LOS ANGELES
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ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH koreatown Celebrating Heritage more : More visitOur us atCultural lachc.visitasianla.org Findlearn Out on Page 19 Preserving, Building & Revitalizing Our Communities Together
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PRESERVE AMERICA NEIGHBORHOODS a CRA / LA-community partnership project
historic filipinotown
W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M
May 9, 2011
Volume 40, Number 19
INSIDE
Corporate Catering
Signs of the Times
chinatown
Mega-Ads Come Back to Hotel Figueroa little tokyo thai town
A new project in Chinatown.
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koreatown
learn more : visit us at lachc.visitasianla.org
Following the route of the streetcar.
PRESERVE AMERICA NEIGHBORHOODS a CRA / LA-community partnership project
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A rec center for Little Tokyo.
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photo by Gary Leonard
In the wake of a $4.05 million settlement with the city, the Hotel Figueroa is bringing back the familiar mega-ads. By the middle of last Tuesday, workers had begun painting one for the upcoming film The Green Lantern. by Ryan VaillancouRt
els. But in 2010, that shot of the Downtown skyline was devoid of a usually stalwart part of the shot. ast June, as the Lakers battled the hated The three vertical panels on the Hotel Figueroa, Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, television which had served as sky-high (and presumably lunetwork ABC set the scene for millions of crative) canvases for hand-painted advertisements viewers with panning shots of Downtown Los since the 1980s, were blank. Angeles. The hotel and CBS Outdoor, which sells the It’s a normal television image any time a high- ads that have used the Moroccan-themed hotel’s profile event takes place at Staples Center, and one south facing facades as prime billboard space, were that viewers have grown used to seeing. Last year ordered by the city to remove the signs last May. marked the third consecutive finals appearance for The culprit was the city’s crackdown on illegal 16 the Lakers, and ratings for the series hit record see lev- xxxxxxxxxxxx, billboards. Inpage particular, City Attorney Carmen
staff wRiteR
Going way back with Frank McCourt.
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Stretching for the mind and body.
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Vroom, There It Is A Weeklong Outdoor Auto Show Drives Into Downtown by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
A big bloom in Exposition Park.
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23 CALENDAR LISTINGS 25 CLASSIFIEDS
Trutanich zeroed in on vinyl supergraphics erected without permits. Long known for its handpainted signs, the hotel had switched in 2008 to the vinyl displays, which are usually attached to buildings with rigs and fastenings. Trutanich has warned that these systems are not always secure, and had prosecuted some who posted these kinds of signs in Hollywood. Last week, with the Lakers in the midst of another playoff run (albeit a faltering one; by press time they trailed the Dallas Maverick 2-0 in a sevensee Signs, page 16
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f you spot dozens of shiny new cars in parts of Bunker Hill this week where you don’t normally expect to see them, don’t worry — it isn’t the traffic jam from hell. It’s also not the film shoot from hell. Rather, it’s the second installment of the Los Angeles Motorexpo. Set to take place at Bank of America Plaza from May 9-13, the free, open-air auto show will place 64 vehicles from more than a dozen manufacturers amongst the greenery, sculptures and the busy corporate crowd of the plaza. Carmakers such as Aston Martin, Land Rover, Cadillac, Ford and Saab will roll out new rides during the weeklong event.
Vehicles like the electric-powered Chevy Volt, the tiny Fiat 500, the sporty Lotus Evora and the new Volvo S60 are among the expected highlights. Some can even be taken for a ride. While one may be reminded of the mammoth L.A. Auto Show, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people every November to the Convention Center, Motorexpo is specifically aimed at Downtown professionals and residents as a way to break up the workday with some automotive eye candy. “It’s not your typical car show,” said Motorexpo CEO Graeme Carver. “We don’t compare ourselves [to the L.A. Auto Show]. Our show is really about serving the people of Downtown and offering them a very relaxsee Cars, page 19
The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles
photo by Gary Leonard
The Los Angeles Motorexpo returns to Downtown this week with more than 60 vehicles. The free event takes place at Bank of America Plaza May 9-13.
2 Downtown News
AROUNDTOWN CRA Eyes Three New Downtown Parks
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he Community Redevelopment Agency is asking the state for $11.5 million to develop three new parks in Downtown, including what would be the first real public green space in the Fashion District. On May 5, the CRA board approved a plan to submit three applications for Prop. 84 funds. The two other proposed parks are in the Arts District and Little Tokyo. The $5 million grant application for the Fashion District park would go toward converting a 32,000-square-foot parking lot at 915 S. San Pedro St., or a two-acre segment of the City Market Site at San Pedro Street and Olympic Boulevard. In the Arts District, the agency would use $1.5 million in Prop. 84 funds to green a half-acre site at 501 S. Hewitt St. — adjacent to Urth Caffé — that is currently a paved-over plot owned by the Department of Water and Power. In Little Tokyo, the agency is applying for $5 million to help pay for an imagined rooftop park atop the planned Budokan recreation center, at 237 S. Los Angeles St. The three proposed parks are among nine citywide projects the CRA is looking to fund via Prop. 84 grants. Last year, the agency was awarded $30 million of the $184 million made available in California, including $5 million for a new park in Chinatown at
May 9, 2011
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Ord and Yale streets. In this second round of funding, $184 million is available again, according to a CRA report.
Tommy’s Hits Retirement Age
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he original Original’s Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers stand will celebrate its 65th birthday on Sunday, May 15, but don’t expect any retirement activity. Instead, the standing room only spot at Beverly and Rampart boulevards, just west of Downtown, will mark the occasion with an event likely to draw bigger crowds than normal: From 11 a.m.-10 p.m. the original Tommy’s cheeseburger, which comes drenched in the famous chili, and a Coke will cost 65 cents. There is a catch, in that no matter how hungry you are, each customer is limited to five orders. There will also be live entertainment and anniversary T-shirts for sale. Tommy’s is at 2575 W. Beverly Blvd.
Wedbush Inks $40 Million Deal to Stay In Namesake Tower
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he investment bank and financial services firm Wedbush Securities has signed an 11-year lease to stay in its
112,899-square-foot-space at 1000 Wilshire Blvd. The deal, valued at approximately $40 million, includes an agreement with the landlord to rename the property Wedbush Center, said broker David Kluth, executive vice president of UGL Services, which represented Wedbush in negotiations. The firm, which has maintained its headquarters in the property for more than 20 years, occupies nearly five levels of the 22-story Financial District tower, or about 25% of the building. Kluth said the firm’s decision to stay in the edifice was rooted in the deal’s flexibility and the landlord’s agreement to boost Wedbush’s sense of identity with the property. “We negotiated for more visible signage in several locations on the building, and the ownership agreed to rename the building,” said Kluth, who partnered on the deal with UGL’s Josef Farrar. Jones Lang LaSalle represented the ownership group, which is a partnership under Lehman Brothers.
cause the apples looked like dangling grenades. Rising out of the top of the apparent fruits was a grenade-like safety lever — the piece a soldier would remove before tossing. The passerby, an ex-Marine, thought the items suspicious and called the LAPD, which promptly arrived with a bomb squad. Metro, meanwhile, suspended Gold Line service. Authorities shot down one of the apples, which turned out to be a harmless piece of painted Styrofoam, the apparent creation of a street artist known as Free Humanity. The incident occurred just a short walk from MOCA’s Art in the Streets show and corresponds with a recent increase of graffiti and street art in the neighborhood. Free Humanity’s Facebook page appears to take credit for the apple grenades as part of a project dubbed “Forbidden Fruit.” The LAPD had a different response. “Some will fault us for taking that kind of time and doing it, but what’s it worth to ignore it?” said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. “Do you want to be the person that reaches up there and pulls the apple to see if it blows up?”
Street Art Apple Grenade Headquarters Association Doesn’t Detonate Goes for the Gold
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man walking on First Street near the Metro Gold Line station in Little Tokyo on Tuesday, May 3, came across a curious sight: about a dozen ruby red apples dangling from a tree. It was odd not because the Los Angeles climate doesn’t really support apple trees (never mind that it wouldn’t be apple season anyway). Rather, it was strange be-
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4 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
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EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
A Difference Maker
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ost everyone wants to make a difference in the community in which they live or work. Even amongst those who effect change, few do so with the resolve or sense of sacrifice of LAPD Officer Deon Joseph. Joseph is, to put it bluntly, someone all of Downtown, indeed the entirety of Los Angeles, can admire. He has spent years as a beat cop patrolling Skid Row, working day after day amidst the addicts, the filth, the sense of hopelessness. While the community is filled with numerous individuals who feed, aid, find housing for and otherwise work selflessly to help the homeless, Joseph is set apart by his uniform — in police blues he’s got the outfit that many who have been arrested for drug or other crimes instantly distrust. In police blues, he is charged with stopping the dealers and others who prey on the homeless, tasks that can put him in harm’s way. Joseph has been recognized outside the community. He’s been mentioned or profiled in numerous media outlets, including last week in Los Angeles Downtown News. On April 28, he got a rare honor, when he received a Treasures of Los Angeles award from the Central City Association. Frequently, people use these bits of notoriety to move to the next level. Not Joseph. Although he has been offered the chance to climb the LAPD ladder or to shift to a beat where he would not face the dangers of dealers, addicts or the mentally ill, he has declined, preferring to stay on the streets of Skid Row. He has decided to make a difference day after day and to try to build trust for the police department amongst a skeptical community. No one knows how long Joseph will stay in his current gig. Maybe he doesn’t know himself. When speaking with Downtown News, he said, “I don’t feel like I’m finished here.” Deon Joseph has made a difference in one of the most difficult and challenged communities in the nation, and has helped an untold number of people in the area. He deserves every kind word, every honor, every profile that he gets. However long he chooses to stay, Downtown is lucky to have him.
Villaraigosa Should Push for Development Reform
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ast fall, the Los Angeles development community pricked up its ears when several key city players rolled out a new effort to streamline permitting for major projects. While experience — read: the past failure of numerous similar efforts — kept local players from verging into irrational exuberance, a sense of cautious optimism prevailed. Now, six months after First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner began bringing the plan to local business groups, and four months after a consultant started work on the project, there are mixed feelings and real concern about whether this attempt to untangle a Byzantine and frustrating process will work. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, although some individuals are applauding the creation of a plan that will include actual implementation points, others worry that Beutner’s imminent departure to run for mayor will mean there won’t be someone inside City Hall with the juice to force change. This means that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa needs to step up and use the bully pulpit that he has never fully mastered — if he doesn’t appoint someone with power to push the project, then he needs to do it himself. With just over two years remaining until he is termed out, he needs to work lockstep with the business community and let department general managers and any other doubters know that development reform will happen and that it will be meaningful. Villaraigosa needs to make life miserable enough for reluctant managers that they understand they can’t outlast his mayoralty. Entrenched bureaucrats’ main weapon for maintaining the status quo is to try to wait out the ideas of elected officials; the economy is too dicey to allow that to continue. This is an opportunity to secure something with a lasting impact for a mayor woefully short of
legacy achievements. There are numerous reasons Los Angeles needs development reform, but the most persuasive, at least from an inside-City Hall perspective, might be jobs. Developers have long been frustrated by the years it can take to secure the permits and approvals necessary to get a project into construction. Land-use consultants lament the shuffling amongst city departments, which requires lugging blueprints and documents to umpteen civic servants, some of whom seem to look for any reason to say no. The longer it takes to get a green light, the longer it takes to hire construction workers. At the recent announcement of a South Park hotel project, one union official stated that unemployment in that field is near 40%. Making it easier to get projects off the ground could result in thousands of construction jobs, as well as permanent positions after that. One would think this is something organized labor can get behind. It is strange that decades of efforts to streamline the system have not worked. Even when powerful players have been involved, efforts have failed. Most recently, in 2008, Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti generated excitement with “12-to-2,” the proposal to trim the dozen city agencies that need to weigh in on a project down to just two. When Beutner came aboard in early 2010 and saw that the plan had gone nowhere, he buried it and launched the new effort. There are some factors that give a sense of hope this time. In the past couple years, Villaraigosa has hired several general managers who are on board with the need for change. Two in particular, Building and Safety GM Bud Ovrom and City Planning Director Michael LoGrande, will prove key to any substantive reform. It is too early to tell whether the consul-
tants will formulate a report that leads to real change. As they assemble their study (it’s due July 1), they have plenty of past documents on which to rely. Perhaps the one upside of so many previous stumbles is that there is a lot to learn from. If they come up with a serious, well-regarded plan for change, the key will be the word broached above: implementation. There has to be a path for getting the proposals off the page and into practice, where they are adopted by all levels of city employees, from those in managerial roles to those who deal with citizen customers. That is also why many are concerned that the departure of Beutner will lead to the plan fading away. Villaraigosa can’t afford to let that happen. The mayor will find allies if he wants them — the Central City Association, which previously worked with Beutner on streamlining Los Angeles’ tangled restaurant permitting process (something of a practice test for wider development reform) has indicated it is willing to get behind the issue. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has spoken enthusiastically about the proposal. Villaraigosa should partner with these and other entities that are willing to work on the plan and get the City Council votes necessary to pass it. There is a timing issue, too. Once a new mayor is inaugurated in 2013, he or she may have other priorities and a different agenda. Without the right political climate and the firm backing of Los Angeles’ top officeholder, the issue will be shoved to the back burner. If the opportunity is squandered, it could be years before there is another real chance for change. Los Angeles needs development reform, and the pieces are in places now to get it. It won’t be easy, but the opportunity must be seized.
May 9, 2011
Downtown News 5
DowntownNews.com
Chinatown Project Breaks Ground Affordable Housing Complex Includes High-Tech Parking Elevator by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer
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t’s not every day that a housing development’s most prominent feature is its parking facility, but for a new Chinatown project, the garage really is noteworthy. Affirmed Housing Group last month broke ground on Lotus Garden, a 60-unit, $24 million affordable housing complex at 715 Yale St. The firm’s first foray in the Los Angeles market, the eight-story project is supported in part by a $4.2 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency. The project helps fill a niche by creating affordable, family-friendly housing in Chinatown. Lotus Garden will serve families earning 30%-60% of Los Angeles County’s median income, with rents ranging from $370 for a studio to $1,236 for a three-bedroom apartment. The building’s water heating system will come from solar-powered, highefficiency boilers. The design, by L.A.-based Togawa Smith Martin Resi dential, features a rooftop recreation area, a barbecue station and group gardening plots. A resident manager will offer “life enrichment classes” and after-school homework assistance for resident children. While all those elements add to a small residential base in Chinatown, it’s the high-technology parking — known as the “car matrix” — that really makes Lotus Garden stand out. Cars will be housed in a nearly three-level, semi-automated garage that moves vehicles vertically and horizon-
The Readers Respond Website Comments on Olvera Street and the McCourts
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very week Los Angeles Downtown News gets online comments to the stories we publish. These are some of the most interesting responses. Additional comments are welcome at ladowntownnews.com. Regarding the article “At Long Last, an Olvera Street Agreement?” published online April 28, by Richard Guzmán
tally to allow for a space-saving stacking effect. Drivers will access their auto from the ground level. The garage will hold 64 vehicles. “We’ve been interested in trying it out for a number of years,” said Jim Silverwood, president and CEO of the San Diego-based Affirmed Housing. “This is our first opportunity where we saw a real opportunity with a hillside site. We’re able to reduce a whole level of parking because of the efficiency of the car matrix design.” Lotus Garden is expected to open in the fall of 2012. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
$75 mOmograms Give your mother the gift of health this Mother’s Day. During the months of May and June,
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is offering a $75 screening mammogram to women 40 years and older.
J
eez, I’d like to not pay my rent/increases for months and then have five years to pay it back and bring my security deposit up to the requirement. It would be sweet if I could pay below market for four years too. Is there a provision in these 20-year leases that once they’re at market rate they’ll stay at market rate? Or are we just looking to have this whole (fiscally irresponsible and logically unsound) process repeat itself again? —Neva, April 28, 1:12 p.m.
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ow dare they? Our city is on the brink of bankruptcy, and they have the audacity to demand this? Where is the outrage? I can barely make my rent payment but I choose to live here. Similarly, the vendors choose to do business there. If it is not profitable, which I highly doubt, they should get out and make way for someone else! —Patryk Strait, May 3, 11:36 a.m. Regarding the column “Theater of the McCourts,” published May 2, by Jon Regardie
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hey make me sick! They should be at the courthouse now alongside Robert Rizzo. —Cheri, May 3, 11:41 a.m.
rendering by Togawa Smith Martin Residential
A San Diego developer has broken ground on a 60-unit, $24 million affordable housing complex, with a mechanical stack parking facility.
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enjoyed this “fun” article. It had me laughing out loud. It was a perfect spoof, tongue in cheek. I could picture Jon Regardie giddy as he thought up each “affectionate” term of endearment in baseball jargon, each progressively funnier than the last, as he composed his fictionalized dialogue held by the McCourts. —Lucy G, May 3, 3:24 p.m.
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6 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
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Streetcar Could Ride Further North, South Metro Seeking Public Input on Where the System Should Go by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer
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ver since Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar broached the idea of bringing a streetcar back to Downtown three years ago, the imagined route has been pretty consistent. At the northern end of the $125 million effort, the track would connect with the Music Center on Grand Avenue. It would ferry passengers as far south as L.A. Live. Broadway, the lynchpin of Huizar’s economic development efforts in Downtown, would be a principal southbound spine. But what if the return of the streetcar came with a route that extended further north, say to Olvera Street, or Union
Station and into Chinatown? Or perhaps it should snake further south, through a longer stretch of South Park and connect with potential student riders at L.A. Trade-Tech College at Washington Boulevard. Next week, the public will have a chance to make such suggestions and weigh in on an array of possible route variations that Metro will consider as part of a preliminary environmental analysis. Metro is hosting a public scoping meeting on May 17, and community members will be invited to scrawl on maps, envisioning their ideal alignments, and pointing out any potential flaws that the streetcar organizes may have overlooked. The meeting is one of several steps that Metro, as the lead agency for the project’s environmental analysis, must take
in order to qualify the project for federal funding. Streetcar organizers hope that federal dollars will pay for nearly half of the project. Up to this point, the nonprofit LA Streetcar Inc. that Huizar established has helmed the project. Huizar has pushed for a 2013 groundbreaking and said he wants the project to open in 2015. To meet that date, LASI officials have consulted with representatives of other cities that have streetcars, hosted fundraisers, secured $10 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency and established the Music Centerto-Broadway-to-L.A. Live route. LASI is also working on a proposed tax assessment plan that would have Downtown
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residential and commercial property owners along the route Downtown’s steepest grades. Another segment travels west, pay for more than half of the project. up First Street to Grand Avenue. Blair said the track may have In order for the project to pass muster with the feds, how- to navigate that segment via Temple Street, a block north, ever, Metro needs to submit all of LASI’s streetcar plans to which has a gentler grade. public scrutiny, environmental analysis and safety precauIt is one of many seemingly simple variations, but the potentions. That brings the route into play. tial problem with extending the track, if only for a block, is the “For the [Federal Transit Administration] purposes, we added cost. LASI Executive Director Dennis Allen said that for See 7 will be opporhave to go back to every bit of work that has been done every block of extra track in page one direction, there and ask the question, ‘How did you get there?’” said Metro tunities to shorten it in others. One of LASI’s two route proposPlanning Director Robin Blair. “It’s all revisited. Every align- als has the track extending down to Pico Boulevard. If the track ment, who is the community and did you listen to them?” has to shoot further north to safely access Bunker Hill, it could Blair said that the streetcar will likely have to extend be shortened, he said, on the southbound end by turning west north through Chinatown, or south toward Washington toward L.A. Live two blocks sooner, at 11th Street. Boulevard, because the project will need a maintenance Still, the estimated $125 million price tag for the roughly facility, and those areas are more likely to have an available four-mile route appears destined to rise. While engineering and parcel on which to build. Erecting such a structure along the public safety issues may dictate small variations, there’s another currently imagined route could happen, but the real estate piece of crucial infrastructure not included in that cost: the would likely be more expensive. streetcar needs a maintenance facility with direct track access. Even the project’s seemingly necessary southbound path Metro has identified parcels at the northern See page 7 and southern along Broadway will be revisited; environmental, engineering ends of the project area (see map) that could host such a faciland public safety considerations could conceivably lead the ity, but they’d have to be purchased, Blair said. track to other north/south streets, Blair said. Funding remains the key question mark for a project that Huizar will certainly push to keep the streetcar on has otherwise been widely supported. If the city or LASI needs Broadway. to buy land for the maintenance yard, it’s unclear where the “The Council member is confident that Broadway will be money would come from. Public funding has already proven included in the route,” Huizar spokesman Rick Coca said. hard to come by — LASI last year missed out on a $25 million “That for us is the main goal, and having the streetcar… con- federal grant, though officials claim to have learned from the nect to other transit and not become just a tourist attraction, process and have pledged to apply again. Additionally, while but something that is really used by folks Downtown.” the plan to tax property owners to cover most of the project has Bigger Scope, Higher Price support from key constituents such as Orpheum Theatre owner See page 7 In anticipation of the May 17 public session, Metro officials Steve Needleman, other Broadway stakeholders are unsold. have been meeting with the state Public Utilities Commission, Allen and LASI are in the process of reaching out to propwhich regulates at-grade crossings, and other government erty owners who could be faced with paying into the streetcar agencies that could have jurisdiction on parts of the route. via a so-called Community Facilities District. If the route BES N A Metro RIA CalTrans, for example, would have to sign off on any path extends further south or north, it would add to the number ICcourtesy Xmap E M / ETA O N Streetcar officials to date have focused on a route that connects that crosses the Hollywood (101) Freeway in order to reach of property owners who could have to chip in. That means I Gthe T E A V L T Metro is looking Live, widerAFO Olvera Street or Chinatown. more people to share the added cost of growing the route. It Music Center and L.A. ESatTa possible ESbut B B SE project area. T A S The agency has given preliminary consideration to the also increases the number of owners who will have to be conE E Z E S Z PI INE KES B NER B T H roughly four-mile route imagined by LASI. Blair said the vinced that the CFD is in their interest. S C E T for, or against, B DINvariations. PHE BEtoSpush T route route that ultimately gets approved will likely be very similar, A study commissioned by the city and prepared by land-use chance of UPCAanBarray SE S S C U O E T O M M T U The event KH streetcar but there are some immediate logistical challenges, namely consultant AECOM found that E theAproposed would at S the Los Angeles at N 615 S BE AN TS.ABroadway, CH Theatre, M M I T N A O H D S U R R C L T T how to get a 100,000-pound, electrically powered machine up generate 9,300 newEjobs, billion E worth starts at 4 S S of new developT as an open TAUPublic comment Btourism-related B S $1.1)annual Shouse. OSTis fromBEST E p.m. FREN 6-7:30Bp.m. E M T R and around Bunker Hill. ment,IA $24.5 million in new spending More information is at metro.net/projects/historN S T D E E A revenueS B Ecity AL$47 million BES /WRAP LUNCH ITand OUS ic-streetcar-service. LASI’s two primary route proposals include a possible inH new in the next 25 years. H O T T EN T E S U T W H E E A N E D N C I F L I B I H A V F A northbound track up Grand Avenue, near Fifth At the May 17 meeting, members will have G Na Contact Ryan ST UG community DWVaillancourt atRryan@downtownnews.com. N Street, one of (HE CO
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A Little Tokyo Sports Center Community Group Moves Forward on Plan for Recreation Facility by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
A
fter decades of trying, a Little Tokyo group may soon have a home for a recreation center. That’s the good news. The downside is that almost everything else about the project, including how to acquire the more than $20 million to build and operate it, still needs to be worked out. On Tuesday, May 3, the City Council’s Information, Technology and Government Affairs Committee approved an up to 50-year ground lease for about 40,000 square feet
of land at 237-249 S. Los Angeles St. The site will hold the Budokan of Los Angeles, a multi-purpose gymnasium with courts for basketball, volleyball and other sports, with a focus on martial arts competitions. The $22 million project would also include retail space, a 150-space parking lot and a rooftop garden. The lease is slated to go before the full City Council on May 17 and is expected to be approved. That is a crucial step in allowing the developer, the nonprofit Little Tokyo Service Center, to move forward with the project. The group not
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only has to tear down two vacant structures on the property, but also must raise most of the money to start construction on the long-awaited gym, said Bill Watanabe, executive director of the LTSC. “We are very grateful the city has provided a space for us and this gives us a great boost in raising the money,” said Watanabe. According to city documents, the monthly rental value for the premises is about $34,000. While the LTSC will fund the entire project and pay for utilities and maintenance of the property, in lieu of rent it will pay the city via services provided at the center. City officials expect it will be an important facility in a rapidly evolving Downtown that is attracting more residents every year. “It should serve as a major mixed athletic center with an emphasis on martial arts that will attract a lot of people to Downtown,” said City Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose Ninth District includes Little Tokyo. “It’s taken really quite a while to get to this point and the fact that there are more people here in Downtown Los Angeles makes it more precious.” Decades of Planning The project has been a dream of the Little Tokyo community since the 1970s. At the time, the hope was for a single court gym as part of the in-development Japanese American Cultural & Community Center on San Pedro Street. Those plans were changed and instead the JACCC Plaza was built. Actual planning on the gym didn’t start again until the mid-1990s when, after a series of meetings, the project was named the Little Tokyo Recreation Center. In 2009 the name was changed to Budokan, which roughly translates to “martial arts hall” in Japanese. With the idea of appealing to the younger generation while maintaining its cultural identity, the LTSC took on the role of developer. Staffers began scouring the neighborhood for locations, ultimately looking at more than 25 sites in the next few years before settling on the current one. The property housed a former garment warehouse and storefronts that have been vacant for two years. “Finding space in Downtown has not been easy,” Watanabe said. “It’s been the biggest challenge for us and that’s why it’s taken this long.” While looking for a site, LTSC officials also started raising funds. They currently have about $2 million for the project. After the expected May 17 approval, the LTSC will launch a major fundraising campaign, said Scott Ito, project director for Budokan. “We anticipate raising from a wide range of sources, including the public sector, federal, state, city, county and local foundations, and a few major donors,” he said. Ito acknowledged that the weak economy will make securing funds difficult. However, he believes there is a community ready to support the project. “We have belief and confidence in our ability to raise funds for the project and there is a wide audience out there interested in supporting this project,” he said. Ito anticipates that groundbreaking could be about three see Budokan, page 15
49
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The City Council this month is expected to approve a ground lease for the $22 million Budokan of Los Angeles. Officials believe it will take about five years to raise money for and build the Los Angeles Street recreation center.
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corporate catering
May 9, 2011
Downtown News 9
DowntownNews.com
The 10 Questions Downtown Caterers Offer Tips on Preparing the Perfect Corporate Event
W
hat are the secrets of planning and effectively catering a corporate event? How does the business providing food and other items make sure the business hosting the gathering is happy? What should someone planning an event always be sure to ask?
There is a lot of variety in the answers. In the following pages, we posed the same 10 questions to six Downtown Los Angeles businesses that have catering arms, hoping to glean tips on how to bring off a successful event. They offer a wealth of advice, from
A Hollywood Ending Actresses Bring Asian Veggie Delights Downtown With Urban Noodle by Ryan E. Smith
T
win sisters Arlene and Ada Tai helped open Urban Noodle last year with no experience in the restaurant business. The actresses and models like to say that they’d never even played the role of a waitress. When they were offered part ownership of the establishment, though, they couldn’t say no. Now they’re busy offering authentic noodles and other cuisine in a contemporary, trendy setting in the Old Bank District. While Urban Noodle’s menu includes a variety of meaty dishes, Arlene Tai reminds catering clients not to forget to eat their veggies.
Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? Arlene Tai: It really depends on the event and how many people are they expecting. If the event is very elaborate and they expect a lot of people, then we’ll probably have to take a little bit more time in prepping the food and making sure that everything is exactly what they want. I think a good lead time is three weeks, but for our restaurant I will be able to get it ready as fast as one and a half to one week if needed. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: For our restaurant, it’s about $15 per person for catering plus tip and tax. Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: That’s a loaded question. It depends on what the event is for. What if the corporate event is for a Fourth of July picnic? For our restaurant, I always recommend something that’s vegetarian and then something either beef or chicken. For a catering event,
I try to stay away from any of our pork dishes because I know some people might not be into eating pork. If I could do it within the budget, I would try to put in a shrimp dish because everyone likes shrimp. Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: All of our catering events include napkins, the silverware, the chopphoto by Gary Leonard sticks, the plates and serv- Ada Tai (left) and her twin sister Arlene helped open ing utensils. Those are Urban Noodle last year. They can do corporate events for automatically included. about $15 per person. Anything outside of that — like servers or tables and chairs or A: Yeah. Like I said, one of my partners clean up afterward — there would be at the restaurant is a vegetarian, so we additional cost. have a lot of yummy dishes for him. We have tofu noodles for people who Q: Should alcohol be served at a corpo- are allergic to wheat, and then we also rate event? have vegetable noodle soup, and the A: If they can do it and they can put broth for the vegetable noodle soup is it in the budget, it is a great bonus to made out of mushrooms so it is not have alcohol at any event, even if it’s chicken broth. a white wine, something just kind of light. It really depends on the budget. Q: What do you do with leftover food from these events? Q: What is the biggest mistake people A: I would recommend that the person make when planning their event? who’s hiring us pack it up and offer it A: Not budgeting enough for the food to their guests. If they do ask us to staff and drinks. the event then we’ll be there at the end to help with the cleaning and dealing Q: What item from your restaurant with the leftovers. should people serve at a corporate event? A: I usually include a vegetable dish. Q: What question should a customer Since one of my partners is a vege- always ask a potential caterer? tarian, I do have a lot of really great A: What they should ask is if that parvegetable dishes on our menu. I have ticular restaurant or potential caterer edamame and tofu as an appetizer. I has dealt with that budget. Sometimes also have great dim sum dishes that a restaurant may only do a very high would be wonderful for catering budget and they won’t be able to go events. down to something that’s maybe only $10 a person, so I think it’s important Q: How do you deal with vegetarians that they have done it before. and vegans? Do you always make allowUrban Noodle is at 118 W. Fourth St., ances for them? (213) 626-0662 or urbannoodlela.com.
menu suggestions to food costs to whether serving booze is a good idea. While the suggestions are varied, there is one thing on which they all agree: If you have a corporate event coming up, start calling now.
A Catering Blockbuster Flix Café Offers Corporate Events In a Film Production Center
photo by Gary Leonard
Flix Café is on the premises of the City West film production hub Los Angeles Center Studios. Manager Sonny Chuidian said they can handle events for 10 to 10,000 people. by Ryan E. Smith
L
ocated at Los Angeles Center Studios, the aptly named Flix Café has been rolling out blockbuster meals for the last six years under the auspices of Guckenheimer, a food service provider specializing in corporate dining. Area manager Sonny Chuidian said Flix’s featured presentations are upscale meals that can satisfy a catered crowd of anywhere from 10 people to 10,000. The key to success, he explained, is getting a good idea of what options you want and need ahead of time. Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? Sonny Chuidian: A simple luncheon meeting can be ordered in as little as 24-48 hours. However, depending on the size of the event, the venue and the complexity, people should start planning from two weeks up to a year in see Flix, page 12
10 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
Corporate Catering
Chefs Go Beyond Their Restaurant And Food Truck Empire With Catering Service by Roselle Chen
L
ast year, Downtown foodies were disappointed when chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger closed their 12-year-old Latin restaurant Ciudad. Days later, the local populace rejoiced, when the Figueroa Street establishment was reborn as a Downtown outpost of the Border Grill. In addition to servicing customers in the Financial District, Milliken and Feniger have Border Grills in Santa Monica and Las Vegas. There’s also a Border Grill truck. In addition to all that, there is a catering operation. Border Grill catering manager Emily Welsh discussed the many options they offer for events, from small business lunches to large dinner galas. Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? Emily Welsh: As soon as you know you will have the event, start planning with your caterer. We love to think through every single party detail and it’s great to have time to
build a custom menu and get the client exactly what they want. That being said, we are rock stars at pulling together last-minute events — life happens. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: It definitely depends on what type of event you are planning: cocktail party, dinner, truck event, quick catering delivery, etc. We customize menus to fit the vision of your event and budget. Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: We take into consideration the location of the event, time of day and who the crowd is. If you’re having a 5 p.m. cocktail party, then some fun hors d’oeuvres and cocktails are great. If it’s a noon working lunch, then a quick catering delivery lunch order works best. If it’s a Saturday night gala then let’s go all out with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and
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nts is offering a complimentary hors n when you book your next event!*
Cathedral Plaza is a full-service event he heart of downtown Los Angeles.
Q: Should alcohol be served at a corporate event? A: I think it completely depends on the corporate culture. Some workplaces are all for it and some are not. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning their event? A: I think having a vision of what you expect for your event is key. If you can communicate what you envision, then we can ensure that you get exactly what you want. If you are not sure, or are having a hard time, share the purpose of the event and the mood you are going for. Then we can offer suggestions so you can start to envision what your event will look and feel like. Q: What item from your restaurant should people serve at a corporate event? A: I think some passed hors d’oeuvres such as mini spinach empanadas, quinoa fritters and ceviche tostaditas are great so you can mingle and network. Also, setting up stationary appetizer areas along with chips, salsa, and guacamole is great if you want to munch on some snacks while you’re near the bar. Q: How do you deal with vegetarians and vegans? Do you always make allowances for them? A: We have lots of options for vegetarians and vegans. Our organic rice and beans are vegan, ourladowntownnews.com/news avocado tacos with creamy corn relish are vegan. We have a wide variety of vegetarian options such as our chile relleno, portobello mushroom mulitas and quinoa fritters.
The Center at Cathedral Plaza is a full service event site & conference center.
Maria Lopez • 213.680.5271 • mlopez@levyrestaurants.com www.cathedralcatering.com
Q: What do you do with leftover food from these events? A: We always package all leftovers for the client. Some eat it at the office for lunch the next day. Others like to take them home to share with their families.
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a Lopez • 213.680.5271 pez@levyrestaurants.com w.cathedralcatering.com
photo by Gary Leonard
The Financial District restaurant Ciudad last year turned into a Border Grill. Catering manager Emily Welsh oversees corporate events.
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R HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE T CATHEDRAL PLAZA AND ladowntownnews.com/news S D’OEUVRES ARE ON US!
Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: Border Grill offers full service catering. We can provide staff, all rentals, and we clean up before we leave.
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a plated dinner. The best advice is to speak with your caterer and work together to go over all the details.
Q: What question should a customer always ask a potential caterer? A: I think it’s helpful to ask if the caterer has done an event similar to yours before. This way you know they are experienced in your type of event. I also really like to ask for pictures from past events. Border Grill is at 445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or bordergrill.com. For catering information, contact Welsh at (213) 542-1100 ext. 20.
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Downtown News 11
Corporate Catering
Twice as Nice
other guests. We typically expect 3%-5% of our guests to request this option.
The Omni and Noé Allow Clients to Double Down on Good Taste corporate event? A: Anyone can serve chafing dishes with chicken or pasta. The Omni Hotel loves to bring the intimate feel of our Noé Restaurant to a grand scale reception or dinner. Imagine towering individual servings of chicken katsu “sliders” with poached quail eggs in decorative dishes. We create events to be remembered. Q: How do you deal with vegetarians and vegans? Do you always make allowances for them? A: We always offer an option for vegetarians and vegans that is equal to the caliber of meal that you have ordered for your
Q: What do you do with leftover food from these events? A: We follow national food safety guidelines to the letter to prevent any possibility of illness. Unfortunately, this includes a specific amount of time that food can be out of refrigeration or heat. Leftover food is composted and not served to another guest. Q: What question should a customer always ask a potential caterer? A: Ask a mobile caterer to see their license, insurance certificates and health department quality rating. Also, it is good practice to get a few references. Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza is at 251 S. Olive St., (213) 617-3300 and omnilosangeles.com. Noé Restaurant and Bar is at (213) 356-4100 and noerestaurant.com.
photo by Gary Leonard
James Long, director of catering and conference services at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel, says the advantage of staging a corporate event at a hotel is that they can provide everything the customer needs. by Ryan E. Smith
N
estled on Bunker Hill, the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza and its Noé Restaurant and Bar provide a one-two punch of refined catering options. As a four-star hotel, the Omni boasts a variety of facilities and services, especially now that a $15 million renovation has been completed. But James Long, director of catering and conference services, talked about how Noé and its neo-bistro cuisine can add much more — modern takes on comfort food, enhanced with herbs and vegetables from the chef’s own garden, combined with beautiful presentations. Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? James Long: Immediately! This gives you more options and helps you to forecast the costs. The larger the event, the further out you should start planning. Some events — i.e. holiday parties, corporate celebrations — book a year out, but more and more companies are booking events and meetings in the month for the month. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: This varies on the location and if you are using a separate caterer. Hotels are a great option because they can usually offer a good package price. We try to fit and customize to the client’s budget, which means you have to get creative. It also helps if they are flexible with dates. Our prices are competitive. Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: Describe the guests and the dynamic of the group to your caterer or conference service planner. Is this a working lunch? Is it a fundraiser? Did the guest pay to attend the event? What is the estimated age group and ratio of men and women attending? All of these details will help us guide you into an appropriate style of meal. Budget will also be a factor. You should never cut back on the quantity, but for a budget-conscious group, aim for more filling items rather than a variety of more elaborate delicacies. Your guests should not leave feeling hungry. Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: The beauty of working with a hotel is that you aren’t just renting space and ordering food. You also have your own catering or conference service manager that will help you with all the details. We include everything you need from start to finish.
Looking for a new place for breakfast, lunch and gourmet goodies to-go? Then stop by Market Café at AT&T Center located downstairs on the Garden Level! You’ll discover a “toss and chop” fresh produce bar, flatbread pizzas, artisan sandwiches, soups, daily entrée specials and a selection of sweets. Enjoy indoor and outdoor seating with free wifi. Planning a business meeting or birthday soon? The café also offers delectable catering for any size event. Impress your guests in the office, at home, or at AT&T Center! The building offers a 500 seat state-of-art theatre and a two-story Penthouse with 360-degree views of Los Angeles.
MARKET CAFE Open weekdays 6:30 am – 2:30 pm
Q: Should alcohol be served at a corporate event? A: This completely depends on the culture of your organization and the purpose of the event. For example, if this is a sales training meeting, an evening reception with alcohol might be perfectly acceptable. However, if this is a restructuring meeting to plan for layoffs or budget cuts, it would likely send the wrong message to your attendees to spend extra on alcohol. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning their event? A: Let your planner know the level of experience you have in planning a meeting or event. If we know that you are less experienced, we will be able to guide you and offer advice on how to make the event flow smoothly. Also, never assume that the caterer or hotel will supply something. Ask the questions.
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Q: What item from your restaurant should people serve at a
12 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
Corporate Catering
The Star of the Show Cal Plaza Kitchen Wins Fans With Creative Cuisine and Flexible Budgets by Roselle Chen
range to expect to pay for a buffet.
usband-and-wife team Nguyen and Thi Tran like to say that a series of blessings in disguise led them to open Starry Kitchen. After Thi was laid off from her advertising job in 2009, she began serving home cooked Pan Asian meals out of her kitchen, asking for a donation of $5 with each dish. Lines formed out of their apartment’s back door and their popularity backfired with attention from the Health Department, which shut them down. Shortly afterwards, the couple opened a legitimate restaurant at California Plaza, and response has been huge. Nguyen talked about the catering side of their business.
Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: Lunch events usually have sandwiches or something similar. Buffets are commonly requested for evening events. Some of our dishes are highly sought after, regardless of time of day, like our crispy tofu balls and Taiwanese fried pork chop. Also with catered events, people want finger foods because then they can walk around and socialize. Our Vietnamese banh mi style sandwiches are cut into five pieces so that they’re easier to eat while people walk around and talk.
H
Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? Nguyen Tran: It depends on how large the event is. If it’s huge, the business should contact us at least two weeks in advance. For example, we just worked with Deloitte and they had about 150-200 people at their event. They let us know about a month and a half before it was supposed to happen. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: There are different budgets for different goals. I know some caterers charge $5 a person, which is on the cheap end. You won’t get very much with that nor will you get exactly what you want. Most event planners prefer buffet catering, and I would say that anywhere from $10-$15 per person is a good
Flix Continued from page 9 advance. The more notice the caterer has, the better opportunity for the caterer to take care of every detail. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: This depends on several major factors, which include the number of guests, the length of the event, the type of menu and whether or not they will be serving alcohol. The type of service also determines the price per person. Would the client like a buffet, a sit-down table service or a drop-off service? Would they like to use china service or all disposables? The client response to these questions will determine the final price per person. Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: I would ask the client if the event is a “working meeting,” a social meeting or a time-restricted luncheon. We can offer a sim-
Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: We include delivery and utensils. The service is not included. But those details can always be worked out early on with the event planner. I don’t charge for delivery because I like going there and meeting people, though that may change as we grow. Q: Should alcohol be served at a corporate event? A: I don’t see why not. The two draws to an event are food and alcohol. Without those two things, the event’s success rate would be a lot lower. Alcohol might be a bigger driver than food. But it’s up to the event planner and what kind of event it is. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning their event?
A: There are three big mistakes that some people can make when planning an event: 1) If they don’t give enough time in planning the overall event. 2) If they don’t set aside enough time before the day of the event. 3) Some people don’t give their budgets out right away. I always ask people what their budget is up front and we’ll work with them. I understand that planners need quotes from a lot of different places before making a commitment, but I like cutting to the chase. I can serve within most any budget; I just have to know how to portion it out. Q: What item from your restaurant should people serve at a corporate event? A: The most popular item is our crispy tofu balls. They’re green, so that’s a huge talking point. They’re coated in green glutinous rice that we order from Vietnam. People are looking to socialize at these events and our tofu balls keep the conversation going. They’re always like, “Oh my god, what are these? Green Rice Krispies?’ Q: How do you deal with vegetarians and veg-
ple box lunch for a working meeting that includes a gourmet sandwich, or we can offer an upscale buffet where the guests can mingle and take their time. The social meetings are often the most fun because most clients allow for a larger budget that enables us to be more creative with our offerings. For the most part, we will start with providing the customer with a sample menu and then work with them to customize their final menu. Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: Flix Café offers a full-service catering program which includes menu development and planning, [as well as] professional and impeccable service by trained culinarians and servers. Depending on the event, we can arrange for tables and chairs and other special event rentals, like specialty or themed decor. Our staff will also dress the tables to properly complement the cuisine. Once the event is complete, then our staff will clean up all service areas. Q: Should alcohol be served at a corporate event? A: [It’s] dependent on the client and the type of event. If the event is an early evening
Eastside Market Italian Deli Catering for All Occasions Corporate Events, Office Meetings, Private Parties! Established 1974
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social mixer, then providing alcohol is a good way to get the guests to relax and socialize. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning their event? A: They underestimate the cost of planning their event. People should get a clear understanding of what is being quoted to them. What does it include: rentals, staff, beverages, etc.? Allow the caterer to make the recommendations to meet the needs of your guests. Q: What item from your restaurant should people serve at a corporate event? A: Our menu is based on using the freshest seasonal ingredients that are local and sustainable. A popular item is our chicken Caesar flatbread wrap. Flix prepares our own housemade flatbread and housemade Caesar dressing and combines it with a lightly seasoned and grilled chicken breast and crisp romaine lettuce. Or, [there are] artisan bistro sandwiches such as the saffron brined chicken with Manchego cheese, piquillo pepper aioli, arugula, and oven roasted tomatoes on an asiago roll.
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ans? Do you always make allowances for them? A: We’re very vegetarian friendly. We have some vegan dishes as well. Of course, it’s up to the event planner to decide the menu but catering to vegetarians and vegans are never a deal breaker for us. Our tofu balls are vegetarian. Q: What do you do with leftover food from these events? A: We either leave them with the party or if they don’t want it, we donate the untouched food to Skid Row. We do that with the company’s permission of course, but no one’s ever had a problem with it. I think it’s a travesty to throw away food. We donate through the Midnight Mission. Q: What question should a customer always ask a potential caterer? A: Event planners should ask caterers how their food will help them look good to their colleagues. How will the food be special in a way where coworkers gush over how delicious everything is? Starry Kitchen is at 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 617-3474 or starrykitchen.com.
Q: How do you deal with vegetarians and vegans? Do you always make allowances for them? A: We offer vegetarian and vegan options just like we would any other menu item. This is entirely dependent on the client’s needs. Our vegetarian dishes will range from a simple but delicious eggplant parmesan to a stuffed artichoke bottom with ratatouille, goat cheese and basil served on a potato roesti and a chive butter sauce. Q: What do you do with leftover food from these events? A: In the event that there are leftovers, we would discuss options with the clients prior to the event, which in some cases could be a donation to a community-sponsored organization. Q: What question should a customer always ask a potential caterer? A: Can I taste your food? They also should request sample menus, event photos and references. This will demonstrate their range and capability. Flix Café at the Los Angeles Center Studios is at 1201 W. Fifth St., (213) 534-2337, lacenterstudios.com or guckenheimer.com.
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May 9, 2011
Corporate Catering
Chichi Sushi Takami Upgrades an Office Event With Succulent Bites and Sweet Sights by Ryan E. Smith
T
he staff at Takami Sushi Restaurant understand that good food is key to any catering job, but it doesn’t hurt to provide a feast for the eyes either. With a 21st-floor penthouse view of Downtown, the restaurant and adjacent Elevate Lounge offer breathtaking looks at the city. Just as important, says Cara Kovacs, Takami’s director of catering and special events, the establishment supplements its handcrafted sushi and robata with a slew of bar bites and an extensive list of sake and wine.
Los Angeles Downtown News: How long before a corporate event should you start working with a caterer? Cara Kovacs: Clearly, the more lead time that you are given, the better. You have more options at your disposal, whether it’s selecting a venue or engaging your audience with a “Save the Date.” Most of our clients begin planning major events at least three months in advance of the event. However, we are fortunate to have an event space that can be reconfigured and re-sized at a moment’s notice, which gives my clients many more options, especially if they find themselves executing or changing their plans at the last minute. Q: How much should you expect to spend per person? A: That question is almost impossible to answer simply. Extravagant events that take full
advantage of our space, our incredible views, drinks and food can easily go skyward to $125 per person. However, since I have one of the few spaces that accommodate many groups at once, including special events in the restaurant side at Takami, we have the luxury of catering to almost any price range, even if it is simply hosting a group in the lounge for cash bar events. Q: How do you decide what food to serve? For example, at which corporate event should you have sandwiches as opposed to something fancier? A: I always let the client decide on the food, with some helpful guidance. It depends a great deal on the time of the event. If it begins at the dinner hour, I suggest having a heavier menu rather than light appetizers. This is really what separates a professional event planner — the ability to assist the client, understand their expectations and please their guests. Q: Besides the food, what is included at most events you do? Staff? Tables and chairs? Clean up? A: I’m fortunate to have the ability to always include staff, cleanup and setup in our prices. I don’t want my clients to ever feel as though they have been “nickel and dimed” with a complex pricing structure. Generally, additional costs arise if they need to rent furniture that we do not have, and that usually only happens with specific themed events.
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Q: Should alcohol be served at a corporate event? A: Yes! However, if the host is worried about any issues that might arise, we have options available that can limit consumption. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning their event? A: The single largest mistake is not giving the guests sufficient notice as to the style of event that they are attending. Specifically, make sure that your guests do not arrive famished, ready for a full dinner, when only small appetizers have been planned. Also, co-coordinating special details, such as speakers and special guests, is crucial, although we go to great pains to remind our clients to think of such issues well in advance. photo by Gary Leonard Q: What item from your restaurant At Takami Sushi, director of catering and special events should people serve at a corporate Cara Kovacs offers customers not just top-notch sushi and event? robata, but also an unparalleled view of Downtown. A: I love having my sushi chef at private events. It adds such an unparalleled personal touch, and it is definitely that we order the correct amount of food for something that the guests will remember. their specific needs. This is rarely an issue with my events. Q: How do you deal with vegetarians and vegans? Do you always make allowances for Q: What question should a customer always them? ask a potential caterer? A: All of my menus offer a vegetarian option. A: Always ask what makes an event at this One of my favorites is the zucchini robata. venue special and memorable. It is important It has an amazing flavor. It’s usually a hit to know the coordinator and feel comfortwith everyone, vegetarian or not, and it’s pre- able with them since you will quite possibly sented in such a manner that makes it easy to be spending months planning the event with eat and serve. that person. Takami Sushi Restaurant and Elevate Q: What do you do with leftover food from Lounge are at 811 Wilshire Blvd., 21st floor, these events? (213) 236-9600, takamisushi.com and elevateA: I work very carefully with clients to ensure lounge.com.
14 Downtown News
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May 9, 2011
A Frank McCourt Flashback What the Bostonian Said the Day He Acquired the Dodgers by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR
tations of winning in Los Angeles. The story ran Feb. 23, 2004. The full Q&A is on downtownnews.com.
n Feb. 13, 2004, Frank and Jamie McCourt closed escrow on a $430 million acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium and various other properties. Coincidentally, that was the day a previously scheduled interview I had arranged with Frank took place. Given the recent fierce exchange between McCourt and Major League Baseball officials, Los Angeles Downtown News has revisited that first interview. Here is some of what McCourt said that day about owning the team and his expec-
Los Angeles Downtown News: What was it like waking up this morning and realizing that you are officially the new owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers? Frank McCourt: It was exhilarating, no question about it. I think I had about 15 seconds of exhilaration, and then there was a ton to do [laughs]. So it wasn’t a long-lasting feeling, but it sure was really a great, great feeling. Humbling really. When it all set in, here’s this storied franchise and we’re being allowed to be the stewards.
O
photo by Gary Leonard
Real loft living… …in the downtown Arts District.
Frank McCourt on Feb. 13, 2004, the day he closed escrow on a $430 million purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There’s a certain amount of responsibility that goes along with it as well. As someone who runs an old family business and represents the fourth generation, along with a couple of my brothers, we think in terms of those kinds of responsibilities. Our approach is really to get up every day and work as hard as we can and try to leave things a little teeny bit better than the way we found them that morning. Q: Why did you want to buy the Dodgers, and why are you spending $430 million to do so? A: My grandfather was a [part] owner of the Boston Braves, so I would say that baseball’s in our blood, no question about that. Three years ago we were involved in a bid for the Boston Red Sox, which quite frankly was the team that I grew up rooting for. We had a blast bidding on the Red Sox. At the end of it, rather than be discouraged, and say that’s it, we actually became more interested in owning a team. But not just any team; we were interested in a marketplace where our family was going to be interested and excited about relocating, a marketplace where we could do business and become part of the community. We really focused in on the Los Angeles community and Southern California as being a fantastic, vibrant, dynamic part of the country. We focused in on the Dodgers and lo and behold, here we are. We’re thrilled and very excited. Q: At a press conference after being approved by the owners, you spoke about winning. The Dodgers have not won a playoff game since 1988. How do you turn this around? A: We talked in terms of some of our simple notions of A, B and C, Accountability, Baseball and Community. The Accountability was really a catchall for the notion that we’re starting anew, and I expect everybody to hold me accountable on the first instance. We need to remind ourselves why we’re here, why this organization is here and what its purpose is, what its mission is. I think if we can start to sharpen our focus in terms of just what it is we’re here to do every day, and make sure everybody in the organization is subscribing to the same principles, and then add a level of intensity and energy around that really focused objective, I think we’ll see results sooner rather than later.
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Q: What will you spend payroll-wise to make this team competitive? The figure of $100 million has been floating around. A: Yeah. I think that’s an order of magnitude, that that’s an accurate number. This is a marquee franchise in a major market, so this team will always have a top-quartile-like payroll when it comes to player compensation. But I think it is important that we also spend the money wisely. There has been no shortage of money spent here over the last five or six years. I would question the direct correlation between spending and success. We want to be smart about how we spend the money. But there’s no question that the Dodgers, as a major-market team, are going to have a very significant player payroll. Q: One way that teams get money is by maximizing stadium revenues, everything from luxury suites to naming rights to new stadiums. With that in mind, what changes are you considering making to the Dodger Stadium experience to increase the funds? A: We’ll look at everything we can that increases the revenue streams here, so long as we can translate that to an improved experience for our fans here at the ballpark and a better product on the field. I think we need to think creatively, we need to think aggressively, and we need to think sensibly about different ways to generate revenue. But we need to also make sure that we’re doing that in a way that Continued on next page
May 9, 2011
Downtown News 15
DowntownNews.com
Continued from previous page results in an overall better experience for the fans. Q: How long will it take until the Dodgers are good enough to compete for a World Series? A: It’s very difficult to win, to be the ultimate winner, in major league sports. So it’s impossible for me to sit here and make a prediction. I’ll tell you that we’re moving here, we’re putting an historic amount of dollars into a baseball franchise. We do it with enthusiasm and energy, and we’re going to do everything that is humanly possible to create a winner here in Los Angeles. By the way, I don’t mean just let’s win a championship, then take another 15 years off. What we’re looking to do is to create a perennial contender. We want to create an organization that knows that its mission is
to try to win the championship every year, and that everybody here is on the same page, it’s crystal clear to the players. And then we want to go out to do that every year. Now can you win a world championship every year? Of course not. But can you set up an organization that is geared toward that, that thinks in those terms and that has a chance to win every year? I believe you can. We’ve seen examples of that in other sports and I think we need to bring some good business sensibility here. We need to get the organization focused in a very, very sharp way on simple goals, and then we need to get the right chemistry in the clubhouse to go ahead and create that winner, year in and year out. Q: I hear you don’t take losing well. A: [Smiles] I’m a terrible loser. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.
Budokan Continued from page 8 years away, with construction lasting less than two years. Sport Complex Once completed, LTSC officials envision a “state of the art sports complex,” according to the center’s already functioning website. The Budokan would accommodate up to four high school-size basketball courts with room for 1,200 spectators. It would offer community rooms, a rooftop garden with a jogging path and about 2,000 feet of retail space. It would be open to the public free of charge seven days a week, 15 hours a day, and is expected to serve about 250,000 people annually, Watanabe said. There would also be health programs for seniors, space for art and performances and after school programs.
The 38,000-square-foot facility is being designed by Hayahiko Takase, whose other area projects include the Kajima Building and the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. One of the main activities in the center will be martial arts, LTSC officials said. “A facility like this will bring a lot of people down to the community and can become a major site for martial arts tournaments,” Ito said. Watanabe added that major martial arts tournaments, like the recent National Judo tournament held at UC Irvine, can attract up to 1,000 competitors who bring their families and fans to the area. “We could be attracting about $1 million in business with a single martial arts event, and we could do one major tournament a month,” he said. The biggest impact would be in helping to secure the future of Little Tokyo by attracting more young people to the 125-year-old neighborhood, Watanabe said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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)
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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)
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16 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
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Signs Continued from page 1 game series), the walls were getting color for the first time in more than a year. On Tuesday, May 3, with a hot sun broiling down, separate crews were at work painting mammoth ads on the north and south sides of the edifice. Passersby would crane their neck up to watch. The return of the signs comes in the wake of a $4.05 million fine and settlement between CBS Outdoor and the City Attorney’s office that also dealt with three other Los Angeles properties. The agreement allows the hotel to place the hand-painted signs on the
building, a practice that predates the city’s 2002 sign ordinance that regulates supergraphics. Management for the Hotel Figueroa declined to comment. A representative from CBS did not respond to calls by press time. Work continued throughout the week, but by noon on Tuesday, the north side of the hotel showed the face of actor Ryan Reynolds with a green mask covering his eyes, a precursor of the film The Green Lantern. Spread across the entirety of the building, the ad required three window-washing-type rigs. Three people, who from the street looked like ants, could be seen working at the ninth floor level. Meanwhile, the three separate prongs
on the south side of the structure had been whitewashed, and painting rigs hung on the easternmost and the middle section. On the panel closest to Figueroa Street, two workers had emblazoned the McDonald’s golden arches. The ads join an area already choked with supergraphics. The southeastern corner of the intersection features a Kobe Bryant ad promoting Turkish Airlines, affixed to the side of the Luxe City Center hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) and a swirling red, black and white design for Hyundai hangs on another building. The nearby Convention Center hotel has a huge ad for Bud Light. Jon Regardie contributed to this report. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
photo by Gary Leonard
The ads on the south side of the building are often shown on television during the X Games and events at Staples Center.
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MAY 20, 2011 6–10 PM Enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment as Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions swing open their doors. Last fall, 14,000 people experienced the excitement of ArtNight. PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS Alliance Française de Pasadena / Armory Center for the Arts / Art Center College of Design / Artworks Teen Center / Lineage Performing Arts Center / One Colorado / Pacific Asia Museum / Pasadena Museum of California Art / Pasadena Museum of History / PUSD @ Shops on Lake Avenue / Shumei Arts Council / Side Street Projects FREE SHUTTLES Free shuttles will loop throughout the evening with stops at each venue. Park at any one venue and ride to the others. ARTS BUS Pasadena ARTS Route 10 runs along Colorado and Green Street until 8 p.m. Find scheduling information at cityofpasadena.net/artsbus.
METRO GOLD LINE Attend ArtNight by taking the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena. Check metro.net for information. ARTNIGHT BICYCLE TOURS For more information, visit cicle.org. artnightpasadena.org facebook.com/artnightpasadena ArtNight is an ongoing partnership among many cultural institutions and the Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Pasadena. More information: 626.744.7887. Accessibility and alternative formats: 626.744.7249. Para español, visite artnightpasadena.org.
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May 9, 2011
Downtown News 17
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WHAT’S FOR SALE A Higgins Loft With a Courtyard View by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR
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n the column “What’s for Sale,” Los Angeles Downtown News looks at everything from condos to multi-family buildings to vacant lots now on the market. We hope that regular snapshots of individual properties will make for a wide-ranging survey of the overall community. This week, the focus is on a 790-square-foot, bank-owned loft in the Higgins Building. The Property: Unit #604 in the Higgins Building measures 790 square feet and faces into the building’s light well and courtyard area. The property at 108 W. Second St. has an open layout, with loft-style raised ceilings and concrete floors. It has one bathroom, polished concrete floors and new stainless steel appliances. It’s listed at $180,400. The History: The 100-year-old Higgins Building was originally designed by AC Martin, one of the most iconic names in Downtown architecture (the firm, known today as AC Martin Partners, recently won a bid to restore the County Hall of Justice, and is designing the towers that will replace the Wilshire Grand Hotel). It housed Los Angeles’ first electrical power plant, in the basement, which has since been converted into the popular retro club the Edison. After fading as an office structure, the building was turned into condominiums by Barry Shy and his former partner Andrew Meieran, the Edison proprietor. The building reopened in 2004. Location Cubed: The Higgins Building is ground zero for Civic Center living — it’s a few blocks from every major government building Downtown, including the new LAPD headquarters that brought with it a nearly one acre park across the street from the Higgins. At Second Street, between Broadway and Spring Street, it’s also just about the northern terminus of Gallery Row and a short walk to Little Tokyo. Additionally, it could be steps from a future mass transit hub as Metro plans to build a new underground light-rail station at Second Street and Broadway for the Regional Connector.
photo courtesy Danny Mahelka
A 790-square-foot sixth-floor loft in the Higgins Building is for sale for $180,400. It works out to $228 per square foot.
Pizza Plus: The building’s ground floor retail is a veritable food court, with Pitfire Pizza, Lili-ya China Bistro and Charcoal Grill on Second Street. A Groundwork Café fronts Main Street. Compared to What?: The $180,400 listing price works out to $228 per square foot, which is almost exactly the average price of the seven most recent sales of other, similar-sized units in the building. A block south, the adaptive reuse Douglas Lofts are going for close to $270 per square foot, according to county tax records. “It’s well priced for the market,” said broker Danny Mahelka, who has the listing on #604. All Settled?: The Higgins Building has been a hotbed of legal entanglements since its opening. Residents sued. Shy
sued. There were allegations of un-permitted construction work, which Shy denied. A representative of the building’s HOA said that all legal issues have now been settled, including a suit that residents filed against the developer for alleged building defects. The association’s reserve account is now “well funded,” HOA representative Michael Mitchell said. But as always, buyers should do their due diligence. Financey Pants: The property is owned by lender Fannie Mae, which foreclosed on the unit on April 7. Condo #604, which sold for $420,000 to the previous owner in 2006, qualifies for Fannie Mae’s “Home Path” financing. That means you can buy it with only 3.5% down, Mahelka said. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
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Around Town Continued from page 2 11, the LAHQ, which focuses on helping businesses get bigger, hosts its 50th annual awards luncheon. The golden anniversary event at the California Club will present the Spirit of Los Angeles Award to Jonathan Williams of the Accelerated School; the Outstanding Company prize to financial services firm Deloitte; and the Humanitarian Award to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. A reception begins at 10:30 a.m. and the lunch is at noon at the California Club, 538 S. Flower St. Registration information at laheadquarters.com.
May 9, 2011
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Olvera Street Merchants Likely to Sign Rent Deal Officials Express Enthusiasm Following Council Approval of Long-term Agreement by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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long-running Downtown battle may be coming to an end, as the City Council last week unanimously approved a new rental agreement for dozens of merchants along Olvera Street, and an official with the tenants’ negotiating group indicated that she expects the deal will be signed. “I’m very happy for Olvera Street and for the city to have come this far,” said Vivien Bonzo, president of the Olvera Street Merchants Association. Bonzo said that once the council gives its final approval to the current agreement — expected some time this month, as the proposal must be heard by the El Pueblo Commission on May 12 and then go back to the council
once again — she will recommend that members of OSMA sign the deal. On Tuesday, May 3, the council unanimously approved the agreement, which could bring an end to more than a decade of disputes between the city and the merchants. The deal calls for Olvera Street tenants to sign 20-year contracts, technically known as concession agreements, with the option to renew for another 20 years. It is separate from the 55-year leases signed by 17 tenants in 1999. Rents will start below market-rate. Prices comparable with other local businesses will be phased in over five years. As a result of an amendment by 14th District Councilman José Huizar, whose territory includes El Pueblo, tenants will also have five years to pay months of back rent and a security
deposit on the new deals. The agreement calls for most tenants to pay rents that start 25% below an April 2010 increase unsuccessfully imposed by the city. In six months those rents will rise slightly. Tenants can receive further discounts by claiming financial distress. If they open their books to the City Controller, they can reduce their rent even further. The agreement follows a year of intense negotiations, a failed mediation attempt and the merchants’ filing a $52 million legal claim against the city. A January 2010 rent study commissioned by the city recommended rates of $2-$6.50 per square foot and said tenants of the puestos, the small kiosks that occupy the center of Olvera Street, should pay $950-$1,350 a month. Last April, rents near the low end of those recommendations went into effect, though only a handful of tenants have signed an agreement and are paying the new rates. Those who held out have been paying only their old rates — which average $1.35 per square foot — giving the city a $72,000 shortfall each month. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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Cars Continued from page 1 ing way to see new cars they might like and want, and to see the cars outdoors in their natural environment.” Carver launched Motorexpo as a 29-car event in London in 1996. It now also travels to New York, Toronto and Los Angeles. The Downtown event marks Motorexpo’s first stop of the year. The community is a natural fit for this type of happening, Carver said. “It’s a densely populated area and it made sense to have it here since people wouldn’t have to walk far,” he said. “It’s just easy to go look at cars just outside of your office.” Robert Cushman, vice president of operations for the Southern California Region for Brookfield Properties, which owns Bank of America Plaza at 333 S. Hope St., said having Motorexpo on their plaza fits with the company’s goal of creating community events. “Our focus is always to activate the public spaces at our properties,” he said. “Motorexpo fits in well with that focus.” Brookfield has worked with Motorexpo since 2008 when the show debuted in New York at the company’s World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan. While many of their events in Downtown focus on the arts, he said in L.A., where people are passionate about their wheels, a car show makes sense. “People love cars here,” he said. “It seems like the right match for Los Angeles.” Making Deals While the visitors are all well and good, there is a business side to Motorexpo — it is a place where deals are made and seeds are planted for future sales. Greg Hembrough, a sales and marketing manager for Volvo, said the show is tailor made for his clientele.
photos by Gary Leonard
Test drives, electric vehicles and exotic cars will be some of the highlights of Motorexpo.
“You have a very targeted audience here in L.A. They’re highly affluent, and it gives us an opportunity to meet the customers on their terms,” he said. That fits with past demographic studies that have shown that new Downtown residents have an average median household income of about $100,000. Hembrough said about See page 7 10 people who attended last year’s Downtown Motorexpo ended up buying a Volvo. This year the Swedish car company will bring out its latest model, the S60; there will be a 250 horsepower and 300 horsepower all wheel drive version of the car at Motorexpo. Volvo will also roll out the C70, a convertible, and the XC60, a crossover model. The XC60 and S60 are particularly fitted for heavy traffic areas like Downtown, Hembrough said. The cars are equipped with a system called City Safety, which stops the vehicle automatically if it detects that an object in front has See come to a complete stop. page 7 Some sales teams get especially active in the effort to match Motorexpo cars with Downtown drivers. Fiat, Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus are among the companies that
will offer test drives through Downtown of cars on display. “The Motorexpo model is to market directly to the consumer to make it as convenient as possible,” Cushman said. “So you could be standing in your office conducting business, come down and look at a wide variety of vehicles, even test drive a few around Downtown, then go back to work.” Just as hybrids have been popular attractions at many auto shows, Motorexpo officials are counting on the highly touted Chevy Volt to be a hit this week. The electric vehicle was named the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year. It will be available for test drives. Brookfield is also getting in on the electric car trend, though from another angle. The landlord will showcase four electric vehicle charging stations installed at Bank of America Plaza last month. There will be a display on the plaza called “The Juice Box” that will let people see up close how the charging stations work. The Los Angeles Motorexpo is May 9-13 at Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St. Admission is free and hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. More information at motorexpo.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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HEALTH Strike a Pose Yoga Is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Discipline by Amy Winter
ties. Macy lists the top yoga classes as anusara (an energetic workout that opens the heart), iyengar (focuses on anatomical accuracy), power (a physical challenge), vinyasa (a flow practice) and ashtanga (a set of poses that work on flowing movement and breathing). If you describe yourself as a “free spirit,” you most likely will prefer vinyasa yoga. If you are very flexible, Pizer suggests ashtanga. If you have suffered from an injury, iyengar is probably the best choice. Classes differ, depending on the type of yoga and the instructor. Certain yoga sessions contain meditation, chanting, mudras and certain asanas, according to Klepper. Bikram yoga teaches participants in rooms with temperatures higher than 85 degrees. Some classes have live music, whereas other sessions contain no music. Terri Seiden, marketing director at YogaWorks, says that time and location play a role in selecting the right class. You can find a yoga studio near your house, or gyms usually offer certain yoga classes. “I always encourage people to test out and try a variety of classes so they can find what really resonates on a deeper level,” Klepper says. “How you feel once a class is over is a good gauge as to whether that class is for you.” When attending a class, remember to wear
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lenty of people are already devotees of yoga, finding it a tool to get healthier while reducing stress. Others maintain that it is also a great fitness option. Sonya Klepper, assistant director at Yoga Basics, says that yoga helps improve body, mind and spirit. The best part, she says, is that anyone at any physical level can participate in yoga classes; poses can be adapted to fit your fitness ability. “The practice of yoga is a deeply individual thing,” Klepper says. “It’s not a competition. The perception that a person has to be flexible, young and in perfect health is misleading. It truly is a system for whole-body health.” If you want to try yoga, start with a basic class. Dayna Macy, communications director for Yoga Journal, says people should begin slowly and maintain patience. It is more about learning the poses than it is about being flexible enough to touch your toes. Ann Pizer, the yoga writer at About.com, recommends beginning with a few hatha yoga classes to practice the fundamental poses. To prevent injuries and learn the basics, even those in excellent physical shape should start in a class for beginners. There are many types of yoga, but Pizer suggests choosing a class based on your personality, likes and dislikes, and physical abili-
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The Exposition Park Rose Garden celebrated the first blooms of the season last month. The park has about 15,000 rose bushes and 150 varieties of flowers.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses Exposition Park’s Colorful Garden Blooms Again by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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tranquil, colorful and admittedly thorny scene blooms every spring in Exposition Park. For some, visiting the richly hued oasis has become an annual family tradition. For others, it’s a way of experiencing a little bit of nature without leaving Downtown. Some even use it as an opportunity to work up a sweat while surrounded by sweet-smelling, beautiful scenery. The six-acre Exposition Park Rose Garden celebrated the first blooms of the season last month as about 15,000 rose bushes marked the reopening of the park at the southern end of the Figueroa Corridor. The flowers, which represent nearly 150 varieties of roses, flourished to maturity after months of pruning and preparation. “It’s really one of the most beautiful spots in the city,” said Belinda Jackson, executive director of the Exposition Rose Park, during a recent mid-day visit, the gardens filled with Downtowners, tourists and school groups. “When you’re in the garden it’s very peaceful. It gives you the feeling of serenity in an open city.” The park closed in December and reopened with the blooming of the flowers, Jackson said. The colorful arrival was marked with a ceremony on April 23 that included about 3,000 visitors and city officials. The celebration is also a sign of things that may come to the park. “This is the first year we did the Blooming of the Roses wnNews owntosaid .D .A /L m festival and we’re hoping to have more,” Jackson of the o .c Facebook celebration that included prizes for the winners of a rose drawing contest, pruning demonstrations, egg hunts for kids and musical performances. While there are currently no plans for more festivals this year, the blooming ceremony will likely return next year, Jackson said. “We want to eventually have more festivals, have more community participation here, and we want people to come and smell the roses,” she said.
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The city of Los Angeles has operated the park since 1928. The attraction includes a display of rose beds arranged in an oval shape around a central fountain. Grass paths separate the flowers. There are several gazebos, but the flowers are the main reason people visit the park. Jackson said attendance figures are hard to come by since entrance is free and the park is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to sunset, but she estimates that hundreds of thousands of people every year ogle and sniff the blooms. The roses vary in size, from those that fit in the palm of a child’s hand to huge flowers that seem to burst out of their stems. They come in pink, red, white and yellow, and some bushes have a combination of colors. “They’ll all great and beautiful variations of roses,” Jackson said. The smell of the roses and a chance for her kids to run around green grass in Downtown Los Angeles is what keeps Emily Daniels and her family coming back to the park every
spring when the flowers bloom. “There’s no other place like it. It’s like being in the middle of a floral arrangement,” said the 32-year-old mother of two as her children ran races through the grass paths. “You just have to watch out that they don’t fall in the thorns,” she added. The park can also be a photographer’s playground, said 52-year-old Mark Moreno. The Hollywood resident had set up his tripod near a row of red and white roses. He was hoping to get a close-up shot of a bee pollinating a flower. “It takes a lot of patience but I’ve got some great shots here,” he said as he continuously checked the settings on his camera. “You almost can’t go wrong with all the colors everywhere.” Some visitors stay longer than others, as each year about 1,000 weddings take place at the park, Jackson said. In addition to the scenery, many come because of the price — at about $350 for parties of up to 200 people (for a two-hour event; there are some extra fees), weddings here are significantly less expensive than at many other Los Angeles venues. While some visit the garden for the nuptials, for 24-yearold Dennis Bailey, a USC student, the park is a preferred place for exercise. “I usually find a hidden corner and do some yoga and stretching,” he said. “It puts me in a good mindset when I’m here. I like the tranquility.” StartsOf course, the tranquility doesn’t get there all by itself. The attraction May 6/May 13 employs five full-time gardeners who spend their days watering plants, pruning roses and changing the soil. At the end of the year, when the park is ready to close, people can take a bit of the park home with them, Jackson said. “We’re going to have a rose giveaway in December before we close,” she said. “We’ll have them cut and bundled.” In the meantime, everything is coming up roses. The Exposition Park Rose Garden is at 701 State Dr., (213) Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com 202-2700 or laparks.org. The park is open from April to December. It regularly attracts tourists, families and Downtowners on their lunch break. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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The Secret Is Out A Downtown-Tinged Rent Revival Has Hits and Misses by Jeff Favre contributing writer
A
rt truly imitated life, or vice versa, at the opening of the latest Los Angeles incarnation of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. Outside the secret venue (hint: it’s a dilapidated Lincoln Heights warehouse with limited parking near an overnight delivery service), local denizens of what resembled an eclectic group of wayward artsy types were burning scraps of wood in a fire pit. Inside, actors on stage were pretending to be wayward artists burning scraps of wood and paper in a trash bin. The outer gathering seemed oddly surreal, while the inner world — the late Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning creation by way of directors Caitlin S. Hart and Kate Sullivan — felt like a group trying a bit too hard to seem as real as the fire pit folks. Leave it to L.A. to have a production this high concept and self-conscious. The actual title here is Rent: Downtown L.A., and audience members don’t find exactly where they are going until they buy a ticket. Rent has never needed artifice to garner fans. Its real back story — Larson’s unexpected, untimely death from an aneurysm the day before the show’s 1996 opening — coupled with its motto, “No day but today,� cemented its cult status. The lowpriced, day-of-performance sale of front row tickets during its lengthy Broadway run (it closed in 2008) and on national tours led young people, many of whom identified with the angst-filled characters, to camp out the night before performances. Sullivan, who also serves as executive producer, is openly devoted to the musical, and her earnestness appears infectious, as the tears and joy expressed from the cast ring with more authenticity than the carefully selected offbeat venue. Still, good intentions only go so far. Any production of Rent requires a core of triple-threat talents, a tight rock band and a crew of techno-wizards to create a seamless production. In this version created specifically for Downtown area audiences, some pieces of that puzzle are missing.
It’s far from a disaster, however. Longtime admirers can appreciate this solid effort, and newcomers likely will join one of the sharply divided camps — those who dive headfirst into the La Boheme-inspired tragedy, and those who find it trite and self-indulgent. Medical breakthroughs have already turned the musical into somewhat of a period piece, because several of its characters have HIV or AIDS (the disease that replaces La Boheme’s tuberculosis), which has become a much more treatable virus and is not instantly seen as a death sentence. One of the few central artists who is disease free is Mark (Adam Shapiro), a filmmaker and the narrator. His roommate, Roger (J.D. Driskill), contracted the virus from his girlfriend, who has killed herself. They live in a New York loft owned by a former roommate, Benny (Chris Sams), who married a wealthy socialite. Another infected friend is Tom (Jason McGee), who is mugged, but then rescued by a transvestite named Angel (Michael Montiel), who has AIDS. They fall in love. The list of the HIV-infected includes Mimi (Amber Stevens), an exotic dancer with a heroin habit, who falls for Roger. The remaining pair is Mark’s ex-girlfriend, a performance artist named Maureen (Emily Goglia), who now dates a woman, Joanne (Tiffany Gray). The production’s most pressing issues are technical. Microphone distortion and malfunctioning issues opening night overshadowed a couple of Angel-led songs. Also, the sound mix weighed too heavily on the band, directed by keyboardist Chip Colvin. Upstage lighting too frequently floods the front rows, making it difficult for closer audience members to see certain moments. Additionally, the deep stage in the cavernous warehouse lengthens some of the blackouts, as actors race to their new marks. Performance-wise, key cast members lack the vocal range and clarity to handle the energetic songs. Both Montiel and Stevens, as Angel and Mimi, can’t harness the dual duties of
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Audience members don’t find out where Rent: Downtown L.A. takes place until they buy tickets. The show runs through May 28.
singing and dancing. Their movements come across as robotic, while their delivery becomes winded. The notable exception is Gray, who offers a funny and charismatic version of Joanne, as well as a powerhouse solo in the show’s best-known song, “Seasons of Love.â€? Larson was still finding his voice with Rent, and his compositions are simple takes on a variety of musical genres, including rock, tango, country and funk. His naĂŻvetĂŠ seems to be part of what endears throngs to the show. The same can be said of this group, which keeps high energy for the more than two-and-a-half-hour running time. By the final bows on opening night the fire outside the warehouse was smoldering ash. But the cast appeared ready to take it from the top. That drive and devotion counts for a lot with Rent, even if the execution is more of a miss than a hit. Rent: Downtown L.A. runs through May 28 at an undisclosed location. Tickets and information at rentsecretshow.com.
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Downtown News 23
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LISTINGS EVENTS
LisT ’ s s i M T ’ n The ‘Do
SPONSORED LISTINGS Live Church LA Club Nokia, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 4934329 or livechurchla.com. 10 a.m.: Every Sunday, Live Church L.A. takes over the VIP Lounge at Club Nokia, bringing great music, people and inspiring messages. Free Downtown Audio Walking Tours Various Locations, crala.org/art. Free audio walking tours and maps are available for download at www.crala.org/art. Explore Downtown’s Bunker Hill, Financial District, Historic Core, and Little Tokyo neighborhoods by discovering public art and places developed through the CRA/LA Art Program.
Meet Downtown s ar C , zz Ja ts ee M nk Pu , er at . Dance Meets TheC @ | ,
saTurday, May 14 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 15, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Bug out for two days at the Bug Fair, an insect extravaganza with rare specimens, toys and art. Private collectors show off exotic wares; “pet” insects are sold; and visitors of all ages can handle insects and talk to museum scientists. The Culinary Historians of Southern California Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (323) 663-5407 or chscsite.org. 10:30 a.m.: Veronica Gelakoska and L.A. Mag’s Chris Nichols give the talk “Up and Down the Coast: 100 Years With the Pig ‘N Whistle.” They’ll recall the elegant lunch rooms that operated from 1908 to 1968 at more than 40 locations on the West Coast. Japanese American National Museum 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Target Free Family Saturday explores the wild world of animals. Not cats and dogs and gerbils. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: A family cooking workshop celebrates spring with an assortment of Asian foods, including sweet and savory spring and egg rolls, noodle soups and salads. California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 1 p.m.: Local artists lead a workshop inspired by the museum’s exhibit on American Indian and African American heritage. Recycled materials will be used. RSVP at (213) 744-2024. Santa Fe Art Colony Studio Showcase 2139 S Santa Fe Ave., (323) 587-6381 or SantaFeArtColony.com. 2-10 p.m.: A walk-through of the art hub’s studios shows a wide range of styles and mediums from more than 20 artists.
Continued on next page
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downtownnews com
Punk and jazz don’t often meet. However, they come together on Monday, May 9, at 8:30 p.m. when the Gutbucket Chamber Orchestra, a quartet from Brooklyn, makes its West Coast debut at REDCAT. The group is celebrating its most recent release, Flock, and as part of the fun CalArts players have been enlisted to fill out the sonic experience on horns, vibes, keyboards, organ, cello, percussion, electronics, noise toys, multiple basses and electric guitars — everything and the kitchen sink, er, gutbucket. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. photo by Natascha Rockwin
photo by Natascha Rockwin
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photo by Joe Lambie
Time stands still in limbo, but bodies sure won’t in Invertigo Dance Theatre’s Fun in Limbo, four new works that receive their world premiere Saturday, May 14, at 8 p.m., and May 15 at 6 p.m., at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. There’ll be limbs akimbo aplenty when dancers are trapped in an endless freefall; as they clash and tease and brawl their way out of heartbreak; or depict the strangely similar mating patterns of birds and humans (no, the similarity is not that both Tweet incessantly). This ensemble is known for its quirkiness, athleticism and theatricality. Hey, if you’re going to be in limbo, you might as well have some fun. At 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org.
Monday, May 9 Anatomy Riot #41 The Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., 2nd floor ballroom, showboxla.org. 8 p.m.: Presented in partnership with Blankenship Ballet, Collision Theory brings the live music of Señor Plastic into an immediate encounter with nine unruly dancers. Beware of unruly dancers. Thursday, May 12 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Will he or won’t he run? Rick Caruso delivers a luncheon address with the provocative, mayoral-tinged titled “Los Angeles: A New Kind of Leadership.” The owner of the Grove will discuss the city’s fiscal, social and infrastructure challenges, and offer ideas on how to remedy them. Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-10 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a self-guided tour that showcases the scores of art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues. MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: William Leavitt directs a performance of his play “Spectral Analysis.” Free, with museum admission. Also at 3 p.m. on May 15. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Gary Shteyngart’s “Super Sad True Love Story” was one of the most praised novels of 2010. Sometimes funny, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching, it presented a strange, delirious, techladen future. Catch a guy who’s going to be writing big-idea books for a long time to come.
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Get civilized, if you please, with an old-world, intimate, salon-style classical concert on the fifth floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. On Sunday, May 15, Le Salon de Musiques concludes its debut season with Mozart’s Sonata in D Major K 448 for two pianos and Rachmaninoff’s Suite n.1 “Fantasy-Tableaux” Opus 5 for two pianos. The chamber music performance starts at 4 p.m. and features pianists François Chouchanj and Steven Vanhauwaert. Afterward, get down with the musicians and your fellow patrons of the arts over French champagne and gourmet treats. Ooh la la, la vie est bonne, sacre bleu! At 135 N. Grand Ave., (310) 498-0257 or lesalondemusiques.com.
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This week, Bank of America Plaza will offer more than 24-foot waterfalls and a pacific garden — from May 9-13, there will be dozens of vroom vroom vehicles as part of the 2011 Los Angeles Motorexpo. Carmakers such as Cadillac, Hyundai, Saab, Jaguar and Chevrolet will show off their goods, and it’s not just for looking, as visitors can touch, sit behind the wheel, and even test drive some models, among them the all-electric Chevy Volt (battery included). The building’s lobby will also make for an impressive showroom with its granite walls and floors, tapestries and 27-foot high ceiling. Slip out of the office and take a ride. Daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 333 S. Hope St., motorexpo.com.
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What’s the inside scuttlebutt on all things “American Idol”? What secrets and tricks go on behind the scenes of the über-successful TV talent show? And what was up with Paula Abdul? Entertainment reporter Richard Rushfield, author of American Idol: The Untold Story, covered the cultural juggernaut since its inception and will lead a discussion — with several cast and crew members as well as entertainment experts — on everything from backstage intrigues to the show’s cultural impact. The poptastic exploration of the musical contest takes place in the usually quiet Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium on Saturday, May 14, from 2-3:30 p.m. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
24 Downtown News
3D, at 10 p.m. Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. Through May 12: Thor 3D (11 a.m. and 1:40, Continued from previous page 4:20, 7 and 9:40 p.m.); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Teen Night 2011 at Geffen Contemporary at Happy Family (11:30 a.m. and 2, 5, 7:30 and 10 MOCA p.m.); Fast Five (1:05, 4, 7 and 9:50 p.m.). 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org. May 13: TBA. 7-10 p.m.: Designed by the teens of the MOCA IMAX Theater Apprenticeship Program, the event includes a stu- California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744dent art exhibition, tours of Art in the Streets, local 2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. bands and DJs. Sure to win the heart of every parent Through May 26: Born to be Wild 3D is an inof a teen! spiring story of love, dedication and the remarkable Club Nokia bond between humans and animals that documents 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraorclubnokia.com. dinary people who rescue and raise them—saving en8 p.m.: Still jokin’ around, it’s Sinbad. Remember dangered species one life at a time. A Rainforest Adwhen he was in First Kid? Not many do. venture: Bugs! in 3D explores the dramatic lives of an Old World praying mantis and a beautiful butterfly. Sunday, May 15 Hubble 3D takes movie-goers on a journey through California African American Museum distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. of our celestial surroundings and accompany space2 p.m.: “Behind The Shutter” has Kent Kirkton, walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult director of CSUN’s Institute of Arts and Media, and important tasks in NASA’s history. leading a discussion with local photojournalists. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 2 p.m.: A panel discussion on shared cultural tra- 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Los Angeles Downtown News ditions of the American Indians and African AmeriThrough May 12: Jumping the Broom (12, 1:30, 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 cans in the American West. 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7:10, 8, 9:50 and 10:40 p.m.); Somephone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 thing Borrowed (11:10 a.m. and 1:50, 4:30, 6:30, web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com 7:20, 9:10 and 10 p.m.); Thor (12:40, 3:40, 6:40 and facebook: twitter: 9:40 p.m.); Thor 3D (11 a.m. and 1:20, 2, 4:20, 5, L.A. Downtown DowntownNews Devil’s Night Drive In News 7:20, 8, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); Fast Five (12:20, 1, 1:40, 240 W. Fourth St., (310) 584-1086 or devilsnight.com. 3:20, 4, 4:40, 6:20, 7, 7:40, 9:20, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); May 14, 8:30 p.m.: Grease 2 screens on the roof- Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil 3D (11:30 a.m. and Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris topGENErAl parkingMANAGEr: lot in theDawn greatEastin outdoors. No car neces- 1:40 and 4:10 p.m.); Prom (1:10 and 3:50 p.m.); Tyler sary. Some say thatJon with this film there’s no plot Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (11:50 a.m. and ExEcutivE Editor: Regardie necessary. Gates open at 7 p.m. 2:20, 4:50,7:30 and 10:10 p.m.); Water for Elephants citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt Downtown Independent (11 a.m. and 1:50, 4:50, 7:50 and 10:50 p.m.;); Rio coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 orMaese The Movie 3D (1:30, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.). coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre,May 9 only: Their Eyes Were Dry Event (7 p.m.). downtownindependent.com. Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada May 13, 7 p.m.: Friday the 13th drink-along and May 13 (partial list): Bridesmaids (1:20, 4:20, Artpong: dirEctor: Brian Allison beer theLet original screens at 8 p.m.; Part III, in 7:20 and 10:20 p.m.); Priest 3D (12, 2:20, 4:40, 7, eadlines and vendors?
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Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301, 213-6200908 or bluewhalemusic.com. May 10, 8 p.m.: A jazz jam session hosted by the Kevin Kanner quintet. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. May 14, 10 p.m.: The Stevenson Ranch Davidians and guests. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. May 11, 8 p.m.: Coheed and Cambria. Indie rock kids like ’em a lot. May 12, 8 p.m.: Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Calle 13. May 13, 9 p.m.: The Royal Family Ball is a jamtastic party with Soulive, Lettuce and Break Science. Yes, there’s actually an act named Lettuce. All toEditor & PublishEr: Sue Laris gether now: Lettuce entertain you. GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things Conga Room ExEcutivE Regardie to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found L.A. Live,Editor: 800 W. Jon Olympic Blvd., (213) 749-0445 or citY Editor: Richard Guzmán online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, congaroom.com. stAFF writEr: RyanThe Vaillancourt May 9, 8 p.m.: Foxxhole Live hosted by Mark Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Curry has live stand-up comedy and R&B music. coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Los Angeles Downtown News May 13, 9 p.m.: Soundcheck Lounge and DanceKristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter ZasadaClassical Music; Museums; and Tours. 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 hall offers live music, DJs spinning Top 40 hits, Art dirEctor: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 house and hip-hop. AssistANt dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa web: DowntownNews.com GrammyArt Museum ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins email: realpeople@downtownnews.com 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard facebook: May 12, 8 p.m.: American soul legend Booker T. L.A. Downtown News AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt Jones takes the stage for an in-depth discussion and AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin performance, with guests Ozomatli. twitter: sAlEs AssistANt: Nokia Theatre Annette Cruz DowntownNews 4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit clAssiFiEd Catherine 777 ChickAdvErtisiNG Hearn Court,MANAGEr: (213) 763-6030 or Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com nokiatheatrelalive.com. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens newspaper Downtown Losstreet Angeles and and is disMay 13, 8 p.m.: Soulman Brian McKnight with Email: Send afor brief description, address public tributed every Submissions Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: phone number. must be received 10 days Jagged Edge.Norma Rodas residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles prior to publication date to be considered for print. May 15, 8 p.m.: The Moody Blues share their One copy per person. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla mood with all. Yes, they’ll probably play “Nights in
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2
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
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Lunch SpeciaLS Just $7.99
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Tax Included. All Options Come With a Choice of Soup or Salad. coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Los Angeles Downtown News
1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
facebook: L.A. Downtown News
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt
twitter:Include: Selection Changes Daily and May
AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens
DowntownNews
Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti aglio Olio Spaghetti meatball Fettuccini alfredo The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read panino caprese Spaghetti puttanesca newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is dis-
Steak panini chicken panini Meatball panini
circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
SHIers Original Revolving T SU S ead E R B s ew D
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Featuring
Friday Night!
open 7 days a week, 11 am - 10 pm We’ve got the solution. From simple POS materials to a full-on marketing blitz, we’ll 120 Japanese Village plaza (Little Tokyo) help you get noticed. In one location, your PIP consultants bring together all the (213) 680-0567 resources you need, including:
• Printing FIND OUT WHAT TO EAT AND WHERE TO EAT @ • Copying
LADOWNTOWN NEWS.COM 700 Wilshire Blvd.
EvENT INFO
tributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
One copy per person.
www.portofinocucinaitaliana.com | 464 Main St. | 213.239.9019
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Available on-line @ • Graphic design LADowntownNews.com
ph: 213-489-2333 fax: 213-489-2897 piparco@sbcglobal.net
SPOTLIGHT ON
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Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
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1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 (213) 250-4617 facebook: (213) 481-1448 • FAX twitter: L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews LADowntownNews.com
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Validated Parking (Enter on Central Ave.) or use DASH Route A–Bus
Read Monday’s News & PublishEr: onEditor Friday Night!Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin Available on-line @
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie
LADowntownNews.com citY Editor: Richard Guzmán
stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
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ROCK, POP & JAZZ
White Satin.” Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway, (213) 622-1939 or laorpheum.com. May 13, 8 p.m.: The Art Leboe Show Live features Zapp, Peaches and Herb, The Temprees, MC Magic, Sophia Maria, Blue Magic, Aalon, Barbara Lynn and Sly, Slick and Wicked. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. May 9, 8:30 p.m.: Punk-jazz quartet Gutbucket Chamber Orchestra. May 15, 3 and 7 p.m.: Russia’s Sofia Gubaidulina, now 80, makes a rare U.S. appearance to share an intensity unrivaled in today’s contemporary music scene. Including film and musical events. Through May 17. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. May 9, 10 p.m.: Driftwood Singers, Midwest Dilemma, Casey Hurt and Vinnie Ferra.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
ph: 213-489-2333 fax: 213-489-2897 piparco@sbcglobal.net
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May 9, 2011
Twitter/DowntownNews
An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance Live Lobster Tank
Free Parking Next to Restaurant
700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Tel: 213.617.2323
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens 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.
One copy per person.
May 9, 2011
Downtown News 25
DowntownNews.com
CLASSIFIED
plaCe your ad online aT www.ladownTownnews.Com
FOR RENT
l.a. downtown news classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale
TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002
Bill Cooper
213.598.7555
Fantastic Creative 2+stories 13,592 sq.ft bldg. Former Knights of Pythias Lodge 124 N. Townsend Ave., LA
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20 ACRE RANCH Foreclosures Near Booming El Paso, Texas. Was $16,900 Now $12,900. $0 Down, take over payments, $99/mo. Beautiful views, owner financing, Free map/pictures. 1-800-343-9444. (CAL-SCAN) SACRIFICE SALE - Nevada’s 3rd Largest Lake 1.5 hours South of Tahoe on California border, 1 acre Panoramic Lake View/Access $24,900 (was $49,900). 1.5AC Bold Lake Front $89,800 (was $149,900). Very rare gorgeous homesites, central water, paved roads. Awe inspiring views. Owner says sell! 1-888-705-3808. (CAL-SCAN)
real estate services CONSIDERING FORECLOSURE? Are you late in payments? A short sale may be your solution. Call Lady Rodriguez, Realtor 310-600-7534. Represent both buyers and sellers. PROBATE SOLUTIONS Need an heir cash advance on estate before it even closes? Call Richard for all the details 1-800-2565018 ext. 101.
All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”
CALL FOR SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731.
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FOR RENT
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apartments/UnfUrnished
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commercial space
Now LeasiNg!
WAREHOUSE FOR LEASE 4000sf with two secured loading bays large enough for two 20ft trucks. 400 amp electrical panel, skylights, office, storage and restroom. NNN $3895p/m Call Robert DRE #01458843 213-399-9001
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office space SHARE 300 Square Feet Office Space in Little Tokyo $200/ month. Call 213-273-3994.
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old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com
EMPLOYMENT
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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY help Wanted INTERNATIONAL Cultural Exchange Representative: Earn supplemental income placing and supervising high school exchange students. Volunteer host families also needed. Promote world peace! 1-866-GO-AFICE or www.afice.org. (CAL-SCAN) TECHNICIANS FOR Satellite TV Installation. Work as Independent Contractor. Knowledge of low voltage electronics. Reliable truck, ladder, hand tools. Lift 50+ lbs. $600-$1200wkly. 602-7696472. (CAL-SCAN)
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drivers
sales
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get your green card or citiZenship Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710
Continued on next page
LOFT LIVING
Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development! downtownnews.com
The Downtown > now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Welcome Renaissance > now leasing. Collection Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.
acreage/lots
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100+ BANK-OWNED Homes Selling by Auction from May 16th – May 19th. Don’t miss this sale! Get all the details at www. BidNowCalifornia.com or call 866-539-1088. (CAL-SCAN)
Cooperating Brokers Welcome Cooperating Brokers Welcome
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call> 213.623.3100 Best Downtown Locations! > now leasing. > SHOWROOM OPEN: now leasing. visit> www.rsvlt.com M-F 10-6, S-S 11-5 Cooperating Brokers Welcome >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-sCooperating 11-5 Brokers Welcome
EstD 1912
727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles
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visit> www.rsvlt.com
727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles
>showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5
noW leasing
727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles
$1,400’s/mo. free parking
Orsini
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
550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.
877-231-9362
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725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.
TM
877-239-8256
WWW.THEMEDICI.COM
756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com Downtown since 2002
• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views
6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900
Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today! Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com
Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.
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
Pricing subject to change without notice.
MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!
Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes
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• Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball
Version 2
• 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
26 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
Twitters/DowntownNews
Continued from previous page
SERVICES Business services ADVERTISING- BEST Kept Secret. A business card sized display ad 140 California community newspapers. Reach 3 million+ Californians. Cost $1,550.$1.33 cost per thousand. Free brochure (916)288-6019; www.CalSDAN.com. (CAL-SCAN) CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. 240 California community newspapers reaching over 6 million Californians. 25-words $550 works out to 18 cents cost per thousand! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSCAN.com. (CAL-SCAN)
cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.
education ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.Centura.us.com. (CAL-SCAN)
HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (CAL-SCAN) MEDICAL MANAGEMENT Careers start here - Get connected online. Attend college on your own time. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800481-9409. www.CenturaOnline. com. (CAL-SCAN) Financial services CASH NOW! Cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-494-9115. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. (CAL-SCAN)
You are invited Metro is conducting an Early Scoping Meeting for an Alternatives Analysis (AA) of the Restoration of Historic Streetcar Service in Downtown Los Angeles (“Project”). The purpose of this Project is to restore historic streetcar service to downtown Los Angeles. The AA will include review of possible route alternatives, evaluation criteria, in-depth analysis of screened alternative(s) and the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative for further environmental review. The Project Study Area is bounded by State Route 110 Freeway to the West, Washington Boulevard to the South, Los Angeles Street to the East, Cesar Chavez Avenue to the North with an extension stretching North of Cesar Chavez Avenue along New High and Alameda Streets just north of College Street. Districts within the PSA include the Historic Broadway District, Chinatown, El Pueblo, Bunker Hill, the Financial Business District, South Park and the L.A. Civic Center. We encourage and welcome your participation. Comments regarding the scope of the AA may be presented at the Early Scoping Meeting. When:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Time:
4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Open House: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Public Comment: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where:
Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014-1803
HealtH & Fitness
psycHic
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PSYCHIC READER Spiritual advisor. Tarot $20. Confidential text for one free question 323493-9494.
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AUTOS pre-oWned
doWntoWn l.a. auto group Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac
Home improvement
2001 PORSCHE CARRERA CABRIOLET 3.4L V6, Polar Silver/Grey, Crest Wheel Caps, 56K miles. #1S651787 $32,988. Call 888-685-5426.
E&R REASONABLE Prices. Plumbing, Heating, Electrical, Drain Cleaning Services starting at $35 323-228-4500.
2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S Certified, 1 owner, Auto, AC and more NI3744-1 / 6N374063 $11,999 call 888-838-5089.
2007 MERCEDES CLK350A CABRIOLET Certified, 3.5L V6, Indium Silver, Auto, Only 45K Miles #5160/F223491 $29,994 Call 888-319-8762. 2008 AUDI A4 SEDAN Certified, Premium package, Moonroof, Leather, Alloys ZA9851 / 8A068348. $21,689. Call 888583-0981 2008 NISSAN TITAN KING CAB Certified, Auto, AC, 8 cyl NIIQ0025-1 / 8N317410 $14,999, call 888-838-5089 2008 SMART Car Convertible. Yellow and black. 14,500 miles. Original owner. Mint Condition. $11,650 o.b.o. 323-466-4665. 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT 2.5L, White/Grey, Auto, 38,318 Miles. ZV1072/8W149660 $13,788 Call 888-781-8102. 2010 Chevy Camaro 1LT Black/ Titanium, V6, Electronic Stability, 12K Miles #UC7398/227600 $23,995 Call 888-879-9608.
For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com
Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley Proudly serving the communities of San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello and El Monte.
Oral comments regarding the scope of the AA may be heard during the Public Comment period. Written comments may be submitted during this event and also mailed to Metro, c/o Historic Streetcar Service, One Gateway Plaza, 99-22-2, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or emailed to streetcarservice@metro.net by May 31, 2011. Any individual who requires special assistance, a sign language interpreter or translator, to participate in the meeting should contact Ginny Brideau, ginny@therobertgroup.com, (323) 669-7654. For more information about the Project, please visit http://www.metro.net/projects/historic-streetcar-service/ CNS#2091979
Cal Best Realty
Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238
English/Japanes/Chinese speaking emiterauchi@yahoo.com • (626) 786-9086
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
autos Wanted DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or boat to Heritage For The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (CAL-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (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) WANTED / CASH Paid!!! Any Pre ‘73 Mercedes SL’s, Porsche 356/911/912, Jaguar XK/XKE or other Interesting sports cars. Any Condition!!! Call Bob 714-3902425. (CAL-SCAN)
May 9, 2011
Downtown News 27
DowntownNews.com
ITEMS FOR SALE TickeTs DODGER TICKETS behind the Dodger Dugout! Season ticket holder with Field Level seats for less than facevalue: Dosxx222@ yahoo.com 626-926-3298
ANNOUNCEMENTS NoTices WANTED-MARVEL/DC Superhero Comic Books. Especially 1960’s. Collector/ Investor, paying cash. And ALL Marvel stuff, posters, pins, t-shirts & original art. Call Mike: 800.723.5572. (CAL-SCAN) special eveNTs TREyBLING... its’ a ring thing Defeat the ‘Peat - Say No to Pat! Talkin’ ‘bout my Lakers. 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. 2011004521 The following person(s) doing business as: BEVERLy MANAGEMENT, 2014 S. Longwood Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90016, are hereby registered by the following registrant: BRIAN SCOTT BEVERLy, 2014 S. Longwood Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90016. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrants has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 11. 2011 NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires
five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 5/09, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30/11 Name chaNge suPeRioR couRt oF caLiFoRnia, countY oF Los anGeLes centRaL DistRict oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name no. Bs131591 to aLL inteResteD PeRsons: Petitioner: ADOLFO XAVIER QUINTERO by his mother ALEXANDRA IZQUIERDO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: ADOLFO XAVIER QUINTERO Proposed name: XAVIER IZQUIERDO THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: JUNE 24, 2011 Time: 9:00 AM Dept.: 1A Room: 548 The address of the court is 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles CA 90012. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1246 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA of general circulation. Dated: 4/21/2011 Hon. Matthew C. St. George, Commissioner PUB. 5/02, 5/09, 5/16, 5/23/11
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28 Downtown News
May 9, 2011
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716 Los Angeles St, Suite D Los Angeles, CA 90014 hOurS: M-F: 11-6 / S-S: 12-5
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The Seller reserves the right to change prices without prior notice or obligation. All units are subject to prior sale or reservation. Kennedy Wilson, A California Real Estate Broker. License #00746768