05-13-13

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

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NEWS Volume 42, Number 19

EBRATING EL

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining

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YEARS

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May 13, 2013

It’s Hard to Say Au Revoir French Garden, a Pioneering Downtown Restaurant, Closes This Month After 15 Years in Business

photo by Gary Leonard

Benoit Lesure greets customers during the final weeks of French Garden. The Arts District restaurant cultivated a cadre or regulars who came for the cuisine and oasis-like setting. It will close May 24.

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

B

enoit Lesure still flashes his big, bright smile and greets his customers with the same jovial demeanor that he has for the last 15 years at the French Garden.

But it’s hard, he admits. It’s hard knowing that his last day in business is May 24, when he will close his doors to make way for another restaurant whose owners are willing to pay a much higher rent for the location he took a chance on in 1998.

“I love my customers,” Lesure said in a heavy French accent on a recent rainy Monday afternoon while sitting at a

table on his patio. “I’ve put a lot of energy, hard work here.

This is my home, my life here, but it’s a done deal.”

Still with a smile on his face, he slowly shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the table as Frenchie, the restaurant’s beloved, well-fed and sometimes cantankerous live-in cat, rubbed up against his leg. Longtime waiter Marcos Clara approached and stood next to Lesure.

“This is like my family,” Clara said, his eyes welling up and his voice cracking. “Everyone who works here is a family and we’re going to miss seeing each other every day.”

Using the nickname the staff has for the owner, he added,

“We’re going to miss Benito.”

The 150-seat bistro, known for its lush garden setting hidden in the middle of an industrial portion of the Arts District, opened long before the boom that has attracted dozens of eateries to Downtown. Yet somehow, through a mix of solid French cuisine and the unexpected setting, it developed a cadre of loyal customers.

“When I first started here this was a no-man’s land and I started to bring friends who called it an oasis,” said Emma Schafer, a regular and the director of Los Angeles Current Affairs see French Garden, page 15

Spring Street Park to Open in June Speeded-Up Timeline Occurs as Nonprofit Plans to Operate the Facility

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

H

istoric Core residents have a reason to cheer: The Spring Street Park is scheduled to open in June, two months ahead of schedule.

Actually, there’s a second bit of good news: Area stakeholders have come up with a plan to operate and maintain the park, rebounding from a fumbled, divisive effort in 2011.

Work on the park between the El Dorado and Rowan lofts has been proceeding steadily for months. Sod has been laid and a playground has been installed. A sign that reads “Spring Street

Park” now hangs on the gate of the L-shaped site.

The nearly one-acre gated facility on Spring between Fourth and Fifth streets features a fountain, a lawn, trees, a playground and curved benches. Planning began in 2009 after Downtown Properties, which developed the condominium buildings on either side, sold what was then a parking lot to the city.

Construction on the park began in August 2012, following a prep period in which electrical and other infrastructure were placed.

For months, the $8 million project (including land acquisition and construction) had been scheduled to open this

August. That got speeded up by the office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who wants to bring the facility online before he is termed out July 1, said Patti Berman, who helms the nonprofit group that will run the park.

“The mayor would like to be involved in the grand opening, since he has been involved since the beginning,” Berman said. “He told everyone to hurry up and get it done.”

City Shortfall While the park’s opening will spark an immediate celebration, the securing of neighborhood overseers will likely have a see Park, page 16

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2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN Register for Dog Day Afternoon

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

egistration is now open for the seventh annual Downtown Dog Day Afternoon at the plaza of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. More than 1,000 people and nearly 1,000 canines are expected at the 6-9 p.m. July 10 event that will bring together Downtown dogs and their owners for some socializing and community building. The event will include booths from area pet stores, pet adoptions, music and more. The event is free and is intended for Downtown residents and their dogs; all pets must be on a leash.

The event was started in 2007 by Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik and Hal Bastian of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. The first year 300 people showed up with their dogs. In 2012 about 1,400 people and 900 dogs attended. To register go to downtownla.com.

ing the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. Hellen, 87, is slated to speak at the Last Bookstore at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Hellen was 15 when he was rounded up in Czechoslovakia by Nazi forces. In 2010, he told Downtown News that he relied on a string of good luck and instinct to survive. He escaped the camp after about two-and-a-half years and took refuge in a Polish family’s barn until the area was liberated by Russian forces. Today, Hellen lives most of the year in Australia, but visits Downtown frequently to manage his company’s local real estate holdings.

His Downtown Management owns three residential properties: the Spring Arcade, Jewelry Trades and Chester Williams buildings, as well as the Roxy, Cameo and Arcade theaters on Broadway. Hellen bought most of his Downtown buildings in the early 1990s. The Last Bookstore is at 453 S. Spring St.

Downtown Landlord And Holocaust Survivor To Speak at Last Bookstore

Downtown Student Places Second in National Monologue Competition

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old senior at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts on Grand Avenue, came in second place last week in the sixth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition. The national event was held Monday, May 6, in New York at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. “I was just overwhelmed,” said Lopez on Thursday during a brief phone interview between classes. “This experience showed me that anything is possible.” The students compete by performing a monologue from African American playwright

April 30, 2013

August Wilson’s 10-play “Century Cycle,” a dramatization of the African-American experience in the 20th century. Lopez placed first in the regional finals, which were held at the Mark Taper Forum in March (the Taper is also currently staging Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone), ensuring his move on to New York. The second place finish earned Lopez $750. He plans to attend UC Davis where he will study international relations. A high school student from Pittsburgh took home the $1,500 first place prize.

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May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

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Celebrating 40 Years

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May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

EDITORIALS Cooperation Needed at ‘Graffiti Pit’ Park

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

D

owntown recently received some great news regarding a longstanding eyesore: As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the city has an agreement to buy the “graffiti pit” across from City Hall with the aim of turning it into a park. The deal with the state, which owns the property on the northwest corner of First and Spring streets, is slated to close within two months.

At this point much remains to be determined. The city has $9.9 million with which to purchase the land and fix a structurally unsound underground parking garage, but no money has yet been identified for future park development. There have not been discussions of what the park would look like, what amenities it would hold or how much it would cost to build.

Although things are in the very early stage, we have one suggestion as to what should happen as soon as possible: The city needs to coordinate with the county.

This might seem like no big deal, but it can be surprisingly difficult. The city and county of Los Angeles have a history of clashing more often than necessary, especially when it comes to land in the Civic Center. Just look to Grand Avenue, where there has long been behind-the-scenes rancor over the parcels that figure into the Grand Avenue plan.

The county’s role is crucial in this instance because the graffiti pit is adjacent to the eastern portion of Grand Park. The $56 million expanse that opened last year has been a spectacular addition to Downtown. If the new land is to become a park, then the best thing possible would be to fold it into Grand Park. Creating a sort of unaffiliated silo park would speak to a disconnect between two levels of government.

The matter is also of prime importance because the site is, well, so darn ugly. The land once held a state office building, but it was severely damaged in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The structure was torn down five years later and the property was fenced off.

It has remained that way for 37 years, becoming, at times, a homeless encampment, a favored location for skateboarders, a home to a colony of feral cats and, most distressingly, a destination for graffiti vandals. Too many visitors to Downtown saw vast graffiti splotches next to City Hall. Talk about embarrassing.

Now there is opportunity. The state, which hopes to raise revenue, is selling the land, and the city and the county both expressed interest. The city got the nod for reasons that have not been revealed, and the proposal is moving forward.

At this point we’re hopeful that the park momentum can continue in a way that benefits everyone. There may even be precedent at Grand Avenue, as the governments were able to work together, even if it required the creation of an unwieldy joint powers authority. Hopefully the proceedings can be smooth this time. Hopefully there will be more green space in the Civic Center, and hopefully Downtown can continue the great Grand Park experience.

The Hotel Clark Morass — Everybody Is Wrong

F

or years, the Hotel Clark has been one of Downtown Los Angeles’ most problematic eyesores. The property on Hill Street just northeast of Pershing Square has sat empty despite a surge of nearby activity. As housing complexes such as Metro 417 and the Title Guarantee Building came online, the New York-based Chetrit Group allowed its edifice to sit derelict.

Now, finally, the Chetrit Group is taking action. The company has conducted a very slow renovation of the property and hopes to open it as a 347-room hotel managed by New York’s King & Grove Hotels. As Los Angeles Downtown News recently reported, a project official has said the property could open in six months, and all that is required are a few city approvals.

Getting those OKs is proving problematic. Unite Here Local 11, the influential union representing hotel and restaurant employees, has protested the project, taking the questionable route of challenging its environmental approvals. The union appears to be getting backing from 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, who has remained, in his phrasing, “neutral” on the project. “Neutral” in political parlance means that he’s against it unless and until something unnamed goes his way. Consider: At an April 9 meeting, a Huizar representative asked the Central Area Planning Commission to hold off on a vote for the project. The panel did as requested.

