09-05-16

Let’s All Help Herb Wesson! : 5 Even the Taper Gets the Blues : 18

September 5, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #36

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THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

2 Downtown News

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AROUND TOWN

Spire Goes Up at the Wilshire Grand

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f you think the Downtown Los Angeles skyline suddenly looks a bit different, that’s because it does: The spire has been added to the 73-story Wilshire Grand replacement project, and it is now the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The 294-foot-long spire could be seen soaring above the arched top of the building by last Thursday, and it was scheduled to be fully installed on Saturday morning (after Downtown News went to press), according to a project representative. The tower at the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets, which is being developed by the Korean firm Hanjin with designs from the Downtown architectural firm AC Martin, is still under construction and is expected to be finished in early 2017. When completed, the $1.1 billion structure will house 900 hotel rooms operated by the InterContinetal brand, 400,000 square feet of office space, and shops and restaurants.

New Leader at Fashion District BID

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fter Kent Smith stepped down as executive director of the Fashion District Business Improvement District on July 31 following a 17-year run, Rena Masten Leddy was named the interim head. Now, remove the “in-

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS terim.” The organization’s board of directors has chosen her as the permanent executive director. Masten Leddy has been with the FDBID for about two years and previously served as managing director. She told Los Angeles Downtown News that she is excited about the new role.

“I’ve worked in downtowns all over the country,” she said. “The Fashion District is a unique and exciting place to be and I love the diversity of the various sub-districts — designer showrooms, textiles, wholesale, Santee Alley, flowers, higher end retail on Broadway and Ninth, etc.”

Under Smith’s leadership, the BID, which provides cleaning and safety services, grew to encompass 100 blocks. It collects approximately $4 million in annual assessments.

September 5, 2016

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Benefit Concert for Grand Performances

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he acclaimed free concert and arts series Grand Performances turned 30 this summer, and to celebrate the achievement and raise funds for the future, it is hosting a special California Plaza Watercourt performance by “Orange Is the New Black” cast member and comedian Lea DeLaria (who plays inmate Big Boo on the show). DeLaria is debuting her show House of David, a jazzy tribute to the late David Bowie, and tickets for the Sept. 17 happening are on sale for $30 with open seating. Before the concert, Grand Performances is hosting a gala ceremony that will honor former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry and daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra leader Geoff “Double G” Gallegos, a frequent collaborator and fan favorite at the summer series. Actor and performer John Fleck will be among the presenters. Tickets for the

Betty Markoff

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August 27, 2016

dinner and awards program, plus reserved VIP concert seating, are $195. Tickets and more information are at grandperformances.org.

Mental Health Clinic for Veterans Opens

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onnecting mentally ill veterans with treatment continues to be a challenge across the country, but a new resource in Downtown Los Angeles is offering help. The University of Southern California last week opened a mental health facility at its Keck Medicine clinic at 830

S. Flower St., with the goal of giving free care to post-9/11 veterans and their families who are suffering from post-traumatic stress or other conditions. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic was funded with a $15.7 million gift from Steven Cohen. The clinic will work with other medical offices to provide services in locations around the county. “This gift speaks to Steven Cohen’s profound and broad commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. The clinic is offering services to veterans who may not qualify for benefits through Veterans Affairs, which include Continued on page 17

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4 Downtown News

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

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CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla September 5, 2016

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

One copy per person.

EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The Success of Smorgasburg

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ormally, the only people who visit the Alameda Produce Market are those looking to buy large amount of fruits and vegetables. It is part of a busy but often overlooked component of EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris the Downtown Los Angeles economy: the collection GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin of vendors who sell food to restaurants and other businesses. Most of these entities are in the Industrial EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie District.

SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim A program that began several months ago has, one STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton day a week, changed the look of the market, which is CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese S I N C E 19 7 2 on the campus of the Row DTLA complex (known to CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Los Angeles Downtown News many as the home of American Apparel). This is a great 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 thing with myriad benefits — think of it as the proverART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 bial win-win for business interests and the community.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa web: DowntownNews.com Los Angeles Downtown News last month wrote email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard about Smorgasburg, the L.A. spinoff of a bustling facebook: Brooklyn happening. It is attracting thousands of ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt L.A. Downtown News people to Seventh and Alameda streets every SunCLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: day from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews S I N C E 19 7 2 The idea isn’t new, as several times over the years Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtown News entrepreneurs have tried to stage weekly outdoor ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

1264 W. Firstevents Street, that Los Angeles, CA 90026 flea marDowntown were essentially The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newsphone: 213-481-1448 • fax:component.

213-250-4617All of these CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon kets with an added food paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles ultimately failed, whether because the community Los Angeles.

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Castillo, on Gustavo Bonilla called One copy person. lacked afacebook: residential critical mass or the balance a campaign theper Environmental Crime Initiative, ast week, Los Angeles Downtown News reported on one ofLorenzobarking twitter:of Downtown DowntownNews vendorsL.A. wasn’t quiteNews right or flea market patrons the most unlikely crime-fighting tools ever to hit the commu- which will look at addressing law-breaking by making changes to already preferred the happenings at places like the the physical landscape. Leslie and Richter said future potential efnity: a five-foot-high, black metal fence that in July went up Rose Bowl or Pasadena City College. around a small brick stoop outside the 7-Eleven at the southwest EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris forts could involve, for example, getting better lighting at problem EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris spots, or perhaps raising the height of a cinderblock wall that peocorner of Seventh and Olive streets.

The Downtown Smorgasburg seems to be clicking GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin ple are climbing over. because it is built upon dozens of food vendors, with The fence appears to have solved a problem that bedeviled EDITOR: aEXECUTIVE lesser amount of Jon craftRegardie stands and other artists selling some area residents, workers and law enforcement officials for EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie This attempt to think differently deserves praise. When a probSENIORThis WRITER: Eddie Kim wares. fits with a community that has displayed a more than eight years. Yet while it has halted some aggressive belem like the stoop endures, and the traditional method of sending SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFFof WRITER: Nicholas Slayton sense culinary adventure, welcoming forward-thinkhavior, and counts as a success in bettering one spot inNicholas the comSTAFF WRITER: Slaytonpolice to respond to crimes fails to spur change, it makes sense to CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn MaeseMarket, Far East ing chefs whether at Grand Central munity, it also raises some thorny issues CONTRIBUTING regarding accessibility consider new options.

EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Plaza or in standalone small restaurants.

It should be no and the physical environment that applyCONTRIBUTING to the entirety of Down That said, the best course of action SisIto to ask N proceed C E 19 7carefully, 2 WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer surprise that the Smorgasburg food lineup goes well town Los Angeles. a lot of questions, to consider each effort individually, and to ensure ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison Los Angeles Downtown News beyond tacos coffee.Yumi People arrive, grab their lobthat changes to the physical environment also make sense the The article noted how, for years, policeART andDIRECTOR: the convenience ASSISTANT ARTand DIRECTOR: Kanegawa Brian Allison 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CAin 90026 ster rolls, porridge or newfangled donuts, then wander context of the greater community.

For example, the fence outside store owner struggled with some of the people who gathered on phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard and run into friends — voilà, instant community. the 7-Eleven solved a problem, but physically it is far from perfect the stoop, saying there were repeated incidents of theft and agweb: DowntownNews.com Ashley Schmidt to everyone, and from Seventh Street gressive panhandling. LAPD Sgt. Jack Richter, who has spent ACCOUNTING: The founders of the Brooklyn Smorgasburg have a email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Garymore Leonard — the space is now off limits it looks like a plant inside the fence is in jail. The store owner said than a decade in the community, began talking with the store willing partner in Atlas Capital, which purchased the CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway facebook: site had been stolen in the owner about the problem. They came upACCOUNTING: with the ideaAshley of theSchmidt fence other plants that had been placed at the Row DTLAEXECUTIVES: complex and is undertaking a vastStevens, renova-Michael Lamb ACCOUNT Catherine Holloway, Brenda L.A. Downtown News past, but what if a line of heavy planters or some other immovable and established a unique partnership: The proprietor paid $800 for tion in the effort to fill it with stores and office tenants.

SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway but more attractive solution than a fence had been placed around materials, and Richter and his partner showed up over three weekSmartly, Smorgasburg debuted after Atlas opened a twitter: CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine the Holloway, DowntownNews perimeter of the stoop?

Could that have worked? Could it have ends to install the fence.

The work was a volunteer effort, conductmammoth parking facility.

Patrons know they won’t DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles ed when they were off the LAPD clock. Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb been done in a cost-effective manner? Can it still be? have to circle the block endlessly for a space.

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo hunting Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla SALES Claudia Civic Center News, Inc. be Losraised Angelesin We’re pleased that past failures of similar events This is thoughtful and creative thinking.

EvenASSISTANT: more unique, the Hernandez Those kinds of questions©2016 and considerations must Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News didn’t a swing. officers were so committed to the community that they donated the future. Sometimes a fence might be the right approach.

Other ©2016 prevent Civic Centernew News,players Inc. Los from Angelestaking Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Inc. All rights reserved.

Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read Smorgasburg activates a place that would otherwise their time.

It is fantastic to have police so tied in to the fabric of the times a different response will be required.

CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is disbe on Sundays, and in the the process theresidences organiz The good news is that the police force is willing to think outside anddead is distributed every Monday throughout offices and of Downtown neighborhood.

Los DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. ers are exposing even more people to Downtown.

Downtown Los Angeles might see more similar efforts.

The artithe box and work with the community.

This Los is aAngeles. strong point on residences of Downtown DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, One copy per person. cle reported that LAPD Central Division Capt.

Howard Leslie is emwhich to build for the future.

One copy per person.

Gustavo Bonilla

The Crime-Fighting Fence and the Future

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

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

twitter: DowntownNews

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

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

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

One copy per person.

September 5, 2016

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

The Herb Wesson Fundraising PSA Defaults, Schmefaults. Now Is the Time To Help the Council President

By Jon Regardie he following public service announcement is brought to you by the Wesson Action Committee for Knowledgeable Yokels, or WACKY for short: Hi, I’m a City Hall lobbyist in a $3,000 suit, and I’m here today to talk to you about City Council Emperor — sorry, I mean President — Herb Wesson.

