LOS ANGELES
DOWNTOWN
NEWS
The New Downtown 7 Cuisine
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A Skid Row lawsuit, a new gym, and other happenings Around Town. Chinatown plazas come alive on Saturday nights with food trucks and DJs.
W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M
July 23, 2012
Volume 41, Number 30
INSIDE
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A Grand Deal Yields a Grand Park Long-Awaited $56 Million, 12-Acre Green Space Opens This Week
Urban Scrawl on the new park.
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Next steps for Art Walk.
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Grading the L.A. Dodgers.
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photo by Gary Leonard
Supervisor Gloria Molina in one of two performance lawns, part of the $56 million Grand Park that opens on Thursday, July 26. Years ago Molina pushed for a provision requiring a developer to pay money for the project before any ground was broken on the rest of the Grand Avenue plan. by Ryan VaillancouRt
The latest Health news.
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New original works at REDCAT.
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Five great entertainment options.
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17 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 21 CLASSIFIEDS
staff wRiteR
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n 2006, when a cadre of top city and county officials were bundling together some choice publicly owned parcels to create a billion dollar development site along Grand Avenue, Supervisor Gloria Molina almost killed the deal. It is common for developers to pay for community upgrades in exchange for special zoning benefits or the right to build on choice government
land. Molina, however, wanted the developer to pour in $50 million in advance to pay for a major upgrade to an underutilized park. Despite warnings that the demand would scare off developers, the condition was written into the bid package for what was known as the Grand Avenue project. It was ultimately won by New York-based Related Cos. Five years later, with construction financing still out of reach for its planned $2 billion mega proj-
ect, Related has not put a single shovel into Grand Avenue dirt. Thanks to that $50 million up-front payment and nearly $7 million in accrued interest, however, the park is almost done. The newly named Grand Park is set to partially open on Thursday, July 26. It is a lavender-scented expanse of grassy lawns and performance spaces, with seating areas amid mini-gardens studded with cacti. There is a fencedsee Grand Park, page 10
Seven Groundbreaking Exhibits From Jeffrey Deitch Imagining What the MOCA Director Will Come Up With in the Post-Paul Schimmel Era by Jon RegaRdie executiVe editoR
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ast month’s forced exit of longtime Museum of Contemporary Art chief curator Paul Schimmel has set off a
ThE rEgarDiE rEpOrT
Hurt Locker-like cluster bomb in the Los Angeles art world. The exodus of the figure who helped put the museum on the map,
combined with reports that MOCA is considering a show inspired by 1970s disco (no, that’s not a joke), has led to a hemorrhage of board members. Last week the renowned Ed Ruscha became the fourth of four artists on the board to quit in protest, following the departures of John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger and Catherine Opie. Now all that’s left on the board are a few dozen rich people. see MOCA Shows, page 9
The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles
photo by Gary Leonard
With lead curator Paul Schimmel gone from the Museum of Contemporary Art, museum director Jeffrey Deitch (shown here) will play a heavier role in assembling exhibits.
2 Downtown News
AROUNDTOWN DLANC Gets Major Planning Grant
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he Southern California Association of Governments last week announced that it is giving a $121,956 grant to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council to identify ways to make the area more livable, sustainable and prosperous. The Compass Blueprint grant will pay for architecture and planning giant AECOM to lead a study of Downtown issues to craft a neighborhood “vision.” At issue, said DLANC President Patti Berman, is what people want Downtown to look like in the coming years and how it can be a better place to live. She said the grant will help identify what the new needs are going forward. AECOM will soon begin the process of working with residents, businesses owners, Skid Row interests and other stakeholders, said DLANC board member Gretchen Siemers, who heads the council’s sustainability committee. “We’re trying to figure out the commonalities between these groups and figure out what we all need to drive our development and programming to get to that point,” she said. The effort comes in the wake of a 2009 workshop series aimed at identifying ways to make Downtown more environmentally sustainable. Once the AECOM study is completed, it’s unclear how any suggested initiatives will be implemented or funded, if at all.
Downtown Street Artists Erect ‘Skid Row Estates’
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he street artist team of Calder Greenwood and the anonymous “Wild Life” added to their portfolio last week. A cluster of card-
July July23, 23,2012 2012
Twitter/DowntownNews TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
board structures resembling homes were installed last week on Winston Street, behind an abandoned firehouse between Los Angeles and Wall streets. They were shortly thereafter destroyed. The elaborate dwellings had carefully cut-out windows, doors, skylights and, on one structure, a faux satellite dish. Another had a doggy door. Quirky attempt to offer an alternative to makeshift shelters? Or commentary on the housing crisis for the homeless? Either way, Stephen Ziegler, who identified himself as a friend and “accomplice” to the artists, said the piece was dedicated to their “fans”: Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry (who told Los Angeles Downtown News she likes the pair’s work), Estela Lopez of the Central City East Association and Downtown community advocate Brady Westwater.
Skid Row Hotel Sues to Remain Open
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he owner of a Skid Row hotel that is slated to be shuttered for being a public nuisance has filed a lawsuit against the city in hopes of staying in business. Balubhai Patel, the owner of the Travelers Hotel at 553 Ceres St., along with Adela and Apolinar Arellano, the property’s operators, filed a $10 million suit on July 11. According to a copy of the lawsuit provided by Frank A. Weiser, attorney for the plaintiffs, the city violated their civil rights, broke federal housing laws and racially discriminated against them when the City Council revoked the landuse operations permits for the 26-unit, twostory, single room occupancy hotel in June. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar, who has led the charge to close the Travelers Hotel, said he could not comment
Tommy John & Dr. Frank Jobe
Dodger Stadium
Crossfit Gym to Open in Old Bank District
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ext month, workers and residents of the Historic Core will have a new place to get ripped. Brick Sports Performance Training, a West Hollywood-based crossfit gym, plans to open a facility at Fourth and Main streets in late August. The company is
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currently building out a ground-floor space along Fourth Street in the Medallion apartment complex. A grand opening is planned for Sept. 1, but operations will begin shortly before then, said Madeline Mosier, general manager and one of the head coaches at the Downtown location. “Brick has made a name for itself in West Hollywood and we thought the next natural progression was Downtown,” Mosier said. All crossfit workouts at Brick are in the group format under the supervision of a coach or trainer. The facility will also offer yoga and endurance training. The first 100 people to sign up for a membership will get a promotional rate of $135 per month. The standard rate has not yet been set, but in West Hollywood the monthly price is $175, Mosier said. Brick will be Downtown’s second crossfit gym. Crossfit Mean Streets at 265 S. Main St. opened in 2010.
on pending litigation, but is not surprised since the hotel owner has sued the city before (Patel lost). The hotel was first declared a public nuisance in 1999 due to issues including harboring criminal activity, the use and sale of drugs, prostitution and other crimes. The city has since placed numerous conditions on the building, but Patel has appealed the terms. He also previously unsuccessfully sued the city.
Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?
July 14, 2012
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Downtown News 3
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4 Downtown News
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July 23, 2012
EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
A Sustainable, Sensible Park
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he park around City Hall has been off limits to most people for the past 10 months. In October and November of 2011, the 1.7-acre space was taken over by Occupy L.A. protesters. Although the site was technically open, it wasn’t very inviting except for the curious. It even displaced the weekly farmers market. The LAPD moved the protestors out on Nov. 30. Once unoccupied, it became clear how the grass had been destroyed and the terrain ravaged. Tons of trash surrounded the most majestic government building in Los Angeles. The park, the very essence of a public space, was fenced off. On Thursday, July 19, the park reopened, and while it’s a cliché to say that something is new and improved, in this case the phrase is fitting. In recent months the city has reimagined the civic space, coming up with something that both serves the populace and pays heed to the region’s ecosystem. The revamped park is sensible and more sustainable. That’s a significant accomplishment, and one of which the city should be proud. It would have been very easy simply to copy what existed in the past. That would have been a mistake, as the destruction of the land ironically provided an opportunity to do better. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, the reimagined City Hall park has only about half as much grass as the old version. Many formerly lush, green areas have been replaced with agaves, aloe and other plants that require only a fraction of the water that was used before. Beauty has not been sacrificed. The revamped areas are colorful and attractive. Although the upgrade was estimated at $390,000, the cost ballooned to $1 million. There will be maintenance costs too, but in the long run Los Angeles will save money via reduced watering. There is also something to be said for the city leading by example. It seems that, especially in the summer, we are constantly asked to conserve water, and Angelenos are routinely reminded that native plants have environmental benefits. Still, it’s easier to be inspired to change by seeing how the change can look on a grand scale. Anyone can now glance at City Hall and understand the possibilities and the benefits of thinking “green.” Fortunately, city officials didn’t eliminate all of the turf. The south lawn, on the portion of the park that fronts First Street, is once again covered in grass. This makes not just the lawn but the entire building inviting to passersby. It’s also a much better symbolic message than having, say, prickly cactus outside City Hall. A couple issues remain: We still haven’t heard how the park will be maintained, and we hope that city officials don’t let the flora die, as occurred across the street at the green space around the Police Administration Building. Then there’s the Occupy group. They’re still free to use the park during the day, though the LAPD has pledged to enforce the ban on sleeping in city parks at night. Hopefully they’ll respect the land, just like everyone else.
