November 7, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #45
Downtown
After Dark THREE TOP MIXMASTERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS. PLUS, A RUNDOWN OF DOWNTOWN'S 11 BEST NEW BARS
6 1 3 1 s e See Pag
Tony Gonzales of District whips up his signature drink, the ”Tony’s Old Fashioned.”
A New Park in the Arts District : 10 Cirque du Soleil Meets ‘Avatar’ : 17 photo by Gary Leonard
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2 Downtown News
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AROUND TOWN
Final Environmental Report For Streetcar Released
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he Los Angeles Streetcar last week hit a milestone, albeit quietly. The final version of the proposed circulator’s environmental impact report, which details the project’s effects on Downtown neighborhoods (including its speed, ridership estimates and safety concerns), has been completed. It is available for view online or in person at 1149 S. Broadway, though an appointment is needed for the latter (to do so, call (213) 485-5760 or email eng. lastreetcarproject@lacity.org). The public got to weigh in on the draft version of the EIR over the summer, and the city’s formal responses to each comment are published in the final EIR, which is at tinyurl.com/dtlastreetcar. Price tags for the four-mile project, first proposed by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar in 2008, have jumped wildly, though recently streetcar proponents have sought to get the cost to around $250 million. No groundbreaking or opening has been announced.
Cecil Hotel Aims for Monument Status
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owntown’s Cecil Hotel is on the way to getting some serious recognition. The city Cultural Heritage Commission on Oct. 20 voted unanimously to consider giving the
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS building at 640 S. Main St. Historic-Cultural Monument status. New York-based Simon Baron Development, which is working on a plan to modernize the building, with a hotel component and 301 small apartments, applied for the designation, citing the Beaux Arts exterior and the design by architect Loy Lester Smith. “This building tells an interesting story about Downtown L.A. hotel development of its time and it is worthy of preserving and protecting, and therefore a HCM designation is appropriate,” Simon Baron Development President Matthew Baron told Los Angeles Downtown News. In recent years the Cecil has been known mainly for unsavory happenings; in 2013, Canadian student Elisa Lam went missing while staying there and was later found dead in a water tank on the roof. Ken Bernstein, manager of the city Office of Historic Resources, said a final vote on the hotel is tentatively scheduled for December.
New Car-Sharing Service Drives Into Downtown
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he car-sharing service Zipcar has been in Downtown Los Angeles for several years. Now, if you want a ride for as little as an hour, there’s an alternative. Automaker General Motors recently announced that it has expanded its Maven service to the community. Maven City, as it’s known, has 60 cars at 24 locations in Downtown, including in South Park, Little Tokyo and near the University of Southern California. Users who register with the app can reserve a car, pick it up, and ultimately return the vehicle to its original location. Hourly rates start at $8 and include insurance costs and fuel. The
Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?
November 7, 2016
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Old Bank District
Main Museum
Grand Opening
cars are GM vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac Escalade. Maven launched in January and has expanded to nine markets. Users can register at mavendrive.com.
Chamber Orchestra Hires Youngest Principal Player Ever
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he Downtown-based Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has been performing for nearly 50 years, and does local concerts at venues such as the Colburn School’s Zipper
October 30, 2016
Hall and the USC Bovard Auditorium. Recently, however, it broke new ground: It announced the appointment of Danish flautist Joachim Becerra Thomsen, who at 21 years old is the youngest musician ever selected as a principal chair for LACO. He will start in January and will arrive in Los Angeles after holding the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s principal flute position in Helsinki. Thomsen succeeds David Shostac, who served as LACO principal flautist for 41 years before retiring in May. “Joachim Thomsen, who has a distinctive and ravishingly beautiful sound, superb musiContinued on page 6
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November 7, 2016
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4 Downtown News
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EDITORIALS
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Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Yes on Proposition HHH
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roposition HHH, the $1.2 billion homelessness and housing initiative on this week’s ballot, will not eradicate homelessness in Los Angeles. That said, the property tax bond is potentially a very important part of the regional solution to homelessness, as it would fund the creation of up to 10,000 units of permanent supportive housing in the city. This could get some of the people who most need apartments, as well as those who are resistant to accepting help, off the streets. That in turn could lead to cleaner sidewalks, reduced crime and better and safer living conditions for both housed and homeless Angelenos. Los Angeles Downtown News urges a yes vote on Proposition HHH. It will benefit Downtown, which has the largest contingent of homeless individuals in the region. It will also help the rest of the city, as homelessness now exists in all communities. The proposition would cost property owners $9.64 for every $100,000 of assessed value, and the average Los Angeles property tax bill would rise by $33 a year. The funds would triple the rate at which permanent supportive housing is built in the city. If HHH passes, the new housing must appear in all 15 council districts, and not be concentrated in Downtown Los Angeles. City Council members will have to stand firm when constituents complain about proposed new homeless housing projects. City and County elected officials have improved their response to homelessness in recent years. However, the situation remains a crisis. The money from Proposition HHH will be an important tool in a fight that will continue well into the future.
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
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Emily Manthei 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.
November 7, 2016
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
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin
ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Emily Manthei ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt
PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard 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.
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris
A New Look for the Flower District GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie
SENIOR WRITER: Kiminevitable changes, then we think the not approved and the project can’t happen, he proposed redevelopment of theEddieits STAFF WRITER: Slayton revitalization deserves support. While the they would have to look at relocating, possiSouthern California Flower MarketNicholas CONTRIBUTING Kathryn Maesewould never be the same, so S I Nbly C Eoutside 19 7 2 city limits. Those jobs should stay that Los Angeles Downtown NewsEDITOR:community CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Loskind Angeles News and the tax revenue the busimuch is happening nearby that this of Downtown in Downtown wrote about last month would mean a Fischer, Emily Manthei 1264 Los Angeles, CA 90026 isW. anFirst Street, nesses generate should remain in city coffers. drastic change for the form and feel of the mixed-use project makes sense. This phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ART DIRECTOR: opportunity to ensure that the neighborFlower District. The project would mod- Brian Allison Even though 14th District City Counweb: DowntownNews.com ASSISTANT ART Yumi Kanegawa hood benefits as well as the developer. ernize one aged, low-slung building. A DIRECTOR: cilman José Huizar has indicated he supemail: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: second faded structure would be razed Gary Leonard ports the project, this is likely the beginThe Downtown News article described facebook: and replaced by an attention-grabbing, of a News long, challenging process. Dehow the Southern California Flower Mar- L.A.ning ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt Downtown 14-story housing tower. signs will be refined and details such as ketMANAGER: has fallen into disrepair CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Catherine Holloway as facilities twitter: the amount of parking and affordable have aged. Currently, about 50 vendors The development would necessitate a ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews Michael Lamb housing in the building will be hammered have booths there; the complex is owned zoning change, a process that these days is ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez out.News Expect the usual environmental reby what a market representative termed aof Civic Center garnering increased scrutiny in Los Angeis a trademark Inc. All rights reserved. Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newsports, traffic studies and so on. collective” of dozensThe ofLos mostles, particularly with the Neighborhood CIRCULATION:InDanielle “shareholder Salmon paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices andlike residences Downtown of the plan, in part ly Japanese-American families who have MANAGER: Salvador Ingles tegrity Initiative coming to theDISTRIBUTION ballot next We theofoutline Los Angeles. DISTRIBUTION Bonilla beenLorenzo in theCastillo, floral Gustavo industry for decades. March. This proposal should be examinedASSISTANTS: One copy per person.because it fits with the greater evolution of closely, as it would mark a radical departure The families want to fund improveDowntown Los Angeles. Another 33-story for the community that abuts the Fashion housing tower is proposed across the street ments for the complex. That’s where the District and Central City East. EDITOR & PUBLISHER:new from the Flower Market, so the building facilities come in — rents in those Sue Laris MANAGER: Dawn Eastin may not be an outlier. 290 apartments and the 50,000-60,000 If certain major elements ofGENERAL the plan, square feet of creative office space would chiefly the promise to keep flower industry If this project happens, the district will EDITOR: Jon Regardie cover modernization costs. jobs in the neighborhood, andEXECUTIVE the inclusion change. But change is happening across SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim of low-income housing units, can be mainDowntown. This is a good step for the fu The vendors say they want to stay DownSTAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton tained as the development goes through ture, as long as the anchor of jobs remains. town, but claim that if the zoning change is
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Emily Manthei
Yes on Measure M
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ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa easure M, a proposed half-cent sales taxLeonard to fund mass PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary
S I N C E 19 7 2
Los Angeles Downtown News sions of the Crenshaw, Purple and Green lines. Also in the works is 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 a massive phone: tunnel213-481-1448 project in the Sepulveda Pass. • fax: 213-250-4617 The sales taxDowntownNews.com would generate $860 million a year in 2017 dollars, web: and couldemail: yield realpeople@downtownnews.com up to $120 billion over 40 years. This would allow
transit projects, is not perfect. However, it is likely to faMetro to borrow against future revenue, meaning it could accelerfacebook: Ashley Schmidt cilitate rail and otherACCOUNTING: projects that would improve mobilate the construction L.A. of certain projects. Downtown News That’s huge. ity across Los Angeles County for decades to come. After the presi One sticking point concerns how the public can be assured CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: dential election, this is the most important matter that local voters that the money is well spent. Measure backers say an oversight DowntownNews ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, will decide on Tuesday. panel will meet quarterly to discuss projects. The committee Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb must have©2016 teeth to demand Los Angeles Downtown News urges a yes vote onHernandez Measure M, SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Civicand Centerthe News,ability Inc. Los Angeles Downtown answers to any quesNews is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All tionable expenditure. despite some concerns. rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read While Downtown Los Angeles would continue to be the center Some people are skeptical about the lack of a sunset date, as the CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is disof the regional transportationDISTRIBUTION hub, improvements funded by Meatax would go on in perpetuity, and “forever” tributed every Monday throughout the offices and taxes are rarely overMANAGER: Salvador Ingles residences Downtown sure M would be seen throughout the region. The roster includes a turned. That may ofbe toughLostoAngeles. swallow, but the overall benefits of DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, per person. light rail line connecting Downtown Artesia, as well as expanMeasure MOne arecopy worth it. Gustavo and Bonilla
November 7, 2016
Downtown News 5
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
11 Amazing, Goofy, and Amazingly Goofy Things We’ll Vote on This Week Highlights on the Phone Book of an Election Ballot By Jon Regardie inally, it’s almost over. At press time, we’re still not sure if we’ve survived. It’s staggering to think that the 2016 election cycle, which began in the latter half of 2014, has reached its conclusion. For far too long we’ve been buffeted by Donald and Hillary,
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A line outside a Downtown polling place during the 2008 presidential election. This week, voters get to choose a new president, and also to vote on subjects such as homelessness, condoms, cigarettes and plastic bags.
