07-16-12 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 41, Number 29

July 16, 2012

City Hall Park Reopens 6

2 10

Hotel plans, a big box battle, and other happenings Around Town. Nine things to know about The Jeffries, a new Historic Core housing complex.

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

INSIDE

Urban Scrawl on council redistrcting.

The best political race in L.A.

Tower coming to Eighth and Hope.

A fracas at Art Walk.

A big summer at Pershing Square.

Bloomfest recalls an Arts District leader.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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AROUNDTOWN Renovated Roosevelt Lofts to Fully Open

he Roosevelt Lofts, which has been partially open for three years, is finally set to fully open after a $5 million effort by new owners to complete the building. South Carolina-based Greystar bought the 222-unit property at 727 W. Seventh St. last year for $95 million, after developer Milbank Real Estate filed for bankruptcy in 2010. When Greystar acquired the luxury loft complex, 71 residences were unfinished. Those apartments are now completed, according to a statement provided by Kevin Kaberna, managing director of investments for Greystar. The recent construction work also included upgrades to all of the common areas and the parking facility. The building is currently 72% leased, according to Kaberna. Apartments range from 750-2,800 square feet and rents are about $2.60-$3.50 per square foot. The building also has the burger restaurant The Counter and Salvage Bar on the ground floor.

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mary is in March 2013. “I know I can capitalize on the progress made in the last 10 to 12 years by Jan Perry to bring more revitalization and job opportunities and a renewed sense of neighborhood pride and identification,” he said. Roberts, 40, interned for former City Councilman (and now County Supervisor) Mark Ridley-Thomas in 1992, and had a job in his administration from 1998-2002. He was an economic development deputy to RidleyThomas’ successor, Councilman Bernard Parks, from 2003-2009. He estimates that he will have to raise $150,000-$200,000 by the end of this year to be competitive in the race. He is the 12th person to file papers for the seat. Other contenders include state Assemblyman Mike Davis, LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara and Councilman José Huizar’s former chief of staff, Ana Cubas.

Embassy Auditorium Goes the Hotel Route, Again

Perry Redistricting Commissioner Enters Ninth District Race

s Jan Perry’s appointee to the committee charged with redrawing the City Council boundaries, David Roberts tried unsuccessfully to keep the Ninth District largely intact. With that process in the rearview mirror, Roberts has another aim: He wants to represent the Ninth on the council. Roberts, who recently stepped down from his job as associate director of local government relations for USC, has filed paperwork with the City Ethics Commission to begin raising money for the race. The pri-

lans to turn the vacant Embassy Hotel and Trinity Auditorium in South Park into a 183-room hotel will go before the Department of City Planning Aug. 15, said Elizabeth Peterson, a project representative. She said the entitlement process could be completed within four months, although there is no timeline yet on when the hotel would open. It’s not the first time a renovation for the long-empty structure has come about — several years ago there were failed efforts to turn it into a boutique Gansevoort Hotel. According to documents submitted to the city, the current project would turn the historic structure at 849 S. Grand Ave. into the Empire Hotel with a 7,600-square-foot out-

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door garden, an approximately 2,000-squarefoot ground-floor restaurant with more than 200 seats, a lobby bar and a lounge. The structure near the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising would also contain an approximately 12,000-square-foot theater and a rooftop bar and pool deck. The property is owned by the Chetrit Group, a family-run investor-developer led by Joseph Chetrit. The firm also owns the 11-story Hotel Clark, a Historic Core structure that is undergoing renovations. That is slated to open this year as a 347-room hotel managed by New York’s King & Grove Hotels.

Market Planned for the Arts District

t’s not Trader Joe’s, but the Arts District may soon get an 8,200-square-foot mar-

ket serving produce, meat, seafood, dairy and other items. Last week Urban Radish announced that it hopes to open in early 2013 in a metal building across the street from the Biscuit Company and Toy Factory Lofts on Mateo Street, near Seventh Street. The structure may be familiar to some for the large mural of a chipmunk on the exterior. In a release, Urban Radish owners Keri Aivazis and Carolyn Paxton said the market will also offer seasonal salads and artisanal meats and cheeses with locally baked breads. A market would be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. A demographics study released in June by the Arts District Business Improvement District found that when neighborhood residents and workers were asked what they most want in the community, the highest percentage of respondents said Trader Joe’s. see Around Town, page 11

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EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Downtown’s Modern Movie Era

owntown’s evolving role as a place to see a movie has been remarked on many times in the past few years. However, the area has never had as many viewing options as it now enjoys. This summer is historic when it comes to the opportunities for catching a film. There hasn’t been so much movie-going activity in Downtown since Broadway’s golden age. The abundance began last month when the Los Angeles Film Festival arrived. During a 10-day period, some 200 features, documentaries, shorts and music videos were screened, most of them at the Regal Cinemas 14-plex at L.A. Live. The event, in its third year in Downtown Los Angeles (for the first 15 years of its existence it was held on the Westside) attracted about 90,000 people. The economic benefits of visitors who match a movie with a local dinner or a drink or two at a bar are obvious. That is not the only multi-day event around. The Downtown Film Festival wrapped up last week, having screened eight days of movies, many of them in the Downtown Independent theater on Main Street. Running through July 22 is Outfest. Now in its 30th year, the 11-day gay and lesbian film festival has utilized places including the majestic Orpheum Theatre (where the opening night gala took place July 12) and REDCAT. Once again, the thousands of people who flock to the community for the movies can have significant economic ripples. Downtown is also benefitting from a surprising increase in summer outdoor film opportunities. The area has long had a rogue provider in the Devil’s Night Drive-In, which continues to offer twice-monthly films on an inflatable screen in the Historic Core. Yes, you can see a movie on the roof of a parking garage in the heart of the city. Over at Pershing Square, meanwhile, the summer movie slate is now 12 weeks long, as every Friday through Sept. 28 there is a music-oriented film. The lineup is complemented by the Street Food Cinema, which melds an outdoor screen, a batch of food trucks and live bands. The series runs every Saturday night at Exposition Park through Aug. 25. Downtown, meanwhile, continues to have its crop of what are now regular film providers. The Regal complex at L.A. Live delivers the mainstream fare while the Downtown Independent is as cutting-edge as its name implies. The Los Angeles Conservancy has a hit each summer with its Last Remaining Seats series in the old movie palaces on Broadway. REDCAT routinely draws crowds with its avant-garde fare. Downtown has come a long way from a decade ago, when for most of the year area workers and residents had few choices beyond the films in the grungy Laemmle 4-Plex in the basement of a hotel. It’s a much better scene now. Please pass the popcorn.

Downtown Blossomed Under Jan Perry

n July 1, a silent but important change occurred in Los Angeles. That is the day the hotly contested city redistricting took effect. The machinations — and they were machinations in every sense of the word — were agreed to by the majority of the City Council and blessed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Lawsuits against the redrawn council borders could still come, but unless there is a successful challenge, people in the 15 districts need to accept and live with the new boundaries. In Downtown, it means that Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry no longer represents most of the community. Only a small geographic area, the Staples Center/L.A. Live/Convention Center campus, remains in the Ninth. The rest of the Central City has been subsumed into the 14th District, the territory of José Huizar. This page will address the issues and challenges facing Huizar in a future week, but for now, the changeover provides a chance to look at what occurred under Perry. Perry was sworn into office in 2001. Since then, she has been the best, most effective and forward-thinking council rep Downtown Los Angeles has ever seen. The only person who comes close in terms of on-the-ground achievements and understanding how to build and strengthen a community was Edward Roybal, who served the Ninth from 1949-1962 (Gil Lindsay was very influential in his nearly three decades in the Ninth from the 1960s through the ’80s, but his legacy is not as strong as that of Perry and Roybal). Part of the reason Perry was so important is because she followed the black hole that was the administration of Rita Walters. Although the large residential base in South Los Angeles elected Walters three times, she gave short shrift to Downtown. She missed opportunities to generate jobs by consistently failing to work with the local business community. She will forever be remembered for fighting against the development of Staples Center, a key catalyst for Downtown. By contrast Perry, who is running for mayor, understood the gains that could be made not just for Downtown or the Ninth District, but for all of Los Angeles by dedicating resources, including public funds, to Downtown. While some people insist that the Central City has sucked up an inordinate share of government money, the benefits that have arisen from advances in this community (jobs and tax dollars, for a start) show that the process has widespread rewards. In Los Angeles, council members wield tremendous power in

their districts, and they have the ability to help specific projects advance. By contrast, a council rep can stall a project. Perry generally used her power and dedicated her resources in the right way. One example will be among the last developments that bear her fingerprints: After a minor kerfuffle, the council last month approved a signage district for a group of four South Park buildings, including a proposed 21-story tower for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. FIDM jumped through all the necessary hoops in the eight years the project has been on the table. It deserves to go forward, and it will benefit the neighborhood. Perry was often a champion for local business interests. She supported dozens of housing projects, and the residential revolution in turn led to the opening of hundreds of Downtown bars, restaurants and community-oriented businesses. This resulted in a steady cycle of job creation, from construction work to employees in the service industry. Many positions, including those in new hotels, are union jobs that allow more families to advance into the middle class. Perry has also put more time, energy and resources into Skid Row than any politician ever. In one sense this is an unlikely move: Investing political capital in the community pays few dividends. Skid Row residents and service providers are not contributing much to her mayoral run. They won’t provide many votes come election day. Perry has been a regular on neighborhood walks through the district, and has shown no fear of getting into the grit of the community. At the same time, she has helped secure all manner of public dollars for various housing projects in the effort to get people off the streets. A key part of her legacy is that she facilitated the creation of hundreds of units of permanent supportive housing. If the rest of the council members would dedicate even half the time and resources Perry does to addressing homelessness, then the city would be much farther along in fighting this scourge. Perry’s accomplishments beyond Downtown have also been impressive. There are new wetlands areas and housing projects she supported in other parts of the Ninth. She successfully used the momentum here to benefit the rest of the district. Jan Perry has set the bar high for all future Downtown council representatives. The community is a much better place today than it was when she arrived. Downtown has been fortunate to have her as its champion.

July 16, 2012

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The Best Political Race in Los Angeles

uddenly, improbably, the 2013 Los Angeles City Attorney’s race is the most interesting election in town. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. A couple years ago the mayor’s race was expected to be an Avatar-type blockbuster, minus the flying dragons. With something like eight well-known contenders eyeing the seat that THE REGARDIE REPORT

will be vacated by a termed-out Antonio Villaraigosa, City Hall watchers were girding for a Battle Royale, envisioning contenders smacking each other with chairs and pulling tricks so dirty they’d impress Richard Nixon’s campaign operatives. By contrast, then newly minted City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was expected to be firmly entrenched in his post and primed for a second term. After all, during a bitter 2009 campaign against Jack Weiss, Nuch had signed a pledge not to run for higher office any time soon, and only a fool would break that oath when it could be used against him. Right? Now here we are less than one year before

SEE PAGE 48

the next mayor is sworn in, and the field for top dog is shockingly small. A trio of City Hall veterans, Council members Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry and City Controller Wendy Greuel, are the top-tier candidates. Attorney Kevin James is in the equation and rattles cages, but is so far behind in fundraising that many people still see him as a severe longshot. In fact, there are more missing and fencebalancing figures than there are upper-echelon candidates. Austin Beutner, the darling of the business sector (yes, I used “Beutner” and “darling” in the span of three words) dropped out. Despite the lack of a mainstream Latino candidate, State Senator and former Council President Alex Padilla never got in. Onetime Assembly speaker Fabian Nuñez’s potential imploded long ago. Rick Caruso delivered a Molotov Cocktail of an anti-City Hall speech in May 2011, but has given no serious indication since that he wants to run. Then there’s Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who everyone says would be a formidable candidate, but who seems to like commitment about as much as John Edwards does. He has promised to announce a decision “soon” so many times that the meaning of

photo by Gary Leonard

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

photo by Betsy Annas

As the Mayor’s Contest Hits a Lull, the Real Intrigue Concerns Carmen Trutanich And the City Attorney Campaign

Who will run for City Attorney next March? Current office holder Carmen Trutanich (right) and Second District councilman Paul Krekorian are both possibilities, though neither has filed papers.

the word has been obliterated. Trying to figure out what Yaroslavsky will do is like trying to decipher what Yoda from Star Wars is saying, only harder. Will Yaroslavsky announce whether he is running for mayor before election day? Hard to know, think I. Big Questions The low-key mayor’s race has helped raise the profile of the city attorney election (the

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primary is in March). But nothing stirred matters up like Trutanich’s exorcism in the June 5 District Attorney’s race. Even in hindsight I’ve yet to encounter a soul who saw Nuch’s third-place finish coming. With the election a month in the past, a number of questions come to mind. The first and most important is, how much will it take to persuade Nuch to let cameras follow him see City Attorney, page 12

SEE PAGE 48

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A ‘Greener’ City Hall Park Opens This Week Redesigned Lawn Includes Less Turf, More Native Plants by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

n the days after crews cleared City Hall of the Occupy L.A. encampment last November, officials lamented the damage done to the public space. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office reported that campers left 25 tons of debris, killed more than an acre’s worth of grass and destroyed some high-tech sprinklers. Eight months later, it turns out that the protestors also left a golden opportunity to upgrade the 1.7-acre Civic Center space. On Thursday, July 19, that upgrade gets its unveiling at a 10 a.m. ceremony. The city is set to reopen the park after a renovation that hinged on an effort to incorporate more native plants and drought-tolerant landscaping. The work was estimated at $390,000, though the final cost has not yet been released. At first glance, the changes appear minimal. The south lawn, the area fronting First Street that most people think of when it comes to the City Hall park, is still covered in grass and shaded by a dense canopy from some of Downtown’s oldest trees. But through an array of subtle alterations, city landscapers and engineers managed to reduce turf coverage throughout the propery by 51%, said Tom Gibson, landscape architect for the Department of Recreation and Parks, who oversaw the south lawn renovation.

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On the south lawn, edges of the grassy areas were replaced with drought-tolerant gardens studded with mostly native plants and others that fit the local climate, Gibson said. There are similar mini gardens straddling the central staircase that leads to the south entrance and along the foundation of City Hall. Most of the turf reduction, however, was achieved on the west and north sides of the building, where sheets of grass were replaced wholesale with a colorful mix of agaves, aloe and other succulents. The north lawn renovation was actually conceived prior to the Occupy damage, said Rick Fischer of the Bureau of Engineering, who oversaw that portion of the project. Collaboration The scenario began in early October, when local activists inspired by the Occupy New York protestors set up tents around City Hall. Many local elected officials initially backed the protesters. The mayor’s office handed out rain ponchos and Councilman Eric Garcetti urged them to “stay as long as you like.” Eventually the enthusiasm cooled. City officials set a Nov. 28 deadline for protesters to clear the park. Just after midnight on Nov. 30, about 1,400 police officers converged on the scene. Protesters remained peaceful and there were 292 arrests. After they left the lawn was fenced off and the cleanup, along with the opportunity to change the flora in the park, began.

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The emphasis on drought-tolerant landscaping stemmed from a chorus of water conservation advocates and native plant enthusiasts who earlier this year urged the city to not simply restore the lawn to its pre-Occupy state. Those groups, including the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, were ultimately folded into the design process. “The south lawn, I think, is a beautiful design and I’m really pleased,” said Lynette Kampe, executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation. “We were looking at having a strong emphasis, not just a token showing, to encourage water conservation and let the city be a model for its citizens on changing landscapes to be more climate appropriate.” The drought-tolerant mini gardens are studded with some 200 small signs indicating the plant species and its origin, so passersby and park loungers can know their blue chalk sticks from their purple aeoniums. City officials insisted on keeping much of the grassy lawn on the south side of City Hall

to maintain the space’s function as a public gathering spot. The plaza in front of the green stretch is regularly used for both press conferences and demonstrations. It was also the home of the weekly City Hall farmers market before the Occupy camp displaced the vendors to the east side of Main Street. It is not yet clear if or when the market will be able to move back to its original home. Snowdy Dodson, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the California Native Plants Association, said that keeping some of the grass was a sort of compromise. “If we said it needed to be totally native then maybe it wouldn’t have been the most useful park,” Dodson said. “People down there need it to be meeting space and the Downtown people need the green space perhaps more than anybody.” With the park set to reopen, city officials say regulations passed by the City Council last month should prevent another Occupy L.A.type encampment from taking over the space. The council passed a change to the munici-

photo by Gary Leonard

DowntownNews.com

Grass in the park has been reduced by 51%. Many areas now contain a colorful mix of drought-resistant agaves, aloe and other succulents.

pal code that specifically bans the use of tents and other camping accessories in city parks. Officials, however, rejected a legislative effort to shorten the opening hours of the park. It will be open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. “Make no mistake, we’re going to support everyone’s right to peacefully assemble and protest, but they also need to know that the rules of the park are going to be strictly

enforced,” said LAPD Commander Andrew Smith. Smith said the department plans to reach out in the coming days to its contacts in the Occupy L.A. community to make it clear that police have been instructed to enforce the new park rules. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Eighth and Hope Adds to Housing Surge New $120 Million Apartment Complex Scheduled to Open in 2014 by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

he recession’s toll on the Downtown Los Angeles development scene has been well chronicled. In some instances projects that garnered extensive media coverage never broke ground. In other cases, housing complexes were nearly completed, but took years to fully open as their developers ran out of money. While it may be premature to declare a rebound, at least one major project that stalled during the downturn is coming back. Even more interesting, it has a very ambitious timeline. Officials with Atlanta-based Wood Partners announced this month that construction on a $120 million, 22-story apartment tower will begin in September. They anticipate that leasing in the glass-fronted edifice will begin in the summer of 2014. The project follows a flurry of other recent

ripples on the local development scene. Wood Partners intends to build its highrise on what is currently a parking lot at 801 S. Hope St. The 290-apartment building would include one- and two-bedroom residences with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, balconies, a pool deck, a six-floor parking garage (including two underground levels) and 5,000 square feet of retail space. Rents would range from $2,000-$4,500. Wood Partners has offices in 15 cities throughout the United States and develops and manages high-density and mixedused projects. Founded in 1998, the company has developed more than 40,000 units nationwide that, according to its website, are valued at more than $5.5 billion. The company is currently building a 298-unit, $75 million project called Warner Park in Canoga Park. Brian Hansen, Wood Partners’ Southern California director of development, said the

Downtown project has received all necessary city approvals and that financing is in place, making the ambitious timeline realistic. “We have the entitlements. We’ve been in plan check. We have working drawings. It’s very realistic,” he said. Back on Track The company purchased the site in 2008 from the CIM Group and began planning a high-rise. However, that is around the time when the recession was beginning to hammer Downtown and lenders became extremely tight with their money. “We were about a month away from a construction start when the economy started to enter a recession,” Hansen said. “That kind of slowed down our plans so we had to put it on hold.” Much has changed since then, and the trickle of housing projects that opened have quickly been filled with residents eager to live in an increasingly vibrant Downtown.

