DOWNTOWN WEEKLY LA

DTLA WEEKLY editor and chief KERI

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Keri Freeman

JACKSON ROBERTS ISRAEL VENTO

JACKSON ROBERTS

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keri Freeman

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@kerieatsdtla

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THE CITY OF LA ARTS DISTRICT CHINATOWN

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DTLA WEEKLY

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FREE MUSEUM DAY RETURNS TO BUNKER HILL

SoCal Museums announced Thursday the return of the muchanticipated Museums

Free-for-All on Saturday, March 23.

Initiated almost two decades ago to foster cultural engagement throughout Southern California, this annual event offers free general admission to over thirty museums and cultural institutions, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

Alexa Nishimoto, President of SoCal Museums and Marketing Associate at the Japanese American National Museum, expressed excitement about welcoming visitors from across Southern California.

Nishimoto highlighted the event’s role in providing access to a diverse array of art, cultural heritage, natural history, film, and science. Nishimoto noted that the Museums Free-for-All encourages people to discover something new or revisit cherished locations.

Participating downtown Los Angeles locations include: The Broad, GRAMMY Museum, Japanese American National Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). @socalmuseums

PHOTO COURTESY THE BROAD

Abilities expo rides into downtown

Abilities Expo is the nation’s leading event for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more than four decades, the disability community has gathered at Abilities Expos all over the country to discover the latest, life-enhancing products & services, access experts in infopacked workshops and engage in fun.

Angel City Sports, an LA-based nonprofit that provides year-round adaptive sports opportunities, will feature a multitude of adaptive sports all day, every day in one high-energy Sports Zone right on the Expo show floor.

There will be equipment and experts, including Paralympian Erza Frech, on hand to encourage both rookies and seasoned sports enthusiasts to test their skills.

Abilities Expo is the one and only event designed to bring products, technologies, resources and adaptive activities together under one roof to provide greater independence for people with disabilities,” said Lew Shomer, Chairman of Abilities Expo.

“We can’t wait to share everything at the Expo with the Southern California disability community. We have an allinclusive climbing wall, the Rollettes dance team, a meet-and-greet with a disabled

Disney star, adaptive sports, service dog demos and that’s just for starters!”

Angel City Sports will showcase a host of different adaptive sports geared for a wide variety of disabilities Sports Zone and the Auti Angel Events Arena. There will be adaptive basketball, football, sitting volleyball, amputee soccer, table tennis, boccia and more.

Once attendees find their new favorite pastime at the Expo, they can learn how to continue it year-round with Angel City Sports.

Attendees experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They will find mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for people with sensory impairments and more. A variety of assistive technologies will be available for testing at the AT Showcase, sponsored by Ability Tools.

A series of compelling workshops on travel, fundraising for disability equipment, driving with a disability, life after stroke, therapeutic cannabis, workplace accommodations, complex caregiving, financial planning, wheelchair seating solutions for kids, emergency preparedness and more is offered free-of-charge.

Expo-goers can let loose with dance demos led by the world-famous Rollettes dance team and Straight Up Abilities. Attendees will also enjoy service dog demos and play adaptive sports. The Ms. Wheelchair California competition will take place at 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 17. Talented wheelchair users from around the state will vie for the coveted crown, but only one will emerge Ms. Wheelchair California 2024.

Marquise Bailey and his dog Cleon attended their 1st ability fest in 2023 with his will trained Assistance\Emotional support dog gifted to him by his aunt from his hometown Memphis, Tennessee.

“I am so excited to be here, I’ve heard about it but being here is so much more than I expected,” gushed Marquise Bailey.

This event is designed to increase independence for people with disabilities and admission is always free.Abilities Expo is a truly inspiring event, where disabled people and their families find hope and community.

Admission to Abilities Expo is free and show hours are Friday and Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm. Complimentary loaner scooters, wheelchair repair and sign language interpreters are also available during show hours. Parking at the LACC is $25 per day. @Abilities_Expo

PHOTO COURTESY ABILITIES EXPO

UNION STATION: HISTORY 101

Union Station stands as a testament to the grandeur of railway travel in the 20th century. Built in the heart of Los Angeles, California, this iconic station opened its doors on May 3, 1939, replacing the city's previous terminals: La Grande Station and Central Station.

The ambitious project was approved in a contentious ballot measure back in 1926, aiming to consolidate rail services from Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Southern Pacific Railroads into one central hub.

Designed by the renowned architectural firm of John and Donald Parkinson, along with a team of supporting architects, including Jan van der Linden, Union Station boasts a striking combination of Art Deco, Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne styles. Its architectural details, like the eightpointed stars and elements of Dutch Colonial Revival, add to its allure.

However, Union Station's construction was not without controversy. The proposed site across from Los Angeles' original Chinatown sparked heated debate, with concerns ranging from property values to racial implications. Ultimately, old Chinatown reopened where Chinatown is today and Union Station was built, leading to the discovery of archaeological remains from the Tongva village of Yaanga during construction.

Despite its glamorous debut, Union Station faced challenges over the years, including declining patronage due to the rise of air travel and automobiles. However, it persevered as a vital transportation hub for Southern California.

Today, it serves as the largest passenger rail terminal in the Western United States, welcoming nearly 110,000 passengers daily.

Union Station's significance extends beyond its role in transportation; it's a cultural landmark, designated as both a Los Angeles Historic–Cultural Monument and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its elegant waiting room, enclosed garden patios, and exquisite architectural details continue to captivate visitors.

Over the years, Union Station has evolved, adapting to changing times and needs. It now serves as a bustling

interchange for Amtrak, Metrolink commuter rail, and Metro Rail lines, connecting travelers to destinations near and far.

Despite its smaller scale compared to other union stations, Los Angeles Union Station remains a symbol of the city's rich history and enduring spirit. Union Station is a journey through time and a celebration of a bygone era of rail travel.

This year, Los Angeles Union Station will celebrate 85 years of being a vibrant symbol of Downtown Los Angeles.

To commemorate this milestone, the Station will continue to energize the community with events and programs celebrating honored partnerships, unique artists and commemorative holidays throughout its 85th year.

@UnionStationLA

PHOTO BY KERI FREEMAN

Fresh Faces, Familiar Flavors: Downtown’s Pez Cantina Takes Center Stage at 2024 Masters of Taste

The seventh annual Masters of Taste is one of L.A.’s premier luxury food and beverage tasting festivals.

The Sunday afternoon event returns to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with 100% of the proceeds directly benefiting Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization providing over 50 years of homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors.

For years, Masters of Taste has brought together over 100 culinary masters and beverage maestros, offering delectable dishes, savory and sweet, along with signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and top cocktail bars.

Masters of Taste 2024 marks the 7th anniversary of this celebrated event where 3000 people mix and mingle on the grassy field in the iconic Rosebowl, enjoying interactive games, and touching town at the 50-Yard-Line for exclusive VIP cocktails while others spend their afternoon moving from scrumptious station to station, picking up samples and rinsing them down with select wines, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, and cold-brew coffee.

For the past few years, the event has showcased downtown’s own Michael and Kwini Reed as honorable hosts.

The culinary power couple boasts three restaurants across the Southland, stemming from their first location, Poppy & Rose in the Fashion District. They work together, with the exception of times when at least one of the two graces the airways,

showcasing their talents world-wide on cable TV channels such as the Food Network.

This year, the two will pass the Masters of Taste hosting torch to another culinary power couple and favorite of Downtown, Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy ThompsonRamirez of Bunker Hill’s Pez Cantina.

Foodies abound, every dollar raised at the 2024 Masters of Taste event will benefit the work of Union Station Homeless Services (Union Station), a local organization successfully fighting to end homelessness. Over the last six years, Masters of Taste has impressively raised close to $3 million, helping countless families and individuals find a secure and welcoming place to call home.

Masters of Taste 2024 is a 100% outdoor event. Additionally, all guests will receive their very own Mastersbranded utensils and hand-sanitizer keepsakes.

The Seventh Annual Masters of Taste 2024 takes place on Sunday, April 7th, 2024, and this is a 21+ event at the Rowebowl in Pasadena from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. @mastersoftaste

LUCY & BRET THOMPSON = PHOTO COURTESY PEZ CANTINA

Fun Fact: The “Paradox” facade is not original, even though it looks vintage. It was left there by Hollywood film crews, painted for a scene in Bruce Willis’ 1994 film “The Color of Night.”

The

Brewery Artist’s Lofts

are some of

Downtown Los Angeles’

most

spacious, beautiful, and historic artist studios. Dubbed the world’s largest artist complex, the 16-acre campus was brought to life in 1982, largely due to the passing of the city’s

Experience a Piece of LA History at The Brewery Artwalk

Clearly visible off 5th Avenue in Lincoln Heights, the structure, easily recognizable by its towering smoke statuary, began as an Edison power plant and chimney back in 1903.

The facility, built before prohibition, became home to Pabst Blue Ribbon in the fifties and sixties and later to Hollywood film shoots.

In 1982, the city passed the “Artist in Residence” ordinance. Allowing industrial buildings to double as artist living and working spaces has produced a calming creativity hub for reclusive artists, thanks to visionary Arnold “Whitey” Carlson, who purchased the complex and began curating artist tenants

While walking through, visitors witness performance art, canvases, or sculptures (for sale) at every turn. It is here that the artists and their many talents are on full display.

Connecting and chatting are part of the experience. Food and drink options are plentiful during the event. There’s a beer garden in the middle of the complex offering small bites, as well as food trucks lining up on Avenue 21.

‘Artist in Residence’ ordinance. This Free Museum Day, The Brewery” will swing open its doors to the town’s longest-running art walk once again.

Formally known as the Brewery Artists Lofts, this industrial wonder of concrete, brick, and metal is a cultural landmark.

In its 41st year open to the public for the Brewery Artwalk and with over 100 artists participating and 300 lofts on the site, inspiration and accessibility come in plenty.

The Brewery Artwalk is happening on the same day as SoCal’s Annual Free Admission Museum Day. It will be a busy day for the arts in Los Angeles.

The free event is open to all ages, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 23rd, and Sunday, March 24th.

Free parking is available at the UPS facility on Moulton Avenue. The complex is located at 621 S. Avenue, LA 90031. @breweryartwalk

Who the Hell Wants to Buy the Cecil Hotel?

The renowned and iconic Cecil Hotel in DTLA is once again listed for sale. But who would be so brave as to buy this infamous monument, known for its dark associations with murder, suicide, and mayhem?

When the Cecil Hotel opened in 1924, guests were enamored by its lavish rooms, grand marble lobby, stained-glass windows, alabaster statuary, and potted palms. However, it was just a short time before mysterious occurrences began dulling the grand hotel’s luster. Over the next century, history would serve downtown with a bloody cocktail of misery, intrigue, and unsolved murders.

The first of many ominous events took place in 1931, when guest W.K. Norton ingested poison, leading to his body being discovered by housekeeping days later.

Over the years, several suicides would follow: in 1932, guest Benjamin Dodich would shoot himself in the head; in 1936, Louis D. Borden would slit his own throat; and decades of jumpers would follow, one of which somehow managed to keep his hands in his pockets the entire way down.

On October 12, 1962, George Gianinni leaped to his death from the Cecil Hotel, taking innocent bystander Pauline Otton to the afterlife with him as his body struck hers just before hitting the pavement.

Who threw Satan in the mix?

A baby thrown out of window, bodies ripped by electric wires as they hurled towards the ground, and other guests like Elizabeth Short, dubbed the Black Dalia in 1947, who was found tortured and mutilated in a nearby park, as if a victim of some heinous satanic ritual.

In the 1980s, the Cecil Hotel served as a short-term home for the ill-famed serial killer Richard Ramirez. Dubbed the “Night Stalker,” Ramirez developed a fascination with Satanism and the occult from an early age. One of Ramirez’s attacks left an 81-year-old woman with a lipstick-painted pentagram on her thigh.

In 1991, Austrian Jack Unterweger added another chapter to the grim history of the Cecil Hotel. He was found culpable for the strangulation and murder of at least three near-by sex workers, leaving a unique signature knot from each victim’s intimate wear, indicative of his killing style.

By far the Cecil Hotel’s most perplexing case revolves around virginlike Canadian tourist, 21-yearold Elisa Lam. In 2013, Elisa’s body was discovered on top of the hotel, following grievances from guests about a peculiar taste in the water. This ultimately led to the discovery of her naked body in a water supply cistern on the hotel’s roof.

and, macabre enough, one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions.

Fresh Blood…

Following years of numerous unsolved and horrific murder and suicide cases, a section of the hotel underwent renovations in 2008 following a change in ownership. In an attempt to embody a fresh start, the hotel was rebranded as Stay on Main in 2011.

2014 saw the hotel being sold to New York City hotelier Richard Born for $30 million as Simon Baron Development, a New York-based firm, took on a 99-year ground lease for the property.

The subsequent year, in 2016, Matt Baron, CEO of Simon Baron Development, voiced a strong commitment to preserve and protect the architectural and historically significant aspects of the building. In 2017, renovations were set in motion.

The Center of Attention

From Netflix specials to the signage uproar, the Cecil Hotel stays the center of attention of controversy when it comes to mystery and intrigue in downtown. As detectives fish through a century of unsolved murders, conservatives are still quick to protect the integrity of this Historical Momunment at all costs.

A recent signage change saw iconic “Hotel Cecil” stenciling bring social media uproar and a possible lawsuit to the Cecil’s long occupancy at 7th and Main. Despite its bloody past, advocates made it clear they wanted the Cecil to maintain its historical integrity even if the old signage did look like it was painted in blood.

Because of its legacy the Cecil Hotel and its blood-stained past have become one of the world’s most notorious places to stay

However, in 2021, the Cecil Hotel was resold and reopened as an affordable housing complex managed by the Skid Row Housing Trust.

In 2023, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, the formally unhoused inherited a Cecil Hotel in deteriorating and dilapidating conditions plagued by sanitary plights such as water leakages, vermin infestations, and black mold.

Consequently, in March 2024, Simon Baron Properties, the owners of the Hotel Cecil, placed the hotel on the market.

Who will buy the Cecil?

Undoubtedly, it will be an entity that possesses the genius and foresight to transform the Cecil from a symbol of death, fear, and agony into a beacon of love, pride, and endearment for the residents of Los Angeles and the nation as a whole. @skidrowhousingtrust

Meet Your Makers Event at Hotel Wayfarer Pits Bartender Against Bartender

Guests of The Wayfarer DTLA should brace for battle

Thursday, March 21st as WhistlePig Whiskey Private Barrel becomes the weapon of choice at the hotel’s lively basement bar The Lilly Rose, soon to be transformed into a dimly lit cocktail combat arena.

The night begins with a solitary Maple Old Fashioned followed by the true test of bartender skill, with guests mixologists from Pacifica Properties including Marina de Rey Hotel, The Wayfarer DTLA, The Belamar and others all coming together to create cocktails made with WhistlePig Private Barrel –Attendee votes deciding the victor.

Pacifica Hotels, renovated the nearly century-old hospitaly fortress formally known as the Ritz Milner Hotel and reopened in under thier own brand in 2021.

The popular, community-centric site is situated on Flower Street just south of 8th, features a roof top bar, and three basement level dwellings, The Lily Rose, The Basement Bar and an alley speakeasy entrance on 8th leading to one of Downtown's favorite disco hideaways, the Queensberry.

The Wayfarer DTLA’s “Meet Your Makers” events are held monthly, partnering with unique brands for exclusive events to learn more about the ins and outs of spirits. The Wayfarer Hotel is located at 813 S. Flower, LA, CA 90017. @thewayfaredtla