THE REGARDIE REPORT and for a while by Bernie and Ted and Ben Carson (Ben Carson!) and so many others. They fought like cats and dogs, and Trump never ceased to stun with his unending ability to come up with an offense that makes each previous offense seem little league. We’re going to need so much group therapy. That won’t start until Wednesday morning, however, as first we have to claw through Election Day itself. That’s no easy feat in California, where the ballot is packed with dozens of state, county and city propositions and measures in addition to all the political races. Be careful you don’t get a hernia trying to lift your sample ballot. Here are 11 wonderful and bizarre ways that we get to shape the future. President: Here’s the big question: If Hillary wins, will angry Trump supporters grab the torches and pitchforks, take to the streets and break stuff? If he loses, Trump will blame everyone but himself, but here’s the deal: If the collective media were actually able to rig the election, as he insists is happening, then we’d rig it for Trump (if this theoretical were possible we’d then instantly hide the nuclear codes, but we’re making stuff up here). Not because he’d be a better president, but because he’d be so much more entertaining. Good grief, think how closed off and difficult the Clinton II Administration will be — their wall to media access may be more impenetrable than Donald’s imaginary barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border. With President Trump,
photo by Gary Leonard
there’d be a juicy new scandal every week. Newspaper websites would get so many clicks and page views that the ailing industry might even be saved. U.S. Senate: The most intriguing thing about the Kamala Harris-Loretta Sanchez race to replace Barbara Boxer has been the Great Pretend that Sanchez ever had a chance. She’s not Trump loopy, but her campaign performance has been even more pathetic than the Dodgers’ try against the Cubs. Say hi to U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. Measure M: Do you like playing with trains? The Metropolitan Transportation Authority does, and if two-thirds of L.A. County voters say yes to a half-cent sales tax that lasts forever, Metro will
build loads of rail lines across the county. Just don’t expect, despite what the TV ads imply, that this will alleviate traffic — even with the M-abetted projects, we’re going to wait in our cars so long that Godot might actually show up. Proposition HHH: You gotta hand it to the HHH crew: Their logo is super cute, with three capital Hs nuzzling together in something that looks like a cozy house. In other words, it’s totally the opposite of L.A.’s homelessness crisis. Prop HHH is a $1.2 billion bond measure that would build up to 10,000 apartments for the chronically homeless. Will it solve homelessness? No! But look at Skid Row, or these days any neighborhood in L.A., and ask how the heck our so-called leaders lost control of this issue. Continued on page 24
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6 Downtown News
November 7, 2016
The Central City Crime Report
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T H E
A PA RT M E N T S
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.
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Hit and Run: Early on Oct. 10, a man was in his car at a parking lot off Flower Street. Another man came up and punched him twice in the chest. The attacker grabbed the driver’s phone and ran away. Wire Works: An unidentified individual snuck onto a construction site at Second and Main streets on the night of Oct. 10. The thief stole copper wire and other items. Snatch and Grab and Drive Away: Just before 7 p.m. on Oct. 12, a man was walking at Sixth and Main streets when a car pulled up. The driver grabbed the man’s duffle bag and drove off. The victim’s wallet and watch were in the bag. Please Lock Your Car: On the night of Oct. 12, an unidentified individual walked into a parking garage at Ninth and Hill streets. The thief found an unlocked Infinity, opened the door, and stole items that belonged to three different people. Strong Arm: On the night of Oct. 12, a man was walking near Sixth and Flower streets when someone hit him on the head, knocking him unconscious. When he came to, his cell phone and wallet were missing. Bootlegger: A liquor delivery occurred at Bottega Louie on the morning of Oct. 13. While no one was looking, an unidentified man approached and grabbed several bottles. He then fled the scene.
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
This Week: A Wire Theft, An Unlocked Car and Stolen Liquor
MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING
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AROUND TOWN, 2 cianship and a wonderful presence, is an extraordinary and critically important new member of the orchestra,” Music Director Jeffrey Kahane said in a prepared statement. “I know that he will bring an electricity and special energy to the orchestra, which, I have no doubt, our audiences will feel immediately.” Thomsen is the recipient of numerous prestigious music awards. Information on LACO and upcoming concerts are at laco.org.
Arts District Theater Brings Poetry to Election Day
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his year’s election season has been stressful, nervewracking and at times lowbrow. So on election day, the Arts District’s Cornerstone Theater Company is bringing some poetry to voters. The theater at 708 Traction Ave. will serve as a polling station on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. From noon-4 p.m. it will host workshops asking, “What does it mean to vote?” There will be art supplies for those interested in drawing or painting, and one-on-one sessions with individuals interested in writing poetry about democracy. Five poets from the Melrose Poetry Bureau and RENT Poet will host the workshops. It’s a follow-up to the LA2050backed Poets at the Polls program that coincided with the June primaries. In partnership with the theater, the nearby Pie Hole restaurant on Traction Avenue will give out free coffee to people who show their “I Voted” sticker and voting stubs.
November 7, 2016
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Downtown News 7
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
8 Downtown News
November 7, 2016
Women on Skid Row Are Getting Older, Facing Violence
The State of the Streets for Women
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he Downtown Women’s Needs Assessment report is packed with sobering statistics about what homeless women in Downtown Los Angeles experience. Here are some of the facts and figures that are leading for calls to take action.
New Report Offers Daunting Picture of Life on the Streets for Fast-Growing Population By Eddie Kim new report paints a staggering picture of a fast-growing Skid Row population. Women living on the streets are increasing in number and are older than ever before, according to the study. Additionally, more than 90% of surveyed Skid Row women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. “The report has a range of findings, but it is clear that targeting services and dollars to specific groups of homeless people is what gets to the root of the problem rather than just churning more people through the system. This is certainly true of women,” said Anne Miskey, CEO of the Downtown Women’s Center. The report, dubbed the 2016 Downtown Women’s Needs Assessment, was led by the Downtown Women’s Action Coalition (of which DWC is a partner) and based on surveys conducted with 371 homeless or formerly homeless women by the USC School of Social Work. It comes on the heels of a count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority that reported a 55% increase in the number of homeless women in Los Angeles County since 2013. A key finding is that women in Skid Row are aging: 60% were 51 or older, compared to 47% in 2010. Older women reported poorer health than in previous surveys. The trailing effects of the economic recession continue to be cited as a cause of homelessness. The DWAC report notes that nearly two-thirds of surveyed women graduated from high school or completed their GED. In 2010, just 32% of women reported that level of academic achievement. “There are too many college-educated women who have a job but are one paycheck away from homelessness,” 11th District City Councilman Mike Bonin said at a press conference for the release of the report on Oct. 26. “Housing insecurity is immense for
A
many people in this city.” The most shocking statistics concerns violence: 91% of women reported having experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with 34% having endured domestic violence or sexual assault within the last year. The report also details how sub-groups of women experience homelessness differently. Skid Row’s homelessness has a racial imbalance, Miskey noted — while black women represent just 8% of the county’s female population, 58% of surveyed homeless women were black. Black women are more likely to be homeless for more than one year: 39%, versus 29% for Latina women and 26% for white women. They are also more likely to slip back into homelessness, with nearly one-quarter of black women reporting being homeless more than four times over the past three years. Miskey said that ethnicity figures into how services are provided, particularly with Latina women. They were more likely to report their physical health as “poor,” and 61% of Latina respondents stated a strong preference for women-only services, which was less important to white and black women. “Immigrant women face complex challenges, including language barriers when asking for help, and, for undocumented women, ineligibility for public benefits or avoiding seeking help for fear of deportation,” the report states. Trans Factor The report also found a disproportionate amount of homelessness among trans women. One in five trans individuals report being homeless at least once in their life. The same number say they have been refused a home or apartment, according to the study. Trans women have an especially hard time finding emergency shelter, and are often turned away or assigned the wrong gender on
Homeless Women in Downtown: 1,535 (per 2016 LAHSA Homeless Count) Ethnicity: 58% Black 14% Hispanic/Latino 11% White 3% Asian or Pacific Islander Where Women Are Sleeping: Apartment, Home or SRO Hotel: 32% Homeless Shelter: 32% Street: 29% Chronically Homeless: 58% Women With a Physical or Mental Disability: 81.5% Reported Mental Health as “Poor”: 25% Recovering From Drug or Alcohol Abuse: 28% ER Visit in Past Year: 73% Experienced Abuse or Assault: Sexual Assault in Lifetime: 39% Domestic Abuse in Lifetime: 55% Child Abuse: 67.5% Physical or Sexual Abuse in Lifetime: 91% —Eddie Kim
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
You can help fight homelessness with just your vote. PAGE
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This November, you can vote YES on Prop HHH to provide over a billion dollars in funding for clean, safe housing for women, children, and veterans experiencing homelessness. All you have to do is make it to the LAST PAGE of the ballot and vote YES on Prop HHH to:
• Provide enough money for up to 10,000 permanent supportive housing units for L.A.’s homeless • Build facilities for access to alcohol and drug addiction services, mental health counseling, and housing placement • Help get survivors of domestic violence, veterans, and children off the street and into homes
Prop HHH has strict independent oversight and regular audits, and will go directly towards housing.
