06-14-10 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

A big bike ride, radio station moves, and other happenings Around Town.

A new study adds fuel to the El Pueblo rent rates fire.

W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

June 14, 2010

Volume 39, Number 24

INSIDE

Sports and Spending

Downtown in Focus Los Angeles Film Festival Comes to the Central City, With 200 Movies, Videos and More in 11 Days by RichaRd Guzmán

John Waters hits Downtown.

Urban Scrawl on Laker love.

A Celtics fan in Los Angeles.

Return of the Paper Yacht Challenge.

city editoR

or decades, production companies have used Downtown Los Angeles as a backlot. Starting this week, Downtown gets on the other end of the filmmaking process, when it hosts the biggest collection of screenings this year in the city. On June 17, the Los Angeles Film Festival opens in Downtown. Over 11 days, the event formerly based on the Westside will screen approximately 200 features, shorts, documentaries, music videos and more in numerous venues. The 16th annual event, produced by the nonprofit arts organization Film Independent, will host works from more than 40 countries. Officials expect about 85,000 people to take in the films, panel discussions, parties and other activities. The lead sponsor is the Downtownbased Los Angeles Times. “We love the diversity of Downtown,” said Rebecca Yeldham, the festival director. “We love the energy of Downtown. This new growth and the massive reawakening and transformation and excitement of what is happening Downtown seems to be a natural fit for the festival.” The event opens with The Kids Are see Festival, page 16

photo by Gary Leonard

Rebecca Yeldham and David Ansen are making Downtown the home of the Los Angeles Film Festival. The 16th annual event was formerly held on the Westside.

Honoring Beyonce Is Honoring Los Angeles Reviewing ‘South Pacific.’

18 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 21 CLASSIFIEDS

by Jon ReGaRdie executive editoR

“

ours after a mayor’s spokesperson told a Times reporter that Villaraigosa was not attending the Beyonce concert, the mayor’s office put in a rush order for a proclamation for the singer, to be presented by Villaraigosa in person that night. The certificate recognized her ‘international success and contributions to the entertainment industry.’” —Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2010 The morning after the concert, 8:43 a.m., THE REGARDIE REPORT

Model Eye Shown. * Restrictions Apply

the breakfast table in the Fassbender household, Los Angeles. Teenage Girl: Daddy, thank you so much. I re-

ally had a great time last night at Staples Center. Father: I’m so happy we could attend the show. Daddy worked very hard to buy the tickets to see the woman who has made so many contributions to the entertainment industry. What was your favorite part of the concert? Girl: The song “All the Single Ladies” was nice. But I really liked when the mayor came on stage. Wow, an international entertainment industry icon and the mayor together? I began tweeting and texting right away. Father: That was a great surprise. What did you think of the costumes and the dancing? Girl: Those were wonderful, but mostly I enjoyed her general presence as someone who has had so much international success. And of course, seeing the mayor! Live! In person! He see Tickets, page 13

www.Lasereyecenter.com 1-800-80-LASER (52737)

photo by Gary Leonard

The Mayor, Great Seats, Great Events and the Calligraphy Gnomes

What could be more mayoral than giving a city certificate to a music star?

4 Convenient locations, including Downtown 4 In Saturday, back to work Monday 4 BOTOX® & Cosmetic Procedures

2 Downtown News

June 14, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Downtown Film Fest Readies Its Return

s the Los Angeles Film Festival kicks off its first year in Downtown this week, the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles is also making noise. Last week, officials with the 3-year-old festival announced a partial lineup for the event that will take place Sept. 8-12. The festival will be built around the theme of “Urban Wildlife,” and will feature screenings of the films of Alice Guy Blaché, a pioneering silent era filmmaker; “Sustainable L.A.,” an all-day film and green fair dedicated to ecologically aware urban living; a film and live musical performance at the Grammy Museum; and a free outdoor screening of the 1974 Roman Polanski classic Chinatown. “Nobody knows Downtown L.A. like our festival,” said event co-director Henry Priest. “We’re all about embracing the Downtown vibe.” Film submissions are being accepted through August. More information is at dffla.com.

Reserve Lofts Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

rian Elliot Alexik, the man arrested on June 3 after being wanted for more than one month, was arraigned on the following day and pleaded not guilty, said Shiara Davila, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Steve Cooley. Alexik faces three charges related to weapons recovered in his penthouse apartment at the Reserve Lofts, which was raided by police on April 19. While police also recovered drugs including crystal meth, and $15,000 in counterfeit currency, no additional charges had been

photo by Gary Leonard

AROUNDTOWN filed by press time. Alexik is due in court for a preliminary hearing on June 17.

Meruelo Maddux Preparing South Park Plot for New Tower

The Aloud speaker series kicked it up a notch last week, when indie film icon John Waters spoke at an event at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Waters appeared with Carrie Fisher.

eruelo Maddux, the longtime Downtown landowner and developer that has recently been embroiled in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, appears to be moving forward with development plans for land it owns in South Park. As first reported by la.curbed.com, the surface of a former parking lot at the northwest corner of 11th Street and Grand Avenue has recently been removed and Meruelo Maddux has submitted applications to build a 21-story residential tower. Preliminary plans call for the building to include just 19 units. The company also owns the Desmond Building, which sits adjacent to the plot on 11th Street. A Meruelo Maddux spokesman declined to comment on the project, and there has been no mention of it in the company’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The architect on the project is listed as Manuel Funes, Meruelo Maddux’s in-house architect, who also designed the 35-story tower developed by the company at 705 W. Ninth St. That building was recently sold by Meruelo Maddux to Watermarke Properties.

Garcetti Not Running For Mayor… Yet

any Los Angeles political observers expect that Eric Garcetti will

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

run for mayor in 2013, and that his post as city council president will make him a front-runner in the race. But for now, Garcetti, who is termed out in 2013, said he is content with the job he has. “I tend to not live my political life too far into the future,” he told a crowd Monday, June 7, at a Downtown luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum. “I think it’s one of the faults sometimes of the profession where you’re always looking to what’s next instead of what’s here.” Garcetti said mayor is one of two or three positions he would consider if he remains in elected office, though he is in no hurry to make a decision. “I think you can wait a lot longer than people think, so I will take the next probably 12 to 18 months to decide whether I want to,” he said. In the wide-ranging session, Garcetti also discussed issues such as supergraphics, DWP rate hikes, city pension reform — which he said could take decades to fully address — and what impact residents will feel from cutbacks due to the budget crunch. He noted that in addition to layoffs, services such as tree trimming

and pothole repair will slow, and libraries will close one or two days a week. He also opined that the current recession offers an opportunity for the city to think about efforts to build more affordable housing. “Now is a really good time to be buying land,” he said.

ESPN Zones to Close, But Not in Downtown

sports bar chain is taking a hit, but a Downtown business will be spared. The Walt Disney Co. confirmed on June 9 that it plans to close five locations of its ESPN Zone, though the outpost at L.A. Live is one of two that will remain open. The Downtown business is actually owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, not Walt Disney Co., which is the parent company of ESPN. “We are a licensed ESPN Zone, not company-owned, so the decisions they make are up to them, but we being owned by AEG are not affected by see Around Town, page 14

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June 14, 2010

Downtown News 3

DowntownNews.com

VOL 1, ISSUE 4

JUNE 14, 2010

AUTO

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4 Downtown News

June 14, 2010

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EDITORIALS Restaurant Permitting Program Is a Business Victory

os Angeles has long had a reputation for being an unfriendly place in which to do business. The issue has been particularly pointed in Downtown in multiple industries — some manufacturing and other companies fled to nearby cities such as Vernon to escape the city’s high business taxes. Developers seeking approvals for new housing structures — key projects that help revitalize the community — have had to jump through hoops and get approvals from a dozen different agencies. Aspiring restaurateurs have been frustrated seemingly forever by a Byzantine process in which it can take years to secure the permits necessary to open even the simplest cafe. The situation got so bad that a key city official, Department of Building and Safety Executive Officer Ray Chan, admitted this month that “almost no restaurant could open on time or on budget.” That is no way to run a city, especially one facing a deficit of hundreds of millions of dollars that needs all the sales tax revenue it can generate. Who knows how many restaurateurs threw up their hands in frustration or feared the L.A. experience so much they instead chose to open in Burbank, West Hollywood or another nearby municipality? Many doubted the situation would ever change. Now, it apparently has, thanks to a Downtown business organization and some city officials who finally realized that a culture of

“no” not only is unnecessary, but is terrible for business. This month, the Central City Association and city officials including Chan and First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner introduced Restaurant and Hospitality Express, a program designed to cut the time it takes to open a restaurant, bar or grocery store in half (their aim is to make it happen in six to nine months). The key is assigning a case manager to each applicant, one charged with helping to arrange inspections, orchestrate paperwork and anticipate problems before they arise. Specific assignments include clarifying code requirements and monitoring the plan check process. The benefits of these businesses are immense. In addition to the sales tax revenue, they create thousands of jobs in construction and operations. In Downtown Los Angeles specifically, the cumulative collection of new eateries and bars has helped change the look, feel and economy of the area. Now, a thriving nightlife scene exists, and people come from across the region to hang out and spend money in Downtown after dark. Perhaps the most amazing thing about changing the application and permitting process is that it did not take all that long. The CCA organized its first meeting on the subject last December, pulling in officials from numerous city agencies (including the Fire Department) and the County Health Department. A trial program of Restaurant and Hospitality

Express began soon after. Restaurants and bars that were part of the test stage reported opening as quickly as six or eight months sooner than it would have taken otherwise. Now, just six months after the first meeting, the program is ready to go citywide. The obvious question is, given what has been achieved, why didn’t it happen sooner? Sadly, there is no answer. The leading suspicion is that it’s easier to say no, and it’s easier for department heads to allow even poor practices than risk trying something new and failing. The CCA, Beutner, Chan, County Health, the Fire Department and others who have altered the status quo have accomplished something that will pay dividends immediately. The hard part will be sustaining it and ensuring that when hundreds of restaurants and bars come into the pipeline, they will still get the help they need and be able to open on the accelerated timetable. The new program also raises one other, very important issue: If this problem, which bedeviled businesses for years, can be resolved so easily, then why can’t others? If restaurant opening times can be cut down, then can the difficulties that housing and other developers face be eased as well? The answer should be a resounding yes. Hopefully Restaurant and Hospitality Express not only solves this problem, but is a template for the future.

In Alexik Case, Purposeful Policing

or six weeks, Los Angeles was captivated by the case of Brian Alexik, the suspected counterfeiter who evaded police by fleeing down the fire escape of his South Park building. The hunt for a man the LAPD warned should be considered armed and dangerous drew national attention, while quirks such as the mosaic of the CIA logo in the floor of his apartment piqued additional interest. One chapter of the story came to a close this month, when Alexik was discovered not in a foreign country (after the initial escape, some media reports said police believed he had fled the United States), but rather in the Arts District, a relatively short walk from his South Park apartment. A high-profile arrest was made with no use of force. Both the capture and the way it happened

should be considered victories for the LAPD, a department that often only draws public and media notice when an officer oversteps his or her bounds. In this instance, the fact that the case was cracked with what appears to be good old-fashioned police work — questioning enough people, watching individuals — and without violence deserves commendation. The Alexik case had all the plot points of a potboiler. When police responded to a smell of gas coming from a seventh floor apartment of the Reserve Lofts on April 19, they encountered a suspect who would not allow them in. By the time they broke down the door, Alexik had gone out a window. Inside, investigators discovered automatic weapons including an AK-47, counterfeit bills and some marijuana and meth. Perhaps most interesting, Alexik’s apartment overlooked the Los Angeles branch

of the Federal Reserve Bank. In other words, the elements of a major caper were at play — drugs, guns, fake money, a possible high-profile target in the bank, a perceived if tough-to-interpret governmental stance with the CIA replica. If it unfolded as good crime fiction usually does, there would have been a gritty cop hot on the trail of Alexik and the incident would have ended in a hail of bullets. Instead, the investigation was quiet and the resolution peaceful. On June 3, the LAPD determined that Alexik was holed up with his girlfriend in the American Hotel, a gritty apartment building on Hewitt Street in the Arts District. Police barriers were set up a block in every direction and the public was kept far away. Although Alexik initially refused to come out and SWAT and other department

specialists were called in, they were never utilized. Instead, police ultimately talked Alexik out of the unit. He surrendered and was handcuffed and led away without incident. This is worth detailing because it is the type of thing that generally doesn’t command attention, or is mentioned quickly and then forgotten. In this case, however, the LAPD achieved what has to be considered its prime objectives: It caught the bad guy and maintained public safety. The LAPD does not always get the credit it deserves. But this showed how good the department can be. The police tracked down and cornered a wild card suspect with an affinity for powerful weapons. A potentially violent situation ended in a decidedly non-volatile manner. That’s good for the department, good for Downtown and good for the city.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

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

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June 14, 2010

Broadway Backtalk

os Angeles Downtown News posts comments to stories on our website. Here are some of the most recent responses. Additional comments appear on downtownnews.com (comments follow individual articles).

with a new vision. A gateway through Pershing Square is a wonderful idea. Applause, applause for the city groups that are pushing this forward. —posted by Christine, May 31, 1:47 p.m.

