LOS ANGELES
DOWNTOWN
40
C
NEWS Volume 42, Number 2
January 14, 2013
EBRATING EL
YEARS
A Council Race Heats Up
A New Chinatown Show
5
12
Since 1972
W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M
THREE BIG GAINS, ONE BIG LOSS
d photos by Gary Leonar
Tuesday to mark the Eli Broad was on hand illion contemporary m 00 $1 s hi of t” ou “topping d on Grand Avenue. art museum The Broa
e t firm Related saw th en pm lo ve de of e itt W Bill hit a Avenue project finally nd ra G ed ay el -d ng lo work beginning on a groundbreaking, with er. See story on p. 6. w to t en tm ar ap n io $130 mill
d rs on Tuesday detaile The new Dodger owne ad ion worth of upgr es ill m 00 $1 y el at im ox appr ium. See story p. 10 . ad st d ol rea -y 51 e coming to th
ong those fondly Downtowners were am Howser, who on icon Huell remembering televisi e story p. 13. passed away Jan. 7. Se
w w w . t w o c a l p l a z a . c o m
2 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
AROUNDTOWN Tell a Love Story, Win a Big Prize
V
alentine’s Day is a month away. Maybe less by the time you read this. So what’s the best V-Day present for your significant other? It’s sharing your own personal love story with Los Angeles Downtown News readers. In honor of Cupid’s favorite holiday, Downtown News is giving away romantic gifts galore to those who have great tales of amour to share. We’re looking for essays — no more than 200 words — in three categories: Best Wedding Day/Engagement Story, Most Romantic Story, and for those less bullish on Feb. 14, Best Worst First Date Story. All or part of the submissions may be published in our special Romance in the City issue (or online), which hits stands Feb. 11. Winners in the various categories will receive prizes such as a one-night stay at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel, dinner at Noé restaurant and $100 cash, a $100 gift card to Morton’s, and a $50 gift card to Katsuya. Entries are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, and become the property of Downtown News. Seriously, no more than 200 words. Submit by emailing your entry to contests@downtownnews.com with the subject line Love Story Contest, or mail entries to Los Angeles Downtown News, 1264 W. First St., Los Angeles, CA, 90026.
Broadway Building Façade Revealed
F
or the first time in about 60 years, the original façade of a 1911 Broadway building is visible. On Wednesday, Jan. 9, work crews removed the scaffolding and tarps that had covered the five-story edifice at 351 S.
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Broadway to reveal a restored yellow front and 12 large, square windows. The work is part of a $7.5 million restoration by architect and building owner David Gray, who expects to reopen the structrue as office space by the first quarter of 2014. The project calls for the addition of a sixth floor and a bar in a 3,500-square-foot ground floor space, Gray said. The building’s façade was covered with stucco in the 1950s, and in the early 1990s artist Johanna Poethig’s mural “Calle de la Eternidad” was placed there. The artwork, which featured a pair of arms stretching to the sky, had to be removed in order to add windows and restore the façade. Gray, working with city officials and art experts, came up with a plan to preserve the mural by digitally scanning and then reproducing it on a canvas and attaching it to the building’s south-facing wall.
Jeff Bridges & The Dude (at Aloud)
Zen Garden
Fatburger Coming To Downtown
Still No Development For Pico House
T
C
he burger options in Downtown are continuing to grow, or as some could say, getting fatter. Downtown’s first Fatburger is scheduled to open at 888 S. Figueroa St. in approximately two weeks, said Atif Sheikh, the franchisee for the 50-seat restaurant. The diner-style burger joint on the ground floor of the 888 International Tower building will fill a space that once housed Christie’s Gourmet Coffee and Sandwiches. “This is a premier location,” Sheikh said. The 1,700-square-foot Fatburger is Sheikh’s first Downtown establishment, although he has owned other franchise restaurants in the past. The Fatburger chain was launched in 1952 in Los Angeles. The 1950s themed joint is decorated in red and yellow reminiscent of ketchup and mustard.
Plug in and Go Metro.
Metro Briefs Metro Installing EV Charge Stations
Metro is the >rst transit agency in the nation to introduce electric vehicle (EV) charge stations at rail station parking lots. Five Metro Rail stations will have them: Union Station, Sierra Madre Villa, Universal City, El Segundo, and Willow. Riders with EVs can charge their cars while using the Metro system. More at metro.net/ev.
Get Your ExpressLanes Transponder Thousands of motorists are getting through tra;c faster by using the new Metro ExpressLanes on the I-110 ® Harbor Freeway, which will soon be expanded to a 14-mile stretch on the I-10. All you need is a FasTrak account and transponder; to get yours, visit metro.net/expresslanes.
Lane Closures Ahead For Sepulveda Pass Individual lane closures for resurfacing and striping are on the schedule for early this year on the I-405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass as part of the freeway improvements project. Check metro.net/405 for the latest information on closures and construction schedules.
$6.8 Million Approved For Blue Line Safety The Metro Board of Directors approved spending $6.8 million on pedestrian swing gates along the Metro Blue Line corridor to enhance safety. The swing gates will come down to block pedestrians when a train passes. Light-emitting diode (LED) warning signs will also be installed at crossings.
Go Metro To See The LA Clippers
If you’d like to know more, visit metro.net.
13-1134ps_gen-fe-13-008 ©2013 lacmta
Watch Blake Gri;n, Chris Paul and the rest of the LA Clippers as they continue to take the rest of the NBA by storm this season at STAPLES Center. Metro has several connections to get to STAPLES Center including the Metro Silver, Blue and Expo lines which all let you o= adjacent to the arena. For connections, visit metro.net.
halk up another failure in the effort to reactive the 1863 Pico House. Proposals from the two operators hoping to develop the property were rejected by the city, said Chris Espinosa, the general manager of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Espinosa said neither bid met the criteria set forth by the city to develop the structure, which was built by and named for former governor Pio Pico. He said one developer asked for a 50-year lease to make the project profitable; the city was prepared to offer a 20-year agreement. Now, said Espinosa, the city will likely bring in a consultant to determine what improvements need to be considered in order to make the property more cost-effective for future developers. An attempt to find a devel-
Little Tokyo
January 10, 2013
oper in 2010 ended when no one responded to a city bidding process. The building will continue to be used as a meeting and event space and for filming.
Glass/Wilson Opera Coming Downtown
L
ocal opera fans will get a chance to see a rare staging of the 1976 Philip Glass/ Robert Wilson production Einstein on the Beach. Los Angeles Opera last week announced that the show will run Oct. 11-13 as one of seven productions in the company’s next season. The season will open Sept. 21 with a revival of Bizet’s Carmen, with Plácido Domingo conducting four of the seven performances. Other highlights include Billy Budd in early 2014, and the season-closing, company premiere of Massenet’s Thaïs, starring Domingo and soprano Nino Machaidze.
January 14, 2013
Downtown News 3
Celebrating 40 Years
Real People, Real Stories
Greg Vilshtein, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Electronic Enclosures Co. Currently Driving: 2004 Nissan Maxima.
Customer since 2007
I have been using the service department at Nissan of Downtown LA since 2007. Their service advisors are friendly, knowledgeable, professional, polite, and always ready to help you with any questions. In addition, to their great service, Nissan of Downtown LA makes me feel at home with complimentary services such as fresh cookies, coffee, bottles of water, free shuttle and a clean lounge to wait in. — Greg Vilshtein
Downtown L.A. Auto Group Family Owned & Operated Since 1955 W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M
AUDI
PORSCHE
OF DOWNTOWN L.A. OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-583-0981 audidtla.com
1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-685-5426 porschedowntownla.com
FELIX CHEVROLET 3330 S. Figueroa St. 888-304-7039 felixchevrolet.com
VOLKSWAGEN
NISSAN
OF DOWNTOWN L.A. OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1900 S. Figueroa St. 888-781-8102 vwdowntownla.com
635 W. Washington Blvd. 888-838-5089 downtownnissan.com
DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS 1801 S. Figueroa St. 888-319-8762 mbzla.com
CARSON
NISSAN
1505 E. 223rd St. 888-845-2267 carsonnissan.com
TOYOTA
SCION
OF DOWNTOWN L.A. OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-399-6132 toyotaofdowntownla.com
1600 S. Figueroa St. 800-560-9174 scionofdowntownla.com
4 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
EDITORIALS Got Groceries? Yes, You Do
Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
O
ne of the loudest and most frequent critiques of Downtown Los Angeles is that the community lacks grocery stores. Although the residential base has exploded during the past decade and bars and restaurants have proliferated, plenty of people continue to ask, “Where do you do your weekly shopping?” Some people choose to drive out of Downtown for the major grocery run, opting for a Trader Joe’s and/or Whole Foods. What’s more, these two Holy Grails of grocery stores don’t seem to be interested in heading to the Central City any time soon. It’s something we may not like but need to accept. Still, the suggestion that Downtown is a supermarket desert is no longer accurate. It’s not even a case of Downtown boasting just a booming Ralphs Fresh Fare and a few supporting convenience stories. As Los Angeles Downtown News recently reported, there are a number of older, non-mainstream food choices along with a growing batch of recognizable names, as well as some intriguing new options in the pipeline. These days, it’s easy to fill the refrigerator and the pantry with quality goods without having to drive far or at all. The first new brand name option arrived in October, with the City Target at the upgraded FIGat7th shopping complex. The store has a sizable grocery section with produce, eggs, dairy items, meat and, since it’s a Target, gobs of paper products. Although just a few blocks from the Ralphs that debuted in 2007, it’s a viable choice for many in the Financial District. The options will expand as the year progresses. A 33,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is under construction at Cesar Chavez and Grand avenues, and a 25,000-square-foot Smart & Final Extra is being built at 845 S. Figueroa St. Again, they may not be destinations for the people who shop primarily at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, but the convenience of local options with thousands of products will certainly draw customers. Also now under construction is Urban Radish, an Arts District business that plans to offer, among other things, seasonal produce and quality meats. While we won’t know specifics about the selection until it opens, Urban Radish appears to be aiming for a niche that to date has not been filled in Downtown. The number of food options continues, depending on how willing one is to shop outside mainstream supermarkets. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at any of Downtown’s four weekly farmers markets (including one on Saturdays in the Historic Core). Woori Market in the Little Tokyo Galleria is a full-sized Asian-centric supermarket and the nearby Marukai is a smaller space with a base in Japanese goods. The Grand Central Market continues to offer a diverse array of items for the kitchen, whether fruit, spices, powders, breads, etc. We could go on, but the point is clear. It’s not hard to find a place to buy groceries in Downtown. As the community continues to grow and become more vibrant, expect even more choices.
Memo to Candidates: Keep a Civil Tongue
M
onday, Jan. 14, marks the 50-day countdown until voters in Los Angeles head to the polls to choose a mayor, a city attorney, a controller and eight members of the city council. Although some candidates have been positioning themselves and raising money for more than a year, this is the meat of the election season. Now is the time when the public begins really to pay attention. In the next seven weeks we’ll hear contenders for the various offices lay out plans and proposals. Each will describe why his or her background has uniquely prepared them for leadership of either a city, an office or a diverse and dynamic council district. Whether at personal appearances or through direct mail or advertisement, voters will hear and see candidates unspool their life stories. In many instances the carefully culled material will follow a theme of people overcoming odds and working hard to unite individuals and communities. That’s not all we will hear, however. Election season also means that the people likely to vote (as well as those who will never deign to go to the polls) will be on the receiving end of some nasty mudslinging. Reputations that have been built over decades will be attacked. Comments and positions that have been carefully prepared will be taken out of context and splashed across mailers. Candidates’ transgressions, even if minor and decades in the past (who didn’t do a few stupid things in college?) will be unearthed and trumpeted. In their quest for victory, some of those seeking office will treat others in ways they would never want to be treated or depicted themselves. Here’s a pie-in-the-sky request/daydream for the candidates: Please do not fall into the personal attack trap. Further, please don’t turn a blind eye to your own campaign employees who are hired for the express purpose of smearing, or who are allowed to operate in such a manner with a winking, “I never knew about it” endorsement. The likelihood of such restraint happening is just about nil. With all the money being spent and careers on the line, some good people may be willing to tolerate just about anything if it winds up ensuring they are the one sworn into office on July 1. After all, as the expression goes, and as former Mayor Richard Riordan made widely popular, it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Still, there are some good reasons to conduct a campaign that is tough but also positive. First, the public generally does not like
when candidates are smeared and people play dirty. We’re not saying it is an ineffective strategy and doesn’t change elections in certain instances, but still, the negative elements of a race cannot be separated from the person who is victorious on election day. Going dirty during a campaign remains part of the baggage that a newly elected leader brings into office. A candidate may be forgiven after a win, and the smears may not be held against him or her personally, but the ugliness they allowed is never forgotten. It is part of what turns people off politics. Refusing to go negative does not automatically invite a softball or uneventful campaign. Candidates and their advisors can still raise serious, hard questions about choices and political stances that their opponents have taken. Debates can still be tough, divisive and bitter. But there’s a big difference between going that route and conducting opposition research, dredging up mistakes from the distant past, testing them through polling to see which ones will have the most resonance with voters, and then blasting an opponent on mailers and in TV, radio and web ads. This is not the first time this page has made such a request. In 2011, a few months after people began declaring themselves as candidates for the mayor’s race, we raised a similar plea, asking the aspirants for Los Angeles’ top office to focus on issues and to keep the proceedings civil. We’re pleased that, to date, the candidates have generally behaved the right way. Things are not always nice, but neither have they gone too ugly. The last months of a tight election, however, are a different time. This is when things change. In the next 50 days (and then in the runoff) we urge Controller Wendy Greuel, council members Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry, and attorney Kevin James to remember that they set the tone for their respective campaigns, that things trickle down from the top. They can dictate that no one on their staff descends into the mud. Even though a Super PAC has been set up for James and could spend millions on his behalf while operating independently of his campaign, he should come out publicly and state that he does not want to see negative and personal attacks staged for his benefit. The message continues for every race down the ticket, whether for citywide office or the council districts. Again, it might be a foolish daydream, but what reflects better on a candidate than running a campaign built on issues, not attack ads.
