11-30-09

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 38, Number 48

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November 30, 2009

Digging In to the Downtown Crime Drop A Look at How and Why the Area Is Seeing Fewer Criminal Acts by ryAn VAillAncourt StAff writer

The CRA head’s exit interview.

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Urban Scrawl on Downtown skating.

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hen it comes to Downtown crime, 2007 was the year everything changed. Under the Safer Cities Initiative, which deployed 50 extra cops to Skid Row, annual crime in Central Division plummeted 30%.

In 2008, Downtown saw a slight jump in overall crime. The uptick was not greeted with much alarm, because in effect, Central Division was fighting its own success from the previous year.

Now, there is a reversal of last year’s reversal, and although the Downtown Los Angeles population has grown, the area is on pace to record another significant drop. As of Nov. 14, Central had tabulated 3,221 violent and property

crimes, a 7.8% decrease from the same period last year. The number also represents a roughly 3% year-to-date drop from 2007 levels.

The reduction comes as Captain Blake Chow, who replaced Capt. Jodi Wakefield in February, is approaching nine months as Central’s top cop. When he started, Chow pledged to build stronger partnerships with entities such as local business improvement districts.

So far, mission accomplished, say leaders of the various Downtown BIDs. “Central’s leadership of the past, I can’t say our communication was bad,” said Ken Nakano, director of operations for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, whose purple-clad see Crime, page 8

photo by Gary Leonard

With nearly a year under his belt, Central Capt.

Blake Chow has steered the division toward a 7.8% reduction in crime compared to last year.

Violent crime is down 9%.

From Toy District to Trash District Play 4th and Long Football and win prizes.

One Month Before Business Improvement District Expires, Garbage Piles Up

by AnnA Scott

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StAff writer

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Time to inspect the infrastructure.

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photo by Gary Leonard

Garbage accumulated at Winston and Los Angeles streets on a recent weekday. The business improvement district that has cleaned up trash in the Toy District ends Dec. 31.

REDCAT pairs puppets and drag.

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Start Your Engines L.A. Auto Show Returns With 1,000 Vehicles and Nearly 1 Million Visitors by richArd Guzmán city editor

Five great entertainment options.

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15 CALENDAR LISTINGS 16 MAP 17 CLASSIFIEDS

n August 2008, the Central City East Association announced that come Jan. 1, 2010, it would stop providing trash removal and other services in Downtown’s Toy District, following a group of property owners’ refusal to renew the local business improvement district. Now, just one month from the expiration, cardboard boxes and other garbage are already starting to pile up on the neighborhood’s streets.

Last Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles Street between Third and Fifth streets was littered with packaging materials, paper, food and other refuse,

much of it from area businesses. At the southeast corner of Los Angeles and Winston streets, a trashcan lined with a blue bag was filled to the brim.

Another stuffed garbage bag sat on the sidewalk, and the nearby gutter held a small heap of garbage, including large pieces of cardboard and smaller items like plastic bags and food wrappers.

“It’s a situation that’s been out of control for a long time, for years,” said CCEA Executive Director Estela Lopez.

“We’ve been closing our eyes and taking the path of least resistance, which is picking up the trash. This is it.”

The CCEA for the past 11 years has overseen the Toy District business see Toy District, page 10

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he American auto industry is still in a downturn, with sales far off their peak and a slew of dealerships closing. The impact has been felt in Downtown Los Angeles, as an anticipated Chrysler sales center instead sits unfinished and empty at Figueroa and 21st streets. Meanwhile, about a mile to the north, two companies dropped out of this week’s L.A. Auto Show.

Don’t take that as a sign, however, that the country’s fascination with new vehicles has diminished — at least when it comes to looking, rather than buy-

ing. The 102nd installment of the Auto Show, which opens Friday, Dec. 4, is expected to attract nearly 1 million visitors before it closes on Dec. 13, according to show officials.

Approximately 40 cars will make their North American and world debuts at the event. The show will also continue its focus on eco-friendly vehicles with the 2010 Green Car of the Year award and dozens of concept cars with forward-looking technology.

In addition, car enthusiasts will get a taste of some good old-fashioned muscle power, with a new Porsche and the see Auto Show, page 14

photo courtesy of the L.A. Auto Show

The L.A. Auto Show is one of the most popular annual events in Downtown.

This year’s exhibit runs Dec. 4-13.

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

2 Downtown News

November November30, 30,2009 2009

Twitter/DowntownNews

AROUNDTOWN Broadway Street Plan Gets a Hearing

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ore than 100 people attended a meeting in the Historic Core on Tuesday, Nov. 24, to offer input on a plan to give Broadway a pedestrian-friendly makeover. The proposal is part of Councilman José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative, which aims to revitalize the thoroughfare between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard. The public was invited to The Exchange building to weigh in on final designs for the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan, which lays the groundwork for cosmetic and structural changes to Broadway.

Plans, aimed at improving the street’s appearance and encouraging foot traffic, include narrowing the street to three lanes of traffic with parking and loading on both sides, bumping out the sidewalks, planting new trees on the widened sidewalks and adding bus stops. According to Huizar’s office, the Master Plan would cost approximately $30 million; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently awarded $4.5 million to the project, and Huizar staff members plan to apply for federal funds. Officials hope to start construction by 2013.

Woman Killed In Skid Row Shooting

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46-year-old woman died after being shot in the head last week outside a transitional housing development at 523 S. San Julian St. in Skid Row. Los Angeles Police Department officials are investigating the murder of Sheila Zaldana, who they believe was shot by Michelle Cato, who is in custody. After the shooting, Cato, 26, was chased by witnesses, including the victim’s son, and was then detained

by a motorcycle officer. A small handgun, which officers believe was used in the shooting, was seen on the sidewalk on the north side of Sixth Street, at the base of a roll-up door to a Department of Water and Power building, between San Julian and Wall streets. Zaldana was transported to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where she died, according to a police statement. Both women were living in South Los Angeles. “The suspect is not talking and we’re trying to get a little bit of insight from the son,” Lt. Paul Vernon said. “We found that [Cato] also tried to shoot him just prior to shooting the woman.” The killing marks the fifth homicide in Downtown in 2009.

Police Looking for Sexual Assault Suspect

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olice are looking for a 22-year-old South Los Angeles man accused of four cases of sexual battery against young women while posing as a photographer for Vibe magazine.

Four women have reported meeting Keith Nichols since October and submitting to a personal examination to “measure their most intimate body parts for ‘custom-fitted underwear,’” police said in a release last week.

During the examinations, Nichols allegedly touched the women’s bare breasts and groins. Nichols allegedly told the women that if their measurements were right, they could get a modeling job with the popular hip-hop magazine. “These crimes amount only to a misdemeanor at this point, but the potential for a more serious crime is there,” Capt. Blake Chow said. “We don’t know how many women Nichols has approached, how many have submitted, or if he has committed more serious crimes.” In two separate cases, Nichols met his victims on the light-rail line

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

photo by Gary Leonard

between Long Beach and Los Angeles, police said. Police believe Nichols may be working as a security guard.

Hip to Be Square

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new Downtown furniture and home store is aiming for the hip and educated with semi-deep pockets. I Squared, a spinoff of Interior Illusions Inc., a Southern California-based interior design and furniture company, was set to open Friday, Nov. 27 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press) in a 3,200-square-foot space in the Great Republic Lofts Building at 758 S. Spring St. The store’s inventory includes everything from “sofas to candles,” according to company officials. Company President and CEO Michael Valles predicted the typical customer would be an “educated younger professional who will most likely qualify for average tiered credit.” What that means is a price range of $8 for kitchen accessories to $2,000 for furniture.

Downtown was awash in Thanksgiving dinners last week, with one of the biggest taking place the day before the holiday. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, thousands of people from in and around Skid Row headed over to the Los Angeles Mission for the annual Thanksgiving celebration. Servers at the high-profile event included new LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

Turkey and Ice Skating

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he turkey, stuffing, potatoes and other sides have been consumed. The dishes have (hopefully) been cleaned. But where did Downtowners spend their Thanksgiving? A poll on downtownnews.com, asked in the weeks leading up to the holiday, found that 32%, or nearly one in three respondents, celebrated at home. Another 38% went to a family member’s home for their meal. Although plenty of restaurants offered Thanksgiving service, only 5% said they planned to go out, and another 5% said they would congregate at a friend’s house. Meanwhile, 10% said they would not be celebrating. This week, Los Angeles Downtown News addresses one of the biggest new dilemmas facing area workers, residents and visitors: Where will you ice skate this winter? For the first time, Downtown has two rinks, the traditional set-up at Pershing Square, and a new facility at L.A. Live. To vote, go to downtownnews.com, scroll down and look on the left side of the page.

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November 30, 2009

Outgoing CRA CEO Discusses Her Time At the Agency and the Challenges Ahead staff writer

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ecilia Estolano marks her last day as CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency on Monday, Nov. 30. She announced earlier this month that after 3 1/2 years, she is stepping down to take a still untitled job in the new Los Angeles office of Green for All, an environmental and economic organization.

The Los Angeles native, Harvard and Berkeley law school graduate spoke last week with Los Angeles Downtown News about the ups and downs of her time as head of the CRA. Los Angeles Downtown News: What will you do at Green for All? Cecilia Estolano: We’re going to be working on helping cities across the country take advantage of stimulus funds or other funding available to make sure that they are creating good paying, career path jobs in the green economy.

I’m also helping them head up this fund they have; it’s a $20 million fund that’s going to leverage about $200 million.

Q: How is the CRA different now from when you started?

A: We can document our performance. We can track our money much better. We have a mission. I think we have transformed this agency’s view of itself beyond just eliminating blight, truly to creating economic opportunities. When I got here it was 212 employees. We’re now at 267, so we went through a great period of growth.

Q: The CRA is considering leaving its Spring Street headquarters. If it does, do you think it’s important for the agency to stay in the Historic Core?

A: Wherever we can keep our investment in our project areas, we should. Sometimes you can’t. Office space is limited. I think the frustration with the [Downtown] office is that we’re in a place we want to stay in, the Historic Core, but there’s just not available space and our current landlord has been extremely difficult to work with.

Q: It’s been reported that there was a dispute between you and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over a plan to move the agency into a different, city-owned building.

A: That’s actually totally inaccurate. We wanted to move into a city-owned building and they didn’t have space for us. We thought Figueroa Plaza would work.

Q: Two years ago, a plan announced by the CRA and the Planning Department to preserve Downtown’s industrial-zoned land created quite a bit of controversy. We haven’t heard much about it in recent months — what happened?

A: What was leading the controversy, the intense pressure for conversion of industrial property to residential, simply disappeared when the residential market caved. The pressure to convert this land is gone.

Q: Speaking of the Industrial District, you helped lead the charge to create a “clean tech corridor” of green businesses there. How much of a setback was it to lose the AnsaldoBreda rail manufacturing deal?

A: It’s a major disappointment. I’m not going to deny that.

It’s because of the mayor’s office that we put so much energy into trying to make this deal happen. I can honestly tell you there’s nothing more the CRA could have done to make that deal happen. But that’s over, and I would doubt very much those guys would ever do business in this town or maybe this whole country again. There are other companies in the clean tech sector that are interested and our staff is pursuing that, and they’re working really, really hard because we have a loan we need to pay off for that property.

Q: What do you think the future holds for the Grand Avenue project?

A: I wouldn’t be surprised if that project is re-framed substantially. It was premised on very high-end condos and a very high-end retail market, and it’s just going to be a long time before I think that business model works. I wouldn’t be surprised if [developer] Related [Companies] comes back and tries to reframe the mix of what that project will be, and I think the Joint Powers Authority will be amenable, within reason.

Q: What will your successor’s greatest challenge be?

A: The state of California and the city of Los Angeles, and the almost irresistible desire to raid every source of funding avail-

able to fill budget deficits. The legislature is in a world of hurt and they now have a $21 billion deficit, and they’re going to go after redevelopment again, I have no doubt. Although we are in a lawsuit fighting their last take, they have no choice.

Likewise, the city of L.A. has in times past turned to the CRA to fill its budget deficits. The challenge for my successor will be to make the argument that we still need to have economic development. There have been bad times for the CRA in the past, but this is unprecedented.

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

The Exit Interview: Cecilia Estolano

by Anna Scott

Downtown News 3

DowntownNews.com

During her three and a half years atop the CRA, Cecilia Estolano saw the agency grow from 212 to 267 employees.

She also saw the AnsaldoBreda rail manufacturing deal come together, then fall apart at the last minute.

4 Downtown News

November 30, 2009

Twitter/DowntownNews

EDITORIALS Take Aim at Target

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rookfield Properties has a unique opportunity, one that could provide a major benefit to Downtown workers and residents: The company is in negotiations with Minneapolis-based megaretailer Target to bring a store to the 7+Fig shopping mall.

This would be a coup for Downtown, and we hope that Brookfield, which has been a responsible and proactive “corporate citizen” since acquiring the mall and the adjacent Ernst & Young office tower in 2006 (as part of its purchase of Trizec Properties), will work aggressively to close the deal. We also hope that any city entities that could facilitate the transaction through incentives or other measures make their presence known in a cooperative manner. The result could be significant not just for shoppers, but also in terms of jobs and in sales tax revenue for empty city coffers.

Los Angeles Downtown News last week reported that Brookfield and Target are in advanced negotiations for the former Macy’s spot at the outdoor shopping mall at Seventh and Figueroa streets. Macy’s closed its store earlier this year, freeing up about 125,000 square feet of space. The average size for a

Target, said a company official, is 128,000 square feet. A related option is to also use the 80,000 square feet in the mall that once held Bullocks.

There is a big difference between advanced negotiations and a completed deal. We suspect Target is still in the midst of conducting its due diligence, trying to make sure the Downtown demographics (now and in the future) will support such an investment.

Plenty of issues need to be hammered out, including parking and how customers would get their carts to their cars, a matter that was raised when Target looked at the Bullocks spot about three years ago. But Target made awkward parking work at its Pasadena store on Colorado Boulevard, and the problem could be solved here, too. They should be confident that the draw is that strong.

The deal is not done, and hopeful deals not completed have a way of dissipating into so much hopeless smoke. But Downtown stakeholders and residents have an intense desire to bring the retailer in. For obvious reasons, so does Brookfield.

Target’s benefits would be felt on multiple levels. On the practical side, it would deliver to Downtown the major mid-priced

retail option that it currently lacks. Although Downtown has numerous entities that sell some of what Target proffers, the store’s combination of breadth of merchandise, affordability, brand recognition and mass appeal would fill an enormous niche. It would be a strong addition (as well as competition) to the clothing stores, electronics options and drugstores already in Downtown. It would also add housewares, which is largely missing from the community. All told, it would have an instant customer base in the tens of thousands of people who live Downtown and the hundreds of thousands who work here.

A Target would also help fill a retail hole that is deepening a few blocks south. The L.A. Central project, east of Staples Center and L.A. Live, has encountered serious financial hurdles, and its New York-based developer now faces the threat of foreclosure.

This was supposed to be the major retail engine of South Park, and the project had received entitlements for 250,000 square feet of shopping space. The uncertain situation coupled with the ongoing recession means a project in that location may not get off the ground for years, and that if or when it does, it could be in a completely different format. Target would be well positioned to fill some of that gap.

There are intangible benefits as well. In certain ways, Target “validates” the communi-

ties it enters. In this regard, a store could send the most important economic message about Downtown since the Ralphs supermarket debuted in 2007. We recognize that there is an unlikely aspect to this line of thinking, and most everyone in the area understands that Downtown will not suddenly prosper or be a “better” place the day a Target opens.

Instead, Target’s impact on the psychological front will be for those who live and work outside the area, and the people who still look askance at Downtown. An investment from Target would again send a signal to the diminishing number of doubters that Downtown is healthy and safe enough to support this kind of business. Retailers traditionally follow trends, and this would help deliver the message that the community is, for lack of a better word, “ready.” A Target might have a similar effect on those considering moving Downtown.

Brookfield has been a strong addition to Downtown. At 7+Fig, it has created a community friendly arts program, offering numerous free dance and other thought-provoking performances. The company clearly understands that it has a responsibility to do more than just collect rent. This is partly why we hope they will continue to be aggressive.

Target would be an important addition to Downtown. We hope all parties work to make the deal happen, and soon.

Convention Center Needs Pricing Flexibility

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very so often, we come across a situation that seems so ridiculous that we wonder why it has not been fixed. The latest of these head-scratchers concerns the Los Angeles Convention Center and the way it prices space for those booking trade shows, business meetings and other gatherings.

Due to a quirk in the city administrative code, Convention Center staff currently has no flexibility on price when it comes to wooing potential clients. Whether it is the busiest or the slowest time of the year, whether the halls are mostly full or virtually empty, the building charges $.32 per square foot.

The situation drew scorching criticism in a September audit from Controller Wendy Greuel.

The pricing set-up is a holdover from decades ago, and why

it has not been challenged before, we have no idea. Too many things in city bureaucracy are a mystery.

All of which is why we are pleased to hear that efforts have begun to allow the Convention Center to engage in “demand-based pricing.” This would enable officials to charge up to 50% more or 50% less than that $.32 a square foot. If this goes though, don’t expect higher prices to come into play too frequently — the flexibility will mostly be used to woo meetings and events from regional groups that before the recession might have gone to Las Vegas or other glittery locales, but are now looking to save money.

This would not impact the biggest shows at the Convention Center, the so-called “citywide conventions” that book years in advance and fill thousands of nights in

the region’s hotels (those are booked by L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors bureau). Still, bringing in these pharmaceutical meetings and other gatherings could have a big impact on the bottom line. It would be beneficial for the Convention Center itself, and would enhance the revenue streams of area hotels, restaurants, service businesses and numerous other entities.

The City Council should move quickly on the motion to adopt demand-based pricing. If approved and signed, it would begin a three-year pilot program for the practice. That would be a smart step, and that time period should allow officials to ensure that the system works as anticipated and truly can make the Convention Center competitive.

Amazing that this hasn’t happened before.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A.DowntownNews

twitter: DowntownNews

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: 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.

One copy per person.

November 30, 2009

Downtown News 5

Opinion

The Readers Have Their Say

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Website Comments on Target, the Police Headquarters and L.A. Live

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os Angeles Downtown News posts comments to stories on our website. Here are some of the most recent responses.

Additional comments appear on downtownnews.com (comments follow individual articles).

Further responses are welcome.

things Target sells aren’t one of them.

—posted by Justin Sullivan, Nov. 20, 4:19 p.m.

Regarding the Nov. 16 column “Hurricane Carmen,” about new City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, by Jon Regardie

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hat I find interesting is that the writer didn’t state whether or not his record is in fact 27-0. Did Trutanich drop cases that he felt he could not win? Were they highly difficult cases? Did he handle these cases from start to finish, or were they the remnants of the prior administration? As in all politics (and reporting), one can always change the figures to one’s favor. It may not be Rockyville but it still smells the same.

—posted by E. Wood, Nov. 17, 4:42 p.m.

Regarding the Nov. 20 story “Targeting Target,” about the retailer’s negotiations at 7+Fig, by Richard Guzmán

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’ve been pining for a Target in DTLA for the last five years or so. I live in Alhambra, and Alhambra is another city within 10 miles of a Target. However, if there were a Target in DTLA, I would go there before work, on my way home or during lunch. It would be a huge convenience for all who live, work and play in DTLA, not to mention all our tourists. Target really needs to make it work.

—posted by Ortega, Nov. 20, 2:25 p.m.

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here’s something about “throwing council members in the pokey” that is absolutely hysterical. Thanks for my laugh of the day. I loved it.

—posted by Barbara Hamaker, Nov. 19, 5:26 p.m.

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s a current DTLA resident and frequent patron to existing shops/restaurants currently in 7+Fig, the addition of a Target in my opinion is much needed and overdue.

Target — come & hurry!

—posted by BVH, Nov. 20, 3:00 p.m.

Regarding the Nov. 16 editorial “Gold Line Payoff,” about the new light rail line connecting Downtown with East Los Angeles

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just told about 10 people that work with me. Everyone had the biggest smile and gleaming eyes. Go Target go!

—posted by Mish, Nov. 20, 4:10 p.m.

he Eastside Extension is not a fair use of taxpayer dollars. The majority of Los Angeles still needs an alternative to the 405, the 10 and more. These far east communities want to take even more funding for the Foothill Extension, slowing progress on the completion of the Expo and Purple Line. The Foothill Extension will take precedence over

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would love to have a Target so close. Living Downtown has a great many advantages, but affordable home wares and all the other

rail to the San Fernando Valley and other parts of “main” Los Angeles, leaving millions stuck on the freeways for another 20-30 years.

—posted by YS, Nov. 15, 1:59 a.m.

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he Eastside Extension is an extremely fair use of taxpayer dollars. People who live in Boyle Heights and East L.A. pay taxes.

They pay property taxes and sales taxes and income taxes. They deserve mass transit service. Even the people in the far east communities do, but they’ll have to wait in line behind the Expo Line and the Purple Line to (at least) Westwood. It’s the Westside’s turn next.

—posted by Scott, Nov. 16, 11:30 a.m.

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urple line to the Westside! Now that’ll be a real east-to-west connection. Finally, a real train system in L.A. Can’t wait for the Expo Line.

—posted by Jose, Nov. 18, 2:33 p.m.

Regarding the Nov. 16 editorial “Don’t Call It the Bratton Building,” about the new LAPD headquarters

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t should be named after former Mayor Jim Hahn, who had the political courage to make the necessary changes to the LAPD, including the decision to hire Bill Bratton.

Hahn spent a lifetime in service to the city of Los Angeles, and no one has done more over a 24-year career for the LAPD and the city.

—posted by Bernie, Nov. 16, 11:02 a.m.

Regarding the Nov. 6 downtownnews. com news item “L.A. Live Mega Project Plans Mega Expansion”

his is awesome news! I am very excited.

Finally, our Downtown is starting to take shape and to catch up to the rest of the country. Let’s embrace this wonderful project and help our Downtown to become more vibrant and a better place to stay, visit, and enjoy time in together.

—posted by Alek F., Nov. 9, 8:14 a.m.

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hat about the retail component?

When is a developer going to think about retail? L.A. Live is great... for eating. The big hopes for Seventh Street have brought some food and a Walgreens. Big deal. What about retail shopping?

—posted by Clark Woolford, Nov. 9, 8:19 p.m.

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agree there needs to be some retail stores and more affordable restaurants. This would help AEG attract the locals and not just out-of-towners or tourists. This would also help add a little more life to the area, not just when there is a game or concert.

The movie theater is great, but parking to see a movie should be reduced from $5 to $2.

—posted by Dell, Nov. 10, 7:15 p.m.

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agree with everyone’s comments. Retail would be really great to mix in with the restaurants, sporting events, concerts and movies. I would really love to see something like Best Buy, Target and Barnes & Noble.

Also, I agree with Dell about the movie theater parking. They already charge an arm and a leg for a ticket, plus your other arm and leg for the popcorn, drinks, candy, etc. Why not make parking free with movie validation? Lastly, the hotel will be a must.

This will help bring more business to the Convention Center. It will truly be an allaround great destination for any purpose while also catering to the local residents.

—posted by Solecal310, Nov. 11, 1:47 p.m.

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DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 7

An Infrastructure Inspection Official Calls for Review of Downtown’s Aging Systems

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

D

owntown Los Angeles is one of the oldest parts of the city. It has the infrastructure to match.

Many of Downtown’s streets, sidewalks, streetlights, storm drains, sewers and water lines date back to L.A.’s early expansion, in the early to mid-1900s or even before that, city officials say. While no major recent disasters have occurred due to the age of Downtown’s systems, one City Council member is warning of potential problems if the current infrastructure is left unchecked.

“You have a great uptick in population down here in the last 10 years,” said Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose Ninth District encompasses most of Downtown. “We need to start forecasting for the future in terms of infrastructure rehabilitation and construction, new sewer lines, things like that.”

The City Council’s Public Works Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 2, is scheduled to consider a motion from Perry asking the Public Works Department and the Department of Water and Power to inspect the condition of Downtown’s water, power and other networks. In her motion, Perry cites past problems such as sewer leaks and power outages in Downtown.

If the plan is ultimately approved by the full Council and signed by the mayor, the city Department of Public Works and the DWP would prepare a long-term plan for improvements.

Public Works officials say that they have already done extensive studies of Downtown’s systems, and that most of them, while old, are in relatively good shape.

“Age is only one indicator,” said Adel Hagekhalil, assistant general manager of sanitation for Public Works. “It doesn’t mean that because a sewer is old, it’s bad.”

Storms and Sewers Downtown stakeholders say that some of the area’s infrastructure shows its age.

“We do have some significant infrastructure issues,” said Kent Smith, executive director of the business improvement district that operates in the Fashion District. “One of the challenges at the top of the list is storm drainage.”

Certain intersections in the Fashion District, Smith said, regularly flood when it rains, including Seventh and Los Angeles streets, 12th and Crocker streets and Los Angeles Street and Pico Boulevard.

“When we get those downpours,” he said, “we get a lot of damage.”

Hagekhalil agreed that Downtown’s storm drains could be improved and named a few additional locations where flooding has been a problem, including 12th and Santee streets and Fourth and Main streets. The issue, he said, is that much of Downtown’s 58-mile, 67-year-old (on average) storm drain system was not built to accommodate dense urban development or the kind of heavy runoff created by the trash from garment, toy and other modern businesses.

“If you redevelop an area that was not intended to be redeveloped,” he said, “then more runoff and flow comes together faster than before, because it’s a smaller drain and a lot more paving.”

Downtown’s problematic storm drains, said Hagekhalil, are on a list of approximately 400 priority projects that need attention citywide. The necessary repairs would cost about $1 million per drain, he said, which is not currently available.

For now, Public Works staff have been regularly cleaning Downtown’s drains to prevent flooding, Hagekhalil said.

Perry, in her motion, also charged that Downtown’s aging sewer systems — which according to Public Works officials have an average age of 89 years, compared to the citywide average of 62 — have been responsible for leaks that have polluted local waterways.

Hagekhalil counters that while there have been Downtown sewer leaks in the past, the area’s sewer system has been extensively repaired in the last 10 years. For example, he said, between 1992 and 2004, Public Works built an entirely new system under Figueroa Street from Second Street to Staples Center.

“The system performance Downtown is much better than the citywide performance,” said Hagekhalil. “Over the last eight years, we have reduced spills by about 84%. Last year we had 11 spills in Downtown as compared to in 2000, when it was 67.”

Trees and Electricity Other infrastructure problems are relatively minor.

Smith, for example, said that tree roots have damaged sidewalks in several spots in the Fashion District, including the intersection where Spring and Main streets converge.

In South Park, streetlights regularly go out, said South Park BID Executive Director Mike Pfeiffer, especially along Grand Avenue and Hope Street.

The DWP, through a spokesperson, declined to comment until Perry’s motion is heard in committee.

The proposal that goes before the Public Works Committee

on Wednesday would likely take a few months to reach the full council. It could take approximately a year to conduct the inspections, Perry said, and improvements would take place over 10 years.

When those improvements happen, said Perry, would depend partly on funding — which could be a challenge, particularly with the city facing a massive budget deficit.

“There is federal funding for road rehab and repaving, street lighting, some of these things we can compete for funds with the federal government,” said Perry. “It’s not necessarily about always having the money, but it’s a matter of prioritization.”

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

The sidewalks at Spring and Main streets in the Fashion District have suffered from tree damage.

8 Downtown News

November 30, 2009

Twitter/DowntownNews Central has upped its enforcement against aggressive panhandling. When someone gives money to a panhandler out of fear, it’s a robbery, Chow said.

“I believe these quality of life crimes are a root cause of some of the more serious crime,” Chow said. “A lot of our aggravated assaults in Skid Row are a result of people drinking on the street, getting drunk and getting into an altercation.”

Historically, when it came to drinking in public in Skid Row, officers often ordered people to pour out their open containers, opting not to spend time and resources making an arrest. Lately, Skid Row cops have put a renewed focus on enforcing public drunkenness laws, as those arrests are up 57%, from 738 last year at this time to 1,160 so far in 2009.

There has been a similar crackdown on other quality of life crimes. Prostitution arrests are up 700%, from 4 to 32, and liquor law arrests, including violations by stores selling alcohol to intoxicated customers, are up 228%, from 43 to 141.

Central’s focus on low-level misdemeanors started in September 2006, with the Safer Cities Initiative. While the effort has been largely praised by businesses and many social service providers, it also provoked rabid criticism from civil rights advocates, most prominently the Los Angeles Community Action Network.

The group reached out to Chow this year after learning of his pledge to strengthen ties with area organizations. Although Becky Dennison, the group’s executive director, could not be reached by press time, Chow said he has met with LA CAN about three times. He said they have fundamentally different philosophies on Skid Row policing,

Crime Continued from page 1 officers provide an extra layer of security in the area. “But Capt. Chow has really made an effort to have his staff talk to us and open up the lines of communication more.”

Estela Lopez, executive director of the Central City East Association, which oversees operations of two Skid Row area BIDs, said that her group’s relationship has improved drastically over the past three years, starting with former Central Capt. Andy Smith. That trend continued under Wakefield, but Chow has taken it to another level, Lopez said.

“We’re not just at the table,” she said.

“We’re part of the conversation.”

The partnership boils down to a culture of sharing information, Lopez said. When, for example, a car is stolen in one part of Downtown, Central officers inform the local BIDs of the incident and provide a description of the vehicle. That could help BID officers who discover an abandoned auto tie it to a crime, and they could contact the police instead of having the car towed.

Enforce to Prevent Beyond the improved community partnerships and better communication — Chow also emails a weekly crime update to more than 200 individuals and organizations — Central has been even more proactive enforcing low-level crimes such as drinking in public and aggressive panhandling. The focus on so-called “quality of life” crimes is meant to prevent more serious incidents that can stem from minor offenses, Chow said.

In the Financial District, for example,

Central Division Crime, Year to Date Through Nov. 14 VIOLENT CRIMES

YTD 2009

YTD 2008

% Change

YTD 2009

YTD 2007

% Change

HOMICIDE

4

4

0%

4

7

-43%

RAPE

31

38

-18%

31

27

15%

ROBBERY

437

462

-5%

437

399

10%

AGGRAVATED ASSULTS

386

436

-11%

386

534

-28%

TOTAL VIOLENT

858

940

-9%

858

967

-11%

YTD 2009

YTD 2008

% Change

YTD 2009

YTD 2007

% Change

BURGLARY

211

270

-22%

211

218

-3%

AUTO THEFT

280

369

-24%

280

378

-26%

BURGLARY/THEFT FROM VEHICLE 686

696

-1%

686

655

5%

PERSONAL/OTHER THEFT

1186

1200

-1%

1186

1109

7%

TOTAL PROPERTY

2363

2535

-7%

2363

2360

0%

TOTAL PART I

3221

3475

-7%

3221

3327

-3%

PROPERTY CRIMES

statistics provided by Los Angeles Police Department

but he did take the group’s advice on two issues.

Since meeting with the group, Chow has increased mental illness evaluation training for SCI officers. Chow said he also is in the process of developing a computer-based class to educate officers on the various court cases and legal settlements from the past few years that have regulated law enforcement in Skid Row. “There are unique things to Downtown that over the years have accumulated and need to get passed from generation to generation, and there has been no way to take the institutional knowledge that builds up and apply itself to new people,” Chow said.

The increased focus on communication also seems to apply within Central Division itself: Since Chow took over, he has implemented a streamlined operations system that

ensures that officers on the streets are tuned in to the problems outlined in weekly crime control meetings.

Whereas in the past, officers were aware of specific problems in the community, now they are assigned to one of three problems tagged for that week, Chow said. They are also required to fill out a report that tracks their focus on the problem, logging the number of encounters, arrests, and how much time they spend on the issue.

“I don’t use this to tell people they didn’t do enough in one problem area,” Chow said.

“It just gives me some sense of comfort that you know we’re spending X minutes on this one problem, whereas if you didn’t have a system, how do you really know?”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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10 Downtown News

Restaurant Buzz

Toy District

All the Latest Updates on Downtown Food Arrivals,Upgrades and Specials

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

H

appy Countdown: In the effort to add a little more excitement to Happy Hour, LA Prime restaurant, the steakhouse on the 34th floor of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, is turning the rotating BonaVista Lounge into a ticking time clock of fun. The restaurant just kicked off its PrimeTime deals, a new set of drink and food specials. Top-shelf well drinks, wines by the glass and craft beers will go for $5 a glass at 5 p.m., then shoot up to $6 at 6 p.m. and $7 at 7 p.m. It’s back to normal prices at 8 p.m. Menu items like Jody Maroni sausages, hot wings, firecracker shrimp quesadillas and pizzas for two will be priced at the same hourly scale.

At 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 612-4743 or thebonaventure.com.

Check Out Checkers: Checkers Downtown has just completed a months-long renovation that included upgrades to the dining room, patio and lounge. The updated look in the fine dining establishment in the Hilton Checkers hotel is a mixture of vintage and con-

temporary styles with lots of ivory, black and brown all around. The new look has inspired some new menu items, such as Gilroy roasted garlic and fava bean agnolotti, and a herb-crusted rack of lamb.

The restaurant’s Thursday evening happy hour events from 4-8 p.m. are back too, with a roster of sponsored spirits headlining each week.

At 535 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-0000 or hiltoncheckers.com.

The 7-Eleven of Wine: It may be a dangerous concept, or maybe just dangerously brilliant. Either way, Restaurant Buzz plans on earning the Buzz name with a visit to Swill Automatic wine bar when it opens at 1820 Industrial St. in the Biscuit Company Lofts. Taking a cue from the 7-Eleven soft drink dispensers, Swill will offer patrons a chance to pour their own wines from a machine similar to beer draft machines. An opening date has not been announced, but once it arrives thirsty customers can sample different wines.

Presumably you can even try a 7-Eleven style “suicide,” where you mix a little bit from all of the drinks into one glass. No wait, that sounds disgusting.

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Continued from page 1 improvement district, an organization supported by assessments levied on local landlords. The funds paid for cleaning, security and other services for the neighborhood.

Workers from the BID have regularly hauled more than five tons of garbage daily from the area, Lopez has said. While the BID is technically only responsible for removing pedestrian trash and not commercial refuse, BID workers have long taken care of both, Lopez said.

Last year the CCEA could not rally the support to renew the Toy District BID for another five-year term starting in 2010 (the months-long renewal process requires signatures from property owners representing at least 50% of the District’s land). Many landlords cited the poor economy and a dip in the rental market, saying they could not afford the annual dues, which range from a few hundred to more than $100,000.

Now, with the BID’s last days approaching, the roughly $500,000 annual budget is dwindling and BID workers have stopped removing the area’s commercial trash, Lopez said. That has resulted in the current pileup, though the problem is not confined to the Toy District alone — nearby neighborhoods are also feeling the consequences.

“We do get some unscrupulous merchants trying to move their trash into the district and expecting us to pick it up for them,” said Fashion District BID Executive Director Kent Smith. “It’s unfortunate because when the Toy District goes dark, it’s adjacent to some key parts of the city…. Those areas will feel the impacts.”

Challenges The Toy District occupies a 12-block area bounded by Third, Fifth, San Pedro and Los Angeles streets. While the area once specialized in wholesale toys and dolls, today it houses more than 900 merchants offering everything from jewelry to electronics to underwear.

Several factors have contributed to the district’s trash problem. Stores receive large shipments of merchandise, and some business owners dump the packing materials on the streets at the end of each day, assum-

ing the city will take care of it. Additionally, many of the district’s cramped shops reside in larger, subdivided storefronts and do not have ready access to alleys or other areas large enough to hold dumpsters.

Amid the garbage flow on a busy afternoon, as crowds of shoppers passed by food vendors selling everything from hot dogs to ice cream to fruit, some merchants agreed that the garbage has become problematic in recent months. Still, many seemed only vaguely familiar with the BID. “I don’t know why, there’s just too much garbage,” said Reza Amin of Eureka Traders at Los Angeles and Winston streets, where the overstuffed blue garbage bags and pile of trash sat right outside his door. Amin said he does not throw garbage in the street and instead deposits his trash in a dumpster behind his building. He disagreed with Lopez’s charge that businesses are primarily responsible for the problem.

“Businesses do have a lot of trash,” he said, “but they are cardboard-related. They get picked up right away.”

A couple of blocks away, near Los Angeles and Fifth streets, Peter Leung, manager of the children’s accessory store iwonder, said he has noticed the garbage increasing in recent months but was unclear who had removed it before.

“Before, they had people come with a cart every hour,” he said. “Now, especially after the weekend, you see all the trash.”

There has been a widespread lack of understanding among Toy District landlords and business owners about the role of the BID, Lopez said.

“The merchants there don’t understand who we are and what we do because their landlords have told them we are their garbage disposal,” she said. “Some merchants have come out in a rage that [BID workers] are not taking their trash.”

Lopez said she has scheduled a meeting for Dec. 10 to discuss the situation with local landlords, and although she plans to pass out leaflets, she is not sure if anyone will show up.

Three weeks later, she noted, the service will end, and after that, the already bad problem will likely get worse.

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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An estimated crowd of 75,000 was on hand to celebrate Sunday, November 15 as rail returned to East LA with the opening of the Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension. The six-mile extension serves the Little Tokyo/Arts District, Boyle Heights, East LA and links to the existing Gold Line to Pasadena. Find out more at metro.net.

Breaking Metro News Online At “The Source” Now you can get instant updates on the issues and actions that keep LA County moving.

Just go to “The Source,” a real-time online news and feature service that is updated throughout the day on developments that a=ect Metro’s projects and services. Look for it today at metro.net.

Go Gold Line to The Roses Trade the tra;c and parking hassles of attending the Rose Parade for the fast and convenient Metro Gold Line. The Memorial Park, Del Mar, Lake and Allen stations are all just a short walk from the parade route. The Gold Line runs overnight New Year’s Eve. Find out more at metro.net.

Find Unique Gifts At The Metro Store Online Exclusive rail posters, one-of-a-kind commemorative lapel pins and other authentic Metro merchandise is available by shopping the Metro Store online at metro.net.

Whether it’s that special gift for out-of-town friends or just something to set you apart from the crowd, you’ll >nd it at the Metro Store.

Help The Census Help Transit Make sure you’re counted during the upcoming 2010 U.S. Census. Population >gures generated by the census play a key role in the amount of federal funding Metro receives for transit purposes. The more accurate the census count, the more service Metro can provide. For more information, go to census.gov.

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

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November 30, 2009

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by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

F

or better or worse, it’s the holiday season, and gifts are in order. That means there’s something in it for you (assuming you’ve been nice and not naughty). But you’ve got to give to get.

For those who recoil at the thought of going shopping, toting bags and swiping plastic, the good news is that if you venture to the Historic Core, you don’t have to leave the neighborhood to check off everyone on your list. It’s a great place to pick up a book, a skirt, a bottle of fancy English shaving gel, or a starter classical guitar for less than $30.

Apliiq: This shop run by Ethan Lipsitz specializes in casual clothing — think hoodies, T-shirts and cardigans — tailored specifically to a customer’s taste.

Hanging on racks are basic garments with various patches and details added from an array of fabrics and patterns, from seersucker stripes to plaids to African prints. But if you like a certain item, say a gray hoodie, and want some red seersucker fabric on the front pocket instead of the marinethemed pattern on the piece on the rack, you can order it. Custom T-shirts (crew, V-neck, deep V-neck) go for $29. Cardigans and crew sweatshirts are $54 and hoodies are $68. Cotton tank dresses and T-shoulder dresses are $38, and an array of other accessories, including shoes and homemade cell phone pouches, can be fashioned in the same style. Downtown residents get a 15% discount.

At 548 S. Spring St., Store 114, (323) 300-6492 or apliiq.com.

Bolt: “Mohawk” Matt Berman isn’t shy about the fact that Bolt, his new barbershop, is mostly for men, or men and women who like their heads shorn and not styled, mohawked and not layered. The cutters at Bolt rarely pick up scissors; instead they’re masters of the fade with the buzzer. The place is sort of a haven for those with a hankering for that old barbershop feel and experience. A $50 gift card — excuse me, a “Hairy Beast” card — will get its recipient a shear (haircut), a “four towel” straight edge shave and a shoeshine.

Independently, shears and shaves run $22 each, and a shine is $7, or $12 for boots. As customers wait, the Hairy Beast card entitles them to unlimited espresso drinks, old-fashioned orange

photo by Gary Leonard

Bolt, a new old-fashioned barbershop on Spring Street, is a haven for the “hairy beast” in your life.

soda or root beer on tap.

At 460 S. Spring St., (213) 595-3424 or boltbarbers.com.

Kapsoul: This eclectic, vintage boutique loves the 1980s and the early 1990s. That’s why amid the thousands of used records and racks of vintage clothes, there’s an Alf doll, Casio calculator watches ($80) and customized boom boxes ($220). Among the used records (they go for $3-$20) is an array of jazz, rock and hip hop albums. Look for classic titles from artists including Heavy D and the Boys, the Tom Tom Club, the Sugar Hill Gang and Chubby Checker.

At 548 S. Spring St., Store 110, (213) 243-5765 or kapsoulstore.com.

Metropolis Books: This Historic Core home for bibliophiles has a store-wide 10% off sale (it’s in part to celebrate their third anniversary, but they do the sale every year, owner Julie Swayze said). For friends and family in love with Downtown, Swayze stocks a Historic Core history book, which sells for $21.99 (before the sale). There’s also currently a section dedicated to snark. It includes Stuff White People Like, based on the popular blog, for $14; David Sedaris’ collection of stories (one previously unpublished), Holidays On Ice, for $16.99; and The Snark Handbook: A Reference Guide to Verbal Spanking,

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Kapsoul offers Alf dolls, boom boxes and many other items dating from the 1980s or early ’90s.

for $12.95. Swayze also stocks books for kids and books by Downtown authors.

Historic Core resident Dana Johnson’s Break Any Woman Down, a collection of short stories, is a strong seller, Swayze said. There are cookbooks too, and yes, the store is stocked with Julia Child’s Mastering the Art ($30).

At 440 S. Main St., (213) 612-0174 or metropolisbooksla.com.

M&E Discount Center #2: M&E Discount Center looks and sounds like much of the street level retail on Broadway in the Historic Core. Ranchera and salsa music thumps through the myriad home audio systems for sale (you can get the CDs too), the mechanical dog toys yip about the storefront and the stock includes a variety of products from cell phones to blenders to flat screens.

But M&E is also a great spot to shop for that friend who keeps saying he or she wants to learn how to play the guitar, or most any other stringed instrument.

Starter classical guitars go for $29.99, and while they won’t sound like much to the trained ear, they’re perfect for the beginner. Also available is a starter mandolin, for $69.99, and an array of accordions.

Most are painted to resemble a Mexican flag and prices vary.

At 450 S. Broadway, (213) 687-7226.

Raw Materials: For the artist in the family, Raw Materials, an art and architecture supplies store, is a gold mine — make that a canvas mine. The store, which carries all the essentials for fine art making, is currently hawking canvases at a 70% discount. That means an 18- by 24-inch canvas is $5.01 and a 16- by 20-inch version is $3.96. Also featured during the holiday season are a series of Art Alternatives black sketch notebooks (they come lined, graphed or plain) with 192 pages for $3, down from $10. Other options include a nifty bar of soap, specially formulated for paint on the fingers, for $4.13, and spiral-bound sketchbooks fashioned from old classic and obscure tomes.

What looks like Tom Sawyer or the Better Homes and Gardens Meat Cook Book is actually filled with blank pages interspersed with a few from the original hardback.

At 436 S. Main St., (213) 627-7223 or rawmaterialsla.com.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

November 30, 2009

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

CALENDAR EN

r e l a d n n d o Joey in W

Performance Artist and Puppeteer Team Up for a Run at REDCAT photo by Steve Menendez

Joey Arias navigates a nightmarish Garden of Eden in Arias With a Twist. The show that was launched in New York in 2008 is an amalgamation of musical theater and puppetry.

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

I

n the space of less that two hours on a recent night, Joey Arias was abducted by aliens, dropped from a spaceship into a nightmarish Garden of Eden and literally danced with the devil. All this occurred while the tall New Yorker was decked out in a corset and strappy high-heeled shoes, channeling divas from Bettie Page to Billie Holiday.

Such is the life of a modern, puppet-loving showman.

It is all part of Arias With a Twist, currently running at the Music Center’s REDCAT theater. The collaboration between cross-dressing singer-performance artist Arias and puppeteer Basil Twist combines concert performance, musical theater and puppetry to tell a winding, cabaret singer-in-wonderland story. “It’s a love letter to the arts,� Arias said a few hours before a recent performance, his rapid-fire speech very different from his languorous onstage delivery. “I’m a singer-performer, Basil is a master puppeteer. You put it together and you have something new and magical.�

Arias With a Twist defies easy description. The curtain rises on four intricate marionettes posed as a supper club jazz quartet: a miniature horn player, drummer, pianist and bassist. Moments later, another curtain opens to reveal Arias, dressed in a dominatrix-style lingerie outfit by fashion designer Thierry Manfred Mugler (who conceptualized the show’s costumes). He is strapped to a rotating wheel and surrounded by alien puppets. As the aliens curiously crowd around him, Arias belts out Led Zepplin’s “Kashmir� in a throaty voice.

The next hour-plus brings a series of similarly surreal, eyepopping and often funny scenes built on Arias’ performances of mostly pop, rock and jazz standards, and accented by his sassy narration. There are appearances by a pair of towering, dirtydancing red devil puppets, a floating ice cream cone and a giant rotating wedding cake adorned with kicking puppet legs.

Twist, who created the puppets and directed and designed

the show, said that while they might seem an unlikely pair, collaborating with Arias came naturally. “We come from the same pool, which is this downtown world,� he said, referring to their shared roots in New York’s underground art scene. “Joey can be alone onstage and totally transport an audience to another world just by the force of his presence. What I do is manifest that and make that threedimensional.�

Natural Collaboration Arias, who refuses to give his age (though published reports say that he is 60), is a New York art world fixture who boasts a long resume of theater, film and television credits. Known for his dead-on Billie Holiday impersonation, he is a commanding onstage presence, with a long black ponytail, heavily lined eyes with exaggerated lashes and a curvy, female bodysuit attached to his torso.

Twist, who made his name with a 1998 “underwater� staging of Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique� featuring puppets in a 500-gallon aquarium, has created many productions. He has also furnished puppets for the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Houston Grand Opera.

Arias With a Twist was conceived nearly two years ago, after Arias had just returned to New York following a stint as the “mistress of seduction� in Cirque du Soleil’s adults-only Las Vegas show Zumanity. Twist at that time had a cancellation at the Manhattan theater he operates. He invited Arias to work with him on a replacement.

The two longtime friends and admirers of each other’s work had never collaborated before. “When people see the show, they say it must’ve taken years,�

Arias said. But in fact, Arias With a Twist is the product of an intense, improvised brainstorming session that lasted just a few months. The process began by compiling a list of songs that Arias would perform, culled from past performances, and continued with the two men creating a rough outline of the images and scenes that could accompany the music.

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“It was very organic and intuitive,� said Twist. “It was remarkable how fast it came together. It was good because you couldn’t think about it too much, and that was the right spirit for it.�

Surprise Hit Arias With a Twist premiered in June 2008. Though originally scheduled for a three-week run, it ended up running for two sold-out months, Arias said, thanks in part to a glowing New York Times review by theater critic Ben Brantley.

The show has since gone to locales including Sweden and France. The Downtown Los Angeles installment, which began Nov. 18 and will run through Dec. 13, marks an unusually long engagement for REDCAT, which typically books performances for just a weekend or two. “It is such an elaborate and magical show that it seemed a waste to put so much effort into mounting it for a short run,� said REDCAT Executive Director Mark Murphy, who pursued the show after seeing it in New York. “It is also the sort of event that can’t be described with mere words, yet appeals to an amazing cross-section of people from the art, fashion, theater, music, entertainment and club scenes.�

In addition to Arias and Twist, the show requires six puppeteers, a stage manager, a sound engineer and a backstage helper. Despite all this, Arias said he has not had any trouble interacting onstage with string-operated beings. “I believe in them,� he said. “I look at them, and even if it’s a piece of paper with a string on it, I believe there’s a spirit to it.�

Twist said that Arias is uniquely suited to immerse himself in the fantasy of the show. “He is a creature,� said Twist. “Is he a man? Is he a woman?

Is he a human being? He is a living thing and a creature of the stage, genetically engineered to perform.�

That, he said, makes for a perfect fit.

Arias With a Twist runs through Dec. 13 at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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14 Downtown News

November 30, 2009

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Auto Show Continued from page 1 unveiling of the last of the Dodge Vipers.

“I think we’re seeing a lot of excitement and energy around this show and that’s visible in the amount of new product the manufacturers are unveiling,” said Brendan Flynn, director of communications for the Auto Show.

Green Scene The Auto Show is one of the most popular events on the Convention Center calendar. It features about 1,000 cars displayed by approximately 40 manufacturers. It fills the entire Convention Center.

Manufacturers set up their vehicles to show the public what will be on sale in the upcoming year. Most also offer a chance to sit in the cars, though some of the more pricey and exotic models are on display for viewing pleasure only.

The show also includes panel discussions on automotive topics, as well as contests.

Not surprisingly, a focus of this year’s show will be on environmentally friendly vehicles. The Green Car of the Year Award, which recognizes automobiles that are available to consumers during the year, will be announced Dec. 3. Nominees include the Audi A3 TDI, VW’s Golf TDI, the Honda Insight, the Toyota Prius and the Mercury Milan hybrid, an upscale, mid-size sedan.

“For me personally, just having been able to witness the importance of environmental stewardship in auto manu-

facturing has been fascinating,” said Pouria Abbassi, general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Every year we get new cars that push the limit in terms of environmental technology. It’s just exciting to see that manufacturers are realizing what the populace is looking for.”

There are downsides this year. Infinity and Nissan both pulled out of the 2009 show (though Flynn said Nissan plans to return in 2010).

Still, there will be plenty to see. World debuts will be unveiled from manufacturers including Audi, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Porsche and Toyota.

Small cars will again have a strong presence at the show, with the debut of the new Ford Fiesta, the Mazda 2 and the Chevy Cruze. All are expected to get close to 40 miles per gallon fuel efficiency.

“The small, four-cylinder, fuel-efficient car is going to continue to be popular,” Flynn said.

Fuel efficiency will not be the only thing on the minds of car enthusiasts prowling the South Park complex. They will also be looking for speed, which will come into play with the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder.

Hailed as the lightest production Porsche, the $61,000 convertible comes in at 176 pounds lighter than the Boxter S and with 320 horsepower. What this means is it can hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and top out at 166 mph with the top down. If you can catch one, it goes on sale in February.

“Sport car enthusiasts are really excited about this car,” Flynn said.

What a Concept Among the biggest draws every year are the concept cars.

This year, the glimpse of the future includes more than a dozen vehicles. For almost all of them, the theme again is green.

“We’re seeing a lot of forward-looking technology,” Flynn said. “You’re really seeing the future of the automobile at this year’s show more than any other year, and you’re seeing a lot of products responding to environmental concerns.”

Among the vehicles on display will be the Audi E-Tron, an all-electric car with four motors and a lithium-ion battery pack and 313 horsepower. Also showing will be the bulletshaped VW L1 plug-in hybrid, which will push the boundaries of fuel efficiency with its reported 179 miles per gallon driven by a diesel-electric engine. The two-seater has a range of more than 400 miles.

BMW’s eye-catching Vision EfficientDynamics delivers 62 miles per gallon and has a top speed of 155 mph.

Although it will draw crowds, it probably will not eclipse one of the entire show’s most anticipated, and also most secretive debuts: Honda’s Personal-Neo Urban Transport, or P-NUT for short.

Honda says it will “demonstrate a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupe.” But so far, the company has yet to even release a picture.

“No one has seen photos of it. I’m assuming it’s a small transportation pod-type thing for an individual’s urban transportation,” Flynn said.

There is only one way to find out for sure what it looks like.

The L.A. Auto Show runs Dec. 4-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. More information at laautoshow.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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F r e e P a r k i n g

November 30, 2009

Thursday, dec. 3 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

7 p.m.: Author Susan Griffin speaks with Aloud curator Louise Steinman on her latest work, “Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy.”

Friday, dec. 4 Students Artists Take on Wagner Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 744-1404 or ringfestivalla.org.

9 a.m.-noon: Student participants in The Heart Project, which connects young artists with the ideas of professional artists and L.A. cultural institutions, present an exhibition of works inspired by Wagner’s Ring cycle. saTurday, dec. 5 Arts District Open Studio Tours Downtown Arts District, (213) 247-8800.

Noon-7 p.m.: The Downtown Arts District will open the doors of its cafes, galleries, performance venues and about 40 studios in the first of a new Open Studio Tour series. The self-guided tour will include lofts (821 Traction Ave; the Toy Factory and more), galleries as EVFA Gallery, Tarryn & Theresa Gallery and ADC Gallery, and many of the area’s well-known restaurants. sunday, dec. 6 Holiday Shopping for a Cause Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., (310) 701-1111 or pvjuniors.org.

10 a.m.: The Palos Verdes Juniors Women’s Club hosts its annual holiday luncheon and shopping boutique, featuring more than 40 vendors offering unique quality merchandise and performances by the Palos Verdes Ballet and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber Choir. PV Juniors supports women and children in crisis throughout the South Bay Area.

See Complete Listings on the Web at downtownnews.com/calendar.

2your EVENT INfo EASy WAyS To SuBMIT

4 WEB: www.DowntownNews.com 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

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

by

I

One

nnA c ott St Aff wr iter

t’s always a good thi ng when the 25-year old, politically charge Taper Forum. The trio d comic performance debuted their Chavez group Culture Clash Ravine and Water & Palestine, New Mexico comes to the Mark Power here, and this . In this instance the foc week they begin prev reservation in the South us is on national rathe iews of the new r than local matters, as west, follows the fate of Army Captain Siler, the play, set on an Am She encounters road who has returned from blocks, however, as erican Indian she tries to set the rec Iraq with a secret that The official opening is ord straight about the she just can’t keep.

Dec. 13, but preview “friendly fire” death of s (when some kinks ar Thursday-Saturday at the tribal chief’s son. e worked out) start Th 8 p.m. and Sunday at ursday, Dec. 3. Perfo 1 and 6:30 p.m. At 13 rmances this week ar 5 N. Grand Ave., (213 e ) 628-2772 or centerth eatregroup.org. he name “Figaro” is a popula r one in opera, as we’ve all learned from Syl vester the cat. So if you take your arts cues fro m Looney Tunes characters, or even if you don ’t, then check out Los Angeles Opera’s productio n of Gioachino Rossini’s warhorse The Barber of Sev ille, which opened at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Sunday and continues through Dec. 19. The story inv olves Count Almaviva, who is deliriously in love wit h the ravishing Rosina, a ward of old Doctor Bartolo , who is determined to marry her himself. Chaos ens ues, but luckily Seville’s resourceful barber, Figaro, com es to the rescue. Figaro!

Figaro! Figaro! Performances this week are Wednesday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Dec. 6.

At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com.

Two

Three

T

photo by Jaimee Itagaki

he word Hiroshima carries heavy historical weight, to be sure, but it also happens to be the name of a six-member, Grammy-nominated American band that blends Japanese, Asian and Hawaiian influences into its own brand of jazz, salsa and R&B. The acclaimed group returns to the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 5, for its eighth annual “Spirit of the Season” holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Expect tracks from Hiroshima’s latest CD, Legacy, a greatest hits compilation. At 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 680-3700 or jaccc.org.

photo by Craig Schwartz

Tuesday, dec. 1 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

7 p.m.: James Bradley, the author of “Flags of our Fathers” and “Flyboys,” offers a new look at the events that set the stage for WWII. Roger Dingman, professor of history at USC, talks to Bradley about his new book, “The Imperial Cruise: A True Story of Empire and War.” USC Author Visit 3470 Trousdale Pkwy, (213) 740-2371 or usc.edu.

8-9:30 p.m.: Playwright and poet Marisela Trevino Orta gives a talk. She won the 2009 PEN Center Literary Award for Drama for her play “Braided Sorrow” and received the UC Irvine Chicano/Latino Literary Prize in Drama.

Plenty of O ld Favorite s Return With New Offerings A S ,

T

4

The phrase “Town Hall meeting” these days conjures up heated debate over healthcare reform.

But the Grammy Museum on Monday, Nov. 30, will feature a more placid kind of town hall meeting, titled “The Year In Music.” A panel of music journalists and industry experts , including Lorraine Ali of Rolling Stone, Phil Gallo of Variety, Gail Mitchell of Billboard, USC professor Josh Kun and Sarah Bennett of USC’s Daily Trojan will discuss what was hot in 2009, what was not, trends we can expect to see in the next decade and more. The conversation, moderated by museum Executive Director Robert Santelli, starts at 7 p.m. The event is free, but reservations are required. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A245, (213) 765-6830 or grammymuseum.org.

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings — or so says Zuzu Bailey in one of the most famous lines of one of the most famous holiday films of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life. Sure, you’ve probably seen Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a suicidal schlub saved by a lifeaffirming tour of what the world would be like if he were never born, dozens of times. But on Sunday, Dec. 6, the Los Angeles Conservancy is offering a rare opportunity to view the 1947 film on the big screen. The show starts at 2 p.m. in Broadway’s Million Dollar Theatre, an ornate 1918 palace. The historic preservation organization promises candy canes for everyone, but if that’s not enough, Clifton’s Cafeteria at 648 S. Broadway is offering 10% discounts that day to movie ticket holders. At 307 S. Broadway, (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org.

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

SponSored LiStingS La Llorona Los Angeles High School No. 9, 450 N. Grand Ave., (213) 241-8600 or lausd.net.

Dec. 3-4, 7 p.m.; Dec. 5, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 6, 2 p.m.: Three months since opening, the new Los Angeles High School for Visual and Performing Arts presents its premiere theatrical production, La Llorona, an Aztec tragedy based on the works of Carlos Morton, Robinson Jeffers and Euripides. Styled in the genre of a post-modern horror, the school recruited the guidance of four industry-based mentors and 10 teachers to support the production.

The experimental piece features elements of tai chi, flamenco, Gregorian chant, classical sword fighting and indigenous martial art forms. The play is set in Tenochtitlan, Mexico during the period of the Spanish Conquest.

LISTINGS

photo by Javier del Real

EVENTS

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Contact Cartifact for the full-color, every-building version of this map and others. Available as a poster and in print, web, and mobile media.

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

BAMBOO PLAZA

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November 30, 2009

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

place your ad online at www.ladowntownnews.com

L.A. Downtown News Classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ads Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

TheLoftGuys.net LA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 Homes for Sale FORECLOSED HOME AUCTION. Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & more. 350+ Homes Must Be Sold! REDC / View Full Listings. www.Auction.com RE 01093886. (Cal-SCAN)

60+ FORECLOSED CALIFORNIA Homes selling by auction December 9th - 12th, 2009 valued from $32k to $749k. Get all the details at www.HudsonAndMarshall.com or call 1-866-5391086. (Cal-SCAN)

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

Shop around for rates.”

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL

20 ACRE RANCH Foreclosures Near Booming El Paso, Texas.

Was $16,900. Now $12,856! $0 Down. Take over payments $159/month. Owner Financing.

Free Maps/Pictures. 1-800-3439444. (Cal-SCAN) LAND FORECLOSURE Southern Colorado 35 Acres$29,900 Rocky Mtn. views, Warranty Deed Survey, Utilities.

Enjoy 300 days of sunshine.

Low down payment. Call Today!

1-866-696-5263, x5355 www. coloradolandbargains.com.

(Cal-SCAN)

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

office space lease/sale

DOWNTOWN L.A.

Out of State

retail space lease/sale

OVIATT BUILDING

Apartments/Unfurnished

2 offices for rent, all hook-ups, partly furnished. 530 sqft. $700 month, flex lease.

Milano Lofts

213.623.7008 or 213.280.5452

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ALA 99¢/Sq. Ft. High Rise Office Space Walking distance to Metro Station, Social Security Office, Immigration Office, and Jewelry District.

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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.

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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.

Condominiums/Unfurnished

Downtown

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 REAL ARTIST LOFTS 12002000 Sq. Ft., $1600-$2100/mo.

High ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs, Open House Sundays 12-3pm @ 1250 Long Beach Ave. 213629-5539.

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 Commercial Space ARTIST’S WORK STUDIO Sunny, 150sf, 15’ ceiling, wi-fi, gated parking. Part of larger studio at Santa Fe Art Colony, close to downtown and freeways. $235/ mo + sec 213-509-4403 Continued on next page

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Promenade west 2 Bdrm. 2 Bath + 1Bonus Rm Heated Pool, Spa, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Indoor Gym. $2000/mo.

(213) 926-3163 Lofts/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

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

18 Downtown News

November 30, 2009

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

EMPLOYMENT

accounting/Banking

Drivers ANDRUS TRANSPORTATION Seeking Team Drivers for fast turning freight lanes! Also Hiring Solo OTR drivers - West states exp/hazmat end, great miles/ hometime. Stable Family owned 35 yrs+ 1-800-888-5838, 1-866806-5119 x1402. (Cal-SCAN) TRUCK DRIVERS: CDL training. Part-time driving job. Fulltime benefits. Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. May qualify for bonus. www.NationalGuard.com/Truck or 1-800-GO-GUARD. (CalSCAN) retail/sales 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. (Cal-SCAN) SALES EXECUTIVES NEEDED for Exclusive Skincare Brand.

Founders/creators of Proactiv, Drs Rodan and Fields have created another #1 selling skincare line. Email resume:mseely@ myrandf.com. (Cal-SCAN)

security

MARC BRAL, CPA, an Accountancy Corporation seeks Accountant. Send resume to Mr. Marc Bral, CPA, 1801 Avenue of the Stars , Suite #704, Los Angeles, CA 90067

“Do-it-Yourself” Apartment Alarm System

No Monthly Fee, No Wiring

www.Alarm-Alarms.com 800.447.0387

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)

massage therapy

Star Holistic Spa Massage/Acupressure $40 (1 Hour)

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)

2551 W. Beverly Blvd.

LA, CA, 90057 (Beverly Rampart)

Tel: 213-383-7676 attorneys

SERVICES

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs!

Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean

safety

“Open in Case of Fire”

Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

Smoke & Safety Mask

Minutes Count!

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Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

aDvertising 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.

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home improvement

Construction

$98

s.f.

Architectural Plans + Permit Included GC# 308729 Established 1975

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)

details 323-960-5792

崔Roof michael choi Roofing

Since 1972 • FRee estimate

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

cleaning

PETS/ANIMALS

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

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

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

Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

misc. services DISH NETWORK. $19.99/mo.

Why Pay More for TV? 100+ Channels - Free! 4-Room Install - Free! HD-DVR Plus $600 Signup BONUS. Call Now! 1-866747-9773. (Cal-SCAN)

ITEMS FOR SALE

music lessons

Weekly $175 1-2 people Daily $45 1-2 people

Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites

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

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

213.413.8100

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

714-328-7601.

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

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)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Business opportunities 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)

Santee Court Lofts from $1,250

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.)

HOLLYWOOD MOVIE Entertainment Memorabilia Auction - 2 Days of Hollywood Prop Items to be Sold Online Only.

December 5th & 6th. For information (714)535-7000 or www.

SuperAuctions.com R.Storment, #70489169. (Cal-SCAN) volunteer opportunities Helping kids heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

LEGAL fictitious Business name Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20091686638 The following person is doing business 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.

716 los angeles street, los angeles, ca 90014

• Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDeNT RaTe! $690 1 person

50 Channels Direct TV

TM

Mayfair Hotel 1256 West 7th street

Simin (213) 484-9789 Ext. 555 or (213) 632-1111 Downtown since 2002

Don't settle for anyone less experienced!

Call us today!

rosslyn hotel

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

2 months*

FRee

Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

madison hotel

auction

Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available

(213) 623-8101 • www.santeecourt.com

the loft expert! group

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Luxury Rooms in Downtown

Low Move in Special

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

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL

misc. items

Children’s Performing Group!

Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! See SunshineGenerationLA. com or call 909-861-4433.

✓ Private Bathroom ✓ Cable TV w/HBO ✓ 24 hr. Front Desk

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Reroof, Repairs • Lic. #C-39-588045

Rooms AvAilAble Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills

LOT SALE BY OWNER 7,951 sq.ft. California City, Kern, Asphalted, Water, Electricity $25,000.00 Hdipaling 100 Bunker Hill Rd., Guilford, CT 06437

*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 Children’s Performing Group

Do you have something to sell?

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Ad Prices

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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 30, 2009

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com hereby registered by the following registrant: LITTLE BARN, LLC, 1804 Cerro Gordo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026, This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company in California. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on November 1, 2009.

This statement was filed with the Los Angeles County Clerk of Los Angeles on November 12, 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. 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14/09

Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20091736090 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: MS. SOMMELIER, 600 W. Ninth Street, Unit #1102, Los Angeles CA 90015 are hereby registered by the following registrant: STEPHANIE BADEN, 600 W. Ninth Street, Suite #1102, Los Angeles CA 90015. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on November 11, 2009.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on November 17, 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, 11/30, 12/07, 12/14, 12/21/09

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 contin-

sonal 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

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 per-

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Leasing-SalesLoans-Refinance

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e-mail us: Info@bunkerhillrealestate.com

www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com

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Your ad will appear online and in our publication • Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST in a couple of easy Monday's steps. edition. to be processed for the following

• Online ads will appear immediately after they are approved.

Deadlines subject to change for special issues and holidays.

• OnlineFor ads legal will appear immediately they are approved. notices please callafter 213-481-1448 • Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST to be processed for the following Monday's edition.

Deadlines subject to change for special issues and holidays.

For legal notices please call 213-481-1448

the undersigned will sell on the 2nd day of December 2009, at 11:00 A.M. on the premises RENTING • BUYING • LIVING where said property has been stored and which are located at thriftee Storage company LLc,

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the following:

7 - 4 LofAgoods - L O Famount T S due 8 7Name 7 - 4ofLowner A - L O F Space T S number8 7Description Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com

rudolfwhere Vanderberg B*16 Guess Nicole loves to eat sushi and WIN!h*4 edith Bollozos carlos Leanos hernandez Freddie Congote Sean Mahoney David Chan thomas ord Wilkins rebecca Stark Michael romero Marta Paz Juan Aloe

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$640.00 Personal effects Guess One of Elicia’s Favorite Cafe Hang-Outs and WIN! $500.00 Personal effects $315.00 Personal effects $595.00 Personal effects $835.00 Personal effects $460.00 Personal effects $466.00 Personal effects $337.00 Personal effects $820.00 Personal effects $270.00 Personal effects $980.00 Personal effects

Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is” basis and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between thriftee Storage co. and obligated party.

Dated at Los Angeles, cA by Felipe F. islas/Manager November 19, 2009

Thriftee Storage Company LLC

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

Information available to qualified prospective tenants.

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Notice iS hereBy given that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions code, Section 2328 of the Ucc, Section 535 of the Penal code and provisions of the civil code.

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.

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Orsini

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

NOW LeaSINg

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!

Name ChaNge

Fictitious Business name statement File no. 20091707368 The following persons doing business as: (1) LITTLE BARN,(2) THE LITTLE BARN, located at 130 S.Beaudry Ave., Los Angeles CA 90026, are

gent 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

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611 Wilshire and 700 Wilshire Blvd 8 7 7 - 4 L A- LO F TS Visit us online at www.LoftLivingLA.com 213-622-7188 x210 Guess where Candy bought six Donna Ferrell Property Red Velvet Cupcakes forManager $5.

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

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

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

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

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

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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

20 Downtown News

November 30, 2009

Twitter/DowntownNews

We Got Games

Dec. 2 and 5, 7:30 p.m.: Which Clippers team will show up? The one that outplayed the Denver Nuggets last week?

Or the squad that had to eke out a tough win three days later against the hapless Timberwolves? Wait, the Clippers won consecutive games for the second time this season? Thanks to solid recent play from Al Thornton and back-up point guard Sebastian Telfair, the answer is yes.

It’s Kobe vs. Wade as the Miami Heat Come to Town Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers.

Dec. 1 and 4, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.: The surging Lakers are home all week. First up is the New Orleans Hornets, without injured point guard Chris Paul. Then come two games with teams who have their stars: The first, against the Miami Heat, promises to be exciting, as Kobe and Dwyane Wade battle it out. Then Steve Nash and the resurgent Phoenix Suns return to Staples Center with a chip on their shoulders. The Suns were shredded by the Lakers earlier this season, and will be out for revenge.

Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers.

Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com.

Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 5, 1 p.m.: The Kings continue their surprisingly strong play this season. After a trip down the 5 Freeway to take on the Anaheim Ducks (Dec. 1), they host the Ottawa Senators, before welcoming the St. Louis Blues.

They’ll look to take the spirit out of St. Louis.

USC Trojans Football L.A. Coliseum, 3911 S Figueroa St., (213) 747-7111 or usctrojans.com.

Dec. 5, 12:30 p.m.: The Trojans look to cap their disappointing regular season with a home victory over the Arizona Wildcats.

—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.

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

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