LOS ANGELES
DOWNTOWN
NEWS June 28, 2010
Volume 39, Number 26
INSIDE
Restaurant Buzz
Come to original la adelita’s
30th anniversary party! saturday July 3, 5pm-10pm Free Food sampling, live music, Free prizes, giveaways and more!
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1287 S. Union Ave. 213-487-0176
W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M
The Westin Facelift Landmark Hotel Preps for the Future With a $35 Million Renovation by RichaRd Guzmán
Downtown wakes early for the World Cup.
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Economic guru Jack Kyser looks back.
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Alice’s wondrous outfits are at FIDM.
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city editoR
V
isitors who wander through the lobby of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites may soon notice a different vibe in the air of Los Angeles’ largest hotel. The sound of splashing water in the lobby’s six lakes will give way to the relaxing roll of waves over a rocky riverbed. Planters will change to lanterns aimed at offering a more zen-like, earthy experience. Even the check-in desks will be altered to create a more personal connection between customers and staff.
The changes don’t stop there. Already, 700 rooms have been gutted and updated with new furniture, carpets and flat screen high-definition televisions. Common areas and meeting facilities are also being upgraded. The changes are part of a major renovation intended to allow the 1,354-room establishment both to compete with and complement hotels such as the recently opened 1,001-room Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott tower at L.A. Live, and give a needed facelift to one of Downtown’s most recognizable landmarks. Hotel officials estimate see Hotel, page 8
Lessons From The Ticket Scandal Why Free Admission to High-Profile Events Doesn’t Always Pay by Jon ReGaRdie executive editoR
The geeks shall inherit the Convention Center
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I
n recent weeks Antonio Villaraigosa, whose day job is mayor of Los Angeles, has found himself swimming in a sticky swamp for apparently accepting free, great seats THE REGARDIE REPORT
Five great entertainment options.
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15 CALENDAR LISTINGS
Model Eye Shown. * Restrictions Apply
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to scores of concerts, basketball and baseball games and other high-profile events. The resulting maelstrom of media coverage brings to mind three important lessons that every politician should know about political scandal. First, political scandal is not that hard to avoid. I realize this may sound shocking in a country where reports of graft and extramarital relations flow like a shopping cart in the L.A. River. But really, the key to not getting caught taking bribes or selling a senate seat is not to take bribes or sell a senate seat in the first place. This should be McChrystal clear by now: You may get away with it for a little while, but ultimately they’ll catch ya. It’s the same with sex scandals. If you don’t want your private life dragged into newspapers and across TV screens, then don’t do things like look for assignations in public rest-
photo by Gary Leonard
Mike Czarcinski, managing director of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, is overseeing a renovation of the 34-year-old Downtown establishment.
The Next Top Chef? A Water Grill Kitchen Staffer Shows Her Stuff on the Bravo TV Show by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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manda Baumgarten has always had a love for being in the kitchen. Now, after surviving some tough challenges completed under the bright lights of TV cameras on a reality show, she’s proven that she can also take the heat. As of this week, Baumgarten is one of the 15 remaining contestants
on Bravo’s popular “Top Chef” show. However, shooting wrapped a month ago, and these days she can be found in the kitchen of the upscale seafood emporium Water Grill, where she serves as a sous chef under executive chef David LeFevre. The 27-year-old will be on the air every Wednesday, showing off her ability to whip up spontaneous meals until she either wins it all or see Baumgarten, page 9
photo by Gary Leonard
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, photographed at a time when he was not attending a high-profile sports or entertainment event for free.
rooms, don’t claim you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail while cheating on your wife, and don’t tell reporters that the reason you’re not wearing see Tickets, page 7
photo by Gary Leonard
Water Grill sous chef Amanda Baumgarten is competing on the Bravo reality show “Top Chef.”
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