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MAY 27, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #21

How Do You Like Meow?

Downtown’s First Cat Cafe Opens in the Historic Core

photo by Gary Leonard

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AROUND TOWN

Dodger Celebration at Philippe’s This Week

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n May 28, 1957, the National League team owners voted unanimously to allow the then-Brooklyn Dodgers to move west and become the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In honor of the date, Philippe the Original, which frequently packs fans in before Dodger games, is helping celebrate the anniversary alongside players Justin Turner and Kike Hernandez. From noon-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, fans can meet the two ballplayers, and the restaurant will sell its signature French dip sandwich for $1.57 until 7 p.m.

The day will also hold live music from DJ Runway. The event is organized by Adidas.

Philippe’s is at 1001 N. Alameda St.

Live Nation Buys Spaceland

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he Los Angeles concert scene has had a big shakeup. Promotions giant Live Nation has purchased the independent Downtown-based concert promoter Spaceland Presents. The deal also involves Live Nation taking over Spaceland’s venues, including the Historic Core’s The Regent (other acquisitions include the Echo and Echoplex in nearby Echo Park). “Live Na-

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tion brings added know-how, extensive resources, and worldwide experience to help expand Spaceland’s growth,” Spaceland founder Mitchell Frank said in a prepared statement. “It will substantially increase our bandwidth and support our ability to continue to advocate and promote the artists and music we care about through live music.” Live Nation operates numerous theaters in Los Angeles, including the Wiltern and the Hollywood Palladium.

Rice Cakes Site to Become Housing Complex

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he former home of the Umeya Rice Cakes Company in Little Tokyo is slated to become a housing development. The Little Tokyo Service Center announced on May 17 that it had purchased the property at 414 Crocker St., with plans to redevelop the 35,766-square-foot space into a 100% affordable housing project. The price was not revealed. The project will have 120-150 units, with 50% set aside as permanent supportive housing. The ground floor will have 12,000 square feet of space for community, commercial and service providers. Rafu Shimpo first reported the news. Takao Suzuki, LTSC’s director of community economic development, told Los Angeles Downtown News that construction is projected to begin in four years. The LTSC is currently working on the Terasaki Budokan community and recreation center project on Los Angeles Street. That is expected to open next year.

MAY 27, 2019

Colburn School Project to Grow

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he Colburn School has been fairly quiet about a major expansion since announcing it early last year, but now some new details are materializing. The Bunker Hill institution is seeking to acquire a small parking lot on Bunker Hill, with plans to loop the space into its upcoming 200,000-square-foot expansion. According to a May 14 memo to the CRA/LA Oversight Committee, on May 2 the CRA Governing Board approved an agreement to sell the 4,800-square-foot parcel on Second Street between Hill and Olive streets to the school for $100,000. According to the document, the school will transition the parking lot into an open pedestrian space, which will be wrapped into the expansion on the parcel on the opposite corner of Second Street. The project being designed

by Frank Gehry will include a 1,100-seat concert hall, a 700-seat theater and classroom and rehearsal space. No timeline or budget for the expansion has been revealed. Urbanize.la first reported the news.

Big Lease in City West

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here has been a big deal in City West.

L.A. Care Health Plan recently announced that it is consolidating its staff in one Downtown office. L.A. Care, the largest public health provider in the United States, has signed a lease to take over nearly the entirety of a nine-story, 370,000-square-foot

building at 1200 W. Seventh St. Terms were not disclosed, but L.A. Care will move its full staff starting in 2024 when the lease begins.

Some employees are already there, but most of the company’s 2,000-person workforce is based in other nearby buildings. John Baackes, the L.A. Care CEO, said in a prepared statement that the building “has a much more user-friendly floorplan that will let us operate in 63,000 fewer square feet and that will result in millions of dollars in savings each year.”

Currently, the structure also houses some city workers, who are expected to move into a new Civic Center building. Clay Hammerstein of CBRE represented L.A. Care in the deal while John McAniff of JLL represented property owner Rising Realty Partners.

Fashion District Mural

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eople walking north on Los Angeles Street in the Fashion District might notice something different — it’s a new black and white mural. The artwork, created by Tommii Lim, went up at the end of April, accompanied by a community party where people could help paint a section. The work covering a 2,000-square-foot wall at 737 S. Los Angeles St. depicts three women watching rockets zoom across the sky, and was inspired by the neighborhood, according to Lim. The mural was sponsored by the community group Ayan and the nonprofit NOW Art. “I’ve painted murals all over the world, but it’s very special to bring something to Downtown Los Angeles where I’ve been living and creating for over a decade,” Lim said in a prepared statement.

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MAY 27, 2019

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Closure Could Mean Blues for Blue Line Riders Four-Month Overhaul of Downtown Portion of L.A.’s Oldest Metro Line Starts This Week

The Pico Station in South Park is one of 11 Blue Line stations that will close for renovations on Saturday, June 1. The shutdown will last for four months.

photo by Sean P. Thomas

By Sean P. Thomas n January, the southern portion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s oldest rail line closed for repairs. It will reopen this week, but as it does, the northern half of the Blue Line will shut for its facelift — that includes three stations in Downtown Los Angeles.

Starting Saturday, June 1, the Blue Line from the 7th Street/Metro Center to the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station will be out of service, replaced by a collection of dedicated bus lines. The portion of the route, including the Pico stop in South Park near Staples Center, and the Grand Avenue/LATTC stop, is expected to reopen in early October.

The Green Line at the Willowbrook Sta-

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tion, and the Purple and Red lines at the 7th Street/Metro Center station, will remain in operation. However, the closure will also impact the Expo Line going into Downtown, forcing commuters to transfer to shuttle buses once they arrive at the LATTC/Orthopaedic Hospital station.

Part of Metro’s larger $1.2 billion “New Blue” modernization project, the current renovations, budgeted at $350 million, will bring a collection of improvements to the 28-yearold rail route. This includes overhauling the overhead electric system, and replacing four interlocking elements that will allow trains to travel around hazards in case of an accident, thereby reducing service interruptions.

There’s another change: The Blue line will

be renamed the A Line, part of a Metro-wide rebranding of its rail routes. The stations will also get fresh paint and upgraded signals.

According to Timothy Lindholm, Metro’s Executive Officer of Program Management and Capital Projects, the closure is expected to impact 60,000 daily Blue Line riders. That includes many people commuting to and from Downtown for work.

“It is not lost on us that we are greatly affecting our passengers, which is why we have put so much time and effort into the project and why we are so intent on doing the work as safely and as quickly as possible,” Lindholm said.

Expo Line riders will also be impacted, but not for as long. The Expo Line stops at the 7th Street/Metro Center and the Pico Station will close for 60 days starting June 22, but service will resume in late August, even as Blue Line work continues. During the Expo Line closure shuttle buses will run along the route, making stops at both locations.

