09-03-18

a city council race with a familiar name

5

reviewing the temptations’ jukebox musical

19

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING: PAGES 13-18

Spetember 3, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #36

The

High-Tech Two Bit Circus, a ‘Micro-Amusement Park,’ Opens in the Arts District See Page 10

Robor bartender Gearmo del Pouro and another staffer at Downtown’s huge new entertainment space.

SEE PAGE 6 FOR ALL THE DETAILS

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

photo by Gary Leonard

Circus is in Town

2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DT

AROUND TOWN

Aloud Series Leader Abruptly Leaves

T

he Aloud program based out of the Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium has long been one of Downtown’s most beloved series. Last week, the Los Angeles Library Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees Aloud, and the series’ longtime leader Louise Steinman abruptly split. “As of this week, my position as curator and that of my Associate Director, Maureen Moore, were eliminated,” Steinman wrote in an Aug. 30 email to colleagues, which was obtained by Los Angeles Downtown News. “We are no longer employed by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.” When contacted by a reporter, Steinman said she was unable to comment further. Steinman had helmed Aloud, which brings a litany of authors and others to Downtown for events that are mostly free, since its founding in 1993. No reason for the departures was given. In an email, Library Foundation Communications Director Leah Price said, “Any further details are a private employment matter and the Library Foundation does not comment on private employment matters.” Price added that the Foundation is in the “preliminary stages of re-envisioning” the series.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

No More Plastic Straws at Two Big Venues

I

n an effort to be environmentally friendly, two LA. Live venues will no longer provide single-use plastic straws to customers. The new policy goes into effect Sept. 17 at the Microsoft Theater and Oct. 1 at Staples Center.

Paper straws will be offered instead, though plastic straws will be available for people with special needs. “As we continue to operate in the most environmentally conscious way, we also understand that recycling cannot be the only way to divert waste from landfills and finding eco-friendly alternatives at the source is equally important,” Lee Zeidman, president of Staples Center and Microsoft Theater, said in a prepared statement. The policy is expected to prevent more than 500,000 plastic straws from winding up in landfills, according to the statement. The move comes amid increasing attention of the damage that plastic straws can do to the environment. California lawmakers recently sent a bill to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk that would bar full-service restaurants from handing out plastic straws unless customers ask for them.

Electric Vehicle Event Drives Into Downtown

A

s part of National Drive Electric Week (Sept. 8-16), the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is inviting motorists to stop by its Downtown headquarters

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

and check out the latest electric and plug-in hybrid rides. The free Charge Up LA! event takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 111 N. Hope St. Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive, or ride, vehicles from BMW, Chrysler, Honda, MINI Cooper, Nissan and Toyota. More than 60 electric vehicle owners will be on scene to offer firsthand accounts of the alternative energy options.

Nancy Sutley, LADWP chief sustainability officer, will kick off a speaker program starting at 10:30 a.m. Joel Levin, executive director of the nonprofit Plug In America, and Lauren Faber O’Connor, Los Angeles’ chief sustainability officer, are also scheduled to speak. A valid driver’s license is required to test drive a vehicle.

More information is at ChargeUpLA.org.

New Details for Arts District Office Complex

D

eveloper Tishman Speyer has been planning a new office complex in the Arts District. Now the full scope of the proposal is out. An environmental study filed with the Department of City Planning details proposals for the site at 2159 Bay St., which currently houses the headquarters of Hyperloop One. The warehouse buildings would be demolished to make way for a creative office campus with three structures. There would be an eight-story building holding 202,954 square feet of office space, plus three levels of parking (two underground) with a total of 711 stalls. Additionally, a pair of two-story buildings would collectively hold 16,000

square feet of commercial space. Plans also call for 3,235 square feet of event space in the project, and adding new sidewalks and trees.

The budget was not disclosed, but the developer, which purchased the site in late 2016, aims to finish construction by 2025.

Downtown Winery Begins Production

D

owntown has plenty of places to buy wine. Now a new spot is making it. The Angeleno Wine Company has secured more than $36,000 in funding and a permit to start production at its facility near L.A. State Historic Park. The winery began operations on Monday, Aug. 27, at its 1,200-square-foot space at 1646 N. Spring St., in time for the fall harvest and production. It is the first winery to open in the city in 100 years and will make about 2,000 cases annually. Grapes will start being crushed onsite before the end of the month.

The wines will be made from grapes grown in Agua Dulce, and include tannat, rosé, plus a blend of grenache and tempranillo. Angeleno Wine Company plans to add a tasting room in the early part of next year. More information is at angelenowineco.com.

Correction The Aug. 27 Fall Arts and Entertainment Preview listed an incorrect website for the DTLA Halloween Festival taking place Oct. 31 in Grand Hope Park. The correct website is downtownla.com/halloween.

Home Equity Line of Credit

Get started today!

Our rates have never been lower

0.99

Good Samaritan Medical Practice Association is a multi-specialty medical group that has been providing quality care and outstanding service to our members in the downtown

*

for 6 months

Call us at 800-300-9728 or visit a branch.

Los Angeles community and surrounding areas for over 20 years. GSMPA provides you with a choice of more than 100 independent Primary Care Physicians along with 250 top Specialists available through our coordinated referral service.

wpcu.org @wpccu * APR = Annual Percentage Rate. All loans subject to credit approval. HELOC promotional rate of 0.99% APR is for the first six months. Rates after the promotional period will vary based on Wall Street Prime rate plus a margin of 1.00%; as of 8/21/18, current rate is 6.00% APR. Maximum loan amount is $200,000. Maximum CLTV is 90%. Periodic rate is determined by adding a margin to the index value; the sum is divided by the number of days in a year (365). The APR is obtained by multiplying the periodic rate by the number of days in a year (365). Maximum APR is 18.00%. The finance charge is the cost you pay for credit and the finance charge on each new advance (draw) begins on the date of the advance and continues until the advance has been paid in full. Please request a consultation for more details.

Visit GoodSamIPA.com or call 855-GO-GSMPA (464-7672) for more information.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 3

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown L.A. Auto Group “Our Customers Say It Best”

I went to Nissan of Downtown L.A. to purchase my first brand new car. My salesperson was the best! Thank you to everyone at Nissan of Downtown L.A. for making the process so easy!

— Maliah Rodriguez

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

PORSCHE DOWNTOWN L.A.

1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-685-5426 porschedowntownla.com

AUDI DOWNTOWN L.A.

My wife and I purchased a certified pre-owned car at Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes-Benz. Our salesperson made the process seamless. Thanks for the excellent service!

1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-583-0981 audidtla.com

— Gerardo Martin

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

My lease was up on my car and I decided to go to Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. They made the process super easy and went above and beyond my expectations. I will definitely go to Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. for my next car!

— Mary Tostenreed

I live very far away but always get my cars from Audi of Downtown L.A. because of the great service and care. This is my third transaction with them and I wouldn’t go anywhere else but Audi of Downtown L.A.

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1901 S. Figueroa St. 800-399-6132 toyotaofdowntownla.com

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 635 W. Washington Blvd.

888-838-5089 downtownnissan.com

— Mike Choi

CARSON

NISSAN

W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

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

4 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DT

EDITORIALS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

A Skid Row Dog Park

W

hat amenities do people most want in their neighborhood?

Restaurants and cafes are near the top of the list, as are supermarkets. Residents increasingly seek out green space. In Downtown Los Angeles there is another deeply desired resource: services for dogs.

The Central City’s love for and discussion of canines has been well documented. Pet supply stores have proliferated here, and people who don’t clean up after their dogs on Downtown streets are a frustrating and never-ending concern. There’s even Dog Day Afternoon, an annual summer people-and-pooch mingling event at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Given this reality, it’s no surprise that dog parks have opened across Downtown. There are pet play areas in South Park, the Arts District and the Civic Center. Recently, another community got one: Skid Row. The dog park that opened at the Weingart Center on Aug. 10 is a worthy addition to the area, and although the number of people who can access it is severely limited, its presence delivers an important reminder about the neighborhood: Skid Row is a community like every other Downtown district, and its inhabitants deserve the resources that people in areas such as the Arts District and Bunker Hill take for granted. Yes, Skid Row is plagued by devastating poverty and there is an appalling amount of garbage in the streets, but thousands of individuals — both homeless and housed — reside here, whether by necessity or choice.

Los Angeles Downtown News recently wrote about the park at 566 S. San Pedro St. It’s a tidy, fenced-in space, only about 500 square feet, next to the cafeteria in the courtyard of the venerable homeless services provider. There are benches so people can relax while their dogs cavort. The ground is covered in fiber mulch and there are wooden planter boxes. Architecture firm Moore Ruble Yudell designed it pro bono. It’s a pleasant respite in the often chaotic neighborhood.

The Weingart Center spent a year raising money and preparing the park. Smartly, they are coordinating it with the greater mission to help formerly homeless individuals turn their lives around. There are quarterly clinics for vet care and free doggie bags and pooper scoopers.

Many people in Skid Row have dogs either for companionship or safety. There is a growing move, with proposed legislation, to ensure that pet ownership does not prevent someone from attaining housing in a city-subsidized project (including buildings that receive Proposition HHH money). This is a logical step — no one should have to decide between getting an apartment and giving up their dog.

The one shortfall of the Weingart Center dog park is that only people who live there can access it; right now, about 15 of the 623 residents have pets. Center operators must control their park and monitor who enters, but we hope they can explore ways to allow additional pet owners in, even if on a limited basis. Maybe there is a way to slowly expand services.

We hope to see more of these kinds of projects in Skid Row in the future.

Laurie Ochoa-Gold

S I N C E 19 7 2

twitter: DowntownNews

Jonathan Gold • Plaque

DT

COMMENTS

Regarding the editorial “New and Old Advice on Vehicle Break-ins,” which notes that thieves will smash a window even when they see a sunglasses case or a pile of clothes in a vehicle I am rather hyper-vigilant, but now I am removing the reusable shopping bags from the back of my SUV as well.

How about a slogan like this: “Broken Glass Is a Pain in the Ass.” —Thomas Trafelet Regarding the article “City Council to Evaluate Former Museum as Temporary Housing” We need numerous strategies and fast actions in responding to homelessness. Councilmember José Huizar is doing his job and deserves strong support.

—Robert S. Harris Regarding the article “80 Years of the Sweet Life at Chinatown’s Phoenix Bakery,” by Sean P. Thomas Gosh, I love their strawberry cake! Every time I officiate a wedding that has one, I have to stick around for a slice.

—Officiant Guy I grew up eating the strawberry cake. It’s pretty much the EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre,

Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-533-6990 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

Grand Central Market

ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Rick Schwartz CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb, Katherine Aguirre OFFICE MANAGER: Claudia Hernandez

August 26, 2018

only cake I’ll eat, as I can’t stand frosting.

—Katrina Blanco Fung Chow Chan, may you rest in peace. You brought many happy birthday cakes into our homes. Thank you and your family. I’m a very happy customer.

—Gigi Moraga Regarding the article “Metro Unveils Passenger Screening System,” by Nicholas Slayton There’s another issue, too, and something has to be done. I take the Gold Line home and many people jump on the elevator without paying, even if there is a check point after the elevators. They know they are cheating and you can see it in their faces, the “jump on quickly before anyone sees you” expressions.

—Marty Lindberg

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

VICE PRESIDENT: David Comden PRESIDENT: Bruce Bolkin

©2017 Southland Publishing, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Southland Publishing, 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.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

The Quest for House Huizar As Fundraising Period Opens for the 14th District City Council Race, A Lot of Eyes Are on Richelle Rae Huizar

By Jon Regardie abor Day has passed. Fall is effectively upon us. For political heads, attention is turning to election season.

I’m not talking about the November midterms and that pesky control-of-the-House-of-Representatives thing. Instead, I’m referring to something that really matters to people who live and work in Downtown Los Angeles: the 14th District City Council primary.

L

THE REGARDIE REPORT Ballots won’t be cast until March 3, 2020, but the battle for the seat begins Tuesday, Sept. 4. That’s because, 18 months before election day, candidates can file paperwork with the City Ethics Commission to begin raising money for the race (Sept. 3 is Labor Day and city offices are closed).

The 14th could see its most fascinating contest ever, which is saying something, because the district has already enjoyed an abundance of awesome political throwdowns. The 14th is where, in 2003, a defeated mayoral candidate named Antonio Villaraigosa launched his political comeback, snatching a council seat from incumbent Nick Pacheco. It’s the district where José Huizar won election four times, including a 2015 tolchoking of former County Supervisor Gloria Molina.

The 2020 race will garner attention because of a familiar name: Huizar. But not José. Instead, it’s his wife, Richelle Rae Huizar.

Although nothing has been officially announced, Richelle Huizar has long appeared to be prepping a run. She’s been ever-present in Downtown and other portions of the district, often at her husband’s side at opening events, award ceremo-

nies, civic happenings, etc.

The (José) Huizar political machine is seasoned and formidable, so expect every tool it unleashed in past elections to be utilized as Richelle embarks on her campaign. One big question is, when will that start? Will she file to raise money on day one, or wait a bit?

A bigger question is, does the 14th want a Huizar dynasty, and will it be rammed down the community’s collective throat? The D-word fits, because José Huizar will have repped the 14th for 15 years by the time he is termed out, and Richelle could serve for 12 years. That’s potentially more than a quarter century, by which time one of the four Huizar children might be ready to run.

“Game of Thrones” gave us House Lannister of Casterly Rock and House Tyrell of Highgarden. Will the future bring House Huizar of DTLA? Building the Brand Perhaps Richelle Huizar will choose not to run and this will be moot. But people who follow this stuff, and many others who live or work in Downtown, consider Huizar 2.0 to be an open secret.

The simple use of banners both portends the future and is a testament to a Huizar rebranding effort. In the early years of the (José) Huizar era, local events were plastered with vinyl signs and other pictures of his smiling face. They were all over early Night on Broadway celebrations, as if, heaven forbid, someone walk more than 50 feet and not be reminded of He Who Giveth You This.

Later we began to see wider credit, as community events were peppered with yellow signs with blue lettering that

photo by Gary Leonard

Many people expect Richelle Rae Huizar will run for the City Council seat now held by her husband, José Huizar.

read, “Councilmember Jose & Richelle Huizar thank you for attending.” Another sign references her role on the city’s Commission on the Status of Women; the red, white and blue banner reads, “Councilmember Jose Huizar and Commissioner Richelle Huizar Welcome You!” Yes, with the exclamation point! You! Sometimes the names are dropped altogether. There’s also a small bright white sign with the city seal in the center and the words “Team Huizar.”

Ah, a team.

That team must be remarked upon, because many people remember, and reference when they discuss Richelle’s potential run, the extramarital affair the councilman had with a Continued on page 24

The Fair Oaks by Regency Park

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE FOUR DISTINCT SENIOR COMMUNITIES

Regency Park Oak Knoll

Independent and Assisted Living

Assisted Living and Memory Care

951 South Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 204-1700 Lic. 197604266

255 South Oak Knoll Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 578-1551 Lic. 191200037

Regency Park Astoria

The Villas by Regency Park

925 East Villa Street Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 796-4303 Lic. 197607820

539 North Mentor Avenue Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 796-4303

Assisted Living and Memory Care

Independent Living

facebook.com/RegencyParkSeniorLiving

WWW.REGENCYPK.COM

Senior Liv ing Pasadena Style

6 DOWNTOWN NEWS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Upgrades Coming to Hotel Baltimore Skid Row Area Project to Hold 204 Apartments for Formerly Homeless Individuals

By Sean P. Thomas nother aged Downtown Los Angeles property is set to be upgraded.

The building, which has historically housed low-income individuals, will serve formerly homeless people.

The Healthy Housing Foundation, the housing arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, recently announced that it has purchased the Hotel Baltimore at 501 S. Los Angeles St. It is the organization’s third Downtown acquisition this year.

The deal closed on Aug. 17. Although HHF did not disclose a purchase price, it said in a press release that the acquisition-and-remodel cost is $82,000 per unit. With the building’s 204 apartments, that works out to about $16.7 million.

According to AHF Senior Director of Communications Ged Kenslea, the nonprofit plans to spend $4,000-$5,000 per room renovating the 108-year-old building. Upgrades will include new paint, plumbing work and installing laminate flooring. Of the 204 rooms, 137 have private bathrooms.

The building’s 87 tenants will remain in place during the renovation, with the opportunity to move into an upgraded unit once construction is complete. Kenslea said that the hope is to have new residents in 30-45 days.

Applicants, some of whom have previously received services from AHF, were informed of the new building through word of mouth, and will go through a screening process before moving into the apartments, said Kenslea. People with chronic healthcare issues will receive priority.

Kenslea said that residents can expect to pay $400-$600 per month, but that rents will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

This marks the fourth building that HHF has acquired in the past year, and according to the nonprofit, more than 600 single room occupancy units are being created for homeless or low-income housing. In May, HHF purchased the 150-room King Edward Hotel across the street from the Hotel Balti-

A

We are debuting a first-of-its kind Micro-Amusement ParkTM in Downtown LA, opening a new era of death-defying feats (and eats!), astonishing spectacles, hilarious hijinks, and Big Top wonder for everyone.

Re-engineered midway games. VR arenas.

38,000 sqft of interactive amusements of chance and skill, from story rooms to mechanical cocktailing fit for a king, but quite possibly made by a clown.

Ready to step right up? Visit www.twobitcircus.com

photo by Sean P. Thomas

The 108-year-old Hotel Baltimore on Los Angeles Street will hold 204 apartments for formerly homeless individuals.

more, shortly after acquiring the 202-room Hotel Madison in Skid Row. The HHF also purchased the 27-room Sunset 8 Motel in Hollywood.

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, has been sharply critical of the city and county’s attempts to create housing for homeless individuals, saying it is overly costly and time consuming.

A press release pointed at Measure HHH, passed by the city in November 2016. The $1.2 billion bond is intended to facilitate the creation of 10,000 permanent supportive units, though none have yet come online.

Permanent supportive housing projects in Los Angeles generally cost more than $400,000 per residence. HHF said the perunit cost for acquisition and upgrades at the Madison was $36,000, and $70,000 at the King Edward.

“We have estimates of as many as 5,000 empty SRO hotel rooms in Los Angeles,” Weinstein said in the press release. “We challenge Los Angeles officials to fully consider the SRO model we are deploying and adopt it as another means to address L.A.’s homeless crisis in a more timely, efficient and compassionate manner.” sean@downtownnews.com

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

8 DOWNTOWN NEWS

FELIX CHEVROLET PROUDLY SERVING LOS ANGELES SINCE 1921

Then and Now 1921 Chevrolet 490 Roadster Pickup

photo by Jon Regardie

Based on GM Retail Sales Western Region USA 2018 YTD

Since 1921, Felix Chevrolet has proudly served as your new and used Los Angeles Chevrolet dealer of choice. We have operated from the same family-owned location for the life of our business and we are committed to our community. Whether you’re looking for a great deal on a new Chevy or used vehicle, or are looking for a certified service center, we have got you covered. Felix Chevrolet is your place for ‘Downtown Prices and Uptown Service!’

We carry everything from the Chevy Malibu to the Chevy Tahoe so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Felix Chevrolet has deals and specials for all our customers! Whatever your credit situation, our financing experts can work with it to get you approved. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Darryl Holter, Dealer Principal Felix Chevrolet

FELIXCHEVROLET.COM 888.219.3659

SALES HOURS

SERVICE HOURS

PARTS HOURS

Monday-Friday

Monday-Friday

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Saturday

Sunday

9:30 am - 8 pm

By Sean P. Thomas early nine years after they were set up, the final batch of unsightly orange and white barricades have disappeared from the rear of the Ronald Reagan Building, fully opening the small Main Street plaza to the public.

It marks the end of an eyesore that endured for almost a decade, and that sparked consternation and debate. Some had charged that the 42 barricades were originally installed to keep homeless people away from the building. State representatives denied the suggestion, saying that the barriers were placed to mitigate a safety concern.

Will Wright, who had called attention to the barricades, said that nearly a decade waiting for a sidewalk to be fixed is too long. The former Downtown resident and director of government and public affairs with the American Institute of Architects hopes that, in the future, state leaders place a higher priority on property fixes.

“I’m delighted to see that the State of California has finally repaired this tiny little corner of Downtown Los Angeles,” he said in an email. “However, for it to take nearly a decade is totally unacceptable.”

The three lines of barricades were installed in 2009, and while one set protected passersby from a cracked portion of sidewalk caused by an overgrown tree root, the other barriers did not have a clearly obvious safety function. Los Angeles Downtown News first wrote about the issue, and some community complaints, in 2015.

In March, after a Downtown News reporter placed a new round of phone calls inquiring into the barriers, two groups of barricades were suddenly removed, leaving only the set over the crack, which ran about 20 feet long and half an inch to an inch wide. A spokesman for Sen. Holly Mitchell, whose 30th District includes the Reagan Building, said at the time that the upgrades to fix the sidewalk would be rolled into a larger collection of improvements to state properties.

Last month, repairs at the plaza began, including ripping out the old, cracked concrete, and replacing it with loose pebbles. The tree that caused the crack was removed as well.

Mitchell was not available to comment on the removal of the final barriers, but a spokesman said that repairs were completed on Aug. 9. sean@downtownnews.com

N

dealership in California

9 am - 9 pm

Eyesore Barriers Disappear as Sidewalk Improvements Are Made

A long crack has been repaired and barriers have been removed from the plaza on the Main Street side of the Ronald Reagan Building.

#1 Fastest Growing

3330 S. FIGUEROA ST.

Finally, Reagan Building Barricades Are Gone

2018 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup

Your Downtown L.A. Chevy Dealer for 97 Years!

8:30 am - 9 pm

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

7 am - 7 pm 8 am - 3 pm Sunday

Closed

7 am - 7 pm Saturday

8 am - 3 pm Sunday

Closed

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Live. Love.

Highland Park.

Two New L.A. Communities from Williams Homes.

SMALL-LOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH ROOFTOP DECKS 1,889 TO 2,460 SQ FT 3 BEDROOMS • 3.5 BATHS n n n n n n n n n

FROM THE MID $800,000s

NOW SELLING

703 BRIDEWELL STREET HIGHLAND PARK

1

SMALL-LOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH ROOFTOP DECKS 1,962 TO 2,055 APPROX SQ FT 3 BEDROOMS • 3.5 BATHS l l l l l l l l l

FROM THE $900,000s

5109 ECHO STREET HIGHLAND PARK

2

BROKER COOPERATION WELCOME*

323.803.4584 nle@williamshomes.com

*Please accompany and register your clients during their first visit to the sales center in order to be eligible for a commission. Please see sales counselor for program details. Prices effective date of publication, subject to prior sale and availability. Williams Homes is a California Broker, License #01449126.

2

St

917.346.3066 hgraff@williamshomes.com

Nhi Le

CalBRE #02044747

Ec ho

Heidi Graf

CalBRE #01757176

Fig ue ro a

St

e Av Po l lla ua rd sc a St P n

Yo rk

52

nd

110

Blv d

Sa

d

ell ew

Bri

St

N

Not to scale.

St

1

10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

The Virtual Reality Circus Comes to Town Arts District ‘Micro Amusement Park’ Blends Classic Carnival Vibes With Modern, High-Tech Games

I

flames would flare again.

Two Bit Circus announced the micro amusement park last August and is putting the final touches on the facility (the building has an additional 15,000 square feet for offices and the construction shop). It’s designed to build upon the modern desire for “experiences” such as those in escape rooms and pop-up installations.

“Inside the park, we have a variety of different experiences. There are short arcade games for two minutes, there are long game shows for one hour,” co-founder Brent Bushnell said during a recent tour. “Combine that with the fact that we can change the content, and you’re guaranteed a different experience each time.”

Bushnell, the son of Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, likens the space to a movie theater for immersive games. It has several sections: The “Arcade” offers a mix of classic games, including Ms. Pac-Man and Street Fighter II, along with a clutch of track ballbased offerings created by Two Bit, such as one where players launch waffles at targets.

Bushnell said about half of the games are original to Two Bit Circus.

The “Midway” is an update on familiar carnival games. One involves contestants pumping up and down on a train motor, racing to get a digital train across a track. There’s a demolition game, and a photo booth

DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP

SERVICE WE MAKE CAR SERVICE EASY!

photo by Jon Regardie

Brent Bushnell (left) and Eric Gradman founded Two Bit Circus in 2012. After serving corporate clients, they elected to open a micro-amusement park full of virtual reality games. It debuts this week in the Arts District.

where large television screens are placed in front of people’s faces.

The four “story rooms” amp up the escape room trend. The idea is to create an immersive, interactive game, more with the goal of people working together to accomplish a mission, than to get out. One is set in a dilapidated mineshaft. Another, “Space Squad,”

Money Smart for Small Business Calling small business owners and startup entrepreneurs!

Date

Thursday, September 20, 2018

JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT:

Time

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Digital Marketing 101

Location

Los Angeles LDC, Inc. TenTen Wilshire Conference Room (L1) 1010 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Speaker

Roberto Martinez Google Digital Coach Braven Agency

Reliable, Trustworthy, Award Winning

EXPERT CAR CARE

By Factory Trained Technicians DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS MERCEDES-BENZ - 1801 S. Figueroa St. - 888-319-8762 - mbzla.com PORSCHE DOWNTOWN L.A. - 1900 S. Figueroa St. - 888-685-5426 - porschedowntownla.com AUDI DOWNTOWN L.A. - 1900 S. Figueroa St. - 888-583-0981 - audidtla.com VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. - 1900 S. Figueroa St. - 888-781-8102 - vwofdtla.com TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A. - 1600 S. Figueroa St. - 800-399-6132 - toyotaofdowntownla.com NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. - 635 W. Washington Blvd. - 888-838-5089 - downtownnissan.com CARSON NISSAN - 1505 E. 223rd St. - 888-845-2267 - carsonnissan.com

is on the bridge of a spaceship, with six players manning different crew positions and trying to solve problems in the galaxy. Think “Star Trek,” or perhaps the “USS Callister” from “Black Mirror,” depending on how certain groups play it.

Friends and Strangers Two Bit Circus was founded in 2012 by

Language English Fee

Hosted by:

FREE, Reservations Required To RSVP or for Questions: Please contact Teresa Isago at (213) 362-9111 or tisago@losangelesldc.com

— How customers find your business online using Google — How to promote your online presence using Google — Google Tools to help your SEO and online advertising and analytics

Opportunity Zone Funds — What are Opportunity Zones?

— Where are the Opportunity Zones in Los Angeles County?

— Will Opportunity Zones be a viable option to source capital for small businesses?

Banking Services — Identifying the common banking services to a small business — Separating business and personal bank transactions

Vendor Diversity Program — Information on how you may become a Cathay Bank supplier

MKT-3014-E(05/14)

By Nicholas Slayton t’s not hard to imagine the carnies at Two Bit Circus shouting, “Step right up, try your luck!” to people strolling through its refurbished Arts District warehouse, cajoling them to sample a digital version of the old “pop the wall of balloons” challenge, or to take part in a 100-person, game-show like trivia contest.

Those are among the options in Two Bit Circus’ first “micro-amusement park” at 634 Mateo St. A tech-heavy update on carnivals and midways of old, Two Bit Circus offers everything from an air hockey table where four people can play at a time to twists on an escape room where players don VR headsets and backpacks holding a laptop.

The 37,000-square-foot entertainment space opens on Friday, Sept. 7. It is expected to be the first of numerous Two Bit Circus parks.

If the venue with more than 30 games, private rooms and modern twists on carnival fare such as funnel cake all sounds intense and eclectic, that’s because it is. But that’s par for the course for a company that made the Dunk Tank Flambé, which it showcased at a past Night on Broadway event. The tank involved a person in a fireproof suit inside a confined space happily waving, and every few minutes a giant mountain of flame would shoot upwards. The person continued happily waving, and a few minutes later the

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Look Sexier

MODEL

...because you can LA’S MOST CELEBRATED & FRIENDLY INJECTORS

2017

‘$100 OFF COMBOS’ WEEK SEPTEMBER 1ST - SEPTEMBER 71H, 2018 $100 OFF

&

DUET

photo by Gary Leonard

The 37,000-square-foot space mixes classic arcade games with interactive and virtual reality options.

Bushnell and Eric Gradman, and previously was based in Lincoln Heights. In years past it created games and contraptions for entertainment companies or special events — clients ranged from Intel to the NBA. Then the owners hatched the idea of taking their creations, building new ones and letting people play, both with friends and strangers.

Two Bit Circus raised $15 million to develop a series of parks. For the first one they looked at numerous locations, and almost wound up in an old Albertson’s, Bushnell said. They were ultimately drawn to the Arts District by all the activity in the area, with literally billions of dollars being invested in the

neighborhood.

“This is such an exciting part of Downtown,” the bowtie-sporting Bushnell said.

Entrance to the park is free, but visitors get a stored-value “playing card” so they can add money and play as they go. Prices vary: A short arcade game will be less than a dollar.

Currently, the website prices story rooms at $15-$30 per person for sessions that run 2030 minutes (reservations are required). Full VR rooms can be reserved for $59, according to the website.

Two Bit Circus can hold up to 1,200 people, and operators expect visitors will stay for Continued on page 12

PURCHASE 24+ UNITS OF BOTOX AT $8.95* PER UNIT & GET 1 SYRINGE OF JUVEDERM XC AT

Business Management • Business Loans • Legal/Contracts Marketing/Social Media • QuickBooks • Strategic Planning/Organizing Equipment Financing • Corporate Structure

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Business Cost:Plan $30 Guided

(1.0 cc)

(1.0 cc)

(1.0 cc)

(0.55 cc)

(0.55 cc)

PURCHASE 60+ UNITS OF DYSPORT AT

FAMILY OF FILLERS

Restylane-L (1.0 cc) Restylane Lyft (1.0 cc) PER UNIT Restylane Silk (1.0 cc) *REFLECTS $100 OFF INSTANT REBATE PLUS EARN RESTYLANE BUCKS NEW! Defyne (1.0 cc) TOWARDS YOUR NEXT TREATMENT. VISIT OUBEAUTY.COM OR CALL FOR MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS **3 DYSPORT UNITS EQUIVALENT IN STRENGTH TO 1+ BOTOX UNIT NEW! Refyne (1.0 cc)

$2.95**

PURCHASE 24+ UNITS OF

FOR JUST

$7

$320* $320* $495* $295* $395*

$20* $20* $30* $10* $30*

$100 OFF COMBO

& REG PRICE

1st Syringe

$380 $395 $395 $495 $495

$280* $295* $295* $395* $395*

+ Earned Restylane Bucks!*

$20* $20* $20* $20* $20*

AND GET 1.5 CC OF o “1.5 cc Jumb Syringe”

95

Per Unit*

FOR JUST

$350*

*REFLECTS $100. INSTANT REBATE

No Double Chin. No Surgery. No Kidding.

The Lottie Center for Business Excellence Entrepreneurial Training NOW FF $200 O Intro toLottie Earn Intro to Earn The Center for Business Excellence Entrepreneurial Training L A I V R Bigger Contracts* September 5 Bigger Contracts* September 19 Cost: $30

ULTRA XC ULTRA+ XC VOLUMA XC VOLBELLA XC VOLLURE XC

*REFLECTS $100 OFF INSTANT REBATE PLUS EARN LOYALTY POINTS TOWARDS YOUR NEXT TREATMENT. VISIT OUBEAUTY.COM OR CALL FOROF MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS FAMILY FILLERS

The Lottie Center for Business Excellence Entrepreneurial Training Pacific Coast Regional offers a wide selection of programs designed to aid you in the development of your business, including loan programs, entrepreneurial training, and consulting assistance. Center Areas of Consulting:

FAMILY OF FILLERS

LOYALTY POINTS EARNED

PE

*Recommended 1-3 vials for first treatment and 1-2 for second.

NOW

$395*

10:00Guided AM - 1:00Business PM Plan 6:00pm—9:00pm QuickBooks* September 6 10 am—2:00pm Guided Business Plan September 25 PER VIAL REMOVE FAT PERMANENTLY Plan Guided Business Plan sessions) $30— hours (1 four-hour $30— 6 hours (2 PM three-hour Cost: $60 10:00 AMGuided -42:00 PMBusiness Cost: $75sessions) 10:00 AM - 2:00 10 am—2:00pm 6:00pm—9:00pm New Client Orientation September 10 (1 New Client Orientation September 25three-hour $30—Compete 4 hours sessions) $30— 6 hoursYour (2 sessions) $25 forfour-hour Target Contracts Managing Business Effectively OFF FREE 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM FREE 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 10:00am—2:00pm 6:00pm—9:00pm Lightsheer™ Hair Compete for Target Contracts Managing Your Business Effectively $30— 12 4 hours (1 four-hour session) Guided Business Plan* September Business to Business $30— 6 hours (2 three-hour session) AUGUST SPECIALS Removal 6:00pm—9:00pm Empowerment Breakfast* September 27 Cost: $75 10:00 AM - 10:00am—2:00pm 2:00 PM 3255 Wilshire Blvd. $30— 4 hoursQuickBooks (1 four-hour $30—9:00 6 Social hours (2 three-hour session) FREE session) AM - 10:30 AM Marketing Media 5ml BOTTLE Suite 1501 Access to Capital September 13 10:00am—2:00pm 6:00pm —8:00pm UNTIL 8/31/18 3255 Wilshire Blvd.

PLUS $10 LOYALTY POINTS Guided Business Plan September 27 10:30 AM - 12:30QuickBooks PM LosFREE Angeles, CA The Industry Gold Standard for Loyalty points on next Botox, Juvederm Social Media Marketing $30— 4 hours (1 four-hour sessions) $30— 6 AM hours (2PM –two hour session) Laser Hair Removal treatment or Latisse, while supplies last.

