November 2008 by Diana James

NOV.

INSIDE: L.A. LIVE'S IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN: CASTLE-LIKE LOS FELIZ LOVE DEN: ENDURING LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER GARY LEONARD

18 08

CONTENTS

FEATURES 20 L.A. LIVE

The Times Square of the West? AEG’s complex is already generating an unprecedented number of events and convention-related hotel bookings, but at what cost?

24 THE CASTLE

Drugs, terrible disappointment, prison sentences, and early deaths are all part of the Love legacy. So is The Castle, a Venetian “palazzo” in Los Feliz where the band used to live.

COLUMNS: 4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 SNAPSHOTS

Philippe’s 100th anniversary party, Esotouric’s Halloween Horrors bus tour with Crimebo the Clown

10 STRUCTURE

Carroll Avenue in Angeleno Heights, a tree-lined street with great views of downtown that hosts the most stunning examples of Victorian architecture this side of the Midwest.

12 FOODSTUFF

Dedicated to downtown. Profile of Gabriel Morales, chef-owner of Provecho, a modern Latino restaurant. The Hot Corner showcases 3rd & Spring, where the Douglas Building houses cafes and a new art gallery. In the Drink visits Library Bar, a pub near Central Library with winning beer, cocktail and food menus.

16 WARES

Lidia Benitez-Jaime is a native Angeleno who opened Le Bohemian Chic, a blackand-pink boutique, and drew instant ire from Echo Parkers.

18 INNERVIEW

Gary Leonard has documented the city since 1960, photographing politicians, celebrities, punk rockers, sports figures and outcasts. He also casts his lens on urban development.

28 CALENDAR

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Selected events for November

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Editor Joshua Lurie • Art Director Paul Takizawa • Advertising Art Director Sandy Wachs Production Manager Meghan Quinn • Calendar Editor Julie Rasmussen Copy Editor John Seeley • Contributing Writers Kamren Curiel, Maxwell Harwi , Abel Salas, Michael Saltzman, Jervey Tervalon, Ryan Willbur Photographers Jack Gould, Maura Lanahan, Gary Leonard, Noé Montes, Josh Reiss, Georgia Cobb Torcasio, Oscar Zagal • Sales Director Amit K. Mehta Account Executives Jon Bookatz, Spencer Cooper, Sarah Fink, Diana James, Daphne Marina • Accounting Christie Lee Circulation Manager Andrew Jackson SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING, INC. VP, Operations David Comden • VP, Finance Michael Nagami Human Resources Manager Andrea Baker • Business Manager Angela Wang CONTACT US Advertising: charlesg@newangelesmonthly.com • Editorial: editor@newangelesmonthly.com P: 323-938-1700 F: 323-938-1771 • 5209 Wilshire Boulevard • Los Angeles, CA 90036 www.NewAngelesMonthly.com

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3 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

EAST WEST PLAYERS

The Nation’s Premier Asian American Theatre 2008–09 43rd Anniversary Season | Escape Reality—Go Beyond Presence

TICKETS

EDITOR’S NOTE

■ Preview Performances Nov 6–9, $20 all seats, $12 all seats w/ student I.D. ■ Opening Night Nov 12, $65 all seats, includes pre-show hosted bar & post-show reception with cast and crew

■ Performance Run Wed–Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm; $45 Orchestra, $40 Balcony

■ Next Generation Community Night Wed, Nov 19 at 7pm. Free Pizza, Soda & Live Music. $1 Opportunity Drawing Tickets. Prizes include Mahjong set & autographed The Joy Luck Club items.

■ Pay-What -You-Can Performance Fri, Nov 28 ■ American Sign Languageinterpreted Performance

Joy Luck Club

Susan Kim Amy Tan Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera By

Adapted from the novel by

Los Angeles Premiere

November 6– December 7, 2008

Sun, Nov 30 at 2pm, $20 tickets for deaf & hard of hearing patrons www.EastWestPlayers.org

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3204 sunset blvd. silver lake, ca 90026 323.660.0869 www.sumisinsilverlake.com NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 4

PHOTO BY GARY LEONARD

owntown is finally beginning to live up to the hype. Bolstered by billions of dollars worth of investment, it should. At least once a week, I find myself drawn to the district to soak up the possibilities. Glimmering glass and steel towers line South Park, all with deluxe lo s and every ground floor earmarked for high-end restaurants and retail. There are even two wine bars set to open in the insta-neighborhood by 2009: Corkbar and Bo leRock. A downtown wine bar would have been unfathomable five years ago. Of course L.A. Live is the new focal point downtown, anchoring an ultramodern entertainment district. L.A. Live is certainly pivotal to the success of downtown’s growth. If it meets AEG’s vision, downtown will once again be the city’s core, and not just the “historic core.” This month, Andrew Wainer explores L.A. Live’s impact on downtown. AEG bills the complex as “The Times Square of the West.” L.A. Live will generate an unprecedented number of events and record-se ing convention-related hotel bookings, but will downtown be able to absorb the additional crowds, traffic, noise and lights? November’s Foodstuff is entirely devoted to culinary developments that have sprung up since 2006. Bradley Tuck profiles chef Gabriel Morales, who’s on the verge of opening cu ing-edge Provecho, intent on introducing Angelenos to Mexican “cuisine.” For In the Drink, Ryan Willbur dropped by the Library Bar, an establishment situated near the Central Library that recently became a gastropub. Willbur had the no-doubt-painful (yeah, right) task of deciding whether Cra sman beer pairs well with pork belly. For The Hot Corner, we visit 3rd & Spring to explore the Douglas Building, a structure that’s certainly evolved since horse-drawn carriages used to ride by in 1898. Now there’s a farm-to-cup coffeehouse (Lot 44 Coffee), a sleek Japanese restaurant & lounge (Origami) and a reasonably priced French restaurant/ bakery that a empts to bring the outdoors inside (Ma Petit). Looking toward the future of downtown Los Angeles is exciting, but honoring downtown’s history is also important. This is easy to do when two downtown institutions are still going strong. On October 6, Philippe’s, the beloved Chinatown French dippery, celebrated its 100th anniversary, and Jack Gould was there to capture the scene, which included ten-cent sandwiches and organ grinders. The other downtown institution we’re highlighting is Gary Leonard, a native Angeleno who has photographed the city since 1960, when he snapped the Dodgers at the Coliseum. He has earned acclaim for his blackand-white photos of politicians, celebrities, punk rockers, sports figures and outcasts. He also casts his lens on urban development, from the Arts District in the ’70s to L.A. Live now.. NA

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PHILLIPPE’S 100th ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS BY JACK GOULD october 6, 2008

rench dip devotees mobbed the famed sawdust-strewn restaurant for 10-cent sandwiches packed with gravy-soaked beef, pork, lamb, ham or turkey. Intrepid eaters made sure to slather on sinus-clearing hot mustard. Coffee (normally nine cents) cost a nickel. Philippe Mathieu opened this sprawling eatery on Aliso Street in – no surprise 1908. Philippe’s was forced to move to its current locale in 1951 to make way for the 101. Mathieu’s grandson Philippe Guilhern flew in from Oklahoma to represent the first family of French dips. Old-fashioned organ grinders and a singing quartet in suspenders were also on hand to celebrate. NA

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 8

9 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

STRUCTURE

BY MELISSA SPOR • PHOTOS BY Georgia Cobb Torcasio

f you find yourself near Echo Lake, do yourself a favor and take a quick detour up NE Edgeware Road to Angeleno Heights. You’ll find Carroll Avenue, a tree-lined street with great views of downtown that hosts the most stunning examples of Victorian architecture this side of the Midwest. Stroll down the historic avenue and take note of the homes’ complex asymmetry, wrap-around porches, decorative spindles, bay windows and brightly colored scallop-shaped shingles. To protect its heritage, the neighborhood took steps to have the area designated as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ), meaning that residents must preserve the integrity of the style and architecture of their homes. Residents must clear any changes to the exterior of their home with a five-member board (that includes an architect), which has kept fastidious records of what the homes originally looked like. You won’t find any complaints from the residents on these strict measures. They’re a tight-knit community that’s wholly dedicated to safeguarding one of L.A. County’s hidden gems. NA

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FOODSTUFF

PROFILE:

gABRIEL MORALES W

hile many cooks will tell you that a mastery of technique is the key to success in the kitchen, chef Gabriel Morales, the 36-year-old owner and executive chef at Provecho, thinks otherwise. “Passion” he says. “Passion is the key; without it, technique is nothing. Sure you have to know the rules, but passion is what drives you to innovate, and to want to exceed customer expectations.” With that drive in mind, he is about to open Provecho, an upscale Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown L.A. “Everybody here knows what Mexican food is,” Morales says, barely able to suppress a slight roll of the eyes, “but I want to introduce people here to Mexican cuisine. There’s a very big difference.” Passion notwithstanding, Morales learned about cuisine formally at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, The Ritz Escoffier in Paris, and at the Lorenzo di Medici Cooking School in Florence. In his career since, he’s manned the burners at such illustrious establishments as The Four Seasons Beverly Hills, BOA Steakhouse, The Beverly Hills Hotel and, more recently, Republic. While all of these stints have left their mark on him, it was growing up in Alhambra in a Mexican family that loved good fresh food that proved to be the inspiration for the menu at Provecho. “My grandparents started me young. I would help them in the kitchen. My grandfather made the most incredible, kick-ass salsa verde.” ‘Kick-ass’ is the kind of language you’d expect from the imposingly statured chef, whose direct way with words booms in a deep voice that matches his sharp but earthy cuisine. At Provecho, Morales places the emphasis squarely on simple fresh ingredients with minimal embellishments. “I like to start with the highest quality protein, whether it’s fish or meat, and then add just a couple of things to let the food speak for itself, to really make the ingredients sing, and show you what they are capable of being at their very best.” At the heart of the restaurant is the raw bar, where diners can sit at a sleek stone counter and discover ahi tuna tartare with a margarita gelée, eye-glass radish and preserved lime, or what Morales calls his “signature” dish – Mesquitegrilled octopus ceviche with kumquat-habañero salsa and micro-basil. It’s a dish Morales pulls off with aplomb, though it’s a tricky one. “Octopus is very hard to cook,” he says. “If you overcook it, it turns to mush, undercooked it’s like bubble gum! It

BY bradley tuck

takes knowledge and balance and patience to do this dish well.” It also takes patience to open a restaurant of your own, clearly, as Provecho has been a long road for Morales and his partner in the venture, his wife Jill Bigelow. “The concept has been in my head for a few years; it just took this long to get the opportunity to get it out! It has been in the conceptual stage for six months, then in construction for eight months.” Much like Morales’ childhood introduction to cooking, the restaurant is a family affair, with his mother-in-law Laurel Klug, an interior designer with 25 years experience, designing the sleek space, dominated by stunning chandeliers made of terrifyingly delicate Italian glass bubbles. Morales had a strong hand in the wine list too, with guidance from close friend Natalie Davis. He says, “I personally look for boutique wines that are out of the ordinary, that are familyowned and operated, that really give love and passion in their product.” There’s that word again. “With that said, my counterpart, Natalie, brings me back to reality and balances that list out with some wines that are a little more mainstream. I do pull a lot of wine from my own cellar to give the list some depth.” He also put together some fresh takes on cocktails, most notably the Pink Grapefruit Margatini, made with Cazadores silver Tequila, fresh pink grapefruit juice, a twist of lime, and agave nectar. Its simplicity marries well with Morales’ understated fresh cuisine. His culinary heroes, unsurprisingly, share his gastronomic philosophy: “Rick Tramonto from Tru in Chicago, I just love his style of cooking. Very clean and to the point.” A tasting party in June, held at the home of a close friend, was supposed to be an intimate affair. “Word got out, and all mayhem broke loose!,” says Morales. “It became a party for investors, friends, and media. It really made me feel good that I have a lot of support from all those peeps.” Does he ever look at his wife/partner and ask, “What have we started?” “EVERY DAY! But she has my back, as do all my staff, and never for a second do I show fear or doubt” Now that is passion. NA Provecho 800 Wilshire Blvd. • Downtown • (213) 489-1406 www.provechorestaurant.com

Photo by Georgia Cobb Torcasio

Hot THE

L.A.

CORNER

RD & SPRING

Live is clearly the most pivotal downtown development, but the city’s historic core still has plenty of excitement to spare. Case in point: the Douglas Building, a rounded structure that was conceived as office space in 1898, when downtown streets still teemed with horsedrawn carriages. The restored five-story building now contains 50 lo s and ground floor retail. Douglas’ proximity to government offices, freeways and the Red Line has the building primed for discovery. Ariel Graham opened Lot 44 Coffee in May, specializing in fair-trade organic coffee that’s brewed to order. Graham considered Hollywood, Santa Monica and the Valley, but fell for the corner’s “distinctive Tribeca vibe.” Graham’s most popular extraction method is the “beehouse” ceramic cup filter but on request she can also brew coffee via espresso machine, French press, Chemex, siphon or Brazilian Sock. Her seasonal coffee menu is currently highlighted by Misty Valley from Ethiopia, which Graham describes as “fruity with berry overtones, vanilla and very lush.” Brian Lee originated Origami Bistro & Bar in Valencia and opened his fi h restaurant/lounge on The Hot Corner in July, specializing in Japanese cuisine with French and Latin flourishes. Brian’s wife Stacey oversees Origami’s menu, including baked black cod in misobanana sauce, Japanese amberjack sashimi with ponzu, garlic oil and yuzukosho sauce, plus more unusual offerings like jellyfish sushi. The Lees prefer a natural aesthetic, with black Indonesian bamboo and red glass tiles. Chef Nary Kim, sister Mary and brother-in-law Dave are now opening Ma Petit Bakery & Café next to Lot 44. Nary graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena and wanted to channel her passion into a French restaurant. The design succeeds in bringing the outdoors inside. The sprawling space has a stamped concrete floor and order-at-the-counter service, which helps keep prices down. Nary makes everything daily from scratch, down to the breads, jams and ice cream. High-value entrees include maple syrup & mustard pork, pan-seared ginger-soy halibut and fried macadamia-nut chicken. The Douglas Building isn’t just a place to live and consume. It’s also a haven for contemporary art. Mary Sanburn opened Coldsprings Fine Art in September, with a mission to introduce innovative art and artists to the community. No medium is exempt, whether it’s painting, photography, drawing, jewelry, even poetry or dance. Coldsprings currently displays Ben Dewell’s photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and, beginning November 28, will show Philipp Jordan’s “1000 Teddies Project,” acrylic and oil paintings of teddy bears. “This really speaks to the child in all of us,” says Sanburn. 3rd & Spring is part of the Downtown Art Walk, and Ma Petit Bakery & Cafe on November 13, Lot 44 will join the tour, displaying photographic mosaics from Adam Lewis Smith. The Douglas Building also houses a 2,500-square-foot atrium that acts as a public space, hosting live music, art openings and charity benefits. All this development gets Brian Lee excited: “We strongly feel this section of downtown was untapped and has huge potential for growth.” NA –Joshua Lurie

