A Political Pupu Platter | 5 Check Out Banksy’s Rat | 22
OCTOBER 6, 2014 I VOL. 43 I #40
A Fall Full Of Fun
40 Downtown Concerts, Events, Plays, Festivals And More That Should Be On Your Calendar Watch City Living on DTTV New Episodes Every Monday @ 9am on DowntownNews.com
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photo by JD Ramage
SEE PAGE 7 Bree Pavey’s horror show Will You Save Them? runs through Nov. 2 at the Loft Ensemble.
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AROUND TOWN
Say Thanks to Public Safety Workers
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veryone appreciates the job that police officers and firefighters do, and many want to say thank you. The problem is, there’s rarely the appropriate opportunity to express gratification. That’s where the Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue comes into play. On Thursday, Oct. 9, the Downtown Center Business Improvement District will hold the 15th annual installment of the event in which area workers and residents say thanks not just to police and firefighters, but also to sheriff’s deputies, the California Highway Patrol and others who are on the front line of keeping Angelenos safe. The event runs from 11:30-a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Bank of America Plaza (333 S. Hope St.). Public safety officers get a free lunch, and everyone else pays $10 for a meal catered by Lawry’s. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association’s Widows, Orphan’s and Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
Streetcar Meeting on Monday
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city report last month suggested that the price tag for the Downtown streetcar would be about $270 million, less than the worst-case estimate of $327.8 million the city reported last year, but way up from the initial
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS $125 million. The price of the project, as well as its funding plan, the ongoing environmental review process, future milestones and more will be discussed at a meeting on Monday, Oct. 6. The gathering, hosted by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and various city agencies, will take place at 6 p.m. at the Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium in the Police Administration Building at 100 W. First St. More information is at facebook.com/golastreetcar.
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new tenant is coming to U.S. Bank Tower, but it’s not one you might expect. Building owner OUE Limited is donating two floors of the Financial District skyscraper to serve as the headquarters of the Special Olympics World Games, which begin in Los Angeles next July. The 2015 World Games will be the largest sporting event in the city since the 1984 Summer Olympic games, and more than 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and 30,000 volunteers are expected to take part. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the headquarters, featuring Special Olympics Southern California founder and decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. in the lobby of U.S. Bank Tower, at 633 W. Fifth St.
Cleantech Showcase in Downtown This Week
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usiness leaders, entrepreneurs, tech industry experts and more are converging
ROOM
FOR YOU 4 3 8
G E T S
B E T T E R
Beginning on October 6, South Bay/Beach Cities riders will be able to take advantage of additional parking at the Redondo Beach/Marine Park & Ride lot. Select Commuter Express Route 438 trips will begin there, and continue to Imperial & Aviation P&R before expressing to downtown Los Angeles. With more places to park, additional trips, and more room onboard, your commute just got easier and more comfortable than ever! See our website for full schedule and new route info.
TRIPS LEAVE FROM REDONDO BEACH / MARINE PARK & RIDE AT
6:30am
•
6:50am
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7:20am
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7:50am
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8:00am
TRIPS RETURN TO REDONDO BEACH / MARINE PARK & RIDE AT
5:07pm
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5:22pm
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5:52pm
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6:37pm
Other Route 438 trips will run as usual to all Beach Cities stops.
www.ladottransit.com (213 / 310 / 323 / 818) 808-2273
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Special Olympics Gets Financial District Headquarters
WE HAVE R O U T E
October 6, 2014
Pop-Up Broadway
Poet Ruben Martinez
in Downtown this week for GloSho, a two-day conference, also known as the Cleantech Global Showcase, hosted by the Arts District’s Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. The event on Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 6-7, will feature presentations from more than 40 international companies and a slew of panel discussions on topics including global markets, new technologies, investment trends and more. The talks will take place inside the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and there are separate special events, including a dinner on Oct. 6 at the City Club. Registration for the conference is $375. More information on program schedules and speakers is at glosho.org.
September 28, 2014
Artisanal L.A. Show Returns to L.A. Mart
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t’s not every day that Angelenos can indulge in boutique pastas and small-batch fermented sodas. Fortunately, fans of those and other similar goods can attend the fall show of Artisanal L.A., which arrives at The Reef (the former L.A. Mart), at 1933 S. Broadway, on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 11-12. The event features dozens of vendors hawking food, drinks, books, flowers, crafts and more. There will also be presentations and demonstrations, with highlights Continued on page 24
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EDITORIALS
October 6, 2014
Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Thinking Tall and Bold
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owntown Los Angeles’ skyline is nice. While it is not as stylized or memorable as that of some other cities around the globe, it is also more impressive than what one finds in many modern metropolises. It is, to use that word again, nice. The problem is that this is a big moment for development, and the Downtown skyline should be more than just nice. It should be photogenic, memorable and, when possible, inspiring. It should have a look that echoes the city’s creative class. The skyline should be both tall and bold. Whether the Downtown skyline ever reaches this potential is unknown, but thanks to an effort that came to fruition last week, there is at least the chance to have a more impressive look for the Central City’s next wave of office, housing and hotel towers. The announcement on Monday, Sept. 29, by Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Councilman José Huizar and Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas, that the city is altering a 40-year-old directive on flat-roof buildings could lead to a new age in design. It would have been nice if the change came three or four years ago, when the current crop of flat-top towers that are opening now could have been impacted. However, this is a critical time in the planning process, as the community is poised in the next five to 10 years to gain numerous buildings that are 20 stories tall or higher. Some, in fact, are much higher, such as the 73-story replacement for the Wilshire Grand hotel, which was a pacesetter, gaining city approvals last year to have a sloping roof. It is easy to understand why the flat roofs dominated for so long. The city rules were put in place in 1974, at a time when high-rises were sprouting on Bunker Hill and in the Financial District. Fire Department and other officials at the time were worried about rescues in the event of a fire or earthquake. Safety concerns must be paramount, and there certainly should be no elimination of the helipad requirement unless there are better ways to ensure that people trapped in a building could be rescued. Fortunately, safety measures have evolved, and experts say that additional stairwells and elevators, enhanced sprinkler systems and other efforts can have more benefits than high-rise helipads, where heat, smoke and wind can hamper a rescue. The big issue now is implementation. Just because buildings can have spires or unique designs doesn’t mean they will, or that developers will pay to create something beyond a box. Officials from Planning, Building and Safety and other city departments must be an encouraging part of the process. They need to help inspire and learn how to say yes to something new. We’re excited about the potential, and already wonder if, for example, the towers being designed by Frank Gehry as part of Related Cos.’ Grand Avenue project will take advantage of the change. We look forward to seeing the new shapes on the Downtown skyline.
The Farmers Field Hail Mary
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n 2010, Anschutz Entertainment Group unveiled a vision for a Downtown Los Angeles football stadium. In the four years since there have been ups and downs. Achievements such as inking a deal with Farmers Insurance to affix its name to the proposed stadium was a high point. The abrupt 2013 departure of AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke, who was the public face of the project, was the nadir. The $1 billion stadium plan never seemed to recover its momentum after he left. Although there has never been any indication in the past four years that the NFL is ready to bring a team to Farmers Field — and AEG has appropriately refused to begin construction until a deal is signed with the league and a team — there have always been twin potential benefits of the project. While the aim to deliver professional football to Los Angeles two decades after the Rams and Raiders departed garnered the most attention, from a civic and economic standpoint the primary benefit would be an approximately $400 million upgrade of the Los Angeles Convention Center. AEG officials, both before and after the departure of Leiweke, recognized that the two pieces of the plan are tied together. So it comes as no surprise that, in the recently revealed quest to extend its agreement with the city by six months, the concept of modernizing the Convention Center again is part of the play. Los Angeles Downtown News has major reservations about gambling on the NFL’s return to Los Angeles. Simply put, we don’t think the league is serious about the city. You learn from being burned, and over 20 years we have seen numerous instances in which the league has toyed with local leaders and would-be stadium developers. More often than not Los Angeles has been used as a bargaining chip, with the league pressuring other municipalities to build a costly new stadium in the effort to prevent their team from decamping to L.A. The tactic has yet to fail. We don’t think football is coming any time soon. That said, we do think AEG, which has an unparalleled track record in Downtown, deserves the six-month extension, providing that one key condition is met: An upgrade of the Convention Center, even without a football component, must be pursued at the same time and with the same energy as a stadium. In its announcement requesting the extension, AEG indicated its interest in looking at a standalone Convention Center upgrade. However, an agreement needs to be quickly put into writing. Let
the company pursue the NFL, and perhaps we’ll be pleasantly surprised. Yet, there must be a parallel attempt to determine what it would take to modernize the complex. The city should be a partner in the effort. Just as AEG already has explored this issue, so has the city. In April, local leaders adopted something known as Plan B, an effort to revamp the Convention Center and look at building a 1,000room hotel on the 15-acre site where Farmers Field is envisioned. Money has been set aside and initial work has begun; the next big step involves giving three architecture firms a crack at designing the building and utilizing the site. It doesn’t make sense to slow this process. AEG deserves a lead role as the effort moves forward. The company powered the evolution of South Park by developing Staples Center, L.A. Live and the 1,001-room Ritz/J.W. Marriott hotel. Last year AEG reached a separate agreement with the city and now operates the Convention Center. It is, obviously, in the company’s interest to have a heavily trafficked and highly efficient Convention Center, one capable of hosting the world’s biggest trade shows. Hotel development is a key part of the future, and while several developers plan to build hotels across South Park, most of these are in the 200- to 300-room range. That is good, but tourism industry officials note that what Downtown needs is another project on the scale of the Ritz/J.W. Marriott. Meeting planners must be able to reserve hundreds of rooms or more within a short walk of the convention site. Los Angeles still has far fewer nearby rooms than regional rivals San Diego and Anaheim. The city’s deal with AEG expires on Oct. 18, and already indications are that the extension will be granted; within an hour of AEG’s announcement, Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Herb Wesson released a joint statement endorsing the proposal. The city should give AEG its crack, as even with an untrustworthy league, the company has proved it deserves a chance and is uniquely qualified to pull off a project of this scope. However, football dreams are not enough. This needs to be about the Convention Center too, and it must be watertight and in writing. We don’t want to come back in another six months and hear a request for another football-oriented extension.
October 6, 2014
Downtown News 5
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
The Return of the Political Pupu Platter Football Dreams, Sloooooow Progress in City Hall, Paul Tanaka’s Disappearing Act and More Fun By Jon Regardie ometimes in Los Angeles politics you get a big story that dominates the headlines for a couple weeks. Usually it involves the mayor, José Huizar, José Huizar or, sometimes, José Huizar. Other times there’s a scattering of smaller but still intriguing stories. That’s what’s happening right now. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s
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THE REGARDIE REPORT insta-boil effort to raise the minimum wage has been reduced to a simmer as he and labor leaders strategize on how to push it and the business community struggles with how to fight it (spoiler alert: it’s getting passed). It has also been a month since County Supervisor Gloria Molina dropped the bomb that she intends to run for the City Council seat held by… Huizar! Thus, in a public-service effort, and inspired by delicious Hawaiian cuisine, I have dusted off the political pupu platter. Here is a sampler of some of the interesting stories and tangles going on in Downtown and beyond. Enjoy a bite of one, then move on to the next. At Least Ray Rice Isn’t Here… Yet: This is a terrible time to be the National Football League, and especially to be NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Yet, just as the league endures a public relations nightmare following its fumbling of multiple domestic violence cases, Los Angeles leaders are pushing for the return of NFL football. This actually started before AEG’s announcement last week that it wants a six-month extension on its deal with the city to build Farmers Field. It goes back to Aug. 29, when City Councilman Tom LaBonge authored, and seven other council members signed, a resolution throwing their support behind a general city effort to bring the NFL back to town. The document touted
the economic bounce of football, but also declared, and I swear this is true, “NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s brother lives in the district under the jurisdiction of the author of this resolution.” If I were writing the resolution I would probably come up with about 983 things before I mention Goodell’s bro. That said, on Sept. 24 the council passed the motion. It did so without public discussions of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, domestic violence or Goodell’s brother’s house. I’m not sure where to begin, but Eighth District Councilman Bernard Parks knew how to respond. In a Sept. 11 email newsletter he compared the local NFL attempt to the film Frozen and urged the council to “LET IT GO!!!.” Speaking of Parks: The former police chief and third-term council rep is in a strange place. Though he chaired the powerful Budget and Finance Committee when Eric Garcetti was council president, Parks refused to kiss the ring when Herb Wesson became capo of the 15-person panel. He has stuck to his guns ever since, and on Sept. 21 the Los Angeles Times did a big article about Parks being in the “political wilderness.” Most politicians would ignore it. Few would ever publicly fire back at the writers (in this case David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes). Yet Parks went on the offensive, with a biting and humorous Sept. 25 email blast. It started by mentioning that people had been calling him and saying the Times had reported that a local figure had become diminished. “Upon hearing that, I cringed with fear,” wrote Parks. “Had somebody finally written a story about how David Zahniser lost his mojo and was actually a much better reporter when he was with the L.A. Weekly? Poor David. I must get him on the phone! We’ve got to get to the bottom of this!” Few would agree with Parks’ description of Zahniser, who
photo by Gary Leonard
Eighth District City Councilman Bernard Parks, seen here in 2008, will be termed out next year. For now, however, he has become one of the most interesting individuals in City Hall, as well as one of the most outspoken.
continues to do bang-up work (did I really just write “bang-up work”? What’s next? Calling something “neat-o”?). But that’s beside the point, for with eight months until he is termed out, Parks is among the most interesting people in City Hall, a man Continued on page 28
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October 6, 2014
Groundbreaking Held For Regional Connector Officials Mark Start of $1.4 Billion Project By Eddie Kim any Downtowners are well acquainted with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Regional Connector: Some have attended meetings for the project that will link area rail lines to ease cross-county travel. Others have been stymied by its construction impacts, such as the month-long closure of Second Street behind the Los Angeles Times building. Although work on moving utilities for the project has been going on for months, city, county and federal officials, and actor George Takei, gathered last week for the formal groundbreaking of the $1.4 billion development. It is scheduled to open in 2020.
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photo by Juan Ocampo
City, county and federal officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, celebrated the groundbreaking of the 1.9-mile Regional Connector last week.
“This morning, we boldly go where no transit agency has gone before,” Takei said on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at First Street and Central Avenue, making a reference to “Star Trek.” “We go underground below Little Tokyo.” The 1.9-mile project will connect the Expo and Blue lines to the Gold Line, reducing the need for transfers. It will also result in the construction of three stations in Downtown: Second and Hope streets (behind the coming Broad museum), Second Street and Broadway, and First Street and Central Avenue. Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is currently chair of the Metro board of directors, said the Regional Connector is part of the agency’s $36 billion effort to improve transportation infrastructure across the county, which he noted is the largest such program in the United States. “This project stands out by bringing rail lines together so you can sit in the same seat from beginning to end,” Garcetti said. “So people will say, ‘Well, maybe it is a little faster than being in the car, or certainly more convenient.’” U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that strong public transit is the “lifeline” for workers who lack other transportation options. Two out of three people in Los Angeles do not have access to a car, Foxx said. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, meanwhile, said that Little Tokyo businesses will be protected during the construction process. Although some area restaurants, including Spice Table and Weiland’s Brewery, have already shut down to make way for the development, Molina said she and Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas will author a motion calling for the protection of “small mom-and-pop businesses” in the neighborhood. “During the disruption that will be here for a period of time, we want to make them as whole as possible,” she said. “We want them here in our neighborhood when this is done, and they need to benefit from [the Regional Connector].” Despite the groundbreaking, full construction of the Regional Connector will likely not begin until the third quarter of 2015, according to Metro. Design discussions with the contractor, a joint venture of Skanska USA and Traylor Bros., began in the summer. Work will start near the Little Tokyo Gold Line station and proceed west toward the Seventh Street/Metro Center station. eddie@downtownnews.com
October 6, 2014
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Downtown News 7
Lady Gaga joins the celebration of all things Hello Kitty at the Japanese American National Museum.
40 Downtown Concerts, Events, Plays, Festivals And More That Should Be On Your Calendar By Donna Evans, EDDiE Kim anD Jon REgaRDiE
n t i ful u o B maNsoN TheaTre o h a t T The
8 Downtown News
October 6, 2014
40 FOR FALL
photo by Craig Schwartz
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The Tri p Through Nov
The raves are in for the revival or Horton Foote’s 1953 work (originally for TV). Many of them are for Cicely Tyson, who after a three-decade absence from the stage took on the part of Mrs. Carrie Watts and ended up winning a Tony for her efforts. Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood join her in the story of an elderly woman who lives with an overprotective son and a domineering daughter-inlaw (and you think your family has issues). On the agenda is a trip to Carrie’s hometown of Bountiful, Texas. Will the past be brought to the forefront? You bet. Will you shed a tear? You just might. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.
Oct. 9-12 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
ph oto by Liz
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Hello Kitty fans will squeal and rejoi ce at a large-scale retrospective at the Japanese American National Museum. Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty examines the history of the character and its influ ence on popular culture. The exhibit will offer rare item s from the archives of Sanrio, the Japanese company that created the bowwearing Hello Kitty, as well as a sele ction of contemporary artwork inspired by her. Part of the run coincides with Hello Kitty Con, a convention running from Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at the nearby Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (152 N. Central Ave.). Expect art, tattoos, lectures, work shops and an unending display of cuteness. At 100 N. Central Ave. or janm.org.
photo by Gary Leonard
image courtesy Knopf
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photo courtesy Japanese American National Museum
Ha
OCt. 11-APril 2015 At the JAPAnese AmeriCAn nAtiOnAl museu
Secret HiStory oF Wonder Woman
What makes this performance of Swan Lake different from all the others? Four things, actually. First, it’s from the Australian Ballet, and this marks the first time in 43 years that the company from Down Under has come to L.A. Second, the show includes a live orchestra, which means that Tchaikovsky’s score will sound richer and fuller than the tinny recordings heard frequently at ballet performances. Third, choreographer Graeme Murphy’s show links the classic 1875 work to, get this, the late Princess Diana. Finally, the cast features Colin Peasley, who has been with the company for 50 years. He plays Lord Admiral and will celebrate his 80th birthday during the L.A. run. Let’s see what you’re doing at 80. At 135 N. Grand Ave or musicccenter.org.
Nov. 12 at aloud at the CeNtral library Is it any wonder that Moulton Marston, who created Wonder Woman and her golden lasso of truth, also invented the lie detector? Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore will discuss the most famous female superhero of all time on Nov. 12 as part of the always awesome Aloud series. Lepore will be in discussion with KPCC radio host Alex Cohen. Other Aloud highlights of the fall include poets Robin Coste Lewis and Claudia Rankine on Oct. 23, and an appearance by novelist Marilynne Robinson on Nov. 5. Aloud events are almost always free, but reservations are recommended. At 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org.
photo courtesy Lucha VaVoom
Lucha VaVoom OCt. 29-30 At the mAyAn theAtre By this point, Lucha VaVoom is a Downtown tradition. That doesn’t mean the combination of masked Mexican wrestling, burlesque and saucy comedy should be taken for granted. There is always something new and exciting in the mix, and the pair of Halloween-themed shows will feature grapplers such as Diamante Azul, the Zombie Chickens and the “mini” wrestler Piñatita. Also entering the ring will be Marawa the Amazing, who can spin more than 130 hula hoops at once. Those taking it off include Kitten Deville (probably not her real name). A bonus guest is Bobcat Goldthwait. If you haven’t been, it’s time to go. At 1038 S. Hill St. or luchavavoom.com.
Oct. 31 at GraND HOpe park What’s the best part of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District’s annual Halloween blowout for local families? The candy, bounce houses, games and trick-or-treat doors are all great. So are the jugglers, balloon animal artists and face painters. However, our favorite part is the costumes. The celebration at the park next to FIDM brings out all manner of little monsters, pop stars and athletes. In years past we even saw a pint-sized InN-Out server (complete with the giant safety pin). Expect all of that and a lot more when the DCBID stages its seventh annual get-together. At 919 S. Grand Ave. or downtownla.com.
October 6, 2014
40 FOR FALL
DOWNTOWNLA.COM/BBQ
Downtown News 9
10 Downtown News
October 6, 2014
photo by Federico Zignani
40 FOR FALL
rnag been bringing exciting inte The World City series has lon The l. Hal phitheatre at Disney tional acts to the W.M. Keck Am agement of the Git-Hoan eng rn retu a h trend continues wit s the folk traditions of the Dancers. The program deliver , with a ceremonial s Tsimshian First Nation People featuring handprocession and performances skin and wood tic carved masks and authen use Woman “Mo ude incl s drums. The tale “The Shaand the Cannibal Giant” and ” As with ers. Ott man and the Land re are the nts, eve City all World 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. performances. The shows are free, but attendees need to get in line an hour before start time. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or city. musiccenter.org/events/world
Through Nov. 2 aT The NaTural hisTory MuseuM
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Have you ever hung out with the Malaysian Nephila maculata? You will in this special pavilion set up on the front lawn of the Natural History Museum, for that is where the palm-sized spider — which can spin a web six feet in diameter — will be holding court. Hundreds of orb weavers will be on display, and visitors can get close to the eightlegged creatures and their webs. There will be local and exotic spiders, as well as plenty of educational opportunities and even spider feedings. At 900 Exposition Blvd. or nhm.org.
oto cou rte sy NH M photo by Joan Marcus
Oct. 25-NOv. 15 at the DOrOthy chaNDler PaviliON
Ha pp y Bir tHd ay Hu rr ica ne Ma Ma OCt. 24-26 aND NOv. 20-23 at Walt DisNey CONCert Hall Bet you didn’t know Disney Hall’s massive pipe organ is nicknamed Hurricane Mama. Well, it is, and to celebrate Mama’s 10th birthday, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is featuring three distinct concerts. On Oct. 24-26, former Phil Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen will conduct pieces from Janácek, Saariaho and Sibelius. Renowned organist Olivier Latry will be on hand to accompany the orchestra. On Nov. 20-22, current Music Director Gustavo Dudamel will lead the troops through another set of organ-centric pieces, namely Saint-Saën’s Symphony No. 3, with the help of organist Cameron Carpenter. Carpenter returns on Nov. 23 and joins organ players Carol Williams and Frederick Swann, as well as “Pipedreams” radio show host Michael Barone, for a birthday bash full of organ tunes. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.
After winning raves last season with his contemporary take on Mozart’s The Magic Flute, director Barrie Kosky returns with two oneact operas that run together. Dido & Aeneas, written in the late 17th century by English composer Henry Purcell, follows the tragic romance of Queen Dido and the Trojan prince Aeneas, who must leave her to fight in the Trojan War. Bluebeard’s Castle is a bizarre drama written in 1911 by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Bluebeard is a folk character known for murdering his wives, but his tale is subverted into a disturbing psychological allegory in the opera. The two productions will no doubt feature some twists from Kosky. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or laopera.org.
‘Arguendo’ by
photo courtesy Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE/Bernstein Associates Photography
photo courtesy Music Center
NOv. 8 at WOrlD City
Elevator Repair Service
N o v. 5 - 9 at R E D C at
New York’s Elevator Repair Service is one of those companies that, if you get what they do, you see every show they stage, simply because they approach theater, and the world, unlike others. That was the case with Gatz, a nearly eight-hour version of The Great Gatsby that hit REDCAT in 2012. The company returns to Downtown with Arguendo, in which the ERS team acts out, verbatim, Barnes v. Glen Theatre, a 1991 Supreme Court case brought by a group of go-go dancers who argued that they have a First Amendment right to shimmy in the nude. Expect references to strips clubs, opera houses and Sandra Day O’Connor. At 631 W. Second St. or redcat.org.
Composer and former Oingo Boingo lead singer Danny Elfman comes to the Nokia Theatre with one of the most anticipated shows of 2014: a concert of music from the films of director Tim Burton. It’s not just about the ears: The set-up will feature sketches, drawings and storyboards from some of the 16 collaborations between the two. On the lineup are music and visuals from Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Big Fish, Alice in Wonderland and more. Elfman also has ample backing, including the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra, and L.A. Philharmonic alumnus John Mauceri conducting the Page L.A. Choir. At 777 Chick Hearn Court or nokiatheatrelalive.com.
October 6, 2014
Downtown News 11
40 FOR FALL
photo by Jordan Taylor Wright
Music center enter’s ’s 50th Birthday
Oct. 11 at the Music center Plaza
photo courtesy Of Montreal
Of MOntreal
photo courtesy Grand Park
Have you ever wanted to make messy art or learn a new dance? These and many other interactive experiences await on the Music Center Plaza, as part of the facility’s 50th anniversary celebration. A series of popup events from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. will get people drawing, playing and dancing. There’s an outdoor studio where visitors can create custom prints for free. Or, for $1 apiece, take lessons in dances from around the world. There’s also a food area with communal tables where visitors can sample bites that are representative of Los Angeles. Hey, it’s the Music Center’s birthday, but we get the presents. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org.
O ct. 16 at the Mayan t heatre Do you like jamming out to eccentric Baroque pop music played by a motley crew of musicians who are likely wearing way too much glitter on their faces? If yes, then be sure to catch Georgia-based Of Montreal when the band takes the stage at the Mayan Theatre. Since the late 1990s, the group has made a name for itself playing psychedelic tunes that somehow appeal to indie-label devotees and major corporations alike (the track “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)” appears in an Outback Steakhouse commercial). Of Montreal’s music blends electronic influences with experimental song structures, quirky lyrics and addictive hooks, with an energetic live show to match. At 1038 S. Hill St. or clubmayan.com.
Usher
NOv. 21 at StapleS CeNter For a while there, Usher was one of the biggest stars in the world. The R&B performer notched hit after hit after hit through the early 2000s, though he has been out of the limelight since dropping his last record in 2012. Now Usher returns to Los Angeles on his UR Experience tour, and it’s a good bet that he’ll be showing off his vocal acrobatics and wild dance skills to a screaming crowd at Staples Center. Usher puts on a spectacle of a show with gobs of visual effects and impossible-looking choreography, so it shouldn’t matter whether you remember the words to “Yeah!” or not. At 1111 S. Figueroa St. or staplescenter.com.
12 Downtown News
Will the Los Angeles Dance Project finally give the City of Angels a place on the international dance map? If the Downtown-based troupe can keep up programs like this, then they’ll certainly get people to take notice. The three works start with a new one choreographed by company founder Benjamin Millepied; it features eight dancers and music from Philip Glass. Next up is the U.S. premiere of Emmanuel Gat’s “Morgan’s Last Chug.” Closing the show is William Forsythe’s “Quintett,” which was presented at the company’s debut performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 2012. Bonus: A total of 2,000 tickets will be priced at $25. At 929 S. Broadway or ladanceproject.com.
Nov. 21-30 at the CoNveN tioN CeNter
photo by Gary Leonard
Oct. 24-26 at the theatre at ace hOtel
Los Angeles Auto Show Shall we call it the wheel world? A place for road warriors? A destination for auto focus? Whatever your preferred car-related pun, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to drop it at the auto show. There will be 30 world premieres during the event, including never-before-seen rides from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and BMW. Altogether there will be more than 1,000 vehicles on display, and the event that fills the entire Convention Center will also look at environmentally friendly machines and the car design process itself. So go ahead, roll with it, er, get in gear and head to South Park. Ah, forget it. Just go to the show. Cool fact: The first L.A. Auto Show was in 1907. At 1201 S. Figueroa St. or laautoshow.com.
Oct. 1 at th 8 aNd 22 e Orp he thea um tre
us of Rodney D i n a Ge
ld erfie ng
Nas
The Come dic
s e L e g n A t c L os e j o r P DAnce
October 6, 2014
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photo by M a tt Sala
When it comes to understanding the comedic genius of Rodney Dangerfield, all one really needs to do is watch Back to School (the Triple Lindy!) or revisit his role in Caddyshack. However, the Grammy Museum exhibit goes further. As part of the L.A. Live attraction’s first-ever Comedy Month, the museum looks at the rich career of Dangerfield in an exhibit curated in partnership with his widow, Joan (shown here with Rodney). Items on display will include his 1980 Grammy for the album No Respect, numerous photos and the robe he wore in Easy Money. Expect ample comedy programs at the museum during November, including one focused on Dangerfield and hosted by Michael Bolton (seriously!). At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org.
Walk t r A n ow OCT. 9, NOv. 13 aND DeC. 11 iN The hisTORiC CORe t n ow
photo by Gary Leonard
What hath Saw wrought? That’s the question come Halloween time, and in Downtown Los Angeles, the answer is Arts District theater company Loft Ensemble’s Will You Save Them? Bree Pavey’s world premiere horror show explores the infliction and the enduring of pain, and no, she’s not talking about sitting through an episode of “Utopia” on the Fox network. Instead, there are three strangers: one weeps, one bleeds and one is out cold. Bring a stuffed animal or someone you like to hold tightly. Remember, it’s only a play. At 959 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftsensemble.org
Nov. 2-February 2015 at the Grammy museum
The Downtown Art Walk continues to be one of the defining events of the revitalized Downtown Los Angeles, and though some residents have tired of the crowds, the noise and the partiers, the happening on the second Thursday of each month remains an unparalleled opportunity to show off the creativity of the Central City. Dozens of galleries display paintings, drawings, sculptures and mixedmedia works, while Historic Core restaurants and bars make a killing and the sidewalks are thronged with people. It’s always a good idea to plan a visit by checking out the Art Walk website. Throughout the Historic Core or downtownartwalk.org.
D
Will You Save Them?
photo by JD Ramage
photo courtesy Joan Dangerfield
cuse
through nov. 2 At the Loft ensembLe
Nas may not have the widespread appeal he enjoyed in the mid’90s, but the Street Prophet still has plenty of game. Nas is bringing his flow and poetic storytelling style to the beautiful Broadway theater for a pair of shows, and you can expect two things: a packed house and a brilliant run-through of tracks from 1994’s Illmatic all the way to his most recent work, 2012’s Life Is Good. It’s also worth betting that he’ll slip in a few songs from his yetuntitled new album, which is expected to drop by the end of the year. The show is part of his Time Is Illmatic tour. At 842 S. Broadway or laorpheum.com.
October 6, 2014
Downtown News 13
Encuentro
Festival
The Historic Core’s LATC celebrates the breadth of Latino theater with a festival featuring 19 works. The productions, a collaboration with 150 artists from across the United States and Puerto Rico, range from Pulitzer-winning plays to new experimental shows, in Spanish and English. Highlights include the Chicano-noir thriller Premeditation (shown here), helmed by LATC Artistic Director Jose Luiz Valenzuela; social commentary piece Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers, written and directed by José Torres-Tama; the drama Dreamscape, which features spoken word, beatboxing and dance; and Emilio Williams’ dark comedy Your Problem With Men, a collaboration with Chicago’s all-Latina Teatro Luna. Most tickets are $20 with the promotional code ENC14. At 514 S. Spring St. or thelatc.org.
image courtesy of East West Players
photo by Ed Krieger
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Oct. 12-NOv. 10 at the LOs aNgeLes theatre ceNter ter
The Little Tokyo theater company East West Players closes out 2014 with a dark comedy, Takarazuka!!!, from Susan Stanton. In the play at the David Henry Hwang Theatre, Yuko is the longtime star of the Takarazuka Revue, an allfemale Japanese theater troupe that has staged melodramatic shows for more than a century (the revue actually exists). When she is forced to retire, Yuko moves to the countryside, where she mysteriously falls under the spell of a ghost. Leslie Ishii directs this hybrid love-ghost story, which has allusions to films such as All About Eve and Black Swan in its twisty narrative. At 120 Judge John Aiso St. or eastwestplayers.org.
This ain’t your grandpappy’s bluegrass. Sure, it’s still a subgenre of country music created on fiddles, banjos and guitars, but the organizers of The Blue-grass Situation refer to their beloved sound as “young, exciting and passion-ate,” with nods toward folk and Americana. Whether you’re a follower of the Thou? form or know it in a cursory manner from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the two-day festival has a fine collection of acts. Those taking the stage include the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Josh Ritter, Lord Huron, Blind Pilot and the brilliantly named Shakey Graves. At 929 S. Broadway or thebluegrasssituation.com. photo courtesy Bluegrass Situation
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CHARLI XCX
10/24 » The Mayan
PLACEBO
10/24 » Club Nokia
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October 15 & 16 » Belasco Theater
A SPECIAL HALLOWEEN SHOW
Halloween Night! 10/31 » The Forum
JIMMY EAT WORLD
THE HOLLYWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND PAGE L.A. CHOIR
11/2 » Club Nokia
CONDUCTED BY JOHN MAUCERI
DALEY
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11/6 » Belasco Theater
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Fri. Oct. 31 & Sat. Nov. 1 » Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
November 19 » Shrine Auditorium
11/12 » Shrine Auditorium
FOSTER THE PEOPLE 11/14 » Shrine Auditorium
JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW 11/20 » Theatre at Ace Hotel
SKY FERREIRA
11/20 » Belasco Theater
WS! ) 2 SHO 00 pm
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ALEX CLARE
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14 Downtown News
October 6, 2014
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BalletBoyz
La s s Ba
Nov. 7-9 at the Dorothy ChaNDler PavilioN
ph
photo by Panylotis Sinnos
Nigh t
as companies such as as familiar to Angelenos The BalletBoyz may not be ater, but the British Ailey American Dance The the Bolshoi Ballet or Alvin ers Michael Nunn and mb me former Royal Ballet by 1 200 in ed nd fou e troup over audiences. The com being bold and winning the On ce. dan y William Trevitt is used to rar tempo ing multimedia with con pany is known for combin “Fallen,” choreographed are ws sho n tow wn Do bill for the h a score by French film com by Russell Maliphant wit by ce pie g “Serpent,” a hauntin poser Armand Amar, and Richrlett with a score by Max Sca m Lia choreographer t, as cas n ma 10the m fro ter. Expect plenty of energy . stage design well as unique lighting and sicccenter.org. mu or Ave nd Gra At 135 N.
Oct. 10 at LOt 613
oto by ge Jor Me za
Arts District dance music fans, get ready for a celebration of wobbling bass frequencies. Neighbors, prepare for some migraine headaches. Night Bass LA arrives at Lot 613 with a show headlined by English dance music duo Jack Beats, which specializes in the kind of hypnotic, bass-heavy house tracks you would expect in a glorified warehouse. Also on the bill are AC Slater — the DJ, not the reincarnation of Mario Lopez’s jock character from “Saved By the Bell” — Hannah Watts, Treasure Fingers and several other acts. Two different rooms will be set up for your aural pleasure, but no matter who you see, expect some serious tinnitus for the next couple of days. Of course, you could be smart and bring earplugs. At 613 Imperial St. or hardfest.com.
Hailed as one of Andy Warhol’s most mysterious works, Shadows made its West Coast premiere last month at MOCA’s Grand Avenue location. The exhibit, created in 1978-’79, is one painting comprised of 102 parts. The silkscreened and hand-painted canvases feature two different compositions ranging in color from electric green to a somber brown. The works also have individual ridges and contours. The paintings were culled from photographs of shadows snapped at The Factory, Warhol’s New York City studio. At 250 S. Grand Ave. or moca.org. photo by Brian Forrest. © 2014 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
aze k i m o C ’S e e L n a St ter
‘Voices of Light’ by Los AngeLes MAster ChorALe Marjorie Oct. 19 at Walt Disney cOncert Hall
The original cut of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc was long thought to be lost. Then, in 1981, a copy was discovered in a janitor’s closet in a Norwegian mental institution. The L.A. Master Chorale pays tribute to the film by screening it accompanied by live singing. Artistic Director Grant Gershon will lead the 115-member Chorale through Voices of Light, composed by Richard Einhorn and inspired by the film, which follows the trial and (spoiler alert!) eventual execution of Joan of Arc after she is caught by French clergymen with British loyalties. Prepare for a lot of hauntingly epic singing paired with brutally bleak courtroom scenes. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or lamc.org.
through oCt. 19 at the Mark taPer ForuM
PriMe
In the world premiere Marjorie Prime, Center Theatre Group tries something different. The show uses science fiction themes, but the one-act is ultimately about humanity and interpersonal relationships. It explores artificial intelligence, but gets there on the path of family, loss and memory. Sometimes funny, sometimes tough, often thought-provoking and powered by a strong fourperson cast, Marjorie Prime is unlike anything else on the Taper calendar. Speaking of the calendar, Joe Orton’s farce What the Butler Saw, complete with a psychoanalyst and a nymphomaniac, lands at the Taper Nov. 12-Dec. 21. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.
photo by Craig Schwartz
photo by Jamie Pham
on is growing each year, man and Robin, Adam West L.A.’s mini-version of Comic-C Elvira and the original TV Bat e lud inc nor Ho of sts Gue ing names. Thrones”) will be there, as will eon Greyjoy from “Game of (Th n Alle e Alfi rd. Wa t Bur and ters. There will be booths, a n and a zillion artists and wri Troma Films’ Lloyd Kaufma iversary celebration of the 30th ann ssive ma a and lly), rea s, of Tetris (ye tion costume contest. The celebra sciof comics, anime, gaming and st ckie wa the er eth fi will bring tog find ’ll you s ual ivid ind of collection Hall. in Downtown outside of City or St. At 1201 S. Figueroa comikazeexpo.com.
photo courtesy Stan Lee’s Comikaze
eN the cONveNtiON c O c t. 3 1 - N O v. 2 at nty of interestand this fall’s lineup has ple
October 6, 2014
Downtown News 15
photo by Gary Leonard
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e days, but s are big thes nt hu r y. He launched ge en Scav John Henness by ed at tr ing Race,” es of “The Amaz to those orch n io rs ve ng l day-lo ents, which RaceLA, a loca lar CityRace ev gu re s ld ho now about three in 2004, and ods and take ho or s, hb ig ne c ching for clue occupy specifi t the area sear culou d ab an sh y da or s st out local hi hours. Team ab ng ni aar le s and wer. The Chin solving puzzle does brain po so t s bu rie f, lle of ys art ga ture. Speed pa ting temples, the racers visi s mpetition inha t co en o ev ky n To tow in the Little s op st le hi mpletely new w and more, tions. It’s a co ac tr at . t is ur d to communities clude stores an ique, vibrant un e es th e nc way to experie . At racela.com
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lonnie g. BuncH iii town Hall-los angeles
photo courtesy of Town Hall-Los Angeles
at
Oct. 22 at City Club
The founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will discuss the ever-timely topic of race relations during a luncheon hosted by Town Hall-Los Angeles. Bunch will be in conversation with Karen Grigsby Bates. The talk will focus on whether museums can engage Americans to tackle the toughest subjects dealing with racial issues. Other Town Hall fall highlights include Christine Fair, an assistant professor at Georgetown University, who will discuss U.S. security interests in Pakistan on Oct. 17, and Fresno Mayor and State Controller candidate Ashley Swearengin, who comes Downtown on Oct. 28. Tickets are $55 for Town Hall members, $75 for non-members. At 555 S. Flower St., 51st floor or townhall-la.org.
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Composer Daniel Catán completed five operas before his untimely death in 2011. While he is best known for his final work, an adaptation of Il Postino, it is Florencia en el Amazonas that first drew the attention of American audiences when it debuted in 1996 (it was co-commissioned by L.A. Opera and four other companies). Verónica Villarroel stars as opera diva Florencia Grimaldi, who is traveling by riverboat to a Brazilian theater. She hopes her singing will attract her lover, a missing butterfly hunter, but that plan is put on hold when the boat runs into trouble. The show features baritone José Carbó and soprano Lisette Oropesa, who play the ship’s mate and a journalist hoping to write a book about Florencia, respectively. The whimsical libretto is from Marcela Fuentes-Berain, who was, not coincidentally, a pupil of Catán’s. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org.
ng
Nov. 22-Dec. 20 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
sho
photos courtesy Gra
nd Park
t on Dia ts a head star Grand Park ge holian os, the Mexic de Los Muert rs be em m rs and re day that hono ed, di ve ha ho mily w in friends and fa ng ki Ofrenda. Wor ’ es with Noche de el ng A s ith East Lo rk pa partnership w e cr -a 12 e phics, th om Self Help Gra re ce of a 7-9 p.m. ic us will be the site m ct the dead. Expe epr ny honoring re e nc ong with da and poetry, al Micho, Oaxacan and ec zt senting A d will s. Also unveile acán tradition by local d altars create be 50 colorful . The ps ou gr mmunity artists and co h ug ro th y la on disp altars will be 10 3a s ld ho so y al Nov. 1. That da ation br le s Muertos ce intp.m. Dia de Lo pa ce fa , ic ing, mus with folk danc ing and more. Ave. or At 200 N. Grand g. grandparkla.or
Gro
16 Downtown News
to pho
by
Ph
ilip
Selected Works of Mark Steven Greenfield Through April 2015 at the California African American Museum
Greenfield is best known as the former director of the Watts Towers Arts Center and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. However, like many people who help others in the art world, Greenfield also has his own prodigious visual arts talents. Those are on display at the Exposition Park venue in Lookin’ Back in Front of Me: Selected Works of Mark Steven Greenfield, 1974-2014. The show is based on Greenfield’s decades-long research of and interest in everything from literature and cinema to history, genealogy and African-American stereotypes. At 600 State Drive or caamuseum.org. Gemini, 1973, Mark Steven Greenfield. Collection of Carolyn Langie
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Radio
Nineteenth century Paris meets 21st century Downtown Los Angeles in a multimedia work that takes the stage on three different weekends. In Vox Lumiere: The Phantom of the Opera, musicians, singers and dancers perform new music synchronized with a screening of the 1925 Lon Chaney classic. In the performances on Oct. 10-11, Nov. 21-22 and Dec. 12-13, multiple wraparound screens envelope the audience in the film, while a multi-level set holds live performers. The show also features a story-within-a-story that is intended to complement and juxtapose the film. At 514 S. Spring St. or voxlumiere.com.
photo courtesy of TV on
ing acclaim since form has been garnering uple dio co Ra y e er th ev on s TV um Brooklyn’s g out strong alb kin oc kn s ep ke th nd d next mon , but in 2001, and the ba eds, will be release Se t, or eff ring w ne p’s energy show featu of years. The grou k peek with a highea g sn a gin t sin ge n ul ca ulf s so and some Downtowner first crunchy guitar riffs e s, th ve of oo e gr on y nk be ll fu plenty of on the Radio wi TV . pe im ho eb nc Ad ho e nd Spaceland from frontman Tu gent Theatre, which Re ed et re ish St rb fu ain re M e e coming to th bands to play th ars restoring. Also ar ye W t ld en Co sp e s th ha d nk an Mitchell Fra e 1979 on Nov. 14 Death From Abov venue this fall are Kids on Nov. 20. m. theregenttheater.co At 448 S. Main St. or
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Oct. 22-23 at the Regent Theatre
photo by Johana
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Downtown News 17
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The dance company L-E-V brings an ensemble work with the energy of a rave (and presumably without the drugs) to the REDCAT stage. Set to the driving beats of an original score by Ori Lichtik, House integrates multiple technologies into crossdisciplinary stagings that could suit a techno club or an opera house. In addition to its uses of technology, the company headed by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar has been celebrated for melding movement, music, lighting, fashion and art. At 631 W. Second St. or redcat.org.
October 6, 2014
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photo courtesy of Judas Priest
It’s time to dig out that studded belt and those leather pants, because Judas Priest is back. The legendary metal band returns to Los Angeles on its Redeemer of Souls tour, which happens to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the release of the debut album Rocka Rolla. Judas Priest has sold more than 45 million records in its trailblazing career, and Rob Halford and friends will no doubt receive a hero’s welcome in Nokia Theatre when they launch into “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight” and other hits. Opening is the semi-parody glam metal band Steel Panther, which has gained accolades and notoriety for its over-the-top act and vulgar lyrical content. At 777 Chick Hearn Court or nokiatheatrelalive.com.
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Oct. 13 at ScI-arc What happens when an exponential growth in population clashes with a deteriorating environment? Michael Sorkin calls it an “urban crisis,” and on Oct. 13 the principal at the Michael Sorkin Studio comes to the Arts District campus to discuss how municipalities can be designed and organized. It is one of more than a dozen free lectures that the Southern California Institute of Architecture is presenting this fall. Additional speakers include Hitoshi Abe, who will discuss his informal approach to architecture on Oct. 29, and a Halloween appearance from educator, designer and researcher Jake Matatyaou. At 255 S. Santa Fe Ave. or sciarc.edu/lectures.
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On 364 days of the year, scribbling on the ground at Grand Park will get you in trouble. On Saturday, Oct. 11, you’ll just be part of a very large crowd. That’s because Ryman Arts is bringing back Make Your Mark in the Park. Part of its month-long Big Draw L.A. festival, the Downtown event, which starts at 11 a.m., will have public performances and a suite of what organizers term “participatory drawing activities.” The aim is to turn the public space into a giant experimental drawing studio. Last year more than 3,400 people showed up. At 200 N. Grand Ave. or thebigdrawla.org.
Tuesday, October 7 John Lahr Talks Tennessee Williams at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: Theater critic and certified tastemaker John Lahr, who just wrote a big New Yorker piece on Al Pacino, comes by to talk about his new book examining the life of playwright Tennessee Williams. Wednesday, October 8 Joshua Prince-Ramus at SCI-Arc SCI-Arc, 255 S. Santa Fe Ave., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: New York-based architect Joshua Prince-Ramus pontificates on departures from custom and the new frontier of architecture. Thursday, October 9 Downtown Art Walk Historic Core, (213) 617-4929 or downtownartwalk.org. 5 p.m.: Gallery Row again welcomes Angelenos of all stripes to a gathering of art and community. A highlight this month is the Los Angeles Plein Air Festival, celebrating the tradition of outdoor painting. Latina Procurement and Small Business Summit City Club, 555 S. Flower St. or lalcc.org/2014-latina-pr. 9 a.m.: A bevy of speakers address the Latina business community and highlight a synergistic approach to future business. Nicholas Kristof at Live Talks Business Forums Gensler, 500 S. Figueroa St. or business.livetalksla.org. 7:45 a.m.: The continental breakfast is but the first pleasure of the morning as Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof chats about his most recent book, Half the Sky, which explores the roles of people who are trying to make the world a better place. Saturday, October 11 Make Your Mark in the Park Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. or thebigdrawla.org. 11 a.m.: Ryman Arts invites everyone to scribble on the ground (or at least scribble on paper spread on the ground) in a celebration of sketching. Expect public performances and a suite of participatory drawing activities. Los Masis Bolivia Corazon de America at World City Keck Amphitheatre, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: The World City program returns with Andean folk group Los Masis and their healthy contingent of pan flutes. Pop-Ups! @MusicCenterLA Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: As is custom with any pop-up, today’s affair is a oneday only gathering of print making, dance, cuisine and an odd pop-up museum. It’s a way to celebrate the Music Center’s 50th anniversary.
ROCK, POP & JAZZ Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com/losangeles.
photo by Debra Morrison
7th Annual Halloween Party for Downtown LA Kids 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-2146 or DowntownLA. com/Halloween The property owners of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District invite Downtown L.A.’s children and their families to attend this annual party held on Halloween night at Grand Hope Park at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Enjoy puppet shows, bounce houses, crafts, video games, hot dogs, and “trick-or-treat doors.” Tickets to the event, which is Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m., are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets are free for children younger than 2 years old.
Oct. 6-7, 8 p.m.: Belle and Sebastian will be keeping things nice and restrained. Oct. 10-11, 7 p.m.: The L.A. Bluegrass Situation features big name acts including Carolina Chocolate Drops and Lord Huron. Embrace that high, lonesome sound. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Oct. 7: Thelonius Monk Institute Ensemble Jam Session. Oct. 8: Ou-Amy Denio. Oct. 9: Joshua White Quintet. Oct. 10: Carmen Lundy. Oct. 11: Hands On’Semble with Rhein Percussion. Oct. 12: Julien Le Group. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Oct. 6, 8 p.m.: Q: How do you know if a band is from Venice Beach? A: Oh, they’ll tell you. Magic Giant begins their residency. Oct. 7, 9 p.m.: New York’s Bishop Allen is an indie band and not an ordained member of the priesthood, thus invalidating years worth of phony confessions. Oct. 8, 8 p.m.: Japanese neo-grunge pop-punk outfit Shonen Knife once recorded a song called “Bear Up Bison.” It was one of the few songs ever recorded, and perhaps the best, about a bison. Oct. 8, 9 p.m.: Prodigal bros Kiven return to Beverly Boulevard. Oct. 9, 8:30 p.m.: Somewhere between fantasies of our collective rural past and realities of our present industrialized paradigm, you’ll find the music of Saintseneca. Oct. 10, 9 p.m.: Devendra Banhart DJs as habitual local offenders Kera and the Lesbians have a night to shine. Oct. 11, 9 p.m.: TacocaT is proof that the Pacific Northwest is still making music. Oct. 12, 6 p.m.: With an auspicious last name and a middle name borrowed from an eccentric hip-hop pioneer, what could go wrong for Daniel Bambaata Marley? Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Oct. 11, 9 p.m.: Kill the Noise is like a variety show for EDM fans. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Oct. 10: EDX. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum. org. Oct. 7, 8 p.m.: Bright Eyes bard Conner Oberst drops his latest album. Oct. 8, 8 p.m.: Judith Owen debuts a new album and gives mad props to her native Wales. Oct. 9, 8 p.m.: Unless you already have a ticket to A Conversation With Ray LaMontagne, the only chat you’ll be having is with a scalper.
Honeycut 819 S. Flower St., (213) 688-0888 or honeycutla.com. Oct. 6, 10 p.m.: TGIM. Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. Oct. 11, 7 p.m. and Oct. 12, 12:30 p.m.: Cyber celebrity Hatsune Miku is the focus of an expo, demonstration and overall articulation of the dystopic dimensions of our day and age. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Oct. 6: Modrag, Flash Hits, Electric Children and Ugly Girls. Oct. 7: The Larimers, Poke Da Squid and Moonraker. Oct. 8: Bird Dog, Future Graves and New Bubonic. Oct. 9: Thursday Night Booty. Oct. 10: The Darlings. Oct. 11: Moonshine. Oct. 12: Fools on Stools. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Oct. 7, 10 p.m.: The Makers briefly entertained the idea of gigging out at another venue, but the plaid carpeting at Seven Grand is just too familiar to give up. Oct. 8, 10 p.m.: If the Fran Banish Band’s music is anywhere as whimsical as their name, we’re all in for a magical evening. Oct. 9, 10 p.m.: The Vibrometers dip in for a rare Thursday night event. Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. Oct. 10-11, 7:30 p.m.: As the Lakers’ Championship banners flutter from the rafters, it’ll be easy to imagine you’ve travelled back a decade in time when Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull hit the stage. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Oct. 10: Meatbodies, Hunters, White Fang, No Parents. Oct. 11: RETOX, Doomsday Student, Hot Nerds and Graf Orlock.
FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Oct. 6-9: The typical Somali pirate narrative gets a reboot as Last Hijack blends live action narrative with surrealist animation. Oct. 6-9: Watch German Count Chris Strachwitz journey into the very heart of Americana music in This Ain’t No Mouse Music. Oct. 10-23: Bjork’s Biophilia blends concert footage, art film tactics and the a-structural music of the Icelandic diva herself.
IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D is an eye-popping journey full of, you guesses it, lemurs. Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction. Flight of the Butterflies is visually stunning. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Regal Cinemas 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/ movies. Through Oct. 9: Annabelle (11:55 a.m., 12:30, 2:25, 3, 4:55, 5:30, 7:25, 8, 9:55 and 10:30 p.m.); Gone Girl 912, 12:50, 3:20, 4:30, 6:45, 8:30 and 10:15 p.m.); The Liberator (12:40, 3:40, 6:55 and 10:10 p.m.); The Boxtrolls 3D (3:45 and 9 p.m.); The Boxtrolls (12:35 and 6:15 p.m.); The Equalizer (12:15, 12:55, 3:30, 4:05, 6:30, 7:10, 9:30 and 10:40 p.m.); Mas Negro Que La Noche 3D (12:10 and 6:25 p.m.); Mas Negro Que La Noche (3:10 and 9:40 p.m.); The Maze Runner (12:25, 1:30, 3:25, 4:15, 6:10, 6:40, 9:05 and 9:45 p.m.); This Is Where I Leave You (1:15, 3:55, 7 and 9:25 p.m.); A Walk Among the Tombstones (1:40, 4:40, 7:40 and 10:25 p.m.).
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bob Baker’s Fiesta Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Oct. 8-10, 10:30 a.m. and Oct. 11-12, 2:30 p.m.: Complete with cacti and sombrero-clad locals, the majesty of the American Southwest achieves its truest remembrance in this puppet spectacle. Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. Oct. 9-10, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 11, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 12, 2 p.m.: For four days only, the Australian Ballet invades the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to perform the iconic Swan Lake. This production is choreographed by Graeme Murphy and features a live orchestra. Marjorie Prime Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. Oct. 7-10, 8 p.m., Sept. Oct. 11, 2 and 8 p.m. and Oct. 12, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Artificial intelligence is the topic du jour as this drama tackles issues of intimacy, identity and camaraderie in the age of the synthetic. Through Oct. 19. Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or Continued on next page
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October 6, 2014
Beautiful Music, Different Place
Continued from previous page downtownindependent.com. Oct. 7, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent. The Trip to Bountiful Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org. Oct. 7-10, 8 p.m., Oct. 11, 2 and 8 p.m. and Oct. 12, 1 p.m.: Cicely Tyson returns to the role she won a Tony for in 2013. Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood join her in this mid-century drama. Through Nov. 2. Vox Lumiere’s The Phantom of the Opera Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 4890994 or thelatc.org. Oct. 10-11, 8 p.m.: Vox Lumiere’s steampunk adaptation of this stage classic returns for the weekend.
Hearing classical and contemporary music within the halls of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is often a spectacular experience, but it’s hardly an intimate one. For a closer encounter in a different part of the building, consider concerts held by Le Salon de Musiques, a chamber music series created five years ago by pianist François Chouchan. The concerts (there are nine this season) are performed on the fifth floor of the Chandler and conclude with an informal Q&A session with the musicians as well as champagne and a catered buffet from Patina. The opening concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, features works from composers John Ireland, Frank Bridge and Howard Hanson, played by five musicians including L.A. Opera Principal Cellist John Walz and Principal Violist Yi Zhou. Tickets are $75 (and $39 for students). At 135 N. Grand Ave. or lesalondemusiques.com
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Friday, OctOber 10 Colburn School Faculty Recital Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 7:30 p.m.: Cellist Jacob Braun and pianist Robert Thies perform pieces from Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms.
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.
Sunday, OctOber 12 Brass and Organ Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. 7:30 p.m.: The Disney Hall’s organ comes alive with a lengthy program of pipe-oriented pieces. Colburn Chamber Music Society Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 3 p.m.: Works from Granados, Montero and Brahms will be in the forefront for this season’s first major chamber music performance at the Colburn School.
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thurSday, OctOber 9 Beethoven Cycle Finale with Dudamel and Andsnes Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. Oct. 9-11, 8 p.m. and Oct. 12, 2 p.m.: Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes joins Gustavo Dudamel, the L.A. Phil and the Los Angeles Master Chorale for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, Choral Fantasy and John Adams’ Harmonium.
photo courtesy Le Salon de Musiques
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Huge Crowd at Homelessness Panel Downtowners Come Out in Force for Discussion of Housing, Decentralization and Other Issues By Donna Evans omelessness is a perennial hot-button topic in Downtown Los Angeles, and a new city-county effort to improve conditions on Skid Row, along with concerns that the area is enduring a mental health crisis, have only ratcheted attention higher. That situation probably helps explain why a huge crowd of local stakeholders showed up at a public discussion of homelessness on Monday, Sept. 29. The office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, which organized the event, estimated that 470 people attended the meeting at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. The event brought together politicians, developers, neighbors and medical and mental health workers and others who traverse the 50-block neighborhood. At the center of the discussion was a recently completed document dubbed “Plan for Hope: A Los Angeles Community Response to the Homeless Crisis.” Plan for Hope, assembled by a coalition of area stakeholders but not formally endorsed by Huizar’s office, calls for creating an 18-month pilot project to better coordinate city and county homelessness efforts; appointing a homelessness czar; and holding monthly meetings of all service and housing providers in Skid Row, as well as key city and county departments. The report also asks for a full accounting of what is being spent in Skid Row, and calls for using uniform metrics to track the chronically homeless along with improvements and services provided. Corporate sponsorships, it suggests, could fund mobile showers and bathrooms, which are needed alongside additional trash cans and potable water. “The plan is not a conspiracy. It is not one person’s or one group’s ideas, and it’s not finished. It’s a draft,” Blair Besten, executive director of the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Business Improvement District, told the audience. “It’s ambitious and it
H
should be. It’s a call to collaborate and a call to action.” In a unique twist, audience members were given devices allowing them to respond immediately to questions. The tool revealed that 49% of the crowd considered a homelessness czar to be a good idea. When it came to residential projects, just 27% thought housing for homeless individuals should be mixed with market-rate housing. The topic of keeping homeless individuals in Downtown versus creating services and moving them to other locations was also heavily discussed. The instant response system revealed that only 21% consider Skid Row a good location for additional housing for the homeless. Mike Alvidrez, executive director of Skid Row Housing Trust, which has created dozens of low-income housing projects in the community, said there is a need for regional solutions, but noted that it’s a tough sell politically to export people from Skid Row to other communities. Mike Arnold, executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (he will soon retire from the post), said that over the last five years there has been an effort to decentralize services so that people in need don’t have to come to Skid Row for help. Yet, he noted that these efforts, in particular creating housing, are not easy. “Developing permanent supportive housing is not a short road,” he said. “It takes five to seven years and there’s community resistance to that.” The issue of mental health has gained additional attention since June, when LAPD Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph, who has patrolled Skid Row for 16 years, wrote a guest opinion in Los Angeles Downtown News declaring that the neighborhood is in a “mental health state of emergency.” Marc Trotz, director of Housing for Health for the county Department of Health Services, said his office is looking to get the
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chronically homeless into housing. One tool, he said, is new: using healthcare dollars to house the people who typically revolve through emergency rooms and jails. “We believe it’s a healthcare crisis,” he said, echoing Joseph. The discussion comes as the city and county are partnering in new ways. In August, the city launched an enhanced version of Operation Healthy Streets, a $3.7 million program that will result in deep cleanings of the neighborhood six times a year. As part of the effort, county outreach workers are on the streets, before and after the cleanings, working to persuade homeless individuals to get services. The initial cleanup resulted in more than 100 people accepting medical or healthcare services, according to Huizar’s office. It also resulted in the removal of more than three tons of trash from the streets. As for Plan for Hope, Besten said the community can expect more meetings in the future. The goal is for stakeholders and mental and medical healthcare workers to hear from as many voices as possible. Not just the loudest ones, she said. donna@downtownnews.com
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Banksy’s Giant Rat Scurries Into Downtown How the Anti-Establishment Street Artist’s Work Wound Up in a Corporate Office Tower By Eddie Kim .S. Bank Tower is Los Angeles’ tallest skyscraper. Its tenants include whitecollar law firms and the L.A. offices of its namesake, the fifth-largest bank in the country. So of course there’s irony in the fact that its lobby temporarily holds an artwork from Banksy, the notoriously anti-establishment street artist who has gained fame satirizing capitalism, government and other societal structures. It’s odd to see the artwork in such an environment, cordoned off past a bank of elevators and illuminated by the soft glow of incandescent lights. The image depicts a human-sized rat, its tail curled into a perky “S,” looking up while spraying a can of red paint. On its head is a military beret with a single small star, an accessory made famous by socialist revolutionary Che Guevara. The rat scurried into Downtown thanks to the efforts of Brian Greif and Eva Boros. The duo are producing a documentary, Saving Banksy, chronicling the task of taking the piece known as “Haight Street Rat” off the side of a San Francisco inn and preserving it through professional art restoration processes. Greif was initially hesitant to show the piece at the Downtown high-rise, as several art centers had approached him about exhibiting the rat. In the end, however, he was convinced that it was “too easy” to display it in a gallery alongside other street art. “Putting it in the U.S. Bank Tower was an
U
amazing opportunity to expose people who aren’t familiar with street art,” he said. “This is a great tool for education in that way.” “Haight Street Rat” will remain on view to the public, free of charge, at U.S. Bank Tower (at 633 W. Fifth St.) until the end of November. Escape From the Bay Area The rat appeared on the historic Red Victorian hotel in the spring of 2010, around the time that Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop hit theaters. A new Banksy piece would pop up somewhere in San Francisco seemingly every night, Greif said, so he, like many others, went out hunting for fresh works. “What was really disturbing to me was that they came down as fast as they went up,” Greif said of Banksy’s pieces. San Francisco’s anti-graffiti ordinance put pressure on building owners to whitewash the work or get fined. It took about six months to negotiate with the owner of the Red Victorian to remove the rat, Greif said. The artwork was sprayed on redwood siding, so each panel needed to be cut and pried off the building. The panels were then shipped to Santa Barbara’s Fine Arts Conservation Lab, which did restoration work and applied a coating to protect the piece from factors such as humidity and temperature. Boros and Greif raised nearly $11,000 on Kickstarter for the project. Then came the task of finding an exhibitor. The U.S. Bank Tower connection happened over the summer, when Boros visited L.A. and met with an old friend,
Anastasiya Plotina, who is part of the building management team at the skyscraper. For Plotina, it was a chance to do something different. “Prior to the Banksy display, we have been renting pieces from an art curator,” she said in an email. “We were not in the habit of charging for any of our other pieces and we had no intention of making a profit off this display.” Boros and Greif had some demands: The Banksy piece had to be displayed free to the public and accessible at all times. A slide show of street art from around the world also needed to accompany the piece. That wasn’t an issue for Singapore-based OUE Limited, which bought U.S. Bank Tower last year for $367.5 million. OUE also paid for the transport and mounting of the work, which Greif estimates at about $6,000. Boros said the process went smoothly, and she’s pleased with the tongue-in-cheek dichotomy of having a Banksy in such an unexpected place. “To have Banksy’s rat hung up at the tower, the base of a financial institution, and to have his work presented for free, it’s almost like setting up a camp in enemy territory, if you will,” Boros said. What happens after the rat’s two-month Downtown run is unknown. Boros and Greif are considering taking the work and the slideshow on a tour across the country. Another possibility is that an art institution will take the piece. Also unknown is what Banksy thinks of their
photo by Gary Leonard
Street artist Banksy’s “Haight Street Rat” has been taken off a San Francisco building and is temporarily on display in the lobby of the U.S. Bank Tower at 633 W. Fifth St.
efforts. Greif and Boros reached out to his team, but have never spoken with the artist. What’s clear to them, however, is the need to preserve some noteworthy examples of street art. “Most street artists say 99% of their works are gone,” Grief said. “At some point, people are going to look back and say, ‘We should’ve saved some of this.’” eddie@downtownnews.com
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Designs in the Sky With High-Rise Helipad Regulations Lifted, Architects and Others Look to the Future By Donna Evans ast week, Mayor Eric Garcetti stood on top of a 30-story Downtown Los Angeles building to celebrate the elimination of a decades-old fire code that mandated that all city high-rises have flat roofs for helicopter landings. Though well intentioned, Garcetti and others also called it outdated. The directive, the mayor said, was “one more stupid rule in Los Angeles.” Now that the 1974 requirement has been lifted, architects, planners and others are starting to ponder the design possibilities. Finally there is the chance, they say, to reshape and reuse the city’s skyline. Although the change in the regulation applies citywide, its biggest impact will likely be in Downtown, where numerous high-rises are in the planning stage. The old rule, known as Regulation 10, applied to buildings more than 75 feet tall. Although flat roofs are still allowed, the change gives developers the freedom to move away from a concrete slab and install a sloping roof, a spire or something else as long as they include enhanced safety features in other parts of the building. Those measures, said L.A. Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas, include a dedicated fire service elevator, quick-response sprinkler heads, a video camera surveillance system in the elevators, a fire control room and wider stairways for evacuating the building. The old system thwarted innovation, Garcetti said at the event on Monday, Sept. 29, on the top of the AT&T Center. The revision, he added, means Los Angeles is taking the handcuffs off architects and allowing them to be as creative as their peers in skyscraper-loving Chicago and New York, not to mention international cities. One of those eager to work with the new regulation is Rob Jernigan, managing principal of the Los Angeles office of architectural giant Gensler. The company has local headquarters in City National Plaza and has worked on projects including the (flat-roofed) Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott hotel tower at L.A. Live. Jernigan said that during a recent visit to Manhattan he stood on the roof of a tower and enviously looked down at all the “fun” rooftops around him that offered gardens, green spaces and communal areas. Los Angeles, given its weather, should be known for creative rooftops featuring outdoor amenities, he said. “I would love to see a bunch of parks in the
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With the elimination of helipad requirements, part of a decadesold Los Angeles fire code, architects now have more design options for high-rise rooftops.
photo by Gary Leonard
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sky,” said Jernigan. “Roofs should absolutely be habitable spaces for people.” New Opportunity The old rules were intended to allow for helicopter rescues in the event of a fire. However, that isn’t as easy as it might seem. Jernigan noted that, in speaking with helicopter pilots, he was told, “The last thing you ever want to do is land a helicopter on a burning building,” given how a blaze’s updraft could jostle an aircraft. The changes came about after a group of people was convened by Garcetti to work with his office, 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and representatives from the Building and Safety and Fire departments. Behind-thescenes efforts, though, have been going on for years. Under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, thenPlanning Commissioner Michael Woo urged officials to scrap the flat-roof policy. Fire Department brass balked, citing safety concerns. Huizar said the revised code will allow Downtown buildings to be more distinctive and will reflect the city’s vision, progress and creativity. The skyline, he said, should offer more than “rectangular boxes built to soaring heights.” Architects from Gensler were among those
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who worked with designers and Fire Department officials for years to offer input on how the code should be modified, Jernigan said. So did members of other architecture firms including Downtown’s AC Martin. Over at developer Mack Urban, there was so much input from CEO Paul Keller that Garcetti joked the new rule should be called “the Keller code.” The revised code is also an indicator that city and Fire Department officials are working with engineers, architects and developers in a new way, said Chris Martin, CEO of AC Martin. Fire inspectors used to come in after a project was finished, he said, which could mean millions of extra dollars to revise something that could have been avoided if all parties had been talking from the beginning. “There was a major disconnect,” said Martin. Martin’s firm has been at the forefront of the new code. AC Martin and developer Korean Air previously received a green light from the city to use a sloping roof at the $1.1 billion Wilshire Grand replacement. The 73-story tower is scheduled to open in 2017. Martin called the change overdue, and also foresees a sea of green roofs with amenities
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ranging from parks to swimming pools. He said there is a financial upside, too: Helipads can cost $250,000 to $2 million, and he predicts the savings will lead to aesthetic innovation. The timing works out, Jernigan said, for phase two of Metropolis, a massive Genslerdesigned South Park effort from Shanghaibased Greenland Group. In addition to phase one, which will bring a 38-story condominium building and a 19-story hotel to the 6.33-acre parcel along Francisco and Eighth streets, the company is building two additional towers, at 54 and 40 stories tall. Will Wright, director of government and public affairs at the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects, lauded the decision to toss the old code. In the past, he said, design was frequently the last priority when it came to constructing buildings. That should not be the case for a global city such as Los Angeles. “Design affects how a city functions and looks,” he said. “If I’m walking down the street, I want to feel good about living here. The better you feel, the more civically engaged you’ll be.” donna@downtownnews.com
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AROUND TOWN, 2 including a foraging lesson from expert Emily Ho, “The Art of Spirit Making” from Greenbar Distillery, a pastamaking lesson from chef Steve Samson, and a seminar on urban farming from Sow Swell. Artisanal L.A.’s fall show runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Advance tickets are $12 for a single day or $20 for the weekend. Tickets at the door are $15. More information is at artisanalla.com.
Sixth Street Viaduct Meeting Monday
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nother public update on one of Downtown’s biggest projects is coming: On Monday, Oct. 6, a meeting about the Sixth Street Viaduct replacement will take place at 6 p.m. The session at the Puente Learning Center, at 501 S. Boyle Ave. in Boyle Heights, will offer information on the $400 million project, which will result in the razing of the existing 81-yearold structure and its replacement with a bridge being designed by HNTB. In July, city officials released new renderings for the replacement, and plans call for bike ramps, a 50-foot high staircase to a viewing deck, 65foot arches and connections to the Los Angeles River. Demolition is expected to begin early next year, with construction complete by 2018. During that time, numerous intersections will be upgraded around the bridge to accommodate traffic flow. More information is at sixthstreetviaductreplacement.org.
Outcry Leads to New Look for Arts District Project
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hen the designs for a huge proposed Arts District project were unveiled this summer, neighbors objected loudly, saying the look of the 472-unit 950 E. Third St. would not fit in the neigh-
borhood. Thus, developers Legendary Development and Associated Estates have scrapped the vision and come up with something that, so far, is generating a favorable response. Kevin Hampton, Associated Estates’ vice president of development, displayed new renderings at a Sept. 24 meeting of the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council’s Arts District caucus. He said the developers listened to concerns about a lack of green and communal space and created a public walkway from Third Street through the complex to Traction Avenue. They also turned plans for vehicular lanes connecting Third to Traction into pedestrian areas. Hampton said they intend to bring independent businesses to the more than 20,000 square feet of retail space, and noted they already said no to inquiries from CVS and other chains. Prominent local developer Yuval Bar-Zemer, who had opposed the project, said the new iteration is “a great step forward and a huge relief.”
New Shopping Map Pinpoints 50 Indie Retail Businesses
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o many stores have opened in Downtown in the last few years that a person can easily lose track of who sells what and where. That was the thinking of Kuo Yang, owner of Brigade, a boutique at 510 W. Seventh St. that offers men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Thus, Yang and his marketing director, Cinnia Finfer, created a map that highlights 50 retail outlets, what they sell and where they are. In talking with nearby store owners, Yang, who opened Brigade in 2011, recognized that people want to collaborate, not compete with each other, and they would all benefit from increased pedestrian traffic. Finifer designed the map, which is available in print form and online at dtlarendezvous.com and Brigadela. com/shop-dtla. “We personify the L.A. market,” Yang said. “We want to inspire more people to come down here and check out what everyone’s talking about.”
The Central City Crime Report A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities By Donna Evans n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.
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Cell Phone Problems: A woman was pushed from behind while talking on her cell phone as she walked on Olive Street
near Sixth Street at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. The phone fell to the ground and, before she could grab it, the unidentified man picked it up and ran off. Smash and Grab: Burglars shattered the front glass door to Jo’s Liquor, at 333 W. Pico Blvd., between 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 and 7 a.m. the following morning. They made off with $2,300
October 6, 2014
Settlement Reached in Huizar Sexual Harassment Suit By Donna Evans sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Downtown City Councilman José Huizar by a former top aide has been settled. Michael Eisenberg, an attorney for Francine Godoy, Huizar’s former deputy chief of staff, said on Wednesday, Oct. 1, that a “global settlement” had been reached. “The lawsuit has been dismissed against all parties. The parties are moving forward and can’t discuss the matter any further,” Eisenberg said. Eisenberg would not reveal terms of the settlement. Godoy sued the councilman and the city last fall, claiming Huizar said her job depended on granting him sexual favors, which she refused. The complaint alleged that Huizar engaged in a “campaign of sexual harassment and retaliation” against Godoy, who left Huizar’s office in the spring. During her time in his office, her salary increased by approximately $90,000. Huizar, who is running for a third full city council term against four contenders including County Supervisor Gloria Molina, has denied any illegal behavior. However, he has acknowledged having an “occasional and consensual relationship” with Godoy. Huizar spokesman Rick Coca would
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worth of cash and cigarettes. School Trouble: An unidentified man entered the boy’s locker room at Cathedral High, at 1253 Bishops Rd., and stole cell phones, computers and other electronic equipment from 20 students. A surveillance camera captured the man taking the property at 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. Apartment Burglary: A man left open the front door of his apartment, in the 500 block of South San Pedro Street, from 9 p.m. on Sept. 21 to 9 a.m. the next morning. He returned home to find $300 worth of jewelry missing.
photo by Gary Leonard
A lawsuit filed against 14th District City Councilman José Huizar by his former deputy chief of staff Francine Godoy was settled last week.
not comment on the matter. Robert Alaniz, a spokesman for the law firm handling Huizar’s case, Walsh & Associates, also acknowledged the settlement but would not reveal details. Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Attorney Mike Feuer, confirmed the lawsuit has been dismissed, but said that the city paid no money in the settlement. It is unknown if Huizar personally paid any money to settle the matter. The settlement allows Huizar and Godoy to avoid a trial. A court date had been slated for the day before the primary election in March. donna@downtownnews.com
Unprovoked Attack: Members of a Riverside family shopping at Santee Alley were attacked by gang members on Sept. 21. The victims suffered blows to the head, a broken arm and a broken tailbone. Before the attack ensued one of the suspects said, “We kill fools from Riverside.” Police arrested several suspects at the scene. Don’t Leave Things in the Open in Your Car: A person who left a camera, jewelry and clothes in a car parked at Fourth and San Pedro streets in the early morning hours of Sept. 23 returned to the vehicle to find a window smashed and the goods gone.
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donation pick-Up ST. VINCENT de Paul Thrift Store. For free pickup by truck of your donations 1-800-974-3571. 210 North Avenue 21, Los Angeles 25% off w/ this ad. Expires 10-12-14. health & fitness DTLA FITNESS is a Personal Training/Nutrition Counseling business owned and operated by NASM Certified PT and Nutrition Specialist, Jodi Frazier. Offering a variety of training options, nutrition counseling, meal planning/preparation, DTLA Fitness has a plan to fit your lifestyle, your schedule, and your budget. www.dtlafitness.com dtlafitnessinfo@gmail.com IG: @ jodilynette 310-818-3437 NEED ThERAPy SERVICES for your child with Autism? Call today! www.buildingblockresolutions.com (424) 272-5238
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LEGAL fictitioUs BUsiness name Fictitious Business name statement File no. 2014233524 The following person is doing business as: 1) WHAT’S YOuR FuNCTION?W.Y.F.?, 5647 ADObe RD #57, TWeNTyNINE PALMS, CA, 92277, are hereby registered by the following registrant: SHASHATIA
GUThRIDGE, 5647 ADOBE RD #57, TWeNTYNINe PALMS, CA, 92277, This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 08/19/2014. This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on August 19, 2014. 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. 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, and 10/13/2014. Fictitious Business name statement File no. 2014256963 The following individuals are doing business as: Grand Class
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Fictitious Business name statement File no. 2014259858 The following individuals are doing business as: Friend of a Friend, 220 W. 5th St., unit 806, Los Angeles, CA 90013 are hereby registered by the following registrants: Sarah Smith, 220 W. 5th St., unit 806, Los Angeles, CA 90013 and Shaheen Seth, 220 W. 5th St., unit 806, Los Angeles, CA 90013. This business is conducted by a married couple. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/15/2006. This statement was filed with Dean C. Logan, County Clerk of Los Angeles, and Monique Davis, Deputy, on September 15, 2014. 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
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October 6, 2014 rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 09/29, 10/06, 10/13, and 10/20/2014. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014260803 The following person is doing
business as: Digital Capture LA, 399 Crane Blvd., LA, CA 90065, is hereby registered by the following registrant: Edward Glendinning, 399 Crane Blvd., LA, CA 90065. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant has not commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above. This statement was filed with
DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on September 16, 2014. 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
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• 5 minutes from shopping • 9 miles from downtown Albuquerque • 8817 4th Street, NW
For appointment call Alex Sanchez or cell 505.362.6488
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This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk, and by Walter Williams, Deputy, on September 29, 2014. 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. 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, and 10/27/2014.
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PuPu Platter, 5
Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore! It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r 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 Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s 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.
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On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon
museum Tower
225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 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)
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
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
with the freedom and self-confidence to say whatever he wants, and a pension that means he doesn’t have to worry about the repercussions. Don’t be surprised if he goes out the political equivalent of Slim Pickens’ character who screams “Yahoo!” as he rides the nuclear bomb toward the ground at the end of Dr. Strangelove. In other words, Parks isn’t leaving quietly. Will They Implement 2020 Report Ideas Before 2020?: On Sept. 26, the council’s Rules and Elections Committee briefly discussed a pair of reports authored by the Los Angeles 2020 Commission. While that sounds like a positive, the timing is strange: The commission’s “A Time for Truth,” which lambasted the city for numerous missteps, came out in January. The follow-up “A Time for Action,” which offered a series of ideas to create jobs and make a better L.A., was released April 9. In May the 2020 authors, including current L.A. Times Publisher Austin Beutner and respected uber-lawer Mickey Kantor, appeared before the horseshoe. Then… crickets. Followed by more crickets. Wesson, who formed the 2020 panel in the first place, chairs the Rules and Elections Committee, and used the recent meeting to shift several 2020 recommendations to other committees for future discussion. This sounds like action, but then again, why didn’t he do this after the May gathering? What is being done now that couldn’t have happened four months ago? Will this mark the start of serious consideration of the reports? Or is it political cover to claim that the council made a good-faith effort? And did the fact that Beutner took the Times gig in August have anything to do with it? Could I add a sixth straight question to this string? About the only thing certain is this: The council may definitely possibly consider one or none or some of the 2020 recommendations and move at a glacial pace to maybe or maybe not do something to perchance improve Los Angeles. Hazy on Deasy: When is widespread respect not enough to guarantee you keep your job? When you’re the superintendent of the LAUSD. That’s life for John Deasy, who took the post atop the 700,000-student district in 2011 and has been credited for numerous educational improvements. Still, the powerful union United Teachers Los Angeles likes the progressive Deasy about as much as Oscar Best Picture voters like the Transformers franchise. While that’s old news, the results of a recent school board election mean a majority of the seven-member panel are more closely aligned to the union than the supe. Plus, opponents are wielding Deasy’s well-intentioned but ultimately troubled iPad purchasing effort like a weapon. They know an opportunity when they smell one. Deasy’s got a lot of supporters who rallied behind him during previous clashes with the board. The question is, will they have enough sway as the school board and the UTLA embark on a pitchforks and torches campaign? One can only hope that, during the coming muck, people avoid the cliché that they are “doing what’s best for children.” Whenever they trot out that line, they’re usually doing what’s best for themselves. Wrong Way Paul: Poor Paul Tanaka. Former Sheriff Lee Baca’s second in command has been slammed for, among other things, his purported lack of oversight of some brutal jail violence. During the June primary election Tanaka received just 15% of the vote, and only advanced to the runoff because Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell got a shade under the 50% needed to win outright. How bad does it look for Tanaka? So bad that there were recently a round of news stories about Tanaka still running. When you’re actually on the ballot in the runoff, but it qualifies as news that you hope to win, that doesn’t bode well. If there’s a bright side, it’s that Tanaka recently posted a 65-second video on YouTube, and while the message is forgettable, 15 seconds in he lifts a coffee cup, moves it out of the screen, then a second later raises his hand again and, abracadabra, it’s gone! I spent the rest of the clip wondering if it would return. David Copperfield’s got nothing on Tanaka’s Magic Coffee Cup. Then again, many think the better trick might be if Tanaka just disappears. regardie@downtownnews.com