05-28-18 by Los Angeles Downtown News

May 28, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #22

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Running Down 40 Great Downtown Concerts, Events, Shows, Festivals and More See Pages 12-25

photo courtesy of Grand Performances

El Vez appears at Grand Performacnces on August 11.

Metro Charter School to Leave Downtown | 7 Former Public Art Is Sold | 8

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

AROUND TOWN

Walk Against Homelessness

he homelessness crisis in Downtown Los Angeles is undeniable. This weekend, Angelenos can do their part to help by raising money and participating in a walk through Downtown. Skid Row’s Union Rescue Mission is organizing a 5K to boost awareness of the situation and raise money to combat it. The inaugural Walk to Fight Homelessness is on Saturday, June 2, at L.A. Live and Staples Center. Proceeds benefit the mission and will be used for services such as meals and medical care. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk, which proceeds through Downtown, starts at 9:30 a.m. The URM hopes to raise $500,000. Registration, donations and other information is at urmwalk.org.

Metro Picks Two Downtown Options for Light-Rail Line

he Metropolitan Transportation Authority is one step closer to choosing a route for a light-rail line linking Downtown Los Angeles and Artesia. The Metro board of directors voted on Thursday, May 24, to pursue two possible alignments for the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor. Met-

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ro is trying to determine where in the Central City the 20-mile-long line will end. After considering numerous options, the agency has narrowed down the choices to Option E, which would run underneath Alameda Street to Union Station, and Option G, which would pass beneath Alameda Street and Seventh Street, ending at an unspecified location near Pershing Square. In pursuing those routes Metro passed over a proposed stop at Sixth Street on the eastern edge of the Arts District. Metro will soon designate a “locally preferred alternative.” Environmental studies are expected to be finished in 2021 with construction planned to start in 2022. Metro hopes to open the up-to $4.6 billion project before the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Another Summer Festival

he week after Memorial Day generally means the start of the Downtown summer entertainment scene, and a familiar player is back. FIGFest, which takes place at the FIGat7th complex in the Financial District, launches at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 1, and will continue every Friday evening during the month. The music-oriented series starts off with a performance by Poolside, a duo humorously described as “daytime disco.” The series is presented by Arts Brookfield, the property owner’s entertainment arm, in collaboration with Downtown-based concert promoter Spaceland Presents. Upcoming dates include a June 8 performance by R&B duo Lion Babe and singer-songwriter Gabriel Garzon-Montano on June 15. All events are

MAY 28, 2018

free. Additional information is at artsbrookfield.com/events.

Adult Swim Event Coming

he lineup is coming together for the Adult Swim Festival. The inaugural twoday event will take place at Row DTLA in the Industrial District on Oct. 6-7, and will feature musical acts such as Thundercat, Com Truise and Bosco, and comedian Hannibal Buress. They join the previously announced headliner, the rap duo Run the Jewels. The full lineup will feature more than two dozen musical and comedy acts. This continues Row DTLA’s evolution as more than just a working and shopping venue; the complex at 777 S. Alameda St. is also hosting the All My Friends music festival in August. Weekend passes for the Adult Swim Festival go for $230. Tickets and information are at adultswimfestival. com.

Attend a School Safety Meeting

n the wake of a nationwide string of school shootings, City Attorney Mike Feuer has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to host a series of community meetings to discuss ways to improve safety in area schools. They have taken place across the city, and this week brings one easily accessible to Downtown residents and workers. The seventh meeting is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, at Mendez High

School at 1200 Plaza Del Sol East in Boyle Heights. The sessions provide an opportunity for students, teachers, parents, educators and others to speak up, and to liaison with a Blue Ribbon Panel convened by Feuer. The panel includes community leaders such as former City Controller Laura Chick, California Community Foundation President and CEO Antonia Hernandez and ex-LAPD First Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. More information is at lacityattorney.org/blueribbon.

Cleantech Incubator Gets Artsy

owntown’s Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator is getting a creative push, as the facility’s operators recently announced its first batch of artists-in-residence. The artists will be working at the La Kretz Innovation Campus at 525 S. Hewitt St., alongside the startup companies in the Arts District building. Artist Rebecca Bruno will create sculptures and host dance and movement workshops; sculptor Nova Jiang will explore Los Angeles’ infrastructure through interactive installations; and Debra Scacco will map freeways and rivers in a variety of media. All three artists work with ideas of sustainability, touching on issues such as energy and transportation. The artists will each receive a $10,000 stipend and six months of access to the campus’ advanced prototyping center and all of its tools and equipment. The work they create during their residency will be shown at the facility in the future.

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EDITORIALS

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TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

A Promising Convention/Hotel Plan

ity and tourism leaders have spent decades trying to expand the Convention Center and bolster the Downtown Los Angeles hotel stock, recognizing those steps are needed to make L.A. a top destination for the most lucrative business meetings and trade shows. It appears that Anschutz Entertainment Group has found a way to achieve both aims, and to do so in a manner that reduces the burden on the city. But as always, the devil will be in the details, and city officials must not give away the proverbial farm when making a deal. AEG, which operates the Convention Center under a contract with the city, recently proposed a $1.2 billion, two-pronged project: It would include a $500 million Convention Center expansion that would add roughly 350,000 square feet of space, creating a contiguous facility (space is currently divided between two buildings); and there would be a new 40-story, $700 million hotel with 850 rooms. AEG hopes to secure all approvals within a year and finish work by 2021. This is a massive undertaking, but AEG has an incomparable record in Downtown. It has invested more than $4 billion in the community through Staples Center, L.A. Live, the 1,001-room J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel and improvements to the Convention Center. These projects, collectively, were the catalyst in the stunning revitalization of South Park. AEG’s work helped persuade many other developers to build in Downtown. AEG has said it intends to self-finance the Convention Center expansion with an investment partner. The city would pay an annual fee to AEG for the upgrades after work is completed, allowing the city to avoid taking on additional debt. AEG also plans to pay for the hotel, but will likely seek financial incentives, potentially in the form of relief from the transient occupancy tax (TOT) that hotels pay to the city. This could be good news for the convention market, but the city must be diligent in its financial analyses and tough when negotiating. It also must be transparent, informing the public of what is proposed and what it would cost in the near and long term. AEG’s history and role as a good corporate citizen should be taken into account, but this is, after all, a multi-billion dollar company that will seek the best deal. The city must do the same. Any TOT proposal is key. Downtown hotel developers routinely claim their projects will not pencil out financially unless they get to keep a portion of the tax. This was recently seen when the City Council approved a deal that will allow developer Lightstone, which is building a two-hotel project in South Park with 1,130 rooms, to keep $67.4 million over 25 years. It’s worth noting that this is “new” money that only flows once a project opens, so anything the developer keeps doesn’t come out of city coffers. Still, the concern is whether these givebacks are even required in a market that is increasingly strong. If they are, how much should they be worth? We look forward to an improved convention facility and more hotel rooms. We hope AEG makes money and the city benefits. But negotiators must protect the taxpayers’ interests.

Aratani Theatre

Louise Steinman & James Comey

COMMENTS

Regarding the editorial “John Chiang for Governor” John Chiang is the most qualified candidate to be our governor. Not only that, he is most competent, being a CPA and a lawyer. He has the most integrity and honesty in every aspect. California will be well served and be in the best status financially if John Chiang becomes our next governor. —Cecy Grom This is a good endorsement for a candidate that the more centrist voters can support. There are some huge infrastructure projects (the bullet train and Waterfix) that need some serious analysis before going forward. —Thomas Sullivan Thank you, L.A. Downtown News, for your well-explained and well-founded endorsement of John Chiang for governor. —Bobby M. Reyes John Chiang is exceptionally qualified to be governor. His experience in the public and private sectors underlines the trust we can have in his integrity and truthfulness. John not only has a social consciousness, but the knowledge on how to deliver the promise of California within our fiscal means. Unlike most candidates for gov-

EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre,

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ernor he doesn’t say what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. —Dan Chernow Definitely John is the best candidate. He’s the person who knows how to manage the money and the other vast resources of our state. —Rody Ahearn Regarding the editorial “Re-elect Dianne Feinstein” Dianne Feinstein was elected in 1992. Since she’s been in office, she’s witnessed firsthand the downward spiral of California. Please explain what has she done to remain in office? Meanwhile, state Sen. Kevin de Léon managed the 24th District, which is among the worst districts in Los Angeles. Are you sure there aren’t better candidates? —Glen Kim

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MAY 28, 2018

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Welcome to the Electoral Funhouse Crawling Toward Election Day With Uninspiring Candidates and a Big Ballot By Jon Regardie hen it comes to the June 5 elections, there is good news and bad news. The good news is, there are only eight more days until Californians get to shrug off the gubernatorial primary featuring some of the least inspiring candidates

THE REGARDIE REPORT since Gray Davis. The bad news is, we still have to deal with eight days of this racket, and during that period the candidates will be inescapable, with their ads plastered all over TV and the Internet and their slick mailers cluttering your recycling bin. Actually, there’s another bit of bad news: Once June 6 arrives, this thing is only half over. The politicians and their ridiculously paid advisors will hibernate for a while, then in late September they’ll come roaring back for a final push. Still, if you squint hard enough, you can glimpse some entertainment value. Here are some of the things to keep in mind as we crawl toward election day. The Governor’s Race, Take I: I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but Jerry Brown has

emerged as the Lebron James of California politics, and the gang running to replace him are supporting players at best. After nearly eight years, Brown has written his legacy as a tough, sometimes contrarian leader who made a lot more right moves than wrong ones. When he replaced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger he inherited a shattered economy and a gloomy outlook. Now California has a budget surplus, progress has been made on the environmental front, and Brown took savvy steps like appointing Xavier Becerra as attorney general to throw mud at Donald Trump. The field running to replace Brown is uninspiring. Consider: There are two guys who haven’t done anything politically significant in more than five years (Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa), one guy who has, but has all the charisma of a glass of water paired with a dish of vanilla ice cream (John Chiang), a woman who is fiery but hasn’t figured out that winning a campaign requires raising money (Delaine Eastin) and two rock-throwing Republicans (John Cox and Travis Allen) seeking to ally themselves with Donald Trump in the bluest of blue states.

photo by Diandra Jay/courtesy of the Empowerment Congress

The six leading candidates in the race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown have only a little more than a week to make their mark. Shown at a USC debate in January are (l to r) Travis Allen, John Chiang, John Cox, Delaine Eastin, Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa.

