03-07-11 by Los Angeles Downtown News

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

PEDESTRIAN A South Park Picnic

Saturday, March 12, 2011, 2-5pm See Page 23 for Details

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

March 7, 2011

Volume 40, Number 10

BEING

Greener Pastures

LOS ANGELES

INSIDE

More Broadway happenings.

Urban Scrawl’s Believe It or Not.

Trying to fund the streetcar.

Beware of the zombie buildings.

At Your Service As Downtown Changes, So Do the Challenges for Hotel Concierges Conflict on Grand Avenue.

15 CALENDAR LISTINGS 25 MAP 26 CLASSIFIEDS

by Richard Guzmán city editor

elvin Jarrett says his job has not gotten easier in the past decade. He’s not complaining, just stating a fact. The increased challenges, he said, are also precisely why his job is better than it was. Jarrett is a hotel concierge, the person who for many visitors is the vital source of information on the neighborhood. But with Downtown’s growth of the past decade, a lot has changed in the neighborhood. Those tasked with always being in the know say their jobs have evolved along with

the area. As the head concierge at the Omni Hotel at 251 S. Olive St., Jarrett’s job is to assist guests with any manner of requests. Some want tickets to a concert or game, others are looking for reservations at a hot restaurant, and still others just want to know where to go for a drink or what tour to take. For Jarrett, both the increased challenge and the heightened enjoyment comes from how much Downtown has to offer these days. It’s a marked contrast from 2001, he says, when the options in the see Concierges, page 21

photo by Gary Leonard

James Russell has been a concierge at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel for 20 years. The former singer says it is a challenge to keep up with the scores of new restaurants and bars in Downtown.

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

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March 7, 2011

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AROUNDTOWN Take a Survey, Help Downtown, Win a Prize

os Angeles Downtown News and the Downtown Center Business Improvement District are looking for a few thousand people willing to help Downtown by answering a few simple questions. We are preparing the latest installment of the Downtown L.A. Demographic Survey, which compiles statistics about the community, and also helps determine what those who live, work or play in the area want most. Is it Trader Joe’s? Whole Foods? An Apple store? Something else? The demographic data will be used to lure businesses to the area. Those who complete the survey also have the opportunity to enter a drawing for prizes including gift certificates, hotel stays and merchandise. To take part, go to downtownla.com/survey. It only takes a few minutes.

Wilshire Grand Plan Heads to City Council

he City Council could give final approval this week to the $1 billion plan to demolish the Wilshire Grand Hotel and erect two towers in its place. The panel is slated to vote on Wednesday, March 9, on the project from building owner Hanjin and its development partner, Thomas Properties Group. The team hopes to begin demolition work in December and build a 45-story hotel and condominium tower by 2015; a second office structure would follow at a later date. Last week, the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved the project, granting it an array of signage and

lighting that the City Planning Commission, and a host of signage critics, opposed. If approved, the project would also spur the study and future development of a special sign district along Figueroa Street, between Seventh Street and Olympic Boulevard; an amendment by Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry calls for the developer to pay $400,000 for the study. Thomas Properties Group appears to have smoothed over complaints from its neighbor at 1000 Wilshire by pushing for several changes to its traffic circulation plan. However, Brookfield Properties, which recently appealed a long list of pending entitlements, remains a question mark, said Ayahlushim Getachew, senior vice president with TPG. She said her firm would be meeting with Brookfield before the council hearing in an attempt to resolve the disputes.

Jewelry Heist Nets $3 Million Worth of Goods

n a crime fit for Hollywood, two suspects were still on the loose last week after tunneling into a Broadway jewelry store and making off with more than $3 million worth of goods. Central Area police detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two masked gunmen who burglarized the shop in the 600 block of South Broadway between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. Once inside, the suspects went through the store, methodically emptying the display cases of high-quality jewelry, police said. Video images of the suspects are available at lapdonline.org/lapd_tv. Anyone who recognizes the suspects or their voices is asked to contact Central Area Burglary Det. Michael Mazzacano at (213) 972-1231.

photo by Gary Leonard

Local leaders and artists gathered at the Million Dollar Theatre on Tuesday, March 1, to announce Broadway 100, a celebration of the centennial of some of the street’s theaters. Concerts, screenings and more will take place throughout the spring and summer.

Settlement May Be Near For 2121 Lofts

uval Bar-Zemer and Leonard Hill of Arts District developer Linear City are a step closer to taking control of the embattled residential project known as 2121 Lofts. The developer, which purchased the note on the property last year, has reached a settlement agreement with 2121 Lofts’ primary investor, Phoenix Housing Partners West, and East West Bank, the project’s original lender. The plan still needs court approval from a bankruptcy judge; a hearing is set for March 17. If the judge OKs the settlement, Bar-Zemer said he plans to immediately resume construction on the project — it has about $6 million worth of unfinished work — and open it as rental

units. The settlement would bring closure to a project embroiled in financial woes and legal scuffles since 2008, when original developer Concerto Development defaulted.

Park Could Avoid Destructive ‘Cut and Cover’

fficials with Los Angeles State Historic Park last week breathed a cautious sigh of relief after new recommendations were announced for the Los Angeles to Palmdale portion of the state’s $42.6 billion high-speed rail network. On Thursday, March 3, the California High-Speed Rail Authority heard an update on a July 2010 see Around Town, page 8

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Downtown News 3

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March 7, 2011

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EDITORIALS The Readers React

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Comments on Coffee, The Election and Union Station Regarding the Editorial “Endorsement: José Huizar in the 14th,” published Feb. 28 reat commentary on the campaign’s demise into gutter politics. But I think the bigger issue of ethical leadership was missed in the article. Whether it is possible to find such leadership in the political arena may be questionable, but I would vote for a fresh start for the District. What we risk is more of the same politicos. What we might gain is more energy for all the District and not simply the front-page eye-catching projects! —Wondering Dawg, March 3, 7:41 p.m.

Regarding the article “Welcome to Coffee Row,” by Ryan Vaillancourt, published Feb. 28 had the best soy latte at CoffeeBar! Pricey? Yes, but you get your money’s worth. —Kathleen, Feb. 28, 7:14 a.m.

I I

guess the coffee bars below Seventh Street don’t qualify as Coffee Row. The coffee at Infusion is made from Illy beans and the barista is warm and friendly and brews terrific coffee that doesn’t need to be disguised with cream or sugar. The topper is they are not pricey like the ones listed in the article. Good coffee doesn’t have to cost as much as a meal. And we should not be glamorizing superficial principles, e.g., atmosphere equals better coffee and warrants higher prices. —Surfer Girl, March 2, 3:19 p.m. Regarding the article “Metro to Buy Union Station,” by Richard Guzman, published online Feb. 24 lease, don’t build any more. In fact, can they please tear down those apartments blocking the view of this gorgeous structure? Why are they hiding it? It’s a historical monument and they ruined it with those apartments. —E. Ortega, Feb. 24, 2:45 p.m.

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disagree with the commenter who suggests Metro tear down what’s been built in the name of, what, good aesthetic tastes? Are we creating a place that tourists can glance at while driving past on Alameda once every few years, or a real transit center at the heart of a thriving business, retail and residential district? Build more on and around Union Station, I say. Use those revenues to fund better bus and rail operations. —Aaron, March 2, 1:03 p.m. Regarding the article “Big Bump for Wilshire Grand Project,” by Ryan Vaillancourt, published Feb. 28 s someone who works a block away, and plans to live in Downtown in the future, I agree with Brookfield Properties and Broadway Partners’ objections. While their main reason is to protect the value of their properties, they are also correct in regards to the light and aesthetic pollution the proposed structures will create. L.A. Live is different, as it is located within a defined entertainment zone. Thomas Properties Group’s development is located in the Financial District, which should be free of circus-like structures. —Tom, Feb. 28, 7:14 a.m.

Mahony’s Strong Downtown Legacy

n Feb. 27, Cardinal Roger Mahony stepped down as the head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at the church-mandated age of 75. While his handing of the reins to Archbishop Jose Gomez was noted and reported on, it was still relatively subdued. Considering Mahony’s quarter century atop the nation’s largest Roman Catholic constituency, one might have expected more pomp and circumstance, more celebration and commemoration of a strong and quietly charismatic leader in the weeks leading to the changeover. That said, the fairly muted tone is not surprising. Observers and officials within the church recognize that the priest abuse scandal, which led to the local Archdiocese’s $660 million settlement with the victims, has tempered celebration of Mahony’s tenure. Any grand marking of his accomplishments would have sparked another intense and unwelcome (for the church) focus on the scandal. His handling of the abuse is an issue that cannot and should not be underplayed. It will play a significant role in determining Mahony’s judgment by history. His legacy likely will not be defined for decades. With that understood, one also cannot consider Mahony’s time without recognizing what he has accomplished in Downtown Los Angeles. In this community, which for more than a century has been the headquarters of the archdiocese, his legacy is strong. Not only has he been an effective, engaged and progressive leader (particularly on the issue of immigrants’ rights), he has left behind a building that has changed Downtown’s skyline and that serves the entire region. It is easy now to forget what transpired in the years after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The temblor inflicted serious damage on St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, an 1876 struc-

ture at Second and Main streets that had long been the center of Catholic life in Los Angeles. The building was declared unsafe and a few months later was shuttered. What followed was a rollicking collision of politics, religion and preservation. Mahony, responding to the damage and also recognizing that the building was inadequate for a 21st century flock, sought to raze the structure and build a new cathedral on the site. The preservation community, led by the Los Angeles Conservancy, fought bitterly, touting St. Vibiana’s architecture and role in Los Angeles. Its allies also argued that the damage was not as extensive as Mahony claimed, and that the building could be repaired and re-opened. Mahony rallied his supporters. Local elected and business leaders joined him at press conferences saying St. Vibiana’s needed to be demolished so a new cathedral could rise. A threat was floated that failure to do so could force the Archdiocese to relocate out of Downtown, possibly even in the San Fernando Valley. The Conservancy ultimately won the battle through the courts, and in one amazing moment a judge granted an early-morning order to stop the structure from being disassembled. The order came after the church’s cupola had been removed. Years later Mahony would note, ironically and with a smile, how the conflict ultimately benefited everyone. The church was saved, deconsecrated, preserved and is now a lovely events venue. Mahony, meanwhile, led the Archdiocese’s search for a new home, which it found on a 5.6-acre parking lot on a block bounded by Temple Street, Hill Street and Grand Avenue, and overlooking the 101 Freeway. The mother church would remain in Downtown thanks to a deal that involved the County and the Community

Redevelopment Agency. Mahony and church leaders launched an international architecture competition, ultimately selecting Spain’s José Rafael Moneo. A ground blessing took place in 1997, and in the fall of 2002 the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels opened. Mahony was always cognizant of the future as he planned the building, stating he wanted a cathedral that would stand for 500 years. Thus, he left spaces empty, knowing future leaders would add to it with elements reflecting an evolving city. He placed a large cross over the freeway so it would be a beacon to drivers. He chose the stone in the edifice partly for how it would appear at night when illuminated. Long before construction began, he also talked about creating a building that would serve the entire community, not just the region’s 4 million Catholics. Eight years into the cathedral’s life, that has come to fruition. The pacific plaza is open to the public, its gardens a pleasant place to escape, its animal sculptures a delight for children. In addition to holding Mass and Catholic celebrations, the church has hosted summer productions of free Shakespeare and is home to an annual, and also free, L.A. Opera presentation. Summer’s Dog Day Afternoon unfolds on the plaza, offering people of diverse faiths what may be their only reason to head to a Catholic house of worship. The cathedral has also become the site of high-profile funerals, a place where fallen police officers and firefighters are eulogized and mourned by the entirety of Los Angeles. In short, the building has become what Mahony promised it would: a center for Angelenos of all faiths. It will continue to function as such for decades and, if Mahony’s prognostication was right, for centuries.

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 5

The Streetcar’s Taxing Matter Decision on Whether Property Owners Pay for $125 Million Project Could Be Made by Residents by RichaRd Guzmán

Allen said if registered voters approved the CFD, only property owners would end up paying the tax, but the cost could be passed down to renters in the form of higher rents. “If you’re a condo owner you would pay, but if you’re a renter you don’t directly pay,” he said. Passing along the cost to apartment dwellers, he added, “would be dependent upon the owner of the rental building.” Allen was quick to say that a decision on who will vote for the funding source has yet to be made. He added that the registered voter option would not occur without the approval of property owners along the fourmile route that would link L.A. Live and Bunker Hill, with a main spine on Broadway. “We wouldn’t go to registered voters until the property owners said that’s what they wanted, so we still have to continue to reach out to property owners,” he said. However, there are already steps being taken that indicate this is the likely option. On Thursday, March 3, the Community Redevelopment Agency gave final approval to an $8.3 million allocation for the project, which was part of the $10 million the agency had pledged for the streetcar in 2009. The CRA allocated $7.1 million of those funds specifically for the establishment of the CFD and preliminary engineering. Allen said the CRA’s move doesn’t mean the decision is final. “The CRA money has to be committed,” he said. “The money is being allocated toward that but it doesn’t mean it will be spent on that or that it’s going to happen.” While the proposal has the support of sev-

city editoR

f and when the $125 million Downtown L.A. Streetcar ever comes to fruition, property owners near the route will likely have to pay for a majority of the construction and operating costs. However, officials with Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit entity working on the project, last week acknowledged that those property owners may not officially be the ones deciding if they’ll even have to spend the money — the decision could be made by residents living in the area. In recent meetings with property owners to discuss the project, LASI officials have been focusing on a Community Facilities District, a special tax on private property. It would require a two-thirds majority decision from registered voters who live within a few blocks of the route. It is an essential step if residential square footage, which would comprise about 30% of the land along the proposed route, is to be included in the assessment district, said Dennis Allen, executive director of LASI. A property owner would only get a vote if he or she also lives in the area. Allen said if property owners were to cast the deciding votes, residential property could not be taxed, which would mean a larger chunk of the funds would have to come from commercial owners. “They would pay a higher rate because residences would not be included, and that includes condos and big apartment buildings,” Allen said.

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photo by Gary Leonard

Dennis Allen, executive director of Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., said officials are looking at letting area voters decide on whether property owners should pay for the project.

eral major property owners along the route, at least one large stakeholder is opposed to having residents decide on whether or not they should be assessed thousands of dollars. Roberto Saldaña, the in-house counsel for Downtown Management, who represents Joseph Hellen, the owner of nine Downtown properties, and Greg Martin, vice president of the company, said they are concerned that the vote on a tax could be taken out of the hands of the property owners. “The L.A. Streetcar Inc. have stated that Broadway owners support the streetcar, but when it comes down to it, they’re not prepared to let the Broadway owners vote for it,” Martin said. Steve Needleman, whose extensive Down-

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town holdings include the Orpheum Theatre, and who also sits on the LASI board of directors, said that while it would be ideal if property owners could vote on the tax, it would exclude too much taxable square footage from the assessment district. “The residents will also be the substantial users of this service, so it’s needed,” he said. “If we don’t include the residential there’s all the residential dollars that are not included, and all the other properties would have to pick it up.” Needleman acknowledged that not all property owners will be in favor of the CFD, but he said in the end, it’s an investment that will benefit all of Downtown. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownews.com.

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On to Greener Pastures A Downtown Art Pioneer Walks Away From the Street-front Gallery Scene staff wRiteR

o single person can claim credit for the past decade of growth in Downtown. But it’s safe to say that the Historic Core would not be the burgeoning hub of nightlife and art galleries that it is without Bert Green. Green spurred the neighborhood’s evolution into an enclave for creative types when he brought his gallery, Bert Green Fine Art, from Los Feliz to the southwest corner of Fifth and Main streets in 2004. That same year he founded the Downtown Art Walk. Last week, Green moved out of his gallery in the Rosslyn Hotel — it is now occupied by the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art — and is taking his business private, by appointment only in his Historic Core loft. Later this year, Green plans to leave Downtown entirely — he’s moving to Chicago, to join his partner. Last week, Green discussed the evolution of the Downtown art scene and the bittersweet nature of departing a place he helped create. Los Angeles Downtown News: Do you have mixed feelings about closing the street-front gallery? Bert Green: No, I’m ready to move on. What I did here was this whole process of getting involved in and then helping to change Downtown. I’m insanely proud of what’s happened down here. My expectations were exceeded; what we were able to do here and what it’s turned into is amazing.

Q: What were your expectations? A: There was an opportunity here to be in an urban environment, to not necessarily have to commute to work by car and to create sort of an L.A. version of what happened in New York in the 1960s and ’70s with SoHo, where there was this incredible opportunity of architecture and urbanism and revitalizing the core city. I don’t know that I had specific expectations. My vision was maybe we’ll attract five or six galleries; maybe we’ll have this little scene happening here; maybe we’ll be able to get people to pay attention to it. I had no idea that five years later the Art Walk would be attracting 25,000 people or that it would start to become the hip place to live, which hasn’t necessarily been a great benefit to the galleries, but has been great for the neighborhood. Q: Is it inevitable that the galleries will be priced out of the Historic Core? A: No. From my perspective, I had the opportunity to get in here on the ground floor at a very inexpensive price, so I took advantage of that opportunity. What interests me is the transition. That shift is mostly now complete and I almost feel like now it’s just time for me to move on. The bigger story of the neighborhood is that we launched a gallery district. There is this area called Gallery Row that people all over L.A. know about. It’s populated by a few very specifically high-quality galleries and a large number of experimental spaces, many of which will come and go. If a gallery does well in a space there’s no reason that they can’t continue to pay whatever the rents are. But if there are still, as

L I A R E MOR The Federal Transit Administration has given formal approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector, bringing both projects a step closer to actual construction.

photo by Gary Leonard

In 2004, Bert Green helped pioneer Downtown’s gallery scene. Nearly seven years later, he’s moving his gallery into his home loft. The founder of the Downtown Art Walk will leave Los Angeles later this year.

there are now, a decent amount of empty storefronts there will always be less pressure to push out the galleries. Q: How do you think Gallery Row stacks up against more reputed art centers like Culver City, Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, even Chinatown? A: It depends on who you talk to, but from my perspective, if you’re interested in a particular gallery you’re going to deal with that gallery no matter where it is. In the art world and among serious art buyers, they’re interested in the art and not the neighborhood. Culver City is a great convenience and right now is pretty much the epicenter of contemporary art in L.A. and that’s a good thing. Downtown is not trying to compete with that.

