MARCH 16, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #11
englander arrested in fbi probe Page 5
q&a with olympic auditorium documentary director Page 12
C�V�D�1� C�o�e� C�r�a�n�.�. B�t t�e S�o� i� J�s� B�g�n�i�g As Events and Venues Close, the City and County Prepare Coronavirus Response Pages 3, 6 and 8
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2 DOWNTOWN NEWS
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AROUND TOWN Hotel Coming to Hewitt Street
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et another hotel has been announced for the Arts District. Hospitality firm the Radisson Hotel Group announced plans to construct a 140-room Radisson RED hotel at 440 S. Hewitt St. A groundbreaking date has not been set, but the company expects it to open in early 2024. It would rise on what is currently a parking lot between the music venue Resident and the Barker Block loft complex. The project would include a rooftop bar, gym, ground-floor restaurant and an unspecified amount of meeting space. A rendering shared by Radisson shows a six-story building with a rooftop deck and exteriors featuring murals. The budget was not disclosed. Other hotels in the works include ones from Grupo Habita on Alameda and a 119-room one in the Arts District Center project.
LA Times Cancels Food Bowl and Festival of Books
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s fears related to the spread of the coronavirus worsens, the Los Angeles Times is cancelling two of its most popular events.
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The newspaper announced on Tuesday, March 10 that it was postponing both its Food Bowl and the Festival of Books. The Festival of Books, which is typically held on the University of Southern California campus in April, has been moved to Oct. 3-4, while the Food Bowl, which has been held in Downtown in May, will be moved to an unannounced date in fall. The Times issued the following statement after announcing their decision: “As we make plans to host the Festival of Books and Food Bowl in the fall, we will continue to monitor developments with the coronavirus in Southern California, and cross-reference with any guests who may be traveling to Southern California from affected areas to participate in our events.” The two events are just two of the latest events subject to cancellation or postponement since the outbreak began, including the cancellation of SXSW two weeks ago, the 2020 Game Developers Conference and a number of local community events.
Union Station Neighborhood Prosecutor Announced
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he Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office announced the expansion of its neighborhood prosecutor program on March 6, adding five new prosecutors to the team, including one that will oversee homelessness at Union Station. Andrew Said has been tapped for the Union Station role, according to a press release from the City Attorney’s Office, and will work with the Metropolitan Trans-
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Signal Priority Approved for E Line
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ast week, the Los Angeles City Council approved recommendations for new signaling along street-level portions of the E Line (formerly known as the Expo Line). Last fall, the City Council approved looking into ways to reduce delays caused by trains being held up at red lights along the route, which runs from Seventh Street/Metro Center to Santa Monica. The goal is to update signals to prioritize rail travel to achieve 90% reliability in projected travel time, according to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Signal testing at the Normandie stop on the
route reduced delays on average from 27 seconds to 17 seconds, per LADOT’s findings. LADOT has 60 days to report back on how the changes are being implemented. The line travels on street level into Downtown, at the Los Angeles Trade Tech College and Pico Boulevard stations.
Annual E3 Conference Canceled
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n response to health concerns about the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, the Entertainment Software Association announced on March 11 that it was canceling this year’s edition of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3. The three-day video game software and technology convention is one of the biggest in the industry and is often the site of major announcements and unveilings. It was set for June 9-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation,” the ESA announced in a statement. “We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.” The 2019 edition of E3 drew 66,100 people to the Convention Center. The ESA said that it is looking at ways to share industry announcements online during June in lieu of the convention. Continued on page 13
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 3
Uncertainty and Cancellations Hit Downtown As Coronavirus Spreads The County Reports Its First Death as Large Public Gatherings Are Encouraged to Be Postponed By Nicholas Slayton s the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus escalates, its impact on civic life and private business in Downtown Los Angeles is becoming clear, with City government scaling back meetings and major events being canceled. The moves come after the first death in the county from the disease announced on March 11. There was a growing sense of unease among Metropolitan Transportation Authority train riders at Union Station who spoke to Los Angeles Downtown News last Tuesday and Wednesday. Prior to a score of major city and state announcements that placed a sweeping list of restrictions on public gatherings and travel, most of the travelers said they were waiting to see what happened, and were unsure how the outbreak would affect their commutes. Still, with coronavirus infection rates climbing day-by-day, items such as hand sanitizer and facemasks were an infrequent sight, but remained on people’s minds. “Do you have any [hand sanitizer]?” one rider, who asked not to be identified, asked just over half a dozen different people waiting on the platform at the Chinatown Station. A few people shook their heads. Only two people wore face masks, which the CDC had already noted should not be worn by individuals unless they are already ill, or have a compromised immune system. Inside Union Station, people still hurried around, waiting for trains or moving to their destination. The convenience store in the station’s west hall was moderately busy, but was noticeably sold out of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, a constant scene occurring in stores across the nation. Outside the store, one family, including a toddler, all wore masks as they waited inside Union Station’s west hall. These scenes were just a snapshot of life in Downtown Los Angeles as the COVID-19 illness spreads and local government updates its plans to respond. As of press time on Friday, March 13, there are a total of 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 illness in Los Angeles County, including one death, according to the County Department of Public Health. That death occurred last week, killing a visitor to Los Angeles County who had traveled heavily and had additional health concerns. Los Angeles’ Unhoused City and County leaders are currently rolling out new programs and responses to slow the spread of the disease. A major concern for local officials in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak is providing enough adequate treatment and hygiene to the roughly 60,000 homeless individuals inside Los Angeles County, who are at risk for infectious diseases due to limited sanitation options.
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A 2017 audit report found that Downtown’s 50-block Skid Row neighborhood had only nine public toilets available overnight, far short of the United Nations’ minimum for long-term refugee camps. Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County’s public health director, said last week that an outbreak among homeless encampments would make it difficult to contain the disease, given the difficulty of quarantining those on the streets. Los Angeles City Councilmembers Mitch O’Farrell and Monica Rodriguez introduced a motion earlier this month to have the Bureau of Sanitation deploy handwashing stations at homeless encampments across the city. As of press time, 125 stations are in the process of being deployed around Los Angeles. City Councilman Jose Huizar, whose 14th District covers much of Downtown, filed a motion for more hygiene centers to be set up inside Skid Row. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the joint city-county agency overseeing services to the unhoused, is retraining its outreach teams to teach them of best practices for hygiene and to help inform homeless individuals, according to a statement from LAHSA Interim Executive Director Heidi Marston. “In addition, we are training our outreach teams and our provider network on best practices for working with people who may have contracted Coronavirus and equipping them with additional sanitation equipment to keep themselves and people experiencing homelessness safe,” Marston’s statement continued. Those outreach teams are also being given hand sanitizer to give to unhoused Angelenos. In Downtown’s Skid Row, the Union Rescue Mission has set up handwashing stations inside and outside its facility. It is also using the shelter’s gymnasium as a quarantine area for any sick individuals. Remote Classes and Cancellations In precaution over health concerns, several major events in Downtown have been halted or postponed. The National Basketball Association and National Hockey League have both suspended their seasons, while Major League Baseball is delaying the start of its season. Other major Downtown events, including the scheduled E3 convention in June, have been canceled. The virus is also impacting Downtown’s local arts scene. The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced that all concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall have been halted through April and the Music Center has postponed all shows through the end of the month. Bunker Hill’s Colburn School is halting all performances and guest events until “at least April 13,” according to a press release issued by the school. UCLA’s Center for the Art of Perfor-
mance also canceled its programming at the Theatre at Ace Hotel through April 10. The virus is also impacting local schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the country, announced on Friday, March 13, that it is closing schools indefinitely starting Monday, March 16. In addition to performances, the Colburn School is canceling all in-person classes through at least April 12. The University of Southern California and the Southern California Institute of Architecture have both moved to online instruction. Aside from being a nexus for three freeways, Downtown also is the central terminus for regional and Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail lines. Metro formed an internal task force to plan the agency’s response if the virus appears on the Metro rail and bus system, according to Dave Sotero, a spokesperson for Metro, who stressed on March 6 that the virus has not yet shown up and there is no increased risk for passengers. Metro said it is setting up guides for riders for best practices on trains and buses. “We clean our buses and trains on a daily basis,” Sotero told Los Angeles Downtown News earlier this month. “We will be reviewing our cleaning protocols to ensure they’re adequate. We will continue to work to ensure that our system remains as safe and clean as possible.” Two shifts of cleaning crews are operating daily in high-traffic transit hubs such as Union Station and the Seventh Street/Metro Center station. Union Station is remaining in operation, but halting its public gatherings and art programs. On rides to and from the Chinatown station, riders were quiet, using hand sanitizer after getting off the train in some cases. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has upped its cleaning schedule for DASH and Commuter Express buses to daily; it previously held cleanings every other day. It is also directing franchised taxi companies to also do daily cleanings. Local Downtown hospitals California Hospital Medical Center in South Park and Good Samaritan Hospital in City West, have issued statements saying that they are following County and CDC guidelines and are prepared to treat anyone infected. The cancellations and new responses come after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a new list of state guidelines on March 11, urging that events with 250 or more people be pushed back or outright canceled through the end of the month. the City of Los Angeles is urging events of 250 or more people to be canceled or postponed. All public City events with 50 or more people, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti. In a public statement, Garcetti also announced
limits on visitors to public buildings such as Los Angeles City Hall, parks, City museums and community centers to no more than 50 people at a time. Los Angeles City Hall will be closed to the public save for access to public City Council meetings. The mayor also announced that hygiene stations would be set up around City-owned buildings. “I know this is an anxious time for a lot of people, but Angelenos should stay focused on preparation and protection — not panic,” Garcetti said on Thursday, March 12. “We will continue doing everything we can to help guide people through this situation, and working closely with our local, state, and federal partners to keep our communities safe, aware, and informed.” It’s the latest step in local response to the outbreak. On March 4, the county and city declared a public health emergency. A day later the state of California issued a similar declaration. As of press time, there are 198 confirmed cases in California, and four deaths. There are approximately 1,250 cases nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Roughly 132,700 people have contracted the illness worldwide. The disease was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since spread across the planet, with multiple countries including Norway and Italy going into full country-wide lockdown. COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus, the same viral family that also produced the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. COVID-19 causes respiratory illness, with flu-like symptoms with the worst cases reporting pneumonia-like symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds as the best prevention method, and urges people not to touch their faces. The County Department of Public Health said that it is following Newsom’s guidances and said that strategies of “self distancing” can be effective in delaying the spread of diseases and reducing the rates of illness, according to Ferrer. “Continued evidence of community transmission in LA County is growing, it is important we all, including businesses and organizations, do our part to slow the spread,” Ferrer said in a statement. The Department of Public Health is urging those who are sick to stay home, except to get medical care. For more information on the state of California’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, see page 6. Information on the virus and prevention are at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/ Coronavirus. nslayton@timespublications.com.
4 DOWNTOWN NEWS
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EDITORIALS
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MARCH 16, 2020
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Englander’s Arrest Should Be A Wake Up Call to City Government
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f a public leader had to pick a week to get arrested, they couldn’t have picked a better time than last week. Rightfully so, national and local attention has been heavily focused on the outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus that is currently spreading across the country, with local and state authorities scrambling to design a response to the pandemic. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the other important news currently ongoing in City Hall. Last week, former 12th District City Councilman Mitch Englander turned himself into federal authorities on seven criminal counts, including charges of corruption related to an ongoing investigation into an alleged City Hall “pay-to-play” scheme, witness tampering and making false statements. The details of the charges were something akin to a scene in a Martin Scorsese mob film. According to an indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Englander allegedly tried to cover up an expensive trip to Las Vegas where he is said to have accepted $10,000 in cash from an unnamed businessman and tens of thousands of dollars worth of dinner, bottle and hotel services. The councilman also allegedly accepted the services of a female escort, and $5,000 in cash in a bathroom on a separate trip to a Palm Springs golf tournament. As it stands, these are only allegations (and Englander pleaded not guilty in federal court) and the full scope of the federal investigation is still not clear. However this is the first indictment to come out of the probe, following the headline-grabbing FBI raid of 14th District José Huizar’s home and offices in Nov. 2018. If last week’s news was any indication, more is likely to come. The investigation into Englander’s actions are seemingly beginning to impact his former chief of staff and current 12th District City Councilman John Lee. Lee admitted to going on the Las Vegas trip but said in statements that he did not accept any inappropriate services, and attempted to pay back the unidentified businessman after the trip. Lorraine Lundquist, who challenged Lee in March’s primary election, has called for Lee to step down if the details reveal wrongdoing on Lee’s part. The allegations and ongoing investigation are made more concerning given that Englander served on the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management committee, which approved the large-scale and expensive projects that have gone up around Los Angeles, nowhere more so than in Downtown. The investigation concerns not only Englander, but also investment tied to that development boom. Huizar also served on the PLUM committee but was later removed from his assignments in the wake of the raids. Corruption in city government is unfortunately nothing new, and has plagued this city for as long as there has been a City Hall to op-
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erate out of, but as public trust in our government bodies continues to be whittled away from the federal level down, new rules need to be put into place and more scrutiny needs to be levied on public officials to curb such behavior. Englander’s first trial appearance is on May 5, after a status conference in April. His arrest is not just the latest update to the sometimes opaque investigation, but also
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a reminder to Angelenos of the need to be scrutinous of local government. Los Angelenos just went to the polls, albeit not as many as this page would like, to elect new County Supervisors and City Councilmembers, and voted for solutions to local ills. If we are to expect the public to act in good faith when casting ballots, so to should the individuals who are ultimately elected to these posts. It’s the least the public can ask for.
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COMMENTS
In response to the editorial “Kevin de Leon Deserves Your Vote” I sure wish i knew if any of the candidates were taking developer money. They won’t say on their websites, they won’t answer my tweets, and the Downtown News won’t cover it. So in all likelihood, the corruption will continue. — Don Goldberg In response to the article “Kevin de Leon Takes Early Lead in Council District 14 Race ” by Sean P. Thomas and Nicholas Slayton Another career politician... — Bei Huang In response to the article “City, County Rush to Tackle Coronavirus” by Sean P. Thomas and Nicholas Slayton What happened to basic common sense? — Jason Ellis
In response to the article “Annual E3 Conference Canceled” That’s great! I am glad they are taking an active consideration for the health and safety of the community. — Shane King
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MARCH 16, 2020
DOWNTOWN NEWS 5
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Ex-City Councilman Arrested in FBI Probe
Mitch Englander, who resigned as District 12 City Councilman in 2018, was arrested last week after being indicted on charges related to possible corruption at City Hall.
Former District 12 Councilman Mitch Englander Allegedly Accepted, Cash, Hotel Rooms, Escorts and More From Developer By Sean P. Thomas he first major domino in a sweeping FBI probe into possible corruption at City Hall fell on Monday, March 9. Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander surrendered himself to FBI agents last week after being indicted on charges that he obstructed an investigation into a possible “pay-to-play” scheme at City Hall during and after his time as Council District 12 representative. Englander, 49, is charged with seven total counts: one count of participating in a scheme to falsify material facts, three counts of making false statements and three counts of witness tampering. The indictment, which was returned by a grand jury in January but not released until today, alleges that from Aug. 2017 to Dec. 2018, Englander knowingly covered up facts pertaining to a FBI probe into corruption at City Hall. The investigation first made headlines in November 2018 when FBI agents raided District 14 Councilman José Huizar’s home, and his City Hall and Boyle Heights offices. No charges have been filed against Huizar
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since the probe was made public making Englander the first official to face charges. Englander’s attorney, Janet Levine of Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP, issued the statement that “despite this setback, [Englander] looks forward to continuing has life long contributions to the community that has given so much.” The bulk of the indictment places a microscope on a June 2017 trip to Las Vegas, where Englander, accompanied by two city staffers, a lobbyist and a real estate developer, allegedly accepted $10,000 in cash, services from two female escorts, hotel rooms, $1,000 in casino gambling chips, $34,000 in bottle service at a nightclub and an almost $2,500 dinner from someone identified in the indictment as “Businessperson A.” The indictment also makes mention of a 2017 Palm Springs trip, where Englander allegedly accepted an envelope with $5,000 in cash from the previously mentioned businessperson. A week later, an individual identified as “Developer B” was put into contact with the businessperson. The indictment alleges that after Englander was made aware of the corruption
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probe, he sent multiple encrypted phone messages to “Businessperson A” explaining that he would like to reimburse him for portions of those 2017 trips. Englander, and the city staffer who accompanied the former councilman on the trip, then allegedly wrote a reimbursement check for expenses related to the Las Vegas trip. The checks were reportedly backdated to appear as if they were sent prior to being made aware of the investigation. On three occasions, according to prosecutors, Englander attempted to get “Businessperson A” “to lie to, or omit information from federal prosecutors.” According to the indictment, Englander repeatedly prepped “Businessperson A” on how to answer questions from the FBI, proposing
that he should tell investigators that he does not remember the purpose of the calls. After being interviewed by authorities, the unidentified businessperson began working with federal investigators. The indictment further alleges that Englander also lied to prosecutors during FBI interviews. On the same day he resigned from council in December 2018 to join the investment firm the Oak View Group, Englander was interviewed and asked if he received anything other than a hotel room, casino gambling chips and dinners that he eventually reimbursed. Englander responded “not that I recall,” according to the indictment. City Councilman John Lee, Englander’s Continued on page 10
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MARCH 16, 2020
Local, State Officials Brace for Coronavirus Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Thursday a directive to cancel all public meetings of more than 50 people. The move came a day after a directive from Gov. Gavin Newsom to close all public gatherings of more than 250 people.
Emergency Guidelines Instituted for Governmental Bodies, Public Gatherings And Events By Sean P. Thomas n an effort to stave off the spread of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus, city and state leaders have instituted a list of changes to governmental bodies and public events. With more than 198 cases and four deaths in California as of Friday, March 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday exercised his emergency powers, issuing an executive order suspending meeting requirements of the Brown Act and Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, authorizing state and local bodies to hold public meetings by teleconference and to make public meetings accessible to the public by phone or other electronic means. The move came a day after an order was issued by Gov. Newsom to cancel gatherings of 250 or more people through the end of March, and an executive order to allow the state to commandeer hotels, and medical facilities to treat coronavirus patients. “Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know,” Newsom said in a prepared statement. “That’s the choice before us. Each of us
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has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease.” Locally, the Los Angeles City Council and the Mayor’s Office have taken more stringent measures to curb the spread of the illness. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who told reporters that he was briefed on the governor’s plan prior to his announcement, took an additional step, directing the cancellation of all non-essential public events with more than 50 guests through March 31. Last week, Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez announced in a letter to colleagues the intent to reduce City Council public meetings at City Hall from three meetings per week, to just one for the remainder of March. Committee meetings were also cancelled. The letter went on to call for only necessary council staffers to be allowed on the council floor during public meetings and the suspension of ceremonial events, which typically take place before the start of the bulk of council business. “If you haven’t already, I ask that you consider rescheduling any large-scale events
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in your district and curtail field staff’s attendance at any large-scale events or meetings,” Martinez’s letter read. “For our purposes, we have the people’s business to carry on and we are trying to do that while minimizing risk and exposure for all.” City and county leaders are currently scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the region’s response to the outbreak. Martinez’s letter came just hours before Garcetti also announced a directive for general managers for all City facilities to create a plan to stagger individuals into city buildings at 50 people a time and to close off Los Angeles City Hall from the public, except for
public City Council meetings. The directive notes that transit locations like Union Station and similar facilities and city shelters are exempt from that requirement. It remains unclear what, if any, measures will be taken at some of Downtown’s larger transit hubs. According to Metro spokesmen Brian Haas, the agency is increasing cleaning schedules and installing signage to encourage best hygiene practices. As of press time, there are 132,700 cases worldwide, with 4,955 reported deaths according to the CDC. In the United States, since Jan. 21, there have been 1,264 cases. sthomas@timespublications.com
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Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Downtown D
PALERMO RISORANTE ITALIANO
owntown Los Angeles takes St. Patrick’s Day seriously. Southern California isn’t exactly the most obvious place for an Irish-related holiday, but the bars and venues in the Central City holds some big events on Tuesday, March 17. As with year’s past, it’s a day for celebrations, live music and drink specials around Downtown. Here are some of the highlights for the holiday. As of presstime these events are still ongoing, but be sure to check.
Casey’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival
11 a.m.-midnight Downtown’s seminal Irish pub is back with its annual festival, but this time it’s not on Grand Avenue outside of the bar. Instead, head to Union Station and Casey’s sister bar the Imperial Western Beer Co. The patio outside the bar can hold a larger crowd and the bar itself opens at 6 a.m. The festival itself kicks off five hours later, and there’s no cover before 1 p.m. (after which it’s $20 to get in). Alongside green beer, there are sausages, corned beef sandwiches and more. At 800 N. Alameda St. or imperialwestern.com.
Golden Gopher
1 p.m.-2 a.m. The Eighth Street spot is keeping things simple on Tuesday, sticking to drink specials to go along with its full bar. It’s opening two hours earlier for the holiday and there are $4 green beers (cheap beer stalwart Pabst Blue Ribbon with some colorful dye) and $9 beer and Irish whiskey boilermaker specials on hand. For the more potent concoctions, there are also Jameson car bombs for $12. Be sure to bring change for the bar’s jukebox. At 417 W. Eighth St. or pouringwithheart.com.
St. Paddy’s Day at Angel City Brewery
12-11:30 p.m. The Arts District’s largest brewery is back once again with a green-themed party on March 17. The brewery’s public house is open early, with its many in-house beers on draft. Downtown Taco Co. will be set up as well for decidedly non-Irish, but very Los Angeles-appropriate fare. As for entertainment, Downtown stalwarts the Vignes Rooftop Revival are on hand. As a bonus, there’s no cover. At 216 S. Alameda St. or angelcitybrewery.com.
Green Eggs and Ham at Ham and Eggs Tavern
8 p.m.-2 a.m. The beer and wine only spot near Golden Gopher is also getting into the holiday mix, with a night of live music. On the bill are Unlucky Sonny, New Balance, Scott Rankie, and Littlest Sister. Hang out by the bar or go to the next room to see the bands. There’s no cover, but a $5 donation is suggested. At 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com.
The Escondite’s Ninth Annual St. Paddy’s Day Blowout
2 p.m.-2 a.m. The hideaway bar between Skid Row and Little Tokyo is once again throwing a day-long party. There’s live music all night from eight bands, with acts including Wicklow Atwater and the Fallen Flame and Black Water Jukebox. The exact specials haven’t been announced yet, but if past years are an indication, expect some whiskey and Guinness-related deals. At 410 Boyd St. or theescondite.com
St. Patty’s Day and Night at Resident
12 p.m.-close This Arts District beer garden and music venue is throwing an all-day and night Irish-themed party on Tuesday. The party starts at noon (and happy hour runs until 7 p.m.), with DJ Suvi spinning throughout the event. Tullamore Drew is sponsoring the party, so expect a lot of Irish whiskey-related drink specials. If that isn’t your thing, it is a beer garden with dozens of options. At 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. — Nicholas Slayton nslayton@timespublications.com.
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By Nicholas Slayton and Sean P. Thomas he outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus has led to a sweeping list of closures, postponements and suspensions as the federal, state and local leaders attempt to respond to the growing pandemic. Downtown, which holds major sporting venues like Staples Center, and arts and entertainment hubs like the Music Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art, has been particularly hit, with a number of popular events shuttering due to the outbreak. Below is a rundown of announced cancellations and postponements in and around Downtown, as of Friday, March 13.
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Sporting Events
The NBA, NHL and Staples Center: The National Basketball Association was the first of the big three sport organizations in the United States to postpone games due to COVID-19 related concerns. On Wednesday, March 11, the NBA announced that it was postponing the season following the announcement that the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the virus. The league had discussed potentially playing games without fans, but changed course now that the virus has seemingly infiltrated NBA locker rooms. According to a statement from the league, the NBA will determine additional steps forward during the hiatus. As of press time, it remains unclear when the season will resume. The NBA had already begun taking precautions prior to the announcement. Members of the media were barred from entering the locker rooms for interviews, instead holding press conferences within roped off locations around the players, coaches and executives. The Los Angeles Lakers tweeted that fans who purchased tickets for any of the suspended games can request refunds at the point of purchase. The Los Angeles Clippers, who share Downtown’s Staples Center with Lakers, said tickets would be honored for rescheduled games. The National Hockey League also announced a league wide suspension of games. The NHL, including the Staples Center’s Los Angeles Kings, had around 189 games remaining, with the season scheduled to end on April 6. “Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is
appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the seasons and award the Stanley Cup,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a prepared statement. Major League Baseball: On Thursday, Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. announced that it was suspending Spring Training games and postponing the start of the regular season by at least two weeks. The regular season was originally slated to start on March 26. According to a statement, the MLB is monitoring the situation to see how to proceed. World Baseball Classic qualifying games in Arizona were also cancelled. “Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our players, employees and fans. MLB will continue to undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts,” the statement read. The Los Angeles Dodgers released a statement the same day informing fans that additional information regarding ticket refunds for impacted games would be released in the near future. Collegiate Sports: In the world of collegiate sports, the NCAA announced on Thursday that it was cancelling the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, as well as the remaining winter and spring NCAA championship games. A leg of the NCAA championship was scheduled to be played at Staples Center. “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” the NCAA said in a prepared statement. The decision came after every major conference basketball tournament announced cancellations, including the Pac-12 Championship games, which was originally scheduled to be played in Las Vegas last week. It was later announced that the Pac-12, which includes the University of Southern California, was closing all sporting events, due to coronavirus concerns. USC spring football was also suspended.
extended beyond March 31, depending on County health recommendations. Current ticketholders are asked to contact each respective venue’s box office to get refunds and credit for future shows. Shows canceled include: n The Book of Mormon, running through March 28 at the Ahmanson Theatre has had the rest of its production canceled. n The production of Annie Baker’s play The Antipodes was set for a March 25 launch at Mark Taper Forum, to run through April 26. That has been canceled. n Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was supposed to launch a five-day, seven-performance run at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Wednesday-Sunday, March 18-22. That has also been called off. The Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater or REDCAT has postponed shows running through April 12. That includes dance performance Susana Gamson/World Wide: Sugar Houses (March 25-29), film screening Christine Panuskha: Blood of the Family Tree (April 6) and Indonesian dancer Rianto’s Medium (April 1011). New dates have not been announced. The Los Angeles Theatre Center: The Spring Street venue currently has shows scheduled through March, but has postponed its whole spring season.
East West Players: The theater company was set to open it’s take on Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins on March 19 but announced on Thursday that it too was cancelled. CAP UCLA: Alongside Royce Hall, UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance stages shows in Downtown’s Theatre at Ace Hotel. All shows through April 10 have been officially postponed. That includes Philip Glass and Jerry Quickley’s Whistleblower. The Colburn School: The Grand Avenue music school announced that it was suspending in-person instruction, performances and events until at least April 13.
Theater and Music Public Gatherings The Music Center: Bunker Hill’s Music Center, which includes four venues, announced on March 12 that it was shutting down its spaces through the end of the month. In addition, Center Theatre Group (which operates the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre) announced outright cancelations of plays currently running, or set to open this month at its venues. Alongside shows, public tours of the Music Center’s facilities are also cancelled for the time being. The suspension could be
E3: The Entertainment Software Association announced that this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 has been fully canceled. The annual video game convention is usually the site of major announcements and product reveals, and was set to take place June 9-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The ESA is working to refund tickets, and said that it is exploring plans to do online, streamed announcements in lieu of a physical conference.
photo courtesy VH1
A List of Coronavirus-related Cancelations, Postponements and Suspensions in Downtown
MARCH 16, 2020
photo courtesy East West Players
8 DOWNTOWN NEWS
Ru Paul’s Drag Con: Reality TV star Ru Paul’s annual Ru Paul’s DragCon has also been canceled this year. The event was set to take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on May 1-3, but organizers announced last week that it’s not happening. “Unfortunately, there’s no way for anyone to know what the situation will be like in May. Due to that uncertainty, and out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided that it’s in the best interest of the talent, staff, and attendees to cancel RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2020,” organizers said in a statement. Tickets are being refunded. City Hall: Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez announced a reduction in the amount of public meetings at City Hall in a letter to colleagues on Thursday. According to the letter, the number of council meetings per week will be dropped to one per week through March. All committee meetings were also canceled and Martinez also called for a reduction in the number of City and Council staffers on the council floor during meetings. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Wednesday that all non-essential public events with 50 or people will be postponed or canceled. The city also plans to stagger entry into public buildings to no more than 50 individuals at a time. Union Station: As of press time, Union Station has not announced any reduction of transit services, but all public events at the transit hub have been canceled for 30 days (starting on Thursday, March 12). That includes live music and comedy shows originally scheduled to happen in March. Los Angeles Public Library: The Los Angeles Public Library announced on Thursday that it was cancelling all programs, events and meeting room bookings through the end of March. All of the library’s 73 branches will remain open and will continue providing services during standard hours. “The health and safety of our patrons and staff are our priority, and we are suspending public programs at the direction of health authorities and out of an abundance of caution,” City Librarian John F. Szabo said in a prepared statement. Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles: The Museum of Contemporary Art’s Geffen Contemporary in Downtown Los Angeles announced that it was cancelling it’s L.A. Art Book Fair “in the best interest of everyone in the extended MOCA and L.A. Art Book Fair’s communities,” according to a letter from the nonprofit Printed Matter. The event was originally scheduled for April 3-5.
MARCH 16, 2020
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ENGLANDER, 5 former chief of staff who now represents District 12, issued a statement on Twitter acknowledging that he was present during the Las Vegas trip, but said he “did everything in [his] power to pay for and reimburse expenses related to this trip.” Lee left Englander’s office in 2017. The indictment notes that the individual named “City Staffer B,” described as a “high-ranking staff member” also left Englander’s office in 2017. “I was unaware of any illegal activities for which Councilmember Englander is being charged,” Lee’s statement continued. He added that he is cooperating with the FBI’s investigation. Englander had served as District 12 representative from July 2011 to Dec. 31, 2018, during which he served as Council President Pro Tem and was a member of the powerful Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which plays a role in approving some of the city’s most impactful development projects. Huizar also served on that committee, prior to being pulled from his committee posts following the November 2018 raids. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in a statement, said that he expects all City employees with information on the investigation to come forward if called by the FBI. Englander resigned less than a month after the raid on Huizar’s offices and home. The search warrant, which made no reference to Englander, revealed a number of city officials and developers, including aides for Huizar’s office, Ninth District Representative Curren Price, Deron Williams, an aide to Councilman Herb Wesson, Ray Chan, a former Department of Building and Safety chief, and Shawn Kuk, planning director for the 14th District. Englander pled not guilty to the charges and was released on a $50,000 bond supplied by his wife. If convicted on all seven counts, Englander could face a maximum of 50 years in federal prison. A trial is tentatively scheduled to start on May 5. sthomas@timespublications.com.
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MARCH 16, 2020
ArtCenter Lays Out Design for Downtown Campus The Pasadena-Based College Aims to Use Its Historic Core Space to Give a Platform to Diverse Artists By Nicholas Slayton lmost a year after it expanded into Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design has started ramping up its programming at its Historic Core outpost. After months of sporadic use, ArtCenter is now using its ArtCenter DTLA facility as a workshop, exhibition and event space. The most recent program was a look at 300 black art and design students who attended the college since its founding, told through collections of professional work and video interviews organized in the exhibition 90/300. Among the work exhibited is a collection of commercial photography sets from Barbara DuMetz. The show was the second major exhibition this year, following a January showcase of the works of fine art graduates. The turn around from sporadic use to full-time programming at the space came in time for ArtCenter’s spring semester, and with the hiring of a dedicated staff to plan the facility’s use. Christina Valentine, ArtCenter DTLA’s program director, started in the fall, with the task of figuring out how best to use the location. “There was no central individual running or programming this space,” Valentine said. “The college was planning to use the space, but it took time to set it up. I created a master plan and now a few months later we’re off and running.”
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Valentine said that given the size and design of the Downtown location, it’s not meant to serve as a lecture space or traditional education site, but rather as an exhibition and workshop facility for students, faculty and partner artists. She said that, given the proximity to museums on Bunker Hill and in El Pueblo de Los Angeles, plus nearby colleges like the Southern California Institute of Architecture and the University of Southern California, the imperative is to build cross collaborative exhibitions and events. The Downtown space is located in the Hellman Building at 114 W. Fourth St., in what had been the Main Museum. Created by Downtown-based developer Gilmore Associates, the original intention was to make the space a multi-level contemporary art museum spread over three buildings at Fourth and Main streets. It launched inside the Hellman Building as an initial “Beta Main,” but funds were short and expansions were halted. Despite a number of shows highlighting local artists, the Main Museum faltered and the ArtCenter stepped up in late 2018 to provide financial assistance. In May 2019, ArtCenter fully took over the 6,250-square-foot location, spread over a ground floor and mezzanine level of the Hellman Building. The college has a 10-year lease with property owner Gilmore Associates, at a rate of $1 per year. Now that the college is fully utilizing the space,
MARCH 16, 2020
DOWNTOWN NEWS 11
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Valentine said that the focus is mixing ongoing studio work with panel discussions and workshops. The early plan includes hosting its artist-in-residency program. Like the Main Museum before it, the college utilizes studio spaces in the facility’s upper level for guest artists to work on their own projects. Currently, artists Hannah Kim Varamini and Bridget Rosalia Driessen have the space through 2020, working on their “Love’s Remedies” arts initiative. The project focuses on depictions of caring, but also is a collaboration as well, with Driessen and Varamini bringing in guest artists of their own to use the space. The Downtown campus allows the college to better connect with the artists in Downtown’s Arts District, only blocks away, according to Aaron Bruce, ArtCenter’s chief diversity officer. Although ArtCenter DTLA isn’t set up solely to show works from minority artists, Valentine said that the programming for spring and summer is intentionally showcasing the art of communities and identities not traditionally represented in gallery spaces. She said the college wants to be able to provide a platform, both for creation and exhibition, to a diverse range of artists. Bruce echoed that sentiment, adding that the other benefit of the Downtown location is that it simply adds more gallery space to the ArtCenter’s collection, which in turn allows for
wider selection of artists to be shown. The college has several galleries, but as one of the biggest in its assortment of venues, the amount of space in the Hellman Building allows for multiple exhibitions at once. That works both ways, he said. Being in Downtown, provides Downtown residents one more opportunity to see the local art. “Our campuses in Pasadena are wonderful, but can be stressful to reach for some families,” Bruce said. “It’s good to meet them where they are and make it easier.” Bruce added that the Downtown extension also allows Art-
Center to serve as a resource to local high schools that might not have robust art and design programs. He said that as well as being a space for the college’s students, the campus can provide educational opportunities for Los Angeles’ teens, both directly through programs and through exhibitions. 90/300 wrapped on March 13. The next show at ArtCenter DTLA is Sell for Everything, an MFA showcase, in April. That will be followed by a show looking at immigration at the southern border, according to Valentine. nslayton@timespublications.com.
photos courtesy Art Center
ArtCenter is using its 6,250-square-foot space for workshops and exhibitions. It’s most recent, 90/300, focused on the school’s black alumni.
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12 DOWNTOWN NEWS
FEBRUARY 17, 2020
The Palace of Roller Skates, Jabs and Headlocks Filmma er teve De ro s Do mentary th and rand he Olympi A ditori m tory plores the istory o the Former restling oller Der y and o ing e a By Sean P. Thomas or close to 60 years, the Olympic Auditorium dominated Los Angeles wrestling, boxing and roller derby landscape, holding luminaries from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, to Hulk Hogan, Andre “The Giant” and the motor-mouthed “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Located on the corner of 18th Street and Grand Avenue and built in 1925, the former sports mecca is now a Korean-language church, obscuring the venue’s original use. But hopefully, that’s subject to change. First-time filmmaker Steve DeBro is currently putting the finishing touches on his Olympic Auditorium-focused documentary
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18th and Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story, which was scheduled to have its world premiere at the ArcLight Hollywood Cinerama Dome on Thursday, March 26 prior to its coronavirus related postponement. Five years in the making, the 85-minute film explores the heyday of the Olympic Auditorium, from its early years as a West Coast rival to Madison Square Garden, to its later years as a punk rock and pro wrestling venue. Los Angeles Downtown News spoke with DeBro about the upcoming release of the film, the motivations behind it, and what makes the Olympic Auditorium such an endearing piece of Los Angeles history.
An unnamed boxer poses for a photo at the Olympic Auditorium during the mid 1920s.
This interview has been edited for clarity. Los Angeles Downtown News: Why was the Olympic Auditorium of interest to you and the team? Steve DeBro: Like a lot of Angelenos I would pass the Olympic Auditorium all the time. I watched wrestling on TV; Freddie Blassie, The Destroyer, Roddy Piper and the Guerreros and it’s sort of ingrained in my memory. When I started to look into the story of the Olympic it was very fascinating to me and when I started to get deeper into the story of the Olympic, it became a very fascinating window into the history of Los Angeles.
images courtesy University of Southern California. Libraries. And the California Historical Society
Q: Was there anything that really surprised you about the Olympic Auditorium as you conducted your research? A: The most surprising thing was the Aileen Eaton story, the woman who ran the Olympic Auditorium from 1942 to about 1980. The fact that this sort of palace of violence had its most successful years with a woman in charge was very eye opening, and the fact that this story was ever forgotten really hooked me. Q: I’m glad you mention Aileen. Professional wrestling, boxing and other fight or combat sports were especially popular at the Olympic Auditorium during that time, but they were essentially dominated by men. But the Olympic was run by a woman, why do you think she was so successful in this arena? A: Well, number one, she kept her eye on the bottom line. Before she was there, the Olympic had gone through a change of promoters who were either stealing money — it was a corrupt time in L.A. in the ‘20s and ‘30s — or they were either putting money in their pockets or not making any money. The L.A. Athletic Club owned the building and leased it to a list of promoters who failed. In desperation, they turned to this divorced single mother who had done some work for Frank Garmin, head of the Athletic Club.
She was a natural-born promoter. She very much focused on bringing fights that people wanted to see. She understood more than most people how to use television to her advantage. She catered to her audience and understood that a larger part of the audience at the Olympic was Mexican American and there were a lot of people who would cross the border to see the fights. She definitely understood her audience and worked to appeal to them in how she promoted shows. She was the only woman in the Boxing Hall of Fame for a while, thousands of men and just one woman. She’s just a remarkable person. I have an incredible amount of respect for her. Q: You started this project in 2015. What was the crowdsourced fundraising experience like? As you’re telling people that you’re going to move forward with this project, what was their reaction? A: It was very interesting. When I brought up the Olympic, for those who it mattered to, it mattered deeply to. I did one of the last interviews of Roddy Piper before he died. Piper told me that the Olympic was the first place where he had a microphone in his hand, where he got to be the star. I just got off the phone with Carlos Palomino, world champion welterweight boxer, for him, when I mention the Olympic Auditorium, it’s a deep respect. Roller derby too. It’s amazing how many people love and remember the T-Birds. It was a meaningful place for these people and once people knew I was serious, wanting to hear their stories not as a novelty, people were very eager to share their stories. There is something deep and powerful there. When I first started the flick I didn’t think I quite understood that reservoir of love, but if you look at our social media, you can see it. It’s not just nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s touching on the past, but also I think these stories are relevant now.
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 13
Q: Did you have a particular favorite interview from the piece? A: There were a lot, but one of our favorites was when we interviewed The Destroyer. He had wrestled Freddie Blassie in Hawaii and when he came to L.A. they handed him a wool mask that he could barely breathe out of, and told him his new name was The Destroyer. He realized that it was easier to get people to hate him than to love him, and through that process he fell in love with the mask and although people hated him, he became a beloved figure in Los Angeles. That was a really wonderful moment, seeing this 80-something person who did the entire interview in the mask, it’s very meaningful to share the stories of someone like him. Piper was amazing too. He struck me as such a genius. He was so brilliant, funny and smart and really wanted me to understand that as much of a showman he was, he was a wrestler first who took his craft very seriously. Q: I understand that the exodus of professional wrestling to the East Coast was a major death knell for the Olympic Auditorium, but what were you able to find as the true downfall of the Olympic Auditorium? A: I almost look at Aileen. To me, Aileen held it together. She was the glue that kept it together. Boxing was really solid until she left and it was doing quite well. She turned over wrestling responsibilities to her son Mike and Mike didn’t really have a passion for the business. He looked at it as a means to an end to make money. Especially after the Chavo Guerrero Sr. and Roddy Piper feud played itself out and Roddy moved onto bigger things, that was kind of the last hurrah for wrestling at the Olympic. Aileen was the central figure that held it together. When she was gone, other than Gary Tovar who did Goldenvoice for a few dates there, there was no one creative enough to keep that 10,000-seat venue going. There is a lack of understanding about its history. This city has a great history and it matters. Downtown has a lot of great history; it’s still amazing that the theaters along Broadway have been saved. Those kind of things give L.A. texture. sthomas@timespublications.com.
AROUND TOWN, 2 NBA, NHL, Halts Seasons Indefinitely
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n response to the growing spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, both the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League announced a suspension of their seasons last weeks. The halt is in effect indefinitely for both leagues. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the NBA said in a statement on March 11. As of press time,
images courtesy University of Southern California. Libraries. And the California Historical Society
Q: You have a strong list of interviewees in the film, from Roddy Piper, to the The Destroyer and Gene Le Bell, but you also had to find tons of archival film and images for the documentary. What was that process like? A: Digging everywhere. Talking to big wrestling fans and going to everything from Youtube to the UCLA film and television archive, just really digging around for everything. There were also some collections that just found their way to us overtime. It was really a process. Also, people have reached out to us. Even now, after hundreds of hours of research, things are still popping up. I know that when the film screens there will be some things that will pop up, but it’s amazing all the stuff that our fans have come back to me and said “I have this, or I have this, would you like to use that?” We started shooting this in 2015, people know if you are for real or not, and people have trusted me to tell this story. So a lot of people shared family heirlooms, video tapes and still images.
The Olympic Auditorium, as it appeared in 1930. The Auditorium was constructed as the West Coast’s answer to Madison Square Garden.
Aileen Eaton, one of the few female boxing promoters of the time, is a central figure in the story of the Olympic Auditorium.
both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, who call Downtown’s Staples Center home, have shared the NBA’s statement and promised more information to come. The move comes after Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11. A day later, Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell also reportedly tested positive for the illness. The NBA and other major sports leagues had been contemplating playing the remainder of the season without fans in attendance, but opted to suspend the season instead. The NHL announcement came on Thursday; the Los Angeles Kings also play out of Staples. It was announced that both
the Pac-12 sporting events, and the the CIF state basketball championships would be cancelled as well. The WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks also play at Staples Center; the 2020 WNBA season is set to begin in May, but no announcement has been made regarding a possible postponement.
L.A. Opera Finishes Domingo Investigation
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he Los Angeles Opera announced last week that it’s six-month investigation found credible evidence that former General Manager Plácido Domingo engaged
in multiple instances of sexual harassment during his tenure with the opera. According to a press release issued by the L.A. Opera on Tuesday, March 10, an investigation by the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Ctutcher LLP found 10 credible instances of sexual harassment claims made against the famous singer. The investigation looked at incidents that took place between 1986 and 2019 and included interviews with 44 individuals, including Domingo, those who came forward with allegations and LA Opera management and company board members. Although Domingo has apologized for his alleged actions, he has denied all allegations of unwanted sexual contact.
EVENTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 19 How Does Music Change Your Brain? At Zocalo Public Square Streaming online at zocalopublicsquare.org. 7:30 p.m.: NPR’s Elise Hu talks with singers and researchers about the neurological impact of music. This event is now streaming, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 My Dad Wrote a Porno! Live Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com. 8 p.m.: The definitely not safe for work podcast arrives in Los Angeles, with hosts reading from an incredibly poorly written erotic novel. SUNDAY, MARCH 22 The Thing in the Labyrinth Horror Book Club The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., or lastbookstorela.com. 9:30 p.m.: Take your mind off of our horrific present with a discussion of Sarah Gailey’s “Upright Women Wanted.”
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
1720 1720 S. Los Angeles St. or 1720.la. March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Flowers, Brandon Scott, Boogy Knights and more. March 19: Lund, guccihighwaters. March 21: It’s Club 90s. March 22: Lil Xan headlines the “[Expletive] Corona Virus” show. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St. or bluewhalemusic.com. March 16: Bryn Roberts, Will Vinson, Dave Robaire, Jonathan Pinson. March 17: Timothy Fenton Group. March 18: Dayramir Gonzalez Trio. March 19: Paul Bryan has a record release show. March 20: Anthony Fung’s Weather Forecast. March 21: Alan Ferber Group. March 22: Oscar Hernandez and Alma Libre. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. March 16: Country duo Dyado, with LOOSIES and Thomas Berg. March 17: EZMY, Mike Bloom, Rig 1, Girrafula play a show benefiting the Downtown Women’s Center. March 18: Nacho Cano is currently known as Harmless. March 19: Jett Kwong has an EP release show, with an emphasis on strings. March 20: The Breathing Effect has an album release show, with some visuals from Stranger Liquids. March 21: The Warlocks are not your average wizards. March 22: Off With Their Heads has the band name of the week. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. March 19: Kayzo, Ray Volpe, Fransis Derelle. March 21: Alan Walker. March 22: Christian Martin, Gene Farris, Kill Frenzy, Sharam Jey. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org. March 18: Boy band New Hope Club performs. Ham and Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St. or hamandeggstavern.com. March 16: Dustrider, Hank May, Albon. March 17: Unlucky Sonny, New Balance, Scott Rankie, Littlest Sister. March 19: Typography, Annie Jets, Asi Fui, Vilda Ray, Tarhea Ray. Continued on page 15
MARCH 16, 2020
‘Don’t Miss’ B Y S E A N P. T H O M A S
This Comedian Amanda Seales (of HBO’s “Insecure”) is about to take you to school. Sick of the stereotypes about African Americans in media and the overall lack of knowledge of black history, Seales mixes humor and her doctorate in African American studies with her love of games and music to create the pseudo-game show Smart, Funny & Black, coming to The Novo on Friday, March 20. Kicking off at 8 p.m., Seales will test her guests’ knowledge of black history, culture and experiences with one taking the “L,” and the other being inducted into the “Illustrious League of Master Blacksperts.” At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., or smartfunnyandblack.com.
image courtesy Smart, Funny and Black
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and That Have you ever thought about what your brain is doing as you listen to music? A quarter-century ago neurologist Oliver Sacks wrote of a brain tumor patient who had particular improvements while listening to the Grateful Dead. Today, the impact of music on the brain, from helping children develop, to improving the performance of athletes is being explored by scholars, and that discipline will be discussed at the latest Zocalo Public Square event at the 800 Wilshire building on Thursday, March 19. Moderated by NPR international correspondent Elise Hu, discussion will be streamed online and includes songwriter and actress Mary Steenburgen, psychologist Assal Habibi, and director of the Institute for Music and Brain Science, will discuss the phenomenon when the event begins at 7:30 p.m. At 800 Wilshire Blvd. or zocalopublicsquare.org.
lse! and not much e Have any Don’t Miss List suggestions? Send any tips or information over to sthomas@timespublications.com.
photo by Angela George
14 DOWNTOWN NEWS
MARCH 16, 2020
DOWNTOWN NEWS 15
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
March 20: Foxx Bodies, Cold Wrecks, Sarchasm, Nadu. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. March 16: The name is Sorry. It’s a band, this calendar page isn’t apologizing for anything at the moment. March 17: Pop rockers Louis XIV play St. Patrick’s Day. March 18: Sedona, The Living Roomers, Your Angel. March 19: Electro singer Verzache plays early, then it’s Terrance Escobar and Kev Picasso. March 20: Ren. No, not Kylo. March 21: Pop act Vita and the Woolf. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an all-day party and music from DJ Suvi. March 18: Local acts Jay Summer, Nick Lamar, Jenny Kwon, and Crystal Clayton. March 19: Wens. March 20: Pillowtalk is a monthly singalong dance party. March 21: It’s a night of DJ and record producers. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St. or sevengrandbars.com. March 16: Michael Starr, once again playing in a bar. March 17: Corner Pocket. March 18: Rosa Lee Brooks. March 19: Brandino. March 20: Downtown stalwarts the Vignes Rooftop Revival. March 21: The Midnight Blues Revue. March 22: Another Downtown regular, the California Feetwarmers. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. March 16: Alice and the Rabbit continue their March residency, joined by Harry Katz & the Pistachios, Jacob Zuko, and Whistling Carsey. March 17: Irish rockers Hounds of Belfast, with Tres Leches. March 18: Savior Faire & Thee Voyeuristics. March 19: Raleigh Rye, Yeah Buddy (runner up for band name of the week), and Jimi Frisco. March 20: Illy and the Spells, with the Howling Faith, Heavy Velvet, and Vibe Candy. March 21: Plush, Dean Decay, Ghadban, The Tornado Club, The Hellions, Bitchfits, Bar Sex. March 22: It’s a night of shoegaze with Todavia, Post Tropic, and St. Heartbreak. The Regent 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com. March 19: In the End is a tribute to late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. March 20: AJJ, Xiu Xiu, Emperor X. March 21: Western Standard Time is a ska orchestra. March 22: 8 Kalacas, Voodoo Glow Skulls, La Pobreska, The Voids. The Smell 247 S. Main St., in the alley between Spring and Main streets, or thesmell.com. March 20: Kuromi, Reckling, LMI, and Orokai play a show benefiting Australian wildfire relief efforts. March 21: Myka 9, Alph tha Alien, Talks ta Strangers, God Areef. March 22: Death Lens, Ignant Benches, Sin + Passion, Banned from Japan. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. March 21: Long Beach rockers Tijuana Panthers. March 22: With a touch of irony, Good Morning plays at night.
FILM
Alamo Drafthouse 700 W. Seventh St. or drafthouse.com/los-angeles. Through March 22: Onward (12:55, 2, 4:50, 7:45 and 9 p.m.); Bloodshot (1, 3:50, 4:35, 6:45 and 9:35 p.m.); Emma (12:05, 3:10, 6:15 and 9:20 p.m.); Extra Ordinary (12:40, 3:25, 6:10 and 10:20 p.m.); Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey (3:45 p.m.); Cats (9:45 p.m.); Portrait of a Lady On Fire (11:55 a.m., 2:55, 6 and 9:20 p.m.); The Hunt (1:10, 1:50, 4:25, 7:05 and 11 p.m.); The Invisible Man (1:30, 2, 3:50, 5:05, 7, 8:10 and 10:35 p.m.); The Way Back (12:35, 3:30, 6:30 and 10:05 p.m.). IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Dogs can do more than just slobber over your shoes. Check out all of their unique abilities in Superpower Dogs 3D. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing with the documentary Apollo 11. What goes on in the suburbs? The new documentary Backyard Wilderness explores the animals hanging around the house. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through March 22: Bloodshot (11:40 a.m., 12:10, 12:50, 3:20, 4, 6, 6:30, 7:10, 9:10, 9:40, 10:10 and 10:40 p.m.); I Still Believe (12:30, 3:40, 6:50 and 10 p.m.); The
Hunt (11:20, 2, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.); Emma (11:30 a.m., 3, 6:30 and 9:50 p.m.); Onward (11:10 a.m., 12, 12:50, 2:10, 3:10, 4, 6:20, 7:10, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.); The Way Back (12:50, 3, 7:30 and 10:40 p.m.); The Invisible Man (11:30 a.m., 3, 6:30 and 10 p.m.); Sonic the Hedgehog (12:20, 3:30, 6:40 and 9:50 p.m.).
DT
CLASSIFIEDS
MUSEUMS
African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org. Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts. The Broad 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Ongoing: In the galleries at the Grand Avenue institution are about 250 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. It’s big-time blue chip art, with work from Rauschenberg, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Kruger and every other big name. California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. Ongoing: The multi-functional “Gallery of Discovery” offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of former slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past. California Science Center 700 State Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org. Ongoing: “The Art of the Brick” features more than 100 large-scale LEGO sculptures from artist Nathan Sawaya. Ongoing: “Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” presents Los Angeles’ very own Space Shuttle in all of its splendor. Ongoing: “Science in Toyland” presents physics through favorite kids’ toys. This hands-on exhibit engages museum visitors with Dominos, Sails and Roller Coasters in a fun, but informational primer on friction, momentum and chain reactions. Ongoing: The Science Center’s permanent exhibits are interactive and focus on human innovations and inventions as well as the life processes of living things. The lobby Science Court stays busy with the High Wire Bicycle, a Motion-Based Simulator, the Ecology Cliff Climb and “Forty Years of Space Photography.” The human body is another big focus: The Life Tunnel aims to show the connections between all life forms, from the single-celled amoeba to the 100-trillion-celled human being. The “Ecosystems” exhibit explores how life on our planet is shaped by geophysical and biological processes. Chinese American Museum 425 N. Los Angeles St., (213) 485-8567 or camla.org. Through March 29: Artists riff on the tradition of giving red envelopes in the “Red Envelope Show.” Permanent: “Origins” presents the story of the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles. Permanent: Re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo, a Chinese general store and herbal shop, and “Journeys: Stories of Chinese Immigration,” an exhibit exploring Chinese immigration to the United States with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. Outlined into four distinct time periods, each is defined by an important immigration law and/or event, accompanied by a description and a personal story about a local Chinese American and their experiences in that particular historical period. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 124 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 485-8372 or elpueblo.lacity.org. Ongoing: The whole of El Pueblo is called a “monument,” and of the 27 historic buildings, four function as museums: the Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest house; the Sepulveda House, home to exhibits and the Visitors Center; the Fire House Museum, which houses late 19th-century firefighting equipment; and the Masonic Hall, which boasts Masonic memorabilia. Check the website for a full slate of fiestas. Open daily, though hours at shops and halls vary.
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar
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EMPLOYMENT CAREGIVER CAREGIVER NEEDED job is for 5 Days a Week – 5 Hours per Day – Salary is $20 per Hour. For more details about the position, email me Mr Patrick (patdolan18@gmail. com) ACCOUNTANT A/R ACCOUNTANT for wholesale clothing co. in LA. Mail resume to Cavalini Inc., 1536 S Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90021
LEGAL
date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code). Publish: Los Angeles Downtown News. Dates: 3/9/20, 3/16/20, 3/23/20, 3/30/20 PUBLIC NOTICE
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020045300 Type of Filing: Original. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: THE CONTINENTAL CLUB. 116 W. 4th Street Los Angeles, CA 90013, 2334 N. Ace Circle Palm Springs, CA 92262. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Grave Maurice, LLC, The, 11918 Chaparal Street Los Angeles, CA 90049. State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Limited Liability Partnership. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 02/2014. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/ Robert Katrikh. TITLE: Managing Member, Corp or LLC Name: Grave Maurice, LLC, The. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: February 24, 2020. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the
NOTICE OF DESIGNATION OF TALLY CENTER LOCATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office located at the Downey Tally Center, 9150 Imperial Highway, Downey, California 90242, will be the central tally location for the GENERAL LAW AND CHARTER CITY ELECTIONS scheduled to be held on TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020. The Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk’s Norwalk facility located at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, California 90650 shall be open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020 for Election Day Voting. Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Armenian, Cambodian/ Khmer, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Thai or Vietnamese regarding information in the notice may call (800) 481-8683. DEAN C. LOGAN Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk County of Los Angeles 3/16/20 CNS-3350711# DOWNTOWN NEWS
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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS
MARCH 16, 2020
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