Downtown Appetite: Order in the Courts

As delicious as it may look from the outside, sometimes with the sweetest indulgence of a $300 million dollar layer cake covered in white frosting, plenty of other buildings across America can try to copy; but try as you may, you just can’t bite City Hall. Topped by the Lynberg Beacon, lighting this historic birthday candle, has for almost a century invited all of Los Angeles to gather round in song and celebration.

Not to be taken for granted, its creators broke the historic building cake mold with this one. Its promise has been kept since 1928 and since then, there has never been a greater desire to construct a building of its magniture with such great taste.

Top Architectural Chefs of yesteryear, John Parkingson, Albert C. Martin and John Austin cooked up this wonderous monument in time, mixed from a concrete batter made from the sand of 58 California counties and holy water from 21 historical missions.

John Parkingson, with the recipe for Union Station had already served us the LA Coliseum, the Crocker, Rowan and Continental Buildings, but with the help of these particular partners, proved that sometimes, it does pay to have more than one chef in the kitchen.

Today, if you work in City Hall or any of its adjacent annexes you and your team of Civil Service chefs most likely spend your time cooking up laws, holding hearings, going over agendas, planning wonders, meeting with the people, and documenting it all; with or without a lunch break, five days a week.

True justice league heroes, there is no wonder why City Hall has been used to represent the Daily Planet since 1928, either in comic book or on television. Superman still holds an office on the 3rd floor, now disguised as mild mannered Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, he fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.

Picking the BEST at Cherry

Pick Cafe

“We are busy because people are looking for healthy food, right now. They don’t want fast food they want something quick and healthy, especially in this area.”- Amir Hesmat, Owner, Cherry Pick Cafe

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fter 9 years in Downtown Los Angeles, Amir Hesmat has seen a lot of new construction, a lot of new buildings and just as many new faces, but for his customers, friendliness and great tasting menu items to choose from at the Cherry Pick Cafe, have always remained the same.

Still serving freshbaked goods, signature coffees, salads and a long list of specialty sandwiches, Cherry Pick’s breakfast and lunch items keep 80 percent of his business coming from the Civic Center District. The rest most likely in the form of catering and delivery. Having a location inside the lobby of the Historic Kawanda Hotel means not only does he get to serve his share of Civic Duty workers, he also gets a steady supply of world travelers, establishing Cherry Pick Cafe amongst one of the most convenient cafe landmarks of Downtown.

Amir and his team hand pick fruit, (such as cherries), from local markets.

Only the ripest and most healthiest choices of organic fruits, vegetables and

free range meats will join them on their daily communte to work, each day ending at 2nd and Hill.

Chef Martha Morales, adds her personal selection of herbs and spices serving customers everything from meatloaf to veggie chili. Fresh squeezed orange juice and mixed fruits compliment a choice of daily soups, which also “flavor well” with their wide variety of gourmet sandwiches, the most incredible being the Wasabi Tuna Sandwich loaded with white albacore in water mixed with wasabi, vinegar, celery, red pepper, red onion and spices. There’s also the 12” pizza made from fresh dough, special red sauce, and fresh mozzarella with choice of meat or unlimited veggies.

An off-site bakery allows for the presence of cakes, croissants and other gourmet pastries which are made in the wee hours of the morning and ready for consumption, dine in or delivery from 7am to 4pm, M-F and 7am - 12pm on Saturday. No matter how your day is going, life is always a bowl of cherries at Cherry Pick Cafe. www.cherrypickcafe.com

DOING LIFE INSIDE THE WORLD OF THE CONCRETE FARMER

Veronica Espinoza of Moor Park At one table; employees from the Farms is just one of many genuine State Landscaping and Architecture farmers who sells her crops directly to sit and discuss the future of aesthetics our Civic workers thanks to Los Ange- and conservation. At another; members les County Farmer’s Markets each week. of the City Council celebrate new proFor them, Thursdays in Downtown grams and partnerships that will soon means they must rise before the sun in have an immediate impact on all of Los time to display their fresh fruits, vegetaAngeles. bles and chopped tooth Lunch time at the picked samples.

Farmers Market: Fresh fruits and Baked goods, cheesvariety of hot vegetables, baked foodA stations es, and other delectaare also bles along with unique goods, cheeses, and available.

