09-06-10

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 39, Number 36

Art Walk Sept. 9 14-17

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September 6, 2010

INSIDE

Urban Scrawl on the Broad Museum.

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Pico-Garnier block to be developed.

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Learning the art of the shave.

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photo by Gary Leonard

The scene at a Downtown Red Line stop at rush hour. Under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 30/10 plan, a dozen major transportation projects, including the Downtown Regional Connector, would be built in the next decade.

Eat and dance with Restaurant Buzz.

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Everyone Loves 30-10, but Building a Dozen Major Transportation Projects In a Decade Requires a Long Stop in Washington

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

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ayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 30/10 plan sounds simple: A county in dire need of economic stimulus uses $40 billion in guaranteed future tax revenue to secure federal

Downtown Film Fest is back.

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financing for a dozen mass transit construction projects.

Riders win because the miles of new rail lines and rapid bus lanes open in 10 years rather than spreading construction over three decades; the county and the unions win because the plan cre-

ates 165,000 jobs when employment is most needed; the federal government and American taxpayers win since the county has a guaranteed revenue stream to pay back the debt; and Villaraigosa wins with a legacy project that jumpstarts traffic deconsee Transit, page 10

City Hall Abandons ‘12 to 2’ Development Reform Consultant to Overhaul Entitlement Process

Don’t Miss dinosaurs and a funeral.

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15 CALENDAR LISTINGS 18 CLASSIFIEDS

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

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ore than two years after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the “12-to-2” reform plan to streamline the city’s infamously slow development entitlement and permitting process, those plans have died a slow death. The city is now turning to a private consultant for advice on developing a new system.

With Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner leading the new tack on reform, the city quietly issued a request for proposals in August, asking consultants to study the current development

process and devise a new, streamlined system that will draw from best practices in other cities.

Proposals are due Sept. 28.

“I don’t think we’ll ever say 12-to-2 was a failure,” said Bud Ovrom, general manager of the Department of Building and Safety, which issued the RFP. “But I think we will say that it didn’t live up to our expectations and the mayor is disappointed that it didn’t result in more meaningful development reform.”

If 12-to-2 languished for years, the new plan appears to be on a fast track. Consultants were given less than two months to respond to the see Development, page 6

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

photo by Gary Leonard

Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner is leading a new effort to reform the city’s development process, signaling the end of the mayor’s “12 to 2” plan.

2 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

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Arts District Dog Park Delayed

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new Arts District dog park, originally slated to open Oct. 31, was delayed last week and organizers are now hoping to finish final construction work some time this week.

As of press time, the Los Angeles River Artist and Business Association, which is leading the charge on the park at Fourth and Molino streets, still needed to rake out some 6,000 square feet of decomposed granite surfacing. After a separate delay, the planned delivery of two donated coral trees occurred last week and the trees needed to be planted, said Joseph Pitruzzelli, vice president of LARABA. The park will reposition a long neglected, triangular property as a 6,000-squarefoot haven for dogs and their owners. The park effort was spearheaded by LARABA, in partnership with LAPD Senior Lead Officer Jack Richter. Get up-to-date park info on its Facebook page by searching Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Dog Park.

Downtown Construction

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esidents and business owners along Figueroa and First streets can expect to see a lot of trucks and other heavy equipment and some heavier traffic between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. until approximately Nov. 1. According to the City’s Department of Transportation, construction crews are installing a communication line in the area to help improve traffic flow. The work is taking place along the east side of Figueroa Street between First and 12th streets and along the north side of First Street between Figueroa and Main streets.

Traffic lanes will remain open for vehicles to travel around the construction zones but “No Parking” signs will be posted at various locations throughout the construction area.

Nickel Chef Is Nightline Finalist

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ore than 1,000 chefs were nominated but only one Downtown food whiz made the cut as a finalists for Nightline’s People’s Platelist Contest. Monica May of the Nickel Diner is one of 18 finalists looking for your vote to be featured on a full segment of the nationally broadcast ABC news show. Voting ends Sept. 26 and a winner will be an-

photo by Gary Leonard

AROUNDTOWN nounced during the live Nightline broadcast Sept. 27. You can vote at nickeldiner.com. May opened the Nickel Diner, at 525 S. Main St., with business partner Kristen Trattner in late 2008. The 50-seat diner serves comfort food in a retro atmosphere and in December 2008 was named by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the top new restaurants in the city.

Downtown Dog Rescue founder Lori Weise is looking for a new home for her nonprofit rescue operation, which for 14 years has saved and rehabilitated dogs like Clancy for adoption.

‘Pick The Pros’ Football Contest

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hile not everyone has what it takes to make it in the NFL, you can still get in on the football action with The Downtown News Pick The Pros Contest. The 22-week long contest starts Sept. 6 and runs through Jan. 31. Weekly prizes are awarded to players who pick the winning NFL teams that week. Prizes include four tickets to the Regal Cinema at L.A. Live and a $75 gift certificate to Maria’s Italian Kitchen for the first place winner, two tickets to the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live and a $25 gift certificate to Takami for second place. The grand prize is a trip for two to Hawaii. Players can make weekly picks and compete in an additional free games, create their own public and private groups, upload avatars and share photos & videos, go to ladowntownnews.com/pickthepros for special offers and to register for the game.

Downtown Dog Rescue in Limbo

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owntown Dog Rescue, the Arts District nonprofit operation that has saved and placed hundreds of homeless pit bulls into homes through the past 14 years, is in jeopardy.

The kennel, founded and operated by Lori Weise, is housed at the Arts District headquarters of Modernica. Weise, an employee at the furniture factory, has long been permitted to keep her kennel and some 25 rescue dogs on the property for free. Now, Modernica is expanding and is in escrow to purchase a larger facility in the city of Vernon. Weise said she applied for but was denied a permit to operate a kennel at the new site. If the sale goes through as expected, Downtown Dog Rescue will likely have to find a new property and another understanding landlord, perhaps the city of Los Angeles, Weise said. For now, Weise is looking for new homes, po-

tentially in South L.A., that could accommodate the rescue operation as well as a base for all the group’s services. In addition to rescuing and placing dogs, most of them pit bulls, Weise and several volunteers offer dog training, spay and neuter services and other resources geared toward keeping dogs out of the pound. “All we really need is a parking lot with a small office and running water and electricity,” Weise said. “The whole kennel is portable. We have the resources to expand the kennel. I have the people, the manpower. What we don’t have is a spot to move to.” Anyone with a potential new home for Downtown Dog Rescue can reach Lori Weise at (818) 407-4145 or lori@modernica.net.

Correction

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erry Reutter has joined consulting engineering firm Psomas as an associate. Reutter was incorrectly identified as Tyler Reutter in a story that appeared in Los Angeles Downtown News ‘On The Move’ section Aug. 30.

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EDITORIALS El Dorado Shows an Admirable, If Painful, Perseverance

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he onetime residential wave that is now a trickle continued last month, as another high-profile Downtown project launched at the height of the real estate boom finally came online at what may turn out to be the lowest point in the market. In the El Dorado, a project by experienced developer Downtown Properties, the community sees both a cautionary tale, and a commitment to the Central City that may strike some as surprisingly strong.

While Murphy’s Law didn’t quite come into play with the 65-condominium project at 416 S. Spring St., certainly a lot did go wrong. In fact, the surfeit of problems conspired to create a situation where the profits envisioned did not come close to reality. A Downtown Properties official went so far as to term the project an economic “disaster.” “We’ll get the bank paid off and that’s about it,” he said in a Los Angeles Downtown News story published last week.

The fact that the developer persevered in spite of the financial troubles is what makes this story stand out. In the years

since the economy soured, Downtown has seen numerous situations in which those who began housing projects instead turned tail when they encountered serious trouble — some filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, while others went the Chapter 7 route and gave up. The result has been too many buildings today sit empty and serve as pocks on the cityscape.

In the El Dorado, Downtown Properties took a different tack. At a certain point in the proceedings, the principals in the firm probably realized that breaking even was a best-case scenario. Yet rather than go the bankruptcy route, or even seal up the building and attempt to wait until the market turned around, they elected to move forward. Proceeding apace and opening the building demonstrated an impressive commitment to the community.

Having the El Dorado stay empty would have been troubling for the neighborhood. First off, the building has been underutilized for decades; though it was an upscale ho-

Pitfalls in City Garage Plan

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ast month, a fracas broke out over a proposal to lease the operating rights to nine city-owned parking facilities, including the one at Pershing Square, to a private firm for 50 years. It’s a good thing that a batch of concerned business stakeholders made their opposition known, because this is an issue that demands closer scrutiny.

It should not be fast tracked; it should be examined in detail.

A lot is at play in the city’s effort to package nine parking facilities together and lease the operating rights to a private garage company or investor. The way the city puts it, the garages are not something local government should be running. They say that leasing the cumulative 8,231 parking slots would provide an upfront payment that covers Los Angeles’ current $53 million budget shortfall

and pays off the remaining $91 million in loans on two other structures. Additional revenue generated by the deal would go into the city’s reserve fund. The deal, proponents say, would prevent that doomsday word, “layoffs,” though how many jobs are at risk depends on whom you ask.