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
David and the Ninth District Goliath A Former Political Aide Tries to Win a Council Seat in a Crowded Field by Jon Regardie executive editor
D
avid Roberts spent 11 years inside City Hall as an aide to two different South Los Angeles council members. Still, he was unprepared for what would happen after Ninth District Councilwoman THE REGARDIE REPORT
Jan Perry picked him in 2011 as her appointee to the 21-member committee redrawing council borders. Maybe Roberts was naïve to think that the process, with string pulling from Council president Herb Wesson (who was warring with Perry) would take into account little things like public testimony and real-world economic concerns. Maybe he also believed that storks bring babies and professional wrestling is real. Whatever the case, he found himself powerless to stop a large chunk of affluent Downtown from being stripped from Perry’s Ninth District and moved into the 14th, which is controlled by Councilman José Huizar. The move left huge portions of the Ninth largely impoverished. “I was disgusted. My jaw dropped,” he said one recent afternoon while sitting in a sunny Downtown cafe. “I think it’s symbolic of the culture in City Hall.” That experience might lead most people to avoid City Hall for life. Instead, whether be-
cause he’s a masochist, a do-gooder or something else, Roberts wants to spend more time in the building. He’s a candidate to replace the termed-out Perry, who is running for mayor. It’s no easy task. At least five people appear to have enough connections and money to contend in the March 5 election for the district that includes L.A. Live and stretches down the Figueroa Corridor into a large, poor swath of South L.A. The top two finishers will move on to the May runoff. Roberts, who had pulled in more than $170,000 through fundraising and city matching funds by the end of 2012 (he also reported expenses of nearly $80,000), thinks he is well positioned to make the runoff. “I have indigenous relationships that none of the other candidates have,” he said. Watching the Riots Roberts, 41, hails from Harbor City, near Torrance. He grew up the third of four children (three sisters) to a mother who taught kindergarten and second grade and a father who worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Every other year the family would drive east on the 10 Freeway to New Orleans, where his parents met while attending college. Roberts said his political call to action came from the Rodney King riots. That said, he wasn’t close to the tumult. He was a student at UCLA on April 29, 1992, when a
THE WORLD IS YOURS. TRUST ESCROW WORLD. NOW OPEN in Downtown LA
Real Estate transactions are complicated. You can’t afford to jeopardize or delay your closing. That’s why choosing an escrow agent is a crucial step in the process. So choose wisely.
CHOOSE ESCROW WORLD.
1055 Wilshire Blvd Ste.1555 Los Angeles CA 90017 www.escrowworldinc.com 213.344.5000
Simi Valley jury acquitted four white police officers of beating King. As the city exploded, Roberts watched the devastation unfold from the campus in Westwood. He went on to intern for then-Eighth District City Councilman Mark RidleyThomas, whose district included much of battered South L.A. After graduating with a degree in political science and spending about four years working for real estate companies, he joined Ridley-Thomas’ staff. He focused on economic development matters including the Groundhog Day-like effort to bring professional football to the aged Coliseum (a highlight was driving future NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from City Hall to Century City). After Ridley-Thomas moved on, Roberts served as an economic development deputy to new Eighth District rep Bernard Parks. Apparently Roberts’ UCLA ties didn’t run deep, as in 2009 he took a job in local government relations with USC. He spent countless hours in community meetings and wound up well acquainted with the offices of the Central City Association and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “Little did I know I was expanding my contacts in the business community that I would utilize in this race,” he said. Roberts has a serious but sincere manner. He’s sharply dressed in a dark suit and striped tie. He is well spoken with a grasp of the brutal economic realities facing the Ninth in the postredistricting era. One can understand how he secured endorsements including Parks, the CCA and affluent developer Steve Soboroff. Still, getting high-profile endorsements is a far cry from winning a race that is almost certain to get bitter. Crowded Field There is no easy path to victory in the Ninth, where voter turnout has plummeted in the past 12 years, from more than 21,000 ballots cast in the 2001 runoff (when Perry first won office)
Downtown News 5
photo by Gary Leonard
David Roberts hopes to succeed Jan Perry as the representative of the Ninth District, which includes L.A. Live and a large portion of South Los Angeles.
to 14,768 in the 2005 general election and, four years ago, just 7,158 (in 2009 Perry ran unopposed). It’s a cliché, but come March every vote will count and victory may depend on who can most effectively turn out their supporters. The field is crowded. LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara has outdistanced everyone in terms of money raised, and though some observers believe a Japanese American can’t capture the heavily Latino and African-American Ninth, the cash reserves along with his law-and-order credentials and past heading police divisions in the district could yield votes. Then there’s Ana Cubas, the former chief of staff to Huizar. She has demonstrated fundraising prowess and appears to be aiming for blocs of women and Latino voters. Also on the ballot are ex-state Assemblyman Mike Davis, who has been weak on fundraising but probably has more district name ID see Election, page 20
6 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years rendering by Arquitechtonica
Thinking about proposing? New love inQuestions your life? Progress and A special valentine for mom?
On Grand Avenue
LOVE LINES S
As $120 Million Apartment Tower Breaks Ground, Developer Looks to Alter Plans for Other Parts of the Mega-Project by Ryan VaillancouRt
abut a public plaza next to the $100 million The Broad. The Related tower is expected to be completed in late 2014. ix years after development firm Related won approval “For the first time you’ll have a seamless street front on upfor a $2 billion mega-project on a series of publicly per Grand,” said Bill Witte, president of Related California. owned parcels on Bunker Hill, the firm is building the Looming Deadline first private component of the Grand Avenue plan. While the Thursday groundbreaking was a celebratory On Thursday, Jan. 10, the firm marked the groundbreaking event filled with smiling politicians, looming over the affair of a $120 million apartment tower that will rise just south of was the reality that Related still lacks a plan for the site across the under construction Broad museum. from Walt Disney Concert Hall, even as it faces a Feb. 15 insite, ourknown romantic LoveM,Lines section slated onlinetopublishing 11. ground. The as parcel was originally be deadlineFebruary to literally break developed in a secondary phase of the Grand Avenue project. Of course, the firm will not meet that deadline. Instead, it is Related also had far grander visions for the project in 2007. expected to request a third extension from the Grand Avenue Streetcar... I can’t wait to have you Parcel M was entitled for two towers of up to 35 stories. Authority, the city-county body that oversees the complex ride all over me... Broadway Instead, is erecting single 19-story, 271-apartment development agreement. AllRelated you have to do ais… tower. Twenty percent of the units will be subsidized affordAfter bypassing expected groundbreakings in 2007 and able housing. • Email your message to 2008 as the nation went into recession and the real estate Despite the delay and the scaling back of the residential market tumbled, Related secured a two-year extension in lovelines@downtownnews.com component, the groundbreaking marks a milestone for the 2009 and another two-year reprieve in 2011. The Grand • 20 words or less firm, and for the city-county joint powers authority that con- Avenue Authority, a five-member panel chaired by County • Include your and Gloria email) trols the Grand Avenue project land.contact info (name, phone Supervisor Molina, could opt to deny an extension beAs part of the• Don’t development for the of project that yond forgetrights the name the person youFeb. are15, which would essentially sever ties with Related. initially included two towers the withlove a boutique sending line tohotel, luxury That, however, appears unlikely. condos and 250,000 square feet of retail, Related was required • Limited to 1 FREE message per readerMolina said that despite the delays, Related has been a cato pay for and oversee development of the $56 million Grand pable partner and she wants the firm to remain on board to try to be Park — the 12-acre(don’t facility opened last sneaky, summer. we know) develop the remaining Grand Avenue project parcels. But she Later, Related also agreed to transfer some of its develop- also said that any extension will likely be tied to new expectaDeaDline for entries ment rights to Eli Broad for his contemporary art museum. tions for a more realistic project on the original phase one february 4 Parcel M represents Related’s first opportunity to see a return site, which is currently a parking lot. on its investment on Grand Avenue. “Obviously it can’t be a meaningless extension, like ‘let’s Designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica, the parcel M just see and hope that the economy gets better,’” Molina said. tower, which does not yet have a name, will include two “It has to be more meaningful from the standpoint of outground-floor restaurant spaces with outdoor seating. It will comes. We’re going to be asking those questions and trying to staff wRiteR
Development firm Related broke ground last week on a 271unit apartment tower on Grand Avenue.
Express Your Love
It’s FREE!
hold their feet to the fire.” Fourteenth District Councilman José Huizar, who has replaced Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry on the Grand Avenue Authority, said he too favors an extension for Related. The delays on phase one can be blamed on the economy, not Related, Huizar said. Related’s primary obstacle in developing the proposed Frank Gehry-designed complex has been financing — a factor that the firm has said would hinder any developer. Its last deadline extension came with the condition that if a project of a similar budget elsewhere in the state secured financing, it would essentially nullify the deadline reprieve. Such a project was never identified. Witte has indicated that its plans for the site across from Disney Hall, as with parcel M, will likely be scaled back from what was entitled. But he has been silent on what an alternative project might entail. The next meeting of the Grand Avenue Authority is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 28 at the County Hall of Administration. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
Got A Love Or Worst Date Story? Win a Romantic Night Downtown!
Tell your...
• Best Wedding Day/Engagement Story • Most Romantic Story • Best Worst First Date Story (for those less bullish on Feb. 14) Stories should be no more than 200 words!
Prizes: One night stay at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel
and dinner at Noe restaurant and $100 cash, $100 gift card to Morton’s, $50 gift card to Katsuya, and more.
ENTRIES: Deadline • Monday, February 4 at 5 p.m. Email it • contests@downtownnews.com (subject line: Love Story Contest) Mail it • 1264 W. First St., Los Angeles CA 90026 (postmarked by Feb. 1st) All or part of the submissions may be published in our special Romance in the City issue (or online), which hits stands Feb. 11 and become the property of Los Angeles Downtown News.
January 14, 2013
Downtown News 7
Celebrating 40 Years
Downtown Forces Fight Boarding House Law Stakeholders Fear Valley-Inspired Ordinance on Group Homes Would Have Unintended Consequences by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer
I
photo courtesy Mitch Englander
magine a single-family home on a quiet street in the San Fernando Valley. Unlike its neighbors, it is crammed with 20 tenants who share a few bedrooms and an array of makeshift units. They’re noisy and the sheer number of people causes the weekly trash to spill out of the standard garbage bins. Parking is limited because there are more residents on the street than the zoning allows. The office of 12th District City Councilman Mitch Englander has identified up to 60 such properties in his West Valley territory. Authorities, however, have struggled to shut down the homes because of vague, outdated regulations that give landlords too much wiggle room, Englander said.
Twelfth District City Councilman Mitch Englander is pushing a law that would crack down on group homes in residential neighborhoods. Some Downtown stakeholders fear it could drive more people to the Central City and lead to a rise in homelessness.
Under a proposed set of new, carefully worded regulations set to go before the City Council this week, such shared living environments would be outlawed in low-density zones. Landlords could, however, be allowed to operate boarding houses in any zone through a new permitting process. On the surface, the Community Care Facilities Ordinance might seem only to impact neighborhoods with quiet leafy streets, driveways and garages and front yards — in other words, not Downtown. However, a wide array of local stakeholders are banding together to urge the council to defeat the ordinance. Critics of the proposed regulations say they would put the squeeze on a crucial segment of affordable housing. Doing so, they warn, would send more people to Downtown in pursuit of the area’s abundant social services, further concentrating homelessness in the Central City. Englander argues that the law has protections that would preserve group homes for the disabled, and actually increases housing options by providing the new boarding house permitting process. Fourteenth District Councilman José Huizar, who has struggled with illegal boarding homes in parts of his district such as Eagle Rock, said the ordinance’s potential impact on Downtown represents an unintended consequence. “It goes against what all the homelessness experts and advocates are saying, that we need a comprehensive and decentralized approach to the problem,” Huizar said. Huizar, whose district now includes all of Skid Row, and Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry are among an unusually broad group of Downtown stakeholders opposing the ordinance. The United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which is behind a major push to build more permanent supportive housing in the city, is against it. So is the business-minded Central City Association. Under the new law, it would be illegal for four or more people who are unrelated to rent a house together in a lowdensity zone (a family of that size could still rent a house). So the owner of, say, an Exposition Park-area house could not rent it to four college students. Three would be OK. Revisions and Review The four-person restriction presents difficulties for an array of individuals, from students to those on the brink of homelessness, who must team up to make rent affordable, said Alisa Orduña, a program officer at the United Way of Greater L.A. Securing an apartment on their own is often out of the question, she said. “It’s almost like we’re punishing them for finding creative solutions for themselves for housing,” Orduña said. One aspect of the law that has perplexed critics is that it targets a problem that is technically already illegal. Boarding homes are currently outlawed in low-density zones, and many of the nuisances affiliated with overcrowded housing can be addressed under existing laws, said Molly Rysman, director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing Los Angeles.
“The houses people have issues with, boarding houses, they’re illegal today,” Rysman said. “It’s not that there aren’t laws on the books. It’s that the city has had trouble enforcing them.” Englander, however, says that current codes, which date back decades, make enforcement difficult. He said several previous attempts to crack down on unlicensed facilities were thrown out of court. The new law, he said, requires operators of boarding homes to get the appropriate state license or to secure a permit from the city. “If you’re not doing something protected under [the fed-
eral] Fair Housing [Act], then you’re operating a business and you’re operating a boarding home,” Englander said. “You have those conditions and you have to get a permit. Then we have something to revoke to ensure that you’re taking care of people who live there and the neighborhood.” The council is slated to consider the ordinance on Tuesday, Jan. 15. If approved, there would be a mandatory review in a year. It also has what’s known as a severability clause, so that if one portion of the law is challenged and defeated in court, the rest of the ordinance would remain intact. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
One New Year’s Resolution That Can Save Your Life A Mammogram. Lose weight. Exercise more. Both are great things you promise yourself at the beginning of every new year, but yet never seem to keep. It’s so difficult. Here’s one that’s easy to keep and so important, that it could save your life. Get a mammogram. The new Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health has doctors specializing in breast health and offers, fast, accurate, digital mammograms. All in a beautiful, calming environment and close to where you work or live — right downtown. We also offer exceptional cardiac and gynecological medical care, if you choose to make your New Year’s resolution for overall good health. Resolve to make an appointment today. Call 213.742.6400. We accept most insurance plans.
visit www.lacwh.org Breast Health Surgery
Clinical Breast Examinations
Medical Oncology
1513 South Grand Avenue
Radiation Oncology
Downtown Los Angeles
An Exceptional Healthcare Experience You Deserve
8 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
CONVERSATIONS
The River Man Lewis MacAdams Talks About A Quarter Century of Work On the Los Angeles River, and What Comes Next by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR
L
ewis MacAdams is a poet, a journalist and a father. But more than anything, the 68-year-old is known for his ardent work on behalf of the long-maligned Los Angeles River. In 1986, MacAdams co-founded the nonprofit Friends of the Los Angeles River. The work has involved everything from lobbying politicians to organizing the annual Great L.A. River Clean-Up. Although he has often operated far from the limelight, he believes that today there is increasing momentum around the waterway. He spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about how the river has changed, how it has remained the same, and what it’s going to take to get more Angelenos to its banks. Los Angeles Downtown News: When did you first see the Los Angeles River? Lewis MacAdams: I had been working on this public works project during the Carter Administration. I was living in somebody’s attic in Venice taking the bus Downtown for this $3.50 an hour job. I saw the river and it’s just one of those moments. I just knew that I was going to be involved in it for the rest of my life. Q: When and how did you start Friends of the
Los Angeles River? A: I started in 1986. FOLAR began as a performance art piece in a theater Downtown on a really scuzzy street. It was called the Wall and Boyd Theater. I had just fairly recently moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco. At that point MOCA was brand new. It was the time for performance art. They asked me to do a piece, so I did and it was called Friends of the Los Angeles River. Part of the performance was going down to the river with wire cutters and cutting a hole in the fence along the river and declaring that the river was now open. It was still the days of the $500 fine or six months in jail. Around the same time, I and a few other people walked to the confluence of the river and we asked the river if we could speak for it in the human realm and it didn’t say no. Q: Is there a part of you decades later that is surprised to still be doing this? A: No. I’m embarrassed to say, not really. Q: The river has changed a lot since you started. Put that change in perspective. A: The poet William Carlos Williams says, “A new world is a new mind.” And people are always telling me how much the river has changed. But in most ways the river hasn’t changed at all. Peoples’ attitudes toward it
THE PETROLEUM BUILDING Commercial Office Space for Lease
BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS Beautiful 236,900 sq. ft. 11 Story Office Building. Parking Available on Premises Conference Room 24 Hour Security $1.55 Interior $1.65 Exterior Per
HU
R
– RY
S
PA
S CE
LE
I AS
NG
FA
! ST
Rentable Sq. Ft.
2 SUITES AVAILABLE Suite 1000 - 7,400 approximate rentable square feet. 8 offices, 1 executive office and large creative space.
Suite 1000
Thinking about proposing? New love in your life? A special valentine for mom?
LOVE LINES Express Your Love
Access directly off elevators.
in our romantic Love Lines section online publishing February 11.
Suite 1011 - 7,812 approximate rentable square feet.
It’s FREE!
Large, open creative space with one office.
Suite 1011
photo by Gary Leonard
When Lewis MacAdams first saw the Los Angeles River, he knew he’d be involved with it for the rest of his life. He founded Friends of the Los Angeles River in 1986, and 27 years later, the work continues.
Will consider division and space build-outs.
The
Petroleum Building 714 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 213.746.6300 Ext. 1455 Fax: 213.765.1910 ghollis@shammasgroup.com
All you have to do is…
Streetcar... I can’t wait to have you ride all over me... Broadway
• Email your message to lovelines@downtownnews.com • 20 words or less • Include your contact info (name, phone and email) • Don’t forget the name of the person you are sending the love line to • Limited to 1 FREE message per reader (don’t try to be sneaky, we know)
DeaDline for entries february 4
January 14, 2013
Downtown News 9
Celebrating 40 Years
have changed. More and more people come down to the river. One of the things we had to do originally was create a constituency for the river in a political sense, in a social sense, in a spiritual sense. I think that’s been more or less accomplished, not just by FOLAR, but by Northeast Trees and Heal the Bay and various organizations who work along the river in various ways. You have about a dozen little parks along the river that the Trust for Public Lands was involved in, that the Mountains Recreation Authority was involved in.
ing for them to do an international design competition. That was our accomplishment. Q: How important is the new bridge for the river? A: With this new design by HNTB and Michael Maltzan, I think the Sixth Street Bridge is going to be as iconic as Disney Hall. I think it’s that good architecture.
Q: But environmentally, hasn’t it changed quite a bit? A: Twenty years ago, the sides of the riverbeds were paved every year. Now there are mature willow trees. But working on the river is like building a subway system. I don’t call myself an environmentalist. I call myself an infrastructuralist because it’s a built environment we’re working with. Q: FOLAR was involved in the plan to replace the ailing Sixth Street Bridge, but you didn’t always favor a new design. How did your position on the bridge evolve? A: At first, we like most other people didn’t trust that the bridge needed to be taken down. The city hired an expert on historic bridges, Eric DeLony. When the city agreed to hire Eric to see if there was any way to save the Sixth Street Bridge, and he came back and said there wasn’t, that was enough for me because I knew he was an honest and knowledgeable guy. Then the city started doing outreach. Most people wanted something that looked exactly like the bridge they were going to replace. But when it was clear that the city had to do a new bridge, we felt that they should open it up to an international design competition because it was such an opportunity. They were going to do the project in-house. FOLAR was the only entity push-
Q: Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1201, which has been hailed as a major boost for the river. What does it do? A: The County of Los Angeles was bitterly opposed to it, which was sort of absurd because all it did was basically add two words to their mandate. Up until then, the L.A. County Flood Control District had two missions: One was storm water runoff. One was flood control. We added education and recreation. The implications of that are only beginning to be felt. It was really an attempt to redefine the mission of the county to include access and recreation along the river. There’s been a legal battle over whether it’s a river or a flood control channel and how that affects clean water. The case is Natural Resources Defense Council vs. L.A. County Flood Control District. Q: Is the river’s redevelopment now happening faster? A: I suspect that it will be another 30 years as it evolves. You don’t replace the Sixth Street Bridge overnight. That’s going to take, what, six years? There’s also the Piggyback Yard. It was built in the 1880s by Southern Pacific Railroad and it’s still in use. They break down trains there and put stuff on containers on Federal Express chassis. It’s 125 acres across the river from Union Station. We did a major study imagining how that site could engage with the river and be a park, with Mia Lehrer and Michael Maltzan and all these
NOLA’S
photo by Gary Leonard
MacAdams says, “I don’t call myself an environmentalist. I call myself an infrastructuralist because it’s a built environment we’re working with.”
Downtown and Silver Lake people working on it pro bono. That was an extremely important thing. The railroads have no intention at this point of selling it, but they didn’t have any intention of selling the Cornfield or Taylor Yard and they did. Right now the Piggyback Yard is invisible, but part of what we do is make the invisible visible. Q: Despite all the progress, making the river a true community gathering place still seems far away. What is there to do at the river? A: Well, fishing. There are increasingly more people fishing. It’s a combination of white guys with their fly rods doing catch and release and people hitting carp over the head with two-by-fours and tossing them into an ice chest. The river is already providing sustenance for both kinds of fishing and I think that’s growing. Last year there were 2,000 people who did
ME I T H L ET C A N LU EE V FR
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER
Get to New Orleans and Back to Work in an Hour Featuring Live Music Daily During Lunch & Dinner
JAMBALAYA, RED BEANS AND RICE, GUMBO FRIED CHICKEN, COLLARD GREENS, SHRIMP ETOUFFEE
George Wolfe’s L.A. River Expeditions kayak trips during the dry season, when the previous year it was more like 200. You just keep putting images in front of people of a living river and people are drawn to rivers. It’s natural. All you have to do is kind of nudge them a little bit. Being involved in the river you touch the idealist in people. That’s really rewarding. Q: You’re 68. You’ve been doing this for 26 years. Do you think about what the ultimate goal is, either for the river or for you personally? A: I’m trying to have much more of a life than I’ve allowed myself to have before. I think it would be foolish to have an ultimate goal at this point. I’ll just keep doing it as long as I’m capable of it and as long as it seems like fun, which it still does. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
HOT&FRESH From big and bold to mild and smooth, we have every roast you can imagine. And some you haven’t even thought of yet. Regular Exclusive Blend 100% Colombian Brazilian Roast Butter Toffee Blueberry Cinnamon Decaf French Vanilla Fusion Energy Hazelnut Irish Créme Vanilla Nut
Cappuccino & Latte varieties galore, and Hot Chocolate too!
Try Our SKINNY FRENCH VANILLA!
1800 E. Olympic Blvd. (At Olympic & Alameda St.) Se Habla Español • ALWAYS OPEN • 213-627-5008
THIS AD
ONLY
T
NTR
734 E. 3rd St., Downtown 213.680.3003 ~ www.NolasLA.com “A” DASH and Gold Line adjacent
©
ATM
PROPANE, GAS & DIESEL 24 HOURS / 7 DAYS A WEEK
OL YM
ST
$9.99
One Block East of 3rd & Alameda, in the Arts District
PI
C
BL VD
S ALAMEDA
REGULAR
WITH
7 TH S
S CE
$14.95
AL A VE
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAY FULL-SCALE CAJUN LUNCH BUFFET
H
10 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
New Restrooms, More Concessions on Roster of Changes at Dodger Stadium Upgrades for Coming Season Include Improved Wi-Fi and Cell Phone Service by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR
D
odger fans went wild last year when the team took on some $250 million in long-term contracts by trading for marquee players Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett. While the improvements the Dodgers’ announced last week may pale in comparison to those big-money acquisitions, for fans in the stadium and especially families, they could prove much more valuable. The ancient restrooms on some upper levels will be renovated and more will be added, with a 62% increase in the number of facilities for women. The number of concession stands will rise, with the goal of ending the sometimes inningslong wait for Dodger dogs and other fare. The spotty cell phone and Wi-Fi service will be addressed, with improvements designed to make the 1962 stadium function like a 21st century building. The only catch, warned team President and CEO Stan Kasten, is that so many things are taking place that he can’t guarantee every task will be completed by the time the Dodgers take the field in April. “I think this is a very ambitious project,” Kasten said. “I think we’re going to get it done by opening day.” During a Tuesday, Jan. 8, presentation in the Stadium Club, Kasten and Senior Vice President of Planning and Development Janet Marie Smith ran down a lengthy list of obvious and behind-the-scenes fixes and upgrades. They all stem from Guggenheim Baseball Management’s $2 billion purchase of the team and the stadium last May. Kasten said that about 100 projects are being undertaken, with the first pieces being those that could be completed in the approximately 25 weeks between the end of last
season and the start of the 2013 campaign. Although he would not put a total price on the upgrades, he said that a $100 million figure that has circulated in media reports is “as good as any.” Among the first changes fans will notice are improvements to the scoreboards and the sound system. The old scoreboards, said Smith, had “fallen behind the times.” They will be replaced by high-resolution, high-definition outfield displays. Although just 22% physically larger, Smith said they will increase the video viewing area by 66%. The scoreboards will also change shape from last season’s rectangles to the hexagons that were an early hallmark of the 51-yearold stadium. The video upgrade will be complemented by audio enhancements, with a new sound system still built around a cluster of speakers in center field. They will be augmented, she said, by better acoustics in other places, including restrooms. Kasten said the first phase of improvements aim to remedy shortfalls the new owners observed and problems reported by fans and the media. That led to the restroom upgrades; although some lower level facilities were renovated during the years Frank and Jamie McCourt owned the team, customers on the Reserve level were accustomed to dimly lit areas and, in the men’s room, long metal troughs. In addition to the new women’s options, there will be 32% more facilities for men, as well as unisex family toilets, Smith said. Also coming are wider concourses. Smith said two rows of seats have been pulled out on many levels, providing eight to 15 more feet for people to circulate. Kasten said, however, that seats will be added in other parts of the park, so that the capacity will remain at 56,000. Additional improvements will include cell-
Winter Term: January 24 - March 23
Early Bird Special! 10% off tuition when you register by January 10. ●
Little Tokyo, JACCC
●
(213) 622-3307 700 South Flower Street, #1202 Los Angeles, CA 90017 LTherrien@allstate.com CA Lic: 0C63543
Register Now! Miracle Mile, JFLA
Visit www.jflalc.org.courses.html The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (JFLA )
5700 Wilshire Blvd. #100, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Tel 323-761-7510 jpcourse@jflalc.org
Need STORAGe? Call StorQuest today
Serving all of Los Angeles
877-452-9698
$1 RENT
*
FIRST
MONTH’S
FREE er* Truck & Driv
StorQuest 3707 SOUTH HILL ST.
OR
2222 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.
www.STORQUEST.com
*Cannot combine offers. At select locations. Limited time offer.
and money spent.” Though Schloessman did not have a prediction of the economic impact of a baseball All-Star Game, a report commissioned by the LASEC determined that the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, which took place at Staples Center, generated $85 million in regional spending. In addition to warning that not everything may be completed by opening day, Kasten predicted that there will be some early-season hiccups, in particular with the sound system and the Wi-Fi service. He said he expects everything to be ironed out by the first or second homestand. The problem, he noted, is that no test can replicate a 56,000-seat stadium filled to capacity. “We really don’t have an opportunity for a dry run, he said. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com
Leonard Therrien Downtown Insurance Agency
Winter Term : January 24 - March 23
Class Locations
phone charging posts and drink rails, where people can sip a beverage and look out over the field of play. Other upgrades are aimed at the players. They include larger bullpens, as well as modern clubhouses and an upgraded weight and conditioning room. A second weight room for visiting teams is also being constructed. That, said Smith, will mean Dodger opponents won’t have to share the home team’s facilities. Kasten said he thinks the improvements would make Dodger Stadium a viable location for a baseball All-Star Game, which has not been held in Chavez Ravine since 1980. That’s something that would pay off immensely, said Kathryn Schloessman, president of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission. “It’s huge,” she said of an All-Star Game. “It’s a lot of hotel room nights. Even though it’s summer, there are a lot of parties booked
I help safe drivers save 45% or more.
Begin the New Year Learning Japanese!
Japanese Language Courses Winter 2013
image courtesy Los Angeles Dodgers
One of the first things Dodger fans will notice next season will be a pair of new, larger scoreboards.
SELF STORAGE
®
Insurance and coverages subject to terms, qualifications and availability. Actual savings will vary. Allstate Indemnity Company: Northbrook, Illinois © 2010 Allstate Insurance Company.
January 14, 2013
The Central City Crime Report
It’s Still the Lake Show
A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities
I
Downtown News 11
Celebrating 40 Years
n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.
Watch Your Head… phones: A 22-year-old man was walking in Downtown at about 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9, listening to tunes through his Beats by Dre headphones, which sell for about $250. At the busy intersection of Seventh and Olive streets he was approached by three men, who proceeded to snag the headphone and beat him up. Presumably that’s not the kind of “beats” Dre intended. Stoplight Stickup: A 54-year-old woman from Beverly Hills was at the intersection of Fifth Street and Grand Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. on Dec. 12 when two individuals approached her car. One man on the passenger said stated that he was hungry. On the driver side, a second man brandished a gun and demanded cash. The woman handed over her money and a necklace. Screwed Up: A man was arrested for attacking another man and his dog. His weapon of choice? A screwdriver. On Dec. 13 at about 4:30 p.m., the 44-year-old suspect approached a man walking with his dog near Main Street and Olympic Boulevard. He swung the screwdriver at the man and hit the dog instead. Fortunately the pooch was not injured. Someone Missed Last Call: A man was arrested for breaking into the bar at the Standard Downtown hotel on 550 S. Flower St. at 4:10 a.m. on Dec. 15. The suspect entered the hip establishment through an open door, then broke into the closed bar. He made off with $99 worth of alcohol, but was caught a day later after being identified on surveillance footage. The 56-year-old was no stranger to authorities. According to police, he has 11 felony convictions and a 70-page rap sheet. —Ryan Vaillancourt
Coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Mitch Kupchak Highlight ‘All-Access’ Event by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR
T
he Los Angeles Lakers’ troubles this season are already legion. From the shocking firing of coach Mike Brown after five games to the injury that kept Steve Nash out of the lineup for more than a month to being eclipsed by the Clippers to the disappointing, sub-.500 record, this is, so far, a campaign to forget. Despite the woes, Kathryn Schloessman, the president of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, said she never once contemplated skipping the annual event that gives well-heeled fans an up-close glimpse at Laker players, coaches and execs. Instead, the ninth annual Lakers All-Access takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 16. “It has been more challenging that the usual year, but we never considered not doing it,” Schloessman said. “The Lakers are still the number one team in L.A. They are iconic. Everyone knows that even though they have had trouble this year they will pull out of it.” Lakers All-Access, previously known as NBA 101, offers the kind of encounters that few fans get to experience. The evening starts with an opportunity to shoot free throws and three pointers on the Lakers’ court, and to get autographs and have pictures taken with players and some of the team’s championship trophies. Tickets for the 5 p.m. event on the floor of Staples Center are $550. Proceeds benefit the Lakers Youth Foundation and the LASEC. The night also holds dinner and two panel discussions. One will feature new coach Mike D’Antoni, as well as players Steve Blake and Antawn Jamison. The other, which Schloessman termed a “legends” panel, brings together James Worthy, Robert Horry and, for
It’s a New Year… Time to start eating HEALTHY. People want HEALTHY fare more than ever. Especially at this time of year.
let’s do a
healthylunch Deadline: January 16, 2013 Publishes: January 21, 2013
1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 (213) 481-1448 • FAX (213) 250-4617
LADowntownNews.com
For more information call 213-481-1448
photo by Gary Leonard
Fans will get the chance to hobnob with the Purple and Gold’s players and coaches at the Lakers All-Access event.
the first time, general manager Mitch Kupchak. “I think of all the years, this is the year we would most like to have Mitch,” Schloessman said. “People want to hear what he has to say, what the long-term plan is. I think Mitch is the strategist and they want to hear from him, hear what’s going on, how to fix it.” While the panelists this week may face questions about the ascendant Clippers, Schloessman said there are no plans to do a similar event with L.A.’s “other” team just yet. After all, she noted, the Lakers signed on years ago. “We started this with the Lakers and they were so quick to jump on board. We have had this so long and it is so established,” she said. “We may try to do something else with the Clippers.” Lakers All-Access is Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 5 p.m. at Staples Center. Information at lasec.net. For tickets contact Aubrey Walton at (213) 236-2347 or awalton@lasec.us. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.
12 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
The recently opened Chinese American Museum permanent exhibition Origins explores more than 100 years of local Chinese and Chinese American history. Items on display include a photo of Chinatown being dedicated on Broadway in 1935 with Gov. Frank Merriam.
The Evolution Revolution Chinese American Museum’s ‘Origins’ Looks at the Growth and Changes of a Downtown Community by Jeff favre
Contributing Writer lans for the Origins exhibition at the Chinese American Museum are as old as the museum itself. That’s worth mentioning because the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument institution turned nine last month. The road from conception to completion of a museum show can be tricky, especially for a small, independent attraction such as CAM. Somehow, though, like the building that houses it — a structure in Downtown’s original settlement — the intimate destination has survived financial hardships and growing pains. Origins is the museum’s third permanent exhibit, as well as its most ambitious. It represents an attempt to build connections between generations and communities, while also boosting CAM’s profile and annual attendance. Museum Executive Director Michael Duchemin took an active role in organizing the show, working with curator Steven Wong to create an interactive exhibition that he expects will remain relevant for at least the next decade. The exhibition’s original title was Evolving Culture and Community, Duchemin explained. The unwieldy moniker was dropped as the show took shape and CAM looked at the role and makeup of the Chinese and Chinese American community over more than a century. “It is to be the next installment in the story told by the museum,” Duchemin said during a recent visit to CAM. “It began with the Journeys exhibition, which looks at where people came from as they arrived in the United States. Then came the Sun Wing Wo Store, an immersion environment that shows what life was like in historic Chinatown from the turn of the century to the 1950s. The next step is to look at what has been the culture and the community of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles.” Development of what eventually became known as Origins began in 2004. Officials planned to cover the estimated $500,000 cost primarily through grants, most notably $260,000 allocated from Proposition 12, a state measure for parks funding. “Then we ran into the recession,” Duchemin recalled.
P
“Some of the funding was frozen, including those from the California State Parks. It looked bleak. We didn’t know if the state would ever release the money.” It wasn’t until three years later, at the end 2010, that the purse strings were loosened. Work finally began in earnest as CAM officials raced to beat a calendar milestone. “The last two years have been [a time of] intense development,” Duchemin said. “We finished several months ahead of the deadline in time to prepare for the year of our 10th anniversary.” Timeless Approach Origins fills part of the first floor and most of the mezzanine level, the majority of the museum’s public space. As a permanent fixture, Duchemin believes it needs to connect with the community in a meaningful and in-depth way. He anticipates drawing visitors not just from Downtown, but also areas with substantial Asian populations including Silver Lake, the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando and Cerritos. Wong, the curator, said the design of Origins was intended to steer clear of trendy styles. Instead, he wanted a simple look that would remain timeless. The show is divided into three main sections and each incorporates an iconic location as its anchor. For the first section, Historic Chinatown, the base is the museum’s current home, the Garnier Building, erected in 1890. Duchemin noted that it served as the unofficial town hall for the local Chinese community from the day it opened. “The building reflects the longevity of the Chinese American community in L.A.,” he said. The Historic Chinatown section examines key characteristics and organizations of the time, including the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. The Los Angeles lodge was granted a charter in 1912. The organization was housed in the Garnier Building until the community was displaced by the construction of Union Station in the 1930s. The second section, New Chinatown, recognizes the country’s first Chinese American community owned and operated by the people who lived and worked there. A photo from the 1938 grand opening of New Chinatown introduces the section. The portion includes one of Wong’s
favorite displays, which focuses on the Mei Wah Drum Corps. The group began as a women’s basketball team in 1931 and later transformed into a competing drum and bugle team. The display features a photo of the Mei Wah club and a uniform of a member. “It’s interesting to see those early generations and their strategies to assimilate into mainstream society, but also to maintain an ethnic identity,” Wong said. The third section covers the first planned Chinese American suburb, Monterey Park, which saw intense immigration in the 1970s, thanks to Frederic Hsieh and his Mandarin Realty Company. The expansion of Chinese Americans away from Chinatown and to the area was reflected in the political landscape, as explained in biographical displays of figures including Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress. Origins is limited in physical space, which meant several tough decisions for the curatorial team regarding what stories and artifacts to include. Although not everything could make it to the Downtown Los Angeles museum, the show has an online presence (origins.camla.org). The website also seeks to get input from the community, especially younger audiences. Origins Online, which incorporates Google Maps, encourages visitors to add to the continuing story by marking a significant location and then posting text, photos or video. “We’re asking people to help us curate,” Duchemin said. “They decide where the significant locations are and they tell us why. One of the great early pieces that got posted was a video by the Fung Brothers, who made a hip-hop song about JJ Hong Kong Café in Monterey Park. This group helps young kids understand what it means to be Chinese American today.” It also serves as a path for the community to remain active and involved well into the future. The Chinese American Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Suggested admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. At 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.
JAN 14
n! i W d n a s U Like
photos courtesy Chinese American Museum
CALENDAR
Starts January 18
nNews .A.Downtow /L m o .c k o o Faceb
Like Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!
Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com
January 14, 2013
Downtown News 13
Celebrating 40 Years
Huell Howser and Downtown’s Gold The Unforgettable Host Searched Out the Central City’s Secrets, and the Effects Were Long-Lasting by Richard Guzmán city editor
R
emembrances of Huell Howser have been flying across the state since the public television host passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, at the age of 67. Fans have lovingly recalled the Tennessee twang and the folksy approach he exhibited in KCET series such as “California’s Gold” and “Travelling With Huell Howser.” Howser became famous for his fascination with seemingly all aspects of life in California, which were often punctuated with bursts of “That’s amazing!” Downtown was no exception. He explored the community at various times over the decades, and made it the centerpiece of its own 15-part series, fittingly titled “Downtown,” that ran from 2006 until 2009. In “Downtown,” Howser explored various Central City businesses, destinations, events and residences. He brought his camera to restaurants such as Cole’s and the French Garden. He dropped in on the Biscuit Company Lofts. He showed up at Los Angeles State Historic Park and Art Walk. “He was just really affable and genuinely excited to learn about what was going on Downtown,” said LAPD Commander Andy Smith, who appeared on an episode in 2007 when Smith helmed Central Division. Smith recalled how the two spent a couple of hours walking through Downtown for an episode on safety in the Central City. They stopped often to talk to people on the street, to vendors and to other police officers on patrol. They spoke with patrons at Pete’s Café. It was part of Howser’s effort to show all aspects of the rapidly changing community.
He spoke of his hope to capture a warts-andall view in a 2006 interview with Los Angeles Downtown News. “We want to talk to people on the street who wouldn’t normally be approached and show that Downtown has lots of layers,” Howser said in the interview. “When you come Downtown you’re going to come into contact with the best and worst Downtown has to offer. You’re going to have some positive and negative experiences and some experiences in between. And that’s what life’s about. If you want an antiseptic experience, go to Universal Citywalk or Disneyland. If you want to see what life is about in Southern California, come Downtown because it’s all compressed here.” Abrupt Retirement Howser began his television career at WSM-TV in Nashville after receiving his B.A. from the University of Tennessee. He moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV. In 1987 he joined KCET and began producing “Videolog,” which paved the way for “California’s Gold.” Angelenos began speculating on Howser’s health late last year when his retirement from KCET was abruptly announced. He passed away at his home in Palm Springs. Those who were the subject of Howser broadcasts say the impact was long-lasting. They include Sean Woods, a California State Parks superintendent who appeared on the Los Angeles State Historic Park episode of “Downtown.” “He wanted his viewers to understand about the hidden treasures and the green space in Downtown,” Woods said. After reruns air, he said last week, he still
photo by Gary Leonard
TV icon Huell Howser passed away Jan. 7 at the age of 67. One of his many series on KCET focused on Downtown Los Angeles.
sees new faces. “To this day, when people see that episode they come out to the park. His impact was tremendous,” he said. Howser’s visit to the hidden French Garden restaurant was part of the premiere episode of the Downtown series. During his stop at the space on Seventh Street in 2006, he chatted with diners and restaurant owner Benoit Lesure. After the episode first aired, Lesure said business boomed. He recalled being booked almost nightly for about a year with customers telling him they saw the restaurant on the show. Lesure said even to this day he gets new customers who learn about the restaurant
through reruns. Howser also became a regular at French Garden and would talk with many other customers before finally sitting down for his meal. Grateful for the business Howser brought to the restaurant, Lesure regularly offered to pay for his meals. Howser politely refused every time. “He always paid. He wanted to be treated like everyone else,” Lesure said. Georges Laguerre, the owner of TiGeorges, the Haitian chicken restaurant on Glendale Boulevard in City West, fondly remembers Dec. 16, 2002. That was the day Howser and a cameraman walked into his place and began see Howser, page 20
/ N O I T A R U AN INAUG CONCERT Y A D R J K L M LOCURA ONHEART I L Y B A R R FE of KCRW Z E D A L A V ANTHONY KLSY and MATHATI PINO
MON JAN 21 11AM–4PM grandparkla.org
FREE
14 Downtown News
EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS Free Downtown Housing Tour Downtown Center Business Improvement District, downtownla.com/housing tour. Jan. 18, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: This guided bus tour will take you through Downtown’s vibrant neighborhoods and into six residences for sale or rent, from lofts to luxury condos. See the hot spots and amenities that make Downtown living exciting and easy. RSVP required.
The
saTurday, January 19 The Human Experience Peace Yoga Gallery, 903 S. Main St. or humanexperiencecreations.com. 3 p.m.: David Block of the Human Experience hosts an electronic music workshop complete with live DJ’d yoga, raw food and collective community.
ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Jan. 14: Nicole Mitchell, Chad Taylor, David Boykin and Craig Taborn. Jan. 15: David Roitstein and Larry Koonse. Jan. 16: The second week of the John Beasley residency. Jan. 17: Joe La Barbera Group. Jan. 18: Michael Feinberg Group. Jan. 19: Jason Harnell Group. Jan. 20: The Sidewinder. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Jan. 14, 8 p.m.: And as the other indie rock bands gathered around them, Papa asked the eternal question, “Who’s your daddy?” Jan. 15, 8 p.m.: With an electro dance sensibility and a healthy taste for macabre visuals, Professor Possessor promises to confuse and delight. Jan. 17, 9 p.m.: Just in time for the release of their new album, Vermouth infects the Bootleg with their dizzying “retroFuture Pop Exotica.” Quotes are theirs. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. Jan. 17, 10 p.m.: Broader Than Broadway is not a “yo mama” joke, but an eclectic smattering of electronic music. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Jan. 18, 10 p.m.: The Peach Kings are neither Georgian nor derived from royal blood. The circle of lies continues.
LisT
1
An unthinkable peace between the three major Middle Eastern religions becomes a reality in our time as the World City program hosts the Yuval Ron Ensemble on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The show at the outdoor W.M. Keck Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall is a collaborative effort featuring musicians and performers of sacred music from the Judaic, Muslim and Christian traditions. Expect prayers, chants, the occasional whirling dervish and enough beautiful music to make you ponder whether or not the tumultuous rancor of the region is a construct of modern geopolitics and not an inherent condition. Hark! Free tickets are dispensed at 10 a.m. for the first show and 11 a.m. for the latter performance. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.
photo courtesy of Dollyrots
photo courtesy of World City
by Dan Johnson, listings eDitor | calendar@downtownnews.com
Three
TWo
Don’t let the Dollyrots’ punk aesthetic throw you off — this duo is all about accessibility. Sure they may be crowding the otherwise underground minded halls of the vaunted Redwood Bar and Grill on Friday, Jan. 8, but their music features a bright, up-tempo, major chord/feel good vibe that’s already earned them placement spots in Pixar features and a Miley Cyrus film trailer. Cool Dollyrots fact: In July 2011 they played the Midnight Mission in Skid Row as part of a program of shows for the homeless population. At 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.
Straight outta Hungary comes composer and conductor Peter Eotvos. This week, the L.A. Phil is rolling out its red carpet for an Eotvos micro-residency that is part of the Phil’s Green Umbrella series of new music. On Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m., it’s Eotvos’ operatic adaptation of Tony Kushner’s seminal AIDS-invoking text Angels in America at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Then on Friday at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., the Phil will play the world premiere of Eotvos’ DoReMi concerto alongside pieces by Kodaly and Bartok. The other special guest is the ace violinist Midori. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 8502000 or laphil.com.
Persuasion and motivation in business are the order of the morning on Thursday, Jan. 17, as the Live Talks Business Forum hosts author David Pink. The croissants start flowing at 7:45 a.m. and the post-gestation pontifications on keeping a workplace fluid and productive kick off at 8:15 a.m. Pink’s books include the business mentality manifesto Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and the tellingly titled To Sell Is Human. If your New Year’s resolution is to be a better leader or to put a dollar sign on everything in the world, you won’t want to miss this early-bird special that takes place in the headquarters of the architecture firm Gensler. At 500 S. Figueroa St. Reservations at livetalksbusiness. com.
photo © Rebecca Emily Drobis
Thursday, January 17 Daniel Pink at Live Talks Gensler, 500 S. Figueroa St. or livetalksbusiness.com. 7:45 a.m.: For your inner objectivist, an earlymorning study in business psychology and motivational leadership from author Daniel Pink. Mid Century Modern Event at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: Jenny Watts, archival scholar and the intellect behind the recent Civil War study at the Huntington Library, joins fellow scholars D.J. Waldie and Christopher Hawthorne for a discussion on architecture and style in Cold War California.
Don'T Miss
InternatIonal Dance, BusIness talk anD electronIca FlavoreD Yoga
Tuesday, January 15 Amy Wilentz at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: The ghost of Toussaint Louverture and the messages of Wyclef Jean add nuance to this experienced Haitian scholar’s observations on the island nation in the time after the catastrophic earthquake. Wednesday, January 16 Yoga in the Park Grand Park, Between Grand Ave. and Hill, (213) 972-8080 or grandpark.lacountry.gov. Jan. 16 and Jan. 18, 12:15 p.m.: Free yoga in the park is just the ticket to sublimate the inherent rage of a 9-5 job. SCI-Arc Lecture Series SCI-Arc, 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: Partners Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu have been a presence in Los Angeles architecture since 2004. They’re dropping by to talk shop.
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
5 four
photo courtesy of Peter Eotvos
Now that the amateur predictions of the Mayan apocalypse have gone out of vogue, we can again focus on the finer merits of New Age culture: yoga and ambient electronica. The local gurus of self-realization at Peace Yoga are offering a day of alternative enjoyment and mind melding with their partners ProjectFresh and Mindshare LA. The collective consciousness begins Saturday, Jan. 19, at 3 p.m. with a live DJ’d yoga session in the Peace Gallery followed by a catered dinner of raw foods and a hands-on electronica workshop led by David Block of the Human Experience. The wheatgrass will flow as the party goes long into the night, and no, we’re not making any of this up. At 903 S. Main St., (213) 500-5007 or mindshare.la.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
January 14, 2013
From Haiti to Architecture J
image courtesy of Gallery Monin
ournalist Amy Wilentz is a longtime observer of Haiti. Her latest book, Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter Form Haiti, addresses the uncanny resilience of the confounding country in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake. She looks to the past and the future, touching on the nation’s slave plantations, revolutionary history, its totalitarian regimes and its profound creative culture. On Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m., she talks about her observations with UC Irvine’s Jon Wiener as part of the Library Foundation of L.A.’s Aloud series. That’s not the only Aloud event of the week: On Jan. 17, the series focuses on Mid-Century Modern architecture, with Jenny Watts, D.J. Waldie and Christopher Hawthorne discussing California Cold War design style. At the Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.
Jan. 18: The Dollyrots, Michael Van London, Ingenue and The Gay Gays. Jan. 19: The Amadans, The Hitchhikers, Crazy Squeeze, Love Sores and Sorrows. Jan. 20: The Hot Toddies and Bam Bam. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Jan. 15: With precision riffs and immaculate cohesion, the Makers’ improvisational jazz is perfect enough to have you wondering whether they were sent back in time by Skynet to kill John Connor. The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org. Jan. 14: C.R.A.S.H., Regal Degal, Crazy Band and Protectme. Jan. 18: So Many Wizards, Feeding People, Now and Wild Pack of Canaries. Jan. 19: Frequency 2.0 Festival featuring Elekid, Here Between Me You, Xombie, ParallaxScroll, Dasid, 1000 Needles and Mike Bleeds. Jan. 20: The second nigh of the Frequency festival
SPOTLIGHT ON
FILM California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Jan. 17, 7 p.m.: A discussion with filmmaker Heather Hope concludes an evening that features two short, religious-themed films. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Jan. 14, 5:30 and 7:15 p.m., Jan. 15, 2 and 4 p.m., Jan. 16-17, 5:30 and 7:15 p.m.: Based in San Diego’s
RESTAURANTS
Gill’s Indian Restaurant
)HMXSVMEP JSV EHZIVXMWIVW MW EZEMPEFPI MR XLMW WTIGMEP WIGXMSR Free 6 Days Delivery Downtown!
'EPP All You Can Eat Lunch FINDBuffet OUT WHAT$8.95 TO EAT Tandori TwoWHERE Vegetables Dal, @ TO EAT 1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 Chicken, Meat Curry,AND Rice, Naan, Salad, Dessert, Fruits and much more! (213) 481-1448 • FAXPullao (213) 250-4617
LADOWNTOWNNEWS.COM Open Monday - Saturday: Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm Dinner 5:30pm-10pm
LADowntownNews.com Chew on the latest restaurant news & reviews. www.DowntownLADining.com
gillsrestaurant.com • (213) 623-1050 • 838 S. Grand Ave.
Read Monday’s News on Friday Night!
Read Monday’s News on Friday Night!
LADowntownNews.com
Available on-line @ LADowntownNews.com
AvailableNEWS on-line @ L.A. DOWNTOWN
SmARTphONE & TAbLET LET READy!
FREE!
NO APP REQUIRED
Go To DownTownnews.com anD aDD us To your home screen!
Right at youR fingeRtips... Breaking News | Photos | Videos Comment | Search Archives
Continued on next page
HUNGRY, PARTY OF ONE.
HEALTHCARE
indie music and art scene, I Am Not a Hipster explores what it means to be creative in the face of tragedy. Jan. 18-23, showtimes vary: Algiers, 1920s. Rabbi Sfar has more than one problem. His beautiful daughter Zlabya is becoming a teenager and, above all, his parrot-killing cat has just started talking. It’s Le Chat Du Rabbin, a dandy piece of French animation. Jan. 18-24, showtimes vary: In Dead Sushi, Keiko, daughter of a famous sushi chef, leaves home to escape his overbearing training in both sushi-making and martial arts. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Explore the remnants and wisdom of an ancient empire in Mysteries of Egypt. Ice and polar bear enthusiasts will likely dig To the Arctic 3D. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D.
holds Tina Belmont, EvilWezil, Kool Skull, Crashfaster, Wizwars, Slime Girls and Wet Mango. Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. Jan. 20-21, 7:30 p.m.: Our ancestors developed astronomy, ocean navigation, written language, cosmology and enlightenment science. In return, we offer Lady Gaga.
Suim nner m i D ch and D Lun
Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m.: It’s going to get technical as some of the rock world’s finest percussionists face off in the grand finale of Guitar Center’s Drum Off. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Jan. 14, 10 p.m.: Yonatan brings friends to rock out in Skidrokyo. Jan. 15, 10 p.m.: If Bunny West isn’t enough of a sell, Boom Boom Boom closes the night. Jan. 16, 10 p.m.: Irish import The Mighty Stef gives an extra dose of surly with support from Smooth Sound Smith. Jan. 17, 10 p.m.: Leggy Smith and Andrew Sheppard crowd the corner stage. Jan. 18, 9 p.m.: Blues Friday commences with Trevor Menear and Johnny Moezzi. Jan. 19, 11 p.m.: Respect your elders with Charlie Chan and the SOBs. Jan. 20, 10 p.m.: Honkytonk your way out of the weekend with RT n the 44s. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Jan. 18, 10 p.m.: Tydi is the perfect soundtrack for excessive alcohol consumption. Jan. 19, 10 p.m.: The only thing house music act Madeon has in common with Tyler Perry’s Madea is an utter lack of humor. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.: With the mantle of “America’s Best DJ,” Kaskade shares his turntable throne with a cadre of musicians including Rick Dees. Kaskade will be stopping by to share stories of manipulating a computer into making noises. Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m.: If you were wondering where Lifehouse has been since soft-rocking the heck out of 2008, they’ll be in the house this Thursday to answer your queries. Nola’s 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or nolasla.com. Jan. 15, 8 p.m.: Reggy Woods Jam Session. Jan. 16, 7 p.m.: Aalon. Jan. 17, 7 p.m.: USC Jazz. Jan. 20, 11 a.m.: Sunday Brunch with Jeff Robinson. One-Eyed Gypsy 901 E. First St., (626) 340-3529 or one-eyedgypsy.com. Jan. 16: RT N the 44s. Jan. 17: Nocona. Jan. 18: The Vibrometers. Jan. 19: The Get Down Boys. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Jan. 14: The Burning Dolls and Y. Jan. 15: Johnny Madcap and The Distractions, Hands Like Bricks and the Green Machines.
Downtown News 15
Celebrating 40 Years
An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance Live Lobster Tank
Free Parking Next to Restaurant
700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Tel: 213.617.2323
Why Cook? 10 PieCe SPeCiAL
Now Accepting Credit Cards
We Deliver
With minimum order of $10. Only when available. Limited area & hours.
Party Paks Available
Thighs & Legs
2 Downtown Locations CorNer of BroADWAy & 3rd 260 S. Broadway
L.A., CA 90012 (213) 626-7975 • (213) 626-8235
Tel/Fx:
with Tortillas & Salsa
(213) 626-4572
oNLy
226 e. 9th St.
$10.99 +
TAX
FAShioN DiSTriCT at corner 9th/Santee (213) 623-5091 • (213) 327-0645
Tel/Fx:
(213) 623-9405
2013 LA International New Music Festival Presented by Southwest Chamber Music Jeff von der Schmidt, Artistic Director
The Colburn School at 8 pm January 26, February 2 & 23, March 2 For tickets or information
www.swmusic.org
800.726.7147
16 Downtown News
Celebrating 40 Years cial program at Disney Hall.
CLASSICAL MUSIC Tuesday, January 15 Angels in America Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. 8 p.m.: Peter Eotvos’ operatic adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America is the subject of a spe-
THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
Friday, January 18 Midori Plays Eotvos Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Jan. 18, 8 p.m. and Jan. 19-20, 2 p.m.: The L.A. Phil plays the world premiere of Eotvos’ DoReMi, with other selections by Bartok and Kodaly. Midori takes that first violin spot.
Gaga for Gaga photo by Gary Leonard
Continued from previous page Regal Cinemas 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/ movies. Through Jan. 17: Gangster Squad (11:30 a.m. and 2:20, 5:10, 8 and 11 p.m.); A Haunted House (11:40 a.m. and 12:30, 2:10, 3, 4:40, 5:30, 7:20, 8:10, 9:50 and 10:40 p.m.); Zero Dark Thirty (12, 2:40, 3:30, 7, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.); Texas Chainsaw (12:10, 5:20 and 10:20 p.m.); Texas Chainsaw 3D (2:40 and 7:50 p.m.); Django Unchained (11:20 a.m. and 3:10, 6:20, 7, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); Les Miserables (11:30 a.m. and 3, 6:30 and 10 p.m.); Parental Guidance (12:50 and 3:50 p.m.); Jack Reacher (1, 4:20, 7:30 and 10:50 p.m.); This Is 40 (1:20, 4:30, 7:40 and 10:50 p.m.); The Guilt Trip (11:50 a.m. and 6:50 p.m.); The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D (11:20 a.m. and 2:50, 6:40 and 10:30 p.m.); Life of Pi 3D (12:40 and 3:40 p.m.).
January 14, 2013
saTurday, January 19 Brahms Clarinet Quartet Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 8 p.m.: KUSC radio personality Brian Lauritzen hosts an in-depth exploration of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet. Renee Fleming and Susan Graham in Recital Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. 8 p.m.: Two of the world’s foremost stars of opera join together here for a rare recital of duets.
MorE LIStInGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
2
EASy wAyS to SUbMIt yoUr
EvEnt Info
4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com
Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.
F
orget what you may have thought in 2009 — Lady Gaga isn’t your flash in the pan pop star. In addition to selling millions of records, her influence on a generation of teens (and plenty of old folks too) inspired Forbes to name Gaga the Most Powerful Woman of 2011. The artist formerly known as Stefani Germanotta takes over Staples Center SundayMonday, Jan. 20-21, with both concerts starting at 7:30 p.m. on this stop of the Born This Way Ball tour. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1
10
13
FW NA
WEST PLAZA
DE SA PA
ST
AY ADW B RO
www.cartifact.com
VE EZ A
SIO MIS NR D
A
101
AN GE
BOYLE HEIGHTS
LE S RI VE
T
Y
ST H 4T
ST TH 5
R FWY
VD BL
15TH ST
ON TI SCIENCE CENTER SI NATURAL HISTORY E JESSE MUSEUM E X P O S I T I O N P A R K L.A. BREWER SPORTS PARK ARENA MEMORIAL COLISEUM
V
MAPLE AVE
SANTEE
GELE LOS A N
ST
S ST
T
MAIN S
10
AIR & SPACE MUSEUM AFRICAN AMERICAN CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
ROSE GARDEN
O
EXPO/VERMONT STATION
110
O XP
LK
M
D
SAN PEDRO STATION
LV GTON B WASHIN
D
9
H
C
SCIENCE CENTER SCHOOL
VE TA
PATRIOTIC HALL
CENTRAL AVE
R ST
ON
B
EXPO PARK/USC STATION
LA FASHION CENTER
UNIVERSITY EXPO PARK WEST 17TH ST
COCA COLA BUILDING
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
RM
MAPLE AVE
SANTEE ST
MAIN ST
BROADWAY
HILL ST
AVE
OLIVE ST
GRAND
T HOPE S
R ST
FLOWE
OA ST FIGUER
VENICE BLVD FRIEDMAN OCCUPATIONAL CENTER
LOS ANGELES ST
14TH ST
T
HARBO OA ST
FLOWE
FIGUER
JEFFE
VE
14TH ST
JEFFERSON/USC STATION
GALEN CENTER
LVD RSON B
O ST
14TH PL
8
AVE
FIGUEROA CORRIDOR
SHRINE AUDITORIUM
UNIVERSITY VILLAGE
PICO BLVD
CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
HILL S
GRAND
FW
T
VE LA AAA HQ
ANNENBERG RESEARCH PARK
ST
BOR
AS ED
RA
NT
D
BLV ADAMS ER OV
HAR
AM
AL
CE MOUNT ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
SAN PEDR
PICO STATION
ST
110
ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL
23RD ST STATION
8TH ST
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE
18TH ST
10
PRODUCE South Figueroa Corridor District MARKET
HO
11TH ST
CA FWY S A N TA M O N I
A
ST
THE MAYAN BELASCO THEATRE
7
INNER CITY ARTS
FASHION DISTRICT
AT&T CENTER 12TH ST
D
10
SKID ROW HOUSING TRUST
NORTH UNIVERSITY PARK
SOUTH PARK
ST
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
9TH ST
LUXE CITY CENTER
PICO BLV
PICO UNION
CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER
OLYMPIC BLVD
GILBERT LINDSAY PLAZA
SOUTH EXHIBIT HALL
MIDNIGHT MISSION
H
6T
7TH & CENTRAL
EY SANTEE ALL
Y CHERR
CONVENTION CENTER
SPRING ST
FIGUEROA HOTEL
WEST EXHIBIT HALL
ORPHEUM THEATER
UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE
STAPLES CENTER ARENA
T
12TH S
9TH ST
6
ST
ET
PARA LOS NINOS
FLOWER MARKET BROADWAY
9
STILLWELL HOTEL
GRAND HOPE FIDM PARK
JW MARRIOTT & RITZ L.A. LIVE CARLTON REGAL NOKIA CINEPLEX PLAZA NOKIA THEATRE WEST RN EA GARAGE KH CHIC
110
HILL ST
T 11TH S
RALPHS
L PA
7TH ST
8TH ST
OLIVE ST
BLVD
FIDM ANNEX
GRAND AVE
OLYMPIC
HOPE ST
LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
FLOWER ST
JAM
RITZ MILNER O HOTEL
ST
STAY HOTEL
MACY'S PLAZA
FIGUEROA ST
FRANCISCO ST
8
D
OOD BLV ES M W
CENTRAL CITY EAST
O
M
WEINGART CLINIC 6TH ST
VERIZON SHERATON HOTEL
777
TO
SEAFOOD DISTRICT
UNION RESCUE MISSION
LAPD CENTRAL DIVISION
MERCANTILE ARCADE
JEWELRY LAAC DISTRICT
4TH ST
7TH ST
FIG at 7TH
GARLAND BUILDING
HISTORIC CORE
M
OL
5TH ST
6TH ST
7TH ST / METRO CENTER STATION
725
ND AVE GARLA
7TH ST
RO
AVE LUCAS
7
LA MISSION
4TH ST
5
IN
LITTLE TOKYO MARKET PLACE & WOORI MARKET
DOWNTOWN WOMEN’S CENTER
NEW LATC
BILTMORE HOTEL PERSHING SQUARE
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
FUTURE KOREAN AIR 1000 WILSHIRE GRAND WILSHIRE
E BLVD
TOY DISTRICT
SCI-ARC
ST
ART SHARE 4TH PL
ARATANI NOGUCHI THEATER PLAZA JACCC
OLD BANK DISTRICT & GALLERY ROW
5TH ST
D
3R
PED
GAS CO TOWER
WILSHIRE BLVD
WILSHIR
MUSEUM OF NEON ART
PERSHING SQUARE STATION
D 2N TRACTION AVE
SAN
US BANK TOWER
LOS ANGELES ST
FIGUEROA AT WILSHIRE
SPRING ST
MELLON BANK
MAGUIRE CITY GDNS NATIONAL JONATHAN PLAZA CALIF. CLUB CLUB THE STANDARD
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
BROADWAY
WELLS FARGO CENTER
WATER COURT ANGELS GRAND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FLIGHT MARKET PLAZA
ST
3RD ST
BRADBURY RONALD BLDG. REAGAN BIDDY STATE MASON BLDG PARK
4TH ST
WESTIN YMCA UNION BONAVENTURE HOTEL BANK CITIGROUP PLAZA CENTER
CITY WEST
OLIVE ST
BA PLAZA
3RD ST
ARTS DISTRICT
JAPANESE VILLAGE PLAZA 2ND ST
LITTLE VIBIANA TOKYO LIBRARY
DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT THEATER
GRAND AVE
HOPE ST
FLOWER ST
FIGUEROA ST
LOS ANGELES CENTER STUDIOS
MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN
MOCA OMNI 3RD ST TUNNEL HOTEL
LAPD HQ
2ND ST
2ND STREET TUNNEL COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERF. ARTS
T
TS
1S
LITTLE TOKYO
CALTRANS HQ DOUBLETREE BY HILTON
WALL ST
FWY HARBOR
BUNKER HILL
BEAUDRY AVE
T 3RD S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE T 4TH S
6
R
LOS ANGELES TIMES
CROWN HILL
MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX
CITY HALL SOUTH
1ST ST
T
LAUSD HQ
CIVIC CENTER STATION
L. A. COUNTY COURTHOUSE
LITTLE TOKYO/ ARTS DISTRICT STATION
GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY @ MOCA UNION JAPANESE CENTER AMERICAN FOR THE NATIONAL ARTS MUSEUM
LOS ANGELES CITY HALL
E AV
2ND S
DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION
CITY HALL EAST
CIVIC CENTER
GRAND PARK
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
4
FE
SHAKESPEARE LA
TEMPLE ST HALL OF CRIMINAL RECORDS COURTHOUSE
HALL OF ADMINISTRATION
FEDERAL BLDG ROYBAL FEDERAL BLDG
LOS ANGELES MALL
A NT
DEPT. OF WATER & POWER
DEPT. OF BUILDING & SAFETY
FEDERAL COURTHOUSE
SA
1ST ST
L.A. DOWNTOWN NEWS
AHMANSON THEATER MARK TAPER FORUM
110
EDWARD R. ROYBAL LEARNING CENTER
VISTA HERMOSA PARK
5
CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS
TEMPLE BEAUDRY
101
S
AN
Y
LO
A NT
FW
DOWNTOWN SLO
4
2
C. ERWIN PIPER TECHNICAL CENTER
T
SA
MWD
10
SAN BERNARDINO SPLIT
AV
. CH
SS NE
UNION STATION
DE LA SERRA PLAZA PARK
RAMON C. CORTINES SCHOOL OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
BUSINESS MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
Map © 2012 Cartifact
VIG
OLVERA ST
LE ST
Gas Stations
T
TEMP
EL
EZ AVE CESAR E. CHAV
4-LEVEL INTERCHANGE
Metro Red & Purple Lines
ST
101
CHINATOWN GATEWAY
HQ
ST
T
H O L LY W O O D F W Y
Free Parking w/validation
CES
ING
CHINATOWN LIBRARY
ROA S
EVANS ADULT SCHOOL
HIGH
66
ST
NEW
ORD
FIGUE
HIST
Metro Blue & Expo Lines
AR E
CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT HQ
SPR
ALPINE HILL
ANGELINO HEIGHTS
Metro Rail Station Access
AS ED AM
CHINATOWN BL VD
Metro Gold Line
AL
E ST
NS
3
HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES
ALPIN
SU
ET
CHINATOWN STATION
ST
Contact Cartifact for the full-color, every-building version of this map . Available in print, web and mobile media.
700 S. Flower St, # 1940 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.327.0200 maps�cartifact.com
DYNASTY CENTER
ST
CASTELLAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
EG
COLL
EGE
COLL
HILL
VICTOR HEIGHTS
KAISER MENTAL HEALTH CENTER E ST
CENTRAL PLAZA
PACIFIC ALLIANCE MEDICAL CENTER
Los Angeles
MISSION JUNCTION
BAMBOO PLAZA
RD ING
M WAY
14
1
ANN STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ST ARD BERN
LAFD TRAINING CENTER
STADIU
Downtown
66
CHAVEZ RAVINE
11
LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK
HIST
Y
N
8
NG K CH U
K
CASA ITALIANA
P
AV
R PA
K
O
12
ELYSIAN PARK
CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL
F
E
NOR TH M AIN
B A
IA
WY
N F
110
SPRIN G ST
M C
2
2
L
D
YS EL
STADIUM
E
1
J
DODGER STADIUM
D
NORT H
3
C
ELYSIAN PARK
NOR TH
B
BROA DWAY
A
E
F
VD BL
18 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
CLASSIFIED
plaCe your ad online aT www.ladownTownnews.Com
FOR RENT
l.a. Downtown News Classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone:REAL 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 FOR RENT ESTATE web: DowntownNews.com RESIDENTIAL • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook:
twitter: DowntownNews
L.A.sale Downtown News lofts for Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
TheLoftExpertGroup.com
Downtown since 2002 ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie
Bill Cooper
“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”
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 Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris knowingly any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. GENErAl MANAGEr: accept Dawn Eastin All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie equal opportunity basis.
citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese 2008 VW JETTA PASSAT 2.5S coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, AUTOS apartmeNts/fUrNIsHeD reNtals to sHare Los Angeles Downtown News Certified, 5cyl PZEV., Gray/Blk, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, 1264 W. First Street, Angeles,miles CA 90026 OnlyLos 10,115 ZV1959 / LUXURY APARTMENT room to Marc Porter Zasada CC059045 Only...$18,980 Call pre-oWNeD phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 share. $600/month. No deposit. Art $375/MO. SHARE apartment dirEctor: Brian Allison 888-781-8102. www.vwdownDowntown Los Angeles 626web: DowntownNews.com with another woman. Private AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa townla.com 255-6884. room/Private entrance. Utilities email: realpeople@downtownnews.com ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins paid. Quiet, clean, gar-den, ref-
lofts/UNfUrNIsHeD
apartmeNts/UNfUrNIsHeD
olD BaNk District
citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt The original Live/Work Lofts 213.598.7555 coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese from $1,295 coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, Fischer, Cafes, Bars,Greg Shops, Galleries, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, Marc Porter Pets Zasada Parking adjacent. no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com
We've got Art dirEctor: Brianwhat Allison you're Art searching AssistANt dirEctor: for! Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins downtownNews.com
erences. Near Downtown PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard L.A. 213-482-1417 after 3 p.m.
1 UNiT Available. $900 1bd/1ba, AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt 433 Cottage Home St. L.A. 90012. (818)716-7297 or (818) AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin Homes/UNfUrNIsHeD clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway 593-9060. SENiOR APARTMENTS 62 + Studio $800 1 Bedroom $921 Balcony, Full Kitchen, A/C, Clubhouse, BBQ, Resource room, Laundry, SEC 8 O.K. Visit GSL SAN LUCAS.com 213-6232010.
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt
Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.
TM
circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles Downtown since 2002 distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
New kitchen, windows, carpet &
circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr paint $1400 Downtown, West distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles 8th Street/Garland Ave. 213383-9082. AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla distributioN
RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE
DRE # 01309009
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
adolescent support group now forming ages 13-17 low fee
Only $85. FOr 4 insertiOns (Note: The Downtown News does not perform filing services)
ONLY....$13,995 Call 888-3047039 www.felixchevrolet.com
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
Ad Copy: _________________________________________
Ad Prices
________________________________________________
Name: Address: City Phone: Cash $ Credit card #: Exp. Date:
All ads run for 2 weeks. Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.
With a circulation of State Check $
47,000,
Zip Credit Card $
our classifieds get results!
boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax De-
twitter: ductible, Free Towing, All PaperDowntownNews work Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN)
The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is dissingletributed unitevery Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.
Monthly from $600 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348
________________________________________________
Sunshine Generation
________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
twitter: DowntownNews
facebook: L.A.DONATE DowntownYOUR News car, truck or
Children’s Performing Group
Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue.
facebook: L.A. Downtown News
Mammograms & Breast Cancer info 888-792-1675 (Cal-SCAN)
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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
aUtos WaNteD
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, Marc Porter Zasada
DrIvers APPLY NOW, 12 Drivers Needed Top 5% Pay & Late Model Equip Plus Benefits, New Equip & 401K Need CDL Class-A Driving Exp. 877-258-8782 www.addrivers.com (Cal-SCAN) DRiVER - $0.03 quarterly bonus, plus $0.01 increase per mile after 6 and 12 months. Daily or Weekly pay. CDL-A, 3 months current exp. 800-414-9569 www. driveknight.com (Cal-SCAN) DRiVERS: No experience? Class A CDL Driver Training. We train and Employ! Central Refrigerated(877) 369-7091 www.centraltruckdrivingjobs. com (Cal-SCAN)
SERVICES CleaNINg CONCEPTO’S CLEANiNG Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183. CompUters/It
For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com
Furnished circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles with kitchenette, One copy per person. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo,bathroom. Gustavo Bonilla
Do you have something to sell? FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00
vehicles on Sale Now!
(323) 662-9797 AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, 4344 fountain ave. Solsuite Ortasse (at sunset), a los angeles,sAlEs Ca 90029 AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez
Call (213) 481-1448 for details.
12 words, 2 weeks 15 words 15 words 15 words 15 words
One copy per person. 2011 NiSSAN SENTRA 2.0S SEDAN Certified, Red Brick Pearl/Silver, 30mpg, CU0827R / L651168 ONLY....$11,995 call 888-845-2267 www.carsonnissan.com Nearly Every Make & Model
2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS Certified, Sand White/Black, AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt 4.8L V8, Low Miles ZP1556 / 8LA73049 ONLY....$50,898. Call AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin 888-685-5426 www.porschedoCall marney stofflet, lCsW AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine clAssiFiEd Holloway wntownla.com
FictitiOus Business name statements:
• Items under $300 • Items $301 to $500 • Items $501 to $1200 • Items $1201 to $2000 • Items $2001+…
AA065553 ONLY....$32,995 Call 888-583-0981. www.audidtla.
twitter: com DowntownNews
2009 MERCEDES CLK350 AMG Certified, White Stone, The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read 3.5L, low / F270087 newspaper for Downtown Los miles Angeles5940C and is disONLY....$25,991 Call and 888-319tributed every Monday throughout the offices 8762. residences of Downtown Loswww.mbzla.com Angeles.
Monthly from Visit us online $695 ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie dtlamotors.com citY Editor: Richard Guzmán utilities stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt paid. 2005 NiSSAN ARMADA SE coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese 5.6L V8, Silver/Blk, Leather, Only (213) 627-1151 38KFavre, Miles. Ni4111 / 5N706134 coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff
• Conflict at home or with friends?
Voted BEST Downtown Residential Real Estate Agent!
(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY)
2009 AUDi A5 2.0T QUATTRO
facebook: Certified, Turbo, Gray/Black, 35K News Miles A13424D-1 / L.A.AWD, Downtown
Los Angeles Downtown News Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff,Only...$15,999 Ryan E. Smith,call 888-838-5089 www.downtownnissan.com 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Marc Porter Zasada DONATE YOUR Car - fast free phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 Art dirEctor: Brian Allison towing 24 hr. Response - Tax 2009 CHEVY MALiBU HYBRiD web: DowntownNews.com Deduction. United Breast CanAssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa4DR. Gray/Gray, Great Mileage, Is your teen experiencing: cer Foundation. Providing Free email: realpeople@downtownnews.com AC, Loaded F13074-1/ F131890 ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins • School problems?
Bill The LosCooper 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 213.598.7555 Angeles. TheLoftExpertGroup.com One copy per person.
Over 1000
AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez HOUSE: LARGE 3 bdrm. 1bath,
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse the LOFT expert! sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez
DoWNtoWN l.a. aUto groUp
EMPLOYMENT
Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! SunshineGenerationLA.com • 909-861-4433
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
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.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
One copy per person.
MY COMPUTER works. Computer problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - Fix it now! Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help. 1-888-865-0271 (Cal-SCAN) BUsINess servICes MANY A small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising – Mark Twain. Advertise your business card sized ad in 140 California newspapers for one low cost. Reach over 3 million+ Californians. Free brochure elizabeth@cnpa.com (916)2886019. (Cal-SCAN) THE BUSiNESS that considers itself immune to advertising, finds itself immune to business. Reach Californians with a classified in almost every county! Over 270 newspapers! ComboCalifornia Daily and Weekly Networks. Free Brochures. elizabeth@cnpa.com or (916)2886019. (Cal-SCAN) eDUCatIoN ATTEND COLLEGE Online 100%. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality, *Web. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV authorized. Call 888-210-5162 www. CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN) AiRLiNES ARE Hiring - Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified - Housing available Call Aviation institute of Maintenance 877-8045293 (Cal-SCAN) MUSiC LESSONS for All Ages! Find a music teacher! TakeLessons offers affordable, safe, guaranteed music lessons with teachers in your area. Our prescreened teachers specialize in singing, guitar, piano, drums, violin and more. Call 1- 866-9745910! (Cal-SCAN)
LOFT LIVING
Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development! DowntownNews.com
January 14, 2013
Downtown News 19
Celebrating 40 Years
Financial ServiceS EVER CONSIDER a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your free DVD! Call Now 888-698-3165. (Cal-SCAN) GET FREE of credit card debt now! Cut payments by up to half. Stop creditors from calling. 888416-2691. (Cal-SCAN) MiSc. ServiceS
AT&T U-Verse for just $29/ mo! Bundle & save with AT&T Internet+Phone+TV and get a free pre-paid Visa Card! (select plans). Hurry, call now! 800-3193280 (Cal-SCAN) HIGHSPEED Internet Everywhere Satellite! Speeds up to 12mbps! (200x faster than dialup.) Starting at $49.95/mo. Call now & go fast! 1-888-718-6268. (Cal-SCAN)
Travel/vacaTion
SAVE ON Cable TV-InternetDigital Phone. Packages start at $89.99/mo. (for 12 months.) Options from ALL major service providers. Call Acceller today to learn more! Call 1-888-8977650. (Cal-SCAN)
$399 CABO San Lucas All Inclusive Special - Stay 6 Days In A Luxury BeachFront Resort with Unlimited Meals And Drinks For $399! www.luxurycabohotel. com 888-481-9660 (Cal-SCAN)
ITEMS FOR SALE
HealTH & FiTneSS CANADA DRUG Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call today 1-800273-0209, for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping. (Cal-SCAN) DO YOU know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-904-2372 and ask about our test kits and get a free Trial of Progene AllNatural Testosterone Supplement. (Cal-SCAN)
downtownnews.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS noTiceS
Medical MercHandiSe ATTENTION Sleep Apnea sufferers with Medicare. Get free CPAP Replacement Supplies at No Cost, plus free home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888-699-7660. (Cal-SCAN) MEDICAL ALERT for Seniors - 24/7 monitoring. Free Equipment. Free Shipping. Nationwide Service. $29.95/ Month Call Medical Guardian Today 866-944-5935. (CalSCAN)
DID YOU KNOW that Ten Million adults tweeted in the past month, while 164 million read a newspaper in print or online in the past week? Advertise in 240 California newspapers for one low cost. Your 25 word classified ad will reach over 6 million+ Californians. For brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) MEET SINGLES right now! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now 1-800945-3392. (Cal-SCAN)
WANTED DIABETIC test strips. Cash Paid. Unopened, Unexpired Boxes Only. All Brands Considered Help Others - don’t throw boxes away. For more Information, call (888) 4911168 (Cal-SCAN)
LEGAL FicTiTiouS BuSineSS naMe Fictitious Business name statement File no. 2012257489 The following persons doing business as: KUISHIMBO, 3407 West 6th St., #101-A, Los Angeles, CA 90020, is hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) TETSUYA TAKAYAMA, 5103 Vista Del Monte Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, (2)
KEIKO TAKAYAMA, 14632 Otsego St., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. This business is conducted by a general partnership. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 10, 1979. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on December 31, 2012 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. 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4/13
DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP WWW.DTLAMOTORS.COM
NISSAN
of Downtown L.A. 888-838-5089 635 W. Washington Blvd. • downtownnissan.com
NEW ’13 Nissan Altima 2.5S Lease for only
$129
VoLkSwAgeN
2002 Nissan Altima Sedan ................ Only 87K miles, Looks and Runs great, N130239-1/2C197821
$6,999
888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com
NEW ’13 Volkswagen Jetta S
$139
Lease for only
$16,890
Certified, Turbo, Black/Black, Only 22K miles. ZV1916/AW534741
$18,994
Lease for only
$199
per month for 39 mos
per month for 36 mos
2010 Chevy Cobalt Sedan ................
$15,999
NEW ’12 Toyota Camry LE
$199
Lease for only
2007 Hyundai Tucson GLS ................
2009 VW CC Sport 2.0L ......................
800-574-4891 1600 S. Figueroa St. • toyotadowntownla.com
NEW ’13 Chevy Camaro Coupe
2012 VW Passat 2.5L .........................
Certified, Auto, Silver/Black, Only 24K miles. RZV1960/CC031604
2005 Nissan Armada SE ...................
Downtown L.A.
888-304-7039 3300 S. Figueroa St. • felixchevrolet.com
Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved credit., $2995 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). MSRP $25,505. $0 security deposit.. $0.20/mile over 30,000 miles. 1 at this offer #D9176602.
$17,994
ToYoTA
$179
Lease for only
CHeVRoLeT
Plus tax 39-month closed end lease on above average tier approved credit., $2999 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). $0 security deposit. $0.20/mile over 12,000 miles/yr. 1 at this offer # C130048/008216.
$13,999
Plus 296 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
NEW ’13 Nissan Rogue S
Felix
Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved VW Credit., $1,999 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). MSRP $17,470 with manual trans. $0 security deposit. $0.20/mile over 30,000 miles. # 411724. Model #1622J1.
2010 VW Tiguan S ..............................
5.6L V8, Silver/Black, Leather, 38K miles, NI4111/5N706134
888-845-2267 1505 E. 223rd St., Carson • carsonnissan.com
per month for 36 mos
2007 Nissan Altima Sedan ............... Only 42,000 Miles, Must See, N130227-1/7N418393
NISSAN
of Downtown L.A.
per month for 39 mos
Plus tax, 39 month closed end lease on approved credit. $0 Sec. Dep. $5359 due at Signing. (Excludes taxes, title, other options & dealer fees). Residual $14,280. Model # 13113. $0.15/mile over 12,000 miles/year. 5 At this Price.
Carson
Turbo, Auto, Gray/Beige, Only 21K miles. ZV1997/9E568766
Plus 431 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
2011 Mitsubishi Galant SE ............... Auto, Kalapana Black/Silver, 30mpg, CU0851R/E023159
$11,995
2011 Nissan Sentra 2.0S .................. Certified, Red Brick/Pearl, Auto, 34mpg. CU0827R/L651168
$11,995
Plus 311 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
AuDI
Downtown L.A. Motors
MeRCeDeS BeNz
$10,995
Auto, Maroon, Low miles, CD, Alloys, ABS, C121929-1 /7U538099
of Downtown L.A.
888-319-8762 1801 S. Figueroa St. • mbzla.com
888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com
NEW ’13 Mercedes C250
NEW ’13 Audi A3 2.0T TDI
Lease for only
per month for 36 mos
$299
Lease for only
per month for 48 mos
$299
Silver/Gray, Low miles, Great condition, UC336R/A7185887
$12,995
2009 Chevy Malibu Hybrid .............. Sedan, Gray/Gray, Great Mileage, F13074-1 / F131890
$13,995
2008 Cadillac SRX V6 ........................ Black/Black, Bose, Leather, Low miles, UC202R-1/80142946
$18,995
Plus 198 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
PoRSCHe
of Downtown L.A. 888-685-5426 1900 S. Figueroa St. • porschedowntownla.com
NEW ’13 Porsche Boxster Lease for only
per month for 42 mos
$598 per month for 39 mos
+ tax 48 month closed end lease on approved credit. $2399 due at signing excluding title, taxes, options, acquisition fees, dealer fees & first payment. Zero Sec. Dep. .25cents/ mile over 10K miles/year. 5 to choose. MSRP $36255.
+ tax, 42 month closed end lease on approved credit. $350 Sec. Deposit. $4343.26 Due at Signing. Excludes taxes, title, other options and dealer fees Lease price includes Audi Loyalty Rebate. Residual $18,099.20. $0.25 per mile over 10,000 miles per year. 1 at this payment DA011080
Plus tax 39-month closed end lease offered to highly qualified lessees on approved credit. $4088 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st month’s pymt, options and dealer fees). $0 security deposit. Residual of $30,615. $0.30/mile over 5,000 miles/year. 1 at this offer #DS113366.
2009 Toyota Scion xB Sport Wgn ....
2009 Mercedes C300 .........................
2007 Audi A4 2.0T Sedan .................
2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS ..............
$13,988
$22,991
$15,887
$50,898
Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved above average credit. In lieu of factory rebate. $3425 due at signing. $24,060 MSRP, $13,208 residual. $0.15/mile over 36,000 miles. All Model #2532 Offer ends February 4, 2013.
Blue/Gray, Stylish, Only 50K Miles, 072567/T130305
Certified, Mars Red, 34K Miles, 7 Spd., Auto, 6174C/9R070114
2010 Toyota Corolla LE .....................
2009 Mercedes CLK 350 Coupe ......
$13,988
$25,991
Silver/Gray, Clean, Only 35K miles, 4-wh ABS, 469848/TU0061
Certified, AMG, White/Stone, 3.5L, 5940C/F270087
Turbo, Silver/Black, FWD, Only 45K Miles. ZA10553 / 7A083483
Certified, 4.8L V8, Sand White/Black Low Miles, ZP1556/8LA73049
2010 Audi A3 2.0T Wagen ................
2002 Porsche 911 Turbo ..................
$22,890
$52,898
Certified, Turbo, White/BVlack, Auto, 28K Miles, A13622-1/AA111029
Silver/Black, 3.6L V6 24V, Only 24K Miles, ZP1560/2S686321
2011 Toyota Prius IV .........................
2010 Mercedes ML350 ......................
2011 Audi A8 L4.2 Quattro ..............
2012 Porsche Panamera 4 ...............
$21,988
$31,991
$65,890
$81,891
Pearl/Gray, 51MPG, Low Miles, Premium Sound, 262487 / TU0003
Plus 522 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, 3.5L V6, Silver/Black, 36K Miles. 6248C / AA535033
Plus 419 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, Auto, AWD, Black/Black, 4925 Miles, ZA10470/BN018258
Plus 116 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, Silver/Black, Bose, 6500 Miles, P12340L/CL017874
Plus 112 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
20 Downtown News
January 14, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
Howser Continued from page 13 filming for a pre-“Downtown” series episode. “He aired the show about a month later and, man, let me tell you we were on a roll for about a good month with people coming in every day,” Laguerre recalled last week. “I had to hire extra help.” Howser returned to the restaurant on a day when it was particularly crowded and told Laguerre he would put the episode on a second time to keep the momentum going. He was true to his word. “He ran it again,” Laguerre said. After the episode aired, Laguerre put up a picture of himself and Howser at the front of TiGeorges. He considered Howser a dear friend.
“We liked each other from the getgo,” Laguerre said. Howser’s passing naturally prompted a wave of remembrances from friends and public officials. One came from Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose office is helping to arrange a Tuesday, Jan. 15, sunset salute to Howser at the Griffith Park Observatory. “Huell Howser was my friend for over three decades, and no one knew this state better,” LaBonge said in a prepared statement. “He had a great ability to find fresh faces in old places, and he paid tremendous attention to our incredible California infrastructure. Huell was an advocate for good.” The Salute to Howser starts at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Griffith Park Observatory, 2800 E. Observatory Rd. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
Election Continued from page 5 than any other candidate, and state Sen. Curren Price, who will benefit from strong labor support and boasts the endorsement of, among others, Wesson and Roberts’ former boss, Ridley-Thomas. Roberts’ platform is built on creating jobs and using his connections in and out of City Hall to secure government, private and philanthropic investment in the Ninth. He refuses to concede the Latino votes to Cubas and is hitting up Hispanic leaders in the district for support. The campaign, said his strategist Eric Hogenson, is employing “a community based, grass-roots approach,” which sounds good until you realize that nearly every non-Bloomberg/Riordan/Bush/Romney campaign in history has been described this way. Roberts appears willing to do the unglamorous election grunt work. He spends hours knocking on
doors in the district and is a fixture at the influential African-American churches in the Ninth. He’s also willing to draw differences between himself and others. “Ana is parachuting into the district and Terry is as well,” he said, referring to how Cubas and Hara moved into the Ninth in order to run. I point out that he too didn’t live in the district until last year, and thus can also be accused of “parachuting” in to capture the seat. He counters that his years in the council office and USC provide a background the other candidates lack. “I was working 50-60 hours a week [in the district] going to planning meetings, Recreation and Parks department advisory board meetings” and other community events, he responds. “I’ve had to literally move into the district, but I haven’t had to build relationships from scratch.” Come March 6, we’ll see just how strong those relationships are. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.
Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!
Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777
Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants
Now For Call n Specials Move-I
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one 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 with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses 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.
TOWERS T H E
A PA RT M E N T S
www.TowersApartmentsLA.com
MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM