area newsletter NOVEMBER 2018 • LOS ANGELES
20 18
Community News Charity buys hotel for homeless
Streaming powerhouse Netflix has expanded its footprint in Hollywood, agreeing to lease the entire Epic building currently under construction at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Bronson Ave. The 13 story tower will add 327,913 square feet to Netflix’s operation, which has already taken over the Icon and Cue buildings at the Sunset Bronson Studios across the street. The physical expansion mirrors Netflix’s content ambitions, which includes $8 billion in production and licensing in 2018.
New condos planned for West Hollywood The AIDS Healthcare Foundation recently purchased a hotel in downtown Los Angeles with the intent of turning it into housing for homeless and low-income people. AHF purchased the Baltimore Hotel, located at Fifth St. and Los Angeles St. in the Skid Row area, for $20 million. The single room occupancy (SRO) hotel has 204 rooms, of which 76 are currently occupied. The foundation previously purchased a motel in Hollywood and 2 other SRO hotels in DTLA, taking ownership of a total of 531 rooms in recent months. They estimate that as many as 5,000 SRO rooms in Los Angeles are currently unoccupied and could be utilized to alleviate the homeless problem in LA.
Netflix expands in Hollywood
A proposed low-rise condo project has been approved by the West Hollywood Planning Commission. Located at 939-949 Spaulding Ave., the building will stand 4 stories tall and contain 22 units in one- and twobedroom configurations. Two levels of subterranean parking at the site will provide 48 spaces. Construction of the project will require the demolition of 3 existing multi-family residences. No timeline for the development has been announced.
Community News Journalism school coming to Downtown
Arizona State University recently entered into a lease for 80,000 square feet of the Herald Examiner Building in downtown Los Angeles. ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism will open a satellite campus in the building, expanding their operation at the ASU California Center in Santa Monica. A restaurant will also be opened on the ground floor of the structure, which has been unoccupied for nearly 30 years. The Los Angeles Herald Examiner was a daily newspaper that was founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1903, and was published until 1989. The Herald Examiner Building was designated a historic landmark in 1977.
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.
LA ranks highest in housing cost nationwide
A recent study by Zillow.com reveals that residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties spend a higher percentage of their income on housing than in any other metro area in the country. According to the study, Angelenos earning close to the area’s median income level would be required to spend approximately 47% of their salary in order to afford a median-priced rental. By means of comparison, data from 1985 to 2000 show that the average resident would spend about 36% of their income on housing. Analysts point out that these figures demonstrate how difficult it is for lower- to middle-income people to afford housing in Los Angeles, with one-third of residents unable to afford market-value housing.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Tesse
Animal
Bestia
8500 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood
435 N. Fairfax Avenue Los Angeles
2121 E. 7th Place Downtown Los Angeles
Say bonjour to L.A.’s newest Parisian delight--Tesse. Located atop the Sunset Strip; Chef Bill Chait returns to Lalaland with his take on French- Californian fare. Offering a Charcuterie centric selection from saucisse de Lyon to foie gras terrine with figs and Armagnac, one will feel as if their taste-buds drifted to Europe and back. The appetizers and mains equally please with selections such as crispy veal sweetbreads and a 34 ounce dry-aged ribeye, ending blissfully on a sweet note with their duck egg crème brûlée with almond tuile. Your dinner rendezvous is served daily 6-10:30pm.
Feeling adventurous side? Animal is a favorite as well as hit from Petit Trois Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. A James Beard awarded restaurant, one would not find themselves disappointed at any selection off the carefully curated brunch selection. Try the Eggplant Katsu-a blend of yuzu kosho aioli, togarashi, kombu marinated cucumber. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with the Cheesecake Pudding, made with guava, passion fruit, and graham. You’ll have to hold tight through the week as brunch is only offered Saturday- Sunday from 10:30a-2:30pm, but it’s well worth the wait.
An homage to sophisticated modern-day european spaces with contemporary elements, Bestia brings authentic Italian to L.A.’s Arts District. The brainchild of acclaimed culinary husband & wife duo Ori and Genevieve Menashe, the eatery is a mix of multi-regional fare focusing on a “from scratch” approach. From housemade charcuterie to Acunto over-baked pizza—it’s no wonder Bestia finds itself every year on the L.A. Times annual Gold List. Open nightly from 5-11pm, reservations are highly recommended.
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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