11-11-13

More Streetcar Trouble | 5 Water Works at the NHM | 17

NOVEMBER 11, 2013 I VOL. 42 I #45

How Sweet It Is A Guide to Some of Downtown’s Best Dessert Makers

Special Section Starts Page 7

Photo by Gary Leonard

Genevieve Gergis of Bestia with one of her creations.

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2 Downtown News

DT

AROUND TOWN

Council Approves Sidewalk Dining Permit Process he City Council last week approved a pilot program that will expedite the permitting process for sidewalk dining in Downtown. The program, which was introduced by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and approved by the full council on Wednesday, Nov. 6, will allow the Bureau of Engineering to issue sidewalk dining permits on the same day of a request without a site visit. Currently, obtaining a sidewalk dining permit can take up to a year. Instead of reviewing each location in person, the BOE will use sketches and measurements submitted by applicants along with Google Earth and other digital mapping tools. In addition, applicants in the Historic Core will see lowered permit fees, from $1,926 to about $580. Applicants outside of the pilot zone will still be subject to the existing fee, though the BOE will ultimately consider expanding the new regulations. The pilot program comes after several restaurants and cafes complained about delays in obtaining a sidewalk dining permit and miscommunications with the BOE led to citations being issued. The final step before implementation is ratification by the Public Works Commission; no date has been set for that action.

Yarn Bombing Coming This Week

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

T

he Downtown Women’s Center and Yarn Bombing Los Angeles, a group of “guerrilla knitters” who stage public art installations, will launch an effort called Community Threads during the Downtown Art Walk on Thursday, Nov. 14. The exhibit, which will run at the DWC’s Los Angeles Street building through Dec. 13, weaves together the Downtown art world with the homeless community in hopes of creating connections for social change, according to the YBLA. It will explore how visual art can connect disparate communities and raise awareness to the causes of homelessness.

On a more concrete level, selling the artwork will allow the women to earn money. An open house, during which visitors can chat with the artists about their work, runs from 6-10 p.m.

The event is in the Made by DWC store at 325 Los Angeles St. Parking is available in the lot next to the DWC on Los Angeles between Third and Fourth streets.

Downtown Named L.A.’s Most Walkable Community

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os Angeles has always had an understandable reputation as a “car city,” but transit upgrades and denser development have slowly been changing that image. A new report from Walk Score shows that L.A. ranks 13th on a list of the most walkable large cities in the United States. More interestingly to area inhabitants and workers is that Downtown tops all L.A. neighborhoods, with stellar marks for walking, transit and biking. Downtown scored 93/99/69

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in those three categories, respectively. The entirety of the city, however, has a ways to go: Los Angeles’ overall walk score of 64 lags far behind the No. 1 city, New York, which pulled an 88, and No. 2 San Francisco, which garnered an 84.

The full report, including comprehensive rankings, is at walkscore.com.

All About the Water Crisis

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uestions and concerns about water in Los Angeles are not limited to outrageous DWP bills. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, a panel discussion will bring together a group of

Broadway & Washington Blvd

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experts to discuss sustainability, conservation and other wet topics. The event, which starts at 5 p.m. at the Financial District offices of the Southern California Association of Governments, will include a keynote speech

by David Nahai, the former CEO and general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and a screening of the film The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry? There will also be a panel discussion with experts including Maureen Stapleton, general manager of the San Diego Water Authority, and Jeff Kightlinger, GM of the MetropoliContinued on page 24

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November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

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November 11, 2013

Downtown News 3

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4 Downtown News

November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

DT

EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The New Office Environment

I

f you are one of the many thousands of people who work in a Downtown Los Angeles high-rise at a white-collar firm, then odds are you have an office, and if you are an executive, it may be in a corner and have a sweeping view. Whether or not you hold a senior position, you almost certainly have a phone, photos and personal tchotchkes on your desk. You are probably surrounded by file cabinets with old contracts, documents, etc.

There’s an undeniable comfort to such a working environment. Humans are creatures of habit and want familiar surroundings, and this is as familiar as it gets at work.

The problem, or rather the possible problem, is that this is such 20th century thinking.

A new movement is afoot in office design, and it is one that many Downtown bosses and employees may have to grapple with in coming years. In each instance, there will be questions and debates over whether drastic change and cost savings are more important than creature comforts.

As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the giant real estate services firm CBRE just radically revamped its Downtown headquarters.

Sparked by a lack of room and a need to consolidate a West L.A. branch of the firm in the Central City, CBRE jettisoned the traditional office design of permanent personal spaces and a sea of cubicles. Instead, they took a page from the book used by young high-tech, fashion and other firms. Although opting for so-called “creative office space” has become a trend in some older Downtown buildings, including Rising Realty Partners’ revamp of the PacMutual edifice in the Financial District, until CBRE it was not considered an option for more venerable industries such as real estate, accounting and law.

This is an intriguing proposition, and some people, old and young, will be uncomfortable with the changes. At the new CBRE headquarters, no one, not even the highest-ranking executive, has a permanent office. Instead, arriving employees stake out a spot and swipe a card to have calls forwarded to a nearby phone. The family photos may just have to be glanced at on the smart phone or during those frequent Facebook breaks.

Some benefits are clear. The digital era means old contracts and documents can be scanned and placed on shared servers, allowing for a serious downsizing of hulking file cabinets. Proponents of open office design say it encourages collaboration, and that when privacy is needed for a personal phone call, there are rooms where doors can be shut.

As mentioned above, some might think that certain types of businesses are poor fits for shared space. That is why many people in Downtown will be watching the process and querying CBRE’s execs — they’ll want to know how the staff reacts and how the design impacts work.

The point is, if you work Downtown and enjoy your own office, don’t get too attached to it. If the trend continues, you may not have it for long.

Los Angeles Should Get Rolling With a Bike Share Program

I

n the past few years, Downtown Los Angeles has made significant progress in encouraging bicycling. As this page recently noted, important advances include the creation of the Spring Street Bike Lane, the extremely popular community event CicLAvia, and MyFigueroa, a plan to add bike and pedestrian lanes to the busy transportation corridor connecting Downtown and Exposition Park.

Then there is another element that should have been added by now, but has not: a citywide bike share program with a sizable presence in Downtown.

This would seem to be the proverbial low-hanging fruit. After all, bike-sharing programs, which have been popular in Europe for decades, are starting to gain a foothold in the United States as municipalities look for ways to reduce automobile gridlock and air pollution. New York City has a privately run venture called CitiBike.

Capital Bikeshare operates in Washington, D.C. Los Angeles had been on the road to getting a similar program, though as Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the progress hit a brick wall. Although city officials as recently as April talked up a deal that had been signed with the Irvine company Bike Nation, the much-anticipated program never moved forward.

The culprits were difficulties in permitting and, more significantly, issues dealing with advertising. Initial plans called for Bike Nation to pay for the entirety of the project (read: no taxpayer funds would be spent), with proceeds coming from advertising placed on the approximately 400 bike racks citywide (including 125 in Downtown).

However, that plan was scuttled by a previous outdoor advertising agreement the city had signed with the companies CBS Outdoor and JCDecaux. That deal covers a wide array of street furniture, including bike racks. Bike Nation officials were told that they could place ads on bicycles, but not on the racks themselves. Company officials said that doesn’t work financially.

That’s a big disappointment, and it’s shocking that the deal got as far as it did without someone recognizing that advertising on racks would be prohibited. We wonder who in the city dropped the ball and wasn’t familiar with the language in the older agreements.

It’s frustrating, because time, money and patience have all been needlessly wasted.

It is also frustrating because a bike share program is a natural in Downtown. There are hundreds if not thousands of commuters

who would be willing to take a train to Union Station, or perhaps to a Downtown subway stop, grab a bike from an automated rental rack, then pedal a mile or so to their job in the heart of the community, where they would leave the bike at another locked rack. Area residents might also use it for a short trip, and tourists could hop on and off as a way to see the city. These kinds of users were precisely who Bike Nation envisioned, with customers having the option to pay a daily or annual fee.

Can the problems be solved? That’s unknown at this point. The city appears to have put the kickstand down on creating a local bike share program. Instead, at the behest of figures including Mayor Eric Garcetti and County Supervisors Zen Yaroslavksy and Don Knabe, the full county is now looking into the concept. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors recently approved a motion to search for a bike share vendor to operate throughout the county.

That sounds good, but any traction will depend on whether the proposal has a champion capable of pushing the agenda. Having such a figure is vital because no target date for implementing a program has been announced, and so far, it appears no one has taken steps to address the CBS/JCDecaux quagmire. If ads were not allowed on Bike Nation’s proposed racks, and that is the prime driver for payment, then how will another private operator recoup its costs within city limits?

There seem to be potential solutions. Perhaps existing contracts could be reworked — maybe CBS and JCDecaux would be willing to relax the restriction on bike racks if the length of their deal is extended (it currently runs through 2021). Or, maybe the idea of getting people out of their cars and onto shared two-wheelers is worth the city and county paying for the portion of the proceeds that would be lost by a bike rack ad ban; the remainder could be made up by the ads on the bicycles.

Certainly there are more possible solutions, especially if some of the forward-thinking individuals in city and county government decide that this needs to happen. The area is full of strong biking advocates, and they can help the county replicate what has worked in cities around the globe.

Bike sharing should happen in Los Angeles and it should happen soon.

November 11, 2013

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Streetcar Project Hits Bumps Officials Insist That Project Once Estimated at $125 Million Will Still Happen. City Says It Could Cost $328 Million

By Eddie Kim n 2008, when he launched his Bringing Back Broadway initiative, 14th District City Councilman José Huizar said that he would like to see a Downtown streetcar up and running by 2014.

Five years later, his ambitious vision has not gone quite as planned.

Although development has sprouted along Broadway, with restaurants and stores flocking to the historic street, the streetcar has hit a series of bumps. The ever-ballooning cost is one issue: A city analysis released in September showed that the project could cost from $232.3 million to $327.8 million, drastically more than the $125 million price tag Huizar had offered as recently as last year. Then there are the delays in obtaining federal funds, hiring key personnel to push the project forward and diving into environmental and engineering reviews.

Huizar and the project’s nonprofit Los Angeles Streetcar, Inc. hosted a community meeting on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Police Administration Building to address the concerns and champion the economic benefits of the project. Huizar expressed confidence that the project will come to life, and said it could ultimately spur $1.1 billion in new development in Downtown Los Angeles.