Downtown Streetcar: Those Who Will Pay Should Have a Say
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ne of the most closely watched Downtown projects is the proposed streetcar. Proponents of the effort, led by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, have described it as a transformative piece of urban infrastructure. They claim the streetcar would help circulate pedestrians through the Central City, reduce car trips and stimulate business on and around the route. All that comes at a price, of course, and recently, the price has come more clearly into focus. It turns out that the streetcar, which would run from L.A. Live to Bunker Hill with a main spine on Broadway, is estimated to cost $125 million. Downtown property owners will be asked to dig into their pockets and come up with $62 million. Federal grants will be sought for much of the remainder. Price is a huge issue, but right now there is something even more important: It’s the matter of who gets to decide whether or not area property owners will be charged for the streetcar. Under the current scenario, those who will pay may have no say. We cannot support this. It is unfair to have an election that will impact people financially without giving those very people a voice in the approval process. Although we think that streetcar organizers have come up with a wise concept in determining exactly how much landowners would fork over, we can’t accept requiring them to go along with the assessments when they will be forced to the sidelines. We suggest streetcar officials come up with a different plan, one that allows everyone who will have to pay annual assessments to have a say in whether those fees are put into place. Some may worry this will doom the development. It could, but that’s not the primary point of concern here. Property owners who pay for businesses improvement districts get to vote on whether or not they are taxed. Those who will pay for a streetcar deserve the same opportunity. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported this month, project officials have generated a plan in which registered voters who live near the streetcar route will decide whether or not landowners are taxed. It doesn’t matter whether the voter owns or rents a home: all they have to do is reside in the vicinity. The approval of twothirds of the voters is required to create the special tax district. A vote is expected by the end of the year. Those who own property within about three blocks of the route will only get to vote if they also live in the community. Working
near the route or owning a business does not provide the right to cast a ballot. In other words, someone who owns property worth tens of millions of dollars but who lives outside Downtown can’t vote. Meanwhile, someone who rents an apartment near the streetcar gets a say, no matter how long they intend to stay in Downtown. Streetcar officials have spent a lot of time analyzing similar projects and funding mechanisms, and we know they have not come to this decision lightly. One question they had to answer was whether condo owners would pay. In a March story in Downtown News, streetcar officials said that if all property owners were to cast ballots, then residential property could not be taxed. That would have meant a larger chunk of the money would come from commercial landowners (residential square footage accounts for about 30% of the property along the route). Thus, officials had to make a choice: Do they only allow registered voters to have a say, and get the benefit of reduced assessments for commercial property owners? Or do they let all landowners go to the polls, in which case those same commercial property owners would face higher fees because residential units can’t be taxed? Either scenario seems irrational. We do think that officials have come up with an appropriate formula to determine how much people will shell out. Rather than making decisions based on a building’s gross square footage, the dictating factor is the parcel size. Thus, in the case of a 10-story rectangular building on a 10,000-square-foot lot, the assessment would come from the ground level figure, not the total 100,000 square feet. Condo owners, meanwhile, would pay on a proportional basis of the same parcel square footage. The average condo owner would pay $100-$200 annually. Rates would be from 20 to 59 cents a square foot, with the higher price for those right along the route, and the bottom tier for property owners about three blocks from the tracks. No matter what, the vote will not be easy. Project proponents will have to persuade residents that it’s worth paying more taxes for the urban circulator. They’ll need effective, clear communication. However, right now, not everything is right. Those who will pay deserve a vote.
July 23, 2012
DowntownNews.com
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Art Walk, Businesses, Feel Pain From Occupy Protests Some Worried About Future Confrontations After Clash Between Activists and Police by Richard Guzman city editor
W
hen the July 12 Art Walk clash between police and Occupy L.A. protesters ended at around 11:30 p.m., the immediate results were clear. There were 17 arrests, with nine people taken into custody for writing in chalk on sidewalks and private property, and others charged with more serious offenses such as assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. What’s unclear is the long-term effect the skirmish could have on the popular event and what role the Occupy protesters will play in Downtown Los Angeles. The group in recent
months has been protesting outside the headquarters of the business group the Central City Association, and its members have been gathering in Pershing Square. The head of the park’s farmers market said that protesters are frightening customers and putting the future of the market at risk. Art Walk officials say the Occupy protesters, who planned a “Chalk Walk” to coincide with the event, hijacked its popularity to get attention. Several business owners fear not only that the protestors may return every month, but that potential customers and art buyers will stay away. “New folks come from other areas during the summer, and I would hate to see their experience mar their feelings for
photo courtesy of John Edwards
Occupy L.A. protesters have been gathering for several weeks in Pershing Square, and the operator of the weekly farmers market thinks their proximity to the vendors and interactions with customers has caused business to drop.
Downtown,” said Nikki Castellanos, director of marketing and operations for Coba, a Downtown based juice company that runs the Coba Gallery at 125 W. Fifth St. On July 12, Castellanos’ gallery was holding a benefit show for Casa Cultural Saybrook, a children’s art program. Pieces created by kids hung on the walls and donations were being collected when police told them to shut their doors as they dealt with the protesters in the streets. Castellanos believes that the overwhelming police presence may have contributed to the escalation of the protest. But ultimately her biggest concern is that it may lead to the shut down of Art Walk. “That would be horrible for everyone,” she said Thursday’s confrontation began after protesters started providing chalk and inviting people to scrawl political messages on the street. At around 9:30 p.m., a crowd gathered at the intersection at Fifth and Spring streets. Police responded, the crowd refused to disperse, and according to LAPD officials, at least one bottle was thrown at the officers. A skirmish line was formed and dozens of officers eventually pushed the crowd north on Spring Street. During the fracas, businesses were locked down, with people not allowed to leave until the incident was resolved. Drop in Business Art Walk Director Joe Moller said that the event will not shut down or even change as a result of the disturbance. “We are constantly working on making Art Walk the safest possible experience we can,” he said. “We will continue to operate as we have for the last eight years. Nothing I have seen as of today indicates that we should have a change in our procedures.” Moller said Art Walk was collateral damage for a movement that is quickly losing its audience. The large number of people who gather for the monthly event provides an easy platform for the Occupy group to hijack, he said. “One of the challenges that that organization has is that nobody cares anymore,” he said. “Their audience has gone home, gone back to work, gone back to their parents’ couches, and this new group of the leftovers are not able to find an audience for their messages.” Occupy members did not respond to numerous interview requests with Los Angeles Downtown News. Emails and Facebook messages were not returned. Occupy members at Pershing Square one evening last week would not talk with a reporter. City Councilman José Huizar, whose 14th District encompasses the Art Walk area, said that he plans to meet with Art Walk officials, police and the Art Walk Task Force to discuss how the disturbance was handled. However, at this point he too foresees no major changes in Art Walk’s future. “I think it was unfortunate to have a very successful public event scarred by this incident,” he said. “Occupy L.A. would have gone to any type of event looking for an audience and Art Walk was a prime target.” Bad for Business Numerous business owners said they suffered financial losses from the night. They include Ensenada Restaurant and Bar, which normally earns about $6,000 during Art Walk. During the July 12 event, the establishment at 517 S. Spring St. only did about $2,800 worth of business and lost a lot see Protesters, page 12
July 23, 2012
DowntownNews.com
Tasting Downtown Some of the Neighborhood’s Top Chefs Explore the Community’s Dynamic Cuisine and Adventurous Appetites by Richard Guzmán city editor
T
he Aloud series at the Central Library is known for feeding its audiences’ minds with an array of highprofile speakers and writers. Last week, it actually fed its attendees’ stomachs. The cuisine was both adventurous and prototypically Downtown. The Tuesday, July 17, event “Flavor Forward: A Taste of Downtown L.A.” brought together five of the neighborhood’s top chefs for a panel discussion photo by Gary Leonard about the community’s din- Five of Downtown’s top chefs appeared at an Aloud panel discussion on July 17 at the Central ing renaissance and the people Library. Speaking were (l to r) Patricia Zarate, Ricardo Zarate, John Rivera Sedlar, Judy Han, Ilan behind it. The participants re- Hall and Evan Kleiman. flected not only on the range of cuisines being served in the Central City, but also discussed Peruvian restaurant Mo-Chica opened on Seventh Street the variety of ideas and philosophies behind the bustling food in May (it previously operated in Mercado La Paloma near scene. USC). After talking, they offered up samples from their kitchens. Rounding out the panel was Ilan Hall of The Gorbals, the “There are so many fabulous restaurants that are opening,” Scottish-Jewish restaurant in the Alexandria Hotel (Hall’s said Maureen Moore, associate director of Aloud. “There grandmother sat in the front row during the panel discusare new ideas, new chefs. There’s really this buzz right now sion), and Patricia Zarate, executive chef of the Homegirl within the culinary scene down here that this just seemed like Café. the best moment for this.” The chefs, who spoke before a packed crowd in the library’s The panel included John Rivera Sedlar, who is considered Mark Taper Auditorium, credited Downtown diners for bethe father of modern Southwest cuisine, and who in 2009 ing a knowledgeable, adventurous bunch. They classified the opened Rivera in South Park. He was joined by Judy Han of often young eaters as a trusting clientele willing to try new the high-end sandwich emporium Mendocino Farms and things. its sit-down spinoff Blue Cow, and Ricardo Zarate, whose “You can do whatever you want, within reason of course,”
Downtown News 7
said Hall, who has earned notoriety for dishes such as his bacon-wrapped matzo balls and crispy chicken feet, toes included. “There are no rules. There’s no structure in terms of how your restaurant has to be.” “It’s been fascinating to see the development of the culinary industry out here,” Han added. “People are just so much more knowledgeable about food.” The panel was moderated by Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW’s “Good Food” program and the former owner of the well-known Angeli Caffe. She explored how food can be more than a meal, and can reflect what is happening in a community. “I look at that panel and it’s what L.A. is,” Kleiman said, “It’s an incredibly interesting mixture of people who are all working near one another in a relatively small area who are all cross-pollinating off each other.” Simmering Food Scene Downtown has long had a healthy food scene. The office building boom of the 1970s and ’80s led to a proliferation of power-lunch restaurants. In the 1990s, Joachim Splichal became the first celebrity chef to spread his reach in the area, opening Café Pinot and then numerous other establishments. By the end of the decade, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger came Downtown with Ciudad (it’s now a Border Grill). Others, like The Palm, followed the opening of Staples Center Restaurants opened steadily until an explosion that began in 2008. That was when a dozen eating and drinking outlets debuted at L.A. Live. There were many other additions as well, among them Celestino Drago’s $9 million Drago Centro. The establishments have opened across the community, with eating hubs in the Historic Core and the Arts District. Seventh Street has become a sort of Downtown Restaurant Row. Another big food wave came in early 2011, when approximately 20 places opened in about a six-month period. They included mid-priced eateries, coffee shops and bars that also serve small plates, as well as some pizza joints. While some places have closed down, by and large the openings continue. Recently there has been a wave of new French restaurants, and just last week Soleto Trattoria & Pizza Bar opened in South Park, following by a few weeks see Food, page 12
8 Downtown News
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July 23, 2012
Grading the Dodgers Misses and Hits in the First Half of the Season by Dave Denholm contributing writer
O
n June 10, the Dodger faithful were probably laughing at my prediction of an 83-79 record for the 2012 season. On that day, all was right for the Blue. They had just won another game is convincing fashion, beating Seattle 8-2 to improve to 39-22. They had a firm grasp on first place in the NL West, and their lead over the Giants would swell to 7 games. Then a funny thing happened on the way to L.A.’s second championship parade this year: Reality set in. On July 20 they were 49-44, 2 games behind the Giants in the division.
Sure, one can point to Matt Kemp’s injury, and Andre Ethier getting banged up didn’t help. But the Dodgers have deeper issues. I just spent a semester teaching my first college level class, and I figure my grading skills have never been sharper. So why not unleash them on the Dodgers’ season to date? Pitchers Clayton Kershaw: B: He’s as good as it gets, but just not as dominant as in 2011. It’s tough not to grade someone against himself, and Clayton gets a B only because I expect so much from him. Chris Capuano: A+: The dude’s 2.75 ERA (at press time)
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photo by Gary Leonard
It hasn’t been easy for manager/cheerleader Don Mattingly, though he has somehow managed to keep his squad together through the turbulence of the past month.
is almost 1.5 runs below his career average. Apparently, Capuano is that genius student who was just bored with school (pitching in the big leagues) until it finally clicked this year. The cavernous Dodger Stadium doesn’t hurt one’s ERA, but Capuano has done everything Dodger brass could have dreamed of and more. Any Starter Not Named Kershaw or Capuano: C-: If I have to hear one more time about how Chad Billingsley has the “stuff” to be a great pitcher, I’ll throw up in my Darren Dreifort autographed garbage can. Billingsley is what he always has been — a kid who just will never be that good. Sorry, but his 4-9 record and 4.30 ERA are the truth. Aaron Harang? He tries hard. Ted Lilly was having a Capuano/Kershaw-like season before getting injured. If healthy, he probably would have woken up by now. Kenley Jansen: A-: Everyone worried about the new closer early in the season. Jansen has settled in pretty well though and continues to dazzle with his strikeout capabilities. You just gotta ride him and hope he’s more Eric Gagne than Jonathan Broxton. The Rest of the Bullpen: B: Ronald Belisario has been an especially bright spot amongst a pretty decent group. If they can maintain their performance it will cover a multitude of other sins. Batters and Fielders Dee Gordon: D-: Ugh. Every game, broadcasters remind us that Dee is the son of former MLB hurler Tom “Flash” Gordon. That may be a fact, but so are Gordon’s .228 batting average and his deplorable .280 on base percentage. Maybe I’m old school, but I like my leadoff guy every now and again to actually reach first base. Dodgers Offense With Matt Kemp: B+: They were doing all the things necessary to win, and I admit that’s a lot easier when you have a Ruthian hitter like Kemp mashing. He makes Ethier even that much more dangerous. Heck, Kemp even makes “Dee minus” look better. Dodgers Offense Without Kemp: F: They have none. James Loney: D: He’s the Chad Billingsley of the offense. We know what he is and it’s not good enough for a corner man in today’s game. As a late-inning defensive sub, that’s fine, but L.A. must get more than 2 homeruns and a .247 average from their first baseman. Everyone Else Don Mattingly: B: This guy is so rah-rah you’d think at times he’s the Dodgers’ head cheerleader, not their manager. Still, he is keeping this team together, which is no small feat considering how badly things have gone. This club could have fallen completely apart, but Mattingly wouldn’t allow it. If only he was young enough to still play first base. New Dodger Ownership: D: How about a little help for the lineup? You can’t land Carlos Lee or anyone else? What, did you spend all you money on buying the team? Ned Colletti: D: I give this GM credit for cobbling together a decent staff overall. Still, where are the reinforcements as the Dodgers’ excellent start slips away? And how is that Juan Uribe bounce-back season going? Dodgers Grade for 2012 to Date: C-: This team is performing exactly as I predicted in April: Great beginning against an easy schedule riding the most feared hitter in baseball. Then, injuries and reality set in and here we are. The fantastic start was decimated by a 6-19 streak through mid-July. That’s how it will go for the Blue for the rest of 2012. They’ll finish 83-79. Dave Denholm loves two-hour baseball games, Mo-Chica and living Downtown.
July 23, 2012
MOCA Shows Continued from page 1 Jeffrey Deitch, who became the director of MOCA in 2010, has taken MOCA in a populist direction, forging alliances with celebrities such as James Franco and staging the massively successful 2011 exhibit Art in the Streets. He has also been as quiet as a church mouse during the current conflagration, eschewing the media and allowing MOCA life trustee Eli Broad to speak in his stead. Still, MOCA hasn’t been totally silent. On July 12, the museum issued a press release for an upcoming series of events, “Play MOCA.” A July 27 happening at the Geffen Contemporary in Downtown features, according to the press release, “Artist: Drew Barrymore.” Because after all, who needs Ruscha and Baldessari when you can have as an artist the woman who starred in the movie Charlie’s Angels. And its sequel! Those are not the only highlights coming to MOCA. I secretly hacked into Deitch’s glittery disco ball iPhone to find the official description of seven shows the museum is preparing. Either that or I made them up. I’m not sure which.
“mediocre” (booooooooo!). Dead Celebrities will feature even more work by and from the collection of Hopper, and will also hold a bunch of other groundbreaking stuff that will be thrown together shortly before the groundbreaking show groundbreakingly opens. See Me, Hear Him/The Silence of the Deitch: The singleroom installation will feature a 37-foot-tall head of MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch fashioned out of silly putty, donuts, batteries, frankincense, organic butter and, in minute amounts, cheesecloth, valium and napalm. Visitors will be invited to ask questions to the head, though it will remain resolutely silent, not responding no matter how frequently or how nicely the requests are made. At unexpected intervals, the booming voice of MOCA life trustee Eli Broad will be heard exclaiming, “You’re fired, Paul.” Three times during the run, at unannounced moments, actor James Franco will enter the gallery and the Deitch head
Believe!: Art Inspired by the Life and Adventures of Justin Bieber!: Fresh off the success of the disco show, MOCA will present thought-provoking glossy photos, clothing and typed lyrics of Canada’s most important export since Labatt’s. Artists including Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen will showcase finger paintings done while listening to Bieber hits such as “Boyfriend” and “Baby.” This important early career survey will not shy from controversy, including a sculpture made out of cream cheese of Bieber cuddling with girlfriend Selena Gomez. Also included will be a picture of Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who called police when he saw Bieber speeding on a local freeway. The picture of Zine will become art because Jeffrey Deitch’s close personal friend James Franco will draw a hand turkey on it with red lipstick. Museum visitors who write a six-figure check will be allowed to place their own Bieber-inspired art in the Grand Avenue gallery. This is not to raise money, oh no, but to prove that anyone can be an artist. Great Art From People Named Jeffrey: This exhibit will do for people named Jeffrey what Schimmel’s 1992 landmark Helter Skelter did for the Los Angeles art world, not that Schimmel is any longer important in Los Angeles, no sirree Jeff. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, video installations, sketches, ink on paper, macramé and macaroniand-feather art will be placed throughout the gallery of the Franco Contemporary (the renamed Geffen Contemporary). Featured artists will include Jeffrey Deitch, Jeff Koons, Jeffrey Deitch, Jeffrey the Giraffe from Toys R’ Us, Jeffrey Deitch, Jeff Bridges, Jeffrey Deitch and “You-might-be-a-redneck-if” comedian auteur Jeff Foxworthy. And Jeffrey Deitch.
Downtown News 9
DowntownNews.com will say, “I love you.” That is art.
Stinky Pants Paul, 1990-2012: In a never-before-seen example of a museum looking at itself critically, this exhibit will explore and question the import and efficacy of some of the shows curated by Paul Schimmel during his 22 years at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Televisions will be embedded in walls featuring art by Shephard Fairey (!!!) and, from these screens, celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Madonna and James Franco will recite limericks referencing Schimmel and the word “bucket.” As a means of context, the exhibition will compare the work coming out of the West Coast institution with some of the powerful, evocative, important, thoughtprovoking, informative shows mounted during the same time at the for-profit Deitch Projects in New York City. The fact that said gallery was owned by Jeffrey Deitch is, we assure you, pure coincidence. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.
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The Passion of St. Eli of MOCA, 1979-2012: In 1979, Eli Broad, The Greatest Man in History, helped found the Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2008, after MOCA had fallen into financial turmoil, Broad, Still The Greatest Man in History, rescued the museum by giving it $30 million, including a $15 million challenge grant. He also helped install current MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch. The Passion of St. Eli will consist of 16,597 paintings, photographs, gold coins and balloon art of Broad at all stages of his life, from running SunAmerica to contemplating buying the Los Angeles Times. During the exhibit MOCA will be topped by a 70-story tall Broad sculpture fashioned from toothpicks. The Passion of St. Eli will fill both MOCA Downtown destinations as well as the entirety of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. During the exhibit, every book, card and toy in the MOCA gift shop will be replaced with copies of Broad’s 2012 book The Art of Being Unreasonable. Art That Has Nothing to Do With John Baldessari, Catherine Opie, Barbara Kruger and Ed Ruscha: This exhibit will prove that contemporary art museums in 21st century America can get along just fine without the four highfalutin’ artists who recently all stepped down from the MOCA board, thank you very much. The show will be divided into quadrants, and in each celebrities, including but not limited to James Franco and Drew Barrymore, will explain how they continue to live and thrive without being exposed to the art of They Who Shall Not Be Named. The show, curated by MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch, will also feature the work of artists not inspired or influenced by the abovementioned individuals. A fifth gallery will contain a camel that Deitch taught how to talk. Art by and Owned by Dead Celebrities: This groundbreaking exhibit will follow MOCA’s groundbreaking 2010 Dennis Hopper Double Standard, even if the Los Angeles Times did label the first groundbreaking show of the Jeffrey Deitch era
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July 23, 2012
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Grand Park Continued from page 1 in area for dogs and a series of ADA-compliant pathways that connect the Music Center Plaza at Grand Avenue with City Hall. On Thursday, the half of the park closest to Grand Avenue will open, and a series of performances and cultural events will take place through Sunday (see sidebar on page 11). The parcel bounded by Hill Street and Broadway is slated to open next month and the site across from City Hall is set to come online Oct. 6, in time for the next day’s CicLAvia. Molina said her demand for an up-front payment for the 12-acre park was inspired by a previous failed attempt to leverage private Downtown development dollars into public benefits.
While on the City Council in the late 1980s, Molina helped craft special zoning rules in Central City West. The regulations gave property owners rights to build taller, denser buildings in exchange for funding streetscape improvements and affordable housing. Nearly 100 families were relocated via eminent domain to make way for future development. Then the economy tanked. Property owners never built the skyscrapers. The affordable housing never materialized either, at least not in large amounts. In fact Geoff Palmer, a developer of thousands of luxury apartments in the area, challenged the legality of the neighborhood affordable housing requirement. He won in court. “The community got screwed at the end of the day,” Molina said. “So this time, I was a little wiser by that experience and did it the other way around.” Better Views Previously, the civic park stretched from Grand Avenue
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to Broadway between the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. The hundreds of county employees who work in those two structures accounted for the vast majority of park users. The park’s design and layout obscured it from points of view along Grand Avenue and Broadway. Improving visibility and easing pedestrian access to the site were among the key drivers of the design by architecture firm Rios Clementi Hale Studios (Charles Pankow Builders handled the construction, which began in the summer of 2010). People at the western edge of the complex now have an unfettered view all the way to City Hall. The design emphasizes active use of the park. The newly added quadrant between Spring Street and Broadway has a one-acre lawn and a large stage. The section just west of Hill Street holds a smaller lawn with a mini stage. All four sections of the park are equipped with the infrastructure to support concerts and portable video screens.
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Aside from the design, the park’s most significant change may be a new focus on programming. The Music Center was tapped to manage the park, which could host not only concerts but yoga, laser shows and big family events, said Lucas Rivas, who was recently hired by the Music Center to be the director of the park. “The sky’s the limit,” Rivera said. The renovated Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain is another key change. It will no longer be just a concrete structure with surrounding spouts. Instead, it is now a carefully choreographed, “interactive” sculpture with multicolored lights. photo by Gary Leonard It shoots jets of water that end up in The 12-acre space has improved sightlines. Twin circular parking garages near the Grand a new, adjacent “membrane pool,” Avenue side of the project have been replaced by a large staircase. a swath of slightly depressed concrete that people can walk in. With financing for the mega project so far out of reach, Up on Grand Related has gotten several extensions on past deadlines to On Thursday, a bevy of public officials involved in the break ground on parcel Q. Witte has long acknowledged park’s development will gather to celebrate its opening. that the company is rethinking plans for the site, but would There has been less cause for celebration when it comes to not discuss the current proposal. the remainder of the Grand Avenue project. Potential alternatives for parcel Q could get an airing later Progress, however, may be at hand. Bill Witte, president this year, as Related will ask for another extension to break of Related California, said the firm has a financing agree- ground there, Witte said. The city-county joint powers ment in place to fund construction of a proposed 19-story, panel overseeing the project has the authority to demand 260-unit apartment tower that would rise just south of the that Related start building if projects of a similar magnitude $100 million Broad museum. Related is required to break are rising elsewhere in the state. ground by October. Witte said the firm is on track to meet Witte maintains that similar projects are still not happenthat deadline. ing, even as smaller developments are moving forward in The future of the other Grand Avenue project parcels is Downtown. Molina, however, said she may be more relucless certain. The project is comprised of four plots of land: tant to grant an extension come February in light of recent one holds the under-construction Broad museum (there is activity in the real estate world. enough room on the property for an adjacent tower); the “I don’t want to get to that place where we’re just going site of the 19-story tower; and two parcels across from Walt to move Related out, but it’s up to them,” she said. “Other Disney Concert Hall, including what is known as parcel people are building in Downtown Los Angeles. I don’t Q, where Related planned to build two luxury residential know how they do their financing, but it’s happening.” towers designed by Frank Gehry with a boutique hotel and That discussion won’t start in earnest until early next 250,000 square feet of retail space. Before the downturn, the year. For now, the focus is on the park. entire project had been estimated at $2 billion. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
Grand Park Opening Events July 26, noon: City, county and other officials will hold the formal opening ceremony for the $56 million project. July 28, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Nigel Lythgoe from “So You Think You Can Dance” hosts the West Coast National Dance Day Celebration at the park. Learn easy moves and take in a performance by members of the Cirque du Soleil Iris troupe. There will be free dance classes, youth performances and family festivities. Information at dizzyfeetfoundation.org. Food trucks will be on hand. July 29, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.: Grand Performances and the Music Center will present live musical acts. Bring a picnic and take in the sounds.
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Protesters Continued from page 6 of food they were expecting to serve or deliver to Downtown residents, said owner Emma Chavez. “I’m very concerned they [Occupy L.A.] might come back next month,” said Chavez. “We were in lock down. No one knew what was going on and I don’t know that the people that were here will want to come back next month.” Chavez credits the police with staying calm, since she believes the protesters were trying to escalate the situation to get arrested. She also finds irony in their tactics, since they claim to stand up for the 99% while hurting those in that very group. “We’re a mom and pop restaurant. We need this night,” she said. “I still don’t understand what they were protesting.” There are also concerns over how the Occupy members have spread since police shut down the City Hall encampment Nov. 30. In recent months, the activists have routinely been bedding down outside the headquarters of the Central City Association, protesting the organization’s pro-business stance. Additionally, they regularly gather at Pershing Square. According to the Occupy Los Angeles website, the group meets at Pershing Square every Monday,
July 23, 2012
Twitter/DowntownNews Tuesday and Wednesday for its general assembly at 7:30 p.m. But they spend additional time at the park in the heart of the Financial District. John Edwards, president of Raw Inspiration, which runs the farmers market at Pershing Square on Wednesdays, said that for at least four weeks he has noticed an increase in what appear to be members of the Occupy movement hanging out at the park. “They have sleeping bags set up next to the food tables. They’re panhandling for food,” he said. “If you have people lying on the floor, begging for food and asking for money, no one is going to want to shop here anymore.” He said business at the market has fallen by about 30% over the past few weeks. He fears that if things don’t pick up, the market may be forced to close. “I’m part of the 99% and all the farmers are too,” he said. “We’re not part of the 1% and they’re hurting the people they say they are protesting for, and that’s a shame.” It’s not the first time produce vendors have been hurt by Occupy. During the City Hall protests, the weekly farmers market was forced out of its longtime home on the south lawn of the building. They took up space at City Hall East plaza on the east side of Main Street. Organizers said business dropped dramatically. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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Food Continued from page 7 the debut of the massive Towne on the ground floor of the Watermarke tower. Coming next is Alex Reznik, who competed in season seven of Bravo’s “Top Chef” show. He is the executive chef at FigOly inside the Luxe Hotel in South Park, which is slated to debut July 27. Sitting on a panel with other respected local chefs reminded Zarate that opening Mo-Chica on Seventh Street was the right move. “Downtown can only get better,” the 38-year-old chef said. “There’s so much variety, so many great chefs. I’m 100% sure things here will only get bigger.” For Sedlar, whose Latin food at Rivera has received raves, the Downtown food scene is a reflection of the different cultures found throughout the city. What makes it unique is that in Downtown they
are within a small cluster. “Downtown has such a diversity of communities and neighborhoods and you can eat at a restaurant in one neighborhood and find something completely different a few blocks away,” Rivera said. “It’s multiculturalism fusion.” The Aloud audience didn’t even have to walk a few blocks to taste the different flavors in Downtown. After the discussion, the chefs laid out some of their creations. Items included Sedlar’s spicy fried chips with shrimp, sauce and lime and Zarate’s sangrecita, made with a morchilla crostini (black sausage) and served with a fried quail egg and a jalapeno salsa. Hall delivered whipped bone marrow served on sliced bread with radishes, sea salt and minced smoked marlin sprinkled on top. Hall admitted during the panel that no one has ordered that dish at his restaurant yet, but he said he loves it anyway. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
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HEALTH Health in the Balance A Popular New Way to Strengthen Core Muscles by Sharon naylor
A
t this month’s IDEA World Fitness Convention in San Diego, thousands of fitness experts and authorities converged to explore and assess the newest trends in fitness classes and methods. According to the 2011 IDEA Fitness Programs and Equipment Trends Report, balance training was the No. 1 trend. The survey found that 95% of fitness trainers incorporated balance training into their workouts. It may be unfamiliar to some people, but it is increasingly generating interest. Balance training creates a better sense of balance through the strengthening of core muscles. This includes the large and small muscles of the legs, gluteus, back and upper body. For instance, if you’re standing on one leg, an entire range of major and minor muscles and tendons throughout the lower body and the core activate in different ways than they would if you were standing on both feet. Strengthening these muscles improves your overall balance abilities. In a balance-building workout, prop-free movements, such as standing on one leg, squatting or lunging, use your body weight as you slightly shift your balance to remain upright. Yoga is another fitness activity that builds balance as you progress through a routine. Recently, balance-centric equipment has burst onto the scene. Kathie Davis, IDEA’s executive director, says that the popularity of new forms of balance equipment is “a reflection of fitness professionals being creative enough to keep training fun and interesting with new tools. The fitness industry must be constantly evolving and innovating or we’re
going to lose people. As clients demand more ‘fun,’ we will see those types of equipment gain popularity.” Standing on one leg isn’t exactly fun, at least not for very long, so designing minds of the fitness industry have invented and evolved the following balance-building equipment: BOSU Balance Trainer. This balance tool is made of molded plastic and weighted rubber. It has one flat side and a rounded, balllike side. Originally, the name BOSU was an acronym for “Both Sides Up,” meaning the device could be used on either side, dome or platform (now the acronym more commonly refers to “Both Sides Utilized”). The user may stand on the platform side to work out or step, or stand on the rounded side for different results. A range of exercises specifically for both sides of the BOSU is at bosu.com. Discs: Several different types of round balance discs are on the market, with some featuring nubbed surfaces. The supportive disc is inflated with air, and you step on it while performing different types of balance and agility exercises. Balancedisk.com has products and sample exercises. Wobble Boards: Most often round or square, the wobble board features a flat surface that you stand on with both feet and a rounded section underneath that requires you to shift your weight to maintain balance. These are often used to help rehabilitate ankle injuries or build ankle, calf and leg strength. They require a good sense of balance for optimal, safe use. Balance Boards: Often found in a square or elongated skateboard shape, these balance tools may come with an interchangeable ful-
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crum to allow forward-and-back and side-to-side balance exercises. Stability Balls: Large, inflatable balls chosen for your height and weight work by putting your body — sitting or lying down — in an unbalanced position. You then need to use your muscles to work through various exercises. Paige Waehner, the About.com guide to exercise, says, “When you lie on the ball, your legs and abs immediately contract to keep you from falling off. Add an exercise to that, like a chest press or a crunch, and you’ve just increased the intensity of the movement.” Growing Trend Fitness enthusiasts, athletes and dancers train for balance to give their bodies more strength and agility, but others are also seeking balance training to help them function better in life. One who found a use was Stephanie Greer, who came to the exercise after giving birth. “Since I had my baby, I’m now balancing him in one arm, grocery bags in another, and my purse and laptop bag hooked on Creators.com photo courtesy of Isokinetics my arm,” she said. “Since I al- Balance training improves agility and quality of life. There most stumbled once with him in are numerous devices that can be utilized to help strnegthen a my arms, I knew I had to train person’s core muscles. for better balance to keep us both safer. It also reduced my back pain, since so ment,” she said. many muscles were being strengthened.” With millions of Baby Boomers aging into Better balance is also a quality-of-life issue senior status, increased balance ability is very for the older generations. Davies sees it as important. It lessens the risk of falls and inpotentially becoming even more widely ad- juries while also allowing older people to live opted. more active lifestyles. “It’s pretty clear from the front-line pro“Boomers exercise to live life more fully,” gram directors that they see things trending Davies said, “and I think we’re going to see even more strongly toward more functional, that continue to grow.” life-enhancing types of training and equipArticle copyright 2012 Creators.com.
