07-11-16

July 11, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #28

READY TO RIDE Downtown Finally Gets a Bike-Share Program PAGES 5-6

A New Streetcar Study : 17 Delicious Comfort Food : 19

SPECIAL

SECTION

DOWNTOWN

LIVING

PAGES 7-16 photo by Gary Leonard

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

2 Downtown News

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AROUND TOWN

Union Station Bus Terminal To Close for Three Months

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he Patsaouras Transit Plaza at the eastern edge of Union Station will be closing for upgrades on Monday, July 11, and it will remain shuttered for three months. During that period, the plaza’s roads will be resurfaced, as they have been worn down by years of bus and other traffic, according to Union Station owner the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The work will also replace an aging drainage system and add fencing designed to improve pedestrian safety.

While the plaza is closed, buses and shuttles to LAX, Dodger Stadium and other destinations will arrive and depart from temporary bus stops nearby — to find a specific bus, go to metro.net/ busplazaclosure. The surface replacement is the latest update to the plaza, which recently saw a new underground pick-up and drop-off zone for cars; vehicles will use entrances off Vignes Street while the plaza is closed. The Patsaouras Transit Plaza is scheduled to reopen on Oct. 10.

New Parking Comes to Chinatown

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isitors to Chinatown, like many other neighborhoods, often have trouble finding parking.

Now it’s a little bit easier. Last month, the parking facility at the upcoming Blossom Plaza housing project began operating. The parking facility,

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS which is part of developer Forest City Residential’s $100 million project at 900 N. Broadway, opened on June 18. There are a total of 344 parking spaces in the 237-apartment project, and 175 of the parking stalls are open to the public; 100 are dedicated to public parking, while 75 are reserved for users of mass transit, including the nearby Chinatown Gold Line station. The facility is operated by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and is open 8 a.m. to midnight. Rates are $1 per hour for the first two hours, $2 for the third hour, and $1 for every 30 minutes after that. There is an $8 daily maximum and a $3 flat rate after 6 p.m.

July 11, 2016

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Latino Theater Company Gets $500,000 Grant

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he operator of a major Historic Core performing arts hub has received a big windfall. The Latino Theater Company, which operates the Los Angeles Theatre Center at 514 S. Spring St., is getting a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. According to the foundation, the grant is aimed at “capacity-building efforts,” and $425,000 will go to expand the company’s administrative staff, and will be spread over three years. The other $75,000 will be dedicated as matching funds to support what a press release described as “a revolving board-designated cash reserve.” The Latino Theater Company started in 1985. Ten years ago it won a 20-year contract with the city to operate the LATC. In a prepared statement, company Artistic Director and board President Jose Luis Valenzuela said the grant will help the company prepare for the future. “This grant will give us the capacity to survive long term in an increasingly competitive arts entertainment environment,” he said.

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

Fort Moore

Independence Day Commemoration

New Eatery and Market On Figueroa

Mormon Battalion

July 4, 2016

choices. The Financial District shop is the chain’s fourth location and first in Downtown; it started in Santa Monica in 1987. Waldeck-Winston said that the move to Downtown comes after many of its Westside customers relocated to the Central City. Hours are weekdays from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

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owntown Los Angeles has yet another new eatery and small market. Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery began serving customers last month, and a formal opening for the market at 888 S. Figueroa St. will take place on Monday, July 11. The 2,800-square-foot space has a salad bar with more than 200 options, along with a juice bar and sandwich station, according to operations manager Connie Waldeck-Winston.

The business also has grab-and-go snack options and fresh fruit, along with a number of vegan

Fundraising and Rappelling At Sheraton Hotel

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his week, people will be rappelling 25 stories down the side of the Sheraton hotel at Continued on page 28

'S B E S T

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S I N C E 19 7 2 4 Downtown News

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

EDITORIALS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa

phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

twitter: DowntownNews

PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard

July 11, 2016

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

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

An Abundance Of Free Entertainment

One copy per person.

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owntown Los Angeles has long had a healthy slate of free summer entertainment, much of it outdoors. The Grand Performances series at the Cal Plaza Watercourt on Bunker Hill turned 30 this year. Pershing Square has a hefty lineup including outdoor movies on Friday nights and concerts by well-known bands on Saturdays.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris This summer, the offerings are expanding. The GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin new Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery has launched EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie a Thursday evening program with live bands, DJs, art SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim talks and gallery tours. Even historic Union Station is STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton getting into the mix, as its owner, the Metropolitan CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese S I N C E 19 7 2 Transportation Authority, has a batch of music and CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Los Angeles Downtown News arts activities, with films, dance, visual art and more 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison throughout July. phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa web: DowntownNews.com These come in addition to established offerings email: realpeople@downtownnews.com such as the Music Center’s Dance DTLA series with PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard facebook: DJs and a variety of free dance lessons on Friday ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt L.A. Downtown News nights, the Chinatown Summer Nights program, the CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway monthly Downtown Art Walk and the Natural Histwitter: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews S I N C E 19 7 2 tory Museum’s Summer Nights in the Garden events.

Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtown News ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News Then there was the recent 4th of July music and fireSALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 works extravaganza at Grand Park (also hosted by The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newsphone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every the Music Center). A few of• the happenings require web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Los Angeles. city’s side, the hotel would create jobs during and after construcRSVPs, and often there are food trucks, bars or someany people in Downtown Los Angeles were stunned last DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla One copy per person. facebook: twitter: tion.

Even more important, it would add hotel rooms at a time thing else that requires cash, but in all instance it month when Anschutz Entertainment Group revealed L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews when a massive expansion of the Convention Center is being exdoesn’t cost even a dime to enter. that it had pulled the plug on plans to build a 755-room plored. Studies have found that the city has thousands of fewer It’s easy to take for granted how much Downtown expansion of its J.W. Marriott hotel at L.A. Live. The decision was EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Larishow much opportunirooms within walking distance of its Convention Center than rehas to offer, and to overlook spurred by troubled negotiations with cityGENERAL officialsMANAGER: over another Dawn Eastin GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin gional rivals such as San Diego and Anaheim. More hotel rooms to ty exists here. While there are many great summer 1,000-room hotel proposed for near the Convention Center.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon echo the expanded entertainment and nightlife offerings in Downevents throughout theRegardie region — such as the conIs this a death knell for the $500 millionEXECUTIVE AEG project?

Or isJon it the EDITOR: Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim town would make L.A. a more viable competitor for the most lucracerts at Santa Monica Pier and the outdoor jazz setype of gamesmanship common in business?

Some may rememSENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton tive conventions and trade shows. ries at LACMA — no other community has as much ber a similar scenario in the mid-’90s, when AEG walked away from CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese On AEG’s end, another successful hotel — it developed the free al fresco entertainment in such a compact area. plans to build Staples Center after a fight with the city, only to reCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer S Ithat N C opened E 19 7 2in 2010 — CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Greg Fischer 1,001-room Ritz-Carlton/Marriott tower The benefits extend beyond the individual events. turn to the bargaining table and reach a deal after the late City Jeff Favre, ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison Los Angeles Downtown News to the reswould be a money-maker and funnel more customers The overall lineup of gratis quality entertainment Council President John Ferraro intervened.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 taurants and entertainment venues at L.A. Live. is a powerful lure for the Central City, and people We’re hard-pressed to believe that AEG is really ready to quit a phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard The city and AEG have a long The company already operfrom throughout the region know that they can get project where it has already sunk significant time and money on web: history.

DowntownNews.com ACCOUNTING: Schmidt ates the city-owned Convention Center as part of a separate agreesomething forAshley nothing on many nights of the week. designs and other efforts. However, like two decades ago, it may email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ment. AEG and the city worked together on Farmers Field, the ultiThe hope is that once they are here, they will also take a key city leader to grease the wheels, as it were, and come up CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway facebook: Ashley ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Stevens, mately failed football stadium effort that included plans to upgrade patronize a restaurant, bar or Holloway, another Brenda business, and Michael Lamb with the kind of concessions or persuasiveACCOUNTING: talking points thatSchmidt can L.A. Downtown News SALES Claudia the Convention Center. Will the hotel project be a failure, too? will like ASSISTANT: the experience soHernandez much that they will come rekindle negotiations with the developer.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon City leaders must be tough when dealing with AEG, and must back another time.

The happenings could also help Maybe some talks are happening behind the scenes. Maybe not.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, DowntownNews DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles entice people to eventually live here.

Whatever the case, this is a place where the city’s Stevens, top elected offi-Lamb achieve the best deal possible for taxpayers. However, they also Brenda Michael DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla must recognize that AEG is ©2016 an adept andInc. canLos likely get The beauty of the lineup is that no one planned cials should play a leading role. Mayor EricSALES Garcetti should have a Hernandez ASSISTANT: Claudia Civiccompany Center News, Angeles Downtown News much is a trademark of Civic Center News its 755-room Marriott expansion going quicker than the city it.©2016 Rather, it Center has been evolution that is a trademark of hand Civic News, an Inc. organic Los Angeles Downtown News Civic in the process, as a thriving Convention Center is important to Inc. All rights reserved.

Center News Inc. All rights reserved. can start the other 1,000-room hotel. has spread across Downtown’s many districts, with the future of Los Angeles and to his effortsCIRCULATION: to bring the 2024 OlymThe Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read Danielle Salmon The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles for Downtown Los Angeles and is dissense says bothnewspaper hotels can succeed. It’s time for seemingly a new two each year.and It’sresidences hard toof Downtownpics current Council Presi- SalvadorCommon and is distributed everyarrival Mondayor throughout the offices Los here. Or maybe this is a situation where DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Ingles tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

Garcetti et al. to get AEG back to the bargaining table, and for argue with the result. Go out. Catch a show. It’s free. dent Herb Wesson echoes the deal-makingDISTRIBUTION that Ferraro ASSISTANTS: engineered. Lorenzo Castillo, One copy per person.

One copy per person.

Gustavo good-faith negotiations to proceed.

This is a project that would benefit the city and Bonilla AEG. From the

City, AEG Need to Talk About Marriott Tower

M

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

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

twitter: DowntownNews

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

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

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

One copy per person.

July 11, 2016

Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Trying Out Bike Share Traffic Is Tricky, But Metro’s $11 Million System Works Pretty Well

By Eddie Kim t didn’t take long for me to notice the stares: curious, amused, confused, and in one instance, mildly annoyed.

“The city paid for those bikes? They’re too damn nice,” a gray-haired man leaning against a Historic Core lamppost muttered in a gravelly drawl.

The bike in question was one of the 1,000 two-wheelers now in operation as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $11 million bike share pilot program, which launched on Thursday, July 7. There are 65 Downtown kiosks where users can rent a bike, travel around the Central City, then dock it at another kiosk.

On a blazing-hot Tuesday afternoon, I went to Union Station to try out the system. It’s impressive: The sleek kiosks and bicycles look, and feel, the part of a groundbreaking new entree in the region’s menu of transit options.

Each bike weighs roughly 45 pounds and feels far sturdier than most two-wheelers — instead of a common tube frame, it flaunts a big main beam that’s easy to step over (helpful for anyone wearing a skirt or dress) and there are chunky coverings over all moving parts, including the sprockets and chain.

I adjusted the saddle height, then cruised out of Union Station’s parking lot, cutting across Alameda Street and El Pueblo to reach the protected cycle track on Los Angeles Street.

I’ve been riding a lightweight, skinny-tired road bike recently, but Metro’s fat-tired specimen felt smooth and comfortable off the bat, with a plush, wide seat and the bike’s heft lending stability.

Los Angeles Street’s brand-new cycle track runs from El Pueblo to First Street, and it’s a stark reminder of how safe it feels to ride on protected lanes. While the small stumpy plastic poles won’t stop an Escalade from plowing into you, they’re a clear mental barrier for both cars and bikes.

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photo by Eddie Kim

Metro launched its bike share program in Downtown Los Angeles last week, with 65 kiosks and 1,000 bicycles spread across the community.

Even in the highest of three gears, the bike’s comfort-first architecture makes it hard to maintain speed. That shouldn’t really matter, except when the cycle track ended at First Street, a conundrum arose: Run in a mixed lane with cars, or coast on the glassy sidewalk on the east side of the Caltrans headquarters?

The answer will be clear to new riders, as it was to me: sidewalk. Well, at least until the sidewalk turns into a cracked-up mess.

I hate riding on sidewalks, and it’s dangerous to do so on crowded blocks in the Financial District, Fashion District and Historic Core, among other neighborhoods. City law actually allows for riding on sidewalks as long as you don’t endanger anyone; I can guarantee that toppling into a couple eating crepes at Syrup will catch a cop’s attention.

So I transitioned to Spring Street, which has a buffered bike lane, but faced the usual problems: parked cars, distracted drivers, plumes of dust in the wake of screeching buses. Worst of all was the construction that blocked sidewalks and spilled out into the street.

Will less-experienced riders know to give hand signals before merging or turning? Will they make eye contact with drivers waiting for a right turn so everyone’s on the same page? Will they do anything to be extra visible at night?

Those questions tumbled in my head as I sped to Olympic, turned right and headed toward Olive Street. I’m afraid the answer is “No,” but research from other bike shares suggests a public system can help educate even the most casual riders over time.

The longer I rode, the more comfortable I felt, potholed streets and the bike’s weight be damned. I traveled north on Grand Avenue with a final challenge in mind.

The steep climb up Grand from Fifth Street is daunting. But Metro’s bike features three gears, and what’s the point if I don’t try the lowest notch?

With a rolling start, the elevation felt manageable at first.

Around the halfway point, the bike crawled slower and slower, and I was huffing and puffing with each pedal turn. Perseverance remained key, and soon I saw the white flash of The Broad’s honeycomb facade. Dripping in the heat, I stripped off my dress shirt and exhaled in the shade of Two California Plaza.

My sweaty elation was punctuated by a stranger.

“Hey, is that like one of those Hulu bikes?” she asked, referencing Santa Monica’s already launched and sponsored bike share system. “Can I rent one right now?”

She was one of about a dozen people who asked me about the bike that afternoon, which bodes well for Metro. As I flew past the Music Center and east on Temple back toward Union Station, I heard a pack of teens call out.

“That’s [expletive] doooooooope!”

Sarcasm? Sincerity? I didn’t care and it didn’t matter, because they got it right: The long-awaited bike share is [expletive] dope.

Now can we please get more protected cycle tracks? eddie@downtownnews.com

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6 Downtown News

July 11, 2016

Everything You Need to Know About Bike Share

A handy smartphone app displays the same info, connects you to customer service, allows you to buy passes, and more.

A number of stations are still being installed, but in general, the central and western portions of Downtown within the freeway ring have the majority of kiosks. The Fashion and Industrial districts are largely ignored, with San Pedro and Alameda streets forming an almost perfect wedge-like buffer zone of zero bike share stations (at least until you head north to Third Street).

Despite that, it’s easy to ride from USC up to Chinatown, or from City West to the L.A. River.

Pricing, Protocol, History and More for Metro’s New System

By Eddie Kim ike share is finally here, and it’s been a long time coming.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s regional bike share program launched with a Downtown Los Angeles leg on Thursday, July 7. There are 65 kiosks with more than 1,000 bikes planned in Downtown, spread across neighborhoods including the Arts District, El Pueblo and the Historic Core.

Here’s everything you need to know about bike share.

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Getting Started: The process starts either at home or at the kiosks. Frequent riders can register their TAP card online and buy a monthly pass or an annual “flex” pass. More casual riders can walk up to a kiosk and load a TAP card using a credit card. Thirty-minute rides are $3.50.

For the month of July, anyone who wants to try bike share must buy a pass: The $20 monthly option offers unlimited 30-minute rides, though if you exceed that time limit, you’ll be hit with an additional $1.75 fee. The $40 “flex” annual pass makes every 30-minute ride $1.75.

Requiring a pass in July is annoying for anyone who spots a bike share rack and just wants a ride, but on the flip side, Metro is offering halfoff on all 30-minute rides in August and September.

Kiosk Basics: The kiosk system is simple: Go to a locked bike, press a button near the front tire to activate the module, and swipe your

Downtowners last week began using the Metro bike share system. One of the first to try the ride was Mayor Eric Garcetti.

photo by Gary Leonard

TAP card to unlock the ride. When you’re done, pedal to the nearest kiosk, find an open space, and firmly insert the front wheel into the slot. A green light will flash when it’s secured.

Metro is urging users to triple-check that the bike is locked. If no slot is available, the kiosk screen will display locations of nearby kiosks.

Riders will have a 15-minute buffer to get there.

Theft and Loss: Why is it so important to check that you locked the bike back in? Because lost or stolen bikes are charged to the user. And it’s not cheap: Metro will charge full cost, more than $1,000, for a disappeared bike.

The kiosks, when used correctly, secure the bikes in ways that make them theoretically impossible to steal. In addition to the latching locks, every bike and kiosk is built by system

operator BTS using proprietary bolts that are specific to L.A.’s program.

Metro strongly discourages anyone stepping away from their bike to, for instance, grab a cup of coffee or dart into the office. In fact, part of the reason why Metro designed the system for 30-minute rides is so that people use the bikes simply to get from point A to B. Much of the activity is built on the “first-mile/last-mile” premise, with the goal of getting people to use the bikes as a complement to mass transit and leave the car at home. It’s bike share, not extended bike rental.

Where to Go: The new bike share website (bikeshare.metro.net) features a fully interactive map of all the stations, with live updates on the number of bikes available at each kiosk.

Past and Future: Los Angeles’ efforts to create a bike share system has been full of stops and starts. In 2012, then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa declared the city would build a $16 million bike share system with Irvine-based operator Bike Nation.

That fell apart when a review of city contracts killed the proposed system’s revenue generator: ads on the kiosks. An existing contract with JCDecaux/Outfront (formerly CBS Outdoor), valid through 2021, means nobody else — not even Metro — can generate revenue from advertising on “street furniture” like bus stops and bike share stations.

Metro announced a county-wide program in 2014, and the agency plans to roll out bike share in Pasadena next, although a launch date has not been announced. In the meantime, Metro is looking for a sponsor to brand every bike (that’s bikes, not kiosks) with ads, as Santa Monica did on its system with Hulu.

More information on bike share is at bikeshare. metro.net. eddie@downtownnews.com

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Downtown News 7

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN LIVING

What’s in My Loft?

Downtown Dwellers Share a Few of Their Favorite Things

By Emily Manthei, Photos by Gary Leonard

Kelly Sheehan-Funk Molino Lofts

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n 2009, Kelly SheehanFunk moved from Seattle to Los Angeles. She settled in West Adams, but soon decided to come Downtown to be near Urth Caffé. She lived in the Barker Block before moving across the street to the Molino Lofts.

When the portrait photographer moved into a 3,000-square-foot corner unit, she fell in love with the natural light pouring in from seven massive blocks of windows.

She even found a perfect spot

see What’s in My Loft?, page 16

8 Downtown News

July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWN LIVING

What’s in My Loft?

Bobbi Kaelin Pan-American Lofts

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benefits administrator originally from Seattle, Bobbi Kaelin moved from Palm Desert to Downtown in 2011. “I used to spend a few days per week in L.A. hotels because all of my clients are here, so I thought I should just lease something small to stay in a couple nights a week.” She ended up in the Title Guarantee Lofts and fell in love with Downtown Los Angeles.

When she was ready to buy, she moved to the Pan-American Lofts on Broadway, which dates to 1895. She decided to strip her topfloor loft to the studs and create her own Downtown dream. “You can see what’s happening and it’s beautiful. I can’t believe how incredible it is Downtown. I love it.”

1) A wood cowboy stands more than 10 feet tall on one of Kaelin’s exposed brick walls. “That’s Chet the cowboy. It looks like the Marlboro Man meets Archie,” she says.

“It’s the first thing I hung when I

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see What’s in My Loft?, page 9

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Downtown News 9

DOWNTOWN LIVING

What’s in My Loft?

Continued from page 8 moved here. A friend of mine in Palm Desert owned a little store, and one time she bought a storage unit in New York for it, sight unseen. The cowboy was in it and one day I went over to her house to look through some stuff she was getting rid of. That cowboy was all I wanted.”

lutions. “Daniel did some really cool tricks, like my bathroom.

I’ve got a ladder that telescopes and folds into the wall, and it’s on a pulley, so I just have to pull it down and then I can access the miles of storage that stretch up to the ceiling. The skylight is great and the storage behind the mirrors is fabulous.

Daniel is such a genius.”

2) Kaelin revels in creating practical storage solutions in her loft. During her remodel, she consulted a friend at Studio City’s Dezine Inc., who helped her visualize some practical so-

3) The other design star in Kaelin’s life is her partner Ed, who has built nearly all of the loft’s furniture. Her favorite piece is a furry chair, made with acrylic, where she and her fluffy pooch

Talula like to hang out. “My library chair is the best. I love it because I can curl up and read a book right by the window.”

4) “My dining table is pretty unique. I originally saw something like it at a furniture store Downtown, but they sold it before I could buy it, so I had to make my own. I got the base, which is from an old foundry, online. It has a crank so I can actually adjust it. Then I bought the glass and even though the movers said it would be impossible to get it up to the fifth floor in one piece, here it is. Those stairs always come through for me.”

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10 Downtown News

July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWN LIVING

What’s in My Loft?

Scott Johnson Biscuit Company Lofts

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rchitect Scott Johnson is a partner in Johnson Fain, the prolific Chinatown-based architecture firm with a roster of Downtown projects including the Met Lofts in South Park and the soon-to-open Blossom Plaza, also in Chinatown.

Five years ago, Johnson sold a house he designed in Hancock Park and moved with his wife into the Biscuit Company Lofts in the Arts District. “My wife is a doctor at Good Samaritan, I’m an architect in Chinatown, and now we have every-

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see What’s in My Loft?, page 11

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Downtown News 11

What’s in My Loft?

3 Continued from page 10 thing we need right here. Simple,” he said.

The San Francisco native, whose firm has worked on projects in New York, China and Indonesia, among many other places, seems perfectly at home on Industrial Street, where his neighbors include the eateries Church & State and Little Bear and the market Urban Radish.

1) On top of an elaborate bar cabinet, dozens of tiny buildings make their own miniature skyline. “Over the years I’ve picked up renditions of a lot of buildings that are in-

4 teresting to me. I’ve traveled a lot, so they’re from all over,” he says. “I’ve got several versions of some, like the Twin Towers. Some are pre-made plastic, or handcrafted in Mexico, or hammer-tinned from Southeast Asia.

There are no requirements for my collection; they just have to be interesting.” He points to a boxy shape that fits together like a Rubik’s cube. “This isn’t particularly well-made, but it’s a crazy building. Maybe it’s from somewhere in Japan. I just find the design so odd.”

2) Gesturing toward the circular, Mid-Century coffee tables, Johnson explains, “We

moved from a house, which has many rooms, to this apartment loft, which only has one. These tables are all from Argentina, made in the 1960s. They used to be in different rooms in my house, but now I’ve pushed them all together and use them sort of as one big coffee table. It’s a function of living in a different kind of space.”

3) On one large white wall, Johnson’s collage of paintings also speaks to the single-room layout. In the center is one of his favorites.

“This is a little dark and I’m not generally a dark person, but I love it. It’s a crumpled picture of what’s called a Panopticon, which

is a 19th century idea of a world in which there is an enormous bureaucracy and everyone is told what to do. It was a darkly futuristic idea. On the bottom it says ‘pleasure,’ but the picture doesn’t suggest a lot of pleasure.”

4) A grand piano divides the dining room from the kitchen, but that’s not its only function. “I have a daughter who is an opera singer and we have a lot of musician friends, too.

I like to have a reasonably high-caliber instrument in the house so that good musicians will feel comfortable playing and singing. It’s called music date bait.”

The Class of 2016

Blossom Plaza

P

photo by Gary Leonard

A Look at Seven Recently Opened or Soon-to-Arrive Downtown Residential Buildings

By Eddie Kim, Jon Regardie and Nicholas Slayton eople frequently talk about all the cranes speckling the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. It’s an exciting topic, but in a way overlooks something more important: what exists after those cranes are taken down.

Often that means residential buildings, and in 2016, Downtown will see its housing stock expand significantly.

It makes sense: With traffic worse than ever in Los Angeles, and hundreds of thousands of people working in Downtown, there is an ever-increasing desire to ditch the car and walk to work.

Downtowners have a lot of choices in where to live. In the following pages, we run down the offerings at seven apartment or condominium buildings that have opened this year, or are scheduled to debut in the coming months. These range from City West to South Park to Chinatown and beyond.

Whatever neighborhood you like best, there’s somewhere new to live.

Here, arranged alphabetically, are some of the highlights of the Class of 2016.

July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWN LIVING

Where: 900 N. Broadway Residences: 237 apartments, with 53 reserved for low-income tenants Opening: July Prices: Rents for a studio starting at around 400 square feet are about $1,700-$1,800, while onebedroom apartments beginning at approximately 600 square feet go from about $1,850-$2,200.

Two-bedroom apartments that are 800-1,110 square feet rent for $2,600-$2,900.

Developer: Forest City is a national developer that has completed a number of projects Downtown, including the Met Lofts in South Park and Metro 417 at Fourth and Hill streets. The company is also currently building a pair of seven-story apartment buildings in South Park that are slated to open next summer with nearly 400 units.

The Facts: Blossom Plaza was first broached nearly a decade ago by a different developer, and was long championed by former First District City

Councilman Ed Reyes. The five-story, $100 million complex is a rare piece of new construction in development-sleepy Chinatown, following the opening of Jia Apartments in 2014.

The design from Chinatown-based architecture firm Johnson Fain is simple, with the facade marked by colored corrugated panels and an emphasis on flowing public space from the 17,000-square-foot plaza into the retail paseo.

The apartments feature modern finishes, including Caesarstone countertops, stainless steel appliances, wood-style composite flooring and in-unit washer/dryers.

Amenities: The complex touts a club room, private dining space, a media area for sports or movies, and a large fitness center. Outside, there’s a courtyard and a splash pool with lounge seating as well as grilling areas. Blossom Plaza has 19,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, which

Piano Lofts Where: 932 S. Hill St. Residences: 18 apartments Opened: March Prices: Rents at the Piano Lofts start at $3,295 and average around $3,600. The residences range from 968-1,586 square feet.

The most expensive option is the penthouse, which goes for $7,995.

Developer: The Neman and Rahimi families, who own multiple properties in Downtown Los Angeles, bought the building in the 1980s. Kimi Neman and Ramin Rahimi took on the transformation. They said they were inspired by the success of the Ace Hotel and the revitalization of the Broadway corridor.

The Facts: The four-story building was constructed in 1932 as the headquarters of the Story and Clark Piano and Organ Company.

In later decades it served as a warehouse and office space. Neman and Rahimi spent $4.5 million on the project, adding stone countertops, modern appliances and updating the infrastructure while preserving the 1930s design. The building is currently fully leased; that includes a penthouse with an 850-square-foot private patio.

Amenities: The size of the building means there are few on-site amenities. There is a communal rooftop patio, and the northern face of the building touts a mural called “Trinity” from artist Jacopo Ceccarelli. Property manager Smart LA Realty said the goal is to set aside part of the ground floor’s 4,800 square feet of

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Hey Neighbors: The Piano Lofts sits right behind the Ace Hotel, which fronts Broadway.

This portion of Broadway has become particularly active, and Piano Lofts residents can easily get to restaurants like Preux & Proper, Umami Burger, venues such as the Orpheum Theatre and stores including Urban Outfitters.

On the Other Hand: Drawbacks start with the aforementioned limited amenities. Another deal-breaker might be the lack of onsite parking. Car owners can use an adjacent lot that has monthly rates, or try other lots and street parking.

To Live There: (213) 447-4130 or pianolofts. com.

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Hey Neighbors: Chinatown is seeing a flood of dining and cultural options, with hotspots such as Howlin’ Rays, Pok Pok and Unit 120, as well as popular events including Chinatown Summer Nights. There’s plenty of old-school eats, too, plus notable watering holes like Melody Lounge and General Lee’s. Downtown’s biggest parcel of green space, Los Angeles State Historic Park, is slated to wrap up a $20 million renovation this year, and transit options are conveniently located, as is freeway access.

On the Other Hand: Chinatown is still an emerging community in terms of new housing and retail, and many blocks feel faded and dead, especially after dark. Its separation from the Downtown core also limits what you can do on foot.

To Live There: (844) 329-0074 or blossomplazala.com.

photo courtesy of Smart LA Realty

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12 Downtown News

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July 11, 2016

Downtown News 13

DOWNTOWN LIVING

Garey Building

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

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255 GRAND

photos by Gary Leonard

255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 www.255GRAND.com

Where: 905 E. Second St. Residences: 320 apartments, which will all come online in one phase Opening: Late July; a pre-leasing office is already open Prices: Like some other new projects in Downtown, rents in the Arts District development hover around $3 or $4 a square foot. The units have quirky names: A 411-squarefoot studio known as the Bushwick starts at $1,930. A 715-square-foot one-bedroom dubbed the Belleville begins at $2,275. The Mission, a two-bedroom, two-bath residence that measures 1,033 square feet, goes for $3,080$4,470.

Developer: Back before the residential boom, the site housed Megatoys, a toy importing company owned by brothers Peter and Charlie Woo. They have partnered on the new project with national developer Lowe Enterprises and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

The Facts: The $60 million development designed by Togawa Smith Martin Architects has created a pair of fivestory buildings between First and Second streets. The buildings flank Garey Street, which has been turned into a pedestrian paseo. There will also be 15,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, including outdoor dining options.

Amenities: The four courtyards include one dedicated to pets and another offering a pool, spa and sundeck with grilling areas. There’s a fitness center with individual work stations, a conference room and a resident lounge. Units contain nine-foot ceilings, gas stoves, quartz countertops and Energy Star appliances. The project also has electric vehicle charging stations.

Hey Neighbors: Like art? The massive Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery is across the street, and in addition to free admission, it has a Thursday evening summer entertainment series. Garey residents have an easy walk to the sausages at Wurstküche, the bookstore Hennessy + Ingalls in the One Santa Fe complex, and beer and skeeball at the Arts District Brewing Company.

On the Other Hand: Have you tried driving or parking in the Arts District recently? It’s brutal, and the addition of some 500 residents and the friends who will visit them in their cool Downtown digs will only add to the congestion. The closure of the Sixth Street Viaduct will continue to funnel cars into the neighborhood until the replacement opens in 2020.

To Live There: (877) 336-3899 or thegareybuilding.com.

Continued on page 14

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove,Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

PROMENADE TOWERS

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

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

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

MUSEUM TOWER

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

TOWERS

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

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14 Downtown News

July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWN LIVING

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Ten50

Where: 936 S. Olive St. Residences: 263 apartments Opened: April Prices: Rents at the Hanover Olympic are in line with developer Hanover Company’s other projects in Downtown and hover around $4 per square foot. Studios that start at 539 square feet go for $2,079-$2,400. One-bedrooms that begin at 650 square feet are $2,348-$3,095. Two-bedroom apartments are $3,099-$4,497 and measure at least 913 square feet.

Developer: Houston-based Hanover Company has been on a Downtown building spree, opening both the Hanover Grand Avenue, with 274 apartments, and Hanover South Park, with 284 residences along Olympic Boulevard. Its first area project, the high-rise 717 Olympic, debuted in 2008.

The Facts: The seven-story edifice was designed by TCA. The building has 13 floor plans, with 19 studios, and the remaining residences split between one- and two-bedroom options. Twenty of the units are “eco-green” residences, and are designed to be net-zero in emissions. They were constructed with reclaimed building materials, use solar power and there are control pads to monitor the energy use of each apartment.

Amenities: Hanover Olympic has two rooftop decks with views of South Park. There is also a pool, communal courtyards and patios. The building contains a fitness center that is open 24-7, as well as a yoga studio. There are charging stations for electric cars.

Hey Neighbors: Nestled at the southern edge of the Financial District and close to South Park, Hanover Olympic is within walking distance of a plethora of Downtown options. Residents can easily access Whole Foods, the Ralphs Fresh Fare and Smart & Final Extra. Nearby bars include the Golden Gopher, the Broadway Bar and Ham & Eggs Tavern.

Grand Hope Park and Pershing Square are nearby, as are L.A. Live and Broadway.

On the Other Hand: While there is a lot within walking distance, the block that Hanover Olympic sits on is relatively devoid of options. Ongoing construction around the intersection of Olive Street and Olympic Boulevard mean that there is daytime noise and a lot of shuttered sidewalks.

To Live There: (213) 358-2580 or hanoverolympic.com.

Where: 1050 S. Grand Ave. Residences: 151 condominiums Opening: Fall Prices: One-bedrooms begin in the $500,000s. Prices run past $1 million for two-bedroom condos and prestige units on upper floors. Residences range from 700 to 1,360 square feet. The first phase of 50 units is already sold out.

Developer: The $100 million Ten50 is the first Los Angeles project for Trumark Urban, which has a handful of luxury residential developments in San Francisco. It acquired the South Park property in June 2014.

The Facts: The project was once known as the Glass Tower and was broached by another developer, but plans were torpedoed by the recession. Ten50 features a sleek design from Doug Hanson of Downtown-based HansonLA, with a notable accent of stacked glass cubes overlooking the corner of 11th and Grand. There are one- and two-bedroom units with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus several two-story penthouses. Ten50 will be the first new batch of condos to hit Downtown since the opening of the second phase of the Barker Block in the Arts District in 2014, though some units in the nearby Metropolis are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Amenities: Ten50 offers a luxury-oriented suite of amenities, with the centerpiece being a large pool deck with a lounge area, spa, fire pit and yoga deck. There’s a screening room for group movie nights, a business center, a fully outfitted gym and even a concierge to help residents arrange outings and give recommendations. Finally, there’s a private dining room and, in a nod to speculative tech, a landing pad for drone deliveries from Amazon.

Hey Neighbors: Located in the thick of South Park, Ten50 is just three blocks from L.A. Live; it’s also an easy walk to the Financial District, Fashion District and Historic Core.

The acclaimed restaurant Broken Spanish is a few blocks to the west, while the Mayan, Orpheum Theatre and Theatre at Ace Hotel are in the other direction. Just north is the FIDM campus and Grand Hope Park for a dose of green space.

On the Other Hand: South Park is seeing major construction, including the Circa and Oceanwide Plaza mega-projects along Flower Street, which portends continued traffic disruptions, noise and closed sidewalks. The neighborhood also lacks the density of food and drink options seen in the Historic Core or Little Tokyo, though that is beginning to change.

To Live There: (213) 861-1050 or ten50.la.

July 11, 2016

Downtown News 15

DOWNTOWN LIVING

Wakaba L.A.

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Where: 232 E. Second St. Residences: 240 apartments Prices: Rents, according to Wakaba L.A.’s website, start at $2,130 for a 517-square-foot studio, while one-bedrooms that begin at 677 square feet begin leasing for $2,300.

Two-bedroom apartments average just over $2,900 and start at 962 square feet.

Developer: Wakaba L.A. is the first Downtown project for Sares-Regis Group. The Irvine-based developer also manages a number of properties across the Pacific Coast and in Colorado, including the Eastown apartments in Hollywood.

The Facts: The $84 million project designed by the architectural firm TCA is currently leasing its first phase, and the complex will be fully open in September. There are a total of 472 parking spaces. The name “Wakaba” is Japanese for “young leaf.” The project also continues a residential boom in Little Tokyo. It is immediately east of the Ava complex and a block west of the Hikari apartments.

Amenities: Wakaba L.A. offers a pool, sundeck and outdoor spa. The outdoor areas include a courtyard with grilling stations. The building has a two-story fitness center. In addition to the communal options, each apartment has a washer and dryer.

Hey Neighbors: Wakaba L.A. is close to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and the Japanese American National Museum. The Metro Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District station is nearby, and residents are super close to the myriad shops and restaurants in Weller Court, Japanese Village Plaza (be sure to hit the eatery Simbal) and along First and Second streets. Or head south to the Little Tokyo Shopping Center, which, among many other options, holds the X Lanes bowling alley and Beard Papa’s cream puffs.

On the Other Hand: With the building opening in phases, initial residents might have to deal with some noise.

Speaking of construction, Metro is doing major work on the Regional Connector project, and there are street closures and detours throughout Little Tokyo. If driving anywhere, give yourself 10 extra minutes, and more at rush hour.

To Live There: (844) 339-4622 or wakabala.com.

Where: 1515 Wilshire Blvd.

Residences: 218 apartments Opening: This summer Prices: Studios that start at 555 square feet range from $1,500 to $2,250, one-bedrooms beginning at 640 square feet are $1,795-$2,950, and two-bedrooms run $2,325$4,075.

Developer: Sonny Astani of Astani Enterprises is a veteran of Downtown Los Angeles development. He spearheaded the $190 million, three-phase Concerto complex in South Park. That project was fraught with complications, and Astani ultimately only finished one 30-story tower and its seven-story annex (today known as Apex and Concerto, respectively). Astani is also a partner in the 640-apartment G12 development under construction at 12th Street and Grand Avenue.

The Facts: Wilshire Valencia is the newest entry in the City West residential market, which is growing quickly. The $60 million, six-story complex was designed by Killefer Flammang Architects and features a clean facade with colored block accents. The apartments have nine-foot-tall ceilings, hardwood floors, private balconies and individual washers and dryers. While no tenant has been announced for the 4,400-square-foot retail space on the ground floor, expect dining or boutique shopping — or a combination of both.

Amenities: The project flaunts 20,000 square feet of landscaped recreation space, with grilling areas, a pool and spa.

There’s a 4,200-square-foot fitness center, outdoor sports courts, a “zen garden” for relaxing and a glass-enclosed billiards room.

Hey Neighbors: City West was once known for its office spaces, but today the dining, nightlife and cultural options are growing rapidly. The nearby Teragram Ballroom is one of Downtown’s hippest concert venues, and Los Angeles Center Studios often hosts massive shows and parties, with lines around the block. Restaurant options include the gastropub Plan Check and the classic Pacific Dining Car. Shopping at FIG@7th, plus all the eating and drinking options along Seventh Street in the Financial District, are just a short walk over the 110 Freeway.

On the Other Hand: City West still feels sterile because it lacks a major community of residents. Those who want a buzzy neighborhood at night will be disappointed, even if more activity can be found across the freeway.

To Live There: (213) 989-1515 or wilshirevalencia.com.

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July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWN LIVING

What’s in My Loft?

Continued from page 7 to set up a portrait studio. Her photographer’s eye and spiritual practices are evident throughout her home.

1) A carved marble statue of Buddha came from a Culver City import shop. “I am not a Buddhist, but I am a great lover of the Buddha,” she says. “That’s probably the most spiritual piece in my house. I got it at a highend import place on my first visit to L.A. in 2002. He’s very special, and very heavy. I think he was smuggled out of Thailand, but what could I do? He was already in the country, so I thought I would give him a good home.”

2) Above her living room table is a chandelier with green and brown blown-glass fixtures that spiral out, and the black base curls up toward the ceiling. It is both industrial and natural.

“I had a vision of a very organic, flowing thing. When I saw this, that was it exactly. Just like when I first entered the courtyard here and saw the gray and black of the building, and then the green palm fronds of the

garden. This chandelier fits so perfectly here.”

3) A 1970s Nikon film camera is the photographer’s only souvenir from a photographer friend.

“Ken Myer, who was a great photographer back in the day, was getting rid of his old equipment when I started taking pictures, so he gave me this camera and a bunch of film lenses.” The lenses didn’t fit Sheehan-Funk’s favorite digital camera, so they became trinkets until she and her Barker Block neighbor did a swap.

“Wade Thorin is an amazing acupuncturist and body worker. He came over and took the lenses, and in exchange I got eight sessions with him, right here in my living room.”

4) “One of the things I like about this place is, there’s room to move. You could dance, have a big dinner party, even ride a scooter around. So I wanted to have some activity-oriented things that anyone could pick up. When I saw this dartboard, I just heard ‘Yes!’ I don’t question that. Now when my friends come over, they just pick up the darts and start throwing.”

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Streetcar Report Offers Route Options and Plenty of Questions Environmental Impact Study Looks at Project’s Potential, Flaws and Speed

By Eddie Kim he long saga of the proposed Downtown streetcar has hit a milestone, with the release of the draft environmental impact report that breaks down the project’s flaws, potential and more. Yet it raises nearly as many questions as it answers, and firm estimates on cost and timeline remain elusive.

The 606-page report, also known as the DEIR, comes in advance of a public hearing. On Tuesday, July 12, an event to gather feedback and answer questions about the project will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Deaton Auditorium at the LAPD headquarters building (110 W. First St).

The report examines every facet of the streetcar, from its speed to traffic disruptions to air quality impacts. The biggest decision that the nonprofit overseer L.A. Streetcar Inc. and the city must ultimately make is which of four proposed routes makes the most sense.

Streetcars would, for the most part, travel in a loop, with main spines that run north on Hill Street, east on First Street, south on Broadway, and west on 11th Street. One big question is, after it cuts north up Figueroa Street, whether it should go east on Ninth Street or Seventh Street.

Also uncertain is the fate of a “Grand Avenue Extension” that would have the streetcar turn left on First Street and south on Grand Avenue, depositing riders across from The Broad and

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Walt Disney Concert Hall, before doubling back toward Broadway.

The city has long referred to the Seventh Street route with the Grand Avenue extension as the “locally preferred alternative” in its reports. That’s the path engineering and design firm AECOM used to calculate a cost estimate of $282 million in a June 2015 analysis. However, the previously stated goal to keep the price below $250 million could necessitate eliminating the Grand Avenue spur. That would save money, but force users to walk several blocks uphill to reach major Downtown destinations including Colburn School and the Music Center.

Funding remains a big issue for the project first proposed by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar in 2008. Four years ago, people who live near the proposed route voted to tax area property owners up to $85 million for the project. However, City Attorney Mike Feuer noted in a June 2015 report that choosing Ninth Street instead of Seventh Street could require a re-vote on the entire tax measure.

LASI is hunting for a federal Small Starts grant of up to $100 million, though the project has twice failed in applications for federal funds. Other financing options include partnering with private companies. The project could get a boost from the November ballot initiative from Metro, which has proposed $200 million for the project.

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The proposed streetcar shown at a renovated transit platform.

rendering courtesy of L.A. Streetcar, Inc.

Need for Speed One of the most contentious issues concerning the streetcar is its speed. The new report suggests an average of 6 mph on the route.

The streetcar would be able to accelerate up to around 30 mph, but given that plans call for it to travel in a lane with other vehicles, it would likely rarely reach that speed.

Maximizing speed was one focus of the DEIR. Options to achieve that include creating right-turn lanes to help clear traffic ahead of the streetcar, and changing signal timing to create more “green time”; the report declared these the most beneficial choices. A second option studied the impacts of dedicating a lane to the streetcar. Although studies of other projects generally suggest that streetcars are most effective when they have their own lane to travel in, the DEIR describes a dedicated lane as giving “only marginal” improvement.

“Implementing a transit-only lane would also require major concessions from existing stakeholders and local plans, including lim-

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iting driveway and parking access for some Broadway residents and businesses or eliminating the implementation of the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan,” the report adds.

A third idea, reducing the number of proposed stops along the route, was also deemed “minor.” Currently, the design suggests platforms on every block of Broadway, and about every two blocks elsewhere.

The $282 million price tag envisions six streetcars at a time on the route, with two held as backups. The June 2015 report noted that LADOT and AECOM’s assessment of the travel speed means four more streetcars (12 total) would be needed to maintain rider frequencies, but the DEIR reverses course on that.

Six streetcars would allow for a ride every seven minutes during peak hours, according to the DEIR. During off-peak hours, three or four streetcars would circulate, with one arriving at a stop every 10 or 15 minutes.

The DEIR can be found at tinyurl.com/lastreetcar. eddie@downtownnews.com

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Another Broadway Building to Become Housing Carr Building, Next to Clifton’s, to Hold 30 Units and a Bar

By Nicholas Slayton ast October, huge crowds flocked to 648 S. Broadway to celebrate the reopening of Clifton’s cafeteria. If all goes according to plan, the momentum will spill over to the nextdoor property, though people will be looking for a home, not a meal.

A developer known as 640 S. Broadway LLC has announced plans to transform the J.E. Carr Building at 646 S. Broadway. The project, to be called the Brooks Building, after a former tenant, will create 30 residential units and a ground-floor bar, and the current seven-story edifice will get an additional level. There will also be an automated parking system. The developer is finalizing plans and expects to file them with the city in the next few weeks, said Kate Bartolo, a land-use consultant who is representing the developer.

“The time is right, with everything happening on Broadway, to undertake this project,” Bartolo said.

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The budget for the transformation has not been revealed. Bartolo said the owner, whom she would not identify beyond the LLC, has had the building since the 1980s, and that the turnaround was spurred by the arrival of a new partner.

The Carr Building opened in 1909, with a Renaissance Revival design from the architecture firm R.B. Young and Son. Initially the home of a furniture company, it housed the Brooks Clothing company in the 1940s. There were other clothing tenants through the ’70s, though the upper floors have been vacant since the ’80s.

Santa Monica-based HLW Architects is handling designs for the overhaul. The entire infrastructure will be redone, with new plumbing, electrical work and a new elevator, Bartolo said.

The exterior will also be restored, including the removal of a partial brick veneer that was added in the ’60s. The original terra cotta façade will be refurbished.

With the addition of a new floor, the building will have 65,000 square feet of space. The plan,

The Central City Crime Report Clothes Stolen, Windows Smashed and Other Downtown Safety Concerns

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

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Security Not Secure: At 3 a.m. on June 13, two individuals entered the Pacific Electric Lofts at Sixth and Main streets, went to the security desk in the lobby and grabbed two cell phones that were on a table. They then ran off.

Mystery Break-in: On the night of June 12, someone broke into a Dodge parked in a lot at Fifth and Main streets. Electronic gear, clothing and other items were taken. However, there was no sign of forced entry and the car’s owner had all of the keys.

Laundry Thief: Shortly before 7 a.m. on June 14, a man entered a laundromat at Fifth and Spring streets and stole another man’s clothing. The thief fled but was arrested.

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Argument Escalates: A man got into an argument with a worker the SB Main apartments outside the building at 5:45 p.m. on June 15. Voices were raised and the first man pulled out a gun and said he would be back, and that he knew when the business opened and closed. The man then fled.

Unprovoked Attack: At 11:30 p.m. on June 16, two men approached an intoxicated man on the sidewalk at Seventh Street and Broadway. One suspect asked the man for his money, then the two individuals started hitting him in the face. The victim was knocked to the ground. The aggressors took some undisclosed items and fled.

Smash and Grab: On the night of June 13, someone entered the Joe’s Auto Park at Fourth and Main streets and broke the window of a Nissan parked there. The thief stole money and other items from the car.

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Bartolo said, is to have amenities on the roof, though specifics have not been determined.

Tentative plans call for one- and two-bedroom rental units. The former residences will be roughly 1,100 square feet, with the latter approximately 1,800 square feet. No pricing has been determined.

The Carr Building’s original lobby became retail space. Plans call for converting it back into a lobby, though other ground-floor space will become a bar, with some access to the basement. Bartolo said the goal is to create a roughly 2,500-square-foot bar with outdoor seating (two ficus trees in front of the property will be removed). The bar is being designed by Los Angeles-based Raveled Studio.

The Carr Building currently lacks parking, but the developer intends to add it, Bartolo said.

The 8,000-square-foot facility will be fully automated, with cars dropped off and moved up and down via a mechanized system.

The project is currently seeking city approv-

photo by Gary Leonard

The 1909 edifice at 646 S. Broadway will become apartments.

als. Bartolo said the developer will make sure the upgrades fit with current standards for Broadway projects. Bartolo estimates the project will take two to three years to complete. nicholas@downtownnews.com

DLANC Has Many New Members, But Same President Priorities for Volunteer Panel to Include Walkability

photo courtesy of Councilmember José Huizar’s office

On June 14, the new Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council board was sworn in by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar.

By Nicholas Slayton he Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council has seen a big change, with nearly two-thirds of its 24 members being new additions to the volunteer panel. However, the face at the top remains consistent.

DLANC elections were held in May, and brought 15 new members to the body that, while it lacks the authority to approve or deny a project, is seen as an important voice, particularly when it comes to developers seeking to garner community support.

On June 14, the newly elected and reelected members showed up at the Palace Theatre on Broadway to choose officers.

Patti Berman, who has served as president for six years, was re-elected to a fourth twoyear term. She beat out Michael Eisman in a 15-6 vote, with two members abstaining. Eisman would go on to be elected secretary.

Although many faces have changed, Berman said priorities for the new board will carry over from the previous term, with frontand-center issues including walkability and livability in Downtown. She said she is also interested in creating more services for the homeless, and finding ways to address crime in the Central City, including vehicle break-ins.

Another issue she said DLANC will look at is the number of people leaving Downtown even as the overall residential population and

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the number of real estate developments grow.

“We’ve had a lot of people who I’ve known for a long time saying goodbye to Downtown. It’s getting more expensive and they don’t see the quality of living go up,” Berman said. “I think the board will have to take a look at that. We can’t fix it, but we can come up with ideas and bring them to the people who can.”

DLANC has a five-member executive committee. Robert Newman was elected vice president of administration, and is charged with handling the logistics of the neighborhood council and overseeing its eight committees, including a Planning and Land Use Committee and a Livability Committee. Newman said he is excited to work with the new blood in DLANC. “I think part of the turnover was that some people had done it for a while and wanted to move on to other things,” Newman said. “Some people have moved out of the area and that’s also a portion of it.”

Other new officers are Amara Ononiwu, who was elected vice president of outreach, and Josh Albrektson, who will serve as treasurer.

In addition to the executive board, Adrienne Edwards and Scott Bytof were voted as the neighborhood council’s two budget representatives. nicholas@downtownnews.com

July 11, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 19

Finding a New ‘Comfort’ Zone A Skid-Row Adjacent Soul Food Shop From Two Newbies Is One of Downtown’s Best New Restaurants

By Eddie Kim ame-checking family members on the Comfort L.A. menu isn’t a gimmick for chef Jeremy McBryde. Rather, it’s a tribute to all the people who showed him love back in the day.

Auntie Myrtle was the first person to give him a unique take on cornbread, stuffed with a Sloppy Joe-like meat sauce, back in Cleveland when she regularly fed McBryde and a gaggle of neighborhood kids after school. “My Momma’s Rice and Beans” is just that, though it eschews ham hocks and sausage, both common in a pot of Southern-style beans.

“She always got a lot of flavor without adding meat,” McBryde recalls. “I just picked up on that.”

Maw Maw’s candied yams, Granny’s banana pudding, Cousin Kina’s mac-and-cheese — the family’s all here, and the dishes are attracting a growing crowd to a blink-and-miss-it storefront in the Industrial District at 1110 E. Seventh St. McBryde, 29, sources local ingredients and isn’t afraid to cut fat and meat from classic dishes like braised collard greens. It’s an unexpected approach in a neighborhood that lacks appeal for most restaurateurs.

“We’re not here trying to make a big statement or something,” said Mark Walker, his business partner. “We get the Bentleys, and also the sistahs around the corner. We’re happy to see all walks of life here.”

Comfort L.A. sits on a quiet stretch of Seventh Street, just a few blocks from the bustle

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and noise of Gladys Park and trains of scraggly tent encampments. After signing the lease on the space in late 2015, McBryde and Walker renovated the interior themselves, trading drop ceilings and drywall for a more industrial look with brick and wood. A painting of The Simpsons as a black family — signature features intact save for chocolate-hued skin — smiles from one wall.

McBryde doesn’t have a culinary school background, but he executes a simple menu with bright flavors and finesse, and nearly everything is under $10. The main attraction is the chicken wings, fried until the skin crackles and painted with an addictive, sticky-sweet orange sauce.

“People don’t realize because they’re just a buck a wing, but we use Mary’s chicken. It’s organic and air-chilled, and you can taste a difference,” he says.

The restaurant opened in January after a months-long pop-up run in 2015, farther east on Seventh Street. There, McBryde and Walker slung wings and sides out a little window in an industrial building. The space was leased from Sarkis Vartanian, the owner of the adjacent Daily Dose. The trial run gave Walker and McBryde a critical insight into whether their own restaurant could work.

“We got convinced when we saw people lining up at 2:30 a.m. in the rain, in the cold,” McBryde says.

Walker, 40, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but

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Mark Walker (right) and Jeremy McBryde are behind Comfort L.A., a small soul-food restaurant on Seventh Street that is drawing crowds and earning raves.

photo by Gary Leonard

left as a 13-year-old to live and attend school in Washington, D.C. He studied business at the University of Maryland, joined the Army, where he did stints as a paratrooper, then returned to complete his degree. He began working as a business consultant, helping athletes, entertainers and others. He moved to Los Angeles about a decade ago.

McBryde, born and raised in Cleveland, came

to Los Angeles in 2008 with dreams of a career in Hollywood. He attended the Los Angeles Recording School and dabbled in acting, bulking up his pay with security jobs at Downtown’s Big Wangs and Wendell. He added to the hustle with a part-time catering gig, and in early 2015 McBryde offered to prepare food for an event at a clothing store as a way to get his name out.

Continued on page 28

20 Downtown News

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July 11, 2016

y r a t n e m u c o D a d n a Decay, Duets

hmanson

eA Gardens’ Lands at th y re ‘G al ic us M ng ni in The Unlikely Tony-W

Betty Buckley (left) and Rachel York play a mother and daughter living in a crumbling East Hamptons mansion in the musical Grey Gardens. It is based on a 1975 documentary about two relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

By Nicholas Slayton n 1975, the esteemed documentary filmmaking brothers Albert and David Maysles captured the lives of a mother and daughter, both named Edith Beale, amid a decaying mansion in the East Hamptons. The film, Grey Gardens, named for the estate, was a fascinating study of class, a fall from grace and the eccentricities of the reclusive.

So of course, 31 years later, it became a musical.

With a book by Doug Wright and music by Scott Frankel, Grey Gardens debuted in 2006 and went on Broadway. It was a hit, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Performance by a Leading Lady in a Musical for Christine Ebersole.

In August 2015 it was revived, with director Michael Wilson assembling actresses Rachel York (in the Ebersole role) and Betty Buckley for a production in Sag Harbor, New York’s Bay Street Theater, very close to the real Grey Gardens. This week, the trio is back, bringing the production to Downtown Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre. The two-and-a-half hour musical (including one intermission) is currently in previews, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, July 13. It runs through Aug. 14.

Part of the fascination with the documentary came from the Beales’ lineage. Known as Big Edie and Little Edie, they were the aunt and cousin, respectively, of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Whereas the documentary followed Big Edie

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and Little Edie in the 1970s, the musical features a mostly fictional first act set in 1941, with a story built around Little Edie’s (played here

by Sarah Hunt) engagement to Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr., the brother of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. She must deal with her mother (played by York) living the high life of a socialite.

“The first act in a way is what’s going to feel most new to people,” Wilson said. He chuckled and added, “It’s weird to have a musical where there’s a 30-year gap between the acts.”

Act two builds closely on the Maysles’ film, telling the story of the mother and daughter now living a life of squalor in 1973 while still holding on to their patrician ways. Here, Big Edie is played by Buckley, while York slips into the role of Little Edie. The experience is tricked out by songs such as “The Revolutionary Costume for Today” and “The Cake I Had.” York described the musical as “an emotional rollercoaster,” saying that it was challenging both to switch roles and deal with two different emotional arcs separated by the time jump. She had not seen the documentary before joining the Bay Street production, but was drawn to the dual parts after Ebersole called them the King Lear of all female roles. Just as the Maysles’ film stood out from other documentaries due to its eccentric subjects, York said the musical also feels different than others.

“I really like the musical because it enhances the story of Grey Gardens. The documentary

was really just watching these two women and their lifestyle,” said York, whose other credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel and Victor/Victoria.

“This takes the documentary and gives it more.

It’s this wacky, funny, sad, dramatic musical.

Sometimes I describe it as Tennessee Williams with music.”

Wilson said that along with the documentary, the biggest creative influence on the new production is viewing it as a love story between a mother and a daughter. It doesn’t work, he said, unless there are two “very feline” actresses on stage, able to trade barbs and match wits with subtle lines.

There’s a big difference between the Ahmanson run and when the show was mounted last year — size.

“You’re talking about a 300-seat theater compared to a 1,500 one. The scale and scenery here is much greater,” Wilson said. “That Bay Street production gave us a map on which to anchor our storytelling.”

There are other differences, too. The limited size of the New York house meant that Wilson could not employ live video projections on stage, which were a staple of the original Broadway show and most runs that followed. For the Ahmanson, Wilson has live cameras set up, filming the actors, with the footage projected on stage.

Imagery from the actual Grey Gardens documentary is also shown. The idea, he said, is to re-create the feeling that the performers were being filmed and acted accordingly.

Wilson said that when he first saw the documentary, he found the quirks and odd lifestyle of the Beales amusing, but after revisiting the film last year ahead of directing the musical, he was drawn to the artistic nature of the women, and the tragedy of how their lives spiraled down.

York agreed with Wilson. She noted that the Beales were wonderful poets, and said that the music helps to bring out the women’s artistic side. It also gives voice to their struggles, she said, particularly in the second act.

As for the songs, don’t expect rousing numbers à la Hamilton, big tap dancing displays or large ensemble routines. Instead, they are more low-key. York said she can’t pick a favorite song, but likes “Another Winter in a Summer Town” because of its rich subtext, and “Around the World.”

“I find it such an interesting show tune,” York said. “It’s a dramatic monologue that vacillates between Little Edie’s anger at her mother and feeling trapped and the dream world she escaped to next.”

That exemplifies the difference between the musical and documentary. In the Maysles’ production there was no getting away from the crumbling mansion and the crumbling lives.

On stage, the songs can transport both the audience and the performers.

Grey Gardens runs through Aug. 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com

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July 11, 2016

A Decade of Dogged Determination Annual Dog Day Afternoon Event at the Cathedral Hits a Milestone

By Nicholas Slayton verywhere in Downtown Los Angeles, there’s more: more apartments, more construction cranes, more restaurants, more people and something that comes with those people: more dogs.

This week, the dogs take center stage, and in the process, will commemorate something of a grand experiment in community building.

On Wednesday, July 13, a couple thousand living creatures of both the two- and fourlegged variety will attend the 10th iteration of Dog Day Afternoon. From 6-9 p.m., the plaza at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels will be filled for the event hosted and organized by Downtown Center Business Improvement District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Admission is free (parking for the event is $8), but people are asked to RSVP on the BID’s website.

Altogether, more than 1,500 humans and 1,000 dogs are expected. Rather than arrive all at once, they traditionally come and go over the course of hours.

Dog Day Afternoon event was launched in 2007. The cathedral’s Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik was trying to find ways to activate and bring the public into the 2.5-acre plaza off Temple Street. He began brainstorming with Hal Bastian, who at the time was working for the DCBID. Both had dogs — Bastian a Golden Retriever named Buddy, Kostelnik a black Labrador Retriever named Joaquin — and had

seen how people in the nascent residential community bonded over pets. Why not bring them together, they thought?

“Dogs enable us to build relationships,” Bastian said. “If you’re walking down the street with a dog, I can stop and say, ‘Hey, your dog’s cute,’ and that starts a conversation.”

That first year, about 250 dogs and 500 people attended. Much has changed since: Both Kostelnik’s Joaquin and Bastian’s Buddy passed away. Bastian’s animal companion is now Scooter, a Shiba Inu mix.

As the Downtown residential population has exploded, so has the number of dogs in the area. Today, the event is bigger than ever.

DCBID President and CEO Carol Schatz said she is pleasantly surprised at just how big Dog Day Afternoon has become. She also notes that it has united Downtowners — organizers ask that only Downtown residents bring their pets (though no one is checking IDs to toss out people from, say, Reseda), and dogs must be well-behaved and on a leash at all times.

“It’s very clearly a community event,” Schatz said. “You’re not going to schlep from West L.A. or San Pedro with a pet to do this.”

Along with the animals, the DCBID is bringing a DJ. Levy Restaurants will sell food and drinks, and more than 25 vendors with an array of services will be on hand. That includes Downtown Los Angeles stalwarts such as Pussy & Pooch and DTLA Vets, and the new Lit-

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The annual Dog Day Afternoon event takes place Wednesday, July 13, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

More than 1,500 humans and 1,000 dogs are expected to attend.

photo by Gary Leonard

tle Tokyo Pet Clinic.

Having a dog is not required, though people who come solo may leave with one of the puppies that is up for adoption. In the past there have also been cats looking for a new home.

Bastian said the event has no agenda or reason beyond engaging the community through furry friends — the night is short on speeches and long on people conversing, and there are always shovel-carrying staffers ready to clean

up after accidents.

Bastian expects that Dog Day Afternoon will still be around in 50 years, if only because people in Downtown Los Angeles love dogs so much.

Dog Day Afternoon is Wednesday, July 13, 6-9 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angeles, 555 W. Temple St., (213) 624-2146 or downtownla. com. RSVPs are requested. nicholas@downtownnews.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 The ESPYs 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com.

5 p.m.: Who will win the big prizes? Who will wear Gucci down to the socks? How many people will be asked their thoughts on Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors? The answers are “who knows,” “who knows” and “18 billion.”

Michael Klassen at the Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7 p.m.: The author will be touting “Hippie, Inc.,” his latest book exploring the hippie generation and its eventual push toward commodification. Dude!

THURSDAY, JULY 14 Art Walk In the Historic Core or online at downtownartwalk.org.

5 p.m.: Your favorite Downtown artists will be displaying their wares, taking in their colleagues’ work or, alternately, hiding at home bemoaning the inevitability of becoming posthumously famous.

Rare Recordings From James Baldwin at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Novelist Nina Revoyr and UCLA Political Science/ African-American studies professor Melvin L. Rogers join KPFK’s Brian DeShazor in a special listening session devoted to the 1963-1968 tapes of the late, great intellectual provocateur James Baldwin.

Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or axs.com 7:30 p.m.: The ultimate three-ring bonanza of animal acts (but no elephants this year), clowning and acrobats returns with a new show dubbed “Out of This World.” Through July 19.

FRIDAY, JULY 15 DJ Nights at Music Center Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

8-11 p.m.: Rashida brings a free evening of hot tunes programmed for folks who enjoy hip-hop but can’t stand the idea of going to the club.

Welcome to Night Vale Live Performance 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

8 p.m.: The podcast with all its fictionalized kerfuffles surrounding the nonexistent southwestern town of Night Vale brings a bit of audio delight to the Orpheum.

By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

S

2I

f the drudgery of summer in the city has you down, then you’ll be pleased as punch that Chinatown Summer Nights returns on Saturday, July 16. From 5 p.m.-midnight, Central and West plazas will be crowded with partygoers eager to take in double-deck DJ pleasures from KCRW spinners Garth Trinidad and Jeremy Sole, as well as a seven-band lineup of live music.

Elsewhere, an outdoor craft beer garden offers a plethora of hopped, malted and tapped gateways to intoxication. But wait, there’s more, including hands-on craft art where experts will lead you through the process of sculpting candy, clay and dough. Grab some grub at a food truck or any of the 6,000 restaurants in Chinatown. Admission is free. Throughout Chinatown, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownla.com.

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C

hildren, long before you walked this earth, there was a place up north where free spirits, kooks, avant-garde creatives and all-around miscreants of the Aquarian Age congregated by a vast bay. That’s all done now. The city has been consumed by computers, but we few humans left remain in awe of San Francisco’s orphaned musical children, Deerhoof. These longstanding agents of revolution blend noise, punk, unlikely performance and general shock value in a mélange that simultaneously delights and makes us weep for the West Coast’s lost artistic paradise. Deerhoof performs at the Teragram Ballroom on Wednesday, July 13. Purchase drinks in lieu of flowers. At 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

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hink of Night Vale as the Lake Wobegon for a jilted, over-sensitized generation and Cecil Baldwin as the dyspeptic, eccentric answer to Garrison Keillor. Yes radio fans, churlish podcasts in the vein of “Welcome to Night Vale” have replaced Sunday morning AM broadcasts as your source of witty gossip for fictional towns somewhere in the American heartland, where the unlikely becomes emblematic and anything is possible. On Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m., “Welcome to Night Vale” cruises into the Orpheum Theatre for a live event featuring Baldwin himself, along with a musical score from Disapparition and guest Erin McKeown.

At 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

5

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Chinatown Summer Nights In the Chinatown Central & West Plazas, 943 N. Broadway, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownla.com.

5 p.m.: Your favorite neighborhood-hosted seasonal party returns with a full crop of DJs, bands, crafts and, of course, beer.

Eddie Bravo Invitational 7 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

6 p.m.: A fantastic display of Brazilian jiu-jitsu named for sports stalwart Eddie Bravo. Get ready for submissions aplenty.

SUNDAY, JULY 17 Feminist Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirthschimmel. com.

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Watch out online patriarchy: with special free training, Friedan-empowered lay(wo)men are about to take on the Y Chromosome elite with a little constructive Wiki-ing.

Continued on next page

1

paceships, the moonscape, massive planetary mobiles and the prospects of alien life all come into focus at Staples Center this week. No, it’s not Apollo Program Conspiracy Con (that’s next month. Not really), it’s the Ringling Bros.’ Barnum & Bailey Circus.. The three-ring spectacle is back with a new production dubbed “Out of This World” and, you guessed it, there’s a starry theme. In reality, it’s a terrestrial affair, complete with acrobats, clowns, feats of strength and all manner of animals, though it’s worth noting that the elephants have now been retired. The show plays 12 times at Staples Center from Thursday-Tuesday, July 14-19, including multiple weekend matinees. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com.

photo courtesy Deerhoof

TUESDAY, JULY 12 Eileen Myles and Maggie Nelson at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Longtime friends and companions in the world of professional poetry discuss their years of service to the written word.

The Circus Is in Town, as Are Deerhoof And the Podcast Night Vale

photo courtesy Feld Entertainment

EVENTS

The Don't Miss List

photo by Gary Leonard

DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

Downtown News 23

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

photo by Gary Leonard

July 11, 2016

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4

photo courtesy Welcome to Night Vale

his watchword at this month’s Downtown Art Walk is “performance.” Living art takes precedence at the Art Walk Lounge (643 S. Spring St.) where doting crowds will be treated to a glimpse of Pistolwish, Sokamba and Kim Abeles’ kinetic abstractions. Elsewhere, Gallery Row will be abuzz with action as the usual suspects open their doors for regulars and lookyloos alike. Those caught up on the “performance” mantra are encouraged to, you know, open your eyes and check out the teeming street life of Downtown Los Angeles, where all the sidewalk’s a stage. In the Historic Core or downtownartwalk.org.

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

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

24 Downtown News

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Continued from previous page

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

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

July 16, 7:30 p.m.: Maryanne Reall.

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

July 16, 9 p.m.: Ricyxsan & Yultron headline Neon Foam Splash, a sophisticated event for wine-sipping members of the early 40s crowd, obviously.

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

July 11: Martin Diller Trio.

July 12: Ted Case Group.

July 13: Levon Henry Group.

July 14: Dayramir Gonzalez Group.

July 15: Ben Williams Group.

July 16: Will Vinson Quintet.

July 17: Max Haymer Trio.

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

July 11, 8:30 p.m.: Mellow vibes and rim shots galore with low-key July residents Valley Queen. Also featured tonight will be opening act and Demi Moore/Bruce Willis spawn Rumor Willis.

July 12, 8:30 pm.: Does New Zealand feel betrayed when their native children, pop pushers Youmi Zouma, plug their synths into America’s abundant nuclear-generated power?

July 13, 7:30 p.m.: Aussie singer/songwriter and Warren Zevon doppelganger Henry Wagons sings a song titled “Santa Fe” that is not a “Newsies” cover jam, thank heavens.

July 14, 8:30 p.m.: Using your remarkable powers of discernment, would you guess that Sam Outlaw sings a) Americana, b) hood-rat, Compton-claiming gangsta rap, c) Carpenters covers songs, or d) why are you still reading this?

July 15, 8:30 p.m.: At the Drive-In-sounding Philly rock duo Pinkwish drew inspiration for their band name from the moment when you’ve almost gotten the blood out of your white carpet.

July 16, 8:30 p.m.: Sego’s band bio touts the story of small-town kids moving to the urban metropolis. The story is endearing and an honest recap of biography we’ll dare to call a “Sego Genesis.”

Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality.com.

July 12: Sitara Son. July 13: Chris Wabich.

July 14: Joey Deleon.

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

July 15: Hermitude.

July 16: Audion.

Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org.

July 14, 4:30 p.m.: DJs Rudy Blue y Crasslos promise heaps of vinyl in the boleros, cumbias and Latin soul variety.

July 16, 8 p.m.: Unlikely orchestration from Grand Performances favorite the daKAH Hip-Hop Orchestra.

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

July 11: Kmart, New Evil, Toupee and Band Aparte.

July 12: Radio, Adam Topol, Raul Pacheco & The Immaculate Conception and Lucy Peru & John Kimbrough.

Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com.

July 10: Nick Mancini.

July 12: Yosmel Montejo.

July 13: La Victoria.

July 14: Francisco Torres.

July 15: Viva.

Little Easy 216 W. Fifth St., (213) 628-3113 or littleeasybar.com.

July 14: The Curtis Parry Jazz Cartel has been dropping bodies all over Los Angeles. By bodies we mean sixteenth notes.

Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com.

July 15-17, 8 p.m.: You should know that buying a ticket to see Banda Sinaloense MS in no way results in a contribution to Multiple Sclerosis research.

Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

July 13, Noon: Urban Dread.

July 15, Noon: Attic Empire.

July 16, 8 p.m.: War’s classic track “The World Is a Ghetto” may sound extra poignant tonight.

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

July 15: Sam Vicari, Thee Apian Way and Villa Coola & Friends.

July 16: Bone Crusher, Hands Like Bricks, Slurred Speech and Since We Were Kids.

July 17: United Defiance.

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

July 11, 2016

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LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

July 14: Safia and Missio.

July 15: Feminist Friday with Cillie Barnes, Cassandra Violet and Lauren Ruth Ward.

July 16: LA Font, Fever Charm, Trickster Guru, Wet & Reckless and So Many Wizards. Quick, how many wizards? So many!

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

July 11: Shoshana Bush got into music mostly to erase the pain of a childhood spent having her name rhymed with “Banana” and then being compared to our 43rd president. Which hurt more?

July 12: There will be a full compliment of improv-versed jazz 

July 16, 9 p.m.: What little we know for sure about Black Cats & Sasy can be reduced to this: They really dig mirrored shades.

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

July 15: Punk of the Latino variety with Pako Eskorbuto and Generacion Suicida.

July 16: This month’s Brit-styled Dance in a Panic features no less than The Big Pink.

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

July 11: Little Scream, Miya Folick and Aline Bea.

musicians on hand for this weekly meeting of The Makers.

July 13: Hank Carbo, a musical tribute to binging on bread and pasta.

July 14: The Vibrometers’ constituent parts are more than enough to titillate your ears… with music that is.

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

July 15: Casinos and Minus Light.

July 16: Snuff Redux, Maadwest, Moaning and Steppe People.

MORE LISTINGS@

Dim Sum

Lunch and Dinner • An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices • Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance • Live Lobster Tank

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Free Parking Next to Restaurant Tel: 213.617.2323

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July 11, 2016

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CLASSIFIEDS

FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL

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

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

LEGAL

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HOMES FOR SALE MODERN LOFT STYLE Condo at Concerto with central A/C, appliances incl. Open floorplan.

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GOT LA LEADS? Our Address Lists of businesses operating in Los Angeles are culled from local government data and organized by type. Accurate. Local.

Ready to use. www.pactriglo. com. (213) 448-8266

Downtown News 27

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2016150859 The following individual (s) is (are) doing business as: (1) Kayli’s Flowers, 1414 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017, are hereby registered by the following registrants: Jimmysel Mancilla, 1511 W. 4th Street, Apt. 20, Los Angeles, CA 90017 and Janet E. Lopez, 1511 W. 4th Street, Apt. 20, Los Angeles, CA 90017. This business is conducted by a married couple.

Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 06/2016.

This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk, by Dominique Perry, Deputy, on June 15, 2016.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).

Pub. 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, and 07/18/2016.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2016161102 The following person is doing business as: Downtown Mediators, 445 S. Figueroa Street, #3189, Los Angeles, CA 90071 are hereby registered by the following registrant: MARIA BRINSON-SAMPSON, 445 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. This business is conducted by an individual.

Registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above.

This statement was filed with

DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk, and by MIGUEL MACIAS, Deputy on June 27, 2016.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).

Pub. 07/11, 07/18, 07/25, and 08/01/2016.

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MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide services to construct a New Ground-Up “Bike Hub” Building at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/nF346F2PDsyEEjbl2. Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on August 9th, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on August 9th, 2016 will be rejected.

Notice of Request for Qualifications

Notice of Request for Qualifications

MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors, Architects, and Engineers wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide services to construct and/or design to the ADA Site Improvements Project at Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/Szwb90utiJfGhbME2 . Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on July 22nd, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on July 22nd, 2016 will be rejected.

MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualification packages from General Contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a Firm that will provide a Fire Life Safety System and Emergency Generator at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities please proceed to the RFQ checklist available at http://goo.gl/forms/k4ad6AfUtXA7gpbz1. Completed checklists are due on or before close of business on August 5th, 2016. Requests received after 5:00pm on August 5th, 2016 will be rejected

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

28 Downtown News

July 11, 2016

COMFORT L.A., 19

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO

DOWNTOWN LA’S SUMMER EVENTS photo by Gary Leonard

y r t e m Ci

m e h u S in t

While Comfort L.A. is an affordable eatery, chef and partner Jeremy McBryde employs top-notch ingredients. “We use Mary’s chicken. It’s organic and air-chilled, and you can taste a difference,” he said.

That’s where he met Walker, and both felt the tug of an innate connection.

“I liked his vibe, his energy. I saw people gravitating to him,” Walker said. “So I asked, ‘Do you have a food truck? A restaurant?’

He said ‘No,’ and I said, ‘We should talk.’ And literally, it’s an energy thing. You feel like you’ve known them all your life.”

Three weeks later they started working together, and soon found the pop-up site. When looking for a permanent location, they didn’t want to go far. They consider the culture clash of Skid Row and greater Downtown a blessing — they’re hiring workers from the neighborhood, and hoping to become an institution.

“All kinds of people are rooting for us,” McBryde says. “We’re not letting them down.”

Comfort L.A. is at 1110 E. Seventh St., (213) 537-0844 or facebook.com/comfortla.

AROUND TOWN, 2

What to DO How to GET THERE What to BRING Where to PRE-GAME Where to AFTER PARTY DOWNTOWNLA.COM/SUMMER

#DTLASummer

The Bloc — it’s not for an action film, but rather a good cause. On Thursday, July 14, the nonprofit Shatterproof, which advocates for addiction treatment and education, will be strapping people into harnesses and sending them down the glass tower’s façade.

The event is a fundraiser, and each participant must pull together $1,000. There were 44 spots remaining as of late last week, according to organizers, and everyone who signs up now must also pay an additional $60 fee. The rappel will take about 60-90 minutes and includes a gear fitting, training session and photos. It follows a similar Downtown effort, as the Westin Bonaventure Hotel has served as a rappelling fundraising site for the Boy Scouts of America. More information on the Sheraton event is at shatterproof.org.

A Look Back at the Downtown Car Opera

L

ast fall’s car opera Hopscotch was one of the highlights of the 2015 cultural calendar, as people paid $125-$175 to take in a 90-minute performance that involved being driven to multiple points in Downtown, and watching a variety of singers and actors in site-specific locations. The price of the event created by the groundbreaking company The Industry meant many people could not afford the ride (though anyone could gather in the Arts District to watch live streams of the happenings in the different vehicles). This month, there’s a free new view of the show. On Tuesday, July 19, at 9 p.m., KCET and Link TV (available on DirecTV and Dish Network) will broadcast the documentary series Artbound’s feature on the show. “Hopscotch: An Opera for the 21st Century,” goes behind the scenes of the performance, with comments from the cast, crew and The Industry mastermind Yuval Sharon.

Correction The July 4 article “The Art of Dancing” incorrectly identified the photographer for one of the pictures of American Ballet Theatre.

Her correct name is Rosalie O’Connor.