07-25-16

A Sneak Peek at a Huge Project : 7 Big Renovation for Music Center Plaza : 10

July 25, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #30

The 28th Annual

Best Of Downtown SEE PAGE 11

Blimp Image by FreeImages.com/Krzysztof Szkurlatowski

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

background photo by Gary Leonard

2 Downtown News

DT

AROUND TOWN

Office Tenant Announced for Big Arts District Project

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eveloper and property owner Atlas Capital in 2014 bought the massive, salmoncolored complex at Seventh and Alameda streets that includes the headquarters of American Apparel. It announced plans to turn it into Row DTLA, a mix of creative office space, retail and restaurants, and become a new gathering point for the community. Last week, it revealed its first new office tenant: Shared workspace company Real Office Centers will take over nearly 27,000 square feet of space. Real Office Centers signed a 15-year lease at Row DTLA; this will be its 13th branch and first location in Downtown Los Angeles (the two closest outposts are in Santa Monica). Industry Partners is handling leasing for Row DTLA’s roughly 1.3 million square feet of creative office space. Real Office Centers is expected to move in to the complex in the fall. Atlas in May announced its first retail lease, interior design store A+R.

L.A. Opera Touts Record Fundraising, Audience Growth

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he 30th anniversary season of L.A. Opera closed last month with David Lang’s acclaimed Anatomy Theater. But that’s not the only reason company brass are smiling: They

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS recently announced what General Director Plácido Domingo called “record-breaking ticket sales and donations.” L.A. Opera performances averaged 87% capacity, far exceeding the national average of 63% (per Opera America), and the more than 118,000 tickets sold represented a 20% gain over the prior year. The company added that 34.5% of attendees were first-time ticket buyers. “We have made tremendous progress in our efforts to reach out to new audiences,” Domingo said in a prepared statement. Additionally, the company said that 87% of opera subscribers renewed their tickets, and the number of high-roller donors giving $10,000 or more jumped by 20%. The two major fundraising functions, the Opening Night Ball and 30th Anniversary Gala, alone raised nearly $3.7 million. The new season starts in the fall, and future plans include a multi-season celebration of composer Leonard Bernstein’s upcoming centenary, plus a new Artist in Residence program featuring acclaimed composer/ conductor Matthew Aucoin.

Yet Another New Seven-Story Development for South Park

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he development boom is easy to spot in South Park — just look for the cranes, construction workers and closed-off lots. More action is coming to a site on Flower Street between Venice Boulevard and Cameron Lane (1370-1410 S. Flower St). The plans come from a development team that includes Brentwood property owner Leon Ahdoot, according to documents filed with the City Planning Department. The proposal envisions a seven-story building with ground-floor retail/commercial

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

July 25, 2016

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Seventh Street @ Figueroa

Javier Hernandez

space; there would either be 152 or 147 residences. Currently there are three warehouses on the site, which were acquired by different parties over the course of more than a decade, according to The Real Deal, which first reported the news. Ahdoot bought the largest property, a 9,800-square-foot structure at 1370 S. Flower St., in 2004 for $1.7 million. Another 6,200-square-foot building at 1410 S. Flower St. was purchased last year for $1.8 million by an entity dubbed Oxley Place LLC. The third warehouse, with about 7,300 square feet, was snagged for $1.9 million last year by an affiliate, Carson Corner, according to The Real Deal. No

July 21, 2016

timeline or budget have been revealed.

Corrections

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he July 11 “Don’t Miss List” contained an incorrect credit for the photo for “Welcome to Night Vale” at the Orpheum Theatre. The correct credit is courtesy of the Koral Young Group.

In the July 11 feature “What’s in My Loft,” Molino Lofts resident Kelly Sheehan was incorrectly identified as Kelly Sheehan-Funk. Additionally, the names of two friends were misspelled.

They should have been identified as Ken Meyer and Wade Thoren.

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Downtown News 3

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Felix Chevrolet makes buying a new car easy.

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We are so grateful for Carson Nissan for helping us with our first commercial vehicle.

Our sales person was very helpful and gave excellent Customer service. We love Toyota of Downtown L.A.!

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I will be sending all of my family and friends to Ola and Downtown L.A. Motors.

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I felt very comfortable and my experience at Nissan of Downtown L.A. was incredible!

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FELIX CHEVROLET 3330 S. Figueroa St. 888-304-7039 felixchevrolet.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer

4 Downtown News

ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: @ Yumi Kanegawa TWITTER: DOWNTOWNNEWS

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CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

July 25, 2016

©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The Intrigue of EcoFriendly Housing

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owntown is awash in seven-story apartment buildings, and while the 200 or so units that each one provides is helpful in creating critical mass for the community and addressing a regionEDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris al housing shortage, on the innovation level most of GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin these projects are underwhelming. It’s easy to misEXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie take one for the next.

SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim Twenty apartments in the recently opened Hanover STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton Olympic stand out from the rest of the bunch. Los AnCONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese S I N C E 19 7 2 geles Downtown News last week wrote about the CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Los Angeles Downtown News units, a first-of-their-kind experiment in sustainability.

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 It’s an intriguing approach that we hope is successful ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 and can be replicated.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa web: DowntownNews.com The Houston-based developer Hanover Company email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard has been looking for an opportunity to try out sofacebook: called “net zero” units, where the residences generate ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt L.A. Downtown News their own electricity through rooftop solar panels, and CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: where energy expenditures are no greater than what ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews S I N C E 19 7 2 is produced. Hanover Olympic, the company’s third Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtown News seven-story project in Downtown Los Angeles, be©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

1264the W. First came test Street, case. Los Angeles, CA 90026 The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newsfax:solar 213-250-4617 phone: While 213-481-1448 sustainability•and power are big trends CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown in building, this is reportedly the first time in the reDISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Los Angeles. gion thatfacebook: a portion of an apartment complex has ast week, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson rejected the Lorenzo In Castillo, his pleaGustavo bargainBonilla he admitted to lying to investigators in 2013 DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: One copy per person. twitter: been setL.A. aside for what Hanover terms “eco-green” plea agreement that prosecutors and attorneys for former and claiming he was unaware of a plan to have sheriff’s deputies Downtown News DowntownNews units. Indeed, there’s a risk and a financial concern Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca had orchestrated. A sixintimidate an FBI agent who was looking for an imprisoned infor— it costs more money to install 200 solar panels on month prison sentence in exchange for admitting to one count of mant whom the sheriff’s department was trying to hide (by movEDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris theEDITOR building (10 for each residence) and equip all the lying to federal investigators was too lenient, Anderson decided. ing the individual to various prisons and booking him under false GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin units with Nest thermostats, iPads that monitor enerBaca now has the option to withdraw his guilty plea. names) — Baca has now admitted knowledge of the plan to conEDITOR: Regardie elements. gyEXECUTIVE usage and otherJon sustainable front the FBI agent. Clearly the sheriff of L.A. County is obligated to Some may question Anderson’s decisionEXECUTIVE not for the alleged past EDITOR: Jon Regardie WRITER: Eddie tell the truth to federal investigators, just as all of us are.

SENIOR Consequently, rentsKim in the residences are hunlaw-breaking, but the current circumstances — Baca, who served SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF Slayton dreds ofWRITER: dollarsNicholas per month higher than traditional as sheriff for 16 years, is now 74 and is reportedly in the early stage Then there are allegations about how Baca ran his department.

STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese representatives apartments in the building (Hanover of Alzheimer’s disease. Prolonged negotiations or lengthy legal Although he earned praise for efforts such as helping educate and CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING Jeff Favre, Fischer claim utility billWRITERS: savings will offsetGreg the price hike). maneuvers and a trial could result in a man with diminished menreform prisoners, he has been harshly S criticized I N C E for 19 a7 lack 2 of overCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Herein lies the question: Will Angelenos be willing to tal faculties receiving a significant prison sentence. sight of the department. That allowed former Undersheriff Paul ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison Los Angeles Downtown News pay more forART a home thatYumi is friendlier to the planet? deal of power, and a culture of vio The next step will likely come in early August when the Brian two sides ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Kanegawa ART DIRECTOR: Allison Tanaka to accumulate a great 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 lence to erupt in prisons, including deputies who assaulted in Hanover officials said they are monitoring leasing return to Anderson’s courtroom, but for now, the process should phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard mates as if it were in their job description.

Tanaka in June was senserve as a cautionary tale to any high-ranking public official, particuand interest in the units, and that if demand is there, web: DowntownNews.com ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt tenced to five years in prison following his conviction on conspiralarly those who are elected. When someonePHOTOGRAPHER: is chosen by theGary people it could be replicated in the future. We think Downemail: realpeople@downtownnews.com Leonard cy and obstruction of justice charges. Other deputies and higherfor a post of great power, he or she must meet the highest level of town is a smart first choice — people hereHolloway are very CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine facebook: ups have also been convicted. accountability. The public trust matters, andACCOUNTING: when one ofAshley these Schmidt inenvironmentally aware, as evidenced the Stevens, many Michael Lamb ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway,by Brenda L.A. Downtown dividuals breaks the law, it reflects not only on that person, but on individuals who have been willing to go car-less and

What happens next is anyone’s guess: Baca’s team News could try their SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Catherine all levels of government, and adds to the sense of mistrust that too MANAGER: try biking or mass transit. If Hanover can keep the luck at a futureHolloway trial, where, if he is foundtwitter: guilty, a sentence could CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon many people have of municipal bodies andACCOUNT politicians. pricing competitive with the rest of the market in far longer than six months. Or prosecutors and Baca’s lawyers EXECUTIVES: Catherinebe Holloway, DowntownNews DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb could seek to work out a new deal — again, it would be subject to general, then the company stands a good chance at

Baca’s downfall continues a long line of misdeeds by elected DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez success.

Anderson’s approval. officials at all levels in California (and across the country).

Often ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News ©2016 We hope they find We that other Whatever happens, Baca’s downfall should be a lesson to evCivic Center News,it.

Inc. Loshope Angelestoo Downtown News isdea trademark of the Civiccases involve money or influence peddling, though sex scanInc. All rights reserved.

Center News Inc. All rights reserved. dals can also lead to a downfall. In nearly every circumstance, it velopers are watching closely and considering similar eryone in government: Those who assume office should be held The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles for Downtown Angeles and is disincredulous questions of, “What were they thinking?” The steps. a busy urbanthe metropolis.

It can of Downtownprompts to a higher standard, and ifnewspaper you don’t want theLosscrutiny, don’t and isDowntown distributed everyisMonday throughout offices and residences Los DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. law-breakers seem to believe they will never get caught. also be a leader in green living. run for election in the first residences place. Or behave yourself and you of Downtown Los Angeles.

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, One copy per person. won’t have a problem.

Baca’s situation involves sins of both commission and omission.

One copy per person.

Gustavo Bonilla

The Cautionary Tale of Sheriff Lee Baca

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

twitter: DowntownNews

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa

PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Infinite Vote A Huge Ballot and Long Lines Could Make Voting in November Interminable. Will Metro’s Tax Hike Survive?

By Jon Regardie ’ve never read the 1,200-plus-page War & Peace, but already I’m steeling myself for an experience that could drag on similarly.

I’m talking about surviving voting in November. If you haven’t been paying attention, the ballot is shaping up to be a monster, with

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THE REGARDIE REPORT a seemingly endless lineup of federal, state, county and city elections, measures and propositions. Maybe a Russian novel from 1869 isn’t the right touchstone, and instead we need a more contemporary and domestic comparison. To paraphrase David Foster Wallace, get ready for Infinite Vote.

Should we really worry today about what we’ll experience on Tuesday, Nov. 8? Absolutely, because the book-length ballot will almost certainly coincide with a turnout tidal wave spurred by the desire to vote against or for Donald Trump. This won’t be anything like the normal two-minute affair where you show up at a polling station that feels like a mausoleum, a poll worker squints at your sample ballot and searches for your name in a Byzantine book, you scrawl your signature upside-down, then you Inkavote and get your sticker.

Instead, the election will generate lines like Black Friday outside of Best Buy, though there’s no $149 plasma screen TV as a reward for your perseverance. It’ll be exciting for a minute, then will feel like waiting for a delayed plane at LAX.

You’ll stand around, asking yourself whether it’s okay to leave or whether you should stand around some more and do your civic duty.

You’ll remind yourself that we live in a democracy, and that voting and fair elections are things that people in North Korea and Florida can only dream about.

Will it really be this bad? If history is a precedent, then probably, yes. In 2008, the exciting presence of Barack Obama on the presidential ballot prompted more than 3 million people in L.A. County to vote, with a turnout of 82%, according to the “Post Election Report” from Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan. It was the biggest showing in four decades.

As weird as it sounds, when it comes to ballot excitement, Trump is the new Obama, and with The Donald having survived Cleveland last week, it’s easy to foresee a similar or even larger turnout.

Feed the Beast Turnout is one thing. A mile-long ballot is another thing entirely, and the more time you spend inside the cardboard cubicle trying to make sure that your “pen” actually fills the circle with ink, the more other people will wait.

One problem is that, like the plant Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors, people just keep feeding the beastly ballot. As of last week, 17 measures had qualified for the state election (more on those below), according to Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s website. Los Angeles city and county officials can’t stop adding items.

One of the lines in Downtown Los Angeles during the 2008 presidential election.

With Donald vs. Hillary and a phone-book sized ballot, the waits could be even longer this year.

photo by Gary Leonard

This is where things get strange. Elected officials know the danger of putting too many items on the ballot. Cross the invisible line where people get bored, confused or annoyed, goes the thinking, and they’ll basically turn into a voting 2-year-old and just say “No” to everything and demand a juice box. This becomes critical on tax measures that require the approval of two-thirds of the electorate.

Elected officials also know that the odds of passing a tax or bond item increase when there is a heavy liberal turnout. With Californians as a whole and Angelenos particularly likely to be pro-Hillary, everyone wants to get tax-andspend matters before a swarm of Democrats.

Ballot backers usually do extensive polling, and it is likely that everything that appears in November will have generated some kind of support. But then there’s the big question: Will Continued on page 6

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6 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

ELECTION, 5

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO

DOWNTOWN LA’S SUMMER EVENTS

y r t e m Ci

m e h u S in t

What to DO How to GET THERE What to BRING Where to PRE-GAME Where to AFTER PARTY DOWNTOWNLA.COM/SUMMER

that support still exist when the ask is not money for one item, but money for a gazillion items?

In a way, it’s like a bunch of politicians spending hours at a bar. They know the last drink/next proposition after so many before is a lousy idea, but it’s too hard to resist. “Hey,” goes the thinking, “one more can’t hurt. Can it?”

For Your Consideration People like picking a president and generally believe their vote is important, even if this is California and the state’s 55 electoral college votes have already been stamped for Crooked Hillary (joking!). Pretty much everyone smiles at the top of the ballot.

California voters in November will also get to officially make Kamala Harris a senator (Loretta Sanchez’s effort is valiant, but she doesn’t have the horses to win), and then comes the House of Representatives, where everyone in Los Angeles pretty much picks the incumbent. This stuff goes over easy.

People wade through state assembly and senate contests, and often there are elections for things like judgeships or a board of equalization. In these cases 98% of the voters have no idea who anyone is, so they pick the guy or gal already in office or the name they like best.

Ultimately, voters reach the statewide propositions, and here’s where eyes will gloss over. Padilla’s website lists the 17 thingies (not the official name) that have already qualified for the ballot, and it’s a doozy.

In Proposition 51, voters will be asked to approve $9 billion in bonds for K-12 schools and community college facilities. Prop 56 seeks a $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes, with proceeds going to healthcare programs. Pass this and the price for a pack of smokes will be, I think, $216.

That’s just a sampling. Prop 61 concerns prescription drug pricing, marijuana legalization arrives with Prop 64, and we weigh in on large-scale ammunition magazines in Prop 63.

Prop 66 concerns the death penalty, and in Proposition 60 we the people decide if those who have sex for a living on camera should be required to wear condoms when, uh, performing.

Yes, sex, drugs, smoking, death and guns are coming to you not in a Tarantino film, but on November’s ballot.

Exhausted yet? Too bad, because you’ve also got the local stuff, and here’s where the big money is. It starts with a proposed half-cent sales tax that would last forever (seriously, it’s got a “no sunset” provision) and raise an estimated $120 billion for Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects. It requires the approval of two-thirds of voters, and follows a similar attempt in 2012 that narrowly failed.

If you like those apples, then there’s lots more apples! The city wants voters to approve a $1.2 billion bond to build housing for the homeless. Speaking of the homeless, the county plans to ask for a tax on marijuana sales to raise up to $130 million annually to provide services for those living on the streets. Another county measure seeks to raise $95 million a year for park projects.

Ask anyone about any one of those matters, particularly the Metro measure, and they’ll likely agree it’s a good idea — many people are willing to sacrifice, and even tax themselves, to help society at large. But what happens when you ask them to approve all of those at once, after they have already spent 3 1/2 hours at the polling place?

I’m not saying everything will fail, but I am saying, for those behind the myriad measures and propositions, good luck — you’re going to need it, and it might be wise to save some of these for another day.

For everyone else, I’m saying, bring a book on election day.

You might even try War & Peace. There’s a good chance you’ll finish it while waiting in line. regardie@downtownnews.com

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July 25, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

A Sneak Peek at the Broadway Trade Center Inside the Transformation of a Massive 108-Year-Old Building

By Nicholas Slayton he 10th-floor rooftop of the Broadway Trade Center looks out on Downtown Los Angeles, a majestic view compared to what lies inside the building: dilapidated rooms, graffiti-tagged walls and construction barriers. The massive complex’s largely gutted interior sits beneath a dark shroud, hiding any hint of the activity underway.

One year ago, representatives of the firm that acquired the Broadway Trade Center revealed details of the transformation of the 1.1 million-square-foot edifice that occupies half a block south of Eighth Street and between Broadway and Hill street. Last week, members of Omgivning, the Downtown Los Angelesbased architecture firm handling the designs, gave a sneak preview of the initial work, and revealed some further plans.

New York-based Waterbridge Capital paid $130 million for the structure built in 1908 as the Hamburger & Sons Department Store. The developer formed a subsidiary, Broadbridge, to handle the project, its first in Los Angeles. Restoration work on the building has been going on for about a year, and Broadbridge is awaiting permits to begin new construction. A price tag has not been revealed.

The interior is a mash of construction signs and dust, broken windows and wooden barriers. Still, much of the building’s core seems

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undamaged. Pillars are being reinforced with concrete as part of the seismic retrofit. The company Spectra is restoring the terra cotta exterior, with the Broadway facade finished.

The original steel window frames are also being preserved.

The Beaux Arts-style building was originally designed by Alfred F. Rosenheim, and was later occupied by the May Company Department Store. Sarah Cahill, a project manager with Omgivning, noted that many of the historic touches have been lost over the years.

One element that has survived is the set of escalators at the center of the building, the first on the West Coast. Those will be restored for their aesthetic value, but will not be put back into service, said Cahill.

The renovations will include some key additions, Cahill said, starting with a trio of light courts. Shafts will be cut through the entire building, allowing natural light to flood the interior.

“It allows for outdoor opportunities within the building, because there will be patios you can occupy,” said Cahill.

Another big step involves turning the eightstory property with high ceilings into 15 levels via a series of mezzanines. Some of those existed in the past; Cahill noted that they were made of wood, and will be replaced with concrete and Continued on page 8

Downtown News 7

The 1908 building that once housed the Hamburger & Sons Department Store is being turned into a massive mixed-use complex, and historical preservation work has begun. Plans call for a large eating and shopping area under the 25-foot ceiling on the first floor.

photo by Gary Leonard

An anticipated highlight of the project will be a community park on the 10th floor roof deck, with a pool, garden and multiple bars and restaurant spaces.

photo by Gary Leonard

Go Metro to

NISEI WEEK and more in little tokyo!

Celebrate Japanese history and culture in Downtown Los Angeles. july 30 & 31 august 13-21 Obon Festival Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple

76th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival

august 12–15 8th Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival

Getting there is easy!

Take the Metro Gold Line to the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station or take advantage of two hours of validated parking, courtesy of Metro.

Learn more at golittletokyo.com.

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8 Downtown News

DOWNTOWN TO RODEO DRIVE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

BROADWAY, 7 steel floors to strengthen the structure.

Many details revealed last year still hold. The bottom two floors will become the “Earth Market,” a retail and eating space with 25-foot ceilings and two lanes running west to east connecting Broadway and Hill Street. Cahill said plans call for a large restaurant at the corner of Eighth and Hill streets, with a number of smaller vendors in the central portion of the floor; she compared the plan to Grand Central Market.

Above the market will be seven floors of creative office space, offering about 400,000 square feet in a malleable configuration.

“This whole area is being permitted as one open plan, so that a tenant can come in and take two floors, half a floor — it’s pretty flexible in how it’s being programmed,” Cahill said.

July 25, 2016 A private club in the vein of the Los Angeles Athletic Club or Soho House will fill the ninth floor, and will be topped by 150 hotels rooms spread over five floors. Guests would enter via a lobby on the ground floor. No operator has been announced.

The 10th floor will also hold a 71,200-square-foot rooftop deck open to the public, with a pool, garden, bars and restaurants. The hotel would have its own 36,000-square-foot deck.

Cahill said the rooftops need reinforcing to bear the weight of coming amenities.

Cahill said Broadbridge expects to be fully permitted and start construction in the spring of 2017. Work is projected to take 24 months, with most spaces leased for an anticipated opening in 2019. nicholas@downtownnews.com

The 1.1 million-squarefoot edifice occupies a half block south of Eighth Street between Broadway and Hill Street.

photo by Gary Leonard

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July 25, 2016

Downtown News 9

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

More Housing Comes to the Fashion District Developer Capital Foresight Opens Max Lofts, Its Second Neighborhood Project

By Nicholas Slayton ast summer, the Bel Air-based developer Capital Foresight opened the 77-apartment Garment Lofts in a 1926 building at 217 E. Eighth St. It was a rare residential play in the Fashion District, a community known as a hub for daytime workers, but that has lagged behind other Downtown districts on the residential front.

Now Capital Foresight has doubled down on the district. On July 1, move-ins began at the 96unit Max Lofts. The project transformed a 1925 Art Deco structure previously known as the Maxfield Building. The 14-story edifice at 819 S. Santee St. is just south of the Garment Lofts.

The building was originally designed by architect John M. Cooper (who also worked on Broadway’s Roxie Theatre) to house a textile company. It eventually became the offices of Anjac, the real estate empire run by the Needleman family, before being sold to Jade Enterprises in 2008. Capital Foresight acquired the property in late 2012.

Work on the Maxfield Building started in early 2013, according to Richard Moody, director of construction at Capital Foresight. PSL Architects handled designs for a project where the work includes new walls and the partitioning of the individual units, as some floor plans had been completely open in the past.

“We gutted the building completely, down to the concrete,” Moody said. “It was just a shell.

We kept all of the original window frames and duplicated the front doors to the units.”

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The 1925 Maxfield Building at 819 S. Santee St. has been turned into 96 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Developer Capital Foresight opened the renamed Max Lofts on July 1.

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

Capital Foresight, founded and headed by diamond dealer-turned-real estate impresario Naty Saidoff, has been very active in Downtown Los Angeles in the last five years, acquiring a number of older properties. In addition to the Garment Lofts, which underwent a $20 million conversion, it owns the Santa Fe Lofts at Sixth and Main streets. Capital Foresight recently sold the Title Insurance Building near Pershing Square to Lionstone Investments and Downtown-based Rising Realty Partners.

The Max Lofts represents another example of an aged building becoming modern housing, something that happened frequently in the Historic Core and the Financial District a de-

cade ago, though it has been more rare these days, as many developers now opt for steeland-glass high-rises. Kent Smith, executive director of the Fashion District Business Improvement District, noted that the community is one of the few Downtown neighborhoods that still has a number of older office buildings capable of being converted to apartments.

“Conversions are a little easer than new construction east of Los Angeles Street,” said Smith.

“Now we’re getting this whole vibrant residential community around Santee and Eighth and some great little retail.”

Penthouse Living In addition to the original windows, Max

The 14-story building originally housed a textile company. Capital Foresight bought the property in 2012.

Amenities include a rooftop jacuzzi and grilling area.

Lofts residences have quartz countertops, 12-foot-high ceilings and polished concrete floors. There are eight units each on the second through 12th floors, evenly split between studios and one-bedroom apartments. Residences range from 571-755 square feet, with rents starting at $1,540.

The larger units, such as a 747-square-foot one-bedroom, go for $2,300-$2,400. The 13th floor holds eight penthouses, four of which are two stories and extend to the rooftop.

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10 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

Music Center Plaza to Get $30 Million Renovation Project to Include Flat Concourse, New Restaurants and Better Connections to Street

The

Petroleum Building .com

ating three new restaurants at a variety of price points. These will have patio seating areas that improve connections to the surrounding streets.

Also planned is the installation of permanent restrooms. The plaza currently has restrooms in modified trailers. The number of permanent restrooms has not yet been revealed.

Powered by Chandler The Music Center and the Memorial Pavilion opened Dec. 6, 1964, the result of years of work by a team led by Dorothy Buffum Chandler, an ardent supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the wife of Norman Chandler, the publisher of the Los Angeles Times. The Phil performed in the Pavilion, which according to Continued on page 44

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various parts of the plaza, which would improve connections to the Mark Taper Forum, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Ahmanson Theatre. This will also expand the plaza’s event capacity from 1,500 to 2,500 people.

Another step involves widening the stairway at the Grand Avenue entrance. This will include the creation of a new water feature.

Moore said the work will open the stairs “way up, so you’ll be able to see straight up into what’s going on in the plaza.” She added, “We’re getting rid of the ‘tombstones’ which are on either side while widening the stairways all the way across, so it will be really easy to see from the street.”

Other elements of the overhaul include cre-

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photo by Gary Leonard

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The MyFigueroa Streetscape Project (MyFig) will bring safety improvements for bicycle and transit users — and a better Figueroa for us all. Construction is starting in 2016.

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photo by Gary Leonard

County Supervisor Hilda Solis said the project will be “transformative” and will draw more people to free cultural events at the Downtown complex. “We want to outpace New York,” she said.

The $30 million overhaul will flatten the rises and dips in the Music Center Plaza, and increase capacity for events.

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Downtown boosters have been talking for decades about the need to modernize the county-owned campus bounded by Grand Avenue and First, Hope and Temple streets. It has been criticized for a “fortress-like” design that lacks connectivity with the surrounding streets, particularly on the east side, where the main entrance is up a set of stairs, and where a series of concrete embankments and plantings hamper views.

The County Board of Supervisors has allocated $2 million for the planning stage, and Music Center President and CEO Rachel Moore said that she hopes work can begin in February 2017, with construction lasting 14 months.

First District County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she expects the county will allocate another $23 million for the project in the near future, though that money has not yet been set aside.

Moore said the Music Center will raise an additional $5 million for the renovation.

“What we want to see happening here is that this plaza will be transformed,” Solis told Los Angeles Downtown News on Monday, July 18, at an event announcing the details and touting efforts to increase diversity at the Music Center.

“They’re going to level [the plaza] off to have more ability to have more performances, and it will also lead very cleanly into the park, so we can have performances that really bring people through our Metro system, through bikes, walking, to converge here.”

The plan includes a number of elements, starting with eliminating the dips and rises in

USC

EXPO PARK

MLK JR

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By Jon Regardie os Angeles County and Music Center officials last week revealed details for a major renovation of the 52-year-old Music Center Plaza, one that would allow for larger public events and strengthen connections with the neighboring Grand Park and Civic Center. If all goes according to plan, work on the $30 million project could start early next year and finish by the summer of 2018.

110

This project is partially funded by Metro ExpressLanes

July 25, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 11

LOOKING YOUR BEST Downtown News readers have voted and the Best Of DTLA is revealed.

Drinking ................14 Restaurants .........16 Entertainment .....21 Shopping ............... 23 Services ...............26 Miscellaneous .....29 Staff Picks ...........31

12 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Good Samaritan Hospital

Best Hospital in Downtown Los Angeles for 17 years!!

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best: Hospital

Visit our website at www.goodsam.org.

For a referral to our excellent doctors call 1-800-GS-CARES (1-800-472-2737) 1225 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 977-2121

July 25, 2016

Best Efforts

I

Downtown News 13

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Honoring the Winners of the 28th Annual Best of Downtown Issue

n November, the polls will open and people across the United States will vote for the next president. One can only hope that turnout is as enthusiastic as it was for this year’s Best of Downtown ballot.

Is that hyperbole? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. After all, Los Angeles Downtown News had a record showing for our annual Best of Downtown readers’ poll. Altogether, 5,694 people cast approximately 117,000 votes over a three-week period in May (all balloting took place online at votebestof. com). Some people voted in all 158 categories, while others expressed a preference in just a few.

The 28th annual Best of Downtown issue shows just how varied the responses were. We saw a number of first-time winners, including Whole Foods (Best Grocery Store), Eggslut (Best Breakfast Spot) and The Broad (Best Museum).

There were also plenty of familiar names. The venerable Engine Co. No. 28 captured Best Business Lunch, and we also saw return appearances by the California Science Center (Best Family Attraction) and DTLA Bikes (Best Bicycle Shop).

Once again this year, the Downtown News editorial staff is weighing in, with winners in a couple dozen categories (see p. 31). These include the Bike Share program (Best New Project), Best Outfits (the Star Wars costumes at FIDM) and the Best (Free) Scenic Views (the Observation Deck atop City Hall).

Thanks to everyone who took the time to go online and express their opinion, and congratulations to all our winners who rallied their fans. If you don’t agree with some of the selections, no worries: Come back in 2017 and cast your vote.

Clicking and Winning More Best of Winners: Downtown News Readers Who Voted

C

oming in first is always fun. But coming in first out of more than 5,000 people? That’s quite an accomplishment.

That is also precisely what Brandon Guzman-Johnson just did. The only things more impressive than that result are that 1) Guzman-Johnson got there simply by clicking a few dozen times on the Internet, and 2) He has won a massive prize package.

Guzman-Johnson is the grand prize winner in a drawing tied to Los Angeles Downtown News’ annual Best of Downtown readers ballot. In May we asked people to go online and pick winners for the 28th annual Best of Downtown issue. Over a three-week period, 5,694 people cast votes. There were a total of 158 categories, and anyone who voted in at least 30 had the opportunity to be entered into a random prize drawing.

The prize that Guzman-Johnson earned will literally fill the entire weekend for him and a guest. He gets a twonight stay at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel on Bunker Hill, dinner for two at the hotel’s Noé restaurant, $200 in cash, and another dinner for two, this time at Morton’s the Steakhouse.

We didn’t stop with Guzman-Johnson.

Another winner is Sang Park, who gets an iPad Mini. Also benefitting from messing around on the web are Alex David-

Brandon GuzmanJohnson won a prize package including a two-night stay at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel.

photo courtesy Brandon Guzman-Johnson

son, Lena Sakadjian and Brian Heffernan — they each get $100.

While those are the biggest prizes, they’re not the only ones. We’ve also got a pair of Patina Restaurant Group gift card winners: Patrick McDonald has $100 to spend, and Mack Rhinelander receives $50.

Congratulations to all of our winners, and thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. For those Downtown lovers who voted but didn’t win a prize, please try again next year. We’ll be giving out more great stuff, and all you have do is spend some time fiddling on the Internet.

THANK

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14 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best Drinking 451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com That sweet brew derived from the Southern Hemisphere’s favorite bean achieves new lucidity down in the Arts District, where the local incarnation of Urth deals it up frothed and hot.

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD DIVE BAR Cole’s

BEST TEA Chado Tea Room

RUNNER-UP: Tierra Mia Coffee

BEST TEA

216 Alameda St., (213) 622-1261 or angelcitybrewery.com You’ve seen the angelic tap handles all through the city where they serve as reminders of the IPA and other signature suds available at the Angel City epicenter on the fringe of the Arts District.

369 E. First St., (213) 258-2531 or chadotea.com Within serene eyeshot of the Regional Connector construction, you’ll find a wall-to-wall source for your tea fixings. Nighttime, morning, mid-afternoon, antioxidant rich, caffeine free — whenever and whatever you crave, you’ll likely be able to find it at this Little Tokyo institution.

BEST JUICE

Pressed Juicery

860 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 688-9700 or pressedjuicery.com Apropos of its Fashion District location, Pressed Juicery will cram vital nutrients and supplements into a tasty beverage that will fortify your immune system and help you look and feel really good.

RUNNER-UP: Juice Crafters

702 S. Spring St., (213) 689-4555 or juicecrafters.com

BEST SPORTS VIEWING BAR Casey’s Irish Pub

613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or caseysirishpub.com There, in the subterranean expanse of Grand between Sixth and Wilshire, you too can scream and holler and slosh your Smithwick’s.

You can even pretend the Lakers, Dodgers and USC have a viable chance of achieving anything meaningful this season.

RUNNER-UP: Big Wangs

801 S. Grand Ave. #175, (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com

BEST BOOZE & GAMES

Arts District Brewing Company

828 Traction Ave., (213) 817-5321 or artsdistrictbrewing.com Not only are there dozens of house-made beers and guest taps, there is also hard alcohol, food options and skeeball. That’s right: skeeball and booze in one of the coolest projects the Arts District has seen in years.

RUNNER-UP: Eighty-Two

707 W. Fourth Place., (213) 626-8200 or eightytwo.la

BEST RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR Perch

448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com From Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m., you can purchase affordable small bites, certain $7 cocktails, $6 liqueur add-ons, $6 wines and a $5 beer. There is also the incomparable view. In

336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111 or lacitabar.com

Angel City Brewery

Chado Tea Room

318 E. Second St., (213) 621-2559 or fourleaf.cafe

RUNNER-UP: La Cita

BEST BEER (DRAFT/TAP) SELECTION

653 S. Spring St., (213) 895-6000 or tierramiacoffee.com

RUNNER-UP: Four Leaf

118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-4090 or colesfrenchdip.com Without even considering the superlative cocktail R&D bar in the back, Cole’s stands out for its consistent drinks, history, bar team and decor.

Raise a glass, then raise another.

other words, eat, drink and be merry without breaking the bank.

RUNNER-UP: Border Grill

445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or bordergrill.com

BEST LGBT BAR Redline

131 E. Sixth St., (213) 935-8391 or redlinedtla.com The LGBTQ community has spoken, and when it comes to getting a drink and meeting people, everyone is heading to Redline. Enjoy the pleasant environment, creative programming and easy-flowing alcohol.

RUNNER-UP: Precinct

357 S. Broadway, (213) 628-3112 or precinctdtla.com

BEST WINE BAR BottleRock

1050 S. Flower St., Suite 167, (213) 747-1100 or bottlerockla.com The longstanding South Park corkers have dozens upon dozens of choices when it comes to the fruit of the vine. The staff has plenty of experience and will help when you can’t decide between cabernet, merlot and pinot.

BEST LOUNGE BAR The Edison

108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com Continue your descent from anonymous streetlevel alley to boiler-clad, steampunk-meetsProhibition speakeasy cocktail lounge. Grab a drink, settle into a comfy chair or bench and enjoy the parade of similarly clad low-key socialites.

RUNNER-UP: Clifton’s Gothic Bar

648 S. Broadway, (213) 627-1673 or cliftonsla.com

BEST HOTEL BAR

Standard Rooftop Bar-Standard Downtown

550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or standardhotels.com With 360-degree views, a fancy pool and quality DJing, you will, if only for a moment, feel as if you are in an actual city center surrounded by the beautiful people. Wait, you are in a city center surrounded by the beautiful people.

RUNNER-UP: Upstairs Bar-Ace Hotel

929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com

BEST BAR HAPPY HOUR Casey’s Irish Pub

613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or caseysirishpub.com A four-hour window between 3 and 7 p.m. every day should be an ample window of time to get two bucks off appetizers to help fortify your $3 Miller High Life or $5 well cocktail.

RUNNER-UP: Cole’s

RUNNER-UP: Yard House

800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or yardhouse.com

BEST BREWERY

Angel City Brewery

216 Alameda St., (213) 622-1261 or angelcitybrewery.com Ancient by Downtown brewery standards, Angel City has a variety of beers on tap, food options and an absurd amount of space for you and yours to spread out and cop a buzz.

RUNNER-UP: Arts District Brewing Co.

118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-4090 or colesfrenchdip.com

828 Traction Ave., (213) 519-5887 or artsdistrictbrewing.com

BEST LATE-NIGHT SPOT

BEST HANGOVER REMEDY SPOT

639 S. Spring St., (213) 612-3000 or thelacafe.com Late night, early morning, mid afternoon: It doesn’t really matter when, because LA Café is guaranteed to be open. That said, if you do wind up here after dark, they will happily get you a drink or a bite, and you don’t have to worry about being kicked out because they’re closing.

524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com The pioneering institution on Main Street has built a name for itself on the radical concept of providing traditional American-style diner food made fresh all week long, but especially on Saturday and Sunday morning when you can barely move and the sunlight literally hurts.

L.A. Café

RUNNER-UP (TIE): The Original Pantry Café

877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

Nickel Diner

RUNNER-UP: The Original Pantry

877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

BEST BOOZE & GAMES Arts District Brewing Company photo by Gary Leonard

Urth Caffé

800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or yardhouse.com

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST COFFEE

Yard House

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 15

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

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16 Downtown News

Best Restaurants 544 S. Grand Ave., (213) 891-0900 or watergrill.com Shellfish, fish sandwiches, whole fish, three varieties of wild Alaskan halibut and a host of turf-raised items are yours for the picking at this near legendary Financial District establishment. Enjoy the harvest of the seas and wash it down with a glass of wine.

Best Meals BEST BUSINESS LUNCH Engine Co. No. 28

Morton’s The Steakhouse

644 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-6996 or engineco.com From corn chowder and chili to chicken pot pie, meatloaf and the weight-watching favorite wedge salad, there will be ample eats to devour with professional company in this power lunch jewel. If you see an attorney or banker you know, don’t be surprised.

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com In convenient proximity to both L.A. Live and the Financial District, the cozy confines of Morton’s the Steakhouse are the ideal gathering point for familiar meals and boardroom escapes. Or you can think of it as a journey to meat heaven.

Redbird

RUNNER-UP: Sugarfish

114 E. Second St., (213) 788-1191 or redbird.la Smoke wafting upward from Neal Fraser’s grill constitutes easily the most aromatic scent since the area was reserved for citrus groves and other productive agriculture. Nowadays, you can indulge in lunch or dinner in a oncedivine location where the flavor profiles will leave you questioning the validity of every meal you’ve had thus far.

600 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-3000 or sugarfishsushi.com

BEST FINE DINING (TIE) Patina

141 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3331 or patinagroup.com/patina-restaurant The splendidly appointed restaurant adjoining the Walt Disney Concert Hall offers both a $110 five-course tasting menu or a more modest $79 three-course dinner menu. Be sure to factor in your lust for veal cheek, Colorado rack of lamb and Alaskan black cod into your decision making process.

RUNNER-UP: Faith & Flower

705 W. Ninth St., (213) 239-0642 or faithandflowerla.com

BEST BREAKFAST SPOT Eggslut

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST BREAKFAST SPOT Eggslut

317 S. Broadway or eggslut.com There are breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches. You will dine on them and you will be happy. But be warned that that satisfaction will come after you have stood in a long line.

This is a reminder that very good things come to those who wait.

RUNNER-UP: Nickel Diner

524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com

BEST BRUNCH Bottega Louie

700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com On weekends, you can pop into the grand dining hall at Seventh and Grand where the options include lobster hash, eggs benedict and lemon ricotta pancakes. Or go for lunch items

BEST DINNER Bestia including a meatball parmesan sandwich and tartufo pizza.

RUNNER-UP: Perch

448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com

BEST LUNCH SPOT Mendocino Farms

300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114; 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262; 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 430-9040 or mendocinofarms.com The ingredients are hyper-fresh. The bread comes from nearby Drago Bakery. The sandwiches, salads and sides are all made upon your demand. Plus, everyone behind the counter is nice and smiles at you.

RUNNER-UP: Bottega Louie

700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com

BEST DINNER Bestia

2121 E. Seventh Place, (213) 514-5724 or bestiala.com From the persimmon salad antipasti to the burrata pizza to the ricotta dumplings and 37-ounce pork tomahawk chop, the Bestia dinner menu promises to delight and invigorate before completely eviscerating your opinion of other restaurants.

RUNNER-UP: Morton’s The Steakhouse

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com

Best Cuisines BEST AMERICAN Clifton’s

648 S. Broadway, (213) 627-1673 or cliftonsla.com Not only does the buffet-style cafeteria serve everything from pizza to burgers to turkey dinners, so too is the decor utterly and absolutely American. From taxidermy to an artificial simulacrum of a redwood tree, the full flight of postmodern Americana is on display.

RUNNER-UP: Nickel Diner

524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com

BEST ASIAN FUSION (TIE) Wokcano

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*

OF DTLA

800 W. Seventh St., (213) 623-2288 or wokcanorestaurant.com.

The stalwart Seventh Street fixture with the pan-Pacific cuisine and the daily 3-7 p.m. happy hour and 10 p.m.-2 a.m. drink-only reverse happy hour is almost never empty. It’s not hard to figure out why.

Chaya Downtown

213-784-4761

525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577 or thechaya.com/downtown-la From sushi to short rib, diners will be treated to a culinary tour of Asia without leaving Downtown. What makes the experience better? Having that meal on the lovely patio, of course.

LosAngelesSelfStorage.net

RUNNER-UP: Little Sister

Readers Choice

voted Best: MOVING/ STORAGE COMPANY

1000 West 6th Street, LA, CA 90017 @ 6th St. & Beaudry

photo by Gary Leonard

Water Grill

Best Meals...................................... Page 16 Best Cuisines.................................. Page 16 Best Dishes..................................... Page 19 Best Restaurant Miscellany......... Page 20

Bring in this coupon and receive

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

523 W. Seventh St., (213) 628-3146 or littlesisterla.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST GELATO Gelateria Uli

541 S. Spring St., (213) 900-4717 or gelateriauli.com The gelateria with the pretty sign in the Spring Arcade Building is a reward for anyone who makes all gone after a meal at its next-door neighbor Guisados. Or skip the tacos and sample the frosty, fresh-made delights. Have a coffee, too.

BEST ICE CREAM YOGURT McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream

317 S. Broadway, (213) 346-9722 or mcconnells.com Lest the hot fire of all the radical food options at Grand Central Market singe your tongue, for the scoopers at McConnell’s will sell you a dollop of mint chocolate chip that will alternately delight your taste buds and lower your body temperature.

RUNNER-UP: Yogurtland

130 S. Central Ave., (213) 687-0733 or yogurt-land.com

BEST BAKERY/DESSERTS The Pie Hole

714 Traction Ave., (213) 537-0115 or thepieholela.com The sheer inventiveness of The Pie Hole’s signature sweets is heavily augmented by a selection of savory pies that are not to be trifled with. Enter at your own risk. Addictions have been made here.

RUNNER-UP: Big Man Bakes

413 S. Main St., (213) 617-9100 or bigmanbakes.com

BEST CAJUN FAVORITE

Little Jewel of New Orleans

207 Ord St., (213) 620-0461or littlejewel.la One part market, another part deli, the Chinatown oddity is practically bursting with tastes from the Crescent City. Is that catfish? Yes, yes it is. Thank you chef/owner Marcus ChristianaBeniger!

RUNNER-UP: Little Easy

216 W. Fifth St., (213) 628-3113 or littleeasybar.com

BEST CHINESE Peking Tavern

806 S. Spring St., (213) 988-8308 or tooguapo.com Delightful dumplings, notorious noodles and a selection of Northern Chinese hand foods make for full stomachs and fortuitous portents Continued on page 18

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Thank You, Downtown LA!

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS 1801 S. Figueroa St. 888-319-8762 mbzla.com

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-685-5426 porschedowntownla.com

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-583-0981 audidtla.com

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-781-8102 vwdowntownla.com

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-399-6132 toyotaofdowntownla.com

We’re proud of our brand, Toyota of Downtown, to be named Best Auto Dealer for New and Used Cars and Best Service Department. Additionally, we are proud as a group to be named Best Auto Body and Repair. We have been providing vehicles to Downtowners since 1921 when Felix Chevrolet was located at 11th and Grand. You don’t have to leave downtown and travel to the suburbs for sales and service. We take care of you right here on Figueroa Street.

SCION OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-560-9174 scionofdowntownla.com

We have eight brands in one company and can handle all your automotive needs. Call me on a direct line, 213 743-5519, and tell me what you are looking for. We’ll find the car that’s right for you.

NISSAN

Sincerely,

OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

Darryl

635 W. Washington Blvd.

888-838-5089 downtownnissan.com

Darryl Holter, CEO CARSON

Downtown L.A. Auto Group Family Owned & Operated Since 1955 W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

NISSAN

1505 E. 223rd St. 888-845-2267 carsonnissan.com

FELIX CHEVROLET 3330 S. Figueroa St. 888-304-7039 felixchevrolet.com

18 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

of a quick return at Spring Street’s basement capital for Chinese food.

me-up. Or, utilize Eat24’s delivery service and have your mind blown at home.

RUNNER-UP: Ocean Seafood

750 N. Hill St., (213) 687-3088 or oceanseafoodchinatown.com

RUNNER-UP: Yang Chow

point — Bestia is darn fresh. Actually, its food is better than grandma’s, but keep that to yourself.

RUNNER-UP: Tender Greens

505 W. Sixth St., (213) 873-1890 or tendergreens.com

819 N. Broadway, (213) 625-0811 yangchow.com

BEST FARM TO TABLE-ESQUE

BEST FRENCH

BEST DIM SUM

2121 E. Seventh Place, (213) 514-5724 or bestiala.com The staggering freshness of the homemade pasta will have you comparing the goods at Bestia to the spaghetti your grandma used to make from scratch. What’s that? Your grandmother wasn’t Italian? Well, that’s beside the

418 S. Spring St., (213) 217-4445 or lepetitparisla.com Newcomer Le Petit Paris is a welcome addition to the 400 block of South Spring where their daily specials, flowing bar and Francophile menu enliven and delight. Be sure to stop in at the little market, too.

Golden Dragon

960 N. Broadway, (213) 626-2039 From 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week, you too can drag your broken, weary, hungry form to Golden Dragon for a quick dumpling pick-

Bestia

BEST CAJUN FAVORITE Little Jewel of New Orleans

BEST INDIAN Badmaash photo by Gary Leonard

RESTAURANTS, 16

Le Petit Paris

RUNNER-UP: Church & State

photo by Gary Leonard

1850 Industrial St., (213) 405-1434 or churchandstatebistro.com

BEST GASTROPUB Library Bar

630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-0053 or librarybarla.com It’s intimate. There’s an ample supply of craft cocktails and quality beer. Tasty small-plate options are available. The lights are turned down low. There will likely be at least one lawyer on hand, expensing drinks to the firm.

Sounds like a superlative gastropub to us.

RUNNER-UP: Peking Tavern

806 S. Spring St., (213) 988-8308 or pekingtavern.com

BEST INDIAN Badmaash

108 W. Second St., (213) 221-7466 or badmaashla.com Tucked between Pitfire Pizza and The Edison, you’ll find this lovely testament to the cuisine and its constituent spices. Enjoy the colorful murals of Gandhi as you sample dishes like the Badass Chicken Tikka and the Chili Cheese Naan 2.0.

Celebrating our 108th year!

332 S. Broadway, (213) 346-9725 or maccheronirepublic.com

BEST JAPANESE

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant

811 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 236-9600 or takamisushi.com Of course there is sushi and sashimi galore. But let’s not neglect the full selection of steaks and poultry as well as the more unorthodox menu items in the vein of ahi tuna tartare and socalled Japanese tacos.

RUNNER-UP: Shabu Shabu House

127 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, (213) 680-3890 or shabushabuhouse.menutoeat.com

BEST SUSHI Sugarfish

RUNNER-UP: Gill’s Cuisine of India

600 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-3000 or sugarfishsushi.com You can thank the Seventh Street granddaddy of rolls for the Main Street hand roll spin-off KazuNori. We would be remiss, though, to get ahead of ourselves. Sugarfish’s glory reigns supreme with a variety of fresh fish-crafted selections that go down ever-so-easy.

BEST ITALIAN

RUNNER-UP: Sushi Gen

838 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-1050 or gillsindian.com

HOME OF THE FRENCH DIP

RUNNER-UP: Maccheroni Republic

Bestia

2121 E. Seventh Place, (213) 514-5724 or bestiala.com Bestia is the gold standard for inventive cuisine from that boot-looking country where preparation, delivery and quality of ingredients matter just as much as how full you feel upon departure.

422 E. Second St., (213) 617-0552 or sushigenla.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST POKE Ohana Poke

130 E. Sixth St., (213) 265-7561 or ohanapokeco.com For the laymen, think of it as a rice bowl that has become enamored with the grill-less sim-

Downtown News Readers Voted Us...

1001 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 213.628.3781 www.philippes.com

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

Open 6am to 10pm Daily Plenty of Free Parking!

voted Best:

Downtown Classic

photo courtesy of Morton’s

BEST FINE DINING Morton’s The Steakhouse

July 25, 2016

photo by Gary Leonard

735 S. Figueroa St. (213) 624-6542 and 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 260-2358 or georgesgreek.com

BEST SEAFOOD Water Grill

544 S. Grand Ave., (213-891-0900 or watergrill.com.

In 40 years, when receding polar ice caps flood coastlines around the world, Water Grill will have quality beachfront property to back up the fine caliber of fresher-than-fresh seafood served in house. For now, you’ll have to content yourself by writing off your fine crab meal as a function of fine port-to-city fish couriers.

RUNNER-UP: Fisherman’s Outlet plicity of sushi. For the poke enthusiast, think of it as a neighborhood favorite dominator of the poke arts.

BEST KOREAN

Korea BBQ House

323 E. First St., (213) 680-1826 or koreabbqhouse.com The Little Tokyo haunt promises a variety of meats to be grilled table-side in a DIY exercise in expanding the lining of your stomach that heralds great peace and satisfaction.

RUNNER-UP: Seoul Sausage Co.

RUNNER-UP: Morton’s The Steakhouse

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST CUPCAKES

Sticky Rice

RUNNER-UP: Pok Pok Phat Thai

727 N. Broadway, (213) 628-3071 or pokpokphatthai.com

BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY Zinc Cafe

RUNNER-UP: El Cholo

580 Mateo St., (323) 825-5381 or zinccafe.com From eggplant parmesan to asparagus sandwiches to cauliflower pizza, the Arts District destination proves that avoiding meat can be as flavorful as it is spiritually rewarding.

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN

RUNNER-UP: Café Gratitude

1037 S. Flower St., (213) 746-7750 or elcholo.com

141 W. Eleventh St., (213) 747-9500 or ckkabob.com Persian eatery California Kabob Kitchen has a stated purpose of serving a “ray of joy and happiness.” Given our continued satisfaction with their sticks of grilled meat, we know they are meeting their aim.

RUNNER-UP: Kabab & More

663 S. Hill St., (213) 955-6162

BEST MEDITERRANEAN Spitz

371 E. Second St., (213) 613-0101 or eatatspitz.com Spitz is a testament to the ethnic melting pot that is Downtown Los Angeles. The finest in Mediterranean eating happens to be in Little Tokyo. Despite the temptation to take in the busy decor and warm lighting, you may just want to take advantage of the delivery option to enjoy your doner kebab at home.

300 S. Santa Fe Ave., (213) 929-5580 or cafegratitude.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST FILIPINO RiceBar

419 W. Seventh St., (213) 807-5341 or ricebarla.com Sausage, chicken and beef all make appearances in the specialty Filipino cuisine served in this micro-nook of a restaurant on Seventh Street where few are seated but many are stuffed.

BEST VIETNAMESE Blossom

426 S. Main St., (213) 623-1973 or blossomrestaurant.com The longstanding double-dining room establishment serves up a variety of Vietnamese items including spring rolls, fried rice and, of course, a host of pho.

RUNNER-UP: Pho 87

1019 N. Broadway, (323) 227-0758

BEST PIZZA Two Boots Pizza

852 S. Broadway, (213) 413-8626; 738 E. Third St., (323) 263-8626 or umami.com

1310 W. Sixth St., (213) 483-6000 or pacificdiningcar.com The iconic 24/7 steak shack is your go-to spot for a porterhouse done up just as you like it.

Take a moment and look up from your hunk of beef to spot literally every power player in the city of Los Angeles.

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com

The best way to thank him is to eat his goods in quantity.

RUNNER-UP: Umami

541 S. Spring St., (213) 623-3606 or crepessansfrontieres.com In what is rapidly becoming a Euro-alley par excellence, Crepes Sans Frontieres brings a taste of French cafe cuisine to the Spring Arcade. Though you may be on the sweet and savory fence, suffice it to say that either option will net you a satisfying experience.

Pacific Dining Car

317 S. Broadway #C-4-5, (213) 621-2865 or eatstickyrice.com They serve the rice in a wrap down at Grand Central Market because it really is that sticky.

Complement that defining grain with noodle soup or a little protein and you’re dealing with a bangin’ Bangkok meal.

445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or bordergrill.com Contemporary Mexican is the order of the day in the Financial District as the sit-down classic offers a variety of fresh updates to old favorites. Be sure to pair it with a drink.

725 W. Seventh St., (213) 228-7800 or thecounterburger.com On the off chance that a scan of the inventive menu doesn’t reveal a suitable slab of perfectly grilled beef topped with curious add-ons, the folks at The Counter have made a name for themselves in accommodating your bizarre, nonsensical request for custom burgers.

BEST STEAKHOUSE

BEST LATIN/MEXICAN (TIE)

Border Grill

The Counter

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST CREPES

BEST THAI

541 S. Spring St., (213) 627-7656 or guisados.com The Boyle Heights-born collection of stewed meats delivered on tacos made from outstanding masa has become a fixture in the Historic Core, where the extended hours promise both brunch and drunk food options, and the habanero sauce has become synonymous with masochism.

BEST BURGER

529 S. Central Ave., (213) 627-7231 or fishermansoutlet.net

236 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 935-8677 or seoulsausage.com

Guisados

Best Dishes

photo by Gary Leonard

RUNNER-UP: George’s Greek Grill

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST FILIPINO RiceBar

California Kabob Kitchen

Downtown News 19

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Crepes Sans Frontières

Big Man Bakes

413 S. Main St., (213) 617-9100 or bigmanbakes.com Chip is not playing around. His angel-staffed cupcake castle in the Old Bank District has the neighborhood lock on mini- and full-size microcosms of tongue-blasting dessert delight.

BEST MAC N’ CHEESE Engine Co. No. 28

644 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-6996 or engineco.com Nothing backs up the restaurant’s dignified Americana theme quite like the ooey gooey, overflowing-with-flavor mac and cheese. This will satisfy you and your work colleagues while ensuring that Kraft in a box will never be a viable alternative in your life again.

RUNNER-UP: Nickel Diner

524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com Continued on page 20

20 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST SANDWICH/WRAP Mendocino Farms

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Clifton’s

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Guisados

RUNNER-UP: Ramen Hood

317 S. Broadway, (213) 265-7331 or ramenhoodla.com

photo by Gary Leonard

to authenticity (going to far as to take their kitchen staff to Japan), their enormous cultural cachet and the long lines it produces, or the overall stomach-anchoring weight of their famed pork ramen, Daikokuya remains king.

All hail the king.

photo by Gary Leonard

RESTAURANTS, 19

BEST SANDWICH/WRAP Mendocino Farms

300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114; 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262; 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 430-9040 or mendocinofarms.com As if it were even close. As if the multi-location, farm-to-table, more options than Ryan Gosling on Tinder, gourmet side dish-equipped, cowidolizing micro chain were not here and now and for years prior the best in the DTLA sandwich game.

1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com

Bottega Louie

700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com The crust is guaranteed to snap, crackle and pop. There’s a reason why so many tables at this Seventh Street destination have a pizza tray upon them and a battery of smiling customers in front of that soon-empty tray.

RUNNER-UP: Pitfire Pizza Company

108 W. Second St., (213) 808-1200 or pitfirepizza.com

BEST PIZZA

Two Boots Pizza

828 S. Broadway, (213) 623-2100 or twoboots.com Yes, that off-kilter slice you’re pounding is named after an Andy Kaufman character. No, the enduring quality and no-holds barred, tradition-be-damned approach to toppings is not a hoax. We are living in the pizza future where Two Boots is George Clinton. Of course, you can also get a slice of pepperoni.

RUNNER-UP: Pizzanista

2019 E. Seventh St., (213) 627-1430 or pizzanista.com

BEST RAMEN SPOT Daikokuya

327 E. First St., (213) 626-1680 or dkramen.com Here’s a highly contentious category where the living legends on First Street have again triumphed. Whether it be their commitment

OF DTLA

Guisados

RUNNER-UP (TIE): Philippe The Original

BEST RESTAURANT PIZZA

BEST16 OF DTLA

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Langer’s Delicatessen

704 S. Alvarado St., (213) 483-8050 or langersdeli.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST SAUSAGE Wurstküche

800 E. Third St., (213) 687-4444 or wurstkuche.com Since 2008, the boys at Wurstküche have turned their chic minimalist sausage palace into a multi-state chain. As much regard as we have for Venice and Denver, we are proud to say that the pushers of fine cylindrical meats got their start down on Traction.

Best Restaurant Miscellany BEST NEW RESTAURANT Clifton’s

648 S. Broadway, (213) 627-1673 or cliftonsla.com Like they say in the thrift store world, “new to you.” The Downtown institution founded decades ago but closed for four years has been rehabilitated into a multi-story pleasure palace stocked with a cafeteria, a gaggle of bars, water features and enough taxidermy to remind you that wild beasts once roamed these lands.

RUNNER-UP: Little Sister

523 W. Seventh St., (213) 628-3146 or littlesisterla.com

Thank You For Voting Us Best Dim Sum!

WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF HONG KONG STYLE DIM SUM

SERVED 7 DAYS/WEEK, 8AM TO 3PM DIM SUM SPECIALS

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Barcito

403 W. 12th St., (213) 415-1821 or barcitola.com Bless their buttons, the staff at this casual, chic and new South Park spot would be more than happy to answer your questions, deconstruct your cocktail ingredient by ingredient and indulge your loneliness.

BEST RESTAURANT DELIVERY L.A. Cafe

639 S. Spring St., (213) 612-3000 or thelacafe.com With a fleet of spritely yellow cars dropping off chili and paninis and French fries across Downtown, the 24/7/365 food pushers on Spring would like you to know that as long as you’re within the generous DTLA delivery zone, you too are invited to the stay at home and gorge.

RUNNER-UP: California Pizza Kitchen

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 228-8500; 330 S. Hope St. (213) 626-2616 or cpk.com

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Urth Caffé

451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com You may have noticed that almost everyone who lives in the Arts District has a dog. Fortunately for them, there’s Urth, with its large and dog-friendly patio. The uber-accommodating staff also seems to like those canines.

RUNNER-UP: Wurstküche

800 E. Third St., (213) 687-4444 or wurstkuche.com

BEST QUICK SERVE Guisados

DICED BEEF STEAK FRENCH STYLE I HOUSE SPECIAL FRIED RICE CHICKEN WITH ORANGE SAUCE I HONEY WALNUT SHRIMP GOLDEN DRAGON CHOP SUEY I TANGERINE BEEF

541 S. Spring St., #101 (213) 627-7656 or guisados.co Do not be disheartened by the threshold spanning line of taco neophytes eager to order a sampler platter and demand to know what a “chorizo” is. The team in Guisados’ open kitchen have dedicated themselves to dispatching orders nearly as quick as they get them. We’re talking about progress and efficiency here.

Full Bar • Party Trays • Banquet/Meeting Room Live Seafood • Free Parking w/Validation

RUNNER-UP: Mendocino Farms

Readers Choice

voted Best: Dim Sum

Mon-Fri (except holidays) at $2.29 per order!

just a few favorite dishes

GOLDEN DRAGON RESTAURANT CHINATOWN | 960 North Broadway | 213-626-2039

300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114; 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262; 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 430-9040 or mendocinofarms.com

541 S. Spring St., #101 (213) 627-7656 or guisados.com The tacos are $2.75 apiece. Unless you order seafood, in which case the “This was farmed from an ocean” surcharge knocks the price skyward a quarter to $3. Seriously, what else can you get in Downtown for that price that doesn’t have a cellophane wrapper and comes form a convenience store?

RUNNER-UP: Philippe The Original

1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com

BEST DOWNTOWN CLASSIC Philippe The Original

1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com Although Philippe’s has been around for more than a century, only recently have they begun accepting credit cards. The sandwich still takes top marks, the sawdust floors spark a sense of nostalgia, and the carving ladies behind the counter are a Downtown tradition.

RUNNER-UP: The Original Pantry Cafe

877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

BEST RESTAURANT AMBIANCE Perch

448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com Downtown has a lot of great outdoor dining spots, but how many overlook the bustle of the community? The answer: Not too many.

Perch offers a rarefied rooftop air, well-crafted cocktails and a menu that can keep you watching the Historic Core happenings for hours.

RUNNER-UP: Le Petit Paris

418 S. Spring St., (213) 217-4445 or lepetitparisla.com

BEST RESTAURANT DECOR Redbird

114 E. Second St., (213) 788-1191 or redbird.la Simple. Classic. Tasteful. This is the feeling you’ll get when you experience fine dining in the former rectory of a gorgeous 19th century Catholic church. Fortunately, chef Neal Fraser’s food matches the decor.

RUNNER-UP: Faith & Flower

705 W. Ninth St., (213) 239-0642 or faithandflowerla.com

MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT Redbird

114 E. Second St., (213) 788-1191 or redbird.la With soft lighting, top-notch service, beautiful plating and palate-tingling textures, you too can impress on your loved ones with a night out. But please, make a reservation.

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 21

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best Entertainment BEST ESCAPE GAME Escape Room LA photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST OUTDOOR DINING Perch

RUNNER-UP: Café Pinot

700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or cafepinot.com

BEST OUTDOOR DINING Perch

448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com The Pershing Square overlook with the delightful bar options and resolute kitchen has held up even as the Downtown restaurant scene has expanded significantly. Ride the elevator, and drink and dine under the stars.

RUNNER-UP: Café Pinot

700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or cafepinot.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST DINING HUB

Grand Central Market

317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or grandcentralmarket.com If there is a type of food you can’t get at Grand Central Market, we don’t want to know about it. Craft a makeshift Grand Central Market turducken by stuffing Horse Thief BBQ brisket in a fresh pupusa dipped in China Café wonton soup then baked in Olio’s brick oven before waiting in line to have your concoction drenched in organic egg whites down at Eggslut. That’s just the starts.

BEST FIGAT7TH EATERY Mendocino Farms

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 430-9040 or mendocinofarms.com Descend to the lowest level of the mall and you’ll discover the southernmost node on MF’s Downtown’s sandwich constellation. You will know it for the powder blue and white speckled cow. You will confirm its supremacy by taste alone.

RUNNER-UP: Loteria Grill

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 239-5654 or loteriagrill.com

BEST GRAND CENTRAL MARKET EATERY Eggslut

317 S. Broadway, eggslut.com On weekends, the line for Eggslut stretches almost as far as the eye can see. While we’ve grown accustomed to such lines at newfangled Downtown upstarts, it’s rare indeed for a restaurant now getting on in years to continue to harbor such dedication. Congratulations to Eggslut: You’re more than just a name.

RUNNER-UP: Horse Thief BBQ

317 S. Broadway, (213) 625-0341 or horsethiefbbq.com

BEST DOWNTOWN VIEW Perch

448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com Concerts in the park, your car getting towed — everything near Pershing Square looks more scenic from 13 stories in the air. Up at Perch, the comically stunted dimensions of Downtown’s latest plexiglass attraction begin to show their true size.

RUNNER-UP (TIE): L.A. Prime

404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 612-4743 or thebonaventure.com/la-prime

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant

811 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 236-9600 or takamisushi.com

BEST PLACE TO BREAK BREAD WITH FRIENDS Bottega Louie

BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com With a capacity of 2,265, the Bunker Hill music hall lined with acoustic-augmenting Douglas fir and oak, and an organ nicknamed Hurricane Mama, is the gold standard for sophisticated live music in DTLA. It’s not just the L.A.

Phil here, either: Enjoy the occasional jazz and pop concert.

RUNNER-UP: Staples Center

1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com Continued on page 22

700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com Whether or not your clique decides to dine together in the marble-clad hall of Seventh Street neo-Italian pleasures, we strongly encourage you and yours to take the friendship test by which you all split a box of polychromatic macarons, and see if you still have a kind relationship after bickering over the last one.

RUNNER-UP: Border Grill

445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or bordergrill.com

BEST L.A. LIVE RESTAURANT Yard House

800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or yardhouse.com We hope you subscribe to the notion that “size doesn’t matter,” because they don’t actually serve yards of beer anymore. What they can offer is an unmatched selection of brews, American style food and ready proximity to L.A. Live, Staples Center and Readings By Dorothy, the psychic on Olympic.

RUNNER-UP: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT LA Chapter at the Ace Hotel

927 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9660 or lachapter.com Double-deck splendor at the spot with the checkerboard floor, where an abundance of vegetable and fruit-heavy options merge with traditional American fare in a smorgasbord of cuisine that illuminates the southern end of Broadway in ways no blade sign ever could.

Harmony Nails & Spa 235 S. San Pedro St. Suite A

RUNNER-UP: WP24 at the Ritz-Carlton

213-265-7738

900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8824 or wolfgangpuck.com

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best: Nail Salon

22 Downtown News

BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE Grammy Museum

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

Modest as its size may be, the theater at the Grammy Museum is stocked with appearances from new favorites and old legends. See big names in the most intimate of venues, and you usually get an illuminating Q&A along with the performance.

RUNNER-UP: Theatre at Ace Hotel

929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com/losangeles/theatre

BEST NIGHTCLUB The Edison

108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com The sprawling industrial-styled homage to Jazz Age speakeasies and cocktails has long been the feather in Downtown barman Andrew Meireran’s cap. Leave your athletic attire at home, valet the car and descend into a time-honored den of iniquity.

RUNNER-UP: Exchange LA

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

BEST ESCAPE GAME Escape Room LA

120 E. Eighth St., (213) 689-3229 or escaperoomla.com

You’ll have a darn good idea of who in your clique performs well under pressure once you and nine to eleven colleagues are trapped in one of four hint-laden rooms. Your only hope for escape in under 60 minutes lies in the group’s collective ability to piece it all together.

BEST FREE EVENT SERIES Pershing Square Downtown Stage photo by Gary Leonard

ENTERTAINMENT, 21

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

RUNNER-UP: Escape IQ

1135 E. Fifth St., (213) 221-7749 or escapeiq.com

BEST FREE EVENT SERIES

Pershing Square Downtown Stage

532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare You’ll dig the free noontime shows on Wednesday and Friday, where superlative genre cover bands dish out heaping piles of reggae, R&B, ’80s and a plethora of other styles. Come back on Saturday nights through Aug. 20 for complimentary shows from the likes of Todd Rundgren, Kansas, Starship, Reverend Horton Heat and War.

RUNNER-UP: Grand Performances at California Plaza

RUNNER-UP: Last Remaining Seats

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

laconservancy.org/last-remaining-seats

BEST FILM SERIES

BEST FILM VENUE

Downtown Film Festival

Regal Cinemas L.A. Live

dffla.com For eight days in late September, the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live will be crowded with a slew of shorts, features, comedies, dramas and documentaries. Get a glimpse of cinematic excellence and stick around for the parties.

1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or regmovies.com Sure, the blockbuster you yearn to see is likely screening at L.A. Live. You can see it in 3D or even (gasp) 4D. But have we mentioned that all films cost a mere $8 on Tuesdays? Let’s all go to the movies!

BEST MUSEUM The Broad photo by Gary Leonard

RUNNER-UP: California Science Center IMAX 700 Exposition Blvd., (213) 744-7400 or californiasciencecenter.org/imax

BEST MUSEUM The Broad

221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org Eli and Edythe Broad’s $140 million art palace opened last September and is always packed.

Make a reservation or wait in line to see what counts as one of the world’s best collections of contemporary art. General admission is free, though the current Cindy Sherman special exhibition costs $12.

RUNNER-UP: Natural History Museum

900 Exposition Blvd. (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org

BEST DOWNTOWN TOURS Downtown LA Walking Tours

600 W. Ninth St., (213) 399-3820 or dtlawalkingtours.com Since 2009, guide Neel Sodha and his crew of intrepid urban interpreters have led public and private tours of Downtown covering a bevy of topics and geographies that include early L.A., architectural wonders, hauntings and more.

RUNNER-UP: Los Angeles Conservancy

523 W. Sixth St., (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org Typically the home of the L.A. Opera, the plush Dorothy Chandler has recently defied convention with the avant-garde, late-night Sleepless program with its unique blend of

performance art, installations and soundscapes. It also hosts dance performances, including the recent stellar stand from American Ballet Theatre.

RUNNER-UP: Ahmanson Theatre

135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org

BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION Grand Central Market

317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or grandcentralmarket.com Napoleon once postulated that an army moves on its stomach. So too do tourists, and for that matter, Downtown residents and office workers. They all congregate on the food palace full of pastrami, ice cream, eggs, oysters and so much more.

RUNNER-UP: L.A. Live

800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-5483 or lalive.com

BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION California Science Center

700 Exposition Blvd., (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org Does your favorite museum have a vehicle that carried mankind to space multiple times?

No? Well then, why don’t you calm down and journey to Exposition Park where the Endeavour is but the galactic icing on a world of family wonder.

RUNNER-UP: Natural History Museum

900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org

BEST DOWNTOWN EVENT Downtown Art Walk

Spring and Main between Second and Ninth streets or downtownartwalk.org.

In dynamic Downtown, so few things are certain on a monthly basis. That said, on the second Thursday of every month, you know you will see everyone you know, as well as thousands of people you don’t, and that the streets and bars of the Historic Core will be full.

RUNNER-UP: Night on Broadway nightonbroadway.la

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 23

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best Shopping

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST WINE STORE Silverlake Wine Arts District

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST GROCERY STORE Whole Foods

RUNNER-UP: Nadia Geller Designs Market

BEST FARMERS MARKET (TIE) FIGat7th Farmers Market

FIGat7th Plaza Level, Thursday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., rawinspiration.org The workweek has not been the same since the garden plateau in the Financial District gave itself over to a weekly marketplace of fresh produce. Yes, even the 9-5 corporate employee can live in a food desert.

Historic Core Farmers Market

Fifth St. between Broadway and Spring St., Sunday 9 a.m.2:00 p.m., historiccore.bid/farmers-market Now a matter of beloved routine, the weekly block-closing affair on Fifth Street deserves recognition for providing fresh-cooked food, live entertainment, unlikely retail and regional fruits and vegetables to the fine people of the Historic Core.

RUNNER-UP: Pershing Square Farmers Market 532 S. Olive St., Wednesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rawinspiration.org

BEST GROCERY STORE Whole Foods

788 S. Grand Ave., (213) 873-4745 or wholefoods.com There is a massive supermarket with a bakery, pre-made food bar, hot food buffet, oodles of organic items and a reputation steeped in status. Whole Foods was the business DTLA had been waiting for, and the place is usually busy.

RUNNER-UP: Ralphs

645 W. Ninth St., (213) 452-0840 or ralphs.com

BEST WINE STORE

Silverlake Wine Arts District

1948 E. Seventh St., (213) 335-6235 or silverlakewine.com A part of us feels chagrined to hand the title over to a business with “Silverlake” in its name, but we’ve been eating Kentucky Fried Chicken in California for decades, so what’s the hassle? We celebrate the arrival of a quality grape pusher on the unlikely stretch of Seventh just west of the river.

RUNNER-UP: Buzz Wine & Beer Shop

460 S. Sprint St., (213) 622-2222 or buzzwinebeershop.com

BEST BICYCLE SHOP DTLA Bikes

425 S. Broadway, (213) 533-8000 or dtlabikes.com After the front brakes on your dad’s vintage road bike seize up for the last time while cruising down Bunker Hill on Fourth Street, you will be within striking distance of Downtown’s finest

solid with jewelers, you’ll have ample opportunity to find the ring that says “spend the rest of your life with me.” If you’re there for a “forgive me,” present, they’ve got that, too.

1801 E. Seventh St., (213) 239-5655 or nadiageller.com bike shop, where you can curse your previous bike’s name, trade it in, grab a new fixie and go on about your non-polluting, highly mobile life.

RUNNER-UP: Just Ride L.A.

1626 S. Hill St., (213) 745-6783 or justridela.com

BEST PET SUPPLIES/BOUTIQUE Pussy & Pooch

564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or pussyandpooch.com The trifecta of pet glories is available at the corner of Sixth and Main, where you can groom, feed and dress your furry friend. The cheeky name can’t hurt either.

RUNNER-UP: Pet Project LA

548 S. Spring St., (213) 688-7752 or petprojectla.com

BEST ART, CRAFT & DESIGN STORE (TIE) Raw Materials

436 S. Main St., (800) 729-7060 or rawmaterialsla.com The Historic Core’s go-to spot for art supplies has become the unofficial facilitator of some of your favorite local artists. Not to mention their superlative weekly life drawing now at the Overflow.

Moskatels

733 San Julian St., (213) 689-4590 Economies of scale — the process by which a large store uses a massive inventory and competitive prices to become the finest craft warehouse in the highly contentious world of Fashion District supply retail.

RUNNER-UP: FIDM Scholarship Store

919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-5821 or fidmscholarshipfoundation.org

BEST STORE FOR THE HOME (TIE) Hammer & Spear

255 S. Santa Fe Ave., (213) 928-0997 or hammerandspear.com Whether you’re looking to upgrade the furniture in your new bedroom or just trying to improve how the world sees you, Hammer & Spear sells everything from beds to stationery.

Ashley Furniture

1810 S. Broadway, (213) 745-2980 or ashleyfurniturehomestore.com The local branch of Ashley Furniture reps the chain with affordable prices and copious options, allowing you to nail down the perfect pull-out couch for when your mother-in-law visits. You know she’s coming, right?

BEST BOOKSTORE The Last Bookstore

RUNNER-UP: California Jewelry Mart

453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com You came for two floors of books ranging from new rarities to bargain oldies. You stayed for the free events, record store and artist Nik Lord’s superlative freehand mural in the artbook room.

607 S. Hill St., (213) 627-2831

BEST CIGAR/SMOKE/VAPE SHOP Broadway Smoke Shop

624 S. Broadway, (213) 622-2825 Your one-stop shop for papers, grinders, baggies and all manner of devices you can use to smoke tobacco. Yes, tobacco.

RUNNER-UP: The Library Store

RUNNER-UP: 2nd Street Cigar Lounge and Gallery

630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7550 or lfla.org/store

BEST MUSIC SHOP

124 W. Second St., (213) 452-4416

International House of Music

BEST FLEA MARKET

339 S. Broadway, (213) 628-9161 or ihomi.com Hold the pancake pun, the IHoM is a Broadway cathedral for instruments, DJ equipment and the sort of disco-ball add-ons that make a house party truly exceptional. No, you cannot play Stairway.

Arts District Co-Op

453 Colyton St., (213) 621-2888 or adcoopla.com Co-op is artisanal jargon for a unique blend of craftsmen and pickers who have united to vend their wares together. Unfortunately, there is no discount for those with an undercut.

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST CANDY SHOP

RUNNER-UP: The Rock N’ Roll Flea Market

Raquel’s Candy and Confections

1238 E. Olympic Blvd., (855) 625-6315 or pinatadistrict.com They sell in bulk, which is convenient given your lust for sweets and the immediate availability of Donald Trump piñatas in the piñata district.

448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or theregenttheater.com

BEST WOMEN’S WEAR BOUTIQUE Jessica Louise

BEST JEWELRY MART

St. Vincent Jewelry Center

650 S. Hill St., (213) 629-2124 or svjc.com With 700,000 square feet of retail space packed

1041 S. Broadway, (213) 489-1066 or shopjessicalouise.com For 12 years now, Jessica Louise has been kicking out a line of ultra-cute, lady-oriented fashion items. If a new top is in the works for your wardrobe, you should probably head down to Continued on page 25

6 years straight!

Thank you DT News Readers!

SHEAR. SHAVE. SHINE.

BEST16 OF DTLA

At Spring & 5th 213 232 4715

BEST BARBERSHOP

OF DTLA Readers Choice

boltbarbers.com

24 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best:

Gym/Workout Facility

LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB Locker Room & Lounge

laac.com | 213.630.5200

July 25, 2016

Broadway and give the woman some, if not all, of your money.

affordable and, thanks to the spot at the FIGat7th shopping center, centrally located.

BEST BICYCLE SHOP DTLA Bikes photo by Gary Leonard

SHOPPING, 23

Downtown News 25

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

RUNNER-UP: FIDM Scholarship Store

919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-5821 or fidmscholarshipfoundation.org

Hammer & Spear

Round2

600 S. Spring St. or (213) 909-7938 Rarely one for subtleties, Round 2’s eccentric garb-guru Rocco demands the finest in outgoing wear approved for use in the concrete jungle.

RUNNER-UP: Popkiller Second

343 E. Second St., (213) 625-1372 or popkiller.us

BEST STREET FASHION BOUTIQUE Popkiller Second

343 E. Second St., (213) 625-1372 or popkiller.us A wall of unusual T-shirts parodying famous designs sets this Little Tokyo boutique apart. As do near ubiquitous sightings of their gear on the actual streets of Downtown Los Angeles.

American Apparel

363 E. Second St., (213) 617-7222 or americanapparel.net A few doors down from Popkiller, you’ll find a friendly local outlet of the Made in America/ hipster-modeled gear that has filled your closet for years now. Yes, that T-shirt looks good on you. No, you do not need to cut any more inches off those shorts.

RUNNER-UP: Blends

725 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 626-6607 or blendsus.com

BEST GIFT & STATIONERY STORE (TIE) MOCA

250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1710 or mocastore.org Q: Who could have anticipated that Downtown’s longstanding contemporary art museum would have a delightful boutique full of eminently giftable items that hedge on the inexcusably compelling? A: The store’s buyer, the

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 406-3330 or zara.com

BEST AUTO DEALER — NEW CARS Toyota Downtown L.A.

1600 S. Figueroa St., (877) 702-5632 or toyotaofdowntownla.com We recognize you have a number of opportunities to purchase cars on the Figueroa Strip, yet we sanctify our reader’s opinion and second their coronation of Toyota Downtown L.A. For they are wise and able and their cars have excellent NHTS safety ratings.

BEST CONSIGNMENT & VINTAGE STORE (TIE) 255 S. Santa Fe Ave., (213) 928-0997 or hammerandspear.com Arts District sophisticates will ooh and ahh over a fine selection of jewelry and accessories that say, “I’m not trying too hard, but I’m secretly trying very hard.”

RUNNER-UP: Zara

museum’s board of directors and whosoever does MOCA’s accounting.

to reinforce the hipness of the garment you just purchased.

Daiso

A.P.C. Store

333 S. Alameda St., (213) 625-7104 or daisojapan.com Trans-Pacific kitsch does not even begin to cover the treasure trove of gifts, habits, curiosities and all-around plastic prizes available here.

125 W. Ninth St., (424) 252-2762 or usonline.apc.fr/stores/ Punishingly fashionable, the clothes available on Ninth Street will have you looking nice for that date, that job interview or that coffee at the Ace Hotel.

RUNNER-UP: The Library Store

RUNNER-UP: Raggedy Threads Vintage Shoppe

630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7550 or lfla.org/store

330 E. Second St., (213) 620-1188 or raggedythreads.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST MENSWEAR — SUITS

BEST RETAIL STORE (MEDIUM)

Roger Stuart Clothes

H&M

729 S. Los Angeles St. or (213) 627-9661 When you’re looking to suit and boot, come correct or generally look like less of a schlub than you are, Roger Stuart is the time-tested haberdashery at which to secure your new favorite three-piece.

735 S. Figueroa St., (855) 466-7467 or hm.com People keep coming back to fast fashion chain H&M. And why not? They manage to be stylish,

BEST RETAIL STORE (LARGE)

RUNNER-UP: Honda of Downtown Los Angeles 1540 S. Figueroa St., (213) 536-0456 or hondaoflosangeles.com

BEST AUTO DEALER — USED CARS Toyota Downtown L.A.

1600 S. Figueroa St., (877) 702-5632 or toyotaofdowntownla.com If there were ever a place to purchase a used car, it would be beneath the 10 Freeway where the product itself and the attendant service have to be top notch. Corolla, Civic or Prius, they have you covered.

RUNNER-UP: Honda of Downtown Los Angeles 1540 S. Figueroa St., (213) 536-0456 or hondaoflosangeles.com

BEST16 OF DTLA

City Target

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 330-4543 or target.com The City Target shopper must first descend one flight. Enter the doors and then you will have the chance to fill everything in your house, from the refrigerator to the dresser to the bathroom cabinet and beyond.

OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best:

RUNNER-UP: Macy’s

Menswear (suits)

750 W. Seventh St., (213) 628-9311 or macys.com

Suits, sport coats, slacks, formal wear, sport and dress shirts, ties and accessories.

BEST MENSWEAR BOUTIQUE (TIE) The Well

1006 S. Olive St., (213) 550-4448 or thewell.la Your menswear wish will be granted with aplomb. You may even stick around for a haircut or one of the pop-up live shows that serve

FINE MEN’S CLOTHING 40% - 70% OFF RETAIL (Sizes 35 extra-short to 60 extra-long)

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST RETAIL STORE (LARGE) City Target

THE ONLY CALIFORNIA WHOLESALER OF BETTER MENSWEAR SELLING TO FINE STORES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SUITS THAT SHOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY’RE NOT! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

729 S. Los Angeles St. 213-627-9661

26 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best Services

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST DANCE STUDIO Downtown Dance & Movement photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST HAIR SALON Knives Out Salon

BEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT

RUNNER-UP: Kuragami Little Tokyo Florist

Christiano Sampaio

1020 S. Hope St., (888) 505-6387 or loftway.com Loftway founder Christiano Sampaio has his finger on the pulse of Downtown loft sales.

Though everything about Loftway’s branding screams “South Park high-rise,” you’ll be surprised to discover how many units Sampaio is repping on far-off San Pedro and Los Angeles streets.

RUNNER-UP: Jessica Robertson & Agnes Ferreyra

BEST FLORIST

Bolt Barbers

460 S. Spring St., (213) 232-4715 or boltbarbers.com The joint at Fifth and Spring streets is the flagship location for the vast empire of irreverent barbershops where the root beer runs cold, the game is on and the undercut is always in vogue.

201 W. Seventh St., (213) 457-7858 or floydsbarbershop.com

505 S. Flower St., Level B, (213) 488-2028 or downtown-flowers.net From classic simplicity to modern stylishness, the arrangements at Downtown Flowers manipulate the world of petals into a kind, affordable, fragrant and aesthetically pleasing extension of your agenda. There are custom arrangements, birthday, get well, anniversary and many more options.

er, Cid e , r ee gn g B mpa n i erv Cha w S and o N ine W

BEST BARBER SHOP

RUNNER-UP: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop

Lifestylesla.com

Downtown Flowers

333 S. Alameda St., (213) 617-0005 or kuragamilittletokyoflorist.com

BEST DAY SPA Ritz-Carlton Spa

900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com Eucalyptus steam rooms and cold plunge showers are but a few of the choices at the Ritz-Carlton spa. The L.A. Live-located pleasuredrome habitually entices with a variety of rooms and treatments that form a razor’s edge

Serving full meals with savory 100% organic buckwheat crepes and dessert crepes.

boundary between the heavenly and the decadent.

RUNNER-UP: The Spa (Omni Hotel)

251 S. Olive St., (213) 617-3300 or omnihotels.com

BEST HAIR SALON Knives Out Salon

941 E. Second St., (213) 379-1736 or knivesoutsalon.com In the remarkable hair wizards at Knives Out Salon, we find a delightful exception to the rule “Do not let anyone advertising blades east of Alameda close to your skull.” Those eager to get a new ’do are encouraged to source out availability and rates with one of the five stylists who work together in this Arts District haunt.

RUNNER-UP: Salon Eleven

420 W. 11 St., (213) 744-9944 or salon-eleven.com

BEST NAIL SALON

Harmony Nail & Threading Salon

235 S. San Pedro St., (213) 265-7738 It is generally considered a favorable omen when the people applying chemicals to your hands and sculpting your eyebrows evoke a mindful zen feeling of “harmony.” Whatever color or augmentation you want, they’ve got it.

And yes, they’ll save your cuticles.

RUNNER-UP: Nail Envy

312 W. Fifth St., (213) 622-0822

BEST GYM/WORKOUT FACILITY Los Angeles Athletic Club Catering movie sets, corporate events, birthday parties, weddings and divorces.

Contact us by email catering@crepes.la

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best: Crepes

Crêpes Sans Frontières Restaurant & Catering within the Spring Arcade Building, 541 S. Spring St. 213 623-3606 • www.crepes.la HOURS: Tue - Fri 11am to 3pm and 5 to 9pm | Sat & Sun 9am to 9pm

431 W. Seventh St., (213) 625-2211 or laac.com Yes, we have all heard rumors of the superlative workout facilities, squash courts, pool, fine accommodations, partner hotels across the United States and Easter Brunch at the LAAC, but did you hear they have a speakeasy now?

RUNNER-UP: Equinox

444 S. Flower St., (213) 330-3999 or equinox.com

BEST DENTIST OR DENTAL OFFICE Downtown Dental

255 S. Grand Ave. #204, (213) 620-5777 or downtowndentalla.com Dr. Don Mungcal is a local legend in the world of dentistry. With an undergrad degree from UCLA and experience teaching at USC’s dental school, Mungcal rides the fence of collegiate loyalty while also providing whitening, veneers, Invisalign, root canals, dental implants and standard tooth care.

RUNNER-UP: LA Dental Clinic

2500 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 342-6276 or ladentalclinic.com

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

Downtown Live Chiropractic

714 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 1001, (213) 744-1099 or downtownlivechiropractic.com You’ll want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Levon, because his expert services, unlike your back pain, are in high demand and short supply. After you’ve been adjusted, feel free to adjourn to nearby L.A. Live to do a few Julie Andrews-inspired pirouettes by way of celebration.

RUNNER-UP: Downtown Chiropractic Center 800 W. First St., Suite 301, (213) 617-1052 or dtlachiropractic.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BEST DANCE STUDIO

Downtown Dance & Movement

1144 S. Hope St., (213) 335-3511 or downtowndancela.com In less than a year, South Park’s Downtown Dance & Movement studio has quietly built a repertoire of dance classes that offer a little bit of something for everyone. Children, adults, moms and more drop in or regularly scheduled classes ranging from world and fitness styles to the lindy hop, literally.

BEST YOGA STUDIO Yoga Circle

400 S. Main St., (213) 620-1040 or yogacircledowntown.com

July 25, 2016

Garry Regier’s joint is in the massive shopping complex The Bloc, which is undergoing a big renovation. Paper pushers, fashion luminaries, restaurateurs and all others in need of an annual eye exam or a re-up on a glasses prescription will be accommodated.

RUNNER-UP: Bikram Yoga Downtown LA

RUNNER-UP: LensCrafters

BEST DRY CLEANERS

BEST HOSPITAL

426 E. Second St., (213) 628-2474 “Little” is something you won’t hear in Tokyo Cleaners’ name. Despite their location in the heart of the “junior” Japanese enclave, these skilled practitioners align the art of stain-removal, alterations and general garment restoration with the Big T.

1225 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 977-2121 or goodsam.org With 18 surgical suites, 408 beds, nearly 6,500 surgeries performed annually, as well as a proud history dating back to 1885, there’s a strong change these are the folks you want tinkering around with your ticker.

RUNNER-UP: Cleaners L.A.

211 E. Eighth St., (213) 910-2522

BEST COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP Spring Street Mac

600 S. Spring St., (213) 943-3304 or springstreetmac.com Steve Jobs left a generation entranced by a sleek line of consumer-friendly products that will inevitably come to flummox even the most experienced Mac-head. Enter the fine folk on the ground floor of the SB Tower who know how to finagle, coax, threaten, augment and generally cajole your malfunctioning machinery into something worthy.

RUNNER-UP: Downtown Los Angeles Computer Repair

355 S. Grand Ave., (213) 985-2786 or downtownlosangelescomputerrepair.com

BEST OPTOMETRIST

Eyes on The Bloc, Dr. Garry Regier

700 S. Flower St., (213) 623-5196 or drgarryregier.com The name makes senses, considering that Dr.

BEST VETERINARIAN DTLAvets

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 612-0174 or lenscrafters.com

Good Samaritan Hospital

RUNNER-UP: California Hospital Medical Center

1338 S. Hope St., (213) 748-2411 or dignityhealth.org

BEST CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE / PLACE OF WORSHIP

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

555 W. Temple St., (213) 680-5200 or olacathedral.org Come for a Mass, a sense of escape from a hectic world, a love of architecture or out of curiosity — the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is also the final resting place of Atticus Finch himself, Gregory Peck. Whatever the reason, and whatever your religion, you are welcome.

RUNNER-UP: Mr. Shoe Man

Adams will have you feeling like the late Huell Howser as you load up on maps, triptychs, competitive auto insurance rates and museumquality artifacts from California history.

350 S. Grand Ave. or (213) 628-8777

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY AAA Travel

RUNNER-UP: Liberty Travel

2601 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-3111 or calif.aaa.com A quick stop at the Spanish Revival-styled structure on the southeast corner of Fig and

RUNNER-UP: Hillsong L.A.

888 W. Sixth St., (213) 688-2150 or libertytravel.com Continued on page 28

1050 S. Hill St., hillsong.com/la

BEST SHOE REPAIR Shoe Wiz

617 S. Grand Ave. or (213) 688-9699 The man has a gift. This much is undeniable. He manipulates your broken and discarded footwear in ways you could never imagine. He renders the malformed whole again. He is an inspiration and, yes, he will save your sole (sorry).

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

SERVICE

PROTECT YOUR TOYOTA PROTECT YOUR TOYO

SPECIALS

PROTECT YOUR TOYOTA with servicewith designed bydesigne service with service designed by the people who made it. the people who made it. the people who made photo by Gary Leonard

Tokyo Cleaners

BEST COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP Spring Street Mac photo by Gary Leonard

Sacred spaces are increasingly hard to come by in Downtown Los Angeles. The hallowed hall of Yoga Circle’s mat-laden room in the San Fernando Building has played host to a variety of styles incorporating the length and breadth of meditative body and mind synergy since 1999.

700 W. First St., (213) 626-9642 or bikramyogala.com

Downtown News 27

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Drop Off & Pick-Up

FREE shuttle service drop-off & pick-up

5,000 MILE SCHEDULED

MAINTENANCE

Recommended every 5K, 10K, 20K, 25K, 35K, 40K, 50K miles or 4 months, whichever comes first.

SERVICE INCLUDES: * Replace engine oil with up to 5 quarts of Genuine Toyota conventional motor oil * Replace dual stage oil filter * Lube chasis* * Visually inspect brakes * Rotate tires * Multi-point inspection

REG. $99.98

69.95

$

PLUS TAX & HAZ WASTE FEE

Synthetic oil additional. Some models additional. Must present coupon at time of order.

May not be applied to previous charges. Toyotas only. Excludes Scion. One per transaction.

Valid only at Toyota Downtown L.A. * If applicable. Offer expires 8/31/16.

FREE shuttle service drop-off & pick-up

COMPLIMENTARY

ALIGNMENT INSPECTION

* Perform alignment check on drive in minutes. * Accurate digital printout status of the alignment of all 4 wheels. * Complimentary! (previous alignment checks require more labor and therefore cost more time and money). * One Stop Shop! Most “Big Box” stores do not offer alignment. nly If alaignment needed: O $ 95 PLUS TAX

89.

Must present coupon at time of order. May not be applied to previous charges.

Toyotas only. Excludes Scion. One per transaction. Valid only at Toyota Downtown L.A. Offer expires 8/31/16.

1-800-454-4138

1600 S. Figueroa (at Venice), LA 90015

MON - FRI: 6AM TO 6PM SAT: 6AM TO 5PM

FREE s drop-o

28 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

SERVICES, 27 BEST AUTO DEALER — SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TIE)

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST HOTEL Ritz-Carlton

Toyota of Downtown L.A.

1600 S. Figueroa St., (213) 748-8301 or toyotaofdowntownla.com Between Venice Boulevard and the 10 Freeway, you’ll find the most dedicated bunch of Toyota fixers this side of Tokyo. So whether your used 4Runner is making a wonky noise or the “check engine” light dinged on in your new Prius (potentially because you forgot to screw the gas cap on), they’ve got you covered.

Honda of Downtown Los Angeles

1540 S. Figueroa St., (213) 536-0456 or hondaoflosangeles.com The fix is in — and that’s a good thing! — at Honda of Downtown, where you’re guaranteed top-notch service, access to courtesy shuttles and a mere two-block walk to Hooters.

RUNNER-UP: Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes Benz 1801 S. Figueroa St., (213) 748-8951 or mbzla.com

BEST HOTEL Ritz-Carlton

900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com No argument here: The Ritz’s L.A. Live location means quick access to top-flight dining, entertainment, sporting events and $8 Tuesdays at Regal Cinemas. Tack on plush accommodations and you’ve got a recipe for a relaxing stay.

RUNNER-UP: Ace Hotel

929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com

BEST AUTO BODY/AUTO REPAIR Downtown L.A. Motors

1801 S. Figueroa St. or dtlamotors.com With personnel skilled in working with Toyotas, Chevrolets, Nissans, Mercedes-Benzs, Audis, Volkswagens and Porsches, Downtown L.A. Motors will be able to sort out all of your body issues. Car body issues, that is.

RUNNER-UP: Honda of Downtown L.A.

fine-honed problem solving, your dog will be sorted out in an economic way that both satisfies your needs as a pet owner and doesn’t push your pup into later dog therapy.

RUNNER-UP: DASH

564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or pussyandpooch.com Some mornings, the dogs wandering out of Pussy & Pooch with their freshly washed, combed and cut coats are the most hygienic and stylish things around. Beyond mere aesthetics and nail trimming, the maneuvers in P&P’s bag of pet grooming tricks will be deployed to satisfy your pet’s vanity.

(213) 808-2273 or ladottransit.com

BEST VETERINARIAN DTLAvets

333 S. Spring St., (213) 613-1537 or dtlavets.com From 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.noon on Saturdays, your every crisis and routine check-up will be handled with much skill and doggy bedside manner.

BEST PET TRAINING Uptown Pup

1540 S. Figueroa St., (213) 536-0456 or hondaoflosangeles.com

BEST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Metro Subway/Light Rail

has been feeling rather low since the Expo Line opened to Santa Monica and people throughout the greater Los Angeles area were heard to say, “Metro goes to the ocean now!” Keep it up Blue Line — you’re worthy, and you go to Long Beach (which also has an ocean).

(323) GO METRO or metro.net We’d like to dedicate this to the Blue Line, who

819 Mateo St., (213) 935-8171 or uptownpupinc.com Not your typical puppy kindergarten, Uptown Pup offers a variety of classes tailored to the needs of your dog. From basic group socialization and leash training to individual skills and

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

voted Best: Hair Salon

Thank You for Voting Us Best!

Lots of love from the team at KO, Christine, Lisa, Claudia, Irene, Whitney and Aimee. @knivesoutsalon Knives Out Salon | 941 East 2nd Street, #104 | 213-379-1736

BEST PET GROOMING Pussy & Pooch

RUNNER-UP: Downtown Doggie U Wash 744 S. Hill St., (213) 623-8100

BEST DAYCARE

La Petite Academy

750 N. Alameda St., (213) 626-0019 or lapetite.com/7204 It’s childcare and pre-school wrapped up in one. Send off your squawking kids, and welcome back well-rounded children who know how to say “please” and “thank you.”

BEST PRE-SCHOOL La Petite Academy

750 N. Alameda St., (213) 626-0019 or lapetite.com/7204 Parents work. Kids who are not yet in elementary school need a place where they can get some socialization and learn a thing or two, and that is centrally located. Enter LPA, which will make your 4-year-old totally ready for kicking it in kindergarten.

RUNNER-UP: Pilgrim School

540 S. Commonwealth Ave., (213) 385-7351 or pilgrim-school.org

BEST PET WALKING Downtown Pet Lovers

123 S. Figueroa St., (213) 290-4686 or downtownladogwalker.com Individual and group walks in increments of 30, 45 and 60 minutes mean Fido will have ample time to explore the outside world, do some business and generally savor the fleeting quality of existence.

RUNNER-UP: Walka-Walka

(206) 459-3077 or walkawalka.com

RUNNER-UP: Grace Iino Child Care

RUNNER-UP: Bark & Clark

BEST PET DAYCARE/BOARDING/ PET SITTING

BEST COWORKING SPACES

231 E. Third St., (213) 617-8596 or ltsc.org

Go Dog LA

1728 Maple Ave., (213) 748-4364 or godogla.com With 9,000 square feet of play space, your pup will find a space that suits its unique set of socially ingrained peccadillos, perspectives and pawing. Did we mention cage-free boarding?

We’re doing it now, because that is a nice thing to offer a canine companion while its humans are off doing human things.

RUNNER-UP: South Park Doggie Daycare 1320 S. Grand Ave., (213) 747-3649 or southparkdoggie.com

600 S. Spring St. (213) 321-6319 or barkandclark.com

WeWork

811 W. Seventh St. and 555 W. Fifth St., (855) 593-9675 or wework.com For when your start-up is more of a pipe dream or the day after you discover that asbestos is not actually an artisanal tile type, you and your colleagues can sprint on down to shared work spaces where affordable monthly rates will get you anything from a desk to a dedicated multiperson office, all within the confines of a creative commons.

RUNNER-UP: Blankspaces DTLA

529 S. Broadway, (213) 550-2235 or blankspaces.com

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 29

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best Miscellany

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Eastern Columbia Building

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST NEW BUSINESS Le Petit Paris

BEST DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM DTLA Real Estate

BEST NEW BUSINESS Le Petit Paris

BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

RUNNER-UP: Barcito

818 W. Seventh St., Suite 410, (213) 213-8600 or downtown-properties.com These property management power brokers own the Historic Core’s Rowan, El Dorado and Douglas lofts. They also lay claim to historic 818 W. Seventh St. We also suppose it’s worth mentioning that Downtown Properties maintains a little-known, much-underappreciated architectural footnote known as the Bradbury Building.

BEST-LOOKING BUILDING

RUNNER-UP: Brookfield

418 S. Spring St., (213) 217-4445 or lepetitparisla.com David and Fanny Rolland’s project on the ground floor of the El Dorado Lofts brings a bit of France to Downtown. The bistro, bar and boutique alongside the Spring Street Park is a welcome addition to the Historic Core and a companion to the Rollands’ existing establishment in the French Riviera.

403 W. 12th St. or (213) 415-1821 or barcitola.com

Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com Despite strong competition from the modern art palace to the south, Frank Gehry’s swooping deconstructionist concert hall remains perhaps the city’s most photographed building. It’s all swerves and shimmers, and also a favored spot for commercials.

RUNNER-UP: The Broad

221 S. Grand Ave. or (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org

MOST BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THEATER Orpheum Theatre

Downtown Properties Holdings LLC

601 S. Figueroa St. #2200, (213) 330-8020 or brookfieldofficeproperties.com

BEST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (TIE) Arts District Los Angeles

627 S. Central Ave., (213) 327-0979 or artsdistrictla.org The Lazarus award goes to the Arts District BID. Three years ago and the community upkeep team was on the ropes after it disbanded. In 2014, the blue shirts came back in force, and now sanitize and patrol the strip of businesses tucked between the L.A. River, Central City East, Little Tokyo and the Industrial District.

842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com When it opened the day after Valentine’s Day in 1926, the Orpheum was another palatial Broadway institution hosting Vaudeville acts. Nowadays the proud Beaux Arts structure is the most consistently utilized of the Broadway theaters, with a stocked lineup of concerts, talks and film shoots. It’s worth noting that owner Steve Needleman brought it back well before Broadway became cool again.

Historic Core BID

RUNNER-UP: Los Angeles Theatre

RUNNER-UP: Downtown Center BID

615 S. Broadway, (213) 629-2939 or losangelestheatre.com

453 S. Spring St., Suite 1116, (213) 239-8336 or hdlabid.com As founders of the proverbial feast that is the Sunday morning Farmer’s Market on Fifth Street, the Historic Core BID has staked a claim beyond the realm of mere business facilitation. Balancing the development hopes with living realities is a tall order, but one that places the importance of community before all others.

626 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 624-2146 or downtownla.com

453 S. Spring St. #818, (213) 304-4727 or dtlarealestate.com From Bunker Hill to the Arts District to South Park, DTLA Real Estate has a robust catalog of well-maintained, delightfully located, appropriately accoutered and all-around needmeeting creative, retail, executive and warehouse spaces.

RUNNER-UP: CBRE

400 S. Hope St., (213) 613-3333 or cbre.com

BEST BANK Chase

Multiple locations, (877) 242-7372 or chase.com With ATM locations at Union Station, Little Tokyo, Bunker Hill, the Financial District, South Park and beyond, Chase customers are Continued on page 30

30 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

guaranteed reliable access to cash no matter where they are going in Downtown Los Angeles.

MOST BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THEATER Orpheum Theatre photo by Gary Leonard

MISCELLANY, 29

RUNNER-UP: Wells Fargo

Multiple locations, (800) 869-3557 or wellsfargo.com

BEST LAW FIRM

Latham & Watkins, LLP

355 S. Grand Ave., (213) 485-1234 or lw.com Back in 1934, attorneys Dana Latham and Paul Watkins could scarcely anticipate that their eponymous firm would grow to be the highestgrossing one in the world.

RUNNER-UP: Paul Hastings LLP

515 S. Flower St., (213) 683-6000 or paulhastings.com

BEST MOVING/STORAGE COMPANY Los Angeles Self Storage

1000 W. Sixth St., (213) 927-1822 or downtownlosangelesselfstorage.com Think of it as a bare-bones care facility for your long-tenured suede davenport and everything else you own. The former office space is now Downtown’s value superlative locale for ditching past treasures and present burdens.

RUNNER-UP: StorQuest Self Storage

3707 S. Hill St., (213) 596-4854 or storquest.com

BEST ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN FIRM Gensler

500 S. Figueroa St., (213) 327-3600 or gensler.com Gensler has become a global byword for innovative design and utilitarian prestige. Their fish bowl-esque office in the 500 block of Figueroa Street stands as transparent testament to the aesthetic pleasures designed within.

RUNNER-UP: AC Martin

444 S. Flower St., (213) 683-1900 or acmartin.com

BEST CREDIT UNION

L.A. Financial Credit Union

716 W. First St., (800) 894-1200 or lafinancial.org The big banks do their big service, but do they care about the little guy? Well, it’s hard to find a more customer-minded institution than the L.A. Financial Credit Union. As added incentive,

you may just qualify for an LAFCU auto loan with APR as low as 1.99%.

RUNNER-UP: California Bear Credit Union

300 S. Spring St., (800) 954-2327 or calbearcu.org

BEST INVESTMENT/ STOCK BROKERAGE FIRM (TIE)

Angeles. Subsequently, Apple One has become a local leader in the ever-popular endeavor to get folks paid. Their secret? They refer to the work force as “talent.”

RUNNER-UP: Act 1

330 S. Hope St., (213) 623-8166 or act-1.com

Wells Fargo

MOST ROMANTIC HOTEL

Merrill Lynch

506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com The 1923 jewel on the western periphery of Pershing Square is full of lavish carpets, artisanal frescos and a Rendezvous Court ceiling painted with 24-carat gold accents. Have a drink in the Gallery Bar and get close to someone special.

333 S. Grand Ave., (213) 253-6600 or wellsfargo.com As an added bonus to Wells Fargo’s reputation as a trusted manager of private equity, clients and the public alike are welcome to enjoy the free historical museum complete with stagecoaches, lock boxes and that old smell.

350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 627-7900 or ml.com In the last decade, much has been made of celebrity adoptions. Yet few remember to honor Bank of America’s new role as parent company to Merrill Lynch. Huzzah! They’ll also help you pick some bonds and prepare for the R word: retirement.

RUNNER-UP: Morgan Stanley

444 S. Flower St., (213) 486-8811 or morganstanley.com

BEST EMPLOYMENT AGENCY Apple One

725 S. Figueroa St., (213) 892-0234 or appleone.com Way back in 1964, Apple One set up shop in Los

Healthy Teeth & Gums For Life!

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Complete Exam • All Necessary X-Rays Personal Consultation • Professional Cleaning* $99 I Regularly: $276 I You Save $177 *Unless certain dental conditions exist.

BEST16 OF DTLA OF DTLA Readers Choice

255 South Grand Ave., #204, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Call us now! 213-634-2960

voted Best:

Dentist or Dental Office

Millennium Biltmore

RUNNER-UP: Ritz-Carlton

900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com

COOLEST HOTEL Ace Hotel

929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com Rooftop bar: check. Stylishly decorated rooms with a classic yet modern sensibility: check. Adjacent theater programmed with superlative music and films: check. Twenty-four-hour taco stand next door: double check.

RUNNER-UP: Standard Downtown

550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or standardhotels.com

BEST WEDDING SPOT Vibiana

214 S. Main St., (213) 626-1507 or vibiana.com The elegant 19th century structure was once the Cathedral of St. Vibiana. Now the Holy Water is gone and the rectory is a beloved restaurant. All the grace and charm still resides in its once divinely blessed ceremony space and palisade-protected outdoor patio.

RUNNER-UP: Millennium Biltmore

506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com

BEST PRIVATE EVENT VENUE Millennium Biltmore

506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com Whether your trade group, wedding, bar

mitzvah or Christmas party are small, large, humble or toxically ego-driven, the Biltmore’s retinue or gathering rooms offer gloriously maintained surroundings. They’ll handle the food and drink whether you have five people or 500.

RUNNER-UP: Orpheum Theatre

842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com

BEST RESTAURANT MEETING SPACE Morton’s The Steakhouse

735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com Beyond the obvious menu-long list of reasons to schedule your dinner session at Morton’s, private room rentals are available, meaning you and your colleagues can isolate yourselves from the other porterhouse peasants and T-bone troglodytes and get that deal done.

RUNNER-UP: Faith & Flower

705 W. Ninth St., (213) 239-0642 or faithandflowerla.com

BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Eastern Columbia Building

849 S. Broadway, (213) 627-9346 or easterncolumbialofts.com The iconic turquoise spire of Art Deco splendor is a classic icon of Downtown architecture made more complete with a slew of loft-living options and ground-floor retail space.

RUNNER-UP: Biscuit Company Lofts

1850 Industrial St., (213) 622-2150

BEST BUILT-FROM-THE-GROUNDUP RESIDENTIAL BUILDING 8th + Hope

801 S. Hope St., (213) 443-8828 or essexapartmenthomes.com The amenities are fantastic. The floor plans and build-out represent the finest in urban living. But you likely opted to sign your lease at the thought of living in a high-rise apartment building located in mere spitting distance from a Ralph’s, a Whole Foods and, hopefully soon, an Alamo Drafthouse theater.

RUNNER-UP: WaterMarke Tower

705 W. Ninth St., (213) 550-5060 or watermarketower.com

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 31

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

Best of Downtown Staff Picks

From Top Restaurants to Downtown’s Best Teacher to Exciting New Trends, These Are 24 of Our Favorite Things BEST NEW RESTAURANT Spring

BEST MEMORY OF THE GREATEST Ali’s Time in Downtown

stewed cherries. The crowd-favorite eggs Benedict pizza remains. Don’t miss the drinks from Darwin Pornel and Ryan Wainwright, including the Parade Route, which blends rye whiskey and sparkling rosé. At 705 W. Ninth St., (213) 2390642 or faithandflowerla.com.—Eddie Kim

Muhammad Ali died on June 3 at the age of 74.

What most people don’t know is that the pugilist and activist spent some time in Downtown Los Angeles. That is revealed and revisited in Downtown resident Josh Gross’ recently published book Ali vs. Inoki. Although the tome focuses on Ali’s 1976 exhibition bout with Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki, it also traces the fighter’s time in Downtown, including in 1962, a year he had three fights at the Sports Arena in Exposition Park. While in Downtown, Ali stayed at the Alexandria Hotel and trained at the (now gone) Main Street Gym. Ali would also take regular runs through the community.—Nicholas Slayton

Tony Esnault became head chef of the esteemed Patina restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2009. Four years and much praise later, he bolted to join forces with Church & State owner Yassmin Sarmadi. Now husband and wife, Esnault and Sarmadi debuted Spring in February, melding a drop-dead beautiful dining room with Esnault’s keen Provence-inspired cooking. Spring’s uncluttered menu is stacked with highlights such as roast duck with cherries, slow-cooked cod and artichokes, and a silky mint panna cotta with blueberry sorbet. Downtown saw many phenomenal restaurant openings in the past year, but none combine star power, a razorsharp concept and timeless flavors quite like this. At 257 S. Spring St., (213) 372-5189 or springlosangeles.com.—Eddie Kim

BEST BURGER Ledlow

Josef Centeno was on the front edge of Downtown L.A.’s nascent culinary boom in 2009, serving as chef of Little Tokyo’s Lazy Ox Canteen, where he won over diners with gutsy small plates and a flair for international flavors. Centeno departed in 2012 to focus on his Baco Mercat, and would go on to open Bar Amá, Orsa & Winston, and Ledlow, all in the Old Bank District. Thank goodness his signature burger lives on at Ledlow. The griddled cheeseburger reminds you of the intense depth of flavor in top-notch beef, and it keeps everything else low-key, adding just lettuce, thin slices of red onion, pickles and garlic aioli between two soft buns. It’s a $14 burger, so consider it an indulgence — but what an indulgence, and it comes with excellent steak fries. At 400 S. Main St., (213) 687-7015 or ledlowla.com.—Eddie Kim

BEST BRUNCH Faith & Flower

The Must is no more, so where does a Downtowner go on weekends for booze and breakfast? South Park’s Faith & Flower is an excellent option, thanks to an extravagant Art Decoinspired dining room, stellar cocktails, and a brunch menu that got an overhaul this summer. New highlights include a prime beef hash with eggs, roasted squash and garlic fried rice; smoked trout Benedict with poached eggs and trout caviar; and bourbon pancakes with

Tony Esnault mentored Charles Olalia when the latter was a young sous chef at Patina. After Esnault left, Olalia got the head chef nod, but only stayed for about a year before jumping to a resort in Palos Verdes. That wasn’t the right fit, either, and Olalia returned to Downtown to partner with restaurateur Santos Uy (Papilles Bistro, Mignon) on a 275-square-foot shoebox on Seventh Street, where he slings Filipino rice bowls with a fine-dining chef’s eye for detail.

RiceBar’s got a tiny menu, with proteins like grilled longanisa sausage or simmered chicken served on top of uncommon heirloom rices imported from the Philippines. It’s fast, around $10 and always delicious. At 419 W. Seventh St., (213) 807-5341 or ricebarla.com.—Eddie Kim

BEST NEW BAR Westbound

Sarah Meade has opened a jewel of a bar in the Arts District’s One Santa Fe complex, and it’s setting a Downtown standard for what a high-end cocktail spot should offer. The drinks from Dee Ann Quinones (formerly of the lauded Booker & Dax in New York City) lean toward classic recipes but with lots of eclectic twists. Check out the Boxcar Cobbler, with two kinds of sherry, pineapple-rosemary drinking vinegar, lemon and celery bitters.

There are gorgeous little bar snacks from chef Gary Nguyen (Alma, Melisse) and the bar is wrapped in elegant decor that recalls oldschool luxury locomotives. Prices are steep — around $15 for a drink — but that includes tax and tip, and the little details, like ice cubes branded with an angular design, make it count. At 300 S. Sante Fe Ave., (213) 262-9291 or westbounddtla.com.—Eddie Kim

BEST RISING STAR (FOOD) Isa Fabro

Isa Fabro was once Josef Centeno’s pastry chef at his excellent Orsa & Winston, but she’s really come into her own since departing. In March, Fabro teamed up with chef Alvin Cailan for a dessert pop-up of sorts at his incubator restaurant space, Unit 120, in Chinatown. First up was her “malas,” or little fried donuts doused in addictive caramelized coconut syrup. Then came new-school takes on Filipino flavors and favorites: “Isamadas,” or sweet flaky turnovers with a little cheese; a from-scratch take on the layered shave-ice dessert Halo-Halo; and cream puffs flavored with pandan leaves. Fabro is unleashing fine-dining pastry skills on irreverent, accessible desserts and attracting a lot of attention for it. We hope to see, and taste, more. At 727 N. Broadway.—Eddie Kim

BEST RISING STAR (CULTURE) Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla

In 2012, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla won the Salzburg Young Conductor’s award. She was just 26, and the classical music cognoscenti took note.

Eventually the young Lithuanian was snagged

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST FAST CASUAL RiceBar

by L.A. Phil Music Director Gustavo Dudamel for his fellowship program, and Mirga (everyone calls her Mirga) has bounced into the spotlight, in Los Angeles and beyond. After a number of lauded performances at the podium, she was named associate conductor for the Phil’s 2016-17 season. She also is the music director of the acclaimed Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, which has a track record of driving young music directors to the top of the industry. Mirga is hitting her prime, and a keen sense of musicality and physical energy on stage make her a figure to watch.—Eddie Kim

BEST POLITICAL GUESSING GAME Where’s Garcetti Going Next?

Mayor Eric Garcetti is up for re-election next March, but no one thinks Steve Barr or Mitchell Schwartz can knock him off. Similarly, no one thinks Garcetti will stick around for the full 5 1/2 year term (extended 18 months as the city shifts election dates). There’s a guessing game as to what he does next. Will Garcetti throw his hat in the ring to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018, a contest that would pit him against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and presumably former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa? Or is he eyeing a 2018 Senate seat if Dianne Feinstein retires?

Others speculate that the Friend of Hillary is angling for a spot in her cabinet once she defeats Trump. Garcetti always stresses that he digs his current job, but political observers believe he has much grander ambitions.—Jon Regardie

PRIME STEAKS.

LEGENDARY SERVICE. FINE WINE • PRIVATE DINING • EXCEPTIONAL MENU

DOWNTOWN 735 South Figuera St. 215.553.4566 Mortons.com/Los Angeles

BEST NEW PUBLIC ART Metro Charter Elementary School’s Art Wall

Graffiti is ever-present on the fences of Downtown construction sites. In January, the South Park Business Improvement District set out to change that. It partnered with the Metro Charter Elementary School and developer Jade Enterprises to splash art across the construction fence at Jade’s Onyx development at 440 W. Pico Blvd. The $10,000 effort had students create a series of what look like smiling faces, complete with grinning mouths fashioned from recycled aluminum cans. According to the BID, the amount of graffiti on the wall fell by 96% in the two months after the art went up. The project could be replicated at other area building sites.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST CULTURAL TREND The Museums Are Coming

It’s not just restaurants and shops that are rushing to Downtown Los Angeles. It’s museums, too. Last year the $140 million The Broad opened, and the A+D Museum, thrust from its Mid-City home due to construction, settled in the Arts District. That’s just the start. Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, also in the Arts District, is technically a gallery, but its opening exhibit of abstract sculptures by women is museum caliber (and free). The long-awaited Italian American Museum is scheduled to open Aug. 14 at Olvera Street, and the Santa Monica Museum Continued on page 32

32 Downtown News

of Art confirmed in May that it will trade the beach for (again) the Arts District, and call itself the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles. Everyone wants to be in Downtown these days.—Jon Regardie

BEST CULTURAL TREND II The Parks Are Coming

It’s easy to complain about Downtown being park-poor. But how long will that actually be the case? The $20 million refurbishment of the whale-shaped Los Angeles State Historic Park is nearly finished, and it looks fabulous. A halfacre park at Fifth and Hewitt streets in the Arts District is slated to open in the fall and construction on a Chinatown park is scheduled to begin this year. An arts park named for and funded by the late developer Leonard Hill will be part of the Sixth Street Viaduct when it opens in 2020.

Then there’s the anticipated redesign of Pershing Square, with dramatic renderings from Paris’ Agence Ter, as well as the First & Broadway Park, where Mia Lehrer has been selected as the designer.—Jon Regardie

are protesting, but L&R hasn’t revealed its next move.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST (FREE) SCENIC VIEW City Hall Observation Deck

If you want a commanding view of the Southern California basin, you can pay $25 to visit Skyspace L.A. at the top of U.S. Bank Tower (the three-second slide is another $8). Or you can pay nothing more than a smile and your signature to ascend to the 27th floor of City Hall.

The observation deck offers a 360-degree view, and if the day is clear you may even glimpse the ocean. Otherwise take in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Downtown skyline, Hollywood, East L.A. and more. Just enter City Hall on Main Street, show ID and sign your name, pass through a metal detector and take the elevator to the 26th floor. You’ll find a batch of portraits of L.A.’s past mayors, and then climb the stairs for the gorgeous gratis view.—Jon Regardie

BEST OUTFITS ‘Star Wars’ Movie Costumes at FIDM

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Alex J. Berliner

BEST TEACHER Daniel Jocz

Downtown Magnets High School instructor Daniel Jocz may not be the best teacher in the country, but he’s close. That became clear this year, when the 36-year-old, who uses a casual tone, popular music and online videos to make U.S. History courses interesting, was named one of California’s five Teachers of the Year, and became the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award. Jocz, who has Wu-Tang Clan and Beck posters in his classroom, then advanced to become one of four finalists for the honor. Although he didn’t win, he earned a batch of publicity, and reminded many that today’s young minds are eager to learn, though sometimes you have to speak their language. Jocz does just that.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST PUNK UPRISING The Fight to Save The Smell

When demolition notices went up along a string of Main Street businesses in June, Downtowners were shocked. Although land owner L&R Group of Companies, which owns numerous parking lots, quickly said no demolition was imminent, patrons of businesses including the Downtown Independent theater and the New Jalisco bar panicked. The biggest protest, though, came from fans of the allages punk club The Smell, which has been on the street since 1999. More than 8,000 people have signed a petition to save the space, and a crowdfunding campaign has raised over $23,000 to help pay for a new permanent location, if necessary. On Aug. 6-7, a “Save The Smell Fest” will seek to bring in more cash. The punks

For 24 years, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has hosted an annual winter exhibition dedicated to the best movie costumes. The 2016 version had a bit more Force than usual. That’s because it featured six outfits from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Visitors to the South Park school’s museum space got to glimpse the shiny and chrome gear of Captain Phasma, Kylo Ren’s glaring black outfit and even a Stormtrooper costume. There were other attention-grabbing duds, including from The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road, but no Jedi mind trick could pull eyes away from the Star Wars gear. Even when mounted on a mannequin, Kylo Ren’s outfit is intimidating.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST NEW PROJECT Bike Share

After years of stops and starts, Los Angeles finally has a bike share program. The city and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $11 million program, with 65 kiosks and 1,000 bikes in Downtown Los Angeles, launched on July 7. Now, visitors and residents alike can use a TAP card to take out a two-wheeler, get around the Central City, and dock it at another kiosk.

Metro’s bikes are heavy-duty but comfortable to ride, and while exact results remain to be seen, bike share is seen as a key component of the evolving transit puzzle. Rides are $3.50 for a half hour though discounts are available for frequent users. The big question: Can local officials develop more bike lanes and other infrastructure around the county?—Eddie Kim

BEST BUS STOP Metro’s Division 13 Bus Facility

Can a facility that houses roughly 525 employees and maintains and cleans 200 compressed natural gas buses be special? Yes! The Metropolitan Transportation Authority opened its

$120 million Division 13 Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility in February. What makes the project at Cesar Chavez Avenue and Vignes Street unique is its environmental focus. It has 1,176 solar panels, a green roof and has been certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold. It also manages to capture 30,000 gallons of water a week that were being dumped by a nearby prison. Want more? Take in the design with color-changing lights and a large art installation modeled after a sycamore tree.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST NEW ARTS DISTRICT Chinatown

News reporters had an idea: Let’s ball with the world’s most beloved team! Not smart. After an appearance at the Para Los Niños Charter Elementary School on Seventh Street, the players El Gato Melendez, Buckets Blakes and Hacksaw Hall sought to teach us a few of their favorite tricks and passes. The trio proceeded to execute roundball poetry, while our feeble attempts repeatedly plunged to the ground like lead orbs.

It’s a wonder no one got hurt. The Globetrotters begin each game with the famous Magic Circle, but when Hacksaw saw our attempts, all he could mutter was “Tragic circle.” And he was right.—Jon Regardie

The first Downtown neighborhood to become cool after the residential renaissance began was the Historic Core. For the last couple years everyone’s been warbling on about the Arts District.

What’s next? It’s Chinatown, Jake. Trendy restaurants such as Pok Pok, Chego, Howlin Ray’s and Little Jewel are there, and Endorffeine is brewing buzz-worthy coffee (but not on Tuesdays, when it’s closed). The gallery scene is starting to bang again, you can drink at Melody Lounge and General Lee’s, and there are frequently fun community events at Central and West plazas. There are also enough longstanding authentic restaurants to prevent things from getting too hip too fast, which somehow makes the area even more hip.

And oh yeah, housing developers have been gobbling up land in the district, and once everyone sees how fast the new complex Blossom Plaza fills up, you can expect the cranes to rise.

Just like in the Arts District.—Jon Regardie

BEST BUST Skid Row Drug Ring Arrests

Skid Row has long been a destination for drug dealers who prey on a homeless and addicted clientele. So cheers were heard on April 27, when 19 members of a major drug ring, including its ringleader, were arrested at places across L.A. County. The operation involved the Los Angeles Police Department, FBI, DEA and other branches of government. The bust seized $1.8 million in alleged drug money, including $600,000 in $1 bills, a sign, officials said, of how the impoverished were paying for drugs. What remains questionable, though, is whether there has been a lasting effect, or if new dealers have just replaced the old ones.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST TECH ARRIVAL LACI Innovation Campus

The Arts District has a beautiful new complex, but it’s not housing or retail. The gleaming white campus at 525 Hewitt St. is the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s La Kretz Innovation Campus, and it represents a major step in the city’s goal to cultivate clean technology talent.

The nearly $50 million complex, developed in partnership with the L.A. Department of Water and Power, offers office space and cuttingedge equipment to support budding clean tech companies. There’s also a wing dedicated to DWP collaborations and the utility’s research and development purposes. The fluid interior space encourages the co-mingling of people, ideas and resources. LACI has been operating for years out of a temporary space down the block, but the La Kretz campus bodes well for the future.—Eddie Kim

BEST DESTRUCTION Sixth Street Viaduct Demolition

The Sixth Street Viaduct has appeared in countless commercials, television shows and films. However, a rare chemical condition was causing its concrete to weaken, and it was closed in January, part of a process that will lead to a $449 million replacement scheduled to open in 2020. Throughout the year those paying attention have glimpsed a steady, controlled demolition process, with the span being smashed apart and broken into tiny pieces via large machinery (netting prevents debris from falling into the L.A. River). While it lacks the oomph of a Hollywoodstyle explosion, it is oddly satisfying to see inanimate objects get crushed. Even stranger, it all points at progress.—Nicholas Slayton

BEST BAD IDEA Reporters Can Learn Globetrotter Tricks When the Harlem Globetrotters visited Downtown Los Angeles in February in advance of a couple Staples Center shows, three Downtown

BEST FINAL BOW Tim Dang

photo by Gary Leonard

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July 25, 2016

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

For 23 years, Tim Dang served as producing artistic director of the pioneering Little Tokyo theater company East West Players, overseeing both its business and artistic sides. During that time EWP racked up accolades, both for its productions and its advocacy on behalf of actors of color. Not only did Dang direct stellar shows (including his own original musical, Beijing Spring), but he guided EWP through record fundraising efforts and a move from a small space in Silver Lake to its much larger Little Tokyo home. Dang’s final production was La Cage aux Folles, which closed in June. He will help transition the theater’s new young artistic director, Snehal Desai, but his fingerprints will forever be on the company.—Eddie Kim

July 25, 2016

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REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival is back for its 13th installment, with a lineup of music, dance and multimedia pieces. The lineup includes Wilfried Souly’s On Becoming (left), which draws from his own immigrant experience.

Daniel Corral’s Comma mixes minimalist music with a colorful light show projected on screen.

Both are on stage on Aug. 6-8. photo by Steven Gunther

photo by Eron Rauch

At REDCAT, the Future Is NOW Annual Summer Festival of Avant-Garde Theater and Dance Celebrates Local Artists

By Nicholas Slayton or a venue focused on experimental art and busting up the status quo, the setup for REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival has been surprisingly static. It started in 2004, and every summer puts three different acts on stage a week, with a total of nine appearing over three weekends. It exposes Downtown Los Angeles audiences to a variety of performers they may not have seen before.

“Each year we consider revising the format and looking at the advantages and disadvantages, and we realize that the formula works really well,” Mark Murphy, REDCAT’s executive director, said recently by phone. “The mix of theater and dance and multimedia in each program is something that we realize is key to the success of the festival.”

The 13th annual NOW Festival is underway, having launched last week with Thursday-Saturday performances each night at 8:30. It resumes July 28-30 and Aug. 6-8.

This year, a whopping 156 artists and groups applied to be part of the festival, according to Murphy. The first weekend featured Emily Mast’s dance-theater hybrid The Cage Is a Stage; Forest, a piece using steel instruments organized like a bamboo forest, from Rebecca Bruno and Mark Kern; and Body Ship, a collaboration from Jeepneys, White Boy Scream and Miko Revereza that reimagines Ferdinand Magellan’s explorations as a journey through space, mixing video projections, body contortion and music.

This week brings Laurel Jenkins and Chey Chankethya mixing Cambodian and American dance in Soma Path, along with Rebecca Pappas’ mix of paper sculptures and choreography in Plastic Flow, and Noodlerice Studio delivering abstract bits of short theater in Untitled.

The final weekend, Aug. 4-6, will have I Am a Boys Choir, Daniel Corral’s moody multimedia

F

photo Courtesy of Noodlerice Studio

Abstract bits of short theater are on the schedule this week when Noodlerice Studio performs its work Untitled.

work Comma, and Wilfried Souly’s immigrantpowered dance number On Becoming.

Corral’s Comma grew out of a previous production called Diamond Pulses. With an overhead camera projecting images onto a big screen, he’ll play a minimalist musical composition using colorful, illuminated buttons on a soundboard. The dark silhouettes of his hands against the backdrop of the light show provide the visual component.

“It’s in stark contrast with the colors of the light and it all takes place in the dark,” Corral said. “It’s not very dance-y music. It’s minimalist in the way Stephen Glass is.”

Also performing on the final weekend is Souly, who will debut On Becoming. Originally from the African nation of Burkina Faso, he said the dance and music performance draws from the immigrant experience. Two live musicians will perform over pre-recorded African songs, while Souly and four other dancers engage in a choreographed piece. Souly described it as a hybrid of traditional dance from Burkina Faso and the more experimental styles he has practiced since coming to Los Angeles.

“The whole concept is about identity and of being a collection of experiences,” Souly said.

While NOW is built on new works, some participants are veterans of the festival, and have used it to workshop or develop different performances. For example, this is Souly’s fourth NOW appearance (including one time in a collaborative effort). Corral has been part of groups that played NOW going back to 2009, though this marks his first time performing a solo work.

Corral said NOW is an exciting change of pace, and the minimalist set-up makes it easier to tour with and take a show to other theaters in the future.

As in years past, the festival is funded by ticket sales along with a grant from the Nation-

al Endowment for the Arts. This year’s series is budgeted at $40,000, with $15,000 of that coming from the NEA, Murphy said. General admission for each show is $20 ($16 for REDCAT members). A three-weekend pass is $40.

REDCAT seats 240 people, and Murphy said that last year, roughly 90% of seats were filled.

He expect to equal or surpass that this year.

The crowd skews young, Murphy said. He added that the core audience is people in the dance and theater community, along with artists or collaborators who are interested in the evolution of the form.

“But others will get the full pass without any direct connection to the artists because they know they’ll find something that will surprise them and give them a new perspective on art itself or an issue that’s being explored,” he said.

The festival has a track record, and every year at least one or two performances end up being staged elsewhere or are developed into full-length works, Murphy said. He pointed to prominent performance artist John Fleck, who staged a show at the 2014 NOW Festival and then built it into a production that toured the country. Murphy also mentioned local dancetheater choreographer Rosana Gamson, who developed her work Still at NOW also in 2014, then expanded it to Still/Restless; that was at REDCAT in June.

“I sometimes like to think of it as a laboratory in the summer for our artists to experiment with their work,” Murphy said.

The ultimate goal of NOW, he said, is to give artists a space where they can build and showcase their ideas. Once they have a place to perform, Murphy believes, the art will speak for itself.

The New Original Works Festival runs through Aug. 6 at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 2372800 or redcat.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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July 25, 2016

Restaurant Buzz Downtown’s Highest Restaurant, A New Festival, Kappo-Style Cuisine and More Food Happenings

By Eddie Kim ise Above: The U.S. Bank Tower’s observation deck/glass-slide attraction Skyspace debuted earlier this month. Now its sibling 71Above, the restaurant on the 71st floor of the tower, is also ready for the spotlight. The anticipated establishment opened on July 15, serving a two-course lunch for $35 and a three-course dinner for $70, or a bar menu with à la carte options. The menu shows off the wide-ranging palate and technical skills of chef Vartan Abgaryan (Cliff’s Edge), with dishes including strawberry gazpacho, agnolotti pasta with corn and black truffle, and suckling pig with young lettuces and cherries. Reservations are available online, where diners can select their exact table and even preview the various views. There are also options to sit at the chef’s table for a close-up of the kitchen action, and private dining for bigger groups.

Do note 71Above’s dress code, you schlubs: Collared shirts and dress shoes are recommended for men and “upscale casual,” whatever that entails, for women.

At 633 W. Fifth St., (213) 71-ABOVE or 71above.com.

R

Oishii!: In Little Tokyo, Metro’s Regional Connector construction is causing major traffic issues. In an effort to drum up attention and interest amid the chaos, Metro last year launched the Go Little Tokyo campaign with the Little Tokyo Community Council. This month, it’s unleashing a three-day celebration of food and

drink. Running Friday-Sunday, July 29-31, Delicious Little Tokyo offers food and drink specials, workshops, giveaways and more. Chado Tea Room is hosting a tea tasting on Saturday evening, while whiskey-like shochu will be the focus at the neighboring Izakaya and Bar Fu-ga.

Far Bar is one of the many establishments offering specials. There are also ticketed events, including a guided food tour from the Little Tokyo Historical Society and the 10th annual sake and food tasting event at the Japanese American Community & Cultural Center. Free attractions abound, including a ukulele workshop at U-Space on Sunday and the traditional Obon festival at Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple over the weekend.

More information and a full schedule are at golittletokyo.com/delicious.

Kitchen Zen: Chef David Schlosser plied his trade at some of the world’s best restaurants, including L’Arpege in Paris, Urasawa in Beverly Hills, and L.A.’s Ginza Sushiko, the former sushi bar from Masa Takayama (now a superstar in Manhattan). He’s unleashing that experience in a tiny restaurant of his own, Shibumi, which opened last month at the bottom of a parking structure at Eighth and Hill streets. Shibumi is a Kappo-style restaurant, which is basically the old-school Japanese ancestor to the current fad of eating at a bar with chefs cooking right in front of you. The idea is that each dish is most delicious immediately after it’s prepared, and

Chef Vartan Abgaryan (Cliff’s Edge) leads the kitchen at 71Above, the glittering new restaurant on the 71st floor of the U.S. Bank Tower.

photo courtesy of 71Above

Schlosser’s menu hews closely to the minimalist precision of Japanese fine dining. There’s silky egg tofu with sea urchin, and a sashimi preparation of cuttlefish sauced in its own ink. Meatier options include fried monkfish “karaage” and grilled heritage pork with pickled radishes. Prices on the ever-changing seasonal menu range from around $10 to $30, but expect to split a lot of dishes with friends.

At 815 S. Hill St., (213) 265-7923 or shibumidtla.com.

She’s Crafty: The Arts District is a hotspot for bigtime restaurateurs wanting to make a splashy

play, but what about those intrepid young chefs who can’t afford to open a permanent space?

They can try Crafted Kitchen, which opens next month in a renovated 95-year-old warehouse just north of Seventh and Santa Fe streets. It will offer a shared venue in which to try menu concepts, experiment with ingredients, and collaborate with fellow cooks and food entrepreneurs.

The nearly 8,000-square-foot warehouse comes from Cindi Thompson, an Arts District resident, and will feature a commercial kitchen, a test kitchen with access to a 1,300-square-foot patio, and four private kitchens. Pop-up dinners, cooking classes, film shoots, corporate events and

July 25, 2016

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A Hidden Lunch Gem: Precinct is known as a big and boisterous gay bar/club, but a new pop-up restaurant is tweaking the spot’s identity at lunchtime. JP’s DTLA comes from chef Justin Schwartz, who is serving on weekdays from 11 a.m-3 p.m. on Precinct’s second-floor patio. Almost everything is under $20, and the menu offers an array of salads and sandwiches as well as hand-made pasta (check out the pappardelle and bison ragu) and bigger plates like roasted flank steak with braised greens and fries. Schwartz, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York City, is also working on debuting a weekend brunch soon.

At 357 S. Broadway, (​ 213) 359-8080 or jpdtla.com.

Group Exercise: Chef Shawn Pham’s Simbal is one of Downtown’s most underrated restaurants, but you already knew that, right? Changes are afoot at the hard-to-find Little Tokyo eatery, with Pham debuting two appealing family-style additions to the menu. First, there are two new large-format plates that can be shared by the table: smoked crispy pork belly with spicy bean sprouts, and a rib eye steak glazed in sweet Indonesian soy sauce and served with roast garlic potatoes. More significantly, there’s a $40 per person “Taste of Simbal” option that ranks as one of the best prix-fixe deals in Downtown. Diners choose from a number of the restaurant’s regular dishes for the three courses and a dessert. Favorites include the steak tartare dressed with flavors of a Thai “larb” salad and silky rice congee with plump shrimp and a savory caramel sauce.

At 120 S. San Pedro St., (213) 626-0244 or simbalrestaurant.com.

Real Meal Deal: It’s that time of year — DineLA Restaurant Week is back, ready to seduce you into thinking that dropping $40 on several prix-fixe dinners is an amazing deal. Downtown is well represented on this year’s DineLA roster, which launched July 18 and is now in its final week. It ends Sunday, July 31, but there is still time to try spots including the beautiful Mediterranean restaurant 10e ($25 lunch, $39 dinner), Faith & Flower ($25 lunch, $49 dinner), chef Neal Fraser’s Redbird (ditto), and Broken Spanish, which is going all-out with a $95 per person tasting menu with 10 courses. Considering how popular DineLA specials are, you ought to go and make your reservations ASAP. More information is at discoverlosangeles.com.

Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.

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TWO

Dry, acerbic and painfully insightful, stand-up comedian Tig Notaro is the finest thing to fight out of Jackson, Mississippi, since Grant’s army. On Saturday, July 30, at 8:30 p.m., the Theatre at Ace Hotel will scarcely be able to contain the cancer survivor, new parent, profound joker and all-around stellar human being.

Tickets were still available at press time for the Spacelandsponsored event, during which Tig is guaranteed to discuss the outright pleasure of being a relatively sane person in an utterly mad country poised on the brink of chaos. At 933 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or acehotel.com.

Those who frequent the corner of Fourth and Main streets may know Josef Centeno by sight. Others will know him by taste. His fourrestaurant Old Bank District demi-empire has been the culinary talk of the town. On Monday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m., Centeno joins standout Los Angeles magazine food critic Patric Kuh (shown here) at the Last Bookstore in support of the latter’s latest book offering, Finding the Flavors We Lost — From Bread to Bourbon, How Artisans Reclaimed American Food. Critic and chef will unite to discuss the tastes reclaimed from the ghastly event horizon of the fast-food black hole. The event is free.

At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

We are happy to report that the Spring Street Oil Dancer appears to have diversified his sidewalk lubricant arsenal with baby powder. This news comes as a welcome prelude to National Dance Day. On Saturday, July 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grand Park will be jammed with professional dancers, choreographers and hobbyists alike for a celebration of all things terpsichorean. Nygil Lythgoe of “So You Think You Can Dance” hosts a day packed with dance clinics and performances. Included in the medley are the National Dance Day Group Routine and two hours of the kid-friendly “Baby Loves Disco” at the fountain splash pad. At (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

5 photo courtesy Yep Roc Records

3

photo courtesy Sky Ferreira

New York City is a bit like Downtown Los Angeles’ older brother — way past its creative prime, 3,000 miles away and still overshadowing our lives with its former glories. The spirit of New York’s heyday comes alive on Saturday, July 30, as The Broad museum’s Nonobjec(tive): Happenings series delivers a carefully honed blast of music and performance to celebrate NYC and the work of her artistic children. Sky Ferreira (shown here) will issue forth with a DJ set. Television’s Richard Hell gives a reading. Ryan Heffington and Brontez Purnell merge choreography with space. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith delivers wave after wave of analog synthesizer noise. The 8:30 p.m. event takes place indoors and out. At 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

July 30, 8:30 p.m.: Tig Notaro, stand-up comedian and super honest lady.

Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com.

July 30, 7:30 p.m.: Mark Winkler.

Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or belascous.com.

July 28, 8 p.m.: Yoon Do Hyun is the K-pop star you’ve waited the entirety of your 14 years to see live.

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

July 25: Jessica Vautor.

July 26: Euman-Boneham-Smith III.

ONE

photo by David Stork

d Food Talk n a t r A , ic s Laughs, Mu owntown D in k e e W This Are on Tap

Louisiana’s Tony Joe White makes inroads in Downtown’s burgeoning New Orleans look-alike scene this week. That’s because his travels and travails take him through the Grammy Museum on Monday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. You may know White for his classics “Polk Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia,” or perhaps his 19 studio records. The latest offering, Rain Crow, is the reason for the season as White drops in to chat with Grammy Foundation VP and musical ambassador Scott Goldman before playing a few tunes. As always, the joint is intimate, so don’t dally on tickets. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

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

photo courtesy of The Music Center

EVENTS

MONDAY, JULY 25 Patric Kuh and Josef Centeno at the Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: The baco mastermind and the Los Angeles magazine food writer dish on lost flavors that have been reclaimed by an army of chefs. The event is timed to the release of Kuh’s new book. He’d like you to buy a copy.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 Civic Engagement in the Digital Age City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

11:30 a.m.: In an event hosted by Town Hall-Los Angeles, USC fellow Dan Schnur moderates a panel of local government functionaries, communications experts and journalists in a discussion of transparency in the age of new media.

THURSDAY, JULY 28 Tara Jane O’Neil and Sunland Dancers at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel.com.

5 p.m.: Not only will there be a lovely lineup of dance and music to support the women’s sculpture show, but so too will Pirozhki L.A. offer Russian hand pies. Yes, it’s another day in the After 5 series.

FRIDAY, JULY 29 Delicious Little Tokyo In select Little Tokyo restaurants and littletokyo.com/delicious.

July 29-31: Lest you find yourself tempted to gnaw on the Marukai Market, let us clarify: Delicious Little Tokyo is a weekend of culinary and cultural tours, food specials and other epicurean pursuits intended to highlight the local food scene.

DJ Nights Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

8-11 p.m.: Tonight’s guest DJ has apparently collaborated with the Dalai Lama. Then again, which of us who meditate daily for peace and light haven’t?

SATURDAY, JULY 30 National Dance Day Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

10 a.m.: Join in on collective reverie and dance intended to heighten nationwide celebrations of a day dedicated to the beauty of motion. You’ll also see the guy from “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Se Mueve: Aqui/Here: It Moves California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org.

July 30, 8 p.m.: A spoken word and choreography show from Rafa Esparza, Maria Garcia, Yesika Salgado and Yosimar Reyes.

SUNDAY, JULY 31 Ace Air: Adam Villacin 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

9 p.m.: The Ace Hotel and Printed Matter host artist Adam Villacin and give a toast to his storied work.

July 25, 2016

FOUR

38 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

Downtown News 39

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

The End of "The Day" photo by Anka Bogacz

July 27: Curtis Taylor Quartet.

July 28: Michael Mayo Group.

July 29: Walter Smith III Group.

July 30: Epoch 5.

July 31: Jeff Parker.

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

July 25, 8:30 p.m.: Reggie Watts opens for Valley Queen.

July 26, 8:30 p.m.: The extent of post-rock group Nani’s available catalog is one Spotify-streaming song entitled, “I Am Volcano.” Well, that may be, but I am suspicious.

July 27, 8:30 p.m.: Punchy rock outfit Augustines are playing the last week of July.

July 28, 8:30 p.m.: Oh Pep! does some caterwauling, mandolin meets banjo while channeling Zooey Deschanel fashion thing.

Perchance you’re into that.

July 29, 8:30 p.m.: Big business is the ponderous sludge rock duo your venal PR rep sister warned you about.

July 30, 10:30 p.m.: Mystery Lights hit the stage at 10:30 p.m. and play late into the night as most inexplicable visual phenomena do.

July 31, 8:30 p.m.: Madeline Spooner will cradle you in an embrace of “avant pop” that will not necessarily comfort you.

Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality.com.

July 26: Sitara Son. July 27: Bobby Matos.

July 28: Joey De Leon.

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

July 25: Skip Spiros & His 10 Piece Jazz Band.

July 26: The Hooten Hallers.

July 27: Pretty Polly.

July 28: Matt Mann & The Shine Runners.

July 29: Wise Eyes.

July 31: Ben Bostick Honk Tonk Sunday.

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

July 28: Ookay.

July 29: W&W.

All good things must come to an end. That is in play this week in Downtown Los Angeles, as the experiential theater piece The Day Shall Declare It gets ready to close. The 80-minute work from the theater company Wilderness draws from Tennessee Williams’ collection American Blues and author Studs Terkel’s 1974 book Working. It springboards into a site-specific production in an Arts District warehouse, and the audience, limited to 30 people a night, follows the cast of performers, who are known to get very close to those watching.

The Day Shall Declare It opened in May and was originally scheduled to close June 19, but sell-out crowds prompted an extended run. It closes Sunday, July 31.

At 2051 E. Seventh St., or thisisthewilderness.com.

July 30: Fehrplay and Grum.

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

July 25, 7:15 p.m.: The incomparable bayou bard Tony Joe White.

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

July 28, 4:30 p.m.: Happy Hours: International Disco and Funk with DJs Joel Quizon and Rani de Leon features a world wide repertoire of disco and funk spun by two DJs known elsewhere as “Joel” and “Rani.”

Ham & Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St., (213) 891-6939 or hamandeggstavern.com.

July 25: Natanael, Emily Wryn, L.A. River Bend and Kingcole.

July 26: Ned and the Dirty, CIVX and The Absurd.

July 27: Marks, Twinkids and Dyan.

July 30: Matt Van Winkle, Deepakalypse, Breezers and Jada Wagensomer.

July 31: You, Chicharra, CJ Boyd and Systole.

Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com.

July 26: Joey De Leon.

July 27: La Victoria.

July 28: Flamenco Blue.

July 31: Nick Mancini.

Little Easy 216 W. Fifth St., (213) 628-3113 or littleeasybar.com.

July 28: Crazed anti-law enforcement gunmen are hereby advised that the Sheriffs of Schroedingham are not actual lawmen, but rather a progressive bluesy-type thing.

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

July 30, 8 p.m.: Between the green accordion, the sequined leather jacket, the mullet peaking out from beneath the black Continued on next page

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cowboy hat and the thick moustache, you’re guaranteed a pleasurable experience with Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte.

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

July 27, 12 p.m.: Alarma.

July 29, 12 p.m.: The Gumbo Brothers.

July 30, 8 p.m.: Virulent rockabilly from the wise and cherished Reverend Horton Heat.

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

July 25: Acoustic Punk Night.

July 26: The Anti Don’ts.

July 27. Their Only Dreams, House of Affection, Joe Meguro and Centre.

July 30: Mike Watt & The Second Men with Gitante Demone Quartet, Turbulent Hearts, Schizophonics, Electric Children, The Katellas and Assquatch.

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The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com.

July 29, 5:30 p.m.: A night at Klub KCON. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.

July 28, 8:30 p.m.: A total of $11.50 is probably the cheapest you’ll pay for an Escort.

July 29, 8:30 p.m.: Curious phonetic tricks and revival reggae with Protoje and Indiggnation.

July 30, 9 p.m.: There’ll be no winners at tonight’s Bootie LA: Britney Vs. Taylor Mashup Night.

Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com.

July 25, 7:30 p.m.: We Deserve This: Chelsea Frank, Alison Stevenson, Sameer Suri, Kasey Koop and Jon Daly.

July 27, 8 p.m.: Ultimate Painting and Cold Showers.

July 29, 9 p.m.: Feminist Friday Featuring Hidden Charms.

July 30, 1 p.m.: Namasdrake.

July 31, 8 p.m.: Juke Joint featuring Jackie Jackson.

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

July 25: The Shady Rest, musical homage to the copse of trees at Third and Main.

July 26: The Makers are enthralled at the prospect of another August spent soundtracking your Tuesday night benders.

July 27: Bobby Hurricane Blues All-Stars bring carefully selected, gale force 12-bar pleasures.

July 28: Molasses. A musical event or artisanal syrup tasting?

July 31: The Dan Weinstein Two Tones sounds suspiciously like a prelude to public schizophrenia.

Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com.

July 30-31, 7 p.m.: Barrels full of K-Pop have been imported for KCON 2016.

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

July 27: PHF and Roidz.

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

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July 25, 2016

July 28: Caterwall, Acid Ghost and Los Blenders.

July 29: Noyes, Gnarvana and Feeder.

July 30: Pity Party, Joos, The Red Pears and Whaja Dew. July 31: Miss Destiny, Zig Zags, Enemy and Char-Man.

FILM

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

July 25, 8:30 p.m.: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids star Rick Moranis left Hollywood to be a good father. Before he left, he made this film where the plot is also the title.

July 28, 8 p.m.: From executive producer Nas comes The Land, a portrait of the hip-hop underground in Cleveland.

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

July 29-Aug. 1: Downtown’s own Christopher McDonald returns to the silver screen in the paternal power struggle comedy

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July 25, 2016 Don’t Worry Baby.

Grand Central Market 317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or grandcentralmarket.com.

July 27, 8 p.m.: Enjoy a free screening of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure that promises to be only slightly less delightful than Horse Thief’s brisket.

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

Journey to Space 3D brings audience members along on an E-ticket ride of exploration to the red planet.

Ewan McGregor is the voice of Humpback Whales 3D. Not

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

CROSSWORD

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM that the whales aren’t significant enough in their own right, but Obi-Wan narrating means we’re dealing with serious power brokers who know a good whale story when they see it.

MOCA 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

July 31, 3 p.m.: Ed Ruscha’s Premium and Miracle screen for 52 cumulative minutes of pure artistic pleasure.

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

July 29, Sunset: For those raised in the present idiocracy, we should tell you that The Great Gatsby was a book before it was a Baz Luhrman movie.

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

Through July 27: Ice Age: Collision Course (1:10, 4, 6:40 and 9:10 p.m.); Ice Age: Collision Course 3D (11:25 a.m., 2 and 4:40 p.m.); Lights Out (12, 2:40, 5, 8 and 10:20 p.m.); Star Trek Beyond (11:30 a.m., 12:50, 2:40, 3:50, 5:40, 7, 8:50 and 10:10 p.m.); Star Trek Beyond 3D (12:10, 1:30, 3:20, 4:30, 6:20, 7:40, 9:30 and 10:50 p.m.); Ghostbusters (12:20, 1:25, 3:20, 4:20, 6:30, 7:35, 9:20 and 10:45 p.m.); Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (7:10 and 9:50 p.m.); The Secret Life of Pets (1:45, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:25 p.m.); The Secret Life of Pets 3D (11:45 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30 and 10 p.m.); The Legend of Tarzan (12:05, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10 and 10:55 p.m.); The Purge: Election Year (11:50 a.m., 2:30 and 5:10 p.m.); Finding Dory (11:35 a.m., 2:20, 4:55, 7:25 and 10:15 p.m.).

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

July 27, 7:30 p.m.: King Buzzo and the rest of Seattle heavy

rock stalwarts The Melvins will be on hand to play a special set before, during or after their bio documentary The Colossus of Destiny screens.

July 31, 7 p.m.: Things are going to get vibey and chill with The Films of Tangerine Dream. Bring your black turtleneck.

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE

Bob Baker’s Sketchbook Revue Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

July 30-31, 2:30 p.m.: The Sketchbook Revue promises a cast of marionettes that will alternately delight and terrify.

The Day Shall Declare It Wilderness, 2051 E. Seventh St., or thisisthewilderness.com.

July 27-28, 8:30 p.m., July 29, 8 p.m. and July 30, 8:30 p.m.: A site-specific experiential theater phenomena rehashes a century of the working man. The script draws from works by Tennessee Williams and Studs Terkel. Beware: In this Arts District show, an actor might get all up in your grill. Through July 31.

Grey Gardens—The Musical The Ahmanson, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or centertheatregroup.org.

July 27-30, 8 p.m. and July 31, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: In 1975, the Maysles brother made a documentary about a pair of off-kilter relatives of Jackie Onassis. Big Edie and Little Edie lived in a crumbling mansion in the East Hamptons. Somehow, that became a Broadway musical that received 10 Tony nominations in 2006.

The version that lands in Downtown stars Betty Buckley and Rachel York. Through August 14.

New Original Works: Program Two

Downtown News 41 REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

July 28-30, 8:30 p.m.: Week two features Laurel Jenkins & Chey Chankethya’s “Soma Path,” “Plastic Flow” from Rebecca Pappas and Noodlerice Studio’s “Untitled.”

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

July 26, 9 p.m.: Feast on this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

The Sunrise Club Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 4890994 or thelatc.org.

July 29-30, 8 p.m.: The Earth is dying. Civilization has ground to a near-halt. The last sunrise is upon us. Dig on a crew of kids making the most of their final minutes together. Through July 30.

MORE LISTINGS@

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42 Downtown News

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July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016

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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.

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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).

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEWS, AUGUST 15, 2016

Let’s Do Dinner, DTLA! Downtown has become a mecca for dining. This special edition of the Downtown News will show our over 110,000 readers the best spots in Downtown for dinner.

n Dinner Specials n Great New Restaurants n All Types of Food Choices n Downtown’s “Hotspots” n Late night Dining

Special section publishes:

August 15, 2016

Notice of Request for Qualifications MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide services to construct a New Ground-Up “Bike Hub” Building at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/nF346F2PDsyEEjbl2. Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on August 9th, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on August 9th, 2016 will be rejected.

Notice of Request for Qualifications MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide a Fire Life Safety System and Emergency Generator at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/k4ad6AfUtXA7gpbz1. Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on August 5th, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on August 5th, 2016 will be rejected

Space reservation deadline:

August 10, 2016

For more info call 213-481-1448 1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 (213) 481-1448 • FAX (213) 250-4617

LADowntownNews.com

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44 Downtown News

July 25, 2016

FASHION DISTRICT LOFTS, 9

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.

Re Ne no wl va y te d

255 GRAND

255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove,Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

PROMENADE TOWERS

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

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

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

MUSEUM TOWER

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

TOWERS

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

T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

Hiro Taylor, the founder of a shopping start-up called HeroPay, leases one of the penthouses. He was walking through Downtown, saw the building and took a tour.

“I decided to move in because of the building’s beautiful design and good location,” Taylor said.

Leasing began in June, and according to building general manager Jorge Rios of Cannon Management, 22 units were occupied by mid-July. He noted that, similar to many other Downtown buildings, rents rise on higher floors. He also said that units on the west side of the building, which offer views of the Downtown skyline, are generally $50-$100 more than those on the east side of the project.

Amenities include a communal rooftop with a jacuzzi, grilling areas and a viewing deck. A fitness center for residents and a lounge will be in the basement, though those are not yet completed.

There are historic twists, too. During the construction process, the Capital Foresight team got a tip from a postman about a wall of old mail slots in the lobby. The construction crew found the set-up, covered in plywood after years of disuse. The wood was removed and the mail slots were cleaned as part of the restoration of the lobby. The feature is more about design than applicability, though, as tenants get their mail in a different part of the lobby.

The ground floor also holds roughly 3,500 square feet of commercial space. The plan is to locate three businesses there, including a bar/restaurant.

One thing the Max Lofts lacks is on-site parking. Although there is a bike storage area on the first floor, car owners are usually winding up in a nearby lot. Capital Foresight is working on arrangements with various Joe’s Parking locations.

Although the Fashion District lacks the residential critical mass that has developed in some other Downtown neighborhoods, new businesses that appeal to loft dwellers are creeping in. That includes Coffee Colab, at 305 E. Eighth St., and Pop Obscure Records, which sells vinyl albums, at 735 S. Los Angeles St. Smith said that the neighborhood is becoming more active, particularly on streets east of Broadway, and that the Max Lofts continues that evolution.

Capital Foresight is preparing for its second wave of move-ins on Aug. 1, and plans to start leasing the commercial space. The goal is to have the majority of the building leased by Oct. 1.

The Max Lofts are at 819 S. Santee St., (213) 267-3822 or themaxlofts.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

MUSIC CENTER, 10 a historical timeline on the Music Center’s website was renamed for Dorothy Chandler the following year. The Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre were dedicated in 1967.

The complex quickly became a center of culture in Los Angeles, and in 1969 the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion hosted the Academy Awards for the first time. In 1986, L.A. Opera had its inaugural season in the venue, and still performs there. The Philharmonic decamped for Walt Disney Concert Hall when the Frank Gehry-designed landmark opened in 2003.

There have been occasional upgrades to certain parts of the campus, including a $17 million renovation of the Ahmanson in 1994. The Mark Taper Forum received a $30 million overhaul in 2008.

The plaza, however, has never had a full renovation, even as it began hosting open-air activities such as the Dance DTLA series, which brings free dance lessons and DJ performances to the complex on Friday nights in summer.

Moore said that after construction ends, the entertainment slate will expand. She said the Music Center is committed to raising another $5 million (beyond the $5 million for the renovation), which will be spent on free programming over the course of a decade. She said another goal is to launch a summer festival.

When asked what kind of festival, she said, “Something along Edinburgh,” a reference to the famous event in Scotland. “So a big arts festival that would eventually grow to encapsulate arts institutions, but you need to start someplace. So we will start on the plaza, and then we will get bigger.”

First, though, the Music Center and the county need to pull together the money. regardie@downtownnews.com