05-03-10 by Los Angeles Downtown News

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May 3, 2010

Volume 39, Number 18

INSIDE

Mother’s Day

Broadway’s Mixed Bag Plan to Revive Street Takes Key Steps Forward, But Huge Hurdles Loom by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

Urban Scrawl on the budget debacle.

Thousands get free medical treatment.

War, gold and the ‘Bengal Tiger.’

hen 14th District City Councilman José Huizar launched the Bringing Back Broadway initiative in January 2008, the ambitious plans were the latest in a series of failed attempts to restore the street to its heyday. In front of hundreds of area stakeholders in the Los Angeles Theatre, Huizar laid out a vision that would allow the street to recapture its role as a Downtown destination, replete with nightlife, pedestrian-friendly amenities and even a streetcar. Two years later, Huizar has taken some significant strides, gen-

What Happened in Unit 701?

L.A. Dances Again With the Cabal of NFL Owners

Police Searching for Man Who Assembled Weapons, Made Counterfeit Money in South Park Loft

by Jon ReGaRdie

Remembering music critic Alan Rich.

Five great entertainment options.

20 CALENDAR LISTINGS 22 CLASSIFIEDS

photo by Gary Leonard

Councilman José Huizar is two years into his 10-year Bringing Back Broadway initiative. He has seen the upgrade of portions of the street, but now faces challenges in creating parking and moving a streetcar forward.

Double Trouble, Toil and Fumble executiVe editoR

Get ready for Cinco de Mayo.

erating more momentum than any of the previous attempts. Millions of dollars worth of street repairs have taken place and there is widespread community buy-in. During a recent meeting with Los Angeles Downtown News editors and reporters, Huizar expressed optimism about what has been achieved to date. “Bottom line is, we are very happy with where we are with the Bringing Back Broadway plan,” he said. However, the most significant tasks in the 10-year effort await. Plans for the streetcar and a parking garage that could lead to wider see Broadway, page 10

few weeks ago, a not-sosecret Downtown secret spilled into the open: A couple of really rich men want to build a National Football League stadium in South Park. Predicting that Anschutz Entertainment Group head Tim Leiweke and Hollywood bloodline kingpin Casey Wasserman, a team that a few years ago unsuccessfully pushed a stadium plan near L.A. Live, would come back with another stadium plan near L.A. Live, is about as risky as wagering that the sun will shine in Los Angeles this month. The only thing more surprising would have been if they weren’t working behind the scenes to create a chichi professional football mecca somewhere very close to where AEG has dropped $2.5 billion worth of hotels, restaurants and theaters. An uber-stadium — one that piggybacks on the Convention Center and gets more use than the average NFL palace — is perhaps the most obvious next play there is, even if it’s years away and would cost north of $800 million. The bigger issue, however, is what happens now that the bobcat is out of the bag. In the 16 years since the Rams and Raiders both skedaddled out of Los Angeles — and the only bigger sports blunder in the city in the past two decades was handing control of the Dodgers to Them Fightin’ McCourts — the cabal of 32

NFL owners has engaged in a dastardly game, in which they foment competition between potential local stadium developers, all in the name of money. Now, it could happen again, only this time there may be two asterisks: the potential sparring parties are richer than in the past; and they previously partnered on one of Downtown’s most important projects ever. In fact, the process has begun, with no less than the NFL commissioner quietly tossing the first hunk of raw meat into the cage, hoping the tigers will fight. Ugly? Yeah. But that’s how the NFL rolls. Roster of Locations To those who don’t follow the league’s stadium and franchise shenanigans, this may sound unlikely. But in a world where Goldman Sachs bets big against its own investors, and two wealthy old men will wager a single dollar that they can transform a homeless hustler into a suit-clad Wall Street type, while sending a well-off commodities broker to the poorhouse, anything can happen. (Oh wait, the second one was the plot from Eddie Murphy’s Trading Places, but the first one, which might seem harder to believe, is true). Before getting to the NFL’s latest shiv to L.A.’s ribs, consider life since the two football teams left following see Football, page 12

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

hen a resident of the Reserve Lofts smelled gasoline emanating from unit 701 in the early evening of April 19, the Fire Department got a nervous call. The concerned resident couldn’t have known that the act would be the first domino to tumble, ultimately setting off an on-

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

going manhunt for a figure police warn should be considered armed and dangerous. When fire and police officials arrived at unit 701 shortly after 6 p.m., the man inside, 33-year-old Brian Alexik, refused to open the door. After unlocking the door with a key, the door remained blocked by a homemade contraption that see Alexik, page 9

A tile mosaic replica of the CIA seal was found in the floor of Brian Alexik’s Reserve Lofts apartment. Alexik fled his seventh floor unit when police arrived.

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN X Marks the Downtown Spot

he biggest happening in extreme sports will take over the Central City this summer. Sports giant ESPN last week announced that the 16th annual X Games will take place exclusively in Downtown Los Angeles. Highflying skateboard, BMX and Motocross action will go down at Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, the Los Angeles Coliseum and at L.A. Live. In previous years, Staples Center has hosted some of the competition, but many events took place at the Home Depot Center in Carson. The Downtown concentration marks even stronger ties between the X Games and Anschutz Entertainment Group, developer of L.A. Live, said Jack Wienert, ESPN’s executive director of the event, in a statement (although AEG also owns the Home Depot Center). ESPN in 2009 opened West Coast radio and television studios and an Internet reporting hub at L.A. Live. Tickets for X Games 16 will be available June 24.

Little Progress on Mixed Income Plan

ast year, the city lost a lawsuit that torpedoed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Mixed Income Ordinance, and also put rent control in apartment projects throughout the state in question. Now, officials are still trying to figure out what to do next, according to City Councilman Ed Reyes, whose First District includes the City West project that sparked developer Geoff Palmer’s suit. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum on Thursday, April 29, Reyes noted the impacts of the loss. “What it has forced us to do is reassess how we look at a

May 3, 2010

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citywide mixed income policy,” he said. “We are re-evaluating that particular approach.” He said he has been working with Villaraigosa’s office and new Department of Housing General Manager Doug Guthrie on what steps to take. He also noted that some low-income housing advocates across California are looking at trying to change statewide legislation that impacts the results of the suit, something he said he supports. Reyes expressed a sense on urgency on finding a solution, pointing to signs of an economic recovery, and saying officials need to be prepared to create more lowincome units. “Now is the time to get ready for the upswing,” he said.

Leasing Begins at ‘The Watermarke’

he 35-story residential tower developed by Meruelo Maddux Properties officially changed hands on April 16, as Carona-based real estate company Watermarke Properties completed a $110 million purchase. Now, some of the 214 apartments in the building that has been renamed The Watermarke are available. Peter DiLello, director of acquisitions for Watermarke, said units will rent for $2,300-$5,000. The building at 705 W. Ninth St. also has four, two-level penthouses that will likely go for between $13,000 and $15,000, he said. DiLello said the company was attracted to the property by its location — especially its proximity to high-paying jobs and freeway access — as well as its unique size and architecture among other Downtown residential properties. Though Meruelo Maddux had completed the building, Watermarke is already planning some changes, including touch-ups in units and a makeover of the lobby, DiLello said. Meruelo Maddux, which has filed for

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

Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, sold the building to settle its debt with Canyon Capital Realty Partners, which had financed the project with an $84 million loan.

All Aboard!

aturday, May 8, marks the third annual National Train Day, and Union Station is on track to celebrate with a free event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The festivities will include displays of model and real trains, as well as the Railroad Braceros exhibit, which honors the Latino contributions to the national railroad. Steve Velasquez, associate curator of the National Museum of American History, will make a presentation about the braceros. Also in store is a talk on how trains move our economy, the history of train food with a cooking demonstration by Amtrak chef Marcel Lagnaz, and an exhibit on how Amtrak is providing green options for travel. Other events include a performance by the USC Trojan Marching Band and an appearance by Huell Howser. Union Station is at 800 N. Alameda St. Additional information is at nationaltrainday.com.

Chinese Electric Car Firm Coming Downtown

hinese electric car manufacturer BYD last week announced a deal to bring its headquarters to the Figueroa Corridor in Downtown Los Angeles. The move is expected to generate 150 high-paying jobs within the company by 2011, but the commerce associated with the facility is also anticipated to create an additional 1,000 jobs. In a Friday morning press conference, BYD chairman Chuanfu Wang detailed the company’s plan to occupy an office building at 1800 S. Figueroa St. by the fourth quarter of 2010. BYD, which produces an array of clean technology products, plans to feature its vehicles, solar panels,

energy storage systems and advanced LED lighting products in its new headquarters. The building will also be home to BYD’s research and development arm that will create current versions of the company’s vehicles now selling in China. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, sold nearly 450,000 vehicles in 2009, up 170% from the previous year. This year, it expects to sell 700,000 cars. Concurrent with the plan to locate in Downtown, the city plans to ramp up its electric vehicle infrastructure in the coming year, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, adding plug-in equipment in both commercial and residential locations. BYD is not the only electric car firm looking to locate in Downtown. Coda Automotive has been in negotiations with the Community Redevelopment Agency about plans to set up shop in the Cleantech Manufacturing Center near the L.A. River.

More Downtown Ring Things

he Downtown entries in Ring Festival L.A. continue to expand, with two new art shows coming. On May 10, the California Art Club will unveil work inspired by Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Works will appear at two locations: the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, at 555 W. Temple St., where it is up through July 16; and at the Fine Arts Building, at 811 W. Seventh St., where it is on display through June 4. The exhibit is titled California Art Club Artists Celebrate the Ring Cycle.

Correction

ncle John’s Ham ’N’ Eggs, which was mentioned in a bargain lunch story in the April 26 issue, has closed, and will reopen in a new location at 834 S. Grand Ave. on May 3. The restaurant has been renamed Uncle John’s Café.

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traffic and be less pedestrian- friendly. In new urbanist thinking, there’s been a trend away from them.” Holter and street stakeholders, including Robert Harris, former dean of the USC School of Architecture, began brainstorming about how they could improve Figueroa — and the Figueroa Corridor Partnership continued to gain political traction. In 1998, Holter got a call from the Department of Transportation, which was using some federal money to design and build a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane. The new lane would head north on the 110 Freeway to an exit on Adams Blvd., then proceed Darryl Holter up Figueroa into the Central City. The DOT wanted to know how the lane would affect the businesses and the community, so Holter studied the proposal. “ I told them that it could work, but that there were some problems, and we should sit down and start talking about what the Corridor needed.” The result was a 3.2 million street improvement program. Holter, Harris and others made an inventory of what the street needed, which included new bus shelters, 75 trees, stamped asphalt crosswalks, and landscaped medians near Exposition Blvd. and 23rd Street. The medians were pleasant to look at, yes, but they also served another more important purpose — they enforced the two-way existence of Figueroa for the foreseeable future. “The upshot was, we were able to make things a little better for pedestrians and make the street look nicer. It was an example of being organized and pulling together,” Holter said. “We got something that was beneficial to everyone.”

