12-17-18

santa comes to city hall

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typhus, trash and trouble Page 6

December 17, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #51

INSIDE THIS WEEK:

NEW YEAR’S

HANDBOOK SEE PAGES 8-11

Open Up And photo by Nicholas Slayton

Say Ah!

The Disgusting Food Museum Brings Meals From Around the World to Downtown SEE PAGE 12

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

Dr. Samuel West at the exhibit in the Arts District’s A+D Museum.

2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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AROUND TOWN

Final Show With Water at Cal Plaza Watercourt

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he venerable Grand Performances concert series is closing out its 2018 schedule this week, and the free show on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 11:45 a.m. also marks the last event where visitors to the Cal Plaza Watercourt will actually see water. In October, plans for a major overhaul of the 1.5-acre Bunker Hill attraction were revealed, as the water element will be replaced with a green lawn and more seating. The Tuesday show features David Garza and an ensemble of musicians and performers doing swing, cumbia, rock and more. Highlights include Gaby Moreno singing a pair of holiday songs, and the artist Gronk reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” while accompanied by Syrian guitarist Waseem Marzouki. Grand Performances is at 350 S. Grand Ave.

Library Photo Collection Head Dies

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arolyn Kozo Cole, the longtime head of the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection, died on Dec. 6 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 75.

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Cole served as senior librarian of the photo collection for almost 20 years, and was an LAPL employee for nearly three decades.

She also helped create Photo Friends, a support group formed in 1990, and the Photographer’s Eye, a lecture series at the Central Library now in its 20th year. Cole’s quintessential work was the Shades of L.A. project, which crowd sourced almost 10,000 photographs depicting quiet family-life moments in communities across Los Angeles. In a statement, Photo Friends described Cole as a generous and compassionate person who loved Los Angeles. “Her work with the Los Angeles Library Photo Collection and Photo Friends laid a foundation from which these organizations continue to grow, sharing the history of our city, both good and bad, with the world,” the statement read.

Leader to Depart ICA-LA

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n September 2017, the former Santa Monica Museum of Art relocated to Downtown Los Angeles. Rebranded as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, it is a 12,700-square-foot Arts District space that has drawn steady praise for its museum-style exhibits. Now the woman who oversaw the move and helmed the museum for 18 years is departing. On Dec. 6, Executive Director Elsa Longhauser announced that she will leave in mid-2019. “I am grateful for the many opportunities SMMoA and ICA LA have afforded me to work with gifted artists, curators, thinkers, writers, designers, technicians and more who have since spread their

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talents throughout the city and the world,” Longhauser said in a prepared statement.

The search for a replacement will begin in January.

Homeless Services Providers Get Big Grants

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he Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles recently announced that it is dispensing nearly half a million dollars in grants, and a trio of Downtown Los Ange-

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les organizations are among the seven entities that will benefit. The funds are to help low-income individuals find jobs or start and expand their own businesses. Central City nonprofits Chrysalis, the Downtown Women’s Center and Homeboy Industries were each awarded $70,000, which will be paid out over two years. According to a press release, the grants will support Chrysalis’ Direct Hire program, the DWC’s MADE

by DWC effort and Homeboy Industries’ Therapeutic Community and Social Enterprises program.

DECEMBER 17, 2018

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 3

Shop Hop More Workout Options, And More Stores

By Nicholas Slayton nique Offerings: Five months after announcing it was moving into The Bloc shopping complex, Uniqlo has arrived. The Japanese clothing store, which specializes in casual outfits, opened on Thursday, Dec. 13. The store fills two floors totaling 12,000 square feet. Uniqlo offers more affordable clothing options than many newly arrived boutiques, with sweaters around $30 and various styles of pants for $40. The store also does alterations in-house. Keep an eye out for the weekly promotions.

At 700 W. Seventh St. or uniqlo.com.

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Marketplace: Downtown has the Fashion District, but streetwear companies seem to be favoring the Arts and Industrial districts. Dover Street Market is the latest to arrive. The London-based entity opened in November on Industrial Street, two blocks from the Los Angeles River. Dover’s sixth location measures an immense 15,000 square feet and is filled with nooks or installation spaces for various clothing brands. The Japanese fashion label Comme des Garcons (whose founder also launched Dover Street Market) is represented, as are apparel makers such as Gucci, Eckhaus Latta, Prada and Ambush.

At 606 Imperial St., (310) 427-7610 or losangeles.doverstreetmarket.com.

Find Your Muse, and Get Shredded: Downtown just cannot get enough gyms. Take Crossfit Muse, which is on Margo Street, an alley between Grand Avenue and Olive Street. The 5,000-square-foot space opened Sept. 29 and, like other Crossfit spots, is mostly empty, rather than filled with machines or heavy equipment. Members use weight racks, barbells, kettlebells and more, and engage in high-intensity interval training and Olympic-style weightlifting. Crossfit Muse has monthly memberships, with 13 classes per month for $199, and unlimited class plans for $219 per month.

At 1354 Margo St., (213) 275-1687 or crossfitmuse.com.

New Neihule: After months of work, the salon Neihule has completed its new outpost. The original Neihule is at Sixth and Olive streets, and there had been a second Downtown location on Seventh Street. That closed, but a new salon debuted on Nov. 14 on Eighth Street in the Fashion District. Like the original, the salon includes a full range of services, from haircuts to brow stylings to waxing to nail treatments. The new location includes the Neihule Academy of Beauty, a space for people to train in cosmetology.

At 305 E. Eighth St. or neihule.com.

Happy Pets: Downtowners sure love their pets. At least, that’s the best explanation for the number of pet stores opening in the Central City in recent years. The latest is Sticks + Pinecone, which debuted in late October on Ninth Street. The store carries items for cats and dogs, including leashes, food, toys and clothes. Sticks + Pinecone also offers daycare services, with a half day for $32 and a full day at $46. The owners are planning to add grooming services in the coming weeks.

At 600 W. Ninth St., (213) 265-7439 or sticksandpinecone.com.

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4 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Santa Comes to City Hall The Jolly Old Elf Is Wondering Who’s Been Naughty or Nice

By Jon Regardie hristmas doesn’t arrive for another week, but the holiday season is well under way in City Hall. Many are enjoying the art of receiving. Others need help in the giving department.

Last week, jolly old St. Nick showed up in the building. After securing the proper permits and hiring a union-qualified animal

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THE REGARDIE REPORT wrangler, he let the reindeer wander the rotunda. He set up his plush chair in the middle of the room and welcomed the crowds who came with their Christmas wishes. Here’s what happened.

Visitor 1: A 50ish man with a sad expression arrives. “Someone’s missing their Christmas cheer,” Santa says. “What’s your name and what can Santa bring you this year?”

“I’m Jim,” the man replies. “I need a new sheriff’s star. It goes right here.”

Jim points to the spot on his shirt just over his heart. It’s empty (the spot, not the heart).

The man looks familiar.

“Didn’t I give you a sheriff’s star four years ago?” Santa asks. “What happened to it?”

“You did. I lost it.”

“You lost your sheriff’s star? Nobody has

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lost a sheriff’s star in Los Angeles for more than a century,” Santa says incredulously.

“It was an election,” the man responds sheepishly. “Alex Villanueva took it. I guess I didn’t take care of it.”

“You’re Jim McDonnell,” Santa says, as he enjoys a moment of midnight clear. “You blew an un-losable race. But I’ve got something even better: a nice fat pension. Ho ho ho!”

Visitor 2: A busy man with a huge grin bursts into the rotunda.

“I can see you’re filled with Christmas spirit,” Santa enthuses. “What’s your name and what would you like this year? A racecar? A puppy?”

“I’m Mitch, and I don’t need anything this year. My fellow humans already gave me the best gift ever!”

“Ho ho ho, that’s what Santa loves to hear!

And what is it you’re getting?”

“An awesome job! I’m quitting the City Council and joining Oak View Group as executive vice president of government affairs!”

Santa suddenly recognizes the visitor. “But Mitch Englander, what about all the good little boys and girls in the 12th District who you represent? Your term’s not up for another two years. Are you really leaving them?”

“Yes!” exclaims Englander. “I’m going to be Tim Leiweke’s little helper! Want to know how much they’re paying me?”

Santa nods. Englander whispers in his ear.

Santa starts to cry.

Visitors 3-6: A group of four well-dressed men and women enter. Each has a checkbook out and a pen in hand. They start talking before Santa can speak.

“We’d like to make a donation to your next campaign and your officeholder account and your favorite charity,” says the lead suit. With a wink, she adds, “Not because you asked,

but because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Officeholder account?” says a perplexed Santa.

“We’ve got a huge hotel project coming to Downtown Los Angeles. We’re visiting all 15 council offices to show that we appreciate your good work,” she says with a smile. “Also, if you see fit to pass a little bitty agreement that lets us keep the hotel tax worth $72 million for 25 years, that’d be great too. But really, we’re contributing not because you asked, but because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Ho ho huh?” says Santa. “I’m confused. It’s

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just me and the reindeer here—” “Hey guys,” the suit interrupts, “he likes animals. Write the checks to the ASPCA.” “But I’m Santa Claus,” Santa protests.

“Funny,” says the top suit after the team hands over their checks and walks toward the door. “That’s the same thing the guy in the council president’s office said.”

Visitor 7: A well-dressed man with a nice haircut approaches.

“Ho ho ho,” says Santa, patting his belly.

“What would you like for Christmas?”

“I’d like to serve the people,” says the man.

“I made a lot of money in business and want to give back. I just need to win an election.

Maybe the City Council. Perhaps a Congressional seat. It doesn’t have to be L.A. County.

Orange County is fine, too.”

“Giving back! That’s what Christmas is all about. The elves will help. Would you describe yourself as a progressive Democrat?

A moderate Democrat? A dyed-in-the-bluewool Democrat? It’s all about messaging.”

“Actually,” the man says, “I’m a Republican.

But I’m pro-choice and oppose the death penalty. I’m just fiscally conservative, or as I like to say, responsible.”

“A Republican?” says Santa. “I see more Abominable Snowmen in Southern California than I do Republicans.”

“I can enter a nonpartisan race,” the man pleads. “Come on, people here can support a great candidate even if he or she’s from a different party. They can see beyond labels, right?”

“Maybe before Trump,” Santa says. “But not in 2018.”

“There’s nothing you can do?” the man asks dejectedly.

“Sorry,” he says kindly. “I’m Santa Claus, not a miracle worker.”

Visitor 8: “Ho ho ho,” harrumphs Santa as a bespectacled man arrives. “I have planes and trains and Legos. What’s your name and what would you like this holiday season?”

“I’m Alex,” the man responds. “And I want a strike!”

“A strike?” Santa says quizzically, wondering if this is one of those S&M things Mrs. Claus read about on the Internet. “Why would you want someone to hit you?”

“No, a teachers’ strike!” chirps the man as he does a happy dance. “I want tens of thousands of teachers and supporters to walk out of school. I want Austin Beutner and the LAUSD brass on their knees.”

“Where’s your Christmas spirit? Why would you want that?” Santa asks, recognizing the man as Alex Caputo-Pearl, the head of the union United Teachers Los Angeles. “You’ve already been offered 6% raises and the same contract that almost every other union negotiated with the LAUSD. What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s an insult!” Alex responds. “I want a strike, and I want it because I want it!”

“But how is that offer an insult? And what will the children do if their teachers walk out?” Santa asks.

“It’s an insult because I said it’s an insult! I

want a strike! I want a strike! And I’m going to get it!”

Santa tries to speak but Alex isn’t listening.

Instead he stands up and exits the room, repeating his mantra over and over.

Visitor 9: Thunder cracks. Rain starts to fall inside City Hall. Santa recognizes 14th District City Councilman José Huizar walking forward in the middle of a storm. Santa waves his arm and the storm disappears.

“Ho ho José,” Santa says. “Have you been naughty or nice this year?”

José doesn’t answer and looks down.

“Where’s your Christmas spirit?” Santa says cheerfully. “Tell Santa what you’ve been doing lately.”

“I’m just here to do my job,” Huizar says flatly.

“I understand. The lawyers won’t let you talk,” Santa remarks. “How about Santa brings you a suit this year?”

“I just got two of those in October,” Huizar wails.

“Not a lawsuit! A fine wool suit!” Santa says.

“Don’t worry. Some FBI action figures?

“No!” Huizar protests. “I got the real thing at my home and office last month?”

“A Ferris wheel!” says Santa. “Every boy wants a Ferris wheel.”

“There’s nowhere to put it,” Huizar responds in a melancholy manner. “I just canceled next month’s Night on Broadway.”

“Something pretty for the wife?”

Huizar glares at Santa, then shakes his head sadly.

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“It’s been a hard couple months,” Huizar says. “Is there anything you can do for me?”

Santa calls the elves over. They talk in hushed tones. A minute later, the elves scurry away. Santa looks up.

“Sorry,” Santa says. “You’re on your own.”

“Darn,” Huizar responds. “That’s the same thing the guy in the council president’s office said.”

Visitor 10: A familiar figure with a strong chin and a cascade of followers all murmuring “Yes, yes, yes,” wanders into the rotunda.

Santa smiles broadly.

“Ho ho ho, it’s Mayor Eric Garcetti,” Santa says, his belly jiggling like a bowl of Jell-O. “My, how you’ve grown. It seems just like yesterday I was bringing you menudo and bagels in Encino. What can Santa get you this year?”

Eric flashes a smile and launches into a spiel and Santa falls into a trance. He hears the phrases “linkage fee” and “Accelerator for America” and “Lucas Museum” and “Midterm Victory Fund.” All around the supporters are nodding and whispering “good news only” and “polling reports” and “Iowa caucuses” and “get dirt on Cory Booker.” Before he knows what is happening, Santa pulls out his checkbook and writes a donation to Garcetti. The supporters affix a “Garcetti 2020” pin to his bright red suit.

“Thanks!” Garcetti says with a telegenic smile. “That’s the Christmas spirit!”

Santa needs a drink. regardie@downtownnews.com

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6 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Typhus, Trash and Trouble Two Months After an Outbreak of the Disease, Concern Remains High in Some Neighborhoods

By Sean P. Thomas n Oct. 4, the County Department of Public Health reported an outbreak in Downtown Los Angeles of the flea-borne illness typhus. A frenzy ensued, with many questioning how likely they were to catch the disease. City and county officials promised an immediate and heightened response.

Since the outbreak was reported, the number of typhus cases identified by the Public Health Department has increased from 57 to 72 in the county, a spike over the approximately 60 cases diagnosed annually. Twelve of the cases have originated in Downtown, with some but not all involving homeless individuals. An additional 15 cases have been diagnosed in Long Beach, with 20 more in Pasadena.

On Oct. 10, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city would spend $300,000 and allocate additional resources in the effort to help contain and halt the spread of the illness. The county designated a 279-acre area bounded by Third, Seventh, Alameda and Spring streets as the “Typhus Zone.”

The response includes increased trash pickup and power washing schedules in the impacted area, as well as scheduled chemical dusting for disease-carrying fleas.

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Though some resources have been allocated and the media attention has largely subsided, two-and-a-half months later some in the “Typhus Zone” say the problem persists, and worry that a root cause of the outbreak — the mounds of garbage in the area — is not being sufficiently addressed.

Estela Lopez, executive director of the Industrial District Business Improvement District, said that the city Bureau of Sanitation, which oversees the cleaning, meets with the different BIDs twice a month to provide updates on cleaning efforts.

“They are definitely doing what they can under the circumstances,” Lopez said in an email. “But any logical person can see that they are treating the symptoms without addressing the cause. Rats and cats are drawn to discarded food and trash. We have mountains of that.”

Typhus is spread to humans by infected fleas, often carried by rodents, feral cats and opossums. Although animals are immune to the illness, in humans it can cause flu-like symptoms including high fever, chills, headaches and a rash. In severe cases it can damage internal organs.

Typhus can be effectively treated with a course of antibiotics. While it cannot be spread from human-to-human, it is frequently misdi-

Business owners in what the city has deemed the “Typhus Zone” have voiced concern that fleacarrying rodents and feral cats are drawn to the numerous mounds of trash in the area.

photo by Sean P. Thomas

agnosed, which in part prompted the Department of Public Health to declare the outbreak, so that doctors and other medical personnel could be on the lookout for the disease.

The outbreak has placed a spotlight on the conditions on the streets in the Typhus Zone.

Concern has been raised over the prevalence of rats, which are attracted to the piles of trash that can be found in various corners of the zone.

Eric Pfaff, who works in a wholesale flower shop on San Pedro Street, said that he doesn’t feel like the response matches the level of concern being expressed by area workers.

“It just feels like we’re being forgotten,” Pfaff said, pointing toward heaps of trash in the street. “Los Angeles is one of the biggest, most powerful cities in the world. It’s ridiculous that this is happening here.”

Trash concerns have long been an issue in the area. In 2012, the city initiated Operation Healthy Streets, which carved out a 100acre zone in Skid Row that would receive increased cleaning. Within that area, city crews comprehensively clean and disinfect sidewalks every two weeks.

The effort has yielded some success. When a Hepatitis A outbreak spread through San Diego’s homeless community in 2017, killing 20 people and infecting almost 600, Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles remained largely free of the disease.

The extensive local cleanings, which include bleaching and sidewalk power washing, was seen as a deterrent to the disease in Skid Row. Still, the typhus outbreak is sparking concern. A spokesman from Garcetti’s office said in an email that the city is “deploying every

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available resource” to curb the disease.

Elena Stern, a spokeswoman for the city Bureau of Sanitation, said in an email that once the outbreak was declared, city workers “immediately” started cleaning the Typhus Zone outside of the Operation Healthy Streets area on a four-week rotation. The OHS area remains on a two-week cleaning schedule.

The work includes a combination of spot cleanings (when tent encampments are present) and comprehensive street cleaning, which comes 72 hours after notices are posted. The latter are more difficult to organize due to the need to temporarily remove tents.

“Close coordination is critical in these joint City cleanings/treatments because of the human element and public safety,” Stern said.

Stern said the bureau also added 80 trash bins, doubled trash collections from once to twice daily in the Typhus Zone, and added street sweeping as part of every cleaning.

To combat the fleas that carry typhus, the city has contracted with CATS USA Pest Control Inc. The plan calls for dusting the sidewalks with a chemical to kill the fleas. Work to seal up rodent burrows is also being completed.

According to Russell Zamora, solid resources superintendent for the Department of Public Works, the dustings occur immediately after the initial cleanings.

However, dusting can also pose challenges. To be effective, tents and other materials must first be removed. People must also leave the area and are urged not to return until the work is completed.

Zamora said it is not uncommon for crews to show up at a scheduled cleaning site and

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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find tents filled with items that must be sorted, and either stored or disposed of depending on what is found. If an item is to be disposed of, it must be photographed and itemized.

The more tents, the longer cleanings might take.

“Often, encampments show up in a scheduled area that weren’t present before and so cannot be treated for fleas,” Stern said in an email. “Additionally, the dustings are ineffective on wet surfaces, which is why we have been meeting with [BIDs] to educate and coordinate with them on when and how to most effectively conduct their cleanings to complement the city’s efforts.”

That can create an issue, said Lopez. She noted that businesses increasingly take it upon themselves to wash dirty sidewalks, or they request BID cleaning crews to power wash the street outside their business. Lopez acknowledged that this can hamper the city’s flea-dusting efforts.

“To be fair, the complications are endless,” Lopez said.

Leaders of both the Industrial District BID, and the Fashion District BID have called to extend the cleanings south of Seventh Street, but doing so would siphon resources from the initial typhus zone. Any shifts in the cleaning schedule are not expected until early 2019.

Despite the speed bumps, Sanitation officials maintain that their approach to the issue is working, saying the number of new cases of typhus diagnosed in Downtown has fallen dramatically. sean@downtownnews.com

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DECEMBER 17, 2018

NEW YEAR’S HANDBOOK

Out With the Old, In With the New

15 GREAT NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN

By Sean P. Thomas t’s two weeks until the calendar flips to 2019. Many people already have their plans for New Year’s Eve set in stone.

Others, well, not so much.

Fortunately, as Downtown Los Angeles continues to boom, there are more options to celebrate the beginning of the year. Whether you are looking to kick off 2019 by showing off your best dance moves, catch some fireworks as the clock strikes midnight or down a drink or two (or six), the Central City has you covered.

Below, Los Angeles Downtown News runs down 15 options to help wave goodbye to 2018.

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A Grand Affair: Ring in 2019 at Downtown Los Angeles’ largest New Year’s Eve celebration. For the sixth year, Grand Park and the surrounding area play host to N.Y.E.L.A. The event starts at 8 p.m. and will feature live music, food and places to snap that perfect Instagram shot. The theme is L.A. Dreams, and 70 drawings, 60 essays and 10 poems created by Los Angeles fifth graders will be projected against City Hall. The night holds two stages, with R&B artist Aloe Blacc joining Latin-American artist Maya Jupiter and Dominican singer Irka Mateo on the Countdown Stage. The future is female at the Get Downtown Stage with a trio of women DJs in Spiñorita, Ericalandia and Kronika. Admission is free and public transportation is recommended. Pro tip: Check out the event website for a list of prohibited items — that includes no drugs, drones, confetti canons and “frowny faces.”

At 200 N. Spring St. or nyela.grandparkla.org.

Prohibition Party: Grab your homburg hat, channel your inner Jay Gatsby or Daisy Buchanan, and head to Union Station for the annual Prohibition NYE. Taking place in the venue’s sprawling ticket concourse, the event turns back the clock to the Roaring 20s. Get in the spirit of the era with burlesque from Dollhouse Entertainment and live jazz from Lyndsay and the All Nighters. The event starts at 9 p.m. and features an open bar stocked with champagne and spirits. Don’t miss the midnight ball-drop celebration. Tickets are $185.

At 800 N. Alameda St. or prohibitionnye.com.

Teesing the New Year: Help modern pinup queen Dita Von Teese bid au revoir to 2018 by attending her annual New Year’s Eve gala. Taking place in Broadway’s gorgeous Orpheum Theatre, the night mixes classic Hollywood aesthetics with sultry stage routines. A cast of burlesque acts will join Von Teese, and attendees can also check out some of Von Teese’s stunningly ornate costumes. The show begins at 9 p.m. and tickets start at $49.50.

At 842 S. Broadway or artoftheteese.com.

From Forest Wonderland to Ice Palace: The crowds routinely flock to Clifton’s for the themed bars and the woodland decor. On New Year’s Eve, there will be an icy twist, as the five-story edifice transforms into a sort of winter wonderland.

The restaurant’s Facebook age promises “a magical world of ice, snow and wintry delights,” and there will be a champagne bar and a buffet dinner. Fanciful costumes are suggested.

At 642 S. Broadway, (213) 627-1673 or cliftonsla.com.

photo by Chris Hornbecker

to the Walt Disney Concert The genre-defying band Pink Martini returns p.m. shows on Dec. 31.

10:30 and 7 are There 2018. to Hall to bid farewell

Hey Punk: Spend your New Year’s Eve partying like it’s 1984 at Part Time Punks’ annual soiree. Taking place at the Arts District’s Moroccan Lounge, the night features DJ Jose Maldonado spinning tracks from the 1980s and ’90s. Expect to hear plenty of David Bowie, The Cure and The Clash as you count down to 2019. Advance tickets start at $20 and the fun begins at 9 p.m.

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

pho

to cour tesy Grand Park/Music Center For the sixth year, Grand Par k is hosting Downtown’s big gest New Year’s Eve celebration. The N.Y.E.L .A. party is free and featur es two stages of entertainment.

Another Kind of Bottle Service: If you’re looking for a laidback feel, why not try the always-bumping Slipper Clutch?

DJ Heather Leigh will be on the ones and twos, filling the cocktail bar with punk rock classics. True to its gritty theme, you can also slap down $20 for the bar’s Miller High Life “Bottle Service” (remember, they do claim to be the champagne of beers). The best part? No cover charge. Another bonus: There are some vintage arcade games, so you can set your high score before the year ends, then break it early in 2019.

At 351 S. Broadway, (213) 265-7477 or theslipperclutch.com.

Think Pink: The lovely Walt Disney Concert Hall is moving away from its traditional classical sounds on Dec. 31. Pink Martini, the 15-member band that has been going strong for almost 25 years, is coming back to Downtown, and will mix languages and musical genres into something truly unique.

Co-lead vocalists China Forbes and Storm Large are veterans of the venue and will power up a performance that plays on Brazilian samba and sounds from the ’30s Cuban dance scene. There are two shows for New Year’s Eve: the first at 7 p.m., and the second at 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $84.

At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

Bounce to the Beat: Fans of indie techno music have a place to go on New Year’s Eve. Minimal Effort offers up a space for techno heads to bounce endlessly to the pulse-pounding music. The New Year’s Eve bash runs from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. at the Belasco Theater. Sasha, Justin Jay and Super Flu are just a few of the acts that will help you flip the calendar over to 2019. Tickets start at $69, with VIP passes and open bar and table packages available.

At 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or minimaleffort.net.

Put the Needle on the Record: One of the top DJs on the planet is swinging by Exchange LA on Dec. 31 to set the tone for 2019. Dutch spinmaster Jeffrey Sutorius (formerly of the group Dash Berlin) is partnering with DJs Nick Ledesma and Andr3x to command the dance floor in the former Los Angeles Stock Exchange building on Spring Street. The music starts pumping at 10 p.m. and won’t stop until 3 a.m.

Tickets start at $45.

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

High Above: Take in Downtown’ sparkling skyline on New Year’s Eve by taking the elevator up US Bank Tower to the building-topping OUE Skyspace LA. The party some 1,000 feet above street level kicks off at 9 p.m. Two DJs will spin hip-hop and house music across the two-level dance floor.

Tickets start at $150 for general admission and provide an open bar, unlimited rides on the 45-foot glass Skyslide on the exterior of the building, hors d’ouevres and a champagne toast at midnight.

At 633 W. Fifth St. or oue-skyspace.com.

Party on Broadway: Toss a few back as you enjoy reggae and dancehall vibes at the Broadway Bar on New Year’s Eve. From 8 p.m.-2 a.m., munch on Jamaican food provided by Ozi’s Kitchen in between cutting a rug on the Broadway Bar dance floor. DJs Selecta 7, Qbwoy, Prosper and Bigmix will spin. Admission is free before 9:30 p.m. and $10 after (or RSVP and get in for $5). Reserve a table for $75 and receive a bottle of champagne.

At 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or 213hospitality.com.

Continued on page 10

DECEMBER 17, 2018

NEW YEAR’S HANDBOOK

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

NYE BALL

AT THE CRYSTAL FOREST Come explore your winter fantasies within Clifton’s iconic forest of Ice, Snow and Magnificent Crystals! Dance, drink and play under the icicles of our Winter Garden—or within our Crystal Ballroom— or by the shores of our tropical winter Island escape. With five floors of immersive environments, you have much to discover as you celebrate the season and ring in the New Year!

General Admission is $75 and includes a coupe of Champagne, available at any bar throughout the evening.

Priced at $125, the Crystal Buffet ticket includes entry to the Winter Wonderland and access to the Crystal Buffet from 8-10pm within the Forest Glenn. VIP Reserved is $250 and includes TWO guest entries to the NYE Ball as well as a reserved table and one bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne.

DOORS OPEN AT 8PM Tickets on sale at: https://nightout.com/events/new-years-eve-ball-at-the-crystal-forest/tickets Clifton’s Republic | 648 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014 Open Wed-Sun | cliftonsla.com

10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DECEMBER 17, 2018

NEW YEAR’S HANDBOOK

PARTIES, 8 Turn Back the Clock: Celebrate the start of 2019 in The Edison, which is bringing back its annual New Year’s Eve Ball. Grab a drink and listen to live music as aerialists play across the former boiler room in the Higgins Building. A DJ will keep the party moving in between sets. Don’t be surprised if you see a few performers crossing the Edison floor on stilts. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $100.

At 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com.

Dance the Night Away: What happens when you take a dark venue, fill it will fog, flip on the lasers and blast indie pop? You get Dance Yourself Clean, the New Year’s Eve extravaganza coming to the Teragram Ballroom.

As the name suggests, you can spend the final hours of 2018 shaking your backside on the dance floor. DJs will dive into the genre of indie groups Empire of the Sun, Bag Raiders, Justice and Charli XCX. Early bird tickets start at $15 and the party begins at 9 p.m.

At 1234 W. Seventh St., (213) 6899100 or teragramballroom.com.

Disco Fix: If you’ve been clamoring for a reason to dig out your bellbot-

New Year’s Eve

DINNER

toms and platform kicks, The Varnish has heard you. The Historic Core joint is jumping back to the disco era on Dec. 31, with Max Maxey spinning period-appropriate hits. A table for two starts at $350, and table service comes with cocktails, beer, wine and select spirits, as well as champagne at midnight. Snacks, including a French dip sandwich, will be served.

At 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 265-7089 or 213hospitality.com/the-varnish/.

Run Into 2019: If you happen to overindulge on Dec. 31, you can make up for it a week later. The 2019 New Year’s Race takes place on Jan. 6, with a route that starts at Grand Park and whips through Downtown Los Angeles and Echo Park. The 5K starts at 5 p.m. and a 10K gets going at 6:30 p.m. If you’re crazy, try the 9.3 Challenge, which allows participants to run both the 5K and the 10K (the 9.3 refers to the total distance in miles).

If you’re really crazy, test out the New Year’s Basecamp Challenge and get in a full high-intensity workout shortly after completing one of the races. The event also features a festival at Grand Park from 3-10 p.m.

At 200 N. Spring St. or newyearsrace.com. sean@downtownnews.com

Celebrate the end of 2018 with a three-course Prix Fixe Dinner in a contemporary setting in downtown L.A.

December 31, 2018

Serving 5:30PM - 10:30PM

$59 per person

Special $15 Valet Parking

(excludes tax & gratuity)

To reserve your table & view menu visit www.thelahotel.com or (213) 617-1133 The L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown | 333 S. Figueroa St. | Los Angeles, CA 90071

A Final Taste of 2018

A Rundown of Downtown Options for a Memorable New Year’s Eve Meal

By Sean P. Thomas n New Year’s Eve, many people look for the biggest, loudest, latest-running party. Others prefer to celebrate in a quieter manner, with the evening revolving around a nice dinner, whether for a couple or a group. Downtown Los Angeles has plenty of options for those looking to go the latter route.

Here are six of them.

ROSSOBLU: The good news: Steve and Dina Samson’s restaurant has recovered from a kitchen fire that closed the establishment for more than two months. The better news: They’re saying goodbye to 2018 with a $125, four-course, prix-fixe menu (plus $45 for a wine supplement).

Start the evening with options such as a chicken conserva or warm lobster salad before choosing from a variety of pasta dishes for the second course. The entrees include braised beef short ribs, black cod and roasted duck breast.

At 1124 San Julian St., (213) 749-1099 or rossoblula.com.

SPIRE 73 AND LA BOUCHERIE: Instead of watching fireworks shoot off from just one venue, why not try to take in everything the city has to offer? Spire 73, on the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Hotel in the Wilshire Grand Center, is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration with a DJ, a roster of festive cocktails and all the appetizers you can eat before the New Year’s ball drops.

Tickets start at $100 and include a glass of Moët

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& Chandon. The party begins at 8 p.m. If you want to eat first, La Boucherie, on the 71st floor of the building, is hosting a New Year’s Eve Dom Pérignon dinner starting at $100 per plate.

At 900 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 688-7777 or dtla.intercontinental.com.

STREAMLINER/IMPERIAL WESTERN: A new arrival is going big for its inaugural New Year’s Eve. The train depot-inspired dual concept space in the former Fred Harvey Restaurant at Union Station is serving a $75 prix-fixe menu at the Imperial Western Beer Company from 6-11 p.m. That includes a four-beer flight, a shellfish platter, and a choice of French fries, cauliflower or fried mushrooms to start. Entree options include pork ribs, fried chicken and shrimp rolls. At the Streamliner, a coterie of 1940s cocktails will be served as the clock inches toward midnight. Table reservations start at $250 and come with a bottle of champagne and a seafood platter.

At 800 N. Alameda St. or imperialwestern.com.

REDBIRD: Chef Neal Fraser and Amy Knoll Fraser’s elegant restaurant in a former cathedral rectory is serving a three-course prix-fixe meal. For $130 (with an optional wine pairing for $75 and $95), diners choose from dishes such as filet of beef, rabbitchetta and John Dory. For dessert, Redbird has persimmon cake, flourless chocolate cake and pomegranate panna. If you’re not ready to go home, there’s a party on the second floor of

DECEMBER 17, 2018

NEW YEAR’S HANDBOOK

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

photo courtesy Frank Wonho Lee

A recent Downtown arrival is making a big play on New Year’s Eve. The Imperial Western Beer Company in Union Station has a $75 prix-fixe meal, and its neighboring Streamliner bar is serving a coterie of 1940s cocktails.

the building starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $60.

At 114 E. Second St., (213) 788-1191 or redbird.la.

LE PETIT PARIS: Head to the Historic Core and celebrate New Year’s Eve the way the Parisians do. Le Petit Paris is offering two seatings for dinner, starting with a $95 threecourse prix-fixe meal served from 4:30-7 p.m.

The second seating, starting at 8:30 p.m., is a four-course prix-fixe menu. The $159 meal is a full-on festive affair, with a live band, DJ, party favors and midnight balloon drop. Expect tantalizing plates such as filet mignon, turkey stuffed with mushrooms and, for dessert, a milk chocolate Napoleon or a macaron with strawberry coulis.

At 418 S. Broadway, (213) 271-4445 or lepetitparisla.com.

PATINA: If you happen to be taking in either of the Pink Martini New Year’s Eve performances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, why not make it easy on yourself and grab a bite at Patina, which is in Disney Hall? Then again, you don’t need the Pink Martini excuse to dine at what is widely recognized one of the city’s best restaurants. To close out the year, Patina is offering seatings at 4, 7 and 10 p.m. There is a pair of prix-fixe menus, with a $125 four-course option and, oh my, a $160 six-course dinner. The menu is flush with dishes such as Dungeness crab, parsnip bottoni, foie gras, Wagyu beef and butter-poached Maine lobster.

At 141 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3331 or patinagroup.com. sean@downtownnews.com

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Take a Bite on the Wild Side

photos by Anja Barte Telin

The Disgusting Food Museum offers 80 items from across the globe. It includes (clockwise) sheep eyeball juice, Rocky Mountain oysters and boiled sheep’s head.

The Arts District’s ‘Disgusting Food Museum’ Seeks to Open Minds With Unusual Dishes

By Nicholas Slayton veritable smorgasbord is laid out inside the A+D Museum. There are dishes many Angelenos may have tried, including steak tartar and caviar. There is also boiled sheep’s head, fried tarantula and bull penis.

If this sounds off-putting, that’s intentional. The dishes are among those on display at the Disgusting Food Museum, a new exhibit in Downtown. A “pop-up” museum inside the Arts District facility, it seeks to explore cultural norms and inspire visitors to reevaluate why certain things are unsettling. It opened on Dec. 8 at the Fourth Street space and runs through Feb. 17.

The exhibit actually debuted in November in Malmö, Sweden, and the Downtown Los Angeles exhibit is a replica of the European one. It comes from the same team that mounted last year’s Museum of Failure, also at the A+D Museum. That was such a success that after a three-month run in Downtown it moved to Hollywood, where it is ongoing.

Dr. Samuel West, a psychologist by training who has found a sort of second career as an exhibition curator (he also sparked the Museum of Failure), said the idea for the new show arose after reading about climate change and the environment, and how reducing the consumption of meat could help limit the carbon impact on the planet. One solution he

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kept seeing was eating more insects as an alternative.

“Why don’t people eat insects? If I gave you a cricket, you’d think it’s disgusting. The obstacle for us eating less meat is disgust,” West said during a recent media event for the exhibit. “I have to change people’s notions of disgust, to question it and stimulate a discussion.”

The show collects 80 dishes from around the globe, which are laid out on tables or shown on video screens mounted on the museum’s walls. Visitors can see and read about akutaq, an ice cream-like blend of animal fat, berries and snow from Alaska, casu marzu, a Sardinian cheese where live maggots digest and excrete the dairy product to create something softer (the dish has been banned by Italy and the European Union), and sheep eyeball juice from Mongolia, where pickled eyeballs sit in a mix of tomato juice.

That’s just the start. Other dishes include Jell-O salad (an example of a dish that might seem normal to locals, but is viewed with suspicion abroad), fried guinea pig, and monkey brains, which is sometimes served in Cantonese cuisine.

The Museum of Disgusting Food also include drinks. There’s mouse wine, where the bodies of blind, hairless rodents are allowed to soak in alcohol. Then there is China’s three penis liquor, which has a similar flavor-infusion process, and yes, it uses the male genitalia from seal, deer and Cantonese dog.

EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre

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Changing Direction The A+D Museum is known for exhibitions on more concrete, non-edible topics, from sustainable design to art. The three other exhibits that opened simultaneously with the Disgusting Food Museum follow that path, including Persistence: Evolving Architecture in a Changing World and Dark Mode by P810, which explores the idea of a nighttime setting or style for various household designs.

Food was something the A+D team had wanted to explore, but the staff was unsure how to go about it, Executive Director Anthony Morey said. He pointed out that food offers a chance to talk about different cultures and aesthetic trends.

He added that the positive experience with the Museum of Failure made the Disgusting Food Museum a fit for the space, even if it veers far from what the A+D Museum traditionally covers.

Items were selected using a few criteria. The most important one, West said, is that it had to be real food, and not a gimmick. That eliminated county fair staples such as bacon-flavored ice cream or a deep-fried Twinkie. That said, regular Twinkies are on display.

Then comes the “disgusting” label. West said this often involves an unusual body part, something that is rotten, or a Continued on page 16

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A Holiday Tradition Returns County’s Free Christmas Eve Concert Blends Dance, Bands and Choral Groups

By Nicholas Slayton owntown Los Angeles has a number of venerable traditions. None pack as much entertainment into a short period as the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration.

The 59th annual iteration takes place on Monday, Dec. 24, from 3-6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. More than 5,000 people are expected to turn out, where they will catch performances from 21 local groups, everything from choral acts to a troupe that does ballroom dancing in wheelchairs.

The event, originally created as the county government’s “gift” to local residents, is free, as is parking at the Music Center. Admission is first-come, first-served, and those who don’t make it in for the opening can take seats as other file out, Each artist or group will be on stage for 6-10 minutes. Actor Brian White (“Scandal,” The Cabin in the Woods) and opera star Suzanna Guzmán will co-host the event, which will be broadcast live on KCET and PBS SoCal (and streamed online).

Guzmán, who has hosted the show multiple times, most recently in 2011, said the free event brings together people from across the county, ranging from Music Center regulars to those who otherwise never attend

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arts events on Bunker Hill. She admitted that there’s a personal bonus for her.

“It’s a chance to see people that I would normally not have a chance to see performing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, like the dance companies or mariachi bands,” she said.

This year’s show features a number of groups performing for the first time. There will be Hawaiian music from Daniel Ho and Halau Keali’i o Nalani, while the all-women Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea will play guitar-driven numbers. Then there’s West African drum group Le Ballet Dembaya.

Another first-time participant is Infinite Flow, an inclusive company featuring disabled performers, from wheelchair users to deaf dancers. Marisa Hamamoto, Infinite Flow’s founder and artistic director, said that she has long been a fan of the holiday celebration.

“I grew up in Southern California. I remember putting on PBS and seeing it when I was a kid,” Hamamoto said.

Infinite Flow will start its set with a two-person ballroom number, featuring Hamamoto. Then six people, some in wheelchairs, take the stage for a hip-hop piece, before closing with a work built around sign language and featuring a deaf dancer.

The Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration is a three-hour concert on Dec. 24 that is free to attend. The 21 acts include Daniel Ho and Halau Keali’i o Nalani (top) and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles.

photos by Gennia Cui

Other acts include the 45-member a cappella and hand bell group the Citrus Singers, and Tres Souls, a three-piece bolero band that plays traditional Mexican folk music. Member Roberto Carlos said that the group will play two songs, one a love song, and then “Blanco Navidad,” or “White Christmas.”

“With ‘Blanco Navidad,’ we want everyone to get into the spirit of the holidays,” Carlos said. “It’s about taking people to the memories of their childhoods.”

Doors open at 2:30 p.m. In past years, An-

gelenos have lined up hours earlier to be sure they get a seat. While outside, free hot chocolate will be served and a video screen showing the performances will be set up in the Music Center Plaza.

The event also includes some returning favorites. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary season, is back for its 29th year at the County Holiday Celebration. Dr. Joe Nadeau, the chorus’ conductor and artistic director, said the concert is as much a tradition for the organiContinued on page 16

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DECEMBER 17, 2018

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS

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

Dec. 17: Father John Misty’s shtick isn’t for everyone, but he is headlining a fundraiser to benefit those impacted by the recent wildfires. Also on the bill are HAIM, Mac DeMarco and more.

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

Dec. 17: Amir Oosman’s birthday show features Joomanji and Friends.

Dec. 18: Button Masher, Plexus Play.

Dec. 19: Alec Schulman Quartet.

Dec. 20: Billy Childs’ Prophecy.

Dec. 21-22: Walter Smith III Group.

Dec. 23: Xmas Euman.

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

Dec. 17: Karmic can’t stop, won’t stop.

Dec. 18: Let Tom Freund’s Americana guide you to a rural stretch of Route 66.

Dec. 20: Sam Valdez and Rodes Rollins headline the Killphonic Holiday Party.

Dec. 22: Singer-songwriter Laredo has an EP release show.

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

Dec. 21: Blind Pony, Joe Thalman & The Burden.

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

Dec. 20: Karol G. Dec. 22: Infected Mushroom.

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

Dec. 18: Dumpster Fire, Respiration, Dead Man’s Handle.

Dec. 20: Bantamweight, Little Homies, The Illustrative Violet, Rick n Dick.

Continued on next page

Christmas is coming early for aging L.A. alt rockers. That’s because Los Angeles near-legends Fishbone is preparing to rattle The Regent. Thursday, Dec. 20, brings the seventh annual Fishbone Crazy Glue X-mas. What does a holiday concert held by the band that has been rocking for nearly four decades sound like? Loud and brilliantly energetic, with a mix of holiday favorites and Fishbone hits including “Party at Ground Zero,” “Everyday Sunshine” and “Sunless Saturday.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and Fishbone will be joined by The Expanders, Law and Bite Me Bambi. Heads up: Questlove takes a break from “The Tonight Show” for a set at the Regent on Friday. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com.

photo by Ann Summa

photo by Suzie Kaplan

photo by Emma Tillman

Concert promoters Goldenvoice and Father John Misty (shown here) re partnering to extend a charitable hand this week to those impacted by the recent string of disastrous conflagrations. HAIM, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo and Tim Heidecker of “Tim and Eric” are just a few of the names scheduled to appear alongside Misty on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Theatre at Ace Hotel for The California Wildfires Benefit Concert. Rock along for a good cause, as proceeds will go to the Southern California Disaster Relief Fund, which supports low-income families impacted by wildfires. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

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It’s that time of the year when Walt Disney Concert Hall gets full-on festive. The venue has six holiday events in its Deck the Hall program, kicking off Wednesday, Dec. 19, with the Grammy-winning 12-man chorus Chanticleer, who will belt out 25 a cappella Christmas favorites. On Thursday, the legendary Herb Alpert and Lani Hall partner with the eclectic Manhattan Transfer. The Arturo Sandoval Big Band is getting jazzy on Friday, and is followed by a double dose of sing-along fun on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The holiday spirit culminates on Sunday with a White Christmas Sing-along at 3 and 8 p.m. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

photo courtesy Bai Holiday Pershing Square Ice Rink

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

1

photo by Lisa Kohler

MONDAY, DEC. 17 El Vez Mex-Mas Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

7 p.m.: The “Mexican Elvis” gets into the season with a special holiday show.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19 Bar Wrestling: Mistletoe Can Be Deadly If You Eat It Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

8 p.m.: Holiday-themed wrestling? In a bar? Sure, why not?

Feminist Book Club with Julia Callahan The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 48800599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: Join a roundtable discussion of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s new memoir “Becoming.”

THURSDAY, DEC. 20 A Very Merry Flint Fundraiser Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or acehotel.com/losangeles.

7 p.m.: Help raise money for Flint, Mich. While you’re doing that, enjoy more than a dozen musicians, performers and DJs. FRIDAY, DEC. 21 Union Station Cocoa Concerts Series Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com.

6:30 p.m.: Lil’ Mo and the Dynaflos do throwback R&B, this time in a train station.

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Three -time Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter and singer Brian Setzer is delivering a muchneeded dose of holiday cheer to Downtown Los Angeles. For the 13th year, Setzer and his 19-piece orchestra are hitting the road for their “Christmas Rocks! Tour.” The former Stray Cat will land at the Microsoft Theater on Monday, Dec. 17. Expect plenty of romping holiday songs and a few of Setzer’s own hits. If this doesn’t deliver all your holiday needs, return to the venue on Sunday, Dec. 23, when EGOT winner John Legend swings by as part of the “A Legendary Christmas Tour.” At 777 Chick Hearn Court or microsofttheater.com.

If you haven’t yet skated at the Bai Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square, this week brings three great reasons to strap on the blades. On Wednesday, Dec. 19, the rink goes quiet for the Silent Skate Party. The two sessions (7-8 p.m. and 8:30-9:30 p.m.) allow skaters to bust a move as they skate with music from one of three radio stations blasting through individual headphones (headphones will be provided). If you show up and the ice is green, don’t be alarmed. Wednesday from 7-9:30 p.m. also marks Wicked Wednesdays at the rink, with music from the hit musical Wicked. Meanwhile, on Thursday, DJ HowLy will spin from 7-9:30 p.m. At 532 S. Olive St. or holidayicerinkdowntownla.com.

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

photo by Naoaki Toyofuku

14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DECEMBER 17, 2018

DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

LISTINGS, 14 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com.

Dec. 22: The Brian Setzer Orchestra will give you a rockabilly good time for the holidays.

Dec. 23: EGOT winner John Legend is here to show you why he has the EGOT. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.

Dec. 17: Soft, comforting electropop from Haerts.

Dec. 18: Singer-songwriter Banah Winn is Opus Vitae.

Dec. 20: Ben Kinney of Incubus goes solo.

Dec. 21: The Daisy holiday benefit show features Natalie Green and Runner.

Dec. 23: Chicano Batman’s É Arenas does a solo set.

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

Dec. 19: Whispertown & Friends has a holiday show ben-

efiting the Downtown Women’s Center, and featuring Jake Bellows, Orenda Fink and more.

Dec. 20: “Mozart in the Jungle’s” Lola Kirke also performs her own songs.

Dec. 21: The Soulside holiday dance party wants you to feel festive and enjoy some soul and Motown.

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

Dec. 19: H.E.R. is offering the “H.E.R. Experience.” Gentlemen are allowed.

Dec. 21: Hip-hop star Joyner Lucas has a way with words.

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

Dec. 17: The Brite Sides, Starburner, The Worst.

Dec. 18: Moon Riot.

Dec. 19: Sarah Rogo Band, American Smile, Shane Hall Band.

Dec. 20: The Division Men, LP3 & The Tragedy, The Howling Faith.

Dec. 21: James and the Transmission, Burners, Black

Letter Day. Dec. 23: Mean Heat, High Cameras, Some Gifts.

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

Dec. 18: The Soft Moon blends dark wave with minimalist post-punk.

Dec. 19: Goth rockers Protomartyr are on tour with Preoccupations, so it’s a perfect match.

Dec. 20: The genre-defying revelers of Fishbone promise a “Crazy Glue Xmas.” Just go with it.

Dec. 21: Late-night TV show bandleader, Roots member and actor Questlove should not be missed.

Dec. 22: Get down to 1980s and ’90s house music at Scam and Jam. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

Dec. 21: The High Curbs, Super Lunch, Pancho & The Wizards, MoonFuzz.

Dec. 22: Mr. Wright & The El Salvadorians, Pacoima Techno, Truce Canyon, Glowing Birds.

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Superior court of California, County of Los Angeles ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. 18LBCP00056 Petitioner (name of each) Jennifer Louise Lallite Myers, 2120 Sea Ridge Drive, Signal Hill, CA 90755 filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: JENNIFER LOUISE LALLITE MYERS Proposed name:

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Superior court of California, County of Los Angeles ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. 18VECP00055 Petitioner (name of each) Chantal Zivari Castanon, 4652 Fulton Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: CHANTAL ZIVARI CASTANON Proposed name: CHANTAL ZIVARI THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition

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

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Superior court of California, County of Pomona ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. KS021511 Petitioner (name of each) Francisco Jaime Herrera, 15902-A Haliburton Rd #307, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: FRANCISCO JAIME HERRERA Proposed name:

FRANCISCO CHANG THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of hearing Date:February 1, 2019 Time: 8:30 AM Dept.: EA O Room: 543 The address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Pomona, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county.

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dish that goes against any religious belief or ethical concerns.

West said his team started with a list of 350 items, then narrowed it down. The goal was to provide a representative sample of the entire world, rather than focusing on one region or country.

A unique feature of the show is that in order to literally keep things fresh, it has to be restaged every day, with items pulled from refrigeration. Some items are fake — the canine on display, representing dog meat, is an obvious plastic replica — but beyond that there is often an hour of set-up daily.

There’s another unexpected element in the museum — a pervasive pungent smell. Morey acknowledged that it threw him at first.

“I second-guessed the decision every day after things started showing up,” he said.

Morey also said that sourcing the items proved interesting, as it involved reaching out to many communities across the region. He said it was a chance to explore the diversity of Los Angeles.

The exhibit includes smelling jars, and the “altar of stinky cheese” is just what the name implies.

West says that “disgusting” is purely contextual and cultural. People like the foods they grew up with, he said. Part of the goal is to push people to consider new options.

“I also want people to be entertained, otherwise I would have called it ‘The Educational Facility for Sustainable Foods of the Future’ and no visitors would come here,” West added.

For those wondering, yes, there is also a tasting bar. Visitors have the opportunity to try sauerkraut juice, eat extremely salty licorice from Sweden, or nibble stinky tofu.

After all this, perhaps insects might not seem so disgusting after all.

The Disgusting Food Museum runs through Feb. 17 at the A+D Museum, 900. E. Fourth St., (213) 346-9734 or disgustingfoodmuseum.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

CONCERT, 13 zation as it is for audiences.

This year the chorus is singing a new arrangement of “Deck the Halls,” which Nadeau said will have a “punchy” quality. The group will follow that with a Shakespeare-inspired, meditative song called “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind.”

The song, Nadeau, said, “works really well for evoking the winter time. Sometimes we’ll do some really humorous stuff for the holiday concert, but this time it is more traditional.”

Guzmán describes the show as both relaxing and uplifting. She added that it offers a chance to get away from the daily stresses of life and share a bit of joy with fellow Angelenos.

“I think it is a blessed release to let our minds be filled with beautiful music, to lift our voices in a holiday spirit,” she said. “Get out to the plaza, move your feet, sing carols, watch our young people perform.”

Nadeau said that in addition to being entertaining, the afternoon showcases the wide variety of the arts in Los Angeles.

“I don’t think there are many cities with as much diversity in terms of performing groups, cultural expressions and styles of music,” he said. “When you experience the whole performance you get to really see what a rich and diverse city Los Angeles is.”

The show will be rebroadcast on Christmas Day on both KCET and PBS SoCal. The Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration is Monday, Dec. 24, 3-6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. or holidaycelebration.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com