Downtown Weekly

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 16. NO. 04 JAN 27 - FEB 2ND, 2022

DTLA MODEL MAFIA BRINGS LA F.A.M.E. LIVE

TO THE

GLOBE 10 GREAT DATES +

ROMANCE

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE AT THE AHMANSON

THE CAT WALK OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

VOL 16 NO 04 - JANUARY 27TH - FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM

ON THE COVER MODEL MAFIA

location: HISTORIC CORE photo by :

ARNOLD SHOOTS

THE RUNWAY MODELS

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10 GREAT PLACES FOR ROMANCE ....4 MODEL MAFIA AT THE GLOBE THEATER...6 GRAND OPENING OF GUSTO GREEN ....8 EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE .....9 Get2DTLA EventS....10 DTLA WEEKLY

editor and chief KERI FREEMAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

KERI FREEMAN christopher floch jackson roberts abel weiss jaime herrera

photography GARY LEONARD

VIDEO Production

@kerieatsdtla design and layout @kerieatsdtla

social media

@kerieatsdtla

Special thanks to...

MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES & council district 14 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

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4 10 GREAT PLACES BY KERI FREEMAN

VOL 16 NO 04 - JANUARY 27TH - FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM

10 GREAT DATES IN DTLA+ ADDED ROMANCE

Au Lac

eah, DTLA Valentine's Day is almost here. Except with gas prices and Covid Scrooge; you might not be leaning towards that fancy dinner coupled with parking, candy and flowers. But that should be no reason to give up on love and romance, especially when there are so many great places for romance in the city. Here's a list of 10 Great Dates plus Added Romance.

Au Lac is everything we love about being vegan. Nutritional meals without sacrificing taste. Chef Ito is known for dishes as delicious as they are beneficial effect on your health.

If your date is vegan, they'll be no messing around when it comes to what they will and will not eat.

Trouble is finding a great vegan restaurant in downtown LA with the class and style to impress any date is not always easy. Romantic dinners must come with ambiance.

When Downtown thinks of romance and vegans, we think of Au Lac on Bunker Hill.

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Grand Central Market

In the beginning…God created Downtown…a then, Homer Laughlin Sr., a former Civil War veteran turned dinnerware mogul, bought the land in 1896 and commissioned architect John Parkinson of Union Station and City Hall fame to build the six-story structure on the site. What began as an apartment store has since filled with dozens of delicious food vendors, some of which cater to long lines and die-hard fans all year long.

There are other fish in the sea, and you can find them here in the genius behind Au Lac's crispy calamari mushroom rings; such a complete substitute in flavor and texture you'll be hooked.

For added romance, we suggest a short walk north to the Music Center.

The Oyster Gourmet serves freshly shucked oysters, ahi, scallops, and select wines inside a handcrafted wooden kiosk.

When the Oysterman is around, the canvas flaps of the kiosk open as high as the ceiling. When entering or exiting on Hill Street, it's hard to miss.

CryptoCom Arena / LA Live The most expensive naming rights deal in sports history is rumored to have been made right here Downtown at Crypto.com Arena.

Although the Staples Center name is gone, love is still very much in the air at the CryptoCom Arena /LA LIVE entertainment site.

What could be more romantic than watching your team win? … but careful they don't lose the game; it could ruin the mood.

Everything about GCM screams "bring a date" as the two of you explore the enormous farmers market's variety of savory food and beverages. From pasta to deli sandwiches, you'll find it all at GCM. For added romance, we suggest visiting the Oyster Man at The Oyster Gourmet.

That's right, you've acquired two front row seats at the Ahmanson Theater at 8, but first, a skip through the water fields and a quick glance at the lights of City Hall from the Music Center Promenade.

As the zany neon display illuminates your fresh shucked pearly love gems, take the time to let your date know you've planned a surprise… then escort them across the road to Angel's Flight for added romance you can only find in the movies.

For added romance, make a pack with your date. Let your date know that if their team wins, there will be a night of celebration at the LA LIVE restaurant-bar of their choice.

If their team loses, they'll be a short walk of shame for eye-opening coffee.

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DTLA MAKEOVER BY KERI FREEMAN

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VOL 16 NO 04 - JANUARY 27TH - FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM

MODEL MAFIA BRINGS CELEBRITY FASHION MIXER TO THE GLOBE THEATER

ew York, Paris, London and now Downtown LA will have a chance to experience the phenomena that is Model Mafia, brought to us

by Queen Sheba and her celebrity gang of elite fashion industry professionals.

stage and fashionably dressed attendees below.

For early birds, LA F.A.M.E. LIVE begins with celebrity stylist and designer Sir Joe Exclusive, runway coach Toi Hardy, Ceo Naz Azad and actor-comedian Markice Moore offering year-round in-person fashion and style classes before each show.

The live performance portion of the event is a mixture of runway shows, burlesque, and musical performances from around the country. There is an air of unpredictability coupled with the desire to see what acts will take the stage next.

For over a decade, Queen Sheba has been casting and co-producing Hollywood nightclub events and top music industry videos for major acts like Juicy Jay and Wizkalifa.

One wave of her Royal Rolodex and your fashion show, photo or video shoot, or private event is fully infiltrated by flawless bodies, A-list celebrities, fashion industry pros, and hordes of tender audiences eager to attend.

Models both male and female, photographers, stylists, designers, Cosmologists, fashion-forward performance artists, indie artisans; anything that has to do with the fashion industry, Model Mafia has got it covered.

Previously, Model Mafia “made” members would typically only see each other on the runway or during Model Mafia's Bootcamp runway course.

This year Model Mafia has teamed up with Trae Ireland and RTP Entertainment to invite all the Model Mafia crew to The Globe Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

Once a month, Model Mafia presents LA F.A.M.E. LIVE, by far Downtown’s most fashionable and entertaining industry mixer.

Set inside the Globe Theater built for vaudeville back in 1913, the lights are set to light up the stage while balconies lend a birds-eye view to the

DJs keep the air ripe with musical intermissions as guests dance, mix and mingle or pose for photos in front of the step and repeat.

Tuned to the music and drenched in lights, bikini models dare the perilous runway followed by fitness wear, children’s clothes, men’s wear, etc.,

Off the catwalk, Queen Sheba looks on, mulling over the attractive group of fashion professionals she’s helping mold.

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VOL 16 NO 04 - JANUARY 27TH - FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COMLY.COM

ueen Sheba created Model Mafia in 2015 to give models opportunities and a safe, steady way to earn a living in what many have described as a treacherous Hollywood casting scene.

Birthing Business Babies…

Like many fed up with having to endure inequality for laughable wages, she decided to create her own platform so that she and others like her could thrive.

With Influencer Hut, influencers can get paid on the spot for likes, comments and when they go live!

For those of us not born on the runway.

Queen Sheba started Model Mafia Bootcamp in 2018 as a talent agency and a professional modeling school where students learn runway, print, style, resume building, and industry professionalism. Graduates take home poise and skill and have the opportunity to walk in one of four Model Mafia international events that take place yearly in New York, Paris, London and now Downtown.

In 2021, Queen Sheba created Influencer Hut for brands seeking influencers. The online service is meant to connect popular influencers with businesses who wish to incorporate fresh new faces with huge followings into their marketing strategies.

“The platform allows Influencers to “Brand Request” instead of “Friend Request,” and it allows brands to do the same thing!” Says Sheba.

Partner Xavier from the RTP group has played an intricate role in the last few Model Mafia productions creating Flash Pass X where businesses, influencers, and consumers may take advantage of the Influencer Hut Loyalty Program.

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RTP Group also co-produces the LA F.A.M.E. LIVE event, F.A.M.E being an acronym for fashion. art. music. and entertainment.

The monthly rouse, held on Sunday evenings, kicked off in January 2022 hosted by Grammy award-winning singer/ songwriter Eric Dellinger and continues with MARDI GRAS LA F.A.M.E. LIVE coming February 17th.

LA FAME LIVE returns the month of March in time for Los Angeles Fashion Week. @modelmafia

8 DT APPETITE BY DAISY FITZGERALD

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GUSTO GREEN: HUMANELY PROCURED MEATS WITH A SIDE OF MARIJUANA

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rand Opening celebrations are in order as Gusto Green opened on 7th & Hill moving Downtown ever closer to becoming the epicenter for plantforward dine-in options in the city.

Go for the Gusto!

It’s plant-forward, however it’s omnivorefriendly meaning at Gusto, you’ll find a menu comprised mostly of plant-based dishes, complemented by thoughtfully and humanely procured fish, poultry, and meats with …a bit of marajuana on the side?

Gusto Green is one of several unique businesses housed within the Green Street Building, all of which operate in, or in the orbit of, the cannabis industry. How convenient.

And while the restaurant does not use any parts of the cannabis plant with THC, it is partnering with the only federally approved purveyor of hemp leaf for food, Ziese Farms.

Gusto Green Chef Michael Magliano (who hails from celebrated restaurants including Animal and The French Laundry) can integrate the nutrientdense leaf in a variety of ways, like the restaurant’s signature amuse-bouche:a crispy, chickpea-battered whole hemp leaf.

“We are modernizing what it means to eat and live healthfully,” says Magliano.

Powerhouse entrepreneur and CEO Janet Zuccarini, the mastermind behind Gusto 54 and multi-award winning Felix Trattoria, describes the Gusto Green concept as, “a warm, friendly, and also forward-thinking restaurant destination that embraces the future of food and how people are seeking to eat today.”

“We believe you can eat well, even indulgently, and still feel great about what you’re enjoying. By working with leading purveyors, using only the highest quality ingredients, and never sacrificing on flavor, texture, or presentation, we’re able to offer our guests access to healthy, delicious, satisfying food at every visit.”

Guests can also enjoy biodynamic and natural wines, modern cocktails, zeroproof cocktails, housemade kombucha, adaptogenic teas, coffees, and—soon—a retail component featuring Chef Magliano’s housemade hemp goods and picks from the team’s favorite local artisans.

Stay for a Spell The award-winning, Los Angeles-based firm STUDIO UNLTD brought Gusto Green’s interior design to life with botanical shapes, cool stones reminiscent of a riverbed, textured limestone-like walls, and bold blues juxtaposed with earthy clay tones evoke dining in nature.

Agreenhouse-like structure—custom built to fit the restaurant’s interior— stretches above the high-ceilinged dining room, surrounded by lush greenery and an adjacent, back-lit polycarbonate wall featuring vibrant plant-patterned wallpaper.

The restaurant layout consists of the main dining room dotted with oakwood tables, cozy banquettes, and two halfcircle booths seating up to seven; an expansive 13-seat, marble-topped bar with a 400-bottle wine fridge glowing in the background; a private dining room seating up to 20; an open kitchen, lounge with communal tables, and 10-seat chef’s table—all featuring views of the woodfired, Italian-imported pizza oven.

Up on the Roof

Gusto Green and the Green Street Agency are further partnering to activate the building’s expansive seventh story penthouse and rooftop space.

A joint venture between the two forwardthinking companies, the penthouse and rooftop will be home to a rotating calendar of lifestyle events, ranging from live entertainment and gallery-style art shows to collaborative and educational dinners exploring the intersection of cannabis and culinary. The space is slated to open in 2022.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

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10 GREAT DATES

CONT

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Everyone is "Talking About Jamie” since the award winning musical premiered January 21st at The Ahmanson Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

If marriage is what you want, then marriage is what you’ll get almost every weekend at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The oddly curved metallic site, designed by Gehry, is famous for newlywed photoshoots complete with entire wedding parties.

Better yet, you don’t have to be married to capture your most romantic moment at Walt’s.

For added romance - lose yourself within the twisting labyrinth that lays within the surrounding boundaries of Walt Disney Concert Hall, then profess your love on the stone steps of Walt’s hidden amphitheater with a gentle serenade.

Olvera Street Pick a Olvera Street is the oldest rooftop! Any destination in Downtown and the origin site of the City Los rooftop.

Angeles.

Upon its plateau exist the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Once a Spanish settlement, Olvera Street transformed into the major tourist attraction and Latin Cultural hub we visit today.

You may also order fine dining cocktails and, in some cases … get your groove on.

Your soul mate will be the date who doesn’t desert you while you're singing your heart out.

Nothing is more romantic than two angels high above the clouds looking down on all the lonely, less fortunate souls that didn't make their way up to the heights of heaven.

Sante Alley

Spend an afternoon shopping for treasures together at the Sante Alley.

Nestled in the original Fashion District between Maple and Sante Streets, you and a date will find excellent bargains on everything from trendy apparel to toys and accessories with over 150+ retailers lining the iconic Sante Alley for three consecutive city blocks.

For added romance, split up for an hour or so and go on a shopping spree scavenger hunt for your date. Make a list of like items and see who comes back with the funkiest purchases.

Then promise to wear the outfits again on the next date. Or just split up to buy each other a gift and swap them out right there at Downtown’s most famous alley swap meet.

Welcome to downtown Los Angeles, a mega-metropolis.

Here we are home to some of the tallest buildings in the world. From our city skyline, you can view the snow cap of Mount Baldi to the whales in the Pacific.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourselves dancing beneath the matriarchal Olive Tree at the center if the promenade. There’s always the drum of Aztecs and strum of the guitar Classico mixed in with the laughter of children and the aroma of freshly crushed chilies.

Choosing an authentic Mexican meal the same way it was prepared over a century ago is easy, thanks to the many historic eateries on site. Day or night, Olvera Street brings our city’s romantic history to life.

For added romance - Request a private serenade from a wandering mariachi trio. Their talents are unmatched, and they always hit the right notes for Latin ballads. Beso Me Mucho?

For added romance, we'll just let the majestic views show you the way to true love. Studies have shown, in Downtown, dates on the ground level are mostly plutonic; dates underground can scream a one-night stand. Yet, dates high above the city suggest long-term and even marriage commitments, chose wisely.

Layton Williams and Roy Haylock (also known as Bianca Del Rio, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) have reprised their roles from the West End production as Jamie and Hugo/Loco Chanelle, respectively.

Inspired by a true story, winner of three WhatsOnStage Awards including Best New Musical and nominated for five Olivier Awards, Jamie is a funny, fabulous musical sensation.

The story centers around an extraordinary mother and son relationship that celebrate acceptance, belonging, the power of unconditional love of a mother for her child.

How good life is when everybody is the best they can be?

Jamie New (played by Williams) is sixteen and lives in public housing in Sheffield, England.

Jamie doesn’t quite fit in, he’s terrified about the future and he’s going to be a sensation. Supported by his loving mum (played Jacques); inspired by local legend Hugo and his alter ego Loco Chanelle (played by Haylock); and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” features catchy songs by Dan Gillespie Sells, lead singer-songwriter of UK rock band The Feeling with book and lyrics by writer Tom MacRae.

Based on a true story….

Director Jonathan Butterell saw the Firecracker documentary film “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16” the true story of Jamie Campbell and his mother, Margaret. This inspired him to create this musical which is a dramatized portrayal of a period in Jamie’s life but is not a faithful account. Certain events and characters have been fictionalized.

“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” features design

by Anna Fleischle, choreography by Kate Prince, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound design by Paul Groothuis, casting by Will Burton and video design by Luke Hall. The musical supervisor is Theo Jamieson.

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The search for Batchelder's Lost Dutch Chocolate Shop

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f your date happens to be into admiring the historical monuments Downtown, you're bound to run into dozens of sightseers just like you, full of love for our architectural wonders.

...10 GREAT DATES

Priceless today, each slab tells a story of Dutch families, servicemen and rural livestock going about their day-to-day.

Today, hidden behind an ordinary rustic rollup door, the abandoned shop caters to a select few for filming and small tours.

Yet, like any hidden treasure, true love isn't always easy to find. Such is the case with one of Downtown's most lovable historical monuments, Earnest Batchelder's 100 Year Old Dutch Chocolate Shop.

For added romance - If you can obtain a guide or happen to stumble upon the chocolate shop when its doors are open, waste not a minute before stepping inside.

Finding a hidden treasure in the heart of Downtown has love written all over it.

Without revealing it's hidden location, we can say this, Ernest Batchelder must have truly understood the power of chocolate when it came to love.

Exposition Park

In the 1920s, at the peak of his career, Batchelder was given a commission to create the tile mosaics for a newly constructed storefront on 6th Street.

What Batchelder created, like love, has withstood the test of time. Inside the chocolate shop are thousands of his signature amber-colored tiles formed into arches, pillars, countertops, and undamaged mosaics.

Untouched for decades, the shop has an uncanny fresh look, although it may be damp and a bit chilly towards the rear.

Batchelder lined the walls with a series of perfectly preserved mosaic masterpieces.

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Get a Room!

Ah…the stars are aligned and the mood is ripe. After months of dating, you're finally comfortable with each other and thinking about taking your relationship to the next level. Or if animal magnetism has you wanting to skip to the chase, we're not here to judge.

Instead, may we suggest you - get a room?

Downtown Los Angeles is now the hospitality capital in the world. We have the highest hotel in the land, the grooviest hotel elevators, plush rooms like no other, and a concierge to help with your every need.

Lions and tigers and dinosaurs, oh my!

We know this sounds like a day for kids.

We purposely left out last year's Dinner That's precisely why we added it to the list. and a Movie suggestion because in Downtown, not only do our hotels come There are plenty of single parents out with heated pools, room service and free there that are still up for a date. They nor cable, they also utilize the world's greatest their kid should go without a fun outing in Chefs. Every level of your relationship is a romantic city such as ours. rewarded at our hotels, from the first date to the honeymoon.

Exposition Park is a 160-acre campus of fun, incorporating science, math and For added romance - Our beloved technology at the California Science Ritz Carlton spa recently debuted a wide Center, California African American range of new treatments explicitly tailored Museum, and Natural History Museum. to detoxifying the body. Nothing says "I Life-sized airplanes, rocket ships and love you" like fine lava crystals, warming dinosaurs remain. Exposition Park is a wraps, and a professional massage for two. kiddie haven.

And yes, there will be bubbly.

For added romance, visit the California Science Center IMAX Theater. Their family-oriented feel-good movies lighten any heart and keep a child's attention in 3D. Innocence and delight are the keys to the locks of love.

T A E R G 10 + S E T A D ROMANCE