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19 Projects to Watch in 2019 Housing Projects, Hotels and More Will Be Opening or Moving Forward in the New Year By Sean P. Thomas and Nicholas Slayton he stock market is bouncing like crazy and there are rising concerns that the economy is slowing, but in Downtown Los Angeles, the development boom continues. In 2018 the Central City saw the arrival of more than 3,000 housing units, with the opening of projects including the $500 million Circa, and Holland Partner Group’s Grace and Griffin apartment buildings at Eighth and Spring streets. While concerns of a recession may ultimately impact lending markets and lead to a Downtown development slowdown, there are a number of local projects slated to debut in the new year, and construction is under way on other big developments. In the following pages, we detail 19 prominent projects worth watching in 2019. Opening This Year Aven: Developed by Mack Urban and AECOM Capital, Aven is scheduled to open in January. The 38-story edifice at 1120 S. Grand Ave will bring 536 apartments to South Park, along with 13,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The project includes an unusual but community-friendly amenity: a half-acre park on the northern side of the building that will be open to the public. Aven is part of Mack Urban’s $1.2 billion transformation of six acres of land along Grand Avenue and Olive Street (the first project, Wren, opened in 2017). Mack Urban is currently looking at building a 713-unit, 60-story building at 1120 S. Olive St. and a 53-story tower at 1115 S. Olive St.
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Ford Factory Building: After some delays, the Ford Factory Building in the Arts District is finally slated to reopen. In 2016 San Francisco-based developer Shorenstein Properties and Warner Music Group announced that the record label would
relocate from Burbank into the 257,000-square-foot edifice at 777 S. Santa Fe Ave. Crews are currently building out the interior of the five-story structure, and an adjacent 600-stall parking garage has been completed. Neither Warner Music nor Shorenstein returned calls for comment about when employees will move in, but the hundreds of workers will add to a community that has already seen tremendous growth. 825 South Hill: The final touches are underway at Onni Group’s latest residential project. The Vancouver-based developer’s 53-story tower will bolster the residential scene, with 490 apartments at 825 S. Hill St.; move-ins are scheduled for early in the year. Designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects, the building includes a podium deck with a pool, multiple lounges and now-standard Downtown amenities such as a fitness center, dog run, electric vehicle parking and bike storage. The one- to three-bedroom residences start at $2,530. Onni Group has become one of the biggest players in Downtown, with projects ranging from the renovation of Times Mirror Square to Studio House, which has micro-units. Trademark DTLA: The two buildings that comprise MacFarlane Partners’ Pershing Square-adjacent project are nearing the finish line. Long known as Park Fifth, the development has been renamed Trademark DTLA and includes a seven-story building at 437 S. Hill St. and a 20-story edifice with 347 apartments. The buildings will both have rooftop pools, and will offer studio to three-bedroom residences. The project stands to inject even more life into the Financial District, and could be a residential precursor to a long-anticipated modernization of Pershing Square.
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The $1 billion Oceanwide Plaza across from Staples Center will continue to take shape this year. The project will include two 40-story residential buildings with a total of 504 condominiums, along with a 49-story Park Hyatt hotel with 184 rooms.
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The Aliso: The Arts District project has been slowly coming together. Legendary Investors Group and Fairfield Residential’s $215 million complex at 950 E. Third St. comprises six buildings, all designed by Kava Massih Architects, and with a total of 472 apartments. One building is already open, and the entire development will include 22,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Across from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, the market-rate residences will continue to alter a once-sleepy community that has seen significant change in recent years. The remaining buildings will come online over the course of the year. The Aliso includes a public walkway linking Traction Avenue to Third Street. It also is marketing itself to pet owners, with its website touting the project’s “pup culture.” La Plaza Cultura Village: The mixed-use development from Trammell Crow and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes is in the pre-leasing phase. The $160 million project includes 355 apartments split between five- and eight-story buildings; 20% of the residences are set aside as affordable housing. Johnson Fain handled the designs for the 425,000-square-foot complex at Broadway and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue. The project will include a 43,000-squarefoot museum and teaching kitchen, dubbed La Plaza Cocina, and 37,000 square feet of retail space. Move-ins are expected in January. Music Center Renovation: Anyone who has gone to the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum or Dorothy Chandler in recent months
Row Housing Trust’s permanent supportive housing complex in the heart of Skid Row broke ground last February and remains on pace for a late 2019 opening. Funded partly through Measure HHH funds, the ground-up, six-story building at 649 S. Wall St. will have 55 residential units. The project has a second component, the three-story, 25,000-squarefoot Joshua House Health Center, which will be operated by Los Angeles Christian Health Centers.
has found the Music Center Plaza blocked off by big fences. That’s because of the $40 million overhaul of the space that is underway. Designed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios, and on pace to finish by Labor Day, the project will improve the plaza and enhance connections to surrounding streets. Key elements include widening and opening the stairway to Grand Avenue and moving Jacques Lipchitz’s “Peace on Earth” sculpture and water feature so that the capacity for events at the plaza can be doubled to 5,000 people. Additional buildings are being added and will house a restaurant, cafe and wine bar.
DTLA Proper: A former YMCA building at 11th Street and Broadway will receive new life once it reopens as a hip boutique hotel. The Kor Group, in partnership with Stork/ Alma Development, will bring a 148-room hotel in a 91-year-old building online in the summer. Omgivning designed the project that includes two food and beverage spaces and a rooftop bar and pool. The project was announced in 2015. It is one of several key efforts in the area, along with the nearby Hoxton Hotel and the renovation of the historic Herald Examiner Building. In the Works Oceanwide Plaza: The $1 billion project from China’s Oceanwide Real Estate Group has already altered the Downtown skyline, with its three towers overlooking Staples Center. Oceanwide Plaza includes two 40-story residential buildings with a total of 504 condominiums, along with a 49-story Park Hyatt hotel with 184 rooms. The eye magnet will be the long, ribbon-like electronic billboard, and the project will also have 153,000 Continued on page 5
Green Street: The cannabis industry in Downtown Los Angeles will have a home base once the appropriately named Green Street opens. Developer Bow West Capital is transforming a seven-story building at 718 Hill St. in the Jewelry District, with plans to open in January. The project will include several floors of co-working space, an art gallery and a 5,000-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor. Bow West Capital, which purchased the 1913 edifice in 2017 for $14 million, is also upgrading the roof so it can hold parties and events. The building owner already has inked deals with a few notable tenants, including Vincente Sederberg LLC, otherwise known as The Marijuana Law Firm, and Green Street Agency, a cannabis branding and business development and consulting agency. Six Four Nine Lofts: Not all of the housing coming to Downtown is market rate. Skid
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Leaders in the Spotlight
Expect Beutner’s vision to become clear this year… once that pesky strike ends.
Seven Political Figures to Watch in 2019
Alex Villanueva: In November, the virtually unknown Alex Villanueva toppled Sheriff Jim McDonnell, the first time in 104 years a sitting Los Angeles Sheriff had lost an election. Credit Villanueva’s victory to his savvy decision to run hard as a Democrat, and some foolish coasting by McDonnell. Now things get tough, as being sheriff is as much about politics as it is about law enforcement. In his three decades in the department Villanueva never advanced beyond the rank of lieutenant, which is well below the real decision-makers. So he takes over as someone versed in the mindset of deputies and mid-tier department personnel, but with zero firsthand knowledge of the major challenges of the job. His first big move was kicking out the entire upper-management team and bringing in his own bench. Villanueva will have to learn on the fly. He’ll also have to navigate the powerful County Board of Supervisors, who oversee the department’s budget and have the ability to make his life easier or harder. Additionally, he’ll garner the attention of the news media, and expect reporters to dig, dig, dig. Villanueva campaigned as a reformer, but mammoth institutions don’t change easily. He’ll face that reality in the coming months.
By Jon Regardie here were a lot of things you could say about the Los Angeles political scene in 2018, but one stood out: It was never boring. There were disagreements over how to deal with homelessness. LAUSD School Board member Ref Rodriguez resigned in disgrace. City Councilman Mitch Englander announced he would quit his public-service job and join the private sector. Then there was the never-ending saga of Team Huizar.
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THE REGARDIE REPORT The year set a high bar in terms of interest and entertainment, but that could be eclipsed in 2019. Here are seven key figures to watch. Mayor Eric Garcetti: Los Angeles’s 42nd chief executive made this list last year for the same reason that he’s on it again: Everyone wants to know if he’s running for president. As I’ve written before, that’s a foolish discussion: Of course he is running — he just hasn’t publicly announced it. Need proof: Take this one-question quiz: How many states did Garcetti visit in 2018? The answer: a whopping 17. Or, to use the terminology he employed in a Dec. 23 email to supporters, “I traveled to 17 states across our incredible country this year, and I saw a nation united.” That’s the talk of a guy with POTUS aspirations. Garcetti augmented that travel schedule with appearances on cable TV and enjoyed some cushy profiles in national magazines. Overall, he did everything possible to get himself included on journalists’ lists of potential Democratic party candidates in 2020. Expect an announcement on his candidacy early in the year, and expect it to come as at least a dozen other figures also enter. Few expect Garcetti to win the nomination, but there’s no downside — even if he falls flat on his face, he’s still mayor of L.A. until 2022. For Garcetti, 2019 is all about boosting his national profile. Don’t be surprised if he visits more than 17 states this year. Austin Beutner: Last May, the former businessman who also served as publisher of the L.A. Times took on perhaps the region’s most difficult job: superintendent of the LAUSD. It’s the political equivalent of
photo by Gary Leonard
Many people expect Mayor Eric Garcetti to announce a run for president early this year. If he does, he could travel even more than last year, when he visited 17 states.
walking into a dark forest where hornets’ nests are on booby traps and the ground is slicked with oil while Visigoths chuck rocks at your head. His first seven months were brutally challenging, but they may be easy compared to what lies ahead. First up is dealing with the impending teachers’ strike. The union United Teachers Los Angeles and its combative head Alex Caputo-Pearl have pledged to have more than 30,000 educators walk out on Jan. 10, and no one knows how long they could be gone. Even though the recent “Fact Finder” report urged UTLA to accept the LAUSD offer of a 6% pay hike partly backdated to 2017 (UTLA wants 6.5% retroactive to 2016), Caputo-Pearl maintains that salary is only one dispute point, with additional complaints regarding class sizes, charter schools and beyond. Beutner will have to steer the 500,000-student district through the strike, steady the situation once it ends, and then roll out his reformist vision. He was hired in part to streamline and modernize a clunky and bloated bureaucracy, and position it to better serve students and respond to parents and communities. Early reports have indicated he may try to break the LAUSD into 32 smaller networks so key decision-making happens closer to campuses.
Michel Moore: The new head of the Los Angeles Police Department has more time at the top than his LASD counterpart — Moore took over in June, replacing Charlie Beck. He also had ample experience at the highest levels, including serving as first assistant chief and director of the Office of Operations. Still, nothing compares to being chief of police, and in the coming year Moore will have the opportunity to put his stamp on the department and its 10,000-officer force. He spent his first six months visiting numerous communities and introducing himself to stakeholders. Now he gets to build upon that base. He appears to have a good relationship with Garcetti and members of the City Council. Soon the 2018 crime figures will be revealed, and Moore will have a chance to discuss his near- and long-term response plan. But the year could be about the unpredictable. In law enforcement, rising crime, an officer-involved shooting or a mass attack can change everything in an instant. When that occurs, people will look toward Moore. Miguel Santiago and Kevin de Leon: For most of 2017, Richelle Huizar was the pre-
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sumed frontrunner in the 14th District 2020 City Council race. Her husband José Huizar (more on him below) had been laying the groundwork for her candidacy for more than a year. Then he got hit with about a bajillion grenades and Richelle dropped out. The field is open! Who will be the new favorite? Names are being bandied about, but either Santiago, currently a state Assemblyman representing the 53rd District, which includes Downtown, or de Leon, the former president of the state Senate (and failed recent candidate for the U.S. Senate), whose district also covered the Central City, would race to the head of the pack. Both have political experience and, more importantly, access to money. Each knows how to put a campaign team together. Neither has publicly indicated a desire to run, but the opportunity is irresistible. Council members make about $200,000 a year, can serve for up to 12 years and don’t have to fly back and forth to Sacramento. You get to be king or queen of a district with about 250,000 residents, and in the case of the 14th, there’s a pipeline to a lot of money, thanks to all the development underway in Downtown. Other figures could enter, including some surprises. But with a primary in March 2020, the early months of 2019 will be the appropriate time for a prominent figure to get involved. José Huizar: No Los Angeles politician has endured a worse couple of months than Huizar. To recap: In October, the 13-year councilman was sued by two former office workers for harassment and retaliation; they also claimed that he had an extramarital affair with another unnamed former employee. In November, the FBI raided Huizar’s home, his City Hall office and Boyle Heights field office, and a week later Council President Herb Wesson stripped Huizar of his committee assignments. The day before Thanksgiving, Richelle Huizar withdrew her candidacy for the 2020 City Council race. In December, José Huizar canceled January’s huge Night on Broadway. Everyone is whispering about Huizar, and in and outside of City Hall he’s “the guy who got raided by the FBI.” It’s worth mentioning that he has not been arrested or charged with any crime. It’s hard to imagine Huizar reclaiming his former status. It’s also hard to imagine him going through 2019 without any further travails. regardie@downtownnews.com
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PROJECTS, 3 square feet of retail space and 37,000 square feet of open outdoor space. The towers designed by CallisonRTKL will continue to take shape this year, and an opening is scheduled for 2020. The Grand: Late last year, developer Related Cos. razed the “Tinker Toy” parking structure at the southeast corner of First Street and Grand Avenue, clearing the way for construction to finally begin on the $1 billion mega-project. While passersby won’t see much shape in the Frank Gehry-designed development this year, extensive excavation and early construction will take place. Ultimately The Grand will feature a 39-story residential tower with 436 units, with 20% set aside as low-income housing, and a 20-story, 309-room Equinox hotel. The year could also lead to news about tenants in the 215,000 square feet of commercial space, which will have shops, restaurants and a movie theater around a plaza that opens to Grand Avenue. The Grand is slated to open in 2021. Convention Center Overhaul: Anschutz Entertainment Group last year secured key approvals for a $1.2 billion expansion and renovation of the Los Angeles Convention Center, and more information should spill forth this year. Plans call for adding 350,000 square feet of new convention space and linking the South and West halls, which are now separated. Also in the works is a 40-story, 850-room
extension of AEG’s J.W. Marriott hotel. The specific financial plan still needs to be negotiated, although the project will be paid for by AEG, with the city making annual payments once the work is completed. Construction is not expected to start until 2020, with a planned 2022 opening. Times Mirror Square: What a change for the Civic Center landmark. Onni Group bought the Times Mirror Square complex in 2016, and last summer the L.A. Times left the building for a new headquarters in El Segundo. Now Onni will move forward on its re-imagination of the full-block site. Two buildings are in line to get Historic-Cultural Monument status, while three others will be torn down to make way for sleek glass-and-steel towers standing 37 and 53 stories. AC Martin is designing the project, which will add 1,127 residences. Onni is still seeking approvals for the project, and though no groundbreaking has been set, this is the year that more details and designs should become public. Perla: The Historic Core’s first new condominium high-rise won’t open until 2020, but the building will take shape and sales will continue throughout the new year. Crews have been building out Perla’s 12-story curved podium, and this year will move on to the tower levels; the 35-story edifice will hold 450 condos. SCG America, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Construction Group, is developing the project designed by architecture firm CallisonRTKL. In the coming year expect to see some details of the Art Deco-style
An aged parking structure at First Street and Grand Avenue was torn down last year, and in 2019 construction will begin on Related Cos.’ $1 billion The Grand. The Frank Gehry-designed project would add 436 residential units and a 309-room hotel to Bunker Hill.
image courtesy Related/Gehry Projects
atrium. The project at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Broadway will include a landscaped podium deck with a pool and dog run. Watercourt Plaza: People working in the Cal Plaza office towers will deal with construction this year, as the Watercourt, for decades the site of the Grand Performances concert series, is renovated. The $4.5 million project will start early in the year, and the namesake water features will be removed and replaced by a lawn area and seating that brings audiences closer to the performers. The project also addresses an aging water feature that
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has become prone to leaks. Gensler is designing the new look of the 1.5-acre plaza, and work is estimated to take 24 weeks. The work includes the addition of more benches, landscaping and potted plants. During construction, the Downtown lineup of Grand Performances concerts will be limited, with more shows taking place in other venues, including at Los Angeles International Airport. Colburn School Expansion: Downtown started buzzing last spring when the Colburn School announced that Frank Gehry would design its expansion. This year should bring Continued on page 6
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On the Move in the New Year
PROJECTS, 5 renderings and details for the 200,000-square-foot project. Plans call for a 1,100-seat concert hall, a 700-seat dance and theater venue and a 100seat cabaret-style venue to replace two parking lots on Olive and Second streets. An outdoor venue is also in the works. Sel Kardan, president and CEO of the Colburn School, said a budget is still being determined, and once the design is finalized, fundraising will begin. This would be the third Gehry-designed project on Grand Avenue, joining the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Grand, which is slated to open in 2021. Fifth and Hill: Late last year, JMF Enterprises’ revealed designs for its proposed Pershing Square-adjacent housing development, and the Jenga-style tower with jutting elements got tongues wagging. In 2019, more details and refined designs should be produced for the 53-story building at Fifth and Hill Streets. Miami-based architecture firm Arquitectonica is handling designs for the project with cantilevered pools that jut out from the building. Many details are still up in the air as the developer considers two options: One consists of 160 condominiums, and the other would bring 31 condos and a 190-room hotel. Construction is not likely to begin until 2020 at the soonest. Weingart Tower: The desperate need for permanent supportive housing could be partly addressed through a multi-phase project from the Weingart Center and Chelsea Investment Co. The overall goal is to create 700 residential units in three buildings. A draft environmental impact report for the $135 million project was released in October and detailed the plan to construct three towers on two separate sites. The first, an 18-story building with 303 low-income units, would rise on a city-owned parking lot at 600 S. San Pedro St., followed by another 18-story tower and a 12-floor edifice that would replace a group of buildings that the Weingart Center already owns at 554 S. San Pedro St. The second parcel would hold 382 units. No opening date has been announced, and in 2019 plans will be refined and financing will be explored. sean@downtownnews.com and nicholas@downtownnews.com.
Six Big Transportation Projects and Mobility Issues Will Be on Downtown’s Radar in 2019 By Sean P. Thomas veryone has somewhere to go, and over the past few years the way that people get to and from their destinations in Downtown Los Angeles has rapidly shifted. Don’t expect things to slow down in 2019. Between major mass-transit construction projects and the ongoing discussion over personal mobility devices, the transportation discussion in the Central City is no longer just about cars. Here are six transportation storylines to keep an eye on in 2019.
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Blue Line Closure: Brace for impact. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to begin a massive, $350 million modernization of its oldest rail line. Expect commuting headaches as there will be a pair of four-month closure periods for the Blue Line, which links Downtown with Long Beach. From Jan. 26 to late May, service will be halted from the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station to the Long Beach terminus. From late May through September, service from the Willowbrook station to the Seventh Street/Metro Center station in Downtown will be closed. Metro plans to run shuttles between the impacted stations, but rest assured, for the tens of thousands of people who use the line each day, there will be upheaval. Main and Spring Forward: The street-improvement project from 14th District City Councilman José Huizar
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Expect headaches during the new year as Metro conducts a $350 million overhaul of the Blue Line. From about late May to September, the portion of the route that runs from Willowbrook to Downtown Los Angeles will be closed, and riders coming into the Central City will be directed to shuttle buses.
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The Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s Downtown DASH buses will see change in 2019, including alterations to routes, expanded hours and increased stop frequency.
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and the Department of Transportation is scheduled to finish this year. Main and Spring Forward involves bringing improved signal crossings, new bike lanes and protected barriers to a stretch of Spring Street between First and Ninth streets. Work wrapped on the Spring Street portion of the project in October. The next phase will deliver similar improvements to Main Street from Cesar Chavez Avenue to Ninth Street. The $1.9 million project is part of the City’s Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate pedestrian injuries and traffic fatalities by 2025. Expect traffic delays as crews complete the work. Dockless Scooters: By now, you have noticed the prevalence of electric scooters standing (or laying on their side) at various locations across the Central City. Those dockless scooters will remain in the new year as the city finalizes guidelines to regulate the mode of transportation. Dockless scooters are allowed in Downtown Los Angeles on a one-year pilot program approved by the City Council in September. Currently, operators such as Bird and Lime are each allowed to deploy up to 10,500 of the devices in the city through a temporary permit. Fans of the scooters laud the pick-up-and-go nature of the machines, while detractors are concerned over sidewalk clutter and safety (few riders wear helmets). If the number of scooters in Downtown approaches the ranks seen in communities such as Santa Monica, things could get ugly. DASH Expansions: The new year will also bring changes to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s fleet of DASH buses. Riders of the shuttle-style neighborhood buses will soon notice expanded hours, increased stop frequency and changes to Downtown routes. The alterations will be rolled out throughout 2019 and into 2020. Among the most welcome is the DASH A route, which ferries riders through the Arts District. It saw some expansion in September. Regional Transit: It’s going to be a big year for huge projects. Metro is in the planning stage for a new rail line connecting Downtown to Southeast Los Angeles County. The 20-mile, $4.6 billion West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor would be funded through Measure M and would run from Artesia to Downtown. Although construction is not likely to begin until 2022, Metro is determin-
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Metro River Bike Plan: One of the city’s potentially most inviting bike routes could move forward this year. Metro hopes to create an eight-mile bike path along the Los Angeles River in Downtown that would connect to paths to the north and south, creating a 32-mile path that runs from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. Dubbed the Los Angeles River Bike Path Gap Closure Project, it has a budget $365 million due to some big engineering hurdles. Plans call for a groundbreaking in 2023 and an opening by 2027. The new year will involve revealing the final design scope of the project, and dreaming about a future of easy bike travel. sean@downtownnews.com
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ing the Downtown portion of the route and whether it would end at Union Station or in the Financial District. Recently, a number of local stakeholders complained about a proposal to pull the Pershing Square station out of consideration. Then there is the ongoing work on the $1.8 billion Regional Connector. The massive project will create three stations in Little Tokyo, on Broadway and Bunker Hill as it streamlines cross-county travel. The project is forecasted to open in 2021.
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DECEMBER 31, 2018 photo by Clive Barta
19 Entertainment Highlights of 2019 Former music director Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to the L.A. Philharmonic in April to lead a series of concerts for the works of Igor Stravinsky.
The New Year Brings Big Shows, Concerts, Museum Exhibits and More By Nicholas Slayton he year 2018 was a great one for arts and entertainment in Downtown Los Angeles. Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away came to the Music Center, while the L.A. Phil kicked off its centennial season. There were copious festivals and people rocked out in venues from the Teragram Ballroom to Resident in the Arts District. The museums were filled and the massive multi-institution Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA wrapped up, exploring Latin American and Angeleno art. The new year looks to be just as deep, varied and exciting. Attention-generating theatrical productions are coming to Downtown, as are a lot of big-name concerts. There will even be dinosaurs. Below are 19 arts and entertainment events worth checking out in 2019. Consider it a starting point to a year with a packed cultural calendar.
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High Crimes and Dusty Motels: Playwright Nate Rufus Edelman’s Desert Rats was a twisted black comedy that garnered strong reviews when it had its U.S. premiere at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in November. Now it is coming back for a second round, with an opening on Saturday, Jan. 5. The play is set in a beat-up motel in Barstow and follows two brothers who pull off a kidnapping. Naturally, when two people who aren’t used to kidnapping try to make one happen, things go horribly wrong. Edelman revamped the show after its London premiere, filling it with allusions to Los Angeles. It runs through Jan. 20. At 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org. Farewell and Goodbye: It’s safe to say that there will never be another performer quite
like Elton John. It’s also safe to say that, if he keeps his word, there are only a few more opportunities to see him live. John said he is retiring from performing after decades on stage, and his farewell tour brings him (and his piano) to Staples Center on Jan. 23-23 and Jan. 25. He’ll be unleashing all of his hits, so be ready to sing along to “Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocketman,” “I’m Still Standing” and many more. Of course, the outfits will be fantastic. At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com.
with the aim or responding to the emotion and conditions those prisoners faced. Yes, this will be different. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Pure Beats: It’s hard to overstate the importance of Fela Kuti. On his own and with the band Egypt 80, he helped create a new
At 1245 N. Spring St. or facebook.com/seunkutiofficial. If the Shoe Fits: New Adventures, the company run by the inimitable Matthew Bourne, wowed audiences last year with its staging of The Red Shoes. Now New Adventures is returning to the Ahmanson Theatre with its sweeping, WWII-era version of Cinderel-
The Art of the Matter: The year’s biggest art event, in terms of physical size, is the L.A. Art Show, which returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 23-27. The exhibition brings together dozens of galleries that will fill 200,000 square feet of space. Virtually everything you can think of is on display, with art from around the globe. The concentration is on modern art, but this year there will also be displays of Pan-Asian ink paintings, influential works from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and performance art. The Art Show’s Littletopia section is also coming back, with a focus on Pop art. At 1201 S. Figueroa St. or laartshow.com.
Matthew Bourne first wowed Downtown audiences with his version of Cinderella in 1999. It is returning to the Ahmanson Theatre on Feb. 5-March 10. The classic fairy tale is now set in World War II and Prince Charming is a young fighter pilot.
Prison Songs: New York’s Wooster Group has become a regular fixture in the Downtown Los Angeles theater scene, making REDCAT its second home. The company known for its experimental, often multimedia performances is back on Jan. 30-Feb. 3 with The B Side: “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,” A Record Album Interpretation. That’s a big title, and the troupe seeks to live up to its stature with a performance, featuring Eric Berryman, that utilizes a 1965 recording of work songs performed by prison laborers. A trio of singers re-create the songs on stage,
photo by Johan Persson
style of music now known as Afrobeat, and also was a leader in the fight against injustice. He passed away in 1997, but his legend and his music live on, in part through his saxophone-playing son, Seun. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 will visit Los Angeles State Historic Park on Feb. 1, and will continue the tradition of mixing socially conscious messages with funky instrumentals. Los Angeles surf rock giants the Allah-las open, so expect plenty of dancing.
la. The show, which had its American debut at the same venue in 1999, is an elaborate and dazzling dance/theater presentation, though this time Prince Charming is a British fighter pilot and the main characters fall in love right before the Blitz. Expect dances featuring gas masks, a motorcycle on stage and Prokofiev’s classic score. The show runs Feb. 5-March 10. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) or centertheatregroup.org.
DECEMBER 31, 2018
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The dark comedy Desert Rats is back for a second run at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in January. The play follows two brothers who commit a kidnapping and hide out in Barstow.
“raucous, gungy, irresistibly exuberant...[and] exceptionally virtuosic.” –The New York Times
photo by Giovanni Solis of bracero
Mass Market Failure: Consider Maryam Jafri’s exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles a kind of subversive history of the modern food industry in the United States. I Drank the Kool-Aid But I Did Not Inhale, which runs Feb. 10-June 23, is an update on Jafri’s 2014 show Product Recall: An Index of Innovation, which looked at food and agricultural concepts that never quite took off. The minimalist set-up uses archival works and “still life” photos of techniques and dishes that have been lost to history. It’s part art show, part history lesson on how human consumption has changed. If you check it out during the first week, you can also pair it with the Disgusting Food Museum, a pop-up show in the nearby A+D Museum. At 1717 E. Seventh St. or theicala.org.
lowed show. At 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. Peppy Pop: Australian band Oh Pep! is not your normal pop act. The two-piece group that uses guitars and mandolins to power its fast-paced love songs zips into the Moroccan Lounge on March 1. The band has a folk and bluegrass-influenced twang and things frequently start slow and mournful before blossoming into energetic sets. As usual, the Moroccan’s lineup is jammed, with other highlights including Canadian indie rockers Mother Mother (Jan. 16-17) and punk act Iron Chic (March 6). At 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.
New York theater company the Wooster Group comes to REDCAT on Jan. 30-Feb. 3 with The B Side: “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,” A Record Album Interpretation. The show re-creates songs from a 1965 album of prison recordings. photo by Bruce Jackson
A Touch of Soul: There’s a good chance you’ve heard the Soul Rebels. The New Orleans-based eight-piece has been on the rise lately, playing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and in NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. Catch them live and it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about. Downtowners will have the chance to do just that, and to glimpse a beautiful venue, when the Soul Rebels visit the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Feb. 16. The show is part of the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance series. Other CAP UCLA shows at the Ace include performance artist Carrie Mae Weems on March 8 and Irish band The Gloaming on April 12. At 929 S. Broadway or cap.ucla.edu.
Feel the Blues: Childhood is already wondrous and confusing, but things are ratcheted up when those formative years are spent in a boarding house full of criminals and down-on-their-luck people. That’s the set-up for Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s play Lackawanna Blues, which lands at the Mark Taper Forum on March 5-April 21. The play is based on Santiago-Hudson’s childhood and his experiences in 1950s rural New York with his nanny, who in the show is called Miss Rachel. Expect heavy drama, cunning characters, wide-eyed youthful wonder and a blues score performed live. At 135 N. Grand Ave. (213) or centertheatregroup.org.
More of the Master: Comedian Aziz Ansari has been keeping his focus on TV in recent years, wrapping up “Parks and Recreation” and launching his own well-received Netflix show “Master of None.” Now he is back on the stand-up circuit, and is coming to the Orpheum Theatre. Ansari is doing four nights on Broadway, Feb. 20-23, as part of his “Road to Nowhere” tour. Expect ruminations on life, dating and strange social norms, laced with some of Ansari’s usual hyper reactions. Heads up: This is a strict no cell phones al-
A Forgotten Voice: For more than a decade at the start of the 20th century, the newspaper The Liberator was the voice of a growing African-American community in Los Angeles, reporting on the lives of its readers and the systemic issues they faced. The Liberator: Chronicling Black Los Angeles, 1900-1914 opens on March 20 at the California African American Museum and looks at the paper’s impact on the city. The exhibit collects vintage issues, along with photos and other Continued on page 10
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What’s in Store in 2019
South Korean grocery store PK Market plans to open its first American location in the revitalized L.A. Jewelry Mart at Seventh and Olive streets. The 33,000-square-foot store will be spread over two floors.
Running Down Some of the Shops Expected to Open in Downtown in the New Year By Nicholas Slayton mid the spectacular growth of Downtown Los Angeles, most attention has been paid to the residential and restaurant explosion. Yet the retail scene continues to expand as well, and last year brought additions including Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo and the huge Arts District nursery Rolling Greens. Expect more growth in 2019, as property owners redevelop aging buildings and the housing and office base continue to expand. Here are some of the stores and related efforts that people are eagerly awaiting.
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Screen Time: Downtown has been waiting for an outpost of the super-cool Alamo Drafthouse for years — it was originally supposed to open in 2015. Last September, Alamo brass promised that its complex at The Bloc shopping mall (750 W. Seventh St.) will debut at an unspecified time in 2019. The 11-screen theater will be on two floors and will have 560 seats; it will have both digital and 35mm film projection capabilities.
The Financial District space would be Downtown’s third movie theater, adding to the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live and the Downtown Independent. Alamo Drafthouse is known for its mix of first run, art house and classic films, as well as its food and drink options (including craft beer and a full-service menu) and strict rules against talking or texting. Marketplace: Supermarkets have been flocking to the Central City, and another is on the way. The South Korean grocery store PK Market will fill 33,000 square feet inside Atlas Capital’s revamped L.A. Jewelry Mart at 712 S. Olive St. The store, expected to open at some point in the new year, will be the company’s first in the United States. Expect an international focus in its foods and 10 places to grab cooked meals. PK Market’s parent company, PK Retail Holdings, will fill three of the building’s six floors, with the bottom two holding the grocery store. Nice Kicks: Sneaker enthusiasts are in luck, as Vans is expected to open a flagship store
photo by Jon Regardie
by the end of 2019. The shoe company, known for its flat-soled shoes and sneakers that appeal to skateboarders, will take 8,000 square feet on the ground floor of the Singer Sewing Building at 806 S. Broadway (building owner Anjac Fashion Co. plans to turn the upper levels into live/work units). The Vans store will continue Broadway’s evolution as a new “sneaker row.” A three-story Jumpman store from Nike’s Jordan brand opened at 620 S. Broadway this year, joining stores such as Footaction and Sheikh. Grow the Row: The massive Row DTLA com-
After many delays, the Alamo Drafthouse plans to open its Los Angeles cinema at The Bloc in 2019. The 11-screen space will feature a mix of mainstream and independent films.
image courtesy Alamo Drafthouse
ARTS, 9 items from the paper, and in the process reveals how the local publication helped a community grow. It runs through Sept. 9 at the Exposition Park venue. At 600 State Dr., (213) 744-2084 or caamuseum.org. Power and Spirit: Bunker Hill’s The Broad museum routinely offers powerful exhibits and thought-provoking events. In 2019 the museum continues that, in particular with a pair of shows that explore the intersection of art and politics. Soul of a Nation, which runs March 23-Sept. 1, looks at two decades of work from African-American artists during the Civil Rights movement. That will be followed in October by Soul of a Nation, Shirin Neshat: I Will Greet the Sun Again, which surveys 25 years of the Irani-
an-American artist’s multimedia work. At 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Old Sounds, New Songs: It’s a good time for fans of soul and R&B, with so many bands offering fresh takes on the genres. One of the best is coming to the Teragram Ballroom on March 26-27. Durand Jones & the Indications will storm City West in support of its second album, American Love Call, a record as somber as it is soulful. Other highlights on the Teragram calendar include the Bob Mould Band (March 1), synth pop stars Haelos (March 19) and White Denim (April 26). At 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Here We Go Again: Legions of Abba fans, rejoice! Little Tokyo’s East West Players is putting its unique take on the jukebox musical Mamma Mia! The production,
which runs May 9-June 9, closes out East West Players’ 53rd season, and EWP Artistic Director Snehal Desai will direct the show. The company is known for exploring drama from an Asian-American perspective, usually with an Asian-American cast, so expect a fresh take on the musical originated by the Swedish act. Also expect all of the classic songs from the show, including “Dancing Queen,” “SOS” and “Waterloo.” At 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. A Super Stravinsky: The Los Angeles Philharmonic is in the midst of celebrating its 100th season, so it’s not surprising that the orchestra in 2019 is focusing special attention on the music of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Even better, former Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen is coming to town to lead the charge. The Salonen’s Stravinsky series includes
plex at 777 S. Alameda St. in the Industrial District has been drawing independent boutiques and major fashion players over the last year, with shops such as Bodega, Hightide and Flask & Field. Expect more arrivals in the new year, including Kinto, a Japanese shop that specializes in tableware, coffee and tea appliances and accessories. Also coming to Row DTLA is The Things We Do, a spa and beauty supply store. High Tech in an Old Theater: It’s a distinct possibility that Downtown’s most anticipated retail arrival won’t open this year. However, people will be paying close attention to the Tower Theatre at 802 S. Broadway and watching for any sign of an impending Apple Store. Crews have begun work, with an early step involving upgrading the building to current seismic standards. Ultimately the 7,650-square-foot theater will see the ground floor transformed into something akin to other Apple stores, while the upper levels will hold technology seminars or classes on using Apple programs and products. Apple will also restore artwork in the 1927 theater. No opening date has been announced, but Downtown retail experts expect that more tech or wellknown shops will now flock to the area, encouraged by Apple’s signing. nicholas@downtownnews.com multiple programs on April 12-14 and April 18-20. The first two performances, dubbed “Rituals,” include the monumental “The Rite of Spring,” while the latter three dates, under the banner “Myths,” hold a staging of “Perséphone” directed by the amazing Peter Sellars. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. Domingo and the Wildcat: It’s always a treat when Plácido Domingo takes the stage. Downtowners will have the opportunity to enjoy his legendary tenor tones when L.A. Opera mounts El Gato Montes: The Wildcat. Manuel Penella’s quintessential Spanish tale lands at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for six performances on May 5-19. In this sweeping romance, a bandit and a famous bullfighter both fall in love with a woman, and end up bitter foes for her affections. Domingo plays Continued on page 16
DECEMBER 31, 2018
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Taking a Bite Out of 2019 Nine Culinary Projects That Downtown Is Eager to Sample in the New Year By Sean P. Thomas s the calendar flips to 2019, so does the food and drink industry in the Central City. In the coming year a collection of hotly anticipated restaurants and bars will open. Here are nine of the projects that will whet Downtown’s appetite in the coming year.
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The Manufactory: Perhaps the most anticipated culinary arrival of 2019 was also the most anticipated food project in 2018. Alas, The Manufactory missed multiple opening dates in the Row DTLA complex, but its backers promise that it will welcome patrons in January. The Los Angeles offshoot of the Tartine Bakery in San Francisco is a huge endeavor, and The Manufactory’s signature pastries, various styles of breads and sandwiches are only the beginning. The Manufactory (at 757 S. Alameda St.) will fill almost 40,000 square feet of space across two floors at Row DTLA, and will include Tartine Bianco, a casual dining venture from Tartine’s co-owners Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt, and chef Chris Bianco, along with a market, the dinner-only Alameda Supper Club, and an all-day cafe dubbed the Coffee Lab. The project will roll out in phases, starting with the bakery and Tartine Bianco. Nightshade: “Top Chef ” winner Mei Lin is wasting no time in the new year, with her Nightshade scheduled to open in the Arts District on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Lin’s first restaurant can best be described as an upscale casual dinner spot, with a menu that blends modern takes on Asian cuisine with influences from other cultures. Nightshade will squeeze into the space at 923 E. Third St. previously filled by Cerveteca. Goat and the Girl: Mei Lin isn’t the only celebrity chef scheduled to set down roots in the Arts District in 2019. Stephanie Izard, a James Beard Award recipient who also cap-
tured prizes on “Iron Chef” and “Top Chef,” is taking her Goat and the Girl restaurant out of Chicago and into the At Mateo project at 555 Mateo St. The restaurant, which is aiming for a summer debut, is Izard’s first project outside of Chicago. Izard told Food and Wine that the menu at the Los Angeles location would be similar, not identical,
DECEMBER 31, 2018
Death and Co.: The cocktail scene in Downtown had a solid showing in 2018 with the addition of hits like The Wolves and The Streamliner. Expect the momentum to continue in 2019 as one of New York’s trendiest speakeasies, Death and Co., opens in the increasingly crowded Arts District. Death and Co. has received heaps of praise for its moody craft concoctions since opening in New York’s East Village. Alex Day and David Kaplan of Proprietors LLC, and Death and Co. partner Ravi DeRossi are leading the Los Angeles offshoot. Crews have been prepping the 3,000-square-foot location at 810 E. Third St. In addition to the cocktail menu
El Pueblo has a unique element: La Plaza Cocina is a museum and teaching kitchen that celebrates Mexican cuisine. Expected to open during the first quarter at 555 N. Spring St., it will teach visitors about Mexico’s culinary roots and traditions, with instruction on everything from the food of indigenous cultures to contemporary dishes. Expect exhibitions, cooking classes, lectures, workshops and culinary festivals. Buddy’s: The team that brought Downtown Bernadette’s, the self-proclaimed “dumbest bar in L.A.” is planning a second Central City project. Buddy’s, which will echo Ber-
Learn about the history of Mexican cuisine when La Plaza Cocina opens at La Plaza Village in 2019.
image courtesy La Plaza de Cultura y artes
to what is offered in the Midwest, so expect twists on wood oven-roasted pig face and braised beef tongue. French Exit: Downtown Los Angeles’ roster of LGBTQ-friendly drinking establishments is set to expand this year. French Exit and its affiliated Bar Menagerie are scheduled to open in the second half of the year at 300 S. Broadway, next to Maccheroni Republic and across the street from Grand Central Market. French Exit will function as an event space and will host live music, burlesque shows and more. Bar Menagerie, on the ground level, will have an open garden space and will serve casual American cuisine. Andres Rigal, co-founder of the DTLA Proud Festival, is behind the effort, along with the team that opened Bar10 in West Hollywood.
photo by Sean P. Thomas
The former Historic Core home of Italian restaurant Pestolini will see new life once the casual dining space Buddy’s debuts in March.
(which inspired a 500-entry drink book in 2014) select food dishes from the New York location are likely to be served. Expect a summer debut. M. Georgina: The Manufactory is not the only anticipated arrival at Row DTLA. San Francisco chef Melissa Perello, who was behind the celebrated Frances and Octavia line of Bay Area restaurants, has plans to open M. Georgina during the summer. The restaurant at 777 S. Alameda St. will boast a modern take on casual American cuisine. Plans for the 4,200-square foot space include a full bar, open kitchen, lunch service and outdoor seating. La Plaza Cocina: One anticipated culinary arrival isn’t a restaurant at all. The soon-toopen La Plaza Village housing project near
photo by Jon Regardie
Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neil is opening a restaurant at L.A. Live in late January. Naturally, it is called Shaquille’s.
nadette’s 1970s aesthetic, is marching toward a March opening in the space at 363 S. Broadway that formerly housed Pestolini. According to Eater LA, Buddy’s will serve typical American fare including sandwiches and burgers. Shaquille’s: The good news: The Big Diesel is returning to Downtown Los Angeles. The bad news: He won’t be rejoining LeBron and the rest of the Lakers. Instead, he’s the force behind an eponymous restaurant coming to L.A. Live, in the space previously filled by Cleo and, before that, the Farm at Beverly Hills. According to a flyer posted for a recent job fair, the restaurant is eyeing a late January opening. It remains unclear what kind of food Shaquille’s will serve. sean@downtownnews.com
photo by Sean P. Thomas
French Exit and Bar Menagerie will open in a former McDonalds building in the second half of 2019, adding to Downtown’s growing LGBTQ scene.
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CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS
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Bid farewell to 2018 by attending Downtown’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. For the sixth year, Grand Park and the surrounding area is ringing in the new year by playing host to N.Y.E.L.A. The free event begins at 8 p.m. and will include music from R&B artist Aloe Blacc and Latin-American performer Maya Jupiter, as well as food trucks and copious photo opportunities. Once the clock inches toward midnight make sure to keep watch on City Hall, as the countdown to 2019 will be projected on the building. Pro tip: Use public transportation. You don’t want to deal with parking. At 200 N. Spring St. or nyela.grandparkla.org.
The Historic Core’s The Regent is the place to be on Friday, Jan. 4, for aging Los Angeles punkers. That’s because mainstays T.S.O.L (short for True Sounds of Liberty) are welcoming 2019 in their own hard-edged way. The music isn’t for everyone (“Code Blue,” perhaps their best-known song, is a humorous take on necrophilia), but those who like a melodic edge to fierce guitars will be un abundance. Doors open at 7 p.m. and this will be on full-on punked-out evening, as TSOL will be joined by Youth Brigade, Go Betty Go, Tartar Control, Egrets on Ergot and DJ Screamin’ Lord Duff. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.
photo courtesy Grand Park/Music Center
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ROCK, POP & JAZZ
If you’re interested in straying from the traditional midnight ball drop on New Year’s Eve, then consider visiting the Walt Disney Concert Hall where the 15-member Pink Martini is performing. The eclectic group has been going strong for 25 years and is known for meshing musical genres together. The pair of New Year’s Eve performances will see Cuban dance hall sounds blended with Brazilian samba. The first show is at 7 p.m. and the second begins at 10:30 p.m. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.
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photo courtesy L.A. Live
Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Jan. 2: Start the new year right by ditching the hangover and seeing Total Recluse. Jan. 3: Brutus VIII plays rock, which is good. Just don’t ask what happened to Brutus VI and VII. Jan. 4: Pop artist T. Soomian seems like a laid-back dude. Jan. 5: Andrea Silva performs guitar-driven songs as Loyal Lobos. Jan. 6: Yoya, JE Sunde, Rosie Tucker. The Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Jan. 4: Sharkk Heartt. Enjoyy itt. Jan. 5: The Kings Inn Present. Jan. 6: Wicklow Atwater is back in Skidrokyo, sans the Fallen Flame. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Dec. 31: Jeffrey Sutorius, Dash Berlin, Nick Ledesma, Andr3x. Jan. 4: YEHME2. Jan. 5: Washed Out does a DJ set. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. Jan. 5: SADurdayz is a night of live emo covers. Get hyped to feel morose. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. Jan. 3: Julian Allen, Elizabeth Woolf, Fellow and Wildflower are all on stage. Continued on next page
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photo by Chris Hornbecker
MONDAY, DEC. 31 N.Y.E.L.A. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand. Ave. or grandparkla.org. 8 p.m.: The sixth annual New Year’s Eve party is taking place, with live bands and DJs on two stages, plus the midnight countdown projected on the side of City Hall. Prohibition NYE Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or prohibitionnye.com. 9 p.m.: Union Station’s historic ticket hall becomes a 1920s-themed bacchanalia with DJs, live music, burlesque and a ball-drop at midnight. Clifton’s NYE Ball 648 S. Broadway or cliftonsla.com 8 p.m.: The landmark Broadway establishment will turn into a “Crystal Forest” with five floors of immersive environments. Bootie L.A.: New Year’s Eve 2019 Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. 9 p.m.: Dance the night away with DJs spinning fast-paced remixes. Dance Yourself Clean Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com 9 p.m.: Sweat out the dregs of 2018 with some of the finest indie rock and synthpop the DJs can find. Part Time Punks Moroccan Lounge, 901 E. First St. or themoroccan.com 9 p.m.: It’s nothing but punk, post-punk, dark new wave and alternative rock for this New Year’s Eve party. Just as it was meant to be. SATURDAY, JAN. 5 Bootie L.A.: New Year’s Eve Do-Over Party Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St., or residentdtla.com. 9 p.m.: With your hangover gone, dance some more. SUNDAY, JAN. 6 2019 New Year’s Race Grand Park, 200 N. Spring St., or newyearsrace.com. 5 p.m.: Get the blood pumping for 2019 with either a 5K or 10K run.
photo courtesy Spaceland Presents
BY SEAN P. THOMAS
photo by Matthew Murphy
There are still a few opportunities to catch the uplifting story and infectious songs about a small Canadian town that stepped up in a big way in the aftermath of 9/11. Come From Away, directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley, is wrapping up its run at the Ahmanson Theatre. The 12-person cast is brilliantly utilized, with each actor playing multiple roles and helping move around the set pieces. There’s also a sharp on-stage band. Performances are Monday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. on Wednesday-Saturday. There is also a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. and shows on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The curtail falls for the last time on Jan. 6. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.
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Christmas and Hanukkah have passed, but that doesn’t mean Angenelos can’t strap on the blades and try their best not to fall butt first on the ice. The L.A. Kings Holiday Ice rink at Microsoft Square, across from Staples Center, is now in its final week, but there are still opportunities to twirl around the brilliantly decorated tree in the center of the rink. The attraction is open daily from 4 p.m.-midnight until Sunday, Jan. 6. Skating is offered in sessions: 4-7 p.m., 7:30-9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight. While there, consider taking advantage of the supper and skate deals at nearby L.A. Live restaurants. At 800 Olympic Blvd. (877) 234-8425 or lalive.com/events-calendar/holidayice. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
DECEMBER 31, 2018
The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Dec. 31: Frankie and the Studs, Well Hung Heart, Electric Children, Flames of Durga. Jan. 3: Holly and the Italians, Autogramm, Exploding Flowers, The Reflectors, LA Powerpop, DJ PowerPop Jeff. Jan. 4: The Hangmen, Mono Delux, The Neverland Ranch Davidians. That last one wins for best and most twisted band name of the week. Jan. 5: Paper Foxes, Super Creeps, Memory Bells, New American and Bogan Via play the fourth annual Bowie Birthday Branch. The Regent 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727, or theregenttheater.com. Dec. 31: End the year with !!!. Jan. 4: Oh my gosh, it’s a throwback punk extravaganza with T.S.O.L., Youth Brigade, Go Betty Go, Egrets on Ergot, DJ Screamin’ Lord Duff. Jan. 5: Carcass, Lowlife, Iron Reagan, Excel, Final Conflict. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Jan. 5: Night two of The Smell’s 21st birthday includes Retox, Kuromi, Trap Girl, VerBS and Shannon Lay. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Jan. 2: BoomBox has your new year’s blues rock fix.
THEATER
Come From Away Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Jan. 2-4, 8 p.m., Jan. 5, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Jan. 6, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: It’s the final week to see this show. In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 7,000 travelers found themselves stranded in a small town in Newfoundland, Canada. The true story inspired a
Tony-winning musical about trust and friendship. Through Jan. 6. Desert Rats 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org. Jan. 5, 8 p.m. and Jan. 6, 4 p.m.: The dark crime comedy returns to the Historic Core. Two brothers plot a kidnapping and hide out in Barstow, where things go wrong quickly. Through Jan. 20.
CLASSICAL
Mehta’s Brahms: Symphony No. 3 Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Jan. 3-4, 8 p.m.: Conductor Zubin Mehta continues his journey through Johannes Brahms’ catalog, with two performances of his shortest symphony. Mehta’s Brahms: Symphony No. 4 Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m.: More Mehta, more Brahms.
FILM
IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Who doesn’t love pandas? The adorable bears take center stage in the appropriately titled Pandas 3D. Kristen Bell narrates the film about the efforts to reintroduce captive-born pandas into the wild. Patrick Stewart narrates Journey to Space 3D, about the effort to send astronauts to Mars. Since we’ll never go to space ourselves, at least we can hear Captain Jean-Luc Picard talk about it. Dive into the history of Egypt and the impact of the Nile River as Omar Sharif hosts Mysteries of Egypt. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies.
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The full lineup was not available at press time, but expect options including Aquaman, Bumblebee, Welcome to Marwen, Homes & Watson and Mary Poppins Returns. See website for full schedule.
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.
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018307985 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) CRAZY YET BEAUTIFUL, 1145 ROSWELL AVE #309, LONG BEACH, CA 90804 LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) ALYSSA ROSE GLASS, 1145 ROSWELL AVENUE #309, LONG BEACH, CA 90804. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on DECEMBER 11, 2018. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another
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. Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter Executive Office/Clerk. Deputy Clerk: M. Vasquez Superior Court of California, County of Pomona 400 Civic Center Plaza Pomona, CA 91766 Date: OCTOBER 4, 2018 Hon.Peter A. Hernandez Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 12/17, 12/24, 12/31/2018 and 1/7/2019. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code. The undersigned will sell on the 9th day of January 2019 at 11: 00 A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following:: Name of owner: Space number Description of goods Amount Jordana Kushner U-12 Personal effects $773.00 Sherry Stewart D-83 Personal effects $593.00 Chantele Monares H-9 Personal effects $437.50 Consuelo Perez L-35 Personal effects $934.00 Richard Clark A-13 Personal effects $357.00 Sara Musselman A-30 Personal effects $435.00 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is” basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party. Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager December 24, 2018.
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Juanillo, aka The Wildcat. This is a production from Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org. Cool Bones: Dinosaurs are fascinating, and people can’t get enough of seeing their fossils or their CGI re-creations on the big screen. Another opportunity comes April 3, when the
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Dinosaur fans will flock to the Natural History Museum in April when Antarctic Dinosaurs opens. It looks back to a time when the continent was a landscape teaming with greenery and huge creatures.
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Natural History Museum opens Antarctic Dinosaurs. It turns out that Antarctica used to be warm and full of plants and dinosaurs, and the exhibition looks at what that might have been like, with the presentation based on numerous scientific expeditions. There will be four full-sized dinosaur replicas in the show, as well as opportunities to see how paleontologists were able to preserve and study the fossils. Antarctic Dinosaurs continues into 2020. At 900 W. Exposition Blvd. or nhm.org.
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photo courtesy Aziz Ansari
In recent years comedian Aziz Ansari has focused on his Netflix show “Master of None.” He returns to standup with his “Road to Nowhere” tour, which settles into the Orpheum Theatre for four shows on Feb. 20-23. No cell phones will be allowed.
Breaking the Law: Theater, classical music and museums are nice, but sometimes you just need to Bang! Your! Head! Judas Priest has been in that business for four decades and is still going strong. Now Rob Halford and his fellow leather-clad purveyors of doom and noise are coming to the Microsoft Theater. On June 27 they’ll rip through familiar numbers including “Breaking the Law,” “The Sentinel” and “Love Bites.” Please, bring earplugs. At 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com