What’s really going on here? As happens occasionally in Los Angeles, it’s at least partially a clash between business and certain labor interests, but perhaps more. Once one cuts through the smokescreens — and there are several — this seems to be about the Chetrit Group and Unite Here butting heads over whether the hotel will be a union shop after it opens.

In many instances we’d chastise the union and the councilman here — and we’ll do a bit of that in a moment — for trying to weave together land-use and labor issues that should be kept separate, and for using the California Environmental Quality Act for political purposes. As seems to be quite clear, Unite Here is citing CEQA because it’s an effective tool to delay the project, not because of an overriding passion for our rivers and air. This type of manipulative challenge is precisely why so many in business communities throughout the state are clamoring for CEQA reform.

In this instance, however, we can’t just side with the Chetrit Group. The company has had such a poor record Downtown that it is hard to trust what their people say. We would love for them to prove us wrong, but that’s the truth of it for now.

For many years the Chetrit Group has been an absentee landlord that let not only the Hotel Clark sit empty and ugly, but also allowed Giannini Place and the Embassy Hotel to languish.

The former is a stately structure at Seventh and Olive Streets that remained in the doldrums even as the corridor emerged into a thriving restaurant row. The latter is an aged, once-regal property at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue that stands barren across from the busy FIDM campus.

As Downtown saw a wealth of investment over the past decade, Chetrit sat on its properties, and the town could do nothing but watch them deteriorate. Yes, a property owner has the right to seek a return on his or her investment, but the pursuit of profits should not come at the expense of the surrounding community.

As Downtown News wrote several years ago, Chetrit resisted entreaties from area stakeholders to make things better.

Chetrit’s record of inaction is important in this instance. One can’t suddenly decide to seek a profit and expect everyone to rush to help.

This situation is complicated in part because Chetrit Group executives refused to meet with labor officials. That’s an emotional mistake or an old-fashioned negotiating ploy. Either way it’s the wrong move.

Unite Here and Huizar need to be flexible, and unionizing should not be a sword held over land-use approvals. This is not a one-agreement-fits-all community, and the Ace Hotel, which is under construction on Broadway (a project which Huizar strongly supports), is not slated to be a union business. One wonders at the inconsistency.

This is all so frustrating because activating the Hotel Clark would be very good for Downtown. It would energize the street and create jobs. It would draw visitors who would patronize local businesses and generate taxes for the city. There is every reason to make this happen.

There is also reason for every entity in this discussion to think of the community’s interest as well as their own. Chetrit Group finally has the opportunity to be a good corporate citizen and should not squander the chance. Unite Here should not use CEQA for ways it was not intended and hold back the advancement of the neighborhood. Huizar, as an experienced elected leader who has done a lot of good for Broadway, should ensure the progress keeps happening. End this stalemate and propel Downtown forward.

May 13, 2013

Downtown News 5

Celebrating 40 Years

Scenes From the 1,723rd Mayoral Debate With the Election Approaching, Greuel and Garcetti Just Keep Hitting

by Jon Regardie executive editor

M

oderator: Good evening children of Los Angeles, and welcome to the 1,723rd mayoral debate of the 2013 election season. I’m your moderator, Sparky Bicuspid, and tonight I’ll ask the same questions you and the candidates have heard hundreds of times before, but in slightly different ways. Throughout this evening’s enTHE REGARDIE REPORT

counter we’ll pretend once again that we want to stick to the issues, but will secretly hope that the candidates attack each other, because otherwise the 27 reporters from the L.A. Times now covering the race won’t have anything to write about. We’ll begin with opening remarks. Backstage we flipped a councilman in the air and he landed on his tail. That means Controller Wendy Greuel will go first. You have one minute.

Greuel: Tom Bradley!

Moderator: Wendy, you have a full minute. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Greuel: Tom Bradley! Tom Bradley! Tom Bradley! My consultant John Shallman told me to just keep saying his name and I’ll win.

Moderator: OK. With that we turn to City Councilman Eric Garcetti. You have one minute.

Garcetti smiles for four seconds, pats himself on the back, then reaches with his left hand into his jacket pocket for a note, which he gives to the moderator.

Moderator: This is unusual. The note says, “Internal polling tells me I’m so far ahead and have so much more money that we’re

photos by Gary Leonard

City Councilman Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel continue to trade barbs as they seek to succeed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Also, “$160 million in waste, fraud and abuse” rhymes with “$160 million in snakes, frog and a goose.”

just trying not to screw up, and thus only answer when we need to. Also, Wendy Greuel is owned by the DWP. My consultant Bill Carrick told me to say that.”

Garcetti grins and nods heartily.

Moderator: Alrighty. The first question is about police and public safety. How will you keep Angelenos safe at a time when there is so much pressure on the LAPD? We’ll start with Eric.

Garcetti: In the last 12 years the 13th District has become the safest district in Los Angeles. I’m a metrics guy, the numbers bear that out and I expect to be held accountable.

Before I arrived every building in Hollywood

was tagged by graffiti every 93 minutes. I speak English, Spanish, Dutch, Yiddish and Tagalog, and graffiti has decreased by more than 13,000% since 2001. I did that.

Greuel: While my opponent was president of the City Council some people died and gangs did bad things to each other. All of that crime is his fault. All of it. His fault. As mayor, I will hire 4 million new cops, and everyone in the city will also be a police officer.

We’ll pay for it by invading San Diego and taking all their gold.

Moderator: Thank you. The next question: Wendy, the union representing DWP employees has spent—

Garcetti (interrupting): Oooooooh, here it comes!

Moderator: Councilman, please, You’ll have your turn. Wendy, the union has spent about a bazillion dollars on your behalf. How will you remain independent as mayor when they want raises?

Greuel: I will bring everyone to the table.

Let me repeat: I. Will. Bring. Everyone. To. The. Table. They will all have a seat at the table. We will talk about everything at the table.

It is all on the table. Can my opponent bring everyone to the table? No. Does he even have a table? No. My table. Mine. They’ll all be at it. Everything will be on it. My opponent caused the recession and during his time as president of the council everyone in the world grew six years older. That’s his fault.

Garcetti: We’re not going to let one special interest eat the lunch of the people’s interest.

My opponent is bought and owned by the DWP. No more Downtown power brokers.

Plus, when I was president of the council and the city was facing severe economic shortfalls I personally did a whole bunch of leadership stuff and pension reform thingies to balance the budget. It was tough, but I made those decisions. I did that.

Moderator: Our next topic is business.

Eric, despite being president of the council for six years, your opponent has been endorsed by most of the major business groups in the city. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, the Central City Association, that Valley group — they all are backing Wendy.

How do you like them apples?

Garcetti: I grew up in a home that was Jewish and Latino, having bagels and menudo — oh, sorry, that’s the answer to another question.

I’m not owned by the special interests.

I’m more proud of being endorsed by the Echo Park Alliance of Shoe Repairmen. I’ve see Debate, page 24

6 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

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May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

Downtown News 7

Major Apartment Complex Planned in Arts District Six-Acre SCI-Arc-Adjacent Site Envisioned as 472-Unit Project

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

T

he surge of activity in the Arts District shows no sign of letting up: A developer is moving forward with plans to build a 472-unit apartment complex on a sixacre site that abuts the Southern California Institute of Architecture.

Legendary Development, which three years ago bought the property out of bankruptcy (it had been owned by the now defunct Meruelo Maddux Properties), hopes to break ground on the project by the end of the year.

The development, which calls for seven structures to rise around a 922-space parking facility, is already entitled. To proceed, the developer only needs approval for a site plan change, which it is expected to get.

The site at 950 E. Third St. has long been eyed for development, but almost always at the dismay of Arts District stakeholders.

There was the Los Angeles Unified School District’s proposed school meal production facility in the early 2000s and later a proposed public mental health court. Both were canceled after community protests.

In 2005 Meruelo Maddux proposed two 40-story Miami Beach-style condo towers.

Those too died after neighborhood opposition.

Legendary’s proposed project calls for a series of brick-clad buildings with five to six levels of apartments above street-level commercial or live/work units. The tops of the structures would be encased in metal finishes, and steel walkways would connect the buildings on the upper levels. Details of the project were presented on Wednesday, May

8, to the board of the Arts District Business Improvement District.

The look of the buildings is meant to blend into the industrial aesthetic of the neighborhood, said Surjit Soni, a managing partner in the company. The decision to build several structures instead of one massive complex was motivated by a desire to maintain sightlines through the site, Soni said.

This wasn’t always the plan. In fact, the latest version of the proposal represents a major departure from Legendary’s first draft, said Jonathan Jerald, secretary of the Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association.

