DOWNTOWN
NEWS
14
For more information and to download the tours visit
crala.org/art
downtown
PUBLIC
ART
walking tours
W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M
April 11, 2011
Volume 40, Number 15
INSIDE
Walk This Way
PODCASTS
LOS ANGELES
Raising Voices, Telling Stories A $27 Million Mexican American Cultural Center Comes to Downtown
A pointed Arts District mural.
2
Urban Scrawl on signs of spring.
4
Preparing for life after the CRA.
7
photo by Gary Leonard
Miguel Angel Corzo, the president and CEO of the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, at the $27 million facility at 501 N. Main St. The part museum, part interactive school and community gathering place opens April 16. by RichaRd Guzmán
A bit of old Europe at Novecento.
9
city editoR
A
fter visiting Olvera Street on a recent weekday afternoon, Glenda Barrios and her two children tried to peek through a fence at the nearly completed garden of LA Plaza Also: Protests may take place at LA Plaza opening. See story p. 12.
Get some exercise tips.
13
A Dozen Downtown Projects Get Praised, And the Police Building’s Upkeep Is Zapped staff wRiteR
17
18 CALENDAR LISTINGS 21 CLASSIFIEDS
old Los Angeles resident. On Saturday, April 16, Barrios and the rest of Los Angeles will get a chance to see the entire 2.2-acre, $27 million facility when it opens at 501 N. Main St., adjacent to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The center is housed on two floors in the historic and renovated VickreyBrunswig Building, a structure built in 1888, and the Plaza House, erected in 1883. see LA Plaza, page 16
Sweet Smelling Roses and a Citrus Smack by Ryan VaillancouRt
Checking out the Taper’s ‘Burn.’
de Cultura y Artes. She was able to glimpse the newly planted grass, an outdoor stage and a fenced-off section of land where human remains were unearthed in October. Despite the attention the remains drew, Barrios said she is eager to take her kids to the new Mexican American cultural center, which aims to highlight and celebrate the city’s Mexican roots. “It’ll be a good lesson for my kids to learn about our heritage and about our city,” said the 33-year-
I
n October 2009, the $440 million Police Administration Building was hailed by local leaders as a new jewel in the Civic Center and a worthy home for the LAPD. Eighteen months later, the edifice has received a sharp, citrusy smack in the badge. The slap came courtesy of the Downtown Breakfast Club, which on Thursday, April 7, tossed its Lemon anti-award at the city for its spotty upkeep of the LAPD headquarters lawn and grounds. The “prize” came after the DBC had dispensed a dozen Rose honors to an array of local projects. The Breakfast Club, comprised of a few
dozen Downtown business leaders who work to promote the economic development of the area, has handed out its Roses and Lemon Awards for 31 years. When it came time for the police building, the crowd of about 400 people at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel saw celebratory slides taken on opening day. Then group members Faye Washington, who is CEO of the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, and Jim White, a vice president with Paramount Pictures, presented a series of images of the mangled electric hubs on the lawn, which has faded to a mélange of green and yellow; the layer of grime on the sculptures that line Spring Street; an errant trash see Awards, page 10
The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles
photo by Gary Leonard
At the Roses and Lemon Awards, Downtown Breakfast Club members (l to r) Patrick Spillane and Michelle Isenberg honored figures including Sugarfish’s Cameron Broumand and Exchange L.A.’s Melanie Nikravesh.
2 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
AROUNDTOWN
A
long-awaited Art District housing project is poised to finally come online. Last week, officials with CanyonJohnson Urban Funds announced that sales will begin at the end of the month for the Barn Lofts, a 38-condominium project that had stalled after original developer The Borman Group encountered troubles with its lender. The project, at 940 E. Second St., is a conversion of a 1906 sugar beet warehouse once utilized by the Spreckels Sugar Company. The three-story, loft-style townhouses ranging from 1,300-2,600 square feet were nearly completed before construction was halted. Canyon-Johnson announced that it has hired a team including R.D. Olson and Rockefellers Partners Architects to finish the project. The Borman Group is also onboard as an advisor. “From the beginning, we have been dedicated to bringing quality housing to urban areas like the Arts District,” said Canyon-Johnson partner Earvin “Magic” Johnson, in a prepared statement. The residences include outdoor porches and balconies, hardwood floors, parking and laundry hookups. The project marks a return to Downtown for CanyonJohnson, which previously was a part owner of South Park’s AT&T Tower (long known as Transamerica Tower). It sold the building in late 2004.
Downtown News-Tube
H
ere at Los Angeles Downtown News, we’re working hard to keep you informed on everything happening in the Central City. But you shouldn’t have to work that hard to get all the information. To keep up with the latest in Downtown-related news, culture, restaurants and civic life, check us out on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. On Twitter, you can follow @DowntownNews for links to stories; editor and publisher Sue Laris and reporter Ryan Vaillancourt also dispense Downtown-centric tidbits. Follow them at @SueLaris and @RVaillancourt, respectively. Or visit our page at Facebook.com/L.A.DowntownNews, where we regularly add new photos and links. For pictures of the moving variety, we’re posting all kinds of videos on our YouTube.
com page (youtube.com/ladowntownnews1). You’ll find everything from Kobe Bryant in the Historic Core to a street musician’s story to video portraits of locally owned shops. Of course, you can still check us out online at DowntownNews. com or go old school and pick up a copy of the paper at one of the nearly 1,000 distribution points across Downtown.
Street Artists Jab MOCA Show
A
pparently not all street artists are thrilled that the Museum of Contemporary Art is focusing on their scofflaw medium. A group of artists billed as LA Raw is taking credit for a wheat-paste image, tacked recently to the façade of Zip Fusion restaurant on Third Street in the Arts District, depicting museum supporter Eli Broad and MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch as the ringleader and jester of sorts of a milquetoast circus — the faux poster promises “The Safest Show on Earth.” It is a reference to Art in the Streets, a survey of decades of graffiti and other forms of street art from around the world. The show opens April 17 at the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo. LA Raw describes itself as a group of artists organized to protest Deitch’s decision in December to whitewash a mural by an Italian street artist, who goes by the name Blu, immediately after the work was finished. The piece, commissioned by MOCA, depicted wooden caskets draped in dollar bills instead of American flags. The mural on the wall of the Geffen Contemporary faced the Veterans Administration healthcare building on Temple Street. Deitch said he decided to paint over the mural so as not to disrespect the museum’s neighbors, which also include the Go For Broke monument for Japanese American veterans of WWII.
Study Says No Increase in Apartment Rates
D
owntown apartment rates will dip slightly, or remain flat, over the next two years. So says the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, which last week released its Casden Forecast Multifamily Market Report. The study, presented on April 6 at the Downtown Marriott, said that the Central
photo by Ryan Vaillancourt
A poster recently affixed to Art District restaurant Zip Fusion takes aim at an upcoming MOCA show. See story this page.
City saw a 6.8% increase in average rents in 2010, up to $1,767 per month. That would make Downtown an outlier, as most L.A. submarkets saw a drop in rent or were flat last year, according to the report. Downtown’s price increase contradicts other reports that indicate that rents fell in the area during 2010, as Downtown added 1,014 new apartments. The increase in supply would typically drag down rents, so the report’s finding of a 6.8% increase is “rather anomalous,” acknowledged Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center. It may be that the study’s data failed to account for rent concessions, which landlords typically make (but don’t always tout), Green said. New York-based research firm REIS reported that Downtown saw a 3.3% drop in rents last year, from $1,795 to $1,736. Green said rents are unlikely to increase during the next two years unless there is a major rebound in employment. “We have among the least affordable rental markets in the country so I’m not sure where people are going to get more money to pay rent,” he said.
L I A R MORE
metro.net/works
S K R O W E IN TH
nsit ion tra se 2 exposit a h p r o corrid
nnectror nal co region orrido tra sit c
e subway weststid n ex ensio
The Expo Construction Authority passed two major milestones for Phase 2 of the Expo Transit Corridor to extend the nearly completed light-rail line to Santa Monica. Exposition Transit Corridor Phase 2 > A $1.5 billion agreement between Metro and Expo Authority will fund the project through Measure R tax revenue as well as state and local funds. > A $541.7 million contract was awarded to design and build Phase 2 of the Expo Line extending the line now under construction farther west to Santa Monica.
Regional Connector Transit Corridor > The Federal Transit Administration gave formal approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Regional Connector, bringing it a step closer to actual construction. > A two-mile, fully underground light rail line has been approved for the route of the Regional Connector Transit Corridor connecting the Metro Gold Line, Metro Blue Line and future Expo Line through Downtown LA.
Westside Subway Extension > The Federal Transit Administration also gave formal approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Westside Subway Extension. > The approved route is a subway extension running between the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station and the Westwood/VA Hospital.
For more information, visit metro.net/3010.
itw-wsc-fe-11-005 ©2011 lacmta
Barns Lofts to Begin Sales This Month
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 3
DowntownNews.com
Downtown L.A. Auto Group www.DTLAMOTORS.com
The Shammas Family Servicing Downtown’s Vehicles since 1955 The Downtown L.A. Auto Group knows that you have high expectations when it comes to servicing your vehicles and our commitment to you is to exceed those expectations each and every time we have the privilege having you visit one of our dealerships. Here’s some of the ways we demonstrate the commitment to you:
20OFF 50OFF
$
$
Any Service of $100 or More
Any Service of $250 or More
Cannot be combined with any other offer or coupon. Limit one discount per service order. Some restrictions may apply. Offer expires April 30, 2011. Must present coupon at time of service.
YOUR DOWNTOWN SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
3
WO
Shuttle service to and from your workplace or home.
Chic k
N
FREE
WP ico B
Deluxe wash with every service.
Her n
lym
Ct
pic
Blvd .
LA LIVE
STAPLES
lvd.
CONVENTION CENTER Ven ice B lvd.
FACTORY
10 W1
8th
Was h
ingt on B
Trained and authorized service technicians.
W2
8 110
St.
St.
8 88 8
WA dam
S Gr and
Ave .
3rd
lvd.
S Flo wer St.
S Fig
3
uero
a St .
3
FREE
s Bl
vd.
DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP 8 USC
WJ
effe
rson
Blvd .
Mai
n St .
888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352) W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M
4 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
EDITORIALS The Right Lights on Figueroa
Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
L
ast month, the City Council approved a controversial lighting plan for the $1 bil lion Wilshire Grand replacement project. The heated debate on the development, and what impact the illuminated signs and advertise ments will have on the intersection and the ur ban scheme, made it easy to overlook something else the council approved — a $400,000 plan to study the creation of a special lighting district on the stretch between Seventh and Figueroa streets and L.A. Live. We understand why the project engendered such fierce debate. Seventh and Figueroa is a packed intersection, and the new two-tower proj ect, along with the upgraded shopping center happening immediately to the south, will increase the noise (both audio and visual) in the neigh borhood. The developments have to live with and not overwhelm neighboring office buildings. Stakeholders were rightly concerned about how traffic and lights, including massive illuminated ads, will impact their lives. The lighting in the study area south of the hotel should prove less controversial. Indeed, given the way the stretch now looks and functions, illumina tion could be a boon. In an ideal world, this would be the first step in revitalizing one of Downtown’s most unfortunate pedestrian experiences. As this page has noted before, the stretch of Figueroa between the hubs of the 7+Fig shopping center and L.A. Live is decimated by dark stretches that are inhospitable to walking at night. This is ridiculous — the city and business groups should be doing everything possible to get pedestrians on a primary corridor. Given our climate, if the light is right and the experience pleasant, people will skip getting into their cars and instead will take the 10-minute stroll between the attractions. Wilshire Grand development partners Hanjin International and Thomas Properties Group will fund the illumination study, which will be completed by the city Planning Department. It is imperative that this effort be taken seriously — local leaders cannot allow this to be another expensive report that is finished, presented and then shoved to a back shelf to die, as often occurs in Los Angeles. There needs to be an understand ing from the beginning that the study will be utilized. The report should look not only at what lighting is appropriate, but its impacts on the street and the pedestrian experience. It is slated to examine lighting options for new buildings and renovation projects, but it cannot focus exclusively on the skyline. We expect this will, one day, lead to another debate on how much and what kinds of advertis ing will be allowed in this new district, and what effects and impacts there will be from emerging technologies like signs with three-dimensional video. No matter how some spin it, we are talking in many cases about billboards — these just hap pen to be the kind that light up. More important now is ensuring that the future debate is not just about commerce, but also func tion within a neighborhood. If more hotels and a football stadium are to arrive in the L.A. Live area, and if a new Wilshire Grand and a reactivated 7+Fig are to effectively work in the cityscape, then they need to complement each other. Part of that is ensuring a pleasant pedestrian experience be tween the poles. The Planning Department study has to keep this issue on the front burner.
The Hotels’ Future Vision
I
t takes guts to spend big during an economic downturn. It requires even more fortitude when specific plans for the money have not been de termined, aside from the notion to use the cash as part of an overall vision to boost business. That is why a group of hotel owners across the city, including more than 20 in Downtown, deserve credit for their move to prepare for the future. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the City Council has approved the formation of a business improvement district that will allow hotel and tourism officials to spend $11.5 million annually to market themselves. BIDs are normally the province of neighborhood groups. In most cases, area leaders realize that the services that government provides are limited, and thus they elect to tax themselves; most commonly an assessment is based on the square footage of a property, and the landowners wind up funding cleanliness, safety and marketing efforts. It is a similar situation with the hotels. They are already a vehicle for a munici pal marketing effort through the city bed tax (officially the Transient Occupancy Tax) paid by travelers. While the $10 million Los Angeles spends on market ing from this pool sounds significant, it
pales in comparison to what some other cities that we compete with for tour ist dollars allocate: San Diego unleashes about $26 million a year in the effort to lure visitors and San Francisco drops $23 million. Both already have hotel market ing districts similar to the new BID. The managers and owners of Down town Los Angeles hotels including the Westin Bonaventure, the Omni at California Plaza and the new J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton were among those strongly pushing the new Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District. Although they and other hotels in the city with more than 50 rooms will hit their guests with a 1.5% surcharge, they decided it is worth it to generate an estimated $11.5 million annually that can be used to sell the city. This is where the courage comes into play. The big Downtown hotels, ac cording to industry tracking firm PKF Consulting, recorded a 64.3% occu pancy rate in 2010. That’s a decent level and a nice increase from the 60.4% in 2009, but it hardly means that hotel coffers are overflowing or that reserva tions are hard to get. In addition, the surcharge comes as the average room rate at Downtown area hotels already climbed to more than $142 last year from just under $134 the previous year.
In essence, they’re asking for more money from their customers at a time when rates are steadily increasing. The hoteliers believe that unless they aggressively market themselves, they’ll lose customers to San Diego, San Francisco and other cities. They are trusting that L.A. Inc., the city’s con vention and visitors’ bureau, which will administer the BID, will put together an effective promotional plan. Full details of that effort have not been announced. It is worth noting that the idea of ho tels banding together is not new. There have always been trade groups and L.A. Inc. has long worked to sell Los Angeles to tourists and business groups. What is different here is the decision to utilize the BID mechanism, which formalizes the process and also requires rather than asks the hotels to participate. This is something that has potentially large benefits for Downtown, which is already seeing an increased visitor load due to attractions such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, L.A. live and the vibrant restaurant and bar scene in the Historic Core. Exposing tourists to all the area has to offer will mean more money for local businesses and more street life. It’s a nice place to go. The hotel owners are wise to recognize that they need to act now to prepare for the future.
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 5
Opinion
Work Together For Olvera Street’s Future
The Readers React
City Should Be a Partner With Longtime Merchants
Regarding the editorial “Time for the McCourts to Move On,” published March 28 t was never a good idea for the Los Angeles Dodgers to be owned by an outsider whose base of operations is on the East Coast. There are many Los Angeles-based investors who grew up with the team and who would run the team the way it should be run — with pride, not greed. —Den, March 28, 10:18 a.m.
by Vivien Bonzo
T
he editorial “City’s Latest Thickheaded Olvera Street Rent Offer” (April 4) misses the mark on your claim of city leniency with respect to the new rents on Olvera Street. As reported last year in Los Angeles Downtown News, rents along the Broadway corridor, used as comps for Olvera Street, have shown steady deGUEST OPINION
clines, with new store vacancies reflecting ongoing market distress. On average, landlords have dropped their rents 30%-50% since 2009. Olvera rents are only being discounted 25% from the city’s 2-year-old rent appraisal. These rates yield the city 100%-300% rent increases that for our large retailers are above private-sector pricing. Add to this a 400% increase in maintenance fees and a city demand of $480,000 in back rents and deposits, the payment of which is not feasible given the severe economic downturn. Councilman José Huizar continues to help us navigate these unrealistic financial demands and bring settlement to the long effort of lease negotiations. Motivation for the above-market rates comes from the existing multi-million dollar El Pueblo department’s property management expense — the highest in its 80year history. El Pueblo’s costs grew from $2 million to over $5 million in just five years. These exorbitant fees to manage this small area are unacceptable and have yielded no visible progress. Last year, essential service personnel and visitor amenities were cut, forcing the closure of museum exhibits, visitor orientation and nearly every vital aspect of the landmark. These cuts have reduced El Pueblo to little more than a shopping area. El Pueblo’s parking rates are triple all others in the vicinity, further discouraging visits to the downgraded attraction. As attendance dwindles,
Comments from DowntownNews.com
so does the foundation for the success of El Pueblo and its community. These big picture issues must be resolved to put Olvera Street and El Pueblo back on solid footing. Until revenues are diverted to upgrade the area’s offerings, the recession and new rental fees assure the continued failure of local businesses and guarantee little satisfaction for visitors of the historic site. As high-ticket rent demands are made, five of the six vacant Olvera Street shops have sat empty for over two years. Evictions of long-term merchants yielded the city a net rent loss instead of a surplus, with the highest vacancy rate in the street’s history. The Pico-Garnier block, with anticipated hundreds of thousands of new dollars in rent and fees, sits vacant, with no bidders during the recent attempt to secure a new tenant at city prices. Costs to maintain and secure empty storefronts and buildings are unsupported and will not yield the stated goal of economic self-sufficiency the city now requires. Much more is possible at El Pueblo. With technological innovation readily available and enhancements of our dearly loved and resilient Mexican culture, as the keepers of L.A.’s evolutionary story, we are in a prime position to restore lost vitality to the city’s birthplace. We ask the city not to give up all the social fabric and potential just to maintain a well-stocked department. Instead, let’s put our heads together and assure that the revenues are carefully invested, not just spent. With professional, cost effective management responsible for new programming and promotions, hefty rents will cease to be at issue. Momentum and creative initiative is on display at the new Plaza de Cultura y Artes next door. Juxtapose that with the dusty decades-old window exhibits at El Pueblo and work with the community to make a change that benefits everyone. Vivien Bonzo is president of the Olvera Street Merchants’ Association.
I
T
he Dodgers should not be the Clippers, but that is slowly becoming a reality. Why Donald Sterling has been allowed to own an NBA team for so long is beyond me, but the Dodgers are more than just an L.A. team — they are one of MLB’s biggest draws. Although no team is as universally popular as the Yankees, the Dodgers could be No. 2. With the McCourts, they have become a second-tier team, with no sense they will be a contender anytime soon. Sell baby, sell! —Johnny, April 4, 7:41 a.m.
Regarding the article “Let There Be Lights,” about the plan to establish a sign district on Figueroa Street between 7+Fig and L.A. Live, published online March 25, by Ryan Vaillancourt vote yes! I want L.A. to go to the next level. We can be more interesting if we just put our heads together and do things a little different. As for the concern of distracted drivers, tell them to turn down their sound systems and stop texting. —James Hanson, March 26, 11:50 a.m.
I I
f done right with good taste and style, it will add so much more to the area. Look at the new LV store in City Center in Las Vegas. Its lighting effects are beautiful at night. —Kristofer, March 28, 7:15 a.m.
I
don’t want it to end up some sleazy Vegas electronic nightmare. I am OK with a few places here and there like L.A. Live, but if you end up making all of Figueroa electronic it would be tacky. —Cheri, March 28, 9:58 a.m.
still breaking ground.
We’ve invested $3 billion in new construction in the last ten years.
But, we’re not done yet.
With available capital, no financing contingency and
MAC CHANDLER Managing Director
| 213 553 2200
development expertise in place, JOHN MEHIGAN
Regency is poised to execute your next retail project.
Vice President, Investments D I G I N A N D D I S C O V E R M O R E AT:
| 213 553 2273
| S tillBreakingGround.com
6 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews LoS angeLeS conSerVancY PRESENTS
MaY 25 orpHeuM tHeatre LoS angeLeS conSerVancY PRESENTS
REAR WINDOW
25
th
(1954)
June 1 LoS angeLeS tHeatre
THE MUSIC MAN
(1962)
June 8 MiLLion doLLar tHeatre
CAPTAIN BLOOD
(1935)
June 15 LoS angeLeS tHeatre
KING KONG
MAY 25 - JUNE 29, 2011
(1933)
June 22 MiLLion doLLar tHeatre
ceLeBrate a Quarter centurY oF cLaSSic FiLMS & LiVe entertainMent in HiStoric tHeatreS Featuring tHe MoVie paLaceS oF tHe BroadwaY HiStoric tHeatre diStrict
Tickets on Sale Now to L.A. Conservancy Members; April 13 to the General Public
ZOOT SUIT
Co-PRESENTEd wiTh
(1981)
June 26 paLace tHeatre – 100th celebration!
SUNSET BOULEVARD
Special Sunday shows (matinee and evening)
(1950)
June 29 orpHeuM tHeatre
SAFETY LAST!
(1923)
FoR dETAiLS, uPdATES, ANd TiCkETS, viSiT laconservancy.org QuESTioNS? CALL (213) 430-4219 (EvENT hoTLiNE) oR (213) 623-2489
Make a night of it! visit laconservancy.org for Last Remaining Seats downtown dining specials. SerieS Star SponSor:
HoLLYwood Foreign preSS aSSociation
SerieS Serie Supporting SponSor: or:
Media Spon SponSor: or:
Vip reception SponSor: or:
Serie SerieS SponSorS:
SteVe Bing Spon eVening SponSorS:
catHY and SteVe needLeMan M 25 MaY
Linda and JerrY BrucKHeiMer June 1
June 8
June 15
June 26
June 29
June 22 Funded in part BY
April 11, 2011
DowntownNews.com
Life After the CRA City Tries to Save $930 Million in Targeted Funds, And Prepares for a Future Without the Agency by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer
A
s the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles awaits its fate at the state budget gallows, it’s becoming clear that even if the guillotine falls, it won’t likely mark a swift, clean end for the entity formed in 1948 with a mission to combat urban blight. Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate the state’s more than 400 redevelopment bodies would take effect July 1, at which point successor agencies in each locale would step in and swiftly liquidate assets for the CRAs. At least in Los Angeles, the process of doing away with the agency would be slower, more complicated and potentially rife with legal challenges. Already the city has transferred some current assets and $930 million in obligated future revenues away from the CRA, an effort to protect the tax increment funds that Brown would like to repurpose for core government services. That means, with or without a formal redevelopment agency, Los Angeles is poised for the next 10 years to continue investing in projects shaped and already reviewed by the CRA. If Brown’s proposal goes through, and if his legal team can’t find a way to reclaim the $930 million, the city would still face a difficult and largely unanswered question: How would it spend the CRA money? There’s another equally important question: What would happen to future
Downtown projects that have traditionally relied on the CRA for help? The List The CRA has been a major driver of redevelopment in Downtown Los Angeles by investing tax increment funds in affordable housing, infrastructure and a host of other projects. The agency was instrumental in the redevelopment of Bunker Hill and the acquisition of the land on which Staples Center rose. It has been involved, often as a primary financier, in most of the area’s affordable housing initiatives. On March 10, the City Council and the CRA reached an agreement giving the city future rights to about $930 million, or 10 years’ worth of projected tax increment funding. Tax increment is the amount of increased property taxes after a redevelopment project area is established. If the CRA is not axed, the deal will allow the agency to keep the $930 million. So far, there is only a conceptual framework for how the dollars would be spent. The City Attorney’s office has mandated that the work be carried out by a public agency, either a new or an existing city entity, as opposed to, say, a nonprofit. One key provision in the agreement is that the funds can only pay for about 300 already-identified projects located in the 31 CRA project areas across the city. The efforts, which include 90 Downtown projects with a collective price tag of $574.45 million, were chosen in part because they have already
been subject to some level of planning analysis and public vetting. “The project list is ironclad from the standpoint that the only projects that the $930 million can be spent on have to be on the list,” said CRA CEO Chris Essel. “They don’t have to do all of them, but they can’t do ones other than are on that list.” The Downtown projects tagged for funds include $10 million for a proposed “Artists’ Park” in the Arts District; $25 million for Block 8, a proposed mixed-use development in Little Tokyo by the Related Companies; $2 million for environmental studies for Park 101, a park that would cap the freeway; and $100,000 for the development of a mobile phone application for promoting Bunker Hill-area cultural attractions. Building every project on the list would cost more than $930 million. That means not every effort will get beyond the planning stage. “A certain prioritization of those projects will need to take place as a new successor agency moves forward,” Essel said. How projects will be prioritized is uncertain. Essel said the dollars could flow proportionally to the council districts from which the tax increment funds were generated. Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose territory includes much of Downtown, said the successor agency set up by the city should prioritize the projects that have the biggest impact — namely mixed-use developments with affordable housing near transit hubs. “I think the fact that it’s tied to a list of projects creates a benchmark for oversight, and any action that would deviate away from that portfolio would have to be challenged in a very serious manner on the public record,” Perry said. Filling a Hole While the city is looking to continue redevelopment activities through a new agency,
Downtown News 7
photo by Gary Leonard
Community Redevelopment Agency CEO Chris Essel is steering the agency through hard times — Gov. Jerry Brown and the state legislature are poised to axe the economic development group.
the initiative is inherently temporary. There is no revenue stream beyond the estimated $930 million. Perry, however, is looking to fill a small portion of the long-term economic development hole that would be left by the CRA’s demise by creating a Downtown-specific economic development corporation. It would be funded by revenues the city expects to generate through leases recently acquired from the CRA as part of the mass transfer of assets. In addition to transferring the $930 million to the city, the CRA moved several key parcels formerly under its control. They include the ground leases at California Plaza on Bunker Hill, which according to a city staff see CRA, page 11
FEELING BOXED IN BY YOUR PHONE COMPANY? SWITCH TO TIME WARNER CABLE BUSINESS CLASS FOR THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT INTERNET AND PHONE SOLUTION. Your business deserves options, not limitations. We can provide you with tailored Internet, Phone and Cable TV solutions that meet your unique needs. With services like Managed Security, Vanity E-mail and our new Business Class Voice Manager tool, you can open up your business to new possibilities. Call us today.
GET BUSINESS CLASS PHONE
FREE FOR 3 MONTHS
WHEN YOU BUNDLE WITH INTERNET THREE-YEAR TERM
WWW.TWCBC.COM/WEST
1.866.636.5896 Internet | Phone | Cable TV | Ethernet Offer available for new phone customers. Phone offer includes subscription to one Unlimited In-State phone line. Internet offer includes subscription to 3 Mbps. Early termination fees may apply. Offer is not transferable and may not be combined with any other offer. Business Class Phone does not include back-up power and should there be a power outage Business Class Phone, including the ability to access 911 services, may not be available. Additional charges apply for taxes, fees, Directory Assistance, Operator Services and calls to International locations. Offer ends 6/30/11. Products, offer and services not available in all areas. Actual speeds may vary. Some restrictions apply. Time Warner Cable Business Class reserves the right to discontinue any feature or offer at any time. Subject to change without notice. ©2011 Time Warner Cable. All rights reserved.
8 Downtown News
Twitter/DowntownNews
April 11, 2011
metro.net
We can’t go anywhere without you. With over one million boardings a day, Metro moves a lot of people, including Nathan Pollock. Nathan commutes everyday from his home in Downey to work in the City of Commerce. For leisure, he sometimes rides to Hollywood to catch a movie in one of the classic theaters. Metro bus operator Cathy Malone, who nominated Nathan for recognition, said, “Nathan is a stand-up guy. He always greets me with a friendly attitude and is always helpful to everyone on board.”
“I ride Metro because I save money on gas and I get to meet great people from all walks of life.” – Nathan Pollock
The Art Program of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) developed these tours to introduce residents and visitors to their collection of public art created by a broad range of artist, in a variety of forms and neighborhood contexts. The tours available include:
Financial District Historic Core Bunker Hill Little Tokyo The Art Program is integral to CRA/LA’s mission to eliminate blight and to revitalize Los Angeles through focused redevelopment activities in designated project areas.
DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO TOURS
Out Of the pa st but in the mOment Rooftop Pool & Spa ■ On-Site Shops & Restaurants Rooftop Lounge w/BBQ ■ Fitness Center ■ Dog Park Concierge Service ■ Storage ■ Business Center Historic Lofts for Lease
716 Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 866.499.2749 | www.santeecourt.com
to your personal MP3 player and explore the public art of Los Angeles like never before. Printable maps direct you to each stop as you listen to the artists’ stories.
11-1062bd © 2011 lacmta
Metro salutes Nathan and all of our valued customers.
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 9
DowntownNews.com
WHAT’S IN STORE
Novecento The Best of Old Europe in the Heart of Downtown by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
I
f you think you’re enthusiastic about contemporary, mid-century and antique furniture from Europe, you’re not. Well, at least not compared to Alexander Stojkovic, the owner of Novecento. The 50-year-old who was born in Yugoslavia and raised in Italy and Germany runs a store at 910 S. Olive St. that, at least in look, is part museum, part art gallery. He sells more than 1,500 items, most of them imported from Europe, ranging from table and floor lamps to paintings to antique rugs to even a few toys. Stojkovic darts around his shop, which opened in November, like a child running through a toy store. He shoots off rapid-fire facts about where he got the pieces and who created them, often asking visitors for the correct word in English to express his admiration. As part of a series highlighting local retail, Los Angeles Downtown News takes a look at what’s in store. Goal: One of the first items a visitor to the store sees is a Calico-Italian table soccer game made in the 1950s; it resembles an early foosball table. The goalies and a few of the players can be moved with knobs at either end of the table, but there won’t likely be any World Cup action here, considering its price tag of $1,900.
photo by Gary Leonard
Score a soccer game table for $1,900 at Novecento. Alexander Stojkovic opened the vintage furniture and antique store in November.
and shaft support a big pearl round top in the $3,500 piece.
photo by Gary Leonard
Lamps are popular at Novecento. A signed piece from the 1970s by designer Artluce is a functioning collector’s item.
