area newsletter DECEMBER 2018 • LOS ANGELES
20 18
Community News TV City sold for $700M
Television City, the iconic CBS studio complex at Fairfax Ave. and Beverly Blvd. in Hollywood, was recently sold for $700 million, following an off-market bidding war. Details of the deal, including the bidders and the winner, have yet to be officially announced. With its prime location near The Grove, Beverly Center, and Melrose Ave., it is believed that CBS saw greater value in selling the facility, than in maintaining a primary operation in Hollywood. It is believed that CBS will retain a tenancy at Television City while gradually moving its operations to its facility in Studio City. Television City which originally opened in 1952, has been the production home of iconic TV personalities like Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, and Merv Griffin. When news of the possible sale of Television City emerged in late 2017, local conservation advocates successfully had the property designated as a historic-cultural landmark, making it difficult for the new owners to make significant renovations.
New condos near Sunset Strip being developed The West Hollywood Planning Commission has approved a proposed condominium development to be built at 1120-1124 Larrabee St. The project will stand 4 stories high and include 22 residential units, including 5 that will be designated for affordable housing. Construction of the building will require
the demolition of 3 existing residential structures and detached garages. With the project being located on a narrow street and adjacent to the high-traffic Sunset Strip, city officials stipulated that contractors and employees are forbidden from parking on city streets during construction. No timeline for the development has been announced.
State law opens the door for street vendors Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed SB946, the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, a state law which creates a statewide framework for the regulation of sidewalk vendors and prohibits local authorities from banning vendors outright. In the Los Angeles area, street vending has often been a contentious issue, with officials cracking down on popular food vendors in the name of public safety, but often at the encouragement of traditional brick-and-mortar venues threatened by the competition. Such conflicts have led to self-employed vendors facing fines, jail and the confiscation of their carts, preventing low-income entrepreneurs from making a living. Under the new law, cities would be able to determine their own standards for street vendors, such as limiting the hours of operation and banning sales near permitted farmers’ markets.
Community News Hollywood and Highland is on the market
The Hollywood and Highland shopping center, at the heart of Hollywood’s tourist district, is for sale. The 45,000 square foot retail complex currently houses Forever 21 and Sephora, several restaurants, and a Lucky Strike bowling alley. In addition to nearby draws such as the El Capitan, Egyptian, and Chinese movie theaters, the property sits atop a Metro station, making it conducive to foot traffic. The shopping center is expected to be sold for as much as $300 million.
Metro considers renaming train and bus lines The rapid growth of Los Angeles’ rapid transit system has presented LA Metro with a unique problem. Officials are considering the drawbacks to each option,
including the impact it would have on the vision impaired or language barriers. The original system of
naming train lines after colors (red, blue, gold) went sideways with the creation of the Expo Line, while future projects have been given designations based on their location and destinations (South Bay/LAX, East San Fernando Valley). To make the ongoing expansion more palatable for riders, LA Metro is considering an overhaul of the system, by assigning each route either a color, a letter, or a number. Officials are considering the drawbacks to each option, including the impact on folks who are colorblind, as well as to passengers who do not read English.
Coffee Bean HQ moving to Baldwin Hills
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee shop chain is moving its national headquarters to Baldwin Hills, from their current location on the Miracle Mile. The company will be constructing a two building complex on West Jefferson Blvd. that will include 90,000 square feet of office space. The footage will be dedicated to 54,000 square feet for coffee roasting, 51,000 square feet of warehouse space, and 2,200 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Coffee Bean was founded in Southern California in 1963 as an office coffee service and opened its first store in 1968 in Brentwood. The company now has over 1,000 locations in 32 countries.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Catch LA
We Have Noodles
P.Y.T.
8715 Melrose Avenue West Hollywood
3827 W. Sunset Boulevard Suite C, Silver Lake
400 S. Main Street Los Angeles
West Hollywood is home to New York seafood spot, Catch. The restaurant is a one-stop shop for food and beverage experiences. From ceviche, to sushi rolls, whole fried snappers and skewers-there is something for everyone and every occasion. Perched above the corner of Melrose & San Vicente, the 340 seat retractable rooftop comes with breathtaking views of downtown Los Angeles & the Hollywood Hills. The longtime NY seafood spot also has locations in Dubai and Playa del Carmen, and was Open Table’s most popular reservation in NYC last year! The open-air dining room also offers desserts like the sticky coconut cake with coconut water sorbet, braised pineapple and mango sauce.
We Have Noodles is a modern noodle concept created by Chef Darren Sayphraraj. The shop started popping up on the weekends at Smorgasburg in DTLA, and now has a permanent location in Silver Lake. The counterservice only restaurant serves lunch and dinner. The menu here is a collection of pan-Asian favorites, from pho to khao soi to ramen. You can also enjoy their fried chicken karaage, sweet potato chips, and chicken black truffle dumplings. A seasonal rotation of beer and wine is also available here. Chef Sayphraraj hopes to introduce brunch in the near future as well as pop-up dinners from chefs around the world.
Downtown L.A.’s most prolific chef, Josef Centeno, says he’s focusing on vegetables at his restaurant, P.Y.T. Half of Centeno’s Ledlow restaurant has mostly plant based dishes on the menu, with a couple of chicken, meat or seafood options from specific producers available on a limited basis. Here you’ll find dishes like mac & cheese, baby bok choy with grilled lemon cucumber, and crispy torpedo onions over faro. To drink, cocktails feature cold-pressed juices.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
LACMA 5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036 CURRENT EXHIBITION: 3D: Double Vision July 15, 2018 - March 31, 2019 This exhibition explores the art of stereoscopy, the technique that allows a two-dimensional image to create the illusion that it occupies three dimensions of space. Following the history of the technology from the experimental photographs of the 1830’s to the sophisticated digital films of modern day, the exhibit creates a hands-on experience, allowing viewers to use various devices to view 3-D art from artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Ed Ruscha, and features over 60 photographs, videos, and holographic sculptures.
Annenberg Space for Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10 Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION: Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain May 12, 2018 - January 6, 2019 The Autry is presenting the first major retrospective of noted Native American artist Rick Bartow. The exhibition reflects Bartow’s personal journey as a Vietnam veteran who battled PTSD and alcoholism to develop a career as a self-taught artist, creating a body of work that is both deeply personal and culturally relevant. Featured work includes large-scale paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures.
The Broad 221South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 CURRENT EXHIBITION: A Journey That Wasn’t June 30, 2018 - February 2019 The featured exhibition at the Broad is a collection of works that focus on the passage of time, dealing with themes such as nostalgia and decay. The exhibition features film and video pieces as well as paintings, sculpture, and photos, and 40 of the 55 works are on display at the Broad for the first time. The exhibition is on display in the Broad’s first floor galleries and is included with regular admission to the museum.
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