“Over a year and a half ago, [Legendary] first came to us and presented the most banal, boring looking design and we were appalled,” Jerald said. “They were really awful.

We asked them to work with us.”

They did. Legendary participated in a community planning and design session organized by LARABA. It invited neighborhood stakeholders to identify priorities for the Arts District’s future.

“All the major points that were pressed for, [Legendary] included in their final design,” Jerald said.

Those points include a community desire for more raw, live/work space; walkways that connect Third and Fourth streets; flexible community space; and the potential to one day activate a series of alleys on the western edge of the project, Jerald said.

Eric Owen Moss, director of SCI-Arc, which is just east of the site (and which purchased its current home from Legendary in 2011), declined to comment on the project.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Arts District

rendering courtesy Legendary Development

Legendary Development is planning to break ground on a 472-unit residential project in the Arts District this year. The site is currently used as a staging area for One Santa Fe.

BID voted unanimously to support the project’s application for a site plan change.

“This is a large project,” Soni said. “It’s an important project so it’s got to be done right.

If you do it wrong you don’t get a mulligan.”

The project would create a mini-network of private drives that weave through the six-acre site and create a new access point between Third and Fourth streets. Among the 472 units, which would average about 800 square feet, would be 23 live/work residences with 22foot ceilings. In total, the project calls for about 26,000 square feet of commercial space.

Currently, the site is being used as a staging area for the under construction One Santa

Fe, a 438-apartment complex that is slated for completion in late 2014.

Legendary expects to file its request for a site plan change in the next 60 days; approval can take about three months.

After that, the Pasadena-based firm is ready to start submitting construction drawings, with the aim of breaking ground before the end of the year, Soni said. Once it starts, construction would take about three years, with a first phase of 248 apartments opening sooner.

The project cost has not yet been finalized, Soni said.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

We will have forums, book signings, cultural activities, workshops for children, conferences and all the books for you to read in Spanish.

8 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

Finding Treasures Photos by Gary Leonard

T

he Central City Association went all out for its 19th annual Treasures of Los Angeles luncheon last week, honoring some of the city’s most prominent figures in the worlds of sports, music, business and even magic. At the Thursday, May 9, event at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, the CCA presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. The Heart of the City honoree was tenor Plácido Domingo. Other Treasure recipients were billionaire businessman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the California Science Center for its Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit, the USO of Greater Los Angeles and Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

The Central City Crime Report A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities

I

n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.

Hit and Run: On April 30 at 4:40 p.m., a man standing in the street on the 600 block of San Julian Street was struck by a car and killed. Police say that witnesses indicated that the driver intentionally pointed his vehicle, an SUV of unknown

make and model, at the man and accelerated. The victim was thrown about 60 feet and the driver continued northbound before turning east on Sixth Street. A suspect is now in the custody of the Sheriff’s Department in connection with a separate hit and run in Maywood.

Santee Stranger: A 25-year-old resident of the Santee Court apartment complex at 716 S. Los Angeles St. was hanging out on

the roof when he was robbed by an unidentified person. At about 10 p.m. on April 28, the suspect allegedly punched the victim several times in the body and face before taking his wallet and cell phone.

Pyramid Scheme: Police are looking for a man who tried to steal a bottle of vodka from the Ralphs Fresh Fare grocery store at Ninth and Flower streets and attacked a security guard on the way out. The man pushed the guard outside and, after running into a pole and apparently striking his head, he got away — though without the vodka. The suspect is described as an African American male, about

5-feet 7-inches tall, 170 pounds and 35-40 years of age, with a tattoo of a pyramid on the back of his head.

Cars and Guns: On May 3 at about 10:35 p.m., a 29-year-old man at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue was approached from behind by a man with a shotgun. The suspect allegedly put the gun into the victim’s back and demanded that he get into his vehicle.

The victim refused and threw his keys and laid down on the street. The suspect fled in the victim’s car, though he was stopped by police and arrested without incident.

—Ryan Vaillancourt

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May 13, 2013

Downtown News 9

Celebrating 40 Years

Corporate C atering & Summer entertaining No Roof, No Problem Downtown’s Patio Scene Warms Up for Summer

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

D

owntown Los Angeles may have a limited number of parks, but that doesn’t mean folks lack places to get together outdoors. These days, an increasing number of area bars and restaurants have patios, and as the weather heats up, folks are flocking.

Whether it’s a gathering with co-workers after a long day at the office or a party with friends in the neighborhood, there are plenty of al fresco options where you can eat, drink and entertain through the spring and into the summer. Here is a list of 10 places that blew the roof off the sucka (sorry, we couldn’t resist) for your entertainment. Depending on the size of your group, reservations may be a good idea.

Social Time: Pete’s Café has been leading the social scene in the Old Bank District for more than a decade, so it’s no surprise that the patio scene is one of the liveliest in the neighborhood. It’s a locals’ hangout, and to use a twist on that “Cheers” phrase, it’s a place where just about everyone knows everyone else’s name. But it’s not clubby,

and the friendly and frequently festive atmosphere ensures that non-regulars fit right in.

Grab a beer, order a plate of blue cheese fries and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere late into the night. The Pete’s patio holds about 25 seats and is dog friendly.

At 400 S. Main St., (213) 617-1000 or petescafe.com.

Using Their Noodle: There’s one downside to the patio in the back of Jean Louis De Mori and Antonio Tommasi’s Maccheroni Republic: The restaurant that opened five months ago near Broadway and Third Street doesn’t serve alcohol. On the positive side, you can bring in your own bottle of wine, and you and some friends can eat and drink in a pleasant 30-seat outdoor area at the entrance to Biddy Mason Park (nestled between Broadway and Spring Street). The patio is fenced off with rectangular wood planters placed between a row of olive trees, and a string of lights fixed to the trees provides evening illumination. Pass the time while enjoying authentic Italian dishes such as agnolotti di osso bucco.

At 332 S. Broadway, (213) 346-9725 or tinyurl.com/bfftzha

photo by Gary Leonard

The outdoor patios at Perch offer a view of the city and live music every night.

Sky High: Patio views are always a selling point for restaurants, but Perch, the French bistro overlooking Pershing Square, takes things up a level. Actually, it takes things up 15 and 16 levels. The restaurant has a 15th floor patio that holds about 125 people and a 16th floor rooftop setup where another 130 folks can hang out. In addition to the views and lounge furniture, the outdoor spaces have fireplaces and fire pits (remember, L.A. does cool down in the evenings).

Perch also provides entertainment with live music, usually a jazz band, every day of the week starting at 8 p.m. on the 15th floor patio. The summer fun comes at a price, as hour-long lines to get in can form on summer weekends. But space in both areas can be reserved ahead of time for summer gatherings.

At 448 S. Hills St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com. see Patio, page 12

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10 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining

Onyx Marks the Spot Historic Core Lounge Is an Affordable Option for the Corporate Crowd

by Kylie Jane WaKefield

A

lot of people drop by the Onyx Lounge after work.

However, that’s not the only time to check out the space in the heart of the Historic Core. The establishment with inventive drinks and a contemporary American menu also does corporate and private events.

Onyx owner David McGrath said that when it comes to special and catered events, his establishment is where customTIPS FROM CATERING EXPERTS

ers can get “the best bang for their buck.” Yeah, it sounds like a boast, but consider: The 2-year-old space has a raw bar with $1 oysters, scallops and jumbo shrimp at happy hour. That approach carries over to the private parties.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning an event?

David McGrath: A month out. More people are going to require more time. If it’s around the holidays, is a large party and you need equipment, you might want to call six months ahead of time.

Q: Do you do events both inside and outside the restaurant?

A: I have done outside events, but we are really for smaller groups. We can do up to 50 people. Anything more than that is challenging because we don’t have equipment or vehicles.

For private events we can do up to about 120 people.

Q: Do you do theme parties?

A: For a buy-out we would, but we wouldn’t want to do that with the public coming in. We have a concept here and people expect an ambience. If we change that without them knowing it, it’s not fair to them. It’d have to be a private event.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an of-

Q: How do you decide when it should be a fancy meal as opposed to more casual fare?

A: It all depends on our guests and what kind of evening they want. We’d rather not dictate that. If they’re planning the party they know their guests better than we do. Some people want something more formal — we can accommodate 16 people at one table. Some people want to go casual or swankier, so they prefer lounge seating. We have cocktail tables and love seats. It all depends on the kind of event.

Q: In addition to food, what else do you offer for private events?

Staff? Entertainment? Decorations?

A: We can provide entertainment. If someone were to do an event when we have DJs here, then that’s a benefit. I have a great repertoire of musicians and DJs. If they want jazz, modern or even something more specific like French or Italian music, we can accommodate them. The decorations all depend on the guests.

Q: Is it a good idea to include alcohol at a corporate event?

A: I think so. Definitely.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Not leaving enough time to reach out to all the different vendors they may need to accommodate their party.

Q: If someone is planning a corporate event, what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: Just try to book the event with enough time.

Q: Do you have a dish, drink or dessert that is a specialty?

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Onyx Lounge owner David McGrath said corporate events can start off with a bang with the Spring Street Smash. It comes in a punchbowl, meaning every guest can have a drink right away.

A: We’re known for our cocktails. The Spring Street Smash is our most popular drink. It’s in a punchbowl, which is great for catering events. We pre-set them on the table and guests can immediately go to the punch bowl. They’re getting service within a minute of getting here. One or two bartenders can only crank out so many drinks and sometimes guests get frustrated.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: We tailor menus right around them. We have no problem altering our menu. The cool thing now is no substitutions, but we have the opposite philosophy. We have no problem personalizing the menu for guests.

Q: Is it OK for people to take leftovers home?

A: Typically for banquets we don’t like to package up food for people. It’s more for food safety reasons because with a large party you don’t know how long the food can sit before refrigeration. If people get sick, the venue is liable.

Onyx Lounge is at 118 W. Fifth St, (213) 891-1144 or onyxloungela.com.

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May 13, 2013

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining

Downtown News 11

Pizza, Pasta and People Soleto Has a Variety of Event Options, Including a Big Patio

by Kylie Jane WaKefield

one that was a recruitment for law firms Downtown and they only wanted sodas because they’d have underage drinkers. I have packages for beer and wine.

S

oleto Trattoria and Pizza Bar had some big culinary shoes to fill when it opened last year: It replaced Zucca, the longtime upscale Italian restaurant.

Soleto takes a mid-range approach, with a

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Not getting an accurate guest count or not giving themselves enough time to plan.

Tips from caTering experTs

variety of rustic pizzas, pasta and main course options. It also is ramping up in the private party business. RuthAnne Gibson, director of Sales, Catering and Special Events at Innovative Dining Group, which owns Soleto, noted that the Figueroa Street establishment has a spacious dining room, a patio and a courtyard. One or all can be utilized for a private event.

800 W 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.623.2288 | WokcanoRestaurant.com

Q: If someone is planning a corporate event,

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning an event?

RuthAnne Gibson: It depends on the size of it. I was already working on the Emmys for September as of last month. If there are 50 people, we could do that tomorrow night. On average, for a party of 50, I’d say one week in advance.

Q: Is a theme a good idea?

A: We don’t do them unless the client is doing it. We never host them ourselves.

photo by Gary Leonard

RuthAnne Gibson says Soleto, in the old Zucca space on Figueroa Street, can handle up to 1,000 people for a private event. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor spaces.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an office party?

A: We have different packages and try to cater to everyone’s budget. If you want to spend only $30 per person, we can make that work. Our first lunch starts at $26 and goes up to $34, and our dinners are $38 to $68 for four courses.

what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: I just did an event for an insurance company. For them, it was making sure they had enough food. They had 300 people and they only wanted to order food for 150. We didn’t want them to run out. We are always able to prepare more.

Q: Do you have a dish, drink or dessert that is a specialty?

A: We have a drink called When in Rome, which is amazing. The branzino, the pizzas, and the grilled vegetable salad are great too.

Q: How do you come up with the menu?

A: Our chef does an amazing job. Sometimes I’ll tell him to put together a happy hour menu in this budget range because that’s what people are requesting.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: We cater to them 100%. We have gluten free pasta on hand. A special part of the menu is just for vegans and vegetarians.

Q: How do you decide when it should be a fancy meal as opposed to more casual fare?

A: It depends on what the needs are. If you’re doing a rehearsal dinner it might be fancier than a birthday dinner.

Q: Is it OK for people to take leftovers home?

A: 100%. Pizza is good the next day, too.

Q: In addition to food, what else do you offer for private events? Staff? Entertainment?

Decorations?

A: I have vendors that can help clients or give them some guidance. Customers can bring in someone, too.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: If you use just the interior, we can do about 150. If you use the patio and the inside, about 250. If you do the courtyard, you can host 1,000 people.

Soleto is at 801 S. Figueroa St., (213) 622-3255 or innovativedining.com/restaurants/soleto.

Q: Is it a good idea to include alcohol at a corporate event?

A: We’ve had a variety of events. I did

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May 13, 2013

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining small craft breweries, mixed in with imported options from Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and other locales. The beers can be chugged, or sipped, in the patio, which faces Broadway and has room for about 30 people. The outdoor space is also dog friendly, which is perfect for the myriad Downtowners who want a summer evening party with their friends, and their friends’ furry friends. It’s a casual and relaxed scene during the day and more of a party vibe at night.

At 750 S. Broadway, (213) 622-0500 or labrewingco.com.

Patio Continued from page 9 Play Ball: Quick, think of a televised athletic event. Now pick another. And another. Now, head to the Downtown outpost of Big Wangs, because they are all on TV. The sports bar on the ground floor of a combo office/residential building has a rollicking patio with six HD TVs and room for up to 125 people. There are benches, stools, chairs and a fire pit. Groups that want to get down and dance should make plans for Wednesday nights, when the bar has karaoke. FYI: Last year a few San Diego Charger cheerleaders showed up in uniform one night to mingle with the crowd.

At 801 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com.

Live Views: The L.A. Live campus is an active part of Downtown all year long. Even when the Lakers, Clippers and Kings are done, there are still plenty of concerts. A good place to watch the crowd, or to grab a pre- or post-game/concert bite or drink, is the spacious 1,800-square-foot patio at FigOly. The restaurant in the Luxe City Center Hotel across the street from the Grammy Museum can seat about 165 people in the al fresco area. The patio is on the second floor facing Figueroa Street and has cabanas and a small

Keg Party: You can’t order an entire keg at the Los Angeles Brewing Company, but with 100 beers on tap, a summer gathering on the patio could take some people back to their college days. The beers here are mostly from

photo by Gary Leonard

Sports fans and karaoke warblers can get together outdoors at Big Wangs, where the patio has a fire pit and can hold 125 people.

water feature. The menu includes pizzas and house made pastas At 1020 S. Figueroa St., (213) 743-7600 or figoly.com.

Everybody Wants a Piece of the Action: Speaking of L.A. Live, one of the most active outdoor areas is the ESPN Zone patio. The 1,390-square-foot space has 112 seats under a row of red umbrellas. The patio is on the ground floor and fronts Nokia Plaza, but is separated from the swirling crowds by a low railing. Although it is known primarily as a place for Downtown sports fans to hang out before and after games, it can also get pretty packed and energetic on concert evenings.

The menu has plenty of burgers, sandwiches, salads and beer.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7070 or espnzonelalive.com.

Look at Louie: No, the always-packed Bottega Louie does not have a patio — folks who throng the joint day and night are happy to sit in the very loud room. Across Grand Avenue, however, is a huge patio. The 7,000-square-foot Coco Laurent has French fare, plenty of food and booze, and a big outdoor space with a prime view of… Bottega Louie. The patio is simple, with just tables and chairs under a pair of canopies behind low metal rails. It is separated into areas divided by the restaurant and slightly elevated above the ground. Grab a bottle of wine or even pop a champagne cork and enjoy the warm summer air.

At 707 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-008 or cocolaurent.com.

photo courtesy of Patina Group

The patio at Cafe Pinot looks out on the Maguire Gardens and the Central Library.

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the Financial District to hang out on the fourth-floor pool deck. It’s not even necessary to go into the pool to enjoy the space.

That’s because the deck also holds the lively patio scene of the Bonaventure Brewing Company. The restaurant at the hotel is an actual brewery with room for about 125 people between the interior space and the swimming space. There are heaters for when it gets cool and comfy lounge furniture. It’s a fun but not clubby or loud vibe. Complement the homemade brews — there’s a pale ale and a strawberry blonde, among other options — with calamari, wings, burgers and more. There’s also a solid happy hour menu. Enjoy the conversation amidst the skyscrapers.

At 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 236-0802 or bonaventurebrewing.com.

Beyond Books: The patio at Café Pinot is located in the Maguire Gardens at the Central Library. It has long been one of Downtown’s most scenic and peaceful dining destinations, so it would be wise to call and reserve space if you are planning a summer event with a group of co-workers or friends. The area is landscaped with green lawns and olive and jacaranda trees, and umbrellas provide shade on the 60-seat space on sunny summer days. Even the interior can feel like the outside, thanks to the glass walls. It’s part of the Patina Group, so you know the food quality is high and the wine list is thick. This is a great destination for a group of mellow friends who want to enjoy some greenery in Downtown.