Alternative Transportation To alleviate the impacts, Metro is providing three levels of replacement service for Blue Line riders while the stations are shut down.

■ A free local shuttle (line 864) will stop at all 11 stations that are out of service along the Blue Line, from Willowbrook to 7th Street/Metro Center. The bus will run every six minutes during morning rush hour (5:30-9 a.m.) and

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evening rush hour (3-7 p.m.). Outside of rush hour, the buses will run every 12 minutes.

■ The select shuttle (863) will provide faster service — for $1.75 a ride, with transfers included — between the shuttered stops from Compton Station to Downtown Los Angeles. It will operate on weekdays only and will run at 12-minute intervals during morning peak hours, from 5:30-10 a.m., and again from 3-7:30 p.m.

■ An Express Shuttle (860) is the fastest option for those traveling the full length of the Blue Line. It will stop at every Long Beach station and the Downtown stations Grand Avenue/LATTC, Pico, and 7th Street/Metro Center. The fare is $1.75 and the bus will run weekdays between 4:43 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will run every 10-14 minutes during rush hour and every 20 minutes outside of peak hours.

■ A free local shuttle (856) will transfer riders along the shuttered portion of the Expo Line, from LATTC/Ortho to the Seventh Street/Metro Center. The hours will be the same as the 864 shuttle.

Lindholm said that the replacement shuttle framework was influenced by what Metro learned from the shutdown of the southern portion of the Blue Line. That began on January 22 and took about four months.

“This is the biggest temporary service that we have probably ever run,” Lindholm said.

“We learned a lot of lessons and are applying them to the northern closure.”

In the effort to expedite riders trying to Continued on page 11

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EDITORIALS

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MAY 27, 2019

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Downtown Should Be a Center of Sustainability

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n his State of the City speech on April 17, Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke out on the need for Los Angeles to aggressively address climate change. Twelve days later he presented his local version of the Green New Deal, rolling out a playbook to reduce emissions, clean the air, and take other steps to make the nation’s second largest city a global leader in sustainability.

It’s a more-than-worthy aim, and we commend Garcetti for trying to find ways that Los Angeles can get out front. One thing that has quickly become clear is that, if L.A. is to set the pace in sustainability, then Downtown will be a key driver.

This should happen in multiple ways. The car traffic and gridlock that comes with being a commuting hub makes Downtown an apt zone to experiment with forms of mobility that spew less pollution.

But the Central City could have a bigger impact on climate change in another way — by addressing emissions from its buildings.

Los Angeles Downtown News this month wrote about the effect that the mayor’s environmental plan could have on Downtown buildings. This would impact the scores of structures under construction and in the planning pipeline, and ultimately, older edifices as well.

The article noted that, according to a 2018 analysis from the Natural Resources Defense Council, buildings account for 25% of California’s emissions. Garcetti set a goal of having new buildings in the city be zero emissions structures by 2030, with all properties achieving that designation 20 years later.

Developers of many new buildings and conversions in Downtown have already taken steps to have their projects achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. These range from the new Wilshire Grand tower (certified LEED Gold) to a building housing the Downtown Women’s Center (LEED Silver). Older properties such as the Convention Center have also been LEED certified.

Downtown is poised to be the hub of new construction in Los Angeles for many years to come. That places an onus on Garcetti and other elected leaders, sustainability experts and planning figures to make it as easy and inexpensive as possible for developers here to have the greater environment in mind long before shovels hit the ground. Developers should see eco-friendly approaches as a tool to use, not a hurdle to overcome.

The good thing is, developers will do this as long as being environmentally focused does not drive up costs to an intolerable level.

They recognize that tenants are increasingly concerned about climate change. A zero emissions building can be a selling point.

Garcetti has taken the first step in what will be a decades-long process by laying out his vision for a greener city. But that won’t happen without effective and consistent leadership from local government.

Because of its central location and its role as the transportation and jobs hub for the region, Downtown will continue to be the place in L.A. where many new buildings rise and more people live and work.

It also should be a center point for sustainability. It will just need help getting there.

Beaudry Ave.

LAUSD Board of Education

S I N C E 19 7 2

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May 21, 2019

Why You Should Vote No on Measure EE

By Tracy Hernandez s a former newspaper publisher, I’m acutely aware of the challenge to objectively research and consider both sides of an argument before editorializing. I write today because Downtown News fell short of its duty to hear all sides before opining on Measure EE (“Vote Yes on Measure EE,” May 20).

A

GUEST OPINION Even though our coalition is easily reached, the No on EE campaign wasn’t given an opportunity to provide vital information before Downtown News supported EE. Your readers, property owners and voters need to know the facts about why this rushed tax measure isn’t a “must pass” solution to the numerous problems bedeviling the LAUSD. Here’s why: First, the overwhelming majority of L.A.’s business community opposes EE. Despite contrary claims, nothing in EE guarantees that tax dollars will reach the classroom or children. In fact, language specifically exempting EE funds from going toward retiree pension and healthcare benefits was removed prior to the LAUSD board’s approval of EE. Second, EE won’t improve a struggling LAUSD. Without measurable reforms outlined and included in the tax measure, it’s simply a “trust us” to throw money at a long-standing problem in the hope that improvement occurs. Our kids deserve better.

Third, EE contains no independent oversight. The disEDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-533-6990 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

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trict realized EE’s shortcoming and added “oversight” less than a month ago by a majority board vote. This “oversight” is not independent (the superintendent and CFO appoint the members). It has no budget and no staff. Because it’s a resolution, a board majority can alter or cancel it at any time. Only the language included in the actual ballot text becomes law.

Fourth, the overwhelming majority of parcel taxes are a flat rate. The business community voiced concerns about the “progressive” tax, which would make larger homeowners, small businesses, apartment owners and large property owners pay more. The teachers union favors this approach because it’s a prelude to a massive state split roll property tax measure that will appear on the 2020 ballot. They heavily influenced the school board.

When taxes increase, businesses either raise prices, cut costs (employees) or relocate to lower tax jurisdictions.

Rents will increase, too. Bottom line, EE will hurt Angelenos living on the edge.

The Downtown News correctly stated the problem: “district costs are rising due in large part to ballooning pension and healthcare requirements, while revenues are decreasing as enrollment shrinks.” But the editorial fails to mention that the district’s response to rising costs and declining enrollment was to hire more administrators.

Finally, the editorial casually mentions the need for the LAUSD to better manage its money (it cites “financial stumbles”). Giving an inefficient and poor-performing Continued on next page DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Lake Trout

VICE PRESIDENT: David Comden PRESIDENT: Bruce Bolkin

©2017 Southland Publishing, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Los Angeles Downtown News has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in Court Judgement No. C362899.

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MAY 27, 2019

DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Continued from previous page bureaucracy more money without any measurable reform solidifies the failed status quo.

Measure EE is a huge new property tax that will make already-expensive housing more expensive and, ultimately, won’t improve the educational climate at the LAUSD. On June 4, vote no on EE. Tracy Hernandez is the founding CEO of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed). Learn more at VoteNoOnEE.com.

More Responses to the Measure EE Editorial T

hank you for your “Vote Yes on Measure EE” editorial. You clearly understand that the enemy of the good is the perfect.

While there are glitches in the measure and this political sausage of Yes on EE is neither cooked perfectly not blessed by a rabbi, a hundred Buddhist monks, or a bevy of belligerent Chamber of Commerce members, the concerns, as you point out, are “not a reason to starve students of the best possible education.”

Downtown News is right to state that “demonstrating local participation will help with the request for more state dollars.” Measure EE requires 66.6% approval to pass. If we don’t succeed on June 4, then we should make every one of the 24 or more Democrats running for President and coming to L.A. County for votes come out in support of Measure EE2. We will not stop to make our schools what the students need and deserve.

—David Tokofsky

M

aybe the district shouldn’t have agreed to the union’s demands if it didn’t already have the money to pay for it. Why should we, as taxpayers, pay more to a district that has been financially reckless? Plus, it seems the more money we throw at LAUSD, the worse that public education becomes. No on EE. —Jim Smith

Free Admission Coming to MOCA Philanthropist Carolyn Clark Powers Makes $10 Million Gift

By Jon Regardie he biggest news at the recent MOCA Benefit didn’t have anything to do with the legions of celebrities and musicians who attended. Instead, it concerned philanthropist Carolyn Clark Powers.

At the event on May 18 at the institution’s Little Tokyo annex, Powers, who is president of the museum’s board of trustees, announced a $10 million donation, which will go to making admission to MOCA free.

The museum did not announce a date for when gratis admission will start, as it requires a roll-out plan. Currently MOCA charges $15 for general admission, with students entering for $8 and seniors paying $10.

“This is not a badge for me,” Powers said in a prepared statement. “Rather, it’s a way for me to support the museum and be of service to the Los Angeles community. I am committed to the museum’s continued success and leadership, and to MOCA being at the forefront of diversity, inclusiveness, and openness of spirit.”

The announcement came during

T

Convenience

a party celebrating MOCA’s 40th anniversary. The event itself marked a shift for the museum under Director Klaus Biesenbach, who assumed leadership of the institution seven months ago. Formerly known as the MOCA Gala, the fundraiser was canceled in 2018 amid complaints about a lack of diversity among past event honorees.

Biesenbach, who replaced the embattled Philippe Vergne, repositioned the event. As part of a donation from Trustee Marina Kellen French, 300 artists were able to go for free. About 700 people attended the benefit, including Keanu Reeves, and musicians Patti Smith, Courtney Love and Billy Idol.

The move stands to level the playing field with a nearby competitor. MOCA’s original Grand Avenue location is across the street from The Broad, which opened in 2015 and has had free admission — and constant lines — since day one.

In the statement, Powers referenced the hurdle that having an admission price poses to enjoying art.

“Art has the unique ability to bridge cultural and socio-economic divides. Charging admission is coun-

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Carolyn Clark Powers, a philanthropist who is president of the MOCA Board of Trustees, made her announcement of a $10 million gift at the MOCA Benefit in Little Tokyo on May 18.

terintuitive to art’s ability and purpose to connect, inspire, and heal people,” she said. regardie@downtownnews.com

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MAY 27, 2019

Downtown News Up for Nine L.A. Press Club Awards

T

he Los Angeles Press Club recently announced the finalists for the 61st annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

The prizes, to be handed out on June 30 at a gala at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown, honor the best work from 2018 in local print, broadcast and online journalism.

We’re proud that Los Angeles Downtown News is up for nine awards in a variety of categories, with Editor Jon Regardie, and Staff Writers Sean P. Thomas and Nicholas Slayton, all being finalists multiple times.

Our editorial team prides itself on its ability to produce independent and enterprise journalism that can’t been found anywhere else. Local journalism today faces an array of challenges, and for 47 years Downtown News has worked to inform our readers about the news, business, politics, arts, entertainment and cultural scenes in Downtown L.A. We are proud of the work that our journalists do on a daily basis to inform, enlighten and bring together a diverse but collective voice of Downtown L.A. We congratulate them on being finalists in the following categories: Jon Regardie Journalist of the Year, Newspapers Below 50,000 Circulation Nicholas Slayton News Feature For the story “Skid Row Faces Record Number of Homeless Children” Sean P. Thomas Entertainment News or Feature For the story “Bidding Farewell to the Puppet Palace” Nicholas Slayton Business Writing For the story “The Booming Business of Experiences” The Team of Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas and Jon Regardie Investigative/Series For the package “Reporting on Overlooked Elements of the Homelessness Crisis in Skid Row” Jon Regardie Editorials For the submission “Don’t Applaud the Dip in Homelessness Yet” Jon Regardie Editorials For the submission “Inaction and Frustration With a Shuttered Plaza” Jon Regardie Commentary For the submission “Why I’m Done With ALOUD” Jon Regardie Columnist For a package of Regardie Report columns on the Los Angeles political scene

M o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e L . A . Pr e s s C l u b a n d t h e So u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a J o u r n a l i s m Sc e n e i s a t l a p r e s s c l u b . o r g .

MAY 27, 2019

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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Big Plans for ArtCenter in Downtown

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ArtCenter College of Design will take over 6,250 square feet of space in the Historic Core’s Hellman Building. It has a 10-year lease on the space owned by development firm Gilmore Associates.

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By Nicholas Slayton n May 2018, the leaders of Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design and Downtown development firm Gilmore Associates entered into an “exploratory agreement” for the Gilmore group’s Main Museum in the Historic Core. Although many people were stunned when the facility abruptly shut down in December, ArtCenter clearly saw something it liked.

This month, Gilmore Associates and ArtCenter announced plans for the Pasadena institution to take over the bottom two floors of the Hellman Building at 114 W. Fourth St., and on May 16, ArtCenter DTLA officially opened, with the exhibit Going Clear displaying work from students in the Masters of Fine Arts program. The college has inked a 10year lease on the space for $1 per year.

The move adds an element of both excitement and uncertainty in the Historic Core.

ArtCenter leaders describe the deal for the 6,250 square feet of space on the ground floor and mezzanine levels of the building as a unique opportunity.

ArtCenter’s initial agreement last year was described as a way to provide financial support for the museum in exchange for some display space. Provost Karen Hofmann said that the kind of contemporary programming that had been underway in the space fit with the institution’s goals.

“We were doing lots of things we saw as mutually beneficial outreach that would be better if we could be on the ground in Downtown L.A., and engage the city and Southern California as a whole rather than from just being in Pasadena,” Hofmann told Los Angeles Downtown News.

