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looking at 6 years of mayor eric garcetti Page 5

the royal ballet bounds into downtown Page 11

JULY 1, 2019 VOL. 48 I #26

W Cos elco t m u The ‘Cosplayers’ me e to t Come Out in Force Par he For Anime Expo ty

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AROUND TOWN

Coworking Company Takes Floor at Bradbury Building

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et another co-working firm is expanding into Downtown Los Angeles. Neuehouse, a private club and workspace, has inked a deal to occupy 25,000 square feet of space in the historic Bradbury Building at 304 S. Broadway. The lease calls for taking over the entire second floor of the 1893 building known for appearances in films including Blade Runner and (500) Days of Summer. Plans call for holding conference rooms, a cafe, a gallery, private offices and a “meditation nap room.” The Neuehouse location is expected to open in November, according to the company. Neuehouse bills itself as catering to entrepreneurs. The Downtown space will be Nuehouse’s second Los Angeles location; the other is in Hollywood.

Fort Moore Rededication This Week

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owntowners began buzzing last December when the water feature at Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial was turned on for the first time in 42 years. But that was only part of the effort to repair and mod-

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ernize a civic landmark at 451 N. Hill St. This week, there will be a full rededication ceremony for the project that originally opened in 1958. The event will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 61 years to the day after Fort Moore was originally dedicated. The ceremony will include the burial of a time capsule; as upgrades at the site were completed, crews discovered a time capsule placed there in 1958. It included photos, government budgets and other items. The monument’s expansive bas-relief memorial wall depicts scenes of the migration, settlement and expansion of Los Angeles after the Mexican-American War. The project had largely fallen into disrepair after the water feature was turned off in 1977. The County paid $4.1 million for the renovation, with the city chipping in $500,000.

Lineup Announced for Pershing Square Concerts

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ne of Downtown’s biggest summer concert series is ready to return this month. The staff at the city Department of Recreation and Parks recently announced the lineup for the Downtown Stage concerts at Pershing Square. They take place every Saturday night, and open on July 13 with The Beatles tribute show Rain. The following Saturday it’s Sheila E. and the Pimps of Joytime, bringing a funk-focused night, and Colombian rockers Aterciopelados take the stage on July 27. Other acts include The Record Company (Aug. 3) and throwback

JULY 1, 2019

Soccer Stadium, Other Projects Win Architecture Prizes

rockers REO Speedwagon (Aug. 10). The series closes on Aug. 17 with Blues Traveler. As part of the programming, the Department of Recreation and Parks also organizes lunchtime concerts every Wednesday starting July 10, as well as evening jazz and soul concerts each Thursday at nearby Spring Street Park. More information is at laparks.org/pershingsquare.

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rojects in Downtown Los Angeles won big in a local design competition last month.

The Los Angeles Business Council’s 49th annual Architectural Awards were given out on June 21, with prizes presented in 23 categories. The Grand Prize went to the Gensler-designed Banc of California Stadium, which is now in its second season hosting the Los Angeles Football Club in Exposition Park; judges cited the fan-friendly design of the 22,000-capacity, $350 million project. Other Downtown winners include the NoMad Los Angeles hotel, the Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles gallery, the ongoing Music Center renovation effort, and the Arts District restaurant Bavel. “This year’s award winners exemplify how architecture can elicit joy, enhance social interaction, promote meaningful experiences and provide essential housing,” Mary Leslie, president of the LABC, said in a prepared statement. The full list of winners is at labusinesscouncil.org.

Music Center Plaza to Reopen Next Month

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nyone taking in a show in recent months at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre or Mark Taper Forum has had to navigate a maze propelled by construction work around the complex. Next month, that will end. That’s because the Music Center last week announced that a dedication ceremony for the revamped Music Center Plaza will take place on Aug. 28. The project was originally announced in 2016, and the ambitious $40 million overhaul began in January. The project seeks to enlarge the plaza and better connect it with the surrounding neighborhood.

Work includes flattening the plaza, which will increase the capacity from 2,500 to 5,000 people, as well as the addition of new restaurants, and infrastructure upgrades including permanent restrooms. This marks the first major renovation of the plaza since it opened in 1964. The Jacques Lipchitz “Peace on Earth” sculpture has been moved from the middle of the plaza to a spot near Hope Street on the western side.

Orange County Developer Buys City West Site

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he site of a planned high-rise in City West has changed hands. The Realm Group last month acquired a 1.5-acre lot at 675 Bixel St. Terms of the sale were not disclosed, but Realm Group intends to use the plans of Continued on page 7

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EDITORIALS

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JULY 1, 2019

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Free Summer Music As an Economic Engine

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ast month, this page touched on Downtown’s role as a free visual arts center in the region, thanks to a collection of major institutions — soon to include the Museum of Contemporary Art — that offer gratis admission. It’s a unique and attention-worthy achievement, but it’s not the only way the community stands out on a nocost cultural basis.

Downtown Los Angeles is also the prime place in Southern California for free music. The area has long had a lineup of free outdoor concert series, but this summer the offerings are bigger than ever.

This provides benefits beyond the music. The performances will cumulatively draw tens if not hundreds of thousands of people to the Central City in the coming months. This will function as an economic engine for area bars, restaurants and shops, and the opportunity to catch a favored act will expose the community to people who otherwise might not venture here. If they like what they see, they’re prone to return.

The lineup starts this week with two big events, including the Fourth of July Block Party at Grand Park. Although the highlight is the 9 p.m. Independence Day pyrotechnics display, the activity starts at 3 p.m., and a bevy of bands and DJs will fill two stages.

Meanwhile, Saturday, July 6, brings the Audacity of Sound street festival to Grand Avenue in front of the Cal Plaza towers. Arts programmer Grand Performances is unable to offer its regular lineup of a few dozen free shows this summer due to construction, but is making up for that in part with a seven-hour al fresco event featuring artists that work in multiple genres.

The summer’s biggest concert draw is always the Pershing Square Downtown Stage series, and that continues again, with six Saturday night shows at the park in the heart of the Financial District. The city Department of Recreation and Parks also stages free lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays and jazz acts at the Spring Street Park on Thursday nights.

Some corporate entities get in on the act. Arts Brookfield, the cultural arm of behemoth landowner Brookfield Properties, just concluded a four-week run of free outdoor Friday night concerts at the FIGat7th mall. Nearby, the operators of The Bloc shopping center have a monthly outdoor music series where those who reserve in advance can get free admission.

There are other events. The Natural History Museum has a monthly outdoor party, complete with music, in its gardens. Union Station hosts a one-off free salsa festival with three bands this Friday night.

There are musical stages at the monthly Chinatown Summer Nights events. The list goes on and on.

There’s nothing unique about hosting free outdoor summer concerts, and Downtown by no means has cornered the market — MacArthur Park boasts a stellar lineup of seasonal shows, and free concerts on the Santa Monica Pier draw massive crowds. LACMA has a popular free Friday night jazz series.

Still, no community packs quite as much activity into such a compact area as Downtown. This summer the Central City is a musical center point. That can pay off for the entire community.

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COMMENTS

Regarding the article “Homelessness Soars by 12% in County, 16% in City,” by Nicholas Slayton I would hope this matter is at the top of the list for the city government and business leaders to attend to. One does not need take a count to see the crisis we are facing with homelessness. It’s all around us.

—Winston Barker This article does an excellent job of including many of the top elected officials plus others who’ve all been “leading” both the city and county efforts to “end homelessness.” Based on these responses, it’s crystal clear that this entire lot doesn’t know what they’re doing, aren’t “experts” on ending homelessness, and don’t have any answers that would give We, The People any hope.

Their collective responses to the massive double-digit increase in homelessness spoke to nothing more than repeating what the report itself announced. Heck, we can all see there’s a significant increase and desperate need for much more low-income housing. What are your immediate plans as politicians in charge of multi-billion dollar funding pots?

There are those of us who already know that all this shelter action is not a long-term solution, is taking much too long to produce, and that costs are eating EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-533-6990 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

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June 23, 2019

ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard

up the funding voters approved for long-term solutions!

The last thing We, The People need to hear are answers like the one from Mayor Eric Garcetti in the article when he stated “we need to keep believing in one another.” What does that even mean?

It’s time that We, The People stop listening to the phonies who don’t know what they’re doing and time to scan the globe and bring in those who know what they’re doing to put an end to this fiasco once and for all.

—“General” Jeff Page It makes me very sad every time I see this.

—Reader identified as “Officiant Guy”

Hey You! Speak Up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like, or dislike, a story or editorial, let us know. Or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Post a comment online at the bottom of any story, or go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, email regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Six Years and Four Chapters of the Mayor He Rose Fast and Fell Hard. Welcome to the Saga and Uncertain Future of Ericarus Garcetti

By Jon Regardie n the story of Icarus, the son of a prominent leader is given a pair of wings fashioned from wax and feathers. He straps them on and, thrilled by the experience, soars higher and higher into the sky. Ultimately the dude, oblivious to warnings about the dangers of his path, flies too close to the sun. The wings melt, and Icarus plunges into the sea.

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THE REGARDIE REPORT If you like that story, then you’ll love the one about Mayor Eric Garcetti. It’s almost too easy, but call him Ericarus.

Monday, July 1, marks the sixth anniversary of Garcetti’s first full day as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles. Now, one can step back and fully assess Garcetti as a leader. By looking at his successes — there have been many — and failures — there have been fewer, but some are utterly devastating — there is a clear story arc.

In fact, “arc” is the perfect word, as Garcetti’s mayoral tenure — starting with a victory in a tough contest over Wendy Greuel in 2013, and a resounding re-election four years later — can be broken down into four rolling chapters.

In the first three, he strapped on the mayoral wings and soared high, emerging from the local scene to claim a spot on the national stage. But in the latest chapter, he plummeted to Earth.

The big questions now are, can Garcetti reverse trends that have stunned and angered Angelenos? In the effort to turn things around, is he willing to alter his leadership style and adopt a tough stance that seems counter to his nature? Or will he be forever remembered as the mayor under whom Los Angeles became the homelessness capital of the nation and devolved into Trash City?

Hence, the mayoralty in four chapters.

photo by Gary Leonard

Eric Garcetti on May 21, 2013, when he earned 54% of the vote and was elected the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles. He ran on a “Back to Basics” platform.

Chapter 1: Back to Basics: “Back to Basics” was the slogan of Garcetti’s first mayoral run and his early guiding mantra, and it was perfect for the moment. After three terms on the City Council, including six years as its president, he grasped that Angelenos had grown weary of the flash and unbridled personal ambition of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Garcetti watched AnVil squander his potential and lose touch with av-

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erage Angelenos. The new mayor wasn’t about to repeat the mistake. Not at all.

That outlook, combined with the economic fallout of the Great Recession, prompted Garcetti to proclaim that he’d be all about fixing potholes, creating jobs and bolstering the city’s shaky economy. The latter was a page from former MayContinued on page 10

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JULY 1, 2019

A Deep Sports Impact Report Says Local Pro and College Sports Generated $6.2 Billion Last Year, and Downtown Plays a Leading Role

By Sean P. Thomas veryone talks about sports being a big business, but the conversation rarely specifies how big. Now that’s been quantified: Sports generated $6.2 billion in economic activity and $327 million in state and local taxes in Los Angeles and Orange counties in 2018.

The finding was the centerpiece of a report dubbed 2019 Sports in Los Angeles and Orange Counties: An Economic Impact Analysis. Commissioned by the City West-based Los Angeles Sports Council and the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, it was released on Monday, June 24, at the inaugural Los Angeles Sports Summit.

The report, the first of its kind since 2013, was conducted by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation’s Institute for Applied Economics.

The study analyzed the total economic impact of professional and college sports in the region (along with special events such as the L.A. Marathon). It found that nearly 40,000 people work in the industry either full- or part-time. The majority of the positions are game-day jobs, including parking lot attendants, food service and ticket staff.

Although the report did not parse out statistics by geographic region, Downtown’s impact

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is dominant, according to Dr. Somjita Mitra, director of the LAEDC Institute of Applied Economics. That’s because of the 11 professional sports teams that call Los Angeles and Orange counties home, seven — the Dodgers, Kings, Sparks, Rams, Lakers, Clippers and the Los Angeles Football Club — played home games at venues in and around Downtown Los Angeles last year. The report also takes into account college athletics, and the University of Southern California plays in the area.

“Four of our major teams, including the L.A. Sparks, play in Downtown and there is a reason they are all here,” Mitra said. “They could have been anywhere, so I think that the impact of Downtown is pretty significant.”

That wasn’t always the case. Prior to the opening of Staples Center in 1999, only the Dodgers and USC teams played in the Downtown environs. Now the arena is home to three basketball teams and one hockey franchise.

The situation might not always be this robust for Downtown. Although the Rams currently play home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they will move out when a new $5 billion stadium opens in Inglewood in 2020. They’ll share the stadium with the Chargers, who currently play in the Dignity

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The Lakers, one of four pro teams that play at Staples Center, remain a huge economic engine in Los Angeles.

Shown above was the scene outside the arena when they appeared in the 2010 NBA Finals.

Health Sports Park in Carson.

Additionally, the Clippers could leave in 2024 for a new arena that owner Steve Ballmer hopes to build in Inglewood.

Still, the community should remain a sports center, as the other squads don’t appear to be in any danger of departure, and the scene expanded last year when Banc of California Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Football Club, opened in Exposition Park.

The Staples Effect Bill Allen, executive director of the LAEDC, is among those who view the opening of Staples Center 20 years ago as a catalyst in the overall development of Downtown. The once sleepy South Park neighborhood is now home to numerous glass-and-steel skyscrapers, along with copious restaurants and bars.

“People come to Downtown much more frequently than they did 20 years ago,” Allen said. “Downtown I think has been revitalized mostly by the sports and entertainment community rallying around these particular venues.”

That includes L.A. Live. Anschutz Entertainment Group, which developed and owns Staples Center, complemented the arena with the entertainment and restaurant complex in 2008. Chuck Steedman, chief operating and development officer of AEG Facilities, said that the evolution of AEG and Downtown go hand-in-hand.

“I think the growth of Downtown is pretty well tied to the growth of L.A. Live and the presence of L.A. Live,” Steedman said. “When people live in a place, they want to do stuff.

There is a great entertainment destination in Downtown. You can eat, you can go to concerts and you can go to block parties. It’s part of a quality of life generator.”

The topic of a stadium or arena’s impact on a city is frequently discussed, in part because many team owners pit cities against one another to seek hefty public contributions for the construction of new facilities. According to the Greater Sacramento Business Council, in the wake of the Sacramento Kings beginning construction on the Golden 1 Center in the heart of the city in 2014, nearly $2 billion has been invested in new projects in the

area. Similar figures were reported in Minneapolis following the construction of the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium. Almost half of the nearly $1 billion venue was funded by local government entities.

Allen said one thing that makes Los Angeles unique in the sports industry is that local governments may pay for things like infrastructure improvements, but generally don’t chip in for construction of a stadium or arena.

The report didn’t analyze the ancillary benefits from sports venues, such as revenue generated by concerts and festivals that utilize the stadiums and arenas when athletic teams are not playing.

Sports Council President David Seigel, who took over for longtime President David Simon in January, positioned the report as the first of many to come. He also mentioned that the economic impact of sports should continue to grow, in part because of major events coming to the region. That includes the 2020 Major League Baseball AllStar Game at Dodger Stadium, the 2022 Super Bowl, the 2023 College Football National Championship Playoff Games, and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“I think it will be really neat to see the longitudinal play on how the report evolves and develops over time,” Seigel said. “With all these events, supplemented by all these amazing sports teams, and all of these buildings coming online in the next decade or so, it will be really interesting to see how things evolve.”

Allen said that LAEDC is in talks with the Sports Council to discuss ways to analyze additional benefits from local sports venues, including spending at area restaurants prior to games, and the impact from tourists coming into the region for sporting events, and where they spend their money.

“We anticipate adding those components to future studies in partnership with the L.A. Sports Council and I know it will reveal an even greater economic contribution,” Allen said.

In other words, sports will continue to be a really big business, for a really long time. sean@downtownnews.com

JULY 1, 2019

Eleven New Faces Coming to Neighborhood Council

By Nicholas Slayton hen the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council holds its next full meeting this month, more than one-third of the faces around the table will be new. That’s because a recent election brought 11 first-time members to the fold.

On June 20, Downtown residents and workers voted for a slate of representatives to serve a two-year term on the volunteer community panel. The official count had not been released by press time, but a preliminary count from the City Clerk’s office’s the day after the election showed many current members were re-elected, including DLANC President Patti Berman.

A total of 42 people were on the ballot, wrangling for one of the 28 spots. Elections were open to people who live, work or own property within the council’s boundaries.

The vote was organized by the city Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.

Like all neighborhood councils, DLANC lacks formal power, but developers and others with major deals proposed for the community often seek to earn support from the panels, knowing that they can reflect the sentiment of a neighborhood.

DLANC also has a number of committees, including ones for Planning and Land

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AROUND TOWN, 2 the prior owner, Career Lofts LLC; the site had been entitled for a 36-story, 422-unit residential project called the Bixel Tower. According to the Realm Group, the project will include 40,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. Renderings from architecture firm Humphreys and Partners made for the previous owner show a glass and steel tower with a landscaped, four-story podium. The Newport Beach-based developer is also set to begin construction next year on a high-rise at Seventh and Maple streets in the Fashion District. No groundbreaking date has been set for the Bixel Tower.

Cirque du Soleil Returning to Downtown

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n the winter of 2017, a quiet Dodger Stadium bustled to life as Cirque du Soleil set up its blue-and-yellow tent in the parking lot.

In the months after the current baseball season ends, it will happen again. The acclaimed performance troupe that began life in 1984 in Montreal last week announced that it will bring a new production to Downtown Los Angeles next year. Volta, running from Jan. 18-Feb. 23, 2020, will utilize the culture of street sports and venture into the theme of transformation, while also touching on how technology can isolate people, rather than bring them together. The show will utilize Cirque’s well-known lineup of powerful ac-

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Use, Budget and Finance, and Livability.

Many members are elected to specific seats; for example, the Civic Center/Financial Core and Fashion District each have one resident representative, while the Historic Core and South Park have three. The board includes two area-wide representatives and two Center City East residents.

Speaking by phone to Los Angeles Downtown News last week, Berman said the new board, including the incoming members, are acutely aware that many local residents and workers have voiced concerns about issues of livability and public safety. That has frequently been vocalized at past meetings.

“Everyone understands how bad it’s getting, and we intend to be a voice for Downtown, but people need to understand we’re a neighborhood council, we don’t implement or make policy. We just make recommendations,” Berman said. “When you have a new board, there’s a big anticipation that someone’s brought a magic wand.”

The new board will meet on Tuesday, July 9, at the Palace Theatre (630 S. Broadway), where it will select five officers for the next term.

The full list of winners can be found at empowerla.org/elections. nicholas@downtownnews.com

robats and other physical performers. Tickets are now on sale for the production and are available at cirquedusoleil.com/volta.

New Mural at LA Plaza Village

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hose driving through Downtown Los Angeles on the Hollywood Freeway will notice a new mural affixed to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ residential development LA Plaza Village. Los Angeles-based Chicana artist Judithe Hernández finished installing the seven-story work titled “La Reina Nueva de Los Ángeles” (“The New Queen of the Angels”) on June 25 on the project’s northwest tower at Broadway and the Hollywood Freeway. The piece commemorates Los Angeles’ founding patroness, Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles. The work is an acrylic painting on canvas that was later digitized and reproduced on vinyl. The original work will be on display at LA Plaza. Hernández is the third of four muralists whose work is on display at the housing development. Later this summer, Barbara Carrasco will install a mural at the site to honor César Chávez.

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Correction In the June 24 story “The Aliso Takes Root in the Arts District,” the co-developer was incorrectly listed as Fairfield Residential. Fairfield is the property manager, and Brookfield Properties developed the project with Legendary Development.

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This initiative helps shape LA pride, validation and affirmation of organizations that have been voted-on organically by LA residents and their respective customers.

There are three easy ways to get involved — call your representative today and ask how you can be part of the networking event, exclusive digital platform and the 31st Annual Best Of Downtown Issue.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Restaurant Buzz A Brewery Closes, a Harry PotterThemed Cafe Appears, and More Downtown Food News Explore the Country’s Premier School of Archetypal and Depth Psychology

FRE E EV ENT Join us on campus in Santa Barbara photo by Sean P. Thomas

Nimbus Coffee, a Harry Potter-themed cafe, opened in South Park on June 18. Nimbus isn’t officially affiliated with J.K. Rowling or her book series, but touches on all the familiar trappings from the novels, including walls filled with wands, magical newspapers and celebrities in wizard cloaks.

By Sean P. Thomas ron Curtain: After three and a half years, the Arts District’s Iron Triangle Brewing Company has called it quits. According to signage on the bar’s chalkboard, the last day of service was scheduled for Sunday, June 30 (after Downtown News went to press), complete with a farewell bash touted on its social media platforms. No reason for the closure was revealed. Iron Triangle opened in January 2016 in a 10,000-square-foot building constructed in 1904.

There was also a 22,000-square-foot taproom with a large wooden trestle roof over the 12 massive stainless steel fermenters. When it arrived, Iron Triangle was one of three large-scale breweries in Downtown, joining Mumford Brewing and Angel City Brewery.

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Continued on page 16

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JULY 1, 2019

GARCETTI, 5 or Richard Riordan’s book, and it resonated.

Garcetti didn’t reach too far too fast, and instead methodically built on the sentiment that propelled him into office. He had the public behind him as he played hardball when negotiating a new contract with the union that represents most DWP workers (the union had backed Greuel). He exhibited a deft ability to connect with Angelenos on social media, and became known as the “Mayor of Instagram.”

He touted transparency, and on his 100th day in office he debuted a website to gauge the city’s performance in myriad sectors. Two days later, he announced that he’d replace then-Fire Chief Brian Cummings in the wake of slow department response times. He also halted the Fire Department’s questionable hiring process. Both moves were applauded.

Garcetti frequently sought to ready L.A. for the future — he advocated for earthquake preparedness, and hired a city Chief Sustainability Officer and an innovation boss. He pushed a proposal to get the federal government to back an ambitions $1 billion overhaul of the Los Angeles River (the plan went comatose after Donald Trump was elected president).

Moves in the Back to Basics era, which lasted about a year to 18 months, were rarely sexy, which was entirely the point. If there was an overarching view of Garcetti as mayor, it was that people didn’t know quite what to think. Everybody liked him, everyone agreed that he was intelligent and forward-thinking, but the city was waiting for him to do something big.

Chapter 2: Winning Time: On June 11, 2014, Garcetti sent a mass email asking Angelenos to lobby George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson to build their art museum in Los Angeles. It was a cute move, complete with a hashtag, #WhyLucasinLA. It was also a long-shot, as the facility seemed destined for the Bay Area.

Two-and-a-half-years later, in January 2017, the work paid off, as after consistent wooing — with Garcetti as the public face of the effort — Lucas and Hobson announced that the $1 billion, spaceship-like Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would rise in Exposition Park.

It was a huge victory for Garcetti, and proved that he could play the long game.

Garcetti has demonstrated an ability to turn other cities’ stumbles into jewels for L.A. The path to the Lucas Museum, which began after Chicago won, then rejected the facility, would be replicated in August 2015, when Garcetti called for Los Angeles to be the U.S. representative to host the Summer Olympics after Boston earned the designation, then choked on its bid. In September 2017, following copious meetings, tours and negotiations, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2024 Summer Games to Paris, and the 2028 Games to Los Angeles. The third L.A. Olympics will be the defining city event of the 2020s, and Garcetti was the unquestioned driver.

Garcetti’s Winning Time, spread over a couple years, was multi-faceted. In June 2015, the City Council approved boosting the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, super-sizing an effort that Garcetti had initiated (the mayor had begun by asking for $13.25

photo by Gary Leonard

Garcetti delivering his State of the City speech in City Hall in 2017.

an hour). In November 2016, county voters approved both Measure M, a half-cent sales tax that would skyrocket Metro’s rail building regimen, and Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion property tax bond to build permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals.

Garcetti championed both.

The victory streak continued in March 2017. In addition to Garcetti’s steamroll of a re-election — he got an astounding 81% of the vote — Angelenos went his way on two other endeavors: They approved Measure H, a county effort to generate more than $350 million a year for services for homeless individuals, and they rejected Measure S, a slow-growth initiative that Garcetti and others charged would have hampered development in Los Angeles.

Put it all together, and Garcetti enjoyed one of the greatest runs ever for a Los Angeles mayor.

Chapter 3: Presidential Dreams: The idea of Garcetti running for president of the United States seemed laughable when it first came up, but over time the concept entered the realm of the plausible — unlikely, but plausible. The Trump era proved that all the old rules of who could win were out. A mayor becoming president was crazy, but we had just seen crazier.

Although Garcetti never entered the race, the 22 months after his re-election constituted the third chapter of his mayoralty. In this period, he made himself a national figure.

Some of this spun from the wins of the Lucas Museum and the Olympics. But most of it was carefully stoked by Garcetti and his team. The guy has some serious myth-making magic.

In the middle of 2017, Garcetti started crisscrossing the country, touching down in early-voting states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. In 2018 alone he visited 17 states. He pushed an agenda of progressive Democratic party chestnuts such as immigration, housing and hiking the minimum wage. He’d sometimes drop the word “patriot” in remarks, as if testing how it played.

The Garcetti media machine hummed.

There were cushy profiles in Vogue and GQ and he appeared on the mega-popular sports-oriented “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”

Garcetti made a Washington Post list of the top 20 contenders for the Democratic party nomination.

He found a sweet spot — he could get by on charisma but evade the really hard ques-

tions because he never formally entered the race. When broadcasters such as Chris Matthews of “Hardball” asked if he was running, he skillfully delivered non-answer answers that left the door open.

Right until the moment on Jan. 29, 2019,

news. Also on June 4, the annual homeless count was released, and revealed that homelessness had spiked 16% in the city and 12% in the county over the course of a year. The numbers only affirmed what everyone had already noticed and lamented. Sure, Garcetti had dedicated significant time and resources to addressing homelessness, but the scene on the streets is what grabs attention.

Things got worse from there, as Los Angeles Downtown News and other media outlets reported on disgusting illegal trash dumping problems in Downtown. The community has faced a typhus outbreak and rat sightings in City Hall.

Garcetti has struggled to respond. In a June 11 mass email slugged “Rising to the Challenge” he stated, in regards to homelessness, “I take full responsibility for our response to this crisis.”

Yet no one is assuaged, and city government in particular looks woeful. Suddenly, some are wondering if Garcetti, who built his mayoralty on not pulling a Villaraigosa, in fact pulled the ultimate Villaraigosa, touring

photo by Sean P. Thomas

Last month, Garcetti appeared at a Downtown press conference to announce a city plan to respond to a scourge of illegal trash dumping. He appeared with Bureau of Sanitation General Manager Enrique Zaldivar (middle) and bureau Compliance Officer Gonzalo Barriga.

that he said he was not running, it all seemed possible.

Yet even if we didn’t realize it then, all the time the mayor spent on the national stage may have been to the detriment of the city.

Chapter 4: The Great Fall: In recent weeks Garcetti has suffered his worst period as mayor, but trouble had long been brewing.

On May 14, Heather Repenning, a former Garcetti aide and his appointee to the Public Works Commission, got clobbered in a race for a seat on the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District. It was a smackdown for the mayoral star-making machine.

Then came Measure EE, a parcel tax that sought to raise $500 million a year for local schools. After helping broker a deal to end the January teachers’ strike, Garcetti had aggressively pushed the June 4 ballot box item as a way to allow the district to afford raises and new hiring.

The effort blew up in Garcetti’s face in the way that dynamite explodes in the mug of Wile E. Coyote. Measure EE needed twothirds approval to pass. It finished with only about 45%.

Somehow, that wasn’t the day’s worst

the country and building his personal brand while Los Angeles fell apart at the seams.

Epilogue: The Age of Uncertainty: Where does Garcetti go from here? I wish I knew the answer.

The mayor has never fully utilized the bully pulpit his office affords, and if he really hopes to turn not just the city, but also the perception of the city, around, he may need to ratchet up his toughness. He’s gotta kick butt.

The situation demands that the Backto-Basics Garcetti accept that Los Angeles has squandered perhaps its most basic task — keeping the streets clean and people healthy. He can’t pretend this is anything other than a colossal failure.

There are still more than three years until Garcetti’s term ends, which provides time to pull himself out of freefall. Rectifying the situation won’t be easy and won’t be the stuff of a presidential campaign, but it is possible.

The good news for Garcetti is that he has an opportunity to revise the next chapter of his mayoralty. It’s time to put down the wings and, more than ever before, focus on the city he was twice elected to lead. regardie@downtownnews.com

JULY 1, 2019

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CALENDAR

R Royal Bal let

Dances Back to Downtown

London Company Brings Its Celebrated ‘Mayerling’ To the Music Center, Its First L.A. Stop in 24 Years

F

The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling, set to the music of Franz Liszt, draws from a real-life murder-suicide involving Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Rudolf in 1889. It is at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Friday-Sunday, July 5-7

troupe’s repertoire, both physically and in its staging.

The production features nearly the company’s entire slate of dancers, with almost 90 people on stage over the course of three acts. Set to the music of Franz Liszt — performed by a full orchestra — it follows the adulterous, hedonistic and moody Rudolf as he deals with his unhappy marriage, and his parents the Emperor and Empress’ tumult. Meanwhile, he pursues a young baroness, Mary Vetsera.

“It has this amazing central figure and the women around him,” O’Hare said, “but more than that, everyone on the stage has to be invested in the story or it doesn’t work. Audiences can get transported into this very intense work.”

Creating Atmosphere The Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 and is the United Kingdom’s top ballet company. Based in the Royal Opera House in Convent Garden, London, it has premiered a number of works, including lauded versions of Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet.

Despite Mayerling’s 19th century setting, most of the choreography is modern, with a number of high-energy, athletic moments. These are complemented by elements such as an Act One scene set during a waltz, that, O’Hare said, is reminiscent, though not a replica, of Viennese waltzes of the era. MacMillan’s choreography, he added, was intended to push past the stifled atmosphere of the setting and come off as thrilling and erotic.

“Mayerling is about as big as you can get, with sets and costumes, narrative, death and murder — all those good things,” said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of the Music Center, which is hosting the company as part of its series Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center.

This is also a big get for the Music Center, as Mayerling’s run in Bunker Hill marks the first Royal Ballet visit since a 1995 production of Swan Lake at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Moore said that while the company has visited Orange County in the interim, part of the challenge of hosting the Royal Ballet is that its productions generally require a massive stage that can handle the sets. This includes opulent, drape-lined ballrooms, dark wood-filled studies and the rural taverns and hunting

lodges of Mayerling itself.

Having the Royal Ballet return to the Music Center puts another type of dance on display in Downtown, Moore said, complementing works that the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Company Wayne McGregor performed earlier in the season (Wayne McGregor himself is the Royal Ballet’s resident choreographer).

MacMilllan died in 1992, and O’Hare said that the choreography was tweaked repeatedly before his death. However, the company now sticks to the final composition.

Still, O’Hare said that each dancer brings something new to Mayerling, and performers often come back to help coach new dancers.

“Also we have three different casts for Mayerling,” O’Hare said. “That’s what keeps it alive and fresh. If you came to all three performances, they’d each be quite different.”

While the story is generally dark and intense, driven by Rudolf’s tempestuous nature and fits of rage, O’Hare said there are moments of levity, including a scene where Rudolf’s valet tries to entertain him in a tavern. Still, the focus is on the Crown Prince and the baroness as Rudolf becomes increasingly destructive.

Although this marks the company’s first visit to Los Angeles in decades, O’Hare said he hopes it will be the beginning of a more frequent relationship between the Royal Ballet and the city.

Mayerling runs Friday-Sunday, July 5-7, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com photos by Alice Pennefather

By Nicholas Slayton or almost nine decades, London’s Royal Ballet has been creating innovative dance with some of the world’s top performers. This week, the company visits Los Angeles for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

The Royal Ballet is staging its dark and dramatic Mayerling, one of its most iconic offerings. Three different casts will be in place for three performances of the three-hour work on Friday-Sunday, July 5-7, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Mayerling was originally mounted in 1978, and this production utilizes the original choreography of Sir Kenneth MacMillan, a renowned dancer-turned-choreographer who served as the ballet’s artistic director from 1970-1977, and then as its choreographer. The production draws from history, in this case the build-up to Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Rudolf Franz Karl Joseph’s murder-suicide with his lover in the town of Mayerling in 1889.

The Royal Ballet has revived the work multiple times since it was first staged, with this latest one starting in 2017. In a phone call recently from Tokyo, where the company was performing on an international tour, Royal Ballet Director Kevin O’Hare said that Mayerling is one of the most complex works in the

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JULY 1, 2019

JULY 1, 2019

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

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Nine Can’t-Miss Events at Anime Expo

SAN ANTONIO WINERY

Celebration of Japanese Animation and Pop Culture Returns to the Convention Center Fashion Show Friday, 12:30 p.m. in Petree Hall Fashion is big business in Japan. Glimpse some of the upcoming trends in Japanese looks at the annual Anime Expo fashion show. More than 10 brands will show off items on the Convention Center catwalk.

Some of the clothing will be for sale throughout the weekend in Kentia Hall, and there will be meet and greets with designers and guest models.

photo courtesy Anime Expo

Anime Expo, Los Angeles’ largest celebration of Japanese pop culture, is expected to draw more than 100,000 people to the Convention Center on Thursday-Sunday, July 4-7.

By Sean P. Thomas t’s time to dust off that crimson Edward Elric jacket or Goku’s iconic orange and blue karate gi.

If you know what that means, then you’re likely already aware that anime experts, video game aficionados and passionate fans of Japanese pop culture will converge on Downtown Los Angeles this week for Anime Expo.

The annual event regularly draws more than 100,000 people from across the world to the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year it runs Thursday-Sunday, July 4-7. Single-day tickets are $70, with fourday passes running $120.

Anime Expo is a visual spectacle, with fans and cosplayers meeting their favorite anime creators, catching screenings, attending panel discussions, buying goods and more.

Below, Los Angeles Downtown News runs down nine highlights.

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Artist Alley Every Day in Kentia Hall One of the best parts of any anime or comic book convention is the gear that is available. Hundreds of artists, both pros and amateurs, will peddle their wares throughout the event. If you’re looking for that perfect original painting, sketch or screen print to hang in your apartment, or that hard-to-find T-shirt or hoodie, this is the place to grab it.

Items run from a couple bucks for a thumbnail art piece to hundreds of dollars for that rare collectible.

After Hours Party Every Day, 6 p.m./8:30 p.m./11 p.m. in Room 403A You don’t have to leave the Convention Center after the regular day

ends. Instead, you can catch the official After Hours parties hosted by comedian and convention veteran Steven D’Onofrio. The events will feature comedy performances, burlesque, interactive games and plenty of alcoholic drinks. It’s a 21-plus happening. There are three timeslots each night.

VIZ Media Official Panel Thursday, 12:30 p.m. in Petree Hall Anime juggernaut VIZ Media, responsible for big manga-to-anime transformations such as “Naruto,” “One-Punch Man” and “Sailor Moon,” will hold a panel discussion alongside Powerhouse Animation, the team behind Netflix’s popular “Castlevania” anime adaptation. Expect to hear some cutting-edge news on what’s next.

Diversity in Manga Friday, 4 p.m. in Room 406 AB As manga spreads across the globe, it’s becoming more important for readers of all ethnicities and genders to see themselves represented.

TOKYOPOP, one of the world’s largest manga publishers, hosts a discussion on diversity in manga and what is being done to make it more inclusive.

Gundam 40th Anniversary Panel Friday, 4:30 p.m. in Room 408 AB “Mobile Suit Gundam,” the brand that popularized the mecha genre (think giant robots) in the U.S., is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a panel discussion. Take a look back at the ups and downs of the brand, and what Sunrise, the show’s creator and producer, has in store for the future of the legendary franchise. A raffle giveaway will conclude the panel.

Masquerade Saturday, 8 p.m. in Hall B Always an Anime Expo highlight, this draws some of the most devoted and skilled cosplayers in the nation, who will compete for bragging rights and a sizeable cash prize.

Teams of four will choreograph routines in which they pose, dance and sing. There are three different skill levels and winners will advance to represent the U.S. in the upcoming World Cosplay Summit (it is too a thing). Due to its popularity, tickets are required for Masquerade and run $5-$15.

How to Draw Manga and Portfolio Review Saturday, 11:30 a.m. in 406 AB Ever wanted to learn how to draw manga?

Or do you want your work to be looked at by an expert? Stop by Room 406 AB where eigoMANGA creators will hold a tutorial on manga illustration and storytelling fundamentals.

Yoshihiro Ike: Anime Soundtrack World Sunday, 12:30 p.m. in Hall B One of Japan’s most prolific anime composers is holding his first concert outside of Japan.

Known for crafting the soundtracks for shows including “Tiger and Bunny,” “Saint Seiya” and “Dororo,” Ike will perform a number of selections. Fifty musicians from Nashville and Los Angeles will join Ike for the afternoon, and the concert will feature a performance from koto harpist Mana Yoshinaga and shakuhachi flutist So Tanomura. Tickets start at $20.

Anime Expo runs July 4-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. or anime-expo.org. sean@downtownnews.com

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EVENT CALENDAR

Wine Tastings, Wine Festivals, Wine Tours & More at our Los Angeles Winery Location.

JULY 21, SUNDAY • 1 to 3pm • $70

Wine & Sushi Pairing Although sushi is most often served with Sake, our awardwinning wines make a delicious and exceptional pairing.

We invite you to enjoy an afternoon with us while eating sushi prepared by Master Chefs. Together we will explore the art of wine and food pairing, while tantalizing the taste buds. Wine and Sushi can make for a magical experience.

AUG. 16, FRIDAY • 6pm • $65

Comedy Night Dinner begins at 6:00 pm and the show will start at 7:30 pm.

Wine a little and laugh a lot, Comedy Night at The Winery is back by popular demand! Perfect for a lighthearted date night or laughter-filled evening with friends, join us for dinner, wine, and a show in our richly decorated Vintage Room and Cellar. Both wine and laughter will be flowing!

AUG. 25, SUNDAY • 11:30 to 2pm • $65

Soulful Sunday Brunch Prepared by Cheryl Lindsay from Taste with Grace Catering.

Menu to include: Eggs, Southern Fried Chicken, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Southern Style Cheesy Grits, Collard Greens, Corn Muffins, Sweet Treats. Stella Rosa Prosecco, Stella Rosa Orange Moscato, Sparkling Wine and Mimosas.

Menu subject to change.

San Antonio Winery, Maddalena Restaurant, Tasting Room, Bistro & Gift Shop 737 Lamar St, Los Angeles, CA 90031 Phone: 323.223.1401

CALENDAR LISTINGS

photo by Anna Webber

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photo by Juan Leon

SPONSORED LISTINGS

Dog Day Afternoon FIGat7th, 735 S. Figueroa St. or downtownla.com Wednesday, July 10, 6-9 p.m.: Downtown Los Angeles residents, workers and their dogs are invited for a night of mingling, music and pet-related vendor displays at this annual free community event.

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

Two

JULY 1, 2019

THE DON'T MISS LIST An all-star lineup of musicians is taking the stage to support one of California’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations. California Saga 2, a charity concert at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel on Wednesday, July 3, will bring together award-winning artists to raise funds for people experiencing homelessness. The Tribe Band, a collection of 30-plus touring and session musicians, will be joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers David Crosby (shown here) and Al Jardine, as well as Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods and Grammy-winning guitarist Albert Lee, among others. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and proceeds will benefit the local nonprofits the Get Together Foundation, Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission and Downtown’s Midnight Mission. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or theatre.acehotel.com.

EVENTS

Monday, July 1 That’s Gold!

Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.com.

7:30 p.m.: It’s a night of free stand-up comedy.

The State of the Union Book Club and Queer Book Club The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: The two clubs are teaming up for a shared meeting, to discuss “Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States” by Samantha Allen.

THURSDAY, JULY 4 Anime Expo Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. or anime-expo.org.

10 a.m.: The annual celebration of all things anime, manga, video games and Japanese pop culture returns, complete with panel discussions, screenings and plenty of people in costume.

See story on page 13. Through Sunday.

Fourth of July Block Party Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.

3 p.m.: The free festival is back. Enjoy the holiday with live music, DJs, a 12-acre park, a Ferris wheel and then a 9 p.m. fireworks show.

MORE LISTINGS

While crews overhaul the water feature and gathering space at California Plaza, the Grand Performances team is trying something different. On Saturday, July 6, GP is hosting Audacity of Sound: Joy. Art.Music, a free outdoor music festival in the street in front of the Cal Plaza towers. From 3-10 p.m., the event will bring together an impressive lineup of local artists across a spectrum of international genres. Participants include indie rocker David Garza, NPR favorites Gaby Moreno (shown here) & La Marisoul, and Dexter Story, who specializes in East African-inspired tunes. The family-friendly happening will also include food trucks, and there will be a craft and reading room at the Ketchum YMCA for the kids. At the 300 block of South Grand Avenue or grandperformances.org.

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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✔ WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar ✔ EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

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photo courtesy Grand Park/Music Center

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Expect things to get a little hairy when author Max Booth III visits The Last Bookstore on Monday, July 1. That’s because he’ll be discussing his new book, the werewolf-themed comedy Carnivorous Lunar Activities. Described as the ultimate werewolf bromance, the book tells the story of two friends, one of whom just happens to wake up naked and covered in blood from time to time. No biggie. Expect to hear some cringy and moody werewolf-oriented poetry at the event, and enjoy a few history lessons about the popular horror trope. A ticket comes with a copy of the novel and the event begins at 7:30 p.m. At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

Show off your best dance moves when Metro Art turns a portion of Union Station into a salsa hall on Friday, July 5. The appropriately named Salsa Night kicks off at 7:30 p.m., and three standout bands will perform throughout the evening: SitaraSon at 8:30, Rumbankete at 9:30 and Son Mayor at 10:30. The event is free and will also feature Super DJ Robby on the turntables between performances. If you’ve never busted out a basic or don’t even know that is, then take advance of the dance lessons offered by instructor Kati Hernández at 8 and 9:15 p.m. BTW, this is in a train station, so try public transit, and then dance on the bus or train back home. At 800 N. Alameda St., (213) 617-0111 or unionstationla.com.

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Five

photo courtesy The Last Bookstore

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photo courtesy Metro Art

14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Four

Help wish the United States a happy 243rd birthday this week when the seventh annual Fourth of July Block Party fills Grand Park. Spread across the 12-acre attraction that runs from the Music Center to City Hall, the free event will feature musical performances by the likes of Boogaloo Assassins, Earth Arrow, Victoria La Mala and more. There will also be a battalion of food trucks and, a new addition this year, a Ferris wheel (there’s a cost to ride). The block party begins at 3 p.m., and at 9 p.m. a huge fireworks display will be set off from the roof of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Pro tip: Check out the website for a list of prohibited items to make things easier on yourself. Pro tip 2: Use public transit. Parking’s gonna be a monster. At 200 N. Grand Ave. or july4.grandparkla.org.

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

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Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST for wholesale jeweler. Mail to Jewels Connection, Inc. 510 W 6th St., #600, Los Angeles, CA 90014.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Account Executive: Devel. & sustain new acct. and identify sales opp. Req: Any BA/ BS. Mail resume: Three One Three, Inc. 1124 Crocker St. LA, CA 90021

LEGAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2019 146413 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) PIZZA BANDIT, 6201 WHITTIER BLVD. #6, LOS ANGELES, CA 90022 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) PIZZA BANDIT LLC, 6201 WHITTIER BLVD. #6, LOS ANGELES, CA 90022. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company.

Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/2019

DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on May 24, 2019.

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. 6/24, 7/1, 7/8 and 7/15.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2019 139164 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) ZERO4 GALLERY, 453 S. SPRING STREET, M6, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) ANDREA BOGDAN, 818 OCEAN VIEW AVE. MONROVIA, CA 91016 (2) RICHARD BROWN, 818 OCEAN VIEW AVE. MONROVIA, CA 91016. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. Registrant(s) started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/2014.

This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on May 17, 2019.

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. 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 and 7/1.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2019 173674 The following person(s) is

(are) doing business as: (1) BOMB BAE, 375 E. 2nd St #213, Los Angeles, CA 90012 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: LEIGH HOPKINS, 375 E. 2ND ST #213, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) started to transact business under the fictitious business name or

CENTRALLY LOCATED SILVERLAKE OFFICE

names listed above: 06/2019.

This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on June 20, 2019.

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. 7/1, 7/8, 7/15 and 7/22.

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PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that: Cathay Bank, headquartered at 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles CA 90012 has filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the California Department of Business Oversight (DBO) to establish a new office: Cathay Bank Parkview Center Branch To be located at: 5351 University Drive Irvine, County of Orange, California 92612 Any person wishing to comment on this application may file his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 25 Jessie Street at Ecker Square, Suite 2300, San Francisco, California 94105 and/or the Commissioner of the California Department of Business Oversight, 1515 K Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, California 95814 not later than 15 days after the date of this newspaper publication. The non-confidential portions of the application are on file at the appropriate FDIC office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the non-confidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.

This notice is published pursuant to 12 CFR §303.7.

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Betting on Bok Bok: The Las Vegas-based Mediterranean chain Bok Bok Chicken has opened at Second and Main streets. Bok Bok Chicken, which focuses on poultry, beef and falafel pita wraps, paninis and plates, debuted on June 18.

The restaurant, which also offers salads and soups, fills the spot just south of the Police Administration Building that previously housed The Mighty and, before that, Pitfire Pizza. Bok Bok Chicken has quickly grown since opening its first restaurant in Las Vegas last August. There are now four Bok Boks in the greater Las Vegas area; the Downtown location is the brand’s first outside of Nevada. Bok Bok Chicken is open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

At 108 W. Second St., (213) 278-0651 or bokbokchicken.com.

A Wizardly Place: Feeling magical? Then Nimbus Coffee, Downtown Los Angeles’ first permanent Harry Potter-themed cafe, is for you. The space, named after Harry’s speedy flying broomstick, opened last month and is full of homages to the popular series, including a wall of wands, vintage books and artwork with celebrities refashioned as wizards and witches.

The menu is also tied to its namesake, with patrons able to order Potter-themed drinks such as the Blueberry Polyjuice and Watermelon Wesley. Nimbus offers traditional coffee drinks for the less adventurous. The spot is not officially affiliated with J.K. Rowling and her book series. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

At 1115 S. Hope St. or (213) 441-7309.

From the Streets: A cult favorite taco haunt has opened a brick and mortar spot in Downtown Los Angeles. Victor Delgado and Jorge “Joy” Alvarez-Tostado’s Taco 1986 began service last month at Sixth and Spring streets in the Historic Core. The restaurant celebrated by giving away free tacos to anyone who passed by the space. The previously nomadic Taco 1986 started serving remotely last November, and gained a following for skillfully crafted Tijuana-style tacos (think hefty doses of creamy guacamole), quesadillas, mulitas and vampiros. The team brings that same menu, filled with grilled beef, chicken, adobada and veggies, to the new space.

The restaurant is packed tightly into a small red-and-white storefront and there is counter space for those who dine in.

The restaurant operates daily from 11 a.m.-midnight with plans to extend hours.

At 609 S. Spring St. or tacos1986.com.

More Ramen? No Problem: In April, Takasan Japanese Rice Bowls on Seventh Street shuttered after just 18 months in business. Now there’s a replacement. Ramen Koo opened in the Jewelry District space on June 3, serving ramen, sushi hand rolls, rice bowls and other Japanese dishes. The menu includes the Chick n Pork Original, which combines pork belly, chicken leg meat, green onions, shredded mushrooms and egg with pork broth, and the Original Tonkotsu, a dialed-down version of the previous dish. Diners can customize their ramen by adding toppings such as dried seaweed, bok choy and tofu. The restaurant is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

At 225 W. Seventh St., (213) 395-0988 or ramenkoo.com.

Louisiana Landing: Actor and comedian Kwaylon Rogers has brought a bit of Louisiana cuisine to Downtown Los Angeles. Following the success of his Houston flagship, the social media star opened the second location of his seafood restaurant Krab Queenz in South Park, within earshot of Nimbus Coffee, on June 21. The menu includes traditional Louisiana seafood staples including butter-soaked crab legs, crawfish, jumbo shrimp and sausage links. The space also serves daiquiris. Krab Queenz takes over the former home of the Italian restaurant Testa, which closed in January. Krab Queenz opened just before the BET Experience took over L.A. Live and Staples Center.

At 1111 S. Hope St. Have any juicy food and beverage news? Send over any tips to sean@downtownnews.com.