11-16-09 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 38, Number 46

INSIDE

Thanksgiving in Downtown 13-16 W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

November 16, 2009

The MOCA Makeover Downtown Museum Comes Back From the Brink And Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary With a 500-Piece Show by Anna Scott staff writer

Urban Scrawl on MOCA’s comeback.

Play 4th and Long Football and win prizes.

A shake-up at the top of Art Walk.

The Pershing Square ice rink is back.

A new wave of boutique hotels.

photo by Gary Leonard

MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel (left) and philanthropist Eli Broad check out Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years. The exhibit features more than 500 works.

Settlement Could Give El Pueblo Lease to Entity Suing the City Old LA, Which Signed a 1984 Deal to Develop an Historic Site, Could Get Another Crack at Large Property by Richard Guzmán

In 1984, a group called Old LA signed a 25-year lease to develop and run the Pico-Garnier Block at El Pueblo. Little progress has been achieved. In 2004, the group, which now includes politically connected Andy Camacho, sued the city over the site.

city editor

photo by Gary Leonard

Trying to Figure Out the New City Attorney by Jon Regardie

19 CALENDAR LISTINGS 21 CLASSIFIEDS

ore than 2 million people visit El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument every year. Although most gravitate toward the colorful shops on Olvera Street, many also find their way to the historic buildings on the south side of the attraction. They often peek in the windows of the 1870 Pico House, the largest

building in El Pueblo and the city’s first three-story edifice. But when they look inside the building with the inviting brick courtyard, they are likely to see it empty. Occasionally city officials hold meetings on folding tables and chairs. On some occasions there are temporary art exhibitions. Although for decades there has been talk of putting in a restaurant, retail, offices and even a theater, the building, along with others in the area called the Pico-Garnier Block, has sat nearly unused. The culprit is a double whammy of a flawed lease first signed a quarter century ago (but terminated 12 years later) and a lawsuit filed against the city in 2004. Lawsuits in Los Angeles are nothing unusual, and legal machinations can stymie major projects for years. What sets the El Pueblo situation see El Pueblo, page 8

Hurricane Carmen executive editor

Reviewing Po Boy Tango.

he Museum of Contemporary Art’s new exhibit features hundreds of paintings, sculptures, photographs and other works by big names like Jackson Pollock, Ed Ruscha and Jean-Michel Basquiat. But it’s not just size and star power that make The Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years stand out — the exhibit marks both the museum’s 30th anniversary and a dramatic comeback for an institution whose future was in question just a year ago. “No 30-year journey is without bumps,” said philanthropist Eli Broad last Thursday during a preview

event for the new exhibit at MOCA’s Grand Avenue headquarters. In the past 10 months, he said, “MOCA has made the greatest turnaround of any art institution in recent years.” In late 2008, MOCA was mired in a major financial crisis brought on by rising spending and a plunging endowment. MOCA Director Jeremy Strick resigned in the wake of the news and the museum closed the Geffen Contemporary annex in Little Tokyo to cut costs. Planned exhibits were canceled and in January the museum slashed its budget and reduced its staff by 20%. Now, however, MOCA appears to see MOCA, page 17

here are two things I know about City Attorney Carmen Trutanich: First, the guy can talk. Give him a microphone and he’ll go off, riffing on about 9 zillion subjects, dropping in some legal jargon almost no one but him understands, THE REGARDIE REPORT

and then sprinkling in a few things that, from a PR standpoint, might be better left unsaid. In the same way that watching Kobe with a basketball makes you go, “Wow, did he really just do that?” listening to Hurricane Carmen can make you go, “Wow,

did he really just say that?” The second thing I know about Trutanich is that I can’t really figure him out. He’s a big jumble of juxtapositions, a guy who seems passionate about protecting the city but is ready to lob verbal grenades at its leaders. He’s a politician who loves to repeat that staffers in his office are not allowed to talk politics. Although during his victorious run against Jack Weiss he seemed to court the media, which in response swirled around him like charmed guppies, these days he appears to loathe reporters, and will eagerly state, even without being asked, how the press gets things see Trutanich, page 10

photo by Gary Leonard

Since taking office on July 1, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has dealt with billboards, medical marijuana and the Anschutz Entertainment Group. He said that under his watch, his office is 27-0 in trials.

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN

‘Sleepless’ for a Cause

Angels Flight Gets Safety Hearing

lthough it is still not ready to reopen, some activity is going on in connection with Angels Flight, the short railroad that connected Bunker Hill to the Historic Core. The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to review the railway’s safety program and security plans on Nov. 20 in San Francisco. The commission is expected to approve the plans, which detail procedures to be followed in the event of an accident, said Noel Takahara, a program supervisor for the commission. Final approval from the PUC is required before the railway can reopen. Takahara said the commission is also reviewing other safety reports from Angels Flight, but that there is no timeline for when those will be complete. Angels Flight has been closed since a Feb. 1, 2001 accident that killed an 83-year-old man and injured seven others.

New Mendocino Farms Arrives

endocino Farms, the uber-popular Bunker Hill upscale sandwich joint, will open a second Downtown outpost in the Financial District this week. Mario Del Pero, who with his wife Ellen Chen owns and runs the establishment known for creations such as the Wine Country Steak & Brie sandwich and the Duck Confit sandwich, said the second store will debut at 444 S. Flower St. on Monday, Nov. 16. “We figured the best spot for us would be close to the current store, but at the bottom of the hill,” said Del Pero. The new restaurant will have the same menu overseen by chef Judy Han. The biggest change from the first Mendocino Farms, besides the size, will be the design. Architecture firm Poon Design, which won raves for its work on the new Downtown Chaya, handled the transformation of the space. The goal, Del Pero said, was to architecturally interpret Mendocino Farms’ sandwiches. The new restaurant will initially be open weekdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Del Pero said they are ready to serve 700 sandwiches a day.

Meruelo Maddux Project on Hold

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

eveloper Meruelo Maddux Properties has halted leasing at its 35-story apartment tower in South Park, 705 West Ninth (previously known as 717 W. Ninth). The move, first re-

ported by the website Curbed LA, took effect Nov. 1, and comes as the company is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Leasing manager Nathan Poth could not confirm whether Meruelo Maddux, which originally planned the 35-floor property as condos but switched to rentals, is looking to go back and sell the units. With leasing on hold, the company is still compiling interest lists from prospective renters and buyers, Poth said. The building’s website, which debuted in August, was offline late last week.

Longtime Clothier Plans to Retire

fter more than 30 years in Downtown, George Harb, owner of the Downtown men’s clothing store G. B. Harb & Son, will retire. Before he departs, however, he is holding a retirement sale. The sale started Nov. 9 and items including suits, shirts, sport coats, slacks and dress shoes are marked down 40%-80%, Harb said. The store, at 500 S. Grand Ave., will stay open after the sale ends, Harb said. “I’ve had a good run for 38 years and I’m going on my own terms,” he said. The 67-yearold said he plans to spend his retirement traveling, playing golf and managing some of his real estate. The store opened in the Mid-Wilshire area in 1971 and moved Downtown in 1976.

Free Shuttle Connects L.A. Live and USC

here may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is a free ride. On Nov. 5, a free shuttle bus began running between USC and the L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex. It departs every 30 minutes from The Lab Gastropub at 3500 S. Figueroa St. and the 901 Bar and Grill at 2902 S. Figueroa St., both across the street from the USC campus, and drops passengers off at the new Regal Cinemas multiplex. Anschutz Entertainment Group, the developer of L.A. Live, has made connecting with USC a goal of the $2.5 billion project. USC students have already expressed enthusiasm. “They feel it’s a great opportunity to experience L.A. Live,” said USC Assistant Director of Campus Activities Enrique Trujillo. The bus runs Friday from 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday from 2 p.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. More information is at lalive.com.

oft Seven, the swanky penthouse/event space at the Haas Building at Seventh Street and Broadway, will host a party this Thursday to benefit Skid Row’s His Sheltering Arms. The Main Street facility provides shelter, food, medical aid, recovery programs and other services to needy women and children. “[His Sheltering Arms] is a very small operation and they’re doing remarkable work on virtually no budget at all,” said LAPD Officer Jack Richter, who helped organize the Nov. 19 event. “I’m telling people to just come, and if they want to donate, they can.” The event starts at 7 p.m. at the building at 219 W. Seventh St. and will feature music, prizes, a silent auction and a rooftop screening of the film Sleepless in Seattle, complete with popcorn.

County Wants Higher Hotel Allowance

os Angeles County officials want government employees to pay a little more to stay in area hotels. The Board of Supervisors last week began lobbying the federal General Services Administration to increase the hotel per diem rate for government employees staying in the county. The supervisors want the GSA to raise the $135 maximum hotel allowance government employees get when traveling for business to Los Angeles County. The GSA sets per diem rates every October and a rate hike could benefit Downtown hotels, area officials said. “People that have to do business in Downtown L.A. can have a challenging time finding a property that fits into that range,” said Carol Martinez, a spokeswoman for L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau. By contrast, the GSA’s per diem rate for government employees staying in Santa Monica is $209. “We have a tremendous amount of government workers that come through, and it should be far more equitable [to other cities],” said David Sommers, a spokesman for Supervisor Don Knabe, who introduced the Nov. 10 motion.

More Laker Love

t is no surprise that come the fall and winter, the sports scene in Los Angeles belongs to the Lakers. But a new poll on downtownnews.com shows that area sports fans are nearly see Around Town, page 9

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

University of Southern California

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Under Construction An Evening with Isabel Allende Tuesday, 26, through May 30. Tuesday,May November 17, 7 Saturday, p.m. Performed in repertory. Curtain times vary.

Literary legend, social activist and feminist The School Theatre–showcases three icon IsabelofAllende now in thework third by decade of a brilliant career – has sold than 51 up-and-coming playwrights – thismore year’s gradumillion books in 32 languages. At this lively ates of the MFA in dramatic writing program. USC presentation, she uses her signature Choose from About Harvest, describing a forbidmagical realism to weave together threads den love between an American girl and from her family history (uncle farm Salvador wasa

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November 16, 2009

Downtown News 3

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4 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

EDITORIALS Gold Line Payoff

he new Gold Line Eastside Extension is an excellent project. The connection between Downtown and East Los Angeles is something both communities, as well as the greater region, have needed for a long time. The Nov. 15 debut of the $898 million light rail line (scheduled for after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press) has both practical applications and symbolic resonance. It is difficult to assess which one is of greater importance. It may be the former in the present and the latter in the future. On the practical, tangible front, the Gold Line establishes a six-mile link between Union Station and Atlantic Boulevard in East L.A. The eight stations provide thousands of people the opportunity to give up the automobile, an obvious payoff in environmental and traffic terms. The results could be felt quickly, as Metro officials estimate the line will carry about 13,000 riders a day by the end of the year. When added to the previous spur of the Gold Line that extends to Pasadena, the results and potential impact are huge — this is also felt in the transfer point of Union Station, where Gold Line riders from the Eastside will be able to transfer to other rail and bus routes. The light rail has other benefits for Downtown, among

them a new station serving Little Tokyo and the Arts District. Not only is the stop at First and Alameda streets a point of connectivity, something that can bring visitors into the heart of the community to patronize area restaurants, businesses and cultural establishments (it is across the street from the Japanese American National Museum and MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary), but the station itself is attractively designed. Metro officials were wise to incorporate architectural elements that fit with the surrounding neighborhood, and the canopies and benches reflect the area. It is preferable to a potentially less expensive, cookie cutter type design. The most significant impact of the new line may be something people sense rather than see. Yet in the long term, the idea of cultural connectivity the Gold Line establishes may prove to be its most enduring impact. Downtown and East Los Angeles are often seen as two distinct worlds. Although the physical gap between the areas is only a river, the psychological divide is huge. Downtown, with its modern office towers and concentration of whitecollar businesses, is seen by many as a predominantly Anglo realm. East L.A., by contrast, has its historic ties to a Latino

populace and culture. The Gold Line could be a key in bridging the divide. Downtown workers in search of new places for lunch may find the idea of hopping on a train easier than climbing into their car, crossing the river and searching for parking. The new, young population of Downtown residents may be game for using the Gold Line to explore after-dark activities in East L.A. Residents from east of the river can now more easily access Downtown’s shopping and entertainment options, or come here for their jobs. This is not to pretend that the rail line is a golden BandAid, that suddenly Downtown and Boyle Heights or other East L.A. neighborhoods will come together like East and West Germany did when the Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago. Rather, any change will be incremental. Still, this marks the beginning of what could prove to be much greater connectivity. We’re glad that Metro had the ability to bring the rail line to fruition. We’ll happily start with the physical back and forth of thousands of humans a day. Hopefully the bonds will strengthen and the divide between the communities will diminish as time goes on.

