06-27-11

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS June 27, 2011

Volume 40, Number 26

INSIDE

All About Anime 16

2

Downtown spirits, an ice cream push, and other happenings Around Town.

15

Exchanging Italian restaurants, drink deals and more local food news.

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

Chairmen of the Boards Hundreds of Skateboarders Roll on City Streets and Through Pershing Square

The cats come out at night.

5

Yachts sail on City National Plaza.

6

Life inside a Downtown food truck.

8

photos by Gary Leonard

Skateboarders converged on Downtown on June 21 for a mass ride. The event was titled Wild in the Streets.

by Jacqueline Vergara Amézquita

The business of renting vintage plates.

10

The return of LudoBites.

12

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owntown’s commuter population got an unexpected boost last week: In the early afternoon of Tuesday, June 21, hundreds of energetic teens and young adults skateboarded across the Sixth Street Bridge and

into the Central City.

Organized by Emerica, an athletic shoe and gear company that also sponsors a skateboarding team, the event titled Wild in the Streets was held in commemoration of Go Skateboarding Day. The event started at Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights

at 1 p.m. After a warm-up session of pivots and high jumps, the group made its way over the bridge and glided into Downtown Los Angeles.

Escorted by police officers in cars and on motorcycles and bicycles, the skateboarders traveled see Skateboarders, page 14

Railway Dangers Should Have Been Caught Sooner, Say Officials No Timeline for Reopening of Shuttered Angels Flight

by Richard Guzmán city editor

18 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 21 CLASSIFIEDS

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dditional heat was placed on the shuttered Angels Flight railway last week, with city and state officials both weighing in on the funicular that was closed June 9 due to wear that, regulators warned, could have led to a derailment.

Although a top official with the Angels Flight Railway Foundation says new wheels are currently being fashioned for the funicular and that the attraction will be safe, city leaders are asking for answers before the railway resumes operation.

Additionally, state safety officials say the worn wheels should have been spotted sooner by Angels Flight management. The see Angels Flight, page 7

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A small sign at Angels Flight informs wouldbe riders that the funicular has been closed.

The California Public Utilities Commission ordered it shuttered June 9 because of wear that it says could have led to a derailment.

It’s happening downtown. www.lacwh.org (213) 742.5784

COMING FALL 2011

2 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

AROUNDTOWN An Ice Cream Push

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lthough Downtown already boasts numerous places at which to get ice cream on a hot day, Hal Bastian wants one more.

This week, the senior vice president and director of economic development for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District hopes to rally Downtowners to help woo Fosselman’s Ice Cream to the Central City. On Sunday, July 3, Bastian is urging local residents and workers to accompany him to Fosselman’s in Alhambra (1824 S. Main St.) from 2-4 p.m. “I like them and I’d like people to go up there and see me and have a little ice cream social and use that to get them to come down here,” Bastian explained. Although Bastian recently sent an invite via email asking people to help recruit the company, it may be an uphill battle: Chris Fosselman, one of the owners of the store, told Los Angeles Downtown News that they are not interested in coming Downtown. He said the same to Bastian, who remains undeterred. “I don’t take prisoners and I don’t take no for an answer,” Bastian said. He plans on standing in front of the shop with a purple DCIBD cap and a petition for people to sign. Fosselman’s has been in business for more than 90 years. It operates as an old-fashioned ice cream shop with a 1940s soda fountain.

They hand-make the ice cream there and serve more than 40 flavors including brown butter, mocha almond fudge and Dutch chocolate. In a worst-case scenario, said Bastian, people who make the trek to Alhambra will get some ice cream the day before the 4th of July.

Spirits Company Coming Downtown owntown is getting another share of the drink market with the upcoming

Jail Gets Minor Renovation

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he Men’s Central Jail is getting a minor makeover, following the County Board of Supervisors’ approval of a $250,000 project to renovate part of the facility’s interior.

The work will include modifications to better meet the Americans with Disabilities Act, the installation of more alarms, including panic buttons for staff and security gates, and additional office space for parole and inmate processing. The project is scheduled to take 10 months. The county will be reimbursed by the California Department of Corrections

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

photo by Howard Pasamanick

Olmos There: The students at Para Los Niños Charter Elementary/Middle School got a dose of star power last week, when actor Edward James Olmos delivered the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for 48 sixth graders. Dr. Eliza Lifshitz also spoke at the event on Wednesday, June 22. After his address, Olmos headed to the Million Dollar Theatre on Broadway for a screening of the 1981 film Zoot Suit, in which he starred.

and Rehabilitation. The Men’s Central Jail, at 441 Bauchet St., houses about 5,000 inmates.

It was constructed in 1963 for $16.3 million and was designed to house 3,323 inmates on 585,150 square feet of floor space. In 1976, a $35 million project added 350,000 square feet and raised the inmate capacity to 5,276.

Downtown Student In Tchaikovsky Competition

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recent graduate of Downtown’s Colburn School Conservatory is moving forward in a competition that, if it had a TV-friendly name, might be called “Tchaikovskian Idol.”

Nigel Armstrong, a 21-year-old violin stu-

dent who recently received a degree from the Grand Avenue institution, has moved on to the second round of the prestigious XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition, held in Moscow. Twenty-seven violinists from around the globe started the competition. The second round was slated to take place June 26-27. If Armstrong scores high enough, he’ll move into the five-person finals, which take place Wednesday, June 29. “By advancing and achieving what he’s already achieved, he’s already elevated his name and that of the school’s to a high level,” said Daniel Bee, a spokesman for the Colburn School. Although he graduated in May, Armstrong has continued to study with the school’s Robert Lipsett. Previous winners of the event, held every four years, include see Around Town, page 12

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addition of a distillery to the Arts District.

Last week, officials announced that Greenbar Collective, a subsidiary of Modern Spirits LLC, will move to a building at 2459 E. Eighth St. The liquor distributor could open as early as December, said Melkon Khosrovian, one of the founders of Greenbar, which must leave its Monrovia headquarters to make room for the Metro Gold Line expansion. Greenbar will undertake a $1.7 million renovation of a vacant structure at the site, said Khosrovian.

The funds include a $250,000 loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency, part of the CRA’s Industrial Incentive Program, which helps small businesses that are creating living-wage jobs expand or build in the city.

The move will add 18 jobs to Greenbar’s four current positions. The company is known for making organic, artisanal vodka, gin, tequila and rum. In addition to helping the company grow from its current 6,000-square-foot facility to a 14,000-square-foot headquarters, the move will enable Greenbar to be closer to Downtown customers such as The Edison, Bottega Louie and J Restaurant & Lounge.

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4 Downtown News

June 27, 20, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

EDITORIALS How the Mighty Fall

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

M

any people believe that business, especially the sector known as “Big Business,” will always dominate the Downtown Los Angeles landscape. The reasoning goes that big business brings big money, and big money means special treatment, influence, political connections, tax breaks, etc.

There is some truth to that — the business sector can and does hire lobbyists and seeks to influence legislation to get what it wants. For that matter, the nonprofit sector and organized labor do the exact same things — “special interests” can be a wideranging term.

What has become apparent about business in the past few years in Downtown is that while the overall sector continues to have a position of influence, for certain figures or prominent companies, power can be fleeting. Look over the years or even the decades and one will see the diminishing, or sometimes the disappearance, of business leaders people may have thought were too big or too powerful ever to fail.

The latest of the mighty to fall appears to be Richard Meruelo, the politically connected real estate magnate who, as Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, may be ousted from the company he founded. Meruelo Maddux Properties, for a time the largest landholder in Downtown, is nearing the end of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and observers expect that two investors ready to pump $23 million into the business will take charge. Although the game is not over, it’s a turnaround no one in local real estate circles ever expected.

While Meruelo’s fall is stunning to many, he won’t be the first or last to tumble off the mountain. Robert F. Maguire, who in the 1980s and ’90s developed some of the key pieces of Downtown’s skyline (including U.S. Bank Tower), in 2008 lost control of his real estate empire after acquiring some Orange County buildings at the height of the market. Maguire was pushed out by his own board — unthinkable to many who witnessed his rise — and the firm, now called MPG Office Trust, continues to try to right itself in a soft market.

The list goes on. Frank McCourt may be stripped of Dodgers ownership, and American Apparel founder Dov Charney has seen his once white hot company slip so far that many have pondered whether he can maintain control. Go back decades and there’s the Committee of 25, a group of largely Downtown figures so powerful they were considered a sort of shadow government. Yet even this organization is long gone for numerous reasons, including the onetime exodus of corporate headquarters from Downtown.

The point is, a place at the top now doesn’t mean someone powerful will have that position 10 years from now or even two years from now. Business will always be powerful in this and every other city, but no single figure or company can expect to stay on top just because they have in the past.

The Mayor, the City and the Future

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ecently, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa traveled to Washington, D.C., where he assumed the role of president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In his first days in that post, he made statements, in speeches and on national television shows, about education reform, about creating jobs, about aiding cities and about advancing efforts to speed up the construction of local mass transit projects.

Those are all important things, and Los Angeles could benefit with a voice in Washington, D.C. The financially strapped city can use funding and legislative help from the feds on a number of fronts, and if Villaraigosa’s role in this organization gives him pull in Congress and advances those aims now and in the future, then we are better off for it.

Villaraigosa did not limit his comments to these subjects. He also picked up other domestic and international threads. He referenced the national, rancorous divide between Republicans and Democrats. He touched on ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that it could free up money for cities.

Congressional party battles and international conflicts are important topics, to be sure. However, they are matters upon which Villaraigosa carries no national influence. We’re hardpressed to see how Los Angeles will be made better by the mayor inserting himself in these debates. Some of the comments seemed more like an audition for future work than something for the present.

The trip to Washington and Villaraigosa’s post in the U.S. Conference of Mayors come at an interesting point in his tenure: Friday, July 1, will mark the sixth anniversary of Villaraigosa’s inauguration to the top elected office in Los Angeles. Only two years remain until he is termed out. Political observers will note that his time of real impact is limited to about a year, as come mid-2012 he’ll be a lame duck, someone whom opponents will just wait out, as they have always waited out mayors or other elected leaders at the tail end of their time in office.

Thus, Villaraigosa comes to a crossroads, a situation where what he does next could mean more to the future of the city than to his own future. We hope that he uses this new position, and his remaining time in City Hall, to concentrate on the things that matter most to Los Angeles. If the city with 12% unemployment (the reported number; some believe the real figure, including those no longer looking for work, is about 20%) and only a trickle of projects is to move forward and bolster its economic base, it needs a mayor laser focused on local issues, not a mayor concerned with

laying the groundwork for his next job.

Villaraigosa, of course, is a mayor who has not always been laser focused on the job Angelenos twice elected him to do. After a burst of initial excitement in 2005 that coincided with the latter part of the economic boom and the housing bubble, he appeared to focus more on running for governor than he did on leading the city. His frequently traveled out of town, often to stump for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He seemed intent on springboarding to the next job in the limelight; when he decided not to run for governor, he announced his decision on a national cable channel, a thumb in the eye to local players and citizens.

Meanwhile, the city began its slip into the devastating budget crisis it has endured for the last several years. This led many to believe that if Villaraigosa had paid more attention to the city and its economy than his career aims and personal matters, that Los Angeles might be in a better place now.

We think that, since the beginning of his second term, Villaraigosa has improved and has shown a deeper consideration of Los Angeles. Yet although he is better than he was, he still is not what millions of Angelenos hoped he would be when he first took the oath of office. The potential has never been realized.

Although Villaraigosa has pushed some important matters, in particular the effort to build a dozen mass transit projects in 10 years rather than 30, he still lacks a legacy achievement. That particular effort, formerly called 30-10 and now titled America Fast Forward, was hampered by the Republican surge in the last election. Getting the money and legislation to make the deal happen is one of his aims, but its outcome in a divided Washington, especially with a presidential campaign approaching, is uncertain.

All of which brings us back to Villaraigosa’s Washington trip, to his standing before a phalanx of TV cameras outside the White House, to his appearance on “Meet the Press” with a host of national figures. One might believe such a setting is where Villaraigosa has long envisioned himself.

Maybe it is, but if so, he should put it on the back burner and pay heed to those who elected him, those who entrusted him to run the city. Los Angeles still needs a mayor to focus on traffic, mass transit, a proposed Downtown football stadium and municipal pension payments that will balloon in future years. Los Angeles still needs Villaraigosa to follow through on the local education aims he laid out in April’s State of the City address.

Los Angeles needs Villaraigosa to focus on Los Angeles. It’s much more important than his next job.

June 27, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 5

Catty Shack A Downtown Pet Boutique Is Feeling Pretty Frisky

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hey’re quite a spectacle, these crea- We’ll never know how many cats live tures with the soft fur, sharp claws, Downtown. We rarely see them. They’re inpointy ears, long whiskers and a visible to the casual observer, going about penchant for screeching at odd hours of the their secret lives like Navy SEALs or the livenight. in help at the Schwarzenegger residence.

I know what you’re thinking: I just took a They’re not really on the Downtown party look at my latest eHarmony matches. Wrong. circuit.

Those are, in fact, actual cats, strolling on a Unless, of course, they’re headed over to recent weeknight toward the corner of Sixth Pussy & Pooch for one of their posh Meow and Main for a fancy night out.

Mingle Cat Socials. Pussy & Cats? On these mean streets?

Pooch is not only a fantastic name Downtown has gained a bit for a stylish Old Bank District pet of fame in recent years as a petboutique, it’s also the very funny friendly neighborhood. Dogs punch line to a joke I have not yet thrive here despite the traffic, written. congestion and limited open But believe me, I’m trying. space. It’s easy to spot them The store, which also hosts the chugging up and down the sidepopular Mutt Mingle for dogs (one walks of major thoroughfares, takes place this week), welcomed happily leading their busy loft- Howard Leff about 20 Downtown cats and their dwelling owners on daily (and owners on a recent night. While it’s nightly) walks. Dogs, as we all easy to imagine a bunch of collies know, are amazing animals that OF ONE and poodles walking freely and petend to make the best of any siturusing the fashionable and colorful ation, even if it means living in renovated of- pet accessories on display, no one really knew fice buildings. what to expect on cat night.

But even for them, it’s a bit of a stretch.

Would they peruse too? Would they strut?

Downtown cats probably make a little Prance? Hide? more sense.

All of the above, as it turns out. Some cats After all, loft life seems better suited to the arrived in luxurious carriers. A few walked in feline persuasion. Cats don’t need a lot of on a leash. Still others showed up in the arms space. They can live in your suitcase. They’re of their owners and stayed there, comfortably also unconcerned with dirt, grass, parks, long pampered, for the entire two-hour event. walks or chasing tennis balls. A studio loft Only a few had the desire to roam around. is more than enough room for them. Cats All in attendance remained very well belook at even the tiniest of lofts and wonder haved. In fact, the only catfight I witnessed if they’ll ever find the time to see it all. The involved two hungry owners and the last other end of the couch? Maybe someday lemon cupcake, just one of a number of treats when things are less hectic. available for the human guests.

PARTY

photo by Kim Rodgers

One of the honored guests, and a few humans, at a recent Meow Mingle held at Downtown pet supply store Pussy & Pooch.

Even self-described “cat whisperer,” and perfectly named Jackson Galaxy, was amazed at the lack of kitty calamities. The furiously tattooed but very gentle host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell” show, who was a special guest at the event, admitted to being a bit freaked out by the fact that all these cats were in such close contact without any battles breaking out.

But there they were. Cats including Puma, Lola, Ally and Oliver, normally stuck inside for the evening, were finally seeing the big city. The Meow Mingle serves another purpose as well, offering proud cat owners a chance to show off their pets and get an upclose look at the other neighborhood kitties.

You certainly don’t need a cat to attend. But if you do bring one, make sure you inquire about the free nail trimmings (for the cats, not you).

Although they didn’t hold a contest for the most striking cat, my vote would have gone to the Sphynx named Vladimir, a pink, hairless cat with fierce eyes, a pleasant disposition

and the charming vibe of a friendly space alien.

Even if you’re pet-less, nights like this make P&P a terrific place to hang out, especially for guys, since it turns out many cat owners are young single women. Plus, it’s the only pet store that feels more like an art gallery and smells not drastically different from the cosmetics counters at Nordstrom. Close your eyes and you would never imagine you’re standing just a few yards away from actual dog food.

That’s partly due to the fact that owner Janene Zakrajsek has created an impeccably clean, colorful and friendly environment.

In fact, if this thing gets any bigger, she may have to put a red rope outside, hire a doorman and start a VIP (Very Important Pet) list.

On the menu? Dinner, drinks, and of course, a strict two biscuit minimum.

The next Meow Mingle is July 20. The next Mutt Mingle is June 28. Check pussyandpooch. com for the latest in-store events.

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6 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Boat Trip Photos by Gary Leonard

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irates, water-loving Vikings and a whitehaired fan of Gone With the Wind were among the participants at the fourth annual Psomas Paper Yacht Challenge. Forty-eight designers placed their homemade crafts in the fountain with the “Double Ascension” sculpture at City National Plaza on Wednesday, June 22. The fastest yacht, entered by the Downtown office of the design and engineering firm AECOM, crossed the fountain in 34 seconds. The event, which doubles as a fundraiser, pulled in nearly $7,000 for this year’s beneficiary, the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House.

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Now it’s even easier to get between the South Bay and Downtown on the Silver Line. Service now runs every 10 minutes during rush hour with increased frequencies during midday and weekends too.

To plan your trip, check metro.net.

June 27, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Angels Flight Continued from page 1 California Public Utilities Commission ordered the attraction closed after inspections on June 6 and 9.

On Friday, June 17, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry introduced a motion in City Council asking the CPUC to provide a report on the safety and maintenance issues that have plagued the railway that reopened in March 2010 after being closed for more than nine years. The railway had also been shuttered by the CPUC last June so malfunctioning end gates could be fixed.

“I would like to hear what the PUC has to say,” Perry said

photo by Gary Leonard

Angels Flight Railway Foundation President John Welborne said he had planned to change the wheels of the funicular during the attraction’s off hours.

in an interview last week, “because their whole function is safety and they are an unbiased, government regulatory oversight agency rendering an opinion.

“Obviously we don’t want anything to go wrong again,” Perry added, alluding to the February 2001 Angels Flight accident that killed an 83-year-old man and injured seven others, “We had a fatal accident there several years ago, so obviously safety is of heightened concern for me.”

Perry said she wants more information on what the CPUC requires in terms of compliance so she can make sure those standards are being met.

A June 10 letter from the CPUC, addressed to John Welborne, president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, was written notice of a directive the railway received the previous day to close until further notice. The letter signed by Richard Clark, director of the Consumer Protection and Safety Division for the CPUC, stated that the accelerated wear on the wheels could put riders at risk.

“Staff has identified safety related issues involving patterns of accelerated wear on the wheel flanges and track structure, which we believe results in unacceptable risk of an incident, including potentially, derailment of the vehicles,” Clark wrote.

Welborne, who heads the foundation as a volunteer, refused to provide Los Angeles Downtown News with specific details as to safety inspections on the railway. He repeatedly stated that operators work with state regulators when it comes to safety issues, and not members of the media.

Welborne said his own experts conduct “regular inspections” of Angels Flight, though he would not reveal how often these occur. He said his inspectors have identified the root cause of the wear, but would not say what that was.

He said his inspectors had already planned on changing the wheels before the order to close, and that he intended to do so during the railways’ off hours.

Nevertheless, in a press release sent by Welborne June 9, he said that, “Our mechanics and consultants were surprised that the normal, expected, gradual wearing of the wheels that has been monitored since the reopening in March of 2010 had accelerated in the last month to a point where replacement is required sooner than the normal time period expected for steel wheels.”

Dr. Paul King, deputy director of the consumer protection and safety division for the CPUC, said his organization inspects the quality of others’ inspections. He contends that Angels Flight officials should have caught the wear on the wheels sooner.

“It just shouldn’t go that far,” King said. “The chance of a

derailment is too high.”

Self inspections of rail agencies take on an increased importance because of the CPUC’s limited staff. King said the agency has only four rail transit inspectors throughout the state who work with more than a dozen agencies such as Metro, BART in San Francisco and the Sacramento Regional Transit District.

He noted a major difference between transportation behemoths that serve entire cities or regions, and one such as the Downtown funicular, where Welborne led a long campaign to raise the funds to bring Angels Flight back after the 2001 closure.

“The larger organizations have the resources, they have the inspectors, they have the standards for inspection,” King said.

“They have maintenance facilities, shops, suppliers. They have a whole lot of things that Angels Flight doesn’t.”

The CPUC is not only looking for Welborne to install new wheels, said King. The agency also wants him to provide spe-

Downtown News 7

cific information on what led to the wear, and detail how it will be addressed in the future so the situation does not repeat.

This is not the first time Angels Flight has drawn scrutiny from Perry. The opening after the 2001 accident was repeatedly delayed, with Welborne promising numerous times that operations would resume “soon,” only to have dates come and go. After several missed deadlines, Perry, recognizing the limitations of a small volunteer organization, sought to have Metro get involved in operating Angels Flight.

She said, however, that since the agency showed no interest in running the railway, she would not pursue that option this time.

Without providing details, Welborne said that the foundation has the resources to operate the railway on its own. He said they would continue to work with the CPUC to satisfy their needs and reopen Angels Flight, although he would not say when the opening day might be.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

8 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

In the Food Truck Trenches A Reporter Finds That It’s Hard To Shift Into Gear in the Mobile Cuisine World

T

here was a moment, just a moment, when panic set in. It occurred as I was practically throwing food out the window while the world’s fastest cook was piling lunches in front of me.

“Kabob salad! Gyro! Veggie burrito!

California burger!” I yelled at the top of my lungs as hands below me reached for their grub.

That’s when the doubts hit me. Did I put the ketchup with the burger or was that chili I dropped in there? Did I forget a fork for the salad again? Was that seasoned salt or did I disperse some other powdery substance atop those fries? And how is she so freaking fast?

More important than the questions was one phrase I kept repeating, like a mantra, during my first and last day in a food truck: “Just don’t kill Sergio today.”

As part of the Downtown Challenge, a series where I take on jobs and activities that are part of the fabric of Downtown Los Angeles, I spent a day working the kitchen inside a food truck. It made sense considering the army of trucks that storm the Central City each day.

While taco trucks have trawled the streets of L.A. for generations, it all changed a few years back when the Kogi Korean barbecue

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truck rolled onto the scene. Now there is a wealth of food on wheels, with trucks serving everything from innovative grilled cheese sandwiches to Vietnamese food to Cajun dishes to crepes.

I joined a truck that was a little different than most but still part of the new food revolution. Kabob Express is run by Joe Mercado, who has been in the mobile food business for more than 25 years, feeding office workers, construction crews and others a versatile menu featuring burritos, tacos, burgers and sandwiches. When the new trucks started seizing all the attention, Joe re-branded himself and his pair of trucks as Mexiterranean cuisine, a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean food.

His menu includes the Mexi-terranean burrito, a flour tortilla filled with hummus, shawarma and a homemade tahini sauce.

There are also old-school items like burgers and sandwiches.

Stressing Out Sergio One of Joe’s trucks parks at Seventh and Bixel streets daily from about 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

It serves approximately 200 customers a day from the nearby office buildings. The lunch hour is the busiest time. Coincidentally, that’s when Joe said I could help out.

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The author (left) with Sergio Morales and Dora Hernandez, who operate the Kabob Express truck that parks in City West.

servant and having an ability to read people.

Thus, I quickly sensed that Sergio Morales, who runs Joe’s Seventh and Bixel truck, wasn’t that excited about having me lollygagging around his truck during the busy time.

“You’re going to kill me today,” he told me as nicely as he could while I was putting on my apron. “You’re going to be in the way.

Just try not to get in the way too much and be ready to get bumped once or twice, because there’s not a lot of room in here.”

Dora Hernandez, the longtime cook, just gave me a courtesy smile. Then she turned

right back around and kept on chopping something.

“Sounds like you’re not too crazy about me being here,” I said to Sergio.

“We’re missing a guy today, and I’m going to have to do what he does too,” he responded. Now he would also have to deal with a nosy writer asking stupid questions.

I felt bad for Sergio.

“I’m here to help, just tell me what to do,” I said in my most reassuring, hard-workertype voice. “But I have no experience with any of this. The only thing I’m good at is

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June 27, 2011

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com

ordering food and eating food.”

For some reason, this didn’t make him smile.

When it came time to work, I was hoping Sergio would hand me a chef’s hat and a sharp knife and tell Dora to give me a few quick gourmet lessons. Instead, I got a jar of dressing, a spoon and dozens of small plastic cups. My job was to ready the dressings and salsas before the lunch crowd came so we could toss them in when needed.

I emptied an entire jar of dressing and salsa as I talked a bit with Sergio. He was originally in the food truck business, then moved to his real passion, real estate. He was doing pretty well until the market tanked. Fortunately, he was able to turn to Joe, an old friend. Now he manages the truck, and has an upbeat, positive attitude.

“You make the best of it. You have to,” he told me.

Sergio does. It seemed like he knew all of the customers by name. He joked with them, they joked back and they asked about each other’s lives in between orders.

The Three Amigos Together, Sergio, Dora and I were ready to feed the hungry City West lunch crowd.

“It’s fun, it’s easy,” Dora said. In fact, it’s almost too easy for her, which was my downfall.

After prepping the dressing and salsa, my job was the simplest one in the truck — I had to add some seasoned salt to the fries and some ketchup packages too, and make sure there was a fork with every order and bag it all up. It didn’t seem monumental.

Then I had to yell out the orders, since people tend to walk away after ordering or chat loudly. After I got their attention I would hand the food out the window.

The crowd started arriving at about 11:30 a.m. While Sergio claimed it was an unusually slow lunch, to me it seemed like we were at the Indianapolis 500 and the orders and customers were speeding all around me like cars going 200 miles per hour.

I had an immediate problem: Dora spoke as fast as she cooked and I had trouble understanding what was what as she piled orders in front of me.

“Is this the kabob salad or a chicken kabob plate?” I would ask. By the time I finished my question, she was another three orders ahead of me.

Luckily, in between taking orders, handling the money and working the pits like an ace mechanic, Sergio helped me out by translating for Dora a bit.

Pretty soon I got used to her calls and was yelling out the window like an old-school lonchero.

“Kaaaabob salad, chicken wrap, chicken wrap here!

California Burger, who’s got the California Burger?”

When I wasn’t loud enough Sergio was behind me like an echo. I seemed to be growing on him, too.

“Who’s this new guy?” someone asked him.

“That’s my brother. Don’t we look alike?” Sergio joked. For the record, and to make Sergio feel better, we look nothing alike.

I joked around a lot with the customers too, and they all seemed to think I was extra funny, since I got more laughs than I usually get when I joke around at press conferences. I guess people like you more when you’re handing them food

than when you’re asking about budgets.

Most importantly, besides a few forgotten forks and maybe some red pepper added to an order of fries rather than seasoned salt (sorry, nice lady in the white shirt) I did a pretty good job. Best of all, I didn’t kill Sergio.

“You actually helped me today. You helped me a lot,” he told me at the end of my shift.

It meant a lot to me that Sergio said that. Then I took my apron off and did the thing I’m best at.

I got out of the truck and ordered the California burger from Sergio. It had been a long day, I was hungry and it had taken all my will not to take a bite of one of those juicy burgers as I was handing them out.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

The truck serves about 200 customers a day.

Don’t wait

Vaccinate

Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to protect children, teens, adults and seniors against serious disease. They also help stop the spread of highly contagious disease in our schools and community, like whooping cough and the flu. It’s easy to find out which vaccines are right for you or your loved ones by calling your doctor or clinic. But for everyone’s health and well-being, please don’t wait.

Visit www.vaccinateLA.com or call 211.

stay healthy. Vaccinate.

This publication was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number 1H75Tp000350-01 from CDC. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.

10 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Setting the Vintage Table Rental Business Small Masterpiece Stands Out With 4,000 Century-Old Plates, Goblets and Silverware

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

J

ason Murakawa may be the most meticulous and careful dishwasher in Los Angeles. It’s not by choice, but rather necessity: The 4,000 pieces of fine dining tableware he rents out are 70 to 130 years old. He’s cleaning by hand, not trusting a machine.

The collection is the base of Small Masterpiece, a company Murakawa founded two years ago in the Arts District.

Murakawa, 50, specializes in providing heirloom and antique plates, goblets and flatware for weddings. He’s also got some random accessories, including dozens of old apothecary bottles and cake stands.

Here are eight things to know about Small Masterpiece.

Pretty in Porcelain: The plates are diverse in size and pattern, but are downright exclusive in terms of make. Every piece was fashioned by the legendary French porcelain manufacturer Haviland Limoges

(the business, which was founded by an American, operates today as the Haviland Company). The patterns around these rare plates include real gold, and were favored by the likes of the White House during the Lincoln Administration, according to the Haviland Co. Silver and Bone: The Small Masterpiece silverware collection is more varied in terms of shape and make, but every fork, knife and spoon is comprised of sterling silver and a natural material like bone, mother of pearl or horn. The silverware is all heirloom, meaning that it was passed down through multiple generations.

Finding heirloom silver is getting harder these days, Murakawa said.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people are melting their heirloom flatware down because of the value of silver,” he said.

These days, Murakawa pays between $40 and $50 for a single silver fork.

Gobs of Goblets: Murakawa’s clients

photo by Gary Leonard

Jason Murakawa founded Small Masterpiece two years ago in the Arts District. The company rents fine dining tableware pieces that are up to 130-years old.

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Downtown News 11

Loft Living In The Heart of DTLA Elegant Units, Luxury Amenities photo by Gary Leonard

All of the plates in Murakawa’s collection are made by French porcelain manufacturer Haviland Limoges. The goblets are early American pressed glass.

have a penchant for drinking in style. Forget champagne flutes or long-stemmed wine glasses. Murakawa’s glassware is all of the goblet variety, and they’re all original, early American pressed glass.

Sense of History: Murakawa started Small Masterpiece because he saw a void in the event planning market, and realized he wasn’t the only one who cared that the tableware was not just vintage, but original.

“There’s a sense of history with it,” he said.

“Having the real McCoy presents a sort of warmth to the table. I think that when there’s an event of any sort and it’s a dinner, that’s where your guests are going to spend the most amount of time.”

Clients notice that the pieces are original, said Alison Hotchkiss, a San Franciscobased event planner who has used Small Masterpiece for multiple weddings.

“For the first event with Jason, we were just so stoked that he had cool vintage plates and glassware,” she said. “Then we did a second event in Carmel and the bride’s parents and one of her friends, who works at Martha Stewart, noticed that they were originals, and they were like, ‘How did you get this?’”

Decade Collection: Murakawa amassed his collection over the past decade, the fruit of trips to antique stores, flea markets, garage sales and auctions, with a little online shopping mixed in. Unlike many collectors, who can get obsessive, Murakawa believes his collection is essentially complete. When items get broken or lost, he replaces them, but that’s about it.

“Collection is not an addiction,” he said.

“It’s also very expensive to keep buying and buying and buying.”

Pretty Plate, Pretty Penny: Murakawa’s serY vice ranges widely in cost, depending on the CM size of the event and the number of pieces requested. A 140-guest wedding that uses MY two porcelain plates per seating, along with a six-piece silver flatware arrangement, costs CY about $6,400. That includes Murakawa’s onsite “white glove service.” Out-of-town events CMY would include travel fees. A local 225-person K event with three dishes, six-piece flatware set-ups, one goblet and the same white glove service could cost up to $11,400.

Just Weddings, for Now: Two years into the business, Murakawa has worked solely on weddings. “But it doesn’t have to be,” he said. “It could be exclusive corporate events or at home parties. But my clients tend to be on the upper side of the economy, so to speak, or however you want to say it nicely.”

Small Masterpiece is at 530 S. Hewitt St., #533, (213) 229-8800 or smallmasterpiece.com Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Break It, Buy It: If a plate breaks, the customer pays. In addition to his fee for providing the tableware, he charges a reimbursable deposit for broken or lost pieces. At a recent wedding in San Diego for 320 people, the replacement cost was pegged at $40,000. But Murakawa said that breakage is rare, because he’s always on site and plays a hands-on role. Make that a gloved hands-on role, said Hotchkiss.

“Jason’s a perfectionist, which in this industry is pleasant to have,” she said. “He literally walks around from setting to setting to make sure the edges are exactly a certain amount of inches from the table. He wears these little C white gloves and hand cleans them. He’s not cheap, but he’s worth every penny.”

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12 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Another Bite of Ludo French Chef’s Pop-Up Restaurant Returns to Downtown

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

T

hose who missed out on previous Downtown installments of celebrated chef Ludovic Lefebvre’s pop-up restaurant LudoBites have another chance this summer.

The French chef last week announced that he will bring LudoBites back to Gram & Papa’s, a 40-seat venue in the Fashion District, Aug. 3-Sept. 10, with service on Tuesday through Friday nights. The venue will be christened Ludo 007 for the run.

“I love the energy of Downtown, of the Fashion District,”

Lefebvre told Los Angeles Downtown News. “Gram & Papa’s was the best LudoBites we ever had.”

LudoBites is a culinary road show where Lefebvre moves into a space for a few months, draws raves, crashes reservation lines, then shuts down, no matter how much demand remains. During 2010 LudoBites stopped at Gram & Papa’s in April and May, and again from July through September. The restaurant sold out every seating.

The agreement with Mike Ilic, the owner of Gram & Papa’s, calls for Ludo meals to take place in the evening, after the restaurant closes. Lefebvre and his staff move in and essentially

photo by Gary Leonard

Ludovic and Krissy Lefebrve will bring the pop-up restaurant LudoBites back to Gram & Papa’s in the Fashion District Aug. 3 to Sept. 10.

create a whole separate restaurant with their own menu and staff. After each shift they take out their belongings.

Previous LudoBites stops at Gram & Papa’s featured French-influenced dishes such as grilled octopus with oregano, poached egg potato mousseline with chorizo condiment and steamed duck lemon verbena with crispy skin puree.

The menu for Ludo 007 is not finalized, but Krissy Lefebvre, the chef’s wife and business partner, said she expects it to contain more tapas-style dishes influenced by “Ludo Bites America,” a Sundance Channel show debuting July 19 in which the chef visited several towns and explored the local cuisine. Dishes will be $8-$19.

Ludovic Lefebvre said the menu will likely include some American comfort food and North Carolinastyle barbecue. He said none of the items from past Ludobites will make it to the new menu.

“I never like to repeat myself,” he said.

The couple is also looking at opening a restaurant in the future, but those plans are still in the conceptual stage, and no location has been determined.

Reservations for Ludo 007 will be available starting July 14 at 4 p.m. at ludobites.com.

Around Town Continued from page 2 Van Cliburn, Viktor Tretiakov and Gidon Kremer. Armstrong’s progress can be followed at tchaikovsky-competition.com.

Lease Inked for Long-Vacant Space

A

fter sitting empty for almost two decades, a lease has finally been signed for a 4,500-square-foot space at the Pacific Center. The new tenant, the State Bank of India, is expected to move in during October following FDIC approval. The last tenant to occupy the space at 523 W. Sixth St., near the southwest corner of Pershing Square, left the property in the early 1990s, said Derrick Moore, vice president of brokerage services at CB Richard Ellis. “The space has always been marketed as available but it’s never been taken in all these years,” Moore said. Moore took over the listing about four years ago and said that within the last nine months, he received multiple offers for the groundlevel space in the Financial District. “Companies are realizing the growth that’s occurring in Downtown,” he said.

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June 27, 2011

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

STREET TALK

by Richard Guzmán and Gary Leonard, asked at Grand Hope Park

What is your favorite Downtown nightspot?

I like the rooftop bar at The Standard. The atmosphere is good, the music is cool, there are all kinds of people my age and you get a few older people too. It’s kind of upscale so it’s cool.

I go to L.A. Live, the bowling alley Lucky Strike. I like it because the place is loud and the food is great.

—Rafael DePena, student

I like La Cita and Bar 107. At La Cita I like the mix of the crowd. You get a good vibe going on there, a whole mix of ethnicity. That’s the same reason I like Bar 107.

—Hepzi Perez, student

—Eric Wilson, Downtown resident

I go to the Library Bar and La Caña rum bar.

I’m more comfortable in bars. The Cosmos are my favorite at both and you get crowds there that are younger, in their mid-20s. I like that.

I’m not 21 yet, so I like the Cicada Club at the Oviatt, which is pretty cool. They do ’40s night where everybody dresses up. I heard a lot about The Smell and I tried finding it one time but I couldn’t.

I usually go to eat at restaurants around here.

I really like Wokcano and Big Wangs. At Wokcano crowds are a little older, but at Big Wangs they’re more college student age.

They’re both more of a restaurant vibe and not clubs so I like that kind of thing.

—Marcela Leon, Downtown resident

—Olivia Zorrilla, Hollywood resident

—Brittney Weaver, student

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June 27, 2011

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Skateboarders Continued from page 1 west down Fifth Street, south on Hill Street and Grand Avenue, and then west on both Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard, according to police. While rolling down Hill and Grand, some sprinkled off and rode through Pershing Square, doing jumps off the steps and using the park infrastructure for tricks.

Mark Waters, a spokesman for Wild in the Streets, said organizers brought the event to Los Angeles because the skateboarding world is centered in the city. A Wild in the Streets event in New York City in 2008 drew approximately 8,000 people, said Waters. A Vancouver event in 2009 attracted 4,100.

Although organizers estimated that 1,000 middle and high school-aged students took part in the skateboarding frenzy, Capt. Todd Chamberlain of the LAPD’s Central Division placed the number closer to 400.

“Our main goal was to ensure the safety of the participants and of the community,” said Chamberlain. “There were a lot of unsafe actions and a lot of foolishness, and we wanted to curtail that.”

Though no injuries or arrests were reported, some tickets were handed out for violations including skating against traffic or traveling on the sidewalk, said Chamberlain. The number of citations was not disclosed.

Waters said the event wasn’t just for fun, but also had a higher cause. He said Emerica teamed up with the group Boards for Bros the previous day to donate 127 skateboards to kids from the Salesian Boys and Girls Club, a youth center in Boyle Heights.

“Our mission is to empower kids and let them know they have a voice,” said Waters, “to let them know there’s power in numbers.”

The predominantly male crowd, the vast majority of whom were dressed in jeans and T-shirts, described Wild in the

Streets as a success. Participants said they trekked from cities including Glendale, Norwalk, Huntington Park and Cypress.

Much of the advance word was spread by the Internet and on Twitter.

“Skateboarding is a way of life,” said 18-year-old Robert Faulkner of Cypress, who went on to tout a possibly unexpected benefit of the pastime. “It’s prevention for youth because it helps you keep off drugs.”

Jesse Santamaria, 21, of Maywood, took a related positive tack, avoiding the stereotype of rowdy riders and instead promoting the exercise aspects of the sport.

“It keeps you healthy and fit,” he said.

It wasn’t all kids running wild in the streets. Concerned about skateboarding in a place where thousands of cars zoom by, a few parents accompanied their children. Jack Ackerman of Downey followed his 14-year-old son, Ryan, and the rest of the participants in his car.

“Although they’re monitored by the safety officers, it is a little bit of chaos,” he said. “However, I’m happy I haven’t seen anyone out of control.”

Although his son has sustained multiple sprained ankles over the six years he’s been skating, Ackerman remains supportive of the hobby.

“It gives him a physical outlet where he’s part of a bigger community,” he said. “Skate parks give an alternative to the streets and gangs.”

Also in attendance were professional skateboarders Andrew Reynolds and Leo Romero of the Emerica team.

“Some kids have told me this is the best day of their lives,” said Waters.

“They got to skate alongside their heroes.”

The event culminated at Lafayette Park in Westlake, where skateboarders showed off kick turns and spins under the hot sun.

photos by Gary Leonard

Some of the skateboards cut through Pershing Square, using the stairs and park infrastructure to execute tricks.

Others stuck to the sidewalk.

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Downtown News 15

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RESTAURANTS Grub With Guzmán

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All the Food That’s Fit to Eat Good News Abounds at Seventh Street’s Eco Asian

city EditoR hen I first walked into Eco Asian on Seventh Street I was a little taken aback by the decor. As a reporter I’m used to being around newspapers, but this was something else.

The restaurant’s walls are covered in Asian newspapers. I felt like a fish wrapped in newspaper at the market. Then I saw the menu and turned into a shark, ready to devour some food.

Just like the newspapers on the wall, which seem to be from all over Asia, the quick casual spot covers the culinary gamut of Asian food, serving Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and Japanese fare. The econess of the place comes not just from the papers on the walls and the recycled bottles used as lighting fixtures, but from the freshness of the ingredients. Nothing is frozen, including vegetables and meats. They make their sauces in-house and most of the dishes are stir-fried.

The menu includes Thai chicken curry ($10.48), marinated beef ($12.53) and wok-seared vegetable tofu ($9.57). They also give you a chance to

W

become a chef yourself with a pick and choose menu.

Diners select their protein — think chicken, beef or tofu — and then choose a style, which determines the price. Choices include Thai ($10.48), which is prepared with a coconut milk-based sauce, hot Bombay curry ($11.52), chao mian ($9.57) prepared with a soy-based dressing, and sweet and sour ($9.57). You can add vegetables, noodles and rice in any combination.

I assembled a Thai beef vegetable noodle dish. It came in a bowl and was huge. I wasn’t sure I could finish it, but after one bite my shark feeding frenzy instincts took over and I didn’t stop until I was done.

I was pleasantly surprised by the freshness of the ingredients. I could almost hear the snap of the bean sprouts in each bite of my Thai beef bowl.

The noodles were slurplicious, and the beef was perfectly spicy and rich with flavor.

Another winner is the pho. It’s served in a chicken broth with thick noodles and raw beef, which cooks in the broth. The soup is filled with mint leaves that add a fresh accent.

Restaurant Buzz

Zucca Says Bye, Seven Grand Says Summer Drinks

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

A

rrivederci Zucca: The Italian establishment Zucca Ristorante was one of the first upscale restaurants to set up in South Park following the opening of Staples Center in 1999. Now, after 10 years, the high-ceilinged room with the ornate murals — and the killer butternut squash ravioli — has closed. The last day of service for the restaurant owned by the Patina Group was June 17, and by June 20 Zucca was off the Patina Group website’s roster of establishments. However, the space at 801 S. Figueroa St., one of the few pedestrian friendly spots on a stretch between the shopping mall at 7+Fig and L.A. Live, won’t stay empty long. Last week Innovative Dining Group announced that it will open an Italian trattorria-style establishment in the space this winter.

“We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to do an Italian concept and everything came together at the right time: the location, the timing and the right people on our team to develop something new,” said IDG partner Lee Maen in a statement. IDG operates restaurants including Sushi Roku, BOA Steakhouse, Katana and Robata Bar. This will mark its first move into Downtown Los Angeles. n A Punch of Whiskey: Whiskey lovers will not go thirsty this summer thanks to

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n A Healthier Hope: After a two-month hiatus, First & Hope Supper Club has reopened for lunch. The third most important meal of the day is now being served from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday- Friday.

The menu includes salads and sandwiches, with options including chicken, braised brisket, salmon and lamb meatloaf. Daily soup specials and mac and cheese are also on the menu. Salads run $7-$10 and the sandwiches cost $10-$18. The Bunker Hill restaurant closed for lunch to rework the menu because mid-day patrons wanted more casual, healthier and less expensive items, said Steve Scott Springer, the restaurant’s vice president of marketing and promotions. However, the new offerings

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I usually drench my pho in Sriracha chili and hoisin sauce. But there’s no need for that here. They serve a homemade chili sauce that’s somewhat reminiscent of wasabi. I added two squeezes of lime, dropped the lime in the soup just for fun, and there I was, a shark on the attack once again.

Eco Asian is at 521 W. Seventh St., (213) 489-1811 or eco-asian.com.

aren’t going to replace exercise any time soon, unless you’re coming from the Historic Core and you pair the lunch with a walk up to Bunker Hill.

At 710 W. First St., (213) 6178555 or firstandhope.com. n A Slice of Urbania: Pizza lovers and Italian beer fans have a new place to come together.

Urbano Pizza Bar opened at Sixth and Hope streets this month. Owned by Michael Leko and Will Shamlian (who also own the neighborphoto by Gary Leonard ing Library Bar, the bar Spring After 10 years at 801 S. Figueroa St., Zucca Ristorante has closed.

Street and Coffee Bar), the eat- It will be replaced by a trattoria-style establishment this winter. ery specializes in wood-fired, thin-crust pizza and includes a bar with im- and Friday from 11 a.m.-midnight. It’s dinported Italian beer and wine. “It seemed ner-only on Saturday, from 5 p.m.-midnight, like a natural approach to launch into doing and Sunday, 5-11 p.m. food,” said Jonny Valenti, general manager At 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-1900. at Urbano. On June 29, the establishment Contact Richard Guzmán at will begin serving lunch (dinner only this richard@downtownnews.com.

Monday and Tuesday), extending hours to Jacqueline Vergara Amézquita contributed Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., to this report.

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At 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

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The recently opened Eco Asian has newspapers on the walls and recycled bottles are used as lighting fixtures.

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16 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

CALENDAR

s e t a r i P Hylians, , s e i r i a F c i t c a l a G and Oh My

photo s cou rtesy of An ime E xpo 2 011

Massive Costumed Crowds to Pack Convention Center for Anime Expo

by RichaRd Guzman city editoR

I

f you see a short, green, sword-wielding Hylian walking around Downtown this week, don’t be surprised. If he is next to a couple of pirates, a man with a television on his head or a queen in a long gown with different colored eyes, and they are all gushing over a sexy singer who doesn’t physically exist, don’t worry.

This and much, much more takes place at Anime Expo 2011. Approximately 125,000 people are expected to attend the celebration, which is marking its 20th anniversary July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Anime Expo is a celebration of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. It is filled with screenings, panel discussions, autograph sessions, karaoke and video game competitions. It is open to the public and tickets start at $45 a day and $75 for an event-long pass.

The convention prompts a huge level of participation from attendees. While June’s E3 video game gathering produces a relatively small number of people who dress as characters, the crowds at Anime Expo go deep into “costume play,” dressing as figures such as the Hylian boy from The Legend of Zelda, or pirates from the manga series One Piece. It all culminates on July 4 in an event called Masquerade, when teams of convention goers perform skits based on their characters.

Celebrity appearances will include the Japanese pop trio Kalafina, singer Maon Kurosaki, Japanese TV host and blogger Danny Choo, several voice actors and even a few

Power Rangers.

Event brass are also heralding a pop diva making her U.S. concert debut with a sort of live show.

That figure, Hatsune Miku, is known for her ankle-length aqua-colored pigtails. She will perform at Nokia Theatre July 2.

The pop star, a digital creation of Crypton Future Media, will have a live band behind her. She’ll appear on stage as a 3D projection with her voice synthetically created by a computer program.

While Miku may be unfamiliar to most Downtown Los Angeles office workers and residents, she has a huge following. She is also the star of an upcoming U.S. ad campaign for Toyota.

“We’re really stoked to have her,” said Marc Perez, chairmen and CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the organizer of the event. “She will sing, dance and perform like a real artist.”

Anime Expo has a heavy does of fan participation. The slate includes a debate where teams of three people will argue an as-yet-to-be announced anime topic.

“This is an exciting, fun-filled convention for everyone,” Perez said. “If you felt like an outcast in high school for liking anime, here you’ll be surrounded by more than 100,000 people who enjoy what you like and everything having to do

with Japanese pop culture.”

While it doesn’t have the following in the United States that comic book characters like X-Men and Batman boast, anime is huge in Japan, thanks to its complex and mature storylines.

The characters are sometimes violent and risqué. They typically appeal to older teens and young adults, although it’s not limited to a specific audience.

“You have storylines that follow everything from female heroines to a guy that controls a robot to a kid who just wants to be a chef,” Perez said. “The style of background in anime videos, the artwork in manga, there’s more realism in Japanese animation.”

In the Green The economic impact of 125,000 people in Downtown on a usually slow holiday weekend also goes beyond any cultural see Anime, page 24

Attendees at the convention frequently dress as their favorite characters. The event is expected to draw 125,000 people.

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A New Frame for a Masterpiece Les Misérables Has Tweaks for a 25th Anniversary Tour, But the Story and Songs Still Deliver

by Jeff favre contributing writer

S

uggest adding more color and brushstrokes to Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and see how critics and fans react. It’s considered a masterpiece, and you don’t mess with a masterpiece.

Theater is a different animal, and the same work on paper can vary wildly on stage. Just ask anyone who saw Gordon Edelstein’s take on The Glass Menagerie at the Mark Taper Forum last fall.

It’s with that backdrop that a “new” Les Misérables arrived at the Ahmanson Theatre recently as part of its 25th anniversary tour. It’s the landmark musical’s first return to Los Angeles since 2006 (its last Ahmanson visit was in 2000). The show runs through July 31.

There’s no debate that the self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Musical,” by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music), Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (original French lyrics) and Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics), still draws crowds. The question is, why would producer Cameron Mackintosh tinker with something that already works and risk the backlash?

The answer doesn’t matter nearly as much as how the changes alter the show’s overall quality.

The new version is not so much the equivalent of retouching “Starry Night” as it is reframing it.

Several key elements from Trevor Nunn and John Caird’s original direction remain, but Laurence Connor and James Powell have fashioned a grittier, more intimate show. Also, as odd as it sounds, they deliver a more modern take on Victor Hugo’s sprawling 1862 story of triumph, tragedy and love during the time of the failed 1832 French Revolution, centering on the criminal-turned-hero Jean Valjean (played by J. Mark McVey).

Newcomers to Les Miz are always pointed to the program’s synopsis, which condenses the nearly three-hour odyssey into the basic facts: Valjean, saved by a bishop’s kindness, breaks

his parole and starts a new life as a factory owner and mayor.

Through his inaction, a factory worker, Fantine (Betsy Morgan), loses her job, winds up a prostitute and eventually dies.

Valjean spends the remainder of his life caring for Fantine’s daughter, Cosette (Jenny Latimer), while on the run from Inspector Javert (Andrew Varela).

The other storyline follows student Marius (Justin Scott Brown) as he falls in love with Cosette and ignores the poor Éponine (Chasten Harmon). Éponine’s crooked parents, the Thénardiers (Michael Kostroff and Shawna Hamic) provide occasional bouts of comic relief.

This impressive ensemble delivers nearly flawless versions of some of musical theater’s most memorable songs, made even richer by Chris Jahnke’s new orchestrations.

But there’s a clear demarcation from classic Les Misérables in much of the acting and singing. An increase in spoken lyrics and physical interaction between actors heightens a sense of realism, best exemplified by Morgan as the ill-fated Fantine.

Morgan almost reinvents the show’s best-known number, “I Dreamed a Dream,” by delivering an understated opening verse and building gradually toward its tear-jerking peak.

Meanwhile, Varela’s Javert is tinged with near madness, leading to a raw and unnerving “Soliloquy,” which thanks to some updated special effects is even more dramatic.

Still, Les Misérables rises and falls with Valjean, and McVey injects the character with strength and vulnerability, aging him appropriately throughout the story so his frail finale is reached organically. McVey, who has played the part more than 2,500 times, hits every emotional mark, but his clear high point is “Bring Him Home,” which recalls the most famous Valjean, Colm Wilkinson.

The most successful alterations are the implementation of Hugo’s stark and moody paintings as backdrops. Turning them into projections and adding movement to the images, particularly in the first act finale and for Valjean’s journey through the sewers, increases the intensity of these key mo-

photo by Deen van Meer

A traveling version of Les Misérables has a few changes from the original, though it still packs a punch. It is at the Ahmanson Theatre through July 21.

ments. The producers also push Matt Kinley’s set center stage, removing some of the mega-musical aura, which helps draw viewers more fully into the action.

Perhaps the only change that directly damages some of the show’s pacing and emotional high points is the elimination of the turntable stage. Yes, the Forbidden Broadway parody revue has skewered the dizzying stage. But without it, the leap by young Gavroche — a scrappy street urchin — over the barricade occurs offstage, and some of the crowd scenes lack the frenzy created by the turntable effect.

Someone new to Les Misérables will not miss the turntable, and most longtime fans — whether or not they prefer the new version—will remember quickly that it’s the story and the songs that made them fans in the first place.

Les Misérables may be in a new frame, but it’s still a masterpiece.

Les Misérables runs through July 31 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org.

18 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

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LISTINGS EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS Free Downtown Audio Walking Tours Various Locations, crala.org/art.

Free audio walking tours and maps are available for download at crala.org/art. Explore Downtown’s Bunker Hill, Financial District, Historic Core and Little Tokyo neighborhoods by discovering public art and places developed through the CRA/LA Art Program.

Summer Nights Downtown Going on All Summer, downtownla.com/summer.

Discover Downtown L.A. with Summer Nights. Find special hotel discounts for your weekend getaway in the city — from fine dining and Les Misérables, to world-class museums and cocktail lounges, explore the best of Los Angeles with hotel packages from The Standard, Omni, JW Marriott, and more.

‘Don’t Miss’ List one

the Kiddie Shakespeare, Rollin’ With Rihanna and More

S

hakespearean tragedies may not be the stuff kids’ dreams are made of, but theater company L’Enfant Terrible mixes conflict with wacky fun in an easy to digest manner for children of all ages. On Saturday-Sunday, July 2-3, they present four plays at the Bootleg Theatre as part of the Fun Family Festival of Tragedy.. Expect kings, clowns, bubbles and confetti in the shows Hamlet Prince of Puddles (shown here; July 2 at noon), Macbeth and the Monster (July 2, 2 p.m.), Titus the Clownicus (July 3, noon) and King O’Leary (July 3, 2 p.m.). Methinks thine stage will not end up covered in blood. At 2220 Beverly Blvd., bootlegtheater.org.

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bordering on Love Company of Angels, Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or companyofangels.org.

Jun. 30-July 2, 8 p.m.: Evangeline Ordaz’ new

2

A

ll good things must come to an end. Which brings Downtown to Safety Last!, the final installment in the Los Angeles Conservancy’s 25th annual Last Remaining Seats series. Since 1987, the preservationist organization has screened celebrated films in the historic theaters that anchor Broadway. This year they’ve played host to classics such as Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard and 1933’s King Kong. The event on Wednesday, June 29, at the Orpheum Theatre is sponsored by Hugh Hefner. Organist Robert Israel will play the 1923 film’s score on the Orpheum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Before the movie starts, there will be a discussion of the career of actor Harold Lloyd with author John Bengston. Tickets are sold out online, but night-of seats are sometimes available at the theater. At 842 S. Broadway, (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org.

Since the Harlem Renaissance, New York’s Apollo Theatre has been a bastion of culture and the launching pad for the careers of artists from Duke Ellington to the Jackson Five. Ain’t Nothing but the Real Thing, an exhibit that opened at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park in June, breathes new life into the narrative of one of music’s most celebrated and enduring venues. On Wednesday, June 29, the museum will host a 7 p.m. screening of Jazz on a Summer’s Day, a 2000 documentary on the Newport Jazz Festival. Take a trip down to Exposition Park this week and check out the exhibit and a great concert flick. The show runs through Sept. 4 at 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

veryone’s favorite R&B star from Barbados (is there more than one?) comes to Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 28.

That’s when Rihanna takes her “Loud” tour to Staples Center.

Billed as “the loudest show on earth” (the band Kiss or fans of obscure noise group The Swans might disagree), Rihanna’s extravagant day-glow fashions and emotive bouncy pop songs will collide as she burns through myriad costume changes and croons hits from her latest album, the aptly titled Loud. No word yet as to whether or not ex-Rihanna beau and Dodger slugger Matt Kemp will be in attendance. J. Cole and Cee Lo Green open. At Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. or rihannanow.com or staplescenter.com.

D

ance as if no o show up for ne’s watching when hun th dreds is week’s po Center’s Activ rtion of the e Art Dance M usic Do docket at the Music Cente wntown series. On the r Plaza are th dance number e grandiose s Bollywood/B of the Indian silver screen hangra night.

— yep, it’s The happenin July 1, starts g on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. wit lessons. Ther e’s no cost, an h complimentary dance d the music co 10 p.m. All le ntinues until vels of Bollyw oo beginner to S hah Rukh Kh d dance talent from pure an are invited At 135 N. Gra to p nd Ave., (213 ) 972-3660 or articipate. org/events/act musiccenter. ivearts.html.

photo by Gar y Leonard

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

Jun. 28, 8:30 p.m.: Nightmare and the Cat. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. All shows start at 10 p.m.

June 28: Simon Stokes and Hookers.

June 30: Nikki Corvette, Dirty Eyes, Crazy Squeeze and Rough Kids.

July 1: Water Tower Bucket Boys and the rockabilly of Rose’s Pawn Shop.

July 2: Get down with the Hickoids.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

July 5, 10 p.m.: Another night with the bar’s house band. Make time with the Makers.

The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org.

June 30, 9 p.m.: Animals and Men, Dunes, Kit and Wounded Lion.

July 1, 9 p.m.: The So Many Wizards record release show features Michael Nhat, Halloween Swim Team and Heller Keller supporting those numerous wizards.

July 2, 9 p.m.: From Austin, Zorch, Batwings Catwings and Moses Campbell.

July 3, 9 p.m.: Catwalk, Sea Lions and Sweater Girls.

The Varnish 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com.

Mondays, 9 p.m.: Jamie Elman tinkles the house ivories.

Tuesdays, 8 p.m.: Jazzman pianist Mark Bosserman entertains.

Zsebe

E

photo courtesy Shahar Azran

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

photo by Berger/Conser Photography

saTurday, July 1 Anime Expo 1202 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151 or lacclink.com.

July 1-4: Get ready for South Park to swarm with doe-eyed school girls and blade-toting ninjas, because the Anime Expo is back.

LAPD HQ Community Clean-Up 100 W. First St., (213) 673-4400 or dlanc.com.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council hosts a community clean-up to take care of the green space and landscaping of the LAPD headquarters building. It’s an all-volunteer happening.

Music Center Plaza In the plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave., visit musiccenter.org.

6:30 p.m.: Dance Downtown gets its Indian groove on with a night of Bollywood/bhangra tunes.

The Music Center’s Active Arts program does it up like they did at the end of Slumdog Millionaire.

of Kimberly photo courtesy

photo courtesy of Staples Center

Wednesday, June 29 Let’s Get Lit Cana Rum Bar, 714 W. Olympic Blvd., 323-380-8685 or socialcigarclub.eventbrite.com.

6-9 p.m.: A networking event for business professionals who enjoy the company of cigar aficionados.

Thursday, June 30 MOCA Grand Avenue, Geffen Contemporary 250 S. Grand Ave. and 152 N. Central Ave. Visit moca.org.

6:30 p.m.: In conjunction with Art in the Streets, co-curator Roger Gastman will lead an exhibition tour and discuss the history of graffiti and street art.

three

by Dan Johnson

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

June 27, 2011

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com

We Got Games Dodgers in Inter-league Play, Sparks String Some Wins Together Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com.

The Dodgers follow up a home Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels by travelling to Minnesota, where they’ll visit the Mall of America, tour Brett Favre’s former home and enjoy some inter-league play against the Twins.

This could be a match of equals, as last week both squads were eight games under .500. After the dream tour of Minnesota, the Blue fly back to L.A. and go south on the 5 Freeway, where they pick up the other end of the series by visiting the Angels (July 1-3), who, shucks, also happen to have more losses than wins in 2011. No matter how you cut it, this is a brutal year for the Dodgers, and fans are probably waiting for June 30. If Frank McCourt can’t meet payroll that day, the team could be seized by Major League

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

Listings

Baseball. If that happens, get ready for the lawsuits to fly.

Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 929-1300 or wnba.com/sparks.

Just who are these Los Angeles Sparks? After last year’s dismal performance, the squad has opened with four victories in the first five games. While Candace Parker leads the team in scoring as expected, with 16.6 points per game, two players are averaging 13.4 ppg, and Tina Thompson is pumping in 14 a contest; she’s also a perfect 15 for 15 from the charity stripe at press time. Overall, it’s an impressive, balanced attack. The Sparks have a light & PublishEr: Sue Laris load this week, with a visit toEditor the Connecticut Sun (June MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin 28), then a long break for the GENErAl 4th of July weekend.

Regardie ExEcutivE Editor:—Jon Jon Regardie

Flagship Theatres University Village

twitter: 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or DowntownNews flagshipmovies.com.

Through June 30: Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon 3D (11:30 a.m. and 2:45, 6 and 9:15 p.m., and 12:30 a.m.); Cars 2 (11 a.m. and 1:30, 4, 6:30, 9 and play takes on marriage and immigration. It’s a pla- 11:30 p.m.); The Green Lantern (11:30 a.m. and 2, ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie tonic love-story dramedy with a drag queen chorus. 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m., and 12 a.m.). citY Editor: Richard Guzmán Just like “Two And a Half Men.” No wait, its not like IMAX Theater stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt that at all. Through July 2.

California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Fun Family Festival 2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 Through Jun. 30: A sweeping portrait of the histoKristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada or bootlegtheater.com. ry, culture and religion of the Arabian Peninsula, AraArt Brian JulydirEctor: 2-3, noon andAllison 2 p.m.: Theater company bia 3D is a mix of contemporary scenes of modernAssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa L’Enfant Terrible mixes Shakespearean conflict with day Arabian life, epic historical recreations of ancient ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Rawlins wacky fun in an easy to digestAlexis manner for children civilizations and stunning digital visual effects, shot at of PhotoGrAPhEr: all ages. Expect Gary kings,Leonard clowns, bubbles and con- more than twenty locations across Saudi Arabia. fetti in the shows Hamlet Prince of Puddles (July 2, Last Remaining Seats AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt noon), Macbeth and the Monster (July 2, 2 p.m.), Locations Vary, laconservancy.org.

AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin Titus the Clownicus (July 3, noon) and King O’Leary June 29: Safety Last (1933) is a masterpiece of clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway silent comedy in which The Boy (played by Harold (July 3, 2 p.m.).

AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens The Interlopers Lloyd) leaves his small town for success in the big Bootleg Theater, Norma 2220 Beverly city. Watch for the famous scene of Lloyd dangling circulAtioN: RodasBlvd., (213) 389-3856 or distributioN bootlegtheater.com. from clock hands over Downtown. At the Orpheum MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles July 1-2, 8 p.m.; July 3, 7 Lorenzo p.m.: “The Interlopers” Theatre, 842 S. Broadway. distributioN AssistANts: Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla is a Romeo and Juliet story set in Los Angeles’ trans- Outdoor Cinema Food Fest gender world, in which a group of misfits take on a Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Dr., The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles whole bunch of life’s challenges. outdoorcinemafoodfest.com. and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los LesAngeles.

Misérables July 2: Gourmet food trucks including White 135One N. copy Grand (213) 628-2772 or Rabbit, Vizzi, Shrimp Pimp, Flying Pig and BorperAve., person. centertheatregroup.org. der Grill; live music from Vinne Ferra and Keanu June 28-29, and July 1 8 p.m.; June 30 and July freakin’ Reeves in The Matrix. Film at 8:30 p.m.

2, 2 and 8 p.m.; July 3, 1 p.m.: If you’ve dreamed a Regal Cinema L.A. Live dream, you can dig Boublil & Schönberg’s classic 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com.

Les Misérables. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Through June 30: Bad Teacher (11:20 a.m. and it’s an epic and uplifting story about the survival of 12:10, 1:40, 2:30, 4, 4:50, 6:30, 7:20, 9 and 9:40 p.m.); the human spirit. This version, which celebrates the Cars 2 (11:30 a.m. and 12:50, 2:10, 3:40. 5, 6:30, 7:50, show’s 25th anniversary, includes some contempo- 9:20 and 10:40 p.m.); Cars 2 3D (10:50 a.m. and 1:30, rary upgrades, including stunning projections that 4:20, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Mr. Popper’s Penguins (11:40 bring several scenes to life. a.m. and 2:10, 4:30, 7and 9:30 p.m.); Green Lantern Magic Strings (1:30, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:30 p.m.); Green Lantern 3D The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (11:10 a.m. and 1:50, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.); (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

Super 8 (11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:20, 4:20, 5:10, 7, 7:50, Jun. 29, 10:30 a.m.; July 2, 2:30 p.m.: More than 100 9:40 and 10:30 p.m.); X-Men: First Class (1, 4:10, 7:40 of Bob Baker’s fantastical marionettes come together and 10:40 p.m.); The Hangover Part II (11:50 a.m. in an hour-long variety revue. Expect puppet horses and 2:20, 4:50, 7:30 and 10:10 p.m.); Kung Fu Panda frolicking on an old-fashioned merry-go-round and 2 (1:50 and 6:50 p.m.); Kung Fu Panda 2 3D (11:10 a marionette “Day at the Circus.” After the perfor- a.m. and 4:20 and 9:20 p.m.); Bridesmaids (10:50 mance, guests are invited to have refreshments in the a.m. and 1:40, 5, 8 and 10:50 p.m.).

Party Room. Open-ended run. Reservations required.

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris Continued from previous GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastinpage

MUSEUMS

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

June 27-28: Film Courage Interactive presents Subhysteria.

June 30, noon and July 7, 7:30 p.m.: National Theatre Live broadcasts The Cherry Orchard.

African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org.

Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts.

citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Los Angeles Downtown News coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, 1264things.

W. FirstThe Street, LosScience Angeles,Court CA 90026 Annette GreenHoward Perfume lobby stays busy Kristin Friedrich, Leff,Museum Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasadaof living

213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 Simuwithphone: the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based lator,web: theDowntownNews.com Ecology Cliff Climb and Forty Years of realpeople@downtownnews.com Spaceemail: Photography.

The human body is another big to enhancing our understanding the art, culture and focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections facebook: PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard science of the olfactory.

Originally opened in New between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba L.A. Downtown News York City in 1999, the collection—2,000 bottles, to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The new AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt perfume presentations and documentary ephemera Ecosystems exhibittwitter: explores how life on our planet is AdvErtisiNG Steve to Nakutin dating fromdirEctor: the late 1800s the present—was do- shaped by geophysical and biological processes.

DowntownNews clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine nated to FIDM in 2005.

Also, “High Style:Holloway Perfume Chinese American Museum AccouNt Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, and theExEcutivEs: Haute Couture” features a selection of fra- 425 N. St., (213)News 485-8567 or camla.org.

TheLos LosAngeles Angeles Downtown is the must-read Brenda Stevens grance bottles and packaging that reflect the many newspaperDec. for Downtown Los Angeles and isArtists disThrough 18: Dreams Deferred: Retributed every Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: Norma Rodas ways that fame inspires design. spond to Immigration Reform showcases local artresidences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN Salvador Ingles Fragrance is a Images ofMANAGEr: Men: A Look Through ists exploring the tensions, repercussions, hopes and distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla One copy per person. new installation in the Annette Green Fragrance Ar- dreams of immigrant communities in the face of chive. The bottles and accessories showcased explore new immigration legislation, through a broad spechow men’s diverse identities and roles are conveyed trum of art including street art, graffiti art, sculpthrough the changing designs of the bottles them- tures, painting and multimedia installations. selves.

Through Jan. 31: To commemorate its100th anEditor & PublishEr: Sue Laris California African American Museum niversary, Remembering Angel Island will showcase GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. historic photographs, a reproduction of a poem Since the Harlem Renaissance, New York’s Apolcarved on the barracks of Angel Island, artifacts and ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie lo Theatre has been a bastion of culture and the a multi-media station featuring personal stories of citY Editor: Richard Guzmán launching pad for Vaillancourt the careers of artists from Duke those who endured or were profoundly affected by stAFF writEr: Ryan Ellington to the Jackson Five.Maese Ain’t Nothing but the the Angel Island experience. coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Real Thing, an exhibitJay that opened earlyJeff June, of the Sun Wing Wo, a coNtributiNG writErs: Berman, Jimin Farber, Favre, Permanent: Los AngelesRe-creation Downtown News breathes new life into the of Marc one of music’s general store and and JourKristin Friedrich, Howard Leff,narrative Rod Riggs, Porter ZasadaChinese 1264 W. First Street, Los herbal Angeles,shop, CA 90026 most celebrated and enduring venues. neys:phone: Stories of Chinese •Immigration, an exhibit 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 multi-functional Gallery of Discov- exploring Chinese immigration to the United States ArtOngoing: dirEctor:The Brian Allison web: DowntownNews.com ery offersArt visitors the opportunity to connect with withemail: an emphasis on community settlement in Los AssistANt dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa realpeople@downtownnews.com ProductioN GrAPhics: the lineageANd of their own Alexis family,Rawlins engage in artistic Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, workshops, educational tours and other programs each is defined by an important immigration law facebook: PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard of historical discoveries.

Hear recordings of actual and/or event, accompanied by a description and a L.A. Downtown News living slaves from the Library of Congress archives personal story about a local Chinese American and AccouNtiNG: and discoverAshley storiesSchmidt from the past. their experiences in that particular historical period. twitter: California Science Center DowntownNews AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway californiasciencecenter.org.

AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Through Dec. 31: 1001 Inventions is a traveling Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things Brenda Stevens Downtown Los Angeles also be found international exhibition that promotes awareness to doTheinLos Angeles Downtown News is can the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is dis- Rock, at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: of scientific and cultural achievements from the online circulAtioN: Norma Rodas tributed every Monday throughout the offices and & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; “Golden Age” of Muslim civilization during the 7th Pop residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; to 17th centuries from a diverse region stretching One copy per person. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla from Spain through China. Through interactive Classical Music; Museums; and Tours. displays, explore basic science principles in such fields as optics, time-keeping, hydraulics, navigation, architecture and math.

Though July 6: Small World features the winners of the 2010 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition and their stunning images created using the technique of photomicrography (photographs taken through a microscope). The photomicrographs reveal elaborate detail, color and clarity previously unseen by the human eye. Explore this 4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit year’s winners, which include a zebrafish head, can4 EMaIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com cer cells, a wasp eye and other vibrant images that Email: Send a brief description, street address and public represent the intersection of science and art. phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibprior to publication date to be considered for print. its are usually interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes

FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison 1200 or fidmmuseum.org.

AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa Ongoing: One of a kind, the museum is dedicated ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

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

twitter: DowntownNews

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

While Candace Parker gets the glory, Tina Thompson is helping the Sparks this season, averaging 14 points a game. She hasn’t missed this year from the foul line.

MORE LISTINGS

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AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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SR. SAP ANALYST: Analyze business process requirements to develop, design, configure & implement SAP modules & systems. Jobsite: Los Angeles, CA. Send resume to: Office Manager, Phoenix Business, Inc., 9889 Cypresswood Dr, Ste 3201, Houston, TX, 77070.

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Volunteer host families also needed. Promote world peace!

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Continued on next page

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22 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews Continued from previous page

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

June 27, 2011

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

AUTOS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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2006 NISSAN XTERRA S Carfax, 1 Owner, RWD, 37k Miles, N110810-1/6C548329 $16,999 call 888-838-5089 2007 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET Free Carfax, 2.0L Turbo, Alloys, 50k Miles ZA9951/7K018416 $19,878 Call 888-583-0981 2007 NISSAN 350Z TOURING Certified, 6 Cyl, White, Leather 26MPG Hwy N110417/7M505224 $19,999 call 888-838-5089 2008 MERCEDES C300 Certified, 3.0L, V6, Blk/Gray, Elegance Edition, 35K Miles#5337/ F083337$25,991Call 888-3198762.

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DONATE YOUR Car, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind.

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THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA REGARDING THE PROPOSED FIVE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (FY2008 – FY2012) MID TERM PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE CITY CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA Notice is hereby given that the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) will hold a public hearing for the above referenced redevelopment project area on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard at The Garland Center, 1200 W. 7th Street, 1st Floor Auditorium, Los Angeles, California 90016.

The public hearing is being conducted to hear testimony of all interested parties regarding the Five-Year Implementation Plan Mid-Term Progress Report for the City Center Redevelopment Project Area. The 879-acre Project Area is generally bounded by 2nd or 3rd Streets to the north, San Pedro or Stanford Streets to the east, the 10 Freeway to the south, and Figueroa Street or the 110 Freeway to the west.

Copies of the Implementation Plan and other pertinent documents are on file and available for public inspection at the following locations during the listed hours:

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Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley Proudly serving the communities of San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello and El Monte.

CRA/LA Main Office, Records Center 1200 W. 7th Street, 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Monday thru Friday CRA/LA Downtown Region Site Office 448 S. Hill Street, 12th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90013 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Monday thru Friday 6/20, 6/27, 7/4/11 CNS-2120164# DOWNTOWN NEWS

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$14,980 2009 VW Jetta 4 Door ..................................................... $15,883 Auto, California Edition, 2.5L, MPFI-DOHC, 29 mpg. # ZV1254 / 9M137844 2008 VW R32 Coupe ........................................................ $25,598 Certified, Navigation, Leather, only 30k miles, white/black. #ZV1267 / 8W151164

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PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. is your teen experiencing:

OCK !

IN ST S E L C I H E V NED

UC810//Z231779

At the above stated time and place, any and all persons having any testimony regarding any portion of the Five-Year Implementation Plan may appear before the Agency and be heard.

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208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

MAJOR LIVE Auction! Name Brand Manufacturer Close-Out / Overstock! Too Much To List!

Wed, July 6 @ 10:00 AM. Barstow Outlet, 2552 Merchantile Way, Barstow. www.AuctionExpo.com / (562) 592-1500. Robert Storment, Auctioneer 70489169.

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ITEMS FOR SALE

sAKuRA HEAltH GYM & sAuNA, iNc.

Casaloma L.A. Apartments

AuctiON

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(Note: The Downtown News does not perform filing services)

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24 Downtown News

June 27, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Anime Continued from page 16 boundaries. This marks the expo’s fourth consecutive year in Los Angeles. It is contracted to be here in 2012.

Mark Liberman, president and CEO of L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau, said the event will bring about 6,000 hotel room nights to the area. He said the gathering will have a $24 million impact on the city in terms of hotel stays, meals at Downtown and other restaurants, taxis and additional spending.

“I think this convention is absolutely perfect for L.A. as the entertainment capital of the world,” Liberman said. “The people who attend are part of the fabric of Los Angeles.”

The show comes on the heels of E3 and precedes the Microsoft 2011 Worldwide Partner Conference July 10-14, which will create about 50,000 room nights and $48 million in attendee spending.

“July is going to be a great convention month for L.A.,” Lieberman said.

Of course, economics is the last thing on the mind of expo attendees such as 19-year-old Rachel Ashley-Lovelace. The Pasadena resident got into the anime scene as a child watching the Cartoon Network, where shows like “Pokemon” were popular.

“It was different than regular cartoons,” she said.

This will mark Lovelace’s second Anime Expo. As part of the event, she will dress as different characters. Her favorites include Sheryl Nome from “Macross Frontier,” an animated science fiction drama. Nome is known as a Galactic Fairy and is a popular pop singer.

“I love her because she’s a singing diva and I love to sing,” Lovelace said.

One of the most popular activities at the event, she said, is going online to meet other people who are dressed as characters from the same story. Once they connect, they meet somewhere at the convention and sometimes put on impromptu performances, or just “start being dorky together,” Lovelace said.

The costumes also give participants a level of anonymity, Perez said. When he gets a break from putting the four-day event together, he’ll don an outfit and go into the crowd. He would not say whom he will dress as.

“I’ll probably have a couple of costumes,” he said. “I like to get out there. All of the organizers like to get into it and dress up as well.”

Anime Expo 2010 runs July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. Tickets and additional information at anime-expo-org.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownews.com.

photo by Ethan Hashimoto

Rachel Ashley-Lovelace dresses as one of her favorite characters, Sheryl Nome from “Macross Frontier.”

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

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

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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.

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