Hansen said the high demand for apartments, combined with relatively low construction costs due to the limited number of projects, helped restart the as-yet-unnamed project. “Construction costs were a large factor in our decision to move forward,” Hansen said. “They’ve come down about 30% from what they were at their peak.” The tight rental market in Downtown indicates that the Wood Partners development and other new complexes may not lack for inhabitants. An April survey by the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate found that occupancy in Downtown apartments (the report includes buildings in City West and other neighborhoods on the outskirts of the area) stands at 96.8%. The competitive market has led to an increase in prices, with a 6.2% rental rate increase throughout the county and a 6% hike in Downtown, according to the report. The survey predicted that rents would rise by another 9.6% by the end of 2013. Bradford McCarthy, a senior associate at real estate services firm CB Richard Ellis’ Multi-Housing Group, said this is a strategic time to embark on a project like the one

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Downtown News 9

planned by Wood Partners. “Now is a great time for anybody to be developing apartments in Downtown Los Angeles,” he said. “A lot of the capital that has been invested in Downtown over the last five to seven years has changed the landscape quite a bit, so more and more people are looking to live here. That’s done a lot of good for the apartment sector in Downtown Los Angeles.” Busy Scene Wood Partners is not the only real estate entity to recognize the changing dynamics in the Downtown market. Several developers, including some with national portfolios, have either recently opened or announced new rental projects in the Central City. Canadian developer Onni Group is working on a $100 million, 283-unit apartment complex at 888 S. Olive St. The project, which originally received city entitlements in 2009, is scheduled to open in 2015. Last month Downtown developer Sonny Astani sold a vacant property at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue to San

rendering courtesy of Wood Partners

DowntownNews.com Francisco’s Carmel Partners for $63 million. The project had been entitled for 700 apartments, and Astani said construction is anticipated to begin on the first phase within two months. In May, Century West Partners broke ground on the first phase of The Avant, a three-building, 440-unit project on two parking lots at 1340-1360 S. Figueroa St. and 1355-1365 S. Flower St. and 1500 S. Figueroa St. The buildings are rising outside of South Park too. In Chinatown the under construction Chinatown Gateway will add 280 apartments in 2013. Over in the Arts District, work continues on the massive $150 million One Santa Fe. The development with more than 400 apartments broke ground this year and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014. Hansen doesn’t think the amount of activity in the area will imperil the Wood Partners project. “When looking to develop in an attractive area there’s see Housing, page 12

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July 16, 2012

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Nine Things About the Jeffries Renovated Printing Factory Brings 43 Apartments to the Historic Core by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

he Jeffries, a former printing factory converted into a 43-unit apartment complex, opened last month. The building at 117 Winston St. is, depending on your perspective, either in the heart of the Old Bank District or on the edge of Skid Row. Here are 10 things to know about the latest addition to the Downtown housing scene. Out of Print: The seven-story building on the northwest corner of Winston and Los Angeles streets was home to the

Jeffries Banknote Company until the late 1980s. The firm, which built the structure in 1927, printed everything from stock certificates and municipal bonds to tickets for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic games and government food stamps. Leon Neman, of Fashion District textile giant Neman Brothers & Associates, bought the property in 2001. The residential conversion cost about $5 million. Skid Row Bank District: When crews began work on the building in January 2011, it may have seemed like a gamble to do market-rate housing on Skid Row’s western border.

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The Jeffries opened last month at 117 Winston St. It is already 50% occupied.

But the building is also adjacent to developer Tom Gilmore’s San Fernando Building and is separated by only a parking lot from the Hellman Building. “Yeah, I guess we’re on the border of Skid Row,” said leasing manager Kevin Khakshouri. “We’re also on the border of one of the hottest corners in Downtown.” The intersection of Los Angeles and Winston streets has long been an after-dark drug zone, but Khakshouri said that is changing as a result of new lighting installed at the Jeffries. Short Stack: The Jeffries, at seven floors, is a relatively small building. The 43 residences range from 550-975 square feet. The larger units are billed as two bedrooms, but many would consider them to be one bedroom with a den. Most apartments have a balcony, and some have two. Demand Pricing: Anyone who wondered whether the Los Angeles Street adjacency would result in a slow lease-up at the Jeffries can stop wondering. After opening one month ago, 18 tenants have signed leases, bringing the building to nearly 50% occupied. That’s despite the fact that rents range from $1,450-$2,400 per month, or around $2.50 per square foot. The rate exceeds the nearby Gilmore buildings, where the average rent is closer to $2 per square foot. The Medallion, on the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets, leases for about $2.17 per square foot. However, renters interested in moving to the area do not necessarily have the flexibility to choose the Medallion or a Gilmore property over the Jeffries. The three Gilmore buildings and the Medallion, collectively, are 98% occupied. Park It: The Jeffries has 14 parking spots, and they cost an additional $150 per month. The parking is accessed via a remote controlled gate and is situated on the roof of an adjacent commercial building also owned by Neman. Because there are far fewer spots than apartments, not every resident gets a space on site. Monthly parking at an adjacent uncovered lot is $90.

UP TO

Finish Line: Units in the Jeffries have high-end finishes including stone countertops, tile backsplashes and wooden cabinets in the kitchens, as well as Frigidaire appliances. The floors are polished concrete and apartments have dropped ceilings. The building is equipped with central air conditioning. Some units have exposed original brick.

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Don’t Lash Out: Come November, Jeffries residents won’t have to leave the building to nurse a cold one at a neighborhood bar. First-time bar operator Ross O’Carroll is working on getting permits to build The Lash, a sort of two-faced bar/ lounge in separate ground-floor commercial spaces. One small area with an entrance via the alley between Main and Los Angeles streets will be a “design forward neighborhood bar,” O’Carroll said. The other space, accessible only through that bar, will be a larger lounge featuring DJs and dancing. A separate ground-floor space that fronts Winston Street is imagined as wine bar, but no lease is in place, Khakshouri said. The Jeffries is at 117 Winston St., (213) 448-2500 or thejeffriesla.com.

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

Seventeen Arrested in Art Walk Skirmish With Thousands on the Street, Occupy Protestors Clash With Police by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

eventeen people were arrested at the Downtown Art Walk last week during a skirmish between police and Occupy L.A. protestors. Nine people were arrested on misdemeanor vandalism charges on Thursday, July 12, for writing in chalk on sidewalks and private property. Two were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. One was arrested for assault on a police officer. The confrontation occurred after Occupy organizers had planned a “Chalk Walk” to coincide with Art Walk, the monthly event that draws thousand of people to the Historic Core. The protesters invited people to scrawl political messages on the street. Around 9:30 p.m., a crowd spilled into the intersection at Fifth and Spring streets and refused to disperse, and at least one bottle was lobbed toward police, LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said. Four officers were reported injured, one suffering a minor concussion from a projectile that hit her face shield, Eisenman said. The police responded with tactics including the firing of rubber bullets, Eisenman said. A skirmish line of police officers methodically pushed a group of protestors north on Spring Street over the next 90 minutes. All the while, the crowd chanted “Whose streets? Our streets,” and “This is what a police state looks like.” Spring Street was a cluster of adrenaline-fueled protestors — mostly on foot, but some were riding skateboards and bicycles — and television news vans. The riot gear-clad officers in the skirmish line periodically advanced about 20 feet, then would stop for approximately 10 minutes. Each advance prompted the crowd to turn and run north, but when the officers stopped, people would trickle back toward the line. Meanwhile, crowds were not allowed to leave the neighboring businesses along Spring Street until

Around Town Continued from page 2

Ordinance Aimed At Wal-Mart Rejected

n ordinance aimed at stopping Wal-Mart from opening a store in Chinatown was rejected by the City Planning Commission on Thursday, July 12, with a recommendation that the City Council also not back the proposal. The Interim Control Ordinance, introduced by First District Councilman Ed Reyes, was approved by the City Council on March 23 with instructions for the Department of City Planning to draft an ordinance that would prohibit the issuance of permits for most big-box stores in Chinatown. It was widely interpreted as an effort to stop Wal-Mart from opening at 701 W. Cesar Chavez Ave. However, the department’s follow-up staff report recommended that the ordinance be rejected because there is not a stampede for large retail in the area and, according to the report, “research has indicated this issue does not appear to have the urgency that would call for such a temporary suspension of new permits.” The ordinance would not have been able to halt Wal-Mart, since the retailer obtained its final permits the day before the council approved the ordinance in March. There is no date yet on when the City Council will vote on the ordinance.

Third Street Music and Comedy Venue in the Works

usic, laughs and karaoke may soon be in the mix for a 2,500-square-foot space at 129 E. Third St. Actor and comedian Tim Mars, who has appeared on VH1’s “Tough Love” and MTV’s “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF,” is in the late stages of construction on The Lexington Theatre. He is currently working on securing some permits and getting construction approved for the bar and a second restroom. The Lexington will book pop and hip-hop acts with comedy nights as well. Karaoke is planned for about three nights a week, said Mars. The space now houses a temporary clothing boutique called Doll, run by Mars’ girlfriend, An-Gloria Banh.

the incident was resolved at around 11:30 p.m. Art Walk director Joe Moller said he hopes that the incident does not imperil the event that takes place on the second Thursday of every month. “Last night was a group of individuals who banded together and used the popularity the Art Walk has garnered over the last eight years as an audience for their message,” Moller said. “Art Walk is in no way endorsing that messaging or those tactics.” “Mohawk” Matt Berman, founder of Bolt Barbers at Fifth and Spring streets, an area business that holds special events on most Art Walk nights, said the event was “taken hostage.” “I look at things like Art Walk not as a return on investment but as a return on community,” Berman said.

“Unfortunately, our return on community last night, thanks to Occupy L.A., was negative.” Two people were arrested for failure to disperse, Eisenman said. Two others were taken into custody for resisting arrest and one for receiving stolen property. Although Art Walk is largely peaceful and without incident aside from occasional drunken revelers, this marked the second consecutive July in which trouble arose. Last year, during a packed event, a car drove up onto a sidewalk when a man was trying to parallel park. He sheared off a parking meter that hit a 2-month-old in a stroller. Marcello Vasquez died shortly thereafter. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

12 Downtown News

City Attorney Continued from page 5 into the ballot box in November? Seriously, who wouldn’t drop $19.50 on pay-per-view to watch the range of emotions that will play across Trutanich’s face when he has to Inkavote either chief deputy district attorney Jackie Lacey or prosecutor Alan Jackson. There’s a 12% chance he’ll do it quietly and without emotion, a 27% likelihood that tears will stream down his face, a 1% shot he stands immobile for five hours and a 60% probability that he’ll turn green and huge like The Incredible Hulk and destroy half of San Pedro when forced to come to terms with the job someone else is getting. There are other questions. Does campaign manager John Shallman owe Nuch his money back after the presumed

July 16, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews frontrunner earned less than 23% of the vote? Will Trutanich one day pull a Lisbeth Salander and simply describe the Shallman alliance as the time of “All The Evil.” Or, does Nuch possess the mindset of the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the one who, after losing his arms in a sword fight, quips, “It’s just a flesh wound”? Does Trutanich think the D.A.’s loss was just a flesh wound, and that he’ll recover and battle again for the post of Los Angeles City Attorney? Could Be a Comeback There is a temptation to say that Trutanich is politically done, that if he runs for re-election — and he has yet to file papers — he’s asking for a spanking, and not in the kind of sexy way. Then again, coming in third place in the D.A.’s race could ultimately be the best thing that happened to Nuch. It’s a weird thought, I know, but March is a long time off. It gives him nine months to come to terms with the shortfalls that cost him the election and to do a round of sincere “my bad”

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interviews. He’ll need to swallow about a flock of crow, but he could regain his standing and tout advances on issues such as billboards and medical marijuana. It’s certainly better than if Trutanich made the November D.A.’s runoff and lost. In that case he would only have four months until the city attorney’s election — not enough time. This way, at least, he can rally his steadfast supporters and raise recovery cash. It doesn’t mean Trutanich will win, but it’s possible in part because the current city attorney field is weak. So far there are two contenders. One of them, attorney Greg Smith, had raised $101,000 by the last campaign reporting deadline (Dec. 31, 2011; new figures will be released this month). However, $100,000 of that came from... Greg Smith. That doesn’t indicate a strong base of support. Then there’s Mike Feuer, who by June 30 had pulled in an impressive $625,000. Intriguingly, the man running Feuer’s campaign is Shallman. This raises all sorts of possibilities: On the one hand, Shallman presumably knows all of Nuch’s skeletons. On the other hand, he just failed to win a seemingly un-losable race. Plus, Shallman is representing Greuel, and her mayoral campaign is more likely to claim his attention than a city attorney contest. Feuer, a current state Assemblyman and former City Council member, has a solid resume and ran for city attorney in 2001. However, despite having numerous important endorsements and a solid war chest, he managed to lose that race to Rocky Delgadillo, a figure who has never been confused with William Jennings Bryan. In short, Feuer may be viable, but even with $625,000 he’s not scary. Heck, the only living creature he frightens is my 12-year-old cat Lou, and she’s scared of everyone. Other players could make the race even more interesting. Second District City Councilman Paul Krekorian recently told a Downtown luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum that he is considering running. He’s battle tested and has won elections he wasn’t initially expected to win. Then there is 14th District councilman José Huizar, who as an attorney and the only Latino in the field could have two strong points in his favor. He also has a history with ace campaign strategist Parke Skelton, who just oversaw Lacey’s first-place finish in the D.A.’s race. Then again, some feel the new Downtown rep is not ready for such an important post. The race is just getting started. It’s going to be fun to watch. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Best Of Downtown

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 15

Best Of Downtown

The Top of The Charts A Big Ballot and a Huge Reader Response in the 24th Annual Best of Downtown

here are good and bad things about the explosive growth Downtown Los Angeles has experienced since 2000. The good thing is, well, that very growth: Downtown workers, residents and visitors now have gajillions of choices when it comes to where to eat, where to grab a drink, where to shop, where to take in a show, etc. The downside is that when it comes to naming the best of Downtown, there is no longer any such thing as a unanimous choice. Everyone has his or her favorites, and when one person’s best doesn’t align with someone else’s, the debate begins. We think that is a good thing. After all, we remember when Downtown seemed to close at 5 p.m. and was often empty after dark and on weekends. We’ll happily take the impassioned arguments over who bakes the best cupcake, what’s

the best bar, where you can grab the best lunch and so on. These and other conversations will begin in earnest once again this week, as, in the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News reveals the winners of the 24th annual Best of Downtown contest. The results were determined by the readers of Downtown News through online balloting that took place between May 14 and June 1. We even had crafty safeguards to prevent electronic ballot stuffing. The response was tremendous. A total of 3,460 people participated. Some filled out all 120 categories, while others only made choices in a few. A massive 220,164 votes were cast — last year there were 182,961 votes. Not surprisingly, the food categories generated the most response. A total of 2,681 people voted for the Best Lunch — Mendocino Farms came in first place. The second most popular category was Best Affordable Restaurant, with 2,656 ballots cast. Top honors went to Nickel Diner. The highest single vote getter was Empress Pavilion, which

walked away with the Best Dim Sum prize with 922 ballots. Also popular was Philippe The Original, which received 745 votes in the Best Sandwich category. Plenty of old favorites were in the mix — The Original Pantry Café won the Best Breakfast bracket with a devilish 666 votes, and Water Grill hooked the Best Seafood prize with 724 ballots. There were also some strong, surprising showings by newbies: The Best Burger competition was won by Umamicatessen, with 470 votes. In second place was another rookie, The Counter, which received 434 nods. Both surpassed a traditional winner: Tommy’s came in third this year. The Downtown News editorial staff also has a voice in this issue. Check out the rundown of 24 of our favorite, if eclectic, people, places and things in the Central City (p. 25). They include our picks for the Best Food Trend, Best Piece of Public Art and the Best Surprise Comedian. Overall, it’s a big, diverse list, one with room for plenty of debate. That seems fitting in the current Downtown.

A History of Caring

It’s Good to Give And Receive photo courtesy Lindsay Clark

Readers Get Prizes Simply for Picking the Best of Downtown

Grand prize winner Lindsay Clark.

he winners of the Best of Downtown aren’t the only winners around. Some of the people who picked winners are also winners. Get it? OK, maybe that’s a tad confusing, but what is clear is this: More than 3,400 people took part in the voting for Los Angeles Downtown News’ Best of Downtown issue, and some of them are getting richly rewarded. A batch of prize recipients were randomly selected from among those who filled out at least 30 categories on the admittedly sprawling ballot (after all, there were 120 categories). All voting took place online between May 14 and June 1. The big prize goes to Lindsay Clark, who is receiving a two-night stay at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, dinner for two at Sai Sai, $200 cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse, a $150 Ticketmaster gift card and a Los Angeles Conservancy walking tour. Yes, she gets all of that. Clark is not the only one to benefit from spending a few minutes clicking multiple choice questions on a computer. Martha Bernard won an iPod Touch, and Lisha Garriola, Leo Hoffmann and Joyti Gounder all have $100 to stuff into their wallets. Additionally, Joanie Mulready and Landy Shores each pocketed a $50 gift certificate from Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant. Others who are being rewarded with food include: Lucy Orta and Jocelyn Crisostomo are both getting $50 gift cards from Trader Vics, and a $50 gift certificate from Katsuya is going to Margaret Chirivella. Jacob Printy is receiving a $25 gift certificate from Pitfire Pizza Company. Downtown News says a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to go online and fill out a ballot. The Best of Downtown will be back next summer, and we look forward to what the readers have to say. We also look forward to giving away even more stuff, because everyone likes stuff.

u The First Hospital in Los Angeles, since 1856. u St. Vincent Medical Center is the No. 5 Hospital in Metro Los Angeles.* u Ear, Nose & Throat program earned national recognition among the top 2 percent of best ENT programs nationwide.* u Three consecutive years of awards for quality healthcare services from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). * U.S. News & World Report for 2011-2012

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16 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Best Entertainment BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE Conga Room photos by Gary Leonard

BEST FREE EVENT SERIES Grand Performances at California Plaza

BEST DOWNTOWN TOURS Los Angeles Conservancy

BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE

Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. This building shines. It really does. Starchitect Frank Gehry’s acoustics are pristine, and even in the altitude of the cheap seats the venue has a way of making you feel special, privileged even. You deserve it. READER RECOMMENDED: Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com

BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE

Conga Room 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-0162 or congaroom.com There’s a tacit agreement made to have fun upon entering: Everyone tries dancing, and salsa skill level doesn’t matter because there are no dance floor bullies. The band always keeps things fast and loose. READER RECOMMENDED: Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org

BEST FREE EVENT SERIES

Grand Performances at California Plaza 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2190 or grandperformances.org This beloved series is unparalleled in Los Angeles: It’s a bold, almost head-spinning slate of international music, dance and theater. Even better, it’s outside and free. READER RECOMMENDED: Pershing Square Summer Concert Series

BEST FILM VENUE Regal Cinemas L.A. Live

532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare

BEST FILM SERIES

L.A. Film Fest 1-866-FILMFEST or lafilmfest.com Just wrapping its 18th year, and third in Downtown, the Los Angeles Film Festival gives movie fans access to critically acclaimed filmmakers, industry professionals and emerging talent from around the world. READER RECOMMENDED: Last Remaining Seats 523 W. Sixth St., (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org

BEST FILM VENUE

Regal Cinemas L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or regmovies.com We’ve had smaller theaters, but Downtown deserved a place to see big, booming commercial movies too. Although it is huge and could feel like a soulless expanse, the staff’s friendliness staves that off. Plus, they have good 3D capabilities. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com

BEST MUSEUM

Museum of Contemporary Art 250 S. Grand Ave., moca.org MOCA’s new director likes spectacle and young energy. The Grand Avenue flagship of this institution delivers that and more.

This summer there’s even a choreographer dancing on artwork. READER RECOMMENDED: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org

BEST DOWNTOWN TOURS

Los Angeles Conservancy 523 W. Sixth St., (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org Explore the most interesting pockets of Downtown. This is two hours well-spent with extremely — almost scarily — knowledgeable guides. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown L.A. Walks downtownlawalks.com

BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION

L.A. Live 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or lalive.com Despite the design critics’ jabs, this actually is a meeting spot. It’s an intersection of restaurant, concert and sport venues, with a Tokyo-meets-Times-Square vibe of lights, noise and neck-jerking people watching. Plenty of special events too. READER RECOMMENDED: Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com

BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION

California Science Center 700 Exposition Park Dr., (213) 744-2019 or

californiasciencecenter.org With the Expo Line open, you can skip parking costs and then explore the sprawling Science Center for free. And the Endeavour’s coming later this year! READER RECOMMENDED: Natural History Museum 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

Ahmanson Theatre 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org With great sightlines and a mix of awardwinning plays and musicals, the Ahmanson is the region’s most consistent theatrical provider. The Hot Tix program ($20 seats!) is the bargain theatergoer’s best friend. READER RECOMMENDED: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org

BEST DOWNTOWN EVENT

Downtown Art Walk Spring and Main streets between Second and Ninth streets, (213) 617-4929 or downtownartwalk.org. A few short years ago, no one would have believed that the Historic Core could explode to host 20,000 art walkers and revelers in one night. It did, and once a month Art Walk does. READER RECOMMENDED: Last Remaining Seats 523 W. Sixth St., (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

Congratulations to the 2012 Best of Downtown. winners:

reader reCommended:

Conga room Best Music Venue – Small

FLeming’s Prime steakHouse & wine Bar Best Steakhouse

L.a. LiVe Best Tourist Attraction esPn Zone L.a. LiVe Best Sports Bar

Jw marriott Los angeLes L.a. LiVe Best Private Event Venue grammY museum® Best Music Venue – Small

regaL Cinemas L.a. LiVe Best Film Venue

katsuYa L.a. LiVe Best L.A. LIVE Restaurant

Yard House Best Restaurant Beer Selection Best L.A. LIVE Restaurant

tHe ritZ-CarLton Los angeLes Coolest Hotel Best Hotel Most Romantic Hotel

wP24 Best Hotel Restaurant

nokia tHeatre L.a. LiVe Best Music Venue – Large

lalive.com

The most entertaining place, in the palm of your hand. The L.A. LIVE mobile app is here. Available on

18 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Best Drinking BEST SPORTS BAR ESPN Zone at LA Live

photos by Gary Leonard

BEST COFFEE Urth Caffe

BEST WINE BAR

Show a ticket stub from Staples and it’s happy hour anytime.

Corkbar 403 W. 12th St., (213) 746-0050 or corkbar.com Wine bars can err on the side of stiff. Fortunately, the food, wine and staff here are user-friendly. And who knew the sommelier set could be so sports-minded?

READER RECOMMENDED: BottleRock 1050 S. Flower St. Suite 167, (213) 747-1100 or bottlerock.com

BEST SPORTS BAR

ESPN Zone at LA Live 1011 S. Figueroa St., (213) 765-7070 or espnzone.com/losangeles

What you want to do here is eat, drink and watch the game on a super-sized screen. During halftime or after the action ends, waddle over to the game room and pretend you too are an athlete. It works.

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Now enrolling at

Hope Street Friends a state-of-the-art child care and early education center managed by Bright Horizons

330 S. Hope Street (Atrium - 2nd Floor)

An Innovative Café and Gift Boutique Join us for organic coffee & tea drinks, salads & sandwiches, baked goods, and handmade products created by the women of the Downtown Women’s Center. 438 S. San Pedro St. & 5th St., 90013 Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm / Sat: 10:30am-3pm

www.M A D Eby DW C . o rg “Best cafe & gift store in DTLA. Coffee is quality & all for a good cause too!” Katherine M. via yelp

FREE COFFEE or TEA

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photo by Jamie Johnson Photography

For more information please call 213-787-2006 or email us at hopestreetfriends@brighthorizons.com Visit us on the web www.brighthorizons.com/hopestreetfriends Enrolling for Fall. Full and part-time schedule available.

July 16, 2012

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR McCormick & Schmick’s

BEST LATE NIGHT SPOT

Pete’s Café & Bar 400 S. Main St., (213) 617-1000 or petescafe.com Downtowners are guaranteed to bump into friends and neighbors at this neighborhood favorite, which loses its City Hall power-broker vibe after the offices close. READER RECOMMENDED: The Original Pantry Café 877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

BEST NIGHTCLUB

The Edison 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com If you can weather the line, this is quite an evening — a well-dressed crowd that, unlike clubgoers elsewhere, seem

READER RECOMMENDED: Big Wangs 801 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com

Downtown News 19

Best Of Downtown

2 01

READER RECOMMENDED: La Cita 336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111 or lacitabar.com

BEST RESTAURANT BEER SELECTION

Yard House 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or yardhouse.com The number of draft beer choices here is almost debilitating. Almost. Expect dozens you’ve tried before and dozens you haven’t. READER RECOMMENDED: Wurstküche 800 E. Third St., (213) 687-4444 or wurstkuche.com

li ci

t ou

genuinely happy to be inside. It might be the fact that they’re not standing in the alley anymore.

G st

BEST COFFEE

Urth Caffe 451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com Fresh roasted whole bean organic coffee, all rich and smooth tasting, and available in 12-ounce packages to go. It’s always quite a scene. READER RECOMMENDED: Spring for Coffee 548 S. Spring St., (213) 228-0041 or springforcoffee.com

BEST BAR

The Edison 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com The waterline on the wall is the only indicator that this impeccably appointed subterranean lounge spent decades as a private power generation plant. READER RECOMMENDED: Library Bar 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-0053 or librarybarla.com

BEST RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR

McCormick & Schmick’s 633 W. Fifth St., adjacent to 400 S. Hope St., (213) 629-1929 or mccormickandschicks.com This venerable food-powered happy hour has weathered recession, gentrification and the Cosmo. There’s probably not a cheaper post-workday menu Downtown. READER RECOMMENDED: Blue Cow 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2249 or bluecowkitchen.com

BEST BAR HAPPY HOUR

The Edison 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com Weekend nights are a commitment here — queues and velvet ropes. Infinitely easier is the early Wednesday-Friday happy hour, where the mixologists do their very good thing, but the club crowd hasn’t hit the streets yet. READER RECOMMENDED: Library Bar 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-0053 or librarybarla.com

BEST HOTEL BAR

Standard Rooftop Bar, Standard Downtown 550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or standardhotels.com The pod-filled space that helped kick up Downtown’s nightlife renaissance over a decade ago can still raise eyebrows and make you laugh. Expect weird pop up performances, various states of dress and undress, and midnight swimmers. READER RECOMMENDED: Gallery Bar, Biltmore Hotel 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com

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20 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Best Shopping BEST BOOKSTORE The Last Bookstore

BEST AUTO DEALER, USED CARS Felix Chevrolet and Cadillac

Downtown. You can feel that Bukowski and Fante energy kicking around. Most tomes are $5 or less.

124 W. Second St., (213) 452-4416 or 2ndstreetcigars.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Library Store 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7550 or lfla.org/store

BEST UNIQUE STORE

photos by Gary Leonard

BEST FARMERS MARKET Pershing Square Farmers Market

BEST TUX/GOWN STORE

Tokyo Bridal & Tux 319 E. Second St., (213) 617-3595 High-quality kimonos and yukata made from imported Japanese materials, as well as rental attire for weddings and other occasions. READER RECOMMENDED: Hilda’s Bridal Shop & Formals 941 S. Broadway, (213) 623-5955

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BEST FARMERS MARKET

Pershing Square Farmers Market 532 S. Olive St., rawinspiration.org, Wednesday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The fruit, vegetable, flower and other vendors fill up the park in the heart of Downtown each Wednesday, and all manner of workers, residents and visitors show up to score fresh goods. READER RECOMMENDED: FIGAT7th Farmers Market 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 955-7150 or artsbrookfield.com/los_angeles

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

DTLA Bikes 425 S. Broadway, (213) 533-8000 or dtlabikes.com You can buy all kinds of bikes here (cruisers for pedaling around town or more serious stuff). There’s also an indoor track where you can test ride everything. Plus, they’ve got a solid repair department. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown LA Bicycles 1626 S. Hill St., (213) 745-6783 or downtownlabicycles.com

BEST PET SUPPLIES/BOUTIQUE Pussy & Pooch 564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or

pussyandpooch.com A very friendly staff and surprising product depth, from crazy pet accouterments you don’t need but are cute, to foodstuffs that aren’t cute but that you definitely need. READER RECOMMENDED: Bark Avenue’s Pet Project 548 S. Spring St., (213) 688-7752 or petproject-losangeles.com

BEST STORE FOR THE HOME

(Sub) Urban Home 101 W. Fifth St., (213) 243-5881 or suburban-la.com You can take home a hot lamp or vase or even a decorative skull. You can also invest in a special, custom-made piece of furniture that will last, well, only your whole life. READER RECOMMENDED: I Squared 758 S. Spring St., (213) 817-1053 or isquaredhome.com

BEST BOOKSTORE

The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. This is not only an amazingly curated bookstore, but there’s a spirit here that recalls some earlier, smarter, sassier time

Macy’s 750 W. Seventh St., (213) 628-9311 or macys.com Though it’s not as large as other Macy’s, there’s a good mix of corporate and casual at the Downtown locale, and the salespeople can actually find things not on the floor when they check in the back. READER RECOMMENDED: American Apparel 747 Warehouse St., (213) 488-0226 or americanapparel.net

FIDM Museum Shop 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-5821 or thefidmmuseumstore.org Find gifts for your mother-in-law at this spot on the campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. It will be in style. Trust us. READER RECOMMENDED: MOCA Gift Shop 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org

BEST AUTO DEALER, NEW CARS

Downtown LA Motors Mercedes-Benz 1801 S. Figueroa St., (213) 748-8951 or mbzla.com In business since 1970, this dealership has sold more Benzes than any other in Southern California. Even in the tough economy there’s action in the lot, and the test drivers stream out. READER RECOMMENDED: Toyota Central 1600 S. Figueroa St., (213) 748-8301 or toyotacentral.com

BEST AUTO DEALER, USED CARS

Macy’s 750 W. Seventh St., (213) 628-9311 or macys.com The sales racks are generous and the women’s shoe department is an unsung Downtown find.

Felix Chevrolet and Cadillac 3330 S. Figueroa St., (213) 290-1925 or felixchevrolet.com Nickolas Shammas bought Felix Chevrolet in 1955, and the dealership has been on the Figueroa Corridor since 1923. The sign comes from that decade’s “Felix the Cat” cartoon. The selection is more impressive than the sign.

READER RECOMMENDED: FIDM Scholarship Store 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu

READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown LA Motors Mercedes Benz 1801 S. Figueroa St., (888) 835-8640 or benzla.com

BEST CIGAR/SMOKE SHOP

BEST JEWELRY MART

READER RECOMMENDED: 2nd Street Cigars

READER RECOMMENDED: California Jewelry Mart 607 S. Hill St., (213) 627-2831

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Underground Smoke Shop 548 S. Spring St. #108, (213) 622-0224 If you can light it, it’s here — cigarettes, hookahs, cigars and incense. There’s an indoor lounge and outdoor seating from which the Spring Street people watching can commence.

St. Vincent Jewelry Center 650 S. Hill St. #S2, (213) 629-2124 or svjc.com The self-proclaimed largest jewelry complex in the world, SVJC houses nearly 500 jewelry manufacturers, designers and dealers. Be ready to walk, talk and bargain.

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 21

Best Of Downtown

Best Restaurants BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT Morton’s The Steakhouse photos by Gary Leonard

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH Engine Co. No. 28

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Perch 448 S. Hill St., (213) 802-1770 or perchla.com The French menu is impressive, and is well complemented by the location on the top of a building overlooking Pershing Square. This is the best open-air patio in Downtown. READER RECOMMENDED: The Counter 725 W. Seventh St., (213) 228-7800 or thecounterburger.com

BEST L.A. LIVE RESTAURANT Yard House 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9273 or

r ea

yardhouse.com L.A. Live eateries can feel a little closed off from the action, but Yard House, with its winding patio and indoor/outdoor vibe, defies it. It draws huge crowds for beefy burgers and the more than 100 beers on tap. READER RECOMMENDED: Katsuya 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 747-9797 or sbe.com/katsuya

BEST AFFORDABLE RESTAURANT

Nickel Diner 524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com Several years into their gutsy Main Street venture, Monica and Kristen’s diner is go-

ing strong: It’s a frequent feature on food shows, and locals stream in every day it’s open. The desserts are still killer.

needed an affordable place to frontload and El Cholo fits the bill. The burritos are big, the margaritas potent.

READER RECOMMENDED: Wurstküche 800 E. Third St., (213) 687-4444 or wurstkuche.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Church & State 1850 Industrial St., (213) 405-1434 or churchandstatebistro.com

BEST MID-RANGE RESTAURANT

El Cholo 1037 S. Flower St., (213) 746-7750 or elcholo.com The tickets to the game or the concert do enough wallet damage. Staples-adjacent

BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT

Morton’s The Steakhouse 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or see Restaurants, page 22

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22 Downtown News

Continued from page 21 mortons.com The two Windy City pals who founded this chain did a good thing back in 1978. It’s a veritable palace of meat, with the type of quality steaks you’ll never find in a supermarket. READER RECOMMENDED: Water Grill 544 S. Grand Ave., (213-891-0900 or watergrill.com

BEST LUNCH

Mendocino Farms 300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114 or 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262 or mendocinofarms.com Sometimes spending double digits on a sandwich is worth it. This is one of those times. People taste the Steak BLT and weep. Be sure to check out the seasonal specialties, like summer’s Shrimp Po’Boy. READER RECOMMENDED: Urth Caffe 451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com

BEST DINNER

Morton’s The Steakhouse 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com You don’t want to mess around with a classic. Or that onion bread. Or the menu presentation in which the wait staff shows off meat cuts and lobster candidates. READER RECOMMENDED: Café Pinot 700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or patinagroup.com/cafepinot

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH

Engine Co. No. 28 644 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-6996 or engineco.com It’s all very American — comfort food in an old firehouse. The meatloaf deserves its reputation. There’s a reason that, during the workweek, everyone you know in business, finance and politics dines here. READER RECOMMENDED: Daily Grill 612 S. Flower St., (213) 622-4500 or dailygrill.com

BEST BREAKFAST

The Original Pantry Café 877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

BEST FRENCH Church & State

This is L.A.’s kind of diner, breakfast all day and night, and host to all kinds of characters (and that’s not including the staff): career brunchers, pre-game pit stoppers, conventioneers and rave kids fresh out of the party.

BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT Yogurtland photos by Gary Leonard

Restaurants

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

READER RECOMMENDED: Nickel Diner 524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN

California Kabob Kitchen 141 W. 11th St., (213) 747-9500 or ckkabob.com There are plenty of kabob joints Downtown, but this is one is a true restaurant, a place to sit down and relax. Here, the food is prepared by people who understand the intricacies of Persian spices and flavors. READER RECOMMENDED: Sultan Chicken 311 W. Sixth St., (213) 236-0604 or sultanchicken.com

BEST VIETNAMESE

Blossom 426 S. Main St., (213) 623-1973 or blossomrestaurant.com Good, clean Vietnamese food with strong teas and coffees, and no MSG. There is an assortment of noodle and rice dishes, along with Vietnamese crepes. READER RECOMMENDED: Pho 87 1019 N. Broadway, (323) 227-0758

BEST ASIAN FUSION

Wokcano 800 W. Seventh St., (213) 623-2288 or wokcanorestaurant.com. It’s like the greatest hits of Asian cuisine, the most popular Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes all on one menu. Best of all, there are no B-sides.

BEST AMERICAN

Pete’s Café & Bar 400 S. Main St., (213) 617-1000 or petescafe.com And you thought the Best American was George Washington? At Pete’s, people get a little burger and mac-and-cheese obsessed. The more serious entrees, among them short ribs and steaks, are equally delicious. READER RECOMMENDED: Daily Grill 612 S. Flower St., (213) 622-4500 or dailygrill.com

BEST ITALIAN

Drago Centro 525 S. Flower St., (213) 228-8998 or dragocentro.com The decadent stuff here from Celestino Drago may be the best Italian restaurant in all of Los Angeles. The garganelli pasta is a specialty, and the service and the wine list are outstanding.

READER RECOMMENDED: Chaya 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577 or thechaya.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Colori Kitchen 429 W. Eighth St., (213) 622-5950 or colorikitchen.com

BEST MEDITERRANEAN

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Mediterranean City Grill 609 S. Spring St., (213) 489-9555 or medcitygrill.com Great falafel is elusive in Los Angeles, but it’s formidable here. It’s thanks to a home recipe from the Israeli owner. READER RECOMMENDED: Papa Cristos 2771 W. Pico Blvd., (323) 737-2970 or papacristos.com

Morton’s The Steakhouse 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com As much as we love the lobster presentations, it really is all about the meat here: “Abundant marbling” is required, according to the chain’s un-chain like website, and an aging interim of 23-28 days. READER RECOMMENDED: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com

BEST PIZZA

Bottega Louie 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com Amid the noise and sensory overload that can be Bottega Louie, it’s nice to zero in on the unflappable pizza chefs in the back, twirling dough and working the oven for your dining enjoyment. READER RECOMMENDED: California Pizza Kitchen 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 228-8500 or 330 S. Hope St. #10, (213) 626-2616 or cpk.com

BEST SEAFOOD

Water Grill 544 S. Grand Ave., (213) 891-0900 or watergrill.com It’s a bit less stiff and clubby after recent renovations, but the lighter vibe didn’t dis-

till the seriousness, or freshness, of the seafood. The oysters still rock. There’s even a TV to watch the game. READER RECOMMENDED: McCormick & Schmick’s 633 W. Fifth St., fourth floor, (213) 629-1929 or mccormickandschmicks.com

HEAD TO HEAD: BEST INDIAN

Saffron Indian Cuisine 505 S. Flower St., (213) 488-9754 or saffronindia.com You’ll find combinations of masalas, curries and daals in a casual, modern setting, which isn’t the status quo for Indian food.

BEST LATIN/MEXICAN

El Cholo 1037 S. Flower St., (213) 746-7750 or elcholo.com The seasonal green corn tamales are a signature, but all the classics are here: enchiladas, sizzling fajitas and burritos. Plus, the margaritas are serious business. READER RECOMMENDED: Border Grill 445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or bordergrill.com

BEST FRENCH

Church & State 1850 Industrial St. #100, (213) 405-1434 or churchandstatebistro.com The entrees are simple and savory. The appetizers may be even more so: charcuterie and roasted bone marrow, I’m looking at you. READER RECOMMENDED: Café Pinot 700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or patinagroup.com/cafepinot

BEST BURGER

Umamicatessen 852 S. Broadway, (213) 413-8626 or umami.com/umamicatessen We can’t put our finger on why these burgers are so delicious, or why the meat melts in your mouth the way it does. It may involve unicorns and rainbows. Whatever, it’s an impressive debut. READER RECOMMENDED: The Counter 725 W. Seventh St., (213) 228-7800 or thecounterburger.com

BEST JAPANESE

Takami 811 Wilshire Blvd. #2100, (213) 236-9600 or takamisushi.com The sushi is solid, but the highlight is the ro-

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 23

Best Of Downtown

BEST AFFORDABLE RESTAURANT Nickel Diner photos by Gary Leonard

BEST DOWNTOWN VIEW Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant

bata. Behold grilled meats like filet mignon, flat-iron steak, lamb chops and pork loin. READER RECOMMENDED: Shabu Shabu House 127 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, (213) 680-3890

BEST THAI

Soi 7 518 W. Seventh St., (213) 537-0333 or soi7la.com A more elegant setting than most of L.A.’s Thai joints, and food that matches: noodles that aren’t clumpy, spring rolls that aren’t soggy, and clear, clean-tasting curries. Great lunch combos too. READER RECOMMENDED: City Thai 726 S. Hill St., (213) 489-7118 or citythai.net

BEST SUSHI

SugarFish 600 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-3000 or sugarfishsushi.com The famous “trust me” sushi empire is kicking on Seventh Street. The rules here (don’t ask for extra ponzu or substitutions, and do not utter the phrase “California roll”) are as great as the fish. READER RECOMMENDED: Sushi Gen 422 E. Second St., (213) 617-0552 or sushigenla.com

BEST SANDWICH/WRAP

Philippe The Original 1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com

Show us another sandwich that has inspired a movie, a Facebook page and an enduring creationist debate about whether it, or the Cole’s version, was French dipped first.

brunch crush (come early or late, for dinner, and order off the menu). But the bustle of these football field sized banquet rooms is part of the fun.

READER RECOMMENDED: Mendocino Farms 300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114 or 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262 or mendocinofarms.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Ocean Seafood 750 N. Hill St., (213) 687-3088 or oceansf.com

BEST DIM SUM

Empress Pavilion 988 N. Hill St. #201, (213) 617-9898 or empresspavilon.com There are tricks to navigating the dim sum

BEST CHINESE

Yang Chow 819 N. Broadway, (213) 625-0811 yangchow.com The 75 cent valet parking is impressive, but it’s not as much of a lure as the legendary see Restaurants, page 24

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

24 Downtown News

Continued from page 23 slippery shrimp. Yes, we said legendary. Yes, we mean it.

BEST CUPCAKES

BEST MAC N’ CHEESE

Pete’s Café & Bar 400 S. Main St., (213) 617-1000 or petescafe.com Take pasta. Add cheese. Eat. This dish, plus a martini, and most of the week’s troubles seem profoundly less important. READER RECOMMENDED: Nickel Diner 524 S. Main St., (213) 623-8301 or nickeldiner.com

BEST VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Blossom 426 S. Main St., (213) 623-1973 or blossomrestaurant.com Meatheads will live, there’s plenty of steak. But vegetarians also win big here, thanks to an assortment of spring rolls, fritters, noodle dishes and pho. READER RECOMMENDED: Cabbage Patch 520 W. Sixth St., (213) 489-4489 or cabbagepatchla.com

ORGANIC OPTIONS

Urth Caffe 451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com Coffee is the heaviest chemically treated food commodity in the world, and rainforests are cleared to make room for the sunresistant trees that dominate the industry. So drinking organic coffee matters. Urth has you covered. READER RECOMMENDED: Mendocino Farms 300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114 or 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262 or mendocinofarms.com

BEST BAKERY/DESSERTS

Big Man Bakes 413 S. Main St., (213) 617-9100 or 633 W. Fifth St., second level, (213) 622-2127 or bigmanbakes.com It can’t be burgers and pho all the time. Main Street needed a sweet spot, and the Big Man provides it. Then it did the same for U.S. Bank Tower. Chocolate and red velvet options are just the start.

BEST SEAFOOD Water Grill

BEST VIETNAMESE best VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Blossom photos by Gary Leonard

Restaurants

READER RECOMMENDED: Babycakes 130 E. Sixth St., (213) 623-5555 or babycakesnyc.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Plum Tree Inn 913 N. Broadway, (213) 613-1819 or plumtreeinn.com

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

BabyCakes 130 E. Sixth St., (213) 623-5555 or babycakesnyc.com. Sweet tooth allergic types can find all-natural, organic treats free from allergens including wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. If you’re allergy-free, stop bragging and have a chocolate mint cupcake. READER RECOMMENDED: Big Man Bakes 633 W. Fifth St., second level, (213) 622-2127 or 413 S. Main St., (213) 617-9100 or bigmanbakes.com

BEST CAFE

Urth Caffe 451 S. Hewitt St., (213) 797-4534 or urthcaffe.com An unexpectedly homey meeting spot on a railroad track scarred street, which doesn’t look like it would produce sweet, frothy lattes with animals and hearts drawn in the milk foam. But there you go. Enjoy looking at the spectacular clientele while you sip. READER RECOMMENDED: LA Café 639 S. Spring St., (213) 612-3000 or thelacafe.com

BEST RESTAURANT DECOR

Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com No matter what it does with the menu, Cicada is destined to be mentioned first for the Art Deco fabulousness that you can spot as a backdrop of innumerable films and TV shows. It opened more than a decade ago and still impresses on every visit. READER RECOMMENDED: Patina 141 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3331 or patinarestaurant.com

BEST FOOD COURT

Grand Central Market 317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or grandcentralsquare.com The recent crop of hip newcomers (Local Express and Flanders Frites on patio, MF Gourmet inside) stands out a little, but that’s what is so cool about GCM — it’s a constantly evolving mash-up of old and new. READER RECOMMENDED: California Plaza 300-350 S. Grand Ave. or mpgoffice.com

BEST DOWNTOWN VIEW

Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant 811 Wilshire Blvd. #2100, (213) 236-9600 or takamisushi.com Twenty one floors up, this Japanese restaurant is like being suspended in a high-rise forest. The food is equal to the view. READER RECOMMENDED: L.A. Prime 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 612-4743 or thebonaventure.com

BEST RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

Cafe Pinot 700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or cafepinot.com The open inside, and the patio outside, keep this Financial District favorite relevant. And don’t overlook the food from the Patina empire.

Bottega Louie 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com From Seventh Street, Bottega Louie gives off a bit of a rarified vibe. Once inside, tourists and locals intersect, sheepish daters perk up, and moms feed their babies. It’s loud and open.

READER RECOMMENDED: Chaya 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577 or thechaya.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Chaya Downtown 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577 or thechaya.com

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT

WP24 in the Ritz-Carlton 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or wolfgangpuck.com The ultimate Downtown special occasion joint won’t let you down. Order up the standout Peking duck, stir fries and fancy bao buns and dumplings. The fact that all of this unfolds in a gorgeous space is almost beside the point. READER RECOMMENDED: Bar & Kitchen in the O Hotel 819 S. Flower St., (213) 784-3048 or barandkitchenla.com

MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com This is a favorite wedding venue and a classic anniversary dinner spot because of its soft light, quiet elegance, and a dance floor

that couples have been swirling on since the 1920s. READER RECOMMENDED: Café Pinot 700 W. Fifth St., (213) 239-6500 or patinagroup.com/cafepinot

BEST BRUNCH

Bottega Louie 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com Roll in to Bottega Louie late and grungy on a weekend morning and they’ll take care of you. After quaffing the coffee, move on to the Belgian waffles, array of omelets and egg dishes or even the Meatball Parmesan sandwich. READER RECOMMENDED: Pete’s Café & Bar 400 S. Main St., (213) 617-1000 or petescafe.com

BEST BARGAIN LUNCH

Philippe The Original 1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com A double-dipped lamb sandwich with some spicy mustard is the stuff of heaven, and the stuff of eight bucks. READER RECOMMENDED: Mendocino Farms 300 S. Grand Ave., (213) 620-1114 or 444 S. Flower St., (213) 627-3262 or mendocinofarms.com

BEST OLD-SCHOOL RESTAURANT

Philippe The Original 1001 N. Alameda St., (213) 628-3781 or philippes.com One of the few places in L.A. where suited lawyers rub elbows with uniformed cops, utility workers and delivery guys. Enjoy the sawdust on the floors and the communal seating at long tables. READER RECOMMENDED: The Original Pantry Café 877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com

BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT

Yogurtland 130 S. Central Ave., (213) 687-0733 or yogurt-land.com It takes dexterity to build the yogurt foundation soundly, decision-making to pick the right flavors, and integrity. Please, do not eat the toppings off your creation before it hits the scales. READER RECOMMENDED: Pinkberry 332 E. Second St., Suite A, (213) 621-7645 or pinkberry.com

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 25

Best Of Downtown

Best of Downtown Staff Picks From Trespassing Options to a Street Musician to a Surprise Comedian, These Are a Few Dozen of Our Favorite Things BEST PUBLIC ART

BEST NEW VIEW

Cardboard Sunbathers and Deer

Grand Avenue to City Hall, via Grand Park

BEST SUMMER TREND

BEST FUNDRAISER

Outdoor Film Series

BEST DIY INITIATIVE

BEST FREE WORKOUT

BEST FOOD TREND

Hotel Lobbies

BEST USE OF EMPTY SPACE Cleopatra, CEO

Jonathan Quick

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST PUBLIC ART Cardboard Sunbathers and Deer

BEST BATTLE

BEST LOUD NOISE

BEST SECRET L.A. LIVE PARKING

BEST AL FRESCO LUNCH

Unions vs. Wal-Mart

Fiat Girl

Drum Downtown

11th Between Grand and Olive Street art has long been part of the local fabric, but the recent papier-mâché and cardboard installations by Downtown resident Calder Greenwood and an anonymous artist who goes by Wild Life struck a chord with the masses. Their “sunbathers” in the pit at Second Street and Broadway, the “deer” at Angels Knoll and the Snake Plisskin-like surfer plopped on a platform in the Los Angeles River were playful, clever and provocative. Most importantly, Greenwood and Wild Life’s work is distinctly original.—Ryan Vaillancourt

On just about any weekend night this summer, you can watch a movie under the stars in Downtown. The lineup starts with the veteran Devil’s Night Drive-In, which

The Flute Man

BEST COMMERCIAL SHOT IN DOWNTOWN

BEST SUMMER TREND Outdoor Film Series

GRAND PERFORMANCES

BEST STREET MUSICIAN

BEST GROUNDHOG DAY SCENARIO The Downtown Football Stadium

The French Revolution

BEST DOWNTOWN ATHLETE

Union Station Architects

Figueroa by Seventh Street

Operation Facelift in Skid Row

Walt Disney Concert Hall Stairs

BEST DOWNTOWN DREAMERS

BEST PLACE TO GRAB A CAB

Bernard Parks

BEST TRESPASSING

Arts District Dog Park

Sell Them to the Last Bookstore Crazy Bike Guy

BEST SURPRISE COMEDIAN

Magic Johnson ‘Bought’ the Dodgers

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE POOCH

BEST SPRING STREET CYCLIST

Boy Scouts ‘Over the Edge’

BEST DOWNTOWN SPIN

BEST WAY TO THIN OUT AN OVERFLOWING BOOKSHELF

Walt Disney Concert Hall Garden

shows films twice a month on a rooftop at Fourth Street and Broadway (info at devilsnight.com). A highlight is Pulp Fiction on Aug. 4. It’s not the only al fresco movie game in Downtown. The Street Cinema Food Fest (streetfoodcinema. com) takes over Exposition Park most Saturday nights. Catch Little Miss Sunshine on July 21. Meanwhile, Pershing Square has tweaked its summer season and this year the renamed “Under the Sheet Music” series (laparks.org/pershingsquare) shows music films, including the classic Talking Heads vehicle Stop Making Sense on July 20.—Ryan Vaillancourt

BEST DOWNTOWN SPIN Magic Johnson ‘Bought’ the Dodgers When Frank McCourt in March agreed to sell the Los Angeles see Staff Picks, page 26

CALIFORNIA PLAZA

SUMMER WILL BE Dear Downtown News Dear Downtown NewsReaders, Readers, FRI, JULY 20 @ 8PM

SAT, JULY 14 @ 8PM

PEACE GO WITH YOU, GIL

¶VAMOS AL MAMBO!

THANKS!

Come dressed in tropical finery, and sway to music from the man credited for inventing the mambo by introducing African rhythms to Cuban’s Danzon in the late 1930s.

honors the legendary GIL SCOTTHERON for his invaluable contributions to the political, musical and civil rights movements of 20th century America. This performance is a dynamic and unique collaboration honoring Scott-Heron, a self-proclaimed “bluesologist” known as a vibrant spoken word artist whose astute political commentary and syncopated rhythmic pioneering has been dubbed the prototype for all future rap, hip-hop and neo-soul performers. Featuring Gia Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Dexter Story, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Rich Medina, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and Other Special Guests THIS SOUNDS

The all-star band features an unmatched ensemble of Latin musicians, most of whom recorded and played with Cachao throughout his career: Danilo Lozano, Rene Camacho, Alberto Salas, Richie Marquez, Papo Rodriguez, Oréstes Vilató, Justo Almario, Luis Eric González, Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros, Federico Britos, and Lázaro Galarrága. Bring a mojito, and we swear you’ll feel the tropical breeze! This is also the evening of Grand Performances’ 10th Annual Fundraiser Gala (5pm-8pm). For tickets and information, visit grandperformances.org/mambo THIS SOUNDS

THANKS! THANKS!

Dear Downtown News Readers,

Honoring Israel “Cachao” Lopez

TO ME

For Voting Us The

cooLeST HoTeL For Voting Us + BeST HoTeLHoTeL BAR cooLeST

+ Voting Us The BeST HoTeLForBAR cooLeST HoTeL in LA’s coolest and best hood...jus + BeST HoTeL BAR in LA’s coolest and best hood...just sayin

550 SoUTH FLoweR AT 6TH STReeT STANDARDHoTeLS.com

550 SoUTH FLoweR AT 6TH STReeT STANDAR

TO ME

in LA’s coolest and best hood...just sayin

GRANDPERFORMANCES.ORG

DOWNTOWN L.A.

3 5 0 S . G R A N D AV E L . A . 9 0 0 7 1

550 SoUTH FLoweR AT 6TH STReeT STANDARDHoTeLS.com

26 Downtown News

Staff Picks photos by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 25

Dodgers and the team’s holdings for $2.15 billion, nearly every media outlet crammed the word “Magic” into the headline (“Dodgers Get the Magic Touch,” etc.). The message was that Lakers great Earvin “Magic” Johnson was the new owner, and indeed, the tall dude with the easy smile was front and center at the May 2 press conference introducing the buyers. There’s just one problem: Johnson only owns a sliver of the team, reportedly about 3%, and any implication that he calls the shots is pure spin. Mark Walter, a guy L.A. still knows little about, is listed as the controlling partner, and Stan Kasten is the big baseball mind. Having Johnson involved is nice, but casting him as the “owner” is just a bit of magical sleight-ofhand.—Jon Regardie

a new 10-year, $58 million contract, which means he’ll be blocking shots in Downtown until 2022.—Jon Regardie

Grand Park, the $56 million renovated and expanded civic park that stretches between City Hall and the Music Center, will open on July 26. But it’s already evident that the new design has opened a magnificent, place-making sightline between Grand Avenue and Spring Street. The old park was hardly visible from the western side by the Music Center. Now, one sees green lawns, pathways and an upgraded fountain thanks to a design that moved trees to the sidelines, excised some parking ramps and added an array of slick lighting. The transformation also means that when transit riders exit the Civic Center station from the Metro Red Line, they’ll actually see the heart of the Civic Center.—Ryan Vaillancourt

of sharply funny newsletters. A June 21 blast decrying the council vote bore the headline “The Silence of the Scammed.” Zing! A week later, after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the redistricting legislation, Parks wrote that “he did it secretly in the dark of night — proving once again that there is no controversy too big for him... to run from.” Hey now! Still, those pale compared to two newsletters that zapped state Sen. Curren Price and council president and redistricting provocateur Herb Wesson. The April 5 missive began “The Price is Wrong, Curren!” He went on to state that Price is “probably best known for his ability and, dare I say talent, to remain solidly grounded on both sides of an issue.” He was harsher a week later when he noted that redistricting cleaved the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza mall into two districts. Referring to the diminutive council president, Parks wrote, “Councilmember Herb Wesson and his ‘non-tourage’ actually drew the lines to ensure businesses like Macy’s and Buffalo Wild Wings would be split from the rest of the shopping center and placed into his district. I don’t know… maybe he likes short ribs.” The bolding was his. Ouch.—Jon Regardie

BEST FUNDRAISER Boy Scouts ‘Over the Edge’

BEST DIY INITIATIVE Operation Facelift in Skid Row

BEST NEW VIEW Grand Avenue to City Hall, via Grand Park

For the past year, businesses, property owners and other Downtown stakeholders clamored for cleaner streets in Skid Row, urging government officials to address the rising filth. As they protested, a group of volunteers, most of them residents of Skid Row, picked up the Do It Yourself ethic and began cleaning the streets with brooms, filling donated trash cans as they went. The volunteers, who comprise “Operation Facelift,” were cleaning San Julian Street for months before a county health report spurred the city into action. They asked for donated equipment, but not for media attention or accolades.—Ryan Vaillancourt

BEST TRESPASSING Hotel Lobbies

BEST FOOD TREND The French Revolution

Hotel lobbies, with their plush decor and comfortable couches, aren’t just for tourists. Almost anyone can wander through and hang out. I know from experience. My current primary trespass/hangout spot is the lobby at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live. The two-story space is decked out with Modern-style couches and chairs, and it’s so busy with people chatting that it feels like a club at times. There’s also a café, a wine bar, a cocktail lounge and a restaurant. My other preferred spot is the Rendezvous Court at the Millennium Biltmore. It was the original lobby when the Biltmore opened in 1923. The “official” lobby is now on the Grand Avenue side, but the Rendezvous Court’s Italian travertine walls, Moorish carvedwood ceilings and marble fountain give it an old-world highend feel. There’s also a cafe.—Richard Guzmán

The 1789 French Revolution featured the storming of the Bastille. The Downtown French Revolution of 2012 features the storming of the local culinary scene. Suddenly, there’s French food everywhere. Last summer Perch opened its doors atop the Pershing Square Building. In May Industriel replaced French fries with actual French food — there’s an escargot panini! — when it opened in a former Carl’s Jr. space on the ground floor of the Milano Lofts. On July 2 Kitchen Table debuted in the Old Bank District with consulting chef Greg Bernhardt, who helped open Church & State in the Arts District. Additionally, Walter Manzke is working on Republique, which will fill an 8,000-square-foot building at the Factory Place Arts Complex, and Figaro Bistro is under construction at 618 S. Broadway. Sacre bleu!—Richard Guzmán

BEST FREE WORKOUT Walt Disney Concert Hall Stairs Gym memberships are expensive. If the price doesn’t bother you, the pervasive sweat odor might. Instead of Nautilus machines and free weights, embrace some stairs — specifically, the 69 steps that lead from Grand Avenue to the plaza area in the folds of Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. Walk there, or run, and scurry up the steps as fast as you can. Then, find your way to one of the two amphitheaters and use the ascending stadium seats as platforms for box jumps or inverted push-ups. Feel the free burn.—Ryan Vaillancourt

BEST DOWNTOWN ATHLETE Jonathan Quick

Black-tie dinners in fancy hotel ballrooms are nice, but when it comes to raising money, they’re not nearly as exciting as dangling donors 30 stories off a building. That’s what the local chapter of the Boy Scouts does each fall with its “Over the Edge” fundraiser. Daredevils who pledge or raise at least $1,500 to help disadvantaged kids in Los Angeles become Boy Scouts get to try to rappel down the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel. I mean “try,” because when the Boy Scouts gave me an opportunity, I freaked about five floors down — darn you, fear of heights — and had to be lowered the rest of the way. Fortunately, there are a lot of brave souls: Last October’s Over the Edge raised $135,000.—Richard Guzmán

BEST SURPRISE COMEDIAN Bernard Parks

A couple months ago, most Downtowners had never heard of Jonathan Quick. Now the goalie of the Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings (it’s still weird to write that) is a sports celebrity. During the regular season he allowed a stellar 1.95 goals per game, and in the playoffs he was even better at blocking 100 mph shots, with only 1.41 goals each contest trickling into the net. During the Kings’ improbable postseason run he notched three shutouts and a .946 save percentage. If you don’t speak puck, think of it as what Kobe’s stats would look like if he was in his prime as a hockey goalie. Quick’s heroics earned him

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

I admit it: I thought Eighth District City Councilman Bernard Parks never smiled or cracked a joke. Then the nasty redistricting battle began, and Parks’ inner, furious comedian broke out. He has slammed the proceedings in a series

BEST USE OF EMPTY SPACE Cleopatra, CEO

Oil giant ARCO abandoned its space on the 51st floor of the Paul Hastings Tower about a decade ago. It was off-limits to most Downtowners until February, when choreographer Heidi Duckler staged her site-specific theater-dance hybrid Cleopatra, CEO in the former board room, hallways and even the kitchen. The members of the Heidi Duckler Dance Theater (long known as Collage Dance Theater) thrillingly told the tale of the Egyptian monarch. The nighttime shows were cast against the sparkling lighted cityscape, and the audience wandered room to room, watching a haunting death scene, a performer who danced with a rolling office chair, and even a segment in which a blond soprano mesmerized with an aria while crammed in a kitchen cabinet. Seriously.—Jon Regardie

BEST WAY TO THIN OUT AN OVERFLOWING BOOKSHELF Sell Them to the Last Bookstore Face it: You’re never going to read 95% of the books on your

shelf, at least not again. Furthermore, nobody believes you finished Infinite Jest in the first place. With that in mind, you can thin out that shelf and make a little cash. The Last Bookstore (453 S. Spring St.) will buy your used tomes for cash or store credit. The titles they don’t want, you can choose to drop off anyway, and the shop founded by Josh Spencer will donate them to charity libraries. If your shelf suddenly looks empty, use your proceeds to stock it with new books.—Ryan Vaillancourt

BEST SPRING STREET CYCLIST Crazy Bike Guy

Downtown News 27

Best Of Downtown institution and a reminder that part of Downtown’s charm lies in its strange and irrational absurdity.—Dan Johnson

BEST PLACE TO GRAB A CAB Figueroa by Seventh Street In 2008 city officials launched the Hail-A-Taxi program, hoping Downtown would adopt a New York feel, at least in terms of the ease of grabbing a cab on the streets. It hasn’t worked that well, as cruising taxis remain a rare sight. Fortunately, there are several places where cab drivers queue up. The best is along the west side of Figueroa just south of Seventh Street. More than a dozen cabs are usually parked in front of the FIGat7th shopping center, and they can be hailed without even raising a hailing hand. Just ask a driver for a ride. They’re usually standing outside their vehicles chatting.— Richard Guzmán

BEST GROUNDHOG DAY SCENARIO The Downtown Football Stadium In the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray wakes up each morning to find it’s exactly the same as the day before. That might sound familiar to those watching Anschutz Entertainment Group’s effort to bring pro football to a $1.4 billion stadium adjacent to the Convention Center. L.A. has been without the NFL for 17 years, and time and again officials have sought to lure the league to Downtown. The Coliseum had a couple runs, as did the Dodger Stadium parking lot. AEG even tried a similar South Park proposal about a decade ago. Everyone says AEG’s current Farmers Field plan is the best one yet, and they’re right, but until it becomes the future, it reminds of the past. Then again, it’s always fun to re-watch Groundhog Day.—Jon Regardie The Romans had sundials. The ancients had moon phases. Downtown denizens have another seemingly celestial clock. We call him Crazy Bike Guy. Those who live and work on this flamboyant cyclist’s daily route have grown accustomed to the indecipherable grunts and shouts (one sounds oddly like “Burro!”) that heed his arrival on Spring Street each day around 10:30 a.m. His ever-changing costume, his slow rhythmic circles into traffic and the gestures with which he so gleefully greets film crews have been the subject of much conjecture. This much we know: He is a bona fide neighborhood

Wal-Mart craftily got its city building permits the day before the City Council was scheduled to address the store, though things have not quieted. In June Wal-Mart kicked off its construction surrounded by a batch of Chinatown leaders and traditional lion dancers. A few days later, labor groups held a major anti Wal-Mart rally featuring a performance from Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. This battle for Los Angeles continues, as Wal-Mart is scheduled to open next year.—Richard Guzmán

BEST SECRET L.A. LIVE PARKING 11th Between Grand and Olive Paying $20 for parking when hitting Staples Center or L.A. Live is about as much fun as drinking poison. Perhaps the best antidote to said practice is arriving early and making a beeline for a space a few blocks east on 11th Street between Grand Avenue and Olive Street. Parking here is only 50 cents an hour, and there’s a four-hour limit until 8 p.m., after which it’s free (there’s not even a rush-hour no-no period). This means you could roll up at 4:01 p.m., plop $2 into the meter, and you’re golden until the game/concert/movie ends. Some other nearby blocks have the same deal, but I’m not spilling all my secrets just yet.—Jon Regardie

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE POOCH Arts District Dog Park photos by Gary Leonard

July 16, 2012

BEST BATTLE Unions vs. Wal-Mart When Arkansas-based Wal-Mart in February announced plans to open a 33,000-square-foot grocery-oriented store at Grand and Cesar Chavez avenues, labor and community groups went ballistic. The qualms concern Wal-Mart’s nonunion workforce and the chain’s propensity for eviscerating nearby mom and pop shops by undercutting their prices.

see Staff Picks, page 28

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28 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Continued from page 27 Downtown is home to a lot of dogs, but not a lot of dogfriendly open spaces. The lawn at the LAPD headquarters building is a favorite, but the lack of a fence renders off-leash romping somewhat foolhardy. A better option is the smaller and fenced-in Saslow Dog Park in the Arts District at Fourth and Molino streets. Named for founder and former community leader John Saslow, it contains a small area for timid or tiny dogs, and a larger space for big and active canines to stretch their legs. Water is always available, and regulars at the park help keep it free of too much waste. Even for those who don’t reside in the Arts District, it’s worth the short walk or drive.—Ryan Vaillancourt

rendering courtesy of Metro

BEST DOWNTOWN DREAMERS Union Station Architects

BEST STREET MUSICIAN The Flute Man Downtown attracts its fair share of street musicians, some quite good. There’s the man who quietly plays accordion at Fourth and Broadway on Sunday afternoons. There’s Kirk “Saxman” Jones, the psychedelic alto player who favors Fifth Street and Grand Avenue. But in our view, the best street musician going right now is a diminutive flutist whistling his way around the Old Bank District. He plays a small flute that looks (and sounds) almost like a recorder, but this isn’t the stuff of elementary school music class. Recently, he was heard blowing some soul into Charles Mingus’ “Good Bye Pork Pie Hat” at Main and Winston streets. He can play (he can really play) just about anything out of the classic jazz songbook on request. —Ryan Vaillancourt

BEST COMMERCIAL SHOT IN DOWNTOWN Fiat Girl

When Metro officials were searching for an architecture firm to create a master plan for Union Station, they asked

BEST LOUD NOISE Drum Downtown photo by Gary Leonard

Staff Picks

six finalists to go wild, think big and come up with “vision boards” showing a future for the rail hub. Imagination was front and center — no one expected the plans to materialize. The dream scenarios, presented in April, were all over the map: there were courtyards, ponds, a glass tower with green gardens on upper levels and even some urban farmland. The dream came to an end last month, when Metro selected a team of Gruen Associates and Grimshaw Architects to take on the project.—Richard Guzmán

The Second Street tunnel is Downtown’s most popular filming location. That said, the best locally created commercial of the past year was filmed near the corner of Hope and Sixth streets. The Fiat 500 Abarth spot, which premiered during the Super Bowl in February, was an instant hit. It starts with a dorky business guy who could have walked out of any nearby office tower. He sees a leggy beauty played by Romanian model Catrinel Menghia. She spots him scoping her and scolds him in a foreign language. Then she warms to him and turns on her charms. Cappucino foam is tactfully deployed. Of course, it’s all a dream, as he realizes she’s the personification of the Italian car. Vroom.—Richard Guzmán

There’s a lot of racket Downtown. Traffic. The cheers at Kings Games. An average cacophonous day in the Jewelry District. But nothing has the deafening beauty of Drum Downtown. The summer series at the Music Center Plaza (135 N. Grand Ave.) provides the opportunity for hundreds of rookie and pro level pounders alike to make a unified noise in a compact area. Instruments are provided and so are earplugs, a good thing considering the preponderance of kids younger than 8. Thanks to the skillful instructor, even those with no sense of rhythm leave feeling just a little like Keith Moon. Plus, it’s free. Upcoming events are Aug. 4 and Sept. 1 from 10-11:30 a.m.—Jon Regardie

BEST AL FRESCO LUNCH Walt Disney Concert Hall Garden Most people know Walt Disney Concert Hall as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The swirling Frank Gehrydesigned edifice has another claim to (minor) fame: It’s a nice, peaceful place to eat lunch. Atop the concert hall, 34 feet above street level, is a garden with approximately 50 trees. Bring your own food or stop at the Cal Plaza food court and grab a meal to enjoy amidst the greenery. It’s rarely crowded and there are tables placed throughout. So enjoy that sandwich or salad in the presence of orchids and under the shade of Pink Trumpet trees.—Richard Guzmán

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July 16, 2012

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Best Of Downtown

Best Miscellany MOST BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THEATER Orpheum Theatre photo by Gary Leonard

READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown Properties Holdings LLC 818 W. Seventh St., Suite 410, (213) 213-8600 or downtown-properties.com

BEST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Historic Downtown BID 453 S. Spring St., (213) 239-8336 New leadership and a reach that includes one of the hottest parts of Downtown — Spring Street — are energizing this BID, which heads up street cleaning, security and neighborhood marketing efforts. It just delivered a new Sunday farmers market. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown Center BID 626 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, (213) 624-2146 or downtownla.com

MOST BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THEATER

BEST-LOOKING BUILDING

Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Frank Gehry’s landmark, which he said was inspired by maritime vessels, still makes an impression a decade after the steel went up. And there’s still not a right angle on the thing.

READER RECOMMENDED: Bradbury Building 304 S. Broadway, (213) 626-1893

BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Brookfield Office Properties 725 S. Figueroa St. #1850, (213) 955-2800;

601 S Figueroa St. #2200, (213) 489-0838 or brookfieldofficeproperties.com To its vast portfolio of properties, Brookfield manages to bring human touches. It facilitates holiday decorations, farmers markets, and concerts for workers and visitors. It is even giving Downtown its first Target.

Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com The 1926 vaudeville venue is a gorgeously restored event space. And there’s something reassuring about seeing owner Steve Needleman both onsite and tooling around Broadway in his space-age golf cart. READER RECOMMENDED: Los Angeles Theatre 615 S. Broadway, (213) 629-2939 or losangelestheatre.com see Miscellany, page 30

THANK YOU DOWNTOWN LA

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30 Downtown News

BEST-LOOKING BUILDING Walt Disney Concert Hall photo by Gary Leonard

Miscellany

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Continued from page 29

BEST DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM

Brookfield Office Properties 725 S Figueroa St. #1850, (213) 955-2800; 601 S Figueroa St. #2200, (213) 489-0838 or brookfieldofficeproperties.com This firm’s properties, as the website says, “define the skylines of many major metropolises.” Downtown is certainly among them. READER RECOMMENDED: CBRE 355 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2700, (213) 613-3333 or cbre.us

READER RECOMMENDED: O’Melveny & Myers 400 S. Hope St., (213) 430-6000 or omm.com/losangeles

BEST MOVING/ STORAGE COMPANY

Los Angeles Self Storage 1000 W. Sixth St., (213) 927-1822 or downtownlosangelesselfstorage.com They’re close, they’re nice, there’s easy parking at the facility, and ask any office manager in the Financial District, everybody uses them. READER RECOMMENDED: Los Angeles Movers 333 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2500, (213) 596-9683 or losangelesmovers.net

BEST SHOE REPAIR

Shoe Wiz 514 W. Sixth St., (213) 688-9699 There is no heel or sole too ravaged to bring in, and the cobbler wizards here will also fix purses, wallets and belts. What more could you ask? READER RECOMMENDED: Shoe Masters 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite A, (213) 628-8777

BEST ARCHITECTURE/ DESIGN FIRM

Gensler 500 S. Figueroa St., (213) 327-3600 or gensler.com

photo courtesy of Millennium Biltmore

MOST ROMANTIC HOTEL Millennium Biltmore

This architecture juggernaut relocated here from Santa Monica and activated the jewel box at City National Plaza. Now they’re close to the new Target (their project) and the land from whence an NFL stadium may someday rise (also their project). READER RECOMMENDED: Levin & Associates Architects 811 W. Seventh St. Suite 900, (213) 623-8141 or levinarch.com

BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION

appleone.com Apple One has a simple enough philosophy: treating clients with respect and cultivating their careers with free resources and help. READER RECOMMENDED: Manpower 521 W. Sixth St., (213) 627-6260 or manpower.com

BEST RESTAURANT MEETING SPACE

Wells Fargo Several locations, (800) 869-3557 or wellsfargo.com There are branches all over the Central City. There’s also a Wells Fargo Museum on Bunker Hill, should you want to more fully explore your bank’s history, or see a real stagecoach.

Drago Centro 525 S. Flower St., (213) 228-8998 or dragocentro.com There’s a trio of spaces here: a velvet-walled private room; a renovated former bank vault tricked out with a demonstration kitchen; and the leafy patio, said to take its design cues from chef Celestino Drago’s native Italy.

READER RECOMMENDED: Bank of America 333 S. Hope St., (213) 613-9579 or bankofamerica.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Morton’s The Steakhouse 735 S. Figueroa St., Suite 207, (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com

BEST INVESTMENT/ STOCK BROKERAGE FIRM

MOST ROMANTIC HOTEL

Morgan Stanley 601 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-3300 or morganstanley.com The venerable firm services individual investors with a huge toolbox and an international reach: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities and more. Money!

BEST BUILT-FROMTHE-GROUND-UP RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Evo photo by Gary Leonard

Latham & Watkins 355 S. Grand Ave., (213) 485-1234 or lw.com. The firm started in L.A. in 1934 with just a trio of barristers. There are approximately 2,100 today, so it appears they’re billing some hours and winning some cases.

Millennium Biltmore 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624 1011 or millenniumhotels.com It really is a place that induces hand-holding, whether that’s inside the cozy Gallery Bar, strolling the lobby or canoodling under those high ceilings in the Rendezvous Court.

COOLEST HOTEL

Standard Downtown 550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or standardhotels.com Eccentric room design and gorgeous views — of Los Angeles, and of whomever you’re staying with, through the glass showers. READER RECOMMENDED: Ritz-Carlton 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Wells Fargo 333 S. Grand, (213) 253-7166 or wellsfargo.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Ritz Carlton 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com

BEST EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

BEST RESTAURANT MEETING SPACE Drago Centro

Apple One Employment Services 888 S. Figueroa St., (213) 892-0234 or

photo by Gary Leonard

BEST LAW FIRM

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

BEST WEDDING SPOT Vibiana photos by Gary Leonard

BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Eastern Columbia

Downtown News 31

BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Eastern Columbia 849 S. Broadway, (323) 930-3742 or easterncolumbialofts.com When it opened in 1930, the old Eastern Columbia Outfitting Companies’ 13-story retail home was a showstopper. Now, with 147 lofts and an Art Deco vibe, it still is.

BEST BUILT-FROM-THE-GROUNDUP RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Evo 1155 S. Grand Ave., (213) 741-2700 or evo-south.com. This amenity-rich, environmentally friendly building felt like a torchbearer for future de-

velopment when it opened in 2008. When the economy lifts, we’ll see more imitators of its South Park cool. READER RECOMMENDED: Barker Block 510 S. Hewitt St., (213) 473-0077 or barkerblock.com

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READER RECOMMENDED: Gas Company Lofts 810 S. Flower St., (213) 955-5700 or gascompanylofts.com

BEST PRIVATE EVENT VENUE

Millennium Biltmore 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com The 1920s-era grande dame still gets it done. Her five ballrooms can shape shift

from fairy tale wedding settings to corporate spaces with solid A/V technology. READER RECOMMENDED: JW Marriott 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-8600 or lalivemarriott.com

BEST WEDDING SPOT

Vibiana 214 S. Main St., (213) 626-1507 or vibianala.com The city’s first cathedral has secularized itself into a gorgeous special events venue. There’s old marble and onyx grandeur on the inside, and a garden courtyard full of king palms and olive trees. READER RECOMMENDED: Biltmore Hotel 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com

32 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Best Services BEST HOSPITAL Good Samaritan Hospital photos by Gary Leonard

BEST AUTO BODY/ AUTO REPAIR Downtown LA Motors

BEST FLORIST

Downtown Flowers.Net 505 S. Flower St., (213) 488-2028 or downtown-flowers.net The classics are here, among them long-stemmed Ecuadorian roses, lilies and compact centerpieces. But the staff’s allowed to go a little wild with the exotics, and that’s when things get interesting. READER RECOMMENDED: Paradise Florist 828 W. Seventh St., (213) 891-1209 or paradisefloristla.com

BEST HOSPITAL

Good Samaritan Hospital 1225 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 977-2121 or goodsam.org. There’s a lot of heart at this hilly conglomeration of old Spanish Revival buildings and glassy new additions. It all started with a real good Samaritan, the namesake who donated funds in 1886. READER RECOMMENDED: St. Vincent Medical Center 2131 W. Third St., (213) 484-7111 or stvincentmedicalcenter.com

BEST CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE/ PLACE OF WORSHIP

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 555 W. Temple St., (213) 680-5200 or olacathedral.org If you haven’t been inside, go, whether you’re Catholic or not. This is a bold interpretation of a modern urban cathedral. Plus, there’s a gorgeous sculpture of the church’s namesake by the late great Robert Graham. READER RECOMMENDED: Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple 505 E. Third St., (213) 626-4200 or hhbt-la.org

BEST AUTO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Toyota Central 1600 S. Figueroa St., (213) 748-8301 or toyotacentral.com The service is good, but the magic is in the details: shuttle service, free popcorn, and a staff that will look up coupons online and print them out for you. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown LA Motors Mercedes-Benz 1801 S. Figueroa St., (888) 854-2969 or benzla.com

BEST HAIR SALON

Neihule 607 S. Olive St., (213) 623-4383 or neihule.com Look inside from the street and you’ll see pampered, happy clients sipping champagne. Known for color, cuts

and eyebrow wizardry, it’s a full-service salon and an urban sanctuary. READER RECOMMENDED: Salon Pure 117 E. Sixth St., (213) 624-7873 or salonpurela.com

BEST BARBER SHOP Bolt Barbers

BEST NAIL SALON

Nails on 9th 127 W. Ninth St., (213) 627-6245 You don’t expect a nail shop on this South Park stretch, but there it is: walk-ins are welcome (and the norm), and whew, there are massage chairs. READER RECOMMENDED: Neihule 512 W. Seventh St., (213) 627-5300 or neihule.com

BEST BARBER SHOP

Bolt Barbers 460 S. Spring St., (213) 232-4715 or boltbarbers.com Bolt is rebranding the barber experience for the 21st century. No doddering scissor men and chitchat about current events. Now there’s a dash of feisty hedonism: free PBR, latenight closing times and girlie magazines while you wait. READER RECOMMENDED: Rudy’s Barber Shop 550 S. Flower St., (213) 439-3058 or rudysbarbershop.com

BEST DENTIST

Downtown Dental 255 S. Grand Ave. #204, (213) 620-5777 or downtowndentalla.com Downtown’s high-rise denizens have been loyal Dr. Mungcal clients for years. That’s because of the nice offices, nicer staff and a solid slate of quality services. READER RECOMMENDED: Zen Dental 110 E. Ninth St., Suite B225, (213) 623-1129 or zendental.com

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Boris Mayzels Chiropractic & Wellness Center 219 W. Seventh St. Suite 207, (213) 481-1400 or drmayzels.com A gorgeous office shouldn’t matter when it comes to a doctor, but it does help a person relax. Dr. Mayzels is the real thing — he and his team can deal with all manner of neck, back, joint and limb pain. READER RECOMMENDED: Courtyard Wellness 515 S. Flower St., Suite B-014, (213) 689-1500 or courtyard-wellness.com

BEST GYM/WORKOUT FACILITY

Gold’s Gym 735 S. Figueroa St. #100, (213) 688-1441 or goldsgym.com Free parking, very clean, with a good pool and a bunch of friendly regulars you’ll actually look forward to seeing. Hey, any bit of gym motivation is a good thing. READER RECOMMENDED: Los Angeles Athletic Club 431 W. Seventh St., (213) 625-2211 or laac.com

BEST DRY CLEANERS

Tokyo Cleaners 426 E. Second St., (213) 628-2474 It’s not dirt cheap, but it is well-run by friendly owners, and Honda Plaza is one of those rare strip malls that isn’t a parking nightmare. READER RECOMMENDED: Bunker Hill Cleaners 800 W. First St., Suite 102, (213) 680-0973

BEST OPTOMETRIST

Downtown LA Optometric Vision Center 623 W. Sixth St., (213) 628-6291 or downtownlavisioncenter.com

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 33

Best Of Downtown

BEST CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE/PLACE OF WORSHIP Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels photos by Gary Leonard

BEST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Metro Subway/Light rail lines

BEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT

Laura Silver 1200 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 747-4151 or majorproperties.com Silver represents buyers, sellers, lessors and lessees. Though she has properties From routine eye exams to custom contact lenses to Lasik, Dr. Barnes and her sweet staff get you in and out quickly, and help navigate insurance quagmires.

READER RECOMMENDED: Bark Ave. 545 S. Main St., (213) 748-7485 or barkavela.com

READER RECOMMENDED: Dr. Gary Reiger, Optometrist 750 W. Seventh St. Suite 107, (213) 623-5196 or drgarryregier.com

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

BEST PRESCHOOL

La Petite Academy 750 N. Alameda St., (877) 861-5078 or lapetite.com/7204 Established in 1968, there are a range of smart, fun programs here for infants to school-age kids. READER RECOMMENDED: Pilgrim School 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., (213) 385-7351 or pilgrim-school.org

BEST DAYCARE

Hope Street Friends 330 S. Hope St., (213) 787-2006 or child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com The recently created early education center looks after the offspring of nearby law and investment firm employees, but is open to community kids too. READER RECOMMENDED: La Petite Academy 750 N. Alameda St., (213) 202-6230 or lapetite.com

BEST PET DAYCARE/BOARDING/ SITTING/WALKING

Bark Ave. 545 S. Main St., (213) 748-7485 or barkavela.com When Downtown pet owners are leaving town or burning the midnight oil at work, this is the spot that takes care of the fuzzy children. READER RECOMMENDED: Go Dog LA 1728 Maple Ave., (213) 748-4364 or godogla.com

BEST PET GROOMING

Pussy & Pooch 564 S. Main St., (213) 438-0900 or pussyandpooch.com Patient groomers who aren’t above doggie mohawks and tattoos, plus a self-serve bath set-up if your pets are more comfortable with you scrubbing them down.

more westerly and in the Valley, she’s a Downtown ninja. READER RECOMMENDED: Drew Panico 1038 Factory Pl., #112, (877) 452-5698 or loftlivingla.com

Thank You

for voting us Best Chiropractor! AAA Travel 2601 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-3111 or aaa-calif.com This gem in a historic building offers travel services, maps and very nice ladies behind the counter. Don’t go on your lunch hour — it’s crowded — but do go. READER RECOMMENDED: Liberty Travel 661 S. Flower St., (213) 688-2150 or libertytravel.com

BEST HOTEL

Millennium Biltmore Hotel 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com Infinity pools and flat screens are great, but sometimes you want to stay where dignitaries have stayed, where there’s a sense of history and where the word “grandeur” is actually appropriate. This is that place. READER RECOMMENDED: Ritz-Carlton 900 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 743-8800 or ritzcarlton.com

BEST AUTO BODY/AUTO REPAIR

Downtown LA Motors Several locations, dtlamotors.com. This entity can service Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Chevrolet and Volkswagen, and their friendly “service advisors” are Yelp superstars. READER RECOMMENDED: Downtown Auto Repair & Body Shop 1023 E. Olympic Blvd., (213) 622-8579

BEST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Metro Subway/Light rail lines metro.net With the new Expo Line open, we can traverse a better part of the City of Angels on the rails: Long Beach to Sierra Madre; Culver City to East L.A., and all across Downtown. READER RECOMMENDED: DASH 100 S. Main St., 10th Floor, (213) 808-2273 or ladottransit.com

Dr. Boris Mayzels Chiropractor

The Haas Building, 219 W. 7th Street, Suite #207 Historic Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90014

213-481-1400 www.DrMayzels.com

34 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

~ Cedd Moses

LAAC MeMber sinCe 1999 squash enthusiast

ProPrietor, 213 Owner/Manager Of

10 DOwntOwn La Bars & restaurants

4 3 1 W e s t s e v e n t h s t r e e t // L o s A n g e L e s , C A 9 0 0 1 4 // W W W . L A A C . C o m

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 35

Best Of Downtown

Good Samaritan Hospital Our doctors have choices on where to practice medicine, so they practice here. With a commitment to excellence and access to numerous clinical trials, research protocols, and cutting edge technology, Good Samaritan is their hospital of choice. Affiliated with the USC Keck School of Medicine and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital is home to some of the “Best Doctors in America®.” Good Samaritan Hospital’s acclaimed programs include nationally recognized centers of excellence.

Selected by voters as the best medical center for 12 years. (1999-2006, 2009-2012)

1225 Wilshire Boulevard • Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 977-2121

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36 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Best Of Downtown

Thank You for Voting Us

Best Business Lunch

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July 16, 2012

Downtown News 37

38 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Socialize with us at

www.BloomfestLA.com

BloomfestLA MAP & INFO CURRENT AS OF 7/9/12. SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Metro Gold LIne (Little Tokyo / Arts District Station)

Los Angeles River

Vendor Booths

First Aid

Beer Garden

Info Booth

ATM

Food Truck

Music

Vendor Entrance

Bike Valet

Street Art

Sing along to music, dance to your own tune, and listen to storytellers. Make recyclable pots with master gardeners. Learn about nature. Make sock puppets. Paint a mural. Color your world!

BLOOMFESTLA DOGGIE LOUNGE

Bring your leashed dog and visit Pussy & Pooch and Go Dog LA in our Doggie Lounge at Traction & Hewitt for free treats. Hang out in the shade, get water, and rest in our puppy beds. Spin the wheel for prizes! Visit `www.pussyandpooch.com and www.godogla.com.

Sunday, August 5

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 39

BLOOMFESTLA STAGE SCHEDULES

Set times and artists as of 7/9/12 subject to change without notice

TRACTION STAGE

BLOOM’S STAGE

curated by Chris Douridas • produced by EVFA Music 2:00 PM Yellow Alex & The Feelings 2:30 PM Deejay set by Vealchop (also 3:15 PM and 4:00 PM) 2:45 PM Light FM 3:30 PM Robotanists 4:15 PM Helena 4:45 PM KCRW DJ set 5:15 PM NO 6:30 PM Buzz Bands LA DJ set 7:00 PM Grace Woodroofe 7:45 PM KCRW DJ set 8:15 PM The Neighbourhood 9:00 PM KCRW DJ set 9:30 PM Superhumanoids

curated and produced by Alberto Miyares 2:00 PM Tawny Ellis 2:30 PM Third Grade Teacher 3:15 PM Swords of Fatima 4:00 PM Lightnin’ Woodcock 4:45 PM Size Queen (Betty Blowtorch members) 5:30 PM Carnage Asada 6:15 PM Saccharine Trust with Joe Baiza 7:00 PM Mike Watt and the Missingmen 8:00 PM The Gears 8:45 PM Downtown Devil Dogs 9:30 PM Sukia

3rd St. at Traction Ave.

KOOL KID ZONE STAGE 3rd St. near Rose St.

curated and produced by Vanessa Acuna 2:00 PM Maryknoll Karate Club Kids 2:30 PM Children’s Yoga with Light Leaders 3:00 PM Little Divas Fashion Show 4:00 PM Storytelling with We Tell Stories 5:00 PM “Opera Girl” Golda Berkman & The Singing Policeman 6:00 PM Kindie Rock with Ellen & Matt 7:00 PM Plaza de la Raza Youth Rock Band

Hewitt St. at 4th Pl.

JARRITOS DJ STAGE

inside Angel City Benefit Beer Garden curated and produced by Marko Bacilio 2:00 PM Bass and Gently 3:00 PM Mastah Syphe 4:00 PM Justin Cornwall 5:00 PM Pony vs. Bear 6:00 PM Mike T. 7:00 PM Our Name Is Legion 8:00 PM ILL-A (Downtown Lobby.com) 9:00 PM DJ Joey Mojo

NEIGHBORHOOD ART EXHIBITIONS The Box Gallery

Warehouse Gallery at Art Share Los Angeles

805 Traction Ave., Los Angeles 90013 www.theboxla.com

801 E. 4th Pl., Los Angeles 90012 www.artsharela.org

Rebel Dabble Babble: Acclaimed artist Paul McCarthy has collaborated with his son Damon McCarthy in a new full-scale installation, including 11 videos playing in eight rooms and hallways among props, equipment, and sets. This exhibition hangs itself on the roots of the film Rebel Without a Cause and our culture’s fascination with celebrity and rumors. But this is just one piece of this immersive work, with explorations into contemporary performance art, complex family relationships and the dynamics of intimate relationships. The Box recently relocated to Traction Ave from Chinatown and is run by Paul’s daughter, Mara McCarthy. Extended through July 21 for BloomfestLA, 2-10 PM.

25¢ a Square Foot: Arts District Retrospective: This exhibition features works by over 50 artists who live or have lived in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles during the mid-70s to the 90s. Featured artists include Robbie Conal, Richard Duardo, Shepard Fairey, Paul McCarthy, and Dustin Shuler (who famously nailed an airplane to the side of the American Hotel in 1982). Also on display will be works and ephemera associated with Al’s Bar, Bedlam, the Clubhouse, DADA, deepriver, Fifty-Bucks Gallery, and LACE. Curated by Shaun Thyne. On view through September 30. Open during BloomfestLA, 2-10 PM.

La Compound Gallery

740 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90013 www.ladadspace.org

830 Traction Ave., #26, Los Angeles 90013 www.lacompound.com Instant: A Polaroid Exhibition: In a world where everything has gone digital, then mass produced via social media, the Instant or Polaroid format stays pure and analog, producing one-of-a-kind images. The term “unique photograph” seems like an oxymoron at first; yet the Polaroid process creates direct positive images without a negative, making each image completely unique. The show features Gonzo cartoonist Ralph Steadman, cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, Midwest icon Radeo, and photographer Vandal Sawa as well as a group installation. On view through August 11. Open during BloomfestLA, 2-10 PM.

Lili Lakich Neon Art Studio

704 Traction Ave., Los Angeles 90013 www.lakich.com Neon Art by Lili Lakich: View 75 neon sculptures on display in the artist’s studio and gallery typically only open by appointment. Her work brings expressiveness and a human dimension to a uniquely American art medium. Lakich Studio serves as a design and production facility for neon art projects and is a place where the artist conducts workshops in neon design and fabrication. Open during BloomfestLA, 4-8 PM.

The District [D] Gallery

Portrait of the Arts District: Over the course of several weeks, local artists constructed a remarkable and surprising portrait of one of the city’s quirkiest communities. Their plein air painting sessions of the Downtown Arts District were reminiscent of an industrial-style bohemian Montmartre on the Los Angeles River. Works on view are by Christian Hernandez, Jose L. de Juan, Catherine Kaleel, John Kilduff, Jennifer Korsen, Arpi Krikorian, Rikki Niehaus, Alan Reyes, Alex Schaefer, and Teod Thomlinson. On view through September 30. Open during BloomfestLA. 2-10 PM.

LALA Gallery

1335 Willow St., 2nd Fl., Los Angeles 90013 www.lalaarts.com LA Freewalls Inside: This inaugural group show features over 30 groundbreaking artists who helped make Downtown Los Angeles one of the most recognizable public art spaces in the world. Focusing on the Los Angeles street art movement, gallery owner Dan Lahoda is also the founder of the LA Freewalls Project, which helps foster the creation of outdoor artwork in the neighborhood by emerging and established artists, local and international. LALA Gallery is a space where artists integral to this and other communityendorsed projects can exhibit their studio work and connect with admirers of the street murals. Open during BloomfestLA, 2-10 PM.

40 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

www.evfamusic.com

LOS ANGELES RIVER ARTISTS & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

www. DTLAFilm Locations .com

ENTER TO WIN COOL PRIZES! Take your BEST shot! Submit your favorite BloomfestLA photos to our Flickr group by Saturday, August 4 for consideration. Upload at www.flickr.com/groups/bloomfestla (tag entries #BFLA2012). Here are our 2011 winning photographs!

Downtown News 41

DowntownNews.com

CALENDAR

Louise Capone (top right), senior recreation director for Pershing Square, and her team assemble the lineup of more than 30 summer films and concerts.

Ro ckin g at PeRsh ing Park in the Heart of Downtown Launches Its Summer Film and Music Series With a Handful of Big-Name Acts

by RichaRd Guzmán

This year the Friday Night Flicks series fea- ment with Spaceland Productions, which “It’s been a great balance of new and old tures documentaries and docudramas about programs summer and winter shows and music,” said Dave Beasing, program director ome criticize Pershing Square for hav- music. The “Under the Sheet Music” lineup lends a patina of cool to the entire series. for the station. “For Saturday nights it’s great ing too much concrete and not enough includes a July 20 showing of Stop Making In 2008 park officials elected to turn up to see a band you grew up with and there green space. Other toss barbs at the Sense, a documentary about the Talking the volume by bringing in better-known if have been a lot of great up-and-comers as enclosed, “fortress-like” design which limits Heads shot in 1983. Another highlight is the slightly faded acts such as Sophie B. Hawkins well. And our listeners also enjoy it because interaction with the surrounding neighbor- July 27 screening of Control, a biopic about and Gin Blossoms. Along with the other pro- it’s free.” hood. influential British group Joy Division, whose The big-name performers have included What no one can argue with, however, is frontman Ian Curtis committed suicide at Paula Cole, Fishbone, 10,000 Maniacs and the park’s role as a Downtown cultural pro- the age ofs.23. the English Beat. The latter group last year com or wntownNew vider. The Pershing Square Downtown Stage film series concludes on Sept. 28 with drew 5,000 people to the park. corner at Do The nd ha ht t rig aillis upper m/forms/m mbol in the nnews.co is marking a sixMade in Sheffield, a film that chronicles the Capone said the bigger crowds have atE-NEWS itsLofive-year owwith nt ok for this sy anniversary w do .la w ww N UP SIGlineup Starts July 3 & 6 week of concerts and 12 weeks of films. rise of the Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, tracted the attention of many musicians. Every event is free. ABC and other bands that came out of the “Artists are now reaching out to us,” she said. The series, which includes lunchtime con- British city in the 1970s and early ’80s. “Before I had to call everyone and say, ‘Hi, I’m certs on Wednesdays, the Spaceland Under The Saturday shows are the biggest draw, from Recreation and Parks. Would you like to the Stars shows Thursday nights, the Friday with a mix of nostalgia-fueled acts and indie play at my park?’ Now we have a reputation.” Night Flicks movie night and the Saturday performers with a hardcore following. The They also have a better venue. night concerts with a suite of big-name Fixx, whose hits include “One Thing Leads Before last year’s series the park underwent Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com bands, launched last week. to Another” and “Saved by Zero,” performs a $200,000 renovation. It added a cement “We’re celebrating the anniversary of some- July 21. They’ll share the stage with Modern floor to the stage and a new electrical system. thing that has now become a Downtown en- English, best known for their 1982 mega-hit That provided a clearer, though not necessartertainment destination,” said Louise Capone, “I Melt With You.” ily louder, sound. senior recreation director for Pershing Square. The following week John Waite takes Janet Robin, who will open for John Waite The series continues at noon on July 18 with the stage with local guitar player and singon July 28, is a veteran of the Downtown photo courtesy of Pershing Square the mellow sounds of singer-songwriter Jim er/songwriter Janet Robin, a veteran of the The Bangles are one of the bands performing in Stage, having opened for Sophie B. Hawkins Franco. Other Wednesday lunchtime shows Downtown Stage, opening the show. in 2008. Since then she has seen the crowds Starts JulyStage 13 &series. 19 They Pershing Square’s Downtown include Irish rockers Rebel Light July 25 andnNews Other big names this season are The plays Aug. 4. grow, but believes that the series has mainw ownto /L.A.Dwill m Alejandro Gonzalez Gomez, who mix Bangles (Aug. 4), former X member John tained its intimate feel. o .c k o o b Face classical guitar with rock and jazz on Aug. 1. Doe (Aug. 11) and Reverend Horton Heat gramming, it meant that Pershing Square is “I love that it’s outdoors,” Robin said. “It The Thursday series, programed by (Aug. 18.) activated four days or evenings each week. brings in a lot of people from all different Downtown-based powerhouse independent “All of the talent this year is amazing,” In the past five years the series has tripled walks of life. It’s free and the sound is great music promoter Spaceland Productions, Capone said. in attendance, with a total of about 50,000 too.” highlights cutting edge and alternative acts. Turning it Up people expected for the approximately 30 Pershing Square is at 532 S. Olive St., (213) The July 19 show will feature a 9 p.m. In the 1990s, Pershing Square had an ex- events this year, Capone said. 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. The performance by indie-pop songstress Coco tensive series of lunchtime concerts pitched Many attendees will hear about the shows Downtown Stage concert series runs through Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com Morier. The series closes Aug. 16 with a dou- to the office crowd. As the Downtown resi- from radio station 100.3 The Sound, which Aug. 16 with Friday Night Flicks scheduled ble header featuring Echo Park indie rockers dential scene emerged, more evening and has been working with Pershing Square since until Sept. 28. The Donnies and the Amys at 8 p.m. fol- weekend shows and events were added. A the inception of the series. The station helps Contact Richard Guzmán at lowed by pop-rock band Bell Gardens. key element of the growth was a 2005 align- book the bands and spread the word. richard@downtownnews.com.

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The Arts District, Back in Bloom Festival Named for Late Community Leader Returns This Weekend by Phoebe Unterman

owntown Los Angeles has had its share of music and arts festivals. The Grand Avenue Festival lured huge crowds to Bunker Hill for several years. The Hard Music extravaganza near Chinatown next month will attract some of the country’s biggest electronic and dance acts. Still, there has never been anything in Downtown quite like Bloomfest. The fifth annual Arts District event, named for late shop owner and community activist Joel Bloom, takes place Saturday, July 21. Festival producers expect up to 25,000 people to descend on the Arts District for the event that runs from 2-10 p.m.

More than 100 artists’ booths and a dozen food vendors will set up shop in the blocks around Third Street and Traction Avenue. The corner, which long held the neighborhood emporium Bloom’s General Store, is today known as Joel Bloom Square. The gathering is designed to pay homage to Bloom, and to celebrate the spunky district that was a residential beachhead long before developers started converting old Historic Core buildings into upscale lofts. “It’s really a joyful celebration embodying the creative energy of people in the Arts District,” said Melissa Richardson Banks, one of Bloomfest’s producers. “Joel himself is not just

photo by Gary Leonard

Last year’s Bloomfest attracted 20,000 people, and the event on Saturday, July 21, is expected to be even bigger. Joel Bloom, a community leader and the proprietor of longtime fixture Bloom’s General Store, died in 2007.

an afterthought. His legacy is embedded in the spirit of the neighborhood and the festival.” The event exemplifies how far the community has come in the past decade. KCRW host Chris Douridas booked the indie bands playing the main stage, among them Superhumanoids and The Neighbourhood. Angel City Brewery will debut five beers in the festival’s expanded beer garden. There will even be a free bike valet station. Leader and Curmudgeon Bloom lived and worked in the Arts District for more than 20 years. He led the effort that gave the community its moniker and later fought off an attempt by the Los Angeles Unified School District to built a massive warehouse in the area. He opened Bloom’s General Store in 1994, giving locals both easy access to staples, and providing a place to hang out and trade gossip. Bloom, who died on July 13, 2007, at the age of 59, after a seven-year battle with cancer, could also be notoriously cranky. He didn’t suffer fools. “He was the frontrunner curmudgeon who kept this community a real community, which is rare in this city,” said artist Lilli Muller, who worked with Bloom for years on Arts District projects. Muller and others want to make sure that as Bloomfest grows — last year’s attendance of roughly 20,000 spiked from 4,000 in 2010 — an emphasis on Bloom’s legacy is maintained. “Newcomers need to recognize why the Arts District is the way it is,” Muller said. “It’s important not to lose that it’s Bloomfest, not just another music festival.” Festival co-producer Edgar Varela said organizers are working to keep Bloom and what he did for the district at the root of the festival, devoting about 25% of the event’s marketing to Bloom and the neighborhood. Some of the posters feature a sketch of Bloom by Todd Lychkoff, a longtime friend and Arts District resident. “It’s important to remember Bloom,” Lychkoff said. “But he would have been the first one to say, ‘It’s not about me,’ and put the emphasis on the entire community.” The decision to add a second live music stage this year came from a group of residents who wanted to be more involved in the festival. The platform on Hewitt Street, called Bloom’s Stage, features acts that either played or would have fit at Al’s Bar, the defunct and nearly legendary punk rock dive on the street. The stage’s acts include Mike Watt and the Missingmen, Saccharine Trust, Carnage Asada and Sukia. Festival producers also plan to incorporate locals by limiting food and drink options almost exclusively to bars and restaurants in the Arts District. Providers include Church & State, the Pie Hole, Wurstkuche and the Little Bear, “We’ve chosen vendors and food so it won’t hurt the neighboring commerce and will only complement it,” Varela said. Also new this year is the KoolKidZone. The stage, featuring what organizers term “kindie rock,” is a reference to something Bloom never had the chance to see — the area’s emergence as a place for families with children. “Last year, people were asking what there was for their kids to do,” said Varela. Added Banks, “We realized that hipsters have kids too.” Bloomfest is Saturday, July 21, 2-10 p.m. in the Arts District. A full schedule and list of activities is at bloomfestla.com.

July 16, 2012

Downtown News 43

DowntownNews.com

LISTINGS EVENTS

Wednesday, July 18 Robert Gupta at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7 p.m.: The event “Passion With a Purpose/The Healing Power of Music” features a talk and performance by young L.A. Philharmonic violinist Robert Gupta, who regularly performs at Skid Row homeless service centers. Writer’s Row Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring. (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 8 p.m.: On the third Wednesday of every month, the Los Angeles Poet Society hosts an open reading session for writers. Come network and have your material read aloud. Thursday, July 19 Framework at MOCA 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: Choreographer Benjamin Millepied and Los Angeles artist Mark Bradford present “Framework,” a site-specific dance performance in the MOCA galleries. saTurday, July 21 Bloomfest 800 E. Third St., (213) 537-4483 or bloomfestla.com. July 21, 2-10 p.m.: The vibrant and always lively Arts District hosts the annual celebration of late neighborhood leader Joel Bloom. Music, food and art collide in oddly organized streets and adjacent sausage restaurants. sunday, July 22 Urban Gardening at California African American Museum

Continued on next page

Fun

photo by Alexander Watson

wn re Downto o M D n a ic Mus Mbo, LeGaL a M o G , e c n MuseuM Da

photo by Mitch Maher

xperimental ballet merges wit h modern art and celebrity patron age on Thursday, July 19. Tha t’s when the brand new L.A. Dance Project performs a site-specific dance rou tine in a Grand Avenue gallery of the Mu seum of Contemporary Art. The L.A . Dance Project is the brainchild of Ben jamin Millepied, who you may know as the choreographer of the film Black Swa n or as the husband of Natalie Portman. The performance is titled Framework, so indulge in art and share air with Millepied in the hopes that his luck rubs off on you . Even if it doesn’t, this program’s free. At 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or mo ca.org.

photo by Michael Kohan

Tuesday, July 17 Downtown Chefs at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7 p.m.: It’s all about the local food scene in a panel discussion titled “Flavor Forward: A Taste of Downtown L.A.” The speakers are chefs Ilan Hall (The Gorbals), Judy Han (Blue Cow, Mendocino Farms), John Rivera Sedlar (Rivera), Ricardo Zarate (Mo-Chica) and Patricia Zarate (Homegirl Café).

eDitor on, listings by Dan Johns s.com ew wntownn calendar@do

In 1938, Israel Lopez and his brother wrote a song called “Mambo” in their native Cuba. That one track penned by a bass player nicknamed “Cachao” ballooned into a phenomena that has won the love of dancers and musicians worldwide. Eighty-four years later, Grand Performances presents the evening “Vamos Al Mambo,” a tribute to the late Lopez and a magnificent opportunity to shake your thing atop Bunker Hill. Perhaps A Latin jazz band and good company make the event on Saturday, the most pecuJuly 20, at the California Plaza Watercourt worth checking out. liar event of the year The party starts at 8 p.m., but arrive early to carve at the Walt Disney Concert out some prime dancing real estate. At 350 Hall transpires on Saturday, July 20. S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or Forget Dudamel, because this is the night grandperformances. that the L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic performs. org. This robust collection of judges, lawyers, law students and staff join together to perform classical music as awed spectators take in the surreal scene. If you desperately need to hear selections from Les Miserables and get someone to explain your Miranda Rights to you, there is only one place to go. Attendees of the 8 p.m. show are encouraged to turn off their cell phones or be held in contempt. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or lalawyersphil.org. rtesy o cou phot Museum my Gram

photo by Rebecca Wilson

SPONSORED LISTINGS Under the Sheet Music Film Series Pershing Square, 562 S. Olive St., (213) 4851645 or laparks.org/pershingsuare. July 20, 8 p.m.: Do you have any questions? David Byrne and the Talking Heads multiply and reconfigure in Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense, the iconic concert film that captures a band at the height of its success. L.A.’s Largest Mixer XIV Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, 700 W. 32nd St., (323) 230-5656 or lamixer.com. July 19, 5-9 p.m.: Join Los Angeles area chambers and business organizations for The Ultimate Business Networking Event. Mix and mingle with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of business people representing industries and companies in and around Southern California. L.A.’s Largest Mixer XIV is an opportunity to reach small to large companies, meet new clients and learn how the different chambers of commerce and business organizations can make your business grow. Mixer admission: $20 per person (no credit cards). Business Expo and Loan Workshop Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown, 711 S. Hope St., (818) 907-9977 or vedc.org July 28, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.: The Valley Economic Development Center presents a workshop where business owners can sit one-on-one with a loan consultant to discuss their lending options. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcomed. To make an appointment, call Melissa Padilla at (818) 907-9977. The cost is $10 to register. It includes breakfast, the business expo, lunch, workshops and oneon-one consultation. Bar 107 107 W. Fourth St, (213) 625-7382, facebook. com/bar107 or twitter.com/bar107 Every Monday, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.: Ten beers are $2 each. Jameson shots are $4. Wells are $5. July 19: GhettoBlaster is DJing so the dance floor will be packed: $5 wells, $4 pints and $3 PBR & Busch.

The ’80s are coming back to haunt the Grammy Museum this week. Prepare for a double dose of nostalgia as two of the decade’s prominent musicians return to celebrate new releases. On Monday, July 16, former Bangles front lady Susanna Hoffs stops by for a brief performance and chat with museum executive director Bob Santelli on the eve of the release of her new album Someday. The following night, Los Angeles musician Peter Case arrives. The onetime bassist of the Nerves is better known for his time with the Plimsouls, who scored with the ridiculously catchy “A Million Miles Away.” Now, Case does the solo thing, including his most recent offering The violinist Robert Wig! Both shows are at 8 p.m. at 800 W. Vijay Gupta is a prodiOlympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or gy. He earned his Master’s degrammymuseum.org. gree from Yale before going on to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 19. However, Gupta is distinguished by far more than his virtuosic playing. On Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m., he appears at the Central Library as part of the Aloud series. There, he’ll discuss “Street Symphony,” his musical outreach program geared to providing the soothing balm of music to the cracked cultural skin of Skid Row. Bless his buttons and give him a warm welcome as Gupta uses his immense talent to heal some wounded souls. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 288-7500 or lfla.org. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

44 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

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Continued from previous page

July 21: Leni Stern Group. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. July 16, 8 p.m.: Chunky, rumbling beats festoon the erotic orchestral feel of July residency gang JMSN. July 17, 8 p.m.: Big enveloping beats from Foxes. July 18, 8 p.m.: Accompanied by a full band, Ferraby Lionheart prepares to enthrall with fully reverbing indie love. July 19, 8 p.m.: Boisterous, trippy rock from Hello Vegas and the Active Set. July 20, 8 p.m.: A perfuming flower of the macabre, Marissa Nadler’s subdued folk takes its cues from a dark wonder.

600 S. Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 2 p.m.: Gardener Saat Rai Amnwt teaches participants how to build window boxes and raised beds.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. July 17: BW Jam Session with Dan Schnelle Trio. July 18: Eric Patterson CD release. July 19: ACE Jazz Collective. July 20: Josh Nelson Group featuring John Daversa and Larry Koonse.

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July 21, 8 p.m.: And the lords of rock were pleased to find the Happy Hollows and Magic Wands spreading their avant-garde, gushing guitar noises on the same evening. July 22, 6:30 p.m.: If crunched psych rock is your bag, come bask in the glow of The Mallard. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. July 19, 10 p.m.: It’s broad. It’s broad. It’s Broader Than Broadway featuring HM Soundsystem. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. July 20, 10 p.m.: Son Ark picked the best time of year to pack their gear up and get out of Roanoke, Virginia. My God it’s hot there and my God, they sound so good here. July 21, 10 p.m.: Indie Americana from Escalator Hill is back again. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. July 19, 7:30 p.m.: New Orleans’ own Ledisi with Eric Benet. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. July 20, 10:30 p.m.: Awakening featuring Filo & Peri. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. July 16, 8 p.m.: Ex-Bangle and current solo songstress Susanna Hoffs celebrates her new album with a talk and performance. July 17, 8 p.m.: Singer/songwriter and seminal Angeleno Peter Case spends an evening down L.A. Live way.

July 19, 7:30 p.m.: Producer turned writer Ken Scott remarks on his time with the Beatles, David Bowie and Elton John. Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org. July 20, 12 p.m.: Female trio harmonies and punchy grooves find matchless wonder in Haim. July 20, 8 p.m.: A bevy of performers gather to celebrate the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron. July 21, 8 p.m.: Wear loose fitting, well breathing clothes for Vamos Al Mambo, a tribute to the late Cuban bassist Orlando “Cachaito” Lopez.

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

2 yOuR EvENT INfO

EASy WAyS TO SuBMIT

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

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

Gourmet LA Bakery Bringing you our best from Guanajuato... to Downtown Los Angeles Bread • Cakes • Sandwiches • Coffee • Ice Cream 213.623.4244 • 548 S. Broadway Ave. LA, CA 90013 • 6:30am - 8pm, M. - Sat. • 7am -7pm, Sun.

Daily Specials • Hearty Sandwiches Gourmet Salads • Fresh Baked Goods Homemade Soup • Starbucks Coffee

At the Cathedral our lady of the Angels

reAder’S ChoiCe winner beSt middAy eSCApe Hot luncH served daily till 2pm.

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EXTRA LARGE PIZZA foR JUST $10.99! liMiTeD TiMe ONlY!

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Open Monday - Saturday: Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm Dinner 5:30pm-10pm

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Go to DowntownNews.com We want to hear from YOU ✓ comment on stories

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Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

✤ Delivery, Minimum Order $15 ✤ Party Tray Available ✤ Lunch Special $4.95 M-F 11-5, Sat.-Sun. 11-3 739-747 N. Main St., Los Angeles, 90012 213.680.3333 • Regentchinainn.com FREE PARKING

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July 16, 2012

Downtown News 45

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 RESIDENTIAL

apartments/unfurnisHed $675/LARGE SINGLE, 1435 S. Union Ave. L.A. Ca 90015 $650/ Studio, 433 Cottage Home St. L.A. Ca 90012 (Moving Special) 818-593-9060.

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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.

“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.”

DRIVERS - CHOOSE your hometime from Weekly, 7/ON-7/ OFF, 14/ON-7/OFF, Full or Parttime. Daily Pay! Top Equipment! Requires 3 months recent experience. 800-414-9569. www. driveknight.com (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS CO & O/OP’s. Regional Home weekly. Teams 7-14 days. Class A CDL 1 year experience in last 3. Call 1-800695-9643. (Cal-SCAN)

professionaL Public Relations Specialist: Resume/Ad to: Holy Family Hospice Care, 310 E. Rowland Street, Covina, CA 91723.

SERVICES

computers/it attorneys

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION!

DRIVERS: NO Experience? Class A CDL Driver Training. We train and Employ! Experienced Drivers also Needed! Central Refrigerated. 1-877-369-7091. www.CentralTruckDrivingJobs. com (Cal-SCAN) GOOD NEWS Company drivers - Only 6 Months Experience Needed! New Trucks Arriving Daily. Pets Welcome. New Pay Plan. O/O’s, Lease-Purchase Drivers Needed. CDL-A. 888440-2465 www.drivenci.com. (Cal-SCAN)

ATTEND COLLEGE online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN)

Immigraiton, Criminal, Accidents. Child Support/ Custody over 25 years’ experience. Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean / Mandarin Chinese

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

education HIGH SCHOOL proficiency deploma!!! 4 week Program. Free Brochure & Full Information. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com (Cal-SCAN)

MY COMPUTER Works. Computer problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - Fix it now! Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help. 1-888-865-0271 (Cal-SCAN) 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 Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (CalSCAN)

ADVERTISE Your Truck Driver Jobs in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $600. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) REACH CALIFORNIANS With a classified in almost every county! Experience the power of classifieds! Combo~California Daily and Weekly Networks. One order. One payment. Free Brochures. elizabeth@cnpa.com or (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) HeaLtH 24/7 EMERGENCY Response $1/day. Living alone? You could fall! Deaths from falls can be avoided. Help is a button push away. Lifewatch 1-800-2074048. (Cal-SCAN) OVER 30 Million Women Suffer From Hair Loss! Do you? If So We Have a Solution! Call keranique to find out more 888-6900395. (Cal-SCAN)

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a free Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at No Cost, plus free home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-781-9376. (Cal-SCAN) ATTENTION SLEEP Apnea sufferers with Medicare. Get free CPAP Replacement Supplies at No Cost, plus free home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888-699-7660. (Cal-SCAN) WERE YOU Implanted with a St. Jude Riata Defibrillator Lead Wire between June 2001 and December 2010? Have you had this lead replaced, capped or did you receive shocks from the lead? You may be entitled to compensation. Contact Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-5355727 (Cal-SCAN) ATTENTION JOINT & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 877-217-7698 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days. (Cal-SCAN) CANADA DRUG Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 866723-7089 for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping. (Cal-SCAN) Continued on next page

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he Mercantile Lofts offer a wonderful mix of history and contemporary style. Our recently remodeled lobby and common areas offer vintage appeal together with modern sophistication and offer an exclusive live/work experience in LA’s trendiest urban neighborhood. Centrally located in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, The Mercantile offers residents the best that Downtown living offers. Within walking distance are unique dining venues and the epicenter of nightlife which includes local favorites such as The Varnish, The Association, Cole’s French Dip Sandwiches, Mignon Wine and Cheese, BabyCakes NYC, featuring vegan baked goods and our newest establishment—Artisan House, featuring a wonderful bar/restaurant/marketplace with in-suite delivery options The Mercantile’s historic features—such as barn-style doors and exposed brick walls—are highlighted within the context of the building’s modern amenities. These amenities include custom bamboo flooring on some floors, polished concrete flooring on others, stainless-steel appliances and an in-suite washer/dryer unit. Perhaps most unique about the units are their 14 foot ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and floor plans ranging from approximately 1400 to 2000 sf, providing the units with an abundance of volume.

HIGHLIGHTS • STUNNING BEAUX-ARTS DESIGN WITH URBAN SOPHISTICATION • 1400-2000 SF FLOOR PLANS WITH 14 FOOT CEILINGS • IN-SUITE APPLIANCE PACKAGE, INCLUDING WASHER-DRYER • FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS

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• ON-SITE SECURE ASSIGNED PARKING • PETS WELCOME

(213) 627-5600

46 Downtown News

July 16, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

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ITEMS FOR SALE Misc. Items 3-Piece Microfiber all reclining sofa, $100; 4-Burner BBQ $99; Electric Dryer $100. 323)201-1261

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LEGAL Civil Summons LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Case No. BC464507 Plaintiff: Jin Ree vs. Defendants: Choon Do Lee and Does 1 through 10 NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form, if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want

LOFT LIVING Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development! LADowntownNews.com

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

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

July 16, 2012 to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. The name and address of the court is: Los Angeles County Superior Court 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Case Number: BC464507 Dated: June 29, 2011 The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff’ without an attorney, is: JIN REE 401 N. Bixel Street Los Angeles, CA 90026 Telephone: 213-482-1804 Clerk by: Shaunya Wesley, Deputy NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served as an individual defendant PUB. 6/25, 7/02, 7/09, 7/16/12. STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT DANE COUNTY DIVORCE SUMMONS CASE NO. 12FA0691 IN RE: ThE MARRIAgE OF PETITIONER: ERIKA SARAI MELENDEZ DIAZ AND RESPONDENT: hEVER NIELZEN DELCID FLORES ThE STATE OF WISCONSIN, TO ThE PERSON NAMED ABOVE AS RESPONDENT: You are notified that the petitioner named above has filed a petition for divorce or legal separation against you. You must respond with a written demand for a copy of the petition within 40 days from the day after the first date of publication. The demand must be sent or delivered to the court at: Clerk of Court, Dane County Courthouse 215 S. Hamilton Street, Room #1000 Madison, WI 53703 And to Erika Sarai Melendez Diaz 505 N. Frances, Apt. #1006 Madison WI 53703 It is recommended, but not required, that you have an attorney help or represent you. If you do not demand a copy of the Petition within 45 days,

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the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the Petition, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the Petition. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property. You are further notified that if the parties to this action have minor children, violation of 948.31, Wis. Stats., (Interference with custody by parent or others) is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment: If you and the petitioner have minor children, documents setting forth the percentage standard for child support established by the department under 49.22(9), Wis. Stats., and the factors that a court may consider for modification of that standard under 767.511 (1m), Wis. Stats., are available upon your request from the Clerk of Court. You are notified of the availability of information from the Circuit Court Commissioner as set forth in 767.105, Wis. Stats. 767.105 Information from Circuit Court Commissioner. (2) Upon the request of a party to an action affecting the family, including a revision of judgment or order under sec. 767.59 or

767.451: (a) The Circuit Court Commissioner shall, with or without charge, provide the party with written information on the following, as appropriate to the action commenced: 1. The procedure for obtaining a judgment or order in the action. 2. The major issues usually addressed in such an action. 3. Community resources and family court counseling available to assist the parties, 4. The procedure for setting, modifying and enforcing child support awards, or modifying and enforcing legal custody or physical placement judgments or orders. (b) The Circuit Court Commissioner shall provide a party, for inspection or purchase, with a copy of the statutory provisions in this chapter generally pertinent to the action. If you require reasonable accommodations due to a disability to participate in the court process, please call: (608) 266-4311 at least ten (10) working days prior to the scheduled court date. Please note that the court does not provide transportation. Dated: April 2, 2012 CARLO ESQUEDA, Clerk of Courts By KAREN B. MORE, Deputy Clerk PUB 7/2, 7/9, 7/16/2012

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris

Downtown News 47

DowntownNews.com

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FELIX CHEVROLET

888-879-9608 3300 S. Figueroa St. • felixchevrolet.com

$10,995 2010 Chevy Cobalt ............................ $14,995 Silver/Blk, Auto, AC, Low miles. UC50 / 7227889 2011 Chevy Malibu Sedan ............... $17,995 Silver/Gray, Auto, AC, ABS. UC179R / F1699992 2010 Chevy Aveo LT .......................... 4 Door, Auto, AC, Low miles. F12165P-1

Plus 181 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com

$15,487 2010 VW CC TSI Turbo ...................... Certified, Sport Pkg., Gray/Blk, 12K miles. ZV1721 / AE548827 $22,980 2009 VW EOS Komfort ..................... $24,875 Certified, Conv, Blk/Blk, 22K miles. ZV1781 / 9V015481 2009 VW Beetle ................................. Certified, Blk/Blk, 25K miles, Leather. ZV1796 / 9M507346

Plus 290 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-838-5089 635 W. Washington Blvd. • downtownnissan.com

$8,999 2005 Nissan Titan XE ........................ $10,999 A Real Beauty. Great Truck. N111432-1 / 5N513889 2007 Nissan Frontier SE ................... King Cab, Low Miles, 4.0L, 6 cyl, ABS. N121283-1 / 7C429668 $14,499 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5S ..................... Great Value, Great Car. N120339-1 / 5N444312

Plus 259 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com

$27,978 2009 Audi Q5 Quattro ...................... $33,995 Certified, Prem. Pkg., Gray/Blk, AWD. ZA10248 / 9A031839 2011 Audi A5 Conv. Quattro ........... Certified, Silver/Blk, AWD, Low miles. ZA10417 / BN019891 $45,310 2009 Audi A4 Avant Quattro ........... Certified, Red/Blk, 24K miles, AWD. ZA10348 / 9A170452

Plus 93 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS 888-319-8762 1801 S. Figueroa St. • mbzla.com

Mercedes-Benz

$25,991 $39,991 Certified, Turbo Diesel, Blk/Beige. 121140-1 / A488863 2010 Mercedes E350 AMG ............... $41,991 Certified, Silver/Blk, 22K Miles. 121489-1 / A165279 2009 Mercedes C300 ......................... Certified, V6, White/Blk, 25K Miles. 5939C / F241707

2009 Mercedes ML320 .....................

Plus 375 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-685-5426 1900 S. Figueroa St. • porschedowntownla.com

$34,898 2008 Porsche Carerra 4 .................... $64,891 Certified, White/Blk, Like New. P12385-2 / 88710489 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera ............... $73,893 Certified, Aqua Blue/Grey, 16K Miles. P12438-1/9S740105 2005 Porsche Boxster S .................... Black/Black, 19” Wheels, Bose. ZP1508 / 5S730077

Plus 96 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!

48 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

July 16, 2012

SUPPORT LOCAL

JOURNALISM Dear Readers: Freedom of the Press does not mean the press is free. And a free newspaper only appears to be free. Increasingly, as the economy shifts and changes, the formula of producing a weekly print newspaper and a daily online publication on the sole revenue stream of advertising dollars does not compute. It doesn’t pencil. To continue to deliver timely, original local news based on the principles of journalistic objectivity and relevance — our hallmark for 40 years — we are inviting you, our dedicated readers, to become paid supporters. We are asking for your participation. Give what you think is both fair and generous. If you think Downtown should have a robust local paper, now is the time to support that idea. For details please go to LADowntownNews.com/supportlocaljournalism. When we started the paper in 1972, Los Angeles was famously 88 small towns in search of a city. Over the last four decades, Los Angeles has found its city, and it is Downtown. Downtown Los Angeles has become one of the most powerful communities in the world, and we Downtowners — residents, workers, everyone — are its citizens. From Chinatown to LA Live, from the Arts District to Disney Hall, from the Historic Core to the gleaming towers of the Financial District, you’ll find the Downtown News and its readers. From new residents and businesses to the stalwart pioneers of Downtown, we’re in it together. Downtown News is the award-winning news organization that has reported on every major news story impacting the area for forty years, helping to spur local growth and a sense of community. We like to think we’ve played a key part in giving Downtown the strong identity it has today. Please go to LADowntownNews.com/supportlocaljournalism to make your contribution. Or mail it if you prefer. We thank you — and welcome you to the Downtown News team. Warmest regards,

Sue Laris Editor, Publisher and Owner Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 sue@downtownnews.com

downtownnews.com/supportlocaljournalism