area newsletter FEBRUARY 2018 • LOS ANGELES
20 18
Community News Preservation group buys land in Laurel Canyon
at 1800 Vine St., near the 101 freeway in Hollywood. The building marks the company’s fifth location in Los Angeles, following their locations in Santa Monica, Culver City, downtown L.A. and the Fairfax District. The Vine St. building also stands about 2 blocks from a location of WeWork, the industry leader that has 12 locations in L.A. and 171 locations worldwide. According to Forbes, approximately 1.2 million people utilized coworking spaces in 2017.
Rapid bus line proposed for Vermont Ave. A group of land preservationists recently completed the purchase of a 17 acre mountain parcel in Laurel Canyon, to be set aside as open space and wildlife habitat. The endeavor was led by the Laurel Canyon Association and Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (CLAW), which gathered $1.7 million in funds to finance the sale. Among the contributors were the David Schwartz Foundation, which donated $300,000, and musician Don Henley, who donated $100,000 in honor of his late bandmate Glenn Frey, a former resident of Laurel Canyon. The property, which is located between Lookout Mountain Ave. and Stanley Hills Dr. in the Hollywood Hills, will now be turned over to the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority for management and preservation.
Co-working company expands into Hollywood
Dutch co-working company Spaces has leased space
A local engineering company AECOM has submitted an unsolicited proposal to jumpstart a rapid bus line along Vermont Avenue. The project, which would operate as a public-private partnership between AECOM and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, would run between the Metro station at Vermont and Sunset Blvd. and the intersection of Vermont and 120th St., effectively connecting the Red, Purple, Expo, and Green light rail lines, while also improving bus service along the second busiest bus corridor in the city. If approved, the project would involve reconfiguring Vermont Ave. with exclusive bus lanes as well as installing new bus shelters, landscaping, and signage.
Community News Construction begins on Sunset Blvd. apartments
the previous year. L.A. and New York far outpace the rest of the country as the only cities with a valuation over $1 billion. Overall, the U.S. housing market gained 6.5% in 2017, to a valuation of $31.8 trillion. Some experts indicate that home prices are unlikely to continue rising at this rate with inventory increasing and investors seeing the effect of new federal tax laws.
Initiative would speed up Metro projects Construction has begun on a new residential project near the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and La Brea Ave. The building will stand five stories tall and contain 60 apartments, as well as 3,400 square feet of retail space, and subterranean parking for 125 vehicles. The property, located at 7120 W. Sunset Blvd., at the intersection of Sunset and Detroit St., will also feature a central courtyard and a rooftop deck.
L.A. housing valuation highest in U.S.
Analysts recently announced that the value of Los Angeles’ residences grew 5.7% last year, to a total of $2.7 trillion, the highest valuation in the country. According to a report released by Zillow, New York City ranked a close second, with a value of $2.6 trillion, an increase of 7.9% over
On the heels of Los Angeles being selected as the host for the 2028 Summer Olympics, the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority has announced a proposal to ramp up construction of several projects throughout the city. Dubbed “ Twenty- Eight by ’28,” the initiative would speed up the timelines for projects, such as expansion of Metro lines and redevelopment of the Washington/ Flower junction, to help prepare the city for hosting thousands of athletes and spectators from around the world.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Gus’s Fried Chicken
Here’s Looking At You
Sonoratown
1262 Crenshaw Boulevard Mid-City
3901 West 6th Street Koreatown
208 E 8th Street Downtown Los Angeles
An import from Memphis, this spot on Pico and Crenshaw is the first Gus’s west of Texas. At this restaurant, everything is fried in peanut oil and there’s only one level of spiciness: “hot & spicy.” For starters, try their fried pickle spears or fried green tomatoes. Here, each plate comes with two or three pieces of chicken, a slice of white bread, baked beans and coleslaw as sides. Gus’s World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken also has several other sides to choose from, including the mac & cheese and bacon-laden collard greens. For dessert, try a slice of their pie: pecan, chess, chocolate chess, sweet potato and old-fashioned coconut. Gus’s Fried Chicken is open Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Friday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Co-owners Lien Ta and chef Jonathan Whitener say the menu influences span the globe, from Mexico to Vietnam to the local farmer’s market. Their meaty menu gives you the option between sweetbreads and tartars and trout and bonito, all served to share. The concept to this restaurant is based around “SoCal food.” A popular dish here is the hiramasa, a kingfish crudo layered between thinly sliced radish with Serrano chile cream, hibiscus onion and charcoal. For dessert, try the bubble gum ice cream or their seasonal bar pie. Here’s Looking At You is located on a corner in the middle of Koreatown and is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 – 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. – 12 a.m., and Sundays from 6 – 10 p.m.
This hole-in-the-wall serves tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and quesadillas. The tiny Downtown storefront space was named after the first neighborhood in L.A., before it later became known as Chinatown. Every day the kitchen makes fresh flour tortillas, which are the base of each menu item. The standout here is the chimichanga, a soft fried tortilla stuffed with shredded chicken, Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses, fire-roasted tomatoes, and Anaheim peppers. Don’t forget to add a scoop of green tomatillo salsa, enjoy a bottle of Mexican coke and perhaps even a mesquitegrilled carne asada taco. There are a few stools in this place, but the cheap prices and the high quality makes the waiting lines worth it. Sonoratown is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
Natural History Museum
LACMA
Annenberg Space for Photography
900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
Tattoo November 19, 2017 – April 15, 2018
Painted in Mexico, 1700–1790: Pinxit Mexici November 19, 2017–March 18, 2018
Cuba Is September 9, 2017 – March 4, 2018
This exhibition focuses on Mexican paintings of the 18th century, a time that featured major stylistic advances as Mexican artists often sought to distinguish themselves from the European counterparts. LACMA has gathered over 100 works to display, including paintings that were previously unpublished, or were restored for the exhibition.
Cuba has long held the fascination of many Americans, and even as travel restrictions have decreased in recent years, few have seen what life is actually like on the island. This exhibit features over 120 photos depicting a wide range of Cuban subjects, as well as an original film documenting how the photographers captured the images.
Demonstrating 5,000 years of history, the Natural History Museum’s exhibition displays the cross-cultural impact of body art through the years and around the world. Featuring historic samples of tattoo art and the equipment used to create it, the museum also brings the experience into the present with a series of tattoo artists offering their services on-site during the exhibition.
2000 Avenue of the Stars #10, Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION:
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