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AROUND TOWN
Olive Street High Rise Gets City Approval
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ast month the Los Angeles City Council approved a planned 29-story apartment building in South Park. The residential structure will replace a parking lot at 845 S. Olive St. and comes from developer Hearst Olive, with 205 apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units. Designed by architecture firm Togawa Smith Martin, the project features a podium spanning the width of the block, with a pool and the residential tower on the east side of the site, all with a dark exterior. The podium will house 268 parking spots, and the building will also include 2,400 square feet of ground-floor retail. No budget has been announced and no groundbreaking date has been set.
MOCA to Recognize Employee Union
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he staff of one of Downtown’s biggest cultural institutions is unionizing. The Museum of Contemporary Art announced on Dec. 6 that it would recognize a union made up of more than 120 staffers, affecting both MOCA’s Grand Avenue location on Bunker
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Hill and the Geffen Contemporary space in Little Tokyo. “We’re taking this step to come together as one team, one MOCA,” MOCA Director Klaus Biesenbach said in a prepared statement about the decision. Workers announced their union drive last month; they join the American Federation of State, Federal and Municipal employees. The move comes the same day that Los Angeles’ Marciano Art Foundation officially shut down; staffers there were also in the process of forming a union. On the East Coast, employees at large arts and cultural institutions like the New Museum and the Guggenheim, unionized earlier this year.
DTLA Restaurants Make a Splash on L.A. Times Top 101
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he food mavens at the Los Angeles Times released their annual list of the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles and the eateries of Downtown Los Angeles made a noticeable impact. Released last week, 17 of the 101 restaurants on the list call Downtown home, showcasing Downtown’s growing impact on the region’s culinary scene. The highest ranked (fourth) of the restaurants is Jennifer Feltham and Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguez’s Sonoratown at 208 E. Eighth St. Josef Centeno’s collection of Downtown restaurants, Orsa & Winston, Bar Amá, and Bäco Mercat slid into the seventh slot, while Bavel, Genievieve Gergis and Ori Menasche’ love letter to Middle Eastern earned 11th place. The remaining restaurants on the list are: Little
Sister, Lasa, Badmaash, Nightshade, The Exchange, Shibumi, Q, Bestia, Broken Spanish, Rossoblu, Grand Central Market, Bon Temps, Howlin’ Rays and Majordomo.
LAPD Seeks Vehicle Used in Drive-by Shooting
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he Los Angeles Police Department are seeking the community’s help in identifying a vehicle believed to have been used in a drive-by shooting in Downtown Los Angeles last week. According to police, the victim, 34-year-old Melvin Sanders of Bellflower was walking near 14th and Hill streets on Dec. 7 when he was hit by shots fired out of a car. The driver sped away from the scene after the shooting. Officers are looking for a 2008 Nissan Sentra with the license plate 7SPH079. A description of the suspect was not released. Sanders was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call 877-LAPD-247.
Consulting Firm to Take Two Floors in Bunker Hill
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he financial advisory and consulting firm Andersen Los Angeles is relocating its offices from deep in the Financial District to the CityNational2Cal building at 350 S. Grand Ave. The CIM Group, which owns the 52-story office tower, said that Andersen will take 45,000 square feet of
DECEMBER 16, 2019
office space, spread over two floors in the building. Terms of the lease were not disclosed, only that it is a “long-term” agreement. “CityNational2Cal is situated in the heart of downtown Los Angeles in a premier location that will bring new energy and enthusiasm to our office employees,” Daniel Lopez, office managing director of the Andersen Los Angeles office said in a prepared statement. CIM and JLL represented the owner, while Newmark Knight Frank represented Andersen. The company is expected to relocate in mid 2020.
Scooter Attacker Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison
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man was sentenced to seven years in prison last week for an unprovoked attack with a dockless scooter in Downtown Los Angeles this summer. Janai Washington, 41, pleaded no contest last month on one count of elder abuse with personal infliction of great bodily harm, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. On June 13 Washington approached, 75-year-old Jose Cancel, while he sat on a chair near the corner of Sixth and Spring streets and started punching the victim before throwing the scooter. Cancel sustained injuries to his arm and head, the latter of which, required staples to seal the wound. The assault was stopped when a passerby intervened, after which the suspect fled the scene. The Los Angeles Police Department later arrested Washington on June 19 following a weeklong search.
DECEMBER 16, 2019
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CD14 Candidates Weigh in on Housing and Transportation at Debate Three Potential Councilmembers Discussed the Need for Expanding Services in Downtown, While Disagreeing on Specific Approaches on How to Improve Livability By Nicholas Slayton ast week, Downtown got a chance to hear from three of the candidates vying to replace José Huizar in representing the 14th Los Angeles City Council district. The debate, held at Broadway’s Million Dollar Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 11 included former State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Monica Garcia, and Cyndi Otteson, board president of the nonprofit Miry’s List and head of marketing for the tech company NOM. Downtown-based business consultant and broker Hal Bastian was previously scheduled to attend, but suspended his campaign earlier that day due to a signature collecting snafu. Only candidates who raised more than $25,000 or have collected more than 500 unique contributions by Dec. 1 were allowed to participate. DTLA Strong, a community advocacy group that formed in 2018 and previously focused on increasing LAPD foot beats around the area, organized the event. Roughly 80 people showed up at the Broadway theater to watch. The event was the second gathering of candidates in Downtown since a September candidate’s forum organized by the Central City Association that featured only de León and Garcia. Last week’s event served as the first debate between the candidates prior to the election. “This is a large district. In the northeast, it goes to El Sereno, down to Boyle Heights, into Downtown,” said Sara Hernandez, co-founder of DTLA Strong. “This district represents 250,000 people, so these races are incredibly important.” The evening was more substantive than the September forum, with candidates questioned on a wider variety of issues by DTLA Strong co-founder Gerren Kersaw and offering more detailed plans on how they would handle the issues facing Downtown and the rest of CD14. Throughout the debate, Garcia was light on specifics, repeatedly turning back to the topic of children and schools, while de León and Otteson had more focused points. The two-hour event covered a variety of issues, including earning Downtown’s trust, how best to handle the 2028 Olympic Games, and others, but mostly centered on the following: Housing and Homelessness The biggest topic that Kersaw and the candidates kept returning to was homelessness in the district, the city and the county as a whole. All agreed that the current situation is untenable and that more services are needed, and that services should be decentralized from Downtown in some capacity. They also spoke of building more workforce and middle income housing to keep the district equitable. Garcia called for a full review of how and where the city builds affordable housing to find more efficient and cost-effective means of construction. Otteson meanwhile noted that luxury housing isn’t helping to alleviate housing concerns, and that the cost of living continues to go up.
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“We’re already on track to be San Francisco,” Otteson said, referencing that city’s high cost of living. De León argued that the city needs to pursue as much state and federal aid to construct affordable housing and expand services for homeless individuals. Regarding helping those on Skid Row and other unhoused people, Otteson called for more mobile units, providing showers and other services where they are needed. (The nonprofit LavaMae does provide mobile shows in Skid Row and City Hall at various times throughout the week.) De León in turn suggested expanding the number of ReFresh Spot hygiene centers on Skid Row (currently there is only one on Crocker Street). Garcia suggested a Metropolitan Transportation Authority-like agency with jurisdiction to take action, and also called for declaring a homelessness emergency in the city.
that Downtown should not be split up in the 2020 redistricting process, however neither the candidates, nor the moderator acknowledged that Downtown is already split, with a sliver in the southwest in CD9 and Chinatown in CD1. Otteson said that the city should look at greater representation, noting that while 15 council districts made sense when Los Angeles had a population of one million, with nearly four million people calling Los Angeles home currently, and each district representing more than 250,000 people, the current split is too big. Downtown Los Angeles alone is expected to add an additional 125,000 residents by 2040, making it one of Los Angeles’ most heavily expanding residential bases. In response to that, the three candidates spoke of the need to increase residential infrastructure and make it more welcoming to families, including more schools and green spaces.
for Downtown Los Angeles. The three candidates agreed that more foot patrols, as well as just more foot traffic and eyes on the street from Downtown residents throughout the day can deter crime. Otteson suggested police call boxes, increasing the number of officers in the area, but also the number of trained service providers who can aide in ways that police cannot. Garcia also favored expanding the number of surveillance cameras across the district, noting that other countries and cities use similar systems as a way to address crime. De León said that the next councilman should meet with Central Division and LAPD leadership to discuss why so many officers go from Central to the elite Metropolitan Division based out of Rampart, and if Downtown is losing experienced police as a result. What’s Next The debate was civil, with the three candidates mostly agreeing on general points,
The candidates debate, put on by DTLA Strong featured (from the left) Kevin de León, Monica Garcia, and Cyndi Otteson.
photo by Nicholas Slayton
According to the most recent Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority homeless count, homelessness has increased in Los Angeles County by 12%, and 16% in the city, compared to the previous year, bringing the total number of unhoused people to close to 36,000. At the debate, de León presented the biggest change, proposing that LAHSA should be reformed or dismantled, calling it out for the lack of results despite its $400 million annual budget. He also took aim at the high cost of building permanent supportive housing, saying that the city needs to find a way to build as quickly as possible, and as cheaply as possible, using the $1.2 billion in Proposition HHH funds before that money sunsets. City Controller Ron Galperin released a report in October that criticized the use of Prop. HHH funds, taking aim at the high cost to build units using the funds. Governance Kersaw also discussed the upcoming 2020 redistricting process, which would redraw district lines based on population, and questioned if the candidates would support keeping Downtown unified. All agreed
“We need to have people stay in the city,” Otteson said. “There’s not enough parks. We need to have more walkable options [in the district].” Transportation All three of the candidates spoke in favor of expanding CD14’s transportation infrastructure, with Garcia and de León suggesting making free public transit for some or all Angelenos as a way to encourage and foster better ridership. Since 2014, ridership on Metro buses and trains has decreased by early 20%. On the subject of the long-proposed Downtown street car, the candidates said they supported something along those lines, with de León suggesting an electric bus lane running up and down Broadway, as well as dedicated bike and scooter lanes. He also promised to ensure the construction of the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor that would link Downtown to Artesia. Public Safety DTLA Strong was formed in part due to concerns about safety in the area. The group grabbed headlines in May, when close to 50 of its members arrived at a City Hall budget hearing in support of more footbeats
with the sharpest critiques coming in the closing statements. Garcia vowed to stick around for a full 12 years if elected and reelected while Otteson said that CD14 needed someone fresh, not a career politician looking to use the City Council seat as a stepping stone to another higher office. De León argued that given the crisis Los Angeles is facing, now is the time for an experienced candidate. It’s worth noting that Huizar, the representative being termed out of CD14 in November, has served as Downtown’s councilman since 2005. The event was the first Downtown forum to feature Ottesson, who lived in the Arts District for seven years before moving to Eagle Rock. She brought more focus to specific issues facing the rest of the district despite the Downtown theme of the debate, such as concerns over the 710 Freeway expansion, and displacement in Boyle Heights as a result of gentrification (something de León echoed further into the night). The debate served as a primer for the primary election that will be held on March 3. If no one wins a majority, there will be a runoff election on Nov. 3. nslayton@timespublications.com.
DECEMBER 16, 2019
DOWNTOWN NEWS 5
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A New Look on the Horizon for the Chinese American Museum More Gallery Space Coming to El Pueblo de Los Angeles’ Historic Museum By Sean P. Thomas n 2016, the Friends of the Chinese American Museum, the nonprofit responsible for supporting the Chinese American Museum, settled on a path to expand the footprint of the museum at the 44-acre El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Last week, that plan took an important step forward after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved $730,000 toward the expansion of the Chinese American Museum, closing a fundraising gap needed to commence the renovation plan. Michael Troung, executive director of the Chinese American Museum, said that the expansion will allow for the museum to approach exhibits in a new and refreshing way. “It’s really an opportunity for us to continue to move forward with our mission to share the Chinese American experience in Los Angeles,” Troung said. “With a larger space we can do so with a multifaceted approach.” The first phase of the expansion project will add a new 1,500 square-foot gallery to the museum at 511 N. Main St., increasing the public gallery floor space by nearly 25%. The entire plan is expected to cost $1.2 million. The Friends of the Chinese American Museum had previously entered into a memorandum of agreement with the City to raise funds to develop the site, later completing architectural plans and construction bids. Troung said that now that the funds have been awarded the museum can select a contractor to handle the expansion. The funds are allocated through the Safe Neighborhood Parks Proposition of 1996 (better known as Prop. A), which provides additional funding for the development and restoration of parks and community facilities. According to Troung, the motion will close a fundraising gap for the project, with
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The Chinese American Museum recently secured a $730,000 Prop A award from the Supervisor Hilda Solis, which will allow the museum to move forward with a planned expansion of the 16-year-old museum.
photo by Gary Leonard
the rest being privately financed. The motion to allocate the funds comes from First District County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose district includes Chinatown. “I am excited to be able to provide critical funding needed to supplement the Friends of the Chinese American Museum’s efforts to expand their existing museum with a new gallery space,” Solis said in a prepared statement. FCAM President Dr. Gay Yuen, expressed her gratitude for the Supervisor’s support in a prepared statement. “This is a testament to the hard work and loyalty of the museum supporters, board and staff,” Yuen said.
According to Troung, the expansion will allow the museum to host more exhibits concurrently, and alter the types of exhibits that the museum can provide. Gallery space has always been a premium at the Chinese American Museum. Located in the 18,000-square-foot Garnier Building, the museum holds three permanent exhibit: Journeys, which follows Chinese immigration to the United States, with an emphasis on Los Angeles, Sun Wing Wo General Store and Herb Shop, a recreation of the actual store that was once housed in the Garnier Building, and Origins: The Birth and Rise of Chinese American Communities Continued on page 6
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MUSEUM, 5 in Los Angeles, which, as the name suggests, traces the growth of Chinese American neighborhoods in areas like Downtown and the San Gabriel Valley. On most occasions, the museum houses one nonpermanent exhibit in the upstairs gallery. The most recent exhibit, Lightscapes: Re-envisioning the Shanshuihua, wrapped up last month. Troung said that one of the first exhibits eyed for the new gallery space, would be focused on the history behind the Garnier Building. “There is so much history in this building that we wanted to tell the story,” Troung
said. “Not to just say, hey, the museum is here, that is why the building is historic, but to point out that the museum is here, because this building is historic.” The Chinese American Museum began as a joint venture between the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument nearly three decades ago. A committee was formed in 1984 to explore options to preserve El Pueblo’s historic Garnier building, constructed as part of the city’s original Chinatown in 1890. Twelve years prior, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as part of the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District. In 1987, the Friends of Chinese American Museum, a group of historians, teach-
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the timeframes are estimates however. The age of the Garnier Building, Troung said, might cause a few hiccups during construction, which might alter the pace. During construction, Troung said that the museum would remain open, with no interruptions to day-to-day operation. The Chinese American Museum is not the only El Pueblo entity to receive a facelift. The Wall of Honor, which is located at Father Serra Park and recognizes all Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, will receive $20,000 from Solis’ discretionary funds to add additional names to the wall. Currently, the wall holds close to 3,000 names; 3,502 individuals have been awarded the honor. sthomas@timespublications.com.
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ers and community members, was formed and began fundraising for their envisioned museum. The Los Angeles City Council initially allocated just 2,500 square feet of the buildings to the museum, later expanding the museum’s footprint almost a decade later to 7,200 square feet. CAM officially opened on Dec. 18, 2003, becoming one of Southern California’s first museums dedicated to the Chinese American experience and the first museum focused on the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles. The museum also operates an adjacent building at 425 N. Los Angeles St. Troung said that the museum is looking at breaking ground on the expansion in one-two months, and expects construction to take no more than six months. Both of
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The Health Insurance Tax will raise costs for small businesses and their employees. More than half the tax will fall on those making less than $50,000 per year. Tell Representative Jimmy Gomez to Support H.R. 1398 and Stop The Health Insurance Tax.
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A BIG HOLIDAY SHOW RETURNS for a BIG MILESTONE photo by Jacob Pflum
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photo by Gennia Cui
photo by Gennia Cui
Performers this year include the Greater L.A. Cathedral Choir, Cuñao, and Halau Keali’i o Nalani and Daniel Ho Trio (pictured l to r).
This Year’s Free Concert Includes 22 Acts Over Three Hours, With Added Programming at the Music Center Plaza By Nicholas Slayton he holiday season is well underway, and next week one of the biggest events in the Los Angeles area returns for its 60th year. The Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration returns on Tuesday, Dec. 24, with 22 acts performing over the course of three hours, from 3-6 p.m. The show mixes dance, choral performances and other musical groups. As with previous editions, the event is free to attend, with free parking at the Music Center, and seating is first come, first served (seats do open up over the course of the show). Those who cannot make it to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion can watch it live on PBS SoCal and KCET, and stream it online. As with year’s past, the show will also be rebroadcast at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas, at noon and 7 p.m. The holiday concert started in 1959, created by the County Board of Supervisors as a “gift” to the county’s residents, and features a blend of returning and new acts. This year the event is hosted by singer Suzanna Guzmán and actress Marissa Ramirez. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval opens the show, playing a jazz version of holiday classics. Fresh additions this year include drum and dance group African Soul International,
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as well as Latin folk group Cuñao. In order to fit everyone into the show, each act gets roughly 10 minutes to perform. For musical groups, that generally allows three songs per each set. Returning acts range from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to Halau Keali’I o Nalani & the Daniel Ho Trio. Another of the returning bands this year is the klezmer — Jewish folk music with roots in the Balkans — act Mostly Kosher. They’re joined by the Urban Voices Project, a choral group made up of residents of Skid Row. The two groups will be teaming up to premiere a new song, “Let’s Think About a Holiday.” Mostly Kosher leader Leeav Sofer, who also co-founded the choral, said the song was developed over the last few months. He said the band will start out the set, then roughly 30 members of the choral will come and join them on stage. “The song will be bookended by a traditional Hanukkah song, ‘Ma’oz Tzur,’ which we’re doing in a very Balkan way, with lots of energy,” Sofer said. “Then it’s the premiere piece, and then a Kirk Franklin piece called ‘I Smile.’ That’s a very festive tune.” Back for its second year is Infinite Flow, a dance company partly made up of disabled dancers. The group will do a mix of styles, including a foxtrot set to “Winter Wonder-
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land,” and a hip-hop version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” This year the youth program Infinite Flow Kids is joining the adult troupe on stage. Marisa Hamamoto, the group’s founder and artistic director, said that song was chosen to help showcase the need for inclusivity. “Rudolph is made fun of initially by his peers because of his red nose making him ‘different’ but is liked after Santa makes use of his uniqueness for everyone’s good,” Hamamoto told Los Angeles Downtown News. Since the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion can only seat 3,156 people, not everyone can initially attend. Many don’t stay for the entire performance, opening up seats during the programming, but a number of audience members actually watch the show from outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, in the now-renovated Music Center Plaza. This year, the Music Center is adding additional programming to the space, according to Rebecca Baillie, the Music Center’s associate director of presentations. “People come here really early, these big groups of people with not much to do besides wait in line. We wanted to take advantage of this big beautiful wide open space,” Baillie said. “We get to bring in even more L.A. artists than we get to feature on the
stage, with artists hosting art making workshops, as well as movies. The “Winter Plaza” opens at noon and runs to 5 p.m., with flores de papel poinsettia making classes, watercolor card stations, and plenty of hot cocoa for visitors. There will also be screenings of the 2018 animated film The Grinch, plus the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, before switching to a live broadcast of the Holiday Celebration at 3 p.m. People can drop into the workshops at any time. It is all free to attend, however visitors will have to pay for the tamales on sale. Some of the performers said that tradition plays a part in why the Holiday Celebration has lasted so long. Sofer said that it’s also the mix of acts the County brings in that helps keep things fresh and interesting. “We all know Los Angeles is divided into these little bubbles that we sometimes isolate ourselves in,” Sofer said. “They’re pulling in diverse groups and bringing people together. It’s three hours of fun and joy for the holidays, but those bubbles are popped a little bit.” The Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration is Monday, Dec. 24, 3-6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. or holidaycelebration.org. nslayton@timespublications.com.
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From Coworkers to Family in August Wilson’s Jitney
In Jitney, a weary owner of a taxi shop (Stephen Anthony Jones, left) tries to keep the peace and his company going during a tumultuous moment in the 1970s.
The Last of Wilson’s Century Cycle Plays to Make it to Broadway Brings Humor and Warmth to the Taper By Jeff Farve ach of August Wilson’s 10 plays in his Century Cycle is a unique and powerful entity, while also an integral component of what is possibly American theater’s most towering and awesome achievement. The one that may be the most special, though, is Jitney, the first written but the last to open on Broadway. It’s a slice-of-life glimpse into drivers for a 1970s unlicensed cab service in Pittsburgh that shows not only Wilson’s talent for dialogue and tightly woven storylines, but it’s also a roadmap for the journey his subsequent nine tales take across the 1900s. There’s perhaps no better tour guide to this world than director Ruben Santiago-Hudson, a Tony-winner for his performance in Wilson’s Seven Guitars, who promised the playwright before he died in 2005 that he would get Jitney to Broadway. He fulfilled that promise, and the production won the 2017 Tony for Best Revival. Now on national tour, the powerful and captivating show is running through Dec. 29 at Downtown’s Mark Taper Forum. None of Wilson’s plays are short, but even
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at more than two-and-a-half hours, Jitney never lets up. It starts with Bill Sims Jr.’s new, era-specific guitar driven original music that plays as the drivers enter and remains fascinating until the final line, which drives home the idea that this jumbled mix of often troubled men are a family. The de-facto father is Becker (Steven Anthony Jones), who runs the car service out of a dilapidated office that exudes weariness (a detailed set designed by David Gallo). He’s a boss who, having worked hard to get where he is, wants to avoid drama and keep the peace among the disparate drivers. That’s not easy, given that Turnbo (Ray Anthony Thomas) has an opinion on everyone’s personal business, which particularly doesn’t sit well with the Vietnam vet Youngblood (understudy James T. Alfred, in an intense and impressive turn this evening). The pair’s battle takes a threatening turn, and Santiago-Hudson taut direction makes the moment startling and explosive. While Becker is trying to keep the peace, and keep his car service from losing its location, he’s dealing with the return of his son, Booster (Francois Battiste), who just got out
DOWNTOWN NEWS 9
photo by Joan Marcus
of prison for murder after 20 years. The two haven’t spoken in that time, and their reunion is the epitome of tension. Wilson’s dramatic moments are what people will remember, but it’s the way his scripts are balanced with humor that makes the contrasting emotions powerful. Many of Jitney’s best laughs come from Shealy (Harvy Blanks), a numbers runner who takes bets and uses the car service phone for his business. His stories about trying to forget the face of the woman he loves build to a hilarious crescendo. Santiago-Hudson’s cast is loaded with Wilson veterans, so it’s not surprising that there’s not a weak performance amongst the cast. Blanks, who has appeared in all 10 plays, has the cadence and casual delivery that entices listeners to eavesdrop on his stories. Likewise, Anthony Chisholm, who portrays the often drunk Fielding — as he did in the 2000 production at the Taper — seems born to play the character. What could easily be a stereotypical turn as a stag-
gering slurring alcoholic, Chisholm turns into a poet, whose words almost come out as a song of sadness and regret, albeit with gentle humor. Santiago-Hudson, who shined earlier this year at the Taper in his revival of the oneman show Lackawanna Blues, is a master of pacing. Perhaps it’s his musical background. The barely restrained overlap of dialogue and highly physical action, transitioning into subtle and deliberate action almost resembles a jazz number that feels free-flowing while carefully crafted. Of Center Theatre Group’s wonderful contributions, perhaps the most important is its long-standing relationship with Wilson. While the playwright’s work with the company is finished, Santiago-Hudson and this cast make clear the work is far from over in its ability to impact theatergoers for generations to come. Jitney runs through Dec. 29 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.
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Get in on the holiday spirit with the return of a Chanticleer Christmas to the Walt Disney Concert Hall this week. The beloved troupe of Grammy-winning singers brings the Christmas spirit with a program filled with a famous a cappella choral music. The 12-man chorus, on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m., will single holiday classics like “Silent Night,” and “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.” If you’re still looking to listen to live Christmas tunes, Dianne Reeves has a Christmas performance scheduled for Dec. 20 and the annual Holiday Sing-Along will be held at the Concert Hall the following day. At 111 S. Grand Ave., or laphil.org.
© Charles Gaines, courtesy the artist and Hauser + Wirth, photo by Fredrik Nilsen
1720 1720 S. Los Angeles St. or 1720.la. Dec. 18: Froth, SRSQ, Numb.er. Dec. 19: Plaid. Dec. 21: Bones, Xavier Wulf, Chris Travis, Eddy Baker. Dec. 22: Machine Girl, Model/Actriz, Dreamcrusher, Hong Kong [Expletive] You. Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles. Dec. 21: Us the Duo. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St. or bluewhalemusic.com. Dec. 16: Mike Baggetta, Stephen Hodges, Mike Watt, Kio Griffith. Dec. 17: Ted Case. Dec. 18: Katie Thiroux Trio. Dec. 19: Alex Hahn Group. Dec. 20: X-Euman. Dec. 21: Bennie Maupin Ensemble. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Dec. 16: Henry Hall is back, again! Residencies are wild. Dec. 17: The fourth annual Whispertown and Friends Holiday Program has a stacked line up and benefits the Downtown Women’s Center, so go to it. Dec. 18: You might know Lola Kirke from the series “Mozart in the Jungle.” If you don’t have Amazon, she’s in that show and also is a singer. Dec. 19: Your Angel, Momma, Cryogeyser. Dec. 21: Sloppy Jane, with Gap Girls. Continued on page 11
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Alternative rockers Emarosa might have lost frontman Johnny Craig in 2010 to fellow alt-rock outfit Dance Gavin Dance, but the act is still going strong well into the new decade. See what the band has been up to the past nine years, when the quartet performs at The Moroccan Lounge on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22. The pulse pounding show begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Pro-tip: If you head to the Saturday show and simply didn’t get enough pop punk to hold you over, the venue is hosting Riot! At the Disco, an evening dance party, at 10 p.m. At 901 E. First St., or themoroccan.com.
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ROCK, POP & JAZZ
LUNCH
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photo by Lisa Kohler
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18 Launchleft Podcast Live Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.org. 7 p.m.: The podcast hosts sit down for a conversation with singer Phoebe Bridgers. Feminist Book Club Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.org. 7:30 p.m.: This month, Julia Callahan leads a discussion of Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir “In the Dream House.” THURSDAY, DEC. 19 Charles Gaines Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles, 901 E. Third St. or hauserwirth.com. 5 p.m.: The L.A.-based artist, whose exhibition is currently on view at the gallery, holds the second of his 10 guest lectures.
The 'Don't Miss' List photo courtesy Emarosa
EVENTS
DECEMBER 16, 2019
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The Book and Printed Matter Lab at Hauser & Wirth has been transitioned into a classroom, one in which artists and CalArts faculty member Charles Gaines oversees. On Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m., the L.A.-based artist is holding part two of his ten-part lecture series Library of Ideas, where the ideas of aesthetics and critical theory in art will be discussed. Gaines, who is the subject of the ongoing Hauser & Wirth exhibit Charles Gaines: Palm Trees and Other Works, specialized in conceptual art with his work at the Arts District museum utilizing grids and mathematical formulas. At 901 E. Third St., (213) 943-1620 or hauserwirth.com.
Since November, celebrity siblings Jaden and Willow Smith have been trekking across most of North America, as part of their co-headlining tour. Now, Will and Jada’s progenies are wrapping up their 18-stop Willow and Erys tour with a performance at L.A. Live’s The Novo this week. Named after Willow Smith’s recently released self-titled album and Jaden Smith’s second studio album, which were both released earlier this year, the show kicks off at 8 p.m. on Dec. 19, when fans can expect to hear tunes like Jaden Smith’s Icon and Willow Smith’s record-breaking single “I Whip My Hair Back and Forth.” At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovo.com.
photo courtesy Jaden Smith
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photo by Erik Umphrey
10 DOWNTOWN NEWS
Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Anita Baker is wrapping up her stage career with one final Los Angeles performance this week. The “Sweet Love” singer and R&B legend decided to retire from an iconic three decades in front of a microphone, embarking on a farewell tour in March, the West Coast leg of which, will culminate at Staples Center on Friday, Dec. 20. Kicking off at 8 p.m., expect to here Baker’s award-winning staples, like “Giving You the Best That I Got,” “Just Because,” and “Body and Soul.” At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
DECEMBER 16, 2019
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11
Dec. 22: Mooey Moobau has an album release show. Dec. 18: The Only Ocean, Queen Tusk, Tiktaalik, Brain Fragment. Exchange LA Dec. 19: Purple Fuzz Machine, The Lavender Experience, Clutch 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. the Pearls. Dec. 19: Junkie Kid. Dec. 20: Düllhaus, Nonfiction, Warsaw Pact. Dec. 20: VNSSA, Steady Rock, LondonBridge. Dec. 21: Intermod, Dog Rockets, and The Goddamn Regret play Dec. 21: Infected Mushroom. an all-ages matinee. Then it’s Spencer Robinson and the Wolf Ham and Eggs Tavern Spiders, Alright Spider (we’re noticing a pattern) and Darlington cash only. All purchased stordescribed below to enforce a 433 W. Eighth St. or Mansion. age lien imposed on said property EMPLOYMENT units with the items contained pursuant to Sections hamandeggstavern.com. Dec. 22: The Outing, Low Octane, Stone Cross, Velvateen, Rikk herein are sold on an 21700-21716 of the Business Dec. 21: It’s Ham and Eggs’ third annual toy drive, so enjoy live Agnew Band, The Revolting Sounds. “as-is” basis and must be & Professions Code, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT music, DJs spinning blues and punk, and some pizza. Bring a toy! The Regent removed Section 2328 of the UCC, Moroccan Lounge at the time of sale. Section 535 of the Penal 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or Senior Environmental Sale subject to cancellation Code and provisions of the 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or spacelandpresents.com. Consultant. Prep EIAs. in the event of settlement Civil Code. themoroccan.com. Dec. 18: Hellyeah, with Nonpoint and Deepfall. Hell yeah. Conduct environmental studbetween Thriftee Storage Co. The undersigned will sell on Dec. 16: Colyer. ies & prep docs & filings in Dec. 20: Conejo, with Mr. Shadow, Mr. Lil One, Misfit Soto, El Vuh, and obligated party. the 17th day of December Thriftee Storage Company 2019 at 11: 00 A.M. on the conformity w/ CEQA & NEPA. Dec. 17: Enjoy the sounds of the far-off land of Huntington Beach Wicked Baby Doll, I Suppose (band name of the week), Kev Classik, LLC premises where said property Present at public meetings. with DENM. and Young Drummer Boy. STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas Dated at Los Angeles, CA by has been stored and U.S. Master’s deg. or forDec. 18: Clans. Dec. 21: Joe Kay, Andre Power, andCONTRIBUTING Andrew Uribe playWRITERS: a “sound of Tom Fassbender, Felipe F. Islas / Manager which are located at Thriftee Favre eign equiv.Jeff (Environmental Los Angeles Downtown December 4, 2019 Storage Company LLC, 1717 Dec. 19: Laundry, All Things Blue, Rincs. tomorrow” show. News Management or related field) ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison LA Downtown News N. Glendale Blvd. in the city req’d. 2 yrs’ exp. in pos’n(s) W.had First Dec. 20: DZ Deathrays used to just be called DZ.1264 But they to Street Dec. 22: Neil Hilborn. 12/9/19, 12/16/19 of Los Angeles, County of PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard involving a) prep of EA, EIR, Los Angeles, CA 90026 add Deathrays. The Smell Los Angeles, 1620 State of W. FOUNTAINHEAD PARKWAY, SUITE 219 EIS, & IS/MND docs in cnxn. ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb California, Dec. 21: Emarosa, followed by the 2000s emo213-481-1448 and pop-punk 247 S. Main St., in the alley between TEMPE, ARIZONA 85282 w/ transportation projects & b) the following: FOR RENT dance party Riot! at the Disco. Spring and Main streets, or thesmell.org. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador realpeople@downtownnews.com useIngles of ArcGIS Catalog appl’ns Name of owner:PRESIDENT: Space num- Steve T. Strickbine req’d. Ricondo & Associates, DISTRIBUTION Castillo Dec. 22: Emarosa again. Dec. 20: Sad Dance Party, Panoramic, The Haunts, ASSISTANT: Love Under- Lorenzo ber VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt Inc. Los Angeles, CA. EOE. Description of goods Resident water. FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris Resumes to: Recruiting, Amount 428 S. Hewitt St. or Dec. 21: After Zero, Hot Brothers. Ricondo & Associates, Inc., Louie Mellado D-72 Personal S I N C E 19 7 2 residentdtla.com. Dec. 22: No Age, DADDY, Julia Gulia, Mr. Wright and the El 20 N. Clark St., Suite 1500, effects $338.00 Chicago, IL 60602. Dec. 16: Dayton Swim Club, Gemma Castro, Cyrus Gengras. Charles C-50 Personal Salvadorians. ©2019 Times Media Group. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Times MediaPerry Group. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is ROOMS instagram:Ballroom effects $173.77 Dec. 17:facebook: Cesar Saez, Lara FM, Twin Seas,twitter: Mystery Suns. The Teragram the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. Cesar Arredondo U-89 L.A. Downtown News DowntownNews @ladowntownnews One copy per person. Los Angeles Downtown News has been adjudicated as a newspaper of generalPersonal circulation in Court Judgement No. C362899. last two acts sound like a solid pairing. 1234 W. Seventh St. or ROOMS FOR LEGAL Dec. 18: KCRW’s Jeremy Sole DJs a “Cannabis Influencer Hol- teragramballroom.com. effects $120.00 RENT Lorenza Lee C-48 Personal iday Party.” If that party description leaves you with existential Dec. 19-20: Two nights of the iconic, raw and still-goingAll utilities paid. effects $154.27 PUBLIC NOTICE dread, welcome to 2019. strong L.A. punk legends, X. Juan Faria S17 Personal Monthly from $1100. Dec. 19: Volar Sin Alas is a night of music and arts, featuring Dec. 21: Grooving alternative sounds with The Joy Formidable. effects Call Sal NOTICE OF SALE $596.00 live painting, plus Leche, The Fuzz Machine, and Shaman Cult. (323) 875-6767. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Purchases must be paid for Dec. 20: Enjoy an evening of R&B DJ sets at Pillowtalk. that the undersigned intends at the time of purchase in to sell the personal property Dec. 21: DJ Scotty Boy headlines Winter Fresh, an apparently winter-themed holiday party with house music. Wear sweaters, Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews. we think. LEGAL NOTICE Dec. 22: Disco Goth is a night of post-punk, New Wave and com/calendar MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as more, and so expect eyeliner, big hair and lots of black. Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated assoStaples Center ciation, will receive qualifications packages from contractors wishing to 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com. become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Dec. 20: Anita Baker is on her farewell tour. Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a The Novo firm that will provide construction services at Los Angeles Union Station at 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification thenovodtla.com. WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar Dec. 17: Rapper Sir. and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ quesEMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com Dec. 19: You might know Will Smith from his hit song “Sumtionnaire at https://forms.gle/CbNhDNfPdEqBLjqX9 . Completed forms are mertime” and his film “Wild Wild West.” Did you also know he due on or before close of business by December 25, 2019. Submissions Email: Send a brief description, street address has kids? Jaden and Willow Smith dual headline this evening. received after 5:00pm on December 25, 2019 will be rejected. and public phone number. Submissions must be The Redwood received 10 days prior to publication date to be 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or considered for print. theredwoodbar.com.
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STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT: Lorenzo Castillo S I N C E 19 7 2
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