Los Angeles Downtown News 11-21-22

DTLA’s sustainable future involves Mitsui Fudosan

By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

In the past decade, development in Downtown Los Angeles has skyrocketed.

From Perla on Broadway to Thea at Me tropolis, DTLA’s skyline has begun a rapid evolution, and the city is now home to the second fastest-growing downtown apart ment market in the nation, according to re ports.

For Mitsui Fudosan America, the U.S. arm of Japanese real estate developer Mitsui Fu dosan, balancing architectural excellence with environmental consciousness is the fu ture for DTLA development. The company recently presented plans to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council’s Plan ning and Land Use Committee to build a new 50-story high-rise between Grand Ave nue and Hope Street, named 8th Grand and Hope, just two blocks from their current project on a 42-story residential high-rise at the corner of 8th and Figueroa Street.

“Mitsui Fudosan America has been com mitted to Downtown for a long time,” said Stuart Morkun, vice president of develop ment at Mitsui Fudosan America, citing the company’s previous construction of 601 Fig, now known as the PricewaterhouseCoo pers building.

“We’ve always believed in Downtown as a vibrant neighborhood in Los Angeles that was just ripe for redevelopment and being re-energized. … The company has the phi losophy of trying to build neighborhoods, not just buildings. And so hopefully be tween this project (at 8th and Fig) and our project at 8th and Grand, we’ll start stitch together a little part of Downtown and real ly just continue the vitality that has started at least 10, 15 to 20 years ago with Staples and the redevelopment of South Park.”

The plans at 8th Grand and Hope call for the construction of 580 residential units, a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bed room spaces with balconies, above 7,499 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 636 vehicles. De signed by Gensler, the building’s tower in crementally reclines from Hope Street on its upper floors to create amenity decks for residents.

Designed by Johnson Fain, 8th and Figueroa broke ground in mid-2020 and was built to include 438 studio, one- and two-bedroom spaces above nearly 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Above the garage, the building will have a “podium deck” that will include amenities such as a pool, dog park, fitness center and

lounge.

“For residents, we’re really trying to … redefine what we think Southern Cali fornia living should be in the 21st centu ry,” Morkun explained. “If last century was about suburban sprawl and the indepen dence of the automobile and really trying to control the environment, now we real ly see this century as all about sustainabili ty and allowing that environment into our units and into the residents’ lives, but in a vertical format realizing that it’s in many ways unsustainable to continue to sprawl.”

In the case of 8th Grand and Hope, Mit sui Fudosan have designed what Morkun calls “virtuous verandas” that enhances the building’s solar exposure, consequently re ducing the need for mechanical systems while providing more sunshine accessibili ty for residents given LA’s renowned sunny weather.

“We’re not trying to emulate vertical liv ing that we see in a place like New York or Seattle, where obviously the environmen tal conditions, the weather and the light, are completely different,” Morkun said. “That simple move of the continuous terrace, our veranda, has allowed us many sustainable benefits as well as quality of life benefits for the residents where they can engage in in door-outdoor living that typically had been saved for essentially a suburban single-fam ily home. … We’re putting that in a vertical format and allowing residents in a tower to be able to live indoors and outdoors.”

To further improve sustainability at 8th Grand and Hope, the building’s garage will be integrated into the tower with terraces that shield above it that are able to be con verted into additional housing in the future as the city’s dependency on cars decreases over time.

According to the LA County Economic Development Corporation, the two projects are estimated to produce a combined total of over 10,000 jobs directly and indirectly with a labor income of $790 million and a total economic output of $1.4 billion.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk

The development at 8th and Fig is pro jected to be complete by the third quar ter of 2023, specifically between July and August, while the three-year project at 8th Grand and Hope is expected to break ground in 2024.

ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos

“Mitsui Fudosan has always had a longterm perspective on all its investments, and also a very high-quality bar,” Morkun described. “We hope to have these build ings contribute to the burgeoning sense of

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb

FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

“We’re very proud to be continuing to contribute to Downtown LA and also LA in general,” Morkun said. “We look forward to seeking other opportunities to continue to build neighborhoods and enhance and support communities and the people that live there.”

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

DEPUTY EDITOR: Luke Netzley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Thea Eskey, Jeff Moeller

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Mortenson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Johnson

ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway (213) 308-2261

Michael Lamb (213) 453-3548

Denine Gentilella (323) 627-7955

FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

community Downtown and to reinforce the goals of society, which is to enhance the pe destrian realm, enhance the city and also point the way for future developers and fu ture developments as it relates to quality and innovation and sustainability.”

Mitsui Fudosan America/Submitted

The new 50-story high-rise 8th Grand and Hope is expected to break ground in 2024.

Mitsui Fudosan America/Submitted

The 8th and Figueroa and 8th Grand and Hope projects are part of Mitsui Fudosan America’s mission to increase the sustainability of Downtown LA’s rapidly developing skyline.

Karen Bass elected as mayor of Los Angeles DTNEWS

By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

After a tight race against billionaire businessman Rick Caruso, Karen Bass has been elected as mayor of Los Angeles, making history as the city’s first woman to win the mayoral race. A na tive Angelina raised in the Venice/Fairfax area, Bass has served as a U.S. representa tive for California’s 37th congressional dis trict after representing the 47th district in the California State Assembly.

“The people of Los Angeles have sent a clear message: It is time for change, and it is time for urgency,” Bass said in a state ment on Nov. 16. “This is my home, and with my whole heart, I’m ready to serve, and my pledge to you is that we will hit the ground running on day one.”

The election result, called by the Associ ated Press, comes after a near week and a half of anticipation throughout the city, a delay reportedly caused by the number of mail-in ballots that require extra steps to verify the eligibility of each vote.

Bass’ term begins at a time when the LA

faces several crises impacting the lives of Angelenos throughout the city in regard to housing, crime and homelessness. As mayor, Bass has expressed a plan to ad dress income inequality as the source of much of the city’s most pressing issues.

To address housing insecurity, her plan includes creating policies to bring down the cost of affordable housing construc tion, building housing near transit points to help cut commutes and the environ mental impact of automotive travel, in creasing the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles’ emergency housing vouch er usage rate from 6% to 100% and ex panding construction of adaptive reuse, ADUs and modular homes while using the city’s underutilized real estate.

To combat homelessness, her plan in cludes declaring a FEMA-level state of emergency while building 15,000 perma nent supportive houses and 30,000 tem porary shelter beds.

To help prevent crime, her plan includes establishing an Office of Community Safe ty in the Mayor’s Office, expanding the

Community Safety Partnership and devel oping youth programs while investing in community-based prevention strategies and alternative response systems to the LAPD.

“Los Angeles is the greatest city on earth,” Bass said. “I know, if we come to gether, hold each other accountable and focus on the best of who we are and what

we can achieve, we can create better neighborhoods today and a better future for our children.

“To the people of Los Angeles, thank you. To the thousands of people who worked on my campaign, thank you. To ev eryone who will join our mission to move LA in a new direction, thank you. We will get big things done together.”

Make time for your mammogram.

The Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health

Scheduling your annual mammogram beginning at age 40 is an important and easy way to protect your health. At our state-of-the-art Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health located in DTLA, we make it easier with online scheduling. Simply visit DignityHealth.org/LACWH and choose the best time for you, or call (213) 742-6400

Karen Bass/Submitted

On Nov. 16, Karen Bass became the first woman to be elected mayor of Los Angeles in the city’s history.

LA Mission brings Thanksgiving celebration to Skid Row

By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

As one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in the country, the Los Angeles Mission is dedicated to bringing hot food and other necessities to individuals and fam ilies currently living on Skid Row each holiday season.

For this year’s Thanksgiving celebra tion, the LA Mission will provide over 3,000 pounds of turkey, 700 pounds of mashed potatoes, 800 pounds of green beans and 600 pies to people experienc ing homelessness on Wednesday, Nov. 23. In addition to food, the mission will also give out more than 1,400 blankets and 1,200 tarps.

“We like to say that we serve up our turkeys and with a side of hope and a slice of stability at our annual Thanks giving celebration,” LA Mission President and CEO Troy Vaughn said. “It is really one of our cornerstone opportunities to give back and to demonstrate a level of love to the individuals that need it. … They know that we’re always here, but we learned something from our summer event that we want to continue to now embed in all of our holiday events, and that was the idea of incorporating ser vice markets with our events going for ward. … We learned that people need services on top of a good meal.”

By providing services such as haircuts at a salon or employment opportunities through the Thanksgiving celebration, Vaughn hopes to make a long-lasting impact on the lives of those in need.

This year’s event will be hosted by Suitcase Joe, a social purpose enter prise that supports mental health care reforms for Skid Row, and supported by Albertsons, AON insurance, the Los An geles Lakers and Blue Shield as well as the office of Los Angeles County Super visor Hilda Solis, True Classic T-shirts, World Vision International, Hustle Clean shower wipes for adults, and the Com munity Next Foundation.

The Thanksgiving celebration will run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the LA Mis sion, 316 Winston Street.

“For us, the focus is on connecting people where they’re at, but also help ing them to see that change is possible,” Vaughn said. “Many of our staff, includ ing myself, are people with lived expe rience that have benefited from the ser vices at the mission and the resources that came through these walls. We stand as living testimonies of the possibility of change, and so we live in front of our people in that regard to help them see that change as possible.

“(The Thanksgiving celebration) is go ing to be a really good day of love, fel lowship, but just really coming out in the community to say, ‘Here, we are a community and all of us can come to gether in a moment of time to celebrate the meaning of life and thanks.’”

Hosted by KTLA reporter Sam Rubin, the celebration will welcome stars like beauty and makeup influencer James Charles, multi-platinum-certified R&B singer Tinashe, actress Emma Kinney, film producer Randall Emmett, media

personality Golnesa “GG” Gharached aghi, Miss California USA Kelley John son, health and wellness entrepreneur Liv Lo Golding, former LA Mayor Anto nio Villaraigosa, actor Frank Grillo, actor Christopher McDonald, singer Montana Tucker, actress Julie Ann Emery, actor Gregg Daniel and many others.

“I’m always touched when I see peo ple involved. … Community members have really come and been a part of the creation of the event itself,” Vaughn de scribed.

“When you have artists of any type coming to really give themselves and their talents to helping us put the day on is really is a blessing, because when we can share our gifts … that’s the real joy of it.

“It’s not about money. It’s about say ing, ‘Here’s what I can give,’ and some people can give with their talents. … That’s the blessing of it, coming out to share their gift and their talent with the audience. That’s overwhelming and joy ful to be able to do that at such a time as this.”

For over 84 years, the LA Mission has sought to bring joy alongside emergen cy services like shelter, food and cloth ing to people impacted by homeless

ness. Vaughn expressed that, in addition to serving the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and providing more than a half-million nutritious meals an nually, building a sense of community is also critical to the well-being of those living on Skid Row going forward.

“What we would like to see is the beautification of Skid Row, really creat ing a community out of it. And I think that we’re well on our way to doing that,” he said. “We’re partnering with muralists and artists to really begin to clean up our sidewalks and our green spaces and making sure that there are places where people can gather and meet, even at our own courtyard at the Mission.

“When individuals who have been suf fering basically all their lives … in terms of being strained with income disparity, health disparities and the like … when you find yourself in a skid in your life, of tentimes people don’t know how to get out.

“I like to say that we are part of the solution, that when people’s lives hit the skid and they end up on Skid Row, that they can turn to the Los Angeles Mission and we will help them find a way of get ting out.”

Los Angeles Mission’s Thanksgiving Celebration

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23

WHERE: 316 Winston Street, Los Angeles

INFO: losangelesmission.org

LA Mission/Submitted

Crystal Kung Minkoff and Garcelle Beauvais from “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” flank Troy Vaughn, CEO and president of LA Mission.

Actor, rapper, comedian and TV host Nick Cannon attended the LA Mission’s 2020 Thanksgiving event.