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By the Beach in the Fashion District Picante Delivers Latin Fusion and Some Standout Fish Tacos by RichaRd Guzmán
city EditoR f you squint just enough, and the weather is just right, and your imagination is strong, you can almost feel like you’re at a Baja beachside resort while having lunch near Santee Alley. Picante is on Olympic Boulevard near Maple Avenue in the Fashion District. The restaurant that opened in March mixes Mexican, Peruvian and Argentinian food. The second-floor spot overlooking the crowded shopping alley is easy to miss, with an opening tucked between two storefronts. A flight of stairs opens onto a patio that is decked out in ocean blue director chairs and round, white-tile tables under big yellow umbrellas. Painted in heavy reds and bright yellows with a bar inside, the place reminded me of a beachside cantina in Mexico. The menu, rich with seafood choices, adds to the experience. Options include the Camarones a la Diabla (devil shrimp, $11.95), with tiger shrimp sautéed in
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red onion and spicy Peruvian chiles. There’s also a crab burger made with “real crab,” according to the menu, with jalapenos and cilantro-lime aioli served on a baguette ($8.95). There are non-seafood items as well, among them a flatbread choice called the Downtown Classic ($8.85). It is made with chicken breast, bacon and cheese over dried tomatoes. What really got my attention, however, was a chalkboard on the patio that claims Picante has the world’s greatest fish tacos. It reminded me of the coffee shop in the Will Ferrell film Elf that purports to serve the world’s best coffee. So I put them to the test. The order of two beer tempura catfish tacos ($6.95) comes drenched in aioli-type sauces under a mountain of white onions and yellow peppers. Like the Elf coffee, it’s not the world’s greatest fish taco (in my opinion that title goes to a sidewalk food stand in Rosarito, Mexico that set up near the Papas and Beer club about 20 years ago). That said, it is very well done. The batter isn’t greasy and the fish is fresh, with a heavy flavor, while the sauce is light yet tasty. I’m
Tapas Hour
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he restaurateurs just keep flocking to Downtown, with seven, count ’em seven, new spots. Just opened is Kitchen Table in the Old Bank District. The two-story, 90-seat American bistro at 401 S. Main St. comes from Ray Jaghori, who owns the Old Bank District Market across the street. The consulting chef is Greg Bernhardt, who helped open Church & State. The executive chef is Brazil native Fernando Darin, who previously worked at Ink and The Foundry. On July 16, the 200-seat Towne restaurant debuted in the Watermarke Tower. The menu includes American food with a “modern world influence.” Taking over the old Zucca space at 801
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S. Figueroa St. is Soleto Trattoria & Pizza Bar, which opened July 17. The focus is on Southern Italian food. Coming July 27 is FigOly in the Luxe City Hotel at 1020 S. Figueroa St. The kitchen will be overseen by former “Top Chef” contestant Alex Reznik. Expect Californian cuisine with Northern Italian influences. On the horizon is the highly anticipated The Parish, from Casey Lane of the Tasting Kitchen in Venice. A July 27 opening is scheduled for the spot at 840 S. Spring St. (the old Angelique Café). It will serve traditional but seasonal gastro-pub fare as well as craft beers. On Aug. 3, Little Tokyo will get the dim sum joint Chynna Dim Sum Lounge. The space at 333 S. Alameda St., on the street level of the Little Tokyo Galleria, will offer dim sum and 24 beers on tap. While no exact opening date has been announced, Le Ka will arrive in August at 800 W. Sixth St. and focus on steaks, seafood and tapas. The executive chef is Rémi Lauvand, whose resume includes New York spots La Grenouille, Le Cirque and Montrachet. Contact Richard Guzman at richard@downtownnews.com.
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an onion lover, so the pile on top was perfect for me, though it may overwhelm others. The only downside is the two tacos may not be enough for healthy appetites. Thus, I added a seafood rice dish ($12.95) to my lunch. The dish is a heavy, tomato-rich mix of shrimp, octopus, calamari, scallops and Peruvian chiles. It has a spicy kick and is reminiscent of a seafood paella but much less fishy since the tomato and spices over-
whelm some of the seafood. It must have looked good too, because a pair of blonde tourists kept looking at my plate until one of them finally asked the waiter what I was eating. While they waited for their food, one basically laid out on the chair and tilted her chin up to soak in the afternoon sun. If it wasn’t for the woman on Santee Alley who kept screaming in Spanish, “Come on in, come on in! We have everything on sale here! What do you want? What do you need?” I could have easily fooled myself into thinking I was back by the beach in Rosarito. Picante is at 1001 S. Maple Ave., (213) 765-0201or picantelatinfusion.com.
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July 23, 2012
Downtown News 15
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Puppets, Murder and Aliens, Oh Wow REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival Returns for the Ninth Year by RichaRd Guzmán
that’s being created.” Jelly Roll Inspiration The Poor Dog Group’s performance continues a Downtown run. The troupe was founded in 2008 by Cal Arts graduates and appeared at that year’s NOW Festival. In 2010 they staged Brewsie and Willie, an acclaimed show based on a Gertrude Stein novella, in a Los Angeles Street penthouse.
Poor Dog Group also appeared at last summer’s Radar L.A., a theater festival spearheaded by REDCAT. Bonnell udiences at REDCAT are familiar with shows that credited the theater with helping them grow. push the boundaries of what is expected in a theater. “We feel really at home at REDCAT, and to work at In just the last six months there was A Missionary REDCAT again is a pleasure and we couldn’t feel more comPosition, a solo work about homophobia in Uganda, and fortable there,” he said. Abacus, a monologue purportedly about the church of data. Aliens and Puppets Once a year, things get even more adventurous. That’s the Susan Simpson’s piece is also 30 minutes. That’s where any case this week as REDCAT becomes a creative laboratory for similarity to the Poor Dog performance starts and ends. local artists during the New Original Works Festival. Exhibit A, which Simpson wrote and directs, examines the Now in its ninth year, the festival runs from July 26forming of the Mattachine Society, one of the first gay Aug. 11 with three nights of performances and three organizations in the country. It was conceived in Los acts each week. The works include dance, theater, Angeles in 1948. However, don’t expect a literal music, puppets, aliens, opera and a 30-minute history lesson. song about murder. “Most of the piece is very fictional, but The performers were selected from it’s exploring what it takes to make a more than 120 applicants. The goal, leap in consciousness and a leap of said George Lugg, associate direcbravery,” Simpson said. tor of REDCAT and the overseer The leap comes in part beor m co ntownNews. of the festival, is to highlight theper right hand corner at Doaiwllis cause Simpson uses life-size t /forms/m l in the up r this symbo .ladowntownnews.com creativity puppets and a set made up E-NEWSof local Look foup-and-comw ww N UP Starts July 3 & 6 ingSIG artists while also giving of topographical maps, veterans the opportunity to complete with a series of stay fresh and innovative. small houses. The pup“The purpose is to propets and actors share vide a platform for the the stage with undevelopment of new named alien visitors performance-based who roam the area, Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com work, and for more transforming the established artists to landscape. launch new projects Simpson doesn’t and for younger artists see anything unusual to fully realize their arabout the piece. tistic goals,” said Lugg. “This is not a totally Shows takes place unusual overlap of gay Thursdays-Saturdays, social or political orgaStarts July 13 & 19 starting July 26-28. Three nizations with people s ew wnN /L.A.Downto m pieces are presented each that also were involved o .c k o o b Face night. in science fiction writing This week’s lineup starts and fan clubs,” she said. with a 30-minute movement“A lot of that writing has based piece by the Poor Dog to do with futuristic thinkGroup. The Murder Ballad is ing and imagining a utopian based on a 1938 song by jazz legend future.” Opera Povera’s Sean Griffin and Juliana Snapper pay tribute to composer Pauline Oliveros. Jelly Roll Morton. Dancer Melanie Rios Glaser Their piece is also on theOur opening weekendfor of the NOW Festival. Check Website Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com On the same bill are Opera Povera’s was also inspired by historic events tribute to composer Pauline Oliveros’ for her NOW piece. La Tribu takes photo courtesy of Opera Povera 1970 score, To Valerie Solanas and Marilyn place on the final week of the festival. Monroe in Recognition of Their Desperation, and While living in Guatemala in the late a multimedia piece titled Exhibit A. The work written and For The Murder Ballad, only two of Poor Dog Group’s 11 1990s, Glaser was part of a group of dancers who were indirected by Susan Simpson mixes puppets with aliens and members will take the stage. The show, inspired by Morton’s spired by the end of that country’s civil war. They performed delivers a history lesson of Los Angeles. song that was first performed 74 years ago in New Orleans’ site-specific dances in response to the political changes. Starts July 20 & 27 she is not recreating those pieces in Downtown A week two highlight is Of Land and Sky, by Long Beachm or red light district, is a blues-powered, 30-minute tune about Although nNews.co ow nt w Do at born dancer Prumsodun Ok. It draws Cambodian pop female sexuality and impulses. Los Angeles, she said she is using that energy for an improvicorner handon e upper right s.com/forms/maillist symbol in thto retell WS traditional music a mythological Buddhist The Poor Dog members will create a series of movements sational dance performance. nnew ow E-NEand nt w Look for this dance do www.la N UP a deity who falls taleSIG about in love with a mortal. In Ok’s ver- inspired by the song as it plays in the background. “I was part of this period of time when there was a flourish sion, the lovers are two gay men. “It’s a movement work because the exploration covers a dif- of performances having to do with the recent signing of the The final week includes a dance piece called La Tribu ferent set of criteria than what dance does,” said Jesse Bonnell, peace treaty,” she said. “We’re trying to tap into that same by Melanie Rios Glaser that was inspired by the end of the who is directing the piece. “There’s a wide range of events that feeling and spirit.” 30-year civil war in Guatemala. Also on the bill is As the take place, some of which are dance, some of which are more The adventurous spirit runs through the three weeks of the Globe Turns. The show by Obie Award-winning theater artist experiential events, so it’s a little more broad.” NOW Festival. Just leave expectations at home. Heather Woodbury is a solo distillation of a planned 12-hour The audience will hear the complete 30-minute ballad. The New Original Works Festival runs July 26-28, Aug. 2-4 Check forisFull Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com opus about the climate crisis. While Poor Our Dog’sWebsite presentation choreographed and strucand Aug. 9-11 at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 “In any given week it’s a chance to see a range of works,” tured, some sections are loose and will change from perfor- or redcat.org. Lugg said. “It’s a very dynamic survey of the kind of work mance to performance, Bonnell said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com. city editoR
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July 23, 2012
Nights to Remember Chinatown Aims to Draw Crowds With Evening Events Featuring Music and Food by Phoebe Unterman
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hinatown has fought a nightlife battle for years. When it comes to dining, people of Chinese descent increasingly head to restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley. When it comes to places to drink and hang out, the young and the hip in the Downtown environs are more likely to head to the Historic Core or the Arts
District. So, a few years ago, Chinatown officials decided to join them rather than try to beat them. In 2010, they brought food trucks, music and vendors together in Central and West plazas. The four Saturday evenings of Chinatown Summer Nights were an instant hit. The event begins again on Saturday, July 28, and continues on Aug. 11 and
photo by Gary Leonard
Past installments of Chinatown Summer Nights have attracted up to 18,000 people. The three-event series in Central and West plazas begins Saturday, July 28.
25 from 5 p.m.-midnight. In addition to the food and cultural demonstrations, there will be arts and crafts vendors, music spun by KCRW DJs and a new live stage booked by Chinatown’s Caveman Vintage Music record store. The events have consistently brought in 15,000 to 18,000 people a night, according to George Yu, Chinatown BID executive director. One of the greatest benefits, he said, is that these include many people who don’t normally visit the area, and thus are reminded of something from the past. He hopes they will be inspired to return. “It’s always a good thing to bring families to explore Chinatown,” Yu said. “It’s not only about the merchants, restaurants and architecture, but people get to see the place on a summer night in a way that they most likely have not seen it for many years, if ever.” For area merchants, Chinatown Summer Nights is an unquestioned business hit. The normally sparse evening crowds are replaced by throngs of individuals. A large number of families arrive in the early part of the event, with more young peoples and groups later. “The recession has affected a lot of retail business in general. It’s pretty quiet during the week,” said Richard Liu, who owns the home accessories store Realm. “Any kind of event that brings people in is really beneficial for exposure.” Scavenging Funds Chinatown Summer Nights began in 2010 with four nights and funding from the Community Redevelopment Agency. Last year, however, trouble arose when Gov. Jerry Brown elected to eliminate CRAs throughout the state due to budget woes. Ultimately the Chinatown BID was able to scrape together $25,000 to pay for a two-night festival. This year, the BID tried a different tack, Yu said, taking money from its marketing budget to include a third night. That pleases shop owners such as Liu. “Adding a third night was a good move,” Liu said. “It’s a tangible thing for business owners because it brings in people and the restaurants are packed, whereas it’s harder to quantify the effects of marketing.” A staple at the festival has been the KCRW DJs. For Anthony Valadez, who spins at the station, the outdoor opportunity is a nice diversion from the common club. He said he likes the inclusive nature of the festival as opposed to a space with specific demographics, dress codes and bouncers. “It’s one of those great things that brings all kinds of people together,” Valadez said. “It’s much more fun to DJ at than a club because it’s much more of a wide demographic. It’s all different age groups, and not necessarily a function where you have to look a certain way.” The KCRW DJs won’t be the sole music providers this year. Also part of the lineup is the live music stage. That came about, Yu said, in part because of a Chinatown event that had live bands following April’s CicLAvia ride. Acts that will perform this week include The David Brothers (at 8:15 p.m.) and Chicano Batman (9:30 p.m.) “It was very popular at CicLAvia, so we decided to add a live stage to Summer Nights,” Yu said. Referring to the community’s past as the home to the punk venues Madame Wong’s and the Hong Kong Café, he added, “We hope it can help capture Chinatown’s live music history.” This year each night at the festival will be represented by a different element: earth, water and fire. Additionally, there will be “Iron Chef” style cooking demonstrations aligned to the evening’s theme. Along with the music and food — expect at least 10 food trucks this week — there will be activities and workshops for kids. According to Yu, keeping the festival safe and familyfriendly is a priority. “It’s the anti-Art Walk,” Yu said. “You don’t have out-ofcontrol crowds. It’s on private property, so it’s fun and festive without any negative elements.” Chinatown Summer Nights is July 28, Aug 11 and 25 from 5 p.m.-midnight at Central and West plazas. The event is free. Additional information and a performance schedule are at chinatownsummernights.com.
July 23, 2012
Downtown News 17
DowntownNews.com
LISTINGS EVENTS
Tuesday, July 24 Newer Poets at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7 p.m.: “Newer Poets XVII” brings, you guess it, some newer poets! Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo, Mia Carli, Paul Lieber, Angela Penaredondo, Veronica Reyes and Rolland Vasin all show up for one giant reading.
THE DON’T MISS LIST
etween its bevy of awards, elaborate puppetry and lucid staging, War Horse has many aspects to admire. Sunday, July 29, marks the final Los Angeles performance of the triumphant story of a boy and his horse set against the squalid backdrop of World War I. If you haven’t already, consider this your last chance to wander by the Ahmanson Theatre and take in the empathetic narrative of camaraderie in war before the chimney sweeping, child rearing, jolly good fun of Mary Poppins invades the theater Aug. 9. Tickets are still available for this week’s shows via the Center Theatre Group’s website and at the box office. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.
photo by Michael Lamont
Thursday, July 26 New Original Works Program Week 1 REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. July 26-28, 8:30 p.m.: This week’s combination of film, music, theater and dance features Poor Dog Group’s The Murder Ballad, Opera Povera and Susan Simpson’s Exhibit A.
Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. July 24: Jessica Jones and Hitomi Oba. July 25: Michael Barsimanto Group. July 26: Jessica Vautor Group. July 27: Gene Coye Group. July 28: Gavin Templeton. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. July 23, 8 p.m.: Another night with JMSN. July 24, 8 p.m.: Nancy Sinatra looks like Ani DiFranco and sounds from Kelly Paige. July 25, 7 p.m.: Why do birds suddenly appear when the Family Crest plays here? July 26, 8 p.m.: Noah and the Megafauns bring up serious questions about Biblical lore and modern living in some apocalyptic acoustic rock. July 27, 8 p.m.: A night of hip-hop featuring Nocando. July 28, 8 p.m.: Oversized harps abound with String Theory. Don’t get instrument envy.
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very four years, the world coalesces into a celebration of jingoism and unbounded athleticism known as the Summer Olympics. Channel your urges to route for the USA and start working out again by indulging in East West Players’ reprise of the February hit Three Year Swim Club. The touching story of Hawaiian Soichi Sakamoto and his quest to teach the children of Maui to swim using leadership and available irrigation ditches comes to life on stage in a special run from July 27-Aug. 19. If you wonder how they get water on stage, stop wondering — hula dancing stands in for swimming in the inventive production. At 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. photo by Gary Leonard
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
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A HOrSE LEAvES, DIScO AND HIp-HOp ArrIvE, AND MOrE DOwNTOwN FuN
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Wednesday, July 25 Radical Pedagogies Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: Jen Hofer, K. Bradford, Sonal Malkani and Christina Tran moderate an informal conversation designed to extend our thinking about radical pedagogies in the context of a range of different educational, artistic, activist and social justice practices. Yee-haw.
Friday, July 27 Museum Sleepover Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or nhm.org. 7 p.m.: The Museum’s Overnight Adventures program features Camp Dino for boys and girls. Play MOCA MOCA, Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org. 6 p.m.: Diverse music and art merge and collaborate as actress Drew Barrymore showcases some of her visual art with a soundtrack by Salem and IO Echo. Don’t expect to see John Baldessari there.
by Dan Johnson, listings eDitor calendar@downtownnews.com
photo courtesy of Nat Geo Music
Monday, July 23 American Idol Live! Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 7636020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. 7 p.m.: The top 10 from last season’s “American Idol,” from the neo-Dave Matthews Phillip Phillips to the mighty throated Jessica Sanchez and falsetto father Deandre Brackensick. They gather together for a night of covers to please the masses.
photo by Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
SPONSORED LISTINGS Under the Sheet Music Film Series Pershing Square, 562 S. Olive St., (213) 4851645 or laparks.org/pershingsuare. July 27, 8 p.m.: Control, the 2007 docudrama by Anton Corbijn, captures the last strange days of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. 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. Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.: At Bar 107’s selfproclaimed “best happy hour in Downtown,” get anything in the bar for $5; $3 for wells; $2 cans and free pizza at 5:30 p.m.
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one night of ’70s throwback fun isn’t enough for you, on down to the Saturday, July 28, installment Iof fwander Grand Performances for a dose of funk so potent,
you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of a scene from Shaft. Los Angeles’ own Breakstra will be on hand to churn out their hip-hop spiced funk. They’ll be joined by Parisian singer and bandleader Bibi Tanga (shown here), whose sinuous bass lines and wicked falsetto evoke a funky fusion of Prince and Cee Lo Green. It all takes place in California Plaza’s Watercourt, where a complimentary bicycle valet will help you harken back to the days of Jimmy Carter’s gas crisis. Admission is free and as always, dancing is encouraged. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6872159 or grandperformances.org.
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t’s Friday Night Fever on July 28 as Dance Downtown presents Disco Night, and if it’s not officially capitalized, then it should be. Don your Tony Manero duds and practice the hustle. This night of free dance instruction and disco music will have you pining for the late ’70s and mourning Donna Summer even more. The program at the Music Center Plaza stretches from 6:30-10 p.m. and admission is free. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and limber up as this evening is one of the most anticipated disco events since Comiskey Park hosted Disco Demolition Night in 1979. If you don’t know what to do, don’t worry: the night starts with a free lesson. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.
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ou’re hearing it through the grapevine: Aretha Franklin is in town, and is playing Wednesday-Thursday, July 25-26, at the Nokia Theatre. The Detroit native, also known as the Queen of Soul, has had one of the most essential careers in contemporary pop music. Her blend of soul, blues and R&B helped forge the ’60s sound with a belting voice that barrels through adversity and still continues to impress. Come glimpse a true legend in her natural habitat — getting respect. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
Continued from previous page July 29, 7 p.m.: This band’s tempestuous, rhythmic rock puts the fun in Funeral Club. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. July 26, 10 p.m.: HM Soundsystem returns with some bouncy electronica for a warm summer Thursday. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. July 27, 10 p.m.: Bid adieu to Son Ark before they pack up their rock stylings and return to the Old Dominion. July 28, 10 p.m.: It’s your final chance to see indie Americana from Escalator Hill. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. July 27, 7:30 p.m.: A little bit of country from Lonestar. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. July 27, 10 p.m.: Kaskade is the featured artist at the Freaks of Nature After Party. July 28, 10 p.m.: Sied Van Riel and Eco fill out the line up at this week’s Awakening. Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org. July 27, 12 p.m.: Get that nice and smooth indie rock vibe from Lady Danville to accompany your banh-mi Mendocino Farms sandwich. July 27, 8 p.m.: Master & Legacy: The Music of Hawai’i features the big talent and extreme name of Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole. July 28, 8 p.m.: A world of funk from Breakestra and Bibi Tangra and the Selenites. Levitt Pavilion 2230 W. Sixth St., (213) 384-5701 or levittla.org. July 26, 7 p.m.: Celebrated L.A. DJ Nosaj Thing. July 27, 7 p.m.: SoCal roots reggae with The Expanders. July 28, 7 p.m.: Dublab have given their seal of approval to a night of hip-hop with Arabian Prince & Egyptian Lover. July 29, 7 p.m.: A bit of lively rock from Ukandanz. Nokia Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. July 25: Pay your r-e-s-p-e-c-t to Aretha Franklin. July 28: Aretha’s a hard act to follow, but Espi-
July 23, 2012
Twitter/DowntownNews noza Paz is sure going to try. Nola’s 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or nolasla.com. July 23: Aalon. July 24: Sharon Ridley. July 25: Aalon. July 26: Cal State Los Angeles Jazz Group. July 27: Dave Williams and MBT. July 28: The Jazz Monks. July 29, 11 a.m.: Sunday brunch with Cheryl Barnes. One-Eyed Gypsy 901 E. First St., (626) 340-3529 or one-eyedgypsy.com. July 25: RT N the 44s. July 27: The Downtown Train. Everyone loves trains. July 28: AK and her Kalashnikovs. Pershing Square 542 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare. July 25, 8 p.m.: Straight up rock from Rebel Light. July 26, 8 p.m.: King Hearts and Coronets. July 28, 8 p.m.: Roving bard John Waite with Janet Robin. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. July 23: Ingenue, Vim Dicta and Lost Marauders. July 24: Johnny Madcap and The Distractions with the Muertones and the Withers. July 25: Sean & Zander with Rock Bottom. July 26: Guantanamo Baywatch, White Murder, Cochinas and Bombon. July 27: A night of new age, rockin’ Americana with Two Man Gentleman Band, Dustbowl Revival and, all the way from Oakland, Whiskerman. July 28: Crazy Squeeze, Dirty Eyes and King Cheetah. July 29, 2 p.m.: Trotsky Icepick, Lawndale and Chuck Dukowski Sextet. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. July 23: The Electones, ensemble jazz with a playful name evoking the musical quality of lying politicians. July 24: The Makers are perfect for birthday, quinceañera or bar/bat mitzvah fun! (No one under 21 allowed). July 25: Jam funk from the Vibrometers. The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org.
John Waite at Pershing Square photo by Glenn Sweitzer
18 Downtown News
I
n the beginning of the music video to crooner John Waite’s smash 1984 hit “Missing You,” the camera pans away from a cityscape that could pass for New York, but if you look closely, happens to be Fifth Street in Downtown, right by Pershing Square. Isn’t it appropriate that Waite comes back to Pershing Square this week to play the park’s summer concert series on July 28? Janet Robin gets things started at 8 p.m. Waite goes on around 9:30 p.m. At 532 S. Olive St., 213-847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.
as l c w e N
ses
Adult Studies offering music appreciation music performance yoga and pilates
200 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, ca 90012 www.colburnschool.edu 213.621.4745
Downtown News 19
DowntownNews.com
July 27: Corima, Upsilon Acrux, Cory Flanigan and Van Exel. July 28: Brannigan’s Law, Heller Keller, Seacats and Michael Nhat. July 29: Abe Vigoda, Javelin and Pregnant. Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. July 27: Electronica plants a toe-hold Downtown with Kaskade. Summer on the Plaza FIGat7th, 735, S. Figueroa St. or artsbrookfield.com. July 25: Calé takes a modern spin on flamenco.
FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. July 23-Aug. 2, showtimes vary: From Takashi Miiki comes Hara Kiri: Death of a Samurai 3D, the story of a mysterious samurai who arrives at the doorstep of his feudal lord. Expect swordplay. July 27, 7:30 p.m.: The documentary Convento follows prima ballerina Geraldine, photographer Kees, and their two boys, Christiaan and Louis as they take up residence at the Convento São Francisco de Mértola. IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Ongoing, showtimes vary: Explore the remnants and wisdom of an ancient empire in Mysteries of Egypt. Ice and polar bear enthusiasts will likely dig To the Arctic 3D. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through July 26: The Dark Knight Rises (11 and 11:30 a.m. and 12, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11 p.m.); Ice Age: Continental Drift (11:10 a.m., 1:40, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D (12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40 and 10:10 p.m.); Savages (12:40, 3:50, 7:20 and 10:50 p.m.); Katy Perry: Part of Me (12, 2:30 and 5 p.m.); The Amazing Spider-Man 3D (12:10, 3:20, 6:40 and 10:20 p.m.); The Amazing Spider-Man (1:10 and 7:20 p.m.); Magic Mike (7:50 and 10:50 p.m.); Ted (12:50, 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 9:40 and 10:40 p.m.); Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (9:40 p.m.); Brave (11:40 a.m. and 2:10, 4:40 and 7:10 p.m.); Under the Sheet Music Film Series Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. July 27, 8 p.m.: Control, the 2007 docudrama by Anton Corbijn, captures the last strange days of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Closer East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St. #C, (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. July 28, 8 p.m. and July 29, 7 p.m.: In Closer, four lives intertwine over the course of four and a half years in a densely plotted look at modern love and betrayal. Why is modern love always followed by betrayal? Through July 29. Fiesta The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. July 28-29, 2:30 p.m.: Fiesta is a south of the border marionette extravaganza featuring everything from skating sombreros to dancing cacti. It was first
presented at the theater in 1964, and still resonates today with children of all ages. Call for a reservation. Homo Economicus Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488 0599 or lastbookstorela.com. July 29, 8 p.m.: Homo Economicus is an experimental project with more than 20 participants in seven installations and events, each exploring the intersection between economy and culture. War Horse Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9727231 or centertheatregroup.com. July 26-27, 8 p.m., July 28, 2:30 and 8 p.m. and July 29, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: As World War I begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France. Albert embarks on a treacherous mission to find Joey and bring him home. This is the start of previews for a show that has bowled over most critics. Through July 29.
D r i nk He re n ow LA Ci TA
BARS & CLUBS The Association 610 S. Main St., (213) 627-7385. Carved out of the area that used to belong to Cole’s, the bar in front, the Association is a dimly-lit, swank little alcove with some serious mixologists behind the bar. Look for a heavy door, a brass knocker and a long line. Barbara’s at the Brewery 620 Moulton Ave., No. 110, (323) 221-9204 or bwestcatering.com. On the grounds of the Brewery, this bar and restaurant in an unfinished warehouse is where local residents find their artistic sustenance. Fifteen craft beers on tap, wine list and full bar. Bar 107 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/ bar107. Inside the keyhole-shaped door, tough-as-nails Derby Dolls vie for elbowroom with crusty old bar guys and a steady stream of Old Bank District inhabitants. Velvet señoritas, deer heads with sunglasses, a wooden Indian and Schlitz paraphernalia plaster the red walls. There’s no shortage of entertainment, with the funky dance room, great DJs and the occasional rock band. In the photo booth, you can capture your mug in old-fashioned black and white. Open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Big Wang’s 801 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com. Wings, beer and sports: That’s the winning recipe at this sports bar. The Downtown outpost, the third for the Hollywood-based bar, has everything the other locations have, plus a comfortable patio with outdoor flat screens. Bonaventure Brewing Company 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 236-0802 or bonaventurebrewing.com. Where can you get a drink, order some decent bar food, sit outdoors and still feel like you’re Downtown? It’s a tall order to fill, but this bar in the Bonaventure Hotel does it admirably. Come by for a taster set of award-winning ales crafted by Head Brewer David Blackwell. Sure, the hotel is vaguely ’80s, and you’ll probably encounter some convention goers tying a few on, but it only adds to the fun. Bona Vista Lounge 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-1000 or thebonaventure.com. Located in the heart of the Financial District in the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel, this revolving cocktail lounge offers a 360-degree view of the city. Bottlerock 1150 S. Flower St., (213) 747-1100 or bottlerock.net.
L.A. DOWNTOWN NEWS
SmARTphONE & LET READy! TAbLET
FREE!
E
verything in this former Mexican Ranchero bar oozes red, from the vinyl booths lining the wall to the glowing light fixtures. Hipsters, Latino regulars and artists mingle as DJs get their groove on during the week. Saturday and Sunday bring Hacienda Nights with traditional ranchero music. Monday is Moustache Monday, the straight friendly queer dance party. Fridays bring the Punky Reggae Party. At 336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111 or lacitabar.com.
Situated on the ground floor of the Met Lofts in South Park, this wine bar features a vast range of bottles from around the world and a price range equally as wide. Wines by the glass start at around $8, but if you’re feeling overcome by oenophilia (or just deep-pocketed) there are some first growth Bordeauxs for more than $1,000 for the bottle. And if you don’t get your fill while at the bar, which also features a rotating crop of artisanal beers and a full dinner menu, the bar also sells bottles at retail. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. Located next to the Orpheum Theatre in the Platt Building, the Broadway Bar’s blue neon sign beckons patrons inside to its 50-foot circular bar. The casual-chic spot is based on Jack Dempsey’s New York bar, with low lighting and a dose of ’40s glam. There’s a patio upstairs with nice views, and a jukebox. Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or canarumbar.com. In the Caribbean, “caña” is slang for sugarcane. Rum is made from sugarcane. Therefore, Caña serves premium handcrafted rum cocktails in an intimate, elegant environment featuring live Caribbean and tropical Latin music. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. With its worn brick staircase, tin ceilings and dark wood decor, it’s easy to see how this neighborhood bar and grill still works its Irish charm. Regulars cozy up to the 60-foot mahogany bar with a pint of Guinness and a plate of bangers and mash. Casey’s has a full menu with six beers on tap and a selection of Belgian ales and microbrews. Club 740 740 S. Broadway, (213) 225-5934 or 740la.com. This 1920s theater has been transformed into a three-level party playground sprawling over 40,000 square feet. Club 740 is a spectacle with ornate gold
“Critic’s Choice! - LA Times ”GO!” - LA Weekly
balconies, go-go dancers and private skybox lounges. Music includes hip-hop, Latin vibe, Top 40 and indie rock. Cole’s 118 E. Sixth St., colesfrenchdip.com. This beloved restaurant saloon has been renovated under new ownership. The great leather booths and dark wood bar of the old spot remain, but now the glasses are clean. Draft beer, historic cocktails, including what is probably the best Old Fashioned in town, and a short wine list. Corkbar 403 W. 12th St., corkbar.com. If the name didn’t give it away, this South Park establishment is all about the wine, specifically, California wine. Situated on the ground floor of the Evo condominium building, Corkbar serves up a seasonal food menu of farmer’s market-driven driven creations to go with your Golden State pinots, cabernets and syrahs.
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.
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July 27-August 19, 2012 Fridays & Saturdays 2p & 8p Sundays 2p Get your tickets now!
A play inspired by Coach Soichi Sakamoto who trained Maui youth to become Olympic champions
Box Office: East West Players 120 Judge John Aiso St. Little Tokyo open 11am-5pm Monday-Friday
Online: www.eastwestplayers.org Phone: (213) 625-7000 *Limit 4 tickets
photo by Xander Davies
July 23, 2012
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Downtown News 21
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notary Joe Kennedy CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC, I travel. Call now for quote, 818 919-4569.
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cLeaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY FOR SALE AND RELOCATION Lofts/unfurnisHed
oLd Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,295 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com
apartments/unfurnisHed $675/LARGE SINGLE, 1435 S. Union Ave. L.A. Ca 90015. $650/ STUDIO, 433 Cottage Home St. L.A. Ca 90012(Move-In Special) 818-593-9060. dupLexes 2 bed 1 3/4 bath 1800 sq. feet. High ceilings. Lower flat. Quiet MT Washington neighborhood. Washer/Dryer/dishwasher. Views of Occy and San Gabriel mtns. $1950. Non smoker. No pets. 323 259 5319
Casaloma L.A. Apartments Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo. sec. deposit special @$100 Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA
For English Call Pierre or Terri 213.744.9911 For Spanish Call Susana 213.749.0306
madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.
(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011
T
Historic 416 East 1st Street (Señor Fish) Building Price: $1.00 Period of Sale: July 1, 2012 through July 5, 2013. BACKGROUND The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) will acquire the building located at 416 East 1st Street as part of the Regional Connector Project. The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) indicated that MTA would make this historic building available to a qualifi ed party to purchase for the sum of $1.00 along with the requirement to relocate the building from the property by a certain date. Once MTA owns the property and the occupants have been relocated, the building will be available to the selected purchaser for relocation. BUILDING HISTORY Constructed in 1913, this single story, un-reinforced masonry commercial building is currently located in the Little Tokyo National Historic Landmarks District in Los Angeles. Designed in the vernacular style, the property spans roughly 6,800 square feet, features brick walls, a simple corbelled cornice with multiple arched openings, a flat roof and recently replaced windows. The building is eligible for the California Register of Historic Places for its role in California history though it has been altered architecturally. The building is presently used as the Senior Fish Restaurant; however none of the existing equipment will be included in the sale. Prospective buyers are advised to fully inspect the building on their own. The building is being offered “as is” with the intention that the entire building will be relocated. The purchaser is expected to assume all costs associated with moving the building to a property that is owned or controlled by the purchaser. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS LACMTA is seeking qualifi ed parties to assume ownership and relocation responsibilities of the historic 416 East 1st Street Building commonly known as the Señor Fish Building and Atomic Café. The structure will be available for the price of $1. The successful party will be responsible for all costs associated with removal of the building by July 5, 2013. Interested parties should submit a Letter of Interest which describes their interest in acquiring the building for $1.00 and relocating the building from the property by the deadline date of July 5, 2013. The Letter of Interest should describe any conditions that must be met in order to meet the removal date. Letters should be submitted to the address below no later than December 31, 2012:
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 • ON-SITE SECURE ASSIGNED PARKING • PETS WELCOME
(213) 627-5600 Elevate Your Lifestyle @ PE Lofts Today!
Dolores Roybal Saltarelli Planning Department Los Angeles County Metropolitian Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-22-2 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213 922-3024 roybald@metro.net
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22circulAtioN: Downtown Jessica News Tarr
distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
THE ANSWER
Twitter/DowntownNews Continued from previous page
The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles Education and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
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ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt July 23, 2012 coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, Los Angeles Downtown News Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, 1264 W. First Street, Los CA 90026 ATTENTION JOINT Muscle Marc & Porter ZasadaSAVE ON Cable TV-Internet1966Angeles, CLASSIC CADILLAC AUTOS phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven Digital Phone. Packages start Coupe Deville, 4-door. As is. Art dirEctor: Brian Allison all-natural supplement helps reat $89.99/mo (for 12 months.) web: DowntownNews.com Needs work $7000 OBO. (323) AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa duce pain and enhance mobility. Options from ALL major service 974-1977. PrE-oWnEd email: realpeople@downtownnews.com ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins Call 877-217-7698 to try Hydrafproviders. Call Acceller today to lexin risk-free for 90 days. (Callearn more! CALL 1-888-8972006 MERCEDES ML350 CerSCAN) 7650. (Cal-SCAN) PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard facebook: tified, Silver/Black, 3.5L V6, 36K Miles 121888-1/A580846 L.A. Downtown News CANADA DRUGAccouNtiNG: Center is yourAshley ONLY....$37,991 Call 888-319SchmidtsErvicEs Financial choice for safe and affordable twitter:8762. medications. Our licensed CaDowntownNews EVER Steve CONSIDER AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Nakutina Reverse nadian mail order pharmacy will 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER Mortgage? At least Catherine 62 years old? clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Holloway provide you with savings of up KING CAB SE Low miles, 4.0L, Stay in your home & increase Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, to 90 percent onAccouNt all your ExEcutivEs: medi6 Cyl., ABS, and more N121283cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Sol Ortasse cation needs. Call Today 8661/7C429668 ONLY.....$14,499 Now for your free DVD! Call Now sAlEs Claudia Hernandez 723-7089 for $10.00 off AssistANt: your first callNews 888-838-5089 The Los Angeles Downtown is the must-read 888-698-3165. (Cal-SCAN) prescription and free shipping. newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is dis(Cal-SCAN) tributed every Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr 2008 NISSAN ROGUE Gotham GET FREE or credit card debt residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles Gray/Silver,AWD,ABS,CU0714P now! Cut payments by up to half. One copy per person. / 188220 ONLY....$13,995 call distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Gustavo Bonilla Stop creditors fromCastillo, calling. 888888-845-2267 416-2691. (Cal-SCAN) Misc. sErvicEs 2009 AUDI A5 QUATTRO PRElEgal ATTENTION DIABETICS with MIUM Certified, AWD, Only Medicare. Get a free Talking Me13,144 Miles, White/Blk ZA10405 SOCIAL SECURITY Disability ter and diabetic testing supplies / BA073241 ONLY....$38,980 benefits. Win or Pay Nothing! at No Cost, plus free home delivCall 888-583-0981 Nearly Every Make & Model Start your Application In Under ery! Best of all, this meter elimi60 Seconds. Call Today! Contact nates painful finger pricking! Call 2009 VW PASSAT TURBO Disability Group, Inc. Licensed Visit us online 888-781-9376. (Cal-SCAN) Certified, White/Beige, Leather, Attorneys & BBB Accredited. Moonroof ZV1679 / 9P001079 Call 877-490-6596. (Cal-SCAN) ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA ONLY....$18,480 Call 888-781Sufferers with Medicare. Get 8102. free CPAP Replacement Supplies at No Cost, plus free home Sell your items under 2010 CHEVY AVEO 4 DOOR 2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE delivery! Best of all, prevent red Auto, AC, 35 mpg, Silver/ GTS Certified, Silver/Black, skin sores and bacterial infecGray UC174R/ AB088565 Pano. Roof, Navi., Bose ZP1500 12 words, 2 weeks tion! Call 888-699-7660. (CalONLY....$13,995 Call 888-879/ 9LA62364 ONLY....$57,898. SCAN) it’s FREE! 9608 Call 888-685-5426.
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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
facebook: L.A. Downtown News
twitter: DowntownNews
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, Marc Porter Zasada
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AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
One copy per person.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
July 23, 2012
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CARSON NISSAN
888-845-2267 1505 E. 223rd St., Carson • carsonnissan.com
$9,995 2010 Nissan Versa ............................. $12,995 Certified, Silver/Gray, 32 mpg. CU0694R / 426077 2004 Chevy Silverado Ext. Cab LS .. $10,995 4.8L, V8, Auto, Dual zone AC. C120984-1 / Z236265 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan ..................... Blue, Auto, AC, Low miles. C121500-1 / 1230180
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FELIX CHEVROLET
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VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com
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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
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AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com
$26,980 2009 Audi Q5 Quattro ...................... $33,995 Certified, Prem. Pkg., Gray/Blk, AWD. ZA10248 / 9A031839 2011 Audi A5 Quattro Premium ..... Certified, AWD, 13,144 miles, Wht/Blk. ZA10405 / BA073241 $38,980 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet .................... Certified, Low Miles, Loaded. ZA10377 / 9K007168
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DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS 888-319-8762 1801 S. Figueroa St. • mbzla.com
Mercedes-Benz
$25,991 2009 Mercedes ML320 ..................... $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
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PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
888-685-5426 1900 S. Figueroa St. • porschedowntownla.com
$34,898 $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
2008 Porsche Carerra 4 ....................
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24 Downtown News
July 23, 2012
Twitter/DowntownNews
We Got Games Candace Parker Is Doin’ Work Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers. mlb.com. The Dodgers, recently rearmed with both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, hit the road this week. First, they head into St. Louis to take on the Cardinals in a four-game series (July 2326). Then, it’s on to the Bay to try and make mites out of the San Francisco Giants, who (gritting teeth) control first place in the division. The Giants have a 2.5game grip on first place, which means they could either get some breathing room, or surrender
it to the Dodgers in one series. For the Blue Crew to regain the top division slot, they’ll need any pitcher not named Chris Capuano to step it up a notch (we’re looking at you, Clayton and Chad). Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 929-1300 or wnba.com/ sparks. The Sparks are on a tear, winning there last five, and guess who’s leading the charge? Candace Parker, recently named the WNBA player of the month, is a certifiable double-double
machine. The Sparks struggled without her this year, so it’s no surprise that the squad is doing better now. But it’s not just Parker. Rookie of the Year candidate Nneka Ogwumike has been as advertised. She’s averaging a sturdy 14 points and seven rebounds per game. The tandem will lead the Sparks in two big home games this week, the first against the San Antonio Silver Stars, who have a onewin advantage in the Western Conference standings. Then, the struggling New York Liberty come to town. —Ryan Vaillancourt
photo by Gary Leonard
Candace Parker recently led the Sparks to a five-game winning streak.
Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!
Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777
Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants
Now For Call n Specials Move-I
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon
Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.
TOWERS T H E
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www.TowersApartmentsLA.com
MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM