Downtown Weekly LA

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2 THE HAPPY GO LUCKY LIFE OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY VOL 20. NO. 65 FEB 29 - MAR 6, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

on the cover: old hillside bourbon PHOTO: ACHONG PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION: SEATTLE, WA 2

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Keri

photography

GARY LEONARD

SHANGO BARNS

eric epperson

keri Freeman

@kerieatsdtla

Special

MAYOR

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.

Ringing in Change: new downtown

738 area code sparks debate

Looks

like

downtown Los Angeles is headed for yet another shakeup.

As reported by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the new area code 738 is about to join the list as an “overlay” of the existing area codes 213 and 323.

Hold onto your Frenchies, Downtown. As news made the airwaves, neighbors took to social media to express their concerns. Between doomsday predictions and rationalizing the change, came a list of triple-digs stemming from numerology to nods to cannabis culture. Instead of 738, comments insisted the overlay area code would best rep’s DTLA if it were changed to one of the following:

111 – The Symbolic Sign of Hope

This symbolic sign of new opportunities and growth potential, good luck, and achievement could mean that having 111 in front of any telephone number could enhance DTLA’s image and re-create a sense of pride and optimism regarding downtown’s development, inspiring residents and businesses to strive for greater success.

222 – The Reflective Gateway

If 738 doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, consider the inner workings of 222, which could give Downtown Los Angeles an opportunity to embrace the number’s powerful meaning of selfreflection. As DTLA embodies contrasts and convergences, within its moments of quiet contemplation, this overlaying

area code for DTLA, could help DTLA find itself, guiding residents, businesses, and visitors toward deeper understanding and connection.

420 – Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

420 – Beyond its associations with cannabis culture, leisure, and celebration, 420 could represent a state of equilibrium and stability, for downtown, fostering honest communication with an elevated meaning of what it means to be from LA. In downtown, area code 420 would go well with our immense culinary scene. We do have some munchies. What better place to pass a bowl of veggies at the dinner table? “Excuse me while I step outside, 420 is calling.”

3 – 6s – Just Diabolical

The mark of the beast (yikes) was also suggested, perhaps in a darkly comedic confession of the fears and apprehensions surrounding DTLA, a special brew of wicked parking woes, possessed individuals, and cold-hearted developments lurking in the shadows of gentrification.

911 – Emergency

LOL, who said this? In numerology, 911 speaks to the tremendous potential to achieve anything, yet with 911 calls circulating around the clock, the pun called attention to our most dire struggles in downtown LA and our daily need to overcome them. Shout out to our emergency responders.

999 – The Cosmic Conclusion

The notion of adopting 999 emerged in the comments as a cosmic sign of closure and enlightenment. Symbolizing an end to one chapter and the beginning of another, 999 injected a hint of just how much Downtiwn has changed.

In time, those with 213 may come to symbolize the original inhabitants of LA, the OGs, so to speak, or those who haven’t set up new cell phone service after November 2024. That is when the new area code will be introduced to DTLA, Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Commerce, Cudahy, Glendale, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, South Gate, South Pasadena, Vernon, West Hollywood, and unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County.

QUEST FOR CD14 HILLERY AINT HAVIN' IT

Teresa Hillery's Plan for a Better Future: Addressing Key Issues in CD14

Hillery’s more than a voice against the status quo. She's a force for change.

In an exclusive interview, we discussed with Hillery, a prominent city council candidate, her plans and visions for tackling some of the most pressing issues in our district. Hillery's responses were not only insightful but also indicative of her commitment to bringing about tangible change. Below, we delve into her strategies for addressing corruption, homelessness, economic inequality, transportation infrastructure, public safety, affordable housing, and civic engagement.

Combating political corruption? Hillery Ain't Havin' It.

Hillery stresses that corruption in politics is a blight on democracy. To combat this, she proposes a three-fold plan: (1) expanding the city council district for better representation; (2) Establishing an independent redistricting commission to eliminate gerrymandering, and (3) Creating a well-funded ethics commission. Moreover, she pledges to conduct regular Community Talks; to maintain transparency, ensure financial decisions are public, and maintain a zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

Tackling Homelessness?

Hillery Ain't Havin' It. Acknowledging the severity of homelessness, Hillery outlines a comprehensive approach.

CD14 Candidtate Teresa Hillery plans

to

(1) establish a neighborhood council specifically for Skid Row and work with all neighborhood councils on homelessness issues; (2) appoint a dedicated director for the district wide homelessness initiatives; (3) utilize the CARE Court system and conservatorships to aid the most vulnerable, and (4) enhance unarmed crisis response services.

Addressing economic inequality

Hillery aims to bridge economic disparities by supporting small businesses and enhancing wages, standards, and fostering job creation. She plans to utilize local talent and encourage entrepreneurship, ensuring that every community member has an opportunity to participate in the American Dream.

Improving transportation infrastructure

As an experienced public transit user, Hillery understands the importance of efficient transportation. She intends to work with the MTA and city departments to enhance safety, connectivity and accessibility, advocating for better shelters, charging stations, cleanliness, and public restrooms.

Enhancing public safety

Public safety is a top priority for Hillery. She plans to address crime through community policing initiatives, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and local communities. She supports community services, youth programs, improved lighting, and infrastructure repairs to enhance neighborhood safety.

Increasing Affordable Housing

Addressing the housing crisis, Hillery considers housing a fundamental human right. Her plan involves reducing production costs, rehabilitating existing housing stock, and protecting tenants from illegal practices. She also aims to increase homeownership to enable generational wealth creation fostering civic engagement and transparency

While our interview with her was short, we believe that Hillery's comprehensive approach to these critical issues reveal her dedication to not just addressing but also solving the challenges, facing our community. Her plans reflect a deep understanding of the district's needs and a commitment to creating a brighter, more equitable future for all residents. Her message seems to clear: she’s just not having it; she’s changing it.

@vote4teresahillery

THE LEGEND OF OLD HILLSIDE BOURBON

On the day Jesse Carpenter conceived his first vision of the Old Hillside Bourbon Company, he and his childhood friend Brian Burton were sharing the roaring excitement of a day at the Kentucky races.

“Old

Hillside Bourbon Company is a “lifestyle brand," and it’s not just about looking good and making money, but about making a difference.” -

Before day’s end, the pair would bet on the odds of establishing a first-rate whiskey brand that would pay homage to the black equestrians of yesteryear, telling their magnificent triumphs with every sip.

When Jessie and Brian invited their childhood friend, Courtney Tucker, at first Courtney thought the two were joking, but with reality settling in, came the first batches of the Old Hillside Bourbon Company.

Enter Emmanuel Waters, officially brought on board by cousin Courtney, who sought out his contract negotiation background in Silicon Valley.

Furlong, Brian Burton, Jesse Carpenter, Courtney Tucker, and Emmanuel Waters became grand prize winners across the board: with an exciting brand that promises high-quality whiskey, proudly celebrates black history, and promotes positive changes for the community.

fact: Few people know that in the first Kentucky Derby, 13 of the 15 riders were African-American. In fact, black jockeys won 15 of the first 28 derbies, dominating the sport before the Jim Crow laws came into effect.

Courtney Tucker spoke of the group giving back to their alma mater and sponsoring community athletic teams for the youth.

Brian, Jessie, Emmanuel & Courtney 0f Old Hillside Bourbon - photo by Travis McMichael

There’s a variety of Old Hillside Bourbons to choose from, ranging from traditional floral to fruity whisky refinement.

Each Old Hillside Bourbon hand-crafted bottle comes with a bit of corked history at the entrance. A rustic paper label announces each volatile note of this bold Kentucky whiskey stored behind it.

‘The Last Rye’d’, this 104 proof, fiveyear-old, barrel-aged straight rye whisky takes on a floral approach with strong hints of caramel, vanilla, mint, and slight notes of nutmeg, and cinnamon. The Last Rye'd won Double Gold in the San Francisco Spirits Competition.

This particular bottle is the Mount Rushmore of African-American Horse Race Jockeys, with an olden-day collage of the riders making up the label that marks a taste of vigor likened to any horse at the starting gate.

Alonzo Clayton was the youngest black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Oliver Lewis won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.

James “Soup” Perkins began riding at eleven years old and led a successful career in horseback riding.

And there are others, including Isaac Murphy, who was one of the best jockeys of all time.

These legends left their hoofs in the tracks of history from 1875 to 1903. However, the Jim Crow laws, segregation, difficulty obtaining licenses, and threat of bodily harm left the Kentucky Derby without black jockeys from 19212000.

However, the legacy of these black jockeys will not be forgotten, especially thanks to Old Hillside Bourbon.

Last year, downtown Los Angeles hosted an event called Lightning Machine, where the quartet met actor Orlando Jones, known for his work on MADTV, American Gods, and being the liveliest spokesman for 7UP back in the 90s.

After a few sips and conversations, Orlando Jones joined the group as the official spokesperson for Old Hillside Bourbon.

With even more history behind each variety, The Hornet's Nest, winner of the Silver Medal at the 2023 San Francisco Spirits Competition is a limited-release bottle to commemorate the centennial celebration of Hillside High School (1943–2022), where the team first met. This bourbon whiskey offers a distinct sweet vanilla and apple taste and finishes with the slight subtlety of oak flavors.

The company intends to grow exponentially within the coming years and establish roots in the city by expanding its ranking at bars, restaurants, hotels, events, and through earned publicity. The brand has already been featured on NBC LA and has a celebrity ambassador attached to it.

Old Hillside Bourbons are distilled in Kentucky because of the natural mix of climate conditions and pure limestone water that give their bourbon layers of taste that evolve and resonate with elegant finishes.

Today, The Old Hillside Bourbon Company’s products are right on track, and can be found on their website and at other online retailers such as; Taste Select Repeat, Reserve Bar, Total Wine and BevMo!

Also, the website features a location tool that can be utilized to find where you can purchase the product closest to you and tons of recipes. @oldhillsidebourbon

The Head Coach of Sports Bars

33Taps Opens in south park A

s Crypto.com arena held Kobe Bryant statue reveals and Chief and 49er fan’s let out cries of pride over the Super Bowl, the coach of all sports bars, 33 Taps cheerfully expanded its operations into downtown LA, with a brand-new location at the based of the Moxy & AC Hotel on Figueroa Boulevard.

From outside, tinted windows allow a hint of the sports excitement within, thanks to an illuminating band of fifty 75-inch TVs that line the walls. Each with their three-sided Jumbotrons that dominate the bar, ensuring patrons never miss a single play no matter where they are seated.

Servers at 33 Taps has DTLA already rooting for their themed cocktails, beers, and delicious food graciously brought to downtown by Chef Jorge Galvez.

“Expanding the 33 Taps brand is about more than just opening a new restaurant for our team – we’re excited to bring our family-owned establishment that whole heartedly welcomes all and is centered around community to the heart of Los Angeles”, said CEO & Founder Ryan Floyd. “Our city is home to some of the best sports teams in the country and we’re looking forward to hosting L.A.’s sports fans for great food and drinks paired with the ultimate HD viewing experience.”

While the TVs might be the main attraction, 33 Taps DTLA understands that a true sports haven needs more than just screens. That’s why they’ve curated a menu that caters to every craving. Indulge in mouthwatering handcrafted burgers, juicy wings and perfect pizzas, mozzarella sticks, nachos, the tables fill with more and more items of plant-based varieties than any other sports bar in the region.

Ready for a bit of friendly competition?

A few steps away from the bar is tantalizing 3,000 square-foot game room/adult playground for playful competition filled with retro arcade games, pinball machines, shuffleboard, boxing, basketball hoops, foosball, even Mario Kart and a second full-service bar catering to thirsty gamers, and fun that never stops.

Both rooms will mirror design elements from the brand’s existing locations to provide a true neighborhood feel to the urban downtown landscape.

33 Taps commissioned Los Angeles-based artist and designer Erin Miller Wray to further tie-in Los Angeles’ sports teams through one of her signature vivid murals.

Servicing up to 350 patrons, the centralized full bar pulls from 33 Taps’ state-of-the-art, custom-built draft system that supplies its extensive beer list and daily hand batched and kegged cocktails.

Upcoming Plans on Tap

33Taps DTLA will soon allow diners to soak up the California sunshine on their spacious patio, offering stunning views of the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.

33Taps is planning weekly events, Taco Tuesdays, Trivia Nights, and happy hours to along with activities like karaoke, drag bingo, and plenty of seasonal sports events, with always something new to cheer about.

33 Taps DTLA is proudly queer-owned and operated, creating a lively and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable cheering on their favorite teams, indulging in delicious food and drinks, and making new friends.

Could 33Taps become DTLA's favorite spot to experience the ultimate sports bar atmosphere, celebrate our team’s victories, and create memories that will last a lifetime? 33Taps is located at 1260 S. Figueroa Ave, LA, CA 90015. @33taps

Photo Courtesy 33Taps

DTLA Movie Buff Review: the Book of Clarence

The Book of Clarence, the recently released biblical-era comedy from director Jeymes Samuel follows Clarence portrayed by Lakeith Stanfield as the fictional downtrodden twin brother of the apostle Thomas as he struggles to shed the moniker as the black sheep of the family and win the favor of the woman he loves.

Despite his best efforts, his farfetched plans always seem to draw the ire of influential figures in ancient Judean society by indebting himself to local loan shark Jedediah the Terrible and stealing from the Roman police force. This is until Clarence attempts to become an apostle and, ultimately, the new Messiah to save himself from certain doom.

On the surface the film incorporates many of the tropes of a modern urban crime caper juxtaposed within a Judean biblical setting. In addition to the aforementioned crime boss and

overbearing police presence, Clarence represents a stereotypical hustler hellbent on crawling his way out of the gutter through whatever means necessary, often selfish ones.

Director Jeymes Samuel also makes several stylistic choices to remind viewers that despite Clarence’s skepticism toward the coming of the Messiah, whom he is so comfortable discrediting so as to imitate his rise to influence, audience members are indeed inhabiting a fantastical world marked by the Age of Miracles of Christ and his apostles. This includes Jesus halting stones in mid-air to prevent Mary Magdalene’s stoning, healing her wounds, and Clarence floating in place after smoking opium.

While these stylistic choices are effective in establishing the tone of the film, the strength of the project lies in the comedic performances of Stanfield, RJ Cyler as Clarence’s best friend Elijah, and Omar Sy as the freed slave Barabbas. The trio’s banter throughout the movie helps maintains an air of levity from opening to closing credits. Another impressive facet of the project is the character development of Clarence.

Through the lens of Stanfield’s charismatic performance, Clarence’s moral arc swings from self-serving societal derelict to what is clearly the filmmaker’s vision of an everyday Messiah worthy of veneration: a person willing to relinquish everything that they have yearned for in favor of selfless altruism. This theme is evidenced when Clarence purchases the freedom of the enslaved people from which Barabbas hails with the funds acquired from his numerous scams in lieu of paying off his debts.

For good measure, it is symbolically punctuated when Clarence, in part due to his own self-proclamation as the new Messiah, is crucified by the Romans after Judas’s betrayal and redeems himself by refusing to divulge the whereabouts of Jesus Christ.

Despite these elements working in the film’s favor, the final act of The Book of Clarence falls victim to the third act crunch that so often undermines what was otherwise a streamlined story.

As the movie builds toward its narrative climax, a character named Benjamin portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch as a beggar throughout the story experiences a wonderful stroke of luck. Christ bestows upon him the ability to multiply as much money as his heart desires, which he chooses to invest in a makeover that transforms his appearance into that of the traditional Western depiction of Christ: a white man with wavy flowing locks of hair that appear in stark contrast to the film’s representation of Christ as a black man portrayed by Nicholas Pinnock (not to mention secular historians’ account of Christ’s appearance).

Catching wind of this development, Benjamin, rather than the true Messiah, is rounded up by the Romans and crucified beside Clarence. While this is clearly intended to insinuate the modern archetype of Christ, the presence of several supposed concurrent Messiahs leave the final half hour of the film feeling congested with the presence of three parallel storyline threads.

Ultimately, with awards season in full swing and movie-goers’ attentions still divided in an attempt to retroactively catch up on 2023’s most relevant releases, even Lakeith Stanfield’s magnanimous charm along with the rollicking ensemble cast of Jeymes Samuel’s second feature film aren’t going to be big enough draws to pull The Book of Clarence out of the ether and into relevant conversation either now or in the future. FINAL VERDICT 2/5 STARS.

union station celebrates 85 years

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.

The year of festivities started on February 15, with Celebrating in our Ancestors’ Footsteps, a special recognition of the Waiting Room exhibition Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880 to 1939. The Metro Art event will kick off with a dynamic, traditional lion dance performance by students of the local East Wind Foundation and will continue with a guided walk-through of the exhibition led by Metro Art.

“Los Angeles Union Station is thrilled to welcome and encourage Angelenos to join us for dancing, music, films and more in celebration of our 85th anniversary. Since May 1939, Los Angeles Union Station has been so much more than the connector between physical communities in the West – it has also been the meeting ground for cultural exchange, art and celebration building connection between the diverse communities of people who call Los Angeles home,” said Susie Vance, Director

of Marketing for Morlin Asset Management c/o Los Angeles Union Station.

On February 23, the Station will host a free screening of “Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life,” a Metro Art event that will include a conversation between the one-of-a-kind visual artist and LA-based writer, Alissa Walker. Next up and back by popular demand, Metro Art Presents will partner with KJazz for Jazz Tracks, inviting Angelenos of all ages to enjoy an exceptional night of live music and special performances.

The Station will continue its participation in Doors Open California, a two-day celebration of architecture and culture across the state, from the California Preservation Foundation. Participating Angelenos will experience behind-thescenes guided art and architecture tours of “the last of the great train stations.”

To honor Union Station’s place in Los Angeles’ history, the iconic landmark is collaborating with Merch Motel, a brand created by Barkev Msrlyan and inspired by historic destinations, signage and architecture, set to launch Spring 2024.

The collaboration will largely be inspired by the innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco stylings involved in the Station’s unique architecture design. Los Angeles Union Station will also continue to host thirdparty events throughout its impressive spaces, including the former Fred Harvey Restaurant, which will soon become available as a unique venue location for special events, filming, weddings and more. @UnionStationLA