02-08-10 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS February 8, 2010

Volume 39, Number 6

Valentine’s Day Action 12-15

Mixed-Income Ordinance hits a wall, and other happenings Around Town.

What Downtown misses with no football team and no Super Bowls.

W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

INSIDE

City Gets Ready For the 1,001 Room Ritz-Carlton/ Marriott

Rents to rise at El Pueblo.

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

Urban Scrawl on the budget battle.

photos by Gary Leonard

What’s next for the Convention Center?

A landmark building could be sold.

The weird world of ‘North Atlantic’.

Celebrate Chinese New Year.

18 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 21 CLASSIFIEDS

The 54-story J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel tower at L.A. Live opens on Feb. 15. Developer Anschutz Entertainment Group spent $1 billion on the project. (Bottom) The site as it appeared in October 2007.

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

or the past two and a half years, Downtown has eagerly watched the progress of the Convention Center hotel. The development that began with a massive groundbreaking ceremony on June 1, 2007 — complete with a chandelier suspended from a crane, hanging over city and business officials as they stuck golden shovels into the ground — culminates on Feb. 15 with the opening of the 54-story tower. Although developer the Anschutz Entertainment Group spent $1 billion on the project, it is only now that the really hard work begins. The Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott hotel and condominium tower represents the final piece of the 27-acre L.A. Live entertainment district, which began its rollout in fall 2007. The project includes 1,001 hotel rooms and 224 condominiums. Experts and AEG officials agree that, at least in the short term, the battered economy will mean the project generates lower revenues than were originally anticipated. But AEG brass expect that the location and the favorable financing that was secured before the hotel and housing markets tanked will help the mega-development. “We financed this project before the recession hit, so we were very fortunate that we locked in long-term financing,” said AEG President Tim Leiweke. That means the developer has several years to pay back the syndicate of lenders that financed the tower’s construction; that is in contrast to several other largescale projects in Downtown and elsewhere that have been turned over to lenders in recent months as developers were unable to make payments. Leiweke also noted that two years ago AEG and investment partner MacFarlane Partners provided enough upfront capital to finish the project. “We understand that other projects have fallen by the wayside or gone into bankruptcy, but none of that is going to happen here,” he said. “We were a little bit lucky and aggressive when we got our financing. Our timing was good.” Rooms to Let The opening of the Ritz-Marriott will be celebrated Feb. 16 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, although the first Marriott guests will begin checksee Hotel, page 8

2 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

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AROUNDTOWN No Progress on MixedIncome Ordinance

ayor Antonio Villaraigosa is no closer to realizing his goal of creating a citywide affordable housing requirement after two City Council committees met last week to consider the matter. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the council’s Housing, Community and Economic Development and Planning and Land Use Management committees held a joint session to discuss Villaraigosa’s proposed Mixed-Income Ordinance, which would require developers to include a certain percentage of below market-rate residences in their projects, or pay the city to build the housing elsewhere. Housing Committee Chair Herb Wesson asked that the discussion be delayed pending a detailed report from the Planning and Housing departments and the Community Redevelopment Agency on the city’s options. The Planning Department already offered an extensive report on the issue, which was the subject of last week’s discussion. The report comes after City West developer Geoff Palmer successfully sued the city to avoid having to include belowmarket rate units in his proposed Piero II apartment complex. The ruling, made final in the state Court of Appeal last year, sets a legal precedent for developers statewide to challenge affordable housing mandates on rental buildings. The report, signed by Planning Director Gail Goldberg, said that the city could seek a change in the state law that Palmer based his case on; create new developer fees to fund affordable housing; or come up with a requirement only for forsale projects. During last week’s meeting,

First District Councilman Ed Reyes said he doubts that a change in state law is feasible in the short-term. “For us to gain traction on a statewide level is a daunting task and has failed before,” he said. “I do want to see if we can establish a strategy that allows us to be more constructive.”

660 S. Figueroa Building On the Market

ilbank Real Estate, a Downtown landlord and developer of the Roosevelt Lofts, has put its headquarters building at 660 S. Figueroa St. up for sale. Bob Safai of the commercial brokerage Madison Partners is handling the deal. There is no asking price for the 280,000-square-foot property, said Safai, though he estimated its value at $80 million. The Class A property opened in 1980. “There’s equity in the project and they decided to sell it to the market,” he said. “Downtown is the only [office] market in the last 12 months that has seen positive absorption.” Milbank filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the 222-unit Roosevelt Lofts at 727 W. Seventh St. last year. The company hopes to hold an auction to unload up to 75 of the residences. Milbank did not respond to a request for comment.

Plan to Upgrade Tower Theater Goes to Zoning

proposal to turn an historic theater into a bar, restaurant and entertainment venue went before the Office of Zoning Administration last week. On Monday, Feb.

8, Zoning officials heard a request to allow alcohol sales at the 1927 Tower Theater at 802 S. Broadway (a decision is pending). Plans for the property, which is owned by the Delijani family, call for creating a 7,429-square-foot bar/ lounge in the basement, a nearly 6,000-squarefoot restaurant on the ground floor, as well as an 827-square-foot outdoor patio. The Tower is one of four Broadway theaters the Delijanis own. Reopening the family’s Los Angeles, Palace, State and Tower theaters is seen as a crucial step in 14th District Councilman’s José Huizar’s efforts to revitalize Broadway. None of the four is regularly open.

Police Looking for Attempted Kidnapping Suspect

os Angeles police detectives are looking for a man suspected of trying to abduct a woman near Vertigo’s nightclub in Bunker Hill on Jan. 29. The woman and her friend were confronted by the suspect as they left the club at 801 W. Temple St. and walked toward her car, Lt. Paul Vernon said in a release. The women fought off the man, who was brandishing a hammer, and he returned to his car and drove away, accompanied by several other men in the car, Vernon said. The women described the car as a 1985 to 1990s model, four-door, gray Toyota with a license plate that began with “2C.” The man is described as 35 to 40 years old, of medium height and weight. He had a mustache and wore a black knit cap. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. John Arredondo at (213) 972-1248, or leave tips at 800 222-8477.

Police, the Budget And You

ith the city facing a budget crisis of $212 million, one of the most heated discussions is what to do with the size of the police force. So what do you think? Los Angeles Downtown News is posing the question on our website, where we ask if the city should keep hiring; hire enough to replace officers who leave; stop hiring and don’t replace those who leave; or lay off officers? To vote, go to downtownnews.com, scroll down and look on the left side of the page.

CRA Approves L.A. Live’s Long-Term Plan

he Community Redevelopment Agency last Thursday approved plans for the Anschutz Entertainment Group to expand its 28-acre L.A. Live entertainment district. The proposal would allow AEG to add more than 600,000 square feet of office space and a nearly 270,000-square-foot broadcasting studio to the South Park campus, while reducing the number of hotel rooms that were part of the original L.A. Live master plan. The new structures would rise across Olympic Boulevard, north of the current campus. The expansion, which still requires the City Council’s approval, is not tied to any nearterm deal and is unlikely to occur within the next five years, said AEG President Tim Leiweke. “Not in the short-term,” Leiweke said when asked when the proposal might come to fruition. “Do we have a deal in place? No.”

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

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El Pueblo’s Rental Reaction Merchants Protest as City Moves to Have Tenants Pay Market-Rate Rents by Richard Guzmán city editor

or years, various officials at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument have sought to boost the below-market rents paid by merchants at Olvera Street, only to be repeatedly denied. Now, things have changed: Within two months tenants will be required to pay rates that are more in line with what retailers in other parts of Downtown pay. El Pueblo officials say that with the city’s budget mess, bringing rents to market rate could mean a lifeline for a department threatened by drastic cuts. Tenants counter that the rent hike could put some of them out of business. “Tripling rents would be hard on anybody after being used to paying below market rates for so long,” said Herbert Siguenza, president of the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners, which at a Jan. 14 meeting directed department staff to implement the new rates. “You get used to that kind of treatment, but I think [the increase is] fair.” Dozens of tenants recently received letters informing them of the upcoming hikes. The new rates will be implemented April 1 and will follow the recommendations in a study that states fair market value for the area is $2-$6.50 per square foot for stores that range from 93-5,725 square feet. The report recommends that tenants in small puestos, or kiosks in the center of Olvera Street, pay $950-$1,350, depending on size. Siguenza said the increases will fall on the “low end” of the recommendations. That is of little solace to a group of merchants. While many tenants acknowledge their rents should be raised, most said the new rates are too steep. “We’re in a recession. This inflated rent increase is outrageous,” said Andrea Garcia, whose family has owned a business at El Pueblo for more than 60 years. Price and Length An audit of El Pueblo conducted last year by the City Controller’s office found that retail rents at Olvera Street average $1.35 per square foot, with some major tenants paying less than $1 per square foot. Tenants of the puestos pay an average of $300 a month. Most merchants have not seen rent increases for at least a decade. Seventeen tenants have 55-year leases, which have been criticized by some real estate experts who say such longterm agreements are not beneficial to the city. The other tenants operate without leases, and instead have “concession agreements.” While the rent hike is scheduled for April 1, the length of any new leases will be negotiated separately, El Pueblo officials have said. It is unlikely that merchants will see extremely long leases, Siguenza said. Common market practice, according to retail experts and brokers, are for shorter terms, often five years or less. “I think people expect the 55-year leases, and that’s just not going to happen,” Siguenza said. “I think 10-year leases are pretty fair for any kind of business Downtown. That’s a long lease.” The low rents have been partly blamed for an El Pueblo department budget shortfall that often requires a subsidy from the city’s general fund. Additionally, El Pueblo could be impacted significantly by the city’s proposed budget cuts; a proposal circulated last week would chop 10 of the 16 fulltime jobs in the department. “El Pueblo needs to be self sufficient,” said Siguenza. “The city is strapped for cash and cannot subsidize us any longer.” El Pueblo, at the site of the city’s birth, is a collection of shops and cultural attractions. It operates with an annual budget of $4.1 million. It contains four museums, five parking lots and has 74 stores on Olvera Street. The attraction draws more than 2 million visitors a year. Despite the crowds, the department has frequently needed aid from the city. In fiscal year 2007-08, the department earned $3.3 million, with about $2 million generated from parking and about $840,000 from rent paid by merchants. That year, El Pueblo required $921,000 from the general fund to balance its budget. Too Fast Too Soon The move to hike rents follows a market study conducted by the Simi Valley-based firm Riggs & Riggs. At a recent El Pueblo Commission meeting, about 15 merchants spoke against the hikes. Some said they fear they will have to close their shops because they won’t be able to afford the increase. Jesus Gomez, who sells candy from a puesto, said the increase would be impossible for him to pay without charging unrealistic prices for his goods.

