07-20-15

JULY 20, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #29

The Special Olympics Arrive

The 2015 World Games, And Its 7,000 Athletes, Land in Los Angeles SEE PAGES 6-11

photo by Will Schermerhorn; Special Olympics Inc©

An Old Complex’s $76 Million Upgrade : 12 A Double Play at JANM : 14

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

2 Downtown News

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AROUND TOWN

DineLA Deals Wind Down This Week

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his week marks the final stretch of the summer DineLA program, which means it’s last call for anyone who wants sweet deals at 45 Downtown restaurants (there are options in other parts of the city too). Each eatery is offering a special prix-fixe, multi-course lunch or dinner ranging from $15-$50. Options range from the casual to the high-end, and participating eateries include the modern and lauded Mexican joint B.S. Taqueria, the Arts District vegan establishment Cafe Gratitude, the Mediterranean-hued 10e, Indian gastropub Badmaash, fine-dining bastion Patina and many more.

The popularity of DineLA means that snagging reservations is recommended, even at places where you can normally drop in without one.

More information is at discoverlosangeles.com.

Sky-High Observation Deck Coming to U.S. Bank Tower

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verseas Union Enterprises, which bought U.S. Bank Tower in 2013 and has launched a series of improvements, has revealed some details about the transformation of its upper reaches. The company announced last week that the building at 633 W. Fifth St. will have a 69th- and 70th-floor observation deck dubbed Skyspace L.A. The outdoor deck, slated to debut in mid-

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS 2016, will feature 360-degree views and “technology exhibits” for visitors to play with. Admission to the deck will be $25 and it will be connected to a private events space; just above the deck will sit a restaurant called 71Above. The changes are part of a $50 million renovation of the 1989 edifice. Also coming are improvements to the lobby, such as the installation of what OUE bills as the country’s largest high-resolution “digital art wall.” OUE has boosted building occupancy from about 50% at the time of its purchase to 80% now, according to the company. U.S. Bank Tower’s title as the tallest structure west of the Mississippi will be short-lived, as the new Wilshire Grand tower is scheduled to open at Figueroa and Seventh streets in early 2017. The Wilshire Grand will also tout a rooftop deck.

July 20, 2015

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owntown is growing, and Little Tokyo stakeholders want to make sure they get their share of the pie. With that in mind, local players have launched a program to highlight the community’s offerings. Go Little Tokyo, developed by the Little Tokyo Community Council with support from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, promotes the neighborhood’s cultural programs, community events, dining and shopping opportunities through a website, golittletokyo.com, as well as social media platforms and self-guided neighborhood tours. The effort includes signage in the area to help people get around easily. The campaign is being produced by Community Arts Resources, which has helped organize events including CicLAvia. “Go Little Tokyo celebrates cultural diversity and in-

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vites the community to experience one of the most vibrant urban and historic destinations in the area,” said Aaron Paley, president and cofounder of Community Arts Resources, in a prepared statement.

Groundbreaking Ceremony For Two-Tower Project

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nother massive South Park project officially breaks ground this week. Now called Circa, the development at 1200 S. Figueroa St. will create two high-rises with a combined 648

July 2, 2015

luxury condominiums, sitting on top of a sevenstory retail podium with 48,000 square feet of space for shops and 1,770 parking spaces. While construction on the 36-story buildings has already begun, a groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 22, at 11:30 a.m.

Scheduled speakers at the event include Mayor Eric Garcetti. Additional features at the development include a two-acre outdoor amenity deck and a 15,000-square-foot ribbon of LED signage along Figueroa. Circa is backed by a development group composed of Hankey Investment Company, Jamison Services, Falcon California Continued on page 24

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EDITORIALS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

July 20, 2015

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Money Questions At the Music Center

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n the 2015-16 Los Angeles County budget, Downtown’s Music Center is getting more than $24 million in general fund money. The cash (the complex receives an annual allocation) is supposed to be spent on things such as building and grounds maintenance, security, ushers, utilities, insurance and administrative support services.

Is that hefty sum being spent wisely? It is a question that is rarely asked, but now is on the path to being answered, as this month the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Mike Antonovich to audit the use of these funds. A report from the county Auditor-Controller is expected within two months.

The motion for the audit, which follows some Los Angeles Times articles about financial shortfalls in the Music Center’s Education Division, is a wise move. The timing is right, too, as in October Rachel Moore, currently the head of New York’s American Ballet Theatre, will take over as president and CEO of the Downtown campus that contains four of the region’s most prominent performing arts venues.

We have not seen any indication of untoward spending, and we hope that there has not been any financial malfeasance at the Music Center. However, plenty of questions have circulated about the state of the campus, particularly in the wake of the Music Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations last December. Normally these type of landmark birthdays double as an opportunity to conduct a fundraising campaign and fill the coffers by securing donations, sponsorships and naming rights deals with the private sector. Instead, as the Times reported, services for youth at the Music Center are being reduced and people are losing jobs. It raises the natural question: Did someone, or multiple individuals, squander a great opportunity?

We hope that the audit is extensive and that it asks hard questions, even if they prove embarrassing to the county. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Music Center Plaza are important destinations not only for patrons of the performing arts, but increasingly for Downtown residents and workers. Locals show up for happenings such as the free Friday evening Dance Downtown series — the county should ensure that money is being spent wisely and that the public is getting as many opportunities as possible to enjoy the entertainment.

It also makes sense for Moore to know what she is dealing with before she arrives. The Music Center needs some upgrades, particularly a big-budget overhaul of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and a long-desired effort to improve the campus’ connection with Grand Avenue (being up a flight of stairs from the street makes it somewhat uninviting). Among Moore’s key tasks will be fundraising and managing improvement projects — if she is to do her job right, she must be aware of all the money pits and trap doors.

The Music Center has huge local and regional potential, whether its patrons arrive from across the county by car or mass transit, or by foot from Downtown. We look forward to the findings of this audit.

Pointless Blight Outside the Reagan Building

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ver since the onset of the Great Recession, the various levels of government in California have been challenged by infrastructure issues. As property and sales taxes, and other revenue streams shriveled, there was little money to do some of the things that are clearly basic or preventative. Only recently has the situation started to change. The Department of Water & Power, for example, recently proposed hefty rate hikes to cover the cost of replacing some of the aged pipes that course under the streets. The city, meanwhile, will spend more than $1 billion over 30 years to repair broken and cracked sidewalks throughout Los Angeles.

Downtown is no exception, and the community is replete with sidewalks that are cracked and buckled from the roots of ficus and other trees.

In the Historic Core, one section of cracked sidewalk is particularly problematic. This is not because it is bigger or more dangerous than other sidewalks so roots-ravaged that they resemble skateboard ramps. Instead, it is because of the inadequate response from officials in state government.

Los Angeles Downtown News last week reported on how, because of a crack, a sizable plaza outside the Ronald Reagan Building on Main Street south of Third has been blocked off by traffic barriers for more than five years. The situation is ugly and unnecessary, as well as counter to the trend of trying to get pedestrians on Downtown’s streets and activate public spaces. We’d expect our state officials to do a better job of contributing to local street life, especially outside their own office building.

We’re not pretending an issue does not exist. There is a very noticeable crack near a now-closed entrance to the building. Additionally, in one portion passersby can see a tree root. We understand the moves by officials who might be trying to prevent a trip-and-fall lawsuit in an overly litigious society.

That said, the state seems to be doing the equivalent of using a sledgehammer to kill a fly by setting up 55 traffic barriers that block off the plaza. Although plenty of room remains for people to walk down the sidewalk of an increasingly vibrant Main Street, the state has succeeded in creating some pointless blight.

There is one particularly pressing question: Why has this situation festered for so long? The Downtown News story detailed how an official with the state General Services Department told one an-

noyed and persistent Downtowner, Will Wright, back in 2010 that the financially strapped state initially lacked the funds to make the repairs. We share Wright’s frustration: That may have been understandable five years ago, but enough is enough. The state is effectively stonewalling on what ought to be a simple matter.

Even the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar is having a hard time getting traction. He told Downtown News that, “for some time now” he has sought help from the management of the Reagan Building and the members of the State Legislature. Obviously they have decided this is not a front-burner issue.

Will anything change in the near future? One can only hope.

Although a General Services official told Wright in an email that funding for repairs “will be approved this year,” a department spokeswoman in Sacramento was woefully short on what that would entail. “We continue to explore options involving the Ronald Reagan Building,” she said in an email to Downtown News in classic empty gobbledygook. “In the meantime, traffic barriers must remain in place for safety precautions.”

In other words, there is no real plan, timeline or budget for repairs, and the worst thing would be if we’re raising the issue of making improvements and removing barriers a year or two from now. Downtowners should not be met by ugliness as they walk on Main Street between the Civic Center and the Historic Core.

What happens now? That’s a great question. We hope that Huizar’s office will intensify its efforts to persuade the state to act, and we hope that Downtowners such as Wright continue to make noise about the situation. Sometimes it takes a lot of complaints to get government to jump.

We would also like to see leadership from the community’s representatives in Sacramento. The Reagan Building is in Assemblyman Miguel Santiago’s district, and on the Senate side, it is at the edge of Holly Mitchell’s territory (neither has repped the area for long and can’t be blamed for past failures). Maybe one of these individuals can step up, or perhaps help can come from Sen. President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, whose district stops just short of the building. We’ll be cautiously optimistic that these leaders can propel change.

Whatever the case, it is time to eradicate this blight and make some much-needed repairs. Downtown deserves better.

July 20, 2015

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES LOS ANGELES 2015

In Celebration and Support of the Athletes

Citius, Altius, Fortius!

www.spearmintrhino.com

Downtown News 5

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

July 20, 2015

World Games

Making the World Games Go

By Eddie Kim his 2015 Special Olympics World Games open on Saturday, July 25. One of the people who has worked hardest to bring that about is Jeff Carr, the organization’s chief operating officer. Carr, whose previous jobs include being chief of staff to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about the logistics of bringing 7,000 athletes to the city, the Special Olympics’ reach, misconceptions and why he’s continually surprised by the competitors and their abilities.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: The 2015 World Games marks the return of the competition to the United States for the first time in 16 years. Why Los Angeles?

Jeff Carr: Los Angeles is the media market of the world. People in New York might debate that, but in terms of what drives entertainment and pop culture, L.A. is the forefront. The idea of having this city host the Games is partly to best promote awareness and create acceptance of people with disabilities.

Q: What’s the budget for the Games, and how is this financially possible, given that the competitions are free to attend?

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Jeff Carr, COO of the Special Olympics World Games, outside his Downtown office at U.S. Bank Tower. The Games run July 25-Aug. 2.

A: We’re operating with $65 million in cash, but if you add all the city services provided, advertising donated and so on, we’re probably in the neighborhood of $90-$95 million. It’s been a real grassroots effort, with a lot of support from corporate partners, individual donors, the federal, state, county and city governments. We’ve raised more money than any Special Olympics event before this.

Q: The age and skill at the Special Olympics is much broader than what people see in the traditional Olympics. How are the athletes selected?

A: Every athlete has to have won a gold medal in a regional accredited Special Olympics event or at a national event. Then they’re eligible for the World Games, and it’s a lottery. Each country gets a quota of athletes based on how large their national programs are. Then we have the divisioning process, where athletes get put in about five different skill levels, so it’s a fair and exciting competition for everyone.

Q: How skilled are the top competitors? Do they train as intensely as traditional Olympic athletes?

A: None of our athletes are paid or train full time as a job. The

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Q: What do you hope Angelenos take away from the World Games?

A: I can guarantee that if people come out and watch, they’ll leave inspired. I think some of the stereotypes and preconceived notions of people with IDs will get diminished. So many people from around the world come to L.A. with dreams. That’s a metaphor for our athletes, and it’s better for everyone when we celebrate the inclusion of marginalized groups. eddie@downtownnews.com

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Q: What are the most common intellectual disabilities represented in the Games?

A: It really varies. Many athletes are high functioning. I would say that athletes with Down Syndrome or cerebral palsy are most recognizable to the general public, but it’s a number of different conditions, from a missing or extra chromosome to a range of autism. What we’re hoping to focus on is the fact that everyone has amazing abilities on top of their disabilities.

fice

Jeff Carr Details How the Special Olympics’ Showcase Event Came to L.A., And What to Expect

beauty is that the athletes compete for the joy of sport. That being said, when I first joined the Special Olympics, I was amazed to hear that the performance of our athletes in the 2007 World Games in Shanghai were sometimes as good as, or better than, the performance of Olympic athletes in the 2008 Beijing games.

I have two stories. One of the first competitions I attended was a one-mile race. I watched a young African-American man take off like a bullet from a gun, and I thought, “Oh no, he doesn’t realize it’s a mile long.” He was lapping everyone. Then I thought, “This guy is a ringer. He runs like the wind!” He clocked a 5:15 mile and wasn’t even breathing hard. But when I talked to him it was clear he had an intellectual disability. So on the high end, we have some athletes like that, who just blow away preconceived notions.

At a test event at USC, we had a swimmer who was in a wheelchair, and she was nervous about doing a 25-yard backstroke race. She was coaxed into the water and the event started, but by the time everyone else had finished, she was still swimming. It was just her nose and mouth poking out of the water. It looked like she was going to drown. The crowd got really, really quiet, but as she finished, everyone just erupted.

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A Real Free-for-All

Let the Games Begin

Tickets Aren’t Required for Special Olympics Competitions, But You Should Cheer

Special Olympics Kick Off With a Big Ceremony at the Coliseum

By Jon Regardie his week’s Special Olympics World Games will be filled with amazing feats of athletic ability, heart and courage. But one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the Games will take place at the entrance to the venues, and will have nothing to do with the athletes.

Admission to all sporting events is free.

This may surprise many in Downtown Los Angeles, but that is how the Special Olympics traditionally operate, said Stephanie Medina, senior vice president of community relations for the World Games. Although paid tickets are required for the opening ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park, anyone who wants to see basketball, bocce, bowling, handball or any of the 23 other sports only has to walk through the door.

That is possible thanks to a coterie of sponsors who underwrite the Games, said Medina.

While this provides opportunities to check out competitions on a spur-of-the-moment basis, Games organizers prefer that attendees make plans in advance and bring along a group of friends or co-workers to cheer on the athletes. To that effect, they created the Fans in the Stands program.

Anyone 14 or older can sign up on the Special Olympics website as a team captain. The leader recruits 10 or more people and specifies a day, time and venue when they will arrive. They also get some help in advance in the form of what is called a Cheer Kit. “It helps them learn to organize the team, how they

By Eddie Kim or the first time in 31 years, the grand torch above the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be lit to commemorate the Olympics.

In this case, it’s the Special Olympics World Games, which is bringing 7,000 athletes and 500,000 spectators from around the world to Los Angeles.

The Games kick off on Saturday, July 25, with a 5 p.m. Opening Ceremony at the Coliseum, featuring a wide array of entertainers, celebrities and dignitaries.

First Lady Michelle Obama will make an appearance, as will funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, Eva Longoria, Olympians Michael Phelps and Greg Louganis, and former NBA star Yao Ming, among others.

A slate of musical talent will grace the Coliseum, with performances by Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne, O.A.R., and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. The performances will emphasize themes such as determination, unity and courage, said Jeff Carr, chief operating officer for the Special Olympics.

Despite the big names, the athletes are the real stars, Carr said. More than 170 countries will be represented by delegations in the highlight of the cer-

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photo courtesy Special Olympics Inc.

Special Olympics organizers have a “Fan in the Stands” program designed to get crowds cheering for the athletes.

coordinate, how they can come in team shirts and show pride, whether a family, a Boy Scout group or something else,” said Medina. “We give them videos to teach them a little bit about people with intellectual disabilities, so they know what to expect when they come.”

Fans in the Stands participation is not required for attendees, and Downtown workers and residents can simply show up at the Convention Center, the Galen Center or another venue. If the event is not yet at capacity, they can walk in. Seats are not assigned.

While checking out the competition is easy, Medina raised one cautionary point.

“The only part they need to be wary of is parking, because we expect a lot of people,” she said.

To organize a Fans in the Stands team, visit la2015.org/ volunteer/fans-in-the-stands. regardie@downtownnews.com

emony, a grand parade of competitors.

“This is always one of the most powerful pieces, and you’ll see people from Afghanistan, the U.S., Iraq, Canada, China, all coming together to launch the Games,” Carr said.

The Opening Ceremony serves as the culmination of years of preparation for Carr and the Special Olympics team. He spearheaded the creation of a business plan in early 2012 and dove into the task of raising tens of millions of dollars to stage the Games. Last year, his team searched for a production firm and settled on Fivecurrents, which produced the ceremonies for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2012 London summer games.

“Seeing it coming together in the ceremony will be pretty emotional,” Carr said. “We’ve been dreaming of all these athletes coming to Los Angeles.

The world will get to see everything these athletes are capable of.”

While the athletic events are free, the Opening Ceremony is ticketed. Prices range from $35 to about $140. A 25% discount can be applied with the promotional code WGFANS on Ticketmaster.

Tickets and additional information are at la2015.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

8 Downtown News

July 20, 2015

From Trade Shows to Powerlifting Convention Center Becomes a Sports Hub, Hosting Six Special Olympics Events

By Eddie Kim he Los Angeles Convention Center is normally a place for business trade shows or colorful events such as Anime Expo.

This week, however, it becomes a Downtown sports hub.

The sprawling Figueroa Street complex will be a major gathering point for the Special Olympics World Games, hosting competitions for six events from July 25-Aug. 1. Anschutz Entertainment Group, which operates the city-owned structure, anticipates 5,000-7,000 spectators each day for badminton, bocce, handball, powerlifting, roller skating and table tennis. The competitions will take place in South Hall, with the exception of powerlifting, which will run in E and F halls.

The Convention Center also serves as the media headquarters for the Games — 2,000 reporters from around the globe are expected — and the site of its motor pool. About 300 vehicles will be parked inside Kentia Hall, to be used by volunteers and staff as needed.

It’s been a long 14 months for AEG Facilities Event Manager Frank Keefer, who has overseen prep for the Games alongside

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Special Olympics organizers. This week, Keefer will guide the massive job of installing flooring, equipment, lights and bleachers. He expects the final stretch to be tough, but remains buoyed by the ambition and prominence of the Games.

“I’m driving around and seeing the ads everywhere. It’s incredible,” Keefer said. “We put our best foot forward for every single show, but the scope is so big that it gives you pride and extra motivation to do that much more.”

Hosting sports at the Convention Center means courts must be built from scratch, with parts flown in from across the country. All eyes are on the venue to pull this off, Keefer said.

Brad Gessner, senior vice president of AEG Facilities and general manager of the Convention Center, wrote in an email that the company is excited to be part of an athletic and humanitarian event that will go down as one of the biggest in L.A. history.

“We have some tight turn-overs in terms of space from event to event leading up to the Games but there’s great energy,” Gessner said. “We’re a part of something much larger, something that extends far beyond the Convention Center doors.”

A Home Away From Home Athletes From Colombia Wind Up in Downtown

By Heidi Kulicke hen the Special Olympics World Games begin on July 25, Los Angeles will buzz with thousands of athletes and spectators from around the world. But many athletes will arrive earlier, and they won’t head to the athlete villages at USC and UCLA

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until the competition starts.

That’s why the Los Angeles Athletic Club will be hosting 30 athletes from Colombia on July 21-24. During their stay, they will be exposed to some Downtown cultural and culinary highlights.

The Downtown Los Angeles visit is part of

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photo courtesy of Will Schermerhorn; Special Olympics Inc.©

The Los Angeles Convention Center will host six events, including badminton, during the Special Olympics World Games. The venue is also the media center for the Special Olympics.

While the Games are impressive, the sheer number of support staff and volunteers who have turned out to run the Special Olympics remains a point of inspiration for Keefer.

“It surpasses any event I will ever work for,” he said. “The Special Olympics doesn’t exist without volunteers. Getting them T-shirts, food, parking, managing them, it’s a huge show in and of itself.” eddie@downtownnews.com

the Host Town program. In the days before the competition, roughly 100 cities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego will welcome delegations — examples include athletes from Sweden staying in Riverside, the Germans visiting Monterey Park and, somewhat fittingly, competitors from ritzy Monaco having a temporary home in Bevphoto by Gary Leonard erly Hills. Also in Downtown, The Los Angeles Athletic Club will host 30 Colombian Special Olympics the Jonathan Club at 545 S. athletes in its hotel this week in anticipation of the World Games. The LAAC Figueroa St. will host athletes is covering the cost of the athletes’ visit. from Algeria, Moldova and Belarus.

A complementary event involves Wooden The Colombian athletes and coaches repAward finalists coaching Special Olympics resent the women’s soccer team, as well as basketball players in a game at the club. competitors in swimming and track and “We felt it was a good fit for us, and we’re field. They will stay at the club’s hotel, on the excited to introduce them to both our facil12th floor of the facility at 431 W. Seventh ity and to our town,” Hathaway said.

St., and will have access to the building’s fitUpon arrival, the LAAC will host a rooftop ness equipment and amenities during their welcome reception. The itinerary also instay, said Cory Hathaway, assistant general cludes a visit to the California Science Cenmanager of LAAC. The club is providing its ter, a workout session with fitness personrooms and services free of charge. ality Billy Blanks and a dinner at the new The club has had a longstanding relationBunker Hill Italian restaurant Vespaio. Free ship with Special Olympics Southern Calishuttle service from Downtown Concierge fornia as part of its John R. Wooden Award, Service will take the athletes and their Hathaway said. Each year, the Wooden coaches to their various destinations.

Award is presented to the country’s top colheidi@downtownnews.com lege male and female basketball players.

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DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES LOS ANGELES 2015

In Celebration and Support of the Athletes

E XC E L S I O R !

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Downtown News 9

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10 Downtown News

July 20, 2015

the downtown Special olympics Schedule Where and When to See Basketball, Badminton, Track and Field and More Sports

tueSday, July 28

Saturday, July 25

chedule.

Sunday, July 26

photo by Will Schermerhorn; © Special Olympics

Basketball, Galen Center, 8 a.m.-noon Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 8 a.m.-noon Athletics (think Track and Field), USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 8:45 a.m.-noon Bocce, Los Angeles Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon Opening Ceremony, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 5-11 p.m.

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Festival: Latin American Cultural Day, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

photo by Will Schermerhorn; © Special Olympics

Monday, July 27 Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon, 1-5:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon and 2-6 p.m.

Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 9-11:30 a.m., noon-2:30 p.m. and 3-5:30 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.

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Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5:30 p.m.

Roller Skating, Convention Center (South Hall), 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Festival, Various Entertainment, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Roller Skating, Convention Center (South Hall), 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center,

Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 9-11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m., 2:30-5 p.m. and 5:15-7:45 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-8:15 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5:30 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Roller Skating, Convention Center (South Hall), 10:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 2-6 p.m.

Festival, Africa Day, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

WedneSday, July 29 Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon and 2-6 p.m.

Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-8:15 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

Roller Skating, Convention Center (South Hall), 9:30-11:30 a.m., 1-2:30 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

photo by Will Schermerhorn, © Blueberry Shoes Productions LLC

T

he Special Olympics World Games will be the biggest sports event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympics. Over nine days, some 7,000 athletes and 500,000 spectators will descend on the city.

The action takes place all across the region, with competition in Long Beach, Griffith Park, Encino and at UCLA. The biggest concentration of events, however, occurs in Downtown Los Angeles.

Below is a complete (as of press time) schedule of Downtown events, including competitions at the University of Southern California.

Admission to all sports events is free, though attendees are urged to participate in the Fans in the Stands program (see story p. 7) and bring down friends to cheer on the athletes.

For the most updated information, check out the Special Olympics website at la2015.org.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Festival, Various Entertainment, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

thurSday, July 30 Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon and 2-6 p.m.

Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-8:15 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

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Special Olympics, by the Numbers Some of the Figures at This Week’s Games

By Jon Regardie

7,000: athletes competing.

3,000: coaches coming to the games to help those athletes.

177: countries the athletes represent, including the United States (344 athletes), Russia (174 athletes), Finland (92 athletes), Iran (32 athletes), Togo (18 athletes) and Belize (4 athletes).

500,000: spectators anticipated during the run of the Games.

25: sports that athletes will compete in. They include familiar Olympic-style sports such as basketball, beach volleyball and powerlifting, as well as Special Olympics specialties like bowling, roller skating and badminton.

27: venues at which events take place. Downtown facilities include the Los Angeles Convention Center (sports such as bocce, table tennis and handball), Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live (bowling) and the Galen Center (basketball). There are also venues in Long Beach, Griffith Park, Encino and at UCLA. 31: years since Los Angeles has hosted a sports event this big.

The last one? The 1984 Olympic Games.

Roller Skating, Convention Center (South Hall), 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Festival, Asia Pacific Day, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday, July 31 Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m.

25 (yes, we used 25 again): meters in the shortest length of a race in the track and field competition (known in Special Olympics parlance as “Athletics”). In traditional Olympics the shortest sprint is the 100 meters. The Special Olympics track and field competition, taking place at the University of Southern California’s Loker Stadium and Cromwell Field, will also have events including a 50 meter race, a 100 meter walk, a 10,000 meter run, high jump, shotput, mini javelin and a pentathlon.

12: events in the roller skating competition. They include a 30 meter straight line race, a 30 meter slalom, a 1,000 meter race and several relays.

30,000: volunteers who help stage competitions and make things easier for athletes and attendees. Last week organizers were still looking for motor pool drivers and delegation liaisons who speak fluent Arabic or Russian. More information is at la2015.org/volunteer.

2,000: media members converging on Los Angeles.

4,150,000: estimated economic impact, in dollars, of the games

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-8:15 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5:30 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Bowling, Lucky Strike Lanes at L.A. Live, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Festival, Various Entertainment, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

photo by Will Schermerhorn; © Special Olympics

An estimated 7,000 athletes will participate in the Special Olympics World Games.

on the region, according to a report by the firm Micronomics. It includes direct and trickle down spending.

0: dollars and pennies required to attend one of the sporting events. Admission is free to all competitions.

Information gathered from the Special Olympics website, la2015. org.

Saturday, aug. 1 Bocce, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Badminton, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Handball, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Powerlifting, Convention Center (Halls E & F), 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m.

Table Tennis, Convention Center (South Hall), 9 a.m.-noon and 2-6 p.m.

Basketball, Galen Center, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Athletics, USC Loker Stadium/Cromwell Field, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m.

Aquatics, USC Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 9:30 a.m.-1:20 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Festival, North America Day, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday, aug. 2 Festival, Various Entertainment, USC Alumni Park, 10 a.m.-noon Closing Ceremony, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 6-11 p.m.

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July 20, 2015

A 46-Year-Old’s Big Makeover With Luxury Projects Sprouting in Downtown, The Bunker Hill Towers Gets a $76 Million Renovation

By Eddie Kim eeking into a unit at the Bunker Hill Towers is an exercise in familiarity, assuming you’ve toured one of Downtown Los Angeles’ many new apartment buildings.

The hardwood floors glisten, the kitchens tout speckled Caesarstone countertops, sleek dark cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances, and the bathrooms gleam with modern fixtures and finishes.

In short, the units look like any of the new Downtown apartments that charge in the range of $4 a square foot. The major difference is that the complex at 234 S. Figueroa St. is more than 40 years old.

Palo Alto-based Essex Property Trust purchased the Bunker Hill Towers, composed of two 19-story buildings, in 1998. Now it is spending $76 million on the biggest renovation in the property’s history. The upgrade of the 1969 complex is expected to finish in late 2017, when nearly all of the 456 apartments will have been reworked.

The budget breaks down to about $170,000 per apartment, with about a month and a half spent on each unit, said Adam Berry, Essex’s senior vice president of asset management. While the price tag is high, the renovation will allow the building to compete with some of the upscale rental complexes in Downtown.

“We’ll be in a nice position after the renovation, when you have ultra-luxury high-rises coming online and we’ll be able to offer similar

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views, amenities and finishes at what is a discount to those new structures,” Berry said. “We don’t want to compete with the new ultra-lux product, but we’ll have a nice niche on Bunker Hill.”

Refurbished Bunker Hill Towers units run from about $1,900 a month (for a 588-squarefoot studio) to nearly $2,900 (an 1,116-squarefoot two-bedroom residence), averaging about $3 a square foot. Essex is raising prices on rentcontrolled units by about 3% and up to 10% on its 58 non-rent-controlled units (the exact percentages are calculated by the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department).

The renovation actually began in late 2013.

The lengthy timeline is partly because Essex is waiting for units to vacate before beginning improvements, Berry said. Most of the apartments — 398 residences — are rent-controlled, and the company is offering to temporarily relocate tenants to other apartments while the work takes place.

The project will include infrastructure upgrades, among them a new HVAC (heating/ ventilating/air conditioning) system and new plumbing lines so that each apartment can have its own washer and dryer. All the windows will be replaced with more energy-efficient panes. On the exterior of the towers, Essex has proposed installing full-size balconies on corner units (city approval is still required); center units would get smaller “Juliet” balconies with

rendering courtesy of Essex

The $76 million renovation of the Bunker Hill Towers includes the construction of a two-story amenity building with a large fitness center and a rooftop pool deck.

sliding glass doors.

“One advantage of our location on Bunker Hill is that we have largely unobstructed views of Downtown,” Berry noted. “We’re far enough away where we can get panoramic views, and nothing is going to be built up around us because we’re buffered by Figueroa and Third streets.”

Pool Fight A highlight of the project is the creation of an amenity center along Third Street, between Flower and Figueroa streets, on what is currently a small surface parking lot. The 11,000-square-foot, two-story building will have street-level retail, a large gym on the second floor and a rooftop pool and sundeck.

Construction is slated to begin next year and finish in 2017.

“Right now it’s a bunch of ugly trees stand-

ing along there, and they make everything behind them disappear from street view,” Berry said. “There’s not huge walking traffic on Third, and probably never will be, but the building and its retail will induce some activity.”

The addition serves as a response to a bizarre building battle. The Bunker Hill Towers complex originally included a 32-story building on the north side of the property, and the three structures shared the pool and the outdoor common areas. The tallest structure was converted to condominiums in the early 1980s, and renters and homeowners continued to share the pool.

Then, in 2013, disagreements between Essex and the Bunker Hill Tower Owners Association regarding pool maintenance costs flared into a legal battle. It resulted in renters being barred from swimming.

While Berry believes the coming pool will

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help draw renters, so will a surging Downtown.

He recalled how much has changed since he worked in the Central City at a law firm in 2000, when it felt like the streets were so empty that “you could shoot a gun and not hit someone for six blocks.”

Bunker Hill may never generate the same kind of buzz as some other neighborhoods in Downtown, Berry added, and its lack of undeveloped land puts a ceiling on its real estate growth. But that’s a plus for people who want a quieter atmosphere while not sacrificing proximity to everything Downtown has to offer, he said.

Bill Cooper, of Downtown realty firm The Loft Expert, thinks the renovation may not be enough to lure the younger tenants flocking to the Historic Core and the Arts District. At the same time, he said that addressing the building’s biggest shortcomings — the lack of a full amenity center and a shared laundry room — could make a major difference to prospective renters.

“It’s tough to compete with brand new product, but having a mix of products, older and newer, more expensive and less so, that’s not a bad thing,” Cooper said. “There’s less affordable housing than ever before. Tearing old stuff down and building new is a vicious cycle. But it’s a question of how much the rents will increase in the future.”

Essex has a big stake in Downtown, and is striving to make its residences more marketable.

The company owns six other local properties: the Gas Company Lofts, the Pacific Electric Lofts, 8th + Hope, Avant, Santee Court and Belmont Station. Berry said Essex is currently investing in renovations of units at the Pacific Electric Lofts and is adding a rooftop pool and amenity building at the Gas Company Lofts. The latter should be complete this year. eddie@downtownnews.com

Tech Talk for Downtown Millennials Speaker Series Town Hall-L.A. Launches New Program Aimed at a Younger Crowd

By Heidi Kulicke own Hall-Los Angeles, the city’s oldest public speaker series, is known for hosting big names in business and politics. The audience is largely comprised of professionals, business owners and power players.

Last week, however, Town Hall tried something new: At a lunch event at the City Club dubbed “Silicon Beach and Beyond: How Innovation Is Driving L.A.’s Tech Future,” about two-thirds of the approximately 150 people were in their 20s and 30s, said Kim McCleary, president of Town Hall-LA. In 2015, organizations like Town Hall have to stay relevant and adapt to changing times by diversifying their programming, McCleary said.

“Town Hall-LA has been around for 78 years,” McCleary said in an interview. “Unless you shake things up a bit and look at things from a new perspective, you won’t continue to grow.”

To make that happen, McCleary organized a group of 13 people from 18- to 34-years old.

This Innovations Programs Committee will oversee the development of future youthfulskewing events and programs, McCleary said.

One committee member, Stephen Todd, said the difference was noticeable immediately at the program on Thursday, July 16.

The small cocktail-style tables, he said, made

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meeting people easy.

“It’s a lot more casual here, more laid back,” said Todd, the vice president of financial services company Northern Trust. “It’s easier to mingle with people and socialize.”

The panel discussed the changing technology landscape, specifically the migration of tech companies and start-ups in Silicon Beach to other areas, including Downtown Los Angeles.

Panelists included Joel Carnes, vice president of prize operations at X Prize; Matthew Goldman, founder and CEO of Wallaby Financial; Bryce Maddock, founder and CEO of TaskUs; and Brandon Shamim, president of Beacon Management Group.

The panelists agreed there is much to be done to facilitate the migration to Downtown, including increasing free public Wi-Fi and placing a greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs at schools.

“In Santa Monica or Pacific Palisades, there are plenty of STEM academies,” said Shamim, who is also a professor at UCLA. “In Downtown and the surrounding areas, I can count those schools on one hand. How does that foster innovation in our kids?”

Carnes said tech companies that flock to a certain location and surround themselves with other tech companies risk being isolated from their customers. He blamed the free-

photo by Heidi Kulicke

About 150 people attended Town Hall-LA’s first lunch event targeted to professionals under 40. The program “Silicon Beach and Beyond” took place at the City Club.

ways in Los Angeles for dividing the area.

“We need to find a way to break these barriers and connect with each other,” Carnes said. “We need to diversify and spread out the industry hubs.”

McCleary said the Innovations Programs Committee will organize at least one more event this year. She said in the future she hopes to have several youth-oriented programs annually. heidi@downtownnews.com

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DT

July 20, 2015

One of two new JANM shows is Before They Were Heroes. The photographs

by Sus Ito depict the daily lives of soldiers in Europe in World War II.

CALENDAR

Paintings by Laura Kina are part of Sugar/Islands, a new Japanese American National Museum exhibit that explores workers from Okinawa who migrated to Hawaii in the 19th century.

image courtesy JANM

photo by Sus Ito

A Double o y k o T e l t t i in L nd Island

photo by Sus Ito

image courtesy JANM

f War a in a Stories o hlighted ig H e r A its Heritage NM Exhib A J f o ir a P

By Heidi Kulicke he effects of war on a country can often be tied to a nation’s cultural identity. So it’s fitting that a pair of recently opened shows at the Japanese American National Museum revolve around those very themes.

The exhibits Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai’i — The Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara and Before They Were Heroes: Sus Ito’s World War II Images both opened this month at the Little Tokyo museum. They both also have a more serious tone than JANM’s recently finished blockbuster exhibition Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty.

The exhibits, which are on display though Sept. 6, feature stories of a personal nature told through camera lenses and paintbrushes.

Sugar/Islands examines worker migration and settlement from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Hawaii in the 19th century. The two artists involved, Kina and Momohara, are both fourth-generation Japanese Americans with family ties to the locations. The exhibit is a personal one, said Kina.

“For both of us, this has been a journey of learning about our history, and the relationship between Okinawa and Hawaii,” said Kina, a professor of studio art and Asian American studies at DePaul University in Chicago. “It’s important to gather these stories and archive them for the future.”

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Kina’s work is dubbed Sugar and explores the lives of her ancestors, who left Okinawa to work on the sugarcane plantations of Hawaii.

Her paintings use an indigo palette to match the color of kimonos worn by Okinawan immigrants working in the fields. The works depict Okinawan and Hawaiian textiles in an abstract sense, as well as scenes of field labor and assimilation into American culture.

Momohara’s ancestors also left Okinawa to work on the plantations, this time with pineapple. Her section of the show, Islands, delves into the psychology of Okinawan island life through a series of photographs that highlight its complex colonial and war-torn history. Images include a decayed U.S. Army base never completed due to the unexplained deaths of some construction workers.

Beyond the Battlefront The second exhibit, Before They Were Heroes, is a photography exhibit. It showcases the personal photos of Susumo Ito, a Japanese American soldier who fought for the United States and was stationed in Europe from 1943-45. Ito donated the majority of his photo collection to JANM last year.

During his deployment in Europe, Ito took thousands of photos of his fellow soldiers in the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, which was part of the all-Japanese American 442nd Regi-

mental Combat Team.

Ito was not an authorized military photographer, and soldiers were not allowed to have a personal camera. However, Ito never had his camera confiscated. The result is a collection of images that depict the everyday lives of soldiers during their downtime. Photos show them standing next to their jeeps, walking in the snow, playing chess, eating meals, swimming in a river and visiting tourist landmarks.

“Sus liked photography and was just taking pictures with his friends,” said the exhibit’s curator, Dr. Lily Tamai, who spoke on the 96-yearold’s behalf. “He wasn’t trying to document history.”

Ito, a California native, became a cellular biologist at Harvard Medical School after the war.

He originally donated some photos to the museum in 1994. In 2012, after Greg Kimura took over as CEO of JANM, he learned Ito had more material.

“We told him we’d love to see it, and it turned out he had a huge volume of photos he had never developed,” Kimura said. “He didn’t think they were important, because they depicted the soldiers taking a break or eating.”

It’s these types of images that provide a human element to the battlefronts of war, said Kimura, who convinced Ito that the photos would be valuable to the museum and future

generations.

One of the remarkable elements is that many of the photos Ito shot during the war had remained in their film canisters for about 70 years, Tamai said. Those photos were finally developed last year and have now been digitally archived.

The work also stands out because it is counter to much of what happened during World War II in the United States. Thousands of Japanese Americans, including many families who lived in Little Tokyo, were sent to internment camps amid a wave of anti-Japanese hysteria. It wasn’t easy for the soldiers to fight for their country while their own families were treated like prisoners back home, Kimura said.

Kimura said Ito’s story deserves to be shared to honor the courage of Japanese-American soldiers who risked their lives to protect freedom.

“These were the days of their youth, which they sacrificed to fight in a war,” Kimura said.

“Through this exhibit, we are able to share, honor and preserve their story.”

Sugar/Islands and Before They Were Heroes run through Sept. 6 at the Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., (213) 6250414 or janm.org. heidi@downtownnews.com

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A Soundtrack to the Riots Kamasi Washington Show Highlights a Big Weekend At Grand Performances

By Eddie Kim amasi Washington remembers the sights and sounds of the Los Angeles Riots. He was just 11 years old in April 1992, when a Simi Valley jury found four white LAPD officers not guilty in the beating, famously recorded on video, of African-American motorist Rodney King.

As the city erupted in a roiling mass of activists, looters, police, gun-toting store owners and everyone in between, Washington’s parents, both teachers, wouldn’t let him leave his South L.A. home. His friends soon flaunted new clothes and shoes. They would ask Washington: Why aren’t you out there grabbing new Jordans, too?

“Not everyone was out there for the cause,” Washington said by phone last week. “But I understood that, too. If you want a society with rules that everyone adheres to, those policies need to protect everyone or people aren’t going to follow them.”

The memories have been rekindled as Washington prepares for a Saturday, July 25, Cal Plaza Watercourt performance dubbed “65 to 92: The Rhythm Changes But the Struggle Remains.” The 8 p.m. concert reflects on the Watts and Los Angeles Riots through the music of the two eras. It is part of a packed weekend in the Grand Performances series, with a Friday afternoon show featuring East L.A. band Mexico 68 and a Sunday evening concert with acts from Guadalajara and Colombia.

Washington, a 34-year-old jazz saxophon-

K

ist, has earned heavy praise in recent months for the virtuosic playing in his three-hour debut album, appropriately titled The Epic, and rapper Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. “65 to 92,” which is free to attend, features a 12-man band led by Washington, who has mashed jazz with hip-hop into new compositions. Washington said it wasn’t easy, but he’s happy with how the works of jazz luminaries like Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman interweave with the sounds of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac.

“Music is often a socially conscious art,” he said. “And the world you live in affects the music you make or listen to, and vice versa.”

A History of Violence “65 to 92” is the fourth and final piece in Grand Performances’ Aftershocks program.

Leigh Ann Hahn, director of programming for Grand Performances, brainstormed the series to mark the 50th anniversary of the Watts Riots. Previously this season the venue hosted “Wattstax Revisited,” a tribute to the seminal 1972 music festival that Hahn calls “the Black Woodstock”; “Watts50,” an evening of rap driven by social politics; and The Last Jimmy, a hiphop musical written by Dice Raw, a rapper and frequent collaborator with The Roots.

“One of the important parts of Grand Performances’ work in the city is we pose challenges to local musicians that go beyond what they’ve done in the recording studio,” Hahn said. “Our goal is to support musicians, but also give them ways to explore other ideas and music, to

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, fresh off the release of his acclaimed album The Epic, leads a 12-person band for a Grand Performances show on Saturday, July 25.

courtesy Kamasi Washington

tell their story.”

Washington has been a frequent Grand Performances presence this year, having jumped on the sax for “Wattstax Revisited” and a Gaslamp Killer show last month. He said being part of Aftershocks has inspired him to reflect on what caused the riots and what we’ve learned. Things seem better today, he said, yet recent high-profile incidents of violence against black people around the county give him pause.

Hahn already has ideas for next season’s thematic program, and she hopes to keep programming socially conscious shows to make Grand Performances relevant to audiences and creative talent alike.

“Next year I hope to look at the same sort of geopolitical local issues, but with more of a focus on the Latino community’s history,” she said.

Triple Play Appearing Friday at noon at Cal Plaza is Mexico 68, an East L.A. band that specializes in Afrobeat. It’s a kind of social commentary in of itself, Hahn noted, to see a primarily Latino

band interpreting the grooves of a genre that melded Nigerian and Ghanaian sounds with the funk and jazz popular in the 1970s.

Sunday, meanwhile, features Los Master Plus and Puerto Candelaria, both of which crank out dance-friendly cumbia beats but with completely different attitudes. The 7 p.m. show kicks off with the former, a duo with a flair for the tongue-in-cheek. Consider them the LMFAO of Guadalajara — they’re known for, among other things, donning absurdly decorated shirts and big cowboy hats.

Puerto Candelaria has a similarly irreverent take on cumbia, though with more traditional instrumentation. While the six-piece band slips some sly social commentary into their tunes, Sunday evening is all about high-energy fun, Hahn said.

Mexico 68 plays at noon on Friday, July 24; “65 to 92” takes place Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Los Master Plus/Puerto Candelaria play on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

The ‘Don’T ‘Don’ T Miss’ LisT Lis

1

EVENTS

FRIDay, JuLy 24 Bring Your Own Dance Moves Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

7 p.m.: Bounce by the ounce as DJ Day, Jeremy Sole and Mark de Clive-Lowe kick out free jams for all of those on hand and willing to listen.

The Last Book Review Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

8 p.m.: Music and copious jokes augment a celebration of the written word.

Round Up L.A. Live Microsoft Square, 777 Chick Hearn Court, (866) 548-3452 or lalive.com.

7 p.m.: This country music demi-festival includes line dancing, a card shark and a mechanical bull. After three drinks you are advised not to mess with any of them.

photo courtesy Rickie Lee Jones

TuESDay, JuLy 21 Howard Marks at Town Hall-Los Angeles City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

11:30 a.m.: The brilliant investment mind at the top of Oaktree Capital Management delivers a prognosis for the year in investing at this event hosted by Town Hall-Los Angeles. Spoiler alert: Scared money don’t make none.

ThuRSDay, JuLy 23 Frances Stark at MOCA MOCA Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

7 p.m.: The beloved multimedia artist compares her own work to that of exhibit subject Elaine Sturtevant. The Sturtevant show Double Trouble closes July 27.

Meghan Daum and Leslie Jamison at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Leave it to two essayists to delightfully de-myth the happy fantasies of a confused generation imbued with delusions of grandeur and unfettered happiness.

Country Time, Garden Time, and All Kinds of Music Fill Downtown

By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

2

The botanical bounty of urban Los Angeles reaches new heights this week as the Natural History Museum comes back with another installment of its Summer Nights in the Garden program. On Friday, July 24, from 5-9 p.m., the museum’s grounds will open to visitors who have a bevy of activities to enjoy. Victoria Rawlins and Downtown Horns will provide sonic scenery and there will be instructional classes on composting, stargazing and herb bundling. Or enjoy the garden tours and toy theater performances. The event is free to those who RSVP via the museum’s website. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org.

If you could pick one location to epitomize the experience of the American West, a locale where the hardscrabble pioneers and harder-drinking cowboys were to be distilled in a scenic homage to the prairies of yesteryear, it would likely not be L.A. Live. However, the folks at Anschutz Entertainment Group, who own the complex, couldn’t care less, and fresh on the heels of a packed weekend “Family Day” celebration, they’re going country at Microsoft Square with the Round Up at L.A. Live event on Friday, June 24. Starting at 6 p.m. and continuing late into the night, live country music will echo through the commercial zone as mechanical bull riding, pastiche-heavy card sharking, line dancing and lavish lasso tricks add to the ambience.

Major perk: Twelve L.A. Live restaurants will be featuring $5 food and drink items. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (866) 5483452 or lalive. com.

3

photo by Regis Hertrich

photo courtesy Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

SPONSORED LISTINGS FIGat7th Downtown Festival Fridays 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 955-7150 or artsbrookfield. com Arts Brookfield presents a free live music festival every Friday night through Aug. 28 at the FIGat7th shopping center plaza. This Friday, July 24, is SOULECTION: The Sound of Tomorrow featuring DJs, singer and rappers including Joe Kay, Andre Power, SoSuperSam, Esta, SPZRKT and Chris McClenny. Food and drinks starting at 4 p.m. with music starting at 8 p.m.

Friday Night Flicks at Pershing Square 523 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or pershing.square@ lacity.org Pershing Square’s free summer movie series will feature the 1979 film Mad Max starring Mel Gibson on Friday, July 24, at dusk. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic if desired. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome.

Free Latin Jazz Concert Series 501 N. Main St., (888) 488-8083 or lapca.org Join PacFed and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes as they pay tribute to activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta’s 85th birthday during Summer of 85 Years, a free summer concert series every second and fourth Thursday through September. This Thursday, July 23, includes performances from Ana Gazzola and Sonia Santos of Brasil Brazil and others. Music starts at 6 p.m.

Dames ‘N Games Sports Bar & Grill: MMA Girl Cage Fighting 2319 E. Washington Blvd., (323) 589-2220 or damesngames.net Spearmint Rhino’s Dames ‘N Games Sports Bar & Grill will host an MMA Girl Cage Fighting event on July 20. The event is part of an ongoing summer tournament through Aug. 17.

The girls will compete for $3,000 in cash and prizes.

July 20, 2015

Not to disparage the uber-accessible, hyper-mainstream, candy-strewn raves of today, but it Rickie Lee Jones used to be that concertgoers eager to pulse along with synthetic bass and growling has seen it all, from sequencers would end up in one of two places: a gay discotheque or an industrial a childhood spent beneath club. On Thursday, July 23, The Regent transforms into the latter as heavy the little fluffy clouds of her native hitting ’80s/’90s synth fiends KMFDM espouse their eponymous Arizona to a long-lasting collaboration alienation. Heavy metal guitars merge with early techno to with Tom Waits and decades spent surveying the fashion a sonic haven in the music of a band whose outer limits of commercial rock and jazz voname translates to “no pity for the majority.” cals. The unorthodox and haunting voice will invade Tickets were still available at press Pershing Square on Saturday, July 25, for a free concert. From time. At 448 S. Main St. or her curious late ’70s collaborations to work off her most recent album, theregenttheater.com. this year's The Other Side of Desire, you can expect a tour of Jones’ creative life within the comfy concrete confines of Downtown’s iconic zocalo. Doors open at 7 p.m. at 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

4

5

When we revisit the work of artist Elaine Sturtevant, we encounter the act of appropriation in many mediums. Now in its last week at MOCA Grand Avenue, the Sturtevant exhibit Double Trouble features conceptual aspects that challenge the nature of postmodern art. It all begs a question: When Sturtevant copied the art of Jasper Johns, Marcel Duchamp, Claes Oldenberg and Andy Warhol (her “Warhol Flowers” is shown here) among many others, was she actually copying art, or making her own art, or making a statement about reproductions, or something else? The exhibit is open each day this week (except Tuesday and Wednesday), but come Monday, July 27, Double Trouble will be but a memory. At 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

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

photo courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris–Salzburg, © Estate Sturtevant, Paris

16 Downtown News

July 20, 2015

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Bust a Move

Summer Nights in the Garden Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 7633466 or nhm.org.

5 p.m.: The grounds of the NHM open for tours, craft lessons, educational opportunities and well-curated tunes.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

July 20: Areni.

July 21: Frederico Aubele Trio.

July 22: Kaveh Rastegar and Friends.

July 23: Jass Quartet.Yes, that is a double s, not a double z.

July 24: Jason Lindner, Mark De Clive-Lowe and Louis Cole.

July 25: Scott Kinsey Group.

July 26: Carey Frank Trio.

photo courtesy Music Center

Saturday, July 25 Chinatown Summer Nights Chinatown Central Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, (213) 6800243 or chinatownla.com.

5 p.m.: Live bands, KCRW DJs, food trucks, a beer garden, good vibes and a capuchin monkey. What more do you need?

National Dance Day Celebration Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

11 a.m.: Audience participation is encouraged, but not required, as National Dance Day summons the energies of numerous dance instructors, the San Pedro Ballet and Invertigo Dance Theatre, among many others.

Sunday, July 26 Sunday Sessions Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

1 p.m.: The summertime tradition of quality boozing on the lawn at Grand Park while listening to hour upon hour of deep house continues as the Pattern Bar crew set up shop.

T

he eyes, and the feet, of the local dance world will be in Downtown Los Angeles this weekend. That’s because the National Dance Day celebration is back at the Music Center for the fourth consecutive year. On Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., there will be a series of classes for all skill levels and performances for casual fans and aficionados alike. The day will include ample representation from the Fox show “So You Think You Can Dance,” with appearances by past finalists, as well as judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

Also on the docket are performances

by Invertigo Dance Theatre, Mestre Amen and Capoeira Bataque, Jacob Jonas The Company and more. Think of it all as an opportunity to dance the day away. Admission is free.

At 135 N. Grand Ave., or musiccenter. org/ndd.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

July 25, 8 p.m.: “Gracias y Adios.” Dyango is retiring. So come on out and bring chips and a gold watch.

July 26, 6 p.m.: 2015 BTS Live Trilogy Episode II: The Red Bullet is a show from Korean boy band Bangtan Boys.

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

July 20: The Jazzaholics keep coming back — potentially because they’re in the right place.

July 21: Jeremiah & The Red Eyes would love to lecture you about the joys of double espresso shots at 9 p.m.

July 22: The Gabe Rosen Trio is fairly self-explanatory.

July 23: Bring your own sticky-icky for The Dank.

July 24: The Black Tongued Belles have a thing for giraffes.

July 26: RT N the 44s are back home from Nashville. Welcome them back to the 21st century.

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

July 24: Ilan Bluestone.

July 25: Justin Martin.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

July 22, 8 p.m.: Stalwart R&B singer and Civil Rights activist

S W O H S FREE EK THIS WE

Mavis Staples will receive the Woody Guthrie Prize tonight.

July 23, 7:30 p.m.: Some of the finest studio musicians in the city join together for a night of jamming as the Session Players Club.

Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org.

July 24, 12 p.m.: Mexico 68 would like you to know that they, along with every other band in Los Angeles, are heavily influenced by Fela Kuti. Hello Afrobeat!

July 25, 8 p.m.: The sax man with the plan, Kamasi WashingContinued on next page

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18 Downtown News

July 20, 2015

Local School Gets Music Video Help From a Big Name Choreographer Debbie Allen Helms Production Featuring 250 Students

By Heidi Kulicke t’s not overstating things to say that Debbie Allen is one of the most prominent dance professionals in the United States. She has choreographed for artists including Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey, and has handled the choreography for the Oscars 10 times. She has won three Emmy Awards for her choreography and nabbed a Golden Globe for her role as Lydia Grant in the TV series “Fame.” She is a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and participated as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Now, Allen has another credit that, given her career, might seem small in scope: director and choreographer of a music video at a high school in Downtown Los Angeles.

In March, Allen oversaw the video for “Dream It! Do It!” The five-minute work features an original song created by the students and staff of the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts at 450 N. Grand Ave. It had its world premiere on Wednesday, July 15, in Beverly Hills.

About 250 students participated in the video, along with 35 dancers from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in South Los Angeles. The video was filmed at the $232 million high school that opened in 2009.

Not only did Allen oversee the video pro bono, she recruited several of her Hollywood contacts to work on the project for free, including Oliver Bokelberg, director of photography of the ABC drama “Scandal.” Vocal coach Angel Hart, who has worked with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, created the vocal arrangement. The song was recorded at the private recording studio of former “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” bandleader Rickey Minor.

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The mission of the video is to encourage young people to get excited about the arts, and to drive home the importance of arts education to both school districts and charitable causes, Allen said.

“The video is fantastic. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out,” Allen said recently by phone. She added, “This is the first of many projects in the future.”

Allen joined the project through Kim Bruno, the principal of the 1,700-student school. Bruno, the former principal of the prominent LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City, met Allen when Bruno moved to Los Angeles for the job two years ago. They discussed doing a project together and agreed that a music video featuring students from the Cortines school and Allen’s dance academy was the perfect opportunity.

Bruno said the video is “an artistic call to action for the arts.” It features different students singing various parts of the song, while other students participate in the school’s visual art, dance, music and theater programs, culminating with the final scene of hundreds of students in front of the school.

Bruno said the importance of the arts is conveyed through the song’s lyrics, along with the passion and enthusiasm of the students.

“I wanted the message to be delivered by our kids,” Bruno said. “They understand more than any educator or politician how important the arts are, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.”

Thanks to Allen’s connections, they were able to produce the video for $25,000.

“When I first saw the video I cried,” Bruno said. “Coming to-

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In March, about 250 students from the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts participated in a music video filmed at the Downtown campus.

It was directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen.

gether on this with Debbie is a high point for me in my career.”

Bruno said plans are to show the video to the student body during the first week of school in August. It will be posted on the school’s website, YouTube and social media outlets, and you can see it at Downtownnews.com. heidi@downtownnews.com

Continued from previous page ton, returns for the Watts and L.A. Riots-reminiscent “65-92: The Rhythm Changes but the Struggle Remains.” See story p. 15.

July 26, 7 p.m.: Los Master Plus and Puerto Candelaria had us at “cumbiatronica.”

Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com.

July 24, 8 p.m.: July 5’s show with Lee Seung Chul has been rescheduled for tonight.

July 25, 8 p.m.: Tehran-based crooner Benyamin puts his best put foot forward with a name that says, “I’m familiar, but also different.” Good tactic.

Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare.

July 22, 12 p.m.: Cougrzz Rock is an all-female classic rock cover band.

July 23, 8:30 p.m.: Cuban jazz from La Charanga Cubana.

July 25, 8 p.m.: Peter Gabriel’s Real World label represents hard tonight as Joseph Arthur opens for L.A.’s own

Rickie Lee Jones.

Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com.

July 20: Rubber.

July 22: The Gitas, Triple Dog Dare, Harvard & Creekside.

July 23: Modpods, The May Company, Danger Junkies and Bastidas.

July 24: Rock N Roll Suicides and The Vertigo Birds.

July 25: Free Kitten & Brad, Red Roses, Vultures of Vinyl and Revolution’s Pride.

July 26, 3 p.m.: GPB, The Plurals, The Newports and Slow Poisoner.

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

July 21, 8 p.m.: Mexican pop-rock standout Natalia LaFourcade.

July 23, 8 p.m.: Dust off your fishnets and Doc Martens for KMFDM. July 25, 9 p.m.: Britney Spears is the mash-up subject for this month’s Bootie LA. But will the DJ delve into her Christmas album? One can only hope.

July 20, 2015

Downtown News 19

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Big Celebration in Little Chinatown

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

July 20: The week starts off strong with Angela Vicente.

July 21: The Makers’ musical manifesto on improvised jazz kicks off with another chapter.

July 22: Though I'm typically suspicious of two first names, Natalie John seems like she puts on a good show.

July 23: The Sidewinders play with snakelike precision.

July 26: The California Feet Warmers thought about retooling their show as the Southland Toe Coolers for the summer months, but the new name conjured up too many Downey-esque images of lower digits pruning in Styrofoam coolers on countless porches as listless laments for lost years coalesce into unstoppable screams. OK, we made all that up, but it sounds good.

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

July 22: SadGirl, Dabble and Mechachief.

July 24: Heller Keller, Roses and Melted.

July 25: Gorgon Zoloft, Big Debbie and Stay Cool Forever.

W

hen many people think of Chinatown, they think of restaurants. After that they think of, well, more restaurants. The Chinatown Business Improvement District wants to expand that mindset. Thus, this week, the organization presents the second of its three Chinatown Summer Nights programs.

On Saturday, July 25, Central and West plazas will be alive with all manners of shopping and entertainment. There’s a stage with rock bands, arts offerings including face painting, calligraphy and a candy sculpture, a roaming magician, a craft beer garden, KCRW DJs and a slew of food trucks. The fun runs from 5 p.m.-midnight.

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

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

July 20-22: It seems like everyone has been talking about Dope, which uses geeks and ’90s L.A. hip-hop culture as its base.

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

Galapagos 3D. If it was good enough to blow Charles Darwin’s mind, it’s probably good enough for you!

Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction..

Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare.

July 24, Sunset: Mad Max…not the new one, but the old

photo by Gary Leonard

FILM

one, where Max was actually mad.

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

Ant-Man (1:10, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.); Ant-Man 3D (11:25 a.m. and 2:10, 5, 8 and 11 p.m.; 4DX screenings at 11:20 a.m. and 2, 4:50, 7:40 and 10:30 p.m.); Trainwreck (1:20, 4:30, 7:40 and 10:50 p.m.); The Gallows (1:25, 3:35, 5:50, 8:05 and 10:30 p.m.); Minions (12, 12:50, 2:50, 3:40, 5:40, 6:30 , 8:20, 9:20 and 10:45 p.m.); Minions 3D (11:20 a.m. and 1:40, 4:10, 7 and 9:50 p.m.); Self/less (1:45, 4:40, 7:50 and 10:40 p.m.); Magic Mike

XXL (11:30 a.m. and 2:20, 5:20, 8:10 and 10:55 p.m.); Terminator Genisys (1:50, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:35 p.m.); Ted 2 (1:10, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:40 p.m.); Inside Out (1:15, 3:55, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.); Jurassic World (1, 4, 7:10 and 10:10 p.m.).

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

July 20, 7 p.m.: White People is Jose Antonio Vargas’ documentary exploring what it means to be young and white in America. Some people may already know this without the movie.

July 22, 7 p.m. The Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles kicks off with I Remember You, about two strangers involved in an

accident who sense that they have met before. More info at dffla. com.

July 22, 8:30 p.m.: In case you wondered what all those loudmouthed kids were like beneath their black bandanas and polarizing political slogans, Radicalized examines protest culture in L.A. July 24, 4 p.m.: Do we sense an original Rick Ross reference in the title of American drug war documentary Freeway: Crack In The System?

July 24, 7 p.m.: See if you can guess which band is documentContinued on next page

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

20 Downtown News

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Continued from previous page ed in the concert pic Hardcore Devo Live! Is it A. The Makers B. The Makers C. Devo or D. The Makers?

July 25, 11:45 a.m.: Naturally, those interested in an indie drama rooted in high school debate teams would be awake and able to see A Sort of Homecoming in the late morning.

July 25, 3 p.m.: Kittens In a Cage is more “Orange Is The New Black” meets Pussy Riot than Sarah McLachlan meets Silence of the Lambs.

July 25, 4 p.m.: If you’re wondering what happened when Bette Davis met Mae West, you’ll probably be into the honestly titled When Bette Met Mae. July 26, 12 p.m.: Just in case you needed another documentary to fully explain the connections between our recent fetish for hyper-vigilant national security and totalitarianism, there’s Imminent Threat.

July 26, 2 p.m.: East L.A. Interchange’s tagline, “A compelling look at what the future of America can be,” doesn’t really promise a lot of happy things.

July 26, 4 p.m.: Lesbians coming out in a volatile mafia family is the premise of Alto.

July 26, 9:45 p.m.: If you answered “a character from Treasure Island” to the question Who Is Billy Bones, congratulations on being literate and apologies for being presumably doomed in our lowbrow culture. The correct answer was, “a punk band that is apparently seminal despite having only been in existence for nine years.”

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bent Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

July 22-25, 8 p.m., July 26, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Get another view of Nazi Germany in Martin Sherman’s Bent. The play, which premiered on Broadway in 1979, tells the story of two gay men who were persecuted in 1930s Germany. This is the show’s first major revival in 36 years. Through Aug. 23.

Bob Baker’s Musical World Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

July 25-26, 2:30 p.m.: Puppets playing music. How is this different than, say, any band you hear on modern rock radio? Bob Baker’s puppets are non-sentient creatures, that’s how!

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea Los Angeles Theatre Company, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org.

July 23-25, 8 p.m., July 26, 3 p.m.: Immersive theater invites audience members/bar patrons to wander through an inclusive dramatic environment in a staging of John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. According to the LATC, “80s attire suggested.

Meet on the patio of 514 S. Spring St. Ask for Fred.” Through July 26.

Moves After Dark Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter. org.

July 20-21, 8:30 p.m.: Stage limits be damned, this immersive dance experience eschews typical performance limits as the audiences wanders around to see four different troupes in four different Music Center locales. Through July 21.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Loft Ensemble, 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.org.

July 25, 8 p.m. and July 26, 7 p.m.: McMurphy and Nurse Ratched take up residence in the Arts District as Ken Kesey’s timeless tale of insanity hits the stage. Through Aug. 2 Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

July 21, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

CLASSICAL MUSIC Saturday, July 25 Ipalpiti Orchestra of International Laureates Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.

Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu will be featured in this orchestra’s 18th annual festival. That makes it old enough to vote, but not to drink.

MUSEUMS El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 124 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-8372 or elpueblo.lacity.org.

Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of this monument’s 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the monument’s Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century fire-fighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check its website for a full slate of fiestas, including Cinco de Mayo, Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in November and December’s beautiful candlelight procession, Las Posadas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary.

Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

Through 2015: Leadbelly: A Musical Legacy tracks the career of famous bluesman Huddie William Ledbetter.

Through Winter 2015: The 75th anniversary of the illustrious jazz label gets the museum treatment with Blue Note: The Finest in Jazz.

Through July 2015: Late great guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legacy and career merge

hryn Maese eff Favre, Greg Fischer

n July 20, 2015 Yumi Kanegawa

sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

s Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the wn Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

in an exhibit rich in personal memorabilia, instruments, clothing and his famous “Number One” strat.

Through Fall 2015: Shake off your expectations and dive right in to everyone’s favorite pop country icon in The Taylor Swift Experience.

Ongoing: 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Columbia Records’ history and offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia’s pivotal technological as well as business innovations, including its invention of the LP. Ongoing: Featuring copious memorabilia including drum kits and a cape, Ringo: Peace & Love is the first major exhibit to be

dedicated to a drummer at the museum.

Ongoing: White sequined gloves and other wardrobe pieces are the focal point of the new exhibit case paying tribute to the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. This special display serves as a follow-up to the Museum’s past exhibitions, Michael Jackson: HIStyle and Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy. Housed on the Museum’s third floor, the launch of the new exhibit coincided with the second anniversary of Jackson’s death.

Ongoing: Roland Live is a permanent installation courtesy of the electronic musical instrument maker, Roland Corporation. The exhibit gives visitors a chance to participate in the music-making process by playing a wide variety of Roland products, from V-

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris

GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie

sENior writEr: Eddie Kim

stAFF writEr: Heidi Kulicke

coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese

coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Art dirEctor: Brian Allison

AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

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

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway

AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Ben Zachariah sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon

distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles

distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

twitter: DowntownNews ©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

CROSSWORD Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie sENior writEr: Eddie Kim stAFF writEr: Heidi Kulicke coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

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

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Ben Zachariah sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

twitter: DowntownNews

circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Laris Eastin

gardie

ke hryn Maese eff Favre, Greg Fischer

n Yumi Kanegawa

Drums and BOSS pedals to VIMA keyboards and the MV-8800 Production Studio.

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes 501 N. Main St., (888) 488-8083 or lapca.org.

Current: Los Angeles’ first Mexican American cultural center’s inaugural exhibition, LA Starts Here!, reveals the essential role of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the founding and shaping of Los Angeles’ history and culture—a multicultural project from the very beginning.

Ongoing: Calle Principal invites visitors of all ages to explore the Mexican American community of downtown Los Angeles during the 1920s. Located on the second floor of the historic Plaza

©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Ben Zachariah sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

s Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the wn Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

Downtown News 21 House, Calle Principal is an evocative re-creation of 1920s-era Main Street, at the time the heart of Los Angeles’s growing immigrant community. Featuring a variety of vignettes—a grocery store, portrait studio, clothing store, phonograph and record store, pharmacy, and more—it offers visitors a hands-on investigation of daily life during that period, encouraging them to make connections between the past and the present.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

Through Aug. 16: Inspired by the setting and lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s opus Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City, Khalil Joseph: Double Conscience explores Los Angeles with a dual screen narrative.

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

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 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.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

22 Downtown News

July 20, 2015

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DT

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL

To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

EMPLOYMENT

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL

Professional lofts for sale

Pre-oWned

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555

loft/UnfUrnisHed

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,500 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com

ITEMS FOR SALE

Homes for sale Near Downtown area living with privacy of your own home.

3br. 2.5 ba. 1680 sf of living space, built in 2008. Asking only $669,000. Agt. Paxton 626-2013464.

fUrnitUre

DoWNtoWN l.a. aUto groUp

Over 1000 vehicles on Sale Now!

Nearly Every Make & Model

Refurbished Vintage Furniture in DTLA www.etsy.com/shop/ LoftCurtainGallery.

Downtown News 23

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Mechanical Engineer (Production) of mechanical equip used in prod of low runs of precision customized metal products (e.g. tubing, hardware, ornamental, industrial). Mail to Bobco Metals LLC, 2000 S. Alameda St., LA, CA 90058.

LEGAL fictitioUs BUsiness name Fictitious Business name statement FiLe No. 2015158818 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: THeTACoGUYCATeRiNG.CoM, 1552 e. 32nd Street, Apt. 2, Los Angeles, CA

90011 are hereby registered by the following registrant(s): Armando Solis, 1552 e. 32nd Street, Apt. 2, Los Angeles, CA 90011. 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 isaura Correa, Deputy, on June 15, 2015.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).

Pub. 07/13, 07/20, 07/27, and 08/03/2015.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code.

The undersigned will sell on the 21st day of July 2015 at 11: 00 A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following:

LOFT LIVING Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development!

downtownnews.com

Name of owner:

Space number

Description of goods

Amount

Julia Lozano Rene Jimenez Harry Rushakoff Natalie Ohanian

U-8 D-28 A-17 U-96

Personal effects Personal effects Personal effects Personal effects

$497.87 $864.40 $430.00 $374.77

Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is”basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party.

Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager, July, 2nd 2015.

Thank You!

2 01 5

DOWNTOWN READERS CHOICE

Thank you for voting on your favorite Downtown businesses.

Who is downtown’s best?

Find out

in our July

27 Best of downtown Edition!

the LOFT expert!

TM

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555 TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

TheLoftExpertGroup.com BRe #01309009

DRE # 01309009

Voted BEST Downtown Residential Real Estate Agent!

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. excellent location.

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(213) 612-0348

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom. excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $895 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

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24 Downtown News

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

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.

E

at xci Gr ti A 255 South Grand Avenue an ng sk A dT ow Ne bou Leasing Information er w t O Co 213 229 9777 m Re ur ing n Su ova Apartment Amenities: Community Amenities: m m tio ~ Refrigerator, Stove, ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby er Microwave & Dishwasher ~ Concierge 20 n 15 (most units) ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas

Grand Tower

~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

Promenade Towers

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

July 20, 2015

The Central City Crime Report

Location: ROP G 2015 File Name: G&K 3-16 Rep: CH Date: 3-9 Creator: ba/yk A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Changes: 1

Trends and Criminal Oddities

By Heidi Kulicke n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.

I

Backpack War: A man approached a woman on the sidewalk at Eighth and Olive streets on July 7 and attempted to steal her backpack. After a struggle, he took the bag and ran off.

Take the Car: A man was sleeping in his car in Chinatown on July 7. Another man knocked on the window and told him to get out. He did as directed, and the thief pushed him to the ground and stole the car.

Criminal on Wheels: A man was talking on his cell phone on the sidewalk at First and Los Angeles streets on July 10. A 15-yearold boy on a skateboard approached the man, punched him in the face and took his phone. The skater was later arrested.

Skater Victim: A skateboarder took a break to change the music on his phone at First and Alameda streets on July 5. Another man approached the skater and, without provocation, hit him in the face.

Out for a Spin: A man left his co-worker inside the car with the keys at Broadway and Third Street on July 11. When he came back five minutes later, the car was gone. Police found the car undamaged in South Los Angeles later that day. The keys and the owner’s possessions were inside the vehicle.

Mealtime Theft: Two women had their purses stolen while eating at separate tables at Bottega Louie at 800 W. Seventh St. on July 9. In both cases, the women had their purses hanging on their chairs.

Paper Chase: On July 5, a man pried open the rear door at a restaurant in Japanese Village Plaza and stole some toilet paper and hand soap. He then left the building.

Bike Thefts Up: Eleven bicycles were reported stolen during the week of July 5-11. Six had their locks cut. One thief rode a bike worth $1,300 out of the Sport Chalet at 735 S. Figueroa St., and another thief stole a Fashion District BID officer’s unattended bike from the sidewalk at 12th and Main streets.

AROUND TOWN, 2

museum Tower

225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

Investments and Highlands Capital. The design of the curving towers comes from Harley Ellis Devereaux. Circa is slated for completion in late 2017. The nearly $500 million project joins underconstruction South Park neighbors Metropolis (north of L.A. Live) and Oceanwide Plaza.

Downtown Film Festival Returns

T

he seventh annual Downtown Film Festival is back, with 11 feature films, many of them Los Angeles or world premieres, being shown Wednesday-Sunday, July 22-26. The festival takes place at a number of Central City venues, with the Historic Core rock club The Regent serving as the hub. “Downtown L.A. has become an international brand for creativity, and that was reflected in the more than 500 submissions from around the world that our programming team reviewed this year,” festival director Greg Ptacek said in a prepared statement. The opening night film is I Remember You, a drama about two strangers who are involved in the same accident and can’t help but feel like they know each other. Other movies range in format and tone, from a documentary about the federal government’s involvement in the crack cocaine epidemic, to a film about L.A. punk rocker Billy Bones, to a lighthearted drama about a mob family. Tickets to individual films run $13-$25. More information is at dffla.org.