DECEMBER 2, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #48
All Aboard for Winter Joy Union Station Rolls Into the Holidays with a Slate of Festive Events
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AROUND TOWN
Aide to City Councilman Alleges Retaliation
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staffer for 14th District City Councilman José Huizar filed a $10 million legal claim with the city, saying that he received a letter of termination after he spoke with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The news was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Huizar’s former employee, Jesse Leon, alleges in the claim that Huizar and his Chief of Staff Paul Habib violated whistleblower protection and anti-discrimination laws after he was put on administrative leave in August and told a month later that his last day would be Oct. 31. Leon said in the claim that he spoke with the FBI over concerns that Huizar was attempting to “extort money or solicit bribes from operators of cannabis businesses,” per the Times. The councilman denied the charges, calling them “absolutely false” in an emailed statement, and said that the staffer had faced ethical concerns, stemming from trying to obtain a cannabis license after advising Huizar on marijuana policy. “This is an obvious attempt by Jesse to deflect from his unethical behavior,” the statement concluded. The legal claim is the latest legal matter to hit the councilmember in just over a year. In October 2018, two former staffers filed
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lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming retaliation. The councilman has since dismissed the cases as pushback from disgruntled former employees. A month later, in one of the more shocking scenes to hit City Hall, the FBI raided Huizar’s offices and home. Since the raid, no charges have been filed.
Last Week for LA River Path Comments
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t’s the final week to submit comments for a proposed 8-mile bicycle and pedestrian path that would connect Elysian Valley and Maywood through Downtown Los Angeles. The final day to submit comments for the Los Angeles River Path Project is Friday, Dec. 6. The comments will be gathered, documented and included in the official scoping report. The scoping comments will help inform the draft EIR, which is anticipated to be released in 2021. During a series of community meetings last month, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority revealed three alternative proposals for the path, each with different river crossings and elevations. Community members can submit comments via email at lariverpath@metro.net or online at metro.net/lariverpath. The project is expected to cost $365 million and is funded through Measure M. Construction is not expected to begin until 2023, with a completion date of 2027. The current phase of the project, the environmental clearance and design phases, will likely wrap up in 2020 before final designs are revealed.
LACI Releases New Zero Emissions Plan
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he Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator released an updated game plan for the rollout of zero emission vehicles and charging stations across Los Angeles. The new plan, which was announced last week during a press briefing at the LACI on Nov. 26, is part of the city’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Los Angeles area by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games. The bulk of the plan surrounds increasing the city’s stock of zero emissions vehicles, and encouraging individuals to ditch their personal vehicles in lieu of electric buses, trains and bikes. “Our Roadmap 2.0 charts a course toward a healthier region with a cleaner transit network—and draws up a blueprint for cities worldwide to follow, so all of us can invest in the smart policies and green energy that will strengthen our families’ well-being and quality of life for generations to come,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a prepared statement.
Pershing Square-Adjacent Project Set to Open This Week
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ark Fifth officially got its certificate of occupancy on Monday, Nov. 25, giving the green light for future residents to begin moving into the recently completed project. The 24-story apartment complex direct-
DECEMBER 2, 2019
ly north of Pershing Square at 427 W. Fifth St. will begin accepting move-ins on Monday, Dec. 2, according to property manager Greystar. The building is 8.3% leased as of press time. Studios start at $2,440 for 491 square feet, while one-bedroom apartments begin at $2,995 for a 618-square-foot-unit The building also includes two- and three-bedroom units. The project comes from developer MacFarlane Partners, and broke ground in July 2016. Adjacent to Park Fifth is the seven-story Trademark DTLA, from the same developer, at 437 S. Hill St. The Trademark is still awaiting its final approval from the city. Together, the two buildings add 660 apartments to the area.
Informational Hearing on Homelessness Solutions
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omelessness remains one of the biggest issues in Downtown Los Angeles and the county as a whole. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the State Assembly’s Select Committee on L.A. County Homelessness is hosting an informational hearing to discuss root causes and possible answers to the crisis. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. at the Weingart Center at 566 San Pedro St. on Skid Row. The event will include a number of state and local officials, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, 13th District City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, and Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago (of the 53rd District), Mike Gipson (the 64th District) and Reginald Jones-Sawyer (the 59th District).
