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Vol 1. No. 5
August 2010
Distributed monthly to 25,000 homes in Mid-City, Olympic Park, Country Club Park, Layfayette Square, Victoria Park, Arlington Heights, Harvard Heights, Oxford Square, West Adams, South Carthay, PicFair Village and the areas of Carthay Square, Wilshire Vista, Angelus Vista, Western Heights, Wellington Square and Jefferson Park
Two Communities Seek HPOZ Status
by Hilary Scurlock, Mid-City Press Contributing Writer MID-CITY—In the face of development threats and reduced city funding, two Mid-City neighborhoods are banding together to preserve their historic resources. Following the lead of neighboring Wilshire Park, two other local neighborhoods—Country Club Park and Windsor Village—are currently seeking status as Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs) as 25 other Los Angeles neighborhoods have already done. While the number of HPOZs has rapidly increased in recent years, the city’s Planning Dept—which oversees HPOZs— has faced decreases in budgets and staffing, making getting an HPOZ status more difficult. But Country Club Park and Windsor Village came up with a novel approach to consolidate and streamline resources. While both neighborhoods are applying for separate HPOZs, they will join the existing Wilshire Park HPOZ under one so-called “Preservation Plan” and one HPOZ board will govern all three neighborhoods. “It’s a creative solution,” said city planner Craig Weber.
“Months ago we were really struggling with how we can adopt an HPOZ for all three communities, especially when they are right next to each other, given the [financial] restraints we are under.” This unique arrangement could serve as a model for future HPOZ development, and also allows small neighborhoods like Windsor Village to share resources with larger neighborhoods like Country Club Park. Windsor Village is a tiny neighborhood bounded by Wilshire, Crenshaw, Olympic, and Lucerne Boulevards. The HPOZ would cover about 300 structures, including historic landmarks like the Ebell of Los Angeles (743 S. Lucerne) and the Ruskin Art Club (800 S. Plymouth). Country Club Park is a larger, more diverse neighborhood bounded by Crenshaw, Olympic and Pico boulevards and Western Avenue. Its approximately 500 structures contain several nationally recognized historic landmarks, such as the Wilshire Ward Chapel (1209 S. Manhattan Place), and features a variety of architectural styles, includsee HPOZ page 6
Million Dollar Sports Complex Slated for Dorsey High School
Photo: Allison Ferraro As summer starts to wind down, children take in a late afternoon swing at Kenneth Hahn Park.
Development Announced for Crenshaw & Rodeo CRENSHAW—Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb Wesson has announced the Los Angeles City Council’s approval of “District Square,” a $93 million centerpiece of a new wave of development projects designed to revitalize the face of the Crenshaw Corridor. Despite an economic downturn that continues to plague the Los Angeles region, an economic development boom is taking place in Council District 10 along Crenshaw
Wesson and his staff have worked for four years on making this new project a reality. The city will provide funding to help finance the project through the assistance of a federal HUD loan, with additional support coming from the Community Redevelopment Agency. “Together, the “Midtown Crossings” project and the “District Square” project represent nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in capital investsee CRENSHAW page 5
Authorities Eye Blue Moon Collective
By Shirley Hawkins, Mid-City Press Contributing Writer
By Caitlin M. Foyt, Mid-City Press Contributing Writer
The long wait is over for Susan Miller Dorsey High School. After promising the school a new sports facility for nearly five years, the Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD) Board of Education recently approved funds to build a $30 million dollar sports complex and academic center for the school. Additional funds will come from voter-approved measures
WASHINGTON BLVD—Police say they’ve found no traces of marijuana found in a dispensary that was shut down by the city of Los Angeles over a month ago. Blue Moon Collective, 5155 W. Washington Blvd., has been a source of complaint for several members of the community, who have reported witnessing people coming
K, R, Y and Q. A number of stakeholders have been advocating for a new sports complex at Dorsey, including Dorsey Principal George Bartleson and LAUSD Board Member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte. The new complex, which will be completed prior to the 2013 school year, will be used for sports and community activities.
Boulevard. The new “District Square” development will be located near the new Exposition Light Rail Line and West Angeles Cathedral, on a six acre site at the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rodeo Road. Developed by the Charles Company, the new three-level 300,000 sq. ft. retail center will feature a Target, Marshall’s, Ralphs, Ross Dress for Less and other retail outlets, including full service restaurants.
and going from the business even after it was supposed to
have shut its doors. see BLUE MOON page 3
Important Numbers
Su Casa Home Sales
Lena Horne Exhibit
Impressions: Rangoli Dance Vees Café Reviewed
Visit: Midcitypress.com
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mid-city press [letter from the editor] This month, we feature a new writer, Shirley Hawkins. I first met Shirley at a meeting in Leimert Park and I took to her immediately and I hope you will too. She’s been in the area forever, knows everyone, writes beautifully, is resourceful and works hard. I am so grateful to have her on board. Also, we merged our two
staffs [and friends] together recently for a pot-luck at my Oxford Square home. See the photo below. Finally, we say goodbye to our summer intern this month--Sydney Shatsky. Sydney’s most memorable comment during her editing work with me was: “Wow. This is a really good paper.” We hope you agree. Here’s to the strains of summer. See you in September!
Pick up the Mid-City Press at these locations: Atomic Café 5001 W. Washington Blvd. CJ’s Café 5501 W. Pico Blvd. Close Up Barber Shop 5007 W. Pico Blvd. Maria’s Café 4645 Venice Blvd. Olson’s Deli and Gift Shop 5660 W. Pico Blvd. Pasquale’s Café and Pizza 5616 San Vicente Blvd. Sacred Lounge 1363 S. Redondo Blvd. Sky’s Tacos 5408 W. Pico Blvd. Splendid Cleaners 1226 S. Cochran Ave.
FOUNDED 2010 Delivered the last Thursday of the month to 25,000 homes and businesses in the Mid-City neighorhoods of: Mid-City, Olympic Park, Country Club Park, Layfayette Square, Victoria Park, Arlington Heights, Harvard Heights, Oxford Square, West Adams, Angelus Vista and the areas of Carthay Square and Wilshire Vista.
PUBLISHER /EDITOR Allison C. Ferraro, M.A.
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For editorial consideration, send story ideas to: allisonferraro@ midcitypress.com For advertising inquiries, call: (323) 667-1329
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The Mid-City Press is professionally delivered the last Thursday of each month (the first Thursday in April, July and September) in recyclable plastic bags between Normandie Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard and Olympic and Adams boulevards.
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August 2010
mid-city press BLUE MOON from page 1
“The place is pretty much empty,” said Det. Kiley of the Los Angeles Police Depts.’ Wilshire Division. “The signs has been taken down and there was just a painter there who barely spoke English who was hired by the city. There is no marijuana there and no smell of marijuana.” According to Kiley, the collective will “stay under the radar” of authorities however, just to be sure. Blue Moon falls under a new city ordinance that required most marijuana collectives to shut down, citywide. The ordinance allows only those dispensaries that registered with the city in 2007— when it adopted a moratorium on new pot shops—to remain open. The rest, which were opened in defiance of that ban, had to close by June 7th. During last month’s MidCity Neighborhood Council (MINC) meeting, Los Angeles City Code Enforcement Deputy John Harmon said he spoke with someone he assumed was the lessee of the property—a young white male with a black eye—who said he was only temporarily staying in the property. Simply occupying the building without conducting any kind of business isn’t against the law, Har-
mon said. “Now, the guy is not saying that he’s living there,” Harmon said. “He said ‘I’m just waiting on somebody to come back. We’re still gathering things.’ I told him [recently], ‘You’ve been gathering things for almost three weeks now.’” Harmon also said during the MINC meeting that during earlier interviews with Blue Moon Collective staff, he learned the dispensary had hoped to become a referral service for other open dispensaries after the city forced its doors closed. Bruce Durbin, head of MINC’s Planning & Land Use Committee, is concerned that if the business plans to seriously pursue becoming a referral service, it will be violating zoning ordinances. “It’s part of the city planning. Whenever a business wants to move into a property, usually that business’s land use either has to be in accordance with the zoning that is assigned to that property or they need to go through the process to get approval,” Durbin said. The listed business phone line of Blue Moon has been disconnected, and the date of the latest post on the dispensary’s regularly updated Twitter account, BlueMoonLA, was June 9th.
Mid-Town A Teaching Moment About Crossing Noise? Bicycle Safety By Herb Wesson Call 311 By Caitlin M. Foyt, Mid-City Press Contributing Writer MID-CITY—Steel has arrived on the construction site of what will eventually be the Midtown Crossing retail center at Pico and San Vicente boulevards. With building slated to begin at any time, Bruce Durbin, head of the Mid-City Planning & Land Use Committee is calling on residents to report any loud activity in or around the construction site before 6:30 a.m. and after 6:30 p.m. to the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. “They are required to work under the hours of the permit,” Durbin said. “No loud activity. No trucks backing up at 5 a.m. No big trucks stacking up along the street waiting to get into the construction site.” Call 311, to contact the Los Angeles Dept. of Building ad Safety. Advertise in the
(323) 667-1329
Los Angeles City Council District 10
Bic yc l i n g can be great fun; great exercise; a community enhancing form of social interaction; and an environmentally clean mode of transportation. However, as Mayor Villaraigosa’s recent misadventure has reminded us, it can also be dangerous. The Mayor decided to go cycling recently. His touring happened to take him to an area along Venice Boulevard where a taxicab suddenly pulled in front of him. This forced the Mayor to suddenly hit the brakes, causing him to tumble over the handlebars and break his elbow. Fortunately, the Mayor was wearing a helmet. The news that this incident happened in my Council District was rather distressing. However, it reminds those who drive an automobile or a truck that everyone riding a bicycle has an equal right to the road.
I’m pleased to report that the City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has an excellent comprehensive website that addresses virtually everything you need to know about bicycle resources, especially safety tips and roadway etiquette for motorists and for people who ride bikes. http:// bicyclela.org This website will also inform you about bike racks. At the request of business owners or residents, the city will install racks free of charge. The city assumes responsibility for the rack, but not for the bikes, and the rack remain the property of the City of Los Angeles. Should you see a rack in need of repair, please call the LADOT at (213) 972-4972. You should also be aware that the city is currently drafting the 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Plan. The plan designates 1,633 miles of bikeway facilities and proposes new city-wide and neighborhood bicycle networks. Learn more at: www.labikeplan.org
United Neighborhoods NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
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Public Safety s Parks s Transportation s Zoning s City Services s Economic Development s Youth The United Neighborhoods of the Historic Arlington Heights, West Adams & Jefferson Park Communities is a Certified Neighborhood Council of the City of Los Angeles. OUR VOICE OUR CITY OF NEIGHBORS BY NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS
WWW.UNNC.ORGÊÊÊUÊÊÊContact us at president@unnc.org or call 323-731-8686ÊÊÊUÊÊÊFollow us at twitter.com/UNNC August 2010
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mid-city press [ SELECT HOME SALES AUGUST 2010 ] 90018 Single Family Homes 2460 GRAMERCY PARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $725,000 2442 GRAMERCY PARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640,000 2260 W 27TH ST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393,000 3425 11TH AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349,000 90019 Condominimums 956 S WILTON PL 301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $315,000 90019 Single Family Residences 1830 HAUSER BLVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $675,000 1707 KENISTON AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 674,500 1843 S GENESEE AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 615,000 1540 S MULLEN AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550,000 1524 S ST ANDREWS PL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530,000 4523 W 16TH PL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500,000 1832 S LUCERNE BLVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485,000 90034 Condominimums 3645 CARDIFF AVE 201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $420,000 3670 WESTWOOD BLVD G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419,000 3568 KEYSTONE AVE 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405,000 90034 Single Family Residences 2810 CASTLE HEIGHTS AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,110,000 3272 TILDEN AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685,000 3758 TILDEN AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685,000 90035 Condominimums 836 S BEDFORD ST 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $720,000 1115 S ELM DR 307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320,000 90035 Single Family Residences 1555 CARDIFF AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,985,000 9325 SAWYER ST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,440,000 1120 S ORLANDO AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,325,000 1717 LIVONIA AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,020,000
Sales are from the previous month. Source: Great American Real Estate Solutions
[real estate]
Fannie Mae Home Path Mortgage By Nick Mercado, Mid-City Press Columnist W h i le there are many paths to home ownership, Fannie Mae has made one road a lot smoother. They have developed what’s called the “HomePath Mortgage.” Foreclosed homes owned by Fannie Mae are eligible for this special type of financing which will make home ownership easier for some. Home buyers are able to purchase these homes as their primary residence with a down payment as low as 3%. Investors and those wanting to purchase a second home may purchase with as little as 10%. In addition, the down payment may be from the borrower’s own savings; a gift; a
The Mid-City Press is Hiring Advertising Sales Representative Preferred candidates will have a track record of newspaper display ad and web sales and experience and knowledge of the greater Mid-City area, especially the Crenshaw and Koreatown districts. The job requires growing and cultivating leads on a monthly basis and working with clients on the development of ads and/or advertising campaigns and follow-through each month. - Sales are paid on commission. - Flexible hours. Interesting work. - Candidate must be personable, detail oriented and able to meet tight deadlines.
grant or loan from a non-profit organization, or a state or local government; or even one’s employer. This is to say that the conditions that are placed on conventional and FHA loans are generously eased with HomePath financing. Those with less-than-perfect credit are good candidate for this program. Even those
property appraisal. This not only streamlines the process, but also greatly alleviates a lot of stress and concern especially if a home may require some fix-up. By relaxing the process, Fannie Mae is doing its part to really help stimulate the housing market. Although the “HomePath” loan process is easier, the guidelines established are in place to help make homeownership not only achievable, but most importantly
Home buyers are able to purchase these homes as their primary residence with a down payment as low as 3%. Investors and those wanting to purchase a second home may purchase with as little as 10%. with a credit score of 580 may still qualify, although a bigger down payment may be required. However, should a larger down payment be necessary, there are other programs that may be able to assist to meet this requirement. To further assist, the guidelines of this program allow for a concession of up to 6% towards closing and other costs related to escrow. This can be a significant benefit as it then only requires the buyer to come up with the down payment funds. This financing opportunity is further enhanced by having no requirement for mortgage insurance or for a
sustainable for individuals and families. The guidelines are strictly enforced and borrowers absolutely must qualify. Credit score, income, and debt are all factors considered when qualifying for this program. Remember, only homes owned by Fannie Mae are eligible to be financed by this program. Keep in mind not all lenders are approved to offer this financing either. For more information, ask your lender if they are approved for this program. To find which homes are available in your area, go to HomePath.com. Nick Mercado works for Keller Williams Realty and specialized in the Mid-City area.
Koreatown and Crenshaw Correspondents We are seeking two reporters/columnists to handle the beats of Koreatown and the Crenshaw area. Preferred candidates will have a degree in journalism or experience in newspaper or magazine journalism. Preferred candidates for the Koreatown position, will be fluent in both English and Korean. Candidates must be able to generate story ideas, develop leads, research ideas and file copy on deadline. Correspondents are paid on a per piece/freelance basis.
Interested candidates for all three positions should send a resume to: Allison C. Ferraro - Publisher Mid-City Press 4459 Avocado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Or allisonferraro@midcitypress.com (No phone calls.)
