DOWNTOWN WEEKLY LA

DOWNTOWN WEEKLY THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024

DTLA

monuments in time

UNION STATION BREWERY ARTWALK RETURNS

MEET YOUR MAKERS AT

WAYFARER HOTEL WHO WANTS TO BUY

CECIL HOTEL?

22THE OLD FASHION WAYS OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY

on the cover:

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

PHOTO: KERI FREEMAN LOCATION: CIVIC DISTRICT

THE KEEPSAKES

<<

UNION STATION FREE MUSEUM DAY...3 ABILITIES EXPO ...4 UNION STATION ..6 PEZ CANTINA/MASTERS OF TASTE..7 BREWERY ARTWALK ...8 CECIL HOTEL...9 DTLA WEEKLY

editor and chief KERI FREEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Keri Freeman JACKSON ROBERTS ISRAEL VENTO JACKSON ROBERTS CHRISTOPHER FLOCH

photography GARY LEONARD eric epperson keri Freeman

VIDEO & GRAPHIC Production @kerieatsdtla

social media art hunter

WEEKLY Special thanks to... AllDTLA rights reserved. DownMAYOR OF LOS ANGELES town Weekly is a news, event, LIFESTYLE & Hospitality FREE & Council district 14 community resource. No portion THE CITY OF LA of this publication may be reproARTS DISTRICT duced without express written permission from the publisher.

CHINATOWN DTLA WEEKLY, in support of local residents, businesses, workers CIVIC DISTRICT visitors of Downtown Los AnBUNKER HILL and geles, publishes DTLA WEEKLY. EXPO/USC HISTORIC CORE Readers are recommended to appropriate inquiries beLITTLE TOKYO make fore wagering any sum in relaFASHION DISTRICT tion to any ad, article or feature herein. DTLA WEEKLY FINANCIAL DISTRICT published will not be liable to any person SKID ROW for loss or damage incurred or SOUTH PARK suffered as a result of his/her accepting, offering to accept or WAREHOUSE DISTRICT following any invitation or advice THEGRAWN contained in any ad, article or ARTWALK NEWS feature published herein.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WEEKLY

DTLA NEWS l EVENTS l LIFESTYLE I HOSPITALITY P.O. BOX 86601 - DTLA CA 90086 - WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 888-732-DTLA (3852) @DTLAWEEKLY

3

DTLA ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE: FREE MUSEUM DAY by JACKSON ROBERTS

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 3

FREE MUSEUM DAY RETURNS TO BUNKER HILL

S

oCal Museums announced Thursday the return of the muchanticipated Museums Free-for-All on Saturday, March 23.

I

nitiated almost two decades ago to foster cultural engagement throughout Southern California, this annual event offers free general admission to over thirty museums and cultural institutions, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

Alexa Nishimoto, President of SoCal Museums and Marketing Associate at the Japanese American National Museum, expressed excitement about welcoming visitors from across Southern California.

PHOTO COURTESY THE BROAD

Nishimoto highlighted the event’s role in providing access to a diverse array of art, cultural heritage, natural history, film, and science. Nishimoto noted that the Museums Free-for-All encourages people to discover something new or revisit cherished locations.

Participating downtown Los Angeles locations include: The Broad, GRAMMY Museum, Japanese American National Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). @socalmuseums

4 THIS WEEK IN SPORTS: ABILITIES EXPO RETURNS by CHRISTOPHER FLOCH

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

Abilities expo rides into downtown

A

A series of compelling workshops on travel, fundraising for disability equipment, driving with a disability, life after stroke, therapeutic cannabis, workplace accommodations, complex caregiving, financial planning, wheelchair seating solutions for kids, emergency preparedness and more is offered free-of-charge.

bilities Expo is the nation’s leading event for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more than four decades, the Expo-goers can let loose with dance demos led by disability community the world-famous Rollettes has gathered at Abilities dance team and Straight Up Abilities. Attendees will also Expos all over the enjoy service dog demos and country to discover the play adaptive sports. The latest, life-enhancing Ms. Wheelchair California competition will take place at products & services, 2:30 pm on Sunday, March access experts in infoPHOTO COURTESY ABILITIES EXPO 17. Talented wheelchair users from around the packed workshops and state will vie for the coveted Disney star, adaptive sports, service dog engage in fun. crown, but only one will emerge Ms. demos and that’s just for starters!”

A

ngel City Sports, an LA-based nonprofit that provides year-round adaptive sports opportunities, will feature a multitude of adaptive sports all day, every day in one high-energy Sports Zone right on the Expo show floor.

Angel City Sports will showcase a host of different adaptive sports geared for a wide variety of disabilities Sports Zone and the Auti Angel Events Arena. There will be adaptive basketball, football, sitting volleyball, amputee soccer, table tennis, boccia and more.

Wheelchair California 2024.

Marquise Bailey and his dog Cleon attended their 1st ability fest in 2023 with his will trained Assistance\Emotional support dog gifted to him by his aunt from his hometown Memphis, Tennessee.

“I am so excited to be here, I’ve Once attendees find their new favorite heard about it but being here is so much more than I expected,” gushed pastime at the Expo, they can learn Marquise Bailey. how to continue it year-round with Angel City Sports.

This event is designed to increase independence for people with disabilities Attendees experience cutting-edge Abilities Expo is the one and only and admission is always free.Abilities products and services for people with event designed to bring products, Expo is a truly inspiring event, where a wide range of disabilities. They will technologies, resources and adaptive disabled people and their families find find mobility products, devices for activities together under one roof to hope and community. people with developmental disabilities, provide greater independence for people medical equipment, home accessories, with disabilities,” said Lew Shomer, Admission to Abilities Expo is free and essential services, low-cost daily living Chairman of Abilities Expo. show hours are Friday and Saturday, aids, products for people with sensory 11 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 11 am – 4 impairments and more. A variety “We can’t wait to share everything at pm. Complimentary loaner scooters, of assistive technologies will be the Expo with the Southern California wheelchair repair and sign language available for testing at the AT disability community. We have an allinterpreters are also available during show inclusive climbing wall, the Rollettes dance Showcase, sponsored by Ability Tools. hours. Parking at the LACC is $25 per team, a meet-and-greet with a disabled day. @Abilities_Expo There will be equipment and experts, including Paralympian Erza Frech, on hand to encourage both rookies and seasoned sports enthusiasts to test their skills.

DT APPETITE: HEARTS & FLAME by Keri Freeman

VOL 20. NO. 5 FEB 15 - FEB 21, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 5

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

6 DTLA MONUMENTS IN TIME by HANNA PLAYA

UNION STATION: HISTORY 101

U

nion Station stands as a testament to the grandeur of railway travel in the 20th century. Built in the heart of Los Angeles, California, this iconic station opened its doors on May 3, 1939, replacing the city's previous terminals: La Grande Station and Central Station.

T

he ambitious project was approved in a contentious ballot measure back in 1926, aiming to consolidate rail services from Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and Southern Pacific Railroads into one central hub.

Designed by the renowned architectural firm of John and Donald Parkinson, along with a team of supporting architects, including Jan van der Linden, Union Station boasts a striking combination of Art Deco, Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne styles.

Its architectural details, like the eightpointed stars and elements of Dutch Colonial Revival, add to its allure.

However, Union Station's construction was not without controversy. The proposed site across from Los Angeles' original Chinatown sparked heated debate, with concerns ranging from property values to racial implications. Ultimately, old Chinatown reopened where Chinatown is today and Union Station was built, leading to the discovery of archaeological remains from the Tongva village of Yaanga during construction.

PHOTO BY KERI FREEMAN

Despite its glamorous debut, Union Station faced challenges over the years, including declining patronage due to the rise of air travel and automobiles. However, it persevered as a vital transportation hub for Southern California.

interchange for Amtrak, Metrolink commuter rail, and Metro Rail lines, connecting travelers to destinations near and far.

Despite its smaller scale compared to other union stations, Los Angeles Union Station remains a symbol of the city's Today, it serves as the largest rich history and enduring spirit. Union passenger rail terminal in the Western Station is a journey through time and a United States, welcoming nearly celebration of a bygone era of rail travel.

110,000 passengers daily.

Union Station's significance extends beyond its role in transportation; it's a cultural landmark, designated as both a Los Angeles Historic–Cultural Monument and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its elegant waiting room, enclosed garden patios, and exquisite architectural details continue to captivate visitors.

Over the years, Union Station has evolved, adapting to changing times and needs. It now serves as a bustling

Union Station 1943

This year, Los Angeles Union Station will celebrate 85 years of being a vibrant symbol of Downtown Los Angeles.

To commemorate this milestone, the Station will continue to energize the community with events and programs celebrating honored partnerships, unique artists and commemorative holidays throughout its 85th year. @UnionStationLA

Union Station 2024

DTLA APPETITE PEZ CANTINA by KERI FREEMAN

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 7

Fresh Faces, Familiar Flavors: Downtown’s Pez Cantina Takes Center Stage at 2024 Masters of Taste

T

he seventh annual Masters of Taste is one of L.A.’s premier luxury food and beverage tasting festivals.

T

he Sunday afternoon event returns to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with 100% of the proceeds directly benefiting Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization providing over 50 years of homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors.

For years, Masters of Taste has brought together over 100 culinary masters and beverage maestros, offering delectable dishes, savory and sweet, along with signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and top cocktail bars.

Masters of Taste 2024 marks the 7th anniversary of this celebrated event where 3000 people mix and mingle on the grassy field in the iconic Rosebowl, enjoying interactive games, and touching town at the 50-Yard-Line for exclusive VIP cocktails while others spend their afternoon moving from scrumptious station to station, picking up samples and rinsing them down with select wines, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, and cold-brew coffee.

For the past few years, the event has showcased downtown’s own Michael and Kwini Reed as honorable hosts.

The culinary power couple boasts three restaurants across the Southland, stemming from their first location, Poppy & Rose in the Fashion District. They work together, with the exception of times when at least one of the two graces the airways,

LUCY & BRET THOMPSON = PHOTO COURTESY PEZ CANTINA

showcasing their talents world-wide on cable TV channels such as the Food Network.

This year, the two will pass the Masters of Taste hosting torch to another culinary power couple and favorite of Downtown, Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy ThompsonRamirez of Bunker Hill’s Pez Cantina.

Foodies abound, every dollar raised at the 2024 Masters of Taste event will benefit the work of Union Station Homeless Services (Union Station), a local organization successfully fighting to end homelessness. Over the last six years, Masters of Taste has impressively raised close to $3 million, helping countless families and individuals find a secure and welcoming place to call home.

Masters of Taste 2024 is a 100% outdoor event. Additionally, all guests will receive their very own Mastersbranded utensils and hand-sanitizer keepsakes.

The Seventh Annual Masters of Taste 2024 takes place on Sunday, April 7th, 2024, and this is a 21+ event at the Rowebowl in Pasadena from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. @mastersoftaste

8 DTLA ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE” BREWERY ARTWALK by ISRAEL VENTO

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

Experience a Piece of LA History at The Brewery Artwalk Clearly visible off 5th Avenue in Lincoln Heights, the structure, easily recognizable by its towering smoke statuary, began as an Edison power plant and chimney back in 1903.

The facility, built before prohibition, became home to Pabst Blue Ribbon in the fifties and sixties and later to Hollywood film shoots.

In 1982, the city passed the “Artist in Residence” ordinance. Allowing industrial buildings to double as artist living and working spaces has produced a calming creativity hub for reclusive artists, thanks to visionary Arnold “Whitey” Carlson, who purchased the complex and began curating artist tenants.

While walking through, visitors witness performance art, canvases, or sculptures (for sale) at every turn. It is here that the artists and their many talents are on full display.

Connecting and chatting are part of the experience. Food and drink options are plentiful during the event. There’s a beer garden in the middle of the complex offering small bites, as well as food trucks lining up on Avenue 21.

Fun Fact: The “Paradox” facade is not original, even though it looks vintage. It was left there by Hollywood film crews, painted for a scene in Bruce Willis’ 1994 film “The Color of Night.”

T

he Brewery Artist’s Lofts are some of Downtown Los Angeles’ most spacious, beautiful, and historic artist studios.

Dubbed the world’s largest artist complex, the 16-acre campus was brought to life in 1982, largely due to the passing of the city’s

In its 41st year open to the public for the Brewery Artwalk and with over 100 artists participating and 300 lofts on the site, inspiration and accessibility come in plenty.

‘Artist in Residence’ ordinance. This Free Museum Day, The Brewery” will swing open The Brewery Artwalk is happening on the same day as SoCal’s Annual Free its doors to the town’s Admission Museum Day. It will be a busy longest-running art walk day for the arts in Los Angeles. once again.

F

ormally known as the Brewery Artists Lofts, this industrial wonder of concrete, brick, and metal is a cultural landmark.

The free event is open to all ages, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 23rd, and Sunday, March 24th.

Free parking is available at the UPS facility on Moulton Avenue. The complex is located at 621 S. Avenue, LA 90031. @breweryartwalk

DTLA CRIME AND CULTURE: CECIL HOTEL by HANNA PLAYA

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 9

Who the Hell Wants to Buy the Cecil Hotel?

T

he renowned and iconic Cecil Hotel in DTLA is once again listed for sale. But who would be so brave as to buy this infamous monument, known for its dark associations with murder, suicide, and mayhem?

W

hen the Cecil Hotel opened in 1924, guests were enamored by its lavish rooms, grand marble lobby, stained-glass windows, alabaster statuary, and potted palms. However, it was just a short time before mysterious occurrences began dulling the grand hotel’s luster. Over the next century, history would serve downtown with a bloody cocktail of misery, intrigue, and unsolved murders.

The first of many ominous events took place in 1931, when guest W.K. Norton ingested poison, leading to his body being discovered by housekeeping days later.

Over the years, several suicides would follow: in 1932, guest Benjamin Dodich would shoot himself in the head; in 1936, Louis D. Borden would slit his own throat; and decades of jumpers would follow, one of which somehow managed to keep his hands in his pockets the entire way down.

On October 12, 1962, George Gianinni leaped to his death from the Cecil Hotel, taking innocent bystander Pauline Otton to the afterlife with him as his body struck hers just before hitting the pavement.

Who threw Satan in the mix?

A baby thrown out of window, bodies ripped by electric wires as they hurled towards the ground, and other guests like Elizabeth Short, dubbed the Black Dalia in 1947, who was found tortured and mutilated in a nearby park, as if a victim of some heinous satanic ritual.

In the 1980s, the Cecil Hotel served as a short-term home for the ill-famed serial killer Richard Ramirez. Dubbed the “Night Stalker,” Ramirez developed a fascination with Satanism and the occult from an early age. One of Ramirez’s attacks left an 81-year-old woman with a lipstick-painted pentagram on her thigh.

In 1991, Austrian Jack Unterweger added another chapter to the grim history of the Cecil Hotel. He was found culpable for the strangulation and murder of at least three near-by sex workers, leaving a unique signature knot from each victim’s intimate wear, indicative of his killing style.

By far the Cecil Hotel’s most perplexing case revolves around virginlike Canadian tourist, 21-yearold Elisa Lam. In 2013, Elisa’s body was discovered on top of the hotel, following grievances from guests about a peculiar taste in the water. This ultimately led to the discovery of her naked body in a water supply cistern on the hotel’s roof.

The Center of Attention From Netflix specials to the signage uproar, the Cecil Hotel stays the center of attention of controversy when it comes to mystery and intrigue in downtown.

As detectives fish through a century of unsolved murders, conservatives are still quick to protect the integrity of this Historical Momunment at all costs.

A recent signage change saw iconic “Hotel Cecil” stenciling bring social media uproar and a possible lawsuit to the Cecil’s long occupancy at 7th and Main. Despite its bloody past, advocates made it clear they wanted the Cecil to maintain its historical integrity even if the old signage did look like it was painted in blood.

Because of its legacy the Cecil Hotel and its blood-stained past have become one of the world’s most notorious places to stay

and, macabre enough, one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions.

Fresh Blood…

Following years of numerous unsolved and horrific murder and suicide cases, a section of the hotel underwent renovations in 2008 following a change in ownership.

In an attempt to embody a fresh start, the hotel was rebranded as Stay on Main in 2011.

2014 saw the hotel being sold to New York City hotelier Richard Born for $30 million as Simon Baron Development, a New York-based firm, took on a 99-year ground lease for the property.

The subsequent year, in 2016, Matt Baron, CEO of Simon Baron Development, voiced a strong commitment to preserve and protect the architectural and historically significant aspects of the building. In 2017, renovations were set in motion.

However, in 2021, the Cecil Hotel was resold and reopened as an affordable housing complex managed by the Skid Row Housing Trust.

In 2023, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, the formally unhoused inherited a Cecil Hotel in deteriorating and dilapidating conditions plagued by sanitary plights such as water leakages, vermin infestations, and black mold.

Consequently, in March 2024, Simon Baron Properties, the owners of the Hotel Cecil, placed the hotel on the market.

Who will buy the Cecil?

Undoubtedly, it will be an entity that possesses the genius and foresight to transform the Cecil from a symbol of death, fear, and agony into a beacon of love, pride, and endearment for the residents of Los Angeles and the nation as a whole. @skidrowhousingtrust

10 DTLA HAPPIEST HOURS: MEET YOUR MAKER AT WAYFARER by JACKSON ROBERTS

VOL 20. NO 7 MAR 14 - MAR 20, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM

Meet Your Makers Event at Hotel

Wayfarer Pits Bartender Against

Bartender

G

uests of The Wayfarer DTLA should brace for battle Thursday, March 21st as WhistlePig Whiskey Private Barrel becomes the weapon of choice at the hotel’s lively basement bar The Lilly Rose, soon to be transformed into a dimly lit cocktail combat arena.

T

he night begins with a solitary Maple Old Fashioned followed by the true test of bartender skill, with guests mixologists from Pacifica Properties including Marina de Rey Hotel, The Wayfarer DTLA, The Belamar and others all coming together to create cocktails made with WhistlePig Private Barrel – Attendee votes deciding the victor.

Pacifica Hotels, renovated the nearly century-old hospitaly fortress formally known as the Ritz Milner Hotel and reopened in under thier own brand in 2021.

The popular, community-centric site is situated on Flower Street just south of 8th, features a roof top bar, and three basement level dwellings, The Lily Rose, The Basement Bar and an alley speakeasy entrance on 8th leading to one of Downtown's favorite disco hideaways, the Queensberry.

The Wayfarer DTLA’s “Meet Your Makers” events are held monthly, partnering with unique brands for exclusive events to learn more about the ins and outs of spirits. The Wayfarer Hotel is located at 813 S. Flower, LA, CA 90017. @thewayfaredtla

DTLA MOVIE BUFF: THE BOOK OF CLARENCE by WILL SLATER

VOL 20. NO. 6 FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2024 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM 11