Gourmet other delectable works by local artisans, health food chefs, feed such as hand made workers full plates at goodies jewelry, fashion and affordable prices, like specialty cosmetics, like organic sea wild caught salmon, seasoned just right, sponges, and entertainment can also be and you can tell by it its flavor, color and found at the Farmer’s Market from 8am texture it’s a healthy fish who was able to – 3pm each week. live free and swim long distances in the Above LA Mart across from City wild, the way nature intended.

Hall, near the corner of 1st and Main This is a place where workers can get Street, this market spreads to the upper together without the confines of the ofpromenade hosting seating areas and fice. A place to talk about current events many more vendors for the workers and a place to celebrate their careers. nearby.

With tough jobs the Farmer’s Market is Everyone that has anything to do a break for great healthy food alternawith the ways things are run has eaten tive, with a relaxed environment perfect here and many return to fill the seats for venting frustrations or getting in a religiously. bit of juicy gossip.

LET’S GET POLYPHONOPTIC

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THE 1970S AND BIRTH OF THE TRIFORIUM

ecember 2015 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Triforium, Joseph Young s controversial public artwork at the corner of Temple and Main.

Before his death at the age of 87, Young made a name for himself producing public artwork in and around the Civic Center, including murals at the Los Angeles County Hall of Records, and the Los Angeles Police Department s former headquarters at Parker Center, but the Triforium, will always be known for being his most controversial conversation piece, especially amongst the judges who came to despise its loud musical scores, once easily heard inside the courtroom.

But Angelinos love their public art, especially three-pronged, six-story, 60-ton concrete sculptures with, hand blown glass, synchonized colors and built-in music systems. Decorated with colorful Italian glass, the Triforium houses 1,494 light bulbs meant to pulsate to the rhythm of our souls and for brief spartic moments in history, it has done just that.

The year was 1975, back then the whole thing must have been trippy . The world s first polyphonoptic tower was to capture what Young described as the unfinished, kaleidoscopic nature of the city.

Right On! Major Bradley was all for it, and christened the tower as part of the Grand Opening of the LA Mall in front of hundreds of polyphonoptic onlookers.

But during the ceremony the system shorted out, didn t play in sync with the lights, then later leaked water from its pool into the subterranean mall below it.

Born in 1919, ahead of his time, Young never lost sight of his original vision, of a kinetic sculpture, driven by motion sensors that could detect and translate the motions of passersbys into patterns of light and sound while its prisms reflected on the water pool below. Young also intended for the sculpture to project laser beams into space, which would have made it the world s first astronomical beacon, but computers were primitive back then and attempts to synchronize the lights, with the music, the water and the beacan were plagued with problems. So it sat there motionless and soundless until 2006 thanks to the supportive efforts of Councilmember Jan Perry. But still not really as polyphonoptic as Young had orinally hoped.

Luckily Downtown still houses plenty of public art enthusiast willing to help forefill the cosmic destiny of the Triforium and efforts are still being made today to do just that.

RED LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT

FEEDING THE POLICE

Every police chief started out as a patrol officer. It takes years of hard work, a stellar track record and, in some cases, at the county level, having to be elected by local citizens to excell to the level of POLICE CHIEF. As awesome and amazing as our police cheifs are, they know, first hand no matter what your role in the department, in order to climb the ranks you’ll need the strength that comes with practicing a nutritious diet and sticking to it on a regular basis.

The average salary of a police officer can put them on a strict food budget just like the rest of us. But unlike the rest of us, a lunch break may be the only interruption from a shift full of highly stressful, nutrient-depleting situations.

Everyone loves happy police but working on an empty stomach can make anyone a bit grumpy.

For those reasons we never underestimate the importance of Downtown eateries when it comes to...

FEEDING THE POLICE.

Special thanks to Assistant Chief Michel Moore, Office of Administrative Services, for promoting community style leadership - not to mention great tasting taco salads.

Owner Shawn Jones of Chili Bean Café WINS the case for MOST DIVERSE CAFE in Downtown

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ong live the nostalgic feel and menu of Chili Bean Café. Thanks to Chili Bean, Downtown can enjoy international tastes from around the globe including traditional breakfast plates, deli sandwiches, Tex-Mex, cheeseburgers, and soul food. To top it off almost everything can be served with a side of their famous signature chilies.

Taste Buds Will Stand Witness

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pen to the public, located on the 2nd floor atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building on 3rd and Spring, above the café, are 16 stories of some of our city’s most prestigious offices; including the Franchise Tax Board, Secretary of State, Department of Justice, the District Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor of California, himself.

From fresh brewed coffee to local farmed ingredients, Chili Bean’s delicious meals are influenced by Shawn’s family recipes and by her ethnically diverse staff, serving everything from paninis to burritos.

Chili Bean’s team, headed by Jones and Sous Chef Robin Moon, arrives on time to serve their fresh picks of the day between the hours of 6:30am and 3pm.

With so many important taste jurers in the offices above, the pressure is always on to win the case for most delicious, most affordable, and MOST DIVERSE.

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isit Chili Bean Café for dine-in or take out, or ORDER for delivery.

Chili Bean Café offers catering as well and host office parties with live entertainment on occasion. LEVY the Chili Cheese Bacon Burger or PETITION your favorite choices each week with the International Daily Steam Plates.

They’re sure to win any case of bland vs. delicious.

Monday, file a CLAIM for Asian Cuisine. Tuesday’s, the cafe CONVENES for taco salads, enchiladas, and other Latin inspired dishes, whlie Wednesday’s meat loaf, and mac-ncheese are All American. Thursday LITIGATES an Italian menu full of fresh pasta dishes and Friday ADJOURNS after Surf N-Turf, featuring fried, steamed or baked fish and Rib Eye Steaks.

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njoy Chili Bean Café for a huge variety of menu items that will PROVE any case for Most Diverse Café in Downtown. www.chilibeancafe.com

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SAYING GRACE

by Diana King

lessing of the Animals, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, taquitos, olive trees, Mariachis, traditional Mexican wears, leather-hand bags and zapatos; those are just a few of the things that used to come to mind when I thought about Olvera Street, the first city in Los Angeles, and the real Corozon of Downtown.

I’d been going to Olvera Street since my early grade school field trip days. But as an African American, I never suspected my own culture would have such a relationship to the history of a place which, to me, had always seemed to be all about Mexican Heritage, let alone, the major role my anscestors played in the founding of the City of Los Angeles. But one day while searching through the archives, I found something incredible.

Seems the Spanish Empire left no stone unturned when it came to settling the land of California. For over two hundred years they spent in peril with the Native Americans, only to lose the land to Mexico who later lost it to the United States.

Yet, before the fall of the Spanish flag, the Spanish had managed not only to establish a religious and political way of life that has endured over the centuries, but they left us one sweet town that withstood all the regime changes. A town they called La Reina de Los Angeles (the Queen of the Angels) a.k.a. Downtown LA.

It was the LA River that attracted them to do the most in Downtown. Along with miles of virgin land and of course, the warm weather, once they decided to claim and protect this territory, they needed inhabitants, but that was easier said then done back then.

Somehow, they found a small group of African American families, 11 men and 11 wives daring enough to leave Alta California under military escort. With them they brought hope for a new life for themselves and their 22 children. They were Catholic and spoke Spanish as did the African Americans who came to the Americas by way of Spain in the 1400s, and with the help of the Spanish goverment, they settled at the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles a.k.a. Olvera Street on September 4, 1781. You can still find their first adobe house there. It’s a museum now, still there like it was when I was a kid on a field trip.

With a new Mission soon to follow, and a city council to govern the people consisting of Downtown’s first elected officials, another interesting fact, the descendants of these black families went on to own the land we know as Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley.

I’m proud of the accomplishments of all of cultures from around the world, but now when I walk the streets of Downtown, I’ll have something even more to thank my anscestors for, and I just might add a bit more spring to my step.

SPREAD MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN

SPREAD MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN Feeling like a Sultan or royal Saudi princess? Then you must have had a recent dine in experience at Spread Mediterranean Kitchen, Downtown’s new fine-casual dining experience brought to us by Brandon Parker and Dan Coury.

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fter noticing an interesting restaurant trend spreading across America, fast, new, healthy, fine gourmet with a casual touch, Dan and Brandon, who have known each other since middle school, began planning something very special for the community of Downtown.

Dan with a background in real estate and development used his keen eye for interior design to produce Spread’s open-air fine/casual dining experience. Hand-crafted wooden tables and metal seating with intimate lighting provide an iconic atmosphere perfect for one, a few or with their hand crafted 16 chair community table, practically any sized spread. Add a full bar, black tile backdrops, jarred spices and the occasional freestyle hand drawings of artist/muralist PCWhite and Spread Kitchen becomes the number one destination for affodable quality and exotic cocktails.

Cocktails like the Turkish Delight, an all spice date-infused vodka with coconut water, vanilla bean syrup and egg white.

Brandon with a background in restaurant consulting for Forbes Travel Guide and restaurant management from Peninsula of Beverly Hills brings his expertise and former co-worker Chef Brandon Weaver.

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hef Weaver prepares menu items inspired by Dan’s Lebanese heritage and others that come from years working with the personal chefs of actual Kings and Queens from the middle east. When visiting the hotel these personal chefs would share with Weaver the secret recipes that will have you feeling like royalty.

Spread lunches are perfect for one, but their dinner plates are meant to be shared.

After breaking housemaid za’atar spiced flat bread together, indulge in the decadence of the lightest-creamiest-fluffiest hummus in all the land. Watch the perfectly timed dance of the lamb meat balls with fresh garlic, or summon an order of cured salmon with celery slaw drenched in a celery seed vinaigrette. Be sure to over indulge with falafel hash served with poached egg, a taste so divine it can only be fit for a king.

The Mediteranean climate of Califonia allows for outside dining at Spread. Located just north of 4th and Main, with a view of City Hall, where civic workers can easily make a pilgrimage each day. Plus, the dishes are tapas style so you won’t have to worry about spending all the Kings riches. www.spreadkitchen.com

SPORTS Domestic violence, drug test, flat balls, apologies, denials the drama plays on, almost every time in front of the entire world thanks to a relentless media.

On average college football players have by far the most arrests each year followed by college basketball, then college baseball players and a few not so bouncy mug shots of cheerleaders.

Winthrop, Georgia and Missouri Universities have held the gold, winning most arrests, while Universities like Berkeley and Notre Dame barely have any.

in the

COURTS

The image of the team franchise, league or Olympic gold is at stake and Let’s it, we havewhen these face organizations especially seen show before there this are guilty verdicts, rarely give second chances. (many times before).

Even to the point where the punNo matter what the charge, players ishment may not always fit the crime. who get in trouble with the law are While ordinary people may be able to rarely offered future opportunities in find work after meeting the demands the world of sports. of the court, players mostly like will Reggie Slack, former quarterback not. Having their actions caught on of the Houston Oilers, is one player video for the world to play and rewind, who managed to stay out of the courts or make into a meme probably won’t his entire career. Like most of us he work in the athletes favor either. gets to sit on the sidelines anxiously Then there are the paternity suits. awaiting the outcome each time one of With 6 figure salaries and good athour celebrated athletes ends up on the letic genes up for grabs, athletes have wrong side of the court. more to worry about than just injuries.

One night in celebration of a win can “It’s all about your value easily turn into a loss followed by 18 years of child support or a high prosystem,” says Slack. file divorce that can cost them big in Slack doesn’t deny many athletes alimony. fail to follow the Code of Conduct but Slack went on to play for the Tocautions athletes to be mindful of the ronto Titans after leaving the NFL, but consequences and not expect their spends some of his retirement rooting deeds to be over looked because of for his fellow sportsmen at the 2nd their talents or their fame.

Street Cigar Lounge on 2nd and Main, Stop by and chat and have a cigar sometime. www.2ndStreetCigars.com

Check out amazing views of LA on the Observation Deck just below the pyramid at the top of City Hall. Inspired by the Mausoleum of Mausolus, the deck is free and open to the public. At 32 floors and 454 feet high, City Hall is the tallest base-isolated structure in the world.

There are 365 degree views with Union Station, China Town, and the San Gabriel Mountains to the North; Long Beach and Palos Verdas to the South, the Hollywood Sign to the West and Boyle Heights just beyond the 6th Street Bridge to the East.

*VALIDATION WITH ANY CIGAR PURCHASE

2nd Street Cigars - 124 W. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-452-4416 - www.2ndStreetCigars.com