October 29, 2018 I VOL. 47 I #44
ex-staffer sues huizar Page 6
reviewing ‘dear evan hansen’
Skid Row's Staggering Crisis of Homeless Families Record Numbers of Children Reported on Streets and in Missions photo by Gary Leonard
See Page 8 Joel Guzman and his 4-year-old son Romeo in a meeting room at the Union Rescue Mission.
Page 16
inside this week
Last Minute Office Parties
SEE PAGES 10-14
THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972
2 DOWNTOWN NEWS
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AROUND TOWN
Another Pop-Up Pops Up in Downtown
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he trend of colorful, experiential, Instagram-focused pop-ups isn’t over in Downtown Los Angeles. The newest one is Happy-Go-Lucky, which launches this week at 606 S. Olive St. near Pershing Square. The Happy-Go-Lucky space debuts on Thursday, Nov. 1, and runs through Dec. 23. Spaces in the pop-up include the “Diamond Room” with kaleidoscope-like effects, one filled with bright yellow flowers, a pink beach, and the “White Kingdom” room, which the organizers promise will feature real snow. Entry is $38 and admission tickets are timed. The pop-up comes from Sunnyhues Entertainment, a New York-based events company. Tickets and more information are at sunnyhues.com.
Gilmore Sells Continental Building
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eveloper Tom Gilmore was at the forefront of the Downtown residential boom. Now, his Gilmore Associates has sold the first project he brought online. The 12-story Continental Building at 408 S. Spring St. has been purchased by an enti-
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ty identified as Continental DTLA. The new owners, whose principals are linked to the firm Rebel Hospitality, which owns multiple hotels in Chicago, have not disclosed any plans for the property. In a statement to Los Angeles Downtown News, a spokesperson for Continental DTLA said, “Our team is in discussions about plans for the structure and will share those details in the near future. We look forward to working collaboratively with our local stakeholders, and to contributing to the ever burgeoning community that makes up the DTLA Historic Core.” Designed by John Parkinson, the Continental Building opened in 1904 and was considered Los Angeles’ first skyscraper. In 2000 Gilmore turned it into apartments as the first property in his Old Bank District development.
Psychology School Finds New Downtown Home
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decade ago, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology opened a Downtown campus. The experiment must have worked, because the mental health-focused graduate university has committed to another 10 years in the Central City, though it is moving to a new home. The Chicago School, which offers degrees in behavioral sciences, announced recently that it will relocate to the Aon Center at 707 Wilshire Blvd., leaving a space at 617 W. Seventh St. “We’ve really had a decade of tremendous success and growth,” school President Michele Nealon, Ph.D., told Los Angeles Downtown News. “It’s been such
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Performers Announced for Hip-Hop Festival
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ome of the biggest names in hip-hop will be coming to Exposition Park. Recently, organizers of the music festival Rolling Loud announced the lineup for the two-day event that will take place at Banc of California Stadium on Dec. 14-15. Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Cardi B and Lil Uzi Vert will serve as headliners, and more than 80 acts are scheduled to perform. The festival originated in Miami in 2015 and has since expanded to locations including the Bay Area. This will mark its first stop in Los Angeles. Two-day passes start at $200. Additional information is at rollingloud.com.
Soho House Team Takes Office Space at Row DTLA
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he massive Row DTLA continues to fill its office space. Property owner Atlas Capital recently announced a trio of leases for the 30-acre complex at Seventh and Alameda streets in the Industrial District. The biggest is hospitality company Soho House, which is taking 16,000 square feet for its design team.
Soho House is developing a Downtown location, the 48-room, seven-story Soho Warehouse nearby at 1000 S. Santa Fe Ave.; it is expected to open next summer. Additionally, apparel industry consultant Avery Dennison Retail Branding and Information Solutions signed a five-year lease for 3,600 square feet of space, and development consultancy firm Gardiner & Theobald is moving its offices from Beverly Hills to 7,100 square feet of space in Row.
Skid Row Arts Festival This Week
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he small but thriving Skid Row arts community takes center stage on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 3-4, with the ninth annual Festival for All Skid Row Artists. Taking place in San Julian Park, the festival will include music, poetry, dance and spoken word performances. The festival, which is free and runs noon-4 p.m. each day, is produced by the longtime arts and activist organization the Los Angeles Poverty Department. The festival is not the only Skid Row-centric event this week. The Skid Row Neighborhood Council-Formation Committee is joining with the SRO Housing Corporation and the County Department of Mental Health to host a town hall meeting on mental health. It takes place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the James Wood Community Center at 400 E. Fifth St. Dr. Jonathan Sherin, director at the Department of Mental Health, is among those scheduled to attend.
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EDITORIALS
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OCTOBER 29, 2018
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
The Still-High Cost of Downtown Housing
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his month, the developer of the 825 South Hill project announced its pricing. Units in the 53-story building, which is expected to open in a few months, begin at $2,330 for a 540-square-foot one-bedroom apartment. This follows on the heels of the debut last month of Circa; the 648 apartments in a pair of South Park high-rises start at $2,800. These are not outliers. Many new Downtown Los Angeles buildings have units where rents are more than $4 a square foot. There is nothing wrong with a developer building luxury housing and charging rates that the market will bear. However, we continue to be disappointed that the development community and local political and business leaders have been unable to gain any traction in the quest to create housing that is affordable to a wider swath of renters. In particular, Downtown continues to suffer from a severe shortage of workforce housing. This is not low-income housing, the need for which is frequently and rightfully noted, as too many people across the entirety of Los Angeles are unable to afford even the cheapest apartments in a market where demand far outpaces supply. Rather, workforce housing refers to residences for middle-income earners, whether they are administrative assistants, teachers, employees of manufacturing businesses, etc. A long-term dearth of workforce housing will continue to have negative impacts as Downtown grows. The neighborhood remains the jobs center for Los Angeles County, with hundreds of thousands of people working here. Yet increasingly only those at the upper end of the economic spectrum can afford to rent a unit. Middle-income earners frequently make too much to receive governmental housing aid, but often can’t afford a residence in the market-rate projects that are coming online. Frequently they must live outside the community and drive to Downtown, contributing to gridlock and pollution. If these individuals could afford to reside in the area, then they could walk or take a DASH or other bus to their job. This page has touched on the issue before, and we’re not the only ones. Last December, City Controller Ron Galperin penned an Op-Ed in Los Angeles Downtown News titled “A Vital Need for More Workforce Housing.” Resolving this situation will be complicated, especially as the new Downtown buildings charging market rates fill up. Still, the solution will only come after people begin seriously talking about the problem, and there is very little discussion right now. City leaders have been far more focused on building affordable housing. Again, that’s important, but this should not be an either/or scenario. Elected leaders and the development community need to draw attention to this issue and explore ways to create more workforce housing in Downtown. Perhaps there are development incentives available; if not, there ought to be. Maybe the permitting and approvals process can be streamlined for those who embark on these kinds of projects. Maybe the solution lies partly in creating micro-units. Downtown is a better place when people from a variety of economic strata live here. It’s time to make sure middle-income earners are part of the community’s long-term future.
Central Library
Kwame Anthony Appiah • Author The Lies That Bind
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COMMENTS
Regarding the article “The Past, The Present, the Spectacle, the Speculation and José Huizar,” by Jon Regardie
some actual shade trees in your design package? The bigger the better! —Katherine McNenny
I rarely agree with José Huizar on policy, but there is no doubt that he is a fantastic representative for his district. Even if this complaint should turn out to be more than a perceived slight, Huizar’s accomplishments far outweigh any imaginary discrimination. —Paul Tolbert
Regarding the article “Library Foundation Announces Programs Director,” about a hire in the wake of the firing of ALOUD head Louise Steinman, by Sean P. Thomas
Regarding the article “South Park Hospital to Get $215 Million Renovation,” by Nicholas Slayton To the California Hospital design team: Your current renderings should have shade trees pictured out front of the grand entrance of the hospital. I recently attended a presentation of your project and pulled someone on your team aside to speak about the importance of adding to our DTLA tree canopy and how palm trees do nothing to mitigate the effects of climate change that is only going to be intensifying in our urban core. I noticed you had one of the patient waiting room walls decorated with leafy tree branches, and the person doing the presentation even spoke about how just looking at green leafy foliage can improve health. Instead of pictures of trees on a wall intended to improve health, how about EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre
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OCTOBER 29, 2018
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Happy City Hall-oween XI The Seat of Local Government Turns Into a Fright-Filled Funhouse By Jon Regardie t’s hard to find a more impressive building in Downtown Los Angeles than City Hall. The edifice is stately and commanding, a landmark for nearly a century. For 364 days each year, City Hall serves as the focal point of local government. On
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THE REGARDIE REPORT Oct. 31, it is taken over by sinister forces, and not just the ones earning city salaries. In honor of Halloween, here is a completely made-up guide to the funhouse inhabited by figures including Mayor Eric Gargoyle, City Controller Ron Gal-gremlin, and Councilmen Mike Boo-nin, Mitch Ogre’Farrell and Gil Cyclops-dillo. Something Wicked This Way Comes: You enter City Hall on Halloween and hear voices cackling. It’s coming from the rotunda. You approach and the room darkens, with the only illumination provided by the light of a full moon. You see three figures standing around a large, smoking cauldron. You think you’ve stumbled upon a witches’ heath, but then realize this is much, much worse. There are no pointed hats, and instead it’s a trio of figures in $3,000 suits — you’ve come across the lobbyists’ heath! “Hand of senator/
Toe of shill,” the lobbyists chant as they toss $100 bills into the cauldron. “You there councilman/Carry this bill!” Flames erupt from the pot and the lobbyists pat each other on the back and spark up cigars. Run! Saving This Seat: You race around a corner, out of breath. You see a door cracked open, and inside is a throne. You approach, but a man blocks your path. “I’m saving this seat for my wife,” he says. You look perplexed — this is a public building, so you try to step around him. He puts an arm out. “This isn’t for you,” he intones in a stern voice. “I’m holding it for my wife.” The throne looks plush and offers a great view. You think you could be comfortable in it, possibly for years. You try again to reach it, but he’s working hard to keep you out. “I SAID I’M SAVING THIS FOR MY WIFE! GO FIND ANOTHER SEAT!” You glimpse a sign over the throne reading “14th District,” and you realize what’s happening: It’s City Councilman José Huizar, and this is his council seat, and he’s trying to save it for his wife Richelle who is running to replace him in 2020. “NOT YOU!!!!” he screams, and at this a cascade of supporters race in and stand behind him, and quickly use dollar bills to build a tall barrier between you and the 14th District seat. Dejected, you leave.
Convenience
Traveling Man: You decide to talk to the mayor about what’s happening in City Hall. You approach his office, open the door and hear the speaker system playing “Hail to the Chief.” Why could that be? You step to his assistant and say you’d like a word with the mayor. “I’m sorry, he’s stumping in Minnesota today,” she answers. You ask for a meeting tomorrow. “I’m sorry, he’s stumping in Mississippi,” she responds. The next day? “He’s stumping in Oklahoma,” she answers. The day after that? “South Carolina,” she harrumphs. Suddenly, she starts spitting out states he
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visited recently or will go to in the near future. “Nevada! Ohio! Texas!” she shouts. “Arizona! Florida! New Hampshire! Iowa!” The list goes on and on and on. You wonder when the mayor has time to run Los Angeles. Disappearing Act: Can anyone in City Hall help you? You head to the fourth floor. In the hallway you hear the sound of money. You follow it to a door, which you carefully open. Inside is a well-appointed office that smells a little horse-y and a little Valley, Continued on page 9
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Former Staffer Sues Huizar Ex-Employee Claims Harassment and Retaliation in Wake of Alleged Affair. Councilman Strongly Denies Allegations By Sean P. Thomas former City Hall staffer filed a lawsuit against 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and the city last week, alleging that she endured harassment and retaliation from the councilman after voicing concerns that Huizar was having an extramarital affair with another staff member. Huizar forcefully denied the allegations, which also included purported political and ethical violations. Huizar claimed the suit is politically motivated. Mayra Alvarez, who began working for Huizar eight years ago, charged in her lawsuit that Huizar demoted her after she returned from maternity leave because she voiced discomfort in doing preliminary work on a City Council campaign for his wife, Richelle Huizar. The lawsuit, prepared by attorney Terrence Jones and filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 22, also charged that Huizar retaliated against Alvarez after she expressed concern that the councilman was allegedly having an affair with a staffer, and that the employee, whose identity has not been revealed, was receiving favorable treatment. The alleged affair has caused “friction” within his City Council staff, according to the lawsuit. Alvarez began working for Huizar in 2010 as an intern, and took a full-time job in the office after graduating from high school. In August 2015 she was promoted to executive assistant and scheduler. The lawsuit claims that the retaliation included an increase in workload and a demotion to the role of office manager. Alvarez, who now works in the office of 51st District state Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo, is seeking financial compensation, as well as attorney fees. Huizar in a statement dismissed the lawsuit as “absolute nonsense” and said it makes “outlandish accusations that are completely false.” “It is nothing more than a hit piece orchestrated by political operatives who seek to undermine all the good work I’ve accomplished
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A lawsuit was filed against Downtown Councilman José Huizar by an ex-employee last week, accusing him of harassment and retaliation. Huizar, who denied the charges, was sued by a former staffer in 2014.
on behalf of my constituents,” the statement, attributed to Huizar and sent by Robert Alaniz, a spokesman for his attorney, reads. “I find it suspicious that these claims have surfaced now when my wife has announced her candidacy for my seat. This further supports that this is politics at its worst.” When asked if Huizar has engaged in an extramarital affair, Alaniz emailed a second statement, also attributed to Huizar, that says, “While I can’t comment much on this issue because of pending litigation, I can say that I categorically strongly deny every allegation in the lawsuit and find them ludicrous and absurd at best.” News of the lawsuit was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Previous Allegations This is not the first time Huizar has faced these kinds of allegations. In 2013, another onetime employee, former deputy chief of staff Francine Godoy, sued Huizar for sexual harassment. The councilman acknowledged an extramarital affair, but denied allegations that he interfered in her bid for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees after she refused his sexual advances. The case was settled in October 2014 with the city paying no money. It is unknown if a private payment was made to Godoy. The city in that instance approved allocating up to $200,000 for Huizar’s legal defense. Alvarez’s lawsuit comes just a month after Richelle Huizar announced her candidacy for the District 14 seat. José Huizar will be termed out in 2020. A primary election takes place in March of that year. Additionally, a discrimination complaint was filed against Huizar this summer on the website MyVoiceLA. The website was created to allow city employees to anonymously file complaints of harassment, retaliation or discrimination against people who work for the city. Council President Herb Wesson has said Continued on page 20
OCTOBER 29, 2018
DOWNTOWN NEWS 7
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Makeover to Remove Water From Cal Plaza Watercourt
The 1.5-acre Watercourt at California Plaza will undergo a renovation beginning early next year. A green lawn will replace much of the current water feature.
Big Changes in Store for Site of Popular Summer Concert Series By Sean P. Thomas unker Hill’s California Plaza Watercourt, which for more than three decades has been the site of an outdoor summer concert series, will undergo a major overhaul beginning early next year. When it’s completed the music will remain, though the water element will be gone. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Grand Performances, which programs and runs the concert series, announced that the work will turn the 1.5-acre Watercourt into “a modern, and multifunctional space.” The project, which is expected to take 24 weeks, involves ripping out the water component and replacing it with a green lawn. The goal, according to Mari Riddle, executive director of Grand Performances, is to bring audiences closer to the performers while also making the plaza more walkable. Currently, the stage in the middle of the water feature and the audience are about 43 feet apart. “It is tough to project and reach people who are that far away,” Riddle said. “The idea is to bring people closer to the action.” The Watercourt has been hosting evening, weekend and noon concerts for 32 years. It stages several dozen shows each summer
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and some events draw more than 5,000 people. Events are divided between the stage in the plaza fountain and a stone amphitheater. No changes to the amphitheater are planned. By adding the lawn space, Riddle said that Grand Performances will increase concert seating from 400 to 600 chairs. Half of the lawn space will be reserved for people standing. It has not been determined if the lawn will be grass or a synthetic material. There are also plans to add outdoor furniture, trees and potted plants. Currently the plaza, which is surrounded by shops and overlooked by the One and Two California Plaza towers, can hold a maximum of 6,000 people. Plaza Commons Inc., a nonprofit partnership comprising Rising Realty Partners (the owner of One California Plaza), CIM Group (the owner of Two California Plaza) and the Omni Hotel, will manage the redesign. Tyson Strutzenberg, chief operating officer for Rising, said the team has been working on the plan for nearly 10 months. The architecture firm Gensler is designing the renovation. Neither Strutzenberg nor representatives of Grand Performances would reveal the cost of the renovation. However a report submit-
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image courtesy CRA/LA
ted to the CRA/LA governing board in September put the price tag of the work at $4.5 million. Strutzenberg said the renovation will, in the long term, reduce repair and maintenance costs, which he said have been escalating as the nearly 30-year-old fountain ages. In addition, removing the fountain pool will address structural issues caused by leaks. Plaza Commons estimated that it would otherwise cost $4 million in the long term to maintain and repair the pool. “This project seems like a smart and appropriate move,” Strutzenberg said. “We conserve water and we can be responsible to the environment.” During construction, Riddle said that Grand Performances will augment its performance schedule and expand its programming, which in addition to the summer Downtown series includes some concerts at Los Angeles International Airport and other locations. During construction, the number
of performances at LAX will be doubled to 36; they will start in March. “We’re talking to arts organizations, nonprofit organizations and education institutions to bring Grand Performances to where they live,” Riddle said, “and then in 2020, to invite them back here.” Riddle took over Grand Performances last year, succeeding Michael Alexander, who had run Grand Performances since 1990. Alexander worked for more than two decades on the series with Leigh Ann Hahn, the Grand Performances director of programming. Grand Performances was launched in 1986 with funding from the developers of California Plaza. The performance area is adjacent to the Angels Flight funicular. Early plans also call for the launch of a one-day Downtown Los Angeles summer music festival. A date has not been determined, but according to Riddle the festival will likely take place in July. sean@downtownnews.com
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The Next Skid Row Crisis: Rising Numbers of Children Resources Are Limited as More Families Lose Housing By Nicholas Slayton arly this year, Joel Guzman lost his home in a low-income housing project. He tried staying with family and looking for another apartment, but couldn’t find a place he could afford. He and six of his seven children ended up on Skid Row in April. They soon were staying in the Union Rescue Mission. “It was hard for the kids in the beginning. Real hard,” the 35-year-old Guzman said last week as he sat in a meeting room at the facility on San Pedro Street. “They’re used to having their own room. For them it was a huge change. ‘Why can’t we go outside? Why can’t we do this?’ So me, as a dad, I pretty much had to learn to manage and control them and make them feel safer.” Guzman is not alone, as the number of homeless families across the city and in Skid Row is soaring to unprecedented levels. On Sept. 17, the Union Rescue Mission reported 270 children staying overnight, an all-time high, according to mission CEO Rev. Andy Bales. The mission is not an outlier. The May Homelessness Count released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported 5,111 homeless family members in the city, a 13% rise over the previous year. That comes
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and households. “We haven’t really seen this before. I think in the past two or three years before last year, we were averaging about 3,500 families per year. Last year we saw over 4,000 families.” The Union Rescue Mission is the only provider on Skid Row that accepts families overnight. The mission since 2007 has also operated the Hope Gardens center in Sylmar for homeless women and children, but that has a capacity of 225 beds. The mission regularly uses its overflow space in Downtown, including its gym, to accommodate homeless families. During a recent visit by a reporter, scores of air mattresses were set up ahead of an expected nighttime crowd. Bales said there has been only a small reprieve since the Sept. 17 high. “We’ve seen numbers sticking around that level, just a hair down,” Bales said. “We stepped up efforts to move moms and kids to our Hope Gardens space. We’re at just a bit under the all-time high.” Overloaded System When it comes to the reasons for the high number of homeless families in Skid Row, many point to the overall increase in homelessness. Bales said that families are frequently being forced to the streets by rising rents, a
Union Rescue Mission, the only Skid Row services provider that accepts families overnight, has been setting up mattresses in its gymnasium to handle the crowds.
photo by Gary Leonard
even as overall homelessness in the county and city dipped 3% and 5%, respectively. The homelessness count reported that Council District 14, which includes Downtown Los Angeles, has 702 family members, down 2% from the previous year. Yet that was countered by a steep increase within Skid Row: LAHSA (based on counts conducted in January) identified 478 homeless family members on Skid Row (42 were unsheltered), a 111% increase over the 227 of the previous year. That included 309 children under the age of 18, a 109% rise over the 148 counted in 2017. “We are seeing a significant increase in families coming into the system overall,” said Josh Hall, associate director for LAHSA’s coordinated entry system, which organizes housing and resources for homeless individuals
factor worsened by the limited housing supply, which pushes up demand. Hall echoed the rising rents concern, and noted that in the May count, 46% of the people identified as newly homeless were in that situation due to some sort of economic factor. He added that this in turn places more pressure on the crisis housing LAHSA uses. “We’re seeing more families come into the system and they’re also having a hard time finding housing on the back end. In the past, you’d have that kind of churn and be able to place them into housing,” he said. “Caseloads were more manageable, and the crisis housing stock was able to meet the needs. “But what we’re seeing now, because of the housing market, families are staying longer. Turnover in the shelter system isn’t as fast.” Ana Velouise, director of communication
and policies for the Downtown Women’s Center, said single women with children frequently end up in Skid Row in the effort to escape domestic violence. She said that the DWC often serves as a domestic violence center, offering trauma recovery and resources to help women cope with and recover from abuse. Life on Skid Row presents a unique set of challenges for families. Guzman, who is working as an apprentice at Union Rescue Mission, helping out where needed, said one of the hardest parts is telling his kids they can’t go outside to play. Sitting with his 4-year-old son Romeo, he said he is lucky that the children attend the nearby Ninth Street School. “ They ’ve got their friends at school. During the day they forget about all of this,” he said. “I wake them early so they can get dressed. They get a break from being here.” School can provide a bit of stability for homeless children, said Andy Herod, vice president of student and community services at Para Los Niños, a longtime services provider that operates an approximately 400-student charter elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade at 1617 E. Seventh St. (another option is the public Ninth Street School). He said that homelessness among students is something the school prepares for, as it impacts how children learn and develop. In some cases, children in Skid Row are unable even to attend school, Velouise said, due to circumstances and concerns for safety. Herod said that Para Los Niños, Ninth Street School, Union Rescue Mission, the county and other entities have formed an advisory committee to coordinate aid for homeless students, with help both academically and in coping with trauma. The city and county are dedicating billions to address homelessness through Proposition HHH, approved by voters in 2016 to create permanent supportive housing, and Measure M, an initiative passed the following year that will provide services to help homeless individuals. But Hall acknowledged that the immediate demand for shelter, particularly from families, continues to rise. In increasing instances the effort is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Hall said more resources are being dedicated to, for example, resolving a crisis so people don’t wind up in a shelter. That can involve mediating conflicts with family members or helping people deal with a lack of resources. “One of the things we’re trying to increase focus on is limiting inflow at the front door,” he said.
OCTOBER 29, 2018
Joel Guzman and his 4-year-old son Romeo have been staying at the Union Rescue Mission since April. CEO Rev. Andy Bales said the mission reported a record of 270 homeless children one night in September.
photo by Gary Leonard
Those seeking to care for children in Skid Row note that effects can be long term. Herod said that students at Para Los Niños are sometimes traumatized from not feeling safe in their surroundings, and that the children can become hyper-vigilant, even when they are safe. Another difficult factor for kids’ mental health is the lack of stability that comes with homelessness, as they might suddenly move to another neighborhood or part of the city, disrupting lives and friendships. He noted that the school offers food and after-school programs for kids in need. Velouise echoed the concern. “For the average woman coming down here, not being able to have a routine, that can be really detrimental. For children, that’s compounded,” Velouise said. The DWC has a trauma recovery center that offers services to single adult women, but not families or kids. Velouise said that the center provides referrals to help connect families to counseling. With so many families arriving, Union Rescue Mission is looking to provide more services for children and mothers, including more beds and connecting kids with educational or after-school programs. But Bales acknowledged that the building can only hold so many people. Guzman is looking to get his children out of the mission. As he played with Romeo he said that, despite the market, and the influx of new families to Skid Row, he remains positive. He said that as long as he remains in the mission, he’ll seek to help new incoming families avoid feeling trapped. nicholas@downtownnews.com
OCTOBER 29, 2018
CITY HALL-OWEEN, 5 with a hefty musk of eau de Republican. You get it! You’re in Councilman Mitch Englander’s office! You know you can rely on him. After all, he fought the city’s ridiculous RecycLA trash-hauling scheme. He’d never let you down. “Excuse me, Councilman,” you say to a translucent figure. “I could really use your help—” and poof! The figure suddenly disappears. Where did Englander go? Why did he depart so abruptly? You walk to where he was standing and see some things on the floor. You pick them up — one is an invitation to an $800-a-head fundraiser, and the other is the business card of Tim Leiweke, former president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, and now the head of the firm Oak View Group. You understand now that Englander could not resist Leiweke’s siren song and that he left his public-service job. You feel like crying. Bank On It: You need cheering up. Fortunately, you hear laughter. It’s emanating from behind a door that says “Public Bank Informational Session.” You remember that Council President Herb Wesson is pushing a measure to amend the City Charter to allow the city to establish a bank. The laughter is loud, and as you open the door you remember that Wesson really, truly once tried to make it as a stand-up comedian. People are guffawing. Is he doing a set? “You should vote for this,” says the figure in front of the room, “though we don’t know how much in start-up costs we’ll need to open the bank.” Everyone in the room laughs, and you get it — the speaker is trying to persuade people who actually understand finances to support the city bank measure, but they know better. “We don’t know where the money will come from,” he says, and the crowd shrieks in laughter. “We haven’t determined what will happen when people don’t repay their loans,” and people double over. “But trust us. We can run a bank. We’re the City Council!” Seven people literally fall on the
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floor laughing at the idea, and you laugh too — you’ve never heard something so preposterous. Cheered up, you leave. Chief Concerns: You hear melodic murmuring. It sounds familiar. A crowd comes around the corner, and is that the mayor surrounded by 47 people all humming “Hail to the Chief”?
YOU TRY TO GET THE MAYOR’S ATTENTION, BUT WITH THE HUMMING AND HIS FOCUS ON SOMETHING FAR OFF IN THE DISTANCE YOU CAN’T BREAK THROUGH. “MR. MAYOR!”YOU SHOUT AS HE PASSES, BUT HE DOESN’T REACT. THEN YOU HAVE AN IDEA. “MR. PRESIDENT!”YOU SCREAM. HE INSTANTLY LOOKS YOUR WAY. Yes! You try to get the mayor’s attention, but with the humming and his focus on something far off in the distance you can’t break through. “Mr. Mayor!” you shout as he passes, but he doesn’t react. Then you have an idea. “Mr. President!” you scream. He instantly looks your way, but before you can say anything his staffers whisk him around the corner. “Hail to Chief” continues.
DOWNTOWN NEWS 9
Quiet Time: You need rest. You open a door, find a bench and sit. It’s deadly quiet — nothing is happening here. You look around and see a box. A label says “Original 2008 Vision.” Another box reads “Small Starts Grant Application.” Yet another box says “TIGER Grant Application.” One more is marked “Plan to Tax Neighbors.” The boxes extend into the distance; some are labeled “Environmental Report,” others “Public-Private Partnership Plan.” Suddenly you realize: You’re in the place where they keep all the applications, models, paperwork and other stuff for José Huizar’s proposed Downtown Streetcar, and this thing has been going on for a decade without any construction. All you see are boxes, plans, renderings and financial analyses, and it’s all deadly quiet and still — absolutely nothing related to the streetcar is moving. You fall asleep. Dream State: Someone gently nudges you awake. “You look lost,” the person says, and another remarks, “Let us help you.” “Here’s a cool drink,” a third says. Hands lift you up and dust you off. Someone puts a locally sourced lemonade in your hand, another gives you an organic cage-free chicken sandwich with sustainably harvested mustard. Are these all Los Angeles elected officials? Yes, and you can tell because they are all reliably progressive Democrats. “Sorry about the rough day,” the first one says. “We’re here to help.” A fourth chimes in, “We’re turning over a new leaf.” They ask what they can do, and as you run down your troubles each calls over a staffer to take notes. Suddenly there’s a BOOM and pain shoots through your body. You open your eyes and find yourself face-down on the floor. Oh no. You fell off the bench. Sadly, you realize that you were sleeping, and all the help you were getting from City Hall politicians was just a dream. You stand up, tears in your eyes, and walk out the building, vowing never to return. In the distance, you hear cackling from the lobbyists’ heath. regardie@downtownnews.com
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10 DOWNTOWN NEWS
OCTOBER 29, 2018
LAST MINUTE OFFICE PARTIES
In the Following Pages, Four Downtown Party-Planning Experts Detail Their Offerings and Share Crucial Tips
New Look for a Classic Space Imperial Western Beer Company Brings Party Crowds to Union Station’s Former Fred Harvey Restaurant By Nicholas Slayton legendary Downtown Los Angeles dining space returned to life this fall, as Union Station’s former Fred Harvey Restaurant was reborn as the Imperial Western Beer Company. Nightlife company 213 Hospitality has made a dazzling transformation of the train station venue that was closed for decades. The project includes a
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side bar, the Streamliner, which focuses on craft cocktails. Los Angeles Downtown News spoke with event sales manager Jessica Mills about what the space offers for the holiday party season. Los Angeles Downtown News: Imperial Western is new on the scene. What makes it
stand out as a party venue? Jessica Mills: It’s this gorgeous Art Deco, historic building, but we’ve got games, pool tables and shuffleboard, and at our community tables we have chess and checkers and backgammon boards. So there’s an element of fun, but it’s refined. Q: How many people can you hold? A: We can definitely do full buyouts, and we have private spaces. We also have the ability to allow you to be a part of the Imperial Western Beer Company. We’ve got these little nooks and crannies in the main dining room that are great for anywhere from 30 to 70 people. That makes it so you don’t have
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to do a full buyout while still keeping things intimate. Q: How much should someone expect to spend for an event at Imperial Western? A: It varies. We have party packages. Our menu is very much about shared plates and family-style options, so it depends on how big the crowd is. Q: What are some things that help guests loosen up at a holiday party? A: One way is to set up stations all over our space. We’ve got an outdoor patio with its own bar, so you can set up a raw seafood Continued on page 14
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11
LAST MINUTE OFFICE PARTIES
High Style for an Arts District Party New Restaurant Simone and Cocktail Bar Duello Gear Up for Holiday Festivities By Sean P. Thomas he Arts District eatery Simone and the attached cocktail bar Duello debuted in September, leaping into a red-hot Downtown Los Angeles food scene. The restaurant is headed by James Beard Award-winning chef Jessica Largey and is located in a nearly 100-year-old building on Hewitt Street. Director of Operations Art Doloresco discussed how Simone is gearing up for its first Downtown party season.
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Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s late in the party-planning season. What tips do you have for those just getting started? Art Doloresco: It always comes down to the availability at the restaurant and the guests being flexible with the dates. I think that as we get closer to the season, everyone wants to do a Thursday or Friday evening party, but that may not be available. If you’re planning a little later in the season, you might have to be open to, say, a Monday or a Tuesday party. Q: Do Simone and Duello still have open dates? A: Having opened in September, we have attracted a lot of attention for the holidays, but we do have dates available. I think the September opening helped put us on people’s
radar. People who have yet to book at other places still have the opportunity to book with us.
Art Doloresco is director of operations for the joint outfit Simone and Duello, which debuted on Hewitt Street last month.
Q: How many people can Simone accommodate? A: We have been able to host anywhere between 120 and 160 people for standing events. As far as full-seating events, our back dining room has seating for 65-75 people. We also have two private event sections, a VIP section that can hold 8-12 people, and a private dining room that can seat 20-24. Our back bar Duello can accommodate another 25 people. Q: What steps help ensure that a party goes off without a hitch? A: We do our best to make sure we take as much of the burden off the shoulders of the client as possible. We’re blessed with a chef who likes to curate a menu based on the guests’ needs. She’ll take everything into account when creating the menu. Q: Speaking of that menu, what are the options for holiday parties? A: Each event is going to be a tailored menu based on the needs of the guest. That’s why we don’t have a set menu to send out. It’s go-
photo by Gary Leonard
ing to be different each time. It offers versatility and it’s exciting for our guests. Q: How much should someone expect to pay for an event at Simone? A: When a guest is inquiring about our VIP room, that menu is curated on a $90-$120 per-guest rate. Because the dining room is 65 seats, and a very variable space, it’s not a per-person rate. For a larger event, the cost is based on seasonality, the day of the week and when it was booked.
Q: What make Simone and Duello stand out? A: It’s such a unique and beautiful space. When people leave, they compliment the food, the service, but they also compliment how beautiful the design is. We also take pride in knowing that we are able to adapt to any situation. We’re always ready to take the next step in case something goes wrong. Simone and Duello are at 449 S. Hewitt St., (424) 433-3000 or simoneartsdistrict.com. sean@downtownnews.com
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12 DOWNTOWN NEWS
LAST MINUTE OFFICE PARTIES
OCTOBER 29, 2018
Beer and Beyond South Park’s Mikkeller Entertains Holiday Party Crowds With Food, Drinks and a Lego Room By Nicholas Slayton he Danish brewer y Mikkeller is known for its library of beers and its colorful artwork. In early 2017, Mikkeller opened a brewpub in South Park. It offers 62 beer taps along with plenty of cans and bar food. The industrial space also sports a side café, Kaffebaren, that is open during the day. Los Angeles Downtown News spoke with event coordinator Jennifer Courtney about what Mikkeller offers for those putting together a last-minute party. The choices extend well beyond beer.
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Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s late in the party-planning season. Does Mikkeller still have room for private events? Jennifer Courtney: Yes, we have space available. I have two private dining rooms, so even if there’s a booking I can do two events at the same time. Q: What kinds of space do you have and how many people can you hold? A: I have two rooms including the Lego Room, which is an adult playroom where the entire wall is wrapped in Legos. It’s really fun. That room will hold about 30 people, and we can do seated or standing events. It’s the
room most often used for parties. That room adjoins Kaffebaren, and they can be combined to handle groups up to 80 people, or even 100 if it’s tight. I can do seated dinners in both or standing cocktail receptions. The main bar sits empty Monday-Friday until 5 p.m. It’s an amazing space for holiday parties. We have four main communal tables all facing a back wall with 13- to 15foot screens with A.V. set-ups. That’s available during the daytime. Q: How much should someone expect to spend for an event at Mikkeller? A: Sit-down dinners start at $45 for a threecourse meal. I can work with just about any budget. Say you want to come during the day when it’s closed, I’d let people come in for $15-$20 a person. That gets you a beer and a bite. Q: What steps in general do you suggest so people can loosen up at a holiday party? A: A carefully planned music list is great. One thing coming up is a buyout where the group is coming in with 200 people. We’re going to put a can of beer and a mini burger in people’s hands as they walk in. Getting a drink right away is a good way to help loosen
Events coordinator Jennifer Courtney at Mikkeller, the South Park brewpub that has a variety of spaces and party options. The choices include a private trivia night.
photo by Gary Leonard
people up. We’ve had events where people do private trivia nights. For a couple hundred bucks we can get our trivia team there. I’ve had people do Lego building competitions, or do a paint night. There are lots of activities that get people engaged. Q: What mistakes do people make when putting together a last-minute party? A: I’ve found there’s nothing that can’t be remedied. The one thing that comes to mind is when we get the call, “Can you take care of
40 people tonight? Our venue fell through.” That’s happened many times. For me that’s a challenge. The way traffic runs in this town, we have a lot of moments where someone says they want the food hot and on the table at 7 p.m. because they plan to walk in at 7:05 p.m. Then they get stuck in traffic and get mad because the food’s been sitting out. That can be remedied with a text. Mikkeller is at 1000 S. Olive St., (213) 5969005 or mikkellerbar.com/la. nicholas@downtownnews.com
OCTOBER 29, 2018
LAST MINUTE OFFICE PARTIES
DOWNTOWN NEWS 13
Diving In to a New Arrival The Transformed Mrs. Fish Offers Japanese Style and Rare Whiskey By Sean P. Thomas he Pershing Square-adjacent Mrs. Fish long served as a subterranean nightclub, but recently was reimagined as a hip and modern Japanese restaurant. It reopened in September with moody lighting, Japanese artwork, a 5,500-gallon ceiling saltwater fish tank and an extensive menu with hot and cold Japanese fare. Los Angeles Downtown News spoke with general manager Lisa Hiramatsu about what Mrs. Fish offers those putting together a last-minute get-together.
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Los Angeles Downtown News: It’s late in the party-planning season. How do you handle booking requests that are just now rolling in? Lisa Hiramatsu: We have an event team that has their own staff. For us, it’s easy to schedule even if it’s last minute. Normally we’re closed on Sunday and Monday, but if they need to book it last minute, we can look at Sunday and Monday. When we have a party, it’s usually about two hours. Sometimes, if it’s 5-7 p.m. and some guests come at 6:30 p.m. there isn’t much we can do. It’s easier for the party planner to make sure everyone is happy if everyone gets there during a reasonable time. But we get it — it happens. It’s L.A., after all.
Q: Does Mrs. Fish still have open dates? A: We’re pretty much a brand new restaurant. We have a lot of time and space flexibility for anyone looking to plan a party. We have three separate rooms: the main dining room, the pit dining area, and we also have the whiskey lounge. If you’re a whiskey lover, we have plenty of eye-catching whiskey. Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when planning an office party? A: There are two: The first is forgetting to consider people who have allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences. To avoid this, simply ask for people to notify you if there are special needs for the group. Restaurant and event teams are happy to accommodate and adjust for these needs. The second is running out of food. Ask the event team or event coordinator to recommend items based on their knowledge and experience. They are well versed in setting up parties and making sure there is enough food and a wide array that everyone will enjoy. Q: How many people can Mrs. Fish accommodate? A: We can accommodate about 300 people if it’s a cocktail reception type of party. It’s a comfortable number. We have three different floors.
Lisa Hiramatsu is the general manager at Mrs. Fish, which recently transitioned from a nightclub to a hip and modern Japanese restaurant.
photo by Gary Leonard
Guests can walk around and see all of the Japanese art on the walls as they sip their cocktails. Q: What tips can you offer to ensure that people loosen up during their office parties? A: Offer a tray-passed sake, signature cocktail or glass of bubbly upon arrival; it helps everyone ease into the party. Also, don’t forget to include a fun component, such as our karaoke room or a whiskey tasting to bring the group together.
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Q: What makes Mrs. Fish stand out? A: We have a 5,500-gallon saltwater fish tank. We have plenty of contemporary Japanese art around the restaurant and close to 60 Japanese whiskeys to choose from. Some of the whiskey is very rare and only available in Japan. Not a lot of restaurants can say they have that. Mrs. Fish is at 448 S. Hill St., (213) 873-4444 or mrs.fish.com sean@downtownnews.com
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14 DOWNTOWN NEWS
OCTOBER 29, 2018
LAST MINUTE OFFICE PARTIES
IMPERIAL WESTERN, 10 station. Plus, beer helps; it is a brewery after all. When you walk in, we have this kind of greeting bar where we offer tasters for people as they enter. Q: Since it’s a brewery, do you offer tours or special tastings for parties? A: We do offer a brewery tasting and tour; we do it in groups of 20. We give you an education on the beer, plus a taster directly from the vat. Q: What tips do you have for someone working on a tight budget? A: If you’re working with a budget, I always suggest doing drink tickets or a cash bar. As for food, just get appetizers.
Q: What common mistakes do people make when putting together a party at the last minute? A: The biggest thing to remember: Come with a budget. If you’re coming with a budget, then whomever you’re talking to on the business end can figure out a way to make it work, and can tell you exactly what to do. Or if they can’t, they’ll tell you and you can move on.
Jessica Mills is booking events in the Imperial Western Beer Company, an Art Deco space in historic Union Station.
Q: What advice do you have for those just getting started on planning a party? A: Be open to different suggestions. The people you’re talking to, the event planners, they’ve probably seen everything before. They really want to make your party work for you. Imperial Western Beer Company is at 800 N. Alameda St., (213) 270-0035 or imperialwestern.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com
photo by Gary Leonard
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DOWNTOWN NEWS 15
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Desert Rats is one of two new plays at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. It follows two brothers who kidnap a Calabasas woman and wait for the ransom money in Barstow.
A sequel to Oliver Mayer’s Blade to the Heat, the new Members Only catches up with boxer Pedro Quinn (Ray Oriel, right) as he tries to come to terms with his past.
Theater Complex Launches Fall Season With Shows About an Aging Gay Boxer And a Desert Kidnapping By Nicholas Slayton n a seedy motel in the desert town of Barstow, two men orchestrate a kidnapping that is certain to go awry. In New York City, an aging prizefighter preps for one final bout, while haunted by his past and the changing times. All the men are riddled with doubt, and as they ready themselves for what is to come, they have to face who they really are. Those are the set-ups for two plays now at the Los Angeles Theatre Center on Spring Street in the Historic Core. Oliver Mayer’s Members Only and Nate Rufus Edelman’s Desert Rats opened on Saturday, Oct. 27. They continue through Nov. 18. The stories are vastly different, but for José Luis Valenzuela, artistic director of the Latino Theater Company, which has a 20-year operating agreement with the City of Los Angeles to run the LATC, they are united by coming from Los Angeles playwrights. “It’s really great to work with writers from L.A. who have something to say in relationship with the way they see the culture and the world in the U.S.,” he said. They are also plays that encountered hurdles on their way to the stage. Although they open the LATC’s fall season, they were originally scheduled for the spring. Then the Los Angeles Theatre Center abruptly canceled its
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spring season. The issues were financial, and while Valenzuela did not provide many details, during the summer a notice was posted on the theater complex’s website asking for donations. “We are facing a very challenging time and need your help,” the note said in part. “An unexpected decrease in funding for the arts is having an impact on our operations.” Valenzuela said that the financial issues have been resolved, and that there has been no impact on the Latino Theater Company’s deal to operate the space. “We were expecting some funding in the beginning in the year that didn’t come through. It impacted our season,” Valenzuela said. “We couldn’t risk the idea of doing these plays without that.” Show Time Members Only, a world premiere, follows Pedro Quinn (played by Ray Oriel), a character from Mayer’s 1996 work Blade to the Heat. That show was a hit when it debuted, and played to rave reviews at the Mark Taper Forum. In the new work, Quinn is feeling guilt over having killed a man years ago, and now struggles both with his reputation and with being gay in the early 1980s as the AIDS epidemic starts to take a toll on the community.
As he wrestles with his demons, he is training for one last big fight. “He’s still wracked with that guilt. He hasn’t received absolution for that sin,” Mayer said. The two-act play is meant to be “extremely performative, almost operatic” according to Mayer, with fights on stage, plus a live band. The show as a whole seeks to capture a cultural transition — set in Lower Manhattan, the soundtrack is full of disco songs and tracks by then-emerging acts such as Talking Heads. Meanwhile, the trapped-in-the-past Quinn is still listening to Jackie Wilson. Valenzuela also directs Members Only, and said it felt like a natural move to help on the show, having known Mayer for years. Desert Rats is a more modern, punk-like piece. Directed by Angie Scott, it follows two brothers (played by Walt Gray IV and Derek Chariton) as they seek to collect a kidnapping ransom and wait for their money in the desert. Playwright Edelman said it is rooted in the tradition of California noir, with shady protagonists, morally questionable decisions and an air of uncertainty. The show is mounted in one of the LATC’s smaller theaters, and the set is decorated as a cramped room, where the brothers deal with their tied-up victim. “The director and I are creating a very in-
timate space. You don’t leave this seedy, almost abandoned motel room that hasn’t changed since the 1960s,” Edelman said. “It’s 60 seats, by design. We want the audience to surround the room in the gallery.” Edelman has tweaked a previous version of Desert Rats. Whereas a London production was a rushed, 70-minute show, the proceedings have slowed down and the one-act now runs 90 minutes. Edelman said that is partly because the rhythm and some of the cultural references play easier with a Los Angeles crowd — expect nods to Eagle Rock streets and Southern California fast food. Despite the dark overtones and the kidnapping plotline, Edelman said he hopes that audiences find the humor in Desert Rats. The show isn’t meant to be dour. “My plays get quite dark and fatalistic and bleak at the end,” Edelman said. “With Desert Rats, I really wanted to create a fun experience and have it be funny on stage.” Valenzuela said that these shows anchor the fall at the LATC, and that with the financial issues in the past, there will be a full spring season in 2019. Desert Rats and Members Only run through Nov. 18 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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OCTOBER 29, 2018
Angst in the Online Age ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Is Touching, Tender, Authentic and Musically Glorious
photo by Matthew Murphy
Evan Hansen (center, played by Ben Levi Ross) is at the center of a lie that goes viral in the show that won the Tony for Best Musical. It is at the Ahmanson Theatre through Nov. 25.
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25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW & CELEBRATION Featuring: Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Kindler, Greg Behrendt, Byron Bowers, Justin Sayre, Rebecca Corry, Alex Edelman, Allee Willis, Julie Goldman, plus special guests!
Sun, Nov 18 @ 7pm The Theatre at Ace Hotel cap.ucla.edu 310 825 2101
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By Jeff Favre or most teens, communicating via social media is second nature. Meanwhile, some of their parents or grandparents still call it The Facebook. At turns a life-saving, life-affirming tool — and a haven for anonymous soul-crushing bullies capable of unleashing a flood of lies and fake news — the Internet and its effects gradually have infiltrated theater, to mixed results. The current standard-bearer of modern adolescent angst in the online age is the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen. It recently landed at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles and runs through Nov. 25. This touching, tender, musically glorious and gently funny take on youth depression and suicide rings with an authenticity that connects with Gen Z, while providing realistic parental characters. It’s the rare show that is able to cross generations, with parents bringing their kids and the grandparents, all of whom should find plenty to enjoy and appreciate during the two-and-a-half-hour production. It helps that the brains behind the show were in their 20s when they started working on it. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, already winners of Grammy, Oscar (La La Land’s “City of Stars”) and Tony awards, wrote the lyrics and music to the 14 remarkable and varied songs inspired by an event at Pasek’s high school. The music integrates seamlessly into the book by Steven Levenson, which looks at the crippling feeling of loneliness, and how social media can alleviate and exacerbate it.
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The show’s title comes from a letter written by lonely, anxiety-ridden Evan (a mesmerizing Ben Levi Ross) to himself, a directive from his therapist to motivate him to talk about why the day will be good. Instead, the letter belies his depression and pessimism about the prospects for his senior year, and the wish that he would be noticed by classmate Zoe (Maggie McKenna). In a darkly farcical twist, the letter winds up in the hands of Zoe’s rude, unruly and friendless brother Connor (Marrick Smith), who soon after commits suicide. Connor’s parents, Cynthia (Christiane Noll) and Larry (Aaron Lazar), mistakenly believe the letter, with its “Dear Evan Hansen” salutation, and signed “Me,” was written by Connor. Amid the chaos, Evan’s divorced, working mother Heidi (Jessica Phillips) has no idea what’s happening with her son. From there, with a bit of help from Evan’s only friend, Jared (Jared Goldsmith), the misunderstanding spirals out of control, changing the world’s perception not only of Connor, but of Evan as well. Rarely has an entire creative team — onstage and behind the scenes — seemed more in tune, and much credit goes to director Michael Greif, who builds a world that is layered and full, despite David Korins’ fairly minimal set, and a scant half-dozen musicians dominated by viola, cello and guitar (they’re visible in a sort of mezzanine above the stage). That stage is blanketed by projected layers of photos, texts, Facebook and other online posts (designed by Peter Nigrini). They are Continued on page 20
DT theDon't Misslist
Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/los-angeles. Oct. 30: In the age of short releases, instant gratification and the death of the album, Yellow Leather is having a single release party. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Oct. 29: A full lineup for the “Art! at the Expense of Mental Health vol. 2” night. Oct. 30: Trinom3. Continued on next page
mmy Museum photo courtesy Gra
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lass’ “Portrait” mposer Philip G lent politico of rt Pa t. en nvio ffer anything, it’s di develops his philosophy of no es including is ha ra ag ty Sa If L.A. Opera’s follows Mahatma Gandhi as he e story unfolds, historical figur ed at the th en a trilogy, the oper young man in South Africa. As the proceedings. The opera op ormance rf a er pe le cal protest whi , Jr. and Leo Tolstoy watch ov s this week with a 7:30 p.m. folce ue ng in Ki an rform s the d cont pe an o ly tw nt Martin Luther ce so re al e n ar io ay. There in Sanskrit. dler Pavil Dorothy Chan 1, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sund ita and is sung almost entirely -G . rand Ave. or on Thursday, Nov opera draws from the Bhagavad e role of Gandhi. At 135 N. G e s th lowing week. Th ucts and Sean Panikkar sing nd co Grant Gershon Downtown Los Angeles has no shortage of Halloween happenings, and one of the laopera.org. biggest is the annual DTLA Halloween Party, which takes place in Grand Hope Park, next to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Organized by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, it runs from 5-8 p.m. on Halloween, and is a full-on family festival where kids and adults alike can don costumes and collect copious amounts of sweet treats. The night includes bounce houses, puppet shows, arts and craft tables and trick-or-treat doors. Pro tip: Buy a ticket in advance. At 919 S. Grand Ave. or downtownla.com.
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photo courtesy Downtown Center Business Improvement District
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If you’re looking for a different way to celebrate Halloween, may we suggest the live recording of the hit podcast “My Favorite Murder,” taking place at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Hosted by comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the weekly podcast has been a hit since 2016, earning a legion of loyal and enthusiastic “murderinos.” Watch and listen at L.A. Live as the pair detail one of their “favorite” murders, crimes or survival stories, draped in a comedic edge. Who knew death could be so darn funny? Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. At 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com photo courtesy Kong Chong Yeu
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
With more than 500 album covers and copious magazine and newspaper credits to his name, the late photographer Jim Marshall captured some of the most memorable moments in music history. That includes his shots of the legendary Johnny Cash at two prison concerts in 1968 and ’69. Those photos and more are on display at the Grammy Museum in the recently opened The Prison Concerts: Folsom and San Quentin (Jim Marshall’s Photographs of Johnny Cash). The exhibit features candid shots from Marshall (the only photographer permitted to shoot the concerts) of the “Man in Black,” as well as photos of Cash rehearsing. Also featured is the iconic “JC Flippin’ the Bird at San Quentin Prison,” which has been reproduced endlessly, and for good reason. The exhibit runs through February 2019. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.
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Big sounds will come out of a tiny instrument at REDCAT this week. That’s because toy piano master Margaret Leng Tan is taking the stage in the venue in the back of Walt Disney Concert Hall on Thursday, Nov. 1. We know what you’re thinking, and don’t dismiss this as mere kids’ stuff — Tan has a doctorate from Juilliard and counted musical visionary John Cage as a mentor. Her Los Angeles debut will feature the West Coast premiere of two works composed specifically for Tan’s toy piano: George Crumb’s “Metamorphoses Book I” and “Curios” by Phyllis Chen. The latter is a multimedia work revolving around a circus carnival. Really! The performance will begin at 8:30 p.m. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
aver/LA Opera
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EVENTS
BY SEAN P. THOMAS
photo by Cory We
CALENDAR LISTINGS
MONDAY, OCT. 29 Ben Barnz in Conversation with Jodie Foster The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: The author talks with the actress about his new memoir that recounts the struggles he and his husband had in adopting. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31 DTLA Halloween Party Grand Hope Park, 919 S. Grand Ave. or downtownla.com. 5-8 p.m.: The annual huge family Halloween party from the Downtown Center Business Improvement District is back. There will be bounce houses, puppet shows, art stations and plenty of candy. Vampyr + Halloween Afterparty Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/calendar/los-angeles. 8 p.m.: The Broadway theater’s Halloween party includes a screening of the classic horror film, with a new live score from Joby Talbot. Halloween Hootenany Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. 8 p.m.: The City West venue’s big Halloween blowout includes live music from Theo Katzman and Suzanne Santo of HoneyHoney. My Favorite Murder Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct., (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheater.com. 8:30 p.m.: The popular true crime podcast does a live show in Downtown. Celebrate Halloween with gleeful descriptions of horrific homicides. THURSDAY, NOV. 1 Lynsey Addario at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org. 7:30 p.m.: The Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist comes to Downtown to discuss her new book of photographs from war zones. SATURDAY, NOV. 3 Grand Ave. Arts: All Access Grand Avenue or grandavearts.org. 11 a.m.: Enjoys arts, crafts, live performances and free admission to institutions along the Bunker Hill street at this massive community festival. L.A. Weekly Discussion Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. 4 p.m.: Speaker series Voyager Institute holds a live panel discussion that serves as an unauthorized history of the L.A. Weekly. Former staffers will talk about the current state and recent troubles of the paper. Baile de los Muertos Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) or grandparkla.org. 8 p.m.: Celebrate the Day of the Dead with a dance party in the 12-acre park, with music courtesy of Subsuelo.
DOWNTOWN NEWS 17
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photo by Robyn Von Swank
OCTOBER 29, 2018
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LISTINGS, 17 Oct. 31: Fabiano Do Nascimento Trio. Nov. 1: Kaveh Rastegar Group. Nov. 2: David Binney’s residency continues. Nov. 3: Danny Janklow Group. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Oct. 29: Hikes performs, with Ruler opening. Oct. 31: Strutting, jazz, and soul from Jen Awad on Halloween night. Nov. 1: Liz Vice’s soulful R&B isn’t a sin, but us making that joke is. Nov. 2: There’s a fair chance you don’t have any ties to Family & Friends. Nov. 3: Dream pop duo Lean. The Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Nov. 2: Blind Pony, Andy Fonda, Superbloom. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Oct. 31: KSHMR apparently doesn’t like vowels. Ham and Eggs Tavern 418 W. Eighth St. Oct. 29: Sonic Demonic, The Faint Endless, Nectarines. Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct., (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheater.com. Nov. 1: Be sure to shout “How soon is now?” at Morrissey during his performance to see if he has an answer. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. Oct. 29: The guys of Half Alive like neutral-colored sweaters and bold proclamations about their songs. Oct. 30: Consider singer-songwriter Will Hoge and his Americana songs as an earnest alternative to Father John Misty’s ironic take on the genre. Oct. 31: Celebrate Halloween and all things spooky with… a night of covers of emo songs. Terrifying. Nov. 1: Indie pop group Nap Eyes now has us considering a nap. Nov. 2: Folk rock meets hip-hop thanks to Satsang. Nov. 3-4: Enjoy two nights of Parker Millsap. Or not. Maybe one is good. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. Oct. 29: Genre-blending sounds from John Givez. Oct. 31: The Monster Hop Halloween party has live cover bands paying tribute to Motorhead, The Kinks and more. Nov. 1: Synthpop from Still Corners. Dream pop act and recent Downtown regular Ruby Haunt opens. Nov. 2: The DJ duo Green Slime spins the ones and twos. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Oct. 29: The Adicts and The Dickies perform, for all of the aging punks out there. Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Ravers, rejoice! Gorgon City has two nights to spin house tracks. Nov. 2: Sit back, dial in, tune out to Toro y Moi’s chillwave sounds. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Oct. 29: Muscle Beach, Fathers. Oct. 30: Original Son, Varsity Drag, The Rainman Suite. Oct. 31: Obey the Wolves and Fire Bug play the Halloween show. Nov. 1: Alé, Somos Mysteriosos, Twisted Black Sole. Nov. 2: No, Heathen Apostles has nothing to do with Gareth Evans’ new horror film. The band plays alongside Hangtown, Los Fauna and more. Nov. 3: Death on the Radio, Electric Children, Stars at Night. Nov. 4: French Mouth, The Helen Hannas, Indian Summer.
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.
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LEGAL LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARTINA PAULA PICHETTE Case No. 18STPB09120 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARTINA PAULA PICHETTE A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ANTONETTE SANDS in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. The PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ANTONETTE SANDS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The PETITION FOR PROBATE requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to
give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority8:30AM in Dept. No. 79 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. November 21, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. in Superior Court, Dept. 11A, 180 E. Weber Ave., Stockton, CA. 95202 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in
DOWNTOWN NEWS 19
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Marla Martinez SBN 082461 LAW OFFICES OF MARLA MARTINEZ 303 South Kenneth Road Burbank, Ca 91501 Pub: 10/15, 10/22 and 10/29 NAME CHANGE Superior court of California, County of Los Angeles ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. 18BBCP00013 Petitioner (name of each) Guadalupe Correa, 6009 Morella Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91606 filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: GUADALUPE CORREA Proposed name: LUPIE REYES THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objec-
tion that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of hearing Date: 11/30/2018 Time: 8:30 AM Dept.: A The address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 300 East Olive, Burbank, CA 91502, Burbank Courthouse. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county. Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter Executive Office/Clerk. Deputy: Melody Scott Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 300 East Olive Burbank, CA 91502 Burbank Courthouse Date: October 17, 2018 Hon. Darrell Mavis Judge of the Superior Court Pub. 10/22, 10/29, 11/5 and 11/12 Superior court of California, County of Pomona ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME No. KS021511 Petitioner (name of each) Francisco Jaime Herrera,
15902-A Haliburton Rd #307, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: FRANCISCO JAIME HERRERA Proposed name: FRANCISCO CHANG THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of hearing Date:11/30/2018 Time: 8:30 AM Dept.: O Room: 543 The address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Pomona, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LA DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1264 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 of general circulation, printed in this county. Prepared by: Sherri R. Carter Executive Office/Clerk.
MORLIN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership as Agent for the JOINT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, an unincorporated association, will receive qualifications packages from general contractors wishing to become pre-qualified for an available bidding opportunity at Los Angeles Union Station. It is the intent of this Joint Management Council to select a firm that will provide construction services at Los Angeles Union Station at the best overall value. In order to be fully considered for prequalification and subsequent bidding opportunities, please proceed to the RFIQ questionnaire at: https://goo.gl/forms/iccBY1Olq8dCQZTl2 Completed forms are due on or before close of business by October 30, 2018. Submissions received after 5:00pm on October 30, 2018 will be rejected.
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018225363 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) MERCATOR REJECTION, 416 S. SPRING ST. 505, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013, LA COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) DANIEL JOHNSON, 416 S. SPRING ST. 505, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 08/2018. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on September 6, 2018. 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. 9/10, //17, 9/24 and 10/1. Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018245316 The following individual(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) CHAIDEZ SUPPORT SERVICES,4907 GLACIER DRIVE, Los Angeles CA 90041 LA COUNTY, are hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) FLOR CHAIDEZ, 4907 GLACIER DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90041 LA COUNTY. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on SEPTEMBER 26, 2018. 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. 10/22, 10/29, 11/5 and 11/12.
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L.A. Downtown News, in the heart of Los Angeles, has an immediate opening for an experienced ad sales professional to sell print and digital products for LA Downtown News from our downtown office. You will have the opportunity to also sell into our other media properties, including the Pasadena Weekly, Arroyo Monthly, The Argonaut, Playa Vista Direct, San Diego City Beat as well as their respective digital platforms. Duties include selling to and servicing clients, creating advertising campaigns, pursuing leads and presenting to local businesses and advertising agencies. We are looking for a proven professional with a minimum of two years of media sales experience, a track record of achievement and a desire to be part of one of the most exciting markets on the West Coast Downtown Los Angeles! A college degree is preferred. A valid driver’s license and auto insurance are required. We offer salary + commission & bonus opportunities, health insurance, 401K participation, and a fun and stimulating work environment. If your skills are a good match please contact us for an interview. Come be a part of our growing team! Please send an email introducing yourself and why you are a perfect fit for the position along with your resume to Lake@DowntownNews.com
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HUIZAR, 6
TRILOGY
Downtown...It’s Not Just Big Business Anymore! 255 GRAND 255 South Grand Avenue 213-229-9777 www.255GRAND.com Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Terrace Heated Pool & Spa Custom-Designed Interiors 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Wi-Fi Lounge State-of-the-Art HD Theater Gourmet BBQ Areas / Gas Fire Pits Contemporary Lounge with Gourmet Kitchen
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he will convene the City’s Special Committee on Investigative Oversight to look into the allegation. The committee will determine if an independent investigator should be hired. According to Jones, his client is not the person who filed the MyVoiceLA complaint. The lawsuit contains numerous allegations, including that, around June 2017, Huizar began requiring his staff to prepare for the launch of his wife’s campaign. According to the lawsuit, José Huizar required staff to hold “Executive No. 2” meetings to get Richelle Huizar up to speed in preparation of her campaign. Additional requests included sharing the councilman’s calendar with his wife as well as the creation of a “secret” email address. The work was unsettling for Alvarez, who according to the lawsuit grew concerned that it violated city ethics rules and laws. After raising her concerns in January, the lawsuit claims that they were “rebuffed” by José Huizar. Alvarez said in the lawsuit that she also grew concerned with requests to alter his calendar “so that he could withhold certain information from public disclosure,” most notably public records requests made by the Los Angeles Times. “Huizar did not want to fully release his calendars because he did not want the public to be able to scrutinize the nature of his meetings,” the lawsuit reads. Huizar was elected in 2005 after serving on the LAUSD Board of Education. He has been re-elected three times since, most recently in 2015. In addition to covering Downtown Los Angeles, the 14th District includes Boyle Heights and neighborhoods in Northeast Los Angeles. sean@downtownnews.com
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Community Amenities: Expansive Outdoor Patio with BBQ Grills Heated Pool & Spa 24 hr. Manned Lobby Fitness Center Parking Garage
On-Site: Convenience Store / Café / Beauty Salon / Private Fitness Training Apartment Amenities: Floor-to-Ceiling Windows City Skyline Views Solarium and/or Balconies
MUSEUM TOWER 225 South Olive Street 213-626-1500 www.THEMUSEUMTOWERAPTS.com
Community Amenities: 24 hr. Manned Lobby Resident Concierge Heated Pool & Spa Fitness Center / Yoga Studio Outdoor Patio Gas BBQ Grills Recreation Room State-of-the-Art HD Theater Rooftop Patio with Views
Apartment Amenities: City and Mountain Views Luxury Appliances & Finishes Central Air & Heating Balconies (Most Units) Basic Cable *All Amenities Under Renovation
RESIDENCES STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOMS PENTHOUSE UNITS • CORPORATE HOUSING
EVAN HANSEN, 16 the literal backdrops reminding us that half of the communication taking place is not face-to-face. The result is a sense of a crowded, buzzing, constantly updating world that isn’t physically there. Greif uses the sharp comic timing of Goldsmith, who as Evan’s crass and cynical friend injects needed humor into an otherwise difficult topic. It’s this mix of tone that allows for greater impact when things turn dark. The foundation, though, is the music. Pasek and Paul’s poetry says so much with so little. In Evan’s first song, “Waving Through a Window,” he sings “Give them no reason to stare/ No slipping up if you slip away/So I got nothing to share/No, I got nothing to say.” The breakout hit, “You Will Be Found,” is, ironically, a song about making an impact on social media and teen loneliness. It has become a real-life anthem to the issue. With all it has going for it, Evan Hansen always will be dependent on a lead to make everything work. Ben Platt earned a Tony for the part, but Ross clearly has made the role his for this tour. On stage virtually the entire time, and handling some vocally complex and powerful songs, Ross’ Evan is severely hampered by his anxiety, which includes physical and verbal ticks. Ross’ performance, however, isn’t defined simply by Evan’s limitations. He’s likeable and charismatic, and he makes it seem possible that Evan can grow and can have a romantic relationship. The entire cast is impressive, notably McKenna as Zoe, whose restrained performance provides subtleties to the least defined character. As Evan’s mom, Phillips finds a balance between vulnerable and loving. Her soaring, regret-filled delivery of “So Big/So Small” is one of the show’s highlights. Connecting with young audiences in a meaningful and lasting way is rare in mainstream musical theater, with a short list that includes Rent and Spring Awakening — shows that precede the social media era. There’s little question that the list has a new leader for a new time in Dear Evan Hansen. Dear Evan Hansen runs through Nov. 25 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.