10-04-10 by Los Angeles Downtown News

A NEWS &E LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN Volume 39, Number 40

INSIDE

Pershing Square lights up.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FALL PREVIEW Pull-Out Section

9 – 24

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

October 4, 2010

What the Heck Happened to Art Walk? War of Words Rages Over the Future of the Popular Downtown Event

Urban Scrawl on the Art Walk battle.

More apartments, more issues.

The big reach of AECOM.

photo by Gary Leonard

The monthly Art Walk draws more than 10,000 people to Downtown. The size has made it difficult to manage, leading to a battle over its future.

by Richard Guzmán city editor

From beer to eternity.

Streetcar event raises $200,000.

16 CALENDAR LISTINGS 20 MAP 30 CLASSIFIEDS

n the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 24, developer Tom Gilmore heard that the immensely popular Downtown Art Walk had been abruptly canceled for the rest of 2010. When he checked out the Art Walk website, he had the same stunned reaction as many in the Central City. “I thought, what the [expletive]?” Gilmore said when he read the statement on downtownartwalk. com posted by Jay Lopez. The announcement identified Lopez as the director of the event. Although Gilmore is not officially involved with Art Walk, his Old Bank District is at the center of the monthly gathering that lures more than 10,000 people to peruse galleries and eat and drink at area restaurants, bars and food trucks. He immediately fired off an email to Lopez, asking him literally the same question. “What the [expletive]?” wrote Gilmore. The statement began a tumultuous period which, a week later (as of Los Angeles Downtown News’ press time) is still full of uncertainty. The situation has devolved into a bitter case of he saidthey said, with Lopez and the six-member Art Walk board of directors engaged in a war of words, as well as one for control of the event’s website and

social media accounts. Even now, there are diverging claims on whether Lopez still has his job and whether the next Art Walk, scheduled for Oct. 14, will take place: The board maintains it will, while Lopez says he is not organizing it. Whatever happens, it continues to be a difficult period for the 6-year-old Art Walk. A departure by Lopez would bring the fourth leader in little more than a year. It also comes as the event struggles with an identity crisis, one that has long been simmering and now looks to have exploded. In September 2009, Downtown News published a story on the event titled “Art Walk or Party Walk.” The Explosion As those involved with Art Walk seek to determine the future of the event, questions continue about what prompted the bombshell announcement. The Sept. 24 statement said, “In recent years the Downtown Art Walk has grown so large that it has become too costly to manage in its current form.” It said Art Walk would be cancelled for the remainder of 2010 and would return next year as a daytime, quarterly affair. The Art Walk board quickly set up its own website, artwalkla.wordpress.com. A statement dated Sept. 25 said the Oct. 14 event will go on as planned. It added that the board is in control of

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

the nonprofit organization. It labeled Lopez “the event’s former director.” Board members allege that Lopez changed the passwords and locked them out of the Art Walk website, as well as the organization’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. In an interview Tuesday, Lopez maintained he was still the director and that Art Walk was still canceled for 2010. He said he was as surprised as the board about what transpired. “I’m amazed and shocked myself at their whole statements,” Lopez said. “We’ve discussed doing this for months. I am definitely the director of the Art Walk and we’re moving forward on producing the January Downtown event.” The board met later that Tuesday and voted unanimously to dismiss Lopez. David Hernand, a member of the board, said Lopez would soon be notified of the decision by an attorney. “Frankly, we’re all really surprised about Jay,” said Hernand. “I’m floored that Jay decided to take this action.” Meeting in Dispute People on both sides of the issue acknowledge that the board had talked about canceling Art Walk. Board members maintain, however, that this was only one of numerous options discussed, see Art Walk, page 28

2 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

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AROUNDTOWN Imagine Figueroa’s Future

Drivers Beware

owntowners this week will get the opportunity to offer their insight and perspective on the future of the Figueroa Corridor. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, a workshop on the approximately two-mile span connecting South Park and USC will allow area stakeholders to discuss how the street can be improved for community life and economic development. The effort, known as My Figueroa, was prompted by a $20 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to the Community Redevelopment Agency. The Figueroa Corridor Streetscape Project team is studying improvements to the street’s design, including the street itself, crosswalks and sidewalks. “This project is focused on the Figueroa Corridor, in particular, because of the influx of development around L.A. Live and the USC area,” said CRA project manager Lillian Burkenheim. “The investment is designed to encourage new housing, create open space and enhance mobility.” The event is 6-8 p.m. at the 7+Fig mall at 735 S. Figueroa St. More information is at myfigueroa.com.

TiGeorges’ Chicken to Return

fter a Feb. 18 fire forced him to close the doors to his restaurant, Georges Laguerre said last week that TiGeorges’ Chicken will reopen within a couple of months. “I believe I’ll be back on track and will continue to focus on my dream and bring my Haitian cuisine to Southern California,” Laguerre said. Construction crews are now repairing the restaurant, after the landlord called him on Sept. 24 to say that fixes would soon start, he said. Ennio Capra of Capra Realty, which manages the property, confirmed that repairs are underway. The small City West restaurant became a focal point of local relief efforts following the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti in January. Laguerre has been in limbo for months; he didn’t have fire insurance, and he said the landlord’s promises to quickly repair the building were not met. “Thanks to the help from the Haitian community and my friends, I’ve been surviving until now, and it was hell,” he said. “It took me 20 years to be where I’m at, but bottom line is I’ll be back.”

hose driving in Downtown this Sunday will want to be very careful of where they’re going. On Oct. 10, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., a seven-mile portion of the city will be off limits to cars. The reason is CicLAvia, an event organized by a coalition of bike and open space advocates who have arranged for a seven-mile route from Boyle Heights to East Hollywood to be car-free for most of the day. The route starts at Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights, heads over the Fourth Street Bridge, north on Central Avenue, west on First Street, south on Spring Street, and west on Seventh Street toward Koreatown. The road will be open for pedestrians, cyclists, strollers, skateboards and more — anything that’s not a motorized car. CicLAvia is modeled after a decades-old event in Bogotá, Colombia, and modern car-free happenings in New York and San Francisco. More information and a full route are at ciclavia.org.

Cyrus the Great Marches Toward Downtown

photo by Gary Leonard

The Autumn Lights festival on Sept. 25 illuminated Pershing Square.

yrus the Great is getting closer to Downtown Los Angeles. On Tuesday, Sept. 28, the City Council approved a motion to accept the donation of a bronze statue of the figure who ruled Persia circa 600 B.C. The statue is being funded by Ezatollah Delijani, an Iranian-born investor whose family owns four Broadway theaters. The motion from Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry states that the Delijani family will pay for the statue’s design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. No timeline was set as to when the statue would be completed. The motion still needs to go to the Cultural Affairs Commission and the Recreation and Parks Commission, said Eva Kandarpa, a spokeswoman for Perry. Last summer city officials named the intersection of Seventh Street and Broadway Ezat Delijani Square.

died of cancer Sept. 22 in New York City, worked with CTG, which programs the Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre, from 1980 until his retirement in 2005. He managed more than 125 stage productions at the Taper, including Burn This, Angels in America, Stuff Happens and the world premiere of August Wilson’s Radio Golf. At the Ahmanson, he managed more than 50 productions, including Swan Lake and the world premiere of Neil Simon’s Proposals. In a statement, CTG founding Artistic Director Gordon Davidson called Bayer “a thorough-going theatre baby with a wry, dry sense of humor.”

Longtime CTG Production Manager Dies

The Sept. 27 article about Henry Grimes misstated the details of Grimes’ Downtown life. He was homeless for just a short period of time. He paid monthly rent for more than 20 years, holding on to the tiny hotel room Marshall Marotte found him in in 2002. Grimes worked at manual labor jobs to avoid homelessness.

rank Bayer, who spent a quarter century at Downtown’s Center Theatre Group, has died. He was 74. Bayer, who

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

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University of Southern California

Waiting for Wotan? Metropolitan Opera Beams Shiny New Ring to USC

Das Rheingold, by Richard Wagner Saturday, Oct. 9 Pre-performance lecture: Noon Opera broadcast: 1 p.m. Admission: Free, reservation required (http://cinema.usc.edu/about/events/ event_20100917.htm)

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The MeTropoliTan opera kicks off this year’s “Live in HD” series with its first new Ring cycle in a quarter century. Get ready for an eye-popping, multimedia-enriched production of Das Rheingold, directed by Cirque de Soleil visionary Robert Lepage – featuring a leviathan set built from movable planks that undulate like water. Opera superstars Bryn Terfel (Wotan), Stephanie Blythe (Fricka) and Eric Owens (Alberich) command the stage, while maestro James Levine, in his fortieth Met season, rules the pit. Take in the whole experience in magnificent HD detail and pure 5.1 sound at USC’s state-of-the-art Norris Cinema Theatre, and come early to catch a pre-performance lecture by a USC faculty Wagnerian.

USC your cultural connection

AlSO AT USC

Venus, by Suzan-lori Parks Thursday, Oct. 7 – Sunday, Oct. 10 Show times vary Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks re-imagines the true story of Saartjie Baartman, a 19th-century Khoisan woman brought to Europe and put on public display as the “Venus Hottentot.” After her death, her body parts were exhibited in a Paris museum until the 1970s. Winner of a 1996 Obie award for playwriting, Venus depicts Baartman not just as a pawn but also as an accomplice in her fame and destiny, inviting us to rethink the seeming nonparticipation of Africans in their own history. Bing Theatre (213) 740-2167 General admission: $10

For more information visit www.usc.edu

October 4, 2010

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EDITORIALS The Streetcar and Private Money

umerous issues must be worked out about the proposed Downtown streetcar. The exact route needs to be determined, and plans have to be made for construction of the transportation device that is both nostalgia-inducing and forward-thinking. The most difficult element will involve stitching together the money for the proposed $100 million project. While the $10 million already secured from the Community Redevelopment Agency is a nice start, it is also just that: a start. If the project that reminds many of the fabled Downtown Red Car is ever to roll, 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, the engine powering the effort, will have to draw funds from various levels of government and the private sector. The private sector will be the most important part of the financial equation: Though officials caution that plans are still early, initial estimates say area property owners could be expected to fund 40%-60% of the streetcar. Which is another way of saying they’ll be asked to dip into their pockets and fish out $40 million-$60 million, and that’s if the project stays on budget. That’s a shocking amount of money, but at this stage of the game, it’s a proposal Los Angeles Downtown News might well support, depending on details such as how much per square foot it would cost property owners and over what period of time. Our support could change as streetcar organizers determine how rates are established and fill in other details, but in the broad scope, we support having Downtown Los Angeles property owners cover an element of something that will ulti-

mately benefit them. We understand that some will disagree fiercely. After all, it’s easy to make suggestions on how to spend money when it’s a concept, not a reality. It’s sobering to realize that no matter who literally pays the tax bill, all of Downtown will pay at least indirectly, with increased prices from the businesses writing the checks. It will affect the entire community. Still, we like to dream big for Downtown and for the moment, we echo the stakeholders who maintain that the long-term benefits of a streetcar will be worth the upfront costs. In a way, the streetcar effort — it would open in 2015 at the soonest — will be similar to local business improvement districts. For a BID to form, organizers need to convince area property owners that it is worth “taxing” themselves a set amount of money (often determined by square footage) to provide services beyond what a municipality delivers. The BIDs generally cover cleaning, safety and marketing services. Huizar and his streetcar team will likely follow a similar route and create what is known as a Special Benefit District. An economic analysis is underway and will define the details — whether just property owners along the route would pay, or whether it would be like Pershing Square improvements, where businesses close to the park paid more than those a little further away. This private sector method has been used in two other cities that developed streetcars within the past decade. In Portland, Ore., about 20% of a $100 million streetcar was covered by land holders. In Seattle, the property owners paid for 60% of a $55 million system. Yes, Downtown L.A.’s private-sector

payment would dwarf the monetary amounts of those examples, and that may be a deal killer. But let’s not say it’s over before it is thoroughly explored. Investments in streetcars sparked benefits in both of those cities, as one likely would in Downtown Los Angeles. Here, a route that connects L.A. Live and the Music Center, with Broadway as a main spine, would make moving around the area without a car much easier. An accessible and even fun transportation device on Broadway fits with Huizar’s overall Bringing Back Broadway, an initiative that also includes street improvements, utilizing the empty upper floors of older buildings and activating the former movie palaces. Huizar is following the strategy of the BIDs by starting with prominent figures. Last week he co-hosted an L.A. Live streetcar fundraiser with AEG boss Tim Leiweke, Grove creator and possible mayoral candidate Rick Caruso and philanthropist Eli Broad, whose coming Bunker Hill art museum would benefit from a streetcar. Huizar clearly hopes that the lead of those figures will persuade others. It’s a good move, but like the $10 million in CRA money, it’s just a start. Huizar and his team must go out of their way to persuade landowners large and small that the streetcar will be good for them. Even if the proponents could squeak by with a majority vote, they should go for overwhelming support among those who will be asked to pay. It’d be nice if government could cover the entire cost of this infrastructure system, but we no longer live in a world where that is financially feasible. If the private sector wants the streetcar, they’ll have to help pay for it.

The Beauty of Urban Birds

ost of us don’t think of Downtown Los Angeles as a nature preserve. With good reason. Except for dogs on a leash, some apartment-bound cats and the occasional dirty pigeon or alleydwelling, Buick-sized rat, we don’t encounter a lot of wildlife in the Central City. Which is why the story about thousands of tiny birds finding a temporary home in an otherwise empty Historic Core building is so fascinating. Who would have thought that any migratory species would wind up at Fifth Street and Broadway, year after year?

Los Angeles Downtown News recently reported on the Vaux’s (rhymes with foxes) swifts. In the warm months they live in the Pacific Northwest, and they spend the winter in Mexico and Central America. Twice a year, as they fly north (around April) and then south (right now) they stop in Los Angeles to gorge on insects at the L.A. River. After feasting during the day the flock heads to the chimney of the Chester Williams Building. Thousands of the birds engage in a swirling, circular ballet at twilight, then head indoors for sleep (at least

the ones that don’t get eaten by waiting ravens). The Audubon Center spent a couple of recent Friday evenings holding organized viewings of the nightly ritual. That’s another whoda thunk?: Downtown bird watchers, binoculars around their necks, on the roof level of a parking garage, catching the wildlife show. Actually, the birds are not new, and they’re not the only avian show in Downtown. The swifts previously roosted in the Biscuit Company Lofts, before that Arts District

structure was converted into condominiums in 2005. Additionally, Downtown has been home to red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons who build nests on upper levels of various office towers and hunt other birds among the high-rises. There are probably other cases that haven’t flitted into public consciousness. The point is, there are still things about the community that can surprise us. We look forward to the next thing about Downtown that we can’t fathom, whether it concerns birds or something else.

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: Pamela Albanese, Jay Berman, Jim Farber, 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, Lon Wahlberg 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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More Apartments, More Issues A Surge in New Buildings, With 600 Units in Four Months, Could Mean Cheaper Downtown Rents by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

or Downtown apartment hunters, there is good news and bad news: The bad is that Downtown is currently one of the priciest Los Angeles neighborhoods in which to rent, with monthly rates at an average of $1,756 (three Westside areas, topped by Santa Monica at $2,222, are higher), according to commercial real estate research firm REIS. The good news is rates may be due to fall in the coming months, as nearly 600 units have recently flooded the market. Five rental projects have debuted in the past four months, starting with G.H. Palmer Associates’ 210-unit Orsini III in June; Downtown Management’s Spring Arcade (143 apartments) and Jewelry Trades (63 residences) buildings; developer Allen Gross’ 82-unit Blackstone Lofts; and Saeed Farkhondehpour’s 96-unit Medallion. According to firms that track Downtown’s rental market, rates were already on the decline before these buildings opened their doors. The new additions give renters even more options and potentially put pressure on existing landlords to get competitive with their pricing. The New York-based REIS reported a 2.2% second quarter drop in Downtown’s average “effective rents,” or rates adjusted to reflect lease concessions, from $1,795 to $1,756. The decline from the first quarter is not the only decrease — rents fell from the $1,806 average in the second quarter of 2009, according to REIS. Local observers are taking note of the trend. “I would think there are a couple of factors involved, mainly, the addition of new product,” said Tracy Seslen, senior researcher for the USC Lusk School for Real Estate’s Casden Forecast, which tracks the Los Angeles housing market. “On top of that, there’s possibly just a desire for more affordable product, so if people have the choice of moving into older, lower priced units versus taking brand new stuff, they’re going to go for more affordable product.”