Don’t Call It the Bratton Building

s LAPD Chief-designate Charlie Beck has made his rounds in the two weeks since being nominated for the post, the advances achieved by former Chief William Bratton continue to loom large. Every time Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reference the goal of building on the reforms realized under Bratton, it is a reminder that the ex-Boston and onetime-New York police boss was a transformative figure in the city of Los Angeles’ police force. These achievements bring to mind a suggestion that has been floated here and there ever since Bratton announced that he would leave the LAPD for a private sector job: Name the new Downtown police headquarters building after Bratton. We understand the suggestion and the occasional enthusiasm for honoring Bratton with the designation. But while Bratton’s accomplishments are undisputed, we think it would be a mistake to name the new headquarters after this former chief. One can raise arguments for naming the $440 million complex south of City Hall after Bratton, especially if taken in

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

historical context. The previous LAPD headquarters, Parker Center, was named after Chief William Parker. He was credited with turning around an often corrupt, often violent department. Parker died in 1966, at which point the building (which had then been open for 11 years) was named for the LAPD lifer. Bratton has had the most positive impact of any person since Parker on the department. But unlike the previous namesake, and unlike many other figures whose names grace local buildings, Bratton spent relatively little time here. He served Los Angeles very, very well as police chief, but he only served for seven years. Placing someone’s name on a building is a momentous honor, and when that is done for a city property, we think it should be for someone who has given the bulk of his or her career to Los Angeles. These honors generally last long after the person has passed away. Bratton is not like Beck or other LAPD officers who graduated from the academy and then spent decades working up the chain of command. Again, this is not to discredit Bratton,

as when he was hired the city needed a powerful leader from outside the LAPD. But it is difficult to imagine naming the building for him, especially when he chose not even to complete his second term as police chief. For now, the moniker the Police Administrative Building is appropriate (even if bland). Perhaps in the future, there will be a longtime Angeleno, maybe a police chief, whose name should go on the structure. Maybe one day it will be the Beck Building. Or maybe it will be named after someone else. But there is no need to make a rash decision based on emotion. Resist the urge to name it for Bratton.

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writErs: Anna Scott, Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Vandervort AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Robert Dutcher, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway, Tam Nguyen, Kelley Smith 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. It is also distributed to the extended urban communities of Glendale, Hollywood, Wilshire Center, Los Feliz, Silver Lake & Larchmont Village.

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November 16, 2009

Opinion

The RA Has Left the Building After Four Years, a Downtown Living Adventure Comes to an End

hen my husband and I bought a loft at Third and I heard the same observation from fellow residents time Spring streets in the Douglas Building four years and again about how surprised they were that Downtown ago, I never thought I’d leave Downtown Los had such a sense of community, something not easily found Angeles. We instantly fell in love with the city and our new- in Los Angeles. I think it’s the pioneering spirit that seems to found community. bring people together, a sense of shared experience and also But life sometimes opens up other doors, and a desire to make Downtown a better place to live. after one baby, a second on the way and a new set Everyone was pulling for its comeback and everyof priorities, it was time for our family to move one lamented its setbacks. on — though not without some sadness. I’ve been lucky to witness numerous milestones Our adventure in urban living ended this sumand changes over the last four years. When I first mer, but the memories and friends we made will moved in, Main between Second and Fourth streets last a lifetime. I realize it’s the kind of sentiment was a veritable campground for the homeless. Dark you’d write in a high school yearbook, but the corners encouraged prostitution and open drug last four years were in a sense a graduation — for use. But after about a year, I was sitting on that same me, entering the next phase of my life, and for street drinking coffee at the local cafe with one of Downtown, which has evolved to become a more Kathryn Maese my neighbors. St. Vibiana’s across the street was in dynamic place to live. the throes of a renovation and the Higgins Building I started my stint as Resident Advisor a young RESIDENT was helping to create a residential hub. working woman with plenty of disposable in- a d v is o r Street by street, I watched Downtown improve, come and all the freedom in the world to explore whether it was a new store blossoming in a dark my new neighborhood. Often that meant late ground floor space, a gallery drawing weekend nights at the copious bars and restaurants sprouting up across crowds or even the simple act of putting some potted trees Downtown. Many an evening was spent sipping mint juleps on the sidewalk. Over the years, these small victories created at Seven Grand, ducking in for a pint with friends at Bar 107, a more livable neighborhood. There are new festivals and dancing and talking the night away at La Cita and listening to events, a thriving art scene, a movie theater and bowling alley, jazz at the now defunct speakeasy on Main Street. cupcake shops, pet groomers, a kids’ gym and endless plans Then came baby, and my perspective as an RA was changed for new ventures. It’s a long way from where we started. forever. We were not alone, and in our 50-unit building there But life in Downtown wasn’t without challenges, and some were 10 babies at one time or another. This was the most persist. The area is still a hub for the homeless and mentally memorable time for us Downtown, and we grew even closer ill, and that can lead to confrontation. Last year, as my huswith many of our neighbors as we shared the concerns, chal- band and I walked with our baby girl around the corner from lenges and joys of raising children in the city. our loft, an obviously deranged man walked up to the stroller, We became a tight-knit group, having dinner together, leaned in and screamed at our child. It was the first time we sharing babysitters so we could escape to the Art Walk for ever felt threatened and it was a reminder that we should aldate night, spending holidays and birthdays together, bor- ways be vigilant. rowing eggs and milk when we ran out. Our doors were al- As a parent and someone who enjoys being outdoors, ways open. open space and parks are still in short supply in the heart of

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Downtown — any metropolis worth its salt needs to provide those who live and work within its confines a place to recreate. Though our decision to leave Downtown prompts a sense of melancholy, I’m excited about our next chapter. We’re also not closing the door on the community. Perhaps when the kids are grown and out of the house, we’ll return as empty nesters to live in a loft in the Arts District or South Park — if we can afford it. As I write from my new Silver Lake neighborhood, where we moved to be closer to my husband’s work and to save up for a new home, I think about what I’ll miss most about our four years Downtown.

I’ll miss walking down Broadway early in the morning and dreaming about what that grand old thoroughfare will look like in another decade. I’ll miss bumping into neighbors on the street and having dinner together in Little Tokyo. I’ll miss going downstairs for a latte, cupcake and gossip at Lot 44. I’ll miss the flood of light from our huge double-hung windows and watching the passing parades or the falling rain. I’ll miss our building’s raucous New Year’s Eve party that always ended with too much tequila, and the dorm-like atmosphere that welcomed impromptu gatherings. I’ll miss walking down Broadway early in the morning and dreaming about what that grand old thoroughfare will look like in another decade as the new wave of residents brings life to theaters and clubs. I’ll miss the pride of saying I live Downtown. Of course, I’ll miss being the Resident Advisor. After all, Downtown is more than granite countertops, city views and a rooftop pool. It’s about the people who inhabit it and make it a great community. So be a good neighbor.

6 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

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An Art Walk Shake Up Leadership Change at Popular Event Follows Months of Scrutiny by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

ast Thursday’s installment of the Downtown Art Walk felt the same as it has for the past year, with thousands of gallery goers and social revelers flooding the Historic Core. But the situation on the streets masked some behindthe-scenes upheaval. Art Walk Executive Director Richard Schave stepped down suddenly on Nov. 9, three days before the event. Former board member Marc Loge agreed on Nov. 11 to serve as interim director while the Art Walk board searches for a permanent leader. Loge accepted the post after resigning from the board in October. Schave, whose resignation was first reported by blogdowntown.com, took the reins of Art Walk in February and formed a nonprofit to oversee the event that takes place on the second Thursday of the month. He and his wife and fellow board member Kim Cooper resigned as the board, comprised of members Schave recruited, opted to search for a director who would focus more on strengthening relationships with the Historic Downtown Business Improvement District and other community groups, said board member David Hernand. “We are a museum without walls and we’re entirely dependent on the community around us,” Hernand said. “There are other groups that operate in the same physical space as Art Walk and they need to be more involved and have a say in how Art Walk runs.” Art Walk was founded in 2004 by gallery owner Bert Green. When Schave took over earlier this year, his first step was to form a nonprofit organization. Green applauded the move as a way to firm up Art Walk’s legal footing and liability protection, and better position it to go after grants and other funding. As the year progressed, some say Schave focused largely on building the event, adding programming such as docent tours and live performances in places like the Spring Arcade building. Meanwhile, relationships with community partners responsible for public safety and neighborhood cleanup faltered. “There were a number of meetings on logistics, safety and operations and it was expected that leadership from the Art Walk board would be there and they were not,” said Russell Brown, executive director of the HDBID. “I had very little of a relationship with [Schave] and that was not my choice.” In an e-mail, Schave said, “Kim and I resigned.” He declined further comment. Money Questions As the board searches for a new leader, Loge, director of public relations for the Wilshire Grand hotel, will temporarily fill the role. Loge was an Art Walk board member until he stepped down in early October, in part, he said, because he did not see eye-to-eye with Schave on fundraising issues. Loge said he was initially brought on to the board to raise money for Art Walk, and he nearly negotiated a $50,000 grant from a corporate sponsor. Schave rejected the gift, Loge said, because he thought the sponsor would clash with the event’s grassroots identity. “He didn’t want it to become corporate or be about the money and I truly understand that and I truly respect that and he had a vision for this board,” Loge said. “The reason I left is because I’m the guy they asked to help raise money and I did what I thought I was supposed to do, and when it looked like they didn’t want the money… it was just handled in a way that didn’t respect my time.” Individuals familiar with Art Walk praised Schave for helming the event, which now draws about 10,000 people to the Historic Core, for more than eight months on a volunteer basis. Schave and Cooper have been asked to continue to serve on the board, but it is not yet clear whether they will, Hernand said. Hernand said the board will try not only to find a new executive director, but will reach out to representatives of other Downtown community groups and galleries to join the board. Hernand also refuted any notion that Schave’s resignation was tied to a difference in vision for Art Walk. “The vision that Richard had is shared by most if not all the members of the board, but Downtown is a complicated political environment and our organization needs to have very strong relationships with all of the community organizations,” Hernand said. “The board decided that we should look for an executive director who can provide a really strong bridge to those constituencies.” Whether Schave remains on the board or cuts ties with the

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

organization, he nevertheless leaves behind a nonprofit structure for Art Walk that should help grow the event, Green said. “Richard looked at this as taking the Art Walk to this other level, using the experience and skills he had,” Green said. “Unfortunately, because he didn’t focus on the management side, there were some failures that I thought were unfortunate, but I don’t think anything is fatal or can’t be fixed.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

November 16, 2009

Marc Loge is serving as interim director of the Downtown Art Walk following the sudden resignation last week of Executive Director Richard Schave. Loge had left Art Walk’s board in October in part, he said, because he did not agree with Schave on fundraising issues.

8 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

El Pueblo Continued from page 1 apart is that the lawsuit was filed by the Old Los Angeles Company, an entity whose partners include Andy Camacho, a politically connected attorney and restaurateur who over the years has donated tens of thousands of dollars to city officials and their campaigns. Old LA has long had primary rights to develop the PicoGarnier Block. But five years ago, they sued the city for $11 million, claiming the city violated the deal by allowing the Chinese American Museum to expand. Despite the close ties with City Hall, no resolution has been achieved. Now, according to sources familiar with the situation, officials are nearing a settlement. But the deal, they say, could result in an arrangement that might surprise casual observers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it could give Old LA, which has failed to develop the site for a quarter century, another crack at the property. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I see this moving forward rather quickly,â&#x20AC;? said Robert Andrade, El Puebloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager. Familiar Terms After years of inaction at the 60,000-square-foot PicoGarnier Block, City Councilman JosĂŠ Huizar, whose 14th District includes El Pueblo, said he wants the matter resolved within six months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The last thing we want to see is the continued vacancy of

these buildings,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re beautiful on the outside, but we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used them to full capacity on the inside. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a loss of revenue to the city, a loss in tourism, a loss to El Pueblo overall where we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the critical mass of people that these buildings can bring.â&#x20AC;? The resolution currently being discussed would make Old LA the master tenant for the property, said Andrade (others confirmed this scenario). They would pay rent and common area maintenance fees to El Pueblo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be incumbent upon them to find a high-class restaurant for the Pico House and then bring in retail stores and offices to fill the space and pay rent,â&#x20AC;? Andrade said. Those are familiar terms to Old LA, which in 1984 signed a 25-year lease with the city to develop the block. Ironically, the current negotiations are underway at the time when the original deal would have expired. The lack of progress leads some to question whether giving the developer another opportunity at the site is a good idea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthy to have a corporation that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lived up to the terms of the original lease then get another chance at it without some sort of public explanation, some kind of airing of what the problems were,â&#x20AC;? said Rodolfo AcuĂąa, a historian and Chicano Studies professor at California State University, Northridge. AcuĂąa has followed the situation closely. His 1996 book Anything But Mexican detailed protests organized by Olvera Street merchants sparked by the 1984 lease. Merchants leveled accusations that Old LA had obtained a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sweetheartâ&#x20AC;?

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deal from the city and that money that could be used for developing Olvera Street would instead be used to subsidize the Pico-Garnier complex. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It should go out for a new bid,â&#x20AC;? said AcuĂąa, referring to the lease. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to find out what the plans are, what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do, and I think you have to have public hearings on it.â&#x20AC;? First Lease The Pico-Garnier block consists of seven buildings constructed between 1858 and 1905. It contains the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first firehouse and theater and the Pico House, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first hotel. In 1984 the city and the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Parks and Recreation, which along with the county were overseeing a $45 million renovation of the area (El Pueblo is now solely a city property), granted Old LA a 25-year lease with an option to renew for an additional 10 years. Old LA was formed for the specific purpose of restoring and developing the property. As part of the agreement, Old LA planned to turn the property into retail space, restaurants, shops and offices. According to the City Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, Old LA was led by Albert Ehringer, Robert Morris and John Wilson. Camachoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is not listed in documents from the time. But for years, little happened with the property. The restaurant and other elements never arrived. In 1996, the city wanted to move forward with seismic rehabilitation of the block and complete upgrades to nearby sidewalks and streets. It decided to terminate its lease with Old LA, which by this time included Camacho as a partner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Due to a number of factors that were beyond the control

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November 16, 2009

of the parties; and due to a number of significant changes in circumstances, performance for the lease has been delayed,” reads part of the lease termination agreement. Although Old LA agreed to end the deal, it did not want to be out of the picture. The termination agreement states that the company had already spent some money on plans for the site and wanted a way either to recover it or to profit from those expenditures. According to city and Superior Court documents, the termination agreement gave Old LA the right to match any offer presented by another developer when the project was put out to bid. If another developer was selected for the site, they would be required to negotiate with Old LA for all the plans the company had prepared for the development of the block. As part of the agreement, the city said it would not lease the property to any party for more than one year. The thenproposed Chinese American Museum, however, was exempt from the clause as long as the lease did not give the museum additional space. According to the lawsuit filed in July 2004 by Old LA, the city violated the termination agreement when in 2003 and 2004 it leased a total of 28,000 square feet to the museum. The museum opened in the Garnier Building in 2003. The complaint states that the lease denied Old LA the “benefit of the bargain” it had with the city. It argued that by leasing a substantial part of the Pico-Garnier property to the museum, the city eliminated the company’s ability to develop the property. Camacho did not return multiple calls from Los Angeles Downtown News. No ‘Bum Deals’ The office of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich would not comment on the specifics of the case, but confirmed that they are in settlement discussions with Old LA. Trutanich, when approached last week and asked about the lawsuit, said the settlement has yet to cross his desk. When asked to comment on anything that could happen at Olvera Street, he said, “We’re not going to make any more bum deals.” City officials, including the offices of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller, which is one of the departments advising city officials on the matter, did not return calls from Downtown News. Others said that Old LA’s record of not developing the site raises concerns about a deal that could result in giving them yet another El Pueblo lease. “The history speaks for itself in the sense that it’s been 25 years since the property has been tied up with Old LA and nothing has occurred,” said David Louie, a member of the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners. “If the city is thinking about settling the lawsuit by engaging in a long term agreement with Old LA, my sense is that you would have to look at it very, very carefully based on their history.” Although Huizar said he wants a quick resolution, he is holding off on making a decision on whether Old LA should get another shot at running the property. “I’m waiting to hear from the City Attorney’s office as to why it would make sense to do this,” he said. “If they could convince me and the council that it’s better to settle this and move forward with this rather than all the different options before us, we’ll do that. As of right now, they are saying that they’d rather negotiate with Old LA.” City Ties The Camacho family has long ties to the city and has donated to local elected officials. According to disclosure state-

DowntownNews.com ments filed with the city Ethics Commission, Andy Camacho has contributed at least $35,000 to Los Angeles politicians or their campaigns since 1998. Camacho was also co-chair of a June 2008 fundraising event for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held at L.A. Live’s Nokia Theater. Contributions by co-chairs were listed at $10,000 on the event flyer. Andy’s son, Don Camacho, who is president of Camacho’s Inc., has donated at least $7,000 to city officials since 2002, according to Ethics Committee filings. Don Camacho recently stressed that he is not part of Old LA. Andy Camacho also has a long history at El Pueblo. He founded the Camacho’s restaurant business in 1984 when he purchased El Paseo Inn, a Mexican restaurant on Olvera Street. Other restaurants followed, including Camacho’s Cantina at Universal CityWalk. The company is a partner in Liberty Grill, the fine dining destination near Staples Center. The company also has a concession contract at LAX and at Ontario Airport. Through the partnership with Levy Restaurants, the firm operates concessions stands at Staples

Downtown News 9

Center, Dodger Stadium and the Home Depot Center in Carson. Even when the company was in the midst of the lawsuit over the El Pueblo space, the city granted Camacho’s Inc. a lease for a second site at the monument. In June 2008, they agreed to a fiveyear deal for 3,460 square feet of space in the Bank of America Building at El Pueblo. It is supposed to be a coffee shop and restaurant, though progress on opening the business has been slow. In September, the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners rejected a request by Camacho’s Inc. to have its rent deferred. Whether Old LA will be given another shot at developing the Pico-Garnier Block remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, officials said: The lawsuit has prevented anyone else from developing the space, and the Pico House and other buildings have largely sat empty. “It’s precluding us from any long range determination until that gets settled,” Andrade said. Additional reporting by Jon Regardie. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Around Town Continued from page 2 fours times as likely to pay for Lakers tickets as they are for admission to see their Staples Center co-inhabitants, the Clippers or Kings. In a recent online poll, 45% of respondents said this season they are most likely to pay to watch the Lakers. Another 12% said they would shell out for the Kings, and 11% would give their money to the Clippers. However, 32% of online readers said they would not pay this season to see any of the teams. This week, Los Angeles Downtown News asks where you will eat Thanksgiving dinner. The poll appears on the front page of downtownnews.com. To vote, scroll down and look on the left hand side of the page.

Correction

he Oct. 23 article “Going For Broke” reported that the Downtown Marriott hotel is in bankruptcy. According to hotel officials, that changed in August, when lender Leeward Strategic Properties foreclosed on the hotel. That helped move the hotel out of bankruptcy.

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DowntownNews.com not in Rockyville anymore. 149 Passive-Aggressive Words The essence of “Nuch,” as he likes to be called, was revealed last Tuesday when he spoke to a gathering organized by the group Town Hall Los Angeles. He described his job of representing and providing legal advice to the mayor, the City Council and the city’s departments, then delivered what may be the 149 most passive-aggressive words ever uttered by an elected Los Angeles official. “Sometimes I may differ with my client in terms of what we do. I may give my client advice that my client may not follow. That’s my client’s prerogative. As their lawyer, I advise them as to what I believe the law is and what I believe is the appropriate course that they should take in order to pursue the law. Sometimes your clients listen to you. I’ve been a lawyer for 31 years; I’ve made a practice of having clients not listen to me. That privilege belongs to the client, not to the lawyer. And so when my client chooses not to follow my advice, and take another course of action, my job is to remain there silent, because it is my client’s privilege to

Trutanich Continued from page 1 wrong. He’ll talk about representing his client while implying that said client has all the brain power of a dodo bird. In less than six months since replacing Rocky Delgadillo, he’s already clashed with the new City Controller, been called a bully by the old City Controller, and been the subject of a withering Los Angeles Times opinion piece that claims Trutanich doesn’t understand the job he has. He inadvertantly staged the best political theater of 2009 by threatening to toss a councilwoman and some others in the pokey, a tactic that led the full council to give him a public chastening. All this masks the turnaround he’s trying to give the city attorney’s office. With his stances and speeches, it’s easy to overlook that since taking charge, the office, by Trutanich’s account, is 27-0 in trials. Kobe never even won 27 straight. I guess one other thing is certain when it comes to the City Attorney’s office: L.A. is

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speak about that, not mine, and to defend my client should there be adverse consequences to what my client has decided to do.” I’m not saying Nuch doesn’t think highly of his client — no, wait, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Adverse effects because the client, aka city officials, didn’t follow his advice? Speaking aloud about being silent? I’m not sure whether this approach is the legal equivalent of shock and awe or is shockingly awesome. I’m not a lawyer, and for all I know Trutanich is right about all of this shut-upyou-client-you stuff. Rather, I’m bemused that he is taking a path so contrary to the one most people employ when dealing with the egos of other elected officials. It’s sort of like he came to a fork in the road and had the Robert Frost-esque choice to take the simple go-along-get-along route or pick the path less traveled. But instead of echoing Frost, he decided to grab 19 pounds of dynamite and blow up the fork so he could blaze his own path. Had Frost wandered by, I think Trutanich might have threatened to throw him in the pokey. Smoke Signals Trutanich has inflamed some people with his actions regarding billboards, a brouhaha that led to the threat to jail Councilwoman Jan Perry and a city and an Anschutz Entertainment Group official. Others were irked by his moves regarding who should pay for the Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center. He’s turning tiffs with AEG into a cottage industry. These days, another hot Trutanich topic is medical marijuana, an issue (like billboards) the city bungled long before he took office. It’s a thorny problem, but when the subject, including the city’s surfeit of pot dispensaries, came up at the Town Hall Los Angeles session, he pulled a steady stream of those “Wow!” moments. This wasn’t because of his stance, but rather because of his reference points. Trutanich could have made a ranting Dennis Miller turn tail and cry in defeat. In a few minutes on the topic, he mentioned not just expected points like the 1996 state

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ballot proposition that led to the dispensaries, but Mexican drug cartels, bad cheese, Pepsi-Cola, red fire ants and a 1975 election in Alaska. Sounding a bit like Penn of Penn & Teller, he described a video camera surreptitiously recording people entering pot clinics (surprise!), and referred repeatedly to something called the Mentch case, even though only one person in the audience seemed to know what that was. He jumped to insecticides in pot, asking, “Do you know how that brownie was made?” and talked about putting the genie back in the bottle. Fire ants, video cameras and brownies in one fell swoop — let’s see Kobe pull something like that. About That Lawsuit Still, the albatross around Trutanich’s neck is the ongoing lawsuit initiated by Delgadillo and former Controller Laura Chick. “We appear to be inundated with news reports about some rift between the present controller and the present city attorney,” Trutanich said at Town Hall. “I don’t understand that.” Either he really can’t grasp it or he’s just being sassy, because he and current Controller Wendy Greuel are engaged in the city’s fiercest court battle that doesn’t involve the surname McCourt. A lawsuit that Trutanich once supported dismissing is still flaming, and it made news again last week with another judicial opinion on whether Greuel is entitled to an outside attorney. Meanwhile, an audit of the workers’ compensation in the city attorney’s office, which sparked the Delgadillo-Chick fight, has begun. “If the controller wants to audit me, come on in,” he said. “I’m as transparent as you can be, and as honest as you want me to be.” Trutanich welcomes the audit now. The big question will be what he says when another audit is proposed in two years and the operations are clearly his, not his predecessor’s. Perhaps the city attorney will advise his client to stay silent. And hopefully he won’t threaten to throw me in the pokey. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 11

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Skate, Rattle and Roll Pershing Square Ice Rink Returns With New Challenges, New Attractions by AnnA Scott StAff writer

hen the Pershing Square ice skating rink opens this week, the seasonal attraction will face some new challenges — the most prominent being the loss of its longtime sponsor and competition from a new holiday rink at L.A. Live. Despite that, park officials plan to host an extensive lineup of live music, family-friendly activities and other attractions. In what could be construed as a throwdown-the-gauntlet move, park officials are quick to mention that they were providing ice skating long before L.A. Live. “We created the tradition in Downtown,” said Vicki Israel, assistant general manager of the city Department of Recreation and Parks. “With this being the 12th year, we’re just focused on that. We’re very affordable, we have not changed our rates after 10 years, and we have a good reputation.” The rink, named Downtown On Ice, opens at the Financial District park on Thursday, Nov. 19, and will remain in place through Jan. 18, 2009. Skaters will be able to take to the ice every day of the week during that time for $6 per one-hour session. While navigating the ice, visitors can also take in an extensive lineup of free entertainment. Free live music has long been one of the big draws at Downtown On Ice. This year’s schedule includes rock and pop concerts on weekday and Sunday afternoons, and on Wednesday-Friday nights. The performers run the gamut from 1970s-style disco acts to

tribute bands to up-and-comers in the local indie rock scene. A buzz-generating partnership with Spaceland Productions, which operates the rock clubs Spaceland and the Echo, will continue this year with the Spaceland On Ice program. Each Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. it brings acts that have also played the clubs, but without the admission fee. The Thursday evening series, Rock Around the Rink, includes diverse acts, with performers ranging from the 1980s power pop one-hit wonders Dramarama on Dec. 3 to the rock trio Jeremy Buck & The Bang with the L.A. disco-pop band Little Red Radio on Dec. 17. Friday nights will feature mostly classic rock, such as Led Zeppelin tribute band Led Zepplica, while Sunday afternoons will hold family-friendly musical acts. “We really cater to everyone,” said Israel. More Than Music In addition to the concerts, Downtown on Ice will host several events aimed specifically at families. The Winter Holiday Festival will take place at the rink Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. It will offer free festivities including a “snow zone” with fake flurries for sledding and playing, live puppet shows and children’s arts and crafts. An extensive model train exhibit will also be on display that weekend for transit nerds-intraining (and grown train buffs too). Also in the kid-friendly category, the rink this year is introducing Mommy and Me

photo by Gary Leonard

The Downtown On Ice skating rink at Pershing Square opens on Thursday, Nov. 19. The park will see competition from a rink opening next month at L.A. Live.

“stroller skating” sessions from Dec. 1-Jan 12. The events, on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m., will clear the rink for skating parents to push their strollers across the ice. Even with all its attractions and activities, one major element is missing from Downtown On Ice this season: the Los Angeles Kings. The hockey team that plays home games at Staples Center dropped its sponsorship of the rink after a decade-long partnership and instead will stage the new rink at L.A. Live. The L.A. Live rink, called Kings Holiday Ice, will open at the South Park sports and entertainment complex on Dec. 3. It will stay up through Dec. 31. Losing the Kings cost the city Department of Recreation and Parks, which has not found a replacement sponsor, approximately $100,000, L.A. Parks Foundation Executive Director Judith Kieffer said last month. It also means that the Kings-organized hockey

clinics, workshops and player appearances that Downtown On Ice featured in the past will no longer take place. Nonetheless, Pershing Square officials are confident that their programming will draw crowds. “I definitely think the attractions” will bring people in, said Israel. “We’ll continue with the tradition of having a place to come where there’s more than just ice skating; you can just watch or enjoy the music.” Downtown on Ice runs Nov. 19-Jan. 18, 2010 at Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St. Hours are Monday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. and Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The rink will offer extended hours, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., on weekdays from Dec. 18-Jan. 10. Admission is $6 per person, per one-hour session, and an additional $2 for skate rental. More information at (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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12 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Chic Boutiques Long Home to Large Hotels, Downtown Is Now Getting Smaller, Upscale Establishments staff wRiteR

n a recent Friday night, as hundreds of Laker fans funneled down Figueroa Street toward Staples Center before a game, two people waiting to cross Olympic Boulevard glanced over their shoulder at a 44-yearold hotel and looked confused. “What the heck is a Holiday Inn doing there?” asked one, clearly surprised that a hotel chain affiliated with budget pricing could co-exist with the glitz of L.A. Live. Efrem Harkham, president and CEO of Luxe Worldwide Hotels, was wondering the same thing before he backed a $10 million plan to transform the 200-room Holiday Inn into an upscale, boutique establishment. Renovations are scheduled to begin in December. Perhaps the most important thing about the Holiday Inn plan, first reported by blogdowntown.com, is that it is not alone. In fact, it marks the third recently announced proposal to create a small, luxury hotel in South Park. The building, which is owned by Emerik Hotel, has been a Holiday Inn since it opened in 1965. With Emerik’s agreement with the chain coming to an end, the company wanted to rebrand the hotel and capitalize on the economic development exploding in South Park, said John Kelly, vice president of Emerik and general manager of the Downtown Holiday Inn. “With L.A. Live developing, all the residences around us

photo by Gary Leonard

The owner of the Embassy Hotel and Auditorium at 851 S. Grand Ave. is also exploring plans to turn the building into a boutique hotel.

and this Downtown core really turning into a sports and entertainment venue, we wanted to go with a more upscale property,” Kelly said. That led to the partnership with Luxe Worldwide Hotels. The building is scheduled to reopen next spring as the Luxe City Center Hotel Los Angeles. Large and Small In addition to the Holiday Inn project, Anschutz Entertainment Group, the developer of L.A. Live, is working on plans for a 275-room hotel near the 1,001-room, $900 million Convention Center hotel that is set to open in February 2010. A few blocks northeast, at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, a developer has dusted off plans to transform the 1914 Embassy Hotel and Auditorium into an upscale boutique establishment. No timeline or budget for the project has been announced. Although Downtown’s hotel market consists primarily of large hotels, it is also home to a few properties that are considered “boutiques,” including the Standard and the O Hotel. Bruce Baltin, senior vice president of PKF Consulting, a hospitality consulting firm, defined the term as “a hotel that is generally 250 rooms or less, heavily themed from a design standpoint and with very personalized service.” Baltin, whose company is working with AEG on the 275room hotel, said that despite the downturn in the economy, which has been devastating for the hospitality industry, there is demand Downtown for more niche, upscale options. “I think there is an appetite for it,” Baltin said. “With the growing convention market and with all the restaurants and everything else, there is clearly an opportunity for Downtown to continue to go a little more upscale than it has been.” Harkham and Seth Horowitz, Luxe’s vice president of hotel operations, are banking on it, even if they were initially unsure of partnering with Emerik. Horowitz, who is also general manager of the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Bel Air, admits he did not immediately take the proposal seriously when he got a call from Kelly suggesting a meeting. “Initially it was a Holiday Inn that was calling us and we were like…” Horowitz said, as he re-enacted a look of skepticism. “But you come down here and you look at the developments around here, you look at the JW Marriott [at the Convention Center hotel], at the Grammy Museum, the Nokia Theatre and you realize the opportunity.” The Luxe project will completely transform the interior of

photo by Gary Leonard

(l to r) John Kelly of Emerik Hotel Corporation, Efrem Harkham of Luxe Worldwide Hotels and Mark Liberman of L.A. Inc. Emerik and Luxe are partnering on a $10 million transformation of the South Park Holiday Inn.

the property, creating 180 rooms, including 15 suites. “One thing is certain: The hotel will not be recognizable,” Harkham said. “It will be completely transformed. From the lobby to the rooms, the bar, the corridors, everything will be upscale galore, unrecognizable.” The façade of the building, which Emerik upgraded recently, will not change, but the entrance will be overhauled to boost the curb appeal, Horowitz said. Down Market The Downtown hospitality industry is currently headed for its worst December in history, said Marc Loge, spokesman for the Wilshire Grand. “It’s pathetic,” Loge said. “I just got out of a three hour meeting on it asking what can we do? There’s nothing we can do.” The prospect of adding new hotels to the Downtown market, or re-branding existing ones, however, is not seen as a challenge to properties like the Wilshire Grand. In fact, Loge said the hotel stands to benefit from more players and more diversity in the market. Additional hotels will also bring more and higher-quality conventions, a key driver of hospitality business Downtown, said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of L.A. Inc, the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau. “As convention business continues to grow as we add a variety of new venues, those people booking meetings and those people coming to visit will look for a variety of hotel offerings and a variety of price point offerings,” Liberman said. “Our city’s product offering has really been enhanced because we continue to see the upgrade of our inventory, especially Downtown.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

Thanksgiving Without the Clean Up Downtown Restaurants Trot Out Turkey Day Menus by Anna Scott staff writer

hanksgiving dinner is traditionally thought of as the ultimate homecooked potluck, but if you don’t feel like cooking this year, there is no shame in outsourcing the work. Many Downtown restaurants are serving traditional and not-sotraditional Thanksgiving feasts, and dining out or ordering Thanksgiving dinner to go can be surprisingly cost-effective. Here are some options for Downtowners who want to enjoy a turkey dinner without getting stuck in the kitchen for days. Bottega Louie: This gourmet restaurant and market at Grand Avenue and Seventh Street is often jam-packed during the weekday lunch hour, and Thanksgiving might turn out to be no exception. Bottega Louie is offering two options on Turkey Day. The first is a Thanksgiving dinner to go, which runs from $95-$195 for up to eight people; it includes a free-range turkey with gravy and stuffing, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, two vegetable sides and three kinds of pie to choose from. If you don’t feel like mussing up your dining room, you could opt for the $40, three-course, dine-in option, which will be served from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. It offers butternut squash soup; free-range turkey, pineapple ham or salmon for the main course; roasted veggies and other traditional sides; and apple pie à la mode or pumpkin pie for dessert. Either way, you won’t go to bed hungry. At 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470 or bottegalouie.com. Millennium Biltmore Hotel: The 1923 hotel’s Rendezvous Court is a picture-perfect spot for afternoon tea, with its crystal chandeliers and marble fountain. It might be a bit unexpected as a Thanksgiving dinner spot, but that is exactly what will be served there

on Nov. 26 from noon until 8 p.m. The fourcourse menu is built around organic, seasonal ingredients and includes traditional Thanksgiving items with an “Italian twist,” which is not completely surprising, considering the space serves as an Italian themed steakhouse called La Bistecca during the evenings. Start with the minestrone soup dotted with tiny pumpkin ravioli, followed by a salad with almonds or smoked chicken crepes. Entrees include roasted free-range turkey with organic barley apple stuffing and cranberry sauce; Florentine-style steak with caramelized vegetables and herb-roasted potatoes; or Chilean sea bass with a sweet potato caponata, a Sicilian cooked vegetable salad. If you wind up too full to walk home after hitting the sweets and petit fours at the DIY dessert station, get a room upstairs and sleep it off. The meal is $45 for adults and $24 for children ages 4-11. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 612-1562 or millenniumhotels.com. The Original Pantry Café: Every year, this South Park mainstay with the red and white-striped awning serves up a no-frills, traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings for less than $20. The popular breakfast spot is open 24 hours a day, including on Thanksgiving, so you can drop in any time for your turkey with sides including gravy, dressing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, coleslaw, bread and soup. For dessert, try the pumpkin or sweet potato pie — hey, they’re vegetables, so they must be healthy. The exact prices have not been set yet, according to management, but will run in the low double digits for a standard plate. The same menu will also be available to go. At 877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279 or pantrycafe.com. Pacific Dining Car: If you keep unusual hours or get a sudden hankering for Thanksgiving dinner at 8 a.m., or 11 p.m., then the 24-hour Pacific Dining Car

photo by Gary Leonard

Clifton’s Cafeteria on Broadway serves Thanksgiving turkey all year round, and expects a busy day on Nov. 26. A turkey plate with sides is $6.89.

photo courtesy Patina Restaurant Group

Zucca is offering a four-course menu for Thanksgiving.

photo courtesy of the Millennium Biltmore

The Millennium Biltmore’s Rendezvous Court offers one of the most scenic Thanksgiving options in Downtown Los Angeles.