There is something to the argument to lease, but then again, detractors also raise some persuasive points. They note that the upfront money would help now but not in future years when there is still a budget shortfall. They point out that, when a similar scenario unfolded in Chicago, parking rates in the urban core skyrocketed, outraging residents and business owners. That theme comes into play with Pershing Square, as Downtowners note that the 1,590-space facility in the heart of the community is crucial

tel when it opened in 1913, for several decades before the Downtown residential revolution it was a rundown, lowincome structure. Eventually the residents were moved out and the building boarded up. This is, obviously, not desirable in the Historic Core, where a tug-of-war still exists between derelict properties and big-budget investments.

The building has a location of strategic importance in Downtown’s future: It is directly north of a nearly one-acre plot that the city is working on turning into a park. When the current surface parking lot is reborn as green space, the community will have another positive attraction. The park has a brighter future with active residential elements on both sides of it — an empty and abandoned structure to the north would have been inauspicious.

Downtown Properties has had a few successes in the Historic Core, including the firm’s transformations of the Douglas Building and the Rowan Lofts (directly south of the park site). Still, it had to have been hard to stay the course when a project initially budgeted at $27 million ballooned into a $40 million behemoth.

Downtown Properties said the El Dorado will be its last transformation of an aging Downtown office building. One can’t blame the company. Still, their mission to go through with what they started, and to live up to their promises, is something worth emulating. And we hope those who do can return to making a profit.

to the Jewelry District, and could figure heavily in the future if the Broadway theaters can be reactivated. They worry that a private operator would raise rates to the point that local entities would suffer, or that the firm would set aside spaces for residential use, limiting access for commercial users.

There are no easy answers here. The city’s precarious fiscal state demands an increase in revenues, and Downtown can’t be exempt from sharing in the pain simply because a lot of people use the garage. Repairing L.A.’s finances requires many steps.

In other words, the lease deal is worth considering — but not for a fee that essentially is a giveaway, and not without protections to ensure affordable parking rates in the day and evening. One of the keys, interestingly, could be in how many entities respond to the public bidding — these will come, presumably, from major firms, and if they are willing to pay $140 million or more upfront it is only because they see the chance to rake in many

times that amount.

A new operator deserves the right to make money if a deal comes to fruition, but in Downtown, those whose businesses depend on Pershing Square deserve to be protected.

There needs to be workable caps on rates and spaces. We don’t want to see, for example, prices doubling overnight, or even in a threeyear period.

Some have already pointed out that other privately owned Downtown lots are, during the day, less expensive than Pershing Square.

It is an argument that is off base — those rates can be raised any time, compared to the set rates at the park.

Bidders on the garage package will want to move quickly, but this is not something to speed through. This must be closely examined and, in Pershing Square’s case, rates and hours need to be spelled out clearly with no wiggle room. We don’t want to feel the pain Chicago felt, especially when we can see it looming on the horizon.

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 PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Billy Wright 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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September 6, 2010

Downtown News 5

Opinion

El Pueblo Takes First Step to Rehabilitate Pico-Garnier Block Property Could Bring Department Nearly $1 Million in Annual Rent

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

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ith her camera in hand, 54-year-old Lucy Bolindo stepped back to take picture of the 1869 Pico House, the first three-story hotel in Los Angeles.

She then walked up to a window for a closer look and cupped her hands over her eyes so she could see inside the widows.

“It’s empty, there’s nothing there,” she told her husband Albert before the two walked away to do some shopping at nearby Olvera Street during their visit to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.

“It’s disappointing, I thought something would be in there,” said the San Diego native.

Tourists like Bolindo, and merchants at the historic birthplace of the city, may soon get their wish following a decision by the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 to begin the public bidding process and look for developers to rehabilitate and lease the seven building, two-block area known as the Pico-Garnier Block “We’re thrilled,” said Robert Andrade, El Pueblo’s general manager. “These are obviously difficult times but I think there’s a lot of opportunity here to re-energize the plaza.”

The area on the south side of the monument is anchored by the Pico House fronting the El Pueblo plaza and the Garnier Building, which faces Los Angeles Street.

The buildings have been sitting unused for years due to a long-running lawsuit between the city and Old Los Angeles Company, whose partners include politically connected attorney and restaurateur Andy Camacho. The company has long had primary rights to develop the Pico-Garnier Block.

In 2004 Old L.A. sued the city, claiming the city violated the deal by allowing the Chinese American Museum to expand.

As part of the settlement talks, the city entered into an agreement with Old L.A. not to solicit bids on the property while pursuing settlement.

But the city gave the El Pueblo commission the green light

to release an RFP for the property after the City Council voted in early August to terminate settlement negotiations with Old L.A. and instead support the development of the buildings.

Valerie Flores, managing assistant city attorney, said terminating that agreement means that Old L.A. no longer

“These are obviously difficult times but I think there’s a lot of opportunity here to re-energize the plaza.”

—Robert Andrade

has exclusive rights to develop the property and the city’s decision could spark another lawsuit.

The buildings have sat idle and have not been seismically retrofitted, and the city wants to see the property activated, she said. She also said Old L.A. could bid on the project. Camacho did not return several calls for comment by press time.

Early Interest Andrade said a handful of developers have already contacted El Pueblo saying they are interested in developing the 45,000 square foot property that consists of historic buildings like the 1858 Masonic Hall, the 1900 Hellman-Quon building, which sits on the former site of the Pio Pico adobe, and the Merced Theater, a structure built in 1870 that was the first theater in Los Angeles.

“It’s not surprising that there would be so much interest,” Andrade said. “I think astute business people will look at

this as a big opportunity.”

While El Pueblo recently balanced its $4.1 million budget with department layoffs and cutbacks on some services, including museum hours, The Department has been involved in a long battle with merchant tenants to bring their rates up to market rates. The department frequently required bailouts from the city to continue operating.

A new development could bring in about $70,000-80,000 in monthly rent to El Pueblo, Andrade said. “Everybody benefits from that. Not only us on a financial level but business owners on Olvera Street, attendance at the monument, at museums, everything would be affected,” he said. A request for proposals should be issued in about a month.

Vivien Bonzo, president of the El Pueblo Merchants Association, which is currently preparing to negotiate new rental rates with the city, said she is excited about seeing that property activated, but worries about any new lawsuit filed by Old L.A. “I think it could eventually cost the city more money since the case is not settled yet,” she said. Bonzo is also concerned that the unsolved legal issues may keep away qualified bidders.

But if the buildings are developed, it could be a boon for the whole area, she said.

“We would like to see more night activity in the area that would fit in with the cultural and historical theme of El Pueblo.

And it would be nice to spread some of the financial burden of El Pueblo and take some of the financial pressure off the tenants,” she said, referring to Common Area Maintenance fee paid by tenants for the upkeep of the property.

Michael Russell, a real estate adviser whose company has conducted feasibility studies of El Pueblo in the past, said that whoever develops the Pico-Garnier block could serve as an anchor tenant for the area.

“It would lend itself really to enliven the whole block. It’s physically the gateway seen from the freeway, seen from the Civic Center,” he said.

As for the types of businesses the buildings could hold, Andrade said a look back at what was once there could give a clue of what’s to come.

“Looking at the history of the kinds of businesses that have occupied those spaces is rather interesting. You’ve had everything from a saloon to a billiard parlor, restaurants, retail, a barber shop, a theater, a museum would be ideal,” he said.

“Whether that’s commercially viable for a developer I don’t know, but all those are possibilities.”

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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6 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

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Development Continued from page 1 Aug. 6 RFP, and the winning contractor will have six months to assemble a plan.

The contract has a $600,000 price tag, with $500,000 coming from a special reserve fund supported by developer permit fees that pay for technology upgrades and other innovation improvements. It will not affect the general fund, Beutner said. The remaining funds are poised to come from private donors.

The RFP specifically tasks the contractor with developing a study on best practices in planning and permitting, and to propose a new technology platform to facilitate streamlining.

“We have to put a technology platform across it, that all of the different functions within the city can tap into,” said Beutner.

Death of a Plan It’s not entirely clear why the 12-to-2 plan, which had wide political support and strong backing from the business community was never implemented. At least in theory, the plan was simple: Reduce from 12-to-2 the number of city departments that developers would deal with to approve a project.

As the process stands, developers, small business owners and homeowners — anyone with a large-scale project — must ferry their plans back and forth among several different agencies, which often give conflicting directions. The city’s business community has been clamoring for years for a reduction in a web of red tape that they say entangles developers, delays projects and discourages investment.

Under 12-to-2, customers would interface with the Planning Department for all entitlement approvals, then deal strictly with Building and Safety for permits and inspections.

But an idea that may sound simple on paper proved far more challenging to implement.

“It doesn’t seem that complicated and yet it did not happen,” said Gary Toebben, chief executive officer of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. “The best we can surmise from outside City Hall is that the internal department heads weren’t able to make it work for whatever reason, or didn’t choose to make it work.”

Ovrom confirmed that internal friction is indeed partly to

blame. He recalls one department head say they didn’t want to be part of the system, and suggested that Ovrom just make it “11-to-2.” Ovrom said a staff member from a different department told him that they were instructed by their boss to never say anything, to never contribute, at 12-to-2 meetings.

He declined to identify the department heads that resisted, but he said that they’re no longer employed by the city.

In the past year, key officials to depart from departments with major influence in the entitlement and permit process include Gail Goldberg, former director of the Planning Department. Goldberg was a co-author of 12-to-2, and spoke publicly in favor of the plan. Other department heads that have left include Ovrom’s predecessor Andrew Adelman and former CRA chief Cecilia Estolano. Adelman left in a cloud of controversy tied to an alleged sexual assault that did not lead to any charges. Estolano told Downtown News that she left her post voluntarily to pursue a job in sustainable development.

But the larger challenge to implementation, according to Ovrom and Beutner, was the sheer size and complexity of the city’s bureaucracy. Even with willing department heads, 12to-2 would have been far more complicated to enact than it seemed on paper, they said.

“The size of the city bureaucracy and the procedural difference between departments turned out to be a lot more complex and a lot more difficult than we ever imagined,” Ovrom said. “So active and passive resistance from department heads is an issue but 80% of the problem was just the complexity.”

Real Change Key stakeholders in the development community, including the Central City Association and the chamber, say they’re optimistic that the new RFP will lead to real change.

“I think Austin Beutner and his staff understand the role of entitlements and development in the city’s menu of powers and they know it’s been a huge obstacle to appropriate growth to not have a system that works well and they are committed to making a difference on this issue,” said Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the CCA. Besides enlisting the help of a private consultant, Beutner said a key difference to the new approach is the involvement of the private sector. Beutner has assembled an advisory board that includes city staff as well as developers and land use attorneys, and multiple private foundations have committed funding to the new effort, he said.

“That type of public private partnership makes dollars go

Nick’s Cafe

photo by Gary Leonard

Bud Ovrom and the Department of Building and Safety are handling the city’s RFP to find a consultant that will study and streamline L.A.’s cumbersome development process.

further and I think the foundations who are involved feel it’s a great way to accelerate the pace of job creation,” said Beutner, who would not yet identify the groups that have pledged funds. “At the same time it helps me and our team because we’re making commitments to those foundations that we’re actually going to make change.”

According to the terms of the RFP, once a contractor is selected, that firm will likely be involved in implementation, though it’s unclear what that timeline will look like. But Ovrom insisted that the study won’t go to waste. The backers of the plan, including the mayor, have too much at stake, he said.

“This is not going to be another study sitting on a shelf collecting dust,” he said. “More heads with roll if anyone thinks this is going to be study that sits on a shelf.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Man Cuts Hair Downtown News Reporter Richard Guzmán Finds Out What It’s Like to Be a Barber

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

I

t felt a little strange at first to put my hands on other men’s heads, especially ones that I had just met minutes earlier.

But they trusted me. They were comfortable with it, well mostly comfortable. And even though I didn’t have the gentlest touch or the best technique, and I made one cry out in pain, it was still a surprisingly strong bonding experience that even ended with a soothing massage, and luckily, no lawsuits.

As part of the Downtown Challenge, where I take on different jobs and roles in the neigh-

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Bolt Barbers is located on the ground floor of the Rowan Lofts and they take their old school mantra seriously. “Mohawk” Matt Berman opened the barbershop in Nov. 2009 and employs 14 licensed barbers who specialize in everything from flattops, tapers, and fades to Mohawks and straight-razor cuts.

You can even get a shoeshine and some beer, after 7 p.m.

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“Mohawk” Matt Berman teaches City Editor Richard Guzmán the art of the barbershop.

Matt said.

A Community Place The former marketing executive gave up his desk job and tie to follow his passion for barbershops.

“I love the sense of community created in old school barbershops where people come in to talk, to socialize,” he said. “It’s a place where guys from all walks of life can just hang out and be themselves.”

His love for barbershops is deeply embedded in his skin, literally, since Matt sports a

full back tattoo depicting a barbershop scene with patrons getting haircuts. On his chest he’s marked with Shave, Shear and Shine, the shop’s clipper chimp mascots who reflect Bolt’s three “prides.”

It sounded like I was at the right place to learn how to become a barber. I like hanging out with the guys, I like tattoos, beer, monkeys, and more importantly, Matt agreed to teach me the ways of the clipper and took me in as an apprentice.

Usually, to become a barber one needs

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Downtown News 9

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Aspiring barber Richard Guzmán lacks the sensitive touch and cut his second customer.

to take an intense 1,500-hour course at an accredited college, which takes about nine months. You could also go through a 3,200hour apprenticeship program where you take a shorter course and study under a licensed barber like Matt to learn the art of a good cut.

But while Matt agreed to give me a crash course and have me cutting hair right away, and despite my experience shaving my own head daily, I doubted many of his customers would agree to play guinea pig.

So I turned to my work colleagues, experienced journalists who know what it takes to get the story and who are willing to risk it all for a good yarn. I knew in the name of journalism they would be willing to put their looks at risk in my hands by volunteering for haircuts.

Nope.

Apparently I work with some pretty boys who don’t want to ruin their beautiful style.

“No thanks, I don’t need the dumb and dumber bowl cut,” my editor told me.

The Right Cut Luckily, Matt knows some guys willing to take a risk and he lined up a few volunteers

to get some cuts from me. I expected a few practice runs first with a hairy mannequin head or a stuffed animal, but nope, Matt had me dive right in with clippers buzzing.

“When you apprentice to become a barber the idea is to actually not do a lot of theory but to get you holding the clippers as quickly as we can,” Matt said.

My first customer was Darnell Webb, a mountain of a man who handles security at the Rowan. He was actually a young kid, in his 20s, but big, maybe 6-feet something and I’m guessing around 300 pounds. And he looked like he could crush me with his eyebrows if I messed up his haircut. “I want it all shaved completely off,” he said.

“Nice!” I thought. I shave my head everyday with only a few minor cuts here and there so this should not be a problem. There’s no way I would mess up a shave. Darnell will be happy and I will remain uncrushed.

“It’s hard to mess up a bald head, unless you cut them,” said Shane Lichterman, who has been a barber for 15 years and was working in the chair next to me.

But a good shave isn’t as simple as it sounds, Matt told me. It should take about 20 minutes and I would have to constantly pull the scalp and move the skin in a way to get an extremely smooth shave.

The vibration of the clippers felt pretty industrial and in a way, it made me feel like a worker at a factory ready to carve a beautiful shave on this guy.

It was strange holding his head and I was a little timid with my first few passes of the clippers, but Matt told me to get in there and give him as close a shave as possible.

So I dug in and the hair started coming right off, first on the top. I started at the crown and gave him sort of a bald monk look at first. Within a minute I felt more comfortable and I was moving his head around, stretching his skin to get all the hairs.

Matt helped me feel around Darnell’s head a few times for strays and in 20 minutes or so he was as smooth as a baby’s bottom and Darnell was happy with his new look.

The session ended, as all Bolt barbershop cuts end, with a massage. The crew uses a massage machine that looks kind of like a car buffer to massage the shoulders and neck of the customers. It’s part of a barber tradition that goes back decades, Matt said.

The Wrong Cut If I was a little intimidated by Darnell’s size I was straight up scared of my next customer — an attorney.

Ari Bessendorf was about my height. I maybe outweigh him by 50 pounds but I’m sure he could crush me with a lawsuit if I messed up his cut. Luckily, he too wanted a total shave.

There was no way I could mess this up, unless I cut him. Which, of course, I did.

And while he volunteered to get a cut from an apprentice, no one had bothered to tell him that I wasn’t a real apprentice with a few hours of experience under my belt and a passion for cutting hair, but just a reporter out for a story.

I noticed Ari flinching a bit when I was moving the clippers through his head. He told me he had really sensitive skin and was used to Matt’s gentle touch.

“Matt’s got a nice soft touch, you’re a little rougher, you’re kind of jamming it in my head a little bit” he said. “How long have you had your apprentice license?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I said.

He turned to give me a surprised and somewhat nervous look when I explained what I was doing there.

“I’m not an apprentice really. I just walked off the street about an hour ago and you’re my second haircut ever,” I told him as the barbershop erupted in laughter.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” I said shortly before he nearly jumped out his seat with a yelp.

“Oh (expletive) did I hurt you?” I asked.

“Yeah, a little,” he replied as the spot I hurt suddenly began to turn really really red.

Luckily for me Ari was real cool about it and he let me finish his cut. And as soon as I was done Matt got out a cold towel to soothe the skin.

Ari rated my cut a six out of ten, which was really nice of him considering I almost gave him a lobotomy. I think he was understanding because he plans on enrolling in a barber apprentice program and work part-time as a barber.

Luckily I didn’t cut anyone too badly and I had fun hanging out with Matt and his crew, and even though I shave my own head, I think I’ll go in for one of their full service shaves one day.

And since I owe Ari for cutting him, I’ll volunteer my head when he needs someone to practice on. Just try and be gentle with me, Ari. Bolt Barbers is at 460 S. Spring St., (213) 232-4715 or boltbarbers.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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September 6, 2010

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Transit

Three-Headed Funding Monster Another benefit of 30/10 is price reduction.

The 12 projects outlined in the legislation would cost $14 billion if built in the next decade, as opposed to $17.5 billion over 30 years, according to Villaraigosa’s office.

Metro expects the Measure R sales tax to bring in about $10 billion over the next 10 years, but only $6 billion will be set aside for the dozen transit projects. That leaves a roughly $8 billion gap to cover the $14 billion price tag.

That is where the federal government comes in. Although backers of 30/10 are eyeing several federal funding sources, the thrust of the proposal hinges on Congress approving a new bond program.

Under that plan, Metro would sell bonds to raise $6 billion, and pay the money back over 10 years using future tax revenue. But in order to afford the deal, the agency is asking the federal government to fund the full interest payments on the bonds, which would likely amount to about $2 billion, said Raffi Hamparian, Metro’s government relations manager for federal affairs.

On the one hand, it may seem like asking

the

Continued from page 1 gestion and improves air quality.

Of course, like any major civic effort, 3010 is actually extremely complicated, and changing the local transit landscape requires going well beyond Los Angeles. In this case, bringing the vision to reality requires getting Congressional legislation passed in Washington, D.C. “Nobody’s ever done this before,” said Richard Katz, a Metro and Metrolink board member who has taken the lead on 30/10 on behalf of Villaraigosa.

County voters in 2008 approved Measure R, a half-cent sales tax expected to generate $40 billion for transportation projects over 30 years. The funds would pay for efforts including the subway to the sea and the Downtown Regional Connector. As the law works now, Metro will only be able to fund those endeavors as the tax revenue comes in.

Under 30/10, the county would access several federal funding sources — a loan, a grant

and interest subsidies on transit bonds — in order to start work right away. Metro would then use the sales tax revenue to pay back Washington as money flows into public coffers.

Several key officials, including nine members of the Los Angeles Congressional delegation, have signed on in support of the effort.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, is leading the charge. Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood likes the idea too: He told Boxer in a June 3 letter that he believes 30/10 “has the potential to transform the way we invest in transportation projects across the nation.”

So what’s the hold-up?

Champions of the plan are hoping for federal approvals before Congress adjourns in the fall. That may be difficult, they say, because the newness of the idea makes it harder to insert into existing legislation, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are being especially careful during the election season.

But if 30/10 doesn’t get implemented this year, it’s more likely because the plan, while simple in concept, requires some complex lawmaking in Washington.

the federal government to cover 100% of the interest on the bonds is a bold proposal.

Under an existing bonds program known as Build America, the feds generally fund only 35% of local government’s interest payments; a proposal now circulating in congress would lower that to 30%.

But Hamparian said the local initiative is likely to appeal to lawmakers because, while the federal government is accustomed to subsidizing only a portion of the interest on major bond-funded infrastructure programs, it normally covers large chunks of the principal costs as well. With 30/10, Metro is asking for a 100% interest subsidy, but it doesn’t need help with the principal.

In order to secure such a deal, however, lawmakers need to amend an existing transit bond program, or create a new one.

Hamparian said he and other advocates, working closely with Boxer’s office, are looking for the best legislative vehicle to carry the new bond language.

If Metro gets the green light to sell the $6 billion in bonds, the agency would still be short about $2 billion for the Measure R projects. Currently, the game plan is to get a $2.5

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Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

Connector Study Released

$1.2 billion.

The Metro board is expected to select a route this fall, and that preferred alignment will be analyzed as part of a final review, which will take a year to complete.

Final design and engineering would take another two years and project completion is tentatively pegged for 2018.

That timeline could hinge on another item on Metro’s Washington to-do list: The agency hopes the FTA approves an agreement for the connector and subway extension that would advance some of the New Starts funds for which the agency is applying (loan amounts have not been negotiated). In order for that to happen, the 30/10 team needs to get what is known as Early Systems Work Agreement funds included in the president’s 2012 budget, which is due to be finalized in October 2011.

While Boxer leads the 30/10 charge in the Senate, Rep. Jane Harmon is spearheading the effort in the House. As they and other lawmakers try to solve the federal funding puzzle, it may feel like a waiting game. But Metro has plenty of work to do, Katz said.

In order to qualify for the advance New Starts funds for the connector and subway projects, the agency needs to finish its environmental studies and preliminary engineering work as soon as possible.

“Given the money the MTA has now and the willingness in Washington to look at new ideas, we want to have our end as buttoned-up as possible so if we do have a bill, we’re ready to proceed,” Katz said. “The worst thing in the world would be Congress is ready to move and the projects are not ready to go.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Rendering courtesy Metro

billion loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA).

In order to access TIFIA dollars, however, Metro’s lobbying team and Congressional backers will need to tweak another law. TIFIA funds are only available for shovel-ready projects.

“We want to be able to take projects funded with TIFIA loans and, even though they’re not construction-ready today, be able to lock in today’s interest rate, which also saves us all money,” Katz said.

Regional Connection The Measure R projects that would have the most significant impact on Downtown are the Regional Connector and the subway to the sea.

Metro singled out the projects last year when the board prioritized them for funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.

Metro’s application to the program is pending.

The $4.2 billion subway to the sea won’t involve shovels turning Downtown dirt, but when completed, it would extend the Purple Line from Koreatown to Westwood, connecting Downtown Los Angeles with several employment hubs along the Wilshire corridor, including Century City.

The Regional Connector is a proposed two-mile rail link that would unite the Gold Line with the Blue Line and the under-construction Expo Line, allowing riders to easily transition without the cumbersome transfers currently required between lines. Several alignment options are being studied, but Metro staff backs an all-underground route that would add up to four new Downtown subway stations, and cost

The allunderground Regional Connector would add a new subway station at First and Alameda Streets, with new tracks that would emerge on a widened First Street. An imagined mixedused structure is depicted on the intersection’s northeast corner.

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

T

he Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff prefers an all-underground alignment for the two-mile Regional Connector transit link.

That’s the message in the draft environmental impact report on the project, released by Metro on Sept. 2. The report analyzes impacts and mitigation measures associated with three alignment options, but places the all-underground option as the frontrunner.

The $1.2 billion connector would add two miles of new subway track that would link Union Station with Seventh Street Metro Center and allow passengers to travel from Pasadena to Long Beach, or from East L.A. to Culver City, without transferring. It would add four new subway stations, at Fifth and Flower streets; Second and Flower streets; Second Street, between Spring Street and Broadway; and at First and Alameda (see rendering). But Metro says in the report that it may need to cut costs, in which case the agency

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your watering days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

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12 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

RESTAURANTS Grub With Guzmán

♦♦♦

The Fake Coach

decided to give it a try.

Now I’m not saying this place blew my mind or that I’ll never get the carne asada tacos from some of the authentic old school trucks that usually park around the Warehouse District, but El Coche was actually pretty good.

The menu was a bit more authentic than the fake surroundings, with staple items like beef, pastor, fish and chicken tacos (1.50), sopes ($2.50), burritos ($4.99), and tortas ($4.99) with the choice of the aforementioned meats.

I tried the beef burrito, which comes with salsa, rice and beans. It’s a big burrito, especially for the $4.99 price and topped with the fresh hot salsa they serve, it was a respectable lunch. I also ordered beef and al pastor tacos. They’re a little bigger than the typical lunch truck tacos and the meat is well prepared and worth the $1.50. The pastor was far better then the beef though.

El Coche’s Comical Game of Dress up Is Accessorized With Some Pretty Good Food

by RichaRd Guzmán city EditoR wasn’t sure what to make of El Coche the first time I saw it at the food court level of City National Plaza.

I

It’s designed and accessorized to resemble a food truck.

My first reaction was to laugh and shake my head at the irony of a “brick and mortar” restaurant in a food mall using the street food truck craze as a gimmick to get customers. It’s like dressing in Ed Hardy gear and pretending

to be a gangsta. It just doesn’t fly.

The tables are made from old milk crates and the floor is faded to look like the street so you can pretend that it’s the real deal and you’re sitting in some gritty Downtown industrial corner eating your lunch. The counter, with its silver textured wall and flip up windows, is supposed to resemble the truck itself I guess.

But at least they’re trying to emulate the old school taco trucks that are just as good as the new trendy versions but don’t get much attention from hip foodies, so I

It was tender and of course I squeezed a bit of lime on it for added flavor.

But one of the things that really made me happy was their selection of drinks. They don’t have anything fancy or original, but they do carry Jarritos and Coke in a bottle.

Jarritos ($2.50) is a flavored soft drink from Mexico, similar to Mountain Dew in sweetness but with more flavor varieties. I usually go for the strawberry or pineapple.

And while there are some who say they can’t taste the difference between a glass bottled Coke and a one from a fountain, I am not one of those people. Bottled Coke is a little stronger, sweeter and more authentic, which is ironic in a place with such fake surroundings.

At 505 S. Flower St., in the City National Plaza food court.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo courtesy of Conga Room

Restaurant Buzz

Organic Fare, Build a Burger, Summer Living and Dance Food

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

D

o the Cabbage Patch: While the curtains closed on Showbiz Ribs earlier this year, another restaurant is ready to try its luck in the barbecue joint’s former spot. With a focus on organic and farmer’s market type foods, The Cabbage Patch is now refurbishing the former Showbiz space at 520 W. Sixth St., but there is no opening date set yet. The restaurant is helmed by chef/owner Samir Mohajer and his business partner Harold Karsenty and will be the third Cabbage Patch location. The other locations are in Beverly Hills and Playa Vista. According to their website, they focus on organic ingredients and use beef, lamb and pork that come from Niman Ranch in Northern California where the animals are raised with natural feeds and no antibiotics or hormones. Their menu items include soups, salads and sandwiches in the $4-$12 range.

At 520 W. Sixth St. Cabbagepatchbh.com.

n Boca Moves: Dancing isn’t the only thing going on at the Conga Room at L.A. Live. Enclosed in glass walls so you can still see the action outside is Boca, a modern Latin restaurant inside the club that recently debuted a new menu designed

by Wolfgang Puck and Boca chef Aaron Ziegler. Some of

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Boca inside the Conga Room recently debuted a new menu.

the new items include Cuban spiced ahi tuna, with coconut, cilantro and marinated shrimp with plantain chips.

Lighter fare includes a spicy green papaya salad and if you’re really hungry try the classic paella or the braised short rib and sweet potato mofongo. Desserts like homemade doughnuts with caramel and Cuban sweet toast with ginger poached peaches are now served. And don’t worry too much about the calories, since you can walk right out of the restaurant and get a great aerobic workout on the dance floor.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. (213) 745-0162 or congaroom. com. n Burger Building: Following in the footsteps of other Downtown places like Casa that let you build your own meals by choosing your own items, Rowdy Red Wine & Burger Bar will debut their new “Build Your Own Burger” menu this week. Starting Sept. 7, you can pick your protein: beef, turkey or veggie; the size: 1/3, 2/3, or 1lb., then the bun, cheese and topping.

And you can get really creative with the toppings since they include items like hard-boiled egg, sliced cucumbers, grilled pineapple, peanut butter, fried egg and roasted green chile. Depending on how topping-crazy you go, burger prices will range from $6.50 to $12.

At 505 S. Flower St., (213) 627-5511 at City National Plaza underground food court. n Summer Living: It may have taken summer forever to get here but there is still time to enjoy the weather and some good food too. Taking advantage of their 10,000 square foot patio, J Restaurant & Lounge is offering a complimentary appetizer with dinner every Sunday evening through Sept. 30. But that isn’t the only summer deal. The restaurant is also offering a summer drink called the Sommelier’s Summer Sangria. It consists of a blend of red wine with Amaretto, watermelon, apples and citrus juice to create a light and sweet drink. It’s $13 for a carafe or $5 per glass.

At 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com.

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F r e e P a r k i n g

September 6, 2010

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

images courtesy of Downtown Film Festival

CALENDAR In “Chasing Che,” an Iranian businessman inspired by a biography of Che Guevara, which he reads and then translates into Farsi, embarks on a long odyssey through Latin America and Europe, home movie camera in hand.

His mission: to retrace Che’s footsteps. It screens at 4 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Civic Center Auditorium.

Movie people are legendarily liberal and left leaning, particularly when it comes to the environment. “Greenlit” puts their commitment to the test as filmmaker Miranda Bailey, shown here, follows the production of “The River Why” as it attempts to keep an environmentallyfriendly set under the supervision of a “green” consultant. It screens at 1 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Downtown Independent.

ies a changing city chronicles the difficult ich wh e,” ton cho “E in tured Center Auditorium. of several musicians fea . on Sept. 9 at the Civic p.m 7 at s een scr Black Joe Lewis is one film e ative music scene. Th poses to Austin’s altern

Film Festival Increases Focus on Residents Smaller Fest Will Activate New Downtown Venues

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

L

ast year, the Downtown Film Festival followed up on its 2008 debut by doubling in scope, expanding to 11 days and growing its main venue footprint from two

to six.

This year, in some ways, it’s back to square one. Due to a struggling economy, fundraising proved more challenging this time around, so when the indie-centric event comes back for its third installment starting Sept. 8, it will return to its original five-day schedule.

While the sponsorship restraints have no doubt shrunk the festival’s footprint, co-founders Henry Priest and Greg Ptacek say supporters have been generous with in-kind donations, like unique venue access.

“There are much better funded festivals than ours, so the fact that we’re here in the so-called new economy is sort of a triumph in itself,” Ptacek said.

And while the festival has a smaller footprint, in some ways it will be more focused on the Downtown residential community.

The festival will again include an event at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live — with a Sept. 9 screening of “Red Hot Chili Peppers: Untitled Documentary” — but the majority of the fest will be anchored on Main Street, between the Old Bank District and the Civic Center.

On opening night, Sept. 8, the festival will screen the Los Angeles premier for “American: The Bill Hicks Story,” a documentary about the late pioneering standup comedian, in the new Civic Center Auditorium. It will mark the first film screening held in the 400-seat theater built as part of the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters at First and Main streets. The theater will screen films every day during the festival.

A block south, the Downtown Independent will again

screen several festival films on Saturday, and for the first time, the recently completed mixed-use Medallion project will serve as a venue. The festival has brought together “Taco Cinema,” a daylong program of events on Sept. 11 at the Medallion’s outdoor patio (the building is at 334 S. Main St.), including a beer garden, live music and about 20 food trucks.

“Taco Cinema, this is our answer to the street food phenomenon sweeping L.A.,” Ptacek said. “We’re serving variations on tacos – the focus is on the international expression of the taco.”

A temporary screen at Medallion will also show a new documentary inspired in part by Twitter, the social networking tool that propelled the food truck craze through mobile marketing. The film “140,” a reference to the maximum number of characters allowed in a single Twitter message or tweet, is the culmination of 140 filmmakers who filmed one hour of their lives for the project. The result is an international montage that drops in and out of the lives of the 140 participants.

From Mumblecore to Skid Row The Downtown Film Festival joins the Art Walk party on Thursday, Sept. 9, with a 7 p.m. screening at the Civic Center Auditorium of “Echotone,” a documentary about the independent music scene in Austin. After the screening, musicians featured in the film will walk over to the Spring Arcade building at 541 S. Spring St. Bands will take over the arcade building’s ground floor open air paseo that links Spring Street and Broadway, starting at 9 p.m.

Friday is the festival’s programming day dedicated to diversity, specifically Latino filmmakers, Priest said. The Civic Center Auditorium will host the American-Latino Shorts Program (5:30 p.m.), and then at 9:30 p.m., the spotlight is on comedian and Downtown resident Felipe Esparza. The winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Esparza stars in “I’m

Not Like That Anymore,” in which the 30-year-old title character still lives with his parents, sister, two brothers, sister-inlaw and grandmother. One morning, he finds out his parents are getting a divorce, his sister is going to grad school, that his younger brother is gay, and that he’s about to lose his job.

On Saturday, as the Medallion hosts Taco Cinema, the festival’s centerpiece gala screening features “Everything Happens Before You Die,” a narrative feature in the “mumblecore mold,” Ptacek said. The film, which screens at the Civic Center Auditorium, traces a young man due to get married at the end of the day, who gets sidetracked and dragged back into an old lifestyle of partying and chaos.

“Mumblecore is part of a new genre film that’s usually set among 20-somethings,” Ptacek said. “The dialogue is often ad-libbed and spontaneous. It’s an emotive kind of filmmaking sort of like [John] Cassavetes did.”

On closing night, Sept. 12, the film festival will move to what is certainly its most unlikely venue: Skid Row. The festival is planning a sunset screening of “Lost Angels,” a Skid Row documentary that focuses on the rich humanity of some of the area’s residents. At press time, Priest and Ptacek were in the process of securing a street closure of Gladys Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets, to host a free screening, with complimentary food as well.

The film got its debut at the Los Angeles Film Festival earlier this year, but Ptacek and Priest said their screening will bring the audience to the work’s real home.

“I think it’s important for people to physically experience the environment because many people say they’re down for a cause,” Priest said. “But we’re the type of festival where we’re not sayers, we’re doers.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

For more information, including ticket info, go to dffla.com.

14 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Return of the Artist An Original Downtown Street Artist to Perform for Art Walk

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

E

ven though there will likely be thousands of people crowding the sidewalks of the Historic Core for the monthly Downtown Art Walk, 59-year-old Clyde Casey will still stand out amongst the crowd.

He’ll be the one wearing the forks for jewelry, the harmonica around his wrist, with the metal spring and bell on his hat and he’ll be the one man walking band returning to what he knows best.

“I was blown away by the energy of Downtown. It’s been taken to great levels because of the Art Walk,” he said.

Casey, an artist and musician known for his large musical sculptures that he calls his “musical necklace,” a homemade contraption that can include drums, cymbals, horns, flags and other random objects, will for the first time be performing throughout Art Walk Sept. 9 He has not set a schedule or route for Art Walk. He prefers to just “wing it” and go where the crowd takes him, he said.

“In between now and the Art Walk I’ll be building a new musical necklace. It’ll be a construction of sight and sound and various bits of cosmic debris and I’ll meander about kind of like a troubadour,” he said while sitting down for lunch at Clifton’s Cafeteria.

Even when he’s not performing, Casey is easy to spot since he usually wears bent forks as wristbands that he makes and sells. He sports a hat with a desk bell and metal spring and a speaker strapped to his belt that creates various sound effects, which he likes to turn on at random.

While it may be the first time many of the are residents and visitors see and experience Casey, he is not new to Downtown and is one of the area’s original street artists who, inspired by the energy of Art Walk, is returning home in hopes of recreating one of his most successful art projects.

Another Planet Casey first moved to Downtown in 1985 from New Orleans. He performed with his musical necklace in Hollywood and Downtown where he was known to start limbo lines on the street.

But he is perhaps best known for creating Another Planet.

In 1988, on the corner of Wall and Boyd streets, at the site of a former gas station and parking lot, Casey created an outdoor cultural space where you could play pingpong, watch TV, listen to live music, take part in jam sessions and create art with people in the community.

It was open twenty-four hours a day, and he also offered a spot to store belongings and free clothing.

Another Planet flourished for a year but burned down in a fire 1989.

Casey later moved to New York and eventually Roswell, New Mexico, before returning to Downtown recently when he was invited to speak at a panel at Aloud at the Central Library about the art community in Skid Row. During that visit he attended Art Walk for the first time and inspired by the energy, he decided to return and try to rebuild Another Planet in Skid Row. He was recently offered a workshop space above a music store on Broadway where he can start designing his new project, which he hopes will be one of three Another Planet venues, with others in Roswell and New Orleans.

Meanwhile, a production company is working on a screenplay about the original Another Planet. Ari Kadin is co-writing the film with main writer Austin Hines of 1c Films.

“His energy and passion for the arts really intrigued us,” Kadin said. “I think he is an amazing artist. He is a very creative and energetic being, full of laughter, full of humor.”

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

Artist and musician Clyde Casey will be performing with his “musical necklace” at the Downtown Art Walk Sept. 9.

Coming Soon Our annual Downtown Los Angeles Guide will publish September 27.

Look For It! LO S

A N G E L E S

G U I D E

2 01 0 - 2 01 1

YOUR ESSENTIAL EXPLORATION GUIDE

September 6, 2010

Downtown News 15

DowntownNews.com

LISTINGS EVENTS

Continued on next page

photo by Joan Marcus, copyright 2008 Global Creatures

D

UMBER

photo courtesy of the Office Of The Lt Governor

? Try Funeral Party. The You thought an Irish wake was a good time feet under, but from the five-piece local band sprung up not from six ic scene. After a national underground of the East Los Angeles mus rs are bringing it home tour and a stint in the U.K., the electro rocke t this month (beginning to the Bootleg Theater every Saturday nigh Funeral Party borrowed Sept. 7) at 10:30 p.m. In the early days houses. Now they’ve equipment to play backyard bashes and ware ash their electronic/punk/ got a temporary home at which they unle ., bootlegtheater.org. disco/metal/dance sound. At 2220 Beverly Blvd

1•N

What exactly does a lieutenant governor do? And how long does it take to memorize the spelling of “lieutenant?” You can ask current California Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado when he takes the podium at a luncheon program on Wednesday, Sept. 8, from noon-1:30 p.m., at the board room of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. It is part of the Chamber’s California Candidates Series leading up to the November elections — last week Maldonado’s foe, Democrat Gavin Newsom, dropped by to speak. This week it’s the Republican nominee’s turn, so check out the son of immigrant Mexican-American farm workers who eventually ran their own strawberry farm. At 350 S. Bixel St., (213) 580-7565 or lachamber.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

saTurday, sepT. 11 The Culinary Historians of Southern California Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org.

10:30 a.m.-noon: The Culinary Historians of Southern California present “The Search for the Legendary Fragrant Sun Fruit of Shangri-La and Other Tales of Adventures in the World of Citron.”

For the love of lemons, it’s free.

Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org.

Noon-3 p.m.: Live oral history interviews with WWII veterans, co-sponsored by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and the History & Genealogy Dept. For information, call David Meyer-O’Shea at (323) 469-9774. Meeting Room B. Esotouric Bus Tours See web site for departure locations, (323) 223-2767 or esotouric.com Noon-4 p.m.: The double feature crime and oddities bus tour, Hotel Horrors and Main Street Vice, celebrates a ribald old neighborhood with hotel visits and vintage film clips.

Support the Cure Met Lofts, 1050 S. Flower St., (323) 969-4984 or supportthecure.org.

7-11 p.m.: Support the Cure, a charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for various global causes by inspiring the philanthropy of younger generations, celebrates its fourth annual cocktail fundraiser. This year it benefits Teach For America.

The event features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and a live and silent auction.

calendar@downtownnews.com

uck, here comes an Ornithocheirus, with its 38-foot wingspan! Watch out for the 23-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus Rex! Don’t get tail-spiked by the 36-footlong armored Stegosaurus! And don’t get gouged by the concession stands selling $7 popcorn! Yep, this is what happens at Walking With Dinosaurs, a Staples Center happening that depicts the evolution of the prehistoric creatures, including the climatic and tectonic changes that helped lead to their demise. More than a history lesson, the extravaganza features life-sized dinosaur creations — with roars to match — that interact with each other. The South Park arena fills in for the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous playgrounds for a seven-show run from Sept. 9-12. At 1201 S. Figueroa St., (800) 7453000 or stapescenter.com.

2

photo courtesy of RCA Records

Friday, sepT. 10 Metabolic Studio Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org.

1-3 p.m.: The Twain, the studio’s new red trolley, rolls out for a mobile conversation from LACMA to the VA campus in West L.A. and back. Each week special guest conversationalists will narrate the route and explore issues raised by two artworks at either end of the free tour.

Dance Downtown Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org.

6:30-10 p.m.: Feel the rhythms of Brazil and move to the beats of live samba music for an outdoor dance party. No experience or partner necessary. Complimentary beginner lessons at 6:30 p.m. and throughout the evening.

The Enough Moment: A Community Conversation with Don Cheadle and John Prendergast Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, 322 S. Lucas Ave., (213) 202-2811 x23 or facinghistory.org.

Sept. 10, 7 p.m.: Human rights activist John Prendergast and Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle bring an empowering and hopeful new book, The Enough Moment, and reveal the steps being taken by engaged citizens, famous and unknown, here and abroad, to combat genocide, rape and child soldierdom in Africa.

Revolution Bookstore 312 W. Eighth St., 323-850-4436 or dramastagequmran.org.

7 p.m.: Got something to say? Dramastage-Qumran Theater Company hosts a Sounding Off and Open Mic night. All donations benefit The Prison Literary Fund.

|

photo courtesy of David Karp

Thursday, sepT. 9 Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com.

Noon-9 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a selfguided tour that showcases the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues.

by Lauren CampedeLLi, Listings editor

1•N

Tuesday, sepT. 7 Comedy With Martini and Jules Five Stars Bar, 269 S. Main St., (213) 625-1037.

8-10 p.m.: Power comedy couple Martini and Jules perform stand up, sketches, magic, music and more.

The Dino Stomp, the Last Dance, the Funeral Party and More

UMBER

SPONSORED LISTING Autumn Lights L.A. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., autumnlightsla.com.

Sept. 25, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.: Artist Lilli Muller, in partnership with the city department of Recreation and Parks, presents Autumn Lights L.A. 2010, a multi-media showcase featuring the best in emerging and established local and international artists, all using the medium of light.

Got citrus? You will on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Central Library, when David Karp drops by. Karp is a citrus researcher at UCRiverside and a writer for the Los Angeles Times whose appearance carries the long-winded title “The Search for the Legendary Fragrant Sun Fruit of Shangri-La and Other Tales of Adventures in the World of Citron.” At the free event sponsored by the Culinary Historians of Southern California, Karp will discuss how he traveled around the world researching the citron — the pollen parent of lemon and lime, which for centuries was used in traditional Chinese medicine, Jewish religious rituals, South Indian cuisine and Korean tea. The event starts at 10:30 a.m., but do plan on staying for refreshments following the talk. At 630 W. Fifth St., (323) 663-5407 or culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.org.

S

5

o you think you can samba? Si or no, Dance Downtown is signing off for the summer with a wild samba party on Friday, Sept. 10, from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Music Center Plaza. A live band will keep your feet moving and your hips happy. The Brazilian dance, which was developed at the end of the 19th century, has African roots and is the definitive street dance at Carnival, the pre-Lenten party before the faithful fast for 40 days. But why wait until April? Join the free dance fest Saturday night. Beginner lessons start at 6:30 and the dancing lasts throughout the evening. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9723660 or musiccenter.org.

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

16 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Listings Continued from previous page Club Nokia Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com.

8 p.m.: The Last Comic Standing Live Tour features stand up with series winner Felipe Esparza and the four finalists Roy Wood, Jr., Tommy Johnagin, Myq Kaplan and Mike DeStefano whooping it up.

Sunday, Sept. 12 MOCA Grand Avenue Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1745 or moca.org.

3 p.m.: In conjunction with the Arshile Gorky Retrospective, scholar Kim Theriault gives a talk on Gorky, the Armenian Genocide and crisis of identity

ART SPACES

in the artist and his work.

ADC Contemporary Art Gallery Factory Art Place Complex, 1330 Factory Place, (323) 839-5786 or adccontemporaryartgallery.com.

Opening Sept. 9: In the ocean’s invisible forest

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

marine phytoplankton play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate. Can it be used to combat global warming? That’s the central question of artist Andrea Juan’s “The Invisible Forest.” Through Oct. 5.

Art Share Los Angeles 801 E. Fourth Pl., (213) 687-4278 or artsharela.org.

Current: “Mear One and Friends.”

Art Squared Gallery Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

Through Oct. 31: Pershing Square Art Squared Gallery is an outdoor cityscape venue. The gallery has six eight- by eight-foot large wall openings that display digital reproductions of artist works. An eclectic mix of performances, sculptures, and installations are also exhibited during the summer months throughout the Square.

Art Walk Lounge Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 784-2598 or downtownartwalk.org.

Sept. 9, 6-9:30 p.m.: The Artwalk Lounge is a central meeting point for “all things Artwalk.” You can pick up an Artwalk map, enjoy musical offerings, have a unique art experience, and browse through gallery, bar, restaurant and event flyers, and local art publications to plan your evening. Need a place to sit down or meet up with friends? Have questions?

Want to learn more about downtown community, culture, and life? Come by the Artwalk Lounge.

Bert Green Fine Art 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 624-6212 or bgfa.us.

Through Sept. 18: The “Rapture of the Tiny” exhibition offers an assortment of small artworks at affordable prices. In the Project Windows, Jerico Woggon’s “The Four Seasons” is a four-part installation that changes with each season, interpreting seasonal fluctuations in Woggon’s signature graphic style. In the Project Window Annex, “The Man With Anal Eyes” is an animatronic sculpture by Brian Poor and Elizabeth McGrath.

Buchanon Gallery 204 W. Sixth St., (323) 823-1922 or byronbuchanan.com.

Ongoing: Pop paintings by Bryon Buchanan.

Charlie James Gallery 975 Chung King Road, (213) 687-0488 or cjamesgallery.com.

Opening Sept. 11: In “Indelible Whispers of the Sun,” Bay Area artist Ala Ebtekar fuses mytholo-

gies and time with epic paintings and drawings on mounted prayer book pages, a series involving re-mythologized Persian women and a newly constructed installation piece. Through Oct. 16.

Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 411 Bernard St., (323) 222-0856 or chssc.org.

Ongoing: An exhibition about the history of immigration from China to the United States.

Cirrus Gallery 542 S. Alameda St., (213) 680-3473 or cirrusgallery.com.

Opening Sept. 11: Retrospective exhibition of works on paper by native Californian Craig Kauffman, spanning the years 1958-2000. The works reflect a sensuous and luminous color sensibility, fused with Kauffman’s fascination of the unorthodox. Through Nov. 6.

The Company 946 Yale St., (213) 221-7082 or thecompanyart.com.

Opening Sept. 17: Jen DeNike’s “The Scrying Trilogy” incorporates video, sculpture and a performance/sculpture installation in pieces that expand on the ballet Scrying, which was first developed in workshop in Santa Monica and then premiered at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Through Oct. 16.

Compactspace The Factory, 912 Third St., Studio 204, (310) 4287135 or compactspace.com.

Opening Sept. 10: “Sweet People II,” the second leg of a traveling exhibition featuring the work of six multi-disciplinary artists from the French-speaking region of Switzerland. From tango dancing “squircles” to a faux renegade swordfish, the artists use both new and traditional media to explore themes ranging from the trials of adolescence to the aesthetics of metaphysics. Through Oct. 20.

Cottage Home 410 Cottage Home St., (323) 276-1205 or cottagehomela.com.

Through Sept. 14: The Summer Show features the work of Alex Israel and Justin Lowman from the Kathryn Brennan Gallery; Paul Chrewick and Johathan Pylypchuk from China Art Objects Galleries; and Juan Capistran, Josh Mannis, Analia Savan and Aaron Sandnes from Thomas Solomon Gallery.

Crewest 110 Winston St., (213) 627-8272, crewest.com.

Opening Sept. 9 “Urban Impressionism: A Miguel Paredes Retrospective” features the latest

work from the Miami-based pop and multi-media artist, sculptor and urban impressionist. Through Sept. 26.

Downtown Art Center Gallery 828 S. Main St., dacgallery.com.

Opening Sept. 9: The zeitgeist of what is “essential” is the theme of a juried group show at the gallery. Through Oct. 7.

Downtown Art Gallery 1611 S. Hope St., (213) 255-2067 or downtownag.com.

Summer 2010: The “Summer Group Show” consists of a diverse collection of painting, drawings, etching and bronze sculpture that examines a rich cross-section of artists and cultures.

Edgar Varela Fine Arts 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 604-3634 or edgarvarelafinearts.com.

Through Sept. 18: “The Bigger Picture” is a group show featuring very large site-specific work including painting, sculpture, video, photography and performance. g727 727 S. Spring St., (213) 627 9563 or gallery727losangeles.com.

Opening Sept. 25: “720 sq. ft.: Household Mutations,” a two-part installation by Los Angeles-based artist Carmen Argote, explores spatial memorization and the relational complexities of interior vs. exterior, private vs. public and positive vs. negative space. Through Nov. 6.

Gary Leonard 860 S. Broadway, takemypicture.com.

Take My Picture is a gallery dedicated to Gary Leonard’s photographs, documenting the public and private culture of Los Angeles with significant guest collections.

Hive Gallery & Studios 729 S. Spring St., (213) 955-9051 or thehivegallery.com.

Through Sept. 25: The always buzzing Hive features the artists Edward Frausto, Elizabeth Caffey, Gary Garner, J. Slattum, Ryan Ebelt and Rick Strieck as well as 26 resident artists and 70 group show artists.

Human Resources 510 Bernard St., humanresourcesla.com.

Through Sept. 14: The Birth of Satan, a multimedia interactive art installation by Gustavo Herrera, ruminates on specific cause and effect relationships pertaining to the conceptual allure of such figures as

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

September 6, 2010

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

He y Lady image by Drew Mancilla

Art Walk to Bring Out the Crowds Again Highlights of the Self-Guided Sept. 9 Event

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

T

housands of locals and mostly visitors are again expected to crowd the streets of the Historic Core Thursday for the monthly Downtown Art Walk.

The self-guided tour of Downtown’s galleries, museums, and art venues happens the second Thursday of every month. The next one is set to take place Sept. 9. More than 40 galleries and museums take part in the event, which goes on from noon to about 9 p.m. although many stay open much later.

One of the highlights this week is a tour of the historic theaters by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. Tours depart from the 2nd Floor of Clifton’s Cafeteria, at 7th and Broadway, at 6:30pm; 7:00pm; and 7:30pm. Tours last 30-45 minutes and there is limited capacity.

Another option is to catch an exhibition

Jesus, Satan, David Koresh, Aleister Crowley, Kenneth Anger, Anton LaVey and Timothy McVeigh. A performance program is integrated into the installation.

L2kontemporary 990 N. Hill St. #205, (626) 319-3661 or l2kontemporary.com.

Opening Sept. 11: “done, finished, here” features the art of Dan Goldman. Through Oct. 9.

The Latino Museum 514 S. Spring St., (213) 626-7600 or thelatinomuseum.com.

Ongoing: The Latino Museum holds a unique collection of work from emerging and established contemporary Mexican, Latino and Chicano artists working and living in the United States as well as throughout Latin, Central and South America.

LA Artcore at Union Center for the Arts 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 617-3274 or laartcore.org.

Opening Oct. 1: The work of artists Matthew Thomas and Ehja Kang. Through Oct. 31.

Los Angeles Center for Digital Art 107 W. Fifth St., or (323) 646-9427 or lacda.com.

Opening Sept. 9: The winning artists of the 2010 DigitalArt LA International Juried Exhibit. Through Oct. 2.

Los Angeles Public Library Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lapl.org.

Through Apr. 30, 2011: “Forty Years of Sesame Street Illustration: Selections from the Publishing Archive of Sesame Workshop” explores the history of the children’s educational television show.

Ongoing: The Annenberg Gallery displays some of the extraordinary materials collected by the Los Angeles Public Library since its founding in 1872.

The inaugural exhibit, “Treasures of Los Angeles,” features items from the Hollywood collection, including vintage film posters, publicity photographs, postcards and other promotional items such as photo advertisements from Mexican films of the 1950s and 1960s.

Mihai Nicodim Gallery 944 Chung King Road, (213) 621-2786 or nicodimgallery.com.

Opening Sept. 18: A solo exhibition of the art of Neal Rock: work that explores the boundaries of painting, sculpture and construction. Through Oct. 23.

Morono Kiang Gallery 218 West 3rd St., (213) 628-8208 or moronokiang.com.

Current: “Joyride” group exhibition includes the work of Shepard Fairey, Spike Jonze, Takuya Sakamoto and more contemporary artists.

Norbertellen Gallery 215 W. Sixth St., (818) 662-5041 or norbertellengallery.com.

Opening Sept. 9: “Profusion” group exhibition.

Through Oct. 31.

Optical Allusion Gallery 2414 W. Seventh St., (323) 240-6785 or lafineartistsnetwork.blogspot.com.

Through Sept. 10: Optical Allusion Gallery presents a solo exhibition of Alden Marin, a contemporary artist painting in nontraditional form. Using acrylic pen on paper as well as found materials, he

at the gallery of the man who started the Art Walk. Bert Green Fine Art at 102 W. Fifth St., is currently hosting the exhibition “Rapture of the Tiny: A Small Art Show,” an assortment of small and affordable art pieces. Get there early, because the gallery closes at 6 p.m.

If you want to check out some cutting edge urban art try Crewest at 110 Winston St. During Art Walk the gallery will debut “Urban Impressionism” a retrospective of Miami based pop artist Miguel Paredes from 6-10 p.m. DJ Phyz Ed will provide some beats for the opening.

The dominant streets in the walk are Main, Spring and Broadway from Second to Ninth, though there are other parts of Downtown that participate, too. A more definitive map can be found at artwalk. com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com. produces vivid abstract faces, animals and landscapes.

POVevolving Gallery 939 Chung King Rd., (310) 594-3036 or povevolving.com.

Current: The gallery’s “21 Anniversary Celebration” group show includes the art of Clark Goolsby, Derek Albeck, Alexis Mackenzie and more.

Opening Sept. 17: “Memory Claim” features the work of Julie Rofman.

PYO Gallery 1100 S. Hope St. #105, (213) 405-1488 or pyoart.com.

Opening Sept. 25: Dal Jae Huh: “Moving in Calmness” solo exhibition. Through Oct. 2.

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

Opening Sept. 17: “Not Only Time: Zhang Peili and Zhu Jia” features the work of Zhang Peili and Zhu Jia, who have used video and photography since the early 1990s to navigate the sea of changes in contemporary China, touching on the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen Massacre and the landmark 1989 China/Avant-Garde exhibition and its subsequent closing by state authorities. Through Nov. 21.

Sam Lee Gallery 990 N. Hill St. #190, (323) 227-0275 or samleegallery.com.

Opening Sept. 11: Multi-media artist Carrie Yury’s solo show “First Ladies and Suits.” Through Oct. 23.

Sci-Arc Gallery 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu.

Through Sept. 12: “len-tic-u-lar-is” is a new exhibition by Los Angeles and Sendai-based architecture firm Atelier Hitoshi Abe (AHA). The first architectural subject that AHA will tackle in Los Angeles is the design of a new large-scale roof over the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center Plaza, designed by Isamu Noguchi. For the plaza, Noguchi created a singular landscape inspired by a Zen garden that isolates itself from the surrounding townscape. Exhibited at the SCI-Arc Gallery is a 1:7 scale model of the proposed roof structure.

Temple of Visions 719 S. Spring St., templeofvisions.com.

Ongoing: “Imaginaria” group show features contemporary mystical and visionary art.

Terrell Moore Gallery 1221 S. Hope St. (213) 744-1999 or terrellmoore.net.

Ongoing: A mini-retrospective of Terrell Moore includes an introduction of his recent work, “Glyphs.” Group shows and featured solo artists revolve on a continuous basis.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale Bar 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

Sept. 10, 9-11 p.m.: Live jazz with the Michael White Quintet.

Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com.

Sept. 10, 8-10 p.m.: Osaka-born Mayu Wakisaka and her alt pop/jazz Quartet.

Sept. 11, 8-10 p.m.: It’s a full house with the

The Downtown Art Walk isn’t limited to Main Street.

At the event on Thursday, Sept. 9, those checking out galleries, food trucks and drinking establishments might want to wander over to La Cita on Hill Street. There, the artistic festivities include live painting organized by Justin Odaffer.

Participants include Drew Mancilla, a Los Angeles native whose colorful cartoon female figures have roots in anime. From about 7-11 p.m., he’ll create an original work, inspired by those who parade in front of him. He’ll be joined by Odaffer and another artist.

“It’s going to be individual pieces on one canvas, but it also will be a collaborative thing,” said Mancilla, whose work has been featured at the gallery The Hanger and the rolling art show Cannibal Flower.

La Cita is at 336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111.

Kevin Kanner Band, Matt Politano, Hamilton Price and friends.

Sept. 12, 6:30-10 p.m.: Spotlight Cabaret shines on.

Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com.

Sept. 10, 10 p.m.: An American Band features country rockers Dan Clark, Byron Thames and Jamie Douglass.

Sept. 11, 9 p.m.: Hear Sara Radle celebrate the release of her solo album “Four.”

Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com.

Sept. 9, 8 p.m.: Isaac Delgado pays tribute to Nat King Cole.

Club Nokia Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com.

Sept. 8, 9 p.m.: Finnish orchestral rock band Apocalyptica and the uncategorizable Dir En Grey cross the language barrier.

Sept. 10, 9 p.m.; Sept. 11, 10:30 p.m.: Trey Songz’ “Passion, Pain and Pleasure Tour” with Monica and Dondria.

Five Stars Bar 269 S. Main St., (213) 625-1037.

Sept. 10, 9 p.m.: Dirt boogie rock band Spirit Vine headlines with east side favorites Robotanists, Wet and Reckless, Black Flamingo and DJ Scarlett Cassanova.

Friday Night Sessions @ California Plaza 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 434-7944 or downtownmusicproject.com.

Sept. 10, 8 p.m.: Local indie bands The Bixby Knolls, The Gods of Macho and Alright Alright rock a free concert in the plaza.

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

Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m.: The Grammy Museum kicks

off 2010’s Latin Recording Academy Showcases series with Cuban singer-songwriter Donato Poveda.

Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m.: Celebrate Soul Train’s 40th Anniversary with producer, creator and host Don Cornelius and artists Smokey Robinson and Jody Watley as they share their Soul Train memories.

Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m.: “The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Untitled Documentary” chronicles the artistic collaboration between one of the biggest rock bands of all time and the directors of their various music videos. The screening is part of the Downtown Film Festival. A panel discussion will follow.

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

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ITEMS FOR SALE miSc. itemS MOVIES 30 VHS movies $25.

30 DVD movies $75. Drama, action. 323-962-1012

laWn & Garden/farm equip NEW NORWOOD SawmillsLumberMate-Pro handles logs 34” diameter, mills boards 28” wide. Automated quick-cyclesawing increases efficiency up to 40%! www.NorwoodSawmills. com/300N 1-800-661-7746 ext.

300N. (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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 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.

cHurcHeS THE BRIDGE / Little Tokyo: Contemporary worship, 4:00pm Sundays, 401 E. Third St. www. thebridgewired.org.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

pre-OWned educatiOn HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure.

Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext.

60 www.SouthEasternHS.com.

(Cal-SCAN)

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

2009 PORSCHE 911 TURBO CABRIOLET Basalt, Blk/ Blk, Certified, Only 6k miles, Tiptronic, Loaded vin773136, $125,988, 888-685-5426.

AUTOS

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)

dOWntOWn l.a. autO GrOup

1986 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER good transportation. New battery and good tires, as is $300. 213-842-3337

Porsche Volkswagen audi Mercedes-Benz nissan cheVrolet cadillac

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

autOS Wanted

2002 FORD EXPLORER Recent trade-in, just 70k miles, great condition (2ZA70758), only $9,988, call 888-203-2967.

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)

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T Value Edition, Turbo, auto, only 31k miles. #ZV980/ 141587. $16,410. 888-781-8102.

Be Inspired...

Best Downtown Locations!

ELK HUNTS - Durango Colorado. No License Required. Cows $850/Manage Bulls $3900.

Trophy Bulls $10,000-$15,000.

1500 Acres Prime Habitat. www.

ElkQuest.com 970-749-4647.

(Cal-SCAN)

the loft expert! group

lOanS PACE SBA MICROLOAN $1,000-$15,000. For working cap, equipment &start-up. Minimum Requirements: FICO 650, Cashflows, collateral. Call: David Gonzalez 213-989-3220

Orsini

Downtown since 2002

Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today!

Sell Your Car!

Expose your auto to Downtown Los Angeles. With one of the fastest growing residential areas Los Angeles Downtown News gets results.

TM

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

I c o n I c B e au t y S e e k S S t y l i S h M at e

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

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

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

Sec. deposit Special @$100

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

SaKura HealtH Gym & Sauna, inc.

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

HBODY

MASSAGEH

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

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

Cal Best Realty

Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238

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

Casaloma L.A. Apartments Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo.

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

3386766 0119

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

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

Medici 725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

nOW leaSinG

877-231-9362

Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Call 213-481-1448

$1,400’s/mo. free parking

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site.

Gated building in a good area.

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

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

madison hotel 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.

Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service.

•Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

downtownnews.com

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

Piero 616 ST. PAUL AVE.

877-235-6012

WWW.THEPIERO.COM

Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.

866-690-2888

WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM

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

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

Version 3 RENT? FOR FOR LEASE? FOR SALE? Client: APARTMENT, LOFT ORPublication: CONDO Size/Color: People are looking

dow

Nto

wN New

G.H. Palmer Associates LADT News 4.3125” x 8” 4C

here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

(213) 481-1448 Design by: apluscreative@yahoo.com

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

S.C oM

Ph: 323.474.4668

Now ed at u p d i ly a d

Featuring a more robust local search powered by Yellow Pages.

20 Downtown News

September 6, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games

Attend Our

FREE

New Era Trojans Host Home Opener

OPEN HOUSE!

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

The Dodgers are just about done.

Well, there’s still a month to go in the regular season, but Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Joe Torre might as well start planning their early fall golf vacations. Ned Colletti ought to be pondering the off-season by now, too, wondering how to make the team more competitive next year. Too bad the purse strings have a slight snag, what with Frank and Jamie McCourt now battling it out in court over who actually owns the team. For those just

interested in baseball, the Blue Crew is on the road all week, looking to play spoiler in San Diego (Sept. 6-8) and in Houston (Sept. 9-12) USC Trojans Football L.A. Coliseum, 3911 S Figueroa St., (213) 747-7111 or usctrojans.com.

Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.: This is an odd year for the USC Trojans. On NCAA probation for sins committed during the Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll era, the boys in scarlet and gold have a new coach in Lane Kiffin, an almost entirely new roster of players, but they’re ineligible for bowl games or a national

title. In many ways, they’re playing for pride this year (and next year, too.

The probation is for two years). But pride seemed enough for sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley and receiver Ronald Johnson, who lead a 49-point offensive output against Hawaii in the team’s first game and first win. It is the team’s porous defense, which surrendered 36 points to Hawaii, that is cause for concern going into the home opener. This week, the Trojans open the Coliseum for 2010 as they host the Cavaliers of the University of Virginia. Last time these two teams met, USC waxed UVA, 52-7.

—Ryan Vaillancourt

Thu, Sep 16, 5:30-8:30pm 261 S. Figueroa St., Downtown L.A. • Get a 10% discount on fall courses* • Meet with academic advisors and plan your fall • Catch FREE career-building workshops!

For complete information visit: uclaextension.edu/bamopenhouse *Must register in person at this event. Maximum discount of $50 per course. Payment by credit card only.

11331-10

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