We support Prop HHH
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Councilmember Jose Huizar
Councilmember Marqueese Harris-Dawson
Council President Herb Wesson
Mayor Eric Garcetti
Vote YES on Prop HHH
www.YesOnHHH.com
VOTE YES!
Paid for by Yes on HHH - End Homelessness in L.A., a Coalition of Civic Nonprofits, Housing Providers, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Councilmember Mike Bonin, Philanthropists, and Working Families, 777 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 4050, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Major funding by California Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles - Yes on HHH (Nonprofit 501(c)(3)). Additional information is available at ethics.lacity.org. HHH-DOWNTOWN DAILY NEWS A PRINT.indd 1
11/3/16 11:28 AM
November 7, 2016
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM violence in the last year. Regardless of whether a woman is housed or on the street, “survival sex” continues to be a reality: Nearly one in five women surveyed reported trading sex for money, alcohol, drugs, shelter, food or other goods. The DWAC report considers the number likely underreported, as nearly one-third of respondents declined to answer the prompt. Additionally, of the women who reported using survival sex, 72% said they faced domestic violence or later sexual assault as a result. Although the LAPD encourages women to report such crimes, the DWAC study found that the majority of police interactions were negative. Of women who said they had a police encounter within the last year, one-third received a citation and 40% were arrested.
entry. They are also frequent targets of violence and sexual assault. “With service providers, I would say there is a general openness to the trans community, but also a lack of cultural competency,” Miskey said. “With gender issues in general, it’s easy for providers to say, ‘We serve trans women,’ but there’s little to no training on the skills that demands.” Many women report feeling unsafe in shelters, and Miskey noted that the number of women sleeping most frequently in shelters dropped slightly (32% from 36% in 2013) while the number of women on the street rose (29% versus 23.5%). Both shelters and the street are hotbeds of violence, as 40% of women who reported sleeping most frequently in a shelter or on the street experienced sexual or physical
Half of the women who reported a police interaction said they were initially seeking help from a police officer. “Ending the criminalization of women experiencing homelessness for quality of life offenses, such as sitting or sleeping on the sidewalk, is vital,” the report states. “These arrests and citations can be expensive and time consuming and, in turn, push women further into poverty and away from permanent housing rather than improving community safety.” Activists, experts and politicians spoke at the Oct. 26 press conference in support of Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion city housing bond on this week’s ballot that would create more than 10,000 units of housing for the region’s most vulnerable homeless individuals. “Proposition HHH is not just housing, but
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Downtown News 9 services — mental health services, drug rehabilitation, therapy,” remarked Louise Mbella, a former co-chair of the DWAC, who was once homeless herself. She added, “When you go through trauma, it’s not like you get a house and you’re ready to work. You must overcome the pain and learn to live free again.” Perhaps as important as building housing is the study of why, when and where women end up on the street. Miskey noted that studying homeless women is a rare occurrence, as the majority of the homeless population are men. Reports like this one, she said, offer the opportunity to find specialized solutions for a community that is suffering in greater numbers than ever. eddie@downtownnews.com
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10 Downtown News
November 7, 2016
Finally, the Arts District Gets Its Park Long-Awaited Green Space at Fifth and Hewitt Opens By Nicholas Slayton he Arts District is in the midst of an unprecedented residential burst. The 320-apartment Garey Building opened in July. At 950 E. Third St., a mega-development with 472 rental units is under construction. In September, plans were unveiled for a $2 billion development highlighted by a pair of 58-story towers. The list goes on and on. Those projects are bringing thousands of new inhabitants to the neighborhood. What they are not delivering is public green space for those people to gather. That is partly why a
new park was so eagerly awaited. On Saturday, Nov. 5 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press), a cadre of local and city officials were scheduled to join area leaders to cut the ribbon on the $1.6 million Arts District Park. The half-acre space at 501 S. Hewitt St. includes a children’s playground, a mural wall and a bandshell-style shade structure that covers what can serve as a performance area. There are also benches and tables. “It’s a fabulous win for the community,” said 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, who
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The $1.6 million Arts District Park opened over the weekend. It is close to several area housing complexes.
photo by Gary Leonard
worked to get funding for the project. “These public amenities go a long way. In an area like this, where the Arts District is transitioning to residential and you have thousands of more people visiting, it makes it more livable.” Reaching the ribbon cutting has not been easy. The park was originally envisioned as part of the La Kretz Innovation Campus, which opened this spring. It was to be funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency, but that revenue source disappeared in 2011 when Gov. Jerry Brown announced he would abolish CRAs across the state. “It was written off, between the CRA and all of the other obstacles that came with the CRA dissolving,” Huizar said. Huizar’s office worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks to secure Quimby fees, which are paid by developers for site acquisition and park creation. Community design
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workshops were held, and a groundbreaking took place on Dec. 13, 2014. Progress was expected to be quick, with an anticipated opening the following summer. Circle Look An unexpected delay arrived a few months later, when contaminated soil was found on the site. Additionally, crews discovered roller skates, pieces of clothing and other items from the late 1800s. Among the finds were medicine bottles to treat gonorrhea, along with women’s stockings, prompting speculation that the park site might once have housed a brothel. The soil was cleaned and work was able to resume. That led to the current project, which is laid out with an emphasis on circles — the paved areas make three arcs across the space, while grass and tree-covered portions are also set up in rings. Arts District stakeholders are thrilled.
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DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
The park at 501 S. Hewitt St. includes a children’s playground, a nod to the growing number of families settling in the area. There are also several benches for people to sit. Trees are expected to grow and provide shade.
photos by Gary Leonard
“It’s terrific to get some green space in the community,” said Jonathan Jerald, the secretary of the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space, a nonprofit focused on providing resources to local artists. At the same time, he noted a bittersweet element, saying that many longtime artists have left the area due to rising rents. New projects have brought in residents who were not a part of the previous artistic community. “Green space is important, but even more important to me is trying to hang onto those things that gave the Arts District its value to the city,” he said. Others are looking more toward the future. Anais Engle, who works at the nearby Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator on the La Kretz campus, and was strolling by the park site last week, said the new attraction offers a chance to bring the community together. “It’ll be nice to have an opportunity to eat
outdoors and meet some of the neighbors,” she said. Chief Deputy City Engineer Deborah Weintraub said that although a half-acre might seem relatively small, it works well for a park. She added that the community meetings helped planners maximize the space for public uses, and that the playground will serve the growing number of families settling in the area. Ramon Barajas, assistant general manager with the Department of Recreation and Parks, said the park will be open from sunrise to sunset, and that department staff will be on hand every day to oversee the attraction. Dogs are allowed in the park, though they must be kept on leash the entire time. They are allowed on the grassy areas. Sustainable Features The park was designed with sustainability in mind, with a particular emphasis on conserving
water amid the ongoing drought. Weintraub said the paved portions of the attraction are relatively shallow and are designed to collect rainwater and allow it permeate the surface. Additionally, 10%-15% of the water needed for irrigation is captured from the La Kretz campus and is stored in a cistern. Weintraub said the Bureau of Engineering also made sure that all the plants in the park are what she termed “California friendly,” meaning they require relatively little water. That said, the park includes traditional Bermuda grass, which does require regular watering. Last week, the only feature left to install was the mural; the local organization Art Share L.A. is organizing a vote among several designs. The winning selection will be mounted on the wall next to the shade structure. The art will remain for a year, and then a new work will be chosen. The park sits amid an area that is becoming
increasingly busy. Fifth and Hewitt holds popular spots such as Urth Caffé and the bar and music venue Resident. The park is close to the Barker Block. Other nearby residential efforts include a planned 310-unit project from Bolour Associates at 527 S. Colyton St. and Maxxam Enterprises’ proposed 172-unit live/work development at 676 S. Mateo St., both of which are awaiting approval from the city. Huizar said the park is just the first step in adding more community space and pedestrian elements to the Arts District. With the area expanding, he said it is critical to find additional places for people to gather. “We’ve got to find more parks and provide more public amenities, which means more pedestrian safety, more trees and more green space,” he said. Still, people are happy with the first step, even if it took a lot longer than expected. nicholas@downtownnews.com
closures on flower & spring st in downtown la The Metro Regional Connector Transit Project is currently under construction. Expect weekend closures on Flower St, between 4th and 5th St, and Spring St, between 1st and 3rd St, through early 2017. With Broadway at 2nd St now open, transit riders are encouraged to check Metro’s Service Alerts at metro.net/advisories for information regarding bus services. Businesses are open during construction. Learn more about the project at metro.net/regionalconnector.
contact us 213.922.7277 regionalconnector@metro.net metro.net/regionalconnector @metroconnector facebook.com/metroregionalconnector
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
12 Downtown News
November 7, 2016
The Secret Behind the Spike in New Projects
If city Measure JJJ, which is on this week’s ballot, passes, then certain projects could see their costs increase. The measure would lead to higher wages for some workers.
A Pair of Upcoming Ballot Measures Have Local Developers Jumping By Eddie Kim he pace of development in Downtown Los Angeles has been astonishing for several years. In the last two months, however, the Department of City Planning has been hit with a flood of project applications that almost makes the previous period look languid. The reason, Downtown real estate experts say, is something that might seem unrelated to construction: upcoming ballot measures. On Nov. 8, city residents will vote on Build Better L.A., which is listed on the ballot as Measure JJJ. Next March brings the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative. The measures, the experts say, would raise costs and potentially force delays on developers, in the process cooling the local real estate market. Hence the rush to get projects approved, and potentially “grandfathered” in, or exempt from the new demands. “Everybody is aware of the rush right now,” said Hamid Behdad, a longtime real estate expert with the Central City Development Group. “It’s inspired people who have never, ever gotten off the ground to submit for entitlements.” Observers are split on whether Build Better L.A. or the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative is the bigger threat to developers, but the priority in terms of timing is the former. Measure JJJ, proffered by a group of area labor unions and affordable housing advocates, would mandate that developments requiring certain zoning changes or tweaks to rules in the city’s General Plan include a percentage of subsidized housing units, plus employ more local workers. They would also have to pay them higher wages. Most of the plans being submitted in the rush are “podium projects,” or buildings with a concrete base and mid-rise construction, said Simon Ha, a partner at the architecture firm Steinberg and the former chair of the Downtown Los Angeles Neigh-
T
borhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee. “These projects often need variances to the general plan, or ‘upzoning’ to create more density,” he said. “It’s mostly occurring near transit hubs or in corridors, where you may have 100 to 150 feet of commercial zoning from the sidewalk and a residential zone behind it. To do a decent-sized project, you’re trying to blend zones or add height.” Podium projects tend to use more non-union labor (with lower wages), unlike most high-rise developments. It is the most common type of project in Downtown, with a number of proposals in the Fashion and Arts districts, where zone changes and general plan amendments are often required. The crux for developers, experts say, is not simply that subsidized housing and paying prevailing wages is expensive. Instead, it’s the fact that Build Better L.A. would immediately increase costs on projects that have already calculated land, construction and permitting prices. Those calculations are used to figure out a profit margin and financing. Many projects are at risk of having to go back to the literal drawing board, Ha said. “Your cost of construction goes up like 25%-30% with using union labor or prevailing wages,” Ha added. The bright side is that an unprecedented number of projects are now in the entitlement process, which could bode well for the local market, said Michael Soto, research manager for real estate firm Transwestern. “Even if the measures don’t pass, at least getting entitlements provides some sort of security on what a developer can build on their site, as opposed to having it being unentitled, where it’s hard to assign any value on the site,” Soto wrote in an email. Real estate observers also feel only some of these projects will actually be built — construction loans have tightened in the last six months, despite sustained demand for new buildings in California, Behdad said. “All these entitled buildings, they’re not going to all secure fi-
photo by Gary Leonard
nancing this real estate cycle. Then it’ll be like what happened in 2007 and 2008 with the economic crash, where these entitled projects sit around until the cycle picks up again,” he said. A bigger concern for Joel Miller, vice president and partner at engineering and land-use firm Psomas, is a political and economic climate that is increasingly placing new fees on developers, despite rapidly increasing land and construction costs. The city this year increased Quimby fees, which are charged to developers to fund green space and parks. There is also discussion of a housing linkage fee, which would essentially force market-rate developers to build or pay for affordable housing. “I think it’s only a matter of time before so many of these additional burdens placed on the development community means some just can’t afford to build in L.A. The intricacies of just the entitlements is costly alone,” Miller said. Ha thinks that the price of land will adjust over time, in line with changes to development costs. Other cities with strong wage laws, such as San Francisco, still are high-demand spots for construction, he said. “When you talk to developers, they’ll say, ‘We don’t mind doing affordable housing, or using this kind of labor, as long as we know about it before planning,’” he notes. Therein lies the rub: Developers have been surprised by Build Better L.A. and, to a lesser degree, the NII. They’ll be watching election returns closely. eddie@downtownnews.com
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DOWNTOWN AFTER DARK
THE
Best New Bars
IN DOWNTOWN
The Central City Has a Whole New Collection of Places to Get a Drink. There’s Even a Bar in a Supermarket
The Overflow is a demure wine bar on a busy stretch of Fifth Street.
photo by Gary Leonard
By Dan Johnson ook at the Downtown Los Angeles skyline and you’ll see copious cranes and high-rises under construction. Get to street level, however, and you’ll glimpse a different kind of evolution — that of the local nightlife scene. As has been the case for several years, the Downtown bar roster is growing. As more residents flock to the Central City, more places to quench their thirst and their desire to socialize are debuting. It’s not hyperbole to declare that Downtown has the hottest bar scene in all of Los Angeles. Below, we lay out our annual rundown of the 11 best new Downtown bars of the past year. It’s not a compendium of what has arrived, and there are many other enticing spots. Think of it as starting point on a very lengthy pub crawl. Bars are listed alphabetically.
rotating list of signature and classic cocktails aren’t enough to entice you into the intoxicating time capsule, perhaps the generous happy hour that lasts until 10 p.m. on weekdays will. At 416 S. Spring St.
El Dorado Bar: Follow the illuminated arrow sign into the depths of Spring Street’s El Dorado Building and you’ll find a gilded lounge steeped in 20th century decor and 21st century cocktails. The spacious El Dorado Bar is a collaboration between Monty owner Rio Hackford and the admired bar architects at Downtown’s Raveled Studio. If 12 taps of draft beer and a
Golden Road at Grand Central Market: The Golden Road tasting room at Grand Central Market is an absolute slam dunk for the foodie palace on Broadway. This spinoff of Golden Road’s Glendale headquarters is at the western edge of the market, close to Hill Street, and makes a perfect destination for anyone eager to wet their whistle while sampling
L
Garcons de Café: Say bonjour to another new French business in Downtown. Garcons de Café is a lovely space that pushes wine and charcuterie in the Spring Arcade Building, where its neighbors include Guisados, Green Grotto, Crepes San Frontieries and Gelateria Uli. The order of the day at Garcons de Café is a curiously styled blend of boutique retail and curated wine service delivered amidst high ceilings, pretty tables and a marble bar. There are 30 wines available in bottle form for consumption on the premises or to take home (30% off). Ten glass pours are also available. At 541 S. Spring St. or garcons-de-café.com.
The Downtown outpost of Rock & Reilly’s offers a pair of bars, Irish drinking culture and more TVs than a Best Buy.
photo by Gary Leonard
top-flight charcuterie, Thai fusion and superlative egg sandwiches. The menu is laymanfriendly and full of house taps. You’ll find your lights and darks and hop bombs grouped together. If you’re happy with the beer that has grown synonymous with Los Angeles craft brewing, perhaps the folks at Golden Road can interest you in a T-shirt or possibly a welldeserved hangover. You can taste 20 beers from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. At 317 S. Broadway or grandcentralmarket.com. Mega Bodega: Amidst the South Park real estate boom, welcome Mega Bodega, a no-frills corner-store equivalent. With 12 taps and a cooler full of cans augmenting a sandwich menu, Mega Bodega will have you thinking of Spring Street — just tack on the caffeine, the 8 a.m. open time and a full patio and you might begin to see shades of Spring for Coffee with way more seating. Any way you slice it, the happy haunt is a curious script-flipper for new Downtown businesses, as function comes before design. An undernourished block needed caffeine, calories and alcohol, and Mega Bodega answered. Unfortunately, it closes around 10 p.m. and doesn’t open on Sundays. At 1001 S. Broadway or megabodega.la. Miro: Ah, whiskey. Miro, the pointy and squat restaurant across the street from the coming Wilshire Grand replacement, has given Seven Grand a run for its Downtown whiskey title thanks to an unprecedented selection of bourbon, rye, scotch and other spirits from far afield. Most seek out Miro for the quietly refined atmosphere or the Mediterranean cuisine. Discerning drinkers and those with a punitive agenda against their livers can be found against the bar during lunch and dinner service weekdays and dinner on Saturdays. There’s even a special whiskey room, with nearly 400
sipping options. That’s commitment! At 888 Wilshire Blvd. or mirorestaurant.com. Resident: Yes, you can see live music at the Arts District’s Resident. You can also choose not to see live music at Resident, for the inside bar is but the tip of the proverbial iceberg at this Fourth Street-adjacent spot. Resident’s patio is the epitome of California casual, with bench seating that extends along the venue amidst zero-scaped garden pleasantries. Beverages and food options are available via a veritable park of Airstream trailers where tap beer, wine, draft and hand crafted-cocktails reign supreme. Low-key buzz cultivation beneath an Arts District sky is a mighty fine incentive. And if you want, you can always hear a band. At 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. Rock and Reilly’s: Imagine a Venn diagram with overlapping circles representing sports viewing, Irish drinking culture, male braggadocio, gastropub service and corporate happy hour accommodation. Fitting in each of those rings is Rock and Reilly’s, which many will know for its Sunset Strip location. The Downtown R&R has taken over the former Front of House restaurant on Flower Street. Here you’ll find two bars, ample seating, more televisions than a Best Buy, a variety of moderately priced and Irish heavy beers on tap and value-conscious whiskey offerings. At 615 S. Flower St. or rockandreillys.com/dtla. The Eight Bar at Whole Foods: Noses turned up and scoffs were uttered by the Downtown drinking cognoscenti when Whole Foods opened a full-service bar on premises. If you can look past the ostentatious “Verse” and “Chorus” signs, The Eight Bar has done quite well. It’s no great mystery — the Whole Foods bar doesn’t deal in service industry esoterica. Continued on page 16
Glendale’s beloved Golden Road Brewery has opened a drinking spot in Grand Central Market.
photo by Gary Leonard
14 Downtown News
Meet
the mixmasters PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD
Behind the Bar With Some of Downtown’s Top Drink Makers By Eddie Kim and Nicholas Slayton What makes a great bar? Decor is important, as are location and the right vibe. Blow one of those and fickle patrons will head someplace else. After all, there are plenty of choices, and more seem to open each week in Downtown Los Angeles. Another part of the equation is the skill and personality of the man or woman preparing the drinks. These days the bartender is more than just a hired hand who pours a splash of vodka into a glass of tonic. In many places, and particularly in Downtown, customers have come to appreciate inventive recipes, high-quality ingredients and a thoughtful approach. The person behind the bar who knows how to mix a drink, and who has a pleasant bar-side manner, gets a lot of attention and accolades. In the following pages, three Downtown drinks experts share their secrets.
November 7, 2016
DOWNTOWN AFTER DARK
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How She Got There: Flora Schwartz got her start in the restaurant business while a teenager in Cincinnati, working as a hostess, then server, and finally as a bartender at a local bar and grill. She was drawn behind the bar by the creative craft of mixing drinks, but soon realized that the pay and flexible hours made it a potential career. Schwartz was working at bars in Burbank and Santa Monica when she was offered an opportunity to help open Tom’s Urban at L.A. Live. That was two and a half years ago, and she’s staying put. “We get a really eclectic crowd, and the atmosphere isn’t too fancy, or too casual,” Schwartz says. “I’ve worked in dives, nightclubs and fine dining, but this is a perfect fit.” Defining Drink: Schwartz’s favorite drink is a summery cocktail with a classic name: “Gin and Juice.” She muddles fresh strawberries and cucumber in a glass, then adds floral St. Germain liqueur, Hendricks gin, lemon and sugar. After some hard shaking, the mixture is strained into a fresh glass with ice and topped with club soda. “It’s very refreshing and clean-tasting. And each drink is still crafted by hand,” Schwartz says. “We serve batch-made cocktails, which are delicious, but this is made in front of you. That also gives me some time to connect with a guest.” At 1011 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-8667 or tomsurban.com.
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How He Got There: Gonzales’ first bartending job was at a Red Lobster in Springfield, Missouri. He moved to in the S B A R : Dis trict, heraton Los Angeles in 2010 Hotel a and used some of his t The B loc AGE: last money to take bar29 tending courses. He soon landed a job behind the bar at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. He honed his skills and began competing in bartending competitions such as the 2015 May Mix-Off, where he was a finalist. He joined District in July 2015, after his former boss at the hotel reached out to him, saying that he’d be a good fit. Defining Drink: District’s cocktail list runs the gamut from early 20th century classics to modern concoctions, and even delves into group-sized punch bowls. A gin and bourbon fan, Gonzales sometimes mixes spirits for uncommon flavors. He’s fond of a drink he alternately calls “Layers” or “Tony’s Old Fashioned.” With a blowtorch he keeps in a holster, Gonzales brûlées a marasca cherry, angostura bitters, cinnamon pieces and citrus oils. Then he builds an Old Fashioned, though instead of just using the traditional rye whiskey, he pours in an equal part of bourbon. He puts the brûléed mixture on top and briefly sticks it in a small device known as a “smoke chamber” with hickory chips. “When you first take a drink, it has the strength of an Old Fashioned with a bit of smokiness,” Gonzales said. “About halfway through you get cinnamon and sweetness.” He created it four years ago and has slowly refined it ever since. At 711 S. Hope St., (213) 612-3185 or districtdtla.com.
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DOWNTOWN AFTER DARK
How He Got There: It was March 2014, and Darwin Pornel was deep into a cocktail class series led by Julian Cox, the taste-making L.A. barman. It was also midterms week at Santa Monica College, and Pornel had endless reading on biology and medicine to catch up on. “I just decided to stop studying and read my books on spirits and cocktail history instead,” Pornel says. “I thought, ‘What am I doing? It’s time for midterms. What do I want?’” Pornel had started working in the restaurant business as a college student in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles in 2013, with plans to go to medical school. Instead he got a job bussing tables at Ricardo Zarate’s now-closed restaurant Paiche, then worked his way to the bar. He arrived at Faith & Flower last year. Zagat recently named him of its L.A. “30 Under 30” restaurant and bar folks to watch. Defining Drink: Consider Pornel’s “Spark of Madness” a tribute to Zarate, whose restaurants focused on South American spirits. No wonder the drink blends smoky mezcal and pisco with almond-flavored orgeat syrup, lime juice and a caramelized pineapple gomme (a sweet, thickened syrup). “We used to get creative and use the kitchen at Paiche, and it’s where I learned how to make a pineapple gomme,” Pornel says. “The word ‘spark’ is a reference to the company name on our paychecks — ‘Spark3.’ It’s my homage to where I started.” At 705 W. Ninth St., (213) 239-0642 or faithandflowerla.com.
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NEW BARS, 13 They are not reinventing the wheel with one mixology cartwheel or another. Instead they offer a simple cocktail menu with a hearty list of wine selections and more than 30 beers. You can get a Modelo Michelada or indulge in the $15 Monday night special, by which you get half a dozen oysters and either a martini or a glass of wine. It’s simple and stress-free. At 788 S. Grand Ave or wholefoodsmarket. com/stores/downtownlosangeles. The Overflow: The former Two Bits Market has been converted into a dual function art gallery and wine bar known as The Overflow. Perhaps you know the owner, Vee Delgadillo. The Overflow represents her most demure watering hole yet. The sparse space lined with black walls adorned by work from a cast of rotating artists sits smack dab between the everlively Down and Out and the labyrinthine, down-South spot Little Easy. Should you need a respite from live brass bands or aggressive sports viewing, The Overflow is built for quiet conversation. Look for Sunday night life drawing (including an almost-nude event), Tuesday night openmics and the occasional comedy night. At 210 W. Fifth St. or theoverflowdtla.com. The Reserve: The Reserve at Seventh and Spring streets is the latest in basementlevel lounges built from salvaged industrial and professional spaces. The Re-
serve joins Edison, the Crocker Club and the Continental in providing somewhat swanky entertainment amidst the plush refinement of a dark but dignified plot. Don’t let the dress code dissuade you from descending to the bank vault-turnedhotspot, as the dignity of dresses and nice pants will lend a respectable quality to your night of cocktail consumption, one soundtracked by lively DJs and augmented by an exclusivity unavailable at street level. Pay attention to the excellent and inventive light scheme. At 650 S. Spring St. or thelareserve.com. Westbound: As you stand outside the One Santa Fe complex on the eastern fringe of Downtown, you may wonder why the cocktail bar on the ground floor bears the moniker Westbound. Turns out, the wood-paneled temple of spirits is a tribute to the location’s former role as home to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad’s Le Grande Station. The bar is decked out in mid-century travel motifs with elegant chairs, two-person tables and dimly lit booths lending the impression of an old choo-choo dining car. With a limited menu of small bites and basic food options, you can mitigate the effects of a classic and, yes, voyage-themed drink menu. Curious beverages bow before the $80 “Cocktail Carry On,” a peat smoke-augmented vodka cocktail served in a suitcase punch bowl to be split between four and six patrons, or one especially thirsty bar goer. At 300 S. Santa Fe Ave. or westbounddtla.com.
November 7, 2016
Downtown News 17
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CALENDAR
The Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil is back in Downtown Los Angeles with the arena show Toruk-The First Flight. It is built around the blue-skinned Na’vi people from the 2009 movie Avatar.
Cirque du Soleil Brings Pandora To the Arena
photo: Jesse Faatz Costumes: Kym Barrett © 2015 Cirque du Soleil
Touring Show ‘Toruk’ Builds on James Cameron’s Epic ‘Avatar’ By Emily Manthei he world’s most ambitious acrobatic tribe is at it again, and this time, they are literally looking out of this world. Cirque du Soleil, which last year brought its blue and yellow “grand chapeau” to the parking lot of Dodger Stadium with the show Kurios, returns to Los Angeles this week, though without the tent. On Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13, it will migrate to Staples Center with Toruk-The First Flight. The massive, arena-sized performance is set on the planet of Pandora — yes, the Pandora featured in James Cameron’s 3D epic Avatar. The show uses 40 projectors spanning the area of five IMAX screens (that’s around 20,000 square feet) to layer video across the stage and into the audience. Five colorful set pieces, including a 40-foot-tall tree and buoyant, hilly surfaces across which performers scamper and leap on the low-gravity planet, will transform Staples into Pandoran terrain. Toruk takes place 3,000 years before Avatar, and the story line — which like all Cirque shows is essentially a vehicle to introduce the acrobatic acts — chronicles three young members of the Na’vi tribe who embark on a quest to save their community and the legendary Tree of Souls from an impending disaster. The shimmering blue humanoid extraterrestrials are joined by nearly 40 additional performers and 16 puppets. That includes the
T
✔S
namesake Toruk, an oversized marionette with a 40-foot wingspan, which is manipulated by six puppeteers. The seed for the pairing of Cirque du Soleil, Montreal’s groundbreaking circus and acrobatics ensemble, with Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, was planted before Cameron’s movie came out in 2009. Avatar producer Jon Landau, chief operating officer of Lightstorm and one of Toruk’s creative shepherds, recently explained that for the movie, a former Cirque performer served as the movement coach for the actors playing the Na’vi. “Cirque was always an inspiration for us as we were making and designing the movie, and afterwards, we always wanted to do something with Cirque, but the idea of what it was wasn’t obvious,” said Landau. The solution came when Cirque’s CEO, Daniel Lamarre, and his creative team pitched the idea of a traveling arena show to Lightstorm. From there, Michel Limieux and Victor Pilon, who would emerge as Toruk’s co-writers and co-directors, developed the story. In this case Avatar was a springboard, not something to be replicated, and the Cirque presentation includes new characters and tribes, as well as an extended mythology that Landau says will become a permanent fixture in the Avatar universe. Pushing Boundaries Cirque du Soleil was born in 1984, and
has taken shows around the planet. Fabrice Lemire, Toruk’s artistic director, said that part of the longevity comes from the ability of the creative team and the performers to reinvent themselves. That includes continually hiring new talent to push the bar higher. One of the Toruk’s leads, Entu, is played by Guillaume Paquin. He auditioned just before graduating from the National Circus School last year in Montreal. Paquin, who has been training as a circus performer since the age of 7, was thrilled when given the opportunity to join the show. The excitement level spiked further when he learned he would have a solo number. It is performed on a contraption designed for him by his coach, and called the cul de vie. In the number, Paquin hangs by his hands and hips from a noose-looped rope that spins, holds and drops him in a dizzying tantrum of energy. “It’s the part of the show where Entu has failed his initiation and he is going to the Tree of Souls for solace,” Paquin said. “So I’m alone on stage, going through this emotional journey.” Toruk will arrive in Downtown Los Angeles after dates in Canada. However, turning the home of the Lakers, Clippers and Kings into a new world involves more than opening the venue doors and building a stage. Creating Pandora in an arena requires an immense,
technically adept team. For example, to perfectly synchronize light with movement, performers wear sensors that connect to the lights, which automatically follow them across the stage. The stage itself is made up of a combination of firm and pliable surfaces, allowing the Na’vi characters to make leaps and movements that don’t look human. That said, not all of the universe’s digital effects could be reproduced physically. Some things are better left to the movies. “In respect to the universe of Avatar, we also had to use technology to re-create some of the landscapes,” Lemire explained. “You’re a bit limited in the fish tank we call the arena stage, so projections were a key that helped us change completely the illusion of the design and give us the feeling that the performers were really traveling miles and miles on stage.” Landau, meanwhile, is excited about heading out across the continent after the Downtown shows. The run will visit cities including Portland, New Orleans, Vancouver and Mexico City. “As a movie, Avatar’s audience was a true melting pot of the world,” he said. “Starting the tour in Downtown L.A. brings the opportunity to draw in that very culturally diverse audience that the film has always attracted.” Toruk-The First Flight runs Nov. 11-13 at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. or cirquedusoleil.com/toruk.
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18 Downtown News
Restaurant Buzz
The dark-and-sexy spot Blue J has opened in the Little Tokyo Galleria. Expect bottle service and loud and thumping DJs, though there is also a $5 happy hour menu from 8-10 p.m.
Craft Coffee on Broadway, More Haute Ramen and Other Food Happenings
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Yuko for It: The Historic Core’s got a new spot for affordable Japanese food, thanks to the arrival of Yuko Kitchen last month. The original Miracle Mile location has earned stellar reviews, and the formula is unchanged at the corner of Fifth and Main streets. The menu offers salads (try the one with garlic albacore tuna sashimi), sushi rolls, rice bowls, plates (which come with sushi, salad, soup and a small dessert) and udon noodles. There are also “bowl-litos” — basically the rice bowls transformed into large, seaweedwrapped burritos. Prices are around $5-$15, with most items coming in at or under $10. There are also fresh lemonades, boba tea and coffee. At 101 W. Fifth St., (213) 266-0046 or yukokitchen.com. Midnight Munchies: For millennia, night owls and early risers have clashed in a war of rhetorical supremacy. Finally, one Downtown eatery may bridge the divide. It’s Wake and Late, a new restaurant that, as the name suggests, offers breakfast, dinner and late-night eats. Run by co-owners Alex Sauciuc, John Shoemaker and Ben Richter, Wake and Late’s menu features breakfast-hewing sandwiches, bowls and burritos from 7-11 a.m., then switches to another
Noodling Around: Downtown L.A.’s rocking a pretty strong ramen game, with the popular hole-in-the-wall Daikokuya still attracting long lines and newcomers like Ramen Champ and Ramen Hood carving out niches. Now, a big name is coming to the Financial District: Jinya Ramen Bar. New signage indicates that it will fill a space next to 85C Bakery Cafe at 700 Wilshire Blvd., making for quite the Asian onetwo punch for the Financial District. Tokyobased Jinya has locations around the country, including Santa Monica and Studio City, and its M.O. is premium ramen with a focus on carefully cooked broths, from the ubiquitous “tonkotsu” pork broth to chicken and vegan options.
Expect to dish out $10-$15 for a bowl of ramen (depending on toppings), and there are also rice bowls and snacks. An opening could come by the end of the year. Coming to 700 Wilshire Blvd.
By Eddie Kim affeine Rush: Coffee purveyor Blue Bottle has a roasting facility and cafe in the Arts District. Now, the company apparently wants to get more intimate with central Downtown. It has begun building out a large space in the historic Bradbury Building at Third and Broadway. The location formerly housed a Sprint phone store, and the cafe will face tough competition from nearby craft coffee shops G&B (at Grand Central Market) and Groundwork (at Second and Main). It’s still unclear when the shop could open, but you can expect a quality selection of pour-over coffees and espresso drinks, plus delicious pastries and snacks, when it does arrive. Coming to 304 S. Broadway.
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menu, with savory options like a farro bowl with pesto, tomatoes and chicken, from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Anyone can walk in for a meal, but the partners will also soon debut delivery options. Later this month, a delivery “hub” on the USC campus will allow students, workers and residents to order meals and pick them up without the expense of a traditional delivery to their door. Direct deliveries and meal pickup hubs in Downtown buildings will debut after that, Sauciuc said. At 105 E. Sixth St., (213) 537-0820 or wakeandlate.com. J-OK: There’s a sleek new bar and lounge near where Little Tokyo and the Arts District collide. Blue J, in the Little Tokyo Galleria, comes from the M2K Group, the prolific Downtown hospitality company behind Wokcano, Triple 8 Bar and Grill, Spear Restaurant and more. Blue J is less a casual neighborhood drinking hole and more a dark-and-sexy spot for those who want to flaunt bottle service or mingle over cocktails amid the thump of a DJ’s house set. Not that it’s all serious: The $5 happy hour menu runs from an unusual 8-10 p.m., and there are laid-back happenings like Thursday open mic
nights. The cocktails are $10-$15, but note that the drinks emphasize simple, crowd-pleasing flavors rather than complicated craft ingredients or techniques. At 333 S. Alameda St., (213) 988-7326 or bluejlounge.com. Manila Time: More fast-casual Filipino food? Sounds good to us. Pili Grill opened last month in an oddball location, in the food court of the underground Los Angeles Mall near City Hall, making it perfectly convenient for Civic Center workers and a puzzle for anyone unfamiliar with the weird shopping center. It’s worth a trek for the food, though. The menu’s got familiar classics like chicken adobo (chicken cooked in soy sauce, vinegar and spices), tocino (like Filipino bacon), and stir-fried pancit noodles. You might also get addicted to Pili’s take on sweet-tangy Filipino spaghetti, or the crunchy lumpia (egg rolls). Pili is open for breakfast and lunch from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. At 201 N. Los Angeles St. Suite 201, (213) 533-2001 or piligrill.com. Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.
DT
CALENDAR LISTINGS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Pussy Riot in Conversation on Election Eve 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. 7 p.m.: The women of Russia’s Pussy Riot were famously incarcerated by the Vladimir Putin regime. Now they are here to talk about the American political landscape. Take from that what you will. Shepard Fairey moderates.
New Art at The Broad, a Late Night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Punk Film at The Regent and More Downtown Fun By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. Nov. 9, 8 p.m.: Norway’s Scorpio trip-hop wunderkind Lido is here to entertain you. Nov. 11-12, 8 p.m.: Roots rock from Amos Lee. Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.: It’s the Au Lac Little Blues Festival. Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or belascous.com. Nov. 12: Bring your own hand sanitizer for Climaxx Events presents: Pajama Jam 8. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Continued on next page
photo courtesy the Music Center
Mankind’s impulse to represent itself whether in philosophy, political rhetoric, cultural affiliation or art is as old as the urge to survive. Understanding that, The Broad last week launched Creature, which captures the instinct to portray a collection of modern figures done in sketch, oil, sculpture and any other medium where the collision of human form and content is apparent. On display through March 19, 2017, the exhibit on the ground floor of the Bunker Hill museum features more than 50 works from the likes of Takashi Murakami, Ellen Gallagher, Jean-Michel Basquiat (his “Beef Ribs Longhorn” is shown here), Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys. Access to the exhibit is free with entry, though as always at The Broad, advance tickets are required. At 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 493-5078 or thebroad.org.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Art Walk Historic Core or online at downtownartwalk.org. 5 p.m.: The pedestrian art extravaganza returns to remind us of the passage of time. Rebecca Solnit at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: The writer and historian catalogues unique urban geographies specific to class, gender and ethnicity. LA Times architectural critic and all-around busy boy Christopher Hawthorne moderates.
We’re not sure exactly what an “ethereal awakening” is, but the fine folks in charge of the Music Center’s recurring late night Sleepless soiree promise that it will be available in copious amounts. The appropriation of the high and mighty Dorothy Chandler Pavilion kicks off at 11:11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. Until 3 a.m., guests can experience multimedia displays of sound and light conveying literature, choreography, vinyl, meteorological phenomena and dream divination. Admission is $20 in advance and 30 bones at the door. The crowd will be far different than the one that normally hits the venue for the opera. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. photo by Gary Leonard
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 MOCA Sunday Studio MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. 3 p.m.: Putt around the galleries, peruse the sagging book shelves or take part in hands-on activities intended to infect you with a love of art. The University of MMA 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. 5 p.m.: The snap of bone and spray of blood will be all the commencement speech you’ll get tonight. Note: No actual BFAs will be awarded.
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4 It’s the second Thursday of the month — do you know where your artist is? Chances are, he or she is on the streets of the Historic Core for the Downtown Art Walk. The event returns on Nov. 10, and as usual, dozens of galleries will open their doors. The Art Walk Lounge at 634 S. Spring St. will be open from 6-10 p.m. and will host the surrealism show Lucid Illusions, which weaves together dream sequences and a variety of mediums. Other highlights include performance art at the Beta Main space, a preview of Tom Gilmore’s coming Main Museum (114 W. Fourth St.), and the Master Blasters of Sculpture show at the Hive Gallery (729 S. Spring St.). Throughout the Historic Core or downtownartwalk.org.
3 The film Sid and Nancy has become cultural shorthand for star-crossed lovers who find themselves neck deep in depravity. For those unacquainted, Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious and girlfriend Nancy Spungen check in to Room 100 of the Chelsea Hotel in New York. One checks out in a body bag, the other attempts suicide and eventually merges with the infinite three months later. Other details are fuzzy. The real story, as it were, takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 9, when The Regent on Main Street hosts a screening of punk doc director Danny Garcia’s Sad Vacation: The Last Days of Sid and Nancy. It features interviews with many of the old punks who knew S&N — expect plenty of messy, truthful and melancholic details. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.
Conductor and librettist Matthew Aucoin is jazzed. He’s at the helm of Akhnaten, L.A. Opera’s just-opened production of the Philip Glass-scored Egyptian epic of love, divinity and destiny. In five remaining performances, Aucoin’s baton will dance atop the pit during a rousing tribute to the Sun God. Meanwhile, director Phelim McDermott will oversee two performances this week, on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Be at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as bits of English, ancient Egyptian, Biblical Hebrew and Akkadian form a dazzling mosaic of prodigious vocal utterances. Akhnaten continues through Nov. 27. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org.
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Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
image courtesy of Kevin Pollard/L.A. Opera
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Election Night Watch Party at the Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. 4 p.m.: If you can handle any more spiritual punishment, hop in for a complimentary group therapy session free with RSVP.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Sleepless Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. 11:11 p.m.-3 a.m.: The Music Center presents a night of interactive and experimental art staged in the chandelier-strewn Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
image courtesy of The Broad
The ‘Don’t Miss’ List
EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Kai-Uwe Bergmann at SCI-Arc SCI-Arc, 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: As a partner at architectural firm BIG, Bergmann contemplates numerous design quandaries. No word yet on if there will be a translator for those who don’t speak architect. Oliver Mayer at the Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: The playwright discusses his latest work, “Body Languages,” in front of a room likely to hold bodies.
Downtown News 19
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
photo courtesy the Regent
November 7, 2016
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
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NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
888-838-5089 635 W. WASHINGTON BLVD. • DOWNTOWNNISSAN.COM
NEW ’16 NISSAN SENTRA S
LEASE FOR ONLY
129
$
$11,999 2014 Nissan Versa Note S Plus ............. $12,999 Blue, FWD, Hatchback, Alloy Whls, CARFAX. N162465-1/382122 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5 S ....................... $14,999 Charcol, Prem. Sound, Pwr Evth. Keyless Start. NI5712/263230 2013 Nissan Leaf S ................................. Certified, Blk/Grey, CARFAX – 1 Owner, LOADED! NI5692/417415
VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. N $0 DOeW ls a ! Lease D
888-781-8102 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • VWOFDTLA.COM
NEW ’17 VW JETTA 1.4T S
LEASE FOR ONLY
159
$
$13,999 2015 Ford Fusion SE ........................... $14,399 Gray, FWD, 6 Speed Auto, 1 Owner. ZV3921/207551 2015 VW e-Golf SEL Premium ............. VW Certified, Electric, Auto, Beige w/Leatherette. V161242-1/902021 $21,699 CARSON NISSAN 2014 VW Jetta Sedan SE ..................... Silver/Blk, Turbo, 6 Speed Auto w/OD. ZV3895/225492
888-845-2267 1505 E. 223RD ST., CARSON • CARSONNISSAN.COM
NEW ’16 NISSAN LEAF LEASE FOR ONLY
99
$19,888 2015 Nissan Pathfinder ...................... Nissan Certified, 3rd Row Seat, Non-Smkr Vehicle. CU2374R/619367 $23,888 2016 Nissan 370Z ............................... $24,500 Nissan Certified, 1-Owner, Black Out Whls. CU2336R/931782 FELIX CHEVROLET 2012 Nissan Xterra ............................. Nissan Certified, Value Pkg, Non-Smkr Vehicle. CU2409P/523773
888-304-7039 3300 S. FIGUEROA ST. • FELIXCHEVROLET.COM
NEW ’16 CHEVY TRAX
LEASE FOR ONLY
89
per month for 39 mos
1 at this lease/price (F-18687) per month plus tax for 39 mos. Which includes $1,600 Rebate, $750 Select Market Cash Bonus and $1,500 Lease Loyalty Bonus, $250 Auto Show Cash, and $750 Select Model Bonus Cash. $1,500 customer cash. 10K miles per year. $0.25 per mile over. Program subject to change and availability. See dealer for details.
$12,995 2014 MINI Cooper Clubman ................. $13,995 Orange/Black, Auto, 2 Dr Wagon. UC2298R/492882 2015 Nissan 370Z ................................... $29,995 1 Owner, Auto, Pwr Wind, Pwr Dr, Tilt, Cruise. F17617-1/444292 2016 Kia Forte ......................................... 1 Owner, 4500 mi, Pwr Wind, Pwr Dr, Auto. F17949-1/462790
NEW ’16 TOYOTA PRIUS TWO
Model #1223 1.8L 4-Cyl Hybrid with FE, CF Equipment.
LEASE FOR ONLY
199
per month for 36 mos
$
Lease example for a new 2016 Prius two liftback, model #2016 Models 1223. Security deposit waived. Plus tax and license. Individual dealer prices vary. Lessee responsible for maintenance, excess wear and tear, and pays $0.15 per mile for all mileage over 12,000 miles per year. Lessee to pay $ 199 a month for 36 months with $ 1999 drive-off, dealer fees included. Payment may vary depending on model, equipment choice, and final transaction price. Lease cash, if advertised, is only valid in combination with lease program through TFS. Must be leased from new car dealer stock by 10-03-2016. Offers cannot be combined. See your Toyota Dealer for Details. ToyotaCare covers normal factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25K miles, whichever comes first. The new vehicle cannot be part of a rental or commercial fleet, or a livery/taxi vehicle. See participating Toyota dealer for plan details. Valid only in the continental U.S. and Alaska. Roadside Assistance does not include parts and fluids. Lease cash (bonus cash) valid in combination with program through Toyota Financial Services (TFS). See dealer for details. On Approved Credit exp.11/13/16.
$14,288 2011 Avalon Limited .............................. $21,588 Black/Light Gray, Auto, 4 Dr. TU1642/388014 2014 Tundra LTD ..................................... $36,988 Certified, White/Gray, Auto, Double Cab. TU1659/157770 2012 Prius C Two ..................................... Certified, Blue/Gray, Hatchback. T154495-1/000579
DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ 888-319-8762 1801 S. FIGUEROA ST. • MBZLA.COM
NEW ’16 MERCEDES CLA 250
LEASE FOR ONLY
299
$
per month for 36 mos
Available only to qualified customers through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Not everyone will qualify. MSRP of $35,375 less the suggested dealer contribution resulting in a total gross capitalized cost of $33,376. Dealer contribution may vary and could affect your actual lease payment. Includes Destination Charge and Premium 1 Package. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep and additional options. Total monthly payments equal $10,764. Cash due at signing includes $2,549 capitalized cost reduction, $795 acquisition fee and first month’s lease payment of $299. No security deposit required. Total payments equal $14,108. Exp. 11/13/16.
$21,989 2014 Mercedes GLK ............................... $31,981 Certified, Blk/Blk, Auto, Prem Pkg 1. 9454C/311297 2015 Mercedes E350 .............................. Certified, Auto, Prem Pkg 1, Sport Pkg, Park Assist. 9524C/091408 $42,989 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2013 Mercedes C250 Sedan .................
Silver/Blk, Prem Pkg 1, Sport Pkg, Multimedia Pkg. 9326C/751278
888-583-0981 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • AUDIDTLA.COM
NEW ’16 AUDI A3 SEDAN
LEASE FOR ONLY
279
per month for 24 mos
2 Available, Model #17016: C161353/309891 C161344/310260 Close end lease payment plus tax for 24 months on above average approved credit. Payment net of $10,825 Lease Cash Rebate and $2,000 Customer bonus cash Rebate and $800 WR Leaf Bonus Cash. $1999 cash or trade equity plus tax, license and registration fees due at lease signing. No security deposit. 12,000 miles per year, 36K total miles with 15 cents per mile thereafter. Subject to availability and charges for excess wear and tear. Not all lessees may qualify. Offer Expires 11/13/16.
$
800-574-4891 1600 S. FIGUEROA ST. • TOYOTADOWNTOWNLA.COM
per month for 36 mos
*Lease for $159 + tax per month for 36 months. Based on MSRP of $18,895 for Manual Transmission. Residual Value $10,251.90 $5,724 total of payments. $0 due at signing, $0 down, $0 first month payment, $0 security deposit excludes: $80 Documentation Fee, Sales Tax, Title and License Fee. Based on 30,000 total miles, with 20¢ per excess mile. Closed-end lease offered on approved above average credit with VCI, excludes TDI and Hybrid Models. One (1) at this offer HM204518. Offer Expires 11/30/16.
$
TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
per month for 36 mos
2 or more available, model #12016 Lease 36 mo - $1,999 due at signing, excl. first mo. payment, taxes, title and license. No security deposit required. Valid only when finances through Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation. Subject to residency restrictions and availability to well-qualified lessess. $16,645 MSRP incl. destination charge. Incl. a $595 non-refundable acquisition fee. $0.15 per mi. over 12k miles per year. Must take from new dealer stock. See dealer for details. Exp. 11/13/16.
November 7, 2016
$
per month for 36 mos
36 month lease. On approved tier A credit. $1,999 cap reduction. 7,500 miles per year. $0.25/mile charge for miles driven in excess of 22,500. Must qualify for acquisition or loyalty rebate. Excludes tax, title, license, registration, 1st payment, acquisition fee, options, and other fees. $0 security deposit. #G1114924. Offer ends 11/13/16.
$29,895 2013 Audi S4 Quattro ............................. $30,895 Navi Plus, Adap Susp. DA080663/ZA11328 2013Audi S5 Quattro .............................. $34,895 Navi Plus, Lo Mi, & More. DA072991/ZA11334 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2015 Audi TT Quattro ............................. Navi, Lthr, S-tronic. F10000949/A170551D-1
888-685-5426 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • PORSCHEDOWNTOWNLA.COM
NEW ’17 PORSCHE MACAN
LEASE FOR ONLY
498
$
per month for 48 mos
$3,999 Down Payment. 48 months, 10k miles per year, VIN#HLB01128, residual $26,770.50. 1 at this price. Down payment excludes tax, dmv fees, $995 Bank Acquisition fee, first payment and document fees. Rates based on approved Tier 1 credit through Porsche Financial Services.
$43,898 2015 Macan S .......................................... Grey/Grey, CPO Loaded, Exc. Cond., 18k Miles. P16848-2/FLB71796 $52,898 2016 Cayman ........................................... Mahogany/Beige, CPO, 1 Owner, PDK, 4k Mi., P16851-1/GK170364 $55,898 2011 Panamera 4 ....................................
