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March 22, 2010
Volume 39, Number 12
INSIDE
Downtown Living
Blinded by Science Dynamic ‘Ecosystems’ Exhibit Highlights The California Science Center’s $165 Million Expansion by RichARd Guzmán city editoR
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Downtown got green on St. Patrick’s Day.
2
Urban Scrawl on bike messengers.
4
Big crowds at Angels Flight.
6
photo by Gary Leonard
Elementary school students watch divers in a 188,000-gallon tank, part of the California Science Center’s $165 million Ecosystems exhibition. It opens to the public March 25.
Another Downtown Fashion Week arrives.
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Downtown’s 10 Worst Eyesores Abandoned Buildings and Derelict Plots That Coulda Woulda Shoulda Been Something Else by AnnA Scott
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A big week for public speaking.
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26 CALENDAR LISTINGS 29 MAP 30 CLASSIFIEDS
slow roar starts to build on the rocky desert floor. At first, the water appears as a trickle, then slowly increases until it suddenly rushes forward; a wall of white, churning wetness heads straight for a group of third-grade students on a field trip in Downtown. The kids scream as the 3,500-gallon wave approaches, then, just as loudly, they laugh in delight when the water hits the transparent splash wall and sinks safely back into the desert floor. This scene is part of Ecosystems, the new exhibition wing at the California Science Center that is part of a $165 million expansion of the Exposition Park facility. The 170,000-square-foot development expanded the World of Life exhibition hall and added administrative offices and animal care facilities to the Science Center. The most notable addition is the 45,000 square feet of Ecosystems, which officially opens on Thursday, March 25. “It’s all about looking at how the world works,” said Chuck Kopczak, curator of ecology for the California Science Center. “The processes of ecology that shape the planet we live on and how we as a species, along with all the other species found on earth, are all part of this big network that is all working together and influencing each other.” This is no gallery filled with dioramas and taxidermy objects. Instead, the exhibit blends more than 250 species of live animals and plants with interactive tools to help visitors learn about ecosystems they may see Science Center, page 24
t is easy to wander through Downtown Los Angeles and point to some of the gems that have arrived in the past decade. All across the community, formerly dead plots of land and abandoned buildings have been transformed into high-end housing, neighborhood-serving restaurants, office structures or even green space. Yet in some notable cases, nothing has changed in the past 10 years, and former derelict properties continue to sit empty and/or uncared for. In certain instances the blame falls on absentee landlords, figures based far from Downtown who
ElDorado_BottomPageAd__ 3/18/10 11:31 PM Page 1
don’t care what happens as long as they one day make a profit on a sale. Other times, the problem is more troubling, as occurs when a governmental entity owns a building or plot and lets it tumble into eyesore status. Los Angeles Downtown News has rounded up 10 of Downtown’s most notable, and most disturbing, languishing properties. There is a lot of variety — the list includes vacant buildings, unfinished construction sites and even a fenced-off parking lot. What they all have in common is their squandered potential. Each one, due to its size, historic status or see Eyesores, page 10
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The onetime parking lot that was slated to house the mixed-use mega-project L.A. Central is now fenced off and unused. Lender Wells Fargo has initiated foreclosure proceedings on developer the Moinian Group.
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2 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
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AROUNDTOWN Ritz Opening Pushed Back to April 655 Hope Goes to Auction
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hen the 878-room J.W. Marriott, the first part of the $1 billion Convention Center headquarters hotel, opened Feb. 15, officials said that the second component of the project, the 123-room Ritz-Carlton, would follow March 15. Now, however, people looking for a five-star hotel stay will have to wait a few more weeks. Due to delays in receiving some furnishings, the Ritz, on floors 23-26 of the 54-story tower, will not open until April 2, Javier Cano, the general manager of the hotel, said last week. “We had some things that were scheduled to come to us from a couple of places around the world that simply didn’t get here in time,” Cano said. He added that the April 2 opening will likely be a “quiet” event, with a grand opening celebration taking place about a month later. The Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott hotel and condominium tower is the final piece of the 27-acre L.A. Live entertainment district, which began construction in the fall of 2007. The project also includes 224 condominiums. There is no information available yet on when the condominiums will open.
nother Downtown condominium project is going the auction route: On April 18, 45 of the 80 units at the 655 Hope development will go on the block, officials with developer Seck Group announced last week. The firm Kennedy Wilson will handle the auction in the 17-story building. The Financial District effort ran into fire code-related delays last year that pushed the cost from $15 million to about $17 million. The lowest starting bid will be $165,000 for some oneand two-bedroom lofts. Prices, originally set at $395,000$999,000, had been lowered to $349,000-$920,000 last fall. This is the second announced Downtown auction in recent weeks. Officials with developer Downtown Properties have scheduled an April 25 event for the El Dorado Lofts. Like with that project, the 655 Hope event was timed in part so buyers can take advantage of an $8,000 federal tax credit due to expire on April 30. The auction will start at 1 p.m. and is expected to last about two hours. The deadline for registration is April 15. More information is available at the sales office at 655 S. Hope St., Suite 1505, or at 655hopeauction.com.
Restaurant Guide Arrives Next Week
Suspected Bike Thief Caught in Sting Near Ralphs
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ext week, those who live, work and visit Downtown Los Angeles will get a comprehensive guide to the community’s dining options. On March 29, Los Angeles Downtown News will publish its annual Restaurant Guide. The 52-page publication, an advertising supplement to Downtown News, will feature more than 90 culinary destinations. This year’s Restaurant Guide will include a new key at the end of each listing that will feature all the crucial information diners need at a glance: weekend hours, delivery, catering, happy hour, entertainment options and more. Altogether, 80,000 copies of the Restaurant Guide will be printed; in addition to the 47,000 distributed with the March 29 issue, Guides will be available at popular Downtown locations such as hotels, retailers and restaurants. The guide can also be accessed online at downtownladining.com.
he trend of bike thieves getting caught in the act continued Friday, March 12, when the Los Angeles Police Department nabbed a man in a sting operation near Ninth and Hope streets. Matthew Mark Mellish, 28, was allegedly seen taking a bicycle that an undercover officer had left unlocked at a bike rack in front of the Ralphs supermarket; a bike had been reported stolen there two weeks before. Mellish rode away in front of a crowd of onlookers and was chased by a Central Division detective, who managed to kick the wheel. “Apparently, the thief hit his front brake too hard which brought the rear wheel over the front,” said Lt. Paul Vernon in a statement. “Obviously, he’s not a skilled rider.” Mellish, who was not injured in the crash, was arrested on a felony charge of petty theft with a prior conviction. His bail was set at $20,000. The sting came as the issue of bike theft has been rising in
Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?
photo by Gary Leonard
Thousands filled Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live on March 17 for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It replaced the annual Downtown parade, which was axed this year due to city budget issues.
Downtown; last year, the community saw a 58% spike in the crime over 2008. Recently, a group of messengers have captured multiple purported bike thieves. After being chased and caught, several suspects have been put through a public shaming ritual and were forced to strip down to their underwear.
Ninth and Hill Park Meeting This Week
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arlier this month, a group of Historic Core and South Park activists teamed with 14th District City Councilman José Huizar to apply for $6.6 million in grants to acquire land and create a park on a current parking lot at Ninth and Hill streets. This week, they hope to continue the momentum with a community meeting. The gathering, on Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. in the Wurlitzer Building (816 S. Broadway) is intended to demonstrate community support for the plan and to let area stakeholders know what comes next. The current proposal calls for the .7-acre park to include a stage, a kids’ play area and a walking path with fitness stations, among other amenities. The group, which began working on the park project about two years ago, has applied for $5 million in state Proposition 84 grants and $1.6 million in Quimby funds from the city Department of Parks and Recreations. Additional park plans are detailed at ninthandhillpark.com. For questions or informasee Around Town, page 9
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Downtown News 3
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Cleaning Up the Corridor
to grade exams, and started looking at Figueroa’s security reports. He circled the arrests and reports — in any given day, there were car burglaries, graffiti, broken windows, gang activity, and drug deals — and began to think about organizing the property owners and the businesses. “I went in to see Nick, and I said, ‘This is a problem. Why would anyone want to come down here to buy a car?’” Holter thought he could use skills he had developed as a former faculty and union organizer to rally the businesses and the property owners around a plan of revitalization. Shammas and Sample were supportive, and in 1997, Holter began to organize the Figueroa Business Improvement District.
The Formation of the Figueroa Corridor Partnership
D
arryl Holter took leave from his position as an associate professor at UCLA to help the family business after the L.A. riots of 1993. It was a grim time for fROM OUR ADvERTiSERS
both the Shammas businesses and the Figueroa Corridor where they were: Car sales were down, crime was up, and businesses were leaving the area. But in 1996, Holter and father-in-law Nick Shammas had a seminal meeting with the USC President, Steven B. Sample. Sample told Shammas and
Holter that some USC alumni felt uneasy about sending their kids to the university because of the neighborhood, and that some Trustees were advocating relocating the campus to another part of the county. Holter recalls his response. “I told him, ‘We’re in the same boat. I have a letter on my desk from General Motors that says, based on their studies of the average income in the areas around Felix Chevrolet, we should close the store and move it to the suburbs.’” Former academic that he was, Holter took out a red pen that he once used
Darryl Holter in 1996 when the BID was formed.
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EDITORIALS Returning Angels
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here is a popular phrase about hearing the sound of angels singing. While we would not go quite that far, the fact that Angels Flight is running again, more than nine years after it was shuttered, is especially good news for Downtown, though it has fans throughout the region. As everyone knows, the funicular closed on Feb. 1, 2001, following an accident that killed an 83-year-old man and injured seven others. That began a long, difficult and sometimes contentious process. Investigations were conducted, legal settlements were negotiated, safety systems were tested and tested again, and millions of dollars had to be raised before one could even think of reopening what is often dubbed
the shortest railway in the world. The return of Angels Flight brings both bottom-line and symbolic opportunities. On the former front, it facilitates the back and forth between Bunker Hill (the top of the railway) and the Historic Core (the bottom), meaning office workers now can ride down to Grand Central Market and points east, rather than take the 153 steps. This is especially helpful with summer approaching. The fact that the railway will be open seven days a week should lead to many trips to the bottom of the incline. Merchants in the market and elsewhere will likely see the benefits. The symbolic side may be even more important. A functioning Angels Flight gels with the revitalization that Downtown Los Angeles has enjoyed in the past decade. In the period between when Angels Flight closed and when it reopened, the
The Auction Option
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hese are difficult days for the local real estate and development community. A healthy handful of housing projects remain embroiled in bankruptcy. Some developments have halted in the middle of construction, while other proposed plans see a shrinking chance every day of ever making it to a groundbreaking. So it is somewhat bittersweet to hear the plans for the El Dorado, a 65-unit project at 416 S. Spring St. We say bittersweet because the developer, Downtown Properties, announced that 47 of the condominiums will
go on the auction block on April 25, which is sort of like a light at the end of the tunnel for a project people have been watching for a very long time. However, a development official noted that even if all the units sell, the project will still end up a money loser. This is certainly a hard fact to swallow for the developer, and may scare the heck out of the development and the lending communities. For the last couple years, there has been a realization that just getting to an opening and breaking even counts as the new version of success — just survive, baby. Now comes
a case where a developer will take a tolerable loss, and that loss will have to count as some level of “win.” Fortunately, this is a developer who already has scored a few successes in the community. Downtown Properties is driven by Goodwin Gaw, whose projects include the Douglas Building and the Rowan Lofts, both in the Historic Core. Other members of the development team have also been very active in the area, and this could be a case in which they realize that a single property that loses money may be worth accepting if it furthers the residential activity in the greater neighborhood. A money loser may be an ugly blot on the balance sheet, but that could turn out better than a building that sits empty and
The Downtown Speaker
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n Friday, March 12, a pretty cool thing happened in front of the Japanese American National Museum: John Pérez, who 11 days before in Sacramento had been sworn in as the new speaker of the state Assembly, held a second ceremony to mark his inauguration. The best part is that it took place just a short distance from his home. That’s right, the new speaker is a Downtown Los Angeles resident. When not in Sacramento — and yes, we understand that he will spend the lion’s share of his time there, and he should,
area saw the arrival of thousands of residents and the creation of hundreds of restaurants, bars and other businesses. No longer is Downtown dead after dark and on weekends — though the community still has room to grow, the corner of progress has been turned. A working Angels Flight echoes that movement. The cars shuttling up and down the track help generate a wider interest, energy and excitement. Certainly, nine years has been too long to wait, and the frustration expressed by many in Downtown over the lost time will not dissipate overnight. Now, however, there is a reason for a broad smile. As we say, the return of Angels Flight adds to the charm and the momentum of Downtown. It gives locals and tourists something iconic to photograph and experience. It is a strong step for the betterment of Downtown.
considering the state’s budget crisis — he might be seen on the streets and patronizing the businesses of Downtown. That’s why the selection of JANM was such a bright and inspiring move. Realistically, Pérez didn’t have to do anything here. Yet not only did he orchestrate an event that gave the area a prominent position, he used it to tout an announcement that he is cutting the Assembly’s budget by 15%. That amounts to pennies in a multi-billion dollar bucket, but it’s not a bad move from either a practical or symbolic perspective.
becomes a blight on the street. But that’s our point of view; we’re speculating about theirs. Whatever it is, we applaud them for moving forward. The opening of the El Dorado will be very good for the area. As a condominium development, the 12-story property will bring buyers who naturally become invested in improving the neighborhood. It will also be just north of where a new park is slated to open, and having active buildings adjacent to the coming community resource is important. This is a difficult position for Downtown Properties. We’re appreciative they are able to bring the El Dorado to market. Hopefully this will pay off for them, and for the rest of Downtown, in the long run.