One of these people will ultimately rule California. Heaven help us. The Governor’s Race, Take II: The most certain thing you can say about the race is that, at this point, it’s all about finishing second. Gavin Newsom is a lock to come in first, and has long sat atop both the polls and the fundraising board. Last week’s USC Dornsrife/L.A. Times poll put him at 21%, which sounds terrible until you realize that it’s 10% better than anyone else, and 39% of voters are undecided. Newsom will skate to the general election against whatever candidate, regardless of party, is runner-up. But who will that be? Villaraigosa has bounded in and out of second place in the polls. So has Republican businessman Cox. In

the Dornsrife/Times poll they had 11% and 10% respectively. In a Public Policy Institute of California poll also released last week, Cox scored 19%, with AnVil trailing at 15%. Chiang, Allen and Eastin have generally lagged in the polls. None seems likely to make the top two, but strange stuff can happen in the waning days of an election. It’s reached the point that the trailing candidates are taking swings at each other rather than Newsom, hoping to claw their way into November. Meanwhile, Team Newsom is swatting at Villaraigosa and Chiang, hoping they finish third at best — everyone knows that if the former San Francisco mayor faces off against a Republican, then the race is already over. Continued on page 11

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Delays Hit Skid Row Hygiene Center

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The Skid Row Community ReFresh Spot on Crocker Street is closed while work is done to expand facilities and services. Initially set to return in April, it is now expected to reopen in June.

for the first year, was always intended to expand, and the March shutdown was scheduled to allow for the installation of permanent water lines and electrical connections. The vision is that the one temporary trailer, which operated for four days a week, will become three trailers open every day. The problem is that only one of the three trailers has arrived, according to Charles Porter, preventive coordinator with the United Coalition East Prevention Project and a member of the Skid Row Community Improvement Coalition, which partnered on the project with the mayor’s office and the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Porter added that final state approvals are still being sought for the trailer, and it can’t begin operating until those are secured. “Once that trailer goes through all the approvals, the city will know the process for the other two, and they’ll bring and integrate them as quickly as they can,” Porter said. The ReFresh Spot was created as a response to a severe shortage of toilets and other public hygiene facilities in Skid Row; a July 2017 report by a coalition of community groups found there were only nine public toilets available at night for people living on the streets, a level below the United Nations’ standards for refugee camps. The hygiene center also opened a few months after a Hepatitis A outbreak hit San Diego and Los Angeles. The ReFresh Spot, at 557 S. Crocker St., included eight toilets, six hand washing stations and six shower stalls. The space had on-site staff and security personnel. Continued on page 10

MAY 28, 2018

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Metro Charter Elementary to Move to Lincoln Heights School, Currently Split Into Two Campuses, Will Have a Single Location. Enrollment to Decline By Sean P. Thomas etro Charter Elementary School is on the move again. This time, the institution will be leaving Downtown. The school’s board of directors last week voted to sign a lease for a location at 2635 Pasadena Ave., in Lincoln Heights, for the school year that begins Aug. 22. While the move will allow Metro Charter to have the entire school on a single campus, reversing a split-site system in effect this year, a smaller available space means enrollment will be cut back by 25% from the current school year. It’s the latest bit of upheaval for a school that was formed by Downtown parents five years ago to serve local families, but has been unable to find a long-term home in a real estate market dominated by rising prices and landlords reticent to commit long-term space to a school. Metro Charter Board President Chinmaya Misra hopes the Lincoln Heights facility is a temporary solution as school leaders continue to search for a permanent home. “It was a hard decision as a board to accept the fact that it would mean that for a period of time, we’d have to relocate to a completely different location,” Misra said during a phone call with Los Angeles Downtown News. The board approved signing a lease for the new location during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, May 22. During the meeting the board also voted to terminate its lease at the 700 Wilshire office building. Metro Charter this year has third through fifth graders attend classes in that Financial District structure, while kindergarten though second graders take a bus to a facility at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church at 2009 W. MLK Blvd in South Los Angeles. Metro Charter will occupy what is currently a Boys and Girls

Metro Charter Elementary, which was founded in 2013 in South Park, will move to a space on Pasadena Avenue in Lincoln Heights for the school year that starts in three months.

photo by Sean P. Thomas

Club north of Chinatown and L.A. State Historic Park. Misra said that they expect to remain at the facility for at least a year. The lease is for two years. “The reality is that right now, we had to find a campus where we can carry out the vision of the school without compromising the health of the overall campus,” she said. Hospital Beginnings Metro Charter launched in South Park’s California Hospital Medical Center in 2013. In its first year it counted 80 kindergarten through second graders and expanded by a grade each year, as in common in start-up charter schools. The plan

was always for the site to be temporary. Metro Charter stayed at the hospital though the end of the 2016/17 academic year. In its final year at the hospital it boasted 250 students with 25 teachers and administrators. School staff and board members have consistently looked for a long-term home, and have visited scores of sites over the years. Yet as Downtown land values continue to rise, they found themselves repeatedly priced out of spaces, or dealing with landlords who preferred to keep space open for a retail, restaurant or other tenant. Continued on page 10

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Concern Rises After Former Public Art Is Sold Brookfield Auctions Miró and Dubuffet Sculptures That Were on Display on Bunker Hill By Sean P. Thomas n general, art auctions in New York City have little impact on life in Downtown Los Angeles. But a pair of recent multi-million dollar sales have raised the hackles of some local figures, and have sparked concerns about the future of public art. On May 15, Christie’s Auction House sold “La caresse d’un oiseau” by the late Spanish artist Joan Miró for $9.4 million. Two days later, the auction house fetched $2.3 million for “Le Dandy,” by French painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet. The two sculptures had stood inside the atrium of the Wells Fargo Center on Bunker Hill since the mid1980s. Landowner Brookfield Office Properties removed them last December when it began a $60 million transformation of the space at the base of the Grand Avenue office towers. Concern has arisen because the sculptures were part of a mandated public art program initiated in the 1980s by the now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency. As part of an agreement to receive financial assistance or incentives from the CRA, developers were required to set aside 1% of a project’s budget for a public art component. Sometimes this was satisfied through a performance series. Other times, artworks were commissioned or acquired and were put on display. News of the sale of the former Downtown artworks was first widely disseminated in a May 15 story by the Los Angeles Times’ Christopher Knight. The maneuvering has Donald Spivack, the former Deputy Chief of Operations at the CRA, concerned about what it means for other public artworks in Downtown, specifically on Bunker Hill. “If the [property owners] don’t want it, it should either revert to the city or revert to some institution so that we can keep it in the public domain,” Spivack said. When the complex, originally dubbed Crocker Center, was being constructed, the developers spent a portion of the $400 million budget on the Miró and Dubuffet works, in addition to pieces by Louise Nevelson, Nancy Graces, Robert Graham, and a two-level atrium designed by architect Lawrence Halprin. Wells Fargo merged with Crocker Bank in 1986, and Brookfield acquired the property in 2013. The works remained on display until Brookfield began the atrium overhaul. Spivack said that he began to question Brookfield as to whether

photos courtesy of Christie’s

The works “La caresse d’un oiseau” (left) by Joan Miró and Jean Dubuffet’s “Le Dandy” had been on public display in the atrium of Wells Fargo Court for more than three decades. Landowner Brookfield Office Properties sold them this month, fetching nearly $12 million at auction.

the removal of the works was permanent or if they were going to be reinstalled at a later date. He was told it would be permanent, but that was before he learned that the next step would be putting the works on the auction block. Brookfield has not broken any rules by selling the works. As part of the original CRA agreement, the title to the artworks fell into the hands of the company in 2014, following the expiration of a 30-year contract signed by the original developers in 1984. When reached by a reporter, Brookfield representatives did not specifically address the sale of the artworks. The company instead released a statement, saying, “From New York to London to Downtown Los Angeles, Brookfield has a long and deep commitment to public art. Following the game-changing renovation of the Wells Fargo Center atrium and plaza, to be renamed Halo, ArtsBrookfield, one of the largest privately-funded arts programs in the world, will lead a vibrant, rotating arts and culture program in the heart of DTLA’s burgeoning arts and culture corridor. We expect to share more about our plans closer to Halo’s opening in 2019.” It is unknown what Brookfield plans to do with the other works put on display through the CRA process. The company declined requests for further comment. Spivack said that selling the art for private gain isn’t what the CRA ex-

pected would occur once the contract expired. Instead, he said, there was a hope that that the works would remain accessible to the public, be moved to another location, or be donated in a manner that allowed for public exposure. Julie Silliman, a former head of the CRA’s art program, questioned how hard Brookfield tried to find a public outlet for the works. “Even though it happens to be private land, if you don’t want to reuse the piece for some reason, there are alternatives,” she said. “If I had still been working at the CRA, I would have tried to see if they could have donated it for a tax write off.” She pointed to the example of a deal involving AEG (the owner of Staples Center) and the CRA in 2007. It involved moving an artwork dubbed “Untitled Four,” by Los Angeles-based artist Mark Lere, from in front of the arena to the USC campus. That allowed AEG to install more statues of sports luminaries at the South Park venue. “USC got a work of art, Staples Center got more space to do more commemorative sculptures, and everyone was happy,” Silliman said. Spivack said another possibility was that one of the nearby museums on Bunker Hill could acquire the pieces before they hit the auction block. Spivack said both the Museum of Contemporary Art and Wilshire Boulevard’s Los Angeles Continued on page 11

MAY 28, 2018

Another Push for Arts District Rail

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City, Metro Take Early Steps That Could Lead to a Sixth Street Station By Nicholas Slayton takeholders in the Downtown Arts District have long been pushing for a rail station, and calls for a mass-transit option have only intensified as new retail and office projects come to the community. However, hopes appeared dashed last November when Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Phil Washington said that although the project has merit, a station was unlikely due a lack of funds, unless “manna falls from heaven.” Manna has yet to fall, but city leaders have quietly taken steps that open the possibility of a rail stop in the community. City Councilman José Huizar, whose 14th District includes the Arts District, introduced a motion last week calling for the city to fund an environmental study to initiate the process. Huizar’s motion, which was passed by the council’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday, May 23, calls for transferring $500,000 in Proposition A money — a 1998 sales tax aimed at funding transit projects — to an account that would reimburse Metro for the study. That would provide Metro with seed money for a fund that would eventually increase through traffic mitigation and development fees in the Arts District. In a statement to Los Angeles Downtown News, Huizar said that extending the Red and Purple lines into the Arts District “makes the most sense” and would benefit the community. “We cannot build a Sixth Street Station if we do not plan and design for it, and that’s why I worked with Mayor Garcetti to earmark these funds so that we have the opportunity to turn this goal into a reality,” Huizar said. Part of the appeal is that rail tracks already run through the Arts District, though Metro’s Red and Purple lines terminate at Union Station. Metro has a current project, adding a “turnback” facility to the Division 20 rail yard along Santa Fe Avenue, which will speed up the rate at which trains re-

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The city and Metro will begin looking at what would be required to create an Arts District rail station at Sixth Street. Train tracks already run through the community.

verse course and start service. While the agency initially indicated that work would preclude an Arts District station, city and county leaders late last year persuaded Metro to shift, and design the District 20 project in a manner that would not rule out a possible station at Sixth Street. Metro has done that, though the cost and plans of a future station have not been determined. Doing that starts with an environmental analysis. The $500,000 is expected to cover the cost of the environmental review, which would start as soon as Metro’s board approves it. Once funding is approved, Metro would develop an overall agreement with the city, according to agency spokesman Dave Sotero. Huizar’s proposal also seeks to capitalize on the $482 million replacement of the Sixth Street Viaduct. That project includes the Sixth Street PARC (Park, Arts and River Connectivity), a 12-acre green space on both sides of the Los Angeles River. Metro had also considered creating a Sixth Street station as part of its West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor light rail, a 20-mile project that would link Artesia to Downtown Los Angeles. Last week the Metro board voted to pursue two alignments, neither of which would stop at Sixth Street. The options instead involve creating a station in the Arts District around Seventh and Alameda streets. nicholas@downtownnews.com.

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The expanded ReFresh spot is expected to have one trailer holding seven sinks and showers and another with six stalls each containing a toilet, sink and shower. A third trailer will have 12 washer and dryer systems. While the ReFresh Spot is closed, organizers have been pointing Skid Row residents to neighborhood alternatives. Those include mobile showers and restrooms run by the nonprofit LavaMae; they have been set up at multiple locations, including Gladys Park and near City Hall. During its initial four-month run, the ReFresh Spot saw heavy use, Porter said. In the first week, 284 individuals utilized the services at the center. The most popular service wasn’t the toilets, but the showers, he said. The last day ahead of the closure was the busiest, Porter said, with 144 people stopping by to use the facilities. The tentative plan, if all approvals are received, is to reopen the ReFresh Spot in early June, according to the mayor’s office. It will likely only be with the one trailer at first, Porter said, with additional services launching after the trailers are approved and shipped to Skid Row. No timeline was revealed for when those will arrive. nicholas@downtownnews.com

The inability to secure a location prompted the board last year to choose the split-campus plan. Originally younger students were expected to take classes in the Ketchum-Downtown YMCA on Hope Street, but permitting issues prevented that from happening. In August 2017, the board settled on the church location for the younger students. The split campus has weighed on the morale of the faculty and Metro Charter families, Misra said. Additionally, some parents had to arrange pick-ups and drop-offs at two locations. “The reality of working on split campuses is our resources get split, our teacher morale goes down because the team is not together, and our administrative staff is stretched thin,” Misra said. Charter schools being priced out of urban and metropolitan areas is increasingly becoming a problem, said Richard Garcia, communications director for the California Charter Schools Association. “This trend has made it difficult for charter public schools in Los Angeles to secure adequate, affordable, high-quality facilities, and has forced some charter public schools to re-locate to facilities that are a great distance from where its students and families live,” Garcia said in an email. The dual-campus approach and the far-

flung location for younger students has placed a burden on some families. It prompted others to leave. According to DeJuan Ruffin, director of operations for Metro Charter, the student body fell to 200 students for the current school year. Numbers will be trimmed again when classes start in three months. The lease caps enrollment at 150 students. Misra said she hopes that families will keep their children at Metro Charter despite the upheaval, touting the quality of the education and the fact that the campus is still in the Downtown environs. “It’s not like we’re moving to Santa Monica,” she said. “It’s within a few miles of here. But it might hurt. It’s the risk we’re willing to take to ensure that we regain our consolidated campus and our families don’t lose faith in us as a community.” There will be other repercussions. Metro Charter Elementary Principal Kim Clerx said that the school currently has nine teachers, with six permanent and three working on one-year contracts. Although nothing has been finalized, she said it is possible that the year-long contracts will not be renewed. If the faculty is whittled down to six teachers, she said the school will still operate at a 25:1 student to teacher ratio for the upcoming academic year. News of the move has parents contemplating their options. Simon Ha, who helped found the school, is uncertain if his daugh-

MAY 28, 2018

ter will take classes at Metro Charter next year. He also sees the inability to secure a permanent home as a reflection on the greater neighborhood. “I think moving the school out of the Downtown core signals that we really failed to come together as a community,” he said. Scott Bytoff, another parent who helped launch Metro Charter, hopes the consolidation of the school in a single location will pay benefits. “I think some parents are excited about what this campus is going to offer,” he said. Misra believes there will be some upside over the current situation. Though parents will have to figure out drop-offs and pick-ups outside the Downtown core, she pointed out that the new location provides on-campus play space that had been lacking. “Any other school takes it for granted,” Misra said. “Our kids haven’t had access to playground space.” Misra said the Metro Charter team will continue to look for a permanent location. The minutes of board meetings posted on the school’s website shows they have talked to multiple developers about homes in future large Downtown projects. The Lincoln Heights site could also give campus leaders breathing room in a still super-charged economy. “Hopefully the Downtown market will be ready a year or two from now to bring us back,” Misra said. sean@downtownnews.com

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ELECTION 5 The Governor’s Race, Take III: There are actually 27 candidates who qualified for the ballot. Democracy is silly sometimes. Perusing the list of also-rans is where some of the fun comes. Zoltan Istvan is listed on the ballot as a “Entrepreneur/Transhumanist Lecturer,” which sounds like it should be a job title for a character on HBO’s “Westworld.” Libertarian Nickolas Wildstar has the best name on the ballot, but the guy IDed as a “Recording Artist” has zero chance of being a hit with voters. Self-described mathematician Akinyemi Agbede should know that his numbers won’t add up, while Green party candidate Christopher Carlson’s designation as a “Puppeteer/Musician” raises way too many string-pulling pun possibilities. Then there’s Johnny Wattenburg, who has no party affiliation and is listed as a “Business Owner.” What makes him stand out is his candidate statement in the state’s thick Official Voter Information Guide that you got and threw away. His page reads, simply, “Why not!” What’s Next for Kevin de León?: The other high-profile contest is the race for the U.S. Senate, where incumbent Dianne Feinstein is set to trounce Kevin de León. I can’t figure out de León’s play. He’s a polished politician, with a dozen years in elected office, including four as president of the State Senate. He has targeted progressive voters and in February scored a victory by prevent-

lieves she’ll soon wrest de Leon’s old gig as President Pro Tempore and will again command immense power. But unless you win that post, state Senate is low-profile. There’s more juice in labor. She’ll win by a landslide. Heck, Choi, her lone opponent, might even vote for her (joking! I think).

ing Feinstein from earning the endorsement of the state Democratic Party, but he’s getting slaughtered in fundraising and is an ant in the polls. I don’t mean this in the wrong way, but there’s no path to victory unless Feinstein keels over or IronMan endorses him. And neither of those are about to happen. Is this about raising his profile for a future run for a City Council or other seat? Is he a masochist who finds the headline “Feinstein Crushes de León” oddly appealing? Did he bet a bar buddy $10 that he’d actually run? Yes, de León is going down, but he’ll be back. They all come back, or at least they try.

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County Museum of Art were contacted about the artworks. Representative of those institutions did not respond to requests for comment by Los Angeles Downtown News. Silliman and Spivack both noted that with Gov. Jerry Brown’s dissolution of CRAs across the state in 2012, no one is keeping a watchful eye on the art. They are concerned that other public pieces will also disappear in the future. Silliman said that records previously kept by the CRA are slowly being discarded, making it harder to track works originally initiated by the agency. “We’re powerless,” Silliman said. “We’re no longer working for the CRA. We’re just individual citizens now.” Felicia Filer, public art division director with the city Department of Cultural Affairs, said in a statement that the auction of the Miró and the Dubuffet are “unfortunate.” “We are working with the CRA/ LA to ensure the former agency’s art program remains in the public realm for decades to come,” she said in the statement, “including orphaned public artwork on the city property and in the public right of way.” sean@downtownnews.com

Hello Judge: I’ve gone on this rant before, and I’m not the only one, but I can’t believe the general public still votes for Superior Court judges. Making matters worse, this year I’m voting for 11 judges! This is silly, because the only judges I know are Judge Wapner, who’s dead, Judge Dredd, who’s a comic book character, Judge Hot Fudge, who doesn’t exist, and Judge Judy, who seems to be doing OK on TV. What I don’t know are any of the 28 people gunning for the seats. This leaves me either to make a selection by the short job title listed on the ballot, which is a terrible idea, or to trust the endorsement of the L.A. Times or another publication or website. I’m not going to pretend that I’ll research any of the candidates beyond that because, well, there’s a lot of stuff on Netflix that needs watching. The point is, most citizens are utterly unqualified to make an informed decision for Superior Court judge. Expect a lot of people either to leave the section blank or to vote dumb. And I just checked: Judge Hot Fudge is definitely not on the ballot. regardie@downtownnews.com

The Coronation of Maria Elena: Speaking of de León and races that are over, there’s the contest to replace him. In the campaign for the 24th District State Senate seat, which includes part of Downtown Los Angeles, longtime union leader Maria Elena Durazo is set to obliterate a guy named Peter Choi. This is another one that is less an election than a coronation. This is also a situation where I can’t fathom why she would want the gig. Durazo is a local labor legend; she headed the mega-powerful L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFLCIO for eight years. The daughter of Mexican immigrants who grew up picking fruit in California fields followed that job up with a high-level post in the national UNITE HERE union. Every Democrat in the world likes her. Most fear her. None would cross her. Why Durazo hopes to be one of 40 state senators is a mystery. Perhaps she wants to be California-focused again. Maybe she be-

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Bootsy Collins appears at Grand Performances on July 7.

photo courtesy of Grand Performances

12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT photo © Walt Disney Studios

photo by Craig Schwartz

Last Remaining Seats: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and the Birds June 2-23 at Multiple Locations

Soft Power

Through June 10 at the Ahmanson Theatre

ony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang is back with a world premiere, a self-described “play with a musical” that taps into modern international and domestic politics. Soft Power follows a Chinese executive in the U.S. during the 2016 election, trying to develop a show with a writer named… David Henry Hwang. A chance en-

counter with Hillary Clinton and a vicious attack set up some soaring and downright odd musical set pieces. With direction from Leigh Silverman, music from Jeanine Tesori and choreography from Sam Pinkleton, and standout performances from Conrad Ricamora, Francis Jue and Alyse Alan Louis, Soft Power is the most original work to hit the Ahmanson in years.

he Los Angeles Conservancy is again opening the doors to Downtown’s classic movie palaces. Last Remaining Seats activates the Broadway theaters with iconic films spread over several Wednesdays and weekends. This year, two favorites screen at the Los Angeles Theatre on June 16. The day kicks off with a 2 p.m. showing of the live action-meets-animation mash-up Who Framed Rog-

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.

er Rabbit? At 8 p.m., things go on in a completely different direction with Alfred Hitchcock’s terrifying The Birds. Other highlights include Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington at the State Theatre on June 2, and In the Heat of the Night at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on June 13. Every event includes some sort of pre-show activity, such as a conversation with people involved in the making of the movie.

photo by Meg Amo

Anime Expo

July 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center

an Diego might have Comic-Con International and Anaheim claims WonderCon, but each summer Downtown L.A. plays host to one of the biggest celebrations of Japanese animation and video games. The fourday Anime Expo has panels featuring voice actors and directors, screenings of celebrated classics and

At laconservancy.org/last-remaining-seats.

new TV shows and films, loads of karaoke opportunities, Japanese goods for sale and thousands of people dressed up in brilliant costumes. Guests can snag photos of or with cosplayers, check out a Butler Cafe and enjoy after-hours parties. Don’t worry: You don’t have to be a diehard anime fan to enjoy the event — it’s friendly to newbies.

At 1201 S. Figueroa St. or anime-expo.org.

CLASSIC FILMS in HISTORIC THEATRES F E AT U R I N G T H E M O V I E PA L A C E S O F D O W N T O W N ’ S B R O A D WAY H I S T O R I C T H E AT R E D I S T R I C T

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14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Gene Schiavone

photo courtesy of Grand Performances

Bootsy Collins

Beyond the Streets

July 7 at Grand Performances

eady to get funky? And by that we mean the good, toe-tapping, head-nodding kind of funky. Funk music pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins is bringing his brand of intergalactic soul music to Downtown as part of the Grand Performances concert series at the Cal Plaza Watercourt. As much a showman as he is a land-

mark bass guitarist and singer, Collins stands to get the outdoor amphitheater literally shaking. This is one of dozens of free shows on the Grand Performances calendar. Other highlights includes a June 1 tribute to fellow funk act Sly and the Family Stone, a cabaret-style performance from artist Astrid Hadad on June 2 and the Pakistani disco artist Fuzon on Aug. 7.

Through July 6 at the Werkatz Warehouse

La Bayadère

July 13-15 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

he New York City-based American Ballet Theatre always thrills Downtown Los Angeles audiences, and expect its 11th appearance to be no different. On the docket this time is the 19th century classic La Bayadère. Set in India, it’s a love-and-vengeance story built around

At 350 S. Grand Ave. or grandperformances.org.

the temple dancer Nikiya and her lover Solor. Expect noble warriors, royal deceit, godly revenge, lavish costumes and some of the most impressive dancing you’ll see all year. Choreography comes from Natalia Makarova (built on Marius Petipa’s version) with music by Ludwig Minkus.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org/abt.

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treet art has gone mainstream, which the massive Beyond the Streets exhibit makes perfectly clear. Occupying almost 40,000 square feet of warehouse space in Chinatown, it showcases the works of some of the biggest names in street art including Banksy, Shepard Fairey and DABSYMLA. The brainchild of Roger Gastman, co-cura-

tor of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2011 Art in the Streets exhibit, the event functions as a love letter to street art, featuring faithful re-creations of the Venice Beach Pavilion, a completely playable handball court originally decorated by Leo Quinones in New York City, and works from almost 100 international and local artists.

At 1667 N. Main St. or beyondthestreets.com.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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he Three Stooges will not die. Yes, technically Larry, Moe and Curly (and Shep) passed away decades ago. But the trademark brand of physical comedy they trumpeted continues to entertain audiences to this day. This revival of a 1990s Las Vegas stage show brings the Stooges to Downtown Los Angeles, where the plot,

if it matters, has them trying to stage an elaborate production. Spoiler alert: It does not go according to plan. The impersonators aim to capture the mannerisms and pacing of the classic trio. There will be laughs. There will be Stooges getting hurt in comically elaborate ways. There will be “Nyuck nyuck nyucks.”

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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Ruth Walz

All My Friends Festival

Schumann Cycle With Peter Sellars

photo by J3 Collection

photo by Gary Leonard

Dog Day at the Cathedral

July 11 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

ll bark but no bite isn’t just a phrase, but rather the goal of one of Downtown’s most popular and unique summer happenings. Dog Day Afternoon, orchestrated by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is a community-building event, one that recognizes that people who

August 18-19 at Row DTLA

might walk by each other on the street will begin conversing when they have puppy love in common. The event regularly draws about 2,000 living creatures (of the two-and four-legged variety) and there will plenty of eating, drinking and sniffing. There are also pet supply booths, and even dog and cat adoption opportunities.

he inaugural All My Friends extravaganza is coming to the office and retail complex in the Industrial District. Organized by AMFAMFAMF, an offshoot of music event producer LiveStyle, it will feature three stages and a lineup of hip-hop, R&B and dance music. The trio of Saturday headliners are trap musician RL Grime,

Southern rapper Gucci Mane and R&B performer Jhené Aiko (shown here). Topping the bill on Sunday are rapper and activist M.I.A., DJ Jamie XX and house music producer and DJ Armand Van Helden. Additional artists include Destructo, Pete Tong, Yo Gotti and Cut Chemist. It’s a long weekend. Pace yourself.

June 1-3 at Walt Disney Concert Hall os Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel’s extended exploration of the work of German composer Robert Schumann is coming to an end, but it’s going out with a bang. That’s because the Phil is partnering with famed opera director and musical visionary Peter Sellars (shown here) on a perfor-

At 777 S. Alameda St. or amfdtla.com.

At 555 W. Temple St. or downtownla.com.

mance of Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri. The oratorio tells the story of Peri, a fairy-like spirit trying to work its way back into heaven by finding a gift for God (tough task). The concert/performance is the final installment of an extended Schumann cycle. Be sure to arrive early for a pre-show talk about the production.

At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

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MAY 28, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 17

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Anthony Supreme

photo by Kevin Kuromi

photo by Nicholas Slayton

Cheech and Chong: Still Rollin’ Through Spring 2019 at the Grammy Museum

hen you think “stoner comedy,” there’s a good chance you think of Cheech and Chong. There’s a reason for that: The duo’s 1978 film Up In Smoke defined the genre, mixing laidback humor with outrageous scenes and rock and roll. For its 40th anniversary, the Grammy Museum is paying homage to Cheech

Marin, Tommy Chong and their hilarious movie. Cheech & Chong: Still Rollin’ — Celebrating 40 Years of Up In Smoke collects memorabilia from the film, plus scripts, photos and letters from the duo’s early days. The exhibit even includes a trio of noted art collector Marin’s guitars, all decorated by Chicano artists.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org.

Nisei Week

J. Cole

August 11-19 in Little Tokyo

ittle Tokyo’s annual festival of Japanese and Japanese-American culture returns for its 78th year this August. Nisei Week takes over Little Tokyo for nine days, with a series of traditional and modern events. Highlights include the Rubik’s Cube competition, an ondo dance ceremony and the gyoza-eating

August 24 at Staples Center contest (not for the faint of heart). The main draw is the annual Grand Parade, a showcase both of the Little Tokyo community and the culture it carries; it includes some massive floats. Whether you’re Japanese American or not, the festival offers a chance to explore one of Downtown’s oldest neighborhoods.

Throughout Little Tokyo or niseiweek.org.

resh off the release of his fifth studio album, Kids on Drugs, J. Cole continues to wow hiphop heads with his blend of poignant lyrics and bass-thumping beats. The rapper has been chugging away since 2011, but staked his claim as one of the very best in hip-hop with the double platinum

album Forest Hill Drive in 2014. Now he is hitting the road for a 35-stop tour, with the first leg passing through DTLA. Audiences can expect to hear selections from J. Cole’s diverse catalogue, including “KOD” and “Kevin’s Heart.” He’ll be joined by the often outlandish up-and-coming rapper Young Thug.

At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com.

18 DOWNTOWN NEWS

photo courtesy Alexis Smith

DTLA Proud

photo courtesy DTLA Proud

August 25-26 at Pershing Square

owntown’s biggest celebration of LGBTQ pride returns for its third year. The two-day happening will transform Pershing Square into a playground of activities and chaos. There will be drag shows, an outdoor waterpark and DJs enabling midday dancing. Initially founded by a trio of Downtown gay bars, the festival is about hon-

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

oring the past and present LGBTQ community, so the fun and games is complemented by educational components such as exhibitions paying homage to the Central City’s history in the gay rights movement. Of course, it really is all about the fun, games and music, so come ready to dance, and maybe to try a slip and slide.

At 532 S. Olive St. or dtlaproud.org.

This Brush for Hire: Norm Laich and Many Other Artists June 3-September 2 at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

orm Laich has been a silent partner in dozens of famous works of art. Primarily working in sign painting, he aided prominent artists including Paul McCarthy and Ed Ruscha. Now the L.A.-based Laich is front and center. This Brush for Hire collects numerous pieces he worked on or created, which range in style from mid-century

Americana kitsch to stark, modern signage; pieces on display include Alexis Smith’s “Wasteland” (shown here). The mixed-media exhibition includes signs, large installations — there is one from the late Mike Kelley — plus a new work set up in the ICALA’s courtyard. There will also be a short documentary looking at Laich’s life and career.

At 1717 E. Seventh St. or theicala.org.

photo by Gorman Studio

Belly

August 8-9 at the Teragram Ballroom

ack in the early 1990s, Belly was a big name on the booming alt-rock circuit. Fronted by the effervescent Tonya Donnelly, the band scored hits with “Gepetto” and “Feed the Tree” (which, by the way, was about death), and earned a couple Grammy nominations. The group this summer is launching its first tour since 1995, in support of

a new album, Dove. The lead single “Shiny One” shows that the gang still holds to the hook-filled mix of dreamy vocals and whirring, crunching guitars. As usual, the Teragram lineup this summer is packed. Other highlights include music and comedy duo Superfruit on June 10-11 and local punk outfit The Regrettes on June 29.

At 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

MAY 28, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 19

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo courtesy of Grand Park/The Music Center

photo by Joan Marcus

photo courtesy Rooftop Cinema Club

Rooftop Cinema Club

The Humans

All summer at Level DTLA

June 19-July 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre his we should know by now: Whenever a movie, play or other entertainment vehicle is set at Thanksgiving, there will be anything by familial bliss. So it is with The Humans, Stephen Karam’s intimate oneact work that won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. Described by the New York Times as “blisteringly funny,

bruisingly sad and altogether wonderful,” it follows the Blake family, who come together in a Lower Manhattan apartment and gather around a table with a turkey, and plenty of expectations, in the middle. Trust that disagreements and fears will be brought to the fore, and prepare for both laughs and tears.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.com.

At 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com/los-angeles.

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Fourth of July Block Party so neighbors aren’t dist u r b e d by t h e n o i s e. This week audiences can catch director Rian Johnson’s neo-noir work Brick (May 31) and Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America (June 1). Other summer highlights include Oscar winner Moonlight (June 9), Marvel’s Black Panther (June 15) and a 20th-anniversary screening of The Big Lebowski (June 29).

lockbusters are hitting the multiplex every week, but why not catch a slightly older favorite or even a classic in an al fresco setting? Rooftop Cinema Club screens movies on an outdoor deck of the Level DTLA residential building on Olive Street. The films are projected on the side of the structure and each guest gets headphones

AND CO

July 4 at Grand Park

he pyrotechnics display that erupts from the roof of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 9 p.m. is enough of a draw for almost anyone. But that’s only the capstone of a full day of activity at the park that runs from the Music Center to City Hall. On Independence Day, Grand Park will come alive at 3

p.m., with an afternoon of picnicking, games and art making. DJs and live bands begin at 5 p.m., offering two stages of entertainment. Those who get hungry and thirsty will find sustenance from more than 40 vendors and food trucks. The, after the sun sets, fireworks will illuminate the Downtown sky.

At 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.

Summer @ Stratford

20 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Nick Walker

Howard Bryant and John Carlos June 19 at Aloud at the Central Library

he subject of athletes and activism has exploded recently, with numerous sports stars using their status and celebrity to draw attention to social causes and protest racial injustice. That subject comes to the Central Library with an appearance by Bryant and Carlos (shown here). Bryant’s new book, The Heritage, explores six decades of trailblazing

activism by black athletes. Carlos is one of those figures, known for thrusting a gloved fist in the air (it’s been described as either a Black Power or a Human Rights salute) while receiving a bronze medal during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. The two will be in conversation with USC professor Todd Boyd for an event that couldn’t be more timely.

image courtesy of Odell Hussey and Nisha Sethi

photo courtesy John Carlos

Don’t Believe the Hype

Through August 23 at the Chinese American Museum

ip-hop’s influence in Asian-American communities is largely overlooked. The Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles aims to alter that with Don’t Believe the Hype: L.A. Asians in Hip-Hop. The recently opened exhib it in the El Pueblo museum explores the connection between Los Ange-

les’ Asian-American community and hip-hop. The event features 15 of the region’s most influential Asian-American names in the field, such as SATI X, graffiti artist DEFER and rapper Jason Chu. The striking murals, photography, poetry and musical selections show another side of the musical form.

At 425 N. Los Angeles St. or camla.org.

At 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org.

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July 3 at Los Angeles State Historic Park

here was a time when house music was confined to, well, houses. Then it was warehouses. But that was then and this is now, and electronic dance music is still all the rage amongst the young and vibrant, though bigger than ever. L.A. Historic State Park gets another piece

At 1245 N. Spring St. or zedd.net/zeddinthepark.

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of the action when hugely popular DJ and producer Zedd holds an outdoor party. The aptly named Zedd in the Park event includes fellow DJs Whethan, Oliver Tree and Medasin. Expect a, dare we say, electric time. And yes, you will hear Zedd’s huge current hit “The Middle.”

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 21

22 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo courtesy The Music Center

photo courtesy AEG

Downtown Dark Night

Dance DTLA

n years past, the Dance DTLA series took place at the Music Center Plaza. That is temporarily off-limits amid a $40 million renovation, but, to use a phrase, the beat goes on. The event this summer is moving to Grand Park, and Downtowners will have more than a dozen opportunities

As We Babble On

June 8 at L.A. Live

June 22-Sept. 7 at Grand Park

photo courtesy of East West Players

to twist and shout. There are actually two series: Dance Downtown offers an open floor and free lessons in a variety of styles (think salsa, disco, Bollywood and beyond). On alternating Fridays the DJ Nights bring expert mix masters who spin under the stars. Best of all, every event is free.

At 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.

venings with no game at Staples Center or concert at L.A. Live are known as dark nights. That’s the case on June 8, though don’t expect the sounds of silence. Instead, complex owner Anschutz Entertainment Group will take the opportunity to host a free party in honor of L.A. Live’s 10th birthday. Micro-

soft Square will come alive from 6-11 p.m. with a lineup of live music and art created on site. There will be indie craft vendors, street performers (think stilt walkers, contortionists and hula hoop wizards), DJs, bands, games and more. The L.A. Live restaurants and bars also get into the spirit with $5 food and drink menus.

June 6-24 at East West Players

hat lengths will you travel to realize your dreams? How much struggle are you willing to endure? East West Players tackles those questions in As We Babble On at the Little Tokyo company’s David Henry Hwang Theater. Written by Nathan Ramos and directed by Ali-

At 120 Judge John Aiso St. or eastwestplayers.org.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com.

Where

son M. De La Cruz, As We Babble On follows the story of Benji, a first-generation Asian-American man struggling to forge a career as a comic book artist in New York. The play takes a sharp, and often hilarious look at identity, artistry and the economy through the lens of young adults.

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MAY 28, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 23

photo by Clayton Cubitt

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Downtown Art Walk

photo by Gary Leonard

June 14, July 12 and August 9 in the Historic Core

h e D ow n tow n A r t Walk takes place on the second Thursday of the month throughout the year, but the crowds always swell in the summer. While many people are drawn to the restaurants and bars, the Art Walk organizers have worked hard to keep the focus as art-oriented as possible, and there are always a few

photo by Francesco Caruzzini

dozen galleries showing works from the local creative class. If you’re unsure of where to go, Art Walk offers guided mural and gallery tours. A good bet is always to stop by the Art Walk Lounge at 634 S. Spring St. for a map of the available stops. Tip: Check out the website beforehand to plan on parking and must-see exhibits.

BET Experience

The Kills

June 21-24 at Staples Center

August 13 at The Regent

ou can holler, you can wail, you can scream, you can flail. Do all that and you’ll be ready to see The Kills. The band has been a powerful force in rock since 2000. The duo, comprising American Alison Mosshart and the U.K.’s Jamie Hince, is known for mixing aggressive guitar hooks with

catchy lyrics. With five albums under their belt and a catalogue of fast-paced, subversive love songs such as “Doing It To Death” and “Future Starts Slow,” The Kills regularly put on raw and intense live shows. Expect pure, stripped-down garage rock and Mosshart’s crooning vocals.

he BET Experience, which will turn six this summer, has grown into one of Downtown’s most anticipated and popular summer events. Centered at Staples Center and stretching out to The Novo and L.A. Live, the 2018 iteration features performances by Chris Brown (shown here), SZA, LL Cool J, Lu-

At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.

In the Historic Core or downtownartwalk.org.

dacris, Nas and dozens of other musicians, comedians and actors. Just as much of a draw is the Fan Fest, which takes places in the L.A. Convention Center and includes celebrity basketball and dodgeball games, chats with rapper T.I. and actress Yvonne Orji, and much more. Admission to Fan Fest is free.

At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or bet.com/betexperience.

photo courtesy The Empire Strips Back

photo by Andrew Eccles

photo courtesy Cal Phil

Cal Phil: Phantom Meets Puccini July 8 at Walt Disney Concert Hall

ndrew Lloyd Web ber’s Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running musical on Broadway. Giacomo Puccini is one of history’s greatest operatic composers, having crafted La Boheme, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, among other warhorses. The California Philharmonic is mixing the two in the aptly titled “Phantom Meets Puc-

cini” event. Vocalists James Barbour, Jamie Chamberlin, Nathan Granner and Marya Basaraba will be on stage while maestro Victor Vener conducts the orchestra that regularly stages a series of summer shows in Disney Hall. Another Downtown Cal Phil summer highlight is the Aug. 12 date, dubbed “Beethoven Celebrates Bernstein’s 100th Birthday.”

At 111 S. Grand Ave. or calphil.com.

The Empire Strips Back June 1 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel

new Star Wars film hit theaters on May 25, but why see a Han Solo origin movie when you can catch live, saucy and slinky dance numbers from a galaxy far, far away? The Empire Strips Back is here to fill that void, delivering audiences not to Tatooine, but to the wild and strange world of Star Wars burlesque. Expect to see someone on stage in a Princess

Leia outfit, as well as plenty of disrobing Imperial Guards and even Darth Vader. The burlesque show is touring California after a run in Australia and, although this should go without saying, is aimed at audiences 18 and up. You’ll never be able to look at Star Wars the same way. You also may never again have the opportunity to utter the phrase “sexy Stormtrooper.”

At 929 S. Broadway or empirestripsback.com.

Sweat

August 29-October 7 at the Mark Taper Forum

ynn Nottage’s drama Sweat has an unexpected genesis: The playwright (shown here) conducted extensive interviews with the residents of Reading, Penn., one of the poorest cities in the country. That propelled a story about a group of friends who spend their days on a factory floor, and what happens when layoffs

begin and picket lines are set up. The show, which explores issues of race, identity and economics, was feverishly praised and earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Now it is heading west for a production directed by the always-strong Lisa Peterson. It may not be an evening of escapist theater, but it will be powerful.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.com.

24 DOWNTOWN NEWS

MAY 28, 2018

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Iwan Baan courtesy of The Broad and Diller Scofidio + Renfro

photo courtesy of Grand Performances

A Journey That Wasn’t Opening June 30 at The Broad

Larry Bell: Complete Cubes

June 23-September 23 at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

tion covers five decades of work, collecting cubes that range from nearly four feet wide to ones that measure just two inches on each side. Complete Cubes also holds cubes that use reflective surfaces or transparent materials to trick the eye. Bell has even created some large glass cubes for the show.

arry Bell has an eye for minimalism. The Los Angeles sculptor has focused on the concept of cubes throughout his career, creating stark, simple boxes of varying sizes and materials. Now the Arts District’s Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles is hosting a show dedicated to Bell’s obsession. The exhibi-

ne highlight when The Broad opened in 2015 was “The Visitors.” Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson’s installation with multiple video screens showing musicians in different rooms in a country house (and the artist himself in a bathtub) was dramatic, ethereal and magnetic. It returns to The Broad as part of an exhibit that explores representa-

At 901 E. Third St. or hauserwirthlosangeles.com.

Downtown LA

tions of time and its passage. More than half of the 50-plus works in A Journey That Wasn’t will be on view for the first time at The Broad, including the L.A. debut of Ed Ruscha’s diptych “Aztec/Azteca in Decline,” composed of two canvases that are each more than 27 feet long. Also on display are works by Sharon Lockart, Sherrie Levine and Andreas Gursky.

At 221 S. Grand Ave. or thebroad.org.

El Vez and Phranc

August 11 at Grand Performances

lvis is everywhere, as the expression goes, but for one night, El Vez will be in the heart of Downtown. Consider this a welcome return for a performer who has long been a favorite of the Grand Performances series, and expect an adoring crowd as the “Thin Brown Duke” delivers a flamboyant and of-

ten risqué show. El Vez is sharing the bill with another returning Grand Performances favorite, Santa Monica’s folksy singer-songwriter Phranc. Expect a one-of-a-kind evening from per formers known, respectively, as “The Chicano Elvis” and the “All-American Jewish Lesbian Folksinger.”

At 350 S. Grand Ave. or grandperformances.org.

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Chinatown Summer Nights

June 30, July 28 and August 25 at Central and West Plazas

hen you think of Chinatown, you probably think of a bunch of delicious but faded restaurants. Chinatown Summer Nights exists to disabuse you of that limited notion. The three Saturday evening happenings reveal a vibrant, exciting neighborhood. Family-friendly activities include arts and crafts

DOWNTOWN NEWS 25

SUMMER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

stations and photo booths, while those of legal drinking age will enjoy the beer garden and will groove and shake to the lineup of local rock bands and KCRW DJs. There are plenty of shopping opportunities, and the hungry can hit up the line of food trucks… or walk over to those aforementioned restaurants.

Downtown Stage

Butterfly Pavilion

July 11-August 18 at Pershing Square

h e s u m m e r e nte rtainment lineup at Pershing Square is one of Downtown’s most popular happenings. The full schedule, dubbed the Downtown Stage, includes Wednesday lunchtime concerts, Friday night films and Saturday evening musical performances. Mov-

ies this year will include Pretty in Pink, Top Gun and Clueless. Expect large crowds on Saturday nights for acts including Ozomatli (shown here), the English Beat and Best Coast. The only thing better than the series is that every event is free and open to the public.

hat ’s better than butterflies? No, that’s not a trick question. The answer is, butterflies within inches of your fingertips. That’s possible at Exposition Park, where the Butterfly Pavilion has once again been set up in a special structure on the lawn of the Natural History Mu-

At 532 S. Olive St. or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

seum. Get inside the space — carefully designed so that the winged creatures can’t get out — and you’ll glimpse dozens of varieties of colorful insects, and learn about their lifespan, eating habits and biology. Stay super still and a butterfly may even land on you.

At 900 W. Exposition Blvd. or nhm.org.

photo courtesy Union Station

photos by Kip Fulbeck

At 943-951 N. Broadway or chinatownsummernights.com.

Through September 3 at the Natural History Museum

DTLA Donut Festival June 16 at Union Station

couple of donuts aren’t anything special. But an entire festival dedicated to the tasty treat? Now you have our undivided attention. Union Station will be flush with pastry at the event that will features 13 donut vendors. It’s more than just round objects, as the happening promises other shops slinging donut-adjacent pastries such as chur-

photo by Gary Leonard

Nike 3-on-3 Tournament ros and apple fritters. The 9 a.m.-4 p.m. festival also includes a “live fry” event and a, ahem, “pimp your donut station,” where visitors can mix and match ingredients at a flavor stand. Not a fan of donuts? We don’t believe it, but there are also fried chicken and sausage vendors on deck. The inaugural event is free to attend, but you do have to pay for the donuts.

At 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com.

August 4-5 at L.A. Live

he current state of the Lakers and Clippers makes this a sad time for local basketball fans. An alternative to the status quo will be on display at L.A. Live, where some 5,000 ballers will play for the love of the game. The 10th annual Nike 3-on-3 Tournament will bring more than 1,500 teams to the South

Park campus. The squads, divided into various skill levels, will compete on more than 100 half-courts. The schedule usually includes a dunk contest and celebrity appearances, and an estimated 25,000 spectators will cheer on their family and friends, or just enjoy some summer ball. Admission is free.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or nike3on3.com.

hapa.me

Through October 28 at JANM

n 2001, artist Kip Fulbeck began photographing people who identify as “hapa,” or mixed-race individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. His latest Japanese American National Museum exhibition, hapa. me: 15 years of the hapa project, continues that approach, and also documents the passage of time. Each subject is shown in

two photos: one taken 15 years ago, and the other a recent image. There are also written messages, from then and now, on how they view themselves and their cultural identity. The set-up is simple and almost minimalist, but each piece is rife with emotion and vulnerability, a powerful look at what it means to be mixed race in modern America.

At 100 N. Central Ave. or janm.org.

26 DOWNTOWN NEWS

CALENDAR LISTINGS

SPONSORED LISTINGS

What Is Scientology? Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, 4810 W. Sunset Blvd., (323) 953-3206 7 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: What is Scientology? Find out for yourself by attending recorded lectures by L. Ron Hubbard available at the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles. Call now to reserve your seats.

EVENTS FRIDAY, JUNE 1 The Empire Strips Back Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/losangeles. 7 p.m.: Journey to a galaxy far, far away with far, far more titillating action than most Star Wars films. This burlesque show mixes comedy, song and dance and plenty of Star Wars characters doing a striptease. You’ll never look at Darth Vader the same way. Higher! The Psychedelic Soul & Genius of Sly & the Family Stone Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave. or grandperformances.org. 8 p.m.: Grand Performances kicks off its summer season by celebrating the classic funk band. There will be dancing. SATURDAY, JUNE 2 Silent PLAY Experiment Undisclosed location, silentplayexperiment.splashthat.com. 9:30 p.m.: A group of up to 30 strangers will come together for a riff on an immersive theater experience. Participants will throw a ball, build a fort and otherwise play with those they have never met. No talking is allowed, and shoes must be left at the door. How to Make Change: Bernie Sanders, Patrisse Cullors and Shaun King on Justice Reform Million Dollar Theater, 307 S. Broadway or go.berniesanders.com. 4 p.m.: The independent senator from Vermont joins Black Lives Matter organizers for a discussion on criminal justice reform. The event is free and open to the public. The Secret City Shine & Shimmer Show Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave. or grandperformances.org. 8 p.m.: Artist Astrid Hadad leads a night of outrageous costumes and dance, with live music provided in part by a marching band. SUNDAY, JUNE 3 Joanna Novak and Joseph Scapellato at The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: Join the two authors for readings from their latest books and a Q&A on their inspirations and writing process.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. May 28: Mitchell Long Quartet. May 29: Simon Moullier Group featuring Gerald Clayton. May 30: Beekman. May 31: David Binney Residency. June 1-2: Gerald Clayton Group. June 3: Zach Danziger and Jeff Babko. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. May 28: This night, Tolliver and Eddington are joined by a chamber orchestra. Unexpected, right? May 29: As far as we know, there is no chamber orchestra at Sarah Walk’s show. May 30: Dear Nora is back from the dead. May 31: Mating Ritual is heavy on’80s synths sound. We’re shocked.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

June 1: Electro-pop from Handsome Ghost. That’s an amazing mental image, right? June 2: The Lonely Biscuits. Café Fedora/Au Lac 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. June 2: The Todd Hunter Trio provides piano-heavy jazz. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. June 1: McHale, For the Kings. June 3: The Sidemen know how to read the room. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. June 1: Marlo, Orjan Nilsen. June 3: Showtek. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. May 30: Lord Huron has augmented its folk sounds with more modern rock elements as the band continues its campaign to conquer the aristocracy. Ham and Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com May 29: Robots Liberate the Workforce: A Jenifer Moon Songbook. June 3: Andrew Weathers, Rootless, Rebecca Shiffman, Tom McNalley. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St. or themoroccan.com. May 28: Jo Passed is present. May 29: Rafiq Bhatia goes heavy on the experimental part of experimental electronic. May 30: Mellowdrone is here for all of the CIA vets looking to chill out. May 31: Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas somehow mix Latin pop with goth rock and psychedelic surf rock. Find out how! June 1: Alexander Lewis headlines, with Y2k opening, in case any Gen Xers miss their late ’90s existentialism. June 2: Souvenirs will, as far as we know, not be handing out things to commemorate this show. June 3: Souly Had with Entreband. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. May 28: DJ and singer Suvi has a video release show. May 29: Watch out! It’s the Wild Ones. May 30: You too will emit a low hum as Low Hum plays psycho rock. May 31: Get a taste of some local L.A. rap at this installment of Don’t Come to L.A. June 1: Latin soul from The Altons. June 2: Bahari is back. June 3: Dirty Peaches’ Alexander Zhang Hungtai is now into the free-form improvised jazz life, man. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. May 28: The Bluegrass Ghosts wish it was a dark and stormy night. May 29: The Makers wish they’d thought of the idea of building a private tunnel system under Los Angeles first. May 30: The Midnight Blues Revue. May 31: Organ Donors could possibly feature some members of the audience. Check your driver’s license. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. May 29: Torey Lanez is on the “Memories Don’t Die Tour.” Is that true? June 1: Can you dig what Digable Planets is playing? June 3: The Genius, GZA is here with a $5 show, meaning you can experience the power of liquid swords. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. May 30: Sean Wheeler and the Reluctant Messengers are sad to report that Congress once again killed part of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations. Seriously, they are really sad about that. June 1: Isaac Rother & The Phantoms, The Schizphonics, The Hidden Depths, The Slop, The Sound Station. June 2: The Sloths, Daisy Dell, Nico Bones. June 3: Terminal A, Dominator, New Skeletal Faces, Secret

MAY 28, 2018

Mutilator. Note: Pick something else for that first date. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. May 31: Fidel Nadal. June 2: Power Trip is a band, not how we get after we get our hands on a wad of cash. June 3: Have a power trip buying all of the rock shirts and eight tracks you want at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Flea Market. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. June 1: Rumblepak, Prissy Whip, Abrakadabra, Clear Capsule. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. May 28: Female-fronted full-force rock from Hinds. May 30: We just learned that JoJo apparently had a #1 pop hit when she was only 13. We feel a bit behind on life accomplishments. May 31: Okkervil River talks a lot about travel. June 1-2: The Dead Milkmen offer a scathing commentary about nostalgia for a white-washed 1950s Americana. They also have a song called “Big Lizard in My Backyard.”

THEATER

Bob Baker Marionette Theater: The Circus! Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. May 29-30 and June 1, 10:30 a.m., May 31 9:30 a.m., and June 2-3 at 2:30 p.m.: The puppet masters at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater have brought back a 1948 show with lions, elephants, clowns and puppet acrobats. Antigone, or Are We Rebels Asking for the Storm Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. May 31-June 2, 7 p.m.: Based on a letter from the frontwoman of the Russian band Pussy Riot, this play puts a modern twist on Sophocles’ work. This is the final week. Through June 2. Soft Power The Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-1967 or centertheatregroup.org. May 29-June 2, 8 p.m., June 2, 2 p.m. and June 3, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: East and west collide in this modern spin on “The King & I” from Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. Centered around the 2016 presidential election, a Chinese businessman finds himself in the United States and has a chance encounter with Hillary Clinton. Through June 10. ICE The 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., (213) 745-6516 or 24thstreet.org. June 2, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and June 3, 3 p.m.: This timely, family-friendly comedy follows two Mexican baseball players who come to the U.S. They lack documents but dream of being successful restaurateurs. But before they can do that, they must contend with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The show is recommended for ages 8 and up. Through June 24. Rigoletto Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com. May 31, 7:30 p.m., and June 3, 2 p.m.: Giuseppe Verdi’s tale of revenge comes to life at the Music Center. The titular court jester plots his vengeance against his ruler, all while his beautiful daughter is caught in between them. These are the final two performances. Through June 3.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Schumann Focus: Das Paradies Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. June 1-2, 8 p.m. and June 3, 2 p.m.: Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a rare performance of all three parts of Schumann’s oratorio. The performances includes visual work from Refik Anadol and direction from Peter Sellars. L.A. Phil Composer Fellowship Program

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. June 2, 2 p.m.: Drop by Walt Disney Concert Hall for this free event, featuring world premieres from 10 composers. Piano Spheres Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 622-7001 or colburnschool.edu. May 29, 8 p.m.: Enjoy an intimate night of Italian compositions in this piano-driven performance.