Suite 1501 Cost: $75 10:00 2:00 (866) 301-9989 6:00pm —8:00pm QuickBooks* September 10:00am—2:00pm 18 Los Angeles, CA • NEW Low Prices (213) to Capital September 27 $30— hours sessions) $30— 6 hoursDevelopment/Customer (2 –two hour session) Cost:674-2696 $60 10:00 AMA4-Quantum 2:00 PM(1 four-hour LeapAccess to Success Employee PHENTERMINE WEIGHT • CoolSculpting (866) 301-9989 FREE 10:30 AM 12:30 PM 6:00pm—9:00pm Relations LOSS PROGRAM University Certified Maybe the best chemical peel (213) 674-2696 FDA Approved CLASS W. Rosecrans Ave. ABlvd., Quantum Leap toCLASSES Success Employee Development/Customer 3255 Wilshire # 1501 www.pcrsbdc.org you’ll ever have $30— 6 hours (2 three-hour session) 1051 6:00pm—9:00pm • All the New Appetite Suppressant.

LOCATIONS WITH * Compton, 90222 The Center for Business Excellence Los Angeles, CALottie 90010 6:00pm—9:00pm Relations $30—CA 6 Entrepreneurial hours (2 three-hourTraining session) CoolSculpting Handles www.pcrsbdc.org $30— 6 hours (2 three-hour session) 6:00pm—9:00pm $30— 6for hours (2 three-hour session) Pre-registration is is required for all seminars.

Guided Business Plan Guided Business Plan Pre-registration required all seminars.

FREE NO SURGERY • NO NEEDLES 30-day Supply 10 am—2:00pm NO DOWNTIME To register visit our website at www.pcrsbdc.org 6:00pm—9:00pm NO EXAM FEE $30— 4 hours (1 four-hour sessions) at $30— 6 hours (2 three-hour sessions) To register visit our website + FREE AFTER-CARE KIT Pre-registration is required for all seminars.

Compete for Target Contracts Managing Your Business Effectively more specials at www.oubeauty.com • Botox Diamond Award To register visit our website at www.pcrsbdc.org www.pcrsbdc.org Courses are designed to assist 10:00am—2:00pm business owners kick start growth and achieve success 6:00pm—9:00pm through building skill set of and potential$30— small businesses. $30— 4 hours (1 existing four-hour session) 6 hours (2 three-hour session) NAMED BEST MEDISPA Courses are designed to 674-2696 assist business owners kick start growth and achieve success 3255 Wilshire Blvd.(213) For more information contact or visit www.pcrsbdc.org 9 YEARS IN A ROW 2009-2017 QuickBooks Social Media Marketing Suite 1501 through building skill set of existing and potential small businesses.

We also Blvd assistSuite you in1501, establishing or maintaining your small business through one-on10:00am—2:00pm 6:00pm —8:00pm 3255 Wilshire Los Angeles, CA 90010 Los Angeles, CA 4 hours (1 advisors four-hour sessions) $30— hours (2 –two hour session) NOW 2 GREAT LOCATIONS Dr. Kojian, Owner one301-9989 consultation from $30— professional that will assist in 6the development and (866) (213) 674-2696 We also assist you in establishing or maintaining your small Employee businessDevelopment/Customer through one-onsustainability of your business.

A Quantum Leap to Success The Small Business Development Centers are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, center 130 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 6:00pm—9:00pm Relations one consultation from professional advisors that will assist in the development and www.pcrsbdc.org host institutions, state and local funds,$30— and corporate Funding is not an endorsement of any 6 hours (2partners. three-hour session) 6:00pm—9:00pm sustainability of your business. $30— 6 hours (2 three-hour session) 125 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA product, opinion, Development or service. AllCenters Federalare andfunded State by funded programs are extended to the public onhost a institutions, state The Small Business the U.S. Small Business Administration, center local funds, for andindividuals corporate with partners.

Funding not an endorsement any product, or service. All Federal andOh You Beauty, Inc. Dr. Kojian is required for opinion, all seminars. nondiscriminatory basis. Specialand arrangements disability willisbemade ifPre-registration requested inofadvance.

Open 7 Days a Week ‘til 8pm

FREEZE THE FAT AWAY PERMANENTLY

$114 60% OFF

$195

CONSULTATION

818.551.1682 213.617.1682

State funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory Special arrangements for individuals with To register visit ourbasis. website at www.pcrsbdc.org The Small Business Development Centers are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, center host institutions, state disability will be made if requested in advance. and local funds, and corporate partners.Courses Fundingare is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, service.and All achieve Federalsuccess and designed to assist business owners kick startorgrowth State funded programs are extended to the public on a building nondiscriminatory basis.

Special forbusinesses. individuals with through skill set of existing andarrangements potential small disability will be made if requested in advance.

$350

$89

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

AMUSEMENT PARK, 11 two to three hours, taking occasional breaks from the games to grab a bite of “farm to circus” food or get a drink at the two bars, including one with a robot bartender — named Gearmo del Pouro — who can make an assortment of drinks (human bartenders are on hand to help fill a drink order, if needed).

The plan is to have the space open from 4-11 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, and 11-1 a.m. on Friday-Sunday. The park is all ages, but some programming may change once the sun sets; adaptability in terms of content is built into most of the games and rooms.

“During the day, the software can be about the kids,” said Head of Parks Kim Schaefer. “Around 9 p.m., it can be a little edgier for adults.”

Approximately 20% of the games utilize VR, according to

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Chief Creative Office Nancy Bennett. There are four virtual reality rooms, which offer more than 24 “experiences,” plus seated VR spaces where players can try out flight or tank simulators.

The park employs roughly 100 people — those on the floor are known as carnies — in addition to the 60 who previously worked for Two Bit Circus, according to Schaefer. The operators would not reveal a budget for the complex.

The venue’s biggest component is Club 01. The room is an interactive, flexible, 100-person game show, according to Gradman, who sports a pink mohawk and the title of chief technical officer. People sit at small tables, each with a touch screen. An on-stage host leads contestants through trivia or other games. Participants will sometimes find themselves partnered with a team of strangers in the crowd. Those in the audience run the risk of being pulled on stage.

“We tried to take a game show and make it interactive

BUY PROPANE HERE!

again,” Gradman said.

Gradman said Club 01 can be used for other activities, such as a wine tasting, though that too is high tech. Plans call for a winery to provide samples, and people will use screens to describe the vintage’s characteristics, detailing whether, for example, they taste berries, vanilla or something else. The group’s responses can be shown on a video screen in a bar graph.

One of the park’s most intriguing features isn’t a hightech installation. There is a hidden “metagame” inside Two Bit Circus, Bushnell said. Visitors can be pulled into it in various ways, such as picking up tokens from dispensers that lead them on adventures through the park. They can wander through secret passageways and interact with carnies playing roles; it’s immersive theater as a game. Bushnell said the concept is meant to surprise guests and keep everything fresh.

“We want to reward the curious,” he said. nicholas@downtownnews.com

PROPOSITION 65 / PROPUESTA 65

BUSINESS INTERNET SERVICE PROPANE, 1000Mbps/$499.95 GAS & DIESEL

WARNING / AVISO

We Re-Fill Tanks

California Electroplating,Inc. emits Hexavalent Chro-mium (a chemical known tothe State of California tocause cancer).

Persons within the areashown inside the thick line onthe map are exposed toHexavalent Chromium at alevel determined by the State torequire a warning.

(SAVE $$ OVER Exchange)

TANKS 4 LESS

©

1800 E. Olympic Blvd.

Broadband I Voice I WiFi I HDTV (On the corner of Olympic and S. Alameda St.)

Fast & Friendly Service Se Habla Español

A Winning Combination 800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com

California Electroplating, Inc.

JUST NORTH OF THE 10 FRWY @ Olympic & Alameda St.

3510 East Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90023 323-268-9154

Lead Sponsor

213-627-5008

California Electroplating,Inc. emite Cromo Hexavalente (un químico conocidocomo causante de cáncer porel Estado de California).

Las personas dentro la areade la línea gruesa marcada en elmapa presentado arriba estánexpuestas al cromo hexavalentea un nivel sobre el cual esrequerido por el Estado sepublique un advertencia.

24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

FREE EV Ride & Drive Sept. 8, 2018 10 am - 3 pm LADWP Headquarters: 111 N. Hope St. LA, CA 90012

Enjoy a fun family day with kids’ activities, rebate information, EV test drives*, food trucks, vendors and more!

BUSINESS PHONE SERVICE $9.95 Pricing starting from

Broadband I Voice I WiFi I HDTV

800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com

HOME INTERNET SERVICE 1000Mbps/$14.95

ladwp.com/ev

*Valid driver’s license required

Sponsored by

*

* Speeds up to

**

** Pricing starting from

Reasonable accommodation or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability, you are advised to make your request at least 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend. Due to difficulties in securing Sign Language Interpreters, five IorVoice more business days notice is strongly recommended.

For additional 800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com Broadband I WiFi I HDTV information, please contact: (213) 367-1361 TDD: 1-800-HEAR DWP (1-800-432-7397).

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Holiday Parties & Catering Tips From the Party Planning Experts Downtown Event Planners Give Advice on What to Do and What to Avoid

New Look, New Options LiOrient, in the Former McCormick & Schmick’s Space, Gears Up for Its First Holiday Season

By Sean P. Thomas iOrient Asian Bar and Restaurant opened in February, filling the enormous spot in U.S. Bank Tower formerly occupied by seafood emporium McCormick & Schmick’s. It’s the latest Downtown Los Angeles restaurant play from Kerry Moy and Kin Hui, who previously opened Triple 8 China Bar and Grill at L.A. Live. Moy was also behind Downtown’s Wokcano and Spear.

The reimagined 12,000-square-foot space is sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant is gearing up for its first holiday party season. Downtown News spoke about the options with Jessica Stafford, who handles catering and special events at LiOrient with the company JSLA Events.

L

Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s only September, but how are bookings going? Are people reserving early these days?

Jessica Stafford: They do start earlier. I was getting inquiries for Christmas and the holidays about as soon as we opened. Right now we’re about 30% booked, so there is still more time for bookings.

Jessica Stafford handles catering and special events for LiOrient Asian Bar and Restaurant in U.S. Bank Tower.

Q: Can LiOrient handle bookings on short notice?

A: If there is availability, I can accommodate it. If there isn’t, there isn’t much of anything that I can do. I am flexible, and I try to work and see if things can be moved around to accommodate requests.

Q: What tips do you have for those booking on short notice?

A: Know as much information on what you want as possible. Know if you want anything specific on food or entertainment. Make sure you know what you want, and make sure to voice that.

Q: How many people can LiOrient accommodate?

A: We do different events, nightlife events, where we can do up to 260 people. We also do real estate and corporate events; those can range up to 120-150 people.

For our bar and lounge, we can hold up to 80 people, but normally they don’t just do the bar. They do the bar with the lounge.

I can hold up to 100-120 people with the

photo by Gary Leonard

lounge.

It’s dependent on the event. Are they all coming at once? With nightlife events, people come in and out at different times.

spectacular. It’s very spacious with a flexible layout. Also, our bar and lounge has LED lights that really enhance the mood for whatever event we’re hosting.

Q: How much should someone expect to pay to throw a party at LiOrient?

A: The minimum charge for food and beverage is about $2,000 for two rooms together.

We also have the main dining room; that one is harder to gauge for a buy-out. Everything varies. All of it is situational to the amount of people, the amount of time and how much space is needed. It is also all very flexible.

Q: What suggestions do you have for someone throwing their first big holiday party?

A: The number one thing that people are not aware of is how to budget. A lot of times, if you host parties, you’re looking at $50-$60 per hour, per person, for an open bar. Just stay conscious and be aware of how your budget will stretch. That will help both the planner and the venue.

LiOrient is on the fourth floor of U.S. Bank Tower, 633 Hope Place, (323) 500-1186 or liorientrestaurant.com. sean@downtownnews.com

Q: What sets LiOrient apart from other venues?

A: Our whole interior is brand new. It has a very clean and modern look. The views are

52 Great Party Places If You’re Planning a Holiday Event, There Is No Shortage of Downtown Options

I

n Los Angeles, early September is prime party-planning time. While you may not have even contemplated your Halloween costume, event organizers are already locking down choice weekend dates in November and December.

In the following pages we run down 52 top Downtown party places. Consider this just a starting point, as there are many other restaurants, hotels and event spaces prepared to host a memorable party. The community has a bevy of unique spaces, and there is something for every taste and budget.

Start making your calls now.

Rossoblu — The homerun Italian spot in City Market South offers farm-fresh vegetables and handmade pastas, and can handle as many as 1,000 people for a cocktail reception Chaya — The Financial District spot has indoor and outdoor party options along with a lineup of French-tinged Asian-fusion cuisine Triple 8 China Bar & Grill — the L.A. Live spot specializes in dishes from regions across China, and the dumplings make for great passed snacks Natural History Museum — one of the region’s most unique party spots — seriously, how often do you drink and dance amid dioramas and dinosaur bones?

Preux & Proper — the New Orleans-style establishment in the Fashion District has casual fare on the ground floor and a more elaborate menu on the second level L.A. Grand Hotel — the Figueroa Street spot was beautifully modernized and has flexible ballrooms that can host up to 1,000 people. The staff is friendly and experienced Plan Check — the comfy City West joint stands out for its burgers, and also offers a smart selection of beverages Beelman’s Pub — affordable food packages, well-crafted drinks and a great jukebox in the Historic Core InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown — the hotel in the Wilshire Grand Center has an astounding number of options for corporate or social events, while the 73rd floor Sky Deck is literally unmatched Au Lac — creative vegan dishes on Bunker Hill, and you can wash down the food with organic wine and cocktails Yxta Cocina Mexicana — authentic Mexican cuisine and plenty of margaritas ensure you will be smiling when you leave the Industrial District destination Blue Jam Café — the pretty spot in the Spring Arcade Building has indoor and outdoor eating areas and can do plated, tray-passed or buffet service L.A. Live — there are small spaces, huge spaces, indoor spaces, outdoor spaces and food from the Wolfgang Puck empire

Border Grill — take in the festive decor, the patio and the reliable modern Mexican cuisine Doubletree by Hilton — enjoy drinks and Asian-fusion fare while wandering through a hidden garden in this Little Tokyo hotel Broken Spanish — chef Ray Garcia’s elegant South Park spot reinvents modern Mexican cuisine in a comfy, lively space PYT — chef Josef Centeno draws raves for his vegetable-focused menu, and there’s a full bar, too, in this vibrant Historic Core space Escape Room L.A. — hang out with some friends in a locked room and try to solve clues and escape in an hour.

Follow it up with drinks and eats at a nearby bar or restaurant Oviatt Building Penthouse — Downtown’s gorgeous Art Deco destination, with an al fresco atmosphere and an amazing view Café Society — the reimagined Daily Dose in the Arts District has an outdoor spot, dubbed the Alley, that delivers old-world charm in the heart of modern Downtown The Edison — throw a bash in a former boiler room that looks like no other place in L.A. Redbird — Neal Fraser’s cooking draws raves, and so does the room with the retractable ceiling in a former cathedral rectory Blue Cow — the Bunker Hill destination offers nifty drinks, a coterie of dishes prepared with super-fresh ingredients, and a fun outdoor dining area Continued on page 18

14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

Party Like It’s 1929 The Reserve Offers a Throwback Vibe And Everything You Need for a Party

By Sean P. Thomas otable for its bank vault theme and Roaring ’20s vibe, the Reserve nightclub opened in 2015 in the former Hellman Commercial Trust and Savings building. The subterranean Spring Street space offers three full bars spread across three chambers, along with two fully equipped DJ booths.

The nearly 7,000-square-foot nightclub — which, for the record, was the site of Los Angeles Downtown News’ recent Best of Downtown party — is gearing up for the holiday season. Special Events Manager Makenna Song detailed what’s on the agenda.

N

Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s only September, but how are bookings going? When did people start calling?

Makenna Song: Usually we start booking right around June and July. That’s when we get the majority of our inquiries and when our calendar really begins to fill up. But some people even start as early as a year in advance.

Q: What advice do you have for people putting together an event on short notice?

A: They need to explore as many venues as possible and have their options open. We do book up very fast and not everyone will be able to offer something on short notice. But if you are considering something on short notice and can’t find a venue, I recommend staying on top of things and keeping in touch with venues to see if there are any cancellations or reschedules.

Q: How many people can the Reserve accommodate for a party?

Is there a minimum or maximum?

A: There is defiantly no minimum. I would say our maximum would be 700. Typically, parties at the Reserve range from 200-400 people; that allows for a good flow for the space.

Five hundred guests are also good, but between 600-700 people, it starts to get pretty crowded.

Q: How much should someone expect to spend at the Reserve?

A: I would say anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000 is average. But it totally depends on what each party wants. Do they want open bar? Food service? And of course, what is the guest count?

Q: What unique elements do you offer?

A: What’s really exciting about the Reserve is we have such a flexible floor plan that offers a consistent flow for guests.

People don’t feel like they are trapped. Guests can move throughout the different spaces during an event.

We also have everything that someone will need to throw an event. Event planners don’t have to bring up a bunch of equipment; we have the DJ booth, we have the audio equipment. We have everything that an event needs to be successful.

Q: What is something that people often overlook when planning a holiday party?

A: I think a lot of times people come in with an initial plan in their mind and they forget to ask all the questions. They get so excited about the venue and about what they offer that they forget the basics.

Does the place have air conditioning? Does the place have enough garbage cans? People forget to ask those things. I think going in with a list of questions and making sure that you get the essentials down is very important.

Q: What suggestions do you have for someone who has never thrown a big holiday party or event?

‘Tis the Seas�n

photo by Gary Leonard

Makenna Song is the special events manager for the Reserve, a Historic Core nightclub with three full bars, DJ booths and food service.

A: It’s very important to know your audience very well. They are the people you are throwing the party for. I also recommend paying attention to the small details. There are so many details that it’s easy to lose sight of what the purpose of the party is. Define and really stress it. The audience will notice the smallest details so it’s important to get those right. Also, allocate space in the budget for mistakes.

The Reserve is at 650 S. Spring St., (323) 610-3066 or thelareserve.com. sean@downtownnews.com

No one caters to Southern California like we do.

to Celebrate all that isJ�y�us

Our Mobile Wood-Fired Urban Oven Brings the Party to You!

PIZZAS, APPETIZERS, SALADS & DESSERTS

ARTISAN

WOOD FIRED

PIZZA MADE ON-SITE

To get a taste of what you see here, just follow a few simple steps on the catering page of our web site or call us at 213-223-5980.

We’ll take it from there. One of our event consultants will help create a custom menu just for you!

333 South Figueroa Street | Los Angeles, CA 90071 213.617.1133 | thelahotel.com

700 SOUTH FLOWER @ The BLOC RESTAURANT HRS: MON-TUE 11AM to 4PM, WED-FRI 11AM to 9PM, CLOSED SAT & SUN

theurbanoven.com/catering

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

E L E VAT E YOU R HOL I DAY Host your holiday party in the heart of the renaissance at L.A.’s highest landmark. Sweeping cityscapes create the perfect backdrop for salutations and celebrations. Two grand ballrooms await, along with extraordinary catering and world-class service.

R ECEIV E EXCLUSIV E DISCOUNTS ON VALET, DÉCOR & MOR E Including a Staycation Special for up to 20% Off Guest Rooms.* To learn more, email ICLA DowntownGroups@ihg.com. *Some restrictions apply. Must book by October 31, 2018.

Live the InterContinental life. ®

DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

intercontinental.com dtla.intercontinental.com

16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

A Stately Space The NoMad Los Angeles, in a Revamped 1923 Building, Offers Numerous Party Options

By Nicholas Slayton he NoMad Los Angeles at Seventh and Olive streets opened in January. The long-empty, 1923 Giannini Place building has been turned into a luxury boutique establishment with 241 guest rooms. It has a lush, colorful interior and numerous bars, plus a main restaurant overseen by chefs Daniel Humm and Will Guidara.

The hotel also hosts private events, in locations including the mezzanine level, on a rooftop pool deck and in the Hoffman and Monet dining rooms. Kathryn Gillan, NoMad Los Angeles’ director of events, discussed the options.

T

Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s only September, but how are bookings going? Are prime dates still open?

Kathryn Gillan: We’re definitely booking up for December, but we do have availability.

We’re hoping to have a full calendar by November. This is our first holiday season. It’s pretty exciting for us.

Q: How many people can the NoMad accommodate for a party?

A: We have the mezzanine level, which is an entirely private event level. That can accommodate about 250 people for a reception or

120 for a seated dinner, with room for cocktails as well. With the mezzanine’s two dining rooms, the Hoffman Room can seat 25 people. The Monet Room can seat 12 people.

Separate from the mezzanine, we have the rooftop. It is a hotel amenity for guests, so there are some restrictions for start times for events. But the pool deck has room for approximately 250 people for a cocktail reception and 150 for a seated dinner. The mezzanine and pool both have completely dedicated kitchens. All of the service and food is coming from there.

Q: What should someone expect to spend to book a party in the NoMad? A: Price points do range, but we try to accommodate most groups and build an event around their budget and format. We have a few concepts we like to follow, but we are flexible. The entire mezzanine with the dining rooms, on peak nights Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, that’s about $25,000 for a food and beverage minimum. If you’re just taking half the mezzanine, that starts at around $15,000. The Monet Room is $2,500 and the Hoffman Room is $4,000.

On the rooftop, we are in the process of trying to put up a temporary structure for

Kathryn Gillan, the NoMad Los Angeles’ director of events, says the new establishment at Seventh and Olive streets is booking up quickly. Party spaces include a rooftop pool and the mezzanine overlooking the lobby.

photo by Gary Leonard

holiday parties. We should know in the next week if that happens. If it does, you’re looking at a $35,000 food and beverage minimum. If not, the minimum is $25,000. There’s flexibility in the cost depending on the day of the week and the group size.

Q: What’s the key to throwing a good holiday party?

A: Make it fun. You can create the most beautiful atmosphere and food, but if your guests aren’t having a good time, it’s not worth it.

The most important thing to keep in mind is, “What do people want?” People expect it won’t be the same level of formality as a business dinner. Have food stations. Do things like making beverages accessible. I think entertainment is always great, but it’s

embracing what the space has to give you.

Q: What advice would you give someone who is just starting to plan a holiday party?

A: The best thing is to reach out. We’re always available for walk-throughs and taking a look at the menus. It is a good place to start. Trust the venue in knowing what we do best and what our strengths are. But also work with us — we’re flexible. It’s a good time to be looking now that we’re at Labor Day. Wednesdays through Fridays are always going to be our peak nights, but look for non-peak days. That can save some pennies.

The NoMad Los Angeles is at 649 S. Olive St., (213) 358-0000 or thenomadhotel.com/ los-angeles. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Enjoy an unforgettable homegrown dining experience for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

20% OFF With This Coupon. Expires 9/30/18.

For Orders 726 Alameda St. (Bay & Alameda) Over $15 213-228-8999 | farmerboysla.com (before taxes)

No substitutions. Limit one offer per coupon. One coupon per transaction. Los Angeles Alameda location only. Not valid with any other coupon, advertised special or offer.

State sales tax applicable. Copies or replicas of this offer will not be accepted.

STEAKS

THIS GOOD ARE

RARE

DOWNTOWN

735 South Figueroa St. • 213.553.4566

Mortons.com

Open 24/7 | Free Wi-Fi | Free Parking Drive Thru | Breakfast Served All Day

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

A New, Flexible Party Place

tember, but how are bookings going?

Kari Mendez: We do still have space. The first two Saturdays of December are already booked, but the third is available. So far our holiday booking has been very random. We have availability in October, November and December.

City Market Social House Offers 12,000 Square Feet of Space and State-of-the-Art Sound and Lighting

Q: How many people can City Market Social House accommodate?

A: We can easily accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Depending on specific needs and how the party flows, we can share the plans with the fire marshal and flex things up to about 1,200 people. But 1,000 can comfortably fit.

Nicole Stubbs (left) is the general manager and operations director, and Kari Mendez is the sales manager of City Market Social House.

The events space opened in March and has hosted everything from an NBA All-Star Weekend party to a bar mitzvah.

Q: What special features do you offer?

A: With the space itself, Vox Productions is our in-house production company, and they invested half a million dollars to install lighting and audio systems. So there are fewer expenses for guests. They don’t have to bring their own stuff in.

photo by Gary Leonard

By Nicholas Slayton he City Market Social House opened in March. The 12,000-square-foot private events venue is part of the City Market South development in the Fashion District. The 1909 warehouse has been fully modernized and now holds an assortment of parties, corporate events and other social gatherings.

The space is flexible, and has been filled

T

DOWNTOWN NEWS 17

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

with plants and banquet tables. It has also been sparsely decorated with art, and once held a basketball court. Additionally, there is a 2,000-square-foot courtyard, a full bar, and food from Wolfgang Puck Catering.

City Market Social House Sales Manager Kari Mendez spoke about the venue’s inaugural holiday party season.

Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s only Sep-

Q: What type of event works best in the space?

A: We’re very modular and flexible. We’ve had health and beauty conferences here and a party during NBA All-Star Weekend. But we’ve also had a bar mitzvah here, plus a daytime corporate conference. It really runs the gamut.

That corporate conference was maybe 150 people. It wasn’t large, but they filled the space pretty well with how they set things up. Regardless of the guest count, we have

flexibility to re-arrange the space for the type of party.

Q: What should someone expect to spend to book City Market Social House?

A: Just for the venue itself, you’re looking in the ballpark of $7,500. And on event days you’re booking it for a 12-hour day. Then with things like the catering, we can put proposals together based on the needs of the party. We can customize menus for big events or smaller ones to fit the event flow. If you are using Vox’s set-up we can put together proposals for that.

Q: What makes a good holiday party?

A: Good food always helps. But entertainment really matters. The way the venue is built, with the big bow truss ceiling, we have really good acoustics here, and we can customize our set-up to whether it’s a live band or a DJ. We’ve had both types of music here.

Q: What advice would you give someone who is starting to plan a holiday party?

A: Transparency is key. Share as much as possible with us. The more they share with us and the more questions they ask, the better we can help them. Someone always forgets something and has an 11th hour question, and then there’s only so much we can do about it.

City Market Social House is at 1145 S. San Pedro St., (844) 310-2674 or citymarketsocialhouse.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Your Holiday Catering & Event Location!

Meetings

•

Legal Meetings

•

Banquet

•

Weddings

Host your next conference, business meeting or social occasion at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown. Our Los Angeles meeting rooms provide flexible meeting space for groups and events of all sizes. With more than 12,000 sq. ft. of customizable meeting space, 14 private rooms, two ballrooms, modern A/V equipment and complete catering services, we make planning your meeting simple.

MEETING AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS n Stunning Kyoto Gardens rooftop with amazing skyline views, ideal for weddings and social gatherings of any size. n State-of-the-art war room, perfect for trials, depositions and legal meetings. n Complimentary internet in lobby, restaurant and public space with guest room access for a fee. n Fully equipped business center. n Professional planners n Creative catering team n Onsite A/V specialists n Fully-equipped business center

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

120 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-629-1200 • doubletree3.hilton.com

18 DOWNTOWN NEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

PARTY PLACES, 13 Perch — it still offers one of the best views in L.A., and if the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is like no other Church & State — the French bistro has been in the Arts District for a decade. Hang out indoors or take your event to the patio Millennium Biltmore Hotel — one of Downtown’s classiest and most historic properties can handle events of any size Prank — The airy South Park spot has innovative cocktails, extensive vegan and vegetarian options and three party areas Plum Tree Inn — it’s hard to go wrong at the Chinatown staple that offers a private room and addictive honey walnut shrimp The Palm — classic martinis, giant lobsters, plenty of private spaces and caricatures of Downtown’s best and brightest Maddalena Restaurant at San Antonio Winery — the venerable working winery serves Italian food under a barrel-shaped ceiling Birds & Bees — an elegant Broadway destination offers an exciting and creative cocktail menu Grand Park — rent a chunk of Downtown’s best park, a green expanse with fountains, pink furniture and an awesome splash fountain J.W. Marriott — 15 event rooms, a capacity of up to 2,800 people, and a crack team of planners makes the L.A. Live hotel one of Downtown’s most flexible spaces Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge — who doesn’t like bowling and drinks? There are private rooms and a semi-private bowling suite with four lanes Spear Restaurant — host 10 people or more than 500. There’s a multi-level patio and fireplaces for those cold (in L.A.) nights The Boardroom — a post-war French look and literary-inspired drinks are on offer in this spot tucked into Kendall’s Brasserie at the Music Center Traxx — two decades in, the Union Station upscale restaurant is still a standout. Enjoy the patio seating X Lanes — you can drink, you can bowl, you can eat, you can play pool, or you can go crazy in the video game arcade South Park Center — the 32nd floor in the former AT&T Center has some of the best views in Downtown, and can host a wedding, party or corporate event Tom’s Urban — 62 TVs, sticky belly street tacos, a menu of fun drinks and an easy L.A. Live location Farmers & Merchants Bank — if you haven’t been to a party at ground zero of the Old Bank District revival, then you’re not really a Downtowner Los Angeles Athletic Club — one of Downtown’s most historic properties can host big parties or small parties, in a ballroom or a throwback bar Café Pinot — year after year, the patio at the Cal-French restaurant next to the Central Library is one of Downtown’s top draws L.A. Center Studios — party where they make movies and filmed “Mad Men.” There’s also a private theater Harbor House — the venue at the Wedbush Center is a massive operation with indoor and outdoor spaces, plus 20 local beers on tap Everson Royce Bar — the Arts District arrival has an open-air patio, lovely lighting and a deep selection of hard-to-find alcohol options Alexandria Ballrooms — discover classic Downtown elegance at Fifth and Spring, where they have plenty of food and drink choices Millwick — a former livery-turned-cold storage warehouse in the Arts District has a big indoor room and a big garden space O Hotel — eat and drink with your friends and colleagues in the Mafia Room and other fun spaces in the boutique hotel Water Grill — there’s a reason why, year after year, Water Grill ranks as one of the best seafood spots in the city Terroni — homemade Italian pastas and other specialties at a chic, modern and flexible Spring Street spot Drago Centro — Celestino Drago’s Financial District destination continues to offer some of the best Italian food in the city, and there is an assortment of private rooms

Celebrate in Style This Holiday Season Enjoy the sparkle and glitz of the newly refreshed Sheraton Grand Los Angeles for this season’s holiday events. Our talented team of Catering Professionals will put the finishing touches on your holiday event to capture the festive feeling of the season.

Book one of our special holiday promotions now and enjoy up to a 5,000 Starpoint® signing bonus. Learn more at sheratonlosangelesdowntown.com/holiday-catering or call 213 612 3140 for more information.

©2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sheraton and its logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

SheratonGrandLA_HolidayHotel_DTNewsAd_6.770x12.385.indd 1

8/31/2016 10:18:36 AM

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Top of the Charts Exuberant ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ Plays the Hits and Recounts the Story of The Temptations

DOWNTOWN NEWS 19

DT

CALENDAR

By Jeff Favre t’s a small scene in the exciting, exuberant Ain’t Too Proud, but it carries deep significance: Five young singers on the cusp of stardom are tasked with finding a band name that will stand out among the crowd at legendary Motown records. They settle on The Temptations, which half a century later has become synonymous with the best of R&B music.

The moniker matters, because while few people can probably name all five of the original members of The Temptations — or more than a couple of the nearly two dozen replacements that have followed — almost everyone knows the band’s bundle of enduring hits.

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, which puts names and stories to the group and its music, premiered last year in Berkeley and is running at Downtown’s Ahmanson Theatre through Sept. 30 as part of a small tour that is scheduled to end with a 2019 Broadway opening.

The jukebox musical field is crowded, and the majority of shows have fallen flat, but Ain’t Too Proud looks and feels as if it’s poised for the top of the charts. That’s thanks to a mix of iconic songs that are exhilaratingly delivered by a cast loaded with triple threats. It helps that much of the creative team for this show helmed Jersey Boys, the show about the Four Seasons that is the pinnacle of jukebox musicals.

The leader of that crew is director Des McAnuff, who seems to have discovered the key, which is to drive the two-and-a-half hour production at a breakneck pace without ever feeling rushed. Dominique Morisseau’s book

I

photo by Matthew Murphy

The jukebox musical Ain’t Too Proud includes 31 songs, among them The Temptations’ hits “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).”

is bare bones in the effort to cover such an expansive timeline, but it blends seamlessly with the well-choreographed, visually vibrant musical numbers to create a fully satisfying theatrical experience.

Morisseau’s book is based on the memoir of Otis Williams, The Temptations’ only surviving original member, who, as portrayed by a charismatic Derrick Baskin, serves as the narrator. Like Jersey Boys, the band’s origin comes together fast. The original five guys form in Detroit, score some early success, fire a member and hire David Ruffin (the electrifying Ephraim Sykes).

Like many groups, The Temptations were hampered by drugs and alcohol, which caused major rifts and lineup changes. Yet the hits continued, thanks in no small part to Motown creator Berry Gordy (Jahi Kearse), who hired Smokey Robinson (Christian Thompson) and, later, Norman Whitfield (Jarvis B. Manning, Jr.) to write the songs.

The only consistent members are Otis and bass singer Melvin Franklin, portrayed by Jawan M. Jackson, whose comic timing provides some of the biggest laughs. Ever-present is longtime manager Shelly Berger (Joshua Morgan), who spends much of his time trying to find the usually unreliable Ruffin.

There are 31 songs, with the lion’s share by The Temptations and a few by other bands, notably The Supremes, and most of them dovetail into the plot, including “Ball of Confusion,” “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” The best example of the music informing the plot is “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” which serves as a backdrop for how Otis is largely an absent parent to his son Lamont (Shawn Bowers).

The songs receive an extra jolt of excitement when combined with Sergio Trujillo’s choreography, which is a heightened and more acrobatic style of the original Temptations’ moves.

Also, Howell Binkley’s intense lighting design transitions easily from dramatic concert scenes to intimate offstage moments.

Robert Brill’s set is spare, accented by a theater marquee above, along with a rotating element and a moving walkway, which allows for near constant motion. There is extensive use of projected photographs, including images of an excited crowd when the group performs on “American Bandstand.”

Morisseau can’t dive too deep into the characters because there is so much ground to cover. She mostly relies on quick exposition punctuated by a dramatic confrontation,

but McAnuff’s rapid and seamless transitions give the illusion of character depth.

Otis Williams, Shelly Berger, Berry Gordy and The Supremes’ Mary Wilson were all in the audience on opening night, and were honored post-curtain call by the cast and the live accompanying band. Almost all of the other legends portrayed in Ain’t Too Proud have died, many in tragic fashion.

The music, however, lives on. With this tightly crafted piece, new and longtime fans of these R&B classics will have a deeper appreciation for the songs, and they will know the names of those who created them.

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations runs through Sept. 30 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org.

SIGN UP FOR

FREE

TICKETS! @DowntownNews.com

Sign up for our E-News Blasts and be entered to win movie tickets showing at

slender man

Starts August 24

kin

Starts August 31

20 DOWNTOWN NEWS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Restaurant Buzz Bar Mattachine Closes, A Food Hall Opens and The Potential Return of Shaquille O’Neal

By Sean P. Thomas oodbye, Bar Mattachine: One of Downtown Los Angeles’ few gay bars has served its last drink. Bar Mattachine, at 221 W. Seventh St., announced on its Facebook page on Aug. 19 that it has closed. No reason was given. “Thank you to everyone who came through and helped us create a bar with spirit and story. Goodbye… for now,” the post read. The bar, named after the Mattachine Society, a gay rights organization founded in Los Angeles, was known for hosting drag performances and serving craft cocktails. Vee Delgadillo opened it in 2015, and it was one of a triumvirate of Downtown LGBTQ bars, along with Redline on Sixth Street and Precinct on Fourth Street.

Since closing, signage for another establishment, the Bang Bang Room, has appeared in its place. Downtown News was unable to reach management of the new establishment via phone and email.

The Fields LA opened on Aug. 14. The food hall with nine options is located adjacent to the Los Angeles Football Club’s Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park.

G

Food Goal: Exposition Park is known for its venues including the Coliseum, the Natural History Museum and the new Banc of California soccer stadium. Now it has a food hall,

photo by Aliza J. Sokolow

too. The Fields LA, adjacent to the soccer pitch, debuted on Aug. 14. There are nine vendors spread over three floors, with options including C.J. Boyd’s Fried Chicken, an outpost of soul food favorite Barbara Jean, taco stop Al Pastor, and Piccolo Antico Pizzeria. Tim Hollingsworth, the chef behind C.J. Boyd’s Fried Chicken and Otium on Hope Street, will open the restaurant and bar Free Play this month. The Fields LA is open daily from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

At 3939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 419-9465 or thefieldsla.com.

International Approach: Everyone in the Arts District knows Sarkis Vartanian. The owner of Café Société (formerly the Daily Dose) just opened a new venture. Es Todo is a walk-up window restaurant specializing in international street food. It debuted Aug. 26 at Mills and Seventh streets. The sandwich-heavy menu includes the St. Law-

rence Market, a twist on Canada’s peameal ham sandwich, and the Chip Butty, which draws on British and Middle Eastern fare.

There are also a couple items from the Café Société menu, including the Farmer, a vegetarian-friendly sandwich. Vartanian said the idea to serve street food was spurred by a speech given by the late food critic Jonathan Gold. “L.A. cuisine is street food,” Vartanian said in a prepared statement.

“I thought why not take different types of street food items from around the world and put them under one roof?” Es Todo is open daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and serves breakfast all day and lunch.

At 1801 E. Seventh St. Maiden Voyage: Downtowners have another place to quaff a few drinks, this time with a hint of the sea. The Mermaid, at 428 E. Second St., opened on Aug. 13. Filling the vacancy left by the former Tapas and Wine

5 OFF

Bar C in Little Tokyo’s Honda Plaza, the 50seat bar offers wine, beer and a wide list of tropical-inspired cocktails including the Mermaiden Voyage, a dual rum and citrus concoction, and the Siren Song, a gin, lime and dill blend. The bar also serves food, including three Hawaiian roll dishes, as well as chicken wings, shrimp ceviche and tater tots. Helmed

by Katie Kildow and Arlene Roldan of the now-shuttered Bar One Tap Room, The Mermaid has freshened up the space with new leather booths and a porthole window above a newly installed bar top. It is open daily from 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

At 428 E. Second St. or themermaidla.com.

Big Move for the Big Diesel: Is Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal making a return to the Staples Center environs? If a state ABC license filed last month is any indication, that could be the case. A license application was filed on Aug. 20 for a “general eating place” at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. at L.A. Live.

O’Neal’s name is not listed on the application, but “Shaquille’s” is cited as the business name. The spot is for the former home of The Farm of Beverly Hills, which briefly gave way to Cleo before closing in May. News of the application was first reported by the website Eater L.A. A restaurant would not be a stretch for the former basketball star. Variety reported in July that a reality show titled “Big Chicken Shaq,” highlighting his restaurant business in Las Vegas, had been ordered for Facebook’s video service.

Got any juicy food news? If so, contact Restaurant Buzz at sean@downtownnews.com.

$

LUNCH

*

Dim Sum

SPECIAL

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

LUNCH AND DINNER • An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices • Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance • Live Lobster Tank

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Free Parking Next to Restaurant Tel: 213.617.2323

*ANY PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE. 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER, PER VISIT. EXPIRES 9/30/18

WHY COOK? 10 PIECE

Delivery Available through Postmates Party Paks Available

SPECIAL

Thighs & Legs

with Tortillas & Salsa ONLY

$12.99 +

TAX

2 Downtown Locations CORNER of BROADWAY & 3rd

260 S. Broadway, 213-626-7975 • 213-626-8235, Tel/Fx: 213-626-4572

FASHION DISTRICT at CORNER 9TH/SANTEE 226 E. 9th St. , 213-623-5091 • 213-327-0645, Tel/Fx: 213-623-9405

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

✤ Live Lobster and Crab ✤ Delivery, Minimum Order $15 ✤ Lunch Special From $6.00 – Mon.-Fri. 11-5, Sat.-Sun. 11-3 ✤ Party Tray Available 739-747 N. Main St. Los Angeles, 90012

213.680.3333

PARKING IN REAR

DT

DOWNTOWN NEWS 21

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

THE DON'T MISS LIST

CALENDAR LISTINGS

By Sean P. Thomas

EVENTS

ONE

Members and allies of the LGBTQ community have the opportunity to dig out their favorite picnic blanket and cuddle up under the evening sky for the third PROUD Picnic + Movie Night. Taking place from 5:30-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, on the Grand Park lawn, the event includes short films from the Outfest Fusion Festival and the feature length When the Beat Drops. The screenings will be complemented by introductions from some of the movies’ actors and directors. Before the films begin, food trucks and a DJ will be on scene. At 200 N. Grand Park, (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

Three

photo courtesy Anton Splitter PR

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/los-angeles.

Sept. 5: Bishop Briggs, of the radio hit “River” hit fame, is on her “Church of Scars” tour. Pretty heavy stuff.

Sept. 8: The Australian Pink Floyd Show has some pedigree as a tribute act. The band is also celebrating 30 years together. Oh how they wish you were here.

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

Sept. 4: Trevor Anderies Group.

Sept. 5: Tony Suggs Trio.

Sept. 6: Ricardo Silveira Group.

Sept. 7: The White Blinds have an album release show.

Sept. 8: Dan Schnelle Group.

Sept. 9: Candi Sosa.

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

Sept. 3: Do you like avant-garde pop? If so, you’re in luck.

Cillie Barnes has the September residency.

Sept. 4: You’ve heard coastal folk rock before, but now hear Australia’s version of it from Ziggy Alberts.

Sept. 5: The Lagoons bring some pop music while Tim Atlas has the acoustic guitar for the night.

Sept. 6: Think of what type of music a band from Brooklyn called Balún plays. If you guessed electronic indie music, you’re right.

Sept. 7: Guitarist and singer-songwriter Jake La Botz stops in to City West.

Sept. 8: Chris Crofton has an album release show.

Sept. 9: The Nick Flessa Band has an album release show.

It also has Nick Flessa.

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

Sept. 7: The Frogtown Serenaders and the Ponderosa Aces have both ventured to Skidrokyo for you, the people.

Sept. 9: Francesca Brown & the Moon Howlers missed last week’s full moon.

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

Sept. 7: Tritonal, Sj, Zookëper.

Sept. 8: Loudvpvck, Dirty Audio, Benzi.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Continued on next page

photo courtesy of Javier Guillen for Grand Park/The Music Center

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

photo courtesy of FIDM

Playwright Lynn Nottage’s drama Sweat quickly made its mark. It earned strong reviews on Broadway, then claimed the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Now it’s coming to Downtown Los Angeles. Previews began last week, and opening night for the show at the Mark Taper Forum is Wednesday, Sept. 5. Sweat follows a group of friends in the industrial town of Reading, Penn., whose lives are shaken during the economic downturn. Based on interviews Nottage conducted with residents of Reading, the play employs themes of race and class as the group members attempt to stay above water when layoffs and a strike vote loom. Performances this week are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org/sweat.

FIVE

Get up close with the outfits that help us lose ourselves in our favorite television shows. The 12th annual Art of Television Costume Design exhibition opened last month, and continues though Oct. 6 at the museum at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. This year’s iteration highlights the garb of nine Emmy-nominated programs and features more than 100 costumes from a total of 24 shows. The exhibit is free and includes the posh and royal duds from Netflix’s “The Crown,” the futuristic looks of “Star Trek: Discovery” (shown here), the 1950s-era outfits of Amazon’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and much more. At 919 S. Grand Ave. or fidmmuseum.org.

TWO

photo courtesy Nude Art LA

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4 Seun Kuti & Egypt ’80 Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St. or events.kcrw.com 6 p.m.: The legendary Afrobeat band, led by the son of longtime bandleader Fela Kuti, comes to the northern edge of Downtown.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 Dance Downtown Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.

7 p.m.: The final installment of Dance Downtown is all about ’90s music and dances. And just think, when they do Dance Downtown decades from now and look back at the 2010s, everyone will do the floss.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 Ashley Mills Monaghan at The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

10:30 a.m.: The author of the children’s book “A Little Goes a Long Way!” stops by Fifth and Spring streets for a reading and a performance based on the book.

Art in all of its au naturel glory will be on display at a pop-up exhibition and live event taking place at Art Share LA on Saturday, Sept.

8, at 7:30 p.m. Dubbed Nude Art LA, the night will bring together various forms of art, from sculpture to film, that celebrate the human body sans clothing. Artists will be on scene to share the stories behind their pieces. Art will be up for sale, and if you really want the Full Monty, an all-nude gallery tour will take place two hours before doors open — and yes, people on the tour must shed all their clothes. Make sure to read up on the ground rules available on the event’s website. At 801 E. Fourth Place or nudeartla.com.

Four

Ever wondered what it sounds like to hear Earth vomit? Apparently, if you ask band Killing Joke drummer Paul Ferguson, it sounds a lot his band, which was on the early tip of England’s punk rock scene. While the jury is still out on the validity of that statement, you can catch these musical stalwarts when the band rattles The Regent on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Part of the group’s Laugh at Your Peril tour, in honor of their 40th anniversary, it includes original members Ferguson, Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker and Youth (yep, just Youth). The group will also soon release a new album, PYLON. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with showtime at 8:30. At 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com.

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

photo courtesy Center Theatre Group

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

22 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Downtown L.A. Auto Group LEASE A NEW 2018

AUDI Q5 PREMIUM LEASE

$389/Mo.39/Mo.

+TAX PER MONTH FOR 39 MONTHS

$4,319

Customer Cash Due at Signing

Offer valid through 09/10/2018

AUDI DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St.

888-583-0981 |

AUDIDTLA.COM

1 available at this price. VIN: WA1ANAFY6J2158593. 39 monthly lease payments of $389, plus tax. $4,319 customer cash. No security deposit required. Based on 7,500 miles per year, excess miles charged at .25 cents per mile. See dealer for full details. $895 Acquisition fee. On Approved credit. Plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, $80 dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge and any emission testing charge. On approved credit. Offer Expires 09/10/18.

MORE THAN 2,000 PRE-OWNED CARS!

DTLAMOTORS.COM

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

LISTINGS, 21 (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

Sept. 5: Greta Van Fleet tries for that Led Zeppelin sound.

Ham and Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com.

Sept. 3: Uazit, Jane Machine, Moonspine.

Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.

Sept. 3: Do you like yacht rock and ’80s dance music? Then see Dream Machines for their September residency.

Sept. 4: Let’s Eat Grandma’s show is sold out, but if you believe hard enough, you might find a scalper who can hook you up.

Sept. 5: Local garage rock from Bird Concerns.

Sept. 6: Pop and R&B courtesy of Parisalexa.

Sept. 7: Funk lives at the Puscie Jones Revue.

Sept. 8: Jake Ewald lives the singer-songwriter life as Slaughter Beach, Dog. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com.

Sept. 6: Portland’s post-punk purveyors Soft Kill come to town.

Sept. 7: Stomp! is a disco and funk dance party.

Sept. 8: Celebrate a decade of excess, shoulder pads, questionable foreign policy and so many synthesizers with “That Big ’80s Party.”

Sept. 9: Anjelica.

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

Sept. 3: The Salty Suites.

Sept. 4: The Makers want to dedicate this set to all of the lonely souls at the end of the bar whose Labor Day weekend ended in heartache.

Sept. 5: The Midnight Blues Revue doesn’t only play at midnight.

Sept. 6: The Racket Squad.

Sept. 7: The Mudbug Brass Band brings neither mud nor bugs to the stage.

But as for the brass? Heck yeah!

Sept. 8: Connie Han Trio.

Sept. 9: Hedgehog Swing. Please, do not try this with an actual hedgehog.

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

Sept. 7: Rich the Kid is 26, so is he really a kid?

The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

Sept. 4: Vigil and the Thieves, Tree Machines, Raised on TV. Sept. 7: Sean Wheeler and the Reluctant Messengers don’t want to tell you this but they have to.

Sept. 9: Pins and Needles, Dominator, Secret Mutilator.

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

Sept. 9: Argentinian reggae courtesy of Dread Mar-I. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

Sept. 7: Bubblegum Octopus, Hot Leather, Baseck, Pelts.

Sept. 8: Blushh, The Total Bettys, Nectarines, Rosie Tucker.

Sept. 9: The Gooms, Blood Candy, Mutt, New Evil.

Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

Sept. 3: Concerto Con is a comedy and music festival with acts such as Dent May, French Vanilla, and more.

Sept. 7: Electronic pioneers Book of Love are back in Downtown.

Sept. 8: Get a taste of blues-influenced swamp rock from JJ Grey & Mofro.

Sept. 9: YOB, Acid King.

FILM

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

Sept. 3-6: Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade is a coming of age story that gets into the pains of middle school.

Sept. 5: Motherhood and a deadly hunt collide in Get My Gun. Sept. 8: It’s retro stylings and 1950s kitsch in Another Plan from Outer Space. Ed Wood would be proud.

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

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 reintroduce 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.

Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

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

Through Sept. 9: Kin (12:30, 3:10, 5:45, 8:20 and 11 p.m.); The Little Stranger (1,4, 7 and 10 p.m.); Operation Finale (12:50, 4:10, 7:20 and 10:30 p.m.); A.X.L. (11:40 a.m. and 2:20 p.m.); Searching (12:40, 3:30, 6:50 and 9:50 p.m.); The Happytime Murders (12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50 and 10:20 p.m.); Alpha (12:50, 3:30, 8:30 and 10:50 p.m.); Mile 22 (11 p.m.); Crazy Rich Asians (11:50 a.m., 12:50, 3:10, 4:10, 6:30, 7:30, 9:50 and 10:50 p.m.); Blackkklansman (12:50, 4:10, 7:30 and 10:50 p.m.); The Meg (11:40 a.m., 2:30, 5, 5:20, 7:50, 8:10, 10:40 and 11 p.m.); Mission Impossible: Fallout (11:50 a.m., 3:20, 6:40 and 10:10 p.m.).

Rooftop Cinema Club Level DTLA, 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com/ los-angeles.

Sept. 4: See Patrick Swayze show off his moves in Dirty Dancing. And if you bring an infant to the show and he misbehaves, remember, nobody puts baby in a corner.

Sept. 5: Don’t you forget about The Breakfast Club.

Sept. 6: It’s La La Land. You love it or you hate it. Now you can see it again.

Sept. 7: Be sure to drop in to see what your condition is in with The Big Lebowski.

Sept. 8: Hugh Jackman sings, dances and runs a circus in The Greatest Showman.

THEATER

Bob Baker Marionette Theater: Enchanted Toy Shop Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m., and Sept. 8-9, 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.

Ain’t Too Proud The Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Sept. 4-7, 8 p.m., Sept. 8, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sept. 9, 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.

See review p. 19.

Sweat The Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave.,

(213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Sept. 4-7, 8 p.m., Sept. 8, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sept.

9, 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.

DT

To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448 Deadline for classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FOR 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.

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)

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 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

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL

DOWNTOWN NEWS 23

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

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 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

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.

Ongoing: “Science in Toyland” presents physics through favorite kids’ toys. This hands-on exhibit engages museum visitors with Dominos, Sails and Roller Coasters in a fun, but informational primer on friction, momentum and chain reactions.

Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and “Forty Years of Space Photography.” The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The “Ecosystems” exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes.

Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.

Through Nov. 4: “Don’t Believe The Hype” explores how hip-hop intersects with the lives of Asian Americans in Los Angeles.

Permanent: “Origins” presents the story of the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles.

Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and “Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration,” an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, each is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a description and a personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period.

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

Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of the 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century firefighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia.

Check the website for a full slate of fiestas. Open daily, though

(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. 2018218154 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) NISHKIAN CHAMBERLAIN, 6701 CENTER DRIVE W, SUITE 715, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045 LA COUNTY. Mailing Address: 600 HARRISON STREET SUITE 110, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) NISHKIAN & ASSOCIATES, 600 HARRISON STREET,

hours at shops and halls vary.

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

Through November: With 11 Latin Grammys on his shelf, it’s high time that the Colombian bard receives his due. It comes in “Deep Heart: Roots, Rock & The Music of Carlos Vives.”

Through Sept. 9: “The Get Animated Invasion” features exhibits tied to music from some favorite cartoons. Scooby-Doo makes an appearance, as does the crew from “Space Jam.” Through September: More a question of legacy than memorabilia, a titan emerges in exhibition form through “Chasing Trane: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey Transcended.”

Through September: Pete Seeger was more than just a musician. The folk singer was an activist, supporter of progressive causes and a documentarian of the struggles of working people. His notes, personal belongings and more are on display in “How Can I Keep From Singing: The Work of Pete Seeger.”

Through Spring 2019: Cheech and Chong’s “Up in Smoke” is a comedy icon. Pay homage to 40 years of the stoner film with “Cheech & Chong: Still Rollin’ — Celebrating 40 Year of Up In Smoke.”

Ongoing: “360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story” provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Columbia Records’ history and offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing the label’s pivotal technological as well as business innovations, including its invention of the LP.

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.

2YOUR 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.

SUITE 110, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a Corporation.

Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 06/2018 This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on August 28, 2018.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the

OM FR 75/ * ,9 $2 NTH MO

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. 9/3, 9/10, 9/17 and 9/24.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

24 DOWNTOWN NEWS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

HUIZAR, 5

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

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

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

staffer, Francine Godoy. This was scandalous stuff. José Huizar admitted to the relationship after Godoy filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit. The city and Godoy settled the case in October 2014. The city paid no money, though city leaders had previously authorized spending up to $200,000 with a law firm representing Huizar. It was never revealed if there was a private payment to Godoy.

The issue will surface as Richelle’s campaign ramps up.

Rest assured that some political Svengali will prepare talking points to swat it down. Rest assured that reporters will press the matter.

The Richelle Huizar brand has been nurtured in other ways.

She was the grand marshal of the recent El Sereno Independence Day Parade, in a community that just happens to be represented by… wait for it… José Huizar!

Then there are the newsletters and other missives sent out by the CD14 office.

Richelle Huizar is frequently mentioned in these communications. In the July 2018 monthly recap sent by the councilman’s office, the word “Richelle” appeared eight times, and she was in five photos.

That was no anomaly. Richelle Huizar was mentioned six times in the April Huizar newsletter and six times in the May recap. If you think I’ll say she was mentioned six times in the June recap, you’re wrong — it was seven times.

Somehow, I don’t think any other potential candidate for the seat would earn that many mentions in an official CD14 newsletter.

Scaring Off Competitors Elections are often about smashing an opponent. But sometimes the easiest path to victory is to ward off any real competition in the first place. It has happened many times in L.A., where a favored candidate gets early financial and additional support from labor groups and other special interests, and the plausible opponent realizes it’s like eating a live porcupine — victory might be feasible, but it’s gonna hurt, so maybe it’s smarter to move on.

(José) Huizar has been a fundraising beast, so expect any Richelle Huizar candidacy announcement to be followed by a slate of big-money events. Some supporters — read: developers, lawyers and business owners in the 14th — may give because they believe in her, while others will donate because they don’t want to be on the wrong side of a councilman who still has more than two years in office (the March 2020 primary will be followed by a November runoff).

Who else might run? There’s speculation about state Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, whose 53rd District includes Downtown. Then there’s Kevin de León. The former president of the state Senate is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, but he barely made the runoff and will likely get clobbered in November. He has given zero indication of interest in a City Council seat, but as Villaraigosa proved, the 14th can be amenable to a charismatic Latino leader with statewide experience.

There’s another matter: Is Richelle Huizar council material, and is she ready for a grueling campaign? She’s an attorney by training and her bio details her past private practice focused on adoption and family law. She’s got board memberships that demonstrate community ties. She’s at least as qualified as many rookies who run for office.

People are divided about her, which is the case with any nascent candidate. One person involved in CD14 politics said she’s the smarter Huizar, and should have been the one to run back in 2015. Others are unimpressed, and question how effective she’d be if she is elected and has to deal with the snake pit that is City Hall.

There’s also the possibility that her candidacy could become less about her than her husband. For better or worse, the idea of 12 years of Richelle Huizar could be cast as a referendum on a decade-and-a-half of José.

All that is for a later date. This is the early stage, and everything depends on who gets in, who is dissuaded, and who enters anyway, porcupine quills be darned. regardie@downtownnews.com