“My product is 50 cents apiece. Do I raise my candy to $3$4?” he asked. “People wouldn’t pay that. If I’m forced to do that I’ll have to leave.” Mike Mariscal, a lontime merchant and owner of Myrosa Enterprises, said any rate increases should be fair and reasonable. “Come April 1 people will be dropping like flies. These [increases] will destroy us,” he said. Jesus Hernandez, who owns a puesto, chastised the board for the rent increases and said many people who come to Olvera Street do so more for a lesson in history than to shop.

“People who go to malls go to spend money. At Disneyland they spend money. When they come here they come to have fun and learn history. Have you forgotten this?” he said Siguenza said the commission recognizes the historical importance of El Pueblo, and does not want to see long-term tenants go. But he said it might be time to reconsider how business is done on Olvera Street. “People have to rethink El Pueblo in general. Having a quaint little village in these modern times is very difficult to sustain,” he said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownews.com.

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Defying Convention City Looks to Reduce Role, and Aid Its Battered Budget, With a Convention Center Move by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

s Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City Council and other top Los Angeles officials struggle with a $212 million deficit this fiscal year, plus the $484 million gap anticipated next year, the city’s top budget advisor is recommending numerous steps to save money. One of the options under consideration is the partial privatization of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Last Wednesday, Chief Administrative Officer Miguel Santana recommended to the City Council that the city begin soliciting bids for a private entity to take over operations of the 720,000-square-foot, municipally owned and managed facility in South Park.

photo by Gary Leonard

City Chief Administrative Officer Miguel Santana has recommended that the city begin soliciting bids for a private operator to run the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Officials are quick to state that they are not recommending selling the Convention Center. Rather, as Santana detailed in a Jan. 29 report that offers a slew of proposals to help balance the budget, he hopes instead to shift the operational duties to a private entity by July 2011. A request for proposals from private contractors, if authorized by the council, could be issued by June, according to the report. The plan seems to have political support: Since at least last year, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry has been pushing for policy changes that would give the Convention Center more flexibility to function like a private enterprise and less like the city department that it is. “We need to assess whether or not we are maximizing our revenue opportunities,” Perry said. Santana’s report outlines a number of other proposals that could reduce the city’s costs associated with the Convention Center, including outsourcing all of the sales and marketing functions to L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau. L.A. Inc. already handles sales and marketing for citywide conventions, the mega-gatherings that draw visitors to the city and produce thousands of hotel bookings. So-called “gate events” that draw mostly local attendees, such as the Los Angeles Auto Show, are handled in-house by the Convention Center’s marketing and sales team. Mark Liberman, L.A. Inc.’s president and CEO, declined to comment on the proposal because he said he has yet to discuss the issue with Santana’s office or the Convention Center. The report also suggests the formation of a working group of top city officials to oversee the bidding process. The Balance Sheet The Convention Center is not the only facility that could receive some form of private treatment. A process has already begun to lease 10 city-owned parking lots, including the Pershing Square lot in Downtown, to private entities. Plans are also being explored for a public-private partnership with the Los Angeles Zoo. The parking garage plan would entail sizeable upfront payments to the city, but it remains unclear whether a new Convention Center operator would be charged any sum at first. Unlike many city departments whose revenues are not on track with annual projections, the Los Angeles Convention Center is actually in relatively stable financial health, according to Santana’s report. This year, it is projected to cover its operating expenses through revenues, just as it has for the past three years, said Pouria Abbassi, the center’s general manager. Even if the Convention Center doesn’t represent an immediate burden on the general fund, it’s the future that concerns Santana. The city’s primary cost associated with the facility is its debt obligations: As of July 2009, the city still owed about

$480 million in bonds tied to the Convention Center’s 1971 construction and 1993 expansion, according to the report. Under its debt service plan, the city pays off about $40 million a year, using a set-aside portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax leveled on hotel guests. But with the hospitality industry slumping, the city is projecting decreased revenues from the TOT, according to a Jan. 26 report from City Controller Wendy Greuel. The study projects hotel taxes to raise $121.9 million by June, which is $8.3 million shy of the $130.2 million in revenue that was projected at the start

Downtown News 7

of the year. In years when the TOT does not generate enough revenue to cover the Convention Center debt service, the city must dip into its general fund, Abbassi said. So in order for a private operator to decrease the city’s costs associated with the facility, they would have to be able to contribute to the city’s debt obligations, Santana said in the report. While the Convention Center’s revenues are now approximately enough to cover its operating expenses — and not much more — there may be instant opportunity for an operator to increase the facility’s cash flow: Abbassi estimates that he could boost annual revenues by as much as 8% if he were able to price the facility according to market conditions. A quirk in the city administrative code dictates that Convention Center space can only be rented for $.32 per square foot. It’s the same price no matter what time of year and no matter how much demand there is. Greuel blasted the system in an audit last year, and Abbassi is pushing for change. see Convention, page 11

8 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

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Hotel Continued from page 1 ing in a day earlier, on Feb. 15. The Ritz-Carlton rooms open March 15. The project at 900 W. Olympic Blvd., designed by the architecture firm Gensler, has an L shape. The first 22 floors hold 878 J.W. Marriott rooms, and the 123 RitzCarlton rooms are on floors 23-26. The top 27 floors of the building hold the 224 condominiums. The two hotels together require a staff of 700, said General Manager Javier Cano. Each brand comes with its own amenities. Highlights include the Marriott’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, L.A. Kitchen, a wine bar and pool. The RitzCarlton also has a pool along with a spa and an upcoming 24th-floor restaurant, expected to open in March. Cano would not reveal the restaurant operator, but said it is associated with a celebrity chef. The hotels have separate entrances and lobbies. Rates range from approximately $200-$800 per night for the Marriott rooms and $350-$1,000 for Ritz-Carlton rooms. That is in contrast to the current average of $135 for Downtown’s larger hotels, said Bruce Baltin of PKF Consulting, which tracks the hotel industry and worked on the L.A. Live tower. Cano said he expects the hotels’ location amid the restaurants, concert venues and movie theaters of L.A. Live and its place a short walk from the Convention Center to fetch the higher rates. “The L.A. Live campus and the proximity to the Convention Center will allow us to

photos by Gary Leonard

A chandelier hung over city and business officials during the hotel’s groundbreaking on June 1, 2007. Attendees at the event included AEG head Phil Anschutz and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

price ourselves closer to what other hotels of our type do in other major cities,” he said. Convention Ties Although the economy was booming when AEG launched the project, things have changed markedly in the tourism and convention business. The local hotels that have historically served Convention Center crowds, such as the Millennium Biltmore, the Wilshire Grand and the Omni, currently average about 61% occupancy, said Baltin. That is down from about 70% in 2008. Baltin does not expect a quick turnaround. “I think, frankly, it will be a challenging year for the hotel and the market from a hotel standpoint,” said Baltin. Of the Ritz/ Marriott, he said, “It’s not going to do as well in the first year or two as all of us projected.” Leiweke agrees. Over the next year, he said, he hopes to have 65%-70% occupancy. Before the downturn, he said, AEG expected to see occupancy surpass 70% during the first year.

“It’s not the greatest time in the world to be opening up a hotel,” acknowledged Leiweke. “The recession is lingering, especially in this industry, and we know we’ve got some hard work ahead to be in the 60s.” Still, he said, he expects large events at the Convention Center to provide regular business, continuing a trend that began long before the hotel’s opening. Within the 18 months of the hotel breaking ground, the city booked 53 conventions for 2010 through 2012 and saw an 800% increase in room nights over 2005, said Mark Liberman, president of L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau. Those bookings have mostly held steady, Liberman said last week. Some new events have also been scheduled, such as a convention for the Society for Science and the Public in 2011, 2014 and 2017, with a total of 13,000 room nights over all three years; and the health and fitness association IDEA, which signed a four-year agreement starting this

year. That will produce 23,200 room nights over the term of the deal. The NHL draft this year and the NBA AllStar game in 2011 are also coming to Staples Center and are expected to generate thousands of room nights. The Marriott rooms are completely booked for its first three days in business, said Cano, due to the concert industry conference Pollstar Live, which will take place entirely inside the hotel and the Marriott’s adjacent four-story conference center. “We’re optimistic because of the number of big events we’ve been able to win,” said Leiweke. “I think by next year we will be where we thought we’d be year one.” Home Sweet Home The developer has also had to adjust expectations for the condominiums. Residents are expected to begin move-ins this summer. So far, said Leiweke, half of the condominiums are under contract, though see Hotel, page 10

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Safe and Sound Structural Engineer Nabih Youssef Discusses the 54-Story Tower’s Ability to Withstand an Earthquake by AnnA Scott StAff writer

t might not be obvious to the naked eye, but the 54-story J.W. Marriott/ Ritz-Carlton hotel-condominium tower at L.A. Live is unlike any other high-rise in the city. That stems from the work of structural engineer Nabih Youssef, head of the 20-yearold, Downtown-based firm Nabih Youssef Associates. NYA, known for using cuttingedge technology in the service of seismic safety, took that track record to a new level by employing a never-before-tried approach to the project that includes 1,001 hotel rooms and 264 condos. Youssef, whose firm has also worked on structures including Dodger Stadium, the new LAPD headquarters, City Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about his innovative approach to his latest project.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How did you initially conceive of your approach to the Marriott/Ritz-Carlton tower? Nabih Youssef: In 2007 we were asked to generate what I would call a new concept for a high-rise hospitality tower. The traditional solution for a tower on the West Coast has been massive concrete shear walls. They’re three feet thick on average. When I looked at the elegance of the tower’s design, and the curves, the lightness and smooth form in-

spired me to think of a material that has the ability to do these formations while remaining flexible. Q: What do shear walls do? A: In your home, you have plywood shear walls so the house does not rock or pancake [in an earthquake]. When you get into commercial buildings, most have these massive concrete walls reinforced to provide resistance against the force of an earthquake. It prevents the rocking of the floors, which leads to failure. Q: What did you do differently with the walls at the L.A. Live tower? A: In lieu of these massive concrete shear walls, which are very rigid, we proposed very thin — a quarter to three-eighths of an inch — steel plates. They have the ability to deform and yield, and by doing so they dissipate the energy of the earthquake rather than rupturing. With concrete you see cracking. Q: What level earthquake do you anticipate the building could withstand? A: The ever-increasing seismic hazard of the L.A. basin was one area of challenge. The Elysian Fault structure… has a potential magnitude of a 7 type earthquake right under the L.A. basin, and it has higher modes of vibration effects when you have such a slender structure.

photo by Gary Leonard

Nabih Youssef of Nabih Youssef Associates used a cutting-edge engineering approach to make the new hotel/condo tower at L.A. Live seismically sound. The building opens Feb. 15.

Q: So what would happen to the structure if there were a massive earthquake tomorrow? A: It would basically roll back and forth, like any well-designed, high-performance, highrise building. It would roll gently back and forth, and by doing so dissipate the energy of the earthquake. Q: What other challenges did you face in bringing your idea to fruition? A: In any commercial development, when you talk about the first of its kind, there is a lot of apprehension and concern. Just procuring the high-performance steel on the world market was a challenge. Also, being the first of its kind, it was beyond the current… state codes that

L.A. city adopts, so we had to go to “performance based” engineering, which requires us to set up a panel of experts to review the design. We had a panel of four seismic experts. Q: What were the benefits of engineering the project this way, aside from aesthetics? A: Savings in cost, savings in schedule and additional square footage. The total building was three months ahead of schedule. The second big part is the efficiency of the floor plate. We had an increase of available square footage of about 7,000 square feet. With real estate value, every inch counts. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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Continued from page 8 he expects some of those buyers to drop out. Previous published reports have stated that 60% of the condos were under contract. Potential buyers, Leiweke said, include families with children at the nearby University of Southern California, local professionals shopping for a second home and a strong contingent of national and international buyers in search of secondary residences. AEG aims to sell all of the condos — the approximately 900 to 4,000-square-foot residences range from $900,000 to $10 million — by the end of 2011, he said, a year behind previous projections. Despite the decline from original expectations, AEG’s prominent role in financing the development means the company does not have to worry about something that impacts most condominium projects: It does not have to meet occupancy requirements imposed by its lenders. Typically, banks require a building to sell 50% of its units before people can move in. When it comes to selling, AEG hopes that the wellknown five-star brand — the condos are officially called

Approximately 50% of the project’s 224 condominiums are under contract. Prices range from $900,000 to $10 million.

the Ritz-Carlton Residences — will have an attraction. Residents will also have access to Ritz-Carlton hotel amenities such as housekeeping and room service. “You’re always going to get some cachet when you have brand names like Phil Anschutz and Ritz-Carlton, and the location is probably the best in L.A.,” said lending expert Bob Safai of the commercial brokerage Madison Partners. “It’s right next to Staples. How much someone would pay to be there is based on location, project type and amenities, and it doesn’t really get any better.” Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

Hotel

Some of the Figures Involved With the Newest Addition to the Downtown Skyline 27,000: Amount, in tons, of steel used during construction 3,600: Number of construction workers that helped build the tower 3: Number of floors erected per week during peak of construction 54: number of floors in the building 35: number of elevators in the project 12: number of escalators in the project 8,000: Number of applications received for hotel jobs 700: Number of available jobs at the hotel 9: Size of hotel management staff 878: Number of rooms in J.W. Marriott 123: Number of rooms in Ritz-Carlton 224: Number of Ritz-Carlton condos 1,800: Number of nightstands in rooms 1 billion: Price, in dollars, of entire project 80 million: Price, in dollars, of the Gallery Collection, the name of the project’s hotel ballrooms and meeting spaces 4,000: Size, in square feet, of Marriott gym 2,000: Size, in square feet, of Ritz-Carlton gym Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

SRO Housing Corp. Eyes Rosslyn Hotel

Convention

Plan Would Keep Historic Core Structure As Low-Income Apartments by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

RO Housing Corporation is in escrow to purchase the Rosslyn Hotel, the 264unit Historic Core structure known for its neon rooftop sign that these days usually remains unlit. The $12 million transaction, if completed, would mark the largest ever acquisition for the 26-year-old SRO Housing Corp., said Joseph Corcoran, the developer’s director of planning and urban development. The organization, which mostly develops permanent supportive housing projects for chronically homeless individuals, has a different plan for the Rosslyn. Corcoran said the organization intends essentially to preserve the building as a rent-controlled residential hotel for low-income tenants. SRO would, however, provide some services for residents on the second floor, Corcoran said. “We’ll just basically own and operate it for the next two years in its current condition while we figure out exactly what we’re going to do,” Corcoran said. “But it’s always going to be all affordable.” He said funding for the acquisition, which would come partly from the Community Redevelopment Agency, is “all lined up,” and that he expects escrow to close by June. The use of public funds would require SRO to rent units to tenants who make 60% or less of the Area Median Income, which is currently $67,300.

Built in 1923, the 126,500-square-foot Rosslyn, which is owned by JHK Group LLC, has seen a lot of interest from potential buyers as of late. SRO’s pending purchase marks the third time the building at the southwest corner of Main and Fifth streets has been in escrow in the past year. Common Ground, another permanent supportive housing developer, sought to buy the building in March. But its plan to convert the Rosslyn largely into housing for chronically homeless individuals was met by fierce community opposition. The Amerland Group, a for-profit affordable housing developer that owns the Rosslyn Lofts on the northwest corner of the same intersection, subsequently signed a contract in July to buy the building. That deal fell apart after an administrative oversight delayed escrow and created tension with the current owner, said Amerland President and CEO Ruben Islas. Representatives of the JHK Group did not return calls for comment. While Corcoran does not expect SRO’s purchase to lead to any tenant displacement, current residents who make more than 60% of the AMI would no longer be eligible to stay. “We don’t foresee that happening, but we would have to deal with that if it comes up,” Corcoran said. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Continued from page 7 “The current governance structure that we have at the Convention Center is one that needs to be looked at, reviewed and updated to be more in tune with the business of running a convention center in the 21st century,” Abbassi said. Long before city officials began discussing the threat of bankruptcy, Perry and Abbassi had laid the foundation to change the strictures on pricing. The council’s Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee approved a motion in November that would allow the facility to raise or lower the rent by 50% depending on activity level. That proposal, however, is still being studied by the city, said Abbassi, who points to the inherent slow movement of municipal bureaucracy as one of the biggest challenges to staying ahead of the business curve. Working Group The Los Angeles Convention Center is a bit of an anomaly. It is one of only two publicly owned and operated convention facilities in the country, the other being in Anaheim, Abbassi said. In most major cities, including Chicago and New York, convention centers are run by independent, nonprofit authorities that partner with local government. That model maintains public ownership, but allows the center flexibility to make business decisions without undergoing the slow municipal approval process. A small number of major convention centers, including the Moscone Center in San

Francisco, are privately run. Any shift toward a partially privatized model could run into opposition from labor. About 75% of the facility’s 135 employees are union workers protected from layoffs. “If they’re just going to contract it out, we’re not for that,” said Bob Schoonover, president of the SEIU Local 721, which represents city employees. “But we are for making it better, getting more people to come to conventions, obviously. We’d like to see some kind of compromise.” If Santana’s proposals are embraced, the task of implementing them would fall into the hands of a new group consisting of representatives from the Convention Center and the offices of the mayor, CAO, chief legislative advisor and the city attorney. The group would be charged with developing and overseeing the bidding process. Beyond looking for potential operators capable of helping the city reduce its future role in the debt service, the group will have to determine whether regulations of its tax exempt bonds actually allow such a change in building governance, Abbassi said. Santana has also recommended that the city retain a private bond counsel to advise the group on what changes it can make without jeopardizing its taxexempt status. “I think the key part of all of this is what the bonds really allow us to do, and none of us can make that determination, so I’m really encouraged that the CAO said, ‘Hey, we need expertise in that area,” Abbassi said. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Romance in the City Forever 21 The Best Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day in Downtown photos by Gary Leonard

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

ou’ve got a special someone. You feel a need to do something that stands out for that person on Sunday, Feb. 14. But you’re at a loss as to just what will make the day, or the night, memorable. No longer. The answer to your Valentine’s Day uncertainty is somewhere in the list below. Try one of these 21 ideas to make Cupid’s day memorable. Or, if you’ve got a better option, share it at downtownnews.com.

hare a lobster at The Palm. Nothing says love like a big-clawed crustacean split in two and dipped in drawn butter. Close out the meal with a piece of the restaurant’s signature chocolate cake — it’s the size of a small tank and more than enough for two to share. At 1100 S. Flower St., (213) 763-4600 or thepalm.com.

Babycakes offers a host of sweet treats, including red velvet cupcakes.

et a room. The Millennium Biltmore Hotel is wooing customers with a “For Love or Money” promo: The “love” side offers a room with pink champagne, chocolates and a late check out. The “money” aspect features a room upgrade. Both start at $179. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6241011 or millenniumhotels.com.

f that’s out of your price range, or is just too much of a commitment, tour the majestic 1923 hotel courtesy of the Los Angeles Conservancy. The preservationist organization offers tours of the Biltmore every Sunday at 2 p.m. It’s an easy walk, and since it’s Valentine’s Day, you can hold hands. Everyone likes holding hands. Reservations at (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org.

arlem comes to Downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 14. Kind of. Check out basketball’s court jesters, the Harlem Globetrotters, when they perform at 1 and 6 p.m. at Staples Center. C’mon, what says passion more than red, white and blue outfits and a passel of trick shots? At 1111 S. Flower St., box office (213) 742-7340.

o to Ralphs and grab some sandwiches, a bottle of wine (hit up the knowledgeable wine steward) and a box of animal crackers. Then carry them across the street and have a picnic in Grand Hope Park. It’s an oasis in the Central City “ with, gasp, actual grass. At Ninth and Hope streets.

oing to a play is almost always a good date option (provided you’re not seeing an acquaintance’s solo show in a shoebox-sized theater). North Atlantic, from the Wooster Group and playing at REDCAT, is an avant-garde piece somehow related to the Cold War. The story includes plenty of sex, in case that is of interest. The Valentine’s Day curtain rises at 7 p.m. (the show runs Feb. 10-21, see story on page 16). At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

ake the cake! And while you’re doing it, go dairy-less and egg-less with the vegan offerings from Babycakes. Pick up some red velvet cupcakes, bring them home, bust out the box after finishing the dinner you cook and then see what happens. At 130 E. Sixth St., (213) 623-5555 or babycakesnyc.com.

o you eat chateaubriand frequently? If the answer is no, then get thee to Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse, where the Feb. 14 Valentine’s dinner for two features a 20-ounce serving of the magnificently thick steak that is oak wood grilled and slow roasted. The $150 dinner starts with a Caesar salad. How’s it end? It’s a mystery, as the menu promises a “surprise” dessert. At 330 S. Hope St., (213) 680-0330 or patinagroup.com.

evel in Ravel with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Spanish conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos commands the troops in a 2 p.m. performance of “Daphnis and Chloe, Suite No. 2.” In the words of the Phil: “The mounting and musical surges of Ravel’s lushly scored ballet are erotic beyond words — this from a man never known to have had a romantic attachment of any kind.” Additional shows on Feb. 12-13 at 8 p.m. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

et a Room, Part Two: The Wilshire Grand, in the heart of the Financial District, is offering an opportunity to get a room simply by eating a lot. On Sunday, Feb. 14, anyone who spends $100 in the hotel’s Seoul Jung or Cardini restaurants will get a free night’s stay in a newly renovated junior suite (and free parking too). The deal is limited to 100 packages. At 930 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 688-7777 or wilshiregrand.com.

et sweaty and feel like you’re 19 again when Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert) takes the stage at the Nokia Theatre at 8 p.m. This one is recommended for folks over 35 who know the words to “Out on a Limb” and “Ooo La La La.” At 777 Chick Hearn Court, nokiatheatrelalive.com.

oses are red, and The Subject Was Roses is a play at the Mark Taper Forum starring Martin Sheen (yes, that Martin Sheen) and Francis Conroy (who you know from “Six Feet Under”). It may not get gooey and romantic, but love does figure in. Valentine’s Day shows (which are previews; the official opening is Feb. 21) are at 1 and 6:30 p.m. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centretheatregroup.com.

he whole world’s wild at heart and weird on top.” That’s the standout line (uttered by Laura Dern’s Lulu character) from David Lynch’s 1990 crazyriffic Wild at Heart. It plays at the Downtown Independent theater at 10:30 p.m. on V-Day and on Feb. 15 at 1 a.m. (yes, a.m.) It also stars Nic Cage as Sailor and the reliably creepy Willem Dafoe as Bobby Peru. At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-0333 or downtownindependent.com.

he gilt-heavy Cicada is always a good choice. It’s even better on Feb. 14, when a lavish Italian meal can be enhanced with Club Cicada, the nightclub that takes over the Art Deco establishment every Sunday. Expect a rollicking big band and loads of classic cocktails. And please, dress appropriately (that means coat and tie for gentlemen). At 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or clubcicada.com.

rink to your heart’s content. There are way too many options when it comes to quaffing a cocktail in Downtown. But if you want a nice room and a nice drink (e.g. more than shake, pour, that’ll be $11), here are two options: Seven Grand (515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737) and Rivera (1050 S. Flower St., (213) 749-1460 or riverarestaurant.com). Both feature bartenders who put not just ingredients but love into their concoctions. Either will impress your date.

he day to commemorate St. Valentine lands, with a thud, a little early, as Lucha Vavoom takes over the Mayan Theatre for two nights of masked Mexican wrestling and burlesque performances. On the card on Feb. 10 and 11 are the L’il Chicken, the Mini Kissing Bandit, Lucy Fur and many more. At 1038 S. Hill St. or luchavavoom.com.

veryone loves butterflies. Everyone loves China. Everyone loves love. Bring them together and you have… The Butterfly Lovers. The performance from the Beijing Dance Academy lands at the Ahmanson Theatre at 2 p.m. on

Dogs get into the Cupid spirit when Bark Avenue hosts a Feb. 13 pre-V Day dance and party for the four-legged set. Doggie formal wear is encouraged.

Valentine’s Day (additional performances are Feb. 12-13 at 7:30). The show is described as China’s “Romeo and Juliet.” At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or butterflyloversdance.com or centertheatregroup.com.

et a Room, Part Three: The boutique Hilton Checkers is enticing couples with its “Don’t Go Home” package. The deal, which starts at $329, includes a room, a four-course dinner for two, rooftop cocktails, a bottle of champagne and breakfast the next morning. An in-room movie is also included, in case, for some reason, you think that is the best thing to do in the room. At 535 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-0000 or hiltoncheckers.com.

he still fairly new Downtown restaurant Chaya understands one important thing about Valentine’s Day: The most important number is two. Hence, their lineup of deals for couples, like a Hot Pot for Two, with lobster and chicken breast, for $62, and the Dessert Sampler for Two, with chocolate covered strawberries, lemon cheesecake, bread pudding and more, for $22. No, there is no Tea for Two. That’s a song. At 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577 or thechaya.com.

ou may think rosebud is only a MacGuffin from Citizen Kane (and if you think that then you probably went to film school). At The Edison, it’s the first word in Rosebud Martini, the special drink being served in the boiler roomturned-bar on Valentine’s Day. The evening includes live jazz, a DJ and an oyster bar. Tickets are $20. At 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com.

o to the Dogs: If you love animals as much as (or more than) you do people, the Valentine’s dance at Bark Avenue is for you. On Feb. 13, the space will be the site of a pet adoption and party from 5-8 p.m.; bring your own dog or pick one up there. Doggie formal wear is encouraged. Seriously. At 545 S. Main St., (213) 748-7485 or barkavela.com. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

February 8, 2010

Downtown News 13

Romance in the City

Love Lines 2010

Darling Moodle… I still love you madly!... Mad Camel Bubbie’s my heart. I love you always, always… .your Mu

Downtowners Find Many Ways to Say ‘I Love You’

Nancy… I am so very much in love with you… Philip Mr. Cruz… your kisses taste better now that we quit smoking! Yum! Love… Mrs. Cruz

Yvette… Soooo happy to reconnect with you after 20+ years. BFF! Love… Annette.

Adrian Prieto… I love you so much! Happy Valentine’s Day… Rachel Nunez

Congratulations Jeremy and Noel on your wedding engagement! Love… DNA

Peace, love, joy, shelter, food, music for everyone now.

TB… Little brown kitty crazy gila 11-year double baby love… Hode

Honey Bunny… thanks for the head rubs. Keep on composing. Love… Clara

Nick… My favorite Fudge Yummy Cupcake in Burbank... Brown L. Sugar Cinnamon

Steve… Happy Birthday! Everyone is celebrating Valentine’s Day with you. Love… Mart

Gustavo… Te quiero como el sol a la tierra. Tu amor… Adriana Happy Valentine’s Day Mr. Derron Lewis. May our love last forever… Charlene Tanja… we is us! I love you… Stif see Love Lines, page 14

Clinton Quan… you are so special to me. Love… Lisa Chong. Doeling,.. I love you more than the Bruins and the Dodgers… Barajas Ashley… Happy first Valentine’s Day to my wife! I love you… Gunnar Laura… you’re still my poodlebear. We’ll play doctor and nurse later… Pancake MYK… You are the love of my life. I love you… Andrew Patito… Te quiero mucho y espero el fin del mundo a tu lado… Carlos

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Gemini… We are stuck with each other for life. Love ya! Vivian Clara… We love your dancing, smiles and hugs… Mama & Daddy SCS... The best moment every day is snuggling with you every night... SWC From Long Beach to Florence… Luciano, I love you!... Baci, Barbara

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Happy Valentine’s Day Nathan and Selena. Love… Mommy Happy Valentine C.J. Society Club. I love you all from… Letty Galaviz Thank you for being such a great husband. Love you!... Lucy Jimmy Tovar… you should’ve married me. But instead I married him.

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14 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

Romance in the City Happy Birthday Henry Pathway Cruz! You will always be my special Valentine gift! Love… Mom

Love Lines

Ralph… Baby I’m still in love with you. I miss you… Nell

Continued from page 13 Potus… I love you with all my heart. Love… Trader Sam Mike… our love and laughter, let it be forever after. Xoxo… Diane Honeybunch… thanks for being supportive when I’m down. Love you… Riza

Efrain… I love you, today, always and forever. Miss you!... Eugenia Mohamed… my life’s better with you here my sweet husband! Love… Mary Adriana… Mi amor te quiero como la tierra al sol. Besitos… Gus

Keilani… Happy Valentine’s Day! Love… Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, Googeh and Mike

George… Aaaaaa baaaaaa! Agaaaaa! We love you… Daddy and Mama

Adriana, “Todo el Mundo”… Happy Valentine’s Day. Estas lista para Galaxy games this summer? Love ya… Sal “Salesito”

Hello my nice securities… thank you for protecting us. Happy Valentine’s Day… LA Vision

To my husband… I love you with all my heart… Love, Dennis

Thank you twins for making my day while I have coffee… Philip

Kirsten, Kieran and Brandon… Mom sends you Hugs & Kisses! Xoxo… Mom

Frank… you’re always on my mind, forever in my heart… Love, Me

Mama… We never stop loving you. Thank you for everything… VRR & GOR

Baby Massimo… You are the love of our lives… Mommy and Daddy

Precious cheerleader… sixteen years of bliss, I scored big… your ecstatic fan

James… after all these years my heart still ticks for you… Evange

El Fletcher… You’re the greatest cat ever!... Love dad

Dearest Beate… Happy Valentine’s Day 2010! You are my heart’s desire… Paul

Alex… can’t wait to marry you in July. I love you… Lily

John-John… Love you more each day; let’s spend all tomorrows together… Ramama

Landy… My exceptional husband. Thanks for your love and loyalty… Love, Aarion

Sara, Juliet and Ish own my heart. Happy Valentine’s Day!… Love, Glenda

My boys Brendan and Julian… I love you with all my heart… Mama

Catherine May Ward… Happy Valentine’s Day! With all my love… G.T.

Big Daddy… you are forever in my heart. Loving you always… Deb

Mikie and Stephie… Congrats on baby Katie and Happy Valentine’s! Love… Lucy

Joe… You mean so much to me because I love you dearly… Maribel

Leah at Sidley Austin… I love you and Happy Valentine’s Day… Auntie

Robin… you are 100 percent gorgeous. Love ya!… Tommy

Nicole… My love is timeless, fearless, always true! All for you… Patrick

Sean… I fall more in love with you every day… Tanya

Robert… Love you. Your Princess… Patty

Sofphie… Flowers grow with sunshine and water. Friendship grows with listening and sharing. Thank you for both. Let me know if you ever want to be bad, smiles… Edward

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February 8, 2010

Romance in the City

Downtown News 15

G… Loving you is so easy. Always your AZ, Brooklyn & Angel

Suga Bear… Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you. Hugs and kisses… Cassie

What’s cooking good looking? You still look good to me… Myles

B… I love you. I hate you. I have a headache… B

Warren… candles $5, Chinese take-out $20. Candlelit dinner with you, priceless… Grace

I love you Chulo. Happy 3rd anniversary. From your love… Letty

Reina… this time trip over my heart. Be my girlfriend?… Andres

Happy Valentine’s Day Laura, Madelyn and Matthew. Daddy loves you always forever!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Thinking of mother, father, Isaiah and Mia. Love… LeeLee

Sergio… here I am still tangled up in you. Love you… Yanira

Arely… hey baby girl. Just so you know I think about you… Cadi

Noi… Roses are red violets are blue, I love you… Jerry

Vikki B… my little snookums of my wookums… Love your Big Daddy

Sweet boss… every moment we spent together is special. Our favorite island is waiting for us… Stacey

Booter… I love you and I’m so grateful to have you… Lars

Matt Denison… I love you… Ziggy Mr. Full Marine… will you be my Valentine on Chinese New Year?… Michelle Tony… You are my first and last love since I was young… Susan

Flaquito… Falling in Love with you was the best thing that could of happened to me. All my life I waited for someone special, now that you’re mine I can’t see my life without you. I love you today, tomorrow y siempre… your White Girl

Rabendro… You are the love of my life, cutie-bum… jasotana

Daisy… you fill my heart with happiness and love. I adore you my babycakes. Kisses and hugs. Love Always… Mommy

Azizam… On 08/07/09, you made me the luckiest woman alive. Love you… Mona

You are the man of my dreams... I love you my Sercho!... Suzy

Gentrifier… Eleven years down. Cheers to many more! Love… Neon Boy

Roxy… you’re so foxy you knock the socks off me… JT

Sha In LA… Now’s the time to buy! Love… Your Future Loft

167 days from today we will be married. Happy Valentine’s Day Love!… Roberto

TJ… parenthood has proven tough but I would share it with you a thousand times over! Well, maybe just three max! I love you… Vero

Katherine, Julia and honey... Happy Valentine’s Day, mi familia!… James Amy… You’re the love of my life. Happy 2nd Anniversary!… Shmily John Jeanie… Thanks for being my Valentine for all these years. Love… Alex Mom… tu eres la madre mas linda y buena que existe. Que Dios te sigua bendiciendo. Te quiero mucho!… Norma Jaqueline… I’m so lucky to have you. You are the best teenage daughter anyone could ever have. Love all the special things you do. Love Always… Mommy

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Maria Garcia… you know we belong together forever. Happy Valentine’s Day!… Andrew Muffinhead… our fourth Valentine’s Day together. I love you so much… Lovely Dogmire… Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you with all my heart!… Doggie Nat… Happy Valentine’s Day! Excited about us. See you soon. Love… Andy Rocio... just remember that you’re the owner of my heart... Ralf Cat… you are my morning glory midday sunshine and evening delight… Nile LoDog… I do love you. Always will!... Pete

To my Meno… best friends forever and lovers. We are inseparable. Love… Katrina Patrick Godinez… I am so thankful for the love we share… Anne Pumpkin… smile! This is your year. You truly are the greatest. I love you… Jessica Alaina… my valentine, my wife, my love, I love you… Harald Ha1gaw… n o outing or meal or day is complete without you… S1uma1 Pop… My lovebug, I am yours forever… right there under your wing! Happy 7th Valentines Day snuggle buddy. I love you… Mamacita

16 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

CALENDAR Crippling the theatri Cal experienCe

Actress Frances McDormand adds a little star energy to The Wooster Group’s North Atlantic, a tale set on an aircraft carrier during the Cold War.

Wooster Group Defies Expectations and Brings the Cold War to REDCAT With ‘North Atlantic’ by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

ri Fliakos, a 14-year veteran of the New York-based avant garde theater ensemble The Wooster Group, thinks his stepmother is an ideal audience member for his troupe’s unconventional approach to story telling. Fliakos’ stepmother is from Greece. English is her third language (German is her second), and although that might be expected to hamper her comprehension of an already abstract narrative, Fliakos says her distance from English is somewhat of a blessing. “With us, audiences that don’t speak English as a first language sometimes tend to have a richer experience,” Fliakos said. “Audiences are trained on what to look for when you go and see something, but if you can somehow cripple that first thing that you want to find, you might find something you weren’t expecting.” The Wooster Group, which on Wednesday, Feb. 10, launches a run at the REDCAT theater of its play North Atlantic, is as much a performance art troupe as it is a theater company. Its narratives are decidedly nonlinear. Whereas traditional plays make statements and find resolution, The Wooster Group asks questions and leaves the audience to ponder its own, no-doubt diverging answers. Written for the company by James Strahs, North Atlantic, which continues through Feb. 21, was first performed in New York in 1983. The play takes place on an aircraft carrier rumbling through the North Atlantic during the height of the Cold War. The crew is part of an international peacekeeping force, but the work is by no means a literal look at AmericanSoviet tension, said Kate Valk, a 31-year Wooster member. As characters interact, often with the aid of analog communication gear such as reel-to-reel tape recorders, it’s more a

rumination on language and idioms so deeply embedded in the American psyche that nearly 30 years later, the dialogue remains familiar, she said. “North Atlantic is about encoding and decoding, literally and metaphorically,” Valk said. “It was written in the ’80s and that code, it means something different now. When the writer wrote it in the ’80s he was referring to movies and TV about our American military identity since World War II.” Though the past decade has been rife with military action and war politics, Fliakos said there was little temptation to modernize North Atlantic with more contemporary references, though he concedes that there is one. “I can’t say what it is, but it’s almost like just one little joke,” he said. “But you don’t want to do too much to the text. The more you mess with it, the less resonant it is.” REDCAT Residents North Atlantic marks the continuation of an ongoing relationship between The Wooster Group and its adopted West Coast home at REDCAT, where the company has already performed three times. First up was Poor Theater in 2004. The title was a reference to theater produced and performed without access to the high-tech accessories and luxuries of, well, rich theater. Then in 2008, director and group co-founder Elizabeth LeCompte gave the Wooster treatment to Hamlet, complete with flickering video footage of Richard Burton’s 1964 film of the same name and Valk playing Gertrude and Ophelia. Last year, REDCAT and Wooster made their flirting official and began a four-year residency (courtesy

photos by Paula Court

The cast of North Atlantic rehearses; the show deals with the language and culture of the American military, from WWII to today.

of a $1 million grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation) with the sci-fi opera La Didone. LeCompte brought the piece to postmodern life by mashing up Francesco Cavalli’s 17th century piece with Mario Bava’s 1965 low-budget sci-fi horror film Planet of the Vampires. Think metallic jumpsuit-clad space travelers singing arias, all while running from aliens hell bent on taking possession of their human bodies. The relationship between the New York group and the California theater is a natural one, said REDCAT Executive Director Mark Murphy, partly because LeCompte considers Los Angeles a particularly well-suited audience for the untraditional brand of theater that she and The Wooster Group bring to the table. “Elizabeth first said it as a joke that she loves L.A. audiences because they don’t necessarily know how to watch theater,” Murphy said. “What she meant was they’re as likely to have a background in film or visual arts as in theater, whereas in New York so much of their audience is a theater audience. She found L.A. audiences that much more open to nontraditional forms of storytelling, to visually structured narrative.” With North Atlantic, Murphy believes audiences may be getting a work that is more easily digested than some of The Wooster Group’s previous productions, perhaps because it is rich in themes of sex and power. “It is a raucous, hilarious, action-packed event,” he said. “Not to say that there isn’t intellectual integrity, but it is more accessible and entertaining than most any work they’ve done.” The play also gains a little star power with the inclusion of actress Frances McDormand, an associate member of the company who is best known for her film career, in particular her Academy Award-winning role in Fargo. One highlight of McDormand’s North Atlantic performance comes as she listens through headphones to a vinyl LP spinning on an old record player, and plays air bass with a tough attitude. Sounds fitting for a play that Murphy likens to a party so rambunctious and high energy that it seems the characters don’t want the war ever to end. “I’m very excited because we’re in the calm before the storm,” Murphy said. “People have no idea how much they’re going to enjoy this and there’s no way to explain it to them.” North Atlantic runs Feb. 10-21 at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

February 8, 2010

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 17

Eye of the Tiger Downtown Offers an Array of Chinese New Year Celebrations by Richard Guzmán city editor

unday, Feb. 14, is Valentine’s Day. But in Chinatown, the celebration will not be limited to hearts and messages of love. Instead, a wild cat will be the center of attention as the community marks another momentous occasion: Chinese New Year. This will be the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar, and there are several ways to welcome the feline. Many require some sort of physical activity, though there are also events for those who just want to sit and watch others perform. Here are some of ways to celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Downtown. Temple Ceremony: On Saturday, Feb. 13, thousands of people will throng Chinatown for Chinese New Year’s Eve. Community members will welcome good health, prosperity and harmony for the year with offerings to the deities and firecrackers to awaken the spirits. Incense will be burned to usher in good fortune. Those in attendance will include lion dancers and Buddhist and Taoist monks. The celebration runs from 10 p.m.-midnight. At 750-756 N. Yale St., chinatownla.com. Chinese Adventure: Welcome the tiger with The Chinatown Challenge, an exciting adventure through the streets of the neighborhood on Feb. 14 and again on Feb. 27. Organized by Out of the Box Events, these daylong scavenger hunts will test your puzzlesolving skills with trivia questions and other tasks. You can form teams of up to six people as you follow clues that will take you through Chinatown; you will walk away knowing

more of the history of the community. The Chinatown Challenge starts at 2 p.m. The meeting point will be revealed after registration. Information at (323) 799-1374 or outoftheboxevents.net. The Great Hunt: There is more than one way to get adventurous in honor of the Chinese New Year. The organization Race/LA stages another of its stalwart CityRace events on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. The trek, known as The Great Chinatown Hunt, will take participants through the neighborhood as they search for clues, crack codes and assemble puzzles while competing with other teams. Register at (310) 360-6950 or racela.com. Discover Chinatown: You can also get to know Chinatown, and take it a little easy at the same time, with The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour, organized by the group Chinatown L.A. The walking tour, on Feb. 20 at 10 a.m., will take visitors to herb shops, art galleries, antique stores and more. Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes and be ready to go through plenty of alleyways, plazas and courtyards. Register at (213) 680-0243 or info@chinatownla.com. Born to Run: The 32nd annual Firecracker L.A. Chinatown Run returns Feb. 27-28. The event includes a 5K on Sunday that will take runners from Broadway to Dodger Stadium and back. The 10K race also starts on Broadway the same day and will take runners through the hills of Elysian Park. The bike ride portion of the event is Saturday at 9 a.m., with two options: a 20-mile course from Chinatown to

photo by Gary Leonard

A party to mark the arrival of the Year of the Tiger takes place Saturday, Feb. 13. Thousands will gather at 10 p.m. to celebrate Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Griffith Park and back, and a 45-mile route from Chinatown to Griffith Park to Pasadena. If this much physical activity isn’t your way of celebrating the Chinese New Year, then attend the Nite n’ Day Festival on Feb. 27 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Feb. 28 from noon-4 p.m. in Central Plaza. The festival usually includes drummers, dancers and live bands. More information at (323) 256-1363 or firecracker10k.org. Enter the Dragon: Dragons will make their way through Chinatown at the 111th annual Golden Dragon Parade on Feb. 20 from 1-3 p.m. along Broadway and Hill Street. More than 100,000 people are expected to line the parade route. On the docket are almost two dozen floats, marching bands, entertainers and cultural groups, as well as acrobats and martial arts demonstrations. It is organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles. More information at (213) 617-0396 or lachinesechamber.org.

Festival Time: The Chinese New Year Festival, also presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, takes place Feb. 20-21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Avenue and Broadway. It includes food booths, live bands, games and martial arts demonstrations. More information at (213) 617-0396 or lachinesechamber.org. Classic Dance: The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion gets into the spirit of Chinese New Year with an appearance by Shen Yun Performing Arts. The show features classical Chinese dance and music with lavish costumes and impressive choreography. The dance is complemented with backgrounds depicting celestial palaces and landscapes. The show runs through Feb. 14. At the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (800) 880-0188 or webticketcenter.com/la. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Wherefore Art Thou Liang Shanbo? ‘Butterfly Lovers,’ China’s ‘Romeo & Juliet,’ Dances Into the Ahmanson by Richard Guzmán city editor

ith a story driven by a centuries-old theme that crosses cultures, the Beijing Dance Academy Resident Dance Company will present the U.S. premiere of The Butterfly Lovers Feb. 12-14 at the Ahmanson Theatre. The story is often referred to as China’s Romeo and Juliet. The production, which is in celebration of the Chinese New Year, is choreographed by Zhang Jianmin to one of the country’s most famous concertos, “The Butterfly Lovers,” written in 1959 by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao. photo by Wang Shengsheng Set in the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China around 265-420 American audiences get a glimpse of a centuries-old Chinese love story when The Butterfly Lovers plays at the Ahmanson Theatre Feb. 12-14. A.D., the legend follows Zhu Yingtai, a member of a wealthy family who wants to attend school in the city. Her father al- dance elements. For example, the choreographer created pare it to Romeo and Juliet so that Western people can have lows it, although she has to be disguised as a man in order to a team of male dancers in black costumes to create an en- an easier understanding, it’s unique in Chinese culture as be admitted. vironment that was adverse to these lovers’ union so that portrayed in the feudal society. Once in school she meets Liang Shanbo, a fellow student people from a Western point of view who didn’t grow up who becomes her best friend without ever suspecting she is a with Chinese cultural roots can easily understand. Q: What will the audience learn about China from the show? woman. Zhu falls for Liang, but she is set to marry a wealthy A: After the Olympic opening ceremonies in 2008 people suitor chosen by her father. When Liang finds out Zhu’s true Q: What is the significance of the butterflies? could see the emerging creativity of the new China. The identity he professes his love for her, but dies later of a broken A: In Chinese culture the butterfly is always a good symbol emerging creativity is really evident today in contemporary heart when he realizes he can’t have her. On her wedding day, for love and for beauty. They always come in pairs, are al- artists. I think people in the U.S. and Europe are familiar with Zhu throws herself into Liang’s grave, where the couple is ways together. the splendor of ancient China they see in the museums, painttransformed into butterflies and fly off together. ings and sculptures, but little was known about the cultural Hong Mautz, president of Chinus Cultural Productions, Q: Besides the familiar story, will there be any elements an evolution period. But after the past 30 years of reform and which is presenting the show, spoke to Los Angeles American audience might recognize? modernization people started seeing it and probably want to Downtown News about The Butterfly Lovers. A: The violin concerto. It’s just a beautiful melody and fa- see more of this new China. And young people in China are mous violinists who are recognized in the West have played more uninhibited in their creative sense. People of my genLos Angeles Downtown News: This is a U.S. premiere. it with Western orchestras. It’s a Western-style composition eration, we knew the fine line to walk where you don’t want What can American audiences expect? and it instantly became a hit in China when it was written. to offend the government. But this young generation, they do Hong Mautz: The dance and choreography to this concerto not have that inhibition. is quite new. Another version was shown years ago but never Q: Why do you think this story transcends so many cultures? The Butterfly Lovers runs Feb. 12-14 at the Ahmanson this version. The difference is that this is choreographed by A: It’s the eternal love story that resonates across the globe. Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or butterflyan up-and-coming Chinese choreographer named Zhang Every culture, every country, every people has its own ver- loversdance.com. Jianmin. He blends traditional themes with contemporary sion of this love story and this one, even though we com- Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

SponSored LiSting 5th Annual Nut and Bolt Party at Bar 107 107 E. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace. com/bar107. Feb. 14, 10 p.m.: At this annual party, women get different size nuts and men get different size screws. You go around and see who fits and it could be a match made in heaven. If you’re single, you won’t be by the end of the night. Monday, Feb. 8 Aloud at Central 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Jesus was a liberal, or so argues the Rev. Scotty McLennan, dean for religious life at Stanford University. He makes his case to Rev. Jim Burklo, associate dean of religious life at USC. Tuesday, Feb. 9 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. Noon: California Insurance Commissioner and Republican candidate for governor Steve Poizner gives a talk called “Bringing California Back From the Brink.” Prior to his commissioner role, Poizner founded several technology companies. Wednesday, Feb. 10 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. Noon: Theodore F. Craver, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Edison International, delivers the address “The Smart Grid and How It Impacts Our Economy, Our Environment and Our Customer.” SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: Architect Michel Rojkind Halpert speaks to the challenges of building during the economic crisis, stressing the strategy necessary to get things accomplished in different environments. Thursday, Feb. 11 Downtown Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-10 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a selfguided tour that showcases the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — commercial art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues. MOCA, Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: Artist Laura Owens discusses her work in conjunction with the museum’s “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.” Aloud at Central 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Author Joel Kotkin asks, and partly answers, the question: “What will America look like in 2050?” Kotkin, a social and economic trend analyst, argues that the key to America’s economic recovery is its robust population growth. He’s in discussion with Kevin Starr, state librarian emeritus of California. Making the Case for Museums USC, 823 Exposition Blvd., (213) 740-4561 or usc.edu. 7-9:30 p.m.: How can museums attract the public today? Several museum professionals, including Michael Govan, director of LACMA, and Selma Holo, director of the USC Fisher Museum, discuss the crisis in museums and opportunities to rise above it. Also on hand will be Jorge Wagensberg, director of the Science Foundation of “la Caixa” in Barcelona, and Donny George Youkhanna, who served as the director of the Baghdad Museum during the American invasion of Iraq. Friday, Feb. 12 Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St., Unit 4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Artist Mel Chin presents an abbreviated exposition of his works of art as political critique, chasing after disasters with options and solutions and making a “Fundredmental” difference. Chin been a pioneer in the field of green remediation, or the use of plants to remove toxic, heavy metals from the soil.

LISTINGS

The ‘Don’T Miss’ LisT TheaTer, energy TaLk, an inDieie Movie anD an korea’s r&B Diva by AnnA Scott, StAff writer

ame s t o f o every story. s the m o c it t so goe es t u id b s , e When e r e r o are th t Was even m ily, there say there are ama The Subjec r ld d on We wou r Frank Gilroy’s aper Forum T fo k e r n a li s tag at the M eb. 21). It star F eviews r is p s g n in in beg open minatio official he show ward no Roses. T y, Feb. 10 (the arned a Tony A eturning from da nr 4e Wednes en, who in 196 g a young ma y in the emoin e y h a S a r t “Six he d dd Martin e play by por d he’s t nroy (of HBO’s n u m o r a s a e e o h C t im t s t r e in c is Hu ar II. Th lm The tars Fran World W f-war. It also s aghty (of the fi aysd g-o er tional tu r”) and Brian G eek are Wedne e 0 w d :3 is n Feet U rformances th day at 1 and 6 r e n o P u Locker). t 8 p.m., and S (213) 628-2772 a ., y e Saturda 5 N. Grand Av 13 p.m. At tregroup.org. ea centerth

one

photo by Craig Schwartz

EVENTS

February 8, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

two

Take an “energetic” lunch break this week and drop in on Town Hall Los Angeles’ latest speaker at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Hotel On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Edison International Chairman and CEO Theodore Craver Jr. will give a noon talk titled “The Smart Grid and How It Impacts Our Economy, Our Environment and Our Customer.” Edison International is the parent company of the electric utility Southern California Edison. The event includes lunch. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

TThree hree On Friday, Feb. 12, the Downtown Independent movie theater hosts the latest of distributor Cinefist’s quarterly series pairing screenings of independent films with Q&As with the directors. On tap is the Spirit Award nominee The New Year Parade, a documentarylike look at a family rocked by divorce. The screening will be followed by a discussion with writer-director Tom Quinn and actor Greg Lyons, and then an after-party on the theater roof. The event starts at 8 p.m. At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

five

Insooni, one of the most famous female singers in South Korea (she’s even been called the Korean Madonna), comes to the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Friday, Feb. 12. The R&B diva got her start more than three decades ago as part of the group Hee Sisters, and continues to rock out with 19 albums to her name. The show starts at 8 p.m. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive. com.

saTurday, Feb. 13 Culinary Historians of Southern California Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., culinaryhistoriansofs outherncalifornia.org. 10:30 a.m.-noon: The foodie historians look at “The Curious History of Clifton’s Cafeteria.” Speaker Glenna Dunning examines the story of the beloved Downtown landmark. photo by Gary Leonard

photo courtesy of AEG

18 Downtown News

Munch on cheese cubes, sip wine and wander the streets of Downtown in search of inspiration on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Downtown Art Walk. The free event, which occurs the second Thursday of each month from noon until 9 p.m., invites art fans and just plain partiers to peruse galleries in and around the Historic Core. Most of the offerings are concentrated in the area bounded by Main Street, Broadway, Third and Eighth streets. What started as a small community event now attracts approximately 10,000 people along with food trucks and pop-up performances. To ensure parking (and fun) arrive early and stay late. Information at (213) 784-2598 or downtownartwalk.org. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

February 8, 2010

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com

But Wait, There’s More!

Additional Event Information on the Web

LADOWNTOWNNEWS.COM/CALENDAR : EVENTS | ROCK, POP & JAZZ | CLASSICAL MUSIC THEATER, OPERA & DANCE | ART SPACES | FILM | BARS & CLUBS | MUSEUMS | FARMERS MARKETS | TOURS Love Dance Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Dr., (213) 763-DINO or nhm.org. 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.: The L.A. Contemporary Dance Company explores the multi-sensory world of love, performing a work based on the life cycles and mating rituals of spiders, with live cello music by Eric Mason and original text by Aaron Henne. Debt and Equity Capital Resources Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Mark Taper Auditorium, (213) 488-3599 or info@ downtownlaretail.com. 1-3 p.m.: Venture capitalists and the loan funding community present resources and methods for obtaining financing of new ideas, new technologies and new enterprises. Meet and talk with the people that actually invest in new enterprises. Free.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ 2nd Street Jazz 366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047, 2ndstjazz.com or myspace.com/2ndstreetlivejazz. Tuesdays: Jazz jam session. Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m. Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. Feb. 12, 8-10 p.m.: The venue hosts a fusion night with the Coryell Auger Sample Trio. Feb. 13, 8-10 p.m.: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with croonstress Courtney Fortune. Chop Suey Café 347 E. First St., (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.: Live jazz on the patio of the restored landmark. Cicada Cicada Restaurant, 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or clubcicada.com. Thursdays, 8-11 p.m.: The velvet-voiced Max Vontaine recreates the sounds and styles of rat packers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. His smoking jackets and tunes are vintage; his bawdy repartee is less so. Keep a close eye on the unlit cigarette. Sundays, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club every Sunday. Come out to appreciate the big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails. Visit cicadaclub.com. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Feb. 11, 8 p.m.: Eddie Santiago. Feb. 13, 8 p.m.: La Internacional Sonora Show performs, with a free salsa lesson from 8-9 p.m. Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6000 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. Feb. 12, 8 p.m.: From South Korea, Insooni. Feb. 13, 8 p.m.: Espinoza Paz. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 10, 10 p.m.: Multi-instrumentalist Mark Growden rocks out (his bag of tricks includes an accordian). Feb. 12, 10 p.m.: Moan Red, Ric Veda, The Jack Fris Radio Choir and The Marietta James. Feb. 13, 10 p.m.: The Mau Maus reunion show.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. Feb. 8, 10 p.m.: Natalie John. Feb. 9, 10 p.m.: The Makers. Feb. 10, 10 p.m.: ChuChu and the Lovely Band. The Smell 247 S. Main St., thesmell.org. Feb. 11, 9 p.m.: Michael Nhat, Big Whup, No Paws (No Lions) and Pangea. Feb. 13, 9 p.m.: Lacoste, Repetitions, I.E. and Essay. Feb. 14, 9 p.m.: John Wiese, Lasse Marhaug, Joe and Joe and Seven Depressions.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com for showtimes. Feb. 9, 10 p.m.: In the Japanese thriller Ichi the Killer, a Yakuza boss disappears with 300 million yen and his chief henchman and the rest of his mob goons go looking for him. Through Feb. 9: In Bronson, a young man who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson. Feb. 10 and 17, 10 p.m.: A Boy And His Dog (1975) follows the exploits of a young man and his telepathic dog in the year 2024 as they struggle to survive in a post-atomic wilderness. Feb. 10-17: The documentary Waiting for Armageddon probes the politically powerful and potentially explosive alliance between Evangelical Christians and Israel. Feb. 12, 8 p.m.: This screening of The New Year Parade includes a Skype Q&A with filmmaker Tom Quinn, and an in-person discussion with actor Greg Lyons. Feb. 14, 10:30 p.m.: David Lynch’s love story with Nicholas Cage, Laura Dern and Willem Dafoe, Wild at Heart. Flagship Theatres 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321. Through Feb. 11: Legion (12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30 and 9:50 p.m.); From Paris With Love (1, 3:20, 5:40, 8, 10:20 p.m.); Edge of Darkness (2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m.). Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Jan. 21: Dear John (11 and 11:50 a.m. and 1:40, 2:20, 4:20, 5, 7, 7:40, 9:40 and 10:20 p.m.); From Paris With Love (12:10, 12:50, 2:30, 3:10, 5, 5:40, 7:20, 8, 9:40 and 10:20 p.m.); The Book of Eli (1:30, 4:30, 7:10 and 10:10 p.m.); The Lovely Bones (12:40, 3:40, 6:40 and 9:50 p.m.); When In Rome (noon, 2:20, 2:30, 4:40, 7:10 and 9:30); Legion (12:20, 2:20, 4:40, 7:10 and 9:30 p.m.); Tooth Fairy (1:20, 3:50, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.); Avatar in 3D (11 and 11:40 a.m. and 2:40, 3:20, 6:20, 7, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); Crazy Heart (11:30 a.m. and 2:10, 4:50, 7:30 and 10:10 p.m.); Edge of Darkness (11:20 a.m. and 1:10, 2:10, 3:50, 4:50, 6:50, 7:50, 9:50 and 10:50 p.m.).

elevatelounge.com. This former 1960s office suite is split between the 130-seat restaurant on the east and a stylish lounge on the west. The modern Japanese aesthetic with warm wood tables, leather floors, low lounge seating and striking sculptural pieces makes an immediate impression, though not nearly as much as the wall-to-wall windows and endless views. The stylish lounge features VIP seating, a dance floor, two bars and DJs spinning nightly. Valet available after 6 p.m. nightly (Wilshire/Lebanon). Tapas and Wine Bar C 428 E. Second St., winebarc.biz. In this Little Tokyo establishment, indulgence is the word: Sultry waitresses in French Maid outfits serve up sake and Bordeaux reds to go with exotic tapas and main courses. The interior is decked out in faux fur and black lace curtains. Tatou 333 S. Boylston St., (213) 482-2000 or tatouclub.com. The dance club offers multiple VIP nooks (some with PlayStation3 systems), a bit of Cocoanut Grove glam in the form of four 15-foot palm trees and vintage circular booths. The 40-foot stage jumps with DJs and go-go girls, while a large bar stretches across the opposite end of the wall. The Varnish 118 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, (213) 622-9999 or

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to ladowntownnews.com/calendar for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown. thevarnishbar.com. Like a modern-day speakeasy, this little den is located sans glaring signage, in the back of Cole’s. Inside, you’ll find vested bartenders who take perhaps the most care with your drink in all of Downtown. Weiland Brewery 400 E. First St., (213) 680-2881 and 505 S. Flower St., (213) 622-1125 or weilandbrewery.net. This Brewery with two Downtown outposts hosts one of the friendliest happy hours in town from 3-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close.

EASy wAyS tO SUBMIt yOUR

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February 8, 2010

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

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FOR RENT

L.A. Downtown News Classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ads Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm

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

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

22 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

EMPLOYMENT

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Business Opportunities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN) DISTRIBUTORS NEEDED for WhiteScience’s patented products and teeth whitening services. 300% growth. Proven System for Success, Exclusive territories. Training & Marketing provided. www.WhiteningOnWheels.com (877)909-1080. (Cal-SCAN)

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL Autos Wanted DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf. info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners Accepted, 1-888468-5964. (Cal-SCAN)

ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Volunteer Opportunities Helping kids heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

LEGAL Civil Summons SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF TULARE No. 09-233616 Plaintiff: E.M. THARP, INC. vs Defendant: ENMEX CORP, dba TRANS ENERGY USA, and DOES 1-10

Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form, if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Tulare

Living Outrageously

For Today!® NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING For Today!® DRE #01706351

DRE #01706351

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN ACCORDANCE WITH HEALTH AND SAFTEY CODE SECTION 33490 ON THE ADOPTION OF THE FIVE (5) YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (FY2010-FY2014 FISCAL YEARS) FOR THE WESTLAKE PROJECT AREA.

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

DRE #01706351

Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, February 18, 2010 beginning at the hour of 10:00 AM, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (“Agency”) will conduct a public hearing at the ofces of the CRA/LA, 354 South Spring Street, Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90013, on the adoption of the Five (5) Year Implementation Plan (“Implementation Plan”) for the Westlake Project Area. The hearing also may be cancelled or set for another time in the future at any time until the scheduled hearing time. Any person desiring the opportunity to be heard will be afforded an opportunity to do so. DRE #01706351

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to hear testimony of all interested parties for the purposes of reviewing the Implementation Plan for the Project Area. A copy of the Implementation Plan is available for public review at the following locations RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

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RENTING • BUYINGCenter • LIVING Main Of ce, Records 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has 354 S. Spring Since Street, Suite 500 been helping people live in Downtown’s Los Angeles, California best condos,90013-1258 lofts & apartments!

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ce of Council District Guess Ted’s Favorite Of Frozen Guess where1 Lance Buys $2 Yogurt Hang-Out and9:00 WIN! a.m. - - 4:00 p.m. Books in Downtown and WIN! 200 N. Spring Street, Room #410 Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Recreation GuessMacArthur where CandyPark bought six 6thfor Street Red 2230 Velvet West Cupcakes $5.

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VIP Room Available. The Best Way For Business Meetings & Entertainment

Los Angeles, CA. 90057 (213) 368-7390

Any and all persons having any objections to the proposed Implementation Plan, or who deny the regularity of this proceeding or wish to speak on any issue raised by the Implementation Plan, may appear at the hearing and will be afforded an opportunity to state their objections. If any person desires to challenge in court the adoption of the proposed Implementation Plan or any proceedings in connection therewith, they may be limited to raising only those issues that they or someone else raised at the hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the CRA/LA at, or prior to, the hearing. Written correspondence on this matter may be addressed to the CRA/LA at either of the above noted addresses. The meeting is being held pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33490 and is open the public.

CNS#1775789

DowntownNews.com

1/8 page (5” x 4”) Do you have something to sell? Downtown News

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THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST Professional massage for men & women. Services include Thai Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Swedish Oil Massage, Foot Massage, Sauna, Steam, and more. Lounge area.

Health Dept. rank A for 7 Consecutive Years

SAKURA HEALTH GYM & SAUNA, INC. 111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Ste #231-233 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 458-1919 [Corner of Garvey Ave.]

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DTLA Class A Office Space Avail. for Sublease and/or Sharing Approx. 1k to 8k SF Avail. Immed. New space with “creative” design features, great views and LEED certification Recept. Services Avail. Flexible term. Furn. Avail. Sean O’Leary 310.491.2010 sean.oleary@grubb-ellis.com

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

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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.

February 8, 2010

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

221 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93291 Case Number: 09-233616 Dated: July 17, 2009 The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Plaintiff’s attorney is:

Robert Krase, Esq. #073388 132 East Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Telephone: 559-784-2353 Clerk: LaRayne Cleek Deputy: Anna L. Lopez Pub. 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22/10

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City Lofts:

900 sqft, 13 ft ceilings, $1500/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

NOW LEASING

FROM $1,250’s/Mo. Free Parking ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

756 S. Broadway • Downtown Los Angeles 213-892-9100 • chapmanf lats.com

Please call 213.627.6913

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY! studios from $1,685* • 1 bedroom from $1,818* • 2 bedroom from $2,212* *Availability and prices are subject to change at any time.

• Brunswick Four Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Massage Room, Sauna and Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Room • Free Abundant Gated and Garage Parking • Business Center, Conference Room • Directors Screening Room

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Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

• Lavish Fountains and Sculptures • Free Tanning Rooms • Concierge Service • 24 Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-site Management • Free DSL Computer Use Available • Free Wi-Fi • Magnificent City Views • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball Court, Workout Stations, BBQ’s and Jogging Track

UNITS FEATURE: Private Washer and Dryer • Fully Equipped Gourmet Kitchens Maple European Style Cabinetry • Granite Counter Tops Natural Stone Marble Counter Baths

Pricing subject to change without notice.

Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills Locations Nationwide Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites

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Services Include: • Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw • Fax • Photocopy • More Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

866-861-2010

Jenny Ahn (213) 996-8301 jahn@regentBC.com www.regentbc.com

Orsini Low Move in Special Unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $695/mo. Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area.

the loft expert! group

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

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

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Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

to be processed for the following Monday's edition.

For legal notices please call 213-481-1448

• Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST to be processed for the following Monday's edition. Deadlines subject to change for special issues and holidays.

For legal notices please call 213-481-1448

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

DOWNTOWN SOUTH PARK AFFORDAbLE PROGRAM

Luxury Living Studios: $925 1 Bdrms $1,056 2 Bdrms $1,321

Income and Program Guidelines Apply. Call for Details. High Rise Apartment, Pool, Fitness Center, Subterranean Parking (Additional), Great Location, 2 blocks to Staples Center. Call Toll Free 1-888-810-9608

LOFTS • RENT • LOFTS • RENT

SPECIAL MOVE IN -

TWO WEEKS FREE RENT AND LOW DEPOSIT. Real Artist Lofts available in original 18 unit Downtown Artist Loft bldg. close to Southern Cal. School of Architecture. Starting at approximately 1200 to 2100 Sq. ft. large open space with new kit and bath. Laundry, gated parking and intercom entry from $1200.

1427 E. 4th St. Contact Julie at (323) 261-1099 ❚ 1 Bed. 1 Bath. Lafayette Park Place. Move In Now. $1200 Month ❚ 1 Bed. 1 Bath. Bunker Hill Tower. City View. $1650 Month Single Family Home For Sale

❚ N/E Pasadena. 3+2 w/pool. Bank Foreclosure. $774,900.

Bunker Hill real estate Co, inC.

EsTaBlisHED 1984

Mirza Alli, Broker/Realtor • Leasing-Sales-Loans-Refinance • (213) 680-1720 • www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

Rooms AvAilAble ✓ Private Bathroom ✓ Cable TV w/HBO ✓ 24 hr. Front Desk Close to transportation, L.A. Live and Staples Center

Weekly $175 1-2 people Daily $40 1-2 people Stuart Hotel 718 S. Union Ave. (Union & 7th St.)

213.413.8100

Available Immediately Top floor of 11 story (18,000 SF) historic building available now! Perfect for corporate hqtrs. Features separate executive suite(s). Stunning views of LA two blocks away from Staples Center and across the street from the new LA Live complex. We have approximately 7,800 square feet of space open with offices along the exterior. Full kitchen with dishwasher, high exposed ceilings and stained floors. The building also has approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some small offices available. These spaces can be viewed by appointment.

Information available to qualified prospective tenants. Email request to mdavis@shammasgroup.com or call (213) 746-6300

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation

DowntownNews.com makesplacing a classified ad in the

Deadlines subject immediately to change for special issues and holidays. • Online ads will appear after they are approved.

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For rent

e-mail us: Info@bunkerhillrealestate.com

L.A. Downtown News is easier than ever. DowntownNews.com makesplacing a classified ad in the Your ad will appear online and in our publication L.A. Downtown News is easier in a couple of easy steps.than ever. Your adads will online and inthey ourare publication • Online willappear appear immediately after approved. in a easy steps.at noon PST • Print ads must becouple receivedof before Thursday

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 OPEN DAILY

Take us home aDoPt (or FoSter) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAvewLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

24 Downtown News

February 8, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games The Ballers Hit All-Star Week and the Kings Go Streaking Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m.: The Lakers have a much-needed light load this week, with only two games (it’s All-Star week), starting with San Antonio. Kobe Bryant recently surpassed Jerry West as the team’s all-time scoring leader, though since he did so in a game the team ultimately lost, the feat came with murmurs of #24’s old selfishness. Kobe could quash those rumors by dishing the ball to Andrew Bynum, who’s been on a roll ever since dunking on Kevin Garnett two weeks ago. He’ll look to continue the roll in Utah (Feb. 10). Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.: The Clips host Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz to start the week, and every game is critical if they are

thinking playoffs. News flash to Baron Davis: The team needs to string a few Ws together ASAP, or the Baron experiment in L.A. will lead to two consecutive years of disappointment. They can start with Utah, then move on to Golden State (Feb. 10). Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. Feb. 11 and 13, 7:30 p.m.; The Kings take on the Ducks (again) this week in Anaheim (Feb. 8), then look to keep up their winning ways against the Oilers and the Avalanche. Speaking of winning, did somebody slip a copy of Old School into the Kings’ locker room DVD player? Because in the famous words of Hank the Tank, “We’re going streaking!” As of press time, the Kings had won eight in a row (and 10 of their last 11). Once the taste of winning hits your lips, it’s so good. —Ryan Vaillancourt

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 l l a C 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