Q: You referenced the large number of “experimental” galleries in Downtown. The average L.A. gallery-goer might just say “not good.” A: No. I disagree. Yeah, you might be talking about people who are in the general public, but those are not collectors, and we’re businesses. We exist for our collectors. Collectors aren’t stupid. They know where to look for what they like. And if they see a gallery that they like, whether it’s in Downtown or in Siberia they’re going to go there or pay attention to what goes on there. We have a core group of collectors that never walk through the doors of the gallery. They were communicated with over telephone or email. Q: So is there not a collective aspiration among see Green, page 8

metro.net/works

S K R O W E H T IN sion

ay exten

subw westside ridor nsit cor a r t r o t connec regional

A two-mile, fully underground light rail line has been approved for the route of the Regional Connector Transit Corridor connecting the Metro Gold Line, Metro Blue Line and future Expo Line through Downtown LA.

A subway extension running between the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station and the Westwood/VA Hospital has been approved as the route of the Westside Subway Extension.

> The route connects with the Metro Blue and Expo lines at 7th Street/Metro Center Station and with the Metro Gold Line at Alameda Street.

> The $4.2 billion project will extend the subway a distance of approximately nine miles to Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood.

> The Regional Connector will save approximately 20 minutes of travel time by eliminating transfers through Downtown.

> A one-way trip between Union Station in Downtown LA and Westwood will take only 25 minutes.

> Under the 30/10 Initiative leveraging Measure R funding with federal dollars, construction could begin in 2014 and be completed by 2019.

> Under the 30/10 Initiative leveraging Measure R funding with federal dollars, construction could begin in 2013, with completion of the subway to the Westwood area by 2022.

For more information, visit metro.net/regionalconnector.

For more information, visit metro.net/westside.

by Ryan VaillancouRt

March 7, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 7

8 Downtown News

Green Continued from page 6 Downtown gallery owners to develop an identity as a hub of premier contemporary art, akin to Culver City? A: I don’t know if it’s an aspiration. I think it’s a hope. It would be great if the premier galleries in town were willing to locate around the corner from me, but we have issues that I don’t have so much of a problem with, but that people who would do those kinds of businesses do. I mean, we have Skid Row adjacent to us. We changed the perception of Downtown in the minds of the overall city and this is actually a more important achievement than anything regarding the district’s identity as a gallery scene. Downtown’s perception in the eyes of the world and of L.A. has completely transformed in the years that we’ve been here and we’ve been a large part of that. But there’s a limit to what you can force to happen as far as which galleries are going to open here. Q: Moving to Chicago is mostly a function of your personal life, but how does taking your gallery private in the short-term, and ultimately out of L.A., affect business? A: My business is following the reality: It’s been great to have a 4,000-square-foot gallery open to the public with big display windows, but actually 99% of my business didn’t come from having that space. The fact that I’ve had a gallery for 12 years makes this move possible. Q: Was it bittersweet moving out of your space of nearly seven years? A: There’s a lot of bittersweet to it. As a business decision, it was something of a relief to get those expenses off my back. But when the gallery was absolutely empty last week, when I had moved everything out and the new guy hadn’t started moving in, I photo-documented the entire thing; the empty windows; the empty interior. I’m sure a year from now I’ll look at that and I’ll shed a tear. Bert Green Fine Art is now at 451 S. Main St., #1206. For more information, or to schedule a gallery visit, go to bgfa.us. Artist Randall Cabe will be featured during April. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

March 7, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Another Place for a Big Gulp

Around Town Continued from page 2 report that detailed several options for the route, including a “cut and cover” section that would necessitate closing the park for several years so workers could dig a trench, place the rail line, then re-cover it. The new report instead recommends adjusting the layout of the tracks as they approach Union Station so they are far enough underground when they reach the park that a tunnel can be used to avoid any impact on the park surface. “We are encouraged that the High Speed Rail staff has been responsive to our concerns, but we remain cautiously optimistic,” said California State Parks Superintendent Sean Woods, noting that a final decision on the route is still at least a year away. The new recommendations now move forward for continued study. Another possible route includes an alignment that would go along Main Street before crossing the river on elevated tracks and eventually following Metrolink tracks.

City OKs River Tours

ity officials will soon be keeping a closer eye on the Los Angeles River tour business. On Wednesday, March 2, the City Council voted to authorize the Bureau of Engineering to issue one-year permits to tour operators for access to city-owned land on the river; territories include property near the Sixth Street Viaduct, Avenue 19 near the river and the Arroyo Seco Confluence by Elysian Park. A motion from First District Councilman Ed Reyes explained that for years groups have conducted tours of the river. The Army Corps of Engineers, which along with the city is responsible for operations and maintenance on parts of the river, previously granted authorization to tour groups, but required that they also secure permission from the city. According to Reyes, the tours, which can include more than 50 people, increase awareness of the waterway and help in efforts to revitalize the area.

et another 7-Eleven could be heading to Downtown, although a Big Gulp may be the strongest drink you can get there. An application to sell beer and wine at the new convenience market at 848 W. Seventh St. was withdrawn before a hearing with the Department of Planning last week, said Argineh Mailian, a representative for the project. She said a 2,900-square-foot store near Figueroa Street would open without the beer and wine license, although she did not know a planned opening date. The market would join other 7-Elevens in Downtown, including one a few blocks away at Seventh and Olive streets.

Walk to the Picnic

n Saturday, March 12, Downtowners will get the chance to both walk and picnic. The two come together at Grand Hope Park thanks to the walking tour series Being Pedestrian@Habeas Lounge. Launched in January by artists Sara Wookey and Sara Daleiden as a series of walks and discussions in South Park, the events are produced in collaboration with the Community Redevelopment Agency. The picnic will include walking tours and discussions with planning experts. The free event is at Grand Hope Park at Ninth and Hope Streets from 2-5 p.m. Additional information is at beingpedestrian.com.

Weingart Center Gets $100,000

he Community Redevelopment Agency last week approved a $100,000 grant for the Weingart Center Association. The money will help cover a shortfall in the organization’s Open Door Residential Shelter Program, which provides 66 temporary shelter beds and onsite 24hour case management services for homeless individuals. According to the CRA, without the grant the center would have to shut down the program at 566 S. San Pedro St. once current funding is used by mid-April. The allocation, which was approved on Thursday, March 3, will allow the program to operate until June, the end of the Weingart Center’s fiscal year.

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10 Downtown News

March 7, 2011

Arts & Entertainment

The Rage on Stage Some Anger, Some Comedy and Some Boundary-Pushers Fill Downtown’s Theaters by Jeff Favre contributing writer

heater may be considered one of the civilized arts, but that won’t stop the arguing, backbiting and all-around anger on Downtown Los Angeles stages this spring. A modern classic of rage and dissatisfaction returns to the site of its world premiere almost 25 years ago. A celebrated Broadway cast will reunite for a heralded comedy about adults embroiled in a childish battle. And a world premiere musical will deliver its fury hip-hop style. There are also some less angry options, in case that’s what you’re seeking. Here are some of the stage highlights for the spring. Parents Behaving Badly: Broadway’s musthave ticket in 2009 was God of Carnage, the Tony-winning play by Yasmina Reza, who first hit it big with Art. Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie can toot his horn for securing the original “movie

May 1. While Siguenza delves into the mind of one of the 20th century’s most renowned painters, political playwright Donald Freed returns to LATC March 23-April 17 with The Devil’s Advocate. The play is based on the true story of the relationship between Panama’s onetime leader Manuel Noriega and Archbishop Jose Sebastian Laboa, with whom Noriega sought sanctuary during a 1989 American military operation. An offering March 17-April 9 by Playwrights’ Arena and the Latino Theater Company is Donald Jolly’s bonded (yes, a lower-case b), a romance between two slaves on a plantation in 1820s Virginia. For those who speak Spanish, the 2Rc Teatro, Compañía de Repertorio and the Latino Theater Company are presenting La Quinta Pared (The Fifth Wall), about an assassin for hire, by Maykol Hernández. The play will run only March 17-19, and there are no supertitles. At 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org.

B-Boys Bring the Noise: East West Players may be 45 years old, but the company is not comfortably ensconced in middle age. It’s been pushing boundaries all season, like the current Wrinkles, with a subject matter of, ahem, a 73-year-old porn star who lives with his daughter and grandson. The comedy continues at the David Henry Hwang Theatre through March 13. The next show is equally unlikely, coming from the mind of Qui Nguyen, who, with the New York-based Vampires Cowboys Theatre Company, has become a creator of action-filled cult plays. This time, he’s going musical with Krunk Fu Battle Battle, with lyrics by slam poet Beau Sia and “vocal music” by Marc Macalintal, who served as music direcphoto courtesy of Donald Freed tor for East West’s Pippin The LATC presents The Devil’s Advocate, Donald Freed’s work in 2008. Billed as a hip-hop about former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and Archbishop musical, Nguyen’s story conJose Laboa. It plays March 23-April 17. cerns a battle between a bboy crew (think street dancstar” cast: Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James ers) and a young dude under the tutelage Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. The of the wise Sir Master Cert. The production quartet all received Tony nominations for is being directed by EWP head Tim Dang, their performances, as did director Matthew who commissioned the work. The musical Warchus, who also returns for a six-week run opens May 12. at the Ahmanson Theatre April 5-May 15. At 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 Reza has made an art form of the argument, ext. 20 or eastwestplayers.org. usually among the more affluent members of society. Here, two couples meet to discuss The Burn Is Back: There are benchmarks a fight between their 11-year-old sons, only in theater that are talked about decades later, to find that it’s not just the children who be- and one such production is the 1987 world have badly. With a 90-minute running time, premiere of Lanford Wilson’s Burn This, there’s little room for niceties before the ver- which debuted at the Mark Taper Forum bal barbs start flying. Reza’s French play has starring John Malkovich and Joan Allen, been translated by Christopher Hampton, before moving to Broadway. Wilson’s acwho handled the same duties for four of her claimed play returns to its birthplace March other plays. Expect this show to be as in-de- 23-May 1, this time starring Zabryna Guevara mand in Downtown as it was in New York. as Anna, the grieving choreographer who has At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or lost her friend, dancer Robbie, and Adam centertheatregroup.org. Rothenberg as Robbie’s troubled, angry brother Pale. Along with 1973’s The Hot L Heading East: The theaters at Spring Street’s Baltimore and his 1965 effort, Balm in Gilead, LATC will be bustling with its second annual Burn This secured Wilson’s reputation as spring season. The series East of Broadway one of Off-Off-Broadway’s most important has a bit of something for everyone, start- playwrights. Though he didn’t seek popular ing with A Weekend With Pablo Picasso, acceptance, Wilson’s experimental approach the latest effort by Culture Clash member has been a major influence on today’s mainHerbert Siguenza, which runs March 25- stream theater. The production is directed by

photo by Joan Marcus

The Ahmanson Theatre gets some serious star wattage when James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden take the stage for a six-week run, April 5-May 15, of Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage. Rounding out the play are some equally big names, Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis.

Nicholas Martin, who helmed Dead End, the first Center Theatre Group show produced by Michael Ritchie. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Moving With Shakespeare: Lemi Ponifasio uses the post-9/11 political landscape and the work of Shakespeare for what has become a signature piece for his New Zealandbased contemporary dance company MAU. Tempest: Without a Body, appearing April 2-3 at the Million Dollar Theater as part of the REDCAT season, is part dance, part hypnotically subtle movement, and loaded with dramatic visuals. Granted, the parallels between Ponifasio’s Tempest and the original are tangential, but MAU concentrates on the play’s emotion, core elements and iconography. Deeply disturbing to some who have seen

its second season, is continuing its mix of contemporary and classical pieces with an experimental bent. This Phantom Lady, according to the company’s artistic director, Aaron Ganz, will include elements of ballet and other disciplines. At the BFA, Calderon’s most famous play, La Vida Es Sueño (Life Is a Dream), is up now and runs through April 3, and is performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Calderon’s ponderings on the mysteries of life remains one of the most studied Spanish language plays. At 1581 Industrial St., (213) 536-4331 or xrtc.org and 421 N. Avenue 19, (323) 2254044 or bfatheatre.org. Never Too Late: Perhaps the most groundbreaking artist of the one-woman play is Heather Woodbury, who earned that reputation with her 10-hour opus What

photo by Michael Lamont

East West Players has been pushing boundaries in its 45th season. In May they stage a hip-hop musical. Right now, the Little Tokyo company has Wrinkles, about a 73-year-old porn star.

it, fascinating to others, Tempest: Without a Body evokes controversy wherever it goes, which tends to be a REDCAT staple. At 307 S. Broadway, (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Twice the Calderon: The 17th century Spanish playwright Pedro Calderon is having a good year in L.A., thanks to the X Repertory Company and the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. The former is presenting Calderon’s The Phantom Lady, with translation by Matthew Stroud, May 13-29 in the Arts District. The company, now in

Ever. Woodbury’s process for new works is lengthy, and it frequently takes place before an audience. Enter As the Globe Warms, which Woodbury has presented in halfhour installments at the Bootleg Theatre on Beverly Boulevard. There are two episodes left, one in Atwater Village on March 15, and a Gala Mondo Finale at the Bootleg on April 5. Though the events run only 30 minutes, watching Woodbury create her latest work in front of an audience is a rare and usually entertaining experience. At 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 11

Arts & Entertainment

A Bunch to Bookmark Races, Readings, Film Festivals and Other Events Fill the Spring Calendar

photo by Gary Leonard

photo courtesy of Grammy Museum

photo courtesy of Natural History Museum

Gravity-powered cars and their colorful teams and drivers will fly down Grand Avenue on May 21 at the Red Bull Soapbox Derby.

The Grammy Museum offers an up-close-and-personal experience with Los Lonely Boys on March 25.

Kids and adults will be able to pick up all sorts of creepy crawlers at the Natural History Museum’s Bug Fair on May 14-15.

by RichaRd Guzmán

opportunity to catch a classic film in a grand old single-screen movie house. The Los Angeles Conservancy’s popular Last Remaining Seats series is back for its 25th season, launching May 25 at the Orpheum Theatre with Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 suspense flick Rear Window. Shows continue throughout the summer with highlights including the 1933 version of King Kong. Tickets go on sale March 30 for Conservancy members and April 13 for the general public. Tickets at (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org.

Street. Approximately 40 teams are expected to compete, with the credo that “each soapbox must be powered by gravity and imagination.” Competitors take this to heart: Two years ago one car was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, while another used a “Baywatch” theme and included a lifeguard tower on wheels and, egads, hairy men in bikinis. At Grand Avenue and Fifth Street, redbullusa.com.

city editoR

owntown, as everyone knows, is full of museums, art galleries and concerts. That’s a nice cultural collection, but it overlooks another catchall category that can best be described as “Events.” This spring, there’s no shortages of these, which include everything from one-off soapbox derby races to return installments of stalwart series. The events celebrate everything from old movies to old neighborhoods to, well, bugs. Here is a list of can’t miss events in Downtown in the spring. Get Your Seats: The chairs don’t recline, there’s no surround sound and most of Broadway’s nearly century-old movie palaces don’t even have air conditioning. Who cares, because these creature comforts pale in comparison to the

Off to the Races: Grand Avenue will be swarmed by street racers and spectators on May 21. But don’t expect high-revving engines, as the drivers will trade horsepower for gravity power at the Red Bull Soapbox Derby. About 100,000 people came to watch the last race in 2009, and a similar crowd is expected for the event that ends at Grand Avenue and Fifth

Eager Readers: The Aloud series at the Central Library has long been one of not just Downtown’s, but the city’s best bargains, with a slew of high-profile authors, scientists and thinkers talking for free. Well, it’s more of the same in the spring. Two of the many highlights at the library’s Mark Taper Auditorium include Joyce Carol Oates, discussing her nonfiction work A Widow’s Story on April 14, and Gary see Events, page 13

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12 Downtown News

Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2011

New Art, Old Art and Questionable Art Spring Is a Busy and Varied Season for Downtown’s Museums by Jeff Favre contributing writer

hen we think of museums, objects such as paintings, sculptures and photographs pop to mind. This spring in Downtown Los Angeles, that’s only part of the focus. In addition to shows that concentrate on traditional art, and a display on a subject many don’t even consider art, there are venues that take a closer look at people, including the rich cultural history of immigrants. At other area museums, the viewers are part of the show, whether it’s participating in experiments in fear, or interacting with nature’s flying colorful canvases. One thing is clear: The list of shows this season is as eclectic as Downtown itself.

photo by Gary Leonard

The Art of the Streets: Love it or hate it, Los Angeles is a focal point for graffiti and street art. So it makes sense that the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is housing the country’s first major museum survey of the controversial genre. Art in the Streets, running April 17-Aug. 8, will view the expansion of graffiti during the last 40 years through a display of paintings, mixed media sculptures

writing, arts and food. At 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. The Oscar Goes to FIDM: The Academy Awards may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see what the winners wore — at least the ones on the big screen. The FIDM Museum & Galleries continues its 19th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design until April 30. The South Park attraction’s display includes more than 100 costumes from 20 films from 2010, including this year’s Best Costume winner, Alice in Wonderland, designed by Colleen Atwood. Also up are designs by the previous Oscar winner, The Young Victoria, created by Sandy Powell. A one-hour tour is available by appointment. At 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-5821 or fidm.edu. Scary Fun: Maybe it’s not enjoyable to be scared (or is it?), but a little pretend fear can be fun, and even educational. It’s been out on tour for about four years, but Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear recently returned to its home at the California Science Center,

The history of rap music gets its due in Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey at the Grammy Museum. Along with looking at the music, the show examines touchstones such as sneakers and boom boxes.

and interactive installations by 30 artists. The show emphasizes the L.A. influence on the worldwide phenomenon, but also looks at other key cities. Expect all the big street art names you’ve heard of, as well as many of those you haven’t. One piece you won’t see is Italian artist Blu’s mural that was painted on the side of the Geffen Contemporary in December — it was almost instantly whitewashed by MOCA over concerns that the image of coffins draped in dollar bills was insensitive to the community. Meanwhile, MOCA Grand Avenue will present the first solo museum retrospective of William Leavitt. In Theatre Objects, MOCA is using four of Leavitt’s installations as anchors for a 10,000-square-foot exhibition. The moniker comes from the concept that many of Leavitt’s drawings and paintings were conceived in relation to plays or performances, either real or imagined. The exhibit opens March 13 and runs through July. At 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222, and 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1710 or moca.org. A Cultural Bond: A traveling Smithsonian exhibition exploring the shared cultural histories of African Americans and Native Americans is visiting the California African American Museum March 17-May 15. IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas includes essays and images that trace this cultural integration. It also seeks to explore the contemporary generation living a rarely explored dual heritage. The show touches on elements of life such as language,

where it is on display through April 24. It’s part haunted house, part laboratory — with you as the guinea pig — with a bit of classroom learning tossed in for good measure. The Exposition Park show attempts to engage visitors with fun experiences that trigger an authentic fear response and then motivates them to learn how the brain and body work together when danger arises. Test your nerves in sections such as “Fear of Loud Noises” and “Fear of Falling.” If being scared is not for you (or your children), the venue also has welcomed back Science in Toyland, which uses simple-tounderstand, low-tech displays to teach young visitors the science behind gravity, chain reactions and other scientific principles. It runs through May 1. At 700 Exposition Park Dr., (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org. Beautiful Butterflies: Since its first year, the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion (it opens April 10) has been a tentfilling crowd-pleaser. With more than 55 species of butterflies and giant moths, the tent, located near the entrance of the Exposition Park museum, is awash in a dazzling display of flitting, floating color. Giant swallowtails, American painted ladies and California dogfaces are in the pavilion, along with species not usually found in the area. Even more popular than the pavilion is the museum’s now legendary Bug Fair (May 14-15). For 25 years, the event has served as a gross-out for some and a delight for others. Expect more than 10,000 bug fans to be on hand to

photo by Estevan Oriol

“1963 International Ice Cream Truck” by Mr. Cartoon is one of the pieces on display in Art in the Streets, MOCA’s groundbreaking look at four decades of graffiti and street art. It runs April 17-Aug. 8.

learn about the creepy crawlers, and even try some bug snacks created during the bug chef “cook off.” Yes, the cockroach races are also back, but it’s purely an exhibition sport — no gambling allowed. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org. Blast From the Hip-Hop Past: The Grammy Museum, which has covered the spectrum of modern music, takes a different approach with Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey. The recently opened show looks at not just music, but also artifacts of hip-hop culture such as sneakers and boom boxes. The South Park museum stresses interactivity, and mixing and listening stations allow visitors to get a firsthand feel for how hiphop is made. A series of photographs and objects trace the music’s meteoric rise in popularity around the globe. The photo courtesy California African American Museum show runs through May 4. The California African American Museum explores a rarely At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., considered subject with the exhibit IndiVisible: African-Native (213) 765-6800 or grammy- American Lives in the Americas. It is open March 17-May 15. museum.org. Waiting on a Dream: The Chinese American Museum opened its Dreams Deferred the same week last December that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dream Act, which would have made citizenship possible for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before age 16. It was defeated in the U.S. Senate, but this display of new works by 18 artists, many of whom are notables in the graffiti world, communicates photo by Alex Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages loudly the desires of immiThe outfits from Alice in Wonderland, last month’s Oscar winner grants living in America. The for Best Costume, are among the clothes on display in FIDM’s Art of show that runs through May Motion Picture Costume Design. The South Park exhibit continues 22 at the El Pueblo museum through April 30. includes work by Shepard Fairey. At 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or From the Collection. Integrating photographs camla.org. and artifacts with personal histories, the museum is using its anniversary to celebrate the Weaving a History: Now a cornerstone of unsung individuals that comprise a diverse Downtown culture, the Japanese American nation. National Museum is celebrating its 25th an- At JANM, 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 niversary with American Tapestry: 25 Stories or janm.org.

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 13

Arts & Entertainment

Events Continued from page 11 Shteyngart, the young Russia-born author whose Super Sad Love Story was funny, scary and altogether mind-blowing, on May 12. Reservations are always recommended. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. A Bug’s Life: Some loathe them, others love them, some even eat them, but there’s no shortage of insect enthusiasts at the Natural History Museum’s annual Bug Fair. It’s one of the most popular events at the Exposition Park facility and will celebrate its 25th anniversary May 14-15. Expect live bug displays, preserved specimens and experts answering questions about all sorts of creepy crawlers. There’s also a bug chef preparing dishes with ingredients like crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org. A Theatrical Centennial: There’s going to be a birthday party for Broadway’s historic theaters this year. The Broadway 100 celebration launches March 26 at the Million Dollar Theater with Theatrefication, an event featuring two avant-garde performances, including The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse, a play with music by former Bauhaus and Love and Rockets member David J that looks at the Black Dahlia murder. On April 2-3, REDCAT goes to the Million Dollar with the U.S. premiere of Tempest: Without a Body, by New Zealand director and choreographer Lemi Ponifasio. The Broadway 100 will celebrate the street’s oldest theaters, the Arcade (originally the Pantages), which debuted Sept. 26, 1910, and its next-door neighbor, the Cameo, which opened on Oct. 10, 1910. At Broadway100.com. Kid Flicks: There’s no need to worry about ratings or covering your kid’s eyes when something age-inappropriate comes on the screen at REDCAT. The venue’s International Children’s Film Festival returns March 26-April 17. The programs offer a mix of live action and animated short films, with different batches aimed at toddlers through big kids. Animation from China will be one of the highlights this year, and at Nick Family Fun Day characters from the children’s network will pay a visit to Downtown. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

photo by Lacombe

photo by Gary Leonard

One of the Central City’s most popular happenings, the Dance Downtown series, returns May 6 and 20. The events at the Music Center Plaza offer free lessons, DJs and bands.

A packed season of the Aloud series at the Central Library includes a May 12 appearance by Gary Shteyngart, author of the acclaimed new work Super Sad Love Story.

Only the Lonely: The Texas trio Los Lonely Boys have come a long way since playing with their father at cantinas and honky-tonks. The brothers will be at the Grammy Museum March 25 for a night of conversation about their career, followed by a short performance. It’s a small venue, so if you like their mix of blues, rock and soul, get on it fast, because otherwise you’ll be left outside all lonely. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

go to the American Lung Association. The Aon Center is the second tallest building in the city, with 63 stories and 1,377 steps. Event promoters promise that if you can walk a 5K, you can complete the climb. The Kids for Kids 5K Run/Walk is at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., register at ccrf-kids.org. The Fight for Air Climb is at Aon Center, 707 Wilshire Blvd., register at lungusa.org.

Drink Think: If you thought drinking games ended after college, you wrong are. The Booze Clues scavenger hunt comes to Downtown March 19. Participants will get clues, challenges and puzzles to solve in bars throughout the neighborhood. The event claims it will tickle your mind while you pickle your liver. Event is from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and starts at Harlem Place Café, 124 W. Fourth St. Tickets at teambuildingandtraining.com. Healthy Competitions: Athletes of all ages are welcome at the sixth annual Kids for Kids 5K Run/Walk at L.A. Live on April 17. The race, which culminates with a carnival at the finish line, will benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. It runs from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. If you’re a better stair climber than a runner or walker, then head to the fourth annual Fight for Air Climb on April 30 at the Aon Center. The event raises awareness and money for the 35 million Americans who suffer from asthma. Participants are required to raise a minimum of $100 that will

The Other Car Show: If the L.A. Auto Show is too much for you, there’s a smaller, gentler car exhibit in Downtown May 9-13. The second annual Motorexpo is slated for the Bank of America Plaza, where exhibitors like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai and Saab will display vehicles. Attendees will get to sit behind the wheel and even test drive a few models. At 333 S. Hope St., motorexpo.com. Get Active: You don’t have to be a suffering or brooding artist to have a little fun with the creative culture. Active Arts at the Music Center encourages everyone to get involved with a series of programs that include dance, music, storytelling and other forms of interactive art. Highlights include the free Dance Downtown events, with a different style (country line dance, Bollywood, etc.) at every session; they take place May 6 and 20 from 6:30-10 p.m. The gatherings include free lessons and DJs. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3660 or musiccenter.org Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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14 Downtown News

Arts & Entertainment

March 7, 2011

The Downtown Rite of Spring Scary Opera, Piano Wizards and Other Classical Highlights by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

o call Downtown’s classical scene this spring alive and diverse is an understatement. While there will be a dude (or The Dude) on a stage with a baton, there will also be much more. There are challenging works by John Cage and adored masterpieces by Haydn. There’s a horror opera, an ensemble of Renaissance rock stars and a classic dance group teaming up with Grant Gershon and L.A. Opera. It all builds to May, when Gustavo Dudamel (the dude with the baton) helms the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s month-long celebration of Johannes Brahms. Here are some of the highlights of Downtown’s classical season. All About the Benjamin: Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw is not your grandmother’s opera — unless, of course, your grandmother really dug occasionally atonal harmony, horror story theatrical devices and wasn’t embarrassed by themes of sexual abuse. That’s what will be onstage for six performances from March 12-30, when Los Angeles Opera presents Britten’s 1954 adaptation of the Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw. Patricia Racette sings the lead role of the Governess and will be joined on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage by William Burden as Peter Quint. L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon conducts. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com.

Renaissance Rock Stars: The Tallis Scholars performing at Vibiana is sort of like the Renaissance music world’s equivalent of Lady Gaga at Madison Square Garden. Or something

photo by Nan Melville

The Mark Morris Dance Group joins forces with L.A. Opera and the Music Center for performances of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato. They take place May 5-8 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

photo by Nigel Luckhurst

British composer, conductor and piano wizard Thomas Adès gets the spotlight April 1-3 and again April 7-9 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

photo by Eric Richmond

The renowned chorus the Tallis Scholars will fill up the arched ceilings of the former Roman Catholic cathedral St. Vibiana’s on March 25.

like that. Under the direction of Peter Philips, this renowned chorus is slated to fill up the arched ceilings of L.A.’s former Roman Catholic cathedral St. Vibiana’s on March 25 at 8 p.m. Presented by the Da Camera Society, which stages chamber music concerts in historic sites (the group recently hosted a show at Downtown’s Bradbury Building), the scholars will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria — one of the Renaissance era’s most expert vocal composers. At 214 S. Main St., (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org. All the Cage: Southwest Chamber Music continues its Cage 2012 festival at Zipper Hall on March 26 with a program that includes what is perhaps composer John Cage’s most iconic piece: 4’33.” For the un-indoctrinated, the work has the performer sit silently at the piano for 4 minutes and 33 seconds — it begs the audience to tune into the sonic atmosphere of the room. You know, music is everything, everything is music? Also on the program are “Sixteen Dances” and the percussion-focused “Four4.” At 200 S. Grand Ave. Southwest Chamber Music information at (626) 685-4455 or swmusic.org. Baroque-atology: The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra explores the genesis of orchestral music in its Baroque Conversations series. At 7 p.m. on March 31, conductor Harry Bicket stops by Zipper Hall to lead members of the group in Handel’s “Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 3, No. 2;” Purcell’s “Chaconne from The Fairy Queen;” Arne’s “Trio No. 4 in F minor;” Corelli’s “Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6, No. 9;” and Handel’s “Concerto Grosso in A major, Op. 6, No. 11.” In signature LACO style, the artists will introduce the music from the stage, share their insights, and invite questions to conclude the evening. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 622-7001 or laco.org. Piano Man: British composer, conductor and piano wizard Thomas Adès bathes in the festival spotlight with “Aspects of Adès” at Walt Disney Concert Hall over two weekends, on April 1-3 and April 7-9. The first program has Adès playing both conductor and composer with his “In Seven Days,” a piano concerto that mixes high-tech imagery by Tal Rosner with Adès’ music. “I wanted to do something that would have visuals and tell a story but would also be a piece of music,” Adès says of the piece. “I think of it like a ballet but instead of dancers you’ve got video.” Stravinsky’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Los Noces round out the first program. The following weekend, Adès leads the L.A. Philharmonic in the world premiere of Gerald Barry’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” based on Oscar Wilde’s comedy. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 850-2000 or laphil.org.

by Anders Brødsgaard, Béla Bartók, Vera Ivanova, Charles Wuorinen, Philippe Bodin and a new creation by Robson himself. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (323) 692-8075 or pianospheres.org. Operatic Teamwork: The L.A. Opera is housed at the Music Center, but surprisingly, the separate entities have never collaborated on an artistic presentation. That changes May 5-8, when the cultural forces team up with the Mark Morris Dance Group for a performance of “L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato.” With Handel’s pastoral ode as the musical landscape and the poetry of John Milton and William Blake a de facto libretto, the piece is a blend of dance and opera. Grant Gershon conducts the L.A. Opera Orchestra and Chorus as well as a quartet of world-class singers: sopranos Hei-Kyung Hong and Sarah Coburn, tenor Barry Banks and bass-baritone John Relyea. At the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com. The Dude Does Brahms: The L.A. Phil celebrates the life and creations of German composer Johannes Brahms all May. In fact, Music Director Gustavo Dudamel conducts a different Brahms masterwork at the Walt Disney Concert Hall every weekend during the month. The highlight comes May 19-22, when the troupe tackles the adored Symphony No. 2. The program includes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, plus the U.S. premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Glorious Percussion.” At 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 850-2000 or laphil.org. Student Sensations: Those looking for a steady diet of classical repertoire, the answer is near. Very near. The Colburn School on Bunker Hill has regular free performances. Sprinkled throughout the spring semester, its top-notch performing arts students, faculty and student ensembles give recitals in Mayman Hall and other smaller theaters. Since Colburn is the closest thing on the West Coast to Juilliard, these students are the future stars of elite orchestras around the world. Dates and times vary, but concerts and solo recitals are often Wednesday through Sundays, with some afternoon and evening shows. At the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Get Over Sphere: The enduring Piano Spheres focuses on major new works for piano, bringing in a rotating cast of keyboard virtuosos to perform pieces by photo by Mike Hoban contemporary composers. On April 12, Los Angeles Opera goes dark and scary with six performances of Benjamin Britten’s The Mark Robson takes the stage at Zipper Turn of the Screw. Patricia Racette sings the lead role of the Governess in the work that runs Hall for a program featuring works March 12-30 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

March 7, 2011

Arts & Entertainment

Downtown News 15

LISTINGS EVENTS CASEY’S ST. PATRICKS DAY STREET FAIR

Kadampa Meditation Center Various Locations, (323) 223-0610 or meditateinla.org. Kadampa Meditation Center California offers meditation classes for everyone — those seeking simple relaxation, and those wishing to experience authentic spiritual teachings. Join the center Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. for Meditations for a Meaningful Life at the center’s temple in Elysian Valley. Just drop in. The center offers classes throughout L.A.

March 17, 2011 6am till 2am

Monday, Mar. 7 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. Mar. 7, 7 p.m.: Shepard Fairey, the Los Angelesbased artist and designer behind the ubiquitous Obey Giant stencil and the now legendary Obama “Hope” poster, talks about his work and his move from the street to large-scale museum exhibitions.

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Thursday, Mar. 10 Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-10 p.m.: The monthly self-guided “museum without walls” attracts thousands of attendees to art galleries and studios, formal and informal art events, music, restaurants, bars and street life in the historic core. Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway, (213) 622-1939 or laorpheum.com. 1 and 6 p.m.; Mar. 11, 1 and 6 p.m.: NBC’s hit television series “America’s Got Talent” is taping live and tickets are free.

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10:30 a.m.: Andrew Smith will discuss his two soon-to-be published books: Starving the South: How the North Won the Civil War takes a gastronomical look at the war and its legacy and Potato: A Global History tells the rags to riches story of the potato, examining how it has changed the world. A reception with themed refreshments will follow the talk. Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. Noon-3 p.m.: Library of Congress Veterans History Project conducts oral history interviews with WWII veterans. Meeting Room B. 2:30-3:30 p.m.: “L.A. in Focus: Images from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection” highlights images from the recently-digitized Kelly Holiday aerial photo collection of 1950s Southern California in this free presentation. sunday, Mar. 13 Museum Art Talk 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. Mar. 13, 3 p.m.: On the occasion of the opening day of William Leavitt: Theater Objects, MOCA Curator Bennett Simpson and Stedelijk Museum Director Ann Goldstein will discuss the artist’s work and the exhibition. FuTure LisTings ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. March 15, 7 p.m.: Journalist and scientific investigator Annie Murphy Paul delves into the history of ideas about how we’re shaped before birth. She’s in conversation with Dr. Michael Lu, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA. March 17, 7 p.m.: Travel writers Colin Thubron and Pico Iyer discuss pilgrimages to exceptional places, mining their personal history and the holiest mountain on earth (think Nepal). March 22, 7 p.m.: “Art Collectives and the Current State of Literary Culture” is a reading and panel discussion with Chuck Rosenthal, Alicia Partnoy, Ramon Garcia and Gail Wronsky. Projected paint-

ings by Gronk. March 24, 7 p.m.: The New York Times’ David Brooks on “The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement.” March 29, 7 p.m.: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon talks to Lisa Ling about “The Dressmaker of Khair Khana,” the true story of an unlikely entrepreneur who saved her family and inspired her community in Afghanistan under the Taliban. April 5, 7 p.m.: How does a poet view time, the slant of light on a windowsill? How might a theoretical cosmologist approach those same phenomena? Jane Hirshfield and Sean Carroll, both at the vanguard of their disciplines, discuss different points of entry into the realm of observation and metaphor. April 6, 7 p.m.: What is literature? How might we restore it to the center of our lives? Marjorie Garber, Harvard English professor and David Ulin, book critic for the Los Angeles Times, explore how reading can be a “revolutionary act” in the digital age. April 12, 7 p.m.: Rebecca Skloot talks to the L.A. Times’ Carolyn Kellog about “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The narrative delves into into the life of a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cells— taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. April 14, 7 p.m.: Joyce Carol Oates, in conversation with KCRW’s “Bookworm” host Michael Silverblatt, about “A Widow’s Story,” an intimate chronicle of the unexpected death of her husband of 48 years. April 20, 7 p.m.: Jacques D’Amboise discusses his work “I Was A Dancer,” about his years with Balanchine, Robbins, LeClercq and Farrell, with USC’s Sasha Anawalt. April 21, 7 p.m.: How did tribal order and society evolve into the political institutions of today? Francis Fukuyama and Jared Diamond discuss the origins of democratic societies and raise essential questions about the nature of politics. April 26, 7 p.m.: Jamaica Kincaid reads from “See, Now, Then,” her forthcoming novel about a family’s

Continued on next page

16 Downtown News

Arts & Entertainment

photo courtesy of the Grammy Museum

Smooth Crooner

Life After Tony! Toni! Toné!

long, long time ago (the 1990s!), Raphael Saadiq gained fame and fortune as a member of the multi-platinum selling soul group Tony! Toni! Toné! Then, times and tastes changed. Unlike some others from the greatest decade of the 20th century, Saadiq evolved. He worked behind the scenes, producing other artists, while also doing his own R&B music. On March 23, he’ll appear at the Grammy Museum to talk about his career and perform songs off his forthcoming album Stone Rollin’. It takes place in the South Park facility’s intimate 200-seat theater. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

Listings Continued from previous page life in a small Vermont town, and discusses her creative process. May 12, 7 p.m.: The Library Foundation’s Justin Veach talks to Gary Shteyngart, one of the New Yorker’s “Best Under 40” novelists, about his “Super Sad True Love Story. May 17, 7 p.m.: Written in the aftermath of his wife’s death, Francisco Goldman’s “Say Her Name” weighs love against the blinding grief of loss. May 19, 7 p.m.: In his new novel “Some Time in the Sun,” indie filmmaker John Sayles travels from the Yukon gold fields to New York’s bustling Newspaper Row to Wilmington’s deadly racial coup of 1898 and beyond. May 26, 7 p.m.: Join Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder and friends for an evening of spoken word to celebrate the work of Beat poet Lew Welch, on the 40th anniversary of his disappearance. California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. March 19, 2 p.m.: “Expressions of Culture-Children’s Art” is a youth arts workshop that explores the shared connections between American Indian and African American cultures. RSVP (213) 7442024. March 26, 2 p.m.: The museum’s photo exhibit “Camera and Community” shines light on a variety of social, political and cultural events and venues around Los Angeles. “Helping Hands” is a presentation about the exhibition. RSVP (213) 744-2024. March 27, 2 p.m.: A genealogist specializing in Native American ancestry offers tips on how to trace your family lineage. RSVP (213) 744-2024. April 3, 1 p.m.: It’s a hoot, it’s a habit, it’s “Hattitude!” CAAM’s annual homage to Easter celebrations features a fashion show of Alakazia’s couture hat collection. Prizes for men, women and children’s categories plus other giveaways. Doors open at 11 a.m. April 7, 7 p.m.: The museum screens the 2009 film Freedom Riders. April 10, 2 p.m.: Explore cultural connections through the lens of contemporary short films Reach The Rez, Fry Bread Babes and Alicia Woods’ American Read And Black: Stories Of Afro-Native Identity. April 15, 10 a.m.: “Stories That Sing,” with storyteller Victoria Burnett, presents “Celebrate Earth” in a special school program for children in Kindergarten-4th Grade. RSVP (213) 744-2024. April 16, 2 p.m.: Learn about the relationship between American Indians and African Americans through this culinary demonstration peppered with morsels of history. This appetizing program features two dynamic chefs, one American Indian and one African American. Tasty samples included. April 21, 7 p.m.: The museum screens my Neighbor, My Killer (2009) in which confessed genocide killers are sent home from prison while traumatized survivors are asked to forgive them and resume life side-by-side after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

April 23, noon: Use reclaimed wood, board, paint and fabric with artist Christopher Carter to discover your own inner flag imagery and create a flag of your own. RSVP at (213) 744-2024. April 23, 2:15 p.m.: Join museum staffers for a walk-through with artist Christopher Carter, who will introduce his work in the exhibition “Stalwart.” April 28, 7 p.m.: Films at CAAM presents The Radiant Child (2010), about Jean-Michel Basquiat, chronicling the meteoric rise and fall of this young artist. April 29, 2 p.m.: As part of the L.A. Times Book Festival, the museum hosts an “Adult Book Talk.” Participants bring a book that they have read and deliver a persuasive pitch for purchase by creating a storyboard depicting the elements of literature. April 30, 2 p.m.: For Literacy Day at CAAM, participate in a smorgasbord of activities connected to reading, such as book making, storytelling and more. May 1, 1 p.m.: In “Each One, Teach One,” CAAM spotlights educators in recognition of their contributions to their community. May 14, 1 p.m.: Two local artists will lead participants in creating innovative art inspired by American Indian and African American heritage, embedded in American history and a connection to the planet. May 15, 2 p.m.: “Behind The Shutter” has Kent Kirkton, director of CSUN’s Institute of Arts and Media and curator of Camera and Community, leading a discussion with local photographers about their experiences in Los Angeles as photojournalists. May 22, 2 p.m.: The museum screens the 2006 film There’s No Place Like Home by Justin Nathanson, a documentary exploring the potential loss of important historic African American communities in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina due to growth and development. Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. April 14, May 12, noon-9 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a self-guided tour that showcases the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center JACCC Plaza or Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-3700 or jaccc.org. May 1, 1 p.m.: In conjunction with the exhibition “Bamboo and Petals III,” the three longest-standing and highly respected leaders of flower arrangement in Southern California will deliver a lecture and demonstration. May 22, 1 p.m.: “Exploring the Japanese Garden: Tree Trimming” features tree trimming specialist Dennis Makishima. Makishima, who helped introduce aesthetic pruning in the United States, will show audience members the “Way of the Maple” as he shares his craft of tree trimming and balancing nature with horticultural science. MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. April 7, 7-10 p.m.: MOCA’s “Engagement Party” series, which turns the museum over to resident arts

collectives, hands the reins to Neighborhood Public Radio. The group’s first party is titled “In Your Ear.” April 14, 6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with William Leavitt: Theater Objects, exhibition catalogue essayist Annette Leddy will discuss the artist and his first museum retrospective. Free, no reservations necessary. April 28, 6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with William Leavitt: Theater Objects, exhibition catalogue essayist Annette Leddy will discuss the artist and his first museum retrospective. Free, no reservations necessary. May 7, 7-10 p.m.: Neighborhood Public Radio is back for its second “Engagement Party,” and its theme is “In Your Car.” May 12, 6:30 p.m.; May 15, 3 p.m.: William Leavitt directs a performance of his play “Spectral Analysis.” Free, with museum admission. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. March 11, 10 a.m.; March 12, 10 and 11 a.m.: Meet some noisy animals at “Critter Club” for children ages 3 to 5 and a participating adult. March 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: In “Art + Science: Gems and Minerals” find out what’s really inside a mineral by checking out pictures from the museum’s Scanning Electron Microscope. For the whole family. March 13, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: In this installation of “Sustainable Sundays” on World Water Day, meet the organizations that are helping to protect Los Angeles’ sustainable water future and learn how to become a voice for water. May 14-15, 9:30-5 p.m.: Bug out for two days at the Bug Fair, an insect extravaganza with rare specimens, toys and art. Private collectors show off exotic wares; “pet” insects are sold; and visitors of all ages can handle insects and talk to museum scientists. April 1, 5:30-10 p.m.: First Fridays continues as Dr. Steven Finkel takes a night off from his USC lab to discuss the role of microbes. April 8, 10 a.m.; April 9, 10 and 11 a.m.: For this “Critter Club” installment, visit the museum’s gardens to meet and release helpful bug friends. For children ages 3 to 5 and a participating adult. April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 1-4 p.m.: In these weekly spring gardening classes, learn to start your own healthy vegetable garden at home. April 17, 9:30 a.m.-3:30p.m.: “Sustainable Sundays” tackles edible landscapes. Get tips on how to grow organic food, tour the Edible Garden, and plant an herb to take home. April 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: In this installment of the “Art + Science” series, find out why birds have feathers, snakes have scales and much more. May 6, 5:30-10 p.m.: First Fridays is back with Dr. Elizabeth Hadly discussing how environmental change impacts mammals. And oh yeah, there’ll be bands, DJs and drinks too. May 20, 10 a.m.; May 21, 10 and 11 a.m.: Dig in to “Critter Club” with stories, games and a tonguetied craft. For 3- to 5-year-olds and a participating adult. May 21, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: From the high mountains in Tibet to the shallow seas in California, the museum will investigate the world of vertebrate fossils as part of its Junior Scientist program. May 22, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: For this Sustainable Sundays installment, discover the natural resources that are within reach and reconnect with the great outdoors. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. May 19, 8:30 p.m.: The CalArts School of Critical Studies holds a reading of the best new fiction and poetry by MFA candidates in the Writing Program. SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. March 18, 1 p.m.: Mohamed Sharif, principal of Sharif Studio., talks shop. Prior to joining SCI-Arc, he was assistant chair of the Architecture/Landscape/ Interiors department at Otis. March 23, 7 p.m.: Michael Rotondi presents “From the Center.” March 25-26: “Materials Beyond Materials” is a two-day event full of progressive presentations in the fields of architecture, the arts, engineering and materials research. March 30, 7 p.m.: Jesse Reiser’s work reflects his fascination with form generation, fueled by the incorporation of animation software into the practice of design. April 1, 7 p.m.: David Bergman, principal of MR+E, a Los Angeles based consulting firm focused on economic analysis related to urban planning, discusses “Planning in Five Dimensions.” April 5, 7 p.m.: Sanford Kwinter, co-director of the Master in Design Studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, discusses “This is Your Brain on Design.” April 6, 7 p.m.: François Roche and with Stephan Henrich on “Instructions for Self-Organized Urbanism.” Zocalo Public Square Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., zocalopublicsquare.org.

March 7, 2011

March 14, 7:30 p.m.: In “Inventing the War Crime,” Yale Law School professor and Guggenheim fellow John Fabian Witt John Witt tells the hidden story of how in 1847 and 1848, on the road from Veracruz to Mexico City, the United States army invented the concept of the war crime as we know it today.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Mar. 11, 10 p.m.: The hardcore country twang of The Americans. Mar. 12, 10 p.m.: Gods of Macho bring their down-n-dirty rock-n-roll. Club Nokia Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com. Mar. 9, 8 p.m.: Stryper, the Christian glam metal band from the OC. Mar. 11, 9 p.m.: British heavy metal band Motorhead. Mar. 12, 9 p.m.: Hard Weekend LA features Simian Mobile Disco Live, Fake Blood, The Juan Maclean, Mumbai Science, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Egyptrixx Live and Blondes. The Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (818) 249-1428 or itsmyseat.com. Mar. 11, 9 p.m.: The band Viza fuses rock, metal and Middle Eastern music and Armenian Public Radio gives modern interpretations to Armenian standards in “An Evening Unplugged.” Conga Room 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Mar. 9, 8 p.m.: Katrina puts on an album preview concert. Mar. 10, 8 p.m.: Puerto Rico’s legendary salsa orchestra El Gran Combo. Mar. 12, 8 p.m.: Puerto Rico’s reggaeton duo Rakim & Ken-Y. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Mar. 10, 8 p.m.: The Majestic Silver Strings is a collection of re-interpreted country songs and a pair of new originals, loaded with guitars, depth, attitude and guest vocalists. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Mar. 7, 8:30 p.m.: The John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble makes its LA premiere. Hollenbeck has mastered the tradition of big band composition while crossing aesthetic borders, with a daring mix of pure lyricism and robust rhythmic propulsion. Mar. 9, 8:30 p.m.: Known for his no-holds-barred style, Danny Holt’s piano/percussion project Piano And places the pianist amid an array of percussion instruments, calling for acrobatic feats of multiinstrumentalism. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Mar. 8, 10 p.m.: Symbol Six and Chaotic Stature. Mar. 9, 10 p.m.: X-girl Exene Cervenka record release party. Mar. 11, 10 p.m.: The Cosmeticators, The Mission Creeps, The Shrapnells and Barb Wire Dolls. Mar. 12, 10 p.m. Blood on the Saddle, Livingstons, Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders, and Simon Stokes. Mar. 13, 10 p.m.: Candy Kane, Exotiki and The Dick and Jane Family Orchestra. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. Mar. 8, 10 p.m.: House band The Makers turn it on. The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org. Mar.8, 9 p.m.: Moses Campbell Iji, James Rabbit and Pangea. Mar. 10, 9 p.m.: Silk Flowers, Earn, SFV Acid and DJ Cali deWitt. Mar. 11, 9 p.m.: Continues, The Present Moment and Primary Colors. Staples Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., staplescenter.com. Mar. 13, 8 p.m.: Seventeen-time Latin Grammy winner Juanes rocks the house. The Varnish 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com Mar. 7, 9 p.m.: Drink in great jazz piano every Monday with Jamie Elman serenading live on The Varnish keys. Mar. 8, 8:30 p.m.: Jazzman Mark Bosserman entertains on the house piano every Tuesday. FUTURE LISTINGS 2nd Street Jazz 366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047 or 2ndstjazz.com. Every last Wednesday: Latin Jazz. Every first Thursday: Hip Hop Show. Every third Thursday: Anime/J-Pop Night. Every last Friday: MC Battles.

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 17

Arts & Entertainment

Disciples of De-Evolution Descend on Downtown

ast year, a serious hand injury to guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh forced new wave progenitors Devo to cancel a Downtown concert. While that was terrible, the benefit of the delay is that the show arrives this spring. The 38-year-old Ohio-born band takes the stage of Club Nokia on March 19. Expect all the catchy and awkwardly catchy tunes, from the 1980 hit “Whip It” to the herky-jerky reinvention of the Rolling Stones strut-tastic “Satisfaction” to “Girl U Want” to “Jocko Homo.” The crowd won’t be young for the lords of de-evolution, but they will be enthusiastic. And Devo, who once performed at the L.A. Coliseum at 10 a.m. on a Sunday (as part of the Nike Run Hit Wonder race) are known to bring it every time. There will even be choreographed dance moves. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

March 26, 10 p.m.: Roys Birthday Bash with Donovin’s Faires. March 27, 10 p.m.: My Revenge, The Stitched Lips, Somos Mysteriosos. March 29, 10 p.m.: Useless. April 1, 10 p.m.: ZooBombs and Black Tibetans. April 2, 10 p.m.: Black Watch and Funeral Party.

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April 4, 10 p.m.: The Preservation. April 7, 10 p.m.: YNM, Driftwood Singers and Sue Scrofa. April 8, 10 p.m.: Captured by Robots! April 9, 10 p.m.: Petunia and The Vipers. April 15, 10 p.m.: Cute Lepers and The Revoltz.

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Saturdays, 9 p.m.: Salsa is Back features salsa lessons, DJs and dancers. March 17, 8 p.m.: Non Stop Bhangra Patrick’s Day. April 2, 6 p.m.: Septeto Nacional. April 2, 8 p.m.: Albita. April 7, 8 p.m.: Oscar D’León in concert. April 21, Time TBD: Alejandro Rosso and Jonaz Gonzalez. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., 213.765.6800 or grammymuseum.org. March 23, 8 p.m.: Join R&B artist Raphael Saadiq as he talks about the old days with 1990s soul group Tony! Toni! Toné!, answers questions from the audience and performs an acoustic selection from his new album, Stone Rollin.’ March 25, 8 p.m.: The trio of brothers Los Lonely Boys will talk about their musical vision, their history, answer questions from the audience and play songs from their most recent album, Rockpango. March 31, 8 p.m.: Native American flute player R. Carlos Nakai will discuss his culture and how it shapes his artistry. Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. March 18, 8 p.m.: Two songstresses who have blended the sounds and stories of Los Angeles with Tijuana — Julieta Venegas and Ceci Bastida. March 18 and 19, 8 p.m.: Espinoza Paz. March 26, 8 p.m.: Lucero. March 27, 7 p.m.: The Shin Seung Hun Show. April 8, 7 p.m.: John Mellencamp. April 15, 8 p.m.: Charlie Wilson with Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. April 16, 7:30 p.m.: Hollywood Bites Back! Comedy Fights Malaria. April 29, 8 p.m.: Lupillo Rivera Y La Original Banda El Limon. April 30, 8 p.m.: Pedro Fernandez. May 1, 7 p.m.: Molotov Y Kinky. May 6 and 7, 8 p.m.: Shake your bon bon for Ricky Martin. May 8, 8 p.m.: Yahoo for Yanni. May 13, 8 p.m.: Soulman Brian McKnight with Jagged Edge. May 15, 8 p.m.: The Moody Blues share their mood with all. May 28, 8 p.m.: La Banda El Recodo. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. March 14, 10 p.m.: Phil Alvin and Blind Thomas Pickerel. March 15, 10 p.m.: Duchess Desade. March 16, 10 p.m.: Matt Sonic and The High Times, Late to the Party, The Kill Pills and Vas Defrans. March 17, 10 p.m.: St. Patty’s YNM with The Driftwood Singers. March 18, 10 p.m.: Boats!, Underground Railroad to Candyland, Jus’ Folks and Bad Antics. March 19, 10 p.m.: Thousand Needles, The Bentleys and The Never Home. March 20, 10 p.m.: Dirty Eyes, Long Neck Goose, Vows and The Embalmers. March 22, 10 p.m.: Brainspoon, A Pretty Mess and Scattergood. March 23, 10 p.m.: Watch It Sparkle, Hello My Name is Red, The Bellhaunts. March 24, 10 p.m.: The Biters & The Booze. March 25, 10 p.m.: Groovy Rednecks, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue.

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Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301, 213-6200908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Tuesdays, 8 p.m.: Jazz jam session hosted by the Kevin Kanner quintet. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Fridays in March at 10 p.m.: The Americans, with different guests opening every week. Saturdays in March at 10 p.m.: The Gods of Macho, with different openers every week. March 17, all day: Casey’s goes all out for St. Patrick’s Day, closing down a block of Grand Avenue, and hosting live music outside with Hollywood U2 (Bono’s favorite tribute band), The Regulars, Petty Cash and 98.7 and 100.3FM DJs. Fridays in April: Ovideo. Fridays in May: Seasons. Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (877) 463-7773 or clubcicada.com. Sundays, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant turns into Cicada Club most Sunday nights except when it’s reserved for private parties. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dining and dancing to recorded music. A live band performs at 8:30 p.m. until closing. Band members play Big Band music to go along with Cicada Club’s vintage Hollywood era theme. Patrons are required to dress up. March 20, 8:30 p.m.: Jennifer Keith and the High Society Boys. March 27, 8:30 p.m.: Bonebreak Syncopators. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. March 19, 9 p.m.: Devo (yes, Devo!) with The Octopus Project. March 26, 8 p.m.: Funnyman, Seth MacFarlane. March 30, 8:30 p.m.: KEM. April 1, 8 p.m.: Dierks Bentley with Josh Thompson and Miss Willie Brown. April 2, 8 p.m.: Prince Royce. April 3, 8 p.m.: Lyricist extraordinaire Talib Kweli, with David Banner, 9th Wonder and Strong Arm Steady. April 12, 6:30 p.m.: All Time Low with Yellowcard, Hey Monday and The Summer Set. April 20, 7:30 p.m.: The Original Alice Cooper Group with Duff McKagan’s Loaded, Asking Alexandria, Sebastian Bach, DevilDriver, Volbeat and Fozzy. May 7, 9 p.m.: First he was Puff Daddy (well, first he was Sean Combs), then P. Diddy, then just Diddy and now he’s Diddy-Dirty Money. Did his wallet fall in mud puddle? Come find out. May 8, 9 p.m.: Ghostland Observatory. May 11, 8 p.m.: Coheed and Cambria. May 13, 9 p.m.: The Royal Family Ball, Soulive and Lettuce. May 14, 8 p.m.: Still jokin’ around, it’s Sinbad. May 17, 7:30 p.m.: Jesus Culture Band, Jake Hamilton and Banning Liebscher. May 21, 9 p.m.: Echo & The Bunnymen with Kelley Stoltz. May 27, 8p.m.: The Script. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Mondays, 8 p.m.: The Foxxhole Live, hosted by Mark Curry (known to anyone born in the mid1980s as Mr. Cooper, as in “Hangin’ With…”), has live stand-up comedy and R&B music. Fridays, 9 p.m.: Live Fridays offers DJs spinning Top 40 hits, house and hip-hop.

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18 Downtown News

Arts & Entertainment

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Funny in the Brain

ering presents hard shoe jigs accompanied with traditional Irish instruments like bagpipes, whistles and drums. Tribal Celtic group The Tinkers immerses the audience in sounds from the Scottish Highlands. April 17, 2 p.m.: The beauty of flamenco is showcased through Sakai Flamenco, where dancers, a singer and guitarist emanate music from the gypsies of Southern Spain. Yiddish and Gypsy music ensemble group Les Yeux Noirs uses violins, drums and cymbalums.

CLASSICAL MUSIC Tuesday, Mar. 8 Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 8 p.m.: The Chamber Music Society of the L.A. Phil performs a program of Loeffler’s Two Rhapsodies for Viola, Oboe, and Piano; Matheson’s Borromean Rings; and Schubert’s Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 99 (D. 898)

Steve Martin and Tina Fey Come to L.A. Live

ere’s the thing about Steve Martin and Tina Fey: They’re not just funny. They’re smart funny. This is what separates them from, say, Larry the Cable Guy and Carrot Top. Martin and Fey make you laugh not just in the belly, but in the brain. They bring their cerebral humor to the Nokia Theatre on April 19 as part of the Live Talks L.A. Series. In addition to discussing projects such as “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live,” Fey will be touting her new book, Bossypants. Martin, meanwhile, will likely discuss his myriad movie roles, his past hosting of the Academy Awards, and his latest novel, An Object of Beauty. Expect to leave laughing, and possibly with your brain a little brighter. That’s something Larry and Carrot just can’t do. The show is at 8 p.m. and is followed by a book signing with Fey. Tickets go on sale March 11. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020, or livetalksla.org. April 18: The John Daversa Small Band. April 20: Artwork Jamal and the Acid Blues. April 25: Bijon Watson presents the WOW Factor. May 2: Jazz Butchers. May 4: Deacon Jones Blues Review featuring Lady Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris Continued from previous page GG GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin April 16, 10 p.m.: Smogtown Record Release. May 9: The Ron King Quartet. ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie April 21, 10 p.m.: Cash O’Riley and the DownMay 16: Kneebody. citY Editor: Richard Guzmán Right Daddies. May 18: Artwork Jamal and the Acid Blues. stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt April 23, 10 p.m.: 2nd David Annual JohnnyKathryn Thunders coNtributiNG Editors: Friedman, Maese May 25: Dante’s Inferno tribute night withwritErs: Kevin K.Pamela Albanese, Jay Berman,Staples Center coNtributiNG Los Angeles Downtown News Jim Farber, Jeffp.m.: Favre,RumbleKing Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, April 29, 10 Record Release 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Party. staplescenter.com. phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 April 30, 10 p.m.: Trinket, Wonker and Peach March 28, 8 p.m.: Lady Gaga. Art dirEctor: Brian Allison web: DowntownNews.com Fuzz. May 28, 3 p.m.: Glee Live! In Concert! AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa email: realpeople@downtownnews.com ProductioN Seven Grand ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins May 28, 8 p.m.: Glee Live! In Concert! 515PhotoGrAPhEr: W. Seventh St., Gary (213)Leonard 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. The Colburn Schoolfacebook: All shows at 10 p.m. 200 S. Grand Ave., (310) 893-9472 or colburnschool.edu. L.A. Downtown News AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt Tuesdays: The Makers. March 27, 8 p.m.: Iranian jazz group Dang Show AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin March 14: Katisse Buckingham Quintet. will sing and performtwitter: on piano, saxophone and persAlEs Annette DowntownNews MarchAssistANt: 16: Artwork JamalCruz and the Acid Blues. cussion. clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway March 21: The Vibrometers. Varnish AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, March 23: Dante’s Inferno. TheSt., Los(213) Angeles DowntownorNews is the must-read 118 E. 6th 622-9999 thevarnishbar.com. Billy Wright, Lon Wahlberg newspaper for Downtown Angeles andJamie is dis- ElMarch 28: The Robby Marshall Group. Mondays, 9 p.m.: Live jazzLos piano with tributed every Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: Norma Rodas March 30: Sista Sherry. man. residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles April 4: The BMA Big Band. 8 p.m.: Live jazz piano with Marc distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo BonillaTuesdays, One copy per person. April 6: The Deacon Jones Blues Review featuring Bosserman. Lady GG. Walt Disney Concert Hall April 11: The Katisse Buckingham Quintet. 111 S. Grand Ave., 213-972-7211 or musiccenter.org. April 13: Mike Harris and Friends. March 19, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: A Gaelic Gath-

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Pamela Albanese, Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Billy Wright, Lon Wahlberg circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

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Wednesday, Mar. 9 Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 8 p.m.: The Colburn Celebrity Series presents pianist Yefim Bronfman in recital. The program includes Haydn’s Piano Sonata in C, Hob. XVI/50; Schumann’s Humoreske in B-flat, Op. 20; and Chopin’s Twelve Etudes, Op. 10. Thursday, Mar. 10 Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 622-7001 or laco.org. 7 p.m.: The “Baroque Conversations” series explores the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early baroque schools through the pre-classical period. The LACO artists will introduce the music from the stage, share their insights and invite questions, then perform works by Geminiani, Kohaut, Handel and Vivaldi. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 8 p.m.; Mar. 11, 8 p.m.; Mar. 12-13, 2 p.m.: Dudamel conducts Tchaikovsky’s three single-movement orchestral fantasies or overtures inspired by Shakespeare plays Hamlet, The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. Each of these works are preceded by selections from the plays, with Orlando Bloom as Romeo, Malcolm McDowell as Prospero and Matthew Rhys as Hamlet. Friday, Mar. 11 Jonas Kaufmann in Recital Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8000 or musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.: The internationally acclaimed tenor will perform an all-German program featuring 20 songs by Robert Schumann, including a complete performance of the song cycle Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love, opus 48) and 13 songs by Richard Strauss, including the song cycle Schlichte Weisen (Simple Ways, opus 21). Pianist Helmut Deutsch accompanies. saTurday, Mar. 12 The Colburn School 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. 7:30 p.m.: The Marina Ensemble introduces and promotes chamber music to young audiences by creating lively and accessible programming. Free, no ticket required. The Da Camera Society Doheny Mansion, 8 Chester Place, (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org. 8 p.m.: A tribute concert to Elinor Remick Warren, a native Angeleno and one of the most performed women composers of her generation who left a legacy of over 200 published compositions and excelling in the art song. Champagne reception to follow. sunday, Mar. 13 The Colburn School 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. 3 p.m.: Recital featuring Colburn School faculty members Mina Perry, piano; Chan-Ho Yun, violin; and guest artist Alexander Suleiman, cello. Admission is free, no tickets required. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 7:30 p.m.: Organist Stephen Tharp in recital performs works from Chopin, Jongen, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Brahms, Liszt and the world premiere of his own Disney’s Trumpets composed specifically for this concert. FuTure LisTings Camerata Pacifica Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., cameratapacifica.org March 17, 8 p.m.: The chamber music ensemble plays Piazzolla, Auerbach, Scriabin and Kresiler, plus Hindemeth’s Sonata for Viola Solo, Op. 31 with Richard Yongjae O’Neil as soloist. April 7, 8 p.m.: The ensemble performs Huang

March 7, 2011 Ruo’s Book of the Forgotten, for Oboe and Viola (a public premiere) and Saint-Saens’ Oboe Sonata in D Major, Op. 166. Nicholas Daniel is featured on oboe. May 12, 8 p.m.: Flute is the focus for this concert. First, it’s Rota’s Trio for Flute, Violin and Piano and then Roussel’s Trio for Flute, Viola and Cello. Adrian Spence joins the ensemble on flute. Colburn School 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu March 19, 8 p.m.: Vox Femina and the activist performance ensemble Contra Tiempo present a syncopated, sensual, sumptuous program of music and dance. March 20, 3 p.m.: The Dilijan Concert Series, which features violinist Movses Pogossian, performs a bold program anchored by George Crumb’s “Madrigals, books 3 and 4,” and “Black Angels” for electric string quartet. Also on the progam are Hovhannisyan’s “Four Litanies” and Rostomyan’s “The Tagh of Angeles,” in a world premiere. March 28, 8 p.m.: In the return of Monday Evening Concerts, the MEC Ensemble performs Rolf Riehm’s Hawking, inspired by the physicist and occasional wise-guy Stephen Hawking, and Heinrich Shutz’s St. John Passion. March 31, 6:30 p.m.: The Colburn Dance Council presents “Ballet, the Artful Journey,” a lecture by Elizabeth Kaye on ballet’s origins from the court of the ballet-obsessed Louis 14th, to the first virtuoso Gaetean Vestris, to Bournonville, Perrot and Petipa, the three giants of 19th century ballet. March 31, 7 p.m.: Conductor Harry Bicket leads members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in a program of Handel, Purcell, Arne and Corelli. April 2, 8 p.m.: The Colburn Chamber Music Society melds the time-tested experience of worldrenowned guest artists and distinguished Colburn faculty with the youthful passion of dynamic rising stars from the Conservatory of Music. April 10, all day: “Tapfest” is a daylong festival for the twinkle-toed. April 10, 3 p.m.: Colburn piano faculty member Ory Shihor gives a recital. Free. April 13, 7 p.m.: Colburn faculty member David Young gives a double bass recital. Free. April 14, 8 p.m.: The Colburn Brass Ensemble gives a free concert, April 17, 3 p.m.: The Dilijan Chamber Music Series gives its annual Armenian Genocide commemoration concert, featuring Vaughan Williams’ Along the Field, for soprano and violin; Harutyunyan’s song cycle Monument for my Mother; Chausson’s Chanson Pepetuelle; and Beethoven’s String Quartet, op. 132. April 25, 8 p.m.: In the season finale of the Monday Evening Concerts, the series presents Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen’s musical tribute to snow, Schnee and Rick Bahto’s Cave Creek: Winter canon 2011. April 29, 7:30 p.m.: Students from the acclaimed Los Angeles County High School for the Arts present its “Monster Piano Concert.” For tickets and additional information, call (323) 343-2659. May 1, 2 and 4 p.m.: The Colburn School presents its String Festival concerts. Free. May 7, 7:30 p.m.: The Colburn Chamber Orchestra gives a free concert. May 10, 2 p.m.: Piano Spheres presents Susan Svreck performing Tom Johnson’s “An Hour for Piano.” May 14, 1:30 and 3 p.m.: The school presents its Spring Choral Concert, in two performances. Free. May 15, 2 and 5 p.m.: The school presents two Children’s Spring Performances, featuring Colburn’s youngest students. Free. May 16, 7:30 p.m.: Colburn’s Concert Band and Wind Ensemble team up for a joint performance. Free. May 20, 7:30 p.m.: Faculty and students from the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute give a dance performance. Free. May 21, 7 p.m.: The school’s Orchestra Da Camera gives a free chamber music concert. May 13, 8 p.m.: Camerata Pacifica presents Reinecke’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, “Undine,” Op. 167 . May 22, 2 and 5 p.m.: More Children’s Spring Performances. Da Camera Society Venues Vary, (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org. April 9, 8 p.m.: The Chamber Music in Historic Sites series continues with an ensemble of New York’s finest wind players, collaborating with pianist Pedja Musijevic, performing works by Beethoven, Saint-Saens, Prokofiev and Poulenc in the Pompeian Room at the Doheny Mansion, 10 Chester Pl. Los Angeles Philharmonic 111 S. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org. March 14, 8 p.m.: James Galway has the distinct honor of being the most famous flutist in the world (eat your heart out, Ron Burgundy). He joins the multiple Grammy-winning Emerson Quartet for anevening of chamber music by Mozart, Debussy, Foote and Adès. March 15, 8 p.m.: In this Green Umbrella concert,

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 19

Arts & Entertainment

the LA Philharmonic’s New Music Group spotlights May 31, 8 p.m.: Brahms month comes to a close, two composers: Seoul-born Unsuk Chin (her violin with a bang. Members of the L.A. Phil give a chamconcerto won the Grawemeyer Award) and Swede ber music concert with the composer’s Piano Trio Anders Hillborg. No. 2 in C; Two Songs for Alto, Viola and Piano, March 17-19, 8 p.m.; March 20, 2 p.m.: Gustavo Op. 91; and String Sextet No. 2 in G. Dudamel leads pianist Martha Agerich and the L.A. Phil in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Mozart’s Masonic Funeral Music and Symphony No. 35. March 22, 8 p.m.: The St. Petersburg Philhar- 100 Days monic comes to town and, fittingly, leads a program LOFT ensemble, 929 E. 2nd St. Studio 105, (213) 680with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture. 0392 or LOFTensemble.com. Mar. 12, 8 p.m.; Mar. 13, 7 p.m.: After his BudAlso on the bill is Brahm’s Symphony No. 4 and Shoshtakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, with Alisa dhist mother passes away, a college circuit comedian has 100 days to marry for his mother’s spirit to tranWeilerstein playing lead. March 24 and 26, 8 p.m.; March 25, 11 a.m.; sition in peace in this world premiere by Weiko Lin. March 27, 2 p.m.: Conductor Kurt Masur leads Through Mar. 20. violinist Sarah Chang in Brahms’ Violin Concerto, As The Globe Warms Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 and Mendelssohn’s Heb- Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com. rides Overture. Mar. 8, 7:30 p.m.: The final season of Heather March 29, 8 p.m.: The L.A. Phil and its New Music Group pay tribute to former L.A. Phil executive Woodbury’s weekly dramatic serial is a one-of-adirector Ernest Fleischman in a free concert (tickets kind solo performance narrative about God, sex and were made available on Feb. 26) featuring works by ecological disaster. Through April 5. Pierre Boulez, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Franco Donatoni Civil Rites Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or and Igor Stravinsky. April 1 and 2, 8 p.m.; April 3, 2 p.m.: The phil fo- companyofangels.org. Mar. 11-12, 8 p.m.; Mar. 13, 7 p.m.: Company of cuses on British composer/conductor/pianist Thomas Ades, who conducts Stravinsky’s Concerto for Two Angels presents an evening of monologues, music Pianos and Les Noces, in addition to his own work In and poetry drawn from a series of theater workSeven Days. The work mixes hi-tech imagery by Tal shops for Downtown artists and adults—many who are disabled, homeless and/or living or working in Rosner with a piano concerto by Adès’ music. April 4, 8 p.m.: Yo Yo Ma and his Silk Road En- poverty. Through Mar. 13. semble perform music from the ancient Silk Road La Razón Blindada trading route with an array of instruments and 24th Street Theatre, 1117 West 24th St., 213-745-6516 or 24thstreet.org. original compositions. Mar. 12, 8 p.m.: Argentine playwright/director April 5, 8 p.m.: The Thomas Ades focus continues a Green Umbrella concert with two more works Aristides Vargas infuses Cervantes’ classic novel El Quijote with Franz Kafka’s The Truth About Sancho by Ades, plus pieces by Ligeti, Coll and Nancarrow. April 7-9, 8 p.m.: Ades conducts Gerald Barry’s Panza and testimonies by Chicho Vargas and other The Importance of Being Earnest, a vocal work in- political prisoners held in the 1970s during Argenspired by Oscar Wilde’s timeless comedy, with tenor tina’s dictatorship. Two political prisoners, oppressed Gordon Gietz and soprano Hila Plitmann leading by physical and emotional abuse, find solace in meeting every Sunday at dusk to tell the story of Don the chorus. April 10, 7 p.m.: The Los Angeles Master Chorale Quixote and Sancho Panza. Through Mar. 26. performes Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece “The Cre- Magic Strings The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., ation.” April 12, 8 p.m.: Members of the L.A. Phil give a (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Mar. 8-11, 10:30 a.m.; Mar. 12-13, 2:30 p.m.: chamber music concert featuring two relatively early works by Beethoven, the String Trio and the Ser- More than 100 of Bob Baker’s fantastical marienade for Flute, Violin and Viola, as well as Handel’s onettes in an hour-long variety revue include puppet horses frolicking on an old-fashioned merry-goSonata for two oboes, bassoon and harpsichord. April 14-15, 8 p.m.; April 16, 2 p.m.: Violin virtu- round and a marionette “Day at the Circus.” oso Nikolaj Znaider plays the Elgar Violin Concerto, The Turk in Italy and the L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8000 or musiccenter.org. No. 4. Mar. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 13, 2 p.m.: LA Opera April 21 and 23, 8 p.m.; April 22, 11 a.m.: Yefim presents the company premiere of Gioacchino RossiBronfman plays the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2. April 26, 8 p.m.: In a chamber music concert, ni’s zaniest comedy of amorous misadventures and a members of the L.A. Phil perform Stravinsky’s His- masquerade of mistaken identities, played out against toire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale), a cautionary a bel canto score of tongue-tangling patter arias and fable about the devil, a soldier and a fiddle. Also on blazing coloratura showpieces. Through March 13. The Turn of the Screw the progam is Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 1. April 29-30, 8 p.m.; May 1, 2 p.m.: Jaap van Zwe- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 S. Grand Ave., (213) den conducts Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante, with 972-8000 or musiccenter.org. Opening Mar. 12, 7:30 p.m.: The LA Opera presPeter Stumpf tackling the cello part. May 5-6, 8 p.m.; May 8, 2 p.m.: May is Brahms ents Benjamin Britten’s operatic adaptation of Henry month, and it kicks off, fittingly, with his Symphony James’ classic novel of suspense and the supernatural. No. 1. Gustavo Dudamel conducts. Also on the James Conlon conducts and soprano Patricia Racette program is a world premiere of a violin concerto by stars as a governess who must protect two children from malevolent spirits in an isolated English country Golijov, with Leonida Kavakos on violin. May 10, 8 p.m.: Tembembe Ensamble Continuo manor. Six performances through Mar. 30. engages in a far-reaching musical dialogue from Old Future Listings Spain, the Mexican Baroque and the living “Husteca” and “Jarocho” traditions, all in celebration of 24th Street Theater 1117 West 24th St., 213-745-6516 or 24thstreet.org. the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence. Through March 26: Aristide Vargas’ La Razón May 12-14, 8 p.m.; May 15, 2 p.m.: Dudamel com or conducts Brahms’ A German Requiem, with the Loser at DoBlindada. ntownNews. w corn ht handBeaut rig r llis ai pe Ahmanson Theatre Angeles Master Chorale, and Steven Mackey’s m up s/ e th rm ews.com/fo EWS Look for this symbol in.la ntownnJosefowicz dowLeila 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or w tifulE-N Passing, a violin concerto for w w P SIGN U centertheatregroup.org. that was inspired by the death of his mother. April 5-May 15: Jeff Bridges, James Gandolfini, May 19-21, 8 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.: Dudamel conducts Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Tragic Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden star in the Tony Award-winning comedy God of Carnage. The Overture and Gubaidulina’s Glorious Percussion. May 24, 8 p.m.: In this Green Umbrella concert, play is set in a gentrified section of Brooklyn where the L.A. Phil New Music Group, led by John Adams two married couples meet to sort out a playground at the podium, plays new works by Mackey, Nor- fight between their sons. After some obligatory niceties, the gloves come off and the night devolves into man, Kahane and Mazzoli. March 26-27, 8 p.m.; March 28-29, 2 p.m.: Du- a side-splitting free-for-all. damel conducts Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and his Bob Baker’s Marionettes 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or Variations on a Theme by Haydn.

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THEATER, OPERA & DANCE

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to Host Acclaimed Netherlands Company

t’s not easy to go from Los Angeles to the Netherlands. Fortunately, this spring, a bit of that country is coming here. The 52-year-old Nederland Dans Theater will visit the Dorothy Candler Pavilion on March 23-24 as part of the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center series. On the bill for the contemporary company are “The Second Person,” choreographed by Canadian whiz kid Crystal Pite, and “Silent Screen,” by the company’s resident choreographers Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon. Both pieces run 45 minutes. The former, which had its world premiere in 2007, was described by the Chicago Tribune as a “dance-theater extravaganza, with Kafkaesque themes achieved through arresting design.” The latter, which debuted in 2005 in The Hague, features the abstract music of Philip Glass. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org.

bobbakermarionettes.com. Through May: In Magic Strings more than 100 of Bob Baker’s fantastical marionettes in an hourlong variety revue. After the performance, guests are invited to have refreshments in the Party Room. Open-ended run. Bootleg Theater 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com. Through April 5: The final season of Heather Woodbury’s weekly dramatic serial As the World Warms is a one-of-a-kind solo performance narrative about God, sex and ecological disaster. Company of Angels Theatre 501 S. Spring St., companyofangels.org. April 1-May 4: La Views 4: Downtown Money is a collection of short plays reflecting the city, and its appetite. East West Players David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 eastwestplayers.org. May 12-June 26: In the hip hop musical Krunk Fu Battle Battle, young Norman Lee battles the baddest b-boy crew at Sunset Park High for respect, honor, and the heart of sweet Cindy Chang, all under the tutelage of Sir Master Cert. A hip-hop musical extravaganza! Lyrics by Beau Sia, vocal music by Marc Macalintal and directed by Tim Dang. Loft Ensemble 929 E. 2nd St. Studio 105, (213) 680-0392 or LOFTensemble.com. Through March 20: After his Buddhist mother passes away, a college circuit comedian has 100 Days to marry for his mother’s spirit to transition in peace. Los Angeles Opera Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com. Through March 30: James Conlon conducts Benjamin Britten’s mesmerizing score in Turn of the Screw. May 5-8: Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Mark Morris Dance Group performs L’Allegro,

Starts March 4

il Penseroso ed il Moderato, featuring 24 dancers, conductor Grant Gershon leading the LA Opera Orchestra and Chorus as well as a quartet of worldclass singers. Handel’s pastoral ode is the musical landscape, while poetry by John Milton and William Blake serves as the libretto. Los Angeles Theatre Center 514 S. Spring St., thelatc.org. March 18-April 9: In bonded Sonny, Lily and Jack are the last remaining slaves on a crumbling, cashstrapped Virginia farm in 1820. When Asa, a “house boy” from New York, is brought in to help in the fields, repressed desires and memories of loss are unlocked, forcing Sonny and the other slaves to face their bridled passions and test the limits of the cruel world as they know it. March 25-April 17: Devil’s Advocate is the story of the capture and the breaking of Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega by the Vatican’s “Devil’s Advocate” Archbishop Jose Sebastian Laboa. Their titanic struggle to the end of the night is based on a true story. March 31-May 1: Herbert Siguenza’s A Weekend With Pablo Picasso puts the audience inside Picasso’s “Le Californie” art studio on the coast of France and inside the creative mind and work of one of the influential artist. Mark Taper Forum 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. March 23-May 1: Landford Wilson’s Burn This is about the heat that results when two incendiary forces collide in a blinding rush of anguish and passion. Anna is a choreographer who has lost Robbie, her best friend and collaborator, in a tragic accident. Pale is Robbie’s brother, a powderkeg lost in his own way, who arrives at her doorstep in the middle of the night. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. April 2-3: REDCAT takes over the historic Million Dollar Theater (307 S. Broadway) for the U.S.

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Listings Continued from previous page premiere of Tempest: Without a Body by renowned New Zealand director and choreographer Lemi Ponifasio. From its ominous beginning to its shattered conclusion, the play is a ferocious and aweinspiring reflection on personal liberty and our current world. May 22-23: In Studio: Spring 2011 six Los Angeles artists present new works and works-in-progress. The show is curated to offer audiences an interdisciplinary mix of dynamic performances, while giving experimental artists a creative platform to investigate new ideas and new directions for their work.

ART SPACES ADC Contemporary Art Gallery Factory Art Place Complex, 1330 Factory Place, (323) 839-5786 or adccontemporaryartgallery.com. Current: Beyond the Inner Sphere features the work of Pablo Castañeda-Mexico Steve Kim-Korea. Arty 634 S. Main St., (213) 213-7829 or artyla.com. Contemporary art gallery featuring West Coast artists. Currently featuring paintings by Stephen Rowe and photography by Olivier Pojzman. Bert Green Fine Art (213) 624-6212 or bgfa.us. BGFA exhibits the works of select contemporary artists. By appointment only. The Box Gallery 977 Chung King Rd., (213) 625-1747 or theboxla.com. Through Mar. 19: Dog, Bus, Palm Tree is a solo show of artist Koki Tanaka. Buchanon Gallery 204 W. Sixth St., (323) 823-1922 or byronbuchanan.com. Ongoing: Pop paintings by Bryon Buchanan. CB1 Gallery 207 W. Fifth St., (213) 806-7889 or cb1gallery.com. Through Apr. 3: Larry Montello’s first solo exhibition in 16 years, Together Again, includes several series of works which include sculpture, temporary tattoos on paper and multi-layered wall hangings. Also, LA painter Edith Beaucage explores painted images that investigate relationships between signs of abstraction and figuration in .hurluberlu. Charlie James Gallery 975 Chung King Road, (213) 687-0488 or cjamesgallery.com. Current: If These Walls Could Talk - A Conversation includes work from artists Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet, Jow, Steve Lambert, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Littlewhitehead, Christopher Michlig, Raymond Pettibon, William Powhida, Eduardo Sarabia and Debra Scacco. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 411 Bernard St., (323) 222-0856 or chssc.org. Ongoing: An exhibition about the history of immigration from China to the United States. The Company 946 Yale St., (213) 221-7082 or thecompanyart.com. Opening Mar. 12: Jesse Fleming’s Desert, shot in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, will feature three new works consisting of videos, selected photographs and a book. Through Apr. 23. Crewest 110 Winston St., (213) 627-8272 or crewest.com. Through Mar. 27: In Ripe, a wine show about art tasting, selected artists will recycle wine barrels, wine bottles and wine corks by transforming them into pieces of contemporary art. Downtown Art Gallery 1611 S. Hope St., (213) 255-2067 or dacgallery.com. Opening Mar. 10: Catalyst & Mark focuses on and celebrates the raw, unrestrained intuitive mark of the artist, from classic, modern minimalism to contemporary abstraction that effortlessly references pop culture. Through Apr. 6. Drkrm 727 S. Spring St., (213) 239-0361 or drkrm.com. Opening Mar. 12: “Harmony,” an exhibition of large-scale color photographs by Jeff Seltzer, reveal the effect of human occupation within the landscape of contemporary environments. Through Apr. 9. Edgar Varela Fine Arts 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 604-3634 or edgarvarelafinearts.com. Opening Mar. 12: Erica Steiner’s newest series of oil and gold leaf paintings, Heaven is Not the Wide Blue Sky, explores a collective longing to touch and know realms beyond. Through Apr. 9. Gary Leonard 860 S. Broadway, takemypicture.com. Take My Picture is a gallery dedicated to Gary Leonard’s photographs, documenting the public and private culture of Los Angeles with significant guest collections. Currently featuring Newton Division, paintings by Daniel J. Calderon. Hive Gallery & Studios 729 S. Spring St., (213) 955-9051 or thehivegallery.com.

March 7, 2011

Arts & Entertainment Through Mar. 26: More than 50 artists are represented in the “Alice in Wonderland”-themed group show, featuring the works of Christopher Umana, Walt Hall, Amy Kollar Anderson, Alie Ward and Wellington Rawls. Hold Up Art 358 E. Second St., (213) 221-4585 or holdupart.com. Opening March 19: “Nonsense and Everything That Goes With It” is a group show consisting of Long Beach artists Cody Lusby, Ryan Clemens and Matthew Hodges. Their vision is saturated with unpredictable textures, colors and shapes in mediums from detailed stencil work and freehand drawings to paintings. LA Artcore at Union Center for the Arts 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 617-3274 or laartcore.org. Through Mar. 27: Tandem solo shows in painting and sculpture by Los Angeles artists Graham Goddard and Luis Becerra. LA Artcore at the Brewery Annex 650 A South Avenue 21, (323) 276-9320 or laartcore.org. Through Mar. 31: Mapping: Art Center College of Design’s Out Network Group Show examines the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex and Allies) community and their location — geographically, politically, internationally and locally — in both a literal and metaphorical sense through a diverse range of work. L2kontemporary 990 N. Hill St. #205, (626) 319-3661 or l2kontemporary.com. Opening Mar. 19: Edward Lightner: Eradication Project. Through Apr. 16. The Latino Museum 514 S. Spring St., (213) 626-7600 or thelatinomuseum.com. Ongoing: The Latino Museum holds a unique collection of work from emerging and established contemporary Mexican, Latino and Chicano artists working and living in the United States as well as throughout Latin, Central and South America. Los Angeles Center For Digital Art 102 West Fifth St., 323 646 9427 or lacda.com. Opening Mar. 10: Discarded Dreams, the photography of Linda Alterwitz. Through Apr. 2. Los Angeles Public Library Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lapl.org. Through Apr. 30: The exhibit Forty Years of Sesame Street Illustration: Selections from the Publishing Archive of Sesame Workshop explores the history of the popular children’s educational television show Sesame Street. Ongoing: The Annenberg Gallery displays some of the extraordinary materials collected by the Los Angeles Public Library since its founding in 1872. The inaugural exhibit Treasures of Los Angeles features items from the Hollywood collection, including vintage film posters, publicity photographs, postcards and other promotional items such as photo advertisements from Mexican films of the 1950s and 1960s. Morono Kiang Gallery 218 West 3rd St., (213) 628-8208 or moronokiang.com. Through Apr. 30: My Super Hero, an exhibition of new works by Iranian contemporary artists is running simultaneously in Tehran’s Aaran Gallery and features new works created exclusively for this exhibit by more than 30 artists, including Newsha Tavakolian, Barbad Golshiri and Amitis Motevalli. Norbertellen Gallery 215 W. Sixth St., (818) 662-5041 or norbertellengallery.com. Through Mar. 26: The Infini Couleur group exhibition is a classic parlor-style exhibition of painting, illustration, photography, mixed media and sculpture from 24 established and emerging local, national and international artists. Optical Allusion Gallery 2414 W. Seventh St., (310) 309-7473 or wix.com/ OAGallery/OAGallery. Through Mar. 12: The Abstractionist group show features the work of artists Greg Bernhardt, Nicholas Dahmann, Yehonatan Koenig, Courtney Reid, Suzanna Schulten, Kymm Swank and Christina Thomas. POVevolving Gallery 939 Chung King Rd., (310) 594-3036 or povevolving.com. Through March: The Tyranny of Impermanence features new work by Grady Gordon. REDCAT Gallery 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Through Apr. 10: Vancouver-based artist Geoffrey Farmer creates context-specific installations developed from an interest in the relationship between the production of art objects and theories of drama and dramatization in Let’s Make the Water Turn Black. Sabina Lee Gallery 971 Chung King Road, (323) 935-9279 or sabinaleegallery.com. Through Mar. 26: Works by Drew Peterson include a collection of complex screenprints depicting appropriated illustrations used in early 20thcentury advertisements. Sam Lee Gallery 990 N. Hill St. #190, (323) 227-0275 or

samleegallery.com. Through Apr. 9: Waste_Generation, watercolors by Chris Doyle. Sci-Arc Gallery 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. Through Mar. 13: Out of Memory, designed by Patrick Tighe for the SCI-Arc Gallery, is an experience at the convergence of sound, material, light, form and technology. Accompanied by a site-specific composition by world-renowned musician Ken Ueno. Through Apr. 22: Audience of Objects includes six projects by SCI-Arc faculty members previously seated in the Venice Architecture Biennale 2010 Austrian Pavilion, which was designed by SCI-Arc Director Eric Owen Moss. Temple of Visions 719 S. Spring St., templeofvisions.com. Ongoing: Contemporary mystical and visionary art. Terrell Moore Gallery 1221 S. Hope St. (213) 744-1999 or terrellmoore.net. Ongoing: Glyphs, a mini-retrospective of Terrell Moore, includes his recent work. Glyphs. Group shows and featured solo artists revolve on a continual basis.

FILM Devil’s Night Drive In 240 W. Fourth St., (310) 584-1086 or devilsnight.com. Mar. 12, 7 p.m.: The 1982 British/American fantasy film The Dark Crystal directed by puppeteers Jim Henson and Frank Oz screens on the rooftop parking lot in the great outdoors. No car necessary. DJs and car hops, too. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Through Mar. 10: The Red Chapel follows a trio of Danish artists to North Korea under the guise of cultural exchange. Pretending to be a small theatre group, they present themselves as regime sympathizers and mount an absurd variety show in Pyongyang. IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through Apr. 7: A Rainforest Adventure: Bugs! in 3D explores the dramatic lives of an Old World praying mantis and a beautiful butterfly. Hubble 3D takes movie-goers on a journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings and accompany spacewalking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. Under the Sea 3D explores the exotic waters and creatures of the Indo-Pacific as well as the impact of climate change on the ocean wilderness. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Mar. 8, 8:30 p.m.: With characters and stories synthesized from sources including history and autobiography, Nancy Andrews works in a hybrid form that combines research with storytelling, documentary, puppetry and vaudeville. “The Birdwoman and Her Dreams” presents a selection of shorts along with two of her latest animated works. Mar. 10, 8:30 p.m.: CalArts faculty member Sam Durant introduces a screening and discussion of COINTELPRO 101, a film that exposes illegal surveillance, disruption, and outright murder committed by the U.S. government in the 1950s,’60s and ’70s to surveil, imprison, and eliminate leaders of social justice movements and to disrupt, divide, and destroy the movements as well. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Mar. 10: The Adjustment Bureau (1:30, 4:20, 7 and 10 p.m.); Beastly (12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30 and 9:50 p.m.); Rango (12, 1:40, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:10, 7:50,9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Take Me Home Tonight (12, 2:20, 4:50, 7:30 and 10:10 p.m.); Drive Angry 3D (1:20, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Hall Pass (2:40, 5:10 andn 10:20 p.m.); Justin Bieber: Never Say Never: The Director’s Fan Cut 3D (12:50 and 6:30 p.m.); Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (1, 3:50, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.); I Am Number Four (1:50, 4:40, 7:20 and 10:20 p.m.); Unknown (12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 8 and 10:40 p.m.); Gnomeo & Juliet 3D (12:10, 2:20, 4:30,6:40 and 9 p.m.); Just Go With It (1, 4, 6:40 and 9:30 p.m.); Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 3D (3:40 and 9:10 p.m.);The King’s Speech (12:40, 3:50, 6:50 and 9:40 p.m.). Mar. 11 (partial list): Battle: Los Angeles (1:20, 4:30, 7:40 and 10:50 p.m.); Mars Needs Moms 3D (12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10 and 9:30 p.m.); Red Riding Hood (12, 2:30, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m.). Future Listings Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com for showtimes. March 16, 8 and 9:30 p.m.: In The Man With F.E.E.E.T., Jack Strider is the ordinary man called to extraordinary action when he becomes steward to the most powerful pair of loafers in the world

known as ‘F.E.E.E.T.’ (Footwear-based Electronically Engineered Emulation Technology). March 17-April 21: National Theater Live’s Frankenstein. March 25-31: The Upsette: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry. March 28, 7-11 p.m.: World Full of Nothing: In the midst of a teen suicide epidemic captured on video blogs, 15-year-old Rachael (Bella Nelson) reaches out to strangers through her own series of confessional videos daring someone to find her and prove to her that life is worth living. March 31-April 3: Heavy Metal Film Fest. April 25, 7-11 p.m.: Once and For All is an experimental film about a couple that suffers from a break-up and searches to rediscover themselves as individuals. IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. See this week’s listing. Last Remaining Seats Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, laconservancy.org. May 26, 8 p.m.: Considered by many to be one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best films, the suspensful Rear Window explores the thrill of voyeurism and its potential to turn into obsession. Jimmy Stewart stars as L. B. “Jeff” Jeffries. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. March 26-April 17: The 6th annual REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for a mind-expanding collection of short film programs, each crafted with care to appeal to the next generation of movie-lovers. March 28, 8:30 p.m.: “Victory Over the Sun: Films and Videos by Michael Robinson.” April 4, 8:30 p.m.: Betzy Bromberg presents Voluptuous Sleep Series (2011), her two-part 16mm meditation on the nuances of light, sound and feeling. April 6-9, times vary: “Between Disorder and Unexpected Pleasures: Tales From the New Chinese Cinema” explores the recent digital explosion in independent Chinese film. April 18, 8:30 p.m.: In Where is Where?, Finnish multimedia artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila has designed a visually mesmerizing four-image split-screen to evoke and deconstruct the murder of a young French boy by two Algerian playmates during the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s. May 2, 8:30 p.m.: Through a web of interviews, poetic ruminations and cinematic investigations, Hartmut Bitomsky’s Dust (2007) serves as a philosophical, factual and fanciful examination of the smallest objects that can be perceived: particles that permeate every aspect of life. May 4-7: The CalArts Film/Video Showcase presents a juried selection of new student work. May 15-17: Four programs present a kaleidoscopic view of a Russia’s Sofia Gubaidulina. Now 80 and one of the great living composers, Gubaidulina makes a rare U.S. appearance to share an intensity unrivaled in today’s contemporary music scene. Including film and musical events. See redcat.org for details.

BARS & CLUBS The Association 610 S. Main St., (213) 627-7385. Carved out of the area that used to belong to Cole’s, the bar in front, the Association is a dimly-lit, swank little alcove with some serious mixologists behind the bar. Look for a heavy door, a brass knocker, and a long line. Barbara’s at the Brewery 620 Moulton Ave., No. 110, (323) 221-9204 or bwestcatering.com. On the grounds of the Brewery, this bar and restaurant in an unfinished warehouse is where local residents find their artistic sustenance. Fifteen craft beers on tap, wine list and full bar.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

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March 7, 2011

Downtown News 21

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Concierges Continued from page 1 community were limited. Now there is Walt Disney Concert Hall, L.A. Live and scores of restaurants and bars. “You have to stay on top of more things now, but it’s exciting being here,” said the soft-spoken 51-year-old on a recent weekday afternoon. “People are coming here and I don’t have to send them far away to enjoy nightlife, or to restaurants.” A former bank operations manager, Jarrett left that field after a string of robberies made him feel unsafe. He started as a concierge in Downtown about 11 years ago. Initially, he said, he found himself talking more about the Westside than the Central City. Other local concierges report the same experience. In fact, at the time, Jarrett networked with Westside colleagues simply to know where to send his customers so they would return happy after a night out. Today he finds himself recommending places much closer — he routinely sends hotel guests to L.A. Live, Drago Centro and The Edison. On Stage James Russell likens his job to being a performer on stage — he always has to be on, satisfying the customer, never willing to disappoint. For the senior concierge at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, the more things change, the more they stay the same. “I wouldn’t say it’s harder now. Things just move a little faster because there’s so much more of everything,” said Russell, who has clocked 20 years at the Financial District hotel. “But it’s still the same, you’re still a concierge, and if you accept the title you have to live up to that title.” The comparison to being on stage isn’t just tossed off. Before getting a concierge job, Russell was a singer and performed with groups including Jewel Akens and the Turnarounds, known for the 1965 song “The Birds and the Bees.” He left the music industry to help his family — paychecks are steadier when you don’t need a hit record — and has worked in Downtown since the early 1990s. Then, he said, the field was more formal, with numerous business people in town for corporate training. While the hotel still attracts the accountants and bankers, Russell said the

crowds have diversified, and so have his suggestions on what those in Downtown can do for fun. “Back then we would send them mainly to hotel bars since all the nice bars were in hotels,” he said. Now, he regularly recommends Broadway Bar, Bottega Louie and, like Jarrett, the plethora of offerings at L.A. Live. In addition to keeping the customers happy, Russell said he has to race to keep up with the changes in Downtown. Like others in the field, he peruses local newspapers, magazines and websites. He also passes them out to hotel staff. “So many new places open up,” he remarked. “We have to keep up with all of that and constantly update what businesses are here.” Russell says there is a large element of trust with his hotel guests. Many of them have never visited Downtown before. Even athletes and entertainers in town for events such as the recent NBA All-Star game can use suggestions. He connects with them like he did to fans during his years on stage. Well, almost like that. “A lot of times people really want you to tell them what they should do, or give them options on what to do, and we can send them anywhere in Downtown,” he said. Different Neighborhood Sergio Caña laughs when he says he’s glad he doesn’t have a girlfriend, but he isn’t really joking. The 32-year-old concierge has been in the hospitality business for about 11 years and has worked at the Sheraton Hotel for the past seven years. “Being a concierge gets more and more interesting,” he said. “You really have to know what’s up and everything that’s going on.” It’s a different neighborhood then the one Caña found when he started here in 2000. After working at a small motel in Pasadena, Caña took the bus to Downtown, got off at Seventh and Hope streets in front of what was then a Hyatt, and applied for a job. He started at the front desk. “The Financial District was always nice in the daytime, but no one was there at night, and if you went past Broadway there were a lot of homeless people,” he recalled. Like Garrett, Caña found himself recommending places in Hollywood. Olvera Street and Chinatown were among the few options in the community for tourists. While Caña also strives to keep up with the new additions, he doesn’t have to do it all himself. “New businesses are concierge friendly, so they look for us

photo by Gary Leonard

Omni concierge Kelvin Jarrett used to have to send people to the Westside for a meal or a night out. He rarely does so anymore.

and reach out to us,” he said. These days, the clientele has changed. While business travelers still come to the hotel, there is a greater mix of families and younger tourists. Recommending places that suit their lifestyle is crucial. “You have to understand more about the places that are here and who they are for and not just know where they are,” he said. “I have to be out there a lot, so thank God I don’t have a girlfriend.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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22 Downtown News

March 7, 2011

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Dawn of the Debt photo by Gary Leonard

Office Market Expert Steve Marcussen Discusses the Financially Dead ‘Zombie Buildings’ by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

he real estate crash that started in 2007 hit all corners of the economy hard and fast. Four years later, repercussions are still being felt. Steve Marcussen, executive director of the commercial real estate giant Cushman and Wakefield, recently spoke to the Downtown Breakfast Club about a handful of local “zombie buildings” — structures whose values are now far less than their mountains of debt. These projects, financed by complex securities that were divvied up among thousands of investors, are “financially dead,” but still operating. Marcussen talked with Los Angeles Down town News about how the zombies got here, and what the future holds.

Steve Marcussen at the office tower at 550 S. Hope St., one of about six “zombie buildings” in Downtown. The property owner defaulted 18 months ago, and the project’s debt is far greater than its value. It is for sale.

Los Angeles Downtown News: What are zombie buildings, and are they going to kill us all? Steve Marcussen: Zombie buildings are financially dead, but still operating. Zombie buildings have a lower value than the cost of the debt used to finance them. A zombie building is also where nobody wants to do anything. They don’t want to restructure the debt, because somebody is going to have to take a loss. But they’re not going to kill you, unless you’re a tenant in one that’s going bad. Q: How many zombie buildings are in Downtown, and is Downtown more affected than other markets in Los Angeles? A: I’d say that there are between three and six of them Downtown right now, and Downtown seems to have more than its fair share because many of the buildings were financed with commercial mortgage backed securities [CMBS] debt. Q: How did we get here? A: It was just that the market looked strong. The economy was strong. Rents were rising,

and certain of the most aggressive players were able to outbid the traditional owners because they used CMBS debt. The CMBS debt would finance 90% or more of the purchase price because the underwriting was so loose. We thought there was more equity

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than there was. In the very end of the cycle in 2006 and 2007, CMBS debt was readily available and the most aggressive national investors came to town with that money. Some other individual local investors used it to buy smaller buildings like 660 S. Figueroa and 801 S. Figueroa. Both of those were put on the market recently and failed to sell. They didn’t sell because the price needed to cover the debt was higher than the market value and the fear buyers have that they won’t be able to replace the cheap CMBS debt when it comes due in 2014, ’15 and ’16.

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A: Those buyers generally paid lower prices because until about 2006 or 2007, the CMBS hadn’t gone wild. So there were institutional investors who had raised equity and then went and got a traditional loan that was maybe 60% or 70% of the value. CMBS debt was used by the hot money guys trying to buy and flip buildings. Q: What, or when, is the breaking point for a zombie building? A: It’s different for every one. It might be when the loan comes due. At that point in time the borrower is either going to have to give it back or come up with a lot of equity. Some property investors that are very wellcapitalized, like Thomas Properties Group [owner of City National Plaza], were able to add significant equity to the building then

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

renegotiate their loans. But in the case of the zombies there doesn’t appear to be anybody around with a lot of equity.

How ’Bout Them Zombies?

Q: How are tenants affected by being in a zombie building? A: The landlord is always important. They’re the one providing service to the tenant. To the extent that they’re damaged or distracted, you’re not going to get the same level of services in the building. Also what we’re seeing is zombie landlords are milking the buildings. They’re not washing the windows; no guards in the parking structure; not cleaning as much; trying to buy less insurance. They’re keeping the AC on, but it may be sporadic.

The Vital Facts on Three of Downtown’s Living-Dead Buildings

Property: Figueroa Tower, 660 S. Figueroa St. Owner: The project is in the control of LNR Property Group, which represents the pool of investors on the loan. Loan: $60 million in CMBS debt, due in 2013 Estimated Current Value: $55 million, or $200 per square foot Occupancy: 75% leased

Q: With all these zombies wallowing in financial purgatory, what are the prospects for a recovery in the office market? A: The overall economy is what’s most important and it’s frankly working against the zombie landlords right now because occupancy is still falling, and rents are still falling across all of Southern California. But there’s good news in this and it has to do with the fact that as the CMBS debt comes due, new owners will be buying them at less than top of the market prices. As the buildings are recapitalized, the new owners will have the ability to compete for tenants and have a competitive advantage. Q: If existing zombies end up in foreclosure, are there legitimate buyers out there looking for office towers? A: Yes. Tons of them. For the best real estate, the “trophies,” there are real estate investment trusts, pension funds, opportunity funds and global investors lining up like 747s at LAX. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

photos by Gary Leonard

ered one of the premier office towers in the country, Marcussen said. That’s why MPG Property Trust will do everything it can to hold onto the asset. The firm issued a Notice of Imminent Default in December, the first step in a complicated legal process through which it hopes to renegotiate the debt on the building.

Property: Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave. Owner: MPG Property Trust Loan: $420 million in commercial Mortgage Backed Securities debt, due in 2017 Estimated Current Value: $320 million, or $246 per square foot Occupancy: 95% leased The Story: Two California Plaza is consid-

Property: 550 S. Hope St. (right) Owner: MPG Property Trust Loan: $200 million, estimated Estimated Current Value: $170 million, or $275 per square foot Occupancy: 94% The Story: MPG, Downtown’s largest commercial landlord, quit paying its debt on seven high-profile office buildings — six in Orange County, and the 28-story 550 S. Hope St. — in August 2009. A combination of low rents, high vacancy and massive debt resulted in a negative cash flow from all the properties. The 622,000-squarefoot 550 S. Hope St. was part of Maguire Properties’ $2.88 billion acquisition of 24

office properties and 11 development sites from the Blackstone Group in April 2007. CW Capital, which represents the investors who issued the debt on the building in 2007, is trying to sell the property some 18 months after MPG defaulted. All data and estimates compiled by and provided courtesy of Cushman and Wakefield.

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24 Downtown News

March 7, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Molina Says Supervisors ‘Left Out’ on Grand Avenue Board Not Adequately Involved in Shifting Plans, She Says by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

he negotiations for proposed changes to phase two of the Grand Avenue plan are creating political problems for the stalled $3 billion mega project, said County Supervisor Gloria Molina last week at a meeting of the Grand Avenue Authority. On Monday, Feb. 28, Molina urged the staff of the Grand Avenue Committee, which advises the city-county joint powers authority that oversees the project, to meet immediately with her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to discuss the phase two plans. The supervisors are due to consider schematic designs for the $100 million Broad Art Foundation museum this week.

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Molina complained that the supervisors have not been adequately informed and involved as plans have shifted on phase two to include a public plaza and expanded parking at the Broad museum, along with a scaledback apartment tower on an adjacent site. “There’s totally a feeling and a sense as though the county has been left out of any of these discussions,” Molina said. “Politically, it’s created a real problem.” The committee has been working with developer the Related Companies on plans for a 260-apartment tower that would rise on a phase two parcel. It would be the second major change to phase two: The Broad museum and the public plaza and expanded garage beneath it are slated for another phase two site. How the Grand Avenue plan could get caught up in myriad delays and political tugs-of-war is not difficult to understand. The project exists in a jurisdictional soup of occasionally competing interests: The Community Redevelopment Agency owns the phase two plots, and the county owns the phase one and phase three sites. The collective site’s location in the city of Los Angeles, in Councilwoman Jan Perry’s Ninth District, makes the city a chief stakeholder as well. Perry sits on the authority along with Molina, the panel’s chair, and CRA CEO Chris Essel and County CEO Bill Fujioka. Perry has been pushing for expedited approvals on the Broad museum, which she touts as a key generator of construction-related and permanent jobs. Last month, Perry sought to

rendering courtesy Related Cos.

As plans evolve on the Grand Avenue project, Supervisor Gloria Molina charges that county officials have been left out of important planning discussions.

have the museum site removed from the JPA structure to help expedite the entitlement process. The idea was rejected for discussion by Molina. While the JPA approved the museum designs last week, the board has yet to consider the public plaza and expanded garage. The CRA, which owns the museum site, approved those elements on Jan. 20. The City Council green lighted the plaza and garage upgrades the following week. The Grand Avenue Authority, however, needs more time to review the phase two

proposals, said Martha Welborne, managing director of the Grand Avenue Committee. “This is big and cumbersome and complicated and the other boards need to catch up,” Welborne said. In the meantime, Molina urged committee chair Nelson Rising to meet with the supervisors as soon as possible. While the supervisors are due to consider the schematic design for the museum this week, they are not slated to take up the plaza or expanded garage. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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26 Downtown News

March 7, 2011

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$500/RM We Have 2 Room in 3 Bedroom Apartment Available,New paint, New Blind, Hardwood Floor, Laundry OnSite. 433 Cottage home. 818593-9060.

“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”

Milano Lofts Now LeasiNg! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ ceilings • fitness center • Wi-fi rooftop Lounge • amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com

BRAND NEW Luxury Apartments Homes. Orsini III. Now open for immediate Occupancy. Call for Specials. Never Lived in, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764. CALL FOR SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731. CALL FOR SPECIALS @ The Visconti. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866742-0992. loft/UnfUrnished

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts

Beautiful

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.

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge call 213.253.4777 laloft.com

ART STUDIO, WORK-ONLY near downtown. 300sf, 16’ceiling, large skylight, gated parking, private, quiet. Part of larger studio at Santa Fe Art Colony. $465/mo. + sec. dep. 213-5094403

DRIVERS - PAID CDL Training & a Stable Career! No Credit Check! No Experience required! Trainers Earn 49c/Mile! 1-888417-7564. CRST EXPEDITED www.JoinCRST.com. (CalSCAN)

EMPLOYMENT

REGIONAL WEST Coast - Up to $0.36 Per Mile- Company Drivers! Class A CDL. 1 year OTR required. Steady freight. Great Benefits. Apply 1.888.619.6845 or www.NationalCarriers.com. (Cal-SCAN)

drivers 17 DRIVERS Needed! Top 5% Pay! Excellent Benefits. New Trucks Ordered! Need CDL-A & 3 months recent OTR. 1-877258-8782. www.MeltonTruck. com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVER - DRY or Refrigerated Positions. Single source dispatch. No tractor older than 3 years. Safety bonuses paid quarterly. CDL-A, 3 months current OTR experience. 1-800414-9569. www.DriveKnight. com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - NEW Pay Package. Hiring Class-A CDL Flatbed Drivers for Regional and OTR Lanes. Solos, O/OP’s and Teams. Top Pay, Great Equipment. 1-888801-5614. www.SystemTrans. com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS/CDL Training - Career Central. We Train and Employ You. Company Drivers up to 40K First Year. New Team Pay! Up to 48c/mile Class A CDL Training Regional Locations! 1-877-3697091 www.CentralDrivingJobs. net. (Cal-SCAN)

Historic beauty. Modern refinement. Eclectic elegance.

Brand new

noW leasing

$1,400’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

Bristol aPartMents 423 West 8th street

CONTROLLER: Resume/Ad to: Samtex Fabrics, 1418 E. 18th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. health care

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BUsiness opportUnities ALL CASH Vending Route! Be Your Own Boss! 25 Machines + Candy All for $9995. Vend3, 880 Grand Blvd., Deer Park, NY. 1- 877-915-8222. Major CC accepted! (Cal-SCAN)

ABLE TO Travel. Hiring 8 people. No experience necessary. Transportation & lodging furnished. Paid training. Work and travel entire USA. Start today. www.ProtekChemical.com 1-208-590-0365. (Cal-SCAN) ATTN: COMPUTER Work. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.KTPGlobal.com or call 1-888-304-2847. (Cal-SCAN)

Available Immediately Top floor of 11 story historical building available now! We have approximately 2,868 square feet of contiguous exterior space facing Olympic Blvd. Stunning views of L.A. Two blocks away from the Staples Center and adjacent to the new L.A. Live Complex. The building also has other beautiful contiguous space & some small offices available. This space can be viewed by appointment. Information available to qualified prospective tenants. Email request to ghollis@shammasgroup.com or call (213) 746-6300 x1455

fictitiOus

Business

name

statements:

Only

$ 85.

fOr 4 insertiOns Call (213) 481-1448 for details.

(Note: The Downtown News does not perform filing services)

$662/Month income qualifications - under $46,400/year

213-228-3000

hollyWood Nails & Spa

professional nail care & Waxing for ladies & Gentlemen 323.662.2718 • 4335 W. Sunset Blvd. Walk-in Welcome • GIft Certificate Available m.-f. 9:30am - 7:30pm Sat. 9am - 7:30pm • Sun. 10am - 7pm

Plumbing, Heating, Electrical Drain Cleaning Services Starting at $35 Residential Commercial Experts Lic. #814113

cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

323.228.4500 childcare

Infant - Pre-K full-day care 2-5 days, some subsidies Near Little Tokyo Metro Station Harry Pregerson Center 213-894-1556 Joy Picus Center 213-978-0026 mtwashingtonpreschools.org

health NOT FEELING any joy? Overwhelmed by stress and emotional overload? Professional counseling helps! www.drannewarman. vpweb.com, Downtown Wilshire Office, reasonable rates, insurance accepted, 310-281-9797. TROUBLE GETTING Up Your Stairs? Acorn Stairlifts can help if you Call Now! Discounts available on your new Acorn Stairlift. Please mention this ad. 1-877896-8396. (Cal-SCAN)

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! family, criminal, p.i. for more than 20 yrs! Child Support / Custody necesita permiso de trabajo? tagalog / español / Korean Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

AUTOS

BUsiness services ADVERTISING- Best Kept Secret. A business card sized display ad 140 California community newspapers. Reach 3 million+ Californians. Cost $1,550.$1.33 cost per thousand. Free brochure (916)288-6019; www.CalSDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) CLASSIFIED Advertising. 240 California community newspapers reaching over 6 million Californians. 25-words $550 works out to 18 cents cost per thousand! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) psychic PSYCHIC READERS Spiritual advisor. Tarot $20. Confidential text for one free question 323493-9494.

pre-oWned

doWntoWn l.a. aUto groUp Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac

2006 NISSAN ARMADA Extra clean. Great condition! Stock CU0220r vin 734756 $21,588 call 888-203-2967. 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 Pewter/Black, 3.5 Liter, leather, $28,999 4JGBB86E77A260898 Call 888-319-8762.

edUcation

2008 AUDI Q7 Certified, Prem Pkg., T-Seat, Moonroof. Only 29k miles. Vin #8D067989 $37,264 Call 888-583-0981

HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN)

2008 PORSCHE LIMITED EDITION BOXSTER Tiptronic, Bose, Navigation Sport Chrono, 31K miles, certified, #710470. $38,888. Call 888-685-5426.

50% OFF

ALL UtiLities pAiD

all applications can either be mailed in or dropped off to: 206 West 6th st., la ca 90014 or 423 West 8th st., la ca 90014

E&R Reasonable Prices

Ten Ten AVEDA Concept Salon and Spa offers a complete range of hair, skin, body, nail & makeup services. • Haircuts, Color, Threading ANy SERvIcE • Airbrush Tanning With this Ad. First time customers only. • Manicure Exp. March 31st • Pedicure

now leasing studios Pricing subject to change without notice.

home improvement

Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP

“Acupuncturist. Master’s degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine required. Mail resume to Acuworld Group Inc. 20110 S. Pioneer Blvd. Suite A, Cerritos, CA 90703 Attn: Sam Lee.”

Prime downtown location 756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com

ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.Centura.us.com. (Cal-SCAN)

attorneys

accoUnting/Banking

help Wanted

EstD 1912

SERVICES

213.785.5109 | tentensalonspa.com | 1010 Wilshire Blvd. suite 115 Tues-Sat 11am-7pm | FREE PARKING at 637 Saint Paul St. (Mention going to Salon.)

FOR SALE

THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST

SWING STAGE WINDOW ACCESS EQU HORIZONTAL TROLLEY SYSTEM IN EXCELLANT SHAPE USED BEFORE CONSTRUCTION STARTED. EASY TO ASSEMBLE. MUST HAVE A PARAPET AT LEAST 3 FEET TALL FOR INSTALLATION. FLEXIBAL UNIT WILL GO ON ANY HIGH RISE. HAVE PICTURES. EVERYTHING ON SKIDS READY TO MOVE. (714) 550-0005 • 949-412-6771 (714) 719-4614

Vip room available. the best Way for Business Meetings & Entertainment

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

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

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011

sakUra health gym & saUna, inc. 111 n. atlantic blvd. ste #231-233 monterey park, ca 91754 (626) 458-1919 [corner of Garvey ave.]

HBODY

MASSAGEH

First Professionally Licensed Massage Shop in L.A. County.

Sell Your Car!

3386766 0119

l.a. downtown news classifieds

Expose your auto to Downtown Los Angeles. With one of the fastest growing residential areas Los Angeles Downtown News gets results.

Call 213-481-1448

March 7, 2011

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TURBO Certified. Silver/Black Manager’s Special. vin 036025 $16,980 Call 888-781-8102. 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S Certified, air with power pkg # NI3609 / 9N487053 $14,999, call 888-838-5089. 2010 INFINITY FX35 Low Mileage, Silver/Black stk # F11070-1/105675 $20,990 Call 888-879-9608.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com Autos WAnted DONATE YOUR Car, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN) 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. (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR Vehicle! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN)

ITEMS FOR SALE Furniture BLACK TV Showcase with Panasonic 36” CRT TV for $100 Good condition. 323-571-0308

IKEA EKTORP Sofa Bed / Couch, Excellent Condition, Used for under a year, 2 Seater, 2 Seat Cushions, Ivory Color, Removable machine washable cover, Unused Bed, $300 obo 213-361-1404 Misc. iteMs SHARI’S BERRIES - Mouthwatering gourmet strawberry gifts fresh for all occasions! 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Delivered nationwide. Save 20% on Dipped Berries! Visit www.berries.com/berries or Call 1-888903-2988. (Cal-SCAN) WINE OF THE Month Club! Send the gift of wine all year long! 2 Bottles each month from award-winning wineries around the world. Call 888-682-7982 and get Free shipping! (CalSCAN) tV/electronics/coMputers SONY BRAVIA 32 inch LCD HDTV, KDL-32BX300, Excellent Condition, Used for under a year, Moving Sale, 2 HDMI Ports, 1 USB Port, Remote Included, Wall Mountable, $300 obo 213361-1404

PETS/ANIMALS

the following registrant: MIKE GOTO, 1706 South Menlo Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrants has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on January 31, 2011. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 2/21, 2/28, 3/07, 3/14/2011

ANNOUNCEMENTS lost SOLD KEPLER the Bengal Cat ‘04 to a male Downtown LA. Lost contact info & need to talk to him. If you know of him/Kepler, please contact me. 909-592-8626 notices VONAGE Unlimited Calls in U.S. & 60 Countries! No annual contract! $14.99 For 3 Months! Then only $25.99/mo. Plus free Activation. Call 877-881-2318. (Cal-SCAN) WANTED DIABETIC Test Strips. Cash Paid. Unopened, Unexpired Boxes Only. All Brands Considered. Help others, don’t throw boxes away. For more information, Call 888-491-1168. (Cal-SCAN)

nAMe cHAnge

cHurcHes THE BRIDGE / Little Tokyo: Contemporary worship, 11 am Sundays at Union Church 401 East Third St. www.thebridgewired.org.

LEGAL Fictitious Business nAMe

Adopt A pet 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.

Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20110169097 The following person is doing business as: OUTDOOR MEDIA ADVERTISING, 1706 South Menlo Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90006, are hereby registered by

suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia, countY oF los anGeles noRtHWest DistRict oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name CASE NO. ES014708 Petitioner (name of each): PATRICIA TERESA GRAHAM, 7655 Lankershim Blvd., #20, North Hollywood CA 91605, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: PATRICIA TERESA GRAHAM Proposed name: DYLLON JORDEN CASON THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should

not be granted. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 4/29/2011 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept.: B The address of the court is 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys CA 91401. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in CIVIC CENTER NEWS, 1246 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026, of general circulation, printed in this county. Hon. Mary Thornton House Judge of the Superior Court Date: March 2, 2011 Pub. 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/2011 proBAte petition to AdMinister estAte suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia countY oF los anGeles notice oF Petition to aDministeR estate oF William l. Denmon, JR. (DeceDent) CASE NO. BP126485 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contigent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: William L. Denmon, Jr. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Crystal La Shawn Denmon in the Superior Court of Califor-

nia, County of Los Angeles. The Petition for Probate requests that Crystal La Shawn Denmon be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decendent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept in court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: March 14, 2011 Time: 8:30am Dept.: 11 Address of court is Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. If you object to the granting of

the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided in Probate Code section 9100. The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Law Offices of Donald A. Hunsberger Sarah E. Barb, #267359 625 The City Drive South Orange, CA 92868 Telephone: 714-663-8000 Date filed: January 13, 2011 John A. Clarke, Executive Officer/Clerk By:Betzaida F. Mendez, Deputy Pub. 2/21, 2/28, 3/7/2011

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

Inspired... > now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Be Welcome > now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Welcome

Historic Bldg.

Best Downtown Locations!

Cooperating Brokers Welcome

Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftoppool. pool. Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool. Metro station. Lounge. Zen Garden. MetroResident’s station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.

call> 213.623.3100 visit> www.rsvlt.com

Creative

call> 213.623.3100 > now leasing. > SHOWROOM OPEN: now leasing. visit> www.rsvlt.com M-F 10-6, S-S 11-5

Offices

Cooperating Brokers Welcome >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-sCooperating 11-5 Brokers Welcome

Starting at

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool. Metro station. Resident’s Lounge.Valet Zen garden. parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.

727 W. Seventh St.

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden. call> 213.623.3100 Downtown Los Angeles visit> www.rsvlt.com >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5 call> 213.623.3100 550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST. 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5

$500 Utilities

Orsini

877-231-9362 visit> www.rsvlt.com WWW.THEORSINI.COM

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

Included

>showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5

Medici

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

Tel: 213-624-6600

725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

HISTORIC UNITED BLDG unitedcompany@sbcglobal.net

• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

the loft expert! group

Downtown since 2002

Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today! Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900

is your teen experiencing:

• School problems? • Conflict at home or with friends?

Adolescent support group now forming Ages 13-17 low fee call Marney stofflet, lcsW

(323) 662-9797

4344 Fountain Ave. (at sunset), suite A los Angeles, cA 90029

616 ST. PAUL AVE.

877-235-6012

WWW.THEPIERO.COM

Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.

866-690-2888

WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM

FREE Rent Specials On Select Floor Plans

707 S. Broadway St #1214, Los Angeles, CA 90014

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Piero

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

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

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

Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

• Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball

• Brunswick Four-Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Free Tanning Rooms • Massage Room, Sauna & Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Rooms • Concierge Service • 24-Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-Site Management • Magnificent City Views *Amenities vary among communities

Version Children’s1Performing Group

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

Client: Publication: Size/Color:

Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley

G.H. Palmer Associates Proudly serving the communities of LADT News San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, 4.3125” x 8” 4CMontebello and El Monte.

Cal Best Realty

Emi Terauchi Ph: 323.474.4668 Design by: apluscreative@yahoo.com

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238

English/Japanes/Chinese speaking emiterauchi@yahoo.com • (626) 786-9086

28 Downtown News

March 7, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games Ballers on the Road, Tight Race for the Kings Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. Kobe Bryant and friends take their Lake Show on the road for three big games, starting with the Atlanta Hawks (March 8). That contest is no gimme, but consider it a warm-up for the Christmas Day revenge showdown in Miami (March 10) against Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat, who embarrassed the Lakers in Staples Center. It doesn’t get easier after that, as the purple and gold then head to Dallas to tangle with the surging Mavericks (March 12). Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers.

The Clippers, fresh off a devastating road trip, are back on the road. The one bright spot is that, thanks to Mr. Blake Griffin, everywhere they go, the crowds show up. Gone are the days of hometowns snoozing when their squad hosts the other Los Angeles team. Heck, there was even a sold-out game in Toronto last month. Toronto! This week, when the Clips head to Charlotte (March 7), Boston (March 9), New Jersey (March 11) and Washington (March 12), they’ll play before fans itching to catch the 2011 Slam Dunk Champion in action. Who cares if the Clippers are already eliminated from the playoffs? This kid is fun to watch. Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. March 7, 7:30: The Kings, winners of their last four games as of press time, cannot give an inch. The Western Conference is tighter than a wetsuit these days, so every win (or loss) counts. This week they host the Dallas Stars, then head to Detroit to play the Red Wings (March 9) and the Blue Jackets (March 11). They close the week in Texas with a rematch against the Stars. —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 Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

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

On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

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

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

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

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM