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March 15, 2010

Volume 39, Number 11

INSIDE

St. Patrick’s Day

office 213.617.8229 downtownla@educogym.com www.educogym.com

The Ovrom Factor How the New Building and Safety Chief Plans to Run One of the City’s Most Important Departments

The swearing in of John Pérez.

2

City Hall to celebrate Norooz.

6

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

B

ud Ovrom, the still newly minted head of the city Department of Building and Safety, is the first to admit he has no background in engineering and construction safety. So shortly after taking the post, he bought two books to add to the mini-library in his 10th floor corner office at 201 N. Figueroa St.: Why Buildings Stand Up, and its companion, Why Buildings Fall Down, by structural engineers Matthys Levy and Mario Salvadori.

Then again, it’s clear that when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa urged his deputy mayor for economic affairs to take over the nearly 900-person department formerly run by Andrew Adelman — who left in a cloud of sexual scandal — he wasn’t looking for someone to rewrite the city building code. Instead, he wanted a person capable of leading the largest of the 12 city departments involved in getting real estate projects off the ground, at a time when development is at a near standstill. see Ovrom, page 8

Official Says Angels Flight to Open April 15

It’s a Brick House El Dorado goes the auction route.

7

Recently Opened Project Quietly Fills Up in Arts District

Announcement Comes After Troubled Railway Gets Safety Clearance

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

D

An honor for Good Samaritan Hospital.

13

Urban Scrawl gets a gallery show.

14

16 CALENDAR LISTINGS 18 CLASSIFIEDS

owntown-based developer Abraham Hassid hasn’t made a lot of noise about his new Arts District loft project.

To date, he has been content to be relatively quiet about the upgraded three-story, 1930 building at 652 Mateo St. Before last week, he had not met with any reporters to discuss the development.

That doesn’t mean things have moved slowly at the 21-unit project.

With only a few Craigslist ads and a banner placed on the building when it opened in December, 17 units are already filled, Hassid said. He attributes the activity to the low rates — less than $2 a square foot — for the rustic residences, as well as the growing dining and nightlife scene in the area.

“We’re not professional advertisers. We just kept working on our project,” said Hassid, owner of Western Imperial 2000 LLC, the property management and development firm behind the Brick Lofts.

This is Hassid’s second Downtown effort, following an apartment project called Loft 726 at 726 S. Santa Fe Ave. He purchased the Brick Lofts building in 2004 for $1.5 million, and spent more than a year and about $3.5 million turning the old warehouse into 21 lofts ranging

photo by Gary Leonard

Bud Ovrom became general manager of the Department of Building and Safety in February. He previously served as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s deputy mayor for economic affairs.

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

T

he long-closed Angels Flight railway will be open to the public on April 15, John Welborne, president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, said last week. His comments came after the California Public Utilities Commission sent a letter saying the project had cleared its final safety tests.

The railway has been closed more than nine years, since a fatal acci-

dent on Feb. 1, 2001. Multiple previously announced opening dates have been missed.

Welborne said that April 15 is not an “opening date,” with a ribbon cutting ceremony, but that Downtowners will once again be able to ride the funicular for a quarter that day.

On Thursday, March 10, the CPUC sent a letter saying the commission has no other major concerns “with regard to the safety see Angels Flight, page 10

photo by Gary Leonard

Developer Abraham Hassid opened the 21-unit Brick Lofts in the Arts District in December. Already, 17 apartments have been leased.

from 1,020 to 1,640 square feet.

The project was originally intended as condominiums. Due to the downturn in the economy, he elected instead to open the building and do whatever it took to fill the units.

“We know the market is tough right now, so we decided to cut the price and fill up the building to pay see Brick Lofts, page 9

photo by Gary Leonard

The California Public Utilities Commission last week authorized the reopening of the Angels Flight funicular. It has been closed since a 2001 accident that killed one and injured seven.

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2 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

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AROUNDTOWN Air Rifle Scare Causes Stir In Historic Core

M

ultiple 911 calls brought swarms of police to the Huntington Hotel on the afternoon of Monday, March 8, as three young men were seen wielding what appeared to be firearms on the roof — they turned out to be pellet guns. Police found the men in question, and although nobody was arrested, Lt. Paul Vernon of Central Division said the scare nearly led to a real shooting. “As officers approached the entrance of the building, one of the detainees leaned over the roof with one of those air guns meant to look like a tec-9 [semiautomatic submachine gun] to look at them,” Vernon said. “Lucky for him, he did not point that at the officers. Had that gun muzzle dropped toward the officers, he would have been shot.” The men involved were not charged, as pellet guns are legal, Vernon said. “Technically it did not qualify as a crime,” he said. “It did qualify as felony stupid.” The entire incident was over in about 45 minutes.

More Options For Downtown Daycare

D

owntown parents looking for childcare have a couple more options, as two places created to serve city and federal employees are now accepting the children of non-government workers. The Joy Picus Child Development Center, located inside City Hall at 111 E. First St., and the Harry Pregerson Child Development Center, at 255 E. Temple St., both have openings, said Pat Griffith, president of the Mt. Washington Preschools Board, which overseas the daycare facilities. She said the spaces opened up because many government employees have been furloughed or laid off. The daycare centers accept children from infants to 5 years of age for two to five days a week. To contact the Joy Picus Center, call (213) 978-0026; the Harry Pregerson Center is at (213) 894-1556.

Lakers Fan Fest Coming

G

et your purple and gold outfits ready. The Lakers Fan Jam is coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center

on Saturday-Sunday, March 20-21. The weekend bonanza for Laker fanatics will include appearances by Lakers players, team legends, NBA championship trophies and the Laker Girls, plus a bevy of basketball hoops and games for attendees to test their skills. Each day will include a three-point contest and a dunk contest, and a kids’ area will be set up. And don’t worry if you can’t dunk on a regulation hoop, because in addition to the standard 10-foot hoops, there will be hoops at nine, eight and seven feet. The event begins at 10 a.m. each day at 1201 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151, lakers.com or lacclink.com.

Urban Marketplace Conference Returns to Downtown

photo by Gary Leonard

New Assembly Speaker John Pérez was sworn in on Friday, March 12, at the Japanese American National Museum.

T

he current hot topic of how to make it through the real estate downturn gets another airing this week, when the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute holds its annual Urban Marketplace event. On Thursday, March 18, crowds will fill the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a series of speeches, case studies, roundtable discussions and exhibits on development strategies in low-income and distressed neighborhoods.

On the agenda is a look at the “new normal” of the market, and speakers will explore how to secure financing and get deals done. Stan Ross, chair of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, will deliver the keynote address at the event that runs from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at 135 N. Grand Ave. Registration and information at uli-la.org.

Cedd Moses Opens Tequila Bar

D

owntown nightlife leader Cedd Moses expanded his empire last week, with the opening of tequila and mezcal bar Las Perlas. The bar, part of Moses’ 213 Ventures, is at 107 E. Sixth St. It offers a selection of mezcals and small-batch tequilas, and the cocktail list includes the spirits balanced with fruits, vegetables, house-made syrups, hibiscus flowers and roasted chapulinas, or grasshoppers. 213 Ventures runs more than a half dozen Downtown nightspots, including Broadway Bar, the Golden Gopher and the Doheny.

San Francisco Fed Chief Janet Yellen to Speak Downtown

O

ne of the country’s top economic minds arrives Downtown next week. On Tuesday, March 23, Janet Yellen, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will speak at a luncheon organized by Town Hall Los Angeles. The noon address and Q&A session will take place at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Yellen became head of the San Francisco Fed in 2004. She is also professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, and is an expert on national and international economies and banking systems. Her name was mentioned as a potential successor to Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke before his recent reconfirmation hearings. Reservations and information about the lunch are at (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

Corrections

A

March 1 item on the NAWBO Leadership and Legacy Awards incorrectly identified Peter Griffith as Peter Young.

The March 8 story “Bach to the Future” incorrectly identified San Francisco public radio station KQED as WQED.

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Downtown News 3

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The Business Behind the BID How the Shammas Group Helped the Figueroa Corridor Grow

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he Shammas Group owns over 25 acres of real estate along Figueroa and Flower Street, holdings which include car dealerships, an insurance company, and several commercial and residential properties.

Figueroa Corridor Partnership, a coalition of local business owners who aimed to enhance the corridor’s look, safety, brand and potential. Holter is the Founding Chair of the Partnership. Like other business improvement districts, its cornerstone was “clean and safe” programs in which security guards began to patrol the area and janitorial crews removed all grafitti and cleaned up sidewalks. Keeping the district clean and safe helped attract new businesses to the heavy hitters already in the area.

The Corridor feels much different since the Partnership’s inception. The area — bounded by the 10 Freeway, Exposition Park, Flower

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Today, with president Jeanette Shammas and CEO Darryl Holter, the company is guided by the same principle that drove late patriarch Nick Shammas: The Figueroa Corridor is a crucial thoroughfare in the city, connecting Downtown and South L.A. In 1998, Holter — who had become Shammas’ CAO three years prior — organized the

Street and Vermont Avenue — includes cultural and residential icons. L.A. Live anchors it to the north; the Shrine Auditorium, car dealerships, and new businesses take up the middle; and the USC campus and Exposition Park, with its three museums and science institutions, as well as the L.A. Coliseum and the Sports Arena, form the southerly nexus. Newer arrivals include the Galen Center, and the huge new University Gateway student housing complex.

Next year, Metro is set to open the Exposition Line, which will link Downtown to Culver City via Exposition Park. “Connecting Downtown to the Exposition Park community is really important,” Holter says. “As Figueroa becomes more than a transit corridor with development mushrooming around transit stops, it will make it friendlier for pedestrians and encourage investment to spread into South L.A.”

Darryl Holter, CEO of the Shammas Group, organized the Figueroa Corridor Partnership.

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EDITORIALS Bike Messenger Activism Is a Dangerous Path

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he Downtown Los Angeles bike messengers are an oft-noticed part of the community. Notable for their ability to weave in and out of traffic and their pedal pushing up Bunker Hill inclines, most people wouldn’t think of them as community activists.

It is a pleasant surprise to learn that this group of Downtowners has been on the front lines in attempting to thwart a growing area problem: bike theft. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, a group of messengers who congregate around Second and Hope streets have, over time, become an extra set of eyes at street level, and on multiple occasions have confronted would-be bicycle thieves. In a few instances they have even managed to recover bikes that had been pried away from their locks moments before.

The tactics of the messengers shocked some of the bandits.

In a couple instances, and in particular when the alleged thieves were teenagers, not only did the messengers recover the bikes, but they engaged in a sort of public shaming — the would-be

burglars were left in their underwear. In at least one case the youth’s clothes were then given to a mission in Skid Row. It is a curious situation to say the least, and while we wholeheartedly applaud the messengers for looking out not just for the possessions of co-workers but for all in Downtown, this type of practice could lead to an unfortunate turn of events.

An ugly reality today is that too many of those up to no good carry weapons. It does not require much imagination to envision a situation in which the messengers attempt to apprehend someone with a stolen bike, and for the thief to pull out a gun or a knife and use it. It has happened before with seemingly lesser crimes — there have been publicized incidents in Los Angeles where people who verbally confronted graffiti vandals were shot.

We’re glad that the messengers are keeping their eyes open.

It sets a great example, and hopefully their actions will convince others to maintain a wide gaze on the street. The police department urges vigilance, and we agree. Downtown Los

Angeles benefits when all the stakeholders do their best to keep everyone else safe and secure.

However, the physical confrontations seem to be a recipe for a heartbreaking disaster. While citizen’s arrests are an honored tradition, a safer solution would be for the messengers to work with LAPD, Business Improvement District safety teams or other security officials on a way to quickly bring in those most capable of handling thieves who might or might not be armed. Other potential good Samaritans would be wise to hold back on the bravado and instead whip out the cell phone and call 911 with a detailed description of the perpetrators. Not that we think that would be as effective as what is happening now. But it would be tragic for someone to get hurt.

What the messengers have done is great for the community, but it is not prudent for this to become a permanent solution to the problem. We don’t want anyone to get injured, or worse, over a bicycle.

The Power of Small Housing Complexes

T

he residential revolution of the past decade has forever changed Downtown Los Angeles. The thousands of inhabitants who have settled in all parts of the area have not only created an evening and weekend street life that previously did not exist, but have become the customer base for restaurants, bars and scores of service businesses.

The most significant groups of residents arrive in large apartment and housing projects. It has been this way for years, and momentum normally flows from developments that create hundreds of units in a small area. Successful examples are the Old Bank District, the anchor of housing in the Historic Core; South Group’s trio of the Elleven, Luma and Evo in South Park; and Geoff Palmer’s City West projects, such as the multiple phases of the Medici.

Of course, these days the new projects, the ones that include hundreds of units and cost $30 million, $60 million, or more, are increasingly facing trouble. In many cases

loans secured before the recession have become difficult for developers to pay back (especially when a soft market means renters or buyers pay less than previously anticipated), and would-be bright spots in Downtown have instead tumbled into bankruptcy. Downtown is not alone in this aspect — the trend has occurred across the country.

Yet as these large projects hit hard times, something else positive is happening — housing is still opening in Downtown Los Angeles. In just the past few months, three projects that are comparatively small in scale and budget have begun move-ins. Perhaps the only thing better than the fact they have opened is that they are filling up.

This goes counter to the conventional wisdom that new market-rate housing is dead in Downtown (and in many other areas). Rather, it proves that when developers control costs and other factors, they can get to opening day. It also shows that when they have the ability to set prices that reflect

the market, as opposed to having to meet square footage rates that will satisfy megamillion dollar loans, they can lure inhabitants.

Last week, Los Angeles Downtown News wrote about the Emil Brown Lofts, a $6 million project at 308 E. Ninth St. in the Fashion District that opened in January, and where 27 of the 38 units have already been rented.

Then there is the Factory Place Arts Complex in the Arts District — the $10 million development that is well off the beaten track opened in December. Its 51 units are more than 40% occupied.

This week Downtown News reports on the Brick Lofts, a project at 652 Mateo St., around the corner from the Toy Factory and Biscuit Company lofts. The $3.5 million, 21unit development opened in December; 17 apartments have been rented.

These projects have garnered far less attention than the large developments in Downtown. Yet the Emil Brown Lofts, the Factory Place Arts Complex, the Brick Lofts

and other small housing projects play important roles in the community. Even if the individual efforts only hold a few dozen units, they bring people to the area, and their success will help lead to additional development once the recession eases and banks begin making loans again. They deserve support and backing, and others can build upon their success.

Combined, these developments “only” create 110 new residences — that is less than half of what certain large projects have brought (and will bring in the future) to the area.

But the fact is, 110 units can mean 150-200 or more new Downtown residents, people ready to be active in the community. This can mean hundreds of new customers for businesses.

These projects remind us again that while the mega-developments garner the most attention, the little ones are important in their own way. In Downtown big is good, but in a market like this, it is not always best.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

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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: Jay Berman, 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 ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway, Tam Nguyen, Kelley Smith circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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March 15, 2010

Downtown News 5

Opinion

Let’s Make Downtown Count

Readers Respond

Why Filling Out the 2010 Census Will Have a Big Payoff for the Central City

by CounCilwoman Jan Perry

W

hat do you envision for Downtown over the next 10 years? Do you want a community with parks, updated infrastructure, wellfunded schools and senior centers so that people can access the services they need? The answer is obviously yes. How can you help support this vision? The answer is also simple: Fill out your census form and mail it back.

GUEST OPINION

This week, 2010 Census forms will be arriving in your mailbox. While some might be tempted to ignore or forget another piece of mail, that would be a mistake — spending a few minutes on the form could help us secure hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds.

In 2000, I ran the City of Los Angeles’ Census efforts.

It was a time when many called the streets of Central City East home and Downtown was still thought of as a 9 to 5 neighborhood. We worked hard to ensure that everyone was counted, especially those often left behind — recent immigrants, the homeless, and young children in low-income homes. Even with extensive outreach, an estimated 76,800 Angelenos were not counted. That translated into more than $200 million in lost revenue for the City over the past 10 years.

Since taking office in 2001, I have worked hard to develop housing to meet the needs of people from all economic backgrounds; today, the Downtown landscape has changed dramatically. Hundreds of units of housing have been built for the formerly homeless. Adaptive reuse changed the way people approach development Downtown. The Downtown Los Angeles residential population has experienced tremendous growth since the 2000 Census. In fact, over 40,000 people now call Downtown Los Angeles their home, according to the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. Downtown is not just a place

Website Comments on Bike Messengers and Weekend Eats

to work — it’s a thriving residential community for people from diverse economic backgrounds.

In 2010, Downtown has an opportunity to reap its fair share of the more than $400 billion in annual federal tax dollars that will be distributed. We have an opportunity to capture money for social services for people who are homeless, elderly, disabled, veterans, and for children and their families. These are also funds that we can use to improve Downtown infrastructure to help us make our streets safer, more pedestrian-friendly and greener.

These are dollars that can be used to build a stronger educational future for families calling Downtown home.

No matter how much effort we put into outreach, the bottom line is we cannot have a successful census count without the full participation of each and every Angeleno — from those seeking shelter to those living in Downtown lofts. With each new decade, we find that we miss people. Surprisingly, one population that has been undercounted in the past is renters — a group that represents a large portion of our Downtown community.

Let’s change that.

So, here’s my challenge to you: When you get your census form in the mail this week, fill it out and mail it back. But don’t stop there. Knock on your neighbor’s door, call a family member who lives in Los Angeles, talk to a friend — reach out to at least one other person and tell them why they should also fill out the form.

Simply put, we need and deserve the funds that the census brings. We only have one opportunity every 10 years to determine our future.

It’s up to all of us to show that Downtown Los Angeles is a real, dynamic community that has the potential to continue to grow and thrive. Let’s make sure that it gets the federal dollars it needs to do so.

Jan Perry represents the Ninth Council District, which includes much of Downtown, on the Los Angeles City Council.

L

os Angeles Downtown News posts comments to stories on our website. Here are some of the most recent responses. Additional comments appear on downtownnews.com (comments follow individual articles).

Further responses are welcome.

Regarding the article “Justice on Two Wheels,” about Downtown bike messengers confronting alleged bicycle thieves, posted online March 5,

by Ryan Vaillancourt

M

ore power to the riders. If the cops or parents won’t do anything with these brats, then let the riders do so.

—posted by William Wilson, March 6, 9:51 a.m.

S

weet! There should be one number to call these guys.

Robbed of a purse or wallet? Call the Bike Squad! They’ll hunt the perp down in no time.

—posted by Audinokaoi, March 8, 7:32 a.m.

I

t really makes me feel good to hear about people helping each other out and standing up

one! town! l a g rivin g Down d n a rkin r th e a t p s a n F tha r e p a Che

against criminals in our midst.

Bravo to these messengers.

Hopefully more people will follow their lead and not sit back when thugs and morons try to take over our streets.

—posted by Gavin, March 8, 9:49 a.m.

P

rops to the boys on Hope Street. I see them when I go for my run during lunch. A group of pretty cool dudes, I say!

—posted by Jackie, March 10, 10:26 a.m.

Regarding the March 3 news brief “The Under $10 Market,” about Market Café, a new restaurant serving weekdays until 3 p.m. in the AT&T Center on Olive Street

T

hese hours are useless to anyone who lives but doesn’t work Downtown. I’m so sick of restaurants only being open for the 9-5, 310ers.

When trying to get lunch (not at a chain) on a Saturday in my neighborhood I still end up at one of the same 10 places despite all the new restaurants. Sad. —posted by Jeremy Kasten, March 3, 2:11 p.m.

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6 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

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New Twist for Norooz City Hall Celebrates the Persian New Year

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

E

very year in March, members of Los Angeles’ Persian community fill the Council Chambers in City Hall to celebrate Norooz, the Persian New Year. After the ceremony, which traditionally involves top local political and business leaders of all backgrounds and ethnicities, the crowds move to the lawn on Spring Street for a feast.

This year, some things are the same, but others are markedly different: The ceremony will take place on Friday, March 19, at 10

a.m., and the haft sin, seven types of food that each start with the letter S and have symbolic meaning, will be displayed. A short tea reception will follow in the rotunda.

But instead of serving lunch, organizers will take the money they would have spent and instead use it to provide 2,500 meals for the homeless at the Midnight Mission in Skid Row. It will work out to more than $5,000, said Hamid Behdad, president of the board of the Norooz Celebration Foundation, which organizes the annual event.

“It’s just not right to spend that money

for a lunch [at City Hall] which is not a necessary item,” said Behdad, who also heads the Downtown-based development firm the Central City Development Group. “We feel it would be better spent to give the meal to those who are in need.”

The Norooz celebration has become a point of pride in Los Angeles’ sizable Persian population. Behdad explained that it is something Persians of all religions — whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Baha’i or something else — all share.

“This is the one single event in the entire 3,000 year history of the Persian empire that has nothing to do with one’s religion,” he said.

Norooz technically occurs at the time of the Spring equinox. It marks the celebration of the new year for the worldwide Persian community. Norooz officially arrives March

20 this year.

Sixth District Councilman Tony Cardenas is the Council sponsor of the event.

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

A past City Hall Norooz celebration.

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El Dorado Goes to Auction Project Still Expected to Lose Money After April Sale

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

T

he El Dorado building will be the latest Downtown housing project to go the auction route. However, even if all the units sell, the developer will still lose money on the renovation of the Historic Core edifice.

Bill Stevenson, a partner in developer Downtown Properties, said that they intend to put 47 of the 65 units in the 1913 building on the auction block. The story was first reported by the website Curbed L.A. Stevenson said the auction for the 12-story building at 416 S. Spring St. is scheduled for April 25. Potential bidders will be able to inspect the lofts and pre-qualify for the auction in the last week of March.

The building will not be a moneymaker for Downtown Properties, which last year held an auction for its nearby property The Rowan, at 460 S. Spring St. Success in that effort allowed the developer to open that project.

“The total cost of the project will exceed what we will sell them all for. There will be a lot of money lost on the project,” Stevenson said, although he would not reveal the cost of the El Dorado.

Prices will start at $245,000 for an 850-square-foot, onebedroom condo; $335,000 for a 1,190-square-foot, onebedroom, two-bath unit; $395,000 for a two-bedroom, 1,400-square-foot unit; and $595,000 for a 1,700-square-foot, three-bedroom residence.

Stevenson said one of the main reasons for holding the auction next month is so people can qualify for the $8,000

ON THE MOVE ARTS n Theater company East West Players has announced two additions to the company: Christine Huynh is the new PR/marketing manager, and Tim Lounibos has joined as business administrator.

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Ovrom Continued from page 1 “We’re about economic development at Building and Safety, we’re about promoting jobs and growth, but building and safety is first and foremost a safety department,” said Ovrom, 64, tapping the Levy and Salvadori books for emphasis.

Indeed, Building and Safety’s main responsibilities are construction permitting, plan checking and inspections to ensure that structures comply with safety regulations. Yet Ovrom nevertheless considers the department a key component of the city’s economic engine — real estate development. A well-oiled department, in which projects are permitted and inspected efficiently, facilitates development, which in turn encourages more projects and leads to job creation, he said.

It’s a formula Ovrom knows well. The Maryland native spent most of his professional life in Burbank, where he was city manager for 18 years. His chief accomplishments included helping to broker the development of the Empire Center, a big box shopping mecca, and revitalizing downtown Burbank, said Dave Golonski, a Burbank City Council member for 17 years.

“Bud was definitely a driving force in the economic development efforts of Burbank,” Golonski said. “When Lockheed left Burbank, Bud and his economic development team are largely to be credited with not only replacing the jobs we lost, but replacing them with good paying, clean jobs that have a lasting benefit to Burbank.”

It was another accomplishment Ovrom gets credit for in Burbank — easing the entitlement process — that Los Angeles business and political officials want to see copied here. Villaraigosa has said Ovrom’s main task is implementing “12-to-two,” the entitlement streamlining program introduced almost two years ago that has not yet gained traction.

“I think everybody’s frustrated, including the mayor,” said Sam Garrison, vice president of public policy for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “L.A. still has the reputation of being a very difficult place to do business when it comes to navigating the city bureaucracy.”

Revenue Streams Currently, developers in Los Angeles have to ferry their projects back and forth among the 12 city departments involved in the entitlement process. Along the way, projects get delayed when different departments want different changes.

The Department of Transportation, for example, may press for narrow sidewalks to improve traffic flow. But the Community Redevelopment Agency may argue for wider sidewalks for enhanced pedestrian activity. The developer often doesn’t care, but has to wait for months as the clashing agencies reach a solution, Ovrom said.

The new model Ovrom is charged with implementing would have developers interface with only two departments, Building and Safety and Planning, which would then communicate with the other 10 entities involved.

The business community has lamented that 12-to-two has had little progress since it was introduced in 2008, but there is a sense of optimism that Ovrom can give the plan a boost, said Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association.

“He certainly has an excellent grasp of this issue and big city issues because he has been dealing with all of them as deputy mayor,” Schatz said. “I can’t think of anybody who’s had a better vantage point to implement 12-to-two.”

Ovrom agrees that not enough has happened, but maintains that the groundwork for change is being laid. For years, the departments lacked a computer system to collectively track projects. Such a program is now in beta testing.

But five weeks into the job, Ovrom may have more pressing matters than 12-to-two. Like everyone else in city government, he is dealing with the challenges of a slowing economy.

Building and Safety is unique in that its budget is supported largely by the revenue it generates. Whereas most departments rely heavily on the general fund, about 88% of Building and Safety’s $70.4 million budget this year comes from what is known as an enterprise fund, which was set up under Adelman’s watch.

With real estate activity down sharply in the recession, Building and Safety’s enterprise fund is shrinking.

Construction in Los Angeles has tumbled from its peak of about $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2006/2007 to a projected $2.5 billion this year. In February, the department’s year-to-date revenue was down 36% compared to two years ago, from $79.5 million to $50.5 million.

“With the enterprise fund, you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” Ovrom said. “Our revenues as an enterprise fund are down more than the general fund revenue, so in that sense, we have a bigger challenge.”

In the private sector, managers have an obvious solution when faced with diminishing revenue — layoffs. The public realm’s highly protected union workforce makes that difficult. Building and Safety currently has about 860 employees, less than it had last year, but still more than Ovrom believes are needed to do the job, at least in slow times.

If Building and Safety is to operate a successful enterprise fund, Ovrom said it needs a model that includes a workforce that fluctuates with the varying workload. His initial idea is to let the full-time staff shrink through attrition and early retirement, and when business picks back up, have retired city employees come in on an as-needed basis.

“In our retirement pools, you can still work for the city for 90 days worth of hours per year,” he said. “So let’s say we need

plan checkers and inspectors, we can hire a retired plan checker. When the job’s done, you’re done. Go back on retirement.

Unions don’t fight bringing back retired employees.”

Ovrom also has his sights on licensing the department’s in-house software for tracking permits. The city lets other municipalities piggyback on the software for free. If Ovrom has his way, they’ll have to pay.

There are other opportunities for the department to be more entrepreneurial: Its in-house training division, which teaches the building code every three years, should be available to contractors who want to learn the code too, for a fee.

The department’s test lab, which evaluates new construction materials before approving their use, may be able to similarly sell its services, he said.

Not Quite Retired In 2003, Mayor Jim Hahn hired Ovrom to be CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency. When Villaraigosa unseated Hahn in 2005, the new mayor recruited Ovrom to work in his office. It was the beginning of a close relationship: Ovrom remains loyal to the mayor. He even keeps a bobblehead of Villaraigosa on his bookshelf.

When Ovrom became a deputy mayor, he pledged he would only stay for one term. Indeed, last year Ovrom said he was ready to say goodbye to the fast pace and long hours in the mayor’s office. Not to mention, the deputy mayor gig amounted to a $100,000 per year pay cut, he said.

Villaraigosa shook up his administration and replaced numerous department heads after his poor showing in the 2009 mayor’s race. He had to find a replacement for Adelman, who stepped down after a widely publicized incident in which a woman alleged she was drugged and that she had sex against her will with the department head (no charges were ever filed).

Ovrom ultimately accepted the Building and Safety job, he said, because he was enticed by the chance to again be involved in a more “bricks and mortar” business, compared to the wide-ranging economic policy tasks he had been charged with. The general manager post has long hours too, but it’s a lighter load than what came as deputy mayor, he said.

With a hefty pension from Burbank, Ovrom doesn’t need to work. But he claims to love what he does, and age and a sedentary lifestyle are not encroaching on him yet. He recently joined the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

But skeptics could be forgiven for wondering how long Ovrom will last in the position. After all, he was ready to leave the full-time life just months ago.

“It’s a fair speculation and I tell people don’t lose any sleep over it,” Ovrom said. “Am I going to be here a year from now?

Sure. Am I going to be here two years from now? Probably so.

Am I going to be here three years from now? Maybe.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Brick Lofts Continued from page 1 the mortgage,” he said.

Rents range from $1,700 to $2,250 for lofts that offer 12- to 16-foot ceilings. There are also exposed brick walls, exposed ducts and wood and metal columns.

Some units contain balconies fashioned out of old fire escapes, and all residences feature stainless steel appliances. There are stained concrete floors in the ground-level units, and residences on the second and third floors feature hardwood floors. Top-level apartments also offer skylights.

“It looks rough and industrial and our tenants like it,” Hassid said. “They like that combination of metal and wood and brick.”

If they really do like it, they can thank Hassid, since he did not use an architect.

Instead, he designed the project himself.

“I enjoy designing,” he said. “To take an old warehouse, to change something very dirty and renew it gives you a lot of satisfaction” Not much was done to the exterior of the brick building except for a bit of sandblasting to clean it. The units, meanwhile, are minimal in terms of accoutrements. Except for kitchen islands and a couple of load-bearing beams in some of the lofts, the residences are just open rectangular spaces.

“Most of our tenants are artists, and they like the open spaces and that they can work with the beams and the bricks,” said Alona Hassid, Hassid’s daughter and property manager for the Brick Lofts.

The amenities are also bare bones. Tenants have access to the building’s roof, though it is simply that, a rooftop, without the pool or garden that other Downtown developers have included in their projects. But there are

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com plans to bring some lawn chairs out for tenants, Alona Hassid said.

Holding Nothing Back Although the lofts are basic, the second and third floor hallways are anything but.

Hassid covered the hall floors with a shiny material known as diamond plate aluminum.

He combined that with bright red and yellow walls. Together, they give the common areas the appearance of a colorful space station.

“I like to combine the new with the old,” said Abraham Hassid. “The exposed brick walls, the diamond aluminum in the hallways; there’s no maintenance and it’s beautiful and very different from anything you’ll see Downtown.”

While the decor may be unusual, it was the plain open space and low rent that attracted Chris Franken and his girlfriend to a second floor loft in the building. The chef and painter pays $1,950 for a 1,500-squarefoot space.

“We loved the space, you can do a lot with it, ” he said as he held his year-old son, Max. Franken has divided his space using long curtains hanging from the wood beams. They create fabric-lined “rooms,” such as a bedroom and a couch and TV area. The kitchen and about half of the loft is left open and is filled with his son’s toys, as well as Franken’s surfboards and paintings.

“We’re thinking about hanging a swing set from the wood beams on this side,” he said.

Growing Area The project comes in an area that, although southeast of the core of Downtown, has become a vibrant neighborhood. The Brick Lofts is just around the corner from the Toy Factory and Biscuit Company lofts, both attention-generating, big-budget projects from pioneering area developer Linear City. In addition to creating hundreds of units, those developments hold a market, the French bistro Church & State and the

photo by Gary Leonard

The long, rectangular units are basic and largely open.

English-style pub Royal Claytons Hassid chose the area because he sees it developing into a hot commodity.

“This area was less expensive and it’s got a good future,” Hassid said. “The Biscuit and Toy lofts have helped to bring nightlife and people to the area, and it’s only going to be better.”

Linear City’s Yuval Bar-Zemer, who is helping Hassid secure tenants, said the Brick Lofts is a nice addition to the burgeoning neighborhood.

“It’s a beautiful brick building,” Bar-Zemer said. “It has all the right bones to be a great loft building. It’s smaller in scale, but I’m sure people will enjoy creating a life in there.”

Just having more people in the area benefits the other buildings’ tenants, Bar-Zemer added.

“The more bodies we have in the neigh-

borhood, the better,” he said. “Every time the lights come on in a building, it’s another safer street, and a more pleasant and better place to hang out.”

While leasing in the Brick Lofts has gone smoothly, not everything was easy for Hassid during the development of the project.

“It was very difficult with the loans,” he said. “We got an extension loan, but didn’t have enough to finish so we got some private investors.”

When things pick up, and developers are not having as much trouble getting loans, Hassid said he foresees changes coming to his Brick Lofts.

“Once the market comes back rents could even double,” he said. “In a few years it’ll be more expensive, no question about it.”

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Angels Flight

Access Washington

Continued from page 1 and security design, construction, and operation of the Angels Flight Railway.”

The letter, addressed to Welborne and acquired by Los Angeles Downtown News, said that CPUC staff is now authorizing Angels Flight to “resume revenue service operations.”

“We’re delighted the PUC has acted and we’ll have an announcement of the opening date,” said Welborne, who had not seen the letter before being contacted by Downtown News. “My board doesn’t even know the PUC has acted. We’re prepared to open, we’ve been waiting for the PUC approval.”

In a Feb. 11 email to Downtown News, CPUC officials said Angels Flight had to complete one remaining safety measure before it could open. That was the installation of end gates on the two cars, Olivet and Sinai.

Welborne said that test was completed on February 22.

Last week, the cars were seen going up and down the incline between Bunker Hill and the Historic Core.

Angels Flight was originally opened in 1901 by Colonel J.W. Eddy to ferry passengers between the then residential Bunker Hill district and the commercial businesses below. It was closed and dismantled in 1969 when Bunker Hill underwent redevelopment. It reopened in 1996 and charged riders 25 cents to travel up and down the hill.

The 2001 closure was caused by a problem with the gear and drive system. That caused one car to roll down the track and smash into the other, killing 83-year-old Leon Praport and injuring seven others. Delays in reopening were first blamed on legal settlements with victims of the accident; those were resolved in 2006.

Since the accident, Welborne has been engaged in a long-running fundraising campaign. In January, he said he had secured all but about $200,000 of the $3.5 million needed to operate the railway once again.

He has also announced repeated opening dates that were not met, sparking frustration among Downtown stakeholders. The lack of activity and missed dates led the Downtown Breakfast Club to give the railway its Lemon award last year.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Chamber of Commerce Heads to D.C. With Money in Mind

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

E

very spring, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce sends a delegation of business leaders to Washington, D.C. to meet face to face with decision makers capable of directing federal funds in L.A.’s direction.

This year’s three-day trip, which starts on Monday, March 15, will follow the same basic model as years past, though the delegation’s hook in 2010 — the motto is “Southern California Is America’s Recovery Engine” — is that stimulus money could impact a wider area than ever before.

The trope got a kickstart last week, when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa traveled to Washington to lobby for mass transit funding. The message has already had some traction: Ex-L.A. Weekly columnist Harold Meyerson trumpeted Los Angeles’ potential to spark broader recovery in a recent Washington Post column.

The chamber delegation consists of some 200 local business and political leaders. In addition to Chamber President and CEO Gary Toebben, the group includes City Controller Wendy Greuel, City Council President Eric Garcetti and First District Councilman Ed Reyes. The members will meet with federal legislators and other power brokers about a range of issues the Chamber has highlighted as crucial to

economic development in Los Angeles.

If the main rhetorical pitch tries to connect Los Angeles’ interests with the country’s at large, Sam Garrison, the chamber’s vice president for public policy, said that what is perhaps more powerful is the unity on many issues among often divergent stakeholders.

“Our big focus is sending the message to Washington that the business community, elected officials, community stakeholders and labor are on the same page when it comes to federal investment in Southern California,” Garrison said.

The chamber’s agenda includes 11 categories, from transportation and water to energy, green jobs and workforce development. Under each category, there are specific initiatives the group plans to pursue.

The efforts with the greatest potential impact on Downtown include a request for federal funding for environmental and infrastructure improvements to the Los Angeles River. That will be Reyes’ priority while in Washington, said his spokeswoman, Monica Valencia.

For the first time in Chamber history, the group has a coalition that plans to focus on homelessness. Their agenda includes lobbying for a change in the formula that allocates federal homeless services dollars to municipalities so Los Angeles gets its fair share.

The trip took about three months to

photo by Gary Leonard

Gary Toebben, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, heads a delegation of some 200 business and political leaders traveling to Washington, D.C. this week.

plan, as various Chamber committees set their agenda and arranged meetings with policy makers in Washington, said Coby King, senior vice president of the communications firm MWW Group and a member of the Chamber committee that organized the trip.

“So much of the work of these trips, and what makes it effective, is how much you put into it prior to the trip,” he said. “Ultimately, the idea is to be able to meet with the folks who will be able to advance the delegation’s agenda.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

March 15, 2010

Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

St. Patrick’s Day Live Green Festival The Parade Is Gone, but Drinking and a Fight Will Come to L.A. Live on St. Patrick’s Day

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

W

hen it comes to St. Patrick’s Day and Downtown Los Angeles, there is bad news and good news.

First the bad: A Downtown tradition, the popular parade that wends though the Central City and culminates in a large (and alcohol-free) celebration at Pershing Square, is over.

The good news is that the revelry continues anyway. On Wednesday, March 17, the party will move to L.A. Live, where from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. thousands will check out live music, classic cars, food specials and possibly some leprechauns.

There will even be a beer garden.

“With the city’s financial limitations I felt it was appropriate that we look for an alternative celebration,” said Fourth District Councilman Tom LaBonge, who along with Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry is co-hosting the event.

The city’s annual parade progressed down Main Street before ending at Pershing Square, where a band performed and the party continued. Louise Capone, senior recreation director for Pershing Square, said her staff has been fielding a lot of questions from people disappointed about the cancellation of the parade and party.

“I can’t tell you how many people this week have stopped by the office to ask for a flyer for St. Patrick’s Day and I have to say we’re not having it this year,” she said. “I’m kind of sad.

Every big city has a St. Patrick’s Day parade, but the entire city is going through a budget crisis right now.”

Heart of Downtown While the location is different and the procession has been nixed, LaBonge said many of the things that made the parade a hit will continue at Nokia Plaza.

“Our team of mighty vehicles that used to parade down Main Street can still be part of it, and we do have a marching band coming from Dublin, Ireland,” he said.

