04-18-11 by Los Angeles Downtown News

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April 18, 2011

Volume 40, Number 16

INSIDE

Administrative Professionals Week

PODCASTS

LOS ANGELES

Metro Mix Former Home of the Central Library Is Reborn as 88 Apartments

Austin Beutner gets mayoral.

Another retailer for the Historic Core.

Staying green in Downtown.

photo by Gary Leonard

Michael Fallas, whose family has long owned the Fallas Paredes discount store at 315 W. Fifth St., has turned the 10-story building into apartments. by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

Historic Core office buildings and turn them into market-rate housing, a move made possible by the city’s 1999 passage of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance. That inspired Fallas to think differently for the future. It also put him on a road filled with tough obstacles and serious learning experiences as he set about transforming his property into a residential complex. It may have taken a lot longer than he anticipated, but now Fallas’ vision has born fruit. In February, the Metropolitan (not to be confused

with the Metropolitan Apartments or the Met Lofts, both in South Park) opened as 88 apartments. “I love this building,” Fallas said one recent afternoon as he sat inside one of the units in the building at 315 W. Fifth St. Slim and with an almost constant smile that seems to hint at both pride in the project and relief that it’s completed, Fallas said the property, like most adaptive reuse projects in Downtown Los Angeles, has both classic touches and modern see Metropolitan, page 14

Get down with the Easter Bunny.

Gary Leonard’s living estate sale.

Timeline to the State of the City

hen Michael Fallas purchased the 1913 Metropolitan building in the late 1990s, he didn’t have many plans for the structure. The ground floor was Fallas Paredes, a 40,000-square-foot store specializing in discount apparel. Most of the upper levels in the 10-floor edifice were storage space. Like many people, Fallas watched as Tom Gilmore was the first person to take dead old

Parking, Education and a Wisconsin Smackdown by Jon ReGaRdie executive editoR

Reviewing ‘God of Carnage.’

23 CALENDAR LISTINGS 24 MAP 25 CLASSIFIEDS

n Wednesday, April 13, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa headed to Jefferson High School to deliver his sixth State of the City address. Most of the power establishment of Los Angeles followed. Here’s how it played out. 4:34 p.m.: Traffic is jammed all around the school, cars inching forward then waiting, belching exhaust. It’s nine days till Earth Day THE REGARDIE REPORT

in a city someone once predicted could be the greenest big city in America. 4:41 p.m.: With the air Moscow bad and

two snails outpacing the Mazda 6 in front of me, I see three police cars in a No Parking zone. A Crown Victoria pulls up behind them and stops. Uh oh! Methinks someone will get a ticket. Then the doors open and out pop Councilmen Tom LaBonge and Bill Rosendahl. Council carpool! They walk away, leaving the Crown Vic behind the black and whites. Council membership has its privileges. 4:50 p.m.: I’ve parked and am walking toward the school, thinking of Jefferson’s upgrades, including a 33-point API boost, since it got succubused into the Mayor’s Partnership for L.A. Schools several years ago. Then, egads, I see graffiti scrawled across the black steel cage protecting a vending machine. Suddenly I see State of the City, page 9

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

photo by Gary Leonard

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa headed to Jefferson High School last week for his sixth State of the City address.

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN Man Stabbed To Death in Fight

os Angeles police are searching for two men suspected of killing a man near Ninth and Hill streets in the early morning of Wednesday, April 13. The victim, a man believed to be in his 40s, was stabbed at least once and died on the sidewalk, police said. “According to a witness, three men were fighting near the alcove of the Chase bank around 2 a.m.,” Lt. Paul Vernon said in a statement. Police believe the two suspects ran away carrying trash bags. A security guard from another building discovered the body just before 4 a.m. and paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. Detectives will review video footage from the bank’s ATM lobby and other cameras in the area in the effort to identify the suspects. This marks the fourth homicide this year in Downtown. “I’m confident we will solve this,” Vernon said. “Someone on the street knows what happened, and time and again, we see persons come forward with tips that break tough cases like this one wide open.” Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Al Marengo at (213) 972-1249. Direct anonymous tips to (800) 222-TIPS or by texting 274637.

ditional parking. The building had been a fire station until 1980. The hearing will take place at 1:30 p.m. at 200 N. Spring St.

License to Film

he city is looking to spread the responsibility around when it comes to un-permitted filming in Los Angeles. On Thursday, April 12, the City Council’s Jobs and Business Development Committee instructed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would make property owners where commercial film and still photo shoots take place liable for any action that occurs without a permit. According to the motion by Fifth District Councilman Paul Koretz, under current law production companies are liable for unpermitted filming, which is a misdemeanor and carries up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. Property owners who allow filming without permits are not currently held liable. The motion says this leads to landlords allowing frequent use of the property for illegal filming. There is no timeline yet on when the ordinance, which would ultimately require City Council approval, will be completed.

Little Engine That Could

Downtown Women’s Center Store Opens

project to convert Engine Company No. 17, a 1927 firehouse at 710 S. Santa Fe Ave. in the Industrial District, into a restaurant and bar is back on track. The City’s Office of Zoning Administration on April 25 will hold a hearing on whether to issue a permit to sell alcohol at the site. Similar plans for the 1904 firehouse were put on hold in 2009 after the Central Area Planning Commission rejected the effort due to neighbors’ protests over ad-

April 18, 2011

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he Downtown Women’s Center has opened its long-in-the-works store on the ground floor of its new San Pedro Street headquarters. The store, called Made by DWC, features an array of jewelry, crafts and other products created by women who live in housing provided by the center. The shop also doubles as a cafe, with Groundwork Coffee stocking the beans, and food provided by Tiara Cafe. The DWC provides housing

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

and social services to homeless women in Skid Row. The 33-year-old organization converted an industrial building at 438 S. San Pedro St. into 71 permanent supportive housing units and offices; that project opened last year. All proceeds generated by Made by DWC will support the center’s operations. The shop has a mission to train women, providing them job skills, and to foster interaction between the women’s center and the greater Downtown community, DWC Executive Director Lisa Watson told Los Angeles Downtown News last year. The shop is currently in a soft launch phase and is open Tues.-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The grand opening is April 29, when the hours will expand to Tues.-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Essex Buys Fourth Santee Village Building

eal estate investment firm Essex Property Trust has purchased a fourth building in the Santee Village complex on Los Angeles Street, between Eighth and Ninth streets. The deal for the 73-unit structure known simply as The Santee comes less than five months after the same edifice was purchased by a joint venture between Kennedy Wilson and RECP/Urban Partners. That team acquired The Santee in November 2010 as part of a three-building package that also included the Cornell and the Eckhardt, which are currently being marketed as condos. Also in November, Essex bought the three-building Santee Court rental project for a reported $31.1 million. Representatives with Palo Alto-based Essex did not respond to requests for comment on the deal for The Santee, but Paul Keller of Urban Partners confirmed that the transaction has closed. The Santee was the only property in the seven-building complex — originally developed by MJW Investments — that remained completely va-

cant. Essex owns two other Downtown rental sites in the Bunker Hill Towers at First and Figueroa streets and Belmont Station at First and Lucas streets in City West.

Not So Permanent

he party at Tatou Supper Club in City West may not have been as permanent as a tattoo. According to information acquired from the California Department of Beverage and Alcohol Control, the club’s liquor license was suspended this month. No further details were available on why the suspension occurred. The phone number for the 35,000-square-foot venue at 333 S. Boylston St. is disconnected. Tatou housed a Wokcano restaurant, which also has a disconnected phone number. The club’s location has had its share of problems in the past, starting in the 1980s when it opened as a club called Vertigo, through its stint as Glam Slam, a club owned by Prince, and later Babyrocks, where fights and illegal activity were common. Tatou was opened in February 2007 by Mark Fleischman, who previously ran the Century Club, Studio 54 and Tatou in Beverly Hills and New York.

Chamber Prize Goes to USC Figure

he Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced recently that its top international trade award will go to a USC director. Richard Drobnick, director of the Center for International Business Education and Research at the Marshall School of Business, will receive the Stanley T. Olafson international trade award May 6. “Dr. Drobnick has been a global trade champion expanding global trade awareness in our region and across the Pacific Rim,” said chamber Senior Vice President of Global Initiatives Carlos Valderrama in a statement.

University of Southern California

La Finta Giardiniera Mozart’s comic masterpiece translates as ‘The Pretend Garden Girl’ April 21 – 24 Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Bing Theatre General admission: $18 Seniors and non-USC students: $12 Free with valid USC ID usc.edu/music • (213) 740-2584

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Considered Mozart’s first mature opera buffa, or comic opera, La Finta Giardiniera was written when the composer was only 18 years old. It is a zany, moving and timeless statement about human nature and love. With its dazzling arias and impenetrable plot, the three-act opera presents all the possible – and impossible – variants of amorous situations, combining both comic and serious elements to tell a story filled with attempted murder, jealousy, intrigue and forgiveness. This garden of delights blooms at USC’s Bing Theatre for its premiere by the USC Thornton School of Music’s Opera Program and Chamber Orchestra.

USC your cultural connection

Also At UsC

Naga-Mandala April 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. April 23 at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 24 at 2:30 p.m. In this tale-within-a-tale, a cursed playwright must stay awake all night in a temple and meets the spirit of a story that slipped out of an old woman’s mouth as she snored. Written by acclaimed Indian playwright Girish Karnad and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, Naga-Mandala embraces the themes of loyalty, faith and honor and features enchanting scenes from the mystical land of India. Scene Dock Theatre Admission: $5 – $12 usc.edu/spectrum

For more information visit usc.edu

April 18, 2011

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April 18, 2011

EDITORIALS Signs of A Market Comeback

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

o matter where you look across the United States, there are still plenty of indicators of a down market. Economists may declare that the recession officially ended months ago, but that is little solace for those dealing with high unemployment, tight lending markets and too many home foreclosures. Downtown Los Angeles still shows ample signs of the tough economy. At the same time, we are seeing glimmers of progress; a patchwork of large and small projects, and the involvement of notable business players behind them, gives evidence that the rebound has begun. In just the past few weeks, fencing went up around the plot where Eli Broad’s $100 million art museum will rise; Hanjin International and its development partner Thomas Properties Group secured city approvals to build a $1 billion replacement for the Wilshire Grand hotel at Seventh and Figueroa streets; the 325,000-square-foot Chinatown Gateway broke ground; and CanyonJohnson Urban Funds announced that it has taken over and will begin sales this month on the Arts District’s Barn Lofts. These are not the only signs of progress. Construction began recently on both the renovation of the shopping center on the southwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets (home to a Target in fall 2012) and the Hope Street Family Center, a community project from Abode Communities and California Hospital Medical Center. The most intriguing thing about this collection of developments is the names involved. Thomas Properties Group, Eli Broad, Target and Can yon-Johnson are all shrewd business players with significant track records. They represent different fields (real estate, philanthropy, retail), and the fact that they are all putting money into the community indicates confidence in Downtown’s potential. We acknowledge that this could be interpreted as looking at Downtown through rose-colored glasses. Naysayers will point at stalled developments such as Concerto, the Grand Avenue plan (one tower is on the front burner for a 2012 groundbreaking, but funds have not been secured) and the Brockman Building on Seventh Street. They’ll point to the lack of construction cranes on the skyline compared to a few years back. They’re right about the stalled projects. However, we think those say less about the community right now than do these new developments. This does not herald a construction wave like the one that occurred around 2004, but it looks like a sign of a comeback.

Good Project, Bad Process

owntown Los Angeles has a winning new addition in the $27 million LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Unfortunately, there is, at least for the moment and possibly well into the future, a taint on the project that provides important educational opportunities about the city’s past. On Saturday, April 16 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press), officials with the part museum, part Mexican-American cultural center were set to hold a public opening for the project at 501 N. Main St., adjacent to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. That same day, several Native American tribes and other organizations were planning to organize protests near the facility over the way project officials handled the discovery of human bones during construction. This has been a troubling process, and the controversy raises questions of whether political expediency superseded professional standards. It has also caused some to question whether the County of Los Angeles has put itself at legal risk. That questions need to be asked is a shame, because this is a state-of-the-art development that focuses attention and resources on something that many Angelenos know little about — the city’s founding and the importance of Mexican Americans in its past. It chronicles the settling of the puebla of Los Angeles in 1781, not far from where LA Plaza sits. Its exhibits include a re-creation of Main Street in the 1920s, providing a look at how the city functioned nearly a century ago. It marks the Chicano movement of the 1960s and much more. In short, LA Plaza provides a history lesson, for children and adults, in two historic build-

ings. The county, and in particular First District Supervisor Gloria Molina, the key backer of the project, deserve credit for activating the 1888 Vickey-Brunswig Building and the 1883 Plaza House, both of which had long been derelict eyesores, and which representatives of other cultural institutions looked at and then ran from once they saw the challenges and costs of an upgrade. In a difficult economy, Molina showed follow-through by securing funds, establishing a foundation to build the project, and getting community and political buy-in. These developments don’t happen without a champion, and Molina’s work has helped give Los Angeles a jewel, another lure for visitors from afar as well as from the farther corners of the city and county. This is wonderful, but it is also scarred by what happened after human remains were discovered on the site in October. It turned out that part of the project was rising on the old cemetery of the nearby La Placita church. This led to requests and then vociferous calls to halt construction. Those were downplayed and/or ignored until January, when media coverage of the bones generated intense public pressure. Finally LA Plaza officials stopped digging on part of the project’s garden, where the remains had been found, though work continued on the rest of the development. Bones and historic artifacts have been uncovered in numerous other places in Los Angeles, including Downtown, during work on highprofile projects. In the best cases, work is halted for a short time as archeologists and other officials study the findings and determine what had been there, how much of the past is left, and if any human, structural or other remains

are at risk by continued construction. When the best practices are followed, leaders err on the side of caution and cultural respect. It does not mean the project is canceled, just that it is temporarily delayed until the situation can be properly assessed. Native American groups feel that did not occur at LA Plaza, and the fact that the remains of 118 individuals were ultimately discovered indicates that this site merits further study. The bones and other artifacts have been taken to the Natural History Museum and the tribes are still trying to figure out if the remains of their ancestors have been disturbed. If that occurred, then they want to follow customs and find an appropriate resting place. The county now needs to operate with an abundance of caution and respect. Although LA Plaza officials and Molina have met with representatives of the Native American community, they must continue to talk and do whatever is necessary to ensure that tribal customs and practices are followed. The onus is on the county to make this right. The recent happenings have raised a troubling question: Did LA Plaza and county representatives intentionally underplay the discovery of the bones so they could hit what seemed a more important April opening date? There is an ironic and disturbing possibility that a facility dedicated to the city’s history is showing that same history insufficient respect. LA Plaza is a very good project, one that will benefit Los Angeles for decades, but its arrival comes with a flawed process. The county needs to do right regarding the bones of the people who were once buried where the attraction now stands.

April 18, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 5

Beutner Files Papers for Mayor’s Race First Deputy Mayor to Leave Villaraigosa’s Office for Campaign by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

ustin Beutner, who for 16 months has served as first deputy mayor to Antonio Villaraigosa, hopes to shed the “first deputy” part of the title. The former venture capitalist, who has been working for $1 a year as the city’s jobs and economic development czar, filed papers on Thursday, April 14, to run for the seat; Villaraigosa is termed out in 2013. Beutner said he will step down from Villaraigosa’s office, likely in a couple weeks, after a transition period. “I think I can make a difference, and we have to start creating an economic future for Angelenos,” Beutner said Thursday afternoon during an interview in the Harlem Place Café in the Historic Core. Beutner said he will run on a four-pronged platform of job creation; getting the city “right-sized” and lined up to better serve Angelenos; making the education system work; and continuing progress on public safety. He joins a field of political and business leaders that is expected to get crowded and competitive. City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilwoman Jan Perry have already filed papers to run for mayor. City Council President Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, state Sen. Alex Padilla and Rick Caruso have also mused publicly about entering the race. Beutner said his experience in both the for-profit and civic realms gives him a leg up on other candidates. “I think I’m uniquely qualified with the private-sector track record and the public-sector track record I have,” he said. “There’s no one else in the race who’s done that.” Beutner, 51, was named a partner at financial services firm Blackstone at the age of 29. He later spent time working for President Bill Clinton to help establish a market economy in post-Soviet Russia. In 1996, he co-founded the venture capital firm Evercore with Roger Altman, Clinton’s former deputy Treasury Secretary.

Although he has amassed a personal fortune, Beutner said he does not initially plan to use his own money for the race. Instead, he intends to try to raise funds from donors, both in Los Angeles and through his relationships on Wall Street and in other cities. Although political observers say his name recognition across Los Angeles is low, Beutner expects to be able to change that over the course of a campaign. Those he will work with include longtime political consultant Ace Smith, and Nicco Mele, an Internet strategist who helped Howard Dean in the viral outreach for his 2004 presidential campaign. Beutner expects to boost his public profile between now and March 2013, when the mayoral primary takes place. “Name recognition comes over time. That’s the easiest thing to change,” he said. “Someone with a lot of name recognition could show up not having founded their own Evercore, not having worked in the private sector, not having created jobs. They can’t go out and do that in the course of a year. I can go out and change my name recognition.” Change of Priorities A mountain biking accident several years ago, in which Beutner suffered a broken neck, led him to re-examine his priorities. In January 2010, he joined Villaraigosa’s office. He was charged with tasks that included recruiting businesses to the city, ensuring job retention and revamping Los Angeles’ notoriously clunky approach to permitting and economic development. He was put in charge of a dozen city departments and, after DWP General Manager David Freeman left last year, he became the interim head of that department as well. He stayed until Ron Nichols took over the DWP in December. Last April, Beutner helped recruit Chinese car manufacturer BYD to Los Angeles. The firm is in the process of building a headquarters at 18th and Figueroa streets that is expected to generate 150 on-site jobs. He has also helped lure other businesses to Los Angeles, including the architecture firm Gensler, which is leaving

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AFTER

BEFORE

photo by Gary Leonard

After 16 months as First Deputy Mayor, and ample public speculation, Austin Beutner announced last week that he is leaving Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office to run for mayor in 2013.

Santa Monica and heading to a new space Downtown at City National Plaza. Additionally, he worked with the Central City Association on a plan to streamline restaurant permitting. Beutner said he informed Villaraigosa of the decision Thursday morning, and that the mayor “was supportive.” In a prepared statement, Villaraigosa said, “At the start of my second term, I promised to make job creation job number one. Austin Beutner accepted the challenge and together we transformed the way this City approaches job creation. As a result, we no longer let the palm trees do our marketing. Together, we’ve made LA more business-friendly, from cutting red tape to providing tax breaks for job creation to engaging in sales calls to our customers.” Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

6 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

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Two Wheel Drive With CicLAvia, Downtown Cars Take a Back Seat

t’s the middle of the day in the middle of Spring Street. Not exactly a playground. Yet, look who’s coming our way: A child, no more than 6, carelessly careening southbound on this major Downtown thoroughfare, pedaling her pink tricycle complete with multicolored handlebar streamers. The cutest little white basket attached to the front. Pedals in the shape of flowers. Did I mention the bell? The pig-tailed innocent prepares to execute a sharp westbound turn onto Seventh Street. She appears unfazed, not a care in the world. It’s the same story for everyone else in the general area, some of Howard Leff them on foot, some on skateboard. The biggest contingent is a seemingly endless stream of happy, well- OF ONE mannered bicyclists. Forget the tattooed and scruffy messengers with the Lance Armstrong calves. These folks smile as they breeze around this normally congested corner. It’s called CicLAvia, which is derived from the word ciclovia, which doesn’t help much, since no one knows what that word means either. Turns out ciclovia translates from Spanish as “bike path.” These days, it’s also used whenever someone with a City Hall swipe card gets the wild idea of temporarily banning cars from a bunch of urban streets, creating a friendly swath for anything and anyone without a motor. L.A.’s second CicLAvia took place on Sunday, April 10. The Downtown portion of the “path” extends from Seventh and Figueroa streets east to the Fourth Street Bridge, winding along parts of Spring Street, First Street and Central Avenue. During the five-hour event, you can go in any direction at any time. Or no direction at all. As you can see, there aren’t many rules. Which really isn’t surprising for a happening based on the original Ciclovia,

PARTY

which started in Bogotá, Colombia Erasing motorized traffic from a handful of major Downtown streets creates quite a spectacle. It’s as if the city undergoes a rock star-like blood transfusion. Instead of smog spewing, carbon chewing combustion engines, all you see are squeaky-clean walkers, bikers and skaters. There’s sort of a post-apocalyptic, “Uh-oh, we’ve all just run out of fossil fuels” vibe in the air, with that soothing click-click-click of bicycle chains quietly replacing the din of car horns, tire squeals and clanging tailpipes. Remarkably, after walking a few blocks surrounded solely by cyclists, the sudden appearance of cars on adjacent nonCicLAvia streets seems positively jarring. Everyday vehicles are almost prehistoric by comparison, lumbering through Downtown Los Angeles like a bunch of soon-to-be extinct creatures battling to get out of the muck. Especially here, since the event creates head-rattling traffic snarls on the streets that do remain open to cars. I’m talking about you, Main. One request: How about including Broadway in future CicLAvias? If any Downtown street begs to be ogled slowly and from all angles, it’s this one filled with a dozen early 20th century movie palaces. Thankfully, the current route encourages participants to check out some of Downtown’s more industrial areas east of Little Tokyo. So many riders, in fact, cruise east down Fourth Street that the often-overlooked bridge has, for a moment anyway, the glamour of the Golden Gate. Riders actually pause to snap pictures of the sweeping Downtown skyline all the way from the ultra-modern Ritz-Carlton tower at one end to the top of the 1940s-era Postal Service Terminal Annex building on the other. So what’s the point of CicLAvia? Amazingly, the whole purpose seems to be a lack of purpose. It’s certainly not a race. There’s nary a food truck in sight. No stages. No concerts. No arts, crafts or wristbands. It’s likely the least commercial Downtown event you’ll ever attend, with the possible exception of jury duty. Outside of an Herbalife booth, a Sprint tent

LoS angeLeS conSerVancY PRESENTS

photo by Gary Leonard

There aren’t many rules in CicLAvia. You can go in any direction at any time. Or no direction at all.

and a Power 106 radio setup, I don’t recall seeing a single corporate logo. There’s a small food tent area set up next to the south lawn of City Hall. Plus, if you’re hungry, you can always stop at the dozens of Downtown cafes, bars and restaurants that happily remain open along the route. It’s a rare, refreshing day to simply enjoy this area on a bike, rather than hunt down retro hats and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. As for safety concerns, these cyclists seem like a pretty serene bunch. Still, the LAPD makes a strong showing. After all, the route takes participants directly in front of the department’s shiny $440 million headquarters, so this is a day for law enforcement to sparkle. In fact, the only other way to see so many uniformed officers in one spot is to go to a Dodgers game. With CicLAvia at least, you can get away without a single reminder of Manny Ramirez. The next CicLAvia is set for July 10, unless gas prices go much higher and cars start disappearing on their own. Then, this won’t be a terribly unique event anymore. We’ll just call it Sunday.

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Downtown News 7

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WHAT’S FOR SALE A Short Edifice by a Name Architect by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

n the column “What’s for Sale,” Los Angeles Downtown News looks at everything from condos to multi-family buildings to vacant lots now on the market. We hope that regular snapshots of individual properties will make for a wide-ranging survey of the overall state of Downtown real estate. This week, the focus is on the Harten Building, a Financial District edifice designed by an architect who had a hand in City Hall. The Building: The Harten Building, at 614 W. Sixth St., is a two-story structure, just

west of Grand Avenue, with a third level in the basement. Owner Shimi Incorporated runs a jewelry business out of the property. It is listed at $3.7 million. Why So Low?: The Romanesque edifice with intricate stone carvings is unlike its Sixth Street neighbors. But not necessarily for its façade, designed by John Parkinson, the co-architect of City Hall. It stands out, oddly, because it’s so short. Squeezed between the 13-story Milano Lofts and the mid-rise Library Court, the Harten Building may be the only historic structure in the Financial District with a roof (done in terra cotta tile) visible to pedestrians. According

to a Los Angeles Times article announcing the structure’s groundbreaking on June 6, 1926, the owner, the Edwards and Wildey Company, commissioned a design that would allow the structure to one day grow to 12 stories. It never happened, perhaps because the Great Depression was right around the corner? Double Use: The building houses all aspects of a jewelry design business, but broker Derrick Moore is marketing it as a potential candidate for an owner-occupied, live/work situation. The second story is a natural residential space, he said, so someone could live upstairs and run a store or restaurant on the ground floor. “The best surprise about the building is the condition of the interior and the look and the feel,” he said. “It’s a terrific, creative office look and feel, and every bit of the Downtown urban loft.”

Noise in the Hood: Sixth Street, between Olive and Hope streets, has grown into a lively mid-day street scene, packed with office workers grabbing lunch from one of the many options at Library Court (they range from Carls Jr. to Yorkshire Grille to the salad-centric Looseleaf). Except for the Harten Building, the south side of the block is entirely residential above the ground level, with the Milano Lofts and Library Court. Name Game: According to the Times article, the building was erected by the Edwards and Wildey Company (which had already built the Edwards and Wildey Building, now the Milano Lofts), but did not yet have a name. Passersby could be forgiven for assuming that “Harten” was the original owner, since the name is engraved in a stone panel on the façade. Although that nameplate may appear to be original, Moore said it was actually added by the current owner in the past decade. Compared to What?: It’s tough to find a comparable sale, since there aren’t many two-story, historic office structures with the cachet of a renowned L.A. architect attached. If the property is marketed as a live/work conversion candidate, it’s worth surveying recent sales at the nearby condo project Library Court. Ten recent units closed with an average price of $407 per square foot. The 13,360-square-foot Harten Building’s listing price translates to about $277 per square foot. If that sounds like a bargain, keep in mind that converting it to partial residential use would take some money, time and permit wrangling.

photo by Gary Leonard

The two-story Harten Building was designed by John Parkinson, who worked on City Hall. It is listed at $3.7 million.

The building is marketed as a candidate for live/work conversion, with living space on the second floor and a shop or restaurant on street level.

Contact: The listing agent is Derrick Moore of CB Richard Ellis, (213) 613-3334. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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8 Downtown News

Grand Ave. Developer Has New 2012 Deadline by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

April 18, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

rand Avenue project developer Related Companies has been working on plans for a scaled down, 20-story apartment tower for months. Last week, the firm in control of the long-stalled $3 billion Bunker Hill mega-project got a deadline to break ground on that building: October 2012. On Monday, April 11, the Grand Avenue Authority set the deadline for Related to begin construction on the apartment tower, which would rise on what is now a parking lot south of Gen. Thaddeus Kosciusko Way. Preliminary plans for the edifice call for about 260 units, 20% of which would be set aside as affordable housing, and up to 15,000 square feet of retail space, Related California President Bill Witte said. Known as parcel M, the site is environmentally cleared for two towers of up to 35 stories. Despite the deadline, Related does not

have financing. While the developer is working with a team on preliminary designs, it has yet to select an architect, Witte said. “This is very preliminary,” Witte said. “It’s not financed yet but we are going to move forward on it. I think it’s not unrealistic.” If Related cannot meet the deadline, the firm could seek a delay from the authority, which has granted several such extensions on the larger first phase of the project. The authority last week also gave an OK to a plan already approved by the CRA and City Council to expand the garage beneath philanthropist Eli Broad’s coming museum so that the facility occupies the entire surface lot known as parcel L, between Grand Avenue and Hope Street. The facility will hold 370 spaces, up from the previously approved 284. The board also became the final body to green-light a public plaza to be built south of the museum, on a platform above Gen. Kosciusko Way.

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The $100 million Diller, Scofidio + Renfro-designed museum will rise on top of the three-level garage, but will occupy only a portion of the garage roof. The remainder is set aside for a future residential development, likely to be condos, Witte said. Nelson Rising, who chairs the Grand Avenue Committee, an advisory body to the joint powers authority, said the momentum on the apartment tower project and the imminent development of the museum should help Related’s efforts to secure financing on phase one. “Their chance of getting a construction lender is materially enhanced by the other activity around there,” Rising said. “We’re going to need the economy to cooperate, but to me there’s a real sense of excitement that’s expanding on this.” The Frank Gehry-designed phase one calls for two luxury residential towers with a boutique hotel and 250,000 square feet of retail space. Related has missed multiple deadlines to break ground on the largest piece of the three-phase project, and instead has secured repeat extensions from the authority. Most recently, the authority approved a two-year extension for phase one through February 2013. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Walgreens, Take Two Drugstore to Open In 2013, Again Across From Competitor by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

n May 2010, drugstore chain Walgreens opened on the northeast corner of Seventh and Hope streets. In a move surprising to many, it was directly across from a Rite Aid, which occupies the southeast corner of the intersection. Now, the recent history is repeating itself: Walgreen is prepping a second Downtown Los Angeles outlet. Once again, it will be directly across from a Rite Aid, its seeming competitor. Robert Elfinger, a spokesman for Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens, told Los see Walgreens, page 13

A Proposition 65 Public Notice The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act requires California businesses to advise employees and neighbors of any potential exposure to chemicals considered by the state to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Veolia Energy Los Angeles, Inc. wants you to know that detectable amounts of some of these substances may be found in and around its facility located at 715 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA. Potential sources of these substances can include common products such as gasoline, oil, natural gas, paint.

April 18, 2011

State of the City Continued from page 1 realize that at a Partnership institute you get “good” graffiti. In white spray paint someone has scrawled “OMG! I Love This School!” (Really.) I’m not sure what this says about the state of modern education. 4:54 p.m.: The auditorium is packed, the joint and the mood brighter and lighter than last year’s State of the City, held in the mausoleum-like Deaton Auditorium in the LAPD headquarters in Downtown. In that speech AnVil focused on the budget and the city’s dismal finances. It was about as much fun as a wake where the sobbing widow throws herself on the casket. Good thing that the city’s fiscal state has since been turned around. Oh wait, that hasn’t happened. 5 p.m.: An announcer introduces… the Jefferson High School Drumline! A dozen students parade on stage and beat the heck out of their drums. Six minutes later the drumming stops and the crowd applauds. Then the drumming starts again. Wow, the mayor’s opening act is a drumline. I’m reminded of the scene in Spinal Tap when the band arrives at an amusement park and sees a marquee reading “Puppet Show and Spinal Tap.” 5:10 p.m.: Drumming stops. More applause. It doesn’t restart. I see the hundreds of suits and students and, since this is a school, think of a vexing math problem: If 1,000 people are in the room, and each comes up with $10 a month, then how long will it take to pay off the $42,000 in fines that Villaraigosa owes for accepting free tickets to dozens of sporting events and concerts, including the Spice Girls? 5:11 p.m.: Still doing the math when the answer hits me: It doesn’t take any time at all when you can establish legal defense funds and, ahem, ask your friends in business to donate. 5:12 p.m.: Still thinking about the fines when I mind wobble back to the Spice Girls. Seriously? The mayor went to see the Spice Girls and claimed it was city business?! For this alone the fines should be doubled.

DowntownNews.com 5:15 p.m.: Villaraigosa enters to a standing ovation, resplendent in a dark suit and blue tie. How would that suit look in the governor’s mansion? Maybe he’ll find out one day if Jerry Brown invites him to visit. With bright lights and TV cameras focused on him, Villaraigosa flashes a smile. Council President Eric Garcetti is momentarily blinded. 5:17 p.m.: AnVil’s speaking manner is deliberate, easy, the cadence intentionally slow. He riffs on Jefferson as a veritable war zone six years back and then, in a possible reference to ’80s act Journey, pays tribute “to all those who never stopped believing.” 5:20 p.m.: References his “Dream With Me” speech, the inspiring 2005 inaugural address, delivered when the economy was booming and hope ran rampant across Los Angeles. Nostalgia is nice. 5:21 p.m.: Runs down some accomplishments, citing an increase in port traffic and trade. “We have city staff actually cold calling employers,” he proclaims, and there’s one thing that happened since (now outgoing) Austin Beutner came aboard as First Deputy Mayor in January 2010. “We are jump-starting job creation with a business tax holiday,” he states, and that’s another program aided by a Beutner push. A moment later he adds, “From across an ocean, we’ve brought BYD, a leading Chinese clean-technology company, to its new North American headquarters.” Hey, it’s a Beutner trifecta. 5:23 p.m.: Villaraigosa wanders into traffic and transportation, mentioning synchronizing 90% of the city’s intersections and the $40 billion being generated by Measure R. He describes something called America Fast Forward, a new political/business/labor program to push transit projects. But holy missing link, one program that was vital a year ago isn’t mentioned. It rhymes with “dirty hen.” I keep listening, but he doesn’t say boo about 30-10. I wonder why. 5:27 p.m.: Swerves to crime and touts the number of police officers and the Big Accomplishment of 40% fewer gunshot victims than six years ago. 5:31 p.m.: He hits the city’s finances and references a recent labor agreement. He crows, “I have a message for Wisconsin’s Governor Walker: Collective bargaining works in Los

Downtown News 9

Angeles!” Somewhere Walker responds, “I have a message for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: The Green Bay Packers just won the Super Bowl! How’s football in Los Angeles these days?” 5:33 p.m.: Talking city cutbacks, he says, “I am proposing an 11% cut to my staff budget.” A loud thud sounds as 20 mayoral staffers faint. 5:34 p.m.: Moves to education, the topic that will consume the final 15 minutes of the speech. No reference to the disastrous, failed effort early in his term to seize control of the LAUSD. Instead he touts the Partnership, which gave him 21 low-performing schools, where upgrades and reforms followed. He cites new LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, calling him “Bill Bratton with a ruler,” making me wonder how Deasy will stop drunk, belligerent Dodger fans from messing up multiplication tables. 5:41 p.m.: On to the funding crisis in education, and says government alone can’t solve the problem. “We need publicprivate partnerships,” he proclaims, then calls for “private investment.” A loud thud as 60 business leaders faint, knowing they’ll get hit up this week for donations to another mayoral program. 5:43 p.m.: More school dreams, among them a call for “a teachers’ contract that’s simple, flexible and straightforward.” No one would argue against the merit of such aims. However, skeptics might point out that reform takes hard work, money, political connections and follow-through. Especially follow through. 5:48 p.m.: Quotes Thomas Jefferson. Not in relation to Los Angeles’ $350 million budget deficit or Sally Hemings, but, “To penetrate and dissipate the clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education.” 5:49 p.m.: Closes with other lines that sound like they should be Journey hits. “This is our opportunity. Let’s seize it together. Our kids are counting on us.” Medium applause sounds. Then Villaraigosa walks offstage and a DJ plays Junkie XL’s remix of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation.” The lyrics go, “A little less conversation, a little more action.” Interesting message. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

10 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

GO GREEN

For Them, every Day Is earTh Day Williams Tells

the buildings were built [before] the modern building codes, you’ll find a lot of things that are harmful. There are also things like the quality of the paint, or materials that have maybe leeched into the rugs or walls.

The ABCs of Creating Environmentally Friendly Buildings by Ryan VaillancouRt

Q: When old buildings get demolished and rebuilt, like the upcoming plan for the Wilshire Grand replacement, do owners commonly reuse some of the materials? A: If the developers are smart and if they’re going to do the new building to LEED standards, the wrecking ball is just going to be a means to an end. Somebody’s got to make a determination as to what materials will be used. You get credits for doing that. It’s an integral part of what you’re supposed to do. I’m not an expert on that, but I would say they could reuse the foundation materials, the metal, the things that have a longer lifecycle.

staff wRiteR

n recent years, sustainable building practices have inched closer to the norm, and away from being a kind of design exception. The US Green Building Council, which oversees the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, is largely responsible for that shift. Lance Williams, executive director of the USGBCLA, talks about recycling buildings and why the LEED stamp of approval is worth its cost. Los Angeles Downtown News: Is it more difficult for an existing building to get LEED certified than a new project? Lance Williams: It’s a different process, but yeah, it is more difficult. With new construction, once you certify a building, that’s it. With existing buildings you have to demonstrate that you have really put your money where your mouth is because it’s about tracking and measuring performance.

photo courtesy USGBC-LA

Local Leaders Reflect on Sustainable Lifestyles, and How Everyone Can Go Green

Q: What’s the most environmentally unfriendly feature of older buildings? A: Sustainability is about preserving life and health, so a toxic substance, i.e. asbestos, has got to be one of the most unsustainable materials or substances that you’re going to find in an existing building. When you’re looking at a place like Downtown, in which many of

Q: Property owners pay to go through the LEED process. Why not just do the renovations for the sake of lower utility bills and, to save money, forego LEED certification? A: For one thing, it’s a great stamp that you’ve actually made a commitment to sustainability. In doing that you are recognizing that people are looking for buildings that have that kind of value, that kind of benefit. People recognize that LEED, because of its third party verification and its process, is a very rigorous standard. It’s not just you waking up one morning and saying I guess I’m going to renovate to sustainable standards. Research shows that people prefer to be in a building that has a plethora of sustainable features as opposed to something where the building owner advertises that it’s a “green building” without a sense of by whose standards? Q: Imagine you’re mayor for a day, on Earth Day of course, and you can implement one planning or policy change. What is it? A: I would mandate that we would build

Lance Williams, executive director of the US Green Building Council’s Los Angeles branch.

a building in every low-income community that’s at least a LEED gold building and mandate a continuous education program — everyone in the community must attend a seminar on sustainability in that building at least once. Sustainability is not just for the wealthy or the educated. Get kids in all communities to really be mindful that they’re the future and they have to build communities that have to be sustainable. Information on the US Green Building Council’s Los Angeles branch is at usgbc-la.org. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Power to the Planting The Upsides and Frustrations of Urban Green Spaces by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

elani Smith is the president of the Downtown-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm Melendrez. Their work includes Staples Center and the LAPD headquarters building. Smith discusses sustainability as a guiding force in the firm’s practices. Los Angeles Downtown News: When it comes to landscapes and plantings Downtown, what practices strike you as the most environmentally inappropriate?

Melani Smith: We always speak up against the indiscriminate use of turf. We thought that the turf at LAPD headquarters was a really important feature that was going to be used and you needed that open, accessible green space. But when you see turf parkways for no good reason it just kind of kills us. When you see really thirsty plant palates where people aren’t thinking of the potential functions for landscaping, like where plantings are used just for planting sake and not as a means to also provide shade, that can be frustrating. Q: What’s the most Earth-friendly way to green

up a small balcony, patio or window box? A: We’re all thinking more about where our food comes from and what distance it comes from. It’s amazing what you can do in a little space. You can plant it so that you can get some edibles in there and get a little bit of food production going. You have to use water and soil as inputs but you’re producing something you can eat so it’s a higher rate of return. Q: The LAPD headquarters is full of native gardens, but also includes a near-acre patch of grass. Why not plant it entirely with droughtContinued on next page

photo by Gary Leonard

Melani Smith, the president of the Downtown-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm Melendrez.

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Go Green

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blend that they make for us. We have arugula literally from the farmer and because we put it in these plastic bins that they sanitize and reuse, they don’t use any cardboard boxes.

Mario Del Pero Talks About Going Local and the Organic Truth by Ryan VaillancouRt

We’re trying to figure out how to buy enough goat cheese to keep their goat farm running.

staff wRiteR

ario Del Pero’s Mendocino Farms, which has two Downtown locations, is best known for its award winning sandwiches. But Del Pero also focuses on buying from local farms and incorporating local ingredients. Del Pero talks sustainability in restaurants and saving the Drake Goat Farm. Los Angeles Downtown News: Does your attention to environmental sustainability stem from personal values? Or is this a business strategy? Mario Del Pero: It was all driven from personal values. If you came to the Del Pero home, we’re religiously recycling. If it was business, it would look different in our business. We’ve actually tried to keep a lot of it to ourselves because we don’t want people to think that’s why we’re doing it. That said, if we do it, then we go completely outrageously in your face. We literally changed one of our salad’s name to Save Drake’s Farm Salad.

Smith Continued from previous page tolerant flora? A: It was really community feedback. The sense was people wanted a park and in order for that to be fully used for the purposes people wanted it — to throw a Frisbee, for example — an area of turf made sense. I think that green turf front yards in single-family residences are really irresponsible, but one square in a city? I don’t think that’s irresponsible. Q: How has the culture of your clients, both

Q: How do you manage your waste — the plastic-ware, to-go containers, soft-drink vessels? A: Our wish would be that we could not use disposables. We’ve reduced our paper use by how we bag the sandwich by almost 20% over the last three years. But we’re probably our own worst critic. We’re looking at launching in Downtown locations an initiative to put sandwiches on trays rather than even give people a bag. Q: What common practices in restaurants have you observed that are particularly detrimental to the environment? A: Every single day when you’re getting 25 cases of field greens per store, there’s nothing worse than seeing that try to get recycled. We’ve been working with Scarborough Farms, who gives us a discount for not getting our greens in cardboard boxes. We have our Mendocino private and public, evolved according to ideas of sustainability? A: There’s an evolution that comes when mandates come from laws changing. There’s change that comes from cost. When the water supply feels more threatened, people start to think about it more. I think also that the evolution has come through marketing potential, because there is a marketing advantage for people being green. There are a variety of reasons clients have become more open to sustainable processes but it’s a quicker evolution than I would have expected to see. Information on Melendrez is at melendrez.com. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Q: Is organic always more sustainable? A: No way. Perfect example: Drake Farms isn’t an organic farm because when one of their goats becomes sick, they’ll actually give it medicine. Will they then get milk from it? No, absolutely not. But because they treated that goat with an antibiotic that goat would literally make the farm no longer organic. Our farmer is a certified veterinarian. He says he’ll go to a farm where they want to maintain their certification and they’re letting these animals get sick. Then, from another point you’ll see organic farms where you don’t know the story behind them. It might be organic, but it could come from an organic farm in the Midwest. You’re far better off knowing where your food came from than necessarily just strictly saying, “I’m only eating organic.” Q: What sustainable practice has been the most challenging to stick to? A: I think to date that our, and they have to change, our recycle bins; it’s like you need a Ph.D to know which one to throw it in. I’ve watched people struggle and get frustrated. We need to make it easier for our guests.

photo by Gary Leonard

Mario Del Pero of Mendocino Farms recently changed the name of one of his salads to the Save Drake’s Goat Farm. They want people to buy enough goat cheese to keep the farm running.

Q: If you were the director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a day and could implement one major policy change, what would it be? A: I think the number one thing I would do is, working with the president or Michelle Obama, during summer time I’d give every kid the opportunity to eat an heirloom tomato. Until people have really tasted something the way it was really intended, they’re not going to buy in on any of the other stuff. Mendocino Farms is at 300 S. Grand Ave. and 444 S. Flower St., mendocinofarms.com. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 13

DowntownNews.com

Walgreens Continued from page 8 Angeles Downtown News last week that a 13,908-square-foot store is slated to open in 2013 at the northeast corner of Fifth and Broadway. He offered no further details on the project. The Chester Williams Building sits on the northeast corner of that intersection. The building is owned by Australian developer Joseph Hellen and is currently undergoing a $15 million renovation into an 88-unit apartment building. The project is set to open by mid-2012. Greg Martin, vice president of Downtown Management, which runs Hellen’s portfolio of nine Downtown properties, said he could not discuss any plans for the commercial space in the building, but confirmed that the only tenant left, a jewelry store, is slated to move out this week. The new Walgreens would be less than a mile from the

16,000-square-foot store at 617 W. Seventh St. The store offers general staples such as prescription drugs, frozen foods, clothes and dog food. The Fifth and Broadway Walgreens would again face a Rite Aid on the southeast corner of the intersection. That business is housed in the Jewelry Trades Building at 220 W. Fifth St., which is also owned by Hellen. Patti Berman, president of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, said that while she would like to see a greater variety of stores in the area, another Walgreens near another Rite Aid is not a bad thing. “I have no problems with two competing stores,” she said. “I think the customer base will be there if it’s nice and has good product.” Walgreens was founded in 1901 by Charles Walgreen in Dixon, Ill. Today the company has 7,697 stores spread throughout the country, including 595 in California. It ended 2010 with sales totaling $67 billion. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

photo by Richard Guzman

A new Walgreens is in the works for the ground floor of the Chester Williams Building. It is set to open in 2013.

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14 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

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Metropolitan Continued from page 1 elements. The former is not surprising, considering that the 1913 edifice was designed by John Parkinson, who would go on to work on projects including Union Station, City Hall and the Coliseum. The Metropolitan was designed in the Beaux Arts/Classical Revival style. The restored exterior is made up of glazed terra cotta and stands out due to the relief sculptural ornamentation at the base of all the windows. Above the 20-foot arch entrance on Fifth Street is the original terra cotta sign that reads “Metropolitan.” Fallas said it was an unexpected find during the renovation. The open-space lofts range from 623-2,263 square feet. Rents are $1,150-$4,500. The residences include glossy concrete floors, 12-foot high ceilings and granite countertops in the bathroom and kitchens. Some units have fire escapes that have been converted to balconies. Fallas acknowledges that the transformation was not easy, and almost everything had to be restored. He would not reveal the price of the conversion that began in 2008. “It was a wreck. It was unusable,” he said. “I couldn’t even make it into offices so it

Just Had

had to be completely gutted. But it had great bones and the windows were magnificent.” Today, the units feature wall-mounted connections for flat-screen televisions. Most apartments have at least two 8-by-9-foot windows and some corner units boast wallto-wall windows. The first floor is still Fallas Paredes, and the second level is used as commercial office space and storage for tenants. The apartments begin on the third floor and parking is available in a lot across the street for $150 per month per space. The Metropolitan includes many of the amenities that have become de rigueur in Downtown transformations. There is a resident lounge and gym and, on the roof, a pool with a barbecue area. Privacy is not optimum, since the building is located within full view of several windows of the neighboring SB Grand, which is two floors taller than the Metropolitan. Since opening in February, 35 units have been leased. Fallas said he expects complete occupancy within six months. Family History Fallas has a long history in Downtown, though not as a developer. He is the head of National Stores Inc., which is based in Gardena. The business began in 1962 from a small store in Downtown.

no. yet?

say enough

photo by Gary Leonard

The Metropolitan was once home to the L.A. Central Library. Rents start at $1,150.

The company now runs more than 200 discount clothing stores in five states, including the Downtown Fallas Paredes, which faces Broadway at the base of the Metropolitan. After leasing the space for years, Fallas acquired the building in the late ’90s. “I grew up on Broadway basically,” Fallas recalled. “Working as a stock boy in 1975 for

my father.” The now 48-year-old has seen Downtown go through many changes. That is partly what made him cautious about jumping on the adaptive reuse bandwagon in the years after Gilmore opened his three Old Bank District buildings at Fourth and Main streets. “I was worried about the California dweller

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April 18, 2011

Downtown News 15

DowntownNews.com

understanding urban living, since growing up here I knew that everyone wants to move to L.A. to live on the beach,” he said. The beach isn’t what 46-year-old Annika Sandberg had in mind when she moved in to the Metropolitan in March. In fact, the former Pasadena resident said she wasn’t looking to move at all, until she took a tour of several local housing complexes organized by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. She just wanted to check out the architecture of the buildings. “I loved the location of the Metropolitan,” she said. “I was fascinated by the area, the tall ceilings and the windows, two full walls of windows.” A week later, she had signed a lease and was one of the first 10 tenants in the building. Calling Rocky When Fallas first decided to turn the Metropolitan into lofts, he knew he needed help to get him through the complicated process of building in the Central City. He turned to Rocky Rockefeller, whose Rockefeller Partners Architects has worked

on adaptive reuse projects in Downtown such as the El Dorado Lofts, the Douglas Lofts and the Van Nuys building. The Metropolitan was one of his biggest challenges, requiring drastic repairs, said Rockefeller. Rockefeller noted that the building housed the Los Angeles Public Library from 1913-1926, before it moved to its current location at 630 W. Fifth St. The first post-library ground-floor tenant was the Owl Drug Company. It was followed by JJ Newberry’s, a general merchandise discount store that closed in the late 1980s. Like many other buildings in the Historic Core, the Metropolitan experienced a slow deterioration as tenants left Downtown for areas to the west. The renovation, which took about three years, included gutting the interior of the building, replacing all of the plumbing and electrical, and designing a new floor plan, since most of the levels above the store were open spaces. “It was basically a warehouse space,” Rockefeller said. “Most of the walls had been taken out of the building. We put the walls back in the corridors where they had originally been.”

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While the central location is helping attract tenants, it also proved to be one of the greatest challenges in restoring the building. Fallas said that in order to avoid Downtown auto and pedestrian traffic, the general contractor basically worked from midnight to 5 a.m. and had a tough time finding places to store all of their equipment. Rockefeller said bringing the structure up to seismic code was also a challenge. While the project arrives years after Gilmore’s developments opened, Fallas thinks the timing could not be better for an apartment complex in the heart of the city. “I think it’s a good time for rental property,” he said. “A lot of people today can’t buy a home since finances are very tight and we’re priced just right for the area.” Once Fallas finally decided to turn the building into housing, he said he never doubted his decision, even if it caused him some restless nights. “Other than every night at 2 a.m., at no point during daylight did I ever look back,” he said. Then, with a smile, he admitted, “It did cost me some sleepless nights.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownews.com.

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16 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

Administrative Twitter/DowntownNews Professionals Week

When Thank You Is An Executive Decision Meal and Gift Options for the Downtown Administrative Professional by Richard Guzmán city editor

lot is debatable in the business world, but everyone agrees on one thing: If there were no administrative professionals, offices would be a mess. The administrative professional, or secretary, or executive assistant, or gatekeeper, or whatever you want to call them, does all the tasks that make a successful company run successfully. From preparing documents to producing reports to planning meetings to fielding calls to organizing lunch, they are the unsung heroes of the office. To thank them for their hard work, the International Association of Administrative Professionals came up with Administrative Professionals Week, which this year runs from April 24-30. However, there’s a 2011 twist to what once was called Secretaries Week: In light of cutbacks in the workplace, the IAAP has decided that the celebration should include all

office professionals. So if you’re the boss, here are a few ways to mark the event in Downtown Los Angeles. Bring your assistant or bring the entire office staff, but whatever you do, be sure to do something. A Power Banquet: Whether you want to thank one person or the entire staff, Engine Co. No. 28 is a good place for that special meal. The Financial District establishment is one of Downtown’s prime power lunch spots, and is routinely filled with local executives doing deals. The restaurant is housed in a 1912 firehouse and serves comfort food inspired by firehouse cooking. They also offer banquet specials for parties of up to 55 people, with a three-course menu at $33.95 per person. Choices include the Engine Co. meatloaf and grilled skirt steak. If that’s too pricey in these hard times, you can move the party to your office with their catering specials; there are sandwiches such as the roasted turkey breast or Portobello mushroom for $7.95. A

Show Your Appreciation AdministrAtive ProfessionAls Week, APril 25-29 Whether their title is secretary, administrative assistant, receptionist or office manager, an Administrative Professional is the heart and soul of every well-run organization and what better time to show your appreciation then Administrative Professionals Week, April 25-29. Whether it’s a breakfast or lunch, Checkers Downtown is the respite from the hustle & bustle that is downtown LA and the perfect location to show how much your staff is appreciated. PLUS, we are helping to celebrate the week with a complimentary “special dessert” for office professionals (with the purchase of each meal).

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large chicken salad bowl that serves 10 is $59.95. At 644 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-6996 or engineco.com. Dinner for Two: Before taking your assistant out for a dinner for two, think — you don’t want a place with candles and high-backed booths that implies privacy and romance. But if you’re a tough boss who keeps your assistant working long hours, it’s probably a good idea to thank him/ her and their significant other for also putting up with the late work nights. Thus, send your aide to Fleming’s at L.A. Live, which is offering an April Memorable Meal for Two. The $125 dinner gives two people a three-course meal that includes chateaubriand and lobster, salad, side dishes and dessert. It’s a good move if there are more long work days ahead, since your assistant can always remind his/her significant other what a nice dinner-buying boss you are when job duties interfere with home life.

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April 18, 2011

Downtown News 17

Administrative Professionals Week

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com.

others duke it out outside the boardroom. The next event is April 28. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd, fightnightclub.com.

Jazz Meal Deal: Spending part of your weekend at an office function is not, repeat not, a fun time. Actually, there’s a Downtown exception — a jazz party with food and champagne in an old-school-cool setting. First & Hope on Bunker Hill launched its weekend Brunch Jazz series this month; it’s available weekends from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The new brunch menu by executive chef Yuji Isawa includes items like baked eggs with creamed spinach, and chicken and waffles with apple cider syrup. The brunch is accompanied by a live jazz show, which is a nice opportunity for co-workers to mingle outside of work and not have to think about going back to the office after lunch. Now, bonus time: If you mention Los Angeles Downtown News when making a reservation, you’ll get a free glass of champagne for each person. At 710 W. First St., (213) 617-8555 or firstandhope.com.

Just Business: The Palm is a well-known lunch spot for Downtown executives, so it’s probably not the type of place where your entire office will go wild and party. Instead, this South Park establishment known for its thick steaks and Nova Scotia lobsters is a great option to thank your administrative assistant for all of the hard work they do that makes you look good. The Palm’s Business Lunch menu is the way to go: The $23.95 three-course meal includes a choice of salad or soup for starters; entrees such as New York steak, Southwestern New York steak salad, Atlantic salmon filet and chicken Parmigiana; a side dish; and a choice of flourless chocolate cake or key lime pie. At 1100 S. Flower St., (213) 763-4600 or thepalm.com Showtime: Everyone can use a few laughs. So why not thank your gatekeeper, or your most valuable staffers, with some of the hottest Downtown tickets of the season (we don’t mean the Dodgers; these days plenty of those are available). The Tony-Award winning God of Carnage, staring Jeff Daniels, James Gandolfini, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden, runs through May 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre; the run was extended even before the show opened because it was selling so quickly. Your assistant will surely enjoy the laughs in this play about two married Brooklyn couples who meet to try to resolve a fight between their kids. One of the best things is that the show has nothing to do with work-related issues. Your assistant will

Ready to Rumble: Can your administrative professional take a punch? What about the rest of the office? Find out by taking them to the next installment of Oscar De La Hoya’s Fight Night Club, which mixes an evening of boxing with a nightclub atmosphere. It takes place at Club Nokia and you can have a night out with a DJ, music, food and watch two guys beat the heck out of each other (just hope it’s not Steve and Marty from accounting after one too many Mai Tais). When the fights end, the venue turns into a full-on club. Group tickets for parties of five or more start at $15.50 per person and you get one free ticket for every 15 purchased. So invite the staff to watch

photo by Gary Leonard

Take your staff bowling for Administrative Professionals Week at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge. VIP rooms, lights and music will make it feel like a celebration.

watch, then come in the next morning happy and tell you how good it was. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Drinking Lessons: No, we’re not suggesting you challenge your staff to a round of shots, but instead learn about fine beers while celebrating their hard work. The recently opened Public School 612 is not only a place for a drink, but also one that that is educational; the purpose of the bar inside the Daily Grill is to school people about fine and craft beers, so don’t expect anyone to chug pitchers here. You can have fun as a group by ordering from the “Study Group” menu, where monster 750 ml bottles are sold from small breweries and are meant to be shared. Bartenders can also help match beers with food choices like a lamb burger and a seafood stew. A full tummy and some new favorite beers will likely mean a happy office. At 612 S. Flower St., (213) 623-1172 or publicschool612.com.

Bowl Away: Another place to celebrate the staff and the administrative professional in a fun, festive atmosphere is Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge. It offers a VIP room, cool lights and music, and overall has more of a party feel than most bowling alleys. It’s also easy to plan a party, since they offer lots of specials. There’s the “Lucky Hour” on weekdays from 4-8 p.m. That’s when drink specials include $3 beers and $5 house wine. If you want to do the traditional mid-day meal, the Lunch & Bowl specials run from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For $7.95 per person, your staff will get a meal and a game of bowling (shoes included). If you just work too darn hard and the office doesn’t close till late, party like a 7-10 split and take them out to the Late Night Lucky Hour. It starts at 10 p.m. and goes all night with drink specials including $4 shots. If you choose the option, you may want to think about canceling work the next day. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 542-4880 or bowlluckystrike.com.

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18 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

Administrative Professionals Week

STREET TALK

by Richard Guzmán and Gary Leonard, asked at Fifth and Flower streets

LADowntownNews.com In a typical office, who knows more about what’s going on: the administrative assistant or the boss? LOS AN GE

GELES DOW NTOWN

NEWS

Volume

39, Num ber

INSIDE

The boss should know more, and he probably does know more, but without the secretary he’s powerless. He can’t do anything because he leaves all the stuff that’s so common sense to everybody. What he knows is complicated. What he doesn’t know is the simple stuff.

I would say the assistant. They know where all the resources and materials are; they just know the outline of the office better. The boss should know more, but instead they come in, check around, and ask the assistant to do everything.

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This week,

the depar

tment will alifornia unveil plans photo With one State for an $18 by Gary Leonard hand exten Woods could Parks Superinten million ded outw dent Sean on the steering hardly ard and ment last wheel, he week as contain his excite- future of the site. eagerly envis the other be a Los Ange he drove les place wher ioned the “We’ll have around cart-like vehicState Historic Park farmer’s mark e we can have the welco in his green the have peop le. vendors pull me pavil le on hand , golf histo in for a “We’re also et. to hand out ion here. We’ll ric tours creat ing it’s of the park, maps and a going to creating a lead pay hom citrus promenade ” he pavilion age to the grove; here, a promenthused. “We’re prior to rail activ agric ultur ity. enade whic through a citrus prom You can imagine al past h will walk enade durin g the bloom ing ing see Park, page 10

by Ryan Vaillancou Rt staff wRite R

Reviewing L.A. Opera’s Rigole tto.

—Ramon Zepeda, financial analyst

—Brett Gilbert, attorney

Rocking W Rocketteith s

Center’s $26 Million Fac ility

ambl

Opens Th is Week

e into the urin g her Downtow Cent year s on n Women’s streets of the hous er, a facility that feeds Skid Row, es homeless , aids and Mayf Fannie women. One night ield saw it all. Last week on fire just Mayfield saw a Downtow , Mayfield walked man set into the n set up her steps from where but this time Women’s Center she tent. She watched as had ganization she stepped into again, were litera the or’s people lly walk, recen dumped on the Pedro St. new home at 434 The 33-ye S. tly pital or some discharged from side- structure ar-old indu San has been a hoswhere else. converted strial facility with Mayfield, into a 71 perm and alcoh 57, was addicted to drugs housing units and anent supportive ol. The addic several office into despe rooms to supp ration, leadi tion sunk her casionally social servic ort the center’s s and suite of eat out of ng her to oces. vive. trashcans The $26 to surthan twice million project Through is more the size respite. Duriit all, Mayfield had longt of one Whe ime Los Angeles the DWC’s ng the day, Stree n it open she woul s on Frida t location. d y, Dec. 10, Fannie Mayfi see DWC which celebr eld in one of the , page 7 71 apartments ates its grand home

—Daphne Thiele, architect

The Voice

in South

of Down town Los Angeles

in the Down opening on photo by Gary L.A. to receiv town Dec. Leonard e DWC servic 10. Mayfield comm Women’s Cente r, es. utes daily from her

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April 18, 2011

Downtown News 19

DowntownNews.com

EASTER Show Me the Bunny There’s Not Much Love For a Holiday Rabbit in Downtown by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

photo by Gary Leonard

The Easter Bunny found very little love in Downtown. photo by Gary Leonard

Downtown resident Virginia Elwood-Akers was the only person who asked if she could take her picture with the Easter Bunny.

and a basket of candy-filled eggs. Two women smiled right away. “Oooohh, how cute,” one said, her voice rising an octave. “They’ll all love me,” I thought to myself, imagining that I would be swarmed by people and lines would form just to take a

picture with the bunny. Instead, after that initial response, I got a string of smirks. Many people just looked away. I’m not sure if it was in fear, pity or repulsion. While a photographer asked people if they wanted a free picture with the Easter Bunny, I shook my tail, waved and pointed to my basket full of eggs. No use —Downtowners just don’t seem to have much bunny love. Finally, I got some affection from Alicia Romo, a banker at Union Bank. She was the first to agree to take a picture and get an egg.

“Sure, why not,” she said, as I put my arm around her for the photo. This was good, but before we finished, someone walked by and yanked my puffy tail — yes, they goosed a bunny. My visibility was really poor in the outfit, so I couldn’t tell who did it, but a bunch of rough-looking corporate suit types had just passed by. I’m assuming they were anti-bunny. That wasn’t as bad as another suit-clad man. He walked by, reached into my basket, see Bunny, page 20

“Everyone is invited, Everyone belongs”

CHURCH

LIVE

e’s furry, always happy and carries a big basket of colorful eggs wherever he goes. No, not Councilman Tom LaBonge — he totes around pumpkin bread (he’s not furry either). I’m talking about the Easter Bunny, and one day last week, he was spotted in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. And he was me. And I was him. Allow me to explain. In the effort to generate a little pre-holiday excitement, and because I thought it’d be funny for a story, I dressed up as the Easter Bunny and strolled down Fifth Street. I was curious to see how much holiday spirit Downtowners have. I must admit, I was shocked by the response. Most people ignored me, while someone assaulted my tail and I was even the victim of temporary theft. What, haven’t people ever seen a giant rodent with big teeth and bigger ears wandering near the Central Library before? It all started on a positive note. I exited a car in a full bunny costume that included light blue overalls, a large, heavy and excruciatingly hot bunny head with a yellow cap,

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20 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

Easter

The Easter Hunt Find an Egg, Eat Brunch and Celebrate the Holiday Downtown by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

here’s no excuse to be lazy on Easter Sunday in Downtown this year. There are egg hunts, meals, ways to help the less fortunate and even options to ensure your pets’ well-being. In case you need some help, here are a few events that cover the gamut of what you’ll want to do in Downtown Los Angeles. On a Mission: It’s going to take hundreds of volunteers to serve the thousands of homeless men, women and children an Easter brunch at the Midnight Mission. So why not help out at the April 24 event? The needy will get a meal, food bags and donated clothing. Kids will also get to meet the Easter Bunny and take home baskets full of treats. Virgil Gibson, former lead singer of the Platters, will be there. It’s another reminder that the Skid Row missions can use help from volunteers all year round. The event runs from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. At 601 S. San Pedro St. To volunteer, visit midnightmission.org.

Easter Munch: The steakhouse Fleming’s is known for serving thick hunks of meat to Downtown crowds, particularly at night before games or concerts. On Easter however, it’s all about the Sunday brunch. The Flemings at L.A. Live will join the other restaurants in the chain and open early at 11:30 a.m. on April 24 for a three-course prix-fixe menu served until 3 p.m. The $32.95 lunch

for adults includes five entree choices such as smoked salmon and toasted bagel, and filet benedict. Kids 12 and under can enjoy a $15.95 brunch menu that includes French toast or an egg omelet. If you have room, there are desserts including cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com. Blessed Pets: The day before Easter holds one of Downtown’s most beloved, charming events. The annual Blessing of the Animals returns to El Pueblo Historical Monument on Saturday, April 23, from noon-5 p.m. The event includes a procession on Olvera Street led by a cow covered with a blanket of flowers. Then, Archbishop Jose Gomez will bless pets one at a time. It’s not just cats and dogs, as assorted humans bring along birds, bunnies and even snakes for the blessing and a sprinkle of Holy Water. The festivities include pony rides for kids and a petting zoo with llamas, sheep, cows and other animals. The tradition goes back to the fourth century when San Antonio de Abad was recognized as the patron saint of the animal world. Back then, people asked for fertility and health for their animals. Today, the ceremony is meant to recognize the services, including companionship, that animals provide for people. At 125 Paseo de la Plaza, (213) 625-7074 or (213) 485-8372. Church Bells: It’s a busy weekend for Archbishop Jose Gomez, who in February

c s i u M e Liv

Easter

Jazz Brunch

photo by Gary Leonard

Cats, dogs, birds, snakes and more are expected at the annual Blessing of the Animals at El Pueblo. It takes place April 23. Archbishop Jose Gomez will replace Cardinal Roger Mahony (above).

took over from Cardinal Roger Mahony as head of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Gomez will preside over his first Easter Mass in the city at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on April 24. Masses start at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Spanish services are at 12:30 p.m. and a bilingual mass is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. At 555 W. Temple St., (213) 680-5200 or olacathedral.org. The Best Fests: Two Downtown churches are joining forces for a free Easter celebration in South Park. New City Church of Los Angeles and City Light Church are organizing the third annual Downtown Easter Fest on April 24 from 12:30-3 p.m. The event is free and will take place at Grand Hope Park at Ninth and Hope streets. It will include a picnic lunch, an egg hunt, a bounce house, face painting, a sack race, and even free haircuts, since you want to look good on Easter. Not far away is the Live Church LA Easter Celebration, with the big

Bunny Continued from page 19 grabbed an egg and walked away, ignoring our pleas for a picture. He later came back and dropped the egg back in, although I think he took the candy out first. A few more people begrudgingly agreed to take a picture with the Easter Bunny, though most of Downtown just ignored me. One woman was too busy making what she said was a “big business deal” on her cell phone. Another man just laughed and shook his head, and a couple of young women looked at me the way most women look at me when I’m out of the costume, which is not good. Then, it got worse. A security guard from MPG Office Trust, which owns the nearby U.S. Bank Tower, followed me around for a while. I guess he wanted to bounce me from the area. He ended up being nice and took an egg from my bas-

rabbit, arts and crafts, an egg hunt and more. It runs noon-2:30 p.m. at Nokia Plaza. At Grand Hope Park, Ninth and Hope streets, newcitychurchla.com. Live Church LA event at Olympic and Figueroa, rsvp at (213) 439-4329 or info@ livechurchla.com Lounge Egg: For a holiday brunch in a cool atmosphere, try J Restaurant & Lounge. Served on the patio of this hip South Park lounge, the $29 per person, prix-fixe brunch includes a choice of Atlantic lobster fritta, grilled Kurobuta pork shop or roasted vegetable terrine. The kids get an $8 menu with items like buttermilk pancakes or French toast. There will also be an egg hunt for the little ones. Reservations are recommended. At 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

ket. Still, I couldn’t help thinking that if a grown man can’t wander the streets of the Financial District in a rabbit outfit and give out candy, then the terrorists win. Fortunately, things ended on a high note. Sort of. Rachel and Carlos Brizuela were more than happy to take a picture with the Easter Bunny, and seemed excited about it too. Rachel was just as pleased when she found a Tootsie Roll in her egg. Waiting behind them was 72-year-old Downtown resident Virginia ElwoodAkers. She was the only person to ask if she could take a picture with the bunny. “It’s not every day you see the Easter Bunny,” she said as she put her arm around me for a picture. She was also happy to get a candy-filled egg. “I get candy too,” she said. She paused, smiled and then asked me, “Do you like older women?” I think I blushed through my mask. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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April 18, 2011

Downtown News 21

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CALENDAR

0 6 a t t O u n i g l Sel Photographer Gary Leonard Opens His L.A. History Grab Bag With a Living Estate Sale by Ryan VaillancouRt

For this week’s sale, he will set up tables in the usually empty space and line them with hotographer Gary Leonard has been boxes full of prints. pointing his lens at punks, politi“People can sort of flip through all the cians and Los Angeles ephemera for boxes,” Leonard said. “You know, like more than 40 years. Amoeba? It’s going to be cool.” Some of the punk photos, like the one of If David Leonard was the impetus for the Darby Crash clutching a skateboard em- event, his father agrees that he was feeling blazoned with his band The Germs’ logo, the need to step away from the camera, and have gained acclaim. So have a selection of pause to take in all the history he has capLeonard’s celebrity snapshots, like his por- tured. trait of a slightly disheveled Andy Warhol. “People like me usually just shoot ’til we But flip through the boxes upon boxes drop and we miss out on the other part, upon boxes of black and white prints re- which is reflecting on what we’ve done,” cently unpacked from his home storage Leonard said. facility and you’ll delve into a more anonyThe advantage of having Leonard around mous, and perhaps more fascinating time- as you flip through his past is hearing the stoline of the city. ries behind the images, many of which might That’s what crowds will be able to do on otherwise come off as inconsequential. Friday, April 22, when the photographer Take the picture of Al Nodal, the former and his son David host an estate sale at general manager of the city’s Department of Leonard’s Take My Picture gallery at 860 Cultural Affairs. The portrait of a stone-faced S. Broadway. During the event, which cel- Nodal wearing a set of those New Year’s ebrates the elder Leonard’s 60th birthday, themed glasses molded into a “2000” is unthousands of prints will be on sale for half remarkable despite Nodal’s quirky frames. price, with many priced even lower. The The back-story brings the image to life. first 50 people in the door get a $100 print “That was the worst day of his life,” for $20. The four-hour show runs from Leonard deadpanned. 7-11 p.m. It was New Year’s Eve, 1999, and Nodal “I thought 60 is a big one and I thought was in charge of producing the city’s official it just would be a good idea to liquidate be- festivities. It was a drought year, and most Starts fore it’s too late,” David Leonard said. “My of the events were planned for outdoors. It Apr. celebrating 1/Apr. 8 rained, heavily. When you hear the story, dad and I have talked about his funeral before he died. So along these Nodal’s face suddenly conveys a ticked-off lines that are a little bit morose, I thought helplessness. it would be fun to have an estate sale so he Or take the image of tourists huddled could actually enjoy it.” together on Hollywood Boulevard, a dozLeonard, the photographer for Los en pairs of eyes trained on the same foAngeles News and aLADowntownNews.com contributor cal point. It was a star ceremony in 1973. Check Our Website for FullDowntown Movie Listings over the decades to numerous other publi- The crowd includes a man in aviators and cations, has long worked the city as a sort of a long-collared polyester button down, a grunt shooter, a blue-collar documentarian pre-teen girl in pigtails and an older man — he neither stages shots nor engages in art dressed in the style of Wild Bill Hickok. direction. He shoots celebrities but is not a “He was a pioneer of the characters on paparazzo. He shows up at ribbon cuttings, Hollywood Boulevard,” Leonard said of at school presentations, at campaign ral- the Western-looking man, whose name he Starts lies, at groundbreakings and 100th birthday did not recall. “He walked down the street Aprilup15in or like they do now, and everybody knew him. parties. If there’s a building going around Downtown Los Angeles, it’s a sure That’s what he did. But stories get forgotbet that Leonard has donned his own hard ten, nobody really remembers him.” hat to shoot the workers on the job. The image begs one question: What are Like Amoeba all the people in the photo looking at? Take My Picture is a long, narrow store“Well, me,” Leonard said. front where dozens of Leonard’s framed Take My Picture gallery is at 860 S. photos hang on one wall. Rotating exhibi- Broadway, (213) 622-2256 or takemypicCheck Our Website for Listings LADowntownNews.com tionsFull are Movie on the other wall (currently it’s ture.com. a series of Kodachrome prints of old Los Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at Angeles billboards from the 1950s and ’60s). ryan@downtownnews.com. staff wRiteR

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An All-Star Battle Royale In God of Carnage, Ahmanson Gets A Ballet of Verbal Blood and Guts by Jeff favre contributing writer

f you know French playwright Yasmina Reza, then you know a quiet, rational gathering between two well-to-do urban couples is hardly going to remain civilized. That’s because Reza — as she proved with her best-known works, Life X 3 and Art — specializes in brief, spare and sharpas-a-tack comedies, where she strips away the veneer of the upper crust to reveal the ugliness underneath. The latest is God of Carnage, which wowed Broadway audiences two years ago with an all-star cast that Center Theatre Group has managed to reassemble for its run at the Ahmanson Theatre. The show continues through May 29. A ballet of verbal blood and guts, God of Carnage may be the most impressive social satire in Reza’s arsenal, though credit for her work must, as usual, also go to English translator Christopher Hampton and longtime di-

rector Matthew Warchus. This time around, the kudos should be shared equally with the Tony-nominated cast of Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. Each spans the emotional universe, from subtle glances to tyrannical tirades, without an ounce of posturing. In a scant 90 minutes, Reza and company travel from sane to batty without sacrificing believability. Interestingly, the trick to making it work does not fall on the all-star cast — it’s Warchus, who knows when to take baby steps, and when to literally leap to the next level. The starting point is a subdued conversation between strangers who are attempting to resolve an issue. The 11-year-old son of Alan (Daniels) and Annette (Davis), using a stick, struck the son of Michael (Gandolfini) and Veronica (Harden), knocking out two of his teeth. Seated in Michael and Veronica’s pristine New York living room (a striking set fea-

photos by Craig Schwartz

(l to r) Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels, and James Gandolfini reprise their Tonynominated roles in God of Carnage. Yasmina Reza’s play continues through May 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre.

turing towering blood-red walls and carpet designed by Mark Thompson, and draped in Hugh Vanstone’s ominous lighting), the parents bend over backward to make everyone feel comfortable with the situation. Naturally, it doesn’t work. Each time a solution about how to deal with the boys is within grasp, a few choice words derail the process. It doesn’t help that Alan, a lawyer, keeps rudely fielding cell phone calls from his client, a pharmaceutical company with a drug that has harmful side effects. The home phone also is busy, thanks to frequent and unwelcomed calls from Michael’s ill mother. As Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf has taught, alcohol is the great accelerator. So when the rum gets flowing, the adults devolve, first into children, and then into a virtual pack of rabid dogs with no leader. There are no false steps with these actors, who have set the bar impossibly high for the revivals to come. Gandolfini uses his imposing physical presence as a comic tool, first by appearing to be the meekest of the group, and then by declaring in a foul-mouthed manner that he is done being the nice guy. Daniels speaks volumes with his smirks and eye-rolls, hardly hiding his lack of interest about the boys’ altercation. In one of the funniest moments, when Alan seems to be

headed to console Veronica, Daniels hesitates ever so slightly before gliding by her to get another drink. Davis handles the most physically demanding role as Annette, who is on the verge of throwing up much of the evening. Her venomous delivery escalates a monologue about Alan’s weak character to the point that Annette’s every word appears to wound him. The wildest explosions, however, come from Harden, in part because Veronica is the most reasonable participant. Harden’s fullbody shakes and spastic screams tread wonderfully close to going over-the-top. This is also where Warchus’ skill is most evident. His precise blocking helps define ever-changing alliances within the group, and he never takes it too far… until it’s time to take it too far. God of Carnage may be a formula that Reza has heavily mined, but each time she finds an original bent. Best of all, she never appears to be making a grand statement about the basest instincts of men and women, and instead lets the viewer draw the conclusions. Some of the script’s nuances are sure to be lost with less talented directors and performers. Fortunately, that is not a problem audiences at the Ahmanson will face. God of Carnage runs through May 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org.

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Pamela Albanese, Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada

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M t ’ i n s o s ’ D ‘ L i e s t h T f |

Tuesday, Apr. 19 Live Talks Los Angeles Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., (323) 791-2584 or livetalksla.org. 7:30 p.m.: “30 Rock” creator, SNL alumna and Sarah Palin skewerer Tina Fey is in conversation with Steve Martin on her memoir Bossypants. Wednesday, Apr. 20 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Jacques D’Amboise discusses his work “I Was A Dancer,” about his years with Balanchine, Robbins, LeClercq and Farrell, with Sasha Anawalt, who directs USC’s Arts Journalism program. Spring Break Family Campfire Vista Hermosa Natural Park, 100 N. Toluca St., (213) 250-1100 or lamountains.com. 7-8:30 p.m.: Meet at the Grotto Amphitheater for an evening of nature tales, campfire songs, games and, of course, marshmallows. Skewers and campfire are provided. Thursday, Apr. 21 Zero Waste Fair City Hall South Lawn, 200 N. Main St., (213) 9780333 or lacity.org. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: The city’s Bureau of Sanitation along with the Downtown Farmer’s Market celebrates Earth Day with information tables on sustainable practices, games and prizes. Thursdays @ Central Meeting Room A, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or lapl.org. 12:15-1 p.m.: Jerry Wong, Information Services Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau in Los Angeles, discusses preliminary census results and provides an introduction to the American Community Survey. Free and open to the public. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: How did tribal order and society evolve into the political institutions of today? Francis Fukuyama and Jared Diamond discuss the origins of democratic societies and raise questions about the nature of politics. California African American Museum 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 7 p.m.: The museum screens My Neighbor, My Killer (2009), in which confessed genocide killers are sent home from prison while traumatized survivors are asked to forgive them and resume life side-byside after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Saturday, Apr. 23 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: In this installment of the “Art + Science” series, find out why birds have feathers, snakes have scales and more. 1-4 p.m.: In these weekly spring gardening classes, learn to start your own healthy vegetable garden at home.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

photo by Sandee Oliver

TWO Alice Cooper, the godfather (some would say grandfather; the dude is 63) of shock rock, will receive the Golden God Award at the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show at Club Nokia on Wednesday, Apr. 20, at 7:30 p.m. He’ll also be celebrating the reunion of the original Alice Cooper Group and its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a performance. Cooper was the pioneer of the Grand Guignol-esque stage show with guillotines and gallows, boa constrictors and baby dolls, and gallons of fake blood — Marilyn Manson, Slipknot and many other contemporary rockers owe him a major debt. Scream along to hits such as “I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out” and “Elected.” Also on the ticket is Duff McKagan’s Loaded. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

calendar@downtownnews.com

From her beginnings as a young and vicious nerd with dreams of comedy stardom to the Second City improv group to “Saturday Night Live” to “30 Rock,” what a funny, strange trip it’s been. Now Tina Fey discusses said journey in Downtown Los Angeles, when she appears with Steve Martin at the Nokia Theatre on Tuesday, April 19, at 8 p.m. The event by the organization Live Talks Los Angeles comes in the wake of her new book, Bossypants. Martin, the banjoplaying, Oscar-hosting comedy legend also has a new book, the novel An Object of Beauty. By the by, there’s a good cause for all of this, with the proceeds from the event benefiting public broadcast stations KPCC and KCET. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (800) 745-3000 or livetalksla.org. photo courtesy Grilled Cheese Invitational

by Lauren Campedelli, listings editor photo by Platon

SPONSORED LISTINGS Live Church LA Club Nokia, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 4934329 or livechurchla.com April 14, 10 a.m.: Join Live Church L.A. for Easter Sunday. Immediately following is the second annual Easter Celebration on Nokia Plaza, free to all. It includes the Easter egg hunt (ages 1-6), pictures with the Easter Bunny, balloon artists, face painting and arts and crafts. RSVP for your child at info@ livechurchla.com. LA Motor Expo Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., motorexpo.com. May 6-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: In partnership with Brookfield Properties, the L.A. Motor Expo presents the latest vehicles from the likes of Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Land Rover, Saab and Volvo.

Calling all cheese fiends, aficionados and the cheese-curious, this year’s Grilled Cheese Invitational is all about “more.” More space, more vendors, more free samples, more entertainment and more cheese! More than 30,000 grilled cheese sandwiches will tempt your taste buds on Saturday, Apr. 23, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at L.A. Center Studios (last year’s event, shown here, was at L.A. State Historic Park). Both amateur and professional chefs compete to become crowned the Grilled Cheese Champion (the Biggest Cheese?). Or perhaps you’d rather be a judge or enter the Cheese Calling Competition or the Cheesy Costume Contest. Bring an empty stomach and a cholesterollowering kit. At 1201 W. Fifth St., grilledcheeseinvitational.com

What stringed instrument is said to have been developed in 13th century India because the king at that time was tired of making love to his wife in silence and wanted sensual, spiritual background music “in tune” with Tantric teachings? Hint: It rhymes with guitar. It’s the sitar of Hindustani classical music and its master, the composer and world cultural ambassador Ravi Shankar, will celebrate his 90th birthday (yes, 9-0) with a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday, April 19, at 8 p.m. The man who influenced the Beatles will be accompanied by his daughter Anoushka Shankar, also a sitarist and composer. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. With the arts opportunities galore in Downtown, it’s hard to remain a philistine. The quarterly Art Weekend LA is the newest event celebrating the visual arts. Its second edition will be held Saturday-Sunday, Apr. 23-24, from noon-6 p.m. Venues such as the MOCA museums, the Gallery at REDCAT, and galleries including Edgar Varela Fine Arts (Tim Simmons’ photograph “Los Angeles, Boulder Drive” shown here, is on display) and L2kontemporary will participate, and shuttles on Saturday will ferry visitors to and from venues in the Historic Core, Bunker Hill, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and South Park. The key to this event is access to art happenings and exhibits at the selected venues for existing and budding art patrons. Get your catalog, map and bearings at the information center at 727 S. Spring St., artweekendla.com. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

photo by Tim Simmons

EVENTS

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CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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DYNASTY CENTER

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HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

BUSINESS MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL

UNION STATION

DOWNTOWN SLO

FWY

ST H

ST TH 5

GLADYS PARK

SKID ROW HOUSING TRUST INNER CITY ARTS

PRODUCE MARKETS

ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL

ST SAN JULIAN

SANTEE

MAPLE AVE

S ST NGELE LOS A

WALL ST

T MAIN S

South Figueroa Corridor District

FASHION DISTRICT

MOUNT ST. MARY’S COLLEGE

ADAMS

BLVD

AAA HQ

ANNENBERG RESEARCH PARK

FIGUEROA CORRIDOR

BOR

VE LA

NORTH UNIVERSITY PARK GRAND AVE

AIR & SPACE MUSEUM AFRICAN ROSE AMERICAN GARDEN MUSEUM CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

VE TA

MEMORIAL COLISEUM

L.A./ SPORTS ARENA

TON BLVD

SAN PEDRO STATION

D LV

10 G WASHIN

17TH ST

E X P O S I T I O N PA R K

UNIVERSITY EXPO PARK WEST

MAPLE AVE

SANTEE ST

LOS ANGELES ST

MAIN ST

BROADWAY

HILL ST

AVE

OLIVE ST

GRAND

HOPE ST

OA ST

FLOWER

FIGUER

VD BL N TIO NATURAL I S PO HISTORY EX MUSEUM

15TH ST

18TH ST

R FWY

14TH ST

A FWY S A N TA M O N I C

PATRIOTIC HALL

HARBO

CHERRY

14TH PL

FRIEDMAN OCCUPATIONAL CENTER

110

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

PICO BLVD

VENICE BLVD

GALEN CENTER

VD SON BL

JEFFER

CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

OA ST

12TH ST

FLOWER

AT&T CENTER

SHRINE AUDITORIUM

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE

FIGUER

NC EAR

STAPLES CENTER ARENA

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE

Y SANTEE ALLE

11TH ST

RA PARA LOS NINOS

MAYAN THEATER

CONVENTION CENTER

110

SPRING ST

CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER

SOUTH PARK

SOUTH EXHIBIT HALL

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

OLYMPIC BLVD

VD PICO BL

LAPD

6TH ST

ORPHEUM THEATER

9TH ST

L PA

WHOLESALE SEAFOOD DISTRICT

CENTRAL CITY EAST

BROADWAY

STILLWELL HOTEL

7TH ST

8TH ST

PED 4TH ST

MERCANTILE ARCADE

HILL ST

OLIVE ST

FIDM ANNEX

4TH ST

FLOWER MARKET GRAND AVE

HAR

SAN

HISTORIC CORE

ART SHARE 4TH PL

SAN JULIAN PARK

JEWELRY DISTRICT

PICO STATION

LITTLE TOKYO GALLERIA MARKET

6TH ST

RALPHS

LUXE CITY CENTER HOTEL

5TH ST

NEW LATC

BILTMORE PERSHING HOTEL

LAAC 7TH ST

HOPE ST

FLOWER ST

O HOTEL

WEST EXHIBIT HALL

PICO UNION

LOS ANGELES ST

OLD BANK DISTRICT & GALLERY ROW

5TH ST

SQUARE

TRACTION AVE

TOY DISTRICT

MACY'S PLAZA FIGUEROA ST

FRANCISCO ST

D AVE

GARLAN

H CHICK

MAIN ST

SPRING ST

GAS CO TOWER

FIGUEROA HOTEL

MARRIOTT L.A. LIVE & RITZ REGAL NOKIA CARLTON CINEPLEX PLAZA NOKIA THEATRE T WEST

12TH ST

BROADWAY

US BANK TOWER

PERSHING SQUARE STATION

3RD ST

MUSEUM OF NEON ART

GRAND HOPE FIDM PARK

11TH ST

110

MELLON BANK

ARTS DISTRICT

PLAZA

SHERATON HOTEL

777

GARAGE

BRADBURY BLDG. RONALD REAGAN BIDDY STATE MASON BLDG PARK

ARATANI NOGUCHI THEATER PLAZA JACCC

OLIVE ST

AVE

BLVD

GRAND AVE

LUCAS

OLYMPIC

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

CALIFORNIA FLIGHT PLAZA

7TH ST / METRO CENTER STATION

7 + FIG

GARLAND BUILDING

WATER COURT ANGELS

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

725

LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL

HOPE ST

WIL

WELLS FARGO CENTER

3RD ST

1ST

2ND ST

LITTLE ST VIBIANA TOKYO LIBRARY

4TH ST

WESTIN YMCA UNION BONAVENTURE HOTEL BANK CITIGROUP PLAZA CENTER

FIGUEROA AT WILSHIRE WILSHIRE BLVD WILSHIRE GRAND HOTEL

VD SHIRE BL

LVD WOOD B

BA PLAZA

MAGUIRE CITY GDNS NATIONAL JONATHAN PLAZA CALIF. CLUB CLUB THE STANDARD

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL

JAMES

FLOWER ST

MARRIOTT HOTEL BEAUDRY AVE

4TH S

MOCA OMNI HOTEL

3RD ST TUNNEL

FIGUEROA ST

LAUSD HQ

3RD ST

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CITY WEST

POLICE ADMIN

COLBURN SCHOOL OF PERF. ARTS

LOS ANGELES CENTER STUDIOS

7TH ST

LITTLE TOKYO

KYOTO CALTRANS GRAND HQ HOTEL

2ND ST

2ND STREET TUNNEL

CROWN HILL

LAPD PARKER CENTER

I-A

TIMES MIRROR SQUARE

BUNKER HILL

CIVIC CENTER STATION

L. A. COUNTY COURTHOUSE

LITTLE TOKYO/ ARTS DISTRICT STATION

MOCA AT GEFFEN UNION CENTER JAPANESE FOR THE ARTS NATIONAL MUSEUM

HARBOR FWY

DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION

CENTRAL AVE ART PARK

LOS ANGELES CITY HALL

1ST ST

2ND S

MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX

CIVIC CENTER

EOC-POC-LFD

VE EA

1ST ST L.A. DOWNTOWN SHAKESPEARE LA NEWS

TEMPLE ST HALL OF CRIMINAL RECORDS COURTHOUSE

HALL OF ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL BLDG ROYBAL FEDERAL BLDG

AF NT

EDWARD R. ROYBAL LEARNING CENTER

VISTA HERMOSA PARK

DEPT. OF WATER & POWER

DEPT. OF BUILDING & SAFETY

LOS ANGELES MALL

AHMANSON THEATER MARK TAPER FORUM

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS

110

TEMPLE BEAUDRY

101

C. EDWIN PIPER TECHNICAL CENTER

OLVERA ST

LE ST

SAN BERNARDINO SPLIT

101

TEMP

4-LEVEL INTERCHANGE

www.cartifact.com

AVE

101

CHINATOWN GATEWAY

EZ AVE CESAR E. CHAV

H O L LY W O O D F W Y

Gas Stations

S NE VIG

ST HIGH

CHINATOWN LIBRARY

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Metro Red & Purple Lines

AVEZ

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FIGUER

Free Parking with validation

ALPINE HILL

HIST

Metro Blue Line

E. CH

R CESA

CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT HQ ING SPR

ANGELINO HEIGHTS

Metro Rail Station Entrances

CHINATOWN BL VD

Metro Gold Line

E ST

ALPIN

NEW

HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES

WAY

EGE S

COLL

CASTELLAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EGE S

COLL

CHINATOWN STATION D BROA

PACIFIC ALLIANCE MEDICAL CENTER

Contact Cartifact for the full-color, every-building version of this map and others. Available as a poster and in print, web, and mobile media.

700 S. Flower St, Ste. 1940 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.327.0200 maps�cartifact.com

HILL

FIGUEROA TERRACE

CENTRAL PLAZA

G RD

M WAY

KAISER MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

ANN STREET ELENTARY SCHOOL

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Los Angeles

ARD S

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Downtown

N CHU

CASA ITALIANA

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LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK (CORNFIELD)

AIN

N F

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

BROAD WAY

110

W STADIUM

DODGER STADIUM

NORTH

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NOR TH M

NORT H SPR ING S T

April 18, 2011

Downtown News 25

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

place your ad online at www.ladowntownnews.com l.a. downtown news classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm

“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”

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get your green card or citiZensHip Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

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LIFE Circumstances often hurt us. Emotional pain overwhelms you? Call Laurie Mendiones MFT Psychotherapist 213-3943464. (Downtown office) www. Lauriemendionesmft.com Continued on next page

The Downtown Renaissance Collection

Help Wanted

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge

All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Be Inspired...

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> now leasing. Cooperating Welcome BestBrokers Downtown Locations!

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EstD 1912

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Piero

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• Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball

Version 1

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26 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

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DowntownNews.com

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AUTOS

2008 AUDI A6 Certified, Premium package, only 29K miles # N011782 / ZA9847 $27,992 Call 888-583-0981

PRe-OWNeD

DOWNtOWN l.a. autO GROuP

PsycHic PSYCHIC READERS Spiritual advisor. Tarot $20. Confidential text for one free question 323493-9494.

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2007 PORSCHE CAYMAN S Certified, Only 29K Miles, Silver/Blk, Bose Xenon. #783463 $39,988. Call 888-685-5426.

LOFT LIVING

Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development! DowntownNews.com

2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300W Certified, Low miles, 7 speed automatic, 3.0L 5306C / F051792 $26,991 Call 888-3198762.

2008 CADILLAC CTS Very clean, 39,876 miles, White Diamond exterior Great features! UC762 / 116586 $30,887 Call 888-879-9608. 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT Great Car, Great Price. Must See!! ZV1072 / 8W149660 $13,998 Call 888-781-8102. 2009 NISSAN VERSA 1.8S Certified, Auto, AC, 1 owner, CD and more NI3677 / 9L449916 $11,499, call 888-838-5089 2010 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0 Certified, 1 owner, Auto, AC and more NI3697 / AL612400 $13,999 call 888-203-2967 1989 FORD E250 CARGO VAN for cheap. 157K miles. Runs good. Great if you are starting a business. $1,500. 213-2203234.

CALL NOW

FOR APRIL MOVE-IN SPECIALS

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

213.749.9300

WWW.PACKARDLOFTSLOFTSLA.COM

PETS/ANIMALS

autOs WaNteD DONATE YOUR Vehicle! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage For The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) MOtORcyles 2003 ATLANTIS DERBI European Scooter. 303 total miles. Auto-shift, 1 cylinder 2 stroke, 49cc. Garaged, rarely ridden; excellent condition. GREAT mileage, perfect for Downtown! 1,300. 805-644-3248

aDOPt a Pet

NOtices

ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.

WANTED-MARVEL/DC Superhero Comic Books. Especially 1960’s. Collector/ Investor, paying cash. And All Marvel stuff, posters, pins, t-shirts & original art. Call Mike: 800.723.5572. (Cal-SCAN)

ITEMS FOR SALE

• Rooftop pool and spa • 24-hour gym • Dog run • Rotunda library • On-site parking Rents starting at $1,395 Introducing the 9th Floor Penthouse Apartments

Rents starting at $1,895

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610 S. MAIN, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WANTED! HOST Families: Share cultures, develop extended family. Area Representatives: Mentor foreign teens, aide in placements, earn extra income. No Fees! Shelli: 866-360-0598; www.pieusa.org. (Cal-SCAN)

Misc. iteMs sPecial eveNts SELL YOUR RV Fast! Online at RVT.com Millions of RV Shoppers. Thousands of RVs Sold Serving RV traders since 1999. www.RVT.com or Call 888-4371072. (Cal-SCAN) tickets DODGER TOCKETS behind the Dodger Dugout! Season ticket holder with Field Level seats for less than facevalue: Dosxx222@ yahoo.com 626-926-3298

TREYBLING... its’ a ring thing Defeat the ‘Peat - Say No to Pat! Talkin’ ‘bout my Lakers. vOluNteeR OPPORtuNities HELPING KIDS heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information. cHuRcHes

Elevate Your Lifestyle @ PE Lofts Today! THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC LOFTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Elevate Your Lifestyle @ PE Lofts Today! Amazing Open Lofts in the Heart of Downtown Historic District n n n n

Covered On-Site Parking State of the Art Fitness Center Luxurious Rooftop Pool and Lounge Pet Friendly with Rooftop Dog Run.

(866) 561-0275 • pelofts.com • 610 s. main, Downtown lA

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

THE BRIDGE / Little Tokyo: Contemporary worship, 11 am Sundays at Union Church 401 East Third St. www.thebridgewired.org.

LEGAL FictitiOus BusiNess NaMe Fictitious Business name statement FILE NO. 20110326851 The

April 18, 2011

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

following person is doing business as: LADIES APPAREL COMPANY; REAL CHEAP SWIMSUITS; THE SWIM GUY, 840 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles CA 90014 , are hereby registered by the following registrant: H & H JOBBING INC., 840 S. LOS ANGELES STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90014. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on March 01, 2000. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on March 02, 2011. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18/2011

the Civil Code. The undersigned will sell on the 22nd day of April 2011 at 11:00A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following:

BriStol apartmeNtS 423 W. 8th St. al lU til iti es pa id

Name of Owner: Space number Description of Goods Amount

Denis Mazariegos F*24 Personal effects $490.00

James Mason D*45 Personal effects $319.37 Brian Kernan A*17 Personal effects $150.00 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an as is basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party. Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager April 7, 2011 Pub. 4/11, 4/18/11

Notice of Sale NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HERE BY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of

Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Prime downtown location • Now leasing studios

$662/mo. income qualifications - earn under $46,400/year

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213-228-3000 Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

Real Estate Specialist of San Gabriel Valley Proudly serving the communities of San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello and El Monte.

Cal Best Realty

Emi Terauchi Realtor / Notary • Lic.No.00810238

English/Japanes/Chinese speaking emiterauchi@yahoo.com • (626) 786-9086

VIP Room Available. The Best Way For Business Meetings & Entertainment

Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

Professional massage for men & women. Services include Thai Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Swedish Oil Massage, Foot Massage, Sauna, Steam, and more. Lounge area.

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011

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111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Ste #231-233 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 458-1919 [Corner of Garvey Ave.]

Call 213-481-1448

First Professionally Licensed Massage Shop in L.A. County.

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$12,499 $14,999 Certified, 8 Cyl., Silver, Auto. N110025-1 / 8N317410 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 ........................................... $29,999 Certified, 8 Cyl., 4WD, Grey. #N110674-1 / 8N632795 2005 Nissan Frontier LE .................................................. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. #N110802-1/5C460027

2008 Nissan Titan King Cab ............................................

$14,380

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-781-8102

2008 VW JETTA ZV1142/8M092247

Certified, 2.5L, Manual, Black/Grey, Only 28K miles.

$15,040 2008 Volkswagen R32 ..................................................... $25,571 Limited Edition, Certified, 3.2L V6, White/Black, Only 28,034 miles. ZV1102/8W113698 2010 Volkswagen Touareg ............................................. $36,994 3.6L V6, Grey/Beige, Auto, Only 10,194 miles. ZV1105/AD003810

2007 Volkswagen Beetle Convertable ......................... Just in time for convertible season! ZV1154/7M414758

$14,900

FELIX CHEVROLET

888-879-9608

2007 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER # UC721/72202215

Black exterior, Auto, 6 Cyl., 44,190 miles.

2010 Chevy Malibu ...........................................................

$16,887 $27,900 26,694 miles, Grey Metallic exterior, Auto, 5.3L, V8. UC722/G178131 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum ESV ........................... $51,999 Only 24K Miles, AWD, One of a kind in L.A., LOADED, White Diamond. UC694 / 253700 2.4L, Auto, White/Ebony, Clean, 38,839 miles. UC748R / AF1881120

2008 Chevrolet Avalanche ..............................................

$21,748

AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-583-0981

2008 AUDI A4 ZA9000/8A167897

Certified, White/Blk, Premium Pkg, Moonroof.

$24,980 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet ................................................... $27,893 Certified, 2.0L Turbo, Black/Beige, 21,428 miles. ZA9872/ 8K010006 2008 Audi Q7 .................................................................... $35,997 Certified, 3.6L V6 Quattro Premium Pkg, Moonroof. ZA9001/8D067989 2008 Audi A6 Quattro .....................................................

3.2L V6, Premium pkg, Silver, Auto, 54,311 miles. A11465D-1/ 8N011178

2008 MERCEDES BENZ E350 SEDAN #5098C / B334494

$28,994

888-319-8762

Certified, 3.5L, V6, 7 Speed Auto, 44,634 Miles, Indium Grey.

$26,991 $28,991 Certified, Only 39k miles, 3.5L, V6, Black/Stone. #5294C / F248371 2007 Mercedes S550V ..................................................... $46,991 Certified, 40k miles, 5.5L, DOHC. 4-door sedan, Iridium Silver, Auto. #5195 / A015568 2008 Mercedes CLK350C .................................................

4344 Fountain Ave. (at Sunset), Suite A Los Angeles, CA 90029

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Certified, 2.0L, Blue, Auto.

2008 Mercedes C300 ........................................................

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2007 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0S # N110806-1/7L726199

Certified, 3.0 Ltr, V-6, Auto 7-Spd, Low miles. #5306C/F051792

Call Marney Stofflet, LCSW

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DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ

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$9,999

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Downtown L.A. Auto Group has thousands of new, used and certified pre-owned vehicles to choose from. For a complete list including pictures, descriptions and prices please visit our website...

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Ben Liu E*20 Personal effects $517.17

Cinthia Martinez U*73 Personal effects $356.00

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THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2006 PORSCHE CARRERA S COUPE # 6S742972

$62,988

888-685-5426

Certified, 3.8L V6, GT Silver/Black, Leather, Adaptive Sport Seats, Sport Exhaust, Nav, Bose, 16K miles.

2008 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe ..................................

$54,298 $59,988 White/black, Like New, Certified, 29,000 miles. LA73964 2010 Porsche Panamera S .............................................. $89,988 14K miles, Silver/black, Bose, XM Radio, 19” Wheels, Park Assist, Loaded! AL061143 Certified, 3.6L H6 Black/black, sport chrono,bose,pwr seats,xenon 31,000 miles. 8S710667

2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS ............................................

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Featuring a more robust local search powered by Yellow Pages.

28 Downtown News

April 18, 2011

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We Got Games Death, Taxes and Andrew Bynum’s Knee Hurts Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. April 18-20, 7:10 p.m.; April 21, 12:10 p.m.: The Dodgers open a four-game stand against the Atlanta Braves. The city’s attention continues to be not on the team, but on the brutal beat down of a Giants fan on opening day, and beefed-up security has been placed throughout the stadium. Here’s an idea for the Dodgers to get Los Angeles refocused on diamond talk: String together a nice little win streak. The Dodgers close the week at Wrigley Field against the Cubbies (April 22-24). Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. April 20, 7:30 p.m.: After a torrid second half of the regular

season, the Lakers stumbled into the playoffs, losing five straight at one point. Laker nation got its regular April scare when Andrew Bynum, who will never win a World’s Strongest Knee competition, went down with an injury. His health will be critical as the Lakers begin the playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets, whose principal weakness is their lack of size down low. The Lakers are the favorite here, but with a questionable Bynum, things could get interesting, especially with old friend Trevor Ariza out to prove himself. Game one was Sunday and games three and four are in New Orleans (April 22 and 24). The quest for banner 17 is upon us. Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. April 19 and 21, 7:30 p.m.: Who is mightier? A King or a Shark? Sharks are fearless eating machines, but kings wield sceptres and rule their domains with monarchic whimsy. In the ocean, we’d give the edge to the sharks, but this battle is on icy land. Edge to the Kings, who continue their round one playoff match-up against the San Jose Sharks this week (never mind that the Kings lost game one). Game five, if necessary, is in San Jose (April 23). —Ryan Vaillancourt

photo by Gary Leonard

Andrew Bynum’s health is a question mark headed into the playoffs. What else is new?

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

Grand Tower 255 south Grand avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777

Promenade Towers 123 south Figueroa street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

Now For Call n Specials Move-I

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museum Tower 225 south olive street Leasing Information 213 626 1500

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com

MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM