LADTN 01-20-20

exploring prohibition in Dtla Page 5

metro looks to increase bus frequency Page 8

JANUARY 20, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #03

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2 DOWNTOWN NEWS

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AROUND TOWN

LAPD Nets $300,000 in Counterfeit Makeup

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ver $300,000 in counterfeit makeup was seized from a collection of shops in Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on Thursday, Jan. 9 via twitter. LAPD Captain Lillian Carranza, who commands LAPD’s commercial crimes division, shared photos of piles of counterfeit makeup on a table; most of the products were either imitation MAC or Kylie Cosmetics lip kits. No arrests were made. Carranza advised individuals to purchase from authorized retailers to avoid purchasing a fake. “Previous test of counterfeit makeup revealed animal feces and chemicals that can be hazardous to your health,” Carranza said in Thursday’s tweet.

Live Nation Takes Over Belasco Theater

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oncert and events promoter Live Nation will handle operations at Downtown’s Belasco Theater. The company announced the deal on Tuesday, Jan. 14 for a long-term lease of the space at 1050 S. Hill St. (terms were not disclosed). The six-sto-

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

ry, 1,300-person space originally opened in 1926. “With the addition of The Belasco, we now have the premier portfolio of clubs and theaters in Los Angeles, giving an artist the ability to grow from 200 capacity up to 4,000 capacity in a variety of unique and historical venues,” Ben Weeden, COO of Live Nation Clubs & Theaters division said in a prepared statement. Last year, Live Nation purchased Spaceland Presents, which included the Downtown venue Regent Theater and other popular Los Angeles venues like the Echoplex in Echo Park.

CD14 Candidates to Debate Next Week

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owntown residents and workers will get another chance this week to see some of the candidates vying to replace 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. A candidates forum, organized by the South Park, Historic Core, and Fashion District business improvement districts, is set for Wednesday, Jan. 22. The event will start at 6 p.m. at South Park Center at 1149 S. Hill St. Multiple contenders for the seat are scheduled to attend, including former state Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León, Los Angeles School Board member Monica Garcia, marketing professional Cyndi Otteson, social worker Raquel Zamora and nonprofit executive John Jimenez. Former Los Angeles Downtown News editor Jon Regardie will moderate the debate. The event is free to attend, but an RSVP is requested. The city

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

council primary is on March 3.

Accused Assaulter Found Incapable to Stand Trial

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arlier this month the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office declared that a man charged with attempted murder for pushing someone in front of a bus is not fit to stand trial, due to mental incompetency, the District Attorney’s office annouced on Jan. 9. Garrett Joseph Boldt’s case had been on hold while the court determined his competency. Boldt, 42, is accused of pushing a man in front of a box truck in Downtown on Dec. 5, 2018, ultimately pinning the man under the front wheel of the truck, heavily injuring the man. Boldt is also accused of attacking two women that week. If he would have stood trial, Boldt was facing the possibility of life in state prison, if convicted.

MLK Jr. Day Programming at CAAM

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onday, Jan.20, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the California African American Museum has a slew of programming to help celebrate and commemorate the civil rights leader’s enduring legacy. From 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., the museum will host an MLK Day Celebration at the museum at 600 State Dr., which will feature seven different panels and events throughout the day. Lorrie Frasure-Yokley, associate professor of po-

JANUARY 20, 2020

litical science and African American studies at UCLA will present the keynote for the day from 1-2:30 p.m., on the history of African American voting behavior and how to empower black communities. A full list of events can be found at caamuseum.org.

Dudamel Extends His Work with the L.A. Phil

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onductor Gustavo Dudamel is deciding to stick with Los Angeles. The Music and Art Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic has extended his contract with the organization through the 2025/2026 season, according to the Phil’s board of directors. As part of the L.A. Phil, Dudamel has overseen several seasons and special events for the musical group, including the 2018-19 centennial season. In a prepared statement, Dudamel said he looks forward to a second decade at the L.A. Phil. “We have so much work still to do, but I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and to sharing more beautiful moments together, hand in hand with my extraordinary orchestra and our leadership team.” Dudamel first took over as music director in 2009 and his contract has been extended twice prior.

Correction: Last week’s Restaurant Buzz incorrectly stated that after Jason Follilove is finished with his stint at the Music Center Plaza’s Abernethy’s, Pla and Fern Kaewtathip will be the next chefs in line. Ryan Costanza will be the next chef after Follilove.

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JANUARY 20, 2020

DOWNTOWN NEWS 3

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EDITORIALS

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JANUARY 20, 2020

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

The Central Library Continues to be a Wealth of Services

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ime and time again, the Central Library, the Los Angeles Public Library system’s flagship location, has proven that it is more than a place to just borrow a book or movie, although if that was it, it would still be a remarkable institution.

The 94-year-old library has been a place for people to dive into and navigate the ins and out of the Internet, learn a thing or two about your rights as an American citizen, as well as just a quiet place to sit down and think for a few minutes in between tasks. In a time when several pricey private clubs or co-working spaces have arrived in Downtown (think WeWork), it’s worth appreciating what the free, public space has to offer. Which is more than you might think.

Earlier this month Los Angeles Downtown News wrote about the Central Library’s ambitious Octavia Lab, a 3,000-square-foot maker space named after the ground-breaking science-fiction author Octavia Butler, who would often frequent the library. Located on the second floor of the library, the lab offers specialized tools, like 3-D printers, a laser cutter, and equipment to digitize analog images. Almost everything is free to use, and the lab is open to all. The facility opened in the summer, and after seven months of operations, library staff at the lab says that a steady group of regular people is using the space, and that many people are stumbling upon it.

It’s an applaudable addition to a library already bursting at the seams with great events and services, but with so much available at Downtown’s Art Deco marvel, it remains a sticking point for this page that so many people continue to undercut just how important and equitable the library system can be. The Octavia Lab, despite staff noting that more and more people are using its services, has unfortunately largely flown under the radar since opening in June.

That is a shame. Along with the Central Library, the Los Angeles Public Library operates branches in Chinatown and Little Tokyo, which each location offering its own unique services to the particular neighborhood that they represent.

These kinds of public good-focused spaces exist across Downtown Los Angeles, if lower tech. Los Angeles State Historic Park regularly hosts a variety of classes, from martial arts to gardening, for instance.

Other parks, such as Grand Park, host yoga lessons and art seminars.

These are valuable and useful services open to people from all backgrounds, and do as much to help make Downtown livable as any fancy commercial arrival.

Accessible commons, from parks to libraries, are essential but often undervalued in cities, particularly areas feeling a boom of glitzy high rises and high-end stores.

In a time when increasingly expensive options arrive in Downtown, it’s important to take a step back, and applaud the work coming out of these locations, which provide an egalitarian, community space that not only binds together the disparate ends of the neighborhood, but allow people of all walks of life to use some modern tools.

Los Angeles Downtown News 161 Pasadena Avenue, Suite B South Pasadena, CA 91030 213-481-1448 ladowntownnews.com

6th & Olive Grand Opening Mike Bloomberg Headquarters January 6, 2020

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COMMENTS

In response to the article “Out of the Shadows: City Approves Sidewalk Permit Program”

by Sean P. Thomas

Nah, go ahead and litter all you like. The city is apparently fine with that.

— Heath Satow

I can’t for the life of me know why the City wants to control and regulate this but not the vagrants lying out everywhere?

— Susan Elizabeth

DTLA is one big trash can.

In response to the editorial “Don’t Use Downtown As Your Garbage Can” When I visited Germany once I was amazed at how little trash there was on the street. I started to question why and soon realized there was some form of trash receptacle every 20 feet. Logical.

Then of course, culturally, it was ingrained to be courteous and throw trash away.

— Michael Rocchio I was just at a gas station and saw some pig throw garbage out their window. I made a point of walking over, picking up their trash and tossing it in the trash can which was about two feet away.

— Charles Richard Lester People shouldn’t litter in the first place.

— Richard Savedra

— Frank J. Iha In response to the editorial “Be Patient with Street Vending Enforcement” Three cheers for food borne illnesses and litter on public streets!

— Ryan Hopkins

Hey You! Speak Up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like, or dislike, a story or editorial, let us know. Or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Post a comment online at the bottom of any story, or go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, email sthomas@timespublications.com.

STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT: Lorenzo Castillo FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

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©2020 Times Media Group. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Times Media Group. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

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JANUARY 20, 2020

DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

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Downtown’s Prohibition History When the Country Made the Sale of Alcohol Illegal, Corrupt Leaders and Speakeasies Dominated Los Angeles and Kept the Drinks Flowing

By Nicholas Slayton ne hundred years ago the United States went dry. A temperance movement had swept the country, culminating with the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which banned the sale of alcohol. The formal legal document, the National Prohibition Act (better known as the Volstead Act) went into effect Jan. 17, 1920.

Last week marked the 100th anniversary of the country going sober.

Except it didn’t. Officially it was illegal, but drinking thrived, thanks to a network of bootleggers, hidden speakeasies, and corrupt officials. In Los Angeles in particular,14 years of prohibition saw criminal networks dominate the city and some of the early infrastructure of L.A. turned into smuggling dens, particularly in Downtown, according to Kelly Wallace, a specialist in California history with the Los Angeles Public Library.

The new law drastically affected Downtown, and quickly. On Jan. 20, 1920, 35,000 gallons of wine were emptied in the sewer at the North Cucamonga Winery at 845 N. Alameda St., according to a Los Angeles Times article from that day. Scenes like that took place across the city, and in the halls of

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power, the people overseeing the saloons in Downtown reworked their system to deal with the new law.

Prohibition and the Volstead Act did not hit Los Angeles in a vacuum. The wider Los Angeles area had been divided as the temperance movement swept across the country. Some cities, such as Venice and Santa Monica, had gone dry ahead of 1920, while others like Vernon and Watts flourished, according to Richard Schave, a local historian and co-founder of the history-focused Esotouric tour company. A racketeering and bookkeeping network headed by one Charles Crawford was the dominant syndicate at the time, and it oversaw a number of the heavily regulated, legal saloons in Los Angeles. When the Volstead Act went into effect, that same system turned criminal, as players like Crawford turned to bootlegging.

Crawford was a major player in what was known as the “City Hall Gang,” as the bootlegging system in Los Angeles went all the way to the top in Downtown. George Cryer, mayor of the city from 1921-1929, had a series of advisors and staffers deeply tied to illegal bars and racketeering systems.

“Almost all of the city government and po-

Prohibition saw breweries and vineyards shut down across Downtown, with alcohol production centers destroyed by authorities. But drinking continued, in makeshift speakeasies across the Central City.

photo courtesy University of Southern California. Libraries and the California Historical Society

lice were corrupt,” Wallace noted.

Prior to the Volstead Act, saloons and vice were overseen by the Mayor’s Office, in coordination with the LAPD, according to Schave.

The then-head of the LAPD Vice Squad, Guy McAfee, was overseeing saloons and brothels particularly around the Historic Core.

Los Angeles as a whole was a hub for alcohol smuggling, Wallace said, in part due to its geography and network of coves. Liquor would be moved in from Mexico or Canada, and then transported inland, often through Downtown.

Prohibition also devastated Los Angeles’ winemaking industry, which was centered around Downtown in what is now Chinatown and Union Station. Already hurt by blight, drought and development, the Vol-

stead Act effectively killed off Downtown’s vineyards. Only a few in California remained, taking advantage of an exemption that allowed for alcohol production for religious purposes—Wallace noted that one Jewish temple in Los Angeles saw its congregation grow from 180 families to more than 1,000 over the course of Prohibition. The San Antonio Winery in Lincoln Heights just on the other side of the Los Angeles River, stayed in operations, making sacramental wine for churches.

The Underground Speakeasies, by their very nature, were often haphazard and low-key affairs, designed to be able to relocate quickly if need be.

Some spaces operated in semi-secret ways.

Continued on page 7

metro.net/art

Metro Art Presents

Arts and cultural events at historic Union Station in downtown LA. Free and open to all.

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6 DOWNTOWN NEWS

County Allocates State Money for Supportive Housing on Skid Row The Weingart Center Gets $30 Million, Closing Funding Gap for Part of Its Weingart Tower Complex

By Nicholas Slayton major supportive housing project in Downtown’s Skid Row is one step closer to breaking ground, thanks to new money from Los Angeles County. On Jan.7, the County Board of Supervisors signed off on $30 million in funds for a long gestating housing project at 600 S. San Pedro St. from the Downtown-based Weingart Center, one of the area’s most prolific nonprofit developers.

The money, which comes from a pot of $56,620,000 released to the county, comes from the state’s No Place Like Home initiative, and is meant to supplement fundraising for the projects.

The project would be the first new high rise for Skid Row, and replace a surface-level parking lot. The “site 2” portion of the overall plan would create a tower holding 303 residential units (five for managers, the rest for very-lowincome tenants) and a building with commercial space and offices for the Weingart Center. A 13,815-square-foot

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courtyard would link the two structures.

Joseph Wong Design Associates is designing the structure.

The Weingart Center did not respond to requests for comment about receiving the funds. However, the $30 million helps meet a funding goal of roughly $121 million. According to the county’s number, the $30 million should close out the Weingart Center’s funding gap.

The nonprofit is also working on another portion of the complex, a two-tower development with a total of 378 units at 554 S. San Pedro St., split between a 12-story and 18-story building, respectively. That project did not receive state funds.

The county also allocated state funds to projects across the Los Angeles area, including North Hollywood. In Skid Row, $5,060,000 was set for Mercy Housing California’s 94-unit supportive housing project planned for 401 E. Sixth St. nslayton@timespublications.com.

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JANUARY 20, 2020

Arts District Hotel to Briefly Go Dark The Firehouse Hotel Will Halt Operations While Its Restaurant is Revamped

By Nicholas Slayton ne of Downtown’s newer hotels is temporarily shutting down at the end of the month. Hospitality group An Eastside Establishment, which operates the Firehouse Hotel at 710 S. Santa Fe Ave., confirmed that the Arts District space will cease operations on Jan. 28. The hotel’s ground floor Firehouse Restaurant closed down on Saturday, Jan. 18, after Los Angeles Downtown News went to print.

The temporary closure is so the hotel’s restaurant can be reworked, according to Dustin Lancaster, head of An Eastside Establishment. That involves cosmetic changes and work on the ground floor of the tiny, boutique hotel.

“We will be shutting down on the 28th, with plans to reopen with a new chef and a totally different restaurant concept in a couple months,” Lancaster told Los Angeles Downtown News via email.

The restaurant overhaul requires reworking most of the ground floor. Lancaster said it didn’t make sense to stay open during that work when guests would be unable to use amenities.

The nine-room boutique hotel launched

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in April 2019 and was created in partnership with Los Angeles-based developer Creative Space. The two-story hotels rooms are themed around different colors. The team behind the hotel refurbished the 1927 Fire Engine Co. No. 17 building across the street from the Ford Factory Building, itself recently turned into modern offices for the Warner Music Group.

The New American cuisine-focused space was helmed by Ashley Abodeely, previously with the NoMad, and although the kitchen was inside, seating was outside. This iteration of the restaurant is one of the latest eateries to shut down in the Arts District in recent months, following the closure of the Manufactory’s restaurants in Row DTLA, and Church & State.

Currently the hotel’s website shows rooms becoming available once again on April 1, with rooms starting at $295 a night.

The Firehouse Hotel was the first of several new lodging projects set for the area. Creative Space is also working with Mexican hotelier Grupo Habita on a three-story, 66-room hotel at Alameda and Fourth streets and some mixed-use projects in the planning stages in the Arts District will incorporate hotel rooms. nslayton@timespublications.

JANUARY 20, 2020

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Chef Sang Yoon’s Father’s Office Opens in the Arts District

By Sean P. Thomas he third location of chef Sang Yoon’s popular gastropub Father’s Office opened in Downtown Los Angeles this week, adding another popular dining option to the Arts District.

The restaurant, which has wooed foodies with its mouth watering burger at its Culver City and Santa Monica locations, opened on the ground floor of the Garey Building at 905 E. Second St., on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

The Arts District location will have a few to-be-named Downtown-specific items on the menu, but will mostly be anchored by the aforementioned Office Burger, Yoon’s no-substitutions-allowed burger made with caramelized onion, bacon, gruyere, blue cheese and arugula. Other menu items include pimento cheese and chicharrones and liberty duck confit salad with mustard greens, frisee, figs, hazelnuts and tangelo vinaigrette.

It wouldn’t be a gastropub without a robust beer selection, and Father’s Office is no different. There are 36 beers on tap, with an additional menu of rotating offerings. There are also eight varieties of wine on the menu,

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PROHIBITION, 5 The King Edward Hotel’s King Eddy Saloon originally opened in 1901, and during prohibition kept operating, just while publicly operating as a music store.

Some other familiar spots had their hidden bars. Loew’s State Theatre (now just known as the State Theatre) had a basement speakeasy where both the alcohol and the customers entered via a chute.

“One interesting specific is that in 1927 there were twice as many speakeasies as there had been bars before prohibition had been enacted,” Wallace said. “[prohibition] increased the number of drinking establishments.”

Although many of the speakeasies were temporary, Schave noted that there was a concentration of them on what was then known as “Poundcake Hill,” near Bunker Hill in what now houses the Civic Center.

They moved there after many of the old saloons and bordellos that had been in Old Chinatown and what is now the Arts District were shut down in 1918.

A major part of the bootlegging world was the network of tunnels that ran under Downtown. Contrary to some accounts, most of the underground routes already existed and were simply utilized by criminals and clients, Wallace said.

“The tunnels under the Civic Center already existed, and there were many old tunnels under Olvera Street and Old Chinatown,” Wallace said.

By the 1920s, many of these spaces weren’t being used as much. That included Pacific Electric’s network of tunnels, such as the ones that ran through the Sub-

as well as champagne, a first for a Father’s Office location. In addition, the restaurant has multiple cocktails on the list as well.

The 5,100-square-foot location was designed by Ana Henton and can seat 168 people. The restaurant leans heavily into the industrial aesthetic, with a vaulted, wood paneled ceiling, with a small cut out in the middle of the restaurant that reveals pipes and other innerworkings.

Preceded by the opening of the first California location for the lauded New York cocktail haunt Death & Co. on New Year’s Eve, the restaurant is one of the first in a slew of highly anticipated openings for Downtown’s food and beverage scene in the early part of 2020.

Ray Garcia and Beau Laughlin’s Trademark is expected to open later this month in the Financial District while Yakido in Little Tokyo is barreling toward an early 2020 opening as crews continue to build out their ground floor space along Broadway.

Father’s Office is currently open Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., and Sunday, 5 p.m.-midnight.

At 905 E. Second St., (310) 736-2224 or fathersoffice.com. way Terminal Building at Fourth and Hill that used to serve the old Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles. Many smaller ones also were used to link different buildings, including the Hotel Rosslyn, which had a basement bar, Wallace noted. But those underground and hidden spots were more aimed for the wider masses, as opposed to the wealthy or powerful.

“There was some thought though that’s for people who weren’t connected,” Wallace said. “If you were connected you could get your alcohol more in the open.”

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s famous Gold Room served as a speakeasy and nightclub during the Prohibition Era as well. A mirrored window in the back of the room actually served as a doorway where liquor could be brought into the space, and famous guests could be shuffled out in case of a raid.

Prohibition officially ended on Dec. 5, 1934 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment (the event is celebrated annually on that day by drinking establishments as Repeal Day). By that point, the infrastructure around the underground networks was failing. Speakeasies had shut down. Schave noted that Crawford was killed in 1931 by rivals.

By the end of the 1930s, a major anti-corruption movement hit Los Angeles, with Mayor Fletcher Bowron trying to root out crooked officers and local Downtown activists like Clifford Clinton (of Clifton’s Cafeteria fame) publishing reports on corruption in the city. The dry times have faded into history but remnants of Los Angeles’ prohibition past can still be seen around Downtown. nslayton@timespublications.com.

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

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8 DOWNTOWN NEWS

JANUARY 20, 2020

L.A. Metro Unveils Next Gen Bus Plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority released its Next Gen Bus Study last week, which aims to iron out the future of Metro’s fleet of dash buses.

Fewer Stops, Increased Bus Frequency Called for in Metro’s Draft Bus Study

By Sean P. Thomas he first look at the results of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s nearly two-year study on how to get more people out of their cars and onto the bus was released last week, the first step in a potential major overhaul of Metro’s network of buses.

Los Angeles County transportation officials revealed the plan last week, dubbed the Next Gen Bus Plan, which calls for more frequent bus service to make buses slightly more competitive with personal vehicles.

The proposal calls for buses to arrive at least every 10 minutes, with someone running every five minutes on its nearly 30 major routes. According to Metro, that would mean that 83% of its current riders will be able to jump on a bus within 10 minutes of reaching a stop compared to the almost 50% that currently enjoy that frequency. Currently, only 16 of Metro’s major routes run under 10 minutes.

According to Stephen Tu, Metro’s director of service planning, that would potentially mean less stops along the lines with increased frequency, meaning a slightly longer walk, but shorter travel times.

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In addition, the number of bus lines that run every five-10 minutes on the weekdays would jump from 16% to 29% and the number of riders who could theoretically walk to a bus stop that runs every five minutes would more than double, from 900,000 to almost 2.2 million.

The proposed changes come as Metro is dealing with consistently falling ridership numbers as Southern Californians increasingly turn to personal vehicles for their commutes. Since 2010, trips on Metro buses have dipped nearly 25%.

That dip in ridership has been impacting Metro’s bottom line tremendously. According to officials, Metro spends an extra $10 million a year to provide the same level of service.

According to officials, the change is expected to reclaim 15% to 20% of it’s ridership.

In a tweet, Mayor Eric Garcetti said that “the Next Gen Bus Plan reimagines our bus system to meet the demands of Angelenos in the 21st century, with more frequent and reliable service to help riders get where they need to go faster and meet our climate goals.”

But how much will this all cost?

Part of the Next Gen Bus Study proposal,

photo by Gary Leonard

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was a new, five-year, $1 billion dollar capi- proved, Metro plans to hold a series of pubtal plan, which includes $750 million to ex- lic meetings from February to April, and the plore new bus-only lanes and $150 million agency plans to begin publishing material, to improve infrastructure such as bus shel- including changes to individual route sheets, ters and benches. An additional $100 mil- starting Feb. 1, the first will be held at Los lion will go toward improving bus onboard- Angeles Trade Technical College at 2215 S. Grand Ave. ing technology.

If approved, the results of the Next Gen Metro embarked on the Next Gen Bus Study in Jan. 2018. Additional details from Bus Study will be the first major change to the plan call for more all-doors board- Metro’s network of buses in 25 years. The rolling, and to improve the wait environment. out of the new system would occur in three During the research phases of the study, phases that match up with Metro’s yearly serMetro learned that unsecured bus stops are vice updates. The first change is expected to a barrier to increasing ridership, especially be completed in Dec. 2020, then continue in 800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com Broadband I Voice I WiFi I HDTV June 2021, with the last phase expected to amongst women.

Metro directors are expected to vote on be completed by Dec. 2021. sthomas@timespublications.com the proposal at its Jan. 23 meeting. If ap-

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JANUARY 20, 2020

DT Finding Acceptance on Two Wheels

photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil

CALENDAR

Gravity defying acrobatics meets the world of extreme sports in Volta, the latest Cirque du Soleil production coming to Dodger Stadium grounds this week. The performance will run Jan.21-March 8.

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

ntown bringing Gravity Defying Stunts, il Returns to Dow e l o S u d e Cirqu Wonderful Costumes to Dodger Stadium this Winter d n a s t r o p Street S

By Sean P. Thomas or more than 35 years, Cirque du Soleil has been known for wowing audiences with its blend of crazy, gravity defying stunts, moving artistry and awe-inspiring costumes. Similarly, extreme sports — skateboarding, BMX and inline roller-skating — are also known for its blend of crazy stunts and high-flying acrobatics.

With so much in common, it’s almost fitting that the two will collide when the Montreal-based contemporary circus’ brings its three-year-old performance Volta premieres at the Dodger Stadium parking lot on Tuesday, Jan 21.

Tickets start at $44, depending on showtime, and the show wraps up on March 8.

Volta debuted in Montreal in 2017, having since gone on tour around the U.S., recently completing an extended stop in Atlanta before moving on to Los Angeles. It will be the first Cirque du Soleil show in Downtown Los Angeles since Crystals wrapped up at L.A. Live in 2017, and the first show at the Dodger Stadium grounds since the Avatar-inspired Kurios wowed crowds in 2016.

The show draws heavily from the world of extreme sports, which Volta Artistic Director Ron Kellum says adds to the overarching narrative of celebrating differences amongst one another, instead of burying them deep inside.

“Every single one of us is flawed and often times we sort of find ourselves gravitating toward these niche things that sort of speak to us,” Kellum said. “We realized that our story, in combination with this level of sports that we don’t talk about much, really tells our story in a way that we have never done before.”

Volta is the 18th Cirque du Soleil show to operate under the “big top” or grand chapeau. Previous shows, like the aforementioned Kurios, have drawn from the world of cinema for inspiration, while other performances have pulled from musical acts like Michael Jackson and The Beatles.

Volta is the first to draw direct inspiration and themes from the world of sport.

“I think what we realized is that we always wanted to be cutting edge and sort of leading the pack in entertainment,” Kellum said. “We also want to deal with the outliers.

Our show deals with the people, the stories that aren’t told often. Combining street sports, something that we haven’t seen in this sort of environment and make it a part of the bigger story, it’s really quite exciting.”

The performance is filled with a variety of sport-oriented acts, including, roller skates, unicycle and free running.

It concludes with a grand finale featuring five BMX riders, flying across a set of six transparent ramps. In all, the show features 125 performers.

In addition, a number of traditional motifs from circus play a heavy role in the performance. Talented aerialists will expertly complete complex stunts like rope skipping, bungee, acrobatic ladders and the painful-looking hair suspension and the 12-foot-tall tramp-o-wall (think a wall, fitted with a trampoline at the bottom.)

Lauren “Lo” Yee started with Cirque du Soleil in 2018, and performs in the tramp-o-wall section of the performance and said that although it’s not exactly a brand new act, it can be designed completely differently depending on which Cirque du Soleil show you happen to be watching.

“We usually start a little bit lower, then build it up,” Yee said. “By the end of the act we’re way above the wall, doing partner stuff, throwing each other over the wall, and all the crazy kicks and flips you can do in between.”

Yee said that one of her favorite parts about the show is the interaction between the audience members and the performers.

“If you are in the audience, we’re interacting with you, we’re looking at you, we’re trying to say hi to you,” Yee said.

“We definitely get to interact more than any other Cirque show and it’s really exciting. Because we’re free spirits in

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the show, we’re able to do a little bit different things.”

Split across two acts, bisected by an intermission, Volta takes place in an urban, inner city world obsessed with status, filled with individuals starved for acceptance and love.

The performance follows a game show contestant named Waz. Once a young boy full of dreams and aspirations, Waz is now left with shame for losing sight of the characteristics that make him unique.

While a contestant on the game show, he meets Ela, a free spirit, who helps Waz search for meaning in his otherwise bleak existence.

Themes of acceptance are heavy in Volta, Kellum said.

Waz is an everyman, a member of the group called the Greys, a misguided collection of city dwellers who live their lives permanently glued to their cell phones and screens. One of the most popular shows in this world is the Mr. Wow Show, where the ultimate prize is popularity. Members of the Greys throw themselves at the game show, hoping to achieve some sort of meaning.

The show places a lens on the rise of social media and its growing importance in everyday life, as well as the false ideas of self-importance that can develop due to the overuse of the tool.

“Waz is a dreamer,” Kellum said. “He wants to find acceptance and sometimes we think we can be accepted by celebrity. At the end of the day we’re better off without that celebrity connotation. Being flawed and just who you are is alright.”

Under the Big Top Cirque du Soleil was created in Montreal in 1984 and has since grown from just 40 performers, into a globe-spanning troupe, with over 2,000 performers and millions of ticketed viewers.

Volta uses two main set pieces, one, a grayish quarry which represents the Mr. Wow Show, and another, “the cube,” which represents the place where Waz keeps his cherished childhood memories. The latter pivots and moves throughout the performance, and is fitted with LED screens that deliver video content. A collection of ramps also makes its way into the scene, transitioning the Dodger Stadium grounds into a pseudo skate park.

To pull off such a mammoth undertaking, the stage is filled with automated equipment to help the artists glide across the stage.

Sean Groves is head of automation for Volta and is responsible for making sure that all of the automated portions of the performance run without any issues. He said that it takes close to 26 full-time Cirque du Soleil employees to complete set up and breakdown of the stage, with over 50 local individuals brought on in each city to supplement the work.

It’s something that is continuously moving and changing based on the needs of the performers, Groves said.

“The best part about a Cirque du Soleil show, what I love about being on them, is that they are always growing because the artists, the performers, they are athletes, they are always developing new tricks, new skills and things and things they want to change,” Groves said. “Any given act we’re always being approached by coaches and the artists to see if they can modify any tricks.”

Yee agreed, noting that the artist on Volta are always looking for new ways to improve the show night in and night out, but that on a macro level, the bulk of the show stays the same.

“It’s just not the same show, it’s always changing, it’s always different,” Yee said. “It’s fun to watch it twice or watch it three times and see the little changes or focus on something different each time.”

Volta runs Jan. 18-March 3 at Dodger Stadium Grounds, 1000 Vin Scully Ave. or cirquedusoleil.com. sthomas@timespublications.com.

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

1720 1720 S. Los Angeles St. or 1720.la.

Jan. 23: Trips Club.

Jan. 25: The Knocks and Friends.

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway or acehotel.com/losangeles.

Jan. 24: Soulful folk singer Michael Kiwanuka brings his introspective songs to Broadway.

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St. or bluewhalemusic.com.

Jan. 20: Harriet Tubman is back for another round.

Jan. 21: Kai Kurosawa and Keogi are Got Monk?

Jan. 22: Sofia Rei. Jan. 23: David Binney is back once again with the ill behavior.

Jan. 24-26: Three nights of Bernstein, Goldings and Stewart.

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

Jan. 20: Kate Clover is still rocking out every Monday this week.

Jan. 21: Marcus Buser describes his music as “hyper realistic, nostalgic, and wholly modern.” Anyway, he has an EP release show.

Jan. 22: The Love Language, Jimmy Whispers, Bambina.

Jan. 24: The Shivas rock that classic surf and psychedelic sound. They’re backed by Movie Club.

Continued on page 11

work since forming in 1997, with their biggest hit being “Everything is Alright,” in 2005. On Saturday, the genre turns over to hip-hop when Compton’s-own The Game reminds everyone why he’s considered one of the best rappers currently flying below the radar. The show begins at 8 p.m. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., or thenovodtla.com.

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It’s a great week for music in Downtown apparently. British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka, whose music has been heard in plenty of television and shows like “Dear White People,” “Grace and Frankie” and “Animal Kingdom,” is bringing his folk stylings to the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. The musician will be accompanied by fellow musician and virtuoso Sammy Brue, who at the age of 18 has already released his first studio album, and has been lauded as a American prodigy. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 235-9614 or theatre.acehotel.com.

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If you’ve been paying attention to the news, then you’re well aware that a massive wildfire is currently rolling its way through Australia, displacing wildlife and threatening homes. To help raise money to combat the blaze, three comedians are coming together for a benefit show at The Novo on Sunday, Jan. 26. Joe Rogan, alongside Jim Jefferies (pictured here) and Whitney Cummings will bring the ha-has to help raise funds and bring a bit of cheer to an increasingly dire situation. The show begins at 8 p.m. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com.

Photo courtesy the Central Library

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

There’s a double dose of can’t-miss music at The Novo this week. First off, on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m., the alternative rock band Motion City Soundtrack, who considers itself the “most influential rock band in the history of the world,” will take the stage. While the band’s self-adulation might be hard to prove, the band has been steadily pumping out

Photo by Olivia Rose

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 CD 14 Candidates Forum South Park Center Theater, 1149 S. Hill St. 6 p.m.: Candidates vying to replace 14th District City Councilman José Huizar gather for another debate.

Roll Calls: The City Is an Autograph Book Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1717 E. Seventh St. or lfla.org.

7:30 p.m.: “Autograph Book of L.A.” curator Josh Kun talks art, L.A. history, and more.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23 What Does the Resurgence of White Supremacy Mean for the Future of Race Relations?

Cross Campus DTLA, 800 Wilshire Blvd. or zocalopublicsquare.org.

7:30 p.m.: Sociologist Lawrence D. Bobo attends this Zocalo Public Square discussion on the impact of white supremacist movements on the country.

Go Fact Yourself Angel City Brewery, 216 S. Alameda St. or angelcitybrewery. com.

8 p.m.: The knowledge podcast game show returns for another live taping. Watch J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong ask guests increasingly obscure questions about incredibly niche topics.

Saturday, Jan. 25 Skid Row Carnival of Love Fifth and San Julian streets or eventbrite.com.

10 a.m.: This free festival is both a block party for Skid Row and a chance for homeless individuals to receive services. The event is looking for volunteers.

Dodgers Fanfest Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave. or mlb.com/dodgers/ tickets/events/fanfest 10 a.m.: The annual pre-season festival returns, with games, appearances from current and former Dodgers, autographs and more.

Museums Annual Free-for-All Day Multiple locations, or socalmuseums.org/free-for-all.

All day: Museums across Los Angeles, including several Downtown spots, open their doors for free. Go see art.

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

Photo courtesy Reggae Fest

EVENTS

JANUARY 20, 2020

Photo by Art Streiber

10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

So far alternative rock, hip-hop and folk music has been on the list, but don’t count out reggae either. The Belasco Theater will host Reggae Fest, a two-day reggae dance party held on Grammy Awards weekend on Friday, Jan. 24. The touring party will mix multiple reggae adjacent genres including afrobeat, soca, dancehall and more. The party kicks off at 9 p.m. and will wrap up at 4 a.m. At 1050 S. Hill St., (718) 926-3020 or reggaefesttour.com.

University of Southern California professor Josh Kun, who helped author and curate the Central Library’s Autograph Book of L.A., alongside fellow writer Susan A. Phillips, who penned The City Beneath, which chonocalizes a century of Los Angeles graffiti, will partner for a discussion on the politics of memory and the city of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, Jan.22, graffiti artist Chaz Bojorquez will join the two writers at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m., to reflect on the heavy subject. At 1717 E. Seventh St., or icala.org.

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Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

JANUARY 20, 2020

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Jan. 25: Mandy Moore and friends do the second of three weekly residences.

Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com.

Jan. 23: Liquid Stranger.

Jan. 24: Meduza, Adam Auburn.

Jan. 25: Will Clarke.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org.

Jan. 21: Duo Larkin Poe stop by for a performance and a discussion on their music.

Microsoft Theater 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or microsofttheater.com.

Jan. 22: The Piano Guys do their thing, with a piano.

Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com.

Jan. 20: Fae, Anastasia Elliot, Maggie Miles.

Jan. 21: Cosmo, Floyd Zion, and Zzay play the Rise concert.

Jan. 22: Juto, with Holladay and Alima Lee. Jan. 23: CAPYAC, Benny Bridges, Al Lover.

Jan. 24: Jeremy Dutcher keeps the piano music going in Downtown. Then, for the late show, post-punk act Bizou takes the stage.

Jan. 25: Wam Dingis plays an early video release concert, then ends the night with some ‘80s live band karaoke.

Jan. 26: Skate rock by way of Chino with The High Curbs.

Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com.

Jan. 22: Communicant, Hank May, and June Swoon all play different subgenres of rock.

Jan. 23: Joey Sanders and Albert Kass are this week’s acts.

Jan. 24: DJ Juliet Mendoza headlines a night of electric music.

Jan. 25: The Sunday Funday Bash features dancing, photos and a set of live bands.

The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or thenovodtla.com.

Jan. 24: Motion City Soundtrack proclaims themselves to be the “most influential rock band in the history of the world.” We appreciate that level of sarcastic boastfulness.

Jan. 25: You might remember The Game from rap group G-Unit.

You might also be thinking of that Michael Douglas film “The Game.”

This is the rapper, not the movie.

The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com.

Jan. 22: Mannequin Medicine, Risk It All, Lyell Likes Rocks.

Jan. 23: The Insect Surfers, The Mecolodiacs, Star Party.

Jan. 24: It’s a benefit show to help those affected by Australia’s wild fires, featuring Sex Beat, Fur Dixon, Katatonic, and Bird of Paradise.

Jan. 24: The Smoking Flowers, Morrison and Company, Alice and the Rabbit, Francie Moon, Alice Austin.

Jan. 26: Ley Valentine, Speed of Light, The Terpenes, Death on the Radio.

The Regent 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com.

Jan. 25: It’s the end of the month, and that means the annual ‘80s and ‘90s house party Scam and Jam. The Smell 247 S. Main St., in the alley between Spring and Main streets or thesmell.org.

Jan. 25: Freq.Fest: Homecoming features crashfaster, Ivy Hollivana, Leeni, Neon Death Cat (band name of the week), Paladin Shield, Triss, and Zen Albatross.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar

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✔ WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar ✔ EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

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