Light It Up: Dozens of lamps hang from the ceiling and dot the floor of the 5,000-square-
foot shop. They include antique Italian chandeliers, wall sconces and floor lamps. One of the most eye-catching is a 1970s floor lamp from Italian designer Arteluce. “It’s a oneof-a-kind model, signed, so it was probably in an exhibition and it also gives excellent lighting,” Stojkovic said. A gold-plated base
Mouse in the House: Mickey and friends also have the run of the store. Stojkovic sells some plastic toy figures, which are about 60 years old, as a set. The 13-inch tall Mickey and three smaller dolls (Donald Duck’s nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie) go for $550. There is also a 13-inch tall Mickey Mouse lamp manufactured for the European market in the 1970s. Mickey is dressed in his blue coat with a red bowtie. The light bulb is inside so his whole body is illuminated. It sells for $400. Corner Comfort: It has five legs, two backs and skin from the world’s largest bird, and it can fit perfectly in that hard to decorate
corner. Novecento sells a 1930s Italian corner chair for $1,200. It was recently re-upholstered by the store with ostrich leather. Meeting Room: For a corporate room with a bit of vintage style, Novecento offers a wood table that is about 10 feet long. Its old metal legs were taken from industrial machines. Stojkovic pairs the table with 12 chairs by Castelli, the well-known office furniture designer. The chairs are from 1966; the entire ensemble is $8,900. “Castelli is becoming very popular again and this table is handmade of very hard industrial wood, so you can do anything on it,” he said. Novecento is at 910 S. Olive St., (213) 6227700 or novecento.1stdibs.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
Introducing the 6 week
ultImate
sprIng challenge how would you like to... lose at least 7½ lbs of fat? Drop a full clothes size? lose a minimum of 2 inches from your waist? Increase your fat burning rate by 10+%? In just 6 weeks?
results are 100% guaranteed! (Or your money back)
Worth over $1000
Only $599!
KNOW THAT FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOUR TOYOTA IS RUNNING ITS BEST?
- 50% OFF!
Expires 5/15/11
get reaDY...
1. Full Analysis (weight, measurements, body fat, blood pressure, metabolism & heart rate) 2. Goal Setting (Clear target of what you want to achieve) 3. Action Plan (personalized nutrition and exercise plan)
get actIVe...
1. Exercise (20 vigorous sessions with your trainer - 3 times a week) 2. Change It Up (halfway consultation to fine tune your progress) 3. Learn (4 seminars covering mind technology, lifestyle and health)
get results!
Places are limited so please book now to avoid disappointment.
Tickets good for both April 15 & 16.
YOUR TOYOTA DESERVES TOYOTA GENUINE SERVICE • OUR PRICES are competitive with local garages! • $39.95 OIL CHANGE*
1. Results (Complete final analysis and certificate of achievement) 2. Picture (professional photo of your ‘after’ picture presented with your before shot 3. Win (from our 6 week spring challenge prizes
Book now and don’t look back - now you have everything you need to succeed!
FREE shuttle service
GET 2 FREE TICKETS to the TOYOTA LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX with $90.00 minimum purchase of parts or service.
633 W. 5th St., Suite 5750 Los Angeles, CA 90071 office 213.617.8229 downtownla@educogym.com www.educogym.com
• Includes 27-point safety inspection • Includes CHECK ENGINE LIGHT scan • Service: M- F 6AM -6PM, Sat 6AM-5PM * And up. Includes up to 5 quarts of oil. Tax and hazardous disposal fees extra. Synthetic oil additional. Toyota vehicles only. Expires 05/31/2011. 47120
Make an appointment today!
1-800-716-1345
110
10
• toyotacentral.com
1600 S. Figueroa (at Venice), LA — 2 blocks south of the Staples Center
10 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
Awards Continued from page 1 bag caught in the branches of a tree on the grounds; and other signs of neglect. “The project that won multiple awards, the AIA[LA] Building Team of the Year in 2009 and the L.A. Business Council’s Grand Prize architectural award in 2010, has changed,” White said. “Unfortunately it appears there’s been an extreme lack of maintenance and upkeep of the building’s exterior and outdoor public areas.” It was almost as if someone leaked the news of the lemon to the city before the event, however, because shortly after, the
site wasn’t nearly as neglected as it appeared in the Breakfast Club’s documentation. The property’s recent upkeep is thanks mostly to a group of volunteers organized by the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. The group has participated in four cleanups in the past five months, said Melani Smith, who chairs the Breakfast Club and is president of Meléndrez, the landscape design firm that designed the LAPD public spaces. Smith said the lemon recipient was not her idea, but that she agreed with it. The images that the DBC displayed were taken by club members during a stretch from last December until a couple weeks ago, Smith said. “You are seeing an improvement there,” she said. “But it hasn’t been LAPD. It’s been the community and neighborhood council.”
photo by Gary Leonard
Rose winners and presenters included (l to r) DBC member Patrick Spillane, Hygge Bakery’s Rasmus Lee, DBC members Steve Marcussen and Barbara Bundy, “Mohawk Matt” Berman of Bolt Barbers and DBC member Shirley Spinelli.
photo by Gary Leonard
(l to r) Rose winners Alex LiMandri, representing the Downtown Center BID, FIDM’s Shannon Ryan, Michael Alexander of Grand Performances and DBC members Kathy Faulk and Shirley Spinelli.
Dentistry for
“Everyone is invited, Everyone belongs”
Today
CHURCH
LIVE
LA
EVERYONE IS INVITED EVERYONE BELONGS
www.livechurchla.com
• Professional dental cleanings
SUNDAYS 10 AM
• Prompt and attentive care
L.A. LIVE
• Invisalign Preferred Provider • Laser dentistry • Digital x-rays
$9
9
• 0% financing available
Teeth Whitening for Life ASK US HOW!
255 S. Grand Ave. Suite 204, Los Angeles
ES
Boardwalk
Chelsea
Promenade
Polly
+ 75
L TY
S
Y N A
BR A F s ’ 0 KS
0
Uno
Valencia
Victoria
Roper
Paige
Carson
Maestro
Archie
SOFAS starting at
Cairo
Ivan
Jenny
Zuma
Sunset
Horizon
$595
Oscar
Summer
Bring this Ad for $100 OFF any Custom Sofa at
WWW.THESOFACO.COM
10
E Z I S ICS
2-3
E E W
SANTA MONICA PASADENA REDONDO BEACH DOWNTOWN L.A.
1726 W. PiCO BLVD. 888-778-7632
Now Welcoming New Patients
(213) 290-2906 Find us on
Don Mungcal, DDS
Facebook® @ www.downtowndentalla.com
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 11
DowntownNews.com
CRA
photo by Gary Leonard
DBC presenters and rose winners included (l to r) Christian Ahumada and Mike Alvidrez of Skid Row Housing Trust, DBC member Clare DeBriere, El Dorado developer Bill Stevenson, Cindy Troesch and Andy Ruiz from Watermarke Tower, and DBC members Patrick Spillane, Shirley Spinelli and Charlie Mutillo.
This isn’t the first time the city took flack for the state of the public space at the building. The lawn fronting Second Street had to be replanted last year after it was damaged during a police function held shortly after the headquarters opened. Roses for Everyone With a pair of trumpets heralding each award, the club handed out 12 roses to a collection of housing developments, entertainment spots and community initiatives. In the Housing category, roses went to the El Dorado, the 65-unit adaptive reuse condo project in the Old Bank District by Downtown Properties; Watermarke Properties’ Watermarke Tower, a luxury rental building in South Park; and, in the affordable housing category, Skid Row Housing Trust’s Charles Cobb Apartments. “Back in 1999 the passage of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance began a slow but radical transformation of living in Downtown,” said club member Charlie Mutillo. “Now
you can get a haircut at 1 a.m. or eat at some of Southern California’s most acclaimed restaurants… but more importantly we have so many choices on where to live.” In a category dubbed “On the Town,” roses were given to Michael Leko and Will Shamlian’s latest bar effort, Spring Street (on, you guessed it, Spring Street in the Historic Core); Sugarfish, a Seventh Street sushi restaurant that opened last year; and Exchange L.A., the Spring Street nightclub that has taken over the Los Angeles Stock Exchange building, replacing the decades of wingtips that once walked its marble floors with a new generation of 4-inch stilettos. “Dining and nightlife have truly put Downtown on the map, [with] dozens of new distinct venues offering a range of experiences from trendy to old-fashioned,” said presenter Michelle Isenberg. The show marked a departure from previous years; the DBC has traditionally nominated several projects per category and then selected a single rose recipient.
This year, there were four categories, and in each one three projects received a red flower. Other winners included Urth Caffe, which opened in the Arts District in 2008; Hygge Bakery in South Park; and the Historic Core’s Bolt Barbers. In a category dubbed Good Ideas, roses went to the Downtown Center Business Improvement District’s Saturday Housing Tours; the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising’s community programming; and Grand Performances, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this summer. “We know that Downtown, like every part of the country, has struggled through this recession and we really wanted to be the most encouraging we could to the people who have opened here and stayed,” Smith said. “We decided this was the year to be especially supportive and give everybody a rose.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
Continued from page 7 report generates about $3.7 million annually for the city. The city received the leases as payment on Community Development Block Grant 20-year loans. Perry wants to use revenue beyond what’s needed to pay those loans to fund the economic development corporation to invest in Downtown projects typically pushed by the CRA. “It would create a new beginning for a very independent, highly focused, small group of people to continue to attract, retain and develop business, retail and housing opportunities in and around the Downtown area,” Perry said. “But no, it wouldn’t match the CRA. There is no match.” The city’s Chief Legislative Analyst, Gerry Miller, is overseeing preliminary discussions on the creation of the public entity to manage the $930 million in transferred CRA funds. Those discussions won’t likely ramp up unless and until Brown’s proposal becomes law. Figuring out how to manage the $930 million may, however, be one step ahead of a more critical challenge: How to hold on to the dollars at all, said Raphael Sonenshein, a political scientist at California State University, Fullerton. “I’m not sure the city’s going to win that one,” Sonenshein said. “I think the first thing the state will do is get the new law passed and then go after as much of that money as they can.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
THE PETROLEUM BUILDING
Commercial Office Space for Lease Suite 1000
DON’T WAIT...
...for gas prices to go even higher.
Suite 1011
...to reduce your carbon footprint.
n
BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS Beautiful 236,900 sq. ft. 11 Story Office Building. Parking Available on Premises Conference Room • 24 Hour Security $1.55 Interior - $1.65 Exterior Per Rentable Sq. Ft.
2 SUITES AVAILABLE
714 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213.746.6300 Ext. 1455 Fax: 213.765.1910 ghollis@shammasgroup.com
Suite 1011 - 6,060 approximate rentable square feet. Large, open creative space with one office. Will consider division and space build-outs.
n
The Petroleum Building
Suite 1000 - 7,400 approximate rentable square feet. 8 offices, 1 executive office and large creative space. Access directly off elevators.
51 M
...to get your own Prius.
EPA
All of the above.
EST
THE NEW 2011 PRIUS
P G!
IMA TE C
ITY
!
OVER 25 NOW IN STOCK! (But going fast!)
YOUR DOWNTOWN TOYOTA DEALER
110
“We make it easy!”
10
1-800-574-4891 • toyotacentral.com 1600 S. Figueroa (at Venice), LA — 2 blocks south of the Staples Center
12 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
Protests for Project Opening Native American Groups Angry Over Treatment of Remains Discovered During LA Plaza Construction by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
W
hen the long-in-the-works LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes opens on Saturday, April 16, officials with the new Mexican American cultural center plan a day-long celebration. The $27 million attraction will be feted with live music, art workshops and tours. But not everyone who shows up at the building at 501 N. Main St. will be there to party or applaud the opening of the project. Under the banner “Save La Plaza Cemetery,” members of the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians are organizing a protest during the grand opening of the project for what they say is the desecration of L.A.’s “most historic cemetery,” according to an email sent last week by the Gabrieleno Band. A protest was also scheduled for an April 9 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press) LA Plaza fundraiser honoring First District County Supervisor and project champion Gloria Molina. The controversy stems from the October discovery of bones
in a basketball-court size portion of the center’s 30,000-squarefoot garden. Although initial requests to halt construction to determine the origin of the bones were rebuffed, in January the pressure from various groups prompted LA Plaza officials to halt work on that part of the garden. It was fenced off and progress continued on the rest of the 2.2-acre facility. In total, remains from 118 bodies were found on the land that was the site of a former cemetery next to La Placita church on Main Street. Officials with the tribes believe some of the bones were of Native Americans. “Please come to support our Tribe and fight for the ethical treatment of our ancestor’s remains,” reads the email from Christina Swindall Martinez, secretary for the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians. The remains are now in storage at the Natural History Museum while LA Plaza officials, Molina and others try to determine what to do next. Miguel Angel Corzo, president and CEO of LA Plaza, said see Protests, page 24
photo by Gary Leonard
Work was halted in January on part of the garden for LA Plaza (behind green barrier). The remains of 118 individuals have been discovered.
Ladies appareL Co.
SUIT
LIQUIDATION anne klein
EvEryThINg gOEs! SizeS 2-14
8th Street L.A. Co ➩ 9th Street
L.A. St.
(213) 627-6861 840 S. Los Angeles St. Garment District Between 8th & 9th St. Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30-5:00
Central Nursing College
Help Wanted advertising account executive
Courses Offered: Licensed Vocational Nurse
L.A. Downtown News is looking for a enthusiastic self-starter who is well-organized and has the ability to sell advertising over the phone AND in person, with 3+ years in sales experience, preferably in advertising/media with a proven track record in prospecting and closing new business. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and selling skills, a strong work ethic and a great attitude. Compensation includes a base salary plus commissions and bonuses.
Foreign Student Services: 1-20 • F-1
This is a full-time position with benefits, including health insurance, vacation, private health club, and a 401(K) retirement plan. Candidate must possess own vehicle and valid driver’s license and insurance.
Transition Easily into RN Program!
Job Placement Assistance Available
Help Wanted
advertising account executive
Cleaning, L.A. Downtown X-Ray News is looking & for a enthusiastic self-starter who is well-organized and has the ability to sell advertising over the phone AND in person, with 3+ years in sales experience, preferExam* ably in advertising/media with a proven track record in prospecting and closing new business. The
Normandie Ave.
49
$
8th St.
Ardmore Ave.
Open HOuse April 16: 11Am-2pm r.s.v.p.
(213) 384-4789 • 3550 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 830 • www.cncusa.edu
Wilshire Blvd. Kingsley Dr.
Approved for Veterans and Other Eligible Person • Financial Aid / Pell Grant Available
6th St.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via e-mail to: jobs@downtownnews.com. Use subject line: Account Executive 2011 1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 (213) 481-1448 • FAX (213) 250-4617
ladowntownnews.com
HUNGRY, PARTY OF ONE.
$99ideal Zoom Whitening candidate will have exceptional communication and selling skills, a strong work ethic and a Digital X-Rays great attitude. Compensation includes a base salary plus commissions and bonuses. Se Habla Español
Dr. This Kathy Maasoumi is a full-time position with benefits, including health insurance, vacation, private health club, and a & Dr. Roshi Rofagha 401(K) retirement plan. Candidate must possess own vehicle and valid driver’s license and insurance. *For patients without insurance. New Patients only. (Patients with Insurance: Your insurance might cover your entire treatment.)
If you are |interested in applying for this position, please send your 404 S. Figueroa, #207 213-486-0006 | www.KathyDDS.net
cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via e-mail to: jobs@downtownnews.com. Use subject line: Account Executive 2011
Chew on the latest restaurant news & reviews. www.DowntownLADining.com
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 13
DowntownNews.com
HEALTH Work It Out
models every 18 months or so. “You can often buy this returned equipment from the supplier,” he said. “Be sure to check it out, because it is used equipment, although buying from a supplier or manufacturer is better than Craigslist.” It is also important to check the size of equipment, according to Margolis. He points out that gym equipment is larger than other devices and may not fit in all apartments. Another good source of information is the American College of Sports Medicine, which
Exercise Equipment That’s New to You by Ginny Frizzi
M
produces a series of free brochures written by experts designed to help the public safely enjoy physical activity and exercise. They are accessible at acsm.org. The website’s “Selecting and Effectively Using” series provides guidance on choosing and using equipment such as treadmills, stationary bicycles and stair machines. There is also information on yoga, walking, exercise and blood pressure, exercise and asthma, and more. see Equipment, page 15
* * ConvenientHealthcare. Healthcare. Convenient * * Convenient Healthcare. Convenient Healthcare. Convenient Healthcare.
any Americans decide at some point to begin exercising in order to improve their physical fitness and/or to lose weight. Some join health clubs or gyms; others prefer to work out in the pri* vacy of their homes. In The Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. In The Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. One challenge to exercising at home can be IninThe Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. a lack of equipment that would be available a gym. As a result, some peopleIn lookThe to purHeart of Downtown Los Angeles. In The Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. * chase secondhand equipment for home use. For Joshua Margolis of Mind Over Matter In The Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Health & Fitness, such a purchase is a matter In The Heart of Downtown Los Angeles. of real value versus cost. “If you’re not accustomed to a particular the equipment because the best brands of piece of equipment, there is no sense in get- new equipment generally make for the best ting it,” he said. “Try it out first at a gym or secondhand equipment. On Grand and Pico. 2 blocks of L.A. On Grand and Pico. Just Just 2 blocks east east of L.A. LIVE!LIVE! On Grand and Pico. Just 2 blocks east of L. health club. Remember that exercise is not “Make sure that all of the parts are presabout an inanimate object. It’s about you. It’s ent and accounted for,” Farnell advised. On Grand and Pico. Just 2 blocks east of L.A. LIVE! all about whether you like the equipment and “Many people have things sitting in the Grand and Pico. Just 2 b On Grand and Pico. Just 2 blocksOn east of L.A. LIVE! would use it.” garage, and over the years, bolts and ac* 2 blocks *east of L.A. LIVE! Margolis compares the purchase of exercise cessories tend to get lost. Offer to pick up * Just On Grand and Pico. equipment to that of other major goods, such any large pieces. People really want to get * * * as a car. He notes that you always take a car for rid of the larger pieces because they take up a test drive before buying it. It should be the the most room in their houses. You can resame with a piece of exercise equipment. ally negotiate free or low-fee equipment on Patient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: According to Margolis, a treadmill is prob- Craigslist or at yard sales.” Patient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: ably the No. 1 piece of exercise equipment Purchasing secondhand exercise equipPatient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: Patient-Centered Medical Close to Work, Close to Home: Patient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: Diagnostic Imaging — MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology � Care bought for home use. There’s a reason for ment is usually a “buyer beware” situation. Imaging — MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology �� Diagnostic State-of-the art Cancer Treatment Patient-Centered Medical Care Close toanWork, Close to Home: � Diagnostic Imaging — MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology Diagnostic — MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology � tips that. Farnell has a few additional for Imaging beingImaging — MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology � Diagnostic � State-of-the art Cancer Treatment —*Medical, Radiation�&State-of-the Surgical Treatment options art Cancer Treatment “It is best for simplicity. It doesn’t take informed consumer.� State-of-the — Medical, Radiation & Surgical Treatment options State-of-the artInterventional Cancer Treatment art Cancer Treatment Ultrasound, Radiology � Diagnostic Imaging — MRI,�CT, — Medical, Radiation & Surgical Treatment options — HDR & IMRT much to walk,” he said, adding that bikes The first is to determine whether the — HDR & IMRT — Medical, Radiation & Surgical Treatment options — HDR & IMRT — Medical, Radiation & Surgical Treatment options State-of-the art Cancer Treatment � Orthopedic Services � for home use are now being made small andIn Theequipment was used Heart of Downtown Losfrequently, Angeles. moderately � Orthopedic Services Orthopedic Services � compact so they even can fit into a bedroom —orMedical, at all. Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) — HDR & IMRT HDR & IMRT Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) Radiation & — Surgical Treatment options——Joint Patient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: — Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) in a small apartment. “You will want to purchase things in the Spine disorders —— Spine disorders Services � Orthopedic � Orthopedic Services — HDR & IMRT “Ellipticals are also gaining in popularity, way of treadmills, ellipticals and weight train— Spine disorders —— Hand, FootFoot and Ankle treatments Hand, and Ankle treatments You. Here for and companies are designing them for home ing machines thatMRI, were moderately used and — Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, — Hand,Shoulder) Foot and Ankle treatments We’re Here for We’re — Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee,Knee, Shoulder) Services � Orthopedic Imaging — CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology � Diagnostic and Respiratory Care � Pulmonary Medicine W � Pulmonary Medicine and Respiratory Care use,” says Margolis. still have a manufacturer’s warranty,” he said. � Pulmonary Medicine and Respiratory Care � Ear, Nose and Throat Diagnostic and Treatment Services — Spine disorders — Spine disorders — Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) � Ear, Nose and Throat Diagnostic and Treatment Services State-of-the art Cancer Treatment � equipment, When it comes to secondhand “Equipment that has sat for many years of andCare Throat Diagnostic and Treatment Services � Ear, andNose Surgical � Urology — Diagnostic, Treatment On Grand andFoot Pico. Just 2 blocks east of L.A. LIVE! — Hand, and treatments — Hand, Foot and Ankle treatments Urology — Diagnostic, Treatment and Surgical Treatment Care � Ankle — Spine disorders Margolis believes that the fewer moving parts disuse tends to have issues, for example, dry � Urology — Diagnostic, and Surgical Care Here for You. � Cardiology — Diagnostic and Testing Services DIGITAL We’re — Medical, Radiation & Surgical Treatment options We’re Here for You. there are, the better. He notes that this re- —rot. Avidly used equipment is also a good � Cardiology — Diagnostic and Testing Services � Cardiology — Diagnostic and Testing Services Pulmonary Medicine and Respiratory Care � Women’s & Children’s Pulmonary Medicine and �Respiratory Care Services — Level II NICU MAMMOGRAMS Hand, Foot and �Ankle treatments duces the chance of it breaking and requiring but make sure that it is not on its We’re Here for You. — HDRpurchase, & IMRT Women’s & Children’s Services — Level II NICU Women’s & Children’s Services — Level IINOW NICU AVAILABLE � II Emergency Care and Level Trauma Center �� 24/7 Ear,* great Nose and Throat Diagnostic and Treatment Services � Nose andCare Throat Diagnostic and Treatment Services � Ear, doctors included. and Respiratory � Pulmonary an expensive fix. last legs Medicine when it becomes yours.” CALL NOW! Emergency and Level II Trauma Center � 24/7 � 24/7 Emergency Care and Level II TraumaCare Center Services � Orthopedic Fitness expert Andre Farnell’s company, Several exerUrology — Diagnostic, Treatment and Surgical �purchasing — Treatment and Surgical Care Care � Urology andexperts Throatsuggest Diagnostic andDiagnostic, Treatment Services � Ear, Nose Better Body Expert, provides fitness instruc- cise equipment from a local gym. The best Discover what theServices right doctor can do for you ... � Cardiology — (Hip, Diagnostic and Testing Cardiology — Surgical Diagnostic and Testing Services �/Treatment —� the Joint Replacement Reconstruction Knee, Shoulder) Urology — Diagnostic, and Care tion for busy individuals. Known as Dre purchases are commercial-grade equipment, Discover what the right doctor Patient-Centered Medical Care Close to Work, Close to Home: CALL 1-888-742-CHMC (2462) Discover what the right doctor can do for you can ... do for you ... & Children’s Services — Level II NICU � Women’s Trainer, Farnell recommends exercise equipaccording Farnell.� “These are the best to Services Women’s & Children’s — Level II NICU Cardiology —to Diagnostic and Testing Services —� Spine disorders MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Interventional Radiology CALL 1-888-742-CHMC (2462) ment for his in-home clients. His sugges-Diagnostic snatchImaging up at—privately owned neighborhood Emergency and Level II Trauma Center � 24/7 24/7 Emergency and Level II Trauma Center � Women’s & Children’s � Services — Level II Care NICUCare CALL 1-888-742-CHMC (2462) State-of-the art Cancer Treatment tions for purchasing secondhand exercise gyms. Also,and smallAnkle gym equipment suppliers — Hand, Foot treatments Medical, Radiation & Surgical options We’re Here for You. Emergency Care andTreatment Level II Trauma � 24/7— equipment include doing your homework, usually have floor models for sale at heavyCenter — Medicine HDR & IMRT Pulmonary and Respiratory Care � especially if you’re looking at a specific piece, discount,” he says. Orthopedic Services to become aware of any recalls.� Farnell rec- and Margolis agrees, notingDiscover thatand manyTreatment gyms what right doctor do for Ear, Nose Throat Diagnostic Services Discover what the the right doctor can can do for youyou ... ... — Joint Replacement / Reconstruction (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) ommends finding out the manufacturer of —either lease equipment or trade for newer Spine disorders
Convenient Healthcar Convenient Healthcare.
greatincluded. doctors include great doctors included. great doctors great doctors included. great doctors included. great doctors
*
great doctors included.
FLOWER
FLOWER
FLOWER
FLOWER
FLOWER
FLOWER
Convenient Healthcare.
�
FLOWER
�
�
�
Discover what the right doctor can do for you ... Urology — Diagnostic, and Surgical Care — Hand, Foot and Ankle Treatment treatments CALL CALL 1-888-742-CHMC (2462) 1-888-742-CHMC (2462) We’re Here for You.
Cardiology —andDiagnostic and Testing Services(2462) CALL Ear, Nose Throat 1-888-742-CHMC Diagnostic and Treatment Services �
�
Pulmonary Medicine and Respiratory Care
�
Complete 24/7 Emergency Care and Level II Trauma Center Eye Care Center � �
Urology — Diagnostic, Treatment and Surgical Care Women’s & Children’s Services — Level II NICU � �
Cardiology — Diagnostic and Testing Services
�
Women’s & Children’s Services — Level II NICU
�
24/7 Emergency Care and Level II Trauma Center
Family owned and operated for over Discover what the right doctor can do for you ... 28 years in theDiscover Los AngelesCALL area (2462) can what1-888-742-CHMC the right doctor
April
SAle
do for you ...
CheCk out our great priCing!
CALL 1-888-742-CHMC (2462)
Single Vision (with frame): $30 or 2 for $45 Bifocals (with frame): $49 or 2 for $74 Progressives (with frame): $119 or 2 for $179 Contact Lenses: From $15 a box ervice One Hour S Single Vision Transition: $89 a pair re Discount Sto Colored Contacts: From $52 for 3 pairs es www.completeeyecarela.com
m Designer Fra
LOS ANGELES - 323-373-9633
We have 3 2825 Crenshaw Bl., Los Angeles, CA 90016 Locations to serve you: LAWNDALE - 17001 Hawthorne Blvd., Lawndale, CA, 90260 • 310-370-7575 INGLEWOOD - 3121 West Imperial Highway, Inglewood, CA • 310-330-0094
35%OFF 30%OFF All Sports All Vitamins, Supplements
Minerals & Herbs
Expires 4/30/11
Expires 4/30/11
*Offers may not be combined with any other promotions and or discount: Only one discount per purchase whichever is greater. One coupon per person. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Redeemable only at GNC 510 West 6th Street, Los Angeles,, CA 90014. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.
DOWNTOWN GNC LOCATIONS:
Pershing Square, 6th & Olive: 510 W. 6th St., Ph: 213-622-2078 Arco Plaza: 505 S. Flower St., Level B, Ph: 213-489-7732 Macy’s Plaza: 700 S. Flower St., Ph: 213-622-6931
14 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews Health
One Foot in Front of the Other Event at Union Bank Plaza Aims to Get Downtowners Out From Behind Their Desks by Roselle Chen
L
ast week, a path of light green plastic footprints wound from the entrance of Union Bank Plaza to the building’s outdoor patio. Soon, those footprints would be replaced by hundreds of pairs of actual feet. The footprints were at the building at 445 S. Figueroa St. on Wednesday, April 6, for the kick-off of National Start Walking Day. The Downtown Los Angeles event was highlighted by a mile-long walk aimed at encouraging people to
maintain a healthier lifestyle at work. It was particularly suited to Downtown Los Angeles. The community boasts hundreds of thousands of workers, many of whom are desk jockeys who never get enough time to work out. “Most people associate sedentary lifestyle with being at home on the couch,” said Claudia Keller, executive director of the American Heart Association of Greater Los Angeles, which sponsored the event with Union Bank. “But if you’re Continued on next page
photos by Gary Leonard
Hundreds of Downtowners showed up at Union Bank Plaza on Wednesday, April 6, for National Start Walking Day, an event to raise awareness of heart disease.
GOOD SAM. GREAT DOCTORS.
Lasika Seneviratne, MD Chairman, Cancer Program
Meet Dr. Lasika Seneviratne, Hematologist/Oncologist on staff at Good Samaritan Hospital, providing patients with outstanding and compassionate cancer care.
Redeem this offer at your initial examination and cleaning appointment and receive a FREE whitening kit Offer expires: 4/30/2011
• Digital x-rays • Oral Cancer and Periodontal screening • Flexible financial options
MAKING QUALITY DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE ANDAND GENTLE MAKING QUALITY DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE GENTLE MAKING QUALITY COMFORTABLE for over 18 years in Downtown LA LA AND GENTLE for DENTISTRY over 18 years in Downtown for over 18 years in Downtown LA Complimentary Whitening WEAND CARE! Complimentary Teeth Whitening WE GENTLE CARE! MAKING QUALITYTeeth DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE Complimentary Teeth Whitening WE CARE! for over 18 years in Downtown LA x State the of artthe sterilization center,center, x of State art sterilization
x |State ofequipment theGraduate art sterilization Silvia Kasparian, D.D.S. USC | A.D.A., C.D.A. Member with equipment tested weekly tocenter, with tested weekly to WE CARE! with equipment weekly to ensure your safety. ensure your safety. 601x W.State 5th St. ,art#1110 |tested (213) 892-8172 ensure your safety. of the sterilization center,
Complimentary Teeth Whitening
x
Digital x-raysx-rays for minimal expo- expox Digital for minimal
x equipment Digital x-rays for minimal MAKING QUALITY COMFORTABLE AND GENTLE withDENTISTRY tested weekly to exposure and feedback. sureimmediate and immediate feedback. sure and immediate feedback. LA ensure safety. x over Oral Cancer and Periodontal x your Oral Cancer andDowntown Periodontal for 18 years in x x-rays Oral Cancer Periodontal Digital for minimal exposcreening at each examination ap- apscreening atand each examination atfeedback. each sure pointment and screening immediate at no extra charge. pointment at no examination extra charge.appointment at no extra charge. x Oral Cancer Periodontal x We your time, we seewe see x respect Weand respect your and time, and x We respect yourpromptly. time, and screening at each examination ap- we see that you are treated that you are treated promptly. that are treated promptly. pointment at you no extra charge. x Flexible financial options, includ-includx Flexible financial options, x Flexible financialinterest-free options, includx We respect your time, we see ing uping to 12 up months to 12 and months interest-free up to 12promptly. months interest-free that financing. you ing are treated financing. financing. x Flexible financial options, includ-
x
Offer expires: 7/31/2009 Offer expires: 7/31/2009 Offer expires: 7/31/2009
Silvia Kasparian, D.D.S. Silvia Kasparian, D.D.S. ing up to 12 months interest-free Silvia Kasparian, D.D.S. Graduate USC School of Dentistry financing. Graduate USC School of Dentistry Graduate USC School of Dentistry Member: American DentalDental Association Member: American Association Member: American Dental Association SilviaCalifornia Kasparian, D.D.S. DentalDental Association California Association California Dental Association LosLos Angeles Downtown News Graduate USC School of Dentistry Angeles Dental Society Los Angeles Dental Society Los Angeles Dental Society Member: American Dental Association 601W. W. 5th St. Suite 1110 601 W. 5th St.Suite SuiteLos 1110Angeles, CA 90026 1264 First Street, 601 W. 5th St. 1110 California Los Dental Association Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 Los Angeles Dental Society CALL: 213-892-8172 CALL: 213-892-8172 CALL: 213-892-8172 601 W. 5th St. Suite 1110 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Los Angeles, CA Offer expires: 7/31/2009
From new cutting-edge technologies, to holistic
Good Samaritan has an earned designation as a
patient-centered support systems, to the best
Community Hospital Cancer Program from the
statistical outcomes, Dr. Seneviratne has been a
American College of Surgeons’ Commission on
leader in elevating the Cancer Program at Good
Cancer (CoC).
CALL: 213-892-8172 facebook:
L.A. Downtown News
Samaritan Hospital, maximizing the potential for
twitter: DowntownNews
We’re proud to be among the highest ranked
patients’ full recovery and improved survival rates.
healthcare providers in the nation: the distinguished
The nationally recognized clinical trials he helps bring to the hospital open up early opportunities for patients
doctors of Good Samaritan Hospital. Good Samaritan’s acclaimed programs include
to gain access to the latest therapies available.
eight nationally recognized centers of excellence.
“At Good Sam, cancer patients can be assured
Visit our website at www.goodsam.org.
they are getting the best possible care: the same state-of-the-art treatments they’d be offered at well-known, big-name institutions, with survival rates that meet or surpass all national averages.” — Lasika Seneviratne, MD
For a referral to any Good Samaritan Hospital physician, please call 1(800) GS-CARES.
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Pamela Albanese, Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Lon Wahlberg circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
1225 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017 www.GoodSam.org
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.
One copy per person.
10-GSH-017 ImageAds_DTN_6.75x12_1.0.indd 1
4/1/11 3:33:54 PM
April 11, 2011
Health Continued from previous page sitting in front of a computer all day and you’re not moving at work, that’s almost as bad.” The AHA and Union Bank were attempting to raise awareness of heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States, said Keller. According to the AHA, more than 831,000 Americans die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease every year. The organization says that walking at a brisk pace for as little as 30 minutes a day can have a positive impact on health. “It’s not just about you doing it on your own,” said John Stephan, senior vice president of Union Bank. “You’re at work most of your life anyway, so why not learn about the benefits of walking and act on it, with our help.” Hundreds of visitors to the plaza picked up giveaways like Subway sandwiches (which nationally sponsors the event), yogurt, protein bars, baked potato chips and other items as-
Equipment Continued from page 13 Additionally, the ACSM publishes the Fit Society Page, a quarterly e-newsletter. “Each issue has articles on a range of health and fitness topics,” says Dan Henkel, ACSM’s senior director of communication. Of course, for some people there is another issue that is more important than condition: price. Beata Aldridge of Betterfly suggests using an online resource for checking into the price of used equipment. She likes Worth Monkey. “It indexes eBay, Craigslist, depreciation rates and other factors,” she said. “It only focuses on one aspect and can’t tell you too much about the quality of the machine, but it does help to keep you from overspending or to recognize when you’re getting a deal.” Before they look to buy secondhand exercise equipment, Margolis encourages people to first invest in something a lot less expensive — a new jump-rope. “It will give you a good overall workout. It will be a challenge when you first start because most adults haven’t jumped rope since they were kids,” he said. “Start by jumping for 15 seconds, and then work up to 30 seconds and gradually to five minutes. Most exercise equipment supports you. With a jump-rope, it’s the rope vs. your body.” No matter what kind of secondhand equipment they may purchase, Margolis has some words of wisdom for people taking up exercise: “It is important to remember that exercise is a journey, not a destination.” Article copyright 2011 creators.com.
HONDA PLAZA DENTAL Kouichi Cliff Itoh, D.D.S.
Cosmetic, Implant & Laser Dentistry
ZOOM WHITENING Only $199*
400 E. Second St., Suite# 207 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213.687.3895 • fax 213.687.1016 Mail@ItohDDS.com *New Patients Only
Downtown News 15
sociated with living a healthy lifestyle. Firefighters, nurses and AHA employees were also on hand to give free CPR instruction and blood pressure screenings, and to pass out flyers with information on stroke and heart disease. The walk, which began at 12:30 p.m., was led by Keller and Union Bank officials. It started at the foot of Union Bank Plaza, then wound around Figueroa Street, Sixth Street and onto Fremont Avenue. It was not just office denizens who took part. The crowd included students from College-Ready Academy High School #7, among them 16-year-old Amber Baker. “This is an opportunity for us to learn about people like my mother, who had heart disease,” said Baker. Even before the walk began, there were payoffs. Linda Lee, an assistant principal at the high school, said she plans to incorporate the walking instruction into the school’s health curriculum. More information on the program is at startwalkingnow.org.
16 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
CALENDAR LA Plaza Continued from page 1 LA Plaza is part museum, part interactive school and community gathering place. It includes an evolving permanent exhibit on the ground floor that traces the role of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the founding and shaping of the city, from 1781 to the present. An upper floor features a re-creation of 1920s-era Main Street, as well as short films and displays with touch screens. Outside is the 30,000-square-foot public garden with a stage, fruit trees and a patio that can hold 1,500 people. About $850,000 will come annually from the county, which is also responsible for maintenance and operations. The rest of the yearly $4 million budget will be generated by admissions, store sales, parking, special events and private and corporate donations, said Miguel Angel Corzo, LA Plaza’s president and CEO. The center is expecting about 120,000 visitors annually. “It’s important because it’s a story that hasn’t really been told,” said Corzo, who formerly headed the Colburn School on Grand Avenue. “There’s no museum dedicated to the history of Los Angeles, unlike museums that exist in other cities, so there was a need here for a place that would be telling that story from its founding in 1781 to today and the future. “A lot of it is seen through the eyes of the Mexicans and Mexican Americans because they’ve been here since then.” About Time For some, the project is controversial. The discovery of Native American bones and artifacts during the construction led to heated opposition and threats of protests of the opening (see sidebar, p. 12). For others, it’s a long-awaited and long-deserved cultural and civic attraction. “It’s about time,” said Rodolfo Acuña, a historian and Chicano Studies professor at California State University, Northridge. “Historically the Mexican-American influence in the city has been diluted. We always seem to be an afterthought, but it’s better late than never.” The project was conceived and driven by First District County Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has worked on it for nearly two decades, forming an advisory board, securing funds, creating a foundation to run it, and adding it to the roster of venues owned and operated by the county. A fundraiser at the museum on April 9 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press) was in her honor. Tickets started at $1,000. For Molina, a former member of the Los Angeles City Council (she was elected in 1987), LA Plaza is about educating future generations of Angelenos. “I hope that people are going to embrace it and value it as much as I do as a contribution to Los Angeles,” she said during an interview in her office on Temple Street, just a short walk from the new center. “I think they will. I think it’s spectacular. It’s a story that needs to be told here in Los Angeles.” When Molina became a supervisor in 1991, the two buildings that now house the center were vacant and dilapidated. The run-down structures and the homeless people they attracted prompted many complaints form Olvera Street merchants and other constituents, she recalled. Several organizations expressed interest in the s property, owntownNew including the Los Angeles k.com/L.A.DMuseum and the Latino FacebooChildren’s Museum of History, Art and Culture. Both looked at the property but were concerned about the cost of rehabilitating it, Molina said. Disappointed with the progress, Molina decided to undertake a project to tell the story of the beginnings of Los Angeles. Now, years later, a museum is born. An Education There was also a personal side to Molina’s approach. She recalled a less-than-thorough education about the be-
APRIL 4
n! a F a e m o c Be
Fan Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!
photos by Gary Leonard
LA Plaza aims to highlight and celebrate the city’s Mexican roots. Exhibits include a re-creation of Main Street in the 1920s, historic artifacts and displays on famous Mexican Americans.
ginnings of the city when she was a child. Thus the focus of look back at the past we can see how the past has echoed the center, she said, is the children in the city, who will get an consistently to the present, and hopefully we can learn a little interactive history lesson when they visit. more to make informed decisions about the future that can “The kind of contributions and culture and history of our help everyone in the city.” ancestors is rich, vibrant, significant and important, and yet There are video displays, called Voces Vivas, which feature those stories are not told,” she said. Mexican Americans talking about their experiences, along with LA Plaza will share these contributions with a permanent touch screens with information about prominent Mexican and evolving exhibit called LA Starts Here! It looks at the city’s Americans. Corzo said there are plans to hold cooking demonfounding in 1781, up through the Chicano movement of the strations, since Mexican food has also shaped the city. 1960s, and ends with photographs taken by kids. The upper level will likely appeal to young visitors. The exThere are more than 120 items on display from about 20 hibit Calle Principal is a re-creation of Main Street in the 1920s, lenders, among them other museums and private collections, complete with a general store, a record shop, a pharmacy and a said Ken Luftig Viste, the exhibit curator. Pieces include a photo studio. Visitors can enter the shops and look out into the painting of an early mission, wooden crosses from the 19th street, which dead-ends on a cul de sac lined with soapboxes. century, rosary beads and early maps of the city. There are Students and visitors will be encouraged to stand on the boxes Starts also photographs and personal items from Pio Pico, the and voice their opinions or tell their own stories. Apr. 8 soapboxes prove too intimidating, at the end of the last governor of California under Mexican rule, including a 1/Apr. If the Spanish/English conversational manual with his name en- exhibit there will also be a booth where visitors can respond graved on it, and his shaving bib. to the exhibit. They can record their thoughts for others, furContemporary pieces include a hoe used by Cesar Chavez’s ther in the future, to hear. father when he was a field worker, zoot suits worn by pachuLA Plaza de Cultura y Artes opens Saturday, April 16, at 501 cos, photos of music legends such as Lalo Guerrero, and a N. Main St. Open daily except Tuesday, noon-7 p.m. Admission display on Mexican-American actor Anthony is $9 for adults, $7 for senior or students, and $5 for children over Check Our Website for Full MovieQuinn. Listings LADowntownNews.com “The contributions to this city by people of Mexican heri- 5. Information at (888) 488-8083 or lapca.org. tage have been significant and enduring,” Viste said. “If we Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
APRIL 11
! s w e N E r o ✔ Sign Up f
E-NEWS SIGN UP
or nNews.com at Downtow hand corner maillist ht rig r pe s/ e up symbol in th ntownnews.com/form Look for this www.ladow
Starts April 15
Sign Up for Our E-News Blasts & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets! Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 17
DowntownNews.com
‘Burn This’ Still Smolders Actors Find the Flame in Revival of a Legendary Taper Production by Jeff favre
not the case. Martin compresses the show to less than two-and-a-half-hours (the original ith aging, respected artists there and many other productions run more than is always a sense that there will be three hours due to a wealth of “see me actone more “important” piece. ing” pauses), and he mines the humor in That won’t be the case for Lanford Wilson, each situation. Martin and company even who died 10 days before the opening of the make sense of the improbable love story, Mark Taper Forum’s engaging and refresh- though they can’t do much with Wilson’s ingly lighter-than-usual revival of his Burn overly sentimental climax, which is only a This. Along with the Talley trilogy, Hot l minor complaint given that this Burn This Baltimore and Balm in Gilead, it made Wilson feels both new and distinctly of its time. opportunities? an off-off-Broadway icon whose work wound That time is the mid-1980s, when AIDS opportunities? the Great was ravaging the artistic community in New eadlines up andon vendors? Let White Way. opportunities? your business communihasLetlong been praised for painting York, including many friends of the openly eadlines andWilson vendors? togetherand all the resources eadlines vendors? Let your business communifascinating, broken characters — many of suffergay Wilson. Dancer Robbie, the absent figure missing sales opportunities? your business communitogether all theand resources • Signs, posters banners ing from urban loneliness — though his plots in Burn This, dies with his lover in a boattogether all the resources • Digital printing We’veorgot the solution. many projects, deadlines vendors? Let •• Signs, posters and banners rarely considered elegant even logical. Juggling ingtooaccident and not from and AIDS. Still, Wilson Online are ordering PIP manage the creation and re-ordering of all of your business communiDigital posters printing and banners • Signs, Actors flock to his work, particularly youngyourdraws comparisons to the all disease. The men Online ordering • Digital printing cations. In one location, PIP consultants bring together the resources • Online men ordering need, including: looking to duplicateyouthe buzz surround- are young and gay, and their deaths leave emo• Signs, posters and banners • Printing ing John Malkovich’s legendary turn as the tional• Copying holes in their •loved ones, in particular Digital printing • Online ordering • Graphic design completely dysfunctional 700 Pale inWilshire the worldBlvd. Robbie’s roommates, dancer-turned-choreogpremiere of Burn This,ph:which began atfax:the rapher Anna (Zabryna Guevara) and ad man 213-489-2333 213-489-2897 Taper in 1987 before moving to Broadway. Larry (Brooks Ashmanskas), who also is gay. piparco@sbcglobal.net The non-stop intensity associated with Pale, Anna has a boyfriend, Burton (Ken Barnett), and the internal angst of the story’s protago- a sci-fi screenwriter with wishy-washy aspinist Anna (originated by Tony-winning Joan rations for more. Then there’s Pale (Adam Allen) can be the trap that sinks Burn This Rothenberg), Robbie’s brother, who arrives in under ayou? weight of morose self-absorption. the middle of the night pounding on the door n’t notice Thanks to director Nicholas Martin, and and then shouting a seemingly endless tirade n’t notice you? one customer or appealing n’t notice you? a crackling-sharp four-member cast, that’s of barely coherent, traffic-related obscenities. sales opportunities. In one contributing writer
W A
Scared
photo by Craig Schwartz
(l to r) Adam Rothenberg, Zabryna Guevara and Brooks Ashmanskas appear in the Mark Taper Forum’s revival of the late Lanford Wilson’s Burn This. It runs through May 1.
Pale has no redeeming qualities, so it’s never easy to understand Anna’s attraction to him, other than she says he reminds her of Robbie. Guevara finds the believability in the couple’s union by having Anna express bemusement at Pale’s outrageous behavior, as if she is saying why not enjoy this diversion
from her depression over Robbie’s death. The contained performances by Guevara and Rothenberg should make this Burn This palatable to audiences. Guevara internalizes Anna’s sorrow, and she is able to mask it with a smile and a laugh. see Theater, page 24
B
afraid 20%oFF % oFF Your EntirE ordEr
one customer or appealing l thecustomer resourcesor you need, one appealing sales opportunities. In one sales opportunities. Inneed, one l •the resources youbanners Signs, posters and l •the resources Digital printing you need,
your customers won’t notice you?
We’ve got the solution. Whether going after just one customer or appealing to a mass market, we’ll help you capture those sales opportunities. In one location, your PIP consultants bring together all the resources you need, including: Bring in ad for discount.
•• Signs, Online posters orderingand banners Digital posters printing and banners • Signs, Online ordering • Digital printing • Online ordering
★ Open
700 Wilshire Blvd.
• Printing • Copying • Graphic design
*
• Signs, posters and banners • Digital printing • Online ordering
24/7★ ph: 213-489-2333 fax: 213-489-2897
✔ Free Wi-Fi ✔ Free Parking ✔ Drive-Thru ✔ Breakfast All Day
piparco@sbcglobal.net
Serving a little of everything from breakfast to dinner. *Exp. 5-11-11
| farmerboysla.com | 726 Alameda St. (Cross streets: Bay & Alameda) muchC to213-228-8999 do much to do oo little time? much to do oo little time? full-on marketing blitz, we’ll oo time? ants little bring together all the full-on marketing blitz, we’ll by too much to do
horrified
full-on marketing blitz,allwe’ll ants bring together the • Signs, posters and banners ants bring together all the • Digital printing •• Signs, Online posters orderingand banners Digital posters printing and banners • Signs, Online ordering • Digital printing • Online ordering
and too little time?
We’ve got the solution. From simple POS materials to a full-on marketing blitz, we’ll help you get noticed. In one location, your PIP consultants bring together all the resources you need, including:
700 Wilshire Blvd.
• Printing • Copying • Graphic design
• Signs, posters and banners • Digital printing • Online ordering
ph: 213-489-2333 fax: 213-489-2897 piparco@sbcglobal.net
✓ comment on stories
✓ submit your own news
✓ submit your own events ✓ post your own photos
✓ place an ad in classifieds
Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown
✤ Delivery, Minimum Order $15 ✤ Party Tray Available ✤ Lunch Special $4.95 M-F 11-5, Sat.-Sun. 11-3 739-747 N. Main St., Los Angeles, 90012 213.680.3333 • Regentchinainn.com FREE PARKING
Free 6 Days Delivery Downtown!
All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet $7.95
Tandori Chicken, Meat Curry, Two Vegetables Dal, Pullao Rice, Naan, Salad, Dessert, Fruits and much more!
Open Monday - Saturday: Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm Dinner 5:30pm-10pm
gillsindianrestaurant.net • (213) 623-1050 • 838 S. Grand Ave.
VOT.AE. Downtown N by L
Sushi Counter in LA! Featuring
sashimi, yakitori, Tempura, different kinds of sushi open 7 days a week, 11 am - 10 pm 120 Japanese Village plaza (Little Tokyo)
(213) 680-0567
Validated Parking (Enter on Central Ave.) or use DASH Route A–Bus
Gill’s Indian Restaurant
I SUSeH T ers Original Revolving d S a E R ews DB
Suim nner m i D ch and D Lun
Go to DowntownNews.com We want to hear from YOU
An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance Live Lobster Tank
Free Parking Next to Restaurant
700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Tel: 213.617.2323
18 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
LISTINGS EVENTS
Wednesday, apr. 13 Is Social Media Right For Your Business? City Club on Bunker Hill, 333 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-9662 or mim9.com 7:30-9:30 a.m.: This breakfast event will cover the main aspects of social media marketing. Tweet while you eat! Commercial Real Estate Women - Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (818) 497-3968 or crewla.org. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: “Does Redevelopment Have a Future?” A panel of speakers will discuss the reaction to and impact of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed elimination of California’s redevelopment agencies. Thursday, apr. 14 Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-10 p.m.: The self-guided tour/art party showcases the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles, and attracts thousands of attendees to the Historic Core. The Art Walk Lounge 334 S. Main, downtownartwalk.com. 6-9 p.m.: The official Art Walk visitor’s center has maps, T-shirts, complimentary refreshments and giveaways and, natch, some art. Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. 6-8 p.m.: A QuickBooks tutorial for both new and experienced users. Bring your toughest questions. MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with William Leavitt: Theater Objects, exhibition catalogue essayist Annette Leddy will discuss the artist and his first museum retrospective. Free, no reservations necessary. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Joyce Carol Oates talks to KCRW “Bookworm” host Michael Silverblatt about “A Widow’s Story,” her account of the unexpected death of her husband. Friday, apr. 15 California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 10 a.m.: “Stories That Sing,” with storyteller Victoria Burnett, is a program for children in kindergarten-4th grade. Altogether now: Once upon a time... RSVP at (213) 744-2024. saTurday, apr. 16 LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Grand Opening 501 N. Main St., (213) 542-6254 or lapca.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: A day-long, free family event celebrating the opening of the new center adjacent to Olvera Street. The event includes live music, arts workshops and tours of the exhibition LA Starts Here! Performers include Very Be Careful, Chicano Batman and East L.A. fusion rockers Ollin.
by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor
|
calendar@downtownnews.com
G
et your art on in a big way this week with two events that showcase a wide range of local talent. On Thursday, April 14, it’s another installment of the crazily popular Downtown Art Walk, which fills the streets of the Historic Core with bar hoppers, food truck lovers and art fans. Some galleries will open as early as noon, but things really get lively after 6 p.m. as the street life shifts from business to play. Get info — including vital parking suggestions — and a map at downtownartwalk.org. Gander at even more art over the weekend at the semi-annual Brewery ArtWalk, an open studio weekend at the huge art colony (and former beer factory). More than 100 resident artists will fling open their doors and show and sell their work. It’s Saturday-Sunday, Apr. 16-17, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., at 2100 N Main St., breweryartwalk.com.
photo by Qathryn Brehm
one
photo by Gary Leonard
Two
T
he first Earth Day Latino! is so big it is being spread across two days. The day one “Camp Out” at Los Angeles State Historic Park (shown here, at 1245 N. Spring St.) kicks off at 9 a.m. and offers a full day of tree planting; lectures on native California plants and urban ecology; soccer and kite flying; a BBQ; bonfire presentations; and a screening of An Inconvenient Truth at 9 p.m. On day two, hoof it with Council members Eric Garcetti and Ed Reyes for the 10K L.A. River Walk-a-Thon which takes you from the park to Rio de Los Angeles State Park (buses will shuttle you back home). Check-in starts at 8 a.m. If your Give it up for the Earth! Info at (323) 222-2217 or wcvi.org. heart’s been aflutter lately, it may be in anticipation of the Butterfly Pavilion returning for its lucky 13th year at the Natural History Museum. What’s so funny about malaria? Nothing! Wait, that’s a Hundreds of free-flying butterflies and super-sized moths took terrible joke. Expect a batch of comedians to do better flight on the opening on Sunday, April 10. More than 55 species at Hollywood Bites Back! Comedy Fights Malaria on native to North America reside in the landscaped pavilion on the Saturday, Apr. 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the Nokia Theatre. The museum’s South Lawn. New this year are the elaborate Mexican disease that has infected humans for more than 50,000 blue wing, the banded orange tiger butterfly, and the polyphemus years won’t stand a chance against the likes of Conan crea moth with its large purple eyespots. Speaking of color, the creaO’Brien, Sarah Silverman, B.J. Novak, David Arquette and tures seem to be attracted to particular-hued clothing others in a night of stand-up and sketches. All proceeds as well as stillness, height and hats when benefit Malaria No More and its fight to end malaria-relatchoosing a human to alight ed deaths in Africa. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763upon. Now where’s that fe6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. dora? They flit through Sept. 5 at 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org. It’s last call for the REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival, which winds up its four-weekend horizon-expanding collection of short film programs just for kids. On Saturday, Apr.16, the line-up includes a magical mélange of feathered, furry and finned creatures starring in environmentally conscious films; real/reel-life young’uns from around the world describing their dreams; and the newest in Chinese animation. Sunday, Apr. 17, brings a program with gentle stories and cuddly animals; tall tales and campfire fables; and heartfelt films about what family means. Screenings begin at 12, 1:30 and 3 p.m. both days. Get tickets in advance, as these can sell out, and you don’t want the kids crying. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.
4
5
photos by Karen Knauer
Tuesday, apr. 12 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Author Rebecca Skloot talks to the L.A. Times’ Carolyn Kellog about “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The book details the life of a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cells, taken without her knowledge, became one of the most important tools in medicine.
Double Art DisplAy, lAughing off MAlAriA AnD sweet fluttering
image by Helene Tragessert
SPONSORED LISTINGS Live Church LA Club Nokia, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 4934329 or livechurchla.com April 10, 10 a.m.: Join Live Church L.A. for a new series: “Do You Believe?” Most people want a touch, taste, see, and smell guarantee before they believe anything. The reality is that everyone “believes” or acts on something without absolute proof everyday — belief in things unseen is more a fabric of our lives than absolutes. Come discover the power of believing. Free Downtown Audio Walking Tours Various Locations, crala.org/art. Free audio walking tours and maps are available for download at www.crala.org/art. Explore Downtown’s Bunker Hill, Financial District, Historic Core, and Little Tokyo neighborhoods by discovering public art and places developed through the CRA/LA Art Program.
The ‘Don’T Miss’ LisT
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
April 11, 2011
DowntownNews.com
Mask-making, sculpture, paint and printmaking workshops will be conducted by Inner-City Arts and LAartlab. Central Library Rotunda, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. 10 a.m.-noon: A used book sale features hundreds of bargain books, LPs, videos and more. Get your own dog-eared copy of The Great Gatsby. 2-4 p.m.: Architectural historian Thomas Hines presents the lecture “Architects and Architecture of Los Angeles: From Adobe to High-rise: 1900 - 1950.” Reception, book signing and door prizes following. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 1-4 p.m.: A series of weekly spring gardening classes teach you to grow your own healthy vegetable garden at home. Hint: Plants don’t need electrolytes; water does the trick. California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 2 p.m.: Learn about the relationship between American Indians and African Americans through a culinary demonstration peppered with morsels of history. The program features two chefs, one American Indian and one African American. Tasty samples included. Sunday, apr. 17 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 9:30 a.m.-3:30p.m.: “Sustainable Sundays” tackles an edible landscapes. Get tips on how to grow organic food, tour the Edible Garden and plant an herb to take home. Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, 700 W. 32nd St., (818) 954-8432 or comicbookscifi.com. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Actress Sherry Jackson (original “Star Trek,” “Batman”), pin-up artist Jim Silke and Marvel and DC comic book artists Dan Pabosian and Dave Johnson sign autographs and books. Find old and new comic books, toys, movie memorabilia, trading cards, action figures, DVDs, and many other collectibles. Men will outnumber women 18,000 to 1.
FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Apr. 16, 3 p.m.: National The-
ater Live’s Frankenstein. Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. Through Apr. 14: Hop (12, 2:20, 4:40, 7 and 9:20 p.m.); Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (11 a.m. and 1:20, 3:40, 6, 8:20 and 10:30 p.m.); Sucker Punch (11:30 a.m., 2:10, 4:50, 7:30 and 10:10 p.m.). Apr. 15: Rio and Scream 4 (show times TBA). IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Ongoing: Born to Be Wild 3D is a story of love, dedication and the bond between humans and animals. It documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the people who rescue and raise them. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. Apr. 16-17: The sixth annual REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for a mind-expanding collection of short film programs, each crafted with care to appeal to the next generation of movie-lovers. Showtimes at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. each day. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Apr. 14: Arthur (1:30, 4:20, 7 and 9:40 p.m.); Hanna (1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.); Soul Surfer (1:50, 4:30, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.); Your Highness (1:40, 4:30, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m.); Insidious (12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 8 and 10:30 p.m.); Source Code (12, 2:20, 4:50, 7:10 and 9:40 p.m.); Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (1:30, 4:10, 6:40 and 9:10 p.m.); Sucker Punch (1:10, 3:50, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.); Limitless (1:20, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.); The Lincoln Lawyer (1:40, 4:40, 7:40 and 10:40 p.m.); Paul (6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); Battle: Los Angeles (12:50, 3:40, 6:30 and 9:20 p.m.); Rango (1:20 and 4 p.m.). Apr. 15 (partial list): Rio 3D (12, 2:20, 4:40, 7 and 9:30 p.m.); Scream 4 (1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.).
ART SPACES ADC Contemporary Art Gallery Factory Art Place Complex, 1330 Factory Place, (323) 839-5786 or adccontemporaryartgallery.com. Through May 9: In Josue Castro’s “Equal=Secret Identities,” the themes are power and submission, control and dominance, pain and transcendence. Arty 634 S. Main St., (213) 213-7829 or artyla.com. A gallery featuring West Coast artists currently
has paintings by Stephen Rowe and photography by Olivier Pojzman. Bert Green Fine Art 451 S. Main St. #1206, (213) 842-8574 or bgfa.us. Through Apr. 27: The first exhibition in its new location — a private, by-appointment only space — is “Revealed Secrets,” a solo show Randall Cabe, a Los Angeles-based painter focused on the female figure. The Box Gallery 977 Chung King Rd., (213) 625-1747 or theboxla.com. Through May 14: The early, anti-Vietnam paintings of Judith Bernstein. Buchanon Gallery 204 W. Sixth St., (323) 823-1922 or byronbuchanan.com. Ongoing: Pop paintings by Bryon Buchanan. CB1 Gallery 207 W. Fifth St., (213) 806-7889 or cb1gallery.com. Through May 15: Susan Silas presents works from eyes wide shut, a portfolio of 24 images from her series of found birds; embrace, a stop-action HD-video animation; and the premiere of her video performance, A child of sixties television singing songs that got stuck in her head. Charlie James Gallery 975 Chung King Road, (213) 687-0488 or cjamesgallery.com. Through June 4: “366 Days, 52 Bookcovers And 1 Happy Couple” is the first American solo exhibition of Berlin-based Daniela Comani. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 411 Bernard St., (323) 222-0856 or chssc.org. Ongoing: An exhibition about the history of immigration from China to the United States. The Company 946 Yale St., (213) 221-7082 or thecompanyart.com. Through Apr. 23: Jesse Fleming’s “Desert,” shot in Joshua Tree National Park, features three works consisting of videos, selected photographs and a book. Crewest 110 Winston St., (213) 627-8272 or crewest.com. Through May 1: “Above the Radar” features cutting-edge works from graffiti and street artists. Downtown Art Center Gallery 828 S. Main St., (213) 627-7374 or dacgallery.com. Through May 5: “Two Compasses” features the work of Jenny Balisle and Erynn Richardson. Both employ line and repetition to investigate observations of everyday life. Edgar Varela Fine Arts 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 604-3634 or edgarvarelafinearts.com.
Downtown News 19 Opening Apr. 16: “L.A.te-Los Angeles After Dark” features the photography of J. Wesley Brown, Amanda Friedman, Zach Herrera, Ryan Schude, RJ Shaughnessy and Tim Simmons. Through Apr. 24. Gallery… Unknown 211 W. Fifth St., (310) 309-7473. “Downtown” is a group show with Natalie Hile Cross, Greg Brisson, Yuri Elvin and more. Gary Leonard 860 S. Broadway, takemypicture.com. Take My Picture is a gallery dedicated to Gary Leonard’s photographs, documenting the public and private culture of Los Angeles with significant guest collections. Currently featuring “Newton Division,” paintings by Daniel J. Calderon. Hive Gallery & Studios 729 S. Spring St., (213) 955-9051 or thehivegallery.com. Through Apr. 30: “Best of The Hive” and “New Avatars in Hiveland” are group shows including featured artists William Zdan and Rudy Fig. Hold Up Art 358 E. Second St., (213) 221-4585 or holdupart.com. Through Apr. 30: “Just the Tip,” a group show featuring works from Los Angeles-based Nick D’Attomo, Augor, Mike Petow and more. Opening Apr. 16: “Left-Hand Side,” a selection of works by Codak. Through May 19. LA Artcore at Union Center for the Arts 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 617-3274 or laartcore.org. Through Apr. 29: Works by Michael Ginancristiano and Joseph Vorgity. LA Artcore at the Brewery Annex 650 A South Avenue 21, (323) 276-9320 or laartcore.org. Through Apr. 28: Pieces by Geoff Mitchell, Saul Alvarez and Edem Elesh. L2kontemporary 990 N. Hill St. #205, (626) 319-3661 or l2kontemporary.com. Through Apr. 16: Edward Lightner’s “Eradication Project.” The Latino Museum 514 S. Spring St., (213) 626-7600 or thelatinomuseum.com. Ongoing: The Latino Museum holds a collection of work from emerging and established contemporary Mexican, Latino and Chicano artists working and living in the United States as well as throughout Latin, Central and South America. Los Angeles Center For Digital Art 102 West Fifth St., 323 646 9427 or lacda.com. Opening Apr. 12: “Hattitudes of Fertile Opti-
Continued on next page
20 Downtown News
We Got Games Clayton on the Mound And the Kings in the Playoffs Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. April 14-16, 7:10 p.m.: The Dodgers start the week in San Francisco (April 11-13), taking on the World Series champs. Then the Blue Crew come home to host Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals. Clayton Kershaw, who shut down the Giants in the season opener, will look to continue his newfound role as team ace.
Listings Continued from previous page mism” by Patti Held features works that combine digital photographs with areas of acrylic airbrush as well as beads, sequins and gold bullion. Through May 5. Opening Apr. 12: “The Second Tear” is the first solo exhibit by Devon Paulson. Through May 5. Los Angeles Public Library Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lapl.org. Through Apr. 30: The exhibit “Forty Years of Sesame Street Illustration: Selections from the Publishing Archive of Sesame Workshop” explores the popular children’s educational television show. Ongoing: The Annenberg Gallery displays some of the extraordinary materials collected by the Los Angeles Public Library since its founding in 1872. The inaugural exhibit Treasures of Los Angeles features items from the Hollywood collection, including vintage film posters, publicity photographs, postcards and other promotional items such as photo advertisements from Mexican films of the 1950s and 1960s.
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. April 12, 7:30 p.m.: It’s the final home game of the regular season, and it’s making the NBA schedule makers look pretty darn sagacious. The Spurs are the top seed in the West and the Lakers are likely to finish in second place. In short, we’re looking at a possible Western Conference Finals preview. The Lakers close the regular season in Sacramento (April 13). They can rest for that one. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. April 13, 7:30 p.m.: It’s your last chance this season to see Blake Griffin and the Clippers, as they look to
Morono Kiang Gallery 218 West 3rd St., (213) 628-8208 or moronokiang.com. Through Apr. 30: “My Super Hero,” an exhibition of new works by Iranian contemporary artists, is running simultaneously in Tehran’s Aaran Gallery and features new works created exclusively for this exhibit by more than 30 artists. Norbertellen Gallery 215 W. Sixth St., (818) 662-5041 or norbertellengallery.com. Through Apr. 30: “L.A.nd of the Rising Sun” features the work of master commercial Japanese illustrators including Takashi Akiyama, Tsuyoshi Nagano and Nampei Kaneko. POVevolving Gallery 939 Chung King Rd., (310) 594-3036 or povevolving.com. Current: “The Tyranny of Impermanence” features 23 new monotype prints by Grady Gordon. SCI-Arc Gallery 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. Through May 15: The installation Silent Disco by Bestor Architecture invites visual, communal and physical pleasure with its bad-boy demi-dodecahedron design (12-sided geometric solid) and graphic interface. It’s a quiet refuge by day, a pulsing party by night. Temple of Visions
spoil Memphis’ playoff hopes. The 2010/2011 Clippers were a lot like the teams from past years — decidedly, disappointingly bad. The good news is they get another top draft pick — whoops, they traded that pick. No matter, they have Griffin, and next year things will be better. We’re sure this time. Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. Dates, times TBA: The Kings did it! The Kings did it! By “it,” we mean they are one of the 16 NHL franchises to make the playoffs (only 14 teams are left out). Their seeding and first-round opponent were not settled as of press time, but expect Staples to rock with playoff hockey. —Ryan Vaillancourt
719 S. Spring St., templeofvisions.com. Through June 4: “Cosmic Love,” a group show of contemporary mystical and visionary art. Terrell Moore Gallery 1221 S. Hope St. (213) 744-1999 or terrellmoore.net. Through Apr. 14: Photographers Larry Brownstein, Ken Haber, Mark Indig, Douglas McCulloh and Aline Smithson offer a poignant look at the allure of the Southern California dream in “LA Mecca.” Ongoing: A mini-retrospective of Terrell Moore includes his recent work, Glyphs. Group shows and featured solo artists revolve on a continual basis.
ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301, 213-6200908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Apr. 12, 8 p.m.: A jazz jam session hosted by the Kevin Kanner quintet. If all five members have gloves with five fingers, how many fingers is that? Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Apr. 15, 10 p.m.: Ovideo with The Quiet Americans. Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (877) 463-7773 or clubcicada.com.
Apr. 17, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant turns into Cicada Club. The Tim Gill All-Stars Big Band performs at 8:30 p.m. Patrons are required to dress up — like flappers, not Batman.
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
2
Easy ways to submit Your
Event Info
4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com
Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 21
DowntownNews.com
CLASSIFIED
place your ad online at www.ladowntownnews.com FOR RENT
l.a. downtown news classifieds call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: thursday 12 pm
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.
“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”
sales loft/unfurnished
REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale
TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002
Bill Cooper
timeshare/resorts
REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL
213.598.7555
Fantastic Creative
office space lease/sale
2+stories 13,592 sq.ft bldg. Former Knights of Pythias Lodge 124 N. Townsend Ave., LA
$1,195,000 Broker
(213) 687-9600 x13
moVe-in special
available Below market rates In Jewelry Dist. across from Immigration Court & Social Security Office. Very close to the Metro Station.
Close to 110 &101 Fwy. On site security guard.
out of state
213-892-0088
SACRIFICE SALE Nevada’s 3rd Largest Lake 1.5 hours South of Tahoe on California border, 1 acre Bold Lake View/Access $24,900 (was $49,900). 1 acre Bold Lake Front $89,800 (was $149,900). Very rare gorgeous homesites, central water, paved roads. Awe inspiring views. Owner says sell! 1-888-7053808. (Cal-SCAN)
FOR RENT
apartments/unfurnished
Milano Lofts
real estate services CONSIDERING FORECLOSURE? Are you late in payments? A short sale may be your solution. Call Lady Rodriguez, Realtor 310-600-7534. Represent both buyers and sellers.
Now LeasiNg! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com
Beautiful
old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts
Single Apt.
SELL/RENT Your Timeshare For Cash!!! Our Guaranteed Services will Sell/ Rent Your Unused Timeshare for Cash! Over $95 Million Dollars offered in 2010! www.SellaTimeshare. com (877) 554-2098. (CalSCAN)
17 DRIVERS Needed! Top 5% Pay! Excellent Benefits. New Trucks Ordered! Need CDL-A & 3 months recent OTR. 1-877258-8782. www.MeltonTruck. com. (Cal-SCAN)
Near Produce Mkt.
1 block East of Alameda on Olympic. $500/mo. plus security deposit. OT Incorporated (213) 614-0018 Call Between 8am - 4pm
from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge
BRAND NEW Luxury Apartments Homes. Orsini III. Now open for immediate Occupancy. Call for Specials. Never Lived in, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764.
REAL ARTIST LOFTS High ceilings, hardwood/concrete floors, kitchen, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs. Open House Sundays 12-3pm. Leasing office @1250 Long Beach Ave. & 14th St. 213-629-5539
call 213.253.4777 laloft.com
EMPLOYMENT
CALL FOR SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731.
drivers DRIVER - NEW Trucks + Flexible Days Off + Paid Daily. Looking for Drivers who are Looking for Miles + Full Benefits. CDL-A. 3 months recent experience required. 1-800-414-9569. www. DriveKnight.com. (Cal-SCAN)
CALL FOR SPECIALS @ The Visconti. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866742-0992.
COMPANY SOLOS & Teams - Western US! National Pay for Regional Work! Great home time. 1-year OTR or recent grad. Hazmat required. 1-888-9059879 or www.AndrusTrans.com. (Cal-SCAN)
TOWNHOUSE STYLE 2 bdrm. 2 bath. $1100. 15 minutes from Downtown. Near South Pasadena 323-254-0763. homes/furnished
DRIVERS - Reefer Team Lessee. Average $1.03/mile (+ fuel surcharge). Paid CDL Training Available & Benefits! Call Prime Today! 1-800-277-0212. www. PrimeInc.com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - NEW Pay package. Hiring Class-A CDL Flatbed Drivers for Regional and OTR Lanes. Solos, O/OP’s and Teams. Top Pay, Great Equipment. 1-888801-5614. www.SystemTrans. com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS/CDL Training - Career Central. No Money Down. CDL Training. Work for us or let us work for you! Unbeatable Career Opportunities. *Trainee *Company Driver *Lease Operator Earn up to $51k *Lease Trainers Earn up to $80k 1-877-3697091. www.CentralDrivingJobs. net. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - NO Experience - No Problem. 100% Paid CDL Training. Immediate Benefits. 20/10 program. Trainers Earn up to 49c per mile. Crst Van Expedited. 1-800-326-2778. www. JoinCRST.com. (Cal-SCAN)
downtownnews.com
TRAVEL WORK Party Play!! Play in Vegas, Hang in LA, Jet to New York! Hiring 18-24 gals/ guys. $400-$800 wkly. Paid expenses. Energetic & fun! 800457-8528. (Cal-SCAN)
Business opportunities ALL CASH VENDING Route! Be Your Own Boss! Investment as low as $4995. Vend3, 880 Grand Blvd., Deer Park, NY. 1- 877915-8222. Major CC accepted! (Cal-SCAN) BUSINESSES LIKE Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Pest Control & Plumbing can benefit from the legal use of our trademarked name Rid-All+, LLC™. example: Rid-All Pain. For details Call 888.743.2550. www.ridallroots. com. (Cal-SCAN)
SERVICES Business services ADVERTISING- Best ketp secret. A business card sized display ad 140 California community newspapers. Reach 3 million+ Californians. Cost $1,550.$1.33 cost per thousand. Free brochure (916)288-6019; www.CalSDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) FREE JOB ADS New website to post jobs for FREE for a limited time only. Visit us at bestwantedjobs.com. http://bestwantedjobs. com Continued on next page
The Downtown Renaissance Collection
DRIVERS - Teams or Solos Looking to Team. $2,000 sign on bonus for OTR teams, pet program, 1,500+ Avg. Length of Haul, and much more! 1-866232-7399. www.SoCalDrivers. com. (Cal-SCAN)
ARCADIA Beautiful two story Craftsman. 4 bdrm, study, formal dining room, 2 car garage, pool, huge yard. Gardener, pool service, washer/dryer inc. $3600/ mo. 818-554-7090 or 818-9996776
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT Executive L.A. Downtown News is looking for a enthusiastic selfstarter who is well-organized and has the ability to sell advertising over the phone AND in person, with 3+ years in sales experience, preferably in advertising/media with a proven track record in prospecting and closing new business. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and selling skills, a strong work ethic and a great attitude. Compensation includes a base salary plus commissions and bonuses. This is a full-time position with benefits, including health insurance, vacation, private health club, and a 401(K) retirement plan. Candidate must possess own vehicle and valid driver’s license and insurance. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via e-mail to: jobs@downtownnews.com. Use subject line: Account Executive 2011
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Be Inspired...
> now leasing. Cooperating Welcome BestBrokers Downtown Locations!
> now leasing.Cooperating Cooperating Brokers Welcome Brokers Welcome
EstD 1912
Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftoppool. pool. Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool. Metro station. Lounge. Zen Garden. MetroResident’s station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.
Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.
Historic beauty. Modern refinement. Eclectic elegance.
call> 213.623.3100 visit> www.rsvlt.com noW leasinG
$1,400’s/mo. free parking ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET
call> 213.623.3100 visit> www.rsvlt.com Elegant
> now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Welcome >> showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-sCooperating 11-5 SHOWROOM OPEN: Brokers Welcome now leasing. 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool. M-F 10-6, S-S 11-5
Orsini 727 W. Seventh St. Resident’s Lounge. Metro station. Zen garden.
Metro station. Resident’s Lounge.Valet Zen garden. parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.
visit> www.rsvlt.com
727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles
Medici
>showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5 725 SOUTHLos BIXEL ST. 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Angeles
877-239-8256
WWW.THEMEDICI.COM
756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com
MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing! the loft expert! group
TM
Downtown since 2002
Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today! 6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900
616 ST. PAUL AVE.
877-235-6012
WWW.THEPIERO.COM
Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.
866-690-2888
WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM
FREE Rent Specials On Select Floor Plans
Pricing subject to change without notice.
• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views
World Class Resort Apartment Homes
call> 213.623.3100 Downtown Los Angeles 550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST. open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5 877-231-9362 visit> www.rsvlt.com >showroom call> 213.623.3100 WWW.THEORSINI.COM 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5
Piero
Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com
• Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball
Version 3
• Brunswick Four-Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Free Tanning Rooms • Massage Room, Sauna & Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Rooms • Concierge Service • 24-Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-Site Management • Magnificent City Views *Amenities vary among communities
22 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitters/DowntownNews
Continued from previous page
SERVICES Business services CLASSIFIED Advertising. 240 California community newspapers reaching over 6 million Californians. 25-words $550 works out to 18 cents cost per thousand! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)
cleaning
Psychic
CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.
PSYCHIC READERS Spiritual advisor. Tarot $20. Confidential text for one free question 323493-9494.
attorneys
LIFE circumstances sometimes hurt us! If you hurt I am in Downtown LA. Laurie Mendiones MFT#49568 (psychotherapist) Lauriemendionesmft.com 213-394-3464
ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! education ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.Centura.us.com. (Cal-SCAN) HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN)
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 Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710
Business Attorney All Litigation Matters Transactions & Contracts 20 Years Experience Ivy League Background
Paul Bloom, Esq. (805) 984-8375
THE ANSWER to last week’s Puzzle
health
DIABETES/ Cholesterol/Weight Loss. Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and Weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call to find out how to get a free bottle of Bergamonte! 888-6159598. (Cal-SCAN)
AUTOS Pre-oWned
NOT FEELING any joy? Overwhelmed by stress and emotional overload? Professional counseling helps! www.drannewarman. vpweb.com, Downtown Wilshire Office, reasonable rates, insurance accepted, 310-281-9797.
doWntoWn l.a. auto grouP
ATTENTION Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-589-0439 to try Hydraflexin Ristk-Free for 90 days. (Cal-SCAN)
2007 PORSCHE CAYMAN S Certified, Only 29K Miles, Silver/Blk, Bose Xenon. #783463 $39,988. Call 888-685-5426.
VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg!! 40 Pills - 4 Free for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Only $2.70/ pill. The Blue Pill Now! 1-888904-6658. (Cal-SCAN)
Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300W Certified, Low miles, 7 speed automatic, 3.0L 5306C / F051792 $26,991 Call 888-3198762. 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT Great Car, Great Price. Must See!! ZV1072 / 8W149660 $13,998 Call 888-781-8102.
2009 NISSAN VERSA 1.8S Certified, Auto, AC, 1 owner, CD and more NI3677 / 9L449916 $11,499, call 888-838-5089 2010 AUDI A3 TDI Certified, Auto, only 10K miles AA140788 / ZA9838L $27,980 Call 888583-0981 2010 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Only 14K Miles, Blk/Blk Full Power UC712 / 131048 $21,999 Call 888-879-9608. 2010 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0 Certified, 1 owner, Auto, AC and more NI3697 / AL612400 $13,999 call 888-203-2967.
For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com 1989 FORD E250 CARGO VAN for cheap. 157K miles. Runs good. Great if you are starting a business. $1,500. 213-2203234.
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) DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN) Motorcyles 2003 ATLANTIS DERBI European Scooter. 303 total miles. Auto-shift, 1 cylinder 2 stroke, 49cc. Garaged, rarely ridden; excellent condition. GREAT mileage, perfect for Downtown! 1,300. 805-644-3248
ANNOUNCEMENTS notices
autos Wanted DONATE YOUR Car: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN)
INTERNATIONAL Fellowship seeks Volunteer Host Families for Foreign Exchange Students arriving August 2011. Or Earn extra cash as Area Rep! 1-800647-8839. www.InternationalFellowship.org. (Cal-SCAN)
volunteer oPPortunities HELPING KIDS heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information. churches THE BRIDGE / Little Tokyo: Contemporary worship, 11 am Sundays at Union Church 401 East Third St. www.thebridgewired.org.
PETS/ANIMALS adoPt a Pet ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.
LEGAL Fictitious Business naMe
Children’s Performing Group
Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! SunshineGenerationLA.com • 909-861-4433
Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley Proudly serving the communities of San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello and El Monte.
Cal Best Realty
Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238
English/Japanes/Chinese speaking emiterauchi@yahoo.com • (626) 786-9086
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Fictitious Business name statement FILE NO. 20110326851 The following person is doing business as: LADIES APPAREL COMPANY; REAL CHEAP SWIMSUITS; THE SWIM GUY, 840 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles CA 90014 , are hereby registered by the following registrant: H & H JOBBING INC., 840 S. LOS ANGELES STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90014. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant began to
April 11, 2011
Downtown News 23
DowntownNews.com
transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on March 01, 2000. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on March 02, 2011. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18/2011 Fictitious Business name statement FiLE NO. 20110352375 The following person is doing business as: DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCiATiON; THE FASHiON DiSTRiCT; THE FASHiON DiSTRiCT OF LOS ANGELES; THE LA FASHiON DiSTRiCT; L A FASHiON DiSTRiCT; LA FASHiON DiSTRiCT; LOS ANGELES FASHiON DiSTRiCT; LOS ANGELES FLOWER DiSTRiCT; LA FLOWER DiSTRiCT; FLOWER DiSTRiCT,
110 E 9th Street, Suite # A-1175, Los Angeles CA 90079, are hereby registered by the following registrant: DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCiATiON, 110 E 9th Street Suite #A-1175, Los Angeles CA 90079. This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 8/22/1996. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on March 08, 2011. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11/11 Notice of Sale NOTiCE OF SALE NOTiCE iS HERE BY GiVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the per-
sonal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code. The undersigned will sell on the 22nd day of April 2011 at 11:00A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following: Name of Owner: Space number Description of Goods Amount Ben Liu E*20 Personal effects $517.17
Denis Mazariegos F*24 Personal effects $490.00 Cinthia Martinez U*73 Personal effects $356.00 James Mason D*45 Personal effects $319.37 Brian Kernan A*17 Personal effects $150.00 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an as is basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party. Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. islas / Manager April 7, 2011 Pub. 4/11, 4/18/11
Downtown L.A. Auto Group has thousands of new, used and certified pre-owned vehicles to choose from. For a complete list including pictures, descriptions and prices please visit our website...
w w w. D T L A M O T O R S . c o m NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
2009 NISSAN VERSA 1.8S # N13677 / 9L449962
Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.
(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011
Sell Your Car!
Expose your auto to Downtown Los Angeles. With one of the fastest growing residential areas Los Angeles Downtown News gets results.
Call 213-481-1448
Casaloma L.A. Apartments Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo. Sec. Deposit Special @$100 Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA
For English Call Pierre or Terri 213.744.9911 For Spanish Call Susana 213.749.0306
myNails
Certified, Auto, AC, 1 Owner, CD.
$14,999 2007 Nissan Murano S ..................................................... $18,999 4 Door SUV, 3.5L, 6 Cyl., Auto, White, Low Miles. #N110400-1 / 7W519675 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 ........................................... $29,999 Certified, 8 Cyl., 4WD, Grey. #N110674-1 / 8N632795 2008 Nissan Titan King Cab ............................................
BriStol apartmeNtS 423 W. 8th st. al lU til iti es pa id
VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
2008 VW JETTA ZV1142/8M092247
$14,380
888-781-8102
Certified, 2.5L, Manual, Black/Grey, Only 28K miles.
$15,040 2008 Volkswagen GTI ...................................................... $18,979 Black/Anthrocite, 2.0 Litre, 16V, Only 32K Miles. ZV1095/8W084870 2008 Volkswagen EOS ..................................................... $21,468 Hardtop Convertible, Grey/Black, Only 32K miles. ZV1152/8V023495
2007 Volkswagen Beetle Convertable ......................... Just in time for convertible season! ZV1169/7M414758
FELIX CHEVROLET
madison hotel
$11,499
888-838-5089
Certified, 8 Cyl., Silver, Auto. N110025-1 / 8N317410
Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348
Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.
Downtown L.A. Auto Group
Prime downtown location • Now leasing studios
$662/mo. income qualifications - earn under $46,400/year
Move-in SpecialS
213-228-3000 Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.
Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151
$14,900
888-879-9608
2007 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER # UC721/72202215
Black exterior, Auto, 6 Cyl., 44,190 miles.
2010 Chevy Impala LT ......................................................
$16,887 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche ............................................... $27,900 26,694 miles, Grey Metallic exterior, Auto, 5.3L, V8. UC722/G178131 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum ESV ........................... $51,999 Only 24K Miles, AWD, One of a kind in L.A., LOADED, White Diamond. UC694 / 253700 3.5L, V6, Auto, Air, ABS, CD and More. #UC731R/A1176324
AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
2008 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET ZA9872/8K010006
$27,989
888-583-0981
Certified, 2.0L Turbo, Premium pkg, Black/Beige.
$21,748 2009 Audi TT Coupe ......................................................... $24,280 Certified, Auto, Silver/Black, Very clean. ZA9005/8104623 2008 Audi Q7 .................................................................... $35,997 Certified, 3.6L V6 Quattro Premium Pkg, Moonroof. ZA9001/8D067989 2008 Audi A4 ....................................................................
Help Wanted
Professional Nail Care Specialist - Facial - Waxing
Certified, White/Blk, Premium Pkg, Moonroof. ZA9000/8A167897
DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ 323.662.2718 • 4335 W. Sunset Blvd.
2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350 SEDAN #5098C / B334494
Walk-in Welcome • GIft Certificate Available M.-F. 9:30am - 7:30pm Sat. 9am - 7:30pm • Sun. 10am - 6pm
$28,994
888-319-8762
Certified, 3.5L, V6, 7 Speed Auto, 44,634 Miles, Indium Grey.
2008 Mercedes C300 ........................................................
$26,991 $28,991 Certified, Only 39k miles, 3.5L, V6, Black/Stone. #5294C / F248371 2007 Mercedes S550V ..................................................... $46,991 Certified, 40k miles, 5.5L, DOHC. 4-door sedan, Iridium Silver, Auto. #5195 / A015568 Certified, 3.0 Ltr, V-6, Auto 7-Spd, Low miles. #5306C/F051792
2008 Mercedes CLK350C ................................................. Is your teen experiencing:
• School problems? • Conflict at home or with friends?
Adolescent support group now forming Ages 13-17 Low fee Call Marney Stofflet, LCSW
(323) 662-9797
4344 Fountain Ave. (at Sunset), Suite A Los Angeles, CA 90029
Advertising Account Executive
L.A. Downtown News is looking for a enthusiastic self-starter who is well-organized and has the ability to sell advertising over the phone AND in person, with 3+ years in sales experience, preferably in advertising/media with a proven track record in prospecting and closing new business. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and selling skills, a strong work ethic and a great attitude. Compensation includes a base salary plus commissions and bonuses. This is a full-time position with benefits, including health insurance, vacation, private health club, and a 401(K) retirement plan. Candidate must possess own vehicle and valid driver's license and insurance. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via e-mail to: jobs@downtownnews.com. Use subject line: Account Executive 2011
PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
2007 PORSCHE CARRERA # 7S776811 S CAB
$64,988
888-685-5426
30K miles, midnight blue, tiptronic, pwr seat, bose, sport chrono pkg. certified.
2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS ............................................
$59,988 2010 Porsche Panamera S .............................................. $89,988 14K miles, Silver/black, Bose, XM Radio, 19” Wheels, Park Assist, Loaded! AL061143 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 ..................................................... $95,988 White/black, Chrono Pkg. Plus, Nav., Ceramic Brakes, Certified, 12,000 miles. 8S792166 White/black, Like New, Certified, 29,000 miles. LA73964
DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP 888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352) W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M
24 Downtown News
April 11, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
Protests Continued from page 12 he and Molina have met with the Native American Heritage Commission and individual tribes. “We stopped the excavations there in January. We haven’t touched it at all and we’re in the process of talking to all of the interested parties,” Corzo said. “What we hope to achieve through this process is to come to a conclusion of what it is we need to do there and how to do it with respect and dignity.” Robert Garcia, executive director and counsel for The City Project, who represents Johntommy Rosas, a member of the TongvaGabrieleno Native American tribe and a descendant of the first settlers of Los Angeles, said they wanted all construction and the opening to be halted until the issue is resolved. “We think it is a travesty of justice, and it tramples the memory of their ancestors and further denigrates the site,” Garcia said
of the planned opening celebration and the April 9 gala. “We’ve asked them to postpone the opening since it’s disrespectful to Native Americans and their ancestors to be partying on the site.” In a March 29 letter to Molina, the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians asked, among other things, for a written apology from Molina and Corzo, access to the remains so they can be moved to another facility, and for the county not to turn control of the property over to LA Plaza. Molina made a public apology March 28 at the Downtown meeting of the Native American Heritage Commission for the way things have unfolded, calling it a “huge mistake,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Although she told Downtown News that discussions are on a “positive track” and will continue, she acknowledged there is still a ways to go. “We are hoping that eventually we will get the kind of resolution that we need,” she said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
Theater Continued from page 17 Rothenberg has the harder struggle dealing with Pale’s cocaine- and liquor-fueled tirades, followed by wild mood swings into crying jags. Fortunately he avoids posturing and over-emoting whenever possible. Pale never becomes likable, yet he’s easier to pity than dislike. The comic relief is Larry, and Ashmanskas may deliver one of the funniest-ever takes on the character, finding dozens of tiny and grand physical bits. He’s so comfortable with his role that on opening night, Ashmanskas casually adlibbed a line regarding a cell phone ringing in the audience that was both in character and quite funny. Barnett brings depth to the shallow Burton, by giving his ramblings about his
scripts a sense of earnestness and joy. At the helm is Martin, who clearly loves the piece, though he avoids Wilson heroworship. Instead of trying to pack loads of meaning into every space between the lines, he lets the script do the talking, and he allows the actors to find meaning in the simplicity of the dialogue rather than overstylizing it. The other character is Ralph Funicello’s New York City loft. Weathered and livedin, it’s almost distractingly impressive in its detail and expanse, but its space allows for plenty of movement, and it echoes the sense of the characters’ emptiness. Loneliness, particularly among city dwellers, was one of Wilson’s specialties. What the playwright left, as witnessed in this revival, should keep his legacy secure for generations. Burn This runs through May 1 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.
Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!
Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777
Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants
Now For l l a C n Specials Move-I
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.
TOWERS T H E
A PA RT M E N T S
www.TowersApartmentsLA.com
MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM