07-26-10

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

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A new watering hole, arts grants, and other happenings Around Town.

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A tricky situation continues at the beleaguered Huntington Hotel.

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

July 26, 2010

Volume 39, Number 30

INSIDE

CRA Highlights

Downtown Gets Xed ESPN’s Extreme Sports Extravaganza Takes Over L.A. Live

Pete Carroll back at the Coliseum.

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Urban Scrawl on Downtown pets.

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Starry Kitchen’s bright dishes.

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photo courtesy of Bryce Kanights/Shazamm/ESPN Images

The 16th edition of the action sports extravaganza the X Games begins July 29. Although some events took place in Carson last year, this year all the activity will be in Downtown Los Angeles.

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

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Downtown goes to the dogs.

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f only for a few days, Anschutz Entertainment Group might consider changing L.A. Live’s name to L.A.X. Live.

That’s because starting Thursday, July 29, the high-flying, fast-driving, power-pedaling extreme sports competition known as the X Games

will take over the 28-acre complex in Downtown Los Angeles.

It is safe to say that X Games 16, which continues through Aug. 1, will be unlike any other happening ever staged at AEG’s $2.5 billion campus.

While high-profile events such as the Grammys have utilized buildings for a week or more (including set-up and tear-down periods), no single

entity has occupied as many L.A. Live venues for as long a period as ESPN’s X Games will, said Lee Zeidman, AEG senior vice president and general manager of the Staples Center and Nokia Theatre.

“This will be the first event to completely take over the entire campus,” he said.

Downtown has been a site for part of the games see X Games, page 10

CRA Tries to Re-plant Blossom Plaza Frustration Rises Over Failed Project In the Heart of Chinatown

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

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n 2007, all eyes in Chinatown were focused on the project known as Blossom Plaza.

That was the year the Community Redevelopment Agency and the City Council gave the go-ahead for a $165 million development from landowner Larry

Bond. By that time the project had already been floating, in one form or another, for five years. Plans called for a project that would boast residential towers, retail and a large plaza for public events. Area business owners were excited by the connection that would be created to the Metro Gold Line station. In essence, community members see Blossom Plaza, page 13

photo by Gary Leonard

The shuttered Little Joe’s restaurant remains an eyesore in Chinatown more than a decade after it closed. The site was supposed to be transformed into a $165 million mixed-use project and connect to the Gold Line station.

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July 26, 2010

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AROUNDTOWN Man Killed Steps From Police Station

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35-year-old man was shot and killed at about 12:45 a.m. on Monday, July 19, just steps from the Central Area police station Downtown. The victim was discovered on the sidewalk on the west side of Maple Street, halfway between Fifth and Sixth Streets and immediately west of the station, said Lt. Paul Vernon. Detectives sifted through a half dozen dumpsters outside the station looking for clues about a suspect, but found no evidence.

Police interviewed several witnesses, but still have only vague descriptions of a male suspect about 6-foot-2 wearing dark clothing.

According to witnesses, an argument between two men on the sidewalk may have preceded the shooting. “At first look, it appears the victim was the intended target,” Vernon said in a statement. “The victim did not live or sleep on Skid Row.” The victim was recently paroled from prison on a narcotics conviction, Vernon said. The shooting marks the third Downtown homicide this year. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Det. Patricia Hauck at (213) 842-0727.

Students Protest Arts School Principal Ouster

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bout 60 students, parents and teachers affiliated with Central Los Angeles High School No. 9, otherwise known as the High School for Visual and Performing Arts, gathered on July 19 outside the LAUSD headquarters on Beaudry Street to protest the recent removal of principal Suzanne Blake.

In its debut year, the $232 million school had ups and downs. While highlights included some drama students being invited to per-

form a play in Scotland next year, the school also initially missed a key accreditation from a state group (it later was accredited). Blake will be replaced by Luis Lopez, a move that parents and some teachers decried as political and unfair. “She’s the best boss I’ve ever had,” said Danny McDermott, who teaches technical theater at the school. McDermott credited Blake with fostering an atmosphere and life at the school that students adored.

Blake was “very hands on,” said student Josh Bubar, who will be a senior next year. “She brought a lot of enthusiasm to the table at all times. She supported school spirit and things that are important for a newborn school.”

Helping the Homeboys

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fter laying off 75% of its workforce in May due to budget issues, Homeboy Industries is continuing its effort to get back on track with help from the community. The latest in a series of fundraisers is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 1, at Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School (200 S. Grand Ave.). It will include a performance by Jaclyn Bermudez, a member of the Opera Studio. The 4-7 p.m. event will also include a speech from Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle, who will talk about his latest book, Tattoos on the Heart, and about the organization’s mission and its need to raise $5 million to stay afloat.

The organization, which helps gang members change their lives through jobs, let 300 employees go, including all senior staff, and kept only about 100 people who work in the bakery, the store and Homegirl Café; about 60 have since been re-hired said Mona Hobson, director of development for Homeboy Industries. So far the organization has raised about $2 million through donations and fundraisers, and other pledges. Tickets for the Aug. 1 event are $25

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

photo by Gary Leonard

Former USC football coach Pete Carroll was thronged by fans when he returned to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 19. Carroll was signing copies of his new book, Win Forever, at NFL 101, an event organized by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.

($20 for students) and are available at (626) 354-1674 or (626) 590-8415.

High Speed Rail Exhibition Opening

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igh-speed rail advocacy group RailLA this week will launch an exhibition featuring submissions from bullet-train fans. On Thursday, July 29, the exhibit L.A. Beyond Cars will open at City National Plaza at 525 S. Flower St. The show includes conceptual designs, studies, inventions, videos and other solutions revolving around the topic of highspeed rail, its integration into the design of Los Angeles and visions of a future that is more transit-oriented and less reliant on automo-

biles. As part of the festivities, a high-speed rail panel discussion will take place Thursday, July 30, at 8:30 a.m. at the City Club (333. S. Grand Ave., 54th floor). Participants include California High Speed Rail Authority and Metro board member Richard Katz and First District City Councilman Ed Reyes. More information is at railla.org.

A Place for Villains

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EDITORIALS Make Voices Heard on High-Speed Rail Plan

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here is good news and bad news concerning a July 8 report from the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

The good news is that plans are progressing on a $40 billion bullet-train network across the state, and that Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles will serve as one of the hubs. This is appropriate, and will enhance the structure that is already a nexus of rail travel. It will bring even more activity to Downtown.

The bad news is that once the money is pulled together and the routes finalized, there will be construction impacts.

For some businesses, facilities and commuters, the problems will be tremendous (think of how Red Line subway construction had a disastrous effect on businesses on Seventh Street, though MTA did learn lessons from that debacle). The downside of being a high-speed hub is that parts of Downtown will feel the pre-train construction pain.

The July 8 report from the rail authority detailed four possible routes from Union Station for the Los Angeles to Claremont leg. One of these, as Los Angeles Downtown News reported last week, is already garnering opposition: It calls for closing the Los Angeles State Historic Park, probably for several years, so that a shallow trench can be dug and tracks laid.

The path would then be covered.

The other routes under consideration include a tunnel deep underneath the park on the edge of Chinatown, a tunnel near North Broadway by the Gold Line, and a route that would go along Main Street before crossing the Los Angeles River and eventually follow Metrolink tracks.

This page does not yet have an opinion on which route will be best for Downtown in the near- and long-term. All will have advantages and disadvantages. Choose one and costs will rise. Choose another and primary points of entry to Downtown will be severely impacted. Choose the abovementioned park option and residents and workers will lose a beloved green space. Choose any and there will be debates over whether construction-related congestion is worth decades of reduced auto and airplane emissions. The only sure thing is that no matter which route is ultimately selected, many people will be angry and will feel that their community is unnecessarily suffering.

The important thing to remember is that, right now, there is a public comment period, and experience has shown that an engaged and organized citizenry can sway opinion on such huge decisions. While local elected leaders are in essence

Go Easy on the Rave Rhetoric

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hose who book raves at the Coliseum and Sports Arena dodged a bullet recently, when the commission that oversees Exposition Park stopped short of canceling some of the massive dance/electronic music festivals, and instead delivered a sort of “last chance” warning to promoters. Organizers of the events in the publicly owned spaces are now compelled to prohibit minors from entering and must have medical teams on site.

It is unknown whether the decision came because the Coliseum Commission truly thinks this a responsible direction, or because they feared legal challenges from promoters who already have contracts to hold raves later in the year.

Whatever the reason, the move makes sense: Despite problems at June’s Electric Daisy Carnival, there is currently no need to ban these events from public land. Forcing raves elsewhere will only force any problems associated with them elsewhere. Additionally, it places undue blame on the organizers, when those who take drugs at raves (or anywhere else) know full well that there are risks.

Everyone agrees that the death of a 15-year-old girl, ap-

parently after taking the drug ecstasy at the Electric Daisy Carnival, is a tragedy. Also troubling are the hundreds of people who sought treatment at Downtown-area emergency rooms, many of them for drug complications. This unnecessarily taxed vital life-saving systems, and one shudders to think of what would happen if this coincided with an earthquake or other natural disaster.

But it is worth asking if this is a valid reason to punish the huge crowds who came to the two-day event at the Coliseum (reported total attendance was 185,000) and didn’t cause trouble, either for law enforcement or hospitals. It also begs the question of whether the solution is shifting these events elsewhere, including into possibly underground venues where there is less oversight, or whether a more appropriate route is making the current environment as safe as possible.

We understand that part of the debate here concerns the fact that the Coliseum and the Sports Arena are public complexes (the state, county and city have tripartite ownership of Exposition Park). Clearly, the Coliseum Commission wants to protect itself from future liability.

required to weigh in on a preferred route (and may have a political reason for doing do), a tidal wave of response from people who would be impacted could play an even greater role in determining where the train goes.

An official with the rail authority said that the period for public feedback on the report has begun. Now, it is up to community stakeholders and activists to make their voices heard.

This raises one other issue: The rail authority is not making it easy for the public. The first logical go-to stop for instructions on how to comment, the rail authority’s website, does not have any easy-to-find front-page information. Some meetings are listed under the Calendar tab, and if you spend a while drilling down you may discover the report itself, but good luck. We hope this is something that the authority is currently improving and that they plan to make commenting easy very soon, including with an outreach effort. Otherwise, people will have no choice but to bombard the board members.

That issue aside, the routes have been laid out. Those who feel strongly now have to speak up, even if they have to figure out how to do it.

But this overlooks personal culpability. People who attend these events know what is safe and where risk lies.

Although acting as if bulletproof is a rite of being a teenager, it is impossible in this country at this time not to be aware of the potential for problems when taking ecstasy or doing other drugs.

So yes, the raves should be allowed to continue. And yes, there should be conditions and enhanced safety measures, starting with the onsite medical teams and age restrictions for attendees. Perhaps security forces should be larger and crowd sizes should be kept smaller. Maybe there should be more undercover drug officers making busts at the events, though this may be a poor allocation of law enforcement’s limited resources.

One should also keep in mind that problems occur at other large and small venues and events, that electronic music festivals do not need to be singled out as the boogeyman. People fight and are injured, or worse, at sports arenas and stadiums.

People take drugs at parties and nightclubs and suffer unfortunate consequences. Mass protests, even those that start peacefully, can take unforeseen and ugly turns. Those activities are not prohibited. Raves should not be either, even on public land. Make them safer, not forbidden.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis 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

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway, Tam Nguyen, Kelley Smith, Brenda Stevens circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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Tom Bradley and Downtown Redevelopment The End of a $750 Million Project Marks a Time for Reflection On July 15, the Community Redevelopment Agency marked the culmination of the Central Business District Redevelopment Project, which from 1975 to 2010 directed $750 million in tax revenues into development in the Central City.

During an event marking the close out of the project, Raphael J. Sonenshein spoke on the legacy of the project and Mayor Tom Bradley.

This is adapted from his address.

by Raphael J. Sonenshein

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n 1974, I moved to Los Angeles from New York City, and immediately found an opening in Mayor Tom Bradley’s office as an intern on the 23rd floor with the City Volunteer Corps. From that distant perch, even I could see the profound changes that were being contemplated by Bradley.

And among the most important was the redevelopment of Downtown.

On July 11, 1975, the Los Angeles City Council approved by a 10-1 vote the biggest downtown redevelopment plan any American city had ever taken on, covering 255 city blocks. A few days before, according to the Los Angeles Times, Bradley told a worried county Board of Supervisors: “If a major city like Los Angeles (is going to be saved) you have to start at its heart.”

After the council approved the plan, the Times reported a few days later, Bradley added that Los Angeles had learned from “the

Downtown Los Angeles before (above) and after (below) the impact of the Central Business District Redevelopment Project. The building on top in the center is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In the image, California Plaza, MOCA, upper Grand Avenue and other buildings and landmarks have not yet been constructed.

mistakes of other cities that have undergone decay in their central city and an ultimate loss of their tax base.”

On July 17, the Times stated in an editorial: “The success of Downtown redevelopment is critical to the city’s future… If the city does not take up the challenge, it cannot succeed.”

So on one level, this plan was about avoiding the decline that was facing big cities in the Rust Belt of America. L.A. was going to survive, and thrive. And it would have a real Downtown.

But it was about much more than that. The Downtown redevelopment plan was part of a vision that revolved around Bradley’s historic election in 1973. Los Angeles, on its way to being the second largest city in the nation, was still at heart a small town, very decentralized with a weak and crumbling Downtown.

There was much that was good about this small town Los Angeles. Homeownership was widespread. There were many communities.

The city had escaped some of the fiscal trauma of Eastern and Midwestern cities. Its government was not corrupt, by those standards.

To this day, when we talk of scandals in Los Angeles, as one who was brought up in New Jersey and New York City, I’m almost embarrassed to compare ours to those back east.

But Los Angeles was also provincial. Its elected officials were dominated and intimidated by the police department. Proprietary departments were hard to rein in. Racial attitudes were far from advanced, dooming Bradley in his mayoral run in 1969. When Sam Yorty hired young black men to ride through the city chanting “Black Power for Bradley,” too many voters were willing to believe that the moderate African American police officer was a black militant.

Opportunities were there for many, but not for all. Downtown business was still very powerful, much more so than the fledgling labor movement. Much of the plan was designed by a business group called the Los Angeles Central City Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that started out, the Times reported, as the Committee for Central City Planning, and fueled suspicion of business’ agenda in redevelopment. The Times still had the power to influence events at City Hall.

photo by Gary Leonard

Please see page 5 and 6 for photos of some of the key projects.

Bradley’s election and the rise of his liberal biracial coalition were part of a vision to create a more cosmopolitan Los Angeles, a world class city with mass transportation, global trade especially with the Far East, a vibrant Downtown, a strong harbor, a busy international airport, and a belief in diversity. For Bradley, this vision was not just about growth; it was also about opening up new opportunities for those left out. Despite Bradley’s modest demeanor and quiet personality, this was a remarkable vision for a city that wasn’t sure it was ready for it. It was bolstered by substantial federal aid in the 1970s, some of which went into the CRA. The Downtown redevelopment plan helped bolster Bradley’s political position because his precarious liberal base could be augmented

by Downtown business and organized labor, making a serious challenge to his incumbency unlikely. But it also opened up new fissures in the city’s politics that later threatened his political survival and still resonate today.

Three years after the plan was introduced, Proposition 13 was passed and by 1981 state aid to help the city cope was gone. Federal cutbacks under the Reagan administration crushed cities everywhere. Services had to be cut and the long fiscal crisis began. As a re-

sult, Downtown redevelopment had to compete with basic services, making its support weaker. The inner city did not thrive as had been hoped, a fact that came back to haunt the city in 1992.

Downtown redevelopment had always been controversial. At first the opposition was based on loss of tax revenue to the county, and people like Alan Robbins (who wanted the state legislature to place a referendum on the plan on the city ballot) and Ernie Bernardi (who filed lawsuits) fought it tooth and nail. It was in part the Valley against the rest of the city, a struggle that continued through Bradley’s years and into [an attempt at] secession. Bradley proposed the $750 million cap as a solution, which was eventually part of the final agreement to legal challenges.

But a decade later there was a full blown slow growth movement that moved out of the Valley into the Westside and other neighborhoods that resisted big development, and for which the Downtown plan was both a symbol and a target. For many in Los Angeles, the city was not only no longer provincial, it was becoming too much, too fast. “Not Yet New York” buttons sprouted up. But the city is not going back to the old pre-Bradley days and Downtown, with all its

troubles, still breathes.

How much of Bradley’s vision was reached?

Downtown did boom, and the skyline today reflects it. Mass transit never quite made it, although the 30-10 plan currently being proposed may redeem some of the vision. The effort is still alive. The harbor will help bring L.A. back after the recession, based on tremendous global trade. And it’s a city with a great diversity reflected now at City Hall. In 1984, the world saw a bigger, more exciting, more dynamic Los Angeles during the Olympics than the provincial city identified to the rest of America largely by Disneyland.

Los Angeles is now a world class city that is taken seriously around the nation and around the world. We may never have the Downtown that traditional cities have because the forces that decentralize Los Angeles are so deeply rooted and popular. But the idea that Downtown can be more than a shell is no more likely to die than the idea that Los Angeles is a group of suburbs in search of a city. And that’s one part of the legacy of Tom Bradley and the historic birth of the 1975 Downtown redevelopment plan.

Raphael J. Sonenshein is chair of the Division of Politics, Administration, and Justice at California State University, Fullerton.

6 Downtown News

July 26, 2010

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35 Years of CRA – Transformative Projects he Community Redevelopment Agency closed down the Central Business District (Amended) Redevelopment Plan Project last week after 35 years of redevelopment of blight. (Please see page 5.) Transformative moments include: Central Library expansion, Los Angeles Convention Center expansion, Ralphs Fresh Fare, Staples Center.

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

Financial District and Library Square

South Park photo by Gary Leonard

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photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

L.A. Live

Central Library Atrium

In the Financial District area of the Central Business District, the CRA played a key part in: 7+FIG shopping center, Citicorp Plaza, Engine Co. No. 28, Figueroa Tower, 1000 Wilshire, Biltmore Place Tower, and the Metro mural.

Library Square was a particular favorite of many. Highlights include: Bunker Hill Steps, Library Tower (AKA U.S. Bank Tower), Gas Company Tower, Maguire Gardens, Central Library Atrium, and repairs and restoration after the Central Library fire.

Staples Center

In South Park highlights include: Grand Hope Park, Gas Company Lofts, Staples Center (paving the way for L.A. Live), Convention Center Expansion, the Met, FIDM and Ralphs.

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Historic Core

Downtown News 7

Downtown Art photo by Gary Leonard

In the Historic Core the CRA was instrumental in developing the Ronald Reagan State Office Building, Broadway Spring Center, Grand Central Market, the former Broadway department store, the Junipero Serra State Office Building, the Bradbury Building, the Continental Building and more.

photo by Gary Leonard

Bradbury Building

Grand Central Market

Bunker Hill Steps In addition to the highlighted projects there was extensive development in Central City East as well as a far-reaching arts program. For details on any of these projects and others, see crala.net.

8 Downtown News

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Nonprofits Eyeing the Huntington Hotel Trouble and Questions Still Hover Over Main Street Residential Property

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

O

ver the past several years, the Huntington Hotel has been one of the more troubled properties in Downtown, plagued by crime and ownership limbo.

Now, two nonprofit organizations that cater to low income and disabled individuals are partnering in a proposal to buy and rehab the building at 752 S. Main St. If the deal comes to fruition, neighbors hope it will lead to a turnaround for a problem property in an area that has otherwise seen marked redevelopment in recent years.

Downtown-based Communities Actively Living and Free, or CALIF, has been eyeing the property since last year. The organization is now partnering with affordable housing developer Clifford Beers Housing and hopes to purchase the 1910 residential hotel.

“We’re working with a team to see if we can restore it to being a serviceable and contributing bit of real estate to Downtown Los Angeles,” said Jim Bonar, executive director of Clifford Beers Housing.

There are hurdles to any deal. Before the 196-unit, four-story building can be sold, former owner Landmark Equity Management is required to pay $2 million in civil penalties as part of a settlement reached last year with the city attorney’s office. Until the money is paid — the deadline is Sept. 23 — a judgment lien remains on the building, essentially prohibiting a sale, said deputy city attorney Janet Karkanen.

The building has a history of trouble. In 2006, former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed a civil suit against Landmark, accusing the company of trying to force low-income tenants out of more than 800 apartments in dozens of buildings throughout the city.

Landmark was ultimately ordered to pay

$9 million in tenant restitution, was barred from buying any new rental properties in Los Angeles for four and a half years and was ordered to sell all of its L.A. holdings.

When Landmark finally sold the Huntington last October — only after the city agreed to a deadline extension for the sale — the conflict didn’t end. Instead, the city attorney’s office challenged the sale, arguing that the transaction with A Better Choice Development, Inc., an Upland-based construction contractor, was not a legitimate “arm’s length” deal.

A Better Choice had a history of contracting with Landmark and the sale didn’t require the company to pay any money for a year, Karkanen said, meaning Landmark still has a stake in the property as a lender.

“A dispute came up as to whether that was a legitimate sale or a sham transaction,” Karkanen said. Instead of litigating the matter further, Landmark agreed to pay $2 mil-

July 26, 2010

lion in penalties to settle.

Daniel Mangaroni, a principal with A Better Choice Development, said the purchase was legitimate, and that it represents a profitable opportunity, though he declined to discuss details of the transaction. It was and remains his intention to sell the building, though the process is taking longer than he expected, he said. Mangaroni said he has been frustrated by delays and ongoing negotiations.

Mangaroni, whose company has performed the maintenance at the Huntington for the past five years, continues to manage the property as negotiations with CALIF and Clifford Beers continue.

Until Landmark makes good on the entire penalty — the company has already paid $600,000 — the parties involved are in a sort of holding pattern.

Changing Neighborhood The Huntington Hotel largely caters to a transient, low-income community and has for years been a hub of crime and drug activity.

Over the past decade, the dark purple structure has grown in even starker contrast with nearby portions of Main Street that have become popular residential and commercial blocks.

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Around Town

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The bedraggled Huntington Hotel remains in limbo, but two nonprofits are partnering in an attempt to buy it.

“It’s horrible,” said Shahram Afshani, who developed the National City Tower Lofts at Eighth and Spring streets in 2008. “We have lost several residents because of it. The new owners really have to be very proactive in trying to clean up the building and making sure it stays clean.”

The hotel has lived up to its troubled reputation in the past six months. LAPD detectives are currently investigating a possible link between the Huntington and three shootings that have taken place at or near the hotel since late May. Early on July 4, a 19-year-old man was shot on the northeast corner of Spring and Seventh streets, two blocks from the hotel.

The victim has not been cooperative with detectives investigating the incident, said Lt. Paul Vernon.

Vernon said the suspects in that shooting may be tied to two other incidents. On May 19 at about 10:30 p.m., a blue van stopped in front of the Huntington and several rounds were fired at the building, though nobody was hit. The following night, at Seventh and Main streets, a 50-year-old musician from Hollywood, who was looking for a bus, was shot. Police believe the man was not the in-

tended target, Vernon said.

Although two of the incidents were blocks from the building, police suspect the incidents are related because the suspects’ tactics were similar.

Despite the shootings, Vernon said the level of criminal activity in the area is lower than it had been in years past.

Mangaroni echoed that claim, saying there seems to be less crime in the past year, in part because the number of residents continues to dwindle. Currently about 80 people live in the hotel, but each time a tenant departs, their unit is boarded up, Mangaroni said.

Bonar of Clifford Beers Housing said it is too early to discuss specific plans for the hotel, but the organization generally develops affordable housing for low-income residents.

Mangaroni said he hopes to enter escrow with Clifford Beers and CALIF in about a month, but noted that the sale will likely drag on as the buyers assemble financing and develop a plan to rehab the structure.

“This was a great deal for me,” Mangaroni said. “But I must say today, why did I do that? It’s been a lot of work.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com. *

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X Games Continued from page 1 since they moved to Los Angeles in 2003, with Staples Center a venue for several sports. The lineup would change every year due to factors such as the construction schedule of L.A. Live. That forced some sports to venues such as the Home Depot Center in Carson, thereby spreading out the competition.

This year, all 29 sports, from women’s street-style skateboarding to men’s motocross big-air, will be showcased at Staples Center, somewhere else at L.A. Live or at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum just down Figueroa Street.

Zeidman said the goal has always been to hold the entire X Games in a concentrated area. That finally became possible with the completion of L.A. Live, which includes the West Coast headquarters for ESPN, and the opening this year of the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels.

“You now have the hotels, which can serve as ESPN’s headquarters,” said Zeidman. “You now have ESPN studios, and you’ve got 15 restaurants here that patrons will be able to go in and out of.”

High Theater Many events that previously took place at the Home Depot Center, also owned by AEG, will now unfold at the Coliseum.

The historic arena will host motocross and rally car racing events, as well as a massive ramp for the skateboard and BMX big air contests. ESPN reports that the Coliseum will be filled with some 3 million shovels of dirt for the motocross track.

Event officials said that in previous years, attendees tended to spend a whole day either at Home Depot Center or Staples Center, but rarely visited both. This year a shuttle will run between the Coliseum and L.A. Live on Thursday and Saturday, something organizers hope will allow fans to see more action.

Additionally, the “X Village” will be set up on Chick Hearn Court outside Staples Center, where vendors and sponsors will offer small expos, demonstrations and giveaway stations.

The deck on top of the parking garage behind the Nokia Theatre is a hub this year too. Last week, crews were building a skateboard and BMX street course on the deck, as well as a pool ramp — the structure is a nod to the skateboarders who pioneered the sport’s use of emptied swimming pools in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. Temporary bleachers on the deck will seat 5,000 people, an increase from about 3,000 last year.

The most notable change this year will occur in the Nokia Theatre. Used primarily for big-name music and comedy acts, the 7,100-seat space will house the competition’s vert ramp, or half-pipe, featured in some of the X Games’ most popular competitions in skateboarding and BMX. Those events take place Saturday.

The Long View The first X Games were held 16 years ago in the small New England tourist town of Newport, Rhode Island. In the following years, the event’s business model had it hopping around the country to new cities, settling for two-year stints in larger markets as it grew in popularity.

Now the event is a global brand, helped in part by the international cultural reach of action sports. This year, the games will host about 200 athletes from 18 countries. The event is also broadcast internationally.

RESTAURANTS

photo courtesy of Pete Demos/Shazam/ESPN Images

As in past years, much of the action will take place in Staples Center.

One big change for 2010 is moving the BMX half pipe competition to the Nokia Theatre.

“This year alone for X Games 16 we’ll be televised live in 10 countries, in approximately 106 million households,” said ESPN spokeswoman Katie Moses Swope. “And this is the first time Asia will be telecast live. It’ll obviously be in the middle of the night over there, but that alone is telling of how much X Games has grown.”

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Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

X Spots to Mark Five Don’t Miss Events at the Downtown X Games

T

here are 29 events at this week’s X Games, which will bring together the top extreme sports athletes from around the world. It is impossible to check out all of them, but Downtowners have plenty of opportunity see high-flying thrills and occasional spills. Here are some of the highlights

photo courtesy of Pete Demos/Shazam/ESPN Images

New to the Coliseum this year are rally car races. They are sort of a cross between NASCAR and motocross.

Sensing that opportunity, AEG has partnered with ESPN to co-produce the event. The two entities operate the X Games based on a contract that involves shared costs and revenues, officials with both companies said.

“From a broadcast standpoint, that’s their burden,” Zeidman said. “Other things, like venue rentals, that’s more on us. We’ve crafted ways to make it lucrative for both entities. We’re not just renting it, we’re more true partners.”

If X Games was born as a traveling event, it has settled into more of a Los Angeles institution. This marks the first year of a two-year contract between AEG and ESPN to co-produce the X Games at L.A. Live, and there is a mutual option to extend the agreement for three more years, Zeidman said.

X Games director Jack Wienert said the current set-up at L.A. Live has proved to be a “tremendous scenario for the games,” but that future competitions and the evolution of the event will depend on changes in the action sports world.

“I think that we will always do something in L.A.,” Wienert said. “But I can tell you this: We strive to be bigger and better every year.”

X Games is July 29-Aug. 1 at L.A. Live and the Coliseum.

More information, including tickets (prices range from $9-$40), is at espn.go.com/action/xgames/summer/2010.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

What: Moto X Freestyle Final Where and When: L.A. Coliseum, July 29, 6:30 p.m.

Details: Freestyle motorcross involves dirt bikers whizzing around a course riddled with berms and jumps. Riders including last year’s gold medal winner Blake “Bilko” Williams and fan favorite Travis Pastrana perform backflips and all types of jaw-dropping aerial tricks. Watch for the Flying Dutchman, a trick pioneered by Williams that combines a backflip, 360-degree spin and scissor kick with the legs.

What: Skateboard Big Air Final Where and When: L.A. Coliseum, July 29, 6:45 p.m.

Details: Picture this: A man on a skateboard speeds down a towering wooden ramp that resembles a ski jump. At the bottom, the ramp curves up, launching the rider over a 50- or 70-foot gap. That’s just the beginning. When he lands the skater then speeds into a vertical quarter-pipe that launches him up to 50 feet in the air. Stars of the event include Jake Brown and Bob Burnquist.

What: BMX Freestyle Final Where and When: Nokia Theatre, July 30, 4 p.m.

Details: Some people still have a tough time riding a bike down the street. So imagine what it takes to spin 720 degrees, 10 to 15 feet above a half pipe. The sport is dominated by Brit Jamie Bestwick, but plenty of other riders are capable of gold. American and BMX vet Dennis McCoy, 42, is slated to compete.

photo by Gary Leonard

Fan favorite Travis Pastrana, shown here at the 2005 X Games, which were held outdoors in front of Staples Center, will compete in the Moto X Freestyle event.

What: Rally Car Super-Rally Final Where and When: L.A. Coliseum, July 31, 7:15 p.m.

Details: This is the first year X Games has included Super Rally, known as Rally Cross in Europe. The sport features drivers racing modified street cars on a mostly dirt track.

It’s sort of like NASCAR meets motocross. In other words, it’s the opposite of driving in Los Angeles.

What: Women’s Skateboard Street Final Where and When: L.A. Live Event Deck, Aug. 1, 12:30 p.m.

Details: The X Games aren’t all about the men. The ladies of the skateboard world continue to kick-flip gender gaps and raise the bar for women in action sports. Pioneers such as Elissa Steamer and Alexis Sablone will compete with up and coming pros including Brazilian Leticia Bufoni and Amy Caron.

—Ryan Vaillancourt

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In our August 2nd Edition, Best Of DOWntOWn!

July 26, 2010

DowntownNews.com

Blossom Plaza Continued from page 1 saw it as a new eastern entry to Chinatown.

Three years later, Blossom Plaza is dead and the community has to start over in the effort to activate the prime 1.9-acre site.

Instead of a thriving project that would bring thousands of visitors daily, Chinatown is left with underutilized land and a continuing eyesore in the form of Little Joe’s, a restaurant which closed a dozen years ago.

The situation has local leaders frustrated.

“We feel that we’ve lost a whole cycle of development in Chinatown,” said George Yu, executive director of the Chinatown Business Improvement District. He added that starting the project over again further alienates the neighborhood from the progress that has been rampant across Downtown for the past decade.

“We’re the only community adjacent to Downtown that has not had any large commercial projects built, especially residential projects,” he said.

Recently the community saw the first steps taken that could lead to activating the parcel. Plans are only at the nascent stage.

Considering the current economic malaise, any construction in the near term is unlikely.

That means that the pain Chinatown has felt for years may not begin to dissipate anytime soon.

Big Vision On July 15 the CRA Board of Comm­ issioners approved the allocation of $3 million toward the $9.9 million purchase of the site from the lender Prime Property Fund, which foreclosed on the property in June 2009. The rest of the money would come from various city parking and transit funding sources.

Lillian Burkenheim, the CRA project man-

ager responsible for the Blossom Plaza site, said she is hopeful that plans will proceed quickly this time. The acquisition of the land is expected to be complete within 30 days.

The CRA will issue a request for proposals 60-90 days after that.

Burkenheim said the agency hopes to select a developer and negotiate an agreement for a new project by January.

“Hopefully we’re not back to square one because we do have a lot of entitlements in place,” she said. “We have the environmental [approvals] in place so if we can solicit a developer that’s willing to build within the box that has been approved, then we can move forward faster rather than slower.”

That would be a marked turnaround from last time.

Bond generated excitement with his proposal for Blossom Plaza, even earning strong backing from First District City Councilman Ed Reyes. He had plans to create a mixed-use development with 262 residential units, 20% of them dedicated to affordable housing. The design by Nakada & Associates called for two towers.

The project would also have created 43,000 square feet of retail space, a 372-car garage and a 17,500-square-foot plaza to be used for community events.

However, problems arose before construction could start. Unknowingly, Bond and the CRA had reached their agreement just as the housing market was about to turn south.

Additionally, in July 2008, after the developer told another city agency that the project would return larger profits to investors than had been calculated by the city, the CRA voted to reduce the size of the city’s subsidy to Bond if the project delivered a return of more than 10% to the company.

Much wrangling ensued. Then, in early 2009, plans came to a dramatic end when last-minute negotiations between two banks

Expo Light Rail Line Project Status Update Open House / Downtown & Mid-Corridor MidThursday, July 29, 2010

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

At this public meeting we will discuss:

Phase 1 of the Exposition Light Rail Line (Expo Line) is currently under construction and will travel along the Exposition railroad right-of-way between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City.

For more information, visit BuildExpo.org or call 213.922.EXPO (3976)

Traffic advisories in your neighborhood Nighttime construction schedule Downtown and Mid-Corridor construction activities And the opportunity to have your questions answered by construction personnel

Please Join Us: Holman United Methodist Church White Hall Room 3320 W. Adams Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90018 (On-site parking is available)

Downtown News 13

rendering courtesy of the Chinatown BID

Plans for Blossom Plaza included 262 residential units, with 20% reserved for affordable housing, and a 17,000-square-foot cultural plaza.

to finance the project ended with disagreements about who had the first right on any money generated on the project.

“It was really dramatic,” recalled Burkenheim. “It truly was a matter of hours.

The project was coming together but they could not get an agreement from the two banks involved and the next day there was no financing available. It was just heartbreaking.”

Blossom Plaza had been slated to receive $41 million from the city, which would still be in place for a new development, Burkenheim said.

Neighborhood Eyesore Despite the new beginning, area stakeholders are still upset. Chester Chong, president of the Chinatown-based Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, said that while he understands the economy has affected everyone, and is not surprised the project went south, he is frustrated at the lack of action on the site.

“That is an important part of Chinatown.

It’s like a goldmine if developed properly,” he said. “We have to work to develop that plot.

It’s the heart of Chinatown. It’s been empty

and continues to be a blight.”

Yu agreed and said that in addition to the delay in building a new project, the old restaurant, which sits empty and fenced off at 900 N. Broadway, is an eyesore.

“In the interim we would love to at the very least have a nice contiguous paved lot without the Little Joe’s building on the site,” he said. “From now until a new project is built when people get off the Gold Line station, they’re looking at that site and they see a dilapidated old building.”

Burkenheim said it is unlikely the Little Joe’s building will come down until a new developer is chosen.

Despite his disappointment in the delays, Yu remains optimistic about the future of Chinatown. He hopes whatever new plans come about proceed faster than the original project.

“Blossom Plaza was planned after so many meetings, so many years,” he said. “So let’s not reinvent the wheel here so we don’t have to go through the whole process again.”

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

14 Downtown News

July 26, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

RESTAURANTS Grub With Guzmán

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Stars in Their Eyes Cal Plaza’s Starry Kitchen Serves Up Asian Comfort Food

by RichaRd Guzmán

about that, we’re not [expletive] around,” he told me during my virgin talk.

That made me really nervous. What if I picked something I loved and couldn’t eat it again until October? It seemed possible, considering that everything on the menu during a visit last week looked really good.

At Starry Kitchen you mix and match your options. It starts with a protein, which last week included free-range lemongrass chicken in a ginger sesame sake sauce; spicy “crack” crab cake with a “delightful and charming” wasabi mayo, with jalapeños for texture; “Nom Nom” pork, a ground and grilled pork usually found in spring rolls that is served with a house meat sauce called Yum Yum SK Sauce; and crispy kimchi rice cakes, aka Game Changer #1. It’s a pairing of minced kimchi and Parmesan cheese served with soy vinegar.

You match a protein with a “vessel.” Vessels remain permanently on the menu and determine the price of the meal. Choices include a wrap ($7.50), banh mi sandwich ($7.50), chopped salad ($7.95), Thai Cobb salad ($8.95) and a lunch plate with rice and side salad ($8.95).

city EditoR hen you walk into Starry Kitchen, Nguyen and Thi Tran make you feel right at home. Nguyen, the energetic and talkative co-owner and host, greets you with a huge smile and asks if this is your first time.

If it is, expect to be pulled aside for a quick talk on how it all works. The homey approach is not surprising, considering that the restaurant used to be run out of the couple’s apartment, before the Health Department shut them down last year. So they went legit and early this year opened Starry Kitchen at California Plaza. It is named after Thi’s favorite Chinese soap opera.

Starry Kitchen serves a rotating menu of Vietnamesebased Asian comfort food. It’s a popular spot with the corporate crowd and lunch lines can be long, though they move fast.

If you’re a rookie, Nguyen will tell you that the menu rotates every week, and that once items are gone they stay gone for at least two months. “And we’re serious

W

NEW!

photo by Gary Leonard

Nguyen and Thi Tran launched Starry Kitchen after a small restaurant they ran out of their apartment was shut down by the Health Department.

Finally, you pick a side from choices such as Japanese garlic noodles, a chopped side salad or shallot fried rice.

My first instinct was to go with the Nom Nom pork, but a chalkboard sign warned customers that this was the last week it would be on the menu and to make sure to say goodbye. I didn’t want to say goodbye just after saying hello, so instead I went with the safest item available.

The lemongrass chicken is the only item that remains on the board week after week, Nguyen told me. It’s their “gateway” dish meant to introduce newcomers to the restaurant.

“It’s our most boring dish. It’s like the one child we have that I like the least,”Nguyen said.

Reasoning that there is nothing wrong with starting at the bottom, I ordered the dish and waited to be disappointed.

It didn’t happen.

If this is their bottom dish, I can’t wait to devour the best Thi comes up with, because it was delicious.

I ordered the chicken in the banh mi sandwich and it jumped out of the bread with flavor. There was a hint

of ginger with every bite; the tender meat was juicy but not so soggy that it spilled out of the bread.

I suggest pairing it with the Japanese garlic noodles, but be warned: You must love garlic to enjoy the noodles. They are not messing around when it comes to being garlicky.

The secret, Nguyen told me (word of advice Nguyen: Never tell a reporter a secret), is that there is no actual garlic in the noodles. Instead, they are drenched in a garlic-infused olive oil, which makes for more concentrated flavor.

Nguyen let me in on another secret too. If your favorite item goes off the lunch menu, it’ll usually stick around for another week on the dinner menu, which was recently launched and is served from 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. So if you really need some Nom Nom pork this week, put in some overtime at work or head back on the weekend and catch dinner at Starry Kitchen.

Starry Kitchen is at 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6173474 or starrykitchen.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Introducing the BBQ Chicken Sandwich & BBQ Burger

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Combo with fries and a 22oz. Drink

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No Substitutions. Limit one offer per coupon. State sales tax applicable.

One coupon per person, per visit at participating locations only. Not valid with any other coupon, combo meal, advertised special or offer. Expires 8/26/10.

With this coupon.

Plus Additional 10% Off Late Night Snack Additional 10% between hours of 8pm and 4am. No substitutions. Limit one coupon per customer. At participating locations only. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 8/26/10.

213-228-8999 | farmerboysla.com | 726 Alameda St. (Bay & Alameda) | Open 24/7

Nick’s Cafe 1300 N. Spring St.

Across from LA Historic Park

Now Open Sundays Until 2pm Since 1948

www.NicksCafeLA.com 323-222-1450

Breakfast All Day

Famous Ham N Eggs Waffles Biscuits N Gravy Made in-house Corned Hash

Great Lunches

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

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Regent China Inn Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

catering specials available!

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739-747 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tel: 213-680-3333 • Fax: 213-680-3507 www.regentchinainn.com

F r e e P a r k i n g

July 26, 2010

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 15

They Still Like to Rock Fishbone, The Tubes and the BoDeans Mine the Nostalgia Beat This Summer at Pershing Square

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

S

ummer is already officially a month old, and several free outdoor concert series in Downtown Los Angeles have been running even longer than that. But through late August, the al fresco soundtrack will be a little more familiar.

The recognizable tunes come courtesy of the Saturday night concerts that are part of Pershing Square’s five-week long Downtown Stage series. The events bring a host of seasoned headliners, including Fishbone, the Tubes and the BoDeans.

The effort is likely both to lure nostalgia seekers to the park in the heart of the Financial District, and to introduce musical youngsters to some of the seasoned musicians.

“This summer we brought in more national talent,” said Louise Capone, senior recreation director for Pershing Square. “Each year the talent gets bigger and bigger in the sense that they’re more renowned than the year before.”

The Downtown Stage series, which launched July 21 and continues through Aug. 21, offers free events every Wednesday through Saturday. Concerts with unsigned and up-and-coming alternative rock acts are reserved for Wednesday and Thursday, while Friday night offers free Los Angeles-centered films such as Valley Girl (July 30) and Escape From L.A. (Aug. 20).

But the biggest crowds will throng the square on Saturdays.

Capone said she expects more than 1,000 people to hear songs from their youth, or maybe even discover a band that somehow slipped through their ears.

“Pershing Square is now a Downtown entertainment destination. Community people are going to look for free concerts to attend for entertainment,” Capone said.

The Saturday night lineup this year is a result of a partnership with radio station KSWD 100.3 The Sound, which brands itself as a practitioner of the Adult Album Alternative format. This includes numerous songs from the late ’70s and ’80s. The bands headlining the Saturday shows come straight from the era.

The July 31 show is headlined by The Tubes, a formerly San Francisco based-act best known for the songs “White Punks on Dope,” from 1975, and “Talk to Ya Later,” a hit in 1981, and “She’s a Beauty,” also a hit two years later. The group will be joined by Zolar X, an out-of-this world glam band that has shared the stage with the New York Dolls and Van Halen.

The largest crowd could arrive on Aug. 7. That’s when longtime Los Angeles act Fishbone takes the stage. The group, which is also the focus of a new documentary, is well known for its contagiously high-energy shows that mix ska, rock, punk and funk. They’ll be joined by The Janks, who blend indie rock, pop and folk.

Betty, led by two sometimes squabbling sisters and a longtime friend, will bring their tight alt-tinged harmonies to Downtown on Aug. 14. The opener is rock act Dada.

The series closes Aug. 21 with another band that tasted the big-time. The BoDeans, who have toured with U2 and had eight albums in the Billboard Top 200, will showcase their roots-rock sound, including the hits “Closer to Free” and “You Don’t Get Much.” Sean Wiggins & Loan Goat, a soul and country singer/songwriter, will also perform that night.

The Right Stage The most unique act in the lineup is The Tubes, whose first record came out in 1975, and whose performances are known for a theatrical bent. Fee Waybill, the lead singer and songwriter for the band, said they have retired from the longtour circuit, but still like to play weekend shows. The Pershing Square date, he said, is right up the group’s alley.

“I’m not getting back on the bus. We’re weekend warriors now,” he said.

Waybill resides in Venice these days, and admits he rarely comes Downtown. Still, he said he is aware of the changes the neighborhood has gone through, and looks forward to experiencing them firsthand.

“I used to think of it as gangland but apparently it isn’t, apparently it’s really cool,” he said. “I’ve talked to some friends who have played there [Pershing Square], and they said it was great, that it was a lot of fun.”

The band does about 30-40 shows a year and just released

an archive record of material they found on old tapes, said Waybill. He said some of those songs will be trotted out, meaning even longtime fans of The Tubes are in for a few surprises during the Pershing Square performance. bone tesy of Fish photo cour “We found a bunch of old tapes we didn’t know g. 7. owd on Au we had. They’re from back e largest cr th w ra d ld in the ’70s before we did our hbone cou L.A. act Fis e m ti g n o first album.” he said. “It’s L very weird, so whacked-out the record company didn’t want to have anything to do with it.”

Also planning something fun for Downtown audiences is Alyson Palmer, the vocalist and bass player for the New York-based group Betty, which also includes sisters Elizabeth and Amy Ziff. The group, which has had a following for years on the East Coast, will bring what Palmer described as “happy pop music from the heart” to their first performance in Pershing Square.

“This is our first time and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” Palmer said. “Last time we were in L.A. we played at a club and only a certain number of people and certain ages can come to a club, so the fact that we’re playing in front of everyone makes me happier than anything.”

The band, who are responsible photo courtesy of Betty The New York act Betty will bring their “happy pop music from the hear t” to Pershing Square on Aug. 14. for the theme song for the popular Oxygen network show “The L Word,” mix up their set. Some songs are a cappella, others go the spoken word route, and they also play more traditional songs with instruments.

Members of the BoDeans, who will close the series, say playing outdoors is something the band always looks forward to.

“We like to play outdoor shows during the summer because a lot of times they attract people who never heard of you before and never heard your music and it gives you a chance to play for them,” said Kurt Neumann, who fronts the band alongside Sammy Llanas.

The group was formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 1983.

Although they have traveled the world, they have never played Downtown L.A. They are looking forward to the opportunity to perform in the fresh summer air, said Neumann.

“There’s a lot of energy there that goes y of BoDeans back and forth between the audience and photo courtes Get D d “You on’t the band and people like that,” he said. r to Free” an se lo “C s it h the “People like to get outside and do stuff s will perform the BoDean s er ck 21 ro g. ts u A and they like to be part of some energy Roo on g their show Much” durin that’s happening.”

See page 17 Events Listings for times.

Pershing Square is at 532 S. Olive St., (213) 473-5557 or laparks.org/pershingsquare/location.html.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

16 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

July 26, 2010

The Ruff Stuff For the Fourth Year in a Row, All Dogs Go to the Cathedral

by Jon Regardie executive editor

O

n Tuesday, July 27, the fourth annual Dog Day Afternoon takes place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The 6-9 p.m. event is hosted by Hal Bastian, senior vice president and director of economic development of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, and his dog Scooter, and the Cathedral’s Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik and his canine companion Joaquin. Last week Bastian delivered the vital information, and a cringe-inducing dog joke, on the happening expected to pull in more than 1,100 living creatures — 400 dogs and 700 humans.

Los Angeles Downtown News: So, have any good dog jokes?

Hal Bastian: Oh dear. I have to channel Scooter on this one. Oh golly.

Knock knock. Who’s there? Woofing.

Woofing who? Woofing it be good if I met you at Dog Day Afternoon?

Q: Let’s move on. You’re expecting a huge crowd at Dog Day Afternoon: How did it get this big?

A: By a growing residential community.

Dogs for the last 10 years have been creating a sense of community on the streets of Downtown. People who would not otherwise say hello to each other like to stop so their dogs can greet each other. Many humans don’t know each other’s names, but they do know the dog’s name.

It’s organic, the growth of Dog Day Afternoon. The reason it is so popular is simple: It’s about people and dogs getting together in an iconic meeting place, the plaza at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

There is no agenda other than meeting your neighbors and your neighbors’ doggies.

Q: Take me back: How and why did this start?

A: Monsignor Kostelnik and I were chatting one day. When the Cathedral was built the intent was not only to be the seat of the Catholic church, but it was also designed as a community meeting place. So Monsignor asked me what can we do to activate the plaza and welcome the community the way it was intended? I said, “What about a dog event?

It’s a way for people to meet each other.”

Q: What are the best dogs you’ve seen there?

A: Besides Scooter and Joaquin, there is every breed you can imagine. From Great Danes to Chihuahuas.

Q: Do Chihuahuas become snacks for the big dogs?

A: No. Often the Chihuahuas jump up and down to make sure the big dogs notice the animals that are down 20 floors below.

Q: How do you keep the dogs from fighting?

A: We specifically say it is for social dogs only, on leash. It has been self-policing. We hope it continues to be that way. If someone get restless we say maybe it is time to go and eat some Alpo.

photo by Gary Leonard

More than 400 dogs and 700 humans are expected at this week’s Dog Day Afternoon event at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Q: What is on the program this year?

A: There really isn’t a program. The Downtown Center Business Improvement District and the Cathedral greet the assembled. We get a word or two from Councilwoman Jan Perry and other elected officials who show up. The program is the pooches and the people.

Q: No dog talent show?

A: No costume contest. Nothing. But we do take pictures.

Q: What do you think of people who dress up their dogs?

A: That’s a personal choice. I’m channeling Scooter right now: I don’t dress up. Once in a while I don a bow tie. I don’t need any help from fabric. But other doggies look very cute.

Q: What’s new for the festivities this year?

A: We’re not trying to add anything new. As in the past, we have adoptions of doggies and kitties. People buy their own food and drink; there are Dodger Dogs but for people only.

Q: What else should first-timers know?

A: This is about building fellowship and community. And it’s a way to help knit all 15 neighborhoods we call Downtown Los Angeles into a bow.

Q: Would you say this a “ruff” neighborhood.

A: No! I’ve spent 20 years trying to make it not rough.

Dog Day Afternoon is Tuesday, July 27, 6-9 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St. Free entry, and parking in the cathedral is $5. RSVPs requested at downtownla.com/dogday.

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

July 26, 2010

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

LISTINGS EVENTS

The ‘Don’T Miss’ LisT

Friday, July 30 Music Center Plaza In the plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org.

6:30 p.m.: Dance Downtown with Zydeco.

Downtown Music Project Various venues, (213) 434-7944 or downtownmusicproject.com.

7 p.m.-1 a.m.: DMP is a free concert crawl in Downtown on the last Friday of every month. Several venues, indoors and out, all within walking or shuttle distance, will host a variety of live music performances. Line-ups with band descriptions, links, set times and venue locations are published online 20 days before the event. saTurday, July 31 SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall.

2 p.m.: A special screening of The Spirit in Architecture: John Lautner and panel discussion follow-

Continued on next page

Forget Dr. Frankenstein, what are the mad artists cooking up in the lab? Los Angeles creative types push the envelope of performance, as they pioneer new works in dance, theater, music and multimedia for three weeks in REDCAT’s annual New Original Works Festival. Week two shows, which take place July 29-31 at 8:30 p.m., include “Ground to Cloud” by Christine Marie & Ensemble, an expressionist shadow show; Rae Shao-Lan Blum and Tashi Wada’s “Systems of Us,” in which dancers and musicians explore human relationships amid choreography and composition; and breaking master Raphael Xavier’s “Black Canvas” (shown here), an existential hip-hop dance theater piece. Who knew hip-hop could be existential?

At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

2

ThRee

photo by Annabel Mehran

Singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom defies convention with her otherworldly vocal quality, the cosmic poetry of her lyrics and her multi-influenced harp (yes, harp) compositions. The classically trained and freak folk-fueled musician takes inspiration from West African and Venezuelan harp music as well as vocal-based Americana. Although her piercing voice may not be to everyone’s taste, to her fans she’s an ethereal angel. The ornate Orpheum Theatre seems a perfect venue for Newsom’s talents; she performs Saturday, July 31, at 9 p.m., in support of her most recent album Have One on Me. At 842 S. Broadway, (213) 622-1939 or laorpheum.com. photo by Scott Groller, © CalArts 2010

Thursday, July 29 X Games 16 L.A. Live, Nokia Theatre, Staples Center, L.A. Coliseum, xgames.com.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: The ultimate extreme action sports festival comes Downtown for four full days of motocross, skateboarding, rally car racing, BMX and more. Through Aug. 1.

by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor calendar@downtownnews.com

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Monday, July 26 ADA 20th Anniversary Celebration Los Angeles City Hall Rotunda, 200 N. Spring St., (213) 202-2764, (213) 202-2715 TTY or Disability.

LACity.org.

9 a.m.-4 p.m.: The L.A. Department on Disability and Los Angeles World Airports present a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event includes informative speakers; demos of assistive technology, return-to-work and employment services; adaptive vehicles; a free screening of the movie Sympathy for Delicious; and entertainment.

Tuesday, July 27 ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

7 p.m.: Laura Skandera Trombley, preeminent Mark Twain scholar, cracks open the enduring mystery of Twain’s final decade to reveal the true story of Isabel Lyon, the “forgotten woman” who haunts the official Twain narrative.

Unusual Theater, an Unexpected Culprit and an Ethereal Voice

photo by Raphael Xavier

SPONSORED LISTINGS Winners Choice Fundraiser Midnight Mission, 601 S. San Pedro St., for tickets call (877) 338-2968.

Through Sept. 15: A $50 ticket can earn you the chance to win a new 2010 BMW 750 or $65,000 cash while also helping those in need.

Tickets for The Midnight Mission 2010 Winner’s Choice fundraiser are now on sale and include 30 prizes worth more than $100,000.

For more information go to WinnersChoiceMidnightMission.com.

Grand Performances California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6872159 or grandperformances.org.

July 30, noon: Cuban-born Canadian Adonis Puentes combines the traditional dance, melodies and rhythms of Cuba.

July 30, 8 p.m.: The Lula Washington Dance Theatre presents a collection of new works including Tamica Washington Miller’s ode to love in the springtime, “Spider and the Bee.” July 31, 8 p.m.: Pacha Massive mixes traditional Latin rhythms like Colombian cumbia and Dominican palo with reggae, dancehall, dub and electronica. Non Stop Bhangra features live dancers, DJs, and rappers. Take in a bhangra dance lesson at 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Stage Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., 213-847-4970 laparks.org/pershingsquare.

July 28, 8-10 p.m.: Beta Records presents Purple Melon and Meiko.

July 29, 8-10 p.m.: Spaceland Under the Stars presents alternative rock bands Spirit Vine and Walking Sleep.

July 30, dusk: Friday Night Flicks presents an outdoor screening of Valley Girl.

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St., (213) 228-7025

5

The famed Lula Washington Dance Theatre was founded in 1980 in South Los Angeles to create contemporary dance reflecting African-American history and culture. Grand Performances celebrates the company’s 30th anniversary with an evening of new and revival dances on Friday, July 30, at 8 p.m., at the California Plaza Watercourt.

Premieres include Tamica Washington Miller’s “Spider and the Bee,” an ode to love in springtime (ooh photo © all rights reserved by Lula Washington Dance Theatre la la), and an African/flamenco/modern mash-up from Washington and Jordi Caballero (of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”). Many of the dancers are alumni of the company’s educational arm, which was formed not only to inspire kids but also to give them a creative alternative to the streets. At 350 S. Grand Ave., grandperformances.org.

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

18 Downtown News

July 26, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Listings Continued from previous page ing with filmmakers and scholars. The film journeys into Lautner’s world with footage from his apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, extensive documentation of his extraordinary buildings, interviews with historians, critics, collaborators and clients, and footage of Lautner himself.

Make It Funky Music & Arts Festival Chinatown Central Plaza, 947 N. Broadway, makeitfunkyfest.com.

2 p.m.-midnight: Half music festival, half block party, Make It Funky is an eclectic mix of live music, DJs, vendors, and artists coming together for a summer party.

Saturdays at California Plaza 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 434-7944 or downtownmusicproject.com.

10 p.m.: Conjunto Hueyapan, Prince Diabate, June Kuramoto, Umoverde and La Santa Maria.

Sunday, Aug. 1 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or nhm.org.

7:30-10 p.m.: Join members of the museum’s history and science departments for the free lighthearted movie series, “B-Movies and Bad Science” that explores the “science” behind Hollywood’s creature features on the NHM South Lawn. Gorilla at Large (1954) screens August 1. At sinister carnival The Garden of Evil, the main attraction is Goliath, the “world’s largest gorilla...who cost the lives of 1,000 men before his capture.”

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Brewsie and Willie 7th Floor Penthouse, 533 S. Los Angeles St., 7th Floor, (323) 842-4230 or poordoggroup.com.

July 28-Aug. 1, 8 p.m.: CalArts Center for New Performance in association with experimental theater ensemble Poor Dog Group present Gertrude Stein’s modernist masterwork about the aftermath of WWII, “Brewsie and Willie.” Through Aug. 1.

Fabric Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or companyofangels.org.

July 30-31, 8 p.m.; Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: Company of

Angels, in partnership with the Thai Community Development Center, presents the world premiere of “Fabric” by Henry Ong. In El Monte, law enforcement officials discovered 72 Thai nationals confined in an apartment complex ringed with barbed wire. Lured to this country with promises of achieving the American dream, the Thai workers instead found themselves engulfed in the harsh reality of the garment industry. Through Aug. 8.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org.

July 27-31, 8 p.m.; July 31, 2:30 p.m.; Aug. 1, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” is clever, devilishly rakish and, when he’s not torturing his enemies, a lover of cats. It’s this sliver of humanity — juxtaposed against the cold, cruel circumstances of political terrorism — that drives this play to its wicked depths. Through Aug. 8.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., grandperformances.org.

July 30, 8 p.m.: Grand Performances presents new and revival dance works from Los Angelesbased Lulu Washington Dance Theatre.

New Original Works Festival 2010 REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

July 29-31, 8:30 p.m.: For three weeks REDCAT is a vibrant performance laboratory as Los Angeles artists gather to push the boundaries of creative expression in new dance, theater, music and multimedia performance works. Through Aug. 7.

Ser Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or companyofangels.org.

July 28, 8 p.m.: Karen Anzoategui’s one-womanshow “Ser” follows her soccer journey from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires with her zany family to see Diego Maradona, her soccer God. Amidst the romance of Buenos Aires and the music of James Brown, Karen plays the game of life, soccer and politics.

Something to Crow About Bob Baker’s Marionettes, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

July 27-30, 10:30 a.m.; July 31-Aug. 1, 2:30 p.m.: Bob Baker’s marionettes continues its special 50th anniversary season with its most requested show, “Something to Crow About,” in which the marionettes enact a musical “Day at the Farm.” Through Sept. 26.

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

July 26, 7-10 p.m.: Film Courage Interactive presents a screening of the coming-of-age drama One Hour Fantasy Girl to benefit the Downtown Women’s Center.

July 28, 6:30-11 p.m.: LA 3-D Club Movie Division “3-DIY: Open Screen 3-D Movie Night & BBQ” celebrates the do-it-yourself movement in indie stereography. Bring your own stereoscopic video on hard drive, flash drive or optical drive to add to the potluck of 3-D content. Bring something to throw on the grill on the theater’s rooftop.

July 29, 5:15, 7 and 9:30 p.m.: Step inside the energy capital of the world to hear the truth about oil, straight from the hearts of Texas oilmen themselves in Houston We Have a Problem.

July 30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.: In HipHop Kung Fu Movie: The Movie, Vol. 1, Professor Pitt, a platinum rapper, has just avenged his friends by assassinating a serial killer who targets graffiti writers across the country. Pitt must now return home for help and face the wrath of his two brothers—former business partners in a grass roots record label.

July 31, 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.: Sundance Institute invites you to participate in ShortsLab: L.A., a threepart, all-day educational workshop to offer filmmakers first-hand insight and access into the world of story development, production and exhibition of short films.

Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Filmmakers Alliance’s Independent Film Master Class is a complete, allin-one package: a definitive, step-by-step, one-day seminar for independent filmmakers offering all the information you need to get your film made and seen providing a clean, clear, concise and complete independent filmmaking blueprint for your film project.

Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: Screamfest L.A. presents Grimm Love. In Germany, graduate student Katie Armstrong researches cannibal killer Oliver Hagen for her thesis and becomes obsessed with her subject, ultimately plunging into a lifestyle similar to Hagen’s and the thousands of people like him.

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

July 30, sunset: Pershing Square’s amphitheatre T

Adonis Puentes Friday, July 30 @ Noon Mambo, salsa and a touch of rhumba!

transforms into an outdoor movie palace with a screening of Valley Girl. Presented on a 40 x 20 foot outdoor screen, with a professional sound system, movies are free with lawn seating. Bring a blanket and snacks.

IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Through Sept. 6: Hubble 3D enables movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history.

Through Sept. 6: Journey to the royal tombs of Egypt and explore the history of ancient Egyptian society as told through the mummies of the past. Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs follows explorers and scientists as they piece together the archeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies, providing a window into the fascinating and mysterious world of the pharaohs.

Through Sept. 6: Featuring nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D will immerse audiences in the story of an ocean wave and the lives it impacts and transforms.

From astounding surfing action to the chaos of ocean storms, the film leads audiences on a quest to understand one of the planet’s most intriguing and dramatic phenomena.

Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com.

Through July 22: Ramona and Beezus (11:30 a.m. and 2:10, 4:40, 7:10 and 9:40 p.m.); Salt (11:50 a.m. and 12:30, 2:20, 3, 4:50, 5:30, 7:20, 8, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Inception (11:40 a.m. and 12:20, 1, 3, 3:40, 4:20, 6:20, 7, 7:40, 9:40, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (11 a.m. and 1:40, 4:20, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.); Despicable Me (11:30 a.m. and 2, 4:30, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Despicable Me 3D (12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:30 and 10 p.m.); Predators (12, 2:30, 5, 7:50 and 10:40 p.m.); The Last Airbender 3D (1:30, 4, 6:40 and 9:10 p.m.); The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); Grown Ups (11 a.m. and 1:40, 4:10, 6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); Toy Story 3 in Disney Digital 3D (1:20, 4, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.).

July 29 (partial list): Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D (11:30 a.m. and 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m.); Charlie St. Cloud (11:50 a.m. and 2:20, 4:50, 7:20 and 10 p.m.); Dinner for Schmucks (11 a.m. and 1:40, 4:20, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.).

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DowntownNews.com

But Wait, There’s More!

Additional Event Information on the Web

LADOWNTOWNNEWS.COM/CALENDAR : EVENTS | ROCK, POP & JAZZ | CLASSICAL MUSIC THEATER, OPERA & DANCE | ART SPACES | FILM | BARS & CLUBS | MUSEUMS | FARMERS MARKETS | TOURS

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

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

Annette Green Perfume Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6241200 or fidm.edu.

Ongoing: One of a kind, the museum is dedicated to enhancing our understanding the art, culture and science of the olfactory. Originally opened in New York City in 1999, the collection — 2,000 bottles, perfume presentations and documentary ephemera dating from the late 1800s to the present — was donated to FIDM in 2005.

California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

Through Jan. 1, 2011: “How We Roll” features four decades of skateboarding legends starting with the birth of surfing and the influence of roller skating to its evolution into the dynamic sport of today.

Through Oct. 31: “Our Love of John T. Scott” examines the New Orleans artist’s life, artwork, journey and private reflections and the people he influenced. The exhibition includes lyrical sculptures, paintings and four-by-six-foot woodcut blocks used to make large-scale prints.

California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Current limited engagement: “Mummies of the World,” the largest traveling exhibition of mummies ever assembled, presents a never-before-seen collection of both accidental and intentionally preserved mummies including ancient mummies and important artifacts from Asia, Oceania, South America and Europe as well as ancient Egypt, dating as far back as 6,500 years.

Through Sept. 6: “Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science” is an immersive quest for knowledge that reveals how archaeologists use modern science and technology to uncover and understand the ancient civilization of Egypt.

Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.

Through May 29, 2011: To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Angel Island, CAM presents an exhibition to honor the history, legacy and unforgettable stories of Angel Island. “Remembering Angel Island” will showcase historic photographs, a reproduction of a poem carved on the barracks of Angel Island, artifacts and a multi-media station featuring personal stories of those who endured or were profoundly affected by the Angel Island experience.

FIDM Museum and Galleries 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu.

Opening July 27: “The Art of Television Costume Design” offers a retrospective of more than100 of television’s most memorable costume designs from the present and a salute to the work of 2010’s Emmy®-nominated Costume Designers and Costume Supervisors will be on display this summer in FIDM’s annual exhibition. Through Sept. 4.

Through Sept. 30: “Disney Alice in Wonderland Design Exhibition” includes Colleen Atwood’s original costumes from the film as well as Alice–inspired clothing and products designed by a variety of celebrities, designers and fashion icons including Sue Wong, Tom Binns, Avril Lavigne and FIDM Alumni.

Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

Through summer 2010: “Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy” includes Jackson’s trademark fedora and gloves, six elaborately embellished jackets, original lyrics, a Jackson 5 stage costume and more.

Across eight video monitors, the museum will also present footage of Jackson’s appearances on the annual Grammy Awards, as well as never-before-seen video of some of Jackson’s famous friends sharing their memories of him. The exhibit will feature a new interactive experience which will allow visitors

to dance on a floor of light-up tiles, mimicking Jackson’s own moves in the “Billie Jean” music video.

Japanese American National Museum 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org.

Through Aug. 22: The experiences of early Issei in Hawai`i are revealed and illuminated through examples of kimonos adapted for life and labor on Hawai`i’s plantations in “Textured Lives: Japanese Immigrant Clothing from the Plantations of Hawai’i.” The exhibition interweaves priceless textiles from the National Museum’s permanent collection with rare oral histories and moving images, photographs and expert video commentary by scholar Barbara Kawakami.

Through Sept. 26: “Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids” by artist Kip Fulbeck presents a family-friendly exhibition with a playful yet powerful perspective on the complex nature of contemporary American identity.

Ongoing: “Common Ground: The Heart of Community” chronicles 130 years of Japanese American history, from the early days of the Issei pioneers to the present.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

Through Sept. 20: Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective celebrates the extraordinary life and work of Armenian-American artist Arshile Gorky, a seminal figure in the movement toward abstraction that transformed American art in the middle of the 20th century. The exhibition features more than 120 of the artist’s most significant paintings, sculptures and works on paper.

Permanent: Nancy Rubins’ cheekily and comprehensively titled “Chas’ Stainless Steel, Mark Thompson’s Airplane Parts, About 1000 Pounds of Stainless Steel Wire, Gagosian’s Beverly Hills Space, at MOCA (2001-2002)” is a monumental sculpture made out of parts of an airplane.

Museum of Contemporary Art, The Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

Through Sept 26: MOCA presents “Dennis Hopper Double Standard,” the first comprehensive survey exhibition of Dennis Hopper’s artistic career. The exhibition will trace the evolution of Hopper’s artistic

Downtown News 19

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to ladowntownnews.com/calendar for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown. output and feature more than 200 works spanning his prolific 60-year career in a range of media, including an early painting from 1955; photographs, sculpture, and assemblages from the 1960s; paintings from the 1980s and ’90s; graffiti-inspired wall constructions and large-scale billboard paintings from the 2000s; his most recent sculptures; and film installations.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763–3466 or nhm.org.

Through September 6: Enter a world of free-flying butterflies in the “Pavilion of Wings” exhibit. As many as forty different butterfly and moth species will call the pavilion home. Discover how these creatures interact with each other, with you and with the plants that they visit.

Ongoing: After being absent for nearly four years for intensive cleaning and conservation, the spectacular Humboldt fin whale specimen returns home to the Museum in a newly renovated gallery. “Finwhale Passage” features the 63-foot-long specimen, which weighs more than 7,000 pounds, has been re-articulated to create a more realistic impression of the living animal. An intriguing sound installation and interactive visitor components will accompany the display, which is one of the best and most complete large-whale articulations in the world.

Ongoing: The “Dino Lab” is a working paleontological lab, wherein museum preparators will work on a several dinosaur and other fossil creature skeletons for future display at the museum.

2Your Event Info Easy ways to submit

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

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

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

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July 26, 2010

Downtown News 21

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

place your ad online at www.ladowntownnews.com

FOR RENT

L.A. Downtown News Classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ads Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm

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

Shop around for rates.”

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

Office Space Lease/Sale LEASE, 1250+ SQ FT, Open office space, Downtown LA, near Music Center. Auto gate with plenty of parking. 310-2937455.

Lofts/Unfurnished

LOFT LIVING

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

TheLoftGuys.net LA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 Homes for Sale SOUTH PASADENA Motivated Seller! Liv: 2500 sf, Lot: 10,000 sf. Built in 2007, $1.178 million.

Paxton 626-201-3464.

BIG MONEY! FAST & EASY! You could double your money with Las Vegas Foreclosures!

Free Vegas Trip for you. Call today! 1-888-689-6760 Or Visit: www.NewMillion.com.

(CalSCAN)

20 ACRE RANCHES Only $99/ mo. $0 Down, $12,900, Great Deal! Near Growing El Paso, Texas. Owner financing, No Credit Checks, Money Back Guarantee. Free Map/Pictures.

1-800-343-9444. (Cal-SCAN)

FORECLOSED HOME Auction.

400+ So Cal Homes / Auction: August 14. Open House: July 31, August 7 & 8, 2010. REDC / View Full Listings. www.Auction. com RE Brkr 01093886. (CalSCAN)

BANK OWNED LAND! 10 acres.

Trout stream, $39,900. Substantial discounts, limited availability.

Beautiful Fish Lake Valley acreage w/year round rainbow trout stream in foothills of Boundary Peak, Nevada’s highest mountain. Gorgeous snow-capped views. Great recreational opportunities. Upscale ranch community. Financing available to qualified buyers. Call 1-877-6693737. (Cal-SCAN)

Out of State MONTANA PONDEROSA Ranch Trophy Elk & Deer Horse Trails– BLM bordering Bank Liquidation Sale- CALL NOW! 20 Acres w/ Road & Utilities$19,900. 20 Acres w/ New cabinWAS: $99,900 NOW: $69,900.

Also Available: 200-3000 acres w/ trees, views, utilities. Loaded w/ 350 class bulls, deer & game birds. Large acreage starts at $800/acre 888-361-3006 www.

WesternSkiesLand.com. (CalSCAN)

SOUTHERN COLORADO’s Best Land Bargains! Deedbacks, repos, foreclosures. Starting as low as $427 per acre. Excellent financing. www.ColoradoRanchdeal.com. (Cal-SCAN)

We've got what you're searching for!

DowntownNews.com

condos/townhouses

Rob Nesbitt

rjn Heritage Realty, Inc. Specializing in Downtown condominiums since 1987 213.617.8225 Rob@RobDowntownLA.com RobDowntownLA.com Timeshare/Resorts WORLDMARK / Timeshare Sell / Rent For Cash!!! We’ll find you Buyers/ Renters! 10+ years of success! Over $78 Million in offers in 2009! www.

SellaTimeshare.com Call (877) 554-2098. (Cal-SCAN)

CONSIDERING foreclosure?

Are you late in payments? A short sale may be your solution.

Call Lady Rodriguez, Realtor 310-600-7534. Represent both buyers and sellers.

Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development!

DowntownNews.com

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL retail space lease/sale

Retail Store Front

BestLARealEstate.com 323.298.0100

Old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com

Continued on next page

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

$1000 gross lease a month Downtown LA 1250-2500 sq.ft., 20ft ceiling, water 1403 S. Hill St. Call Pierre or Terri at 818-212-8333 or 213-744-9911

Real Estate Services

Buy Sell Lease

FOR RENT

Sell Your Car!

Expose your auto to Downtown Los Angeles, with a huge work force and one of the fastest growing residential areas Los Angeles Downtown News

gets results!

Call 213-481-1448

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

22 Downtown News

July 26, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

FOR RENT

ApArtments/UnfUrnished

Milano Lofts Now LeasiNg! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com

CHARMING Studio w/patio $650. Spacious 1 bedroom $950 & 2 bedroom $1295 with private garages. Quiet small street. 805772-9079.

FREE RENT SPECIALS Up to $3500 off select apartment homes! Additional Look + Lease specials may apply. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail. Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866-742-0992.

FREE RENT SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731.

AWESOME ONE BEDROOM in renovated classic 1905 building.

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High ceilings, views, walk to Metro-rail, $1,025. 213-389-0753 ORSINI III - Now Pre-leasing for May 2010. Hard Hat Tours Available by appointment.

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EMPLOYMENT drivers TRUCK DRIVERS Wanted!

More Hometime! Top Pay! Excellent Benefits! Newer Equipment! Up to $.41/mile company drivers! Heartland Express 1-800-441-4953. www.HeartlandExpress.com. (Cal-SCAN)

COMPANY DRIVERS (Solos & Hazmat Teams) * Great Pay * Great miles * CDL-A Required. We also have dedicated & regional positions available.

Call 866-789-8947. Swift. (CalSCAN)

DRIVER - WEEKLY Hometime, Average 2,400 miles/week! Local orientation. New trucks! Daily or weekly pay, healthcare benefits. CDL-A, 6 months OTR experience. 1-800-414-9569. www.

DriveKnight.com. (Cal-SCAN)

DRIVE FOR THE BEST! Gordon Trucking, Inc. Immediate Openings!! Teams - All the miles you can log! Regional & OTR openings. Full Benefits, 401k, Regular Hometime. We have the Freight! Talk to a recruiter lie! www.TeamGTI.com 1-888-8326484 EOE. (Cal-SCAN)

GenerAl

NATIONAL CARRIERS needs O/Os, Lease Purchase, Company Drivers for its Regional Operations in California. Generous Hometime & Outstanding Pay Package. CDL-A Required.

1-888-707-7729. www.NationalCarriers.com. (Cal-SCAN) REEFER DRIVERS NEEDED! Experienced drivers and Class A commercial students welcome! Assistance obtaining your Class A license through Prime’s Training program. 1-800-2770212. www.PrimeInc.com. (CalSCAN)

voted downtown's best residential living six years in a row

AUTOMOTIVE Great jobs in downtown LA! Full time or part time. Two blocks south of the Staples Center at Figueroa & Venice. Toyota Central is growing! Sales Associates - all levels.

Internet Associates. Service Technicians. Service Consultants. Drivers. Cashiers. Receptionists. Bilingual Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern and women encouraged to apply. Great compensation package and employee benefits.

Please call 800-597-5516 or send resume to autosuccess@ aol.com. EOE. HELP WANTED Movie Extras.

Earn up to $150/day. People needed for background in a major film production. Exp. not required. 888-366-0843 heAlth CAre ACUPUNCTURIST. MASTER’S degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine required. Mail resume to Nazareth Clinic Corp., 2140 W. Olympic Blvd. Ste. 321, Los Angeles, CA 90006, Atten: Jeremy Choi.

OffiCe/CleriCAl JOBS NATIONWIDE! Admin., HR, Clerical, Accounting, Mgmt., Tech., etc. - www.Jobs444.com and www.JobsBloom.com.

LOFT LIVING

Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development! downtownnews.com

SERVICES edUCAtiOn HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN) BUsiness serviCes ADVERTISE ONLINE in a network of 140-plus newspaper websites. Border to Border with one order! $7 cost per thousand impressions statewide.

Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www.

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(Cal-SCAN) DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com.

(CalSCAN) JUDGMENT($) NOT PAID? Auto, small claims, evictions etc.

Judgment Enforcement Agency 213-627-1762, judgmentenforcementagency1@yahoo.com finAnCiAl serviCes CASH NOW! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call J.G. Wentworth.

1-866-SETTLEMENT (1-866738-8536). Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. (CalSCAN)

CleAninG CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY help WAnted ATTN: INTERNATIONAL Company Expanding. Work online, tele-commute, flexible hours, great pay, will train. Apply online at: www.KTPGlobal.com or 800 330-8446. (Cal-SCAN) JOBS. JOBS, JOBS! Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. Up to 100% tuition assistance. Parttime work. Full-time benefits.

May qualify for bonus. www.

NationalGuard.com/Careers or 1-800-GO-GUARD. (Cal-SCAN)

AUTOS pre-OWned

dOWntOWn l.A. AUtO GrOUp Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac

2002 PORSCHE 911 TURBO X-50 yellow, loaded, 28k miles, one owner, vin686559, $56,888, 888-685-5426.

2007 AUDI A3 gray, certified, ZA9668/044129, $20,888, Call 888-583-0981.

2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.5 FWD, auto, white/gray, carfax, 1 owner, vin061950 $14,498. Call 888-781-8102.

2008 BMW 328I Mint condition, white/tan, stk C01055D1-2, 888879-9608 2008 LEXUS IS 350 (C1010831/018487), fully loaded, $27,988, call 888-203-2967

FREE RENT SPECIALS! • • • • • • • • • • •

Studio, one & two Bedrooms Granite kitchens Italian marble counter baths Washer/dryer in every home Crown molding Direct TV & Internet access Dramatic views of the city Free gated parking Sand volleyball court Roof top pool and spa Fitness centers with sauna

24-hour doorman Spectacular waterscapes Study Library FREE tanning bed Private one acre park Golf driving cages Putting green Tennis courts

walk to l.a. live and nokia theater

888.886.3731 •TheMedici.com 725 Bixel St., Los Angeles, CA 90017

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation

Take us home ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

3 bdrm/2 bath, $2,100/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/ GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com AUtOs WAnted A CAR DONATION Helping sick kids! Donate Your Car to SONGS OF LOVE and make a sick child smile! Featured on NBC (TODAY SHOW), CNN. Tax-deductible, all vehicle conditions accepted. www.SongsofLove.org 888-909SONG (7664). (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher.

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

PETS/ANIMALS AdOpt A pet ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@ BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

ITEMS FOR SALE spOrts/exerC. eqUipment MENS SHIMANO gear bikes: nishiki (steel belted tires) $100; mountain bike $150 ED 424258-0834

S e e k S S t y l i S h M at e

City Lofts:

680 sqft, 16 ft ceilings, $1425/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

Please call 213.627.6913 www.cityloftsquare.com

Luxury Rooms in Downtown Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available • Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDeNT RaTe! $690 1 person

Stay 3 months & get

$100 Off

Stay 6 months & get

$200 Off

Mayfair Hotel SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S Certified, (Stock N107351/7N479443) $14,999, call 888838-5089

I c o n I c B e au t y

On Spring St.

Premiere Towers: • • • • • • • •

2008 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350 CONVERTIBLE certified, low miles, navigation, leather, (243042), $37,994, Call 888-319-8762.

1256 West 7th street

Simin (213) 484-9789 Ext. 555 or (213) 632-1111

nOW leAsinG

$1,400’s/mo. free parking ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

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

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $650 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $550 utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

July 26, 2010

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com Servicing inc., its attorney-in-fact 2727 north harwood Dallas TX 75201-1515 DEFEnDanTS: SiLViano and VaLEria MarTinEZ husband and wife 533 ½ W 51st Street Los angeles, Ca 90037 or 1309 Terrace avenue racine, Wi 53403 WiSConSin ELECTriC poWEr CoMpany c/o keith h. Ecke 231 West Michigan Street Milwaukee, Wi 53203 STaTE oF WiSConSin, c/o attorney general Fred risser Center, 6th Floor, 17 West Main Street, Madison, Wisconsin 5370 ForTy Day SUMMonS ThE STaTE oF WiSConSin, To : SiLViano MarTinEZ 533 ½ W 51st Street, Los angeles, Ca 90037 or 1309 Terrace avenue racine, Wi 53403 or 205 West Florence avenue Los angeles, Ca 90003 you are hereby notified that the plaintiff named above has filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you. The complaint, which is also served upon you, states the nature and basis of the legal action. Within 40 days

COLLECTABLES MUST SELL 3 Etched paintings on mirror for $10 each immediately. 213-400-7809.

CLOThing/JEwELry MaTErniTy CLoThing: $10.00+ Wholesale to the public. our brand of stimulus package to you. Buy now! www.gotBelly. com

ANNOUNCEMENTS SpECiAL EvEnTS inTroDUCTion To ZEn Lectures, Five Thursdays, 7:30pm, aug. 5th through Sept. 2nd, Zenshuji Temple (Little Tokyo) Fee $70 http://www.zenshuji.org 213-624-8658 vOLunTEEr OppOrTuniTiES hELping kiDS heal. Free arts for abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

TASHMAN AD 5.pdf

ChurChES

after July 12, 2010, you must respond with a written answer, as that term is used in Chapter 802 of the Wisconsin Statutes, to the complaint.

The court may reject or disregard an answer that does not follow the requirements of the statutes.

The answer must be sent or delivered to the court, whose address is: Clerk of Circuit Court Racine County Courthouse 730 Wisconsin Avenue Racine, WI 53403 and to o'Dess and associates, S.C., plaintiff's attorneys, whose address is: O'dess and Associates, S.C. 1414 Underwood Avenue, Suite 403 Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213 you may have an attorney help or represent you. if you do not provide a proper answer within 40 days, the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the complaint. a judgment may be enforced as provided by law. a judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property.

O'dESS ANd ASSOCIATES, S.C. 6/15/10

Attorneys for Plaintiff M. ABIgAIl O'dESS Bar Code No. 1017869 POST OFFICE AddRESS: 1414 Underwood Avenue, Suite 403 Wauwatosa, WI 53213 (414) 727-1591 o’Dess and associates, S.C., is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. if you have previously received a Chapter 7 Discharge in Bankruptcy, this correspondence should not be construed as an attempt to collect a debt. pub. 7/12, 7/19, 7/26/10 FiCTiTiOuS BuSinESS nAmE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE NO 20100873589 The following person is doing business as: CaSEy’S iriSh pUB, 613 S. grand ave., Los angeles, Ca 90014, are hereby registered by the following registrant: Big CaSEyS inC., 613 S. grand ave, La Ca 90014.

This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 6/1/2004.

This statement was filed with DEan Logan, Los angeles County Clerk on June 25, 2010.

NOTICE—This fictitious name

statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and professions Code). pub. 7/05, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26/2010

under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 5/30/2009.

This statement was filed with DEan Logan, Los angeles County Clerk on June 25, 2010.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and professions Code). pub. 7/05, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26/2010

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE NO. 20100873456 The following person is doing business as: TonyS SaLoon, 2017 E. 7th Street, La Ca 90021, are hereby registered by the following registrant: SpiriTED VEnTUrES 12 inC., 515 W. 7th Street, #300 La Ca 90014 .

This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE NO. 20100873596 The following person is doing business as: Cana rUM Bar, 714 W. olympic Blvd., La Ca

90015, are hereby registered by the following registrant: SpiriTED VEnTUrES 6 inC., 515 W. 7th Street, #300 La Ca 90014.

This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 4/10/2010.

This statement was filed with DEan Logan, Los angeles County Clerk on June 25, 2010.

NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and professions Code). pub. 7/05, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26/2010

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

2:17:52 PM

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STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT RACINE COUNTY CASE NO. 10-CV-1934 COdE NO. 30404 FOREClOSURE OF MORTgAgE dOllAR AMOUNT gREATER ThAN $5,000.00 pLainTiFF: WELLS Fargo Bank, n.a. as Trustee for option one Woodbridge Loan Trust 2002-1, asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2002-1 by american home Mortgage

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Additional Features: Kitchen Additional Facilities, Mail/Copy Features: Room, Conference Rooms, Mail/Copy Spectacular Views, Kitchen Facilities, Room, Fully Trained Staff Views, Conference Rooms, Spectacular

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

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

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

3386766 0119

Downtownnews.com

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

*Amenities vary among communities

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Sec. Deposit Special @$100

Publication: utilities, basic cable laundry room Size/Color: on site.

Includes channels, Gated building in a good area.

208 W. 14th St. at hill St. Downtown La

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

• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings Associates• Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

G.H. Palmer LADT News 4.3125” x 8” 4C

by: apluscreative@yahoo.com

Ph: 323.474.4668

6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900

FictitiOus Business name statements:

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

SAKurA hEALTh gym & SAunA, inC.

Featuring a more robust local search powered by Yellow Pages.

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

Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo.

Client: with private bath at $695/mo.

Fully Trained Staff

JENNY AHN JENNY AHN (213) 996-8301

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

Only $85.

FOr 4 insertiOns

Call (213) 481-1448 for details.

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

24 Downtown News

July 26, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games

Turn Your Gold Jewelry Into Cash !

X Games Mark the Spot

We Buy Gold, Silver, Platinum and Diamonds

Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com.

The Dodgers are on the road all week, and heck, maybe they could use a good road trip to bond. Last week was tough. The Blue Crew dropped their first six games out of the All Star Break, and at press time were looking to turn things around against the Mets. This week, they have a chance to gain some ground in the standings with a three-game stint against the San Diego Padres (July 27-29), and then another trip to the Bay Area to take on the Giants (July 30-31). There was at least one spark last week, when pitcher Chad Billingsley pitched a complete game shutout, reminding us of the ace of the first half of 2009.

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

The Sparks are travelling this week, heading to Minnesota to take on the Lynx (July 27), and then to New York to battle with the ladies of the Liberty (July 30). Not that it will help; they’re already thinking of 2011.

X Games L.A. Live and Staples Center, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., espn.com/action.

July 29-Aug. 1: The extreme sports bonanza that is the X Games returns to L.A. Live and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this week. The world’s best athletes in BMX, skateboarding, rally car racing and motorcross are in town for a four-day festival. A shuttle will ferry attendees between L.A. Live and the Coliseum. Highlights include the skateboard big air finals on Thursday at the Coliseum and skateboard and BMX vert competitions inside Nokia Theatre on Friday.

—Ryan Vaillancourt

At LA Cash for Gold you can walk in with Gold and walk out with Cash. Sorry no checks.

Visit us at www.LACashForGold.com to see our prices.

213.623.3377

DIAMONO 404 W. 7th St., Suite 514 (5th floor, private office) Los Angeles, CA 90014

Free Jewelry Evaluation 10am to 5pm Monday-Saturday No Appointment Needed

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

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

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

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

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

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

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

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

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

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

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

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

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