People across Los Angeles were shocked, shocked I tell you, when animal rights activist Daniel Guss and the Los Angeles Times

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THE REGARDIE REPORT last month reported on how Wesson had come perilously close to defaulting on mortgages for two of his homes, and that he has received a total of five default notices since 2011. Some may chuckle at his travails. Some may question how a man who has had trouble keeping his financial house in order can keep the city’s financial house in order. But I think we all should take this as a call to action: Los Angeles, ask not what Herb Wesson can do for you, but what you can do to, I mean for, Herb Wesson.

For those unaware, the Artist Currently Known as Herb is not just the president of the council, but also its curator. He is the former Speaker of the State Assembly, and since joining the council in 2005, his guiding hand has helped bring a treasure trove of onetime Sacramento legislators to City Hall. How richer

we all are by the City Council now holding exAssemblyman Bob Blumenfield, ex-Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, ex-Assemblyman Curren Price, ex-Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, ex-Assemblyman Paul Koretz and, for six more days until he becomes a lobbyist (ka-ching!), ex-Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes. If Sacramento weren’t so smart, they wouldn’t have made it the headquarters of state government, right?

Wesson has ruled the council with an iron fist — oops, I mean gentle and wise demeanor — since 2011. During that period he has brought Los Angeles jewels such as the City Council filleting — oops, I mean redistricting — process, an election date shift that gave Wesson and several other council members an extra 17 months in office, and the 2012 honoring of Mayor Richard Riordan — oops, I mean excoriating him in council chambers, telling him, “You had your chance… this is our house” when he tried to testify about a possible city bankruptcy.

In other words, I think we can all agree on what Herb Wesson has done during his years serving the city.

Pesky Little Debts As a councilmember, Herb earns only $189,000 a year. I know what you are thinking: How can anyone live on that salary in modern Los Angeles? Even when you take into consideration the car provided by the city, it’s hard to fathom where his money goes.

The details in the news accounts were jar-

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City Council President Herb Wesson at work.

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ring, with a total of five default notices filed against Wesson’s Mid-City and Ladera Heights homes (he rents out the latter) starting five years ago — at one point he and his wife were more than five months behind in their mortgage and owed $33,248. One property was

even scheduled for a trustee’s sale as recently as July 6 (scary!), though it was cancelled that week (happy!).

Again, some might frown, and pontificate that two houses are one more than any person Continued on page 24

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6 Downtown News

September 5, 2016

The Vinyl Comeback It’s All About Albums at the Fashion District’s Pop Obscure Records

By Nicholas Slayton he list of rules on the front window of the Fashion District’s Pop Obscure Records starts off as expected: no food or drinks, for instance. Near the bottom, it gets more unusual: No Justin Bieber fans. No Taylor Swift fans.

“That kind of sums it up,” said Dustin Lane, sitting behind the counter and chuckling. “Read in that what you will.”

Lane, 43, and his wife Sherry Lee, 49, opened the store at 735 S. Los Angeles St. in mid-July.

The 25,000-square-foot space carries approximately 10,000 new and used vinyl albums. The catalog ranges from ’60s jazz and rock to modern electronic acts to movie soundtracks.

Lane and Lee originally wanted to open the store in Seattle, but decided to bring it to Downtown Los Angeles, where they used to live, because they wanted to return to the area.

They settled on the Los Angeles Street spot within a day of seeing it.

“The next day I was out buying records,” Lane said.

The build-out took four months. The end result feels like something out of the heyday of record stores. The front half of the long, narrow space holds the vinyl bins, with the walls covered in band posters and blown-up album covers — Nine Inch Nails sits next to David Bowie and Chuck Berry. A framed copy of Hunter S. Thompson’s “Thompson for Sheriff” campaign poster is behind the register. There is a turntable and headphones so customers can sample

Dustin Lane, who with his wife Sherry Lee opened Pop Obscure Records on Los Angeles Street in July. The store stocks more than 10,000 vinyl albums.

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Commercial Office Space for Lease

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

the wares before buying.

Most records are $10-$15, though there are some rare and hard-to-find options, including some of the store’s few CDs. Those are, fittingly, labeled “Obscure.” Offerings include a CD of former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante’s Going Inside for $30, and the Smashing Pumpkins’ Drown, priced at $50.

On a recent afternoon, a visit to the store allowed Bryan Holan to complete a 51-year-long quest. Holan had given his copy of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” single to a girlfriend in 1965, who kept it after they broke up. He never could locate the same edition of the single until he found it at Pop Obscure.

Another customer, Genevieve Riolo, found the store by accident as she was walking by.

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“This place is great. It’s authentic,” Riolo said. “It’s good to have something like this in Downtown.”

On Display There are two gallery spaces in the rear of the store. One holds Lee’s concert photos, with images of bands including Sonic Youth, Jane’s Addiction and other alternative-rock acts. The second space, in a raised loft, houses a collection of musician photographs by Dennis Keeley. The works span four decades, everything from Ozzy Osbourne to De La Soul.

Lee and Lane plan to change the exhibits monthly. Lee said the goal is to show established artists upstairs and give the downstairs space over to up-and-coming artists.

“I know a lot of people are afraid to go for it, so I want to help them and create a space to showcase their work,” Lee said.

There is also a small stage. Lane said he hopes to have two to three performances a week. Lectures and comedy shows are also possibilities.

Still, the store’s presence raises a question: Can a space dedicated to vinyl albums survive

in the era of Spotify and digital files?

Lane and Lee think it can. In 2015, vinyl record sales hit their highest level since 1988, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Last year’s Record Store Day — an annual event to support independent record shops — saw more than half a million albums sold. Record stores have popped up in communities such as Highland Park and Echo Park.

“Digital music, digital art, it just doesn’t have that same quality,” Lee said. “With records you get that warmth and sound from the vinyl and you have this tactile piece of art in your hands.”

The couple said they are happy with how Downtown has welcomed them, and now are working on building out their programming.

While cataloguing some new arrivals, Lane said that Pop Obscure is going to get louder and busier. He hopes Downtown gets into it.

Pop Obscure Records is open Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. At 735 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 6283898 or popobscurerecords.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Holiday Parties & Catering

September 5, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 7

55 Fantastic Downtown Party Places Whether You’re Having a Small Get-Together or a Huge Bash, Downtown Has You Covered This Holiday Season

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he Labor Day holiday was nice, wasn’t it? Now fall is underway, and soon you’ll begin to think of Halloween. After that will come Thanksgiving and, months from now, you’ll start pondering the winter holidays.

Scratch all of that if you are in charge of planning a party for your office or a group of friends. If you are thinking about throwing the ultimate holiday party, then now is the time for action.

Yes, right now, because a bunch of other party planners are already working to grab the best dates.

Los Angeles Downtown News is here to help. Downtown has a continually expanding roster of places to host a party. From restaurants with private rooms that can hold a dozen people, to hotels with huge ballrooms that can satisfy the eating, drinking and dancing needs of hundreds, to unique spaces, there is something for every taste and budget. Here is a big, but by no means definitive, list of Downtown choices.

But seriously, start planning now.

Mas Malo — all the tequila you could ever hope to try, plus top-notch Mexican food and several private rooms Oviatt Building Penthouse — Downtown’s gorgeous Art Deco destination, with an al fresco atmosphere and an amazing view

Spear Steak and Seafood House

Broken Spanish — chef Ray Garcia’s elegant South Park establishment reinvents modern Mexican cuisine in a comfy, lively space Terroni — homemade Italian pastas and other specialties at a chic, modern and flexible Spring Street spot 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 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 Continued on page 9

photo by Gary Leonard

8 Downtown News

September 5, 2016

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

TIPS FROM THE PARTY PLANNING EXPERTS: Downtown Event Planners Give Advice on What to Do and What to Avoid

Celebrating Inside and Out A Party-Worthy Patio and Unique Drinks Make The Everson Royce Bar a Holiday Draw

By Tom Fassbender he Everson Royce Bar, named for the twin sons of owners Randy Clement and April Langford, opened a year ago, and instantly became one of the coolest spots in the red-hot Arts District. It has earned praise for its open-air back patio, perfect lighting and a deep selection of hard-to-find alcohol options from around the world.

Daniel November, events manager at Everson Royce Bar (commonly known as ERB), has been working in event planning for 10 years, so he has plenty of experience making parties entertaining and memorable. He offered his advice for the upcoming holiday season.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should people start planning a holiday party?

Daniel November: Some people wait until after Labor Day to get their holiday party details finalized, while others wait until after Thanksgiving. But we already have holiday parties booked, and we have even more groups vying for those very few Saturdays in December. So when it comes to planning a holiday party, the sooner the better.

Q: How much should you expect to spend for a holiday party at Everson Royce Bar? A: We can accommodate most any budget

Daniel November, the events manager at Everson Royce Bar in the Arts District, has already booked some holiday parties.

Many people want to hold an event on the establishment’s back patio.

from a party of 10 just looking to buy a round or two to a 250-person event with a full buyout.

Q: What can people do to keep within their budget?

A: Keep it simple and focus on your priorities.

You want everyone to let loose and enjoy amazing food and cocktails. Don’t overthink things and focus on your guests having a really great time.

Q: What food items or specialties do you offer for a holiday party menu?

A: Everything on our menu is great, especially our Single Burger. We are a very cocktail and beverage-focused place, and we have an extraordinary collection of spirits, wine and beer, including a number of Japanese whiskeys and many offerings from local breweries and distilleries. We will have a special holiday drink menu, serving our barrel-aged cocktails as well as a punch that’s perfect for a group of people.

Q: How do you accommodate vegetarians, vegans or people with dietary restrictions?

A: Many of our menu items can be altered to accommodate any dietary restriction. Our Smoky Potato Taquitos are the perfect example. They’re already vegetarian and gluten-

photo by Gary Leonard

free, and can easily be made vegan.

Q: What recommendations do you have for making a work event more fun?

A: It’s always great to have some sort of activity to change the day-to-day environment and allow people to get out of their shells.

We have a bocce ball court, and that helps people let loose and enjoy some camaraderie with their co-workers.

Q: Should there be entertainment offered at the party, such as music or a show?

A: While entertainment isn’t always essential, a party definitely needs music, whether that’s a DJ or a band or just an iPod. Music is necessary to keep the energy going, especially when it’s an office party and people are entering a different environment.

Q: Do you offer entertainment options for parties?

A: At the moment we don’t. But if a client moves forward with a full buy-out they are welcome to bring in a band or DJ or any other type of entertainment.

Q: What trends or themes are you expecting this year when it comes to holiday parties?

A: The craft cocktail movement is still going strong. Family-style serving is a trend that continues to be popular.

Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning a holiday party?

A: Creating too much structure. Holiday parties are a place to let loose and let the party flow and let guests relax and enjoy themselves.

Everson Royce Bar is at 1936 E. Seventh St., (213) 335-6166 or erbla.com.

Spectacular settings for holiday gatherings.

Making your list of possible holiday party locations?

Checking it twice? Explore the ambiance of the private dining areas at Ford’s Filling Station, WP24 and The Mixing Room. Host outdoors at the stunning ION Rooftop Patio. Outdo yourself with your most festive celebrations yet at the gLAnce Lobby Bar or the Nest.

No matter how large your party, the culinary team will impress with holiday-inspired catering menus.

So many venues to be very merry!

Plan your holiday play at the heart of L.A. (213) 765-8605 | jose.camara@marriott.com

900 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90015

September 5, 2016

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

Downtown News 9

PARTY PLACES, 7 Library Bar — sip smart drinks while surrounded by leatherbound books Grand Park — rent a chunk of Downtown’s best park, a green expanse with fountains, pink furniture and an awesome splash fountain Bottle Rock — it’s wine time, and a helpful staff will offer some nice dishes to complement the grape stuff Traxx — the Union Station gem is one of Downtown’s longestlasting upscale restaurants. Enjoy the patio seating The Edison — a bash in a former boiler room that looks like no other place in L.A. Plan Check — the comfy City West joint stands out for its burgers, but also offers a smart selection of beverages South Park Center Penthouse — the 32nd floor in the former AT&T Center has some of the best views in Downtown, which are matched by the food from Joachim Splichal’s Patina Catering

photo by Gary Leonard

The Palm

The Palm — classic martinis, giant lobsters, plenty of private spaces and caricatures of Downtown’s best and brightest Tom’s Urban — 62 TVs, sticky belly street tacos, a menu of very inventive 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 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 Beelman’s Pub — affordable food packages, well-crafted drinks and a great jukebox in the Historic Core LoftSEVEN in the Haas Building — from the street, you’d never expect to find such a spacious, stylish penthouse party space

‘Tis The Season to Celebrate Join us at The District this holiday season to toast with co-workers, friends or family. Let your senses be dazzled by Chef Hansen’s modern, approachable menu as you gather to celebrate the season. The atmosphere, hand crafted cocktails and unexpected approach to food makes The District the perfect spot to host a holiday celebration of up to 20 people.

Reservations can be made via districtdtla.com or by calling 213 612 3185.

District is located within the Bloc • 711 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Cerveteca — the relaxed Arts District joint has tall ceilings, exposed brick, plenty of craft beers and top-notch ceviche Continued on page 10 SheratonGrandLA_HolidayDistrict_DTNewsAd_6.770x12.385.indd 1

8/31/2016 10:12:44 AM

10 Downtown News

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

PARTY PLACES, 9 Downtown Independent — start your party with a movie, then bring the friends and coworkers to the lobby or even the roof Noé Restaurant and Bar — the long-running eatery in the Omni Hotel has inventive cuisine, plenty of parking and room for 125 Drago Centro — Celestino Drago’s Financial District destination continues to offers some of the best Italian food in the city, and there is an assortment of private rooms 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 Alexandria Ballrooms — discover classic Downtown elegance at Fifth and Spring, where they have loads of food and drink choices Water Grill — there’s a reason that, year after year, Water Grill ranks as one of the best seafood spots in the city 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?

Church and State — a fabulous French bistro in the Arts District. Party indoors or on the patio Border Grill — take in the festive decor, the patio and the reliable modern Mexican cuisine Belasco Theatre — a renovated South Park

September 5, 2016

theater, with two modern bar spaces and a topnotch sound system Blue Cow — the Bunker Hill establishment offers inventive drinks, a coterie of dishes prepared with super-fresh ingredients, and a fun outdoor dining area Au Lac — creative vegan dishes on Bunker Hill, and you can wash down the food with organic wine and cocktails

Library Bar

Perch — it offers one of the best views in L.A., and if the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is like no other Spear Restaurant — host 10 people or more than 500. There’s a multi-level patio and fireplaces for those cold (in L.A.) nights

photo by Gary Leonard

Chaya — The Financial District spot has indoor and outdoor party options along with a lineup of French-tinged Asian-fusion cuisine Los Angeles Athletic Club — one of Downtown’s most historic properties can host all kinds of parties, in a ballroom or a throwback bar Redbird — Neal Fraser’s cooking still draws raves, and so does the room with the retractable ceiling in a former cathedral rectory

Rendezvous Court in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel

City Club Los Angeles — a sprawling, elegant club on the 51st floor of City National Plaza offers some of the best views in Downtown Ledlow — chef Josef Centeno draws raves for his Ledlow burger, and there’s a full bar, too, in this vibrant Historic Core space

photo courtesy of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel

LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB

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laac.com | 213.630.5200

September 5, 2016

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

Downtown News 11

Plum Tree Inn — it’s hard to go wrong at the Chinatown staple that offers a private room and addictive honey walnut shrimp The Majestic Downtown — a gigantic Spring Street former bank headquarters has old-L.A. charm and accepts outside caterers O Hotel — eat and drink with your friends and colleagues in the Mafia Room, the Red Room and other fun spaces L.A. Live — there are small spaces, huge spaces, indoor spaces, outdoor space and food from the Wolfgang Puck empire Millennium Biltmore Hotel — one of Downtown’s classiest and most historic properties can handle events of any size Doubletree by Hilton — enjoy drinks and Asian-fusion cuisine while wandering through a hidden garden in the Little Tokyo hotel Millwick — a former livery-turned-cold storage warehouse in the Arts District has a big indoor room and a big garden space

photo by Gary Leonard

Artisan House

L.A. Center Studios — party where they make movies and filmed “Mad Men.” There’s also a private theater Maddalena Restaurant at San Antonio Winery — Italian food under a barrel-shaped ceiling, just steps from a working winery

Celebrate in Style This Holiday Season

Artisan House — the Historic Core space has plenty of drinks, a well-assembled menu and loads of room for you and yours

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.

Center at Cathedral Plaza — the headquarters of L.A.’s Catholic community also hosts private events, and is run by Levy Restaurants

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.

City Tavern — there is comfort food, a lineup of craft beers and an open, airy space in the heart of the Financial District Café Pinot — year after year, the patio at the Cal-French restaurant next to the Central Library is one of Downtown’s top draws Yxta Cocina Mexicana — authentic Mexican and plenty of margaritas ensure you will be smiling when you leave the Industrial District destination Hilton Checkers — a private dining room and a secluded patio in a boutique hotel, or try the rooftop space Conga Room — dance, dance, dance, as the L.A. Live spot with Latin flavor delivers the best salsa sounds in the city

©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

12 Downtown News

September 5, 2016

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

Mardi Gras for the Holidays Preux & Proper Brings the Spirit of New Orleans To the Fashion District

Q: How much should a company expect to spend for an office holiday party at Preux & Proper?

A: If you want to host a party upstairs in Proper, it’ll cost $45-$65 per person for food and then $12-$18 per hour for beverages. Downstairs, in Preux, we charge $35-$55 all in. With our upstairs and downstairs, we are able to meet almost any budget.

Q: What food items or specialties do you offer for a holiday party menu?

A: Our menu is filled with fantastic Creole and Cajun soul food dishes. That said, our executive chef, Samuel Monsour, is spectacular. He’s a third-generation chef, and when it comes to food he can do anything you can imagine.

Q: How do you accommodate vegetarians, vegans or people with dietary restrictions?

A: We live in a world of dietary restrictions, so we have a little something for everyone. Anything on Preux & Proper’s menus can be made with any dietary restriction in mind.

Q: What recommendations do you have for making a work event more fun?

A: Booze is a natural lubricant. An open bar will

get the job done almost every time.

Q: Should there be entertainment offered at the party, such as music or a show?

A: Absolutely. It’s all part of the recipe for a great party. If you have great music, great food and great drink, the only thing missing is great people.

Q: Do you offer entertainment options for parties?

A: We have access to pretty much anything someone wants — mimes, magicians, musicians — although I’m afraid of clowns, so we haven’t had a clown yet.

Q: What trends or themes are you expecting this year when it comes to holiday parties?

A: One trend we’re seeing is a lot more buffet-style parties and fewer sit-down dinners.

During parties, people want to mingle and

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be more social. As for theme, Preux & Proper comes equipped with a theme: If people want New Orleans, we provide that, including everything from a jazz band or brass band to the full Mardi Gras experience.

Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning a holiday party?

A: Not having a budget. I know I mentioned that before, but I can’t stress how important this is. Also get an itemized proposal so you know what you’re paying for, and avoid paying a “venue fee,” which is a superfluous charge some places bill you for using their space.

Q: Any other advice for people planning a party?

A: It’s all about getting in early so you can choose the day you want, the duration you want, and get it all locked in. Now is the time.

Preux & Proper is at 840 S. Spring St,, (213) 8960090 or preuxandproper.com.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should people start planning a holiday party?

Joshua Kopel: As soon as you can. Dates tend to fill up quickly, and most people want the same days. We’ve already started booking out November and December. So if you’re planning to hold a party in late November, start planning in September or October at the latest.

Q: What size crowds does Preux & Proper handle?