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4 Downtown News

May 3, 2010

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EDITORIALS Olvera Street Merchants Put Themselves at Risk With Rent Action

long-festering situation at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument has verged into dangerous territory, with more than 40 Olvera Street merchants putting themselves at risk for eviction. They should immediately reconsider their decision to withhold a portion of the rent that was due on April 1 — not only is their chosen method of protesting recent rent hikes off base, but their move could lead to a result that far outweighs any benefits of the risks they are taking. If the worst-case scenario comes to fruition, and businesses are forced out, the merchants will have themselves to blame. For many years, restaurant and shop owners at the popular tourist attraction (it sees about 2 million visitors a year) have been charged rents that in most instances are well below market rate. Although the land is owned by the city, a 2009 audit from the City Controller found that the average rent is $1.35 per square foot, and some of the merchants with the largest spaces have long paid less than $1 a square foot. A recent study commissioned by the city stated that merchants should be paying $2-$6.50 per square foot. In January, the commission that oversees El Pueblo approved rate hikes that, in most cases, hew to the low end of that spectrum. This is a fair step, one that makes sense for city-owned property; there is no reason taxpayers should subsidize for-profit businesses. The increases will also help the

department, which has seen a budget shortfall of $800,000 or more for several years, become self-sufficient. This is a necessity as the city faces a $485 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Information about the increases was sent out Feb. 1, providing merchants nearly twice the required 30 days notice. Everyone was well aware of the situation. About 14 merchants have paid the new rates, and 17 others are unaffected because they signed 55-year leases more than a decade ago (something real estate experts have cautioned against repeating, pointing out that it is not the norm for this kind of retail). Many of the remaining merchants have charged that the new rents are onerous, and some have claimed they could be forced out of business. When the April 1 payments were due, 43 tenants chose to deliver only what they had been previously paying — in other words, they made a conscious decision to hand over a fraction of what is owed. As a result, the city is short a total of $72,000. The past few weeks have seen a wealth of spin. A merchants’ group is circulating a “Save Olvera Street” petition, though there is zero chance of the attraction being shut down — that is in no one’s interest, and city officials probably do not want to go through a public bidding process to find new occupants for scores of spaces. They’d prefer that the existing

owners stay there and meet their obligations. Merchants who rail against rent hikes and lambaste boosts of 100% or more know full well that they have gotten a great deal for a long time, and that citing a high percentage jump generates more attention than noting an increase to fair-market rates. When they claim that a promised parking garage has not been built, they overlook other improvements that have been made by the city to El Pueblo. Another complaint, that the merchants on month-tomonth concession agreements are entitled to 55-year deals, appears to be a desire, not a right. Recent letters from City Attorney Carmen Trutanich indicate that the El Pueblo Commission is acting appropriately. “Nothing in the language of Proposition H or in the current Charter, requires any particular length of time for a long term concession agreement. Additionally, the Charter does not authorize the concession agreements to be below market rate,” Trutanich wrote in an April 8 letter to 14th District Councilman José Huizar. All that brings the situation up to the perilous present, with more than half of Olvera Street’s merchants putting themselves at risk. El Pueblo and other city officials now have the option — and possibly the obligation — to file three-day notices for the tenants either to pay or face eviction proceedings. Huizar, whose district includes El Pueblo, has pledged to work to prevent evictions. We hope he can stop longtime stakeholders from losing their space. But in doing so, we hope he holds true to another thing he has said he wants: for rents to rise and for El Pueblo to be self-sufficient. The way to make that happen is for the Olvera Street merchants to pay their rents. Their full, fair rents.

Murky Water, Questionable Power

he distressing situation over Department of Water and Power rate hikes turned even more troublesome last week, when the City Council nearly overturned an increase that it had approved just a few weeks before. The kicker: More than half of the 15 council members say they did not know the matter they green lighted would lead to permanent increases. This is troubling on so many levels it is staggering. Is the embattled utility engaged in some level of obfuscation? How could some city lawmakers not comprehend that something they anticipated would last for

three months would instead extend in perpetuity? Why did those who know not make sure everyone was on the same page? Did Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a chief proponent of rate hikes, play a behind-the-scenes role? How is this supposed to increase an already skeptical public’s trust in the department? Clearly, the water is murky, and it is more than a case of council members not closely reading the material before voting, especially when the issue had been so contentious for so long. Indeed, on Tuesday, April 27, nine members of the council voted to revisit the

rate hikes that had been approved on April 14. While this was a majority, it fell one ballot shy of the 10 votes required to revive the matter. The situation gets more distressing considering that Bernard Parks, who previously opposed the rate hikes, was out of the council chambers and missed the vote by a few minutes. Would he have swung the pendulum the other way? Before and after last week’s vote, council members expressed vastly differing thoughts. Several said they knew that the rate hikes would be permanent. Others thought they were OKing increases that would start July

1 and end Oct. 1, at which point they could choose whether or not to extend them for another three months. We’re very troubled that the council could complete a vote its members don’t understand, and every Angeleno should worry what else could be mishandled. Certainly someone, or many people, had a wider grasp of the facts before the April 14 vote, but the information was not shared. Did people keep quiet to press their own agenda? This is a poor move for Los Angeles. It does not instill confidence in city government or the DWP.

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway, Tam Nguyen, Kelley Smith circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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Putting the ‘Pro’ in Provolone Grilled Cheese Greats Pepper a Downtown Food Event

ere we stand, hundreds of us, yearning for our first opportunity to taste a stranger’s cheese. It’s one of those pretty Downtown days: light clouds with a chance of cheddar. A very good chance, actually. So just how did we get here? A little history: Countless kitchens ago, a forward-thinking person, no doubt related to my grandmother, stumbled on the idea of turning crispy bread and cheese into the perfect lunch. Although this was an instant hit, we in the modern cheese era have no reason to believe this particular chef had the first clue of the food fury she had just unleashed. Remember, all this happened way Howard Leff before sliced bread. Once that trendy little innovation hit store shelves, the grilled cheese sandwich, as we know OF ONE it today, took its rightful place as an American food icon. That’s just the beginning. Humans would not let such an amazing idea sit there and stagnate. It’s the same reason your cell phone’s no longer the size of a bar stool. We as a species are constantly improving things. So into the mix went spices and sauces and vegetables and fruits and meats and marshmallows and everything except the car keys in order to improve on what was already culinary perfection. Into this breach stepped Tim Walker, who bills himself as the “chief instigator and founder” of the Grilled Cheese Invitational. The eighth annual event took place Saturday, April 24, on the Los Angeles Center Studios campus in City West. Note to Tim: Even though you moved to a new location this year, the site’s still not big enough. For 2011, just go ahead and book the Coliseum. If not, this could get dangerously close to the Gridlocked Cheese Invitational. That’s because hungry sandwich (or “sammich”) fans, who paid up to

PARTY

6 Six Week

$15 for admission on a warm afternoon, faced massive, Space Mountain-worthy lines in order to obtain free food and drink samples, or just simply to buy various grilled cheeses from all the food trucks in attendance. The hardcore GCI patrons spent much of their time in the similarly crowded competition area where, acting as judges, they waited patiently to sample and rate sandwiches in three different (and clearly defined) categories. These ranged from

I’m not sure how many of these samples a normal, lawabiding taster can stomach in one afternoon. I suspect that, despite all the winners, two sure losers are your cholesterol and your colon.

the mainstream varieties to decadent, over-the-top delicacies that would best be served as a dessert, such as Goat Cheese Ice Cream in a Strawberry Sandwich. I’ll take a dozen. And IM my cardiologist. Only those who had previously registered as judges could get into this area, but it was well worth the effort. Sandwich makers from all over, amateurs and pro chefs alike, these monsters of Muenster, trotted out homemade breads, exotic cheeses and original recipes. Still, the sheer number of entrants and judges made it tough to get a taste of all the

varieties available. Though not an official judge, I was fortunate enough to procure an entry bathed in strawberries and chocolate sauce. One caution: I’m not sure how many of these samples a normal, law-abiding taster can stomach in one afternoon. I suspect that, despite all the winners, two sure losers are your cholesterol and your colon. In addition to the mega-caloric treats hiding inside the ol’ sammich, the outside begins its journey smothered in butter, margarine or something just as devious. The event wasn’t just about eating grilled cheese. Attendees suffering from cheese overload could wander over to a stage where organizers held forth with a carnival-worthy sideshow. Performers included poets, musicians and stand-up comics. Among them was Gabe, a 15-year-old from Brea who happens to be the nation’s foremost cheese rapper: “I love cheddar, cream and goat/Isn’t anything better than having cheese in your throat.” I think most of us, especially those looking on from the Beer Garden, would agree that yes, other than a well-timed Sucrets during flu season, cheese would be high on the list. The stage also featured some bigger names, including actorcomedian Mike O’Connell, who stars in a brilliantly offbeat (and cult-classic-in-waiting) film called The Living Wake, as well as Erik Charles Nielsen, the comic actor who has a recurring role on the NBC comedy “Community.” No question, Nielsen delivered the afternoon’s best noncheese joke: “I’m planning to break into the National Archives in Washington to sign the Declaration of Independence… thereby becoming the answer to the trivia question: ‘Which signer of the Declaration of Independence has $30,000 in student loans?’” Other events included a costume contest and the alwayspopular “cheese calling” contest. Many were called, but to date, we have no hard evidence that any of the cheeses have answered. No matter. The sign at the front gate didn’t say “Talent Show.” (And if it did, it was in really small print.) It’s all about the sammies, as the thousands who filed out into the Downtown evening would tell you. My advice: Stop by next year, especially if you think you know your grilled cheeses. No offense, but there’s a fair chance You Don’t Know (Monterey) Jack.

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Arena of the Needy Free Medical Clinic Draws Thousands of Uninsured to Downtown by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

avid didn’t want to provide his last name. But it didn’t matter much, in terms of differentiating the 61-yearold Torrance resident from the more than 1,000 people who joined him in waiting for medical treatment on the floor of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena last week. Like most of the people who flocked to the free clinic run by the Tennessee-based nonprofit Remote Area Medical, David is uninsured. He hadn’t had dental work done in at least 15 years, he said, mostly because he can’t afford coverage. The floor of the Sports Arena — a venue that has seen everything from political speeches to Olympic boxing to Bruce Springsteen concerts — was filled with medical professionals in blue and green scrubs. This small army of volunteers weaved around dental chairs and hovered over tables covered with prescription eyeglasses that would be given away for free. The Exposition Park clinic, which opened April 27 and closes May 3, follows a similar event held last year at The Forum in Inglewood. There, 6,334 patients, some of whom traveled from out of state, were treated. People lined up outside the arena early each morning. Hundreds were turned away because of a lack of time and space. This year, the procedures were tweaked: RAM staffers issued wristbands on a first-come first-served basis on April 25 to patients who could choose which day to attend. That plan was engineered to cut down on the massive lines seen last year, and on the clinic’s first day, most of the lines had disbanded by noon. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who helped organize RAM L.A., was among a cadre of public officials making the rounds on the event’s opening day. He said he ran into former high school classmates, and even one part-time county employee who was there to access services. “That was a little startling,” Ridley-Thomas said. “But it’s the reality of part-time workers without adequate health insurance…. This is a clear example of why health reform

was urgently needed. It can’t get here soon enough for these patients, many of whom are employed.” Widespread Needs The Downtown scene was certainly not what RAM founder Stan Brock envisioned when he dreamed of creating an organization to expand healthcare access to needy communities. Brock vividly recalls living and working on a cattle ranch with Wapishana Indians in the forests of Amazonian Guyana in the 1950s. Brock and his Wapishana friends, he said, used to catch and try to tame wild horses. The native of England found himself helming one of the most difficult horses, which was named Kang, the Wapishana word for devil. One day Kang, with Brock on his back, ran full speed into a corral, throwing and severely injuring the rider. Brock needed medical attention, but the nearest doctor was not close. He was told that help was “26 days on foot from here,” he said. That was the moment Brock pledged to create an organization that would bring medical care closer to third-world communities. The vision has materialized, with RAM outposts in Haiti, in the upper Amazon and mobile units that deploy to disaster zones like post-Katrina New Orleans. “Who would have thought that 60 years later, we would have found a very similar need here in the United States,” Brock said. Indeed, the needs were widespread last week. The available services included physical exams, mammograms, PAP smears, diabetes screenings, dental cleanings, extractions, fillings and root canals. Prescription eyeglasses were made and fitted on site. The costs of putting on such an event are covered by private donations. The Los Angeles clinic was supported largely by a gift from record industry executive Jerry Moss and his wife Ann. Medical professionals volunteer their time. On opening day, 1,157 patients received treatment from approximately 300 medical volunteers, according to event spokeswoman Jackie Quintanilla. But by day two, the clinic had issued all of its wristbands, topping off at 6,349 individuals for the week-long run. That was down from the 8,000

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The Remote Area Medical clinic that began last week at the Sports Arena is slated to treat more than 6,300 people before it closes on May 3.

