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Biden announces regional migration initiative at Summit of the Americas
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By Emilee Miranda Cronkite News resident Joe Biden previewed a new migration initiative during the opening of the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Downtown LA, calling it a mutual commitment to orderly migration throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration is an “integrated approach to manage migration,” Biden said, noting the initiative creates shared responsibility for handling the migration crisis across the Americas. “That’s what this is all about: responding to basic human desires that we share, for dignity, for safety, for security,” he said. “When those basics are absent in one place, that’s when people make the desperate decision to seek them elsewhere. All of our nations have a responsibility to step up and ease the pressure people are feeling today.” Biden didn’t go into detail about how the initiative will work but said the initiative would deter criminals and human traffickers, and he emphasized that “unlawful migration is not acceptable.” “And we will enforce our borders, including through innovative, coordinated action with our regional partners,” the president said.
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Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is swarmed by the media on June 9 at the Summit of the Americas. Reece Andrews/Submitted
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In the Yuma and Tucson sectors of Arizona’s border with Mexico, Customs and Border Patrol encountered more than 52,000 migrants attempting to enter the country in April, the most recent data available – a 54% increase from a year ago. The U.S. isn’t the only country struggling to handle the growing migration crisis. Before the summit began, a migration caravan departed Tapachula, Mexico, headed for the U.S. border more than 1,500 miles north. Shortly after its departure, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced he would not attend the summit because the Biden administration did not invite Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Luis García Villagrán, an activist following the caravan, told The Associated Press the caravan is a message to the leaders gathered for the summit. Migrant families, he said, are not bargaining chips to be used for political interests. Biden also announced the creation of a new economic partnership. America’s Partnership for Economic Prosperity is aimed at helping “economies grow from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down” after the hit they’ve taken from COVID-19. Biden said he hoped the initiatives will enhance regional stability and create opportunities for safe migration. “Safe and orderly migration is good for all of our economies, including the United States. It can be a catalyst for sustainable growth,” he said. Biden and other leaders are expected to sign the migration declaration on Friday, the last day of the summit, which was inaugurated in 1994 and meets every few years to address the region’s challenges.
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The Ninth Summit of the Americas opened June 9 and ran through June 10 in Downtown at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Reece Andrews/Submitted
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Rosie O’Donnell carries on mother’s charitable work By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor s a child, Rosie O’Donnell watched her mother fall ill and suffer through the physical, emotional and financial pain that went along with it. “I used to think if Johnny Carson’s mother got sick, he would tell everyone to send in $1,” O’Donnell said. “Then, they’d get the medicine and make mom better.” Her mother, Rosann Teresa Murtha O’Donnell, died in 1973 and the comedian has vowed since to give back. “My mom was very religious,” she said. “She was very Catholic and always talked about charitable giving. We would donate our clothes to St. Vincent De Paul. My brother knows all the names of the saints, but I don’t. She was about giving back and helping out a neighbor. I think she passed that along to me.” Furthering her cause, O’Donnell will host The Stand Up for Friendly House LA comedy benefit on Saturday, July 16, at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Also on the bill is
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Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Lapides, Gina Yashere and headliner Kathy Griffin. A two -time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian, Griffin is a renaissance woman who has written best-selling books, filled the largest concert halls and is a “warrior” for First Amendment rights. Okatsuka is a comedian, writer and actor seen on CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” She regularly makes viral videos with her 86-year-old grandmother. Lapides hosts “UnCabaret” on Comedy Central and Amazon Prime. She authored the original audiobook “So You Need to Decide.” Born and raised in London, Yashere broke into American comedy with her appearances on “Live at the Apollo.” Friendly House LA provides women seeking recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders with a supportive home-like atmosphere that fosters recovery, personal growth and civic responsibility. The community-based nonprofit helps every qualified applicant who wants to recover. “We’re hoping for a lot of laughs and a lot
of fun,” said O’Donnell, who got her start as the winner in “Star Search’s” comedy category. “Helping each other out is the way that this country is going to heal itself—helping each other and not being so divided. Anything you can do to help people in need is really wonderful and Friendly House LA is a wonderful organization that’s been helping women get sober and stay sober for some time. It’s important that we support causes like this.” As for the divide, she referenced the mass shooting incidents throughout the country. “The shooting in Buffalo was horrible,” she said. “It was like a public lynching — only without the ropes. It was, instead, with an AR50 or whatever. “They have kids who use guns in these horrible shootings and how long will it take to recover from Buffalo? Not a week or two later, there’s another Sandy Hook in Uvalde. It’s overwhelming that not much has happened since April 1999 when Columbine occurred. “They say these are mentally ill kids and
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it’s not the guns’ fault. You know, every other nation has mentally ill kids and we have the gun problem, not other nations. We need safe spaces and Friendly Houses for safe spaces.” O’Donnell, who is renting a house for a year in Malibu, is looking forward to the benefit. “Over 70 years ago, Friendly House was created by one woman with a dream,” she said. “A dream of a safe space that would unconditionally love and support women in recovery from addiction. A safe space for women to learn how to love themselves. I am deeply humbled and honored to help this beautiful home in any way I can. And if I can do it with friends while we make people laugh, well, that’s a dream of mine.” O’Donnell has been a force in entertainment. This year, she’s going to film more episodes of “The L Word.” She said it’s easy to stay passionate about her career. “I’ve been lucky to work in a lot of areas of show business,” she said. “It’s been wonderful for me to do so many things in show business. I always loved it. I
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always knew artistic expression was the saving grace. It was a way to climb out of the hole. If you’re depressed and you’re in it, you don’t know how to get through it. “This is a way and artistic expression is pertinent for just getting out there to do something, anything.”
Stand Up for Friendly House LA w/Rosie O’Donnell, Kathy Griffin, Gina Yashere, Atsuko Okatsuka and Beth Lapides WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16 WHERE: The Fonda Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $83 INFO: 323-464-6269, fondatheatre.com
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Rosie O’Donnell will host Stand Up for Friendly House LA at The Fonda Theatre on Saturday, July 16. Eric McNatt/Contributor
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Artists say fire’s effects are ‘devastating’ By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer rt supplies can be repurchased, but when artists’ studios are destroyed, it’s impossible to recreate the works. That’s why 11 local artists are suing the property owners of the three-story commercial building in DTLA that burned down on June 8, 2021. The lawsuit claims that they were negligent in preventing the fire that took more than 150 firefighters to extinguish and involved an explosion and massive ball of flames. Owned by L for Lofts LLC, the building was destroyed by the fire, which caused massive loss of sculptures, murals, paintings, equipment, documentation and personal mementos. “Buildings like this don’t suddenly catch fire and burn to the ground without at least negligence,” said Cyrus Shahriari, the attorney representing the artists. “We believe, based on what my clients have observed in their experience in the building, that there were not adequate fire prevention measures.”
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L for Lofts LLC did not respond to a request for comment. Shahriari said the artists noted a lack of working fire sprinklers, adequate fire extinguishers or firestop doors. They don’t believe the walls were made of material that was not flammable. He said several artists raised concerns with the management company after a 2016 fire in Oakland destroyed artist studios. “This is a place where it was foreseeable that this type of incident could happen or that there was a risk of fire,” Shahriari said. “There are basic fire requirements and codes that should have been followed and we don’t believe they were.” The artists say their losses are immeasurable. Multimedia artist Paul Juno spent seven years working in his Little Tokyo Art Complex studio. A self-proclaimed workaholic, he paints every day. His studio, he said, was a place where he poured out his soul. As an artist who experiments with his style, he said some paintings take years to create so
he always has many works in progress. “Words can’t even come to mind how devastating it is to lose things like that,” Juno said. “You can’t really make those things again.” An art history student, he said artists always look at their early works. Galleries host retrospectives so people can compare the years of a career. That will never be possible for any of these artists. “I lost 10 to 12 years’ worth of work,” Juno said. “That stuff’s lost forever. I told myself I’d photograph it once I moved out of the studio. Now I obviously will never get a chance to do it.” He called his stored works “a visual savings account.” He’s not selling them now, but in the future there might be a market for it. “I can help my future self with the stuff I put forward,” Juno said. “It’s one of those things you do as a younger artist. Now I’ve got to start from scratch completely. I put everything in that studio. My studio was overflowing to the brim.”
