12-12-11

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 40, Number 50

INSIDE

Prep for New Year’s Eve!

21

2

New Downtown businesses, and other happenings Around Town.

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Editorials: Council redistricting faces some big challenges.

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

December 12, 2011

House of the Hungry A Massive Restaurant/Bar/Market Hybrid Opens in the Historic Core

Urban Scrawl on holiday sales.

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A new member of the local canine crew.

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A jury story with a twist.

6

photo by Gary Leonard

Alex Moradi (center), who in 2005 opened the Pacific Electric Lofts, has now brought the 5,900-square-foot Artisan House to the Historic Core. His partners in the project include Raphael Javaheri (left) and Patrice Rozat.

by Richard Guzmán

House the next trendy place in Downtown. That’s the last thing Moradi wants to hear.

“In the old days they had the soda fountain, drug store and diners combined in one place.

That’s what we’re trying to replicate here,” Moradi said last Monday, two days before a massive grand opening party for the restaurant at 600 S. Main St. “The key is we’re not looking to be the next L.A. hotspot. We’re looking to be here long term.”

Moradi knows Downtown Los Angeles. In 2005,

Officials show off pirated goods.

city editor

Please be kind to the meter cop.

A Question of Grassy Returns

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ou can call Downtown developer Alex Moradi’s new project many things. Artisan House is a restaurant. It’s also a bar, a deli and a market. Additionally, at 5,900 square feet on a key corner in the Historic Core, it’s potentially a new catalyst for the neighborhood, though only time will tell.

One thing is for sure though: Don’t call Artisan

With South Lawn Destroyed, Some Hope City Hall Will Turn Toward Drought-Tolerant Plants

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

Big fun in Downtown bars.

19

24 CALENDAR LISTINGS 28 MAP 29 CLASSIFIEDS

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ccording to the office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Occupy L.A. encampment at City Hall left behind 25 tons of debris, killed more than an acre’s worth of grass and destroyed some high-tech sprinklers. The damage is tentatively expected to cost taxpayers between $300,000 and $400,000.

But some say that in suffocating the lawn, the protestors may have inadvertently gift-wrapped an opportunity for the city to walk its talk when it comes to environmental sustainability.

Instead of re-sodding the acres around City Hall, some are calling for the city to toss the turf and instead install a drought-tolerant native land-

scape — just like the city encourages its residential and commercial property owners to do.

“Re-sodding would be a missed opportunity,” said Melani Smith, president of Downtown-based landscape architect Meléndrez, the firm that designed the succulent-rich outdoor areas around the neighboring Police Administration Building.

On Monday, officials with the Department of Recreation and Parks, including representatives from the Forestry Division, are due to begin a thorough analysis of the damage at the now fenced-off City Hall lawn. By Wednesday, the city expects to have a reliable accounting of the damage done to the 1.7-acre space that includes 480 sprinklers, 80 trees of varying species and the hardscapes.

Officials will then start considering how to pro-

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

he opened the 314-apartment Pacific Electric Lofts.

The project has become the anchor of the neighborhood. Artisan House is on its ground floor.

Moradi’s partners in the project include cofounder Raphael Javaheri and managing partner Patrice Rozat. The executive chef is Jason Ryczek, formerly of One Sunset and BOA in Santa Monica.

With seating for nearly 150 people in the dining see Artisan House, page 12 ceed with cleanup and improvements, said Ramon Barajas, the superintendent of maintenance operations for the department. Reducing the grass footprint, Barajas said, is “on the radar” as an idea.

Peter Sanders, a spokesman for Villaraigosa, said it is too early to determine how the park should be addressed.

“Everything is on the table at this point and there will be discussions in the coming weeks and potentially beyond on how to best rehabilitate the park,” said Sanders. The mayor, he added, is “definitely interested in that discussion, but right now, I don’t think we can say either way.”

Gathering Place For years, Villaraigosa has pledged to make Los Angeles the greenest big city in the country. To help achieve that aim, the Department of Water & Power provides $1-per-square-foot rebates to commercial and industrial property owners for replacing their lawns with drought-tolerant plants.

The park around City Hall, however, is not just for looks. The south lawn in particular serves as a public gathering space — a role that native plants like cacti and succulents would not really support, see Lawn, page 14

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN

T

he Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator has enlisted two more young technology firms for its new office space in the Arts District. The addition of Heliosolar, which makes building-integrated solar systems, and electric generator innovator ClearWater Holdings, means the incubator site now houses four companies. It has space for about eight. The CRA-funded facility leases office space to clean technology startups and connects them with a network of business professionals and investors in Los Angeles. Adding two more tenants is significant because it puts the site well ahead of schedule, which calls for filling the facility by the end of 2012. It debuted in October. “We’re also ahead of plan in terms of momentum,” said LACI director Fred Walti. “People are starting to get to know about us and hear about us. We have a couple companies in the pipeline, and we get more inquiries every day.” The Incubator is the first step in creating the La Kretz Innovation Campus, a 60,000-square-foot clean technology hub on the block bounded by Hewitt, Colyton, Fifth and Palmetto streets. It is slated to break ground next year and open in 2013.

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Take a Survey, Help Start a School

R

ecently, a group of parents came together in an early effort to explore opening a charter elementary school in Downtown Los Angeles.

Now, the Downtown Center Business Improvement District is conducting a survey to help with the effort. The justlaunched online survey is seeking out Downtown parents and asking what they intend to do once their kids reach school age, and if they would consider sending their children to a charter school in the Central City. To fill out the survey, go to research.net/s/charter-school. A DCBID official said that, among the first 80 respondents, 40% said the current Downtown options would prompt them to leave the area once it is time for their kids to start school.

The DCBID is hoping to get responses by Sunday, Dec. 18. The next step would be to meet with charter schools interested in coming to Downtown. The recently formed group of Downtown parents hope to bring a charter school to the area by the fall of 2013.

Information is at DowntownL.A.Parents@ groups.facebook.com.

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

Many Imitate, But None Compare!

Live Karaoke Night @ Down & Out

Street Named For Arts Patron

T

he city last week paid homage to the late philanthropist Richard Colburn by naming a Bunker Hill street after him.

On Wednesday, Dec. 8, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry appeared at a ceremony near the intersection of Second Street and Grand Avenue, in front of the arts school largely paid for by the business-

tax included

December 6, 2011

man. A portion of the street is now officially Colburn Way. “In financing this treasure in the heart of our Downtown cultural corridor, he made it possible for aspiring musicians and dancers to explore, enhance, and highlight their talents while putting Los Angeles on the map as the home to such a premier arts institution,” Perry said in a statement. The Colburn School originally opened in 1950, and moved from the USC see Around Town, page 11

metro.net/expo

Watch for trains on Metro Expo Line tracks.

Test trains are now running in preparation for the upcoming opening of the Metro Expo Line, the newest extension of the Metro Rail system.

Trains will be moving in both directions on the tracks.

Find out at the landmark location near Downtown. Home of the original Chili-burger.

Quality and value since 1946:

Chili Hamburger .............. $2.05 Chili Cheeseburger ........... $2.45

William Mitchell

Please remember to: > Obey all tra;c signals and warning devices. > Be alert at all times. Watch for a “TRAIN” signal. > Always push the button and wait for a “WALK” signal before entering the crosswalk. Never jaywalk across the tracks. > Never sit or stand on tracks. > Do not go around lowered gates. > Never make a left turn on a red arrow.

This tra;c rule will be enforced by cameras at intersections. > Right turns are allowed while an Expo Line train is passing through, but may be restricted at certain intersections.

For more safety tips, visit metro.net/ridesafely.

12-0889jl ©2011 lacmta

Cleantech Incubator Adds Two Firms

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 3

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4 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

December 12, 2011

EDITORIALS A Grass Roots School Shift

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

A

lot of great things have happened in Downtown Los Angeles in the past 10 years. The residential revolution prompted entrepreneurs to open scores of restaurants, bars and service businesses. The community is now lively and full of people who care passionately about Downtown.

Despite this progress, Downtown is still lacking in elementary schools. Unless local institutions are created to serve the growing number of young couples who are starting families, Downtown will suffer. Without quality elementary schools, some of the new inhabitants will leave.

People have been aware of this problem for several years. However, little has been done to address the matter. Although more than $1 billion worth of new high schools have opened in the Downtown environs in the past half decade, Los Angeles Unified School District officials recently stated that there are no plans to create a new local elementary school.

This is why a fledgling effort to start a charter school in Downtown is so important, and why it is worth the time and resources not just of a group of parents, but of the wider community, including the business sector.

The neighborhood cannot complete its evolution until all local children have the opportunity to receive a free, quality education.

Last week, Los Angeles Downtown News wrote about how a group of families are beginning to explore opening a charter school.

The facility, like all charters in California, would be funded by the local school district (in this case the LAUSD) but would have some freedom from strict district standards and requirements, including the curriculum.

Charters also are not bound by union contracts.

The local group is at the beginning, and its members may not be aware of how daunting the process is and how many hoops they will have to leap through. The myriad challenges include fundraising, site location, board development and writing the charter. They will need to find a principal, find teachers, find capable administrative and support staff and, most importantly, find students — this does not mean only the children of local marketrate loft inhabitants who would prefer not to pay for private school. The organizers will have to reach out to the greater community, including those for whom English is not the first language, and convince parents that a new school in Downtown would be right for their child.

The new group hopes to open a school in the fall of 2013 (families with children are asked to fill out a survey at research.net/s/ charter-school). It’s an ambitious timeline, and the only way they will reach that target is if they have the backing and aid of experienced individuals from throughout the community. They will need help from people willing to put in long hours for no pay.

This is a great time to create a Downtown charter school, but the idea is only the start.

The process will be difficult, but the result will be worth the work.

Redistricting Process May Fail the Smell Test. Again.

P

ublic meetings about redrawing the boundaries of Los Angeles’ 15 City Council districts began last week, with a session for the Ninth District, which includes much of Downtown, slated for Saturday, Dec. 10 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press). A total of 15 meetings, one in each district, are scheduled through Jan. 10.

Redistricting, which takes place once every 10 years, is not the sexiest subject — it’s hard to get most people excited about making maps which ensure that bizarrely shaped territories have approximately the same number of residents and keep together socalled “communities of interest.” However, it is one of the most important political happenings of the next year.

The process is prompting a notable level of public skepticism.

Some inherent flaws, and a recent political brouhaha, are focusing extra attention on the matter.

The extra attention is a good thing. It means that redistricting will be closely monitored by public watchdogs and the media. All of those involved in the process, including city council members who have the potential to play prominent roles behind the scenes, know that every move will be scrutinized. That knowledge may or may not slow down or shape the maneuvering.

One of the most important aspects of redistricting will be what occurs in Downtown Los Angeles. This community was the playing field for a bitter turf war 10 years ago, and it’s easy to foresee the same thing happening again. The resurgence of the area since 2002, with billions of dollars worth of development and thousands of new residents, many of them in market-rate apartments and condominiums, makes this an appealing territory for council members. The concentration of high-propensity voters and the thousands of businesses — everything from small stores to huge law firms — means this is both a potential rich source of votes and a solid base of political donations. It’s natural that several politicians would make the case that they should have a piece of the richness that is Downtown.

However, the politicians’ desires do not serve the community’s needs. As this page has stated before, as much of Downtown as possible should be kept in a single district. For the past decade most of the area has been part of the Ninth District, and the residents and workers have been served very well by this geography.

Although portions of the Central City also fall in the First and 14th districts, the community is in a stronger position when it has a dominant role for a single council member. Carving it up so it is a tiny minority of three districts would reduce Downtown’s influence in each of those areas. This core of Los Angeles, even with its

diverse mini-districts, is a community of interest.

Some of the happenings that have already taken place raise questions as to how fair, and how void of political influence, the process can be. This starts from the very architecture of city redistricting: Unlike the new state system in which elected officials have no role, local council members, the controller and the city attorney each appoint one member to what is formally known as the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission. The mayor has three posts. This means that every commissioner has ties to someone (or multiple people) with an interest in how the districts are drawn. An independent boundary-making panel would be better. Unfortunately, that is not happening this time.

Another troubling matter is the hiring of Andrew Westall as executive director of the commission. While Westall may possess experience in the thorny field of drawing borders, he was previously a legislative aide to incoming City Council President Herb Wesson.

The relationship gives the impression that Wesson and his allies will be in a position to fare better than his foes. Redistricting always produces winners and losers, with some people getting the territory they want and others stuck with second or third choices.

It will be hard for this process to pass the smell test when the commission’s leader has such close ties to the most powerful member of the council.

The possibility of backroom dealing, along with allegations that maps were being drawn before the public meetings began and that votes were simultaneously being lined up for Wesson’s election as council president, recently raised the hackles of Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry. She protested the process and quit her role as council president pro tempore, the second highest position on the panel.

Perry, of course, is running for mayor. While political points can be gained from loudly stating that a process smells rotten, she is a longtime member of the council. She knows how things work, that a lot of city deals happen behind closed doors, and her cautions should at least be given the benefit of the doubt.

Perry may or may not be right in this regard, but the current situation is troubling, to say the least.

In an ideal world, Los Angeles would have a more independent redistricting process, one where current officeholders are removed from the system. That should happen in the future.

For the moment, however, the system is what it is. Thus, everyone involved should operate as if a spotlight is shining brightly on them. That’s because they are being watched.

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 5

Opinion

Enter the Little Dragon Life in Downtown Changes Immediately When You Get a Dog right here. You won’t get a better price.”

He didn’t strike me as a dog lover. I wondered if he saw a prized fighter in Dragon’s musculature.

Another stranger approached on the same corner and fell into full puppy trance. He crouched down and invited Dragon to crawl into his lap, talking to her in baby voice.

“That’s a great looking dog,” he said. Then he stood up. “I have some OCs, man. OxyContins” I thought I’d gotten a dog, not an icebreaker for enterprising black market pharmaceutical dealers.

There are other pitfalls. Sidewalk animal waste is, quite simply, a scourge. For every five dog owners who wouldn’t

dare leave a pile of poo on the pavement, it seems there’s one numbskull who lets it fester.

If there’s one goal I have as a member of the canine club, it’s to not be that guy. I detested that guy before I adopted Dragon, and I detest him still. May he slip on his dog’s waste pile and land safely in another.

Most dog owners I’ve encountered, however, seem eager to keep the sidewalks clean, like they know such behavior is a must if their canine counterparts are not to wear out their welcome — an ironic scenario in its own right. Despite loft buildings accepting pets and the robust local pet services industry, there’s really nothing inherently dog friendly about the concrete-laden Central City, especially compared to other parts of Los Angeles where yards, leafy hillsides or beaches are easier on the paws.

But no matter the environment, dogs seem to infect people with delight. Downtown’s better off with our dog neighbors. I know I am.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

photo by Ryan Vaillancourt

Downtown has a new resident: a reporter and his wife now share their home with Dragon, a 20-pound, fawn-colored pitbull.

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

A

bout a month ago, I joined Downtown’s least-secret social club. I got a dog.

The 3-month-old shelter rescue was quick to initiate my wife and I. The white shag rug in the living room bears an orbish, golden stain. The new wooden coffee table is freckled with pinprick nibbles. A section of floorboards, shocked by REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

a short soak in urine, is slowly lifting out of place. Several sound sleeps were interrupted by the snare drum hack of a puppy battling kennel cough. The lung-clearing routine gave our little creature the appearance of an angry reptile trying to roar fire. We named her Dragon.

There’s little need to expound on how much work a dog demands. Just accept that it’s a lot, and it’s life-changing. The cliché comparison between dog and child rearing is not wildly off base (they’re both cute; are motivated exclusively by affection and food; and don’t use a toilet). Yet, with one around, life is mostly better.

Dragon and I go on at least three walks per day around the neighborhood. Getting out with the pup is an excuse to see what’s happening on the street, in different districts. It’s also an opportunity to visit pals. Dragon is already a happy regular at the Old Bank District Market on Main Street. She jolts in to see Ray, the Milkbone-dispensing proprietor, every time we pass.

You’d think that in this dog-saturated community, locals would be numb by now to the power of the puppy. You’d be wrong.

On the street, Dragon — a 20-pound, fawn-colored pitbull with hazel-cream eyes — attracts the attention of almost everyone. I can see a stranger’s eyes widen and their cheeks bunch up from half a block away. They crouch down and coo, practically wagging their tails at the site of my silky soft affection specialist. I almost want to give them a treat.

Dogs are social creatures that live to please their masters, even if doling out affection is often a means to a meal. It’s why the nibbled furniture is unquestionably worth Dragon’s welcome home ritual, when, as we open the door, she wags her tail with such gusto that her rear end curls toward her nose. My wife calls it the donut dance.

Less expected is that, as a new member of the Downtown Dog Club, I’ve become more social too. I have met more neighbors in three weeks than I have in the nearly three years that I’ve lived in Downtown. Evening trots to the Police Administration Building lawn yield training tips, suggestions for deals on pet food and warnings about which dogs can get a little nippy. Mostly it’s light banter among new friends, introduced by their four-legged social engineers.

Not all pet-initiated human exchanges are pleasant. A man approached Dragon and I outside the Rite-Aid at Fifth and Broadway while we waited for my wife to grab something inside.

“Nice pup,” he said. “How much? I’ll give you $125 cash,

Introducing

St.Vincent Spine Institute St. Vincent Medical Center, the first hospital in Los Angeles, is proud to announce that St. Vincent Spine Institute is now open. Led by nationally renowned spine physicians Dr. Fardad Mobin and Dr. John J. Regan, joined by Dr. Jennifer K. Sohal, the institute offers comprehensive spine care, including non-surgical treatment options. Additional procedures are performed at St. Vincent Medical Center using the latest minimally invasive techniques and image-guided technologies. The opening of the new St. Vincent Spine Institute furthers St. Vincent Medical Center’s commitment to provide quality, compassionate health care—now and in the future.

Schedule an Appointment 213-484-7310 2200 W. 3rd Street, Ste 120 B Los Angeles, CA 90057 StVincentSpine.com | Follow us on Facebook

St. Vincent Medical Center is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Hospital in the Los Angeles Metro Area for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Care and eight additional service lines.

Pictured left to right: John J. Regan, M.D.; Jennifer K. Sohal, M.D.; Fardad Mobin, M.D., FAANS

6 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Oy, the Jury Doing One’s Civic Duty Leads to a Few Unexpected Twists

by Jon Regardie

I noticed nuances I had glossed over the first time. For instance, the video informed me that jurors in criminal cases are not allowed to visit the scene of the crime to investigate on their own. It made me think, is this an actual problem? Do four or five dozen people a week show up at old crime scenes, and when a cop approaches, do they respond, “It’s OK officer, I’m on a jury”?

Losing the Lottery Here’s the thing about being in the juror assembly room: You spend every moment hoping you’ll lose the lottery. Each time a panel is called, your heart pounds like a drum circle at Occupy LA (minus the cloud of marijuana smoke). If you don’t get tapped, you feel like you’ve dodged a bullet.

A panel at 9:30 a.m. garnered 50 names, or about one-quarter of the room, and I was not among them. Twenty minutes later 31 people were called. An hour after that two panels scooped up 66 people. While this meant I had some solid bullet-dodging skills, I also realized my odds of survival were decreasing with each announcement.

The next panel was called at 11:55 a.m.

After 20 names I was still bullet dodging.

Same story at 25 names. Then, with number 29, I heard my name.

I sighed and recalled the 1985 Tom HanksJohn Candy film Volunteers. There’s a moment when Hanks’ rich-boy character, who is none too pleased about being sucked into the Peace Corps, intones, “It’s not that I can’t help these people, it’s that I don’t want to.”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t sit on a jury. It’s

executive editor

W

hen I learned that I had to report for jury duty on a recent Monday, I experienced the same gut reaction that everyone has: How do I get out of this? Jury duty was maybe the 108th THE REGARDIE REPORT

most fun thing I could do that day, right between No. 107: get a root canal, and No. 109: read yet another Newt Gingrich story.

Just like Gingrich coverage, there’s no escaping jury duty. I made plans to report to the L.A. County Superior Courthouse on Hill Street in Downtown Los Angeles, and began mind flashing to lines that would get me excused from, ahem, my civic duty.

Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the pain. I completed my juror orientation on the court’s website. This involved watching an hour of mind-numbing videos and answering a few multiple choice questions, the best of which concerned what to do if you lose your juror ID card: If you click “Make your own ID card,” you’ve picked wrong.

I arrived at 9 a.m. (90 minutes later than others, thanks to the online system). Soon, a man stood in front of the approximately 200 people in the juror assembly room. He said we would see a video and I got excited, hoping they’d show The Matrix, which, true story, is what happened when I got called to the Compton courthouse about seven years ago. Instead, it was one of the shorts I’d watched online.

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You’d never know it by driving by, but this building on San Fernando Road, just outside Downtown, is the home of the L.A. County Mental Health Courthouse.

that, with everything else in life, the job, the kids, etc., I just didn’t want to.

My bad attitude then got the payback it deserved. Our group of 35 was told that we weren’t going to a courtroom in the building. Instead, we all had to drive to the L.A. County Mental Health Courthouse on San Fernando Road, just outside of Downtown.

They warned us to grab lunch locally because there was no food, or anything, where we were going.

Called to the Box I know what you’re thinking: You’ve never heard of the Mental Health Courthouse. You had no idea such a thing exists. It was the same for everyone in our group.

Driving by the facility, you’d never notice it. Slugged on a gritty stretch near auto body shops and across from a Metrolink repair yard, it’s about as appealing as, well, an auto

body shop. Since I like to say nice things, I can state that, from the outside, it’s definitely slightly nicer than a crack house.

Our confused crowd entered a hot waiting room with 10 fewer chairs than people.

Finally we were led to a nondescript courtroom. A dozen of us were called to the jury box. I was number 12.

On the bench was a black-robed woman whose nameplate identified her as a commissioner. At long tables sat two attorneys, along with a man in his 60s in a sweatshirt and another in his 30s wearing a suit. We learned this was a conservatorship trial, that the older man wanted independence from his son.

About 30 minutes of questions were directed to the people in the jury box, and only a 20-something waiter who whined that he didn’t think it was morally right for him to see Jury Duty, page 10

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December 12, 2011

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

Officials Show Off Goods Seized in Downtown Raid

by Jon Regardie executive editor

D

owntown Los Angeles boasts numerous holiday traditions, among them the lighting of several Christmas trees, and the hoards of shoppers who descend on the Fashion and Toy districts for bargain gifts.

Last week, another seemingly annual seasonal happening took place: The press conference highlighting the recent seizure of pirated and counterfeit goods, with a warning to consumers across the region to be careful what they purchase in the run-up to Christmas and Hanukkah.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was joined on Tuesday, Nov. 6, on the roof of the Union Rescue Mission by representatives of the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, the LAPD, the FBI and the Sheriff’s Department to show off some of the goods seized last month during a bust of three Fashion District businesses. Trutanich said that 10 arrests were made, $23,000 in cash was appropriated, and merchandise with a cumulative retail value of more than $1.5 million was confiscated as part of an operation known as Bell Bottoms II. The name came from the fact that some of the seized items were jeans, including pirated creations bearing the label of designer True Religion.

“This crime is becoming harder and harder to hide from,” Trutanich said.

Trutanich echoed what many have been aware of for decades: That portions of Downtown Los Angeles, especially in and around Santee Alley, are a hotbed for faux goods. Police have routinely raided businesses on the alley and other streets, seizing counterfeit products.

Tables set up at the press conference contained an array of materials taken from three Pico Boulevard businesses that were raided on Nov. 17, and from four other recent Downtown seizures of pirated goods. Clothing and accessories included the jeans, T-shirts bearing characters from the Angry Birds game, San Francisco Giants baseball caps and handbags bearing the logos of Juicy Couture and Dolce & Gabbana.

Also on display were cartons of Marlboro cigarettes and pirated CDs, among them discs by hip-hop acts Rick Ross and DJ Khaled, and one titled Osama Bin Laden Corridos.

Additionally, the raids netted numerous pirated DVDs, with titles such as The Ides of March, Tower Heist, J. Edgar and The Adventures of Tintin. The latter, from director Steven Spielberg, is due to be released in theaters Dec. 21.

The films drew a warning from Larry Hahn, the MPAA’s U.S. director of content protection.

“Watch for titles that are too new to be true,” he said. “Movies that are yet to be released, or which are still in the theaters, are generally not available in the DVD and Blu-ray format.”

Steve Gomez, the agent in charge of the investigation for the FBI, said that the bust was the second part of a long-running action. In 2007, officials made about a dozen arrests for similar sales of pirated goods.

In the November action, officials raided the stores El Socalo, Moda Bivalvi and Bell of California No. 1, all of which are on the 200 block of East Pico Boulevard. Trutanich’s office has since filed suit against the owners and operators of the shops, alleging that they were selling or possessing hundreds or thousands of counterfeit items.

The suits seek a permanent legal injunction that will close the businesses for good, and prevent the individuals from opening other stores in the Downtown Fashion District.

One twist in the proceedings came from a bill introduced in 2009 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (now a state senator) that was later signed into law. In some instances, it changes the old common practice of taking counterfeit items and burning them or burying them in landfills. Now, if the trademark holder consents, there can be more positive uses.

“Items such as shoes, T-shirts and toys,” Trutanich said, “can be given to homeless kids at this time of year as presents and throughout the year to make their lives more comfortable.”

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has filed suit against the owners and operators of three Downtown stores for selling the faux items.

photo by Gary Leonard

After Crackdown on Counterfeits, Some Items to Go to Homeless Children

Pirated goods with a cumulative retail value of more than $1.5 million were seized last month in Downtown. The jeans, handbags, DVDs and more were displayed last week at a press conference.

8 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

December 12, 2011

The Secrets of the Meter Cops A Shift With a Downtown Ticket-Writing Traffic Officer

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

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s Elizabeth Pallares pulled up to a car parked in a red zone on Los Angeles near Fourth Street, the neighborhood’s warning system went into effect.

“El ticketero, el ticketero,” a man working at the entrance of a parking lot shouted. The message spread like wildfire, with others in front of a nearby store echoing the Spanish for “the ticket man.”

The message reached its target within seconds, and even before Pallares could exit her white Honda Civic with the

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Downtown traffic officer Elizabeth Pallares has been handing out parking violations for 12 years. She is one of about 30 officers who patrol the neighborhood.

24 hours a day. She shared the life of a traffic officer — the position those on the receiving end of her job frequently and derogatorily called meter maids — with a reporter and a photographer on a recent morning.

Traffic officers earn $34,000 to $58,000 a year to enforce the Los Angeles City Municipal Code and California City Vehicle Code. This means handing out tickets for violations such as expired meters, parking in red zones or parking too far from the curb.

According to the DOT website, traffic officers issued 2.7 million citations in the most recent fiscal year in Los Angeles, amounting to more than $134 million in fines.

They also help direct traffic when needed and often serve as live maps for people lost in the neighborhood. In traffic heavy Downtown, they seem to issue as many verbal warnings as they do tickets.

Pallares writes up to 40 tickets a day, although it can vary widely. She said she does not have a daily quota her supervisors order to fulfill.

Like most Downtown traffic officers, she usually patrols the streets on a bicycle. A shift in a car resulted in a relatively slow, but not uneventful morning.

“I consider it a good day when there are no confrontations, when I can help citizens get to where they want to get, since I get people asking me for directions a lot,” the 38-year old said.

Her shift runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. It starts with roll call, and by 8 a.m. she is usually out on the road. Pallares, who stands about five feet tall, is equipped with mace for protection, though she has never had to use it. Her main piece of equipment, the Auto-Cite, is a wireless computer that prints out the tickets.

Coffee Culprits About 10 minutes after starting her shift, Pallares spotted her first violator, a white GMC Yukon parked on Spring Street well before 9 a.m. It’s a common occurrence in Downtown, especially in front of coffee shops, which is where the SUV was stopped.

“Sir, you can’t stop here at this time,” she told the driver, who was sitting in his car. He drove away immediately, saving himself about $250 in ticket and towing fees.

Vehicles parked during hours when stopping is prohibited can be towed. However, that’s a time consuming process that also ends up blocking traffic, since a tow truck must be called.

“I could have given him a ticket, but if they’re sitting in the car we’ll give them a warning,” she said.

Pallares spotted a handful of other cars in no stopping zones before 9 a.m., all with drivers present. Some received warnings and quickly moved. Others saw Pallares and drove off.

“I guess I can be kind of scary looking,” she joked.

She revealed a couple of parking secrets. One is the morning grace period — she said traffic officers usually won’t cite people for a 9 a.m. no stopping infraction if it’s after 8:55 a.m.

Then there is stemming.

When cars are in zones where there is a time limit but no meters, traffic officers have to determine how long a vehicle has been parked. Chalking the tires is one option, though observant car owners can easily spot the telltale signs.

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com

The other option is writing down the positions of the tires’ air valves, or stems. She looks at them like clocks: If the back tire is on, say, 6 o’clock and the front tire is at 9 o’clock and the positions don’t change over two hours, chances are the driver hasn’t moved, and is getting a ticket.

First Hit Though the coffee-seeking SUV driver escaped, the owner of a green truck parked in front of a building under construction in the Warehouse District was not so lucky. His meter was expired.

The moment Pallares exited her car, construction workers began shouting “Raul, Raul, Raul, la ticketera!” Raul never materialized, although a man standing nearby had a mouthful for Pallares.

“Why don’t you go ticket those people that

aren’t working,” he said more than once.

Pallares understands that many people don’t like traffic officers. But she’s been lucky — she’s never been in a physical confrontation.

She’s even gone days at a time without anyone getting visibly upset.

“Either I’m just in and out fast or people accept it,” she said. “There are also people who get really upset and tell me they were only gone for a minute. You get that a lot.”

There were no other confrontations on the recent morning, possibly because a lot of parking violators seemed to spot Pallares easily.

Many ran to the meters and put one coin in when they saw her, or like the man in the red zone on Los Angeles Street, they were saved by the neighborhood’s warning system.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

Pallares writes up to 40 tickets a day. In the last fiscal year, parking fines generated $134 million for the city.

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10 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

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Jury Duty Continued from page 6 judge others was dismissed. Then suddenly, without questioning the rest of the 35, both lawyers said the 12 in the box were satisfactory. We were sworn in as jurors and told to report the next day at, surprise, 1:30 p.m.

Part Time Status Thus began the Citizen Kane of jury duty, the best experience you can have if you do have to serve. It turns out the Mental Health Courthouse has hearings in the morning so jury trials only start at 1:30 p.m. Part-time jury duty!

The case was fascinating. It concerned an articulate and intelligent but also clearly mentally ill man, whom I’ll call David, trying to extricate himself from the oversight of his son, whom I’ll call Benjamin. The conservatorship had been in place for six years. We were to decide if it should endure for another 12 months.

David proved literally incapable of keeping his mouth shut.

He repeatedly interrupted the opposing attorney. He repeatedly interrupted his own attorney. He repeatedly interrupted the commissioner. He’d yell out “Perjury!” “Lie!” or “True!” at various moments. He asked several times if he could crossexamine a psychologist called to the stand. He referred to the commissioner and one attorney as “dear.” The commissioner

would threaten to have David removed from the courtroom, but never did so.

The psychologist testified that David had been hospitalized more than 20 times since 1995, and that he was currently residing in a locked ward in a mental health facility. Benjamin described an incident in which David, clad only in his underwear, chased Benjamin around in the street with a knife.

When David took the stand, he recounted how decades before, the Army had found him mentally ill. Still, he maintained that he had no mental illness. He said that if released he would refuse his medication.

The situation was tragic, but also undeniably comic. David could be calm, funny and loquacious, then flip in a second to undisguised fury. He said he wanted his freedom, but had no reasonable counter when the psychologist testified that David threatened to kill a woman at the mental health facility, or recalled that David wanted to sue Wikipedia for $7 billion because David had invented CPR. To Deliberations Our part-time trial was short, with opening arguments, the testimony and closing arguments taking only about four hours. I expected deliberations to last no longer and be no more challenging than an episode of “Two and a Half Men.” Inherit the Wind this was not.

We went to the jury room. Then things got stupid.

I was the foreman (it basically means running a meeting), and after everyone stated initial impressions, we took a vote.

I was stunned when three people said David would be just peachy on his own.

After about 30 minutes the vote became 10-2 in favor of continuing the conservatorship. That also became the moment when the two naysayers, who for the sake of decency I’ll call Juror 3 and Juror 11, dug in their heels.

Ten people explained why it seemed David could be dangerous to himself and others, why he would be best served with his son’s guidance, why his pledges not to take his meds did not bode well for his long-term outlook.

Despite some eloquent arguments (thanks, Jurors 6 and 8), they would not budge, saying David deserved a chance at freedom. We remained 10-2 at the end of the day. The next morning, Juror 3, whose goatee reminded me of a drunken farm animal, began by stating he was even more confident in his position. We deliberated a few more hours but remained stuck at 10-2.

We informed the commissioner. She declared a mistrial.

When David learned how the vote was split, a dark look spread across his face.

“To the two of you,” he said, figuring, as he had all along, that he could address the jury, “thank you.”

“To the other 10 of you,” he continued, and his attorney put a warning hand on David’s arm. David glared at us, then his tone changed ever so slightly. He gave the hint of a smile.

He said, “Merry Christmas.”

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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December 12, 2011

Downtown News 11

DowntownNews.com

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he effort to help make the roads less crowded and safer on Christmas and New Year’s Eve is taking a municipal twist.

Officials with Metro last week announced that rides on all of the agency’s buses and rail lines will be free between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Dec. 24-25, and again on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. The effort, according to officials with Metro, is intended to encourage people not to drive to holiday parties.

DTLA Holiday Toys & Tops Drive, new playthings and clothing can be dropped off at the Anjac Fashion Building at 117 W. Ninth St. from Dec. 12-19. The items, which can be deposited in a drop-off box in the building’s lobby, will be given to kids through the Los Angeles Clippers Foundation. Suggested items include board games, puzzles, dolls and action figures, as well as winter gear such as scarves and gloves. The toy drive is sponsored by marketing agency Raindeo Beautiful and the law office of Omar S. Anorga.

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Continued from page 2 campus to Downtown Los Angeles in 1998.

A $120 million expansion for the Colburn Conservancy, a college-level facility, opened in 2007. Colburn, an amateur viola player and a lifetime director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, died in 2004 at the age of 92.

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Around Town

press themselves through writing. Now, the nonprofit has once again been recognized for all it achieves. Last week WriteGirl, which is headquartered on Factory Place, received a $50,000 grant to expand its programs. The grant came through the Sun Life Rising Star Awards Program, which works to raise high school graduation rates in large school districts by providing financial aid and educational resources to students and nonprofit organizations. WriteGirl, which was founded in 2001, mentors high school girls and provides monthly workshops to improve their writing skills. Many of its workshops and events are held at Downtown’s Miguel Contreras Learning Center.

Center, the Union Rescue Mission and Gladys Park. The event starts at 4 p.m. with police officers serving dinner to 500 homeless people in the mission’s main dining hall. Once fed, the fans and players will make their way to the gym for the 6:20 p.m. tip-off. The game is free to attend and open to the public. The Midnight Mission is at 601 S. San Pedro St.

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12 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Artisan House Continued from page 1 room, bar and patio, and the hybrid eatery/market/bar concept, comparisons are already being made to Bottega Louie, the business that in 2009 opened and established a culinary beachhead on the Seventh Street corridor. Although Moradi and his partners try to shrug off the comparison, Downtown stakeholders think the new arrival will have a similar impact.

“I think it’s a transformative project,” said Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association and the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. “It’s a huge space. That alone makes a difference.”

One-Stop Shop Taking its design cues from the 1905 Romanesque and Beaux Arts-style building, Artisan House sports arched windows on the Sixth Street side. A 44-seat patio and large windows face Main Street.

Inside, under 24-foot ceilings, the space is divided into the restaurant and bar on the north side and the market and deli on the south. A set of marbled mirrors that fold like a closet door stand between the bar and deli counter. It’s kept open during the day to create an airy feel. After dark, it’s closed to separate the spaces and create a nightlife atmosphere in the bar and restaurant area.

“I definitely wanted to have an upscale and casual restaurant with its own identity, separate from the market,” Rozat said. “On the other hand, in the daytime, I wanted to have a market that is free and flowing and full of light.”

Reclaimed walnut was used for the floors. The chairs and stools are fashioned from reused beech wood. The bar was created out of old doors from the building. Marble from the structure was also employed for the countertops.

Javaheri said more than 100 jobs have been created in the restaurant. The partners would not reveal a development price for Artisan House.

During the week the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. and 6-10:30 p.m. On weekends brunch starts at 9 a.m. and dinner runs until 11:30 p.m. The menu follows a California Mediterranean theme. Herbs and vegetables are grown in a rooftop garden. The bar is overseen by Elden McFeron, formerly of the Abbey in West Hollywood.

photo by Gary Leonard

The market, which is set off from the dining room, carries items such as fruit, specialty sodas and olive oil.

Menu items at lunch include shared plates like ceviche, Sicilian tuna tartar, foie gras terrine, flatbreads and sandwiches such as smoky fried chicken. Dinner options include duck prosciutto, pork chops and grilled trout.

It’s a menu driven by local and seasonal ingredients rather than the latest food trends.

“We’re not trying to be a foodie place and make everything crazy,” Ryczek said. “When it comes down to it, there are certain things that taste good together and certain things that don’t, and we’re going to stick to that.”

The market, meanwhile, offers deli sandwiches, charcuterie, and cured seafood and meats. It also sells wine, beer, condiments, fruit, specialty sodas, juices, cereals and bread. Javaheri said they eventually plan to add their own private label olive oils, olives and other items.

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In addition to the restaurant, a 10,000-square-foot private events space is opening on the ninth floor of the building.

Right Fit Moradi had been thinking of the right business for the ground-floor space ever since he opened the PE Lofts. He had numerous nibbles from those wanting to rent it, but didn’t think any of the offers would enhance the Historic Core.

“Some banks were interested,” he recalled. “There were a few entertainment-focused restaurants like the ones you see at L.A. Live, but nothing that was a neighborhood type of thing.”

Ironically, the seeds for Artisan House were planted in a martial arts battle. Though Moradi and Javaheri had a concept in mind, it didn’t come to fruition until Moradi, a black belt in Shaolin kung fu, started talking shop with Rozat, whom he knew from sparring sessions at a local gym.

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Voter-approved Measure R is funding new transportation projects and programs and accelerating those already in the pipeline.

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Exposition Transit Corridor Phase 2 > Exposition Transit Corridor Phase 2 has broken ground on extending the Expo Line west to Santa Monica from the Culver City Station now under construction. > Train testing is currently underway on Phase 1 of the line running between Downtown LA and Culver City opening in 2012.

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December 12, 2011

Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

“We had been training in martial arts for years and never talked about business before,” Rozat recalled. “We were just beating each other up basically.”

One day, the subject of business arose. When Moradi gave Rozat a tour of the space, Rozat, who wanted to do a Western Mediterranean style restaurant, fell in love with the open feel and the arched windows. They decided to combine their ideas. The historic nature of the edifice helped seal the deal.

“We wanted to have a place that had the kind of feeling from when this building was built,” Rozat said. “That’s why we chose a lot of wood, a lot of metal, brick. We wanted a sense of luxury, but not luxury thrown in your face.”

New Anchor Schatz said she sees many similarities between Main Street and Seventh Street. In the aftermath of Bottega Louie’s opening, the thoroughfare has seen the arrival of establishments including Mas Malo, Sugarfish and Soi 7. Next up is MoChica.

Main Street already holds numerous eateries, among

them Portofino’s, Pete’s Café and Bar, Blossom, the Nickel Diner and the recently opened Bäco Mercat. The energy continues around the corner: Sixth Street offers the refurbished 100-year-old Cole’s, Babycakes, a vegan bakery, the tequila and mescal bar Las Perlas, and Semi Sweet, a new bakery.

“Main Street is taking on a very similar feel,” Schatz said, comparing it to the Seventh Street restaurant row. “This is another restaurant street, and it has this wonderful, eclectic mix of places.”

Just as Bottega Louie helped attract many of its neighbors, Javaheri thinks Artisan House will lure additional business to the street.

“This is an anchor that this area needed,” he said. “We needed something bigger and more substantial.”

That, however, may be the only way in which the proprietors think their establishment is similar to the Seventh Street predecessor.

“It would break my heart to compare us to Bottega Louie,”

Ryczek said. “We’re a restaurant. They’re a cafeteria,” Adds Javaheri, “As far as us being comparable to Bottega Louie, the only thing we have in common is that we are both big in terms of size. We should be compared not to Bottega Louie, but to Dean and Deluca of New York.”

Representatives of Bottega Louie did not return calls for comment.

Regardless, Moradi said the more restaurants there are in Downtown Los Angeles, the better it is for everyone. He thinks that both Bottega Louie and Artisan House can do just fine considering the size of the customer base. Rather than create a sense of competition, he expects the two to be synergistic.

Actually, there is one other thing about the two that can’t be denied. Bottega Louie was also compared to Dean and Deluca when it opened.

Artisan House is at 600 S. Main St., (213) 622-6333 or artisanhouse.net.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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14 Downtown News

Lawn Continued from page 1 said Tony Paradowski, a senior associate with Rios Clementi Hale Studios, the landscape architect working on the 12-acre Grand Avenue Civic Park.

City Hall’s south lawn, Paradowski said, should be preserved as a social meeting point. It was the heart of the twomonth Occupy L.A. camp, and before the protestors arrived it hosted everything from political press conferences to a weekly farmers market. Its shady areas have historically been a popular respite for lounging on hot days.

“But some of the other areas on the east and west sides and on the north that are just visual could certainly be transformed,” Paradowski said.

Smith agreed. A viable plan would preserve the south lawn

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews as a gathering place, but make better use of, and save water in other areas. Smith envisions the north side of City Hall, which is mostly unused, as a plaza-like area with permeable hardscapes where people could sit.

Drought tolerant landscapes, like most initiatives linked to environmental sustainability, are often touted for their longterm cost savings by lowering water bills. In the short term, however, the installation of native gardens would cost more than simply replacing the turf, Barajas said.

“It saves water, but the actual maintenance costs more than turf,” Barajas said. “Now you have a lawn. You mow it, water it and fertilize it a few times a year. That’s it.”

New plants would require more maintenance, from weeding to trimming, he said.

While there are city-maintained dry gardens — the DWP’s First and Hope streets campus is surrounded by hearty, colorful succulents — there is also evidence that the city lacks the resources or protocols for taking care of them.

photo by Gary Leonard

The two-month Occupy L.A. encampment killed the grass on the South Lawn of City Hall. Officials are considering whether or not it should be replanted.

photo by Gary Leonard

The South Lawn has historically been used for community and political events, everything from speeches to press conferences to a weekly farmers market.

Succulents at the LAPD headquarters building, where the city has struggled to assign regular maintenance responsibility, are overgrown with weeds. At one point, hearty rosemary shrubs dried up and burned under the sun. Only a crew of volunteers has kept the landscape in decent condition.

The police building, Smith said, should function as a lesson for the city as it considers its next steps on City Hall.

“It would be great on the one hand to make the City Hall lawns more usable, more climatically appropriate and a manifestation of this vision that the city has to reduce water use,” she said. “The thing we need to be prepared for is, if that change occurs, you’ve got to have a plan, and you’ve got to implement the plan not just for the design but also for the maintenance.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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We will develop a customized marketing plan utilizing our bi-monthly newsletter which reaches over 150K Southern California residents, our extensive private contacts, sales events, broker caravans, and this Downtown News exclusive ‘pull out’ section you are now reading, which reaches over 80K touch points. We bring buyer and after buyer to Downtown L.A., just take a look on the following pages to see all the properties we have sold!

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Alex LiMandri: Wishes You A Year Full Of Real Estate Sales!

By Tammy Allen

Q: Happy Holidays Alex! How’s business at L.A. LOFTS REALTY? A: Happy Holidays Tammy! Or as we say in France, Joyeux Noel!

I am happy to report that the Real Estate market in Downtown L.A. continues to develop! L.A. LOFTS REALTY has been experiencing fantastic growth along with our city center. In 2010 we doubled our real estate sales, and as of today, we have reached an 80% increase over 2010. Considering we have 7 properties in escrow this week and one month left in the year, I expect that we will blow away our 2011 sales forecasts by record numbers. The growth seen in Downtown L.A. is amazing Downtown Los Angeles has become one of the fastest growing cities, not only in Los Angeles County, but in the entire state! This means it is a great time to buy or sell a property in Downtown Los Angeles.

(Lofts) brought online by a major developer (Downtown Properties) has only 2 homes left for sale! The units in resale in Downtown LA number barely over 100! Inventory is lessening so it is assumed we will see this continue to drive home prices up in the future.

Q: What are the current market conditions?

A: It’s interesting. There are far fewer units on the market that are considered “new homes”. “New homes” is a term loosely used to refer to new construction, even within a historical building. For instance, buildings such as The El Dorado Lofts, which is a historical Building that was restored and turned into 67 New Homes

Q: So do you think it is this a good time to list my home for sale in Downtown L.A.?

A: Absolutely! As I mentioned before inventory is shrinking; and, with the new Football Stadium, all the brand new venues, restaurants, hotels, and much more coming online, we expect to see an influx in new jobs downtown. Which of course means new home

see page 2

Q: What does that mean for someone that is buying a loft?

A: It means that Great deals are available for those looking to buy or sell now. We are still recovering from the real estate downturn from a few years ago, you will find some foreclosures and short sales still available. With the current growth climate in Downtown L.A. we have seen prices slowly on the rise throughout our market!

I expect these deals to lessen as we go into 2012. So now is the time to buy or sell from L.A. LOFTS REALTY!

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December 12, 2011

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We do our research and we connect our buyers with the perfect property or “loft-style”, as we like to say. The L.A. LOFTS REALTY private mailing list is a great way to receive a bi-monthly OPT-IN newsletter. You can sign up for the newsletter on our web site at www.

LALOFTSREALTY.com to stay in the know. We announce new residential projects coming online, new venues, restaurant and bar openings and our favorite local business spotlights.

Q: How do you think L.A. LOFTS REALTY compares to the other agents/real estate companies in Downtown L.A.?

A: We don’t compare! L.A. LOFTS REALTY is the BEST team of licensed real estate agents in L.A. That is why I was voted Best Real Estate Agent in Downtown L.A. since 2000. We all live, work and play in Downtown L.A. We have had a presence in Downtown L.A. since 2000. We know the developers, the community leaders, the available units, the neighborhoods and most importantly we are citizens of the community. That’s why we like to say, “We are more than just your realtor, we are your neighbor.” We have a vested interest in the success of our city center. We are advocates, helping to fight homelessness through our volunteer and fund raising work with Chrysalis (www.changelives.org). Our clients know that our detailed customer service is our number one goal! Most of our clients have become friends. Downtown L.A. is our home and we would like to make it yours as well!

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Downtown News 17

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L.A. LOFTS REALTY continues to bring more buyers to Downtown than any other agents - LIST YOUR LOFT WITH US TODAY! DRE # 01822666 – ULTIMATE LIFE LIVING, L.A. LOFTS REALTY is a division of Meridian Capital Real Estate Services, Inc. (800) 729-5111 - All rights reserved - Call for details - If you are already represented by a licensed agent, this is not a solicitation to represent you. All offers or promotions are subject to change at any time, please call for details. All listings are posted with permission of the seller. Photos used are necessarily those of offered properties. ULTIMATE LIFE LIVING, L.A. Lofts Realty is a full service Real Estate Company with Licensed Real Estate Agents.

“ MORE THAN JUST YOUR REALTORS, WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS! ” VISIT THE L.A. LOFTS REALTY REAL ESTATE OFFICE IN THE HEART OFTHE HISTORIC CORE:

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Ten Great Things To Do at a Bar, Besides Drink

Once a month, the Down and Out gives wannabe singers the chance to perform in front of friends and strangers with Live Band Karaoke.

The Best in Downtown’s Recurring Watering Hole Events

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

T

he pursuit of the perfect barstool is different for everyone. Some seek sleek décor and decorative drinks.

Others opt for dim dives and cheap suds.

Those are nice and all, but design and liquid menus don’t have to be the deciding factor. That’s especially true in Downtown Los Angeles, where there is more to do at a bar than drink.

A cadre of local watering holes add to the variety with a batch of themed nights. Some are new, some border on local institution status and some are downright zany.

Whatever they may be, they’re in your backyard. Here are 10 local options.

DEC 5

! s w e N E r o ✔ Sign Up f

Tastes Like Vinyl: Most bars employ DJs or bands to bring s.com or nNewdoes in crowds or set a vibe. Once a month, Pattern Bar at Downtow hand corner maillist ht rig r pe /form l in the up They comit something with add tos/the menu. On symbomusic: E-NEWS different ntownnews.

Look for this www.ladow P U N IG S select Mondays, the Los Angeles Record Pool brings a small trove of rare, collectable and contemporary vinyl albums into the bar and sets up a mini record shop. The Record Pool deals primarily with local labels who work with L.A. bands.

Collectors are welcome to bring their own records for sale and trade. “But don’t bring your old Cyndi Lauper record and try to get rid of it,” warns Pattern Bar owner Eduardo Martinez. Patrons can flip through crates of obscure offerings. Meanwhile, enjoy the carefully crafted acoustics in the Fashion District space. Check Pattern Bar’s Facebook page

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for the schedule.

At 100 W. Ninth St., (213) 627-7774 or patternbar.com.

with gong.

At 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/ bar107.

Don’t Stop Believing (That You Can Sing): The first Tuesday of the month offers the closest opportunity out there to channel your inner Steve Perry, Mick Jagger or Stevie Nicks. Starting at 10 p.m., belt out your favorite rock tunes, on stage, with real musicians backing you. That’s right, it’s Live Band Karaoke at the Down and Out. The power trio Tres Aliens has about 300 classics in their songbook. They’ll pull back and keep you in the spotlight if you really shine.

If well, you suck, they play a little louder and fill your voids.

But seriously people, don’t pull a Taylor Swift and butcher “Rhiannon.”

At 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-7800.

Villainous Trivia: Can you name the composer of the William Tell Overture? Do you know who won the first Super Bowl?

Is your brain stuffed with useless information? If you answered yes to the latter, then make use of that great brain every Tuesday at Villains’ Tavern, when the folks from King Trivia organize a team quiz. Unlike pool or bowling, drinking more won’t likely improve your trivia skills as the night wears on, but consider it an equitable handicap — everyone else is sipping too. The Arts District watering hole also invites burger wizards Great Balls on Tires to take over the kitchen on question and answer nights. Trivia’s at 7:30 p.m. By the by, Rossini wrote the and the Green Bay Packers captured Super Bowl I. Starts Dec. overture 9 No Gong, Get a Bong: Here’s the problem with karaoke.

At 1356 Palmetto St., (213) 613-0766 or villainstavern.com.

While it’s fun to laugh with, and sometimes at, friends who King Trivia also runs the Monday night trivia at Casey’s Irish don’t sing so well, sitting through an endless parade of tone- Pub. Speaking of Casey’s… deaf Rat Pack wannabes is about as fun as shoving bamboo under your fingernails. Regular attendees of Bar 107’s Drink, Draw, Repeat: Sitting all alone on a pleather bar stool, Wednesday night Karaoke Gong Show don’t have this when the bartender doesn’t want to hear your jokes (or your dilemma. A Skeletor-clad judge makes sure that the pitch- sorrows), sometimes all you can do is reach for a pen and deficient don’t last long. Miss a note big-time? Chirp out a start doodling on your napkin. Or, if you’re a regular at the major voice crack? Gonnnnnnng! It actually makes you root Thursday night Drink and Draw Social Club at Casey’s Irish Our Website MovieIdol” Listings LADowntownNews.com forCheck the bad singers, just like infor theFull “American montages Pub, you might sketch a pen-on-paper masterpiece while of clumsy crooners. Those with skills vie for the weekly grand nursing a Jameson. You won’t be lonely. The Drink and Draw see Bars, page 20 prize: a one-and-a-half-foot bong. Because, hey, it rhymes

DEC 12

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December 12, 2011

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20 Downtown News

Bars Continued from page 19 is a decidedly social affair, where thirsty artists share tables, drawing supplies and love for this quirky weekly tradition. Even those who can only create a hand turkey are welcome.

At 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or 213nightlife.com.

Earn Your Red Zebra Stripes: Visual art, meet fashion, and while you’re at it, say hello to live music, sexy models and performance oddities. All of these and more are present at the monthly Red Zebra party at the Crocker Club. Artist Robert Vargas is behind the lively bacchanal inside the repositioned vault of the old Crocker Bank building. Depending on the night, there might be a contortionist getting all pretzly on a table, or a midnight fashion show.

You never know. What you do know is it’s the first Thursday of every month.

At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 239-9099 or crockerclub.com.

Clown Around: Downtown has a budding comedy scene that includes regular stand-

up shows at the Downtown Independent, the Downtown Comedy Club and elsewhere. But those places are not bars. Here, we give the nod to Hamclown, the monthly comedy show at the Mezz bar inside the Alexandria Hotel. From 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on the last Thursday of every month, the Hamclown crew guarantees some of the best comedians in Los Angeles. No guarantee that you won’t snarf your Maker’s Mark.

At 501 S. Spring St., second floor, hamclown. tumblr.com.

Goonies (et. al) Drink Along: The Downtown Independent is not a bar. We repeat, while this quirkily curated theater sells beer (the ongoing special is two cans of Tecate for $6), it’s not a bar. With that distinction made, the Main Street venue’s monthly Double Feature Drink Along is worthy of this list. Here’s why: At the recurring event, the venue shows two pop classics (past pairings have included Blazing Saddles/Spaceballs, The Goonies/The Lost Boys and Labyrinth/The NeverEnding Story) and invites the audience to sip their beverages, or shout a specific phrase, at certain cues. It’s like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but twice as long and drunker. For example, in Labyrinth, every David Bowie crotch shot merited a sip

photo courtesy La Cita

Doble Poder strums out ranchero tunes at La Cita every Sunday for an afternoon fiesta.

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Every Thursday, thirsty artists gather at Casey’s for the Drink and Draw Social Club.

and a catcall. For The Goonies, drinks were encouraged each time Mikey sucked at his inhaler, and boos were elicited at every appearance of the Fratellis. Theater representatives insist the drinking cues are for soda, water and lemonade. We insist it’s more fun with the cheap Mexican beer sold on site.

At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

Tropical Moves: Got moves? Do you sweat rhythm? There are many regular dance nights at bars around Downtown. Mustache Mondays, the gay-friendly party at La Cita, is a 4-year-old institution, and Cicada Club’s Sunday night sessions in the historic Oviatt Building is a must for swingers and lindy hoppers. But if you’re feeling the need to cross body lead (and you get that reference)

look no further than Tropical Fridays at the Mayan Theater. The best salsa bands, in a city chock full of serious salseros, play the Mayan every Friday.

At 1038 S. Hill St., clubmayan.com.

Sunday Fiesta: Have you ever walked down Hill Street on Sunday and wondered who was playing the heck out of that accordion? It’s the guys in Doble Poder, the ranchero band that holds court at La Cita every Sunday afternoon and early evening. If you believe Sunday is not, in fact, a day to rest, head over for cumbia dancing, a Mexican beer and a rather reputable Bloody Mary. The fun runs from 2-9 p.m. The patio opens at 10 a.m.

At 336 S. Hill St., lacitabar.com.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com

December 12, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 21

NEW YEAR’S EVE Twelve for 2012 A Dozen Downtown Events To Celebrate New Year’s Eve

by RichaRd Guzman city editoR

T

he final party of the year is approaching. This may seem strange, considering that Christmas and Hanukkah have not arrived, but Dec. 31 is right around the corner.

When the day gets here, rejoice, because there are numerous places in Downtown Los Angeles in which to welcome 2012. There are spots where residents and visitors can party properly, and places in which a more subdued vibe takes hold. Below are 12 events to welcome the new year.

BYOB Ball: No, The Edison isn’t really expecting you to bring your own booze. The folks behind the bar in a revamped boiler room are just paying homage to those who didn’t let a little thing like Prohibition stop them from having fun. The Bootlegger’s Ball starts early, with the doors of the venue in the basement of the Higgins Buildings opening at 7 p.m. The night will be headlined by Lyndsay and the All Nighters, a sultry, jazzy cabaret act, complete with dancers, that covers songs from the likes of Etta James and Tina Turner. There will also be

a midnight toast. Of course, The Edison’s respected mixologists will prepare specialty cocktails like the gin-driven Brass Flower and the bourbon rich L.A. Confidential.

At 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com.

Have a Ball: Be ready to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning and dance the night away with La Desvelada, the New Year’s Eve party at the Conga Room.

Meaning “the sleepless night,” the fiesta at the venue at L.A. Live will include three rooms with DJs and VIP tables for the big spenders. The night will be hosted by Sandra Pena of radio station Latino 96.3 FM. Those headlining the turntables will be DJ Lurox and DJ Santa Rosa. If those names don’t sound familiar, don’t worry: it’s just dance music.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-0162 or congaroom.com.

New Year’s Feast: Before heading to the party, make sure your tummy is happy. Or, consider taking the opportunity to ring in the new year and fill said tummy at the same time. That’s what’s on tap at Patina. The

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american classics menu, champagne fountain, multiple performers and special guests throughout the evening.

Dancing and magic all night long. $85 p/p 3 course menu / 2 seatings Bells and whistles included (Party Favors)

for more info: 213.617.8555 or info@firstandhope.com 710 w. 1st St. 90012

photo by Sherri Diteman

Forget classical strains at Disney Hall on New Year’s Eve. Portland’s Pink Martini comes to town for a musical cocktail of fun.

lavish restaurant in the Walt Disney Concert Hall has three separate seatings. Those who have somewhere big to go can start at 4:30 p.m., when a three-course meal is $105 and a four-course version is $130. A 7 p.m. seating offers an insane seven courses and is $180. There’s also a 10 p.m. seating with an à la carte menu. Dishes that night will include roast duck, caviar and oysters. The La Perle cocktail is an additional $19.

At 141 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3331 or patinagroup.com.

Party in Pink: Patina is not the only reason to head to Disney Hall on the last night of the year: The actual concert joint in the venue designed by Frank Gehry is also up to something good. On New Year’s Eve, Gustavo Dudamel and his L.A. Phil cohorts see New Year’s, page 22

22 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Continued from page 21 give way to the sonic stylings of Oregon’s Pink Martini. Mixing influences from all over the globe, among them Brazilian samba, Cuban dance, jazz and old-fashioned pop, the 13-member group will perform at 7 and 10:30 p.m. The band has played here before on Dec. 31. There’s a reason they’ve been asked back.

At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

Perla Party: Dig out your ’80s gear and then get your party on at Las Perlas in the

Historic Core. DJ Darren Revel, host of the Indie1031.com show “Big Sonic Heaven, will be on hand for the Dec. 31 bash. Expect tunes ranging from new wave to post punk. If the sounds of Duran Duran, early Madonna and Modern English don’t get you in the mood (I know you’re humming “I Melt With You”), the mescal and tequila bar has plenty of Mexico’s finest drink on hand. Either way, you win.

At 107 E. Sixth St., 213nightlife.com.

Luck of the Irish: They’re not actually cousins, and they’re probably going to be too busy making music on stage to make out, but there are still plenty of good reasons to catch Kissing Cousins, the all-girl band at Casey’s Irish Pub on New Year’s Eve. If

photo by Gary Leonard

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Stay up all night with La Desvelada, a New Year’s Eve masquerade ball at the Conga Room.

you’re not familiar with the act, you’re not alone, so just expect sexually charged lyrics backed by heavy guitars and loud drums.

The New Year’s Eve show also includes indie rockers The Past Haunts and Rainbow Jackson. The bar, meanwhile, features virtually every kind of alcohol you can think of, and plenty of it.

At 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or 213nightlife.com.

It’s Over: The Mayans have been telling us for decades that the world will end in 2012 — actually, some wacky folks have been telling us that the Mayans have been telling us that the world will end in 2012. Blah, it’s all confusing. Much simpler is that the Arts District’s Villains’ Tavern is holding The Beginning of the End of the World New Year’s party with live (for now at least) bands

such as Steamhead at 10 p.m. There are drink specials and, at midnight, the bar will hand out free champagne. Start prepping your “Auld Lang Syne.” Maybe for the last time.

At 1356 Palmetto St., (213) 613-0766 or villainstavern.com.

Dancemageddon: The Mayans not only predicted the end of the world, they also want to make sure you go out dancing. Well, at least the people behind Downtown’s gorgeous Mayan Theatre do.

The Hill Street club is asking “Where Will You Be When the World Ends?” in flyers for its New Year’s Eve bash. It’s a good question with plenty of answers. You can be in the salsa room, the hip-hop room or dancing to pop tunes with three DJs taking over the three-floor club. Or you can have your last meal in the dessert and appetizer

Ring In the New Year at restaurant+lounge+bar

Ring in the New Year!

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Live Jazz Trio

Grand Café A French bistro inspired dinner buffet Live band and dancing begins at 9 pm Seatings from 5 pm to 8 pm, $50 per person Seatings from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, $75 per person Complimentary champagne toast and party favors at midnight.

All prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: 213-617-3300 | omnilosangeles.com

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 23

New Year’s Eve

lounge and ring in 2012 with a champagne toast at midnight.

At 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4674 or clubmayan.com.

Dinner Trio: If the fact that you have kids and a job means you’re no longer able to get wild with the youngsters (how sad), you can go the more elegant route on Dec. 31. One place to do just that is Noé Restaurant and Bar. The venue in the Omni Los Angeles Hotel on Bunker Hill will deliver a five-course dinner and a jazz trio on Dec. 31. The first seating is from 5-8 p.m. and the second runs from 8:3010 p.m. Either way, you’re asleep before all the whippersnappers start kissing each other and

blowing those pesky noisemakers. Also, in addition to bobbing your head and snapping your fingers to live jazz, you’ll get to eat stuff like seared sea scallops, lobster and prime rib.

At 251 S. Olive St., (213) 356-4100 or noerestaurant.com.

Rock This Town: If Elvis was the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his queen could have been Wanda Jackson. The 74-year-old Oklahoma native, who once dated Elvis, will perform a New Year’s Eve show at Club Nokia. Expect songs like “Let’s Have a Party,” which became a hit in 1958, and “Fujiyama Mama.”

But don’t expect a lot of talk about Elvis. A lady never kisses and tells.

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

Fashion Fun: The details are still being worked out, but you know you’ll have to look good no matter what at the Pattern Bar. The fashionthemed watering hole will be putting together a Roaring ’20s black-tie night for New Year’s Eve. Expect a lot of pretty people since it’s in the Fashion District. Also expect a lot of good music. You may want to catch up on your designers, because the cocktails have names like The Chanel, The Jacobs and The Dior. So the question of the night may not be who are you wearing, but who are you drinking.

At 100 W. Ninth St., (213) 627-7774 or pat-

ternbar.com.

Meat the New Year: Let your stomach be the guest of honor at Morton’s The Steakhouse on New Year’s Eve. The restaurant, one of the handful of businesses open while the 7+Fig shopping center gets a $40 million renovation, will offer a $109 dinner for two that includes filet mignon and shrimp alexander. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight, and free top hats and tiaras to make things more festive.

At 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnnews.com.

photo by John Ales

You can party like it’s the last night on Earth at Villains’ Tavern’s The Beginning of the End of the World New Year’s Eve soiree.

photo by Gary Leonard

The Pattern Bar is planning a 1920s themed black-tie event to celebrate the coming of 2012.

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LISTINGS THE DON’T MISS LIST

EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS Downtown On Ice Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 8474970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

Through Jan. 16: Downtown on Ice returns, positing a patch of frozen water in an unlikely, but very welcome spot—Pershing Square. The seasonal facility has skates for rental for $2, with skate sessions costing $6. There will be an array of special events and programming at the rink for the next two months, including regular lunchtime concerts starting Dec. 19.

Free Downtown Audio Walking Tours Various Locations, crala.org/art.

Free audio walking tours and maps are available for download at crala.org/art. Explore Downtown’s Bunker Hill, Financial District, Historic Core and Little Tokyo neighborhoods by discovering public art and places developed through the CRA/LA Art Program.

Monday, deceMber 12 LA Monomeet 2011 Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 6171033 or monome.org.

7 p.m.: The geeks were right and the folk at Interface LA and S.C.U.M. are here to celebrate another year of stunning tech dominance. Live music and presentations mark this lush albeit programmed gathering.

Pershing Square’s 12 Nights of Christmas 532 S. Olive, 213-847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare.

8-10 p.m.: Ongoing through Dec. 23, Pershing Square’s “Twelve Nights Of Christmas” celebration includes holiday “sing and skate” caroling. Community celebrations include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. All shows are free and open to the public.

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f you’ve been waiting for Ohad Naharin, the intrepid dance whiz kid from the Kibbutz Mizra in Israel, to come to town, your time is now. On Fri.-Sat., Dec. 16-17, Naharin brings his unapologetic dance to REDCAT as part of the venue’s Winter Dance program. Get ready for flowing movement as the company presents Naharin’s choreography in a delicious buffet of modern energy and emotion. Keep your eyes peeled for special numbers choreographed

by CalArts faculty members Colin Connor and Stephanie Nugent. Shows are at 8:30 p.m. at 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

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photo courtesy ©2011 FIDM Museum and Library

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by Dan Johnson, listings eDitor calendar@downtownnews.com

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Wednesday, deceMber 14 True Holiday Tales With Charles Phoenix and Friends California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org.

12 p.m.: Several of Grand Performances’ most interesting friends— Will Deutsch, Ric Salinas, Selene Luna, Roger Guenveur Smith and Kristina Wong — share some serious, and some seriously funny holiday tales. The ubiquitous and charming Charles Phoenix hosts.

Pershing Square Farmer’s Market 532 S. Olive St., rawinspiration.com.

11:30 a.m.: Produce, flowers, baked goods and more.

sunday, deceMber 18 Afternoon Tea at the Biltmore 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 612-1562 or millenniumhotels.com.

2 p.m.: A holiday season tradition is back at the Biltmore:

Fading Fashion, Captivating danCe and a hip-hop speCtaCle

peaking of last chances, this is the final week to catch Fabulous!, the show at the FIDM Museum and Galleries that celebrates 10 years of garment acquisitions.

If you’ve ever needed an excuse to forego happy hour at Pattern Bar, this dazzling collection of iconic, century spanning fashion is it. Flowing gowns and captivating shoes bookend a diverse presentation. Swing by the West Coast home of “Project Runway” where the altruistic gods of design are generously offering admission to Fabulous! for free.

The show closes on Saturday, Dec.17. At 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu.

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photo by Kevin Berne

Despite her Oscar-winning performance in Moonstruck, Olympia Dukakis was snubbed by the Emmys for her role in “Frasier.” But that’s the past. Vigil, the dark comedic musing on the coming of death starring Dukakis, finishes its run at the Mark Taper Forum on Sunday, Dec. 18. That means this week is your last chance to enjoy publicly sanctioned gallows humor and a role in which Dukakis only has a dozen lines, but acts her face off (well, not literally). The lion’s share of the talky parts goes to Marco Barricelli, who plays the nephew waiting for his dear auntie to shuffle off this mortal coil. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Tuesday, deceMber 13 Annie Leibovitz at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium-Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., 213-228-7272 or lapl.org.

7 p.m.: One of America’s great photographers chooses sites of personal meaning — from Thoreau’s cabin to Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty. The typically fashion-oriented photographer presents Pilgrimage: A Photo Lecture. It’s full, but show up early for a chance to fill in for no-shows.

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

Dec. 13, 8:30 p.m.: CalArts President Steven Lavine chats with Barcelona artist Frederic Amat about his wide-ranging practice.

Thursday, deceMber 15 City Hall Farmers Market downtownfarmersmarket.org.

10 a.m.: The market, after a hiatus last week, is back this week, and again plans to set up at its temporary location on the east side of Main Street, north of First Street. Farm fresh produce, flowers, oils, hummus, breads, prepared foods and more.

Figat7th Farmer’s Market 725 S. Figueroa St., 7fig.com.

11 a.m.: The outdoor mall in the Financial District offers a small assortment of produce, kettle corn, flowers, honey, breads, bonsai trees, tamales, olives and more.

December 12, 2011

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Time to feed your head Downtown.

Take your brain for a metaphorical walk and give all that gray matter the stretch it’s been lacking ever since you started watching “Dancing With the Stars.” Mindshare L.A. is back on Thursday, Dec. 15, with a night of stimulating talk and music intended to whip your head back into Rubik’s Cube shape.

Scamper on into the Mezz in the Alexandria Hotel for the “Secrets and Lies” installation of Downtown’s monthly intellectual salon. Topics include “The Largest Scientific Instrument Ever Built” and “How to Become a Human Lie Detector.” Happy hour starts at 7 p.m., so snag a discounted ticket online, swallow some ginkgo biloba and head over. At 501 S. Spring St., (213) 375-5827 or mindshare-eorg.eventbrite.com.

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In some circles, “watch the throne” refers to compulsive observation of Queen Elizabeth. Amongst mainstream music fans, these three words herald the coming of the most anticipated tour of 2011. Kanye West and Jay-Z will be in town Sun.-Tues., Dec. 11-13, to tell you how it really is on the streets. For three nights, Staples Center hosts two titans of hip-hop in one stark study in contrasts: Cool threads meet day-glo nightmare and humble upstart meets egocentric self-actualizer. Tickets are hard to find, so keep your eyes peeled. At 7:30 p.m. at 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or staplescenter.com.

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

Gourmet Fast Casual Restaurant Since 1973 7 Days-7am to 10pm 1657 W. 3rd St. at Union Ave. • 213-483-8885

DECEMBER 14 & 16, 2011 FREE HOLIDAY NOON CONCERTS ON GRAND PERFORMANCES’

Catch the holiday spirit with Grand Performances when California Plaza's WaterStage transforms into a stunning SoCal WinterStage!

TRUE HOLIDAY TALES WITH CHARLES PHOENIX AND FRIENDS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 Several of Grand Performances' most interesting friends (Will Deutsch, Ric Salinas, Selene Luna, Roger Guenveur Smith and Kristina Wong) will share some serious, and some seriously funny holiday tales. The indelibly charming Charles Phoenix hosts!

ROCKIN' THE SKA-LIDAYS WITH UPGROUND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 The vibrant young band Upground closes out our 2011 holiday series with their SKA, reggae and rock-infused sound—a unique

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Santa Sabbath.

Dec. 17: Night two of the toy drive with the Bourbon Saints, The Cornfed Project, the Green Lady Killers and the Bastard Winos.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

Dec. 12: The Katisse Buckingham Quintet returns to Downtown for the fans and the jazz.

Dec. 13: The Makers might not make the voices go away, but at least they drown them out for a bit, right? RIGHT?!?!?!

Dec. 14: Downtown News takes false advertisement very seriously, so we are obliged to tell you that Dante’s Inferno is just a really good jazz band, not a 14th century epic poem chronicling a descent into the depths of hell.

The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org.

Dec. 16: Rachel Haden and Black Tia. Dec. 17: Rich Dad Poor Dad, Jeni Hanivar and Donut.

Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa, (213) 742-7340 or staplescenter.com.

Dec. 12 and 13, 7:30 p.m.: A watched throne never gets uncomfortable: It’s Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Tony’s Saloon 2017 E. Seventh St., (213) 622-5523 or tonyssaloon.la.

Dec. 12, 9:30 p.m.: Judson McKinney’s Family Hour feels so good it’ll have your elderly mother pounding on your bedroom door.

The Varnish 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com.

Dec. 12, 9 p.m.: Jamie Elman tickles the keys.

Dec. 13, 8:30 p.m.: Somewhere deep in a

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Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.: The Kaiser siblings and their lovely little outfit Future Dancing return with Wires in the Walls, Rene Breton and Shannon Curtis.

Dec. 13, 8 p.m.: It’s Scandinavian night. Serenades gives you that Swedish flavor. Races and No join in.

Dec. 14, 8 p.m.: The Peach Kings have been making their way through Downtown with the strength and voracity of the flu… a terribly lovely “gypsydelic” flu. If you haven’t already, enjoy them with Auditorium and Kyle Nicolaides.

Dec. 15, 8 p.m.: Upbeat and vibrant indie music and matching art design from the three dapper youth in The Happy Hollows. Eastern Conference Champions (the band, not the Miami Heat) and Gothic Tropic round out the evening.

Dec. 16, 8 p.m.: It’s been quite the year for Love Inks. The Texas trio’s blend of minimalist rock with muzak-esque electronic underpinnings found a big base following the release of their debut album.

Commiserate with these wayward tunemakers and friends in Willoughby, El May and Houndstooth.

Dec. 17, 8 p.m.: If you like your rock singers

and Jen Kirkman — appear in a show sponsored by Belvedere Vodka. Shocker.

Dec. 17, 8 p.m.: A lot of people have parents who are famous musicians. Most children of music stars are walking proof that the gene for talent isn’t hereditary (Hi, LMFAO, how are you?), but Ziggy Marley is pretty darn good.

Dec. 18, 6:30: Music fans and aficionados of the male physique join together to see Tyrese.

Grand Performances California Plaza, 351 S. Olive, (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org.

Dec. 14, 12 p.m.: It’s “Rockin’ the Skalidays with Upground,” your opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit with some lovely and ever rare ska.

Nokia Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.: 95.5 KLOS’ own Mark and Brian present the Steve Miller Band and Sammy Hagar. Joke, smoke and midnight toke your way through the evening.

Dec. 17, 8 p.m.: Steve Harvey hosts Stevie Wonder’s 16th annual House Full of Toys benefit concert featuring Drake, Justin Bieber and Michael McDonald. What a week this is shaping up to be.

Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com.

Dec. 12: Retro swing from The Two Man Gentleman’s Band and the swinging Hot Club de L.A. Dec. 13: L.A.’s own Revolution’s Pride drops in, so don your Che Guevara shirt and head on down.

Dec. 16: Ground Zero History hosts its annual toy drive with festive musical guests Brainspoon, Carnage Asada, Inger Lorre, The Hangmen and

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ROCK, POP & JAZZ

rough around the edges and three sheets to the wind, rejoice, because your days of mourning Dimebag Darrell and Johnny Cash are over. White Buffalo’s in town to fill you with Christmas cheer (read: bourbon) with Shelby Earl and Terraplane Sun. Dec. 18, 8 p.m.: There will be various and sundry forms of sonic pastiche when Vex Ruffin, Casey’s residency alums Ovideo and Globus rally up.

Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la.

Dec. 15, 10 p.m.: Broader Than Broadway presents their Winter Formal, so ask out that sophomore girl with the school-colored braces bands, down a bottle of Zima in the back of your mom’s minivan and enjoy some tunes from HM Soundsystem and friends.

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

Dec. 16, 10 p.m.: Mamas Joy is back again for another night of their residency.

Dec. 17, 10 p.m.: Degrade yourself with a pickle back shot while you enjoy the musical stylings and broad cultural commentary of Kissing Cousins. Uncomfortable yet? You will be.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

Dec. 14, 7 p.m.: David Archuleta’s on tour, which means absolutely no one is in danger of being offended. A family favorite, this “American Idol” veteran puts on one heck of a show! Use of psychedelics not recommended.

Dec. 15, 8 p.m.: Black Star, i.e. Mos Def and Talib Kweli, is the definitive way to get into the holiday spirit.

Dec. 16, 9 p.m.: The Comedians of Chelsea Lately — Ross Mathews, Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf

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Wednesday through Sunday through Dec. 24, try an assortment of winter tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones with homemade Devonshire cream and jams, all inside the elegant Rendezvous Court at the Millennium Biltmore. Choose from a selection of blended and herbal teas, plus hot cider, creamy eggnog and sparkling champagne. It’s $35 per person for adults and $25 for kids. Call for reservations.

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December 12, 2011

Listings Continued from previous page Downtown back room Mark Bosserman will play you a song on his piano. Again.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

Dec. 12-18, times vary: Paul Goodman Changed My Life is the filmic story of a bestselling author, poet, pacifist, visionary and therapist.

Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: The premiere of Pinching Penny.

Dec. 14, 7 p.m.: Caitlin Plays Herself and American Nobodies.

Flagship Theatres University Village 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com.

Through Dec. 15: New Year’s Eve (11:50 a.m., and 2, 4:45, 7:30 and 10:15 p.m.); The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part One (11 a.m. and 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 and 10 p.m.); Happy Feet 2 3D (11 a.m. and 1:30, 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m.).

Dec. 9 (Partial): Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

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

Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.: The documentary Looking Back on Love follows the journey behind the making of Lenny Kravitz’s album “Black And White America.” Lenny will be on hand for you to gaze at yourself in his mirror shades.

IMAX Theater California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Through Dec. 31: Soar over primordial earth in Flying Monsters 3D. 220 million years ago dinosaurs were beginning their domination of Earth. But another group of reptiles was about to make an extraordinary leap: pterosaurs were taking control of the skies.

The story of how and why these mysterious creatures took to the air is more fantastical than any fiction.

Million Dollar Theatre 307 S. Broadway, (213) 617-3600 or milliondollartheater.com.

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.: Sci-fi fans abound in this strange, lovely world we live in. The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Island Earth should be incentive enough to emerge from your respective man caves.

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

Dec. 12, 8:30 p.m.: Kalendar and Videodiary 2-12006 to Present by experimental filmmaker Naomi Umam focus on an atavistic journey to Ukraine.

That sounds fun.

Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com.

Through Dec. 15: New Year’s Eve (11:30 a.m. and 12:20, 1:40, 2:20, 3:10, 4:30, 5:10, 6, 7:20, 8, 9:30, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); The Sitter (12:10, 12:50, 2:30, 3:10, 4:50, 5:30, 7:10, 7:50, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Arthur Christmas (11:40 a.m. and 4:20 p.m.); Arthur Christmas 3D (2 p.m.); The Muppets (1:40, 4:20, 7 and 9:40 p.m.); The Descendants (1:50 p.m.); Happy Feet Two (12, 5 and 10 p.m.); Happy Feet Two in 3D (2:30 and 7:30 p.m.); The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 (1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); Immortals (2:10 and 7:20 p.m.); Immortals 3D (11:40 a.m. and 4:40 and 10 p.m.); Jack and Jill (1:30, 4:10, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Tower Heist (7 p.m.); Puss in Boots (11:50 a.m. and 2:10 and 4:40 p.m.).

Dec. 16. Partial: Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (9:50 a.m. and 1, 4:20, 7:40 and 11 p.m.); Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (11:50 a.m. and 2:20, 4:50, 7:20 and 9:50 p.m.); Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (10 a.m. and 1, 4, 7:10 and 10:20 p.m.).

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE CalArts Winter Dance REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Dec. 16 and 17, 8:30 p.m.: Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, known for his work as artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company, is the featured artist in this program that is part of REDCAT’s Winter Dance lineup.

Charles Phoenix: Retro Holiday Slide Show REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

Dec. 18, 3 and 7 p.m.: Pop culture humorist Charles Phoenix comes bearing his unmatched collection of vintage slides —usually amusing docu-

Feel the Fela photo by Tristram Kenton

26 Downtown News

W

e dare you to try and sit through the musical Fela without tapping your foot. Should you accept this dare, know that you will very likely fail. In fact, once the first toe taps the floor, you’re just as likely to get out of your seat and start loosening the old pelvis. The 2010 Tony Award nominee for Best Music, which is based on the life of afrobeat pioneer and political force Fela Kuti, opens at the Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The electric, lively show runs through Jan. 22. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

ments of holidays past — as he roasts and toasts mid-century life and style.

Holiday Puppet Show The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St.,

(213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

Dec. 13-16, 10:30 a.m. and Dec. 17-18, 2:30 p.m.: “Bob Baker’s Holiday Spectacular” has charmed audiences for generations. Join the Wizard of Fantasy

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

photo courtesy Charles Phoenix

The Phoenix Rises Again S

and his sidekick Demi Star as they embark on a magical journey with a cast of more than 100 exquisitely designed marionettes, celebrating everything from the eight days of Chanukah to a trip to Santa’s Workshop.

La Virgen de Guadalupe Vigil Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213.628.2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

Dec. 14 and 16, 8 p.m.; Dec. 17, 2:30 and 8 p.m.: Academy Award Winner Olympia Dukakis is Grace, a woman of few words and the aunt of Kemp, who, after 30 years, has traveled cross-country to be with her on her deathbed. It’s the final week for the show. See Don’t Miss List.

everal of Grand Performances’ most interesting friends will show up at the Cal Plaza Watercourt on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at noon.

The star is Charles Tuesday, december 13 Phoenix, the ubiquitous Handel’s Messiah and charming king of Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand, (323) kitsch. He’ll be pulling 850-2000 or laphil.org.

Sue Laris in Will Deutsch,Editor Ric & PublishEr: 8 p.m.: The Philharmonica Baroque presDawn Eastin Salinas, Selene GENErAl Luna, MANAGEr: ents Handel’s Messiah. Also Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.

Roger Guenveur ExEcutivE Smith Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán and Kristina Wong.

Get Thursday, december 15 stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt ready for some serious, A Chanticleer Christmas coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand, (323) and some seriously funcoNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, or laphil.org. ny holiday tales. At 350Friedrich,850-2000 Kristin Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada 8 p.m.: It’s “A Chanticleer Christmas” S. Grand Ave., Art (213) dirEctor: when Brian Allison the Grammy-winning “orchestra of 687-2159 or grandperAssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa voices” returns with a fresh take on seasonal formances.org. ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

CLASSICAL MUSIC

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

twitter: DowntownNews

classics in this installation of Deck The Hall.

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada

AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Kim Brown, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse, Brenda Stevens circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

Friday, december 16 L.A. Phil Presents Mozart Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand, (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org.

11 a.m.: Bernard Labadie conducts and Benedetto Lupo tickles the ivories in the most formal way possible in three works from Mozart. Also Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. saTurday, december 17 Holiday Sing Along Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand, (323) 850-2000 or laphil.org.

Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: The Holiday Sing Along featuring everyone’s favorite Christmas and holiday songs. sunday, december 18 Da Camera Society: Aulos Ensemble Mount St. Mary’s College, Doheny Mansion, Pompeian Room, (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org.

5 p.m.: The ensemble performs “Joyeux Noel: An Evening of French Baroque Music for the Season.”

MUSEUMS

Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 African American Firefighter Museum phone: fax: 213-250-4617 1401213-481-1448 S. Central Ave.,• (213) 744-1730 or web: DowntownNews.com aaffmuseum.org. email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics

see Listings, page 32

facebook: L.A. Downtown News twitter: DowntownNews

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.

One copy per person.

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Kim Brown, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse, Brenda Stevens

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada

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.

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

One copy per person.

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Kim Brown, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse, Brenda Stevens circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

facebook: L.A. Downtown News

twitter: DowntownNews

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

twitter: DowntownNews

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.

One copy per person.

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Kim Brown, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse, Brenda Stevens 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.

One copy per person.

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December 12, 2011

Downtown News 29

DowntownNews.com

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call: 213-481-1448 HOLIDAY DEADLINE SCHEDULE

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All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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

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ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS

Orsini

Free Utilities, 24 hr. laundry, Around the Clock Courtesy Patrol

7000 sqft. Basement Space ✦ set up for Gallery/Office space

Beautiful

Be Inspired...

Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent

35 Boutique Style “Live/Work” Residences starting at $1,450 Studio Lofts 600-1800 sq. ft.

855.240.7518

30 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

Loft/Unfurnished

Homes/Unfurnished

Old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts

COME HOME to Monterey Hills.

Close to Downtown LA. Above South Pasadena and this side of Heaven. 2Bd/1Ba, A/C, Pool/ Spa & Private Patio. $1600/mo.

323-791-4403.

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 LAloft.com

CONDOMINIUMS/UNFURNISHED $2625/mth. 2 flr, 2 bd/ 2 ba + loft. 11’ x 9’ storage. 2 parking spaces. Built in wall unit. Kitchen appliances incl. Washer & Dryer incl. in unit. 213-280-1088 MONTEREY HILLS. Spacious two bedroom, two bath. A/C. Downtown view. Pool. Good credit only. $1675/mo. (323) 225-6511.

PROMENADE CONDO. View. 1 br, 1000 sf. Paid cable, gym pkg. @ Music Center 818-522-7838.

BUNGALOW ECHO PARK bungalow 1 bdrm.

1 bath. Refrigerator stove and A/C. Starting at $850 a month.

213-250-4810 leave message.

EMPLOYMENT Drivers DRIVER - DRY and Refrigerated. Single source dispatch. No Tractor older than 3 years. Daily Pay! Various hometime options!

CDL-A, 3 months current OTR experience.

1-800-414-9569. www.DriveKnight.com (CalSCAN)

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

DRIVER - STABLE Career, No Experience Needed! Sign On Bonuses Available! Top Industry pay & quality training. 100% Paid CDL Training. 1-800-3262778. www.JoinCRST.com (CalSCAN)

OVER 18? A can’t miss Limited Opportunity to travel with a successful business group. Paid Training. Transportation/lodging provided. Unlimited Income Potential. Call 1-877-646-5050.

(Cal-SCAN)

DRIVERS/CDL Training - Career Central. No Money Down. CDL Training. Work for us or let us work for you! Unbeatable Career Opportunities. *Trainee *Company Driver *Lease Operator Earn up to $51k *Lease Trainers Earn up to $80k 1-877-3697091. www.CentralDrivingJobs. net (Cal-SCAN)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

NEED 13 GOOD Drivers. Top 5% Pay & 401K. 2 Months CDL Class A Driving Experience.

1-877-258-8782. www.MeltonTruck.com (Cal-SCAN)

Help Wanted TRUCK DRIVERS: Will provide CDL training. Part-time driving job with full-time benefits. Get paid to train in the California Army National Guard. www.

NationaIGuard.com/Truck or 1-800-Go-Guard. (Cal-SCAN)

SERVICES

Sales LIVE-WORK- Party-Play!! Play in Vegas, Hang in LA. Hiring 1824 gals/guys. $400-$800 wkly.

Paid expenses. Signing Bonus.

Energetic & Fun! Call 877-2596983. (Cal-SCAN)

Sell your items under $300…

12 words, 2 weeks it’s FREE!

Attorneys

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

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

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

Business Services ADVERTISE Your Truck Driver jobs in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $550.

Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians.

Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) ADVERTISE A display business card sized ad in 140 California newspapers for one low cost of $1,550. Your display 3.75x2” ad reaches over 3 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (CalSCAN) REACH CALIFORNIANS With a classified in almost every county! Experience the power of classifieds! Combo~California Daily and Weekly Networks. One order. One payment. Free Brochures. elizabeth@cnpa.com or (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) Cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

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

Education ALLIED HEALTH Career training - Attend college 100% online. Job placement assistance.

Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified.

Call 800-481-9409. www.CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN) EARN COLLEGE Degree Online. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available.

Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.CenturaOnline.com (CalSCAN)

HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure.

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

60 www.SouthEasternHS.com (Cal-SCAN) Health & Fitness VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg!! 40 Pills 4 free for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Only $2.70/ pill. Buy the Blue Pill Now! 1-888904-6658 (Cal-SCAN) Home Improvement AWNINGS & Canvas repair. Free estimates. License #736713, Phone: 310-632-5770.

Legal SOCIAL SECURITY Disability Benefits. You Win or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your Free Book & Consultation.

877-490-6596.

(Cal-SCAN) Misc. Services ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a Free Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at No Cost, plus Free home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking!

Call 888-781-9376. (Cal-SCAN) ATTENTION SLEEP Apnea Sufferers with Medicare. Get Free CPAP Replacement Supplies at No Cost, plus Free home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888-699-7660.

(Cal-SCAN)

Sell Your Car!

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

Call 213-481-1448

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

AUTOS PRE-OWNED

Downtown L.A. AUTO GROUP Porsche Volkswagen Audi Mercedes-Benz Nissan chevrolet cadillac

2007 MERCEDES ML350 3.5L, V6, Low miles, Rear Seat Ent., Navigation, Black/Black #5358C / A432886 $35,991 Call 888319-8762.

2007 NISSAN 350Z TOURING Certified, Carfax, 1 owner, multi-disc CD, leather, premium wheels, Black NI3822 / M552797 $20,499 call 888-838-5089 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 Certified,3.5L V6, Only 27k Miles, Auto, ABS and much more!!

N111041-1/7C823560 $20,499 call 888-838-5089 2008 AUDI TT 2.0L, 4-Cyl Turbo, Only 21K Miles, 31 mpg highway, Gray/Blue ZA/9954 / 1044026 $27,993 Call 888-583-0981 2008 CHEVY TAHOE 4 DOOR 5.3L, V8, Low Miles, Dual Zone AC, Rear Split Bench #UC782/ R160804 $26,995 Call 888-8799608 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S Carfax, 1 owner, only 48K miles, Auto, CD, White N120068-1 / C155663 call 888-838-5089 2008 PORSCHE BOXSTER CONV. Certified, 2.7L V6, Meteor Gray/Black, Only 25k Miles, Alloys, spoiler ZP1347/8U711448 $39,785 Call 888-685-5426.

December 12, 2011

Downtown News 31

DowntownNews.com

2009 VW PASSAT KOMFORT 2.0L, 4-Cyl Turbo, Only 21K Miles, 31 mpg highway, Gray/ Blue V111147-1 / P001654 $19,890 Call 888-781-8102.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com Autos WAnted DONATE YOUR car, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind.

Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN) SELL YOUR car, truck or SUV Today! All 50 states, fast pickup and payment. Any condition, make or model. Call now 1-877818-8848. www.MyCarforCash. net (Cal-SCAN)

ITEMS FOR SALE Misc. iteMs SAVE UP TO 50 percent off your next heating bill. Advanced Portable Infrared iHeater® Heat 1000 sq. ft. for about 5 cents an hour! Free Shipping! Call 1-888807-5741. (Cal-SCAN)

WEDDING GOWN Sale at Unbelievable Prices. Was $900 to $2,500 NOW $299 to $499.

Many Leading Designers.

Limited Quantities. Act Now! Up-land. 909-985-6336. www.

DeborahsBridal.com (CalSCAN) Furniture AMERICAN OF Martinsville Mid Century Dresser with two night stands. $350.See pics at www.loftcurtaingallery.com 213.489.3179 MID- CENTURY Vintage Executive Desk by famed furniture maker Sligh-Lowry.Built in book shelf in front of desk with writing desk.See all pics www.loftcurtaingallery.com 213.489.3179

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS notice

ALcohoL perMit

MOVING SALE: Futon, lamps, glass tabletop, ladies clothing, more. 12/17 & 12/18 10am 4pm 213-256-6605

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DATE OF FILING APPLICATION: SEPTEMBER 24,2011 To Whom it May Concern: The Name(s) of the Applicant(s) is/are: MI PIACE LLC The applicants listed above are applying to the department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to sell alcoholic beverages at: 705 W 9TH STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90015-1428 Type of license(s) applied for: 47 - ON SALE GENERAL EATING PLACE Pub. 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/11

Auction ADVERTISE YOUR Auction in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $550. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)2886019. (Cal-SCAN) Lost FOX TERRIER MIX missing since Oct. 27th. Last seen around 6:00 p.m. in downtown LA in the parking lot @ Olive & Olympic. Pls call Maria (818) 384-7761

LA SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA BEVERLY HILLS COURTHOUSE NO. 11C01247 PLAINTIFF: MOJGAN GAD, AN INDIVIDUAL VS. DEFENDANT: MOJGAN SEDGHI, AN INDIVIDUAL; AND DOES 1 THROUGH 10.

NOTICE! You have been sued.

Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused children. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts.org or 310313-4278 for more information.

DOWNTOWN

888-838-5089 635 W. Washington Blvd. • downtownnissan.com

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ciViL suMMons

VoLunteer opportunities

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2007 NISSAN FRONTIER

The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff.

A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form, if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local

LEGAL

L.A. AUTO GROUP OVER 500

Certified, Low Miles..

$16,999 2008 Nissan 350Z .............................................. $20,999 Certified only 27K Miles. NI3884/M704287 2009 Infiniti FX35 .............................................. $34,499 Only 18K Miles. Certified. NI3876/9M103735

PREOWNED CARS, TRUCKS, SUV’s & VANS IN STOCK!

2007 Nissan Quest 3.5S ....................................

Certified, 21K Miles. N120652-1/N129626

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

$21,980

$25,688 2008 Audi A6 QTR .............................................. $28,987 Certified, Low miles. ZA10086/ N167848 2009 Audi A5 QTR .............................................. $44,890 Certified Low Miles. ZA10053/9A003220

DTLAMOTORS.COM

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FELIX CHEVROLET

$8,995 $13,995 Loaded, Mint. UC916R 2011 Cadillac Escalade ..................................... $49,995 Loaded, Navi and More. UC921R 2010 Chevy Malibu ...........................................

$16,398 2009 VW Jetta WLF ............................................ $17,480 Certified Low Miles. ZV1301/M048090 2008 VW EOS KOM ............................................. $21,898 Certified Low Miles. ZV1435/V052779 Certified Low Miles. ZV1414/E060666

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

Cal Best Realty

Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238

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

2009 MERCEDES C300 SPORT

$25,991 Certified, 35K Miles, 7 Speed, Auto, Silver, Moonroof.

$39,991 $44,991 White/Almond, 3.5 Liter, Certified, 25k Miles. 112121-1/A074924 2010 Mercedes GL450 ....................................... $58,991 Black/Black, 4.6 Liter, Certified,12k Miles. 111811D-1/A603733 2010 Mercedes E350W ......................................

888-845-2267 1505 E. 223rd St., Carson carsonnissan.com

$14,995

888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com

2008 VW Passat ..................................................

888-319-8762 • 1801 S. Figueroa St. • mbzla.com

Certified, White/Cashmere, 3.5 Liter, 20k miles. 110405-1/A535101

2005 NISSAN MURANO

Certified, Low Miles.

Loaded, Low Miles.

2010 Mercedes ML 350 W2 ...............................

CARSON NISSAN

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

ZV1413/ W500688

$16,995

2012 CHEVY CRUZE ECO F12014-1

111766-1/R065710

Certified Low Miles. ZA9992/ K008815

$17,980

LA SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES NORTHWEST DISTRICT ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME NO. LS021948 To All Interested Persons: Petitioner (names): Raffi Gureghian and Deseree Almenara, 13335 Erwin St., Van Nuys, CA 91401, on behalf of SAMANTHA GAYANE ALMENARA, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Low Miles, Auto. UC896

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2008 Audi A4 CAB ..............................................

2009 VW TIGUAN SE

nAMe chAnge

2008 Chevy Cobalt Coupe ...................................

Certified, Low miles..

ZA10078/A146206

Present name: SAMANTHA GAYANE ALMENARA Proposed name: SAMANTHA GAYANE GUREGHIAN THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: January 4, 2012 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept.: NW-C Room: 310 The address of the court is 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA Downtown News, 1264 West First Street, LA CA 90026, of general circulation.

Date filed: Nov. 23, 2011 Richard H. Kirschner, Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/11

888-879-9608 330 S. Figueroa St. • felixchevrolet.com

888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com

2008 AUDI A4 2.0T

court or county bar association.

The name and address of the court is: LA Superior Court - Beverly Hills Courthouse 9355 Burton Way Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Case No. 11C01247 Dated: April 19, 2011 John A Clarke, Clerk The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney is: Robert Abiri, Esq. (State bar No. 238681) 19700 Fairchild, Suite 300 Irvine, CA 92612 Telephone: 949-334-3600 Fax: 949-334-3604 Notice to the Person Served: You are served as an individual defendant.

Pub. 12/12/11, 12/19/11, 12/26/11, 1/02/12

Grey, 74k miles.

CU0534P/W423225

2010 Chevy Aveo ..........................

Silver, 40k miles.

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$9,895

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

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2010 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4S COUPE AS720756

$88,895

Black/Black,Only 5K,CPO, Nav, Bose, Sport, Chrono, Plus, Like New.

$43,894 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo ......................... $69,998 Certified, Twin Turbo, Blk/Blk, Only 17k miles, 32V-V8. ZP1370 / A82999 2008 Nissan Maxima ................. $17,995 2011 Panamera Turbo ...................................

White, 31k miles.

CU0531P/C817364 Blk/Blk, 20” Spyder Whls, Cam, Nav, Sprt Chrono pkg. P12022-1/BL090124 $129,898 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan ....

White, 30k miles.

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2008 Porsche Cayman S ..................................

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SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

32 Downtown News

December 12, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

Listings Continued from page 27 dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts.

Annette Green Perfume Museum FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 6241200 or fidmmuseum.org.

Through Dec. 17: Fabulous! celebrates the past decade of collecting at the FIDM Museum. With a surge in donations and purchases between 2000 and the present, the museum gained new eminence and richness. The fruits of their labor, including an Alexander McQueen couture gown and court suits, are on display.

Ongoing: One of a kind, the museum is dedicated to enhancing our understanding the art, culture and science of the olfactory. Originally opened in New York City in 1999, the collection — 2,000 bottles, perfume presentations and documentary ephemera dating from the late 1800s to the present—was donated to FIDM in 2005. Also, “High Style: Perfume and the Haute Couture” features a selection of fra-

grance bottles and packaging that reflect the many ways that fame inspires design.

Images of Men: A Look Through Fragrance is a new installation in the Annette Green Fragrance Archive. The bottles and accessories showcased explore how men’s diverse identities and roles are conveyed through the changing designs of the bottles themselves.

California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

Through Dec. 24: Women: Game Changers, Less Known, Here Celebrated. Utilizing CAAM’s soaring entrance, flying banners celebrate centuries of achievements by African American women, many of whom are less publicly known.

Ongoing: The multi-functional Gallery of Discovery offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past.

California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Through Dec. 31: 1001 Inventions is a traveling international exhibition that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the

“Golden Age” of Muslim civilization during the 7th to 17th centuries from a diverse region stretching from Spain through China. Through interactive displays, explore basic science principles in such fields as optics, time-keeping, hydraulics, navigation, architecture and math.

Ongoing: Science in Toyland presents physics through favorite kids toys. This hands-on exhibit engages museum visitors with Dominos, Sails and Roller Coasters in a fun, but informational primer on friction, momentum and chain reactions.

Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are usually interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and Forty Years of Space Photography. The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The new Ecosystems exhibit explores how life on Earth is shaped by geophysical and biological processes.

Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org.

Through Dec. 18: Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration Reform showcases local artists

exploring the tensions, repercussions, hopes and dreams of immigrant communities in the face of new immigration legislation, through a broad spectrum of art including street art, graffiti art, sculptures, painting and multimedia installations.

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

2 Your Event Info

Easy ways to submit

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar/submit 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

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

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

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

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

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

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

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

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

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

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

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

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

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

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