Downtown Weekly

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 20. NO 18 OCT 10 - Oct 16, 2024

STAY Y HEALTH

DTLA THE WIND

VIA

vip aesthetics space shuttle

endeavoUr

SHOWN HERE:

ciclavia - heart of the city

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THE AGILE MOBILITY OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

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dtla weekly

the spirit of downtown los angeles

on the cover:

SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ...4 MILLION DOLLAR THEATER...5 VIP AESTHETICS...6 CICLAVIA - RIDE LIKE THE WIND..8 DTLA REAL ESTATE EMPIRE...12 PAGE 9 : CHAINFEST AT ROWDTLA...13 ANGEL'S FLIGHT LOVE STORY...14

CICLAVIA HEART OF THE CITY photo:

CICLAVIA

THE KNEE CAPS

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location: HISTORIC CORE

DTLA WEEKLY editor and chief KERI FREEMAN

Special thanks to...

contributing writers KERI FREEMAN JODY MILLER ABEL WEISS JAIME HERRERA JACKSON ROBERTS HANNAH PLAYAH lead photography

THE LEGENDARY

GARY LEONARD video production social media design and layout

@kerisellsdtla

MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES & Council District 14 THE CITY OF LA ARTS DISTRICT CHINATOWN CIVIC DISTRICT BUNKER HILL ECHO PARK EXPO/USC HISTORIC CORE LITTLE TOKYO FASHION DISTRICT FINANCIAL DISTRICT SKID ROW SOUTH PARK WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

THEGRAWN

& ARTWALK NEWS

DTLA WEEKLY All rights reserved. Downtown Weekly is a news, event, LIFESTYLE & Hospitality FREE community resource. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher.

DTLA WEEKLY, in support of local residents, businesses, workers and visitors of Downtown Los Angeles, publishes DTLA WEEKLY. Readers are recommended to make appropriate inquiries before wagering any sum in relation to any ad, article or feature published herein. DTLA WEEKLY will not be liable to any person for loss or damage incurred or suffered as a result of his/her accepting, offering to accept or following any invitation or advice contained in any ad, article or feature

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DTLA WEEKLY - The Spirit of Downtown Los Angeles DTLA NEWS l EVENTS l LIFESTYLE I HOSPITALITY 334 S. MAIN STREET - OLD BANK DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN LA 888-732-DTLA (3852) @DTLAWEEKLY WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

4 GET2DTLA - SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR COMES TO EXPO/USC

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space shuttle endeavour

STILL GETTING READY TO BLAST OFF AT CAL SCI CENTER

hat goes up The Space Shuttle program completed 135 into space, missions, launching five different orbiters: Columbia, carries Discovery, astronauts Challenger, Atlantis, and Endeavour. to Each orbiter had its incredible heights, and unique contributions, has played a key role in with Challenger tragically lost during mission STSexploring the universe?

51-L in 1986. Despite this That’s the Space Shuttle!

This remarkable spacecraft, known as the Space Transportation System (STS), was designed to conduct a variety of missions, including assembling the International Space Station and launching the Hubble Space Telescope. Equipped with two giant solid rocket boosters, the Shuttle made space travel more efficient and showcased human ingenuity by performing repairs and experiments in orbit.

The Space Shuttle program, which officially began with the launch of Columbia on April 12, 1981, marked a significant milestone in human space exploration. Over its thirty-year span, the program completed 135 missions, launching five different orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.

Each orbiter had its own unique contributions, with Challenger tragically lost during mission STS-51-L in 1986.

Despite this loss, the program continued to push the boundaries of what was possible in space travel. The final mission, STS-135, took place in July 2011, concluding a legacy that not only advanced scientific research but also fostered international collaboration in space exploration.

The Space Shuttle’s ability to transport astronauts and cargo to and from orbit made it a vital asset in our quest to understand the universe.

loss, the program continued to push the boundaries of space travel, culminating in the final mission, STS-135, in July 2011. This legacy not only advanced scientific research but also fostered international collaboration in space exploration.

Soon, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will make its home at the California Science Center, becoming the centerpiece of the new –– Commissioned to replace the lost Challenger, Endeavour was built largely from spare parts and named by a group of schoolchildren after British explorer James Cook’s ship.