He said some pieces were collaborations with other visiting artists; moments he can’t relive. “To say it’s devastating is putting it lightly,” Juno said. “It’s one of those things that brings panic attacks. I have nightmares of my home being on fire.” Surge Witron creates large acrylic gestural abstract paintings and he had two studios in the building over the past six years. “I lost a whole body of work — not just materials, but an archive of artwork, research and indicators of things I’ve done in my art practice,” Witron said. “It’s painful thinking about not having anything to show for it because I lost about nine years of work to the fire.” Witron, who moved to this studio right after finishing grad school, had experienced two other losses right before the fire. In 2020, one of his grandfathers died from COVID-19. Then in the months before the fire, he lost his other grandfather. “It was just this constant cycle of just losing and losing,” Witron said. “I couldn’t get through with the grief. I had to seek ther-
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apy.” The studio space represented community for Witron and the other artists who worked there. “It was a very communal space,” Witron said. “As artists we engage with each other. It allows us to really digress from our work and really see moments of where you get either stuck or you’re constantly editing. Having these conversations with fellow artists in the community space allows you to push your work forward. That’s something I lost from not being there.” Like Juno, he said he can’t survey his work because his early pieces from his 20s are gone. The effects are profound. Witron said he can’t work in his new space, as he still grapples with anxiety and loss. He wants to see accountability for what happened. The art studio in Little Tokyo was Emily Dobbs’ first studio. In 2021, she had just finished a show called “Identity Dysmorphia,” related to a theory she cultivated about displaced individuals and their cultural backgrounds. All that work was destroyed. For the next eight months, she stopped making art because she, too, worried it would disappear. She had artwork dating back to 2007 and mementos dating back to when she was 7 years old. Worse yet, she lost the only things she had of her birth parents who died in the Korean Air Flight 801 crash in
1997. “When I learned my birth parents died, I was numb, I could not fully react,” Dobbs said. “(Losing the studio) was equivalent to the feeling of me losing my parents, because this was everything I’ve created for myself. This is not just work, or items or monetary loss. This is sentimental value. This is our time. These are our thoughts, history, identity, memories, all in this location. The creative life force of what we were able to have there was gone in a night.” Hedy Torres is a Mexican immigrant who works as an advocate for the homeless. She had just moved into the studio in March 2021, but she lost five years’ worth of paintings, a projector and many materials. She had a series she was going to show focusing on people who are experiencing homelessness. She lost all but a single painting which was in her home apartment. “Remembering that night makes me want to cry. It really hurts so much,” Torres said. She learned of the fire through an email. She took time off her job to go to the building. The first thing she noted was that the roof was gone. Any hope of things being rescued from the building evaporated. “Everything was closed and there were still a lot of fire trucks,” Torres said. “It was super shocking.” Jesse Fregozo’s art focuses on the strug-
Artists Hedy Torres, Surge Wiltrön, Jesse Fregozo, Jenny Newman, Kentaro Yoshimura, Emily Ennui, Lee Dobbs and Paul Juno pose for a portrait outside of their studios in Downtown LA that burned down on June 8, 2021. Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
gles of marginalized communities. He said it took him down his life’s darkest path. “Even if my house burned down, it’s just material stuff,” Fregozo said. “But an art studio is much more intimate. It’s like the stuff you cannot redo. The work will never be the same.”
He spent much of his quarantine time in his studio creating art and teaching art workshops electronically from that space. Fregozo built his portfolio. He archived his art, which harkened back to elementary school. While he has a few digital copies of his work, 98% of it is completely gone.
New Outdoor Watering Restrictions Addresses End in
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We all need cool, clear water By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist am in the ladies’ room at All-Saints Episcopal in Pasadena. A young woman I love and admire is also there. She and I are chatting when I intervene: “You can’t let the water run like that.” I reach over and shut off the tap. She doesn’t argue. “Oh, yeah, I forgot. The drought. Thanks.” I’ll never forget about droughts; remembering them is in my DNA. The soundtrack of my childhood prominently featured a song by the Sons of the Pioneers — later, a massive hit for Frankie Laine — “Cool Water”:
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All day I’ve faced a barren waste Without the taste of water, cool water Old Dan and I, with throats burned dry And souls that cry for water Cool, clear, water… I have a deep relationship with water that ranges from having not enough of it to barely surviving a deadly flood 50 years ago. I’ll share about the fatal flood in another column; today, I’m focusing on drought. I grew up on a small farm outside Denver. We depended on a well and irrigation ditches. I know this already sounds like the classic, “When I was a kid, we used to walk 10 miles in a blizzard just to get to school.” Please be patient and trust me when I reference Joni Mitchell’s iconic lyric: “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” Back on the farm, our well either got dangerously low or went completely dry on many occasions. No water is no good, and we knew that wasting water drains the life from plants, animals, and people. Our family had two adults, and I was the youngest of three kids. Saturday bath night meant I got the dregs left by four people older than I was. Did I complain? No. I had nothing to compare it to. We washed dishes with as little water as possible and rinsed them all at the same time with a tea kettle of boiled water. No one had to tell us to shut off the tap. Compare and contrast to life in today’s Southern California. City and suburban
Ellen Snortland folks simply turn on a faucet, and voilá! A seemingly plentiful resource comes out… except we now know it is anything but. Regardless of how and why we got here, the fact is our behavior regarding water must radically shift. I’m avoiding the temptation of turning this into a finger-wagging lecture. Instead, I will pass on some time-tested tips and ideas that may be useful or haven’t occurred to you. • If you need to run water to have the hot faucet kick in, run it into a container so you can use it for something else. • Have containers of water standing by to dip and rinse bottles and cans for recycling; then use that rinse water at the end of the day for plants or pets. Believe me, our dogs think floating canned tuna flakes is a bonus. Also, I sincerely hope someone is working on having recycling centers not require us to rinse off food residue, which is incredibly wasteful. • Take “cat” baths. Americans overdo the hygiene stuff. A washcloth, a little water, and some type of deodorant quickly takes care of odors you may not be fond of. For regular baths, fill the tub halfway, and let others use it after you. If you prefer a shower, take one every three to four days. It’s OK… really! Collect shower and bath water in buckets and take outside to thirsty plants. It’s great upper body strength exercise, too.
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• Go on a laundry diet. Again, Americans wash clothes way too often. This is why I have 35 pairs of underpants and wash them all on one day while going rogue on laundry day. I kid! Kind of…
• Start a movement to build a pipeline that can transport water from flooded areas around the country to California. Hey! If they can pipe oil over vast distances, they can pipe water!
• If you have to rinse dishes before loading them in the dishwasher, or you both hand wash and use a dishwasher, wait and rinse everything simultaneously at the end of the day by using a kettle of boiling water. And don’t waste the dishwater — use it!
• Find other water causes to get behind. Start a petition to prevent “designer label” bottled water companies from draining our aquifers and then selling us water that we’ve already paid for with taxes. Get bold. Shut off anyone’s taps if they’re wasting water. Report leaks.
• I was shocked when a friend had never heard of “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; brown, flush it down…” It wasn’t too long ago that Southern Californians knew that mantra and practiced it. Let’s bring it back!
You get the idea. Isak Dinesen wrote, “The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears or the sea.” That is true for curing spiritual and emotional wounds, but for people, plants, and animals, we all need cool, clear, fresh water.
• Deputize children in your life to be water monitors. They can make a game out of water usage. Who can use the least water? Who can come up with creative ways to reduce it? Offer some kind of prize when you can lower the water bill from month to month. Here’s a prize idea: a drawing to see who gets to take the first bath.
Ellen Snortland has written this column for decades and also teaches creative writing. She can be reached at: ellen@ beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-winning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is available for download or streaming at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/beautybitesbeast
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Hey you! Speak up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community. Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.
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JUNE 20, 2022
Wendy Gladney: The power of helping others
By LA Downtown News Staff Wendy Gladney is a life strategist, success coach, consultant, author and speaker. She is a multifaceted businesswoman with close to 30 years of experience. Wendy’s Enterprises include Personal Services Plus (PSP); Season of Greatness (SOG); and Forgiving for Living, Inc. (FFL). As a life strategist, coach, consultant, community relations and strategic engagement expert, Gladney has worked with individuals, leading community-based organizations, small businesses and corporations in America, all while building a reputation of delivering exceptional service.
Life Strategist Wendy Gladney
The programs include:
With a Bolognese-style menu of handmade pastas and Italian wines, Rossoblu is a popular Downtown destination in LA’s Fashion District. Wonho Frank Lee/Submitted
Wendy Gladney/Courtesy
Personal Services Plus helps clients achieve their goals through coaching, consulting, and training. (personalservicesplusllc. com) Season of Greatness is about helping women understand the different seasons of their life and where they excel the most. The main strategy is helping them understand their meaning, to develop their message, and carry out their mission (purpose). (wendygladney.com) Forgiving For Living Inc. was founded in 1999 with the mission of helping at-risk girls overcome behavioral and mental health issues, low self-esteem due to depression, abuse, and/or abandonment. The young women are given the necessary tools to live a healthy and productive life. (forgivingforliving.org) A native of Southern California, Gladney earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is also a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington, certified and licensed to teach/coach International Protocol, Etiquette, and Intercultural Understanding. Gladney si a certified coach, for which she graduated from Antioch University Coaching Tools Program (ICF). Gladney’s reach extends abroad as she participated in the UNCTAD Conference in Lyon, France, and later was part of the China Trade Mission with the Upland Chamber of Commerce in 2005. She was selected by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles as an Ambassador of Goodwill and Global Relations to Israel in May 2015; and in October 2015, she traveled to South Korea with G.C.S. as a Goodwill Ambassador on behalf of Los Angeles. For her achievements and commitment to community, she received several honors and awards. Gladney is a weekly columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel and the Inland Valley News. She is also a contributing writer to Suite Life SoCal Magazine. Gladney is a mother, grandmother and wife. She is committed to faith, family and community. She said she believes that everyone has the power to make a difference and her motto is: “Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice, it’s a lifestyle, pass it on!”
Gladney and the girls at a recent Forgiving For Living Inc. gathering. Wendy Gladney/Courtesy ADVERTORIAL
Dina Samson finds success in face of adversity By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor ucked among Downtown’s 100-block Fashion District, Italian eatery Rossoblu is one of LA’s hidden gems. Through its doors lie an open kitchen, industrial dining room with a floor-to-ceiling mural, and an ownership team that’s fought to survive a pandemic and structure fire. “It’s been a crazy journey, and I can’t believe we’re still here,” co-owner Dina Samson said. After starting her career in finance as an investment banker in San Francisco and New York, she was recommended by an investor to become the general manager of a restaurant, a role that would suit her talents in managing money and staff. After four months of hospitality training, Samson became the manager of her first restaurant, Sotto, which she opened with her husband, Steve. “I just fell in love with it,” Samson said. “Right away, every day was different. I was meeting new people all the time. I was managing a team. I was an entrepreneur. I was my own boss. It was better than I ever thought it would be. So, Steve and I then went ahead and decided, ‘Let’s open another restaurant, but this time let’s do it on our own.’” The husband-wife duo has since founded both Rossoblu and Superfine, a pizzeria on San Pedro Street that blends both old and new world traditions. It’s a journey that
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has brought both hardship and reward. “We raised a lot of money to build Rossoblu,” Samson said. “We honestly almost ran out of money. We had to put up our house on a second mortgage. It was a pretty crazy affair, and all on this bet that Rossoblu would be successful in that little corner of the Fashion District that no one’s ever been to.” It was a bet that paid off, as Rossoblu recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. With Samson at the helm of marketing and finance, her husband as head chef and their long-time friend and partner Hans Luttmann leading operations and hospitality, Rossoblu stands not only as an idyllic dining destination at the site of LA’s original produce market, but a symbol of what can be achieved through teamwork and perseverance. “It was really hard to open the restaurant,” Samson explained. “It took longer than expected. It cost more than we thought it would…and it was really about me, Steve and Hans being super supportive of each other at times when we wanted to give up. “Say I was not having a good day and I didn’t want to move forward anymore; Steve would be that person. Or say Steve and I would be like, ‘Oh, this is too hard;’ Hans would be the person. I think what’s really made us super successful in this space. That teamwork has been essential.” After its first year in operation, the Rossoblu team faced their first test: a structure
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fire that closed its business for six months. Then, just nine months later, they would face their second: a worldwide pandemic that lasted for more than two years. During those straining years in lockdown, Samson and her team were proactive in finding ways to keep their staff employed and maintain a connection with the surrounding community. Samson wanted to maintain the restaurant’s fine dining experience for customers while abiding by social distancing restrictions and offering a more affordable price. For $49, customers could order a seven-course meal delivery from Rossoblu. These boxed meals not only brought the restaurant’s beloved Bolognese-style menu into people’s homes, but also helped keep members of staff employed. “We paid our teams all the way through (the pandemic) and kept them employed, even though we weren’t open,” Samson explained. “We said, ‘We’re going to use this time to come back better than ever. What we want you to do is think of ways that Rossoblu can be better when we reopen.’ So, we created a marketing team. We created a maintenance team, a decoration team, a design team and a safety team. We literally put our whole team to work, even though they were working from home.” With compassion and integrity as the restaurant’s core values, Samson’s work didn’t end with keeping her own business afloat during the pandemic. She wanted to share what she had learned through overcoming the many obstacles her team had faced to help other businesses across the city. “It’s become more about our community now,” Samson said. “We’ve realized that we can really make a difference. We’re a restaurant. We feed people, and that alone creates community. But we can also create a community by supporting organizations. We work with Alma Backyard Farms. We’ve worked with the food bank. We work with the Skid Row Housing Trust. We’re trying to work within our neighborhood and within our industry to make it a better place.” In 2020, Samson co-founded the Independent Hospitality Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for small business hospitality policy and gives a voice to LA-based independent restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs. She is also the co-founder of Regarding Her, a national nonprofit geared toward helping women-owned businesses. The
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Meet Dr. Veronica Vasquez-Montez of PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital
Dina Samson
Ed Anderson/Submitted
organization that began as a group of local restauranteurs meeting for brunch at Rossoblu has since expanded to a national movement with a membership of over 350 in LA and 125 in Washington, D.C. “This week we’re actually launching something called the Regarding Her academy,” Samson said with a proud smile. “What we found out during the pandemic was a lot of women needed help with basic resources and basic knowledge, whether it be legal, financial, human resources or even who’s the best plumber in town. “We realized that we needed to create this academy to uplift these the women that need it the most. So, the idea is that after we launch Regarding Her chapters in each city, they get an academy of their own.” Each year, Regarding Her will give away $20,000 to 10 women who apply to the academy in each city, starting with LA. The 10-week training course will then provide them with the basics of how to run a restaurant and to make them better restaurant owners. Through all the challenges she has faced since starting Rossoblu five years ago, Samson chose to embed herself within her local community and share what she has learned with those in need. “We’ve been through the pandemic, we’ve been through a fire, and we’re still here,” Samson said. “If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that core values can really keep your business together. When you share a vision and people love the vision, that’s how we’ve been able to grow. Those core values help keep us all together.”
Dina Samson dinasamson.com
By LA Downtown News Staff LA Downtown News and PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital are celebrating remarkable women. Meet Dr. Veronica Vasquez-Montez, the medical director of the emergency department and vice president of medical affairs at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital. She provides direct patient care, teaches residents and provides clinical oversight of the medical staff, quality and outcomes and resource utilization. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Vasquez-Montez was a vital part of the hospital care team at PIH Health Good Sa- Dr. Veronica Vasquez-Montez, medical maritan Hospital, as demonstrated by her director, emergency department & VP of exceptional leadership, clinical expertise, medical affairs, PIH Health Good Samaritan and her commitment to her patients, staff, Hospital and community. PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital/Courtesy Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and administrators, Vasquez-Montez provides outstanding leadership and guidance, and her expertise has helped shape hospital protocols that have enhanced and improved the care in the emergency department and other hospital areas. Vasquez-Montez takes the lead in providing thorough education and staff training. Her team has followed her example and emulated her devotion to patients and community, bringing comfort and building trust through compassionate and skilled care. Vasquez-Montez is a recipient of the Los Angeles Boys & Girl Club “Together Again 2021” Community Hero Award. She was also one of 40 women leaders featured by Outfront Media in their March 2022 Women’s HERstory Month campaign honoring women making history across all industries. She has been a featured panelist for a Los Angeles-area symposium, along with other elite health industry leaders, offering expertise on topics from vaccinations to the overall impact COVID-19 has had on the health care system and businesses in Southern California. A board-certified emergency physician, Vasquez-Montez graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University Medical School. She completed her in residency in emergency medicine at the University of Southern California – LAC+USC Medical Center, and an internship in general surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Vasquez-Montez is a candidate in the executive Master of Business Administration program at USC Marshall School of Business, and will graduate in 2023. PIH Health: L.A.’s health and wellness partner PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital was founded in 1885 and, in 2019, became one of three nonprofit hospitals in PIH Health’s health care delivery network, which serves more than 3.7 million residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties, and the San Gabriel Valley. PIH Health’s fully integrated network also includes, 35 outpatient facilities, seven urgent care centers, home health care services and more — all providing the community with world-class, award-winning care. PIH Health’s Urgent Care Center Westlake at 2200 W, Third Street, Suite 120, Los Angeles, is open. For more information, visit PIHHealth.org ADVERTORIAL
PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital/Courtesy
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
JUNE 20, 2022
Women in Business
Female entrepreneur and Polished owner, Nancy Nguyen.
Polished DTLA storefront in DTLA. Polish DTLA/Courtesy
Polished DTLA manicure station.
Polish DTLA/Courtesy
Polished DTLA’s pedicure paradise. Polish DTLA/Courtesy
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Polished DTLA has a shining reputation By LA Downtown News Staff Nancy Nguyen started Polished DTLA more than five years ago, filling a void downtown. Through the years, Polished DTLA has built a community of great clientele and a team of passionate nail technicians. The nail salon offers an array of nail services, from traditional manicure/pedicures to the most intricate, detailed designs. The technicians always use top-shelf products like Après Gel X, Young Nails, OPI and Kush Queen. Polished DTLA’s staff strives to prioritize customer care and a technical skillset. With Polished DTLA, Nguyen loves and cares for the industry. She cares for her clients and respects her team. “It all works hand in hand to create good synergy,” Nguyen said. She admitted the salon struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it made the business stronger. Nguyen is someone who always looks toward the positive. “Beauty is real,” she said. “Self-care is real. During COVID and post-COVID, I needed to appreciate things differently. “Self-care/beauty care really helped a lot of my clients after being deprived during the lockdown in LA County.” This included herself. She and her staff learned to appreciate the business and industry more. Nguyen is grateful and thankful that she still has a business and an “amazing healthy team, amazing healthy clients.”
A fan of DTLA, Nguyen said the city has a vibe of individualism, and it attracts visionaries to the area. Polished DTLA echoes this energy and zeal and inspires the staff to thrive, innovate and update their nail services, techniques and products. Nguyen said, most of all, it’s about teamwork. She loves her team of talented female and male artists. “Our amazing clients and referrals built Polished DTLA, with the assistance of a talented team who achieved the demand and expectations of our clients. I will always be humbly grateful,” Nguyen said. She adores being a part of DTLA. They welcome new clients and would love to share their experience and professionalism in servicing one aspect of beauty industry. “I’m proud to be a woman in business,” she said. “I love to see successful women all around our community and everywhere. That makes me motivated and inspires me in business. Love is energy and that moves everything.” Polished DTLA 215 W. Sixth Street, Suite R-114, Los Angeles 213-266-0077 polisheddtla@gmail.com polisheddtla.com
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Deisy Suarez parlays lifelong talent into DESUAR Spas By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor eisy Suarez has devoted her entire life to making people look their best. Her interest in the beauty world started at the young age of 8. While living in the Dominican Republic, Suarez loved playing with ingredients to create her beauty products, which led her to formulate her first face scrub. After practicing her craft and sharing it with people in her community, she began charging for her services and products. After moving to New York, Suarez dealt with many challenges like discrimination, specifically against Dominican natives who moved to the United States. Due to fear and anxiety, Suarez stayed home and worked on her craft. “I would do my makeup, my hair, or give myself a facial with whatever ingredients were in the kitchen,” Suarez said. In 1987, everything changed for Suarez. She founded DESUAR Cosmetics in 2004. After working in the beauty industry for several years in Los Angeles and New York, Suarez put her 15 years of expertise in spa management and self-care into creating DESUAR Spa. She opened her first location in Downtown Los Angeles. This month she relocated her second spa from Los Feliz to Hollywood, boasting the same impeccable service and treatments and is ADA compliant. DESUAR Spa is also known for its services. “We have a unique menu,” Suarez said. “A lot of spas tend to have niche services. We want to be a one-stop-shop. You can get a relaxing massage, a body scrub, a wrap, eyebrows tinted, or waxing. We’ve become the leading beauty spa center in Los Angeles, offering customers everything from hydra-facials to CBD treatments.” DESUAR Spa thrives on offering the best experience to its guests by providing private areas for events for bachelorette, birthdays and graduation parties, and more. The Hollywood location has two levels with more than 3,350 square feet of
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usable space. The site will include two couples rooms, five additional treatment rooms, changing rooms, copper tubs, showers, lockers, two relaxation rooms and a retail area. As if a second location was not enough, DESUAR Spa recently partnered with Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa for its third location. The partnership will also include guest referrals from its sister hotels within the 1- to 5-mile radius, including Spindrift Inn, Monterey Bay Inn, Wave Street Inn and Victorian Inn. The Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa location is 2,700 square feet and will feature five treatment rooms, including lockers, showers, changing rooms, a relaxation area, an outdoor hot tub, and a retail shop for spa visitors. While DESUAR Spa in DTLA temporarily closed because of COVID-19, Suarez spent her time in quarantine pursuing her lifelong goal of writing a book. Her book, “Marriage Material: How I Found My Husband,” was published in 2020 and is centered on love, relationships and marriage. It shares the inspiring personal story of how she and her now-husband overcame adversity to start a life together. She also parallels the current pandemic that has affected so many planned weddings and relationships. It’s meant to inspire and provide hope for those doubtful of love, afraid they’ll never find the right person or are stuck in an unfulfilling relationship. Suarez said that the need for self-care — beauty, and wellness — has kept her passionate about her career. “There’s more to beauty and wellness than putting makeup on your face,” she added. “We take our body for granted. We need to treat our bodies as a whole. I wanted to be an ambassador to this industry and educate and teach people the benefits of taking care of your body inside and out and feeling good without having to break the bank. “This is all I do and have done. I do skin care. I know rituals and services. I can do it with my eyes closed. This is not something I decided I would do yesterday after watching YouTube videos. It’s been a lot of years in the making.”
DESUAR Spa desuarspa.com
Deisy Suarez founded DESUAR Cosmetics in 2004. Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
Suarez has opened DESUAR locations in both Downtown and Hollywood. Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
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By Xavier Omar Otero LA Downtown News Contributor tiam in morte, superest amor.” Translated from Latin: In death, love survives. That’s particularly true for the legendary Michael Jackson, who died 13 years ago. To mark this, Michael Lives Forever is coming to The Wiltern on Saturday, July 2. The show stars three MJ alumni: Choreographer Lavelle Smith, backup singer Kevin Dorsey and guitarist Jennifer Batten coming together for the first time since their tenure with The King of Pop. After touring extensively throughout Europe and Latin America to sold-out audiences, Michael Lives Forever, led by singer/ dancer and impersonator Rodrigo Teaser, is making its U.S. debut. “It is very, very special. It is so beyond my imagination. But, I am a bit nervous,” Teaser said. “I will be performing in Michael’s home. A lot of his fans will be watching.” Teaser was raised in the small town of Guarulhos, Brazil, 11 kilometers outside of
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São Paulo (a bustling city of 12 million inhabitants). His fascination with Michael Jackson began early. “I remember driving with my mom in the car, when I was 5 years old,” Teaser said. “As she flipped through the radio dial, I would always ask her to stop when certain songs came on.” She soon realized that it was Michael Jackson and bought him “Thriller” (1982). “I can’t remember my life without Michael.” Teaser credits his mom as the impetus behind his career. “I was very, very shy,” he recalled. “My mom thought that since I liked to dance around the house, maybe she could get me to dance for some friends.” In hope of pushing her son out of his protective shell. Teaser’s trajectory was set after he was asked to perform at a fashion show for kids. “I was 9 years old the first time that I performed on stage.” He remembers thinking, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Realizing he needed to study Jackson’s
dance moves more closely, to master his steps, he asked his father for a VCR. “My family didn’t have much money.” A request his father fulfilled to encourage his son, opening doors that would likely have remained closed. “By studying Michael’s moves, I realized that I needed to understand the movement of my body better,” he said. Dance comprises a huge part of Brazilian cultural identity, along with music, and is considered the heartbeat of Rio de Janeiro’s annual Carnival festival. “Here in Brazil, we have some schools that are influenced by LA and New York dance trends,” Teaser said. “It’s kind of cool.” Teaser went on to study dance. One of his classes focused on popping and locking, trademarks of Jackson’s style. “It all came together.” As his star began to ascend in Brazil, in 2002, he was invited to perform at “30 Years of Magic,” a fan celebration held at Webster Hall in New York City, with Jackson in attendance. In 2005, Teaser was highlighted on Jack-
son’s website as one of his top imitators. When in costume, in conjunction with his voice and moves, Teaser is the verisimilitude of The King of Pop. “In the beginning, some people said that impersonation is not art,” Teaser reflects. “I kind of started to believe that.” Until one day after a TV performance, when Teaser was 17, a very important Brazilian director approached him. He said, “‘Man, you are truly an artist.’” Humbled, Teaser asked him why? “‘Because you really sing, you really dance, and you really perform. That is what real artists do.’ “That (encounter) changed my vision of the way that I see what I do entirely.” After Jackson’s passing in 2009, his show “Tribute to the King of Pop” debuted in 2012. When asked if he has observed a magical thread that runs throughout Michael Jackson’s body of work that holds it all together? Teaser ruminates, “Sometimes I think that Michael Jackson may have died not really knowing how big or just how magical his work was.”
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“People buy a ticket knowing that I am not Michael Jackson. But, when everything is put together — the costumes, the choreography, the background dancers, the band — I see the awe in people’s faces.” He expands, “They allow themselves to be free, to let the music take them someplace else. It is hard to explain. It is just so powerful.” Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Teaser notes that Jackson’s music transcends culture, borders and language, even generations. “Here in Brazil, we have a lot of poor communities. I often perform charity events for children. Many of these kids were born well after Michael’s passing.” Teaser said. “And, somehow, they are absolutely crazy about Michael Jackson.” When asked why she chose to work with Teaser, Batten says, “He makes a presentation that Michael himself would be proud of. He takes every aspect of the show super seriously and expects the same from the crew and performers. “We have a huge production — dancers, musicians, special effects — I think that it is in the attention to detail where I may win over some of Michael’s fans,” Teaser said. Details are important. Even down to the lighting cues. Diehard fans may recognize lighting vignettes from the “Dangerous Tour” or from the 1995 MTV Awards. Teaser adds, “The same thing happens with the costumes and
the musical arrangements. The production is full of hidden Easter eggs for the audience to discover. “You feel transported to each Michael Jackson era when you see Rodrigo perform all the hit songs,” Smith said. Teaser painstakingly respects every aspect of Michael’s creations. “We didn’t change the costumes. We didn’t change the choreography. We didn’t change the arrangement of the songs. We try to come as close as we can to the originals,” Teaser said. “I think the audience will not only see a tribute, but will feel the love that we put into this event.” Teaser is not simply an impersonator. He is a lifelong Michael Jackson fan. “Knowing that he gave us so much, I think that we as fans sense that he paid too much to be Michael Jackson. “Now, there are a lot of books and interviews about him. We know that his life was not easy. Regardless, Michael always believed that he was giving his best to his fans. When I look out at the audience, I see grandfathers, dads and 5-year-old kids dancing and singing along to the same song,” Teaser said. It is clear what perdures and keeps loyal fans engaged 13 years after Michael Jackson’s passing. In a life at times overcast by shadow, in the end all that remains is love. “In a way, I think that Michael transcends everything,” Teaser said. Even the grave.
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Rodrigo Teaser is a Michael Jackson impersonator and singer from Guarulhos, Brazil. Submitted
Michael Lives Forever WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 2 WHERE: The Wiltern Theater, 3790 Wilshire Bouleard, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $85 INFO: 213-388-1400
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LA-based Israeli superstar Ninet Tayeb releases single By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor t the age of 19, Nati Ninet Tayeb’s life changed. In 2003, she won the first season of “Kokhav Nolad,” Israel’s version of “Pop Idol,” and subsequently released five albums and a host of hit singles, including “Who is Us,” which came out on June 10. “I come from a land where everything is so complicated,” Tayeb described. “The next single is talking about how we are all connected all the time, and that’s why we need to feel compassion and love for each other. Especially after the pandemic, we need to be like lovers and not enemies.” Tayeb is an accomplished musician, singer-songwriter, composer, actress and judge in “Rising Star: Israel,” but the journey to her finding her own identity as an artist was not always easy as she experienced both the high of a first platinum album and the low of being pelted by objects from an angry crowd after her second.
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Israeli singer-songwriter Ninet Tayeb wrote her new single, “Who is Us,” to encourage a spirit of oneness in the wake of the pandemic. Katarina Benzova/Submitted
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Tayeb had played in small rock bands throughout her hometown of Kiryat Gat, but her launch to fame after “Pop Idol” had moved her to the metropolitan capital of Tel Aviv as her 2006 debut album went platinum in less than day, yielding five No. 1 singles and a long-running TV series based on her life, “Hashir Shelanu.” “I was a child and I’d had major success, but I wasn’t happy,” Tayeb explained. “I wasn’t happy at all because I felt like the music was not really what I wanted to do. So, I took a break. I went and I researched everything. I took a really long period of time to just listen to music and discover a lot of new bands. And this is how I discovered my own voice.” Tayeb became inspired by the works of Jeff Buckley and Chris Cornell, whose music helped her reflect on her own identity as a singer-songwriter. She began to teach herself to play guitar at 25 by watching Buckley play on YouTube, and steadily perfected her craft. During the creation of her second album, “Communicative,” in 2009, Tayeb took an introspective approach and imprinted her own identity on the music. Though she felt immense pride for the album, even calling it “one of the best albums” she produced, her audience did not feel the same. The album launch show was a disaster as she was pelted with objects from the crowd, and she played to diminished crowds on the subsequent tour. “That was a nightmare,” Tayeb said of the first show. “My second album is very different from my first album. My first album is very sweet, and my second album is very not sweet.” “It was hard for people to accept it…I’m so proud of this album. It had zero success in Israel, but I’m so proud of it. I mean, you do want people to love your music, but you want them to love what you really want to do and not what they want you to do.” “As an artist, I feel like I have to be committed to my true self, even if it means that it’s not going to work at the beginning and that I’m going to have to work harder,” Tayeb said. “That’s what I did, and ever since ‘Communicative,’ only in the last two years I feel like people finally understand what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.”
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While the response from her fan base was critical and harsh, others began to listen and respond to her new sound. Tayeb won Israel’s “Favorite Music Act” at MTV Europe’s Music Awards twice and became a beloved artist in her home country once again, though the scars still took some time to heal. “Ever since that night in that festival, every time I go on stage I have this little fear in my heart,” Tayeb said. “It was very traumatic for me, but that’s what I do and that’s what I was born for. And today I was saying to my husband, because people yesterday were going crazy about the show and we were so happy, I got up in the morning and I’m like, ‘I’m so thankful for my life. That’s what I do. That’s what I was meant to be doing my whole life.’” Today, Tayeb is considered one of most famous people in the Israeli entertainment industry, and recently performed with her husband and producer Joseph E-Shine at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. “We’ve been here in LA for five years,” Tayeb said. “For us to have a show this legendary place, it’s a big thing.” She described her return to the stage following the pandemic as “the best feeling in the world,” an emotion of togetherness that she’s infused in her new single, “Who is Us.” “This line, ‘Who is Us,’ is how the song started,” Tayeb said. “This line came to me, and this is how I started to write this song with the guitar and then the lyrics. Then I played it to my husband, a producer of this upcoming album, and we started working on it. With the release of her newest single as the frontrunner of her upcoming album, Tayeb hopes that her message of unity will resonate across borders with audiences around the world. “I’m so pumped because we haven’t released an album ever since I moved here, and to finally put this album out means a lot to me,” she said.
Ninet Tayeb INFO: ninetayeb.com, bit.ly/whoisus
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Howard Jones, Midge Ure share ‘Dialogue’ By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor oward Jones didn’t let the pandemic get him down too much. He used the remedy of music to get him through it. The result is a new studio album, “Dialogue,” which is set for release later this summer. “I’m not giving anybody any respite at all with these tracks,” Jones said. “They’re just very full of energy. I guess it was all that pent-up energy of the lockdown.” “Dialogue” is the third album in a trilogy of electronic releases from Jones, including 2015’s multimedia project “Engage,” and the 2019 studio album “Transform.” “I wrote all the music during that time,” he said about the pandemic quarantine. “I deliberately held off working on the lyrics because I didn’t think I was in the right frame of mind. I love to write uplifting lyrics and positive songs. I waited until things looked like they were turning a corner and getting better. I think it paid off.” In support of the new album, Jones is hitting the road with longtime friend, alt-rock musician Midge Ure. On stage, Jones will be joined by a four-piece band — guitarist Robin Boult, bassist/chapman stick Nick Beggs, keyboardist Robbie Bronnimann and keyboardist/drum pads Dan Burton. “The Dialogue Tour” comes to The Theatre at Ace Hotel on Friday, June 24. Jones will perform three new songs live. “I have to be realistic,” he said. “I’d like to play all of them, but I can’t really lay a whole eight new tracks on people. There’s not enough time in the evening to do it.”
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Howard Jones enjoys putting new clothes on his hits when he plays live. He’s set to play The Theatre at Ace Hotel. Martin Shaw/Submitted
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After all, he has to leave time for Ure, a longtime friend. “I don’t have many close friends in the music business,” Jones said. “So, for me, it’s quite rare. He lives quite close to me. He’s about an hour away in Bath. I’ve known him since the ’80s, but we do meet up a lot. “He’s been to the house, and we hang out. I really, really like Midge. I think he’s a wonderful man. I am so pleased that I persuaded him to come out with me.” Acts like Jones — and most recently Kate Bush — have seen a career revival, thanks to “Stranger Things” and “Breaking Bad.” Jones is thankful for “Stranger Things’” use of his song “Things Can Only Get Better.” “I’m so proud of that,” he said. “When they asked me about ‘Stranger Things,’ I said, ‘Of course. I love the show so much. I know that it appeals to all ages. I would die to have a track in that and they gave it really good play. It’s on the ‘Stranger Things’ playlist and it gets loads of plays. I’m being introduced to a new audience through that and it’s so exciting.” He has witnessed a change in his fanbase, especially in overseas festivals. “There are young people turning up and sometimes they’re with their family,” Jones said. “When we do our shows, we don’t play the songs exactly as they were on the radio. We’re always trying to update them and give them a more contemporary twist. “That’s what I like to do. Being an electronic musician, it’s easy to give the old songs new clothing.”
“The Dialogue Tour” with Howard Jones and Midge Ure WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 24 WHERE: The Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $29 INFO: acehotel.com
Howard Jones will release his next album, “Dialogue,” later this year. Martin Shaw/Submitted
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Dodgers Foundation hosts star-studded Blue Diamond Gala By Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation he Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation hosted its sixth annual Blue Diamond Gala on June 16 at Dodger Stadium and raised a record $3.6 million in support of its mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice. “This year’s gala reflects our endless potential when we combine our efforts and insist on making a difference in the lives of those who need help the most,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman said. Since 1995, LADF has invested more than $40 million in programs and grants to nonprofits serving communities across LA. This year’s gala featured sets by award-winning celebrity DJ D-Nice and an exclusive concert from Jennifer Lopez to a sold-out crowd.
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Mario Lopez and Courtney Laine Mazza Leroy Hamilton Photography/Submitted
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Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor and fiancée Mary Keller Los Angeles Dodgers Photography/Submitted
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SoFi chosen for 2026 FIFA World Cup By LA Downtown News Staff he Los Angeles 2026 World Cup Host Committee said in a statement that it was thrilled that SoFi Stadium was selected as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “As a world-class soccer city with numerous iconic stadiums as well as three incredible professional soccer teams, the Los Angeles area celebrates SoFi Stadium being selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the governing body said in statement. “We look forward to partnering with FIFA to ensure that the event will deliver tangible, significant, and enduring benefits to the greater Los Angeles community.” The statement read that the related
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organizations have worked diligently to develop and submit a bid for the LA area to serve as the host. “Our experience, when the Rose Bowl hosted the finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as the world-class infrastructure, vibrant communities, and our status as one of the nation’s richest soccer cultures set the Los Angeles region apart.” FIFA announced that sixteen host cities across the USA, Canada and Mexico will stage matches in what will be the first edition of the World Cup to have 48 teams. The announcement was made in cooperation with FOX and Telemundo in New York and broadcast live to the three host countries, as well as the rest
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of the world via FIFA+. “We were delighted by the unparalleled competitiveness of this selection process,” said Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice president and Concacaf president. “We are extremely grateful not only to the 16 cities that have been selected, but also to the other six — with whom
we look forward to continuing to engage and explore additional opportunities to welcome fans and participating teams. This has always been a FIFA World Cup of three countries, and that undoubtedly will have a tremendous impact on the whole region and the wider football community.”
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Covered DINING California will help On the plate History of Little Tokyo Food Tour 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26 In partnership with Little Tokyo Historical Society and the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), guests can learn about Little Tokyo’s rich food history. Guides Bill Watanabe and Mike Okamura of the Little Tokyo Historical Society will highlight the history of Little Tokyo’s longest-standing small businesses and culinary favorites such as imagawayaki and shabu shabu. From the birthplace of the fortune cookie to the first ramen noodle shop in the United States, these sites were integral in the making of the Little Tokyo community and Japanese American food landscape that is known today. $36.
Delicious Little Tokyo gives guests a unique culinary and cultural experience. Submitted
Delicious Little Tokyo offers a new taste experience By Scianna Garcia LA Downtown News staff Writer o Little Tokyo’s seventh annual Delicious Little Tokyo returns to Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, for immersive two-day event that presents new ways to indulge in authentic culinary and cultural experiences. The Little Tokyo community-based, small business marketing initiative features a slate of new and returning favorite taste experiences with hands-on workshops, free activities and giveaways, and three deliciously themed, self-guided foodie tours. “We’re excited to bring people out for different things and encourage people to piece together a day for themselves with different elements, including a workshop or two,” said Kisa Ito, project director of Little Tokyo. “We’re just so excited about the slate of programs.” Little Tokyo is the second-oldest neighborhood in Los Angeles. Home to some of the nation’s most important Japanese American institutions, Little Tokyo has
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been reshaped by WWII Japanese American incarceration camps and decades of redevelopment and displacement while continuing to be the cultural home for the Southern California Japanese American community and a historically multiethnic community. In a reflective effort to collaborate with the community, Delicious Little Tokyo will partner with more than 30 local businesses, artists and community organizations to promote and preserve the neighborhood. With an almost entirely in-person lineup of events this year, the tasting element of the historical tours is new and will give attendees an opportunity to learn about Little Tokyo’s culinary mapping. “It’s traditional for every item on the menu to have a spin on it, which is just a lot of fun, and I think it’s a good representation of the community, and always holding on to that heritage piece and reflecting where the roots are, but also, making it open and welcome to anyone who’s interested in trying it out,” Ito said.
J-Town Treats & Eats 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25 Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of Little Tokyo and pick up sweet and savory treats, as well as a limited-edition tote bag, enamel pin, and a couple of special items from two of the oldest retail shops in the neighborhood. The final stop is LT’s hidden oasis, the James Irvine Japanese Garden, which is connected to the new Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. $65. Matcha Mania 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25 Meet a matcha match on this self-guided walking tour of Little Tokyo. This tour ticket includes four matcha treats as well as a limited edition Delicious Little Tokyo 2022 matcha soft-serve enamel pin. $32. Little Tipsy Tokyo Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26 Enjoy a boozy Sunday brunch featuring specialty cocktails from three of Little Tokyo’s favorite bars alongside delicious food pairings, as well as a limited-edition Little Tokyo tote bag, choice of Little Tokyo enamel pin, and event passport. $85. J-Town Bingo Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26 Little Tokyo guests can enjoy J-Town Bingo, an interactive way to explore, learn about and support the historic neighborhood. Pick up a bingo card upon check-in and complete fun tasks around Little Tokyo. Get bingo for the chance to spin the Delicious Little Tokyo wheel for special prizes. At the end of the weekend, all bin-
go cards will be entered to win a Delicious Little Tokyo grand prize valued over $200.
Workshops Saturday, June 25 Furoshiki (Cloth Wrapping), 1 to 2 p.m., $30 ticket includes a furoshiki cloth made in Japan from legacy business Rafu Bussan Kokedama (Moss Ball Bonsai), 2:30 to 4 p.m., $60 ticket includes materials to create one kokedama to take home Spam Musubi with Aloha Cafe, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. youth hands-on workshop. Summertime in the James Irvine Japanese Garden, noon to 4 p.m., free and open to the public Sun Noodle Saimin at the Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center (JACCC), noon to 3:30 p.m., $18 Shodō Calligraphy Demonstration, 2 to 2:30 p.m., free and open to the public, $10 Go Little Tokyo Pop-Up Shop, noon to 4 p.m. Support the Little Tokyo Community Council in style. Stop by to pick up Little Tokyo sweatshirts, tote bags, enamel pins, vinyl stickers, and hats. Proceeds benefit the Little Tokyo Community Council, various prices Sunday, June 26 Emoji-pan Workshop with Okayama Kobo, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., decorate an Emoji-Pan (chocolate and custard filled sweet bun) at Okayama Kobo. Sold out. Donut Decorating Station at Cafe Dulce, 1 to 4 p.m., Stop by to decorate (and eat) a dulce donut with glaze and special toppings completely personalized, $5 DIY Summer Blooms Workshop with Moon Jar Design, 2:30 to 4 p.m., Learn how to make a beautiful and sustainable arrangement with summer flowers, $60 Go Little Tokyo Pop-Up Shop, noon to 4 p.m., support the Little Tokyo Community Council in style. Stop by to pick up Little Tokyo sweatshirts, tote bags, enamel pins, vinyl stickers, and hats. Proceeds benefit the Little Tokyo Community Council. For more information, visit littletokyola. org/delicious
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JUNE 20, 2022
Covered DINING California will help
Mastro’s Ocean Club opens in DTLA By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor astro’s Ocean Club has just wrapped up a month in DTLA, marking the ninth California location for the high-end seafood eatery. Located at 1200 S. Figueroa Street, Mastro’s Ocean Club is near L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena. “We chose the location for a variety of reasons,” said Mark Levy, president and chief operating officer. “First of all, we wanted to be in Downtown LA. We wanted to take advantage of all the events down there, with Crypto.com Arena being right across the street from us. Then there’s L.A. live, the Microsoft Theater — there are many, many reasons for us to want to come Downtown. We also felt many of our guests would be attending sporting events or concerts. We thought Downtown would work well for us.” The dining room is open from 5 to 10 p.m. executive chef Marcus Andrade oversees the kitchen and its daily culinary preparations. General manager is Robert Sprindler. Mastro’s Ocean Club is recognized for its fresh seafood — raw bar offerings, a 2-foot seafood tower and creative sushi selections developed by sushi chef Angel Carbajal of Cabo San Lucas’ Niksan.
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The seafood tower at Mastro’s Ocean Club is one of the restaurant’s most popular. Mastro’s Restaurants/Submitted
JUNE 20, 2022
DOWNTOWN NEWS 25
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
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CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE
The tomahawk chop from Snake River Farms comes in 32 ounce ($195) and 40 ounce ($250). Mastro’s Restaurants/Submitted
For guests craving surf-and-turf, Mastro’s is also known for its USDA Prime steaks with 16 cuts of meat. Other menu items include an array of appetizers and sides such as the seared bigeye tuna and lobster mashed potatoes, as well as chef-crafted desserts such as the warm butter cake. “We put some new items on the menu Downtown,” Levy said. “We have a few more sushi offerings, a few more fish options, but basically the restaurants all have the same menu.” The new items include crispy garlic tuna sashimi ($28), a maguro lime roll ($28) and clear lobster roll ($31). “We get very good feedback on our sushi in general,” he said. “We think the Downtown market will enjoy.” Guests can also enjoy spirits and handcrafted cocktails, including Mastro’s signature smoking lemon drop and cosmo martinis served by skilled mixologists. The
four-tiered back bar also boasts specialty options such as Louis the XIII, Hennessey Richard and Balvenie 40-year Scotch. Patrons who prefer wine may sip on offerings from Mastro’s extensive wine list with more than 1,100 varietals from around the globe. The 14,000-square-foot space features a 350-person-capacity main dining room with more than 7,000 wine bottles lining the walls of the restaurant. The street-level location provides an outdoor terrace for patrons to enjoy an al fresco dining experience. Live entertainment is offered daily beginning at 5 p.m. in the piano lounge. “The outdoor terrace opens up to our bar,” he said. “We have a large dining room and three private dining rooms, which, we think, will be very attractive to people coming to conventions — certainly to the business community in Downtown LA.”
Mastro’s Ocean Club 1200 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles mastrosrestaurants.com
Mastro’s Cosmo is one of the highlights of Mastro’s Ocean Club. Mastro’s Restaurants/Submitted
Notice of Application to Establish a Branch of a State Member Bank East West Bank, headquartered in 135 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA, intends to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to establish a branch at 888 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017. The Federal Reserve considers a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the application including the record of performance of applicant banks in helping to meet local credit needs. You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, P.O. Box 7702, San Francisco, CA 94120-7702, or via email: sf.fisc.comments.applications@sf.frb.org. The comment period will not end before July 6, 2022. The Board's procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25. To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board's procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the application, contact Mongkha Pavlick, Group Vice President, Financial Institutions Formations + Transactions, 213-683-2613. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the application if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period. 6/20/22 CNS-3596444# DOWNTOWN NEWS
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JUNE 20, 2022
Covered California will help BUSINESS
Located on Figueroa Street in Downtown, E-Central Hotel reopened on June 1 as a go-to destination for tourists and sports fans alike. Submitted
E-Central goes ‘above and beyond’ for guests By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor -Central Hotel sits on Figueroa Street, across from L.A. Live, ESPN Zone and Crypto.com Arena. So, it made sense for the staff of the hotel to create a pregame — or postgame — package, which includes a room, E-Central custom keepsake cooler, six complimentary bottled beers and two free personal pizzas at Nixo Patio Lounge. “It’s the brainchild of Mark Forrest, our director of sales and marketing,” said Patrick Nee, the hotel’s general manager. Nee said it’s important for the hotel to go “above and beyond” for guests who book the package. “They can take everything up to their guest room before or after any event at Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater or any spots in the area. “A lot of folks in the post-COVID-19 world are in a smaller bubble. With a to-go package from Nixo Patio Lounge, we knew we would really appeal to this hybrid world.” The colorful, contemporary hotel has been Instagram-worthy by its staff. The boutique hotel blends comfort and convenience. Convenience is key to Nixo Patio Lounge, which is open from 6 a.m. to noon for breakfast and lunch, and then 5 p.m. for dinner. “Our Nixo Patio Lounge is super vibrant and lively,” he said. “It overlooks South Figueroa and it’s across from the Grammy Museum and Crypto. com Arena. It really can’t be beat, as far as locations. L.A. Live is certainly coming back. The LA Sparks are back for the WNBA season. We’re so excited about the summer in Downtown LA.” For breakfast, Nixo Patio Lounge serves up a coffeeshop/café-style experience. The morning items include a breakfast croissant panini featuring bacon, organic egg and cheddar, and breakfast brisket tacos with organic egg, mozzarella, cilantro cream and pickled onion. Both are $9.50. Dinner has a wide variety of tastes: raclette waffle grilled cheese with cranberry onion jam ($14); and shrimp beignets with sweet pepper romesco/frisee salad ($14). Seasonal pizzas vary from the simple artisan pepperoni ($17) to fennel sausage with
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asiago, rose apple and spinach ($18). “We have appetizers, but we have pizzas and a great brisket quesadilla for folks who want a full meal,” Nee said. “Our executive chef switches the menu up every couple months with fresh ingredients that are seasonal.” Topping off the meals are cocktails from its deep dive program. The Dutch Star is a blend of Ketel One, star anise, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and Laphroaig spray ($16); or the Adventure Galley with Dewars, fresh lime, simple syrup, spicy pear liqueur and ginger liqueur ($16). “Our entire bartender team has been here for years,” Nee said. “We offer the experience of the outdoor patio lounge on the second floor. It overlooks L.A. Live and it’s a view that can’t be beat. We have DJs and bands on Friday and Saturday nights. We like to think we have a front-row seat to everything that’s going on in Downtown LA.” Formerly the Luxe City Center, E-Central reopened on June 1, 2021, after a full-property renovation. “We have newly renovated guest rooms and public spaces,” Nee said. “It’s all fresh and very contemporary. The rooms have 65-inch LG smart televisions, new mattresses. We’re a great option for travelers looking for a nonbranded experience.” Formerly with Hotel Irwin at Venice Beach, Nee called E-Central a “true independent.” “It’s the only one,” he said. “There’s one E-Central. We’re a true independent in Downtown Los Angeles. Like I said, L.A. Live and DTLA are just getting stronger and stronger. Each and every day more and more guests are coming back to the area.”
E-Central Downtown Los Angeles Hotel 1020 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles 213-748-1291 ecentralhotel.com
JUNE 20, 2022
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SPONSORED ADVERTISING CONTENT
Unsearched U.S. Coin Bags full of Morgan Silver Dollars go to CA residents State zip codes used to determine who gets valuable Morgan Silver Dollars issued by the U.S. Gov’t over 100 years ago and sealed away in three pound U.S. Coin Bags that have never been searched Who gets the Morgan Silver Dollars: Only CA residents who find their zip code listed on the Distribution List below are getting the Gov’t issued coins. If you find your zip code listed below call: 1-800-867-0152 UMD502 “The vaults at Federated Mint a re going empty,” said Laura A. Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for Federated Mint. T h at ’s b e c au s e a decision by Federated Mint to release rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars, some worth up to 100 times their face value, means unsearched Bank Bags loaded with U. S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars dating back to the 1800’s are now being handed over to U.S. residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication. “But don’t thank the Government. As U.S. C oi n a nd C u r renc y Director for Federated M i nt I get pa id to in for m a nd educate the general public regarding U.S. coins. Ever since the decision by Federated Mint to release rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars to the general public – I’m being asked, how much a re the u nsea rched
■ UNSEARCHED: Each Bank Bag contains 50 U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars. Each coin is verified to meet a minimum collector grade of very good or above and the dates and mint marks are never searched by Federated Mint to determine collector value.
Bank Bags worth? The answer is, there’s no way to tell. Coin values always f luctuate and there are never any g ua ra nt ees , but we do k now this. Each unsearched bag weighs nearly 3 pounds and contains 50 Morgan Silver Dollars and just one coin alone, could be worth $40 $325 in collector value according to The Official Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins. So, there’s no telling what you’ll find until you sea rch th rough all the coins. But you better believe at just $2900 these unsearched Bank Bags are a steal si nce ever yone who misses the deadline must pay $4000 for each bag,” said Lynne. “These are not ordinary coins you find in your pocket change. These are rarely s e en Mor ga n Si lver Dolla rs some dating back to the 1800’s so we won’t be surprised if thousa nds of U.S. residents claim as many as they can get their hands on. That’s because after the bags were loaded with 50 U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars, each verified to meet a minimum collector grade quality of very go o d or a b ove , t he dates and mint marks were never searched to determine collector va lues and the bags were securely sealed. That means there’s no telling what you’ll find until you search all the coins,” said Lynne. The only thing U.S. residents who find their zip code printed in today’s publication need to do is call the National Coi n Cla i m Hotl i ne b efor e t he 4 8 -hou r
deadline ends. This is very important. The Vault Bag fee has been set for $4000 for residents who miss the deadline, but for those California residents who beat the 48-hour deadline the Bank Bag fee is just $2900 as long as they call the National Coin Claim Hotline before the deadline ends. “Remember this, we cannot stop collectors from buying up all the unsea rched bags of coins they can get in this special advertising announcement. And you better believe with each bag being loaded with 50 U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars we’re guessing they’re going to go quick,” said Lynne. The phone lines will be ringing off the hook beginning at precisely 8:30 AM this morning. That’s because each unsearched Bank Bag is loaded with nothing but U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars some dating clear back to the 1800’s. “With all these collectible U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars up for grabs we’re going to do our best to answer all the calls,” said Lynne. Thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the Unsearched Bank Bags. That means U.S. residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication can claim the unsearched bags of money for themselves and keep all the U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars found inside. Just be sure to call b efor e t he 4 8 -hou r deadline ends. ■
■ SNEAK PEAK INSIDE VAULT: The phone lines will be ringing off the hook beginning at 8:30 AM this morning when the vaults open for California residents to claim unsearched Bank Bags. It’s hard to tell how much these unsearched bags loaded with Morgan Silver Dollars issued by the Gov’t over 100 years ago could be worth someday. That’s because each Bank Bag contains 50 Morgan Silver Dollars some dating clear back to the 1800’s. And here’s the best part. After the deadline each Bank Bag fee is set for $4000, but California residents who find their zip code listed in today’s publication and beat the deadline cover just $2900 which is a real steal for these unsearched Bank Bags. CA RESIDENTS: IF YOU FIND THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR ZIP CODE BELOW. CALL: 1-800-867-0152 UMD502
900 901 902 903
904 905 906 907
908 910 911 912
913 917 914 918 915 919 916 920
921 922 923 924
925 926 927 928
930 931 932 933
934 935 936 937
938 939 940 941
942 943 944 945
946 947 948 949
950 951 952 953
954 955 956 957
958 959 960 961
The National Toll-Free Hotlines open at precisely 8:30 AM this morning for US residents only. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. If you miss the deadline you will be turned away from this offer and forced to wait for future announcements in this publication or others, if any. The only thing residents need to do is find the first three digits of their zip code on the Distribution List above and beat the 48-hour deadline. The Bank Bag fee has been set at $4000 for residents who miss the deadline, but for those California residents who beat the deadline the Bank Bag fee is just $2900 as long as they call the National Coin Claim Hotline before the deadline ends.
Each Bank Bag contains 50 U.S. Gov’t issued Morgan Silver Dollars KEEP SAFE: Collector value $40-$325 1.
MINT MARK: Mint mark and year varies 1878-1904
SELDOM SEEN: Issued by the U.S. Gov’t over 100 years ago
ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL
1. Source: The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins — 2022 Greysheet.com: U.S. & World Currency Values for Dealers, Retail Values. Coin conditions are very good or better. Dates and mint marks have not been searched by Federated Mint. Higher value conditions, dates and mint marks may be found but are not guaranteed. FEDERATED MINT, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. R1012R-2 FEDERATED MINT, PO BOX 36449, Canton, OH 44735 ©2022 FEDERATED MINT
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JUNE 20, 2022