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Drink in the

BY RYAN WILLBUR

>>LIBRARY BAR

or two years, Library Bar has been mixing drinks and pulling great beers from its taps. Though the ground-floor space near the Central Library is small, Will Shamlian and Michael Leko’s bar has had a mighty impact on downtown. The bar’s low-key décor, with a bookcase-lined lounge, is easygoing and comfortable. The bar itself is simply gorgeous, highlighted by the stunning set of imported Italian taps. Early in the evening the crowd is mostly the post-work happy hour crowd, but as the night burns on, more and more downtowners turn out to chill. PHOTO BY VANESSA STUMP

Beautiful • Delicious 3337 W. Sunset Blvd. • Silverlake • 323.667.2968 • www.larkcakeshop.com

It’s easy to say that Library Bar is already wearing downtown’s crown for best brews. Beer expert and Rustic Canyon bar manager Christina Perozzi (“The Beer Chick”) was brought in to devise the beer menu. Expect a healthy list of Belgian bo led beers, as well as a strong selection on tap. Most choices come from Pasadena’s Cra sman Brewing and Escondido’s Stone Brewing. The bartenders are well versed on beer and can easily help you find something satisfying. I really enjoyed the Cra sman 1903 Lager. Library Bar also has a tap set aside for seasonal beers, so there’s always something new to try. About a month ago, Library Bar went from offering only drinks to being a real pub. Food is now available until 11 p.m. on weekdays; they hope to serve on weekends too this month. The menu, designed by Chef Nick Coe, is not for the health-conscious. It is simply delicious food, meant to complement the flavor of the beer. Prices are very reasonable, with plates ranging from $5 to $10. Of course, what is a pub without a great burger? The Library Burger is absolutely delicious, tender, and cooked to perfection. However, the menu’s star has to be the pork belly sandwich. Its texture and flavors are unparalleled. If you’re looking for more a snack than a meal, the steak fries will not let you down. They may possibly be the best fries I’ve ever tasted. If you lean toward the lighter side, the grilled artichoke comes with some fantastic sauces. If you’re planning on being downtown, check out Library Bar. The food is great, the vibe is good, and the beer is fantastic. NA Library Bar 630 W. 6th St., Suite 116A Downtown • (213) 614 0053 www.librarybarla.com.

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15 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

WARES Lidia Benitez-Jaime, 29,

opened her black-and-pink Echo Park boutique only a month ago. One resident instantly blamed her for the closing of his long-time barbershop. Another said she simply wasn’t welcome. This last jab forced the hard-working mom to tell her story. She started as an undeclared East L.A. College student and full-time AAA employee, graduated from UCLA with a degree in Latin American literature, chose love over an internship with Gucci in Italy and ﬁnally opened the boutique of her dreams in the neighborhood she calls home.

By Kamren Curiel • Photos by Noé Montes

LE BOHEMIAN CHIC Why a boutique? Instead of going to summer school, I traveled to Paris and Italy to learn more about my [Catholic] religion and study Italian. I fell in love with fashion and started to see it less as a material thing and more as an art form. It takes a real artist to design and sew. And who doesn’t like to look nice? Was it hard to find this location? I could have opened my boutique anywhere—East L.A. to cater to my community, Robertson Boulevard (but rent was ridiculous) and I was like, “I’m gonna keep it local.” I wanted something small because I do everything myself…It took two years to find the right place right across the street from Barragan’s. I was blessed. What’s behind the name? I told my husband, if we’re going to be a part of this movement, I want to name it Le Bohemian Chic because Echo Park is so bohemian. There’s a lot of writers and artists who live here, and bohemian is art. Le means “the” and “Chic” means style. It just went. How do you choose the items you sell in your shop? I go to showrooms and talk to designers. I look for good quality runway stuff at reasonable prices. I carry a lot of Echo Park designers too, like Rico Adair for Defile, Mensch Madel, Moon, Lucca, Ebegardo fine leather and Michelle hand-made costume jewelry. You go a support the local artists. What else do you sell? I sell Oprah and Martha Stewart’s favorite Seda France hand-poured candles, Gianna Rose Atelier soaps; Miso Pre y and Boss Lady cosmetics, sunglasses, sandals and my own leather 3-D purses. A friend of a friend just hooked me up with some of Rihanna’s clothing—stuff she gets sent to her. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have nice stuff we can afford as working-class people. NA LE BOHEMIAN CHIC 1527 W. Sunset Blvd. Echo Park (213) 977-9197 www.lebohemianchic.com

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 14

17 ★ OCTOBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

INNERVIEW

GARY LEONARD L

ocal photographer Gary Leonard has documented the city since 1960, when he photographed the Dodgers at the Coliseum. He’s earned acclaim for his blackand-white photos of politicians, celebrities, punk rockers, sports figures and outcasts. He also casts his lens on urban development, from the Arts District in the ’70s to L.A. Live today. Three books showcase his photos: “Make The Music Go Bang!: The Early L.A. Punk Scene,” “Take My Picture Gary Leonard” and “Symphony In Steel: Walt Disney Concert Hall Goes Up.” During the 2003 California Recall, Leonard was even one of 135 candidates for Governor. We met around the corner from his gallery at Colori Kitchen, where Leonard’s punk rock photos line the Italian restaurant’s brick walls.

INTERVIEW BY JOSHUA LURIE ILLUSTRATION BY ANTONY HARE

NA: What’s your first memory with a camera? 1960. I have this memory that I was at Dodger photo day at the Coliseum…I remember driving home, looking at the camera and being struck with possibility. What I did, I stuck the camera out the window without looking. That’s something for a nine-year-old. I got back and it was this image of trees and the top of a house. Did you buy your first camera? My dad did. My dad had had a darkroom...I just always took to it. In college I went to UCLA. I was taking art. I was introduced to Diane Arbus, Ansel Adams, a whole list of photographers. Black-and-white photography. The choice I made was choosing a realm more like a photojournalist, but shooting like a street photographer. That came together. Before I knew it, people would say, can you come over here and take my picture?... It was just natural. When you go out, be passionate about what you shoot. Shoot what you like to shoot. Are you currently teaching photography classes? I teach classes all the time, but I never made an effort to develop a week-by-week class. Do you have people join you as you photograph the city? All the time. That’s really the best way to learn. Much be er than slides or Power Point. What’s changed about downtown? Everything has moved west of Alameda. Before we had people living in the Arts District. I used to refer to it as the Al’s Bar District. Al’s Bar was at the American Hotel…That was the center of the neighborhood...It was a wonderful neighborhood. You could find parking. Everybody knew who you were. It was authentic. It happened on its own. It was allowed to just be there for 30 years…In the ’90s they finally put up signs calling it the Arts District. Now what happens is the artists can’t afford to live there. What would like to see happen downtown that hasn’t yet? Cabs. Connectors. It will happen on its own. People want an urban core. They want to live close to where they work. Why is it worth being located downtown? It’s got so much character. There’s something interesting on every block…In the ’70s I just had this sense it was a wonderful way to live, close to where you work. My daughter [and I] go to City Hall and sit in on City Council sessions. For her, growing up is so rich. Growing up in the Valley, what were your memories of downtown? I remember going to Li le Tokyo. It was huge. It was a real district where people lived and worked...It was authentic…When I was young, you could just feel what came before. Now I’m old enough to know all the spots…There’s all these wonderful assets in close proximity that are here for adults and children – culture, and people and activities. My daughter could give you a tour of downtown. It’s so funny; she has such a sense of place. Have you lived anyplace other than Los Angeles? No. I don’t think I could. I went to Denver for the Convention. It’s got an interesting urban core that’s connected. That’s what I came away with. The ability to walk or hop on something really gives you that connection…Have you seen Echo Park Cycles [a new bike shop on upper Echo Park Avenue]? I’ve heard of it. That’s progressive. I’ve lived [in Echo Park] for close to 30 years. The reason it’s developed...because of the [old] Red Cars. Echo Park had courtyards. That’s why you have stairs and houses with no garages. They were developed before the automobile...Suddenly people are riding bikes. That’s becoming a center. I see businesses returning to service a neighborhood that needs them. NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 18

With the energy crunch that makes a lot more sense. Absolutely. We need neighborhoods. The idea that somebody gets in their car and has to drive to the mall to get something simple makes no sense. Near Echo Park Cycles, there are other retail spaces available. That’s what it will take. There are also restaurants being built along Sunset. Lot 1? And Elf. And the wine bar. And 15. Who knows if they’re good, but to develop a neighborhood, I see one li le bike shop and get excited about it. You stay in the neighborhood...It’s the future of the city…Once in awhile I’m on the 405 near the 10, and it takes me a half-hour coming from Sunset to Santa Monica Boulevard going south. That’s miserable. I remember the earthquake in 1972. All the streets were slowed. 36 years later and traffic’s like what it was during an earthquake. That’s every single day, all day. If we have another earthquake, what’s going to happen? One of the things you’re known for is your punk rock photos. How did you get involved in that scene? When punk happened, I thought, here’s a chance. I’m old enough to get in on something that’s truly alternative and exciting, taking pictures for the city. They performed in these venues in Chinatown, odd places in the Valley… Here was this network of people using these assets of the city, downtown. I jumped in full-force. Have you been involved in any other social phenomena since then? You have to live at night for awhile. You have to rub elbows. You can see musicians and users and artists. Some people end up on Skid Row or dead. At some point, I got tired of it. I still see the people who were living that life. We have families. There’s more that propelled me than just the city at night. I haven’t cut myself off. I can still see the line. It’s just a progression. Every place I see it. My friend Ricki [and his wife Monica], they just opened a diner on Skid Row. It’s still happening. Why’d you get tired of the punk rock scene? Only covering music, you never really get to see the city. Every background is black. Every shot is with a strobe. Every shot, you see the faces, but it can be any city. What’s the goal with your gallery? It should be a place where people can come ’cause you’ll get a be er idea of what I mean. There’s mementos and memorabilia and magazines…That’s how ideas get developed. It’s the Gary Leonard experience. NA GARY LEONARD GALLERY 740 S. Olive St., Downtown Mon.-Fri.: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 13 & Dec. 11: 5-9 p.m. during Downtown ArtWalk. www.garyleonard.com • takemypicture.com

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19 ★ OCTOBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

L A LIVE The Times Square of the West? BY ANDREW WAINER

25 ★ OCTOBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

owntown is awash with cranes, hard hats, steel frames and multi-story banners advertising apartments and condominiums. A new crop of buildings is on the rise. Soon the construction site at the corner of Olympic and Figueroa will yield L.A. Live, the four-million-square-foot entertainment Mecca its developers are calling “The Times Square of the West.” Bill Marrio , Chairman and CEO of Marrio International and a major investor in L.A. Live, invites comparisons to Times Square, saying, “We finally found 42nd & Broadway in downtown L.A. I really think it’s going to become the crossroads for Southern California.” ➤

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 26

Photo by Randall Michelson

L.A. Live is planning its grand opening for the first week of December. By that point, the entertainment complex will include the 2,300-seat Club NOKIA live music venue, Lucky Strike Bowling Alley and the Grammy Museum, plus numerous brand-name restaurants. L.A. Live developer Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the world’s leading sports and live entertainment presenter, owns and operates 90 venues around the globe, including Staples Center. They’re banking on the project to “transform” downtown. L.A. Live Managing Director Lisa Herzlich says it will provide downtown Los Angeles with “an entertainment district unrivaled by any city anywhere.” The December opening will actually mark phase two of L.A. Live. The first phase concluded in October 2007 with the opening of the 7,100-seat NOKIA Theatre. Downtown residents will soon discover something new happening in South Park. “We are planning 31 days of activities, including a light show,” Herzlich said. A er next month’s opening, L.A. Live will further expand in the first quarter of 2009, adding the ESPN West Coast headquarters and more restaurants. In early 2010, the complex will add a 14-screen Regal Cinema and a 54-floor JW Marrio & Ritz-Carlton hotel with 878 Marrio guest rooms and 123 Ritz-Carlton rooms. The tower will also house 224 luxury condominiums on its top floors, complete with Ritz-Carlton amenities and services. A mix of businesspeople (local and international), celebrities like Governor Schwarzenegger, Lakers fans and USC parents have already purchased about 140 residences. AEG expects 20 million visitors to the complex annually and 600 events per year at its four live music venues in and around the complex: Staples Center, NOKIA Theatre, Club NOKIA, and the Conga Room. L.A. Live is slated to host the Grammys, the Emmys, the ESPYs and the American Music Awards, plus movie premieres at the Regal’s 800-seat theater. Leaders of the Los Angeles Convention Center – just across 11th Street from L.A. Live – are also hoping that L.A. Live will boost the number of conferences and conventioneers downtown. “We were behind Omaha in conventions,” said AEG President Tim Leiweke. “We were always amazed that, not just Omaha, but if you went down the list, we were 26th or 27th in the country in convention business.” Bill Marrio is convinced that L.A. lagged due to the lack of a “headquarters hotel.” With the impending arrival of his top two brands, “They’ll finally have one here at the Convention Center.” Convention Center officials said that they are already noticing an increase in the number of bookings, based only on the expectation of 20,000 parking spaces, three new major live music venues and a tidal wave of restaurants and entertainment within a ten-minute walk of the Center. “We’ve never had the excitement of what L.A. Live brings to that area,” said Marc Lieberman, President of L.A. Inc., the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “This place has really changed.” Lieberman cites CA World, the annual convention hosted by multi-billion dollar so ware giant Computer Associates, as an event Los Angeles would not have been able to a ract without L.A. Live. “They have been in Las Vegas for years,” Lieberman said. “We brought them out here to show them all the changes that are taking place downtown and they booked two years with us.” Lieberman said that the planned 2010 and 2011 conventions were the largest ever booked by the Convention Center in terms of room nights – a total of 32,301 combined for the two years. The two conventions will generate more than $35 million for the city. L.A. Live will stand out even among AEG’s formidable collection of global properties. “It will pull all the facets that you need together to make it a destination in itself,” Herzlich said. Live music will be a big focus. “Our concert division [AEG Live/ Goldenvoice] is the second-largest tour promoter in the world,” said Michael Roth, AEG Vice President for Communications. “Everything we do revolves around live entertainment and sports.”

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 22

L.A. Live will not be just a corporate and convention cash register. AEG says the entertainment enclave will also host free public events such as farmers’ markets and outdoor jazz concerts. “We are also looking at using the space for programs that will resonate with the community,” Herzlich said. “We want to be a place where there is always something happening and you don’t need a ticket to come and enjoy it.” Other community-oriented events may include a summer movie series and fashion shows in collaboration with the nearby Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Despite the crush of activity about to descend on L.A. Live, Leiweke is still unwilling to anoint the complex the city center. “Being the city center is not really something that you claim. It’s not something that you spin and try to market. I think cores and hearts and souls of communities happen because people make those decisions...We certainly believe there will be enough footfall and enough events to become the core and the heart and soul of Los Angeles, but we’re going to have to earn that by making sure the experience is great.” In AEG’s promotional literature, L.A. Live’s mammoth corporate logos loom over the development. The diminutive human figures shown amidst tree-lined NOKIA Plaza are dwarfed by the massive Toyota, Wachovia, Target and ESPN corporate logos towering over them from atop the buildings. One neighborhood group has already complained about the amount of nigh ime light and billboards at the complex. “It’s a huge amount of advertising, more than you’d see at a mall,” said Pico-Union Neighborhood Council member Michael King. He’s convinced that L.A. Live’s plan to put billboards on the Convention Center wall facing the 110 Freeway will snarl already sluggish traffic. “It will cause so much backup and delay,” King said. “It’s unconscionable that it’s directed toward the freeway.” King said he has addressed the issue with AEG and that “they have agreed to try and dim the lights,” but that the billboards and advertising have already been approved by the City Council. What is perhaps most unusual about L.A. Live – according to scholars and activists – is the development’s endorsement by dozens of community groups that have historically received li le consideration from developers. In 2001, AEG and a coalition of dozens of community organizations agreed on a “Community PHOTO BY GARY LEONARD Benefits Program” that guarantees living-wage jobs at the development for local workers and also commits AEG to help fund affordable housing. David Robinson of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) said that relations between AEG and the community are downright friendly. “L.A. Live has been a consistent partner in seeing that the [affordable] housing gets built,” says Robinson. “At the end of the day, the L.A. Live project will bring a lot of exciting new things to this area of Los Angeles.” The Community Benefits Program “helped set a precedent here in Los Angeles, but also more widely,” says Robinson, “that urban development should bring concrete benefits to the local community.” The agreement calls for AEG to spend at least $1 million for the creation or improvement of one or more parks and recreation facilities within a one-mile radius of L.A. Live; maintain 70% of employment in the project as living-wage jobs; and include 500 to 800 affordable housing units on or off site. The agreement has been lauded by activists and scholars as a large urban development taking into account community needs. AEG negotiated in good faith with the community, and the company has reiterated its sensitivity to community concerns. Although relations between L.A. Live and community groups have so far been largely positive, this alliance may be tested further, as the crowds, noise, lights, and traffic increase. The complex has the potential to transform downtown Los Angeles, but the direction of that transformation is uncertain. Its very size means that surrounding communities won’t be able to escape the complex’s impact, positive or negative. NA

23 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

ORANGE SKIES OVER THE CEDARS BY KIRK SILSBEE

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 14

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25 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

“Love—featured tonight in the Diamond Mine! On display in the psychedelic department store!” –Dave Diamond, KBLA, June 16, 1967

t’s long been said that to get the attention of Angelenos, you first must get them off the freeways. Los Feliz Boulevard at drive time has the moving compression of metal and humanity worthy of any freeway. Just off that concourse, pockets of tranquility are surprisingly close. South of Los Feliz and east of Hillhurst is a quiet, circular street. The tiny enclave is a small residential basin, its street and sidewalk ringed by elevated homes. An imposing metal gate girds an especially impressive structure at 4320 Cedarhurst Circle. A Venetian palazzo replica, currently called The Cedars, has recently been restored to its original grandeur. Director Marcel Tourneur built it in 1925 and it became known as “the Talmadge House” (though it’s unclear whether silent-movie actress Norma Talmadge actually lived here). Over the years, the structure has hosted much Hollywood lore: a home for Bela Lugosi, a set for Erroll Flynn’s seductions, interiors for Billy Wilder’s Sunset Blvd., a stop for Marilyn Monroe, and a brief residence for Johnny Depp as he prepared for Ed Wood. For a few years in the mid-1960s, when Day-Glo painted over Old Hollywood gilt, the house became known as The Castle. It was home to the band Love, which lived on fan support and its own myth more than record sales and critical approbation. Decades of critical praise and successive generations of worldwide fans have transcended Love’s short, unhappy life. The band now compares favorably to the Byrds, Mothers of Invention, Buffalo Springfield, and Doors. From 1966 to ‘68, Love was responsible for three fascinating albums, culminating in the epochal Forever Changes. Love was a band of dualities: hellacious torrents and thoughtful interludes, black and white members, sinister and peaceful songs, local enthusiasm and national indifference, galvanizing shows and a reluctance to tour. Love’s chameleonic leader, Arthur Lee, embodied those opposites. Tall, brilliant, enigmatic, he was a young black man from tough Dorsey High who challenged the white hegemony of hippie Hollywood. (Love was the only integrated Hollywood band of the ‘60s.) Lee had an impressive array of musical styles at his fingertips, singing like Howlin’ Wolf on one tune, Johnny

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 26

Mathis on the next. Lee’s polar opposite was rhythm guitarist Bryan MacLean. He was blond and delicate, a distinctive and lyrical writer whose songs evoked loveliness. The cinematic “Orange Skies” fantasized lazily about “carnivals in cotton candy and you” over jazz ﬂute obbligato. The creative tension between Lee’s dominance and MacLean’s competing vision helped to make Love a singular band. The Byrds started a major cultural shift in 1965 with their residency at Ciro’s on the Sunset Strip. The next big development was Love at Bido

Years later, Lee obliquely toyed with an interviewer: “That was Dracula’s pad…where Dracula used to live…you got to be out there all the time…” The structure became a visual touchstone for Love in ensuing years. The action at The Castle was legendary. In Chris Hall and Mike Kerry’s documentary Love Story (now on DVD from Start Productions), Lee was ﬁlmed a couple of years ago, strolling through the sunlit solarium alluding to past glories. Gesturing at the spacious wooden ﬂoor, Lee muses, “The fellows would roller skate around here.” The communal house became a stop

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BEN EDMONDS ARCHIVES

Lito’s, a gritty, bricked sewer of a club on Cosmo Alley south of Hollywood Boulevard. Crowds spontaneously flooded the place. Eventually, speakers pumped the music onto the outside sidewalk, often jammed with dancers. Paul Body - poet, Art Fein’s Poker Party regular and Love fan - contends, “In 1966, Love was the best live band anywhere. I saw ’em all that year, the Beatles, the Stones, the Byrds, the Buffalo Springfield, the Doors, the Beach Boys, and Love was better than any of ‘em. They just rocked harder than anybody.” Their eponymous first album was distinctive. The cover depicted slightly dangerous young men, draped around a crumbling stone ruin. It was an outdoor fireplace at The Castle.

for other bands and lots of groupies. Guitarist Johnny Echols says, “Anything you can imagine happening at the Playboy Mansion happened there.” In April ’66, the KRLA Beat sent young Rochelle Reed to The Castle to report on the band. She was met with rude indifference and sarcasm. How did the band meet? “In a gang ﬁght.” She pronounced them “determined to get to the top,” adding, “Lack of manners will stop them.” Radio play was sporadic. “Little Red Book” was a turntable hit and “7 and 7 Is” peaked nationally at #38. However, Love had an A.M. advocate in KBLA, the little Burbank station that adopted a ﬂower power posture in early 1966. The disc jockeys, led by Dave Diamond, knew what the listeners didn’t: the pop

format would be scrapped in a yearand-a-half. Diamond reasoned, “Let’s enjoy ourselves and play the good stuff of today’s best bands.” Extended album cuts by the Beatles, Stones, Seeds, Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Love ruled at KBLA. Diamond’s flower power soliloquies were built on free association, alliteration, vague drug connotations and good-natured nonsense. He crafted scenes and characters, placing them all in the “Diamond Mine,” a mental rabbit hole of wonder. On Friday, June 16, 1967, Diamond anchored the final three hours of the station’s rock format. He sprinkled his show liberally with Love cuts. The last hit about 20 minutes before the fateful midnight hour. As the jazz-tinged guitar introduction of Bryan MacLean’s “Orange Skies” rolled, Diamond wondered aloud: “One of the records that is synonymous with the progress of Love in the Diamond Mine. Plotting their way in the murky madness of today’s world. Will they happen like they should…?” Much of Diamond’s audience was out of town that moment, at the epochal Monterey Pop Festival. National careers were launched that weekend, with reputations made (Janis Joplin) and ruined (Laura Nyro). Love was invited to play but, in an act of selfdestruction, turned it down. Producer Kim Fowley visited The Castle one night and saw “a bunch of people trying to be beatniks-evolving– into-hippies in a self-conscious/trustfund way. There were people standing around with Om on their heads and I thought it was pretty lame.” “Arthur was awfully good but he didn’t have any luck,” says Fowley. “He could think black, he could think white. He could think R&B, he could think surf. He was a less flamboyant Hendrix crossed with French movie star Alain Delon, but it wasn’t enough.” Fears, comfort and encroaching drug use steadily dismantled Love, but not before they recorded the classic Forever Changes. It’s an unclassifiable collection of thrilling music and apocalyptic text, both micro and macro. Flamenco guitar, corrida trumpet, idiosyncratic song structures, liquid string sections, punching horns all collided to make as good an album as L.A. has ever produced. Drugs, terrible disappointment, prison sentences, and early deaths are all part of the Love legacy. Lee, shortly before his death, stares out from behind dark glasses in the movie and shrugs, “I’ve had a lotta fun, man. But I’ve had a lotta fun the hard way.” NA

27 ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ NEW ANGELES

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 08 Listing compiled by Julie Rasmussen (www.ali lebirdytoldme.com) Send listings to calendar@newangelesmonthly.com

THE HIVE GALLERY Each month, The Hive Gallery allows the public to explore the work of a handful of artists at a large group show highlighting the work of up-and-comers. This

month, the show features Wilson Hsu’s paintings of robots, animals and dinosaurs boasting ’70s flair alongside Kenji Tanaka’s cartoon-flavored paintings inspired by Eastern philosophy and martial arts. The gallery’s Tall Wall boasts Jamie Burton’s devilish and eerie paintings of a pleasantly disturbing theme while the Small Wall comes alive with the gothic carnival collage work of Nathan Cartwright. Topping things off, Matt Espantman’s installation brings mod flair to the exhibition with his figures inspired by the feel of the ’60s. Overall, the group show has work by over 100 artists. The Hive Gallery Monthly Group Art Show and Performance runs through Nov. 29. The Hive Gallery, 729 S. Spring St., Downtown. 213-955-9051 or www.thehivegallery.com

ART THROUGH NOV. 26: TV BOOKS Tim Barber curates photographs from artists who are a part of the open submission show, Tiny Vices. A catalogue of these and other photos has been compiled and will also be on view and for sale. Hope Gallery, 1547 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park. 323-782-9221 or www.tinyvices.com NOV. 7 - 29: THE DRAWING ROOM Audrey Kawasaki curates this whimsical group show that includes Stella Im Hultberg, Amy Sol, Kukula, Jessica McCourt, Meg Hunt, Lilly Piri and others. In the project room, expect mixed media work by Timothy Karpinski. Opening reception Nov. 7, 7-11 p.m. Thinkspace Gallery, 4210 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake. 323-913-3375 or www.thinkspacegallery. com NOV. 7 - 30: THE PERMUTATION GENERATOR PJ Fidler’s The Permutation Generator reflects the concept of metamorphism – sacrificing what you are to become something else. His paintings focus on life, love, sex and death and how each of these experiences transforms each one of us. This exhibition runs alongside Fallen Trees Spread No Seeds, wood burnings, sculptures, mixed media and paintings by Jason Houchen that fuse his Midwestern roots with his love of classical folk art, street art and pop surrealism. Opening reception Nov. 7, 8-11 p.m. La Luz de Jesus, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. 323-666-7667 or www.laluzdejesus.com NOV. 8 & 9: INTERTRIBAL ARTS MARKETPLACE More than 100 Native-American artists from around the country sell pottery, jewelry, sculptures, paintings, mixed-media works, weaving, beadwork and more. There will also be traditional food, music and storytelling. $12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Autry National Center of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. 323-667-2000 or www. autrynationalcenter.org NOV. 8 - 30: TOP OF THE DOME V Over 100 ceramic skulls designed by Gregg Stone and customized by dozens of painters, graphic designers, graff writers and other creative types to celebrate Dia de los Meurtos. Opening reception Nov. 8, 6-9 p.m. Crewest Gallery, 110 Winston St., Downtown. 213-627-8272 or www.crewest.com NOV. 8 - 30: YO! WHAT HAPPENED TO PEACE? The Yo! show is a collection of screen prints from global artists voicing their thoughts on war, social issues and the downfall of the environment through art. Opening reception, Nov. 8, 7-10 p.m. Chango Coffee House and Gallery, 1559 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park. www.myspace.com/changocoffeehouse NOV. 8 - DEC. 20: COLORS Joe Novak’s abstract paintings follow the traditions of the New York School of artists. This exhibition is a series of 350 small, 5” x 7” panels, all produced between 2006 and 2008, that integrate light and color, producing an ethereal, vibrating presence.

NEW ANGELES ★ NOVEMBER 2008 ★ 28

In the gallery’s project window, Meghan Geckler premieres her new project in which colored tape and fluorescent light optically alter space. Opening reception Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m. Bert Green Fine Art, 102 West 5th St., Downtown. 213-624-6212 or www.bgfa.us NOV. 13: DOWNTOWN ART WALK A free, self-guided tour of the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — commercial art galleries, museums, nonprofit arts venues experimental spaces and more. To streamline the adventure, you can hail free shuttles circulating in the area. Free, 12-9 p.m. Map and locations, www. downtownartwalk.com NOV. 13 – DEC. 6: RACHEL MAXI Finding inspiration in the mundane, painter Rachel Maxi uses strong light and bright color to render sublime portraits of dumpsters and driveways from Palm Springs to Malibu. Opening reception Nov. 13, 7-10 p.m. Phyllis Stein Art, 207 W. 5th St., Downtown. 213-622-6012 or www. phyllissteinart.com NOV. 15 – DEC. 30: AMY CASEY Amy Casey’s acrylic paintings are fueled by the nervous state the world seems to consistently be in. The Ohio artist is inspired by both natural and unnatural disasters as well as the never-ending stream of bad news in the media. Opening reception Nov. 14, 6-10 p.m. POVevolving Gallery & Print Studio, 939 Chung King Road, Chinatown. www. povevolving.com NOV. 18: ART KNOWS NO BORDERS Benefiting Doctors without Borders. More than 100 artists, including locals Miguel Osuna, Mel Kadel and Found Gallery, participate in a silent auction of their work in a variety of mediums. The first 500 guests will receive a free, signed copy of public art, featuring Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca, Danny Setiawan, Lidya Tchakerian, Alice Dean, Joshua Barber, Vera Arutyunyan and more. $20, 7 p.m. Safari Sam’s, 448 S. Main St., Downtown. 213-327-2220 or www. artknowsnoborders.com

books/literature/ discussion NOV. 8: JEFF SOTO Soto’s book, “Storm Clouds,” features paintings that evolve beyond his signature robotic characters. The book captures new painted territory that record Soto’s concerns for the well-being of his family, the fragile condition of politics, the changing forces of nature and moments for personal exploration and experimentation. Free, 6-9 p.m. La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. 323-666-7667 or www.laluzdejesus.com NOV. 9: THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN The Natural History Museum becomes a forum in which visitors learn about international conservation issues, and can then interact with organizations that actually do something about those issues. Bikes, slow food, farmers market and homesteading advocates appear, and eco-chef Aaron French gives a talk and cooking demo focusing on food ecology (12:30 pm). Conservation International’s Jen Morris speaks on investing in pro-conservation small- and medium-sized businesses around the world (2:30 pm). $9 The Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-763-DINO or www. nhm.org NOV. 11: JEFFERY GOLDFARB The noted media, cultural and political sociologist leads a post-election conversation with CalArts’ Martin Plot. Topics include the Bush Administration, the new President and all that that lies between. $10, 8:30 p.m. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown. 213-237-2800 or www.redcat.org NOV. 12: THE LINK BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the Los Angeles Conservancy spotlights preservation as conservation when Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. discusses the crucial

relationship between historic preservation and sustainability—an issue with new momentum due to the current focus on climate change and conservation. Reusing historic buildings makes as much sense as recycling bottles, newspapers, or anything else and Moe explains why. $5, 7-9 p.m. Los Angeles Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th St., Downtown. 213-623-2489 or www.laconservancy.org NOV. 20: TRINIE DALTON The author discusses her nonfiction collection Mythtym. Dalton has long made popular zines on variety of subjects, bringing together artists, musicians, critics, novelists and cartoonists in one gorgeous stew. The book compiles the best work from her previous zines on Werewolves, mythical beings, and the natural world. Free, 7:30 p.m. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 323-660-1175 or www.skylightbooks.com NOV. 22: UNCOVERING CLOVIS CULTURE Join Dr. Gary Stickel (sometimes called the Real Life Indiana Jones for his consultation work on that film) for a provocative discussion about his extraordinary find at the Farpoint Site in Malibu: Clovis culture. This discovery may call into question our preconceived notions about initial human settlement in coastal California and, in the words of one scholar, “the earliest prehistory of the Americas.” Free, 1-2 p.m. Southwest Museum of the American Indian, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles. 323-221-2164 or www. southwestmuseum.org

anniversary of this head-tripping psychedelic delight, which was written and produced by Jack Nicholson and directed by Bob Rafelson. $10, 7:30 p.m. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 323-466-3456 or www.egyptiantheatre.com NOV. 15: STREETS OF FIRE Enjoy this Rock & Roll fable under the stars at the Drive-in! Starring Michael Pare as the soldier who returns to town only to have to rescue his ex-girlfriend from The Bombers, a nasty motorcycle gang. Also stars Diane Lane and Willem Dafoe. $10, 6:30 p.m. Parking Garage, 240 W. 4th St., Downtown. www. devilsnight.com NOV. 20: ALCATRAZ IS NOT AN ISLAND In 1969, a small group of Native American students and “Urban Indians” occupied Alcatraz Island, retaking “Indian land” for the first time since the 1880s. The event altered U.S. Government Indian policy and programs, and forever changed the way Native Americans viewed themselves, their culture and their sovereign rights. Free, 7 p.m. National Center for Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave., Downtown. www.myspace.com/ nafilmseries

NOV. 26: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS A discussion that explores current political topics both local and national. This month’s chat covers the Presidential election and its outcome. Free, 10:30 a.m. Los Feliz Library, 1874 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 323-913-4710 or www.lwvlosangeles.org

NOV. 20: THIS WAS PACIFIC ELECTRIC In 1902, Southern California was a collection of small farm towns, waiting for something to pull it together. That turned out to be Pacific Electric. This Was Pacific Electric is the story of the rise and fall of the “The World’s Greatest Electric Railway,” a complete history starting in 1872 with L.A.’s first horse car line and continuing through the last Red Car in 1961. The story is told using rare film footage, hundreds of photographs, animated maps and extensive interviews. $5, 8 p.m. Echo Park Film Center, 1200 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park. 213-484-8846 or www.larhf.org

ﬁlm

music

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NOV. 7: BRAINFEEDER FESTIVAL An array of beats performed by Flying Lotus, Gaslamp Killer, Kutmah, Ras G, Hudson

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Mohawke and more. $16, 8:30 p.m. Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park. 213-413-8200 or www.attheecho.com

The Hollywood Palladium, 6215 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. 323-962-7600 or www. ticketmaster.com

The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., East Hollywood. 323-663-1525 or www. fountaintheatre.com

Directed by Marc Warzecha. Free, 8 p.m. The Second City Studio Theatre, 6560 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 323-464-8542 or www.etix.com

NOV. 7: FIRECRACKER Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the monthly club with performances by Biz Markie and Tittsworth. $10, 9:30 p.m., 21+. Grand Star, 943 N. Broadway, Chinatown. 213-626-2285 or www.myspace.com.fckr

NOV. 21: KRAAK & SMAAK Weaving soul, jazz and funk, this Dutch groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infectious tunes make the stiffest stiff dance. $18, 8 p.m. The Music Box at the Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 323-464-0808 or www.kraaksmaak.com

NOV. 8: ULTRALUXX This monthly club pounds out electro and indie beats spun by its resident DJs Lex and Los. The night also includes art, a photo booth and a light show. Free, 10 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 a.m., 21+ The Mountain Bar, 473 Gin Ling Way, Chinatown. www.myspace.com/ultraluxx

NOV. 21: LUCINDA WILLIAMS The alt-country queen has become unexpectedly prolific in recent years. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back on tour in support of her latest album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Honey.â&#x20AC;? With Buick 6. $25 - $42.50. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-388-1400 or www.livenation.com/venue/ the-wiltern-tickets

THROUGH NOV. 23: BACKSEATS & BATHROOMS Follow the lives of six Lower East Siders who find themselves having a lot of sex without finding much love. $20, Fri. & Sat. 10:30 p.m.; Sun. 9:30 p.m. Lyric-Hyperion Theatre CafĂŠ, 2106 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. 323-960-7829 or www.plays411.net

NOV. 28: THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO Relive the golden age of radio as the cast reenacts classic radio shows from the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;40s and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s. Drama, Mystery and Westerns â&#x20AC;&#x201C; oh my! $10, 8:30 p.m. Playhouse Theatre Players, 600 Moulton Ave., Los Angeles. 323-227-5410 or www.kslgplayhousetheatre. com .musiccenter.org

THROUGH NOV. 23: MONEY SHOT A story of a handful of internet entrepreneurs preparing for the biggest video shoot of their lives. Too consumed with their own problems, they neglect to see the coming apocalypse thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about to destroy the outside world. $20, Thurs.-Fri. 8 p.m. The Alexandria, 501 S. Spring St., Downtown. 323-960-7776 or www. plays411.net

tours

NOV. 8 & 9: THE WHO This band, featuring Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, formed in 1964 and remains one of the most influential bands in the world. Even in their sixties, these guys keep on rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and rollinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. $67.50-$130, 8 p.m. NOKIA Theatre, L.A. Live, 777 Chick Hearn Court, Downtown. 213-763-6020 or www.aeglive.com NOV. 10: BECK Beck christens the ultra-modern 2,300-seat live music venue at L.A. Live. The native Angeleno mashes up a variety of musical styles, creating complex songs from simple instruments. His latest album: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Modern Guilt.â&#x20AC;? $41.50-$71.50, 7 p.m. Club NOKIA, 777 Chick Hearn Ct., Downtown. 213-763-6020 or www. myspace.com/beck NOV. 12: HOLLYWOOD HOTSPOTS John Reynolds and his brother Ralf put on a night of hot Hollywood Jazz. $10, 8 p.m. Center for Inquiry West, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., East Hollywood. 323-666-9797 or www.cfiwest.org NOV. 13: DEATH TO ANDERS A thought-provoking listening experience of lofi rock mixed with free-form noise, influenced by Pavement and Sonic Youth. Also taking the stage: Low Redland, Thailand and The Frontier Brothers. $8, 10 p.m., 21+ Silverlake Lounge, 2906 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. 323-666-2407 or www.foldsilverlake.com NOV. 13 & 14: ALANIS MORISETTE Rock tunes more likely than not about love (or lack of), life and every other thing that may be under her skin. $47.50 - $87.50, 7 p.m. The Orpheum, 843 S. Broadway, Downtown. 213-749-5171 or www.laorpheum.com NOV 14: MĂ&#x2013;TLEY CRĂ&#x153;E The Crue got started on the Sunset Strip, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fitting that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d return to the Boulevard to help support their latest release, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saints of Los Angeles.â&#x20AC;? The band is used to playing arenas and stadiums, so this is the rare chance to witness a general admission performance. With special guest. $85.50.

NOV. 22: CLUB SUICIDE A weekly club night hosted by the inked and pierced Suicide Girls, with resident DJs Amanda Jones and Robert Lockerby. 21+. Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 323-466-6111 NOV. 26: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Flash back to the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s with this pop band that was forged for the sole purpose of pleasing the masses. $37.50 - $77.50, 7:30 p.m. Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Downtown. 213742-7340 or www.staplescenter.com

theater/live performance THROUGH NOV. 9: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Based on the novel by Manuel Puig, Kiss of the Spider Woman revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies. Thrown together in a Latin American prison, Valentin is a tough revolutionary being tortured for political information, while Molina is an unabashed homosexual serving eight years for deviant behavior. The two unlikely cellmates who play a breathless cat-and-mouse game as they struggle to survive. Directed by Nick DeGruccio. $34-$40, Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m. Bootleg Theatre, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. 800-595-4849 or www. havoktheatre.com THROUGH NOV. 16: FOREVER FLAMENCO! With only 80 seats in four rows, The Fountain Theatre is the perfect place to view Flamenco. Each show features a roster of world-class Flamenco dancers, singers and musicians drawn from the rich SoCal pool of Flamenco artists, with additional guest artists brought from San Francisco, Albuquerque and Spain. $30, Sun. 8 p.m.

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THROUGH DEC. 7: SHOCK THERAPY This comedy, written by Tom Baum and directed by Jenny Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara, tells the story of a celebrity psychiatrist, his painter wife and their runaway daughter who encounter a revenge-minded ex-con at a Cape Cod summer house. Opening night Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Thurs., Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m. Sun. at 7 p.m. $20. The Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood. 323-960-4420 or www.plays411.com/ shocktherapy NOV. 7 - 28: THE PEOPLE YOU LIKE SHOW A night of comedy with performances that will have you rolling in the aisles. Free, 9 p.m. Spring Street Smoke House, 640 N. Spring St., Downtown. 213-623-0535 or www.myspace. com/pylshow NOV. 8: WORLD CITY This one-of-a-kind ensemble of NativeAmerican champions and award-winners offers a rich variety of American Indian traditions and aesthetics in dance, instrumentals, song, storytelling, sign language and audience interaction. Featuring hoop and traditional dancing, powwow vocals, drums and ancient flute songs, the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble represents the Plains nations of Lakota, Anishinabe, and Comanche, the Southeastern Choctaw tribe, and the woodlands nations of Ojibwe and Oneida. Free, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. W.M. Keck Foundation Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Amphitheater, Walt Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Downtown. 213-972-3660 or www. musiccenter.org NOV. 13: HOLIDAY SHOW Students used improvisation and Second City scenic structures to create a holiday show in eight weeks. Cast includes Mike Bloodworth, Cristina Cimellaro, Marie Lake, J. Anthony McCarthy, Carrie-Ann Pishnak, Lani Shipman.

NOV. 8: DOWNTOWN L.A. MOVIE LOCATIONS SCAVENGER HUNT You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be collecting items but knowledge as you visit locations in films like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speed,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;L.A. Story,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seven,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;L.A. Confidential,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Grifters,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Independence Day,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Naked Gun,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ed Wood,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Raging Bull,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Barton Fink,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beverly Hills Cop,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ghostbustersâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;New York, New York.â&#x20AC;? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also explore other cool historic places and learn the stories behind them. $17.50, 2 p.m. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., Downtown. 213-847-4970 or www.laparks.org/ pershingsquare NOV. 8 - 29: MONAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEON BUS CRUISE A double-decker bus tour takes people from Downtown to Hollywood and back to see the marquees, restaurants and other neon highlights. Eric Evavold and Eric Lynxwiler narrate. $45, Sat. 7:30 p.m. Board bus on Olive St. at Pershing Square, Downtown. 213-489-9918 or www.neonmona.org NOV. 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JAN. 19: ICE SKATING AT PERSHING SQUARE With no end in sight for this heat, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swimming at Pershing Square.â&#x20AC;? $6, see site for hours. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., Downtown. 213-847-4970 or www.laparks.org/ pershingsquare NOV. 22: ECHO PARK LAKE A two-hour tour of some of Echo Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent landmarks, including the Jensen Recreation Center, Angelus Temple, some of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous stairways and more. $5, 10 a.m. Echo Park Lake Boathouse, 751 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park. 323-860-8874 or www.historicechopark.org NOV. 29: LITTLE TOKYO WALKING TOUR Little Tokyo is one of L.A.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most interesting neighborhoods. Learn about its history and future plans on a tour lead by docents from the Japanese American National Museum. $13, 10:30 a.m. Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., Little Tokyo. 213-625-0414 or www.janm.org

Need a New Studio ? Dock High glass rollup doors 3 Phase power up to 150 amps Glass mosaic tiled bathrooms Industrial strength concrete floors, walls and ceilings ADA compliant Satellite TV hookups Cabled for high speed internet access Security cameras inside and out 8 foot wide hallways and entry doors 5,000 lb freight elevator Gated secure parking Pre-wired for multiple business lines Polished concrete corridors Carrier A/C and heating A common area for presentations, gallery showings or professional meetings 10 - 13 foot high ceilings Computerized key card access Immediate freeway access to the 5, 10, 60 and 101 Rooftop deck Nationally recognized award winning architect designed building Seismic retrofit to 2008 standards