Going Clear, which will be up for a month, will help the college gauge how best to use the Downtown space, according to Hofmann. An exploratory committee is evaluating the options for the Hellman Building long term.

Hofmann said the space will hold a mix of exhibitions and classes for ArtCenter’s undergraduate and graduate programs. It will also be the site of ArtCenter Expansion, a program the college runs that offers educational and workshop opportunities to the public.

Unfulfilled Plan ArtCenter DTLA replaces the Main Museum. That project, originally announced

I

in 2014, was Tom Gilmore and his business partner Jerri Perrone’s plan to transform the Hellman Building and the adjacent Farmers and Merchant’s Bank building, as well as a parking structure, into a multi-level contemporary art museum, complete with a rooftop sculpture garden. Architect Tom Wiscombe had been hired to handle designs.

The first component, dubbed the “Beta Main,” opened in October 2016. A small staff was hired and there was a lineup of well-regarded shows, including ones that engaged the local creative community. However further plans never materialized. The December closure caught many in Downtown unawares.

When asked for comment, a representative for Gilmore said that he would not be speaking about the deal with ArtCenter, and referred questions to the school.

ArtCenter joins other higher-education options in Downtown Los Angeles. Cal State Los Angeles has an outpost at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue and the Southern California Institute of Architecture has a headquarters in a former train depot at Third Street and Santa Fe Avenue.

ArtCenter was founded in 1930, and originally called Los Angeles home. It relocated to Pasadena in 1976, where it operates two campuses.

Local leaders predicted that ArtCenter’s expansion into Downtown will benefit the wider neighborhood. Blair Besten, executive director of the Historic Core Business Improvement District, said having the college in the area long term will continue the momentum of the local arts scene, which has seen arrivals in recent years including the Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles gallery and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, both in the Arts District.

Jessica Lall, president and CEO of the Central City Association, agreed on the potential benefits for the local creative community.

“It is exciting that a prestigious art college will join the many other excellent educational institutions in Downtown and that we will have another partner to help foster a diverse talent pool for the region,” Lall said.

ArtCenter operates multiple exhibition Continued on page 11

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8 DOWNTOWN NEWS

New

MAY 27, 2019

THE HISTORIC CORE’S

Purr-fect Place Pop-Up ‘Kitten Lounge’ Aims to Get 300 Felines Adopted This Summer

photo by Gary Leonard

There are generally 15-20 kittens in the lounge. Visitors pay $25 to join them for 50 minutes.

Spring St., near the Spring Arcade Building. A spinoff of the Westside’s CatCafe Lounge, it holds more than a dozen adorable kittens in need of a home.

The process is simple: Visitors book a time, come by and mingle or play with the very energetic kittens. If a bond is formed, they can start the process of an adoption.

New kittens will be added as others are adopted, and the goal is to find permanent homes for about 300 felines over the course of the pop-up’s run in Downtown, according to Kristi Labrenz, the founder of CatCafe Lounge and the Tiny Beans space. The name comes from the pads on a cat’s paws, which are sometimes called “tiny beans.”

“There is, for lack of a better term, a kitten crisis. There are about 10,000 kittens born in the city each year that come through shelters,” Labrenz said on a recent weekday af-

ternoon. “Most of them do get euthanized because they are under eight weeks old and shelters can’t handle that amount of baby bottle feeding.”

In the first five days of operations, Tiny Beans had four adoptions in progress.

Admission is $25, and though walk-ups are sometimes available, the operators recommend booking a 50-minute session online.

They start every hour on the hour and sessions are limited to eight people. The lounge is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. every day but Tuesday.

Tiny Beans Kitten Lounge is not a full cat cafe; places such as Crumbs and Whiskers in West Hollywood allow people to meet and mingle with an assortment of felines while enjoying a latte or some other coffee-type drink (there are other options for kids).

Tiny Beans offers coffee and tea. There are

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS photo by Gary Leonard

The Tiny Beans Kitten Lounge on Spring Street opened this month. The operators hope to facilitate 300 cat adoptions in the next few months.

By Nicholas Slayton t’s no secret that Downtown Los Angeles loves its dogs. The annual summer Dog Day gathering draws more than 1,000 canine owners. Dog parks have opened in numerous neighborhoods and dogs on leashes are a ubiquitous sight. The crush of pet stores

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that have opened in Downtown in the last five years are largely directed at dog owners.

A new option in Downtown, however, is pitched to cat lovers. It aims to expand the local cat populace.

The Tiny Beans Kitten Lounge is a threemonth pop-up that opened May 18 at 551 S.

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Local Depth, Local Commitment Broker Randelle Green Has Experience in Downtown

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s Downtown L.A. broker Randelle Green approaches 15 years of local dedication and commitment, much has been written about his contributions toward the renaissance of Downtown. From South Park to the Arts District, Green has been a constant force in representing countless buyers, sellers and renters.

“It’s always been about customer service for me. When your name is on the company, it has to be,” Green says.

His deep history in Downtown is rooted with some of the biggest developers around. “After working hand and hand with The South Group (Evo/Luma/Elleven), Milbank (The Roosevelt) and Urban Pacific (Pan-American) just to name a few, I was able to really see the big picture and value in branding, marketing and timelines,” says Green.

Green is proud of having a true handson boutique brokerage where his clients continue to sing his praises of communi-

cation and hard work.

“My listings get my full attention,” he says. “They don’t sit on the shelf or get neglected. I make sure not to spread myself too thin. Like my logo says, I put my name on it.”

For more information, contact broker/ CEO Randelle Green at (213) 254-7626 or visit TheRandelleGreenGroup.com.

MAY 27, 2019

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

photo by Gary Leonard

Kristi Labrenz (right), founder of the new Downtown cat outpost, and another staffer. The Tiny Beans Lounge is open six days a week.

toys and ribbons to interest the cats.

The felines come from rescue shelters and have free rein of the space. There is a small bed in the middle of the room, cat-scratcher shelves, and cat condos where the occasional feline can be found curled up. There are even baskets for the kittens. The space is decorated with upbeat, cat-related signs.

At any given point in the day the lounge has 15-20 kittens. Some nibble from food bowls set up around the room.

Others race along the floor or dig their claws into scratching posts. Visitors are allowed to play with and pick the cats up.

The kittens are about two to three months old and are all spayed, neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. On a recent afternoon they included Haley and Miles, two gray siblings who enjoyed chasing each other, Sushi, a black and white furball, and Ice Pop, who seemed only interested in getting up to take a few bites of food before going back to sleep.

While the goal is to get them adopted, the operators know not everyone who enters wants to leave with a new furry friend. Just hanging out is okay too, and the $25 fee helps care for the animals and cover the rent on the 500-squarefoot space.

“Even if people can’t adopt, they’re coming in and helping socialize the cats and help them get comfortable with people,” Labrenz said.

On a recent afternoon, people were clearly bonding with the small, meowing creatures. Dana Rozner said it was her first time in a cat cafe or any similar space. She recently lost her cat of 13 years, and as a birthday present to herself decided to check out Tiny Beans, knowing it could lead to an adoption.

“I’m in a room full of kittens. What could be better?” Rozner said as three animals clambered on and over her.

Her husband Jeff Rozner laughed at Dana’s comment while softly stroking a tiny gray kitten that had curled up in the crook of his arm.

If visitors want to adopt, Labrenz said that will be handled through the rescue shelter the cats come from, and lounge staff will get them started by providing the necessary application (there may be also be a fee associated with the adoption). The wait time is generally a couple of days, Labrenz said. Although she noted that most people want to take the cats home right away, that’s not allowed.

Rozner laughed as more kittens — including Brody and Miso — startled crawling over her, seeking attention. At the moment she was unsure if she would adopt one, but readily said how cute the cats were.

Meanwhile, in another part of Tiny Beans, a pair of kittens chased each other. Then, one was distracted by a bowl of food. The other curled up on the carpet and closed its eyes.

Tiny Beans Kitten Lounge is open through Sept. 1 at 551 S. Spring St. or catcafelounge.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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MAY 27, 2019

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BLUE LINE, 3 leave Downtown, Lindholm said that Metro will operate a temporary southbound bus-only lane along Flower Street; it will be active during evening peak hours, and is expected to accommodate some 60 buses and shuttles an hour.

The northbound shuttles will traverse Figueroa Street, but there will not be a dedicated lane, meaning buses in the morning will be part of regular rush hour traffic.

Bracing for Impact According to Lindholm, Metro has reached out to area businesses, leaders and elected officials to prepare for the work.

Ellen Riotto, executive director of the South Park Business Improvement District, applauded Metro for reaching out so early in the process, which has

allowed her organization to notify business owners and inform residents that they will have to alter their commute plans for four months.

“I think one of the good things about having so much construction is that our community is already pretty adept at working around closures like this,” Riotto said.

Some frequent riders are already bracing for the impact.

Downtown resident Ronald Ferrick, 29, was waiting for the northbound train at the Pico Station on a recent Wednesday afternoon. He said that although he doesn’t like the closures, he understands why the work has to be completed.

“If it improves the quality of the ride, I’m okay with it,” Ferrick said.

Armando Ancheta, 42, lives in Compton, but frequently commutes to Downtown for events.

He wasn’t as open to the disruption as Ferrick.

Regional Connector Delayed Four Months

By Nicholas Slayton nother delay has hit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Regional Connector. Metro recently announced that the $1.77 billion project that would speed up cross-county travel and reduce the need for transfers is now set to be completed in April 2022. That’s a four-month delay from the previous completion date of December 2021.

The delay has been caused by rising construction costs and labor shortages, according to Gary Baker, the project’s manager. He point-

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

ed to the busy construction market in Los Angeles, plus growing material costs due to ongoing trade disputes.

The Regional Connector broke ground in September 2014, with an original opening date scheduled for 2020. As the timeline has been pushed back, the original price tag of $1.42 billion has also increased.

“We’re still hoping we can improve on that.

We have three years to go,” Baker said.

The project is being built by the team of Skanska USA and Traylor Bros. Crews are build-

“I ride this route nearly every day,” Ancheta said. “It seems to work fine now. Whatever they eventually do is going to really mess things up for me and others I know.”

According to Metro, ambassadors wearing blue hats will be deployed along the shuttered route to help point riders in the right direction. Information signs are already posted at every stop.

Additionally, there is a staffed help line at (213) 418-3039 that riders can call for updates or ask questions.

Lindholm said that the information gathered from the call line and reactions through social media will help Metro alter the bus routes as needed.

For additional information on the closure, bus lines and other alternatives, visit metro.net/projects/new-blue-line-improvements. sean@downtownnews.com. ing two tunnels, which will create a 1.9-mile line with three new stations.

Once construction is finished, there will be several months of testing. The Regional Connector is expected to begin serving travelers in fall 2022.

Baker also said that despite the delay, the project is still scheduled to be completed before a February 2023 deadline from the federal government, which provided a $670 million grant to the Regional Connector, contingent on it opening by that date.

News of the delay was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. nicholas@downtownnews.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 LIVE MUSIC

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ARTCENTER, 7 galleries for students and faculty at its Pasadena campuses. Hofmann said the Downtown outpost will be “more experimental” than those galleries. She said that ArtCenter admired the Main Museum’s mission to showcase local contemporary artists and wants to carry on that goal.

The Old Bank District location also puts students near Downtown’s main galleries, as well as events such as the monthly Art Walk.

“I think there’s a desire from a student perspective,” Hofmann said. “If I’m an artist, especially at the graduate level, I want to see my work out in the world in a meaningful way, and this helps us enable and empower our students to express themselves in a much broader way.”

Hofmann said ArtCenter will evaluate the space over the next few months, and will then roll out a calendar of classes, exhibitions and programming for ArtCenter DTLA for 2020-2021. nicholas@ downtownnews.com

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MAY 27, 2019

Oscar winner Dianne Wiest plays Winnie and Michael Rudko is her husband Willie in a Mark Taper Forum production of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days.

CALENDAR

photo by Craig Schwartz

12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Hope andDespair Dianne Wiest Is Mesmerizing, Even if the Taper Version of Beckett’s ‘Happy Days’ Isn’t for Everyone

By Jeff Favre s time ceaselessly marches, humans rise, find ways to fill the day, rest and do it all again. It’s a cycle that a cynic could call repetitive pointlessness that is relieved only by death.

At least that’s the metaphoric blanket covering so many of Samuel Beckett’s plays — most of which are a good deal shorter than his 1961 two-act, two-hour Happy Days.

Perhaps the absurdist revolutionary didn’t need to hammer quite as hard and quite as long, but a Downtown production of Happy Days, powered by a hopelessly hopeful and fully mesmerizing Dianne Wiest, pushes the disconcerting narrative that human interaction is soulless and day-to-day activities are simply habit.

Directed by James Bundy, the production originated two years ago by the Yale Repertory Theatre opened last week at the Mark Taper Forum. The show runs through June 30.

Beckett rarely seemed constrained — or concerned — with audience expectations, as several of his plays are quite brief. Happy Days, meanwhile, pushes the boundaries for repetition. Cutting 20-30 minutes from the first act wouldn’t hurt the somber, sober tone that builds through the second act. On the other hand, the length itself adds to its impact because sitting through Winnie’s excruciating daily routine drives home its banality.

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Essentially plot-less, while visually arresting, Happy Days raises its red curtain on the proscenium stage to find Winnie (Wiest) buried to her stomach in a hole on a desolate desert hill. The bell from the sky signals a new day; Winnie prays, brushes her teeth, reads the writing on the toothbrush, and removes items from her large black bag, including a large gun.

Though it’s almost entirely monologue, Winnie is talking to her husband, Willie (Michael Rudko), who is on the other side of the hill. He is visible only briefly and speaks but a few words.

Neither being buried nor an ignoring husband stops Winnie from her daily prattle, in which she finds ways to complain while stating that she’s not complaining. At a key moment she even recounts a story of a man who saw her in the hole and asked what it all means — a preemptive shot at the audience, which is wondering the exact same thing.

Though the first act is lengthy, the second is textbook pacing up to an unsettling climax.

Bundy, like many who tackle Beckett’s works, adheres to the playwright’s exact descriptions and staging notes. This doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room, and neither does the hole Wiest lives in for the night. Yet within that confine Wiest offers a complex emotional palette, from mild annoyance to aching sadness — with plenty of laughter through the pain jokes.

The second act is remarkable. With only her head visible, Wiest shows depth, as the character’s mood depress-

es into a morose longing for the bell to stop ringing and to bring an end to the suffering.

Wiest carries the production, as any Winnie must do, and she imbues the character with a sense of grace and attempts at optimism that makes her situation more painful to watch. Much of that comes through her delivery, which flows from chipper quips to harsh, quiet tones and back again. Her use of facial expressions is impressive, even more so given that she has little body motion to accompany them.

Though there’s not much to work with, Rudko makes the most of his few lines, offering a couple of early genuine laughs, as well as a dramatic return near the climax that leaves audiences guessing his motives.

Izmir Inkball’s desert set is claustrophobic and desolate.

Mixed with Stephen Strawbridge’s pounding lighting design, the result is a wholly inhospitable environment.

It’s important for the uninitiated to recognize that, as with most Beckett, story is not even secondary. Rather, it’s all subtext and metaphor, and no easy-to-follow passive viewing plot is forthcoming. While there are laughs, they all come at the expense of accepting the despair of the situation.

That said, Happy Days is one of Beckett’s last lengthy works, and one you’re unlikely to see receive such a high-caliber and thoughtful rendition for many years.

Happy Days runs through June 30 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

MAY 27, 2019

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

A Rare Opera Finds the Spotlight

SAN ANTONIO WINERY

New Company Numi Opera Theatre Debuts With 1922 Work Based on an Oscar Wilde Short Story

By Nicholas Slayton or decades, opera in Downtown has been dominated by L.A. Opera, which makes its home at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This week, a new player is entering the scene, with a short run of a rarely performed work.

Santa Monica-based Numi Opera Theatre is coming to the Theatre at Ace Hotel for two performances of its inaugural production, a presentation of Alexander von Zemlinsky’s 1922 work Der Zwerg (“The Dwarf”). Based on Oscar Wilde’s short story “The Birthday of the Infanta,” the opera explores blind love, perceptions of beauty and social acceptance. Shows are on Thursday, May 30, and Sunday, June 2. Tickets start at $35.

Gail Gordon, artistic director of Numi Opera Theatre and director of Der Zwerg, said she was immediately struck by the work when L.A. Opera mounted it in 2008. It was the first time she had heard of Zemlinsky.

“It was so incredibly moving to me,” Gordon said. “I wanted to learn more about this composer.”

For Gordon, the backstory of Der Zwerg is just as compelling as the music and the plot. The 90-minute work was composed by Zemlinsky, an Austrian Jew who fled Europe in the 1930s following the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. His works, and the artistic creations of many others, essentially disappeared during the ensuing years, and many were not heard for decades.

“Zemlinsky was part of the school who were suppressed under the Nazi regime for being Jewish or politically unattractive to the Nazi way of life, who were too gay or too leftist,” Gordon said.

The opera, sung in German with English supertitles, follows the Infanta, a young noble woman who is given a dwarf for her birthday. The dwarf falls madly in love with her, but is rejected due to his appearance.

Gordon said the story is semi-autobiographical, as Zemlinsky fell in love with a woman named Alma Schindler, who broke his heart. Gordon said that Zemlinsky considered himself to be small and unattractive.

That, coupled with Wilde’s short story, sparked Der Zwerg.

Soprano Shana Blake Hill, who plays one of the Infanta’s attendees, acknowledged that few of the cast members were familiar with Zemlinsky before embarking on the work.

She added that they have come to appreciate him, and the way that, as a Romantic era composer, his compositions carry a musical sense of wonder.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

EVENT CALENDAR

The 1922 opera Der Zwerg, playing this week at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, follows an innocent, naïve dwarf who is in love with and rejected by a noble woman. It is the debut production of the Santa Monica-based Numi Opera Theatre.

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Modern Resonance Der Zwerg launches Numi Opera Theatre’s debut season. The company, founded by Gordon, is focused on reviving lost or suppressed works from lesser-known composers. Gordon, who previously led a company called Opera Nova and the Santa Monica College Opera Theater, said that she is drawn to these works not just for their artistic quality, but because they deserve to be restaged and not lost to time.

Unlike L.A. Opera’s opulent La Traviata that opens this week at the Music Center, Der Zwerg is restrained. Hill said Numi Opera is keeping the staging minimal, and is setting the production at a vague time in the past.

The Infanta and her handmaids will wear flowing dresses. The stage itself will be somewhat bare, with only a few props such as a large ball for the handmaids to play with, and a mirror the dwarf sees himself in.

Gordon said Numi Opera will differentiate this production by incorporating Wilde’s work directly into the show. A narrator will read excerpts from “The Birthday of the Infanta” between scenes.

While the age of the work and the setting don’t resonate as modern, Gordon thinks Der Zwerg will connect with today’s audiences.

“It’s incredibly relevant,” Hill said.

“It says everything about Instagram culture, the othering of people based on gender, sexuality, race or religion,

Soprano Shana Blake Hill (shown here) plays one of the Infanta’s handmaids in the work based on an Oscar Wilde short story.

and the tragedy of being rejected for who you are.”

Gordon also pointed to the resonant political and societal elements associated with bringing back Der Zwerg and Zemlinsky. Gordon, the daughter of Jewish immigrants who fled Europe, said that Zemlinsky composed at a time of political instability. She said she hopes the opera makes people reassess some of their biases.

The Numi Opera Theater’s inaugural season will include other lesser known-works, among them Erich Korngold’s Der Ring des Polykrates in December (a venue is still to be determined).

Der Zwerg runs May 30-June 2 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or numiopera.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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Stella Rosa Social Come enjoy and Stellabrate all the wines of your beloved Stella Rosa Wines with friends and family! We’ll be serving a large variety of small bites to go with those wines. This event always sells out so be sure to purchase your tickets early. We can’t wait to Stellabrate with you!

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EVENTS

MONDAY, MAY 27 Spiritual Classics Book Club The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: The Last Bookstore’s newest book club kicks off with Carl Jung’s “The Undiscovered Self.”

TUESDAY, MAY 28 Eric Andre Improvises!

Moroccan Lounge, 901 E. First St. or themoroccan.com.

7 p.m.: The neo-Dadaist talk show host and possible actual madman does what he does best: something very weird.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 Round Up Microsoft Square at L.A. Live., 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com.

6 p.m.-midnight: The public areas of the sports and entertainment complex turn into a country haven, with line dancing, music, a mechanical bull and more. L.A. Live restaurants will have $5 food and drink menus.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Noon to Midnight Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

12 p.m.-12 a.m.: The L.A. Phil turns its home into a giant stage for all manner of new music. The free event features dozens of performances, everywhere from the main stage to outdoor nooks.

See the website for the full performance schedule.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Flea Market The Regent, 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com.

11 a.m.: Need vintage rock band shirts from the early 2000s?

This is for you.

Soul of a Nation Celebration The Broad 221 S. Grand Ave. or thebroad.org.

8:30 p.m.: The legendary Quincy Jones curates a night of music inspired by The Broad’s “Soul of a Nation” exhibition.

BY SE A

5 OFF

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Grab your significant other and check out the film that set the standard for the romantic comedy. The Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats series, which shows classic film in historic movie palaces, kicks off its season with a showing of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert’s 1934 Oscar winner It Happened One Night. Screening at the Los Angeles Theatre on Saturday, June 1, the evening will be hosted by film critic Leonard Maltin. The movie follows a stranded wealthy heiress and the journalist (played by Gable) who offers to help her in return for an exclusive story. Of course, hilarity ensues. The film begins at 8 p.m., and will be followed by a Q&A session about the theater. At 615 S. Broadway, (213) 629-2939 or laconservancy.org. photo by Blaise Hayward

music, food trucks, a beer garden, and, get this, an ice cream social. The Noon to Midnight event brings together a collection of pop-up musical performance across a number of disciplines. Running, yes, from noon-midnight on Saturday, June 1, the happening at Walt Disney Concert Hall focuses on new and exciting sounds, with approximately 1,100 performers, 53 composers, 27 ensembles and 59 different works. Highlights include an 8 p.m. concert by the L.A. Phil New Music Group on the venue’s main stage and a 2:45 p.m. performance by the Composer Fellowship Program at REDCAT. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

THREE

photo courtesy MOCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art celebrated its 40th anniversary this month, and is marking the milestone by taking a deep dive into its vaults.

Some of those treasure are on display in The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, which recently opened at the institution’s Little Tokyo annex.

The highlight of the exhibit is a re-creation of Chris Burden’s 1986 installation “Exposing the Foundation of the Museum,” in which the artist literally dug into the foundation of the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo. The exhibit also features the work of artists John Baldessari, Glenn Ligon, Laura Owens, Judy Fiskin and many others. At 152 N. Central Ave. or moca.org.

FOUR

Lasso your inner cowboy and mosey on down to South Park this week for the return of the Round Up. Taking place at L.A. Live on Friday, May 31 (a night when no games or concerts are scheduled at the complex), the event offers live music, line dancing, cornhole games, a mechanical bull and much more. The family-friendly festivities, which include games such as a milk can toss and hula-hoop challenges for the kiddos, run from 6 p.m.-midnight. and admission is free. Even better, many of the L.A. Live restaurants will be offering $5 food and drink specials. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com.

FIVE

English punk band The Stranglers have come a long way since their early years of getting into fights with the Ramones and touring in an ice cream truck, but the group can still bring the noise like it was 1976. One of the longest-lasting acts from the first wave of British punk, the foursome of Jet Black, Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield and Jean-Jacques Burnel will visit The Regent on Wednesday, May 29. With more than 15 studio albums to their name, there’s plenty of material to choose from, but expect to hear favorites such as “Stranded,” “Golden Brown” and “Big Thing Coming.” Rappresaglia will open and the show begins at 8 p.m. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com.

$

LUNCH

OM A

ONE

TWO The Los Angeles Philharmonic this weekend is bundling together new

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E.S. Onizuka St. Suite 301, (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

May 27: Randall Fisher Group.

May 28: Jake Leckie Group.

May 29: Jeff Pihher and Socrates Trial + Orchestra.

May 30: David Binney.

May 31: Alan Hampton Group.

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

May 27: Folk singer Kyle McNeill.

May 28: Even though they play “space rock,” Veers is not a reference to Carol Danvers’ alien name in “Captain Marvel.”

NP . TH

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

MAY 27, 2019

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14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 27, 2019

LISTINGS, 14 May 29: Valley Queen is named for a location in Egyptian mythology and not the San Fernando Valley. See, don’t make assumptions.

May 30: Indie rock group Apex Minor headlines, with wonderfully named acts Near Beer and Coastal Cloud opening.

May 31: More folk with Haley Blais.

June 2: Sam Weber, Tennessee Kaminski, Abby Litman, Drew Taubenfeld.

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

May 31: Party on the Porch.

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

May 31: Ookay.

June 1: Goldroom, Neon Indian.

Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.

May 27: It’s a Night of InFlight Music Group Presents, with Fencer, Spelles, Small Forward, The Rare Occasions.

May 29: The Eiffels are an indie band not tied to the late ’90s dance group Eiffel 65. Just in case you were wondering.

May 30: German singer-songwriter and filmmaker Mogli.

May 31: Sego has that hardcore Provo, Utah sound, by way of Downtown L.A. June 1: Tim Atlas carries the world on his songs.

June 2: Per his bio, Austin War’s music pulls you “into a vortex of subtle sex appeal.” We leave that to you to determine.

Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

May 27: Who says you can’t enjoy death metal on Mondays? Not hardcore people. Go enjoy Inter Arma, Thantifaxath, and Death to a Dying World.

May 29: Blood & Chocolat has the jazz beat covered.

May 30: Penny Engine has an album release show, and is joined by rising electronic star Kauf.

May 31: Baby Girl is a night of women-driven R&B and hip-hop.

June 1: The enigmatically named Branches.

June 2: Jinza.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St. or sevengrandbars.com/la.

May 27: Scott Gates and the Bluegrass Boys are causing a ruckus.

May 28: In a time of deep uncertainty, extremism and tragedy, The Makers are very excited that Keanu Reeves will reprise the role of John Wick once again in 2021.

May 29: The Midnight Blues Revue.

May 30: Rene Wahl & CB Brand.

May 31: Big Butter Jazz Band is smooth.

The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovodtla.com.

May 29: DaBabyy is a grown man.

May 31: Enjoy old school West Coast hip-hop from DJ Quik and Too $hort.

June 1: The Specials are celebrating 40 years together, so if you love anti-Thatcherism two-tone music, or you just really like the “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” soundtrack, go.

The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

May 27: The Smokes, Bipolarte, Eduardo Togi, Taoma Moon, Lincoln Roy. May 28: The Darbies, The Drained.

May 29: Los Fauna with Los Boulevards, Kal Madsen, D End. May 30: Year of the Fist (band name of the week), Venoumous Pinks, Failing Up. May 31: Savage Gospel, the Little Richard tribute act Big Dick (yes, really), Razor Nights.

DT

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BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): J.J. BEST & COMPANY, A DELAWARE CORPORATION CASE NUMBER: (NÚMERO DEL CASO): 30-2018-01030718-CL-COCJC ELECTRONICALLY FILED SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ORANGE 11/06/2018 AT 01:21:08 PM CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT BY CLARISSA BUSTAMANTE, DEPUTY CLERK NOTICE! You have been sued.

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You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you.

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in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case.

There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado.

Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación

June 1: The Claws, Elis Paprika & The Black Pilgrims, Fire Bug. June 2: Marcus Buser, The Graylings, Girls Soccer Camp.

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

May 29: The Stranglers are still going strong. For more Guy Ritchie movie-related music, there’s a good chance they’ll play “Golden Brown” off of the “Snatch” soundtrack.

May 31: Vio-lence, Excel, Sworn Enemy, Yidhra.

June 1: Cumbiatión is a dance party to kick off Pride Month, with mariachi bands, African hip-hop, cumbia and more.

The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

May 31: Littlest Sister, Marube, Earth Is a Death Star, Punk Crush.

Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

May 30: Post punkers The Twilight Sad are apparently tight with The Cure.

June 1: Full of Hell, Primitive Man, Genocide Pact.

FILM

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

May 27-28, May 27: Jordan Peele’s class-conscious doppelganger horror film Us screens. You will never hear “I Got 5 On It” the same way.

May 27-30: A park ranger stumbles upon a crime scene while out in the wilderness in Body at Brighton Rock.

June 2: Class-based sci-fi in The Love Slot is set in a parallel reality where your level of wealth limits how much you can remember.

IMAX

y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales.

Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente.

Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuo-

tas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Orange County Superior Court 700 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701 Central Justice Center The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Ofer M. Grossman, Esq. SBN 163150 310.367.7504 310-307-2993 Law Offices of Ofer M. Grossman P.O. Box 5576 Santa Monica, CA 90409 Date: (Fecha): 11/06/2018 David H. Yamasaki, Clerk of the Court Clerk by (Secretario) Clarissa Bustamante Deputy (Adjunto) Pub: 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 and 6/3.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2019 121316 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) BREADLAM, 826 E 3RD ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) BREADLAM LLC, 1690 INTERLACHEN RD. APT. 42E, SEAL BEACH, CA 90740

California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Dogs can do more than just slobber over your shoes. Check out all of their unique abilities in Superpower Dogs 3D. Patrick Stewart narrates Journey to Space 3D, about the effort to send astronauts to Mars. Since we’ll never go to space ourselves, at least we can hear Captain Jean-Luc Picard talk about it.

Witness the destructive and raw power of volcanoes as Volcanoes 3D: The Fires of Creation tours different hot spots around the globe.

Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies.

Through June 2: Aladdin (11:30 and 11:50 a.m., 12:10, 2:50, 3:20, 4, 4:40, 6:10, 6:50, 7:30, 8:20, 9:50, 10:20 and 10:40 p.m.); Booksmart (1, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:50 p.m.); Brightburn (12, 2:40, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:20 p.m.); A Dog’s Journey (1:30, 4:50, 7:50 and 10:40 p.m.); John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum (11:30 a.m., 12:20, 2:40, 3:40, 5:50, 6:50, 9 and 10 p.m.); The Sun is Also a Star (11:40 a.m., 2:20, 5, 7:40 10:20 p.m.); Pokémon Detective Pikachu (1:30, 4:20, 7:30 and 9:20 p.m.); The Hustle (12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m.); Long Shot (12:40, 3:40, 6:50 and 10:20 p.m.); Avengers: Endgame (11:50 a.m., 4:10 and 8:30 p.m.).

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This business is conducted by a Joint Venture. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 03/2019 This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on May 08, 2019.

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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Three Questions With: A Dance Master

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Heidi Duckler Discusses Climate Change and a Local Dance Festival The Heidi Duckler Dance company is bringing the free public dance festival Ebb & Flow: Chinatown to LA. State Historic Park on Saturday, June 1.

It includes a mix of performances and workshops.

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By Sean P. Thomas limate change may not seem like a natural topic for a dance company, but don’t tell that to Heidi Duckler. The dance festival she is organizing this week, Ebb & Flow: Chinatown, addresses the subject. It takes place at Los Angeles State Historic Park from 1-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

The free event will include dance workshops for all ages and abilities, along with site-specific performances that will take place around a 15-foot steel fish designed by architect Alex Ward.

Duckler, whose long-running Heidi Duckler Dance company is now headquartered in the Bendix Building in the Fashion District, spoke about Ebb & Flow with Los Angeles Downtown News.

C

Los Angeles Downtown News: Why did you select Chinatown and Los Angeles State Historic Park for the festival?

Heidi Duckler: We have done several performances in Chinatown in the past and I really have an affection for Chinatown and George Yu at the Chinatown Business Improvement District. He has been a wonderful friend and resource and a real advocate for the company.

We really enjoy the nature of creating and producing a festival and also bringing people to places that they may not know about. This is a new state park that deserves attention.

It’s a place of beauty with sweeping bridges and new plantings. It’s a wonderful place to explore right by the L.A. River.

Q: How do you address climate change through dance?

A: The festival centers around a 15-foot steel fish. The focus of the sculpture is really to get people to become aware and to think about climate change and to explore what kind of impact we have on our environment.

The fish has been quite active and swimming around the city. It’s been to Marsh Park, Pershing Square and Grand Park.

We’ve seen such a wide range of performances and expressions that help people think of our world. First it was the drought and now it’s kind of expanded to sustainability as we think of our health and our footprint.

Q: Heidi Duckler Dance is known for site-specific works in unusual spaces, and you have a new piece, “Further,” at the festival.

How does it use the park?

A: The performance has original music created by a really talented woman who goes under the name Drum and Lace. I met her when she was doing a performance at the Central Library in Downtown and her music is so unusual and quite beautiful. She plays the music live and uses field recordings — birds, insects and things that we will find in a park — which I thought was pretty apropos for the venue.

Ebb and Flow: Chinatown takes place on Saturday, June 1, at Los Angeles State Historic Park, at 1245 N. Spring St. Additional information is at heididuckler.org. sean@downtownnews.com