6 | A LONG LOST MURAL RETURNS
THE QUEST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING | 23
JUNE 15, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #24
Indie pop duo The Bird and The Bee play at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on July 12. photo by Autumn de Wilde
S U M M E R’S T O P F O R T Y Downtown’s Calendar Is Filled With Concerts, Exhibits, Events and More SEE PAGES 7-21
THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
2 Downtown News
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AROUND TOWN
The Edison Is Going to Disney World!
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Downtown bar is taking a trip to Disney World. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s true. The beautiful Edison bar and restaurant, at 108 W. Second St. in the old boiler room of the Higgins Building, will be recreated as a themed attraction in the retail and dining complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The deal was announced by the Patina Restaurant Group and Edison owner Andrew Meieran on Tuesday, June 9. As with the original, the Disney Edison will offer an historical “Industrial-Gothic” aesthetic with soaring ceilings and exposed machinery. Unlike the original, the Florida attraction will have themed areas within the bar with names like “The Lab,” “The Patent Office” and “The Radio Room.” The Edison will take a space at Disney Springs, a major renovation and rebranding of the existing Downtown Disney. The bar and restaurant will serve a menu similar to the Los Angeles location, with a focus on modern American dishes and craft cocktails. It is expected to open in 2016.
Ritz-Carlton Penthouse Selling for $15 Million
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6,590-square-foot condominium being billed as the single most expensive Down-
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS town residence ever has hit the market. Unit 51A, a two-story duplex penthouse in the RitzCarlton Residences at L.A. Live, is being sold for $15 million. Custom designed by Santa Monica architecture firm Moore Ruble Yudell in 2012, the three-bedroom, four-bathroom home comes fully furnished and features a modern design. Mauricio Umansky, CEO of The Agency, which has the listing (and which sold all 224 Ritz residences when they opened in 2011), would not identify the seller, though Umansky said he is an international businessman who bought the penthouse in 2007 for $9.3 million. The owner, Umansky added, stayed in the penthouse “only a couple of times.” Umansky said the $15 million price tag is a record for Downtown Los Angeles, and that the home includes amenities one might expect at a five-star hotel, including housekeeping and security. Umansky said he plans to start showing the property immediately. Information and photos can be found at theagencyre.com.
Eighth + Grand Headed Toward September Opening
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onstruction on Downtown’s biggest apartment building is ahead of schedule. Developer Carmel Partners is in the final stage of work on its massive 700-unit Eighth + Grand, and expects to open the Financial District project in September, said Dan Garibaldi, managing partner of development at Carmel. The units will come online in multiple phases through early 2016, he added. Carmel is marketing the building as a luxury product, with apartments boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and upscale fixtures. Eighth + Grand has studio
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June 15, 2015
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to three-bedroom units, and rents range from about $2,000-$5,170 for a two-level townhome-style residence. Amenities include a pair of courtyards (one with a pool and spa and another with a barbecue area and garden), a clubhouse with multiple lounges, a rooftop pool deck and a gym with windows facing Olive Street. Whole Foods is filling 40,000 square feet of street-level retail space and is expected to open in early November. Carmel is also negotiating leases for three or four retail tenants to fill the remaining 8,000 square feet of space, Garibaldi said. Pre-leasing has begun. Additional information is at carmelapartments.com.
The Mighty Echos
Spring 2015
Public Meeting on Sidewalk Vending in Downtown This Week
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he issue of legalizing and regulating sidewalk vending is a hot topic in City Hall and in Downtown, and the city is holding a series of public meetings on the topic. The discussions follow a move by Councilmembers José Huizar and Curren Price to look at ways to change the status of the practice that is currently illegal, whether it involves the sale of food or merchandise. The first of four meetings took place Continued on page 32
June 15, 2015
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EDITORIALS
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
June 15, 2015
Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Sidewalk Vending: More Questions Than Answers
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n late 2013, City Councilmen Curren Price and José Huizar initiated an attempt to legalize and regulate the sidewalk sales of food and merchandise in Los Angeles. It’s not a surprising move in this city at this time — similar to the City Council’s recently passed hike of the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, it’s an effort at what is sometimes termed economic justice. The attempt to get a handle on sidewalk vending, which is both ubiquitous and illegal in Los Angeles, makes sense. A 1994 ordinance to rein in and regulate the practice led nowhere. The result frustrates just about everyone: Vendors sometimes complain about being busted by police and having their carts impounded, even if they have acquired certain permits from the city. Business owners and organizations, meanwhile, charge that vendors are not playing by the same rules as others, and that vendors can undercut some nearby businesses on price. The councilmen’s effort to change the status quo is moving forward. The city is holding a series of public meetings to gather input on a set of proposed early guidelines (the next one takes place Thursday, June 18, from 6-8 p.m. in City Hall). City officials caution that no finalizing of an ordinance is close, and we hope that is the case, because there are far more questions and uncertainties than answers. If anyone has an agenda and is angling to push toward an end game, then they should think again — much more work needs to be done before the city considers passing a new law. Although a vending ordinance would apply to all of Los Angeles, its impacts would be felt more in Downtown than anywhere else. The mass of workers and residents here, as well as the crush of shoppers in areas such as the Fashion District, means that, as has been the case for decades, vendors will be drawn to the community. Don’t pretend that this is about determining what happens to a few carts on the sidewalks of Los Feliz, Larchmont Village or the Palisades — it matters most in dense communities with cluttered sidewalks such as Downtown and the environs of MacArthur Park. Price and Huizar are right to try to help low-income entrepreneurs who are working to make a better life for themselves and their families. Street vending is a difficult way to survive, and processes should be explored that allow people to start in this line of work and, one day, hopefully move up to owning a traditional store or business. However, the needs of vendors cannot supersede the needs of business and store owners in traditional spaces, as well as the residents and workers in the areas where the food and merchandise carts are set up. If an ordinance is to take effect, then strict enforcement will be key. The city right now is looking at three possible regulation scenarios, with five, nine or 17 inspectors. The first two figures border on laughable: With the number of vendors out there, and their ability to quickly move from street to street, it seems that 17 (plus management and administrative staff ) is the minimum needed to make sure everyone follows the rules. That comes with a cost, which the city estimates at $1.7 million. It should be covered not by existing city resources, but rather by permit fees paid by the vendors themselves, or the companies that own the carts vendors use. Some might complain that this will be onerous, but we think it is only fair considering that owners of traditional business pay for things such as rent, insur-
ance, electricity, healthcare, their own permits, etc. The regulation of street vending is a situation where the devil will be in the details, and all the details need to be spelled out clearly. One option under consideration, a general plan to allow vending citywide, is too vague. Instead, the city should dictate specifically where vending can occur and, beyond that, how many vendors can operate in each area, and in certain cases on each block. Hours when vendors can set up also should be specified.
WHILE SOME STUDIES CLAIM VENDORS DON’T DETRACT FROM SALES IN TRADITIONAL STORES OR RESTAURANTS, IT’S CLEAR THAT PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO KINDS OF BUSINESSES DEPENDS ON THE MIX. A SIDEWALK ICE CREAM VENDOR MIGHT NOT IMPACT AN ARTISANAL SWEETS SHOP OR A HIP BISTRO, BUT IT COULD CANNIBALIZE SALES AT A CONVENIENCE STORE OR YOGURT SHOP. This will take a lot of advance work, but resolving these issues now will prevent problems later. We can foresee a situation where, without specific (or with un-enforced) rules, vendors congregate on a certain block, perhaps in the Fashion District or Historic Core. This could result in intense competition, and even fights, between individual vendors, and between vendors and traditional businesses. How can the city prevent these disputes? Several ways, including by issuing specific permits for specific places at set times. Capping the number of vendors in certain neighborhoods and blocks make sense. Since some areas will be prefer-
able, rotating permits or a lottery system might be a solution. The ordinance will also need to dictate how close to businesses vendors can set up, and we’re quite sure that one discussed option — keeping them five feet from business entrances — is not sufficient. That constitutes business interference. While some studies claim vendors don’t detract from sales in traditional stores or restaurants, it’s clear that peace between the two kinds of businesses depends on the mix. A sidewalk ice cream vendor might not impact an artisanal sweets shop or a hip bistro, but it could cannibalize sales at a convenience store or yogurt shop. Health concerns are paramount. The early guidelines would require vendors to be within 200 feet of toilet and hand-washing facilities. It is hard to overstate how much enforcement here matters — people who are preparing food need to relieve themselves during the day. There must be verifiable methods so they can wash their hands and maintain sanitary conditions. Vendors will have other responsibilities, including getting rid of their garbage and used materials beyond stuffing them into street trash cans (some of which are emptied and maintained not by the city, but business improvement districts). There must be penalties for vendors who fail to adhere to the rules. Local business officials have long complained, for example, about vendors who dump used hot dog water in alleys. That just dirties up the neighborhood, and a vendor who goes to another area the next day won’t have to deal with the repercussions of their action. Even if only a few “bad apples” engage in these practices, they create a bad impression for other vendors. The above are ideas to regulate, not prevent sidewalk vending. Anyone who thinks the practice will disappear with a crackdown isn’t dealing with reality. It’s not morally right, either, to stop people who lack other employment options and are trying to better their lives. Instead, the responsible move is to find a solution that helps vendors, that protects consumers and that works for restaurant or shop owners who have spent tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes much more, to play by the rules. An ordinance is not close to ready, and testimony at four city hearings should be part of the process, not a determining factor in what becomes law. The vendors, business owners and business groups all need to be heard, and the process must be fair and transparent. This is not the place for politicians or others pushing an agenda.
June 15, 2015
Downtown News 5
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Strange Days in the LAPD
Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck continue to have their hands full as they deal with the impacts of the August 2014 killing of unarmed Ezell Ford by two police officers.
Controversial Killings and a National Discourse Cast a Shadow Over a Department That Has Made a Lot of Progress By Jon Regardie his is a strange, strange time for the police force in the city of Los Angeles. Although the number of aggravated assaults has spiked in the last year, the overall level of crime in the city is, by historic standards, extremely low. At the same time, the antagonism associated with the regime of former Chief Daryl Gates is long gone, and it has been
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THE REGARDIE REPORT more than two years since the transformation started by another former chief, William Bratton, prompted the Feds to lift a consent decree. Further, the police force has become increasingly diverse, and the makeup of officers now more closely mirrors the city they patrol. Along the same lines, the department has worked hard to partner with communities on crime prevention and other measures. Even if some distrust of the force persists, things are far better now than they were in either Bush era. You might not realize all that given the twists and turns of recent months. Ever since the death of Ezell Ford in South Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2014, things have been tumultuous. Although the vast majority of police-citizen interactions continue to be peachy, a Lemony Snicket-like series of unfortunate events, including some that occurred thousands of miles from the city, are starting to color the public’s view of the department.
Granted this is more of a feel thing than something tangible, but if you have spent enough time in L.A., and paid attention to civic matters instead of Miley Cyrus happenings, you get a sense of when something lives beyond a news cycle and starts to cling to the fabric of the city. This one is enduring. It’s festering. What’s worse is that the LAPD, and some city leaders, are missing opportunities to reduce tension. With media questions and the tentacle-like reach of social media, the powers-thatbe run the risk of losing control of the narrative. The result is that the LAPD has wound up on a weird sort of precipice. The type of unrest that erupted in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo. after the killing of African-American men by police officers isn’t likely to happen here. But if those in charge continue to botch the hands they are dealt, then anything, even the unthinkable, is possible. Questions Endure Ford, an African-American man who his family said had been diagnosed as schizophrenic, was unarmed when he was stopped by officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas 10 months ago. A fight ensued and the officers said they opened fire after Ford tried to grab Wampler’s gun. Problem number one is that the killing occurred. Related problems are a) that many of the questions being asked at the time were still being asked this month, and b) that some of
photo by Gary Leonard
the public feels like part of the truth is being hidden. This is all tinged by the aforementioned national discussion of race and policing. In addition to Baltimore and Ferguson, there have been highly questionable deaths in Cleveland, South Carolina and other places. Although those incidents have nothing to do with what unfolded in South L.A., they are united in the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and movement. Then there is secrecy. Throughout the investigation into Ford’s death there was a move to keep certain discussions behind closed doors. While there is always a reason for such action, whether because of department policy, laws protecting police or ongoing lawsuits, it doesn’t square with what the public wants. It all goes headfirst against the direction government is theoretically moving in. Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Controller Ron Galperin and L.A. County officials have led a 21st century charge for transparency, with a huge dump of public data onto various websites. This offers some information people care about and a lot that no one has any idea what to do with. Yet as that kind of transparency increases, the information people really want — details
on what exactly happened between Ford and the officers that day — is obscured. Dueling findings only further muddy the waters. Police Chef Charlie Beck’s investigation cleared the officers of wrongdoing, saying they followed department policy. However, last Tuesday, the Police Commission, a citizen’s panel appointed by Garcetti, said Wampler never had reason to detain Ford in the first place, thus throwing the killing into question. The powerful union representing rank-and-file officers predictably blasted the commission, saying its members bowed to public pressure. Now Beck must decide what, if any, punishment Wampler should receive. Given that the chief’s findings conflict with the Police Commission’s, one can understand why some observers might be skeptical about what happens next. Big Job This is a no-win situation. Beck is going to infuriate some portion of the populace, whether it’s those who usually side with the police or those generally suspicious of the department. It’s an unenviable job, but it’s also a job of the chief. Then again, part of being chief is being a communicator. This is both a managerial and Continued on page 32
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June 15, 2015 photo by Gary Leonard
Nine Years After Being Destroyed, Twitchell’s ‘Ed Ruscha Monument’ Mural to Return Renowned Artist to Put Work on American Hotel in the Arts District By Heidi Kulicke ent Twitchell was at his daughter’s wedding in June 2006 when he got a phone call that changed his life. His 70-foot tall full-body mural of artist Ed Ruscha had been painted over without his consent. The artwork, titled “Ed Ruscha Monument,” had taken more than a decade to complete. Further, it was a tribute to his idol. Nine years later, Twitchell can finally put the past behind him. Last week, he announced that a replacement mural, with an updated image of Ruscha, will rise on the exterior of the American Hotel in the Arts District. The mural will be painted on the northwest side of the building, facing the Angel City Brewery on Alameda Street. It will feature a minimalist design of Ruscha, with fingers clasped, in full color. Shadows will extend across the length of the wall in a gray and black color scheme, Twitchell said. It will stand 30 feet high. The work will begin in July, and Twitchell estimates the process will take three to six months, though he cautioned that it could be longer. He said the ultimate price is currently unknown, as it depends on the length of the process. The nonprofit organization All City Mural Endeavor secured $5,000 in initial funding from Downtown City Councilman José Huizar’s office, and additional fundraising efforts continue. Speaking last week at his Broadway studio, Twitchell, 72, was thrilled at the opportunity. “It’s a great feeling when something destroyed can be returned,” Twitchell said.
Kent Twitchell will re-create his “Ed Ruscha Monument” on the American Hotel in the Arts District. The original was destroyed in 2006.
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Metro Briefs
Go Metro to the Special Olympics World Games Skip the tra;c and parking costs and Go Metro to the Special Olympics World Games, July 25 through August 2. Metro’s bus and rail lines make it easy to reach game venues across LA County, where over 7,000 athletes from around the world will compete in 25 Olympic-style sports. Learn more at metro.net/worldgames.
Dump the Pump and Go Metro On June 18, 2015, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Metro and public transportation systems across the country will celebrate the 10th Annual National Dump the Pump Day. With LA County gas prices being among the highest in the country, riding public transit is an economical way to save money. Thank You for 25 Years of Metro Rail Join the festivities next month as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Metro Rail. There will be free concerts, public art and architectural tours throughout the coming year. More details to be announced next month. Check metro.net. Metro Partners with Zipcar In an e=ort to provide LA transit riders with more transportation options and improve connectivity to Metro stops, Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, and Metro have teamed up to provide vehicles for hourly or daily reservations at 10 Metro Park & Ride locations. Find out more at zipcar.com/metrola.
metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro
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Sudden Loss Twitchell completed the “Ed Ruscha Monument” in 1987 on the side of a building at 1031 S. Hill St. For nearly two decades it stood regally over a community that had yet to take off as a residential hub. Then, Twitchell recalls, the mural was vandalized. It was in the process of being restored when, suddenly, it was whitewashed at the request of the building’s owner, the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, which was readying it for a new YWCA Job Corps Center. The destruction of the artwork violated the Federal Visual Rights Act and the California Art Preservation Act, which outlaw the alteration or destruction of public art without prior notice given to the artist. Twitchell said he would gladly have moved the mural if he was told that the YWCA didn’t want it, but he said the organization never contacted him. Twitchell hired a lawyer and took the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and 12 other defendants to court. He eventually received a $1.1 million settlement. “We fought for two years and won,” Twitchell said. “It was the biggest settlement for public art in the country.” Still, justice was only partially served, Twitchell said, as he couldn’t shake the idea of replacing the artwork. “I’ve thought about redoing the mural every day since,” Twitchell said. “I had to do it over again.” Twitchell said he was considering re-creating the mural at the L.A. Mart in 2008, but the recession got in the way. He kept searching until he stumbled across the American Hotel while walking through the Arts District in January. Continued on page 29
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June 15, 2015
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Downtown News 7
A Rundown of 40 Can’t-Miss Concerts, Exhibits, Films, Events And More Coming to Downtown Wri t t en by ed d ie K i m, H e i d i K u l i c Ke, Jon r ega r di e a n d da n Jo Hn so n d esig n e d by al e x is r aW l i n s a n d yumi K a n egaWa
The Ringling Brothers Circus returns to Staples Center on July 9-14.
photo courtesy Feld Entertainment
Summer’S
8 Downtown News
Matilda
June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
photo by Joan Marcus
Roald Dahl’s tale of a gifted and wise-beyond-her-years 5-year-old, parents who just don’t understand and a cruel headmistress bounces to life at the Ahmanson Theatre. Matilda the Musical, which runs through July 12, melds hummable songs, a smart and wellcrafted set and some fantastic performances into a show that’s perfect for families (though children should be at least 6 due to a few scary moments). The coterie of kids (including the three who play Matilda) manage to be cute but not sugary, and Matilda’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Quinn Mattfeld and Cassie Silva, respectively) are delightful as grown-ups behaving badly. Still, Matilda the Musical will be remembered for Bryce Ryness’ turn as Miss Trunchbull, the head of school who is able to evoke both fear and laughter with a simple scowling turn of the head. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4444 or centertheatregroup.org.
California Plaza WaterCourt June 19
Lions, tigers and BMX bandits, oh my! That’s some of what’s on the menu July 9-14 when Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus makes its annual visit to Staples Center. The show will include more than 100 performers from 13 countries, and in addition to the big cats and elephants, there will be Bactrian camels (that’s the two-humped version), parkour performers, trampoline wizards and motorcycle-riding daredevils. If that’s not enough, Ringling will also offer a cascade of clowns, dancing dogs and Gemma “The Jet” Kirby, touted as the world’s youngest human cannonball. Fittingly, this version of the show is dubbed Circus Xtreme. There will be 12 performances over the six days. At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or axs.com.
photo courtesy Feld Entertainment
AhmAnson TheATre | Through July 12
Ringling BROTHERS CIRCUS
sTAples CenTer July 9-14
photo by The
Gaslamp Killer experience
o Jem ison
There are DJs, and then there’s the Gaslamp Killer Experience. Bizarro hip-hop producer William Bensussen allegedly got his stage name by ruining the vibe at clubs in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter with his acid-trip compositions. These days, he’s busy playing major festivals like Coachella and blowing minds with tunes that bring together influences from free
jazz, R&B, old-school baroque pop and psychedelia. Gaslamp Killer takes his wild mixes to the California Plaza Watercourt on June 19 at 8 p.m., when he kicks off the annual Grand Performances series. He’ll be joined by a 10-piece band to add live drumming, horns and strings. Warning: Get there early. The show is free and the outdoor joint will get crowded quickly. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org.
June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
Downtown News 9
10 Downtown News
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Dorothy ChanDler Pavilion July 10-12
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orpheum theatre June 24 You might not find a golden ticket at the Orpheum Theatre’s screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on June 24, but you will get loads of Oompa Loompas and a rare chance to see a film in a gorgeous former Broadway movie palace. The screening is part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats series, now in its 29th year of screening classic films in historic Downtown theaters. As usual, there’s a pre-show, and Madeline and Peter Stuart, children of the film’s late director Mel Stuart, will recount being on set for the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book. Other screenings in the series include How to Marry a Millionaire on June 20 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Raiders of the Lost Ark on June 27 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. At 842 S. Broadway or laconservancy.org. photo by JD Ramage
Think of BalletNow as one of those rock super groups, but with a terpsichorean twist. BalletNow is an international ensemble, with 18 top dancers from 12 countries. Led by American Ballet Theatre principals Roberto Bolle and Herman Cornejo, the group will make its world premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on July 10-12 with three distinct performances. European stars will take the stage for the first show, which will feature solos, pas de deux and contemporary ballet. Latin American stars will deliver a high-energy performance during the second date. The third performance will be a mix of the two. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org.
photo courtesy Warner Bros. Classics
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June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest blew readers away with its tale of life and struggles in a mental asylum. The 1975 film with Jack Nicholson as McMurphy and Louise Fletcher as his by-the-book arch-nemesis Nurse Ratched added to the legend (and grabbed a bunch of Oscars). Now, in 2015, the Arts District’s Loft Ensemble theater company mounts a stage
Live on Stage “Performed in English”
Loft EnsEmbLE through JuLy 19 adaptation of Kesey’s missive on the blurry lines of sanity in apt proximity to Skid Row. It’s a big undertaking, in more ways than one: The show marks the stage debut of Daniel Adam Warrior, a 6-foot-10 Native American from Nebraska who plays the all-seeing Chief. The show runs each Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. At 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.org.
So you think you can fold?
SAMURAI PLAY Friday, 8/28: 8pm Saturday, 8/29: 8pm Sunday, 8/30: 2pm Aratani Theatre at JACCC 244 S. San Pedro St. L.A., CA 90012
Silent Auction • Entertainment • Food & Beverages
PINT SIZED YACHTS. TITANIC REWARDS. Join the cheering crowd as handmade paper boats race to the finish line across City National Plaza fountain. CREATE YOUR OWN ENTRY! REGISTER AT WWW.PSOMAS.COM/YACHTCHALLENGE
Thursday, June 25, 2015 5:00 to 7:30 pm City National Plaza Fountain, 5th and Flower Streets Proceeds Benefit
Little Tokyo Business Association & Burai Productions Presents:
A Project of Little Tokyo Service Center
June 15, 2015
Downtown News 11
SUMMER’S TOP 40
GOLDENVOICE PRESENTS
JURASSIC 5 ANIMATRONICA TOUR
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July 2 » Club Nokia
July 9 » Club Nokia
Friday July 10 » Club Nokia
LISA
FEATURING
FRANKIE BEVERLY
Friday July 17 » Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
ARETHA FRANKLIN
LAMPANELLI
MAZE
THE QUEEN OF SOUL SPECIAL GUEST
JONATHAN SLOCUMB ONE NIGHT ONLY!
FEATURI NEW NG MATERIA L
Saturday July 18 » Club Nokia
with Special Guest
July 16 & 17 » Fonda Theatre
July 28 » Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
August 2 » Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
August 13 » Club Nokia
Friday August 14 » Club Nokia
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August 4 » Shrine Expo Hall
BEAT CONNECTION
August 6 » The Mayan
AN ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH
YO LA TENGO FEATURING
DAVE SCHRAMM
LINDSEY STIRLING WITH
LIGHTS
August 17 » Greek Theatre
August 18 » Belasco Theater
Sat. Oct. 10 » Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds
Friday Nov. 13 » Theatre at Ace Hotel
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Walt D All you need is love… and maybe some Beethoven. The California Philharmonic, under the baton of Victor Vener, will pay tribute to two of the most popular and influential artists in history during its “Beatles and Beethoven” performance June 28 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The orchestra will play Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony along with a medley of Beatles hits, among them “Penny Lane,” “I Am the Walrus” and “When I’m 64.” Tribute band Beatlemania Now will chime in with some vocals. Other noteworthy Cal Phil summer performances include the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein on July 12 and songs from the hit musicals Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables on Aug. 2. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or calphil.com/concert-schedule.
photo courtesy Anime Expo
Los Angeles has an obsessive foodie cu lture. Now, restauran natics have a comple t fately different medium with which to appr ate the city’s dining eciscene: historic docu ments. The just-ope Central Library exhib ned ition To Live and Dine in L.A. (get it?) featu an archive of restau res rant menus dating back to the 1800s. and curator Josh Ku Editor n, a professor at th e University of Sout California, partnere hern d with the Los Ange les Public Library an the Library Founda d tion of Los Angeles to pore through de cades of old menus , newspaper articles and more to try an tell the city’s story th d rough the appetites of its citizens. The exhibit is accompa nied by a series of sp eaker events such as the July 14 Aloud program “Food Justi ce in the Age of the Foodie.” The im ages are in the librar y’s Getty Gallery. At 630 W. Fifth St., (21 3) 228-7000, lapl.org or toliveanddineinla.c om.
Los AngeLes Convention Center • JuLy 2-5 San Diego’s got Comic-Con, and good for them. Downtown Los Angeles, on the other hand, has the Anime Expo, which gets bigger and more colorful every year. This year’s event once again encompasses Independence Day over its July 2-5 run, and during that time tens of thousands of people will celebrate anime and manga (Japanese animated shows and graphic novels). It’s a visual feast, with intricate outfits and some very unnatural hair colors. Expect hundreds of vendors, celebrity appearances, parties, gaming stations, karaoke, costume competitions, the interactive Maid and Butler cafes and a never-ending discussion of Sailor Moon. At 1201 S. Figueroa St. or anime-expo.org.
s ’ s n n e d l A n l e A l A B r y o z d z o W A o e J W n Tre | augusT 8 Orpheum Thea
or, actor, cofor being a writer, direct Woody Allen is known other side an On Aug. 8, he shows median and playwright. ry Wild Man nta me cu ed in the 1997 do of himself, one captur Band takes the en’s New Orleans Jazz Blues, when Woody All ce will feature Theatre. The performan stage at the Orpheum
as a kid, and his trument he picked up Allen on clarinet, an ins from the first sic mu le sty New Orleanssix bandmates playing rforms at New y. The band regularly pe half of the 20th centur almost 80. is . For the record, Allen York City’s Carlyle Hotel rpheum.com. At 842 S. Broadway or lao
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The interesting thing about Dog Day Afternoon is that even though it’s built around canines, the event is intended to bring people together. Created by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, Dog Day Afternoon operates on the construct that when dogs start playing and sniffing each other at the dog park or on the street, people will talk and a sense of community develops. Dog Day Afternoon generally draws some 2,000 living creatures (about evenly split between the twolegged and four-legged set), and in addition to the mingling there will be food, drinks, music, pet supply booths and animal adoption opportunities. At 555 W. Temple St. or downtownla.com.
image cour tesy Library Fou
Cathedral of our lady of the angels • July 8
With serious talk of revitalization and the possible departure of the predominant concrete-on-concrete motif, the future is bright for Pershing Square. Nevertheless, the park’s summertime Friday Night Flicks series is hedging toward the apocalyptic this year. The program starts at dusk on July 10 with Mayanfetishizing destruction fantasy film 2012 in which, as commonly occurs, Hollywood decided it would be a bright idea to decimate Downtown. Other titles include Godzilla on July 17 and the volcanic Pompeii on July 31. Somewhat off brand is instant cult classic Guardians of the Galaxy, which closes the short summer schedule on Aug. 14. Films are projected on an inflatable screen. Bring chairs and dogs. At 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.
Central library OngOing
photo by Gary Leonard
Pershing square • July 10
2012
Dog Dayn Afternoo
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June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
image courtesy Sony Pictures Entertainment
12 Downtown News
June 15, 2015
Grammy museum ThrouGh sprinG 2016
ravi shankar: a Life in music
photo courtesy of AEG
The Grammy Museum pays tribute to one of India’s most famous musicians, and a major influence on The Beatles. Ravi Shankar: A Life in Music opened in April and continues through next spring. The exhibit includes a collection of sitars, family photos and other personal items owned by the late Shankar (he died in 2012). The show highlights the icon’s upbringing, early roots and influence on world music. Other notable items on display include his three Grammy Awards, the outfit he wore during his 1969 Woodstock per performance and some original letters. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org.
om Sapp/WireImage.c
City NAtioNAL PLAzA • JuNe 25
Psomas PaPer Yacht challenge
photo by Rebecca
Downtown News 13
SUMMER’S TOP 40
Nike BasketBall 3 oN 3 tourNameNt L.A. Live • August 7-9
The Psomas Paper Yacht Challenge promises pint-sized yachts and titanic rewards. That may be an overstatement — the prizes are standard trophies — but it is one of the most unique events on the summer calendar. Just after work on June 25, several dozen Downtowners will craft boats fashioned from paper, cardboard, tape and staples and, with the help of some giant fans, race them across the fountain in front of City Na-
The Lakers and Clippers are off this summer. On Aug. 7-9, the roundball momentum will be picked up at the seventh annual Nike Basketball 3 on 3 Tournament. Over three days, more than 4,500 players from approximately 1,500 teams will display their hoops skills. The basketball bonanza has become one of the sports highlights of the summer, with competition in youth, elite, wheelchair and other divisions. Some 25,000 spectators show up, and the bells and whistles come in the form of celebrity games, dunking contests and other displays. One of the most awesome sights is the set-up: Just picture about 100 half courts spread across L.A. Live. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or nike3on3.com.
tional Plaza. While a few know the thrill of victory, others experience the agony of having their crafts sink to the bottom of the fountain. There are also drinks, food from Pink’s Hot Dogs and a silent auction. Bonus: It’s a benefit, and proceeds this year will go to the proposed Budokan of Los Angeles sports facilities project in Little Tokyo. At Fifth and Flower streets or psomas.com/ yachtchallenge. photo by Gary Leonard
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14 Downtown News
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SUMMER’S TOP 40
4th of July Block Party
Taylor Swift
Grand Park • July 4
At 777 Chick Hearn Court or microsofttheater.com.
ive
One night isn’t enough for Colombian rocker Juanes. Oh no, he’ll need two shows at the Microsoft Theater (formerly the Nokia Theatre), and he’ll get them July 31-Aug. 1. Juanes, neé Juan Esteban, started out in the heavy metal band Ekhymosis and became a solo artist in 2000 with the record . He’s been powering forward ever since, with 20 Latin Grammys on his shelf and more than 15 million albums sold. This tour is la labeled Loco de Amor (for his 2014 album) and the opener is Ximena Sari Sari-
y AEG L
microsoft theater July 31-august 1
Who cares if the haters are gonna hate hate hate? The Swifties will just shake it off when Taylor Swift plays five nights at Staples Center on Aug. 21-26 (Aug. 23 is the off night). The country-turned-pop star will play her catchy tunes for thousands of screaming kids and adults, and they’ll move merchandise like you won’t believe. On the off chance that you don’t know enough about her, head over to the Grammy Museum, where the exhibit The Taylor Swift Experience is up through Oct. 4. The openers for the Downtown concerts are Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy and the lauded Los Angelesbased sister trio Haim. At 1111 S. Figueroa or staplescenter.com.
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StapleS Center auguSt 21-26
photo
photo by Omar Cruz
photo courtesy Grand Park
As Downtown’s residential base expands, so does the 4th of July celebration at Grand Park. The third annual Independence Day event, which runs from 3-9:30 p.m., will be spread across eight blocks this year, bounded by Grand Avenue and Temple, Second and Main streets. The highlight is an immense pyrotechnics display launched from the roofs of several nearby buildings, but the day includes a litany of music, art, dancing and food. There will be stages with bands and DJs, opportunities to help create giant murals, spokenword artists and even jump-roping. It’s big and diverse, but it’s supposed to be — after all, it’s a block party. At Grand Park or grandparkla.org.
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June 15, 2015
Downtown News 15 image courtesy Teragram Ballroom
Television Teragram Ballroom | July 2-3
There’s a new addition to the Downtown rock and roll scene, and its schedule is already filling up. The Teragram Ballroom opened in May, and on July 2-3 it hosts groundbreaking New York proto-punks and alt rockers Television. The two-night recapitulation of their decadeslong career will feature highlights from the landmark 1977 Marquee Moon album and its next-year follow-up Adventure — expect the place to be filled with graying former hipsters. Other highlights on the docket of the City West club (perched adjacent to the Monty on Seventh Street) include fun singer Nate Ruess on June 24 and the Allah-Las on Aug. 1 At 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.
Sugar/Island: Finding Okinawa in Hawaii
Japanese American National Museum July 11-September 6 From sushi to mochi to bentos and beyond, the Japanese influence on Hawaii runs deep. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Japanese began migrating from Okinawa to the islands of Hawaii to work on sugar and pineapple plantations. On July 11, the Japanese American National Museum recognizes that history with the debut of the exhibit Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai’i — The Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara. In the show, Kina explores female immigrant workers through a series of paintings called Sugar, while Momohara uses photographs dubbed Islands to document the history and psychology of island life. The exhibit, which continues through Sept. 6, stems from the artists’ desire to uncover family history, as both have ancestors who, yes, came to Hawaii from Okinawa. At 100 Central Ave. or janm.org.
photo courtesy Japanese American National Museum
photo courtesy Top Dawg Entertainment
SUMMER’S TOP 40
Live June 25-28 BET Fest L.A.
The city’s biggest celebration of black culture and entertainment returns to L.A. Live thanks to the cable network Black Entertainment Television. The June 25-28 BET Fest offers an impressive lineup of concerts and events, with appearances from Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, comedian Kevin Hart, Schoolboy Q (shown here) and more. As in previous years, there are ticketed shows at Staples Center, Microsoft Theater (formerly the Nokia Theatre) and Club Nokia as well as the free “Fan Fest” inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. Highlights of the latter include free performances by Cypress Hill and other bands, a dance competition, a “Black Lives Matter” conversation hosted by Al Sharpton, and a “Sneaker Con” for shoe lovers. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-5483 or bet.com/bet-experience.html.
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16 Downtown News
June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
William Shakespeare never wrote about drought, earthquakes and overdevelopment. Or did he? OK, he didn’t, but that’s not stopping the Downtown-based Cornerstone Theater Company from digging into such subjects. California: The Tempest comes to Grand Park for three free performances on June 18-20. The play is built on the words of The Bard but has been tricked out and shaped by Cornerstone’s residencies in 10 communities throughout the Golden State (everywhere from Pacoima to San Francisco to Holtville). California: The Tempest manages to intertwine the play’s themes of love, disaster, revenge and forgiveness with timely topics of the day. What will Prospero and Caliban have to say about life in Jerry Brown’s California? There’s only one way to find out. At 200 N. Grand Ave. or cornerstonetheater.org.
40th Anniv e
Palace TheaTre • augusT 6
The critically acclaimed Laura Marling not only sings and writes her own music, she also plays the guitar, bass, piano and ukulele. On Aug. 6, the British folk singer-songwriter will drop by the Palace Theatre on Broadway as part of the tour for her new album Short Movie. Rolling Stone noted the record’s “sharp wordplay, vivid emotions [and] rich blend of sounds.” Marling, now based in Los Angeles, specializes in reflective and introspective lyrics that paint a portrait of love, loss and experience well beyond her 25 years. It’s already been quite a career for the artist who began making music when she was just 17. At 630 S. Broadway or ticketmaster.com.
photo by Megan Wanlass
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Grand Park June 18-20
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Street Food Cinema at expoSition park • July 18 Are you ready to do the “Time Warp” again? It’s practically mandatory on July 18 when Street Food Cinema celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The outdoor screening of the drag-alicious cult classic starring Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and a young Susan Sarandon will take place at Exposition Park, and you can bet plenty of attendees will come dressed as Riff-Raff, Brad, Janet or Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The food trucks will be Angie’s Wieners and Crepes Bonaparte, and live music will come from indie rock band The Kendricks. Music, movies and food collide at Street Food Cinema’s outdoor events all summer long. Other screenings at Exposition Park include The Interview (which is actually terrible) on June 20 and Heathers on Aug. 8. At 700 Exposition Park Dr. or streetfoodcinema.com.
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: s l l o r c S Dead Sea The Exhibition
august 27
mer nightS Chinatown Sum
California r Science Cente Through September 7
KMFDM
photo courtesy Darryl Moran/The Franklin Institute
photo by Regis Hertrich
d • June 27, July 25 an
The Regent • July23
photo by Gary Leonard
zas Central and West Pla
Downtown News 17
n during n’t recognize Chinatow Even Jake Gittes would Summer n tow ina rties. The three Ch pa ity un mm co se the enjoy food usands of people to Nights events draw tho s, martial arts ys, beer gardens, band trucks, cultural displa Central and on s. The action centers performances and DJ especially the d an ts, ee surrounding str the t bu , zas pla st We s. Additionally, in some of the crowd restaurants, also take artist and flea demonstrations and there will be culinary the capuchin s, were wondering, ye markets. In case you there’s a strict h ug are returning, tho monkey and trainer ey. And probably policy (for the monk look-but-don’t-touch for the trainer too). ernights.com. y or chinatownsumm wa ad Bro N. 51 3-9 94 At
Talk about grinding it old school! KMFDM, pioneers of the 1980s and ’90s post-punk industrial scene (they were big on Wax Trax Records when the label was at its coolest), are donning the black coats and firing up their unique brand of danceable noise. Though some of the members have changed over the years, the band, now based out of Hamburg, Germany, continues to be led by intense oddball (in a good way) Sascha Konietzko. KMFDM has a newish album, last fall’s Our Time Will Come, but the beauty will be in hearing old buzzsaw hits like “Virus.” Grab the earplugs and get ready to groove. Cool fact: KMFDM just celebrated its 30th anniversary, making it older than Evan Spiegel of Snapchat. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.
The California Science Center dabbles in religious antiquity with Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition. The show, which runs through Sept. 7, includes the largest selection of the scrolls ever seen outside Israel. The ancient manuscripts are the oldest known copies of the Old Testament, and were hidden away in caves 13 miles east of Jerusalem for 2,000 years until their discovery in 1947. More than 600 other ancient artifacts are on display along with a three-ton portion of stone from Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The exhibit describes the history and discovery of the manuscripts, as well as the science and technology used in their preservation. Although the Science Center is free to enter, there is a charge for Dead Sea Scrolls. At 700 Exposition Park Dr. or californiasciencecenter.org.
18 Downtown News
Love, s e L e g n A s o L
June 15, 2015
SUMMER’S TOP 40
Nisei Week ThroughouT LiTTLe Tokyo
Library | July 9 Aloud at the Central
August 15-23
rd photo by Gary Leona
photos courtesy ALOUD/Library Foundation of Los Angeles
As Downtown surges into the future, Nisei Week anchors Little Tokyo visitors and residents to the past. Nisei Week began in 1934, and the celebration of JapaneseAmerican culture includes highlights such as the Grand Parade (Aug. 16) and a closing Ondo ceremony (Aug. 23), with people dancing in the streets. That’s just the start of the fun, as there are also martial arts demonstrations, a coronation ball for the Nisei Week queen, the Tanabata Festival with beautiful decorated ornaments and colorful streamers, and even a gyoza-eating competition. Of course, there will be plenty of food. Throughout Little Tokyo or niseiweek.org.
The noted Los Angeles wordsmiths Lynell George (right) and Marisela Norte share their perspective of the city through a series of notes and photographs in “Love, Los Angeles: A Conversation in Words and Images.” The event, crafted from treks across the city by foot, is at the Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium on July 9 as part of the always stellar (and almost always free) Aloud series. For “Love, Los Angeles,” George and Norte walked from Boyle Heights to the Miracle Mile, Downtown to Venice and everywhere in between. Other Aloud highlights this summer include “Song of Myself,” an event celebrating Walt Whitman on June 30, and writers Leslie Jamison and Meghan Daum in the July 23 program “Unspeakable Empathy.” At 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org.
s the California Plaza Watercourt 18-piece Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band storm Jazz lovers have a can’t-miss free show when the compositions that recall the al origin of y plent Performances lineup, will deliver on Aug. 2. The al fresco event, part of the Grand (and sometimes the tenor sax) of the 1930s and ’40s. Goodwin will be on the keys speedy, uber-technical swing and big-band sound er reason to like Grand Anoth . of Grammy nominations for its slick musical chops leading the group, which has garnered a number June 27. on Hall y Disne at sive than the Big Phat Band’s appearance Performances: This show will be much less expen mances.org. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperfor
23 2-
photo by Paul Khera
• august 2
FYF Fest
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photo by Rex Bullington
The perennial weekend-long live music sampler FYF Fest returns to Downtown for its 11th incarnation on Aug. 22-23 . Attendees this year are advised to pack some serious fortitude: Not only is there a need to carefully plan for hours upon hours of rocking out, but the location at Exposition Park means some long walks will be required to get from stage to stage (not to ment ion the DJ events in the Sports Arena). Still, the music mean s the hoofing it should be worth it: The lineup features ever-e lusive Irish firebrand Morrissey, Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean, OG alt rockers the Jesus and Mary Chain (shown here) , soul-master D’Angelo, Bloc Party, Belle and Sebastian, Dinos aur Jr. and dozens of others. At Exposition Park or fyffest.com.
tia Partch: LSD/Denme en 19-20 reDc at | Ju
nal itinerant wanderer Musical luminary and occasio atisfied with many asHarry Partch was deeply diss . While it’s fairly difficult pects of contemporary society m of a people, Partch adig par to change the spiritual iate a new tonal system felt strongly that he could init . On June 19-20, Partch’s in classical music. Right he was strolls into REDCAT to namesake musical collective formed on customized per s deliver a series of number sical intervals. Entitled instruments geared to new mu features an appropriate LSD/Dementia, the program and lust for fugue states. dose of psychedelia, whimsy -2800 or redcat.org. 237 ) (213 At 631 W. Second St., photo courtesy REDCAT
photo by Spencer Lowell
st e F t x e N st 7-9 otel at Ace H e r t a e Th
Augu
Movie buffs don’t have to go to Sundance anymore for the best indie films. Now Sundance comes to Downtown with Next Fest, an extension of the Sundance Film Festival’s Next section highlighting up-and-coming filmmakers. The Theatre at Ace Hotel on Broadway will host the festival Aug. 7-9. The program will feature five new independent films with a musical act or a discussion with the filmmakers. The line-up is under wraps for now, but last year’s event featured a performance by Father John Misty after one screening and, another night, a post-movie conversation with Bret Easton Ellis and Jason Schwartzman. At 937 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.
June 15, 2015
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Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
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©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
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da attende e never v a mmer. h u u s o e like th e that y e c n m ens a ti h c o re is n and doz On the ra Art Walk, there weather, sculptures rm a n w w e , Downto during th wings, paintings ut that’s ds swell ra ,b d e ix m The crow ries show off d e art is th e f ll a o ith veng ty w a li of are ts teem the qua e , ’s a e re tr s u S e . th and there and more cern given that ing lots sa rk a a s p e n in o rv c that se s set up ) of little k t. c S t u g tr e n d foo . Spri ite to a dors, the lk Lounge (634 S esire a b ns. d u o y ld Wa ou ptio free Art point. Sh ozens of area o rg. thering d a g rtwalk.o re l a a a n tr re w n e to th ce n , w e o re d or k or th toric Core or a drin ut the His o h g u ro Th
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris
GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie
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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie sENior writEr: Eddie Kim stAFF writEr: Heidi Kulicke coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla ©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
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clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway
AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens
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distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
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©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
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Double Trouble
and
LA Fight CLub
Sturtevant:
ly 2 Belasco Theatre • Ju
rough July 28 MOCA Grand Avenue • Th
Theatre at Ace Hotel | July 12
otion photo courtesy Golden Boy Prom
s
Summer sounds like The Bird and The Bee, a Los Angeles-based duo that specializes in a blend of indie-jazz-pop tunes. Inara George is “the bird” and Greg Kurstin “the bee” in the band that formed in 2005 and has released three albums, along with a handful of singles for various film and TV projects. The Bird and The Bee take the stage at the Theatre at Ace Hotel July 12 to promote their new album, Recreational Love, set for release five days later. Think you have them figured out? Think again: Their 2010 record was called Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates. No, it wasn’t ironic. At 937 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.
hant xing has made a triump Regularly scheduled bo car Os to nks tha es, gel An return to Downtown Los n champion, whose Golde r me for The ya. Ho La De g gin sta is in Downtown, Boy Promotions is based 1926 Belasco Theatre. the in ds car g xin monthly bo vs. her Pacquiao here (ac You won’t find Mayweat coa ), but expect to see tually, that’s a good thing e with serious punchsom , ers om terie of up-and-c a nightclub vibe, which ing power. There’s a bit of ue. The tickets are affordmakes sense given the ven iting and the crowd is inable, the fights often exc credibly colorful. boypromotions.com. At 1050 S. Hill St. or golden
MOCA’s celebration of the 50-year career of American artist Elaine Sturtevant continues through July 28. Sturtevant was a major contributor to the Pop Art scene, but wasn’t known for her original works. Inste ad, she gained both notoriety (and appreciation) for her re-creations of artworks, in varying styles, from peers such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. While unco nventional, her carefully executed copies inspired debate about artistic originality, copying and how influences are expressed through the medium of painting and sculp ture. MOCA Grand Avenue’s exhibition Sturtevant: Doub le Trouble is the first comprehensive look at the artist and the only institutional presentation of her work since 1973. At 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca .org. photo by Autumn de Wilde
EXPLORE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN L.A. Join us in celebrating 35 years of exploring the history and architecture of downtown Los Angeles! Since 1980, the Los Angeles Conservancy has introduced countless Angelenos to the rich history and culture that downtown’s architecture has to offer. Discover—or rediscover—the history and heart of this great city as we mark the 35th anniversary of our signature Walking Tour Program.
laconservancy.org/tours #walkDTLA @laconservancy Sponsor
Photos by Adrian Scott Fine, Douglas Hill, Annie Laskey, Larry Underhill
photo by Peter Butler, © Estate Sturtevant, Paris
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Major funding for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s programs is provided by the LaFetra Foundation
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June 15, 2015
Downtown News 21
SUMMER’S TOP 40
Movesafter Dark
Music Center • July 13-21
lly means buySeeing dance at the Music Center usua Chandler Pathy Doro the e insid ing a ticket for a seat Dark, which r Afte es Mov tre. Thea n anso vilion or Ahm (July 13-14 s kend takes place on two consecutive wee rent: the diffe ely plet com and 20-21), offers something h catc and pus cam the nd arou opportunity to walk al and tion nven unco at s ance orm perf e multiple danc ing the talents of unlikely sites. Moves After Dark is tapp Ana María Alvar— es pani four Los Angeles-based com and Bodytraftre Thea ce Dan ton ez, Ate9, Lula Washing e separate paths fic — and audiences will be led on thre . Everyone will ance to see each 15-20 minute perform lusion of the conc the for a then meet in the central plaz
photo by Skye Schmidt
evening. At 135 N. Grand Ave, (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org/moves.
It’s a welcome homecoming for the A+D Architecture and Design Museum, as the institution born in Downtown in 2001 returns to the community. Though the museum spent the last five years on Wilshire Boulevard near LACMA, on Aug. 20 it debuts its first show in a new Arts District headquarters. The exhibit, Shelter: Rethinking How We Live in Los Angeles, will feature large-scale mod els, drawings, videos and more of proposed residen ces along the L.A. River and Wilshire Boulevard. Firm s including Bureau Spectacular, MAD Architects and Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects will seek to respond to L.A.’s growing density, rising costs and environ mental challenges, among other issues. Expect pro posals for how new forms of shelter can answer the city’s future needs. At 900 E. Fourth St. or aplusd.org.
At first glance, Bent might seem like another war-torn love story, but it’s far from generic. The play by Martin Sherman premiered on Broadway in 1979 and follows two gay men struggling to survive in Nazi Germany. Along the way, it illustrates how love can carry one through life’s darkest periods, overcoming pain and persecution. Directed by Moises Kaufman, Bent will be at the Mark Taper Forum July 15-Aug. 23 in the first major revival since its premiere 36 years ago. Be warned: Bent contains violence and nudity and is not recommended for those under 16. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatergroup.org.
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CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS SaTuRDay, JuNE 20 Wimpy Kids: Drawn Together Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. 1 p.m.: Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of the Wimpy Kid series, joins fellow kid-oriented authors and illustrators for a fundraiser to benefit Los Angeles schools.
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
SPONSORED LISTINGS Street Food Cinema Presents: The Interview at Exposition Park 700 Exposition Park Dr. or streetfoodcinema.com Exposition Park will host an outdoor screening of the movie The Interview on June 20 with live music and food trucks prior to the film. The event is part of Street Food Cinema’s music, movie and food truck line-up at various parks throughout the summer and fall. Food trucks will arrive at 5:30 p.m. and include Currywurst, Me So Hungry, What the Funnel and more. Live music from the band The Urban Renewal Project will begin at 6:30, and the film begins at 8:30. Advance tickets for reserved seats are $17 or $20 at the door. Non-reserved seats are $5 cheaper. Dames ’N Games Sports Bar & Grill: MMA Girl Cage Fighting 2319 E. Washington Blvd., (323) 589-2220 or damesngames.net Spearmint Rhino’s Dames ’N Games Sports Bar & Grill will host an MMA Girl Cage Fighting event on June 22. The event is part of an ongoing summer tournament through Aug. 17. The girls will compete for $3,000 in cash and prizes. TuESDay, JuNE 16 Is Gentrification L.A.’s Next Defining Issue? MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: Zocalo Public Square hosts public policy experts, urban planners and social scientists to discuss the influx of wealth into neighborhoods that were once uniformly impoverished. WEDNESDay, JuNE 17 Viet Thanh Nguyen and Asali Solomon at Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: Tonight’s theme is “American Dissidents,” an appropriate ethos for contemporary writers Nguyen and Solomon. ThuRSDay, JuNE 18 Duane Deterville Art Talk at MOCA MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: With a focus on African-American media, Deterville examines the work of art director Khalil Joseph. High Hopes for the High Rise DoubleTree Hotel, 120 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 629-1200 or ccala.org. Noon: With Downtown booming, the Central City Association hosts a panel discussion about whether developers are literally looking up. Participants include Tom Warren of Holland Partner Group and Arden Hearing of TruMark Urban. Developer Tom Gilmore helps moderate. FRIDay, JuNE 19 Dance Downtown Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. 7 p.m.: Complimentary instructors will teach participants the ins and outs of country line dancing while a DJ plays select favorites from the genre.
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Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. June 15: Feather and Flower. June 16: Patrice Quinn Group. June 17: Jaz Sawyer Group. June 18: Artyom Manukyan. June 19: Nick Mancini and Friends. June 20: Dan Schnelle Group. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. June 15, 8:30 p.m.: Hunny puts in work on their rapidly dwindling residency. June 17, 7 p.m.: Strange meta implications as Island Records’ recent signees The Karma Killers debut their new sound. June 19, 9 p.m.: Post-jazz rock trio Spain are not to be confused with the Iberian country. June 20, 9 p.m.: Special thanks to Irontom for reminding us that warning bells should go off whenever a band compares itself to Led Zeppelin and the Arctic Monkeys. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. June 21, 10 p.m.: RT N the 44s just recorded a live album at the Escondite. Rejoice in the afterglow. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. June 18: Galantis. June 19: Astrix. June 20: Claude Vonstroke. Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheater. com. June 17, 8 p.m.: The Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra kicks out tunes from your favorite questing video game series, Final Fantasy. Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. June 17, 8 p.m.: Fealty to queen, country and prog rock are all communicated in Brit Floyd’s band name. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. June 19-20, 8:30 p.m.: Experimental composer Harry Partch lives on in tonally adventurous, pharmacologically open outfit Partch. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. June 15: Rubber. June 16: Signal Man. June 17: Stupid Daikini. June 18: IJI, Remambran, Filardo and Tenopah. June 19: Little Tents and Low Brow. June 20: The Love Me Nots, Electric Mind Machine, Le Zits and The 87s. June 21: Cyclops, Quaaludes, Chew Toys and Rats in the Louvre. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheatre.com. June 18, 8 p.m.: New Orleans’ finest: Mystikal. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. June 15: Jazz pianist Jason Yeager. June 16: The Makers are on hand again.
June 15, 2015
June 17: Downtown’s one and only Rick Taub Midnight Blues Review. June 18: The Sidewinders blend up a little jazz. June 21: Jazz violin from the small but mighty Nora Germain. Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. June 18 and 20, 8:30 p.m.: Guadalajara’s finest multi-platinum selling, many Latin Grammy-winning rock band Mana. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. June 19: Slime Girls, Paladin Shield, Buried for a Day and Astroskeleton. June 21: Nico Turner, Sacred Destinies and Risa Rubin. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. June 17, 8 p.m.: Standout Scandinavian experimental jazz group Jaga Jazzist has a thing for Mr. Bungle. June 20, 8 p.m.: Orgone: universal life force or soul funk groove band?
FILM Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N. Grand Ave. (213) 972-7211 or laconservancy.org. June 20, 8 p.m.: The L.A. Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats program continues with Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent. com. See website for schedule IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Galapagos 3D. If it was good enough to blow Charles Darwin’s mind, it’s probably good enough for you! Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Los Angeles Film Festival Multiple locations, lafilmfest.com. Through June 18: The 21st annual Los Angeles Film Festival continues with some 200 features, shorts, documentaries, panel discussions and much more. The bulk of the happenings are at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live, but other locations are also in play. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/ movies. Jurassic World (11:40 a.m., 3 and 6:20 p.m.); Jurassic World 3D (9 a.m., 12, 2, 6, 9 p.m. and 12 a.m.). The rest of the schedule was not available at press time, but expect some form of Spy, Entourage, San Andreas and more. See website for full schedule The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheatre.com. June 19, 7 p.m.: Two-Lane Blacktop, a stylish cautionary tale about the allure of the open road.
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bob Baker’s Something to Crow About Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. June 19-20, 2:30 p.m.: The puppets are getting downright agrarian as Bob Baker’s marionettes sojourn into the American heartland in Something to Crow About. Dog Days REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or laopera.org. June 15, 8 p.m.: L.A. Opera crosses First Street for the West Coast premiere of Dog Days, which blends classic vocalism with
dark, heavy metal influences. Think of it as a post-apocalyptic chamber opera. It’s based on a short story by Judy Budnitz. Matilda the Musical Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. June 16-19, 8 p.m., June 20, 2 and 8 p.m., June 14, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Roald Dahl’s visionary tale of a fanciful child, and a young girl’s run-ins with Miss Trunchbull, embarks on a national tour. Plus, as the name indicates, it’s a musical. Through July 12 Oh My Son Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.; Marcos Galvany presents operatic impressions telling the story of Jesus Christ. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Loft Ensemble, 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.org. June 20, 8 p.m. and June 21, 7 p.m.: McMurphy and Nurse Ratched take up residence in the Arts District as Ken Kesey’s timeless tale of insanity hits the stage. Through July 19. Paloma The Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. June 18-20, 8 p.m. and June 21, 3 p.m.: Interfaith love liaisons and ancient stigmas cloud the forbidden romance in Paloma. Through June 21. Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. June 16, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent. Studio: Spring 2015 REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. June 21-22, 8:30 p.m.: Theater, dance, film and performance art of the experimental stripe get a day on stage in this recurring program of new works. This Is a Man’s World The Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. June 18-20, 8 p.m. and June 21, 3 p.m.: Sal Lopez acts in the semi-autobiographical play he wrote about the cult of masculinity. Through June 21. The Who’s Tommy East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. June 17-20, 8 p.m. and June 21, 2 p.m.: Ragamuffin deaf, dumb and blind kid Tommy is a pinball wizard in this iconic rock opera from The Who. East West Players employs a multicultural, 17-person cast, a live band and plenty of raucous energy. Through June 21.
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews. com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
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Downtown News 23
For a Lucky Few, the Price Is Right Marc Spaulding, a dancer, landed one of 88 subsidized residences in the otherwise market-rate One Santa Fe complex. The developer had set aside the Arts District units as affordable housing for people with a background in the arts. More than 700 people applied for the residences, and occupants were chosen by a lottery process.
While Some New Downtown Residents Land Subsidized Apartments in Fancy Buildings, A Shortage of Low-Income Housing Remains By Eddie Kim erforming on stage comes naturally for Marc Spaulding, a 36-year-old dancer who has taken jobs around the world. Finding an affordable place to live in Los Angeles, on the other hand? Not so much. “As an artist, the working situation is very up and down. That can be a challenge, living in a major city like L.A.,” Spaulding said. “On top of that, when you do find something in your budget, you have to worry about whether it’s really a decent place to live.” After four years in the city, Spaulding finally found a gem. In October, he moved into one of 88 units in the Arts District’s mammoth One Santa Fe project that are set aside as affordable housing for people with a background in the arts. Spaulding pays $767 for his space. The market rate for a similar unit is about $2,000$2,300. “I got something state of the art. It’s beautiful,” Spaulding remarked. Not that it was easy. Spaulding was one of more than 700 people to apply for One Santa Fe’s subsidized apartments. The building owners chose the occupants by a lottery process. The odds were long, but at least they were better than at The Emerson. At an April meeting of the city-county panel overseeing the
photo by Gary Leonard
the Sakura, Glo, Hikari, Gas Company Lofts and Met Lofts all have low-income residences in otherwise market-rate buildings. In most cases, the only difference is the look of some finishes or appliances. Just finding these units, however, can be tricky for a potential resident. There is no consistently updated, centralized database of subsidized units in market-rate complexes, and developers often don’t widely advertise their availability. The other options to find affordable housing in L.A. are Section 8 vouchers, which allow residents to subsidize any apartment under a certain rent limit, or applying to live in city-owned housing. Howev-
er, the popularity of Section 8 and its lengthy waitlist means the outlet is effectively closed, and there are only about 8,000 city-owned units in L.A. For now, the best chance for affordable housing growth lies with private sector development, but it is harder to come by. Doug Bystry, the CEO of Clearinghouse CDFI, which often finances affordable housing development (and helped finance the retail portion of One Santa Fe), noted that a gap has arisen since the demise of the Community Redevelopment Agency in 2012. In the past, the agency often gave key early money to develContinued on page 24
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$850 million Grand Avenue development, a representative of developer Related Cos. said that 8,000 people applied for the 55 units set aside as low-income housing in The Emerson. Those units are completely filled, the Related official said (again, a lottery was held for those who qualified). The rest of the luxury building was 40% occupied at the time of the April meeting. The situation underscores the severe affordable housing shortage in the city. Mayor Eric Garcetti has called for 100,000 housing units to be built in Los Angeles by 2021. According to the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing, an estimated 500,000 subsidized units are needed to meet demand in the county. “Widespread development is a great thing. But the free market is about maximizing profit. So people are going to build big units and sell or lease them for as much as they can,” said Alan Greenlee, executive director of SCANPH. “There is a segment of the community that can pay that. But there are mostly those who can’t. That’s why we need more out-of-market approaches to this.” Few and Far Between In years past, it was far more common to see affordable housing included in Downtown Los Angeles projects. Buildings such as
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24 Downtown News
HOUSING, 23 opers in exchange for including some lowincome residences. Without the agency’s influence in local development, many companies will continue to stick to market-rate projects, Bystry noted. “What the CRA dissolution has done is it’s taken away a big incentive for developers to even consider affordable housing,” Bystry said. “I’m not sure we’ve had more developers come to us for money after the loss of the CRA, but some developers who worked with the CRA and did affordable housing in the past, they’re now thinking they’re just not going to do it.” It still happens, though it often takes wrangling or a directive from elected leaders. Related was required to include a 20% affordable housing component in The Emerson and in upcoming residences as part of the deal to build its Frank Gehry-designed mega-project The Grand on publicly owned land. A few companies, such as Equity Residential, have leveraged the city’s affordable housing incentive ordinance to plan subsidized units in exchange for reduced parking requirements or additional density. The company’s Beacon Tower at Fourth and Hill streets will have 428 apartments, with 25% of them subsidized to some degree. The development is tentatively scheduled to open in 2018. “Including 20% workforce and 5% very low income housing made more sense for us than any of the other combos that had maybe less than that,” said Dustin Smith, Equity Residential’s head of Southern California development. Other projects in the pipeline with subsidized units include Forest City’s Blossom Plaza
in Chinatown (53 affordable units) and the county’s La Plaza Cultura Village near Olvera Street, which would have 20% of its 345 apartments subsidized. The former project was shepherded by past Councilman Ed Reyes and the latter was propelled by ex-County Supervisor Gloria Molina, both strong advocates for low-income housing. More units could come in the future with tweaks to the affordable housing ordinance or the “transfer of floor area ratio” system, in which developers pay the city money, used for public improvement projects, and in exchange get to build a taller or denser project on their site than normally allowed. Still, the big-picture issue of supply and demand remains the biggest hurdle when it comes to spurring the creation of affordable units. Many developers remain hesitant to finance properties using programs that require subsidized units, such as the federal low-income housing tax credit, believing it hurts the bottom line too much, said Bystry. That said, some see long-term potential. If Los Angeles continues to build new housing while maintaining, rather than demolishing, its older stock, rents could ultimately begin to level out, said Chuck Cowley, a development partner in One Santa Fe. “The way you have price diversity is by having a variety of product in a variety of ages,” he said. “The least expensive car you can buy is a used car.” In the meantime, Cowley is glad the One Santa Fe team could keep some “creative culture” in the neighborhood by offering subsidized units to working artists like Spaulding. eddie@downtownnews.com
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A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities By Heidi Kulicke n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.
I
ATM Torched: Suspects on June 6 used an unusual method to steal money from a parking lot ATM at 1013 W. Olympic Blvd.: After prying open the top of the cash machine, they used a torch to bust through another level, enabling them to take $980. Surveillance video captured a light-colored sedan leaving the scene. Check the Restrooms: An unidentified individual entered a joint Carl’s Jr./Sbarro restaurant at 254 S. Broadway on June 2. He allegedly hid in the restroom until it closed, then broke into the cash registers. He took $700 before leaving the building. Surveillance video captured the incident. Brick by Brick: Two individuals were drinking in a parking lot at Pico Boulevard and Main Street on May 31 when an aggressive man approached them. The men who were drinking told him to leave. He did, only to return with two bricks. He threw one at each of the men. Group Arrest: Three men were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. In this case, their bodies were weapons. It happened on May 31 after a man and woman left the Belasco nightclub at 1050 S. Hill St. The three individuals began harassing the couple, then one punched the man, knocking him down. The other two joined in and beat the victim until he was unconscious. The District Attorney has filed felony charges against the three men. Clothes Encounter: A woman hung wet laundry on a clothesline outside her apartment at 962 Yale St. on June 6. She went to talk to a neighbor, and when she returned, the clothes were missing. More Missing Bikes: Bike thefts were down for the second week in a row from May 31-June 6. Two bikes were taken when thieves cut the locks. A $500 Schwinn was stolen at Third and Alameda streets and a $600 Schwinn was snatched at 225 S. Olive St.
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Downtown News 25
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Restaurant Buzz A Circus Spot Goes South, a Financial District Taproom and More Food Happenings By Eddie Kim liff Jump: Another day, another Arts District addition. Just opened is Osso, a sleek 45-seat project from two veterans of New York City’s uber-hip Momofuku dining group. The kitchen in the former circus-themed One-Eyed Gypsy is run by Nick Montgomery, who brings a contemporary edge to the flavors of his native South. The menu is focused, with highlights including foie gras with a peach-andharissa jam, roast pork with wheat berries and squash, and fried chicken with potato salad. The general manager is Ami Lourie, who met Montgomery in New York City and recently served as GM of the Silver Lake restaurant Cliff’s Edge. Osso comes with backing from Dana Hollister and Pierre Casanova, co-owners of Cliff’s Edge. The cocktail program is being run by Darwin Manahan, formerly of Corazon Y Miel and currently heading the bar at, you guessed it, Cliff’s Edge. At 901 E. First St., (213) 880-5999 or ossodtla.com.
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A New Fusion: City National Plaza’s Chaya has long been a regular stop for Financial District workers and residents looking for drinks and Asian-fusion eats. Now comes a shakeup courtesy of new executive chef Joji Inoue, who worked his way up the Chaya ranks after coming onboard as a line cook in 2004. Among the additions is oshizushi, or sushi made by pressing
layers of fish and rice in a box mold; it offers a different texture than the usual hand-formed nigiri sushi and is a favorite in Osaka. A new program features daily preparations of fresh fish presented tableside, and a revamped “Kaisen seafood bar” features freshly shucked oysters, sea urchin served in its shell and sashimi platters. A few European-inflected preparations such as foie gras with an unagi eel bao and spicy miso bouillabaisse head up the list of fusion dishes. Also new is Chaya’s “Japanese Beer Garden” program, with summery drinks and meat skewers seared on the patio’s open-flame grill. It runs through Sept. 4. At 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9755 or thechaya.com. Summer Makeover: Nick & Stef’s is an institution on Bunker Hill, but the nearly 16-year-old steak shrine is getting a big facelift. The restaurant closed recently and will remain shuttered until October or November, according to a representative. Patina Restaurant Group is orchestrating a total redo of the interior, opening up access to the patio, moving bar areas and changing the decor. Nick & Stef’s is also rebranding as part of the effort and moving away from the traditional steakhouse model. At 330 S. Hope St., (213) 680-0330 or patinagroup.com. Tap Dancing: The busy Seventh Street corridor
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Some new menu items will be coming to Chaya at City National Plaza. There is also a recently launched “Japanese Beer Garden” program.
photo by Gary Leonard
has a new place for food and drinks, thanks to the arrival of Barrel Down late last month. The sheer quantity of alcoholic wonder offered here can’t be understated: Barrel Down features 40 taps. Much of that is American craft beer, but there is also wine and cocktails such as the Ginger Kombucha Mule on draft. In the kitchen chef Derrick de Jesus (Alma, Union) is cranking out updated pub food like “K-town” five-chile chicken wings and cauliflower “popcorn” with a ginger aioli. At 525 W. Seventh St., (213) 232-8657 or barreldowndtla.com. Growing Up: Will the changes at Grand Central Market ever slow down? The answer seems to be “no” for now, with the recently announced future additions of two trendy tenants. One is
chef Ilan Hall, who shuttered The Gorbals at the Alexandria Hotel last year. He’ll deliver a vegan noodle joint with an emphasis on melding panAsian flavors. One early menu item is the Khop Ramen, bolstered by earthy Korean soybean paste and curry-roasted celery root. Joining Hall’s noodle shop will be local brewery Golden Road, which is opening a beer bar and cafe. It will replace an herbal supplements shop along one wall of the market and could offer around 20 taps. With Golden Road owner Tony Yanow being a big-time vegan, it’s no surprise that the cafe will serve mostly vegan fare, including vegan pierogi. Both operations are slated to open in a few months. Coming to 317 S. Broadway. Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.
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June 15, 2015
The Coffee Alchemist Kian Abedini Crafts Some of Downtown’s Most Unique Concoctions By Eddie Kim ian Abedini can’t stop experimenting with coffee. Sometimes that means poring over the sugar and moisture percentages of a particular coffee harvest. Other times it means making lattes with milk infused by chocolate donuts, or mixing coffee with reduced Jameson Irish whiskey, or pairing a rich shot of espresso with a puckering pomegranate vinegar tonic. What really put the 28-year-old Abedini on the map, however, was when he began infusing fruity Ethiopian beans with vapor from burning cannabis, creating a coffee with bright notes of ripe berries and citrus but also the heady forest-floor essence of high-grade pot. No, his “herb-conditioned” Yirgacheffe ($18 per 10-ounce bag) doesn’t get you high. But was it a ploy to stick out in a massively competitive industry? Abedini, the owner of roaster and online retail shop Compelling & Rich, shakes his head no. “If I wanted to stand out so bad, I would just stick with the weed coffee,” Abedini says, grinning. “Be the stoner roaster guy, you know?” Instead, Abedini is serving an array of intriguing beans (including from other roasters) and concoctions inside Gelateria Uli in the Spring Arcade Building. His coffee pop-up, dubbed Frequency, will likely wrap up at the end of June. Frequency presents a compact menu with a few coffee and espresso drinks, a “Trust Me” option where the barista will customize a drink
K
based on your tastes, and a “signature” beverage. The latter is where Abedini’s experimentation shines: On a balmy Tuesday morning, the drink melded espresso, tonic, mint syrup and peach puree. The astringent sweetness of the tonic hit first on each sip, followed by a wash of malt and earth from the espresso and an undercurrent of peach and mint trailing behind. Abedini grew up in Pomona and moved to the Historic Core in 2006, leaving four years later for Brentwood, where he began roasting beans in his living room. In 2012, he ditched an administrative job to focus fulltime on coffee. Earlier this year, a new opportunity arose when Uli Nasibova, owner of Gelateria Uli, reached out with an interest in carrying Abedini’s beans. That led instead to the pop-up, which he expects to take to another Downtown location after the Uli run. Abedini also plans to open a Compelling & Rich store, likely in MacArthur Park. Abedini bridges the gap between the esoteric world of the coffee purist and the anythinggoes mentality of the most unhinged young chefs and bartenders. He’ll ramble about the intricacies of roasting the world’s best beans, but also readily decry the rise of coffee snobbery and the importance of maintaining a low price point at Frequency. He aims for $4 or less for most drinks. “You shouldn’t have to pay $6, $7 for coffee. I go to some other shops and I shake my head
Kian Abedini is the owner and roaster of Compelling & Rich, an online coffee retailer and wholesaler. He also runs the coffee pop-up Frequency at Gelateria Uli in the Spring Arcade Building.
photo by Gary Leonard
because I know what they’re making off that,” he says. “Get that [expletive] out of here, man.” He hopes to keep serving rare and idiosyncratic beans at Frequency’s new iteration, and Abedini’s eyes brightened as he discussed a menu of Gesha coffee, a varietal that is notoriously hard to grow but has wild, expressive aromas of flowers and fruit.
It’s worth watching — and tasting — what one of the city’s most intriguing coffee alchemists brews up next. Frequency Coffee is at 541 S. Spring St. #104 or frequencyla.com. It is open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday. eddie@downtownnews.com
June 15, 2015
Downtown News 27
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Goodbye Nokia, Hello Microsoft Tech Giant Gets Its Name on Plaza and Concert Hall at L.A. Live By Heidi Kulicke owntowners have been visiting the Nokia Theatre and Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live since the sports and entertainment complex opened eight years ago. No more. Last week, the 7,100-seat concert hall became the Microsoft Theater, and the 40,000-square-foot outdoor area across from Staples Center took the name Microsoft Square. The move, announced Tuesday, June 9, follows the Washington State-based company’s $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia’s cell phone and tablet division in April 2014. New signage at L.A. Live went up the day the change was announced. According to Microsoft spokesman Adam Sohn, the company was not actively looking
Sohn said. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Both Sohn and Heathcoate said it would be a multi-year transaction. “This partnership marks just the beginning of our relationship,” Sohn added. “We have lots of exciting stuff coming to surprise people later.” The first event in the renamed space was a June 10 concert by A.R. Rahman. Upcoming shows and events include the BET Awards on June 28, John Mellencamp on July 28 and Juanes on July 31-Aug. 1. It is not the first tie between a Microsoft figure and Downtown. Last year, former company CEO Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. heidi@downtownnews.com
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for a naming rights deal. However, executives became interested in the Downtown Los Angeles facilities following Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s device business. “This deal was already there. Nokia had done the work,” Sohn said. “This was an investment we could continue in such an easy way that it made sense for us to jump on it.” Built in 2007, the theater has hosted more than 700 concerts and other events, including the Emmy, MTV Video Music and American Music awards. More than three and a half million people have passed through the doors. The Downtown deal is part of a greater investment in Los Angeles as a whole, Sohn added. The company has four Microsoft stores in the city, as well as office space in Venice for en-
tertainment industry-related projects. Microsoft and Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the theater and the rest of L.A. Live, started discussions in November, said Stew Heathcoate, senior vice president of AEG global partnerships. “From the beginning a strong relationship developed, and over the course of the past six months we’ve arrived to something beneficial for both parties,” Heathcoate said. Microsoft plans to work with AEG on improvements to the theater that will begin in the fall, with a concentration on technology infrastructure. There will also be changes to signage throughout the venue. “We’re looking for ways that our technology can help enhance the experience for everyone, including fans, artists and production crews,”
7 TH S
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NOW OPEN! The 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre, which opened in 2007, is now the Microsoft Theater.
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Games On The Massive (and Lucrative) E3 Convention Is Back in Downtown By Eddie Kim t’s not uncommon to see people flooding the Los Angeles Convention Center during large conferences. None of those events, however, have quite the scope, size and hype of the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The convention, better known as E3, takes place on TuesdayThursday, June 16-18. The city, and Downtown in particular, are prepping for a rush of dollars as visitors from around the world fill area hotels, restaurants and more. E3 has an estimated $40 million economic impact on the city, and remains the king of the Convention Center’s schedule, said Ernest Wooden Jr., president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “No other convention in Los Angeles can tout the impressive combined figures [of E3], especially over a three-day period,” Wooden said in an email. Downtown could see an additional boost this year, with 300 exhibitors set to show off their wares, up from about 200 last year, according to the Electronic Software Association, which stages E3. The expo, long an industry-only affair, is also for the first time opening its doors to about 5,000 diehard gamers. More than 1,600 products will be featured at E3. About 100 of them will be brand-new reveals. The expo is a favorite place for major players like Microsoft, Sony and Electronic Arts to surprise and stun visitors with new trailers, gameplay footage, hardware announcements and more. Gaming media and fans have whispered that mega-titles like Mass Effect 4 and Fallout 4, or hardware such as a new Nintendo console, could be unveiled this week. The confluence of entertainment and tech in Los Angeles makes holding a major expo in the urban core a smart choice for the ESA and the exhibitors, Wooden said.
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June 15, 2015
“L.A. is the capital of creativity and innovation and our city is where the creative talent of the entertainment industry combines with the creative talent of the interactive electronic entertainment industry,” he said. “This is a perfect match.” E3 remains a boon for Downtown businesses. The hotels at L.A. Live, for instance, are full for the expo, said General Manager Javier Cano, who oversees the nearly 1,400 rooms in the J.W. Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and the joint Courtyard by Marriott/ Residence Inn hotel. He said the development of hotels at nearby projects such as the Wilshire Grand, Metropolis and Oceanwide Plaza are needed to usher in more growth in Downtown. “We’re fortunate to be in a scenario where Downtown L.A. is really lifting all of the hotels. When we opened five years ago, everyone else got better. That’s unusual when you add 1,000 rooms to a market,” Cano said. The Tourism and Convention Board is working to market Downtown attractions, especially in the dining and nightlife scene. A website dedicated to this year’s E3, for example, champions local eateries such as Sushi Gen, Orsa & Winston, Bestia and Grand Central Market. The board is also working with the South Park Business Improvement District to distribute neighborhood maps to attendees, said BID Executive Director Jessica Lall. “Figueroa can seem like a barrier with all the construction sites, with people not really knowing what’s on the other side,” she said. “We’ve been working with the tourism board and Convention Center so that people know that there’s a neighborhood to explore along with all that’s at L.A. Live.” South Park, along with other Downtown districts, needs to put its “best foot forward” for the thousands of visitors coming
More than 50,000 people are coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center this week for E3, the largest gaming and interactive technology conference in the world.
photo by Gary Leonard
to E3, especially since a great first impression could inspire future investment in the area, Lall said. E3 is Tuesday-Thursday, June 16-18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. or e3expo.com. eddie@downtownnews.com
E3 BY THE NUMBERS E3 is a massive event, but some stats help put things into perspective. Info comes from the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. 40 million: The estimated economic impact, in dollars, with spending at hotels, restaurants, on parties and more. 50,000: Attendees at E3, the largest annual event hosted at the Convention Center. 27,000: The number of “room nights,” or number of rooms multiplied by number of nights occupied, that E3 visitors book. 38 and 21: The percentage of exhibitors who hailed from California and Los Angeles, respectively, at E3 2014. 7,000: International visitors at E3. About 20% of them come from the Asia/Pacific region. 1,600: Products displayed at this year’s E3. About 100 of those will be new products, according to the Electronic Software Association.
metro.net/regionalconnector
Palace Theatre
Regional Connector Transit Corridor Public Hearings on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement The Draft SEIS is intended to provide more information on the tunnel construction alternatives on Flower St that were withdrawn from consideration.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 6:30pm to 8pm Japanese American National Museum 100 N Central Avenue, Los Angeles The document is available for review by visiting metro.net/regionalconnector.
The deadline for comments on the Draft SEIS is July 27, 2015.
323.466.3876 Español Tiếng Việt 한국어 日本語 русский 中文 Հայերէն
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WEDNESDAy, JuNE 10, 8pM
SATuRDAy, JuNE 13, 8pM
psycho (1960)
City Lights (1931)
SATuRDAy, JuNE 20, 8pM
All Metro meetings are held in ADA accessible facilities. Spanish, Korean, and Japanese translation services will be provided at both meetings. Other ADA accommodations and translations are available by calling 213.922.7277 at least 72 hours in advance.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2015 12pm to 1:30pm Los Angeles Central Library Mark Taper Auditorium 630 W 5th Street, Los Angeles
CLASSIC FILMS and LIVE ENTERTAINMENT in DOWNTOWN’S HISTORIC THEATRES June 10-27
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) WEDNESDAy, JuNE 24, 8pM
SATuRDAy, JuNE 27, 2pM & 8pM
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Conservancy members at the $500 and above level are invited to the opening night reception and receive a pair of reserved seats on opening night. Please call 213-430-4204 to join or upgrade your membership.
INFO & TICKETS AT laconservancy.org LRS_LADowntownNews2015_quarterpage.indd 1
pHOTO By GARy LEONARD ALL pROGRAMS SuBJECT TO CHANGE 4/6/15 8:18 PM
June 15, 2015
Downtown News 29
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He quickly garnered support from entities including the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles and Art Share L.A., which is across the street from the hotel. Twitchell will be storing his supplies at the Art Share building, where he can take a shower or nap if needed. The American Hotel is owned by Mark Verge, the founder of Westside Rentals. Verge was on board with Twitchell’s plan as soon as he was contacted, said David Stevenson, property manager of the building at 303 S. Hewitt St. “We’re in the heart of the Arts District,” Stevenson said. “We’re a part of this community and want to support local artists in the community.”
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New Look The mural won’t be a replica of the former one. Instead of using the full-body photo of Ruscha he took more than 40 years ago, Twitchell decided to paint a current take on the artist. Ruscha came to Twitchell’s studio for a photo shoot in preparation for the new work, which will feature the prominent artist from the waist up. “Why paint him young? Why not have a mural of an iconic artist in his 70s?” Twitchell asked. “He means more to people as an older guy anyway.” This is a busy time for Twitchell, who has five other projects in the works, including a mural at 11th and Hope streets for the Special Olympics World Games headed to Los Angeles next month. He has been nearly as busy during his five-decade career, and time and again his works have materialized on buildings and walls in Downtown Los Angeles. His most-seen work, “Harbor Freeway Overture,” depicting members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, is on the side of the FIGat7th shopping center, and is glimpsed by thousands of northbound drivers on the 110 Freeway every day. In 2013, he completed three murals as part of the renovation of the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall at 1816 S. Hope St. His other work includes a 1971 mural of Steve McQueen and a Michael Jackson mural. Isabel Rojas-Williams, executive director of the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, noted his reputation and influence. “Kent is a highly respected artist, and the premier muralist in Los Angeles,” said Rojas-Williams. “He’s an inspiration to millions of people internationally.” For Twitchell, meanwhile, there is something fitting about the subject of his upcoming work and its new location. He said that people went “ballistic” at the idea of the mural when he first presented it six months ago. “I said, ‘I think the Arts District needs Ed Ruscha looking down on it,’ and everyone got excited,” he said. heidi@downtownnews.com
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Twitchell at 1031 S. Hill St. shortly after the original artwork was whitewashed. After a prolonged legal battle, he received $1.1 million.
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30 Downtown News
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June 15, 2015
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A New Trader Joe’s | 6 Downtown’s Eag er Speakers | 10
June 19, 2015
The most comprehensive information available on Downtown L.A. Publishes September 28, 2015 SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 I VOL. 43
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❚ 40,000 copies are wrapped around (out-serted) the L.A. Downtown News on Monday, September 28th and available at nearly 1000 locations in and around Downtown.
I #38
ON ThEeSA16 NTADi FEve AN rse D ITS 438 APAR TMENTS Neighborho OPod ENsIN THE ARTS DISTRICT Of Do
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June 15, 2015
LEGAL Fictitious Business Name Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015134964 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Cinevision Global, 424 Bamboo Lane, Los Angeles,
Downtown News 31
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM CA 90012, are hereby registered by the following registrant(s): Frank Mayor, 2665 Aberdeen Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant has not commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk, and by J. Perkins,
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Deputy, on May 20, 2015. 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. 06/01, 06/08, 06/15, and 06/22/2015. Name Change SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. LS026810 Petitioner (name of each) Sonia Ghani, 17200 Burbank Blvd., Unit 331, Encino, CA 91316, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing
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names as follows: Present name: Sonia Ghani Proposed name: Sonya Zela Azeemey THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 07/10/2015 Time: 8:30 Dept.: M The address of the court is 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401. A copy of this Order to
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les, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county. Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter, Executive Office/Clerk. Van Nuys Courthouse East 6230 Sylmar Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91401 Date: June 05, 2015 Hon. Huey P. Cotton Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 06/15, 06/22, 06/29, and 07/06/2015.
KLEINFELDER Project: As-Needed Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Inspection Services Agency: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Contract Bid Number: AED7739983 Bid Date/Time: July 1, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Kleinfelder is seeking interested Community Business Enterprise (CBE) firms/subcontractors, for portions of work for the above listed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes but not limited to the following: • Geotechnical and geologic engineering, soil and geologic exploration, analysis and recommendations in conjunction with project design • QA/QC inspection services including special inspection of construction trades work • Geotechnical monitoring and testing, investigation and analyses, and various materials sampling, testing and inspection services for fill placement, asphalt construction and testing, soil cement construction and testing, and reinforced concrete construction and testing. All services shall be provided in accordance with all County of Los Angles guidelines and ordinances, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Construction Industry Standard, California Code of Regulations, South Coast Air Quality Management District Regulations, the Los Angeles Building Code and other applicable codes. The construction materials laboratories shall be certified to comply with ASTM E-329 and licensed and/or approved by at least two of the following organizations: Caltrans, Army Corps of Engineers, City of Los Angeles, Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory, Metropolitan Transportation Agency, Division of the State Architect, and National Institute of Standards and Technology. Kleinfelder will advise and make an effort in assisting interested firms in obtaining bonding, lines of credits and/or insurance required by the contract documents should it be needed. RFP can be reviewed at Kleinfelder, 620 W. 16th Street, Unit F, Long Beach, CA 90813 or can be downloaded by clicking on this link http://dpw.lacounty.gov/general/Contracts/opportunities/aed_rfp/ProjectDetail.aspx?project_id=AED7739983 Interested firms should provide statement of qualifications, published fee schedules, CURRENT CBE certification form, and copies of their CURRENT laboratory certifications to: Dany Hanna, Kleinfelder, 620 W. 16th Street, Unit F, Long Beach, CA 90813 Phone: (909) 376-6128, Fax: (562) 432-1796 or e-mail: dhanna@kleinfelder.com. ALL SOQ INFORMATION FOR THIS RFP IS DUE TO KLEINFELDER NO LATER THAN June 26, 2015 BY 5:00 P.M. Kleinfelder is an Equal Employment Opportunity Company.
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32 Downtown News
June 15, 2015
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at xci Gr ti A 255 South Grand Avenue an ng sk A dT ow Ne bou Leasing Information er w t O Co 213 229 9777 m Re ur ing n Su ova Apartment Amenities: Community Amenities: m m tio ~ Refrigerator, Stove, ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby er Microwave & Dishwasher ~ Concierge 20 n 15 (most units) ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas
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123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon
museum Tower
225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
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ROP G 2015
File Name: G&K a political post, and Beck has3-16 never been able to connect with the city and theRep: media CH in the way that, for example, Bratton did. While he gets credit3-9 for continuing the reforms that BratDate: ton initiated, running herd on a longtime crime decrease and Creator: ba/yk keeping captains accountable for law-breaking in the areas Changes: they oversee, Beck has 1 rarely been able to really sell the public on what he’s doing. Just remember the troubles that surfaced before his August 2014 re-appointment. He was even at the center of a fracas involving a horse his daughter sold to the department. Garcetti also may be missing an opportunity. After protestors camped outside his house recently, he decided to schedule a meeting with Ford’s mother. The question is, why didn’t this happen before? Garcetti wants to support his chief and said he expects Beck will make the right decision. Then again, Garcetti is the mayor, and people want to know what he really thinks. They want him to make the hard decisions, to have opinions on controversial and complicated matters, and to lead. Another aspect colors Ford’s death: It’s that he’s not the only one who died in a controversial manner. Several other police killings in Los Angeles have sparked outrage and protests. On March 1, Charly Lendeu Keunang was shot by police in Skid Row after fighting with officers. The police said that during an argument Keunang went for an officer’s gun. An observer’s chilling cell phone video was posted on Facebook and went viral. An investigation began and, since then, the public has heard, well, nothing. Demands to release the video from the officers’ body cameras have been shot down. What happened that day? Good question, and if the information is kept private and investigations proceed behind closed doors, the skepticism will grow. No one pretends policing is easy, and no member of the general public will ever comprehend the life-and-death decisions that officers have to make in a few seconds, particularly when someone’s fingers are grasping for your firearm. But sometimes the problem and the strangeness doesn’t stem from the action in those few seconds. Sometimes they come from the quiet and apparent inaction in the months that follow. regardie@downtownnews.com
AROUND TOWN, 2 May 28 in Boyle Heights. A Downtown event will take place at City Hall (200 N. Spring St.) on Thursday, June 18, at 6 p.m. There will also be a discussion in South L.A. on June 25. The council will use feedback from the events to shape a draft ordinance on street vending, which is expected later this year. Some Downtown stakeholders have questioned where vendors would be allowed, what impact they would have on brick-and-mortar businesses and how a cash-stripped city would pay for enforcement of any new regulations.
‘Car Opera’ Driving Through Downtown This Fall
T
he avant-garde opera company The Industry wowed Downtown audiences in 2013 with its Invisible Cities, complete with audiences wearing headphones, in Union Station. Downtown is again involved in the company’s next work. The Industry recently announced that it will open the “car opera” Hopscotch on Oct. 31, with audiences in a network of cars crisscrossing Los Angeles. Shows continue through Nov. 15, but those who don’t want to climb into a vehicle can enjoy it for free at the Central Hub, a pop-up outdoor structure at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in the Arts District, where 24 “journeys” will be live-streamed simultaneously. Hopscotch will feature an original score and more than 100 performers. In addition to the six performances, there will be a series of low-priced previews on Oct. 3-25. Tickets, which are $25$150, will go on sale Sept. 15. Information is at hopscotchopera.com and theindustryla.org.