Pérez brought a healthy swath of Los Angeles and of Downtown to the ceremony. In addition to his cousin, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, speakers included representatives from labor and from the Little Tokyo community. There was also a performance by students from Downtown’s new High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. It’s not unprecedented that someone with ties to the Downtown area has such a prominent position in the state hierarchy — Villaraigosa (among others) also once held the Speaker’s post. But it is nice to know that when he is not in the state capitol, we might find Pérez in our environs. We look forward to it, and if in (hopefully) bettering California he brings improvements to the community that voted for him, then that’s a bonus we’ll happily accept.
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 22, 2010
Downtown News 5
Opinion
The Readers Have Their Say Website Comments on Bike Messengers, Angels Flight, Billboards and More
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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, March 8, by Ryan Vaillancourt dorable that they are our local vigilantes. I love it! If I’m walking in a dark alley, I want those guys to be around to protect me. —posted by V, March 10, 3:16 p.m.
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ook at the statistics about how bicycle theft has been rising. It is inexcusable. When there are no consequences, then citizens take the law into their own hands. Why can’t police catch the bike thieves? Something is amiss here. —posted by Deborah Schankler, March 13, 5:19 a.m.
M
y bike was stolen in front of Macy’s in broad daylight and there were lots of people there I’m sure. They cut the cable and took off. What this group is doing is good, but it only takes one bad incident to screw everything up and they will get themselves into a pile of legal trouble. It’s only a matter of time, and when that happens the law will look at the messengers as the bad people, and that is why it will fail and the criminals will always win. How often do you see or hear police chasing after a person who has stolen a bike? You think the police force has the resources to even bother? —posted by Mike, March 15, 10:10 a.m. Regarding the March 15 editorial “Bike Messenger Activism Is a Dangerous Path” hen I had my bike stolen it took over two hours for the police to respond. Unless the LAPD starts demonstrating that stopping bike theft is a higher priority than
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10-GSH-009_DeliverMeADs_BW_2.0.qxd:10.25x7.625
issuing jaywalking tickets, cyclists will continue to have little faith in the police. —posted by Todd, March 15, 9:28 a.m.
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alling 911 does nothing but help to compile a statistic so that we will know by what percentage bike thefts will have increased at the end of the year. These people are making a difference doing what the police can’t: being all over the place, all the time. If a police officer can make the conscious decision to put himself in danger’s way to stop a crime and send a message, why shouldn’t anyone else be able to do the same? It is important to these people to do the right thing and protect the community they live in. Yeah, stripping kids to their boxers is over the top, but chasing and detaining suspects for the police and recovering stolen property to return to its rightful owners is admirable. I only wish I had the guts to join in when the time came. —posted by Steve, March 16, 3:33 a.m.
Regarding the editorial “Billboard Crackdown: Right Idea, Wrong Tactic,” posted online March 5 ou say Trutanich should have just issued a citation and then sent a marshal to supervise removal of the supergraphic. Unfortunately, the city has issued orders for the removal of numerous supergraphic signs, including earlier ones at the same location, and property owners and sign companies have either ignored the orders or gone to court to block them. In either case, the supergraphics stay up for months and even years, posing very real public safety hazards and ringing the cash registers for sign companies and property owners. If Truntanich’s approach was heavyhanded, it was also the first time a property owner has actually been forced to remove one of the signs from a building. —posted by Dennis Hathaway, March 6, 8:37 p.m.
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3/18/10
rutanich deserves plenty of blame, no doubt. But what “judge” approved such an absurd bail amount? Time to 12:07 PM
look at the independence, or lack of it, of that clown as well. —posted by Mark Creatura, March 7, 1:48 p.m.
Y
ou seem to be completely dismissing the safety issues. Did you happen to notice that this banner covered all the windows in this building? The windows are considered fire exits. How would the fire department rescue somebody with a ladder? You think the $1 million bail was too high? How much is a human life worth? By the way, were you there when the workers put this thing up? How do you know it won’t fall into traffic in a strong wind? There was no inspection, remember? —posted by Downtown Vibe, March 9, 8:41 a.m. Regarding the article “Angels Flight Resumes Service,” posted online March 15, by Richard Guzmán
M
y boyfriend and I started exploring more of Downtown L.A. almost a year ago and always wondered if we’d be able to catch a ride on Angels Flight, which, to us, looked like it hadn’t been used for years and years. Looks like we’ll finally get our chance! —posted by Holly Smith, March 15, 1:05 p.m.
F
inally! When I moved to L.A. about 13 years ago, I used to take the Metro to Downtown in the early evenings, buy a burrito at the taqueria across the street, ride Angels Flight up the hill and eat my burrito while watching the fountain go through its paces. Great fun. Now I can do that again! —posted by Chris Paley, March 15, 9:56 a.m.
T
his is so very cool! I remember riding Angels Flight when I was a li’l kid and again as a big kid during lunch hours. As a second generation Angeleno, Angels Flight is a piece of heart and soul of L.A. It is the greatest little railroad in the world. Kudos and major congrats to John Welborne and his dream team that made this possible! —posted by Mark Z., March 16, 11:16 a.m.
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Angels Payoff Crowds Come and Vendors Rejoice As Railway Reopens by Richard Guzmán city editor
W
hen Angels Flight returned to public service last week, officials with the railway breathed a sigh of relief. But for merchants in Grand Central Market, across from the base of the funicular, there was another, more welcome sound — that of cash registers ringing. “We had a line of 25 people on Tuesday; it was mostly people that had ridden Angels Flight,” said Michael Harding, an employee at the recently opened EJ’s Grill in Grand Central Market. The impact was immediate. John Welborne, the president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, said that 2,695 passenger rides were taken on Monday, March 15, the first day it was back in official operation. More than 10,000 rides were taken in the first week, he said. The two cars, Olivet and Sinai, will operate seven days a week from 6:45 a.m. until 10 p.m. A ride remains 25 cents, the same as when the funicular was shut down in 2001 following an accident that killed one person and injured seven others. Although he would not say what it will cost to operate Angels Flight, Welborne said the funds acquired through the 25-cent charge and other revenues, such as possible filming fees, would fall about 40% short of what is needed to make ends meet. “We’ll need to raise the difference and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep that 25-cent fare forever,” Welborne said. “We’ll keep it as long as we can.”
The Suits Arrive 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 a block from its original location. The railway closed on Feb. 1, 2001, after an accident killed 83-year-old Leon Praport. Numerous announced reopening dates were missed. The return to service came after the California Public Utilities Commission sent a letter on March 10 saying the funicular had passed its final safety tests. Angels Flight officials had previously worked out legal settlements related to the crash. In the long period of its closure, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes Angels Flight, had urged Metro to consider taking over the railway, a step the transportation agency did not pursue. While Perry said she is keeping the doors open with Metro regarding the future of Angels Flight, she said for now she is pleased. “I’m glad it’s open again and I hope that it does well,” she said. “I remembered when it opened the last time. People loved it. They came to rely on it to get up and down the hill.” Businesses are relying on it as well. Tropical Zone Ice Cream and Juice Bar, which sells drinks and sandwiches, sits directly across the street from Angels Flight at Grand Central Market. “It’s nice to see it active, but what’s better
After a nineyear closure, Angels Flight began taking passengers Saturday, March 13. The official reopening came two days later.
Up the Hill The discovery seems to go both ways. While Grand Central Market has seen more business from the corporate crowd up the hill, those who patronize shops on Broadway are also going in a different direction. Martha Renderos and her family are regular customers at the shops along Broadway. She said they have found little reason to venture anywhere else in Downtown. But on a recent afternoon, they spotted the cars moving and wandered over. “When did it open?” she asked an operator. “And how much is it?” After getting answers to both questions, she asked her two sons if they wanted to go for a ride. “It’s a little steep,” she said on the way up, looking nervous when the cars passed within inches of each other. Once at the top, they saw the fountain at the California Plaza Watercourt for the first time. They decided to explore the area. “Wow, it’s nice up here,” she said. “Let’s walk around.” Her family followed. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
is how many more people are coming here,” said employee Imelda Ramirez. She noted that the business was seeing up to 40 additional customers a day since the opening. At La Adelita, a Mexican restaurant and bakery inside the market, employee Ofelia Farias reported an approximately 5% increase in business with the cars back in operation. “Things got really bad when it first shut down and we lost a lot of business,” she said. “But now it’s back and we’re seeing things pick up a little.” Farias said it is easy to tell which customers are coming because of Angels Flight — they’re the ones wearing suits. Marcos Reyes is one of those suit-clad customers. An employee of a Bunker Hill law firm, he said he previously rarely made his way down the hill — and its 153 steps — unless he had to. “It was a choice of either dealing with traffic and paying for parking or walking those stairs, so usually I just chose to eat near my office,” he said as he sat at a table and ate a plate of Persian food. “But now it’s easy to get away for a bit and discover new places.”
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6 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
Downtown News 7
DowntownNews.com
Fifth and Main’s Affordable Future Pending Rosslyn Hotel Sale Raises Questions About Management of Skid Row Apartments by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR
T
he pending purchase of the Rosslyn Hotel by the nonprofit developer SRO Housing Corp. has some Downtown residents and business officials mulling the state of affordable housing in the Historic Core and beyond. The developer’s record of building and managing housing mostly for very low-income residents in Skid Row has sparked concern that an SRO Housing takeover of the Rosslyn could replace the building’s 264 units of affordable housing with apartments reserved for tenants with much lower incomes. The fear is not of having more low-income neighbors, said Russell Brown, executive director of the Historic Downtown Business Improvement District. Rather, he said, the neighborhood needs more mixed income housing to fill a gap between market rate lofts and extremely low rents in place at single room occupancy and permanent supportive housing projects. “Buildings like the Rosslyn… are critical components in a balanced neighborhood and options for folks who need affordable housing but want a transition to the middle class,” Brown said. Officials with SRO Housing, who did not attend the meeting, say their plan would maintain the same affordability mix now in place at the Rosslyn, which houses residents who make 60% or less of the Area Median Income. “We are not relocating or evicting anybody at any time,” said Joseph Corcoran, the developer’s director of planning and urban development. “This is a preservation deal for the city.” Still, there is a chance that a small portion of the Rosslyn could turn into market rate units, Corcoran said. The 1923 building at 112 W. Fifth St. is currently 89% occupied. With the empty units, SRO Housing would have “some flexibility” in lease levels, Corcoran said. The developer is currently in escrow to buy the property for $12 million, and SRO Housing remains in negotiations to secure a proposed $5 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency. Management Models The intersection in question is an anchor of a quickly changing neighborhood. Five years ago the corner was overrun by drug dealers, and homeless individuals often camped out on the surrounding blocks. Today, Fifth and Main is more notable for being a block south of the lively Old Bank District, and for the surrounding galleries, stores and restaurants. It is still also a hub for affordable housing, as much of the east side of Main Street is lined with residential complexes owned by SRO Housing or Skid Row Housing Trust. Brown called a town hall style meeting on March 16 to discuss the pending purchase. The approximately 25 low-income residents and other area stakeholders who showed up roundly lamented their experience living under Skid Row landlords. Some residents expressed security concerns, pointing toward the Feb. 19 raid of an apartment in SRO Housing’s Southern Hotel, where police found four firearms, brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia in an apartment. Brown said that heightened fears of the company’s potential role at the Rosslyn. “A lot of people have issues in these buildings and a lot of them aren’t really related to SRO’s purchase of the Rosslyn, but more importantly the management and issues in all the buildings,” Brown said. “So I thought it was important to go and vet the issues.” Several attendees complained about management policies common among Skid Row’s largest landlords — SRO Housing and Skid Row Housing Trust — including a prohibition on children and a mandated overnight guest fee. SRO Housing CEO Anita Nelson said she and her staff are evaluating the Rosslyn’s current management structure, and that it is too soon to know whether SRO will use the model it employs at its other buildings, or tweak it to fit the tenant mix at the Rosslyn. But she defended the guest fee policy and other rules meant to keep tabs on who is in their properties at any given time. “Many of the residents that we have in our housing are sick,” Nelson said. “They’re frail. They’re vulnerable and there are people waiting to take advantage of them. Many of our policies are in place in order to protect them. I’m not sure that’s the same population at the Rosslyn, so it may be totally different where you don’t have those vulnerable people that need that type of oversight.” Housing the Homeless Despite the criticism at the meeting, both SRO Housing Corp. and Skid Row Housing Trust have been lauded by a bevy of representatives of the public and private sector for developing hundreds of residential units for the chronically homeless. Both entities endeavor to pair the residences with onsite social services such as addiction counseling and medical resources. In contrast to some complaints presented at last week’s meeting — alleged chronic bed bug infestations, prohibi-
tions on air conditioning units, living in fear among known drug dealers in buildings — other residents of various single room occupancy buildings have portrayed their housing to Los Angeles Downtown News as comfortable havens from the chaotic streets of Skid Row. Across from the Rosslyn, Skid Row Housing Trust is gearing up to break ground March 30 on the New Genesis Hotel, a six-story affordable housing project that will be unique from most of its other buildings in that it will include a mixed income component: Twenty-five percent of its 106 units will be for individuals earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income. Most SRHT properties cater entirely to recently
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homeless individuals. The New Genesis, which includes ground-floor commercial spaces largely as a result of community input, will rise at 458 S. Main St. “The big thing with Main Street is these buildings have been providing affordable housing for a long time and it’s going to be controversial no matter what you do,” said Molly Rysman, director of special projects for SRHT. “If it’s all market rate, or if it’s all for homeless people, it’s going to be controversial.” Corcoran of SRO Housing said he expects escrow to close on the Rosslyn by June. The CRA is still considering its loan to help finance the purchase. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
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8 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
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What a Concept Downtown Takes a Prominent Role During Fashion Week by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
D
owntown will be strutting down the catwalk starting Monday, when it takes on a prominent role for Los Angeles Fashion Week. Three days of industry-only events will take place at the Springs Art Tower at 453 S. Spring St. Formally titled Concept, the March 22-24 gathering will be a combination of runway shows and installations featuring several well-known designers. It was organized by Downtown activist Brady Westwater and designer and photographer Mike Vensel.