The band will march on to the plaza around noon. Other festivities will include the display of antique firetrucks and classic police cars, including a 1948 Buick LAFD staff car, a 1956 Buick Special from the TV series “Highway Patrol” and a 1947 LAPD squad car. Motorcycle buffs can check out the relaunch of Indian Motorcycles, a company founded in 1901 that has closed and been resurrected several times.

Live music will come from Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords, the Emerald Society 20-piece bagpipe band and the 40-piece Dublin All Star Marching Band.

While everyone may be a little Irish on March 17, true Irish artists such as the Twilight Lords will bring some authenticity to the event, LaBonge said.

“Real Irish people are quite entertaining and the music is very good,” said LaBonge, who is of Irish descent.

Scott Hanley, vice president of events and marketing for L.A. Live, said they are anticipating up to 3,000 people. He said he expects a parade-type atmosphere at Nokia Plaza.

“It’s still going to be the firetrucks you can take pictures on.

You’re going to be able to touch and feel the parade because it’s all going to be in one spot,” he said.

Many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have culminated in fights, and the same will happen at L.A. Live. This time, however, it is planned: The festivities include live boxing at the plaza from 7-9:30 p.m. The card, co-organized by Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, has yet to be determined.

Since most of the celebration will take place during work hours, LaBonge recommends that those who want to escape

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photo courtesy of Dublin All Star Marching Band

Although the traditional Downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled, the 40-piece Dublin All Star Marching Band (shown here at a parade in New York City) will fill Nokia Plaza during the March 17 celebration at L.A. Live.

photo courtesy of Ken O’Malley and Twilight Lords

Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords will perform at the event on St. Patrick’s Day.

the office use an old City Hall excuse.

“You can say you’re checking out a noise complaint,” he said.

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival is Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Nokia Plaza, on 11th Street between Figueroa and Georgia streets. Info at lalive.com/promos/stpatrick/.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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12 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews St. Patrick’s Day

St. Pat’s Survival Guide Some March 17 Dos and Don’ts

by RichaRd Guzmán

Q: If someone of the opposite sex is not wearing green, where’s the most appropriate place to pinch them?

A: Unless you’re 5 years old, nowhere.

Allen: Drink a Guinness and a Jameson.

Q: What’s the one thing you should never do on St. Patrick’s Day? A: Get a tattoo. I don’t think a drunk leprechaun urinating on a rainbow will look good when you’re 60.

Q: Are Irish car bombs awesome or politically incorrect?

A: If you’re 25 and younger, awesome. If you’re 26 and older, politically incorrect.

College is over — it’s time to enjoy your whiskey.

Q: What’s the best way to prepare the day before?

A: Drink Guinness and Jameson.

Steven Allen, the bar manager at Casey’s, will helm a 20-hour Q: Any hangover recommen- party on March 17. KROQ radio hosts Kevin and Bean will begin dations? broadcasting from the bar at 6 a.m.

city editoR

I

f any single establishment in Downtown Los Angeles can be considered the expert when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, it’s Casey’s Irish Pub. After all, the establishment formerly known as Casey’s Bar & Grill now has the word “Irish” in its name.

Casey’s has been packing crowds in on St. Patrick’s Day for three decades. This year, the establishment at 613 S. Grand Ave. is taking the party up a notch with a radio broadcast and, egads, a 20-hour celebration.

The bar will open at 6 a.m. with Kevin and Bean from KROQ broadcasting live, complete with a crowd, until 10 a.m. Irish food will be served until 5 p.m. and a DJ will spin all night.

In case anyone needs information on how to properly handle St. Patrick’s Day, we went to Steven Allen, the bar manager at Casey’s. He offers a vital list of dos and don’ts.

Los Angeles Downtown News: What’s the one thing you must do on St. Patrick’s Day?

Q: What are the best excuses you can tell your boss if you plan on calling in sick that day?

A: 1) I’m taking a mental-health day.

2) I’m going to be drunk. Do you really want me at work?

3) I ate some bad sushi last night.

4) I gotta take my dog to his therapist. We have to change his antidepressants.

Q: What’s the coolest thing you can say to a woman in Gaelic? And what does it mean?

A: “Is folamh uar e teach gan bean.” It is a cold house without a woman.

photo by Gary Leonard

A: Hair-of-the-dog shot and fresh berries. Keep a bottle of anything in the freezer. Raspberries and blueberries are the best.

Q: If you see a leprechaun, what should you do?

St. Parties Day How Downtown Gets Its Green On

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

I

f you’ve been saving up those sick days, could use a drink during your lunch break or want to party well into the night on Wednesday, March 17, Downtown Los Angeles has plenty of options. No matter where you look, you can find corned beef, green beer, whiskey and dark Guinness.

Here are a handful of reliable Downtown spots in which to suss out the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Sip and Drink: It’s always tough to get a seat at Bottega Louie during lunch, so on St. Patrick’s Day, be sure either to arrive early, or plan on hanging around for a while to take advantage of the special menu. The $22 per person meal, which will be served all day, includes traditional corned beef and cabbage with boiled potatoes. If for any reason you leave, be sure to come back at 6:30 p.m. so you can take part in the Jameson whiskey tasting event. That sounds dangerous.

At 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 803-1470 or bottegalouie.com.

Green Blondes: Everyone goes green on St. Patrick’s Day. Even Weiland Brewery’s house beer, the Honey Blonde, will turn Ireland’s favorite color. It will also have a special price, $2.50 a glass. In case that is not enough of a lure, the celebration at the venerable establishment at the Little Tokyo/Arts District border will offer live music, $6 whiskey shots, a beer garden and food including corned beef and cabbage.

At 400 E. First St., (213) 680-2881 or weilandbrewery.net.

Early Bird Gets the Guinness: If you want to party from sunrise to sunset, and you think you can manage to stay upright the whole day, Bar 107 is the place for you.

Doors will open at 6 a.m. (yes, that’s a.m.) and $3 Guinness and $4 Jameson will be

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A: Quit drinking. It’s time to go home.

Casey’s is at 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6292353 or bigcaseys.com Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Grand Party: You can also do it lounge style on St. Patrick’s Day at Seven Bar Lounge. The Seventh Street spot will open at 11 a.m. and offer green beer, a DJ and live music, possibly including bagpipers. Happy hour food specials will include $4 chicken and beef skewers and mini burgers.

At 555 W. Seventh St., (213) 223-0777 or sevenbarlounge.com.

A Grand Old Time: Seven Grand will have the Irish band The Regulars performing from 9 p.m. to midnight. That’s nice and all, but the bigger draw may be the more than 200 premium whiskeys, ryes and smallbatch bourbons they serve. Scratch what we said before — this is seriously dangerous.

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

Well Spun: In honor of the holiday, The Broadway Bar will serve well drinks for $4 and a DJ will spin Irish tunes throughout the day.

At 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la.

Happy Bagpipes: McCormick & Schmick’s has been doing St. Patrick’s Day longer than anyone else on this list, and they’ve got the celebration, well, down pat. The restaurant and bar in U.S. Bank Tower will offer specials including $5 green beers and $7 martinis from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Live music with a band and bagpipes players will begin at 6 p.m. and an Irish menu including corned beef and cabbage and Irish lamb stew will be served all day.

At 633 W. Fifth St., fourth floor, (213) 629-1929 or mccormickandschmicks.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 13

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HEALTH

Good Samaritan Hospital Makes Top Rankings List

D

owntown’s Good Samaritan Hospital recently scored high honors from healthcare ratings organization HealthGrades, Inc.: It was named one of America’s 50 best hospitals.

It marked the fourth consecutive year that Good Samaritan, at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West, made the list. The report analyzed patient outcomes at 5,000 nonfederal hospitals across the nation.

“To be ranked among America’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades for four consecutive years is a great honor and tribute to our physicians and staff,” said Andrew Leeka, president and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital, in a statement. “This unwavering commitment to quality can be found in every aspect of our organization.”

Only two California hospitals made the list. Florida and Ohio each had nine hospitals on the list.

“These hospitals are setting national benchmarks for excellence in clinical quality, and as we continue to debate health care reform, they should stand as institutions to be learned from and emulated,” said Dr. Rick May, a HealthGrades vice president and an author of the report, in a separate statement.

Hospitals on the list were found to have a mortality rate approximately 27% lower than other U.S. hospitals. The complications rate of the ranked hospitals is 8% lower than other facilities in the nation.

The HealthGrades study involved analyzing more than 130 million Medicare hospitalization records. Grades were determined by examining the mortality and complications rates in 26 procedures and treatments, including hip replacement, bypass surgery, pneumonia and heart attack.

A full list of the hospital grades is at healthgrades.com.

—Jon Regardie

photo by Gary Leonard

Andy Leeka, president and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital.

Dental Disease Rampant in Children USC Study Says Problems Among Disadvantaged Youth Often Go Unchecked by beth Dunham

N

early three-quarters of underprivileged children in Los Angeles County have infectious dental disease that has gone unchecked, according to a study led by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. In the report released during February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, researchers Roseann Mulligan and Hazem Seirawan revealed that 73% of disadvantaged youngsters have untreated caries, the bacterial disease responsible for tooth decay.

Dentists screened more than 2,300 children at 59 local Head Start centers, Women, Infants and Children centers, and elementary and high schools in the most comprehensive study on oral health in underprivileged children ever conducted in Los Angeles County.

The survey examined youngsters who represent a wide range of ages, races and degrees of caries infection.

A silent epidemic with five times the prevalence of asthma, caries is the most common chronic disease in children and can result in serious pain and illnesses affecting parts of the body beyond the mouth, said Mulligan, chair of the division of dental public health and pediatric dentistry at the Ostrow School of Dentistry.

The disease is infectious, with bacteria able to pass between individuals via shared eating utensils, kissing and other forms of contact.

The pain caused by the disease is a contributor to school absences throughout the county.

The study also explains many of the complex social, logistical and economic factors that make disadvantaged children more

likely to suffer from untreated dental caries.

One significant barrier is dental insurance; many children are not covered by Denti-Cal, California’s public dental insurance program, and the parents of those children that are covered may still have trouble regularly seeing a dentist since only about half of the dentists in Los Angeles County accept Denti-Cal, according to Seirawan, a research assistant professor at the Ostrow School of Dentistry.

Other factors include poor oral hygiene habits, inadequate nutrition and the consumption of bottled versus fluoridated tap water.

The study offers several suggestions for lessening the impact of dental disease among the county’s underprivileged children. For example, Mulligan said members of the Los Angeles community can encourage better oral health education at schools, support the organizations providing care to disadvantaged children, help more dentists serve lower-income communities after they graduate and campaign for policy changes within local and state government.

Article courtesy of USC HSC Weekly.

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14 Downtown News

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March 15, 2010

CALENDAR l a n M B e e w h hind the Scra T

4

5 Cartoonist and Illustrator Doug Davis Gets a Gallery Show

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

D

oug Davis was one of those kids who was always drawing something, especially monsters.

Davis still loves to draw, and now he makes a living at it, working as an illustrator and cartoonist. He keeps drawing monsters too, even if they’re not a regular money gig.

The Echo Park-based Davis, whose editorial cartoon Urban Scrawl appears weekly in Los Angeles Downtown News (where he worked as art director between 1992 and 1996), is the subject of a show at the Broadway gallery Take My Picture (run by Downtown News photographer Gary Leonard). The exhibit, titled Inking Outside the Box, runs through May 28.

The show holds 28 works, most from the Urban Scrawl cartoons. Also on display are nine pieces from Davis’ Creature Comfort series, which features monsters hanging out in Downtown.

Davis, who has received awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Los Angeles Press Club, described the creative process behind five of the works in the Downtown show.

1) Bench Brawl: The cartoon depicting Vin Scully talking about the split of Frank and Jamie McCourt came as the situation erupted last fall. “We get comments being made by Vin about something going on off the frame, and you can just use your imagination about what an actual physical brawl might be like between the McCourts,” he said. The cartoon was also a comment about the effects a divorce will have on the Dodgers. “The divorce is going to affect the game in spite of the protestations of the McCourts. We don’t know how, but I think it’s going to have an impact on how they play.”

2) Bratton Rides Off: Looking like a mix between Yosemite Sam and John Wayne, former LAPD Chief William Bratton rides off to new adventures as sad locals say their goodbyes. “I thought it would be a funny take because he’s been looked at as kind of the uber-sheriff coming into town,” Davis said.

“It seemed like there were a lot of Angelenos who thought he would be missed, and I

1

thought the old sheriff leaving town after he’s cleaned it up would be a good parallel.” Davis also earned some recognition for the work.

“Bratton’s office called me and asked for an autographed copy to present him at his final press conference, which I did.”

3) Home Sweet Home: With housing developers desperate to fill their units, Davis offers suggestions on incentives they could offer.

“It’s just kind of a goof on the goings-on of Downtown, not necessarily political,” he said.

“But certainly with the real estate market and incentives the real estate developers are offering now, how much further can they go?”

While most of it came from Davis’ imagination, some elements were inspired by real life. “I’ve seen an iguana on the shoulder of someone walking Downtown. I just try and take what I see and push it a little further.”

And why is the man smiling as much as the girl when the Chippendale’s doorman opens the door? “That’s one of those bonus things I like to throw in for people who read carefully enough that they might see another level of humor.”

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4) Monster Mash: Part of his Creature Comfort series, this piece features a swamp/ sea monster enjoying a good read. “I hope there’s just a little smile from the fact that there’s a sea creature reading a book about another sea creature who puts up a heck of a fight,” Davis said. The series is also an excuse to keep drawing monsters. “It’s an expanded sketchbook in a sense. I’m certainly not seeing these monsters Downtown.”

5) Power of the Bean: Coffee’s restorative powers take over in this piece. “I was going for some contrast: big monster, little cup. I also wanted to imply some kind of exchange between the big monster and the regular guy walking behind him but not being really clear about what that might be,” Davis said. But where would the monster go for a cup of Joe? “Urth is cool,” he said. “Starbucks? I don’t think so.”

Inking Outside the Box is at the Take My Picture gallery, 860 S. Broadway, (213) 6222256 or takemypicture.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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March 15, 2010

Downtown News 15

DowntownNews.com

Supreme Dreams Big Voices Power Latest Version of the 1981 Musical

by Jeff Favre contributing writer

I

t’s not that Dreamgirls was going to disappear from the theater anytime soon. But the film version in 2006 introduced a new audience to the first big musical of the 1980s — and the songbook with the catchiest and most memorable soul/R&B/show tune fusion.

Of course, it’s not possible to equal a big budget movie’s flexibility to change locales, employ close-ups and unleash technical wizardry. But this traveling production of Dreamgirls, playing at Downtown’s Ahmanson Theatre through April 4, comes as close to nailing the “Wow!” factor as any recent musical with the possible exception of Dirty Dancing. It gets there thanks to Tom Eyen’s compelling book and lyrics, and Henry Krieger’s nearly endless string of wonderful songs.

Director Robert Longbottom, expanding on the original 1981 direction and choreography of the late Michael Bennett, appears to have opted for the “more is better” edict. Setting aside a couple of minor excesses, his instinct proves correct.

A cast of belting divas with acting range to match — and a scene-stealing Chester Gregory — share the stage with five high-tech LED panels and enough costumes to fill a warehouse. The result is in an entertainment blitz that rarely takes a breath for two-and-three-quarter hours.

Longbottom hits the gas the second the lights go down, which is key to getting the exposition out of the way early, so the real action can begin. In those first minutes, set during a talent show at New York’s famed Apollo Theatre in 1962, we meet the Dreamettes. There’s sweet, funny Lorrell (Adrienne Warren), radiant Deena (Syesha Mercado, the third-place finisher in season seven of “American Idol”), and the lead singer of the group, hot-tempered Effie (Moya Angela).

The Dreamettes don’t win the contest, performing the toetapping “Move (You’re Steppin’ on My Heart),” written by Effie’s bother C.C. (Trevon Davis). But Curtis (Chaz Lamar Shepherd), a shrewd Cadillac dealer, wrangles his way into the girls’ lives as their manager by grabbing them a spot as

backup singers on tour with soul legend James “Thunder” Early (Gregory).

Those who know the story recognize the similarities to the career of Diana Ross and the Supremes (the show’s creators still deny this), with Deena — the group’s breakout star — in the Ross role.

It is impossible to discuss Longbottom’s revival without highlighting the LED panels. The quintet of floor-to-ceiling pieces are capable of moving in several directions while projecting locations and various videos of the singer. They provide an instant barrier between the characters’ backstage and onstage worlds, and add to the feel of the ’60s and ’70s. The best use of the panels comes in the simulated telecasts of the Dreams — the group’s revised name — as the larger-than-life visuals of the Technicolor costumes wash across the theater.

No one will soon forget these costumes, created by William Ivey Long and spanning the latest fashions over a 13-year period. The Dreams and company change outfits so quickly at times that it’s hard not to imagine the barely controlled chaos in the wings.

Glitz and glamour are fun, but Dreamgirls remains a showcase for big voices, and there are several in this production.

Angela carries the heaviest load as Effie, and she generally makes the part her own, which is no easy task. Her high points are the soulful “I Am Changing” and “One Night Only.” While she overreached a bit vocally on the first-act closer, her version of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” contained the requisite raw emotion and power. It may not make anyone forget the original Jennifer Holliday version, but so far no performer has been able to accomplish that, including Jennifer Hudson in the film.

Mercado’s smooth tones as Deena are ideal for the later Dreams numbers, while she gets to show off her pipes in “Listen,” which was incorporated from the film version.

Warren also shines, particularly in Lorrell’s big number “Ain’t No Party.”

But it’s Gregory, as “Thunder” Early, who makes the most of every vocal, dramatic and comedic moment. Gregory,

photo by Joan Marcus

(l to r) Adrienne Warren, Syesha Mercado and Moya Angela play the members of a girl group in Dreamgirls. The musical is at the Ahmanson Theatre through April 4.

best-known for his titular performance in The Jackie Wilson Story, dances with the ferocity of Wilson, while showing comedic timing reminiscent of Morris Day in the movie Purple Rain. His suggestive gyrations and ability to get a laugh with a pouty look or an elongated word elevates the material.

Yes, there a few missteps. The new second act opener, “What Love Can Do,” fleshes out the story but adds little musically. The costume changes, though impressive, occasionally distract from the plot. Ken Billington’s lighting is expressive and imaginative, but he makes one serious misstep when two stage-filling banks of colorful spots are turned outward, causing much of the audience close to the stage to shade their eyes.

These are minor infractions on an otherwise high-caliber production, which brings the fun, flash and excitement.

Dreamgirls plays through April 4 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org.

Do YOU have any questions about the banking industry? Are YOU concerned about the economy?

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Editorial Cartoons and Illustrations

by Doug Davis Opening Art Walk Reception: Thursday, March 11 • 7–9 p.m.

Gallery Hours: Mondays–Fridays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Saturdays noon–6 p.m.

Sundays noon–3 p.m.

Take My Picture 860 S. Broadway (at 9th) Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-622-2256 info@garyleonard.com

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LISTINGS the

Big Books, Big Dance, Big Comedy and More t ’ ‘don ’

CASEY’S ROQ’s!

s s i m ist

DOWNTOWN LA’S

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

l

Party Central

by Jon RegaRdie, executive editoR

T

he Bunker Hill venue REDCAT is full of performances and events not commonly found in mainstream venues. Which is, in fact, the point of REDCAT. The tradition continues this week, with the world premiere of Tov from the contemporary dance troupe Rosanna Gamson Worldwide. The show that opens Thursday, March 18, is about, of all things, an extinct Eurasian wild horse called the tarpan that was genetically reassembled in the 1930s by back-breeding domestic horses.

Who knew you could do that? Tov, which means “good” in Hebrew, also somehow addresses Gamson’s own Polish-Jewish ancestry.

The production features a cast of 17 and has text spoken and sung in English, Hebrew, Polish, Yiddish, Bulgarian and German. It runs through March 27 at 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

6am till 2am

Kevin & Bean Show Broadcasting Live on KROQ from Casey’s 6am till 10am

Sixth & Grand Avenue

Wednesday, March 17 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

March 17, 7 p.m.: Bestselling author Lionel Shriver discusses her latest work, So Much For That, with L.A. Times columnist Meghan Daum. The book is a witty and timely exploration of the failure of the American health care system.

SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall.

March 17, 7 p.m.: Using the newest tools and the oldest of techniques, Commonwealth is a furniture, art, and design studio based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Zoe Coombes and David Boira, principals and founders of the company, discuss their practice.

St. Patrick’s Day at L.A. Live 800 W. Olympic Blvd., lalive.com.

8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Chick Hearn Court will be closed for this St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords, bagpipe ensembles, antique fire and police vehicles, a beer garden and celebrity guests.

Later in the evening (7-10 p.m.) the plaza is host to a

photo courtesy of the author

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one

Sure, Gustavo Dudamel is 20-something and excithe author Tim O’Brien ing. But he’s not the only wunderkind to grab is one of those writers who pens the baton and conduct the Los Angeles Big Important Books. Yes, the kind packed Philharmonic this season. This week, young with such weighty subjects and stylish prose that Brit Robin Ticciati, who was mentored by they merit Extra Capitalization. In O’Brien’s case, the Simon Rattle and last year became prinVietnam war, and the lives of the soldiers who survived it, cipal conductor of the Scottish Chamber is a recurring theme. Perhaps his biggest of those Big Books Orchestra, commands the troops in the on that Big Subject is The Things They Walt Disney Concert Hall. During Carried, a collection of interrelated stoperformances March 18 and 20 at 8 ries published in 1990. On Thursday, p.m., and March 19 at 11 a.m., he’ll March 18, at 7 p.m., the Aloud series oversee the program slugged “Vogt at the Central Library will focus on Plays Grieg,” named for pianist Lars the 20th anniversary of the book, and Vogt’s tackling of Grieg’s Piano O’Brien will read from and discuss it Concerto. Also on the docket with L.A. Times Book Editor David are works by Sibelius, Lindberg Ulin. Note: The event was full at and Elgar. At 111 S. Grand Ave., press time, but standby tickets are (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. often available at the door during Aloud events. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

T

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No.4

heen was ses, Martin S hty, o R s a W t c of The Subje h 7, when Brian Gerag ks of the run e e w n Marc w fe st Sheen t changed o a or the fir h T . st a en in 1964; c e e h th S y in b e d m a te odak gina the big n age at the K (the role ori st y n m o g im T in d n ys who pla as seen sta Hurt Locker, time out), w park in, The k is o th to d e a h d t c e je pro uple similariplays th as that other re. In fact, there are a co g in m a e b r, ; in Roses, tu Theate r for Best Pic soldier on a bomb squad a sc O e th d da e bomb that capture eraghty playe WII dealing with the tim zer Prize G m fil e th ties: In from W y’s Pulit r back home rank D. Gilro At 135 N. he is a soldie p family. The revival of F per Forum. a T -u rk d a e M ss e e th is his m . h 21 at closes Marc atregroup.org winning work 3) 972-4400 or centerthe (21 Grand Ave.,

F

FIVE

The phrase “Tear Your Mouth Out” doesn’t sound funny at first blush. But there just might be giggles aplenty considering that happens to be the title of a comedy tour featuring Steve Harvey. The comedian/radio host/actor comes to the Nokia Theatre on Saturday, March 20. It’s a break for the man whose morning radio show is currently heard in 64 markets. Expect plenty of bits that build from his 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Also on the bill is Nephew Tommy. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-0000 or nokiatheatrelive.com.

photo courtesy of Nokia Theatre L.A. Live

photo by Craig Schwartz

EVENTS

SponSored LiStingS St. Patrick’s Day Blowout at Bar 107 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/bar107.

6 a.m.-2 a.m.: Party your shamrocks off as Bar 107 hosts its 5th annual St. Patrick’s Day Blowout. The Blasting Company, a nine-piece brass band, will perform from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $3 Guiness and $4 Jameson until 3 p.m. Free Mulligan Stew until it runs out. Leprechauns, bagpipers, priests/nuns and every true Irish son and daughter will be there.

St. Patty’s at Casey’s Casey’s Irish Pub, 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6292353 or caseysirishpub.com.

March 17, 6 a.m.-2 a.m.: Casey’s starts the St. Patrick’s Day part early with Kevin and Bean broadcasting live on KROQ from the bar, from 6-10 a.m., featuring Jameson-infused Irish coffee. As the day goes on, the bar will dole out free beads and hats while supplies last and, of course, there will be plenty of Jameson, Guiness (and Guiness Girls) and green beer. DJs provide a fitting soundtrack. There will be a special food menu all day.

Las Perlas 107 E. Seventh St., (213) 988-8355.

Mon.-Sat., 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Closed Sun.: Las Perlas, the latest bar from 213 Ventures, featuring artisan-crafted tequilas and premium mescal, is now open. Ask Raul for their signature cocktail, 400 rabbits, and take a journey down the rabbit hole.

Doug Davis: Inking Outside the Box Take My Picture Gallery, 860 S. Broadway, (213) 622-2256, garyleonard.com or douginks.com.

Ongoing: Award-winning editorial cartoonist Doug Davis — creator of the Los Angeles Downtown News’ “Urban Scrawl” — has a new show of political cartoons and illustrations at Gary Leonard’s Take My Picture gallery.

March 15, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

photo by Steve Gunther

16 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

free outdoor boxing event (card to be determined).

War novel with L.A. Times book editor David Ulin.

Thursday, March 18 Urban Marketplace 2010 Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (800) 321-5011 or uli-la.org.

7 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Urban Land Institute Los Angeles’ Urban Marketplace is a unique conference on investment opportunities and development strategies for Southern California’s emerging lower income and distressed neighborhoods. Speakers include City Councilwoman Jan Perry and USC Lusk Center Chairman Stanley Ross.

MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org.

March 18, 6:30 p.m.: Join MOCA Curator Alma Ruiz on a walkthrough of “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years,” focusing on the Light and Space artists featured in the museum’s permanent collection.

ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

March 18, 7 p.m.: Tim O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried, discusses the celebrated Vietnam

Friday, March 19 Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org.

March 19, noon: Van Zan Frater discusses “Jesus is My Homeboy.”

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

fiLm Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com for showtimes.

Through March 18: One of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” writerdirector Tze Chun makes his feature film debut with the highly reviewed Children of Invention.

March 16: In One Too Many Mornings, Peter has just run away from his girlfriend, seeking solace in his estranged friend from high school, Fischer.

Fischer lives in a church, for free, in exchange for turning off the lights and locking the doors. As Fischer tries to help Peter recover, Peter quickly learns that Fischer has serious problems of his own.

March 19-25: 45365 explores the congruities of daily life in an American town from the patrol car to the courtroom to the playground to the nursing home.

March 21: The International Surrealist Film Festival.

Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com.

Through March 18: Alice in Wonderland 2D (11:30 a.m. and 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m.); The Crazies (12;30, 3, 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m.); She’s Out of My League (noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30 and 10 p.m.).

Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com.

Through March 18: Alice in Wonderland in 3D (11 and 11:40 a.m. and 1, 1:40, 2:20, 3:40, 4:20, 5, 6:20, 7, 7:40, 9, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Green Zone (11:20 a.m. and noon, 2, 2:40, 4:40, 5:20, 7:20, 8, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); Avatar in 3D (11:20 a.m. and 3, 6:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Remember Me (11:10 a.m. and 1:50 p.m., 4:30, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Brooklyn’s Finest (1:20, 4:20, 7:20 and 10:20 p.m.); Shutter Island (1:20, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:50 p.m.); Our Family Wedding (noon, 12:40, 2:30, 3:10, 4:50, 5:30, 7:10, 7:50, 9:30, 10:10 and 11:50 p.m.); The Crazies (11:10 a.m. and 1:30, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:10 p.m.); She’s Out of My League (12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m.).

March 19 (partial listing): Bounty Hunter (11:10 a.m. and 1:50, 4:30, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.).

roCK, PoP & JaZZ Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com.

March 19, 8-10 p.m.: The Matt Mayhall Quartet.

March 20, 8-10 p.m.: Jazz vocalist Sara Leib.

Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com.

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March 18, 8 p.m.: Latin hip-hoppers Akwid.

Grammy Museum LA Live, corner of Olympic Blvd and Figueroa St., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

March 17, 8 p.m.: British folk rock icon Richard Thompson talks about his guitar playing and continually expanding catalogue of music. After the interview, Thompson will take questions from the audience and perform a few songs.

March 20, 10 a.m: Join Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Daniel Ho for a family program featuring the music of Hawaii. Come ready to sing, dance and learn the basics of hula dancing.

Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

March 15, 10 p.m.: Possessed by Paul James.

March 16, 7 p.m.: The White Stripes film screening.

March 17, 10 p.m.: Jimmy Angel, South Bay Surfers and Handsome Sexies.

March 18, 10 p.m.: YNM Mgt. Showcase with Jerkules, Shakey Graves, Drew Steadman and Trouth and Parrot.

March 19, 10 p.m.: Blowfly and Clarence Reid with Laramie Dean.

March 20, 10 p.m.: Mike Watt and his Missingmen, with Beta Wolf.

March 21, noon: Brunch Americana.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la.

March 15, 10 p.m.: John Daversa Small Group.

March 16, 10 p.m.: The Makers.

See Complete Listings on the Web at ladowntownnews.com/calendar.

2your EvEnt info Easy ways to submit

4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit 4 EmaiL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

18 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

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EARN $500 DAILY Providing a simple service for Home and Business - Dry Tech #CL28547.

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CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

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Law offices of Gordon & Gordon Injured at work? Stress at work.

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85% Commission (W-2), FHA, VA Reverse Mortgages. For info go to www.OakTreeFunding. com click Virtual Agent. (CalSCAN) Misc. Services

Home Improvement

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Since 1972 • Free Estimate

IF YOU USED Type 2 Diabetes Drug Avandia and Suffered a Stroke or Heart Attack. You may be entitled to compensation. Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727. (Cal-SCAN)

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AUTOS

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Business Opportunities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995.

MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405.

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Cleaning

Painting Services Unlimited Design/Color/Finish Loft Painting Experts. Since 1974 Staining-Distressing lep8ntr@ yahoo.com Impeccable References (818) 956-0609.

Advertising CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $550. Reach over 6 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 2886019. www.Cal-SCAN.com.

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Living Outrageously For Today!®

Living Outrageously For Today!®

Autos Wanted DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher.

United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN)

Living Outrageously For Today!®

FOR RENT

RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

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Monthly from $695 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com

Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com

8Visit7us7online - 4atLwww.LoftLivingLA.com A- LO F TS

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8 7 7 - 4 L A- LO F TS Guess where Nicole loves to eat sushi and WIN!

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service.

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(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

8 7 7 - 4 L A- LO F TS

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

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RENTAL $1400 Mo.

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DRE #01706351

The meeting is being held pursuant to the Health and Safety Code Section 33431 and is open to the public.

At any time before the date and timeSince set2001, forth in this notice for LoftLivingLA.com has helping people live in Downtown’s public hearing, any written commentsbeen onbest the proposed Disposition condos, lofts & apartments! and Development Agreement may be filed theFCRA/ 8 7 in7 the - 4offices L A - of LO TS Visitthe us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com LA. All persons wishing to comment at public hearing will be where Drew prefers to given an opportunity to appear and beGuess heard. eat Mexican food and WIN! 3/8, 3/15/10 CNS-1806079#

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DRE #01706351

The Disposition and Development Agreement will provide for the sale of the CRA/LA-owned parcel located at 1601 North Vine Street in the Hollywood Redevelopment Project Area (CD13). The sale of the CRA/LA-owned parcel is based on the fair reuse value of the parcel. Draft version of the proposed Disposition and Development Agreement is available for public review at CRA/LA’s office located at 354 S. Spring Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, California.

1 Hr. (Reg. $60) $38+Tax

DRE #01706351

Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, March 18, 2010, beginning at the hour of 10:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter Living Outrageously may be heard, The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City Forhearing Today!® of Los Angeles, California, will conduct a public at the offices of the CRA/LA, 354 South Spring Street, Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90013, regarding the sale of CRA/LA-owned land to 1601 North Vine, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to a proposed Disposition and Development Agreement.

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DRE #01706351

Now eD at u p d i ly da

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (CRA/LA), REGARDING THE SALE OF CRA/LA-OWNED LAND PURSUANT TO A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH LAND IS LOCATED AT 1601 NORTH VINE STREET IN THE HOLLYWOOD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA (CD13), IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Tel: 213-383-7676

General

DRE #01706351

.COM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www.

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March 15, 2010

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com PETS/ANIMALS

PRE-OWNED

DOWNtOWN L.a. autO GROuP POrSChE VOLkSwAgEN AudI MErCEdES-BENz NISSAN ChEVrOLET CAdILLAC

‘08 JETTA S SDN 29 HWY MPG. 33,199 miles, a/c, power steering/windows/locks, cruise control, CD, VIN 015827. $13,888 2006 MBZ SLK280 Silver/Black certified stock#4530C VIN #108686 $23,995. 888-3198762 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA stock NI3477-1 VIN #6Z297822. $22,999. Call 888-838-5089.

2007 AUDI A4 2.0T premium pkg., leather, moonroof, stkZA9641, VIN7A149163, $15,888. Call 888-583-0981 2007 CARRERA COUPE Black/ blk, certified pre-owned, tiptronic, 21K miles. VIN710520. 888685-5426 2008 TOYOTA YARIS SEDAN Automatic, Air, Cruise, CD, Premium Sound, ABS (4-wheel), Alloy wheels stock #UC518Rvin037040. $9,997.

888-879-9608.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

ITEMS FOR SALE LaWN & GaRDEN/FaRm EquiP NEW NORWOOD SAWMILLSLumberMate-Pro handles logs 34” diameter, mills boards 28” wide. Automated quick-cyclesawing increases efficiency up to 40%! www.NorwoodSawmills. com/300N 1-800-661-7746 ext.

300N. (Cal-SCAN) misc. itEms SELLING THREE INK PICTURES ON WOOD for $200. Eagle, Indian woman, wolf. 213-400-7809.

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.BarkAvenueFoundation. org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS sPEciaL EvENts SONY HOLLAND DUO: Great music for your event or party.

Guitar, vocal jazz. Contact sony@sonyholland.com for info.

213 241 9015.

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. 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22/10 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 20100278441 The following person is doing business as: 1) LADowntownNews.com 2) DowntownNews. com, 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026, are hereby registered by the following registrant: CIVIC CENTER NEWS,

INC. 1264 W. First Street, LA CA 90026. This business is conducted by a corporation. .

Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on April 3, 2000.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on March 2, 2010.

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. 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29/2010

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

LEGAL FictitiOus BusiNEss NamE Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20100196493 The following persons doing business as: PAWS AND THE CITY, 408 S. Spring Street, Unit #801, Los Angeles, CA 90013, are hereby registered by the following registrants: 1) David Salgado, 408 S. Spring Street, Unit #801, Los Angeles, CA 90013.

2) Perla Araceli Hernandez, 408 S. Spring Street, Unit #801, Los Angeles, CA 90013 This business is conducted by a general partnership. 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 February 11, 2010.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years

On Spring St.

Spring Tower Lofts:

Pricing subject to change without notice.

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

City Lofts:

800 sqft, 13 ft ceilings, $1425/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/ refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

Please call 213.627.6913 www.cityloftsquare.com

Orsini

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

877-267-5911

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites Services Include: • Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw • Fax • Photocopy • More

jahn@regentBC.com www.regentbc.com

FROm $1,250’s/mo. Free Parking

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

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

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

3 bdrms/2 bath, $2100/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

Jenny Ahn (213) 996-8301

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

*Availability and prices are subject to change at any time.

Premiere Towers:

Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

NOW LEasiNG

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY! studios from $1,685* • 1 bedroom from $1,818* • 2 bedroom from $2,212*

1850 sqft, open LOFT w/views $2950/mo. • 17 ft ceilings • Live/Work space • 14 story Bldg. • Rooftop garden terrace w/city view • Pet friendly

Locations Nationwide

S e e k S S t y l i S h M at e

ELEGANT WORLD CLASS RESORT BRAND NEW APARTMENT HOMES

Orsini

UNITS FEATURE:

Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills

I c o n I c B e au t y

Free Rent!

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $550 utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

DOWNtOWN sOutH PaRK aFFORDaBLE PROGRam

LOFTS • RENT • LOFTS • RENT

Luxury Living

TWO WEEKS FREE RENT AND LOW DEPOSIT.

studios: $925 1 Bdrms $1,056 2 Bdrms $1,321

Income and Program Guidelines Apply. Call for Details. High Rise Apartment, Pool, Fitness Center, Subterranean Parking (Additional), Great Location, 2 blocks to Staples Center.

SPECIAL MOVE IN -

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

Call Toll Free 1-888-810-9608

1427 E. 4th St. Contact Julie at (323) 261-1099

Casaloma L.A. Apartments

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $695/mo.

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area.

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

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

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

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

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation

ROssLyN HOtEL

Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

1 month*

FREE *Limited time offer: when you sign 6 month lease.

Unfurnished rooms starting at $480 a month Laundry on site. All utilities included.

112 W 5th st., los angeles, ca 90013 213.503.7449 • www.rosslynstudios.com

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

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

20 Downtown News

March 15, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games Clippers Play for Next Year, and the Kings Keep Winning Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers.

March 19, 7:30 p.m.; March 21, 6:30 p.m.: The Lakers got their first taste of a losing streak last week, but it only lasted three games. Now, the post-season is coming into sight and the Purple and Gold are still trying to catch Cleveland for the league’s best record. This week presents a quartet of easy-win opportunities, with away games at Golden State (March 15) and Sacramento (March 16), then home matches against Minnesota and Washington.

Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers.

March 15 and 17, 7:30 p.m.: March 21, 12:30 p.m.: The Clippers organization is officially getting ready for next year, after firing GM Mike Dunleavy barely a month after he stepped down as coach. But for the Clipper loyalists,

there are still plenty of games to attend. Chris Kaman, the only Clipper with more than three years on the roster, is still having a career year, though he’s got a tough week trying to stop New Orleans’ David West and then Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut. The week closes with a Sunday matinee against the Sacramento Kings.

Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com.

March 18 and 20, 7:30 p.m.: With just four weeks of regular season puck to be played, the Kings are holding on to the fifth playoff seed in the Western Conference. That means, barring any major breakdown, the Kings are postseason-bound. Anze Kopitar is, as expected, leading the team in goals and assists, and goalie Jonathan Quick is sporting a respectable .909 save percentage. This week, they host the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders.

—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