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EY E - OPEN I NG TAST E S . BR E AT H TA K I NG V I EWS . Feast on far more than the view at this award-winning American steakhouse with a French twist, and dine on premium steaks along with fresh seafood sourced locally and from around the globe. Savor unique culinary pairings artfully curated by our acclaimed chefs, complemented by offerings from our extensive wine list of over 1,000 different labels. For more discreet dining, private dining rooms and private VIP Starlight Booths are available. Reopening Friday, January 14, 2022
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Los Angeles Mission celebrates Christmas on Skid Row By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor eople in need and the homeless enjoyed a hot meal, entertainment and gifts during Los Angeles Mission’s annual Christmas celebration on Skid Row on Dec. 23. In attendance were Kendra Wilkinson, GG and Reza Farahan from “Shahs of Sunset,” Antonio Villarai-
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gosa, Caroline D’Amore, David Koechner, Josh Stamberg, Charlotte McKinney, Eric Dickerson, Jessica Marie Garcia, Madison Taylor Baez, Nitu Chandra and Vanessa Villela, along with Los Angeles Mission Chief Executive Officer and President Troy Vaughn. Los Angeles Mission served more than 1,500 meals with the help of hundreds of volunteers.
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Boyle Heights layers up thanks to volunteer collective By LA Downtown News Staff undreds of Angelenos have stepped up to donate warm clothing to more than 300 families in the Boyle Heights Community of Schools. New and lightly used jackets, blankets, shoes, pants and shirts were collected Dec. 4 through Dec. 12 at 16 locations citywide by the nonprofit Volunteer Collective, with the help of local churches and synagogues, and delivered this weekend to the Community of Schools office at Utah Elementary for distribution by family counselors. “In an age of climate change — and in Southern California — one doesn’t always think of shivering schoolkids,” Volunteer Collective Executive Director Noah Taubman said. Volunteer Collective was formed in 2019 to promote volunteerism to help neighbors struggling with health, hunger and housing issues. Since then, the organization has moved thousands of people to participate through in-person and vir-
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Volunteer Collective collected new and lightly used jackets, blankets, shoes, pants and shirts in December. Submitted photo
tual volunteering, as well as in-kind donation drives like the Layer Up campaign. “I am no longer amazed to see hun-
dreds of volunteers making an effort when they are asked directly to help,” Taubman added. “That is all it takes.
“Perhaps we have removed one barrier to learning, in a similar way school lunches have made it easier for kids to learn.”
Breaking News: Freedom is Ours Now
A free inspirational talk on freedom from fear and pain from a Christian Science perspective. All are welcome in person or to livestream on YouTube! Hosted by First Church of 80 S. Oakland Ave. Christ, Scientist, Pasadena Pasadena, CA 91101 Tel: (626)-793-5151 and First Church of Christ, Scientist, Arcadia To view the lecture on livestream, visit: christiansciencepasadena.com to find the link to the livestream video.
Saturday January 22, 2022 10 am PST Childcare will be provided.
Patricia Woodard, CS Christian Science Practitioner Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship
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Dying to know: An intimate experience By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist ational wit and beloved folk philosopher Will Rogers once said, “If there are no cats in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” That, my friends, is an intentional misquote: Rogers actually said “dogs.” However, making that change is something that E.D. most assuredly would have liked. E.D. adored her kitties, who were in her house when she died unexpectedly last week. (See below.) It’s been a week and two days since I found my dearest friend E.D. lying on her bed, dead as a doornail. I think it’s a part of being human to mark time from the actual passing until we forget to keep track. Our first Christmas without E.D., who cherished the holiday, came upon us suddenly and within days of her death. E.D. was one of those people who are as reliable as the sunrise. For example, if she said she’d be somewhere at 6 p.m., she would arrive at least 5 minutes early. My hubby Ken, E.D., and I had a yearslong standing dinner date every Monday night at our local Altadena Mexican restaurant. We hadn’t heard from her all day. I texted and texted. Nothing. My husband called: No answer. Very odd. It was now an hour past our usual rendezvous. I had to go to feed a friend’s cats, so I ran that chore, then decided to swing up to E.D.’s house. Her car was there; not a good sign. The visceral sensations started: a knot tightening in my diaphragm, my throat closing. I knocked on her door, then pounded while yelling her name. Again, nothing. Maybe a co-worker came by to pick her up? Ken texted me and said, “It’s a little unethical for me to track her phone, but I’m her computer guy, and I can do it.” I said, “Do it.” We discovered that her phone was still in the house, which proved that she hadn’t gone some where else. I went back to pick up Ken, as we live
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Ellen Snortland only 6 minutes away from the house. We both were preparing ourselves for the worst. I texted a series of CYA messages to E.D.: “Hi, I see your car is here. I’ve knocked and yelled your name with no response. I’m concerned. We’re going to get more aggressive about getting into your house. This is so out of character for you.” Then I remembered that I had her key from years back when I’d taken care of her kitties. I let myself in, yelling her name as I entered. I turned left past her kitchen into her bedroom, and there she was. I automatically felt her pulse: She was ice cold. Ken backed away to give our beloved sister privacy, as she mainly was undressed. It looked like she’d been getting ready to go to work. We called 911, and Ken was still in denial, saying, “It doesn’t look good, but maybe she can be resuscitated.” I yelled, “She’s dead; she’s been so for a while.” I had no filters for gentling the experience for him, as I’d felt how cold she was. I have never found a loved one dead before. I’m writing about it now because I think most people want to know “what happened.” Some are too shy to ask; very few come right out and ask. Because we are storytelling creatures, we learn from the experience of others. Finding her was an utterly intimate act. I’m so grateful that no one else found
her. It’s probably presumptuous, but I believe she would have wanted me to be the one and not some stranger. I know that whatever animates us — a soul or universal consciousness or, whatever you call it — is simply inhabiting our bodies, the vehicle we walk around in. Seeing her reminded me that we are truly meat bags. It was apparent that E.D. was not “in there” anymore, which was comforting. I could also tell that whatever happened, happened quickly, as there wasn’t any sign of suffering. I rue how “taboo” our society has made death and dying. There are movements for bringing death home rather than feeding the highly sanitized and isolated industry of death. As the maven of death and dying, Elisabeth KüblerRoss said, “It is difficult to accept death in this society because it is unfamiliar. Even though it happens all the time, we never see it.” As it is, I’d like a tiny con-
tainer of E.D.’s ashes. We had plans for adventures, and I will take her on them while in my handbag. Takeaways • Do you live alone? Always give someone you trust a key or provide a key hiding place. • Have a reliable and trusted buddy? Check in with each other. • Get over the reticence to ask, “What happened?” I assert that we’re mostly all dying to know. (I’m using initials to respect my friend’s privacy. Her last day is also my story to tell, so I’m telling it. For more info on the Death Positive Movement, a term coined by mortician and advocate Caitlin Doughty, visit caitlindoughty.com.) Ellen has been writing Consider This… for decades. Contact her at ellen@ beautybitesbeast.com.
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‘Everybody’s talking about Jamie’ at the Ahmanson Theatre By Jeff Favre LA Downtown News Contributing Writer he moment Tom MacRae knew it was time to take the leap from successful veteran TV writer to novice lyricist came when he watched the joy and acceptance showered on Jamie Campbell — a 16-year-old with drag queen aspirations who wanted to go to the prom in a dress and heels. The small English town of Bishop Auckland gained international recognition when Campbell’s story was told in a documentary. That convinced MacRae and his collaborators to turn the story of overcoming intolerance into a musical, believing it could connect with a universal audience filled with people who desire to be seen and welcomed for who they are. “It was a huge surprise to everyone in-
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volved,” MacRae said about the real-life Jamie’s prom night. “It was such a triumph of the human spirit. And particularly for that kind of working-class community of Jamie Campbell’s, where it’s easy to go, oh, you know, working-class people, they’re all kind of prejudiced and stupid — and this is fundamentally not true. Watching that feelgood, unexpected kind of warm, wonderful ending, it really does feel like it should sing. And then that was kind of what hooked us in.” A furious creation process followed, as MacRae, composer Dan Gillespie Sells and director Jonathan Butterell created “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” which is a fictional recreation based on the true story. The show debuted in 2017 in Sheffield, where the story takes place. It then moved to London’s West End, and the team fol-
Tom MacRae created “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” with composer Dan Gillespie Sells and director Jonathan Butterell. Submitted photo
lowed that by adapting a movie version streaming on Amazon Prime. Downtown Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre will host the American premiere of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20. The cast features actress Shobna Gulati, the only major performer who has starred in both the film and stage versions. The story follows Jamie (Layton Williams), who dreams of becoming a drag queen. He lives with his fiercely supportive mother, Margaret (Melissa Jacques), and he’s supported by his friend Pritti (Hiba Elchikhe), a shy, reserved Muslim girl, and Margaret’s
friend Ray (Gulati). Jamie’s detractors are his father, who he doesn’t live with, and a school bully, Dean. Though the songs sprang from MacRae’s head, he was pleased to know the people depicted in the story said he captured their feelings, in particular with Margaret’s ballad “He’s My Boy.” “For Margaret Campbell, all the thoughts were in her mind. She just didn’t have a song to sing about it,” MacRae said. “She wasn’t surprised that we’d kind of put that spin on her character. She was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s my song. I just didn’t know it ex-
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Actress Shobna Gulati is the only major performer who has starred in both the film and stage versions.
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isted yet.’” Developing realistic characters — and finding the humor in them — has long been a staple for the writer, whose lengthy credits of English shows include episodes of “Dr. Who” and whose move to Los Angeles a few years ago came with screen credits for the TNT show “The Librarians.” But crafting lyrics was new to him. “I try to approach it like dialogue,” Mac-
Rae explained. “Like with the song ‘He’s My Boy,’ one of the reasons why the song lands so strongly is not just because it is a good song, but it’s because Margaret has spent the whole of the show not saying what she thinks, and then suddenly it all comes out. So when it does, it is quite poetic, you know, and here’s her talking about these kinds of feelings and moods, and she’s saying things in a way she wouldn’t say in real life.” The relationships are one of the keys, MacRae said, to making the dialogue feel authentic. Gulati, who portrays Margaret’s best friend, agrees. “I think it’s the relationships between the women that are important,” said Gulati, whose extensive work in English TV is highlighted by eight years on the famous soap opera “Coronation Street.” “(Ray and Pritti) are accepting as to where Jamie’s at and what Jamie believes and what Jamie is. And I think each is trying to help Jamie find his authentic self. In my own experience as a single mom, you want to do your best.” MacRae praised Gulati for her versatility, moving the character from stage to screen and back again. “I’ve seen Shobna do it on stage and throw the laughs out to the back of the audience and keep an audience of 1,500 people engaged,” MacRae said. “And I’ve seen her do the exact same line on camera and keep it so close and tight and real. She’s so funny. And so much of Ray’s spark comes
from her.” MacRae is excited for “Jamie” to be one of the earliest shows to bring theater back to the city. “A Christmas Carol” opened in November. Center Theatre Group canceled some performances with the recent surge in COVID-19, but the company hopes to return to its full schedule. Center Theatre Group Managing Director and CEO Meghan Pressman is glad to start the season with another optimistic production. “I really love that we’re bringing it to the LA audiences first,” Pressman said. “It’s been a goal of ours to have folks see it, because it’s just such a great, uplifting show with such an important story. Having a show about accepting and belonging is a great way for us to kind of welcome folks back to the theater.” It’s the welcoming message that pleases MacRae about how popular the show — and the movie — have become. He was surprised to find that the musical may be the first major production to have a Muslim character who wears a hijab. “We did a fan event and a girl came up to me and she said, ‘I’d never seen myself on
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stage before. This is the only musical that has a hijab-wearing Muslim girl as a lead.’ I said, ‘No, that can’t be,’ but I looked into it and it is. And I noticed that we have a big trans fan group. And, of course, there are no trans characters. But I know lots of trans kids have been in touch with me, and it means so much to them because they see something of themselves in Jamie.” MacRae said there appears to be a connection for audiences regardless of background or location, even though it takes place in a small town in England. “People in South Korea love it and people in Japan, and it was just about to open in Australia before COVID, and hopefully in the States it will be embraced in the same way,” he said. “Sheffield is not London, it’s not New York, but most places aren’t. Most places are kind of like Sheffield. So most people live in those places, and then they can see themselves in that we weren’t snobby or dismissive of that world at all. Sheffield and LA are many miles away, but actually we’re all just people trying to get on. And that’s what Jamie is. And that’s what he celebrates — that kind of ordinary life.”
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” WHEN: Various times Sunday, Jan. 16, to Sunday, Feb. 20 WHERE: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles INFO: 213-628-2772, centertheatregroup.org
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As It Is will perform with Set It Off, Stand Atlantic and No Love for the Middle Child on Thursday, Jan. 13, at The Belasco. Submitted photo
UK alt-rockers are back from hell By Alex Gallagher LA Downtown News Staff Writer fter spending the bulk of quarantine writing its latest album, “I Went to Hell and Back” — which releases on Feb. 4 — U.K. alt-rockers As It Is are ready to make the trip overseas. “Spending so much of the past two years indoors and away from live music, our fans and each other, it felt really overwhelming to be back at a music festival where we were safely surrounded by people,” vocalist Patty Walters said. As It Is will perform on a bill with Set It Off, Stand Atlantic and No Love for the Middle Child on Thursday, Jan. 13, at The Belasco. Despite a successful string of performances in his home country of the U.K., Walters admits he has mixed emotions about hitting the road. “‘Trepidatious’ is a very appropriate word,” he said. “There is a certain amount of apprehension and concern that your health is in jeopardy.” Because of this, Walters feels there is an onus put on touring musicians. “Everybody who volunteers to come to a show — from the band to the promoters to the venue — are responsible for ensuring
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these shows happen safely in and outside of a pandemic,” he said. Walters continues it felt weird yet natural to be back on stage during the band’s few shows in 2021. “It’s hella weird, because this is a moment that I have looked forward to and missed terribly, then, during the show, I went back onto autopilot again,” he said. “Then, at any moment, I will realize that just months ago I was locked inside my home playing Animal Crossing, and now I’m back to doing what I love.” Amid his excitement to tour, Walters and his bandmates — guitarist Ish and bassist Alistair Testo — had to adapt to two unique challenges. “We all live in different cities and countries, and we are also changing up who plays drums for us from tour to tour,” Walters said. Despite these challenges, Walters is confident that he and his bandmates will wow audiences when they return to the road this month. “We have a mutual understanding, and we feel that we have arranged a really strong set list for this tour,” he said. Walters said the set list will highlight two singles that the band released in the latter
half of 2021 — “IDGAF” and “I Lie To Me.” Walters is also anxious to play the band’s latest single, “I Miss 2003,” when the band hits the stage at The Belasco. Walters teases that fans may get a sneak peek of an unreleased song and tracks from three previous records. “We’ll try to find a balance between our older records and the new songs,” Walters said. “We want to figure out what people want to hear along with what we enjoy playing.” Tracks that Walters still enjoys treating listeners to live are the band’s flagship song “Dial Tones,” “Hey Rachel,” a nod to his family, “The Wounded World” and “The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry).” “Those songs were singles for a reason, and we’re extremely proud of them and they’re extremely well-written,” Walters said.
Additionally, Walters admits that every song he writes is finished with the sole purpose of being played live. “When we and I write a song, it is written with its ultimate home being on stage,” he said. “There are moments in the structure, the music and the lyrics that are built to exist most effectively in that environment.” He also feels that having a supporting slot in the tour puts his band and its tunes in a new position. “The beauty and the joy of being a support act is that you are there to impress fans and leave the stage with new ones,” Walters said. “If fans have not heard of us before, I hope that the show will prompt them to do their research and see what we’re all about. If fans have, I hope that they are impressed with what we’ve been cooking up throughout the pandemic and the lockdowns.”
Set It Off w/Stand Atlantic, As It Is and No Love For The Middle Child WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 WHERE: The Belasco, 1050 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles COST: $27-$30 INFO: livenation.com
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Los Angeles brothers John, left, and Ralph LaGuerre were inspired to launch their own music production company following the death of their mother. Photo by Chris Mortenson
Brothers honor late mother with affordable recording studios By Jordan Houston LA Downtown News Staff Writer fter their mother died from cancer, Los Angeles brothers John and Ralph LaGuerre wanted to honor her life in a meaningful way. The south Florida natives described their mom as a beloved and kindhearted community figure, a pharmacy owner
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known to give free medication to those in financial need. She was a “very Christian woman” who loved to sing in church, said Ralph, 33. John, 30, added that she always encouraged them to pursue their passion for music and give back to others — and that’s exactly what they did. “It dawned on me,” the 30-year-old
shared. “Her passing was very tough, but I feel like she gave us the direction, like, ‘You could make it in this world as long as you work together, have a plan and vision and execute it.’” The siblings launched Knockhouse Studios in August 2020 as a tribute to their mother. The DTLA-based music production company, located at 1811 S. Hope Street, serves as a one-stop shop “for all recording and production” needs, incorporating high-end recording technology and facilities with below-market and affordable prices, its website reads. Knockhouse, which powers Downtown recording studios The Wynwood and The Cabana, has since served the likes of multiplatinum producers like Just Blaze and Nabeyin — and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down soon. The LaGuerres are now gearing up to launch the company’s third flagship studio, The Palms.
While The Cabana and The Wynwood are primarily hip-hop based, the new 620-square-foot room “vows to make recording affordable and accessible to artists of all genres” through fairer pricing than ever before. It is slated to open in February. “This one is the best one we’ve done. The first two are awesome, but that’s what we used to learn,” John shared. “Now, with The Palms, we know exactly how to run all three. It’s like a well-oiled machine. One day, we want to have four or five of these spread out across LA and maybe beyond.” Pricing will cost around $35 per hour, which is considered an affordable rate for the market area, John shares. The Palms will also offer a residency package, featuring roughly 28 hours of studio time for about $450 per month. “We want to know who you are as an artist, big or small,” said Ralph, who also works as a stand-up comedian. “If you’re
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a new artist, this is one of the perfect places to come. We are here to guide you along the way.” The Palms is just another testament to their mother’s philanthropy and entrepreneurship, Ralph and John explained. The pair created Knockhouse Studios in an effort to offer artists, ranging from independent to those on a major label, high-quality equipment, a creative environment and top-notch expertise at “below-market prices.” “We grew up with her kind of leading us into the men we are today,” John recalled of their mother. “She was heavily involved in the community, making sure people were healthy, and the people loved her.” “That’s kind of our job with music,” he continued. “We’re trying to be kind hearted with the artists as well, giving them hours and helping them with their career.” All Knockhouse recording studios feature a 24-hour online booking system, “customer service that cares about the client experience, and knowledgeable staff (that) is committed to providing you with the best possible service,” according to its website. Clients also have access to all studios, engineering facilities and recording gear, including mixing consoles, computers, microphones and more. “A lot of what differentiates us is we get very involved in the artist’s life,” said John, who works in the asset management industry. “We talk to them con-
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stantly and try to make a deep-rooted connection — not so they can come back, but just so they can be aware that there is more to just making music, there is the business side of music.” “Primarily, Ralph does the artist work in helping them, and then I would go in and say, ‘How do you plan to market, what do you think could be some good strategies or when do you think you can finish your EP?,’” he added. “It’s about where they see themselves in the music industry and to try to target where they think they could fit in.” But that’s not all Knockhouse has to offer. The production company also promotes custom backing tracks and beats for sale. All of its backing tracks and beats are available with an exclusive license. “I think the most rewarding part is a) owning a business — it is rewarding and taxing,” said Ralph. “But being in a room with an artist when they have nothing and then leave with something that they’re proud of, it’s pretty amazing to see.” Both Ralph and John expressed a shared hope of continuing to flourish as a company while endlessly honoring their late mother. The pair, as well as their associates, have plans to open a fourth studio in Miami, called Knockhouse Plus, in the near future. For more information about Knockhouse Studios and its locations, visit knockhousela.com.
Ralph, left, and John LaGuerre are now gearing up to open Knockhouse Studios’ third flagship room, The Palms. It is slated to open in February. Photo by Chris Mortenson
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Ralph LaGuerre, 33, specializes in helping artists and producers on the production side of making music. Photo by Chris Mortenson
John LaGuerre, 30, has experience working in the asset management industry and focuses on helping musicians with their market strategies. Photo by Chris Mortenson
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Mother Mother’s “Inside” tour will bring the Vancouver band to The Regent on Thursday, Jan. 13. Submitted photo
Introspection is key to Mother Mother’s recent album By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor a n co u ve r a l t- ro c k e r s M o t h e r Mother will celebrate each chapter of their storied history with a 2022 global tour. “We’re on our ‘Inside’ tour, promoting our new album of the same name,” vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ryan Guldemond says. “But overall, the tour is an honoring of all the music, all the chapters of this book. An attendee can expect a very well-represented Mother Mother experience.” Mother Mother will bring that energy to The Regent on Thursday, Jan. 13. Two weeks later, on Jan. 28, Mother Mother will release an expanded edition with seven new recordings, including the new single “Life.” The album is a roll-
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er coaster of emotions lyrically, which made the songwriting process a tad difficult. “Initially getting the theme off the ground during what was a very grave moment in the world was the biggest challenge,” he says. “I wasn’t sure if any of our ideas deserved to be presented to the world with regard to what the world was going through. It had to have some grit, and it couldn’t be trite. That was the most important thing for us. We wanted to make a record in 2020 that had some emotional kick.” “Inside” tells the story of going within to address the “various knots of the soul.” “To write songs about that success, I endeavored to do that myself during the lockdown and isolation so that the
songs may be as authentic as possible,” Guldemond says. “It was a joint effort in songwriting and sentiment.” Writing the album was a learning experience for Guldemond, whose band hails from Quadra Island, British Columbia. “I learned, I think, my softness is more powerful than I thought,” he says. “That’s a good thing. I think being soft and sen-
sitive — when those traits don’t inhibit your full expression and your full power — can be really helpful in the world. “It’s at a disservice when shy people are trapped under the weight of their social anxiety. If you can channel it and use it to heighten your power of observation and intuition and empathy, then it becomes a superpower. I learned I wasn’t using those traits as effectively as I could.”
Mother Mother WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 WHERE: The Regent, 448 S. Main Street, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $25; Attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination. Attendees must wear mask inside the venue. INFO: regentdtla.com
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Chef Erin Detroit Vesey launched Detroit Vesey’s cycling cafe in the Arts District in the last week of November. Photo by David Arens
Communities gather for great grub at new cycling cafe By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer hef Erin Detroit Vesey wanted to create a space where the communities in her life would be welcome — whether they were bike riders or members of the queer community. And while there are many clubs and bars for the LGBTQ+ community, there were fewer queer daytime spaces where people who don’t drink can gather. Thus did Vesey conceive Detroit Vesey’s cycling cafe, which was born the last week of November in the Arts District, at what used to be “The House of Machines.” It was serendipitous that the space opened up, as it was the locale where her cycling team used to end their annual rides. The restaurant, billed as a “queer-centered cycling cafe” that is open to anyone, also tips its hat to the Motor City not just in its name but in the menu offerings and the language printed on it. Open seven days a week from breakfast through dinner, the new restaurant is at
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2028 E. Seventh Street in Downtown Los Angeles’ Art District.
Cycling communities The pictures of bikes and their riders throughout the restaurant and on its marketing material are the first hint that cyclists are welcome at the quick-service restaurant. The second might be the indoor bike parking areas or maybe the cycling vending machine. Vesey has participated for many years in the AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. “The AIDS/LifeCycle community gathers once a year for one week to ride bikes with friends, eat anything and everything they can, provide unconditional support, and carry out a vital common goal,” Vesey said. “My business partner and I met through LifeCycle. It’s a bike summer camp with altruism. I was really missing that part of my
life with COVID happening. I missed the community and wanted to figure out how to cultivate the community in a permanent form.” The restaurant offers a place for the community to gather and connect. It hosts bike rides on Saturdays and Sundays, and local bike groups have begun hosting events such as holiday parties at the restaurant. The restaurant provides food for hungry riders at the beginning and end of their rides. Starting in January, it will host training rides for the next AIDS/LifeCycle event. It is now an AIDS/LifeCycle Community Partner. “It is just a space where everyone is welcome,” Vesey said. “We’re letting people use the space as they see fit as long as it is respectful of the various intersections of the communities I’m a part of.”
Queer communities While Vesey isn’t intending for the space to be exclusively queer, it is definitely
meant to be a place where all are safe and welcome. “My staff is very queer — that helps create the space,” Vesey said. “A large majority of the artwork are done by queer artists.” She describes the bathrooms — which were designed by a queer artist friend of hers. It weaves bike and queer imagery together in what Vesey describes as a super-cool tattoo flash look. Outside the restaurant is a mural that she says is a bit more funky. “It has the pride rainbow with faces of people — some famous queer icon silhouettes, the other side has friends who have passed or nameless faces,” Vesey said. “Both of those artists were given a prompt from the Queer Nation Manifesto.” Vesey promised that they are not at all snooty — that all are welcome whether they are or are not a part of her communities, as long as the welcome continues to be extended to all. “It’s not about how queer or not queer you are or what kind of bike you have or
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don’t have,” Vesey said. “It’s really about chatting people up and validating whatever their experience is and not looking down on them for not being enough or being too much.”
Detroit cuisine The Detroit in chef Vesey’s name and in the name of the cafe comes from her wife’s family. Her mother-in-law lives in Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit. Vesey changed her name when she married Melanie Vesey, taking her last name and the middle name of many family members — Detroit. The Detroit Vesey family started in Detroit, Michigan, and continues to have roots there. For those hailing from the Great Lakes State, parts of the menu will feel like home. The cafe serves Better Made chips (a Detroit brand of potato chips), poutine, Faygo, Vernors and Sanders chocolate. Faygo and Vernors are forms of Michigan-made “pop,” or soda as it is more commonly known in Los Angeles. Vernors is a ginger ale that people from Michigan drink whenever they have an upset stomach or are sick in other ways. “A friend requested that we put pop and not soda on the menu. ‘Done!’ I said,” Vesey recalled. “It’s not the norm out here. I didn’t realize how confusing it would be. I’m from southern Utah, and we use the terms interchangeably. But clearly in California, it is soda.” Sanders is a brand of chocolate that used to be served at lunch counters throughout the Detroit area. The owner, Fred Sanders Schmidt, moved to Detroit in 1875 after Chicago’s Great Fire of 1871 destroyed his soda fountain and candy store. He lays claim to introducing ice cream sodas (pop with ice cream) to Detroiters. Detroit Vesey’s also serves poutine, which Vesey said has been a popular item among customers who appreciate that she uses cheese curds and not shredded cheese. “The Michigan staples draw people in
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and keep them around for a minute,” Vesey said. “They are things of their childhood and they are very excited about that element.”
Menus Vesey said the menu is made up of the types of things she and her wife consider comfort foods — meat and potato meals that one might find in a Midwestern diner. Others are grown-up versions of food she enjoyed as a child. One of Vesey’s favorite items on the menu is the wild mushroom bread pudding. It is a tribute to a chef from her childhood in Utah. Her parents owned a restaurant, and she would toddle around the kitchen. The chef there would make her a grilled cheese sandwich with Swiss cheese and mushrooms. Another dish comes out of one of her communities. The menu boasts a pork belly taco with sweet potato hibiscus hash. She and her friends had a monthly supper club where they would all bring their own individual dishes. The sweet potato hibiscus hash was made by a friend of hers who gave her permission to use it in the restaurant. “A collaboration of a lot of different influences — eating and having a great time — helped curate the menu I have,” Vesey said. As someone who has been sober for a long time, Vesey said it was important to her to have adult drinks that were nonalcoholic. While they are in the process of applying for a liquor license, the cafe will always serve carefully thought-out mocktails, Vesey said. Some on the original menu include Ginger Solstice, Sex on the Peach and Rad Road Rash. “I wanted the restaurant to be a space for people who don’t drink to have a mocktail — something more exciting and flavorful that makes you feel like an adult,” Vesey said. “It’s the experience that people who don’t drink miss. Their only options are a soda or the kiddie drink. We’ve got some cool ingredients, including some Michigan
Detroit Vesey’s was created as a space for the cycling and LGBTQ+ communities. Submitted photo
The menu is made up of the types of foods chef Erin Detroit Vesey and her wife consider comfort foods. Photo by David Arens
Detroit Vesey’s is in the process of applying for a liquor license but will always serve mocktails. Photo by David Arens
cherries from Traverse City.” The menu won’t be just Vesey’s brainchildren. With the dawn of the new year, her plan is to put her cooks in charge of the changing specials, giving them the opportunity to present their own creations. She is also partnering with chef Diego Argoti of Estrano to source her breads. Vesey and Argoti grew up together. For the chef who has more than 18 years experience working in popular LA restaurants and who for three years had her own
catering business, Vesey wants to ensure that her new cafe is all about service and community. “My main focus and driving force is making sure it has a community focus and that I’m able to be of service,” Vesey said. “In my life as an employer, businessperson, and member of the world, I want to be of service and have a community focus. I think it is important and the difference between having a successful restaurant and not.”
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Covered California will help BUSINESS
Albert Hammond Jr.’s Jetway wine seltzer lands in LA By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor he Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. was at a bar in Italy when he discovered an amaretto spritz. He was so taken by the spirit that he subsequently founded Jetway, an ultra-premium wine seltzer. “I like this so much that I want it to be successful so I can keep buying this,” Hammond Jr. said with a laugh. “I have a friend in Italy in Milan, and we had a gathering of his friends at this local bar. I had an amaretto spritz, and I loved the ability to have many of something to consume while interacting. We were buzzed, but everyone was chatting. I love the idea of that pairing. I wanted to make a version of that, but I wanted to take the stuff I didn’t like from it and make it uniquely my own.”
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Unlike hard seltzers, Jetway does not contain cane sugar or artificial flavors. The first offerings — a sauvignon blanc and a rosé of syrah and cabernet sauvignon — are sourced from the McNary Vineyard, which overlooks the Columbia River in Washington state. Both are blended with distinct and rare ingredients that enhance well-being — including elderflower, yerba mate, Fijian ginger and yuzu — all of which were hand-picked by Hammond Jr., as they are inspired from his travels and childhood. “Half the enjoyment of Jetway is its aroma,” he said. “It takes you on a journey and makes you want to keep going back for another smell and taste. The color is beautiful and the bubbles playful. I want Jetway to be the bridge to your next adventure, whatever that might be — hanging at home with friends, a night
The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. debuted Jetway at California gigs in October.
out or an exotic trip.” Jetway has been available in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties since the Strokes debuted the beverage at their Forum show in October. Distribution will continue to expand into 2022. In DTLA, it’s available at Mazal, 110 N. San Fernando Road, and Sunset Beer Co., 1498 Sunset Boulevard. At 100 calories per 8.4-fluid-ounce can, Jetway wine seltzers are 5% alcohol by volume. Hammond Jr. came up with the idea long before the seltzer craze, he said — in 2017. “I was trying to create a drink that could compete against beer,” he said. “I want this over a beer. You can drink it like a seltzer and enjoy it like a wine.” When he pitched the idea, it was well received. “The whole process of how I got here is
as magical as when I started the Strokes,” he said. “It had that same feeling that the universe was guiding me.” Jetway investors include Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Nick Hoult, Coran Capshaw, Robert Schwartzman and Zoey Grossman. Hammond Jr. has tapped Ben Parsons as Jetway’s chief operating officer. A winemaker and brand builder, Parsons pioneered the canned wine category. “Jetway is all about a sense of place,” Parsons said in a statement. “At its core, it’s a single vineyard designate wine blended with distinct and rare ingredients that actually complement the wine, coming together in unison to make something better. Wine has a healthy halo in its DNA since it’s made with grapes, so the added ingredients only enhance that.”
Jetway is available in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Photo courtesy of Jetway
Photo courtesy of Jetway
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Covered California will help BUSINESS
Mobile spa brings feminine healing to homes and events By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer reasure Thompson knows how hard it can be to travel around Los Angeles to seek out needed wellness services. It’s why she bought and renovated a 35-foot bus and is taking the luxuries of NuEnergySpa on the road after having to close her storefront spa when the pandemic hit. “I felt these services were needed,” Thompson said. “People were contacting me, asking when I would be available and how could I create a pandemic-proof service.” Thompson, who has earned the moniker Yoniologist, specializes in vaginal wellness, offering such services as yoni steaming or a vaginal mask. (Yoni is the Indian word for female genitalia.) Those entering the mobile spa can also experience a cupping massage, a pink Himalayan salt chamber, teeth whitening, cool mist chromotherapy or ionic detoxification. Her plan started out with pen, paper and the drawing of a square. Neither she nor the person remodeling the bus had anyone else they could draw upon for ideas — Thompson was the first person to do this. They worked back and forth, modifying things, trying to make things more efficient, discussing all the things she wanted in the bus. “You can’t have services for women without a bathroom,” Thompson said. “You have to have running water. Also, I love to cater organic and alcoholic drinks depending on the time of the event, so I had a bar installed in the bus. I have a photo op station in the front of the bus so you can have a nice Instagrammable moment.” It wasn’t Thompson’s first time delivering services via a mobile bus. She has kids and purchased a game bus for them that travels around with six televisions and video gaming systems. She also saw there were truck services for guys such as barber shops, but she wanted something for women. “I really wanted to bring a feminine healing experience that could come to you,” Thompson said. “For a lot of women, it is hard to travel. We have kids, we do a lot at home. We have to have our ladies’ night at home. It will be nice to have something that can come to you so you don’t have to go far. You don’t have to make the trip to a luxury environment. It comes to you.” In her research, Thompson came across the word “sparty” for spa parties, a word used a lot in Europe. Most of those were for facials and nail packages, so Thompson wanted to do something different.
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Some of her Sparty experiences include “Deluxe Sistars Spa Experience,” “Bridal Sparty” and “Not Seniors Just Sexier” and range from two and a half to five hours. The bus can accommodate up to six people for a spa party (plus service providers). Thompson will also take the bus to different events and places in LA so people can receive walk-up services.
Promoting yoni steaming’s health benefits In addition to being a provider of spa services, Thompson sees herself as an educator on vaginal wellness, something that a lot of people feel uncomfortable talking about. She has newsletters and a YouTube channel, but her main focus is one-on-one conversations with people. “We already know it is an uncomfortable conversation,” Thompson said. “For me, I’m not being modest, but people feel more comfortable with someone who is attractive telling them something uncomfortable. If I can sit and be comfortable talking about vaginal discharge and odors, or if I’m feeling itchy and I have proof that these things are working, you believe me.” Thompson said she focuses on the educational aspect of things because she wants people to know about it, whether they get services from her or others. “You can do this at home or you can come to me for more of an experience,” Thompson said. “To come on the bus is a sisterly bonding experience. You get to put on the gowns, sit on the steaming thrones, relax and mingle. It’s a bonding thing.” Thompson explained that yoni steaming has been around for centuries. There is evidence of its existence in China, Haiti and Africa. The herbal blend she uses incorporates rose petals, lavender, motherwort, rosemary, mug wort, calendula, albizia, oregano, safflower, turmeric, basil and aloe. She said that steaming provides vaginal lubrication and different herbs provide different benefits. “There are a lot of holistic, organic benefits to using herbal steam,” Thompson said. “An open-minded person who is open to trying alternative methods will receive these natural benefits.” She pointed out that these herbal remedies are not medically proven, but she has experienced their benefits since she was a child and her family relied on a book of remedies. In addition to holistic/health benefits, she said there are also rejuvenating and relaxing benefits. “It actually feels good,” Thompson said.
The unique bus was custom-designed to provide yoni steaming services for women, along with teeth whitening, cupping, ionic detoxification and cool mist chromotherapy. Photo courtesy of NuEnergySpa
“We like to be relaxed. Why wouldn’t we want to have a warm, steaming mist on our vagina while also having healing benefits? It is an amazing experience and it has no negative effects where it will hurt you. I feel as though every woman should try it.”
Mobile spa offers several Distinctive services While yoni steaming is popular among Thompson’s guests, it isn’t the only service she offers. The bus has an area where guests can lay down and she can focus on a section of the body — arms, legs, back, torso or face — and provide cupping services. She uses silicon cups rather than the glass ones. She has four different sizes that are used on different areas of the body. She first applies a softening agent to make it easier to suction the body. She uses it to relieve cellulite, even out skin tone and improve blood circulation. Ionic detoxification is another service which she can provide to up to two people at a time. They put their feet into minitubs with disposable plastic liners. Ions are placed inside the tub of water, and belts are fitted around the guest’s stomach or wrist. It detoxifies the body in a service that can last 10 to 30 minutes. The water in the tub will change colors depending on what the body is detoxing. “If you have a yeast infection in your vagina, white cheesy particles will come out in the water,” Thompson said. “If it is brown, you’re detoxing tobacco. If there are red spots, you might have blood clots that are shaking out. Whatever it is that you are detoxing, it will actually show up in the water, and I have a chart of what each color
means on the bus.” Cool mist chromotherapy is delivered in the mobile spa’s pink Himalayan salt room. The guest can use a remote control to change each color to whatever they would like. Thompson said that different colors have various healing benefits and there is a cool mist spray that can be controlled by guests because it can get warm. Thompson offers three different vaginal jelly masks, which are placed on the vulva: a 24-carat gold mask, a pink mask and a lacey mask. The masks look like panty liners and lay across the vulva going down to the perineum. Each mask offers different benefits from tightening to rejuvenating. Guests can wear a disposable gown or nothing at all. The jelly masks remain on the body for 20 minutes. Thompson also offers teeth whitening services, which she expects to be most popular with bridal packages. “We have to have our smile,” Thompson said. “If people are getting their jelly masks and steams before their wedding or as part of their bachelorette party, then teeth whitening would definitely be essential.” The mobile spa will travel throughout Venice Beach and wherever else there is a demand. Thompson does this because it is something she genuinely loves. “I love helping people,” Thompson said. “I know it works because it worked for me. I just love the fact that I can create experiences for people. This is something everybody should know about and have in her life. We’re talking holistic and more natural routes to be more vibrant, have better energy and prolong our life. I feel as though I’m just the person to come to. I’m just the vibe.”
NuEnergySpa Wellness hours: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays (private parties only) nuenergyspa.com
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By LA Downtown News Staff our new tenants have taken up space at One Santa Fe, Berkshire Residential Investments’ Downtown Los Angeles mixed-use destination with 438 apartments and 81,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Men’s grooming brand Smartbeard opened in early 2021, with Japanese restaurant Kombu Sushi, marketing agency Milly Rock and fitness brand LAgree213 joining the collection of retail tenants by the end of the year, according to Kennedy Wilson Brokerage, a division of Kennedy-Wilson Properties Ltd. Kennedy Wilson Brokerage’s Justin Weiss and Lee Shapiro represented Berkshire in the long-term lease transactions, which total approximately 8,000 square feet. Built in 2015 as one of the first groundup mixed-use developments in the Arts District, One Santa Fe is located at 300 South Santa Fe Avenue. “The Kennedy Wilson Brokerage team has been instrumental in executing our vision for One Santa Fe’s ground floor retail,” said Brendon Sullivan, senior vice president, Portfolio Management of Berkshire. “In addition to bringing exciting new tenants to the project, Justin and Lee have provided valuable advisory services that helped us keep strong tenants through the pandemic.” One Santa Fe is the first brick-and-mor-
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Men’s grooming brand Smartbeard, Japanese restaurant Kombu Sushi, marketing agency Milly Rock and fitness brand LAgree213 have taken up space at One Santa Fe.
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tar location for SmartBeard, a growing online brand specializing in beard grooming products. It’s also the second location for Kombu Sushi, a Japanese restaurant in Silver Lake, while global marketing and social media company Milly Rock expanded its Los Angeles presence in a 3,000-squarefoot office space. Additionally, One Santa Fe is the second Downtown location for Los Angeles-based Lagree Fitness. “One Santa Fe kicked off the Arts District boom,” said Justin Weiss, senior vice president at Kennedy Wilson Brokerage. “It was the proof of concept that showed investors, developers and tenants that people
wanted to live, work and play in this part of DTLA. These four new tenants are evidence that One Santa Fe’s appeal is still strong.” The widely recognized project, designed by Michael Maltzan, reflects LA’s love for art and creation, drawing inspiration from the surrounding Arts District in its open spaces, commercial tenancy and on-site murals, which include pieces by Sei Shimura (aka SEY x YES), WRDSMITH, Peter Greco, Alivacious and James Goldcrown. Berkshire’s 2022 property revitalization plans include paseo improvement and additional seating; Wi-Fi throughout the
property, including outdoor spaces; updated signage and wayfinding; power/USB connections; improved lighting and more. “One Santa Fe has a vibrant and welcoming identity thanks to visionary ownership,” said Lee Shapiro, director of retail and executive vice president of Kennedy Wilson Brokerage. “Tenants want to be here, and for that reason we received multiple competitive bids on these four spaces.” The Kennedy Wilson Brokerage team has two more deals in motion at One Santa Fe and anticipates that the project’s commercial space will soon be fully leased.
CBRE arranges $11.3M sale of 3 DTLA industrial buildings By LA Downtown News Staff BRE announced the sale of three industrial buildings in Los Angeles for $11.3 million to a Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand and maker of home and travel products, which will occupy one of the three properties. CBRE’s Kevin Foley, Mark Shaffer, Anthony DeLorenzo, Gary Stache and Doug Mack represented the private seller, Keno Properties LLC, in the transaction. The three buildings, totaling 53,064-square-foot, include the 27,436-square-foot 1714 S. Maple Avenue, the 17,141-square-foot 1729 Wall Street and the 8,487-square-foot 437 E. Washington Boulevard. They are located just off the I-10 Freeway in the Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles, home to many clothing manufacturers and emerging media tenants. “This was a unique investment opportunity for the buyer to acquire prime space for both occupancy and leasing
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income,” Foley said. “These warehouse buildings enjoy great accessibility to exciting new Downtown amenities and major freeways. “The buyer has been a tenant at a nearby building, where they lacked expansion space. This acquisition will allow them to control their occupancy costs moving forward and have the option to expand into the remaining buildings in the future.” Increasing asking rates, all-time low vacancies, and heightened competition for industrial space have been the theme for the greater Los Angeles industrial market in Q3 2021, according to CBRE research. Overall vacancy hit a record low of 1% marketwide as tenants sought to expand their industrial footprint in the densely populated region, CBRE research shows. “Given the incredibly tight industrial market in our region, this deal drew a considerable amount of attention from investors and occupiers, which ultimately led to this sale,” Foley said.
Three industrial buildings in Los Angeles were sold for $11.3 million. Submitted photo
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DO YOU EARN $57,000 OR LESS?
CLAIM THE FEDERAL EITC! You may qualify for a tax refund called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which benefits working families and individuals with low to moderate income.
YOU CAN RECEIVE UP TO $6,728! TAX SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER! To qualify, you must meet the basic requirements below:
Have a Social Security Number. Must be a U.S. citizen or resident all year. Have a filing status of single, married filing jointly, widowed, or head of household. Have an earned income. (Income limits vary by filing status and number of qualifying dependents)
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TOMA is a program funded by the Office of Minority Health to help low-income communities learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
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