While Concept is one of dozens of events that are part of the twice-yearly Los Angeles Fashion Week — an amalgamation of runway shows, presentations and installations that take place throughout the city from March 16-24 — its lineup of respected names and numerous shows gives it prominence, Vensel said. “It’s a major part of Fashion Week. We’re probably the largest set of shows this season,” he said. Westwater helped found Downtown Fashion Week in 2007. He also spearheaded the creation of the Downtown Fashion Walk last summer. He said the community, which is a hub of fashion design and manufacturing and employs tens of thousands, is a natural fit for this event. “Downtown is where the fashion industry is,” he said. Like many of the Fashion Week events, Concept is not open to the public. Some of the more than a dozen designers taking part include martinMARTIN, Fremont, The Battalion, Valerj Pobega, B. Scott, “Project Runway” alumnus John Sakalis and Vensel. “We’re doing a combination of runway shows and installa-
photo by Gary Leonard
Fashion Week returns to Downtown March 22-24, with runway shows and events at the Spring Arts Tower.
tions.” Vensel said. “ It will be three runway shows each night and four presentations each night. Our intention is to keep the tradition of L.A. Fashion Week alive and keep it on a high level.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com
Downtown News quarter page:Layout 1 3/16/2010 4:07 PM Page 1
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Around Town Continued from page 2 tion about the meeting, email Rick Morris at rmorris451@gmail.com.
Animals Seized in Illegal Pet Sale Arrest
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n arrest for animal cruelty in the Fashion District led to the seizure of 35 miniature rabbits, 79 turtles, one parrot and six iguanas, Central Division officials announced last week. An LAPD statement said that on Saturday, March 13, police working the Fashion District saw Demetrio Plumamena, 46, assembling cages on the sidewalk on the block of 1200 Wall St. Plumamena was initially arrested for illegal animal sales, and city Department of Animal Service officials were called in. They determined that the animals, intended for sale before Easter, were malnourished and that the cages were cramped. That led to a felony charge of animal cruelty, according to an LAPD release. The animals were turned over to Animal Services. “The biggest concern here is for the animals’ welfare and how they are treated,” Lt. Paul Vernon, the head of the Central Detectives Division, said in the statement. “But humans’ health and safety is also a concern because these animals can pass on disease.” In the past, numerous turtles seized on the streets of the Fashion District have been found to have salmonella.
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Downtown News 9
DowntownNews.com fans who arrive at Union Station a free ride to and from the game. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich recently announced that thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Mobile Sources Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, the buses will run from the train station directly to Dodger Stadium every 10 minutes before the start of the game and about every 30 minutes during the game. Buses will run until 45 minutes after the game ends. The Dodger Stadium Trolley was popular with fans when it debuted in 2008, with several stops between the stadium and Union Station. It was canceled for the 2009 season due to lack of funds.
Keith Jarrett Speaks Up
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enowned jazz and classical pianist Keith Jarrett, who built his reputation largely through a series of solo, improvised concerts, wowed a packed house at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Monday, March 15. The 65-year-old entertained the audience not only with his piano playing, which includes his signature audible moaning, but with plenty of stage banter. “I remember when people used to line up to see new things,” he quipped. “Now they’re lining up to see old things.” At one point, Jarrett suggested that his followers were not so much part of a subculture as they were “subterranean.” Throughout the course of the evening, he took a couple playful jabs at the crowd for coughing a bit too much, and on his way back to the piano after one of several encores, he chastised someone taking a photo and wondered aloud how these days everyone has a camera and yet few seem to master the craft. “Mastery,” Jarrett said. “Now there’s a word you don’t hear much anymore.” He then looked over at the piano, which few would argue he has indeed mastered.
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888-583-0981 portraits of multiracial KiDs by Kip fulbecK Through SepTember 26, 2010
Artist Kip Fulbeck returns with his newest collection of work. This family-friendly exhibition offers a playful yet powerful perspective on contemporary American identity and an opportunity to celebrate just being yourself. For a detailed schedule of activities, visit janm.org/exhibits/mixed.
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10 Downtown News
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Eyesores Continued from page 1 location (many are surrounded by redevelopment) could become another boasting point, if only someone invested in it. Instead, they all sit unused, waiting for a turnaround, whether of their owner’s volition, or from community pressure. Here, in alphabetical order, are the worst offenders, as well as what could be their next steps. BROADWAY DUO Location: 350-356 S. Broadway Eyesore Factor: A pair of adjacent buildings at the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Broadway have stood empty and gutted since a 2007 fire. At least one of the structures was designed by City Hall architect John Parkinson circa 1900. At the time of the fire, an official with preservationist organization the Los Angeles Conservancy told the Los Angeles Times that the buildings’ destruction was “one of the most significant losses to that district in recent memory.” Owner Eli Sasson of Sassony Commercial Real Estate Development submitted an application to demolish the buildings — which sit on a street teeming with pedestrians — more than a year ago, said his attorney Barry Gross, but was denied because he did not have a plan for replacing the buildings and so that the city could conduct a required historic assessment of the properties before they could be torn down. What’s Next?: Sasson expects to obtain demolition approval this year, said Gross. The
owner is working on a new plan for the site that would consist of a multi-story building with ground-floor retail and a yet-to-bedetermined component on the upper floors. There is no timeline. CIVIC CENTER PIT Location: First Street, just west of City Hall Eyesore Factor: This often graffiti-covered, cement rectangle immediately west of City Hall and north of the Times building has long been a blight spot in the heart of the Civic Center. The state-owned property near the glossy new LAPD headquarters once held a state office building, which was razed after suffering damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. It was targeted for a new office-retail project in the 1980s, but that deal fell apart after the Downtown office market turndown of the early ’90s. The property has since housed a homeless encampment (later cleaned out), and in the last several years has served as prime real estate for taggers, with officials being slow to whitewash it. What’s Next?: The state Department of General Services expects to produce a report on options for the site, said DGS spokesman Eric Lamoureux. The report will analyze the cost and feasibility of possibilities such as constructing government office space there, leasing the land to a developer or selling it. There is no timeline for when a plan might move forward. COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE BUILDING Location: 416 W. Eighth St. Eyesore Factor: This shuttered, 13-story property at the southwest corner of Eighth and Olive streets occupies a key location on the
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border of the Fashion District and South Park. It stands across the street from the Bristol Hotel, which is currently being renovated, and businesses including the Italian restaurant Colori Kitchen and the Golden Gopher bar. The building, designed by prominent architects Walker and Eisen, has been owned for more than eight years by the Kianmahd family and its partners, according to title documents. Previous renovation plans were thwarted by infightphoto by Gary Leonard ing among partners and later, Giannini Place, a city-designated historic landmark at Seventh the economy, said co-owner and Olive streets, has sat vacant for more than a decade. It is one of three derelict Downtown properties owned by the Chetrit Group. Bruce Kianmahd. What’s Next?: There are no current development plans for the building, $314 million to build a federal courthouse said Kianmahd. The ownership group may on the property; the structure would have insell the property or explore redevelopment cluded 41 courtrooms, judges’ chambers and options once the economy improves. office space for federal agencies. However, the plan stalled in 2007 after the project’s EMBASSY HOTEL AND AUDITORIUM budget skyrocketed to $1 billion. The U.S. Location: 851 S. Grand Ave. General Services Administration then went Eyesore Factor: This eight-story, 1913 back to the drawing board, and there has building, originally known as the Trinity been no movement on the property since. Auditorium, is a city-designated historic land- Meanwhile, in the recent rains the hole bemark owned by the New York-based Chetrit came a mini-lake, complete with greenish Group. The building was previously owned water and garbage-strewn banks. and used as a dormitory by the University What’s Next?: The courthouse proposal of Southern California, but has stood vacant remains on hold while officials rework the since the mid-1990s. In 2005 the owner-devel- plan, said GSA regional public affairs officer opers announced a $30 million plan to trans- Gene Gibson. There is no timeline for startform the property into an upscale hotel, but ing construction. the operator later dropped out. Last summer, the Chetrits submitted a different hotel plan to GARFIELD BUILDING the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission. The Location: 403 W. Eighth St. property is just north of the Fashion Institute Eyesore Factor: This 1929 building, deof Design and Merchandising and a block east signed by architect Claud Beelman (who of the Ralphs supermarket. also designed Downtown’s turquoise Eastern What’s Next?: Plans to turn the building into Columbia Building), is not only a city-desiga hotel are still moving forward, said a con- nated Historic-Cultural Monument, but also sultant, though the proposal is in the design occupies a slot on the National Register of phase and there is no current timeline for Historic Places. The 12-story, Art Deco-style completion. former office structure at the northwest corner of Eighth and Hill streets boasts unique FEDERAL COURTHOUSE SITE visual flourishes, such as an ornate entrance Location: First Street and Broadway awning with a sunburst pattern on its unEyesore Factor: A prime 3.6-acre plot that derside. Brothers Shlomo, Yoab and Sammy once held a state office building is now a Botach, along with several partners, have fenced-off hole. Congress had appropriated owned the property since 1991. The building
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Downtown News 11
DowntownNews.com Attias said, but details have not been disclosed and there is no timeline for the project.
photo by Gary Leonard
Plans have stalled for a new federal courthouse in Downtown since the project’s budget soared to $1 billion. When it rains, the hole at First Street and Broadway becomes a mini-lake.
has remained vacant that entire time. A $10 million plan to convert it into housing was scrapped because of budget issues, said Sammy Botach. What’s Next?: The owners plan to embark on a $6 million-$7 million renovation to make the property a functioning office building, Sammy Botach said, but there is no timeline. GIANNINI PLACE Location: 649 S. Olive St. Eyesore Factor: This city-designated Historic-Cultural Monument, erected in 1922, has stood empty for more than a decade. The lavish 12-story building at the northwest corner of Seventh and Olive streets once served as the headquarters for the Bank of Italy (the precursor to Bank of America), according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. The structure, located near a slew of recently opened restaurants along Seventh Street, is shuttered and is often scwrawled with graffiti. A few years ago the Chetrit Group, which owns the building, announced plans to turn it into more than 100 condominiums, but Chetrit representative Michel Attias said those plans have been scrapped because of the economy. What’s Next?: A new plan for the property is in the works,
HALL OF JUSTICE Location: 210 W. Temple St. Eyesore Factor: A 14-story landmark that once housed a jail, the coroner’s office and the District Attorney’s office has stood vacant since being damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The 1925 structure in the Civic Center has been empty since a renovation was halted in 2004 when questions arose over the extent of the damage and the cost to fix it. County officials have said that the price to restore the building could reach as high as $300 million. Still, there has been recent movement: The County Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 1 to initiate a new study that will analyze the feasibility of restoring the property, and officials indicated the renovation price could have dropped. What’s Next?: The supervisors expect to receive the feasibility report soon, said Tony Bell, communications deputy for Supervisor Mike Antonovich. After that, the county would likely solicit bids from contractors to carry out the renovations. Timing would depend on the estimated budget once a course of action is selected, Bell said. HOTEL CLARK Location: 426 S. Hill St. Eyesore Factor: This 11-story, long-vacant former hotel stands on Hill Street just south of Fourth Street, where it occupies a prominent plot near Pershing Square and the residential projects Metro 417 and the Title Guarantee Lofts. The building, once owned by the People’s Republic of China, is also part of the Chetrit Group’s portfolio; the company has controlled it since the late 1990s. Two years ago, Chetrit officials said that like the Embassy, the Clark would be turned into a boutique hotel. No work has been seen at the site since. What’s Next?: The owners have not disclosed any current plans for the property. L.A. CENTRAL Location: Figueroa and 11th streets Eyesore Factor: A four-acre parcel between L.A. Live and the Palm restaurant served until recently as a parking lot, but now sits fenced off. The property had been slated to hold
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12 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
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DOWNTOWN LIVING What’s in My Loft? Downtown Dwellers Share Their Style, Lives and Four Things They Treasure by jessica hamlin
George Sebastian and Alex Streinz, San Fernando Building
photo by Gary Leonard
Classy Reinvention Means No Death in Burbank
One morning, George Sebastian woke up and told his partner Alex Streinz, “I don’t want to die in Burbank.” So five years ago the two Disney employees — George is director of paid television and interactive media; Alex is an executive assistant for Adventures by Disney — sold a majority of the wares from their home of 15 years and moved Downtown. They said they like the community and walkability, and have created a classy space that reuses old pieces and highlights their decorating and artistic talents. The U-shaped loft gives the illusion of rooms, as do shadowbox shelves that flank the walls between the living and dining areas. 1. Our old furniture from the Burbank house is what you would have if an old lady from South Beach threw up. We could see the
look of disdain as we moved the furniture in the loft. One day in Z Gallerie we came across a white leather chair with wooden legs, and even though we would have never naturally gone for that we knew that was what we should build our decor around. 2. I wanted to go to the Sorbonne for art but ended up going for architecture. I created these framed wall pieces using rows of gold and silver leaf. In the hallway, I used brown and black paint to cover canvases that were some of my previously created pieces, so that is why some of them have different textures. There were two blank canvases on the ground and Alex suggested we get them out of the way and hang them up while they awaited use, and they just stayed blank and we now have this sort of installation.
3. I like to reinvent old pieces. Our TV stand is an old Art Deco buffet, and our old TV stand is our kitchen island. George painted it black and hung a mirror on the side that used to face the wall. An old wooden dresser of George’s works really well as a buffet. People say, “You have a bench in your bathroom?” But it works and we have the space. 4. In the ’80s I lived near the Samuel Freeman Frank Lloyd Wright house and would occasionally help Sam with his wife since she was an invalid. As a thank you, he gave me two small round tables that had been made for him. He said the tabletops had been gongs, but I don’t know. The wood rotted away so I used the tabletops as wall hangings. see What’s in My Loft?, page 13
March 22, 2010
Downtown News 13
Downtown Living
What’s in My Loft?
Continued from page 12
Bob Lee, San Fernando Building
photo by Gary Leonard
Industrial Strength Living With Salvage Yard Finds
When Bob Lee, director of client relations for wall-covering company Wolf-Gordon, moved from New York, he wanted a loft that continued his urban lifestyle. He was drawn to the San Fernando Building at Fourth and Main streets, which sported earthy tones and exposed wiring. Lee said he likes that the loft is unlike a traditional residence because it allows him to decorate differently. Outfitting his Downtown space included trips to salvage yards where he stumbled across old car parts and materials that found new life in his home. 1. It’s nice to reuse old stuff, even if you don’t reuse it for what it was intended for, like this building. When I went shopping for a dining room table most furniture was boring and didn’t appeal to me, so I thought maybe I can put something together that looks like it was designed for the loft. I was looking for concrete [for the top] and visited salvage yards for the I-beam metal base. I found a mountain of engine crankshafts and immediately thought, “That’s a really practical piece and has an intrinsic value.” I had my motorcycle mechanic create a side table from it. 2. Old postcards mounted on canvas in the entryway welcome you into the loft. My father was a civil engineer and designed dams, so I was around things like that. The postcards have a theme of dams, electromechanical objects and the Grand Canyon. I’m not an artist, but I painted slightly different patterns with black paint on the canvases behind them. 3. I bought this large streetlight from a Silver Lake antique store, made a mount for it, wired it and coordinated it to music. You can’t get away with putting a stoplight in a house. 4. I like to experiment with cooking and baking. I went to a restaurant supply store for a kitchen prep table with power sources so I can have all my appliances out and plugged in. I have a Kitchen Aid mixer, blender, coffee maker and juicer. I’m addicted to espresso so I got a good industrial espresso maker.
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14 Downtown News
Downtown Living
March 22, 2010
What’s in My Loft?
Continued from page 13
photos by Gary Leonard
Vanessa Coleman, SB Lofts A Design Background Leads to Shine and Glamour Vanessa Coleman’s former interior design career and model home work proved especially helpful when she moved to the SB Lofts two years ago. She learned to keep only what she needed and make a space look good on the first try.
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Her modern, traditional loft is roomy and elegant, furnished mostly with pieces she bought wholesale when she was a designer. Originally from Oklahoma, the Brookfield Properties space design analyst said she enjoys the historic structures outside her window, including the Mercantile and Pacific Electric buildings.
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1. Garment racks have been my savior; I don’t know how people in Downtown live without them. I don’t have a closet, but I also used them to divide the space.
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2. The few pieces of coral are from a former decorating job in Mexico. I bought a ton of coral here for the house and was then told it was illegal to export it, so I had a ton left. Most of the other accessories are from Home Goods. I applied these silver floral wall stickers from Ikea and painted some of them gold to pick up the gold in some of the decor.
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3. I like the exposed ceilings and the brick walls because the rest of the place is shiny [like the polished concrete, chrome stainless steel appliances and accessories].
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4. I put up nice curtains to close off my bedroom so when people are at the dining table my bed isn’t just right there. It also creates another space.
For more information, or to design your own project, visit www.slidingdoorco.com see What’s in My Loft?, page 15
March 22, 2010
Downtown News 15
Downtown Living
What’s in My Loft?
Continued from page 14
Sam Walbuck and Brooke Tollefson, Continental Building Worlds Come Together in a Small Space Lamar Advertising Project Manager Sam Walbuck was born in Liberia, and his family lived as refugees for two years on the Ivory Coast, until they escaped civil war and moved to Boise, Idaho, when he was 12. He met his girlfriend, Brooke Tollefson, while visiting friends in California. The two moved to Rancho Cucamonga for six months before migrating Downtown last October. Tollefson, who is studying interior design at FIDM, wanted to live in a building with historical significance. The Continental, for example, has been hailed as L.A.’s first skyscraper with architectural character. 1. We love the ceiling height and massive windows. This is the smallest place we’ve ever lived in, but it doesn’t feel that way. The 500 Days of Summer hill is right outside our window. We love when the sun reflects off the glass of the buildings and at night the lights are beautiful. If we have people over they’re always huddled around the window with a glass of wine. 2. We were budget-driven, so we focused on how we can use what we have. This is pretty much all the furniture I had in Oregon but it works. We love these leather Drake Barrelback chairs from Restoration Hardware.
photo by Gary Leonard
3. We like to travel, and I brought home this double ikat wall hanging — a very different textile — made in the oldest village in Bali. It’s vegetable dyed and completely natural. The patterns are very significant and textile scientists study the process of how ikats are made. When I was in Fiji I got an iron and wood, handcarved war club for Sam. 4. People ask if our telescope is real or if it’s just decor, but it’s real. Conditions aren’t usually right for stargazing and there’s so much light from the buildings at night, but we can look at some local sights with it. see What’s in My Loft?, page 16
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16 Downtown News
Downtown Living
March 22, 2010
What’s in My Loft?
Continued from page 15
Robert Vargas, Bartlett Building Color and Culture in a Funky, Personal Museum Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Robert Vargas has long been familiar with Downtown. As a child, his mother worked at Clifton’s Cafeteria and Bullock’s at Seventh Street and Broadway. When he looked at the Bartlett Building five years
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ago, he knew he needed to be where the energy was and feel the pulse of the city. Vargas, formerly the talent buyer for the Conga Room, has shown his paint and charcoal figurative works in numerous Downtown galleries. His loft reflects his newfound interest with colorful, cultural pieces. Vargas describes his home as a funky, eye-catching museum. 1. As an artist, nothing beats the lighting from the huge windows. They also clear the tree hedges outside so without any effort I can incorporate greenery. 2. I’ve picked up things through travel. All the pieces I collect I don’t look at as possessions. They’ve existed for centuries. More like I’m caretaking for the next generation. I shipped the terra cotta warriors on either side of the bed (replicas of the warrior statues found buried with the first Chinese emperor) from China. They are generals standing guard over the spiritual world as I sleep. I also got an antique Chinese pillow when I was there. My Bakora rug is 150 years old; I got that in London. I collect a lot of world art, like Indian miniature paintings. 3. I painted all the walls. The gradation of pink on one wall echoes the pink gradation in the Japanese block paintings hanging on it. I applied sheets of gold leaf on the wall behind the bed and then painted a cherry blossom branch over some of it. It’s a work in progress and a labor of love.
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4. To divide the room, I suspended a mirror from the ceiling. It doesn’t obscure any windows and is offcenter for feng shui purposes.
March 22, 2010
Downtown News 17
Downtown Living
The Downtown Living Guide Where to Buy Groceries, See Movies, Pick Up Pet Supplies and More by Kathryn Maese and Kristin Friedrich contributing writers
T
he Downtown Living Guide is your go-to resource for the basics in your neighborhood. Whether you want to get an old-school shave and shine, throw a kid’s birthday party, take your pet to the vet or buy groceries, this list is the place to start your search. Not everything is included, of course, but it’ll familiarize you with the A-Z of Downtown services. The rest is up to you. So stick it on the fridge and order up a pizza.
GROCERIES Bunker Hill Market & Deli 800 W. First St., (213) 624-1245 Open Sun.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 7 a.m.-midnight. Basic grocery goods including beer, wine and spirits. They’ll deliver Downtown for $5. Famima Cal Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite R-2B, (213) 628-4000 Open Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. City National Plaza, 505 S. Flower St., B-level, Suite 520, (213) 623-3236 Open Mon.-Fri. 5 a.m.-9 p.m. 800 S. Figueroa St., Suite 101, (213) 624-7700 Open Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat. 6 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.10 p.m. 700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite A, (213) 622-2006 Open Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 525 W. Sixth St., (213) 629-5100 Open Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.-12 a.m. 727 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-7334 Open Mon.-Fri. 5 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat. 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. This now-ubiquitous convenience store has sandwiches, salads, Japanese savories and an impressive magazine selection. Visit famima-usa.com. Fresh & Easy 1025 E. Adams Blvd., (213) 765-0918 or freshandeasy.com Open daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Newly opened at the corner of Central Avenue and Adams
Boulevard, just about 2.5 miles from the Ralphs Fresh Fare in South Park. An array of ready meals and produce in addition to supermarket staples. Grand Central Market 317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or grandcentralsquare.com Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Stroll the produce and food stalls, butcher counter and spice vendors in this historic and colorful open-air market. There’s also a liquor store. One hour free parking with $10 purchase. Joe’s Downtown Market (Toy Factory Lofts) 1855 Industrial St., (213) 612-0248 Open daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Snacks, drinks, gourmet items, soy cheese, an ATM and some downright fancy booze on the ground floor of the Toy Factory Lofts. LAX-C 1100 N. Main St., (323) 343-9000 or lax-c.com Open Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. A sort of “Thai Costco” near Chinatown, with everything from bulk produce to fresh seafood to kitchen supplies. The website’s listed here, but don’t bother. It’s better to walk in, and make sure to check out the food vendors in the parking lot when you do. Little Tokyo Market Place 333 S. Alameda St., (213) 617-0030 Open daily at 8 a.m. Organic produce, meats and products — like a Whole Foods, but cheaper. Free parking with validation. Marukai Market 123 S. Onizuka St., (213) 893-7200 or marukai.com Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sun. 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Boxed bento meals, a fun beauty supply scene, basic sundries and that staple of every Japanese grocery, cute snacks. Old Bank District Market 409 S. Main St., (213) 680-9000 Open daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Basic groceries, wine, a new coffee bar and a deli. It’s a gathering place for local residents and a spot to pick up the latest gossip.
photo by Gary Leonard
The Ralphs Fresh Fare is open seven days a week and boasts a deli, fresh sushi, dry cleaning, a florist and a smart wine guy.