At 700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or patinagroup.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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May 13, 2013

Downtown News 13

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining

Out of the Fire and Into the Party Pitfire Pizza Offers a Private Room and Pies With Seasonal Ingredients

by Kylie Jane WaKefield

L

ocated within easy walking distance of the Civic Center, and also accessible to workers and Historic Core residents, Pitfire Pizza is a popular Downtown destination. Yet it is not just a place for lunch or dinner and a pint — the spot with the wood-fired oven and the TIPS FROM CATERING EXPERTS

menu with some choice seasonal specialties also handles corporate events.

General Manager Katie Snowden described how the eatery at Second and Main streets can feed private events with pastas and pizzas prepared with handpicked ingredients found at local farmers markets. By the way, Snowden said Pitfire, which offers both on and off-site catering, has plenty of options for those who eschew meat and gluten.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning an event?

Katie Snowden: If it’s a large event where you need staffing and rentals and more than just food, then 30 days is good. If you need food that’s delivered and set in a group for 15-30 people, then a week ahead of time at least.

Q: Is a theme event a good idea?

A: A lot of big corporations like to do that to get members more excited and involved. Personally, we don’t really do any of those. We mostly do rehearsal dinners and birthday parties at our location.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an office event?

A: It totally depends on what you’re providing. As far as what we offer, it’ll be about $15 per person for us to deliver food to you. This includes an assortment of pastas, pizza, salads, dessert and utensils. If you come into our store then there are packages up to $25 a person. This includes draft beers and sangria. We do two drinks per person usually.

Q: How do you come up with the food?

A: It’s based on our menu. I do take into account what the customer is looking for, what age group they are, and try and plan it according to what I think will be the best for their group.

Q: In addition to food, what else do you offer for private events?

Staff? Entertainment? Decorations?

A: We only offer a full-service catering experience if they dine in. We have a private dining room upstairs. It can be booked out for parties and all kinds of things.

Q: Is it a good idea to include alcohol at a corporate event?

A: If it’s done responsibly and it’s controlled, then that can definitely add some fun to a corporate event. In terms of what we provide, we have beer, sangria and wine. I always ask and card everybody.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: Trying to have too much variety on their menus. It’s smarter, even if you have 50 people, to pick four kinds of pizza and get 10 or 12 of each kind. Everyone still gets a variety and you don’t have those people at the end saying they didn’t get to try a kind of pizza. Keep vegetarians and meat eaters in mind. Only offer four pizzas, two pastas and two salads so that everyone can have a little bit of everything.

Q: If someone is planning a corporate event, what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: Call ahead. Don’t wait. We don’t charge a fee for our private dining area so it’s a very coveted space. People call early.

We have an event calendar and it’s filling up very quickly right now for the summer.

Q: Do you have a dish, drink or dessert that is a specialty?

A: Our burrata pie is the biggest seller. People like our pepperoni pizza and our smothered cookie, which is a jumbo chocolate chip cookie with organic custard ice cream. The ice

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cream is cold on the top and the cookie is warm.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: We have some really great food for people with dietary restrictions, like vegan cheese and gluten free pizza crust. They can get the pizza that they love that still meets their dietary restrictions.

Q: Is it OK for people to take leftovers home?

A: Yeah, absolutely. We encourage that.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: Over 100. The upstairs is 50.

Pitfire Pizza is at 108 W. Second St., (213) 808-1200 or pitfirepizza.com.

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14 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Corporate Catering & Summer Entertaining photo by Richard Guzmán

A Transformation and Big Events Figueroa Street Hotel Gets a New Name and New Opportunities

by Kylie Jane WaKefield

T

his is a time of change and milestones at the hotel at 333 S. Figueroa St. Not only is the building turning 30 this year, but the establishment long known as the Downtown Marriott is getTips from caTering experTs

ting a major renovation and a new name and operator.

This summer, the property which has the temporary moniker of the L.A. Hotel Downtown will become a Hyatt Regency.

Also this summer, work crews will finish a $20 million upgrade that includes improvements to all the guest rooms and common areas.

For Libby Zarrahy, the hotel’s director of Sales and Marketing, that presents another opportunity: the chance to market the improved amenities to the Downtown business community. Zarrahy works with Flor Cruz and Yvette Minassian, the venue’s event managers. Zarrahy spoke for the team.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How soon should you start planning an event?

Libby Zarrahy: You can start planning an event tomorrow for next week or next year.

There is no specific timeline. It could be something as modest as 10 people meeting

The Figueroa Street hotel long known as the Downtown Marriott is undergoing a $20 million renovation and will soon become a Hyatt Regency. Libby Zarrahy oversees the sales and marketing team.

for training or up to 600 people at a sales incentives meeting.

Q: Is a theme a good idea?

A: It can be. It depends on what the meeting planner would like. Typically, we ask what their ideal vision is for their event. That can help us better procure what their objectives are.

Q: How much should you expect to spend per person for an office party?

A: It varies. It could be anywhere from $50 to $150.

Q: How do you come up with the menu?

A: We talk to our clients. We ask what their ideal vision is for what they want to do.

fer for private events? Staff? Entertainment?

Decorations?

A: We will put the meeting planner in touch with a variety of partners we work with for decor, entertainment and transportation.

We do provide the staff. We’re also well known for outside catering. We have a banquet kitchen that allows that.

Q: Is it a good idea to include alcohol at a corporate event?

A: That’s up to the planner.

Q: How do you decide when it should be a fancy meal as opposed to more casual fare?

A: The meeting planner would give us information on that. For example, a menu that is going to have a scheduled speaker that may include an audio/visual component is going to be a more formal setting than a meeting that takes place at the poolside. Outdoor meeting settings are usually more laid back, unless it’s a wedding. There is nothing relaxed about a wedding.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when planning an event?

A: In projecting their actual needs, typically they don’t necessarily work with a budget.

We’re in the business of being solution providers. Quite often, when they articulate what their needs are, we design the budget for them. We’ll work within the X amount of dollars and come up with several recommendations for them.

Q: In addition to food, what else do you of-

Q: If someone is planning a corporate event,

what is the number one thing you recommend?

A: To visit the hotel. We’re in the midst of finishing a $20 million renovation. All the guest and meeting rooms have been renovated.

Q: How do you deal with vegetarians, vegans or people with specific dietary needs?

A: That’s on our checklist to work with the meeting planner. We have to be prepared for those demands. Gluten free menus are materializing. We have a lot of people ask for them, which we’re happy to design. We can design vegetarian and vegan menus too.

Q: Is it OK for people to take leftovers home?

A: We will wrap them up.

Q: How many people can you accommodate?

A: We can do up to 1,000 for a reception and 700 for a seated meal in the grand ballroom.

For the outside, it can go up to 400.

The L.A. Hotel Downtown is at 333 S. Figueroa St., (213) 617-1133 or losangelesdowntown.hyatt.com.

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Downtown News 15

Celebrating 40 Years

French Garden Continued from page 1 Forum. “This place has survived through the years while everything else has become very modern, trendy and developed around it.”

Dining with Schafer was David Woo, also a regular. He lamented the coming closure and noted French Garden’s role as a culinary pacesetter.

“You look at this place and it really is a jewel,” he said.

Lesure hopes to reopen his restaurant and re-create the patio somewhere else in Downtown. But he admits the search has not gone well. One option is taking the French Garden to the city of Commerce, where he has found another spot.

No matter where he goes, he hopes to take his staff with him, if they haven’t found other jobs by then. He’s hoping his customers follow him too.

Road to the Garden Lesure came to the United States from France in the late 1990s and managed a French café in Sherman Oaks. Back in Perpignan, in the south of France, he had been a hotel and restaurant manager and dreamed of one day owning his own place.

He wanted a spot with a parking lot and a patio that would serve only lunch. In early 1998, he was shown the location off a gritty portion of Seventh Street. He instantly saw the potential in the single story structure with the walled-in patio.

“For me it was something real special. We bond together right away,” he said. “No one told me this was good. Everyone told me you are crazy.”

French Garden opened on Sept. 16, 1998.

Lesure remembers his first customer was a friend who placed a small order.

“He ordered a soda and he gave me $2 cash

and I framed it,” Lesure said.

With little advertising and a lot of word of mouth, people heard about the unexpected ambience. Once there, they dined on specialties such as the French brie sandwich, the tender hearts of palm salad and the salmon filet.

Business has been steady most of the time, though there have been slow periods. Traffic spiked in 2006 after Lesure got a visit from Huell Howser, the late public television host.

Howser, surprised to find a restaurant in the location, featured French Garden on the opening episode of his series “Downtown.”

“When the show aired, at least for one year we were jam-packed,” Lesure said.

Reruns have kept people coming through the years. Howser became a regular before his passing in January.