Between 1995 and 2011, Endeavour completed 25 missions, achieving remarkable feats such as remedying the Hubble Space Telescope’s blurry vision, Photo courtesy connecting the first two california science center modules of the International Space Station, and creating With this exciting exhibit, families will a topographic map of the Earth’s surface that remains in use today. have the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the incredible journey of this To prepare for Endeavour’s arrival, the historic spacecraft, making it a must-see Science Center has acquired a flightdestination for space enthusiasts of all worthy external tank and solid rocket ages. boosters, which will complement the exhibit. A groundbreaking ceremony for No word when the exhibit will open as of the new facility took place on June 1, yet, but it’s definitely coming along. Nicely.

2022, and the first solid rocket booster @californiasciencecenter was lifted into place on November 7, 2023.

MONUMENTS IN TIME: THE MILLION DOLLAR THEATER by Hanna Playah

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the Million Dollar Theater

Eagles, Maidens, Long Horns and Other Strange Beings

ook close enough at the facade of the Million Dollar Theater on Broadway, and sooner or later strange and wondrous creatures will appear.

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owever fixated the eye may be upon the theater’s elaborate gated Spanish Rococo arch with its most intricately carved concrete sea waves, ribbons, sentries, ancient symbols, eagles, and ten-pointed star, marking the entrance, as the eyes begin to wander to the left or to the right, they will eventually focus on something truly unexpected. A surprising exterior of Spanish Colonial statues hand-carved

by Uruguayan-born Joseph Jacinto Mora.

Mora carved longhorn skulls, dancing maidens, brave warriors, longhorn steer skulls, a portly masked man, and... Thoft the bird-headed God of Writing from ancient Egypt?

Yup. When the Million Dollar Theater opened in 1918, not only was it an enormous display of what money could buy, it would become the first silent movie theater in Los Angeles, paving the way for a growing number of elaborate theaters that would line up all the way down Broadway.

Voted 10 Greatest Buildings in Downtown Los Angeles in a recent poll by Downtown LA Photo Group, commenters wasted no time adding Sid Grauman, an American entrepreneur and showman who established The Million Dollar Theater, the Chinese Theatre, and the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood to the list.

Photo by keri freeman So at least we know Sid’s admiration of ancient Egypt may have been the reason behind the strange bird-headed statue, while others play with the notion of hidden meanings and secret societies.

Historians and theater enthusiasts claim eight Muses of the Arts exist to pay homage to the art of filmmaking.

Regardless, you’ll have to tilt your head back to admire the full grandeur of the 12-story wonder, and just when you’ve thought you’d seen it all, after taking a short trek up the side of the building on 2nd Street, even more wonders are revealed.

Inside the Million Dollar Theater The theater’s interior is designed by William Lee Woollett and architect Albert C. Martin Sr.

The Million Dollar Theater seats roughly 2000 people within its auditorium, decorated in a similar style to the exterior, and has a curved proscenium arch to support its long, plush velvet curtains.

The ceiling has a coffered dome, and there are numerous statues, and the organ grilles on the side walls are in the style of Spanish Colonial altar screens that still remain.

Like many of the Broadway theaters, history has seen them in disarray and in need of refurbishment. Over the century, it had been host to many guests, performances, and even a Spanish church.

In October 2005, the Million Dollar Theatre was restored by Robert Voskanian. In July of 2019, the Million Dollar Theatre was declared a HistoricCultural Monument by the City of Los Angeles.

6 DTLA MAKEOVER: VIP AESTHETICS BY JODY MILLER

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VOL 20. NO 18 OCT 10 - Oct 16, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

VIP AESTHETICS

A New Med Spa Dedicated to Your Well-Being

t’s always good news when a new med spa opens in DTLA, especially when the new spa is one that not only offers the latest cutting-edge services, but is owned and operated by healthcare professionals who have a passion for ethics and the highest standard of patient care.

VIP Aesthetics opened in late 2023 under the ownership of board-certified nurse practitioner Robert Baker, with Dr. Shawn Abrishamy MD, a leader in noninvasive aesthetic medicine and cosmetic dermatology, as Medical Director.

Photo courtesy - vip aesthetics All performed in a luxurious and comfortable environment staffed by highly trained professionals who offer continuous support, guidance, and encouragement while you pursue your aesthetic of health goals.

It’s absolutely amazing and it makes a 100% difference. I use it every day, and everybody asks me, “what do you use, Robert?”

You see a lot of very over injected people here in Los Angeles, so do Downtown Weekly had the opportunity you have a particular philosophy to speak with owner Robert Baker about when customers come in who want what makes VIP Aesthetics unique and the injections or skin treatments? too-good-to-be-true membership special mentioned above.

As a med spa, we treat people medically.

When the opportunity presented itself, You have an amazing membership We do not do or recommend an excessive Baker took serendipity by the reigns to amount of injections. We are not the place special of $249 a month which open VIP Aesthetics at the Downtown includes a Hydrafacial and Botox each for that. For the advanced therapies, such Medical Center with a clear vision and as Potenza or Skin Pen micro-needling, month. Can you elaborate? purpose: to offer medical aesthetics to the we do not sell less than three sessions downtown and surrounding communities because you will not see the desired People should be lining up at the door, with the promise of a personalized results with less than that. because you are essentially getting Botox and holistic approach to whole body for free. If you purchase a Hydrafacial on rejuvenation utilizing best practices, the Is there anything else you want our its own it’s is $325. If you purchase 30 highest-quality equipment and products, readers to know? units of Botox, it cost over $300. Plus, and the beauty of life lived with balance you receive 10% off all skincare products. and integrity.

We are open Saturdays and there is Who performs most of the injections? abundant free parking.

As a comprehensive center for skin We have a wonderful RN named Yen who and body rejuvenation, VIP Aesthetics When most of the city’s med spas administers our injections. offers not only the latest in non-surgical are clustered in Beverly Hills and the cosmetic enhancements such as facial Westside, with its convenient location, In addition to injections, you offer fillers, laser and radio frequency skin expert team, and affordable membership, many advanced skin and body rejuvenation and body sculpting with the VIP Aesthetics is poised to become a go-to rejuvenation treatments and IV latest technology, but therapies to improve therapies. Do you have a favorite? destination for those seeking beauty and overall health and quality of life. wellness in DTLA. What I really love, and it sounds kind These include HRT for men, VIP Aesthetics is located at 1711 W. of basic, is our line of skincare. We use IV vitamin infusion and shots, and Temple St., Ste 1082, Los Angeles, CA medical grade Solutions ZO® by Dr. medically prescribed and supervised 90026. @vipaestheticsla Obagi. weight loss.

With over two decades as a critical care nurse, Baker earned his BSN, MSN, and MHA from the University of Phoenix, and his post-graduate APRN, and AGNP-C from the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

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THIS WEEK IN SPORTS 88 STAY HEALTHY DTLA: CICLAVIA BY JACKSON ROBERTS

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wind the like ride CICLAVIA Through the Heart of the City

ang up the car keys and forget about your rideshare apps, CicLAvia—Heart of LA returns to downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, October 13, and between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., the streets will belong to the riders.

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resented by Metro, CicLAvia is a 56thcar-free open streets event connecting several of the most important and historic Los Angeles neighborhoods, which include Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Downtown LA, Echo Park, the Arts District, and Little Tokyo.

Photo courtesy - gary leonard Visit the Downtown Weekly booth at the Chinatown Hub to pick up a copy of the latest issue and for chances to win great prizes and special discounts from our DT Kingdom Members.

CicLAvia car-free streets connect all of us to the neighborhoods where we live, work, shop, learn, and play.

Active participants at CicLAvia use people-powered mobility to navigate “Heart of LA is CicLAvia’s anchor public streets in a safe and joyful Imagine riding, skating, or drifting route,” says CicLAvia Executive Director way. Along the way there is shopping over the 6th Street Viaduct en route Romel Pascual. “It’s where the inaugural at local businesses, access to cultural to Echo Park Lake through the Historic CicLAvia took place in October 2010, and and architectural gems, using open Core of DTLA, alongside 100,000 or so the route we return to every fall. Each year streets as spaces to connect with each fellow participants. Some may jog, some may ride, skate, run, or walk the 7.5-mile the route varies slightly to see more of our other, and making a positive impact beautiful city from outside the confines of on the environment by creating a more route, with five hubs filled with plenty of a car. sustainable and climate resilient city and activities and programs along the route, region. Over the past 14 years CicLAvia this is CicLAvia—Heart of LA. For 2024 we’ll be going back over the has helped communities re-imagine a spectacular 6th Street Viaduct, one of LA’s greener and cleaner Los Angeles, while Always free, CicLAvia participants just also promoting equitable transportation show up anywhere along the route at any most celebrated and iconic landmarks. options, healthier lifestyles, and closer time to enjoy the open streets and to take We will also travel a bit farther into Boyle Heights along E Cesar Chavez Ave. We are connections to community. the time to explore the ‘Heart of LA.’ thrilled to continue our partnership with Metro and LADOT for this 56th CicLAvia, Only people-powered vehicles are Hubs offer family-friendly activities, allowed. No electric scooters, electric restrooms, free water refilling stations, free the 14th Heart of LA (HOLA) route.LA. skateboards, hoverboards, electric basic bike repair, bike parking, and first Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía, unicycles, motorcycles and other nonaid. Free pedicab rides are also available CicLAvia has been temporarily closing people-powered vehicles are allowed at at each information booth. streets to car traffic and opening them as CicLAvia. Class 1 e-bike pedal-assist public parks in Los Angeles since 2010. allowed. Class 2 e-bikes are allowed when Hubs are walking zones (bike dismounts) Now, with more than 319 miles of open the throttle is powered off. Class 3 e-bikes and meeting points along the route with streets, these beloved, always free to are allowed when pedal-assist is powered the Chinatown Hub located on North attend events are a celebration of L.A.’s off. Motorized wheelchairs are allowed.

Broadway near Chinatown’s historic diverse and vibrant communities. @CicLAvia Central Plaza.

DTLA APPETITE: 10 GREATEST BRUNCHES by KERI FREEMAN

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12 DTLA REAL ESTATE EMPIRE: BY ABEL WEISS

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SOLD! waterbridge capital buys iconic union bank tower for $80mil Southwest Carpenters Pension Trust has just purchased the iconic 40-story Union Bank Plaza at 445 South Figueroa Street for $80 million from Waterbridge Capital.

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he sale was facilitated by Newmark and marks the second time in just two and a half years that Union Bank Plaza has been up for sale.

Union Bank Plaza was also acquired

by Waterbridge Capital for roughly $110,000,000 in March 2023 last year, which puts the sale at somewhat of a loss.

but has since moved, although the enormous branding still remains.

Designed collaboratively by Harrison & Abramovitz and A.C. Martin & Associates, the building was completed in 1968 as the first skyscraper built in on Bunker Hill.

The Class A 675,000 square foot property designated for office space and 27,000 square feet of street-level retail space sits on 3.6 acres spanning an entire city block.

Photo courtesy - union bank plaza The property was named for the formerly Los Angeles-based Union Bank & Trust Company, which leased 14 floors for their corporate headquarters

Union Bank Plaza underwent $65 million in renovations in 2021 with lobby renovations, conference rooms, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, all with major technological advances.

In 2020, Union Bank Plaza became the first downtown skyscraper to be designated a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM).

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Page 9: Anticipated Fast Food Fest at ROWDTLA Leaves Some Attendees with a Bitter Taste The world’s first gourmet chain food festival was initially met with immense anticipation.

Photo courtesy - ROWDTLA

And why wouldn’t it?

“It was a bust, an uncomfortable gathering Billed the world’s first and largest fast food chain festival with a gourmet twist thanks of trash food scattered to collaborations from America’s favorite among scorching-hot Michelin starred Chefs, ChainFEST is asphalt grounds. The event in part the brainchild of Chef Timothy Hollingsworth, renowned for his acclaimed failed so drastically in its downtown Los Angeles restaurant Otium. understanding of food Despite a spike in cholesterol, the event promised a unique gastronomic experience culture that it essentially that would elevate fast-food chains to mocked the lower class.”

Adding to the disappointment was the discovery that the perception of "allyou-can-eat" really meant one sample per station, as guests were given a list of booths to visit upon leaving they could not return.

A first blow for ROWDTLA as antidowntown sentiment continues to grow.

The industrialized hipster haven is still one of downtown’s least complained about open-air lifestyle malls.

The event marks a second blow in less than a month for Chef Timothy So what happened?

Well, once inside, reports say the culinary Hollingsworth of Otium, who just days after closing his popular Bunker However, despite a star-studded offerings proved to be a mixed bag. While Hill kitchen faced public ridicule with lineup featuring Chrissy Teigen and some items, such as the flavor infusedan online roast that made Eater LA, gourmet concoctions like… Pizza Pepsi or Wagyu beef tacos from Jack in stemming from a group of former Hut slices topped with smoked salmon, the Box, were intriguing, many attendees employees claiming they’d been shorted mushrooms, and ricotta cheese or Panda found the quality of other options to be checks and not paid for their work when Express meats on a Kabob, before the last lacking, and with VIP entry upwards of wrappers could hit the ground, minions $350, simply not worth the saturated price the doors shuttered. of dissatisfied foodies, reporters, and VIP tag.

Topping our plate of fun events in October, visitors burned off the extra calories with overall, the event gets an A for effort, a negative review workout across social Most likely, taking a food so familiar and and another A for originality from the DT media, Reddit, and even made an article in changing it in any shape or form is likened Weekly News crew. Our only complaint the LA Times with reporter Todd Martins to changing the words of a top 40 song would have been the $20 parking charge saying, during a Karaoke session. It’s just not at ROWDTLA that locals know is usually going to end well. free up to two hours. la.chainfest.com gourmet heights set atop a rooftop maze at ROWDTLA.

14 DTLA SEXY HALLOWEEN BY HANNA PLAYAH

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ANGEL'S FLIGHT

A HAUNTED LOVE STORY

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Photo courtesy - angel's flight

he legend of Angel's Flight, the iconic red cable cars that ascend Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles, is steeped in a peculiar blend of history and the supernatural. The railway was built on sacred ground, a place imbued with ancient power.

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n 1901, Colonel J.W. Eddy, a visionary entrepreneur, constructed the railway as a convenient means of transportation between the historic core and the burgeoning Bunker Hill district.

The twin cars, Sinai and Olivet, were a marvel of engineering at the time, offering a unique and scenic ride.

While the railway was a technological marvel, it also became the setting for a tragic love story. Two lovers, whose names have been lost to time, met and fell deeply in love while riding the cable cars. Their passion was as enduring as the hills themselves.

When fate cruelly separated them, their spirits remained intertwined, forever connected to the place where their love blossomed. It is said that every evening, as the twin cars, Sinai and Olivet, ascend the steep incline, the ghosts of the lovers can be seen in the windows.

Passengers often report feeling a strange warmth, a sense of peace, as the cars pass. Some claim to hear a faint whisper, a love song carried on the wind.

And others swear they can see the lovers' ghostly forms, their hands reaching out as if to touch each other across the divide.

The legend of Angel's Flight continues, a poignant tale of love that transcends the boundaries of life and death. For those who dare to ride the red cable cars, there's always the chance that they might witness a glimpse of this eternal love story, a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, love can endure. And perhaps, on this sacred ground, their love finds a sanctuary, a place where it can forever flourish. Based on a fairy tale. @ angelsflightrailway

DTLA CITY GUIDE FIND. CONNECT. THRIVE.

dtlacityguide.com @DTLACITYGUIDE

DTLA COMMUNITY MATTERS by Hanna Playah

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12 PAGE 9: WORD ON THE STREET

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BUY, SELL, LEASE AND MANAGE TO SEE ANY OF THE LOFTS BELOW PLEASE GO TO LOFTWAY.COM OR CALL US AT 213.254.5638 460 S SPRING ST #1201 | $2,500

FOR SALE

FOR LEASE

420 S SAN PEDRO ST#518 | $520,000

FOR SALE

420 S SAN PEDRO ST #506 | 425,000

FOR LEASE

215 W 7TH ST #902 | $1,995

SOLD

FOR SALE

416 S SPRING ST #409 | $675,000

IN ESCROW

1100 S HOPE ST #1513 | $510,000 FOR LEASE

253 S BROADWAY #510 | $3,250

645 W 9TH ST #727 | $750,000

FOR SALE

108 W 2ND ST#202 | $600,000

Broker/Agent does not guarantee the accuracy of the square footage, lot size or other information concerning the conditions or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from Public Records or other sources. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of all information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. A complete list of SOLD and LEASED Lofts is available upon request. CABRE: 01412928