08-04-14

A Big Basketball Bash | 10 It’s Nisei Week Again | 13

photo by Melissa Richardson Banks

AUGUST 4, 2014 I VOL. 43 I #31

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE ARTS DISTRICT

Area Resident and Photographer Melissa Richardson Banks Captures the Quickly Changing Community SEE PAGE 14

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Real Estate Firm Buys Brunswig Square for $33 Million

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reen Oak Real Estate, the firm that recently snapped up the Hotel Figueroa, has teamed with Arenda Capital Management to purchase Brunswig Square, an eight-story office building in Little Tokyo, said Jonathan Epstein, managing director of Green Oak. The companies paid $33 million for the property at 360 E. Second St. that spans 115,000 square feet with 25,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Epstein said the building, erected in the 1920s and designed by architecture firm AC Martin, is just 40% occupied. Epstein said the plan is to turn the property into creative office space, which he noted is a trend with tech and other firms across Los Angeles, including in Downtown. With the renaissance happening in the Central City, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $1.46 billion Regional Connector slated to open in 2020, Epstein said the purchase of the Hotel Figueroa and Brunswig Square were “phenomenal opportunities.”

National Night Out Coming to Arts District

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ach year, on the first Tuesday in August, police departments set out to prove to the community that cops are people too. That’s the

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS premise of National Night Out, and the effort to bolster ties and build safer neighborhoods takes place in Downtown Los Angeles from 5-9 p.m. on Aug. 5. Sponsored in part by the LAPD Central City Police Boosters, Inc. and the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, the block party at Third Street and Traction Avenue will feature live bands, a DJ, players from the Los Angeles Kings and Clippers, and some food trucks. In addition to numerous men and women in blue, the police presence will include representatives from the LAPD bomb squad, the K-9 unit and the recruitment division. National Night Out began in 1984 as a way to enhance crime prevention through police and community partnerships. The roughly 16,000 events nationwide are estimated to attract nearly 38 million people.

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Arts District’s Archway Theater And Yoga Studio to Close

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fter nearly three years, the curtain is coming down at the Archway Studio and Theater. Managing Artistic Director Steven Sabel said the small theater’s final production, Coriolanus, will close on Aug. 16, and while he and his company may stay on the premises through Sept. 12, they are looking for a new home in another part of Downtown. In addition to presenting plays in a 50-seat venue, the Archway also hosted yoga classes. The Archway gained attention not only for its shows, but because the space on the ground floor of the American Hotel previously housed the iconic punk rock venue Al’s Bar. Sabel said the changing neighborhood is “no longer conducive to what we offer,” noting his patrons and actors often have dif-

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ficulty finding parking. “Investors and business owners that have jumped on the new popularity of the neighborhood have failed to see that they are driving out the very element that made this neighborhood interesting,” he said.

Downtown Center Business Improvement District, he’s been giving tours of Downtown to business people and potential residents, and co-founded the annual Dog Day Afternoon event at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Bastian may still show up in those places, but come the fall he’ll be doing it on his own.

The BID announced last week that Bastian is leaving to start his own economic development consultancy. His last day will be Sept. 30.

“We all know of Hal Bastian’s commitment to helping Downtown prosper and while we are sorry to lose someone with his expertise and Continued on page 8

Bastian to Leave DCBID After 13 Years

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ver the last 13 years, Hal Bastian has become a familiar presence in Downtown Los Angeles: As the executive vice president and director of economic development for the

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EDITORIALS

August 4, 2014

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The Power of a Playground

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he team at Grand Park has been knocking it out of the proverbial park ever since the 12acre attraction opened two summers ago. A free programming schedule, a fantastic splash fountain and the design itself finally made the previously underwhelming space between the Music Center and City Hall what it should be: a true community gathering point.

Now, the park team and Los Angeles County look to have another big hit: A coming children’s playground, complete with a fun forest concept highlighted by a tree house and a long slide.

Los Angeles Downtown News last week reported on the $1 million playground that will rise on the portion of the landmark between Broadway and Spring Street. A groundbreaking was held on Wednesday, July 30, and completion is slated for November. That seems a pretty speedy timeline, but even if it takes a few more months it will be worth the wait.

The playground will be another step in making Downtown Los Angeles a viable place for families.

In the last several years, the residential resurgence has led to a noticeable increase in strollers, and parents have a lot of requirements that the young hipsters, empty nesters and busy professionals living here don’t care about. Chief among the concerns is education. Fortunately, last fall Downtown got a key addition with the opening of the Metro Charter Elementary School. Hopefully more quality elementary schools, whether of the charter or public variety, will follow.

Almost as important for families is a place where kids can run around, be loud and get some exercise.

There are currently precious few of these opportunities in Downtown. The Spring Street Park’s play area is small and geared toward the pre-school set.

While the playground equipment on the FIDM campus in South Park is frequently utilized, it alone is not enough. There seem to be more dog parks in Downtown than kids’ parks.

The Grand Park playground will be pitched to kids up to 12, with a forest theme and plenty of places where children can climb, hide and run. Fortunately, there will also be benches and something that many playgrounds shockingly lack — shade trees for the parents who sit watching and talking.

The playground has value because not only is it a place to play, it sends a message to families that an evolving Downtown can satisfy their needs. If good playgrounds aren’t available in here, then parents will drive to Silver Lake, Pasadena or another community to find one. Force them to drive for too many things (not just playgrounds) and they’ll question whether the Central City is the right place to stay long term.

We congratulate Supervisor Gloria Molina and the nonprofit First 5 L.A., which found the funds for the park, and the park operational team for urging this forward. We’re also pleased with the early designs by Rios Clementi Hale Studios.

We’re already looking forward to the results, and as with our desire for more elementary schools, we hope this is the first in a line of coming playgrounds.

The more people Downtown can serve, the brighter its future.

Where’s Our Bike Share Program?

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n late 2012, the City Council approved a plan to create a bikesharing program in Los Angeles. Downtown seemed primed to benefit from the effort, and one could envision large numbers of users, including commuters who take the train to Union Station, then pick up a bike and pedal to jobs in the Financial District or Bunker Hill.

Several months later the deal with Irvine-based Bike Nation fell apart due to conflicts related to advertising and permitting. Last November, Los Angeles Downtown News wrote about a renewed bike sharing effort, this one possibly countywide. A report to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board was due by January, though little has been heard since about local bike sharing.

This is troubling because, while Los Angeles waits and gets ever more congested, other municipalities are racing forward. In May 2013, New York City launched Citi Bike, largely funded by Citibank.

Last month the New York Times reported that new Mayor Bill de Blasio appears poised to expand the program. The current 6,200 two-wheelers will likely be doubled to 12,000 by 2017. Service will extend from the current center of Manhattan to other boroughs.

We’re hard-pressed to see why New York is succeeding on this issue and Los Angeles is flailing. Our temperate weather makes bik-

ing feasible more than 300 days a year. Los Angeles has been at the forefront of national bicycling friendliness, with bike lines striping Downtown and other communities, and major pedal-powered projects such as the $20 million MyFigueroa moving forward. Bike sharing is a natural piece of the expanding puzzle.

We understand that many things in city government changed when Eric Garcetti became mayor, and he did co-author the Metro motion to look at bike sharing nationally and come up with a local plan. Ideally, his incoming general manager of the Department of Transportation, Seleta Reynolds, will view bike sharing as a viable addition to navigating Los Angeles. Hopefully Metro CEO Art Leahy will be a like-minded compatriot.