A: We can manage anything from 20 people to 150.

photo by Gary Leonard

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Q: What can people do to keep within their budget?

A: Step one is having a budget. Step two is being very open about budgetary limitations.

Some people are apprehensive about telling us what their budget is, but because of the restaurant’s unique space, we have a lot of flexibility to meet people’s needs.

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By Tom Fassbender reux & Proper is a New Orleans-inspired restaurant in the Fashion District. It’s spread across two stories: Preux, on the first floor, provides a casual dining experience, serving small bites. The second-floor Proper offers a more elaborate menu with more involved dishes, as well as a raw bar.

Joshua Kopel, who co-owns the restaurant along with Mark Egland, has helped plan many events over the years, including throwing a few Mardis Gras-themed weddings, so he knows what goes into a making a successful event. He offered his advice.

Joshua Kopel is the co-owner of Preux & Proper, a two-level Fashion District restaurant that can hold up to 150 people for a private party.

perfect for your event.

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

Need added reason to book early? Let us host your 2016 holiday event and receive 10% off our banquet menu

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September 5, 2016

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Downtown News 13

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

A New Arrival Gets Fresh Miro’s Victoria Berry Gears Up for the Restaurant’s First Holiday Party Season

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Partnering exclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, Artisan House gives coffee and breakfast options to get your day started right. Grab something to go at our indoor/outdoor market café. photo by Gary Leonard

Victoria Berry, the director of events and marketing at Miro, says some party dates for December have already been booked.

Partnering exclusively with

By Tom Fassbender iro just opened in April, but it is already making a name for itself. The restaurant in the former Cucina Rustica space in the Financial District offers a pan-Mediterranean menu and specializes in a farm-to-table experience by using ingredients purchased from local farms and farmers markets.

Victoria Berry, Miro’s director of events and marketing, is already scheduling events for the inaugural holiday season. She spoke about what’s in store.

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Flavor, freshness, imagination, and service.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should people start planning a holiday party?

Victoria Berry: Now! We’ve already booked two parties in December and November is filling up, and dates go very quickly facebook.com/artisanhouse once October hits, so the sooner the better.

Q: How much should you expect to spend for a holiday party at Miro?

A: We will work with any budget as best as we can. I prefer to find out each client’s preferences and put together a package for them instead of handing over a menu of services. But for a party in one of our private spaces, expect to spend between $3,000 and $6,000, while a full buy-out will run $15,000.

For private parties, a 10,000 sq. ft. 9th floor space that was once home to the twitter.com/ArtisanHouseLA instagram.com/artisanhouseL Jonathan Club, is available for the asking.

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What people dostarted to keep within their budget? coffee and breakfast optionsQ:to getcan your day right.

Grab something to go or join us coffee and breakfast options to ge Monday, July 29th at 7:30am A: Flexibility on the date and time is key. If you are setstarting on a FriPartnering exclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, Art at our indoor/outdoor market café. at our day or Saturday, then be prepared to pay a premium. Family-

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style dining, as opposed to individualPartnering entrees, is also a great way exclusively with Intelligentsia Coffee and Babycakes, House gives you endless atArtisan our indoor/outdoor market café. to get more bang for your buck. coffee and breakfast options to get your Get day started right.

Grab something to go or join us lunch and dinner Partnering exclusively with at our indoor/outdoor market café. delivered right to yourPartnering doorstep Q: What size crowds does Miro handle? exclusively with A: We have two private dining rooms that can hold up to 40 as well as wine, craft beer & Partnering exclusively with guests, and we can host up to 100 for a partial buy-out of the small batch spirits. basement bar or up to 200 for a full restaurant buy-out. Our whiskey room can hold up to 20.

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Q: What food items or specialties do you offer for a holiday party menu?

A: The kitchen has already started preparing our Jamaican rum cake, which takes three months to prepare properly. But our menus change seasonally, if not daily, so you can expect to see things like kabocha and other winter squash during the holiday season.

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Q: How do you accommodate vegetarians, vegans or people with facebook.com/artisanhouse dietary restrictions? facebook.com/artisanhouse twitter.com/ArtisanHouseLA A: Mediterranean cuisine is full of delicious vegetarian salads, twitter.com/ArtisanHouseLA instagram.com/artisanhouseLA Continued on page 14

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14 Downtown News

September 5, 2016

HOLIDAY PARTIES & CATERING

Party Unity At The Briks, Mario Christerna Brings People Together Through Food

By Tom Fassbender hen Mario Christerna was growing up in Boyle Heights, he would look at the Downtown skyline and tell his grandmother he’d own a restaurant there one day.

Today, Christerna is the chef-owner of South Park’s The Briks. A picture of his grandmother hangs proudly in the dining room.

Christerna likes to say that The Briks is his life story on a plate. The restaurant brings together the flavors of Mexico and North Africa, and Christerna is a big believer in bringing people together through his food. He spoke about the holiday party season.

W

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should people start planning a holiday party?

Mario Christerna: It’s never too soon to plan.

The sooner you get started, the sooner you can get the spot you want, especially during this time of year. I’ve already booked a good amount of parties for the holidays.

Q: How much should you expect to spend for a holiday party at The Briks?

A: We have different menu options starting as low as $25 per person on up to $55 per person.

The price will be higher with wine or drinks, and a menu with steak and fish will have a higher price than one with briks [small fried pastries with savory fillings] and flatbreads. We send our guests options and we go back and forth and do our best to accommodate what they want.

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

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Mario Christerna, chef-owner of The Briks, melds the flavors of Mexico and North Africa at his South Park restaurant.

Q: What can people do to keep within their budget?

A: It depends on the amount of food and drinks. An open bar would be a lot more expensive than a menu with just appetizers and a glass of wine or two.

Q: What size crowds can you handle?

A: We can seat 50 on our patio, 22 in our private room and up to 80 in the dining hall. We also have another 10 seats at the bar area. I can do a full buy-out up to 150 people.

Q: What food items or specialties do you offer for a holiday party menu?

A: I already sell a lot of lamb, and during the holidays a lot of parties want the lamb. If the hosts allow me the chance to create something unique, I will try to match the party’s themes and play around with spices to create a special dish that’s not on our normal menu.

Q: How do you accommodate vegetarians, vegans or people with dietary restrictions?

A: We have options for any dietary restriction.

My wife is vegetarian, so when we go someplace I feel bad if all she can eat is a salad. I want everyone to be part of the experience.

photo by Gary Leonard

Q: What recommendations do you have for making a work event more fun?

A: Booze always makes everything more fun.

Q: Do you offer entertainment options for parties?

A: We play our own in-house music, but we don’t provide a band or a DJ. If someone did a restaurant buy-out, they would be welcome to provide their own. We do have a private room with a big screen with full HD and guests can use that for presentations or videos.

Q: What trends or themes are you expecting this year when it comes to holiday parties?

A: I’m noticing that people are a lot more health-conscious these days. There are more vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free requests.

Family-style serving is another trend I’m seeing,

PARTY PLACES, 13

and one we encourage. I’m Chicano from East L.A., and I grew up with everyone sharing food on the table. It’s nice, because everyone comes together.

Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning a holiday party?

A: Changing things the day of the event — that can really throw off a kitchen. It’s always better to do things in advance.

Q: Any other advice for people planning a party?

A: Always trust the chef. We perform in the kitchen and the dining hall is our stage. It’s what we do for a living. And try to stay away from modifications. If you’re going to modify, don’t modify every single plate.

The Briks is at 1111 S. Hope St., (213) 746-7766 or thebriks.com.

from casino tables to candy sculptors.

pastas and vegetable options, so vegetarian is very easy. But our menu features a lot of cheeses, farm-fresh eggs, house-churned butter and handmade pastas, so it does get a little tricky for vegan or dairy- and gluten-free requests. But as long as I know about the dietary requests in advance, we will do our best.

Q: What recommendations do you have for making a work event more fun?

A: Encourage your employees to dress up a bit and invite a plus-one.

Turn the awkward office gift exchange into a game, like a white elephant exchange. And include booze! Even a glass of wine or champagne can turn a luncheon into a celebration.

Q: Should there be entertainment offered at the party, such as music or a show?

A: Music is a must, and although live entertainment isn’t necessary, there are a lot of fun ways to customize your event that will make it memorable. I have planned events where we brought in everything

Q: Do you offer entertainment options for parties?

A: We have a great sound system and satellite radio so we can play whatever music you want. With our cocktail program, we can offer cocktail classes and whiskey tastings.

Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning a holiday party?

A: Not getting input from other people in the office — what’s fun for one person may not be widely enjoyed by everyone. And let the guests know if they will have to pay anything out of pocket, like drinks or valet parking.

Q: Any other advice for people planning a party at Miro?

A: We are a brand new restaurant, and everyone wants to see what we’re about, so book early. All of our ingredients are fresh and fresh always costs more than frozen, so leave room in your budgets for your guests to enjoy what we have to offer.

Miro is at 888 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 988-8880 or mirorestaurant.com.

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Call us to book your holiday parties and leave the worrying to our dedicated sales manager.

Downtown | 735 South Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90017 | 213- 553- 4566 mortons.com/losangeles

September 5, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Are You Ready to Watch Some Football?

The Down & Out is a traditional destination for Historic Core football fans. This year it has a batch of new TVs, including one with an amazing 170-inch screen.

The Rams Are Back and So Is L.A.’s Pigskin Fever.

Here Are 11 Downtown Places to Watch the Games

By Nicholas Slayton he return of the Rams to Los Angeles after the city’s 21-year pro football drought has energized the local sports scene. Tens of thousands of people flocked to the Coliseum in Exposition Park for pre-season games, and crowds are expected to be equally thick once the real season begins this week. Beware of driving in the area on game day.

Of course, not everyone goes to the stadium or wants to watch at home. Many people prefer the camaraderie and energy found in a bar, whether for a fleet of Sunday games, or Monday or Thursday night contests.

Although it wasn’t this way two decades ago, today Downtown Los Angeles is full of options.

Below are 11 of the best pigskin-watching places. The season kicks off on Thursday, Sept.

8, when the Denver Broncos host the Carolina Panthers in a Super Bowl rematch. The first Rams game is Monday, Sept. 12, when they visit the San Francisco 49ers.

T

The Player: Arts District Brewing Co. First Down: At halftime, many football fans run to the bathroom. At the Arts District Brewing Co., many will run to the skeeball machines, darts and cornhole games.

Game Day Info: The Arts District Brewing Co. opened in the old Crazy Gideon’s store on Trac-

Downtown News 15

photo by Gary Leonard

wise, look to the adjacent Fritzi for chicken, upscale burgers and other sandwiches.

At 828 Traction Ave., (213) 817-5321 or 213dthospitality.com/project/arts-district-brewing-co.

photo by Gary Leonard

The Bunker Hill Bar & Grill offers a bit of an upscale sports-watching experience. It has 12 TVs and an outdoor patio.

tion Avenue last December. Games are broadcast on the two TVs at the center of the space, as well as projected on a large wall in the back of the establishment, where patrons can watch from communal tables. When it comes to drinking, there are around two dozen draft beers, half made by the brewery, including the Traction IPA and Crazy Gideon Double IPA. Food-

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The Player: Beelman’s Pub First Down: The Historic Core joint is, surprisingly, Downtown’s destination for Carolina Panthers fans. A bar staffer said it happened organically last season, when they started showing up in jerseys and carrying flags.

Game Day Info: Though you’ll see plenty of patrons in Cam Newton jerseys, fans of other teams are also welcome, and they’ll be pulling out the stops for Rams games, too. A projector system shows football on a back wall, and there are two other televisions. Alongside the regular selection of burgers, sliders and gravy fries, Beelman’s is offering $7 beer and shot specials every time the Rams or Panthers score a touchdown. That’s a good deal no matter who you root for.

At 600 S. Spring St., (213) 622-1022 or beelmanspub.com.

The Player: Big Wang’s First Down: The Financial District establishment on Grand Avenue has 29 TVs and plans to broadcast every single NFL game this season.

Game Day Info: Big Wangs is a classic sports bar, with a menu featuring all the staples: nachos, potato skins, pizza and burgers (they even serve Brussels sprouts, if you’re into that sort of thing). Every Sunday (and Saturday as well, for college football fans), the joint is doing all-day happy hour, with certain pints for $4 and well drinks for $5. There’s also a large outdoor patio with, yes, TVs. At 801 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com.

The Player: Bunker Hill Bar and Grill First Down: The restaurant overlooking Fifth Continued on page 16

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

16 Downtown News

FOOTBALL, 15 Street also plans to broadcast every game of the season. There are 12 TVs and, for when your team is getting throttled and you need a respite (hello Browns fans), an outdoor patio.

Game Day Info: Bunker Hill Bar & Grill has plenty of traditional sports bar fare — think wings and burgers— but also offers salmon, trout, rib-eye steak and small plates. Drink specials for the season were still being planned last week, but happy hour prices from 3-7 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. until closing bring $8 wings, $6 tacos and $6-$7 sushi rolls.

At 601 W. Fifth St., (213) 688-2988 or bunkerhillbar.com.

The Player: Casey’s First Down: The venerable Grand Avenue establishment sells $8 pints of Guinness stout — and lists it on the menu as an appetizer. Consider yourself warned.

Game Day Info: Casey’s, a major destination for soccer fans during the World Cup, shows its love for American football, too. The pub’s 13 televisions will have the games going all day on Sunday and the brunch menu will be served, including Jameson French toast. Happy hour prices are also in effect all day on Sundays, so enjoy $5 Jameson pickle backs, among other options. In between games, you can play billiards, ping-pong or darts. Just be careful with the darts when you see a rabid Raiders fan cheering his victory over your Chargers.

At 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or 213dthospitality.com/project/caseys-irish-pub.

The Player: Crane’s Bar Downtown First Down: Browns and Bengals fans, take

note: The underground space on Spring Street is a hub for Pittsburgh Steelers fans — that’s because owner Darren Crane backs the team.

Game Day Info: Bright red lights, brick walls and leather seats make Crane’s a slightly hipper space to catch a game. Though they pray at the altar of Ben Roethlisberger here, Rams fans are also welcome to watch the NFL on the bar’s three TVs. On game days for both teams, Crane’s will be giving happy hour prices for fans in team gear: Your first draft beer goes for the regular price ($6), and refills are $1 after that.

There will also be $8 shot and beer specials, plus deals of two cocktails for $10 (certain restrictions apply). Plus, how often do you get to watch football from inside a former bank vault?

If it’s a regular occurrence, we have questions.

At 810 S. Spring St., (323) 787-7966.

The Player: Down & Out First Down: The Historic Core staple sports 10 TVs, including three new 70-inch ones above the bar and, get this, a 170-inch screen as part of a projector system.

Game Day Info: On game days and nights, fans will be staring at something besides the mugshot photos adorning the walls. The D&O has the full NFL package, so look for every game to be shown. The bar doesn’t do drink specials, but that’s no big deal when draft beers and weekend brunch Bloody Marys both go for $6. For football season, the bar is rolling out new menu items including chimichangas and pork skewers.

At 501 S. Spring St. or downandoutbar.com.

The Player: Hooters First Down: The branch of the chain near Staples Center has a whopping 35 TVs, so even if you cheer for the Buffalo Bills, you’ll be able to

September 5, 2016

find their game.

Game Day Info: Specials are big here. There’s a kickoff special offering a beer (Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and others) and fried pickles, as well as a “pick six” special with six boneless wings and beer — both are $12. Hooters also offers $14 beer pitchers following touchdowns.

At 1248 S. Figueroa St., (213) 222-9464 or downtownla.westcoasthooters.com.

The Player: The Escondite First Down: The Toy District space is a Chicago Bears bar, so heads up for Green Bay fans in Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers jerseys.

Game Day Info: The Escondite does things big not just on Sundays, but Monday nights, too, as happy hour runs from 5 p.m.-closing. On Sunday, the brunch specials arrive, with $4 mimosas and Bloody Marys. The Escondite has six TVs, with two of them on the patio. Try the High Life special: a sandwich, fries and Miller High Life for $11 during certain games.

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

The Player: Tom’s Urban First Down: Tom’s Urban, in the former ESPN Zone space, has dozens of TVs, with plenty of indoor and outdoor dining options.

Game Day Info: The L.A. Live destination is another place where you can see every game. The food menu includes pizza, fried calamari, burgers and salads, which you can wash down with brewery staples (we see you, Coors) as well as craft options such as Elysian or Downtown’s own Angel City. There’s also a surprisingly inventive cocktail list. Try one to celebrate Tom Brady’s first touchdown pass… in week five.

photo by Gary Leonard

Big Wang’s epitomizes the sports bar scene. The Downtown outpost has 29 TVs and a menu full of burgers, wings and beer.

At 1101 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-8667 or tomsurban.com.

The Player: Yard House First Down: Do you like TVs? The L.A. Live bar and restaurant has more than 20 of them, both indoors and spread across the sprawling patio.

Game Day Info: The Yard House kitchen offers plenty of sports bar favorites, such as $12 sliders and buffalo wings, and loads of thick burgers. There are also spins on Mexican food, barbecue and Asian-fusion dishes. As always, the YardHouse beer menu impresses, with scores of options including sours like Lindeman’s Framboise and Hanger 24’s double IPA. There are seasonal choices, too. Yard House will have a late-night happy hour on Sundays and Mondays.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or yardhouse.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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What if the movie Frozen question will was actually be answered frozen? That blockbuster rarely asked Dec. 9-14, film into a when Disney live skating performance on Ice turns event. The s the 12 Staples with snowmanfeature, naturally, the Center sisters Anna the film. Yes, Olaf, reindeer Sven and Elsa, along and other they’ll break characters Snowman?” into “Let It from Go,” “Do You and zen personnel other songs. The surprise Want to comes in the Build a show. Expect — er, mouse-ennel, non-Froas Mickey cameos from and Minnie Story, Finding characters the Nemo your kids have Waseenhost At 1111 S. Figueroaand other movies.Kanega in Toy yumi St., axs.com or disneyonice.c raWlins and om/frozen.

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Ever wonder what it would be like to hear “Call me Ishmael” sung by an operatic tenor? Okay, so maybe composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s Moby-Dick doesn’t start quite like Herman Melville’s novel, but the classic narrative of a seaman’s hunt for an elusive white whale remains. On Oct. 31-Nov. 28, L.A. Opera is staging six performances of the production with the grand score and impressive visual effects. Moby-Dick debuted in Dallas in 2010 and has gone on to earn warm reviews in New York City, San Francisco and beyond. Expect fireworks from Jay Morris Hunter in the role of Capt. Ahab and veteran conductor and L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon in the orchestra pit.

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

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Isn’t dance funny? OK, it’s not, but you can bet there will be laughs when the renowned Hubbard Street Dance Company teams up with sketch Second City. comedy pioneers The Art of Falling, premiered which a year ago in Chicago, ly yet absurd, is liveand five choreograph takes its shape from team of more ers, four writers and a than 30 dancers tors. It is built around three and acven story lines interwothat short vignettes. are broken up by last part sound Wait, doesn’t that like sketch Why, yes, it comedy? does. twists, literally Expect plenty of and At 135 N. Grand figuratively.

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In case you were question Dandy Warhols’ ing street cred, the key OG gangster the lows of rock have prepared effortless alt of a song a statemen entitled t in the “Bohemia Courtney Taylor-Tay n Like You.” form seize the Before Teragram lor and the rest of on Dec. 3-5, let’s Ballroom for three the band quickly 1) Since review their nights 1995, length studio the band has dossier: released albums; from most nine full2) In a grunge, of their imitators change of pace neo-nihil in the postist, affectatio of sublime rock, the n-wieldin be self aware; Dandy Warhols g world 3) Yes, but they appear to were from the band is from to be from Portland, Portland Portland. before it was cool At 1234 teragram W. Seventh St. or ballroom .com.

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Running Down the Season’s Arts, Music, Theater and Other Highlights

2015 Downtown’s biggest park own News hosts a tribute again 12 Downt who have passed to those away and the Mexican ng keepi most the Dead, with Day of it’s the inFor those, Detro n to Ofrenda and Noche de ibutio Jr., has now AR Dia de Los at home Muertos festivities score recent contr ardt Jr. The NASC the stretching over nine days. inent Dale Earnh to JR JR. t stopped nom , prom The Noche Ofrenda, or scene their namethat hasn’ ed-down om on “night of offerings,” de of stripp ram Ballro die rockchanged alas, but kicks , newly ’ worth in lly off the celebration Epste officia is no more rate their town’s Teragfive years on Oct. 24 ick of Joshe on the pate with gimm will celeb into Down antici the duo prayers, dancing, aranc can OctOber , who ring band24-by moto members ms from o appe music and anthe a came the blessNOvember de rock2 Audience roved had ing of more Zott 10. r-app .com. than 40 alfact: Oct. tars and art ly, hipste Cool lopment.”amballroom installations. l Zott. Deve teragr bubb The altars spread across ted St. or Danie Grand Park th with some have different and show “Arres dedicated themes, TV W. Seven to familial love to issues like and othersAt 1234 gang violence The park will also have 30 and immigration. artists, and nearby workers sculptures from local take 20-minute are guided lunchtime encouraged to more about the art and tours to learn the At 200 N. Grand holiday.

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40 FOR FALL Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of world’s leading the classical dance companies. On Oct. 8-11, the troupe based St. Petersburg, in Russia, comes to Downtown Los Angeles for the Southern California premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella. While the five performances are set to Sergei Prokofiev’s classic score, there is a contempora ry feel to the story of the gal with the mean stepsisters and the slipper. Expect glass plenty of vibrant choreography during the at the Dorothy run dler Pavilion. ChanAt 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter. org/cinderell a.

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A Very Special Section That Features a Comprehensive Round-Up of This Fall’s Restaurants, Theater, Music, Museums and Events.

News 9

40 NNEWS.CO

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Troublesome Guest: A woman who lives on Fourth Street had invited a man to her home.

She stepped out for a moment, and when she returned the man was gone, as was her laptop and cell phone.

Skate and Run: On the afternoon on Aug. 26, a man took a skateboard that had been left outside the Grand Avenue Whole Foods.

ongtime nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust is looking at creating a new permanent supportive housing proj-

Cardenas for

Veni Vini Vino: At 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 26, a man broke into the Faith & Flower restaurant on Ninth Street and tried to take some wine from a window display case. When he noticed people watching him, he fled.

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photo by Rafael

Snatch, Grab and Run: At 4 p.m. on Aug. 22, a man entered a jewelry store at Sixth Street and Broadway and asked to see a gold chain. When the manager took one out, the man grabbed it and ran out of the store. Two days later there was a similar theft at a jewelry store on the same block.

Grand Theft Auto: More cars were stolen in the Historic Core recently. A Mercedes Benz parked at Fifth and Main streets was taken on the night of Aug. 21, though it was later recovered. A Volkswagen was stolen near Spring Street three nights later.

Homeless Housing Project Proposed at Seventh and San Pedro

Feld Entertainment

Cumbersome Exit: Around 9 p.m. on Aug. 21, a man grabbed a television off the shelf at the Target at the FIGat7th shopping complex. He walked out of the store without paying and was immediately detained by security.

those who served in the reserves or National Guard, or those without an honorable discharge. More information is at militaryfamilyclinic.usc.edu.

photo courtesy

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Bad Exchanges: A series of thefts happened between midnight and 3 a.m. on Aug. 21 at the Exchange nightclub on Spring Street. Three women reported that thieves took their cell phones from their purses. One woman said jewelry was also stolen, while another said her wallet was taken.

ect at Seventh and San Pedro streets. The Downtown-based entity, which has developed dozens of projects including the highly praised New Carver and Star Apartments, is in escrow on a property at the intersection. Initial plans, which last month were presented to a committee of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, show two buildings. A new seven-story structure would hold 81 apartments for formerly homeless individuals, while an existing building along San Pedro Street already owned by SRHT would have 19 residences.

Killefer Flammang Architects would handle designs, and the project would offer on-site residential services and case managers.

AROUND TOWN, 2

This Week: A Gold Theft,Wine Time and Nightclub Robberies

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

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

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Blues Comes Alive TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

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photo by Craig Schwartz

Taper Returns to a Familiar Voice, With August Wilson’s Musical Drama ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

Glynn Turman (second from left) plays the pianist Toledo and Jason Dirden (far left) is the young, ambitious trumpet player Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The 1984 play by August Wilson opens at the Mark Taper Forum this week. Also shown are Damon Gupton (center), Keith David and Lillias White.

By Nicholas Slayton he blues is a quintessentially American genre, drawn from African-American musicians in the South, and popularized around the United States in the 1920s. As the name implies, the blues is full of woes, lamentations, conflicts and struggles, whether of the personal or societal variety. Just listen to Muddy Waters, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker or some of the other legendary artists.

While the blues is an aural medium, this week it takes on a visual dimension, too.

That’s because the blues is front and center in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The 1984 August Wilson work that uses the genre to tell a story of ambition, despair, exploitation and racial politics opens at the Mark Taper Forum on Sunday, Sept. 11 (previews are already underway). The show, which represents the ninth time that a Wilson work has been mounted by Center Theatre Group, runs through Oct. 16.

Ma Rainey is directed by Phylicia Rashad, the TV and film veteran who last year helmed the Taper’s production of Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family. Set in Chicago in 1927, the plot centers on a recording session with real-life blues singer Ma Rainey (played

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by Lillias White) and the four members of her band, including pianist Toledo (Glynn Turman) and the young, ambitious trumpet player Levee (Jason Dirden). While waiting for Rainey to show up, the members turn to jokes and discussions of daily life. Tensions rise. And that’s all before Rainey and her entourage arrive, ushering in another set of conflicts.

The play poses some hefty challenges to the performers — that’s because not only must they interpret Wilson’s words, they also must be able to play their instruments. That’s a particular challenge for Dirden, who didn’t know how to play the trumpet before being cast. He started practicing in June, he said, playing anything he could, even “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The cast members got private teachers in July, and the following month they began band rehearsals, playing together before running through the play later in the day.

Dirden said coming together as a band helped the cast bond, and that the camaraderie is evident on stage.

“We realized we could take this on the road as a band,” Turman boasted. “Let’s see if we could get our agent to book us some gigs!”

Back to the Wilson Well Wilson’s plays have long been a staple of Center Theatre Group’s programming, with five shows presented at the Taper (two others were at the Ahmanson Theatre). Additionally, CTG stages the annual August Wilson Monologue Competition for students.

Turman and Dirden both said the conflict and dramatic tension in Ma Rainey is clear, and that the trick to mastering the band members comes down to mannerisms and interaction.

They give great credit to Rashad, who previous directed Wilson plays. The director, they said, could easily step in during a rehearsal and offer new perspectives on how everyone should react and move.

The two have both acted in Wilson’s work before, and they even appeared on stage together about a decade ago, playing father and son in a version of Lonne Elder III’s play Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. That theme of the separation of the generations is inherent throughout the new show. Dirden’s Levee is youthful and eager to make his mark and advance in the world.

Turman’s Toledo, by contrast, is older and more patient, operating with wisdom and experience. It sets up a classic clash, with

Dirden noting that the younger man believes he has all of the answers, and that he knows the best way to propel the music.

“Levee is watching these guys who he respects, but they’re telling him to sit and wait and be happy with what someone’s giving you,” Dirden said. “All Levee’s saying is, ‘Why? Why wait?’”

Wilson wrote Ma Rainey 32 years ago, and even then it was set more than a half-century in the past. Still, Dirden believes the play resonates powerfully today. The themes and the dialogue on racial politics and exploitation in the music industry continue to be felt, he said.

“If you look at our times now, you see how relevant what he wrote is. So little has changed,” Turman said. “Where did he get this insight from? When he writes it’s like he’s being channeled by some force that puts him in the belly of our society.”

Dirden agreed, and believes audiences will still get something urgent from the show.

That’s not the only benefit, he added: They’ll also enjoy a live blues performance.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom runs through Oct. 16 at the Mark Taper Forum at 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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The Hermit, the Hidden Theater And Four Larks Scrappy Company’s Genre-Mashing ‘Temptation of St. Antony’ Opens in Downtown

By Eddie Kim s ancient accounts tell it, the Christian monk Saint Anthony the Great left society around 270 AD to roam the wild Egyptian desert by himself. For decades, he lived an ascetic life in isolation, only consuming a bit of nearby villagers’ food from time to time.

The scant nutrition kept him alive, but his near-death state inspired constant terrifying visions and temptations, which Anthony battled with prayer. He one day emerged from his solitary fort, no longer battered but instead enlightened.

More than 1,500 years later, French author Gustave Flaubert, inspired by the legend of the Egyptian hermit, began his journey to write a book dubbed The Temptation of St. Anthony.

Written as a stage script, the novel remains his life’s great work.

A new version of the tale recently arrived in Downtown Los Angeles. The independent theater company Four Larks has mounted The Temptation of St. Antony in the group’s hideaway headquarters and performance space, called Basic Flowers, at Second Street and Broadway. The show runs through Oct. 2.

Four Larks is a tight ensemble of performers founded nearly a decade ago by Mat Diafos Sweeney (the company’s creative director) and Sebastian Peters-Lazaro (producing director). Sweeney advises audience members not to show up expecting a conventional stage layout or theatrical experience. Instead, Temptation fuses dance, live music, voiceover, art installations and dialogue pulled from Flaubert’s text to create something that is more of a sensory experience than the kind of thing you’d find at the Taper.

Flaubert’s text is already essentially an “unstageable play,” Sweeney added, as it’s a subjective and mind-bending interpretation of the St. Antony tale.

“It fell into my lap while we were working on something else, and I just found it confounding,” he recalled. “It opened up an impossible theatrical challenge because it comprises the entire history of the world’s religions and a psychedelic tour through a solitary mind.”

Flaubert’s novel was inspired by a painting of St. Anthony he saw in Genoa, Italy, and it

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follows a single night in which the monk is accosted by visions and beings that represent the seven deadly sins, death and more. Four Larks’ performance, directed and co-written by Sweeney, frames it all around a writer who is working on his own art and struggling to cope.

“He’s in his cavern, hunched over his typewriter, and holding to a spiritual or artistic truth despite being confronted by all these wild ideas,” said composer Ellen Warkentine, who wrote the score with Sweeney. “We designed it so the show feels like a very cohesive, beautiful, dreamlike experience.”

The six principal cast members take on multiple roles, save for Max Baumgarten, who plays The Hermit. Characters like the Queen of Sheba, King Nebuchadnezzar and the ascetic Hilarion (himself inspired by St. Anthony) all make appearances in the 75-minute show, which is accompanied by live original music from a sixperson band.

Warkentine’s minimalist, folk-flavored score (a big influence is the composer Meredith Monk’s hypnotic work Book of Days) serves as a backbone to Temptation, which was staged in Downtown last year, albeit in a different iteration. She praised Four Larks for working collectively to reshape elements.

Sweeney and Peters-Lazaro graduated from

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Downtown-based company Four Larks’ play The Temptation of St. Antony combines dance, music and dialogue from a Gustave Flaubert novel.

photo courtesy of Four Larks

UCLA in 2006 with degrees in music and world arts, respectively, and soon decided to launch Four Larks in Los Angeles. A project took them to Melbourne, Australia, in 2008, and they ended up staying for nearly six years.

Four Larks received an affordable deal on the Historic Core space it now calls home, but its mission is to produce works in temporary sites around Downtown. Easier said than done: Rising rents and landlords with little enthusiasm for a bootstrappy theater company means that the site hunt has gotten harder, Sweeney says — especially in the last two years.

“We’ve opened the Basic Flowers space to

other performers, so we know Downtown is thirsting for artist-friendly spaces,” Sweeney said. “They’re disappearing, but the frustrating experience in Downtown is that there’s empty space but no incentive for property owners to open up those spaces.”

The early success of Temptation in August helped the company pull the trigger on a weeks-long extension. St. Anthony may have shut himself away from the outside world, but his legend continues to draw crowds.

The Temptation of St. Antony runs through Oct. 2 at 242 S. Broadway or fourlarks.com. eddie@downtownnews.com.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

THE

DON'T MISS

ONE

my

Teic h

er

Social media phenom Alexi Pappas is more than a Twitter handle. Between steady careers as a writer and filmmaker, Pappas found the time to represent her native Greece on the country’s 2016 Olympics squad: She just ran 10,000 meters in Rio. Her follow-up act? She’ll pop in to the Library Foundation’s Aloud program on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7:15 p.m. to sit down with Culture Brain founder Sharon Ann Lee and dish on her seemingly unrelated yet cohesive gaggle of pursuits. Expect levity, insight, hashtags and a plethora of follow-up Instagram posts. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

photo courtesy Y La Bamba

Cobble together a dose of Tune Yards shimmering pop rock, a through-line of Joni Mitchell vocals and an-all consuming wellspring of substantial folk and you get Oregon’s Y La Bamba. The band, which has released four albums, builds off of front-woman Luz Elena Mendoza’s disparately drawn influences to create a vibrant patchwork of contemporary music that sounds both fresh and wise. On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Y La Bamba occupies the stage at the Arts District’s Resident, where longtime followers, new converts and fans of supporting act Brainstory will congregate to hear a unique sonic spectacle.

At 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

FIVE

From the folks who brought you Alexis de Tocqueville and Jean Baudrillard comes pianist Nicolas Mazmanian. The keyboard maestro has never tickled Who could the ivory in these United States before, but that’s set have predicted that to change on Friday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. The Colburn School’s Mayman Hall little, wheelchair-bound is the place for the performance dubbed French Reflections on the American Jimmy from “Degrassi Junior Dream. Will us Yankees see a blistering self-portrait in his strolling High” would grow up to become one of finger work? Will we gain new the most celebrated hip-hop stars of his day? perspectives or come to value Not us. The MC from Toronto has made a brand old tropes of our democratic for himself out of solipsistic flow, quality ideals? Is admission free? We beat curation, a gift for trash talk can’t vouch for the former and the occasional verse questions, but the answer to lifted directly from 4-Tay’s the latter is, mais oui! At 200 “Player’s Club.” No matter how S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 he ascended boast mountain, or colburnschool.edu.

Drake is here in Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept.

6, with follow-up shows on Friday and Saturday. He’ll be at Staples Center. Just follow the massive crowds. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com.

4

photo by Hervé Lavigne.

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

September 9, 8 p.m.: Gad Elmaleh is a stand-up comedian and proud owner of a name that sounds suspiciously fake.

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

Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.: The Jacques Lesure Quartet.

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

Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: If you’re looking for a guitar-playing Joaquin Phoenix-lookalike with a name like a Harry Potter wine tasting, be sure to check out Draco Rosa.

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

Sept. 6: Nery Kim Group.

Sept. 7: The Oz Noy Boogaloo Experience Band. Yes, it’s an actual experience.

Sept. 8: Quincy Jones Production presents Ai Kuwabara Trio.

Sept. 9: Prove to yourself that you’re alive with the Human Element.

Sept. 10: Los Angeles Jazz Quartet.

Sept. 11: Strangers on a Saturday Night featuring Jane Monheit. Weirdly enough, this takes place on a Sunday evening.

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

Sept. 5: The Bootleg spared no expense on the Jurassic Shark residency.

Sept. 7: Los Feliz indie outfit Raener have a song entitled “Why.” Go ahead and be the guy or gal who shouts back, “because.”

Sept. 8: The Okie from Muskogee has a night in the sun as a whole host of strummers gather for Austin McCutchen & The Western Stars’ Music of Merle Haggard.

Sept. 9: Papa may have a new album, but they’re still your father.

Sept. 10: In a bill that sounds like a marquee from a fever dream, Big Dick is opening for Low Cut Connie.

Sept. 11: Cecilia Della Peruti’s ever-inventive Gothic Tropic opens for Deep Sea Diver.

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

Magical realism explodes on stage at the Beverly Boulevard dream factory the Bootleg this week, as My Sister Was the First to Fly takes the stage. On ThursdaySaturday, Sept. 8-10, the dance-theater show finds choreographers and creative masterminds Jessica DiBattista and Jeff Marras adapting fiction writer Meghan Brown’s story of a sister’s transformation into a bird. Though My Sister has a limited engagement at the Bootleg, you can catch one of four performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and again at 3 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. At 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

photo by Dan Martensen

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

By Dan Johnson calendar@downtownnews.com

THREE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Sunday Sessions Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

2-8 p.m.: The groove from this live DJ program will insert deep house far into your eardrums before you can say “consenting adult.”

2

LIST

Jere

Performers From Greece, France, Canada and Oregon Come Downtown to Entertain Us

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Alexi Pappas at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Blogger and Olympic runner Alexi Pappas takes the audience on a marathon of cultural awareness. Look what we did there!

Art Walk In the Historic Core or online at downtownartwalk.org.

5 p.m.: On its 12th anniversary, Downtown’s monthly arts bacchanal is primed to enter puberty.

to b y

EVENTS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Family Weekend Workshops The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org.

Sept. 10-11, 11 a.m.: High art, design and gourmet food are the subject of complimentary hands-on workshops geared to the whole family. Excepting, perhaps, your extremely crotchety Andy Rooney grandfather.

Foods of Azerbaijan Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or chscsite.org.

10:30 a.m.: The Culinary Historians of Southern California host Feride Buyuran in a historical examination of Caspian cuisine in “Foods of Azerbaijan: From the Silk Road to Today.”

September 5, 2016

pho

20 Downtown News

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

September 5, 2016

Downtown News 21

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Sept. 9: SBCR. Sept. 10: Gorgon City.

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

Sept. 6: Wear your best sweater to tonight’s intimate Weezer performance so Rivers Cuomo can pull the thread as you walk away.

Sept. 7: Besides looking very serious, The Record Company specializes in “bluesy music.”

Sept. 8: Tonight’s Up Close and Personal program with Nick Jonas is but a venue in which the one time purity ring-touting pop duke will field hard-hitting questions such as “How are you doing tonight?” and “Would you like your water cold or room temperature?”

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

Sept. 8: Daydream Time Machine, Swamis and Nobody Children.

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

Sept. 6: Y La Bamba and Brainstory.

Sept. 10: DJ Dave Paul’s Prince and Michael Experience.

Sept. 11: Punch Punch Kick, Derde Verde, Sanglorians and Jose Galvez.

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

Sept. 6, 10 p.m.: The Makers miss playing together on Second Life.

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

Sept. 7, 9 and 10, 6:30 p.m.: Drake and Future perform together in a runway show for morality, class, taste and spiritual renewal that will rival only the last three Korn albums in merit.

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

Sept. 7: DJ Esco and (unspecified) Friends (that we are assured are literal and not figurative) all for $5!

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

Sept. 7: 2000s revivalism with Bayside.

Sept. 9: There will be a treasure trove of neo-disco beats as Holy Ghost! play live.

Sept. 10: Rainn Wilson hosts Creed Bratton and Friends.

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

Sept. 7: Upsilon Acrux, Bobb Bruno and Peter Kolovos.

Sept. 8: Telecaves, Bobb Bruno, ParallaxScroll and Bur Gur. Sept. 11: Sister Mantos, Frisco Dykes, Bastidas! And Leisure World.

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

Sept. 10, 7 p.m.: Ty Segall and No Parents headline a benefit for The Smell.

FILM

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

Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.: Witchy machinations in Marnie Weber’s The Days of Forevermore.

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

See website for schedule.

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

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

Ewan McGregor is the voice of Humpback Whales 3D. Not that the whales aren’t significant enough in their own right, but Obi-Wan narrating means we’re dealing with serious power brokers here. Power brokers who know a good whale story when they see it.

MOCA 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1710 or moca.org.

Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: Peter Hutton’s In Memory screens thanks to the kind and acutely aware folks at the Los Angeles Film Forum.

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

Through Sept. 7: Morgan (12, 2:30, 5, 7:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Don’t Breathe (12:30, 2:50, 4:05, 5:30, 8:10, 9:45 and 10:40 p.m.); Hands of Stone (7:10); Mechanic: Resurrection (12:10, 2:40, 5:20, 8:05 and 10:35 p.m.); Southside With You (3:50 p.m.); Ben-Hur (10 p.m.); Kubo and the Two Strings (12:40 and 6:40 p.m.); Kubo and the Two Strings 3D (3:40 and 9:20 p.m.); Pete’s Dragon (1:10 p.m.); Sausage Party (11:55 a.m., 2:20, 4:50, 7:20 and 9:50 p.m.); Suicide Squad (12:15, 3:55, 7:15 and 10:15 p.m.); Suicide Squad 3D (1:05 and 6:35 p.m.); Jason Bourne (12:30, 4, 7 and 10:10 p.m.); Nerve (1:20, 4:20, 6:50 and 9:40 p.m.); No Manches Frida (1:40, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.).

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE

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

Sept. 10-11, 2:30 p.m.: The Sketchbook Revue promises a cast of marionettes that will alternately delight and terrify.

Continued on next page

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22 Downtown News Continued from previous page Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

Sept. 6-10, 8 p.m. and Sept. 11, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: The Mark Taper Forum goes back to the August Wilson well, as it has done five times before. In this presentation of a 1984 work, Phylicia Rashad directs Greg Bryan, Keith David and Lillias White in a theatrical biography of a tremendously forceful voice of American roots music, Ma Rainey. There is live music onstage, too. Through Oct. 16.

Mama Bares East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

Sept. 8-9, 8 p.m., Sept. 10, 2 and 8 p.m. and Sept. 11, 2 p.m.: Broadway comes to Little Tokyo in this musical revue featuring Joan Almedilla, Ai Goeku Cheung, Deedee Magna Hall and Jennifer Paz. Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

Sept. 6, 9 p.m.: Feast on this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

A View From the Bridge Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

Sept. 7-10, 8 p.m. and Sept. 11, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Ivo Van Hove

why Cook?

September 5, 2016

helms the Young Vic adaptation of Arthur Miller’s stirring tale of a dysfunctional, high-stakes relationship between a niece and her longshoreman uncle. The cast includes and Frederick Weller as the dock worker and Catherine Combs as the teen, Through Oct. 16.

CLASSICAL MUSIC FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Nicolas Mazmanian Colburn School’s Mayman Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu.

7:30 p.m.: The French pianist makes his American debut with a keyed-up interpretation of the national character.

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10 PieCe sPeCiaL

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

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

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OFFICE SPACE LEASE/SALE UP TO 1650 SQ FT of Office space available in secure building with quick access to downtown Los Angeles. Signage available on 3 sides of the building with good visibility (to over 50,000 cars a day). Private offices, waiting room, reception, common area, private and public bathrooms. 310-770-1104

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SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME NO. ES020600 Petitioner (name of each) Brian Allen, 5921 Rhodes Ave., Valley Village, CA, 91607, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: BRIAN ALLEN Proposed name: BRIAN ATKINSON THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. notice of hearing Date: 09/30/2016 Time: 8:30AM Dept.: NCB-A The address of the court is 300 East Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA, 91502. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street,

Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county.

Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter, Executive Office/Clerk.

Superior Court North Central District 300 East Olive Avenue Burbank, CA 91502 Date: June 10, 2016 Hon. Mary Thornton House Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 08/15, 08/22, 08/29, and 09/05/2016.

LEGAL NOTICE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR NOTICE OF DIVIDED PUBLICATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX-DEFAULT LIST (DELINQUENT LIST) Made pursuant to Section 3371, Revenue and Taxation Code Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 3381 through 3385, the Notice of Power to Sell TaxDefaulted Property in and for Los Angeles County, State of California, has been divided and distributed to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers.

I, Joseph Kelly, County of Los Angeles Tax Collector, State of California, certify that: Notice is hereby given that the real properties listed below were declared to be in tax default at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2014, by operation of law. The declaration of default was due to nonpayment of the total amount due

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All information concerning redemption of tax-defaulted property will be furnished, upon request, by Joseph Kelly, Treasurer and Tax Collector at 225 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, 1 (888) 807-2111 or 1 (213) 9742111.

I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Los Angeles, California, on August 19, 2016.

JOSEPH KELLY TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA Assessees/taxpayers, who have disposed of real property after January 1, 2013, may find their names listed because a change in ownership has not been reflected yet on the assessment roll.

ASSESSOR’S IDENTIFICATION NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION The Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), when used to describe property in this list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map (if applicable), and the individual parcel on the map page or in the block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available at the Office of the Assessor.

The following property tax defaulted on July 1, 2014, for the taxes, assessments, and other charges for the fiscal year 2013-14: LISTED BELOW ARE PROPERTIES THAT DEFAULTED IN 2014 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENTS AND 0THER CHARGES FOR THE

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FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014.

AMOUNT OF DELINQUENCY AS OF THIS PUBLICATION IS LISTED BELOW. ECHEAGARAY,VICTORIA L SITUS 800 W 1ST ST APT 0807 LOS ANGELES CA 90012-2460 5151-027-036 $3,106.57 GARCIA,WALTER AND IRENE 5538-005-019 $713.51 LOCKWOOD INVESTORS LLC SITUS 4411 LOCKWOOD AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2757 5539-004-031 $39,168.49 SITUS 4421 LOCKWOOD AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2758 5539-004-032 $39,104.66 SIMANIAN,DAVID CO TR BBJ TRUST SITUS 4401 MELROSE AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2513 5538-015-028 $49,382.30 SPENSLEY,NINA TR SPENSLEY FAMILY TRUST AND SPENSLEY,NINA SITUS 731 N HARVARD BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 90029-3313 5535-030-002 $19,993.26 SUEYOSHI,HIDEKO SITUS 609 N VIRGIL AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90004-2317 5539-025-013 $2,672.79 WOO,HELEN D ET AL WOO,NORMAN P SITUS 831 N HELIOTROPE DR LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2521 5538-017-024 $22,264.28

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for the taxes, assessments, and other charges levied in the 201314 Tax Year that were a lien on the listed real property. Nonresidential commercial property and property upon which there is a recorded nuisance abatement lien shall be Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell after three years of defaulted taxes.

Therefore, if the 2013-14 taxes remain defaulted after June 30, 2017, the property will become Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2018. All other property that has defaulted taxes after June 30, 2019, will become Subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2020.

The name of the assessee and the total tax, which was due on June 30, 2014, for the 2013-14 Tax Year, is shown opposite the parcel number. Tax-defaulted real property may be redeemed by payment of all unpaid taxes and assessments, together with the additional penalties and fees as prescribed by law, or it may be paid under an installment plan of redemption if initiated prior to the property becoming subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell.

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24 Downtown News

September 5, 2016

HERB WESSON, 5

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needs. But Herb Wesson, we can all agree, is not just any person. Why, the Times noted that in each instance he was able to come up with the tens of thousands of dollars and pay off the shortfall. It’s great to have that money available for an emergency. Huzzah!

Let us not cast stones. After all, who doesn’t nearly default on a pair of homes three or four times a year? Donald Trump has had many business bankruptcies, but he’s doing just fine!

It’s not like falling months behind on a mortgage is a big deal. Why, just the other day while taking a bath I nearly defaulted on my rubber ducky, by which I mean I almost lost it, but it turned out it was actually under a mound of soap bubbles. Aren’t we really talking about the same thing?

AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, HERB EARNS ONLY $189,000 A YEAR. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING: HOW CAN ANYONE LIVE ON THAT SALARY IN MODERN LOS ANGELES? Also, who’s to say that Herb Wesson isn’t actually leading and setting a new trend? There’s a 1.3% chance that, by this time next year, getting five default notices will be the new Pokemon Go. Would you force Pikachu out of his home? I think not.

Perhaps this is not a problem of balancing his books, but rather an intentional act. Maybe, in nearly being taken to the financial cleaners five times, Herb Wesson is proving that he understands what the common man and woman endures in a city where rents are spiking, housing is in short supply and no one has a clue on how to address homelessness.

There are other ways these pesky little debts can be easily explained. Maybe those five default notices are actually a savvy, long-term performance art project designed to make us all think about the debtor state. Herb Wesson just might be the Los Angeles political equivalent of Yugoslavia-born performance artist Marina Abramovic, and in suffering financially he is showing us all that someone in the 1% understands the plight of the 99%.

You can’t prove that’s not really what is at play here.

Hello Checkbook!

But so far, all this talk is just that: talk. Now, it is time for action.

That is why my political action committee, WACKY, is launching a crowdsourcing fundraising campaign. It will be ultra innovative as we unite Kickstarter and Go Fund Me for a new platform dubbed Go Kick Me Herb Wesson.

In the next three weeks, we hope to raise $17 million to ensure that Herb Wesson never again has to ask himself whether he should pay the current month’s mortgage, or whether he should ball up the bill and throw it at Councilman Mitch Englander.

Should you contribute? I can’t answer that. However, I can ask another couple questions: Do you have a project that you want to move forward in Los Angeles? Do you work in an industry like transportation, legal affairs, road construction, outdoor advertising or medical marijuana? Do you find a sense of poetry in the phrase “friend in City Hall”?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you just might consider opening your checkbook and writing any number between 9 and 11 followed by three zeros. I can’t say that anyone in City Hall will see it and remember your name, but I can’t say they’ll forget it, either.

I’m winking. Look at me wink!

Los Angeles, we stand here today at the precipice of financial insolvency, and as we look across this great city and wonder whether our council president will be able to keep his two homes, we should all state aloud, “Ich bein ein Wesson.”

Come on. Herb Wesson would do this for you, wouldn’t he?

OK, don’t answer that one. regardie@downtownnews.com