people they expected to help when the clinic started. Gail Hollins, 56, attended the clinic to take care of a painful dental problem — a cap fell off, and she needed an extraction. As she waited to be seen, she wondered about the federal healthcare bill that passed with such fanfare in March, and why it doesn’t seem to have improved the healthcare landscape. “It’s confusing me, really,” Hollins said. Though some aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act go into effect immediately (such as requiring insurers to provide coverage for individuals 26 and younger under their parents’ plan), most of the major reforms will be phased in over five years. In the meantime, the need for urgent care remains great, from the upper Amazon to Downtown Los Angeles. “The contradictions couldn’t be more clear, but Remote Area Medical deserves high praise for this,” Ridley-Thomas said. “And I can tell you the people who have come to benefit from these services are not reluctant to give that to them.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 9

Alexik

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Continued from page 1 functioned as a second lock. By the time police broke down the door with a battering ram, Alexik had fled his unit, apparently escaping via a fire escape. The source of the fumes was immediately apparent: Alexik, who police say sometimes went by the name Ken Shurin and is of Russian descent, had been using a gasoline-powered electric generator. But the generator was perhaps the least surprising thing authorities found. Also in the apartment was approximately $15,000 in counterfeit money and the equipment used to make it. Police officials said the fake bills were of “high quality.” Additionally, there was an AK-47, a sawed-off shotgun and other evidence that suggests Alexik was manufacturing weapon parts. He also had an array of fake identification documents. Other details in the apartment paint a curious if difficult to interpret portrait of Alexik. Inlaid on the floor was a handmade tile mosaic replica of the Central Intelligence Agency seal; it was about five feet in diameter. Hovering over the CIA emblem was a large, framed portrait of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. As of Los Angeles Downtown News’ press time on April 30, the LAPD and Secret Service were still trying to track down Alexik. Capt. Steven Sambar, who heads the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, said Alexik should be considered “very dangerous.” Three felony charges have been filed, two for possessing the AK-47 and the shotgun, and one for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. One Arrest Police seemed to get their first break in the investigation on Thursday, April 29, when they arrested 32-year-old Gregory Koller, who officials suspect has ties to Alexik. Officials served a search warrant of Koller’s residence — a converted warehouse at 38th Street and Grand Avenue — at about 6 a.m. and discovered “items consistent with manufacturing weapons,” said Sambar. The raid also yielded drugs including methamphetamine, and counterfeit currency, “the same items that directly link back to Alexik,” Sambar said. Koller was expected to be booked on narcotics charges, and likely faces additional charges tied to the recovered contraband, Sambar said. Almost two weeks after law enforcement first responded to the Reserve Lofts, many residents of the building were still wondering why dozens of police, firemen and Secret Service agents had responded en masse on April 19. “People are completely on edge,” said a resident who asked not to be identified because tenants had been asked by the landlord not to speak and feared retaliation. In the days after Alexik’s door was knocked in, an unsigned letter went up in the building elevator, asking, “What really happened on the nights of April 19 and 20 at 409 W Olympic Unit 701?” It went on to make a slate of allegations — including illegal weapons possession and counterfeiting — that police echoed in a press release more than a week later. Residents also noted the ironic parallels between Alexik’s alleged counterfeit operation and the 81-year-old building’s history. Converted into 78 live-work units in 2006, the building was the former Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. It’s not yet clear what authorities are making of Alexik’s choice to live at the Reserve Lofts. But Commander Jose Perez, who oversees Central Bureau, pointed out that Alexik’s unit overlooks the current Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, next door at 950 S. Grand Ave. Perez, who is not actively involved in the investigation, termed the proximity to the active Federal Reserve location as “suspicious.” Alexik is believed to be about 5-foot-10 and weigh about 180 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately and make no attempt to confront him. Anyone with other information about the suspect is asked to contact LAPD Major Crimes Division Det. Daniel Logan at (213) 486-7386. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Broadway Continued from page 1 use of the street’s 12 theaters hinge on securing millions of dollars in scarce funds. In fact, the garage effort suffered a setback when $10 million that had been expected instead dissipated during the city’s budget crunch. The garage has long been a chief desire of some theater owners on Broadway. In particular the Delijani family, which owns the Los Angeles, the Palace, the State and the Tower theaters, have pushed for the city to build and pay for such a facility, claiming that existing area parking is insufficient for large nighttime crowds. As part of the Broadway effort, Huizar pursued a $52 million garage plan. The intent was to purchase four existing properties for approximately $27 million, and spend $25 million to convert them into a single structure with 300

parking spaces. Huizar had $10 million set aside to begin the garage effort. But once the city’s budget crisis arose — a shortfall of $485 million is expected for the fiscal year that begins July 1 — he had to give up that money in exchange for city promises to use Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles funds. Now those are unlikely to materialize. Huizar downplayed the significance of the setback. “I wouldn’t call it a big blow,” he said. “I would just say something has stalled, we have other plans in place. We have preliminary drawings, designs. We just have to rethink how we get the financing.” The back-up plan is an automated parking system, which would use machines to lift and park cars in stacks. It would occupy less space than a conventional garage. Funds have not been secured. Still, Jessica Wethington McLean, the executive director of Bringing Back Broadway, said it’s not a question of “if” new parking will be built, but rather how. She said officials are

pursuing public-private partnerships for the facility. Huizar said Delijani — who did not return phone calls for comment — had agreed to put more money into his theaters if the city can provide a parking garage. But other theater owners say parking is not an issue that should slow down the overall plans. “I don’t see that that has any bearing whatsoever in bringing back the theaters,” said Steve Needleman, who owns the Orpheum Theatre at 842 S. Broadway. He reopened it as a concert and events venue in 2001 following a $3.5 million renovation. He has also created apartments on the floors above. “Everyone will find a place to park,” he continued. “I don’t think there’s any way to make economic sense out of putting in one of these garages in today’s time, and I think that long term we have better uses for our money.” Street Action Another key part of the effort is the Broadway Entertainment Overlay Zone and Design Guide, which aims to make the street

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Streetcar Route - Option 2

AT&T Center

REVISION NO. 006 APRIL 23, 2010

Herald Examiner III

LEGEND

PICO BLVD

Streetcar Route - Option 1 Under Study

Under Study Los Angeles Convention Center

Seafood District

Central City East

Palace Theater

Jewelry District HOPE ST

FLOWER ST

LES ST

SPRING ST

Red Line to N. Hollywood Purple Line to Wilshire/Western

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BROADWAY

HILL ST

GRAND AV

OLIVE ST

Tower Theater Rialto Theater

Ralph’s

LA Live

Los Angeles Theater

7TH ST

State Theater

8TH ST

Roxie Theater Cameo Theater Arcade Theater 6TH ST

Financial Core

Palace Theater

Jewelry District HOPE ST

FLOWER ST

WILSHIRE BLVD

LA Central Millenium Library Biltmore Pershing Hotel Square

Seafood District

Central City East

6TH ST

LES ST

Roxie Theater Cameo Theater Arcade Theater

Los Angeles Theater

Toy District

5TH ST

SPRING ST

LA Central Millenium Library Biltmore Pershing Hotel Square

FIGUEROA ST

US Bank Tower

5TH ST

Financial Core

Historic Downtown

Toy District Westin Bonaventure Hotel

US Bank Tower

Grand Central Square

California Plaza

LOS ANG

4TH ST Westin Bonaventure Hotel

Little Tokyo

3RD ST World Trade Center

Historic Downtown

GRAND AV

California Plaza

BROADWAY

Grand Central Square

FIGUEROA ST

World Trade Center

LA Live

to Union Station

Civic Center

Music Center

City Hall

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Red Line to N. Hollywood Purple Line to Wilshire/Western

Downtown News 11

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Metro Red/Purple Line

California 14TH ST Hospital Medical Center

N 0.125

Blue Line to Long Beach Connects to Green & Expo Lines

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L.A. Streetcar Alignment Option 2

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Los Angeles Convention Center

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L.A. Streetcar Alignment Option 1

rendering by LAStreetcar.org

The $100 million streetcar would connect L.A. Live and Bunker Hill, with Broadway as the main southbound spine. The principal northbound corridor would be on Hill or Olive streets.

more pedestrian-friendly with new standards for signage, lighting, landscaping and the appearance of buildings. The plan, which also seeks to upgrade and establish consistency in storefronts and façades, was adopted by the City Council last September. Some of the changes coming as a result of the ordinance include alterations in signage. Large-scale painted wall signs and open panel roof signs will no longer be permitted. The plan will also affect any rehabilitation that occurs in buildings, including new businesses that want to come to Broadway, McLean said. That would apply both to mom and pop shops, and any large chain seeking to capitalize on the residential growth in Downtown. “What we did there is put in some provisions so that stores who want to come to Broadway can come, but that [store] has to

look like Broadway,” McClean said. “Broadway won’t be made to look like the store.” The street itself is also getting a makeover, with an infrastructure plan estimated at $35 million. More than $7 million in work has already taken place, with sidewalk repairs on portions of Broadway between Third and Fifth streets. The upgrades, which cost $1.5 million per side, per block, include reconstructing the basements under the sidewalks, since the current sub-surface infrastructure can’t sustain any aboveground improvements, Huizar said. Other parts of the plan call for wider sidewalks, transit stations and reducing traffic flow to three lanes, with two running north and one heading south. The streetcar is slated to run along the southbound curb. “Obviously people want to see a more pedestrian-friendly Broadway,” Huizar said.

So far $13 million has been identified for the project. Officials expect to spend $4 million on improvements this year. After that, the source of the money remains uncertain. “We haven’t really identified the full funding for this, but as we’ve been going along, we’ve been finding money here and there,” Huizar said. Plans are not limited to street level. Huizar also wants to activate some of the 1.5 million square feet of vacant upper floor space along Broadway between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard. Huizar’s office has been working with officials from the Fire Department and the Department of Building and Safety on creating an ordinance that would allow them to reactivate that property. It could be similar to the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, which made it easier to turn old office buildings into housing. However, Huizar said moving forward has not been easy. “We ran into some trouble with Building and Safety and the Fire Department, some disagreements,” he said. “For example the Fire Department, in some cases, is concerned about windows, emergency exit safety issues.” Despite the hurdle, some are enthusiastic that progress will continue. Russell Brown, president of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, said the next step is to get property owners along the street on board. “I feel confident that going into the third year of a 10-year plan that a lot has been done, and all of the foundation work has very much been done,” he said. Ticket to Ride Perhaps the most anticipated portion of the Bringing Back Broadway plan is the return of the streetcar, which Huizar had ambitiously pegged for 2014. In 2009, the nonprofit organization L.A.

Streetcar Inc. was formed to handle the design and construction of the line that would ultimately connect L.A. Live and Bunker Hill. So far, a little more than $10.5 million has been secured for the project that is estimated to cost $100 million. Huizar is looking at a mix of federal and private sources to raise the funds, including an assessment district in which property owners along the proposed route would be taxed. The amount to be secured from the assessments has not been determined. The 2014 timeline may rest on a $25 million grant the group is seeking from the Federal Transit Administration’s Urban Circulators program. The application has been filed and an answer is expected in June. If it comes through, it could keep the project on the fast track. But a denial could derail a 2014 opening, Huizar admitted. “It’ll make us re-look at our numbers on the assessment,” Huizar said. “We’ll look at the assessment, reevaluate those numbers and maybe the timeline.” Another $10 million in federal funds is also being sought. Meanwhile, Metro has agreed to include the project in its Long Range Transportation Plan, which means that if funding ever becomes available or Metro plans for the long term use of the area, the streetcar is in line to get some money. The ultimate goal is to have Metro operate it, Huizar said, although the transit agency has yet to commit to that. McLean added that one way or another, there will be some streetcar action in 2014. “This summer we’ll figure out if 2014 is a grand opening or groundbreaking for the streetcar,” she said. “If we have to go out with shovels in January 2014 and break ground ourselves, we’ll do that.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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12 Downtown News

Football Continued from page 1 the end of the 1994 season: Every few years, the league has turned its attention to bringing a team to Los Angeles. Once a stadium plan surges to the forefront, the owners then seek to persuade other interested parties to spruce up their plans and offer their financial models. Everyone jumps in because, well, it’s the NFL, the ultimate billionaire’s club, and while being president or a senator is nice, it’s nothing compared to the power that comes with owning a pro football team. This is how, in past years, we’ve seen stadium designs and concepts for sites including the Coliseum (multiple times), South Park (multiple locations), the Dodger Stadium parking lot (with multiple team owners), the City of Industry, the city of Commerce, Hollywood Park, the Rose Bowl and Anaheim. In every instance, municipal entities and private business folk spent hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to attend NFL owners meetings, work up architectural drawings, craft presentations replete with enthusiastic revenue projections, and then lead the league brass on splashy tours. Even though L.A. continually falls short (in the closest shot, a Houston businessman outbid L.A. for an expansion franchise), once the memory diminishes, the scenario starts again. It’s like a bad billion-dollar penny that just keeps coming back. It’s been a few years since the last go-round. With the Coliseum’s football future now resting on USC’s shoulder pads (suddenly

less exciting in the post-Pete Carroll, prethey’re-probably-gonna-get-sanctioned era) and most of the other sites having dropped off, attention has focused on Ed Roski’s plan to build an $800 million stadium in the side of a mountain in the City of Industry. Many Downtowners have forgotten Roski. Which is silly, because in the Downtown stone ages (the mid-1990s), he was Phil Anschutz’s partner in pushing a then-audacious concept — a $300 million arena in South Park. With Anschutz treating the media like a leper colony, Roski was frequently front and center. He also took a big whack at a previous effort to bring the NFL to the Coliseum. While that didn’t happen, Staples did, and Roski’s Majestic Realty has gone on to do very well indeed. In recent years, Roski has jumped through every stadium hoop the league has held up, and even managed to win environmental concessions from state government that would make the project easier to realize. With glitzy models, a website (losangelesfootballstadium. com), ammo claiming people would buy tickets, and a public point-man in John Semcken — a smart, likeable guy who could sell a fleet of refrigerated trucks to an Eskimo collective — the Roski stadium seems to hit all the points the NFL wants. One almost overlooks the fact that to enjoy it you would have to spend time in the City of Industry. Dab of Hemlock So what happens with Roski taking the football lead? Leiweke, who if not the most powerful guy in L.A. is way up there, and Wasserman, the grandson of legendary MCA chieftain Lew Wasserman, quietly assemble a proposal to raze the Convention Center’s West Hall and replace it with a sparkling sta-

Alarmingly Good Food

photo by Gary Leonard

There have been numerous attempts to bring pro football back to Los Angeles, including a 2006 plan that would have had a team playing at the Coliseum in fall 2010. Now, a City of Industry proposal is the leading contender, though a South Park stadium is also being discussed.

dium. Plenty of Downtowners have known about it for months, though no one spoke publicly until the L.A. Times’ Sam Farmer scored enough details to run a couple stories. The key to the plan, on AEG’s side, is building a stadium that can be used for much more than the normal eight regular season games, two pre-season contests and the handful of concerts that other football stadiums hold each year. This makes sense, considering that AEG created new molds and unprecedented revenue streams with Staples Center, which hosts more than 200 events a year. Now, with a new $1 billion hotel, L.A. is gunning for every major convention available. A souped-up, malleable football stadium becomes another part of the puzzle. Wasserman, meanwhile, already had a training wheels football team, the Arena League’s Avengers. Although the league went kaput, he gained the type of experience that NFL owners want in their club. So it’s not surprising that after news broke about the Downtown stadium proposal, the NFL planted an instigating seed. In an April 20 chat on nfl.com, league Commissioner Roger Goodell responded to a fan named Jarell who asked when football would return to Los Angeles.

Goodell could have talked eagerly about Roski’s plan. He could have praised the designs and enthused on the progress. Instead, he dropped a dab of hemlock in Roski’s cup. His 80-word response was: “Jarell, there are some positive developments in Los Angeles and with the construction of a new stadium. While the stadium in the City of Industry has gotten many construction approvals, it still needs to be determined how to pay for it. This is a big challenge particularly in this economic climate. It is one of the issues we are addressing in the context of our collective bargaining agreement. We want to get back to LA. Hopefully it will happen soon.” That’s it. Rather than get effusive, Goodell raised a big financing question. The message is clear: The only stadium game in Los Angeles for the past few years isn’t the only option the NFL wants to see. They’re tossing out the bloody meat, hoping to rouse a few more wild animals. If anyone thinks the timing, days after the Downtown stadium news surfaced, is coincidental, then I have some Goldman Sachs stock to sell them. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

The Mom Zone How Four Mothers Make It Happen in Downtown

aising kids is tough. Raising kids in Downtown Los Angeles is even tougher, as the area is still in the midst of its transformation to a 24-7 community. Still, it can be done, and each week there seems to be new families in the neighborhood. That means not just more kids, of course, but more moms. And as everyone knows, they have plenty of wisdom to dispense. In honor of Mother’s Day, Los Angeles Downtown News has gone into the Mom Zone. Here, we tap four Downtown mothers for advice on life in the Central City.

Hustle, Bustle and a Baby No Need for the Suburbs When You Have the Standard by Richard Guzmán city editor

risha Kendrick was already used to life in Downtown when she decided to have a baby. She had moved here in 2005 from the Silicon Valley for a job. Now, she and her daughter Nazeli, 2, are happy and eager residents. Los Angeles Downtown News: When your daughter was born, did you have any thoughts about leaving Downtown? Trisha Kendrick: I never had plans to leave Downtown. I love Downtown. I love the fact that transportation is right at your doorstep, the shopping mall is within a block. Everything is at your disposal. Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a Downtown mom? A: The convenience of being able to get around, and there’s a sense of community here with other parents. I think we all share the same pains. We all want better parks for the kids. We all complain about the lack of daycare. We share nannies if we can. It’s like one big family. Q: What challenges do you face as a mom here? A: Lack of daycare, that’s my biggest gripe. What am I going to do when I go back to work, and also where is she go-

ing to go to school? You will find everything and anything for pets: dog sitters, parks, stores, daycare, but nothing for children. Whoever has money to invest will make a lot of money when the light bulb goes off and they say, “Hey, let’s open up a daycare center in Downtown.” Q: What does your daughter like to do Downtown? A: Believe it or not, her playground is the Standard. She loves hanging out there, she loves the music. Q: The Standard hotel? A: Yeah. I know it’s kind of odd because most suburban kids go to the park or something like that, but she likes the techno music. She likes to dance to it. She likes to play in the waterbeds and she wants to dive right into the pool. Q: You don’t take her there at night, do you? A: This is during the day; you can’t get in there at night with a kid. I’m a hip mom but I’m not crazy. Q: What would you tell moms who are wondering if Downtown is a good place to raise a family? A: I would encourage moms to stay and not move out. I think a lot of parents complain about the same thing, daycare and schools. They’re thinking about moving to suburbia, but I would say to stick it out, things will get better.

photo by Gary Leonard

Trisha Kendrick and her daughter Nazeli, 2, are known to hang out at the Standard hotel. During the daytime, of course.

Q: What does Downtown have over suburbia? A: Life, honey. You can feel the vibe Downtown. It’s not your typical playground for kids, but Nazeli loves to walk around, she loves being in her stroller, she loves all the pets she sees. Q: What are your plans for Mother’s Day? A: We’re going to Hawaii. We’re going to Waikiki. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Moving on Up Azusa Family Gave Up the Backyard for the City by Richard Guzmán city editor

oving to Downtown was a complete change for Michelle Bravo and her three children. Bravo has been working Downtown for almost 20 years. But until last year, 19-yearold Arianna, 12-year-old Julian and 6-yearold Mia were used to suburbia, and living in a house with a backyard. Los Angeles Downtown News: Why did you decide to move to Downtown? Michelle Bravo: I was going through a divorce and I’ve worked down here for almost 20 years, so I’ve seen Downtown go through quite a change. I just decided I was tired of the commute. And I was really glad I did. I moved from Azusa; it’s been a huge difference. The kids were a little apprehensive about the move. Suddenly a backyard means something, even though they never used the backyard. Q: How is life as a mom different now? A: We do so many more things now. We

go to the museum. We go to the library. During the summer there are all the concerts. We go to the Music Center quite a bit. We go to Dodger games a lot. We go see basketball games. They’re so active now. I think it’s been a great transition for everyone. Q: What’s the best part about living Downtown as a mom? A: The fact that we can walk everywhere, and every day it’s just about exploring. Q: Any drawbacks or challenges? A: Grocery shopping. With three kids if I need a huge amount I have to drive. Q: What are some of your favorite activities in the neighborhood? A: The summer concerts, and we love the library. Q: Any advice for other Downtown moms? A: Get involved in the Downtown Parent group. It’s been really rewarding and I know what’s going on in the neighbor-

photo by Gary Leonard

Michelle Bravo and Arianna, 19, Julian, 12, and Mia, 6, take full advantage of Downtown’s wealth of cultural offerings.

hood. It’s a big connection and you don’t feel alone. Q: Any events that turned out to be surprisingly fun for you and the kids? A: The farmers markets that pop around during the week are a great activity for all of us to do together. Q: How long do you see your family staying in Downtown? A: I see myself living in Downtown forever.

I think my kids will end up staying in the city too. My oldest is thinking about moving out and she’s looking at Downtown. The younger ones enjoy it so much that I can see them staying here. Q: What are your plans for Mother’s Day? A: I’m hoping to have breakfast with the kids, then a lazy day of classic movie watching. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

14 Downtown News

May 3, 2010

Mother’s Day

On the Move Ginny Brideau Finds That Downtown Offers Unlikely Places to Play by Richard Guzmán city editor

inny Brideau has been all over the neighborhood since she and her husband Alex moved here in 2004. They’ve had stops at Santee Court, the Pacific Electric Building, SB Manhattan and now the Pegasus. But one thing she is sure of, now that her 20-month-old daughter Iolani is on the scene, is that they don’t want to leave Downtown. Los Angeles Downtown News: You’ve moved around a lot.

Where is the best place to be a mom in Downtown? Ginny Brideau: The Historic Core; the only downside is that you’re not close to Grand Hope Park. But outside of that, the first year of Iolani’s life was the Historic Core. When we walked around there were always people on the street who knew you, and when you’ve got a kid in tow everybody loves to see them. Q: As a mom, what do you like about Downtown? A: It’s so much a small town. I can go down to Weeneez and Julie [Rico, the owner] is always there. There’s always something new, and familiar faces.

photo by Gary Leonard

Ginny Brideau and her daughter Iolani spend time at the Central Library and at frozen yogurt shops in Little Tokyo.

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Q: What do you and Iolani like to do together in Downtown? A: The library has to be number one, and the other is just walking around. Our big thing right now, because she just finished a round of teething, is ice cream. We like frozen yogurt in Little Tokyo and Syrup Desserts. So our favorite thing Downtown is obviously spending money. Q: What’s your advice for other Downtown moms? A: Be patient, enjoy the walks, go to plazas. There is a lot of open space in Downtown, and once you start going there you realize there are a lot of parents. There are a lot of moms Downtown.

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Q: Anything you don’t like? A: The first one is access to daycare. The next is park space. There are really not a lot of places to play, but then it makes you think of new ways of defining what playing is. So plazas and open spaces become potential opportunities to play.

Q: What are your plans for Mother’s Day? A: What I would like to do and what will end up happening are two different things. What I would like to do is go to the spa at the Ritz, but what will end up happening is a Sunday of church, brunch, home and laundry. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Strolling Along It’s All About Hitting the Streets for a Bunker Hill Mom and Her Baby by Richard Guzmán city editor

or Celeste S. Del Rio-Kasper, being a Down town mom is a daily adventure. She and her husband moved to Bunker Hill about 18 months ago. But once daughter Sofia was born, Celeste began to spend more time out in the community. The frequent and long stroller walks she takes with her 7-month-old has exposed her to parts of Downtown she had never seen before. Los Angeles Downtown News: Why did you move Downtown? Celeste S. Del Rio-Kasper: I go to Loyola law school. I always wanted to live Downtown, so I decided to move here when I had enough money. Q: Did you think about leaving when Sofia was born? A: No. I want to stay here; it’s great. I can walk anywhere with her. I don’t have to strap her in a car seat and drive anywhere and there are all these other Downtown parents that I found. Q: What are some of your favorite local mom activities? A: We like going down to Grand Hope Park, and

May 3, 2010

Mother’s Day

Taking the Road Never Expected The Joys of Bringing Up Two Girls in the Heart of Downtown by SuSana benavidez

was born and raised in Los Angeles and I have always felt a certain pride saying that. Growing up in Boyle Heights meant that we did not have malls or big shopping centers, so we would regularly take the Metro 68 bus Downtown to shop in the callejones with my mother, where we haggled GUEST COMMENT

for bargains. Not much has changed in the area or what people now call Santee Alley. But a world of change has occurred in the rest of Downtown, and an even bigger change has happened to me: I am the mother now, and I don’t have to hop on the 68 to get Downtown, because I live here. I never could have guessed that I would be a mother of two in my mid-20s, living in South Park, because this did not exist

photo by Gary Leonard

Being a Downtown mom is a walking adventure for Celeste S. Del Rio-Kasper and her 7-month-old daughter Sofia.

just walking around everywhere in the stroller. We go all the way to the Arts District. Q: Is there anything negative about being a mom here? A: The park doesn’t have swings — little things like that. Or trying to figure out what school to send her to eventually. Those kinds of issues come up. Q: Does Sofia have any favorite places in Downtown yet? A: She likes the Watercourt. We live right across the street so we walk over there and she likes to watch the water shoot up. She likes Angels Flight too. I took her on that when it finally opened. She loved looking out the window. Q: What has being a Downtown mom taught you about the city? A: We go exploring all the time. I was recently in search of swings for her and someone recommended a place in Chinatown. So we took a walk and discovered the arts high school while school was letting out. I didn’t really know it was there. With her I find a bunch of places because I take her on so many walks. Q: What advice do you have for soon-to-be Downtown moms? A: Don’t feel like you have to leave Downtown just because you have kids. There are so many other parents here and we’re really making this into a community, and people are committed to staying here and making this a family friendly place. Q: What does Downtown have over the suburbs? A: I feel like in Downtown, oddly enough, you have a small community of other parents. In the suburbs you wouldn’t know your neighbors. Q: What are you doing for Mother’s Day? A: Just hanging out with my daughter and my husband. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

as a desirable residential location when I was a kid. But this is the neighborhood that Bella, Iza, Matt and I call home. Every mother will tell you how annoying it can be to listen to the well-meaning advice of others when it comes to parenting choices. I constantly hear about how we should be in a house with a back yard and enough square footage so that the girls have their own room, a playroom, a family room and their own bathroom. The list goes on and on and I try not to cringe physically when other mothers seem appalled that we, a family of four, do very well sharing less than 1,000 square feet. I have grown accustomed to the probing questions and

Downtown News 15

confused looks I get when I take my girls to school on the Dash bus every morning. People seem to think that children do not exist outside the suburbs. One thing I have learned is that with kids, people in Downtown will approach you. I am continually asked about the girls’ ages, where they go to school and where we live. People seem fascinated with the fact that they look like twins (they’re not). In fact, people asking Iza about her day at school or whatever outfit she has pulled together has helped her get rid of some of her shyness. Oddly enough, living in a big city has increased our human interaction and connections with strangers. Now it seems that people recognize us from the bus, and Bella and Iza have become sort of Downtown mascots whose silliness cheers up people on their way to work. After living here for a little over a year, I noticed that my girls did not have friends to invite over on the weekend. I tried online parenting forums, but most of them seemed to be based see Benavidez, page 16

16 Downtown News

May 3, 2010

Benavidez Continued from page 15 on the Westside or in the Valley, both areas outside the parameters of my car-less lifestyle. After dabbling in a few neighborhood council meetings and trying to attract parents to meetings, I decided to do that lazy, easy thing, and created a group on Facebook for Downtown parents. We started with three parents and it went through word of mouth from there. At first the group grew slowly, but after we had our first pool party — I invited about 15 people and 50 showed up — I knew I had hit upon a real need in Downtown. A few months later, the group has more than 100 members, and if you show up at

photo by Gary Leonard

Mother’s Day Grand Hope Park on a Saturday morning you will find at least 20 of us. Sometimes the crowd grows so large that we not only take over the playground, but swell over to the grass area as well. I am proud to be a Downtown parent, proud to be providing my daughters with a childhood full of outings to MOCA, World City events at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and visual stimulation as we walk a different route home from school every day. The girls know that they are lucky to have both a mommy and a daddy, and to have a roof over their head unlike the homeless people that they see every day. They are aware that living in Downtown seems odd to their friends, but they always seem to enjoy saying they are from Downtown Los Angeles, California — that’s exactly how they say it.

Susana Benavidez reads to her daughters Bella and Iza. The girls proudly say that they live in “Downtown Los Angeles, California.”

This Mother’s Day, I celebrate another year of feeling the beauty of unconditional love that you get from your children (at least until they hit puberty), and giving that love back tenfold. I guess you can say that I have grown and matured along with Downtown. I’m no longer the 16-year old that used to skip class to sneak off to the Central Library. I’m a

mother of two who has been continually involved in finding them a good school for the approaching kindergarten. I love the fact that I get to do all this while walking through streets that never cease to amaze me with their charm. This makes the mothering experience much more exciting than if I tried to take a walk in the Valley — there, I’d only end up with a sunburn.

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Downtown News 17

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CALENDAR Big Feats for a Little Show

Welcome Back Tiger Taper War Drama Mixes Nightmarish Realism With Realistic Nightmares

photo by Craig Schwartz

A Fast-Paced Twist on Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’ Romps Through the Ahmanson

Brad Fleischer (left) and Glenn Davis play soldiers in Iraq in the Pulitzer Prize finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. by Jeff Favre contributing writer

rying to address directly what’s going on throughout Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo would not only be impossible, it would be useless, given the calculatedly reckless manner in which he mixes nightmarish realism with realistic nightmares. Wading through a sea of metaphors — stopping at times to laugh at what normally would be horrifying — Joseph’s two-hour sojourn through his metaphysical examination of the Iraq War delivers universal questions without answers. The show, which runs through May 30 at the Mark Taper Forum, also doesn’t offer even an ounce of hope. Some may have seen Bengal Tiger last year at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. A recent finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it’s the first production to jump from the smaller venue to the Taper. The cast remains the same, as does its director, Moisés Kaufman. Kaufman and Joseph have made small yet significant tweaks to the tone and message, adding more humor and deepening the probe into the nature of things. Building on an already strong foundation, this Bengal Tiger transcends the war genre, as well as its temporal roots in this decade, to become a work that seems destined to stand the test of time. Few people probably recall the factual event that inspired Joseph’s play, that of a tiger being shot at the zoo in Baghdad in 2003. In Joseph’s world, the Tiger (Kevin Tighe) can speak, though he’s only heard by the audience and by Kev (Brad Fleischer), a simple-minded soldier who shoots him after the Tiger mauls the hand of Kev’s compatriot, Tom (Glenn Davis). It’s a shock to the Tiger that there’s life after death, because all tigers are atheists, he explains. Now forced to rethink his spiritual beliefs, the Tiger wonders if his natural instinct to kill is evil. If it is, he asks, why would God make him that way? The Tiger’s not the only one with issues. Kev’s ability to hear and see the Tiger drives him to near insanity. Tom, now missing a hand, is obsessed with taking gold objects he looted back to America. At the geographical heart of the story sits the decaying garden that belonged to

Uday Hussein (Hrach Titizian), who, now dead, haunts Musa (Arian Moayed), the gardener who crafted beautiful topiary animals. In the era of war, the former garden artist has taken a new job, as a translator for U.S. soldiers. Death is everywhere in Bengal Tiger, but it’s never final. Nor does it offer any solutions to those who experience it. Instead, Joseph’s vision of the afterlife is as chaotic and frustrating as the living world. Given its heavy nature, Bengal Tiger would be intolerably depressing without its healthy doses of dark humor. Joseph pokes fun at a prosthetic hand, a severed head and getting shot, to name only a few. The humor is emotional relief, though it makes the returns to violence more jarring. Kaufman never lets up on the intensity of the realistic physical abuse and anguished screams, delivered by a cast that looks as though it has been through hell. The play’s heart and soul rest with the Tiger and Musa, one a ghost, the other emotionally dead. As the Tiger, Tighe delves heavily into the philosophical question, “Why are we here?” His frank discussion with God (and the audience) as he searches for an answer is as funny as it is filled with cursing. Moayed’s captivating performance exemplifies the sense of loss that comes under tyrannical rule, followed by war. Moayed’s underlying gentility makes his descent into the surrounding chaos heartbreaking. Titizian is truly frightening as Uday, bringing to life the infamous torturer, who reportedly relished making people suffer. He also has an unexpected way of bringing his late brother, Qusay, into the scene. The spacious Taper stage gives ample room for Derek McLane’s set, which transitions smoothly to various locales, while always seeming on the verge of collapse. David Lander’s lighting design relies heavily on shadow, setting the proper atmosphere for a play that blurs reality and fantasy. That makes sense, of course, because Joseph’s ghosts may simply be memories, which can cause physical and psychological damage decades after the fact. Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo runs at the Mark Taper Forum through May 30. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Eric Hissom (left) and Ted Deasy in Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, where four actors play more than 150 parts. by Jeff Favre contributing writer

n the era of big-budget stage shows, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps succeeds by daring to be small. Why re-create a train when a few trunks and a bit of smoke will suffice? Is a fullscale bridge necessary when a couple of ladders can do the trick? Who needs dozen of performers when four can play every part — plus much of the scenery? Directed by Maria Aitken, The 39 Steps is at the Ahmanson Theatre as part of its post-Broadway national tour. It continues through May 16. While there are laughs, and an impressive cast that is exhausting simply to watch, what is most charming about the 110-minute romp is that it never flashes a smug “we’re so smart” attitude. Instead, Aitken and adapter Patrick Barlow offer a broad comedy that simultaneously pays homage to and parodies Hitchcock’s 1935 fugitive thriller, which in turn was based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan. To confuse the pedigree even more, Barlow’s version is based on an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon. Viewers who have seen the film may enjoy the performance on a deeper level, but instant character changes and wacky puppet shows can be universally appreciated by all ages and backgrounds. It doesn’t take long for the pedal to hit metal. A bored, restless Richard Hannay (Ted Deasy) opts for a night at the theater, specifically to see the performance of Mr. Memory (Eric Hissom). Richard ends up cavorting with a mysterious agent, Annabella Schmidt (Claire Brownell), who begins to explain her crucial mission, but is killed before she can fill in the blanks. Richard is the prime suspect, and takes off on a cross-country journey to solve the murder and complete Annabella’s mission before he’s caught and tossed in jail. Aitken’s staging resembles a play within a play, so the actors are aware of their phony surroundings, and occasionally they step out of character when the action gets particularly ridiculous. Deasy’s only responsibility is being Richard, but that’s no easy task, consid-

ering he is at the center of almost every scene. Dashing and graceful, he evokes a 1930s cinema star, with his pencil-thin moustache and carefree smile. His elegance provides plenty of humor as he is thrust into Aitken’s circus-like world. Brownell handles two other role besides Annabella. There’s Pamela, who keeps trying to turn Richard in to the police, even though she apparently has doubts about his guilt. She also portrays Margaret, a simple country wife, who provides comfort and assistance, much to the dismay of her husband. But the scene stealers are Hissom and Parkinson, who tackle all of the other roles, including police, spies, a paper boy, a train conductor and even a stream. Watching the transitions, and their ability to alter accents and mannerisms, is even funnier than what they say. At one of the most manic moments, Hissom and Parkinson, using coats and hats to alter appearances, portray both innkeepers and spies — and manage to throw themselves out of a hotel. Though there are not any dances, the choreography by Toby Sedgwick and Christopher Bayes is complex, and it is integral to keeping the array of personalities on stage from becoming confusing. Another treat is the use of simple props and imagination to build a scene. A few trunks become the seats on a train. When Richard is chased by the police on top of the train, all Deasy needs to do is shake the tail of his coat to convey the overpowering wind. Perhaps the most memorable moment is a chase with stick puppets, which transitions into an eerily accurate re-creation of the cornfield scene in North by Northwest, one of many Hitchcock references tossed in. While it takes great skill on and off stage to make this show, there’s a sense of ease within the chaos that earns a smile. Thanks to Aitkin’s breakneck pace, The 39 Steps leaves you wanting more. That’s pretty amazing for such a little show. Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps continues through May 16 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9724400, or centertheatregroup.org

18 Downtown News

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Five for Cinco From Cultural Options to Drinking, Five Things to Do Downtown on May 5 by Richard Guzmán city editor

ome confuse it with Mexican Independence Day. Others simply use it as an excuse to party. But whatever your reason for marking Cinco de Mayo — which commemorates the Mexican victory against the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 — there are plenty of ways to celebrate it in Downtown. Here are,

May 3, 2010

naturally, five options. Culture and Family: If you want to teach your family about the city’s Mexican roots, bring the brood to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument and the popular Olvera Street, where more than 70 merchants sell Mexican themed trinkets, clothes and souvenirs. Museums include the Sepulveda House, which was built in 1887 by Señora Eloisa Martinez de Sepulveda, and the Avila Adobe, constructed in 1818 by Francisco José Avila, a native of Sinaloa who was mayor of Los Angeles in 1810. At 125 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-6855 or ci.la.ca.us/elp/ index.htm. Eat Up: Downtown Los Angeles has no shortage of Mexican restaurants. So in honor of Cinco de Mayo, defeat hunger with a stop at Yxta, in the Warehouse District. If offers typical Mexican plates, with tacos, burritos, mole and the

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El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument offers Mexicanthemed museums, memorabilia and meals.

standout, a delicious carnitas plate. Another option is Rosa Mexicano. The L.A. Live restaurant is bright and lively and serves a modern version of old Mexican favorites. Try the pato, a seared duck breast over a sweet potato served with a blackberry sauce. Yxta is at 601 S. Central Ave., (213) 596-5579 or yxta.net. Rosa Mexicano is at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 746-0001 or rosamexicano.com. Cinco Drinko: It wouldn’t be a Cinco celebration without tequila and mescal, and now Downtown has a bar that specializes in those; it’s called Las Perlas, and don’t expect to find any liquor store tequila, because this place uses the good stuff. If you want to fancy it up even more, head to Rivera in South Park. Mixologist Julian Cox oversees the fine bar menu, which includes the donaji cocktail, with mescal, citrus, agave nectar and chapulin (cricket) salt. Yes, crickets. No one said partying was easy. Las Perlas is at 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or lasperlas. la/. Rivera is at 1050 S. Flower St., (213) 749-1460 or riverarestaurant.com. Musica: It’s not a real celebration unless there’s music, and Downtown has plenty of it. Suede Bar and Lounge will host a performance by Mariachi Azteca from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on May 5. At L.A. Live, a Cinco de Mayo festival takes place in Nokia Plaza from 6-10 p.m. It’s a free family event featuring performances from Latin great Poncho Sanchez and Sheila E. Suede Bar and Lounge is at 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 4893590 or suedebarla.com. L.A. Live is at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., lalive.com. Celebrate in Your Casa: Casa, the Bunker Hill Mexican restaurant, is another great choice for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. But if you can’t make it there, then make some of their specialties, which they are gracious enough to share. First up is the Quesadilla con Tinga de Pollo, a party appetizer. Ingredients: -1 flour tortilla -3 ounces chicken -1/2 ounce Mexican BBQ sauce or “tinga,” easily concocted by mixing regular BBQ sauce with chipotle -2 ounces smoked gouda -1/4 ounce pico de gallo Directions: Lay out the tortilla and place all of the ingredients in the center, except pico de gallo. Roll the quesadilla and place on a panini grill. Press for about one minute and cut into small circles. Lay flat and finish with a pinch of pico de gallo on top. Or try Casa’s Nacho Madre’s Nachos Ingredients: -3 fried corn tortillas (tostados) -3 ounces steak -6 ounces jack/gouda mix -3 ounces black beans -2 ounces pico de gallo -2 ounces crema (sour cream) -1 ounce guacamole -1/2 ounce pickled jalapeños -1/2 ounce cilantro Directions: The secret to this dish is that, if constructed correctly, you get a complete nacho taste with every bite. Lay out each tortilla separately and build them with each ingredient. Place the tostados on a flat tray and bake at 350 degrees for about five minutes or until the cheese melts. Remove from oven and stack vertically on a serving plate. Cut down the middle of the stack to create little nachos. Casa is at 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2249 or casadowntown.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

May 3, 2010

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com

My Favorite Curmudgeon On the Passing of Classical Music Critic Alan Rich by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

lan Rich, who throughout his long career wrote about classical music for numerous publications, and was a mainstay of Los Angeles’ music scene since he moved here from New York in 1981, died on April 24. He was 85. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

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understand how he digested different works. If the art form he wrote about has a reputation for being hyper-intellectual or elitist, Alan — who during the summer favored a uniform of denim jeans cut into shorts, T-shirt and suspenders — was classical music’s blue-collar ambassador. The fact that I expressed even a faint interest in learning more was enough for him to invest in my classical music education. “You’re the kind of reader I write for,” he told me in 2006. Alan never pledged openly to convert me, but he took to offering me his extra seat at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown, at the Hollywood Bowl and Royce Hall. Once a month, we took in performances

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he had this to say: “Scheherazade, cleanly and forcefully set forth by the orchestra… with Martin Chalifour’s solo violin as narrator, reminded me that I hadn’t listened to it in a very long time — really listened, I mean, to its remarkable orchestral effects. The big ones, the grand clamors of brass and cymbals, are immediately dazzling; so, however, are the small ones, the tiny pinpoints from the piccolos, the muted trumpets, the vast display of pure orchestral iridescence. It made me wonder how many other pieces… I’ve been unjustly only half-hearing lately. I must try to go to the Bowl this summer with cleaner ears.” Both an ode to the performance, and a sort of mea culpa to his readers, it was vinsee Alan Rich, page 24

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Alan Rich, considered by some the dean of classical music critics, passed away on April 24.

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Four years ago, when I told the revered classical music critic Alan Rich that I was a fan of his craft, he just about tipped over in his chair. At 82, the then L.A. Weekly scribe didn’t really suspect many young people — I was 22 and an intern at the Weekly — to be among his audience. It was as if he’d almost given up on my generation, having accepted that his milieu, his most cherished artists, were to us just discoloring pages in the loneliest history books in the library. When I met Alan, I didn’t know a concerto from a libretto, and that didn’t bother me much. It was his writing, his gift for communicating with people like me, that had me devouring his weekly column, “A Lot of Night Music.” I remember reading his description of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade as “music as familiar to me as the oldest shoe in my closet. I don’t wear that shoe anymore, yet I went to the concert with some eagerness.” Alan always found these little tools to rope readers in, employing clever but universal metaphors that enabled us to relate to his encyclopedic knowledge of classical music and

together, some of the featured works being firmly installed in the pantheon of greats — a Beethoven symphony here, a Verdi opera there — and other new, more challenging contemporary pieces. He seemed to relish the new stuff the most. As we became pals, I realized that a lot of the music being played around town was old hat for Alan. When he took me to my first opera, Tosca, at the Hollywood Bowl, he’d seen it dozens of times. But his old ears managed to find something new in each rehashing, if only because he so delighted in rushing back to his West L.A. home to tell his readers all about what he had heard this time around. Of the June 2006 performance of Scheherazade, the oldest shoe in his closet,

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20 Downtown News

Wednesday, May 5 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Writer Miguel Syjuco’s debut novel Illustrado opens with Crispin Salvador, lion of Philippine letters, dead in the Hudson River. Winner of the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize, Syjuco exposes the corruption behind the rich families who have ruled the Philippines for generations. He discusses the work with novelist Cecilia Manguerra Brainard. Thursday, May 6 Thursdays at Central 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room A, (213) 228-7272 or lapl.org. 12:15 -1 p.m.: In “Bullying in the Workplace: What you can do about it,” learn about the national movement against workplace bullying and how you can protect your rights to a safe workplace. Presented by Cathy Deppe of the support group 9to5. Friday, May 7 Metabolic Studio Public Salon 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Flora Gil Krisiloff, Mary Marx and Libby Boyce discuss “Housing the Most Vulnerable Chronically Homeless Persons in Skid Row.” Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 5:30-10:30 p.m.: This installation of First Fridays features a conversation titled “Toxic Algae Blooms Along the Southern Californian Coast: Causes, Challenges and Solutions,” with Dr. David A. Caron. Later, bands Tallest Man On Earth and Gamble House perform. Zócalo Public Square National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave., zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: “Why are we Obsessed with Real Estate?” Meghan Daum, author of Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived In That House explores the American obsession with owning property and how our banking practices and governmental policies have enabled that aspiration and cultural dictum.

Masked Wrestlers, Hungry Speakers, Energetic Rockers and More by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor

How will you celebrate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862? How about a little-harmless-and-a-lotof-fun sexo y violencia at Lucha VaVoom’s “Cinco de Mayan” show at the Mayan Theatre? Authentic Mexican masked wrestling, saucy burlesque dancing and comedy headline the show that starts on 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, while mariachis, Aztec dancers, folklorica dancers, salsa dancers, tequila, tamales and piñatas punctuate the proceedings with extra spice. In addition, put those YMCA Zumba class drills to the test in the “world’s biggest Zumba dance.” Now that’s a history party. At 1038 S. Hill St., (888) 222-6608 or luchavavoom.com.

Meghan Daum, a frequent L.A. Times OpEd contributor and the author of Life Would Be Perfect if I Lived in That House,, jumps on the theme of owning real estate at a Zócalo Public Square presentation on Friday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Grand Avenue outpost. She’ll delve into our obsession with owning property in the context of the American Dream and discuss how our banking practices and governmental policies have enabled that aspiration and cultural dictum. On a more personal note, Daum will talk about her own home search and the pleasures and perils of believing that only a house can make you whole. At 250 S. Grand Ave., zocalopublicsquare.org.

The 10-week Ring Festival L.A. is showcasing a variety of cultural and educational exhibitions, as it piggybacks on L.A. Opera’s monumental production of Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle. Plenty of the affiliated happenings are in Downtown Los Angeles, including the exhibit Epic Tales of Latino Art at the Latino Museum of History, Art & Culture. The show in the Los Angeles Theatre Center builds on the dramatic, mythical, fantastical and thought-provoking operatic epic, and the highlights from the museum’s permanent collection showcase contemporary Latino artists’ heroic quests for identity and self-definition. It continues through June 30. At 514 S. Spring St., (213) 626-7600 or the latinomuseum.org.

calendar@downtownnews.com

st ’s Fir m u e Mus of sci t o r y lgamation ome s i H a al ns atur an am e bee h e N s events, psters, hav attractions i y Frida usic and h ar evening n Friday, l m , ence most popu he same o on hosts s ’ f n o t instituti :30 5 k more wntow of Do s. Expect osition Par iology. At ne r p ri b a x a e E e for y hen the nd marin r of the M ’s w M o u , t H o May 7 t built ar tzer, direc r of the N id u v n e a o e an ev . Regina W ill give a t later, Dr. D n r r w u D , so p.m., sity Center tions. An ho ae bloom is r g c l ff e e Biodiv iology coll out toxic a ucation stu b e ab ed marin ill speak Once the . w t l s l n i a Caro fornia Co crowd w i l e d a h n the C he way, t Jeans a r m t o e f f out o t to DJs Th ap are per th r t i a shake by. Also on t Man on E ion t s a i e s b Moon by The Tall t 900 Expo A s . . e manc ble House or nhm.org m 6 a 6 G 4 and 3) 763-3 21 Blvd, (

2 photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Tuesday, May 4 Lucha VaVoom Mayan Theatre, 1038 S. Hill St., (888) 222-6608 or luchavavoom.com. 8 p.m.: Lucha VaVoom’s “Cinco de Mayan” show features Mexican masked wrestling, saucy burlesque dancing, comedy and more. REDCAT Conversations 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. 8:30 p.m.: Greg Tate, the longtime Village Voice cultural critic and pioneer of hip-hop journalism, is on hand for a talk on Afropunk and young black visual artists.

‘Don’t Miss’ List

Culinary historians track food’s past, trends and social implications in a marriage of Home Ec and History classes. The Culinary Historians of Southern California (yes, we have our very own) presents teacher, author and food columnist Anne Willan speaking at the Central Library on Saturday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m. A collector of antiquarian cookbooks, Willan will bring them and their recipes to life, discussing how she tests historical recipes and adapts them for a modern kitchen. It’s free, open to the public, and appetizingly followed by refreshments. Reservations recommended. At the Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7241 or culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.org.

Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

photo courtesy of Anne Willan

SPONSORED LISTINGS BAR 107’s Lose Your Pantalones Fiesta 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace. com/bar107. May 6, 9 p.m.: Bar 107 hosts its fourth annual Seis de Mayo “Lose Your Pantalones Fiesta.” Donate the pants you’re wearing and get 2-for-1 drinks. Mariachis, sombreos and underwear. Make sure you’ve got a clean pair on or you’ll be sorry. The bar donates the pants to the homeless and promises patrons will have the best time of their lives. MERIT Presents Tastings & Trends JW Marriott Hotel, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 781-7787 or visit meritpm.com. May 10, 5:30-6:30p.m.: MERIT Property Management and Colliers International Host this complimentary evening of wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an interactive expert panel discussion on the resurgence of Downtown L.A. living. Seating is limited. RSVP by May 5. JANM Presents Beate Sirota Gordon Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., (213) 625-0414, Ext. 2249 or janm.org. May 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Under Gen. MacArthur, Beate Sirota Gordon played a major role in drafting Japan’s post-war constitution to include women’s rights. The museum will screen the documentary Sirota Family and the 20th Century from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., then Gordon will discuss her life in a lecture starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27 for members and $30 for non-members.

LISTINGS

photo by Alexandra Dean Grossi

EVENTS

May 3, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

May 3, 2010

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

We Got Games New Meaning for Dodger Blues Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. The Lakers will have decided their postseason future (or demise) after press time. After enduring a scare in Oklahoma City in which the Thunder took both games, the Lakers took care of business in game five, and headed back to Oklahoma City Friday night for game six. Game seven, if necessary, would be in Staples Center on Sunday. If the Lakers advance, they’ll have two home games this week, facing either the Utah Jazz or the Denver Nuggets. Also if they advance, coach Phil Jackson clearly wants Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to keep getting ample touches. Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. May 4-7, 7:10 p.m.; May 8, TBD; May 9, 1:10 p.m.: This year’s squad has given new meaning to the term “Dodger blues,” as Joe Torre’s team was swept by the New York Mets last week, and dropped 7 out of 9 games on a road trip. Andre Ethier and the rest of the Dodgers are in dire need of a few consecutive wins, and it should help that they’re home all week. But it’ll be tough to win even at Chavez Ravine if the Dodgers don’t get better pitching. Chad Billingsley, once the ace, has been herky-jerky. Clayton Kershaw is still young enough to be forgiven for inconsistency, but fans won’t forgive him much longer. And the bullpen has already made a habit of blowing opportunities. Sure, sure, it’s only May, but losing stinks any time of year. —Ryan Vaillancourt

Saturday, May 8 REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. 3 p.m.: CalArts’ School of Critical Studies holds a reading of the best new fiction and poetry by MFA candidates in the Writing Program. Sunday, May 9 MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. 3 p.m.: Through vintage footage, photographs, and interviews with artists John Baldessari, Frank Gehry, Dennis Hopper, Ed Ruscha, and others, “The Cool School” tells the story of L.A.’s Ferus Gallery, which launched the careers of several artists featured in “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.”

FILM

2 your EvEnt InFo 4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit 4 EMaIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

Lobster Special

12.95

Lunch Special

4.95 Saturday & Sunday 11-3

Weekdays 11-5

DELIVERY • DINE-IN • TAKE-OUT • CATERING

739-747 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tel: 213-680-3333 • Fax: 213-680-3507 www.regentchinainn.com

Why Cook? 10 PieCe sPeCiAL

Now Accepting Credit Cards

thighs & Legs

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with Tortillas & Salsa

Party Paks Available

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With minimum order of $10. Only when available. Limited area & hours.

onLy

+ TAX

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

Easy ways to subMIt

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

catering specials available!

May 6, 9 p.m.: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presents Raspberry Magic written and directed by Leena Pendharkar. The film centers around the bookish character of 11-year-old Monica Shah who determinately believes in love and its power to not only reunite her family, but to allow her raspberry plants to grow faster. Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. See website for current schedule.

F r e e P a r k i n g

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.

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

2 Downtown Locations Corner of BroADWAy & 3rd 260 S. Broadway

L.A., CA 90012 (213) 626-7975 • (213) 626-8235

Tel/Fx:

(213) 626-4572

FAshion DistriCt 226 E. 9th St.

at corner 9th/Santee (213) 623-5091 • (213) 327-0645

Tel/Fx:

(213) 623-9405

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

22 Downtown News

May 3, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

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

“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.”

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL

GET MORE 4 LESS! 10+ acre in New Mexico close to Arizona border. Views, trees, power, for less than $300/month. You’re approved! Call now 888-8125830. www.SWProperties.com. (Cal-SCAN)

homes for sale

Slvr Lke/Echo Prk Home

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! Owning land in “The Path of Progress & Development” is one of the great secrets to wealth! Discover how you can now participate for far less than you ever imagined! Call (866)221-4004 to hear a vitally important recorded message. (Cal-SCAN)

3bd/1.5bth $449k

2 Story w/Views Tierra Properties • Lic#467438

310-477-3192 Irma or Rod Condos/townhouses

Skyline Condominium

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.

retail space lease/sale

Retail Store Front Starting at $1 a foot gross Lease

Downtown LA

1250-2500 sq.ft., 20ft ceiling, water included, central AC w/private restroom. Call Pierre or Terri at 818-212-8333 or 213-744-9911

FOR RENT

Homes for Sale

1bd/1bth $329k

AUCTION - SPECTACULAR 106 acre Property near Paso Robles with highway frontage, nice home, irrigation, well and more! Visit www.AuctionCA.com Call Elite Auctions (661) 3256500. Auction June 5th @ 12 noon. (Cal-SCAN)

Great 9th Flr View Tierra Properties Lic#467438

310-477-3192 Irma or Rod lofts for sale

Real Estate Services

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

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.

TheLoftGuys.net LA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

Office space lease/sale

213.598.7555

DOWNTOWN L.A.

BANK OWNED LAND! 10 acres. Trout stream, $39,750. Substantial discounts, limited availability. Beautiful Fish Lake Valley acreage w/year round rainbow trout stream in foothills of Boundary Peak, Nevada’s highest mountain. Gorgeous snow-capped views. Great recreational opportunities. Upscale ranch community. Financing available to qualified buyers. Call 1-877-6693737. (Cal-SCAN)

Condos/unfurnished

Promenade West 2 bedroom, 2 bath

Commercial Space

Spacious, unfurnished.

TWO GREAT ARTIST’S work studios. Sunny, 16’ ceilings, gated parking, wi-fi. Close to downtown and freeways. 240sf for $350/mo, 300sf for $465/mo. WORK ONLY/NOT LIVE-IN. 213-509-4403

$2,000 month.

213-680-1729 Apartments/Unfurnished

Milano Lofts Now Leasing!

• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com

1 bdrm. Balcony w/French drs.

213.623.7008 or 213.280.5452

New frig. & stove installed. spacious dining & living rm. area w/additional inset for sml. office, music, etc. 1 mile West of Staples Center.

Commercial Investment MANAGING ASSISTANCE If you need help collecting the rent or managing/supervising your business or property. Call Rik Martino ...Conservator/executor/ investigator...(Actor M D B) youtube.com 323-850-8580.

ORSINI III - Now Pre-leasing for May 2010. Hard Hat Tours Available by appointment. Never Lived in, Brand New Luxury Apartment Homes, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764. FREE RENT SPECIAL $725, spacious studio with large kitchen, newer carpets, appliances. 131 S. Carondelet Street. 310922-5437.

OVIATT BUILDING

2 offices for rent, all hook-ups, partly furnished. 530 sqft. flex lease.

Acreage/Lots

FREE RENT SPECIALS Up to $3500 off select apartment homes! Additional Look + Lease specials may apply. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866-742-0992.

Duplexes HIGHLAND PARK DUPLEX Upper Charming 20’s townhouse; 2 Bedrm, 1 Bath, view. 5 minute stroll to Gold-line. 15 minute drive to downtown. Paint, hardwood, new appliances. Private roof deck & balcony. $1,325 per month. Ask for Mindy (323) 2586000. Loft/Unfurnished

Old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts

$850/mo. 213-387-7486 Free ReNT 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.

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

LA Live Loft 1 & 2 Bdrm Lofts

Hardwood, Bar, AC, Sauna, Greenhouse, all appliances, Was./Dryr., Secure, Garage.

HELP WANTED

Starting @ $1895 (310) 275-2076

Advertising Sales - Project The Los Angeles Downtown News is seeking an experienced advertising sales professional to sell our annual Downtown Guide during the next 10 weeks. A successful selling campaign could lead to a long-term relationship. The Guide is in its 11th year of publication and is considered the best and most comprehensive guide to Downtown. Last year’s edition was nearly 100 pages and had more than 70 different advertisers. You will be selling to a wide array of advertising prospects including restaurants, boutiques, museums, retail businesses, real estate, auto dealers and more.

DowntownNews.com

THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST

Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

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

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

Drivers COMPANY DRIVERS (Solos & Hazmat Teams) * Great Pay * Great Miles * CDL-A Required. We also have dedicated & regional positions available. Call 866-789-8947. Swift. (CalSCAN) DRIVERS - ACT NOW! Top 5% Pay, 32-38 cpm. Excellent Benefits. Need CDL- A & 3 mos recent OTR. 877-258-8782. www. meltontruck.com. (Cal-SCAN) NATIONAL CARRIERS needs O/Os, Lease Purchase, Company Drivers for its expanding fleet. Offering Regional/OTR runs, Outstanding Pay Package, excellent benefits, generous hometime. 1-888-707-7729. www.NationalCarriers.com. (Cal-SCAN) REGIONAL DRIVERS Needed! More Hometime! Top Pay! Up to $.41/mile company drivers! 12 months OTR required. Heartland Express 1-800-441-4953. www.HeartlandExpress.com. (Cal-SCAN) SLT NEEDS CDL A Team Drivers with Hazmat. $2,000 Bonus. Company teams paid $0.68 for all miles. Owner operators paid up to $1.70 per mile. 1-800-8359471. (Cal-SCAN) TRUCK DRIVERS: CDL training. Part-time driving job. Fulltime benefits. Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. Up to $20,000 bonus. www.NationalGuard.com/Truck or 1-800-GO-GUARD. (CalSCAN) General HELP WANTED Movie Extras. Earn up to $150/day. People needed for background in a major film production. Exp. not required. 888-366-0843 “SENIOR FASHION Designer. Master’s degree in Fashion Design required. Send Resume to: MS Fabrics Inc. 2224 Damon St., Los Angeles, CA 90021 Attn: Mi Sook Park.”

• Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDENT RATE!

Health Dept. rank A for 7 Consecutive Years

$690 1 Person

Stay 3 months & get

$100 OFF

Stay 6 months & get

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

HBODY

MASSAGEH

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

Mayfair Hotel 3386766 0119

Don't settle for anyone less experienced! Call us today!

ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.KTPGlobal.com or call 1-800-330-8446. (Cal-SCAN)

Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available

Please send your cover letter and resume to Advertising Director Steve Nakutin at steve@downtownnews.com. Please include the subject line DTG SALES POSITION. No phone calls please.

Downtown since 2002

Computers/IT

Luxury Rooms in Downtown

Compensation for this position includes salary plus commission. A successful selling campaign could lead to a longterm relationship.

the loft expert! group

EMPLOYMENT

AUTOMOTIVE Great jobs in downtown LA! Full time or part time. Two blocks south of the Staples Center at Figueroa & Venice. Toyota Central is growing! Sales Associates - all levels. Internet Associates. Service Technicians. Service Consultants. Drivers. Cashiers. Receptionists. Bilingual Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern and women encouraged to apply. Great compensation package and employee benefits. Please call 800-597-5516 or send resume to autosuccess@ aol.com. EOE. Bus. Analyst, Benefits & Payroll (Nestle USA, Inc. in Glendale, CA). Devel. & config. SAP HR & HR Benefits tech. interfaces w/ Payroll on behalf of food & bev. mfr. w/ over 30,000 ees. Req. Bach’s deg. in Bus. Admin., MIS, CS, Electronic Eng., or rel. field, & 5 years’ exp. in configuring SAP HR to devel. & implement HR & benefits tech. interfaces w/ Payroll for a co. w/ at least 5,000 ees. Stated or other exp. must incl. at least 3 full life cycles in configuring, defining, & implementing Benefits integration w/ Payroll as an endto-end bus. process. Must have 2 years’ exp. in post-implemen. production support, rel. to benefits integration w/payroll. Exp. need not be gained concurrently. Apply w/ resume to M. Simo at Nestle USA, Inc., 800 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203. Ref job code BABP. No phone calls or third-party agents please. FICO Systems Analyst (Nestle USA, Inc. in Glendale, CA). Devel. & implement SAP FICO apps. & provide production support in FICO. Req. Bach’s deg. in Commerce, Finance, Bus. Admin., IT or rel. field & 5 yrs’ exp. in devel. & implementing SAP FICO apps. & providing production support in FICO. Stated exp. must incl. 2 yrs in: analysis, applic. & design of SAP data uploading, manipulation & interface tools; hands-on config. & custom devel. of FICO in heterogeneous tech. environ. for mfr. co.; & devel. & implemen. of general ledger, asset acctg., treasury, project systems, profit center acctg. FICO submodules. (In lieu of Bach’s deg., will accept 4 years of U.S. or foreign post-secondary educ. in one of stated fields. Exp. may, but need not, be gained concurrently.) Apply w/ resume to M. Simo at Nestle USA, Inc., 800 N.Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203. Ref job code FSA. No phone calls or third-party agents please.

1256 West 7th Street

Simin (213) 484-9789 Ext. 555 or (213) 632-1111

Sales ADVERTISING SALES - Project The Los Angeles Downtown News is seeking an experienced advertising sales professional to sell our annual Downtown Guide during the next 10 weeks. A successful selling campaign could lead to a long-term relationship. The Guide is in its 11th year of publication and is considered the best and most comprehensive guide to Downtown. Last year’s edition was nearly 100 pages and had more than 70 different advertisers. You will be selling to a wide array of advertising prospects including restaurants, boutiques, museums, retail businesses, real estate, auto dealers and more. The ideal applicant would have prior print media sales experience, be well-organized, tenacious, ambitious, high-energy, self-starter and have solid phone and inperson skills. You must also be a strong closer and live in or near Downtown Los Angeles or, at the very least, have a detailed understanding of the uniqueness that is Downtown Los Angeles. Compensation for this position includes salary plus commission. A successful selling campaign could lead to a long-term relationship. Please send your cover letter and resume to Advertising Director Steve Nakutin at steve@downtownnews.com. Please include the subject line DTG SALES POSITION. No phone calls please.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Business Opportunities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN) EARN $500 DAILY Providing a simple service for Home and Business - Dry Tech #CL28547. 8920 Quartz Ave. Northridge, CA 91324. 1-800-507-7222.

SERVICES massage

EZ SHIATSU & MASSAGE 30mins. (Reg. $30) $10 OFF 1st customers only. 400 E. 2nd St., #205 LA CA 90012

Educational

(Honda Plaza Mall)

VERY ACTIVE 2010 Storm Season! Make $800-$1200 a day. Adjusters needed immediately. Become a fully trained adjuster in just 5 days. Tuition Assistance Available. www.jeladjuster.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Sell Your Car!

The ideal applicant would have prior print media sales experience, be well-organized, tenacious, ambitious, high-energy, self-starter and have solid phone and in-person skills. You must also be a strong closer and live in or near Downtown Los Angeles or, at the very least, have a detailed understanding of the uniqueness that is Downtown Los Angeles.

REAL ARTIST LOFTS 11501650 Sq. Ft., $1700-$1985/mo. High ceilings, hardwood floors, kitchen/bath, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs, Open House Sundays 12-3pm @ 1250 Long Beach Ave. 213-629-5539.

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

213-680-4970 attorneys

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean

Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

HELP WANTED FINANCIAL & BUDGET ANALYST

Financial and budget analyst: Coordinate accting functs; develop & maintain financial/budgetary control sys; prepare cash & other financial projts; prepare monthly & yearly repts; prepare profit plans & budgets. BA in Accounting, Business Administration or Finance req. Send resume to E-Times Corporation at 601 S. Figueroa St., Ste 5000, L.A., CA 90017

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213840-0153 or email Dawn@ BarkAveLA.com or visit www. Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

May 3, 2010

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

Accounting/Bookkeeping

Cleaning

EXPERIENCE COUNTS Bookkeeping, Accounting, Projections. Contact Office Mgr. 213-880-5992 stephanie@jkbassoc.com 600 W. 9th St. #1102, LA, CA 90015.

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818409-9183.

Education HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN) Health DEPRESSED? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Seasoned clinician will provide supportive therapy. Individuals, couples, groups. Wilshire Blvd., near Good Samaritan. Info: www. drannewarman.vpweb.com (310) 281-9797. IS YOUR TEEN Experiencing: School Problems - Conflicts at home or w/ friends? Adolescent support group ages 13-17. low fee. Marney Stofflet, LCSW 323662-9797.

Financial Services CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866-738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. (Cal-SCAN) Health & Fitness FDA APPROVED MEDICAL. Medical Vacuum Pumps. Viagra,Testosterone, Cialis. Free Brochures. (619) 2947777. www.drjoelkaplan.com. (Cal-SCAN)

AUTOS PRE-OWNED

Advertising ADVERTISE ONLINE in a network of 120-plus newspaper websites. Border to Border with one order! $7 cost per thousand impressions statewide. Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www.CaliforniaBannerAdNetwork. com. (Cal-SCAN) CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $550. Reach over 6 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 2886019. www.Cal-SCAN.com. (CalSCAN) DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Downtown L.A. AUTO GROUP Porsche Volkswagen Audi Mercedes-Benz Nissan chevrolet cadillac

2008 911 TURBO CABRIOLET black/black, 6-spd, deviated stitching, 9K miles CPO 789471, $115,988. 888-685-5426. 2010 VOLKSWAGEN CC 2,369 miles, white, carfax 1 owner, VIN 528667, $26,888. 888-7818102. ‘08 HONDA CIVIC EX only 16K miles with navi. N13552/507882, only $17,999. 888-838-5089.

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

classic autos

ANTIQUE CAR & PARTS SWAP MEET May 23 6am-3pm 209-777-5654

500 Speedway Dr Irwindale www.IrwindaleSwapMeet.com

PETS/ANIMALS Adopt A Pet

Autos Wanted DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN)

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

LEGAL Fictitious Business Name

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 20100474380 The following person is doing business as: BLOCK ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, 8306 Wilshire Blvd., #1047, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, are hereby registered by the following registrant: MARILYN MEDIA GROUP, INC., 8306 Wilshire Blvd., #1047, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was

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.

filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on April 7, 2010. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/03/1008

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

ANNOUNCEMENTS CHURCHES

Be Inspired...

THE BRIDGE / Little Tokyo: Contemporary worship, 4:00pm Sundays, 401 E Third St. www. thebridgewired.org.

Best Downtown Locations!

'08 A4, Premium Pkg., Moon Roof, Leather, A01331D1/8A051942, $19,888, 888-5830981. 2007 E 350 MBZ VIN #000177. Silver/black, certified 100K miles warranty. $33,994. 888-3198762

Orsini

‘01 AUDI TT QUATTRO Roadster 2D, 1.8 LTR, 4 cyl. 110 Turbo, AWD, 4-whl, ABS, 6 Spd., Pwr. Roof 888-879-9608 Vin 001940. $10,887

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.

877-231-9362

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

Medici

On Spring St.

Spring Tower Lofts:

1900 sqft, open LOFT w/views $2850/mo. • 17 ft ceilings • Live/Work space • 14 story Bldg. • Rooftop garden terrace w/city view • Pet friendly

Premiere Towers:

I c o n i c B e au t y S e e k s S t y l i s h M at e

3 bdrms/2 bath, $2100/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

Please call 213.627.6913 www.cityloftsquare.com

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

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

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

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

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

Version 3 Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills Locations Nationwide

Pricing subject to change without notice.

Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites

Rosslyn Hotel Unfurnished rooms starting at $480 a month Laundry on site. All utilities included. 112 W 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.503.7449 • www.rosslynstudios.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Casaloma L.A. Apartments

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms Client: with shared bath at

• Gorgeous Layouts

$550/mo. Publication:

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Size/Color: Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

G.H. Palmer Associates• 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center LADT News • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 4.3125” x 8” 4C

Design by: apluscreative@yahoo.com

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

ARTIST LOFTS FOR LEASE Live/Work in Downtown Fashion District 700 to 1500 Sq. Ft. Lofts. High ceilings, skylights, cable, kitchen, bath+shower, laundry room, elevator, controlled access, sub. parking. Sorry no dogs. Call George: 818-634-7916 or 310-826-8810 x24

Ph: 323.474.4668

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

LOFTS • RENT • LOFTS • RENT

SPECIAL MOVE IN -

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

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

24 Downtown News

May 3, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Alan Rich Continued from page 19 tage Alan. Though he was well regarded by his peers in music criticism — Alex Ross of The New Yorker called him the “dean” of the field — his loyalty was to his readers, many of whom he knew, most of whom he didn’t. He treated them all like he treated me, like a friend. To uphold my end of the friendship, I introduced him to some jazz, and to rock sounds old and new. Despite decades steeped in classical music, somehow Alan had missed the spectacular musical and cultural icon that was James Brown. “James who?” Alan asked, without a trace of sarcasm. And so we went to the Bowl to see Brown in the summer of 2006, this time with Alan as my guest. At an age when most trust only their own time-tested convictions, Alan was

still discovering the world. Of course, like any good critic, he could be a merciless curmudgeon, unequivocal in stating his displeasure at certain performances or other local scribes that he felt weren’t up to the task — those “preening dilettantes who throw a lot of artsy words around at the cultural life of this growing community, and nobody cares about stuffing a rag into their word processors.” At one of Alan’s annual New Year’s Day parties, well-attended every year by a smattering of his readers, colleagues and always a handful of his musician subjects, I overheard the following exchange between Alan and Ron Rosen, a longtime pal who was not so many years Alan’s junior. “Alan, I see you have that Colombia recording of Horowitz,” Rosen said. “You know, I’ve been listening to Horowitz lately and I’ve decided I don’t really like it. It’s so clangy.” Alan paused and looked up at Ron. “It took you long enough,” Alan answered.

“Ron, welcome to puberty.” Four years later, my crash course in music under Alan’s tutelage has me listening for new sounds, whether they emanate from the orchestra in Disney Hall, or from electric guitars at The Smell. When driving to a concert, or while preparing a meal in his kitchen, Alan never had the radio or stereo on. Listening for him was an active experience. Handling a chore as some music came out of a stereo rendered those sounds to “sonic wallpaper,” Alan always said. Even now, as Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony is playing in my office — selected for its heart-wrenching second movement, appropriate if a bit melodramatic for eulogizing a lost friend — I’m finding it hard to listen like Alan did. I think he’d prefer it if I just stop right here, and start the record over. Shut off the phone, shut down the word processor and press play. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Rich and the author, some 60 years younger, established a friendship. They attended concerts together about once a month.

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