Covered California will help DT

Every day can be Thanksgiving

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude that capitalists have not managed to co-opt like other significant hol idays… and for that, I am grateful! How ever, I have a Thanksgiving practice I do every day. I recommend it, and here’s how it works: Each day, our group of Landmark Wisdom Course grads —as far-flung as Kenya and Germany and as close as my hometown of Altadena — emails the group 10 things each of us is grateful for. We have done this faith fully since 2005. My “grateful list” looks like this:

Today I am grateful for…

• New friendships we’ve made this year with Michal Dawson Connor and Jenn Melyan. It’s as if we have known both of them our entire lives.

• Liking and loving my husband, espe cially after being raised by a couple who despised each other. When I once asked my late mother if she ever missed dad, without missing a beat she answered, “Nope. I’m glad he’s dead.” Well, OK then!

• The smell of a dog’s paws, reminiscent of Fritos? Popcorn?

• The strength and vision of my Indig enous friends in both the Dakotas and now in New Mexico

• My beloved choir conductor and choir mates at All Saints Episcopal in Pasade na.

• My communities at Empowerment Self-Defense Global and IMPACT Person al Safety.

• My community at Goddess Living; we are an inquiry into, and conversational network about, “what does it mean to be a woman in this era?”

• My writing students and my classes in writing that help me hone my art and craft.

• A dear friend discovering that not only are we friends, but we’re also cousins,

when she got her 23andMe results.

• This gratitude practice, which has en hanced my appreciation for everything in my life.

That’s it; that’s the practice. I also have 17 years of these entries as a journal of my daily gratitude. I am happier because of it. We now know scientifically, not just anecdotally, that expressing gratitude impacts people’s lives. And hearing or reading other people’s appreciation for the things they are grateful for uplifts us, too. According to Psychology Today, gratitude helps us by stimulating two important brain regions: the hypothal amus, which regulates stress, and the ventral tegmental area, which plays a significant role in the brain’s reward sys tem producing feelings of pleasure.

Think of people who complain a lot and the feelings they leave us with… not pleasant, right? For some, com plaining can even take on a certain lev el of “one-ups-personship.” You can of ten hear that subtle competition when people compare their physical maladies. “You think your gall bladder operation was bad? Well, let me tell you, my bun ion removal was really bad!” On the oth er side of the coin, if you compare what you are grateful for, you can feel the spirits lift in the room.

Our home is an expression of grat itude. If you’ve read this column over the years or my pieces in the Huffington Post and elsewhere, I’m all about reveal

OPINION

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Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Let ter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

ing what’s been made invisible regard ing women and girls. Every wall, shelf, nook and cranny in our home has some thing on it that a woman has made, whether she’s in South Africa, South Da kota, Mexico, Pakistan, Israel, Norway, China or wherever else I’ve traveled. To the uninitiated, my decorating style is a mash-up of Gloria Steinem, hygge and Martha Stewart on LSD.

Women’s arts and crafts have been criminally undervalued and taken for granted. I am grateful to my mother, who collected women’s needlework from her travels. She admired and re flected on the hours it took for the woman or girl to make the items she displayed around her home. She had a story about each piece, whether it was embroidery, lacework, fine painting or weaving. She pointed out a tiny drop of blood on a piece of white, finely worked linen from Norway.

I love looking at the beadwork cloth ing and animals I’ve gotten from South Dakota, Oaxaca and South Africa. The beading is out of imaginations that would give the surrealists a run for their money. In the so-called “new world,” I es pecially love the sequined Voodoo art work that Haitian women make by first sewing sequins onto socks and then

slipping the sock onto a malt liquor bot tle.

I’ll leave you with one of my favor ite quotes from George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life: being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complain ing that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opin ion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible be fore handing it on to future generations.”

Please don’t wait for a eulogy to ex press what your loved ones mean to you. Tell them how grateful you are for them now, or how about every day, as I do with my friends?

Ellen Snortland has written this col umn for decades and also teaches creative writing. She can be reached at ellen@ beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-win ning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is available for download or streaming at vimeo.com/ ondemand/beautybitesbeast.

Ellen Snortland

Seasonal events illuminate DTLA

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

Arts patrons can celebrate the holi days with celebratory twists on tra ditional events like pop musicians singing seasonal songs, with ballerinas and “The Nutcracker Suite” or with swing music.

Want something low-key? Visit the LA County tree-lighting ceremony or the family-friendly NYELA.

American Contemporary Ballet’s “The Nutcracker Suite”

Various times Friday, Nov. 25, to Saturday, Dec. 24

Two California Plaza, 250 S. Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, LA

Tickets start at $65 acbdances.com

American Contemporary Ballet com pany director Lincoln Jones can’t give too many details about “The Nutcracker Suite,” but he guarantees it’ll be fun for the whole family.

“The dancers are wonderful, and I’m ex cited to bring this show to a new genera tion in a way that speaks to them in a very contemporary way,” Jones said.

“I take my cues from cinema and a more experiential (shows). I think, today, we’re used to a very immersive experiential type of entertainment with movies and video.”

The modernization of “The Nutcracker” “doesn’t sacrifice the depth of the ballet,” Jones said.

The 22 cast members will perform “The Nutcracker Suite” on the 28th floor of Two California Plaza. With snow-shroud ed staging in a skyscraper and visual mo tifs drawn from candy wrappers to anime, the company also inadvertently created the most Instagrammable holiday event in Los Angeles.

The one-hour retelling of the Tchaikovsky classic brings the original score to life with live musicians and is de signed to “surprise and captivate children and adults,” he said.

“It definitely uses the original score, it’s all live and you’re very close to the music,” he said coyly. “It’s original choreography,

but it’s in the classical tradition so dancers are on pointe.

Five years ago, “The Nutcracker Suite” opened with 10 performances. The follow ing season, it hit 26 shows, and now “we do as many as we can between Thanksgiv ing and Christmas and we always sell out and have a waiting list.”

Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square

Various times Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 1 Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive Street, LA Tickets start at $20, includes skate rental holidayicerinkdowntownla.com

Ice skating in DTLA allows first-time gliders and experienced skaters to partake in this winter activity. Locker rentals and skate helpers will be available.

The Music Center/Grand Park/ Walt Disney Concert Hall Grand Avenue, LA musiccenter.org/hohoho

The Music Center is spreading joy with its resident companies (LA Phil and the Los Angeles Master Chorale) as well as Grand Park to produce nearly two dozen holiday-themed events — beginning with the Los Angeles County Tree Lighting Cer emony and Grand Park’s Holiday Lights on Monday, Nov. 28.

The free LA County Tree-Lighting Cer emony at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at Jerry Moss Plaza features a 75-foot tree dressed in its holiday finest, as well as a perfor mance by Skid Row-based Urban Voices Project and complimentary hot chocolate.

In tandem with the LA County Tree-Lighting Ceremony, Grand Park will light up with holiday décor between Grand Avenue and Hill Street at 5 p.m.

LA Philharmonic “The Nutcracker with Dudamel: Tchaikovsky and Elling ton” comes to The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 14; and 2 p.m. Sundays Dec. 4 and

STEVEN ALLEN FOX Artistic Director/Conductor VICTOR PESAVENTO Music Director MAESTRA MARYA BASARABA Chorale Director

Submitted

Presented by LA Philharmonic, “A Chanticleer Christmas” will bring the Grammy-winning a cappella ensemble to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a performance on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

SEASONAL EVENTS ILLUMINATE DTLA, 10

Dec. 18. Tickets start at $97.

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the holi day favorite with a twist when he leads Tchaikovsky’s original as well as Billy Stray horn and Duke Ellington’s swinging re imagination of the many colors and dra ma of the original.

The LA Philharmonic leads a holiday singalong at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Walt Disney Concert Hall’s massive pipe organ, a choir and a jazz combo lead a selection of seasonal favorites. Children younger than 2 will not be admitted.

Dudamel returns to the stage for “The Nutcracker” Symphonies for Youth pre sented by the LA Phil at 11 a.m. Saturdays Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at Walt Disney Con cert Hall.

He hosts and conducts this special 45-minute concert designed for children ages 5 to 11. A preconcert art activity for the family starts at 10 a.m.

Festival of Carols with the Los Ange les Master Chorale at the Walt Disney Concert Hall ushers in the holidays with traditional Christmas carols and festive folk songs from around the world.

Joining the Master Chorale for this pe rennial holiday event is special guest Jon athan Antoine, who earned international acclaim after his appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent.”

“Lo, How a Rose” with the Los Ange les Master Chorale at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The show pays tribute to the classic Renais sance Christmas carol by Michael Praetori us that depicts the beauty and comfort of the nativity.

Music on this program celebrates the wonder of the season, with beloved works by former composers-in-residence Shawn Kirchner and Morten Lauridsen; world premieres by Mari Esabel Valverde and Cristian Grases; and music by Benjamin Britten, Stacey Gibbs, Ariel Quintana, Car los Simon and Hyo-Won Woo, among oth ers.

“A Chanticleer Christmas” presented by LA Phil at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Walt Disney Concert Hall stars the 12-man Grammy-winning a cappella ensemble.

Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, with the Los Angeles Master Cho rale brightens the Walt Disney Concert Hall, with joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic “Hallelujah” cho rus.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale’s Car ols on the Plaza vocally illuminates Jer ry Moss Plaza at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19. Come and sing songs of the holidays — “Deck the Halls,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Joy to the World” — with 20 singers from the chorale. Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director Grant Gershon leads the merri

ment. Song booklets provided. Bring the family for the “Messiah” Sing-Along at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Every one from the classically trained soprano to the spirited singer in the shower is in vited to join this holiday traditional night. Bring your own score or purchase one in the lobby.

Relive the fun of “Home Alone” with a concert presented by LA Phil at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, to Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This beloved comedy classic features renowned com poser John Williams’ score performed live to picture, conducted by David Newman. The LA Phil continues its seasonal cele bration with Arturo Sandoval Swinging

The LA Philharmonic will lead a holiday singalong at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Holiday at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The 10-time Gram my-winning Sandoval makes it a Latin Jazz kind of holiday.

The Music Center offers the 63rd annu al LA County Holiday Celebration at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. An LA holiday tradition since 1959, the Emmy-winning free holiday spectacular spreads joy to thousands of Angelenos with performances by two dozen music ensembles, choirs and dance companies.

Admission to the in-person 63rd annual holiday spectacular is free and available

on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ring in the new year with hip-hop’s The Roots at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, presented by LA Phil at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Grand Park offers NYELA, DTLA’s largest free New Year’s Eve music and dance par ty. Starring the city’s best DJs and musi cians, including DJ Marques Wyatt and Cu ban Funk band Cimafunk on two stages, the family-friendly, alcohol-free celebra tion crescendos with an epic countdown to 2023 depicted by Grand Park’s signa ture 3D video projection and light show on City Hall.

at Grand Park was created by Javier Guillen.

Former local football standout looks to change his stripes

By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

The Chargers game was getting un derway inside SoFi Stadium. The crowd was hyped, and the beer was in abundance.

As the players took their positions on the field, Antoine Cason looked on. As the game officials were getting set, few no ticed, but Cason did.

A former defensive back with the thenSan Diego Chargers, Cason took his seat minutes before kick-off. As an ex-NFL play er, he already watches a game on Sunday, whether on TV or on this day in Inglewood in person, through a different lens.

But what is maybe most unique about this 36-year-old sitting near the 50-yard line — other than 99.9% of the 65,000-plus fans in the stadium did not play pro foot ball — is he aspires to return to the field… as an official.

Football is in Cason’s blood. A former standout at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in his hometown, and then at near by Los Alamitos High School before head

ing to the University of Arizona, where he was an All-America selection, his initial football memories are vivid.

“I was 8. One game they kicked the ball to me and I let the ball go, which I was not supposed to do. The other team recovered it. The coaches were screaming at me.

“I told the coach, ‘I saw the other team running at me and they are big. I don’t want to get crunched.’ A lot of people that day didn’t guess an NFL career was in my future.”

Locally, his first team was the Car son-Gardena Colts. He played his first five NFL seasons with the Chargers, around 100 miles from his hometown. His connection with the team remains despite their move to Los Angeles five years ago.

“I still slip and say San Diego Chargers here and there, but a lot of people do. I keep a relationship with a lot of people as sociated with the team. When I was there, I was always about being a good person and doing my best to contribute on the whole. I was nasty on the field only.”

His NFL career spanned 110 games with

Antoine Cason/Submitted

Antoine Cason enjoyed his NFL career but is now pursuing numerous post-playing career options, including a return to the field as an official.

four different teams, including the Arizona Cardinals. In 2015, he underwent surgery on his right foot. He never played again and retired at age 29.

“At that point I didn’t think I was done because I played hurt for two seasons. I played on a partially torn Achilles. I even tually felt better physically than when I en tered the league, but the Collective Bar gaining Agreement did not favor mid-tier veterans then, so that is why I believe I didn’t make it back,” said Cason, who stud ied political science in college. “At 29 I was a little in disbelief.”

Two years ago, before the COVID-19 shutdown, he had a conversation with Mike Carey, a longtime associate/NFL offi cial/SoCal resident. He put the thought of working as a referee in Cason’s mind. While his family has a background in officiating — his mom, father and uncle were active in the industry — it was not a thought he had as a player.

“When I played, I loved talking to the officials. I would even ask them for some advice while I was out there. I made my bones on third down, you have to remem ber. They would not obviously let penalties go, but they would talk me through a play on occasion. It gave me a lot of insight.”

If he makes it back to the league, he will join a rare group of former NFL players who are modern-day referees.

“I wanted to stay in the game,” Nate Jones told the NFL Network about his cur rent job as an NFL official after playing eight seasons. “We wanted to be at a place where we can still be with our families and come back. We don’t care (now) who wins or loses.”

Cason’s (first) career started on a winning note. At Arizona he earned the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award. He was soon a firstround selection by San Diego and lived out his childhood fantasy playing in the most popular league in the United States.

Cason played in all 16 regular season games as a rookie and both playoff games

at cornerback for the AFC Western Divi sion champions. In his last season with the Bolts, he also played in all 16 games. During his career, he scored two career touchdowns. But every athlete hangs up their cleats.

Since, he has dabbled in numerous areas of interest, including getting his master’s degree at the University of Miami, coaching youth sports and starting a family trucking company based in the Long Beach area. He is also set to soon launch an apparel com pany.

“During the pandemic I gave it a lot of thought. I meditate a lot. I think a lot and try my best to be present. I’m in the car, and the radio is not on. I am constantly thinking.

“The more I thought about it, and the fact my name has been associated with a brand forever, why not create some thing for myself is what I asked myself. I re searched a lot, and you learn a lot of this starts at the college level. That is when I started to create the company, which I call Reach Unlimited. I am starting with where I went to college and my goal is to have a special collegiate collection.”

No word yet if that soon-to-be-success ful clothing line will feature stripes as one of its products. And as for if Cason puts the comfortable athletic gear on the shelf to re turn to the NFL, he believes it is only a mat ter of when.

“I am pushing for three, four years from now. I am doing my best to learn and to get better. The speed of the game does not scare me. Seeing the action unfold is not the issue. Physically I think I can still keep up,” the father of one said. “It is mostly about the positioning, the intricacies of the rule book, the mechanics and how to slow the game down as an official. I have done it as a player. Now I want to do it as an official while working hard to keep the game clean and the keep the integrity of the league.”

To learn more about Reach Unlimited, visit reachunltd.com.

Los Angeles Chargers/Submitted

A proud native of Long Beach, Antoine Cason was a college star at Arizona before his career on the gridiron led to five seasons for the Chargers.

Midnight Mission holds annual Turkey Trot

By Thea Eskey LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

On Thanksgiving, the Midnight Mission is partnering with Generic Events and the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates to bring its annual Turkey Trot back to Downtown Los Angeles. Aside from so liciting donations from the public, the mission also co-sponsors fundraising events. The trot is set to begin at 8 a.m. with a 5K run, where Thanksgiving themed costumes are encouraged.

After the first 5K run, there will be another 10K run that begins at 9 a.m. fol lowed by the “Widdle-Waddle” at 10:30 a.m., where kids run for a quarter mile. After all the exercise, attendees can look forward to a festival where music and drinks will be provided. The event will finish by noon to give families am ple opportunity to head home for Thanksgiving celebrations. Not only will guests have the chance to enjoy the event with their families, but they’ll also be rubbing shoulders with runners from the Skid Row Running Club among many other notable guests. Event registration and donation can be found on turkeytrot.la.

Generic Events/Submitted

Midnight Mission will partner with Generic Events and the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates for the 2022 Turkey Trot in Downtown LA.

One of the key ways that the mission supports its work of serv ing approximately 25,000 people a year in its large-scale feeding programs is through donations, both in-kind and financial.

“No donation is too small,” Midnight Mission CEO Mike Arnold said.

Arnold also stressed that 82% of every dollar donated goes to the various projects run by the Mission and that $1.35 can buy one meal for someone in need.

The Midnight Mission was founded by businessman and lay preacher Tom Liddecoat in 1914. The organization’s name came from the meals that followed Liddecoat’s nightly sermons. By 1922, the mission moved away from religious services, becoming a secular nonprofit. What has not changed, however, is the mis sion’s vocation, developing self-sufficiency in the homeless popu lations they serve.

According to Arnold, the reason for the focus on self-sufficien cy is “because with self-sufficiency comes pride, comes self-confi dence, and it’s the proverbial ‘We teach people to fish rather than give them a fish.’”

Through a donation of less than $2, donors have the chance to make a lasting impact in the lives of those impacted by homeless ness. Arnold wants to make sure people understand that “no one wants to be homeless. … They have challenges in their lives that they are just unable to effectively deal with on their own, which is what makes organizations like ours so important.”

Midnight Mission Turkey Trot

WHERE: The race starts and finishes in front of City Hall at 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 24

INFO: turkeytrot.la

Generic Events/Submitted

This year’s DTLA Turkey Trot starts and finishes in front of City Hall at 200 N. Spring Street, running from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 24.

By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was not on Andy Bernstein’s mind growing up. The New York-born Bernstein, after all, went to just one Knicks game at Madison Square Garden as a kid, his jump shot certainly did not have him bound for the famous American his tory museum and, to be blunt, he liked baseball and hockey more than hoops.

