08-27-18

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a long-awaited bikeway is here

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a new tenant for a historic building

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August 27, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #35

The Temptations jukebox musical Ain’t Too Proud is at the Ahmanson Theatre through Sept. 30.

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

photo by Doug Hamilton

rts, A s ’ n o s Sea e h t f o ts 1 4 h g n i l w h o g i D H ther O d Running n a r ate -21 e h T , c PAGES 10 i s Mu


2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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AROUND TOWN

Live/Work Future for Singer Building

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ore changes are planned for the Singer Sewing Building. Last year, shoe company Vans announced plans to open an 8,000-square-foot flagship store on the ground floor of the structure at 806 S. Broadway. Now owner Anjac Fashion Co., headed by longtime Downtown player Steve Needleman, is working on a full redevelopment. Rebranded simply as the Singer Building, the upper seven floors of the eight-story edifice will be converted into live/work lofts, with each 5,500-square-foot unit filling an entire floor. The top level will include a 10,000-square-foot penthouse. Architecture firm Omgivning is handling the redesign of the 1922 Beaux-Arts building. The budget was not disclosed; work is expected to finish by the end of next year.

Dog-centric Art Show Coming to FIGat7th

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s if pups aren’t revered enough in Downtown, they are now getting their own art exhibit. Billing itself as “America’s

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first art exhibition for dogs,” dOGUMENTA, is plopping down at FIGat7th on Sept. 1416 and again on Sept. 21-23. The traveling exhibit, which is being brought to Downtown by Arts Brookfield, is free and features a variety of dog-friendly artworks, from sound pieces to sculptures to squeaky toys. It was inspired by art critic Jessica Dawson, who would take her dog Rocky on walks around New York City galleries; Dawson realized that Rocky saw art in a different way than humans do. Trainers from the Los Angeles Positive Dog Trainer Alliance will be at dOGUMENTA to dispense tips and tricks for pet rearing. The exhibit is limited to one dog per person and canines must be on a leash. Reservations are requested and available online at artsbrookfield.com; walk-ups will be available on a first-come, first-served basis if space is available.

Spring Restaurant To Close

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lthough it has been lauded for its French cuisine and striking decor, Spring restaurant will close this month. It’s a quick shutdown for the establishment at 257 S. Spring St. opened in 2016 by Yassmin Sarmadi and her husband, chef Tony Esnault. The space in the Douglas Building earned accolades, though Sarmadi said the couple is taking the opportunity to focus on other business ventures. “Our lease is up at the end of the month so we just decided

AUGUST 27, 2018

it was best not to renew it at this time,” she said in a phone interview with Los Angeles Downtown News. Those other enterprises includes Church & State on Industrial Street, which will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary in September, and a planned Costa Mesa restaurant dubbed Knife Pleat. “We’re super excited about that,” Sarmadi said. “We just wanted to have the time to dedicate to it.” A closing date has not been announced.

Taper Offering Free Tickets to People 25 and Under

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he Center Theatre Group has a new tactic to get young people into the theater: Give them free seats. CTG recently announced the launch of FreePlay, which will give gratis tickets to stage fans 25 and under to the first preview performance of every production at the Mark Taper Forum in Downtown Los Angeles and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City; select shows at Downtown’s Ahmanson Theatre will also be offered. The opportunity begins this week, with FreePlay seats set aside for playwright Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer-winning Sweat on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Playgoers are limited to two tickets per transaction; there is a $5 fee for online and phone reservations, but no charge for tickets secured at the box office. “Through programs like FreePlay, we are making a direct effort to welcome new theatergoers by lowering any perceived

barriers of our organization or live theater overall,” CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie said in a prepared statement. “It’s imperative that we strive to create a more vibrant Los Angeles with a stronger cultural fabric that supports such accessible experiences.” Age verification for tickets is required. More information is at centertheatregroup.org/tickets/freeplay.

New Music Festival Coming to Chinatown

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owntown is growing as a destination for music festivals, including the recent All My Friends at Row DTLA. The latest announced addition is Secret Project, which will take place Oct. 13-14 near the warehouses and industrial spaces wedged between Los Angeles State Historic Park and the L.A. River. Secret Project will be set up like a block party, offering live acts and DJs on two stages, with all of the performers specializing in avant-garde takes on electronic music. The lineup includes Bonobo, Sonns, Octo Octa and Motor City Drum Ensemble. The festival comes from event organizers Factory 93, in partnership with area businesses including David Chang’s Majordomo, the bar Apotheke, and the event company A Club Called Rhonda, which will throw a dance party in the bar. Tickets went on sale last week, starting at $130 for a weekend pass. More information is at secretproject.com.

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AUGUST 27, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 3

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4 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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EDITORIALS

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AUGUST 27, 2018

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Apple Store: A Great Addition, But Not a Game Changer

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he announcement that Apple will open a retail outlet in the old Tower Theatre at Eighth and Broadway deserves applause for multiple reasons. First, an Apple Store generates instant buzz, and in the follow-the-leader shopping world, its presence could pave the way for additional chain stores people want to see in the neighborhood. It’s also nice to know that Downtowners looking to visit the Genius Bar or buy a replacement charger will, at some unspecified point in the future, no longer need to drive to an Apple Store in Glendale, Pasadena or the Westside. Additionally, this is a marvelous comeback opportunity for a historic property. It is heartening to learn that Apple sees the value in a 1927 edifice and intends to utilize and restore old murals and other elements of the building. Apple has its pick of locations — we’re pleased it wants to bring part of Downtown’s past into its future. Yet let’s not overstate things: Apple likely will prompt some additional investment in the area, and the sales tax the store generates will bolster city coffers, but the shop won’t materially alter the flavor of the community. Instead, it follows a litany of businesses and chains that have been investing in Downtown, and this specific neighborhood, for well more than a decade. The modern “game changers” have been landing in Downtown since 1999, when Staples Center replaced a collection of former parking lots and rundown motels in South Park. The Downtown Standard ushered in a new hotel era when it debuted in the Financial District in 2002, and the Ralphs Fresh Fare busted open the shopping market in 2007. The arrival of the Target at the FIGat7th mall in 2012 was hailed as a milestone, as was the opening of Whole Foods in 2015. None of these would have seemed feasible before the arena and Walt Disney Concert Hall (2003) opened. Broadway itself has seen a slew of signature arrivals, including the Ace Hotel, complete with its restored theater, in 2014. Another old Broadway theater, the 1917 Rialto, has also gone the retail route — an Urban Outfitters opened there in 2013. The street now claims a Ross and a Gap Factory Store, with Jordan brand and Vans sneaker shops to come. This doesn’t include the residential revolution that began at the turn of the millennium, or the real estate developers transforming old factories and defunct buildings into creative office space. All of that occurred well before Apple announced its intentions. This is not to downplay Apple’s arrival — the store is big news, and we particularly congratulate owner the Delijani family, which held out for the right deal rather than fill the theater with just any rent-paying tenant. Just don’t pretend that Downtown Los Angeles will be any “better” the day the Apple Store opens than it was the day before. Apple waited for the market to mature, which is a smart business decision. While we look forward to being able to plunk down cash for an iPhone in a gorgeously restored theater, Apple is clambering aboard the bandwagon, rather than breaking new ground.

Angelus Plaza

Senior Talent Show

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COMMENTS

Regarding the article “Downtown Streetcar Would Have 23 Stops, Cost Up to $306 Million,” by Jon Regardie. The article noted an estimate of 4,181 daily riders, or 5,860 with a Grand Avenue spur at opening, and 7,760 riders after 20 years. With the streetcar they will need a cow catcher to push all the electric scooters out of the way. —Joel Rane DTLA needs to be on par with Seattle and downtown San Francisco. An aesthetically pleasing public transportation system is needed. Existing DASH or other existing bus lines will not be used by affluent residents. We need to change the image of DTLA and this is one of many steps that is required. —Ajay Chowdhury Regarding the article “Metro Debates Two Station Options for New Downtown Rail Line,” about the proposed West Santa Ana Branch line that would terminate either in the Financial District or at Union Station, by Nicholas Slayton On one hand, why would commuters from Southeast Los Angeles County desire to travel to Union Station, as opposed to being able to directly access the employment EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre,

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August 17, 2018

core of the region and a revived Broadway? On the other hand, what is up with this Eighth Street option? The technical or engineering problem of locating a Y-track under Eighth between Main and Broadway would be immense, and a portal at Eighth and Flower would require commuters to hike a full block north to access the light rail line. A portal north of Fifth and Broadway would require commuters to hike a block west to the Pershing Square subway station. Why not a single route connecting Seventh and Alameda, the Fashion District, Pershing Square (Red Line) and Second and Hope (Regional Connector)? In the future, this could be extended to connect Dodger Stadium, Atwater Village and downtown Glendale. This way, commuters from both Long Beach and Artesia could eventually access the stadium or travel on to Glendale, and those in Glendale would be able to travel by light rail to Artesia or Long Beach. —John Crandell

Hey You! Speak Up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like, or dislike, a story or editorial, let us know. Or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community. Participation is easy. Post a comment online at the bottom of any story, or go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, email regardie@downtownnews.com. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Rick Schwartz

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Finally, MyFigueroa Is Ready to Roll $20 Million Streetscape Improvement Effort, Built on Bicycle Enhancements, Hits the Finish Line By Sean P. Thomas ith its promise to make bicycling safer and more accessible, the MyFigueroa project has been one of the most anticipated efforts in Downtown. It has also been one of the most delayed, due to construction snafus, neighbor challenges and changes to the overall plan. Now the $20 million streetscape improvement project is reaching the finish line. The overhaul of a four-mile stretch of the Figueroa Corridor will be formally unveiled on Thursday, Aug. 30. MyFigueroa improves signage and crosswalks, and upgrades transportation infrastructure along Figueroa Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Seventh Street. It also reduces traffic lanes along the route. Jessica Lall, president and CEO of the Central City Association, said the project will make Downtown Los Angeles more welcoming and accessible for residents, workers and visitors. “Mobility is Downtown’s greatest asset,” Lall said in an email. “MyFig and the many other transportation projects will make our neighborhood an even more important connection point.” MyFigueroa includes the construction of four miles of bicycle lanes, with 1.75 miles protected by a curbed buffer, or bollard. The project also created 13 new raised bus stops,

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which will allow buses to pick up pedestrians without crossing the bike path. It planted 189 trees. The works extends to a six-block stretch of 11th Street, from Figueroa to Broadway. Previously a two-lane street with westbound traffic, it has been whittled down to one vehicle lane. Tim Frémaux, senior transportation engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, which was in charge of the project, said the results live up to expectations. “I think it represents a pretty big accomplishment in terms of redesigning a roadway and balancing it for all users,” Fremaux said at a media preview last week. “It’s not totally complete, so I don’t want to give my final assessment yet, but some of the little issues that I saw are solvable, and I felt that I am much more protected as a cyclist.” Multiple Designs The project initially began under the Community Redevelopment Agency, which secured funding in 2010. Following the dissolution of CRAs across the state in 2011, LADOT took over. The project went through multiple design iterations, said Deborah Murphy, the project’s grant writer and chair of the pedestrian advisory committee. Initially the vision was highly dramatic, including a much larger sep-

The MyFigueroa improvements, originally announced in 2010, stretch from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Seventh Street. The highlight is the green-striped bicycle lanes that protect riders from cars.

photo by Sean P. Thomas

aration between bicyclists and vehicles. A more modest proposal was eventually instituted. The project follows the “complete streets” formula that has become popular in cities such as San Francisco, New York and Miami, according to the MyFigueroa website. The goal is to create a multimodal environment where the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists are balanced with those of car drivers and mass-transit users. One goal is to get people out of their personal vehicle, in part

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by making bicycling safer in urban areas. The most noticeable change on Figueroa Street is the protected bike lanes. Though the width of the road shifts along the route, generally one or two vehicle lanes have been eliminated. There are also new trees, and pedestrian and bicycle traffic signals. Murphy said that in the past the corridor often functioned as an alternative to the 110 Freeway for motorists, and that the heavy traffic has deterred novice cyclists. Continued on page 6


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6 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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“Having the protected bike lane is really the key thing to make it a pedestrian-friendly environment,” Murphy said. Groundbreaking dates were continually pushed back. Work finally began in October 2016. A completion goal of June 2018 was missed by two months. During the construction, some South Park business owners complained about limited access for their patrons. Los Angeles Downtown News reported last November that some businesses claimed revenues fell by double digits due to a combination of My-

Still, he noted some concerns, saying that controlled bike sensors, which help time traffic lights, can cause confusion. He also pointed to green left-turn boxes intended for bicyclists; the painted street signs provide a turn lane for those on two wheels who intend to turn through an intersection. “Some of the infrastructure can be a little confusing for cyclists and probably other road users,” he said. Oliver Hou, a spokesman for LADOT, acknowledged that some of the design elements are foreign to Downtown cyclists. He expects it will take time for riders to acclimate, but that ultimately the project will draw more bike riders to the Figueroa Corridor.

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Figueroa work and additional construction or other projects that closed off streets. Another hurdle came before construction began. In 2013 the Shammas Auto Group, which owned several car dealerships along Figueroa Street (most have since been sold), protested shrinking seven vehicle lanes to four on portions of the route, due to worries about how the project would impact access to businesses. The Auto Club of Southern California, which has a facility at 27th and Figueroa streets, also raised concerns about potential traffic jams from the loss of lanes. A formal protest was filed with the City Planning department in September 2013. The appeal was dropped the following May after extensive meetings with city leaders. Fremaux conceded that initial analyses indicated potential traffic delays, but said that LADOT has noticed less-than-anticipated congestion, due either to motorists remaining on the freeway, or using other roads. “What we see right now is what we consider a more equalization of traffic in the area,” Frémaux said. “As time goes on, we’ll come back and do a real analysis to see what the numbers look like.” New Infrastructure The green-striped bike lanes stretch from the University of Southern California campus to the heart of Downtown. Zachary Rynew, communications and volunteer coordinator for the nonprofit Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, tested out the route and said he hopes the overhaul will improve transportation along the corridor.

Motorists will also have to adjust, Hou said. In the pre-opening period, some issues have become apparent. Cars and chartered buses sometimes idle along sections of the bike lane that are not separated by a buffer. During a media test ride last week, a city truck blocked a portion of the lane, forcing cyclists into the street. Rynew also expressed concerns about the portion of the route near the Convention Center, where taxis and tour buses have blocked the bike lane. Hou said LADOT is using signs and other tools to inform drivers about the bike lanes in what were previously parking zones. The department is also working with the Convention Center to identify dedicated passenger-loading zones on Figueroa, he said. City Councilman José Huizar, whose 14th District holds a portion of MyFigueroa (it also rolls through Curren Price’s Ninth District), said the project could be “unique and special,” though he noted it will take time to iron out some kinks. “Ultimately, it will be the people using the multimodal options who will tell us whether the MyFig project is a success or where it can be improved,” he said. Last week, the final elements of the project were being applied, including work on the remaining portions of the 11th Street, and at Figueroa and Seventh streets. At the grand opening on Thursday, community members, whether they are on foot or two wheels, will get a chance to try out the improvements. sean@downtownnews.com


AUGUST 27, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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Join UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance as we return to The Theatre at Ace Hotel for another season of adventurous work honoring the spirit of its iconoclastic founders.

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8 DOWNTOWN NEWS

FELIX CHEVROLET PROUDLY SERVING LOS ANGELES SINCE 1921

Then and Now 1921 Chevrolet 490 Roadster Pickup

Transit Agency to Roll Out Portable Scanners That Detect Explosives, Weapons

photo by Nicholas Slayton

A display from the Thruvision TAC-TS4 feeds into a laptop.

By Nicholas Slayton ome transit riders at Union Station this month got a glimpse of a new kind of security screening. It is part of an effort to prevent people from bringing explosives or other weapons onto trains. On Aug. 14 a coterie of transportation and security officials showed off the first Thruvision scanning system purchased by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Metro is the first surface transportation agency in the country to acquire such a system, which it had tested out several times in recent months. “This is a completely non-evasive and portable screening system that passively scans individuals for weapons and explosive devices,” Metro CEO Phil Washington said at a press event. “The technology is ideal for public transit environments where we can add an additional layer of security while having no impact on pedestrian foot traffic. Its portability enables us to flexibly move the equipment throughout the Metro system.” Metro purchased the system from a company also called Thruvision. The Thruvision TAC-TS4 scanner is housed in a black case on wheels, similar to how some musical equipment is transported. It can be set up and aimed in one direction — a hallway or an escalator at Union Station, for example — and scans for radio waves and heat emissions on people. It looks for anomalies or blank spots where something could be concealed. It feeds into a laptop, where a display shows readings from the scanner in two feeds: one a traditional live video, the other a black box where human bodies are shown in green. Metro intends to purchase an undisclosed amount of the scanners, which will be deployed in a kind “pop-up system,” according to the agency. Alex Wiggins, the chief system security and law enforcement officer for Metro, said security officers can screen multiple locations at any given time. The focus will be on scanning for weapons that have the ability to cause “mass casualties,” such as improvised explosive devices and assault weapons, Wiggins said. He would not reveal precisely what would happen if a weapon is found, but said that Metro can respond with K9 units or other officers.

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Thruvision was tested at a federal Transportation Security Administration facility in Washington, D.C., and passes all of the agency’s requirements, said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Metro and the TSA worked together over the last year testing Thruvision and other systems at Union Station and the Seventh Street/Metro Center station. Metro is still in the process of procuring all of the scanners, and the final cost of the equipment has yet to be determined, Wiggins said. The agency will begin training members of the security staff in the coming weeks on how to operate the system. It expects to begin deploying the Thruvision

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

within a few months. Wiggins said part of the training for Metro staff will be to ensure that operating the system does not violate Fourth Amendment right regarding search and seizure. He said members of the public will be notified that they are entering a secure zone where screening is taking place — a sign was next to the scanner at the demonstration — and be given the option to opt out. That “opt out” could prove restrictive to travelers. If people don’t want to be scanned, they shouldn’t ride public transit that day, Wiggins said. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Arizona State University to Fill Herald Examiner Building The Herald Examiner Building at 1111 S. Broadway has been empty since the afternoon newspaper closed in 1989.

photo by Gary Leonard

By Nicholas Slayton he Herald Examiner Building for decades was home to William Randolph Hearst’s afternoon newspaper the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Journalism is returning to the property, though in a new form. Arizona State University announced on Monday, Aug. 20, that it will fill four floors of the five-story building at 1111 S. Broadway and open a new Downtown campus in 2020. Pans call for ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, along with its Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts, to have a presence in the property. ASU will occupy 80,000 square feet of space in the building, while the ground floor will hold restaurants and retail space. Terms of the lease were not disclosed, but the university will be the sole tenant on the upper levels. In a prepared statement, ASU President Michael M. Crow said that the university is excited to expand into Downtown Los Angeles and occupy a building that originally opened in 1914. “Not only does the building illuminate the city’s rich history dating back more than a century, we look forward to our presence there to play an important role in adding to Downtown’s intellectual, cultural and economic vibrancy,” Crow said. “We already take seriously our responsibility to the enhancement of the community, but this growing engagement will allow us to provide students and faculty creative new learning experiences, work with new strategic partners, and participate in the critical issues facing the nation’s second largest city.”

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Neither the exact line-up of school uses nor the number of students who will take classes has been determined, according to a spokesperson for the university. ASU already has a campus in Santa Monica, where the Cronkite School has a bureau; that location will remain open. The building with Mission Revival elements was designed by Julia Morgan, who would go on to design Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The property has been empty since 1989 when the newspaper shut down, though it hosts occasional film shoots. Developer the Georgetown Company acquired the property in 2015 and began upgrades the following year. The Hearst company retains a stake in the project and Santa Monica-based Main Street Advisors is also part of the development team. Additionally, ASU’s nonprofit investment arm, University Realty LLC, is joining the investment team. Crews are currently working on the interior renovations. The project is expected to be finished by 2019. The ground floor will hold a restaurant from Walter and Margarita Manzke, who created La Brea Avenue’s hit eatery Republique and also operate the Grand Central Market’s Sari Sari, which serves Filipino food. Two additional groundfloor spaces remain open. In a prepared statement, Georgetown Vice President Michael Fischer said that ASU’s arrival will spur further development and investment in the area. ASU is expected to move into the Herald Examiner Building in time for the 2020 school year. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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Blood-and-guts rockers Gwar take over the Belasco Theatre on Oct. 18.

photo by Rachel Naomi

&

AUGUST 27, 2018


AUGUST 27, 2018

photo by Doug Hamilton

Ain’t Too Proud

Through Sept. 30 at the Ahmanson Theatre

G

o ahead, try not to give in to The Temptations. The iconic Motown group’s story is now a jukebox musical, based on a memoir from surviving original Temptation Otis Williams. Ain’t Too Proud dives into the origins of the band, its rise to fame and the many lineup changes along the way

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

(an estimated 24 people have been Temptations at one time or another). There is lots of dancing, and of course, the show features all the hits, including “My Girl,” “Since I Lost My Baby” and “The Way You Do That Thing You Do.” Expect a soulful, energetic show about a truly trendsetting band.

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Ruven Aafanador

DTLA Halloween Festival

Sam Smith

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Aug. 28-29 at Staples Center

Oct. 31 at Grand Hope Park

painters, bounce houses, arts and crafts stations, puppet shows and a collection of trick-or-treat doors. All the kids come in costumes and many of the adults do as well. Best costume ever seen: a pint-sized tyke dressed as an In-N-Our burger employee, complete with an oversized safety pin on the red apron.

on’t let Downtown’s lack of single-family homes prevent the joyous Halloween tradition of parties and kids gathering staggering amounts of tooth-rotting candy. Each year the Downtown Center Business Improvement District turns the park at FIDM into a wonderland that is more charming than spooky, with face

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.com.

At 919 S. Grand Ave. or dcbid.com.

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ritish crooner Sam Smith is only 25, but he’s been a star for more than five years now, and he’s swinging by Staples Center for two nights of soulful melodies. He’s already got a clutch of Grammy Awards, including a Best New Artist prize in 2015 following his debut In the Lonely Hour, and he received an Oscar and a Gold-

en Globe for the track “Writing’s on the Wall,” from the James Bond film Spectre. His Downtown dates will be full of hits such as “Stay With Me” and “Too Good at Goodbyes,” and expect numerous songs from his latest album, The Thrill of it All. Other artists coming to the arena this fall include Drake on Oct. 12-14 and Bruno Mars on Oct. 23-24.

1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com.

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12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

photo by Gary Leonard

Downtown Art Walk

Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Nov. 8 in the Historic Core

T

he Downtown Art Walk turns 14 in September, but it still feels fresh and lively. On the second Thursday of each month, dozens of galleries in the Historic Core open their doors, creating an event that is par t invigorating art display, part community celebration. The once-raucous happening

now moves smoothly, with thousands of people milling about and checking out art, while area restaurants and bars stand ready to serve the crowds. Before you go, check the website for the latest information, and once there, be sure to stop by the Art Walk Lounge at 634 S. Spring St.

photo by Brian McCarty

Opening Sept. 15 at the Japanese American National Museum

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here is more to giant monsters than Godzilla. Mark Nagata, an avid toy collector and designer, knows this, and will share his love for city-threatening beasts in an exhibit at Little Tokyo’s JANM. Fully titled Kaiju vs. Heroes: Mark Nagata’s Journey Through the World of Japanese Toys,

Gob Squad

D

T

800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovodtla.com.

T

he Downtown-based Los Angeles Philharmonic is going crazily diverse to mark its centennial. The L.A. Fest is a series of standout concerts and unique collaborations. Current Music Director Gustavo Dudamel leads the Phil for the kickoff event, tackling former Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen’s

photo by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Satyagraha

Oct. 18-21 at REDCAT he British-German art collective has been around for a quarter-century and has notched several heralded REDCAT stints. Now Gob Squad returns with Creation (Pictures for Dorian), a whimsical, contemplative and quirky performance that addresses how the troupe itself has aged, with additional inspiration from

“L.A. Variations,” and overseeing a world premiere by Andrew Norman, on Oct. 4-7. Emerging California musicians will get their own showcase on Oct. 9. Other shows include a team-up with singer-songwriter Andrew Bird on Oct. 11, and a new composition from Moby (shown here) on Oct. 12.

At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

photo by David Baltzer

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic has said the current tour, in honor of the new album Medicaid Fraud Dogg, is his last. So if you’ve always wanted to bask in the glow of “Atomic Dog,” dance now or forever hold your peace. Other fall highlights at The Novo include Rich the Kid on Sept. 7 and the 30th anniversary tour of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” on Nov. 6.

it includes hundreds of vintage and contemporary toys of kaiju (“strange creatures” in Japanese) and the heroes that stepped up to put an end to their villainy. Expect to see pop-culture touchstones such as Mothra and Ultraman, along with lesser-known characters like Kamen Rider.

Oct. 4-14 at Walt Disney Concert Hall

At 100 N. Central Ave. or janm.org.

photo courtesy the C Kunspyruhzy

Aug. 31 at The Novo

photo courtesy the L.A. Phil

L.A. Phil’s L.A. Fest

Kaiju vs. Heroes

Throughout the Historic Core or downtownartwalk.org.

uring the 20th century, was there ever a more pressing musical question than, “Do Fries Go With That Shake?” The man who pondered that was George Clinton, alongside his collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Clinton and P-Funk have spent 50 years setting the standard of funk music, but that’s coming to an end: Clinton

AUGUST 27, 2018

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Oscar Wilde’s novel about the never-aging Dorian G r a y. T h e Lo s A n g e les dates include six local performers — some much younger than the Gob Squad crew, and some much older — ensuring that each of the four dates will be different. The shows may not be linear, but they will make you think.

At 631 W. Second St. or redcat.org.

Oct. 20-Nov. 11 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

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alk about something different: The second part of composer Philip Glass’ “Portrait” trilogy is visually stunning and ripe with the composer’s signature minimalist philosophy. Performed with text adapted from the Bhagavad-Gita and sung entirely in Sanskrit, Satyagraha tells the story of Mahatma Gand-

hi’s formative years living in South Africa, where he would develop his philosophy of nonviolent protest. As Gandhi’s story is told, historical figures including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Leo Tolstoy watch over the proceedings. Yes, really. Grant Gershon will conduct with Sean Panikkar taking on the role of Gandhi.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or laopera.org.


AUGUST 27, 2018

photos courtesy of FIDM

photo by Thomas Ammerpohl

Art of Television Costume Design

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photo by Mark Peckmezian

Diavolo

Through Oct. 6 at FIDM

he Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising is back with its annual look at the outfits seen on some of the biggest shows on TV. Think of it as a chance to get a close-up view of the costumed artistry you otherwise miss as you focus on silly things like plot and special effects. This year’s collection includes duds from Emmy-nomi-

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Oct. 12-14 at the Ahmanson Theatre

nated programs and series such as “The Alienist,” “Westworld,” “Game of Thrones” and “The Crown.” The variety is dazzling, from the alien garb of “The Orville” to the 1970s sleaze of “The Deuce.” And don’t miss the lit-up costume from the superhero show “Black Lightning” or the lavish and evil Terran Empire garb from “Star Trek: Discovery.”

P

erhaps you saw Diavolo as a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” Maybe you’re familiar with the Downtown-based troupe from its 25-year history. Or maybe you’re unawares. Whatever the case, Diavolo takes to the Music Center stage with Architecture in Motion, and as the title implies, the

At 919 S. Grand Ave. or fidm.edu.

performers are interacting with large, high-design set pieces. Expect dynamic turns, with dancers flying about the stage in a performance that is simultaneously graceful and thrillingly athletic. The bill includes Diavolo’s signature “Trajectoire,” as well as the California premiere of “Voyage.”

Camp Flog Gnaw

Nov. 10-11 on the Dodger Stadium Grounds

S

prung from the mind of Odd Future co-founder Tyler, The Creator (shown here), hip-hop festival Camp Flog Gnaw is taking over Dodger Stadium. The two-day hip-hop retreat, which was previously held in Exposition Park, is just

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org.

as much a carnival as it is a music festival, with food, rides and games curated by Tyler. The line-up for the 2018 interation includes A$AP Rocky, Earl Sweatshirt, Flatbush Zombies, Lauryn Hill, SZA and Post Malone. So pace yourself.

1000 Vin Scully Ave. or campfloggnaw.com.

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14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

AUGUST 27, 2018

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo courtesy of Pershing Square

photo by Stephen Blaha

photo courtesy the L.A. Phil

UnCabaret 25th Anniversary Show Nov. 18 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel

Oktoberfest

Oct. 20-21 at Pershing Square

R

aise a glass! For the third year running, Pershing Square is staging a Los Angeles version of Germany’s summer harvest festival. There’s not really a harvest in Downtown, but there will be a party. There will also be food trucks, lawn games and to-be-announced live musical acts in the park

A “

both days from noon8 p.m. Of course there will be plenty of beer, from German brands and Downtown breweries such as Angel City and Iron Triangle. Guests will be able to enjoy five-ounce samplers, or heftier pints, depending on the tasting package they purchase (they start at $15).

lternative comedy” is its own genre now, but it didn’t exist 25 years ago when Beth Lapides launched her UnCabaret in Downtown Los Angeles. The comedy-fueled variety show has had numerous homes, and now it’s set for a massive quarter-century celebration where Lapides will be joined by figures including, but not limited to, Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garofa-

At 532 S. Olive St. or oktoberfestdtla.com.

Romeo & Juliet

lo, Bob Odenkirk and Maria Bamford. It is part of the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance’s (CAP UCLA) second season in Downtown. Other fall highlights include composer and pianist Vijay Iyer teaming with writer and photographer Teju Cole for a Sept. 22 event dubbed “Blind Spot,” and the Ukrainian folk-punk quartet DakhaBrakha on Oct. 27.

At 929. S. Broadway or cap.ucla.edu.

Oct. 18-21 at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Y

ou have read Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Perhaps you have seen a version of the Prokofiev ballet. But you’ve never experienced the tragedy in the way the L.A. Phil will present it over four performances (including a Sunday matinee). Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the full orchestra while choreographer and

L.A. Dance Project founder Benjamin Millepied has his dancers interpret the work, including the famous balcony scene, on the Disney Hall stage. Expect the romance of the story to be complemented by the beauty and drama of the music and augmented by the power of the terpsichorean team.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo courtesy Color & Light Theatre Ensemble

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izzie Borden took an ax, gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” So goes the macabre folk rhyme. Now the true story of the murders of a husband and wife in a small New England town in 1892, and their daugh-

ter’s ensuing trial, gets its own rock musical, with an all-female cast. Color & Light Theatre Ensemble will take over the Arts District nightclub Resident for seven performances, delivering a mix of period wear, leather outfits, blistering punk-influenced songs, dance and, uh, axes.

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Through Jan. 14 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

I

n 1968, students and activists in East Los Angeles staged a series of walkouts from local high schools, spurred by a lack of resources, as well as racism and hostility from faculty. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, LA Plaza has collected videos, letters, yearbooks and other items that detail the before, during and after of the event. Ya

Basta! The East L.A. Walkouts and the Power of Protest is both a look back at the protests and a window into what makes successful organizing. The show is more than a simple retrospective; space is dedicated to student activism today, including protests from Parkland, Florida teens in the wake of the school shooting earlier this year.

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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

AUGUST 27, 2018

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo courtesy the Teragram Ballroom

photo courtesy Lucha Vavoom

photo courtesy Center Theatre Group

The Vaccines

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the Teragram Ballroom

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n their fourth album, Combat Sports, England’s The Vaccines traded a surf and garage-rock sound for something that more closely resembles a 1970s rock record. The band will be mixing it up between fast-paced jams and poppy tunes when they arrive in City West for two shows. Rock out to new songs such as “Put It

On a T-Shirt” and “I Can’t Quit,” along with old tracks (and by old, we mean from their 2011 debut) including “If You Wanna.” The Teragram will be full of bands all fall; among the highlights are psych rockers Thee Oh Sees on Halloween and rock super-duo Arthur Buck (aka Joseph Arthur and REM’s Peter Buck) on Sept. 11.

At 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

Lucha VaVoom

Oct. 24-25 at the Mayan Theatre

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orld Wrestling Entertainment has nothing on the guys and gals of Lucha VaVoom. For more than 15 years, the troupe has come to the Mayan for a set of Halloween shows that deliver masked Mexican wrestling, burlesque and comedy. The night is equal amounts of ris-

qué display and pure athleticism. Crowd favorites such as the charismatic Lil Cholo and the sleazy Joey Ryan are mainstays in the anything-can-happen environment that is the Lucha VaVoom ring. A bit of advice: When the security guards tell you to move — move!

1038 S. Hill St. or luchavavoom.com.

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Sweat

Sept. 5-Oct. 7 at the Mark Taper Forum

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laywright Lynn Nottage won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Sweat. Now the play set in the factory town of Reading, Penn. comes west. Lisa Peterson directs the show built around a group of friends whose bar and factory-floor bonds are shaken amid an

economic downturn that leads to layoffs and picket lines, and a promotion only muddies the friendships further. Issues of race, class and economy are explored, and the intense scenes are balanced by moments of humor. Preview performances begin Aug. 29.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.


AUGUST 27, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 17

photo by Peter Paul Geoffrion. ©Nina Chanel Abney

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Susan Orlean_pic (c) Noah Fecks

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bney draws from vid- ifornia African American eo games, cartoons, Museum, the dual-site excelebrity websites, tab- hibit is the first solo museloid magazines and more um survey for the Chicain the paintings and collag- go-born artist and will exes that ask the viewer to let amine 10 years of her ofgo of preconceived notions ten-provocative work. Exof the narrative figure. Pre- pect a stream-of-conscioussented jointly by the Insti- ness feeling in the bright, tute of Contemporary Art vivacious and thought-proI Broadband I VoicePark’s I WiFiCalI HDTVvoking800.900.5788 creations. and Exposition At 1717 E. Seventh St. or icala.org, and 600 State Drive or caamuseum.org.

Gwar

Oct. 16 at the Central Library

n April 29, 1986, D ow ntow n’s Ce n tral Library went up in flames. More than 1 million books were destroyed or damaged in an incident thought to be arson. Author and New Yorker staff writer Orlean digs into the fire and the building’s comeback, and springaerioconnect.com boards to a greater exploration of the library sys-

photo by Rachel Naomi

Oct. 18 at the Belasco Theatre tem in her new The Library Book, which she’ll read from and discuss with Library Foundation board member Attica Locke. As always, this is just part of a packed season for the Aloud speaker series. Other fall highlights include Native American novelist Tommy Orange on Sept. 20 and short story writer Deborah Eisenberg on Nov. 8.

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ule #1 when attending a Gwar show: Don’t wear anything you like, because by the end of the night your clothing, as well as your skin and hair, will be doused in fake blood, which will stream into the air in scarlet arcs as faux limbs are severed and heads are lopped off. For the uninitiated, Gwar melds a heavy metal onslaught

At 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org.

with a theatrically bloody live show built around lead howler Berserker Blothar, bassist Beefcake the Mighty and other players. Expect onstage battles with visits from characters including manager Sleezy P. Martini and nemesis Sawborg Destructo. In case your ears need additional pummeling, metal masters Hatebreed are also on the bill.

At 1050 S. Hill St. or thebelasco.com.

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photo courtesy of MOCA

Nov. 11-March 25 at MOCA Geffen Contemporary

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trained her lens on topics including migration, grief and sexuality. Along with photos, the exhibit curated by MOCA’s Bennett Simpson and Rebecca Matalon will hold sculptures and installations such as an array of dolls and a row of blue suitcases. It’s a look at shifting times and evolving communities.

photo courtesy Center Theatre Group

Dear Evan Hansen

Oct. 18-Nov. 25 at the Ahmanson Theatre

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hat’s the biggest show to come out of Broadway in the post-Hamilton era? Dear Evan Hansen has a legitimate claim to the crown, as it garnered raves and captured six 2017 Tonys, including Best Musical. Ben Levi Ross (shown here), who appeared in the Broadway production, plays the ti-

At 152 N. Central Ave. or moca.org.

tle role in the show about a lonely teenager who becomes a viral star. The New York Times called Evan Hansen a “gorgeous heartbreaker of a musical,” and audience members are advised to come with tissues to dry those tears. Act quickly: This is sure to be one of the hottest theatrical tickets of the season.

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nfinished at the time of his death in 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor” is among the most recognized works in classical music. The 100-voice Master Chorale will perform the “Requiem,” which is almost ominous in tone, for the first time since

2009. Grant Gershon will conduct LAMC’s season opener, which features guest soloists David Portilo, Rod Gilfry, J’Nai Bridges and Liv Redpath. Also on the docket is composer Shawn Kirchner’s “Songs of Ascent.” Note: There is a pre-concert talk one hour before each performance.

111 S. Grand Ave. or lamasterchorale.org.

Larry Bell: Complete Cubes

The Crystal Method

Oct. 19 at Los Angeles State Historic Park

Sept. 22-Oct. 14 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

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I

At 1245 N. Spring St. or lashp.org.

Sept 22-23 at Walt Disney Concert Hall

photo by Robert Millard/LA Opera

Don Carlo

The Crystal Method is taking things outdoors, to a portion of L.A. State Historic Park called the Viaduct; fittingly, it is under the city’s oldest bridge, on the northern end of the 32-acre park. The show will also have food trucks and poetry readings, and some proceeds will go to Rock the Vote.

L.A. Master Chorale: Mozart’s Requiem

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.com.

photo by Graham John Bell

he Crystal Method has been a defining act in the genre of electronic dance music. Co-founder Scott Kirkland is now the sole member of the group, and is pressing on with a new album of pulse-pounding beats and relentless rhythms. To accompany the record, dubbed The Trip Home,

photo by Tao Ruspoll/Marie Noorbergen

photo ©Larry Bell, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, photo by Mario de Lopez

Zoe Leonard: Survey ver the course of three decades, Leonard has mesmerized with haunting photographic portraits and scenes of daily life in cities. Now the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Little Tokyo annex is hosting the first American museum retrospective of Leonard’s work. The New York-based artist has

AUGUST 27, 2018

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

talian composer Guiseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo is a monumental tale of love and politics. After losing his betrothed, Elisabeth of Valois, to the King of Spain, the titular Don puts life and limb at risk as he rebels against the Spanish Inquisition. There are six performances of the season opener, with

Ramon Vargas singing the title role and the still-commanding Plácido Domingo playing Carlo’s best friend Rodrigo. L.A. Opera’s always-strong James Conlon will grab the baton in the Ian Judge production. Don Carlo reminds us why tales of royalty, deceit and romance make for such tantalizing drama.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or laopera.org.

Through Sept. 23 at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

L

arry Bell is fascinated with the cube — the shape has been a driving force in his work for 60 years. The Arts District’s Hauser & Wirth gallery has collected nearly three dozen pieces, which are presented in a direct, minimalist fashion. Larry Bell: Complete Cubes features works varying in size and material — some are com-

pletely transparent, others have a mirrored surface and a few have patterns worked into the glass. The free show includes three translucent cubes, each face measuring roughly six feet square, with colored pillars inside. Also on display are Mary Heilmann: Memory Remix and a retrospective of Jack Whitten’s mosaic portraits.

At 901 E. Third St. or hauserwirth.com.


AUGUST 27, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 19 photo by Herman Helle

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Richard Davies

Hotel Modern Company Wayne McGregor Oct. 5-7 at the Ahmanson Theatre

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hat does contemporary dance have to do with genetic sequencing? Everything at the performance from the troupe founded by British chorographer and director Wayne McGregor. For Autobiography, McGregor created 23 choreographic portraits informed by the sequencing of his own genome.

Now get this: Before each of the three Downtown shows, a computer algorithm will determine the order of the pieces, ensuring that no two events are alike. The high-energy onstage twists and turns are accompanied by large projections and an electronic score performed live by Jlin.

At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org.

Liz Phair

Sept. 20-23 at REDCAT

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he Holocaust has been power fully depic ted in films such as Schindler’s List and plays including Martin Sherman’s Bent. REDCAT picks up the topic, and the emotion, in Kamp. The REDCAT stage will be filled with a tiny scale version of the Auschwitz death camp, complete with barbed wire, armed guards and thousands of ghost-faced individuals in

courtesy Liz Phair

Sept. 21 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel

striped prison outfits. The figures, trains, buildings and more will be manipulated by Pauline Kalker and two other Dutch artists from Hotel Modern, and the movements will be projected live. Ultimately, Kamp emerges as a history lesson and a memorial to millions of people who lost their lives, including Kalker’s grandfather, who spent his final days in Auschwitz.

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eople sometimes still ask the stupid question, “Can women really rock?” Liz Phair answered that definitely in 1993, with Exile in Guyville, a female-perspective, song-bysong response to the Rolling Stones’ strutti ng Exile on Main Street. Phair followed that up the following year with the potent Whip-Smart (it spawned

At 631 W. Second St. or redcat.org.

the radio hit “Supernova”), and she’s never stopped singing and performing, and in the process has been a role model/influence on untold numbers of female rockers. Phair has a new record in the works, though her original label Matador is releasing a 25th anniversary edition of Exile, so expect some songs from that groundbreaking disc.

At 929. S. Broadway or theatre.acehotel.com.

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Oct. 7 at Grand Park

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of creativity. Free drawing stations will be set up throughout the 12-acre park, with options ranging from sticking colored tape on the ground to sketching circus characters to building a house of cards. All ages and skill levels are invited, from professional artists to home scribblers. All art materials are provided free of charge.

photo by Gary Leonard, courtesy the L.A. Phil

photo courtesy Javier Guillen for Grand Park/The Music Center

Make Your Mark in the Park n most days, scribbling on public property will get you a ticket for vandalism. On this Sunday in Grand Park, it’s practically required. The annual Make Your Mark in the Park is the highlight of the Ryman Arts’ Big Draw L.A. happening, and will bring thousands of people to Downtown for a community celebration

Celebrate LA!: L.A. Phil 100 x CicLAvia

A

s part of its centennial celebration, the Phil is partnering with CicLAvia for a huge, free, al fresco community event. Eight miles of streets from Disney Hall to the Hollywood Bowl will be shut off to cars, and over the course of the day 1,800 musicians, artists and dancers will appear at six locations. The

Downtown hub is, naturally, in front of the concert hall, and performers on the route during the day include Ozomatli, Dengue Fever, Taiko Project and Klezmer Juice. There is an evening performance in the Bowl. Bikes, skateboards, strollers and feet are allowed, but no automobiles.

Nov. 7-8 at the Moroccan Lounge

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Downtown’s smaller venues. Tokyo Police Club has two nights at the Arts District spot and will be dishing out post-punk indie rock songs such as “Hot Tonight” and “Gonna Be Ready.” Other key fall dates at the Moroccan include mustachioed fiddler punk rocker Lincoln Durham on Sept. 23 and The Dodos on Oct. 13.

At 901 E. First St. or themoroccan.com.

Through Sept. 9 at the Grammy Museum

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op-up exhibits have become all the rage, so it’s only fitting that your favorite car toon characters are getting in on the act. The Get Animated Invasion offers an opportunity to pull out the camera phone and place yourself in the wacky world. Spread

across nine music-themed rooms on the second floor of the Grammy Museum, it includes ever ything from a bedroom inspired by “The Jetsons” to the neon-trimmed basketball court seen in the Michael Jordan vehicle Space Jam. Get ready to snap selfies and work the hashtags.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd or grammymuseum.org.

photo courtesy East West Players

111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

photo courtesy the Moroccan

Tokyo Police Club

photo courtesy Grammy Museum

Get Animated Invasion

Sept. 30, Walt Disney Concert Hall to Hollywood

At 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.

uick, where is Tokyo Police Club from? Nope, not Japan. The band was actually born in Ontario, Canada, and is touring in support of its fifth studio album, TPC. The four-piece, which does not include any actual cops, has been a staple of huge outdoor festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury, but they’re coming to one of

AUGUST 27, 2018

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Vietgone

Oct. 18-Nov. 11 at East West Players

Q

ui Nguyen’s Vietgone is a scathing romantic comedy set in the most unlikely of places, and the show is making its Los Angeles premiere at EWP’s David Henry Hwang Theatre. Set in the 1970s, Vietgone follows two Vietnamese refugees who flee the war and settle in a relocation camp in Arkansas. Their romance is serious,

but the play gets weird, mixing in four th-wallbreaking lines, hijinks and modern slang, as Quang and Tong (Paul Yen and Sylvia Kwan, respectively; shown here) embark on a ride across the country. Directed by Jennifer Chang, the show has a soundtrack that, according to the EWP website, “serves up hiphop, sass, and revolution.”

At 120 Judge John Aiso St. or eastwestplayers.org.

photo by Paul Kolnik

See the Music, Hear the Dance Oct. 19 at the Colburn School Zipper Hall

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he title alone gives a hint of what’s in store, and also nods at boundaries that will be pushed. Experience the graceful and fluid movements of New York City Ballet’s Joaquin De Luz as he performs Jerome Robbins’ “A Suite of Dances” alongside musicians from the Colburn School’s Conser vator y.

The performance will be followed by a discussion of the music and choreography, which was originally created for Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1994. The Colburn’s Zipper Hall will also showcase the Youth Ballet and Dance Academy students as they perform the Nutcracker Prelude on Nov. 17.

At 200 S. Grand Ave. or colburnschool.edu.


AUGUST 27, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 21

photo by John Mandel

A Journey That Wasn’t Oct. 4 at The Regent

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olfe has been crafting moody, Gothic rock and folk-tinged songs for nearly a decade, and first garnered some indie attention with 2011’s Apokalypsis. Her latest album, last year’s Hiss Spun, goes a bit more hardcore, with a dive into the intense sounds of metal. It

Retrocade

Through February 2019 at The Broad

Chelsea Wolfe has earned strong reviews for tracks including “16 Psyche” and “The Culling.” Once again, The Regent has a lineup full of seasonal highlights, with other notable dates such as electro rockers Ghostland Observatory on Oct. 5 and ska stalwarts The English Beat on Halloween.

At 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com.

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he Broad invites us to ponder the passage of time in its current first floor exhibition. It features more than 50 works — tied together around the theme of time — from 20-plus artists. There are numerous highlights, including massive pieces by Andreas Gursky, and the return of one of The Broad’s most talked-about pieces, the

photo by Ryan McGuide via Canva.com

©Ron Mueck. Courtesy the Artist, Anthony d’Offay, London and Hauser & Wirth

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

room-sized musical installation “The Visitors,” by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjatansson (it was on display when the museum opened in 2015). The exhibit takes its name from the 2006 film A Journey That Wasn’t by Pierre Huyghe. After you check it out, head upstairs and enjoy the dazzling display of works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s collection.

At 221 S. Grand Ave. or thebroad.org.

Where

Sept. 22-23 at Union Station

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he historic train station shifts from a rail hub to a classic video game hub for a weekend. During Retrocade, the soaring Union Station Ticket Concourse will hold more than 40 1970s, ’80s and ’90s video game and pinball machines, including Pac Man, Donkey Kong and Street Fighter. Quarters can be

left at home, as play is free (visitors get a wristband for two-hour chunks), though there is a $5 entry fee for the nightly Pac Man tournament (winner gets a trophy). There will be an assortment of ’80s candy and soft drinks, and a DJ will spin throwback tracks in the day-glo Arcade Lounge. Go ahead, save the princess!

At 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com/happenings.

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DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS

MONDAY, AUG. 27 Ally Beardsley at The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: The non-binary comedian will read their diary live, mixing humor and insights about growing up queer. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29 X-Pac 12360 Live Bootleg Bar, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. 8:30 p.m.: The wrestler X-Pac hosts the first live edition of his podcast, with special guests. FRIDAY, AUG. 31 Dance Downtown Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org. 7 p.m.: It’s the last DJ night of the summer program, so go dance to an eclectic mix of tracks.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/los-angeles. Aug. 28: The Victory Celebration is a night of album release shows. Consider it a victorious one. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Aug. 27: Adam Bravo Trio. Aug. 28: Guinga. Aug. 29: Would you be shocked to learn that David Binney’s residency continues? Well, guess what… Aug. 30: Jeremy Siskind Group. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Bennie Maupin Group. Sept. 2: Maksim Velichkin. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Aug. 27: Andrea Schiavelli does the singer-songwriter thing as Eyes of Love. Aug. 28: Parting Lines’ brand of pop is apparently existential, so reject nihilism and see them. Aug. 29: Oscar Key Sung tries to find subtlety in dance pop and has an EP called “Altruism.” So assume this is more existential pop. Aug. 30: Eli Paperboy Reed has soul. We have questions. Namely, has he ever actually been a paperboy? Aug. 31: Expand your tastes with Brazilian soul and R&B courtesy of Liniker e os Caramelows. Sept. 2: Okay Embrace just wants a hug. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Aug. 31: Blind Pony, JFK Motorcade. We get the feeling that second act doesn’t play Dallas often. Sept. 2: Francesca Brown & the Moonhowlers. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Aug. 31: Paul van Dyk, Dave Ralph. Sept. 1: Klingande. Sept. 2: Valentino Khan. Ham and Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com. Aug. 31: Dandu, The Coulour Out of Space, Neon Clouds, Breaterrr. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. Aug. 27: It’s the last night of Ruby Haunt’s residency, but they’ve mastered the ancient ritual that will allow them to haunt the place forever. Aug. 28: Let Fiona Grey wow you with her voice and string arrangements. Aug. 29: Brenda Carsey & the Awe will have to shock us to live up to that title.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

Aug. 30: Pop rockers Los Colognes put a different spin on the Nashville sound. Aug. 31: Tom Walker is a multi-instrumentalist, but he’s doing the electronic singer act. People can surprise you. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. Aug. 29: Photographer Faye Webster also plays music. She’s photographed Migos and Lil Yachty, but we suspect her sound is a bit different. Aug. 30: It’s a night of local hip-hop and rap at “Don’t Come to L.A.” Aug. 31: Morbosidad, Blue Hummingbird on the Left, Maledict, Zulxaxeku. First, Morbosidad feels a bit much. Second, Blue Hummingbird on the Left is a translation of a name of an Aztec god, so don’t be confused when they bust out heavy metal. Sept. 1: Green Slime, The Unclaimed, DJ Tony the Tiger. Sept. 2: We can’t actually publish the name of the headlining band, but it is a four-letter word. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Aug. 31: George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic will get you dancing. Sept. 1: Teyana Taylor. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Aug. 29: Slim Zwerling & The Yums. Aug. 30: The Coolers, Gathom Police, China Rose. Aug. 31: The Brutalists have an album release show. Sept. 1: The Crazy Squeeze, Motorcycle Boy, Glitter Trash. Sept. 2: Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse. Electric Children. The Regent 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727, or theregenttheater.com. Aug. 30: Remember in the mid-2000s when the show “The O.C.” seemed to have a special musical guest each episode, starting with Rooney? Well guess what? Rooney’s playing tonight. Aug. 31: Non Servium is heavy. Sept. 2: The Rock ‘n’ Flea Market returns, so this calendar section can go frantically searching for a Tin Machine-era Bowie shirt. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Aug. 31: Thrill You Kill You, Devon Williams, Big Wednesday, Risa Rubin. Sept. 1: Jenna & The Pups, Dimber, Osito, Weeper. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Aug. 27: Perfectly timed for the summer heatwaves and overworked power grids, it’s Rolling Blackouts. Aug. 28: Napalm Death, Cattle Decapitation, Crematorium, Thrown Into Exile. We’re waiting for that first date ask: What are you doing Tuesday? Wanna go out with me to see Cattle Decapitation?

AUGUST 27, 2018

lives in Pretty Woman. Aug. 29: Come see Fast Times at Ridgement High for the grounded teen angst and stay for Sean Penn’s Jeff Spicoli and his feud with Mr. Hand. Aug. 30: Forget “Stranger Things,” enjoy the ’80s kid adventure film The Goonies. Aug. 31: Grease turns 40 this year. Wear leather. Sept. 1: Are you still not over Avengers: Infinity War? Reopen fresh wounds by rewatching the film.

Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Sept. 2: A.X.L. (11:50 a.m., 2:30, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m.); The Happytime Murders (11:40 a.m., 12:30, 2:10, 3:10, 4:50, 5:50, 7:30, 8:30, 10:10 and 11 p.m.); Alpha (12, 2:40, 5:20, 8 and 10:40 p.m.); Mile 22 (12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Crazy Rich Asians (11:40 a.m., 12:40, 3, 4, 6:20, 7:20, 9:40 and 10:40 p.m.); Blackkklansman (12:20, 3:50, 7:10 and 10:40 p.m.); Slender Man (11:30 a.m., 5 and 11 p.m.); The Meg (11:30 a.m., 1, 2:20, 4, 5:10, 7, 8, 10:10 and 11 p.m.); Mission Impossible: Fallout (11:50 a.m., 3:20, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.). Rooftop Cinema Club Level DTLA, 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com/los-angeles. Aug. 28: Julia Roberts gets a taste of how the upper class

THEATER

Bob Baker Marionette Theater: Enchanted Toy Shop Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Aug. 31 10:30 a.m., and Aug. Sept. 1-2, 2:30 p.m.: Let the puppet masters at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater bring all of your favorite toys to life in this ode to imagination. Through Sept. 15.

This Year’s

Downtown Los Angeles Magazine AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO EXPLORING THE CITY

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FILM

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Aug. 27-30: The short documentary Oymyakon explores life in a Siberian village. Aug. 27-30: Lunch Ladies revolves around two burnt-out school chefs who launch an ambitious scheme. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. It’s a throwback trip to a bio-diverse land in Amazon Adventure 3D. The film follows the journey that naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Yates undertook through the Amazon rainforest in the 1850s. Who doesn’t love pandas? The adorable bears take center stage in the appropriately titled Pandas 3D. Kristen Bell narrates the film about the efforts to reintroduced captive-born pandas into the wild. It’s all about space in Hubble 3D, which carries audiences on a celestial journey, touching on everything from spacewalking astronauts to distant galaxies.

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AUGUST 27, 2018

Ain’t Too Proud The Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Aug. 28-31, 8 p.m., Sept. 1, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sept. 2, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: The story of The Temptations comes to life, tracking the origin, triumphs and travails of the Motown group behind “My Girl” and many other hits. Through Sept. 30. Sweat The Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 8 p.m. and Sept. 2, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: Layoffs and labor disputes threaten a group of friends in an industrial Pennsylvania town in the powerful, Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage. It’s intense, but there are moments of humor. Through Oct. 7.

MUSEUMS

African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org.

Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts. Broad Museum 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Ongoing: In the galleries at the Grand Avenue institution are about 250 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. It’s big-time blue chip, with work from Rauschenberg, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Kruger and every other big name. Through Feb. 2019: The Broad explores the passage of time with “A Journey That Wasn’t.” FIDM Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidmmuseum.org. Ongoing: “Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection” surveys footwear, fans, gloves, purses and hats. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Through Sept. 9: Multimedia collages explore scarcity and

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018205867 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) PURO ARTE, 322 PARKMAN AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 LA COUNTY (2) PURO ARTE COLLECTIVE, 322 PARKMAN AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 LA COUNTY (3) PURO ARTE GALLERY, 322 PARKMAN AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 LA COUNTY, (4) PURO ARTE GROUP, 322 PARKMAN AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) REUBEN DOMINGO, 322 PARKMAN AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 (2) IRENE SUICO SORIANO, 5221 COMERCIO AVE, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364. This business is conducted by an Unincorporated Association other than a

DOWNTOWN NEWS 23

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Partnership. Registrant(s) started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on August 14, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).Pub. 8/27, 9/3, 9/10 and 9/17. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018180249 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) Wurstkuche, 800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) Wilson Pitruzzelli Investments, LLC, 800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 11/2008 This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los

Angeles County Clerk on July 20, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 8/13, 8/20, 8/27 and 9/3. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018158322 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) RAVENPINK, 257 S. SPRING ST. SUITE PHP, Los Angeles, CA 90012 LA COUNTY (2) RAVEN PINK, 257 S. SPRING ST. SUITE PHP, Los Angeles, CA 90012 LA COUNTY (3) RAVENPINK CLOTHING, 257 S. SPRING ST. SUITE PHP, Los Angeles, CA 90012 LA COUNTY (4) RAVENPINK LLC, 257 S. SPRING ST. SUITE PHP, Los Angeles, CA 90012 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) RAVENPINK LLC, 257 S. SPRING ST PHP, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/2018. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on June 27, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 7/16, 7/23, 7/30 and 8/6. Fictitious Business Name Statement

abundance in “Shinique Smith: Refuge.” Through Sept. 9: The West Coast gets reinterpreted in gridheavy abstract works in “Charting the Terrain: Eric Mack and Pamela Smith Hudson.” Through Sept. 9: “Nicole Miller: Athens, California” uses film to explore the lives of students in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Ongoing: The multi-functional “Gallery of Discovery” offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of former slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past. California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through Jan. 6, 2019: “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh” features more than 150 artifacts discovered in the Egyptian boy king’s tomb. Tickets are required for this exhibit. Ongoing: “Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” presents Los Angeles’ very own Space Shuttle in all its splendor.

File No. 2018184621 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) Avon Construction, 4422 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) Hedid Woke, Inc. 12016 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 10, Los Angeles, CA 90025. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 02/2018 This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on July 26, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 8/6, 8/13, 8/20 and 8/27. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018168143 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) Victors of Assault, 15154 Rayen St, Notrh Hills, CA 91343 LA COUNTY. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 461581, Los Angeles, CA 90046, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) Melvin A. Rideout, 15154 Rayen St, North Hills, CA 91343. This business is conducted by a Trust. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on July 10, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state

of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 8/6, 8/13, 8/20 and 8/27. LEGAL NOTICE

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR Notice of Divided Publication NOTICE OF DIVIDED PUBLICATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX-DEFAULT LIST (DELINQUENT LIST) Made pursuant to Section 3371, Revenue and Taxation Code Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 3381 through 3385, the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is publishing in divided distribution, the Notice of Power to Sell TaxDefaulted Property in and for Los Angeles County, State of California, to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers. I, Joseph Kelly, County of Los Angeles Tax Collector, State of California, certify that: Notice is given that by operation of law at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, on July 1, 2016, I hereby declared the real properties listed below tax defaulted. The declaration of default was due to non-payment of the total amount due for the taxes, assessments, and other charges levied in tax year 2015-16 that were a lien on the listed real property. Nonresidential commercial property and property upon which there is a recorded nui-

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.

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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.

sance abatement lien shall be Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell after three years of defaulted taxes. Therefore, if the 2015-16 taxes remain defaulted after June 30, 2019, the property will become Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2020. All other property that has defaulted taxes after June 30, 2021, will become Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2022. The list contains the name of the assessee and the total tax, which was due on June 30, 2016, for tax year 2015-16, opposite the parcel number. Payments to redeem tax-defaulted real property shall include all amounts for unpaid taxes and assessments, together with the additional penalties and fees as prescribed by law, or paid under an installment plan of redemption if initiated prior to the property becoming Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell. Please direct requests for information concerning redemption of tax-defaulted property to Joseph Kelly, Treasurer and Tax Collector at 225 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, 1 (888) 807-2111 or 1 (213) 974-2111. I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Los Angeles, California, on August 8, 2018.

JOSEPH KELLY TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA Assessees/taxpayers, who have disposed of real property after January 1, 2015, may find their names listed because the Office of the Assessor has not yet updated the assessment roll to reflect the change in ownership. ASSESSOR’S

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION The Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), when used to describe property in this list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map (if applicable), and the individual parcel on the map page or in the block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available at the Office of the Assessor. The following property tax defaulted on July 1, 2016, for the taxes, assessments, and other charges for the tax year 2015-16: LISTED BELOW ARE PROPERTIES THAT DEFAULTED IN 2016 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENTS AND 0THER CHARGES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016. AMOUNT OF DELINQUENCY AS OF THIS PUBLICATION IS LISTED BELOW. BRAHNA PROPERTIES LLC SITUS 4855 SANTA MONICA BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2654 5540-026-018/ S2014-010 $58,653.96 CLARK,CHARLES A AND SARA TRS CLARK TRUST SITUS 917 N SERRANO AVE LOS ANGELES CA 900293205 5535-023-010 $153.57 FEO ENTERPRISES L P SITUS 4921 SANTA MONICA BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2537 5540-028-009 $16,856.65 GONZALEZ,PAMELA SITUS 5450 MONROE ST LOS ANGELES CA 90038-4062 5535-013-002/S2014-010 $1,324.16 GUTIERREZ,SONNIA P TR GUTIERREZ FAMILY TRUST SITUS 4419 BURNS AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2702 5539-009-018 $28,150.13 KARAT,LUCIA C SITUS 926 N EDGEMONT ST LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2532 5538-018-015 $3,521.39 SHIN,EUN HWA SITUS 943 N HELIOTROPE DR LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2523 5538-018-001/S2015-020 $9,681.63 CN952146 553 Aug 20,27, 2018


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24 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Chinatown Rent Hike Averted

TRILOGY

Downtown...It’s Not Just Big Business Anymore! 255 GRAND 255 South Grand Avenue 213-229-9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Terrace Heated Pool & Spa Custom-Designed Interiors 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Wi-Fi Lounge State-of-the-Art HD Theater Gourmet BBQ Areas / Gas Fire Pits Contemporary Lounge with Gourmet Kitchen

Low-Income Seniors Dodge Increase as Nearby Developer Covers Costs

Apartment Amenities: Breathtaking Views Spacious Floorplans Central Air & Heating Balconies / Urban Patios (Most Units) Deep Soaking Tubs Luxury Stainless Appliances & Finishes Sky Level 27th Floor Penthouse Units: Complimentary Wi-Fi & Basic Cable Waterfall Countertops Bosch Appliances Nest 3rd Generation Thermostats Up to 2 Parking Spaces Included On-Site: Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

PROMENADE TOWERS 123 South Figueroa Street 213-617-3777 www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com

Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Patio with BBQ Grills Heated Pool & Spa 24 hr. Manned Lobby Fitness Center Parking Garage

On-Site: Convenience Store / Café / Beauty Salon / Private Fitness Training Apartment Amenities: Floor-to-Ceiling Windows City Skyline Views Solarium and/or Balconies

MUSEUM TOWER 225 South Olive Street 213-626-1500 www.THEMUSEUMTOWERAPTS.com

Community Amenities: 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Heated Pool & Spa Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Outdoor Patio Gas BBQ Grills Recreation Room State-of-the-Art HD Theater Rooftop Patio with Views

AUGUST 27, 2018

Apartment Amenities: City and Mountain Views Luxury Appliances & Finishes Central Air & Heating Balconies (Most Units) Basic Cable *All Amenities Under Renovation

RESIDENCES STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOMS PENTHOUSE UNITS • CORPORATE HOUSING

The Metro Lofts at 808 N. Spring St. hold 123 apartments. An 8% rent increase for all units will be covered by the developer of a nearby market-rate housing project photo by Jon Regardie

By Jon Regardie group of Chinatown residents erupted in anger this month when the landlord of an affordable housing complex for senior citizens unveiled an 8% rent increase. They signed petitions and complained to the office of First District City Councilman Gil Cedillo, who had helped defer a rate hike at the same building last year. Through a unique partnership, the 8% hike will be paid, but not by the residents of the Metro Lofts or the building owner, Meta Housing Corporation. Instead, the increase will be covered by developer Atlas Capital, which plans to erect a massive market-rate residential complex nearby. The deal was announced on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Metro Lofts at 808 N. Spring St. “There will be no rent increases for you,” Cedillo proclaimed, drawing uproarious cheers from dozens of people who live in the 123-unit building. Victoria Steele, president of the residents’ council at the complex, acknowledged being surprised by the news. She said the inhabitants were not told beforehand that another developer would cover the costs. Cedillo said the need for the hike comes from a 2% increase in utility rates and higher trash-hauling fees. The latter stems from RecycLA, a program initiated last year that awarded exclusive trash-hauling contracts for commercial and apartment buildings in large swaths of the city. It has led to numerous complaints of skyrocketing rates. “You have to pay your utilities. You’ve got to pay your trash pick-up. Someone has to pay,” Cedillo told reporters after the announcement. “We’re fortunate to find a neighbor, a new neighbor, to come in and be willing to use their resources to subsidize it.” Atlas Capital’s proposed College Station would rise on a 5.7-acre site at Spring and College streets, and have 770 apartments in six low-rise buildings. There is no affordable housing component. Metro Lofts opened in 2013, after Meta Housing spent more than $50 million to buy and upgrade the property one block south of the Chinatown Gold Line station. Cedillo said the deal requires Atlas Capital to pay the cost of the Metro Lofts rent hike this year, and the developer would pay for nine additional years if its project moves forward. The total price over a decade would be about $500,000, Cedillo said. If College Station does not happen, the developer would not subsidize the Metro Lofts rent increases in future years, Cedillo said. Jenni Harris, senior director of real estate operations at Atlas Capital, praised the deal as a “transformative resolution.” “We look forward to being good neighbors,” she said. The final environmental impact report for Chinatown Station is in the review phase and is expected to wrap up early next year. Once groundbreaking occurs, developers expect the project would take 43 months to build. regardie@downtownnews.com

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