Ralphs Fresh Fare 645 W. Ninth St., (213) 452-0840 or ralphs.com Open daily 5 a.m.-2 a.m. A beautiful supermarket with a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a deli, fresh sushi, dry cleaning, florist and a smart wine guy. Keep an eye out for the sales, and if you’ve figured out how to navigate the self-service checkout line gracefully, let me know. Validated parking accessible from Hope and Flower streets. DRUG STORES/PHARMACIES CVS Pharmacy 1050 W. Sunset Blvd., (213) 975-1200 or cvs.com Open 24 hours This well-stocked store offers a pharmacy, cosmetics and spirits. It also has that rare L.A. occurrence — a parking lot. Rite-Aid 500 S. Broadway, (213) 623-5820 or riteaid.com Open Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 600 W. Seventh St., (213) 896-0083 or riteaid.com Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Drug store necessities and toiletries, plus good deals on wine.
Uptown Drug & Gift Shop 444 S. Flower St. #100, (213) 612-4300 or uptowndrugandgiftshop.com Open weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Traditional pharmacy with personal attention, screenings and prescription delivery. HOSPITALS California Hospital Medical Center 1401 S. Grand Ave., (213) 748-2411 or chmcla.org Good Samaritan Hospital Los Angeles 1225 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 977-2121 or goodsam.org Healthcare Partners 1025 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 623-2225 or healthcarepartners. com St. Vincent Medical Center 2131 W. Third St., (213) 484-7111 or stvincentmedicalcenter. com Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital 2400 S. Flower St. (213) 742-1000 or orthohospital.org see Living Guide, page 18
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*See preferred BOA lender for more information. Terms and conditions apply. This is not an offer to sell, but is intended for information only. The developer reservesthe right tomake modifications in materials, specifications, floorplans, designs, pricing, scheduling and delivery of homes without prior notice. This is not a loan commitment, nor is it a guarantee of any kind.
18 Downtown News
Downtown Living
March 22, 2010
Free delivery and several gourmet options. Pitfire Pizza 108 W. Second St., (213) 808-1200 or pitfirepizza.com Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free delivery and individual gourmet pizzas, pasta, salads and sandwiches. Purgatory Pizza 1326 E. First St., (323) 262-5310 or eatpurgatorypizza.com Open Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 6-11 p.m. Rustic, handmade pizzas from a quirky crew. Dine in or they’ll deliver. Rocket Pizza 122 W. Fourth St., (213) 687-4992 or rocketpizzalounge.com Open Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat. noon-12 a.m.; and Sun. noon-10 p.m. Free delivery with $10 minimum purchase, which alleviates guilt when you’ve ordered a pizza with scrambled eggs and cheese on it.
Living Guide Continued from page 17 PIZZA DELIVERY Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria 657 S. Flower St., (213) 627-5556 or 36pizza.com Open weekdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. They boast the largest deliverable pizza in the world — it’s 54” by 54”. Delivery until 6 p.m. Domino’s 545 S. Olive St., (213) 623-2424 or dominos.com Open daily 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Free delivery and basic pies. Los Angeles Pizza Company 712 N. Figueroa St., (213) 626-5272 or losangelespizzacompany.com Open Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
MOVIE THEATERS/RENTALS Angel City Drive-In 240 W. Fourth St., second floor, angelcitydrivein.com
photo by Gary Leonard
Kids have an indoor playground at the Little Barn in City West.
See website for schedule. Plenty of cult and quirky screenings. Bring your own chair and blanket. BYOB as well. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com The film and event facility in the former Imaginasian Center, with indie flicks, readings, talks and plenty of movies. Old Bank DVD 400 S. Main St., (213) 613-9654 or oldbankdvd.com Open Sun.-Thurs. noon-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. noon-midnight Newly expanded space with art house, classics, foreign, independent and new releases on the shelves. Candy and really cool owners who will order or help you find just about anything and, if asked nicely, bring your movie out to the car if parking is a no-go. (Entrance is on Fourth Street.) Regal Cinemas L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com A state-of-the-art complex with 14 new screens, including a “premiere house”with 800 seats. Several theaters have 3D capabilities.
Love to Dine Out? Everything you need to know before you’re seated. NING REFERENCE
YOUR ESSENTIAL DI
2 0 1 0
HOT OFF THE PRESS FOR 2010!
E INSID restaurant
Detailed profiles on everything from landmark classics to new favorites in and around Downtown L.A.
90026 I Los A CA, T C I Angeles, W. L 1264 B Street, U First P
1264 W. First Street,
• 213.481. S N 1448 O
1448 90026 • 213.481. Los Angeles, CA,
A comprehensive guide to restaurants in and around Downtown Los Angeles. An excellent reference for your office, car and home. 1264 W. 1st Street,
• 213.481.1448 Los Angeles, CA, 90026,
Look for it next week with the March 29 issue of the Los Angeles Downtown News.
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KIDS Bob Baker Marionette Theater 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com Open Tues.-Fri. at 10:30 a.m.; Sat.-Sun. 2:30 p.m. An L.A. institution, this 50-year-old puppet palace offers colorful shows that kids will adore. Also popular for parties. Little Barn 130 S. Beaudry Ave., (213) 481-2276 or littlebarn.org Open weekdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. private events. Spacious indoor playground offering play time, classes and parties inside a cute little red barn. PET SERVICES Bark Avenue 545 S. Main St., (213) 748-7485 or barkavela.com Open weekdays 7 a.m-7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m-7 p.m. Daily “playcare,” training, grooming, boarding, pick-up/drop-off and yes, canine party planning. DSN Vet Clinic 3016 S. Hill St., (213) 493-4435 or dsnpetrx.com Open weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In partnership with Bark Avenue, they offer spay/neuter, an online pharmacy, emergency and walk-in service. Lofty Dog 525 S. Hewitt St., (213) 617-2275 or loftydog.beepeez.com Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. noon-5 p.m.; closed Sundays in the fall Grooming, doggie daycare, indoor dog park and a boutique in 7,000 square feet. They’ll board 24/7 after a temperament test (for the dog, not you). Muttropolitan 408 E. Second St., (213) 626-8887 or muttropolitanla.com Open Tues.-Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. This Little Tokyo salon for pets includes self-service pet wash stations and drop offs. Pet Project 400 S. Main St., #7B, (213) 595-4225 or petproject-losangeles.com A pet supply delivery service with low prices and free delivery in Downtown. Pussy & Pooch 564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or pussyandpooch.com Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Upscale pet boutique with grooming services, unique products and pet furniture, plus the Pawbar for pet meals. DRY CLEANING/TAILORS Bowers & Sons Cleaners 2509 S. Central Ave., (213) 749-3237 or bowersandsonscleaners.com Open Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Family-owned business with professional service and frequent specials. Bunker Hill Cleaners 801 W. First St., Suite 102, (213) 680-0973 Open Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Located in the Bunker Hill Towers complex, it’s quick and convenient. Eddie’s Tailor Shop 115 E. Eighth St., (213) 614-1144 or eddiestailorshop.com Open daily. Tailor your designer jeans, shirts and suits. Same-day service.
Monte Carlo Cleaners 225 W. Eighth St., (213) 489-9400 Open Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. noon-4 p.m. Organic dry cleaning, fluff and fold with lifesaving delivery options and housekeeping services. S&H Cleaners 511 S. Spring St., (213) 626-2891 Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Cheap, family run, and the owners are known to give a bottle of Chuck Shaw to the regulars come Christmas. Sloan’s Dry Cleaners 300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-0205 330 S. Hope St., (213) 620-1622 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 627-5123 Call for hours. This chain has been Downtown forever, servicing the corporate crowd. Tokyo Cleaners 426 E. Second St., (213) 628-2474 Open weekdays 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A friendly, family-run operation inside Honda Plaza. Validated parking. Urban Life Cleaners 1010 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 785-5132 Open weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Eco-friendly dry cleaning, laundry, shoe/purse repair, sewing and alterations. SHOE REPAIR Shoe Care & Dry Cleaners 543B S. Olive St., (213) 624-3440 Open weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Across from Pershing Square, two services in one. Shoe Wiz Instant Shoe Repair 514 W. Sixth St., (213) 688-9699 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 689-0050 Repairs on heels and boots, plus dye jobs, polishing and overnight work. SALONS/SERVICES Bolt Barbers 501 S. Spring St., (213) 232-4715 or boltbarbers.com Open Mon.-Wed. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 8 a.m.-midnight. Get your shave, shear and shine at the first new barbershop to open Downtown in 50 years. Candolyn’s 350 S. Grand Ave., D-9, (213) 625-7895 or candolyn.com Open Mon.-Wed. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday by appointment. Hair, nails and massage facing the California Plaza Watercourt. Jacqueline’s Salon 108 W. Second St., (213) 617-7911 or jacquelinessalon.com Open Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-close (also by appointment) A full-service salon in Downtown for 18 years. Nail Service 244 E. First St., (213) 626-0315 Open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nail and spa services, face treatments, lash extensions and 3D nail art in both gel and acrylic. Validated parking in garage on Second Street. Neihule 607 S. Olive St., (213) 623-4383 or neihule.com Open Mon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tues. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. A high-end, full-service salon across from Pershing Square decked out in mod white. Internet service. Morning appointments starting at 6 a.m. Salon on Main 403 S. Main St., (213) 626-4247 Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Hair, nails, make up (temporary and permanent), facials, waxing and hair extensions. Rudy’s Barber Shop 550 S. Flower St., (213) 439-3058 or rudysbarbershop.com Open Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The Downtown Standard hotel’s in-house barber shop. Salon Eleven 420 W. 11th St., (213) 744-9944 or salon-eleven.com Open Wed.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; most other days 9 a.m.-8 p.m. A hip, upbeat salon in South Park. Salon on 6 548 S. Spring St., Suite 111, (213) 623-5033 or salonon6.com Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Salon and day spa in the Historic Core. Salon Pure 117 E. Sixth St., (213) 624-7873 or salonpurela.com Open weekdays 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cuts, color, nails and waxing at the Santa Fe Lofts. Yolanda Aguilar Beauty Institute & Spa 735 S. Figueroa St. (7+Fig shopping center), Suite 100, (213) 687-6683 or yabeauty.com Open weekdays 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. More than four decades in the beauty business, with everything from facials to massages to body wraps. FURNITURE/HOME GOODS Cleveland Art 523 S. Hewitt St., (310) 940-4134 or clevelandart.com Open Mon.-Tues. by appt.; Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Industrial machinery and surplus recycled as cool design for the office, home and retail. Loft Appeal 903 S. Hill St., (213) 629-9105 or loftappeal.com Open Mon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Modern, retro and unique film-set furnishings at reasonable prices. see Living Guide, page 21
Downtown News 19
Downtown Living photo by Gary Leonard
March 22, 2010
Pitfire Pizza offers a large space at Second and Main streets, and also delivers. El Dorado_DowntownLiving_halfpgisland__ 3/18/10 11:37 PM Page 1
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20 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
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5 4 0 S. C o m m o n w e a lt h av e n u e • l o S a n g e l e S , C a l i f o r n i a 9 0 0 2 0 Pilgrim School is a division of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles w w w. p i l g r i m - s c h o o l . o r g • ( 2 1 3 ) 3 5 5 - 5 2 0 4
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Downtown News 21
Downtown Living photo by Gary Leonard
March 22, 2010
Living Guide Continued from page 19 Raw Materials 436 S. Main St., (213) 627-7223 or rawmaterialsla.com Open Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Art supplies and custom fine art framing. The security dog is a Shih Tzu named Wonton who sleeps in the display window. (Sub) Urban Home 101 W. Fifth St., (213) 243-5881 or suburban-la.com Open Mon. by appointment; Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. noon-6 p.m. Modern designs and shapes combined with expert craftsmanship. Sweet Smiling Home 1317 Palmetto St., (213) 687-9630 or sweetsmilinghome.com Open to the public for special sales and events. Register on the website. Home furnishings and accessories from Indonesia and China. POLICE/BID CONTACTS Central Division 251 E. Sixth St., (213) 485-3294; call (877) 275-5273 to report non-emergency crimes. This LAPD division, helmed by Capt. Todd Chamberlain, covers Downtown. Central City East Association 725 S. Crocker St., (213) 228-8484 or centralcityeast.org This BID covers the Toy and Industrial districts. It also organizes monthly community walks on Skid Row. Chinatown BID Red Patrol (213) 629-0466, press 7; BID office (213) 680-0243 or chinatownla.org The BID’s Red Patrol keeps Chinatown’s streets safe and clean. Downtown Center BID 626 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 624-2146; after hours (213) 624-2425 or downtownla.com This is Downtown’s largest BID, covering the Central Business District. Its purple-clad officers will help with security, cleanup and any other questions when you don’t know who to call. Fashion District BID 110 E. Ninth St., A-1175, (213) 741-2661 for 24-hour public safety assistance or fashiondistrict.org The yellow-garbed Clean and Safe Team patrols the bustling Fashion District on bike and via cruisers. Figueroa Corridor Partnership BID 3982 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-9577; service hotline (213) 746-3444 or figueroacorridor.org This organization covers the area just south of Downtown, including Exposition Park and USC.
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Grand Tower
255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
DOWNTOWN REPRESENTATIVES Ninth Council District, Councilwoman Jan Perry 200 N. Spring St., Room 420, (213) 473-7009 or lacity.org/council/cd9 Represents the majority of Downtown, including the Central Business District, South Park, parts of the Historic Core and Skid Row. First Council District, Councilman Ed Reyes 200 N. Spring St., Room 410, (213) 473-7001 or lacity.org/council/cd1 Represents Chinatown, City West, L.A. River issues. Fourteenth Council District, Councilman José Huizar 200 N. Spring St., Room 465, (213) 473-7014 or lacity.org/council/cd14 Covers Broadway, part of the Historic Core and the Arts District. Thirty-Fourth Congressional District of California, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard 255 E. Temple St., (213) 628-9230 or roybal-allard.house.gov Downtown’s voice in the U.S. House of Representatives is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Neighborhood Prosecutor 312 S. Hill St., second floor, (213) 847-8045 This responsive office deals with quality of life crimes including drug dealing, littering, panhandling and other issues. Email neighborhood@atty.lacity.org.
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants
Promenade Towers 123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon
FILMING FilmL.A. Inc. 1201 W. Fifth St., Suite T-800, (213) 977-8600 (after hours call main line and press option #2) or filmlainc.com Open weekdays 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and 24-hour on-call staff. Bright light in your loft at 3 a.m. and helicopters overhead? Call them with complaints or concerns or visit the website to read Downtown filming rules.
museum Tower 225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council 453 S. Spring St., Suite 1020, (213) 291-0933 or dlanc.com Neighborhood outreach, public board meetings and community advocacy. Email outreach@dlanc.com to join their list. Downtown L.A. Parents Contact downtownl.a.parents@gmail.com A group of Downtown parents that organizes events and shares resources. Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council 305 E. First St., (213) 847-5026, hcncla.org Covers the northern tip of Downtown, including Chinatown, El Pueblo and Elysian Park, as well as Little Tokyo, the Industrial and Arts districts. FITNESS Bally’s (Macy’s Plaza) 700 S. Flower St., (213) 624-3933 or ballyfitness.com Open Mon.-Thurs. 5 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; weekends 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Personal trainers, tons of equipment, classes and a juice bar. see Living Guide, page 22
Spec ial s
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)
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
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22 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
Downtown Living 7 a.m.-9 p.m. You’ll find every class imaginable, from boot camp to cycling to Pilates. Ketchum-Downtown YMCA 401 S. Hope St., (213) 624-2348 or ymcala.org. Open Mon.-Thurs. 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Lap pool, basketball, volleyball, aerobics, indoor track and FitLinxx program. Los Angeles Athletic Club 431 W. Seventh St., (213) 625-2211 or laac.com Open weekdays 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This private club features a pool, personal training, classes and social events. Pilates Plus DTLA 845 S. Broadway, (213) 863-4834 or ppdtla.com First class at 6 a.m.; last at 8 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Living Guide Continued from page 21 Bikram Yoga Downtown L.A. 700 W. First St., (213) 626-9642 or bikramyogadowntownla.com A series of 26 poses in a heated room. Call for class schedule. EducoGym 633 W. Fifth St., Suite 5750, (213) 617-8229 or educogym.com By appointment only Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The country’s highest gym, located on the 57th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower. The specialty is a 20-minute, three times a week workout system. Gold’s Gym 725 S. Figueroa St. #2, (213) 688-1441 or goldsgym.com Open Mon.-Thurs. 5 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; weekends
photo by Gary Leonard
The Downtown Center Business Improvement District’s purple patrol keep a close eye on the neighborhood.
Private training or small group classes. The Yard 1335 Willow St. (at Santa Fe), (213) 706-6827 or theyardmuaythai.com Open Mon.-Thurs. 3-9 p.m.; Fri. 3-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn the art of Muay Thai and kickboxing at this serious Arts District gym. KEYS Roy Hopp and Company 510 W. Sixth St., (213) 622-5153 Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. A family run shop in the basement of a Jewelry District edifice. LIFESAVERS E-Geniuses
409 W. Olympic Blvd. (877) 694-3648 or e-geniuses.com Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For when your hard drive crashes, usually on the weekend when you have a Monday deadline, and things are tense. Farmer Boys 726 S. Alameda St., (213) 228-8999 or farmerboysla.com Open seven days a week, 24 hours. There’s really only three things to know: Farmer Boys has free Wi-Fi, it’s open 24 hours, and the Farmer Burger contains two patties, avocado and bacon. Little Tokyo Post Office Honda Plaza, 406 E. Second St., (213) 613-0701 Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sometimes a person needs a post office on a Sunday. This is it.
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Downtown News 23
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24 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
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CALENDAR Science Center Continued from page 1 be unfamiliar with. Since opening in 1998, the Science Center has averaged about 1.4 million visitors a year, including approximately 400,000 students on field trips. Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the Science Center, estimated that Ecosystems will bump that up by 20%-25%. “We think it strengthens the role of Exposition Park as an anchor for the southern edge for Downtown,” he said. “We think it’ll become a great destination spot for tourists in Downtown and convention goers and of course for the residential community. It also provides new ways for people to learn, for people to see the world and new opportunities for our guests to actually engage and explore science.” Rudolph added that as part of engaging science, the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 25 will forgo the cutting of an actual ribbon. Instead, museum and other officials will use scissors to cut a piece of kelp. In The Zone Ecosystems is divided into eight zones, each exploring a different part of the planet and its landscape. The Extreme Zone, for example, focuses on radically different environments such as deserts, rocky shores, deep sea vents and the cold and windy poles. The Forest Zone takes visitors through a kelp forest. There, visitors can walk though a 24foot long transparent tunnel at the bottom of a 188,000-gallon tank. Swimming around them are more than 1,500 live fish and other marine life. The River Zone examines the power of water and currents with interactive wind machines, while the Island Zone offers live lizards and fish. In the Global Zone, a high definition projector puts images onto a round global map that is six feet in diameter; the designs of water, land and air cycles show how the earth itself is one big ecosystem. The Family Discovery Room is aimed at helping young visitors learn about how familiar things around the house can be ideal ecosystems for other creatures, such as worms in the backyard. Speaking of worms, the Rot Room is not for the squeamish — it focuses on decomposition by showing live maggots and beetles munching away at decaying meat. Downtowners, meanwhile, will find a familiar environment in the L.A. Zone. It provides an in-depth look at the Los Angeles Basin with a touch-screen map that shows weather, wind, water and earthquake patterns. A floor map spans the gallery where satellite images give a bird’s-eye view of the area along the 10 Freeway from the Pacific Ocean to Chino Hills. A popular activity so far has been for locals to try and find their homes. “Here’s the Staples Center, there’s Downtown. If you look carefully you’ll probably find your house,” Kopczak said as he knelt on the ground to get a better look at the roof of the Staples Center. Trash City One thing no one will have trouble spotting in the gallery is
photo by Gary Leonard
Third grade students from 32nd Street School check out the sea life in a touch tank that is part of the Extreme Zone.
all the garbage. It’s everywhere. Hanging from the ceiling is an approximately 50-foot long sculpture of a person, made entirely from paper thrown away by visitors to the Science Center. Several McDonald’s bags (there’s a branch of the fast food restaurant on the ground floor), can be seen throughout the piece. A few feet from the sculpture are two see-through columns filled with trash. One has 150 pounds of paper, the equivalent of what one person throws away every year. The other contains 55 pounds of plastic, which again represents what one person tosses away every year in material than could be recycled. Between the posts is a display of refuse pulled from 200 feet below the surface of a landfill. It’s garbage that is not biodegradable and stays in the environment unless it is properly disposed. “I think people can learn that what we do in everyday life has these tentacles that go out and impact the world around us,” Kopczak said. “My hope is that people learn how these impacts happen and hopefully become a little more sensitive and lessen our impact on the environment.” While the L.A. Zone may be the most familiar environment, Kopczak thinks the kelp forest and Desert Zone will become the most popular parts of the exhibit. Indeed, the tunnel and animals swimming around were a hit with kids on a field trip to the exhibit about a week before
photo by Gary Leonard
California Science Center curator Chuck Kopczak demonstrates one of the interactive displays in the new exhibition.
the official opening. Many marveled at the fish in the tank and were in awe of a diver who appeared during a demonstration. In the Desert Zone the live tortoise, lizard and anthill got almost as much attention as the artificial flood, which occurs every 10 minutes. But some of the most energetic reactions came from the Rocky Shore element of the Extreme Zone. Located above the kelp tank, the environment mimics the ocean, with waves and a touch tank filled with starfish, sea anemones and sea hairs. It was like a magnet for Dana Young’s third grade class from 32nd Street School. Her students clung to the side of the tank and stuck their hands inside to feel the movements of starfish and anemones. “The kids are very excited to have this interactive activity,” she said. “They’ve loved everything so far because it’s one thing to study these sea creatures in a book, but to come in and actually touch them and experience them firsthand is an excellent learning experience.” The California Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. At 700 State Dr., (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
photo by Gary Leonard
The L.A. Zone highlights some of the impact urban life — most notably garbage — has on the environment. A 50-foot long hanging sculpture is made of paper thrown away by Science Center visitors.
March 22, 2010
DowntownNews.com
Talk Talk It’s a Big Week for Downtown Lectures and Panels by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer
E
very week, Downtown Los Angeles plays host to a collection of public lectures and panel discussions. From the Aloud series at the Central Library, to SCI-Arc’s architecture talks, to Farmlab’s weekly salons, there is usually no shortage of brain food for curious residents and workers. But this week, the scheduling gods seem to have coalesced to present more standout events than usual. From an hourlong exploration of “edible alchemy” to expert sessions on biography writing and beyond, there is plenty of talk to take in. Here are some of the big highlights in a big week. Write On: On Thursday, March 25, Aloud delves into the art of biography writing, as former Los Angeles magazine Editor Kit Rachlis speaks with K.C. Cole, Barbara Isenberg and Kenneth Turan. The three acclaimed writers will reveal the different strategies they employed to document the lives of their respective subjects: Frank Oppenheimer, Frank Gehry and Joseph Papp. Aloud also hosts a March 24 discussion on the hot-button topic of billboards. More information is in the Don’t Miss List on page 26. Both events are at 7 p.m. at the Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. Raw Awe: Even at a young age, chef Juliano Brotman realized that flesh and fat were just the medium; it was all about the spices — or “edible alchemy” as he calls it. Brotman is a devotee of raw foods, and more specifically, putting raw ingredients together in a way that would awe any discerning eater: Think pizzas in three flavors, burritos, ice cream and chocolate avocado pudding, all made from raw ingredients. How is it possible, you ask? Ask Julian when he speaks at Farmlab on Friday, March 26, at noon. At 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Art on the Page: Love that piece of art, but don’t know
why? Or curious what someone of reputable taste, style and schooling thinks of the same work? Turn to an art critic, or what’s left of that shrinking crowd. In conjunction with the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, MOCA hosts a panel on the future of arts criticism on Thursday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. Moderated by Sasha Anawalt, director of the USC Annenberg Arts Journalism Program, the panel will explore such questions as how the Internet has already and will continue to affect traditional media, and the quality and ethics of arts journalism. At MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6211745 or moca.org. Architectural Publishing: SCI-Arc’s lecture series may seem thematically narrow, especially when compared to some of Downtown’s other event institutions, but the Arts District school cannot be put in a box, even if that box was designed by Rem Koolhaas. The point is, you don’t have to be an aspiring architect to dig their programming. Need more proof? Then hit the Arts District school on Wednesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. and listen to Michael Kubo, whose creative practice focuses on tracing the influence of architecture on publishing. There’s more to that stack of art books on your coffee table than you think. At 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. The Airline Up There: On Thursday, March 25, Town HallLos Angeles hosts Yang-Ho Cho, the chairman and CEO of Korean Air. What’s the connection between Korean Air and Downtown L.A., you wonder? How about the airline’s planned $1 billion, multi-skyscraper project that would replace the Wilshire Grand Hotel. Get to know the leader of the company — a company, by the way, that actually has money to spend — that is ready to make one of the biggest single investments ever in the Central City. Town Hall this week also brings Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to Downtown. She speaks on March 23. Details are in the Don’t Miss List on page 26. Yang Ho Cho is at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd. Info at (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. God and Government: On Tuesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m., Zocalo Public Square asks a question that’s been burning for centuries, and that likely will be pertinent for centuries to come: Do democracy and religion mix? Journalist Ian
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
www.douginks.com douginks@roadrunner.com
Downtown News 25
photo courtesy of Michael Kubo
On Wednesday, March 24, Michael Kubo, who studies the influence of architecture on publishing, will speak as part of the SCI-Arc lecture series.
photo courtesy of Korean Air
Yang-Ho Cho, the chairman and CEO of Korean Air, will appear Downtown on Thursday, March 25. He’ll talk about the airline and its plans to replace the Wilshire Grand Hotel.
Burma, the featured speaker, is pretty darn sure the answer is no. The author of Taming the Gods will lay out his theory that religion, and particularly the passions it inflames, must be calmed to make democracy work. Be a part of his church and state separation choir, or sound a dissonant note for Senator God during the Q&A. At MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., zocalopublicsquare.org.
26 Downtown News
SPONSORED LISTINGS Caña Rum Bar at the Doheny 714 W Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090. 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Mon.-Fri.; 7 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat.: Caña Rum Bar at the Doheny is open and serving handcrafted rum cocktails and flights from its large library of premium, smallbatch rums. Live Caribbean and tropical Latin music. $20 annual membership provides inclusion in the Caña Rum Society and gratis rum tastings and spirit education. $6 mojito and daiquiri specials from 6-8 p.m. New member fees donated to charity. 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. 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. Mixed Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org. Through Sept. 26: In a follow-up to artist Kip Fulbeck’s “Part Asian, 100% Hapa” 2006 exhibition, Fulbeck returns with his newest collection of works based on his new book Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids. This family-friendly exhibition for the young and the young at heart offers a playful yet powerful perspective on the complex nature of contemporary American identity.
LISTINGS The ‘Don’t Miss’ List The Economy, Billboards and Plenty of Theater by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor
ONE
image courtesy of the office of Janet Yellen
Thursday, March 25 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or visit townhall-la.org. Noon: As part of the group’s CEO Series, YangHo Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Airlines, is the featured speaker. MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with the Los Angeles
ear ye, hear ye, on Tuesday, March 23, Town Hall-Los Angeles presents Janet Yellen, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, in a forum on an issue at the forefront of public consciousness: the economy. The noon luncheon, address and Q&A session will take place at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Yellen became head of the San Francisco Fed in 2004, is professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, is an expert on national and international economies and banking systems, and was mentioned as a potential successor to Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke before his recent reconfirmation hearings — to name just a few of her credentials. Reservations are required. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.
S
inger-songwriter John Mayer brings his Battle Studies World Tour to Staples Center on Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m. Expect to hear the singles “Who Says” and “Heartbreak Warfare,” from his new album Battle Studies, as well as the saucy hit “You Body Is a Wonderland.” While you’re there, feel free to audiotape the concert — legally. No foolin’. Mayer allows the non-commercial trading of live recordings to encourage fan interaction. Speaking of interaction, the musician boasts more than 3 million Twitter followers. Opening is Michael Franti & Spearhead. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 7427100 or staplescenter.com.
Tuesday, March 23 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or visit townhall-la.org. Noon: Dr. Janet Yellen, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will discuss the economy, now and going forward. Zócalo Public Square At MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: “Do Democracy and Religion Mix?” That’s the question explored by journalist Ian Burma, author of Taming the Gods, who argues that religion — and particularly the passions it inflames — must be calmed to make democracy work
photo courtesy of Staples Center L.A. Live.
F
W
ho has visual rights to the city? In the Wednesday, March 24, panel discussion “How Many Billboards,” key players in the Los Angeles outdoor advertising saga weigh in on the cultural and legal ramifications of the issue. Co-presented by the MAK Center for Art & Architecture and California Lawyers for the Arts, the showdown at the Central Library, which is part of the Aloud series, will be moderated by artist Anne Bray. Panelists include media expert Toby Miller, L.A. Weekly journalist Christine Pelisek, entertainment and intellectual property attorney John Tehranian and outdoor advertising advocate Rick Robinson. No, you can’t boo Robinson. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.
FOUR
photo courtesy of Nancy Mills
Wednesday, March 24 All About Business Loans Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room A, (213) 488-3599 or info@downtownlaretail.com. 6-8 p.m.: The Historic Downtown Retail Project presents a workshop covering the various types of business loans available to expand or start up a business. A loan officer will be available for free one-onone technical and lending assistance. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: In a panel discussion titled “How Many Billboards,” key players in the Los Angeles billboard saga weigh in on the cultural and legal ramifications of the issue. Panelists include artist Anne Bray, media expert Toby Miller, L.A. Weekly journalist Christine Pelisek and outdoor advertising advocate Rick Robinson. SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. 7 p.m.: Michael Kubo traces the influence of architectural publishing as an operative device, through an examination of books produced by architects and critics in the past century.
H
photo by Gary Leonard
EVENTS
March 22, 2010
Twitter/DowntownNews
No.5
ood Fight at Big Lots. No, that’s not a call to action; it’s just one story to be revealed in Tales of Downtown: One Woman’s Adventures Living in a Loft in Downtown L.A. The one-show-only event, written and created by Nancy Mills, follows the misadventures of a former entertainment industry journalist who moves from the Westside to Downtown L.A., where she encounters a whole new universe and the characters that inhabit it. Presented by The Company of Angels Theatre in the historic Alexandria Hotel, Tales of Downtown plays Sunday, March 28, at 3 p.m. At 501 S. Spring St., (888) 428-1234 or talesofdowntown.com. Contact Lauren Campedelli at calendar@downtownnews.com.
C
harles Sidney Gilpin was one of the earliest African-American stars on Broadway, rising to fame in 1920 in Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones. At the Los Angeles Theatre Center, a chronicle of Gilpin’s turbulent life and career, including his battles with alcoholism and O’Neill, takes the stage in the world premiere of playwright Melvin Ishmael Johnson’s The Emperor’s Last Performance. Developed and produced by the prominent African-American troupe the Robey Theatre Company, the show opens Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. (with a preview the night before) and runs through April 4. At 514 S. Spring St., (213) 4890994 ext. 107 or thelatc.org.
March 22, 2010
Downtown News 27
DowntownNews.com
Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, MOCA presents a panel discussion exploring the effect of the Internet on traditional media and the quality and ethics of arts journalism. “The Future of Art Criticism” is moderated by Sasha Anawalt, director of the USC Annenberg Arts Journalism Program.
(1:10, 4, 6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); She’s Out of My League (12:30, 3, 5:30, 8 and 10:40 p.m.). March 26 (partial listing): Hot Tub Time Machine (12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50 and 10:20 p.m.); How To Train your Dragon 3D (11:30 a.m. and 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m.).
Staples Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., staplescenter.com. March 25, 8 p.m.: Pop rock crooner John Mayer. March 26, 7:30 p.m.: Jay-Z, the man behind the hit song whose chorus boasts the wonders of New York, does his jiggaman thing in L.A.
Friday, March 26 Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Juliano Brotman discusses “edible alchemy.”
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
CLASSICAL MUSIC
2nd Street Jazz 366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047, 2ndstjazz.com or myspace.com/2ndstreetlivejazz. Tuesdays: Jazz jam session. Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m. Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. March 26, 8-10 p.m.: Milo’s Quartetto Fantastico. March 27, 8-10 p.m.: Kai Kurosawa. Chop Suey Café 347 E. First St., (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.: Live jazz on the patio of the restored landmark. Cicada Cicada Restaurant, 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com. Sundays, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club every Sunday. Come out to appreciate the big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails. Visit cicadaclub.com. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. March 25, 8 p.m.: Grupo Mania. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. These shows take place in the museum’s Sound Stage theater. March 23, 8 p.m.: The Dublin-based Mexican acoustic guitar phenoms Rodrigo y Gabriela will field questions about their careers and numerous influences, both classical and metal. Then, the duo will participate in an audience Q&A and perform several songs. March 25, 8 p.m.: Be among the first to hear Southern rocker and country music scion Shooter Jennings discuss his new album, Black Ribbons, just days after its release. After the interview, Jennings will take questions from the audience and sign copies of the CD. J Restaurant and Lounge 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com. Tuesdays: Live acoustic performances in the lounge. Wednesdays: Salsa in the City features complimentary salsa lessons at 8 p.m. At 9 p.m., a batch of live musicians takes over for a jam session. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. March 22, 10 p.m.: Powersolo (Denmark). March 23, 10 p.m.: The Neurotics and Swords of Fatima. March 24, 10 p.m.: Adam Mackintosh. March 25, 10 p.m.: Todd’s B-day wtih Barrio Tiger, Sun Trash, and Dangerously Sleezy. March 26, 10 p.m.: Spindrift, The Upsidedown, Magic Mirror, and Matt Tow. March 27, 10 p.m.: Pierced Arrows, Lullabye Arkestra, D-rex, Living Sickness and Goldiggers. March 28, noon: Brunch Americana with Ramblin James & The Billyboppers and Sydewinders. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. March 22, 10 p.m.: Dan Weinstein Trio. March 23, 10 p.m.: The Makers. March 24, 10 p.m.: Artwork Jamal.
Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org. March 23, 8 p.m.: Emmanuel Ax and Dawn Upshaw are featured in a program of works by Chopin and Schumann. March 25 and 26, 8 p.m.; March 27, 2 p.m.: Emanuel Ax plays works by Chopin, Berlioz and Shostakovich, with Lionel Bringuier conducting. Colburn School 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. Through May 7: All spring, Friday nights are for student performances. Times and programs vary, so check colburnschool.edu for details.
Saturday, March 27 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Snails, slugs, octopi and clams: mollusks are everywhere, and the Natural History Museum has over 4.5 million of them in its collection. See some of these invertebrates from the past and present with Mary Stecheson of Invertebrate Paleontology and Lindsey Groves of Malacology onhand to answer your questions. 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: As part of the museum’s ‘Junior Scientist’ program, investigate a few of these invertebrates from the past and present and become a Junior Malacologist, gathering gastropods, braving the bivalves and seeing a few seashells along the way. Rock the Count: American Indian Music Festival Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1243 N. Spring St., rockthecount.com. Noon-5 p.m.: The celebration features arts, crafts, food, vendors and free performances by American Indian and Alaska natives. Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau, the event also is a reminder to make sure everyone is counted during the 2010 U.S. Census. California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 1 p.m.: Inspired by the work of John T. Scott, participants will create artworks based on his sculptural style. RSVP at (213) 744-2024. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Journalist Kit Rachlis moderates a panel called “Three Approaches to Writing Biography,” with K.C. Cole, Barbara Isenberg and Kenneth Turan.
FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com for showtimes. Through March 25: 45365 explores the congruities of daily life in an American town, from the patrol car to the courtroom, the playground to the nursing home, 45365 is a portrait of a city and its people. March 26-April 1: West of Pluto paints a portrait of the high-school experience via a small cul-de-sac of suburban Quebec and the adolescent experiences of ten teens. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through March 25: 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.); Avatar in 3D (11:20 a.m. and 3, 6:40 and 10:20 p.m.); The Bounty Hunter (11:10 and 11:50 a.m. and 1:50, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:10, 7:50, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); Diary of a Wimpy Kid (12;20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30 and 10 p.m.); Repo Men (11:20 a.m. and 12, 2, 2:40, 4:40, 5:20, 7:20, 8, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Shutter Island (12:10, 3:30, 6:30, 9:40 p.m.); Green Zone (11:30 a.m. and 2:10, 4:50, 7:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Our Family Wedding (11 a.m. and 1:30, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Remember Me
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Dreamgirls Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Through April 4: This musical tells the rags-toriches story of an up and coming, 1960s girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Fiesta Allegre Bob Baker’s Marionettes, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Through April 11: Downtown’s puppet master, Bob Baker, is known for his homemade puppets and down home fun. This show features some gesticulating cacti, flamenco dancers and a stubborn donkey. Above the Line Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com. Through May 1: Above The Line plays with sex, lies and videotape in a farce about the making of a Hollywood movie. Tales of Downtown Company of Angels Theatre, 501 S. Spring St., companyofangels.org. March 28, 3 p.m.: Westside transplant Nancy Mills tells her “Tales of Downtown: One Woman’s Adventures Living in a Loft in Downtown LA.” TOV REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. Through March 27: Weaving together intense physical movement, spoken word and vocal music and the “theater laboratory” ensemble techniques originated by Jerzy Grotowski, the group Rosanna Gamson Worldwide stages TOV. The production centers around the story of the tarpan — an extinct species of Eurasian wild horse that was genetically
“reassembled” in the 1930s through back-breeding of domestic horses.
MUSEUMS African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org. Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts. Annette Green Perfume Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6241200 or fidm.edu. Ongoing: “Fame and Fragrance” is up in this, the only museum of its kind in the U.S. It’s dedicated to enhancing our understanding the art, culture and science of the olfactory. Originally opened in New York City in 1999, the collection — 2,000 bottles, perfume presentations and documentary ephemera dating from the late 1800s to the present — was donated to FIDM in 2005. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Through May 2: “Harlem of the West, Jazz, Bebop and Beatnik” celebrates the Fillmore District of San Francisco in the 1940s, ’50s and early ’60s where Bebop cross-pollinated with the Beat Movement and avant-garde film making to make a dynamic scene. Through May 2: “An Idea Called Tomorrow” was co-conceived by CAAM and the Skirball Cultural Center and showcase works by twelve contemporary artists that imagine what a civil future looks like. Through June 6: “Dance Theater of Harlem” is a multimedia exhibit exploring the choreography, costuming and dancers of the famed dance company. The exhibit also takes a close look at the company’s founders Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, who started DTH in 1969. California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through May 2: “America I Am” celebrates nearly 500 years of African American contributions to America and the world. Through artifacts, multimedia and programs, visitors explore the influence and innovations of African Americans. Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are usually interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator and the Ecology Cliff Climb. The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the singlecelled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.
Continued on next page
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March 22, 2010
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We Got Games Pride Games for Clips, Lakers Go to Texas Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. The Lakers embark on their last major road trip of the regular season, a fivegame swing that starts in San Antonio against the age-defying Spurs (March 24). Greg Popavich’s squad hasn’t been much of a match for the Lakers this year, as Pau Gasol has found a way to get the better of Tim Duncan, but the Spurs are making a push. Then the Lakers face perhaps the hottest, most exciting team in the west, Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder (March 26). The week ends with a trip to Houston (March 27), where the Rockets, who are scratching for a playoff spot, can be expected to play their best basketball. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. March 28, 6:30 p.m.: The Clippers take a little Texas trip, visiting the Dallas Mavericks (March 23) and the Houston Rockets (March 25). These are what you call “pride games” in middle school, because being out of contention for the postseason, there’s not much to play for other than pride. The Clips close the week at home against the Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. March 22 and 27, 7:30 p.m.: With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Kings are trying to maintain their winning swagger, starting with a home match against the Colorado Avalanche, who currently are right above the Kings in the Western Conference. Two days later, they fly to Denver to take on the same team (March 24), then head to St. Louis hoping to give the Blues the blues (March 25). The Kings return home to tangle with the Dallas Stars to close the week. —Ryan Vaillancourt
photo by Gary Leonard
The Lakers’ Pau Gasol will look to continue his solid play this week against the Spurs’ Tim Duncan.
Continued from previous page Through May 30: “Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection” is an exhibition of movie memorabilia collected during the 10-years of research for Arthur Dong’s documentary on the Chinese in American feature films. Explore the filmmaker’s archive of over 1,000 items, including posters, lobby cards, stills, scripts, press material, and other artifacts dating from 1916 to present-day. Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and “Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration,” an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. The display is outlined into four distinct time periods. Each period is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a brief description and a short personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period. Permanent: “Neighborhood Stories” a photographic exhibition exploring the beginnings of Los Angeles’ changing Chinese American communities, from the city’s original Chinatown, New Chinatown, China City and Market Chinatown. This exhibit will provide a glimpse of how the Chinese American community began to make Los Angeles home. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 124 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-8372 or elpueblo. lacity.org. Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of this monument’s 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the monument’s Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century fire-fighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check its website for a full slate of fiestas, including Cinco de Mayo, Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in November and December’s beautiful candlelight procession, Las Posadas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary.
FIDM Museum and Galleries 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu. Through April 17: Hollywood 2010: The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” offers an up close look at more than 100 costumes from more than two dozen of last year’s movies, such as The Young Victoria, Star Trek, Julie & Julia, An Education and Nine.
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30 Downtown News
March 22, 2010
Twitters/DowntownNews
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Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com
old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts
• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com
loft/UnfUrnisHed
Walking distance to Metro Station, Social Security Office, Immigration Office, and Jewelry District. Close to 110 &101 Fwy. On site security guard.
Bill Cooper
the loft expert! group
retail space lease/sale
Homes for sale
lofts for sale
All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
112 W 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.503.7449 • www.rosslynstudios.com
Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com
rooms
Low-Income
Single Room Occupancy Units #207, 213, 306, 307 and 418 available $290/mo., Shared Kitchen, Bath. Please call Norbo Hotel (213) 624-8024.
Children’s Performing Group
Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!
condos/UnfUrnisHed
Savoy
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath, New Paint/New Carpet, Clubhouse Amenities, Gym, Pool/Spa, All Appliances, Was./Dryr., 1 Park/Space, Secure & Gated.
$1600 (310) 215-0788 commercial space TWO GREAT ARTIST’S work studios. Sunny, 16’ ceilings, gated parking, wi-fi. Close to downtown and freeways. 240sf for $425/mo, 300sf for $525/mo. WORK ONLY/NOT LIVE-IN. 213-509-4403
EMPLOYMENT part time
Downtowner in live/work loft needs part time secretary Please send or fax resume & minimum salary requirements to Bill Vicik PO Box 861716 Los Angeles, CA 90086 Fax 213-623-3552 drivers
ANDRuS TRANSPORTATION Team & Solo OTR drivers - West states exp/hazmat end, great miles/hometime. Stable Family owned 35 yrs+ 1-800-888-5838, 1-866-806-5119 x1402. (CalSCAN) NATIONAL CARRIERS needs O/Os, Lease Purchase, Company Drivers for its expanding fleet. Offering Regional/OTR runs, Outstanding Pay Package, excellent benefits, generous hometime. 1-888-707-7729. www.NationalCarriers.com. (Cal-SCAN)
General AuTOMOTIVE Great jobs in downtown LA! Full time or part time. Two blocks south of the Staples Center at Figueroa & Venice. Toyota Central is growing! Sales Associates - all levels. Internet Associates. Service Technicians. Service Consultants. Drivers. Cashiers. Receptionists. Bilingual Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern and women encouraged to apply. Great compensation package and employee benefits. Please call 800-597-5516 or send resume to autosuccess@ aol.com. EOE.
SLT NEEDS CLASS A Team Drivers with Hazmat. $2,000 Bonus. Split $0.68 for all miles. Regional contractor positions available. 1-800-835-9471. (CalSCAN)
HELP WANTED, Movie Extras. Earn up to $150/day. People needed for background in a major film production. Exp. not required. 888-366-0843
TRuCK DRIVERS: CDL training. Part-time driving job. Fulltime benefits. Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. May qualify for bonus. www.NationalGuard.com/Truck or 1-800-GO-GuARD. (CalSCAN)
HealtH care Acupuncturist MS in Acupuncture req’d. Mail resume to Guasha Research Institute 3242 W 8th St #101, Los Angeles CA 90055”
LOFTS • RENT • LOFTS • RENT SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433
madison hotel
Take us home
Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.
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.
(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)
SPECIAL MOVE IN -
TWO WEEKS FREE RENT AND LOW DEPOSIT. Real Artist Lofts available in original 18 unit Downtown Artist Loft bldg. close to Southern Cal. School of Architecture. Starting at approximately 1200 to 2100 Sq. ft. large open space with new kit and bath. Laundry, gated parking and intercom entry from $1200.
1427 E. 4th St. Contact Julie at (323) 261-1099
Do you have something to sell?
Ad Copy: _________________________________________
Ad Prices
________________________________________________
(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY) • Items under $300 • Items $301 to $500 • Items $501 to $1200 • Items $1201 to $2000 • Items $2001+…
Name: Address: City Phone: Cash $ Credit card #: Exp. Date:
FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00
12 words, 2 weeks 15 words 15 words 15 words 15 words
All ads run for 2 weeks. Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.
With a circulation of State Check $
Zip Credit Card $
47,000,
our classifieds get results!
________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue.
March 22, 2010
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
mAssAge
Star Holistic Spa
Business OppOrtunities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN) EARN $500 DAILY Providing a simple service for Home and Business - Dry Tech #CL28547. 8920 Quartz Ave. Northridge, CA 91324. 1-800-507-7222.
SERVICES
Massage/Acupressure $40 (1 hour) 2551 W. Beverly Blvd. LA, CA, 90057 (Beverly Rampart)
ADVERTISE ONLINE in a network of 50-plus newspaper websites. Border to Border with one order! $7 cost per thousand impressions statewide. Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www. CaliforniaBannerAdNetwork. com. (Cal-SCAN) 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. (Cal-SCAN) DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com. (CalSCAN) BOdywOrk/detAiling CARE TAKER and more. If you need help. Call Rik Martino Masseur/Trainer 323-850-8580 youtube.com CleAning
AutOs wAnted
misC. items
LOAN OFFICERS - Now is the Time To Work for a direct lender. 85% Commission (W-2), FHA, VA Reverse Mortgages. For info go to www.OakTreeFunding. com click Virtual Agent. (CalSCAN)
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)
NEW APPLE 1POD Nano 8GB camera $100. 213-884-7284.
AUTOS
AttOrneys
ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean
Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP
Advertising
lOAns
Tel: 213-383-7676
Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710
LAw OffICES Of gordon & gordon Injured at work? Stress at work. (310) 474-8100 10801 National Blvd. #106 Los Angeles, CA 90064
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
24 hours
2006 SLK280 Black/Beige. Certified (118314/4635c). $26,995. 888-319-8762
HOme imprOvement
崔Roof michael choi Roofing
Since 1972 • FRee estimate
2006 TOYOTA TACOMA stock NI3477-1 VIN #6Z297822. $22,999. Call 888-838-5089.
323-229-3320 (c) 323-722-1646 (B)
2007 AUDI A4 premium pkg., leather, moonroof, certified VIN #7A149635. $19,888. 888-5830981
PAINTING SERVICES UNLIMITED Design/Color/Finish Loft Painting Experts. Since 1974 Staining-Distressing lep8ntr@ yahoo.com. Impeccable References. (818) 956-0609.
2007 CARRERA COUPE Black/ blk, certified pre-owned, tiptronic, 21K miles. VIN710520. 888685-5426
Reroof, Repairs • Lic. #C-39-588045
eduCAtiOn HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN)
08 CHEVROLET COLORADO Extended cab, auto, air, ABS, tow pkg., UC488 / 102567. $11,887. 888-879-9608
208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA
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)
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
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
Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices
On Spring St.
Spring Tower Lofts:
1900 sqft, open LOFT w/views $2950/mo. • 17 ft ceilings • Live/Work space • 14 story Bldg. • Rooftop garden terrace w/city view • Pet friendly
Premiere Towers:
3 bdrms/2 bath, $2100/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking
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
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
Santee Court Lofts from $1,250 716 los Angeles street, los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 623-8101 • www.santeecourt.com
jahn@regentBC.com www.regentbc.com
nOw leAsing
FrOm $1,250’s/mo. Free parking
dOwntOwn sOutH pArk AFFOrdABle prOgrAm
Luxury Living
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
MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views
756 S. Broadway • Downtown Los Angeles 213-892-9100 • chapmanf lats.com
studios: $925 1 Bdrms $1,056 2 Bdrms $1,321
Pricing subject to change without notice.
Income and Program Guidelines Apply. Call for Details. High Rise Apartment, Pool, Fitness Center, Subterranean Parking (Additional), Great Location, 2 blocks to Staples Center.
EASY AS
Call Toll Free 1-888-810-9608
THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST VIP Room Available. The Best Way For Business Meetings & Entertainment
Professional massage for men & women. Services include Thai Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Swedish Oil Massage, Foot Massage, Sauna, Steam, and more. Lounge area.
DowntownNews.com makesplacing a classified ad in the L.A. Downtown News is easier than ever. Your ad will appear online and in our publication in a couple of easy steps.
HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years
3386766 0119
sAkurA HeAltH gym & sAunA, inC.
MASSAGEH
ITEMS FOR SALE
Helping kids heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts.org or 310313-4278 for more information.
Jenny Ahn (213) 996-8301
For English Call Pierre or Terri 213.744.9911 For Spanish Call Susana 213.749.0306
HBODY
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.
vOlunteer OppOrtunities
Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.
Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area.
First Professionally Licensed Massage Shop in L.A. County.
AdOpt A pet
GAY & LESBIAN SPEED DATING in Downtown LA! Visit LA Lords Presents at www.lalords. com for events & details! 213683-8387.
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 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
Locations Nationwide
S e e k S S t y l i S h M at e
Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $695/mo.
PETS/ANIMALS
speCiAl events
Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills
I c o n I c B e au t y
Casaloma L.A. Apartments
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)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com
CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.
111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Ste #231-233 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 458-1919 [Corner of Garvey Ave.]
Downtown News 31
DowntownNews.com
• Online ads will appear immediately after they are approved. • Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST to be processed for the following Monday's edition. Deadlines subject to change for special issues and holidays.
For legal notices please call 213-481-1448
6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900
Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.
Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348
Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.
Monthly from $695 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151
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March 22, 2010