Big Battle Over a Tall Building : 6 Dogs Take Over the Cathedral : 14
July 18, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #29
Spring Forward
A Culinary Power Couple Is Behind One of Downtown’s Best New Restaurants SEE PAGE 8
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Best of Downtown Arrives Next Week
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hat is the best restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles? Who brews the best coffee? What about the best store? All that and more will be revealed next week when Los Angeles Downtown News publishes its 28th annual Best of Downtown edition. The issue, which comes out Monday, July 25, will feature 158 winners chosen by Downtown News readers; votes were cast online over a three-week period in May. There will also be a couple dozen Best Of selections from the editorial staff. So who serves the best steak and where’s the best bookstore? Make your predictions now.
South Park Developer Breaks Ground on 37-Story Tower
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ack in spring 2014, developer Mack Urban unveiled ambitious plans for a four-building campus spread over six acres of South Park. A year later, the company and partner AECOM Capital kicked off construction on the $750 million project, starting with two seven-story structures on a plot bounded by Pico Boulevard and Olive and Hill streets. Now the second phase is underway: Last week, the team broke ground on a 37-story tower at the northeast corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue. It will hold 512 residential units, 10,000 square feet of
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS ground-floor commercial and retail space, and a parking garage with about 750 vehicle stalls. The tower will offer studio to three-bedroom units. Designs from architecture firms A.C. Martin and Togawa Smith Martin include a swimming pool and a roughly half-acre public park just north of the tower. A timeline was not revealed. Mack Urban and AECOM are about halfway through their initial vision for the parcels; they have previously discussed a mid-rise structure at Olive and 12th streets. Two other parcels at 11th Street could also see new construction.
July 18, 2016
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Central City East Association Head Leaving
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fter nine years at the Central City East Association, first as managing director and then as executive director for the past two and a half years, Raquel Beard has moved on. She left the CCEA, which represents residents and business interests in the Industrial District and Skid Row, on July 8. Through the CCEA Beard oversaw the Industrial District L.A. Business Improvement District, which provided cleaning and safety services. She was also an outspoken critic of the city’s handling of the homelessness crisis, often lobbying for policy changes in City Hall. “This was a bittersweet decision because I truly am invested mentally and emotionally in the area,” Beard said. “This job makes you tougher, smarter and confident, and I’m forever grateful for that.” Beard, who lives in the South Bay, is taking a government affairs job in Manhattan Beach. No replacement has been announced, but Beard emphasized that it needs to be someone “who will not take no for an answer” when it comes to holding local government
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New Leader at A+D Museum
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he Architecture and Design Museum opened in the Arts District in August 2015, with the move from Mid-City powered by Executive Director Tibbie Dunbar. Dunbar announced her resignation in January, and the A+D Museum this month identified her replacement: Dora Epstein Jones has taken over, effective immediately. Epstein Jones arrives at A+D with 15 years’ experience as an arts and
July 13, 2016
education administrator at the nearby Southern California Institute of Architecture, where she served as coordinator of History and Theory, and then coordinator of General Studies. She has also written numerous books on architecture and design, including Log 31: New Ancients and Mechudzu: New Rhetorics for Architecture. In a prepared statement, she sought to position A+D amid a field experiencing rapid change. “The brackets that define architecture and design in the 21st century are shifting dramatically, and at an unprecedented pace. This means that the role of the museum is that much more critical,” she said.
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July 18, 2016
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Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Better Late Than Never With Bike Share
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n July 7, Los Angeles finally got a bike share program. Given the delays and difficulties of the past, Hallelujahs are in in order. That’s in part because Washington, D.C., launched its first iteration of a bike-share plan back in 2008. A Boston system began operating in July 2011 and New York City kicked off its communal twowheel affair in May 2013. Dozens of cities around the globe beat Los Angeles to bike share, and though public officials did try before, they failed. It’s disheartening that a city that prides itself on being at the forefront of the environmental movement has lagged so badly on an effort that, among other things, has the potential to remove many cars from the road.
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris
GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim
STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard
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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: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
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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: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
twitter: DowntownNews ©2016 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. One copy per person.
throughout Downtown, with the opportunity to pick up and drop One thing to be certain of is that, with a system this large, there off two-wheelers at Union Station and in communities such as will be unexpected problems. We suspect that one of the first isSouth Park, Chinatown, the Financial District, the Arts District and sues to arise will be the need for a reasonable day or even half-day EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris more. A ubiquitous approach is the right one, particularly when rate for tourists staying in Downtown or adventurers who come in GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin construction throughout the area and a rising residential base from the suburbs. The $3.50 per half hour price will be onerous unEXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie make driving and parking more challenging than ever. til it is adjusted, and while Metro may not want to waver from its EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim target audience, others will hope to use bike share. Could there be Operators have launched bike share with a specific “first-mile/ SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton separate dedicated bikes for longer uses? Or information at kiosks last-mile” approach. This is an effort to target commuters who STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese on where in Downtown to rent bikes for a day? currently may avoid mass transit because it doesn’t get them CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer close enough to the office, prompting reliance on a car. Bike Another problem extends beyond the S I Noperators, C E 19 7and 2 that is CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer share makes it feasible for someone to take a bus or train, get the condition of the roads and the presence of safe biking lanes ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison Los Angeles Downtown News off at, say, Union Station or the Seventh ART Street/Metro Center have grown frustrated at the loss of Placing the moment in history isn’t to detract from the ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa DIRECTOR: Brian Allison in Downtown. Many drivers1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Station (just two of the many potential stops), and then check vehicular lanes to bike space, and 213-481-1448 charge that the lanes are rarely importance of the $11 million system that the city and phone: • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard out a two-wheeler for a short ride to work. At the end of the day used. Yet like it or not, this isweb: theDowntownNews.com way the city is going. the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have kicked off ACCOUNTING: Schmidt they can reverse course. in Downtown LosAshley Angeles. Getting bike share going is a will not get on a bike if they don’t realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard That said, many people email: grandCLASSIFIED achievement and there is tremendous potential not The bright side of the long delay in launching a Los Angeles bike feel safe the entire ride, and it would be foolish to expect a caADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway facebook: just for this neighborhood, but the entireBrenda county. from speeding cars. A share is that operators have data on and examples of what worked ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt sual rider to be comfortable just inches ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Stevens, Michael Lamb L.A. Downtown number of painted bike lanes have been set up onNews Downtown well and what didn’t in other cities. Still, Los Angeles is unique, and TheSALES city and Metro deserve accolades for launching in ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Catherine Holloway streets, but if bike share is to have a wide appeal, then there those in charge must be ready to make changes based on what MANAGER: a comprehensive manner. As long as the people at the twitter: CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon must be more protected lanes. In thatDowntownNews regard it is smart that the occurs here: What will happen when bikesACCOUNT collide with cars? Is Catherine the top are flexible when it comes to making changes and reEXECUTIVES: Holloway, DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb operators are working closely with the Department of Transporpricing, of $3.50 for 30 minutes (the rate drops with the purchase sponding to user feedback, and as long as there are ongoDISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla Claudia tation and other entities. ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles of a monthly or annual pass), right for thisSALES area? ASSISTANT: Even though thereHernandez ing efforts to make the streets safe for cyclists, then there Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News is every reason to believe that program will ultimately Downtown is a pilot program for bike share, and if things work ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Losthe Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of are Civic twice as many docking slots as bikes, what will happen if too Inc. All rights reserved. Center News Inc. All rights reserved. many bikes cluster in a compact area? WillCIRCULATION: new users know to wait succeed. well here the system will expand Pasadena and other The Los to Angeles Downtown News is thecommumust-read Danielle Salmon The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and ismany disbeing returned has ac- nities. We hope that happens, as a regional network will pay Perhaps the best thing about the the Downtown bike share and is distributed every Monday throughout offices and residences of Downtownfor Losthe series of beeps indicating that a bike DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. tually been locked, or will they only think their bike is secure, a situ- dividends. Hopefully, it doesn’t take as long to expand bike share is its size. While elements were still being installed as the residences of Downtown Los Angeles. DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Oneopened, copy per person. ation that could lead to thefts? as it did to launch it. system plans call for 65 kiosks and 1,000 bikes One copy per person. Gustavo Bonilla
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin
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: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton 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, Michael Lamb SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
©2016 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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July 18, 2016
Downtown News 5
OPINION
Another View on Quimby Fee Hikes By Paul Keller n May 30, Los Angeles Downtown News published the editorial “Developers Should Pay More for Park Creation. But How Much?” We appreciate the thoughtful proposal on the ongoing debate on the Quimby ordinance and proposed reforms the city is studying.
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GUEST OPINION Mack Urban is developing six acres of land in South Park and supports Quimby reform. The current ordinance is outdated and does not provide a useful mechanism for developers to partner with the city to create more much-needed park space and improve livability for all of Downtown Los Angeles’ residents. Several points in the editorial warrant further examination, starting with the line, “The biggest hurdle to getting new parks is acquiring land.” Acquiring appropriately located land is a complex process and requires not only adequate funding, but also a strategic and tactical approach to site selection and project management. These factors have posed equally significant barriers to the city’s ability to acquire land for park development. Then there is the amount apartment building developers pay in Quimby fees, which the article stated is often between a token amount and up to $2,000 per unit if a major zoning change was required, and that in the future could be up to $5,000 per unit. This figure needs to be revised. Developers are charged Quimby fees based on the zoning on the project site and the proposed unit count — current fees range far in excess of $2,000 per unit. In 2016 in Downtown, the Quimby fee we are being charged for a mid-rise apartment development with 362 units
(now under construction) is $5,391 per unit, with a total fee of $1.9 million. On a Downtown high-rise we are proposing with 536 units, the Quimby fee is currently assessed at $8,044 per unit, with a total fee of $4.3 million. The suggestion that developers have paid “very little for park creation” for the past several decades is unfair and misstated. Then there is the issue of giving developers the option of creating their own green space. The existing Quimby ordinance has an outdated formula for the amount of land required to offset the assessed fee. Developers would need to provide acreage far larger than the actual project-site size to satisfy the requirement. This untenable requirement is one reason why most developers opt to pay the “in-lieu” parks fee, instead of dedicating land for park development. In regards to the Quimby fees proposed under the new ordinance, Mack Urban strongly supports the fee threshold established in a June 2015 city report. It includes a residential development feasibility analysis which determined the maximum fee that developers could support and still develop the housing units that are needed to alleviate our housing crisis. For highrise apartment projects, currently the most common in Downtown, the report set a maximum of $7,500 per unit, subject to annual inflation. Furthermore, Mack Urban believes that the annual inflation should be aligned with the automatic adjustment issued by the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department, which ranges between 3% and 8% and is informed by fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index. What we need now is continued thoughtful debate on the topic of Quimby reform and an appropriate future parks fee. Paul Keller is the CEO of Mack Urban.
LETTERS The Growth of Art Walk Dear Editor, hank you for the recognition of the Kinder Walk and the Downtown Art Walk (the editorial “Kinder Walk Is a Great Idea That Should Be Expanded,” published June 13), as well as your staff’s continuing support. The Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk has always been proud to be a part of the Downtown community and will be celebrating our 12th year in September. Our goal remains to celebrate and promote the galleries and artists of Downtown, along with a mission of enhancing the economic development of the community. Art Walk is often the first cultural experience for many people unfamiliar with Downtown, and our programs are designed especially to shape the event into a cultural experience and destination. With additional support and sponsors we do look forward to hosting more kinder walks, along with a few other ideas to encourage art collection. We are looking to do a “Young Collectors” tour in September. —Qathryn Brehm, executive director, Downtown Art Walk
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Los Angeles Downtown News encourages letters. They become the property of Los Angeles Downtown News and may be edited. All letters should be typewritten and include an address and telephone number for verification. Please send them to: Letter to the Editor 1264 W. First St. Los Angeles, CA 90026 Fax to: (213) 250-4617 Email to: realpeople@downtownnews.com
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July 18, 2016
A Bruising Building Battle Coalition of Prominent Stakeholders Protesting Design of 33-Story Tower at Fourth and Hill By Nicholas Slayton n March 2015, prominent landowner and developer Equity Residential announced plans to build a 33-story tower at the northeast corner of Fourth and Hill streets. Equity staff have spent more than a year pursuing permits and approvals, as well as reaching out to community groups such as the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. The goal is to break ground on the building known as The Beacon this year, with construction slated to last two years. Although Equity has been preparing the site just south of the La Cita bar for some time, a group of prominent Downtown stakeholders has come together to oppose the project. They say The Beacon is too tall for the area and would dwarf buildings on nearby Broadway, and that its modern glass design is incongruous with the historic nature of the neighborhood. They also point to Equity’s proposed nine levels of above-ground parking, which they claim goes against area design standards. “Nobody who I am aware of has approved a nine-story podium,” said David Gray, a longtime Downtown architect and developer whose projects include The Grayson, a recently transformed six-story building at 353 S. Broadway. “It would be very easy for them to put it underground.” Gray is joined in opposition by a group of people who have extensive experience in Downtown, including creating housing and
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nightlife. Also speaking out against The Beacon are Yuval Bar-Zemer of Linear City, a development firm that has created hundreds of units in the Arts District; Cedd Moses, whose 213 Hospitality owns about a dozen Downtown bars and restaurants; and Harry Chandler, of the family that for decades owned the Los Angeles Times. Equity Residential Vice President of Development Dustin Smith staunchly defended the project. He said the developer has been working closely with the Department of City Planning, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other agencies to make sure that The Beacon meets all standards, including for design. He noted that DLANC, an advisory group that lacks formal power but whose support developers generally try to secure, voted to support The Beacon in April 2015. He said Equity is not seeking any special amendments or variances. “The design complements the unique location, adjacent to both Bunker Hill and the Broadway Historic District, atop a major subway station and next door to one of Downtown’s premiere attractions, Grand Central Market,” Smith said in an email. Parking Concerns Equity is one of the most active developers and property owners in Downtown, with eight projects and more than 1,600 apartments in its local portfolio. Its holdings include the Financial District’s Pegasus Apart-
Two views of the 33-story tower that Equity Residential wants to erect at Fourth and Hill streets. Some Downtown stakeholders are protesting the project, claiming it will be too big for the area and will not fit with the community’s historic flavor.
photos courtesy of Equity Residential
ments and Milano Lofts, Chinatown’s Jia Apartments, and the Sakura Crossing and Hikari apartments, both in Little Tokyo. It acquired the nearly one-acre site at 340 S. Hill St. in the summer of 2014. Plans for the project being designed by TCA call for a 33-story tower with 428 studio to two-bedroom rental units. Twenty-two of the resi-
dences would be set aside for “very low-income” housing. Equity officials would not disclose the budget for the project. One of the big opposition points concerns parking. Equity wants to create 10 levels of parking with 433 spaces for vehicles and 475 bicycle spots. While the lower parking levels would front the street, on floors five through
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THIS SUMMER, THERE’S SOMETHING TO DO WITH EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE AT THE MUSIC CENTER + GRAND PARK. ENJOY FREE EVENTS ALL SUMMER LONG: E VE RY TUE S : B OOT C AMP - GR AND PARK FRI JU L 2 2: DANCE DOWNTOWN: ARGENTINE TANGO THE MUSIC CENTER PLAZA SAT JUL 23: THEATRE UNDER THE STARS WITH THEATRE DYBBUK GR AND PARK MORE EVENTS:
July 18, 2016
Downtown News 7
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
2 1
Equity’s proposed tower would rise on a current parking lot (1). A sixstory Broadway building owned by architect and developer David Gray is in the background (2) and Grand Central Market is to the north (3).
3 photo by Gary Leonard
eight the parking would be behind apartments (the ninth floor of the podium would have a pool and other amenities, but not parking). Two levels of parking would be underground. Moses argued that the building does not fit with the style and size of the historic neighborhood, charging that it is too big and dense compared to its neighbors. He also said that the building would push up against the alley between Hill Street and Broadway that services Grand Central Market and other businesses, making it narrower and harder to transport goods there (Grand Central Market representatives did not return calls for comment). “It’s just too big and would have a negative
impact on the businesses around it,” Moses said. “I’m pro-development. We want new projects and welcome new tenants, but not when it negatively impacts the neighborhood.” Bar-Zemer echoed Moses, saying that the design of The Beacon lacks setbacks, meaning that it stretches out to the ends of its lot, butting up against the much smaller La Cita and the sidewalk. If Equity would place more parking below grade and widen the sidewalks, Bar-Zemer said, a welcome pedestrian design would be possible. The Beacon is across the street from the Pershing Square Metro stop, and subway infrastructure prevents the developer from creat-
ing extensive underground parking, Smith said. He noted that, as part of the project, Equity will make improvements to the Metro station, including creating a new glass cover above the entrance. “We are literally building on top of and around the existing Metro subway portals, so there are some practical constraints about the project’s design,” Smith said. That’s little solace to the opponents, who say that despite having a nearby personal or business interest — Gray and Chandler will have residences in The Grayson, while Moses plans to open a bar there — their stance is driven by community concerns. The Beacon, they main-
tain, just doesn’t fit the area. ‘Ongoing Conversation’ Equity representatives and those protesting the project have met at least two times in the last six months. Chandler said they have sought a compromise focused on more subterranean parking, but that Equity has offered only minor cosmetic changes. Smith said that Equity has reached out to the community and is listening to concerns. He called the discussions “an ongoing conversation.” “We’ve met with any and all neighboring property owners multiple times since back when we were initially buying the property to just a few weeks ago,” Smith said. “The interactions have been friendly and productive.” Chandler said the points of contention have not been resolved, sparking the decision to go public. Opponents of the project have sent letters to the City Planning department and the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Chandler said the group is considering both a petition campaign and hiring an attorney to pursue a legal avenue to stop or alter the project. Smith said that all forms and paperwork have been submitted to the city, and the project is awaiting entitlements so that construction can begin in the next six months. Gray said the opponents hope to get the City Planning department to hold a public review of the tower, or go back over the plans. Rick Coca, a spokesman for Huizar, said his office has heard the concerns about the project and is monitoring the planning process closely. Smith said that Equity Residential plans to start construction as soon as the tower gets final approval. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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A Marriage of Food, Business and Life Tony Esnault and Yassmin Sarmadi Are the Culinary Power Couple Behind the Soaring Spring By Eddie Kim oachim Splichal, the founder of Patina restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall, is famous for his exacting standards in choosing chefs. So in 2009, when he hired Tony Esnault, whose resume was brimming with achievements, including being a protégé of the brilliant Alain Ducasse, the city’s dining scene took note. To the surprise of few, Esnault soared from the onset. Patric Kuh of Los Angeles magazine declared, “Esnault’s food shines because of its reticence.” He won accolades including a perfect four stars from the Los Angeles Times’ then-critic S. Irene Virbila. “He is, hands down, the best chef that Joachim Splichal has had in years,” she wrote in June 2010. So heads turned again when Esnault departed in 2013 to cook at Yassmin Sarmadi’s Arts District bistro Church & State. Esnault, slinging steak frites? It was a weird image, but it turned out to be mostly a stopgap as he and Sarmadi brainstormed a bigger restaurant. That restaurant is Spring, which opened five months ago on the northwest corner of Spring and Third streets on the ground floor of the Douglas Building. It has neither white tablecloths nor the starched elegance of Esnault’s old haunt at the crown of Bunker Hill. It’s lighter and airier, both in the space and the deft cooking on each plate. Spring is a tribute to the sunny flavors and bounty of France’s Provence region and the southern coast. It’s also cementing its place as a Historic Core jewel, relaxed in atmosphere and service style but with an undercurrent of fine-dining confidence. “There were a lot of delays, and it was more complex than I could’ve imagined, but Spring is the restaurant we dreamed of,” said Sarmadi. The “we” makes sense, as she and Esnault married in 2014.
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photo by Gary Leonard
Church & State owner Yassmin Sarmadi and former Patina chef Tony Esnault opened Spring in February. They live Downtown and are married.
Spring is striking from the moment of arrival. You dine in a courtyard framed by a two-story atrium, which fills the room with natural light by day and moody shadows at night. The lean menu features around 15 savory choices, with lighter starters from $10-$20 and bigger courses for $20-$30. There are also cheeses and a half-dozen desserts. Esnault’s glazed seasonal vegetables, individually cut and ar-
July 18, 2016 ranged like jewels into a painstaking mosaic, became a mustorder at Patina. A rustic variation is served at Spring, tucked into the middle of the menu as the unassuming “legumes de saison.” It may just summarize Spring’s intentions in a bowl: the best peas, baby turnips, ruby-hued carrots, radishes and more, cooked separately with multiple techniques and cloaked in a slick sauce made by concentrating the vegetables’ juices. “There is a certain simplicity you need when you have the best products, because it is already delicious by itself,” Esnault said. “Spending time as a child on a farm in France, I learned from being so close to the source. You do not need to overcomplicate it.” The lightness of Esnault’s cooking is bolstered by the dishes with which he flexes his muscles. The bourride arrives as a shallow bowl dotted with wedges of flaky fish and garlicky aioli sauce; the twist is the thick soup poured tableside, fragrant of fish broth and colored a deep marigold. Another favorite is the slow-roasted duck breast, sheathed in a layer of crackling skin and sitting in a pool of mahogany sauce boosted with ripe cherries. A Big Partnership Sarmadi met Esnault when he was still at Patina, and their conversations about the industry and career aspirations soon turned into more serious planning on a joint project. She had already been approached to transform a small corner room of the Douglas Building formerly occupied by the Japanese bar/eatery Origami. The duo instead turned their attention to a much bigger, bare-bones space in the heart of the building. “Without my telling Tony what I wanted to do, I let him talk about what he saw in the space. Our ideas were almost the same,” Sarmadi said. “Getting it off the ground, where we had funding completed and we could move forward, was the most challenging part.” The gleaming open kitchen offers enough space for 12 cooks to fly around during the peak of dinner service, and the counters are lined with cutting-edge equipment that would be at home in any of Esnault’s previous Michelin-starred stops. The restored atrium makes for one of Downtown’s most dramatic dining rooms. Around the corner, the old Origami space is now a bar for Spring, dressed in a cozy blue and with vintage-style furnishings
July 18, 2016
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for a classic feel. Most of the art and decor actually belong to Sarmadi and Esnault. The chef has spent two decades acquiring antique kitchen tools and other materials, and a few wares sit in a glass case by the entrance. They’re the most visceral touches of a very personal project: The duo celebrated their second anniversary in June and live in the Historic Core. “This is a hard business, but I’m lucky. To be at work 12, 14, 16 hours a day, at least she is with me. I can share my frustration, my happiness, all these feelings. It makes us stronger,” Esnault said. “It’s been easy.” Still, there are boundaries. “I am super strict about this, and Tony has come to accept it: We don’t talk about work at home,” Sarmadi said with a smile and a shake of her head. In a sense, Spring is a mom-andpop project, with the usual struggles of any business owned by a married couple. It just happens to also have a heavy dose of four-star ambition. Spring is at 257 S. Spring St., (213) 372-5189 or springlosangeles.com. eddie@downtownnews.com
The Central City Crime Report A Rundown of Criminal Activity in Downtown Los Angeles By Nicholas Slayton n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.
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No Independence From Theft: On the afternoon of the 4th of July, a man was walking along Sixth and Spring streets when he was approached by another man, who reached into the first man’s pocket and grabbed his wallet. The thief then took off running along Sixth Street. Breaking Glass and Entering: Sometime after dark on July 6, an unidentified individual smashed the glass door of the Fusion Clothing shop on Broadway. The thief took cash and some clothing. photo by Gary Leonard
The space in the Douglas Building, under a two-story atrium, is one of the most dramatic dining rooms in Downtown. The decor is matched by the menu, which focuses on the flavors of the south of France.
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was able to reach into the car and pull the thief out. The suspect ran off. Smash and Grab: A man parked his BMW at a garage at Eighth and Olive streets overnight. When he returned at noon on July 10, he saw that someone had broken the front passenger window. A tablet computer was missing. Late-Night Crime: At 2 a.m. on July 5, a man was walking at Sixth and Main streets when he was approached from behind and knocked to the ground. An unidentified thief attacked the victim, stealing his wallet and his watch, before fleeing. More Bike Thefts: The LAPD reported at least two bicycle thefts from July 3-10. On July 4, a man returned to where he had locked his bike at Seventh and Figueroa streets, only to find it missing. The day before, a man left his bike locked on Main Street, returning after a short stop to find the lock had been cut and the bike was taken.
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July 18, 2016
In New Downtown Apartments, a Chance to Go Green Developer Hanover Company Experiments With 20 Eco-Friendly ‘Net Zero’ Units in Large Rental Complex By Nicholas Slayton n April, the Houston-based developer Hanover Company opened its third in a series of sevenstory Downtown Los Angeles apartment buildings. The 263-unit Hanover Olympic, designed by architecture firm TCA, stands at 936 S. Olive St. and, from the outside, looks similar to the previous Hanover South Park and Hanover Grand Avenue, as well as some other area housing structures. When it comes to a set of 20 apartments in the building, however, looks are deceiving. Hanover Olympic includes a collection of what the developer dubs “eco-green” apartments that are de-
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signed to have a “net-zero” energy usage, meaning that the amount of energy expended in each residence will be equal to or less than the energy produced by its own power generation system. They cost more to build than traditional apartments and rents are higher, though Hanover officials say that tenants will save money on water and electricity bills, and that the homes fit with an increasingly environmentally conscious society. The apartments are a first for the company, and are also the first rental units in a large Los Angeles complex to be completely powered by solar panels mounted on the building, according to Hanover Development Partner Ryan Hamilton. Each unit gets its energy from 10 solar panels, with a total of 200 panels placed on the building’s roof. The apartments also include cabinets made of reclaimed wood, ultra-lowflow faucets, light sensors, LED lights and iPadcontrolled systems that track energy usage in each apartment. According to Hamilton, every element of each apartment is designed to reduce waste, and use water and energy in only necessary, voluntary ways. For instance, the sensors will turn off lights when rooms are empty. Similarly, there are Nest thermostats that coordinate the temperature and air conditioning to certain times of the day or with the seasons. An iPad monitor by the entrance of each unit allows residents to track how much water and power they are using, as well as the amount of energy being generated by the solar panels; the infor-
Developer Hanover Company’s new Downtown housing complex has 20 “eco-green” units with a suite of environmentally friendly features. Each residence has an iPad monitor that tracks water and power usage.
photo by Gary Leonard
mation is displayed in charts and graphs. The apartments are on the building’s second and third floors; there are two studios, 10 onebedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments. They measure 539-1,140 square feet. Dominique Hargreaves, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Los Angeles chapter, said this is the first instance she has heard of where a developer is making a section of the building entirely net-zero. She said that other Los Angeles developers have aspirations for an entire complex being net-zero, but not a portion of the units.
Hamilton said that Hanover has been discussing the eco-green concept for some time, and was looking for the right opportunity to try the idea. In that regard the new complex is a test case. “Right now, we’re trying to gauge resident feedback and interest,” Hamilton said. More Money, But Savings Rents in the specialized residences are higher than comparably sized units, according to Property Manager Paula Fitzsimmons. A onebedroom eco-green unit on the second floor Continued on page 20
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Pershing Squar e Launches Its A nnual Free Series of M usic and Movies
tesy of Los
Parties in the P ark
The Saturday evening concert series at Pershing Square has begun. Highlights include Kansas (left) on Aug. 6 and Starship on Aug. 13.
By Nicholas Slayton owntowners now have one of the surest signs that the hottest part of summer is upon us: The annual music and film series has launched at Pershing Square. The Downtown Stage series kicked off last week, with a Friday night film program and a Saturday night concert lineup featuring a number of big-name bands. There is also some afternoon music, a dodgeball tournament and more. Every event is free and open to the public. This marks the eighth year that Pershing Square has hosted the Friday film and Saturday concert series, according to Louise Capone, the senior recreation director for Pershing Square. The park, however, has had some form of summer entertainment going back decades. Capone said that the films and concerts usually draw at least 3,000 people, though some extremely popular bands, such as punk act X a few years back, have seen far larger crowds. She said the LAPD has asked the park to put a cap at 7,000 people. This year, she expects that crowds will max out at 6,000. The series lures a wide range of people, from Downtown workers and residents to others from throughout the county looking for something to do on a weekend night, Capone said. The free element has helped attract larger crowds each year as costs for other festivals or events have gone up. “The demographics that come out to this are diverse. We have families, young singles and older adult couples,” Capone said. “At our concerts, it’s not unusual to see an older couple with their grandchild.” Leo Time The Friday Night Flicks lineup is different every year. Sometimes there’s a theme, such as music films or, in 2013, a month of 1980s flashback hits. This year, the lineup is dedicated to something else entirely: Leonardo DiCaprio movies. Capone’s staff chose the line-up, which began July 15 with Shutter Island, one of several collaborations between DiCaprio
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and director Martin Scorsese. This week, Steven Spielberg’s con man saga Catch Me If You Can will be screened. The series closes Aug. 19 with Inception. While the theme might seem unusual, Capone said there was unanimity in her office. “Everyone wanted to go with Leo films this year,” she said. The films start at dusk and are projected on a 40-by-20-foot screen. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, though it’s a city park, so carrying in alcohol is prohibited. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are allowed. The evenings will include a pre-show trivia contest with questions about the movie and DiCaprio. One of the sponsors of the series is the nonprofit Film L.A., which is covering the licensing costs for the movies. Philip Sokolosky, vice president of integrated communications for Film L.A., said this is the first time the entity, which handles film permitting in the region, has partnered in the series. He said Film L.A. saw it as a great way to get the Downtown community together in a park, and for the nonprofit’s staff to interact and talk movies with people. “It’s an experience unlike the theater experience,” Sokolosky said. “People bring their dogs and kids, and there are local vendors supplying food. It’s a totally different experience compared to a quiet, darkened theater.” It Might Get Loud If Fridays is for sitting down and watching a drama unfold, Saturdays in Pershing Square are for getting up and dancing. The music series, which starts at 8 p.m., began last week with the veteran funk band War. The opener was the Venezuelan Latin funk and jazz act Los Amigos Invisibles. The lineup is a mix of classic, new and slightly alternative music. There are two bands every night, and doors open at 7 p.m. Capone said food trucks will be on hand and a full bar will be set up. This week features a pair of tribute acts, with 1980s tunes
from Flashback Heart Attack preceding David Brighton’s Bowie Tribute, in honor of the late British rocker. Other acts include the Reverend Horton Heat and L.A. favorites The Blasters on July 30, with Starship on Aug. 13. The most unique pairing may come Aug. 6, when indie rockers Blitzen Trapper open for long-running rockers Kansas. For Capone, mixing things up is a driving factor. “It’s music that we think the audience will like: a classic version and a newer, diverse version,” Capone said. “With acts like Los Amigos Invisibles and War, that brings in a younger crowd, which can also certainly appreciate the headlining act. And for the older crowd, we’re introducing them to newer sounds.” The series wraps up on Aug. 20 with classic rocker Todd Rundgren headlining, and New York house music duo Sofi Tukker as the opening act. While the biggest crowds show up on the weekends, there are also performances pitched to the thousands of Financial District workers. Concerts take place every Wednesday and Friday at noon though Aug. 19. Performers include A Certain Groove on Wednesday, July 20, and the all-woman Cougrzz Rock on Aug. 12. There are special events, too. A summer dodgeball tournament, a warm-weather answer to the park’s winter broom hockey league, takes place every Tuesday through Aug. 16. Yes, it’s that dodgeball, which teams whipping red rubber balls at each other. Aug. 7, meanwhile, brings the DTLA Proud Festival, a celebration of the local LGBT community. Capone said that the growth of the summer series has given Pershing Square momentum for other festivals and events throughout the year. She added that once the park started getting a big turnout for a variety of activities, different companies and nonprofits began reaching out to help produce shows. She hopes to create similar events in the spring and fall. The Downtown Stage runs through Aug. 20 at Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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July 18, 2016
Jurassic Flight Natural History Museum Explores Prehistoric Pterosaurs By Emily Manthei hen it comes to prehistoric creatures, people often think of the fierce Tyrannosaurus Rex, the massive brontosaurus, or the stegosaurus, with the majestic plates running down its back. Unless you’re talking about the Jurassic Park films, flying creatures are second tier. The Natural History Museum is giving winged reptiles their due. The travelling exhibit Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of the Dinosaurs opened at the Exposition Park complex on July 3. It runs through Oct. 2. The exhibit, organized by the American Museum of Natural History, opened in New York in 2014 and later traveled to Pittsburgh. It features recently discovered fossils of the first animals (other than insects) to take flight: a collection of species known as pterosaurs. “We’re always looking for exhibits that match with the mission of the museum, which is finding the spot where research and collections meet the visitor experience,” said Nate Smith, the NHM’s associate curator and one of the paleontologists at its Dinosaur Institute. “Since we already have quite a few pterosaur fossils at the museum, and some of our research paleontologists are actively working on recent pterosaur discoveries, we were the perfect candidate to host the exhibition.” Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs, though they lived around the same time. They also are different than the better-known pterodactyls, which were dinosaurs. Still, for many visitors, the two classes will be grouped together, and while NHM officials and exhibit organizers take pains to point out the differences, dinosaurs and pterosaurs dovetail in the display. The NHM has an impressive collection of specimens in its Dinosaur Hall, where there are hundreds of fossils and 20 complete dinosaurs and ancient sea creatures. The museum’s
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The Natural History Museum looks back at prehistoric flying reptiles in the exhibition Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of the Dinosaurs. It runs through Oct. 2 at the Exposition Park complex.
©AMNH/R. Mickens
paleontologists have covered field research sites all over the western United States and have been on teams that have discovered pterosaur fossils, giving the institution plenty of links to the Mesozoic and Jurassic periods in which pterosaurs lived — roughly 240 million to 66 million years ago. The exhibit features 16 fossilized and cast pterosaur pieces; these are often coupled with complete models to illustrate the reptiles’ movement and wingspan. Fossils include the upper arm bone of the largest-known species, the quetzalcoatlus northropi, and a partial cast of a scaphognathus, with a three-foot wingspan. Fossils, videos and models illustrate the diversity of the flying
reptiles, and explain how they interacted with land, sky and sea. Although pterosaurs were winged, fossil records indicate that they walked on four limbs while on the ground, like mammals, and generally lived and ate near or in water, similar to reptiles such as crocodiles. The bodies seem to have both arm- and leg-like limbs, attached to wings made of skin, muscle and membrane. The diverse characteristics that made them so unique seem to confound comparisons. In addition to the fossils in the exhibition, Smith and his team have dusted off pterosaur specimens from the museum’s perma-
July 18, 2016
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July 18, 2016
The Ruff Stuff PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD
D
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In the back of the Walt Disney Concert Hall this week, you’ll find a number of things you have never seen before. That’s the state of affairs as REDCAT presents its annual three-week bacchanalia the New Original Works Festival. On Thursday-Saturday, July 21-23, there will be three performances each night of shows that may make the Hollywood “creative” establishment shift uncomfortably in their seats. The program kicks off with galactic transmutation in Jeepneys/White Boy Scream/Mike Revereza’s Body Ship, followed by the auditory organics of Rebecca Bruno and Mak Kern’s Forest. Last but not least is Emily Mast’s gallery-as-zoo polemic The Cage Is A Stage (shown here). Different programs will take place the following two weekends. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. photo by Betsy Lin Seder
If you get down with mid-20th century new wave pseudoscience, you’ll be more than familiar with Orgone, the mystical energy field many have sought to accumulate using a device that looks strangely like a wardrobe. If you get down with contemporary Left Coast soul, then you’ll be familiar with Orgone, an eight-person conglomeration of session players that uses a bevy of expertise to channel that evocative musical form. On Friday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the FIGat7th shopping center, Orgone receives universal kismet as their idol, one-time Meter and Grammy-winning brother Cyril Neville, joins in the fun. The free night of music is part of the mall’s Downtown Festival series, which continues on Friday nights through Aug. 19. At Seventh and Figueroa streets, (213) 955-7170 or figat7th.com. photo courtesy FIGat7th
Known to the Jamaican state as Neville O’Riley Livingston, Bunny Wailer is a three-time Grammy-winning member of The Wailers who has also had the good fortune to work with luminaries such as Peter Tosh and Lee “Scratch” Perry. If you’re reading this in your mother’s garage while looking up at a rastacolored poster of Bob Marley with a quote about emancipating yourself from mental slavery, which you have interpreted as getting a massive “lion of Judah” tattoo on your back, then you need to put the kief catcher down, leave your home and scurry down to The Regent. That’s because Bunny Wailer is playing there on Friday, July 22. If you smell something strange inside or outside the club, don’t tell the cops. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. photo courtesy Spaceland Presents
In an age of failed diplomacy, it’s refreshing to find a collaboration between a New York singer and a Parisian musician. Gingkoa is the upbeat musical love baby of Transatlantic duo Nicolle Rochelle and Antoine Chatenet. On Friday, July 22, the inches of water coating the decorative centerpiece at the Cal Plaza Watercourt will ripple and dance with the sounds of international sonic collaboration as the perky tandem elicit, admonish and downright demand a tribute in motion from their audience. The gig kicks off at 8 p.m. Those eager for an up-close and personal taste of electro-gypsy jazz are encouraged to arrive early, save a seat and get a good stretch in. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org.
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
photo courtesy Grand Performances
FIVE
Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. July 20, 8:30 p.m.: Mandolin and banjo conjunctions as Bela Fleck and Chris Thile wed their celebrated playing styles. Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. July 22: Oscar Hernandez and Dayren Santamaria. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. July 18: Keelen Dimick Trio. July 19: Michael Ragonese Group. July 20: Martin Nevin Group. July 21: JPV Trio. July 22-23: Dayna Stephens Quintet. July 24: Jon Hatamiya/Kyle Athayde Big Band. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. July 18, 8:30 p.m.: Assuming Dani Daniels doesn’t slap them with a cease and desist, July residents Valley Queen will drop their inquisitive tunes tonight. July 19, 8:30 p.m.: The Bay Area continues to export a bumper crop of hip-hop MCs including P-La, Noodles and Caleborate. July 20, 8:30 p.m.: Oregon’s Laura Gibson is no relation to Debbie. July 21, 8:30 p.m.: Singer/songwriter HXLT cites a variety of Continued on next page
TWO
TUESDAY, JULY 19 Gretel Ehrlich at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: Yes, Virginia, there is global warming. Don’t take our word (or 99% of scientists’ for that matter). Instead, listen to Ehrlich, who has taken her pen to the Northern Inuit expanses of Greenland to chronicle the disappearing ice. THURSDAY, JULY 21 Helen Molesworth at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel.com. 7 p.m.: The MOCA Chief Curator comes down from Bunker Hill to discuss her career in the arts. Penguin Teen YA Author Panel Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: Sara Saedi, Juliana Romano and Aditi Khorona prognosticate on the much-maligned art of writing books for young adults. FRIDAY, JULY 22 Dance Downtown Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. 7 p.m.: Free dance lessons will indoctrinate you in the proper way to hustle through an Argentine Tango, including the relatively new “Messi exit” move, in which you sob, pull your jersey over your head and quit forever. Summer Nights in the Garden Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org. 5-9 p.m.: Take in the music, a pickling clinic, a 1920s garden theme and live animal presentations. Avoid fruit-bearing serpents. SUNDAY, JULY 24 Eve Fowler at the Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. 3 p.m.: Artist Eve Fowler is this week’s artist in residence as she smashes patriarchal culture with a click of the print button. Ursula Von Rydingsvard at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel.com. 2 p.m.: Part and parcel of the current women’s sculpture show at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, Von Rydingsvard drops by to offer a little wisdom.
New Theater, Loads of Music and Plenty of Outdoor Entertainment in Downtown This Week
There’s plenty of apocalyptic allegory at the Los Angeles Theatre Center now through July 30. That’s because the Historic Core bank-turned-theatrical venue is hosting The Sunrise Club, a play written by Tara Turnbull that addresses the literal death of earth’s ecosystem, mandatory inter-planetary evacuation and a youthful coming-to-grips with a tragedy that somehow enlightens not only the characters, but a small visage of our own human predicament. You too can bask in the glory of a fading star on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. At 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
image courtesy Sue Bielenberg
FOUR
EVENTS
The Don't Miss List
ONE
DT
CALENDAR LISTINGS
Downtown News 15
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
THREE
July 18, 2016
16 Downtown News Continued from previous page influences from 2Pac to the Clash, which is bizarre because he sounds like an amalgam of Peaches and Samwell. July 22, 8:30 p.m.: Former Tame Impala bass player Nicholas Allbrook graduated from the Perfume Genius school of videography with a major in eyeliner. Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality. com. July 19: Sitara Son. July 20: Jose Perez. July 21: Cuba Rumba. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. July 18, 10 p.m.: The Jazzaholics will spend the rest of their lives in recovery. July 19, 10 p.m.: Deco Hectics, an architectural critique done in song. July 20, 10 p.m.: Pretty Polly should have learned the L.A. lesson long ago — looks are fleeting. July 21, 10 p.m.: Nick Valentini Collective is the only music organization to espouse communal virtues under one man’s name. July 22, 9 p.m.: Charlie Chan & The Drones bring Boom Boom Boom along for a little fun. July 24, 10 p.m.: Ben Bostick deals in honkytonk and honkytonk only. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. July 22: Tommy Trash. July 23: Clean Bandit. FIGat7th 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 955-7170 or figat7th.com. July 22, 7:30 p.m.: Soul collusion as Cyril Neville sits in with Orgone. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. July 18, 7 p.m.: Tonight’s listening party for an original vinyl mono recording of The Beatles’ “Revolver” is much cheaper than buying the album on CD and then stabbing all but one cone of your car stereo with a screwdriver.
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org. July 21, 4:30 p.m.: Today’s Happy Hour performance “Congo Mashup with Garth Trinidad” should be fairly self-explanatory. Also, it’s free. July 22, 8 p.m.: French/American gypsy/jazz/electro collaborations with Ginkgoa. July 23, 8 p.m.: Warning: Tonight’s Our Nation Awakens program, though loaded with inspiring political protest songs, does not guarantee to actually awaken America. The country in a state of catatonia of apathy, narcissism and ego. Ham & Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St., (213) 891-6939 or hamandeggstavern.com. July 19: Good Friends Great Enemies, Wyatt Blair and Panthar. July 20: Hit Bargan, Michael Vidal and Harley Alexander. July 21: Bear Call, Schlemiel ONeal, Tongues and Sleeping On Drugs. July 24: Shelby Lanterman, Zak Fennie and Cody Hudock. Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel. com. July 21, 5 p.m.: Jason Golday has a Jazz Guitar Performance MFA from CalArts. We know, you graduated from the School of Hard Knocks. Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com. July 19: Bobby Matos. July 20: La Victoria. July 21: Sitara Son. July 24: Jose Perez. Little Easy 216 W. Fifth St., (213) 628-3113 or littleeasybar.com. July 21: Steve G and the VIP Band make strangely accessible music. Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com. July 22-23: From Sin Bandera to Nek, your favorite Spanish language artists will lend their voices to Reventon 2016.
July 18, 2016
Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare. July 20, Noon: A Certain Groove. July 22, Noon: Maureen & the Mercury 5. July 23, 8 p.m.: Ziggy Stardust lives on in David Brighton’s Bowie Tribute. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. July 20: Sculpture Club, 20XX, The Tissues and Jody. July 22: Warn the Duke, New Way On, Full Garage and Spanish Love Songs. July 23: Olin Band Presents a Pogues Tribute. July 24, Johnny Couch and Images The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. July 18: Streetlight Manifesto brings a message of urban upkeep and LED transformation. July 21: Carlos Rincon y Los Aviles en Vivo. July 22: Is it then safe to assume, based off his red sweatshirt and YG affiliation, that RJ is an acolyte of the Bompton scene? July 23: If matching band uniforms are an indication of skill and taste, Panteon Rococo are top of the heap. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. July 21, 9 p.m.: Dark Rabbit Kabarrett: A Dark Immersive Theatre Experience sounds a bit like everything your subconscious wanted the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre to be. July 22, 9 p.m.: Reggae icon Bunny Wailer. July 23, 7 p.m.: Alexander Jean are touring behind the merits of “power-pop ballad ‘Roses & Violets.’” You have been warned. July 24, 7 p.m.: Memphis represents with Xavier Wulf and Chris Travis. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. July 18: Viva Pomona! Decompression Party. July 21: Josiah & The Bonnevilles and Wilderado. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. July 19: The Makers loathe the coming of late July because they would prefer to sit at home playing/thinking about impro-
vised jazz rather than feeling obliged to attend the glut of Leo birthday parties. July 20: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review would like to remind you that the blues can transition from a state of mind to a physical sensation when you lose sight of that last step on the staircase down to Seventh street. Tread carefully. July 21: When abbreviated CPJC, the Curtis Parry Jazz Cartel sounds suspiciously like a Korean boy band. July 24: The Sheriffs of Schrodingham are sworn officers of neo-blues law. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. July 22: The Paranoyds and Celebrity Crush. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. July 20, 8:30 pm.: An Evening with The Church, and it’s not even Sunday. July 21, 8 p.m.: Hayes Carll writes everyman songs about his life in Austin. Maybe Richard Linklater would like to follow you around with a camera for 10 years. July 22, 7 p.m.: TTNG used to be known as This Town Needs Guns, but then apparently the whole world got shot up by one loon or another.
FILM
Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. July 18, 8:30 p.m.: The temptation when watching a film like Howard the Duck is to presume, “Oh wow, this got made — maybe I can sell my wacky screenplay.” Well, you can’t. Okay? The ’80s are over. The Broad 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. July 21, 7 p.m.: Jack Smith’s Yellow Sequence is but a prequel to Pier Paolo Pasolini’s surreal Middle East raga Arabian Nights. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. See website for schedule.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEWS, AUGUST 15, 2016
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July 18, 2016 Exposition Park 700 Exposition Park Dr., (323) 254-5068 or streetfoodcinema.com. July 23, 5:30 p.m.: Everything will be shiny and chrome as locals crowd in to Expo Park to witness Mad Max: Fury Road. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Journey to Space 3D brings audience members along on an E-ticket ride of exploration to the red planet. Ewan McGregor is the voice of Humpback Whales 3D. Not that the whales aren’t significant enough in their own right, but Obi-Wan narrating means we’re dealing with serious power brokers here. Power brokers who know a good whale story when they see it. La Plaza de Cultura Y Arte 501 N. Main St. or zocalopublicsquare.org. July 22, 7:30 p.m.: The feel good hit of the summer of 2006 Little Miss Sunshine blends dysfunctional families, body dysmorphia, self loathing, sibling rivalry, drug addiction and the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche into one dandy of a film. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. July 22, Sunset: Catch Me If You Can, a film about a con man and not the proposed streetcar budget. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through July 20: Ghostbusters (12:40, 2:20, 4 and 8:10 p.m.); Ghostbusters 3D (11:20 a.m., 12, 3:10, 5:20, 6:20, 7:10, 9:10 and 10:10 and 11 p.m.); Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (11:20 a.m., 1:55, 4:30 and 7:20 and 10:15 p.m.); The Secret Life of
Downtown News 17
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM Pets (12, 1:20, 4:10, 5:30, 7, 9:35 and 11 p.m.); The Secret Life of Pets 3D (11:30 a.m., 2, 2:40, 4:50, 7:40, 8:15 and 10:40 p.m.); The Legend of Tarzan 3D (2:20 and 7:45 p.m.); The Legend of Tarzan (11:40 a.m., 12:45, 3:30, 5:05, 6:30, 9:15 and 10:30 pm.); The Purge: Election Year (11:45 a.m., 2:25, 5:05, 7:50 and 10:25 p.m.); Independence Day: Resurgence (1, 4, 7:05 and 10 p.m.); Central Intelligence (12:25, 3:20, 6:05 and 8:45 p.m.); Finding Dory (11:20 a.m., 2:05, 4:45, 7:30 and 10:15 p.m.); The Conjuring 2 (12:20, 3:45, 7:05 and 10:30 p.m.).
Rachel York. Through August 14. New Original Works: Program One REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. July 21-23, 8:30 p.m.: Week one of REDCAT’s annual threeweek celebration of experimental theater and dance features “Body Ship” from Jeepneys, White Boy Scream and Mike Revereza; “Forest” with Rebecca Bruno & Max Kern; and Emily Mast’s “The Cage Is A Stage.” There will be different lineups in weeks two and three.
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE
downtownnews.com/calendar
Bob Baker’s Sketchbook Revue Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. July 23-24, 2:30 p.m.: The Sketchbook Revue promises a cast of marionettes that will alternately delight and terrify. The Day Shall Declare It Wilderness, 2051 E. Seventh St., or thisisthewilderness.com. July 20-21, 8:30 p.m., July 22, 8 p.m. and July 23, 8:30 p.m.: A site-specific experiential theater phenomena rehashes a century of the working man. The script draws from works by Tennessee Williams and Studs Terkel. Beware: In this Arts District show, an actor might get all up in your grill. Through July 31. Grey Gardens—The Musical The Ahmanson, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or centertheatregroup.org. July 20-23, 8 p.m. and July 24, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: In 1975, the Maysles brother made a documentary about a pair of off-kilter relatives of Jackie Onassis. Big Edie and Little Edie lived in a crumbling mansion in the East Hamptons. Somehow, that became a Broadway musical that received 10 Tony nominations in 2006. The version that lands in Downtown stars Betty Buckley and
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Adolescent support group now forming Ages 13-17 Low fee
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2016. 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. 07/11, 07/18, 07/25, and 08/01/2016.
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Sunshine Generation
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2016161102 The following person is
doing business as: Downtown Mediators, 445 S. Figueroa Street, #3189, Los Angeles, CA 90071 are hereby registered by the following registrant: MARIA BRINSONSAMPSON, 445 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant has not begun 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 MIGUEL MACIAS, Deputy on June 27,
Notice of Request for Qualifications
• School problems? • Conflict at home or with friends?
Children’s Performing Group
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. 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, and 07/18/2016.
TM
Downtown since 2002
Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA.
Downtown News 19
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
5B#268274
MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide a Fire Life Safety System and Emergency Generator at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/k4ad6AfUtXA7gpbz1. Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on August 5th, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on August 5th, 2016 will be rejected
PUBLIC NOTICE Community Career Development, Inc. invites bids from qualified vendors to provide services for veterans. Successful vendor must demonstrate ability to work with VSOs, place 45 veterans in high-growth industry careers, and conduct workshops for 150+ transitioning veteran job seekers. Further Instructions: www.communitycareer.org
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20 Downtown News
July 18, 2016
APARTMENTS, 10
Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!
goes for $2,876, while a two-bedroom rents for $3,957. Similarsized traditional apartments start at $2,348 for a one-bedroom and $3,099 for a two-bedroom. Fitzsimmons was quick to state, however, that there are financial benefits. The environmentally friendly features mean that whereas occupants of traditional apartments will pay about
It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.
Re Ne no wl va y te d
255 GRAND
255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove,Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
PROMENADE TOWERS
123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com 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 www.MUSEUMTOWER.com Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
TOWERS
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
T H E
A PA RT M E N T S
MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING
RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM
photo by Gary Leonard
The building at 936 S. Olive St. has 200 solar panels on the roof, or 20 for each eco-green unit. The goal is make sure that each apartment expends no more power than it generates.
$80 a month for utilities, Hanover estimates that eco-green occupants will shell out approximately $20 a month. The environmentally friendly units also come with a $70 monthly credit for the building’s electronic vehicle parking and charging spots; this cuts down on the $180 per month fee normally charged for EV parking spaces. Hargreaves said that, amid the drought and generally heightened environmental awareness, she has seen an increase in demand for eco-conscious housing. She added that residents willing to pay a bit more for a sustainable building are pushing developers to try new green technologies and incorporate existing ones into their projects. They’re starting to build with energy efficiency in mind, she said. Hamilton said that the eco-green units cost more to build than traditional apartments, with the price boosted by the monitoring system, the Nest thermostat and other features. He noted that the solar power system also adds to the cost. Alex Filsinger, who works in marketing, was one of the first people to move into an eco-green unit. He came to Downtown Los Angeles from San Diego in the spring and heard about the apartments while touring the Hanover Olympic. “I chose to live in one because it nets out to be cheaper than a normal studio after you deduct the power costs,” he said. By mid-July, the two studios had been leased, as had one of the two-bedroom apartments. Although the eco-green units are not filling up as quickly as the traditional residences, Fitzsimmons said she is not worried, and that Hanover anticipates it will take a while to teach people about the homes. Hargreaves said that the housing market in general is moving toward more energy-efficient developments. She said that other Downtown projects are reflecting that, with the under-construction Metropolis and Oceanwide mega-developments pursuing LEED certification. Meanwhile, Hamilton noted that Hanover Olympic as a whole is certified as CALGreen, meaning that it meets the environmental requirements of water efficiency and environmentally friendly design of the California Green Building Code. Hamilton said that Hanover is measuring tenant response and interest to the eco-green units before creating similar residences in future developments. He said success will be measured by leasing rates — if the apartments fill up at roughly the same level as traditional units, then it will be clear that Hanover is providing something that tenants want. Filsinger, meanwhile, already is convinced. “It’s an easy way to reduce your footprint on the environment without really having to change much about your lifestyle,” he said. Then he added something that might pique the interest of anyone who lives in Los Angeles. “It’s nice to be able to run the air conditioning pretty much non-stop and not worry about the cost, especially with this heat wave.” nicholas@downtownnews.com