Downtown Weekly LA

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 15. NO. 4 MAR 11 - MAR 17

DTLA &

CHEFS CHEF

WILSON WILSON SANTOS DTLA

WOMeN TO WATCH

Claudia oliveira

2 THE SECRET RECIPE OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

VOL 15 NO 4 - MARCH 11TH - MARCH 17TH / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

ON THE COVER

PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Leonard

CHEF WILSON SANTOS LOCATION:

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

DTLA SQUARE ONE: OUR WARMEST WELCOME....3 DTLA COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK.....5 HOT & SPICY CHEFS: CHEF WILSON SANTOS ...6 DT APPETITE: DINE DTLA...........7 DTLA WOMEN TO WATCH! CLAUDIA OLIVEIRA...8 MONUMENTS IN TIME: HWH HELLMAN.....13 TO BE OR NOT TO BE? ........ 14 ADVERTISE - 888-732-DTLA (3852) OR EDITOR@DTLA-WEEKLY.COM

EDITOR@DTLAWEEKLY.COM

<<

THE HERBS & SPICES

DTLA WEEKLY

editor and chief KERI FREEMAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

KELLIE ALDRICH CAROLYN PLATZMAN AMANDA NICHOLSON LUCY KARILO

photography ERIC EPPERSON GARY LEONARD

VIDEO Production

@kerieatsdtla design and layout @kerieatsdtla

social media

@kerieatsdtla

Special thanks to...

THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES & THE CITY OF LA ARTS DISTRICT CHINATOWN CIVIC DISTRICT BUNKER HILL EXPO/USC HISTORIC CORE LITTLE TOKYO FASHION DISTRICT FINANCIAL DISTRICT SKID ROW SOUTH PARK WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THEGRAWN ARTWALK NEWS HWH LUXURY LIVING SANDAST ART STUDIO jOEY RESTAURANT soul delicious LITTLE BEAR FHEDESH rappahannock oyster bar Robeks dtla CHEF WILSON SANTOS & Loftway

DTLA WEEKLY All rights reserved. Downtown Weekly is a news, event, LIFESTYLE & Hospitality FREE community resource. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher.

DTLA WEEKLY, in support of local residents, businesses, workers and visitors of Downtown Los Angeles, publishes DTLA WEEKLY. Readers are recommended to make appropriate inquiries before wagering any sum in relation to any ad, article or feature published herein. DTLA WEEKLY will not be liable to any person for loss or damage incurred or suffered as a result of his/her accepting, offering to accept or following any invitation or advice contained in any ad, article or feature published herein.

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY LA

DTLA NEWS l EVENTS l LIFESTYLE I HOSPITALITY P.O. BOX 86601 - DTLA CA 90086 - WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 888-732-DTLA (3852) @DTLAWEEKLY

SQUARE ONE: OUR WARMEST WELCOME

DTLA

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ON TOP OF THE GAME SQUARE ONE: WITH JOEY RESTAURANT GROUP

A

s with each of their 29 locations throughout Canada, Washington and California, including JOEY DTLA, the newly opened JOEY Manhattan shares a familiar blend of style and grace, and most paramount, their particular sense of hospitality that has managed to keep the JOEY brand on top of the game.

The heart of Manhattan Beach marks the third JOEY restaurant location in SoCal.

Heat lamps caress the diner forbidding the cold sting of a chilly night.

First impressions At each JOEY restaurant location, a host or hostess offers complimentary champagne upon arrival.

Clear partitions manage to separate each dining table, adding a more intimate setting for each party. Hot meals are brought in reasonable time by a team of cordially-observant servers masked in proper PPE.

While patrons wait to be seated, eyes anxiously scan each section of the room.

Be it the bar, lounge, outdoor patio, or even the open kitchen views; the room shows faces of accomplishment, gratitude, and satisfaction.

Tables topped with filled plates inspired

by Southern California culture and fresh global cuisine trends pair well with great conversations. Family and friends celebrate spending time together all the while, JOEY’s signature cocktails are ready on standby to ease the tensions around any stark business deal.

Warm and Cozy Nights Yet, with the pandemic came some revisions, which JOEY pulled off seamlessly that actually enhance the experience.

Unstoppable JOEY restaurants After months of pivoting during COVID and in abidance with the strict guidelines set by the state of California, JOEY moved forward with the new JOEY Manhattan Beach opening on March 4th (patio and to-go only), increasing safety protocols to match its other locations.

Guests who chose to patron the newest location found within the posh settings of Manhattan Village discovered JOEYs newest 1,400 square foot patio set up, a cozy and safe destination for outdoor dining.

“We are beyond excited to finally have the opportunity to open JOEY Manhattan Beach and be part of this community,” said Layne Krienke, President of the JOEY Restaurant Group.

“We can assure the community that we are confident that we can successfully and safely open this location, providing a fantastic dining experience for customers and also bringing jobs to the Manhattan Beach community.”

From masterfully constructed sushi cones and hand-made hummus to the array of globally inspired salads, the JOEY Manhattan Beach menu dazzled with choice cuts, bountiful pastas, fresh greens and signature cocktails.

JOEY – Right Back at It When JOEY Manhattan Beach and it’s siblings can welcome guests indoors, all will get to experience expansive ceiling features, decorative lighting, handcrafted wood installations and ultra-warm backdrops featuring the artworks of local artists.

JOEY has set the bar for a new level of hospitality in the restaurant industry. A level, which no doubt contributes to the chain’s huge success.

By using every manner of enjoyment to their benefit, JOEY keeps waves of fashionably dressed trendsetters on top of their echelons, returning to patronize the JOEY brand, yet again and again. www.JOEYRestaurants.com

Downtown Appetite: 100 Days of Burgers by Keri Freeman

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DTLA COCKTail OF THE WEEK

LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

at HILL STREET BAR

I

@hillstreetla

'm Drunk Bunny, aka. Drunk (censored) Bunny. This publication knows how much I love bar hopping and calls on me every once in a while to tell my tale...

Once upon a time - I was drunk. That time is now, yesterday and tomorrow. In fact, I drink so much I've grown an extra liver. Well, it's not really a liver. It's a spleen. However, it kicks in when the liver can't take it anymore.

I, however, never pass out, never stumble, never slur, and never forget. This set of particular skills have allowed me to learn some valuable life lessons - one of those being, "if you drink the good stuff, you most likely won't get a hangover."

So I stay on the top shelf, looking down on the city, cracking jokes, making friends, and doing what I can to make it to my rabbit hole. They say moderation is the key. So I spend half my day drinking and the other half-sleep—the perfect balance.

However, the pot of gold would turn out to be Hill Street's full bar of highend spirits, fine wines, and exotic beers.

My friends Hype Turtle and Lady Always Buggin wanted whiskey, but I knew that time would come in just a few days when we'd all hop around DTLA looking to drink the finest whiskeys with our dear old friend Saint Pat. Without a solid plan on what to drink, I searched deep within to ask each of my organs what they wanted to put in the old Easter basket for the night.

My liver wanted Rum. My spleen wanted Gin, my stomach wanted Tequila, but my mouth didn't trust any of them.

To mix these liquors would be a tastebud's true test of strength, especially without perfect blend of mixers.

Believe it or not, I've actually been fasting. I find drinking on an empty stomach saves a Then it hit me as I suddenly remembered buck or two and I prefer leftovers.

1971, the year I was born. The year of Anyway, enough about me. Let's share with Rabbit? No, the year of the Long Island Ice you a tale. The tale of the Long Island Iced Tea. Tea I just tried for the first time at the Hill Long Island Iced Tea gets its name from Street Bar. the skinny island just south of New York's Saint Patrick's Day came early this year for mainland. Its creator, a man named my forest friends and me. Located on the Bob Butt (No, I'm not making that up), Kawana Hotel's ground level, just below the began making the drink as an attempt to hedges of the Courts District, we stumbled introduce a great tasting cocktail using upon the Hills Street Bar. It was just like Triple sec. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11>> finding the golden egg or in this case, the end of the rainbow.

DTLA HOT & SPICY CHEFS by Keri Freeman

VOL 15 NO 4 - MARCH 11TH - MARCH 17TH / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

If you ever dined at Church

CHEFS

& State, El Cholo or Fleming’s Steak House

in their early years, there’s a chance you’ve enjoyed a dish or two prepared by this week’s Hot & Spicy Chef,

Chef Wilson Santos.

CHEF WILSON SANTOS Chef Santos’ day begins bright and early, making the commute from his home in Bakersfield straight to the open-air produce markets that span the Warehouse District of downtown LA. Unlocking the doors and unloading the provisions, he and his team begin prepping the dozen bins filled with freshly chopped, diced, sliced, and grated ingredients that will enhance the flavor of each of his many plates.

With the light at the end of the Covid tunnel, finally, the Chef can return to what he does best; feeding hordes of hungry restaurant diners from sun up to sun down.

These days you can find Chef Wilson Santos at Rappahannock Oyster Bar located in the quaint open-air lifestyle mall known as TheRow. Chef Wilson Santos was there when Rappahannock first opened three years ago.

Before that day, the bare walls and empty concrete “box-shaped” buildout depended on the company’s eye for contemporary interior design, reputation for fresh, briny oysters and the Chef’s imagination to get things going. In the end, it would help establish TheRow’s ever-popular outdoor private-hideaway feel.

Rappahannock Oysters Bar is famous for its variety of oysters, always meant to be the main course, with other items such as French fries, scallops, and fine wines available to escort them.

As time went by, the Chef began using the restaurant’s main staples, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and of course, the oysters, to create menu items unique to all other Rappahannock restaurants scattered around the Chesapeake Bay.

Time spent with Chef Tony Esnault of Church & State, Flemings Steakhouse and El Cholo Mexican Restaurant would embellish him with the best traits from some of the top chefs of LA. On a good day, the Chef can shuck anywhere between 1500-7500 raw oysters. So many, he jokes about shucking blindfolded with one oyster tied behind his back.

“I love the connection with people.

It’s great. I feel like the people here are family. So many different faces every day."

Wilson notes that each restaurant in the chain has a different menu to complement the dozens of oysters.

Wilson is most thankful the owners of RappBarDTLA Allow him the freedom to create and experiment. Such is the case with the crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and fried oyster tacos.

ADVERTISE WITH US CALL 888-732-DTLA

VOL 15 NO 4 - MARCH 11TH - MARCH 17TH / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

dine D.T.L.A.

shown here: Chef Wilson Santos Oyster TACOS

C

hefs Wilson's RappBurger was voted best burger by La Magazine. It's two beef patties with caramelized onions, smoked Mayo on a sesame seed bun, and you can eat the mini version during happy hour.

Balancing the menu twenty cases of lobster a week. He uses the extra claws with his Lobster poutine and shrimp and lobster quesadillas which are selling like crazy. Yet, nothing says Chef Wilson Santos better than the customer favorite that started it all - The Chef's Lobster Roll.

Plans for the future include new staff, busy days, Cinco De Mayo, Mother's Day, and an all-new Happy Hour returning to the restaurant as more and more Covid restrictions subside.

"A lot of chefs work toward the plate looking better than the food taste. But it's the taste that brings you back."

For Rappahannock, this means another day of happy smiles, great service, and delicious eats for DTLA. @86yeschef

shown here: Chef Wilson Santos Lobster Roll

It's the perfect time for it!

It's almost been two weeks since the start of dineL.A. The 14-day dining event is dedicated in part to supporting L.A.'s hardest-hit restaurant community, Downtown Los Angeles.

"Los Angeles' restaurant community continues to astound all of us with their ingenuity and perseverance," says Stacey Sun, Executive Director of dineL.A.

With a handful of our beloved eateries left standing or severely rattled by the aftermath of COVID, it's an honor to present some of our DTLA favorites in hopes that we can guide patrons to our city's most diverse cuisines and eating styles.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to creating Restaurant Week programs that support the present dining landscape and our local businesses."

This year, the event added al fresco dining and exclusive takeout and delivery options with a new partnership with Grubhub, allowing all to "taste the world" without ever leaving the comfort of their homes.

Yet, there's nothing like actually dining in DTLA at restaurants that are eager and ready to seat you.

Manuela, RappbarDTLA (shown above), Brera Ristorante, Fogo de Chao, 10E, and JW Marriott's new Savoca Trattoria and many others are offering affordable yet encompassing experiences ideal for date night, family outings or discovering a new favorite.

"We're excited to help local diners experience dineL.A. Restaurant Week safely by bringing their favorite dishes to them at home this year," said Jessica Burns, VP of Brand and Creative at Grubhub. "It's also an honor to help support the participating restaurants as they make their comeback after a challenging year." dineL.A. Restaurant Week lunch menus range $15-$35, with dinner menus priced $25-$65+. Prices and meal periods vary by restaurant and exclude beverages, tax and gratuity.

Menus may be subject to change due to the seasonal availability of ingredients.

For a full list of participating restaurants and their menus, please visit dineLA. com.

8 DTLA Women To Watch: Claudia Oliveira by Keri Freeman

VOL 15 NO 4 - MARCH 11TH - MARCH 17TH / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

DTLA WOMEN TO WATCH claudia oliveira: determined to rebuild

L

ongtime DTLA resident and neighborhood sweetheart Claudia Oliveira is determined to rebuild and improve our downtown community.

For the past four-years, she’s served as Board Director and Secretary for DLANC, making a name for herself as a valuable community leader with a solid history of taking on projects few others would dare.

In line with her beliefs or not, it’s hard to keep your attention off Oliveira. She’s a petite, curvy, confident, Afro-Latina, with a warm bodacious smile and unwavering resolute. Dog lovers may also recognize her with her little pooch Cthulhu.

When you think of what it means to be a natural people person, think of Oliveira.

Oliveira welcomes conversations and debates involving people and the community. She’s mastered the art of listening and responding to the best of her ability with a particular way of leaving the most stark conversationalist satisfied and feeling well respected, even when an issue goes unresolved at the moment.

If her face looks more familiar than her name, it’s because Oliveira was born in Brazil, grew up in Minneapolis and came to Los Angeles 11 years ago. She took on stage name “DJ Victoria Van Damn,” spending numerous nights as a professional Dj.

With a recent past filled with controversy and speculation, volunteering for DLANC isn’t always a fresh cup of English tea. In fact, it can be more like a shot of spicy cayenneginger with a sour petrified pickle floating on top of the mix. Members of DLANC have reported being attacked verbally and physically and recently threatened with physical harm during DLANC zoom meetings.

“As we reopen, it’s time to rebuild and improve our community for our stakeholders and become a thriving destination. For that, we have to create space to allow a vision of a friendlier, more welcoming Downtown to shape our new reality. I am looking forward to helping recover, rebuild, renew, and re-love our DTLA.” - Claudia Oliveira

Keeping the party going for Rihanna, Sony Latin, the ESPYs, and the X-Games.

Still an accomplished Dj, Oliveira doesn’t miss a beat mixing in community politics. Her sense of civic duty has led to opportunities alongside State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and CHIRLA to pass the Inclusionary Act - SB225 2019.

With rumors that DLANC hasn’t always been there for all DTLA stakeholders, especially those in the Skid Row community, what’s different about Oliveira. Running for an Area-Wide seat rather than Historic Core Resident seat, she has proven she not only has the vision but takes personal steps to bring change to life.

In hopes to catapult downtown into a safer, sustaining, more lucrative condition, especially when it came to the small business sector, she wasn’t afraid to address the issues even when it meant walking the right rope between the Historic Core and Skid Row. Recently, Oliveira worked with Shawn Smith and Tyler Murphy to bring over 300,000 masks to those who needed them.

Since 2018, she’s led a Skid Row Job fair placing over 100 workers in new positions.

In 2019 she produced the “Small Business Symposium,” helping to connect small business owners with City contracts and other like-minded opportunities.

Oliveira has worked with Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition to establish street riding classes to Downtown as well.

Yet, not everyone agrees with her, as is fine with Oliveira, who proved she is resilient as she is passionate, shaking off Now up for re-election, Claudia, no doubt, any negativity that may surround her or her fellow running mates that make up has the ingredients upon which most the DTLA Super Slate possibly headed to DLANC members are made - A list of personal truths, a plan to build downtown, the next four years of DLANC meetings and accomplishments. and the passion for driving it forward.

Monuments in Time: HWH Building by Keri Freeman

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MONUMENTS IN TIME

HWH HELLMAN BUILDING

T

he story of the HWH Building begins back in the days when much of Los Angeles was still developing.

The industrial revolution and brand new railroad enhanced expectations of a new prosperous life in Los Angeles from across the globe.

Those were the days when immigrants hitched rides upon steamships on long journeys with tight quarters.

Such was the case of Herman Wolf Hellman and his older Brother Isaias.

In 1859, the sun above LA exposed a land of opportunity as far the eye can see. Rules were simple. Start small, build wealth, make enough money in investments and live the luxurious life you deserve. In other words, make a name for yourself.

The Hellman brother's serendipitous path led them both into the world of banking. Over the course of their lifespans, the two would prove to be highly influential in laying the foundations of some of the most revered institutions in Los Angeles.

Before their 50th birthdays, the brothers had established the Farmer's & Merchant Bank, the Merchant's National Bank of the West and The Security Savings Bank, known today as Wells Fargo.

They also helped erect The University Of South California, started the first LA Chamber of Commerce, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure Union Station's construction to establish train stops and commerce opportunities from our country's then newly forming railroad system.

These endeavors would allow them the title of "Wealthiest family west of the Mississippi."

The two somehow had a falling out when a relative of one of their wives was The Hellman brothers did just that.

At just sixteen, Herman Wolf Hellman took caught embezzling money. This led to an estrangement and fierce rivalry between a job at his cousin's grocery store, later partnering with Abraham and Jacob Haas, the two that would last the remainder of their lives.

Hellman, Haas & Co., a store destined to become one of LAs most successful Herman was determined his brother wholesale businesses, which is now would not have the better building. known as Smart & Final.

There are a few buildings in the Old Bank District named Hellman due to their feud.

HWH Hellman, Hellman Building, Hellman Estates... the list goes on.

In their angst, the two brothers began construction on three separate buildings at once. Isaias would construct the Hellman Building on 4th & Main and tear down his home to construct the neighborhing the Farmers & Merchants Bank (1905), reminiscent of a Roman temple, while Herman Wolf would tear down his very own home, a block away on 4th and Spring, to build what the LA Times reported was "the biggest building in Los Angeles".

In its day, HWH was a modern marvel.

Visually stunning, with its row of fang faring wolf head sculptures, hardwood floors, heavy mahogany doors, dual marble staircase, and Tiffany-stand glass oval dome, it was also the first of its kind to offer a steal frame the likes LA had never seen, leading the way to how buildings would be constructed to this day.

Today, it has reopened as luxury apartments fully restored to its original glory, once again taking its place as a modern-day masterpiece, now known as HWH Luxury Living, one of the best apartment high-rise buildings in Los Angeles.

10 To BE Or Not To BE? Theater Review

VOL 15 NO 4 - MARCH 11TH - MARCH 17TH / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

MOVEMENT As CENTER THEATER GROUP COMES ALIVE ON THE VIRTUAL STAGE

A

n aging monarch resolves to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, asatiric dramedy about the decolonization of the Black imagination, a reading of Angelica Chéri’s one-person play paired with the music of Jessica Lá Rel and visual artist Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle mark just a few productions now streaming on the Center Thater Groups " Digital Stage".

The Stratford Festival’s “King Lear” premieres Thursday, March 11 at 2 pm Pacific and will be available on demand through June 9, 2021.

Directed by Antoni Cimolino, “King Lear” is one of five Shakespeare plays captured at North America’s leading classical theatre company.

The first episode of Not a Moment, But a Movement a series of events that amplify and center Black artists. premiered January 21 and is available on demand through March 22nd.

The first episode is introduced by Vanessa Williams, hosted by Bruce A. Lemon Jr. and features a reading of Angelica Chéri’s.

Directed by Cezar Williams and performed by Sheria Irving, “Crowndation” is a one-woman show following 29-year-old Fatima Seed.a young woman yanked in multiple directions by her faith, her sexuality, and purpose.

There are many more performances to stream online. Of all the performances “Until the Flood” which premiered November 15th will enjoy the longest run ending sometime in 2023.

“Until the Flood” which was performed at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in January, 2020, explores a community in turmoil following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Center Theatre Group Associate Artistic Director Neel Keller, “Until the Flood” draws on Orlandersmith’s interviews with residents across the greater St. Louis area to create composite characters that reflect a wide range of perspectives and experiences of race to discuss the roots of unrest and the search for healing.

Visit www.centertheatergroup.com for more info as some showings are free to the public whlie others are only free with membership.

ADVERTISE WITH US! CALL 888-732-DTLA (3852) editor@dtlaweekly.com

LONG ISLAND ICE TEA continued...

Although there have been many variations since, the Long Island Ice Tea is a true hero, a mercenary ready to get the job done.

At Hill Street Bar, Long Island lent himself to us for a mere $14 a glass.

Together, at last, our first sips barely stirred the light yellow see-through top half into its darker golden brown base. A couple of more sips and stirs went by. It wasn't long before we'd begin feeling the effects of Hill Street's head Mixologist - Alex the Great!

Hill Streets serves an incredible tasting golden brown Long Island Iced Tea mixed so well with a splash of carbonated Cola, equal parts of the big four and orange-flavored liqueur triple sec, completed with floating lemon. So incredible we watched, saddened as our sweet and sour concoctions lowered faster and faster through the crushed ice with every sip.

"One sip, two sip, three sip, four. Our Long Iced Teas had us thirsty for more."

That previous statement may or may not have been a limerick.

If not, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to brush up on my Irish before Saint Patrick's birthday.

Lastly, there are so many variants of the Long Island Iced Tea; it's always a pleasure hunt to see how they fare up against each other downtown.

The magic trick is to make sure you don't pull a DUI out of your hat. Drink responsibly, especially with the Long Island. It may not taste like it, but it has a higher alcohol content than most mixed drinks, around 22% ABV.

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