Ironically, Downtown’s success may be a factor in Lesure’s pain. In recent years the Arts District has become a destination as housing complexes opened and restaurants followed.

Today Pizzanista is just east of French Garden on Seventh Street and the acclaimed new Bestia is nearby. A block north on Industrial Street is Church and State, another French eatery.

“There was nothing here before and now there are all these places, and we are not going to be here anymore,” Lesure said.

Getting the News Lesure got the news on a Thursday afternoon in late January shortly after the lunch rush. His landlord walked into the restaurant to deliver a notice of termination and give him four months to leave. For years Lesure said he had been operating without a lease on a month-to-month basis.

Lesure recalled the landlord saying he was sorry, but that someone was willing to pay three times the $5,000 per month rent that Lesure was paying.

Mike Meraz, owner of Magnum Properties, Lesure’s landlord, said he gave Lesure a chance to match the higher rent before a lease was signed by the upcoming tenant, Enrique

photo by Gary Leonard

Benoit Lesure opened French Garden on a gritty portion of Seventh Street in the Arts District in 1998.

The restaurant known for its lush patio will give way to a competitor willing to pay a much higher rent.

Ramirez, the owner of Señor Fish. He said the place will not be another Señor Fish, but a more upscale eatery. Meraz said the new rent is not three times the amount Lesure was paying, but is more than $10,000 a month.

Lesure’s first reaction to the notice to leave was shock. Then he thought about what he would do for a living.

After that his mind turned to his staff.

Where would they go? What about his customers? He considers many to be friends.

Lesure kept the news to himself for a few days. Then on Monday, he gathered his employees inside the bar area and told them what was happening.

“It was such a shock,” Clara said. “We didn’t want to hear that.”

Next, Lesure had to tell his customers.

Over the next few days he went table to table, telling people one at a time.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Lesure said.

Ernie Strapazon and his wife were among the regulars who heard about the closing from Lesure. The couple has been coming to the French Garden at least once a week for about 13 years.

“Our first thought is that we felt terrible for him because he has invested the past 15 years of his life making this place what it is,” Strapazon said. “Having this place pulled out from under you like that is really horrible.”

Lesure will have regular lunch service this week. He’s planning a small gathering on May 23 after lunch for his staff and any customers who want to say goodbye. There will be a few drinks and some food. The last meal will be served the following day.

Frenchie the cat has found a new home. A customer has agreed to take her, though she’ll have to get used to being indoors instead of roaming around the patio.

Lesure continues to hunt for a spot in Downtown, though he notes that the search isn’t going well. If nothing comes up, he will take his chances in the city of Commerce, which doesn’t have much of a restaurant scene.

But that’s OK, he says. He’s been there before.

French Garden is at 1936 E. Seventh St., (213) 623-4028 or thefrenchgardenrestaurant.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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16 Downtown News

Celebrating 40 Years

May 13, 2013

Park Continued from page 1 long-lasting impact.

This marks the second attempt at an operating committee.

In 2011, a nonprofit called Friends of the Old Bank District Gardens was established by developers Tom Gilmore of the Old Bank District, Bill Stevenson of Downtown Properties and a few residents of the El Dorado and Rowan lofts. The group was preparing to sign a contract with the city to operate the park when plans fell apart due to disagreement over the name of the attraction: Some wanted to call it Spring Street Gardens, while others were pushing for Old Bank District Gardens. There were also disputes about the future programing of the park.

Now Berman, who is president of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, has taken the reins of Friends of the Old Bank District Gardens. She has recruited Downtown developers Eric Shomof and Allen Gross as part of a planned five-member steering committee.

Berman said that because of the significance of the park and its potential for heavy use, the group wants to make sure it is well cared for.

“The city really doesn’t have much money for maintenance,” she said.

DLANC is not involved in the nonprofit, Berman said.

Gilmore, Stevenson and the residents of the condo buildings are also no longer part of the group, she said.

As in the previous attempt, Berman hopes is to sign a con-

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Patti Berman has taken the reins of a nonprofit group that hopes to run the Spring Street Park. The attraction’s original opening of August has been speeded up to before Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is termed out of office.

tract with the city that would allow the group to operate the park and be responsible for all costs, including repairs and maintenance. Under the proposal, the park would remain a public facility and the city Department of Recreation and Parks would set guidelines on how the park is operated.

Mike Shull, a superintendent with the Department of Recreation and Parks, said a three-year agreement with the nonprofit group is expected to be signed within 30 days after it is approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission. It would cost approximately $100,000 a year for the group to operate the park. If all goes well, the initial agreement could be extended, he said.

Berman said the group has a commitment from Downtown-based American Apparel to provide $100,000 per year for the next five years to operate the park, although no contract has been signed with the company. Her group also plans to pursue donations and grants.

If the group fails to meet its responsibilities, the operation

and maintenance of the park would fall back on the city, Shull said. However, with a cash-strapped government, the partnership would benefit everyone, he said.

“In these days and times, any time we can partner with funding or operations and maintenance, our eyes and ears are wide open,” Shull said.

Josh Gray-Emmer, a homeowner at the El Dorado who helped form the original nonprofit group, said he is happy to see others taking over.

“They have some incredible leaders involved in this like Patti,” he said.

Shomof, the son of developer Izek Shomof, said he was approached by Berman to be part of the steering committee. He said they are still developing a plan to determine specific responsibilities, but he wants to help ensure the future of the park.

“We want to make sure it’s a nice, public park enjoyed by a lot of kids in Downtown and everyone else,” he said.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Celebrating 40 Years

Downtown News 17

CALENDAR

photo by Michael Lamont

May 13, 2013

All the Right Moves East West Players is reviving the 1986 musical Chess. It was originally created by two members of ABBA and Tim Rice.

East West Players Revives the 1980s Musical ‘Chess’ and Adds a Few Twists

APR 29 t’s fair to say that very few people who attend East West

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

I

Players’ final show of the season will be avid chess players. Certainly, some won’t know anything about the intensely strategic game. nNews That’s OK, say those .A.Downtowin EWP’s revival of the /Linvolved m o .c k o o b ce 27-year-oldFamusical Chess. Nor, they say, does one need to have seen the show in its original incarnation.

Instead, says Joan Almedilla, who plays the lead female role Like Downtown News on Facebook of&Florence, one just has Movie to knowTickets! about the ups and downs Be Entered to Win of, well, life.

“Chess is like a metaphor for life,” said Almedilla, a veteran of works by the Little Tokyo-based company. “You have to plan your moves, think about your strategy in life and what are you going to do next. I think the audience will see that connection.”

Almost as an afterthought, she adds, “And there’s some great singing and so much heart in this story.”

Chess, which opens, Wednesday, May 15, at EWP’s David Henry Hwang Theater, was composed by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of the Swedish band ABBA (they would later compose the musical Mamma Mia!). The lyrics are by Tim Rice, whose credits include s.com the rock opera Jesus E-NEWS owntownNew D t a p u n ig Christ UP S SIGNSuperstar.

For Tim Dang, EWP’s producing artistic director and director of the Chess isBlasts an opportunity to do a Rice Sign Up formusical, Our E-News & show and to stage a work by the ABBA members.

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“We killed two birds with one stone,” he said.

The musical, which runs through June 9, concerns a love triangle set in the unlikely field of international chess.

Alemdilla’s Florence is the manager of Freddy, an American grandmaster. As he takes on Anatoly, a Russian, Florence falls for her charge’s rival.

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The story takes place in Italy and Thailand. It is set during Another challenge came in casting. Dang and EWP decided the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union to hold an open call for the 15-person cast. A whopping 600 were competing in international chess matches. people showed up hoping to land a part.

The original show stood out for several reasons. In addiAlthough the story focuses on an American and a Russian, tion to the ABBA pedigree, it produced a couple Starts of radioMay Dang 3 &said 10 the company cast aside all stereotypical notions hits in Murray Head’s odd “One Night in Bangkok,” and of what the players should look like. He also moved away “I Know Him So Well,” performed by Elaine Paige and from the company’s bent of utilizing an all or predominantly Barbara Dickson.

Asian-American cast. Instead, he tried to come up with an The original show opened in London’s West End in 1986. ethnically mixed group that reflects the city.

It went to Broadway in 1988 for a short two-month run.

“The cast is not only Asian American, but also African Thinking Different American, Filipino and Native American,” Dang said.

Although the 48-year-old East West Players is known for “When you think of this show as Russia vs. the USA, don’t producing musicals and plays about the Asian-American try to make sense of who is going to be the Russian and experience, it does sometimes pick up well-known works who’s going to be American, because it’s all mixed and colOuranWebsite for Fullspin.

Movie Listingsthe LADowntownNews.com andCheck give them Asian-American In particular, orblind.” company has a history of taking on the musicals of Stephen The multicultural cast is part of EWP’s effort to evolve.

Sondheim.

In that vein, it’s similar to a move the company tried several Chess however, offered some unexpected challenges. Dang years ago, when it scheduled a season of challenging works, said combining the story with a live band on stage and the including shows with nudity. well-known music and characters was more difficult than he The look of the cast may surprise longtime audience memanticipated. bers,10 but Dang noted that the multiethnic approach is a step Starts May “What people fell in love with when this show came out whose time has come. in the 1980s was the music, and the music is very, very chal“It kind of celebrates how we’re trying to advance that part lenging,” Dang said. “The blending of performance, chore- of East West Players’ mission,” he said. “Los Angeles is getting ography and music was just so exact and intricate that I was more and more mixed, so why shouldn’t theater reflect more so glad I had this really great creative team helping me put of that?” this together.”

Dang noted that the diversity on stage is also fitting for a That team includes Marc Macalintal, the musical director musical about a game that has been around for thousands of for Chess. He said he approached the show by not thinking years and is played in all parts of the world. of it as a traditional musical. Instead, he viewed it as a rock Chess runs May 15-June 9 at the David Henry Hwang Check Our decisions Websiteaccordingly. for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com opera, and made Theater at the Union Center of the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso “It’s a fully sung-through show, hardly any dialogue,” he St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. observed.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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18 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

A Pittsburgh Powerhouse August Wilson’s Play Is Scintillating on the Taper Stage

by Jeff Favre contributing writer

T

he last time Phylicia Rashad was paired with the words of playwriting legend August Wilson at the Mark Taper Forum, she mesmerized as the mystical matriarch in Gem of the Ocean. The 2003 show was the capstone to Wilson’s 10-play cycle dealing with the African American experience throughout the last century, primarily in Pittsburgh.

Wilson died two years later, leaving behind a slate of monumental works in need of caretakers to preserve them for future generations.

So it’s fitting that Rashad has another turn with Wilson — this time in the director’s chair — to deliver a vibrant and scintillating Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. It’s the eighth play from the cycle to be produced by Center Theatre Group and the second one chronologically, taking place in 1911.

Rashad proves that she’s as much a creative force in the wings as she was on the stage.

Her steady vision seamlessly melds Wilson’s earthy humor with his forays into the realm of the unknown, where magic and spirits are widely accepted as fact.

It helps that the cast, with a single exception, is one of the most cohesive and multifaceted assembled on the Taper stage in several years. It is led by what might be Glynn Turman’s performance of a lifetime.

Critics and fans enjoy ranking Wilson’s canon, and while debates are furious, there’s a consensus that Joe Turner should be near the top, as it’s simultaneously an important epic and a welcoming, accessible dramedy.

As with several of Wilson’s plays, Joe

photo by Craig Schwartz

Glynn Turman (right), shown here with Keith David, delivers a standout performance in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Phylicia Rashad directs the August Wilson play that runs at the Mark Taper Forum through June 9.

Turner has an acerbic, forward thinking man. Here it’s metalsmith Seth Holly (Keith David), who runs a boarding house with his wife Bertha (Lillias White).

Their home mirrors the nation’s transient condition for African Americans. Only two generations removed from slavery, many people are migrating north to look for work and a new start in life.

One resident who has found his place is Bynum Walker (Turman). He uses roots, animal sacrifices and “his song” to bind people together. Bynum’s explanation of finding the meaning of life in the opening scene sets the overall atmosphere of moving from the flow of casual conversation and jokes to lifealtering moments.

Bynum has been a fixture in the house in Pittsburgh’s Hill District for three years, but Jeremy Furlow (Gabriel Brown) is a newcomer from the South. He plays guitar and has a job working road construction.

The steady, happy, ever-changing housemates are shaken by the arrival of the mysterious and intense Herald Loomis (John Douglas Thompson), who arrives — 11-year-old daughter Zonia (Skye Barrett) in tow — in search of a wife he hasn’t seen in several years.

Herald’s past is filled with torment and loss.

As Bynum says, he has forgotten his song, and he needs it to be free again. Through Herald’s suffering at the hands of the titularbut-never-seen Joe Turner, and hallucinatory episodes that only Bynum appears to under-

stand, Wilson is able to touch on the bigger pictures of living with the scars of slavery and its lasting effects on future generations.

Turman is so thoroughly convincing as Bynum that it’s easy to imagine he can work magic. His subtle glances speak to his awareness of how the universe works. His thoughtful portrayal provides a sharp and often funny contrast to David’s comic relief as Seth, who makes his distaste for most everyone and everything clear with headshakes, eye rolls and a condescending stance.

Playing the happy medium is White as Bertha. Her constant movement while serving as the home’s chef and maid gives the character a sense of purpose. Her infectious laugh and playful manner keeps much of Joe Turner lighthearted.

The lone weak casting choice is Brown, who doesn’t come off as a believable ladies’ man or as a rebellious youth. His shortcomings are mostly masked by the immense talent surrounding him.

Location is key in Wilson’s works, and scenic designer John Iacovelli’s spacious living room/kitchen allows various levels of action to take place simultaneously.

There’s plenty of movement, from dancing and singing to intense confrontations, all of which are handled skillfully by Rashad.

There’s never a moment in the more than two-and-a-half-hour run that lags or loses its carefully crafted tone.

Rashad proved in Gem of the Ocean that she can be trusted to handle the lead in a Wilson play. Now she has shown as a director that she is a more than worthy caretaker of Wilson’s legacy.

Center Theatre Group at some point should complete the Wilson cycle, and if it does, Rashad should be tapped to direct again.

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone runs through June 9 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

May 13, 2013

Downtown News 19

Celebrating 40 Years

EVENTS

Puppets Dance, Motorhead Slams and The U.S. Wrestles Iran

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I

O

Continued on next page

photo courtesy Jessie Kahnweiler

n Tuesday, May 14, the true ace of spades of thrash metal, Lemmy Kilmister, and his celebrated band of miscreants Motorhead will be dropping into Club Nokia like a carpet bombing run. A former roadie for Jimi Hendrix, Lemmy became an unwitting catalyst for heavy metal when he took the psychedelic sludge tones of Black Sabbath, filtered them through high grade speed and pioneered a new, punk driven form of brutal music. Being a legend is hazardous business, so thank Lemmy for his years of tireless dedication. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

T

he filmmaker Jessie Kahnweiler has a heart of gelt. Her Dude, Where’s My Chutzpah? premieres Sunday, May 19, at 6 p.m. in the vaunted halls of the Downtown Independent.

The recipient of a film grant from the Jewish Federation, Kahnweiler set out to explore faith in a largely secular generation. With a touch of cinema verité, the series, which will move to the web after the Downtown showing, takes us from the Central City to Israel and the metasphere of belief in a heartfelt examination of custom and meaning, with all the trappings of great narrative. At Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com and dudewheresmychutzpah.com.

Thursday, May 16 CalArts Writers Showcase: Next Words REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

8:30 p.m.: The School of Critical Studies hosts its annual reading showcasing the graduating class of the CalArts MFA Creative Writing Program.

The Making of the Great Bolano at ALOUD Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Late great Chilean author Roberto Bolano lives on in this panel discussion focused on his legacy. Featured voices include writers Ben Ehrenreich, Barbara Kennedy Epler, Monica Maristain, David Shook and Hector Tobar.

I

photo copyright Ying Chia Huang

f you’re still lamenting the Iron Sheik’s retirement from professional wrestling, or perhaps have been craving more of the timely nationalistic undertones of last year’s Oscar winning film Argo, look no further!

This week the L.A. Sports Arena hosts a “friendly” wrestling match between Iran and the United States.

Sure the promotional material flowers with reconciliatory language, but spectators can (maybe?) count on in-ring animosity the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 1980 presidential election. On Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. the mats will be sterilized as grown men grapple with each other for pride and country. At 3939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 747-7111 or lacoliseumlive.com.

photo courtesy USA Wrestling

saTurday, May 18 American Craft Beer Week The Escondite, 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com.

12 p.m.: The brewers have spoken and selected our local Skidrokyo haunt to host this cavalcade of 20 rare kegs of American strong ale from eight elite breweries.

Designing the Marriage of Figaro Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

4 p.m.: Los Angeles Philharmonic set and fashion designers Jean Nouvel and Azzedine Alaia discuss their work on The Marriage of Figaro.

Liao Wen Ho Puppet Theatre W.M. Keck Amphitheatre, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.com.

11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: Taiwan’s preeminent puppet artist Liao Wen Ho gets wrist deep with some traditionally staged glove puppetry.

Symposium: Fixing Los Angeles JANM, 111 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org.

2 p.m.: Aberration or way of the future? It may be a bit too soon to pass judgment on the city of Los Angeles, but L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne, KCRW host Frances Anderton and many more panelists will sure try.

Susan Silton: Who’s in a Name at MOCA? MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org.

5 p.m.: Names, artists, public notoriety and suicide all merge in this discussion with visual artist

photo courtesy of The Music Center

f for any reason you ever combine the thoughts of Downtown and puppets, you likely think of the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre. Not this week. On Saturday, May 18, the Music Center’s World City program features Taiwan’s finest puppet master and voice thrower Liao Wen Ho. With shows at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (free tickets are given out at 10 a.m. for the first performance and 11 a.m. for the latter), the W.M. Keck Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall will be filled with joyous guffaws from myriad children taking in their first glimpse of traditional Taiwanese glove puppetry. Somewhere, Bob Baker is planning his next move. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org.

photo courtesy Motorhead

Wednesday, May 15 Joseph Hellen: Surviving Auschwitz Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: Prominent Downtown building owner Joseph Hellen discusses his time in the infamous concentration camp.

by Dan Johnson, listings eDitor calendar@downtownnews.com

I

t’s the time for goodbyes. Spring has sprung and with summer fast approaching, the folks at Le Salon de Musiques are preparing to close their third season with performances of works by Brahms and Mahler. As is customary, the chamber music will be accompanied by some classical music pedagogy and an opportunity to overindulge in fine French champagne and a buffet provided by Patina. The salon takes place Sunday, May 19, at 4 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (310) 498-0257 or lesalondemusiques.com.

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

20 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

Continued from previous page Susan Silton.

Sunday, May 19 USA vs. Iran Wrestling Match Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 747-7111 or lacoliseumlive.com.

2 p.m.: This friendly wrestling match attempts to sublimate international tensions via physical combat. Best of luck!

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

May 14: David Arnay Group.

May 15: Danny Janklow Quartet with Miro Sprague, Hamilton Price and Mark Ferber.

May 16: Jeff Parker Trio with Chris Lopes and Chad Taylor.

May 17: Jim Snidero Group.

May 18: Jazzgene.

May 19: The Endangered.

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

May 13, 8 p.m.: May residents Criminal Hygiene bring their raucous indie rock.

May 14, 6 p.m.: Theatrically garnished multi media spectacle The Traveling Imaginary.

May 14, 8 p.m.: Back after last week’s decadent and primal smattering of alt metal delights are the Secret Chiefs 3.

May 15, 8 p.m.: Hold onto your ribs guys, IAMEVE is the latest female purveyor of synth pop

to storm through the Bootleg.

May 16, 8 p.m.: The noisy contrivances of Appleseed Cast will illuminate your evening with co-opted symbols from occult history! Hooray!!

May 17, 8 p.m.: Kranky acolytes Disappears will thrill and dazzle with sonic portraits of their native Chicago.

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

May 16, 10 p.m.: Does HM Soundsystem dream of electric booze?

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

May 14, 8:30 p.m.: Looking for relief in your miserable life? You need some rock and roll and you better get it right. Motorhead.

May 17, 9 p.m.: Hip-hop sensation Fabolous is worth the price of admission if only for the off chance that you’ll hear his inventive pronunciation of “Ruth Chris.” He’ll be joined by Pusha T. May 18, 8 p.m.: XXL Freshmen Live featuring Schoolboy Q, Dizzy Wright & Ab-Soul is a MC showcase and not an expose on the dangers of the freshman fifteen.

Conga Room 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-0162 or congaroom.com.

May 16, 9 p.m.: Come pay your respects to Tego Calderon, the Godfather of reggaeton.

May 19, 8 p.m.: Beto Cuevas & Santiago Auseron.

Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com.

May 13, 10 p.m.: Yonatan & Friends.

May 14, 10 p.m.: Boom Boom Boom and Bunny West power through the doldrums of the week.

The Scared Scared Healing Scared ScaredAlley

May 15, 10 p.m.: Trip Rezac and Drew Dixon fight for your attention.

May 16, 10 p.m.: Downtown Train and Wicklow Atwater because TGIT. May 17, 9 p.m.: Initiate your weekend with the blues stylings of Trevor Menear and Johnny Moezzi.

May 18, 10 p.m.: Randy Violin is a performer, not an inanimate object with carnal appetites.

May 19, 10 p.m.: Speed Buggy opens for RT & the 44s.

Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com.

May 17, 10 p.m.: Awakening’s Full On line up with Ferry Corsten, Bass Jackers and Audien is the show you’ll want to tell your grandkids about. Just go easy on the E so you’ll have something more insightful to say than incoherent ramblings about PLUR. May 18, 10 p.m.: DJ Sharam is embarking on his six-hour set in six cities.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

May 14, 8 p.m.: Former Dixie Chick Natalie Maines stops by with Ben Harper to preview her new album. Be sure to ask what she thinks of W. Nokia Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

May 15-16, 8 p.m.: The eyes of the globe will rest squarely on Los Angeles as the “American Idol” fi-

nale proves once and for all that evolution has come to a halt.

May 18, 8 p.m.: Mexico City’s own Caifanes.

May 19, 9 p.m.: Enjoy the stylings of Shajarian and the Pournazeri Brothers.

Nola’s 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or nolasla.com.

May 13, 7:30 p.m.: Cornelius Herring on Piano.

May 14, 7:30 p.m.: Down Home Blues Jam Session.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

2 yOuR EvENT INfO

EASy WAyS TO SuBMIT

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

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

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May 13, 2013

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

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The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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22 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years Continued from previous page

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Downtown News 23

Celebrating 40 Years

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24 Downtown News

May 13, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years

Debate Continued from page 5 worked alongside them for the past 12 years and they have seen me triple the number of parks in the district. I’m also backed by the Atwater Village Guild of Yarn Dispensaries and the Silver Lake Coalition of Overpriced Tchotchke Sellers. I’d much rather have that local backing than be owned by the Downtown power brokers. It provides me independence.

Greuel: I know business because, and I’ve never publicly mentioned this before, my family owns a small construction supply business in the San Fernando Valley. Plus, I worked for Dreamworks and am friends with Steven Spielberg, who made E.T. During my opponent’s time as council president the Lakers went from title contenders to also-rans, and that was bad for business in L.A. That’s his fault.

Moderator: By the power vested in me by the great state of California, our next topic is education. Wendy-roo, whatcha gonna do?

Greuel: Education isn’t political for me, it’s personal. I have a child in an LAUSD school. I’m a concerned parent. I’m a mom and moms are awesome. Really awesome. Eric Garcetti

and his family caused the stock market crash of 1929. Magic Johnson has endorsed me. Magic Johnson! Magic Johnson!

Magic Johnson!

Garcetti: I’m tired of people demonizing teachers. The United Teachers of Los Angeles has backed me because they know I stand strongly with our hard-working educators. We need to— Greuel (interrupting): If you love teachers so much then why do you own an oil well near Beverly Hills High School?

You don’t have an answer, do you? It’s shooting out benzene and killing all the ducks in Beverly Hills.

Garcetti: Is not.

Greuel: Is too.

Garcetti: Is not.

Moderator: Folks, please. We have a few more questions.

I want both of you to talk about an out-of-the-box idea for making Los Angeles great in the future. Give me an example of a big-vision proposal that will really excite Angelenos and convince them to head to the polls on May 21. Wendy, we’ll start with you.

Greuel: [Pause] Hmmm. [Pause] Can I go second? No? OK. [Pause] I’m going to create a lot of jobs and, uh [Pause].

My opponent caused the Irish Potato Famine!

Moderator: Eric, your big idea?

Garcetti: That’s an interesting question, and it’s really a good thing to have this opportunity as Angelenos to have this dialogue on interesting questions and to hold these discussions that can bring our city together. I like good ideas and people can definitely hold me accountable. As mayor we’ll have a lot of interesting discussions concerning interesting questions, and we’ll fix a bunch of streets, more than you can possibly fathom. Like, 20 of them!

Moderator: Thrilling, everyone, thank you. We’re now at closing statements. Wendy started us off, so Eric, you get to go first this time.

Garcetti smiles again and holds it for six seconds. He spins around once quickly, raises his eyebrows, dips his right hand in his pants pocket, pulls out a note and gives it to the moderator.

Moderator: Hmm, again. OK. The note reads: “Nope.

Haven’t screwed it up yet. Wendy is owned by the DWP. And bet you a phantom $160 million dollars that she brings up Bill Clinton in her closing remarks.”

Garcetti flashes another smile and does a bit of tap dancing.

Moderator: Your turn Wendy, if you want it.

Greuel: Bill Clinton! He endorsed me! Bill Clinton! Bill Clinton! Bill Clinton!

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

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