downtown weekly

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

DTLA

THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 16. NO. 11 MAY 19TH - JUN 2ND 2022

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

back in action

KS ROBELA DT

NOW HIRING !!

Berlin Wall INSTALLED at LUME

civil coffEe with a

FIREfighter FIRE fighter let's save some MONEY!!!

dt SAVER

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THE PENSION PLAN OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

ON THE COVER robeks dtla

VOL 16. NO. 11 - MAY 19TH - JUN 2ND 2022 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

location: south park la photo by: keri Freeman

THE CAREGIVERS

DTLA WEEKLY

editor and chief KERI FREEMAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

KERI FREEMAN SHARAEL KOLBERG abel weiss jaime herrera

photography GARY LEONARD KERI FREEMAN

VIDEO Production

@kerieatsdtla design and layout @kerieatsdtla

social media

@kerieatsdtla

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DTLA SQUARE ONE: OUR WARMEST WELCOME ...4 GRAND CENTRAL MARKET BACK IN ACTION ...5 SURVIVING DTLA - HOW TO AVOID CRIME ...6 CIVIL COFFEE WITH A FIREFIGHTER ....7 BERLIN WALL AT STREET ART LA ...8 TACOS IN HISTORIC PLACES - DALIA COCINA ...10 TRIATHLON WINNERS ...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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VOL 16. NO. 11 - MAY 19TH - JUN 2ND 2022 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

CIVIL COFFEE

FASHION DISTRICT

uccess is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

- Albert Schweitzer

R&B TEA FASHION DISTRICT

JOLLIBEE

FINANCE district

10 DTLA

COURTS DISTRICT

STOWAWAY HISTORIC CORE district

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GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

G

BACK IN ACTION

rand Central Market is the heartbeat of Downtown LA. In support and celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Grand Central Market hosts two movie screening events in the historic Million Dollar Theater, located next door.

All Downtown has to do is purchase a meal at any of the 11 Asian vendors inside the market and show the receipt to the person behind the GCM info desk.

Receipt acknowledgement will swap for two tickets to one of two Asian-produced, directed, and acted films starting with The Farewell on Fri, May 20, followed by Parasite on Fri, May 27.

"We are giving free tickets to guests who dine at any of our seven GCM Asian food vendors throughout May. The movie nights will include curated drinks and concessions by some authentic, Asian-owned brands to bring a full AAPI experience to DTLA." Said Ryan Piechowski, Marketing Rep for GCM. GCM is the heart of Downtown For one hundred years, many visitors have flowed through GCM chambers receiving the vital nutrients they need to produce naturally occurring fond memories. Some visitors come from around the world to

get a taste of the experience, while others have been coming to the market since they can remember.

With dates, luncheons, events, artisan market, produce and incredible food and beverage variety, GCM is the Disneyland of food halls - The happiest place Downtown and dear to our hearts for so many reasons.

For diners on May 14, hearts raced faster than their feet could carry them as they rushed to escape the danger that most thought were initially firecrackers until reality and panic set in.

DT Weekly stopped by to check on our friends at GCM.

They've even set a special place aside for the Downtown Weekly news rack for half a decade, establishing their commitment to community and making our indie journalism hearts go pitter-pat.

Grand Central Market marketing rep Ryan Piechowski seemed tattered by mainstream media but took the time to meet with us briefly to express the market's condolences.

Yet, our heartbeats stopped last weekend when our city heard the news of a tragic killing just outside of our beloved marketplace.

Ryan confirmed that although what occurred outside of GCM Saturday afternoon, May 14, was an isolated incident, GCM was vowing to step up security and working with the proper authorities to assess the situation further.

million dollar theater Looking around, it seemed like business as usual at GCM in the days after the commotion.

Thanks to AAPI Heritage Month Movie Night, Downtown has a "Million" more reasons to visit Grand Central Market. @grandcentralmarketla

6 DTLA ANKLE BITER: Political Commentary

VOL 16. NO. 11 - MAY 19TH - JUN 2ND 2022 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

how to avoid becoming

a victim of crime

You probably heard on the news by now that crime is on the uptake in downtown Los Angeles or worse maybe you’ve become a victim of crime yourself.

W

hile it’s true there are

protection services like local police, private security guards and BID patrols we’re paying to keep us safe, crime can strike at any time, at any place. Here’s a list of ways to help you avoid becoming a victim of crime in Downtown LA – like a boss!

Out of Sight Out of Mind Believe it or not, most criminals are pretty narrowminded and many times spontaneous. Their impulsive actions can lead to purse grabs, and stolen cell phones mainly just because they’ve spotted it out and made up their minds in an instant that moment was the perfect time to commit a crime and make you a victim.

Instead of carrying your cell phone or purse out in the open, why not use ear phones and keep your phone in your pocket and use a backpack so that your belongings aren’t so easily snatched?

! s s o b a like Protect Your Storefront with a Roll-Up Gate So back in the days when the Historic Core BID was Bringing Back Broadway one of the prerequisites was new leasees had to purchase a steel rollup grid gate. Guess the point was to allow light to shine through the windows to lighten up the damp dark Broadway corridor. Well, the riots proved that dinky steel fences would eventually succumb to an angry mob. Filmed at eleven.

Yet, for the average lone criminal grid gates and all roll-ups prove to be quite a deterrent. These roll-ups also work well with those determined criminals who spend weeks casing your place.

roll-ups gates immediately to not succumb to this current trend of smash and grab robberies. With the high cost most are charging for rent, they should be able to fork it.

In the meantime, we recommend curtains or papercovered windows to keep the spontaneous lookie-loo criminals from getting overly excited.

Lock Your Doors We’d like to take the time to bring up that hostage situation that happened a few months back. The poor girl was just in the house with the cat when a crazy jumped in and took her hostage at gun point.

Believe it or not, this hapUnfortunately, these rollup pens more often than we’d gates are costly, ranging like to mention in Downanywhere from $1000-$25,000. town LA. Be sure you advocate your property owners install these Somehow despite security, criminals manage to find their

way inside of apartment buildings all day and all night only to make surveillance video cameos for all of us to see. All this celebrity fame before either getting away, getting arrested, or getting shot dead by SWAT. Either way, it never ends well.

And hostage victims stay traumatized for decades.

Although our first recommendation would be to barricade the door with a couple of steel brackets and a two-by-four (your landlord is gonna love that), you may search the internet for several impenetrable locks that don’t damage the door frame.

In the meantime, keep your doors locked! You may even purchase one of those automatic locking doorknobs.

Another tip is to make sure your lobby doors close and lock behind you.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DTLA ESPESSO SELF: COFFEE WITH A FIREFIGHTER

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CIVIL COFFEE WITH FIREFIGHTERS

D

LANC and LAFD teamed up to bring this special event to all DTLA stakeholders on May 17th, with a chance to grab a cup of joe and chat with a Firefighter at the newly opened Civil Coffee on 8th and Los Angeles.

...And downtown residents wanted them to know how much we appreciated their commitment.

Cup after delicious cup poured from beyond the countertop at Civil Coffee, turning all who attended into quite the little chatterbox.

Owners Alan and Alex Morales began as nomads serving cups of Civil Coffee from the back of a red pickup truck, later settling in Highland Park. Last month, they opened in the Fashion District, picking up where the former Stumptown Coffee location left off, which reportedly suffered setbacks from Covid and civil unrest.

From 9:30 to 11 am, these Downtown heroes gave neighbors a glimpse inside their brave hearts and lent an ear to community questions and concerns.

“We’re all ecstatic to spend time with DLANC and just as excited to meet our constituents,” said Captain Sloane Joseph.

To his left, Fire Chief Luis Aldano of Fire Station 4 on Temple and partner Captain Moore of Fire Station 9 on San Pedro and (two of the busiest Fire Stations in the nation).

Their dedication to community, professionalism, integrity, and respect earn them community trust, and it shows. “The thing that allows us to do our jobs is trust from our community.”

Said Chief Aldano. “A trust that needs to be earned and nurtured.”

While the Firefighter trio of well-groomed professionals, with genuinely helpful demeanors, held each constituent’s attention with responses centering around; response times, desired routes, and what it was like juggling multiple calls between meals, their eyes told the stories behind the mission.

Constantly at risk to their own safety, battling the roaring flames or the failing heart, facing moments that follow some of man’s most horrendous deeds; to preserve life and property while having to look the devil in the eyes. This was their daily experience.

By the looks of their relentless line of patrons, Civil Coffee and its delicious menu of toast, breakfast burritos, and pastries are here to stay. @civilcoffee @lafdhq

8 DTLA ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE: BERLIN WALL AT LUME

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Original Pieces of the Berlin Wall On Exhibit at STREET ART ALIVE Kelly "RISK" Graval has been synonymous with the Los Angeles art community for over 30 Years. From his early days as a founder of the West Coast Graffiti movement to gallery and museum exhibits around the globe, including the 2012 "Art In The Streets" at the LA MoCA and the hugely successful “Beyond The Streets” exhibits in Los Angeles and New York.

His work is shown at top galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, New York, Miami, and London.'

Now RISK’s artwork is featured as part of the STREET ART ALIVE experience at downtown’s newest digital art gallery, THE LUME Los Angeles. RISK was commissioned to honor two of the three sets of highly anticipated original pieces of the Berlin Wall.

The pieces are currently on display as part of the 360-degree multi-sensory experience featuring 200 street artists from 20+ Cities, including Los Angeles, New York, London, São Paulo, Melbourne and Berlin.

"My approach to painting on these sections of the wall was to do something colorful, bright and hopeful.

With everything going on in the world and the historic importance of the Berlin Wall, I wanted to paint something that gave people hope for a bright future.”

Historically, long stretches of the Berlin Wall have been used as a canvas for political statements and powerful social commentary by artists from across the globe.

Each individual Berlin wall at THE LUME Los Angeles measures 14’ x 4’ and weighs four tons. Grouped in rows of three, the total size per installation is 14’ x 12’ and sit prominently at the entrance into the exhibition front doors. RISK’s “Anarch to Monarchy” portrays the Buddha and butterfly images to reflect hope and positivity.

“I wanted to do something bright and positive. The colors I use in my murals come from two sources. They reflect the old Krylon "California Colors'' spray paint line that I used doing Graffiti in LA many years ago,” said RISK. “When I was doing graffiti I lived a life of Anarchy. My life was doing graffiti at night, punk rock and Venice Beach. Over the years, I have transformed into fine art. I have four daughters and my life is positive. The Butterflies reflect that. So, I went from ‘Anarch to Monarch’.”

RISK also added, “It was an honor to paint on a section of the Berlin Wall.

The importance and history of the wall is something everyone should know and appreciate. As an artist, I am not overtly political in my work. I prefer more subtle social commentary."

“Street art and graffiti are important art movements.

It has taken a long time for the traditional art world to recognize Street Art and Graffiti as legitimate art movements. The public has recognized the importance of Street Art and Graffiti for years. Being a part of a significant multimedia experience celebrating the importance of Street Art and Graffiti means a lot to me.”

STREET ART ALIVE allows visitors to discover the sheer diversity of street art as a movement and take a journey through the motivations of the artists who live, breathe, and express themselves on the streets. The experience explores the varied themes of VIBRANCY, REJUVENATION, FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT and FRESH TAKE ON HISTORY in a way that appeals to all senses in a truly multi-sensory environment.

To bring this highly unique and authentic experience to life, THE LUME digital art galleries and creators and producers 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 experience also features murals by Dourone, as well as Los Angeles’ Aly Kourouma aka Timbuctu State, and graffiti art by Aaron “Woes” Martin and Jayski-One from The Boom Bap Kids, Yoshi Takahashi aka MR44, and many more.

The STREET ART ALIVE experience runs through the summer with tickets available from $39-$99 at thelume.com/ losangeles.

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10 10DTLA APPETITE: DALIA COCINA By KERI FREEMAN

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VOL 16. NO. 11 - MAY 19TH - JUN 2ND 2022 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM COM

Tacos in Historic Places

Taco Tuesdays at Dalia Cocina Mexicana

ituated at the base of the Higgins Building, connecting the Old Bank and Civic Districts, is one of Downtown’s most treasured Mexican food restaurants, Dalia Cocina Mexicana.

For some, Dalia has become that go-to spot ranked high on local delivery apps for consistency and overall quality.

For others, every day is a new opportunity to dine at this neighborhood favorite that serves breakfast all day and becomes more and more festive by night.

Dalia feeds all who have discovered their fresh, made-to-order menu during lunch rush, providing midday meals to familiar city officials and front-line workers from nearby civic office buildings. From the courthouse to the jailhouse, our city officials love ordering from Dalia.

By nightfall, Dalia provides a warm festive atmosphere for business meetings, sports fans, and families alike.

The aromas of Chilaquiles, Empanadas, plates of Carne Ranchero, and Salmon on Carrot Purée easily find their way to the second-floor area, perfect for hosting special or private events.

Copper mogul turned property manager in his heyday, “Tycoon Thomas” amassed a fortune.

In 1910 he turned the keys to his brand new lobby doors and let in waves of employees to man the offices within the massive 10-story, state of the art building that he claimed: “To be absolutely fire-and earthquake-proof.”

Higgins would not only provide his workers with a natural air cooling Get the day started or cap out the system but a first-of-its-kind steam night; the beverage menu serves signature turbine heating system hidden deep in iced and hot coffees or foreign and the basement below. As Higgin’s empire domestic beers, individually or by the and the town grew stronger, jazz echoed bucket. through the halls of the Higgins Building from the famous Harlem Alley below.

Family-owned and operated, Dalia dishes are inspired by Grandmother Over time, Higgins Building inhabitants Dalia. She would have been alive around would witness a decline of the area, the the same time Irish-born Thomas Higgins fading sounds of jazz as it drifted swiftly commissioned Architects Haley and Martin away from Downtown to South Central to design and build this historic location.

Ave, and the fading voice of Higgins, who died in 1920.

In 2007, time-traveling developer Andrew Meirien began restoring the basement at the Higgins Building, accentuating its historic fixtures and bringing in a few of his own. He brought back live jazz, swing, and burlesque inside his steampunk retro nightclub and named his club The Edison, after lightbulbs in the roaring 20s that would never, ever fade.

Want to know what else never fades?

The long-lasting memory of Dalia's signature taco flight.

Each Taco Tuesday, Dalia offers their signature ala carte tacos with fish, carne asada, carnitas, and shrimp varieties for $3 each. The pork belly taco could possibly be the best tasting taco in history, with Dalia grilled shrimp taco with mango salsa coming in a close second. @daliacocinamexicana

GET2DTLA - DTLA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF RUPAUL’S DRAGCON

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TO AVOID Celebrating 10 Years of HOW BECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIME RuPaul’s DragCon at LA Convention Center like a boss!

P

resented by RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions, RuPaul’s DragCon LA brought charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to Downtown LA for the fiercest DragCon yet.

(CONTINUED)

It takes a village, people!” said RuPaul.

Completing the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7. RuPaul arrived and took to the Dj booth while the crowds enjoyed the official launch of House of Love cock and mocktails. World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato were seen posing at the WOW booth.

Do Not Leave Your Wingman While crime is up Downtown, it’s best to practice the buddy system, especially when you’re buying expensive items or going out on a night on the town.

There are all kinds of lions and tigers, oh my, who come to our neighborhood just to take advantage of you, in the places where you may least expect it.

The three-day RuPaul’s DragCon LA is the world’s largest all-ages and familyfriendly celebration of drag, featuring vendors, exhibitors, panel, and Q&A sessions hidden within a labyrinth of convention hall displays, including an entire recreation and immersive Golden Girls kitchen set, with legendary Queens dressed as Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia.

Said World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato: “At this time in our herstory where we have spent so many months isolated from one another, we are especially delighted to bring our tribe together again to celebrate life and love at RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2022. Drag is the resistance!”

“The return of DragCon LA exceeded my wildest expectations. To our dazzling queens, our amazing vendors, and each and every one of our beautiful attendees, thank you for 3 dragalicious days of love, light and laughter.

All weekend, visitors enjoyed Meet & Greets with their favorite Queens, fierce mainstage performances, exclusive panels and programming, and wig-snatching merch, Queens including Adore Delano, The Frock Destroyers, Juice Boxx, Tia Kofi, Alyssa Hunter, Maddy Morphosis, Kylie Sonique Love, and more working the runway in front of thousands of adoring fans. @rupaulsdragcon

If you get too distracted or need eyes behind your head, it’s best to put two or three heads (or fists) together when dealing with potentially dangerous situations.

See a Crime? – Snitches get Riches Yeah, we said it. And sure, maybe the criminals will get back out the day after next but that’s two solid days they won’t be around to terrorize the neighborhood.

If you see a crime, don’t be a hero!

Videotape it. Call the police… many times there’s a reward for information leading to the capture of a criminal.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13...

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THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

Triathlon WINNERS FINISH AT la live

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Be Aware of Your Surroundings While some social media influencers will have you believing Downtown is a fairytale land of make-believe where the flowers grow love and the birdies kindly give you directions in birdie talk, it’s simply not true. In Downtown, you need to keep your eyes peeled, watch your back, and keep it moving.

Instead of listening to pigeons, why not download the Citizen’s App so you can get a better idea of what areas are most affected by crime. Even better, the popular app will inform you of crime in Downtown LA in real-time.

W

inners Here are the Jamie winners!!!

Riddle First place, (Men) finishing in 1:48:55 - PTO World #326, and Jamie Riddle.

Vittoria Lopes, First place, (Women) finishing we're first 02:03:49 - Vittoria Lopes, who to cross the trains in Boulder, Colorado.

Herbalife24 Other athletes, including elite Triathlon and amateur triathletes and Los Angeles more than 50 professionals from the United States, International the United Kingdom, Asia, Distance race and South America, would continue the battle to cross finish line on Fig the finish line. and Venice in Downtown LA on "Athletes from around the Sunday, May 15th. world took to the streets of

Los Angeles to compete in the triathlon, bike tour, or 5k," said Ibi Montesino, senior The two later took to the vice president and managing podium to show off their director for Herbalife Nutrition winning medals. This and all the deserved fanfare, including North America Region. an outdoor celebration at L.A. "Thousands of spectators Live for the 2000 athletes on the sidelines cheered the testing their abilities through athletes on, and we thank run and relay, aqua bikes, Bike Tour, and a 5K run/walk, them, our partners and triathlon that began the ocean sponsors for making this a successful event." swim.

However, remember the security guards, BiDs Patrols and seemingly the police are long gone after 1:30AM upon which most crime has been happening lately. It’s those times of the wee morning, depending on where you live, when you may not want to be caught dead on the streets alone.

Test Your Drugs!

Without the risk of sounding like a bunch of addicts, we have to throw this one in there.

Party people, we do not judge, yet, beware! There’s a new drug in town called fentanyl and it’s killing people. Last week, the Historic Core lost three of its Carry Mace for Self Debeloved neighbors to nose beer fense laced with fentanyl plus. Two For many, the thought of phys- days later, two maintenance ical altercation sends a yellow men were exposed while streak down the spine. Knock cleaning a vacated luxury high out punches, teeth flying rise unit and died. through the air, body blows, slaps, and body slams – we’ve With the world’s biggest drug seen it all. One time there was store adjacent, we can’t expect this hairy ware wolf looking everyone to stay sober 24/7 man roaming around punching but we do want you to puff puff women to the ground. That was pass responsibility. interesting.

There are plenty of nonprofits Yet, what if one of those womDowntown that offer free drug en would have sprayed that testing kits designed to make growling ware wolf in the eyes, sure you end up with a nice nose and throat with mace? He clean bag and not in one. would have been really howling after that.

Stay Home!

Our old folks do it. And yes, we Of course, we’re not advocating have old folks. The reason you unprovoked violence but we are may not see them as much is standing behind your right to because, somewhere between defend yourself. their wisdom and wobbly knees they’ve figured out – the safest place Downtown will always be Get to know your local at home. security guards No crime, no drama, no If you must go out alone get Covid. Just the relaxation of to know your security guards. cable tv and pharmaceutical There’s almost a bar or commercials with side apartment building on every effects that include your own block and now that people are building’s luxury amenities, coming back to the party most complete with security and likely you won’t get too far neighbors who care. Caregivers before you can find someone we mean. you can count on.

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