“I was certainly aware of the Knicks, especially their championships in 1970 and 1973, and liked to imitate Dick Barnett’s jumper when playing pickup,” he said. “But I was a huge Rangers hockey fan and Mets baseball fan as a kid. My dream was to be either Rod Gilbert or Bud Harrelson.”

Andy Bernstein/Submitted

Bernstein’s love for photography, however, has led to a more than 40-year career in the industry, which was highlighted by the Curt Gowdy Award for print media excellence in 2018. And a move to the West Coast decades before immensely helped kick-start a career that continues to this day as team pho tographer for the Lakers and Clippers in addition to a blossoming podcast ca reer.

Bernstein’s fine photography has been published in many books the NBA has produced over the years, including the “NBA Encyclopedia,” “NBA at 50” and many others. Until recently, the NBA published a commemorative hard cover book for every NBA championship team featuring my work.

The first book of his own NBA photography was “NBA Hoop Shots: Classic Moments from a Super Era in 1996” followed by “Journey to the Ring” co-au thored with Phil Jackson in 2010 and “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” co-authored with Kobe Bryant in 2018.

“I made the decision to transfer from the University of Massachusetts during the summer before my junior year,” Bernstein said. “I knew I needed to find a college that could teach me the technical and business sides of a photography career. I chose Art Center College of Design in Pasadena because it was in the LA area where the action was, and I could probably have more opportunities to shoot live games I learned the business as an assistant, and it was the best decision I ever made for the future of my career.”

Bernstein said he was first introduced to the Lakers at the Forum in Ingle wood as an assistant for Sports Illustrated while attending the college from 1978-80. Trained in the highly specialized technique of installing strobes in the catwalk of the Forum, plus UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion and the LA Sports Arena, when it came time to pursue his career in sports photography, he was able to draw upon those relationships to get his foot further in the door.

A big break with the NBA came when he was hired to shoot their All-Star Game at the Forum in February 1983.

“I was so fortunate to start my career shooting NBA basketball as the Lak ers Showtime era was exploding in LA,” he said. “I was truly in the right place at the right time. Another big highlight came when I covered ’83 Finals between the Lakers and Sixers.”

The Clippers also remain near and dear to his heart. Following Ralph Lawl er’s retirement, Bernstein became the last remaining person affiliated with the team when they moved to LA from San Diego in 1984.

“I enjoyed shooting their home games in the dumpy Sports Arena. It was a big difference from the glitz of the Forum and Showtime, but I guess I have al ways rooted for the underdog — I was a Mets fan dating back to the 1960s. I really enjoy my relationship with the current regime, especially my friendship with owner Steve Ballmer.”

In recent years, Bernstein has increased his media profile, first at Time War ner Cable, where he hosted a TV show he pitched called “Through the Lens,” and most recently a podcast which began as the result of a relationship with a local media mogul.

“One night before a Lakers game Norm Pattiz called me over to chat at his courtside seat. He owned the Podcast One network and is a good friend and business mentor as I was starting to build the Legends of Sport platform. Norm said he loved my TV show and wanted to bring it to his podcast net work. I honestly didn’t really know what a podcast was or how a visual show would work on an audio platform. Norm told me it was all about the storytell ing, not the photos themselves.”

The Legends of Sport podcast was born and is now in its sixth season. It is still somewhat new to Bernstein, and even though it is a different medium, he sees similarities in terms of storytelling between photography and podcast ing.

“A great sports photograph has to tell a story of a moment captured,” Bern stein said. “It has to elicit emotion from the viewer. It has to be composed and interesting to look at. Same thing with podcasting … the person’s story has to be compelling. Their journey is always interesting to me — where they came from, who helped them along the way, who they admired.

“Many times, there’s an iconic moment or photograph that I shot that’s asso ciated with that guest like Kirk Gibson’s famous World Series home run, Derek Fisher’s 0.4 shot, Magic’s junior sky hook to beat the Celtics.

“They did it, and I captured it. We will always share that moment in time to gether.”

To learn more about Bernstein’s work, visit adbapi.com and legendsofsport. net, @adbphotoinc and @legendsofsport on Instagram, and Legends of Sport on YouTube and TikTok.

DTSPORTS

By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

Lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in America over the past 15 years, ac cording to the NCAA. Interest in the game has mushroomed in recent de cades, and grassroots efforts have helped kick-start significant growth be yond the northeast part of the country, considered the mecca for the sport.

Harlem Lacrosse — and Harlem Lacrosse Los Angeles — are prime examples of that evolution and success. The mission of Harlem Lacrosse is to provide op portunities, relationships and experiences that activate the skills and traits to put youth on a path to success as students, athletes and citizens. The program’s vision is to empower kids who are most at risk for academic decline and dropout to rise above their challenges and reach their full potential.

“Lacrosse opened doors for me, especially when it came to college. Everyone deserves the same opportunities,” said Maddy Buss, former Harlem Lacrosse LA coach and Duke graduate. “What has meant the most to me is gaining the girls trust, and being someone they can count on, especially when things in their lives aren’t going well.”

Local area Harlem Lacrosse program sites include Compton High School, and Davis Middle School and Walton School in Compton. In addition to Los Angeles, the program thrives in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, where Har lem Lacrosse began more than 20 years ago.

One of the best indicators of how far the program has come here in just five years is in the form of their star students taking their talents to another level.

Peter Carrillo is a single father with one daughter. He manages a restaurant in Downey and is a working actor who balanced auditions, a staff, and his daugh ter Giselle first playing the game in sixth grade after Harlem Lacrosse came to her school and put a stick in her hand.

“They would come to school, pick her up and take her to the fields,” Carrillo said. “Everyone was at the same level, which helped her enjoyment. It was fun, and she immediately made friends.

“I knew about lacrosse when she wanted to play but hadn’t paid a lot of atten tion to it. I went to the first game and felt it would be a good hobby. I didn’t know much about the game when I was watching. I had a lot to learn.”

Giselle is now in her sophomore season at the University of Albany and is a member of the Great Danes lax team.

Marycruz Diaz and her husband Caesar have three children. Their two girls have been associated with Harlem Lacrosse for years.

Samantha Diaz and Giselle were teammates with Harlem. She now plays at Ohio Wesleyan University. Cemary, a high school junior and Sam’s sister, has verbally committed to play at Xavier University as a scholar-athlete.

“Maddy was the one of the coaches and would come to our school. Her and the other coaches are still like family. They are college graduates, role models. They still remain invested in these girls.”

Lacrosse does face several challenges: Cost and diversity are prevalent.

Predominantly white and one of the least diverse in the United States, Marycruz admitted one of her daughters has faced challenges playing outside SoCal be cause of her ethnicity. It took on a “a different vibe at times,” said the mom, but her daughter is “absolutely stronger for it,” as it helped show she belonged on her own merits.

“The first time Giselle traveled outside of California is when she felt discomfort of her race,” Peter said. “She went to her first big tournament and faced high-lev el competition. When you’re lined up against athletes who are not Latinos and you go and compete versus non-Latino athletes, you question whether it is your ath leticism that will allow you to perform or if it is because she is Latina. Insecurities exist.”

Lacrosse can also be rather unwelcoming because of the cost to play.

Buy a stick, cleats and goggles. The boy’s game also needs a helmet, padding and gloves. Join a club team (or two) and prepare to travel for camps, clinics, pri vate lessons and tournaments.

Growing the game begins with a stick in a hand, and support

It seemingly favors those with money. Marycruz said she knows her girls are in volved in college lacrosse because of that initial opportunity.

“I remember when Samantha came home with a stick,” she described. “It was im portant that it was fun, but the program also heavily emphasized going to school and getting good grades. School came first. The reward was lacrosse. These girls have all also worked extremely hard.”

“Harlem Lacrosse handled everything initially including the costs,” Peter added. “Once Giselle kept moving up, you quickly understand it is not a cheap endeavor.”

The Harlem Lacrosse program model works. Generous donations, countless vol unteers and key community partnerships over the past 10 years helped lead to more than 1,500 participants and 41 full-time program directors (including Buss). Tight relationships last as well. Val Garcia and Diamond Velasco, teammates of Giselle and Samantha with Harlem, remain teammates. They play together at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

“They should be very proud of their hard work and sacrifices,” Buss said. “They did it. They accomplished their goals.”

Carrillo looks back on the journey, and the enjoyment hasn’t stopped. He re cently experienced a dream scenario himself.

Making the trek east to support his daughter’s sporting career, he was on hand while she played at Harvard. Peter said he could not help but laugh thinking how his daughter’s journey has evolved.

“We went from the local fields here to the Harvard University fields. From Har lem to Harvard. Pretty crazy and a great deal of fun.”

Carrillo family/Submitted

The journey for Giselle Carrillo, here with her dad Peter, has taken her more than 2,800 miles away from home to a Division 1 women’s lacrosse program in upstate New York.

DTDINING

Dining Notes

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

Tous Les Jours offers new treats

Tous les Jours, a French-Asian bakery café chain offering more than 300 artisan pas tries, gourmet cakes and desserts baked in-store daily, revealed its “Give Thanks” Col lection available through Thursday, Nov. 24.

“At Tous les Jours, we are constantly giving thanks for the support of our amazing customers,” said Sue Han, Tous les Jours marketing manager.

“This season of giving, it is our hope that the ‘Give Thanks’ collection will allow our customers to showcase their gratitude toward those that support them in their own lives and spread a little festive spirit when gathering with loved ones to celebrate all there is to be grateful for.”

The offerings are:

Chestnut cake: This 7-inch pastry mixes real chestnut cream cake with mocha sponge, topped with roasted chestnuts.

Pumpkin spice cake: This 8-inch, four-layer cake combines mocha cake with pump kin spice buttercream.

Thanksgiving cloud cake: The 8-inch Thanksgiving cloud cake tops Tous les Jours’ classic cloud cake with fresh berries.

Cranberry orange yogurt cake: A blend of fruity fall flavors, this 8-inch white choco late sponge cake is layered with yogurt buttercream and cranberry spread.

To complement Tous les Jours’ Thanksgiving cake choices, the brand has partnered with Main Pie Co. to offer a pecan pie as part of the “Give Thanks” collection. The 8-inch classic pecan pie is gluten free.

Tous les Jours/Submitted

French-Asian bakery chain Tous les Jours is offering a new “Give Thanks” collection until Thursday, Nov. 24, which will include chestnut, pumpking spice, Thanksgiving cloud and cranberry orange yogurt cakes.

The closest store is 404 E. Second Street, LA.

Info: 213-444-8255, tljus.com

Farmer Boys launches two new menu items

The fast-casual Farmer Boys has unveiled two new menu items — cinna-roll French toast platter and the cheese lovers’ burger melt available through Monday, Jan. 23.

The French toast platter features two cinnamon rolls served with two cage-free eggs and a choice of two strips of thick hickory-smoked bacon or two pork sausage patties. Guests may also pair it with Farmer Boys’ $1 coffee.

The cheese lovers’ burger melt can be paired with fries, onion rings or zucchini sticks. The sandwich features flame-grilled beef topped with three layers of cheese, topped with caramelized onions, house-made thousand island dressing and pickles on locally baked Texas Toast.

Info: farmerboys.com

Farmer Boys/Submitted

Farmer Boys/Submitted

Farmer Boys’ cheese lovers’ burger melt will be available until Monday, Jan 23.

Farmer Boys’ French toast platter comes with two eggs and a choice of either hickory-smoked bacon or pork sausage patties served with two cinnamon rolls on the side.

Yoshimura mural returns to DTLA

By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

As a muralist, Kent Yoshimura’s art allows him to give meaning to an otherwise empty space. His newest work, titled “Chiaroscuro,” will oc cupy one of the most fury-filled environments in the city: the 10 Free way.

“One of the things we all hate in LA is the traffic,” Yoshimura said with a laugh. “Hopefully (this mural) transforms that space, it transforms that com

mute, it transforms the expe rience for the people that get to observe it.”

“Chiaroscuro,” which will be completed on the side of the I-10 Santa Monica Free way off Figueroa Street by Friday, Nov. 25, and remain through January, was origi nally created as part of a new show called “Awakening” at the Wynn Las Vegas, where Yoshimura has been honored as the artist representative of LA.

The immersive show, which premiered on Nov. 7, was made by actor Bernie Yuman, who served as executive pro ducer of the “On Your Feet!” musical on Broadway, creative director Michael Curry, often known for his work for the Lion King on Broadway, and producer Baz Halpin, who’s previously worked with stars like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.

To incorporate the voices of artists across the country into “Awakening,” the Wynn Las Vegas invited Yoshimura and fellow artists Allison Hue man and Clyde Thompson to create three wallscape murals.

“The Wynn in Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world,” Yoshimura said. “I think there’re the superficial elements of entertainment, and then there’re the deep er components. … What the Wynn did in choosing us to be artists, I think what they were able to do is try to capture that deeper soul to this show.”

The pieces, commissioned by visual art producers Building 180, will accom pany an animated short film by award-winning studio Art Camp and two ar tistic decks of cards by illustrator and comic artist Jen Bartel.

“(My) piece is called ‘Chiaroscuro,’ which in painting or film is the interplay between dark and light and how being able to play with shadows and high lights helps tell a story,” Yoshimura explained. “I think if we look at this as a feat of engineering, as a feat of art performance diving into a new realm of theater … the interplay between light and shadow is something that meta phorically can exist in all of our lives.

“A lot of my pieces play with this theme of duality and finding balance within the duality. The piece itself portrays that.”

Yoshimura’s mural is filled with contrasting visual elements, such as fire and water, land and air, the sun and the moon, all with the backdrop of a rising Phoenix.

“I knew there was this duality that I wanted to put into it going into the piece,” Yoshimura began. “But then as I started working on it, it was like the characters, the hands, the way the Phoenix was laid out in the back, all the different elements and how they contrasted with each other … it went from

a really dark piece to like a much more, if you look at the colors, it’s bright, de spite everything. I think that was a big part of it, like finding this kind of hope within darkness.”

With his new creation off the 10 Freeway and his recent twin-mural proj ect in Little Tokyo honoring Ellison Onizuka, Yoshimura expressed that there is also a freeing power in being able to share one’s voice with the world around them, particularly in such a visual format.

“The reason I love art is it’s a representation. … To me, art is infinite. And ev ery single year, every single drawing, every single mural I do, I feel like I’m get ting better in some capacity,” he described. “It’s an experience that’s almost transformative. … It’s the most honest representation of oneself in a very visi ble format.

“It’s exactly why I don’t like (working in) the gallery world. I don’t like paint ing for a small group of people.

“When I see my piece, and the same goes for all my murals, like going into Little Tokyo and the two murals … they’re just such strong beacons now. It’s almost like for me, once I’m done with the mural, it’s like a handing off to the city. It’s a handing off to the public.”

Kent Yoshimura/Submitted

Kent Yoshimura’s “Chiaroscuro,” featured at the Wynn Las Vegas, will be completed on the side of the 10 Freeway off Figueroa Street by Friday, Nov. 25.

ARTS & CULTURE

Shows set for Microsoft Theater, Crypto.com Arena

By LA Downtown News Staff

The Microsoft Theater and Cryp to.com Arena are hosting a slew of shows in the next couple of months.

For tickets, visit cryptoarena.com or microsofttheater.com.

Microsoft Theater

• Dariush: Saturday, Nov. 26

• Camilo: Monday, Nov. 28

• The Game Awards: Thursday, Dec. 8

• Isabel Pantoja: Saturday, Dec. 10

• Metallica Helping Hands Concert: Fri day, Dec. 16

• Stevie Wonder: Saturday, Dec. 17

• Junior H: Sunday, Dec. 18

• Katt Williams: Saturday, Dec. 31

• Tyler Henry: Saturday, Jan. 14

• Edicion Especial: Friday, Jan. 20

• Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure: Sat urday, Jan. 21

• Spy Ninjas Live: Thursday, Feb. 23

Crypto.com Arena

• Fuerza Regida: Wednesday, Nov. 23

• Wisin Y Yandel: Saturday, Nov. 26

• Marca MP: Friday, Dec. 2

• Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures: Thursday, Dec. 8, to Sunday, Dec. 11

• Calibash: Saturday, Jan. 21, and Sunday, Jan. 22

• Carrie Underwood: Monday, March 13

• Friday Night SmackDown/2023 WWE Hall of Fame: Friday, March 31

• WWE Presents NXT Stand & Deliver: Sat urday, April 1

• WWE Monday Night Raw: Monday, April 3

• Muse: Thursday, April 6

Jeff Johnson/Submitted

Carrie Underwood recently released the video for “Hate My Heart,” the second single from her “Denim & Rhinestones” album.

Grand Style, Grand Class.

255 Grand is located in prestigious Bunker Hill, the go-to neighborhood for fine dining, world-class museums and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. 255 Grand offers its residents immediate proximity to attractions such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art and the new Broad museum. With breathtaking views, awe-inspiring balconies, oversized patios and spacious floor plans, the 391-unit high-rise property includes studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 480 to 1,335 square feet in a uniquely suburban-urban setting. 255 Grand’s newly remodeled apartments offer residents a true luxury experience, with stainless steel Whirlpool appliances, quartz countertops, deep soaking tubs, and Moen faucets. Life at the top awaits you! Enjoy the highest quality living experience at the Sky Level”. The 26th and 27th floors feature exclusive, premium finishes and enhanced amenities to complement some of the best views in LA. As a Sky Level resident, you can expect high-end features like premium Bosch appliances, Danze & Kohler fixtures, Nest 3rd Generation thermostats, oversized rainfall showerheads, luxury wood-style flooring, deep soak tubs, and ultra-modern luxury countertops. In addition, Sky Level residents also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, cable and parking.

255 Grand features a host of modern amenities for residents, such as an ultramodern fitness center, outdoor fireplaces, pool, spa, cabanas, yoga studio, private meeting room, Wifi Lounge with gourmet kitchen, state-of-the-art theater, 24-hour staffed lobby and more. Spacious apartment homes with floor-to-ceiling windows capture beautiful mountain and city views.

255 Grand’s tastefully complements the classy Bunker Hill neighborhood and you will understand why so many consider it’s “suburban urban” the only place that feels like home in DTLA.

229-9777 or visit 255grand.com