Maybe our start-stop approach will turn out to have a silver lining. New York’s program hit a lot of bumps in the early stages, with numerous complaints regarding computer software and customer service, according to the Times’ story. Los Angeles could study what went wrong and avoid similar mistakes.

That said, local leaders should avoid spending too much time and studying the idea to death. We already know that bike sharing would be good for Los Angeles, in particular Downtown. It’s time to move this idea forward.

Move on Out, Donald Sterling

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ike almost everyone in Southern California, we rejoiced last week when Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas ruled against longtime Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. While we hardly see his wife and former ally, Shelly Sterling, as a conquering hero, we are pleased that she has gained the upper hand in her quest to sell the team, for a still astonishing $2 billion, to Steve Ballmer.

We hope this happens quickly. The last several months, ever since Donald Sterling’s racist rants to a companion were posted on the website TMZ, have been a cringe fest. The basketball team, which in a sense “belongs” more to the fans than the owner, has had to endure too many uncer-

tainties and off-the-court travails (Coach Doc Rivers has reportedly vowed to quit if Sterling stays in control). The city, meanwhile, has been embarrassed by the boorish behavior of Sterling both before and after the recording (his calling Shelly “a pig” in court last month only worsened matters). After all, before you get to “Clippers” in the name, you have to say “Los Angeles.”

All the signs indicate that Sterling isn’t about to end his crusade to keep the team, and that his first order of business will be challenging the part of Levanas’ ruling that allows the sale to Ballmer to occur regardless of any future appeal. Sterling, who trained as an attorney, and his lawyers are pursuing other legal paths as well.

Still, this page can’t help asking a second time for what we called for in May: That those who know and have done business with Donald Sterling (and we expect that includes a number of people in the Downtown office high-rises) should pick up the phone and urge him to back off and do the right thing for the team, the city and ultimately himself. We hope Sterling will collect his portion of the $2 billion and head out of public view. We don’t expect that one call will make a difference, and even a couple dozen might not change his mind, but sometimes the rich and powerful will listen to the other rich and powerful.

It’s worth a shot.

It may take a few weeks or it may take a few months, but we look forward to the day when Donald Sterling is no longer a part of the Los Angeles Clippers.

August 4, 2014

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

A Clash Over Two Downtown Hotels Clark and Embassy Could Open Next Year, But Union Appeals Raise Questions

By Eddie Kim ander the long halls of the Clark Hotel, located near the northeast corner of Fifth and Hill streets, and it seems like the property is ready for guests.

The hallways sparkle with chic decor, Pop Art design touches and bright splashes of orange paint. Inside the rooms, there’s a lighthearted rock-star feel, with leather-touch headboards, mod furniture and zebra-print wallpaper.

The Clark Hotel and another boutique establishment, the Embassy (sometimes referred to as the Trinity Auditorium hotel) in South Park, could bring nearly 500 much-needed rooms to the Central City. They’ve been a long time coming: The developer, the notoriously quiet family-run Chetrit Group, has owned the properties for more than a decade, and has received both criticism for delays in opening them, and praise for undertaking conversions of difficult historic buildings.

Project representative Elizabeth Peterson said the developer is nearing completion on the renovations and could open the hotels in 2015. However, continued legal challenges to the projects from the hospitality workers union Unite HERE Local 11 might push the work back even further.

The union’s appeals will be heard at a Central Area Planning Commission hearing in September.

Nearing the Finish Line Work is closest to completion at the Clark Hotel, which received its certificate of occupancy last month. The 11-story structure was built in 1912 and opened as a hotel two years later. In the 1980s, the Chinese government purchased the structure with a plan to create a cultural and business center, but development stagnated during the economic downturn.

Chetrit’s plans to reopen the building were announced in early 2012, and sources familiar with the deal said New York’s King & Grove Hotel would be the operator. In March of that year, Peterson told Los Angeles Downtown News that a debut was an-

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ticipated by September. “It’s really close,” she said.

A recent tour of the building showed off a lobby that gleams with light gray marble and modernist silver light fixtures.

The 1914 Trinity Auditorium has also seen significant renovations and will receive its certificate of occupancy by the end of summer, Peterson said. Its large stained-glass dome is being carefully cleaned and restored by hand.

Meanwhile, Unite HERE Local 11 is challenging the projects’ environmental impact reports, saying that not enough mitigation measures were taken and that they require further study.

The union filed appeals on both hotels in 2013, preventing the projects from receiving conditional use permits for serving alcohol and hosting live entertainment. This came despite approvals from a city zoning administrator in 2012.

While the appeal is not based on labor issues, land-use experts said that challenging a project’s environmental review process is a common way to get a developer to the negotiating table to talk about wages and benefits.

The Chetrit Group declined comment on the legal issues. Peterson told Downtown News last year that the group had resisted meeting with the union because it believes that land-use and labor issues should remain separate.

Unite HERE does not deny that labor matters are part of the dispute.

“We look at projects holistically to see whether they are the best they can be for a neighborhood,” said Rachel Torres, an organizer and research analyst for the union. “That includes looking at employees and their working conditions.”

Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar said in an email to Downtown News that while he strongly supports creating more hotel rooms in the Central City, he feels that Chetrit Group has not cooperated with the city and the union in an efficient way.

Such drawn-out legal challenges to the environmental im-

photo by Gary Leonard

The Clark Hotel at 426 Hill St. has received its certificate of occupancy, and a project representative said it could open next year. However, legal challenges from the union Unite HERE Local 11 may delay that progress.

pacts of a project are not uncommon between unions, city government and developers, said Bruce Baltin, senior vice president at hospitality advisory firm PKF Consulting.

“The majority” of Downtown hotels have union deals, and even those that do not, such as the new Ace Hotel on Broadway, meet with labor leaders to discuss working conditions and pay, he said.

Still, some Downtown stakeholders feel that Unite HERE is unfairly strong-arming Chetrit Group by leveraging the environmental review process.

The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council has supported the projects since 2012. DLANC President Patti Berman, speaking on her own behalf, expressed concern about the union’s continued appeals despite the hotels having met city and state standards.

“You’ve got a developer that is trying to bring a needed resource and jobs to Downtown,” Berman said. “The idea that peoContinued on page 8

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August 4, 2014

Twin 35-Story Towers Proposed for South Park Project Would Create 648 Condominiums

rendering courtesy Harley Ellis Devereaux

Initial plans for 1200 Fig call for two condominium towers. The project would stand 35 stories tall.

By Eddie Kim he empty lots around L.A. Live are slowly transforming into sites for glossy high-rises, and the newest entrant has been revealed: A development with two condominium towers is proposed for the southeast corner of Figueroa and 12th streets.

The complex dubbed 1200 Fig is an attempt to activate a stretch of Figueroa Street that remains mostly quiet despite the presence across the street of L.A. Live, Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The project is backed by a partnership of major Los Angeles landlord Jamison Services, Hankey Investment Company President W. Scott Dobbins and several other investors.

The project, being designed by the firm Harley Ellis Devereaux, is in the entitlement phase. No budget or timeline have been revealed.

Initial plans call for two towers that would each be 35 stories tall. They would contain a total of 648 condominiums.

The development would include a 90-foot-tall podium beneath the residences, with parking and 50,000 square feet of retail space. According to Harley Ellis Devereaux Principal Daniel Gehman, that space would largely house “sports themed” businesses catering to the crowds that descend on South Park for sporting events at Staples Center and L.A. Live. The podium also would feature bright signage illuminating Figueroa Street, including the largest proposed LED light board in the city.

The towers feature a curved glass face that points toward Downtown’s skyline. Sleek, gill-like facade protrusions add definition to the sides of the buildings. The design is partly inspired by the swooping architecture of Staples Center and is meant to complement L.A. Live, said Harley Ellis Devereaux Principal Dan Benjamin.

“We want to take advantage of the panoramic views, so the curve of the towers is facing the skyline,” Benjamin added. “The owners had some concerns about the curve and the way it would affect floor plans, but we demonstrated that it is practical and works well.”

That panoramic view may be compromised in coming years as more towers start rising in the area. Chinese developer Greenland Group led the way by breaking ground on the Metropolis mega-project just north of L.A. Live earlier this year. Another Chinese firm, Oceanwide Real Estate Group, is purchasing the parcels immediately north of the 1200 Fig site. Fig Central, as the site is dubbed, is already entitled for several towers.

The Downtown Car Wash site at the northwest corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard was purchased in May, and buyer Ben Neman has expressed interest in building a highrise with a hotel and condominiums. eddie@downtownnews.com

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The Trinity Auditorium at 831 S. Grand Ave. is being transformed into a boutique hotel by developer Chetrit Group, which also owns the Clark Hotel. The building’s theater and its grand stained-glass dome are being restored.

ple who own a business can’t make their own decisions about hiring and employment is strange to me.”

The Central Area Planning Commission could uphold the zoning administrator’s decision to approve the project, or it could uphold Unite HERE’s appeal. It is unclear what next steps would be needed if the latter instance occurs, but it would likely involve a more thorough review of the hotels’ environmental impacts, which could mean more lengthy delays. eddie@downtownnews.com

AROUND TOWN, 2 passion, we wish him every success in his new venture,” said Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the DCBID and the Central City Association, in a prepared statement. According to the statement, Bastian will serve on the CCA’s board of directors. Bastian noted his successes in helping spur housing, nightlife and job creation, but indicated more will come. “I’m hoping that through my new practice I can continue to assist companies in bringing still more vitality and opportunity to Downtown,” he said.

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ike eating out, but hate paying for parking? Good news: L.A. Live is offering free lunchtime parking on weekdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The deal, which runs through the end of September, holds in Lot E, the underground structure with access on Olympic Boulevard, or Lot W, which is off Georgia Street just south of Olympic. The eateries at the L.A. Live complex, including Smashburger, Yard House and Katsuya, will offer validation for free parking. Meanwhile, the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live is changing things up, too: The 14-screen complex last week began offering seat reservations, instead of the previous first-come-first-served seating policy. That means moviegoers can secure specific seats when buying tickets, whether at the box office or online. It also means customers can see how crowded a film is, and if they don’t like the choices, they can pick another showing.

Bye-Bye Burgers, Hello Comfort Food

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uick-serve burger joint Juicy Lucy is no more in Downtown.

Chef Paul Shoemaker’s tribute to the quirky burger, which features cheese stuffed into the beef patty, shuttered its location in the Taste FIGat7th food court last week. It is unclear what will fill the Juicy Lucy space, which sits alongside eateries including Torta Company, soba shop Gentaro and gastropub City Tavern.

In good news, the circle of life in the Downtown restaurant scene continues, with a new eatery taking root in the Flower District.

Poppy + Rose is a diner with a Southern inflection, serving up comfort foods such as biscuits and gravy, pulled pork hash with potatoes, and buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with smoked honey butter. The restaurant is at 765 S. Wall St. and is open Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.

August 4, 2014

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Huge Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament Returns to L.A. Live

By Eddie Kim onsidering that professional and even most pickup basketball involves five players on each team, you might assume that three-on-three is just a format for park players when only six people show up.

Don’t say that to the more than 1,500 teams flocking to Downtown Los Angeles this week for the Nike Basketball 3-on-3 tournament at L.A. Live. To many of those ballers, the tournament is as serious as LeBron’s return to Cleveland.

The sixth annual tournament is taking place at L.A. Live on Friday-Sunday, Aug. 8-10, with more players than ever. Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns L.A. Live and is hosting the event with sponsorship from Nike, expects more than 5,000 players and 25,000 spectators to show up over the weekend.

Upwards of 100 outdoor basketball halfcourts will be set up throughout the venue, including at Nokia Plaza, along Chick Hearn Court, and on the “Event Deck” on top of a parking structure. Featured games, including division championships, will take place Sunday at Nokia Plaza.

The contenders are placed in various divisions, from youth brackets all the way up to the men’s and women’s “elite” categories (the men’s elite division is also split into two, for teams with players less than or more than six feet tall). There are also divisions for wheelchair and Special Olympics teams. Most teams pay $140$240 to register, and each team can include four players (allowing for a sub).

The tournament operates in a round robin, double-elimination format, with each team guaranteed to play at least three games. The games last up to 25 minutes; the winner is the first team to score 20 points in that timeframe.

The wide range of experience and talent is what makes the tournament so popular, said L.A. Live Senior Director of Business Operations Ryan Golden, who is directing the event. He is particularly pleased with the event’s growth since 2009, when the tournament had around 500 teams and 13,000 spectators.

“We were just launching L.A. Live in 2009 and we were brainstorming differ-

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Art Center at Night Open House August 13, 7–9 pm LOOkiNg tO eNHANCe yOur CAreer?

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At this special end-of-term one night event, you can sit in on classes, meet instructors, register for the Fall, enter a raffle to win a FREE course, and more!

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photo by Gary Leonard

The Nike Basketball 3-on-3 tournament takes place at L.A. Live on Aug. 8-10 and features more than 5,000 players. In addition to the tournament, there’s a celebrity basketball game and a fan fest.

ent content to bring people in the summer and get them exploring the area while our anchor tenant, Staples Center, didn’t have sports going on,” Golden said.

AEG consulted with the organizers of Spokane Hoopfest, the world’s largest three-on-three tournament (it attracts upwards of 7,000 teams a year) and brought on Nike in year two. Golden expects that the L.A. Live tournament will continue to grow as more out-of-town teams participate.

AEG is also trying to enhance the fan experience, and this year’s event features more than 20 vendors as well as interactive basketball-related activities for spectators. Then there’s a celebrity basketball game, headlined by The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, on Friday at 6:30 p.m., as well as a dunk contest, on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The popularity of public tournaments, especially with the action-packed threeon-three format, is exciting for Steve Mosqueda, a Riverside native. Mosqueda is a member of one of the tournament’s most unique groups, AMP1, which is the only team of amputees playing competitive stand-up basketball (as opposed to competing in a wheelchair division) in the country.

Mosqueda was athletic in high school, but in 2004, only one year after his gradu-

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM KNEE PAIN?

ation, he got into a car accident that left the nerves in his right leg severely damaged. Doctors tried to get the leg working again, but after three years Mosqueda made the decision to amputate below the knee.

A few years later, Mosqueda stumbled across a YouTube video of AMP1 cofounder Scott Odom playing basketball. It convinced him to take up the sport again despite his prosthetic leg. AMP1 tours the country, with its members playing basketball and speaking to schools, community groups and businesses.

Mosqueda, the only team member from California, is eager to show off his skills at the L.A. Live tournament, where AMP1 will be competing in the adult division, against non-disabled teams.

“This is our stage, and we want to go deep in this tournament,” Mosqueda said.

“We want to inspire others, not just amputees but anyone going through hardship. And we don’t take for granted the fact we can still walk and run and play.”

The competition will no doubt be fierce, but that’s exactly what AMP1 — and AEG — wants.

The Nike Basketball 3-on-3 tournament takes place Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 8-10, at L.A. Live, 777 Chick Hearn Court, (877) 2514230 or nike3on3.com. eddie@downtownnews.com

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COME SEE WHAT WE’RE DIGGING UP IN YOUR BACKYARD The world’s only ongoing Ice Age excavations are still happening at the La Brea Tar Pits.

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12 Downtown News

A Real Meow Mixer

August 4, 2014

The Central City Crime Report

Fundraiser CATbaret!

Comes to the Belasco Theater

A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities

By Donna Evans hen Shawn Simons moved into a home in the West Adams district in 2006, she discovered that her closest neighbors weren’t the stereotypical family next door. Instead, they were a furry, feral bunch.

The property was overrun by kittens and adult cats. Although Simons did not have any pets, and had not grown up with cats or dogs, the then-film producer decided she needed to do something to help control the feline colony.

“There was a beautiful chocolate Siamese momma cat who must’ve been the hottest chick on the block. It was like a cat disco in there,” she said of the cats that paraded into her shed and left Simons with multiple litters.

Simons cared for the dozens of kittens and worked to find them and the adult cats permanent homes. She then took things a step further and began to trap, neuter and release the animals, a common method employed by feral cat advocates to curb the pet population.

Now, what began as something that “felt like the humane thing to do” has evolved into an effort with a big Downtown Los Angeles tie. These days, Simons operates a nonprofit dubbed the Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats. Simons bills herself as the “head mistress.”

On Saturday, Aug. 9, Kitty Bungalow will hold its fourth annual CATbaret! fundraiser at the Belasco Theatre on Hill Street. Simons, who expects 500 attendees, used her entertainment Rolodex to tap some familiar names. The event, sponsored by World’s Best Cat Litter, will feature performances by celebrities such as Fred Willard, Tia Carrere, Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas from “Castle,” Billy Boyd of Lord of the Rings and Elisabeth Harnois of “CSI.” Fittingly, a couple notable felines will also help with the

W

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

I

Teller 1, Robber 0: A man passed a note to a teller at a Wells Fargo Bank branch at 707 Wilshire Blvd. on July 25 demanding money.

He had no weapon during the 3 p.m. incident, the teller had access to 911, which she called. The suspect was arrested. photo by Kyle Drevlo

Ioan Gruffudd performs during the 2013 CATbaret! show. The fundraiser returns Aug. 9 at the Belasco Theatre.

AL A VE

entertainment. The lineup includes a cat dubbed Lil Bub, and also Newton, who appeared with a bearded human known as The Fantastic Fig on “America’s Got Talent.” The Kitty Bungalow website also promises a rendition of “Leave My Kitten” with dancers and celebs from the ABC show “Dancing With the Stars.”

So far, Simons said, Kitty Bungalow has trapped, neutered and released roughly 1,000 felines. She also helps find permanent homes for cats that show a propensity for getting along with humans and living a life indoors — she said she and her staff have matched 300 felines with two-legged companions.

“You don’t have to be a cat person to help them,” she said.

“You just have to be a human.”

CATbaret! is Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. Additional information at kittybungalow.org donna@downtownnews.com

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Levi’s Loss: An unidentified person rammed a car into the door and glass window of Jolie Wholesale, at 1515 Santee St., at 4 a.m. on July 21. The thief made off with $8,000 worth of Levi’s jeans and Converse sneakers. A similar incident occurred at the store in 2006, police said.

App No Help: An unidentified assailant knocked a deaf man to the ground at Fifth and Spring streets at 6 a.m. on July 25 and stole his backpack. Police broadcast the suspect’s location, based on the man’s iPhone locator app, but no units were available to follow up.

Merchandise Melee: Two women walked into a T-shirt store at 243 E. Fifth St. on July 24 at 3 p.m. and grabbed handfuls of merchandise. When the women tried to leave without paying, an employee grabbed onto the clothes. One of the suspects punched the employee in the face. They fled on foot with the clothing.

Grabbed and Gone: A woman walked out of Muskatels, at 733 S. San Julian St., at 5 p.m. on July 20, holding her wallet in her hand.

An unidentified man pushed her to the ground and snatched the wallet.

August 4, 2014

Downtown News 13

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DT

Nisei Week festivities are taking place in Little Tokyo from Aug. 8-17.

Highlights include the Grand Parade on Sunday, Aug. 10.

pasT and FuTure aT nisei week Little Tokyo Festivities Include a Parade, Ramen Festival and Traditional Dancing

By Eddie Kim t has been 80 years since the first celebration of nisei, or second-generation Japanese Americans, took place in Little Tokyo.

Those original revelers probably wouldn’t recognize the quickly developing, and diversifying, community today. There is, however, something they would be familiar with: the Grand Parade, which is a centerpiece of the Nisei Week festivities taking place Aug. 8-17.

“It’s paying back to the people who made this festival happen for all those years,” said Mark Nishinaka, chairman of the Grand Parade, which takes place Sunday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. on the streets of Little Tokyo. “Not much has changed. We basically do the same parade setup and program from a long time ago. But it’s a new generation and we’re passing it on.”

The parade has an actual war hero as its grand marshal. The role is being filled by Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, a nisei who earned a Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War. He’ll lead other veterans, dancers, meticulously designed nebuta floats and even a contingent of classic cars.

The parade is one of the many highlights of Nisei Week (see sidebar for others), which largely takes place in Little Tokyo (a few events extend to Pasadena and Orange County). There’s

I

a range of traditional and new-school activities, from the opening Tanabata Festival, known for its elaborate designs and colorful streamers, to the gyoza-eating contest, featuring competitive eating rivals Matt Stonie and Joey Chestnut.

New this year is a ramen festival, featuring hearty noodle soups. Taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, music and more take place both weekends, and the festivities are capped off on Aug. 17 with a closing ceremony featuring classic ondo dancing. Most of the activities take place near the Japanese American National Museum and the plaza of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.

Masao “Mike” Okamoto, this year’s Nisei Week president, hopes that the eclectic schedule will draw a wide audience, young and old, Japanese and non-Japanese.

“One of the missions of Nisei Week is to not only promote Japanese heritage and culture, but to bring many cultures together through the arts,” Okamoto said.

Business Booster Nisei Week began in 1934, and was inspired by the hardships that the aging issei (or firstgeneration Japanese immigrants) in Little ToContinued on page 20

1 Ta n a b aTa F e s T i v a l

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 8-10 Plaza Near Japanese American National Museum Nisei Week kicks off with a celebration featuring dozens of beautifully decorated ornaments with colorful streamers.

2 Japanese FesTival Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

JACCC Plaza Activities including taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and arts and crafts.

Don’t forget about the food vendors!

3 Car show Aug. 16, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

100 N. Alameda St. Marvel at some tricked-out import cars as

their owners vie for trophies and cash prizes.

Admission is $12 for adults.

4 ramen FesTival Aug. 16, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Lots behind JANM Feast on $8 bowls of ramen from nine different shops (local and from Japan) as DJs spin live music. The gyoza eating competition also takes place here on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

5 ondo danCing and

Closing Ceremony

Aug. 17 at 4 p.m.

First Street Watch elegant choreography set to traditional Japanese music as revelers bid farewell to Nisei Week.

AUG 4 ! dtowWnNein an s U e k Li ws wn Facebook.com/L.A.Do Like Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!

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14 Downtown News

August 4, 2014

Photographic Memories Melissa Richardson Banks Chronicles the Changing Arts District

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living in the Historic Core. She has been in the Arts District for 18 years, long before the community became a development hub.

“The Arts District made L.A. seem manageable,” Banks said.

“People seemed to live with passion here.”

Banks has held various marketing jobs, and in 2000 she created her own firm, CauseConnect, which helps companies such as Target and City National Bank put together projects involving arts, education, community and charitable causes. On the side she helps produce cultural events and even manages Cheech Marin’s Chicano art collection.

In 2005, Banks started a private website in which to post her

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photo by Melissa Richardson Banks

Melissa Richardson Banks has been documenting the Arts District online for nearly a decade.

photo by Gary Leonard

Melissa Richardson Banks doesn’t consider herself a photographer, but she recently published a book of her pictures of the Arts District. She also runs the website DowntownMuse.com.

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Banks doesn’t document buzzy, crowded scenes from the growing neighborhood, but rather the quieter stretches of the community. One shot frames the long tendrils of railroad tracks alongside the Los Angeles River near the First Street Bridge; the entire image is draped in a lavender sheen of dusk light. Another features an empty lot near a loft building cloaked in a fog of airborne dirt, the ochre haze swirling among blue skies.

Her photos have also been shown at Art Share L.A., the Art Squared Gallery at Pershing Square and inside Angel City Brewery, but still, she insists, she’s not really a photographer. Banks, who also runs DowntownMuse.com, takes all her pictures on a stock iPhone.

“People say the photos have a certain look, but I don’t think I have an eye for this, you know? I still don’t have a real camera,” she said with a self-deprecating chuckle. “I don’t go out with any plans, like most professional photographers. It’s a compulsion, like, ‘Oh, that’s going to be gone soon,’ or ‘That’s temporary, I should capture it.’”

Despite her lack of professional training, many of the people who have worked with Banks praise her compositions and the sense of time and place in her photographs. That includes cinematographer Jason Wawro, who met Banks at an art event after following her on Instagram. Impressed by her work, Wawro offered to curate galleries for Banks at Angel City and in the sales lobby of the upcoming residential development One Santa Fe. “She has an innate ability to capture light and capture Downtown in ways that haven’t been seen,” Wawro said. “I’ve been working in Downtown for 20 years and she’s finding places and shots that I haven’t. It’s fascinating stuff.”

Lone Star Shooter Banks, 52, grew up in small-town Texas and attended Texas State University, where she studied journalism and communications. She received a master’s in educational administration from Texas A&M. She moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and spent her first few years



By Eddie Kim rts District resident Melissa Richardson Banks wears many hats: She’s a community advocate, a neighborhood tour guide, an events organizer and a marketing expert.

Try not to call her a photographer, though. The effervescent, quick-talking Banks reflexively scrunches her face at the label, despite the fact that her photos have brought her a swell of attention, and that she recently published the photography book MUSE-ings: Snapshots of the Arts District Downtown Los Angeles.

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Downtown News 15

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Banks shoots on a stock iPhone and favors often-overlooked scenes such as a quiet street or the sunrise over the Fourth Street Bridge.

photos by Melissa Richardson Banks

thoughts and observations about the Arts District. She went public with it in 2011 after having trouble finding attractive photos of the community to use in promotional materials for an event she was helping organize.

The following year she picked up a new iPhone and began writing and shooting in full. Banks discovered intriguing imagery all around the Arts District on early-morning walks with her dogs. When they paused to sniff, she paused to look around. The ease and speed of snapping pictures on a smartphone gave her confidence and the motivation to do it every day despite a hec-

tic schedule.

“It was easy to keep it up because I wasn’t trying to be a blogger. I wasn’t trying to promote myself. I wasn’t really doing anything except keeping my memories of a place that was, and is, rapidly changing,” Banks said.

In that regard, her photos serve as a public record of sorts.

New residential developments, including One Santa Fe, promise a migration of people. Restaurants, cafes and stores keep sprouting on every block. Old stalwarts are leaving, warehouses are being demolished and the landscape is changing.

“Some people are nervous or upset with the changes in the neighborhood, but I’m not upset,” Banks said. “Things didn’t change for a long time, and now it’s all moving very fast, but that happens regardless of how you feel about it.”

Nobody knows the future of the Arts District. But as long as it continues to shift, Banks will be out on the streets, walking her dogs and snapping photos on her iPhone.

Banks’ book MUSE-ings is available at downtownmuse.com and in local bookstores. eddie@downtownnews.com

16 Downtown News

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

DT

August 4, 2014

CALENDAR LISTINGS

A Whole Lotta Free Music and Events Are in Downtown This Week

EVENTS

By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

SPONSORED LISTINGS

SuNDay, auGuST 10 Art Talk with Alma Ruiz MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org.

3 p.m.: Stationed at the helm of MOCA’s curatorial department, Alma Ruiz has some good perspectives on Cinema Vezzoli and the cult of celebrity.

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

Aug. 5: Dayramir Gonzalez y Habana EnTrance. That translates to a hella good time for you.

Aug. 6: Ben Flocks/Sammy Miller and the Garret Lang Group.

Aug. 7: Miro Sprague Quintet.

Aug. 8-9: Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow/Adam Nussbaum.

Aug. 10: Jasper Dutz Group.

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

Aug. 4, 8:30 p.m.: To be fair, Maudlin Strangers don’t seem overly tearful or sentimental. Or perhaps their band name refers to how their synth rock-saturated audience will feel after the show.

Aug. 5, 8:30 p.m.: Mother is an exercise in minimal synthetic music laced with Oedipal undertones.

Aug. 6, 9 p.m.: If you’re wondering about the composition of tonight’s pop punk headlining outfit Upset, it’s best described with the hashtag #yesallwomen.

photo courtesy the Music Center

photo courtesy Pershing Square

T

he color scheme of Pershing Square is notoriously 1980s. Fittingly, so is this week’s installment of the Downtown Stage Saturday concert series. The 8 p.m. performance on Aug. 9 features Stan Ridgway, still known after all these years for fronting rocking oddballs Wall of Voodoo. Also on the bill is proto-ska icons The English Beat, and even if many of the original members are gone, frontman Dave Wakeling (shown here) remains. The show, as usual, is free, and there’s a beer and wine garden for those looking to stumble on the Metro to get home. At 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

photo courtesy Arctic Monkeys

SaTuRDay, auGuST 9 Chinatown Summer Nights Chinatown Central and West Plazas, 943-951 N. Broadway, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownsummernights.com.

5 p.m.: Throughout Chinatown, revelers can partake in live music, DJ-spun tunes, a beer garden, free arts and crafts and a general celebration of all things summer.

Drum Downtown: Middle Eastern Rhythms Grand Park, 227 N. Spring St., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

10 a.m.: Join your neighbors and veteran percussionists in a morning tribute to the rhythms of the Middle East. Free to all, this program will teach you more about the world of music and offer a little visceral stress relief.

eil Peart fanatics, Max Roach sycophants and Topper Headon obsessives, your time has come: The Music Center’s Drum Downtown program returns to the Grand Park fountain overlook on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. This week’s percussive passion is titled Middle Eastern Rhythms.

From Tripoli to Karachi, you’ll embark on a journey of time signatures that features constructive group energy, free instruction and a whole lotta noise. At 227 N. Spring St., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

A

few times every summer, Central and West plazas in Chinatown are packed with live music, cool acrobats and martial arts displays, drool-worthy food and food trucks, and even a few opportunities to lubricate the liver. This is known, fittingly, as Chinatown Summer Nights, and from 5 p.m.-midnight on Saturday, Aug. 9, the plazas will hold KCRW DJs, artisanal crafts, an Eagle Rock Brewery-stocked beer garden and a capuchin monkey (he or she will be with a trainer, not running wild. Sigh). Bonus: There’s also a fruit sculpture! The happening is free, and if you don’t find a meal to your liking, try one of the dozens of nearby restaurants. At 943-951 N. Broadway, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownsummernights.com.

If you’re not fluent in foreign and domestic languages, allow us to translate the name of Grand Performances’ featured artist on Saturday, Aug. 9: Mas Out There means hurry up and get a seat at the Cal Plaza Watercourt, because the evening will showcase the Los Angeles soundscape and evoke feelings of nostalgia, heightened identification with the city and all-around good vibes. OK, it doesn’t mean that at all, but the intrepid troubadours who compose Mas Out There are Tropico de Nopal gallery owner Reyes Rodriguez and Ozomatli’s Raul Pacheco. That should help you hone in on the sort of fusion sensibility you’ll be treated to at the 8 p.m. show. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6872159 or grandperformances.org.

W

hile part of us will always wish the Arctic Monkeys were a whimsical Planet of the Apes spinoff, the truth of the matter is that they’re a British quartet who made a name for themselves creating widely liked psych rock that fashioned indie sensibilities into accessible song structure.

The group’s five albums and rambunctious live shows have earned an arena tour, and the Arctic Monkeys will be cruising through Staples Center on Thursday, Aug. 7. Drop by and absorb what the tastemaker blogs have been talking about. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com. image courtesy Reyes Rodriguez

FRIDay, auGuST 8 Dance Downtown: Samba Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.

6:30 p.m.: For the first time since their thorough trouncing at the hands of the Germans, Los Angeles’ Brazilians will be emerging from their hiding places to execute a free evening of samba lessons and group dancing.

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photo by Gary Leonard

CATbaret!

1050 S. Hill St. or kittybungalow.org A CATbaret! returns Downtown for its fourth year, featuring the hidden talents of your favorite celebrities, hosted by funnyman Fred Willard. Whether you’re a cat lover or a theater lover, come to the Belasco Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, for an unforgettable night of sensational singers and dazzling dancers at the trendiest animal event of the year. A CATbaret! is presented by World’s Best Cat Litter. Proceeds benefit Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats.

Friday Night Flicks by Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare Catch a free screening of The Blues Brothers at Pershing Square on Friday, Aug. 8. Follow the Ray Ban-wearing Jake and Elwood Blues on their “mission from God,” as they try to raise $5,000 to support the boarding school in which they were reared. The movie will begin at 8 p.m., and wellbehaved dogs are allowed. Parking can be found in the Pershing Square garage.

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

August 4, 2014

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Aug. 7, 9 p.m.: Air Traffic Controller founder Dave Munro was an actual air traffic controller for the Navy, which means he’s got a penchant for one stimulant or another and possesses a sheepdog-like need to keep the crowd in designated flight lanes.

Aug. 8, 9 p.m.: Drenge is the best “thrillingly reckless punk” the UK has to offer. Also, Joe Strummer is dead.

Aug. 9, 9 p.m.: Singer/songwriter Arielle Deem is dropping her new album tonight.

Buy her a drink, won’t you?

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

Aug. 8, 9 and 11, 8 p.m.: Flume is an Australian DJ/producer and not a utilitarian way to move water from place to place.

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

Aug. 4, 10 p.m.: Come all ye faithful to Sammy Miller & The Congregation.

Aug. 5, 10 p.m.: Trevor Menear gets things going for We Are the West.

Aug. 6, 9 p.m.: After a brief musical interlude from Ocha La Rocha, Chicken $%!+ Karaoke kicks off at 11 p.m.

Aug. 7, 10 p.m.: Wicklow Atwater & The Fallen Flame tell sonic stories about struggles on the eastern stretch of Los Feliz Boulevard.

Aug. 8, 9 p.m.: Vinyl Playlist is proud to be made out of the same material that covers your grandmother’s davenport.

Aug. 9, 10 p.m.: Saturday means Charlie Chan & The SOBs will emerge from the hidden expanse of the blues underground.

Aug. 10, 10 p.m.: RT N the 44s returns no worse for wear.

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

Aug. 8: Ferry Costen.

Aug. 9: Big shot DJ John Digweed.

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

Aug. 5, 8 p.m.: Nils Lofgren of E Street Band fame drops by for an evening Q&A. Aug. 7, 8 p.m.: Ever-rangy Billy Joe Shaver continues the Grammy Museum’s Americana program with his six-string pleasures.

Grand Performances 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org.

Aug. 8, 12 p.m.: DJ Nu-Mark utilizes discarded electronic toys and turntables to create lush musical environments. Apologies to the distracted lawyers in Cal Plaza who are working through lunch so as to make partner.

Aug. 8, 8 p.m.: Los Dos Marks features the return of DJ Nu-Mark and Mark de Clive-Lowe.

Aug. 9, 8 p.m.: An art gallery owner and a member of Ozomatli collide in Mas Out There.

Honeycut 819 S. Flower St., (213) 688-0888 or honeycutla.com.

Continued on next page

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-838-5089 635 W. WASHINGTON BLVD. • DOWNTOWNNISSAN.COM

NEW ’14 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S

LEASE FOR ONLY

189

$

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

800-574-4891 1600 S. FIGUEROA ST. • TOYOTADOWNTOWNLA.COM

NEW ’1 ’144 TOYOTA CAMRY SE SEDAN

LEASE FOR ONLY

225

per month for 36 mos

Two (or more) at this price. $189 plus tax per month for 36 months on approved above average credit. MSRP $23,720. $1,999 down plus tax, license, and fees. $0 security deposit. 12k miles per year, 0.15 per mile in excess. Model #13114.

$9,499 2007 Nissan Altima 2.5S ....................... $10,999 Winter Frost, Only 80k miles. N141561-1/7N464819 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0 .......................... $13,999 Certified, Black, 14K miles. N132228-1/CL746295 2008 Nissan Versa 1.8SL Hatchback ......

Winter Frost, Auto. N141721-1/8L355173

Plus Tax. 0 Cash Down, OAC 720 FICO or Better. No Security Deposit,15 cents per Mile After 12K Miles. MSRP $24,875. $2,950 Total Discount. $1,000 Rebate Included. $3,950 Total Savings. T141914D/411472.

$22,690 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman ........... $25,675 Silver, AWD, 4dr., T140395-1/WM14231 2014 Honda CR-V ....................................

Silver, 5dr. LX, Auto,10k miles T142206-1/700464

Special Incentives For Uber Drivers, Call for Details.

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ

NEW ’14 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA S 2.0

NEW ’14 MERCEDES CLA 250

888-319-8762 1801 S. FIGUEROA ST. • MBZLA.COM

888-781-8102 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • VWDOWNTOWNLA.COM

LEASE FOR ONLY

LEASE FOR ONLY

99

329

* per month for 36 mos

$

*$3,349 due at signing. Based on all with MSRP of $17,715 (including destination charges), amount due at signing excludes title, tax, options and dealer fees. Monthly payments total $3,564. Acquisition fee of $625 excluded in amount due at signing. Purchase option at lease end for $9,388.95. At lease end lessees responsible for $0.20/mile over 30,000 miles and excessive wear and tear. VIB 230880. Offer ends 8/10/14.

$

Plus tax, 36 Month closed end lease on approved credit through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. $2,499 CAP reduction, $795 acquisition fee. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep and additional options No security deposit required. 25¢ per mile in excess of 30,000 miles. Offer good on all with MSRP $33,925.

$26,989 2011 Mercedes E350 ............................. $34,991 Certified, Prem. Pkg. 1, Low Miles, Nav. Sys. 7425C/BA462642 2012 Mercedes SLK350 ......................... $40,881 Certified, Prem. Pkg.1, Low Miles! 7410C/CF015037 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

NEW ’’14 14 NISSAN 370Z COUPE

NEW ’14 AUDI A4 2.0T

Black/Gray, Auto, 4L, great value! V141307-1/367446

2011 Mercedes GLK350 ........................

Certified, Nav. System, Must See! 7431C/BF577836

888-583-0981 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • AUDIDTLA.COM

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

LEASE FOR ONLY

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

twitter: DowntownNews

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

299

One copy per person.

$

$8,888 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK ...................... $8,888 Class 3.2L, Carfax, 1-Owner, Premium Sound. C141552-1/ 091586 2006 Mazda 3s .................................... $10,888 GT Stock, Leather, Alloy Wheels, Rear Spoiler. CU1530P/516945 FELIX CHEVROLET Carfax, Special Edition, 1-Owner. C141653-1/397338

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

$23,995 facebook: 2010 Cadillac SRX SUV .......................... $26,703 L.A. Downtown News Bronze, Low Miles! Reduced! ZA10815-1/608818 twitter: 2013 Audi Q5 2.0T SUV .........................

Certified, Silver/Black, ZA10808/064686 DowntownNews $36,995 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. email: Meteor Gray/Black, Sports Pkg., Bluerealpeople@downtownnews.com Tooth, A150039D1-1/045947

clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon 888-511-6735 MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles 3300 S. FIGUEROAdistributioN ST. • FELIXCHEVROLET.COM

LEASE FOR ONLY

129

$

per month for 36 mos

Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved credit. Total Customer Cash Down is $4,669, which includes the first payment plus the first payment tax. Includes $2,240 Cash Incentive plus $750 USAA discount. $0 security deposit. $0.25/ mile over 10,000 miles/yr. Based on Editor1 at & this PublishEr: Sue Laris MSRP of $34,995. Everything subject to Mfg. changes. price EU142543.

GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin 2010 Chevy Cobalt LT .............................

$11,995 $18,995 $19,995

©2014 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.

888-685-5426 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • PORSCHEDOWNTOWNLA.COM

distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

NEW ’14 CHEVY VOLT

Silver/Black, 4L, auto. F14605-1/178839 ©2014 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.

315

$

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

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

LEASE FOR ONLY

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie per month per month stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim for 36 mos for 42 mos coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, S I N C E 19 7 2 Plus tax 42 month closed end lease on approved credit. $2199 down, plus first month payTwo at this price. $299 plus tax per month for 36Friedrich, months on approved above avKristin Kylie Jane Wakefield Downtown News ment, tax, title, licensing feesLos and Angeles $695 bank acquisition fee.$0 Sec. Dep. Must qualify for the erage credit. MSRP $32,545. $2999 down plus tax, license, and fees. $0 security Audi Loyalty or Audi Acquisition Rebate of $1,000. $0.25Los per Angeles, miles over 10,000 miles/year. 1 1264 W. First Street, CA 90026 deposit. 12k miles per year, 0.15 per mile Art in excess.

Model Brian #41114.

Serials 636951 dirEctor: Allison at this offer EN022577. / 636098. phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa web:Prem.

DowntownNews.com 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5 S ......................

Front Trak ...

ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins2011 Audi A4 2.0T

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

per month for 36 mos

$5,628 1999 VW Jetta GLS VR6 Sedan ................ $5,688 Black/Black, Auto, Luxury Pkg., Super Clean, SL2680-1/094056 2008 Saturn VUE XE SUV ....................... $10,995 Silver/Gray, Auto, 4L, 56,739 miles, V141029-2/557897 CARSON NISSAN 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Sport Wagon .

888-845-2267 1505 E. 223RD ST., CARSON • CARSONNISSAN.COM

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

per month for 36 mos

$

NEW ’14 PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS LEASE FOR ONLY

1,099

$

per month for 48 mos

$9,995 CAP REDUCTION

10k miles per year, residual $40,971, 1 at this price. Down payment excludes tax, dmv fees, $895 Bank Acquisition fee, first payment and document fees. Rates based on approved Tier 1 credit through Porsche Financial Services. P14673/VIN#ELA77393

$78,894 $102,895 $106,897

2014 Cayenne S ......................................

Jet Blk/Blk, CPO, Nav, 21” Whls, Prem. Pkg plus, 6kmiles (ELA55177) ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim 2013 Honda Civic LX ..............................

2013 Panamera GTS ............................

Gray/Gray, auto, 4L i-VTEC. UC1699R/514382 coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese CPO, Bose, Pk Assist Camera, Full Lthr, 17kmiles (DL075593) coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, 2013 Ford Mustang V6 Convertible ....

2014 Carrera S ......................................

S I N C E 19 7 2 Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield Red/Black, auto, 6L. UC1647R/209912 CPO, PDK, Chrono, Prem.Pkg plus, Park Assist, 4kmiles (ES120603) Los Angeles Downtown News Art dirEctor: Brian Allison 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

18 Downtown News Continued from previous page Aug. 4, 10 p.m.: TGIM. Aug. 5, 8 p.m.: Love to Love.

Aug. 6, 8 p.m.: Actual Disco.

Aug. 7, 8 p.m.; DJ Mathieu Schreyer.

Aug. 8, 10 p.m.: Jack of All Tracks.

Aug. 9, 8 p.m.: DJ Aaron Castle.

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

Aug. 9, 8 p.m.: When we say Pimpinela will be making all sorts of noise tonight, we mean the Argentine duo and not the eccentric woman with flamboyant clothing who lives on your block.

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

Aug. 10, 8 p.m.: Straight from Jiagang, Murshidabad comes Arijit Singh.

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

Aug. 6, 12 p.m.: See if you can guess which decade Star 80s will be playing cover songs from.

Aug. 7, 8 p.m.: Here’s hoping the Red Not Chili Peppers aren’t commemorating the actual Chili Peppers’ days of playing in the nude.

Aug. 9, 8 p.m.: The ’80s are alive and well with the English Beat and Stan Ridgway.

5 OFF $

LUNCH

SPECIAL

*

August 4, 2014

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

Aug. 4: Black Water Jukebox, Black Monroe, Jenny Luna and Black Hole Past.

Aug. 6, 3 p.m.: Guitars A Go Go. Aug. 7: Blank Pages, The Street Eaters, Nerve Beats and Earth Masters.

Aug. 8: Banned For Life, Blastoids and Vatican Assassins.

Aug. 9: Dirty Eyes and Dirty Denim.

Aug. 10, 3 p.m.: Fools on Stools.

Aug. 10: Stoic.

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

Aug. 5, 10 p.m.: When it comes to their love of improvised jazz, The Makers combine the sweet allure of a Juliet Capulet with the passion and misguided intensity of Travis Bickle.

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

Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Get a tetanus booster and pack some earplugs cause Arctic Monkeys are back.

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

Aug. 7: Yonatan Gat Band and Randy Randall.

Aug. 8: Ex-Cult, Zig Zags, Vial and Rank/Xerox.

Aug. 10: GalaxyKat, El Haru Kuroi and Los Alkalodians.

FILM Gourmet Fast Casual Restaurant Since 1973 7 Days-7am to 10pm • FREE Parking • We Cater 1657 W. 3rd St. at Union Ave. • 213-483-8885

*ANY PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE. 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER, PER VISIT. EXPIRES 8/31/14

CROSSWORD

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

Aug. 4, 5:15 and 7:30 p.m., Aug. 5, 5 and 7:30 p.m., Aug. 6, 5

and 7 p.m., Aug. 7, 6 and 7:30 p.m.: Found footage horror meets crazy hillbillies in Raw Cut. Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 5, 4:30 p.m., Aug. 6, 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 7, 4:30 p.m.: Sleep Dealer tells the story of a would-be Mexican migrant who plugs his sleeping body into a dystopic information network to control a worker drone in the United States.

Huh? Aug. 8-14: Issues of emasculation and pride drive the documentary Big Like Me, the story of men’s search for larger appendages.

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

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

August 4, 2014

DT

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ST. VINCENT de Paul Thrift Store. For free pickup by truck of your donations 1-800-974-3571.

210 North Avenue 21, Los Angeles 25% off w/ this ad. Expires 10-1-14.

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

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

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apartments/unfurnished SENIOR APARTMENTS 62 + Studio $881 1 Bedroom $937.

Balcony, Full Kitchen, A/C, Clubhouse, BBQ, Resource room, Laundry, SEC 8 O.K. Visit GSL SAN LUCAS.com 213-6232010.

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183. health & fitness DTLA FITNESS is a Personal Training/Nutrition Counseling business owned and operated

by NASM Certified PT and Nutrition Specialist, Jodi Frazier.

Offering a variety of training options, nutrition counseling, meal planning/preparation, DTLA Fitness has a plan to fit your lifestyle, your schedule, and your budget. www.dtlafitness.com dtlafitnessinfo@gmail.com IG: @ jodilynette 310-818-3437 IMPROVEYOUR BUSINESS and personal relationships now with help from Simply Suggestions.

Lolita Korneagay is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Relationship Coach, and Behavior Coach who helps women and men find the relationships that they deserve.

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Training and experience with seniors. Contact Dennis Hiebert 323-263-1005

LEGAL ciVil summons SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, NO. BC520593 Plaintiff: Forum Entertainment Group, Inc., a California Corporation vs Defendants: Robin DiMaggio, an individual; DiMaggio International Inc., a California Corporation, Ervin Ward, II, an

For SALe Albuquerque, New Mexico

Seven Acres

individual; Wayne E. Ballard, III, an individual, and Does 1 through 25, inclusive NOTICE! You have been sued.

The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days.

Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form, if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form.

If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dis-

miss the case.

The name and address of the court is: Stanley Mosk Courthouse 111 North Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Case Number: BC520593 Dated: September 06, 2013 The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Plaintiff’s attorney is: Sandeep J. Shah SHAH SHETH LLP 650 Town Ctr Dr. Suite 1400 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Telephone: (714) 955-4551 Pub. 07/21, 07/28, 08/04, and 08/11/2014 fictitious Business name FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2014158410 The following person is doing business as: 1) The Better Start 2) Potts Martinez Attorneys at Law, 453 South Spring Street, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90013, are hereby registered by the following registrant: Shan O. Potts, Attorney at Law, 337 Sonora Ave, Glendale, CA 91201.

This business is conducted by an individual. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on June 6, 2014.

This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on June 11, 2014.

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

CREATIVE OFFICE FOR LEASE 724 S. Spring St. Downtown Los Angeles

• 4500 sqft. Completely renovated • Polished concrete floors • Brand new A/C in every unit. Bathroom with shower in each unit.

• Spectacular views of Downtown • Great Location, restaurant/cafe on the ground floor

Please call (213) 627-6913

Pub. 07/21, 07/28, 08/04, and 08/11/2014 name change SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME NO. BS149635 Petitioner (name of each): Insook Jung Cho, 204 N. Manhattan Pl., #6, Los Angeles, CA 90004, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: INSOOK JUNG CHO Proposed name: INSOOK JUNG THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show

cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/ 07/2015 Time: 10:00 a.m.

Dept.: 20 Room: 310 The address of the court is 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county.

Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter, Executive Office/Clerk and Judi Lara, Deputy.

LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT 111 North Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Date: July 08, 2014 Hon. Kevin C. Brazile Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 07/21, 07/28, 08/04, and 08/011/2014

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TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

20 Downtown News

August 4, 2014

Nisei Week, 13

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.

kyo were facing. Business at local shops was slow, Okamoto said, and the community sorely needed a shot of youth and energy.

The festivities were an attempt to attract more English-speaking nisei.

The plan was a success, and it became an anticipated gathering that ran every year until the United States entered World War II. The subsequent internment of Japanese Americans during wartime put a pause on the celebrations for six years. That explains why 2014 is the 74th Nisei Week, not the 80th.

Today, Nisei Week isn’t geared toward nisei so much as the broader Japanese American diaspora and, thanks to the infusion of new businesses and residents, the non-Japanese community residing and working in Little Tokyo.

Grand Tower

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

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

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

Promenade Towers

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

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

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

museum Tower

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

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

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

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RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

photo by Shun Kawabe

The Tanabata Festival, which runs Aug. 9-11, features displays of dazzling, colorful streamers. They will be located on the plaza near the Japanese American National Museum and the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

“The audience is always growing. We’ve been observing a lot of non-Japanese people taking part in the parade, even wearing yukata,” Okamota said, referring to the light summer kimono men and women traditionally don at the celebration.

In spirit, however, the importance of nisei as the link between immigrants and fully assimilated citizens lives on, said Cory Hayashi, who is directing the gyoza eating competition on Aug. 16 and the ramen festival on Aug. 16-17.

“Nisei are the ones who have received heritage and traditions from the first generation and are tasked with passing on those lessons to the next,” Hayashi noted. “They’re the ones that helped give us the freedoms and lifestyle that Japanese Americans today appreciate.”

Nisei Week is a volunteer operation, and Hayashi, parade chair Nishinaka, president Okamoto and the rest of the committee chairs all have day jobs. Despite all the moving parts, Okamoto said his job is made easier by the fact that everyone involved has the knowledge and passion to make the festivities a success. The dedication of the volunteers speaks to the community’s drive to keep a sense of culture and tradition, he noted.

“The Little Tokyo community is strong and cohesive, but people want it to keep growing,” Okamoto said. “There’s a vision to maintain and sustain the culture here while inviting more and more people to take part.”

For example, since 2010, Nisei Week organizers have invited kids from Los Angeles elementary schools to help create a float for the grand parade. The nebuta floats are traditionally adorned with stylized images of fearsome warriors, and dancers accompany the floats and chant as they maneuver through Little Tokyo streets.

As it has for so many decades, the subtleties of song, dance, chanting and cultural customs will be passed to another generation, as well as to those watching from the sidewalks.

“It’s my favorite part,” Okamoto said. “It is very indicative of what Nisei Week is all about.”

Nisei Week runs Aug. 8-17 in Little Tokyo. A full schedule and additional information are at niseiweek.org. eddie@downtownnews.com