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August 2010
mid-city press [Impressions]
Rangoli: The Arts of India at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center By Susan Brooks, Mid-City Press Columnist Rangoli is an art form of India that uses sand or colored powder to create intricate, impermanent images on a flat surface. Pictures are often used on thresholds during festival times as a spiritual welcome mat. Named after this distinctive art form, the Rangoli Foundation for Art & Culture and the Rangoli Dance Company were formed by dancer and choreographer Malathi Iyengar. Iyengar is a native of Bangalore, India, who relocated to Los Angeles and wanted to introduce the citizens of her new country to her native one. The Rangoli Foundation was first established in 1985, and presents a variety of creative disciplines including dance, music, theater and visual arts through classes and performances. The Rangoli Dance Company was formed in 1992 and features a permanent core of music composition, costume design and art direction combined with a rotating slate of dancers. The sister organizations are headquartered in Sherman Oaks. Iyengar studied Indian classical dance as a girl in Bangalore and continued her education in America by bringing a teacher from India to give lessons. She earned a master’s degree in choreography at UCLA
and draws on the experience she gained there of exposure to dance from a diversity of backgrounds and traditions, often inviting performers from across the dance community to take part in Rangoli presentations. Iyengar is also the author of Dance and Devotion, a collection of materials from her own classes combined with information about the Indian classical dance tradition. Rangoli will bring a festival of Indian dance to MidCity in August with a 25th anniversary performance at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. The program will feature dances from the Bharatanatyam tradition and a specially-commissioned Chhau dance depicting the natural movements of peacocks. Completing the program will be a new original work created by Iyengar called Shivaya, a 75minute concert of music and dance exploring the relationships of the five elements of the Indian system of creation, its five sacred syllables and the resulting sound, silence, stillness and movement of the cosmos. Shivaya: 25 Years of Creativity and Excellence—Sat,. August 28th – Bharatanatyam Indian classical dances at 5 p.m. and Shivaya at 7 p.m., followed by a reception after each section of the program. Nate Holden performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., (323) 964-9766. Tickets $20-$50. Information, (818) 384-1954 or www.rangoli.org
CRENSHAW from page 1
ment that will create 4,000 construction jobs and 1,800 permanent jobs,” Wesson said through a written statement. “We’re proving that these are economically viable communities that can support quality retail centers. “Our longer-term goal with “District Square” is that it becomes a catalyst to ignite an economic renaissance along the Crenshaw Corridor.” The “District Square” development joins two other Crenshaw developments that are in the planning stages. Soon to break ground at Crenshaw and Jefferson boulevards is “West Angeles Plaza,” a $12 million retail project developed that will feature a “Fresh & Easy” neighborhood market and a new Union Bank Building. Also on Crenshaw, adja-
cent to “West Angeles Plaza,” is a site being developed into a redesigned retail center. Other projects in development in Council District 10, include an $8 million two-level retail center at Pico and Hauser boulevards replacing an auto-body shop; a $30 million affordable housing project at 30th Street and Western Avenue; a $40 million office tower extension of the Samitaur development at Jefferson and National Boulevards; and an $18 million office project at Jefferson and National. Improvements at two Council District 10 supermarkets are also planned with the demolition and reconstruction of a new Vons at Pico Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue; and a $4 million remodel of the Ralphs adjacent to “Midtown Crossings.”
August 2010
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Zambezi Bazaar Pays Tribute to Lena Horne By Shirley Hawkins, Mid-City Press Columnist LEIMERT PARK—Entertainer extraordinaire Lena Horne, who died May 8th at the age of 92, was the consummate singer and actress whose incredible career spanned six decades. But many may not be aware that the legendary star of stage and screen— who once owned a home on Arlington Avenue in Los Angeles—was a fierce crusader for freedom and civil rights. One local venue that is paying homage to the late entertainer is Zambezi Bazaar, a gift store located in Leimert Park’s Crenshaw district. Owned by sisters Mary Kimbrough, Jackie Ryan and brother Alden Kimbrough, the store is currently showcasing a colorful retrospective of Horne’s life and career throughout the month of August. The sisters, along with their brother Alden, have been collecting African American memorabilia and artifacts for over 40 years. The sisters state that Horne was a trailblazer who frequently broke down racial barriers. “Lena didn’t compromise on her principals,” said Ryan. “She understood the need for social justice and she wasn’t afraid to defend it.” Take a visit to the second floor of the colorful store and one is immediately immersed in a treasure trove of Lena Horne nostalgia. Splashed across the walls are rare posters of Horne’s movies, including “Stormy Weather,” “Cabin in the Sky” and “The Bronze Venus.” The exhibit also features half a dozen albums of Horne’s hard-to-find recordings. Candid photos show a smiling and laughing Horne rubbing shoulders with musicians Count Basie, Duke
Ellington and civil rights activist Medgar Evers. And the glamorous star’s celebrated beauty is captured on the covers of Crisis, Ebony and Our World magazines from the 1940s and 1950s.
There is also the striking red poster from Horne’s Tony Award winning one-woman show, “The Lady and Her Music,” one of the longest running one-woman shows on Broadway. But despite her glamorous career, Horne never hesitated to speak out on behalf of truth and justice. She participated in civil rights events, including the 1963 March on Washington with the Rev. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Her outspokenness and support of civil rights causes landed Horne on the “Red Channels List” which targeted Hollywood artists who championed for freedom and democracy. The list is also included in the exhibit. “A number of people who wrote and spoke honestly about race and freedom of speech were on that list,” said Mary Kimbrough, who added that the blacklisted artists were frequently denied work because of their liberal principals. H o r n e ’ s name is prominently displayed along with Lillian Hellman, Canada Lee, Richard Wright, Stella Adler, Langston Hughes, Edward G. Robinson and Dorothy Parker, to name a few. Both sisters said that community reaction to the exhibit has been phenomenal. The sisters, lifelong supporters of Horne, said they are proud of the legendary icon’s commitment to freedom and civil rights. “Lena Horne didn’t compromise on her principals,” said Ryan. “She understood the need for social justice and she wasn’t afraid to defend it.” Zambezi Bazaar, 4334 Degnan Blvd. (323) 2996383. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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mid-city press [family matters]
Nearby Excursions to Avoid Summer Traffic Woes By Anita Saunders, Mid-City Press Columnist the shady and cool creek in Fern Dell or get a real workout by trekking up to the Observatory or all the way up the Mt. Holly wood trail to enjoy unparalled 360 degree views of the city. Too hot for the outdoors? Slip into the recently refurbished Observatory and spend an hour or two brushing up on astronomy. Best of all, it’s all free, even the parking.
HPOZ from page 1
within a particular neighborhood. “Preservation Plans” serve as highly localized restoration guides for each neighborhood and a local HPOZ board consults on and approves aesthetic and material choices made by residents. The city’s Planning Dept. has received very little pushback on the HPOZs, mostly because they are initiated by residents themselves. “We have a very high sense of pride in our neighborhood,” said R.J. Strotz, who serves on the Windsor Village Association board. “It’s a nice neighborhood, and we’d like to see it kept that way.” For more information on the HPOZ process, visit preservation.lacity.org/hpoz.
ing Arts and Crafts and Period Revival homes built before 1950. While Country Club Park residents take pride in preserving their neighborhood, they recognize that development is inevitable. “We are not opposed to developments, because that is going to happen, but we want them to kind of fit in the neighborhood,” said Tom Smith, President of the Country Club Park Neighborhood Association. “We are talking about the overall aesthetic of the neighborhood.” An HPOZ is meant to ensure aesthetic and historic consistency among buildings
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Central Library If you have never been to the downtown library, then you are missing out on a Los Angeles gem. It’s more than just a seven-story book building. It’s architecture; it’s art; it’s gardens; it’s entertainment. Log onto www. lapl.org/central/ to see what I mean. Don’t forget to show your library card at the in-
formation desk for reduced rate parking validation.
Aug. 3rd Event Promotes Safety and Walkable Streets Victoria Park, Oxford Square and Queen Anne neighborhoods will participate in “National Night Out,” the evening of Tues., Aug. 3rd. This national event, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, helps build neighborhood spirit and promotes safe, pedestrian-oriented urban streets. According to organizer, Bettye Bryant, of Victoria Park and the Mid-City Neighborhood Council (MINC), the plan is to close West Pico Boulevard between Crenshaw and West boulevards for the evening and have food, drinks and speakers. Contact Bettye Bryant at miles201@aol.com.
trout or catfish, depending on the season); a stream; a waterfall; a lit multi-purpose field; and a sand volleyball court.
Dentistry for Children and Young Adults
Pediatric Dentistry
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area Gather up your uneaten bread slices and head over to this 319-acre park for some duck-feeding. If that isn’t up your alley, there are a myriad of other activities to enjoy: walking trails
Randall E. Niederkohr, D.D.S.
Member American Dental Association Diplomat of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Maria Singson - Orthodontist
TV & Video Games
1109
Ah, the carefree days of summer. Ugh, the horrendous summer traffic. That’s the tradeoff we face—sharing the roads with everyone else who is out to enjoy the bounty of Southern California’s weather and local attractions. In an effort to stay sane by minimizing hours spent idling on packed roads, my family likes to keep many of our excursions within a few miles radius of our home. If that sounds good to you, here are a few ideas for you to try. They won’t cost you much and they represent some of the best that our fair city has to offer. Lucky for us midcity folks, they’re all relatively close! Griffith Park Take a brief respite from city life and head north to Griffith Park. Stroll along
with scenic vistas of Los Angeles; four playgrounds; a half basketball court; a Japanese garden; a fishing lake (stocked monthly with
We have a unique living room atmosphere Children from newborns to 18-year-olds feel comfortable Saturday Appointments Available
s 321 N. Larchmont Blvd, Suite 809
How do we thrive as we age? How can we avoid memory loss and maintain brain health? USC researchers seek people from ages 18-100 to participate in brief (a few hours or less) studies on aging, cognition and emotion. For more information, go to: http://www.usc.edu/gero/participate or call 213-740-9543.
www.midcitypress.com
August 2010
mid-city press [restaurant review]
Vees Café: Organic Comfort Food WEST ADAMS—Good food that makes you feel good. If torn beween iHop or Vees Cafe, this is a no-brainer! Vees is a family owned and operated cafe delivering yummy food—
that’s organic. There’s even free WiFi access, a comfy leather couch to relax on while waiting for “To Go” orders and even a courtesy library with books for kids and adults alike. Decorated with local art, Vees freshly prepares all of their food to order: breakfast scrambles, paninis, croissant sandwiches, smoothies, you name it. With selections that please meat-eaters and meat-
free-ers alike—even vegans love this place. Vees’ commitment to health is extended to the planet as they feature coffees by Groundwork Coffee & Tea, the
downtown Los Angeles company at vanguard of providing certified organic coffee and travel abroad to pioneer sustainable organic coffee farming across the world. Not to mention, but the coffee is darned tasty as well. My favorite was the Black Gold Guatemala. Vees’ loose teas are very popular as well. Even their water is special with a hint of lemon and cucumber.
Their reputation for stellar breakfast burritos didn’t disappoint and their herbed potatoes were perfectly seasoned— they didn’t even need salt. Check them out on Twitter for special orders, free delivery hours and specials like buy any two paninis or salads after 5 p.m. and get one free. Their prices are bargains even before the specials. This cafe is what everyone wants: warm and knowledgeable service, good food and a chill atmosphere.
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7G:6@;6HI YV^an [gdb + V#b# id && V#b# Omelette (plain) or 3 Eggs Any Style ................... $3.45 with toast and potatoes
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Vees Café, 5418 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles 90016. (323) 931-8337 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
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Neighborhoods Notified To Clean Their Own Median Islands By Caitlin M. Foyt, Mid-City Press Contributing Writer MID-CITY—Requests filed with the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services to clean median islands are now expected to take even longer to process. So much longer, in fact, that individual city neighbor-
hoods have been notified that they should begin taking responsibility for maintenance of medians in their own areas. “We lost a number of people who are shifting to jobs focused on street surfac-
ing and people from other divisions are not being replaced. There’s just not any money anymore,” said Steve Barrett, Acting Lot Cleaning Superintendent for Street Services.
[ AUGUST 2010 events calendar ] ART EatLACMA Public Fruit Jam Food doesn’t get much more local or organic than our own backyards. Now the art collective Fallen Fruit is inviting guests to bring their own homegrown or foraged fruits to
seemingly charmed lives and perfect relationships are roiling just below the surface. Eso Won Bookstore, Fri., Aug. 6th, 7 p.m. 4331 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park. Information: (323) 290-1048. www.esowonbookstore.com.
FARMERS MARKETS L.A. Adams/Vermont Farmers Market This neighborhood farmers market features a seasonal selection of fruits, vegetables, local specialties and organic food. St. Agnes Catholic Church, Wed., Aug. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. 1432 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. Information: (323) 777-1755; www.farmernet.com.
Wellington Square Farmers Market Opened in March, this new farmers market drew an estimated 300400 attendees on its first Sunday. In keeping with Seventh-day Adventist practices, the market’s offerings are all The Rangoli Dance Company will celebrate 25 years with a performance at the Nate vegetarian. They include Holden Performing Arts Center. produce, baked goods, prepared food and flowers. Smyrna Seventh-day Adventist join in a public jam-making session. DANCE Church, Sun., Aug. 1st, 8th, 15th, Participants will take home a jar of 22nd, 29th, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 4394 W. jam. Admission is free; tickets will ‘Shivaya: 25 Years of Creativity & Washington Blvd., West Adams. be handed out on a first-come, firstExcellence’ Information: (323) 373-0961; www. served basis. The Rangoli Dance Company wellingtonsquarefarmersmarket. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, celebrates its 25th anniversary com. Sun., Aug. 1st, noon-4 p.m. with a night of traditional and 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile. contemporary Indian music and Wilshire Center Farmers Market Information: (323) 857-6000; dance. The first performance This weekly farmers market www.lacma.org. features Bharatanatyam, one of features fresh, locally grown the oldest classical Indian dance produce as well as tasty prepared BOOKS forms. Choreographer Malathi foods, baked goods and crafts. Iyengar will then present her new Wilshire Vermont Station Susan Fales-Hill work, Shivaya , a tribute to the five Courtyard, The author of the acclaimed elements. Tickets are $24-$50. Fri., Aug. 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, 11 memoir Always Wear Joy visits Ebony Repertory Theatre/Nate a.m.-7 p.m. 3182 Wilshire Blvd., Eso Won to read from and discuss Holden Performing Arts Center, Koreatown. her debut novel, One Flight Up. Sat., Aug. 28th, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Information: (213) 487-7003; The book tells the story of four 4718 W. Washington Blvd., Mid-City. www.wilshirecenter.com. successful New York women whose Information: (323) 964-9766; www.ebonyrep.org.
August 2010
www.midcitypress.com
MUSIC Ludacris The smooth-rhyming rapper Ludacris, who is all over the radio with the hit single “My Chick Bad,” will deliver a night of nimble verses and bouncing beats. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50. The Wiltern, Fri., Aug. 6th, 8 p.m. 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown. Information: (213) 3881400; www.wiltern. com. Summer Rhythms Enjoy an afternoon of music in the park with performances by Aparato and Conjunto Los Pochos. There will also be food trucks and kid-friendly activities. Sponsored Derek Ringold performs his one-man show So Hard this by Ninth District month. Councilwoman Jan Perry and the Community Redevelopment Agency THEATER Los Angels. South Park Recreation Center, Sat., Aug. 21st, 2 p.m. 345 E. ‘So Hard’ 51st St., South Park. Information: Writer and performer Derek Ringold (213) 473-7009; www.tinyurl.com/ will deliver a staged reading of his summerrhythm. acclaimed one-man show. So Hard tells the story of a young black gay Tokyo Police Club man in America trying to come Don’t let the name fool you—this to terms with his identity and rock quartet hails from Ontario, navigate a changing, challenging Canada. They’re currently touring world. Light refreshments will behind their new album, Champ, be served in the garden after the which is filled with hook-heavy performance. Suggested donation indie pop. Freelance Whales and $5. One National Gay & Lesbian Arkells will open. Tickets are $20. Archives, Sun., Aug. 15th, 2 p.m.-4 The El Rey, Thurs., Aug. 12th, 8 p.m. p.m. 909 W. Adams Blvd., University 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile. Park. Information: (213) 741-0094; Information: (323) 936-6400; www. www.onearchives.org. theelrey.com.
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