However, officials were unable to give a timeframe for the 3.8 mile-long project that would run from South Park to the Civic Center with a

I

main spine on Broadway. Questions also remain as to where additional money will come from.

Huizar on Monday said building the streetcar will now cost “from $125 million to anywhere between $150 and $165 million.” However, that does not include the price of relocating utilities under the street, which according to the city estimate could range from $79.3 million to $165.8 million.

Huizar downplayed the high end of the city analysis.

“That’s a worst-case scenario,” Huizar told the attendees. “If you were to look at any new [transportation] project right now… you would have worst-case scenarios for them as well.

They would be sky-high, too. You don’t know what you’re going to run into.

“If you ask me, ‘Is this going to cost $300 million?’ I would say, well, we don’t know yet. But if we find something that’s going to cost that much, we’ll have to reassess. I don’t think it will cost that much.”

Shiraz Tangri, who serves as general counsel to LASI, also said the potential costs of utility relocation are based not on streetcar standards, but rather on light rail standards as defined by the California Public Utilities Commission. Streetcar construction is far less intrusive and dramatic than light rail, he said. He also said that one option is not moving the underground utilities, but rather temporarily shutting down the streetcar in the future if crews need

photo courtesy L.A. Streetcar, Inc.

A city analysis of the proposed Downtown streetcar put the price at $232 million-$328 million. When area residents approved a property tax for the urban circulator last year, they were told the project would cost $125 million.

to get below street level.

Money Matters The questions concerning price come after a public vote on funding. Last December, in a mail-in ballot, people who live in the vicinity of the proposed route approved taxing area property owners up to $85 million for the streetcar.

Those who would be assessed did not get to vote unless they also lived in the area.

Streetcar officials on Monday indicated that they won’t need the full $85 million, as the presentation showed an expected public contribution of $62.5 million. That money will be augmented by $10 million already secured from the now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency and $1 million in Measure R transportation funds.

Huizar’s team has long said that the local money would be complemented by a federal allocation, and streetcar team members repeatedly stated that they intended to apply for up to $75 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s “Small Starts” grant program.

However, streetcar officials missed a Sept. 30 application deadline for the project to be included in the president’s federal budget. That deadline was skipped because the project is not far along enough in its environmental review, said Terry Nash, a representative from the project’s consulting firm HDR. The streetcar has faced problems in obtaining federal funds in the past. The streetcar lost out on a $25 million Urban Circulators grant in 2010; Huizar told Downtown News at the time that the grants went to six other cities because those projects were further along than the Downtown streetcar.

Cost Concerns Even if the $75 million in federal funds is secured and used along with local commitments, that adds up only to a maximum of $171 million. That figure is below the low end of the city’s September analysis of $232.3 million.

The City Council on Sept. 17 approved a recommendation to leave out any further contributions from city coffers, meaning Huizar and his team will have to turn to other, as-yet-unidentified sources of funding to make up the gap. The top choice mentioned at Monday’s event was a public-private sector partnership, with potential corporate sponsors lured through advertising on the streetcars or other incentives.

Other issues must be addressed as well. An independent project manager, who will be responsible for completing a final cost estimate Continued on page 13

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6 Downtown News

November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

The CRA Is Over, The Land Sales Are Coming Bunker Hill Office Tower Site Among the 119 Properties The Former Redevelopment Agency Must Sell or Transfer

By Eddie Kim he Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency was formed in 1948 with the mission to alleviate blight in the city by funding new development, spurring economic growth and raising property values. After more than six decades’ worth of projects — with some of the most notable rising on Bunker Hill in Downtown — L.A.’s CRA, along with every other redevelopment agency in California, was shut down in 2012 as part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s effort to funnel funds back into the state’s depleted coffers.

While many people have focused on what the demise of the agency will mean to lowincome housing and other projects, there’s another big impact: Dozens of properties that the CRA owned, including a high-profile parcel in Downtown, must be sold.

The property sales are just one element of a plan, overseen by what is referred to as the CRA successor agency, that aims to redistribute properties to buyers, the city and the county based on the various contracts and obligations the CRA had made before its demise. The Long Range Property Management Plan divides 119 properties into four categories: those that will be held for government use; held for future development; used to fulfill enforceable obligations; and sold on the open market to the high-

T

est bidder.

The first tag applies to any property that had an existing agreement for government use before the dissolution of the agency. Future development properties must have been part of an existing redevelopment plan and will be handed over to the city and/or county that brokered the deal. The third category encompasses properties that will be retained for revenue, or sold outright, to pay off loans, bonds and other CRA debts.

The final category encompasses any remaining properties that will be sold, with the proceeds going to the various “taxing entities.” The county, city and Los Angeles United School District comprise the three biggest entities that stand to benefit from the redistribution of CRA resources, including past collected property taxes and future sale proceeds.

The bulk of the properties — 75 in all — fall into the for-sale category.

Bunker Hill Trophy Perhaps the most intriguing property on the list is the parcel at 361 S. Hill St., directly south of Angels Flight and east of the skyscrapers One and Two California Plaza. It was once the site of the proposed third phase of the Cal Plaza office development, but plans for a highrise were scrapped in the recession of the early 1990s. In recent years the site has drawn atten-

THE PETROLEUM BUILDING Commercial Office Space for Lease

photo by Gary Leonard

The Bunker Hill parcel once intended to hold the third phase of the California Plaza development is on a list of former CRA properties to be sold on the open market. In recent years the site has drawn attention for the herd of goats occasionally dispatched there to eat away overgrowth.

tion for the occasional herds of goats placed there to eat overgrown weeds.

Exactly what the 104,947-square-foot parcel fetches and who would be interested in buying it is unknown. An initial CRA valuation places it in the vague category of being worth more than $10 million, though a further appraisal will be necessary (it was acquired in 1961 for $2.7 million). It has already been entitled for an office high-rise, but it is unclear whether one will ultimately rise on the plot.

Steve Marcussen, executive director of brokerage at real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, says the parcel has tremendous value because of the development boom Downtown is experiencing.

Yet, he notes that any project will be “very, very expensive” because of the excavation the hill re-

quires and possible pre-existing obligations for a development to connect with California Plaza.

“It could be a good residential site, but there are other plots that don’t require the kind of work and money the parcel needs,” Marcussen said. Referring to a proposed residential complex at Fifth and Olive streets, he added, “If the zoning allows for something half as big as originally planned, like with the new Park Fifth site project, that might be helpful for developers.”

Another hurdle for office development could be sagging demand for traditional office space: Vacancy in Downtown Class A buildings is 19.4%, according to research from brokerage firm Colliers International. That comes as Brookfield Office Properties is expected to spruce up Continued on page 13

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Downtown News 7

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Genevieve Gergis Age: 35

estia

RestAuRAnt: B

HOW sHe gOt HeRe Genevieve Gergis founded Bestia with her husband, Ori Menashe. Fittingly, the couple met eight years ago when Gergis was working as the hostess of a restaurant. Their dream, since they first got together, was to own a place of their own. That happened in fall 2012 when they opened the Arts District establishment with the help of restaurateur Bill Chait. Menashe is the executive chef and Gergis is the pastry chef.

Gergis, who is self-taught, has been cooking since she was 3, despite her mother’s best efforts to keep her from burning food in the oven.

Still, a full-time life in the kitchen was a bit of a turnaround for the woman who had been working as an interior designer. With Bestia in the planning stage, Gergis trained at Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, where she learned how to cook desserts on a professional level. She saw how a kitchen was supposed to run, what equipment she needed and how to manage employees — all are crucial elements now that she turns out 150 desserts a night. “I feel more at home in the pastry kitchen than anywhere else I’ve ever worked,” said Gergis. “I don’t get sick of it. I could be here 12 to 14 hours a day and I am fine with it.”

DeFInIng DesseRts Gergis is constantly changing the dessert menu at Bestia and alternating between her seasonal signature dishes. The hardest one she had to come up with was her Spiced Chestnut Zeppole, which is made with chestnut flour. It is gluten-free, has a light, airy texture, and is

served with a side of softly whipped cream and coffee gelato. She used high hydration dough and went through 40 different recipes over two months to get it right. “It’s my one of my most loved desserts,” she said. “It has a big following.

Sometimes people sit at the bar and only order the Zeppole with a drink.”

Another specialty is Gergis’ flaky and doughy Plum and Nectarine Crostata with frangipane and buttermilk ice cream. Depending on the season, she switches out the fruit, and sometimes offers a fig crostata instead. She makes that version of the dessert with a side of fig ice cream, which gets its flavor from extracted fig leaves.

At 2121 Seventh Place, (213) 514-5724 or bestiala.com

8 Downtown News

November 11, 2013

JUST DESSERTS

HOW He gOt HeRe Martin Duron grew up in Lynwood helping his mom cook meals and desserts for his family. Even at a young age, one of his favorite things to make was lemon meringue pie. When he was 12, he got a second-degree burn from popcorn oil, but that couldn’t deter him from his culinary passion.

In junior high and high school, Duron took home economics classes. He attended Cerritos College Culinary Arts, where he caught the pastry bug. “My teacher in college would always say everyone comes and they eat dinner,” he said. “The last thing they remember is dessert. It’s always the dessert that’s memorable.”

After college, Duron took jobs at Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes, David Burke in Las Vegas and the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey. He jumped to Rivera five years ago, joining acclaimed chef John Rivera Sedlar at the South Park insta-fave known for its Latin food (and sometimes for the stencil designs Sedlar puts in his spices). Duron arrived as the pastry chef and was later promoted to chef de cuisine, his current position. He still does a lot of work at the dessert station, and has a hand in playing with the menu and experimenting with combinations of flavors.

Martin Duron Age: 39

RestAuRAnt: Rivera

to draw out the flavor, though it’s mercurial — Duron said it takes on a different taste every time.

Sometimes it is reminiscent of banana. Other times the flavor resembles the tang of an apple or pineapple.

Another popular item is the Xochimilco, an ancho chile chocolate cake with avocado mousse and a lime pepper sauce. Duron likes the way the avocado cools off the ancho chile and adds an element of sweetness.

Duron said that the desserts he creates at Rivera remind him of being in the kitchen with his mom.

“She always told me to take recipes and make them your own,” he said. “She said to make them that much better.”

At 1050 S. Flower St., (213) 749-1460 or riverarestaurant.com

DeFInIng DesseRts Duron’s dessert menu at Rivera is full of spice and savory features. There’s the Pan de Santa Teresa, a Spanish Lenten warm bread pudding with cherimoya ice cream, cactus pear esencia and salted peanuts. He blends the cactus

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Downtown News 9

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10 Downtown News

Ian Gresik Age: 32

RestAuRAnt:

Drago Centr o

JUST DESSERTS

HOW He gOt HeRe Ian Gresik, a Los Angeles native who now lives in Marina Del Ray, became interested in cooking when he was a child and spent time with his mom in the kitchen. In high school he started working in restaurant kitchens and later attended the Cerritos College Culinary Arts and Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. He landed a job at the prestigious Patina in the Walt Disney Concert Hall and stayed for seven years, working as the sous and pastry chef. Five years ago he joined acclaimed chef Celestino Drago at Drago Centro in the Financial District. In 2010, Gresik participated in the StarChefs.com International Pastry competition, facing off against 19 other chefs in a contest that involved whipping up various cakes, chocolate dishes and bonbons. He made it into the top three and competed in the final round.

Gresik, whose Drago title is “chef di cusina,” is in charge of the entire menu, including the desserts. The demanding restaurant is a fitting location for him — his interest in preparing desserts came from the unique challenges they present. “There is more of an exact science with it,” he said. “You can’t wing making pastries. You have to be efficient, disciplined, and a little bit more organized.”

DeFInIng DesseRts The dessert menu at Drago includes a variety of Italian cakes, gelatos, biscotti and donuts. When Gresik worked in the kitchen at Patina with chef Eric Greenspan, he was exposed to sweet and savory desserts; he made an apple pie with cheddar cheese,

November 11, 2013

and from then on he aimed to blur the line between savory and sweet. “I thought there were a lot more possibilities out there if you could open up to the savory world,” he said. “You just have to have things that balance each other out.”

One of Gresik’s signature creations at Drago is La Terrina, a chocolate and olive oil terrine — his version comes with salted caramel gelato and almonds or candied walnuts. Another of his favorites is the La Panna Cotta, a vanilla panna cotta with Bartlett pears, mixed berries and a black pepper Madeleine cookie. Gresik adds the pepper to the French cookie to offset the sweetness of the berries and fruit. He likes the dish because it lets him put a spin on a classic Italian dessert and make it his own.

At 525 S. Flower St., (213) 228-8998 or dragocentro.com

November 11, 2013

Downtown News 11

JUST DESSERTS

HOW sHe gOt HeRe

Elizabeth Whitlock Age: 23

RestAuRAnt: Patina

Unlike many chefs, Elizabeth Whitlock didn’t go into the food business because she loved the meals her mom whipped up in the kitchen. Instead, the Ventura County native admits that, when she was a child, she didn’t like her mom’s cooking very much. So she started making food for herself. She remembers stepping into the kitchen one day when she was 4 and, even though it wasn’t morning, she made her favorite meal of the day: breakfast.

As she grew older, Whitlock found that baking pastries was a stress reliever, and she continued doing it throughout high school. She attended Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena and after graduation took a job with a small catering company.

She wasn’t there for long, and two years ago she joined Patina, the upscale restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall, where she was trained by Carlos Enriquez, the pastry chef on the West Coast for Patina Restaurant Group. For one summer, she learned how to make their classic desserts and was given free range to play around in their chocolate room (yes, they have a chocolate room). For Whitlock, a chocolate connoisseur, it was a dream. “It was way too much fun for me,” she said.

rate on the Caramel Chocolate Namelaka. It includes malted banana ice cream, peanut butter sponge cake and sesame coulis. To prepare it, she and her assistant spray chocolate and cocoa butter on top of the flourless chocolate cake and add the peanut butter sponge cake on the side.

Whitlock’s favorite dessert on the Patina menu is the Green Apple Battera, which is accompanied by coconut ice cream and a crispy French meringue. It is made with a set terrine, a coconut butter base, coconut ice with agar and a green apple sorbet; it is also served with dehydrated apple chips. “I like it when desserts are nice and refreshing,” Whitlock said. “It’s frozen so it’s perfect after a lovely, hot meal to bite into that cold terrine.”

At 141 S. Grande Ave., (213) 972-3331 or patinarestaurant.com

DeFInIng DesseRts The ingredients for all of the desserts at Patina are made in house, and Whitlock said that her strong points include various financiers, or small French cakes. Though some of the desserts have been on the menu for years, she had the opportunity to collabo-

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November 11, 2013

JUST DESSERTS

‘This Silly Little Donut Put Us on the Map’ In Her Own Words, Nickel Diner Owner Monica May Remembers How an Inventive Dessert Took the Community by Storm As Told to Donna Evans “ had been living Downtown and had a cafe, Banquette, where Bäco Mercat is now. It was a seminal part of the community in 2004, but I started to think, wouldn’t it be great if I made all the things I wanted to eat Downtown? We found the space for the Nickel Diner and I thought, OK, here’s my opportunity to re-create all my childhood favorites: Ding Dongs, Pop Tarts and donuts.

Our original pastry chef Sharlena Fong executed the dessert program.

“I’ve loved donuts since I was a kid. My father traveled a lot when I was little, and for those long car rides to LAX my mother would bribe us with Winchell’s donuts. Ultimately, donuts became my obsession. I always knew that, if I ever had a goodsize kitchen, these were one of the things I wanted to create.

“Most donuts are deep-fried dough and sugar.

There’s a lot of air in that. I wanted to use brioche; it’s a traditional French bread made with lots of eggs and butter. It’s very soft. When you deep-fry it, it adds another dimension. It’s extraordinary.

“Applewood smoked bacon is my favorite. It’s very thick and has a great smoked profile. Add maple syrup and powdered sugar to that and you get the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

“When we opened in 2008, people, other than those who lived in the neighborhood, weren’t sure about coming to this part of Main Street. We gave away donut holes to every table for the first six months. We had strawberry crumble, Nutella and maple bacon donut holes as part of our flavor profile. Like any good drug dealer, we made the first taste free.

“We opened during the recession, at a time when people were looking for comfort. Plus, it was at the forefront of bacon coming into everyone’s consciousness. We were fortunate when we put it all together that everyone liked it much as we did. We figured if no one came to the restaurant, at least we were making food we liked.

“At first, people were afraid of it. Of course, once they tasted the donut they were hooked. As word of mouth spread, it took off and people started talking

I

about it, bringing their friends to this little Skid Rowadjacent restaurant for maple bacon donuts, good food and a good time. Ultimately word of mouth was our best advertising.

“Our maple bacon donut was $2 when we opened.

It’s $2.75 now. For something that takes three days to produce, including making, proofing and frying the dough, obviously we don’t make any money.

“But it’s become a symbol of what the Nickel Diner is about, and has brought many people who travel to Downtown in search of it who never would have come here otherwise. When we made number three in Los Angeles Magazine’s list of the Best New Restaurants, that brought the Westsiders to Downtown. Being on the Food Network show ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’ brought in people from across the country.

“The maple bacon donut is still one of my all-time favorite desserts.

For the first five years, there wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t at least have a bite.

And all this time later, when I taste one, I still think, ‘God, that’s a really good donut!’

“On average, we make about 40 maple bacon donuts a day on weekdays and 80 to 100 on weekends.

We have a whole pastry team. It’s not just one person getting up every day at 4:30 a.m. anymore.

“When we opened the Nickel Diner we saw it as a restaurant just for our community. But this silly little donut put us on the map. People trek into Downtown from two and a half hours away, and even across the country. Then they’re here and they see how Downtown has changed and they’re, like, amazed.

“I see the maple bacon donut as a goodwill ambassador for Downtown. It’s a real testament to the power of something good and sweet.”

At 524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com donna@downtownnews.com

photo by Gary Leonard

Monica May, who co-owns Main Street’s Nickel Diner with Kristen Trattner, shows off the maple bacon donut.

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Downtown News 13

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and a financial plan, among other things, has not yet been hired.

Tangri stated that the city hopes to hire a project manager in the first quarter of 2014. He also asserted that despite missing the Sept. 30 deadline, the city is on track to obtain federal funds.

“The FTA is very used to projects figuring out the pieces as it goes along,” he said. “That said, we’ve locked in some of our financing beyond what other cities had by the time they got to this stage of the process.”

But according to a City Council file memo, Department of Transportation staff told the council that the FTA requires a “detailed funding plan” that covers the cost of the project. It is unclear when that will be completed.

Huizar said the city will know the cost of utility relocation by the spring. The environmental and engineering review process lies beyond that; Tangri said that an environmental impact review team has not yet been assembled, but will be on the street next year.

Nobody involved in the project was able to provide an overall timeline. It remains unknown when it would break ground, or when Downtowners might be able to board a streetcar. eddie@downtownnews.com

CRA, 6 four recently acquired buildings, heightening potential future competition for tenants.

“Bunker Hill used to be the epicenter of trophy office space,” said Adam Tischer, a vice president in the Downtown office of Colliers International. “But as retail and other amenities develop off the hill, and with more office users demanding more creative and lifestyle-centered working environments, Bunker Hill now is less desirable and is a removed island.”

Still, some worry that the parcel could be wasted on a smaller project that lacks density. Perhaps for this reason, the city has submitted a request to the CRA to acquire the parcel and redefine it as a “future development” property, according to a memo dated Oct. 1 from Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office obtained by Downtown News.

That aim doesn’t surprise Dan Rosenfeld, a former Downtown developer and economic development deputy for Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas who now sits on the oversight committee for CRA/LA’s property disposition process.

“There are people making very good arguments that some properties will be better for the public if they are held over a longer time so the market has more time to settle, rather than just putting them on the auction block right now,” Rosenfeld said.

Angels Flight and MOCA Land Other Downtown properties on the for-sale roster include the land underneath One and Two Cal Plaza, the Omni Hotel on Bunker Hill, Angels Flight and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The current lessees of the Cal Plaza properties and the Omni have the first opportunity to buy the land; MOCA has expressed interest in acquiring its property, according to a CRA/ LA document, but does not have preferential rights to a purchase.

Meanwhile, the questions surrounding operational safety at the Angels Flight funicular make its future unclear; the current lease runs through 2082 and again contains a preferential right to the land.

There are also questions regarding how long it will take to execute the Long Range Property Management Plan. The successor agency’s current timeline has the plan going to the state Department of Finance in January. If approved, the plan will begin divvying up the government use properties in February, and options for future development sites will be hashed out by the end of June. Bidding for open properties won’t happen until June 2015, according to the proposed timeline.

Marcussen expects delays in the process because of the complexities of each property, the bidding process and possible jockeying between the county, city and private-sector entities.

“There’s a lot at stake here, and everyone has a different agenda and ways they can benefit. It’s painful and long and expensive and political,” Marcussen said. “I think it will take much longer than anyone expects.”

In essence, expect to see more Bunker Hill goats before you see construction on a new Cal Plaza building. eddie@downtownnews.com

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November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Opening Doors to a New Life SRO Housing Corporation Debuts $28 Million Gateways Apartments

By Eddie Kim arrien Brown smiles wide as he rolls his wheelchair across the lobby of the Gateways Apartments. He’s soaking in the details of what will be his new home: The fresh carpets, the smooth brown leather chairs and couches, an outdoor courtyard in which greenery flutters in the wind.

“Aw, man. It’s hard to describe what this is like,” Brown, 51, said. “It’s just a new beginning.

It gives me a good reason to be more responsible with my life and what I do.”

Homeless since 1986, Brown spent the last two years at the Midnight Mission in Skid Row, trying to figure out the next phase of his life.

The apartment complex at 505 S. San Pedro St., which had a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 7, has opened the door for him to finally settle down in a place of his own.

The $28 million Gateways Apartments, developed by SRO Housing Corporation, gives Brown and 106 other formerly homeless individuals private apartments along with a suite of in-building social services such as job counseling, medical assistance and mental health counseling. There’s a property manager on site and 24/7 security monitoring.

While the aim is to give residents a safety net, form was just as important as function when SRO Housing set out to transform a dusty, razor wire-enclosed lot into modern apartments. The design by DBB Architects has clean, modern lines that wouldn’t look out of

D

place in Santa Monica. Large windows in the six-story building look out onto the neighborhood below. Glass-paneled railings on outdoor walkways add a sense of openness.

The building takes advantage of a range of sustainable materials and technologies. Photovoltaic panels jut out from the roof, generating both electricity and a sharp architectural detail. In the central courtyard, a deep planter doubles as a rainwater catch system, which will recycle water for landscape irrigation. There’s a solar hot water system, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles in the 53-space underground parking garage.

All these elements allowed the project to be certified as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold building. Gateways is the first SRO Housing project to be designated as such.

Amenities abound on the inside. There are offices for social services and an all-purpose classroom that will have computer workstations. A community room features more leather couches and contains a full-size kitchen, stocked with gleaming stainless-steel appliances, that can be used for group events or parties.

Dark-wood furniture adds a touch of elegance.

Only one element is missing: A flat-screen TV for residents had not been installed by early last week.

Anita Nelson, CEO of SRO Housing, said she wanted Gateways to feature everything that people would find in a market-rate apartment

photo by Gary Leonard

SRO Housing Corporation’s Gateways Apartment has 107 residences for formerly homeless individuals. The $28 million development at Fifth and San Pedro streets opened last week.

complex elsewhere.

“We don’t want it to look like low-income housing, and we wanted to keep clear of anything that looks institutional,” she said. “We wanted people to be able to bring family or friends over and be proud.”

That mentality extends to the apartments.

Averaging about 350 square feet, the studios come with all the essentials: a bed with colorful new linens, a full kitchen, a bathroom, a small dining table and chairs.

Though it’s a simple setup, Nelson said that walking into a new home can be an overwhelming moment for residents.

“Sometimes, residents will sleep on the floor

instead of in the bed. We have to tell them, ‘No, this is your bed. It’s clean and brand new, don’t worry,’” she said. “They’re not used to having a real place to sleep.”

Residents can stay at Gateways as long as they want. The rent works on a sliding scale, with most people paying about 30% of whatever income they earn. Still, Joseph Corcoran, SRO Housing’s director of planning and housing development, said inhabitants sometimes fear that their living arrangement could change without warning.

“Some worry that their apartment will be taken away from them. That’s how much they Continued on page 16

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Downtown News 15

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

How, and Why, I Became a Clippers Fan Long Before the Winning, There Was a Lot of Pain

By Jon Regardie hen it comes to local professional basketball, only two things are stranger than the ascendancy of the Los Angeles Clippers: The first is that their rise coincides with the downward spiral of the once

W

THE REGARDIE REPORT mighty Lakers. The second is that people are willing to admit in public to being fans of the franchise owned by Donald Sterling.

It wasn’t long ago that wearing a Clippers Tshirt was the 21st century sports equivalent of affixing a scarlet A to your chest. If those who opted to pull such a stunt weren’t quite ostracized like Hester Prynne, they were looked at curiously, with observers usually wondering if the fan knew what he or she had pulled out of the shirt drawer. The Clippers were so bad for so long that those who rooted for the team weren’t even hated by Lakers lovers. Rather, they were pitied.

I know this because I am one of those fans.

Back in the days when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were three-peating, I was paying to watch a bunch of also-rans in red, white and blue jerseys get pummeled by whomever they were playing. The Clippers frequently lost as many as 60 times in an 82-game season. While it was often fun to watch a game against a good team so you could see a star player, when

the Clips matched up against another poor team it was about as fun, and slightly more painful, than having a tooth drilled without Novocaine.

Now, however, thanks to luck and ping-pong balls (more on that below), everything has flipped. The Clippers are expected to contend this season for a trip to the NBA Finals, while the closest the Lakers will get to that will be watching the games on TV in June. It’s the Clippers who have bankable stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, while the Lakers’ roster is comprised of a creaky Steve Nash, a lonely Pau Gasol, the remnants of Kobe Bryant’s knee cartilage and Achilles tendon, and a bunch of guys whose names even the Laker faithful will have forgotten two years from now.

Lawnmower Approach When I tell people that I’m a Clippers fan, and have been since long before Griffin, Paul and new coach Doc Rivers arrived, the insta-remark is usually, “Why?” It’s put forth in amazement, like wondering why someone would choose to cut off his or her own foot with a lawnmower. It’s usually accompanied with an expression somewhere between stunned and sad.

While I cheer for the Clippers, I don’t take things all that seriously — this is sports after all, not life. Also, I never actively disliked the Lakers and still don’t now (though it’s sometimes funny when they lose and people go ballistic): As

photo by Gary Leonard

For Clippers fans, everything changed the moment the team drafted dunk machine Blake Griffin.

a basketball fan, a healthy Kobe is amazing to watch.

My Clippers affinity started more than a decade ago, when a friend who had owned sea-

son tickets since the team played in the crypt known as the Sports Arena began running out of suckers to accompany him and started inviting me to games. I went and enjoyed watching NBA ball, even if only one team on the court seemed worthy of being in the NBA. A few years later, when offered the chance to join a group that divvied up season tickets, I jumped. Partly, as mentioned above, it was the chance to see the other team. Partly it was because I could afford it, as getting the same seats for the Lakers would have required selling my pancreas, which I doubt I would have enjoyed.

Then a strange thing happened: Over time, a Clippers affinity settled inside me. At first I thought it was bronchitis, but I was wrong. I never donned a bright red foam finger but I did closely follow the ups and downs of the team and had in-depth discussions about players such as Corey Maggette and a pre-Kardashianed Lamar Odom. During a brief and shocking period in 2006, my compatriots and I thrilled when the Clippers made the second round of the playoffs. They seemed to have a bright future.

Then, possibly because the players realized they were the Clippers and that the team was owned by the historically tightfisted Sterling, the wheels fell off the bus, the bus crashed into a ditch and a pack of zombies attacked the survivors. I continued going to games at Staples Center in Downtown, though they were all the more painful because I remembered the fleeting bright period. Meanwhile, the Lakers racked up a couple Kobe and Gasol titles.

Ping Pong Ascendancy It’s somehow fitting that the Clippers’ upswing stems less from skill and hard work Continued on page 24

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16 Downtown News

can’t believe that they are here for the long haul,” he said.

Nelson points out that the long haul is the whole point of housing complexes like Gateways.

“A person can really start rebuilding their life here — go to school, get a job,” she said. “And they have a place to come at the end of the day.”

The Work Never Ends As with most new low-income housing complexes in Downtown, demand far exceeded supply. Approximately 500 people applied for the 107 apartments at Gateways, which is the third-largest complex run by SRO Housing after the Rosslyn Hotel and Ford Apartments.

The swollen demand reminds Corcoran that his

work is never over.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built here, but it’s only a drop in the bucket,” he said.

To help streamline the waitlist, SRO Housing consulted the Skid Row Coordinated Entry System, a partnership between the United Way and multiple city and county departments that identifies the most vulnerable, chronically homeless candidates for permanent housing. That helps expedite the process for some individuals, but in general it takes about six to eight months to process a waitlist of 500 people and find them homes, according to Nelson.

Corcoran hopes to begin developing more properties as soon as possible, but he said funding is always a challenge; the money for SRO Housing projects come from multiple government and private-sector entities, all with their

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Every studio unit comes furnished with a bed, a full kitchen and a dining table and chairs. The property also offers a community room and an interior courtyard.

own guidelines and bureaucratic requirements.

“This is the hardest type of property to fund and keep running,” said Corcoran.

The task grew more difficult when the Community Redevelopment Agency was shuttered in 2012. Up to that point, the CRA had provided acquisition funding to SRO Housing, meaning the developer could snag a property and begin planning a project and funding on the fly instead of being stuck in escrow for a year.

As for Brown, he doesn’t know how long he’ll stay at Gateways. For now, he looks forward to going back to school and eventually getting a

the

Gateways, 14

November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

job, perhaps as a nutritionist — his high blood sugar, after all, has made him a bit of a dietary expert.

“I can finally buy groceries and have a place to make my own food, stuff that’s better for me,” Brown said with a laugh.

The opportunity to make a real life for himself has been a long time coming, Brown said.

He’s not going to take it for granted, and he looks forward to the day when he can lock the door behind him and hand the key to another person who needs a home. eddie@downtownnews.com

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Water, Water Everywhere At the Natural History Museum Watercolor Exhibit Pays Heed to the Centennial of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Exposition Park Attraction she appeared at the exhibit’s opening.

By Donna Evans Deep Research t first glance, Robert Reynolds’ watercolReynolds began working on the project in or of a glass of water, which is hanging April, not the typical pace for a solo show of this in the Natural History Museum’s rotunmagnitude, Eyerman said. She noted that in adda, might seem banal. After all, it’s a sight peodition to reading books about the aqueduct’s ple see every day: on a desk, a kitchen counter, history, he pored over historical archives, trekked your bedside table. to the Owens Valley, assembled field trips and The work, appropriately titled “Glass of Water,” is asking a bigger question than, would you mobilized teams of historians and archeologists.

Ultimately, he investigated myriad sites, molike a drink?: The query instead is, what did it ments and episodes around the aqueduct. take to get that thirst quenching, life-sustainReynolds’ references range from the sublime ing liquid into your faucet?

19th century landscapes of Thomas Moran and The answer, as Los Angeles was reminded Albert Bierstadt to the deadpan wit of pop and last week, is that much of the wet stuff we use conceptual artists such as Andy Warhol and Ed and consume is here because the city annexed Ruscha, all of whom have connections to Calithe Owens Valley as a reservoir 100 years ago, fornia’s natural or cultural landscape, Eyerman and that thousands of people, from civic leadsaid. ers and barkeeps to ditch diggers and dynaShe called one aspect of the project “groundmite workers, conceived, constructed and breaking”: Reynolds created 13 banners listing opened the Los Angeles Aqueduct. the names of 7,000 people who participated in Reynolds’ 10-piece exhibit Just Add Water: or were affected by the aqueduct in some way.

Artworks Inspired by the L.A. Aqueduct comReynolds and a team scoured the National Armemorates the 100th anniversary of the aqchives, voter registration lists, census and mediueduct, through which the Owens River water cal records and the attic of the Department of surged from the San Fernando Reservoir into Water and Power.

Los Angeles on Nov. 5, 1913. Additionally, the “In addition to the founders, William Mulholexhibit marks another milestone: the centenland and Fred Eaton, I wanted to pay tribute nial of the Natural History Museum, which to everybody,” Reynolds said at the opening. opened on Nov. 6, 1913, as the Museum of Sci“From the Teamsters to the people who died ence, History and Art. when the St. Francis Dam collapsed.”

The exhibit, which is on display through The reference is to the 1928 catastrophe and Aug. 3, 2014, is the final piece to come online ensuing flood that killed 600 people. The civil in a seven-year, $135 million renovation of the once dusty Exposition Park attraction. It follows engineering disaster 10 miles north of Santa Clarita ended the storied career of Mulholland, the July opening of Becoming Los Angeles, a the DWP’s general manager and chief engineer.

14,000-square-foot permanent exhibition that Mulholland took full responsibility for the cachronicles the story of the city and its inhabitlamity. Reynolds depicted the dam in “Photoants over 500 years. The reinvented NHM has graph of the St. Francis Dam at Capacity.” five new permanent exhibits, including a 3.5The work is drawing praise from others inacre garden. volved in mounting the exhibit.

Just Add Water was curated by Charlotte “Rob has incredible respect for the historical Eyerman,BILan art historian and director of the MO E 8* 67 55 to IE OV record, ” said Karen Wise, vice president of eduMonterey Museum of Art. She knew she wantNM B DT CLU Text cation exhibits for the museum. “His accuracy is ed a Los Angeles artist for the project and was remarkable and hisClub eye is amazing.”

Text DTNMOVIE to 55678 to Join Our Movie familiar with Reynolds’ body of work.

WiseTickets! wanted the double anniversary exhibit Reynolds’ task was mammoth: Createto 10 Win Movie and be Entered to be something “great original, large-scale watercolors — the *Carrier msg & data rates apply.

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4 msgs/month max.and worthy” of the muchosen for obvious symbolism — that interpret seum’s soaring space. She prefers projects with many layers, which she believes visitors will the significance of the aqueduct through the find in Just Add Water. lenses of history, geography and time.

In the weeks he spent traveling up north, “And by the way, you have six months to do along the aqueduct’s 233-mile route, Reynolds it,” Eyerman recalled telling him last week as

A

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Artist Robert Reynolds’ 10-piece exhibit Just Add Water at the Natural History Museum commemorates the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

habits as a consumer. took hundreds of photographs. He spoke with “I don’t have a critical voice where I’m blamOwens Valley residents and marveled at their ing other people,” he said. “We’re all participatdepth of knowledge about water. ing in this. To the extent that I have a mission, “People in the bars, on the streets, in restauI’d say transparency and discussion and disrants: They talk with such sophistication about course and the exchange of ideas are central to hydrology,” he said. “It’s as though water is on my project.” everybody’s mind up there, where it seems to Of course, many people know the story of be on few people’s minds here.” water in Los Angeles only through the 1974 RoReynolds sees water awareness in the shape man Polanski film Chinatown. Reynolds pays of a Venn diagram, with extreme activists on one side and extreme consumption on the oth- heed to that fictional view too, as one of his er. The part that overlaps is where we realize we watercolors is of the film’s protagonist, Jake Now Playing/Starts Nov 8 Gittes, donning a fedora and sporting bandagneed to use a lot less water.

Not that Reynolds is a shrill opponent of con- es across his nose and standing in front of a “Sold” sign for seemingly worthless land. sumption. While watering the vegetable garJust Add Water runs though Aug. 3, 2014, at den at his Silver Lake home last week, from the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd. where he can see the DWP building he painted (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org in one of the pieces, Reynolds recalled becomdonna@downtownenws.com ing introspective about the show and his own

NOV 11 !

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CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

November 11, 2013

How Takayo Fischer Found Her Groove Octogenarian Actress and Downtown Resident Stars in New East West Players Play

By Eddie Kim ardwick, Calif. is a farming town deep in the heart of the Golden State. In the 2010 census, the community in the San Joaquin Valley recorded a tidy population of 138. Its only post office closed in 1942.

Japanese-American actress Takayo Fischer was born in Hardwick 81 years ago. Sitting in the kitchen of her Downtown apartment, the woman who this week stars in a new play in Little Tokyo wondered aloud what could have been the result of her staying there.

“Would I have ever been introduced to the arts if I were on the farm?” she asked one morning last week. “I probably would’ve been a farmer’s wife, or if my mother got her wish, she knew a family in Fresno who had a department store. Maybe, if I had been lucky, I would’ve become a part of that family.”

Her eventual departure from Hardwick wasn’t her decision.

Like thousands of Japanese Americans, her family was placed in a series of internment camps during World War II. Despite the horrid experience, Fischer caught the glimmer of a silver lining: The camps offered a window into Japanese culture, exposing her to things she had never before experienced: the language, music, and most critically, the art of kabuki theater.

“My passion and love affair with theater, I think it came from that introduction to kabuki,” she said. “I don’t even remember realizing it at the time.”

Fischer would eventually attend the theater arts department at Rollins College in Florida. She went on to have success on Broadway, playing the titular prostitute in The World of Suzie Wong, and appearing in countless musicals and plays across the country.

More recently she acted in films such as The Pursuit of Happyness and Moneyball.

This week, Fischer plays Sumi in East West Players’ new production, Nisei Widows Club: How Tomi Got Her Groove Back. The

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show is the final installment of the Nisei Widows Club trilogy, which follows four senior-citizen Nisei — a term that describes second-generation Japanese born in another country. The show opens on Thursday, Nov. 14, at EWP’s David Henry Hwang Theatre in Little Tokyo. It runs through Dec. 8.

In the show, Tomi has lost her only son to a heart attack at the age of 45. Her three Nisei widow friends (Fischer, Emily Kuroda and June Kyoko Lu) try to console her with a trip to Hawaii. Comic hijinks follow as the women fall for a young, handsome huladancing teacher named Kimo (Tui Asau).

Fischer says the Nisei Widows Club story is a universal one about loss and how friendship can help summon internal strength. But the trials she faced as an Asian-American in postwar America — the slurs, the strange glances, how she was shoved to the ground and told “the only good Jap is a dead Jap” — informs the way she approaches each challenge, on stage or off.

“All the things that were bad made me realize all the things that were good,” she said. “If everything came so easily, would I be so appreciative of what I accomplished?”

East West Players Art Education Director Marilyn Tokuda, a longtime friend of Fischer’s, isn’t surprised by that attitude.

“Takayo does not linger over problems or challenges. She just keeps going. She’s been that way since I’ve known her,” Tokuda said. “And she brings that experience as a Nisei in the internment camp, and I think it adds richness to the story and the rest of the cast learn from it.”

The play is perhaps one of the last stage roles Fischer will take.

“When you get to my age, memorizing lines isn’t so easy,” she said with a chuckle.

Her life-long romance with acting, however, continues to affect how she sees the world.

“You know, theater teaches you a lot,” she said. “It helps you solve certain problems or see things in a different way.”

photo by Michael Lamont

Takayo Fischer plays Sumi in Nisei Widows Club: How Tomi Got Her Groove Back at East West Players’ theater in Little Tokyo. Tui Asau is the young hula dancing teacher Kimo.

As long as audiences find a single moment of truth that resonates to them, Fischer says, she’ll be happy.

Nisei Widows Club: How Tomi Got Her Groove Back runs Nov. 14-Dec. 8 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 6257000 or eastwestplayers.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

Downtown News 19

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

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EVENTS

FalstaFF Is Back, art returns and the Power oF PuPPets

SPONSORED LISTINGS Downtown Women’s Center Community Threads Exhibit 325 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 680-060 or 01933 S. Broadway, 800-LAMART-4 or DWCweb.org/yarnbomb Opening reception during Downtown Art Walk at the MADE by DWC Resale Boutique. Community Threads is a yarn-bomb collaboration that explores how visual art can connect communities, raise awareness of homelessness, and provide skill building for women overcoming poverty.

6-11 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.

ThuRSDay, NOvEMbER 14 Grand Park’s Got Moves Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

12 p.m.: Do not be alarmed as seemingly ordinary members of the crowd begin to dance, contort, hop and perhaps two-step as Ate9 dANCEcOMPANY’s “Sheila” takes hold. Enjoy the seamless integration between performers and audience.

FRIDay, NOvEMbER 15 The Politics of Parametricism REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Nov. 15, 7 p.m. and Nov. 16, 10 a.m.: The world of architecture is moving to embrace Parametricism. In this two-day conference, ideas of space, digital design and new methodology help illuminate a practice that is light years away from the rectilinear log cabins of yesteryear.

SaTuRDay, NOvEMbER 16 Tecza Puppet Theatre and Warsaw Village Band at World City W.M. Keck Amphitheatre, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org.

11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: Central Europe’s preeminent puppet practitioners join with a traditional folk music outfit to present two free performances of Polish folk culture. It’s part of the aweContinued on next page

photo by Robert Millard photo courtesy The Music Center

WEDNESDay, NOvEMbER 13 Roy Choi at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: An L.A. native and creator of the Kogi BBQ truck, Roy Choi is a consummate Angeleno. He’ll sit down with Evan Kleiman to discuss his latest book L.A. Son. Lydia Davis at REDCAT REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

8:30 p.m.: Ultra-concise short fictionist Lydia Davis shares some of the perspectives on the medium that helped earn her a MacArthur Fellowship. You’ve got one of those too, right?

Michael Maltzan at SCI-Arc SCI-Arc, 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu.

7 p.m.: Silver Lake’s Michael Maltzan discusses the finer points of 21st century architecture. Expect plenty of talk about his jawdropping Star Apartments in Downtown.

one Some still believe that graphic novels are glorified comic books or mere fodder for film adaptation. The Central Library’s Aloud program invites you to drop by on Tuesday, Nov. 12, to have your perspective drastically rearranged. Joe Sacco (left) and Gene Luen Yang will discuss the medium’s ability to frame important societal issues through an accessible visual form to create new understanding.

Sacco’s most recent effort is a 24-foot long illustration of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 while Yang’s latest work deals with the Boxer Rebellion. The free talk (reservations recommended) starts at 7:15 p.m. at 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

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, but y not complaining al nl ai rt ce e e’r w d offici hy an We aren’t sure w les has lately become a sort of un ge cza Downtown Los An e latest to join Bob Baker is the Te saw t. Th puppetry magne hich performs along with the War ries e, w er’s World City se a Puppet Theatr of the Music Cent rt pa the Tecz as d an B Village days after WWII, e th in nd la Po of t . The free 16. Emerging ou in Central Europe ts tfi ou et pp on Saturday, Nov. pu t .M. Keck e one of the fines :30 p.m. at the W troupe has becom rday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. and 12 e affair are free of Satu to th action unfolds on t Disney Concert Hall. Tickets re each al nue an hour befo W ve at e e th tr e id ts ou up Amphithea e ho patiently queu musiccenter.org. charge to those w S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3336 or 111 performance. At

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It’s hard to go wrong with Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian composer’s works are usually accessible to opera newbies and still rewarding to those who have seen his shows dozens of times. So it is with the Los Angeles Opera production of Falstaff, playing through Dec. 1 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Roberto Frontali is portraying the rotund Shakespearean knight in the show that has two Downtown performances this week: Wednesday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 16 (both at 7:30 p.m.). L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon conducts and Leo Blakeley directs. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7219 or laopera.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

TuESDay, NOvEMbER 12 Making History Graphic Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Artists Joe Sacco and Gene Luen Yang will be on hand to discuss the relevance of graphic novels as instruments of historical didacticism.

photos courtesy Aloud

MONDay, NOvEMbER 11 Love, Peace and Soul at the Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7 p.m.: The Decoders, Mateo Senolia and Garth Trinidad will all be present to mark the release of Ericka Blount Danois’ book Love, Peace & Soul: Behind the Scenes of America’s Favorite Dance Show Soul Train. Now if only we could get a book release for the definitive biography of the Solid Gold dancers.

By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

THREE

As has become standard operating procedure on the secon d Thursday of every month, Downtowners will gather to celebrate our city center’s creative scene. Yes, Art Walk is back, and the streets of the Historic Core will be alight with abstract wonder on Thursday, Nov. 14.

For those not attempting to cop a righteous buzz or adhere to the tenet s of the Hare Krishnas, local galleries have plenty going on. Of specia l note is the Hive Gallery, where the Master Blasters of Sculpture show featu res a few dozen artists, including the esteemed Chet Zar, in an exhibit as diverse as it is inclusive. The crowds start trickling in around 5 p.m., so prepare. In the Historic Core, (213) 617-4929 or downtownartwalk.org .

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photo courtesy FilmBuff

November 11, 2013

With Thanksgiving approaching, the Downtown Independent is eager to prepare audiences for the impending onslaught that is spending an entire weekend in close proximity to your family. Cold Turkey, writer/director Will Slocombe’s take on the dysfunctional family, paints all the pressing antagonism of longstanding sibling rivalry with an ever-present need to borrow money amidst the black comedy of a festive familial feast. Starring Cheryl Hines and the ever-dour Peter Bogdanovich, the film screens with a director Q&A on Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. If you’d like to scope the movie without all the babble, screenings will also take place on Nov. 16-17. At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

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

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

2 p.m.: If you’ve been itching to sample the “next generation” of American dance, head down to Club Nokia where a collab700 Wilshire Blvd., #510 orative program of youth dancers from across Southern California 213-489-2333 piparco@sbcglobal.net will gather to move into the future.

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

Nov. 12: Vox Fire with the esteemed Ross Garren, Nick Depinna and Jen Kuross.

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Remember back in 2007 when everyone was headbobbing along to singer/ rapper M.I.A.’s beguiling “Paper Planes”? Six years later, the song holds its weight better than most, though that is hardly the sum of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam’s work.

The English-Sri Lankan artist has a brand new album, Matangi, which is full of hip-hop and international influences, and this week she visits Downtown Los Angeles.

M.I.A. will perform at the Belasco Theatre on Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 1112. What can you expect?

Consider this line from her website about her last album: “Maya was about truth and lies, freedom of speech and the struggle of media in a time when the CIA battles Hezbollah via Twitter.” No, this isn’t Miley Cyrus territory.

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

Tickets available through ticketmaster.com.

Gill’s Indian Restaurant Free 6 Days Delivery Downtown!

All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet $8.95 Tandori Chicken, Meat Curry, Two Vegetables Dal, Pullao Rice, Naan, Salad, Dessert, Fruits and much more!

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Finding M.i.A.

Nov. 13: Kathleen Grace.

Nov. 14: The Ryan Cohan Quartet.

Nov. 15: Sarah Reich Tap Project.

Nov. 16: Grace Kelly Quartet.

Nov. 17: Ethio Cali Residency.

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

Nov. 11, 8 p.m.: Nothing says cherishing our country’s veterans quite like indulging in a synth pop soundtrack to self-infatuation provided by Lovelife.

Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Warm up the coffee pot. Here comes subdued Scottish singer/songwriter Charlie Clark.

Nov. 14, 8 p.m.: In another case of criminal false advertisement, bohemian chic Brooklyn noise duo Hunters look as if they’ve never even handled a .30-06 before. Even if they managed to wing a buck, they probably wouldn’t know how to field dress it.

Nov. 15, 8 p.m.: After careful consideration of the facts at hand, we have established that Jarell Perry is indeed an electro R&B singer and not an aspiring male model. Although, he’s not ruling that career path out entirely.

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Downtown News 21

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Nov. 16, 8 p.m.: The Besnard Lakes have a name that makes the lazy mind think of The Barenaked Ladies and a sound that makes a lazy ear think of My Bloody Valentine.

Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.: Shahin Najafi is an Iranian singer/songwriter keen on discussing social issues including a presumed embargo on Iranian Disturbed albums.

Nov. 17, 8 p.m.: Enjoy Clara-Nova’s blithe sensibility.

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

Nov. 11, 8 p.m.: The inaugural Grammy Museum-sponsored Architects of Sound awards honor soul legend Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder/LMFAO progenitor Berry Gordy. There’s a concert featuring Michael Bolton, Boyz II Men and Kelly Rowland.

Nov. 12, 8:30 p.m.: Enjoy an evening with Alison Moyet, a traditional blues vocalist from the land of tea time and One Direction.

Nov. 15, 8 p.m.: August Burns Red has some big shoes to fill. The last Christian metalcore band to play Club Nokia went on to have its lead singer arrested on suspicion of plotting to have his wife murdered. Top that!

Nov. 16, 7 p.m.: The goal of pubescent sibling outfit R5’s latest effort Loud is to make “everyone feel excited and happy.” Consider yourself warned.

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

Nov. 11, 9 p.m.: Live jazz by the pint as Yonatan lays claim to yet another Monday evening.

Nov. 12, 10 p.m.: Bunny West and Boom Boom Boom fill your life with the sort of creatively ecstatic joy you could never attain on your own.

Nov. 13, 10 p.m.: Smooth Hound Smith opens for Los Angeles’ preeminent bluegrass outfit, the Get Down Boys.

Nov. 14, 10 p.m.: Trip Rezac and Boys School class up the joint.

Nov. 15, 9 p.m.: Trek through scenic Skidrokyo to enjoy Speed Buggy and Trevor Menear.

Nov. 16, 10 p.m.: Charlie Chan and the SOB’s have long laid claim to blues duties on Saturday night.

Nov. 17, 10 p.m.: So too have RT N the 44s “marked their territory” at the top of Honky Tonk Sundays.

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

Nov. 15, 10 p.m.: Aly & Fila are a cultural introduction to Egypt geared toward the under-30, recreational drug using, house music utopians of our age.

Nov. 16, 10 p.m.: DJ duo the Martinez Brothers.

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

Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.: Independent minded southern R&B hero Swamp Dogg drops by for a chat about his life and career.

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

Nov. 12, 9 p.m.: The Gutters and The Bugs. Sounds hospitable.

Nov. 13, 9 p.m.: Mathew Duckworth & Friends.

Nov. 16, 9 p.m.: Hellshovel and Drinking Flowers.

One-Eyed Gypsy 901 E. First St., (626) 340-3529 or one-eyedgypsy.com.

Nov. 17, 10 p.m.: Lil Death.

REDCAT REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Nov. 12, 8 p.m.: Modular synths are in a full-blown renaissance. Early electro hero Morton Subotnick returns to play his classic Silver Apples of the Moon in its entirety.

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

Nov. 11: Free Machine, Black Sparrow Press, The 87’s and Dead Yeller.

Nov. 12: American Lies, Lysolgang and The Bitter End. Nov. 13: Niantic, Between the Years, Take Steady Aim, The JT Project and Tone In Georgia.

Nov. 14: Pool Honeys, Wax Children and Them Howling Bones.

Nov. 15: Guantanamo Baywatch, The Abigails, South Bay Surfers and Belle.

Nov. 16: Payoff, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Gentlemen Prefer Blood, Smalls and 3 Chords.

Nov. 17, 3 p.m.: Fools on Stools with Carolyn Mark, Dave Stuckey, Skip Heller and The Hollywood Blues Destroyers.

Nov. 17: Seb & The Rhaadicks.

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

Nov. 12: The Makers are also available for birthday parties, but per their response to your previous 30 requests, they will not wear clown makeup.

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

Nov. 11: If you’ve enjoyed the teaches of Peaches over the years, you may just enjoy the former Canadian school teacher and avant garde sex symbol in her latest outfit, Bed. Nov. 15: Qui, Feather Wolf and Umbra Vita.

Nov. 16: Sherman, French Vanilla, LSDD and Feels.

Nov. 17: Dustin and the Explosions, the Pigeons, the Kris Special and WASI.

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

Nov. 11, 8 p.m., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Nov. 13 and 14, 8 p.m.: This Asian-American journey comedy takes its name from the drink of divine satisfaction: Sake-Bomb.

Nov. 11, 5 and 7 p.m., Nov. 12, 3 and 7 p.m., Nov. 13, 5 and 9:45 p.m. and Nov. 14, 3 and 7 p.m.: Speciesism takes audiences on a pointed yet irreverent journey into the heart of western society’s food production system. The picture ain’t a pretty one.

Nov. 15, 7 p.m. (with director Q&A), Nov. 16, 7 p.m. and Nov. 17, 9 p.m.: Featuring Continued on next page

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Plus tax, 39 month closed end lease on approved credit. $0 Sec. Dep. $5359 due at Signing. (Excludes taxes, title, other options & dealer fees).

Residual $14,280. Model # 13113. $0.15/mile over 12,000 miles/year. 5 At this Price.

$6,999 2007 Nissan Altima Sedan ..................... $13,999 Only 42,000 Miles, Must See, N130227-1/7N418393 2005 Nissan Armada SE .......................... $15,999 5.6L V8, Silver/Black, Leather, 38K miles, NI4111/5N706134 2002 Nissan Altima Sedan ........................

Only 87K miles, Looks and Runs great, N130239-1/2C197821

TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

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

NEW ’13 TOYOTA CAMRY BUY FOR ONLY

18,994 net price

$

$24,140 MSRP Net Sale Price…$18,994 $2000 Factory Rebate 1 at this price: $3146 Dealer Discount T131463/R314797 2012 Fiat 500 Sport ................................

$14,988 2013 Nissan Pathfinder S ......................

Black/Beige, 6300 Miles, 3.5L V6, , 6-Disc CD. T132055-1/ DC650534 $24,988 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser ...........................

Black/Black, Auto, 24K Miles, 4.0L V6, ABS. T131668-1/ CK012036 $28,688 Red / 2-tone leather, 16K Miles, Spoiler, 38mpg. TU0439/ CT381571

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ

NEW ’14 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA S

NEW ’14 MERCEDES CLA 250

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

LEASE FOR ONLY

199

$

per month for 42 mos

Plus tax 42 month closed end lease. Excludes title, tax, options and dealer fees. Excludes TDI® Clean Diesel and Hybrids. MSRP of $18,910 (including destination charges) for 2014 Jetta S w/Automatic trans. At lease end lessees responsible for $0.20/mile over 35,000 miles and excessive wear and tear. 5 available at this price. Offer ends 12/02/2013

$12,754 2010 Ford Escape XLT ............................

Gold/Beige, 2WD, 60/40 Split Rear Seat, 28MPG. ZV2389/KA09709 $12,994 2011 VW Jetta S ......................................

Certified, Silver/Black, Auto, 44K Miles, 1 owner. ZV2510/M011434 $13,219 CARSON NISSAN 2012 Mazda 2 Sport HB .........................

White Pearl, 36K Miles, Auto, 35MPG. ZV2512/C0136413

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

NEW ’’13 NISSAN ROGUE S

LEASE FOR ONLY

179

$

per month for 39 mos

Plus tax 39-month closed end lease on above average tier approved credit., $2999 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). $0 security deposit. $0.20/mile over 12,000 miles/yr. 1 at this offer # C130048/008216.

$8,888 2011 Mitsubishi Galant ......................

White Pearl, Auto, 33K Miles, CD, Alloys, ABS. CU1103R/ BE018493 $12,888 2009 Nissan Pathfinder ...................... $14,995 Super Black/Gary, 4.0L V6, Auto, CD. C131320-1/9C600185 FELIX CHEVROLET 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo LS ..................

3.5L V6, Auto, 1 Owner, Rear Spoiler, Low Miles. C131688-1/162376

888-304-7039 3300 S. FIGUEROA ST. • FELIXCHEVROLET.COM

NEW ’’14 114 CHEVY MALIBU LS

LEASE FOR ONLY

139

$

per month for 36 mos

36 month close end lease on approved tier 1 credit through US Bank. $1995 down plus, License dealer and government fees due at signing, Tax, License and fees not included. Or first months payment Includes $1425 CCR Rebate plus $750 USAA rebate. $0 Security deposit .25 cents per mile over 10,000 miles per year. MSRP of $22965. 5 at this payment.

$12,995 2012 Chevy Sonic LT ............................... $13,995 White/Gray, Auto, ABS, Alloys, CD. UC1384R/ C4155271 2011 Chevy Impala Sedan .................... $15,995 Black, 3.5L V6, Low Miles, Loaded. UC1250R/ B1312181 2011 Chevy Aveo Sedan ........................

Red, 1.6L MFI DOHC, Only 48K Miles. UC1344R/ B257047

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

LEASE FOR ONLY

329

$

per month for 36 mos

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

$28,889 2012 Mercedes C250 Turbo ................... $30,879 Certified, Nav, Artic White/Blk, 26K Miles. 140760-1/ CR195668 2010 Mercedes S550 Sedan .................. $51,892 Certified, Black/Gray Prem. Pkg. 2, 44K Miles. 7018C/ AA32493 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2011 Mercedes C300 Spt Sdn ...............

Certified, Black, Nav, Low Miles, 7 speed Auto. 7003C/ BA513776

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

NEW ’14 AUDI A4 2.0T

LEASE FOR ONLY

379

$

per month for 42 mos

+ tax 42 mo. Closed end lease on approved credit. $0 Sec. Dep. $0 Down plus first month payment, license and registration, and bank acquisition fee. Must qualify for the New Owner Appreciation or Audi Loyalty Rebate of $1000. $0.25 per miles over 10,000 miles/year. 1 at this offer EN003135.

$26,995 2010 Audi A5 ...........................................

Certified Preowned, Aruba Blue, 26K Miles. A140197-1/ AA064359 $31,999 2012 Audi Q5 ...........................................

Certified Preowned, Phantom Blk, 13K Miles. A140015-1/ CA095447 $37,800 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2012 Mini Cooper ...................................

Turbo, John Cooper Works, Spt Pkg. Auto. A140258D2-1/ CTY18417

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

NEW ’14 PORSCHE CAYMAN PDK

LEASE FOR ONLY

599

$

per month for 24 mos

Plus tax 24 month closed end lease on approved credit. $6,999 Down plus tax, 1st month pay payment, $895 Bank Acquisition fee, lic, doc fee. Residual $49,275. .30 cents per mile over 5,000 miles per year. No security deposit. Only 1 available at this price EK171030.

$61,898 2012 Porsche Cayman S ......................... $62,898 Certified, Blk/Blk, Nav., Bose, 19” wheels, 19K Miles. CU780068 2012 Porsche Carrera Cabriolet ............ $81,898 Certified, PDK, Sport Exhaust, Nav., Bose, 17K Miles. CS792087 2011 Porsche Panamera ........................

Gran Turismo, Certified, Blue/Beige, Prk Asst, ZP1615/BL010537

22 Downtown News

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

Continued from previous page Cheryl Hines and Peter Bogdanovich, Cold Turkey tells a dark comedy about the strife inherent to any family over the holidays.

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

Explore the remnants and wisdom of an ancient empire in Mysteries of Egypt.

Ice and polar bear enthusiasts will likely dig To the Arctic 3D. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. MOCA 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

7 p.m.: Tonight’s Filmforum program features filmmaker and Los Angeles Downtown News critic Allan Sekula. The artist’s video work will be screened.

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 REDCAT phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

CROSSWORD

November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

twitter: DowntownNews

Nov. 11, 8:30 p.m.: Empire: The Unintended Consequences of Dutch Colonialism chronicles the lasting impact of perhaps the least appreciated system of mercantile colonialism.

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

Through November 14: About Time (12:50, 4, 7:10 and 10:10 p.m.); Thor: The Dark World (1, 4:10, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.); Thor: The Dark World 3D (12:30, 1:30, 3:40, 4:40, 7, 8, 10 and 11 p.m.); Ender’s Game (12:40, 3:40, 6:50, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Free BirdsSue in 3D (11:20 a.m.); Last Vegas (12:30, Editor & PublishEr: Laris GENErAl Dawn Eastin 3:30, 6:30MANAGEr: and 9:30 p.m.); Bad Grandpa (11:30 a.m., 12:50, 2, 3:30, 4:30, Editor: 6:40, 7:20,Jon 9:20Regardie and 9:50 p.m.); Carrie (12:40, 3:20, ExEcutivE 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.); Twelve Years a Slave stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim (11:40 a.m., 3, 6:20 and 9:40 p.m.); Captain Phillips (12:20, 3:40, 6:50 and coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Favre, Greg 9:50 p.m.); Gravity (12:10Jeff p.m.); Gravity 3DFischer, (2:50, 5:20, 7:50 Kristin Friedrich, and 10:20 p.m.). Kylie Jane Wakefield

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

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

AccouNtiNG: Tara LaPlante

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield

AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Josie Damian, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

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

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

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

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

Angeles 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 ©2013 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.

AccouNtiNG: Tara LaPlante AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Josie Damian, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield

©2013 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.

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Tara LaPlante AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Josie Damian, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

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

twitter: DowntownNews

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Tara LaPlante

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 ©2013 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.

AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Josie Damian, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla ©2013 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 11, 2013

DT

CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 FOR RENT

loft/UnfUrnished

old bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,295 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com

apartments/UnfUrnished $1,200/mo 2bd/1ba in Chinatown. minutes from Downtown.

Newly paint, range, refrigerator, carpet. Laundry on-site. one parking space. 433 Cottage Home Street 818-716-7297.

SENIoR APARTmENTS 62 + Studio $873 1 Bedroom $929.

Balcony, Full Kitchen, A/C, Clubhouse, BBQ, Resource room, Laundry, SEC 8 o.K. Visit GSL SAN LUCAS.com 213623-2010.

SERVICES Cleaning CoNCEPTo’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183. insUranCe SAVE $$ Free car insurance quote. 20 companies. 1-877855-8111. XEGU3: PATToN. FB: shpatton01@yahoo.com

health SPECIALS! 4 mani’s & Pedi’s for oNLY $99! 3 Facials or 3 massages for only $99. Buy our specials tomorrow but use them when you want! Enjoy yourself more than once! 818-574-9882 Downtown Los Angeles. health & fitness BoDYWoRK by Will-outcalls 7 days a week. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Scrubs, Runner’s massage. Your Home or Hotel. www. bodyworkbywill.weebly.com 323.359.6719 FREE TRAINING At Tapout Training & Fitness Center (DT Los Angeles) www.tapout.la FREE CLASSES .... REGISTER HERE ... http://www.tapoutla. com/freetrial.php 213-748-7552 photography DTLA HEADSHoT Photographer. Friendly downtown studio near Little Tokyo.

LAHeadshotGuy.com mention DTNews and receive $25.00 off.

213-713-2272

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL pre-oWned

DoWNtoWN l.a. aUto groUp

Over 1000 vehicles on Sale Now!

Nearly Every Make & Model

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.

2008 PoRSCHE CAYENNE GTS Certified, Sand White/Black, 4.8L V8, Low miles ZP1556 / 8LA73049 oNLY....$50,898. Call 888-685-5426 www.porschedowntownla.com 2008 VW JETTA PASSAT 2.5S Certified, 5cyl PZEV., Gray/Blk, only 10,115 miles ZV1959 / CC059045 only...$18,980 Call 888-781-8102 www.vwdowntownla.com 2009 AUDI A5 2.0T QUATTRo Certified, Turbo, Gray/Black, AWD, 35K miles A13424D-1 / AA065553 oNLY....$32,995 Call 888-583-0981 www.audidtla. com 2009 CHEVY mALIBU HYBRID 4DR. Gray/Gray, Great mileage, AC, Loaded F13074-1/ F131890 oNLY....$13,995 Call 888-3047039 www.felixchevrolet.com 2009 mERCEDES CLK350 AmG Certified, White Stone, 3.5L, low miles 5940C / F270087 oNLY....$25,991 Call 888-3198762. www.mbzla.com 2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0S SEDAN Certified, Red Brick Pearl/Silver, 30mpg, CU0827R / L651168 oNLY....$11,995 call 888-845-2267 www.carsonnissan.com

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

EMPLOYMENT sales

B2B consultant wanted ASAP IT company looking for motivated sales rep. Full time position + base salary. Please send resume to:

career@ekomi-group.com

edUCational

Visit us online

dtlamotors.com 2005 NISSAN ARmADA SE 5.6L V8, Silver/Blk, Leather, only 38K miles. NI4111 / 5N706134 only...$15,999 call 888-8385089 www.downtownnissan. com

Teachers, Secondary Science (Biology) sought by Los Angeles Unified School District for positions in L.A. County. Valid CA single subject teaching credential in biological sciences required. Fax resume to Randy Murphy at 213-241-8412.

Casaloma L.A. Apartments Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo.

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site.

Gated building in a good area.

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

For English Call Pierre or Terri 213.744.9911 For Spanish Call Susana 213.749.0306

Downtown News 23

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Teachers, Secondary Mathematics sought by Los Angeles Unified School District for positions in L.A. County. Valid CA single subject teaching credential in mathematics required. Fax resume to Randy Murphy at 213-241-8412.

Teacher, Secondary Music (Instrumental) sought by Los Angeles Unified School District. Requires a valid CA single subject teaching credential in music. Job in Cudahy, CA. Fax resume to Randy Murphy at 213241-8412.

labor/WarehoUse HIRE A HomELESS and get Intern free. Brochure Delivery, Picketing Contact: 213915-2130 yamio@yahoo.com wwww.hireAhomeless.com, paid by permaID.com 213-373-4141.

ITEMS FOR SALE misC. items HERBALIFE.Com order Code: 090290539 Patton 4life.com shpatton01@yahoo.com

CompUter/it tV/eleCtroniCs/CompUters

SENIOR SAP SYSTEMS ANALYST Analyze client business & system requirements to develop & implement SAP accounting & finance software solutions. Jobsite: Los Angeles, CA. Send resume to: Office Manager, Phoenix Business, Inc., 5717 Madge Pl., Haltom City, TX, 76117.

Discount 50% Registered Software: Pro Tools 10, Rosetta Stone, Business, Survalance, Graphics. Email - shpatton01@ yahoo.com

LEGAL general

U.S. GOVT JOBS NOW HIRING Civil Service / Postal Clerks No Experience. Job Security. $20-75 an hour and Benefits CALL NOw! (855) 631-0850

CiVil sUmmons LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. BC490580 PLAINTIff: 1840 HIGHLANd PARTNERS, LLC

Corporation Bldg. For Lease

Researcher— assist in R&D efforts in Center of Advancement of Drug Research & Evaluation.

Assist in projects related to biomedical research.

Doctorate degree & exp req.

Mail resume to HR, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second St, Pomona, CA 91766

afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

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

The name and address of the court is: Los Angeles County Superior Court Central District 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-3014 Case Number: BC490580 Dated: August 17, 2012 John A. Clarke, Clerk Christina Grijalva, Deputy The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Plaintiff’s attorney is: John G. Burgee/Burgee & Abramoff 20501 Ventura Blvd.

St. 262 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-264-7575 NoTICE To THE PERSoN SERVED: You are served as an individual defendant.

Pub: 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11

the LOFT expert!

Creative Office Space

TM

724 S. Spring St. LA • 900 to 1500 sqft.

• Elegant tiled flooring and polished concrete floors • Brand new A/C, bathrooms in each unit • Spectacular views of Downtown • Great Location, restaurant on the ground floor

Please call (213) 627-6913 Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $600 utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555 TheLoftExpertGroup.com DRE # 01309009

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

TheLoftExpertGroup.com BRE #01309009

Voted BEST Downtown Residential Real Estate Agent!

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

Do you have something to sell?

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

Ad Prices

________________________________________________

(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY)

EmpLoymEnt

vS dEfENdANTS: GENNARO J. MONTININO, JOEY fRANk MONTININO, dAvId WILLIAM MORRISON, AND DoES 1 THRoUGH 50, INCLUSIVE NoTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

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

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

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot

• Items under $300 • Items $301 to $500 • Items $501 to $1200 • Items $1201 to $2000 • Items $2001+…

Name: Address: City Phone: Cash $ Credit card #: Exp. Date:

FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00

12 words, 2 weeks 15 words 15 words 15 words 15 words

All ads run for 2 weeks.

Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.

With a circulation of State Check $

Zip Credit Card $

47,000,

our classifieds get results!

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue.

24 Downtown News

November 11, 2013

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

CLIPPERS, 15

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

Grand Tower

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

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

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

Promenade Towers

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

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

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

museum Tower

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

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

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

than it does ineptitude and luck. The team, as usual, was awful in the 2008-09 season, winning just 19 games. Then came the NBA draft lottery, when ping-pong balls are tossed in a hopper. Although two teams had better chances of getting the top pick, a Clippers ball shot out of the chute. That gave Sterling’s franchise the right to draft Griffin. Even they couldn’t screw that up.

Like every Clippers fan I was thrilled. Then, like every fan, I was gut punched, as the Clippers Curse returned and Griffin injured his knee in the pre-season and missed the entire year. He came back the next season, and although he was mesmerizing to watch, the team as a whole played about as well as a dozen intoxicated chickens. They finished 32-50.

What happened next is poison for Laker fans, as NBA commissioner David Stern bizarrely nixed a trade that would have sent Paul, then on the New Orleans Hornets, to the purple and gold. Instead, Paul was ultimately shipped to the Clippers, and people started calling Sterling’s team something truly shocking: relevant.

Two years later Dwight Howard had enough of Kobe and the Lakers circus and the Clippers have the type of expectations that Obama carried in 2009. The sheer bizarro-world atmosphere was apparent after opening night: People were astounded when the Clippers managed to lose to the underdog — emphasis on dog — Lakers. Even though the teams had identical 3-3 records at press time, the basketball concensus is that the Clippers will put it together under Rivers and soar, while the Lakers will do exactly what you expect a team that started Shawne Williams at power forward the first five games of the year to do — which is not much.

Am I proud of the team that I personally have nothing to do with? Absolutely. Am I also sort of annoying now that the Clippers are good and the Lakers aren’t? Absolutely II. For example, there’s a guy who works at Los Angeles Downtown News who I won’t refer to by name, but instead will just call Poor Sad Laker Fan Who’s in for a Season of Pain and Disappointment. I guess I don’t need to go any further.

Then again, there’s another question: Am I confident that everything will go right? Not at all. Like many Clippers fans I’ve become so accustomed to pain that, just as Laker lovers expect titles, I anticipate squandered opportunity. Every game I fear that Griffin will barrel into Paul and they will both break knees and be gone for the season. Deep within me, where that faux bronchitis once resided, I understand that a trap door could open at any moment. Success, as current Lakers fans can attest, is fleeting.

For now though, I’m enjoying it. It’s only two weeks into the season, but this already has the makings of being a year to remember, which I realize sounds like a line from a syrupy Rachel McAdams movie. The Clippers faithful are voicing the team’s admittedly lame motto “Rise up.” Lakers fans are looking forward to the next NBA draft lottery and free agency period, hoping they can lure another star player and, once again, be relevant.

Strange days, indeed. regardie@downtownnews.com

AROUND TOWN, 2 tan Water District of Southern California. Closing remarks will come from City Attorney Mike Feuer, who assumed a leadership role on water infrastructure issues during his time in the State Assembly. The event is at 818 W. Seventh St. Additional information is at runningdry.org.

Ice Rink Returns to Pershing Square

T

he Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink returns to Pershing Square this week. The rink opens on Thursday, Nov. 14, and will be available for skating every day through Jan. 20. This marks the 16th installment of the facility in the park in the heart of Downtown. Opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Thursday will include characters from The Lion King musical. The KTLA Morning News will broadcast live from the rink the following morning.

There will also be a series of concerts programmed by the city Department of Recreation and Parks. Admission is $8 per person and $2 for skate rental. Tickets can be purchased at the rink at 532 S. Olive St. or in advance at pershingsquareicerink.com.