Blk/Blk, CPO, 20” Wheels, Nav, Must Sell! P17320-1/BL010459
Nov. 7: Mike Baggetta Group. Nov. 8: Le Boeuf Brothers. Nov. 9: Matt Slocom Trio. Nov. 10: Daniel Rotem Group. Nov. 11: Babko-Rastegar-Cole. Nov. 12: Gene Coye Group. Nov. 13: Adam Hersh Trio. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Nov. 7: It’s not that November resident Alina Bea is confrontational, it’s that her music doesn’t comply with your sense of normalcy or industry-finest conduct. This is OK. Nov. 8: The eclectic hodgepodge of world styles known as Swet Shop Boys has sold out. Nov. 9: Two things we know for sure about indie crooner Chris Cohen: He owns hiking boots and a computer. Nov. 10: Those eager to pretend we live in a peaceful, beautiful world would do well to catch Darlingside play live. Nov. 11: If you add vowels to PWR BTTM’s name and still wonder what it means, this isn’t the show for you. Nov. 12: Apparently artist Bibi Bourelly will “change the way you see fearless,” so it’s safe to assume she’ll be playing amidst a veritable ocean of incensed pit vipers. Nov. 13: It’s not too late for Berkeley-based MC Caleborate to change that “C” to a “K.” Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality.com. Nov. 8: Sitara Son. Nov. 9: Chris Wabich. Nov. 10: Joey De Leon. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Nov. 11: RAC and Miami Horror. Nov. 12: Anjunadeep. Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel.com. Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: The Das Hund performance is but the capstone on an odd odyssey of visual, sonic and spiritual art. Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com. Nov. 7: Gitmo Allstars. Nov. 8: Son Tres. Nov. 9: La Victoria. Nov. 10: Mento Buru. Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com. Nov. 11: Red Bull’s 30 Days in LA propels Jeremih to the Mayan stage. Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. Nov. 11, 8:30 p.m.: Odin Dupeyron and Veintidos, Veintidos. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Nov. 10, 8:30 p.m.: Rhys Chatham and Priests co-headline The Broad museum’s latest “Callings Out of Context” concert. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Nov. 11: Regatta de blanc pushers Iration are from Hawaii by way of Santa Barbara, and yet their press photo features the DTLA skyline. Nov. 12: 3LAU is code for EDM. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Nov. 8: Spain. The band, not the country. Nov. 10: When Suzanne Vega plays “Tom’s Diner” tonight, we will be the ones in the front of the crowd screaming “THE BELLS OF THE CATHEDRAL!!!” Nov. 11: Those hoping Tangerine is a screening of the Christmas Eve trans-epic will be grossly disappointed to find the Seattle rock band. Nov. 12: A lot of substance on display at tonight’s Beyonce vs. Rihanna mash-up. Nov. 13: OM and M Geddes Gengras team up for a tandem of superlative 21st century music. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. Nov. 7: Peter Silberman of the Antlers. Nov. 8: Purling Hiss. Nov. 9: Garret Klahn. Nov. 10: Angels in LA. Nov. 11: Jenny Hval. Nov. 12: Adam Torres + Thor & Friends. Nov. 13: Crater and Natasha Kmeto. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Nov. 7: Slim Pickin’s Bluegrass Band will ride that high lonesome sound down to the ground like it’s an atom bomb. Nov. 8: The Makers are praying for a cold winter. It makes the improvised jazz taste better. Nov. 10: The Vibrometers celebrate another November with consummate Afro Beat pleasures. Nov. 12: Connie Han on a Saturday.
November 7, 2016 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Dvorak and Sibelius Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. Nov. 11-12, 8 p.m. and Nov. 13, 2 p.m.: Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic with cello player Johannes Moser as the ensemble takes on Mosolov’s “The Iron Foundry”, Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto,” and Sibelius’ “Symphony No. 1.” We repeat, Aw yeah! SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Colburn Chamber Music Society
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Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 8 p.m.: No oaths or secret decoder rings necessary — the elite group of classical musicians from the Bunker Hill school delivers up the hits. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Garrick Ohlsson Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.: If you dig dearly departed Beethoven, pianist Ohlsson will deliver a quadruple dose of Ludwig.
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Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. Nov. 11, 8 p.m.: The art-aspiring chroniclers at Artillery Magazine present an irreverent collection of moving images known as The Grossmalerman Show. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Nov. 8-13: Keep in Touch. Nov. 10: Gong but Not Forgotten.
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November 7, 2016
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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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RETAIL SPACE LEASE/SALE DTLA FASHION DISTRICT 2 ground floor retail units available 1,000 SF each + 150 SF mezz. Prime Santee Street Location! Just south of Olympic Blvd. Great exposure with heavy traffic. For details, contact Rafael: rafael@majorproperties.com 213-222-1208
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2016243892 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) DTLA Shirt Company, 206 W. 6th St., 1239, Los Angeles, CA 90014, are hereby registered by the following registrants: Marcos Beltran, 206 W. 6th St., 1239, Los Angeles, CA 90014. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant(s) have not begun to transact business
under the fictitious business name or names listed above. This statement was filed with Dean C. Logan, Los Angeles County Clerk, by Joseph Isip, Deputy, on October 04, 2016. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, and 11/07/2016.
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LEGAL NOTICE Angels Walk L.A. is seeking qualified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) as well as other qualified business enterprises to fabricate quality historic stanchions to be placed on street. Bids to be received no later than 12/2/16. Angels Walk L.A. 11611 Washington Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066 Email: hello@angelswalkla.org
LEGAL NOTICE Angels Walk L.A. is seeking qualified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) as well as other qualified business enterprises to print a quality self-guided walking trail guidebook. Bids to be received no later than 12/2/16. Angels Walk L.A. 11611 Washington Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066 Email: hello@angelswalkla.org
Ideal candidates will have a minimum of three years of auditing experience from a large regional, national, or Big Four firm, with excellent oral and written communication skills coupled with the drive to progress professionally rising up to a partner role. Furthermore, this candidate should have passed all parts of the California CPA examination, focused on achieving efficiencies in their engagement management, problem solver and solution provider, engaged in the practice development activities and demonstrated the ability to foster relationships with both co-workers and client contacts. Should the above qualifications describe you and you’re interested in exploring this opportunity further, please contact us by sending your resume to info@fwllp.com or by fax (213) 688-9899.
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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from general contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a general contractor that will provide services to install new Wayfinding Signage at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at:https://goo.gl/forms/CHdNJxBWIwCytC8r1 . Completed forms are due on or before close of business by November 18th, 2016. Submissions received after 5:00pm on November 18th, 2016 will be rejected.
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November 7, 2016
ELECTION, 5 Proposition RRR: Saying city Prop RRR will reform the Department of Water and Power is like saying that having Luol Deng on the roster will reform the Lakers. If you don’t speak sports, it’s like saying that having the world’s 127th best actress (Selma Blair? Sienna Miller? Parker Posey?) in a lead role in your movie will make it an Oscar contender. In other words, neither Prop RRR, the actress, nor Deng will derail things, but if you want real change and success, there are about 126 better or more significant options. At one time real DWP reforms such as alterations in governance and oversight seemed possible, but after so much “negotiation,” we’re voting on RRR, a milquetoast measure that would do things like expand the department’s civilian commission from five to seven members. Yawn. Any Judicial Election: Here’s my greatest terrible idea tied to the judicial system: Give Sir Mix-a-Lot of “Baby Got Back” fame a black robe and a bailiff, and put him on the bench in a televised trial show à la “People’s Court.” Call it “The Truth and Nothing Butt” and let him rap verdicts and make copious derriere references. I can’t wait for my Emmy! The only worse idea is what happens now, which is that we the people vote for Superior Court judges. About 99.7% of us are utterly uninformed and unequipped to do this adequately, but due to silly democracy, we cast ballots on people we’ve never heard of running against people we’ve never heard of, with only a short phrase of a job title (e.g. attorney at law, gang homicide prosecutor, chief cuddle monster — OK, not that one) to guide us. Please, someone take this right away and let the knowledgeable bigwigs appoint judges. Proposition 56: If you’re against lung cancer, you’ll probably vote for the new $2 a pack tax on cigarettes. If you are Big Tobacco or its cousin, Little Vape, this state proposition (all the numbered items are state matters) is more frightening than the original Blair Witch Project, which is why you are dropping more than $60 million urging people to vote no. If you’re still smoking, why? Your breath stinks, and soon a pack will cost $19.
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Proposition 59: The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that opened too many squishy doors on campaign finance was lousy. Prop 59 would urge members of Congress to try to overturn this. Yes, urge. It wouldn’t change anything or set any law. Somehow, our electoral process has devolved to the point that, even if well-intentioned, we’re voting on something that would urge people to do something non-binding. What’s next? Do we vote on whether squirrels can get driver’s licenses? On whether State Assembly members should be urged to do the Macarena on Throwback Thursdays? On whether we should punch ourselves in the face after voting on another ridiculous election proposition? Proposition 60: Do you get to vote on what positions porn performers attempt, and whether they should be allowed to bonk in sets that resemble doctor’s offices, the governor’s mansion or a 22nd century boom-chicka-bow space station? No! Do you get to vote on whether they should wear condoms when doing this bonking? Thanks to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which pushed Prop 60, you do. A similar measure was approved in L.A. County four years ago, but it still seems illogical that regular folks are in charge of making laws affecting the shtupping industry. Isn’t this why we elect others? Proposition 64: The vote on whether small amounts of recreational pot should be allowed in California is almost certain to pass — people like their weed. The big question, though, is how the heck is the incredibly liberal Golden State two years behind the swing state of Colorado in legalizing cannabis?
888 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles 213.873.8400
Proposition 67: In 1776, a coalition of 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Over the centuries wars were fought and people died protecting our freedom and right to self-expression. Now, that history and California’s goofy initiative process has led to us considering one of two measures (along with Prop 65) concerning… plastic bags. Prop 67 is especially dumb, as it is pushed by the plastic bag industry and seeks to overturn a 2014 law banning the disposable items that clog rivers and gutters. Somehow, I don’t think that Patrick Henry ever said, “Give me the plastic CVS bag, or give me death!” regardie@downtownnews.com