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Changing Times in Chinatown The Ai Hoa Market on Hill Street has been selling Chinese and Vietnamese groceries to the local community since 1979.
The Uncertain Future of a Neighborhood Staple Highlights Community Concerns of Being Left Behind as the Area Evolves By Nicholas Slayton ince 1979, the Ai Hoa Market on Hill Street has been a fixture of Downtown Los Angeles’ Chinatown. The market, which specialized in Chinese and Vietnamese imported goods and other items not found in chain stores, was where much of the neighborhood’s immigrant and senior citizen population shopped. After 40 years, it was set to leave Chinatown last month, relocating to South El Monte, which activists say come from disputes with the landlord. That exit has been delayed after a series of protests and actions from community groups and volunteers. The tenant and landlord are negotiating to keep the market in Chinatown for at least three more months. According to Gilmore China Group, which purchased the building in 2018, Ai Hoa Market has been on a month-to-month lease since 2005. Developer Tom Gilmore, who led a revitalization of the Old Bank District in the Historic Core at the turn of the century, said that the market’s owners have asked for three more months to transition out of the Chinatown space and a reduced rate for that period, but he is seeking the full rent. Gilmore China Group now owns part of
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the block that Ai Hoa sits on, between Broadway and Hill Street, but there are currently no plans to develop the site, Gilmore said. Ai Hoa Market already opened a new location in South El Monte on Nov. 2. In response to the community’s feedback they tried to extend their time in the Chinatown building. Representatives for the market’s owners said that the negotiations have hit a rough spot in regard to rent agreements, and that further updates are to come in the next few days. The owners said that their intention is to stay until another full-service market that can serve the neighborhood was found. “I think it’s a long-term, systematic issue but I have to say that the supermarket, that’s just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Annie Shaw, a member of the nonprofit Chinatown Community for Equitable Development, which has rallied to support the market. “A lot of the development that’s been happening here, very few of the projects have had the existing community in mind.” The fight over the market is part of a wider tension in the area, which is rapidly changing as new developers arrive and new projects are aimed at drawing in a different market. This year has seen a number of projects
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planned for the area make progress, either being formally announced or breaking ground. Atlas Capital’s 725-unit College Station project next to the Chinatown Gold Line was officially approved by the City Council in the spring, without any affordable housing; the developer is set to contribute $2 million toward preserving and building affordable housing in the area. In late October, City Councilman Gil Cedillo, whose First District covers Chinatown introduced a motion to explore a joint city-county development, turning a County-owned lot at 725 N. Spring St. into an entirely affordable housing complex. At the end of the month, plans were filed for a 243-apartment live/work building at 1457 N. Main St., to replace two existing industrial buildings. Also near State Historic Park, High Street Residential is working on its seven-story apartment building at 1101 N. Main St., which broke ground at the start of the summer.
Those new projects come when some low-income residents in older buildings find themselves in uncertain times. At Hillside Villa, at 636 N. Hill Pl. a 30-year affordable housing covenant expired in August 2018. Owner Thomas Botz gave residents a year’s reprieve from rent hikes due to a clerical error, but as of this summer, have remained in dispute with the tenants over potential price increases. Cedillo’s office has gotten involved, trying to negotiate a deal to preserve tenants’ rents, but so far no deal has been reached. Cedillo acknowledged the neighborhood’s transition and told Los Angeles Downtown News that he’s focused on using his office’s weight to include affordable low-income and very low-income units in new housing projects in the area. In late 2017, the long-running Pacific Alliance Medical Center, the main hospital for the area, abruptly closed. A consortium comprisContinued on page 7
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EDITORIALS
DECEMBER 2, 2019
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Winter Shelter Rollout Should be Re-examined
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or much of the past two weeks, as much of Southern California prepared to endure a large winter storm, bringing scores of rain, snow and possible thunderstorms, the city and county governments have scrambled to accommodate one of the region’s most vulnerable populations: people experiencing homelessness. As Angelenos prepared to sit down for their Thanksgiving dinner, the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County announced they were opening seven winter shelters early, starting Nov. 27, including one in Skid Row. The spaces weren’t set to open until Sunday, Dec. 1, and will close at the end of March. These early openings matter. Those are four more days that people are not out in the cold and the rain, conditions that can and have been deadly. More than 1,000 homeless people died on city and county streets in 2018. Five people died last year in the county due to issues related to hypothermia. These shelters can save lives. But still, this isn’t something leaders should be patting themselves on the back for. These winter shelters work, so why do they not open sooner? It takes money to operate these shelters and it’s fair to acknowledge that the cost can add up. But when Los Angeles is facing a humanitarian crisis, devoting much of its resources and focus to fighting homelessness, it does not make sense that the city and county is not placing more focus on creating longer running winter shelters. It’s not as if each winter comes by surprise. The city and county have talked extensively about developing comprehensive strategies to tackle homelessness. Many of those plans are evident, from bridge housing to the combined efforts of Proposition HHH and Measure H. That makes the piecemeal rollout of the winter shelters all the more baffling. It’s not as if last weekend’s storm is the only issue that homeless people have had to deal with as the winter months creep in. Los Angeles’ homeless population was still left to the elements a week prior due to the first big rain of the season, many awaking to find their possessions soaked by a midnight torrent. However, wet conditions are not the only issue that homeless individuals have to contend with. With the winter months come biting cold that brings with it a whole different host of issues for the homeless population. In those situations, an accessible emergency shelter is an essential tool for surviving the drop in temperature. It’s worth noting that the shelters that opened early represent just 271 of the 1,700 combined beds that opened at its regularly scheduled time. But these beds are just a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of thousands of people who go without permanent shelter each day in Los Angeles. Even with these shelters, people will still have to face the elements this winter on a nightly basis. It’s too late to address these years concerns, but looking ahead, leaders should explore ways to open these shelters sooner.
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Broadway, Between 4th & 5th
Two Dollar Rings November 2019
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COMMENTS
In response to the article “Weigh in on the L.A. River Path”
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hen voters approved Measure M, I doubt if many were looking for a $365 million bike path project. They were voting to widen the freeways and reduce congestion. The 105 Freeway cost approx. $1 million per mile to build including buying out the homes to create the right-of-way. How do you spend $365 million on 8 miles of river path that is already there? My guess is you start by putting $350 million in your pocket before you begin. Crooks operating in plain sight with community meetings. Wow. — Craig Williamson In response to the article “Homicides on the Rise in Downtown” by Sean P. Thomas
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yan Berry, a 53-year-old Echo Park resident who works in Downtown, said that he’s learned over his 16-years working in Downtown to simply walk away when situations start to get heated. ‘It took me a minute, but I learned to ignore a lot of the things that people say,’ Berry said. ‘Headphones help a lot.’” Mr. Berry, if you’re reading this, please do not wear headphones while you’re walking on DTLA streets. It may
help you “ignore a lot of the things that people say...” but it also prevents you from being fully aware of your surroundings, which is key to staying safe on our streets. — Alexandra Barnes Leh
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ometimes walking away provokes the assailant “don’t walk away from me...,” “come back here...” We need to address the root causes of such issues rather than walking away (or avoiding them, like politicians) and pretending they do not exist. Keep in mind that statistics show at least 80% of homeless have been employed. As a start, people need better paying jobs. — Olivia Marquez
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Talking Downtown With Marcus Lovingood The CD14 Candidate and Community Activist Talks the Issues Facing Downtown Los Angeles By Sean P. Thomas arcus Lovingood never planned on running for City Council, but for the better part of a year, that’s exactly what the Downtown resident has been doing. Lovingood, a local small business owner, LGBTQ advocate and member of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council has been running to represent Downtown residents on the council, spurred on but what he finds to be less than above-board practices in City Hall and a glacial response to the growing homelessness crisis. “I’m running because we have to get the corruption out of city government so that we can finally get these people the help they need,” Lovingood said. Interestingly enough, the spark that encouraged Lovingood to enter into the race was tied to his background in the arts. A dancer, who toured the world as a member of a production of West Side Story, Lovingood moved to Downtown in 2014 after a slew of injuries brought an end to his dancing career. A Southern California native, Lovingood
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has only been a Downtown resident for approximately five years, but quickly introduced himself to a variety of connected individuals, seeking out the best way to achieve his goal to help revitalize Broadway’s string of historic theaters via a theater district he’s calling “Broadway West,” in reference to the New York City area. Lovingood has been working on the plan for the past five years. In the meantime, he earned a seat on the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, recently being elected to his second term last year. He currently serves as the Historic Core Business Director. But Lovingood said that he was inspired to run for Council District 14, based off of the walls he ran into working on the Broadway West proposal. “I found that there was so much corruption, from the bottom up, that I was just like, how am I going to be able to move if you’re dealing with corruption from so many wings of government?” Lovingood said. During an interview, Lovingood was quick to note the legal tribulations of the man he hopes to replace: sitting City Councilman
José Huizar. The councilman has been under a spotlight since November 2018, when FBI agents stormed the councilman’s City Hall and Boyle Heights offices, as well as his home. According to search warrant that was later circulated, the raid was tied to possible kickbacks made by foreign businesses and possible corruption at City Hall. The warrant also included Councilman Curren Price and various city employees. Since the raids, no charges have been levied against Huizar or anyone else named in the search warrant. Huizar was, however, stripped of his council committee positions. A month prior, two of Huizar’s former staffers, Pauline Medina and Mayra Alvarez, filed separate retaliation lawsuits against their former employer. The councilman has called the Alvarez’s allegations “completely false,” and characterized Medina as a disgruntled former employee. Things got even murkier for the councilman last week, when reports surfaced that another former staff member, Jesse Leon, filed a claim against Huizar, alleging retaliation for speaking to FBI agents. Huizar has since denied the latest allegation, stating that Leon was disciplined for ethical issues tied to an alleged “financial conflict of interest with respect to his job duties,” in a prepared statement. Outside of his legal issues, Huizar is being termed out of his seat in 2020, which has sparked multiple people to declare their candidacy, including Lovingood.
photo courtesy Marcus Lovingood
A local smaller business owner and member of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, Marcus Lovingood is running for City Council District 14, a bid he hopes will help expel perceived corruption from City Hall.
Lovingood said that he plans to bring a fresh vision for Downtown during a time when homelessness is on the rise and belief in elected officials is on the decline. “Our city is dying and our elected officials, because they are so bought and sold, because they are so poisoned by that special interest money, there is literal nothing they can do, nothing they have done,” Lovingood said. According to the most recent Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority annual homeless Continued on page 9
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Restaurant Buzz: A High Concept Bartender is on the Move, A New Michelin-Starred Chef Moves in and a Big Shakeup at The Manufactory Make Up This Month’s News By Sean P. Thomas artender Shuffle: One of Downtown’s most prolific bartenders is making a big move to one of Central City’s most storied buildings. In early October, Kevin Lee, left the ornate Spring Street cocktail bar The Wolves, with little hint for what was next for the inventive mixologist. Now, it’s been announced that Lee is moving over to Broadway’s Clifton’s Republic. Lee was tapped as the new director of spirits for Clifton’s owner Andrew Meieran and will oversee a slew of new beverage menus at all of Meieran’s locations. The restaurateur also owns the nightclub The Edison on Second Street. Lee will also design the return of The Edison’s Radio Room guest bartender program, and a new omakase bar concept at Clifton’s. Lee previously ran a similar concept at The Wolves before exiting. Lee’s hire is the biggest news at the famous cafeteria since Meieran opted to shutdown food service almost a year ago. While bartending at The Wolves, Lee’s drink concepts feature his house-made vermouths, bitters and other ingredients. A timeline for the Radio Room’s return and the new Clifton’s concept, have not been announced.
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The Manufactory will now house the first non-Arizona outpost of Chris Bianco’s world-renown Pizzeria Bianco.
Clifton’s Republic is at 648 S. Broadway and The Edison is at 108 W. Second St. From SF to SoCal: Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt’s gargantuan complex The Manufactory has a new neighbor. After more than a year, Michelin-stared chef Melissa Perello, has finally opened her widely anticipated restaurant M. Georgina last month. Located at the massive Row DTLA complex, the 4,500-sqaure-foot restaurant is designed to take advantage of natural light, with floor-toceiling windows, an open and inviting kitchen and a 12-seat bar. The restaurant is also notable for its ornate wood-burning oven and custom ceramics created by Sarah Kersten Studio in Oakland. Perello comes from San Francisco where she co-owns to Michelin-starred restaurants, Frances and Octavia. The menu, which focuses on farm-to-fork cuisine, will change frequently to take advantage of seasonal crops. Adam Flamenbaum is in charge of the cocktail program, while Alex Davis oversees the wine. M. Georgina is open only for dinner, Tuesday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5-10:30 p.m. M. Georgina isn’t the final move
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for Perello. The chef plans to open The Slip in an adjacent space early next year, which will provide takeaway lunches. At 777 Alameda St., (213) 334-4113 or mgeorgina.com. Manufactory Makeover: Speaking of The Manufactory, there is also movement at the ambitious Row DTLA campus. Chef Chris Bianco, who partnered with Prueitt and Robertson to open The Manufactory, is swapping in his world-famous Pizzeria Bianco brand to replace the now shuttered Tartine Bianco space near the front entrance of the multimodal concept. Tartine Bianco, which, when it opened in February was The Manufactory’s main all-day restaurants, reduced its hours earlier this year be-
fore closing suddenly on Nov. 11. Alameda Supper Club, Bianco’s dinner-only restaurant at the 44,000-square-foot complex, will work symbiotically with Pizzeria Bianco. Marking the first Pizzeria Bianco outside of Arizona, Bianco opened the Downtown Phoenix restaurant in 1988, earning acclaim for the artisan pies. He’s since gone on to be a sort of celebrity in chef circles, rubbing shoulders with people like Oprah and Jimmy Kimmel. There is no timeline for when the new restaurant will official open. Loqui Addition: I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: There is no such thing as too many places to scarf down delicious tacos. So imagine my glee when the Arts District welContinued on page 9
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CHINATOWN, 3 ing Allied Pacific IPA, AHMC Healthcare and Network Medical Management purchased the site and announced plans last summer to reopen the space, starting with an urgent care clinic, but that has been hit by delays. In a neighborhood where the median income is $20,000 according to a report from UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning, these changes are being noticed. The average income might change, Shaw said, but only because more people are moving in; not because the existing community will make more money. A large portion of the population includes immigrant families, with many from Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese backgrounds. The average monthly rent in Chinatown is roughly $1,975, compared to $2,450 for units south of the 101 Freeway, according to data from the real estate firm CoStar. Some of these changes, including the arrival of more market-rate spaces, will help make Chinatown more sustainable in the long run, according to George Yu, executive director of the Chinatown Business Improvement District. “We did not have enough market-rate residences to help make for a balanced Chinatown,” Yu said. Some community activists are looking at Little Tokyo’s evolution as both a cautionary tale and a potential model. In the 1970s and 1980s, the neighborhood shrunk amid development around the Civic Center. In recent
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years, however, a number of local nonprofits have stepped up to engage the community. Some projects have included local investment funds to try to reclaim some of the lost land for the community and develop spaces aimed for civic use. The CCED said that conversations for similar efforts are starting to happen amongst Chinatown residents, but haven’t fully come together. Shaw noted that there’s a risk that any effort, from the community or the city, might take too long. Gilmore said that he does not have any immediate plans to start new development at his properties. Looking at the area, he expects that more residential projects will continue to be announced, given some available and empty lots in the area, and that won’t “necessarily be a bad thing.” “The future is going to be whether or not it retains any notion of its identity,” Gilmore said. “Anything anyone does must take into account the needs of that community.” Cedillo said that “Chinatown will always be Chinatown” while he’s in office, and he wants to preserve and protect landmarks and affordable housing. Cedillo is up for re-election in 2022. Shaw said that going forward, Chinatown needs more commitment from developers that they will support more affordable and low-income housing. The community also needs more support and backing from city leaders on that front. Otherwise, she said, the rate of the neighborhood’s transformation could outpace any community efforts to ensure sustainable growth. nslayton@timespublications.com.
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Transit Depot Hosts Free Pop-Up Shows and Markets By Nicholas Slayton ate last month, travelers and patrons at Downtown’s Union Station were treated to a holiday-themed surprise. John Legend, one of a handful of entertainers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards) held a previously unannounced concert at the transportation hub. It was sudden — the concert was announced on the same day — with many of the visitors at the station stumbling onto it during their daily commutes or rushing to the complex on short notice. All of the traditional holiday trappings were on hand. Santa Claus hats were handed out, while Legend sang some holiday standards like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “What Christmas Means to Me,” on a stage designed to replicate a winter wonderland. The show was the first part of a major series of holiday events and shows at Union Station, with live music, pop-ups and other free activities plans through the late fall and early winter. Cultural events are nothing new for Union Station. The transit hub regularly hosts live music and activities almost weekly, organized by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, who also own the site. But its winter holiday events have continued to grow over the past three years, according to Ken Pratt, Metro’s Deputy Executive Officer for Real Estate, Overseeing Union Station. Last year’s events, including tree lightings and concerts, attracted around 2,000 people per event, and so far the station is on
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track to nearly double that mark this year. “They’re ice breaker type of events,” Pratt said. “They’re wonderful opportunities for families and kids to come out and have fun. You know, with holiday music, people really get into it.” Festivities started in full on Nov. 21, with the annual tree-lighting event in the station’s south patio, accompanied with live music. The massive 40-foot-tall tree is set up throughout the season. The centerpiece of this year’s programming is the Cocoa Concerts. The series started with the tree lighting and continues with the Latin jazz quartet Conganas on Dec. 6, followed by the eclectic sounds of the Hi-Fi Honeydrops on Dec. 13. Heidi Zeller, senior manager for cultural programming with Metro Arts said that Metro Arts wanted to bring in local artists, and this year worked to showcase a diversity of styles, after feedback from audiences last year. Each band will be playing some of their own original music, but will also play their spins on holiday classics. “It is a holiday concert series, so you’ll hear familiar tunes,” Zeller said. “We want people to get into the spirit.” The free evening concerts are also paired with activities and snacks around the Christmas tree, including free hot cocoa — hence the name of the series — and visits from Santa Claus. Each evening will also feature different arts and crafts programs for kids. This is the third year the station has hosted the holiday concerts, but Pratt said that they’ve been increasing the
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programming, putting more activities around the concerts. Part of it, he said, has been in response to feedback from the community over the last year. The evening concerts feature a “Candy Cane Lane,” where individuals can take festive photos alongside a large “Candy Cane Queen.” A marshmallow-eating contest is also on the horizon for each concert with prizes available for the person who can put away the most marshmallows. A portion of the schedule still remains in the dark. As of press time, Metro Arts has not publically announced who will perform at the third and final part of the series on Dec. 20. The concerts are just the latest example of the arts coming to nontraditional venues in Downtown. Similar to Union Station, locations like The Bloc have set up large holiday campuses for visitors, while other shopping hubs like Row DTLA also have a slew of holiday pop-up events scheduled for the season. Union Station is also in on the pop-up trend. The station is holding its annual holiday pop-up market this weekend, on Saturday, Dec. 7. Starting at 10 a.m., the south patio will host 40 local venders, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and live music from the Top Shelf Brass Band and the Beverly Belles. The event is free
to attend. There will also be performances by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, formerly of Downtown Los Angeles. Pratt said that Union Station is still an active transit facility first and foremost, and the staff utilizes the station’s various spaces to avoid disrupting the flow of travelers. Most activities are set up in the south patio, away from the main flow of daily operations. In the event of rain, events can be relocated into Union Station’s ticketing hall. That said, the activations are aimed at both audiences who attend specifically for the concerts and commerce, and for travelers who might simply stumble upon them, Zeller said. She said that in the past two years more people are intentionally heading to the station to check out the events, but a good portion of the crowd at each activity is still made up of people who happen to be at the station between stops on a journey. And Pratt noted that it’s not hard for Angelenos to check out the holiday programming. After all, he said, Union Station is a transit hub connecting much of the city. The next Cocoa Concert is on Friday, Dec. 6 at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com. nslayton@timespublications.com.
DECEMBER 2, 2019
BUZZ, 6 comed a new taco restaurant, Loqui, along Third Street last month. The first brick and mortar Loqui opened in Culver City in 2016, but the restaurant’s roots lie in pop-ups at Tartine in San Francisco. The menu offers chicken, beef and pork offerings on both flour and corn tortillas. Full plates, with rice,
LOVINGOOD, 5 count, homelessness increased by nearly 16% in the city of Los Angeles compared to the same time the previous year. Two of the major prongs of his campaign platform center on homelessness and housing, two segments that the city has focused heavily on, but has dropped the ball, Lovingood said. Some of the candidate’s proposals include requiring new developments to include at least 20% affordable or permanent supportive units, and the a threepoint emergency triage plan to promote construction of alternative tiny home projects and the funding of more outpatient sobering clinics. Each proposal, Lovingood said he would introduce in the first 100 days, if elected. It’s still a big if. The campaign is admittedly an uphill battle for Lovingood.
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beans, guacamole, cotija cheese and corn tortillas are also available as well as sides like chips and salsa and rice and beans and quesadillas. Beer and wine will also be offered at the restaurant in the upcoming months. Loqui is open daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. At 818 E. Third St. or eatloqui.com. Go Nuts for Donuts: Similarly to tacos, there is also always ample room for donuts. ThankThe candidate is up against deep-moneyed politicians with far more political experience and name recognition like former State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and former Los Angeles Unified School District board member Mónica Garcia. Even locally, well-known Downtown resident Hal Bastian is an interesting inclusion into an already interesting race. As of press time, the candidate has only raised half of the $11,401 that he hopes to raise to take advantage of the city’s public funding programs for city candidates. Last year, the city approved a new system that allows candidates to earn $6 for every $1 they raise from city residents. The race will ultimately result in the first new face to represent Council District 14 in nearly 15 year. The election is scheduled for March 3 and if no candidate earned the majority of the vote, the two top candidates with battle in a runoff elected on Nov. 3. sthomas@timesmediapublications.com
fully, one of Downtown’s most storied landmarks is primed to house one of the best donut makers in the region. After almost 50 years in Glendora, The Donut Man is getting a second location at Grand Central Market. February is when visitors will be able to pile into the food hub and purchase pillowy sweet donuts stuffed with delicious and fresh strawberries. The store will be located along the Broadway side of the market near Eggslut and Villa Moreliana and will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, unlike the Glendora location, which is open 24/7. The new donut shop will sell 18 different racks of donuts. The Los Angeles Times first reported the news. Coming to 317 S. Broadway or thedonutmanca.com.
Salt Bye: Whether or not this is good news, or bad news, is up to the reader, but according to Eater Los Angeles, the social-media friendly Nusret Gökçe (better known on the internet as Salt Bae), has abandoned plans to open a burger restaurant in the Arts District. According to Eater, the restaurateur is not ditching the Los Angeles region entirely, instead setting his focus on Beverly Hills. Salt Bae has been in the news recently for other reasons. Last month, Gökçe was ordered to pay four former employees of his Manhattan restaurant NusrEt $230,000 in a wage-theft suit. He also opened a burger restaurant in Dubai last month. Got any restaurant tips? Send it to sthomas@timespublications.com.
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Grand Park will be illuminated in a warm and inviting glow during the return of its second annual Winter Glow art installation. Starting at Friday, Dec. 6, Grand Park will be filled with bright and interactive light displays. Last year’s event featured the art collective Apidoidea’s impressive work “A Spark of Light,” which allowed visitors to walk inside and alter the colors of the piece through sensors. This year’s event is expected to be equally as impressive, now extending to the recently renovated Music Center Plaza. The event is free and the art goes live after sunset through 10 p.m. At 200 N. Grand Ave. or grandparkla.org.
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Listening to The String Revolution will open your ears to just how many different ways a person can use a guitar to make music. Composed of four, Los Angeles-based guitarists, the quartet have found new and unique ways to use their guitars, mimicking percussion, special effects, bass lines and other musical tools. The group, which has earned some Grammy buzz for their cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” is performing at the Grammy Museum on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Part of the museum’s “Great Guitar” series, the quartet will take the stage at 7 p.m., and the evening will include a conversation with the band moderated by Scott Goldman. At 800 Olympic Blvd., or grammymuseum.org.
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If your inner 10-yearold is still well and good, L.A. Live might be calling its name this week. Nerf, the purveyor of foam footballs and dart guns, is setting up a 50,000-square-feet obstacle course at the location, where kids and parents alike can try a variety of Nerf themed activities. The Nerf Challenge, as it is being called, is in its inaugural run and is built around Nerf sports and blasters, participants can run through a variety of different courses, including ones that test your dexterity, and others that gauge skills like kicking a football or your aim. The challenge opens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 7. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or nerfchallenge.com.
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1720 1720 S. Los Angeles St. or 1720.la. Dec. 3: The Wave. Dec. 4: Bubble Up with four DJs spinning all night. Dec. 5: Louis Futon has a wonderfully punny name. Dec. 6: Graves. Dec. 7: She Past Away. Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles. Dec. 4: The one and only Sheryl Crow. Dec. 5: The Purple One is tragically no longer with us, but Continued on page 11
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It’s December, which means it’s time for all of the fun and wonderful holiday staples to return for another go. Join Chevy Chase on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Microsoft Theater for a 30th anniversary screening of the cult classic Christmas film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Chase, who plays the Griswold family patriarch Clark Griswold in the film, will follow up a screening of the film by sharing stories from his legendary career on television and film. Actress Yenitza Munoz will moderate the evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. At 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com.
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MONDAY, DEC. 2 The Moth Grand Slam The Regent, 448 S. Main St. or spacelandpresents.com. 8 p.m.: It’s true stories told live, with a competition added on. See who emerges on top with the best tale. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4 Anxiously Yours Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org. 7:30 p.m.: Author and mental health advocate Amanda Stern talks about the science behind anxiety and how to deal with it. Bar Wrestling: Invasion of the Secret Santas Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.org. 8 p.m.: It’s wrestling, in a bar. There’s a fair chance the mustachioed menace Joey Ryan will be dressed in a festive way. FRIDAY, DEC. 6 Trevor Noah Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com. 8 p.m.: “The Daily Show” host brings his solo stand up to Downtown. Expect topical humor. SATURDAY, DEC. 7 Nerf Challenge L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or nerfchallenge.com. 10 a.m.: Test your dart gun skills and agility in this foam obstacle course. It runs through Jan. 5. C&C: Holiday Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.org. 7 p.m.: Claudia Dolph and Crissy Guerrerro host a holiday-themed variety show. SUNDAY, DEC. 8 “We’re All Gonna Die!” Dystopian Book Club Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.org. 7:30 p.m.: Forget getting festive. Get paranoid about our near future with a discussion of Simon Stalenhag’s “The Electric State.”
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DECEMBER 2, 2019
THE 'DON'T MISS' LISTBY SEAN P. THOMAS
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The Theatre at Ace Hotel is hosting 90’s pop music icon for a can’t-miss performance this week. Sheryl Crow, whose tracks “All I Wanna Do,” and “If It Makes You Happy” helped prove that there was still plenty of crossover appeal for folk and rock music, will take the stage at the aforementioned theater on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The concert was originally scheduled for September, but due to a chest infection, Crow was forced to reschedule. Any tickets purchased for the September show will be honored on Wednesday. Pro-tip: If you can’t make Wednesday’s show the Ace is hosting Prince’s former running mates The Revolution on Thursday. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or theatre.acehotel.com.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
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Prince’s former band The Revolution is in town. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Dec. 2: If you like alternative pop, you’re in luck. Henry Hall plays it every Monday this month. Dec. 3: mmmonika plays “happy songs for sad people” and has an EP release show. Dec. 5: Keeping with the puns this week, singer-songwriter Lisa Prank is in town. Dec. 6: Madison Cunningham, Downtown stalwart Johanna Samuels, and Pet Dress.
Dec. 7: Mike Krol plays a holiday show. Dec. 8: From the far off lands of Flagstaff, Arizona, it’s Tow’rs. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Dec. 6: Marlo. Dec. 7: Illenium has a DJ set. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org. Dec. 4: The String Revolution has four guitars and knows how to use them.
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Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com. Dec. 6: Fantasia. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. Dec. 2: Kyle Lux.
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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Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.
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