Los Angeles Downtown News 07/03/2023

Dreams Turned Reality

Christian Okoye inducted into Hall of Fame

+ Swan boat rentals

Erik Dueñas shines for LAFC ‘One of Us’

Publication Date: August 14, 2023

BEST OF DOWNTOWN

The Best of Downtown publication is our biggest issue of the year!

On August 14, 2023, we announce all of the winners and reader recommended companies in this year’s survey.

Whether you won or not, all companies are welcome to advertise in this special issue. This is one of the best times to market your business. DTLA is coming back and now is when you want to put your business in front of our readers. The Best of Downtown issue has a glossy cover and is a keepsake for those who only want the best.

Contact us today to get rates and reserve your space.

Catherine Holloway cholloway@timespublications.com

213-308-2261

Michael

Lamb

mlamb@timespublications.com

213-453-3548

Los Angeles Downtown News PO Box 1349

South Pasadena, CA 91031 213-481-1448

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR:

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

MANAGING EDITOR:

Morgan Owen

DEPUTY EDITOR:

Luke Netzley

STAFF WRITER:

Leah Schwartz

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Jeff Moeller, Ellen Snortland, Jack Miessner

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER:

Chris Mortenson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER:

Trevor Naud

GRAPHIC DESIGNER:

Arman Olivares

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:

Catherine Holloway (213) 308-2261

Building Recreation and Community

LA Parks Foundation introduces new executive director

By Morgan Owen

LA Downtown News Managing Editor

Enhance, expand, preserve and promote; that is the motto of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation that inspired Anthony Budrovich to reach out when he heard their former executive director, Carolyn Ramsay, would be leaving.

Budrovich succeeded Ramsay, who has been with LAPF since 2018, in June. He said the first few weeks at the job have been exciting.

“I am honored and excited to join the distinguished board of directors, passionate staff and financial supporters of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. As a person who grew up in LA parks, my love of parks, open spaces and conservation motivates me as the new executive director. Parks are a valued recreational resource to escape and recharge from a busy world. I look forward to working closely with the community and city to enhance, envision and promote our more than 450 parks.”

The LA Parks Foundation began in 2008 as a nonprofit to enhance public recreation throughout Los Angeles. Budrovich said he views LAPF as being “all about partnerships.” As executive director, he will work closely with area organizations to present ideas on improving LA’s parks, find the funding for those projects and work with the LA Department of Recreation and Parks to execute them.

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PRESIDENT: Steve T. Strickbine

VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt

Michael Lamb (213) 453-3548 ©2023

Budrovich said one improvement he is particularly excited about is working to plant more native plants and trees throughout LA’s greenspaces. In his first week, Budrovich visited Griffith Park to strategize ways to incorporate more native plants and trees into the park. Budrovich’s proclivity for native plants comes from his tenure as CEO and president of the Catalina Conservancy, he said.

“I know it sounds simplistic, but after my Catalina days, I really learned to value the native plants in Southern California. As the world gets drier, native plants create a little more green space and help the environment we live in,” Budrovich explained.

When Budrovich decided to leave the Catalina Conservancy, he said he received a lot of offers for jobs that were out of state but that none of those jobs

spoke to him because he wanted to work for a mission he loved.

“Some of my first recreational experiences were in LA parks, learning to play basketball, tennis and even swimming. I did all that in LA Parks, so it just seemed like a great fit,” Budrovich said. “There was a long interview process, and the board was very careful to select someone. But I made it through, and here I stand.”

Another part of LAPF’s mission is to connect the community to their parks. There are still many people he needs to meet and make connections with, Budrovich said — but that is something he

is looking forward to. Budrovich said this component of LAPF is integral to him because of his love of outdoor recreation.

“I’m a natural lover of recreation. I love to hike. I love to cycle. And I go to parks when I just need to have a moment to go for a walk or to eat my lunch. Working in the field excites me. It’s some of my best moments.” Budrovich said. “I think all the parks in LA are highly used and greatly appreciated. But every detail can always use a touch of enhancement.”

As executive director of LAPF, Budrovich’s goal is to build connections and develop new funding opportunities to improve some of LA’s 450 parks.

SINCE 1972

Anthony Budrovich was selected as the LA Parks Foundation’s new executive director.

Covered California will help DTNEWS

Appointments Galore Bass expands her communications department

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

Mayor Karen Bass recently approved a slew of appointments to her communication team, further expanding the office.

“Community engagement is vital to the success of each initiative led by this office,” Bass said. “If we want to solve homelessness and make Los Angeles safer and more livable for all, the people of this city must be involved. I look forward to seeing what’s to come.”

On June 21, Bass appointed Jared Rivera as deputy mayor of community engagement. Rivera joined Bass’ administration in June and brings with him two decades of experience as a community and labor organizer, coalition builder and political strategist.

Most recently, Rivera was the political director of SEIU 2015, where he oversaw the union’s statewide political program. Before that, Rivera was the labor director of Hillary Clinton for California and Nevada. In that position, he worked with unions that endorsed the candidate across the two states for her presidential campaign. Additionally, Rivera has roots in LA, formerly serving on the board of the Liberty Hill Foundation and as the executive director of LA Voice.

Zach Seidl was appointed as deputy mayor of communications. Seidl was ap -

pointed as Bass’ spokesperson in December 2022. He has worked with Bass for the last seven years, serving as communications director and senior adviser during her tenure as congresswoman; he also worked for her mayoral campaign.

As deputy director of Spanish language communications, Bass appointed Anai Ibarra . A native Guatemalan, Ibarra has decades of experience as a bilingual communications professional with experience in public relations, community outreach, marketing and nonprofits. Additionally, Ibarra brings with her experience in political campaigns at the national, state and city levels for organizations such as AARP and the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights.

Ibarra began her career in communications when she became the communications director for a vice presidential candidate in Guatemala’s first democratic election in 15 years. Ibarra came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar and obtained a B.A. in Public Relations and a B.A. in Organizational Communications from the University of Arkansas Little Rock.

Clara Karger was appointed as the mayor’s press secretary. Karger has been with the Mayor’s Office since May and previously held the position of vice president of public affairs and relations. Karger worked for Bass’ campaign, before which she held

a communications position at M Strategic Communications in Downtown LA.

Bass decided on Gabby Maarse as deputy press secretary. Maarse also worked for Bass during her campaign after working at M Strategic Communications. There, she worked with clients to meet their public policy and communications goals.

Illana Morales was appointed as a communications associate. Morales earned her position in the Mayor’s Office directly after graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Communications and Political Science. During her studies, Morales was the operations coordinator for LMU’s Conference and Events Services.

In addition to expanding her communications department, Bass appointed candidates for two other positions, Jacqueline Hamilton as senior adviser and director of neighborhood services and Claudia Aragon as director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Hamilton currently leads neighborhood services for the Mayor’s Office and oversees six city departments, including Recreation and Parks, the LA Public Library, the LA Zoo, LA Animal Services, the El Pueblo Cultural Monument and the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Before she assumed this role, Hamilton worked with Bass for more than nine years as district director. Before that, Ham-

Incomes Can’t Keep Up

ilton was the executive director of the Education Consortium Los Angeles for eight years. After she finished working for the Clinton administration at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Hamilton returned to LA to direct the LA Environmental Justice Project for the Environmental Defense Fund.

In her new position, which she assumed in March, Aragon leads the Office of Immigrant Affairs. Recently, Aragon collaborated with city departments and nonprofit partners after the governor of Texas transported more than 40 migrants to the steps of LA City Hall.

Aragon brings with her experience as the deputy district director for Bass during her time as congresswoman. Prior to that position, Aragon was the guardianship program manager for the Alliance for Children’s Rights, where she provided direct services to caregivers of minors at risk of entering the foster care system. Aragon was born in El Salvador and raised in the Riverside area. She has dedicated her career to giving back to LA.

Bass is still interested in expanding her communications team and has opened applications for a number of additional positions. To inquire about open positions, email the mayor’s office at lamayornews@ lacity.org.

Low-end threshold increased to $70,650 in Los Angeles County

By Leah Schwartz LA Downtown News Staff Writer

According to a new statewide study, a single person making $70,650 in Los Angeles County is now considered low income.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development released new income limits — parameters calculated annually using federal guidelines to determine eligibility for state assistance like affordable housing programs based on household income — in June. The study showed that the low income threshold increased in many of California’s 58 counties, including Los Angeles.

Unlike many other counties analyzed

in the report, LA’s median household income remains below what is considered low income. For example, while $70,650 is classified as low income for a single-person household, the median income for a single-person household is only $68,750. CDHCD attributed this upward trend to inflation and the high cost of living, with more than 50% of Angelenos now considered low-income.

On the lowest end of the report’s income classification, the “Acutely Low Income” category is singular to California after the state adopted AB 1043 in 2021. That bill was intended to increase housing and social welfare programs for the state’s most vulnerable and catego -

rizes those bringing in 15% or less of the county’s median income as “Acutely Low Income,”

On the other end of the spectrum, the report’s “Moderate Income” category accounts for households earning up to 120% of the area median income. The remaining categories — low, very low and extremely low — are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Figures do show that the median income for a four-person household in LA County has risen from $80,000 in 2021 to $91,000 in 2022 and is now up to $98,200 in 2023. Surrounding Southern California counties reflected similar

trends and many of the state’s median incomes have surpassed six figures.

Orange County’s median household income has climbed to $127,800 from $119,000 in 2022 to $106,700 in 2021.

For a single-person household, $80,400 is now considered low income in OC. These figures are dwarfed by Santa Clara County, whose median household brings in $181,300 annually — the highest rate in the state.

The impact of this new income limit in LA County will be used to determine eligibility for household income assistance and may change the income levels accepted at affordable housing facilities.

Covered California will help DTNEWS

Advocating for Commerce Business leaders show support for Mayor Bass’ Executive Directive 4

By Leah Schwartz LA Downtown News Staff Writer

Mayor Karen Bass issued her fourth executive directive in her term to support small business development, creation and growth in Los Angeles. On June 22, Bass signed Executive Directive 4 to identify onerous processes and fees impeding small businesses.

“People want to start and grow their businesses in Los Angeles, but over the years, city hall has made those dreams harder to achieve by requiring fees upon fees and complicated and time-consuming approval processes,” Bass explained during the event.

“It’s past time to make it easier for small and minority businesses to do business in LA, which is why Executive Directive 4 is an important first step in a series of initiatives that put city hall on a path to being a partner to attracting and retaining small business instead of a barrier.”

Bass was joined by City Council President Paul Krekorian and local business leaders as she announced the formation of the Los Angeles Business Steering Committee, which will connect leaders from city departments to identify barriers business owners face. Deputy Mayor Rachel Freeman and the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development will head the committee.

“On the city council, we’ve been finding ways to make Los Angeles an easier place to do business,” Krekorian said.

City council has reformed procurement processes to create opportunities for small entrepreneurs and created the Restaurant Beverage Program, offering restaurateurs shorter and less expensive routes to obtaining liquor licenses.

The new directive and Business Steering Committee will be “a great help in reducing unnecessary obstacles to starting a business or staying in business right here in Los Angeles,” Krekorian added.

During the next 90 days, the committee will investigate the current state of commerce in the city and offer recommendations based on its initial findings. Its main objectives will be investigating the impact of taxes and fees on small businesses, evaluating other jurisdictions’ approaches to growth to determine best practices and assessing existing processes and timelines related to starting and operating a business.

According to data from city departments, small businesses are responsible for 63% of net new jobs and represent 99% of businesses that have opened in the city since 2022.

“Mayor Bass understands the importance of the small business economy to grow and create jobs in the city of Los Angeles,” noted Maria S. Salinas, president and CEO of The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “This approach by the Mayor will help to reinforce the region’s competitiveness, as well as provide the infrastructure to attract new

firms while lowering the barriers to entrepreneurship for homegrown talent.”

Business owners like Sonya Blake, president and CEO of The Valley Economic Alliance, expressed their support for the directive at the event.

“Mayor Bass’ taking this action is the direction we like to see our cities going,” Blake said. “Reducing burdensome business fees, taxes, and regulations while protecting residents, workers, and our environment stands to strengthen our local small businesses and boost our regional economy.”

Tracy Hernandez, Founding CEO of BizFed, was “particularly pleased” with the new directive, focusing on small businesses, which Hernandez noted are often pushed out of the California market. “This executive directive is an investment in the city’s homegrown talent and a road map to create better conditions for success,” she said.

Covered California will help DT CONSIDER THIS

Building Community One Book at a Time

Libraries are doing what politicians can’t

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist

Arecent unattributed meme on social media reads, “I miss the old days when billionaires’ vanity projects were building public libraries, museums and music venues!” I owe Andrew Carnegie a debt of gratitude; I’m pretty sure if it hadn’t been for the Huron, South Dakota, Carnegie Public Library, I would have wound up in a juvenile corrections facility for matricide.

I jest — kind of — but I spent hours and hours there, especially every summer, reading. I even won the “read the most books” prize many summers in a row. My reading habit has served me well, and I’m so grateful I now live in a reading-oriented community.

The Pasadena City Library has a “One City, One Story” program (OCOS). For 21 years, the program has promoted an appreciation of reading and tolerance by

recommending a book the entire community reads simultaneously. For its spring selection, the committee chose “Sparks

Like Stars” by Nadia Hashimi and “LA Weather,” by María Amparo Escandón for summer.

As worn-out a phrase as it is, I could not put “LA Weather” down. It was fun, funny, and so twisty-turny that I almost got motion-sickness. The characters are so alive, distinct and unique. They were also maddening, and I wanted to scold every one of them at different points, yet I also loved all of them.

That’s when I knew I was in the hands of a deft author who led me into a relationship with the characters, warts and all. I see this as a television series with the Alvarado family becoming a beloved fixture of American life, as we are frustratingly short of Latinx-themed entertainment. If I were in charge of acquiring novels for development, I’d get Ms. Escandón on my schedule immediately.

She captures the ethnic, culinary and geographic spirit of Los Angeles so exqui-

sitely, from eldest daughter Claudia Alvarado’s gorgeous home on the Malibu shore to the Chavez Ravine area of East LA. I adore Los Angeles and am proud to live here.

Ironically, as a Pasadena City Library selection, the city of Pasadena is only mentioned once. It reflects the OCOS selection committee’s eclectic taste, making sure that Pasadena-centric is the reason a book is selected. For example, the spring selection of Hashimi’s “Sparks Like Stars” is about Afghanistan and an orphan’s relocation to the United States.

The Alvarado family consists of the parents, Oscar and Keila, and their three daughters, Claudia, Olivia, and Patricia. In the next generation of offspring, there’s Daniel, a gender-fluid out-of-wedlock son, and two toddlers who — in the opening scene — are found drowned in the grandparents’ neglected pool.

After having been a perfect model of

“Shortly

-Lea Fukutaki

Ellen Snortland

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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.

wedded bliss for decades, Oscar and Keila’s marriage is falling apart … then the girls’ marriages unravel. The OCOS books aim to have different perspectives on contemporary issues explored through fiction. “LA Weather” hits many of them in a highly entertaining family story.

LA Weather is a perfect title since it reflects the family patriarch Oscar Alvarado’s inexplicable obsession with the weather in California and globally. In short, he’s let his life fall apart, a metaphor tied to the Southern California drought. The book also weaves in the events that started on Nov. 8, 2016, which for me began an emotional weather system I am just now recovering from. Without mentioning the Orange Menace’s name, the author reflected my despair perfectly.

Regarding the LA Public Library: while they chose to go with the NEA’s similar “Big Read” program, I discovered that the American Library Association has a template that librarians all over the U.S. can use, and 150 of them do. They call it “One Book, One Community.”

The current ALA “One Book” selection is so good that I was glued to it from start to finish. Grace Cho’s “Tastes Like War” memoir reads like a novel. It’s about her life as a Korean American whose mother was a “comfort” woman during the Korean War era.

Cho’s mother eventually became an American merchant marine’s bride, who

then took her home to a little town in Washington State where — in many ways — she was treated like a sideshow. The author was an adult before she realized her mother had been forced into prostitu tion to eat, a fate for many Korean women.

I’d mistakenly thought that “comfort women” were sex slaves for the Japanese during their occupation of Korea, but I found out that American GIs were also us ing Korean women for “comfort.” I am of ten embarrassed to learn how clueless I am about our military’s engagement in behavior that impacts generations of people. The title, “Tastes Like War,” was the comment the author’s mother made when she tasted powdered milk.

It’s a compelling book worth reading. If you do, you’ll join people all over the country to learn about an important sto ry of the aftermath of the Korean War. I’m excited to have read both “LA Weather” and “Tastes Like War.” I’m a proud villager of the reading community. Thank you, libraries!

2023 marks the 30th year that Ellen Snortland has written this column and was one of three winners of the LA Press Club’s Journalist of the Year. She also teaches creative writing online and can be reached at: ellen@beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-winning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is available for download or streaming at vimeo.com/ondemand/beautybitesbeast.

PROPOSITION 65 / PROPUESTA 65 WARNING

/ AVISO

California Electroplating, Inc. emits Hexavalent Chromium (a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer also is known to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm). Persons within the area shown inside the thick line on the map are exposed to Hexavalent Chromium at a level determined by the State to require a warning.

California Electroplating, Inc. emite cromo hexavalente (un producto químico conocido por el estado de California para causar cáncer también se sabe que causa defectos de nacimiento u otros daños reproductivos). Las personas dentro del área que se muestra dentro de la línea gruesa en el mapa están expuestas al cromo hexavalente a un nivel determinado por el Estado para requerir una advertencia

Swan Boat Serenade

Wheel Fun Rentals offers family fun in Echo Park

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

It all started with a family trip to Italy in 1987 when Brian McInerney came across a four-wheel multipassenger Surrey cycle. By the time the family got on the plane home, McInerney had bought an entire container of Surrey cycles with the intention to open his first recreational rental location in Ventura.

Today, Wheel Fun Rentals has more than 100 locations worldwide, including Echo Park, which rents out swan boats for recreational use. Sheena Walenta, Wheel Fun Rentals’ director of marketing, said that whether it’s passing the time before a game at Dodger Stadium, a family outing or a romantic date, its swan boat rentals offer customers an opportunity to stay active and have fun.

“We’ve had so many cute stories,” Walenta said. “We’ve had proposals on the lake that we’ve orchestrated. We’ve had a variety of different TV shows and reality TV shows come out and film because it’s the best thing to do. … Even we were surprised at the popularity.”

Wheel Fun Rentals has become the official boat concessionaire for all LA City Parks and have operated in Echo Park since 2018. The rental cost for the pedal boats cost $12 per hour for adults and $7 an hour for children under 18. Walenta said the swan boats are an affordable way for families, and even dates, to spend an afternoon and that picnics are welcome aboard.

Wheel Fun Rentals’ swan boats come in a variety of sizes, and people of all ages are welcome. Some people even bring their great-grandparents along for a ride, she said. For the younger kids, there is a model with an enclosed back bench that can seat up to three while the parents sit up front in the pedal seats.

Walenta said that customer feedback is valuable for Wheel Fun Rentals. During the pandemic, there was such a high demand that they noticed some customers would come and be unable to rent a boat because they were all already out on the water. To address this, the company instituted an online, timed reservation system so that customers who come to Echo Park are guaranteed to get on a boat.

Even with the rise of electronics and motorized recreational vehicles, Wheel Fun Rentals chose the pedal-powered swan boats for Echo Park intentionally.

“We chose swan boats when we first came into Los Angeles because we wanted something that brought that nostalgia back,” Walenta explained. “A really long time ago swan boats were offered at Echo Park Lake, and then over the years, it was transitioned into regular pedal boats. We wanted to bring that old Hollywood, Disney nostalgia back to the people of Los Angeles.”

Walenta said their swan boat model performs better than other boats she has seen on the market. Made of fiberglass, the boats are ergonomic and easy to pedal. The giant wheel underneath, she said, allows for better navigation and more comfortable seating when traversing the lake.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, said Walenta. Wheel Fun Rentals also offers Swan Boat Night Rides after the boats have been decorated with LED lights. Customers were welcome to bring a blanket and a hot beverage along for the ride as they enjoy the view of the Downtown LA skyline at night. The last boat leaves at 10 p.m.

“It’s an entirely different experience at

night because you can see the lights reflecting off the downtown skyline and the lights reflecting off the swan boats — and

it’s the same cost at $12 per adult and $7 per child,” Walenta said. “It can be a really fun evening.”

Wheel

Visitors to Echo Park get a view of the Downtown LA skyline from the water with Wheel Fun Rentals’ Swan Boats.

Wheel Fun Rentals offers night-time pedal boat rentals.

DTBUSINESS

Iconic Move

Brown & Riding relocates within DTLA

By LA Downtown News Staff

Brown & Riding Insurance Services

Inc. signed a 10-year, 13,043-squarefoot office lease at U.S. Bank Tower.

The firm will move in early 2024 from its previous office at 777 S. Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles to occupy part of the 20th floor.

The deal marks the first lease signing at U.S. Bank Tower following the completion of Silverstein’s two-year, $60 million capital improvement program to transform the famous tower into the premier workplace in Downtown LA.

The upgrades are part of Silverstein Properties’ larger efforts to transform the surrounding district into a vibrant cultural center for the downtown Los Angeles community — including Settecento, the new 4,000-square-foot restaurant coming

to Maguire Gardens, which opens this fall.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brown & Riding and their LA-based team to the revitalized U.S. Bank Tower,” said Harlan Strader III, Silverstein Properties’ vice president of leasing.

“We embarked on the renovations with the goal of positioning U.S. Bank Tower as the workplace of choice for LA’s leading companies. Now we look forward to providing world-class companies with an unrivaled design and hospitality experience within a thriving commercial and cultural district.”

At 1,018 feet, U.S. Bank Tower stands at the center of a growing Downtown LA revival. Silverstein Properties’ $60 million renovation transformed over 35,000 square feet of common spaces, including a redesigned main entrance and lob-

by, new contactless elevators and elevator lobbies, a new day-to-night juice and cocktail bar, a grab-and-go market, seating and collaboration areas.

The Vista, a new resort-inspired amenity destination on the 54th floor featuring panoramic views of LA, offers food and beverage options along with event, meeting, presentation and lounge spaces.

“In our search for a new Los Angeles office space, we’ve prioritized finding an environment that will continue to support our growth and innovation,” said Chris Brown, chairman of Brown & Riding Insurance Services Inc. and local resident.

“The state-of-the-art amenities at U.S. Bank Tower provide the facilities and atmosphere we’ve been seeking and will create an elevated experience for our employees and clients. We are confident the

new space is the right fit for our team to deliver the results for our partners that reflect our commitment to exceed their expectations.”

Strader as well as Jaclyn Ward, James Malone and Sarah Hancock of JLL represented the landlord in the deal. David Kluth and Aliya Coher of Newmark represented Brown & Riding.

The U.S. Bank Tower is LEED Gold-certified. Notable tenants include McKinsey, Walter P. Moore, Lincoln International, Rothschild & Co and Morgan & Morgan.

Silverstein Properties acquired U.S. Bank Tower in September 2020, and began the series of capital improvements in May 2021. The company partnered with international design firm Jeffrey Beers and architecture firm A + I to design key elements of the building.

Silverstein Properties/Submitted

Silverstein Properties acquired U.S. Bank Tower in September 2020, and began capital improvements in May 2021.

Anywhere But a Stage

Democratic dance transforms nontraditional spaces in DTLA

By Morgan Owen

LA Downtown News Managing Editor

Instead of taking her cues from a stage, Heidi Duckler takes inspiration from the world and communities around her. Each performance produced by Duckler and her company, Heidi Duckler Dance, transforms spaces not traditionally used for dance into something new, as the choreography engages with themes of that environment.

In one performance, “Back to Circulation,” Duckler used the large, floor-toceiling windows in the West Hollywood Library as symbolic thresholds for sharing information and knowledge. In another, she brought to life the story of “The Chandelier” by Brazilian author Clarice Linspector, using the architecture of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts to explore ideas of permanence and transience.

For 38 years, Heidi Duckler Dance has performed across Southern California anywhere but on a stage. She explained that transforming nontraditional spaces through dance, which is part of HDD’s mission, is based on the concept that dancing democratically can promote spatial justice.

“Spatial justice is really a concept based on access and democracy and the choice of having people look at dance from different perspectives,” Duckler said. “Using the body as a vehicle, we believe dance drives discovery. In an effort to make Los Angeles a more animated and equitable city, (our) artistic offerings reveal truths about historic landmarks, reawaken abandoned places, and turn the spaces we seemingly know well on their heads.”

Duckler operates within the ultra-specific genre of democratic dance. Also known as community dance, this dance form developed as part of the modern dance revolution. It seeks to distinguish itself against the perceived elitism of European ballet by using movement to engage with social issues and complexities of society.

For Duckler, democratic dance means “using movement as a tool for survival, resistance, healing and growth.” It can do more than just entertain, she asserted; it can change how people view the world — and themselves.

Creating site-specific works is not just a change for the performers. Similar to

how democratic dance bucks the ideals of ballet, place-based dance rejects the accepted format of the audience’s consumption. According to Duckler, placebased performances create a different way for the audience to look at the world and relate to the dance’s themes.

“It gives you multiple perspectives. When you go to a theater, you’re told where to sit, and you’re given a lot of instruction. When you see site-specific work, you think for yourself, and you have to make a lot of independent choices,” Duckler said. “It’s empathetic. It’s not passive. It’s a very participatory engagement.”

An example of this kind of production was HDD’s 35th anniversary series in 2020, “The Quest.” The 10 performances in the series brought audiences on a voyage through LA. But instead of performing in the iconic locations LA is known for, Duckler selected paces of working, learning, healing and discovery. Stops included the Bendix Building, where HDD is based; Founder’s Church;

and the Watts Labor Community Action Center.

An important component for Duckler in all of her productions is to include and engage with diverse communities. Another tenant of democratic dance is that anyone can dance anywhere, whether it’s a 6-year-old in their bedroom or a 100-year-old in a laundromat. Duckler said she believes democratic dance can help people of all different backgrounds connect and find empathy for each other.

“The No. 1 thing I want people to know about our dance company is that it’s made up of multiple people with different points of view. They’re all incredibly talented. Through their talents and skills, they can express themselves in very collaborative ways,” Duckler said.

“One Leg at a Time” is one example of how the performers Duckler works with influence the final product of the performance. “One Leg at a Time” was the culmination of a three-month educational residency by HDD at the California Insti -

tution for Women.

Throughout the residency, teaching artists at HDD worked with a group of incarcerated women to develop a performance that focused on issues they faced, such as self-esteem, personal responsibility, and the physical expression of trauma and overwhelming events.

“This exhibition challenged audience members to evaluate how the arts can inform the conversation around mental health, and sexual and physical abuse among incarcerated women. This journey allowed all walks of life to be encapsulated in the participants’ world, bridging the gap between the free and the incarcerated and fostering greater understanding, empathy and respect,” stated Duckler’s website, describing “One Leg at a Time.”

Workshops like this residency at the California Institute of Women are the final pillar of Duckler’s company, arts education. HDD’s education vision is based on exploration, and Duckler has been implementing educational programs

Chris Mortenson/Staff

Heidi Duckler Dance creates place-based performances that transform nontraditional spaces and promote diverse engagement.

since 2013.

Since then, HDD has worked with more than 10,000 underserved youth and families from South and East LA. HDD also works with veterans, seniors, correctional facilities and mental health organizations.

“We work with adults coming out of incarceration. … We have a wonderful one-on-one mentorship program with foster youth, and we work with intergenerational families,” Duckler said. “Our education programs keep growing. There seems to be such an incredible need, so we are there as long as we’re needed,” Duckler said.

In 2017, the Los Angeles Unified School District invited HDD to work with underserved schools to create free dance programming. These residencies are specifically for schools that receive a score of one or two on the Arts Equity Index. The goal is to challenge students to interact with their environment as

they learn about improvisation, choreography and dance styles.

Duckler doesn’t just offer educational programs for youth; she also provides dance education for intergenerational families. The curriculum of these workshops focuses on activating memory through storytelling and specific choreographic techniques. These workshops connect seniors and youth to encourage them to share their stories in a creative and empathetic environment.

As the audience comes out of the places seen in isolation during the pandemic, Duckler said democratic dance is more important now than ever.

“The things that are happening in the world today can be so troubling. The arts give us hope, joy, a sense of community, and the need to find our truth and be together. It’s really important that we stay confident and use our bodies (to express things) that sometimes, you just can’t find the words.”

‘One of Us’

Erik Dueñas shines for LAFC

By Luke Netzley

LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

In the stillness of the tunnel, where the noise of a waiting stadium echoes in the darkness, 18-year-old Erik Dueñas prepares to step out onto the pitch before a riotous crowd. He was once a young fan cheering from the stands. Today, he plays with an LAFC badge on his chest. He’s lived the childhood dream of anyone who’s ever fallen in love with the beautiful game, and it’s a journey he does not take for granted.

Dueñas was born and raised in El Monte, where his parents immigrated from Mexico. As a child, he recalls traveling to soccer games with his family: his dad Enrique Dueñas, his mom Maria Vallejo, his younger brothers Saul Dueñas and Daniel Vallejo, and older brother Diego Dueñas, who he named as one of the most influential role models in his early life.

Fueled by a burning passion for soccer and a competitive spirit, Dueñas joined the LAFC academy at 11 years old, making him one of the original members of the team’s first U-12 squad. Though he would go on to rise through the ranks of the academy, he described his journey as a youth player as one filled with highs and lows.

“I wasn’t a starter in the academy,” he

“The relationship between me and my brother was, I think, one of a kind,” Dueñas described. “We were so competitive, and that’s why I am where I am right now. He pushed me to become not just a better player, but a better person.”

said. “I started off on the bench, frustrated, and it was tough in the beginning.”

Under the leadership of Academy Director Todd Saldaña, Dueñas developed from a center back to a full back capable of playing on both the left and right-hand sides of the pitch, yet still competing for minutes with other players. As the years passed, he grew to impress the LAFC academy staff with not only his technical skill, but his attitude and determination.

“I like to describe myself as a hardwork-

LAFC/Submitted

During his academy years, LAFC’s Erik Dueñas would watch the first team play at BMO Stadium from the stands. Today, he’s a familiar face in the LAFC starting lineup, playing alongside idols like Carlos Vela.

ing person, and I never give up,” Dueñas said. “I always give it my all, even though I wasn’t a starter. I think that’s what got me to the first team: my hunger and my willingness, my willingness to keep going.”

Dueñas performed at the U-14, U-15 and U-16/17 levels, including 16 appearances during the 2019-20 season. In four seasons with LAFC, he tallied five goals in 104 matches across all competitions.

During his time in the academy, Dueñas would often travel to BMO Stadium on the weekends after his games to watch the LAFC first team play at home. He and his dad would sing arm in arm with the ultras of the North End. In those days, he was a local boy swaying in a sea of black and gold, dreaming of a chance to play in front of the fans that stood beside him.

“I was part of the 3252,” Dueñas said. “My dad would take me to the games and if there was a game on the weekend and LAFC played, we would go to the (academy) game in the morning and then watch the first team play at the stadium at night. It was incredible. From playing in the morning and then going to chant, to scream, to yell out … It was fun.”

On July 8, 2020, Dueñas was called up to the first team and etched his name in club history as one of LAFC’s first three homegrown signings alongside fellow academy products Christian Torres and Tony Leone.

Three months later, during a midweek game under the lights at BMO Stadium, Dueñas was brought on for LAFC in the 71st minute against Vancouver Whitecaps. He was 15 years old, making him the third youngest player to ever appear in an MLS match.

Though the game had been played in front of an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dueñas felt the roar of the fans in April 2023 when he made his first starting appearance in an MLS match against Nashville. He recalled that the buildup to the game was “a bit nerve-wracking,” but that the wisdom of experienced teammates like midfield veteran Ilie Sanchez helped him through.

“The day that I was going to start against Nashville, (Sanchez) told me just to be calm, that I was ready for that moment. And he helped me a lot with that. I really appreciate everything he has done for me and all the advice he has given me,” Dueñas said. “When you’re a new player, when you’re barely meeting new teammates, those nerves always kick in, especially before a game. … As you keep training, as you keep hanging out with these guys, as you keep working and talking off the field, you start to build confidence. That’s what made me more comfortable with them and more confident on the pitch and off the pitch.”

As his confidence has grown, so too has his presence in the first team. Dueñas has played nine out of the last 10 games, starting five times. Despite becoming a familiar

face in the lineup, he still sees himself as a fan in the North End.

“I’ve always been a fan since the beginning of LAFC, and I still am a fan, honestly,” he said. “I really appreciate everything the club has given to me, this big opportunity for me and my family.

“My dad is such a hardworking man. He did a lot and still does a lot for me and my brothers. I really appreciate everything he did for me, and also my mom, my whole family. I love them to death. … Walking down to the field in front of my family, it’s incredible. … It gets me emotional, to be honest.”

Though he knows what it’s like to be an LAFC fan, Dueñas has begun to feel what it’s like to be a first team player. He recalled one experience when he met a young kid in the stands.

“One day there was this fan in the 3252 saying, ‘I want to be like you. You’re a big role model,’” he described. “I’m 18 years old like, ‘Me? Are you sure?’ It is crazy to see because I was the same way. I would tell people, ‘I’m going to be like him one day.’

“My advice (to young fans and players) is to never, never give up. My dad taught me that there’s always going to be ups and downs in soccer, and you need to be more ready for the downs. … I thank God a lot for the opportunity he has given me.

… It feels amazing just knowing that, before, I was right there with the 3252, chanting. I experienced that and I know what they’re thinking. Just being able to walk to the field, it’s an incredible feeling. I’m super blessed.”

While maintaining his connection with the fans and sharing the pitch with icons like club captain and Mexican hero Carlos Vela and Italian defensive legend Giorgio Chiellini, Dueñas has also remained close with his fellow youth academy graduates, who he has grown up with through the seasons.

“Tony (Leone), Christian (Torres), Diego Rosales just signed, Nathan (Ordaz), I used to play with them,” he said. “Those are the players that I talk to the most in the locker room. … I always try my best to be able to hang out with them off the field too. Then when it comes to practice, sometimes I carpool with Christian since he lives by me now. We have a very good relationship between the young players.

“I’ve known them for a very long time and it’s a special relationship, a brotherhood out there, to be able to push each other and improve because I feel like everyone wants to see us homegrowns keep on going and be, one day, legends in the club.”

In terms of his own future, Dueñas wants to be written into LAFC history as the kid that grew up in El Monte, sang with the fans and became an elite player representing his city.

“That’s how I want to be remembered,” he said. “‘He was one of us.’”

Dueñas and his grandparents stand outside of his family home in El Monte.

Covered California will help DTSPORTS

Christian Okoye inducted into Hall of Fame

Former NFL player turns dream into reality

By Jeff Moeller

LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

The nightmare had a dream. It was 1996 and the former NFL star running back was four years removed from completing an All-Pro career as a running back with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Known as the Nigerian Nightmare — his playing days were highlighted by setting a number of franchise rushing records including total yards and touchdowns in a season — Christian Okoye was being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

As the former Azusa Pacific University standout was making the trip from the Midwest to his home in Southern California, it hit him then like he hit the hole on the gridiron: Does California have an equivalent honor?

“I thought of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. They have one in Orange County and San Diego. Riverside too,” he said. “But I’ve never heard one encompassing our entire state.”

Okoye, originally from Nigeria, got to work. He had a vision, and it started with a series of phone calls to fellow sporting legends.

Bill Walsh. Tommy Lasorda. Eric Dickerson. John Wooden. They provided feedback on his grand idea. What helped move the concept forward was everyone’s enthusiastic support.

A few months later, the California Sports Hall of Fame was inducting the Class of 2007.

And what a “class” it was, with Reggie Jackson, Jerry West, Marcus Allen and Chick Hearn. They were in the Anaheim Convention Center receiving their awards.

A total of 19 inaugural members were honored that evening, and everyone living attended but one person. Even the soft-spoken Okoye was in awe.

“Wow. It was a dream come true,” he said. “I’m a huge sports fan and all of these people were there. So many of my heroes, and to see them in person at our event was amazing.”

Now in 2023, Okoye’s continued hard work will see the 100th induction this June in Ontario. The perseverance shown by Okoye in this tribute to the best in sport mirrors his own rise in coming to America.

Okoye played soccer until he was 17 while growing up in Nigeria. He was also an accomplished sprinter and thrower on his high school track team. In 1982, he won seven National Titles during college in the

shotput, discus, and the hammer. In all, he snagged 17 All American honors in track and field and football.

Two years later, Okoye was surprisingly omitted from his country’s Olympic team. It was then that he joined his college football team. Ultimately, Okoye was selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 1987 draft, just the second Cougar ever picked in the draft.

Despite playing all those years in KC, California remained home for Okoye, a star off the field as well. The Christian Okoye Foundation helps underprivileged children assume their role in society through education and sports. He has continued that concept with the California Sports Hall of Fame.

“Promoting Education Through Sports” is the motto of Hall. Okoye feels strongly that the California Sports Hall of Fame support and promote education and sports among children throughout the Golden State.

“It’s important to me, because I know how I grew up. I grew up a poor kid who loved sports. I know that sports helped me be where I am today, and it’s helping a lot of kids go where they’re going to go,” said Okoye, a father of three who lives in Rancho Cucamonga.

“I just figured we’re going to use the same recipe as my foundation for the California Sports Hall of Fame. It has allowed more kids to get a head start thinking about their future.”

Over the years, the Hall of Fame ceremony has been held in different spots, including Cabazon. Okoye’s next goal is to create a permanent display for the hall that recently hit the 25-year anniversary. Like Okoye charged down the football field, that vision is taking shape.

In 2023, new management for the California Sports Hall of Fame was established. The Greater Ontario Sports and Entertainment Authority now works closely with Okoye to continue the goals and to grow his organization’s two plus decade efforts.

“Hopefully, by the end of next year, we’ll have a physical place.”

The tedious work is noticed by those recognized.

“I had followed his NFL career as a star and feared running back, yet found Christian to be very humble and engaging and friendly,” said retired LA Kings broadcaster Bob Miller, who was honored in 2011.

“Christian does a marvelous job in arranging a list of nominees for induction each

California Sports Hall of Fame/Submitted

Former NFL great Christian Okoye had a vision to create a Hall of Fame to honor the sports greats of the Golden State, and it became reality in 1997.

year and organizing the voting and the induction ceremonies.”

Ask Okoye to name some of his favorite inductees and he will say that the list is just too long. But as a former track and field standout, names like Rafer Johnson, Dwight Stones and Mike Powell were automatic selections … and sentimental favorites.

Another moment that made an indelible impression on Okoye was the braveness showed by Walsh, the Hall of Fame football coach. In 2007, Walsh fulfilled the commitment to his friend and was at the very first event despite battling leukemia.

Okoye reflects on the entire California Sports Hall of Fame experience, and the

journey on the whole, and graciously acknowledges it has indeed been a dream come true.

“It has been very, very successful. I enjoy it tremendously and I walk around with a big smile on my face.”

The California Sports Hall of Fame celebrated the Class of 2023 this year with an inductees list that included Terry Donahue, Alexi Lalas, Rick Lozano, Kenny Easley Jr., Dave Stewart and Norm Nixon. The induction ceremony was held at the Ontario Convention Center. To learn more about the California Sports Hall of Fame, vist californiasportshalloffame.org.

Despite playing his entire NFL career in Missouri, Okoye in the off-season lived in Southern California, where he was a college gridiron star at Azusa Pacific University.

The National Football League is well represented at the California Sports Hall of Fame, including the late John

John’s

Delicious Little Tokyo

Go Little Tokyo, Little Tokyo Community Council’s business marketing initiative, hosted eighth annual Delicious Little Tokyo June 24. The immersive, one-day event offered interactive ways to indulge in authentic culinary experiences and celebrate the neighborhood’s array of legacy businesses. Staff photographer Chris Mortenson was there to capture the moment.

Dan O’Leary, June O’Leary, Frances O’Leary and Corey O’Brian enjoy mochi from Fugetsu-do.

Grace Carney enjoys ramen.

Gary Miller and George Itow try fresh gyozas.

Food turned into emojis at Delicious Little Tokyo.

George Itow is all smiles trying out the food on the self-guided food tour.

Noriko Imura shows off examples of emoji food.

Guests of the 2023 Taste Little Tokyo tour work on their emoji sandwiches at Okayama Dobe.

Mila Elizalde makes emoji food at Okayama Dobe in Little Tokyo.

Guests line up to try the pork chahan (fried rice).

Tatsuno Shirley and Carol Tanita pose for a portrait at the last stop on the self-guided walking tour where guests could get Japanese dinnerware.

Richard Lui, Ashely Lui and Patty Lui enjoy a sample from the restaurant Mitsururu Cafe.

And Bonny Doon said, ‘Let There Be Music’

Detroit band comes to Highland Park

By Jack Miessner

LA Downtown News Staff Writer

Indie rock band Bonny Doon wants to spread the good-vibe gospel.

“We just want to make simple music that makes you feel good and makes you excited to listen to rock and roll again,” said Bill Lennox, co-singer/songwriter and guitarist of the three–piece Detroit outfit.

“Music where you hear it, and you feel something immediately.”

On Wednesday, July 5, Bonny Doon will bring its mission to Highland Park Ebell. The tour, which is for their 2023 record “Let There Be Music,” will mark a decade since the band’s inception. In a phone interview, Lennox affectionately recalled the early days.

On a 2012 weekend trip to Chicago, Bobby Colombo filled in on bass for Lennox’s band. The latter moved to New York a week later, but the two kept in touch.

“He and I were sending each other demos and stuff we were working on,” the musician said. “And then time passed, and eventually I moved back to Detroit, kind of with the idea that he and I could start something.

“We ended up getting a rehearsal space studio where we were working on our solo stuff together, and over the course of a summer we decided to start the band.”

Once the two quit their parallel play, it wasn’t long before Bonny Doon’s first project, 2014’s self-titled, four track EP, hit the scene.

The record, a noisy, DIY marriage of Lennox and Colombo’s diverse influences, pulled from everything from lo-fi folk legends (Silver Jews, Jeff Tweedy, Woods) to the classics (Neil Young, The Rolling Stones) to the musical zeitgeist of 2010s Detroit.

“It kind of came as a reaction to our previous bands and the DIY punk scene that we came out of,” Lennox said. “We kind of wanted to bring it down a little bit and play toward what our tastes were at the time, but also mixed with our punk roots.

“It just sort of became its own thing, which was beautiful. I think it was refreshing for some people in the scene at that time to have something a little different. At that time, it was the punk and garage rock days, but I think it was a welcomed sound.”

Through the three albums that Bonny Doon has put out since that 2014 EP, the band has dealt with plenty. Namely, drummer Jake Kmiecik’s struggles with Crohn’s disease, and singer/guitarist Bobby Colombo’s dealing with Lyme disease and a serious concussion.

None of it affects the three’s unwavering friendship, though. On the contrary.

“That’s been something that has also brought us closer together, just helping each other and being patient with each other’s needs,” Lennox said. “Our personal lives are important, and it’s just always working out that we keep wanting to do the band.

“I was 23 or something when we started. Now I’m 33 and married, so we’ve grown a lot. Our relationships have grown stronger. I think we’re just lucky that we want to be friends.”

The band’s glass-half-full mentality toward adversity rings out infectiously through their songs, but the singer describes the good vibes as a cycle. Bonny Doon’s music is both product and producer of positivity, a machine that turns their unmistakable joie de vivre into even more delight.

“In a way it is therapeutic,” Lennox said.

“But I think it’s also the opposite, where it’s the music that helps us live that way. Live with more joy and more excitement, because we have this thing that can take us there.”

The pleasingly stripped back and effortlessly tuneful “Let There Be Music” is a testament to the band’s zeal for songwriting. Experimenting for the first time with acoustic piano-driven melodies, the band approached the record as an “exercise in restraint.”

“We came into it with very simple ideas, rather than whole songs ready to go, like

‘get in there, track them, overdub them, and that’s it.’ This was more like, ‘We have a good amount of ideas, let’s put them down as minimally as possible,’” Lennoz said.

“We barely used any guitar pedals or effects. I’m plugged into the board and getting whatever amp sounds we like.”

The target, while recording, was to “do justice” to the songs they’d compiled over the past five years of living apart, the band becoming a long-distance project after Colombo’s moves to California and New York.

That kind of separation is demanding for bands, many of which have tried and failed. But for Bonny Doon, distance only makes the heart grow fonder.

“It’s been really good, I think. It’s given us space, and then when we do come together, we’re super excited to hang,” Lennox said. “It’s taken a lot of the pressure off of the grind of being a band, where you just get together twice a week to practice and it kind of feels like a chore.

“It gives our creative process some room to breathe, and when we come together to write, there’s just a wealth of ideas coming from different perspectives and experiences. Rather than us always being together

in the same world, drawing from the same inspiration, now it’s a more holistic pool to draw from.”

The band brought that peace of mind with its distance to the record, which concerns itself with the inevitability of change. The candid “You Can’t Stay the Same” serves as both an appreciation of life’s transience and a comforting reminder of a spare key under the doormat.

Natural images abound throughout the album, painting impermanence as an organic affair (check out “San Francisco” and “Crooked Creek”); the trees dancing, sunshine and rain replacing one another, everything in motion.

But while there’s moments of unapologetic alacrity (“Let There be Music”), there’s also moments like “Fine Afternoon” and “On My Mind,” ones of quiet uncertainty, of having to really reach for that sort of tranquility. Bonny Doon tells the whole story: The bitter melancholy of saying goodbye, the euphoric bliss of hello.

“This was the answer to the question of, ‘How does it work,’ the long-distance thing,” Lennox said. “This was that experiment in action. And I think it worked out for us.”

Bonny Doon with Marina Allen

WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 5

WHERE: Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 S. Avenue 57, Los Angeles COST: $22.99

INFO: bonnydoontheband.com, dice.fm

Trevor Naud/Contributor

Bonny Doon brings its feel-good sounds to Highland Park Ebell Club on Wednesday, July 5.

Fourth of July Fireworks

A Downtowner’s guide for the best viewing destinations

By Leah Schwartz

LA Downtown News Staff Writer

Explore the complete roster of Downtown’s Fourth of July celebrations and dazzling firework displays, where the city’s best pyrotechnic shows ignite against the backdrop of Los Angeles’ breathtaking skyline.

Gloria Molina Grand Park

4 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4

200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 213-972-8080, grandparkla.org

Downtown’s largest free Fourth of July celebration is back with food, live music, dancing and a newly added light show — swapping fireworks for an inventive drone display. This year will also include immersive art installations and DJs spinning hiphop, cumbia, jazz, house, funk and Latin soul tunes.

Dodger Stadium

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 4

1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles 866-363-4377, elysianparkstadium.com

There’s no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than experiencing America’s

favorite pastime. Watch the Los Angeles Dodgers battle the Pittsburgh Pirates and enjoy the game’s following firework extravaganza.

El Dorado Penthouse Rooftop

7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4 416 S. Spring Street Loft 1209, Los Angeles 818-679-4719, dtladinnerclub.com

Join revelers from the DTLA Dinner Club, a group that hosts free community dinners, on this Downtown rooftop to watch the city sparkle with displays spanning the skyline. Although this affair excludes dinner, attendees are encouraged to bring beverages to share.

Elysian Park

Various times

929 Academy Road, Los Angeles 213-485-5054

Elysian Park’s rolling hills offer a slew of vistas, including Buena Vista Hill and Elysian Reservoir’s Grand View Point, to watch the city’s colorful fireworks display. Pack a picnic and post up for a free citywide showing.

D T

Riddim Nation

UB40 feels good about its 45-year career

UB40/Submitted

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

LA Downtown News Executive Editor

UB40 likes to throw a party.

“We hate seated people,” said guitarist Robin Campbell with a smile via Zoom.

“When we tour, we play the hits that people expect, plus a few that maybe they didn’t expect — plus a couple of new ones. We like people to get up and dance. We’d like people to sing, sing and

dance along with us and have a good time.”

That’s what the “Red Red Wine” band is expecting when it celebrates its 45th anniversary at The Microsoft Theater on Friday, July 21. The year is packed for the legendary pop-reggae band, as it will release “UB45,” a collection of new songs and re-records of its hits, in the winter.

“It was going to start out as a re-recording of a lot of the old classics,” said

lead singer Matt Doyle.

“Now we’ve thrown a lot of new songs in there. It’s going to be a mix of old stuff and brand-new stuff. ‘Champion,’ which we recorded for the Commonwealth Games, is going to be on there. It’s a big album and it’s going to have a big sound to it. I think people are going to really, really enjoy it.”

Doyle admitted it felt really good to re-record UB40’s legendary hits like “Red

Red Wine,” “Cherry Oh Baby,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and “Falling in Love With You.”

“I remember being a kid sitting in the back of my parents’ car singing along to those songs,” he said. “To hear my voice with the actual band who made the music, it just blows my mind.”

Campbell said it’s been easy to stay passionate about the music, thanks to additions like Doyle.

UB40 headlines “The Feel Good Concert” with Men at Work and Smash Mouth. DJ Richard Blade hosts.

“Getting new lead singers like young Matt Doyle here,” he said. “He reinvigorates us. We’re a bunch of old guys who have been doing this a long time. To have somebody like him come along, it gives you a new lease on life. We’re having great fun.”

Smiling, Doyle is flattered to hear that.

“I try not to let it get to my head,” he added.

Joining UB40 was a no-brainer for Doyle, whose uncle is the band’s percussionist/vocalist, Norman Lamont Hassan. He was asked to come onboard in 2021 after his band, Kioko, opened for UB40 at The Royal Albert Hall in 2018.

Doyle’s lead vocals are featured on the track “You Don’t Call Anymore” from “Bigga Baggariddim,” and “Champion,” the latter of which also featured Gilly G and Dapz on the Map, two emcees also from Birmingham.

“I always followed the band,” he said. “I always loved the band. So, when they asked me to join, it was a dream come true.”

Campbell is just as enamored.

“Matt sings the old classics so well,” he said.

“We love the way he sounds on those old songs that we’ve re-recorded. We’re having a ball.”

Campbell and Doyle are thrilled UB40 can still fill concert halls with their timeless music. Since it formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, UB40 has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, giving Campbell a pinch-me moment.

“It never ceases to amaze me the fact that we can still, after 45 years, tour the world and sell venues wherever we go,” he said. “We have such a loyal and constant fanbase. I love them for it. That’s why we are still doing it.

“Honestly, I don’t know what the secret is. We just do what we love doing and hope our fans come along for the journey with us. It’s a privilege to do what we do.”

“The Feel Good Concert” w/UB40, Men at Work and Smash Mouth

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, July 21

WHERE: Microsoft Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles

COST: Tickets start at $66

INFO: microsofttheater.com

Covered California will help DTENTERTAINMENT

‘Dinomite’ Opportunity

Dancer parlays talents into ‘Jurassic World Live’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

LA Downtown News Executive Editor

Carlos “SparXz” Caraballo has won medals for hip-hop dance as a member of Arizona-based Exiles. He has since parlayed his performance skills into a gig with Feld Entertainment’s “Jurassic World Live! Tour,” which comes to Crypto.com Arena Friday, July 21, to Sunday, July 23.

The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs with “scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers.”

Fans of the Netflix animated series “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” will also recognize Bumpy, the friendly and food motivated dinosaur, as she goes from baby to adult fairly quickly.

The show will turn the Crypto.com Arena into the dense jungles of Isla Nublar, where real Gyrospheres roll through the valley and scientists work to unravel a corrupt plan and save a new

dinosaur from a terrible fate.

“It’s way different than Hip-Hop International,” he said with a laugh about the dance competition. “It’s basically an immersive experience into the ‘Jurassic World’ franchise. It’s based on the ideas of the movie, so there are dinosaurs, soldiers and Isla Nublar.

“It’s a new, original storyline with original characters. You get an extra reward if you see the movies. It’s a totally new story, though, so everyone enjoys it.”

In the show, the “dino-teer” plays Jeanie, the main character, a Troodon.

“That species of dinosaurs is smarter,” he said. “In the storyline, scientists are trying to read its emotions and take care of it. With any good deed, people try to take the technology and use it for evil. You follow the scientists throughout their adventure and save the dinosaur’s baby eggs.”

The Arizona State University graduate began performing at age 13, eventual -

ly becoming a member of United Dance Crew, formerly known as Reach Ministries.

“I was an athlete as a kid and never thought of being a performer,” he said via telephone from a stop in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. “Then, one day, I saw Reach Ministries perform at a youth church event and I got hooked. I didn’t even know where to start, but I was determined to find out. I asked them how I could join, and the rest is history.”

He is a four-time silver medalist in the USA Hip-Hop Dance Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. He landed in fifth place in the World Hip-Hop Dance Championship with the Exiles in 2018. The troupe then performed on NBC’s “World of Dance” season three.

“Competing on NBC’s ‘World of Dance’ during the duels round was memorable,” he said.

“During this round, teams were matched up against each other head-

to-head. We (Exiles) were matched up against one of the strongest teams in the competition and nearly took them out. Despite losing in our duel, we had such a high score that we were brought back to perform again later that night to stay in the competition.”

On tour, he explores coffeeshops, as he loves diving into the intricacies of coffee brewing.

“My favorite way to brew right now is with an AeroPress, but I also have an espresso machine, V60 pour over device, French press, cold brew coffeemaker and a standard coffee pot,” said Caraballo, who enjoys watching MMA.

He counts his father and his Exiles teammate as role models.

“My dad is loyal, reliable, generous and has a work ethic that I hope to live up to,” he said.

He was hired by Feld Entertainment after he met a former cast member of “Jurassic World.” His contract runs through

The famous Tyrannosaurus rex scene recreated on stage for audiences at “Jurassic World Live.”

summer 2024.

“He said ‘Jurassic World’ was coming back and I should try out for it,” Caraballo recalled. “There are stunts, fighting and action in it. I thought, I’m a dancer and acrobat. Where in the world could I fit in? I tried out to see what happens and it turns out having a sports, dance and acrobatic background makes for a great dinosaur.”

His goal is to be a professional stunt performer in live shows, television or film or motion capture.

“I want to create as many memories as I can doing what I love,” he said.

Caraballo is enjoying living on the road, as it forces him to live simply. However, he misses his wife, whom he married in February 2021

“There is a lot you have to give up,” Caraballo said.

“But, it’s one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever done. You’re literally gone from your home for months and months and months at a time. It’s a brand-new city every single week. We did close to 200 shows last season. This puts it into perspective: In one season, I tripled the number of states that I had been to.”

“Jurassic World Live Tour”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, July 21; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 22; and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 23

WHERE: Crypto.com Arena, 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

COST: Tickets start at $22

INFO: ticketmaster.com, jurassicworldlivetour.com

CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT

Data Analytics & Systems Manager for Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP to report to our Los Angeles, CA regional office and may work remotely. Dev & manage end-to-end analytics solutions (reqs gather, establish metrics, build data pipeline, & analyze data) to drive performance of ops. Influence build choices, understand ecosystems & trends, ID new levers to move key metrics. Coord w/ int clients to dev & mng budgets & projections. Create & monitor data roadmaps & projects. Dev cross-functional partnerships to drive data initiatives (get data & integrate into DBs & dashboards). Lead reports & dashboard engr & automation & predictive models, using bus. intel tools & programming languages. Oversee data integrity & gov, & lead/support bus. readiness (may incl tech train, sys test, bus. impact measurement). Review op & bus. growth issues & ID process efficiencies & analytics approaches. Dev new techniques & data methods. Mng data vendor/ expert to investigate & implem new sys for data migration using ETL. Collab w/ IT team/engr partners to optimize system. Eval. bus. initiatives & ops thru quant. analysis & provide data, analyses, feedback, etc., to int clients for accountability & report results. Personnel duties (hire/term., promote/demote, assign projects). Communicate & present effectively, & promote data techniques & culture; Audit int data & sys quality via data reporting. Advise lower lvl staff, providing performance feedback/evals. Provide coach & mentor support for professionals. Little domestic travel may be involved. May undergo background checks. Requires communication skills. Wage range: $100,000 to $105,000 annually. Must have Bachelors in Analytics, Math, Comp Sci, Engr, Business, Marketing, or related field; 5 yrs relevant exp. in data mgmt. or analysis, bus. Analysis, Marketing Analytics, or related field; and required skills. Alternatively, have Masters in Analytics, Math, Comp Sci, Engr, Business, Marketing, or related field; 4 yrs relevant exp. in data mgmt. or analysis, bus. Analysis, Marketing Analytics, or related field; and required skills. Requires skills (3 yrs exp) in: schema design and dimensional data modeling; manipulating large data sets in SQL and R (R or Python); marketing automation and marketing analytics tools; and CRM systems. Any suitable combination of education, training, or experience is acceptable. Apply at www.mgocpa.com/careers; ref. Job 2023-3320.

EMPLOYMENT

Supervisor - FAAS for Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP to report to our Los Angeles, CA regional office and may work remotely. Work in Financial Accounting Advisory Services [FAAS] dept. Duties: Provides/assists to implemnt or upgrade acct software, & tailors acct software set-up per client needs. Review reconciliation of statements & closing, rev fin statements, &analyses of accts. Prep &coordinate acct for client audit &communicate w/ auditor. Review journal entries of prepaids, accruals, depreciation & payroll. Assist w/ tax return prep incl liaise btween client & tax dept. Assists to implemnt & maintain int fin controls & process. Direct/prepare 1099’s, W2’s, &/or Payroll Tax Reports. Maintain proficiency over acct practices & software. Provide tech acct training to clients (web or in person). Anticipate, ID, & fix complex assignment issues. Supervise job & ensure QC standards. Develop team, incl mentor & dev lower lvl associates by providing performnce feedback (discussions &/or evaluations). Dev & maintain good client relations (incl meets deadlines, timely communics). Dev new business for firm. Review payroll wires & acct transfers. Prep billing worksheets/ WIP analysis, & communic. to promote client retention. Little domestic travel involved. Work time beyond standrd bus. hrs may often be req’d to meet deadlines. May undergo background checks. Requires communication skills. Wage range: $106,974 to $116,000 annually. Must have Bachelors in Accounting or related field and 5 yrs relevant accounting exp. Requires skills (4 yrs exp) in: GL, AP, AR, and reconciliations. Apply at www.mgocpa.com/ careers; ref. Job 2023-3319

“Jurassic World Live” brings dinosaurs to the stage.