Regarding the article “The Broadway Backslide,” about increasing retail vacancy rates on Broadway, by Richard Guzmán, published online May 28

roadway could be the most beautiful street in L.A. Currently, it is one of the ugliest, unfortunately. L.A. isn’t NY, where historic buildings are a dime a dozen. We only have a handful of historic buildings and having Broadway remain a veritable swap meet is unacceptable. We must take this opportunity of higher vacancy rates to fill them with higher quality businesses that help connect Spring and Main streets to the rest of Downtown. Currently, Broadway is irrelevant to 99% of the residents that live Downtown. We need to change that. —posted by Brigham Yen, June 3, 5:01 p.m.

roadway has a natural hub of activity at the Pershing Square Red Line station. Nearby hotel tourists should flock to this station/square for travel and Downtown information kiosks which, sadly, are missing — drug dealers and street folk in their place. This “hub” should be cleaned up and revitalized in synch with Broadway/ Hill streetcar plans. Why not give the BID “purple shirts” a home base here? Close off a couple blocks of Fifth Street from Broadway to Olive and make Fifth Street east of Broadway a two-way street. Pershing Square is the largest of Downtown’s central parks and it’s a shame that the park is not kept up. The garbage in the early morning is outrageous. Fifth Street and Pershing Square and the Red Line station should be a gateway to a new, bustling Broadway shopping/theater district. —posted by Mark Morrison, May 29, 6:06 p.m.

have a feeling that this is the beginning of a gentrification of Broadway, which we happen to love the way it is, but which is probably inevitable given that somewhere around 40,000 young and more affluent people have moved into the area. The Hispanic stores that sell inexpensive goods, as colorful as they are — the stores, the goods and the sounds — obviously can’t satisfy the needs of the new residents. I also have a sinking feeling that 25 or so years from now Little Tokyo will no longer be Little Tokyo. —posted by David Klappholz, June 8, 1:16 p.m.

Audit Says DWP ‘Misled’ City Report Says Action Worsened Financial Crisis by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

ity Controller Wendy Greuel last week took aim at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, saying it “misled” government officials and the public about a controversial transfer of money to the city’s general fund. On Thursday, June 10, Greuel held a press conference at the DWP’s Downtown headquarter to present her findings of an audit into whether the department had the capital to make a $73.5 million transfer. Department officials had said they would not be able to do so after the City Council rejected a proposed rate hike. The audit determined that the DWP did not need an electric rate increase to complete the transfer. Greuel also said that none of the reasons given by the DWP for refusing to transfer the money were supported by facts. They “misled the council, the mayor and the public,” she said. “The impact of DWP’s actions unnecessarily plunged the city into a fiscal crisis which contributed to the downgrading of the city by the bonding rating agency,” she said. Greuel said that the DWP’s Power Revenue fund had approximately $752 million, which she said was more than enough to transfer the money to the city without putting itself in financial jeopardy. The situation began when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sought a rate increase he said would pay for improvements in green technology. The move was rejected by the City Council. When opposition to the mayor’s plan arose, DWP officials stated that they would withhold the transfer — an installment in a total annual payment of more

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than $200 million — because it could put the agency at risk. DWP interim General Manager Austin Beutner questioned the audit, saying in a statement, “it appears there may be several errors of fact in this report.” Beutner, who took charge of the agency just a few months ago, and is working on finding a permanent leader, also said that plans are in the works to reduce the DWP’s budget this year by $263 million. He said a strategic plan detailing the department’s long-term priorities will be released this week. Others in City Hall had a harsh response to the agency. Councilwoman Jan Perry, the chair of the council’s Energy and Environment Committee, said in a statement that the audit echoed her longheld belief that the DWP “could and should” have made the transfer without calling for a rate increase. She called for more transparency at the department, a sentiment echoed by Council President Eric Garcetti, who noted in a statement, “I asked for this audit so I’d have hard evidence of DWP’s deceit.” That comment followed tough statements Garcetti made last Monday at a Downtown luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum. He said he hopes to bring a measure to the ballot next March to create a DWP ratepayer advocate. “I don’t know if they’ve learned the lesson over there,” he said. “I’m not convinced that the governance structure works well there.” Jon Regardie contributed to this report. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Betting on Green in L.A. Rooting for the Celtics in Enemy Territory by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

’m walking up Spring Street and am getting all kinds of bad looks. Two men chatting pause as I pass and offer a pair of taunting smirks. Another guy sees me and shakes his head in disappointment. Then there’s the young woman whose scornful glance seems to say: “You idiot.”

When the Celtics erased a 24-point deficit to win game four of the finals in 2008, then captured the title two games later, I felt like a 10-year-old at a carnival, high on cotton candy and soda, galloping from the roller coaster to the Zipper and waving at all the sad-eyed Lakers fans, all of them too short to get on any of the big kid rides.

reporter’s notebook

As I approach the Alexandria Hotel at Fifth Street, I pass its owner, Ruben Islas. He takes one look at me and warns, “You’re gonna get shanked.” Apparently, it was a bad choice to don my green Kevin Garnett Celtics T-shirt as the locally hated Boston team was getting ready to play the Lakers in game three of the NBA Finals. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way. A native New Englander, I pray at the altar of legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach. If I were assembling a team for a pick-up basketball game, and had the Lakers and Celtics rosters at my disposal, I’d choose Rajon Rondo before Kobe Bryant. In fact, I’d take USC grad Brian Scalabrine before I’d take any other Laker. That’s right. The only Celtic who could pass for an enlarged leprechaun would be my first pick. This, of course, makes me enemy number one whenever the Celtics play the Lakers. Last week, as I made my way to the Down and Out bar, the taunting continued. The security guard joked that they weren’t allowing patrons wearing green to enter. Then inside: “Hey bro, sorry about your shirt,” said the guy in the Kobe Bryant jersey. “Go back to Boston, white boy,” said the woman at the bar, under her breath, but perhaps not as under her breath as she intended. Despite the cold welcome, when the Lakers play the Celtics, especially in the NBA Finals, there’s no place I’d rather be than Los Angeles. Being here, it’s more excruciating when my team loses. But there’s a unique satisfaction that comes with rooting for the enemy when they win.

6 Six Week

When the Lakers are playing the Celtics in the NBA Finals, there’s no place I’d rather be than Los Angeles. Being here, it’s more excruciating when my team loses. But there’s a unique satisfaction that comes with rooting for the enemy when they win. I usually wear Celtic green on game day, unless I’m riding my bike to see the game at a bar or a friend’s place. I’m too afraid I’d look like a big green target to Laker fans who affix those annoying gold flags to their cars every spring. For the most part though, I haven’t run into any serious trouble for showing my colors. My real downfall has been betting with my friend Dashiell, a Southern California native and diehard Laker fan. We’ve bet on about five Laker/Celtic games in the past two years. Mostly we eschew money bets for more embarrassing penalties. Last year, when the Lakers beat the Celtics on Christmas, I had to wear a child’s Kobe jersey and a gold headband to

photo by Gary Leonard

Being a Celtics fan in Los Angeles — like this one, who is not the author — isn’t always easy. But it is always fun.

three parties with Dash. I looked like a purple and gold sausage. I also owe Dash a dinner at Drago Centro, for which I’ve been saving for almost one year exactly, after the Lakers finished with a better regular season record in 2009. Now here we are again, back in the NBA Finals. After the Lakers won game one, I had to eat a Double Down sandwich from KFC, one of those caloric and sodium-laden monstrosities. Then the Celtics nabbed game two, which means Dash’s picture on Facebook for two weeks will be of him wearing a Paul Pierce shirt outside the Celtic star’s alma matter Inglewood High School. After the Lakers won on Tuesday night, I sulked home, knowing that for an upcoming weekend, as penalty for the game three bet, I’m going to have to let Dash customize my facial hair for a weekend, likely with Kobe’s number 24 buzzed into a sideburn, or maybe an “LA” on the cheek. But there is good news. First, the series isn’t over yet — I plan on wearing green a few more times. More importantly, I didn’t get shanked. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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A Citywide Sports Slump Report Says Annual Spending Is Still a Healthy $4.2 Billion, Though That’s Down 18% From 2007 by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

n 2007, at the height of the real estate boom and the age of easy credit, just about every industry was booming. The local professional sports world was no exception, as attendance, ticket prices and merchandise sales were all soaring like an old Manny Ramirez homerun. Two years later, things have changed. A report released last week suggests that along with the overall economy, the local sports world stopped taking its steroids in 2009. The report, by the Los Angeles Sports Council, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and students from the UCLA Anderson School of Management found that the economic impact of sports in Southern California dropped 18% in 2009 compared to 2007. That meant fans spent about $1 billion less than just two years ago. The Sports Council and Chamber, in partnership with the Anderson School, have compiled the study biennially since 1993, assessing the local sports scene not by wins and losses, but by what fans spend on the game. In 2009, based on data culled from 55 sports organizations in Southern California — excluding high school sports and certain one-time activities — sporting events pumped $1.7 billion directly into the regional economy. Using a multiplier factor from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the study estimates that the overall impact is $4.2 billion. That may be nothing to boo at, but it’s down from $5.1 billion in 2007. The 2009

level was close to the estimated $4.1 billion recorded in 2005. “What we’d seen in previous studies was that the industry locally was always growing seemingly faster than the rate of the economy overall,” said David Simon, president of the Sports Council. “That’s what you saw in 2007 compared to ’05. This is the first time we’ve ever measured it in a recession, which as we all know was significantly larger than the average recession.” Fewer Fans Looking at professional franchises, sports venues, horse racing tracks, major colleges and universities, as well as annual events such as the Los Angeles Marathon, the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Rose Bowl game, the study showed an aggregate attendance of 20.8 million people in 2009. In 2007, attendance was 24.9 million. “The fact that we’re still showing 21 million in paid attendance in 2009, it’s still a very significant number even though it’s down from the last study and down by double digit percentage points,” Simon said. “But for those who used to say it was recession proof, that may be true in general, but it wasn’t true with a recession of this magnitude.” The Downtown Los Angeles area continued to be a hub of the sports world, with Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, the Coliseum in Exposition Park and USC’s Galen Center. Although the overall numbers fell, Downtown still saw significant spending beyond just ticket sales, with the opening in late 2007 of L.A. Live, where a collection of bars and restaurants

photo by Gary Leonard

The Dodgers continued to be the biggest sports draw in Southern California in 2009, pulling in 3.8 million fans. However, attendance declined from 2007 levels.

draws fans before and after games. The Dodgers, who led all local teams in 2009 with 3.8 million regular season attendees, nevertheless saw average attendance decline from 47,614 that year to 46,440 in 2007, according to the website Baseball-Almanac. com. But there may be signs that the worst is over, as attendance was actually up from the 46,056 average seen in 2008. The Los Angeles Clippers average attendance dropped from 18,421 in the 2006/07 season to 16,170 in the 2008/09 season. However, the 2006/07 level may have been an aberration, as it followed one of the rare years in which the team had a winning record and made the playoffs, generating extra interest. But some teams seem to remain recessionproof, with the defending NBA champion Lakers at the top of that list. The team’s average attendance for home games actually increased from the 2006/07 season to the 2008/09 season, from 18,985 to 18,997.

