12-08-08 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 37, Number 49

INSIDE

L.A. Live Opens! 6

Park Fifth trouble, a puppet fundraiser, and other happenings Around Town.

Mark Ridley-Thomas becomes the first new supervisor in a dozen years.

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

December 8, 2008

Rising Buildings, Falling Prices As Once Sky-High Steel Prices Drop, Only Some Downtown Developers Will Benefit by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

Cutting the cake at the Roosevelt.

It’s time to hail a taxi.

hen the cost of condominiums in Los Angeles and beyond hit their apex in 2005 and 2006, many sellers had a ready rationale for the high price tags: In addition to seemingly insatiable demand, construction costs were through the roof. At the time, numerous Downtown Los Angeles developments had long waiting lists. This occurred as the cost of construction materials was on the rise, not just locally, but worldwide, propelled by extensive building projects in places like Iraq and Beijing, China, as that city prepared for the recent Olympics. That housing boom started to bust as early as late 2006 (though it hit Downtown later), but many construction-related commodity

prices continued to surge. The average price of structural steel hit its peak this past August, but has since started to fall, according to Engineering News Record, a trade publication for the construction industry. That’s bad news for some — from construction material producers at the top, down to those who rely on recycling used metals for extra cash — but for real estate developers, falling construction costs represent a rare silver lining to an otherwise dreary economy. “If you have the money, or if you’re in the public sector, it’s a good time to build,” said Kevin Dow, manager and senior vice president of Turner Construction in Southern California. Turner, a general contractor with offices across the country, is projecting that fourthsee Construction, page 12

photo by Gary Leonard

The Medallion, a $125-million-plus mixed-use project at Fourth and Main streets, will not benefit from falling construction costs.

Brockman Condos Go Rental Dogs make the office a happier place.

Change, Blamed on Economy, Comes as Downtown Apartment Occupancy Plummets by 11% by Anna Scott staff writer

The ticket to Holiday Shopping.

A poet’s Downtown inspiration.

he developer of the longawaited Brockman Building, recently completed after years of delays, has switched the project’s for-sale units to rentals. The move came after some prospective buyers were unable to secure loans due to the current financial market. “We were just at the point where we realized that with the real estate market where it’s at, with the liquidity markets where they are, trying to sell units is not

beneficial,” said Norman Salter, chairman of developer West Millennium Group, which originally aimed to open the $35 million project in 2005. The development team made the decision to go rental about a month ago, said Salter. Units have not begun leasing yet, but Salter expects them to generate significant interest. “For this rental market, they should be a hot item because we’ve got condo specs and this is an above-average unit for a renter,” he said. see Brockman, page 10

Our Plaxico Moments When It Comes to Shooting Yourself in the Thigh, L.A. Has the Giants’ Receiver Beat by Jon Regardie executive editor

Start planning for New Year’s Eve.

he greatest news story of the past few weeks, and arguably of the entire millennium, is that of Plaxico Burress, the New York Giants star receiver who, mere months after signing a contract that will pay him $35 million to catch a ball the regardie report

23 CALENDAR LISTINGS 25 CLASSIFIEDS

photo by Gary Leonard

The long-anticipated Brockman Building will open as a rental project, with apartments going for about $2.25 a square foot. The developer had hoped to sell units in the building for up to $1.4 million.

for a living, managed to accidentally shoot himself in the thigh while in a New York City nightclub. Perhaps he feared the Long Island Iced Teas were going to come at him with switchblades. While possibly the most laughable move since the suggestion that Sarah Palin is qualified to be vice president, the Plaxishooting is not that differ-

ent than what has transpired in some Downtown Los Angeles circles recently. No, no one has discharged Plaxico’s weapon of choice, a .40-caliber Glock pistol, in City Hall, thank God, but in a figurative sense several local players, including some politicians, have pulled feats just as boneheaded. Sure, some may consider the Plaxico-Downtown comparison a stretch, but just like the fact that the receiver was having a jolly good time until his Plaxident, nobody can deny that some area figures have displayed a shocking appetite for self-destruction. Whether through financial malfeasance or just dumb decisions, each symbolically stuck a loaded gun down their pants. Plaxico in the School The biggest Plaxico moment concerns the

LAUSD and its dead-man-walking-or-maybe-not Superintendent David Brewer. But in this case, Brewer wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. Rather, he was the gun itself. The set-up for the moment, equivalent to the time Plaxico made the wise decision to stick a pistol in his pants, came in 2006, when the sevenmember Board of Education was battling Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over, well, just about everything. At the time, Villaraigosa was positioning himself for what would prove to be a failed attempt to seize control of the LAUSD, and was pounding his chest like Donkey Kong at the top of the scaffolding. With barrels flying from every direction and the superintendent’s slot open, the board scrambled to protect its power. With hindsight, an olive branch from AnVil might have avoided today’s murky situation, but when none came, the board pulled a navy admiral out of its hat. Although the district could have used a leader with decades of experience in education, or at least someone who understood the complexities of running something with a zillion moving parts such as ex-governor and LAUSD chief Roy Romer, see Plaxico Moments, page 11

Since 1972, an independent, locally owned and edited newspaper, go figure.

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December 8, 2008

AROUNDTOWN Park Fifth Hits Trouble, Seeks New Partners

fficials with the proposed $1.3 billion Park Fifth skyscraper are seeking new capital partners to replace current, troubled partners Namco Capital Group and Africa Israel Investments, developer David Houk said last week. Principals of Namco Capital, a Brentwood-based investment company, are facing legal action in at least nine separate cases, according to a search of the L.A. County Superior Court website, for allegations including contractual fraud and breach of contract. Last month, state Commissioner of Financial Institutions William H. Haraf closed Security Pacific Bank, chaired by Namco owner Ezri Namvar. Meanwhile Africa Israel, a holding company, “has their own set of problems, and they don’t want to do it by themselves,” said Houk. Africa Israel this month posted a third-quarter loss of around $500 million. The 76-story Park Fifth project, which has been delayed several times, was most recently slated to break ground in early 2009, but Houk said last week the development will not go forward until new financing is in place. “We have construction financing available, but don’t have anybody to sign it because we don’t have partners. We’re on hold,” Houk said. Slated to rise on a lot north of Pershing Square, Park Fifth would include a 76-story tower and a 44-story tower housing a hotel and condominiums, connected by a 15-story residential building, plus retail and restaurant space.

Help Save the Puppets

he Bob Baker Marionette Theater, which is in serious financial trouble due

to mortgage payment difficulties, is holding a fundraiser this week to help make ends meet. An event titled “Save the Puppets” on Saturday, Dec. 13, will raise money for the City West cultural landmark, the country’s oldest venue of its kind. Theater owner Bob Baker, 84, must raise approximately $30,000 as soon as possible in order to avoid foreclosure proceedings. The fundraiser will include puppet shows throughout the day, musical acts and special guests, arts and crafts activities, a silent auction and raffle, an art auction, circus performers, and food and drinks. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the theater at 1345 W. First St. For more information, or to volunteer, sponsor or donate, contact savethepuppets@yahoo.com. Contact the theater at (213) 250-9995 or through bobbakermarionettes.com.

LAHSA Launches Winter Shelter Effort

he Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority last week launched its annual Winter Shelter Program, which increases the number of emergency beds at more than a dozen facilities in Los Angeles County. The initiative began Dec. 1 and will be in effect until March 15. The annual program adds about 1,700 beds at 13 locations. In Downtown, an additional 200 beds have been set up at the Union Rescue Mission at 545 S. San Pedro St. The beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those in need of shelter can be transported from pickup points throughout the city to the nearest emergency shelter location. Skid Row officials have reported an increase in the number of people in Downtown shelters in recent

photo by Howard Pasamanak

With a ribbon cutting and a huge cake, M. Aaron Yashouafar (right), CEO of developer Milbank Real Estate, celebrated the opening of the Roosevelt Lofts on Monday, Dec. 1. The $150 million project has transformed the 1927 building at 727 W. Seventh St. into 22 condominiums.

months, including a rise in families, due to the national economic crisis. For information on the 40 pick-up points and a full list of the shelters, visit lahsa.org or call (800) 548-6047.

Pop-up Store Has Fair Trade Focus

he Downtown-based nonprofit Garment Worker Center is running a temporary pop-up “fair trade store” in the Fashion District. The boutique, which closes Thursday, Dec. 11, features an array of sweatshop-free goods and crafts from around the world. All the products offered are from fair trade cooperatives and local artisans, guaranteeing fair wages and healthy working environments, said store officials. All proceeds will benefit the Garment Worker Center,

which works to fight sweatshop conditions in the Los Angeles garment industry. “The Garment District is known for its cheap clothes and knock-off brands,” said LaTrice Dixon, a member of the Garment Worker Center’s board of directors, in a statement. “We want to make a point of showing that even in the Garment District it is possible to get great gifts at affordable prices without exploiting workers.” Products at the store, which is at 1250 S. Los Angeles St., include handmade silk purses from a women’s cooperative in Cambodia, wooden toys from India, stationary from Sri Lanka made of elephant dung and recycled paper bowls and jewelry from Vietnam. The store is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday. More information at garmentworkercenter.org.

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December 8, 2008

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All Hail Downtown Touts Cab Program With Taxi Appreciation Week by RichaRd Guzmán

Hal Bastian with one of the 600 signs the Downtown Center Business Improvement District has posted to promote cab use in the area. Taxicab Appreciation Week in Downtown runs Dec. 8-12.

city editoR

THIS WEEK AT L.A. LIVE Music. Dining. Sports. Living.

Monday, December 8, 2008

LA Music Academy – Nokia Plaza – 12PM, 1PM – FREE Berklee City Music Network, L.A. – Nokia Plaza – 5:15PM, 6:15PM – FREE Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Clippers vs. Orlando – STAPLES Center – 7:30PM

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

LA Music Academy – Nokia Plaza – 12PM, 1PM– FREE Gay Men’s Chorus of L.A. – Nokia Plaza – 5:15PM, 6:15PM – FREE Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

LA Music Academy – Nokia Plaza – 12PM, 1PM – FREE Defenders vs. Anaheim – STAPLES Center – 3:30PM Indie 103.1 Presents Wreck the Halls – Club Nokia – 6PM Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Conga Room Conga Line – Nokia Plaza – 7PM – FREE Lakers vs. Phoenix – STAPLES Center – 7:30PM

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Art in Action – Nokia Plaza – 12PM, 1PM – FREE Berklee City Music Network, L.A. – Nokia Plaza – 5:15PM, 6:15PM– FREE Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Kings vs. St. Louis – STAPLES Center – 7:30PM Gretchen Wilson – Club Nokia – 7:30PM

Friday, December 12, 2008

Art in Action – Nokia Plaza – 12PM, 1PM – FREE Defenders vs. Idaho– STAPLES Center – 3:30PM Berklee City Music Network, L.A. – Nokia Plaza – 5:15PM, 6:15PM – FREE Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Lakers vs. Sacramento – STAPLES Center – 7:30PM Rick Springfield with 38 Special – Club Nokia – 7:30PM

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Kings vs. Minnesota – STAPLES Center – 1PM Art in Action – Nokia Plaza – 1PM, 3PM, 5PM – FREE Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Coca-Cola Parade – Nokia Plaza – 5:30PM – FREE Clippers vs. Houston – STAPLES Center – 7:30PM Stevie Wonder’s House Full of Toys – Nokia Theatre L.A. Live – 8PM

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Art in Action – Nokia Plaza – 1PM, 3PM, 5PM – FREE Defenders vs. Bakersfield – STAPLES Center – 2:30PM Lakers vs. Minnesota – STAPLES Center – 6:30PM Light of the Angels with Playing for Change – Nokia Plaza – Nightly on the Hour – FREE Bill Engvall – Club Nokia – 7PM Anthony Hamilton – Conga Room – 8PM

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fficials with the Downtown Center Business Improvement District are hoping that if they post it, they will come. Just to make sure, the organization has erected about 600 signs to promote Taxicab Appreciation Week, which runs Dec. 8-12. It is intended to remind locals and visitors to hail cabs and to encourage cab drivers to utilize the streets of Downtown Los Angeles when looking for fares. “We’re asking the taxi drivers to get out of line and start cruising the streets of Downtown and telling people that they can now hail a taxi,” said Hal Bastian, senior vice president and director of economic development for the BID. The white signs were affixed to street signs and light poles between Temple, 12th and Main streets and the Harbor Freeway. They will remain up through December. Taxicab Appreciation Week is intended to promote the Hail-A-Taxi pilot program, a six-month effort approved by the City Council this summer that loosens restrictions on where drivers may pick up fares in Downtown and Hollywood. Previously they had been limited to loading zones, taxi stands and parking areas. Although the program was launched with much fanfare in the summer, including Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry sporting a giant foam finger as she flagged down a cab on Grand Avenue, cab drivers and potential customers have been slow to take advantage of the new rules. “Hailing a cab is new to us here, so we gotta drive that point home,” Perry said. Bastian said there has been a Catch-22 situation since the launch of the program. “Taxi drivers didn’t feel there was enough demand to warrant them driving around speculatively, especially with higher gas prices,” he said. “Because of that, we couldn’t tell people to go hail a cab, because cabs were nowhere to be hailed. They were sitting in a line.” Line Up When it comes to taxicabs, Downtown, like most of Los Angeles, is different than New York, where cabs are abundant and constantly cruise the streets looking for fares. Instead, here they line up on busy streets or in front of hotels hoping to nab lucrative fares to the airport or outside the area. With gas prices now below $2 a gallon and the hundreds of signs encouraging taxi use, the city’s cab culture may finally be ready to change, Bastian said. To ensure that drivers agree, the BID is giving them a free lunch on Monday, Dec. 8, at Nokia Plaza. “We’re asking taxi drivers to change their culture by getting out and cruising,” said Bastian. “We’re asking the public to change their culture and begin hailing cabs.” Although cruising cabs are still a rare sight, Will Hebler, senior director of sales and marketing for Yellow Cab, said drivers are beginning to get the message that it’s okay for them to cruise through Downtown. Hebler, who worked with the BID on the taxi program, said many cab drivers were at first unaware they could pick up fares in previously restricted zones, but that is changing. He said he has begun to see cabs stop for riders along Downtown streets. He said most cab drivers would prefer to cruise around, especially now that gas is less expensive, rather than wait in a queue. “Otherwise they’re sitting in these long taxi lines just waiting,” he said. “This project is going to help a lot. It’s going to let everyone know and remove all the doubt that this is happening.” Hebler said another important factor is tied to safety. “If you know you can step out of a club and there’s a cab coming down in a minute, or if you step out at night and you can just flag down a cab, it gives people a sense of security and safety. It’s a complete cultural shift,” he said. The pilot program will be reviewed at the end of January when city officials will determine if it should become permanent, Bastian said. Bastian added that having cabs roaming the streets will also help area businesses, encouraging them to use taxis, rather than their own cars, when going to eat or shop. “Downtown is a great place, but we want to make it a better place by doing what you can do in any other major city in America, which is hail a cab,” he said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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EDITORIALS A Lively Addition to Downtown

ast week, the future of Downtown Los Angeles got a lot brighter. We believe the pieces are in place for that brightening to extend from literal luminescence to actual community improvement — in the form of jobs, revenue and more entertainment and cultural opportunities. The harbinger of new opportunities came on Thursday, Dec. 4, when a few celebrities helped developer Anschutz Entertainment Group flick the switch on the holiday decorations at its $2.5 billion L.A. Live project. It was part of a month-long celebration at the 27-acre South Park complex. The benefits for the area should last much longer. AEG deserves commendation for the project, one of the biggest developments ever to land in Downtown. It is not just size that makes it stand out; AEG has done an admirable job in combining elements that benefit both the company and the greater community. L.A. Live’s design activates the area while avoiding the cookie-cutter approach that so often dominates malls and other “urban centers.” L.A. Live may not be for everyone, but it is a great addition to this Downtown. To understand the impact, L.A. Live must be viewed in the context of the area. For decades, South Park was a sleepy neighborhood with mostly forgettable businesses and some ugly hotels. It did little to draw energy or people from the rest of Downtown, and it did not capitalize on the potential of connecting with USC via the Figueroa Corridor. That began to change with Staples Center, co-developed by

AEG and Ed Roski, and the arena’s momentum helped pave the way for South Park projects such as the Flower Street Lofts and the Palm restaurant. With L.A. Live in the works, other developments followed, among them the trio of highrises by Portland developer South Group and the Market Lofts with its Ralphs supermarket. Thus, the project’s influence has already extended well beyond the site itself. It has ushered in great change and more residents. L.A. Live’s specific elements have the potential to pay off both for the developer and the community. AEG, overseen by billionaire Phil Anschutz, exists to make a profit, a healthy motive in the right hands, which it is. But when it came to picking the pieces that fit in the puzzle, the company mostly avoided the chains that are found in every mall in the nation. Instead, it concentrated on names that will stand out in this neighborhood. There may be, for example, a Lucky Strike bowling alley and a Katsuya restaurant in other parts of Los Angeles, but there are not many of them and they are nowhere near Downtown. With elements including an ESPN Zone, a New Zealand Ice Cream outlet, a new concert venue and the Grammy Museum, the project boasts unique attractions. The most important aspect of L.A. Live, the 54-story Convention Center hotel, will not arrive for more than a year, but already it, too, is paying off. We expect AEG to turn a profit on the tower, especially with its 224 condominiums

selling for $1 million to $10 million, but of greater benefit to the neighborhood is that dozens of lucrative conventions are already booking space at the Convention Center for future years. Downtown will gain hundreds of thousands of additional visitors a year because of the building that features 1,001 hotel rooms. There is another area where AEG does not pat itself on the back much, yet where it also deserves credit: In the quest to build L.A. Live, the company has proved itself a responsible community partner, one that has learned, through trial and error, to work not just with business groups and City Hall, but also labor unions and local nonprofits. Long before this development broke ground, representatives of small homeless services agencies were appearing before City Council committees, testifying to how AEG had been helpful. It may have been a shrewd business step, enlightened capitalism, but we like developers who are smart enough to help solve some of the problems of other parts of Downtown. All of these elements indicate L.A. Live’s potential for a long and happy future, but it is important that the project now achieves that potential. AEG needs to embrace the greater community and ensure that L.A. Live does not become an island, a place people drive to and park in without experiencing the rest of Downtown. The company’s President and CEO, Tim Leiweke, has said that will not be the case, that AEG needs Downtown to benefit as well. He must make sure that comes to fruition, because L.A. Live could and should set the standard for all future Downtown development.

Ridley-Thomas Can Bring Change to Supes

hange” may be a political mantra, but it is virtually anathema to the County Board of Supervisors, which until last week had not had a new member for a dozen years. The panel has been derided by many for its plodding ways. Its bungling of Martin Luther King Hospital, which closed last year after a long struggle, was a low point. It is with that background that we hope new Second District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas can light a fire under the rest of the board and ignite some change. He will have his work cut out in dealing with a gang of four long-serving members, but with his deep experience in city and state government, he brings leadership, integrity, connections and knowledge of the political game. As a replacement for Yvonne B. Burke, he can be a strong and powerful addition to the board.

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Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

On his second day on the job, he was already focusing on reopening King Hospital. While the facility is outside of Downtown Los Angeles, its loss has had an impact here and beyond, as fewer hospital beds in one area means those needing help are sent across the county. All of Los Angeles would benefit with a reopened King Hospital, and we hope RidleyThomas will be as aggressive as necessary to get it back online. The Second Supervisorial District also holds portions of Skid Row, an area where the county should have greater involvement. For far too long the city has shouldered the burden of caring for the majority of the region’s homeless. Ridley-Thomas has previously focused on the issue through his work on the state Prop 63 mental health commission, and we hope he will lead the charge for the Supervisors to give the

neighborhood the attention it demands. Change on the County Board of Supervisors may not come easily, but at least now we can see the possibility of it occurring. We look forward to seeing what Ridley-Thomas achieves and inspires.

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writErs: Anna Scott, Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Andrew Haas-Roche, Sam Hall Kaplan, Howard Leff, Lisa Napoli, 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 sAlEs MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin AssistANt sAlEs MANAGEr: George Caston sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Vanessa Acuña, Robert Dutcher, Catherine Holloway, Kelley Smith circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. It is also distributed to the extended urban communities of Glendale, Hollywood, Wilshire Center, Los Feliz, Silver Lake & Larchmont Village.

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“Hail-A-Taxi” Program begins December 8, 2008

Anytime, Anywhere Downtown* (Except Bus Zones) Be Safe – DON’T Step into the Street Short Trips are OK • Be Green! Don’t Drink and Drive Downtown is a Big Place, so Hail-A-Taxi!

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www.lacity.org

*Expect to see most taxis cruising on MAJOR streets within the following boundaries: Temple Street on the north, 12th Street on the south, 110 Freeway on the west and Main Street on the east

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December 8, 2008

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Lit Up & Live Photos by Gary Leonard

n Thursday, Dec. 4, Britney Spears and USC football coach Pete Carroll helped flick the switch to turn on the holiday lights at L.A. Live. Later that night, the Conga Room opened with a performance by Olga Tañon. On Dec. 5, officials cut the ribbon on the $34 million Grammy Museum. L.A. Live opening festivities, including free musical performances and nightly light shows, will continue throughout the month.

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Work Like a Dog Some Downtown Offices Welcome Furry Employees by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

lthough he doesn’t do much more than walk lazily around the office and snooze through the day, he’s one of the most popular employees at FilmL.A., Inc. It’s easy to see why he’s so beloved. With his big brown eyes and husky good looks, it’s hard for anyone to keep their hands off him. Reymundo, or Mundo as he is better known, enjoys the attention he gets as one of the dogs that come to work at FilmL.A. The film permitting agency is one of a handful of Downtown Los Angeles businesses that allow employees to bring their dogs to the office. “It’s definitely a stress reliever to have them around,” said Todd Lindgren, vice president of communications for FilmL.A., as he walked behind Mundo, a 2-year-old pit bull that belongs to Jose Garcia, who works in pre-production planning. About a dozen dogs clock in at FilmL.A.’s City West offices. Mundo has a bed tucked under Garcia’s desk for when he decides to snooze, but the real fun is when the dog makes his rounds. “It definitely has benefits on the morale in the office. When someone brings a pet all the other pet lovers come over and play with the dog and say hi to it,” Lindgren said. It can also be beneficial for a company that allows dogs at work. A recent online survey by jobs site simplyhired.com and dogster.com, a pet resources site, found that 66% of dog owners said they would work longer hours if they could bring their pet to work, and 32% would even take a pay cut to bring their canine companion to the job. According to the survey, about 400 large companies in the U.S., such as Amazon and Google, allow dogs to come to work with their owners. Ted Rheingold, CEO of dogster.com, said there may be thousands of small businesses that also al-

low dogs in the workplace. “For employers it’s beneficial because you have employees who aren’t trying to leave early to go feed their dogs,” he said. “They’re less stressed, more productive, they can stay late and they’re just happier.” Attention Getter Garcia has been bringing Mundo to work since the dog was a puppy. Although Mundo weighs 110 pounds, when he walks down the hall, other employees instantly turn their chairs to greet him. “It takes your mind off things, makes the day so much better for everyone,” Garcia said. Mundo may be the top dog at FilmL.A., but he’s not the only one. When Angel Miranda brings his Chihuahua Ren with him, the dog gets so excited on the way to work he has to travel in a carrying case. “When he goes into his carrying case he goes berserk in the car,” Miranda said. Ren’s excitement continues at work. Miranda said he usually keeps him close to his desk, but frequent visitors come by and say hi. “It’s great to have that option to bring him to work. I consider him one of my buddies, one of my best friends, and if I have my buddy here it makes my day so much better,” he said. Dog Etiquette FilmL.A. is not alone. At the ACLU of Southern California offices on Eighth Street, employees can bring their pets. However, there are some rules to follow. “We have about six dogs who come to the offices most days. Those who bring dogs do have to have a child-proof gate next to their office, since not everyone is a dog person,” said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California. But for dog lovers, the day can get better when they visit a desk that has a canine co-worker.

Mundo, a 2-year-old pit bull, with owner Jose Garcia, makes the rounds at the Film L.A. offices in City West. Mundo is one of about a dozen dogs that come to work with their owners at the film permitting agency.

“When we lose cases here, initiatives, state legislation, it’s easy to feel like we’re not accomplishing as much as we could. But the dogs bring a kind of friendliness and stress relief to the office,” she said. Jennifer Fahey, Ripston’s executive assistant, brings her pug Edgar to work every day. For Fahey, having the 5-month-old puppy with her is a big weight off her shoulders. “It gives me an opportunity to take him outside and [potty] train him,” she said. It’s also made her popular at work. “People come by and they’re always in a good mood when they see him. I have more visitors than I used too,” she said. continued on next page

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Downtown News 9

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Ridley-Thomas Takes Over in Second District Opening of Martin Luther King Hospital Is Top Priority by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

ourteen months after he began his campaign, Mark Ridley-Thomas was sworn in last week as the supervisor representing the Second District in Los Angeles County. He is the first African-American man ever elected to the board in its 156-year history. At a nearly two-hour oath of office ceremony on Monday, Dec. 1, Ridley-Thomas shared the stage with a diverse assortment of the community and those who played a role in his campaign. Before he addressed the crowd, the audience of approximately 400 heard from figures including USC President Steven Sample, Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and 94-year-old Susan Ahn Cuddy, a member of the district’s large Korean-American community. In the moments after being sworn in, Ridley-Thomas was ebullient. “I think we are off to a good start to do very important work and I am very committed to doing that,” he told Los Angeles Downtown News as the crowd walked from the County Hall of Administration to a reception in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a Korean drum troop providing a raucous soundtrack on the block-long trek. “I think you saw today the very depth and breadth of the diversity that is behind me, and the room was packed, and I suspect that’s an

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris (in background) last Monday administered the oath of office to Second District County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

continued from previous page Big Paws to Fill If there was an office dog other dogs could look up to in Downtown, it would have to be Buddy, a jolly golden retriever who belonged to Hal Bastian, senior vice president and director of economic development for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. Until his death this summer at the age of 12, Buddy was a greeter at Gilmore Associates’ Old Bank District office (Bastian’s job before the DCBID; when Bastian left, Buddy stayed). He sat with visitors as they waited for meetings and Bastian dropped him off at the office almost until the last day of his life. Although Buddy left big paws to fill, Gilmore Associates currently has a “temporary office dog,” said Trish Keefer, the company’s director of operations. The dog, Madison (“she looks like a baby white coyote, absolutely adorable,” Keefer said), is considered a “consultant.” Bastian’s new dog Scooter, a retriever mix who is being trained, is first in line for the permanent position, she said. Keefer said the office staff was overjoyed when news came that a new dog would be clocking in. “The most important thing is that it allows you to get a comfortable little Zen moment in your day by petting the dog. It gives you that break you need to then address the rest of the day in good humor and with a good outlook,” Keefer said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

expression of what empowerment will look like in the second supervisorial district.” Ridley-Thomas spent nearly 12 years on the City Council before serving in the state Assembly and, most recently, in the state Senate. He announced his candidacy for the post long held by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke in October 2007. On Nov. 4, he defeated City Councilman Bernard Parks in the runoff for the seat. The district, with more than 2.5 million residents, includes Exposition Park and portions of Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. It extends from South L.A. to Culver City and encompasses parts of Inglewood and Carson.

Ridley-Thomas has said a priority will be reviving Martin Luther King Hospital, the South L.A. institution that closed in August 2007. The effort was referenced by Supervisor Don Knabe, who spoke at the ceremony. “The one common goal we have is his number-one priority,” said Knabe, “and that’s the reopening of Martin Luther King Hospital.” On Tuesday morning, Ridley-Thomas launched his effort to get the hospital operating again, directing the county’s Chief Executive Officer to work with the departments of Public Works and Health Services on the matter. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Please join Art Share & Barker Block for their First Annual Fundraiser this Saturday! Purchase a piece of art to jumpstart your holiday shopping & make a real difference with your gift. Barker Block is donating a portion of its December sales to Art Share. With newly reduced homes from the MID $300,000’s, you can afford to purchase home and happiness this year.

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10 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

Brockman Continued from page 1 Despite the condominium-like amenities, the Brockman arrives at a suddenly tough time for apartments. The Downtown rental occupancy rate has plummeted from 96% in September 2007 to a current 85%, “which is very low,” said Dolores Conway, director of USC’s Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast. By comparison, Downtown occupancy dropped a seemingly small but still significant 2.7%, from 98.7% to 96%, between September 2006 and September 2007, Conway said. The recent, dramatic fall has been driven by the high number of Downtown Los Angeles apartments that have come online recently, said Conway. At least 10 new rental projects have added more than 1,700 units to the Downtown market in 2008. The new arrivals include those always planned as rental complexes, such as the Belmont Station Apartments in City West, and developments originally envisioned as condominiums that changed when the market soured, like the Brockman and the Union Lofts on Hill Street. Conway noted that other statistics reflect a softening rental market. She said that the Downtown area has seen 5,400 move-outs in the past year, “reflecting very weak demand.” “I think we’re starting to see some rent sensitivity on the part of the Downtown population,” said Conway. “We’re starting to see people double up in apartments. Also, as people get laid off they may move to cheaper areas.” Making It Work At 530 W. Seventh St., the Brockman stands

a stately 12 stories. The restored 1921 structure is decked out with a marble and brick façade, cornices and other Beaux Arts flourishes. In mid-September, approximately half of the building’s 80 units, which range from 850-2,280 square feet, were either reserved or had been sold to all-cash buyers. In the following weeks, however, about half of the prospective buyers were unable to secure financing. Ultimately, the number of people able to close escrow fell below the pre-closing requirements. “In order to close escrow on any unit, you have to have a certain number of escrows ready to close,” said project spokeswoman April Fissell. “We’re going to go lease and when it makes sense, then we’ll become a forsale property again.” Rents have not been finalized yet, she said, but will run approximately $2.25 per square foot. Those who previously reserved or purchased units, and who remain in the building as renters, will have the first option to buy their residences when the property reverts to condominiums. So far five former prospective buyers have remained as renters, Fissell said. The all-cash buyers have had their money refunded, said Fissell. One of them, economist Katie Galley, purchased an $850,000, 1,300-square-foot unit at the Brockman earlier this year. Last week, she said via email that she was disappointed by the turn of events and has since bought a loft in the Eastern Columbia building on Broadway and Ninth Street. Despite losing most of the building’s buyers, Salter said he expects the Brockman’s condo-quality finishes and historic elements to attract a healthy slice of the rental market. “Just the overall look of the units, with the exposed brick and the concrete refurbished

photo by Gary Leonard

DowntownNews.com

The Chapman Building at Eighth Street and Broadway was also originally planned as condominiums. The 168unit property changed to rentals in May.

to the old style of the building, there’s a wow factor,” he said. The Brockman faces competition from other historic properties planned as condominiums but forced to lease. In May, the developers of the Chapman Flats at Eighth Street and Broadway announced that the 168-unit property would open as rentals after several buyers were unable to close escrow. Like the Brockman, the building offers high-end appliances and original structural elements. Other developers with projects near the Brockman agree that times are tough. “In general, the market is a lot slower than last year,” said George Peykar, a partner in the Mandel Lofts at Seventh and Olive streets, which opened in February. While the Mandel is approximately 85% leased, “our occupancy is up because we started leasing it last year,” said Peykar. “We started off very strong, and as the market was hit it kind of tapered off. I

hope things will change, but I don’t see that until 2010.” The Brockman received its certificate of occupancy late last month — it was expected by the end of September, but inspections took longer than planned, Fissell said — and the first renters will move in this week. In the meantime, work is continuing on the Bottega Louie Restaurant and Gourmet Market on the building’s ground floor. The upscale establishment was expected to open in November but has been delayed at least until January, said Salter, because of ventilation challenges and other logistical issues. As for when the Brockman might revert to a condominium project, “It depends on the market,” said Salter. “I’d like it to be two or three years, but it might be as long as five years.” Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 11

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Plaxico Moments Continued from page 1 the board went with a man who knows a lot about boats. I suppose they could have done worse, like hiring the king of the circus clowns, but Brewer was clearly out of his element. Heck, he could have had the greatest naval record since Admiral George Dewey, but plopping him in the center of the LAUSD’s Byzantine bureaucracy and expecting him to turn around the foundering district while staring down a mayor who didn’t want him there, well, it was just a matter of time until, oopsy daisy, that gun in the pants went off. Now there’s a divided school board, racial politics are in play (the superintendent is African American) and Admiral Brewer and his supporters, just like Plaxico, are sticking to their guns. The whole thing was so avoidable, and it’s difficult to say who more resembled Plaxico — the school board or Villaraigosa. Plaxico in the Museum Museum directors have one primary job: raise enough money to keep things running smoothly. The position is not about art so much, since directors have curators to bring in and organize the shows, and it is not really about the general public, as any decent museum has a department dedicated to membership matters. The director, meanwhile, is in charge of hitting up deep-pockets donors and ensuring that no major financial fires are sparked. Unfortunately, Downtown’s Museum of Contemporary Art has been Plaxicoed. This is another gun that never should have gone down the pants. Early this decade, the institution had an operating budget of about $10 million and a healthy endowment of around $36 million. With Director Jeremy Strick at the helm, major shows were being staged, important artworks and collections were being acquired and MOCA was building a reputation as a prominent bastion for contemporary art in the United States. At some point, and no one has yet publicly revealed when it began, operating costs began rising while the endowment shriveled up like the Tribune Co. under Sam Zell. Using an endowment for operating expenses is about as bad as it gets at a museum, sort of like drinking at a bar when you have a loaded weapon in your pants.

The MOCA board, which is supposed to monitor these matters, either was oblivious or somehow unable to avert the impending Plaxicommotion. The firearm went off last month when the Los Angeles Times reported that the museum’s budget had surpassed $20 million while the endowment may be all the way down to $7 million. Which, by the way, is less than Plaxico’s $11 million signing bonus. It should have been preventable. Though Strick has not commented publicly, under his watch costs rose faster than

An olive branch from Villaraigosa might have avoided today’s murky LAUSD situation, but when none came, the school board pulled a navy admiral out of its hat. contributions, and now the museum’s very existence is in danger. One can safely assume that my genius Hail Mary idea — save the museum by having the New York Giants direct Burress’ salary to MOCA — is probably not going to happen. Plaxico in City Hall Plenty of Plaxico moments have ties to City Hall. For example, letting the city Department of Recreation and Parks, with its outdated financial tracking system, run the megamillion dollar Quimby program seemed a perfect way to ensure that funds would never be spent on much-needed parks. Elsewhere in City Hall, the biggest current Plaxico moment is tied to the battle between City Controller Laura Chick and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. The two have been scrapping for what seems like 90 years, and their tussle over whether the controller’s office can audit part of another elected official’s department is in the process of going nuclear. Rather than pull the gun from the pants, the City Council seems intent on insuring that it goes off and bloodies everyone. The situation began when Chick sought to audit

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Delgadillo’s workers compensation program. Delgadillo responded like a momma hyena protecting her favorite pup. There have been accusations, counter-accusations, varying interpretations of the 1999 City Charter, threats of lawsuits and questions of who would pay for the Controller’s attorney because if the Controller tangles in court with the City Attorney then, well, the City Attorney sure can’t represent the Controller. While one might expect wiser minds to smooth over the situation, the City Council has gone back and forth on whether voters should decide who gets to audit whom. Now it seems that, if the public decides, it won’t be in March, when it would make sense to put the item on the same ballot as the next mayor’s race, but rather in May, when something like five people will show up at the polls. In other words, the gun is in the pants and there’s a finger on the trigger. Meanwhile, the public is watching with a baffled expression, wondering why the pols are fighting and asking why Delgadillo would protest so hard if he has nothing to hide. It’s all complicated by the fact that Chick and Delgadillo are plotting their political futures. It’s so ugly, murky and preventable that even Plaxico Burress might have known how to avoid a situation like this. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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12 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

DowntownNews.com

Construction Continued from page 1 quarter construction costs will show no change from the third quarter. If the figure pencils out, it will be the first quarter since 2003 that the company’s building cost index did not increase, Dow said. According to Engineering News Record, the average price of standard structural steel (the average price encompasses the cost of the most common steel shapes in 20 U.S. cities) fell 5% in November from the previous month to $45.86 per 100 pounds, marking the third consecutive monthly decline, though prices still remain 13% higher than in 2007. The price for standard re-bar, the steel bars that reinforce concrete structures, fell 2.6%, to $42.23 per 100 pounds. After rising steadily during the real estate boom, the costs of cement and the minerals required to make concrete have shown little movement over the past six months. Softening construction costs are not lost on

developers like the Related Cos.’ Bill Witte, whose delayed $3 billion Grand Avenue project could benefit from less expensive raw material prices. “Overall, the current cost climate is definitely more favorable,” said Witte, who is working to ink a construction loan for the project. Commodity pricing is not the only cost indicator that developers like Witte are watching. Subcontractor bids, Witte added, are becoming “much more competitive.” Competition is tighter for general contractors like Turner too. “Every job that we see, instead of four to five bidders, there could be eight or nine,” Dow said. “The turnout on bid day has been significant.” Small Savings Even though some raw material prices have declined significantly since the summer, projects due to break ground in the coming months won’t necessarily experience major savings. Tim Kohut, director of architecture for the nonprofit Abode Communities, formerly the Los Angeles Community Design Center, said

his organization is projecting a roughly 6% inflation rate for two projects about to break ground. That jump would be slightly less than the approximately 9% inflation rate that the group, which builds mostly low-income housing projects, has been tracking in the past few years. But as demand continues to soften, Kohut anticipates that suppliers will decrease production to keep prices high. “We are seeing a softening in materials but we’re not seeing a discount yet,” he said. By fall 2009, however, when the group expects to break ground on the Venice Hope Recreation Center — a California Hospital Medical Center project at Venice Boulevard and Hope Street — Kohut said costs could be significantly lower, especially if labor costs continue to fall as bidding among subcontractors gets more competitive. “Around 2001 we were working with about a 3% inflation rate,” he said. “Will we get back to that? I think it will take another year of very slow construction, but I think it’s entirely possible.” Broken Ground, Out of Luck If lower construction costs are a potential benefit for future projects in Downtown and beyond, they are added frustration for developers who have already broken ground. Because material costs are usually locked in

when developers ink their construction loans and sign deals with sub-contractors, lower steel prices today do not help those who put shovels in the dirt yesterday, said Sonny Astani, chairman of Astani Enterprises, developer of the 30-story Concerto condominium project under construction in South Park. “The banks tie your hands to a point that every day you’re cursing yourself and there’s really no break for people who already have taken the risk,” Astani said. “I just want to stop and fire everybody and come back in six months and start over.” In reality, Astani is not quitting: The 348unit Concerto is due for a late 2009 completion he said, but if the market remains cold, he expects to suffer from weak condominium demand. Despite paying top dollar for concrete and steel, Astani knows that buyers don’t care. If he keeps prices where they were when he devised the project, “they won’t buy,” he said. Saeed Farkondehpour, developer of the under-construction Medallion project at Fourth and Main streets, is in a similar bind with his $125 million-plus mixed-use development. “We’ve already locked in most of the contracts so we’re not benefiting from the lower costs,” he said. “So it’s lower rents, lower demand, same old high costs.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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14 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

DowntownNews.com

photo courtesy of Los Angeles Philharmonic

OLIDAYS HOPPING H Yeah, That’s the Ticket Sometimes the Best Present Is an Experience by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

ome people are practically impossible to shop for. Either they already seem to have everything or, when you ask what they want, they say they don’t want anything. That may be the case, but we all know you can’t go empty-handed during the holidays. So if a physical object is impossible, consider the next best thing: an experience, in the form of tickets to a Downtown Los Angeles event. Fortunately, the community has something for almost everyone, no matter how much they protest. 1) The Basketball Fan: Anyone who follows the bouncing ball would kill for a chance to check out Kobe, Pau and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers in a game at Staples Center. The best place to start is either lakers.com or ticketmaster.com, though be prepared: Now that the team is good again, many games are sold out, and sometimes the best seats remaining are corner Premier Level spots for $155 a pop. If just seeing a game is more important than quality of play, consider Clippers tickets (clippers.com or ticketmas-

Classical music fans would relish a last chance to see L.A. Phil Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen before he leaves the Downtown company.

photo by Gary Leonard

Is there a basketball fan in your house? If so, consider tickets to see the Lakers or the Clippers. The former is a better team, the latter has less expensive seats.

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ter.com), where prices are lower and there is more availability. Also, check out the Ticket Exchange listings on both team’s websites — sometimes you can luck out with season ticket holders who need to sell. Box office at 1111 S. Figueroa St.

(213) 228-7317 or aloudbizforum.org. 4) Rock This Way: Not only is Club Nokia the newest venue in Downtown, it has one of the most exciting lineups, and music fans get an opportunity to catch some of their favorite acts in a relatively small venue (capacity is 2,350) with great acoustics. Punk legends X play with the New York Dolls on Dec. 20, and those who kick it older-school can take in BB King Dec. 27-28. Or, get funky Jan. 2 with George Clinton & ParliamentFunkadelic. The list, and the beat, goes on. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or clubnokia.com.

2) The Play’s the Thing: If your loved one prefers the stage to the court, consider heading to the Music Center. In January the Ahmanson Theatre hosts the musical comedy Minsky’s, set in Prohibition era New York City. The Mark Taper Forum also has a musical next month, a revival of Pippin, about King Charlemagne’s oldest son. Although orchestra seats at the Ahmanson start at $80 and many Taper seats are $40, both venues offer an ample number of $20 tickets each night. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

5) Wish Full-Phil-Ment: If the music’s too loud, then you’re too old. Sorry, we got caught up in a cliché. What we meant to say is if the rock’s too loud, then maybe try the L.A. Philharmonic. Any classical fan would love an opportunity to see Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, who will leave the orchestra at the end of the season. Next month he has two prominent pairings at Walt Disney Concert Hall, appearing with Emmanuel Ax Jan. 9-11 and soprano Dawn Upshaw Jan. 15 and 17. Also, Salonen conducts The Rite of Spring Jan. 16 and 18. Buy tickets now so your beloved can say he or she saw Salonen back then. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 8502000 or laphil.com. Contact Jon Regardie at Delicious Fruit Design regardie@downtownnews.com.

3) Giving Them the Business: For some people, business is not just business, it’s also entertainment. If that reminds you of someone, then buy them seats to the Aloud Business Forum at the Central Library. The breakfast events feature some of the most prominent names in money, among them John Zogby, president and CEO of the Zogby Report, who appears Jan. 15, 2009. Although many seats for theFruitseason Sundae already went to subscribers, some single tickets are available. AtFruit630 W. Fifth St., Sundae

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Downtown News 15

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HEALTH Oh, Baby Imaging Techniques Give Parents-to-Be Sneak Peaks by Lori HarLan

sk any pregnant woman and she’ll likely agree: Forty weeks is a long time to wait for the arrival of a baby. But elective ultrasounds are expanding parents’ options beyond the confines of the doctor’s office. Elective ultrasounds allow expectant mothers to get a sneak peek at the baby — and even determine the gender, if the baby cooperates — as early as 18 weeks into gestation. In a routine pregnancy, most doctors perform one sonogram, typically at 20 weeks. “We perform ultrasounds at 20 weeks because that’s when you get the most bang for your buck,” said Dr. Alyce Sherbenou of Springfield (Ill.) Obstetric and Gynecologic Associates, or SOGA. “The baby is big enough that we can see the body’s structures without obstruction.” As the baby grows and fills the space available in the uterus, it becomes more difficult to get a clear picture. Baby Reflections in Normal, Ill., offers expectant parents a variety of options for non-medical ultrasounds earlier and more often than traditionally scheduled. Using three- and four-dimensional technology, these procedures create a clearer image than traditional two-dimensional ultrasound. As the name implies, two-dimensional ultrasounds scan only two planes. Three-dimensional scanning captures an additional plane, but produces a still image. The most advanced method, a 4-D ultrasound, adds realtime movement, explains Joette Cole, a registered diagnostic medical sonographer at Baby Reflections. A 4-D ultrasound uses more information to produce the picture; the result is a more true-to-life image of the baby. Elective ultrasounds, and 4-D ultrasounds in particular, have been popular on both coasts and in major cities for about five years. Kara Leak, 33, read about 4-D ultrasound in parenting magazines when she was pregnant with her second child and knew immediately that she wanted to do it. “Ultrasounds at the doctor’s office were very formal. I wanted more. I wanted to have a different experience. From a parent’s perspective, to see the face and all the features makes it more real,” Leak said. The procedures are the same as those offered in a doctor’s office, said Cole, who has 14 years’ experience in medical sonography. She stresses, though, that elective procedures are non-medical, and there is no doctor on site to read the results. “This is not diagnostic. We make sure the person has already had at least one ultrasound with a doctor,” she said. “People sometimes want reassurance from us that everything looks okay, but we just can’t give it to them. This is strictly for fun, to have a keepsake of the pregnancy.” Sherbenou doesn’t suggest elective ultrasounds to her patients because they aren’t medically indicated — and aren’t covered by most insurance — but said she understands the appeal. “Pregnancy is amazing. A lot of parents, especially firsttime parents, are so excited to find out the gender that they’re willing to travel and pay for the chance to find out two weeks earlier than their doctor would have told them. It’s just something people can do for fun,” she said. Ultrasounds are “very safe,” Cole said, with no proven medical risks to patients or their unborn babies. “The machine does make loud clicking sounds as it gathers information, but we aren’t aware of any significant effect on the fetus,” Sherbenou said. SOGA doesn’t offer 4-D on site because the ultrasound staff is too busy with medical ultra-

di e P i n a M t s Be Voted

sounds to perform elective ones. “The medical aspect is obviously our priority,” she said. At Baby Reflections, the whole family can be part of the process. “I stress to people that this is a relaxed environment. You can bring anyone you want — young or old. You won’t disturb anyone by bringing small children. In fact, it’s a great way for a young sibling to see the baby and understand what’s going on,” she said. The average number of family members at a session is four or five, but Cole said she’s had as many as 15 people observing a session. Leak and her husband, who were expecting their third child, brought their two daughters along. “My older daughter is 3 1/2 years old, so it was a neat experience for her. We talk about the baby and, while she has

Check Children’s Eyes

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some concept of it, the ultrasound was really fun for her. She could see the baby’s face and hear the heartbeat,” Leak said. The opportunity to see and bond with the baby is the biggest benefit for parents, siblings and grandparents, Cole said. The clear images let family members see distinctive features and decide if the baby has Grandpa John’s nose or Aunt Betty’s chin. “You can see little hands and feet and the features of the baby’s face. People can’t believe the images. It’s surprisingly clear,” Cole said. “Customers who come in after the baby is born always say how much the baby actually looks like the 4-D image. It’s very realistic, and people are amazed at how true-to-life the images are.” With her second pregnancy, Leak said the 4-D ultrasound allowed her to see the baby’s features, and she noticed striking similarities to her older daughter. The Leaks don’t want to know the gender of their third child until it’s born, but they still were able to enjoy the 4-D ultrasound. “Joette is so good at what she does. She showed us what we wanted to see but didn’t spoil it for us,” Leak said. “Even after the 4-D, we still have no idea of the gender.” The experience of the sneak preview — even without gender determination — is somewhat habit-forming. Leak said if she and her husband have another child, she definitely will have the 4-D ultrasound again. “It’s just an amazing experience,” she said. Article by Copley News Service.

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A traditional ultrasound, taken about five months into pregnancy. New tools allow parents to get a glimpse of their child with greater detail, including facial characteristics.

ision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one-quarter of school-aged children, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “If vision problems aren’t treated within the first few years when the brain is forming connections, normal vision may never be achieved,” says Dr. Rohit Varma, a professor of ophthalmology and preventive medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. “There’s no consensus on how early eye screening should begin, but exams starting at six months of age can’t hurt and could pick up serious problems early.” Common vision problems during childhood include crossed eyes, lazy eye, drooping of the upper eyelid, color deficiency or blindness, near- or farsightedness and astigmatism. Varma, who sees patients at the USC Doheny Eye Institute, says parents should watch for these symptoms: inability to track moving objects; squinting, closing or covering eyes; holding objects close to the face; crossed or wandering eyes; tilting head to one side; redness, discharge, haziness or tears in eyes; and rubbing eyes repeatedly. —USC Health Magazine

Grain Gain

reads labeled “multigrain” or “7-grain” are not necessarily whole grain, Consumer Reports on Health says. A true whole-grain food should have at least two grams of fiber per serving and list whole wheat, barley, brown rice, whole rye or rolled oats as the first ingredient. —Copley News Service

Into the Pool

kay, so you’re not Minnesota Fats. But you don’t necessarily have to be good at billiards to enjoy the game, or to benefit from it. Not only will one hour of shooting pool improve one’s coordination, but a 155-pound person will also burn about 176 calories. —Copley News Service

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16 Downtown News

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Thought provoking news deserves thoughts. Give us yours. DowntownNews.com Now with reader comments.

ing way or are unstable? Do you have painful bone spurs? Foot and ankle pain are often difficult to diagnose since the conditions may range from a common sprain to chronic lateral ankle pain or even arthritis. A sprain can result from a fall, a sudden twist, or a blow to the body that forces a joint out of its normal position and stretches or tears the supporting ligament. Chronic lateral ankle pain is usually caused by incomplete healing after a sprain. Arthritis, however, is a

little more serious. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is often exacerbated by the overuse of weight-bearing joints as people age or indulge in high impact sports. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage covering the bone ends gradually wears away. In many cases, bone growths called “spurs” can develop in osteoarthritic joints. The joint inflammation causes pain and swelling. Some relief may be possible through rest or modified activity. In finding solutions to foot and ankle pain, California Hospital surgeon Dr. Jonathan Saluta recommends a conservative approach to treatment, such as proper shoes, taping deformed toes, prescribing special orthotic inserts and, in some cases, injections to relieve pain.

“Good specialists will always consider the safest way to get their patients back to their routines, without jeopardizing their patient’s well being,” says Saluta, who is based in Downtown Los Angeles. Saluta, a Duke University fellow with an orthopedic specialty in foot and ankle surgery, also cautions that it is unwise to ignore untreated sports injuries, which may lead to joint arthritis, bone dislocation and arch collapse. Surgery is considered a last resort. “Great care must be taken to avoid damage to critical nerves and vessels in the foot.” As such, Saluta says, “surgery is recommended only if all other conservative measures fail.” In the event surgery becomes necessary, more and more doctors are

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Downtown News 17

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for Better HealtH turning to arthroscopy, a diagnostic and minimally invasive procedure commonly used to evaluate knee disorders. This technology has now been adapted for foot and ankle pain. Ankle arthroscopy can be used for a variety of purposes; the most common is diagnosing injuries of the cartilage surface. Once injuries are diagnosed, treatment can be implemented through the small arthroscopic portals. The outcome for arthroscopic patients is excellent with less pain and bleeding, with patients achieving an 84% success rate. These are results comparable to open treatment. Usually ankle arthroscopy can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Arthroscopy can also be used to remove bone spurs, which may restrict the motion of the ankle. Large spurs may become very painful and impair the ability to walk. Problems such as synovitis and impingement from soft tissue scarring can also be treated by ankle arthroscopy. A more recent development is the technique for arthroscopy of the pos-

terior ankle. Through this approach, Achilles tendonitis as well as painful posterior heel spurs can be treated. Heel pain due to plantar fasciitis can be treated with an endoscopic approach through the bottom of the foot. Results for this procedure are usually as good as those performed with open techniques. Saluta strongly advises that a surgeon with proper training and experience with arthroscopic techniques should perform these procedures. Saluta cautions that while the benefits of surgery are numerous — not least of which are increased mobility, pain reduction and overall improvement in the quality of life — it is important for patients to consult their orthopedic specialist and understand the options available and appropriate for their individual situation. “Surgery may be an option for many patients. At the same time, other therapies such as orthotic inserts, proper shoe fitting and physical therapy should not be overlooked.” The Orthopedics Program at California Hospital Medical Center boasts a roster of 14 specialists whose

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18 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

DowntownNews.com Health

Profound Impact Weight-Loss Surgery Can Have Benefits, Though It’s Not for Everyone by Meghan Lewit

n his office at USC’s Health Sciences Campus, Dr. Namir Katkhouda flips through photographs of former patients — once morbidly obese — now trim and smiling while posing in fashionable clothes or suntanned at the beach. “The impact of bariatric, or weight loss, surgery is profound,” says Katkhouda, professor of surgery and director of the Keck School of Medicine’s minimally invasive surgery program. “It is one of the most gratifying surgeries I perform.” Together, Katkhouda and Dr. Peter Crookes, associate professor of surgery at the Keck School and director of the USC Bariatric Surgery Program, perform more than 300 obesity

surgeries each year. Bariatric surgery involves surgical alteration of the stomach or intestine in order to produce weight loss. The most common procedures are the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, which reduces the stomach to a small pouch and reroutes the intestine, and the Lap-band, which constricts the upper part of the stomach with an adjustable belt. “Weight loss is achieved by three major routes: appetite is suppressed, a sense of fullness is created, and, in some cases, the food that is eaten is not all absorbed,” Crookes says. “While the precise mechanisms by which appetite and satiety are altered are still not known in detail, many patients find it easier to stick

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with a diet after surgery than before.” The results are often dramatic. Most patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery lose about 75% of excess body weight within a year. With the Lap-band, it is about 50%-60%. However, Crookes notes, bariatric surgery requires patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get regular exercise and take vitamin supplements daily for the rest of their lives. A strong support system at home is important in order to maintain the positive effects of the surgery. In the first few weeks after surgery, there is a small chance of a leak, a pulmonary embolus (blood clot that lodges in the lungs) and bleeding. While the risk of death is less than 1% in most cases, prospective patients should attend educational seminars to understand fully what is involved in the procedure, Crookes says. “It helps if they are savvy with the Internet because there is so much information about these procedures available,” he says.

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Weight loss surgery rose in popularity in the late 1990s with the introduction of laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, gastric bypass. In 2002, Katkhouda performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery at USC, and the number of cases grew exponentially in the following years. The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recently recognized the USC Bariatric Surgery Program at USC University Hospital as a center of excellence. In the United States, where about one-third of the population is considered obese, bariatric surgery can be a useful tool against obesity and related diseases, Katkhouda says. However, patients must demonstrate that they have previously tried to lose weight through non-surgical diet and exercise programs before undergoing the procedure. “Morbid obesity is considered by the government and medical profession as a chronic disease, no different from diabetes, cancer or anything else,” Katkhouda says. “And overeating is now recognized as an addiction no different than smoking, gambling or alcoholism.” In determining who qualifies for bariatric surgery, the surgeons evaluate patients’ Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the weight divided by the square of the height. The threshold for surgery is typically a BMI over 40, or between 30 and 35 if the patient also has a disease related to obesity, such as diabetes or sleep apnea. The surgery generally improves overall well-being and has been shown to help reduce obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and lower back pain. There has been discussion about offering the surgery to diabetics with lesser degrees of obesity, although it is not currently permitted in the U.S., Katkhouda says. “It is a serious commitment, and patients considering bariatric surgery should research the program thoroughly,” he says. “But for many patients, the results are astonishing.” For more information, see surgery.usc.edu/bariatric. To make an appointment for an evaluation, call (323) 442-6219. Article courtesy of USC Health Magazine.

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Downtown News 19

CALENDAR Rock This Way The Downtown Roster of Live Music Venues Is Growing

The L.A. Weekly Detour Music Festival in October draws thousands of fans to outdoor stages near City Hall. It is one of Downtown’s many rock options. photo by Gary Leonard

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

owntown Los Angeles is known for many things, including its skyscrapers, historic lofts and being the seat of local government. In recent years, the community has gained another boasting point: It is increasingly a place to go after dark. As more residents have arrived and more buildings have risen, numerous clubs and bars have opened. Additionally, a new batch of live music venues have set up shop. While the community may not yet be Downtown Rock City, the neighborhood is becoming a major player in the industry. Downtown has always had some rock, of course. In the ’80s, Chinatown’s Madame Wong’s was a go-to spot for punk shows, and for decades the late, grimy Al’s Bar in the Art District hosted legions of local and touring acts. There is still a semblance of the past, thanks to the decadeold punk club The Smell. That venue is augmented with the historic Orpheum Theatre and the new Safari Sam’s. Then there are the big-name additions: the intimate Club Nokia at L.A. Live, the year-old, mid-sized Nokia Theatre and the 9-year-old Staples Center. The community is also home to several music festivals. Below is a roundup of the places that prove that, yes, Downtown rocks. Club Nokia: This 2,350-capacity venue has been open for barely a month, but has already hosted a diverse collection of musical acts including Beck, the B-52s and New Kids on the Block. With a big dance floor, balcony seating, great sightlines and a swanky VIP lounge, the club is being programmed by longtime industry player Goldenvoice. Coming Up: Nokia is flexible enough to accommodate the crazy kids likely to turn up for the Stone Temple Pilots’ New Year’s Eve show and the, uh, more mature crowd that will take in ’80s crooners Simply Red on March 13. Rick Springfield and 38 Special perform Friday, Dec. 12. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 480-3232 or clubnokia.com. Nokia Theatre: Since opening in October 2008 with an inaugural ticket featuring classic rock icons the Eagles and country act the Dixie Chicks, this 7,100-seat theater has continued to reel in the big-name headliners. Case in point: singer-songwriter (and Jennifer Aniston beau) John Mayer performed this past Saturday. Though three times the size of Club Nokia, the Nokia Theatre also boasts good sightlines — in the Anschutz Entertainment Group project, no seat is further than 200 feet from the stage. Also a go-to event space, Club Nokia recently hosted the American Music Awards and the Grammy Award nominations concert on Dec. 3.

Coming Up: Superstar Stevie Wonder performs this Saturday, Dec. 13; the reunited 1970s R&B/soul group Labelle, featuring Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, appears Jan 29. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. Staples Center: The oldest piece of the L.A. Live music venue trio, the 20,000-seat Staples Center is Downtown’s place for blowout, spectacle-driven arena concerts. When not hosting basketball, hockey and other sports events, Staples Center welcomes acts like Oasis (who performed last Thursday). Coming Up: Disney’s “High School Musical on Ice” lands Dec. 18-21; the “Dancing With the Stars” tour hits Dec. 27; and Britney Spears appears April 16. The rest of the 2009 lineup has yet to be announced, but think big. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or staplescenter.com. The Orpheum Theatre: This Broadway landmark, with its ornate marquee, orchestra seating and restored marble lobby, still smacks of its vaudeville past. It has gone through many incarnations since then, however, emerging in the 1960s as one of Downtown’s premiere rock ’n’ roll venues, a distinction it still carries. Coming Up: The Orpheum calendar is chock full of slightly off-the-beaten path performers including Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux on Jan. 24 and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird on Feb. 18. At 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

Coming Up: A slate of local punk acts headlined by the great Dickies plays Friday, Dec. 12; the first Devil Doll’s XXX-mas Bizarre is Saturday, Dec. 13, featuring music, burlesque performers and vendors offering holiday shopping opportunities; and multiple unsigned acts perform in the Emergenza Festival Sunday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 19. At 448 S. Main St., (213) 327-2220 or safarisams.com. Festival Central: Some of the best Downtown rock experiences are not at any of the above locales, but arrive as part of seasonal events or occasional rock festivals. The L.A. Weekly Detour Music Festival erupts in October outside City Hall, while this month promoter Spaceland Productions is scheduling Thursday night indie rock at the Pershing Square ice rink. The We the People festival brought a host of acts to the Cornfield in September, and Ozomatli is one of the many bands that has appeared at the Cal Plaza Watercourt as part of the eclectic Grand Performances summer concerts Coming Up: Giant Maximus on New Year’s Eve will feature headliner Moby and numerous other dance acts. Info at giantclub.com. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

The Smell: This scrappy, 10-year-old space in the Historic Core is a haven for cool kids, current and aging punks, recently converted hipsters and anyone else willing to squeeze in and get a little sweaty in the name of hearing some loud music. With an all-ages policy, $5 admission to most shows and a vegan snack bar, The Smell is about as far from Staples Center as a concertgoer can get without leaving Downtown. The bookings are mostly local unknowns with names that will make you feel young again. The club has been a home base for buzz band No Age. Coming Up: Check out Knelt Rote on Thursday, Dec. 12; Pizza! on Saturday, Dec. 13; or Okie Dokie on Sunday, Dec. 14. All shows feature several acts. At 247 S. Main St., thesmell.org. Safari Sam’s: Located in the Regent Theatre, Safari Sam’s opened in Downtown after closing its Hollywood location. Downtowners looking to explore another off-the-beatenpath venue for can take advantage of the free entry being offered to anyone who lives in zip codes 90013-90015 and 90021 for the club’s first six months.

photo by Gary Leonard

For a decade, the Historic Core dive The Smell has been featuring some of the city’s best underground acts. Admission is usually $5.

20 Downtown News

DowntownNews.com

December 8, 2008

Peeping Poet Marisela Norte Finds Inspiration in the Mundane by Richard Guzmán city editor

s she walks down Broadway to her bus stop, Marisela Norte looks around at the busy storefronts with the knockoff toys and the clusters of people walking by. She peers over at a sign outside a clothing store that reads “Family Pants.” “What the hell are family pants?” she asks. “Are they one pair of pants for the whole family? That’s not much of a deal.” She spots an old man in a fedora and a long coat walking down the street who seems lost in thought. “He looks interesting,” she says. Soon her attention turns to a man talking loudly on a pay phone. She stops to listen. “Did you win?” the man yells into the phone. “Did you win? What did you win? So you won then?” “You can’t make that up,” she says, explaining what inspires her poetry. For Norte, it’s the beauty of the mundane and relishing the everyday moments others may overlook. “You hear things you couldn’t possibly make up. I think it’s beautiful,” says Norte, who will read from her first book, Peeping Tom Tom Girl, at the Central Library’s Aloud speaker series on Monday, Dec. 8, along with longtime collaborator Maria Elena Gaitan, who will accompany Norte on the cello. The book is a collection of gritty, witty and often humorous poems inspired by her travels on the No. 18 bus from her home in East L.A. to her job as membership coordinator at MOCA in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s an inspiration born of her chosen modes of transportation: the bus and walking. Norte, a life-long Angeleno, has never had a driver’s license. “That’s my office,” says the 53-year-old as the No. 18 whizzes by. Her choice to ride the bus came during a driver’s ed class in high school, where she took lessons in a Ford Pinto before realizing that those cars were prone to explosions in rear-end collisions. It has benefited her work. “Not having to concentrate on traffic and other vehicles, I

see this stuff, I’m there. You start looking at details,” she says. “I write on the bus. I sometimes go undercover and listen to conversations by putting on headphones and not turning the music on because I want to eavesdrop on people’s conversations.” An Important Voice Those conversations, along with the keen observations and imagination that drive her poetry, have earned Norte a place as a respected literary voice. As a spoken-word performance artist, Norte has performed throughout California and the United States, as well as in London’s Tate Modern museum. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Interview, Elle and the L.A. Weekly. She has also co-authored plays and her writing can be found in anthologies such as Bordered Sexualities: Bodies on the Verge of a Nation. “I’m a fan of her work,” said Louise Steinman, curator of the Aloud series, observing that Norte’s writing captures the tenderness and difficulty of urban life. “She has a very open heart. She’s got a wonderful grasp of literature and it’s a very rich tapestry that comes through in her poetry of life lived.” The title of Norte’s book speaks of her voyeuristic nature and of the inspiration she finds while peeping at other people’s lives, as is evident in the book’s title poem, where she writes: I am a peeping tom tom girl And from my seat on the downtown bus I have been driven through Been witness to Invaded by Las vidas de ellas I’ve made myself up To the girl who sits in the back with the black mask Over her eyes The high school girl Too anxious to experiment La muchachita stuffed into the pink lampshade dress Who listens

photo by Gary Leonard

Poet Marisela Norte considers the No. 18 bus from East L.A. to Downtown to be her office.

As her parents argue through different neighborhoods Who shuts her eyes And tries to memorize The menus on the chalkboard outside Her work has earned significant praise. George Lipsitz, a professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego, dubbed her “the poet laureate of the people.” But Norte sees herself differently. “I don’t call myself a poet. Anyone can wear a black shirt,” she jokes. Instead, Norte considers herself a writer who records and documents the “everyday heroes” she finds so fascinating. That interest is evident when she walks down the street. With an almost childlike wonder she examines the world around her, never afraid to stop, stare and celebrate the sights she enjoys and lament some of the changes she sees, which she also strives to document. “I’m just a writer, I keep it simple,” she says. “I just have stories to tell.” Norte will read on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. at Aloud in the Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

December 8, 2008

Downtown News 21

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NewYear! H appy

photo by Deirdre O’Callaghan

Party Like It’s 2009

Downtown Offers a Wealth of Ways to Welcome the New Year by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

n Downtown Los Angeles this New Year’s Eve, there will be plenty of ways to say goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009. With so much activity and an active nightlife aided by last week’s opening of South Park’s L.A. Live, it’s essential to start making plans now, since the neighborhood will certainly be a popular destination for revelers. So whether you want to welcome the last year of the first decade of the new millennium with live music, a basketball game, a giant block party, a night out with the hip kids or even just a drink with friends, here are a few choices for celebrating the new year in Downtown. Conga With the Gypsies: The recently opened Conga Room at L.A. Live will be jumping with the beats of the Gypsy Kings for the club’s New Year’s bash. With room for 1,000 people, a contemporary Latin vibe and the backing of celebrity investors such as Jimmy Smits and Jennifer Lopez, the club is sure to be packed. Tickets start at $150 for the 11 p.m. show, which will feature the pop-flamenco sounds of the internationally acclaimed band. Made up of French-born brothers with Gypsy parents who escaped from Spain during the Spanish Civil War, the band revolutionized the Rumba Catalana, a mixture of classic flamenco music with a funky dance vibe. For Downtowners, this means a night of energetic dance music to celebrate the end of ’08. Although blacktie attire is not required, be aware that the Conga Room is a stylish spot, so trendy threads are recommended. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. All Ages Show: You don’t have to be 21 or older to enjoy

good music and a good New Year’s Eve party Downtown, but it would help if you’re at least old enough to remember the ’90s, since the recently reunited alt-rockers Stone Temple Pilots are scheduled to perform at Club Nokia. Tickets for the all-ages show start at $78.50 for the 8:30 p.m. concert. With charismatic but volatile lead singer Scott Weiland, the band hit it big in 1992 with their debut alum Core. The show at the 2,350-person capacity venue at L.A. Live is sure to attract the nostalgic grunge crowd as well as younger fans who may be more familiar with Weiland’s stint as lead singer for the short-lived but critically acclaimed Velvet Revolver. Regardless of who goes, tickets will go fast, since this is a relatively small venue and it is the biggest party night of the year. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 480-3232 or ticketmaster.com. Game on: They may not have a winning record and they may not be as popular as the other hometown team, but who knows, things may turn around for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009. And if their luck does get better, you can say you were there on the last night in 2008. On Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m., the Clippers take on the Philadelphia 76ers (the game marks the year’s lone return to Clipperdom of former team star Elton Brand, who followed the money to Philly in the off season). Tickets start at $12, so it’s likely one of the least expensive things you can do on New Year’s Eve. And going to Staples Center is always a good time regardless of whether your team wins or loses. But in case a Clippers loss really bums you out, the game should be over early enough to get a drink before the new year arrives. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or nba.com/clippers. Block Party: The third annual Giant Maximus party, billed

Moby will headline the third annual Giant Maximus party. The outdoor event is expected to attract 10,000 people.

as the planet’s largest 21-and-over New Year’s celebration, is expected to bring about 10,000 revelers to Downtown. Set on a seven-acre site under a massive tent, the party blends European cirque-style big-top fun with a festival atmosphere and live music on three stages. Moby is set to headline the event that goes from 7 p.m.-4 a.m. Tickets are $65 and will also provide access to performances by Paul Oakenfold and Benny Benassi, among many others. If dance music isn’t your thing, the event features an acrobatics show and carnival rides including a Ferris wheel. At 835 Francisco St., (323) 464-7373 or giantclub.com. Dinner Out: There are plenty of places in Downtown to combine a night of dancing, drinking and a nice dinner, but one of the newbies on the scene is Seven Restaurant Bar. The restaurant/lounge that opened over the summer will offer a four-course dinner and party with seatings at 7:30 and 11:30 p.m. The dinner, $150 per person, will include a see New Year’s Eve, page 22

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DowntownNews.com patio as five DJs spin on two floors. There is 25,000 square feet of space and four bars to party the night away. The celebration includes fire dancers and a $75 prix-fixe dinner from Chef Oz. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going with a date consider upgrading to the J-Gold package, which is a champagne dinner for two and bottle service for $175. Pre-sale tickets for the party alone are $25. At 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com.

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Continued from page 21 choice of entrees such as beef tenderloin, baked branzino and chicken breast topped with asparagus, and each couple will get a bottle of champagne. Once dinner is over, partiers can head to the bar or outdoor patio where a DJ will spin dance tunes in preparation for the midnight countdown. At 555 W. Seventh St., (213) 223-0777 or sevenrestaurantbar.com.

Shaken, not Stirred: If a big noisy party isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your thing, but you still want to hear some good music, then break in the new year with Pink Martini. Performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the band has been described as a mix of a classical chamber music ensemble, a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra and a Brazilian marching band. The 14-piece group will perform at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $65. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Contact Richard GuzmĂĄn at richard@downtownnews.com.

Downtown Snow: Who says Downtowners canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a white Christmas? J Lounge says we can, and their New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Winter Wonderland Experience proves it. The South Park restaurant and club will have man-made snow fall in the outdoor

photo by Gary Leonard

The brand new Conga Room, which holds 1,000 people, celebrates its first New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve party with a performance by the Gypsy Kings.

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December 8, 2008

Downtown News 23

SearchDowntownLA.com

LISTINGS The

EVENTS

Three Filipino Tenors, a Boys Choir and Dante Walk Into a Bar…

SponSored LiSting FIDM Museum Shop FIDM Museum Shop, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu. December, Mon.-Sat.: Tired of the same stores for your holiday shopping? With holiday gift seekers in mind, the FIDM Museum Shop is opening every Saturday in December from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in addition to being open during its regular hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The shop offers an array of gifts, including fashions and jewelry made by school alumni.

by AnnA Scott, StAff writer

One

Now that we’re officially in a recession, the Bootleg Theater’s “99 Cent Only” show has never been timelier. The thrifty production, now in its sixth year, features costumes and set pieces purchased entirely from 99 Cent Only stores. This season, creator Ken Roht has conjured an interactive, R&Bthemed beauty pageant titled Calendar Girl Competition. Twelve girls act as contestants, and the audience crowns a new winner every night. The show, which opened Dec. 6, runs Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Dec. 21. The Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com.

Hear the phrase “boys choir” and you might think of the ragtag bunch of kids belting carols at the mall last year. But the sound of Germany’s Tolzer Knabenchor, one of the world’s best boys choirs, has been likened to angels. On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. the choir performs with renowned baroque orchestra Musica Angelica at Zipper Concert Hall. Accompanied by two adult soloists, the choir and orchestra will perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (310) 458-4504 or musicangelica.org.

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photo courtesy of Joan Jonas

Nee Phil

Thursday, dec. 11 ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7241 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Writers and surprise guests read alongside Sudanese refugees who recount their lives before their displacement, the reasons for their flight and their hopes of someday returning home. Downtown Art Walk Info and map at downtownartwalk.com. Noon-9 p.m.: The Downtown Art Walk is a selfguided tour that showcases the many art venues in Downtown Los Angeles — commercial art galleries, museums and nonprofit art venues. Walk, or, starting at 6 p.m., ride one of Esotouric’s curated shuttles — the Hippodrome and Hazard’s Pavilion — for free. Ice Skating at Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., laparks.org. Noon-2 p.m.: Pop tunes from singer Gayle Day. Thursdays at Central Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room A, (213) 228-7241 or lapl.org. 12:15-1 p.m.: Times are tough. Why not make a holiday gift, instead of buy one? Learn how this week at “Craft Thursdays.” Continued on page 24

photo by Corbett Barklie

Monday, dec. 8 ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7241 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Author Marisela Norte teams up with friend and cellist Maria Elena Gaitan for an evening of spoken word and cello. Norte will read from her debut collection of poetry, “Peeping Tom Tom Girl,” with soundtrack help from pal and fellow East L.A. native Gaitan. Light of the Angels L.A. Live, Nokia Plaza, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-5483 or lalive.com. 7-10 p.m.: This specially commissioned production combines more than 1 million lights, holiday music, 11 giant video screens, live performances and special guests. The show is free to the public with four nightly performances taking place on the hour beginning at 7 p.m. Through Dec. 31. Check lalive. com for free concerts all week in Nokia Plaza. Tuesday, dec. 9 Ice Skating at Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., laparks.org. Noon-2 p.m.: Spellbinding blues from the Voo Doo Blues Band. Live Figure Drawing Downtown Art Gallery, 1611 S. Hope St., (213) 255-2067 or downtownag.com. 7:30-10:30 p.m.: Downtown Art Gallery hosts a live figure drawing session for $12 every Tuesday. Contact gallery prior to attending and bring your own materials. Wednesday, dec. 10 The Photographer’s Eye Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room A, (213) 228-7241 or lapl.org. 12:15-1:15 p.m.: A discussion with photographer Martin Cox, who employs a diverse set of photographic technology: traditional cameras shooting black and white film, alternative cameras such as the “Diana” and a Russian 2 1/2 camera. His current work explores these soon-to-be-retired photographic processes with a focus on his childhood home in England and his neighborhood in Echo Park. ALOUD at Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7241 or aloudla.org.. 7 p.m.: Laura Miller, a book critic and co-founder of Salon.com, fell in love with the Narnia tales as a child. She’ll speak with L.A. Times Book Editor David Ulin, about her new work, “The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia,” in which she returns to Lewis’ classic fantasies to see what mysteries Narnia still holds for adults.

‘Don't Miss’ List

Musica Angelica photo courtesy of

Downtown’s Asian-American theater company, East West Players, this week presents ’Tis the Season, a concert by the apparently literal-minded ensemble Three Filipino Tenors. The tenors, aka Antoine Reynaldo Diel, Randy Guiaya and Lito Villareal, are known for churning out classic tunes with enough energy to turn each show into its own holiday party. The trio will perform Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum, 111 N. Central Ave., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

Four

In the wrong ha nds, a reading of works by epic po German historia et Dante Alighi n and theorist eri and A by Warburg co numbing evenin uld make for a g. But with perf mindor mance artist Jo the event becom an Jonas in char es a multimedia ge, spectacle. On M 8:30 p.m. Jonas onday, Dec. 8, will appear at R at EDCAT to pres recent works. R ent her two mos eading Dante is a t 30-minute, doub inspired by Dan le video projectio te’s Inferno and n Paradiso, featur over the world. ing footage from The Shape, the Sc all ent, the Feel of T presentation, is hings, also a vide a 70-minute in o te rp lecture on the Pu retation of a 19 eblo Indian snak 23 Warburg e ritual. REDCAT St. in Walt Disne , 631 W. Second y Concert Hall, (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Need a little afternoon pick-me-up that is also a chill-out? Then head to Pershing Square, where until Jan. 19 you can ice skate to the sounds of live music. Free daytime concerts offering everything from cover bands to reggae take place throughout the month. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, check out the Voo Doo Blues Band, which hammers out tunes by Herbie Hancock, Muddy Waters and the like. Or, if pop is more your style, take in British crooner Gayle Day’s summery melodies on Thursday, Dec. 11. All concerts are from noon-2 p.m. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St. Check laparks.org/ pershingsquare for upcoming schedule. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

December 8, 2008

LADowntownNews.com

But Wait, There’s More!

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to downtownnews.com/listings for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown.

Additional Event Information on the Web

Continued from page 23 Town Hall Los Angeles Omni Hotel, 251 S. Olive St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. Noon: Town Hall Los Angeles hosts Pete Delgado, CEO of the Los Angeles County University of Southern California Healthcare Network at the County Department of Health Services. Delgado will discuss his large role in L.A. County health efforts and take questions after the program. Reservations required. China-U.S. IT Business Forum Westin Bonaventure Hotel, 404 S. Figueroa St., (626) 872-1680 or gmrengineering.com. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: GMR Engineering hosts a business forum and networking event for those in the information technology industry in China and the United States. It’s free, but RSVP required. Friday, dec. 12 Ice Skating at Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., laparks.org.

Saturday, dec. 13 Weekend Recess for Grown-Ups Tolberman Recreation Center, 1725 Tolberman St., (213) 610-3233 or extremebootcamp.com. 10 a.m.-noon: Remember how much fun you had at recess in elementary school? Regain that feeling at this weekend adult recess in bouts of dodgeball, kickball, freeze-tag and handball. Hosted by Extreme Boot Camp, Downtown L.A. Every Saturday, except holiday weekends. Beans! Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., Mark Taper Auditorium, (213) 228-7241 or lapl.org. 10:30 a.m.-noon: Culinary Historians of Southern California presents “Beans!” Ken Albala and heirloom bean expert Steve Sando expound upon

War II veterans. Call the above number for more information.

Please email Your event info To submit events for this section, please email a brief description, street address and a public phone number to calendar@downtownnews.com. Web addresses are welcome. Listings are due 10 days before publication date. Because of time constraints, submissions without full information cannot be considered for publication. Inclusion in the listings is at the discretion of the L.A. Down town News. Sorry, we cannot accept followup calls about event listings.

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the wondrous history and many varieties of these little treasures. Student Art Exhibition with MOCA National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1765. Noon-2 p.m.: MOCA’s High School Classroom Collaboration program infuses the visual arts into the curriculum of area high schools. A culmination of the year’s workshops and activities, participants from the School for the Visual Arts and Humanities at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center host a reception for their student art exhibition. WWII Oral History Project Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Meeting Room B, (323) 469-9774 or lapl.org. Noon-3 p.m.: David Meyer-O’Shea, leader of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, is looking to conduct interviews with World

8-10 p.m.: Latin ska band Upground rocks out while you skate. Wine Tasting at Ralphs Ralphs, 645 W. Ninth St., (213) 452-0840. 5-8 p.m.: Ralphs has wine tastings, often with cheese or desserts, most nights. Tonight the Downtown grocery store’s wine steward, Mike Berger, focuses on the Wines of Francis Ford Coppola. Free, custom bottle engraving with purchase.

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December 8, 2008

Downtown News 25

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26 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

DowntownNews.com

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Bunker Hill real estate Co, inC. For rent: EstablishEd 1984 ❏ Promenade West-2 Bed. 2 Bath. 5th Floor. $2,200 Month ❏ Bunker Hill Tower-2 Bed. 2 Bath. City View. $2,200 Month ❏ Westchester-2 Bed.2 Bath Condo. Vu. Wood Floor. $2,000 Month Foreclosures-los Angeles ❏ 4 Bed, 2 Bath. Pasadena. Semi Circular Driveway. Price $424,900. ❏ 3 Bed, 2 Bath. Pasadena. Great For Growing Family. $419,900 ❏ 3 Bed. 2 Bath. Pasadena. Upgrades. 3 Car Gar. Big Lot. $624,900 ❏ 3 Bed. 3. Bath. Lawndale. Tri-Level Townhouse. Large $354,900

Promenade West Condo

2 Story Townhouse. West Facing With Downtown City View. Upgrades. Large Patio. Very Elegant. Asking $599,900

Mirza alli

Broker/Realtor leasing-salesloans-refinance

(213) 680-1720 e-mail us: Info@bunkerhillrealestate.com

Now open. Santee Court lofts. www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com At home in the Fashion District.

Call us for other condos for sale or lease Dwntwn & surrounding areas!!

MOVE-IN SPECIAL REAL Lofts REAL ARtist foR LEAsE foR LEAsE

Open Open House House Sunday Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm 12:00pm-3:00pm 1250 Ave. L.A. L.A. 1250 Long Long Beach Beach Ave. (Friendly (Friendly Fun Fun Community) Community)

Wood fireplace, Wood floors, floors, New kitchen, fireplace, high room, pool. pool. high ceilings, ceilings, jacuzzi, jacuzzi, laundry room, Gated Downtown. Gated Parking. Parking. View of Downtown.

Santee Court Lofts www.santeecourt.com from $1,450

746 S. Los Angeles Street, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014

(866) 894-5154

716 los angeles street, los angeles, Ca 90014

(213) 623-8101 • www.santeecourt.com

Sorry Sorry No Dogs 1100 Ft 2000 Ft. Prices from$1750–$2500 $1600-$2300 1100 Sq Sq Prices from $1750–$2500 1100Sq Sq Ft Ft ––– 2000 2000 Sq Sq Ft. Includes Includes 1 Pkg space. Call Emily Emily (866) 425-7259 Call

Luxury Rooms in Downtown Monthly Rents Start at $880 1 & 2 Bedrooms Available • Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDeNT RaTe! $780 1 person

$100 OFF on 1st months Rent Exp. Dec. 31st, 08

Mayfair Hotel 1256 West 7th street

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

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

Available Immediately 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. The building also has approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some small offices available. These spaces can be viewed by appointment. Information available to qualified prospective tenants. Email request to mdavis@shammasgroup.com or call (213) 746-6300

Monthly from $695 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151 madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

the keys to your new home.

Find them here in classiFied!

December 8, 2008

Downtown News 27

SearchDowntownLA.com

Parking

volunTeer oPPorTuniTies

Monthly Parking Available services

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.

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION!

kiDs Performing scHools

$125. group Discounts. 727 W. 7th Street Call (310) 693-0362

Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Familiar o Amigo Arrestado? Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español

CHildren’s performing Group! Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! See SunshineGenerationLA.com or call 909861-4433.

get your green carD or ciTiZensHiP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

miscellaneous

launDry services

in An ACCidenT? Send for Free Ultimate Car Accident Handbook. Experienced Attorney tells All. Call Recorded line Today. 1-800-882-3866. (CalSCAN)

Beverly's Laundromat

for sale

Let us do the dirty work!

Drop Off

25% OFF

1st time customers only. Minimum 25lb

sonsini original drawing from 1983 for $250. Roger 323-6667892.

DowntownNews.com

Free Pick-up & Delivery with minimum 35lb

610 s. rampart Blvd. @ 6th st (213)804-0069 Open Daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m. • Free Parking

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices Downtownnews.com

ARTIST LOFTS FOR LEASE Live/Work in Downtown Fashion District

HeLP WAnteD

700 to 1500 Sq. Ft. Lofts. High ceilings, skylights, cable, kitchen, bath+shower, laundry room, elevator, controlled access, sub. parking. Sorry no dogs. Call George: 818-634-7916 or 310-275-9831 x24

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

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

MASSAGEH

3386766 0119

HBODY

Rent

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

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site, street parking, 1 yr lease.

sakura HealTH gym & sauna, inc.

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

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

Move-in Special 1/2 Month Free

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown L.A.

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

TWO MONTHS FREE!

Locations Nationwide

Train prog dirs to dsgn & dev afterschool physical activity programs & dvlp training policies & budgets. Reqs: Bach+5yrs exp. Apply: A World Fit For Kids, Attn: J Poulos, Job#38, 678 S. La Fayette Pk Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Single rooms starting from $550/mo.

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

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

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

non-profit Health outreach managing director.

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

Jenny Ahn jahn@regentBC.com

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

(213) 996-8301 www.regentbc.com

Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

Downtownnews.com

Last years guide was a hit... Don’t miss out! Los Angeles Downtown News is offering a once-a-year opportunity to reach more than 180,000 potential customers with its 2009 Los Angeles Restaurant Guide. 25,000 copies of this attractive magazine will be “outserted” around Los Angeles Downtown News. We also print 55,000 extra copies that are requested throughout the year by visitors, concierges, meeting planners and hotel and convention organizers. Don’t miss out. Your review-style ad includes an inviting, upbeat story and a color photograph of your restaurant. The Restaurant Guide will be online throughout 2009 at DowntownLADining.com.

The 2009 Los Angeles Restaurant Guide Publishes March 30, 2009. Deadline is February 2, 2009. Reserve your space today. Call (213) 481-1448.

28 Downtown News

December 8, 2008

DowntownNews.com

photo by Gary Leonard

We Got Games Hoops Highlight Is the Return of Shaq Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or nba.com/lakers. Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.: After a tough road trip that handed the Lakers only their second loss of the season, the purple and gold return to Los Angeles for a four-fame homestand starting Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns — featuring Mr. Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal’s former teammate/nemesis Kobe Bryant and the rest of the squad should have an easier time of it when they play Sacramento on Friday and Minnesota on Sunday. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or nba.com/clippers. Monday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.: The Clippers still have yet to string consecutive wins together, but with

the addition of powerful low-post presence Zach Randolph, Mike Dunleavy’s bunch has gotten an obvious boost. On Monday they face a tough Orlando Magic team, then after a quick road trip to Portland (Dec. 12), they return for a rematch against Yao Ming, Ron Artest and the Houston Rockets.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers return for a four-game homestand starting this week. Shaquille O’Neal and the Phoenix Suns come to town on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or kings.nhl.com. Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m.: The Kings have been floating around .500 over the past month, and that’s great news for a team that hasn’t been more than two games better than break-even since the 2005-2006 season. Alexander Frolov leads the team in goals while Erik Ersberg has generally been strong in the nets. This week the Kings host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday and the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. —Ryan Vaillancourt

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

G r a n d To w e r 255 South Grand Avenue

Promenade To w e r s 123 South Figueroa Street LEASING INFORMATION

LEASING I N F O R M AT I O N

M u s e u m To w e r 225 South Olive Street

(213) 229-9777

LEASING I N F O R M AT I O N

(213) 617-3777

(213) 626-1500

It’s our business to make you comfortable...

sauna and recreation room with kitchen.

Far below are a host of businesses ready to

at home, downtown. Corporate and long term

Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty

support your pampered downtown lifestyle.

residency is accommodated in high style at

homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender

Even the most demanding tastes are satisfied

the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles,

skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to

with gourmet dining, shops, theatres and

studio, one bedroom and two bedroom

complement your decor.

the cultural events that make headlines.

apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant,

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore.

heated pool, spa, complete fitness center,

Visit the Towers Apartments today.

SINGLES, STUDIO, ONE BEDROOM & TWO BEDROOM RESIDENCES

MAID SERVICE FURNITURE HOUSEWARES CABLE UTILITIES PARKING WWW.GKIND.com