While the numbers are good for renters, they are potentially unsettling for some property owners who, if the trend continues, may have to lower rates and adjust to slower lease-up periods for new projects. Vacancy in Downtown apartments jumped from 9.5% in the first quarter of this year to 12.1% for the quarter ending June 30, according to REIS. Those numbers don’t account for most of the 598 apartments to come online since June (the third quarter ended last week, and research firms like REIS usually release reports based on that time period in November). The rising vacancy rate continues a trend. According to REIS, last quarter marked the highest Downtown vacancy rate since 2007, when the figure hit 12.5%. But after 2007, vacancy steadily declined, until now. In a quickly growing residential neighborhood, vacancy numbers are not always telling because new product is constantly coming onto the market, temporarily boosting vacancy, experts say. Mixed Reports If much of the data indicates a soft market, developers of recent projects are not expressing worry. In fact, they say they are filling buildings at a healthy clip. The Medallion began leasing in early August and so far 36 apartments have been filled, manager Johnny Ramirez said. Rents at Medallion range from $1,350-$2,400, or about $2.20 per square foot, for 617-square-foot studios up to 1,048-square-foot twobedroom units. That’s above the Downtown market’s average effective rent of about $2 per square foot, Seslen said. In South Park, Watermarke Properties’ 214-apartment Watermarke Tower, a 35-floor luxury building where rents hover at around $3 per square foot, the lease-up rate is slow, but on par with expectations, said Peter DiLello, Watermarke’s director of acquisitions. In prior multi-family projects, the Corona-based company generally leased 25 units per month. With the Watermarke Tower, about 16 per month are being rented. The building, which Watermarke acquired for $110 million this spring, is

photo by Gary Leonard

Saeed Farkhondehpour’s Medallion has leased 36 of its 96 apartments in three months. The Medallion is one of five Downtown rental projects to open in the past four months.

about 30% occupied since leasing began in late May, he said. Developer Geoff Palmer, whose rents at the Orsini III range from $2-$3.20 per square foot, declined to specify how many leases the building has signed, but said in an email that the pace is “slower than hoped for.” “It is however leasing up consistent with this challenging market,” he said. Other veterans of the Downtown housing scene, especially those with a central location, are in a strong position. In the Old Bank District, just south of the Medallion, developer Tom Gilmore said his stock of three rental buildings remains at about 97% occupancy, and rates are holding steady. “I continue to believe that the more the merrier, particularly in this market, and I’m not seeing pressure on prices at all,” Gilmore said. “Where I am seeing pressure is the pressure to make sure your product is quality, that your services are good, your management is good, that your neighborhood is appealing, so that’s kind of nice.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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The Quiet Giant With a Massive Roster of Projects, AECOM, and Its 920 Local Employees, Are Poised to Shape the Future of Downtown by Ryan VaillancouRt

Staff WRiteR he design and engineering powerhouse AECOM already has a lengthy resume of Downtown Los Angeles projects. But in the next 10 years, the construction services behemoth is primed to fundamentally shape how the community looks and functions far into the future. Though global in reach — ongoing projects include a multibillion-dollar island being built in Abu Dhabi — the firm is headquartered Downtown and stays busy locally. Most recently, it has made its mark in the Central City with the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension and the LAPD’s Police Administration Building. Now, AECOM is leading the charge on Park 101, the $800 million-plus proposal to cap the Hollywood (101) Freeway in Downtown with acres of green space. Another AECOM team is quarterbacking an 18-month study of the Fashion District that aims to give the area a comprehensive planning makeover. Perhaps the most important project that AECOM is working on is a contract it does not yet have: the up to $1.4 billion Regional Connector. The firm submitted a bid to design and build Metro’s two-mile transit link that could add as many as four new underground stations in Downtown. AECOM also has contracts to provide preliminary engineering work on two Bay Area sections of the

photo by Gary Leonard

AECOM handled civil, structural and architectural design duties on the Gold Line Eastside Extension. The company has an office in Cal Plaza dedicated to transportation and energy projects..

photo by Gary Leonard

Rachel Vandenberg heads AECOM’s transportation office in Los Angeles. The firm has already made a major mark on Downtown transit, and is angling for another big Metro contract.

California high-speed rail project. Tack on the firm’s consulting contract on the under-construction Metro Expo Line, and, if the company wins the Regional Connector bid, AECOM will have its hands on most of the mass transit projects that will affect Downtown in this decade and the next. “They’re a very quiet but a very powerful entity,” said Jack Kyser, senior economist for the Southern California Association of

Governments. Expanding Company These are not the busiest of times for architects or developers — both have slashed work forces and seen projects shrivel during the recession. But AECOM is not the average architect or developer. Calling the firm an architect or a developer is not quite right, even though it provides those services. In fact, the name AECOM is an acronym for architecture, engineering, consulting, operations and management. The firm employs 48,000 people globally, with about 920 of them in two Downtown offices: one at Cal Plaza housing the transportation and energy units, and another at 555 S. Flower St., where the architecture, environment, design and planning and other sectors are housed.

Led by President and CEO John Dionisio, AECOM does about $6 billion in annual revenue. In addition to the $440 million police headquarters, notable Downtown AECOM projects (see sidebar) include the interior design of the California Endowment in Chinatown (2006); engineering for seismic upgrades at the L.A. County Jail (2003); and engineering for the 2004 realignment of Grand Avenue, to complement Walt Disney Concert Hall with wider sidewalks. The firm also consults for Anschutz Entertainment Group and L.A. Live. Founded in 1990 by Richard G. Newman, now chairman of the board, AECOM was born out of Ashland Technology Corporation, itself an amalgamation of several firms in various sectors of the development see AECOM, page 26

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From Beer to Eternity They Came, They Saw, They Drank Some Brew by John Guenther

In a back room of the bar Seven Grand, food and beer lovers lined the walls. They sampled local brews while The Beer Chicks provided running commentary. As the crowd sipped and slurped beer underneath the heads of jackalopes hanging on the wall, the sommeliers commented that craft brewers, besides creating an artisan product, typically avoid using sex to sell. “It’s about the craft of the beer,” said Perozzi. “It’s not really supposed to be about anything else. It’s not even necessarily about making a lot of money.” Mark Jilg, owner of Pasadena’s Craftsman Brewing Company, brought his flagship beer, called 1903, to the crawl. He said he liked the idea of strolling through Downtown instead of making people stand around drinking in a parking lot, as occurs at most beer festivals. “Beer should be a part of the community, and being able to sort of wander around and experience the diversity that is Downtown is really exciting,” Jilg said. Lured to Downtown There was no typical attendee. A woman named Erin, who declined to give her last name, said the festival was a nice shot in the arm for the L.A. beer scene. She also called it a good lure for the area. “I never come Downtown,” Erin said as she stood in line for the grilled cheese truck outside one of the bars. “It’s just about exactly what it would take to get me to come Downtown: seven different bars all serving nice craft beer.” Organizers said that was one of their goals — to bring people into the city and see places they would normally just drive by.

alking through Downtown at 5 p.m. with temperatures in the 90s, Tony Mena and Mike Lopez were on a mission. “We’re conquering Downtown, one bar at a time,” said Mena, who like his friend traveled to the Central City from South Los Angeles. “One bar down. Six to go,” said Lopez. They were not alone in the sentiment. Angelenos of all (legal drinking) ages imbibed their way around Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 25, in the inaugural L.A. Craft Beer Crawl. The sold-out event drew 1,200 people to seven Downtown bars to sample craft beers from across the United States. Organizers were using the event to build buzz around the revived Downtown nightlife scene, which is paralleling a burgeoning craft brew movement in Los Angeles. “The revival of Downtown is like the revival of the craft beer culture in L.A. and across America,” said Christina Perozzi, one half of the beer sommelier duo The Beer Chicks. “I think people are finally starting to get it.” Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, authors of The Naked Pint: An Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer, were the curators of the festival. Beer aficionados plunked down $50 for a glass and unlimited tastings of 63 craft brews. The event was spread out among bars owned and operated by Cedd Moses’ 213 Ventures. It featured 27 breweries with locals represented by the likes of Eagle Rock Brewery and newcomer Brouwerij West from Palos Verdes.

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10 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews Arts & Entertainment

Mix Master REDCAT A Daring Fall Lineup Features International Dance and Theater

photo courtesy of Traditions Engaged

Classical Indian dance will be highlighted Oct. 8-10.

photo by Ralph Lemon

Choreographer and artist Ralph Lemon comes to REDCAT Nov. 10-14 for a piece that combines video images with dance.

photo courtesy of Wunderbaum

The Dutch ensemble Wunderbaum will have a three-week residency at REDCAT. The troupe will develop a theatrical piece, Venlo, to be performed Nov. 17-21.

by Richard Guzmán city editor

rom traditional Indian dance to a tricked-out Tennessee Williams play to an avant-garde Dutch theater ensemble, REDCAT will continue to offer bold programming throughout the fall. “It’s an ambitious lineup and more international than ever,” said Mark Murphy, REDCAT executive director. “It’s a real exciting mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental works.” The season’s highlights begin this week with Traditions Engaged: An International Festival of Classical Indian Dance and Music. The three-day program (Oct. 8-10) is co-presented with the Chitresh Das Dance Company and the Chhandam School of Kathak. In short, it will showcase some of the rich and diverse Indian dance forms. Murphy said the theater in the back of the Walt Disney Concert Hall takes on an edgy tone Nov. 10-13 with a piece

created by choreographer and artist Ralph Lemon. The multimedia work How Can You Stay in the House All Day and Not Go Anywhere runs Nov. 10-14 and juxtaposes video images with dance. “It exemplifies our interdisciplinary mission,” Murphy said. “He is known mostly as a choreographer but he has also created theatrical work for Yale and visual arts installations. Like REDCAT, he has not confined himself to be predetermined.” Another standout performance that month is likely to come from the Dutch theater ensemble Wunderbaum, which in 2006 wowed audiences (even if they were small audiences) with a piece about the American heartland called Lost Chord Radio. This time up the group has a new show, Venlo, which will be developed during a three-week residency at the Downtown Los Angeles theater. It will run Nov. 17-21. “It’s part of a series of projects they have done in Europe exploring individual responses to public art,” Murphy said,

although he pointed out that, at this time, there is no way of knowing exactly what the final product will be. The season’s highlight may be Dec. 1-12, when the lauded New York company the Wooster Group returns to REDCAT to perform its version of Tennessee Williams’ Vieux Carré. Written in 1978, the play is one of Williams’ later works, and like The Glass Menagerie, which is currently at the Mark Taper Forum, Vieux Carré is a memory play set in a New Orleans boarding house where the writer once stayed. Unlike the Taper show, this version will include video projections, among them films from Paul Morrissey. It is not just theater and dance at REDCAT. Murphy’s season also holds healthy servings of film and music. Memories of Underdevelopment, a 1968 film by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, and Memories of Overdevelopment, a film by Miguel Coyula, will screen at REDCAT Oct. 23. Both were inspired by books by Cuban novelist Edmundo Desnoes. On Nov. 2, jazz and classical styles will collide with the Gravitas Quartet. The group is known for improvised compositions that blend their four distinct musical voices. REDCAT is at 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Imagine There’s a Museum, It’s Easy if You Try John Lennon Is the Cornerstone of a 1960s-Heavy Season at the Grammy Museum

photo by Anthony Mandler

John Legend and hip-hop band The Roots take the stage Oct. 18, part of a series of intimate appearances by prominent artists. by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

lower power. Vietnam. Jimi Hendrix. Psychedelia. Free love. And, for the socially conscious rock and roll crowd, plenty of John Lennon. The man many consider the soul of the Beatles is featured in the museum’s latest exhibit, John Lennon, Songwriter, which opens this week and runs through March 31, 2011. As the museum is prone to do, in addition to exploring Lennon’s songwriting, it spotlights his and Yoko Ono’s social activism. Still carrying Lennon’s flame, Ono’s influence is all over the exhibit. On the way out of the show, museumgoers are prompted to “Imagine,” and to scrawl out their vision for a more peace-

ful world. Much like the tradition of wish trees, visitors will attach their note to a guitar string dangling from a large guitar installation (Ono was slated to be the first to attach a note when she visited last weekend). The museum will select the most imaginative and best notes to include as part of the program for a Dec. 9 celebration of Lennon’s life at L.A. Live. It’s not all activism in South Park. Lennon’s songwriting is featured in the exhibit, and the museum will complement the show with an expanded version of its “Songwriters Hall of Fame” display. Visitors will get the chance to work on their own song with notable figures such as Jimmy Webb (who appears on a video screen, prompting users to make decisions about how to craft their song), said museum

Executive Director Bob Santelli. All of this takes place along with the ongoing exhibit Strange Kozmic Experience, a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Doors, which runs through Feb. 13, 2011. “The fall is very much ’60s and how the ’60s still resonate with us in this new century,” Santelli said. Santelli, a former music journalist and professor, will lead a free course directly tied in with Strange Kozmic Experience, and another class delving into Lennon. Classes meet weekly (check grammymuseum.org for schedule) and include homework. But don’t worry — most of the homework involves listening to music. New for the fall are the Brown Bag Lunch Lectures, which will invite the public to bring their mid-day meal to the museum’s fifth floor terrace for a talk led by Santelli or guest experts. While the exhibits will draw the big photo by Iain MacMillan/©Yoko Ono crowds, the Grammy Museum’s program- John Lennon is featured in the Grammy Museum’s ming keystone is the regular appearances by newest exhibit. He is also the subject of a free weekly big-name artists who drop by for intimate class at the South Park venue. interviews and performances in the 200seat Clive Davis Theater. Case in point, soul man John Legend and hip-hoppers The Roots come to the museum on Oct. 18 (8 p.m.) to promote their new album Wake Up, which happens to fit nicely with the venue’s ’60s focus. The record is comprised Jimi of new renditions of socially conscious soul Hendrix is music from the same era. featured in The Grammy Museum is at 800 W. the ongoing Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or exhibit grammymuseum.org. Strange Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at Kozmic Experience. ryan@downtownnews.com. photo © Elliott Landy/Landyvision.com

October 4, 2010

Downtown News 11

Arts & Entertainment

Eager Speakers

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

o those who still question whether Los Angeles has a literary life, consider the lineup at the Aloud series. In October and November alone, there are 20 events — an average of one every three days. “It’s a very rich season and I think there are some very important works coming out this fall,” said Lousie Steinman, who has curated the series based at the Central Library since it started in 1993. “I think it is a measure of the confidence that some of the publishers see in the library, that they want this to be the place where you hear Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer or [Native American writer] Leslie Marmon Silko. Often these people do not go anywhere else in the city.” Aloud is orchestrated by the nonprofit Library Foundation of Los Angeles (separate from the budget-strapped Los Angeles Public Library), and over the years Steinman has attracted some of the biggest names in literature. Although most Aloud events are free, a few each season require an admission fee and take place in the 800-seat theater at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo. Jonathan Franzen recently appeared there, and on Nov. 30, Salman Rushdie shows up to discuss his new novel, Luka and the Fire of Life. Steinman said the fall season does what the best Aloud seasons do: It hits a series of important subjects and gets people talking. She noted that events in the coming months range from a discussion of honor — Kwame Anthony Appiah, whom she described as “one of our leading philosophers,” speaks on Oct. 7 — to a Los Angeles-centric program: On

photo by Alberto Conti

During October and November, there is an Aloud event on average every three days. Highlights of the fall include appearances by (clockwise from left) Salman Rushdie on Nov. 30, Edwidge Danticat on Oct. 26 and Thomas McGuane on Nov. 4.

Oct. 28 Glen Creason, the Los Angeles Public Library’s map librarian, appears with author, essayist and frequent Op-Ed writer D.J. Waldie for an event described as a “cartographic history of the City of Angels.” Another highlight, says Steinman, is Edwidge Danticat. The Haitian-American writer appears Oct. 26. “She’s a really great writer and thinker,” enthuses Steinman. “She’s talking about the role of immigrant artists, the role they play in American culture and informing us about the cultures they come from. In the wake of the Haiti earthquake, she’s a voice we really wanted to hear.”

GrAnd OpeninG

Steinman said there is only one downside to the fall lineup, and it’s a personal one: She will be out of town for part of the series, and won’t make some of what she has scheduled. “I don’t want to miss anything,” she says, and then goes on to discuss Simon Levay (“he’ll be talking on the science of sexual orientation”; Oct. 5), Thomas McGuane (“one of the great writers of the American West”; Nov. 4) and almost everyone else on the lineup. “It’s really fun,” she summarized. “It’s going to be a great fall.” Information and a full lineup are at lfla.org/aloud. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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12 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews Arts & Entertainment

Art On and Off the Walls MOCA Delivers a Big Show and Some Bigger Parties

photo courtesy of Artists Rights Society, New York/ADAGP, Paris

The December show Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color and Space will feature Latin American artists who have created light and space installations. Shown is Jesus Rafel Soto’s “Penetrable BBL bleu.”

photo courtesy of MOCA

MOCA’s big fall show is The Artist’s Museum. The survey of 140 Los Angeles artists includes Mike Kelley’s 1998 work “Pay for Your Pleasure.”

by Katie Schaufelberger

he biggest happening in the Museum of Contemporary Art this year had nothing to do with what hangs on the gallery walls. Rather, it was the summer arrival of new Director Jeffrey Deitch, a former New York gallery owner who came west to help refocus the museum and ensure that it has solid financial footing well into the future.

Deitch’s influence is already being felt. Earlier this year the museum staged a show of artwork by Dennis Hopper. Coming up at both MOCA Grand Avenue and the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo is an exhibition called The Artist’s Museum. Running from Oct. 31-Jan. 31, 2011, it will feature more than 140 Los Angeles creative types who have influenced the art world.

“We’re very L.A.-centric this season,” said museum spokeswoman Jessica Youn. “That’s definitely the theme.” The sprawling Geffen Contemporary will feature mainly sculptures and installations. The Bunker Hill MOCA, meanwhile, will showcase painting, photography and works on paper. Doug Aitken’s “Electric Earth,” an eightchannel video installation portraying an eerie view of modern life, will make its MOCA premiere in the exhibition. Other artists who will be represented include Mike Kelley, John Baldessari, Charles Ray, Bill Viola, guerrilla poster artist Robbie Conal and even the band Devo. Not all of the happenings are in the museums. Architect Iannis Xenakis will set up an outdoor installation at the Los Angeles State

photo by Roberto Milk

Evolving Face

Historic Park near Chinatown. Youn said the installation will open in November and include “lots of lasers, sounds and listening stations.” (A full Xenakis exhibit takes place this fall at MOCA’s Pacific Design Center outpost.) Then there are the celebrations. The Geffen Contemporary this fall will host the re-launch of MOCA’s Engagement Party program. The popular monthly series is designed to present new artwork and performances by Los Angeles-based artists. It is back thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation. The first party, on Oct. 7, will feature a dance class led by choreographer Ryan Heffington, creator of the popular Sweaty Sunday dance class. In addition to the class and dance performances, there will be videos created for the occasion. “That kind of dance performance has never been done with MOCA before, so it’s a really exciting launch,” Youn said. Heffington will also help arrange two other Engagement Party events. The Nov. 4 program, titled Get Your Lead Out, will invite visitors to sketch groups of dancers. The Dec. 2 event, with the brilliant title Heavy Metal Parking Lot: The Musical, somehow will use art and dance to pay homage to the cult classic short film about heavy metal fans outside a Judas Priest concert. For those who’d rather just look at art, the Geffen Contemporary in December will host Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color and Space. The show will feature Latin American artists who have created light and space installations, including Carlos CruzDiaz, Lucio Fontana and Julio Le Parc. The exhibit opens Dec. 12. MOCA Grand Avenue is at 250 S. Grand Ave. The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is at 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

LATC Season Aims to Reflect the Diversity of Los Angeles

Latina on the Loose! returns to the four-theater complex Nov. 12-20.

photo by Miguel Angel Caballero

photo by Carlos San Miguel

The Robey Theatre Company’s The Reckoning tells the story of two families tied together by the history of their land. It runs through Oct. 24.

by Richard Guzmán city editor

t’s safe to say that the Latino Theatre Company, which programs Spring Street’s Los Angeles Theatre Center, is aiming big in the current season: With the fourth installment of its Face of the World series, it hopes to reflect the diversity of Los Angeles. “We’ve had a lot of great reviews and a lot of L.A. artists are beginning to feel they have a serious place to work here,” said Jose Luis Valenzuela, artistic director of the theater. This Face of the World is either smaller or more focused than previous seasons, depending on how you view it. While past series have included as many as 14 plays, some

The Latino Theatre Company is currently running La Victima, which they first performed at the LATC in 1986. It is part of the 2010 Face of the World season and runs through Oct. 31.

performed for just a few days, there are only eight scheduled this fall. However, these productions will have longer runs, with most going for about a month. “Word of mouth will help get the audience here,” Valenzuela said. “It also gives the work time to grow. When you run a play five times a week for a few weeks it just gets better.” The season is already underway, with The Reckoning from Robey Theatre Company. Written by Kimba Henderson and directed by Ben Guillory, it tells the story of two families tied by one plantation. The property is now a crawfish farm owned by an AfricanAmerican family dealing with the history of their land. It closes Oct. 24 “I think it’s a very important new play,”

Valenzuela said. Also currently up is the Latino Theater Company’s La Victima, written by El Teatro de La Esperanza and directed by Valenzuela. The show, which runs through Oct. 31, follows a family in search of a better life and deals with immigration. It is presented with live music and dancing and is set in Mexico and Los Angeles, with characters speaking in their native tongues. The Spanish sequences are accompanied by English supertitles. Another highlight of the season is Calligraphy, a world premiere written by Velina Hasu Houston and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. It opens Nov. 12 and runs through Dec. 12. The story concerns two cousins — one in

Los Angeles and one in Tokyo — who are confronted with their mother’s aging and the fragile relationships of a family separated by distance, jealousy and betrayal. Also on tap this fall is The Vault, a sort of variety show that includes music, performance art and sketch comedy (Oct. 28Nov. 20), and a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet presented by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (Dec. 2-12). The comedy Latina On The Loose!, written and performed by Mina Olivera and directed by Alberto Barboza, will also return this season. It follows a young Brazilian woman as she hops from Brazil to Switzerland to El Salvador to America. It runs Nov. 12-20. For Valenzuela, the goal remains to capture a new audience and deliver something different. “Our audience is really young. It ranges from 20 to 45,” he said. “It should continue this season and that’s really, really nice for the theater.” The Los Angeles Theatre Center is at 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

October 4, 2010

Downtown News 13

Arts & Entertainment

photo by Craig Schwartz

What’s Old Is New The Ahmanson, Taper and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Have Powerhouse Fall Lineups by Jon Regardie executive editor

photo by Ken Howard

n the decades before the Downtown residential revolution began in 2000, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion were the prime draws on the Downtown cultural scene, luring thousands of people every week for major theatrical, dance and opera productions. A decade after people began moving to the Central City en masse, those venues are no longer the only game in town. The original Music Center houses are complemented by an array of entities, from South Park to Bunker Hill, offering nighttime and weekend entertainment.

Still, every week thousands of people flock to the Ahmanson, the Taper and the Chandler for, yes, major theatrical, dance and opera productions. The trend will continue throughout the fall. In other words, although a lot has changed in Downtown, a lot remains the same. The prime mover continues to be Center Theatre Group, which operates the Taper and the Ahmanson. The former launched its season last month with a lauded production of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, powered by a standout performance from Judith Ivey. The Ahmanson went the opposite route, offering a world premiere in Leap of Faith. The musical, based on a 1992 Steve Martin-Debra Winger movie, stars Raul

L.A. Opera goes back to Wagner with Lohengrin. The four-hour 10-minute production runs Nov. 20-Dec. 12.

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Brooke Shields and Raul Esparza star in the Ahmanson’s world premiere musical Leap of Faith.

Esparza as the charismatic conman; Brooke Shields plays the female lead. While those will draw crowds, the two most interesting CTG shows of the season will debut next month: Next to Normal, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, opens at the Ahmanson on Nov. 28 (it runs through Jan. 2, 2011). It stars Alice Ripley, who won a Tony during the show’s Broadway run for her role as a woman crippled by mental illness. Meanwhile, the Taper hosts the world premiere of Randy Newman’s Harps & Angels. Four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks will direct the show that features Michael McKean and Katey Sagal; it includes numerous Newman songs, among them “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” and, naturally, “I Love L.A.” It runs Nov. 21-Dec. 22. At the Chandler, L.A. Opera also has some big guns. Currently running in repertoire are the world premiere of Il Postino, based on the 1994 film and starring Plácido Domingo

as Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (it closes Oct. 16), and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro (through Oct. 17). On Nov. 20, the company get its Wagner on with the four-hour 10-minute Lohengrin, conducted by James Conlon. Ben Heppner stars in the opera set in the 10th century in the Kingdom of Saxony. It closes Dec. 12. Also at the Chandler is Corella Ballet Castilla y Leon. The Spanish company, making only its second North American appearance, kicks off the 2010-11 season of the Dance at the Music Center series. The three shows on Nov. 5-7 will features works by flamenco choreographer Maria Pages and contemporary visionary Christopher Wheeldon. The Music Center is at 135 N. Grand Ave. Center Theatre Group is at (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.com; L.A. Opera is at (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com; Dance at the Music Center is at (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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14 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews Arts & Entertainment

Gustavo, Ravi and the Classical Masters

photo by Timothy Greenfield_Sanders

photo by Kwaku Alston

photo by Anna Hult

photo by Ken Howard

Classical, World, Jazz and Contemporary Sounds Fill the Walt Disney Concert Hall This Fall

(Clockwise from top left) The Los Angeles Philharmonic this month begins its second season under Gustavo Dudamel, who has increased his conducting schedule over last year. Also coming this season are sitar master Ravi Shankar (Oct. 20), vocalist Natalie Cole (Dec. 8) and violinist Midori Nov. 21.

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

he main course at Walt Disney Concert Hall is undoubtedly classical music — an array of Brahms, Mozart, Messiaen and Beethoven. But the experience is liberally salted with big names in jazz — think Natalie Cole and Herbie Hancock — and peppered with world music legends and up-and-comers. Then there’s the pièce de résistance: Music Director Gustavo Dudamel. Audiences will be pleased to see increased servings of the Venezuelan wunderkind in his sophomore season. “I think one thing that people will notice is that he’s here more this year,” said Deborah Borda, executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. “The first year was difficult to arrange, of course.” Dudamel kicks off the Phil season on Oct. 7 with what Borda called a light-hearted concert, featuring Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez in a program full of works by Rossini, including his Overture to La Gazza Ladra and Overture to William Tell. As of press time, tickets were still available. On Oct. 15-17, Dudamel will conduct the orchestra in a performance of Olivier Messiean’s Turangalîla-symphonie, his 10-movement, 80-minute “love song” inspired by the story of Tristan and Isolde. Keyboard master Jean-Yves Thibaudet will be featured in the piece, which includes a major section for solo piano. “The combination of Gustavo Dudamel and the natural proclivity that the L.A. Philharmonic has for this kind of music should make for a stunning evening,” Borda said.

In the realm of world music, the Phil hosts one of the most internationally acclaimed artists in Ravi Shankar. The sitar wizard will perform on his 90th birthday (Oct. 20) with daughter Anoushka Shankar and tabla player Tanmoy Bose. Acclaimed pianist and jazzman Herbie Hancock oversees his first season at Disney Hall as the Philharmonic Association’s Creative Chair for Jazz. Hancock’s first artist is the esteemed vocalist Natalie Cole, who dips into the American songbook for her Dec. 8 performance. However, the season is anchored by a wide array of classical and contemporary music, including a series of concerts conducted by Dudamel’s predecessor, Esa-Pekka Salonen. The former Phil music director will lead a program that features Bela Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and the U.S. premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Graffiti (Nov. 1921). The following week he teams up with bassbaritone Bryn Terfel in a program of Mahler and Hindemith works for voice (Nov. 26-28). It wouldn’t be fall at Disney Hall without a healthy dose of guest concerts led by the biggest names in classical music, including violin virtuosos Hilary Hahn (who plays Tchaikovsky on Dec. 10-13) and Midori, who on Nov. 21 will perform a mix of contemporary and classic works by the likes of George Crumb and Mozart. “The greatest artists in the world are going to show up here week in and week out,” Borda said. “And it’s not only classical.” The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 8502000 or laphil.com. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Model Students and Beyond Colburn School Showcases Talent Young and Old

photo by Asher Kelman

Performances of students in the school’s dance program can be glimpsed at the winter recital on Dec. 18, as well as other times during the fall.

photo by Asher Kelman

The Colburn Orchestra performs under the direction of Yehuda Gilad. photo by Asher Kelman

by Katie Schaufelberger

ost people think of Grand Avenue’s Colburn School as exactly that: a school. Well, it is, but it also offers one of the best opportunities in Downtown Los Angeles to catch on-the-rise talent. In fact, each year the Colburn School presents more than 300 performances by its students, faculty and guest artists. The current season continues the trend, with a variety of programs featuring dance, drama and music. “Our main goal is to showcase the broad spectrum of performing arts education here for students of all ages,” said school spokeswoman Alison Bjorkedal. “There’s really something for everybody.” When Bjorkedal says all ages, she means it. The Colburn School of Performing Arts and the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute accept students 7 months and older. Of course, they’re not all on stage.

Most of the events held at the school are free; tickets to the two regular concert series, the Colburn Chamber Music Society and the Colburn Orchestra, are $10. Student performance forums take place Thursdays at 11 a.m. in Thayer Hall. These recitals are open to the public. “They’re perfect for a Downtown lunch break,” Bjorkedal said. Friday Night Recitals are similar events. They take place on, naturally, Friday evenings at 8 p.m. in Mayman Hall. The Colburn Chamber Music Society gives faculty and college-age students of the Music Conservatory their chance to perform each month in the state-of-the-art Zipper Hall. This fall, they will be joined by the Tokyo String Quartet (Oct. 17), conductor H. Robert Reynolds (Nov. 7) and harpsichord specialist Kenneth Cooper (Dec. 12). Bjorkedal said the Winter Choral Concert (Dec. 11) is always a highlight of the season. The Colburn Children’s Choir

The Colburn Children’s Choir will perform on Dec. 11 at the school’s Winter Choral Concert.

and other vocal ensembles will perform at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Zipper Hall. “It’s just neat to see all of our different choirs perform onstage in the same show,” she said. Dance aficionados can catch the graceful students from the dance institute’s Professional Training Program at their winter performance on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. While Colburn is a school, the performances are not all about the kids. There are also guests groups who use the facilities. Chamber music ensemble Camerata Pacifica performs at Zipper Hall on Oct. 21 and Nov. 11. The group Piano Spheres takes the same stage on Nov. 30. The Colburn School is at 200 S. Grand Ave. A full calendar of events is at colburnschool.edu.

October 4, 2010

Downtown News 15

Arts & Entertainment

A Rookie Series Hits it Big Live Talks L.A. Brings Anne Rice, Michael Caine And Roger McGuinn to Downtown

photo courtesy of Live Talks L.A.

photo by Becket Ghioto

photo courtesy of Live Talks L.A.

(l to r) Actor Sir Michael Caine will speak at the Colburn School on Oct. 28, and Anne Rice will come to the same venue on Jan. 6, 2011. Roger McGuinn appears at Los Angeles Center Studios Nov. 22. They all come courtesy of the new series Live Talks L.A.

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

f there were such a thing as a Rookie of the Year award for speakers’ series, then Live Talks L.A. would walk off with the trophy, no questions asked. After all, the set of events helmed by Ted Habte-Gabr launched with some prominent figures, and continues to pull them in. The inaugural event in Santa Monica this year featured humorist Dave Barry conversing with novelist Jane

Smiley. The Downtown Los Angeles debut, at the Colburn School in June, featured Dustin Hoffman speaking with novelist Scott Turow. The powerhouse line-up continues throughout the fall and early winter. After Downtown events last week with Ken Follett and Robert Reich, Habte-Gabr is prepping for a Central City lineup that includes Sir Michael Caine on Oct. 28 at the Colburn School, Anne Rice on Jan. 6 at the same location, and Roger McGuinn, of the band The Byrds, at L.A.

Center Studios on Nov. 22. Habte-Gabr credits the event’s mission and its relationships with garnering the big names. “All our proceeds go to charity,” he said, “and we have wonderful marketing partnerships with KCET and KPCC, and those combine with why we’ve been fortunate in our freshman year to attract these speakers.” Habte-Gabr said Live Talks L.A. was inspired by the concerts he produces for the Rock Bottom Remainders, a musical outfit comprised of writers including Stephen King. They do a tour each year that benefits charities, and he expanded the idea to a Los Angeles series of arts icons. He hooked up with the Pearson Foundation to get it going, and now looks for beneficiaries that focus on literacy and education. For every ticket sold, the We Give Books campaign donates five children’s books to local schools, libraries and literacy groups. The decision to program events in Downtown (others still take place in Santa Monica) came from the area’s resurgence, he said. “Downtown has really come alive in the last few years,” Habte-Gabr noted. “It’s a great place to be.” Habte-Gabr is already looking forward to the programs with Caine and Rice. Caine has a new autobiography, The Elephant to Hollywood, and Rice, of course, is most known for her series of vampire novels, though she has drawn attention lately for her separation from the Catholic church. “They are special,” Habte-Gabr said. “The Anne Rice event, we’ve lined this up for a while, and now she is in the news because of her departure from the church. We have her set to be interviewed by her son, author Christopher Rice, who lives in Los Angeles.” The man behind the series is also looking forward to the Nov. 22 date with McGuinn. The evening of mostly conversation — with a bit of music — will benefit Grand Performances, the Downtown-based arts programmer, on that organization’s 25th anniversary. Tickets and additional information are at livetalksla.org. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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16 Downtown News

Arts & Entertainment

October 4, 2010

LISTINGS EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS Holiday Shopping and Target Saturdays at JANM Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org. Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Enjoy a day of martial arts activities and demonstrations, workshops, crafts and more, presented in partnership with the Martial Arts Museum as part of JANM’s Target Free Family Saturdays. And, at JANM’s award-winning gift shop, find holiday shopping items and ideas from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues.-Sun, or noon-8 p.m. on Thursdays. Outdoor Cinema Food Fest Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1745 N. Spring St., (323) 602-0608 or outdoorcinemafoodfest.com. Oct. 9, 5:30 p.m.: This event series combines the nostalgia of outdoor movies with the contemporary sensation of gourmet food trucks. Introducing new trucks every week creates the ultimate picnic. Watch movies on the largest outdoor movie screen on the West Coast. Tickets are $8, available online and at the door. Opens at 5:30 p.m., band at 6:30 p.m. and movie at 8 p.m. Follow the event on Twitter at @outdoorcinemafo. The event screens Back to the Future on Oct. 9; Zombieland on Oct. 30. Monday, oct. 4 ALOUD at Central Library Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Long before there was The Onion and Comedy Central, there was the National Lampoon. Its alumni Rick Meyerowitz, Ellis Weiner and Ted Mann will take you on a mind-boggling multi-media tour through the early days of the institution. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. 7:30 p.m.: The West Coast premiere of American Masters: LENNONYC, a PBS documentary on John Lennon. tuesday, oct. 5 ALOUD at Central Library Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Neuroscientist Simon Levay summarizes where the quest for a biological explanation of sexual orientation stands today, taking us on a tour of laboratories that specialize in genetics, endocrinology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, evolutionary psychology and more. Wednesday, oct. 6 SCI-Arc Lecture Series W. M. Keck Lecture Hall, 960 E. Third St., (213) 3565328 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: Bernard Tschumi, principal of Bernard Tschumi Architects, is an architect, theorist and author of The Manhattan Transcripts (1981) and Architecture and Disjunction, a series of theoretical essays (1994). Walking Wisdom: An Evening with Gotham and Deepak Chopra Bovard Auditorium, University Park Campus, USC, (213) 740-2167 or usc.edu/spectrum. 7:30 p.m.: USC Spectrum and the USC Office of Religious Life welcomes the father and son Chopra team for an intimate conversation about family, dogs and the pursuit of the happy life — the subjects of their literary collaboration Walking Wisdom. The free event is open to the general public and will be followed by a book sale and signing. thursday, oct. 7 Reforming Los Angeles: A 10-Year Review of Charter Reform City Council Chambers, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 465, (213) 473-7014. 8-10 a.m.: Councilman José Huizar will moderate a panel discussion on charter reform and city governance addressing such topics as the LADWP/ Ratepayer Advocate, neighborhood councils and the power dynamic between the mayor, city attorney, city controller and city council. Thursdays @ Central Meeting Room A, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. 12:15-1 p.m.: The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs presents tips on protecting your private information.

ALOUD at Central Library Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Kwame Anthony Appiah, philosopher, Princeton University professor and author of The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen, demonstrates that honor is the driving force in the struggle against man’s inhumanity to man. MOCA Grand Avenue Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213 ) 621-1745 or moca.org. 7-10 p.m.: MOCA’s Engagement Party program presents new artworks in the form of dynamic social events. Tonight, dancer/choreographer Ryan Heffington and his collaborators present And Now We All Dance! Free event includes a dance class.

Bones and Strings

Friday, oct. 8 Friday Night Fright Flicks Pershing Square, 532 South Olive Street, 213-8474970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. Oct. 8, 8-10 p.m.: The 1960s classic Hitchcock film Psycho. Free with lawn seating in the outdoor amphitheater. Bring a blanket and snacks. Free popcorn, too. saturday, oct. 9 History of the Green Fairy, Absinthe Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (323) 6635407 or culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.org. 10:30 a.m.: Join the Culinary Historians of Southern California to learn about the green spirit made with herbs that became an international phenomenon in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Brewery Artwalk The Brewery Arts Colony, 2100 N. Main St., (323) 222-3400 or breweryartwalk.com. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: The artists, painters and sculptors of the Brewery Arts Colony open the doors of their studios to the public. Outdoor Cinema Food Fest The Corn Fields, 1745 N Spring St., (323) 602-0608 or outdoorcinemafoodfest.com. Music at 6:30 p.m.; movie at 8 p.m.: Movies, parks, music and food trucks makes the ultimate picnic, no basket required. Tonight, Back to the Future screens. Jonathan Gold’s Union Station Speak Easy Cocktail Party 800 N. Alameda St., zocalopublicsquare.org. 7 p.m.: The fundraiser for Zócalo Public Square celebrates the speakeasy style of Downtown with cocktails by 213 and beats by KCRW’s Garth Trinidad. Future events ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. Oct. 12, 7 p.m.: Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Cunningham stops in to talk with Tony Valenzuela about his new novel, The Hours, which takes a deep look at the meaning of beauty and the place of love in our lives. Oct. 14, 7 p.m.: Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulker award-winning author, chats about Blood-Dark Track, his new inquiry into the unexplained incarcerations of both his grandfathers during WWII. Oct. 19, 7 p.m.: In Chacona, Lamento, Walking Blues: Bass Lines of Music History, New Yorker classical music scribe Alex Ross delivers an audio tour of several hundred years of music history, from Renaissance lute songs to Led Zeppelin, showing how certain motifs of celebration and lament recur in many different contexts and cultures. Oct. 20, 7 p.m.: One of the best known Native American writers today, Leslie Marmon Silko chats with journalist Judith Freeman about her latest work, The Turquoise Ledger, a self-portrait steeped in Native American storytelling traditions. Oct. 21, 7 p.m.: What is Latino literature? Who writes it? Who reads it? Find out in this panel discussion with Ilan Stevens, Susana Chávez-Silverman, Rubén Martinez and Luis Rodriguez. Oct. 26, 7 p.m.: Haitian novelist Edwidge Danticat tells the stories of artists who create despite, or because of, the horrors that drove them from their homelands and that continue to haunt them. Danticat is in conversation with author Amy Wilentz. Oct. 28, 7 p.m.: A land of palm trees and movie stars, sunshine and glamour, Los Angeles is often imagined as a kind of paradise, but the actual reality of the city is far more complex. Join Glen Creason and D.J. Waldie for a tour of Los Angeles in Maps. Nov. 2, 7 p.m.: Nicole Krauss talks with Michael Silverblatt of KCRW about her new work, Great House: A Novel about a stolen desk that contains the secrets, and becomes the obsession, of the lives it passes through. Nov. 4, 7 p.m.: Driving On the Rim is Thomas

photo © Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Puppets generally aren’t scary. And they sure aren’t scary at Bob Baker’s Halloween HoopDee-Do. But they pretend to be scary, and that’s the charm of the seasonal show at City West’s Bob Baker Marionette Theatre. This is a return engagement for the Hoop-Dee-Do, which first played in 1963. Puppets include a Purple People Eater, an Invisible Man and a bunch of boney skeletons. It runs through Oct. 31 at 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. McGuane’s dark new picaresque novel, set in Montana, with a hero whose die was cast the moment his mother thought to name him after Irving Berlin. He discusses it with the L.A. Times’ David Ulin. Nov. 8, 7 p.m.: Antonia Fraser discusses her Must You Go? My Life With Harold Pinter, a love story and intimate account of a major artist’s life based on 33 years of marriage, with screenwriter Howard A. Rodman. Nov. 9, 7 p.m.: Reza Aslan delves into Tablet and Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Middle East, his collection of literature from Morocco and Iran, Turkey and Pakistan and other countries. Nov. 16, 7 p.m.: Stacy Schiff is in conversation with screenwriter Robin Swicord about Cleopatra: A Life, in which Schiff strives to separate fact from fiction to rescue the queen from her own hazy legend. Nov. 18, 7 p.m.: Aloud curator Louise Steinman probes soldier-poet Brian Turner in this evening focused on Turner’s experiences as a soldier — seven years in the US Army, including a year as infantry team leader in Iraq — and his poems. Nov. 22, 7 p.m.: Peter Balakian’s new collection of poems, Ziggurat, explore the aftermath of 9/11 through layered perspectives of myth, history, and personal memory. He discusses the work with Hovig Tchalian. Nov. 29, 7 p.m.: In a new account, Hazel Rowley describes the remarkable courage and lack of convention, private and public, that kept FDR and Eleanor together. She talks about Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage. Nov. 30, 7 p.m.: An Evening With Salman Rushdie presents the author and scholar in conversation with Reza Aslan. At the New Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-2024 or caamuseum.org. Oct. 17, 1 p.m.: The museum joins Ryman Arts to create a huge continuous drawing in Exposition Park. The event ties in with the museum’s participation in The Big Draw L.A., a regional project encouraging people to draw in fun and imaginative ways. More info at thebigdrawla.org. Oct. 31, 2 p.m.: In Lens At Work, photographer Rick Russell gives a demonstration on large format photography. Bring your own digital camera and leave with a print. Nov. 3, 7 p.m.: The museum’s Wednesday film series screens Neshoba: The Price of Freedom, a documentary delving into the legacy behind the disappearance and murder of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner.

Nov. 5, 10 a.m.: Grab a hammer and learn all about skate park design with Charles Strawter. Participants will build “fun boxes” culminating with the design of their own skate park. Nov. 7, 1 p.m.: As part of its Target Sundays series, the museum celebrates African American history and traditions through performances in dance, music and the spoken word. Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: The film series continues with Chisholm ’72 Unbought and Unbossed, a documentary highlighting the accomplishments of Shirley Chisholm. Nov. 13, 1 p.m.: Mervyn Dymally, one of the first persons of African and Indian origin to serve in the U.S. Congress, discusses his career in public office. Nov. 14, 2 p.m.: Meet Darlene the Roller Derby Queen. Darlene Anderson is credited as being the first African American woman in Roller Derby, joining September 7, 1957. Dec. 4, 1 p.m.: The film series continues with On the Grind, James Cheeks’ skateboard documentary, telling the story of kids from Long Beach, grappling with gang violence and using skating as a tool of survival. Dec. 5, 1 p.m.: CAAM celebrates the 44th anniversary of the Spirit of Kwanzaa event. Join the candle lighting ceremony and experience the wide variety of special gifts at the expanded CAAM marketplace. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Oct. 11, and every Monday, 6 p.m.: Know your Godzilla from your Bridezilla? Wild Bunch from Brady Bunch? The Knack from the Knicks? Join Casey’s every Monday night. Match wits and win prizes playing Team Trivia. No entry fee. Oct. 14, and every Thursday, 8 p.m.: Do you like drawing? Do you occasionally like a drink? This group is for you. The Original Drink and Draw Social Club meets every Thursday. CERT Awareness & Training Pershing Square, 532 South Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. Oct. 16, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.: A Community Emergency Response Team will present a day of earthquake preparedness (free) as part of The Great California ShakeOut drill to take place statewide on Oct. 21. Learn the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” exercise. CHAIR-ity Auction Event The Medallion, 334 S. Main St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. Oct. 15, 7 p.m.: Pershing Square Art Squared Gallery will hold its first fundraiser for gallery art projects. More than 40 Downtown artists have created hand-painted and handcrafted pieces of functional

October 4, 2010

of Linda Sohl Ellision, Rhapsody in Taps celebrates its 29th season with Chugarump, Drop ‘Da Beat, Wade, tap phenomenon Bob Carroll, Keith Terry’s Cheatin’ the Snake, Melrose Freliachs (with klezmer music), Interplay, and FOIL/Copper, Zinc, Brass. Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: The Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Company presents a blend of traditional dance and music. Nov. 5, 8 p.m.; Nov. 6, 1 p.m.: The Zenshinza Theatre Company revives rarely seen classics in the Kabuki repertoire and creates new works in the traditions of this 400-year old dramatic form. Narukami (The Thunder God, 1724), presented in the aragoto (heroic) style, is a classic drama in which a fiery priest captures the dragon rain god and brings drought to Japan. Then, in the comedic dance piece Chatsubo (The Tea Jar), a country bumpkin encounters many challenges when he comes to the city. A dance dramatization of a kyogen farce by the same title, it provides a light, comic counterpoint to the more serious drama. Nov. 6, 8 p.m.; Nov. 7, 1 p.m.: The Zenshinza Theatre Company presents Honen & Shinran (2006), about two historical figures who established the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Japan today. Because of their break from monastic traditions and their founding of a lay ministry, they are often compared with Calvin and Luther. Nov. 13, 1-4 p.m.: The Aurora Foundation will offer their second Japanese Culture and Language Program in coordination with the JACCC. The sixsession program is designed to introduce selected aspects of Japanese culture, including useful language lessons. Nov. 21, 1-3 p.m.: “On the Veranda: Traditional Japanese Printmaking Ukiyo-e” presents three master printers from the Adachi Institute in Tokyo. They will conduct a woodblock print workshop, recreating the imagery of historic Japanese artworks employing the same skills, techniques and materials that were used by the original woodcut printmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.: The band Hiroshima celebrates their 30th year in the recording industry at the “Spirit of the Season” community concert. Guest artists include Terry Steele and harmonica virtuoso Tetsuya Nakamura (former member of WAR). Dec. 12, 1-3 p.m.: On the Veranda: Approach and Observation presents Hirokazu Kosaka as he demonstrates his approach in creating the “Frolicking Monkeys and Frogs” exhibition. LA Beer Week Beer Festival Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., labeerweek.com. Oct. 17, noon-4 p.m.: The Beer Festival will feature over 70 local, regional, national and international craft and artisan breweries, pouring a wide array of their beers, including some rare beers, and a special few available only for LA Beer Week. Live Talks Los Angeles Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (323) 791-2584 or livetalksla.org. Dec. 2: Sandra Cisneros. Jan. 6: Anne Rice in conversation with Christopher Rice. MOCA Grand Avenue Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213 ) 621-1745 or moca.org. Nov. 4, 7 p.m.: With its recurring series “Engagement Party,” the museum presents new artworks in the form of dynamic social events and performances by LA–based artist collectives. Nov. 6, 6 p.m.: With the museum hosting, artist Iannis Xenakis reinterprets the Polytope de Persepolis in the Los Angeles State Historic Park (1745

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the authors of Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone: Your Guide to Meeting, Dating and Seducing a Vampire and When Werewolves Attack: A Field Guide to Dispatching Ravenous Flesh-Ripping Beasts. The titles say it all. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct 28, 8:30 p.m.: Legendary pianist Alfred Brendel gives a lecture-demonstration featuring musical examples from the Beethoven sonatas in “On Character in Music.” Brendel guides his audience in an exploration of various aspects of sound, articulation, notation, rhythm and character, as well as performance habits and their relevance to the works and to the present-day ear. Oct 31, 7 p.m.: In the spirit of Halloween, House of Leaves author Mark Danielewski creates a special treat for the occasion: a collaborative theatrical presentation of his limited-edition, illustrated ghost story The Fifty Year Sword. Nov. 9, all day: Catherine Malabou headlines a day of free discussions exploring the crossover of biology, technology, and the arts organized by the CalArts MA Aesthetics and Politics Program. SCI-Arc Lecture Series W. M. Keck Lecture Hall, 960 E. Third St., (213) 3565328 or sciarc.edu. Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: Geoff Manaugh, author of BLDGBLOG and The BLDGBLOG Book, discusses “Quadraturin and Other.” Oct. 27, 7 p.m.: Berlin-based architect Zvi Hecker on “Memory is the Soil of Architecture.” Nov. 3, 7 p.m.: Paris-based architect Brendan MacFarlane presents “Walk:” How the work of Jakob + MacFarlane has developed over a 20-year period, across four different continents and multiple voyages crisscrossing the planet. Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: Marc Fornes on “Guerrilla Style.” Fornes is the founder and principal of THEVERYMANY, a design studio and collaborative research forum. Nov.19, 7 p.m.: SCI-Arc Gallery exhibition discussion with Coy Howard and Eric Owen Moss. Dec. 1, 7 p.m.: Vienna-based architect Hans Hollein presents “Alles ist Architektur (Everything is Architecture).” Dec. 8, 7 p.m.: Hilary Sample of MOS Architects discusses recent work. “Strolling on 7th Street” Tour Seventh Street, Downtown LA, (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org. Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Explore the rich history and architectural gems of the latest frontier in Downtown’s revitalization on a one-time-only, open-house style tour along Seventh Street between Figueroa and Los Angeles Streets. Thursdays at Central Central Library, Meeting Room A, 630 W. Fifth St.,

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N. Spring St.). Originally staged at the ancient site of Persepolis in Persia in 1971, this will be the first site-specific reinterpretation of Xenakis’s pioneering musical land art spectacle. Nov. 13: The Artist’s Museum Happening, MOCA’s annual gala, created in collaboration with Los Angeles artist Doug Aitken, celebrates a convergence of art, design, architecture, fashion, music, performance and cuisine. Music Center 135 N. Grand Ave., visit musiccenter.org. Oct. 16, 11 a.m. and noon: The Oyu Oro dance ensemble explores traditional forms from Cuba, Haiti and Africa. For this free, family-oriented event at the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s Keck Amphitheatre, tickets are distributed starting at 10 a.m. for the 11 a.m. show and at 11 a.m. for the noon installment. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. Oct. 16, 23 and 30, 11 a.m.: Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 3 p.m.; Dec. 11 and 18, 3 p.m.: Museum staff presents some of its live animals, with explanations on where they come from, what they eat and more. Nov. 13 and Dec. 4 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Junior Scientist events are designed for kids aged 6 to 9. In November, participants will take a rock hammer and field notebook and go on a fossil hunt. In December, the junior scientists will investigate the vast terrestrial biodiversity of the Earth, discovering the connections between land and animals and how they depend on each other to survive on our green planet. Nov. 13, 10-11 a.m.: Critter Club is for 3-5 year olds, and their parents. Explore the Spider Pavilion and learn all about awesome arachnids. Participants will watch spiders eat their lunch, and later create a creeping craft and hear spider stories. Outdoor Cinema Food Fest L.A. State Historic Park and Exposition Park, (323) 602-0608 or outdoorcinemafoodfest.com. Oct. 30, music at 6:30 p.m.; movie at 8 p.m.: Zombieland at L.A. State Historic Park, 1745 N Spring St. Oct. 31, music at 6:30 p.m.; movie at 8 p.m.: The Shining screens at Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Dr. Radio City Christmas Spectacular Nokia Theatre. LA Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (800) 745-3000 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. Dec. 9-12: Starring The Rockettes, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, celebrates the holiday with Rockette numbers, dazzling costumes and festive musical compositions such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Living Nativity” and the Rockette finale “Let Christmas Shine.” Readings at Metropolis Metropolis Books, 440 S. Main St., (213) 612-0174 or metropolisbooksla.com. Oct. 16, 4 p.m.: Meet Elizabeth Barrial and D.H. Altair (the vampire nom de plume of Del Howison)

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art for the event. CityRace (310) 360-6950 or racela.com. Teams of two to four players take three-hour clue-solving adventures through Chinatown, using brain power, strategy and teamwork to crack codes, solve tricky puzzles and research little-known facts, all while racing against other teams to be first to the finish with the most correct answers. Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: “Olvera Street, El Pueblo and Beyond: Birthplace of the City.” Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: “LA Metro Art Adventure” is a subterranean CityRace hunt that will send you on a quest through L.A.’s subway system. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Nov. 6, 8 p.m.: Adult Swim presents, in animated flesh, “Tim & Eric Awesome Tour, Great Job!” with Neil Hamburger. Nov. 10, 8 p.m.: Audacious Gallagher, yes, the guy who smashes watermelons. Nov. 20, 8 and 10:30 p.m.: Lisa Lampanelli, comedy’s lovable queen of mean. Nov. 26, 9 p.m.: Comedian Zane Lamprey “Sings the Booze” tour. Cole’s Red Car Bar 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-4090 or colesfrenchdip.com. Oct. 17 and ongoing, 10 p.m.: Cole’s embraces the Mad Men craze with viewings of all the new episodes, with very appropriate whiskey drink specials. Feel like Don and order a Makers straight up. Downtown L.A. Art Walk Info at artwalkla.org. Oct. 14, noon-9 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a self-guided tour that showcases the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles—art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues—as well as plenty of musical entertainment and food trucks. Downtown Music Project Various venues, (213) 434-7944 or downtownmusicproject.com. DMP is a free concert crawl in Downtown on the last Friday of every month. Several venues, all within walking or shuttle distance, will host a variety of live music performances. Line-ups with band descriptions, links, set times and venue locations are published online 20 days before the event. Friday Night Fright Flicks Pershing Square, 532 South Olive Street, (213) 8474970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare. Films projected on a 40 x 20 foot outdoor screen. Movies are free with lawn seating in the Pershing Square outdoor amphitheater. Bring a blanket and snacks. Free popcorn. Oct. 15, 8-10 p.m.: Zombie horror, zombie comedy, zombie Shaun of the Dead. Oct. 22, 8-10 p.m.: Based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe, it’s Roger Corman’s House of Usher. Oct. 29, 8-10 p.m.: Bette Davis + Joan Crawford = Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Haunts of Angelino Heights Scavenger Hunt Starting point to be revealed upon registration, (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org. Oct. 23-24, 4 p.m.: Get into the Halloween spirit by exploring the spirits, secrets and legends of one of the oldest neighborhoods in L.A. in this one-weekend-only haunted scavenger hunt. Presented by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center JACCC Plazaq or Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-3700 or jaccc.org. Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.: Under the artistic direction

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Downtown News 17

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Listings Continued from previous page (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. Oct. 14, 12:15-1 p.m.: November is National Novel Writing Month. Learn the details. Oct. 21, 12:15-1 p.m.: What to read next? Morris and McCoy on Books Readers Advisory provide new discoveries. Town Hall Los Angeles Venues Vary, (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. Oct. 14, noon: The Honorable Philip Angelides, chairman of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, will give a preview of his findings in advance of his December report to Congress. At the Wilshire Grand Hotel. Oct. 21, noon: Douglas W. Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget Office, speaks on the “Budget and Economic Outlook for 2011 and Beyond.” At the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Town Hall Los Angeles hosts a conversation with Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State and author of the soon to be released Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family. The event includes a book signing, luncheon, and program with audience Q&A. Rice will talk with her cousin Constance L. Rice, co-director of the Advancement Project. At the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Nov. 4, noon and 6 p.m.: AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke shares his “2020 Vision of Sports in Downtown. Venue TBD. In the evening, Town Hall’s Clubhouse Series (at the Town Hall Clubhouse, 515 S. Flower St.) welcomes journalist Ari Berman, who will give a post-election de-briefing and share insights on what lays ahead on the political landscape. Nov. 17, noon: A Healthcare talk with Benjamin K. Chu, president, Southern California Region, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. Oct. 8, 8-10 p.m.: Get a Keen Inkling at their CD release concert. Oct. 9, 8-10 p.m.: Will Calhoun Trio. Oct. 10, 6:30-10 p.m.: Spotlight Cabaret shines on. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Oct. 7, 8 p.m.: Alexandra, La Reina de la Bachata. Club Nokia Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com. Oct. 8, 8 p.m.: The Canadian Tenors with Due Voci. Oct. 9, 8 p.m.: The Fab Four musical tribute to the Beatles. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Oct. 5, 8 p.m.: An Evening with Rosanne Cash. The singer/songwriter will discuss her songwriting process, her latest album and her recently released memoir. Cash will perform a few songs with husband and producer John Leventhal. Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.: A special screening of the documentary series Music of Ireland—celebrating 50 years of contemporary Irish music, its impact on America and its influence throughout the world. A panel discussion will follow the screening. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Oct. 5, 10 p.m.: Dos, Carnage Asada, Fatso Jetson and screening of the LA punk documentary A History Lesson Part 1 at 8 p.m. and midnight. Oct. 6, 10 p.m.: Sassafras. Oct. 7, 10 p.m.: Sean & Zander and Nick Curran. Oct. 8, 10 p.m.: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys serve up American roots music, western swing, rockabilly and traditional country. Oct. 9, 10 p.m.: The Gears—still rockin’— with Poop Feat, Rikk Agnew from the Adolescents and Symbol Six. Oct. 10, 10 p.m.: Backbiter bites back hard rock, with Sylvia Juncosa and Electric Children. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. Oct. 5, 10 p.m.: The Makers, mark it. Future rock, PoP & Jazz Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. Oct. 21-23, 8-10 p.m.: Metropol All-Stars live recording concerts features Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Josh Nelson, Dave Robaire and Dan Schnelle. Oct. 29, 8-10 p.m.: Direct from Manila, the Sandra Viray Quartet. Oct. 30, 8-10 p.m.: JazzPhil-USA Talent Search Contest.

October 4, 2010

Arts & Entertainment Nov. 4, 8-10 p.m.: Mark Small Group with Walter Smith on sax. Nov. 6, 12-2 p.m.: Yale Cabaret Hollywood play reading. Nov. 12-13, 8-10 p.m.: Jesse Palter Quartet. Nov. 14, 6:30-10 p.m.: Spotlight Cabaret. Nov. 19, 8-10 p.m.: Big band vocalist and pianist Amanda Carr and her band. Nov. 20, 8-10 p.m.: Vocalist Dheepa Chari and her band. Nov. 21, 12-2 p.m.: The Joel Forrestor/Philip Johnston Duo on piano/soprano sax. Dec. 4, 8-10 p.m.: Kathleen Grace Band. Dec. 10, 8-10 p.m.: NYC-based drummer Allison Miller’s “Boom Tic Boom” tour. Dec. 11, 8-10 p.m.: Pianist Motoko Honda. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Oct. 15, 10 p.m.: Drew Andrews of The Album Leaf. Oct. 16, 23 and 30. 10 p.m.: The Mormons, in residency every Saturday in October, won’t knock on your door and preach, but they will rock out. On Oct. 16, they’re joined by Le Switch and friends. Club Nokia Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com. Oct. 13, p.m.: Gogol Bordello, combining elements of punk, gypsy music and Brechtian cabaret, tells a story of New York’s immigrant diaspora through debauchery, humor and costumes. Oct. 14, 8:30 p.m.: Mike Snow, the band; with Mark Ronson and The Business Intl and MNDR. Oct. 15, 9 p.m.: Austrian trip-hop duo Kruder and Dorfmeister. Oct. 16, 8 p.m.: Armenian sensation Andre. Oct. 20, 8 p.m.: Country artist Blake Shelton. Oct. 22, 8 p.m.: Country music singer/songwriter and filthy good guitar player Vince Gill. Oct. 23, 9 p.m.: London-based Australian alternative rock group The Temper Trap, with guests Delphic and The Hundred In The Hands. Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.: You might want to cancel that haircut appointment, and find a good T-shirt and jeans to tear up. The AP Tour Fall 2010 features metal music from Bring Me the Horizon, August Burns Red, Emarosa, Polar Bear Club and This is Hell. Oct. 30, 9 p.m.: The Dan Band on its “Still Hungover” tour. Nov. 4, 9 p.m.: Ghostland Observatory and their spectral blend of electronics, drums, guitar and vocals. Nov. 5, 8 p.m.: Brazilian contemporary jazzer Djavan. Nov. 13, 8 p.m.: Sunny punk sounds from Hawaii’s Pepper, with Fishbone, Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5) and Pour Habit. Nov. 17, 8 p.m.: Robyn with Maluca and Natalia Kills. Dec. 3, 8 p.m.: The Posies and Brendan Benson with Aqueduct. Dec. 10, 9 p.m.: The Dandy Warhols with Blue Giant. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Oct. 14, 8 p.m.: Milly Quezada, the queen of Merengue. Oct. 21, 8 p.m.: Multi Latin Grammy-winning salsa legend Lalo Rodriguez. Oct. 28, 8 p.m.: Salsa with Domingo Quinones. Nov. 4, 8 p.m.: Feeling the need to cross-bodylead? NYC’s award-winning salsa orchestra, Spanish Harlem. Nov. 19, 9 p.m.: Brazil’s Luisa Maita fuses classic bossa nova and eclectic samba. Dubquake: A Rhythm and Culture Festival Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., dubquake.com. Oct. 17, 2 p.m.: Ya mon! This all-ages festival presents originators in reggae, as well as the latest sounds from “the loudest island in the world.” There will be craft vendors, food trucks, some specializing in Jamaican cuisine, a main stage for reggae, a side stage for world music and a DJ tent. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Oct. 12, 8 p.m.: Platinum-selling, humanitarian and six-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz talks with Scott Goldman about his new album Hello Tomorrow on the day of its release. Sax-man Koz will discuss how changes in his career influenced, inspired and encouraged him throughout the process of creating and recording his first album on Concord Records. He’ll also play a few songs. Oct. 18, 8 p.m.: R&B crooner John Legend and hop-hop ensemble The Roots have teamed up on a new album called Wake Up, a collection of renditions of politically mindful soul tracks of the 60s and 70s. They’ll talk with museum director Bob Santelli about the project and play a few tunes off the record. Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6000 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

Rice Rice Baby

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It’s double the Rice, double the fun on Oct. 25, when the organization Town Hall Los Angeles brings former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel for a noon luncheon. Rice will be in conversation with her cousin, Connie Rice, the super smart, super tough activist and co-director of the Advancement Project. The Biltmore is at 506 S. Grand Ave. Reserve a spot at townhall-la.org. Oct. 29, 8 p.m.: From grunge, to gone, to return: the Stone Temple Pilots. Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: Soulful Americana with Lady Antebellum. Nov. 4, 8 p.m.: Godsmack, with Five Finger Death Punch and Drowning Pool. Nov. 5, 7 p.m.: Country icon Alan Jackson with Chris Young and the Band Perry. Nov. 6, 8 p.m.: The Machete Music Tour 2010 brings Ivy Queen, Tego Calderon, Cosculluela and more to the stage. Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m.: Dutch violinist, waltz-master Andre Rieu. Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway, (213) 622-1939 or laorpheum.com. Oct. 23, 8 p.m.: It’s John, Paul, George and Ringo! Only it’s not, but it is! But it isn’t. Whatever. It’s The Fab Faux, the ultra fun Beatles re-enacters. Dec. 18, 8 p.m.: Banjo wizard Béla Fleck is back with his Flecktones, including electric bass stud Victor Wooten (who, as myth has it, sweats rhythm). REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct. 22, 8:30 p.m.: The California E.A.R. Unit, an L.A.-based new music ensemble, returns with works by David Rosenboom and E.A.R. Unit members. Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m.: Hailed as harbingers of modern music, the Wayne Horvitz Gravitas Quartet explores texture, sonority, rhythm, and ensemble fluidity. Nov. 5, 8:30 p.m.: “Scream Festival: Noisefold” is a powerful synaesthetic experience where noise, music and image interact on a symphonic scale. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Oct. 15, 10 p.m.: Pure Country Gold, with Sawyer Family. Oct. 16, 10 p.m.: Bar That Sucks presents Calavera, Woolly Bandits, Surf Rats and Inazuma. Oct. 17, 10 p.m.: Million Kids, Scream and Brainspoon. Oct. 20, 10 p.m.: The Dusty 45’s. Oct. 21, 10 p.m.: WJM presents Frank Fairfeld with Amanda Shires, Shakey Graves and Wayne Hancock. Oct. 22, 10 p.m.: Bonebrake Syncopators. Oct. 23, 10 p.m.: Dave and Deke Combo. Nov. 5, 10 p.m.: Deadbolt, Hellbound Hayride and more. Nov. 6, 10 p.m.: Groovy Rednecks and The Runnin Kid. Nov. 12, 10 p.m.: Muddy Reds and The Real Nasty. Nov. 13, 10 p.m.: Legal Weapon, The Undertakers, Brat and Sassafras. Nov. 19, 10 p.m.: 13 Guitar Rumble. Nov. 20, 10 p.m.: Red Roses, The Crazy Squeeze and The Commotions. Nov. 24, 10 p.m.: Lonesome Shack.

Nov. 27, 10 p.m.: Blue Shadows. Nov. 28, 10 p.m.: The Doghouse Lords. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. All shows at 10 p.m. Tuesdays: House band The Makers lay down a jazzy, bluesy groove. Oct. 11: Katisse Buckingham Quintet, featuring Buckingham on an assortment of reeds and winds. Oct. 13: The Lovely Band. Oct. 18: Jazzman and band leader John Daversa, with his “Small Band.” Oct. 20: Downtown’s own baritone bluesman, Artwork Jamal. Oct. 25: The Robby Marshall Group. Oct. 27: Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon, who has played bass on records for Jamiroquai, Brandy and Mary J. Blige, performs with friends. Nov. 1: The Petrojvic Blasting Company, back from a European and Balkan summer adventure, brings its horns and klezmer action. Nov. 3: The Deacon Jones Blues Review. Nov. 10: The Lovely Band. Nov. 15: John Daversa Small Band. Nov. 17: Artwork Jamal featuring Deacon Jones. Nov. 22: Katisse Buckingham Quintet. Nov. 24: The Vibrometers Nov. 29: Robby Marshall Group. Dec. 1: Deacon Jones Blues Review featuring Lady GG. Dec. 6: Ron King Quartet. Dec. 8: The Lovely Band. Dec. 13: Katisse Buckingham Quintet. Dec. 15: Artwork Jamal featuring Deacon Jones. Dec. 20: John Daversa Small Band. Dec. 22: The Louis van Taylor Quartet. Dec. 27: Robby Marshall Group. Dec. 28: The Makers. Dec. 29: Sista Sherry. Dec. 31: New Years with Deacon Jones. The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org. All shows 9 p.m. Oct. 15: Malaikat dan Singa, Foot Village, Neverever and Dunes. Oct. 16: Palm Reader, Plasma Centre, Peter Pants and ParallaxScroll. Oct. 21: Eugene Chadbourne, Kevin Blechdom and Corey Marc Fogel. Oct. 22: Captain Ahab, The Slaves, Kevin Shields and Tik Tik. Oct. 23: Universal Order of Armageddon, Demoralize and Dude Mirror. Oct. 27: Father’s Day, The McDaniels, Laco$te and Clipping. Oct. 29: Audacity, Plasma Centre and Blue Jungle. Oct. 31: Moses Campbell, Broken Water, Morgan and the Organ Donors and Whitman. Nov. 4: Physical Forms.

October 4, 2010 Nov. 5: No Joy and La Sera. Nov. 6: Kevin Greenspon, Tujunga, Nicole Kidman and Coup Pigeons. Nov. 19: Black Elephant. Nov. 21: Zs. Dec. 4: Jason Forrest (aka DJ Donna Summer), Captain Ahab, Nero’s Day at Disneyland and Christopher Cichocki. Staples Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., staplescenter.com. Oct. 23, 8 p.m.: The show-stopping Latina songstress Shakira. Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.: Tween sensation Justin Bieber. Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Dance move master Usher. Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 5, 8 p.m.: Roger Waters stops in to place another brick in the wall. Dec. 10, 8 p.m.: If he were to play a sidekick character in an Italian mob flick, they’d call him “The Voice.” It’s Andrea Bocelli. And nevermind the operatic affectation because, yeah, he’s tawkin’ ta you. The Varnish 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com Tuesdays, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.: Jazzman Mark Bosserman entertains on the house piano every Tuesday. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., 213-972-4396 or laphil.com. Oct. 20, 8 p.m.: The godfather of Indian sitar music Ravi Shankar is joined by an all-star cast on the occasion of Shankar’s 90th birthday. Oct. 27, 8 p.m.: Tunesmith Neil Sedaka showcases his broad legacy of hits. Nov. 10, 8 p.m.: Two of the most powerful voices in world music collide in the world music concert featuring Buika and Lila Downs. Spanishborn Concha Buika is described as a cross between Cesaria Evora and a flamenco singer, while Downs mixes traditional Mexican folk music with contemporary sounds. Dec. 8, 8 p.m.: Sensational songstress Natalie Cole makes her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut with a unique mix of treasures from the American Songbook as well as R&B classics. World City W.M. Keck Amphitheatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., 213-972-4396 or visit musiccenter.org. Free to the public, including post-performance art workshops. Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Dance Ensemble explores traditional dance forms

Arts & Entertainment from a variety of influences Free to the public including post-performance art workshops. Nov. 20, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Red Thunder celebrates the unique heritage of the Plains Indians through music, song, and traditional dance while re-telling the stories that have been passed through generations.

CLASSICAL MUSIC Thursday, Oct. 7 Los Angeles Philharmonic Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave. (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 7 p.m.: Gustavo Dudamel conducts Celebración: Opening Night Concert & Gala for the LA Philharmonic featuring tenor Juan Diego Florez. Program includes a heavy dose of Rossini as well as Granda, Lara, Montcayo, Grever, Gutiérrez and Márquez. Friday, Oct. 8 Colburn School Mayman Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. 8 p.m.: Friday Night Recital features CSPA students of all ages performing for an audience of family, friends and a panel of faculty adjudicators. Los Angeles Philharmonic Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave. (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 8 p.m.; Oct. 9, 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 2 p.m.: Dudamel conducts pianist Emanuel Ax and the L.A. Phil in a program of Beethoven and Schumann. Saturday, Oct. 9 Toyota Symphonies for Youth: Pianissimo Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave,. (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org. 11 a.m.: Conductor Manuel Lopez and the L.A. Phil explore the history of the piano with music by Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Ravel and Chopin. Colburn School Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. 8 p.m.: Tenor Jong-Heon Lee in recital. Future Classical Music The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 555 W. Temple St., (213) 680-5205 or olacathedral.org. Oct. 17, 4 p.m.: Organist Adam Brakel will perform works by composers from the 16th to the 20th

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ZENSHINZA THEATRE COMPANY

Honen Shinran Saturday, November 6, 2010, 8pm Sunday, November 7, 2010, 1pm

Aratani Japan America Theatre Tickets $48/$60/$72/$86 For ticket and group sales information, visit our website at www.jaccc .org or call the Box Office at (213) 680-3700. Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan in the fiscal year 2010. Supported by Jodo Shu, Jodo Shinshu, Hongwanji-ha, Shinshu Otani-ha and Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai. The 2010 U.S. Tour of Zenshinza Theatre Company is produced by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in collaboration with the U.S.-Japan Council.

Century including Tunder, Bach, Rogg, Nanney, Bonnet, Demessieux, Bovet and Fletcher. The Colburn School 200 S. Grand Ave., colburnschool.edu. Friday Night Recitals feature various student performances in Mayman Hall. Concerts are free. Check colburnschool.edu for more info. Oct. 17, 8 p.m.: The Colburn Chamber Music Society presents the Tokyo String Quartet. Oct. 24, 7 p.m.: Edward Hosharian Memorial Concert. Oct. 31, 3 p.m.: The Dilijan Chmaber Music Series presents a world premiere of Avanesov’s “Kyrie Eleison;” Terterian’s String Quartet No. 1; and world premieres of works by Sharafyan, Avanesov, Miyuki Ito performed by the Kuniko Kato/Movses Pogossian duo. Nov. 30, 8 p.m.: Piano Spheres presents Vicki Ray with the Eclipse Quartet performing Morton Feldman’s Piano and String Quartet. Dec. 19, 3 p.m.: Dilijan Chamber Series concert, presenting Hovuntz’s “Duo for violin and cello”; Britten’s “The Poet’s Echo”; Schubert’s “Sheperd on the Rock” and more. The Da Camera Society Venues Vary, (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org. Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m.: Ensemble 415, led by Swiss violin virtuoso Chiara Banchini, presents a varied program of baroque sonatas and concerti by J. S. Bach (Concerto for violin & strings, BWV 1056r), Vivaldi (Trio Sonata in d, Op. 1/12 “La Follia”), Albinoni (Sinfonia in C, Op. 2/2 & Sonata in B-flat), Muffat (Sonata in g from Armonico Tributo) and Albicastro (Concerto, Op. 7/2). At the Doheny Mansion, Pompeian Room, 8 Chester Pl. Nov. 6, 8 p.m.: The 39th season of Doheny Soirées kicks off with the Szymanowski Quartet, performing quartets of Beethoven (Op. 18/6, “Malinconia”), Schubert (Quartettsatz and the epic “Death and the Maiden”) and the Quartet No. 3 on Polish Themes by their countryman and Holocaust-survivor Simon Laks. At the Doheny Mansion, Pompeian Room, 8 Chester Pl. Dec. 11, 8 p.m.: The Grammy-nominated St. Petersburg Quartet is joined by the L.A. Phil’s Michele Zukovsky for a performance of Brahms’ transcendental Clarinet Quintet, along with string quartets by Dvorák (in A-flat, Op. 105/1) and Debussy (in g, Op. 10). At the Doheny Mansion, Pompeian Room, 8 Chester Pl. Dec. 13, 8 p.m.: The Da Camera Society presents

Downtown News 19 the genre-bending artistry of virtuoso violinist Gilles Apap and his Transylvanian Mountain Boys, bridging the gap between classical and folk music. At The Oviatt, 617 S. Olive St. Camerata Pacifica Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., cameratapacifica.org. Oct. 21, 8 p.m.: Featuring flautist Adran Spence and cellist Ani Aznavoorian, this regional chamber music ensemble plays Feld’s “Flute Sonata” and “Four Pieces for Solo Flute;” Martinu’s “Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano, H. 300;” Tcherepnin’s “Suite for Cello Solo, Op. 76;” and Brahms’ “Sonata for Piano and Cello in E minor, Op. 38.” Nov. 11, 8 p.m.: Featuring Adam Neiman on piano, the ensemble presents a program of Chopin, Musgrave, Klughardt, Yano and Beethoven. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Dec. 9, 7 p.m.: The “Baroque Conversations” series explores the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early baroque schools through the pre-classical period. The LACO artists will introduce the music from the stage, share their insights and invite questions. Tonight, Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., musiccenter.org. Oct. 12, 8 p.m.: Jean-Yves Thibaudet and members of the L.A. Phil present a program of chamber music: Rathbun’s Suite for Oboe and English Horn; Milhaud’s Suite for Clarinet, Violin and Piano; and Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. Oct. 13, 8 p.m.: Andras Schiff in recital, in a program replete with Schumann. Oct. 14-16, 8 p.m.; Oct. 17, 2 p.m.: Gustavo Dudamel conducts Messiaen’s Turangalilasymphonie with Jean-Yves Thibaudet on piano. Oct. 19, 8 p.m.: The L.A. Phil’s New Music Group presents this Green Umbrella concert entitled “Music From Bang on a Can,” featuring new works by Lang, Wolfe and Gordon. Oct. 22-23, 8 p.m.; Oct. 24, 2 p.m.: Charles Dutoit conducts the Phil in a concert of Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet, with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Oct. 26, 8 p.m.: Pianist Christian Zacharias is featured in a chamber music concert: Mozart’s “Divertimento in E-Flat for Violin, Viola and Cello and Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet. Oct. 29-30, 8 p.m.; Oct. 31, 2 p.m.: Zacharias takes the baton this time, leading the Phil in a program of Mozart, Beethoven and C.P.E. Bach, the

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Downtown News 21

Arts & Entertainment

Continued from page 19 most famous of J.S. Bach’s sons. Nov. 5, 11 a.m.; Nov. 6, 8 p.m.; Nov. 7, 2 p.m.: Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite.” Nov. 5, 8 p.m.; The Seasons Project with the Venice Baroque Orchestra presents Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2, “The American Four Seasons.” Nov. 6, 11 a.m.: The Toyota Symphonies for Youth presents Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique. Nov. 9, 8 p.m.: The Phil’s Chamber Music Society presents a program of Dvorak, Borodin and Bartok. Nov. 12, 8 p.m.; Nov. 13-14, 2 p.m.: Susanna Malkki conducts Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring Martin Chalifour, and Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra. Nov. 13, 11 a.m.: The Toyota Symphonies for Youth presents Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique. Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.: The Millennium Consort Singers present an organ recital in a program with works by Bach, Purcell and more. Nov. 16, 8 p.m.: In this Green Umbrella concert, the New Music Group pays tribute to experimentalist George Crumb with performances of his Ancient Voices of Children and others. Nov. 19-20, 8 p.m.; Nov. 21, 2 p.m.: Green Umbrella continues with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting a program of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and, in a U.S. premiere, Lindberg’s Graffitti. Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Midori stops in to play a program that features her masterful violin playing, including Mozart’s Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 1 (with Robert McDonald on keyboard) and George Crumb’s Four Nocturnes. Nov. 22, 8 p.m.: Bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and pianist Malcom Martineua team up for a recital. Nov. 26-27, 8 p.m.; Nov. 28, 2 p.m.: Salonen is back, conducting bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and pianist Malcom Martineua in a program with selected scenes of Hindemith and Wagner. Nov. 30, 8 p.m.: The Chamber Music Society perform Nielsen’s “Wind Quintet” and Dvorak’s Piano Trio in F Minor. Dec. 1, 8 p.m.: Pierre-Laurent Aimard gives a piano recital.

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bob Baker’s Halloween Hoop-Dee-Do The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Oct. 5-8, 10:30 a.m.; Oct. 9-10, 2:30 p.m.: A fantastical cast includes over 100 Halloween themed puppets, from the Purple People Eater and the Invisible Man to a gaggle of Roaring 20s skeletons dancing the night away in Hernando’s Hideaway. Through Oct. 31. The Glass Menagerie Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Oct. 9, 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Tennessee Williams’ classic starts two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey as Amanda Wingfield. Through Oct. 17. Il Postino Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or losangelesopera.org. Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 9, 2 p.m.: Based on the popular 1994 Italian film by Daniel Catán, this world premiere stars Plácido Domingo as the poet Pablo Neruda. Also starring Amanda Squitieri, Cristina Gallardo-Domâs and Nancy Fabiola-Herrera. Grant

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Dec. 3, 8 p.m.; Dec. 4-5, 2 p.m.: Stephane Deneve conducts pianist Nicholas Angelich and the Phil doing Debussy’s Iberia and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5. Dec. 10-11, 8 p.m.; Dec. 12, 2 p.m.: Violinist Hilary Hahn plays Tchaikovsky. Dec. 15, 8 p.m.: Get into the holiday spirit with choral group Chanticleer, who are now holiday season regulars at the hall. Dec. 16 and 18, 8 p.m.; Dec. 17, 11 a.m.; Dec. 19, 2 p.m.: Robert McGegan conducts Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22, with Robert Levin on the keyboard, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 93. Dec. 17, 8 p.m.: The annual Holiday Organ Spectacular. Vox Judaica Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (310) 922-0025 or voxfeminala.org. Nov. 13, 8 p.m.: Vox Femina women’s choral ensemble opens its 2010/2011 season with Vox Judaica: selections of Jewish sacred music, Sephardic and Ashkenazic folk music, and new, original compositions, accompanied by piano as well as string quartet for many of the pieces, and performed in Hebrew, Yiddish and English.

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Some people actually like these creepy, crawly, web-spinning creatures. Who knew? Apparently the Natural History Museum does, since they have again rolled out their outdoor Spider Pavilion, with its hundreds of orb weavers. Inside the walk-through habitat, visitors can check out the spiders’ webs, participate in tours that explain web architecture and engineering, and watch spider “feedings”— meal times in which crickets and roaches are served. OK, that’s cool. Through Nov. 7 at the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763–3466 or nhm.org. Gershon conducts. Through Oct. 16. La Victima Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. Oct. 7-8, 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 3 p.m.: The story of a family in search of a better life also features plenty of

live music and dancing. Through Oct. 31. Leap of Faith Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Oct. 5-8, 8 p.m.; Oct. 9, 2 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 1

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22 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

Listings Continued from previous page and 6:30 p.m.: Con man Jonas Nightingale brings his gospel-charged tent revival to rain-starved Kansas in this world premiere musical. Through Oct. 24. The Marriage of Figaro Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or losangelesopera.org. Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10, 2 p.m.: Plácido Domingo conducts one of opera’s greatest comic masterpieces that turns convention upside down when the wily Figaro (Daniel Okulitch) outwits his master, Count Almaviva (Bo Skovhus). Martina Serafin takes the part of the Countess. Rebekah Camm and Marlis Petersen share the role of Susanna. Through Oct. 17. Mysterious Skin East West Players, David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 eastwestplayers.org. Oct. 6-9, 8 p.m.: Oct. 10, 2 p.m.: This drama follows the story of a boy who believes he was once abducted by aliens. All roads lead back to a childhood classmate, now a hustler, who holds the key to the terrifying and heart-breaking truth. (Mature audiences only.) Through Oct. 10. The Reckoning Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. Oct. 7-8, 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 3 p.m.: A Louisiana crawfish farm owned by an affluent AfricanAmerican family was once a sugar plantation worked by slaves, and is consequently filled with all manner of secrets and treacheries. Presented by the Robey Theatre Company. Through Oct. 24. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct. 8-9, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10, 3 p.m.: Traditions Engaged: An International Festival of Classical Indian Dance & Music features leading Indian classical artists and emerging practitioners for three days of performances and discussions. What Happened at Mayville? LoLa Downtown, 929 E. 2nd St. Studio 105, (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.com. Opening Oct. 8, 9 p.m.; Oct. 9, 9 p.m.: Timed with the Halloween season and not for the faint of heart, the LOFT Ensemble presents a unique theater

experience that visits a small town when everything takes a sudden and unexpected turn. Mature audiences only. Through Nov. 13. The Wiggle Room Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or companyofangels.org. Oct. 7-9, 8 p.m.; Oct. 10, 7 p.m.: In a moment of economic shut-down, a question of ownership comes between two people, Who owns what, and is it worth it? Through Oct. 24. Future Theatre, Opera & Dance Listings Ahmanson Theatre 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org Nov. 28-Jan. 2: With a thrilling contemporary score, Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Pulitzer Prizewinning show features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won a Tony for her performance. Bootleg Theater 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com. Through Oct. 24: Anton’s Uncles is a physical deconstruction of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, where only the men are left to wrestle with their desires. Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Through Oct. 30, Saturdays, noon: Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, but after the untimely death of his kingly father, his mother Gertrude hastily marries his uncle Claudius. When Hamlet learns who is to blame for his father’s death, he struggles to take revenge against his murderous uncle and becomes known as the Prince of Puddles. Los Angeles Opera Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8000 or musiccenter.org. Nov. 20-Dec. 12: James Conlon brings his musical vision to this most lyrical of Wagner’s operas, Lohengrin. The production presents heldentenor Ben Heppner in the title role and features the company debuts of two other noted Wagnerian artists: Kristinn Sigmundsson (King Heinrich) and Soile Isokoski (Elsa). Nov. 27-Dec. 18: Verdi’s masterwork Rigoletto returns to the repertoire, conducted by James Conlon. The title role will be performed by Georgian baritone George Gagnidze in his company debut, with soprano Sarah Coburn as Gilda and Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova as the Duke of Mantua.

La Virgen De Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. Dec. 9-10, 7:30 p.m.: Latino Theater Company presents La Virgen De Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin. Set in 1536, it tells the story of the peasant Juan Diego, the four apparitions of the Virgin Mary and the miracle of roses blooming in the desert. It features a cast of 100 costumed singers and dancers. Los Angeles Theatre Center 514 S. Spring St., (213) 489-0994 or thelatc.org. Oct. 28-Nov. 20: The Vault returns: A multiethnic ensemble with a multi-disciplinary mix of performance art and music, commenting on pop culture, politics, technology and local and global happenings. Thurs.-Sat., 9 p.m. Nov. 11-Dec. 12: Playwrights Arena and the Latino Theater Company present the world premiere of Calligraphy. Two cousins — one in LA and one in Tokyo — are confronted with an aging mother and the fragile family relationships. Thurs.- Sat., 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Previews Nov. 10 and 11. Nov. 12-20: Latina On The Loose! follows a beautiful young Brazilian woman as she hops from Brazil to Switzerland to El Salvador to America, keeping in mind her larger-than-life grandmother’s most important lesson: “Show them your worth!” Fri. and Sat., 8 p.m. Nov. 20, 2 and 7 p.m.: Salin Lahi- Pass It On. Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts commemorates its 20th anniversary with a two-act offering that places emphasis on dance, music and rituals that punctuate and mark the Filipino life cycle, as well as the group’s own choreographic contributions that reflect the Filipino American aesthetic. Act 1: Pintig - Dances of the Filipino Lifecycle. Act 2: Obra ni Kayamanan - Contemporary Filipino American Expressions. Dec. 2, 7 p.m.: Star Stage Left is a new satirical comedy written and directed by acclaimed Native American playwright Bruce King that veils an eerie encounter with forces of dark and light. Free. Dec. 2-4: UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television- Department of Theater MFA Program in Playwrighting presents The New Play Festival. Works include Lost Cause by Alex Maggio; Babble Belly by Craig Jessen; Swell Season by Ayla Harrison. Dec. 2-12: UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television- Department of Theater MFA Program in Acting presents two shows in repertory — Hamlet and the musical Is There Life After High School?

Mark Taper Forum 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Through Oct. 17: The Glass Menagerie. Nov. 10-Dec. 22: The music and lyrics of one of America’s most beloved songwriters are featured in the world premiere of Randy Newman’s Harps and Angels. Newman’s witty, complex, bittersweet and often satirical songbook is present throughout. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct. 14-16, 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 17, 7 p.m.: In Wrought Iron Fog, Tere O’Connor’s richly layered choreography highlights unexpected shifts in rhythm and mood while building complex relationships. Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m.: In Reverend Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir, Billy Talen takes to the pulpit as Reverend Billy, accompanied by his joyous 25-voice choir. Nov. 10-14, 8:30 p.m.: Avante-garde choreographer Ralph Lemon presents “Ralph Lemon/ Cross Performance: How Can You Stay in the House All Day and Not Go Anywhere,” a multimedia work inspired by a 102-year-old former Mississippi Delta sharecropper and his spaceship. Nov. 17-21, 8:30 p.m.: The daring Dutch theater ensemble Wunderbaum returns to premiere Venlo, a new work created while in residence at REDCAT. Dec 1-12, 8:30 p.m.: The avante-garde Wooster Group is back, this time with the unpredictable ensemble’s multimedia staging of Tennessee Williams’ memory play Vieux Carré, set in a boarding house in New Orlens. Dec. 17-18: CalArts presents its Winter Dance program. The centerpiece of the two-day series is a restaging of Trisha Brown’s 1983 masterpiece Set and Reset.

ART SPACES ADC Contemporary Art Gallery Factory Art Place Complex, 1330 Factory Place, (323) 839-5786 or adccontemporaryartgallery.com. Opening Oct. 16: Chiyomi Taneike Longo’s “The Silence Between Lines.” Art Share Los Angeles 801 E. Fourth Pl., (213) 687-4278 or artsharela.org. Opening Nov. 4: “A Walk In LA” is a show of work by photojournalism students. Art Squared Gallery Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or

130 Celebrating

years in downtown LA

October 4, 2010 laparks.org/pershingsquare. Ongoing: Pershing Square Art Squared Gallery is an outdoor cityscape venue. The gallery has six 8’ X 8’ 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. Bert Green Fine Art 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 624-6212 or bgfa.us. Through Oct. 30: Jeff Gillette’s international slumscapes evoke a cacophony of shapes and colors revealing themselves as artifacts of the human spirit. Scott Horsley’s drawings look at issues of masculinity in relation to technology, sex, consumerism, and the anti-social paranoia of the security-obsessed state. Buchanon Gallery 204 W. Sixth St., (323) 823-1922 or byronbuchanan.com. Ongoing: Pop paintings by Bryon Buchanan. CB1 Gallery 207 W. Fifth St., (213) 806-7889 or cb1gallery.com. Through Oct. 10: Daniel Aksten’s exhibition, “Material,” continues his ongoing series of highly finished grid paintings while adding an additional body of work focusing on vertical stripes. Charlie James Gallery 975 Chung King Road, (213) 687-0488 or cjamesgallery.com. Through Oct. 16: “Indelible Whispers of the Sun” is comprised of new work by Bay Area artist Ala Ebtekar. 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. Through Nov. 6: Retrospective exhibition of works on paper by Craig Kauffman, spanning the years 1958-2000. The works reflect a sensuous and luminous color sensibility, fused with Kauffman’s fascination of the unorthodox. The Company 946 Yale St., (213) 221-7082 or thecompanyart.com. Through Oct. 16: 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. Crewest 110 Winston St., (213) 627-8272, crewest.com or thelabellab.com. Through Oct. 31: “Faces of Skid Row” is a group photography show. Edgar Varela Fine Arts 102 W. Fifth St., (213) 604-3634 or edgarvarelafinearts.com. Through Oct. 30: Ivan Limas’ “Free to Behave.” 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. Opening Oct. 2: “Hell vs. The Monster Mash,” a group show. Through Oct. 30. L2kontemporary 990 N. Hill St. #205, (626) 319-3661 or l2kontemporary.com. Oct. 16-Nov. 13: “Echoes and Fractures” is a show of paintings by Thomas Trivitt. 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. Through Oct. 31: Matthew Thomas and Ehja Kang. Nov. 3-28: Ramone Munoz. Los Angeles Public Library Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lapl.org/events. 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. Through Oct. 23: “Fanestra” is new work by Welsh artist Neal Rock. Morono Kiang Gallery 218 West 3rd St., (213) 628-8208 or moronokiang.com.

Downtown News 23

Arts & Entertainment Through Nov. 20: “Chewbacca to Zapata: Revisiting the Myth of the Mexican Revolution.” The exhibition will feature video, painting, and installation-based works created exclusively for this project, as well as revisiting existing works like Ruben Ortiz Torres’s How to Read Macho Mouse (1991). Norbertellen Gallery 215 W. Sixth St., (818) 662-5041 or norbertellengallery.com. Through Oct. 31: “Profusion,” a group exhibition. Optical Allusion Gallery 2414 W. Seventh St., (310) 309-7473. Opening Oct. 30: “The Photographers” features an eclectic group of L.A. artists. View light reflected or emitted from objects that form a real image, and that have been captured by them on a light sensitive area. Through Dec. 3. POVevolving Gallery 939 Chung King Rd., (310) 594-3036 or povevolving.com. Opening Oct. 16: Amy Casey and Jeremy Mora. REDCAT Gallery 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Through Nov. 21: “Not Only Time: Zhang Peili and Zhu Jia.” Coming out of a generation that witnessed the ramifications of the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen massacre and the landmark 1989 China/Avant-Garde exhibition and its subsequent closing by state authorities, Hangzhou-based artist Zhang Peili and Beijingbased artist Zhu Jia have used the medium of video and photography since the early 1990s to navigate the sea of changes in contemporary China. Dec. 7-Jan. 30: “Decolonizing Architecture” is a project by Sandi Hilal, Alessandro Petti and Eyal Weizman that uses architecture as an arena of speculation that investigates the complex spatial dynamics of the West Bank. Sam Lee Gallery 990 N. Hill St. #190, (323) 227-0275 or samleegallery.com. Oct. 30-Dec. 11: Darren Hostetter’s “Clusterfubar.” SCI-Arc Gallery 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. Oct. 8–Nov. 7: SCI-Arc long-time faculty member Coy Howard: “Part I - From Hand to Mouse, From Furniture to Architecture” includes 30 images of three speculative architectural projects and a collection of furniture designs. Nov. 19-Jan. 9, 2011: SCI-Arc long-time faculty member Coy Howard: “Part II - Whispers and Echoes” explores perennial issues of architectural experience in an installation of shrouded forms and Howard’s enigmatic writings on the definition of architecture. Nov.3–Dec. 12: Library Gallery exhibition of Paris-based firm Jakob + MacFarlane: “About” explores digital technology both as a conceptual consideration and as a means of fabrication, using new materials as a possibility to create a more flexible, responsive and immediate environment. 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 continual basis. Through Oct. 7: New works by Loic Zimmerman feature giclee combined with acrylic, collages and silkscreen elements.

Even Artwork Gets the Blues

photo by Gary Leonard

Downtown’s resident bluesman Artwork Jamal plays Seven Grand three times this fall. Jamal and the whiskey bar are a fitting marriage: While you drown your sorrows in a rare single malt or Kentucky bourbon, you won’t have to struggle finding words to articulate your blues. Artwork will do it for you, and toss in a few classic guitar licks free of charge. He’s solo on Oct. 20, with Deacon Jones joining on Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. At Seven Grand, 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la.

and explore the history of ancient Egyptian society as told through the mummies of the past in Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs. Race to Nowhere AT&T Center, 1150 S. Olive St., (925) 310-4242 or racetonowhere.com Oct. 4, 7 p.m.: A documentary examining the unintended consequences of the pressures on young people and their teachers in our achievement obsessed education system and culture. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct. 4, 8:30 p.m.: Erie, by Kevin Jerome Everson, consists of single-take, 16mm black-and-white sequences filmed in and around communities near Lake Erie. Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Oct. 7: The Social Network (1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.); Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (1:30, 4:40, 7:50 and 11 p.m.); Oct. 8 (partial list): Life As We Know It (1:40, 4:30, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m.); Secretariat (1:20, 4:10, 7 and 9:50 p.m.). Future Film Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Oct. 11, 7 p.m.: Takedowns and Falls is a documentary by Todd Hickey and Kirk Ledger about a group of Pennsylvania teens and their relationships within a high school wrestling team on a journey to attain a state championship. Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Bad Batch follows two African-

American cousins and one Jewish hipster girl who can’t handle an intense pot brownie high one night. Oct. 25, 7 p.m.: Film Courage Interactive presents the US premiere of Cold Storage, an award-winning thriller directed/co-written by Tony Elwood and produced by Paul Barrett. Nov. 29, 7 p.m.: Shot entirely on location in Southern Indiana and Austin, Texas, Paradise Recovered attempts a modern-day retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan while addressing hard questions involving faith, tolerance, and spiritual abuse in modern culture. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Oct. 11, 8:30 p.m.: Master collagist Lewis Klahr returns with a new series, Prolix Satori. Oct. 23, 8:30p.m.: Cuban novelist Edmundo Desnoes is on hand to discuss two films inspired by his writings, including Memories of Underdevelopment. Oct. 25, 8:30 p.m.: The work of Vincent Grenier, a native of Québec City, is featured in Revelations of the Everyday Nov. 1, 8:30 p.m.: Spectacles of Light: Films and Videos by Peter Rose. Nov. 22, 8:30 p.m.: In Thom Andersen: Out of the Car and into the Music of the Streets three sad, funny, beautiful works take you through Los Angeles, 2009; and Munich, 1967/1968.

BARS & CLUBS The Association 610 S. Main St., (213) 627-7385.

Continued on next page

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Oct. 4-6: Automorphosis looks into the minds and hearts of a collection of eccentrics, visionaries and just plain folks who have transformed their autos into artworks. Through Oct. 6. Oct. 4-7: Brutal Beauty: Tales Of The Rose City Rollers tells the story of Portland, Oregon’s women’s roller derby league. Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. Visit website for current schedule. IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Through Nov. 28: Featuring nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D will immerse audiences in the story of an ocean wave and the lives it impacts and transforms. Hubble 3D takes movie-goers on a journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. Journey to the royal tombs of Egypt

Open streets for walking and bicycling

ciclavia.org

10/10/10 COME OUT & PLAY October 10, 10am-3pm

24 Downtown News

Listings

October 4, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

For Whom the Bela Tolls

Continued from previous page Carved out of the area that used to belong to Cole’s, the bar in front, the Association is a dimly-lit, swank little alcove with some serious mixologists behind the bar. Look for a heavy door, a brass knocker, and a long line. Banquette 400 S. Main St., (213) 626-2768. This petite cafe and wine bar with its red and white striped awning has become a popular hangout for casual evenings of drinking wine and meeting up with friends. During monthly Art Walks on the second Thursday of the month, Banquette buzzes with almost every kind of Downtown denizen you could imagine. They have a small but lovely selection of wines by the glass as well as beers. Barbara’s at the Brewery 620 Moulton Ave., No. 110, (323) 221-9204 or bwestcatering.com. On the grounds of the Brewery, this bar and restaurant in an unfinished warehouse is where local residents find their artistic sustenance. Fifteen craft beers on tap, wine list and full bar. Bar 107 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/ bar107. Inside the keyhole-shaped door, tough-as-nails Derby Dolls vie for elbowroom with crusty old bar guys and a steady stream of Old Bank District inhabitants. Velvet señoritas, deer heads with sunglasses, a wooden Indian and Schlitz paraphernalia plaster the red walls. There’s no shortage of entertainment, with the funky dance room, great DJs and the occasional rock band. In the photo booth, you can capture your mug in old-fashioned black and white. Located just two blocks east of the Pershing Square Metro stop, Bar 107 is open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Big Wang’s 801 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2449 or bigwangs.com. Wings, beer and sports: That’s the winning recipe at this sports bar. The Downtown outpost, the third for the Hollywood-based bar, has everything the other locations have, plus a comfortable patio with outdoor flat screens. Blue Velvet 750 S. Garland St., (213) 239-0061 or bluevelvetrestaurant.com. Located off a small side street, look for the blue neon sign that says The Flat. This stylish poolside restaurant and lounge in the former Holiday Inn (now a residential building) features sparkling views of Staples Center, a dining room with a 17-foot sunken granite table, and a sleek bar with white stools where you can saddle up cowboy style. Bonaventure Brewing Company 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 236-0802 or bonaventurebrewing.com. Where can you get a drink, order some decent bar food, sit outdoors and still feel like you’re Downtown? It’s a tall order to fill, but this bar in the Bonaventure Hotel does it admirably. Come by for a taster set of award-winning ales crafted by Head Brewer David Blackwell. Sure, the hotel is vaguely ’80s, and you’ll probably encounter some convention goers tying a few on, but it only adds to the fun. Bona Vista Lounge 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-1000 or thebonaventure.com. Located in the heart of the Financial District in the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel, this revolving cocktail lounge offers a 360-degree view of the city. Bordello 901 E. First St., (213) 687-3766 or bordellobar.com. If the name doesn’t clue you in, a sultry voiced “madam” on the answering machine lets you know Bordello isn’t exactly for the buttoned-up crowd. This onetime house of ill repute has shed its most recent life as Little Pedro’s with a gussied up interior oozing sex appeal — lush scarlet velvet, ornate black chandeliers and heart-shaped chairs in hidden alcoves. Bottlerock 1150 S. Flower St., (213) 747-1100 or bottlerock.net. Situated on the groundfloor of the Met Lofts in South Park, this wine bar features a vast range of bottles from around the world and a price range equally as wide. Wines by the glass start at around $8, but if you’re feeling overcome by oenophilia (or just deep-pocketed) there are some first growth Bordeauxs for more than $1,000 for the bottle. And if you don’t get your fill while at the bar, which also features a rotating crop of artisanal beers and a full dinner menu, the bar also sells bottles at retail. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. Located next to the Orpheum Theatre in the Platt Building, the Broadway Bar’s blue neon sign beckons patrons inside to its 50-foot circular bar. The casual-chic spot is based on Jack Dempsey’s New York bar, with low lighting and a dose of ’40s glam. There’s a patio upstairs with nice views, and a

photo courtesy L.A. Orpheum

What’s the difference between a banjo and an onion? Nobody cries when you cut up a banjo! If you just got mad, you already have tickets to go see banjo wizard Béla Fleck and his Flecktones. Don’t worry though, the joke’s really on the banjo haters. This group is one of the most talented banjo ensembles, drawing influence not just from Earl Scruggs, but from Aaron Copland. Tuvan throat singers The Alash Ensemble open the show at the Orpheum Theatre on Dec. 18. At 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com

jukebox. Caña Rum Bar at the Doheny 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or canarumbar.com. In the Caribbean, “caña” is slang for sugarcane. Rum is made from sugarcane. Therefore, Caña Rum Bar at the Doheny serves premium handcrafted rum cocktails in an intimate, elegant environment featuring live Caribbean and tropical Latin music. Casa 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2249 or casadowntown.com. There’s a classy bar inside, from whence you can check out the action in the transparent kitchen and behind the bar, as the bartenders craft their freshjuiced margaritas. But the place to be is outside, under the stars and high-rises, nestled in one of the patio’s pod “casitas.” Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. With its worn brick staircase, tin ceilings and dark wood decor, it’s easy to see how this neighborhood bar and grill still works its Irish charm. Regulars cozy up to the 60-foot mahogany bar with a pint of Guinness and a plate of bangers and mash. Casey’s has a full menu with six beers on tap and a selection of Belgian ales and microbrews. Cicada Club 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com. Every Sunday, the restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club, with a big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails (visit cicadaclub.com). Ciudad 445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or ciudad-la.com. Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s Downtown restaurant serves up Latin recipes from Spain and South America. The modern space also hosts a thriving happy hour with live music on the outdoor patio several nights a week. Don’t miss the mojitos. Club 740 740 S. Broadway, (213) 225-5934 or 740la.com. This 1920s theater has been transformed into a three-level party playground sprawling over 40,000 square feet. Club 740 is a spectacle with ornate gold balconies, go-go dancers and private skybox lounges. Music includes hip-hop, Latin vibe, Top 40 and indie rock. Cole’s 118 E. Sixth St., colesfrenchdip.com. This beloved restaurant saloon has been renovated under new ownership. The great leather booths and dark wood bar of the old spot remain, but now the glasses are clean. Draft beer, historic cocktails, and a short wine list. Corkbar 403 W. 12th St., corkbar.com. If the name didn’t give it away, this South Park establishment is all about the wine, specifically, California wine. Situated on the groundfloor of the Evo condominium building, Corkbar serves up a seasonal food menu of farmer’s market-driven driven creations to go with your Golden State pinots,

cabernets and syrahs. The Down and Out 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-7800 or twitter.com/ thedownandout. This latest offering from the same folks that brought you Bar 107. The 3,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Alexandria Hotel features mug shots of celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Hugh Grant, Steve McQueen and Andy Dick. The owners describe it as a sports bar for local residents who don’t want to mingle with tourists. Eastside Luv 1835 E. First St., (323) 262-7442 or eastsideluv.com. A stone’s throw from Mariachi Plaza and all that Metro Line construction, this tucked-away spot features Mexican movie posters on the wall, good beer on tap, regular sangria, live bands, and different from anything to its west, no attitude. e3rd 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or eastthird.com. This Asian-style steakhouse with an artsy flavor features a sleek lounge with low, circular tables and a long psychedelic bar that changes colors like a mood ring. There’s a full bar, inventive cocktails (including soju) and a reasonable wine list. DJs spin. Edison 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com. Downtown history has come full circle in this former power plant turned stunning cocktail bar. The Edison is perhaps Downtown’s hottest hotspot and draws an eclectic crowd, including jaded Hollywood types who can’t help but gawk at the preserved bits of machinery, the huge generator and the coal box that now houses the jukebox. Far Bar 347 E. First St., (behind the Chop Suey Café), (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafeandlounge.com. Tucked behind the Chop Suey Café is the Far Bar, where intimacy and a sense of noir L.A. collide. If you can find the place, which you enter through the back of the café or via a skinny alley a few doors down, you can throw them back in the same spot author Raymond Chandler is rumored to have done the same. Figueroa Hotel 939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 627-8971 or figueroahotel.com. The Moroccan-inspired Figueroa Hotel just a block north of Staples Center manages the unique feat of making you feel like you’re in the heart of the city and removed from it at the same time. The light-filled Veranda Bar is just steps from the clear, glittery pool, and it’s common to see suit-clad Downtowners a few feet from swimsuit-wearing Euro-tourists. Five Stars Bar 269 S. Main St., (213) 625-1037. Burgers, brew, billiards, art and live music. Cash only, amigos. Gallery Bar Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com. This elegant lounge in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel is known for its martinis, wines and vintage

ports. Genji Bar Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, 120 Los Angeles St., (213) 253-9255 or kyotograndhotel.com. The Genji Bar offers a hip, private karaoke room that you and a dozen or so of your friends can rent for about $10 a piece. It’s got new songs, old songs, odd songs and songs that you wish no one would sing. It also means you can warble “Sweet Home Alabama” all you want without the agonizing wait. Golden Gopher 417 W. Eighth St., (213) 614-8001 or goldengopherbar.com. This stylish, dimly lit space with exposed brick walls, chandeliers and golden gopher lamps has a rockin’ jukebox, cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon and an outdoor lounge for smokers. Best of all, it also has Ms. Pac Man and Galaga. The bar also has a rare take-out liquor counter. Grand Star Jazz Club 943 Sun Mun Way, (213) 626-2285 or grandstarjazzclub.com. Firecracker club heats things up every other Friday atop the Quon Brothers’ Grand Star. Start the evening at the latter, where the lapu lapus are wicked strong. There’s usually alternating karaoke and a good jazz trio. Upstairs you’ll find the hip-hop haven known as Firecracker, a longtime dance club with good music and an eclectic, lively crowd. Hop Louie 950 Mei Ling Way (Central Plaza), (213) 628-4244. This is old school Chinatown, on the ground floor of the Hop Louie Restaurant, with slightly indifferent bartenders and décor — it’s actually a relief. J Restaurant & Lounge 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com. Once the site of the historic Little J’s, this South Park lounge a stone’s throw from Staples Center now offers signature cocktails, cigars, beer and about 20 wines by the glass. The sprawling space is highlighted by a 10,000-square-foot outdoor patio featuring cozy cabanas, a glowing fire pit and a 30foot granite bar. Happy hour is from 5 p.m. until sunset all summer long. La Cita 336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111 or lacitabar.com. Though the owners of Echo Park’s Short Stop bought it, little has changed. Everything in this former Mexican Ranchero bar oozes red, from the vinyl booths lining the wall to the glowing light fixtures. Hipsters, Latino regulars and artists mingle as DJs get their groove on during the week. Saturday and Sunday bring Hacienda Nights with traditional Ranchero music. La Fonda 2501 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 380-5053 or lafondala.com. The palatial restaurant and stage has re-opened. Live performances by the Mariachi Monumental de America plays nightly at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Library Bar 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-0053 or librarybarla.com. This dimly lit bar is more upscale than your typical pub, which means you won’t find a boisterous USC crowd here. A very busy happy hour draws associates from the law firm across the street, as well as bankers, secretaries and other professionals for the grown-up beer and wine selections. There’s a full bar, but the main attractions are the seven craft beers on tap. Magnolia 825 W. Ninth St., (213) 488-0400. Located within steps of the Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center, this skylight-lit bar is the sister location of the popular Hollywood hotspot. Friendly service, great appetizers, and— this is rare — two hour free parking located in the attached garage right behind our building on 8th Place.

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

Easy ways to submit your

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

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October 4, 2010

Downtown News 25

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Streetcar Fundraiser Nets $200,000 T Photos by Gary Leonard

he Broadway streetcar got a big boost on Thursday, Sept. 30, when officials raised $200,000 for the effort. A fundraiser at the Target Terrace at L.A. Live was co-hosted by 14th District Councilman José Huizar, philanthropist Eli Broad, developer Rick Caruso and Anschutz Entertainment Group President and CEO Tim Leiweke. Dennis Allen, executive director of Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit spearheading the $100 million project, told the crowd of about 200 people that they more than doubled their fundraising expectations for the evening. He said the latest timeline envisions the streetcar running within five years. “We exceeded our expectations in terms of the amount of funding that we raised,” Huizar told the crowd. “But what I’m most pleased about is the interest, and the engagement and the enthusiasm.” A who’s who of Downtown power players shows up, including Metro CEO Art Leahy, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry, Cardinal Roger Mahoney and Downtown property owners Steve Needleman and Michael Delijani. Also in attendance was Chris Essel, the new CEO of the CRA, which has provided about $10 million for the streetcar effort. The money from the fundraiser will go toward administrative costs for the nonprofit. —Richard Guzmán

metro.net

Go Help You Save Energy and Money

once a week.

Metro Briefs Join In Rideshare Week October 4-8

Make a pledge and carpool, vanpool or use public transit to get to work at least one day during Rideshare Week, October4-8, and be eligible to win valuable prizes. The program is open to employers and employees alike. Visit metro.net/rideshareweek for details.

Metro To Decide On Two Important Rail Projects

• $500 on a high efﬁciency variable speed pool pump and motor • $100 per ton on 15 SEER and above, or $120 per ton on 16 SEER and above central air unit or heat pump • $50 for recycling your old refrigerator • $2 per sq. ft. of glass on Energy Star® windows • $65 for Energy Star® refrigerators • $50 for Energy Star® room air conditioners

Also starting October 1st LADWP offers rebates for whole house fans and cool roofs! For more LADWP Consumer Rebate Program information and applications, visit www.ladwp.com/crp or call toll free 1-800-374-2224. Rebate amounts apply only to qualifying purchases made after September 30, 2010. Rebates are offered for qualifying products only. Terms and conditions apply.

Metro Releases “Go Metro-Los Angeles” iPhone Application Getting around LA just got easier. Now you can plan your trip on Metro with “Go Metro-Los Angeles,” mobile transit application for iPhone and iPod Touch / OS 4.0. The Go Metro app is available on the iTunes store for free. To get it search for ‘Go Metro Los Angeles’ in the Apple App Store. Find out more at metro.net.

Tell Us Where Metro Takes You, Win A Five-Day Pass Metro wants to know how you Go Metro to get around and is o=ering a chance to win a free >ve-day pass to those who share their experience. Visit metro.net/ride to >ll out the online entry form and tell everyone where and why you ride, how transit helps you, and the reason why others should try it.

For Metro News, Go To “The Source” Get instant updates on the issues and actions that keep LA County moving. Just go to “The Source,” an online news and feature service that is updated throughout the day on developments that a=ect Metro’s projects and services. Look for it today at metro.net.

If you’d like to know more, please call us at 1.800.464.2111, or visit metro.net.

As of October 1st LADWP will increase many of its cash rebates on energy efﬁciency appliances and products.

The future direction of both the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector rail projects will be decided at the Metro Board of Directors meeting October 28. Five alternative routes for extending the Metro Red or Purple lines are proposed, while three are considered for the downtown LA transit link between the Metro Gold, Blue and Expo lines. Visit metro.net for meeting details.

October 4, 2010

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AECOM Continued from page 6 business. A key early acquisition came in 1984, when Ashland bought architecture and engineering firm Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, better known locally as DMJM. Growth has been an almost constant trend for the firm, and accelerated after AECOM went public in 2007. In August, it acquired McNeil Technologies, Inc., a leading government national security and intelligence services firm based in Springfield, Va., in a deal valued at $355 million. That came on the heels of AECOM’s purchase in July of New York construction giant Tishman Construction Corp., for $245 million. In 2005, AECOM acquired San Francisco-based EDAW, Inc., an international urban planning and design, landscape architecture, economics, and cultural and environmental services firm. EDAW designers are leading the AECOM team working on Park 101. “If you’d look at all the acquisitions, they’re pretty much aligned at rounding out the professional services,” said Paul Dickard, AECOM’s director of external communications. “A big piece of that for us is also insuring that we are positioned to take on mega-projects on a global scale, while also being able to work very closely with clients that have local projects that require the same sort of entrepreneurial knowledge of local business and things like government codes.” The global expansion has allowed AECOM to diversify on a vast scale, establishing a sort of organic, self-sustaining business model, said Carlo Caccavale, associate director of the American Institute of Architects’ Los Angeles chapter. “Designers who reside here in Los Angeles

for AECOM, they go to China very regularly and that’s what keeps them growing,” Caccavale said. “It’s a system that feeds itself in its own way. They keep getting financially stronger and getting big projects that will make the institutions comfortable that this firm can deliver, on time.” Local Impact Following a Community Redevelopment Agency commission, an AECOM team in June started researching the Fashion District, investigating ways to foster economic development, job creation and sustainability. While most of the team is from Downtown, it includes experts from AECOM offices in other cities, said Kent Smith, executive director of the Fashion District business improvement district. “One thing that AECOM brings to the table is there’s a whole set of disciplines that are necessary to be working on this,” said Smith, who was part of the CRA-assembled committee that selected AECOM from among 19 bidders on the contract. “It certainly helps when they can bring expertise from many other cities to bear on our district. It’s kind of formidable.” Until recently, AECOM’s larger affiliates, including DMJM and EDAW, operated mostly independently and maintained their own brand. That changed in October 2009, when the firm’s management folded all of its affiliated companies into a single AECOM umbrella. (That’s why followers of the LAPD headquarters, for example, may have noticed that the architect of record changed from DMJM to AECOM in 2009.) That move made it easier to coordinate the various bubbles of expertise in the AECOM family, said Rachel Vandenberg, an AECOM vice president who heads the Los Angeles transportation office. “It has really broken down barriers and allowed us to work together more closely,”

L O S

The Downtown Roster

A Selection of AECOM’s Projects in the Central City Project Name

Owner

AECOM Services

Completion Date

Park 101 Plan

State of California Department of Transportation, District 7

Urban planning and design

2009

California Endowment

Interior design

2006

County of Los Angeles Central Jail FEMA 273 Seismic Repairs Project

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

Building engineering

2003

Deloitte & Touche West Coast Regional Headquarters

Deloitte & Touche

Interior design (programming and space planning)

2000

Federal Office Building, 300 North Los Angeles St., ICE Consolidation

General Services Administration

Architecture / interior planning

2015

Grand Avenue Realignment

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

Civil and structural engineering

2004

L.A. Live

AEG and L.A. Arena Company

Economic consulting

Ongoing

Metro Gold Line - Phase I Eastside Extension

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Civil, structural and architectural design

2009

Los Angeles Police Department Police Administration Building

City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering

Architecture and Interior Design

2009

Los Angeles Police Emergency Command Control Communications System 911 Centers

TRW Inc.

Architecture and interior design

2001

Los Angeles Public Safety Metro Master Plan

City Bureau of Engineering

Programming and master planning

2003

University of Southern California, Health Services Center - Soto Street Building

Trammell Crow Company

Architecture, interior design and building engineering

2011

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2010 Corporate Honoree Bank of America

Introducing the new Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District Dr. Daniel LaVista

Master of Ceremonies Fritz Coleman NBC4

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If you have an odd-numbered address, your watering days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

If you have an even-numbered address, your watering days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Sprinkler use is allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. only, for up to 8 minutes per station per day. Customers with water-conserving nozzles (rotors and multi-stream rotary heads) are allowed two 15-minute cycles each watering day. For more information and the complete list of the prohibited uses of water, visit www.ladwp.com or call 1-800-DIAL DWP.

Information provided by AECOM

26 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

Missing Broker Found Alive Ed Rosenthal Survives Six Days in Joshua Tree Wilderness by Katie Schaufelberger

photo by Gary Leonard

AECOM designed the LAPD’s $440 million Police Administration Building across from City Hall.

Vandenberg said. “The urban designers in the EDAW group, for example, are working really closely with our transit architects and our engineers and looking at big picture transit station issues.” The firm moved Downtown in 2000 when it outgrew its former Mid-Wilshire office, said Vandenberg. It made sense: Much of AECOM’s work is civic, and now it is close to agencies like Metro. “Being Downtown was a very deliberate decision,” Vandenberg said. “It’s the heart of the city. Being at the center of the city is important to the company… and there are big clients that are here.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

tale many expected to end tragically had a fortunate resolution last week: On Thursday, Sept. 30, Downtown “poet-broker” Ed Rosenthal was found alive in Joshua Tree State Park, six days after going into the wilderness. He was being treated at the High Desert Hospital. Rosenthal had been missing since Friday, Sept. 24, when he went hiking near Black Rock Campground. He had told other campers he planned to go out for a day hike on his own. When he didn’t return, they reported him missing. Park staff were informed on Sunday and launched a search. On Tuesday, the search team tripled to about 55 people, who were combing the wilderness south of the campground. A helicopter was also canvassing the park. Although Rosenthal, an experienced hiker, had a pack and some supplies with him, he had to deal with the grueling natural elements: Temperatures at Joshua Tree were hovering in the mid to upper 90s early in the week. On Wednesday, park rangers shut down some of the trails the 64-yearold was believed to have used. They were hoping to preserve any prints before other hikers came through.

photo courtesy Rosenthal family

Park spokesman Joe Zarki said members of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s helicopter crew spotted him Thursday morning at about 10:30 a.m. Search teams had followed his tracks to an area farther south of the original search area, to steep, difficult terrain a few miles from Desert Hot Springs. “He was up and talking to the crew,”

Zarki said after the helicopter rescue. Rosenthal has been involved in Downtown real estate for decades. His deals included brokering the recent sale of the restaurant Clifton’s Cafeteria. He is also a published poet. Many of his works have concerned historic properties in Downtown Los Angeles.

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28 Downtown News

October 4, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Art Walk Continued from page 1 and that no votes were taken. Lopez said the decision to change Art Walk to a quarterly event was made by a group he referred to as “the community.” He said it included area stakeholders, gallery owners and board members. “It’s something we’ve been discussing for months,” Lopez said. When asked to specify who made the decision to end the monthly Art Walk and initiate a quarterly happening, Lopez said it came from the Art Walk board. He said they voted at a Sept. 13 meeting to change the event and, at the same meeting, voted unanimously to disband the board, which had been established about a year ago. “We definitely made a motion to make these statements, formally,” Lopez said. He said the board, with the exception of Andre Miripolsky, who was not present, unanimously approved the motion. “Did I have consent? Yes, I did have consent,” Lopez stated. “We decided as a board.” Lopez said that he will be in charge of running the new quarterly Art Walk. Three board members who spoke to Downtown News dispute Lopez’s version of what occurred at the September meeting. Hernand, Wicks Walker and Bonnie Tseng said that, due to concerns about the size of Art Walk crowds and the cost of staging the event, they discussed numerous options about how to handle its future. “We were talking about the difficulties of raising funding and a wide range of options which absolutely did include, should we just shut it down?” said Hernand. “And to my surprise, at that meeting for the first time, Jay started actively proposing that we shut down.” Other options discussed at the meeting included having a weekly event, doing multiple events or doing it on a different day, board members said. They said the quarterly option was

never brought up. Hernand said the board concluded at the Sept. 13 meeting that it was not capable of continuing to manage Art Walk given the lack of support from the business community and increasing demands from the police department and local business improvement districts, which were asking them to pay for costs associated with the event. However, Hernand, Walker and Tseng all said that there was neither a motion made nor a vote taken to end the monthly Art Walk and initiate a quarterly event. Downtown News requested a copy of the minutes from the Sept. 13 meeting. They had not been provided by press time. Board members said that after the meeting ended, they continued to discuss options, and planned to meet again. “In the ensuing days, some of us had discussions with community leaders and concluded that there was a viable plan for keeping Art Walk running, and I personally communicated that to Jay days before he took action to shut Art Walk down,” Hernand said. “There is no question that Jay knew that the board did not want to shut down Art Walk.” Nevertheless, on the Friday Lopez sent the press release, he also emailed board members informing them about the statement he was about to make. “He sent us an email saying he understood that the board had decided to disband itself. That is incorrect,” Tseng said. Tseng and other board members immediately replied to Lopez’s email, asking him not to send it out, or to be prepared to retract it. Can It Disappear? Tseng said that the initial email from Lopez said that he plans to run the quarterly event with Bert Green, who founded Art Walk in 2004. In 2009, Green stopped running the event. It was taken over by Richard Schave, who helped establish the board and led Art Walk to file for nonprofit status. Schave resigned his position in November, after clashing with board members. His wife and fellow board member Kim Cooper also relinquished her role. Lopez took over in December. Continued on next page

photo by Gary Leonard

Jay Lopez infuriated Art Walk board members when he posted a statement on the Art Walk website saying the event was canceled for the rest of 2010.

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