Attendance for major college sports events also increased from 2007 to 2009, said Gary Toebben, chamber president and CEO. “Attendees may be closer so it didn’t cost so much for them to participate or they just have strong loyalties to their alma matter and universities they follow,” Toebben said. The highest single game attendance in 2009 was for the Rose Bowl, with 93,293 admissions, according to the report. The Downtown area event with the highest attendance was the USC Trojans football game against Stanford, which packed 90,071 people into the Coliseum. “It is clear that sports has a significant impact on our economy and that people in Los Angeles just like sports,” Toebben said. “We haven’t done any preliminary studies, but as the economy gradually gets better and people have more optimism than they did a year ago, I know that the attendance will go back up.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

A Tale of Two Rent Studies Fracas Continues as Olvera Street Merchants Commission Their Own Rate Report by Richard Guzmán city editor

n April, a rent fracas began at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, with dozens of merchants refusing to pay their full rates. Now, with the city more than $200,000 short of what it is owed, another piece of ammunition has been introduced. In late May, a group of Olvera Street merchants received a rent study they had commissioned that recommends rate hikes far lower than what the city mandated on April 1. The city’s move followed a previous rent study. The merchants’ report, by Buss Shelger Associates, recommends increasing rents for Olvera Street tenants by approximately 19%. The previous city study said rates should increase by about 140% to correct decades of being well below area market rates. Paul Hamilton, an attorney hired by the Olvera Street Merchants Association, said the tenants hope to use the new study to negotiate deals with the city. “We are waiting to hear from the city as to when we will commence a discussion process,” Hamilton said. Hamilton would not discuss details of the study — a copy of which was obtained by Los Angeles Downtown News — saying that it was confidential. He did, however, say that he hopes negotiations can begin this month. “Even if I was prepared to comment on it, I wouldn’t be commenting on whether or not it’s a starting point, ending point or middle point in the negotiations,” he said. The study is the latest battle in a long

June 14, 2010

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dispute over rents at the birthplace of Los Angeles. An audit of El Pueblo conducted last year by the City Controller’s office found that Olvera Street rents average $1.35 per square foot, and that tenants of the puestos, the kiosks in the center of the street, pay an average of $300 a month. Real estate experts have said these figures are well below market value. The department, meanwhile, continues to strive to become self-sufficient. In recent years it has required an approximately $800,000 subsidy from the city to balance its budget. The new rates, approved by the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners in January, followed recommendations in a study by the firm Riggs and Riggs that was commissioned by the city. The report said retail tenants should pay $2-$6.50 per square foot, and that puesto occupants should be charged $950$1,350. Most of the new rents are at the low end of the study’s spectrum. The tenants’ study, however, recommends rates of $265 to about $300 for most puestos. It says merchants in most of the standalone businesses should pay $1.20-$2 per square foot. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar, whose district covers El Pueblo, said he intends to use the new information in the effort to come up with new rates. “I believe that this study, along with the Riggs study, will give us a framework to begin negotiations,” said Huizar. “The more information we have to begin this process, the better. They both inform us and should be looked at thoroughly. They give us concrete figures that we can now work off of and we

will do that shortly.” Huizar said deliberations with a third-party negotiator will determine which report reflects the true market rate. “We’ll look at both studies and assess the potential merits and faults of their assessments,” he said. Still Low Derrick Moore, vice president of brokerage services at real estate services firm CB Richard Ellis, said the rents in the new report seem well below market rate for Downtown, unless it factored in additional conditions. The Buss Shelger report not only makes rental recommendations, but also criticizes the city study. It says the Riggs report should not have compared Olvera Street to places like The Alameda Swap Meet, the Huntington Park Commercial District and the Downtown Fashion District, which it does not deem as “relevant to the subject Hispanic/visitor oriented motif.” The tenants’ report compares Olvera Street more closely to areas such as Union Station, San Diego’s Old Town and Chinatown in Downtown L.A. The report also factors in what it describes as “current parking limitations” that “have not been corrected” when determining market rents. Many tenants on Olvera Street said they were promised a parking structure by the city years ago as a precursor to raising rents. El Pueblo officials maintain that a new parking garage is costly and unnecessary since the parking currently available at the attraction that sees 2 million visitors a year is sufficient. “Their results are what I expected,” said Robert Andrade, general manager of El Pueblo, referring to the tenants’ report. “I’m not a real estate expert, but to my understanding and through my read of it, it’s not a study, it’s an opinion.” Meanwhile, the city continues to fall behind in the rent it is owed by merchants.

photo by Gary Leonard

El Pueblo merchants conducted a study that they hope to use to negotiate new rents. It says rates should be far lower than those recommended in a city-commissioned study.

Since the increases on April 1, more than 40 tenants have only paid their old rental rates (about 13 tenants are paying the new rates, and 17 are not affected, since they are under 55-year leases). The result is that they cumulatively owe the city about $217,000. El Pueblo officials have prepared eviction notices for tenants who are behind, but have yet to serve them while they await instructions from the mayor’s office, the City Attorney and Huizar’s office. Huizar has vowed that evictions will not take place until rents are negotiated. Hamilton maintains that no tenants are behind on their payments. “They paid their full rent on time,” he said. “The facts are that previously the commission sent notices to increase the rents. We don’t believe that notice is appropriate and we don’t believe those rents should be paid.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

metro.net/wilshire

Help us plan the Wilshire BRT. June Public Hearings Metro, the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles have just released a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) analyzing the proposed Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and alternatives. Metro is holding four public hearings to discuss the EIR/ EA. If adopted, there would be a dedicated bus lane operating on weekdays during the peak periods along most of Wilshire Bl in the City of Los Angeles.

Monday, June 21 6-8pm Westwood Presbyterian Church 10822 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles Tuesday, June 22, 6-8pm Good Samaritan Hospital, Moseley Salvatori Conference Center 637 Lucas Av, Los Angeles Korean and Spanish interpretation will be available Tuesday, June 29, 2-4pm Wilshire United Methodist Church 4350 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles Korean and Spanish interpretation will be available Wednesday, June 30, 6-8pm Felicia Mahood Center 11338 Santa Monica Bl, Los Angeles For more information about the project please visit metro.net/wilshire, or call 213.922.2500

8 Downtown News

June 14, 2010

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Downtown News 9

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June 14, 2010

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Yacht’s Up Paper Boat Race Floats Back to City National Plaza by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

andlocked Downtown Los Angeles is rarely associated with yachting. In fact, about the only time people in the Central City think of anything nautical is when the boat show comes to the Convention Center. This week that will change, and part of the Financial District will be invaded by yachts. Of course, there’s a catch: The floaters will be pint-sized, and will be constructed from paper. The third annual Psomas Paper Yacht Challenge takes place Thursday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the fountain at City National Plaza. The event is a fundraiser for the Weingart Center Association. The event was launched in 2008 by Joel Miller, a vice president and principal of the Downtown-based engineering and consulting firm. He got the idea after watching a similar contest while on a trip to England.

The rules dictate that all yachts must be constructed from paper, and can be no longer than 12 inches or wider than six inches. Electric propellants are not allowed, though devices such as rubber bands are. Entry is a minimum of $25 for individuals or $50 for businesses. There is a series of heats in which boats are placed at one end of the fountain holding the “Double Ascension” sculpture. Large fans are turned on and the first yacht across wins. All races are timed so the fastest boat of the day can be determined. Miller noted that despite the belief of many observers, architects and engineers do not necessarily have an advantage. Last year’s challenge was won by Cathy Thomer, an administrative assistant at Thomas Properties Group. Her yacht crossed in just under 30 seconds. “She has threatened to enter the same boat this year,” Miller said. The 2009 event raised about $5,000. This

photo courtesy of Psomas

On June 17, people will race paper boats across the fountain at City National Plaza. Proceeds from the Psomas Paper Yacht Challenge will benefit the Weingart Center Association.

year Miller hopes to increase the take, partly because of some special items up for bid in a silent auction: Along with Dodger tickets and a round of golf, nine City Council members are offering their time. The public can bid on everything from a meal with an elected official to two games of bowling with Paul Koretz to a Harley-Davidson ride with Dennis Zine. There is one other change from previous events: A costume contest will take place, the

result of a half dozen people who last year came dressed as pirates and sailors. Miller is sure they were there for the challenge, and were not lost on the way to the boat show. The Psomas Paper Yacht Challenge is Thursday, June 17, at Fifth and Flower streets. Onsite registration starts at 4:30 p.m. with heats beginning at 5:30. More information at psomas.com. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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undreds if not thousands of entrepreneurs have opened, or tried to open, restaurants or bars in Los Angeles in recent years. While those venues range from chic nightclubs to old-fashioned diner-style eateries, each of them has one thing in common: Horror stories from the permitting process. Mitchell Frank, a partner in the Silver Lake Mexican restaurant Malo, has been working on a new Downtown outpost, Muy Malo, since January of 2009. He’s got a list of headscratchers, including the several times he said his architect made an appointment with a city inspector three weeks in advance, only to be stood up. “In a bad economy, the city should have been doing back flips for us to open this,” Frank said of the eatery slated to occupy the original Clifton’s Cafeteria space on Seventh Street near Grand Avenue. “Instead, we met resistance.” Frank is so fed up with the approval process — Muy Malo is the seventh bar, restaurant or nightclub he has ushered through the city’s Byzantine process — that he has resolved to take his next project to a separate municipality such as Culver City or Glendale in hopes that it will be less of a headache and less expensive to open. City leaders and business officials have heard similar complaints many times. They’re what ultimately prompted Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association, to lead a charge late last month to re-evaluate Los Angeles’ permitting and approvals process for restaurants and bars. This month, the effort bore fruit. Schatz, who stresses the ability of restaurants and bars to be tax revenue drivers and jobs generators — bars and restaurants Downtown have resulted in approximately 9,000 construction positions and 8,000 operational jobs since about 2000, according to CCA and city figures — pulled together a group of city and other officials in December. The meeting, which included representatives of the Los Angeles Fire Department and the County Health Department, led to a trial period for the Restaurant and Hospitality Express program, which was launched citywide on June 3. The lynchpin in the new process is a more hands-on approach by agency case workers who oversee projects from beginning to end. Officials hope it will cut the current estimated opening time of 12-18 months in half. They also hope it will end the stories of permit applicants who tell of having to ferry their plans from department to department and visit different inspectors at different counters. Many applicants describe conflicting directions from various agencies, a process which sometimes puts them in the red long before they serve their first customer. First and Hoping It Sticks Under the new program, case managers are expected to be proactive in contacting businesses as they build out their spaces in order to meet targeted opening dates. Steve Springer, general manager of the Bunker Hill restaurant First and Hope, site of the June 3 press conference, is already singing the praises of the program. Springer was in the midst of ushering his supper club through the city’s permitting maze when it entered Restaurant and Hospitality Express. Springer noted that, for months, he had dealt with a bureaucracy known mostly for its excruciatingly long and difficult approval process. But he realized everything had changed when he received a call from a city inspector. The official simply wanted to see if Springer needed any help. “I was like, ‘What? Really?” Springer said. “Yes!” Since getting that call, Springer has been all smiles, and was able to open First and Hope in the spring. By doing so, he says he created 125 full-time jobs. City officials recognize they have a problem. Under the system long in place, “almost no restaurant could open on time or on budget,” said Ray Chan, executive officer of the city Dept. of Building and Safety. Since January, about 25 bars and restaurants, along with 12 grocery stores, have enrolled in the Restaurant and Hospitality Express trial program. Five are now open. Jeanmarie Dumouchel, project manager for Las Perlas, a mescal and tequila bar opened by 213 Inc. in March, said the business was enrolled in the pilot program after starting planning and construction in late 2009. Dumouchel said the see Permits, page 14

Steve Springer, general manager at First and Hope, said enrolling in the city’s new, streamlined permitting process helped the Bunker Hill eatery open sooner than expected.

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A New Beat for Old Blue LAPD Mobile Substation Becomes a Staple in Skid Row by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

n recent years, the Los Angeles Police Department has pledged a bolstered commitment to community-based policing. That means more meetings with stakeholders, better networking with resident groups and even top cops embracing social networks like Facebook. But for Officer Deon Joseph, senior lead officer in Skid Row, community-based policing poses a unique challenge: He must work with and do outreach in a community that remains largely skeptical of the LAPD. “A lot of people have been indoctrinated not to trust the police,” said Joseph, who is widely recognized in the community. Joseph’s latest partner in police outreach in Skid Row is a massive, custom utility van the department calls Old Blue. The vehicle, which acts as a mobile police substation, has been around for four years, and Central Division has used it regularly in Skid Row, parking it in heavy drug traffic areas as a crime deterrent. It is also utilized at public events such as parades and mass protests. Now, Old Blue is making Skid Row its permanent home. Central Division officials plan to deploy the van to different parts of the neighborhood seven days a week. Joseph hopes it will earn a reputation as a community resource. “When I first started using Old Blue back in ’06, ’07, a lot of

people thought it was a big jail bus,” he said. “This thing is just, for me, about being more accessible to the community.” The van is usually staffed by officers who work in pairs. Although its main function is to deter crime through its presence, the officers also use it as a remote base to hand out literature directing people to housing, drug treatment and other social services. Additionally, they dispense hygiene kits, community newsletters and information about photo by Gary Leonard reporting domestic violence and other Central Division police are now sending a mobile substation to Skid Row seven days a week. crimes, Joseph said. The intent is both to reduce crime and enhance ties to the community. “We understand they’re not going to come to us,” Joseph said. “The idea is park the van, get outside, walk a foot-beat, talk to the Page said. people…. Once the community knows who they are and Still, Page said a large segment of Skid Row remains skeptithat they’re cool, people will come up to them.” cal of the LAPD. “General” Jeff Page, who represents Skid Row on the “There’s a lot of people in the community that just don’t Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, lauded the trust the police, because they only know them for arrestuse of Old Blue as a way to reach out to people who might ing people,” Page said. “They’re going to say, ‘I don’t care if not otherwise access police resources. they’re giving out a million dollars. There are probably strings “I think Old Blue being out there is tremendous in the attached. I don’t trust it.’” sense that they’re actually out in the field, not in the office,” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Tickets Continued from page 1 has nice teeth. Father: They are shiny indeed. Did you enjoy the international mega-hit “Crazy in Love”? Girl: I did, but my favorite part was when the mayor handed her that beautiful official City of Los Angeles proclamation. Who makes those? Is it calligraphy gnomes? Father: Yes, calligraphy gnomes do make those, but soon they will be unemployed due to the city’s budget crunch. Girl: Hmmm. [Pause] Do you think they could even have done the concert without the mayor giving Beyonce the certificate? Father: No, I don’t think so. I don’t know why anyone would show up. The night of the concert, 10:16 p.m., Staples Center, section 111, row 17, seats 5 and 6, where Joe Fossett and Melinda Burke are on a third date. Joe: This is great! She’s such a wonderful performer, a true international success! Melinda: I know. But did you also see the mayor? Joe: The mayor? No. He’s here? How did you recognize him? Melinda: I’d seen him on the cover of Newsweek once, Los Angeles magazine twice and then 12 million times on local TV. And I remember his epic appearance years ago on “The George Lopez Show,” back before he almost ran for governor. Joe: Where is he sitting? Melinda: He’s up there [pointing toward stage]. You see where the singer who has made so many contributions to the entertainment industry is? He’s 4 ½ feet away from her. Joe: Is he the one sitting on the golden throne? And is the woman in the golden throne next to him the tweeting television news reader? Melinda: Yes, that’s them. Joe: Wow. How do you think he got such great seats? Melinda: He probably camped out overnight before tickets went on sale, just like the rest of the citizens of Los Angeles. Or maybe he went online right when they became available, paid with a credit card and got lucky. Joe: You don’t think there was anything shady, do you?

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com Like, he didn’t wind up onstage with a golden scepter and holding that paper created by the calligraphy gnomes because he had connections, right? Melinda: Our mayor? No. But if he did get great seats for free, I’m sure it is only because he is working on behalf of all the taxpayers. Joe: Hmm. [Pause] His teeth sure are white. The evening of the concert, 6:46 p.m., backstage at Staples Center, where Beyonce is meeting her tour manager, when they are interrupted by a PR flack. Beyonce: And I’ll close with “Déjà Vu.” I love playing in Los Angeles, even if it has a budget deficit in the hundreds of

If he does not present this certificate to Beyonce tonight in person, then Los Angeles could be plunged into despair. millions of dollars. It really is the city of the 21st century. Who said that again? Manager: Can’t remember. PR Flack: Excuse me for interrupting, but I just got a message that the mayor of Los Angeles wants to present Beyonce with a certificate tonight. In person. Beyonce: Who’s the mayor? PR Flack: I always pronounce it wrong. Anthony Voggyrose, or something like that. Beyonce: Oh, is he the one with the really white teeth who backed Hillary in the presidential election. Manager: That’s the guy. Beyonce: What does he want to give me? PR Flack: Apparently Los Angeles has an entire department where little gnomes do nothing but make calligraphy certificates 24 hours a day. They are only presented to true international successes who have made great contributions to the entertainment industry. Should I tell him we’ll accept?

Beyonce: Why not? I’ve already received many Grammys, Billboard awards and other prizes. But I suppose I could put such a pretty certificate in the bathroom. Manager: Just to be sure, they don’t want anything else, like free tickets to the show, do they? PR Flack: Well, they did ask if two golden thrones could be placed on stage for the duration of the concert. The request said something about it being very important for the city, yet still in compliance with Los Angeles and California law. Manager: I’m not so sure— Beyonce: Let’s do it. Maybe I’ll even wiggle his way when I drop the line, “Put a ring on it.” The day of the concert, 5:37 p.m., at International Beyonce Headquarters. A phone rings and a call is patched through to Beyonce’s agent. Agent: Who’s this? It’s quitting time. I’m out the door. Caller: I’m calling from the mayor’s office about Beyonce. Agent: What? Does he want her to appear at a press conference or travel with him to Iceland or Denmark? Caller: No, and I know this is a rush, but he really wants to attend the concert at Staples Center this evening and present her with a certificate recognizing her as an international success. Agent: He does? What’s this about, really? Caller: The mayor knows all about the contributions that she has made to the entertainment industry, and he thinks it is important that, as a representative of the city of the 21st century, he personally presents her with a special certificate crafted by the city’s calligraphy gnomes. Agent: Seriously? Caller: Yes, in fact he considers it vital to the fiscal and emotional health of the city. He believes that if he does not present this certificate to Beyonce tonight in person, then Los Angeles could be plunged into despair, pension woes and possibly even pestilence. Agent: Well, if that’s the case, I’ll call Beyonce and see if she’s interested. I’ll call you back. Caller: One other thing. Agent: Yes? Caller: He also wants two golden thrones placed on stage during the concert. He said it will help him do his job as mayor of Los Angeles. But don’t worry, it’s in full compliance with city and state law. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Permits Continued from page 11 system sped up the opening process immediately. “Without it, it would have been another six to eight months or so before we would have opened,” Dumouchel said. If the program sticks and proves successful in shaving opening times and lowering costs, it will no doubt please a major industry in Los Angeles. Yet it also raises a question for many in the food and beverage business: Considering it was such a notable problem for so many years, why did it take so long to effect change? “It’s a good question, and it’s not the first time I’ve been asked that question,” said First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, the city’s chief executive for economic and business

policy. “I think you have to just look forward and say there are a bunch of things in the city that have languished for decades. This is a great example. “It takes collaboration… and it takes the support of the mayor to say it’s got to stop, we’ve got to do things differently.” The CCA said that the program’s trial participants have all reported positive experiences. But not everyone in the industry is convinced that change is really afoot. “I don’t believe the hype of it,” said Frank, who hopes to open Muy Malo by early September. “The system is broken and I doubt very much this is going to fix it.” The success of Restaurant and Hospitality Express may depend not only on cutting through the red tape, but also on convincing business owners like Frank that things really will change. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Around Town Continued from page 2 the decisions they make,” said Eric Levitt, general manager of ESPN Zone at L.A. Live. “We’ll continue to operate and we’re looking forward to a great summer.” ESPN has a large presence at L.A. Live. In addition to the restaurant, the cable sports giant has a radio broadcast studio for 710 ESPN, television production facilities and the headquarters of the website espnlosangeles.com.

LaBonge Leads Downtown Bike Ride This Week

can come,” he said. “But they’ve got to have a helmet.” Riders also need to be at least 12 years old. Participants should meet by the First Street steps at City Hall. Tour events continue through July 21. Information, including where to meet up, is at tomlabonge.com.

KUSC Moves to South Park

ourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge is known partly for his vast knowledge of Los Angeles. This week, he’ll show off some highlights of Downtown to anyone who is interested, though there is a catch: Followers have to be on two wheels. On Wednesday, June 16, he initiates the third annual Tour LaBonge, a series of Wednesday evening bicycle excursions throughout the city. This week’s event will take pedal pushers around Downtown and USC, with a moderate pace that will last from approximately 5:30-8 p.m. (there is a break in the middle). The goal, said LaBonge, is to “share the city with others riding a bicycle Downtown, after the rush hour, so they can enjoy the beauty of the transforming city.” There is no limit to the number of riders. “As many as want to come

lassical KUSC 91.5 FM, public radio’s most listened-to station, has moved from its Financial District studio, but is still in Downtown. On Tuesday, June 8, the station began broadcasting from the AT&T building in South Park, leaving its longtime space on the 20th floor of the Manulife Plaza building at 515 S. Figueroa St. In a statement, station manager Eric DeWeese said KUSC was lured to South Park by a long-term lease and the opportunity to use the building’s 500-seat auditorium. “Once we complete the moving process, we look forward to developing a plan for use of the auditorium so our listeners can enjoy special live broadcasts,” DeWeese said. Production studios and offices were slated to be moved over the weekend. The shift does not affect the station’s classical programming. Earlier this year, KUSC was named the most-listened to public radio station in the country, according to data compiled by ratings firm Arbitron.

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Downtown News 15

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First Impressions Yield Hope for Love Bunker Hill Supper Club Has All the Right Moves by RichaRd Guzmán

city EditoR ’m not saying it was love at first sight when I walked into First & Hope, the recently opened Bunker Hill restaurant. But there was a definite chemistry. The looks of this modern supper club got me first. The new restaurant is old school, like one of those classy, sultry ladies from decades ago who look like they’re walking to the beat of a jazz band when they strut by. It’s filled with Art Deco touches. They’re in the chandeliers, high-backed booths, dark woods and cool lighting. The menu is just as pretty, with comfort food given an upscale facelift for a Downtown audience. The appetizers include classics like chicken noodle soup ($10). It’s made with a lemon thyme broth and

homemade saltines. Other appealing appetizers are the BBQ fried oysters ($11) and the Crabmeat Justine Pot Pie ($13), made with crab gratin and topped with a buttery French toast. I ordered the tuna fish sandwich ($11), mostly because it comes with homemade pickles, but the sandwich outshone the little pickles. The dish was more like a finger sandwich than a full meal, but the ahi tuna was flavorful and fresh. It almost seemed like I was having sushi between two pieces of bread. The main courses are separated into Medium, Large and Extra Large categories, which makes it easy when deciding how much it will take to fill you up. Choices in the Medium section include Duck Egg and Leg Salad ($17), with duck leg confit and poached

Side Dish

duck egg with arugula and mustard vinaigrette. There is also Praise the Lard! ($18). This pig lover’s dream come true consists of crispy pig ears over heirloom tomatoes, bourbon-braised pork cheeks with a soft egg and Kurobuta pork belly over grits with maple dressing. It all comes on one plate, and I think a little tear rolled down my cheek when I read this wonderful creation. But I was not Medium hungry. I was Large hungry. Large choices included Moonshine Meatloaf ($27), with ground chuck, foie gras and gin meatloaf wrapped in black bacon, with potato and pearl onion hash. The foie gras makes this richer than Thurston Howell III, and decidedly more charming. Also worth a try is the whole trout stuffed with crab meat ($22). It may not be as de-

licious a meld as chocolate and peanut butter, but trout and crab is still a pretty good combination. I also tried the flatiron steak ($28). It was a tender, thick cut that blended perfectly with the slightly spicy homemade steak sauce. The baked potatoes and creamed spinach rounded off a very filling plate. If you ever have an Extra Large appetite, you can try the Smoked Porter Beer-Can Chicken ($26). It is served with potato gratin, baby broccoli and gravy. The solid food is complemented by the excellent service, some of it from waitresses in silver lamé dresses that are simply amazing. The bartender was chatty and knowledgeable about drinks, the hostess called the Music Center where my car was parked to find out what time the garage closes, and one of the owners was there making the rounds. It’ll take a few more visits to figure out if I’ll be in a long term culinary relationship with this place, but First & Hope is definitely worth a second date. First & Hope is at 710 W. First St., (213) 617-8555 or firstandhope.com.

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CALENDAR Festival

The Film Fest Five

Continued from page 1 All Right, a comedy about an unconventional family struggling to survive, starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening, at the Regal Cinemas. It will close June 27 with the animated Despicable Me, about a super villain trying to steal the moon. In between there will be discussions with actors such as Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow and Ben Affleck. Paul Reubens, aka Pee-wee Herman, not only will be part of a 25th anniversary screening of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, he will present Frank Capra’s 1938 classic You Can’t Take It With You. “We have a lot of talent this year,” Yeldham said. “The festival is like the connective tissue between the public and this talent.” There is an official competition, with 18 films in the narrative and documentary categories. An International Showcase will offer 20 films from outside the United States. There will be buzz-worthy independent films and even a Community Screenings showcase of films free to the public. That includes Lost Angels, a documentary about Skid Row. Festival organizers received more than 4,700 submissions, said artistic director David Ansen. He personally watched 300 of them. “We see a lot of movies and we also travel to a lot of film festivals and we get thousands of movies submitted to us,” he said. “Filmmaking is just thriving right now.” Real Stories While the lineup is diverse, documentaries are likely to be crowd pleasers. “We’ve always had strong documentaries, and I think this year it might be particularly strong,” Ansen said. One of the festival highlights will be the new film from Davis Guggenheim, who won an Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth. He is following the Al Gore/climate change work with Waiting for “Superman,” a harsh look at the nation’s failed public education system. The film follows a handful of students struggling at public schools. It asks how one of the richest nations on Earth does such a poor job at educating children. “The film has two messages,” Guggenheim said. “One, that our public schools are in trouble, and not just in our tougher neighborhoods, so the problems affect all of us. But also, the other message is that a new generation of educators are proving that it can be done.” Guggenheim was familiar with the subject of education. In 2001 he directed The First Year. The Peabody Award-winning documentary chronicled the lives of five first-year teachers, from the first day of classes to the last. It was a subject he felt he needed to revisit. “It feels like the cause of our time,” said Guggenheim. “The fact that many, many kids are not getting a good education is morally unacceptable and economically unsustainable.” Waiting for “Superman” premiered at Sundance, but Guggenheim thinks Downtown is an appropriate place to showcase it. “It’s perfect that the L.A. premiere will be Downtown because Downtown is the intersection of all these different groups,” he said. “You get people from the Westside, people from the Eastside, people from Downtown all coming together and that’s pretty exciting when a film can gather all these parts of the city.” It is not the only documentary that is likely to deliver an emotional punch. Also in the festival is A Small Act. The film by Echo Park resident Jennifer Arnold tells the story of Chris Mburu, a top student in a rural school in Kenya who has little chance of a future until Hilde Black, a Swedish preschool teacher whom he has never met, decides to sponsor an African student. With donations from Black, Mburu makes it all the way to Harvard Law School. He later tracks her down and tries to find a way to honor her generosity. “We all have the power to change the world in some way, and we never know the impact we can make with a small act,” Arnold said. Being able to screen her globetrotting film so close to home has a special meaning for Arnold. “For me this is like a homecoming,” she said. “This is my hometown film festival.” Filmmaker Clay Tweel is hoping the festival can shine a light on the world of teenage magicians. His documentary Make Believe follows six teens from around the world as they compete in Las Vegas for the title of Teen World Champion. Tweel said viewers don’t have to like magic to connect with his documentary. “It really boils down to a coming-of-age story,” he said.

A Small Handful of Don’t Miss Screenings by Richard Guzmán city editor

ith more than 200 films and only 11 days, it is impossible to see all of the offerings at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Here are five you simply shouldn’t miss.

Waiting for “Superman” Shows: June 21, 8 p.m.; June 22, 5:15 p.m., at Regal Cinemas Details: He won an Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth, and now director Davis Guggenheim focuses his camera on the nation’s failing public education system. Guggenheim follows five families searching for a good school for their children. While he finds that one of the world’s richest nations does one of the poorest jobs in educating its youth, he also discovers dedicated teachers and reformers striving to change the status quo. Revolucion Shows: June 22, 8 p.m.; June 23, 5 p.m., at Regal Cinemas. Details: This brings together 10 of Mexico’s best young directors to mark the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. The 105-minute program includes both documentaries and narratives and ends with what festival officials call a “poetic vision of Los Angeles’ Olvera Street.” Directors include Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Mariana Chenillo. (Retro) Downtown Confidential Shows: Hickey & Boggs, June 20; The Driver June 24, both at 9:45 p.m. at REDCAT. Details: In a tribute to its new Downtown home, the Los Angeles Film Festival is reviving two tough, locally made, 1970s noirs. The Driver and Hickey & Boggs were both shot in Downtown and feature iconic scenery such as Union Station, the Bonaventure Hotel and some back alleys and tunnels. Night Catches Us Shows: June 25, 7:45 p.m.; June 26, 4:30 p.m., at Regal Cinemas Details: Set amid the radical political spectrums of the 1960s, director Tanya Hamilton’s debut follows the story of Marcus, a former Black Panther returning home. Marcus has to deal with an impressionable teen who wants to emulate the Black Panthers. There is also a widow in love with Marcus, although he may have betrayed her husband years earlier. The Tillman Story Shows: June 19, 9:45 p.m., Regal Cinemas; June 20, 1:30 p.m., at Downtown Independent Details: This documentary may infuriate people. It’s a look behind the propaganda relating to Pat Tillman, a former NFL star killed in the war in Afghanistan. Tillman died in what was called a “friendly fire” incident. Director Amir Bar-Lev looks deeper into the death of the man who at first was turned into a symbol of patriotism. Tillman’s family never accepted the official version of his death. The Los Angeles Film Festival is June 17-27. Tickets and a full schedule are at lafilmfest.com. “We all have to go through our teenage years, trying to fit in, dealing with parents, the pressure of the world. The kids in the film, he said, are barely able to contain their excitement about being in the Los Angeles Film Festival. “They’re beyond excited. They can’t contain themselves and have been emailing and calling me just about every day since we found out we got in,” Tweel said. The Move Yeldham said the move to Downtown came because, as festival crowds increased, they were “bursting at the seams” in the Westside’s seven venues. The offerings have been vastly increased in Downtown Los Angeles, with events taking place at the Regal Cinemas 14 at L.A. Live, REDCAT, the Downtown Independent, the Orpheum Theatre and California Plaza, among other locales. For some Downtown stakeholders, the festival is about more than movies. Steve Needleman, the owner of the 1926 Orpheum Theater, said the festival is good for all of Downtown. “We’re really excited about the festival,” said Needleman. “It’s great for Downtown as a whole and I think L.A. Live is a

courtesy of L.A. Film Festival

courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

courtesy of L.A. Film Festival

From top; Waiting for “Superman,” Revolucion, Hickey & Boggs, Night Catches Us, The Tillman Story.

great place for the film festival to take place.” With 85,000 people expected to attend the weeklong event, it will be a boon even for businesses not directly involved with the festival, he said. “We have just so many different things now that you can spend the whole day Downtown,” Needleman said. The only hiccup organizers are anticipating could come opening night. June 17 is also when game seven of a LakersCeltics finals would take place, if it goes that long. “It could be a ton of people here,” Ansen said. “But we’ll be fine.” The festival organizers will have to get used to the crowds, since they have signed on to keep the festival Downtown through at least 2012. “We’ll keep growing Downtown,” Yeldham said. “The dream is two years from now to have 200,000 people coming down here.” The Los Angeles Film Festival is June 17-27. Tickets and a full schedule are at lafilmfest.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

June 14, 2010

A 61-Year-Old Tale of Love and War Feels Both Timely and Timeless contributing writer

ostalgia is nowhere to be found in Bartlett Sher’s nearly flawless revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. Nor is there an iota of condescension toward the material, as some directors, glancing back at a less socially savvy era, might employ. Instead, Sher and company have made a “new musical” out of the 61-year-old classic by finding what’s real in the story, which frequently requires unearthing the meaning beneath the text. This touring South Pacific, which is running at the Ahmanson Theatre through July 17 and mirrors Sher’s current Broadway production, isn’t played for laughs or grandeur. It is a decidedly adult show, where relationships are messy and require sacrifice and compromise. It is also a richly orchestrated and fantastically performed reminder of why Richard Rodgers was perhaps the finest American songbook composer of the last century. With the stirring vocals of leads Rod Gilfry and Carmen Cusack — and a pair of unforgettable supporting turns by Matthew Saldivar and Keala Settle — the sweeping saga about life on a Pacific island during World War II is a threehour diversion that is as beautiful as its setting. The startling difference between this South Pacific and others can be seen and felt in the first exchanges between rugged French plantation owner Emile de Becque (Gilfry) and Nellie Forbush (Cusack), a Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas. Through their knowing stares and gentle repartee, which are elaborated in Nellie’s “A Cockeyed Optimist” and Emile’s “Some Enchanted Evening,” the two express a love that doesn’t require elaboration to feel genuine. Once the romance is justified, Sher tackles the more challenging segments of the book, co-authored by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan and based on James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. Frequently painted with broad comic brushstrokes, the musical’s supporting characters instead are given dimension. In “There Is Nothing Like a Dame,” the navy guys, led by Luther Billis (Saldivar), express repressed sexual desires through phrasing and movement. It is also in this scene that Sher gradually introduces the theme of discrimination, as the African American soldiers tend to stand apart from the white men. Sher’s handiwork is brought to life by Settle, who shined as the peppy Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre. She is unrecognizable here as Bloody Mary. Walking with a pained limp and sporting a permanent scowl, her intensity radiates as she transforms the islander from a comic relief device to an angry, desperate manipulator, one willing to do anything to get the heroic Lt. Joseph Cable (Anderson Davis) to marry her daughter Liat (Sumie Maeda). “Happy Talk” portrays Bloody Mary as the puppet master, coaching Liat in the ways of seduction. Settle’s rendition of “Bali Ha’i,” the siren song for the mysterious nearby island, hits notes that signal danger in paradise. Almost the entire score seems to carry greater emotional complexities. Even the most straightforward lighthearted number, Nellie’s “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” gets a sophisticated treatment from Cusack. Sher restored a few pieces of the original script that were removed from the 1949 version, some of which help drive home the theme of racism. By the time Cable sings “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” it has become clear that Nellie, who Hammerstein and Logan have written to be sympathetic and likable, has a hateful side too. The second act rushes a bit toward its conclusion, but Gilfry’s aching, soaring version of “This Nearly Was Mine” is the standout performance. Gilfry, known to many Downtown Los Angeles audiences for his work with L.A. Opera, earns his reputation as an operatic powerhouse, but his ability to convey the many sides of Emile, from confident risk-taker to sensitive father, is also impressive. Cusack finds the soft side of Nellie without losing her edge. Through her slight hesitations and carefully considered responses, it’s clear Nellie is waging an internal battle between her current feelings and the manner in which she was raised. While modern musicals tend to rely on elaborate sets and special effects, the technical star of South Pacific is Donald Holder’s lighting. Subtle gradations of color, from dawn’s misty rose to dusk’s deep violet, are cast upon the backdrop that, at times, reveals the distant Bali Ha’i. Every hue amplifies the story’s mood at any given moment. Michael Yeargan’s set design finds beauty in simplicity. A series of wood slat blinds surrounding a few pieces of furniture evoke Emile’s home, and a palm tree planted on a sand

dune designates the beach. A modern take on South Pacific easily could be flashier and more cynical, but Sher proves that finding the universal truth in the material is the key to making a 1949 show both timely and timeless. South Pacific plays through July 17 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org.

photo by Craig Schwartz

Pleasure in the Pacific by Jeff Favre

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

Rod Gilfry, known to many for his Los Angeles Opera roles, appears with Carmen Cusack in a revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. It runs at the Ahmanson Theatre through July 17.

18 Downtown News

LISTINGS

TThehe ‘do n’T Miss’ LisT Ring goes gangsTa and downTown goes Two-sTepping by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor

Tuesday, June 15 ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Six readers, accompanied by projected text and image, animate and illuminate John Ash-

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nUMBeR one

he recently opened Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit Ashile Gorky: A Retrospective celebrates the life and work of an ArmenianAmerican artist who played a pivotal role in paving the way to Abstract Expressionism. Born Vosdanig Adoian in 1902, he immigrated to the United States in 1920, where he claimed to be a relative of Russian writer Maxim Gorky and thereby changed his name. The many tragic events of his life informed his work, including his family’s witnessing the Turkish government’s Armenian genocide. This full-scale traveling survey of Gorky features more than 120 of his most significant paintings, sculptures and works on papers, some of which have never been on public view before. Through Sept. 20 at 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

re you here for the affair, sir?” A party of 2,000 will most certainly be at the affair when the Los Angeles Conservancy continues its Last Remaining Seats series on Wednesday, June 16, with an 8 p.m. screening of The Graduate (1967) at the Los Angeles Theatre. The Conservancy’s annual summer film program features classic movies in historic Broadway theaters. The most extravagant of them, the French Baroque-inspired Los Angeles Theatre, seduces as assuredly as Mrs. Robinson with its sixstory main lobby, carved plaster ornamentation, mirrors and cove-lit murals. Although the show officially has no remaining seats for sale, people who arrive early can often get in on a standby basis. At 615 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laconservancy.org/remaining.

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hat kind of music would German composer Richard Wagner make if he were living in L.A. right about now? The daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra may provide a clue when it debuts a new hip hop gangsta-style soundtrack inspired by Wagner’s Ring cycle on Saturday, June 19, at 8 p.m.; the show is part of both Ring Festival L.A. and Grand Performances’ summer series at the California Plaza Watercourt. Maestro dakonductor Geoff “Double G” Gallegos leads a 60-plus member orchestra that blends hip hop, funk, jazz, soul, classical and rock to blow open your notions of “symphony.” Wagner’s work takes on epic battles of the gods, creatures and mortals of Norse myth; Gallegos takes that warfare to the streets of Los Angeles. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org.

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Underhill photo by Larry

photo by Gary Leonard

photo courtesy of Grand Performance

SPONSORED LISTINGS L.A.’s Largest Mixer XII Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, 700 W. 32nd St., (323) 230-5656 or lamixer.com. July 22, 5-9 p.m.: Join Los Angeles area chambers and business organizations for the ultimate business networking event. Mix and mingle with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of business people representing industries and companies in and around Southern California. L.A.’s Largest Mixer XII is a great opportunity to reach small to large companies, meet new clients and learn how the different chambers of commerce and business organizations can make your business grow. Admission is $20 per person. Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6872159 or grandperformances.org. June 18, 8:30 p.m: The Department of Cultural Affairs’ Artists Project features poet Fernando Castro on the notion of place, real and imaginary, and the myth and spirit of Los Angeles; provocateur Ken Roht’s one-act opera Permissible Union, which represents the politics and character of the LGBT community; MaRia Bodmann presents shadow puppetry and music inspired by the art and culture of Indonesia. Mature content and strong language in some performances. June 19, 8 p.m.: Gangsta Wagner is Geoff Gallegos and the daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra’s ode to the German composer and the Ring. Adrenaline-pumping, fear-inducing and gut-wrenching, the music reflects the intensity of Wagner’s Ring cycle and the West Coast brand of gangsta rap. World Cup at Casey’s Casey’s Irish Pub, 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6292353 or bigcaseys.com. Through July 11, 6:30 a.m. : If the World Cup fever has got a hold of you and you’re willing to get up at the crack of dawn to catch a few games, Casey’s will be right there with you. Downtown’s only Irish pub opens early to celebrate World Cup finals action on nine screens at 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Irish breakfast will be served from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. And you can toast your team with the perfect pint of Guinness or a Bloody Molly (Mary’s sister served with Jameson). No cover. Winners Choice Fundraiser Midnight Mission, 601 S. San Pedro St., for tickets call (877) 338-2968. Through Sept. 15: A $50 ticket can earn you the chance to win a new 2010 BMW 750 or $65,000 cash while also helping those in need. Tickets for The Midnight Mission 2010 Winner’s Choice fundraiser are now on sale and include 30 prizes worth more than $100,000. The deadline for early bird drawings is July 14 while the final deadline is Sept. 15. For more information go to WinnersChoiceMidnightMission.com.

rangle your bones over to Music Center Plaza on Friday, June 18, for a hoedown throw-down when Dance Downtown features line dancing and two-steppin’ under the stars. Saunter and sway and hop and skip to live music and DJs. Everyone is welcome (that means you, too) and absolutely no experience is necessary. Heck, there’ll be complimentary beginner dance lessons at 6:30 p.m. and throughout the evening, so you’ve got no excuses, cowboys and cowgirls. It’s free, fun, and full of fresh air until 10 p.m. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3660 or musiccenter.org.

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

photo courtesy of the artist

EVENTS

June 14, 2010

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June 14, 2010 bery’s “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror,” one of the defining poems of the 20th century. Tuesday Night Project JACCC Plaza, 244 South San Pedro St., tuesdaynightproject.org. 7:15 p.m.: Tuesday Night Project brings together people for live performance, music, poetry, short film, live-stream broadcasts and an eclectic gathering of Los Angeles art and community. Thursday, June 17 Thursdays at Central Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room A, (213) 228-7241 or lapl.org. 12:15-1 p.m.: Join meditation teacher Gen Kelsang Rigpa in a discussion on author Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s Eight Steps to Happiness. Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or lapl.org. 6-8 p.m.: Is your business using the proper software for information sharing and security? The Google Apps for Small Businesses workshop will cover affordable innovations in technology that could increase your business efficiency and bottom line with low or no cost. More information at (213) 228-7110. MOCA, The Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years,” MOCA curatorial assistant Lily Siegel will discuss Zoe Leonard’s Untitled (7 Photographs) (1992) and Jason Rhoades’s Swedish Erotica & Fiero Parts #3, #6, #13, #14, and #16 (all 1994). ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Journalist James Workman uncovers the universal politics of water and draws wisdom from tragedy in the Kalahari desert, opening eyes to the ongoing struggle to secure water for life on earth. Friday, June 18 Coro CrossTalk The California Endownment, 1000 N. Alameda St., (818) 720-7181 or corocrosstalk.blogspot.com. 8:30-10 a.m.: A panel discussion addressing: “Death of the Fourth Estate? A Look at New and Traditional Media and What It Means for the Public Affairs Arena.” Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Join native plant expert Orchid Black for her introduction to the history and culture of

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com acorns, a highly nutritious food and a staple of Northern Hemisphere peoples for whom gathering and preparing them was an important communal task. Participants in this hands-on workshop will identify different oak species, leach and grind flour, and eat acorn cornbread. MOCA Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., moca.org. 1 p.m.: The Young Artists Recital Series features singers from LA Opera’s Domingo Thornton Young Artists Program performing arias and excerpts from the most popular of operas, including Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and more. Music Center Plaza In the plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.: Dance Downtown is the popular and free Friday night series for people of any level of expertise. This evening is Line Dancing and Texas Two-Step. Dance and sway the night away with beginner lessons and DJ/live music under the stars. Friday Night Flicks 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare/. Sunset: Pershing Square transforms into an outdoor movie palace this summer for the third season of Friday Night Flicks. Tonight, The Princess Bride. saTurday, June 19 Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or lapl.org. 10 a.m.-noon: The Used Book Sale features hundreds of bargain books, LPs, videos and more in the rotunda. Noon-3 p.m.: The Library of Congress Veterans History Project presents David Meyer-O’Shea conducting oral history interviews with WWII veterans. For information, call (323) 469-9774. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 11 a.m.: In the “Love Rocks” Scavenger’s Safari, Alyssa Morgan, Mineral Sciences Collection Manager, guides guests through the Hall of Gems and Minerals, and then behind the scenes in the department’s lab. She’ll show off the equipment curators use to research mineral specimens, and tell some of the stories behind the discovery and acquisition for some of the department’s most extraordinary rocks, gems, ores and meteorites. sunday, June 20 MOCA Grand Avenue

250 S. Grand Ave., moca.org. 3 p.m: On the occasion of “Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective,” Richard Hovannisian will discuss Gorky’s relationship to Van, Armenia and the history of the Armenian Genocide.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. June 16-17, 10 p.m.: Vtech and Mochilla present the Los Angeles premiere of TIMELESS Composer/ Arranger Series: Arthur Verocai, followed by a Q&A with Verocai, B+ and Coleman. June 17-27: Los Angeles Film Festival. Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. Through June 17: The Karate Kid (12:45, 3:45, 6:45 and 9:45 p.m.); Shrek Forever After (1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 8 and 10:15 p.m.); Splice (noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30 and 10 p.m.). IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through June 24: Under The Sea 3D transports moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, including Southern Australia, New Guinea and others in the Indo-Pacific region, allowing them to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea and to explore the impact that global climate change has had on ocean wilderness. Through Sept. 6: Hubble 3D enables movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. Through Sept. 6: Featuring nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D will immerse audiences in the story of an ocean wave and the lives it impacts and transforms. From astounding surfing action to the chaos of ocean storms, the film leads audiences on a quest to understand one of this planet’s most intriguing and dramatic phenomena. Last Remaining Seats Broadway Historic Theatre District, various venues, (213) 430-4219 or laconservancy.org.

June 16, 8 p.m.: Last Remaining Seats is the L.A. Conservancy’s annual series of classic films and live entertainment in the historic theaters of Broadway. The Graduate screens at the Los Angeles Theatre. Los Angeles Film Festival Various Downtown venues, (866) FILMFEST or lafilmfest.com. June 17-27: The Los Angeles Film Festival connects the movie-loving public to critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent in the heart of Los Angeles. The Festival will present 200 features, shorts, and music videos from more than 40 countries including the Pat Tillman documentary The Tillman Story; Focus Feature’s The Kids Are All Right; and Revolución, a collaboration of ten renowned Mexican filmmakers. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through June 3: Get Him To The Greek in the Premiere Cinema (11:10 a.m. and 1:50, 4:30, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.); The A-Team (12:50, 1:30, 2:10, 3:40, 4:20, 5, 6:40, 7:20, 8 9:40, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); The Karate Kid (12, 12:40, 1:20, 3:50, 4:30, 6:20, 7, 7:40, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Get Him To The Greek (12, 2;40, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Killers (11:50 a.m. and 2:20, 5, 7:30 and 10 p.m.); Marmaduke (12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10 and 9:20 p.m.); Splice (12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (1:10, 4, 6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); Sex and the City 2 (1, 4:10, 7:30 and 10:40 p.m.); Shrek Forever After 3D (11:40 a.m. and 2, 4:20, 6:50 and 9:10 p.m.); Iron Man 2 (3:20 and 9:50 p.m.). Beginning June 17 (partial listing): Toy Story 3 in 3D (12:01 a.m.). See Complete Listings on the Web at ladowntownnews.com/calendar.

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LA’s best free summer concert series

FREE!

Department of Cultural Affairs (COLA ) Artists Project Featuring: Fernando Castro, Ken Roht, MaRia Bodmann ///Friday, June 18 @ 8:30PM Mature content and strong language in some performances. COLA’s performances are part of the city’s Cultural Grant Program.

daKAH Hip-Hop Orchestra Gangsta Wagner ///Saturday, June 19 @ 8 PM

Concert line: 213.687.2159

90 | Office line: 213.687.21

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110

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SOUTH EXHIBIT HALL

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ADAMS

NORTH UNIVERSITY PARK

AT&T CENTER

VD PICO BL

STAPLES CENTER ARENA

CONVENTION CENTER

FASHION DISTRICT

MAYAN THEATER

PICO STATION

PICO UNION

CHERRY

110

PRODUCE MARKETS

12TH ST

SOUTH PARK

11TH ST

WEST EXHIBIT HALL

ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL

MOUNT ST. MARY’S COLLEGE

South Figueroa Corridor District

CHICK

11TH ST

OLYMPIC BLVD HOLIDAY INN

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MARRIOTT L.A. LIVE & RITZ REGAL NOKIA CARLTON CINEPLEX PLAZA NOKIA THEATRE WEST CT RN GARAGE HEA

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SPRING ST

BROADWAY

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OLIVE ST

GRAND AVE

LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL

CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER

FIGUEROA HOTEL

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

ORPHEUM THEATER

GRAND HOPE FIDM PARK

7TH ST

RALPHS

L PA

FLOWER MARKET

HOPE ST

FLOWER ST

FIGUEROA ST

D AVE

FRANCISCO ST

GARLAN

AVE

JAMES

LUCAS

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GLADYS PARK

CENTRAL CITY EAST

LAAC 7TH ST

8TH ST

PARA LOS NINOS

6TH ST

MACY'S PLAZA

777

LAPD

MERCANTILE ARCADE

JEWELRY DISTRICT

4TH ST

WHOLESALE SEAFOOD DISTRICT

SAN JULIAN PARK

NEW LATC

9TH ST

4TH ST

SHERATON HOTEL

7 + FIG

ART SHARE 4TH PL

LITTLE TOKYO GALLERIA MARKET

6TH ST

7TH ST / METRO CENTER STATION

5TH ST

HISTORIC CORE

SQUARE

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

725

LVD WOOD B

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OLD BANK DISTRICT & GALLERY ROW

5TH ST

BILTMORE PERSHING HOTEL

GAS CO TOWER

PED

MUSEUM OF NEON ART

PERSHING SQUARE STATION

TRACTION AVE

SAN

US BANK TOWER

LOS ANGELES ST

MELLON BANK

3RD ST

MAIN ST

WIL

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

CALIFORNIA FLIGHT PLAZA

SPRING ST

VD SHIRE BL

WATER COURT ANGELS

BRADBURY BLDG. RONALD REAGAN BIDDY STATE MASON BLDG PARK

4TH ST

WESTIN YMCA UNION BONAVENTURE HOTEL BANK CITIGROUP PLAZA CENTER

FIGUEROA AT WILSHIRE WILSHIRE BLVD WILSHIRE GRAND HOTEL

BROADWAY

WELLS FARGO CENTER

3RD ST

PLAZA

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MAGUIRE CITY GDNS NATIONAL JONATHAN PLAZA CALIF. CLUB CLUB THE STANDARD

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7TH ST

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LOS ANGELES CENTER STUDIOS

FLOWER ST

MARRIOTT HOTEL BEAUDRY AVE

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LAUSD HQ

3RD ST

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERF. ARTS MOCA OMNI HOTEL

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2ND ST

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CIVIC CENTER STATION

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101

C. EDWIN PIPER TECHNICAL CENTER

OLVERA ST

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SAN BERNARDINO SPLIT

101

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www.cartifact.com

AVE

101

CHINATOWN GATEWAY

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Gas Stations

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ALPINE HILL

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CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT HQ ING SPR

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Metro Rail Station Entrances

CHINATOWN BL VD

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E ST

ALPIN

NEW

WAY

EGE S

COLL

CASTELLAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EGE S

COLL

CHINATOWN STATION D BROA

PACIFIC ALLIANCE MEDICAL CENTER

Contact Cartifact for the full-color, every-building version of this map and others. Available as a poster and in print, web, and mobile media.

700 S. Flower St, Ste. 1940 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.327.0200 maps�cartifact.com

HILL

FIGUEROA TERRACE

CENTRAL PLAZA

G RD

M WAY

KAISER MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

ANN STREET ELENTARY SCHOOL

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Los Angeles

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Downtown

N CHU

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YS EL

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NORT H SPR ING S T

June 14, 2010

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

place your ad online at www.ladowntownnews.com

FOR RENT

L.A. Downtown News Classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ads Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL Out of State BANK OWNED LAND! 10 acres. Trout stream, $39,900. Substantial discounts, limited availability. Beautiful Fish Lake Valley acreage w/year round rainbow trout stream in foothills of Boundary Peak, Nevada’s highest mountain. Gorgeous snow-capped views. Great recreational opportunities. Upscale ranch community. Financing available to qualified buyers. Call 1-877-6693737. (Cal-SCAN) WE FOUND The Mmiddle of Nowhere! Only 90 minutes from Phoenix. 36 acres - $49,900. In the good times, the neighbor paid 3 times more! Want to live 17 miles down a bumpy county maintained road with electric? For real privacy and seclusion in a beautiful setting. Buy & hold. Outside Wickenburg. Saddle Creek Ranch by AZLR. ADWR report. Financing available. 1-888-503-7063. (Cal-SCAN)

20 ACRE RANCH Foreclosures Near Booming El Paso, Texas. Was $16,900 Now $12,900. $0 Down, assume payments, $99/ month. Owner financing. Free map/pictures 1-800-343-9444. (Cal-SCAN)

“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.”

Homes for sale

Slvr Lke/Echo Prk Home 3bd/1.5bth $449k

2 Story w/Views Tierra Properties • Lic#467438 lofts for sale

310-477-3192 Irma or Rod

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

TheLoftGuys.net LA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313

Real Estate Services

Buy Sell Lease

BestLARealEstate.com

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555

323.298.0100

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.

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL

Retail Store Front services

Rob Nesbitt

rjn Heritage Realty, Inc. Specializing in Downtown condominiums since 1987 213.617.8225 Rob@RobDowntownLA.com RobDowntownLA.com

$1000 gross lease a month Downtown LA Starting @1250 sq.ft., 20ft ceiling, water included, central AC w/private restroom. Call Pierre or Terri at 818-212-8333 or 213-744-9911

FOR RENT

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

Apartments/Unfurnished CHARMING MID-CENTURY 2 bdrm. Fireplace. Garage. Patio. Quiet. $1500. 2505 W. 5th st. LA 90057 805-772-9079.

Bachelor Rooms

Walking distance to Metro Station, Social Security Office, Immigration Office, and Jewelry District. Close to 110 &101 Fwy. On site security guard.

Little Tokyo/Arts District Clean shared baths and kitchen.

213-892-0088

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

Free ReNT SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731. Continued on next page

THE ANSWER

rooms

Downtown LA High Rise Office Space for Lease

Milano Lofts

TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Office space lease/sale

Below market Rates 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.

retail space lease/sale

Loft/Unfurnished

1 Month FREE Free Wireless

From $515/Month 213-784-4421

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

22 Downtown News

June 14, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

edUcAtionAl

ApArtments/UnfUrnished FREE RENT SPECIALS Up to $3500 off select apartment homes! Additional Look + Lease specials may apply. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866-742-0992. LARGE ONE BEDROOM in renovated classic 1905 building, West downtown/MacArthur Park, High ceilings, lots of windows, walk to Metro-rail,$1,050. 2133890753 ORSINI III - Now Pre-leasing for May 2010. Hard Hat Tours Available by appointment. Never Lived in, Brand New Luxury Apartment Homes, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764.

SPECIAL EDUCATION Teacher: Resume/Ad/job: Vista Del Mar Child & Family, 3200 Motor Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034. drivers COMPANY DRIVERS (Solos & Hazmat Teams) * Great Pay * Great Miles * CDL-A Required. We also have dedicated & regional positions available. Call 866-789-8947. Swift. (CalSCAN) DRIVERS IN DEMAND! 20 Positions Available. Solo OTR Drivers & Team Drivers West states exp/hazmat end, great miles/ hometime. Andrus Transportation 1-800-888-5838, 1-866-8065119 x1402. (Cal-SCAN) REGIONAL DRIVERS Needed! More Hometime! Top Pay! Up to $.41/mile company drivers! 12 months OTR required. Heartland Express 1-800-441-4953. www.HeartlandExpress.com. (Cal-SCAN)

NATIONAL CARRIERS needs O/Os, Lease Purchase, Company Drivers for its expanding fleet. Offering Regional/OTR runs, Outstanding Pay Package, excellent benefits, generous hometime. 1-888-707-7729. www.NationalCarriers.com. (Cal-SCAN) READY FOR A NEW Opportunity? Gordon Trucking - We have Home Weekly & Regional Options! *Team & Solo OTR positions *Regional Openings *New Equipment! *Better Benefits! *Lots of safe miles! *Consistent Home Time! If this sounds like the right opportunity for you then call 1-888-832-6484 or log onto www.TeamGTI.com to chat with a recruiter live! EOE. (CalSCAN) GenerAl AUTOMOTIVE Great jobs in downtown LA! Full time or part time. Two blocks south of the Staples Center at Figueroa & Venice. Toyota Central is growing! Sales Associates - all levels. Internet Associates. Service Technicians. Service Consultants. Drivers. Cashiers. Receptionists. Bilingual Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern and women encouraged to apply. Great compensation package and employee benefits. Please call 800-597-5516 or send resume to autosuccess@ aol.com. EOE.

HELP WANTED Movie Extras. Earn up to $150/day. People needed for background in a major film production. Exp. not required. 888-366-0843 office/clericAl CURRENT OPENINGS!!! Office Positions and Biz Opp’s. www.Jobs444.com and www. Career444.com.

sAles WANTED: LIFE AGENTS. Earn $500 a Day. Great Agent Benefits. Commissions Paid Daily, Liberal Underwriting. Leads, Leads, Leads. Life Insurance License Required. Call 1-888- 713-6020. (Cal-SCAN)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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

Downtown Los Angeles Brentwood y Century City Woodland Hills Downtown Los Angeles Brentwood y Century City Woodland Hills

SERVICES finAnciAl services

professionAl BUSINESS ANALYST Health & Wellness Benefits (Nestle USA, Inc. in Glendale, CA). Config. SAP HR to devel. & implemen. HR & benefits tech. functions on behalf of food & bev. mfr. w/ over 30,000 ees. Req. Bach’s deg. in Bus. Admin., MIS, CS, or rel. field, & 5 years’ exp. in configuring SAP HR to devel. & implement HR & benefits tech. functions. Stated or other exp. must incl. 2 yrs’ exp. in configuring, designing, and implementing Health & Welfare Benefits as an end-to-end business process, as well as HR technologies. (In lieu of Bach’s degree, will accept 3 yrs. academic study toward a Bach’s deg. & 1 addt’l yr. of exp. as stated.) Exp. may, but need not, be gained concurrently. Apply w/ resume to M. Simo at Nestle USA, Inc., 800 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203. Ref job code BAHWB. No phone calls or third-party agents please.

NOW HIRING Individuals with advanced knowledge in Antiques, Coins, Currency, etc. Earn 50K-100K. Work only 42 weeks/yr. All expenses paid. Will Train. 217-726-7590 x146. (CalSCAN)

BUsiness opportUnities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN) THINK CHRISTMAS - Start now! Own a Red Hot - Dollar, Dollar Plus, Mailbox or Discount Party Store from $51,900 worldwide! 100% Turnkey. Call Now 1-800-518-3064. www.DRSS4. com. (Cal-SCAN)

CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth. 1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866-738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. (Cal-SCAN) printinG

JOBS. JOBS, JOBS! Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. Up to 100% tuition assistance. Part-time work. Fulltime benefits. May qualify for bonus. www.NationalGuard.com/ Careers or 1-800-GO-GUARD. (Cal-SCAN) Tashman Ad V4.pdf

BUsiness services JUDGEMENT($) NOT PAID? Auto, small claims, evictions etc. Judgement Enforcement Agency 213-627-1762, judgmentenforcementagency1@yahoo.com

15¢

childcAre

each

500 minimum

Universal reprographics 2706 Wilshire Blvd

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)

DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com. (CalSCAN)

COLOR Copies

213-365-7750 ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.KTPGlobal.com or call 1-800-330-8446. (Cal-SCAN)

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $550. Reach over 6 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 2886019. www.Cal-SCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Attorneys

cleAninG

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

Get your Green cArd or citiZenship Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

AdvertisinG ADVERTISE ONLINE in a network of 140-plus newspaper websites. Border to Border with one order! $7 cost per thousand impressions statewide. Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www. CaliforniaBannerAdNetwork. com. (Cal-SCAN) 6/8/10

SUMMER CAMP THEATRE Workshop Incredible opportunity for parents working in Downtown. Los Angeles Theatre Academy. $100 per week. latheatreacademy.com 323-343-9922

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183. misc. services HERNIA REPAIR? Did You Receive A Composix Kugel Mesh Patch Between 19992008? If the Kugel patch was removed due to complications of bowel perforation, abdominal wall tears, puncture of abdominal organs or intestinal fistulae, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727. (Cal-SCAN)

12:41:48 PM

Beautiful Fully Furnished Offices Starting at $500 y Flexible Terms y Corporate ID Programs Beautiful Fully FurnishedAvailable Offices

noW leAsinG

$1,400’s/mo. free parking

Starting at $500 y Flexible Terms y Corporate ID Programs Available Services Include:

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

Reception y Mail y Fiber Optic Internet y TelephoneServices & Voice Include: Mail y West Law y Reception y& Mail Optic Internet y Photocopy FaxyyFiber Video Conferencing Telephone & Voice Mail y West Law y Photocopy & Fax y Video Conferencing

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

Additional Features: Kitchen Additional Facilities, Mail/Copy Features: Room, Conference Rooms, Mail/Copy Spectacular Views, Kitchen Facilities, Room, Fully Trained Staff Views, Conference Rooms, Spectacular

Pricing subject to change without notice.

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Fully Trained Staff

• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

JENNY AHN JENNY AHN (213) 996-8301

laleads@regentbc.com

www.regentbc.com

(213) 996-8301

www.regentbc.com

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

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

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

At last! You have the power to stop the noise!

You don’t have to lie awake most of the night listening to all the noise. Turn it off by adding sound proofing to your windows. Then sleep. Relax. Work. Whenever YOU want.

The solution to a noisy world

TASHMAN

Home Center For more information and a FREE estimate:

Exclusively at

323-656-7028

www.citiquiet.com

Do you have something to sell?

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

Ad Prices

________________________________________________

(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY) • Items under $300 • Items $301 to $500 • Items $501 to $1200 • Items $1201 to $2000 • Items $2001+…

Name: Address: City Phone: Cash $ Credit card #: Exp. Date:

FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00

12 words, 2 weeks 15 words 15 words 15 words 15 words

All ads run for 2 weeks. Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.

With a circulation of State Check $

Zip Credit Card $

47,000,

our classifieds get results!

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue.

June 14, 2010

2007 TOYOTA (C100473-1/038999) Call 888-203-2967

Education HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN)

HYBRID $14,988.

2008 INFINITI G37 Low Miles, Loaded, CO1055D1-1/122597. $31,887. 888-879-9608

HEaltH

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

DEPRESSED? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Experienced clinician will provide supportive therapy. Individuals, couples, groups. Wilshire Blvd., near Good Samaritan. Info: www. drannewarman.vpweb.com (310) 281-9797.

autos WantEd A CAR DONATION Helping sick kids! Donate Your Car to SONGS OF LOVE and make a sick child smile! Featured on NBC (TODAY SHOW), CNN. Tax-deductible, all vehicle conditions accepted. www.SongsofLove.org 888-909SONG (7664). (Cal-SCAN)

IS YOUR TEEN Experiencing: School Problems - Conflicts at home or w/friends? Adolescent support group ages 13-17. low fee. Marney Stofflet, LCSW 323662-9797.

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)

HEaltH & FitnEss PILATES APPARATUS One-onone training. Get fit - Relax on your way home! Mt. Washington (Bet/Downtown/Pasadena) off 110. EXCELLENT RATES! 323376-2412

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)

AUTOS PRE-oWnEd

PETS/ANIMALS

doWntoWn l.a. auto gRouP Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac

adoPt a PEt ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.

2008 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350 Convertible certified, low miles, navigation, leather, (243042), $39,939. Call 888319-8762. 2010 VOLKSWAGON CC 2,369 miles, white, carfax 1 owner, VIN 528667, $24,888. Call 888781-8102.

Professions Code). Pub. 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5/2010

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

LEGAL Fictitious BusinEss namE Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20100696012 The following person is doing business as: TEXTILE ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES (TALA), 444 S. Flower Street, 34th Floor, Los Angeles CA 90017, (Mailing address) PO Box 71022 LA CA 90071, are hereby registered by the following registrant: CALIFORNIA FASHION ASSOCIATION, 444 S. Flower St., 34th Floor, Los Angeles CA 90071. This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 5/21/2010. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on February 1, 2010. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and

namE cHangE suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia, countY oF los anGeles oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name no. Bs125340 Petitioner: Law Offices of Joe Ramirez Manahan, Attorney for MICHAEL REGINALD YAP, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: MICHAEL REGINALD YAP Proposed name: MICHAEL YAP ALANES 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. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 7/01/2010 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 1A Room: 548 The address of the court is 111 N. Hill Street, LA 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

2007 AUDI A4 Premium Pkg. Moonroof, leather, (200420), $17,995. Call 888-583-0981.

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

Spring Tower Lofts:

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

Premiere Towers:

2 bdrm/2 bath, $1,650/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/ GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

Please call 213.627.6913

Downtown since 2002

Don't settle for anyone less experienced! Call us today! Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with bath at $695/mo.

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

sec. deposit special @$200

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

HBODY

MASSAGEH

3386766 0119

saKuRa HEaltH gYm & sauna, inc.

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

FOR RENT? FOR LEASE? FOR SALE? People are looking here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

(213) 481-1448

Casaloma L.A. Apartments

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

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

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

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

Luxury Rooms in Downtown Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available • Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDeNT RaTe! $690 1 person

Stay 3 months & get

$100 oFF

Stay 6 months & get

$200 oFF

Mayfair Hotel 1256 West 7th street

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

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

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

Piero 616 ST. PAUL AVE.

877-235-6012

WWW.THEPIERO.COM

Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.

866-690-2888

WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM

FREE Rent Specials On Select Floor Plans

On Spring St.

www.cityloftsquare.com

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

Orsini Medici

680 sqft, 16 ft ceilings, $1450/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly

THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST

Best Downtown Locations!

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

City Lofts:

aDoPt (oR FosteR) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

Be Inspired...

877-231-9362

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.

Take us home

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2002 911 TURBO X-50 yellow, loaded, 28k miles, one owner,vin 686559, 888-685-5426.

the loft expert! group

hearing on the petition in CIVIC CENTER NEWS, 1246 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA of general circulation, printed in this county. John A Clarke, Executive Officer/ Clerk LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT Date: MAY 20, 2010 Hon. Matthew C. St. George, Commissioner Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21/2010

725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

‘08 HONDA CIVIC EX only 16K miles with navi. N13552/507882, only $16,999. 888-838-5089.

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

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

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

• 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

s Perfor Version Children’3 ming Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

• 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

FictitiOus Business name statements:

$85. Only Client: G.H. Palmer Associates FOr 4 insertiOns Publication: LADT News (213) 481-1448 for details. Size/Color: Call 4.3125” x 8” 4C (Note: The Downtown News does not perform filing services)

EASY AS EASY AS

Design by: apluscreative@yahoo.com

Ph: 323.474.4668

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

FOR RENT? FOR LEASE? FOR SALE? People are looking here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

(213) 481-1448

DowntownNews.com makesplacing a classified ad in the L.A. Downtown News is easier than ever. Your ad will appear online and inaour publication DowntownNews.com makesplacing classified ad in the in a couple of easy steps.

L.A. Downtown News is easier than ever. Your ad will appear online and in our publication • Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST in a couple of easy Monday's steps. edition. to be processed for the following

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For legal notices please call 213-481-1448

24 Downtown News

June 14, 2010

We Got Games The Lakers Try to Bring Home a Trophy Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. June 15, 6 p.m.; June 17, 6 p.m., if necessary: The battle between the Boston Celtics and the Lakers comes back to Staples Center, at least for game six, and possibly for a deciding game seven. The Lakers regained momentum by taking game three in Boston, thanks to a gutsy fourth quarter performance by guard Derek Fisher. But then the Celtics punched back in game four (Sunday’s game five happened after press time). This week’s games could be epic, and there is one thing you can bet on: Kobe Bryant, still bent on revenge from a 2008 finals loss to the Celtics, will be more intense than you have ever seen him.

photo by Gary Leonard

Twitter/DowntownNews Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. The Dodgers are on the road all week, taking on the Cincinnati Reds (June 15-16) before heading to Fenway Park for some inter-league action against the Boston Red Sox (June 18-20). The latter series should be interesting, as both clubs started the season poorly but have rebounded thanks to consistent pitching. Last week, the Dodgers used the power of their arms to sweep three games from the potent St. Louis Cardinals. Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 929-1300 or wnba.com/sparks. June 18, 7:30 p.m.: Before the Phoenix Mercury came to town last week, the Sparks had already dropped two games to the defending WNBA champions, losing by one point both times. Candace Parker returned the favor last week, hitting the game winner to lift the struggling Sparks over the Mercury. Could this be the Sparks’ spark to get on track? They host Connecticut in their only game this week. —Ryan Vaillancourt

Kobe and the Lakers will try to repeat as NBA champs this week. Expect intensity from number 24.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM