07-11-11 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

One Tough Rabbit

July 11, 2011

Volume 40, Number 28

See Our Ad On Pg.12 For More Info.

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

The Restaurant Explosion, Part II

INSIDE

The Heat in the Kitchens Increases, As Downtown Gets 20 New Dining Spots in Six Months Urban Scrawl on the royal visit.

The city’s biggest convention ever.

Meet L.A.’s master planner.

Buy a big Beaux Arts building.

photo by Gary Leonard

Michael Cardenas in Japanese pub food joint Aburiya Toranoko. He plans to open two more Downtown restaurants this year.

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

All the latest Health news.

17 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 21 CLASSIFIEDS

ers Cho ead ice R

NEWS

BEST of DOWNTOWN

he last time there was this much restaurant action in Downtown Los Angeles was in late 2008. That was the opening of L.A. Live, and in addition to the dozen eating and drinking outlets at the Anschutz Entertainment Group attraction, there were other new spots. During that time, Downtown saw the arrival of establishments including Fleming’s Steakhouse, Drago Centro, Urth Caffé and Casa. The restaurant activity has never stopped since then, with entrepreneurs consistently trying to capture the leisure dollars of Downtown workers and residents. However, in the past six months, things have picked up speed. In the first half of 2011, Downtown has seen the arrival of 20 new food-serving establishments. They comprise mostly mid-priced eateries, a couple of coffee shops and bars that also serve snacks or small plates, a market with a sandwich counter, and some pizza joints. They give Downtown an

international palate of Asian, American, “East L.A.” Mexican, Peruvian and even Kosher fare. In short, it’s a blizzard of food choices in a compressed time period. It raises questions as to why now, and how will these competitors survive in a cutthroat field? For Philip Sanan, the choice was simple. The South Africa native looked at the more than 400,000 people who work in Downtown each weekday and need lunch, and the area’s 45,000 residents “I wanted the heaviest concentration of work people, specifically over lunch time, so Downtown seems to be the best fit,” said Sanan, who opened Eco-Asian on Seventh Street in March. Eco-Asian, like many of the new arrivals, has modest price points. That’s a big difference from late 2008, when many of the establishments aimed for L.A. Live or Staples Center visitors and had entrees costing in the upper teens or higher. Sanan’s restaurant offers communal tables and a fast-casual menu with food from Japan, Thailand,

China and Vietnam. He opened with little marketing and has a steady base of customers. He said he serves about 100 people a day, and hopes eventually to feed as many as 500. Michael Cardenas is even more bullish on the local scene. In 2009 the former chef opened the instantly popular Lazy Ox Canteen in Little Tokyo. In January, he debuted Aburiya Toranoko, with a menu of Japanese pub food created by Hisa Kawabe, formerly of Nobu. Cardenas thinks Downtown has several strong selling points. The happy hour crowds, which he said are bigger in the community than most places in the city, are especially helpful. More important, he said, are low lease rates. “Looking at Downtown, I think what’s most attractive are the rental rates,” he said. “In Santa Monica you’re looking a $4-9 a square foot. In Beverly Hills maybe $7, while in Downtown it can be $2 a square foot. In the industrial area you can even find $1.50 a square foot.” see Restaurants, page 10

Who is The Best ?

Find out in our July 18 edition.

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN Angels Flight Back on Track

fter being shut down for nearly a month due to worn-out wheels, Angels Flight went back into operation July 5, funicular officials announced last week. “We and the experts have certified that safe, reliable, public service can resume now that the new wheels are installed,” said Angels Flight Railway Foundation President John Welborne in a prepared statement. Dr. Paul King, deputy director of the consumer protection and safety division for the California Public Utilities Commission, which had ordered the railway closed June 9, confirmed that the agency had authorized the resumption of service. A July 5 press release from Welborne stated that the two cars, Olivet and Sinai, had all of their wheels replaced after excessive wear and tear led to the closure. A June 10 letter signed by Richard Clark, director of the Consumer Protection and Safety Division for the CPUC, stated that the condition of the wheels placed riders at risk and could have led to a derailment. Railway officials were also ordered to provide information on what led to the wear and detail how the situation would be prevented in the future. According to Welborne, the foundation has completed a Report and Corrective Action Plan that included an independent assessment from “transit experts” Parson Brinkerhoff, which addressed the root causes of the wear. The company is also providing suggestions for reducing wheel wear in the future.

NFL Football in L.A. for a Day

he longer Los Angeles goes without football, the bigger the names get at NFL 101 All-Access. The ninth annual pigskin fest, which takes place Monday, July 18, on the field of the Coliseum, has its most prominent lineup yet of players, journalists, coaches and more. Organized by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, NFL 101 starts at 5 p.m. Attendees get advice on catching and throwing passes, as well as kicking field goals, from players and coaches. Gordon Batty, the equipment manager of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, will deliver an equipment demonstration. The highlights are the panel discussions. This year, there are two of them: The first features front office staff from the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

(expect plenty of talk about the lockout). The second includes TV analyst and Super Bowl winning quarterback Kurt Warner, Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and others. The event includes a catered Wolfgang Puck dinner. Tickets start at $500. Registration and more information at lasec.net, or contact Aubrey Walton at (213) 236-2347 or awalton@lasec.us.

mental case management office at Building and Safety charged with facilitating complex developments that, historically, have been tangled in a web of conflicting codes and guidelines. The new office, on the 10th floor at 201 N. Figueroa St., is called Development Services Case Management. KH-Woolpert’s plan calls for an array of immediate systemic changes as well as several long-term initiatives, among them a new web-based platform to track cases. The plan also calls for the city to overhaul its 1946 zoning code; the Planning Department has estimated that would cost about $4 million.

Nike Basketball Tournament Extends Registration

Ron Artest, Jerry West Get County Honors

he Nike 3on3 Basketball Tournament is bouncing back to L.A. Live for the third year in a row Aug. 5-7, and there’s still time to slap a team together. Organizers announced last week that registration for the event, which attracted more than 4,000 players and 25,000 spectators last year, has been extended to Friday, July 15. Team registration remains open for players of all age groups and skill levels at nike3on3.com. The entry fee for all teams in the standard and elite divisions is $160; the Special Olympics and wheelchair divisions are free. All players are guaranteed to play at least three games and will get a ticket to a 2011/12 Clippers game (assuming the NBA lockout doesn’t derail the entire season). The three-day event has grown rapidly since its first installment in 2009, when there were 500 teams. Games take place all day on Saturday and Sunday on some 100 half-courts set up in Nokia Plaza and along Chick Hearn Court. There’s also a slam-dunk contest and celebrity game. Info and registration at nike3on3.com.

Consultants Deliver Development Reform Plan

H-Woolpert, the consulting team that last year won a $600,000 contract to overhaul the city’s notoriously slow and expensive development process, has submitted its findings to the city. The Department of Building and Safety is reviewing and fine-tuning the plan, department General Manager Bud Ovrom said. While the plan is not fully cemented, parts of it are already being implemented, Ovrom said. On Tuesday, July 12, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is slated to unveil a cross-depart-

hile a labor divide could curtail the upcoming NBA season, Laker fans this week can check out a couple of past and present stars — just don’t expect any dunking. On Tuesday, July 12, at a meeting of the County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will honor Ron Artest and Jerry West. Artest, a Laker for the past two seasons, is being honored for his mental health advocacy with youth. West, a legend as a Laker player and the team’s former general manager, will be recognized for his work with the Los Angeles Watts Summer Games. Tickets are not required, but loud cheering and high-fiving will likely be discouraged at the Hall of Administration. The ceremony takes place at 9:30 a.m. at 500 W. Temple St.

Insurance Group Stays on Figueroa

all it a victory for Ernst & Young Plaza: After looking at other options, Lockton Insurance Brokers LLC has decided to stay put. The company this month renewed its lease for 70,000 square feet of space at the building at 725 S. Figueroa St. Lockton signed a seven-year lease; the value is not being disclosed. Jones Jang LaSalle represented Lockton, while the property owner, EYP Realty, LLC, was represented in-house by John Barganski. Christina Noonan, senior vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle, said the company explored other buildings but ultimately decided to stay put. “We were able to negotiate favorable terms that enabled Lockton to reduce its rent and provide for future expansion,” she said in a release. Lockton employs more than 4,100 people worldwide. In Downtown the company has 250 employees.

2011

CASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECAST L NOMIC FORECAST lAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORE ECONOMIC FORECAST LAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECON MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR EC MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR EC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEA LAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 M Wednesday, July 20 CASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC L.A. Marriott Downtown FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTL 7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. NOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORE ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC F YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECON MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR EC laedc.org/forecast 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECAST LAEDC 2011 MID-YE Find out at the landmark location near LAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC Speakers include: FORECAST LAEDC 2011 Downtown. Home of the original Chili-burger. CASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC for KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO Frank Mottek :: Moderator, Anchor Quality and value since 1946: Tony Crescenzi :: Executive ViceMID-YEAR President, Market Strategist and Portfolio Manager, PIMCO FORECASTLAEDC 2011 ECONOMIC FORECASTL Green, Ph.D. :: Professor, Director and Chair of the USC Lusk ECONOMIC Center for Real Estate FOR FORECAST LAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR Chili Hamburger .............. $2.00 NOMICRichard Nancy Sidhu, Ph.D. :: Chief Economist, Kyser Center for Economic Research, LAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECONOMIC F Chili Cheeseburger ........... $2.40 taxincludedECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC Perry Wong :: Senior Economist, City National Bank YEAR ECONOMIC FORECASTLAEDC 2011 MID-YEAR ECON

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

MID-YEAR

ECONOMIC FORECAST

EVENT SPONSORS:

.18" wide x 8" tall

Many Imitate, But None Compare!

MEDIA SPONSORS:

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 3

DowntownNews.com

Downtown L.A. Auto Group www.DTLAMOTORS.com

Take advantage of our Summer Cool Down Service Offer! Prepare your vehicle for summer! The Downtown L.A. Auto Group is offering the best quality maintenance when it comes to your vehicle. We invite you to experience first class service with these discounts:

20OFF 50OFF

Any Service of $100 or More

Any Service of $250 or More

Cannot be combined with any other offer or coupon. Limit one discount per service order. Some restrictions may apply. Offer expires July 31, 2011. Must present coupon at time of service.

YOUR DOWNTOWN SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

Shuttle service to and from your workplace or home.

Chic k

FREE

WP ico B

Deluxe wash with every service.

Her n

lym

pic

Blvd .

LA LIVE

STAPLES

lvd.

CONVENTION CENTER Ven ice B lvd.

S Fig

FACTORY

10 W1

8th

Was h

ingt on B

Trained and authorized service technicians.

8 110

St.

8 88 8

WA dam

S Gr and

Ave .

3rd

lvd.

St.

S Flo wer St.

uero

a St .

FREE

s Bl

vd.

DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP 8 USC

effe

rson

Blvd .

Mai

n St .

888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352) W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

4 Downtown News

June July 11, 20, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

More Cleantech Disappointment

ou can say this for the Community Redevelopment Agency: When it comes to the 20-acre plot envisioned as the future Cleantech Manufacturing Center, the company tries. It tries really, really hard, and over the past three years has brought three seemingly feasible deals to the table in the effort to turn a dead patch of land into an economic engine that has the double bonus of green thinking. You can also say this about the agency: When it comes to the site, it’s either cursed, the victim of bad luck, or perhaps guilty of faulty judgment. It’s a subject worth weighing after the latest proposal, this one to sell the land to a Culver City-based developer, fell apart over contamination issues on the property near 15th Street and Washington Boulevard. A back-up candidate also said no, leading the agency to start another round of talks with those two firms and several others. It’s a disappointing development and a big step back. Coming up with three apparently doable deals since May 2009 is no small feat, and we’re glad that agency staff wasn’t deterred. That would have been easy after the first proposal, to lease the land to Italian rail car maker AnsaldoBreda, fell apart when the company at the last minute refused to sign the contract it had negotiated with Metro for the vehicles. As the Italians burned a bridge, the city lost a $70 million project that was slated to produce 2,200 jobs. Another deal to bring in an electric car company also died during advanced negotiations. The fact that a $15 million loan for the property was coming due, combined with Gov. Jerry Brown’s attempt to slay California’s redevelopment agencies, prompted the CRA to switch tracks and try to sell the land to a developer who would still adhere to the basic clean technology goals. It was unusual and seemed to take away the city’s rights as a landlord, but given the uncertain future, it was understandable. Then the buyer, Genton Property Group, backed out after its consultants discovered worrisome environmental issues on the property. That’s at the root of the current trouble: Since it has long been known that the site has chemicals in the ground from its past uses as a manufacturing site and for an Amtrak yard, why are surprises arising now? Were the soil studies taken in the past the right ones? Shouldn’t Genton have had the knowledge in March, when the deal was approved by the CRA board and the City Council, that it does now? This seems a waste of months of negotiations and hard work by a lot of people. The deal still could be worked out with Genton. The CRA hopes to find a solution with that company or another by the end of this month, when the loan is due. The agency is doing the right thing in powering forward, but we hope all the information is on the table, that everyone knows what they are getting into and what sort of clean-up will be required. We hope this deal can finally get done and the plot can be activated. There have been too many troubles already on the Cleantech site.

An Interesting Bounce At the Mercantile

eal estate observers continue to discuss the state of the single family home and the condominium market. While the subject generates seemingly ceaseless attention across Southern California, in recent months the line of thought in Downtown Los Angeles has begun to change. Unlike areas such as, say, the Inland Empire, where it will take years if not a decade or more for supply to balance out with demand, in the Central City the alignment is nearing a rational ratio. This makes what is happening now with the Mercantile Lofts a potential bellwether. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the building that opened in 2007 as apartments is being transformed into condos. The company ICO Group, which owns the neighboring Pacific Electric Lofts, bought the 35-unit Mercantile last year out of foreclosure. It moved renters out and effected a turnaround in anticipation of sales. This puts ICO and the Mercantile ahead of the curve, and guarantees that sales in the edifice at 620 S. Main St. will be watched closely by Downtown real estate players. While it won’t garner quite the attention that Tom Gilmore received a decade ago when he began turning three dead buildings at Fourth and Main streets into housing and wagered that people would be willing to live there, a cadre of developers, lenders and buyers will track the proceedings. They’ll look to decipher any signs in the sales patterns, unit choices, price per square foot, etc. ICO’s move bucks a trend of buildings designed to condo specs opening instead as rentals. This happened on several occasions in the past four years, as developers realized tumbling sales prices and heightened competition would make it impossible for them to recoup their sizeable investment in new housing. They sought to rework their loans and come online instead as rentals, and then try to wait a few years for the condo market to recover. Although tough for developers, for Downtown as a whole it wasn’t a bad thing. It meant that a lot of people were able to move into Central City homes built to condo specs without having to plop down 20% of a purchase price. As the condo-torental pattern was seen in City West, Little Tokyo, the Historic Core and other neighborhoods, residents continued to flow into the area. These people became the customers for restaurants,

bars and service businesses. The Mercantile move recalls a philosophy that was present at the height of the Downtown market: Around 2006 and 2007, it was easy to find apartment building developers exploring the concept of evicting tenants, doing some upgrades and then selling units. They sensed a financial killing, though the idea was decimated when the housing bubble burst. With suddenly stingy lenders and too many units available in too short a time, some developers even lost control of their projects. How ICO’s gamble turns out is uncertain — no units are yet in escrow — but the developer looks to be making a smart move by refusing to engage in the irrational exuberance, to use a term, that existed nationwide at the height of the market. Prices in the Historic Core building are $250,000 to $550,000 for open-space residences from 700 to 2,000 square feet. Local real estate observers noted in the article that recently units below $400,000 are doing well on the re-sale market. The Mercantile may be in the sweet spot. The re-sale market has solidified in the past year or so, a result of the measured pace of new condos coming online. The transformation of for-sale buildings to rentals meant less competition for re-sale units (many of which were foreclosed upon) and the developers able to survive and stay the condo course. Companies like Downtown Properties, which opened the El Dorado and the Rowan Lofts, have seen their Historic Core buildings sell at modest prices. That helps prime the market for the Mercantile. We’re glad that there are companies like Downtown Properties and ICO Group, businesses willing to take a risk and not just follow what has worked in the past or what is the current trend in a scared marketplace. Doing this takes confident leadership and sometimes gut-wrenching fortitude. It’s not easy to stay on a path in business when everyone is doing something else. No one knows if ICO’s move will mark a turn in the market, but with just 35 units, it’s an investment with not too much economic downside. We expect ICO will see what others have seen: That more and more people want to live in a growing Downtown, and those with the means will want to own rather than rent. This is an experiment worth watching.

July 11, 2011

The Readers Take Over

park and especially with the extension of the Expo Line westward. —Robert, June 20, 8:30 p.m.

Website Comments on Angels Flight, the Downtown Streetcar, South Park Football and More

Regarding the editorial “Put Union Station Tie in Streetcar Vision,” published June 6

very week Los Angeles Downtown News gets online comments to the stories we publish. These are some of the most interesting responses. Additional comments are welcome at ladowntownnews.com. Regarding the article “Angels Flight Closes Again,” published online June 10, by Richard Guzmán

f the wheels were originally engineered to handle the weight of a carload of persons of average size in 1901, it’s hardly surprising that the wheels are wearing out faster than expected under the burden of people who are of average size and weight in 2011. People are both taller and heavier now, and they are toting more stuff around with them. —Tessa Lucero, June 10, 2:23 p.m.

t is time the city and Metro took over this venue, and used professional maintenance people, as well as transportation professionals, to run it. It is too important to leave in the hands of those who took almost 10 years to get it back online... and then don’t have the funding or expertise to run and maintain it. —Nancy, June 11, 3:11 p.m.

H “

Downtown News 5

Opinion

no control? Same difference. Wobbling from operation and wobbling from worn parts are completely different. Debate settled: It has to be fixed and run by someone who knows how and has enough money to also buy Union Station for $75 million. —Jeremy, June 15, 4:34 p.m. Regarding the article “Study Shows Small Drop in Homelessness,” published online June 17, by Ryan Vaillancourt

hank you Rev. Andy Bales [of Union Rescue Mission] for publicly questioning these “questionable” statistics. Without ripping this entire process as I have done in the past, at this time I will only question how is it that LAHSA (after complaints) conveniently added another almost 5,000 people to its count? If these are the so-called “experts,” how can that major of a flaw happen? That means that without the complaints, these homeless folks would have been underserved. —General Jeff, June 17, 1:47 p.m. Regarding the article “AEG Goes Deep Into Its Own Pockets,” about the proposed South Park football stadium, by Jon Regardie, published online June 28 ho needs the NFL in L.A.? The city has enough sports teams! —Robert, June 28, 5:29 p.m.

o hum — seems like it’s always open season on Angels Flight. Whenever AF has a problem, the local press does a feeding frenzy. Wheels are replaced on other vehicles — including rail travel vehicles — all the time and nobody notices. Hey press — there are more important things to cover. Your desperation is showing. —Archies Boy, June 12, 11:31 a.m.

heels are replaced on other vehicles — including rail travel vehicles — all the time and nobody notices.” For someone who is protecting AF from the press you sure know a lot about how it operates. AF is simply not safe with worn wheels. Ever spun out in a car with bald tires and had

Regarding the editorial “Embracing a Growing City West,” about the increased ties between that community and the Financial District, published June 17 would agree and would add that these new condos and apartments could even stretch further west on Wilshire, sprucing up MacArthur Park. It’s not what it was like before the ’50s. I really think if they got some new development in that area, it would be a big hit. Close to Downtown, a huge

don’t think missing Union Station is the equivalent of the Green Line missing LAX. You forget that the streetcar will connect with Pershing Square, the Civic Center and Pico stations (and not to mention the future Grand Avenue and Second/Broadway Regional Connector stations). Anybody who takes the Gold, Red, Purple, Expo or Blue light rail lines will connect to the streetcar. The only thing missed with a connection to Union Station is Metrolink/Amtrak. But most of those are commuters/travelers with luggage. They’ll likely take the Red, Purple, Blue or Gold lines from Union Station (when the Connector is done). —L.A. of Anaheim, June 6, 12:51 p.m.

understand the viewpoint expressed here about needing connectivity to what is without a doubt L.A.’s most important transit hub, but I think this debate needs to be looked at in a much wider context, as the streetcar is just one of many modes of public transit in Downtown. Downtown already has three stations linked to Union Station via the Red Line, and around the time that the streetcar is set to break ground Metro will also be breaking ground on the Regional Connector, which will add an additional two stops. By linking to the existing Blue/Expo tracks, this new route will give transit riders access to both the Staples/Nokia and L.A. Trade Tech areas. I think if you take all this into account, it could very well be sufficient for the streetcar to focus on improving mobility within the core of Downtown, rather than trying to access every single site of importance in the wider Downtown area. —Josh, June 6, 2:10 p.m.

think the streetcar is needed, but I don’t think it needs to go to Union Station. A streetcar will not function the same way as a subway or a light rail line will. The Regional Connector will link Union Station, Little Tokyo, Bunker Hill and the Convention Center area. The Red Line already links Union Station with much of Downtown. If the streetcar gets extended further north, it should head into Chinatown. —James Fujita, June 6, 2:24 p.m.

FEELING BOXED IN BY YOUR PHONE COMPANY? SWITCH TO TIME WARNER CABLE BUSINESS CLASS FOR THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT INTERNET AND PHONE SOLUTION. Your business deserves options, not limitations. We can provide you with tailored Internet, Phone and Cable TV solutions that meet your unique needs. With services like Managed Security, Vanity E-mail and our new Business Class Voice Manager tool, you can open up your business to new possibilities. Call us today.

Get 50% OFF

Business Class Internet for 1 year with a 2-year agreement.

WWW.TWCBC.COM/WEST

1.866.636.5896 Internet | Phone | Cable TV | Ethernet

Offer valid for new internet customers with a minimum two year agreement. 50% savings applies when you purchase high-speed internet. 3x384 in LA/SD/DC & HI markets, 3x768 in MW market. After 12 month promotional period, regular monthly rate in effect at that time will apply. Early termination fees may apply. Offer is not transferable and may not be combined with any other offer. Excludes applicable taxed and fees. Standard installation and constructions costs apply. Offer ends 8/31/11. Products, offer and services not available in all areas. Actual speeds may vary. Some restrictions apply. Time Warner Cable Business Class reserves the right to discontinue any feature or offer at any time. Subject to change without notice. ©2011 Time Warner Cable. All rights reserved.

6 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

Windows Open on Microsoft Convention City Gets Ready for Largest Business Gathering Ever, With $48 Million in Spending by Richard Guzmán city editor

nime Expo gets the kids dressed up in the most outrageous outfits. The L.A. Auto Show draws the massive crowds that drool over shiny cars. E3 brings in the hippest audience, with tens of thousands of people ogling and playing the latest and soon-to-be-hottest video games. Those three happenings may be what a lot of people commonly associate with the Los Angeles Convention Center. But when compared on an economic basis with the Microsoft 2011 World Partner Conference, those gatherings are bush league. The Microsoft event, which runs July 10-14, will be the biggest convention Los Angeles has ever hosted. It will generate 50,000 room nights in hotels across the region, and will fill nu-

photo courtesy L.A. Convention Center

Workers last week were getting the Convention Center ready for the Microsoft 2011 World Partner Conference. It is expected to draw about 15,000 people from 140 countries.

merous Downtown establishments. The gathering as a whole is projected to generate $48 million in attendee spending. “It doesn’t get much bigger than this,” said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau. “Getting them here was a real team effort between the hotels in Los Angeles, AEG, the mayor’s office and ourselves.” Getting Microsoft, however, is only the first step. City officials know that if Los Angeles is to advance up the national rankings as a convention destination, then it needs to lure more of these kinds of gatherings. The idea takes on increased importance with the proposed Farmers Field. In addition to housing a football stadium, the project would reconfigure and enlarge the city’s convention footprint, giving Los Angeles the potential to attract the gatherings it can’t currently host. Still, city officials know that convention industry planners will be watching to see if Los Angeles can deliver a successful event. “It’s going to demand our attention,” said Pouria Abbassi, the general manager of the Convention Center, “and we have to come up winners to be able to draw other corporate events like maybe Apple. We need to be able to show clearly we can perform.” Big Score In terms of economic impact, Los Angeles doesn’t have anything close to Microsoft. The second largest convention in the city this year, October’s gathering for the Water Environment Federation, will lead to $29 million in spending. The third and fourth largest conventions in the city in 2011 together won’t equal what will come in Microsoft’s five days: The July 1-4 Anime Expo created 6,000 hotel room nights and sparked $24 million in spending. E3, which took place in June, had a $20 million impact and generated 25,000 room nights. The international scope of the Microsoft convention accounts for the tremendous economic effect. It is expected to draw about 15,000 people from 140 countries. They will stay at 30 hotels and will spend money in restaurants, on taxis, rental cars and entertainment.

“We’re going to be welcoming people to Los Angeles who have never been here before,” Liberman said. The conference is an example of the type of gathering Los Angeles could not have attracted even five years ago. Liberman said the opening of the Convention Center hotel and L.A. Live were major factors in persuading Microsoft to come. The convention not only will take up the entire convention facilities, but will spill over into Staples Center, where keynote speakers including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Virgin Chairman Richard Branson will address the attendees. Bill Gates is not slated to attend.

The gathering will bring together the company’s worldwide network of business partners, which include everyone from consultants to people who sell and customize products. Company officials said 95% of Microsoft’s $70 billion in annual business is done through their partner community. “It’s the crème de la crème of Microsoft partners,” said Jon Roskill, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft. “We’re there to celebrate the last year. We’re there to learn about new things Microsoft is coming out with and then go out and have a great new see Microsoft, page 24

8 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

CONVERSATIONS

The Man With the Plan City Planning Director Michael LoGrande Talks About Development Reform, An NFL Stadium and Surviving Budget Chops staff wRiteR

ayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s nomination of Michael LoGrande as Director of City Planning last July raised some eyebrows in local planning circles. For one, LoGrande had worked in the planning department for 15 years, but not as a planner — he was more of a code wizard. Before being tapped to head the department, he was the city’s chief zoning administrator. He took over the department in a tough time. His budget is 60% of what his predecessors had to spend, yet he is charged with incorporating major policy initiatives including development reform and overhauling the city’s 65-year-old zoning code. LoGrande, 39, recently sat down with Los Angeles Downtown News to discuss key planning projects on Downtown’s horizon, electronic signs, an NFL stadium and other issues. Los Angeles Downtown News: You’ve adopted “Doing more with less” as the department’s motto. How much “less” does the department have today? Michael LoGrande: Staffing-wise, we have about 40% less than we had allocated in pre-

vious budgets, and most of that’s due to the early retirement program but also with our general fund being continually reduced by the City Council through the budget process. The good news is this year in our budget the city council and the mayor were very strong advocates to maintain our funding for our six community plans that we’re currently updating. They also allowed us to keep a few vacancies to be able to take on some of these work programs like zoning code reform, like updating our sign ordinance. Q: When people talk about the Planning Department these days, the word you hear a lot is “decimated.” A: I would say that’s a little extreme. We got our hair cut a lot shorter than we asked the barber for. But we identified early on what our core functions are and we reorganized the department around those core services. We have six community plans that will be completed in 2012. We have a number of major policy initiatives like changing our parking standards. We have a number of transit oriented development plans going forward, so a lot of what we’re seeking to do is really the bread and butter of planning organizations.

Real loft living… …in the downtown Arts District.

ART WALK

photo by Gary Leonard

City Planning Director Michael LoGrande is heading a department with 40% less staff than previous administrations. His motto for the department is “doing more with less.”

THE PETROLEUM BUILDING

Commercial Office Space for Lease Suite 1000

SPECIAL Thursday, July 14

Open 6-10pm Art Installation

EXHIBIT

Wine & Cheese

Y RR

–

Decorated models open daily, 10:30 to 5:30 (Closed Tues. & Wed.)

120-130 South Hewitt St., Los Angeles • www.GalleryLoftsLA.com 855-281-8200 Prices, details, specifications and features subject to change without prior notice. Sales exclusively by Home Builders Marketing Services, Inc. DRE #01163523.

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS

Combining old and new, Gallery Lofts offers the comfort and convenience of state-of-the-art finishes in a historic framework.

From the mid $300s

T AS

Suite 1011

Loft condominiums ideally located in LA’s sophisticated Arts District provide a uniquely appealing home at Gallery Lofts.

• Lighted and gated parking with assigned spaces • Granite counters in kitchens and baths • Open and airy mezzanine-style sleeping lofts • Stainless steel GE™ appliances • Pre-wired for TV, Internet and telephone • Lush interior courtyard with bamboo and water features • Walking distance to Metro Stop and Dash Bus Stop

LE S E AC P S

G SIN

Beautiful 236,900 sq. ft. 11 Story Office Building. Parking Available on Premises Conference Room • 24 Hour Security $1.55 Interior - $1.65 Exterior Per Rentable Sq. Ft.

2 SUITES AVAILABLE The Petroleum Building 714 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: 213.746.6300 Ext. 1455 Fax: 213.765.1910 ghollis@shammasgroup.com

Suite 1000 - 7,400 approximate rentable square feet. 8 offices, 1 executive office and large creative space. Access directly off elevators. Suite 1011 - 7,812 approximate rentable square feet. Large, open creative space with one office. Will consider division and space build-outs.

by Ryan VaillancouRt

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com

Q: Which non-core services was the department spending too much time on? A: There are a lot of council-initiated motions that are good policy ideas but they take a lot of work from the department and many times when we bring them forward there aren’t necessarily the votes to accomplish it or the funding to take it on. So we’ve been very clear in communicating what our focus is for the department, so that they’re in line with our work program and they understand the constraints against expanding it. When they expand it, we’re putting a price tag on it, saying, “Yes we can accomplish that but it’s going to take us ‘X’ amount of resources, or it’s going to have to happen after we complete these two work programs.” Q: What advantages and disadvantages did you bring from your zoning administrator experience? A: I definitely think there were a lot of advantages to having experience working within the department but also in Los Angeles’ city government system. We have such a complicated development process with our rules and regulations. We have a 1946 zoning code, so knowing how to navigate through that code helps to make sure that we get quality projects at the end of the day and not let the code dictate the outcome in terms of design. Having that knowledge and experience helps make sure that we have good plans that actually push the envelope toward the types of projects we want in Los Angeles and also to make it more difficult for projects that we don’t want to see. Coming from zoning, it’s about being able to navigate around those rules and regulations, but also understand them and be able to go in and mechanically change them and empower my staff to take on some of those ordinances that we have to bring to city council to actually change the way we

do business in Los Angeles. It would have taken me five years otherwise to really get up to speed and understand the complexities of Los Angeles. Q: As the ZA, did you ever get to a point where you lost faith in the document you were enforcing? A: No. I don’t think we’ve lost faith in it. I think we’ve definitely come to the point where we’ve overhauled the engine a number of times and it’s time to get a new car. Maybe don’t use that quote because we’re getting away from the car in Los Angeles, right? But it’s time to kind of rethink just a piecemeal approach to updating the zoning code and really completely rewriting it. We’re working on getting support to take on a comprehensive rewrite of the 1946 code and are looking for funding to do that, but are also trying to figure out what it would take to actually take on a multi-year multi-million dollar effort like that. We’d be able to go to a more form-based code as opposed to a code based off exceptions. Currently everything that you want to do, we say: “Here’s what you can do and anything that requires a deviation, here’s the process for it.” So for projects that we want, we basically put in a lot of bureaucratic hurdles to come up with a good design rather than having the kind of projects that make neighborhoods, and having them be built in a by-right fashion. Q: Development reform is a big topic right now. What gives you confidence that this time it won’t fail? A: I think the main difference from prior efforts is this is really an implementation plan. It’s more like a strategic plan. It’s a guide for the city that will take us forward for a number of years with different milestones to accomplish. Many efforts before were kind of quick fixes, where the ribbon cutting hap-

pened before the hard work was done. Q: Do you consider it your responsibility to make Los Angeles a more business-friendly city? A: Yeah, I definitely do. It’s something the mayor has been very strong in advocating for with us, in trying to make sure we not only retain our existing businesses but grow our jobs base. I think we’ve also got a bad stigma. I think we do a good job in city government of providing good customer service. I think we have some of the sharpest talent working in our city, in our department especially. We have a lot of tools at our disposal to be able to help businesses find sites that meet their needs that have very little red tape, but those discussions have to take place. And a lot of that comes from department heads like myself echoing to our staff the importance, whether it’s a cupcake shop or an insurance company moving their headquarters to Los Angeles, that we’re being creative, that we’re utilizing our resources to get things accomplished and get answers to people so they can make business decisions and stay or move into Los Angeles. Q: People are concerned these days with electronic signs and architectural lighting. Do you see these as important and effective tools of design and planning? A: I definitely think sign districts need to be looked at in the context of a neighborhood district so you’re not doing them block by block or project by project. When we can start from scratch and look at the architecture and incorporate the signage into the architecture the outcome is a lot better. But we need to be careful. There is a lot of new technology and that was one of the things we focused on with the Wilshire Grand [replacement] — making sure we understood the [lighting] technology from a

planning perspective. Signage has become an integral part of how projects are financed and we have to understand that and accept that. The key is making sure that it’s done tastefully, that it actually adds to the architecture of the building. Q: What are the key planning issues surrounding the proposed NFL stadium and events center? A: One thing is to make sure that the stadium is friendly to pedestrians — that the people who live, work and play in Downtown have multiple ways to access the stadium, whether it’s on foot, by bike or by rail. We don’t just want to build the stadium for people who will be coming by car. The other key is the urban design, how it fits within Downtown and making sure that it’s something that’s going to be embraced by local businesses and doesn’t necessarily overshadow the investment we’ve already had in Downtown. Connecting it via streetscapes is going to be important. Q: Any radical Downtown planning ideas? A: One of the most exciting things coming to Downtown would be to make sure we have a transit oriented development plan for Downtown that really encourages development and takes advantage of the investment we have in the infrastructure of rail. We’re also currently doing a rewrite of a portion of the zoning code that handles multiple entitlement projects, which are most of your big projects, and actually looking at extending entitlements that have expired during the recent economy. I think that could really position us in Los Angeles when the market turns around to really see some of those projects we’ve all talked about and worked on in the last couple of years. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Wina Free LSAT Course in…

LSAT : Lay down the law.

The Great LSAT Challenge

The rules are simple: (1) Our LSAT Instructors teach you. (2) You use this knowledge to solve LSAT problems that will send you around Downtown LA. (3) The first team to reach the final location and to complete all of the problems correctly wins!

When you’re ready to stand trial, come talk to us.

1ST pLACe:

2 Full Scholarships for The Princeton Review’s Ultimate LSAT Course ($3,398 value).

2nd pLACe:

1 Full Scholarship for The Princeton Review’s Ultimate LSAT Course ($1,699 value).

800-2Review (800-273-8439) | princetonreview.com

3rd And 4Th pLACe: Set of LSAT & Law School Resource Books.

Saturday, July 16, 2011 10am – 2pm Downtown LA

http://bit.ly/GreatLSATChallenge

LSAT Private Tutoring, Small Group Instruction, Classroom and Online Courses. LSAT is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University or LSAC.

LTBR031210095

or Call 800-2REVIEW

10 Downtown News

Restaurants Continued from page 1 The area makes so much sense to Cardenas that he’s not stopping: He said he plans to open two more places this year: a curry restaurant on First Street in Little Tokyo and a Spanish spot at a yet-to-be determined location. A Program and Buzz The rents and the crowds have coincided with something experienced food players are also quick to champion: the speeding up of the city’s permitting program. In June 2010, following a test period, the city, working with the Central City Association, launched Restaurant and Hospitality Express, which aims to cut in half the 12 to 18 months (or longer) it has traditionally taken to open a food or nightspot in Los Angeles. The tactics include giving each restaurant a case manager. Since the program’s launch, more than 100 restaurants have been fast tracked through the process, including Downtown spots such as Homeboy Diner and Two Bits Market. Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association and the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, said that the restaurants are building a collective crowd. Seventh Street, with Mas Malo, Sugarfish

and Schnitzly opening recently, is one of the corridors where the whole is creating a buzz louder than its parts. “This has become a restaurant destination,” said Schatz. Referring to the April 2009 debut of a trendsetter, she added, “The success of a number of restaurants headed up by Bottega Louie attracts other restaurateurs.” Schatz noted that the restaurant trend doesn’t seem to be tapped out yet. She said the DCBID is completing a demographics survey of the area (Los Angeles Downtown News is a partner in the study) and many of the respondents said they want more moderately priced restaurants in Downtown. While Downtowners may be surprised by the sudden wealth of choices, Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic, which tracks the restaurant industry across the country, said there seems to be a national rise in mid-sized restaurants (under 200 seats) by independent owners with low to mid price points. This comes even as the overall restaurant market is slowing, he said. “A lot of the restaurants that are closing seem to be the larger restaurants, while the new restaurants opening up are smaller and offer international cuisine, more ethnic cuisine and prices that people in this economy can afford,” he said. The Buzz The DCBID is no longer actively recruiting restaurateurs to the area, and is focusing instead on retail, said Schatz. Derrick Moore, vice president of brokerage services at CB Richard

photo courtesy of Eco-Asian

Philip Sanan opened Eco-Asian on Seventh Street in March. Like most of the new arrivals, his offerings are mid-priced.

Ellis, said that’s not a bad sign: He said about 90% of his clients these days are people looking for restaurant space in Downtown. Moore said that about 10 clients per week ask to look at available food and drink spaces in the area. “Rents are a big factor that certainly play into the equation, but it’s not just rent. It really is just a very dynamic demographic,” Moore said. “Downtown really is a 24-hour destination, and it has a market for all these tastes and different price structures.” Moore said another factor attracting restaurants to Downtown are the well-known chefs who have succeed-

JULY

SaLe PrODuCTS

SIZE

rETAIL PrICE

GNC Mega Men/Women’s Ultra Mega 180 Caps 33.99 GNC Mega Men/Women’s Ultra Mega Packs 30 Packs 49.99 GNC Fish Oil 360 Caps 17.99 USP Labs Jack3d 250g 36.99 BSN N.O.-XPLODE 2.25lbs 66.99 Gaspari SuperPump Max 1.41lbs 64.99 CytoSport Muscle Milk 2.47lbs 52.99 ON 100% Whey Gold 5lbs 72.99 GNC Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 3lbs 63.99 NB ISOPURE 3lbs 71.99 *All Weight Loss Products ON SALE 20% **15% Cold Drinks & Bars, 20% Case Discount

hOT SALE 24.99 34.99 9.99 24.99 34.99 41.99 19.99 45.99 44.99 43.99

DOWNTOWN GNC LOCATIONS:

Pershing Square, 6th & Olive: 510 W. 6th St., Ph: 213-622-2078 Arco Plaza: 505 S. Flower St., Level B, Ph: 213-489-7732 Macy’s Plaza: 700 S. Flower St., Ph: 213-622-6931 GNC LA CIENEGA PLAZA: 1833 La Cienega Blvd., Ph: 310-733-4144 *Offers may not be combined with any other promotions and or discount: Only one discount per purchase whichever is greater. One coupon per person. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Redeemable only at GNC 510 West 6th Street, Los Angeles,, CA 90014. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

20% Off O

PET STORES

Saturday Vaccination Clinic (Call for Location & Time)

Convenient Parking 25 Years Experience

we have it all...

MMA • Wrestling • Grappling • Submission • Boxing Muay Thai • Kickboxing • Cardio • Brazilian Jujitsu

Anything in the Store

Solutions To Your Pet Care Needs

1 (888) 711-9622

als rate membership de Ask about our corpo

400 W. Pico Blvd. los angElEs 877-452-8276 WWW.taPoutla.com

Must present coupon.1 coupon per person. 1 item per coupon. Expires 8/11/11

1901 W. 8th St. • M-Sat. 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-5pm

Voted By Downtown Dentistry for News Readers

Today Best

anings

are

vider

Dentist

Prompt and attentive care • Digital x-rays • Professional dental cleanings • Prompt and attentive care Invisalign Preferred Provider • 0% financing available

ng s

• Invisalign Preferred Provider NOW WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS • Laser dentistry 213-620-5777

Don Mungcal, DDS

ASK US HOW!

255 S. Grand Ave. Suite 204, Los Angeles

(213) 290-2906

Don Mungcal, DDS

mobile dog grooming & supplies ®

Find us on

Facebook @ www.downtowndentalla.com

MObILe DOG GROOMING W/FREE TEETH CLEANING

On first appointment. Serving LA County. Cannot be combined w/other offers. Expires 7-31-11.

Mobile Grooming Services 7 Days A Week From 8am To 7pm (Se Habla Espanol)

(323) 680-4738 | (562) 416-3576 S O C A LG R O O M I N G . CO M

oNLY organic vegetables

*Cannot provide basic cleaning if further treatment is medically indicated

Delicious Food

No hydrogenated oils, animal derivatives, refined sugars, chemicals, GMOs, gluten or dairy products

& X-RAYS FREE CONSULTATION

• Digital x-rays

Now Welcoming New Patients

With Grandma’s healthy &

*BASIC CLEANING

255 Grand Ave. Suite 204 | Find us on Facebook @ www.downtowndentalla.com •

ww.downtowndentalla.com by GY red NER e Whitening w Teeth E Po EN E for Life GR

Stop eating foodS that kill you Start eating foodS that make you healthy!

>> $99 <<

Professional dental cleanings • Laser dentistry

w NopeN o

Pet Care Inc.

try for

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Free delivery to your home or office Grandma’s Healthy Food

(pictured above: Vegan Spaghetti, Potatoes Au Gratin, Vegetable Medley, and Lasagna)

Cleaning, X-Ray & Exam*

$99 Zoom Whitening

With minimum of 5 healthy meals for your daily use.

Call 323-290-1234 for this week’s menu | www.grandmashealthyfood.com

HUNGRY, PARTY OF ONE.

Dental Implant Special $1499 (Excludes Crown)

Digital X-Rays • Se Habla Español

Dr. Kathy Maasoumi & Dr. Roshi Rofagha

*For patients without insurance. New Patients only. (Patients with Insurance: Your insurance might cover your entire treatment.)

404 S. Figueroa, #207 | 213-486-0006 | www.KathyDDS.net

Chew on the latest restaurant news & reviews. www.DowntownLADining.com

L Fil

C C

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

The Big 20

Downtown’s Recent Food Arrivals

photo courtesy of Urbano Pizza

Michael Leko and Will Shamlian opened Urbano Pizza Bar on Sixth Street in June. In the effort to stand out, they produce artisan pies cooked in a wood-burning oven.

w w w . e d u c o g y m . c o m

ed in the area. They include Wolfgang Puck, Celestino Drago, Ricardo Zarate and Josef Centeno, who in addition to helming Lazy Ox will open a new restaurant called Baco in the Historic Core this summer. Zarate, of Mo-Chica at Mercado la Paloma, will debut a second version of the acclaimed Peruvian spot on Seventh Street this year. Despite the enthusiasm, there is concern over whether there are enough diners to go around. Local players like Michael Leko, who with business partner Will Shamlian opened Urbano Pizza Bar on Sixth Street in June and Coffeebar in February, noted that food entrepreneurs have to work hard and provide something no one else is offering. “The key is to have a variety, different choices, and there will be competition between the similar places,” said Leko, who with Shamlian also opened after-work corporate hangout the Library Bar and a bar called Spring Street. Urbano hopes to stand out with artisan pies prepared in a wood-burning oven by Brad Winnaman, formerly of La Brea Bakery and Campanile. Leko said that even with attractive rents, it

get a

is still difficult to get financing. The ones who last will be the restaurateurs who pace themselves and can survive after the opening-day hype wears out and fickle eaters discover newer spots. “If you build a quality product, people will seek you out, and it’s important to understand the community you’re in,” he said. The first year is the most crucial for new restaurants, Tristano said, and most restaurant owners know within six months if they’re going to succeed or fail. Those who survive usually build a solid base of customers during the initial rush and stick to common sense business practices. “Those who survive have to do the basics well: good service, good execution and consistency,” he said. Newcomers like Sanan are busy trying to do just that. The owner of Eco-Asian can be seen in his kitchen almost every day, either preparing homemade sauces or walking the communal tables, asking his guests if they are satisfied with their meals. The process never stops. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

50% DISCOUNT

off our 6 week ultimate challenge.

Regular price $1198. Offer expires July 31, 2011

Aburiya Toranoko Opened: January Cuisine: Japanese Location: 243 S. San Pedro St., (213) 621-9500 or toranokola.com

Hooters Opened: July Cuisine: Wings, burgers, American fare Location: 1248 S. Figueroa St., (213) 867-6012 or hooters.com.

Chimu Opened: May Cuisine: Peruvian soul food Location: Grand Central Market, 324 S. Hill St., (213) 625-1097

Mas Malo Opened: January Cuisine: East L.A. Mexican Location: 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 985-4332 or malorestaurant.com

Chipotle Opened: April Cuisine: Mexican Location: 601 W. Seventh St., (213) 283-2058 or chipotle.com

Night Toast Opened: May Cuisine: Mediterranean Location: 653 S. Spring St., (213) 488-9944 or nighttoast.com.

Coly’s Stromboli Opened: May Cuisine: Strombolis Location: 456 S. Hill St., (213) 627-9990 or colystromboli.com

NOLA Opened: July Cuisine: New Orleans style food Location: 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003

Coffeebar Opened: February Cuisine: Coffee and pastries Location: 600 S. Spring St., (213) 327-1157 or coffeebarla.com

Onyx Lounge Opened: May Cuisine: Contemporary American Location: 118 W. Fifth St., (213) 891-1144 or onyxloungela.com

Eco-Asian Opened: March Cuisine: Asian Location: 521 W. Seventh St., (213) 489-1811 or eco-asian.com

Schnitzly Opened: March Cuisine: Kosher sandwiches Location: 119 E. Seventh St., (213) 488-9511 or schnitzly.com

Freebirds Opened: January Cuisine: Mexican Location: 3335 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-1212 or freebirds.com

Silo Vodka Bar Opened: June Cuisine: Small plate tapas Location: 221 W. Seventh St., (213) 891-1063 or silodtla.com.

Garage Pizza Opened: May Cuisine: Pizza Location: 100½ W. Seventh St., (213) 622-3390

Spice Table Opened: March Cuisine: Vietnamese/Singaporean Location: 114 S. Central Ave., (213) 620-1840 or thespicetable.com

Green Hut Café Opened: May Cuisine: Salads, sandwiches Location: 808 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-8166 or greenhutcafe.com.

Two Bits Market Opened: January Cuisine: Fresh produce, sandwiches Location: 210 W. Fifth St., (213) 627-2636 or twobitsmarket.com

Homeboy Diner Opened: June Cuisine: Pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, tamales Location: City Hall, 200 N. Spring St.

Urbano Pizza Bar Opened: June Cuisine: Pizza Location: 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-1900 or urbanopizzabar.com

PROTECT YOUR TOYOTA with service designed by the people who made it.

FULL ANALYSIS INCLUDED GOAL SETTING

INCLUDES

20 SESSIONS

ACTION PLAN

LOSE

• Prices competitive with local garages!

DROP

• Includes 27-point safety inspection

at least 7½ lbs of fat? a full clothes size?

LOSE

a minimum 2 inches from your waist?

with your trainer 3 times a week

633 W 5th St., Suite 5750, Los Angeles, CA 90071 • 213.617.8229

FREE shuttle service drop-off & pick-up

EVERYDAY LOW PRICES! • $39.95 OIL CHANGE*

• Includes CHECK ENGINE LIGHT scan

• Service: M- F 6AM -6PM, Sat 6AM-5PM * And up. Includes up to 5 quarts of oil. Tax and hazardous disposal fees extra. Synthetic oil additional. Toyota vehicles only. Expires 07/31/2011. 48801

Make an appointment today!

1-800-716-1345

110

• toyotacentral.com

1600 S. Figueroa (at Venice), LA — 2 blocks south of the Staples Center

12 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

WHAT’S FOR SALE A 12-Story Beaux Arts Apartment Complex Hits the Market by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

n the column “What’s for Sale,” Los Angeles Downtown News looks at everything from condos to multi-family buildings to vacant lots now on the market. We hope that regular snapshots of individual properties will make for a wide-ranging survey of the overall community. This week, the focus is on an 87-year-old former bank headquarters that reopened in 2008 as apartments. It is listed at $32.7 million. The Property: The 12-story Beaux Arts structure was built in 1924 to house the National City Bank. It was designed by the architecture firm Walker and Eisen, which also worked on the Oviatt Building and the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills. Like many of the old bank buildings along Spring Street, by the 1980s and ’90s it was mostly occupied by garment manufacturers. Brothers Shahram and Shariar Afshani bought the building for $6.5 million in 2003 and spent $16 million to turn it into 93 apartments five years later. Location Cubed: The building, which the Afshanis renamed National City Tower Lofts, sits where Main, Spring and Eighth streets join to make the base of a triangle that points south to Ninth Street. It’s a sort of nexus between the Historic Core to the north and the Fashion District to the south and east. It shares a block with the authentic French bistro Angelique Café. Heads or Retails?: The 118,162-square-foot property includes about 13,000 square feet of ground floor and basement commercial space, including the bank’s original vault. Except for a 1,000-square-foot spot occupied by Infusion Café, however, the commercial property remains vacant. During the transformation, Shahram Afshani envisioned the NCT Lofts as the Historic Core’s southern bookend to the Old Bank District, centered at Fourth and Main streets. Since then, the area around NCT Lofts has added new retail, but not much. In addition to Infusion, the area in-

cludes furniture outpost I-Squared, on the ground floor of the neighboring Great Republic Lofts. Broker Janet Neman, senior managing director at Charles Dunn Company, said management is in talks with several potential tenants interested in leasing space at the building. Homes, Sweet Homes: Units in the building are 643-1,626 square feet and rents range from about $1,400-$3,600. The building is 95% occupied, according to Charles Dunn. The firm’s sales document indicates that the property’s current annual income is about $2.44 million. The building includes a rooftop deck with a hot tub and a community barbecue setup, an onsite gym and a media room. Why Sell Now?: Most recent multi-family transactions in Downtown have involved buildings beset by some kind of financial distress. Three condo properties in the Santee Village complex two blocks from NCT Lofts, for example, were sold out of bankruptcy. But Shahram Afshani said the project is not in trouble. Putting the NCT Lofts on the market, he said, is simply the natural course of his development business model. “I think the asset has matured,” he said. “We are full. The area is doing extremely well…. I think it’s time for us to move on and let somebody who just likes to manage apartments take it over.” Compared to What?: The $32.7 million price translates to $352,151 per unit, or about $277 per square foot. By comparison, the Pegasus, a Financial District building with 322 apartments, sold in April for $100 million, which equates to about $310,560 per unit or $207 per square foot. Canvas L.A., a 204-apartment complex in City West, sold last December for $62.5 million, amounting to about $306,370 per unit or $360 per square foot. Foreign Interest: Neman said the firm is marketing the building to institutional investors and high net worth individuals. So far, interest has come from some faraway places too. “This is a long-term hold for an investor,” Neman said.

photo courtesy Charles Dunn Company

The National City Tower Lofts, which opened in 1924 and was turned into a 93-unit apartment building in 2008, is on the market for $32.7 million.

“We have opened it up to the whole world. I have investors from China who are looking at it.” Contact: Janet Neman is at (310) 996-2210 or jneman@ charlesdunn.com. Co-listing agent Bryan Glenn is at (310) 996-2218 or bglenn@charlesdunn.com. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Grand Central Market Open’s Late for the Downtown Art Walk July 14th

Special for Artwalk • Extended hours 6:00pm - 9:00pm • $3 Flat Rate Parking from the hours 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm • CHIMU - Peruvian Soul Food • The Breek - Zagat Certified • Live music • Art Your World Gallery Feeding Los Angeles Since 1917

317 South Broadway between 3rd and 4th, Broadway and Hill

(213) 624-2378 www.grandcentralsquare.com FREE

Parking Courtesy of the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation. Metro redline passengers exit Pershing Square

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

HEALTH Truer Than Ever, You Are What You Eat Food Choice Can Help Prevent Disease and Keep People Healthy by Diane SchlinDwein

ou’ve heard it all your life: “You are what you eat.” Now, more than ever, that old adage seems to ring true. In fact, experts are finding that avoiding preservatives and sodium by eating fresh foods helps to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes. Apples aren’t the only fruit to keep the doctor away. Blueberries are becoming known as a “superfood.” Research has proved that blueberries are among foods that prevent cancer, and recent studies have shown that eating a cup of blueberries a day can make you feel full and reduce belly fat. Researchers at Texas A&M University have found that peaches and plums contain a phenol that prohibits growth of non-estrogenreceptive breast cancer cells. Those phenols kept the breast cancer cells from growing but didn’t damage the non-cancerous cells. Dietitians Kathy Levin and Christina Rollins agree that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is the way to go, but there are still way too many people who aren’t eating right. “I’ve been a dietitian for 20 years, and I can tell you that not only are more Americans overweight but also more are obese,” Levin says. An overweight person has a body mass index between 25 and 29.9. Anyone with a BMI that is more than 30 is considered obese. Physician Nieca Goldberg, author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health, says people should begin taking steps toward better eating by simply looking at their plates. There is a natural balance. “Your plate should be half-filled with vegetables and salad, a quarter-filled with protein and a quarter-filled with whole grain,” Goldberg says. “Get rid of sugar. Do takeout healthier. If food is glistening, don’t eat it. Eat undressed vegetables and get your sauces on the side.” Levin says people should pay close attention to warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has determined that obesity is tied to coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, arthritis, infertility and endometrial, breast and colon cancers. Levin sees a lot of patients who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is often the result of being overweight and not exercising enough. More and more often, her patients are children. “Ten or 15 years ago you never saw a child Monday’s News with Type 2 diabetes,” she says. “Now I see them all the time. It’s the same thing with Friday Night! high cholesterol.” Rollins says people could be healthier by paying better attention to what they eat for Available on-line @ The choices can breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2EAD ON

LADowntownNews.com

be simple and don’t have to cost a lot. “For breakfast, I recommend eating a whole-grain hot cereal, such as oatmeal, because it provides fiber and helps keep cholesterol at a healthy level,” she says. “Try a half-cup of unflavored oatmeal mixed with a half-cup of fresh or frozen fruit — I like blueberries — and add a little hot water. That makes a good portion, and it is filling.” If you choose to eat dry cereal, be sure to read the labels. “A lot of dry cereals are marketed as grains, but some are better. Raisin Bran and Kashi are better cereals,” Rollins says. Eggs are also a good source of protein. Rollins notes that the American Heart Association does not completely limit eating eggs. “If you are eating to lower cholesterol levels, try eating one egg with a yolk and a couple of egg whites, or you can use Egg Beaters,” she says.

Studies have shown that eating blueberries has benefits including reducing belly fat.

We specialize in you! ‘Get rid of sugar. Do takeout healthier. If food is glistening, don’t eat it. Eat undressed vegetables and get your sauces on the side.’

Finally... a comprehensive facility dedicated to the health care needs of women in the prime of their lives. Whole-woman care for the whole you—conveniently located all in one place, under one roof. World class care from specialists who specialize in you.

COMING FALL 2011

—Nieca Goldberg

Lunch and dinner should include at least one portion of fruits and vegetables, Rollins says. A portion is about the amount of food a woman could hold in her hand. Finally, she gives one of the most obvious, yet also most important pieces of advice: Don’t forget to exercise. The CDC recommends that people exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least five days a week. “I know that everyone can’t buy a treadmill or join a gym, but everyone can walk,” Levin says. “I tell people to start with 10 minutes a day and go up from there. And if they can’t walk, there are exercises they can do. They just need to start exercising.” Article copyright 2011 creators.com.

Read Monday’s News on Friday Night!

It’s happening downtown. 1513 South Grand Ave. Suite 400 Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213) 742.5784

www.lacwh.org

Redeem this offer at your initial examination and cleaning appointment and receive a FREE whitening kit

Available on-line @

LADowntownNews.com

Offer expires: 7/31/2011

• Digital x-rays • Oral Cancer and Periodontal screening • Flexible financial options

MAKING QUALITY DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE ANDAND GENTLE MAKING QUALITY DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE GENTLE MAKING QUALITY COMFORTABLE for over 18 years in Downtown LA LA AND GENTLE for DENTISTRY over 18 years in Downtown for over 18 years in Downtown LA Complimentary Whitening WEAND CARE! Complimentary Teeth Whitening WE GENTLE CARE! MAKING QUALITYTeeth DENTISTRY COMFORTABLE Complimentary Teeth Whitening WE CARE! for over 18 years in Downtown LA x State the of artthe sterilization center,center, x of State art sterilization

x |State ofequipment theGraduate art sterilization Silvia Kasparian, D.D.S. USC | A.D.A., C.D.A. Member with equipment tested weekly tocenter, with tested weekly to WE CARE! with equipment tested weekly to ensure your safety. ensure your safety. 601x W.State 5th St. , #1110 | (213) 892-8172 ensure your safety. of the art sterilization center,

Complimentary Teeth Whitening

Digital x-raysx-rays for minimal expo- expox Digital for minimal

x equipment Digital x-rays for minimal MAKING QUALITY COMFORTABLE AND GENTLE withDENTISTRY tested weekly to exposure and feedback. sureimmediate and immediate feedback. sure and immediate feedback. LA ensure safety. x over Oral Cancer and Periodontal x your Oral Cancer andDowntown Periodontal for 18 years in x x-rays Oral Cancer Periodontal Digital for minimal exposcreening at each examination ap- apscreening atand each examination atfeedback. each sure pointment and screening immediate at no extra charge. pointment at no examination extra charge.appointment at no extra charge. x Oral Cancer and Periodontal x We respect your time, and we see x We respect your time, and we see x We respect yourpromptly. time, and screening at each examination ap- we see that you are treated that you are treated promptly. that are treated promptly. pointment at you no extra charge. x Flexible financial options, includ-includx Flexible financial options, x Flexible financialinterest-free options, includx We respect your time, we see ing uping to 12 up months to 12 and months interest-free

HONDA PLAZA DENTAL Kouichi Cliff Itoh, D.D.S.

Cosmetic, Implant & Laser Dentistry

ZOOM WHITENING Only $199*

400 E. Second St., Suite# 207 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213.687.3895 • fax 213.687.1016 Mail@ItohDDS.com *New Patients Only

14 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

RESTAURANTS Grub With Guzmán

♦♦♦

Biting More Than Ludo The Fashion District’s Gram & Papa’s Holds Its Own by RichaRd Guzmán

city EditoR hen I walked into Gram & Papa’s for lunch last week, I thought I had messed up big time. The small Fashion District spot has twice served as the home to LudoBites, the pop-up restaurant by famed French chef Ludovic Lefebvre. I recently wrote that another installment in the space is slated to run Aug. 3-Sept. 10. When I entered on a Tuesday afternoon, the joint was packed. With no tables available, I momentarily thought I had gotten my dates mixed up and Lefebvre was already in the kitchen. I cringed at the whopper of a correction I was going to have to write. Then I took a breath and saw there was no tattooed chef. Instead, it was Mike Ilic, owner of Gram & Papa’s, working furiously in the kitchen. It turns out, Lefebvre isn’t the only one who can whip up memorable meals in G&P. One of the most popular dishes is the banh mi sand-

Side Dish Pitfire Pizza This gourmet pizza spot on the ground floor of the Higgins Building is a neighborhood favorite. You order at the counter and food is brought to your table. Of course, pizza is king here. The secret to the crust is that it’s allowed to rise for two days and then fired in a ceramic oven, resulting in the perfect combo of crispy and chewy. Creations are topped with organic ingredients like wild mushrooms and roasted onions, or grilled shrimp with lemon zest. Salads are pretty basic, though the skirt steak is divine. Opt for standout pastas like the fourcheese mac and the bowtie with sweet fennel sausage. They offer beer and wine (as well as wine tastings). The restaurant also hosts Sunday Suppers, a veritable feast for $12.99 that includes a salad, pasta, garlic bread and

wich ($9.50). I love banh mi and have eaten my share. While there are many variations, Ilic’s version is different that most I’ve had in Downtown. Made with roasted pork, pickled green papaya and a delicious sriracha aioli, it was more like a steak sandwich. It was juicy, slightly spicy and deliciously tangy. The bread stood out too, fresh and rich. It’s no surprise, since Ilic gets his goods from Breadbar, the Westside artisan bakery. I’m not a salad man, but Gram & Papa’s could change my mind, especially with the turkey burger Cobb salad ($8.95). The ground turkey was juicy and the salad included crumbled bacon and eggs, and you can never go wrong with bacon and eggs on anything. It also had charred corn, which Ilic prepares on the grill to bring out the sweetness. It works. The avocado, red onion and blue cheese add to the complexity of flavors in this surprisingly memorable salad. Also worth a try is the chicken salad sandwich ($9).

photo by Gary Leonard

Mike Ilic was running Gram & Papa’s long before French chef Ludovic Lefebvre used the space for his pop-up LudoBites.

It’s a little lemony with a hint of garlic thanks to the aioli, which is fine with me, although it may not appeal to those used to a tamer chicken salad. I’m still looking forward to the next LudoBites, but now I’ll be coming back more often too for Gram &

dessert — the warm chocolate pudding cake with fresh whipped cream leaves a sweet and lasting impression. At 108 W. Second St., (213) 808-1200 or pitfirepizza.com.

Korean BBQ House is simple but efficient, with a similarly modest interior and a narrow bank of booths. At 323 E. First St. (Japanese Village Plaza), (213) 680-1826.

Korean BBQ House

Eastside Market And Deli

You hear it coming before you taste it: a plate of mouthwatering short ribs sizzling on an iron plate atop a bed of shredded cabbage that has soaked up all the marinated goodness. You can order it mild, medium or spicy — though the latter is just the right amount of chili kick. The portion is big enough to feed a small army, and is accompanied by a bevy of sides such as pickled bean sprouts, kimchee, addictive and slightly sweet potato cubes and spinach. The chicken plate is delicious as well, but for those who want a serious meal, stick to the ribs. There are more than a dozen small plates you can order too, from sushi rolls to pot stickers to cold tofu. The latter is highly recommended, a cooling dish packed with lots of flavor, chili and bits of dried seaweed flakes on top. Service at the

Most city workers, cops and firemen know this tucked-away deli just west of the 110 Freeway. From pastrami and ham sandwiches to freshly made minestrone soup, Eastside has been a favorite for more than 70 years. Operated by the Angiuli family, the deli’s Tuesday and Thursday special is legendary, both for its taste and size. For $7.95 customers can choose from either a brick-sized serving of lasagna or the pasta with sausage or meatball. For meat lovers, there’s the DA Special ($7.80), a hot sandwich stuffed with a hefty amount of sausage, meatballs, roast beef and pastrami. The deli cooks more than 700 pounds of roast beef a week, At 1013 Alpine St., (213) 250-2464.

Papa’s. I just hope I can get a table. Gram & Papa’s is at 227 E. Ninth St., (213) 624-7272 or gramandpapas.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

Pitfire Pizza.

Lunch SpeciaL onLy $5.99

Buy 1 Combo Receive 2nd Combo at

Healthy Fresh Hand Carved Turkey Sandwich w/ No Fat

50% OFF

(slice of your choice of turkey meat on a roll served with mashed potatoes, gravy & a side of cranberry sauce) Add soup or salad for only $1.00 more.

Gourmet Fast Casual Restaurant Since 1973 7 Days-7am to 10pm 1657 W. 3rd St. at Union Ave. • 213-483-8885

10 order minimum

M.-Sat. 8am - 4pm • Inside the Macy’s Plaza • 750 W. 7th Street, Space 126 • 213-489-5785 



An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance Live Lobster Tank

Free Parking Next to Restaurant

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Tel: 213.617.2323



*Equal or Lesser Value. 1 coupon per customer, per visit. Expires 07-31-11

We do catering

 Suim nner m i D ch and D Lun

FREE Parking We Do Catering

Why Cook? 10 PieCe sPeCiAL

Now Accepting Credit Cards

thighs & Legs

We Deliver

with Tortillas & Salsa

Party Paks Available

$9.99

With minimum order of $10. Only when available. Limited area & hours.

onLy

+ TAX

2 Downtown Locations Corner of BroADWAy & 3rd

RESTAURANTS

260 S. Broadway

L.A., CA 90012 (213) 626-7975 • (213) 626-8235

Tel/Fx:

(213) 626-4572

FAshion DistriCt 226 E. 9th St.

at corner 9th/Santee (213) 623-5091 • (213) 327-0645

Tel/Fx:

(213) 623-9405

FIND OUT WHAT TO EAT AND WHERE TO EAT

LADOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

SPOTLIGHT ON

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 15

DowntownNews.com

CALENDAR Sword the

t o r r a The C ibit Looks at a Samurai Rabbit and

JANM Exh

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

photo courtesy of Japanese American National Museum

hen it comes to comic book heroes, familiar characters like Batman, Spider-Man and Superman pop to mind. That’s all well and good, but in Little Tokyo for the next three months, they’ll be a far second to a sword-wielding bunny known for slaying enemies in feudal Japan. The exhibit Year of the Rabbit: Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo opened July 9. It runs through Musashi. But after drawing some rabbit ears Oct. 30. on the samurai’s head, Sakai went in a differ“He’s right up there with all of the better- ent direction. known characters, and the storylines are origYojimbo is a ronin, a samurai rabbit who inal and keep you interested,” said 18-year- wanders a feudal Japan populated by anthroold Luis Villanueva, a South American tour- pomorphic animals. He often lends his services ist who on a recent trip to Little Tokyo was as a bodyguard in stories that are rich with hiselated to find out that he would get to learn torical details of life in Japan and usually follow more about Yojimbo. a connecting theme of honor and revenge. The show will include original artwork “These are the kinds of stories I would featuring the comic book character created like to read myself,” Sakai said. “Plus he’s a 27 years ago by Sakai. Images of the sword- funny animal, he’s a rabbit. It has more uniwielding rabbit, in full 17th century samurai versal appeal as opposed to having a strictly get-up, with his ears tied up to resemble a Japanese character.” top-knot and a confident and intimidating Sakai grew up between two cultures. He stare, will adorn the exhibit. was influenced by American comic books, The show will also include Yojimbo drawn but he also had a love of Japanese samurai by other artists, including the legendary Stan films and the history of his birth land. Lee, creator of Spider-Man, as well as a docuHe studied fine arts at the University of mentary that follows Sakai at Comic-Con, Hawaii and attended the Art Center College Starts the annual comic book/fantasy convention inNewof Design in Pasadena. He began his career s June 29/July 1 wn .Downtowill San Diego. Also included inothe exhibit lettering comic books. His credits include m/L.A Facebook.c be toys, clothing and a life-size cutout of the writing and illustrating a story for the anrabbit. Additionally, every Yojimbo comic nual Halloween episode of “The Simpsons.” book ever published, which includes 25 volAlthough many people are unfamiliar with umes of work, will be on display. Sakai, the JANM show is not his first muUsagi Yojimbo is a sword swinging samurai rabbit created by Stan Sakai. The comic During a recent call from his Pasadena seum exhibit. His work has been featured book character is the focus of an exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum. home, Sakai said he was pleased with how at the Japan Tower in Belgium, the Society the show has been put together. of Illustrators in New York, the Museum of Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com “They’ll see a lot of original artwork rang- Cartoon Art in San Francisco and the Pacific work well as a tail for Anime Expo, the ture, like one story I did which was just a tea ing from preparatory sketches to finished Asia Museum in Pasadena. Downtown convention that closed July 4, ceremony from beginning to end and it’s one paintings,” Sakai said. Sakai’s creation has outdone some of that’s not the case. Sakai said Yojimbo is not of my favorites,” he said. Yojimbo’s stories have been published in his better-known counterparts. Empire as popular in Japan or with the anime crowd One of his favorite elements of the JANM about a dozen languages. Chris Komai, a Magazine, a monthly British publication that as he is in other parts of the world. exhibit, Sakai said, is Yojimbo drawn by othJANM spokesman, noted that there is a deep focuses on movie news, reviews and pre“There has never been any American or er artists, especially the Stan Lee version. audience to tap into for the show. views, recently named him one of the 50 Western comic book that has ever “He’s drawn as Spider-Man, so that’s a Starts Julymade 8 any s.com or book characters of all time. “He’s developed a real loyal following and greatest type of significant dent in the Japanese marpretty rare piece,” he said. ownNewcomic nt w Do at corner r right hand aillist it’s one of the most popular comic book came in at number 31, beating out ket,” he noted. So far though, there are no plans for the uppe rms/mYojimbo in /fo l m bo co m S s. sy nnew E-NEW Look for this .ladowntow wwwKomai. characters “It’s based characters that have even been the stars of He said it could come down to differences Yojimbo to make it to the big screen like SIGN UP of all time,” said on real Japanese history, so it has a strong their own Hollywood films such as Daredevil in storytelling style, since anime storylines are Spider-Man and other comic book counterstoryline, and since it’s been translated into and Green Lantern. slower paced and American comics are more parts. For now he’s a samurai, albeit one that several languages, he’s really popular all over “The noble leporine’s longevity can be rushed. is patient and cute as a bunny. the world.” put down to an intriguing mix of historical Regardless, Sakai enjoys the freedom of Year of the Rabbit: Stan Sakai’s Usagi Ronin Rabbit and cinematic influence, cute fluffy bun- creating a character that he can pretty much Yojimbo runs through Oct. 30 at the Japanese Sakai, 58, was born in Japan and raised in niness and an ability to slice and dice with take in any direction. American National Museum, 369 E. First St., Check Our Website Movie Hawaii. When he created Yojimbo in 1984, stunning efficiency,” the magazine wrote offor Full “I have done Listings love stories,LADowntownNews.com I have done mys- (213) 625-0414 or janm.org. he originally envisioned a human based upon Yojimbo. teries. Most of them are just plain adventures Contact Richard Guzmán at historical Japanese swordsman Miyamoto While it would seem like the exhibit would and many say something about Japanese cul- richard@downtownnews.com.

JUNE 27

! n a F a e m o Bec

Fan Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!

JULY 4

s! w e N E r o f ✔ Sign Up

JULY 11

n! a F a e m o c Be

Starts July 15

ntownNews om/L.A.Dow .c k o o b ce Fa

Fan Downtown News on Facebook & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets! Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com

16 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Rocking Out on Skid Row Local Bands Trade the Nightclub For an Activity Room at the Midnight Mission by Jacqueline Vergara amézquita

ver the past decade, pop punk band The Dollyrots have played an endless string of shows. They’ve been onstage at numerous Los Angeles venues, performed at the Knitting Factory in New York City and earned a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in 2006. Earlier this year, they toured briefly with famed all-female rock group The Go-Go’s. Still, a recent show in Downtown Los Angeles was unlike any they had ever played. It wasn’t because they went acoustic, leaving the customary bright lights and amplifiers behind.

On Thursday, June 30, shortly after 1 p.m., Dollyrots’ front woman Kelly Ogden and guitar player Luis Cabezas set up in the activity room of Skid Row’s Midnight Mission. They spent an hour performing for an audience of approximately 50 people, some of whom had their personal belongings gathered around them. The show was part of the series Music With a Mission, which Georgia Berkovich, public affairs coordinator for the facility at 601 S. San Pedro St., launched last June. The monthly events are geared to those who either live in Skid

Pop punk band The Dollyrots recently became the latest local act to perform at the Midnight Mission. The Skid Row services center hosts monthly concerts for the homeless community.

photos by Jacquelin e Vergara Amézquit a

Row or come to the area to access services. “I come all the time,” said 54-year-old Mark Howard, a client at the mission. “Live entertainment is enjoyment and people need a change in their lives here.” The positive effect of music is what motivated Berkovich to found the series. Although the mission primarily focuses on providing food, shelter, drug rehabilitation and job training to Downtown’s homeless population, Berkovich felt offering a consistent arts program is the right thing to do. “There have to be some sweet spots in this rough area to provide some sort of respite and comfort,” said Berkovich. “Like pain, music is a great equalizer.” Plenty of Performers In its earliest iterations, the series was an informal concert with musicians who were friends of Midnight Mission staff members. It has since grown to include local artists and bands. Berkovich said she mainly relies on word-of-mouth to find performers — she’s not having any trouble, as Music With a Mission is booked through October. The performers run the style gamut. In addition to The Dollyrots, acts have included alternative folk rock group Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls and Christian rock band Broken Bread. The performers seem to appreciate the connection with the crowd, even if it’s different than what they normally encounter. “Music transcends any language or religion and touches people in ways other things can’t,” said Lydian Tone, founder and drummer of Broken Bread, which played the space in January. “There seemed to be a real calmness and peace in there, which was cool.” For Jason Heath, the front man of Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls, the April performance was a different way to help out the homeless. He had already been volunteering at the Midnight Mission for five years. “It’s nice to foster people’s spiritual and artistic needs,” said Heath. “Many of the people there are also artists and it made a difference to us to see people close their eyes and enjoy the music.” The Dollyrots wound up onstage due to a combination of altruism and serendipity. The group called the mission a few months ago to inquire about volunteer opportunities, interested in anything from serving meals to helping with an ongoing clothing drive. Then Berkovich learned that Ogden and Cabezas had a band. She took advantage of their specialty. Sitting on plastic blue chairs, in front of a foot tapping and head bobbing crowd, Ogden and Cabezas played covers ranging from the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” to folk singer Melanie’s “Brand New Key,” as well as original songs like “Rollercoaster,” with lyrics that address the unexpected and uncontrollable aspects of life. During the show Ogden held a star-shaped tambourine. They closed with a cover of Joan Jett’s rock anthem “Bad Reputation,” which even elicited a bit of crowd sing-along. The interaction didn’t end there, and the show briefly became like most Dollyrots’ club performances. After the music stopped, members of the crowd came forward to thank Ogden and Cabezas, shake their hand or fist bump them in approval. “I think it was a better experience for us than it was for them,” said Ogden. “Playing our song ‘Rollercoaster’ has never meant so much.” While Music With a Mission has plenty of bands for the next few months, Berkovich is looking for sponsors who can provide support such as donating a banner, as well as water and snacks like granola bars, during the performances. Those interested can reach Berkovich at (213) 624-9258 ext.1243 or gberkovich@midnightmission.org.

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

LISTINGS EVENTS

Friday, July 15 Music Center Plaza In the plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave., visit musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.: Dance Downtown is the popular and

Continued on next page

photo by Gary Leonard

n by o

toR e edi utiv c e x e die egaR

tWo

There are two kinds of people in Downtown: Those who attend every Art Walk, and those who run screaming from the traffic, crowds and food trucks. We understand the latter, but then again, this is an urban environment, and crowds and noise are part of the fun. Expect plenty of both when the event returns Thursday, July 14. Officially, the happening runs from 6-10 p.m., though plenty of people arrive early and stay late. This week, Art Walk continues the summer routine of extending to display spaces south of Seventh Street. There will also be sidewalk tours of the area’s movie palaces courtesy of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. Start at the Art Walk Lounge, which this week will be in a parking lot at 434 S. Spring St. Plan your visit at downtownartwalk.com.

courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library

Thursday, July 14 MOCA Grand Avenue, Geffen Contemporary 250 S. Grand Ave. and 152 N. Central Ave. Visit moca.org. July 14, 3 p.m.; July 17, 6:30 p.m.: Underground film star and Fun Gallery founder Patti Astor leads a tour and discussion that will begin with Art in the Streets’ installation of the Fun Gallery and the Rammellzee loft. At the Geffen Contemporary. Aloud at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. July 14, 7 p.m.: A panel of contemporary L.A. mystery and crime writers — Gar Anthony Haywood, Naomi Hirahara, Mark Haskell Smith and Paula L. Woods — talk about their genre and their craft. They murder so you don’t have to. Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-10 p.m.: The mammoth, crazily popular “museum without walls” attracts 20,000-plus attendees to more than 40 art galleries, formal and informal art events, restaurants and bars in the Historic Core. For the summer the happening extends south of Seventh Street. Plan your visit and your parking strategy online. The Art Walk Lounge 434 S. Spring St., downtownartwalk.com. 6-9 p.m.: The official visitor’s center of the Art Walk is where you can pick up maps, T-shirts and more. Broadway Historic Theatre District Walking Tour Clifton’s Cafeteria, 648 S. Broadway, (213) 999-5067 or lahtf.org. 6:30 and 7 p.m.: Tied in to Art Walk, the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation leads sidewalk tours of the grand movie palaces on and around Broadway. Docents will share history, photos and fun facts about the storied screens and stages. Free, no reservations required.

r a es , t m i e r l C l a e B h C o m i C ie W B e hind t J R | a nd a V

photo from the Herald-Examiner Collection,

Tuesday, July 12 Town Hall Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 3129460 or townhall-la.org. July 12, 11:30 a.m.: Tim Mason, CEO and president of Fresh & Easy, will discuss the company’s business model and the grocery business in the 21st century. He may even address F&E’s Downtown plans… if there are any. See more on Don’t Miss List. Aloud at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Artist Michael McMillen creates environmental installations that deal with themes of time, change and illusion. Just like you do in your spare time! He’ll talk to curator Howard Fox about his creative process and current obsessions.

t ’ n t o s d i l e s h t misroWds C t Wa l k

photo courtesy Fresh & Easy

SPONSORED LISTINGS Friday Night Flicks Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., laparks.org/ pershingsquare Friday nights: Every Friday night from July 15 through October 28, Pershing Square will present a variety of movies. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to place on the lawn. Picnic baskets and snacks are welcome. No alcohol allowed. Film begins sometime after 8 p.m. when the sun is down over the venue. On July 15, the film is Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 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, J.W. Marriott, and more. 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.

It doesn’t yet have the fan base or diehard loyalty of Trader Joe’s, but Fresh & Easy has won its share of converts in Los Angeles. The supermarket chain, part of the British grocery empire Tesco, now has 175 markets in California, Nevada and Arizona, including one near Downtown on Adams Boulevard. On Tuesday, July 12, Tim Mason, the CEO and president of Fresh & Easy and the deputy CEO of Tesco, comes to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel to talk about food retailing in the 21st century. The event, organized by Town HallLos Angeles, starts at 11:30 a.m. Be sure to ask if F&E intends to beat TJ’s to the punch and set up shop in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. We’ve got a few suggestions on locations. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 312-9460 or townhhall-la.org. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

e n o photo by Rosalie O’Connor

Most people don’t laugh when they think of ballet. Even fewer giggle when a Russian farm collection in the 1930s comes to mind. Still, humor is anticipated this week when The Bright Stream stops at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for five performances. The American Ballet Theatre production, with music by Dmitri Shostakovich and choreography by Alexi Ratmansky (and staging by Tatiana Ratmansky) was first performed in Leningrad in 1935. The ABT show, which premiered in Washington, D.C., in January, lands Downtown Thursday-Sunday, July 14-17. Will it be funny? Probably not Carrot Top funny, but expect to smile during the two-act comic ballet. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0711 or musicccenter.org.

No city is harder boiled than Los Angeles. This is due less to historic events than to the imaginative writers who pen crime stories set in the underside of the City of Angels. Private detective Philip Marlowe may be L.A.’s supreme bad-guy mystery solver, but Raymond Chandler’s creation was just the start of a long tradition that’s still alive and potboiling today. On Thursday, July 14, the Aloud series hosts four modern crime writers for a Central Library panel discussion on their genre, and the stories that keep even them up at night. And somebody give whoever wrote the event’s tagline — “We murder, so you don’t have to” — a sincere pat on the back. Paula Woods (Charlotte Justice) moderates the 7 p.m. talk with Gar Anthony Haywood (Cemetery Road), Naomi Hirahara (Blood Hina) and Mark Haskell Smith (Baked). At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

In the past few years, the Friday Night Flicks series has become one of the most popular events in Downtown, and crowds flock to the free showings in Pershing Square. It’s on again this summer, and starts with a bang July 15 with Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Yes, it’s the classic with a harried Richard Dreyfuss making a mountain out of mashed potatoes, and a battalion of folks desperate to reach a secret location, even if they’re not sure why. The movie is free (it starts sometime after 8 p.m.) and is projected on a 40-by-20 foot screen at the park. Make sure to come back on Saturday at 8 p.m. when new wavers A Flock of Seagulls perform. At 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

e v fi

18 Downtown News

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301, 213-6200908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Continued from previous page Shows at 8 p.m. free Friday night series for people of any level of July 13: Drummer Chris Wabich and oud-filled expertise. This evening, get ready to romance the world music with Wahid. dance floor as the featured step is Argentine tango. July 14: NYC vocalist Somi visits L.A.. July 15: The New West Guitar Trio. Saturday, July 16 July 16: Matt Mayhall Quartet. Free Acting and Performance Workshop Bootleg Bar Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., second floor. 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. 10 a.m.-noon.: Actress Candice Newman hosts a July 11, 8:30 p.m.: Races (formerly known as Black free acting and performance workshop. It’s open to Jesus) is in residency on Mondays in July. They’re all. The workshops will run every Saturday through joined by Jordache, So Many Wizards and Polls. Sept. 10. July 13. 9:30 p.m.: From the UK, A Silent Film. Designer Networking With Boris Smile and Army Navy. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, July 14, 9 p.m.: Rademacher headlines a show 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-2725 or jaccc.org. with Hosannas, Auditorium and Radars to the Sky. 8 p.m.: PechaKucha Night is an event for young July 16, 10:30 p.m.: White Lights, Hot TV and designers to meet, network and show their work in Maniac. public. Drawing its name from the Japanese term Casey’s Irish Pub for the sound of conversation — chit chat, if you 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353. will — the event hinges on a simple presentation July 16, 10 p.m.: Slow Motion Rider. format: 20 images, 20 seconds. More information at Conga Room pecha-kucha.org. L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or Los Angeles Downtown News congaroom.com. 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 June 14, 9 p.m.: Multi Grammy winning Colomphone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 bian superstars Aterciopelados. web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Downtown Independent Club Nokia facebook: twitter: Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews downtownindependent.com. clubnokia.com. Through July 14: Anime fun about a notorious July 14, 7 p.m.: Streetlight Manifesto teams up robber named Gasback and his nemesis, Vash the with the ska-riffic Reel Big Fish, along with Rodeo Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris Stampede. They’re heading toward Macca City. Ruby Love and the Maxies. GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin Look out! It’s Trigun: Badlands Rumble. July 15, 8 p.m.: ’Til the end of the road with Boyz ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie Flagship Theatres University Village II Men. citY Editor: Richard Guzmán 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or July 17, 7 p.m.: Flamenco masters Ottmar Liebert stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt flagshipmovies.com. and Luna Negre. coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Through July 14: Transformers: Dark Side of the Grand Performances coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Moon 3D (11:30 a.m. and 2:45, 6 and 9:15 p.m.); California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., visit Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Cars 2 (11 a.m. and 1:30, 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m.); Zoo- grandperformances.org. Art dirEctor: Brian keeper (11:30 a.m. andAllison 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m.). July 15, noon: A chamber octet featuring eight AssistANt Art dirEctor: Kanegawa July 14 (partial listing):Yumi Harry Potter and the guitarists, Los Angeles Electric 8 blends minimalism, ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3D (12 a.m.). atonal chords and polyrhythms. IMAX Theater Gary Leonard July 15, 8 p.m.: Torchbearer and soul-incarnate PhotoGrAPhEr: California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Seun Kuti and the famous AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt 2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Egypt 80 Band return to Grand Performances for an AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin Through Sept. 5 (10:30 a.m., and 2:30 and 4:30 evening of funky, soulful, driving African rhythms. clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherineculture Holloway p.m.): A sweeping portrait of the history, July 16, 8 p.m.: Congolese-Belgian singer/rapAccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, and religion of the Arabian Peninsula, Arabia 3DBrenda perStevens Baloji and his band blend the melodious guitar is circulAtioN: a mix of contemporary sounds of traditional Congolese music, rumba and Norma Rodas scenes of modern-day Arabian life, epic historical recreations Nigerian afro funk with lyrics that weave sociodistributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles of ancient distributioN Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo civilizations andAssistANts: stunning digital visual effects, shotBonilla political stories about life in Kinshasa and Belgium. at more than twenty locations across Saudi Arabia. Also performing is Canadian-born Tasneem, a singThrough Sept. 5 (11:30 a.m., and 1:30, 3:30 and er/songwriter whose lilting voice and pop grooveThe Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles 5:30 Born to Monday Be Wild 3D isthea offices story and of residences love, based music and p.m.): is distributed every throughout of Downtown Losis infused with rhythms that reflect her Angeles. and the bond between humans and anidedication East African and Indian roots. mals. It documents Las Perlas One copy per person. orphaned orangutans and elephants and the people who rescue and raise them. 107 E. Sixth St., 213nightlife.com. Outdoor Cinema Food Fest July 13, 10 p.m.: Becky Stark of Lavendar perGrand Hope Park, Hope and Ninth streets. At forms jazz standards. outdoorcinemafoodfest.com. Nokia Theatre July 16: Gourmet food trucks including Munchie 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6000 or Machine, Grill ’Em All and Buttermilk Truck; live nokiatheatrelalive.com. music from Other Mountains; and Office Space. July 16, 8 p.m.: Roberto Tapia and Enigma Don’t forget the TPS reports. Event starts at 5:30 Norteno. p.m., film at 8:30 p.m. Pershing Square Summer Concerts Regal Cinema L.A. Live 532 S. Olive St., (213) 485-1645 or laparks.org/ 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. pershingsquare. Through July 14: Horrible Bosses (11:30 a.m. July 16, 8 p.m.: You ran, ran so far away, but you and 12:20, 2, 4:30, 5:20, 7, 9:30 and 10:20 p.m.); couldn’t get away from A Flock of Seagulls. Zookeeper (11:40 a.m. and 2:10, 2:50, 4:40, 7:10, Redwood Bar & Grill 7:50 and 9:40 p.m.); Monte Carlo (11:20 a.m. and 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or 1:50, 4:40, 7:20 and 10 p.m.); Transformers: Dark theredwoodbar.com. Shows at 10 p.m., unless noted. of the Moon (11:50 a.m. and 2:40, 3:20, 6:50, 9:40 July 11: Old Americana with Frank Fairfield and and 10:20 p.m.); Transformers: Dark of the Moon Merchants of Moonshine. 3D (11:10 a.m. and 12:30, 4, 6:10, 7:30 and 11 p.m.); July 12: Those backpack wearing rockers on a Bad Teacher (11:10 a.m. and 1:40, 4:10, 6:40 an 9:10 mission, The Mormons, with Dangeroscoe and p.m.); Cars 2 (1 and 6:20 p.m.); Cars 2 3D (3:40 Lightnin’ Bill Woodcock. and 9 p.m.); Green Lantern 3D (1, 3:40, 6:30 and July 13: Eddie Nichols. 9:10 p.m.); Super 8 (1:10, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); July 14: Blank Expressions, Cactus Pricks and X-Men: First Class (1:30, 4:30, 7:40 and 10:50 p.m.); Black Boots. Bridesmaids (1:20, 4:10, 7:20 and 10:30 p.m.). July 15: Green Lady Killers, Voodou and, George July 14 (partial listing): Harry Potter and the Carlin’s favorite, Seven Dirty Words. Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (12:01, 12:10 and 12:20 July 16, 2 p.m.: Black Mambas (Kobe Bryant not a.m.); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part included), The Flytraps and Sword Swallowers. 2 3D (12:01 and 12:10 a.m.). July 16, 10 p.m.: White Trash Debutantes, Death on the Radio, Hear Kitty Kitty and Phantom Radio.

FILM

Get Down to the Afrobeat photo by LeonardX

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Listings

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin 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 AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

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

twitter: DowntownNews

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

July 12-15, 8 p.m.; July 16, 2 and 8 p.m.; July 17, twitter: 1 and 6:30 p.m.:DowntownNews If you’ve dreamed a dream, you can dig Boublil & Schönberg s classic Les Misérables. Based it’s an epic Theon LosVictor Angeles Hugo’s Downtownclassic News is novel, the must-read Downtown andofisthe dis-human and newspaper uplifting for story about Los theAngeles survival July 12, 10 p.m.: House band the Makers. tributed every Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: spirit. This version, which celebrates the show’s 25th July 13, 10Norma p.m.:Rodas The Vibrometers. residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles anniversary, includes some contemporary upgrades, The Smell distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla One copy per person. including stunning projections that bring several 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main scenes to life. Through July 31. streets, thesmell.org. LoveSick July 13, 9 p.m.: Protect Me and Psychic Feline. July 15, 9 p.m.: Now, Kevin Greenspan, Ancient L.A. Fringe Theatre, 929 Second St., Studio 105, (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.com. Crux and Tes Elations. Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris July 16, 8 p.m., July 17, 7 p.m.: In LOFT EnJuly 16, 9 p.m.: AC Club, The Flytraps, So Many GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin semble co-founder Larissa Wise’s LoveSick, BenjaWizards and Tinylittle. min, an unusual young man obsessed with death, Varnish Editor: Jon Regardie ExEcutivE falls in love with Sophia, a colorful young woman 118Editor: E. 6th St., (213)Guzmán 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com. citY Richard brimming with life. Against his better judgment, July 11, 9 p.m.: jazz piano with Jamie Elman. stAFF writEr: Ryan Live Vaillancourt July 12, 8:30 p.m.:Kathryn Live jazz piano with Marc Benjamin finds himself becoming more and more coNtributiNG Editors: Maese with Sophia’s contrasting world. Bosserman. writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, enchanted coNtributiNG Los Angeles Downtown News Strings Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter ZasadaMagic 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 The phone: Bob Baker Marionette•Theater, 1345 W. First St., 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 Art dirEctor: Brian Allison (213)web: 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. DowntownNews.com AssistANt ArtStream dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa email: realpeople@downtownnews.com The Bright July 12-15, 10:30 a.m.; July 16-17, 2:30 p.m.: ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,Alexis 135 S.Rawlins Grand Ave., (213) More than 100 of Bob Baker’s fantastical mari972-8000 or musiccenter.org. onettes come together in an hour-long variety revue. facebook: PhotoGrAPhEr: Garyp.m.; Leonard July 14-16, 7:30 July 17, 2 p.m.: The Ameri- Expect puppet horses frolicking on an old-fashioned L.A. Downtown News can Ballet Theatre presents Alexei Ratmansky’s The merry-go-round and a marionette “Day at the CirAccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt Bright Stream. Set to a score by Dmitri Shostakovich, cus.” After the performance, guests are invited to twitter: the comic ballet was initially presented in 1935 in have refreshmentsDowntownNews in the Party Room. Open-ended AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin Leningrad. The ABT version debuted this year. See run. Reservations required. clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway more on Don’t Miss List. AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Fun Family Festival Brenda Stevens The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is disAfrican American Firefighter Museum or bootlegtheater.com. circulAtioN: Norma Rodas tributed every Monday throughout the offices and 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or July 15-17, noon and 2 p.m.: Theater company residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles aaffmuseum.org. L’Enfant Terrible mixes Shakespearean conflict with One copy per person. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to wacky fun in an easy to digest manner for children of all ages. Expect kings, clowns, bubbles and con- 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 fetti in the shows Hamlet Prince of Puddles (July 17, 2 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County p.m.), Macbeth and the Monster (July 17, noon), Ti- and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, phototus the Clownicus (July 16, noon) and King O’Leary graphs and other artifacts. Annette Green Perfume Museum (July 16, 2 p.m.). Through July 31. FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624The Interlopers 1200 or fidmmuseum.org. Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 Ongoing: One of a kind, the museum is dedicated or bootlegtheater.com. July 15-16, 8 p.m.; July 17, 7 p.m.: “The Interlop- to enhancing our understanding the art, culture and ers” is a Romeo and Juliet story set in Los Angeles’ science of the olfactory. Originally opened in New transgender world, in which a group of misfits take York City in 1999, the collection—2,000 bottles, on a whole bunch of life’s challenges. Oh, those perfume presentations and documentary ephemera dating from the late 1800s to the present—was dowacky misfits. nated to FIDM in 2005. Also, “High Style: Perfume Les Misérables and the Haute Couture” features a selection of fra135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or grance bottles and packaging that reflect the many centertheatregroup.org. July 17: Sinner Sinners, Black Beverly Heels and

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE

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

There may be no music on the planet more universally danceable and uplifting than the Afrobeat of Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 — at least not since the 1997 death of the band’s founding frontman, Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti. Fela’s youngest son, Seun, who has led Egypt 80 since he was 14, is still carrying the torch, and on Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. he delivers it to Cal Plaza. Most of the members of Egypt 80, an army of drummers, reed and string players, are originals with the band. There’ll be no need to bring a seat cushion to this Los Angeles Downtown News one — as sitting won’t really 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 be an option. And oh yeah, phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 it’s free. web: DowntownNews.com At Cal Plaza, 350 S. Grand email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Ave., grandperformances.org.

AdvErtisiNG Hot Karate.dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway Seven Grand AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Brenda Stevens

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

MUSEUMS

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.

One copy per person.

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com

We Got Games Dodgers Cling to Last Place and Send Three to the All-Star Game Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. Success, and by that we mean winning lots of games, finding financial stability and filling seats at Chavez Ravine, just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for your 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers. But, and this is admittedly a mild but, as the league breaks this week for the All-Star game, fans will celebrate three Blue Crew standouts. Matt Kemp was selected by fans to start in the outfield for the National League team and young gun Clayton Kershaw, who recorded another shutout last week, will make the trip to Arizona to join the pitching roster. Phoenix son Andre Ethier also made it, thanks in part to a 30-game hitting streak earlier this season. After the All-Star break, which no team seems to need more than the last place ways that fame inspires design. Images of Men: A Look Through Fragrance is a new installation in the Annette Green Fragrance Archive. The bottles and accessories showcased explore how men’s diverse identities and roles are conveyed through the changing designs of the bottles themselves. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Ongoing: The multi-functional Gallery of Discovery offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of actual living slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past. California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through Dec. 31: 1001 Inventions is a traveling international exhibition that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the

and now officially insolvent Doyers, the boys in blue join Kemp and Kershaw in Arizona to start the second half with a weekend set against the Diamondbacks (July 15-17). Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 929-1300 or wnba.com/sparks. July 17, 5:30 p.m.: The Candace Parker-less Sparks are still on the road at the start of the week, in San Antonio to take on the Silver Stars (July 12) and then in Tulsa (July 15). On Sunday they come back to the much friendlier confines of Staples Center to host Washington, and boy do these ladies need some home cooking. So far, the Sparks have won every home game, but have yet to muster a “W” on the road. —Ryan Vaillancourt

“Golden Age” of Muslim civilization during the 7th to 17th centuries from a diverse region stretching from Spain through China. Through interactive displays, explore basic science principles in such fields as optics, time-keeping, hydraulics, navigation, architecture and math. Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are usually interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and Forty Years of Space Photography. The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The new Ecosystems exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes. Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org. Through Dec. 18: Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration Reform showcases local art-

photo by Hugh Holland, courtesy of Raw Materials

From Cali to Mexico, on Four Wheels

Photographer Hugh Holland is best known for his work documenting Southern California skateboard culture in the 1970s. His images of tanned youngsters riding the streets and empty pools of Venice and the San Fernando Valley are featured in MOCA’s Art in the Streets exhibition. In conjunction with Art Walk on Thursday, July 14, Holland will sign copies of his book on the subject, Locals Only, at the art supply shop Raw Materials from 7-9 p.m. Raw Materials is also exhibiting a selection of Holland’s less seen works from after the skateboard era, taken during a 15-year period in Mexico. Signed, limited edition photographs will be available for purchase throughout the course of the show. At 436 S. Main St.

photo by Gary Leonard

The Dodgers are dismal, but All-Star starter Matt Kemp gives us all reason to cheer.

ists exploring the tensions, repercussions, hopes and dreams of immigrant communities in the face of new immigration legislation, through a broad spectrum of art including street art, graffiti art, sculptures, painting and multimedia installations. Through Jan. 31: To commemorate its100th anniversary, Remembering Angel Island will showcase historic photographs, a reproduction of a poem carved on the barracks of Angel Island, artifacts and a multi-media station featuring personal stories of those who endured or were profoundly affected by the Angel Island experience. Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration, an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, each is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a description and a personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period.

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

EaSy wayS TO SubMIT yOuR

EvENT INfO

4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit 4 EMaIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

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

M WAY

CENTRAL PLAZA

DE SA

NS T MAI HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES

DYNASTY CENTER

www.cartifact.com

VE EZ A

SIO MIS D

101

S GE

A NT

LE S RI VE

DOWNTOWN SLO

Y FW

ST TH 5

VE LA

BOR

AS ED

HAR

L PA

SEAFOOD DISTRICT PARA LOS NINOS

WEINGART CLINIC 6TH ST

MIDNIGHT MISSION

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SKID ROW HOUSING TRUST

MAPLE AVE

SANTEE

GELE S LOS A N

ST MAIN

INNER CITY ARTS

Map sponsored by:

At your door within 15 minutes! 8

LUXE CITY CENTER

SOUTH PARK

THE MAYAN BELASCO THEATRE

11TH ST

AT&T CENTER 12TH ST

PICO STATION

$46.50 Flat Rate From Downtown to LAX

PICO BLVD

14TH PL

17TH ST

SANTEE ST

MAIN ST

BROADWAY

HILL ST

AVE

OLIVE ST

GRAND

HOPE S

R ST

FLOWE

OA ST

VENICE BLVD FRIEDMAN OCCUPATIONAL CENTER

LOS ANGELES ST

14TH ST

PATRIOTIC HALL

15TH ST

www.taxi4u.com

Lic.#173654

L.A.’S #1 TAXI COMPANY FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

SAN PEDRO STATION

LV GTON B WASHIN

(800) LA1-TAXI

14TH ST

MAPLE AVE

CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

FIGUER

110

FASHION DISTRICT

18TH ST

CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER

CA FWY S A N TA M O N I

PED

ORPHEUM THEATER

UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE

EY SANTEE ALL

Y ST

SPRING ST

STILLWELL HOTEL

STAY HOTEL

OLYMPIC BLVD

D PICO BLV

PICO UNION

CENTRAL CITY EAST

FLOWER MARKET BROADWAY

HILL ST

RALPHS

OLIVE ST

FIDM ANNEX

4TH ST

7TH ST

8TH ST

4TH ST

LITTLE TOKYO MARKET PLACE

UNION RESCUE MISSION

LAPD CENTRAL DIVISION

MERCANTILE ARCADE

SCI-ARC

5TH ST

6TH ST

GRAND AVE

HOPE ST

O HOTEL

GILBERT LINDSAY PLAZA

SOUTH EXHIBIT HALL

LA MISSION

HISTORIC CORE

JEWELRY LAAC DISTRICT

ART SHARE 4TH PL

DOWNTOWN WOMEN’S CENTER

NEW LATC

BILTMORE HOTEL PERSHING SQUARE

D 2N TRACTION AVE

SAN

5TH ST

FIGUEROA HOTEL

CONVENTION CENTER

OLD BANK DISTRICT & GALLERY ROW

MACY'S PLAZA FLOWER ST

CHERR

110

LOS ANGELES ST

GAS CO TOWER

TOY DISTRICT

VERIZON SHERATON HOTEL

FIGUEROA ST

D AVE

T 12TH S

PERSHING SQUARE STATION

GRAND HOPE FIDM PARK

WEST EXHIBIT HALL

MUSEUM OF NEON ART

9TH ST

JW MARRIOTT & RITZ L.A. LIVE CARLTON REGAL NOKIA CINEPLEX PLAZA NOKIA THEATRE WEST RN EA GARAGE KH CHIC

SPRING ST

US BANK TOWER

STAPLES CENTER ARENA

11TH S

MELLON BANK

ARATANI NOGUCHI THEATER PLAZA JACCC

7TH ST

777 FRANCISCO ST

N GARLA

BLVD

OLYMPIC

BROADWAY

AVE LUCAS LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

JAPANESE VILLAGE PLAZA 2ND ST

3RD ST

BRADBURY RONALD BLDG. REAGAN BIDDY STATE MASON BLDG PARK

4TH ST

WILSHIRE BLVD

FIG at 7TH

GARLAND BUILDING

CALIFORNIA FLIGHT PLAZA

ARTS DISTRICT

LITTLE TOKYO

LITTLE VIBIANA TOKYO LIBRARY

DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT THEATER 3RD ST

WATER COURT ANGELS

7TH ST / METRO CENTER STATION

725

JAM

GRAND AVE

WILSHIR

2ND ST

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

WILSHIRE GRAND HOTEL

E BLVD

FLOWER ST

FIGUEROA AT WILSHIRE

D OOD BLV ES M W

WELLS FARGO CENTER

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

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL

7TH ST

BA PLAZA

WESTIN YMCA UNION BONAVENTURE HOTEL BANK CITIGROUP PLAZA CENTER

CITY WEST

HOPE ST

FIGUEROA ST

LOS ANGELES CENTER STUDIOS

MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN BEAUDRY AVE

T 3RD S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE T 4TH S

MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX

MOCA OMNI 3RD ST TUNNEL HOTEL

LAPD HQ

CROWN HILL

OLIVE ST

2ND STREET TUNNEL COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERF. ARTS

KYOTO CALTRANS GRAND HQ HOTEL

LITTLE TOKYO/ ARTS DISTRICT STATION

LOS ANGELES TIMES

BUNKER HILL

LAUSD HQ

CIVIC CENTER STATION

L. A. COUNTY COURTHOUSE

WALL ST

FWY

2ND S

DOROTHY CHANDLER

GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY @ MOCA UNION JAPANESE CENTER AMERICAN FOR THE NATIONAL ARTS MUSEUM

LOS ANGELES CITY HALL

1ST ST

HARBOR

SHAKESPEARE LA

CIVIC CENTER

CIVIC CENTER PARK

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

E AV

1ST ST

TEMPLE ST HALL OF CRIMINAL RECORDS COURTHOUSE

HALL OF ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL BLDG ROYBAL FEDERAL BLDG

DEPT. OF WATER & POWER

DEPT. OF BUILDING & SAFETY

LOS ANGELES MALL

A NT

EDWARD R. ROYBAL LEARNING CENTER

L.A. DOWNTOWN NEWS

AHMANSON THEATER MARK TAPER FORUM

110

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS

TEMPLE BEAUDRY

VISTA HERMOSA PARK

C. ERWIN PIPER TECHNICAL CENTER

MWD

SAN BERNARDINO SPLIT

. CH

T SS

UNION STATION

DE LA SERRA PLAZA PARK

RAMON C. CORTINES SCHOOL OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

BUSINESS MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL

4-LEVEL INTERCHANGE

Gas Stations

VIG

EL PUEBLO

EZ AVE CESAR E. CHAV

OLVERA ST

LE ST

CHINATOWN GATEWAY

101

TEMP

Metro Red & Purple Lines

CES

ST ING

CHINATOWN LIBRARY

HIGH

EVANS ADULT SCHOOL

H O L LY W O O D F W Y

NEW

ORD

ROA FIGUE

HIST

Free Parking w/validation

AR E

CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT HQ

SPR

ALPINE HILL

ANGELINO HEIGHTS

Metro Blue Line

BL VD

Metro Rail Station Access

AS ED AM

CHINATOWN

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

Metro Gold Line

E ST

ALPIN

CHINATOWN STATION

AY ADW BRO

EGE

COLL

CASTELLAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLL

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

HILL

FIGUEROA TERRACE

KAISER MENTAL HEALTH CENTER E ST

Los Angeles

BAMBOO PLAZA

PACIFIC ALLIANCE MEDICAL CENTER

ANN STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ST ARD BERN

LAFD TRAINING CENTER

STADIU

Downtown

CHAVEZ RAVINE

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

HIST

RD ING NG K

CASA ITALIANA

CHU

R PA

ELYSIAN PARK

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

N OR

B A

N F

110

NOR TH

M C

YS EL

STADIUM

DODGER STADIUM

NORT HB

ELYSIAN PARK

TH S PRIN G

ROAD WAY

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

plaCe your ad online aT www.ladownTownnews.Com

FOR RENT

l.a. downtown news classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

restaurant sPace lease RESTAURANT SPACE for lease. 1263 W. Temple Street used by club M bar, health permit included. New owner must apply for beer and wine license . Space is 2500 sq. ft. $1.75 per ft. plus CAM. Contact Tina 213500-5567.

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555

FOR RENT

out of state DEEP DISCOUNT - Log Cabin on 8+ acres, $99,900. Owner must sell, beautiful whole log cabin on 8+ acres at Windsor Valley Ranch. Additional acreage available at cool 7,000 feet elevation outside Show Low, AZ. Financing and ADWR available. Call AZLR (866) 552-5687. (Cal-SCAN)

loft/unfurnisHed

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts

NOTICE: LENDER Ordered Sale. Nevada’s 3rd largest lake 1.5 hours south of Lake Tahoe. 8 Lake View parcels - all $19,900. 2 Lake Fronts - both $89,800. Lender ordered short sale. Buy at less than bank owned. Buy at less than 50% of replacement cost. Special financing as low as 2.75% Fixed. Final liquidation. Only 10 parcels. Call (888) 705-3808, or visit NVLR.com. (Cal-SCAN)

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com

REAL ARTIST LOFTS High ceilings, hardwood/concrete floors, kitchen, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs. Open House Sundays 12-3pm. Leasing office @1250 Long Beach Ave. & 14th St. 213629-5539

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA - Rare opportunity foreclosure. 101 acres - $89,900. Great opportunity at Ruger Ranch located near Kirkland. On maintained road. Build now or buy & hold. First come basis. Special lender financing. Call AZLR 1-888-258-8576. ADWR available. (Cal-SCAN)

“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”

CALL FOR SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731. SENIOR APARTMENTS 62 + Studio $675 1 Bedroom $835 Balcony, Full Kitchen, A/C, Clubhouse, BBQ, Resource room, Laundry, SEC 8 O.K. Visit GSLSANLUCAS.com 213-6232010. commercial sPace GREAT ART STUDIO. 240sf, 15’ ceiling, enclosed, gated parking, wi-fi. Part of larger studio in Santa Fe Art Colony, near downtown & freeways. $360/ mo. WORK ONLY/NOT LIVE-IN 213-509-4403

EMPLOYMENT driVers DRIVERS/CDL Training - Career Central. No Money Down. CDL Training. Work for us or let us work for you! Unbeatable Career Opportunities. *Trainee *Company Driver *Lease Operator Earn up to $51k *Lease Trainers Earn up to $80k 1-877-369-7091. www. CentralTruckDrivingJobs.com (Cal-SCAN)

All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

A BETTER CAREER With Melton. 34-46 CPM. Great Equipment & Benefits. 2 Months CDL Class A Driving Experience. 1-877-258-8782. www.MeltonTruck.com (Cal-SCAN) ADVERTISE YOUR Truck Driver Jobs in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $550. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Maria (916)288-6010. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVER - NO Experience - No Problem. 100% Paid CDL Training. Immediate Benefits. 20/10 program. Trainers Earn up to 49c per mile. Crst Van Expedited. 1-800-326-2778. www. JoinCRST.com (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - NEW Dedicated Runs Southern California to Northern California! All New Equipment!! $250 Immediate Bonus. Excellent Pay. CDL-A, 1 Year OTR. Hazmat required. 1-888-905-9879 or www.AndrusTrans.com (Cal-SCAN)

ALLIED HEALTH Career training - Attend college 100% online. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-481-9409. www.CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN) ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.Centura.us.com (Cal-SCAN) IQ TESTED THE LOS ANGELES TEST CENTER offers for a limited time, free intelligence and personality tests. Your IQ, personality and aptitude determine your future. Know them. No Obligations. Church of Scientology 4810 Sunset Blvd. LA. CA. 90027. PRIVATE LESSONS Learn how to paint in oil. Ten week session. Starting July 11th. Monday, Wed. or Tues. Thurs. from 4-7. $250. 1820 Industrial Avenue in Downtown L.A. 951-212-2367.

Vacation Homes ADVERTISE YOUR Vacation Property in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $550. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Maria Rodrigues (916)288-6010. (Cal-SCAN)

CALL FOR SPECIALS @ The Visconti. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866742-0992.

FREE (New business clients only)

$30 Court Filing (213) 627-0200

DowntownMessenger.net attorneys

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

get your green card or citiZensHiP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

construction

We legalize Construction Done Without A Permit & Handle "orders to Comply"

(818) 516-5929

cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

Business serVices ADVERTISE A display Business card sized ad in 140 California newspapers for one low cost of $1,550. Your display 3.75x2” ad reaches over 3 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Maria Rodrigues (916)288-6010. (CalSCAN) HealtH LOSE UP to 30 lbs. in 30 days with Herbalife’s cellular nutrition program. Free coaching 888223-0457 or diethelper4u.com. VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg!! 40 Pills - 4 Free for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Only $2.70/ pill. The Blue Pill Now! 1-888904-6658. (Cal-SCAN)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY HelP Wanted ATTN: COMPUTER work. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.KTRGlobal.com or call 1-888-304-2847. (Cal-SCAN) Continued on next page

downtownnews.com

SERVICES education

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com (Cal-SCAN)

aPartments/unfurnisHed BRAND NEW Luxury Apartments Homes. Orsini III. Now open for immediate Occupancy. Call for Specials. Never Lived in, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764.

messenger

Be Inspired...

Beautiful

Best Downtown Locations!

EstD 1912

Historic beauty. Modern refinement. Eclectic elegance.

noW leasing $1,400’s/mo.

the loft expert! group

ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

Orsini 550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.

877-231-9362

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

Medici

Downtown since 2002

Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today! Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

rosslyn Hotel

Studio 280 sqft. Full Bathroom Apartment one month Free! $600 mo. to mo. $580 on 6 mo. Lease

No Application Fee! - Sec. Dep. $175 Free Utilities, 24 hr. laundry, Around the Clock Courtesy Patrol

112 W 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.908.9006 ask for Courtney • Rosslyn@SROhousing.com

756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com Pricing subject to change without notice.

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

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

premiere Towers

7000 sqft. Basement Space ✦ set up for Gallery/Office space

CALL For PrICE

• w/Gallery Lights • Wide Private (Spring St.) Entrance • Ideal for Art Gallery, SPA, Office Space • Wired for internet service/telephone outlets • Prime Location in Downtown (Gallery row, residential area, wine bar, café, market)

213.627.6913 | cityloftsquare.com

725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

Piero 616 ST. PAUL AVE.

877-235-6012

WWW.THEPIERO.COM

Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.

866-690-2888

WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM

FREE Rent Specials On Select Floor Plans • Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball

Version 1

• Brunswick Four-Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Free Tanning Rooms • Massage Room, Sauna & Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Rooms • Concierge Service • 24-Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-Site Management • Magnificent City Views *Amenities vary among communities

er he

22 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews Continued from previous page

AUTOS

2008 MERCEDES C300 Certified, 3.0L, 4Matic V6, Steel Grey/Blk, 20K Miles #5330C// F127369 $28991 Call 888-3198762.

Autos Wanted

Do you have something to sell?

Ad Copy: _________________________________________ DONATE YOUR

Ad Prices

________________________________________________

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

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

FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00

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

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

Zip Credit Card $

Check $

Downtown L.A. AUTO GROUP

47,000,

our classifieds get results!

2008

PORSCHE

CAYENNE

Car, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN)

Certified White/Beige NavigaPorsche ________________________________________________ tion, Moonroof, Heated Seats, Volkswagen Audi Mercedes-Benz

only 24k miles ZP1381/LA28193

DONATE YOUR Car: Children’s

Cancer Fund! Help Save A $38,898. Call 888-685-5426. Nissan ________________________________________________ Child’s Life Through Research chevrolet cadillac

With a circulation of State

PRE-OWNED

2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT Certified, 2.5L I5 20V MPFI DOHC, 5-SPD, Silver/Blk, only 31k Miles ZV1283/8W144298 $14,994 Call 888-781-8102.

& Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN)

________________________________________________ 2006 NISSAN XTERRA S Carfax, 1 Owner, RWD, 37k Miles, 6-cyl N110810-1/6C548329 $16,499 call 888-838-5089

________________________________________________ DONATE YOUR

Vehicle! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN)

2010 CHEVY HHR LT 2.2.L I-4 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA 4-CYL, ________________________________________________ CYL, ABS, CD 22mpg, low miles HYBRID, 2.5L, AUTO, ABS 42mpg N111152-1/7C156100 $12,999 call 888-838-5089

33k #UC829R/S528092 $15,995

Call 888-879-9608. ________________________________________________ 2008 AUDI

CONVERT-

For a complete list of our IBLE Certified, 2.0L Turbo, ________________________________________________ ITEMS FOR SALE

Auto, blue/blk, only 47k Miles pre-owned inventory, go to ZA9984/810277729 Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. $26,989 Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue. www.DTLAMOTORS.com Call 888-583-0981 Appliances

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

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

legal notice LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Metro will receive proposals for RFP No. PS4710-2770 for the SR-710 Public Outreach and Facilitation of Community Participation per specifications on file at the LACMTA Office of Procurement & Material Mgmt, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (12th Floor). All proposals must be received on or before 4:00 p.m. August 12, 2011, Pacific Timeat the address listed above, sent to the attention of Calvin S. Rascoe, Sr. Contract Administrator.Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened. A Pre-Proposal conference will be held on July 6, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. in the Gateway Plaza Conference Room on the 3rd Floor located at the address above. You may obtain a copy of the RFP, or further information, by faxing Calvin S. Rascoe at (213) 922-3883 7/11/11 CNS-2132485# DOWNTOWN NEWS

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

3 KEURIG coffee machines: 1 Platinum, 2 Special Editions. Call for prices 323-256-1661.

FOR RENT? FOR LEASE? FOR SALE?

APARTMENT, LOFT OR CONDO

People are looking here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

(213) 481-1448

July 11, 2011

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

OMAHA STEAKS - Everyday 2011. 100% Guaranteed Omaha Steaks - Save 64% on the Family Value Collection. Now Only $49.99 Plus 3 Free Gifts & right-to-the-door delivery in a reusable cooler, Order Today. 1-888-461-3486 and mention code 45069KZH or www. OmahaSteaks.com/value38 (Cal-SCAN)

ANNOUNCEMENTS AUctiON

CASH BUYER, 1970 and Before Comic Books, Toys, Sports, entire collections wanted. I travel to you and Buy Everything you have. Call Brian at 1-800-6173551 (Cal-SCAN) MUsicAl iNstrUMeNts WORLD GUITAR Show, 100’s Buy, Sell, Trade. Marin Civic/ San Rafael, July 23-24. Pomona Fairplex, July 30-31. Saturdays 10-5, Sundays 10-4. www.TXShows.com Clip this ad! (CalSCAN) VOlUNteer OppOrtUNities

ADVERTISE YOUR Auction in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $550. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Maria Rodrigues (916)288-6010. (Cal-SCAN) NOtices VONAGE UNLIMITED Calls in U.S. & 60 Countries! No annual contract! $14.99 For 3 Months! Then Only $25.99/mo. Plus Free Activation. Call 888-860-6724 (Cal-SCAN)

Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@ freearts.org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

NAMe chANge Change of name SUPeRIoR CoURT of CaLIfoRnIa, CoUnTY of LoS angeLeS STanLeY moSK CoURThoUSe CASE NO. BS132828 Petitioner (name of each): GRACEY DALIA GOMEZ,by her mother MARIA GOMEZ, 1710 1/2 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, LOS ANGELES CA 90033, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: GRACEY DALIA GOMEZ Proposed name: GRACEY DALIA GUTIERREZ THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause,

if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 9/16/2011 Time: 9:00am Dept.: 548 The address of the court is STANLEY MOSK COURTHOUSE, 111 N Hill Street, Los Angeles CA 90012 Date Filed: 7/07/2011 Hon. Matthew C. St. George, Commissioner Judge of the Superior Court

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

Cal Best Realty

Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238

English/Japanes/Chinese speaking emiterauchi@yahoo.com • (626) 786-9086

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo. sec. Deposit special @$100 Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

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

Free Carfax, 4.8L, V8, 1500, Auto, 2dr Reg Cab, White, CD 61k Miles.

$12,595 2010 Chevy HHR LT .......................................................... $15,995 2.2L I-4 cyl, ABS, CD, 22mpg, low miles 33K. UC829R/S528092 2010 Chevy Malibu LT ..................................................... $16,995 Free Carfax, 2.4L, 4dr Sedan, Silver, CD/MP3, 33MPG Hwy, 30k Miles. UC779/F227717 VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

Casaloma L.A. Apartments

$13,995 888-879-9608

2009 Chevy Cobalt ...........................................................

(866) 561-0275 • PELOFTS.COM • 610 S. Main, Downtown LA

Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley

$15,499 $16,499 Carfax 1 Owner, Silver, RWD, 37k miles, 4.0 6 Cyl. N110810-1/6C548329 2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5SL ............................................. $20,999 Certified, V6 3.5L Auto ABS, A/C, only 27k miles. N111041-1/7C823560

Air, power, CD Grey/Grey only 36k miles, 37 mpg highway. UC826R/7282456

■ Rooftop Lounge with Cabanas, Fireplace and BBQs

Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

4-Cyl, Hybrid 2.5 Liter Auto FWD, ABS 42mpg.

V6, 4.0 Liter, Auto, 2WD, A/C, Blue/Gray. N111037-1/6C683455

UC810//Z231779

■ Heated Pool and Spa

Starting Jan. 1, 2011

$12,999 888-838-5089

2006 Nissan Pathfinder S SUV .......................................

2008 CHEVY SILVERADO

■ 24 Hr. State of the Art Fitness Center

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA N111152-1/7C156100

FELIX CHEVROLET

■ Covered On-Site Parking

Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2006 Nissan Xterra S ........................................................

Elevate Your Lifestyle @ PE Lofts Today!

madison hotel

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

LEGAL

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

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

sAKUrA heAlth gYM & sAUNA, iNc.

HBODY

MASSAGEH

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

is your teen experiencing:

• School problems? • Conflict at home or with friends?

$14,994 Certified, 2.5L I5 20V MPFI DOHC, 5-spd, Silver/Black only 31k miles

$14,997 2008 VW GTI ..................................................................... Certified, 2.0L I4 16V GDI DOHC Turbo Auto, Silver/blk, only 41k miles. ZV1280/8W045640 $18,994 2010 VW Routan SE Mini-Van ........................................ Certified, V6 3.8 Liter, Heated frt Seats, Navigation, DVD only 14k miles. V111131/AR166682 $24,998 Auto, California Edition, 2.5L, MPFI-DOHC, 29 mpg. # ZV1254 / 9M137844

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

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

2008 VW RABBIT ZV1283/8W144298

888-781-8102

2009 VW Jetta 4 Door .....................................................

3386766 0119

Misc. iteMs

DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ

2006 MERCEDES E350 SEDAN

5404-2/ A833714

$25,991 888-319-8762

Certified, Grey/Grey, 3.5L 268hp V6, only 49k miles, Moonroof

2008 C300 .........................................................................

$28,991 $31,991 Certified, Silver/Black, 3.5L 268hp, Sport Package, Navigation. 5160/ F223491 2009 Mercedes ML350 .................................................... Certified, V6 3.5L, Auto 7-Speed, Moonroof, Power lift gate, only 34k miles. 5447C/ A476826 $35,991 Certified, 4Matic, V6 3.0L Auto 7-spd, Steel Grey/Blk, only 20k miles. 5330C/F127369

2007 Mercedes CLK350 Coupe ......................................

Adolescent support group now forming Ages 13-17 low fee call Marney stofflet, lcsW

(323) 662-9797

4344 Fountain Ave. (at sunset), suite A los Angeles, cA 90029

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! SunshineGenerationLA.com • 909-861-4433

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2008 AUDI TT CONVERTIBLE

ZA9984/ 81027729

$26,989 888-583-0981

Certified, 4-Cyl Turbo 2.0L, Auto, Blue/Blk only 47k miles

$28,989 2008 AUDI A6 Sedan ....................................................... $32,995 Certified, Navigation, V6 3.2 Liter, only 16k miles. ZA10005/8N136600 2008 Q7 Quattro Premium SUV .................................... $39,397 Certified, Navigation, V6 3.6 Liter, Blk/Blk, only 30k miles. ZA10004/ D051016 2009 AUDI A4 Quattro Sedan ........................................

Certified, 4-Cyl Turbo 2.0L, Blk, only 28k miles. A11744-1/9NK017220

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2008 PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS ZP1366/LA72369

$59,988 888-685-5426

Certified, Blk/Blk, Navigation, 4,8L V8, 32V, 385hp, Bose, only 24k miles

2008 Porsche Cayenne ....................................................

$38,898 Certified, 2.7L V6 Meteor Gray/Black, Alloys, Rear Spoiler, 25K Miles. #ZP1347/8U711448 $39,785 2009 Porsche Cayman ..................................................... $47,898 Certified, Blk/Blk, Bose, 18” alloys, 11kmiles, 6Cyl., 27 mpg hwy. ZP1322-1 / 9U760975 Certified White/Beige Navigation, Moonroof, Heated Seats, only 24k miles ZP1381/LA28193

2008 Porsche Boxster Convertible ...............................

DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP 888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352) W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

24 Downtown News

July 11, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Microsoft Continued from page 7 fiscal year.” The convention will include seminars touching on topics such as how to grow your business using Microsoft products and the future of the workplace. It is not open to the general public. Javier Cano, general manager of the J.W. Marriott and the Ritz-Cartlon, said the convention will be a windfall. The 1,001-room hotel is sold out and several Microsoft sessions are planned there as well. He expects the hotel’s restaurants and bars to be extremely busy. “We’ve been preparing for this for quite some time,” said Cano. “It’s clearly going to be one of the biggest conventions for the city.” Other Downtown hotels that are sold out for the event include the Hilton Checkers, the Westin Bonaventure and the Wilshire Grand. Stepping Up Like many of the nation’s largest conventions, the Microsoft gathering moves to a different city every year. Local

officials announced that it was coming to Los Angeles during the 2010 event in Washington, D.C. Roskill said several factors made L.A. the choice for this year’s event. He said convention participants expressed an interest in coming to Los Angeles. L.A. Live and the Convention Center facilities were also a selling point, since everything visitors need is in a concentrated area. “The number of hotel rooms in the area around the Convention Center and within walking distance has vastly improved in the last five years, so that makes it really good for us,” he said. Abbassi thinks the city and the Convention Center will be able to satisfy the expectations of the event organizers and attendees. He said the hotels have the accommodations that are necessary, and that Downtown offers everything from restaurants to nightlife and culture that conventioneers want after the meetings stop. While the Microsoft convention is essentially a traveling show, Roskill said they will be looking at a number of factors when deciding whether or not to return to Los Angeles. “We will survey everyone who’s there, asking questions about the facility, where else they’re interested in seeing us go, and get feedback from that,” he said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

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

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

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

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

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

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

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

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

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

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

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

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