoLLywood foreIGn preSS aSSocIatIon waLter j. and hoLLy o. thomSon foundatIon

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General public

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double Indemnity (1944) The Theatre at Ace Hotel SponSored by:

SponSored by: L.a. county artS commISSIon, department of cuLturaL affaIrS cIty of L.a., hoLLywood foreIGn preSS aSSocIatIon

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Safety Last!

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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.

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deLIjanI famILy roy aLLen whIte PHOTOS: Orpheum Theatre by Ben Miller Photography; Top Gun © Paramount Pictures; Dos tipos de cuidado courtesy of Fundación Televisa; Singin’ in the Rain courtesy of Warner Bros.

Major funding for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s programs is provided by the LaFetra Foundation and the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation. ALL PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE 3/28/16 7:06 PM

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

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May 16, 2016

Chatting With Los Angeles’ Master of Movement

Seleta Reynolds took over as general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation in 2014 after a stint at San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency.

She has taken steps to make Los Angeles friendlier not just to drivers, but also to pedestrians and cyclists.

Department of Transportation General Manager Seleta Reynolds Talks DASH Buses, Pedestrian Safety and the Idea of Car-Free Streets in Downtown

By Eddie Kim hen Seleta Reynolds graduated from Brown University in 1998, she had an American history degree but no clue as to a career path.

She took on an internship with the city of Oakland, thinking it could be a worthwhile stopgap. Instead, it plunged her into a career

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in public service. That eventually led to her to San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency, where she won accolades for her work lead-

CONVERSATIONS ing teams in the Livable Streets division, focusing on bicycle and pedestrian issues and traffic calming from 2011-14.

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Mayor Eric Garcetti hired her away to run the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, with an eye toward finding ways to improve the city not just for drivers, but also for walkers, cyclists and transit users. She started the job in August 2014 and now oversees a department with nearly 1,900 employees, a $650 million annual budget and responsibilities including the DASH bus system and parking enforcement.

Reynolds, 40, is seeking to provide stability to a department that before her arrival saw seven GMs in a 13-year span. During an interview in her 10th-floor office in the gleaming Caltrans District 7 building in the Civic Center, she talked about

her adjustments to the department, Downtown projects and the future of transportation.

Los Angeles Downtown News: A lot of people hope to see DASH service expanded in Downtown, especially into the Arts District. Is that coming?

Seleta Reynolds: Amen! [Laughs] We’re very close.

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ority for me to get DASH into the Arts District and I think it’s important for the future of that neighborhood.

The Arts District is such a high-demand place with a lot of development. I want it to be covered with transportation options. I want it to have bike share stations all over the place, frequent DASH service, all that, so when people move to the Arts District it’s partly because they know those choices are there and that’s the lifestyle they want.

Q: In general, how is the health of DASH and its funding pool?

A: DASH doubled its fare from 25 cents to 50 cents after dealing with some huge service cuts about five years ago. Those are tough conversations to have with the community, because DASH is a lifeline service — it serves low- and very-low-income folks. We have lost riders, even with a fare as low as 50 cents, because we doubled the cost.

As a result of that, though, DASH has a good funding reserve and we are able to contemplate the addition of a couple of lines, at least.

Now’s the time when we want to give back some of the service that was removed and come up with creative fare structures, similar to how if you pay with your TAP card now, you get a discount down to 35 cents.

Q: One of your most important initiatives is Vision Zero, the campaign to eliminate pedestrian deaths by 2025. Where is the effort?

A: We’re almost done with our crash profiling, where we identify high-injury networks — where we have the most severe crashes with people walking or biking. Now we’re doing the deep dive into “Why?” It’s kind of like archaeology:

What can we learn from the crash reports that we get from the enforcement side of the department, and how do we layer that info on top of what we know about the physical environment?

The trends that have been emerging, particularly in Downtown, are pedestrian crashes that happen when drivers are turning, predominantly when they’re turning left. Hit-and-runs and insobriety continue to be an issue for both drivers and people involved in crashes.

There are a lot of places that simply have missing infrastructure, where people are crossing the street and there are no crosswalks, or people are on bikes but without any biking infrastructure. That means they’re doing things like riding the wrong way on the street or engaging in other types of behaviors that make perfect sense if you look at conditions on the street but can lead to tragic outcomes.

In Downtown, we’ve made small but important steps. The lane consolidation on Broadway was a good first step. We’ve put in 16 pedestrian head start crossing signals around Downtown. We’re also embarking on a redesign of Main and Spring streets, plus our first protected bikeway in Downtown is being built on Los Angeles Street.

Q: We’ve written about pedestrians getting jaywalking tickets for crossing the street when the countdown timer is on, but these kind of policies seem to go against promoting walking. What needs to change?

A: The whole reason we rolled out the countdown signals to begin with was to diminish the number of people who were caught in the crosswalk when the opposing vehicles got the green. People know whether they can make it in time or not. I hope it’s a policy change we

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can seek at the state level, because the police are out there enforcing the law as written — that you are not allowed to step into a crosswalk during the countdown.

Q: What do you think of the proposed Downtown streetcar? There are concerns that it won’t live up to its transit potential, especially with it sharing lanes amid pretty significant congestion.

A: I think that Councilman [José] Huizar has been one of the most progressive champions for transportation that I’ve encountered in city government, period, and not just in L.A. The streetcar is clearly one of his topline priorities in giving people more choice in how they get around.

I tend to agree that the streetcars — and I’ve seen a lot of research on this — that operate in exclusive lanes are simply a higher level of transit service. I would like that, but what I hope will happen is we’ll start to move toward a real conversation about car-free streets in Downtown. The streetcar is a project designed to capture people’s imaginations. It could help us think about things that Angelenos would have never thought possible in their city.

Q: What have you noticed about the differences in how politics impacts transportation policy in this city?

A: I wasn’t as closely tied to the political side of things in San Francisco, so there’s less to compare directly. But I have noticed that, in San Francisco, technical experts from the department would be expected to show up and have mastery of the topic and deal with very tough questions, with lots of public back-and-forth with elected officials. That doesn’t seem to be the tradition here.

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Q: Do you often hear from critics who disagree with your focus on pedestrians and cyclists instead of just improving conditions for drivers?

A: Oh yeah. [Laughs] But there is no war on cars. We’re trying to give people choices because we see that, even though you think of L.A. as a place of traffic, there are a lot of people here that don’t have access to a car. And I need to make the city work for those people.

You can get to about 12 times as many jobs in an hour in a car as you can by transit in L.A. Homelessness is a huge problem in Downtown and the whole city, and the way I’m going to keep people from becoming homeless is to make sure they have a reliable way to get to work.

There’s also a huge disruption in transportation coming. I don’t want it to be more of the same when driverless vehicles arrive. I don’t want them to be available to only the very wealthy.

My way of easing congestion is to invest in other modes and help them catch up. You’re looking at a city that has spent the better part of the last 60 years trying to make it easy to drive, and you can see the results.

We cannot keep doing the same things and expect a different outcome. eddie@downtownnews.com

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It’s just not as often that you see robust public dialogue. There needs to be a safe space for that to occur. Part of that is, my engineers and planners need to know that if they make a mistake while speaking, I have their back. But it’s a lot of work, and not everyone is comfortable with it. This can lead to a place where people hold their cards very tightly and not be open and honest.

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AROUND TOWN, 2 suspected of pulling the trigger in a murder at Downtown’s Standard Hotel in December. Police have named Jamaine Harrington as the main suspect and have asked for information that leads to his arrest. At 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 13, an argument broke out outside the Financial District hotel and turned into a physical fight.

Harrington allegedly fired a gun at the combatants, wounding two people. The fight continued to the hotel’s parking lot where Harrington allegedly fired at 22-year-old Thomas Johnson, killing him and wounding another individual.

Police describe Harrington as a 5’10” AfricanAmerican man with cornrows, a mustache and brown eyes. The City Council earlier this year authorized a $50,000 reward for information that

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leads to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (213) 996-1891 or submit an anonymous online tip at lapdonline.org/report_a_crime.

San Diego Biotech Business Comes Downtown

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he San Diego-based life sciences company Biocom is opening up offices in Downtown Los Angeles. Biocom, which focuses on capital and workforce development for medical, agricultural and energy-based companies, plans to open its Downtown outpost at the end of May in the Citigroup Center at 444 S. Flower St., according to CEO Joe Panetta.

The company is currently operating in space at

the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, which Biocom is working with. “We think that Los Angeles County has a thriving life-science community that needs to be a bit more cohesive,” he said. “The neighborhood of Downtown L.A. is a great location, as it gives us the opportunity to be close to business organizations and be centrally located.”

Ride the Rails From Downtown to the Beach

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inally, people living and working in Downtown Los Angeles can take the train all the way to the beach. The second phase of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Expo Line light rail route is opening on Fri-

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day, May 20, after five years of work. The project extends the terminus from Culver City to downtown Santa Monica. To celebrate the unveiling of the route, Metro is offering free rides on Friday and Saturday. In addition, Metro is throwing celebrations at five of the seven new stations — Downtown Santa Monica, 17th St./Santa Monica College, 26th St./Bergamot, Expo/Bundy and Palms — plus the Culver City station. Entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks and information booths will be set up from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Travel time between Santa Monica and Downtown is estimated at 45 minutes. More information is at metro.net.

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ng Lee’s 2000 masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon set a new bar for martial arts choreography and use of special effects, depicting, among other things, a pair of swordsmen clashing while flying through a bamboo forest. Audiences can once again enjoy the action on the big screen when it comes to the historic Million Dollar Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday, May 20. The event from movie screening series EatSeeHear is offering general admission for $14, with a limited number of $10 early-bird tickets and even fewer $21 “Fashionably Late” tickets that guarantees a seat in the best part of the house, regardless of when you arrive (all other seats are first-come, first-served). Doors will open at 6 p.m. and beer and wine will be available for purchase. The screening is timed with L.A. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. More information is at eatseehear.com.

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May 16, 2016

Downtown News 21

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Another Old Building With a New Future Developer Jade Enterprises Turning 1923 Harris Building Into Office Space

By Nicholas Slayton he Downtown Los Angeles development boom has largely overlooked the Fashion District. Now a Downtown developer is giving a building on the edge of the community new life as a creative office hub.

Jade Enterprises is deep into a restoration of the 93-year-old Harris Building at the southwest corner of 11th and Main streets. The developer, which has four residential complexes in the works in Downtown, has owned the property for 10 years, according to a project representative.

Work is expected to be complete this month, and new tenants could move in by the end of summer. Jade has hired brokerage firm Industry Partners to lease six of the seven floors for companies seeking office space (the first floor will serve as retail space).

“I suspect we’ll have a good number of single-floor tenants,” said Carle Pierose, a partner at Industry Partners who is working on the Harris Building. “We’re probably going to get five to 10 tenants inside the building once we finish the work.”

Pierose said that the average floor measures 7,600 square feet. Jade is seeking rents of $3 per square foot.

The ground floor will feature 6,400 square feet of retail and restaurant space, although no tenants have been confirmed. The firm RKF is handling the retail leasing.

The Harris Building opened in 1923, with a Beaux Arts design from architect Henry Har-

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Built in 1923, the Harris Building at 11th and Main streets has been largely dormant for years. Developer Jade Enterprises is turning it into office space.

photo by Gary Leonard

wood Hewitt. It was originally the home of Morris Harris’ Union Manufacturing Company, and after the business left, other garment and textile companies occupied the space. The upper levels have long sat empty or been used for storage, Pierose said.

Jade began the restoration in October. Exterior work includes restoring the red brick façade and re-glazing rather than replacing the windows. Jade also undertook a complete seismic retrofit of the building.

The interiors feature polished concrete floors. The aging infrastructure has been over-

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hauled, with new electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. Jade is also putting bike racks inside the building.

Jade Enterprises would not disclose the budget for the restoration.

Kent Smith, executive director of the Fashion District Business Improvement District, praised the project, which follows the opening last year of developer Capital Foresight’s transformation of the 1926 Capitol Garment Building at 217 E. Eighth St. into a residential complex with 77 apartments. These kind of projects, he said, can spark further activity in the area.

“There are a whole bunch of buildings that were outdated or used for other purposes,” Smith said. “Developers could bring them into better condition.”

The Harris Building is on the western edge of the Fashion District, and just a block from where older Broadway structures such as the Herald Examiner Building and the Case Hotel are being modernized. Josh Wrobel, managing director at the real estate and commercial services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, said that the community could host some of the creative and tech companies that are moving to Downtown from the Westside, though he noted that different businesses have different needs.

“Downtown L.A. is a market where there is a boom in office space,” Wrobel said. “You’re seeing that with people moving into a pretty wide swath of the area. A lot are looking in the Arts District, and some are looking for the core stability of the Central Business District.”

Smith said that like the Harris Building, many Fashion District structures are seeing marginal use, often as storage space. He pointed to the Case Hotel, which will become a boutique Proper Hotel. In January, London investment firm Ennismore paid $30 million for the 1922 Los Angeles Railway Building, with plans to turn the 10-story property at 1060 S. Broadway into a hotel.

Jade’s recent activity in Downtown has primarily been residential. It is currently building the 410-apartment Onyx project at 440 W. Pico Blvd., and the Topaz, which will bring 159 apartments to Sixth and Main streets. Two additional projects, the Emerald at 14th and Olive streets, and the Sapphire on Sixth Street in City West, are in the planning stage. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Tickets on sale at thebroad.org beginning May 15

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

22 Downtown News

May 16, 2016

DT

CALENDAR

Breaking Out of ‘La Cage’

photo by Michael Lamont

East West Players and Tim Dang Tackle Gay Issues and Family Love in His Final Show With the Company

Little Tokyo theater company East West Players is staging a new production of the 1983 show La Cage aux Folles. It opens Wednesday, May 18.

By Eddie Kim im Dang is sitting in the middle of a quiet David Henry Hwang Theater, the venue that Little Tokyo’s East West Players calls home. The light scent of cut plywood hangs in the air, wafting from the construction onstage.

The days are numbered for Dang to perch like this, peering at the stage, imagining his actors darting left and right as music fills the room. Last summer he announced his impending retirement as producing artistic director for East West Players, a title he has held for 22 years. The musical La Cage aux Folles, which opens this week, will be the last show he directs for the company.

The timing is intentional. About two years ago, when Dang was pondering his retirement, he daydreamed about staging La Cage for his farewell show. He had never directed or performed in the 1983 musical by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, but found inspiration in the story of a gay couple (a drag club owner and a drag queen), struggling to contend with their son’s straight-laced, socially conservative future in-laws.

“I thought this was a good fit for what was happening in the world, at least a few years ago, with the gay community pushing for marriage rights,” Dang, who is gay, said. “As it happens, the talk about diversity is really heating up now, with even the federal government getting into transgender rights, for instance. So the show feels relevant.”

La Cage opens Wednesday, May 18, and runs through June 26. The musical begins with Georges (the club owner, played by veteran stage actor Jon Jon Briones) and his high-strung partner Albin (Gedde Watanabe) getting ready for another nightly show.

Albin departs for the stage, but Georges is interrupted by his 24-year-old son Jean-Michael (born after a fling with a woman), who announces his engagement to Anne Dindon.

Embarrassed by Georges and Albin’s relationship, Jean-Michael has fooled his fiancee and her parents into thinking that Georges is a retired diplomat — and married to Jean-Michael’s biological mother, Sybil.

The story unfolds as Georges and an initially reluctant Albin

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try different ruses to fool the Dindons, ultimately leading to a disastrous reveal. In typical EWP fashion, La Cage is pulled from its European setting and placed in an Asian locale, partly inspired by a psychedelic Thailand episode of Anthony Bourdain’s travel show “Parts Unknown.”

“What’s really interesting is that our set designer, Victoria Petrovich, took note of this episode and the ‘ladyboy cabaret’ that Bourdain goes to,” Dang said, referring to Thailand’s rowdy and iconic drag shows. “Our idea is that the show takes place somewhere where same-sex marriage is not approved, like Thailand, yet there’s a kind of paradoxical fascination with drag clubs.”

The theater company reached out to Briones and Watanabe for the lead roles. Both have long resumes, with Watanabe’s credits including the over-the-top Long Duk Dong in the 1984 John Hughes film Sixteen Candles, while Briones is a Broadway and West End star who recently performed the role of The Engineer in a London staging of Miss Saigon.

La Cage’s main duo requires sensitivity, Briones noted, because they could quickly became a comic image of a gay “odd couple,” rather than two people trying to adjust their identities and expectations when faced with an unhappy son.

“When I was thinking about accepting the role, I thought about my gay friends, ‘gay’ gestures, things like that. You play a real human, and they can’t be a caricature,” Briones said. “For me, I connected with Georges trying to be a good father. I have a family, too. I kept it really grounded.”

Show Before the Show The show doesn’t begin and end on stage.

East West Players secured a grant from Los Angeles County to hire six at-risk LGBT youth as paid interns, with the aim of educating the cast about LGBT rights and terminology, and teaching the youngsters the business of theater. The move was a partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where Dang’s partner, Darrel Cummings, serves as the chief of staff.

“We’re building a dance floor out in the courtyard, and these interns are programming the outdoor stage with dance music

from the ’80s to now that drag entertainers love to sing or dance to. Everything from Madonna to Beyonce to Gaga to Donna Summer,” Dang said.

The music will be bumping early, with EWP also staging a drag show in the courtyard 15 minutes before each performance. The main-floor bathrooms are also being relabeled as gender neutral, out of respect and advocacy for transgender and gender-fluid people.

Yet Dang is quick to point out that La Cage isn’t solely serving as a lesson on LGBT issues. Briones added that it uses a flamboyant narrative to drill into a universal idea: that romantic love between two long-term partners, and familial love, ebbs and flows in unpredictable ways.

“The issues are about what it takes to be accepted, and that anxiety you feel when you introduce your family to somebody,” Briones said. “It could be about being poor and the pressure to pretend to be rich. It’s a similar feeling.”

Amid the rollercoaster of feelings unfolding on stage, Dang appears to be his usual unflappable self. He flashed a wry smile as he talked about stepping away from EWP. Guiding the nation’s oldest performing theater of color has been, as he bluntly put it, “an incredible grind.”

Dang will remain at EWP for several months as a consultant while the theater searches for his successor — likely to be split into two positions, with one person on the artistic side and another focusing on management and fundraising.

After that, he’s interested in continuing his efforts running the annual national Asian American Theater Conference and directing shows around the city.

For now, though, Dang is focused on getting ready for opening night.

“The dress rehearsal this past weekend was the expected train wreck,” Dang said, a laugh echoing through the theater. “Even if this is the last show, some things don’t change.”

La Cage aux Folles runs May 18-June 26 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

May 16, 2016

Downtown News 23

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Restaurant Buzz Tacos in Two Districts, Crazy Expensive Whiskey, Later Hours At Grand Central Market and More Food Happenings

By Eddie Kim p All Night (Kinda): Grand Central Market is getting a new bedtime. A number of eateries in the food hub have signed on to stay open until 10 p.m. daily beginning June 3, with hopes of attracting crowds that want later dinners or just to grab a drink and a snack before hitting the Downtown nightlife scene. Participating vendors include pasta bar Knead & Co., Belcampo Meat Co., Berlin Currywurst and China Café. Some shops, like DTLA Cheese and McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, are unleashing nighttime specials (queso dip and boozy ice cream with Kentucky whiskey, respectively). The extended hours were first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Currently the market is open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., with extended hours to 9 p.m. only on weekends.

At 317 S. Broadway or grandcentralmarket.com.

U

House Flipping: The Financial District restaurant Front of House, on the ground floor of the high-rise 811 Wilshire, has suffered an identity crisis of sorts. It opened last summer as a place for modern Mexican and tapas, but the sprawling menu didn’t quite click. Now the offerings have been cut down and rebranded as “Angeleno” fare, with a mash-up of cuisines served family-style (in typically trendy fashion).

Some Latin American options remain, includ-

ing shrimp tacos and fried plantains to share, but many items are modern takes on comfort food like fried chicken and pot pie (here with roasted duck). The best deals are the daily specials: Tuesdays, for instance, offer a dry-aged, coffee-rubbed steak with a pile of garlic fries and a can of PBR for $20. The classic-leaning cocktails from barman Josh Suchan include the standout Rusty Nut with coconut-tea-infused scotch and Lillet Blanc.

At 615 S. Flower St., (213) 537-0554 or fohrestaurant.com.

Taco Twins: Downtown is full of great taco joints. Now get ready for two more: Chicas Tacos in South Park and Sonoratown in the Fashion District. Chicas Tacos is slated to open May 30 in a little shack at 728 S. Olive St. that formerly belonged to Mama’s Asian Cuisine. While menu details haven’t been revealed, Chicas’ website touts “authentic Mexican tacos” — the lack of regional detail may portend the usual staples of carne asada, carnitas and chicken.

Sonoratown, meanwhile, specializes in the relatively rare-in-L.A. but utterly delicious Northern Mexico-style carne asada taco. The use of intense mesquite wood to grill the meat, plus the choice of flour tortillas, not corn, defines tacos from the Sonora region. They’re bringing in recipes from Sonora’s Asadero Campas, plus plans to partner with local chorizo master Humberto

photo by Gary Leonard

Chicas Tacos is moving into an old shack-like structure at 728 S. Olive St. that once housed Mama’s Asian Cuisine.

Raygoza, per the blog Eater L.A. Expect a softopening this month.

Chicas Tacos is coming to 728 S. Olive St. or chicastacos.com. Sonoratown is coming to 208 E. Eighth St. Local No More: For a while there, it looked like the Financial District’s casual bistro Local Table had fallen into a groove as a neighborhood favorite at 800 S. Figueroa St. It served an array of likeable salads, sandwiches and hot entrees, plus beverages made in-house and some delicious pastries, too. Apparently none of that was

enough to keep the business afloat, and Local Table closed on May 2, about two and a half years after opening. No replacement has been announced, and the presence of the large Fogo de Chao steakhouse on the corner of the same building, at Eighth and Figueroa streets, will influence any interested dining concepts.

Miro Image: Speaking of the Figueroa Corridor, the former Cucina Rustica at 888 Wilshire Blvd. has been transformed into Miro, a beautiful new eatery making a splashy play in DownContinued on page 28

19th Annual City of Angels Fun Ride presented by Volkswagen

Up gn ay! i S od T

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 UCLA Campus, Dickson Plaza - West L.A.

L.A.’s Most Unique Urban Bicycle Adventure Is Back!

Advanced Ride: 62 Miles Metric Century Partial rolling closure for the first 10 miles, then a re-start and ride at your own pace.

Recreation Ride: 32 miles @ a 10-12 MPH pace Rolling closure for the entire ride.

Post ride lunch provided by Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill Huge raffle... win bikes, bike parts, clothing, accessories and more!

For more info and to register visit COAFUNRIDE.com Profits will will help to buy a new bloodmobile for UCLA Blood & Platelet Donor Center.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE LAPD!

SPONSORS

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CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS

TUESDAY, MAY 17 Geoff Dyer at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: The essayist will be all hung up on spatial relationships to identity as he chats with Jonathan Lethem about his latest non-fiction collection, “White Sands: Experiences From the Outside World.”

The Un-Private Collection: Robert Longo and Henry Rollins Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or thebroad.org.

8 p.m.: The former frontman of Black Flag and an acclaimed man of images collide in this unlikely discussion brought to you by the Broad Museum.

THURSDAY, MAY 19 Math Bass at MOCA Geffen Contemporary Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

7 p.m.: The artist herself leads a tour of “Don’t Look Back: The 1990s at MOCA.” We can neither confirm or deny the presence of prog rock.

Rachel Moore at Live Talks Business Gensler, 500 S. Figueroa or business.livetalksla.org.

8:15 a.m.: The President and CEO of the Music Center dabbles in the practical side of creativity in her new book “The Artist’s Compass: The Complete Guide to Building a Life and a Living in the Performing Arts.” She’ll talk about it at this breakfast event.

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

7:15 p.m.: With a Pulitzer Prize under his belt, Finnegan wants to dish about younger years, autobiography and maturing as a wild child.

FRIDAY, MAY 20 Bad Advice From Bad Women Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: Female L.A. authors and word pushers including Charlotte Shane, Tess Lynch, Lorelei Lee, Heather Havrilesky, Molly Lambert and Kathleen Hale discuss their work and the meta level of what the stakes of gender add to said work.

Marco Petruzzi at Town Hall-L.A. City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

11:30 a.m.: The charter school boom is a bit like the Iraq War — you can dicker about whether or not they were a good idea, but their lasting impact is here to stay. The President and CEO of Green Dot Public Schools (who operate 18 charters schools in L.A. County) talks up the movement.

SUNDAY, MAY 22 Kimchi and Wieners Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

1-4 p.m.: Celebrate the release of Chris Ying’s book “The Wurst of Lucky Peach,” which tells you everything you never knew you wanted to know about encased meats. See, Downtown really does have something for everyone.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

May 21, 7 and 9:30 p.m.: Augmenting Downtown’s current complement of Wandas but not detracting from the quality and esteem of Wanda at the Spring Street Post Office, Wanda Sykes promises two gigs packed full of laughs.

Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com.

May 21, 7:30-11 p.m.: Cyprus’ Alexia Vassiliou.

Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or belascous.com.

May 16: After a lengthy hiatus, James Blake has provided another stellar album of aware post-electronica for hipster youth to listen.

May 17: After Troy Polamalu leaves the public spotlight,

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

May 16, 2016

Downtown News 25

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Teyana Taylor is a prime candidate to take up his Head & Shoulders endorsement deal.

May 19, 9 p.m.: Canadian rapper Jazz Cartier plays tonight.

May 20, 9 p.m.: Basscon is not a fishing trade show.

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

May 16: Joomanji and Jackie Gage.

May 17: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio.

May 18-19: Gerald and Sachal.

May 20: Holophonor.

May 21: Logan Richardson.

May 22: Jones Jones.

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

May 16: The penultimate night of Gavin Turek’s residency features support from Black Gatsby, which is a pretty sweet performer name but still not as rad as W.E.B. Scott Fitzgerald.

May 17: Vox is an emotive woman crooning into a mic with bass-heavy electro tracks behind her.

May 18: With his bleached blond locks, Mr. Hudson looks like Bruce Willis in The Jackal, except without the ominous skill set and sinister political motivations (that we know of).

May 19: The Dig characterize their sound as having “enough reverb to drown Robert Smith.” That may be, but do you have the cojones to go through with it?

May 20: The Show Ponies use benign Americana harmonies to perpetuate the stereotype that the narrative of the West is one of wide open spaces and stunning introspection instead of urbanization and extractive industries.

May 21: Having been burned one too many times in the past by cunning Finnish men, we were hesitant to applaud Jaakko Eino Kalevi’s work, but the musician’s sound is lovely indeed.

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

May 16: When the Jazzaholics were kids, they never expected that listening to one Miles Davis album would end with them snorting crushed up Jaco Pastorius LPs on the streets of Skidrokyo.

May 17: Sycamore gears up for the battle of the bands where they’ll be playing against their nemesis, Oak. May 18: The Get Down Boys are the best bluegrass L.A. could hope to handle.

May 19: Vignes Rooftop Revival sounds suspiciously like an ad hoc band formed by LAPD helicopter pilots at the launch pad over at Vignes and Chavez.

May 20: The Companies yearn to achieve corporate personhood.

May 22: Ben Bostick is no relation to Barry Bostwick.

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

May 20: Bingo Players.

Continued on next page

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$8,495 Gray/Beige CPO, 20” whls, Bose, 25k Mi. ZP2048M/L015597 $55,895 2013 Cayenne Turbo .............................

2012 Nissan Versa ..................................

CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon Blk/Umb, CPO, 63K Mi, Prem. Plus, 21” Whls. ZP2030M/A90208 $11,595 $63,898 Auto, Pwr Doors, Pwr Locks. F17859-1/885278 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles 2013 911 Cab ..........................................

2013 Chrysler 200 .................................

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gray/Blk, CPO, Prem. +, 20” Whls,14K Mi. ZP1957M/S14033 $11,998 $75,895 Auto, Pwrd Doors, Pwr Locks. F17305D1-1/698003 Gustavo Bonilla 2014 Chevy Spark .....................................

SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez 2013 Panamera Platinum Ed. ..............

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The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

Auto, Pwr Doors, Pwr Locks. F17597-1/443513

One copy per person.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie

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26 Downtown News Continued from previous page

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May 21: Chris Lake.

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

May 17, 7 p.m.: What the whales were to celebrity causes in the ’80s, blood wood has apparently become to members of Maroon 5 and Guster. Scott Goldman moderates “Musicians and Communities Fight Back.”

Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com.

May 20, 8 p.m.: Tonight’s double bill featuring Fantasia & 

Dim Sum

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

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Free Parking Next to Restaurant Tel: 213.617.2323

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CROSSWORD

Anthony Hamilton means that some zealous fan’s most urgent prayers have been answered.

May 21, 8 p.m.: Noche de Recuerdo featurs Angelica Maria, King Clave and Elio Roca. Hot damn.

The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com.

May 16, 8 p.m.: It remains to be seen whether or not Kansas City MC Tech N9ne will indeed make the ’hood go crazy.

May 17, 8 p.m.: When it says that Madeintyo & Royce Rizzy have a $5 show, does that mean audience members will each receive a fresh Lincoln? Or did we read that wrong?

May 19, 8 p.m.: This year’s MAP Fund Benefit features Smokey Robinson, El Debarge, Baby Face and Ceelo Green.

Open24/7

Free Wi-Fi | Drive Thru Free Parking Breakfast All Day

726 Alameda St. (Bay & Alameda) 213-228-8999 | farmerboysla.com

20% OFF

For Orders Over $15

(before taxes) With This Coupon. Expires 5/31/16.

No substitutions. Limit one offer per coupon. One coupon per transaction. Los Angeles Alameda location only. Not valid with any other coupon, advertised special or offer.

State sales tax applicable. Copies or replicas of this offer will not be accepted.

May 21, 8 p.m.: Compton’s favorite Samoan, J Boog.

Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

May 18, 8 p.m.: Ben Folds is celebrating 19 years of couples mistaking his famous song about a day-after-Christmas trip to the abortion clinic for a love song.

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.

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

✤ Live Lobster and Crab ✤ Delivery, Minimum Order $15 ✤ Lunch Special $4.95 – Mon.-Fri. 11-5, Sat.-Sun. 11-3 ✤ Party Tray Available 739-747 N. Main St. Los Angeles, 90012 213.680.3333 Regentchinainn.com FREE PARKING

May 16, 2016

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

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

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

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

May 16, 2016

DT

CLASSIFIEDS

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AUTO SALES

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LEGAL PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF $20,000 REWARD OFFERED BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Notice is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles has established a $20,000 reward offered in exchange for information leading to the apprehension and/or conviction of Steven Lawrence Wright, who is a suspect for a heinous gang related murder that

Downtown News 27

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. occurred in the City of Pasadena on January 19, 2011 and was erroneously released from the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center on January 30, 2016. Any person having any information related to this crime is requested to call Detectives Salcedo or Forcier at the Sheriff’s Major Crime Bureau at (562) 946-7893 and refer to Report No. 916-00171-5120-690.

The terms of the reward provide that: The information given that leads to the determination of the identity, the apprehension and conviction of any person or persons must be given no later than May 1, 2016. All reward claims must be in writing and shall be received no later than June 30, 2016. The total County payment of any and all rewards shall in no event exceed $20,000 and no claim shall be paid prior to conviction unless the Board of Supervisors makes a finding of impossibility of conviction due to the death or incapacity of the person or persons responsible for the crime or crimes. The County reward may be apportioned between various persons and/or paid for the conviction of various persons as the circumstances fairly dictate. Any claims for the reward funds should be filed no later than June 30, 2016, with the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors, 500 West Temple Street, Room 383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, Los Angeles, California 90012, Attention: Steven Lawrence Wright Reward Fund. For further information, please call (213) 974-1579. Si no entiende esta noticia o si necesita mas informacion, favor de llamar a este numero (213) 974-1579.

FOR RENT

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Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Flip through the DT News print edition on your mobile device, with more than 5 years of past issues available!

Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

SunshineGenerationLA.com • 909-861-4433

votebestof.com BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

IT’S TIME

Voting is open now through May 31, 2016.

So don’t miss your chance to help define what is best about Downtown.

Win A WEEKEND ON THE TOWN OR

TO CAST YOUR VOTE!

AN iPAD MINI!

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 and dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse. It’s a great package, if we do say so ourselves, worth more than $1,000.

Additional prizes: iPad Mini, cash prizes, gift certificates and more!

Mobile & Tablet Ready

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

28 Downtown News

May 16, 2016

RESTAURANT BUZZ, 23

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

GRAND TOWER

255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

town’s upscale dining arena. Why splashy? For one, General Manager Tyler Dow (Faith & Flower) has boasted about Miro’s rare whiskey collection, which is no joke, as it features selections like a 32-year-old Port Ellen scotch (it retails for around $2,000 a bottle). Much of the downstairs is devoted to the whiskey bar and an additional whiskey lounge, while the main floor is dedicated to chef Gavin Mills’ (Tavern, Wood & Vine) Mediterraneanleaning cooking. Pastas are made in-house (check out the beef cheek “trofie” pasta with house-made ricotta cheese), as are several kinds of charcuterie. Bigger entrees include a pork chop cooked over wood fire and served with polenta, and wild salmon with a bread salad and mint yogurt. Dishes average around $20. Miro is open for lunch and dinner, Monday-Saturday.

At 888 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 988-8880 or mirorestaurant.com.

Re New no ly va ted

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

PROMENADE TOWERS

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

MUSEUM TOWER

225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

photo by Gary Leonard

Starting June 3, Grand Central Market will stay open until 10 p.m. every night. Participating eateries include chef Mark Peel’s Bombo.

Wine and Dine: You’ve probably sipped wine from Rioja, which is to Spain what the famed Bordeaux region is to France. As it so happens, the region’s winemakers want to show off and inform L.A. drinkers, which is why they’re bringing the big Rioja Wine and Tapas Festival to Union Station on Saturday, May 21.

A $69 ticket nets tastings of 200-plus wine varietals from more than 30 Spanish wineries, plus an array of bites from 30-plus chefs, including Downtown’s Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish, B.S. Taqueria). There will be plenty of pricey Spanish ham being sliced and served at the jamón bar, plus a “cheese cave,” which unfortunately is not actually a cave made out of cheese. The event includes a pair of Rioja seminars.

Coming to 800 N. Alameda St. or riojawineandtapasfestival.com.

Bring the Heat: Finally, after some delays, Howlin’ Rays opened in late April and is slinging magnificent Nashville-style hot chicken in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza. Hot chicken, for those not in the know, is what happens when fried chicken goes punk and gets slathered in fat (usually a combo of oil and lard) spiced with a mix of chili peppers. The concept is simple: Pick your chicken (two pieces of white or dark meat, half a bird, wings, etc.) and choose a heat level (from no-heat “Country” to the savage “Howlin”). Side dishes include braised collards and tangy coleslaw.

The weekend brings hot chicken and waffles. Howlin’ Rays is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

At 727 N. Broadway, (213) 935-8399 or howlinrays.com.

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