FILM

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. May 28: Witness the high-stakes world of coffee making competitions in Barista. May 29: Filmmaker Michael Robinson screens eight of his experimental short films. May 30: Enjoy a period drama about social revolution through food in Babette’s Feast. Rooftop Cinema Club Level DTLA, 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com/los-angeles. May 29: Arnold is back in the action hit Terminator 2: Judgment Day. May 30: Great Scott! They’re screening Back to the Future! May 31: Enjoy The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson’s breakout neo noir work Brick. June 1: Eddie Murphy searches for a queen in Queens in Coming to America. June 2: See Wolverine sing and dance in The Greatest Showman. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. It’s a throwback trip to a bio-diverse land in Amazon Adventure 3D. The film follows the journey that naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Yates undertook through the Amazon rainforest in the 1850s. Who doesn’t love pandas? The adorable bears take center stage in the appropriately titled Pandas 3D? Kristen Bell narrates the film about the efforts to reintroduced captive-born pandas into the wild. It’s all about space in Hubble 3D, which carries audiences on a celestial journey, touching on everything from spacewalking astronauts to distant galaxies. Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt. Last Remaining Seats The State Theatre, 703 S. Broadway or laconservancy.org/last-remaining-seats. June 2: James Stewart’s ode to American democracy, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, opens up this year’s Last Remaining Seats series. The screening will be followed by a party at Clifton’s Republic. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through June 3: Solo: A Star Wars Story (10, 10:10, 10:40 and 11:30 a.m., 12, 1:30, 2:20, 3:10, 3:40, 5, 6, 7, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:40 and 11:10 p.m.); Book Club (10 a.m., 1, 4:10, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Deadpool 2 (10:20 and 11:20 a.m., 12:20, 1:20, 1:50, 2:40, 3:50, 4:40, 6:20, 7:10, 8, 9:40, 10:30 and 11 p.m.); Breaking In (12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Life of the Party (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.); Overboard (10:10 a.m., 1:10, 4:20, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.); Avengers: Infinity War (10:50 and 11:50 a.m., 2:30, 3:30, 6:10, 7:20, 9:50 and 10:50 p.m.); A Quiet Place (5:10, 7:50 and 10:20 p.m.).

MUSEUMS

African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org. Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts. Continued on page 27

MAY 28, 2018

Broad Museum 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Ongoing: In the galleries at the Grand Avenue institution are about 250 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. It’s big-time blue chip, with work from Rauschenberg, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Kruger and every other big name. FIDM Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidmmuseum.org. Ongoing: “Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection” surveys footwear, fans, gloves, purses and hats. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Through July 31: Smudged chalk becomes shockingly profound in “Gary Simmons: Fade to Black.” Through August 26: “How Sweet the Sound: Gospel Music in Los Angeles” charts the genre’s evolution and impact in the City of Angels. Through Sept. 9: Multimedia collages explore scarcity and abundance in “Shinique Smith: Refuge.” Through Sept. 9: The West Coast gets reinterpreted in gridheavy abstract works in “Charting the Terrain: Eric Mack and Pamela Smith Hudson.” Through Sept. 9: “Nicole Miller: Athens, California” uses film to explore the lives of students in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Ongoing: The multi-functional “Gallery of Discovery” offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of former slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past. California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Ongoing: “Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” presents Los Angeles’ very own Space Shuttle in all its splendor. Ongoing: “Science in Toyland” presents physics through favorite kids’ toys. This hands-on exhibit engages museum visitors with Dominos, Sails and Roller Coasters in a fun, but informational primer on friction, momentum and chain reactions. Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and “Forty Years of Space Photography.” The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The “Ecosystems” exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes. Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org. Permanent: “Origins” presents the story of the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles. Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and “Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration,” an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, each is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a description and a personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 124 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-8372 or elpueblo.lacity.org. Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of the 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House,

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lEgal FICTITIOUS BUSINESS Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018097517 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) FRANKIES PARKING, 1406 W. 7TH STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 LA COUNTY and 1016 W. 22ND STREET APT. #02, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) FRANCISCO ROCHA, 1016 E. 22ND STREET APT. #02, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on APRIL 20, 2018.

home to exhibits and the Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century firefighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check the website for a full slate of fiestas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Through November: With 11 Latin Grammys on his shelf, it’s high time that the Colombian bard receives his due. It comes in “Deep Heart: Roots, Rock & The Music of Carlos Vives.” Through September: More a question of legacy than memorabilia, a titan emerges in exhibition form through “Chasing Trane: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey Transcended.” Through September 2018: Pete Seeger was more than just a musician. The folk singer was an activist, supporter of progressive causes and a documentarian of the struggles of working people. His notes, personal belongings and more are on display in “How Can I Keep From Singing: The Work of Pete Seeger.” Through spring 2019: Cheech and Chong’s “Up in Smoke” is a comedy icon. Pay homage to 40 years of the stoner film with “Cheech & Chong: Still Rollin’ — Celebrating 40 Year of Up In Smoke.” Ongoing: “360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story” provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Columbia Records’ history and offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing the label’s pivotal technological as well as business innovations, including its invention of the LP. Ongoing: White sequined gloves and other wardrobe pieces are the focal point of the exhibit case paying tribute to the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. Ongoing: “Roland Live” is a permanent installation courtesy of the electronic musical instrument maker, Roland Corporation. The exhibit gives visitors a chance to participate in the music-making process by playing a wide variety of products,

from V-Drums and BOSS pedals to VIMA keyboards and the MV-8800 Production Studio. Ongoing: “Shining Like A National Guitar” references both Paul Simon and the celebrated six-string company known for their metallic resonators. Hauser & Wirth 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthlosangeles.com. On hiatus until June 23. Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles 1717 E. Seventh St., (310) 284-8100 or theicala.org. Through July 15: Performance artist Rafa Esparza transforms the museum’s project room into an open studio for all to see in “Rafa Esparza: de la Calle.”

MORE LISTINGS

Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

2YOUR EVENT INFO

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

To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448 Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm. For for rENt All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 and 5/28. LEGAL NOTICE

distributed to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers.

on Friday, June 29, 2018. Thereafter, the only option to prevent the sale of the property at public auction is to pay the taxes in full.

NOTICE OF IMPENDING POWER TO SELL TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY Made pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 3361

The right of redemption survives the property becoming Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell, but it terminates at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, on the last business day before the scheduled auction of the property by the Tax Collector.

Notice is hereby given that the following parcels listed will become Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell on Sunday, July 1, 2018, at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, by operation of law. The real property taxes and assessments on the parcels listed will have been defaulted five or more years, except for: 1. Nonresidential commercial parcels, which will have been defaulted for three or more years, 2. Parcels on which a nuisance abatement lien have been recorded, which will have been defaulted for three or more years,

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR NOTICE OF DIVIDED Made pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 3381 Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 3381 through 3385, the Notice of Power to Sell Tax-Defaulted Property Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California, has been divided and

3. Parcels that can serve the public benefit and a request has been made by the County of Los Angeles, a city within the County of Los Angeles, or nonprofit organization to purchase the parcels through Chapter 8 Agreement Sales, which will have been defaulted for three or more years. The Tax Collector will record a Notice of Power to Sell unless the property taxes are paid in full or the property owner initiates an installment plan of redemption, as provided by law, prior to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, on Friday, June 29, 2018. The right to initiate an installment plan terminates

The Treasurer and Tax Collector’s Office will furnish, upon request, information concerning making a payment in full or initiating an installment plan of redemption. For more information, please visit our website at ttc.lacounty.gov. The amount to redeem the property, in United States dollars and cents, is set forth in the listing opposite each parcel number. This amount includes all defaulted taxes, penalties, and fees that have accrued from the date of tax-default to the date of Friday, June 29, 2018. I certify, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated this 4th day of May, 2018.

JOSEPH KELLY TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA PARCEL NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION The Assessor’s Identification Number, when used to describe property in this

list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map, if applicable, and the individual parcel on the map page or in the block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available in the Assessor’s Office, 500 West Temple Street, Room 225, Los Angeles, California 90012. The real property that is the subject of this notice is situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and is described as follows: PROPERTY TAX DEFAULTED IN YEAR 2015 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENT, AND OTHER CHARGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 2001 $8,296.32 SUNGLIM KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN SITUS:964 N VIRGIL AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2943 AIN: 5539-006-011 CN949215 553 May 21,28, 2018

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MAY 28, 2018