is another viable dinner option for the last Thursday of this month. Traditional Thanksgiving items will be available à la carte or as part of a fixed, three-course $60 menu on Nov. 26. Starters include a lentil soup with duck confit, salad with Belgian endive lettuce and whole grain mustard dressing, or a Gruyère cheese soufflé. For the main course, the restaurant will serve a traditional turkey dinner with a host of sides including stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes or a sweet potato. For dessert, enjoy pumpkin pie with pastry cream or a rhubarb and strawberry tart. Then hope that the restaurant will live up to its name and roll you away. At 1310 W. Sixth St., (213) 483-6000 or pacificdiningcar.com. Zucca Ristorante: If you want to put a true twist on Thanksgiving dinner, try the Italian destination a few blocks north of Staples Center. Zucca is offering a fourcourse menu for Thanksgiving, with some selections that are considerably more refined than, say, candied yams with a marshmallow topping. Starters include a Tuscan bean soup with kale, salad with roasted pumpkin, or seared sea scallops with pumpkin. For the main course, try a risotto or some homemade pasta, such as pappardelle noodles with wild boar ragout or pumpkin tortelloni. Entrees include, of course, turkey breast with stuffing and traditional

sides, but there is also roasted veal shank, Scottish salmon fillet or grilled beef tenderloin. Top it off with a chocolate mousse or creamy pumpkin pie with cranberry compote. The Thanksgiving menu is $39 per adult, and will be served from 2-8 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. The menu is also available for the same price to go, with 48 hours notice. At 801 S. Figueroa St., (213) 614-7800 or patinagroup.com. Clifton’s Cafeteria: This quirky, buffetstyle eatery serves traditional Thanksgiving roast turkey every day of the week all year round, so Nov. 26 is no exception. For a quick and inexpensive dine-in meal, Clifton’s on Thanksgiving will serve up $6.89 plates of carved roast turkey with dressing, gravy and the restaurant’s signature cranberry sauce (aka cranberry Jell-O) from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Clifton’s will also offer whole, 14- to 30-pound turkeys to go, which come with cranberry “sauce,” gravy and dressing for approximately $82-$179, depending on the size of the bird. Sides, such as candied yams, scalloped potatoes or macaroni and cheese, are about $20 per pan to go. For dessert, choose from traditional holiday favorites like pumpkin, pecan and apple pie by the slice or to go. Gobble gobble! At 648 S. Broadway, (213) 627-1673 or cliftonscafeteria.com. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

14 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

Thanksgiving & Holiday Entertaining

Thank the Chefs Downtown Kitchen Wizards Share Recipes To Help Impress Your Thanksgiving Guests by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

nard photo by Gary Leo

me alternatives to Provecho offers so of es al or M iel br Ga e dishes. the traditional sid

Chef: Gabriel Morales Restaurant: Provecho Dish #1: Chorizo Apple and Cra nberry Stuffing Mor

hanksgiving dinner is one of the most important meals you’ll make all year. But with relatives and friends depending on your cooking skills, there’s a lot of pressure. It’s a big challenge, but you don’t

ales of Provecho, at 800 Wilshire Blvd., offers some side dish suggestions that will add flair to your dinner. Sure there’s nothing wrong with cranberr y sauce and yams, but how about somethi ng a little different? Ingredients: Directions 3 1/2 cups cubed whole wheat brea d Preh eat oven to 350 degrees. 5 cups cubed white bread 1. Spre ad the white and whole wheat brea 1 pound diced hard Spanish chorizo d cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bak 1 cup chopped Spanish onion e for five to seven minutes or until evenly toasted. Tran 3/4 cup chopped celery sfer toasted bread cube s to a large bowl. 1 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh oregano 2. In a large skillet, cook the chorizo, 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary onions and apples over medium heat, stirring and breaking up 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme the lumps until evenly browned. Add the celery, oreg 4 Fuji or Granny Smith apples, cored ano , rosemary and and chopped thyme; cook, stirr ing for two minutes to blend flavors. 3/4 cup dried cranberries or craisins 3. Pour mixture over bread in bowl. Mix 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley in dried cranberries, parsley and liver and incorporate toge 1 cooked turkey liver, finely choppe ther. Place mix d back into hotel pan or casserole dish. 2 cups chicken stock Drizzle with chicken stock and melted butter, and mix lightly. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 4. Cover and bake for 35 minutes, then rem Serves 10 ove cover and toast the top and serve.

have to go it alone. Three chefs from top Downtown Los Angeles restaurants have opened up their recipe books, offering ingredients and cooking instructions for a main dish, some stellar sides and a sweet dessert. The instructions are here. Now all you have to do is prepare the meal.

l Morales ie r b a G : f ith o e Ch t: Provechrussels Sprouts nw n a r u a t s e R Micro B ed Baco Dish #2m:s and Apple Smok Mushroo

f lightly saltDirections uts in a pot o ntil forkro sp s el ss ru B minutes or u ng as d 1. Cook water for 10 , trimmed an g ts Ingredients: n u ili ro o , removi b sp ed ls e Bruss gh a colander u ro th in ra 4 cups micro st - tender; . Set aside. er as possible bacon. When fully crimini or chan at washed s, w m o ch ro u m sh u hole m and render 1/2 pound w 2. Dice, cook and let cool. d an ed ic m ide terelle d bacon, d t over mediu cooked set as apple smoke a large skille til in n u er tt s u m b 1⁄4 pound of o t 3. Mel mushro ir st n d w n o a d k oo Toss rendered high heat. C t six to eight minutes. u o acon b b a , d d 5 tbsp butter fresh parsley e an brown rooms sh u m ed h p it p o w ch ice. uts 1/2 cup Brussels spro h parsley and lemon ju d garlic ce in m f o n o it w 1 teaspo and sprinkle ly. epper to taste te ia ed m Sea salt and p im Serve ice Fresh lemon ju Serves 8-10

November 16, 2009

Downtown News 15

Thanksgiving & Holiday Entertaining

Chef: David LeFevre Restaurant: Water Grill Dish: Gala Apple Cobbler No matter how good your dinner is, the dessert is what leaves the last impression. LeFevre of Water Grill, at 544 S. Grand Ave., shared one of his favorite finishing touches. Ingredients: 4 tbsp caramel 6 full Gala apples, peeled and sliced 16 ounces streusel Serves 4 Ingredients for the caramel: 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup sour cream Directions: 1. Put sugar in a small saucepan. Over

low heat, melt until sugar is dissolved. 2. Tilt pan slowly until all caramel is an even golden brown color. Turn off heat. 3. Whisk in sour cream until combined.

1 teaspoon ginger, ground

Ingredients for the streusel: 1 stick butter, melted 1/2 cup sugar 2 ounces brown sugar 3/4 cup all purpose flour 2 ounces oats 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

To serve: Preheat oven 350 degrees. 1. In individual ovenproof dishes spoon 1 tbsp of caramel. 2. Arrange apple slices over caramel. 3. Spread streusel evenly, covering top of apples. 4. Bake for 25 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.

Chef: Kenneth McCaskill Restaurant: Engine Co. No. 28 Dish: Creole Spiced Turkey McCaskill and the kitchen crew at Engine Co. No. 28, at 644 S. Figueroa St., know the Creole spiced turkey dish so well they cook it without the use of a written recipe. But the executive chef rewrote it for Downtown cooks. “This roast turkey recipe is a pretty basic recipe that anyone can do,” he said. “It’s not as fussy as a brine or injection marinade. It’s just like the turkey we all grew up on, except with a little Louisiana kick.” Creole Spice Blend Ingredients: 4 tbsp kosher salt 3 tbsp ground onion powder 2 tbsp garlic powder 3 tbsp cayenne pepper 1 tbsp ground black pepper 1 tbsp ground white pepper 4 tbsp crushed, dried Italian seasonings 2 tbsp paprika Directions: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients by hand to ensure there aren’t any lumps and that all spices are fully incorporated. Set aside. Note: This makes approximately 1 1/4 cup of blend so you will have extra if needed.

Directions: In bowl, combine all ingredients.

photo by Gary Leonard

ter Chef David LeFevre of Wa apple cobbler.

with an Grill shares his sweet tooth

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Creole Spiced Roast Turkey Ingredients: 1 fresh or thawed turkey, 12-14 pounds 4 to 5 tbsp Creole spice blend 1 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth Pan spray Aluminum foil Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 1. Rinse turkey inside and out and pat skin dry. 2. On a cutting board, slightly prick turkey numerous times with a fork (for better seasoning absorption). 3. Evenly sprinkle spice blend on turkey, inside and out. 4. Apply non-stick pan spray on roasting pan rack and place turkey on it with neck skin folded under. 5. Place chicken broth in bottom of pan. Spray a large sheet of aluminum foil with pan spray and tent pan with foil. 6. Put turkey in lower half of oven. Bake for 2 1/2 hours, remove foil and turn oven to 425 degrees. 7. Continue to cook for one hour or until each thigh has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Once foil is removed, baste turkey frequently. 8. Remove turkey from oven and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before attacking.

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16 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

Thanksgiving & Holiday Entertaining

photo by Gary Leonard

Thanksgiving Shopping List Where to Get the Goods in Downtown for a Successful Feast by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

owntown has a reputation for lacking in grocery stores. Even with the 2007 opening of the South Park Ralphs, many area residents still pine for a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. But for locals planning on hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year, there is little reason to go outside the neighborhood in search of ingredients. With a few stops, you can get your turkey, plus the usual staples, without sacrificing quality or spend an arm and a leg — all in Downtown. The Bird n Peking Poultry: If freshness is a priority, look no further than Peking Poultry in Chinatown, where you can evaluate a gaggle of live, black-feathered free-range gobblers and select the one that meets your fancy. They do the dirty work for you (though if you have a cleaver and stump at home, you can take it still clucking). Like Superior Poultry across the street, Peking specializes in a variety of live poultry, so those looking for a break from tradition could instead roast a Muscovy duck ($20), or, of course, a chicken. Free-range chickens go for $8.50. Turkeys arrive on Nov. 20 (prices not yet available). At

717 N. Broadway, (213) 680-2588. n Ralphs Fresh Fare: If getting all your ingredients in one place is a requirement, Ralphs is the Downtown grocery king. The South Park store will have a few turkey options (some fresh, some frozen), not to mention a selection of hams, including the precooked, sliced and glazed variety for those who prefer to let someone else do the cooking. At 645 W. Ninth St., (213) 452-0840. n Bottega Louie: The restaurant and takeaway market at Bottega Louie will do all the work, but still let you eat at home. Pick-up pre-made stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes and an assortment of pies. They’re offering Diestal Farms free-range birds that feed 10-12 people ($90), or a slightly smaller bird to feed six to eight for $75. Add $15 to have it pre-cooked. Orders must be placed by Nov. 22. At 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470. The Fixings n Little Tokyo Marketplace: There’s more to this recently renovated grocery store inside the Little Tokyo Shopping Center than pickled radishes, squid kim chi and hunks of pork belly. The replacement for Mitsuwa Market still caters to an Asian palate, but it boasts a produce section where

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The Ralphs in South Park is the best option in Downtown to get all your Thanksgiving gear in one place.

zucchinis are 99 cents for three pounds. It’s mostly seasonal too, so no pineapples this time of year (a good thing), but California persimmons and quinces are in bulk. Get your spuds here too; the store carries the usual mix of baby reds, hulking Russets and golden Yukons, and everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving starch, the yam. At 333 S. Alameda St., (213) 617-0030. n Grand Central Market: Another option for stocking up on produce, Grand Central Market, is also the place to replenish your dried herbs and spices before getting busy in the kitchen. Del Rey Productos Latinos is one of four vendors specializing in spices and dried goods; pick up some dried oregano or thyme, perfect for rubbing on the turkey or sprinkling in the stuffing. Snag a three-pound bag of sea salt crystals at AB Coffee for $2.50. Need some fresh, homemade chorizo to put in a savory stuffing? Try Economy Meats. At 317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378. n LAX-C: Are you cooking for the extended family, and then some? Then check out LAX-C, where you might not be able to buy one yellow onion, but you can sure get a 50-pound bag of them. This wholesale megagrocer (open to the general public) specializing in Asian foodstuffs also has a wide array of kitchen equipment, so check here if you need a roasting pan and don’t want to use one of those throwaway foil trays. At 1100 N. Main St., (323) 343-0030. Wash it Down n Old Bank Market: This convenience store in the Old Bank District has a solid wine

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selection, a variety of beer and even some bubbly in the fridge. At 409 S. Main St., (213) 680-9000. n Corkbar: The South Park wine bar features strictly California wines. Though it’s primarily a sit-down restaurant and bar, you can buy any bottle on the list to-go for half off the menu price. At 403 W. 12th St., (213) 746-0050. n Gourmet Wine & Spirits: This Financial District boutique has a wide selection of bottles from around the world. They also assemble deli platters, gift baskets and deliver. At 626 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 489-2666. Dessert n Village Kitchen: Just when you thought you’d eaten enough and the food coma starts creeping in, you suddenly have room for that homemade pie. Or is it homemade? Why not let the ladies at the Village Kitchen make it? For the week of Thanksgiving (starting Nov. 23) they’ll be offering apple, pumpkin, pecan and lemon meringue pie by the slice and whole pie. Just fib like everyone else and say you made it yourself. At 1667 Beverly Blvd., (213) 235-1487. n Hygge Bakery: If they celebrated Thanksgiving in Denmark, it would taste like the eight-inch apple tart prepared at Hygge: flaky crust, stewed sweet apples and a swirl of marzipan ($13.75). The South Park bakery offers a host of other cakes, tarts and yeast breads too. At 1106 S. Hope St., (213) 995-5022. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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November 16, 2009

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

photo courtesy of MOCA

CALENDAR photo courtesy of MOCA

Chris Burden’s 1979 work “The Big Wheel,” made of cast iron, wood and steel, dominates the Geffen Contemporary.

photo courtesy of MOCA

Jackson Pollock’s painting “Number 1, 1949” is considered one of the Downtown museum’s most important pieces.

photo courtesy of MOCA

MOCA Continued from page 1 be rebounding. CEO Charles Young, who came aboard in the wake of the crisis, said that in the past year the museum has secured $60 million worth of gifts and pledges (including a $30 million bailout from Broad that helped prevent the museum from being subsumed by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art). The endowment has also been replenished from about $5 million to $13.5 million, said Young. The museum is both marking the turnaround and trying to continue the momentum with First Thirty Years, which opened Sunday, Nov. 15. MOCA’s largest-ever exhibit includes more than 500 works from the permanent collection, dating from 1939 to the present, by more than 200 artists. It fills not just the Grand Avenue space, but also the reopened Geffen Contemporary. MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel, who organized First Thirty Years, said that he arranged the art in what he hopes is a cohesive way, despite its diversity. “I try to make connections all the time between different artists,” he said. Match and Mix First Thirty Years fills approximately 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. Works from 1940-1980 reside at MOCA Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill, while pieces created after 1980 are in the Geffen Contemporary on Central Avenue. In each location, the pieces are presented in roughly chronological order, Schimmel said. “One of the things I tried to do here is

force chronology into breaking down geographic boundaries,” he said, referring to the diversity of the artists who sometimes end up chronologically side-by-side. Often, he noted, the works are surprisingly complementary in terms of sensibility and theme. For example, the first room in the Grand Avenue space houses vastly different works by three abstract artists from the 1950s and ’60s, including geometric paintings by American Mark Rothko and two surreal, elongated female bronze figures by Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, dated 1960. Other parts of the exhibit showcases more surprising groupings. In one area, black and white photographs taken by Helen Levitt in New York City in 1942 capture scenes such as children in Halloween masks. They hang near a hulking sculpture of black painted wood that resembles a piece of factory equipment fused with cabinetry. The sculpture, “Sky Cathedral/ Southern Mountain,” was created by Louice Nevelson in 1959. Short Turnaround Listing all of the highlights in First Thirty Years could fill a book: In fact, it did. Last year MOCA published the 380-page This Is Not To Be Looked At, the first catalogue of MOCA’s permanent collection. It highlights 150 artists. “I used that as my guide” in curating the new exhibit, Schimmel said. Without the book, he said, selecting pieces from the museum’s entire permanent collection of nearly 6,000 works in less than a year would have been even more arduous. The short timeframe, he said, was due to the fact that until last spring, “It wasn’t even clear that we would be operating the Geffen.”

Jackson Pollock’s painting “Number 1, 1949” is considered one of the Downtown museum’s most important pieces. photo by Brian Forrest © 2009 Pollock-Krasner Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

photo courtesy of MOCA

Another highlight in the show is Ed Ruscha’s “Chocolate Room,” Chris Burden’s which debuted in 1970 and is the artist’s only installation work. 1979 work “The Big Wheel,” made of cast iron, wood and steel, dominates the Geffen Contemporary.

Another highlight in the show is Ed Ruscha’s “Chocolate Room,” which debuted in 1970 and is the artist’s only installation work.

Young, who since taking the reins has focused on streamlining MOCA’s finances, said museum officials decided to move forward with First Thirty Years only “when we were beginning to see what we were accomplishing with cutting the costs and what we were starting to raise.” When he began weeding through MOCA’s collection, Schimmel said, he aimed to reach beyond the most well-known artists. “That is our job as an institution,” he said, “to change history by letting great works stand even before great names.” Wheels, Santa and Women The Geffen Contemporary portion of the exhibit immediately assaults the senses. Upon entering, a larger-than-life wooden wheel slowly spins. The 1979 Chris Burden work “The Big Wheel” includes said wheel on top of a narrow wooden stand that also holds a blue motorcycle. Meanwhile, unintelligible chatter, screams and singing can be heard from nearby video installations, including one by Italian Francisco Vezzoli featuring the songs of French singer Edith Piaf. And watch where you step, or you might collide with the battery-powered kid in the gray sweatshirt and jeans riding his tricycle around the museum — a piece called “Charlie,” by Maurizio Cattelan. Some of the crown jewels of MOCA’s permanent collection, including a sampling of its array of 1990s artworks (“arguably the best collection of the ’90s in the world,” Schimmel said), are on display at the Geffen. An installation by Paul McCarthy titled

“Tokyo Santa, Santa’s Trees” is instantly eyecatching and immediately visible inside the entrance on the museum’s mezzanine. It includes 22 decorated Christmas trees, some with price tags still attached, surrounded by two walls of 15 full-color photographs of a seemingly bloodied man in a Santa suit and mask. The graphic display is just steps from a 2005 video installation by Chicho Aoshima titled “City Glow,” featuring five screens displaying innocent-looking animations of foliage and strange creatures resembling buildings in a city skyline. The Geffen also houses many works by women, including Barbara Kruger, Nan Goldin and Laura Owens. Schimmel said he deliberately included a large number of female contemporary artists. “By the time you get over to the Geffen,” he said, “you’ll see that women have truly an equal representation that is unprecedented.” That said, he does not recommend trying to visit Grand Avenue and the Geffen in one day. It takes a long time to digest 30 years worth of acquisitions. “Given the breadth of it,” said Schimmel, “people should split it up over several days. Don’t try to slog through the whole thing in one visit.” Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years is at MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., and the Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., through May 3, 2010. Admission is free through Friday, Nov. 20. Information at (213) 621-1749 or moca.org. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

18 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Not So Hot in the Kitchen East West Players’ Food-Centric Play Comes off Undercooked by Jeff favre contributing writer

ooking is an art. Baking is a science.” Playwright Kenneth Lin didn’t invent this axiom, though his Po Boy Tango, which opened at East West Players in Little Tokyo last week, may be the first play to use it. Loosely, the saying means that ingredients, when mixed and heated, always react the same way according to the rules of science. But master chefs are driven by a passion to push boundaries, exploring new taste horizons through instinct and experimentation. In the case of Po Boy Tango, Lin is a baker, one who likely would be up for elimination in the reality show “Top Chef” for over-seasoning his script with melodrama and not allowing the plot time to rise like bread dough. Adding to the production problems in the work directed by Oanh Nguyen are poor casting choices for the two main characters. But what’s most frustrating is that sandwiched between these flawed layers are a trio of crisp, fresh monologues delivered so engagingly that it almost makes the entire meal palatable. Almost. The first course, aka scene one, portends plot and performance issues that continue throughout the two-and-a-half-hour running time. Gloria B (Esther Scott), visits the home of Richie Po (Dennis Dun), a place where she was once a fixture, serving as a caregiver to Richie’s daughter, who was suffering from

“

cancer. The two haven’t seen each other in 10 years, Gloria states matter-of-factly, alluding loudly to a second act reveal. Richie has called Gloria to see if she will help him recreate a “great banquet” invented by Po Mama (Jeanne Sakata), his recently deceased mother and onetime TV chef. If Gloria, who is a solid cook in her own right, can create the great banquet for Richie’s daughter’s wedding, he will agree to partner with Gloria and start a soul food restaurant. Though she didn’t write her recipes, Richie’s mother left her son videotapes of her cooking, some of which are recreated, with the Taiwanese-speaking Po Mama translated to English for the audience. Much of the wafer-thin plot revolves around why Gloria hasn’t seen Richie in 10 years, as well as relationships with the men in her life. The rest deals with Richie coming to terms with his mother’s death. While Lin’s script lacks surprises or character development, there are realistic moments of bonding between Richie and Gloria. But almost all of it is lost under clunky performances. On opening night Scott flubbed more than half of her lines — and dropped or repeated several — to the point where it became difficult to care about the character because hopes are pinned on the actress making it through each scene. Dun had a smaller but still healthy share of vocal stumbles. Combined, they forfeited any momentum that might have been built leading to Lin’s

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forced conflict and overly pat resolution. On the opposite end stands Sakata, who also shined in the East West revival of Master Class. Lin’s most poetic and expressive material is saved for Po Mama, and Sakata magnifies his words through a humorous and exuberant portrayal. Sakata appeared in the world premiere of Po Boy Tango in Chicago, and it’s easy to see why she has been asked to participate in this West Coast debut. She is completely believable as an independent woman who found fame by combining old world cooking techniques with a home attitude. She’s the Taiwanese version of Southern TV chef Paula Deen. The scenes with Po Mama are too few and fly by too quickly. The show suffers not only from sloppy performances, but from Nguyen’s slow pac-

ing. Conversations, even heated ones, never get rolling because of added pauses and unnecessary movement by the actors. There’s not even much actual food on stage, certainly none that can be smelled or that looks appetizing. There are a few pleasant technical touches, in particular KC Wilkerson’s soft, expressive lighting, and Nathan Wang’s sound design, which set an almost supernatural mood, as if Po Mama’s spirit is speaking. But there are not enough tasty elements to make this a satisfying meal. Po Boy Tango leaves you wanting more of its sweetest moments to replace the wealth of unappetizing courses. Po Boy Tango runs through Dec. 6 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000, ext. 20, or eastwestplayers.org.

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EVENTS Sponsored Listings Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live Grand Opening 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., lalive.com/regal. The now open Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14 continues its screenings of Michael Jackson’s This Is It through Nov. 19. Also screening at various showtimes are 2012, Pirate Radio, The Box, Disney’s A Christmas Carol in 3D, The Fourth Kind, The Men Who Stare At Goats, Precious and Paranormal Activity. Monday, Nov. 16 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Theater magazine editor Tom Sellar hosts a panel entitled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Polish Theater (But Were Afraid to Ask).” Who knew? Wait, don’t ask that. Communication Industry Leadership USC, Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy, (213) 740-2167 or uscticketoffice.com. 5 p.m.: Peter Chernin, former president and COO of the Fox Entertainment Group, joins Geoffrey Cowan, director of the Center on Communication Leadership and Policy at the USC Annenberg School, for a discussion on the transformation of the media, corporate social responsibility and Chernin’s philanthropic endeavors, followed by Q&A. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Web 101 for Small Business Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7110 or lapl.org. 6-8 p.m.: Learn about the importance of being present in the online marketplace, the difference between static and dynamic websites, the basics of E-commerce, and everything else you need to know about getting your website started the right way. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Author Mary Karr discusses her new memoir about getting drunk and getting sober; becoming a mother by letting go of a mother and learning to write by learning to live. Town Hall Los Angeles National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 8 a.m.: Is marijuana the wonder drug for the economy? From the governor to local dispensaries, many have suggested that legalizing marijuana will generate revenue and cut the costs involved in policing its use. Others believe it is a gateway drug that causes long-term health care issues, which cost the state money. What do you think? Wednesday, Nov. 18 SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. 7 p.m.: Speaker Mack Scogin is known for architectural designs featuring the unconventional use of materials. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center JACCC Plazaq or Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-3700 or jaccc.org. 8 p.m.: A holiday concert featuring artists from the World Festival of Sacred Music-Los Angeles, “Giving Thanks” is a celebration of world dance and music. Thursday, Nov. 19 Designing in Down Economies Downtown Los Angeles Marriot Hotel, 333 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-0858 or ccala.org. 11 a.m.: The Central City Association presents a panel of noted architects, including J. Peter Devereaux, William H. Fain and Neal Payton, to discuss new and unusual opportunities in challenging times. Town Hall Los Angeles Omni Los Angeles Hotel, 251 S. Olive St., (213) 6288141 or townhall-la.org. Noon: Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager and CEO of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, gives a briefing on the state of the L.A. region’s water policy and supply (or lack thereof). Fashion Power Players and the Press Boxeight Studios, 1446 E. Washington Blvd., fgila.org. 6 p.m.: A panel discusses how trends are created by the fashion press. From print to web to blogs to tweets, who kick-starts the trends and how is the consumer buying? The event includes a video presentation of the trends from the spring 2010 runways in Paris, Milan, London and New York.

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Downtown News 19

20 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

But Wait, Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s More!

Additional Event Information on the Web

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM/CALENDAR : EVENTS | ROCK, POP & JAZZ | CLASSICAL MUSIC | THEATER, OPERA & DANCE ART SPACES | FILM | BARS & CLUBS | MUSEUMS | FARMERS MARKETS | TOURS Panelists include Jayne Seward, Laurie Pike and Erin Weinger. Los Angeles in the 1970s Moca Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6211745 or moca.org. 6:30 p.m.: William Leavitt and Allen Ruppersberg, both featured in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Collection: MOCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Thirty Years,â&#x20AC;? converse with independent curator Carole Ann Klonarides about the experience of making and presenting work in the 1970s. This event is hosted by X-TRA, a contemporary art journal. Friday, Nov. 20 Woo Warehouse Sale 209 S. Garey St., (213) 687-4800 or ilovewoo.com. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Downtown-based womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle clothing company Woo hosts a warehouse sale, featuring discounts on its casual wear. Also on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Dr. Paulette Singley will present new research that develops the comparison she drew between Francis Baconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s painting and Ludwig Mies van der Roheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architecture in her essay â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hard to Swallow: Mortified Geometry and Abject Form (Eating Architecture, 2004).â&#x20AC;? SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 356-5328 or sciarc.edu. In the W. M. Keck Lecture Hall. 1 p.m.: A lecture on the Richard and Dion Neutra VDL Research House. Saturday, Nov. 21 Used Book Sale Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., lapl. org.

Nov. 22, 2 and 6 p.m.: Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) is a retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set during the time of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Flagship Theatres 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321. Through Nov. 19: Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Christmas Carol (12:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:15 p.m. No 7 or 9:15 p.m. show on Thursday); The Box (1:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 10 p.m.); Paranormal Activity (12:45 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; 9:45 p.m.); The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Wednesday at midnight). Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Nov. 22: 2012 (11 and 11:40 a.m. and 12:40, 2:40, 3:20, 4:10, 6:20, 7, 8, 10 and 10:50 p.m.); Pirate Radio (11:10 a.m. and 1:50, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); The Box (11:30 a.m. and 2:20, 5:20, 8:10 and 11 p.m.); Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Christmas Carol (11:10 and 11:40 a.m. and 1:30, 2:10, 4, 4:50, 6:40, 7:20, 9:20 and 10:10 p.m.); The Fourth Kind (12:30, 3, 5:30, 7:50 and 10:40 p.m.); The Men Who Stare at Goats (12:50, 3:10, 5:40, 8 and 10:40 p.m.); Precious (11 and 11:50 a.m. and 1:40, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:10, 7:50, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Michael Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s This Is It (12:50, 1:30, 3:40, 4:20, 6:30, 7:20, 9:10 and 10:10 p.m); Paranormal Activity (1,3:20, 5:50, 8:10 and 11 p.m.).

10 a.m.-noon: Buy materials from four Central Library support groups. Hundreds of bargain books, LPs, videos and more. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-2024 or caamuseum.org. 1 p.m.: Explore the visual arts and historical representations of artists who revisited the late â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s and the civil rights movement in an exhibition walk-through guided by Michele Lee, CAAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visual arts curator and curator of the show â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Idea Called Tomorrow.â&#x20AC;? Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: At a Junior Scientist event, mollusks, from snails and slugs to octopi and clams, are everywhere. Investigate the invertebrates and become a Junior malacologist, gathering gastropods, braving the bivalves and seeing a few seashells along the way.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com. Nov. 20-26: Mr. Sadman. In 1990, before the First Gulf War, Mounir, an impressionable and sheltered Saddam Hussein body-double, loses his job and moves to Los Angeles in search of a new start. But once the real Saddam invades Kuwait and makes international headlines, Mounir learns the truth about the Iraqi dictator and vows to shed his Saddam persona forever. Unfortunately, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to be anyone else. Showtimes vary. Nov. 21, 11:30 p.m.: Blitzkrieg Bop is splatterpunk conflagration (originally shot in 16mm) from Ramones fanatic Kakuei Shimada.

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to downtownnews.com/calendar for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown. Nov. 19: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (12:01 and 12:20 a.m., then starting Nov. 20, at 10 and 10:30 a.m. and 1, 1:30, 4, 4:40, 7, 8, 10, 11:20 p.m. and 1 a.m.); Twilight (2008) (9 p.m.).

ROCK, POP & JAZZ 2nd Street Jazz 366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047, 2ndstjazz.com or myspace.com/2ndstreetlivejazz. Tuesdays: Jazz jam session. Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m.

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Retail Store Front $1000 gross rent Downtown LA 1240 sq.ft., 20ft ceiling, water included, central AC w/private restroom. Call Pierre or Terri at 818-212-8333 or 213-744-9911

FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL office space lease/sale

DOWNTOWN L.A.

Apartments/Unfurnished

OVIATT BUILDING

Lg. 2 Bdrm.

213.623.7008 or 213.280.5452

Includes 1 parking space. Ideal for roommates. $1,560 a month

2 offices for rent, all hook-ups, partly furnished. 530 sqft. $800 month, flex lease.

We've got what you're searching for! DowntownNews.com

1 Bath, Hardwood floors

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

DOWNTOWN HIGHRISE 2 1/2 Bedroom, 2 bath, Pool, Doorman, Parking, View, Gym, $1650 818-614-0400. FREE RENT SPECIALS (O.A.C.) Brand New Resort Apartments. Granite kitchens, washer/dryers, pools, spas, saunas, fitness ctr, free tanning beds & much more! 866-690-2894. FREE RENT SPECIALS (O.A.C.) New downtown luxury apartments with granite kitchens, marble baths, pool, spa, saunas & free parking. 888-736-7471. Free ReNT SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731.

(213) 746-6300

FREE RENT SPECIALS Panoramic downtown views. 1 bed/1 bath starting at $1398. Washer dryer in unit, gated,Pool, spa and sauna. 888-265-1707.

FREE RENT SPECIALS Los Angeles Studio $1688/ month Luxury at it’s finest! Granite counters, W & D 888-262-9761.

LARGE STUDIO apartment in restored classic 1901 building. High Ceilings. $720 per month incl. utilities. Parking not included. 213-389-0753

Loft/Unfurnished

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

rooms

Low-Income Single Room Occupancy Units #202, 203, 208, 308, 316 and 317. Available $290/mo. Shared kitchen and bath. Please call Norbo Hotel (213) 624-8024

REAL ARTIST LOFTS 13251650 Sq. Ft., $1600-$1950/mo. High ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs, Open House Sundays 12-3pm @ 1250 Long Beach Ave. 213-629-5539

EMPLOYMENT Accounting/Banking

Loft/Unfurnished

LA Live Loft 1500 sq.ft., 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath, Hardwood, Bar, AC, Sauna, Greenhouse, all appliances, Was./Dryr., Secure, Garage. $1795 • (213) 747-0523 homes/Unfurnished

House for rent

FOR RENT one bedroom, South Park loft, top floor above Ralph’s Market. 645 West 9th St. covered parking, gym, rec room, washer, dryer, near LA Live. Contact John (310) 505-4024

OP RESCH ANYLST: use computer & optimizing methods to analyze busn’s operatn data etc. Must: Master degree & skills. F/T job: Glendale, CA. Simpson Accntancy Corp. Fax: 818-956-7144. Continued on next page

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

2 bedrooms 2 bath

included: dishwasher stove refrigerator, DSL Satellite, washer/ dryer, utilities except phone. $1,900/Month 323.225.3900 or 323.369.8558

RESERVE IT IT’S YOURS!! $1,250/$950

433 Cottage Home St. in Chinatown, 2BR/1BA and 1BR/1BA, new paint, laundry on-site, includes parking & utilities. Call 818-716-7297.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

22 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Continued from previous page

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

General

Computers/It ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.mlbwealth.com. (CalSCAN) ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7. Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.KTPGlobal.com or call 1-800-330-8446. (Cal-SCAN) DrIvers SLT - IMMEDIATE OPENINGS for CDLA teams, O/OPs welcome and paid percentage. $1,000 bonus. $1,100 week average pay for company teams. Hazmat & 2 yrs experience. 1-800-835-9471. (Cal-SCAN)

HELP WANTED, Movie Extras. Earn up to $150/day. People needed for background in a major film production. Exp. not required. 888-366-0843 MECHANICS: Keep the Army National Guard rolling. Fix Humvees, Strykers, etc. Expand skills through paid career training. Part-time work. Full -time benefits. www.NationalGuard.com/ mechanic or 1-800-GO-GUARD. (Cal-SCAN)

Acupuncturist Mail resume to Miracle paincare Acupuncture inc. 15508 S. Normandie Ave., Gardena, CA 90247, Attn: Young Hoon Kim

ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN) JoB seekers M.J. McDevitt, CAMS (certified anti-money laundering specialist) for contract AML /BSA projects in banks, law firms. michaelmcdevitt@mac.com. 213-620-1309.

OVER 18? AVAILABLE to Travel? Earn Above Average $$$ with Fun Successful Business Group! No Experience Necessary. 2wks Paid Training. Lodging, Transportation Provided. 1-877-646-5050. (CalSCAN)

$350 (plus court fees)

Downtownnews.com

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

2551 W. Beverly Blvd. LA, CA, 90057 (Beverly Rampart)

Tel: 213-383-7676

aDvertIsInG CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $550. Reach 6 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SCAN.com. (CalSCAN)

EZ SHIATSU & MASSAGE 30 min. (Reg. $30) $10 Off with this AD 400 E. 2nd St., #205 LA CA 90012

(Honda Plaza Mall)

213-680-4970

DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com. (CalSCAN) NEWS RELEASE? Cost-efficient service. The California Press Release Service has 500 current daily, weekly and college newspaper contacts in California. Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6010. www.CaliforniaPressReleaseService.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP

RobeRt Gomez, LDA Legal Document Assistant Registered/Bonded, LDA #418, LA Co.

903 Crenshaw Blvd., #302, Los Angeles, CA 90019, Attn: Seong D. Moon

323-229-3320 (c) 323-722-1646 (B)

Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean

DiVoRce

Wand Touch Corporation

Reroof, Repairs • Lic. #C-39-588045

Massage/Acupressure $40 (1 Hour)

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION!

leGal

Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

(213) 399-7800 We are not Attorneys

home Improvement

CleanInG CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

Construction

$98

musIC lessons Children’s Performing Group! Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! See SunshineGenerationLA. com or call 909-861-4433.

s.f.

Architectural Plans + Permit Included GC# 308729

PETS/ANIMALS

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL

Michael choi roofing

Since 1972 • Free estimate

attorneys

SERVICES

Mail resume to

retaIl/sales

Star Holistic Spa

BusIness opportunItIes

Acupuncturist

崔Roof

massaGe therapy

Established 1975

details 323-960-5792

aDopt a pet

autos WanteD DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf. info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners Accepted, 1-888468-5964. (Cal-SCAN)

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS notICes

G.E. REFRIGERATOR FREEZER 2 door, 25 cubic feet. 213-381-8784.

BECOME DIETARY MANAGER (average annual salary $40,374) in eight months in online program offered by Tennessee Technology Center, Elizabethton. Details www.TTCElizabethton.edu, 1-888-986-2368 or email patricia.roark@ttcelizabethton.edu. (Cal-SCAN)

mIsC. Items

volunteer opportunItIes

BANG AND OLUFSEN Bluetooth headset. Xtra Charger, manual $323 value. $80 Firm

Helping kids heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

ITEMS FOR SALE applIanCes

NEW YORK guitarist GUS FAFALIOS’s new cd “Night Fishing” is available on iTunes and cdBaby at www.cdbaby. com/gusfafalios. www.Myspace. com/gusguitar 646-387-5717.

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

LegaL Notice

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HBODY

Services Include: • Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw • Fax • Photocopy • More

MASSAGEH

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

3386766 0119

sakura health Gym & sauna, InC.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ON THE FIVE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE BUNKER HILL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT: (FY2010-FY2012)

Santee Court Lofts from $1,250

NOTICE

716 los angeles street, los angeles, Ca 90014

(213) 623-8101 • www.santeecourt.com

Low Move in Special

Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

Unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $695/mo.

Jenny Ahn (213) 996-8301 jahn@regentBC.com www.regentbc.com

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

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

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

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

the loft expert! group

is hereby given that The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, California will hold a public hearing for the above-referenced redevelopment project on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., or soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at The Community Redevelopment Agency Offices, 354 South Spring Street, 6th Floor Board Room, Los Angeles, California 90013-1258. The public hearing is being conducted to hear testimony of all interested parties regarding the proposed Five-Year Implementation Plan for the Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project.

At the above-stated time and place, any and all persons having any testimony regarding the proposed Five-Year Implementation Plan may appear before the Agency and be heard.

Downtown since 2002

Don't settle for anyone less experienced! Call us today!

Copies of the proposed Five-Year Implementation Plan and other pertinent documents are on file and are available for public inspection during business hours at the following locations: CRA Main Office, Records Center 354 South Spring Street , 5th Floor Los Angeles , CA 90013-1258 Mondays through Fridays: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

Angelus Plaza 255 South Hill Street , 1st Floor Los Angeles , CA 90012 Mondays through Fridays: 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 11/2, 11/9, 11/16/09 CNS-1724520#

Children’s Performing Group

Do you have something to sell?

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

Sunshine Generation

Ad Prices

________________________________________________

Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY) • Items under $300 • Items $301 to $500 • Items $501 to $1200 • Items $1201 to $2000 • Items $2001+…

Name: Address: City Phone: Cash $ Credit card #: Exp. Date:

FREE! $11.50 $14.00 $16.50 $19.00

12 words, 2 weeks 15 words, only 15 words, only 15 words, only 15 words, only

State Check $

Zip Credit Card $

All ads run for 2 weeks. Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.

With a circulation of 49,000 , our classifieds get results!

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

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

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

FOR RENT? FOR LEASE? FOR SALE? People are looking here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

(213) 481-1448

November 16, 2009

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

GaraGe SaleS

name chanGe

MOVING SALE 90210 New designer clothing, furniture, accessories. design.star@att.net. http://s1004.photobucket.com/ albums/af162/beverlyhillsmovingsale/.

suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia, countY oF los anGeles cHatsWoRtH couRtHouse oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name no. Ps012120 PetitioneR (name oF eacH): QuYen nGoc Vu anD Vu QuanG PHan FileD a Petition WitH tHis couRt FoR a DecRee cHanGinG names as FolloWs: PResent name: minH Hieu RYan PHan PRoPoseD name: RYan minH Hieu PHan THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing, NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 12/09/09 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept.: F46 The address of the court is Chatsworth Courthouse, 9425 Penfield Avenue, Chatsworth CA 91311. Date: October 23, 2009 Hon. Ronald Schmit Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23/09

LEGAL FictitiouS BuSineSS name Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20091686638 The following person is doing busi ness as: ZIG ZAG DELIVERY, 419 N. Larchmont Blvd. #203, LA CA 90004 , are hereby registered by the following registrant: TINCTURE HEALTH CARE, 419 N. Larchmont Blvd. #203, LA CA 90004, a California Non-Profit Mutual Benefit Corporation. This business is conducted by a corporation. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on November 9, 2009. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/07/09

suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia, noRtH ValleY DistRict cHatsWoRtH couRtHouse oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name case no. Ps012144 Petitioner: ARJELIA DE LA ROSA, 13712 Judd Street, Pacoima, CA 91331 filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: ARJELIA DE LA ROSA Proposed name: MONICA DE LA ROSA THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 12/29/09 Time: 8:30 p.m. Dept.: F46 The address of the court is 9425 Penfield Avenue, Room #1200, Chatsworth. CA 91311. Pub. 11/09, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30/09 ProBate Petition to aDminiSter eState suPeRioR couRt oF caliFoRnia,

countY oF los anGeles centRal DistRict notice oF Petition to aDministeR estate oF JoHn cRisHon, sR. , DeceDent case no. BP118550 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contigent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: John Crishon, Sr. A Petition for Probate as been filed by: John Crishon, Jr. in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. The Petition for Probate requests that John Crishon, Jr. be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be

held in this court as follows: Date: November 10, 2009 Time: 8:30am Dept.: 11 Address of court is Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person

or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided in Probate Code section 9100. The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person

interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Date filed: October 16, 2009 John A. Clarke, Executive Officer/Clerk By: M. Zenahosa, Deputy Pub. 11/9, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30/09

Free Rent! ELEGANT WORLD CLASS RESORT BRAND NEW APARTMENT HOMES

Orsini

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY! studios from $1,685* • 1 bedroom from $1,818* • 2 bedroom from $2,212* *Availability and prices are subject to change at any time.

• Lavish Fountains and Sculptures • Free Tanning Rooms • Concierge Service • 24 Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-site Management • Free DSL Computer Use Available • Free Wi-Fi • Magnificent City Views • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball Court, Workout Stations, BBQ’s and Jogging Track

• Brunswick Four Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Massage Room, Sauna and Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Room • Free Abundant Gated and Garage Parking • Business Center, Conference Room • Directors Screening Room

UNITS FEATURE: Private Washer and Dryer • Fully Equipped Gourmet Kitchens Maple European Style Cabinetry • Granite Counter Tops Natural Stone Marble Counter Baths

On Spring St.

Premiere towers:

2 bdrm/2 bath, $1550/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

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

City Lofts:

900 sqft, 13 ft ceilings, $1500/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

Please call 213.627.6913 www.cityloftsquare.com

Orsini

noW leaSinG

From $1,300’s/mo. Free Parking ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

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

Rooms AvAilAble ✓ Private bathroom ✓ Cable tV w/hbO ✓ 24 hr. Front desk Weekly $175 1-2 people daily $45 1-2 people stuaRt Hotel

2 months*

*Limited time offer: when you sign a one year lease.

Unfurnished rooms starting at $450 a month Laundry on site. All utilities included. 112 W 5th st., los angeles, ca 90013 213.503.7449 • www.rosslynstudios.com

❏ Prom. West-2 Bed. 2 Bath 5th Floor. Move in now. $2200 Month. ❏ 1 Bed. 1 Bath. Lafayette Park Place. Move In Now. $1200 Month. ❏ Prom. West-2 Bed. 2 Bath

EStabliShEd 1984

Penthouse-Sophisticated, Spectacular One Of A Kind Condo. Top Of The Line Upgrades & Décor. Gorgeous Furnishings Adorn This Pride Of Ownership Home. Corporate Lease Welcome. Furnished $3500 Per Month. Un-Furnished $3200 Per Month. DRE #01706351

FRee

For rent:

Bank foreclosure-Pasadena RENTING • BUYING • LIVING 2 Houses on the lot. Remodeled & ready to move-in. Mirza alli has Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com Broker/Realtor One 2 bed w/1 bath. One three bedroom w/2 baths. been helping people live in Downtown’s Easy care yard, gated & fenced. 2 Car garage. best condos, leasing-Saleslofts & apartments! Offered at $554,800 loans-refinance

8 7 7 - 4 L A- LO F TS

(213) 680-1720 Call us for other condos for sale or lease Dwntwn & surrounding areas!! Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com

e-mail us: info@bunkerhillrealestate.com Guess where Drew prefers to eat Mexican food and WIN! www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com

staRtinG at $1,350

FACTORY PLACE

THE ART OF CITY LIVING

1330 FactoRY Place | DoWntoWn | 213.216.4718 | WWW.FactoRYPl.com

Available Immediately

Living Outrageously For Today!®

Top floor of 11 story (18,000 SF) historic building available now! Perfect for corporate hqtrs. Features separate executive suite(s). Stunning views of LA two blocks away from Staples Center and across the street from the new LA Live complex. We have approximately 7,800 square feet of space open with offices along the exterior. Full kitchen with dishwasher, high exposed ceilings and stained floors. The building also has approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some small offices available. These spaces • LIVING canRENTING be viewed•byBUYING appointment.

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

Information available to qualified prospective tenants. 8 7 7Email - 4 Lrequest A- LO to F T S Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com mdavis@shammasgroup.com or Guess where Nicole loves to call eat(213) sushi746-6300 and WIN!

Living Outrageously FOR LEASE For Today!®

FilminG/retail/ oFFice/telecom

Spaces from 300 sf to 10,000 sf Build to suit, Wilshire Blvd, in heart downtown

RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

8 7 7 - 4 L A- LO F TS Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com

Guess One of Elicia’s Favorite Cafe Hang-Outs and WIN!

2 months free rent with a 5 year lease • On site Parking • Secured Building RENTING • BUYING • LIVING

Since 2001, LoftLivingLA.com has been helping people live in Downtown’s best condos, lofts & apartments!

611 Wilshire and 700 Wilshire Blvd 8Visit7us7online - 4atLwww.LoftLivingLA.com A- LO F TS 213-622-7188 x210 Guess Ted’s Favorite Frozen Donna Ferrell Property Yogurt Hang-Out andManager WIN!

DRE #01706351

Bunker Hill real estate Co, inC.

DRE #01706351

roSSlyn hotel

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

DRE #01706351

213.413.8100

r Eve

JAN. 10, 2010 • 10 AM • OWNER’S AUCTION Real Estate Properties & Operating Businesses – $1M to $20M – Residential, Mixed Use & Land All in the Historical . . . North University Park (Adams / Vermont / Jefferson / Hoover) - Specific Zone The “North Gateway” to University of Southern California’s Multi-Billion Dollar 2014 Plan for “Grove Style” Mixed Use Development Walk to world class libraries, museums, rose gardens, Exposition Park, Olympic Swimming, Stadium, all sports venues and the L.A. Coliseum & L.A. Sports Arena 10 minutes to L.A. Live, Staples Center & City Hall 4 blocks west of the new light rail along the Harbor Freeway with completion due in . . . 2010 Outrageously Mixed in size and use - RD1.5 / R3 / Offices, B&B, Law or Medical Offices . . . all Living OK in Special NUP Zone!! Structure types - Single Family Homes to Multi-Tenant Buildings / Rooms / Apartments For Today!® Registration is required to be eligible to attend and bid on auction day. To register you must contact James Brian Busch at: nuppmbrian@hotmail.com New auction website will be open November 15, 2009 - www.nuppmauction.com - USC Opportunity 2010 (,s,)

877-267-5911

! ng s arp i as ur sh le s to noon w u :00 no amp ay 12 c turd

DRE #01706351

718 S. Union Ave. (Union & 7th St.)

Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 OPEN DAILY

24 Downtown News

November 16, 2009

DowntownNews.com

We Got Games Lakers Roll, but Are the Clippers Really Cursed? Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. Nov. 17 and 19, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m.: The Lakers are home all week, still making do without forward Pau Gasol. On the other hand, Andrew Bynum returned last week and thumped the previously hot Phoenix Suns. Of course, he had help from some guy named Kobe. This week Mr. Bryant will lead the squad against the reconfigured Detroit Pistons, a young and energetic Chicago Bulls squad, and then the Kevin Durant-led Oklahoma City Thunder. Don’t write them off as also-rans anymore — two weeks ago they took the purple and gold into overtime. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m.: Some say there is no such thing as

a curse, but consider: The Clippers were already deflated with the loss of rookie Blake Griffin when leading scorer Eric Gordon went down. He may still be out when Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets come to town. But the Clippers have at least one reason to be excited: Chris Kaman is leading all centers in the NBA in scoring, and he’s averaging close to 10 rebounds a game. Also this week, the team travels to Oklahoma City (Nov. 17) and Memphis (Nov. 18). Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Every year, the local hockey gurus (yes, they exist) have a hunch that this is the year the Kings turn things around. It’s still way too early to say that this, indeed, is the year. But hey, if the playoffs started today, the Kings would have home ice advantage in the first round. —Ryan Vaillancourt

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

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

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

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

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

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

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

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

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

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

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

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A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

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