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SQUARE ONE: OUR WARMEST WELCOME ...5 DT APPETITE: WHERE’S THE BEEf? ...6 street art alive at luma la ...7 Responses to the Holocaust ....9 THE ANKLE BITER: FREEDOM RALLY ...10 to be or not to be? theater guide...12 this week in sports ...13 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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6 DTLA APPETITE: By Keri Eats DTLA
VOL 16 NO 09 - APRIL 14TH - APRIL 20th, 2022 DTLAWEEKLY.COM
here’s the Beef?
The Truth Behind the Family Fued That Led to the Closure of Pacific Dining Car
W
hile this whole time, fans were thinking Pacific Dining Car closed because of Covid, members of the Idol family who operated the iconic restaurant in Westlake have expressed to Downtown Weekly that is not the case.
While the world was blaming Covid, Conlee claims it was Toby Idol who dismantled the 99-year-old business when the Idol family trust fell into her hands after the swift and unexpected decline in Wes Idol II’s health, only later to fight against the restoration and nomination while making defamatory statements tarnishing her brother’s name during the hearing.
For almost 99 years, Pacific Dining Car was known for its fine dining experience; 24-hour service, immaculate decor and well-prepared cellar-aged steaks. In its glory, the restaurant hosted legends of Hollywood, dignitaries, tourists and local fans eager to partake in a satisfying meal complete with “The defaming statements that Wes Idol III advanced the nomination for good old fashion style and service. historic designation are untrue. He did not. When we heard about this Although the restaurant closed its dimly nomination and people contacted us lit, white tabletop location at 1310 W. Sixth St. in 2020, there has been a valiant to voice their support, he was moved effort to bring the dining destination back and excited to show his support too. and preserve the landmark location as a The other defaming statement was Historic-Cultural Monument. that our father was angry with my brother regarding the Pacific Dining It was shortly after the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission hearing on Car business and disinherited him as a result. He was not and did not.” April 7th recommending the HCM status stated Conlee. be granted that members of the family decided to come forth with their side of the story, blaming years of family feuding that In actually, a fan of the PDC submitted the application for historic preservation. eventually led to its closing. While Wes ll still owns the Pacific Dining Car business in its current state, which After statements read during the hearing is in flux. There are investors who are by the legal team of the property owner, passionate about restoring, reviving and Tobi Idol, wife of Wes Idol ll and stepre-opening the restaurant as it was. mother to Conlee Idol and Wes Idol lll claimed that her husband blamed his son Conlee and her brother Wes lll proclaim for ruining the family business and being although they did not spark the HCM disinherited because of it, Conlee came designation efforts, they support the forward to express her and her brother’s preservation, restoration and HCM status side of the story. 100%.
However, without Tobi Idol’s consent to reopen (although it looks like the location will be preserved), the fiber cow that once marked the spot may not be resurrected. “(Wesley ll) and I do not and never wanted our property to be designated,” Toby Idol said in a statement read to commissioners by her attorney. Lawyers went on to read… “He is the person who is apparently advancing this nomination because his father disinherited him for that very reason. Having killed a 100-year family tradition, he’s trying to save a shred of a legacy for himself and his ego.” In response Conlee Idol stated, “Wes III has a lot of compassion for Toby, who seems overwhelmed and piqued. However, for the health and wellness of our family and this institution, we feel it’s important not to let the defamatory statements stand unchecked.” More details as they develop on this family feud that has empty stomaches growling and long-time Downtown fans asking, “Where’s the beef?” DISCLAIMER: TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY? TOBY IDOL IF YOU’RE READING THIS PLEASE CONTACT EDITOR@DTLAWEEKLY.COM
8 DTLA ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE By Jacob Morrison
VOL 16 NO 09 - APRIL 14TH - APRIL 20th, 2022 DTLAWEEKLY.COM
STREET ART ALIVE BRINGS unforgettable journey to DOWNTOWN LA
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TREET ART ALIVE at THE LUME Los Angeles is a multi-sensory exhibit that transports visitors to an unforgettable journey through the streets and alleys of more than 20 iconic cities, including New York City, London, SaÞo Paulo, Melbourne and Berlin.
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o bring this highly unique and authentic experience to life, Grande Experiences, owners and creators of THE LUME Digital Art Galleries, and creators of STREET ART ALIVE, worked in collaboration with prolific artists including Blek Le Rat, considered the Godfather of stencil art, D*Face, known for vibrant pop art-inspired murals and Lady Pink, nicknamed “First Lady of Graffiti,” one of the first women active in the early ‘80s New York City subway graffiti subculture. The STREET ART ALIVE experience includes interactive installations throughout over 25,000 sq. ft, featuring a large-scale, 360-degree multi-sensory gallery nestled inside Expo/USC district's Magic Box at the REEF. Eight original full-sized sections of the Berlin Wall, which artists from across the globe used as a canvas for their political statements and powerful social commentary will also be on display.
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STREET ART ALIVE showcases a pivotal art movement and tells the story of street art through the lens of the artists in a way that visitors of all ages and cultures can relate to.
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“A Visual Diary of the Past: The Work of David Labkovski,”
Student Reflections & Responses to the Holocaust
Throughout the exhibit's
run, THE LUME Los Angeles will invite local street artists to add their voices to these iconic and symbolic concrete walls. The audio experience for STREET ART ALIVE consist of a specially curated soundtrack with music from genredefining legends. The exhibit will pound out a mix of distorted punk/pop spilling out of CBGB’s onto the Bowery in New York City in the late ’70s to the turntablism, break beats and rap poetry of 80’s Hip Hop. And let's not forget PI^L.A. featuring a delicious menu by Chef Fred Eric of Fred62; LA-style pan-pizza, salads, sandwiches and more. "Art generated from the streets from all over the world transcends the art itself, striking at the heart of social issues, community sentiment, politics and current world affairs." - STREET ART ALIVE Tickets to THE LUME Los Angeles’ STREET ART ALIVE start at $39. THELUME.COM
T
he David Labkovski Project creates a living bridge from the lessons of the Holocaust to the realities of today’s world. The David Labkovski Project (DLP) introduces and preserves the legacy of the Holocaust experience through the artwork of world-renowned artist David Labkovski (1906-1991) whose work empowers participants to engage in curated multi-disciplinary projects, involving components of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, historical knowledge, mediation, and problem solving.
For Yom HaShoah/ Holocaust Commemoration 2022, the DLP has launched a Reflect & Respond Program which invites adults and students ages 12 and up to respond to Labkovski’s art work through poetry, prose, or art and to submit their responses to an online journal, which will be shared at the DLP virtual commemoration event on April 28th. Deadline for submission for Reflect & Respond April 25, 2022. This includes understanding the composition of his pieces and its details in order to fully comprehend David's motives in constructing his art in the believe that students should join the DLP so that they too can learn about David's experiences and be able to gain the tools necessary to understand how to look at a piece of artwork. The responses will also be displayed along with the launch of a new exhibit, “A Visual Diary of the Past,” which was curated by seven high school students who completed the DLP student docent training program and went on to graduate from the DLP student curation program. davidlabkovskiproject.org
10 10DTLA ANKLE BITER - POLITICAL COMMENTARY
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Mind, Body & Spirit – Defeat the Mandates Rally at Grand Park Exposes Truth Behind Humanity
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owntown Weekly stood among the many during the Defeat the Mandates rally held on April 10th at Grand Park.
T
he same rally that has been the spark of ridicule for hosting what the authoritarians and mainstream media deemed as a group of white Trumpsupporting racists; demented rebels bent on overthrowing the capital and spreading the Corona Virus.
Bro. Rizza islam
Kevin Jenkins
Proof of this reached its pinnacle as a tall, young black man dressed in a black suit with a red bow tie named Rizza Islam took the stage. “I am here representing the honorable Louis Farrakhan”, he spoke proudly. And for a moment, the entire But was that the case? Perhaps, if what crowd was almost silent. the authorities had been telling us these Surely a crowd of perceived racists past two years was authentic. However, wouldn’t lend this gentleman a as we witnessed children in wheelchairs nondiscriminatory ear, right? suffering from vaccine injuries from shots continuously labeled as “safe and But, on the contrary. As Rizza Islam effective,” it was understandable how parents and children of all political parties continued his charismatic message of freedom, love and self-dignity his message and races would be interested in a rally transcended the mind and body of the such as this. crowd reaching the very soul of it. By the end of his speech, the crowd was cheering And for the racists who supposedly Rizza Islam with all their might. converged on our city with messages of hate… well, organizer and master of A similar reaction by the crowd was given ceremonies, a black man by the name of to quirky Rabbi Michael Barclay, who Kevin Jenkins, often called for group hugs among the massive mixed race crowd ended his speech with a prayer in Hebrew. The same response for a little girl activist that no one, we saw, had any problem who suggested we stop wasting time and with. get out there and fight for freedom. Instead of a country racially divided, we The same reaction for the tearful parents witnessed people of every ethnicity, age who spoke of losing their children to a and religion hugging, crying, consoling each other, cheering, and coming together so-called “trusted vaccine.” Often the in an honest attempt to override whatever words “we love you” could be heard as beliefs had kept them from doing so before sympathizers called out from the crowd. this moment.
As for the victims of Covid, empathy and anger, especially from a panel of doctors on the stage condemned for speaking out, insisting authorities were to blame for many of Covid deaths by limiting their ability to offer alternative treatments at the early stages of the pandemic. They cited threats from governing bodies and social media censorship tactics bent on erasing laws that established a patient’s rights to conformed consent. They condemned messages and tactics that coerced doctors, patients and media viewers to rely on experimental drugs and mandated treatments. They assured the crowd that Covid death and hospitalization could be prevented with early treatment and reaffirmed their commitment had always been to save lives. Guest Speaker Robert Malone, creator and basically the Colonel Sanders of mRNA technology, took the stage to speak, confirming singer songwriter, Jimmy Levy’s message that this was “a war on religion and children”, followed by statements explaining that the current vaccine was outdated and no longer warranted because it had little effect on the newest Omicron mutation of the virus. Continued on page...14
TO BE OR NOT TO BE? THEATER GUIDE SINCE 2016
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JOIN US FOR "TEA" AT HERO THEATER
H
ero Theatre invites audiences to envision and experience America as they do while examining classical and contemporary works, ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion remain in the forefront.
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HIS MONTH, Hero Theater presents a revival of Tea, Velina Hasu Houston’s powerful, lyrical exploration of the immigrant experience that has become a modern classic in its nearly four-decade history of production. Hero Theatre resident director Rebecca Wear helms a fully double-cast company for a Saturday, April 23 opening at the Rosenthal Theatre at Downtown L.A.’s Inner-City Arts, where performances will continue through May 15. Two all Asian female ensembles tell the story of five Japanese immigrants in this deeply moving, yet humorous and surprising play that illuminates a littleknown chapter in American history. The two companies include Elaine Ackles, Olivia Cordell, Hiroko Imai, Tomoko Karina and Hua Lee, and Yukari Black, Alix Yumi Cho, Ariel Kayoko Labasan, Sayaka Miyatani and Bolor Saruul. Imai and Black share the role of kindly Setsuko Banks, whose African American husband recently passed away. Lee and Saruul double as snooty Atsuko Yamamoto, who feels she is “above” the others because her husband is Japanese American. Ackles and Labasan portray the assimilated Chizuye Juarez, who loves coffee and is known as “Chiz” to her friends (much to the chagrin of Atsuko, who thinks the nickname sounds like “Cheese”). Cordell and Cho play Teruko MacKernzie,
FORGET YOUR TROUBLES
T
ake a trip back to the 1930s in the delightful revival of Pearl Cleage’s rich and beautiful work “Blues for an Alabama Sky” now on stage at Mark Taper Forum.
married to a White man. And Tomoko Karina and Sayaka Miyatani take on the role of tragic Himiko Hamilton. Tea is rooted in Houston's own experiences growing up in Kansas as the daughter of a Japanese mother and half African American/half Native American father who met during the American occupation of Japan. “I am honored to be a daughter of a Japanese woman who sacrificed so much so that her children could be of two nations in the deepest, most profound ways,” wrote Houston in a blog post. “It is a legacy that, all my life, I have striven to live up to and to pass on to my children.” The Hero creative team includes set designer Carlo Maghirang, lighting designer Azra King-Abadi and music and sound designer Dan Harada. The costume designer is Maggie Dick and associate costume designer is Marvin Hildago. Audrey Forman is assistant director. The stage manager is Ashley Weaver. Hero Theatre resident artist Gabe Figueroa produces for the company. Performances of Tea take place at 720 Kohler Street at the Rosenthal Theater of Inner City Arts in Downtown L.A. (just south of the Arts District). @innercityarts
Directed by Tony Award-winning actor Phylicia Rashad, this production features Joe Holt, Nija Okoro, Dennis Pearson, Greg Alverez Reid and Kim Steele and continues through May 8. The play sets itsself in 1930s Harlem. As the main characters share their ambitions along with comedic affirmations centered around their personal trials and tribulations, giving the audience every opportunity to laugh. Angel is a free-spirited Cotton Club singer who’s out of luck but never out of dreams. Guy is a costume designer waiting for Josephine Baker to invite him to join her in Paris. Delia, a young activist, is trying to give the women of Harlem a choice about their future. Sam, a prominent physician, is either delivering babies or out at the club letting the good times roll. And Leland, who recently arrived in Harlem from Alabama, is haunted by the wide-open skies and lost love he left behind. Blues for an Alabama Sky combines passion and politics within art in a celebration of the Harlem Renaissance amidst the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Tickets for “Blues for an Alabama Sky” are currently on sale at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum and start at $30. @musiccenterla
12 ADVERTISE WITH US! CALL 888-732-DTLA (3852) editor@dtlaweekly.com
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To Be Or Not To Be? Presented by Kapoors Akbar
VOL 16 NO 08 - MARCH 31ST - APRIL 6TH, 2022 DTLAWEEKLY.COM 13
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS
CELEBRITIES,
BOOBLE HEADS & TACOS
DODGERS KICK OFF SEASON with 60TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
T
he Dodgers will kick off their 2022 home schedule with a star-studded sevengame homestand as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dodger Stadium.
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os Angeles welcomes the Cincinnati Reds for a four-game series beginning with Opening Day on Thursday, April 14, presented by Bank of America, followed by the 75th anniversary celebration of Jackie Robinson Day on Friday night, followed by a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The National Anthem will be sung by Grammy-nominated American singersongwriter Lupita Infante as members from all six military branches will unfurl a large American Flag in center field during the Anthem. Additionally, there will be a flyover from two F-35 planes as the Joint Color Guard Armed Forces will present the nation’s colors. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by decorated Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster, Jaime Jarrín, who is celebrating his 64th and final year as the Spanish-language voice
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of the Dodgers. Players representing each decade of Dodger Stadium’s existence will accompany the 2018 Dodgers’ Ring of Honor inductee, Jarrín, on the mound. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s (LADF) Opening Day in-stadium fundraiser, the 50/50 raffle, text to give initiative, and online auction will have its net proceed go towards providing 400 dorm beds for at-risk students attending SEED LA, the first and only public college prep boarding school in South LA.
FREEDOM CONVOY AT GRAND PARK CONTINUED from page 10
From heroes to zeroes, the LAFD and nurses known for rushing into danger found their support at the rally. The entire past two years was aired, and not one Jackie Robinson Day will follow on contradiction from authorities was left Friday, April 15, as Major League Baseball unmentioned. And now, it was time to is set to celebrate the life and legacy of hold the authorities accountable. Jackie Robinson on the 75th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier. “We are the ones behind the push back on mandates, we are the ones All Major League players, managers, who made sure Pfizer released their coaches, umpires, and on-field personnel initial studies, and we are the ones will wear Robinson’s iconic 42 during suing Facebook,” said one speaker. the game and for the first time ever, all MLB uniforms will feature a Dodger Although our news outlet would like Blue No. ‘42’ regardless of their team to express gratitude for the permit, colors. The first 40,000 ticketed fans in barricades and security signed off by attendance will receive a unique No. 42 the Mayor’s office, there was no love lost Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers road for Dr. Anthony Fauchi, the CDC, the grey jersey, presented by UCLA Health, WHO, or the Governor of California. The adorned with a special 75th anniversary event speakers also seemed to give Mayor patch. Fans are welcome to stay in their Garcetti a pass by not mentioning him at seats after the game, as the season’s first all. Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Speaking of which, missing at the rally UCLA Health, is set to light up the sky. interestingly enough, political leaders, sworn to uphold the constitution (although A Maury Wills bobblehead, presented by there were plenty of references to President Bank of America, will be given out to the Joe Biden etched on picket signs and first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance across T-shirt’s) – surely they would be on Saturday and the figurine is the there to stand for the bills and mandates first in the Legends of Dodger Baseball bobblehead series. Fans are invited to visit they had imposed. the first Viva Los Dodgers celebration, presented by Budweiser, of the season on For the panel of speakers, however, there had never been an opportunity granted by Sunday. these authoritarians for any “one on one” The ever first Taco Tuesday at Dodger debate. Stadium will follow suit on Tuesday However, there could be no debate on this night, as the first 40,000 ticketed fans day Downtown was filled with truck horns, will receive a Dodgers hooded sweatshirt, microphones, and like-minded cheers presented by Bank of America, upon blaring in support of the founding concept entry and will enjoy music from Mariachi of our country. Despite rumors and Garibaldi Con Julian Torres throughout preconceived notions that kept some from the game. The seven-game homestand attending, the Freedom Rally in the City of will conclude with a 12:10 p.m. matinee Angels transcended race, political prowess on Wednesday as 2,000 local students and gender while exposing our true will visit the 76 Gas Station parking lot humanity, relating most importantly to to enjoy a spread of Science, Technology, what the mind, body and soul want. – Life, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused liberty, and the pursuit of HAPPINESS – activities ahead of the matchup against Happy yet? @defeatthemandatesdc the Braves. @dodgers
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