LADTN 01-27-20

JANUARY 27, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #04

Myth Makeover L.A. Opera Flips Tale of Orpheus with World Premiere of ‘Eurydice’

crime rises for sixth year Page 6

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AROUND TOWN

Man Found Dead on Fifth and San Julian Streets

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n investigation is underway as police continue searching for the person responsible for killing a 35-to-40-year-old black man in Skid Row last week. The unidentified victim was found near Fifth and San Julian streets around 10:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 21 after a passerby flagged down an officer to alert them of the body. Details are slim as of press time, with officials noting that it is unknown whether the person’s death was gang related, or if there are any leads on the suspect. Police are also waiting to identify the victim. Unconfirmed reports say that the victim was shot with a firearm. Anyone with information or details on the slaying are asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department tip line at 1-800-233-tips (8477).

District Attorney Debate in Downtown

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he three people vying to head up the largest prosecutorial agency in the United States will meet this week for a discussion and debate in Downtown Los Angeles. Former San Francisco District Attorney George

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Gascon, former public defender Rachel Rossi and incumbent Los Angeles D.A. Jackie Lacey will meet at the Aratoni Theatre at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29 for a debate organized jointly by KPPC and the Los Angeles Times. The debate is free and open to the public and will start at 7 p.m.. The election has largely been characterized as a clash between older tougher approaches on crime, versus newer progressive models championed in city’s like San Francisco. KPPC senior politics reporter Libby Denkmann and LA Times editorial writer Robert Greene will PLANNED moderate the debate. The primary election WATERCOURT is March 3. Anyone who hopes to haveRENOVATION their question asked to the candidates can submit them to scpr.org.

Open House for Downtown Community Plan

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he City of Los Angeles is currently working on updating its community plans, in order to modernize zoning rules and guide the city’s growth over the next twenty years. The first, for Downtown, is the DTLA 2040 plan, which predominantly focuses on reshaping density rules and eliminating parking requirements for new residential buildings. The Downtown Community Plan would be the first major update to the Central City and Central City East plans in decades. It also seeks to incentivize the creation of more parks and multi-modal trans-

JANUARY 27, 2020

portation options. Angelenos will be able to talk with city representatives at a twohour open house on Thursday, Jan. 30. The South Park Business Improvement District is hosting the free event at 5 p.m. at its offices at 1150 S. Hope St. in South Park. The city anticipates adopting rules by the end of 2020. For more information and to RSVP visit southpark.la/calendar.

Watercourt Plaza Renamed The Yard image courtesy CIM Group

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he plaza at City National 2 Cal is undergoing a major renovation, removing its trademark watercourt in favor of more green space and benches. The move sparked interest amongst curious minds on what the new space will be named, now that it is without its water feature. Now we have our answer. New signage at 2 Cal Plaza reveals the new name of the space as The Yard. The work began in early 2019, which included gutting the 1.5-acre water court, and replacing it with grass, benches, potted plants and trees. The purpose of the renovation was two-fold: the first being

to remove the nearly 43-feet that seperated the performance stage from the audience, and to prevent further water damage from leaking into the below-ground parking lot.

The watercourt had been hosting events for 32 years, staging several dozen shows each summer, with some drawing more than 5,000 people. Gensler designed the renovation. Renovations to the plaza are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Neuehouse Opens Downtown Location in Bradbury Building

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nother private club has arrived in Downtown Los Angeles. Neuehouse, a coworking space and social club, officially opened to members inside the historic Bradbury Building at Third Street and Broadway on Jan. 20. The private club took over the building’s second floor — a total of 25,000 square feet — with a mix of work amenities and services such as a cafe and bar and a “wellness room.” Neuehouse membership rates vary in prices and features; the base one is $585 per month, with access to the club but not a permanent desk. Pricier options include access to other locations and the ability to book certain spaces.The Downtown opening at the Bradbury Building is the company’s second Neuehouse, following last year’s opening of their Hollywood location. The brand’s first location was in New York’s Madison Square. More information is at bradbury.neuhouse.com.

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Five CD14 Candidates Weigh in on Livability, Housing Contenders Agree on the Need for More Footbeats and Parks, But Offer Different Approaches to Addressing Homelessness in Downtown

By Nicholas Slayton owntown Los Angeles got a chance to hear from five of the candidates in the running to replace José Huizar as the representative for the City Council’s 14th District this past week. They met in South Park on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to debate a variety of topics affecting Council District 14 as a whole, and specifically Downtown.

The debate featured candidates who had qualified for the March 3 ballot. The list included Los Angeles Unified School District board member Mónica Garcia, advertising executive, nonprofit organizer and former Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Vice President Cyndi Otteson, social worker Raquel Zamora, former State Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León and nonprofit executive John Jimenez. It was the largest lineup for a Downtown forum on the race, and the biggest since a Dec. 11 forum hosted by the DTLA Strong neighborhood group.

Former Los Angeles Downtown News editor Jon Regardie moderated the event, which was jointly organized by the Downtown Center, Fashion District, Historic Core, Arts Dis-

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The debate included, from left to right, Kevin de León, Mónica Garcia, John Jimenez, Raquel Zamora and Cyndi Otteson.

trict, Little Tokyo and South Park business improvement districts. Roughly 70 people attended the forum, which was held at the South Park Center at 1149 S. Hill St. The conversation focused specifically on Downtown.

De León arrived just as candidates were giving opening statements. Jimenez missed the start of the debate, arriving partway through.

Housing and Homelessness One of the major topics was homelessness.

The debate took place while volunteers participated in the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s annual homeless count in Downtown. Last year’s count found a 16% increase over 2018 in the city, and an 11% increase in CD14. In Skid Row, there was specifically an 11% increase as well, up to 4,757 individuals in the roughly 50-block area.

De León touted his work in the state Legislature getting more funds for housing, but criticized the high costs and delays on Proposition HHH (which funds permanent supportive housing in the city). He proposed identifying all city-owned real estate sites that could be used for housing, and using modu-

Convenience

photo by Gary Leonard

lar, prefabricated units. Zamora called for expanding services to help people dealing with trauma and addiction on the streets. Garcia proposed creating “innovation zones,” and using publically owned spaces for housing sites.

Otteson said that housing is the long-term solution, but, “new ideas” are needed to address the crisis. She talked about the need for low-barrier shelters, similar to the kinds of spaces in New York City, and mentioned the need for safe parking in every CD14 neighborhood.

“We need more renter protections,” she added. “We need to look at a municipal bank to fund first and last month’s rent.”

Former Council President Herb Wesson introduced a motion in October for a study on the possibility of a municipal bank.

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During the debate, Regardie asked about how the candidates would work to increase workforce housing if selected to the city council. All agreed on the need for it, but did not offer any specifics on how to create new units — Otteson mentioned possible vacancy taxes on developers to fund legal right to counsel — save for de León, who mentioned the need for incentives and state funds to build workforce housing, and to convince market-rate developers to build that kind of housing.

No candidate spoke in favor of splitting Downtown in the upcoming redistricting process, however as with the previous debate hosted by DTLA Strong, candidates did not point out that Chinatown, which is a part of Downtown, is already split from CD14, Continued on page 7

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EDITORIALS

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JANUARY 27, 2020

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

Vacate the Trophies, but Don’t Award Them to the Dodgers

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as any team in baseball had as bad of luck the last couple of years as the Los Angeles Dodgers?

A year after dropping back-to-back World Series against the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, respectively, it was revealed that the Astros used a complex sign-stealing system to gain a competitive edge in the 2017 season. The Red Sox, have also been implemented in a sign-stealing scandal as well but no details have been released as of press time.

According to the office of MLB Commissioners Robert Manfred, the Astros used a camera in center field to relay signs to the Astros bench, who would then tip-off the pitch to the batter via a loud banging sound on a trash can.

Not only has the Astros sign-stealing scandal left the latest blackeye on the sport (move over steroid scandal), but now the Los Angeles City Council is getting into the fray. Last week, the City Council unanimously approved a motion requesting that the MLB award the 2017 and 2018 World Series trophies to the Dodgers.

In a statement, First District Councilman Gil Cedillo (whose district includes Dodger Stadium) called the request a matter of justice, adding that the Dodgers would have likely won both World Series.

While it’s safe to argue that the punishments levied against the Astros did not meet the crime — a $5 million fine, the forfeiture of future draft picks and season-long suspensions for manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow (each were subsequently fired by Astros owner Jim Crane) — any talk of awarding the titles to the Dodgers is unrealistic.

For the first time last week, Commissioner Manfred spoke on publicly about the scandal, noting that while vacating the titles remains a possibility, awarding them to the Dodgers is out of the question and would go against the MLB’s history of not changing the past. He also mentioned that its impossible to figure out whether the Dodgers would have won those series.

He’s correct in that regard. While some members of this editorial board are Dodgers fans who would love to see the titles arrive at Chavez Ravine, vacating the titles would be far more appropriate than awarding them to the Blue Crew.

Awarding the titles to the rival team opens up a can of worms, putting too much stock in what-ifs. If the Dodgers would be worthy of the title, what about the other teams the Astros and Red Sox beat to get there? Should we award the American League Championship to the New York Yankees, who the Astros beat to make it to the World Series in 2017, or even the Astros, who the Red Sox beat to advance to the Series in 2018?

Not only would vacating the titles present a clear mandate to the rest of the league that cheating will not be tolerated, but it also goes to show that ill gotten gains received via cheating will not be acknowledged or celebrated. It’s good that the MLB took action to penalize the teams for their schemes. But as for the Dodgers, maybe next season will finally be their year. Let’s not look to the past for fixes.

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COMMENTS

In response to the article “Cedillo Leads Push to Claim Dodgers’ Lost Championships in Wake of MLB Cheating Scandal” by Sean P. Thomas

In response to the article “The Women’s March Returns to Downtown on Saturday”

by Nicholas Slayton

No; we did not win and we don’t know if we would’ve won or if we were even the best team. Let’s move on.

— Martha L. Rodriguez

Not exactly shut down downtown Los Angeles. The Financial district, South Park and other neighborhoods were not affected.

— Dennis Pierce

In response to the editorial “The Central Library Continues to Be a Wealth of Services” “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.”

Exactly, so let’s create more public good focused spaces, including many more restrooms.

— Olivia Marquez In response to the editorial “Don’t Treat Downtown as a Garbage Can” A lot of the businesses just toss their trash,boxes and anything else they want to throw away on the sidewalk.

Then of course the homeless go through it and throw it all over the place. Especially in the garment district. Also, the small restaurants do that [expletive] too.

— Rocco Espinoza

Love a parade. It’s a sign of privilege and freedom — Erico Marcos Gonzalez

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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6 DOWNTOWN NEWS

JANUARY 27, 2020

Crime Increases for a Sixth Year in Downtown

A Spike in Property Theft Drove the Rise in Crime in the Central City, Even as Car Break-Ins Plateaued

By Nicholas Slayton and Sean P. Thomas rime once again rose in Downtown Los Angeles, with a 4.2% increase in 2019 over 2018, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department. The rise marks the sixth straight year of increases.

The LAPD’s Central Division, which is based in Downtown and covers most of the area, recorded a total of 7,850 Part I crimes, which counts violent and property crimes, compared to 7,536 in 2018, as of Wednesday, Jan. 22. That includes a rise of 60 violent crimes over 2018, from 1,935 to 1,995. This comes as violent crime fell overall across the city.

LAPD Central Division Capt. Timothy Harrelson, who took over running the division in early 2019, said that nearly 50% of Part 1 crime takes place in Skid Row, with other trouble areas continuing to be the Historic Core, and the Seventh and Fifth streets corridors.

“Downtown has a pretty historic trend and pattern and it stayed consistent,” Harrelson said. “We have Skid Row. Generally speaking approximately 50% of our Part 1 and violent crime, especially more violent crime, will occur in Skid Row. The rest is scattered throughout.”

The biggest driver of the overall increase in crime was property theft, specifically grand theft person. Harrelson said most of that was in the form of phone or purse snatches. In part, that’s because more people are coming into Downtown, be it tourists or people coming for events, shows or to Downtown’s restaurants. He added that the property theft has been exacerbated around the Metro rail station at Fifth and Hill streets and the Seventh Street/Metro Center station. The speed in which people can get in and out of Downtown via Metro trains and buses, helps spark crime around the stations.

Visitors and tourists can quickly travel into Downtown, but so can thieves.

“That’s a major point,” Harrelson noted.

“It’s a major hub of activity; thousands of people come through daily. They can come in and do whatever crime and be on a train and be out.”

Blair Besten, executive director of the Historic Core Business Improvement District which operates clean and safe teams around the neighborhood, said that they have noticed an increase in shoplifting from busi-

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nesses along the Fifth Street corridor. She agreed that the Fifth and Seventh streets Metro spots have been trouble areas for the Historic Core.

“We’re looking at ways to address that in a new way, as they’ve been ongoing issues,” she said.

One of the most consistently asked for fixes by community members and groups has been an increase in the number of footbeats that walk city streets. Harrelson agreed on their effectiveness, more in terms of deterring crime by being visible than anything else. He said that making sure Central’s dedicated footbeat unit is out every day of the week has been helpful in preventing spikes in 2019, and that other units, such as the Vice Unit, have been putting officers out on foot

be able to find one. Harrelson noted that there hasn’t exactly been a trend or pattern in homicides for Downtown and LAPD investigations have not revealed a direct link between the 17 homicides. However, Harrelson did note that two homicides, in October 2019, were connected to an illegal cannabis shop running out of the luxury Watermarke Tower on Ninth and Flower streets. In the days following the homicides, nearly 250 pounds of marijuana was pulled from the building. Harrelson said that crime tied in some way to illegal cannabis operations running out of lofts and towers continues to be an issue.

“We’ve had robberies, aggravated assaults, shootings, two homicides,” Harrelson said. “[They] are not related in terms of suspects or

VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORY Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Total Violent Crime

2019 TOTAL 17 153 722 1,103 1,995

2018 TOTAL 14 146 697 1,078 1,935

2017 TOTAL 21 156 720 1,183 2,080

2016 TOTAL 11 130 677 904 1,722

2015 TOTAL 11 122 669 890 1,692

PROPERTY CRIME CATEGORY Burglary Grand Theft Auto Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Personal/Other Theft Total Property Crime

2019 TOTAL 354 418 1,787 3,296 5,855

2018 TOTAL 360 423 1,768 3,050 5,601

2017 TOTAL 376 392 1,368 2,741 4,877

2016 TOTAL 317 396 1,097 2,619 4,429

2015 TOTAL 341 410 893 2,491 4,135

patrols since last year.

On the general increase across almost every category, Harrelson noted that beyond property theft rising, general crime trends have been similar to what Downtown has been facing over the past five years.

“Everything has its pattern,” Harrelson said.

“Truly, honestly, for the crime last year, it was consistent with what we’ve seen in Downtown.”

Still, as violent crime experienced a slight 3.2% increase, violent crime across Los Angeles is actually going down. For the second year in a row, violent crime stats dipped and for the 10th year in a row, homicides fell below 300 for the year.

However, in Downtown, homicides did experience a noticeable increase; Central Division reported 17 homicides in 2019, up by three from 2018. That comes after 2018 saw a decline in homicides over 2017, going from 21 then to 14.

But those looking for a trend will not

people, but...we’ve had numerous Part 1 violent crimes that have some sort of nexus to illegal cannabis sales or grows.”

As Los Angeles continues to try to iron out its legal cannabis industry, illegal brickand-mortar shops continue to operate in far greater numbers, often undercutting business from the legal shops. According to statistics compiled by the data news website Crosstown, which is run out of the Annenberg School of Journalism, crime around cannabis dispensaries increased by 10% during January of 2019, compared to the same month in 2018. (It’s worth noting that the LAPD numbers do not distinguish between illegal cannabis dispensaries and permitted shops).

The amount of aggravated assaults also increased last year, up to 1,103 over 1,078 in 2018.

Perceptions and Reality Despite the citywide decline in violent crime, it might feel like the Central City is be-

coming less safe. Harrelson said that he understands why Downtown residents feel like things are getting significantly worse, despite the statistics saying otherwise. He said although the numbers discount that, he also does not discount people’s perceptions, “because their perception is their reality.”

Suzanne Holley, president and CEO of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District said that the 4.2% increase reported by Central Division falls in line with what she expected based on the growth of the Downtown.

“There is crime, I am not really sure if there is a major city that doesn’t have crime,” Holley said. “One, you have more people, there is more opportunity.”

Despite the yearly crime trends ticking up, Holley said she has not seen any real concern from business owners and residents looking into Downtown. She compared the situation to Paris, which itself has a serious pickpocketing problem.

“I’ve been to Paris and I see signs all over the place warning about pickpockets. I don’t see people not wanting to go to Paris,” Holley said. “It’s part of being in an dense urban environment. I’m thrilled that more people are here.”

However one situation that does seem to continue to characterize not just Downtown, but Los Angeles, is its spiralling homelessness crisis, with more people living without a home in 2019, according to that year’s Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s homeless count.

Harrelson noted that there are still a number of people who simply do not feel safe around the homeless community, which can feed into perceptions of declining safety in Downtown, despite homeless individuals being just as likely to be targeted by criminals, both homeless and housed.

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority there are close to 59,000 people living without shelter in Downtown Los Angeles. According to numbers from the Los Angeles Police Department, despite making up just 1% of the population, homeless people made up 17% of homicide victims.

“They’re certainly not responsible for all of the crime by any stretch of the imagination,” Harrelson said. “They’re victimized a lot.”

Continued on page 10

JANUARY 27, 2020

DEBATE, 3 falling inside the First District. Portions of Downtown are also in Curren Price’s Ninth District. When asked if they would support adding more members to the City Council, only Otteson suggested raising it, to 45-50.

During the debate, Jimenez, who arrived roughly 42 minutes late to the 90 minute debate, said that he also backed keeping all of Downtown under one district.

Livability Also on the agenda was the matter of transportation, and how to expand mobility in Downtown Los Angeles. All candidates spoke in favor of the Downtown streetcar down Seventh Street and Broadway that Huizar had proposed earlier in his tenure.

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

ing LAPD foot patrols. Jimenez touted his conversations with senior lead officers, and mentioned how congested traffic can delay responses to crimes in Downtown, while de León said the budget needs to be reexamined. He added that many officers who gain experience in Central move to the Metropolitan Division based elsewhere in Los Angeles, a claim that has been disputed by Central Division senior lead officers. Zamora said that people’s perception of safety is valid, and said that the Central Division, currently based at Sixth Street and Maple Avenue, needs a new headquarters. Otteson and Garcia spoke of the need for more community policing, with Otteson specifically saying that active and clean streets can help deter crime.

Asked what the first resolution they would introduce in office would be, de León said

Candidates spoke in favor of adding more parks to the district.

Otteson and Zamora (center and right) also advocated for new, walkable public schools in Downtown.

photo by Gary Leonard

Otteson noted that it has been some time since the initial idea was put out, so a fresh look is needed. De León added that if not a streetcar, a dedicated electric bus down Broadway would benefit the thoroughfare.

When asked about electric scooters and other dockless transit options, the candidates agreed the devices offered more mobility options. Otteson and Zamora spoke of the need for more protected bike lanes in Downtown, and candidates said that private scooter companies that want to operate in Downtown should be regulated. De León said that the dockless scooters need docking stations in Downtown, which seemingly goes against the purpose of the dockless vehicles.

A pilot program for a regulatory framework for dockless vehicles was created in 2018.

Currently approximately 3,300 dockless vehicles are in Downtown.

Regardie also brought up the city’s efforts to update the various community plans to guide growth into 2040 and what they would prioritize (Downtown’s is the first of the plans being overhauled). Those on stage agreed for the need for more parks, while Zamora and Otteson both argued for the need for more public schools.

“One of the reasons I moved out of Little Tokyo and the Arts District was that there were no walkable public school options,” Otteson said. “We need to make sure every single family in Downtown can stay in Downtown.”

The topic of public safety drew loud responses from the audience, Although violent crime is down overall in the city, the LAPD’s Central Division (which covers most of Downtown Los Angeles) reported a 4.2% increase in Part 1 crimes, which includes violent and property crime (see page six for more information).

The five all spoke of the need for expand-

it would remove red tape for constructing housing, while Garcia talked about expanding wellness. Zamora said she would push for revisiting the Mitchell case (which the city agreed to settle in 2019; it concerned the seizure of homeless individuals’ property during cleaning sweeps). Otteson said she would propose a department of homeless affairs. It remains unclear how the new department would differ from LAHSA, the joint city-county agency that is currently tasked with overseeing the homeless crisis.

“We have a pot czar, but we don’t have anyone specifically tasked to deal with this new constituency,” Otteson said.

Also brought up was Oceanwide Plaza, the $1 billion mixed-use high rise complex near Staples Center that stalled out at the start of 2019, with no major ongoing construction due to financial troubles tied to the Chinese government restricting the outflow of capital to projects such as overseas real estate.

All candidates said that the cause of the stall should be investigated — by the third response, audience members began shouting “Chinese money.” Zamora said that there should be enforcement in future to prevent this from happening again. Garcia said that if the project, which has already topped out, is too big, it should be made smaller. De León suggested that if the project stays stalled, it could be repurposed for a different use.

“Given the crisis of affordability and workforce housing, as well as the homeless crisis, if it’s not going to be reasonable and it’s going to be an eyesore, I will look for all legal remedies possible for potential imminent domain so we can have workforce housing,” he said.

The primary election is on March 3. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the two leading candidates will compete in a runoff election in November. nslayton@timespublications.com.

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JANUARY 27, 2020

Where to Watch the Super Bowl in Downtown Nine Great Bars and Restaurants to Catch the Big Game

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restaurants that will be pulling out all the

By Sean P. Thomas he games are over and the field is set stops for Super Bowl Sunday.

Below, Los Angeles Downtown News has for Super Bowl 54 in Miami this weekput together a list of nine great places to end.

Now while the Los Angeles Rams might watch the Super Bowl in Downtown.

The Superbowl will be held on Sunday, have failed to earn a shot at the Lombardi Trophy, there are still plenty of people in Feb. 2 and kick off is at 3:30 p.m.

Los Angeles anxiously awaiting this year’s Super Bowl Sunday matchup between Boomtown Brewery the San Francisco 49ers, the owners of the 700 Jackson St. league’s best defense, and the Kansas City Game Plan: This Arts District space features two rooms to watch the big game, Chiefs, the owners of the best offense.

800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com Broadband I Voice I WiFi are I HDTV room is where most of the While plenty of people solidifying their but the main guest list for their own Super Bowl parties, action will happen. Catch the game on a Downtown also has a great list of bars and projector screen in the main room and en-

joy bites from Highland Hickory and Poutine Brothers. There will be prize handouts throughout Superbowl Sunday. The best part? No cover. A full list of the specials for the evening have not been released as of press time.

be showcasing the game on 23 televisions across two levels. In between, head over to Tim Hollingsworth’s Free Play and try your hand at numerous arcade games such as Street Fighter and Ms. Pac-Man and even the latest edition of Madden.

Brack Shop Tavern 525 W. Seventh St. Game Plan: A popular haunt for sports fans, Brack Shop Tavern will likely fill up quickly due to the number of reserved tables, so we suggest you show up early if you hope to watch the game. Once there, enjoy the bars full list of cocktails, spirits and beers. There are tables for $75-$100 for two-seven guests which includes a wing and pitcher package.

Prank 1100 S. Hope St. Game Plan: Once of the more unique offerings on this list, this South Park bar proves that you don’t have to sacrifice fresh air to catch the Niners take on the Chiefs. Located on the corner of 11th and Hope, the bar holds three spaces, the walk-up bar, the lounge and the patio space, each with enough televisions to check out the game.

Clayton’s Public House 541 S. Spring St. Game Plan: It might be fun to watch the Super Bowl in a space that draws from an era before football was created. Clayton’s Public House has one of the more gorgeous interiors in Downtown, mixed with great eats and an even more robust drink option.

Tony Gower and Elizabeth Peterson-Gower’s space isn’t a sports bar per say, but does carry a strong ambiance and energy that can make the game watching experience worthwhile. Regular happy hour specials will apply.

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El Tejano 801 S. Grand Ave. Game Plan: Located in the former home of Big Wangs, El Tejano bar space has multiple televisions to watch the game, as well as a Grand Avenue facing outdoor patio with televisions and cornhole set ups as well. As the name suggests, El Tejano is all about Tex Mex, with tacos, burritos, enchiladas and nachos on the menu. A full special list was not released as of press time, but there are plans for a deal on take out wings, and $2 off their normal drink specials.

Beelman’s Pub 600 S. Spring St. Game Plan: The vegan crowd can thumb through the menu at this Spring Street favorite with no reservation. Featuring a 100% vegetable-based menu, there are multiple TVs both inside the bar and on the patio space. Beelman’s will have specials for the event, but have not released the specials as of press time.

Gamez DTLA 500 S. Spring St. Game Plan: If you’re more akin to checking out a sports bar for the Superbowl, then this Spring Street haven for sports fans has you covered. Lined to the walls with content from Los Angeles sports teams, Gamez DTLA offers great drinks and meals in the $10-$15 range. There are plenty of televisions wrapping the space, and even a beer pong table if you want to shake things up.

No cover and no specials announced as of press time.

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Tom’s Watch Bar ** 1011 S. Figueroa St. * Game Plan: If there is one thing you can say about Tom’s Watch Bar, it’s that they certainly have enough televisions. Over 155 tv’s line * Speeds up to space, ** Pricing starting from this 360-degree viewing including a two-story “megatron” screen meaning you’ll never miss a play. Cover for the event is $35 and there are specials for $25 unlimited 40 ounce domestic beers.

Free Play at the Fields 3939 S. Figueroa St. Game Plan: Located within walking distance of Memorial Coliseum and adjacent to the Los Angeles Football Club’s home at the Banc of California Stadium, this Ex-800.900.5788 I aerioconnect.com Broadband I Voice I WiFi I HDTV position Park gastropub and food hall will sthomas@timespublications.com.

JANUARY 27, 2020

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Gil Cedillo Leads Push to Reclaim Dodger’s Lost Championships in Wake of MLB Cheating Scandal L.A. City Council Unanimously Approves Motion Calling on the Dodgers to be Named 2017 and 2018 World Series Champions

By Sean P. Thomas t’s been a heck of a month for Major League Baseball. On Monday, Jan. 13, Commissioner Rob Manfeld released his office’s findings that the Houston Astros used a complex cheating system to gain an unfair advantage in the 2017 season, which culminated with a World Series trophy.

The investigation found that the Astros used a camera installed in center field to identify pitcher signs, which would then be relayed to the batter via banging on a trash can — an unconfirmed rumor has also been floating around that electric buzzers under the players’ jerseys were also used.

The discipline came down hard and fast, with Manfred announcing a $5 million fine, yearlong suspensions for general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, and the stripping of their 2020 and 2021 firstand second-round draft picks. Luhnow and

I

Hinch were subsequently fired by Astros owner Jim Crane.

The Boston Red Sox, who were also implemented in a separate sign stealing scandal, have not received any fines as of press time, but regardless decided to cut ties with their two-year coach. Carlos Beltran, who was hired in November to manage the Mets, and played his final season for the Astros, was the only player named in the commissioner’s report and was fired by the Mets on Thursday.

But if you ask the Los Angeles City Council, those punishments simply aren’t enough.

The only constants between World Series are Alex Cora (who served as bench coach of the Astros during their 2017 World Series run and was allegedly pegged as the mastermind behind the system) and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost to both teams in back-to-back World Series matchups in 2017 (Astros) and 2018 (Red Sox). Now Los

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Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo, whose First District includes Dodger Stadium, is leading a push for both World Series trophies to be retroactively awarded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last week, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion filed on Jan. 15 by Cedillo and Fifth District Councilmember Paul Koretz requesting that “in addition to the penalties already imposed, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball remove the 2017 and 2018 World Series titles from the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox; and hereby requests that the Commission of Major League Baseball recall the World Series Commission’s Trophies and award them to the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

“This is an equity and justice thing,” Cedillo said in a prepared statement. “Who was the best team in 2017? Who was the best team in 2018? It was the Dodgers. They got beat by teams that were cheating.”

Manfred had initially opted not to speak publicly on the matter. That was until Tuesday, when he spoke to a Fox Business reporter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland after the City Council voted. Manfred noted that any discipline against the Red Sox would have to come after the investigation is completed, and that any talk of awarding the Dodgers for the 2017 and 2018 World Series would go against the sport’s longstanding history of not altering the past.

“It’s absolutely unclear that the Dodgers would have been the World Series ChampiContinued on page 10

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

photo by Gary Leonard

Last month, Major League Baseball concluded that the Houston Astros used a sign-stealing system during the 2017 season, a season in which the team picked up their first World Series title over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox, who would beat the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series, were also implicated in a separate sign stealing scandal.

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10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

DODGERS, 9 ons,” Manfred told Fox Business.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were a force in 2017 and 2018, earning first-place finishes in the National League West with a record of 104-58 in 2017 and 92-71 in 2018.

The Dodger’s seemed primed to make it to the series for a third time in 2019 after once again capturing the National League West pennant, but their luck ran out in a five-game National League Division series match-up against the eventual champions, the Washington Nationals.

Cedillo wasn’t the only one calling for MLB to further address the situation.The MLB had previously instructed teams not to publicly comment on the scandal but that didn’t stop former Dodger third baseman David Freese on Twitter from requesting that the title wins be vacated. Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood, also rebuking the MLB’s mandate, took issue with the fact that no player (outside of the retired Beltran) has been punished.

“The fact that there hasn’t been any consequences to any players up to this point is wild,” Woods wrote on Twitter.

Fans have also made their opinion on the situation known. The Dodger’s superfan group Pantone 294, which represents about 3,000 fans that travel to Dodger road games across the nation, have already mentioned a potential plan to gather a group of Dodger’s faithful to travel to Anaheim to boo the Astros during their season opening trip.

The sign stealing strategy was revealed in late 2019 when Mike Fiers, currently of the Oakland Athletics, revealed to reporters Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drelich of the sports website The Athletic that the Astros had been stealing signs since at least 2017.

Fiers played for the Astros during their championship run.

Cedillo said that he is focused on getting “justice” for Dodger fans.

“The mere acknowledgement is so significant,” Cedillo’s statement continued. “There has to be acknowledgement the best team in baseball those two years was the Dodgers. The Dodgers, and the people of Los Angeles, were robbed of what they deserved.”

Major League Baseball and the Dodgers find themselves in uncharted water.

Outside of the 2005-2006 steroid investigations, the majority of scandals to hit Major League Baseball over its 150 year history have largely surrounded gambling and throwing games, not to gain a competitive advantage.

Still, it is highly unlikely that the MLB will make the unprecedented move to void both championships. While vacating a championship might be a possibility, revoking a championship and awarding it to a losing team would be an unprecedented move in all of professional sports. Locally in the NCAA, when Reggie Bush was found to have accepted improper donor benefits while a player at the University of Southern California, his Heisman was vacated, not awarded to runner-up Vince Young. sthomas@timespublications.com.

CRIME, 6 Making Progress Central Division is making progress on some of their metrics. One area where progress was made last year was car breakins. After a noticeable spike in 2018, which totaled 1,768, car break-ins seemed to level out in 2019, with just a 1.1% increase in the crime to 1,787. Harrelson said that while that is more than anyone wants, the leveling off is a sign that people are growing more cognizant to not leave valuable items visible inside of parked cars.

Part of that plateau, he said, was due to an extreme informational campaign to warn people about protecting their belongings. He said that the Central Division senior lead officers and Central’s main social media accounts repeatedly post on social media with tips and warnings.

“We’re going to keep doing it until they’re inundated and sick of seeing it,” Harrelson said. “When you do close your car and see your bag, you think ‘maybe I should throw that in the trunk,’” Central Division said that most of the spike in property crimes happened at the start of 2019, including a spike around the Financial District and Pershing Square.

Harrelson said that, through footbeats and educational campaigns in response, LAPD was able to get that to a level consistent with past year’s trends for the last six

JANUARY 27, 2020

months of the year.

Besten added that ongoing education and information campaigns are key to keeping Downtown residents and visitors prepared for shifting crime trends.

“It’s about talking to people, it’s about informing people and passing out materials about any issue, be it theft from motor vehicles or purse or phone snatches,” she said.

Holley agreed, noting that the DCBID is working on an education plan to inform people not to look at their phones as they walk around city streets.

“Don’t stare at your phone and keep your head up. Don’t leave your phone on a Starbucks table when you go to the bathroom,” Holley said.

There were two additional declines in 2019. Burglaries fell by 1.7% to 354 incidents, and grand theft autos fell 1.2% to 418.

Still, Harrelson said that Central Division is not resting on its laurels, when it comes to the progress made on certain crimes.

“I’m not happy being up 25 robberies, or 25 aggravated assaults over the last year,” Harrelson said. “That’s not our goal. We’re not satisfied with that. But the sheer potential in my opinion is far greater than that. I think we did a very good job this year, at keeping things under control when dealing with population growth, increasing homeless population.” sthomas@timespublications.com and nslayton@timespublications.com.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

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Shop Hop: The DTLA Retail Roundup

Restaurant Buzz:

Two High-End Fashion Stores Set Sights on the Fashion District, While a Shoe Store Quickly Flips

A fundraiser for Australia and a French Rotisserie Shop Closes its Doors

B

roadway Fashion: The former eye doctor’s space at 842 S. Broadway isn’t staying empty much longer. A new shop from high-end fashion designer Paul Smith, right next to the Orpheum Theatre, is currently building out inside the 1,345-square-foot location. It’s the designer’s second shop in Los Angeles, after a Melrose location noted for its bright pink exterior (the Broadway space currently has the same color covering its windows, you can’t miss it). An exact opening date hasn’t been set, but expect it in the spring. It also arrives at the same busy intersection as other fashion spots such as Theory and BNKR. Coming to 842 S. Broadway or paulsmith.com/us.

A Double Dose of Fashion: Fashion store Ganni is also gearing up for an opening on Broadway, just south of the planned Paul Smith store. It was set to open this past weekend, after this paper went to print. The Danish women’s apparel company focuses on dresses, blouses and knitwear. It’s not the cheapest; plaid blouses range from $165$205, for instance, and dresses are in the $170-$250 spectrum.

Coming to 860 S. Broadway or ganni.com.

Let the Sun Shine: Last spring, the Highland Park-based vintage clothing and fur-

niture store Sunbeam Vintage announced it was adding a second location, coming to the Fashion District in Downtown. The Main Street store officially expanded its showroom space and had an actual grand opening earlier this month on Jan. 18. Look for brightly colored furniture and mid century art prints that may or may not be your aesthetic. There are $550 leather lounge chairs, $65 crystal decanters, and more.

At 814 S. Main St. or sunbeamvintage.com.

Fast Turnaround for Kicks: In the last Shop Hop, we said that the Footaction at Seventh Street and Broadway was flipping into a Footlocker store, but an opening date hadn’t been set. Well, it turns out the store built out almost as fast as the Los Angeles City Council passed that motion demanding that Major League Baseball award the Dodgers the 2017 and 2018 World Series titles. The store is set to open this past weekend, after Los Angeles Downtown News went to print.

The 6,700-square-foot store carries shirts, athletic wear, and of course plenty of footwear from Adidas, Nike and all of the top sneaker brands. Since, you know, Broadway does not have enough shoes for sale.

At 749 S. Broadway or footlocker.com.

Got a retail tip? Send it to Shop Hop at nslayton@timespublications.com.

Enjoy an unforgettable homegrown dining experience for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

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elp the Fight the Australian Wildfires: Since June, nearly 15.6 million acres have burned in the land down under as a ever-developing suite of wildfires continue to ravage the Australian brush land. South Park’s Hotel Figueroa is trying to lead a helping hand by partnering with the Wish You Were Here group for a fundraising party. Located at the hotel at 939 S. Figueroa St., on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 7-11 p.m., proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofits WIRES Wildlife Rescue and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The event will feature DJs, a silent auction, and open bar and tapas. Tickets are $150 and are available at the wishyourwereheregroup.com.

At 939 S. Figueroa St. B-dubs to the Plaza: It looks like the culinary options at High Street Residential and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ LA Plaza Village in Chinatown are starting to fill out. On Friday, Jan. 24, High Street announced that Buffalo Wild Wings has signed a lease to open a new location at the base of the new housing development. The sports bar will take up nearly 7,000 square-feet of the 425,000-squarefeet mixed-use development. Located

at the intersection of Broadway and Cesar Chavez Boulevard, the space is expected to be opened by the start of the 2020 football season in September. As the name implies, Buffalo Wild Wings is all about the buffalo wings, in addition to traditional bar foods, beers and mixed drinks. Plenty of televisions to catch the game are also a pretty common feature at BWW. “We are thrilled to welcome the Buffalo Wild Wings brand to LA Plaza Village,” Alex Valente of High Street Residential said in a prepared statement.

Coming to 555 N. Spring St. No More Chicken: It didn’t take very long, but the Spring Street Arcade location for the french rotisserie chicken shop Mon Petit Poulet has closed. The space opened in August of last year, after launching its space in Venice in 2017. At the time, the Venice spot was the first U.S. outlet of the French restaurant and its fifth total restaurant. But alas, it would seem that Downtown simply didn’t make for a happy ending. Yelpers started reporting the location as closed last week, and emails to the ownership on the reason behind the closure have not been answered as of press time. sthomas@timespublications.com

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

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12 DOWNTOWN NEWS

JANUARY 27, 2020

DT

CALENDAR Eurydice, which has its world premiere this week, retells the classic myth from the titular heroine’s (Danielle de Niese) perspective, as she’s torn between her husband and her lost family in the underworld.

illustrations courtesy L.A. Opera

A C lassic Myth Gets a Perspective Flip The L.A. Opera’s Production of ‘Eurydice’ Shows Audiences Its Heroine’s Journey, in a Dream-like Vision of the Afterlife

By Nicholas Slayton or centuries the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has been one of fiction’s great tragedies. As the story goes, the newlyweds are torn apart when Eurydice dies and the great musician Orpheus ventures into the underworld to rescue her. Given the order not to look back until they’re back in the mortal realm, he fails and she is doomed to the afterlife. At least, that’s how the story has been told.

This week the L.A. Opera offers a different approach to the myth, with the world premiere of Eurydice. Written by L.A. Opera’s Artist in Residence Matthew Aucoin with a libretto by Sarah Ruhl, the new work is an adaptation of Ruhl’s 2003 play of the same name. It was co-commissioned by the L.A. Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. There will be six performances of the opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, starting Saturday, Feb. 1 and running through Feb. 23.

As with the myth, the opera follows the short marriage of Orpheus and Eurydice (played by soprano Danielle de Niese) and the bride’s death, but rather than follow the groom, it chronicles Eurydice’s journey into the afterlife where she is reunited with her father (Rod Gilfry).

“Nobody’s ever questioned if there’s a tragedy for Eurydice. What’s her life like before she died?” de Niese told Los An-

F

geles Downtown News. “What happened when she ventured to the underworld, and began to accept her fate only to have Orpheus reappear and say ‘we’re going back?’”

In the opera, the titular heroine rediscovers memories of her youth, before she met Orpheus. The musician has his own journey, but the focus of the piece is on Eurydice, and her relationship with her lost father.

“It unintentionally becomes a love triangle, not romantically, but one that’s split between romantic and nourishing love,” she said.

Aucoin said that unlike a lot of play-toopera adaptations, most of Ruhl’s text was maintained, given the poetic nature of the original play.

The other half of the show is Aucoin’s music. De Niese said that Aucoin writes in technically challenging ways, with complicated rhythms that are not as common in opera. Aucoin for his part said he wanted to show a “danger and dynamism” in the score, mixing sweetness with more discordant sounds.

“There are moments that turn into the most hardcore, heavy metal noise,” he said.

“Part of what I’m trying to do is show that those are not actually at odds. They exist on the same spectrum — tenderness and

lyricism can dissolve into something frightening and dissonant. That quality in the music reflects the polarities of the play.”

He said that given the importance that Orpheus has in myth as a gifted musician, finding a unique sound and portrayal for a famous figure was essential. Part of how that is achieved is by having two actors play Orpheus. There’s Orpheus himself, played by Joshua Hopkins, and his double, played by John Holiday. Hopkins is a baritone, while Holiday is a counter-tenor, with a more androgynous, falsetto register, akin to a mezzo-soprano. Aucoin said the two registers are meant to show Orpheus’ split nature, being part human and part god, with superhuman singing skills.

“The baritone for me is Orpheus as a regular guy,” Aucoin said. “The counter-tenor creates this halo of sound, it’s this other presence. It makes for an interesting theatrical challenge — we have this other presence, the double is on stage, but Euryidce cannot see the double.”

Director Mary Zimmerman is overseeing the production, which is using some mixed media tricks for the show. Part of that includes integrating the projecting text into the show. Rather than shown above the stage, as is common for most operas, they will be projected onto the set pieces and background.

Since its inception, Ruhl’s play has toyed with its staging and aesthetics, mixing eras and influences rather than leaning to a traditionally Hellenistic design. Zimmerman’s direction follows a similar path.

“Sarah’s play takes place in a kind of upside-down world, it’s a bit like the world of Alice in Wonderland, it’s quite a surreal world,” Aucoin said. “[The opera] is like that.

It’s not the Greek underworld, but more of a dream world that feels contemporary.”

Costumes range from 1960s-inspired swimwear to modern suits and dresses, and the show mixes an elevator to the underworld with gloomy flowers to depict the afterlife. Aucoin said there are also allusions to other Greek myths — keep an eye out for Sisyphus pushing a boulder in the background of scenes.

That blend helps get the opera’s range across. Aucoin said that for Eurydice, he used every musical trick and “color in the musical rainbow” to capture something both personal in the heroine’s story and sweeping in its setting. De Niese said that Eurydice is a “haunting and dark and romantic” show that will get under audiences’ skin.

Eurydice runs Saturday, Feb.1-23 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. (213) 972-8001 or laopera.com. nslayton@timespublications.com.

JANUARY 27, 2020

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

photo by Joan Marcus

In What the Constitution Means to Me, a 15-year-old Heidi Schreck (played by Maria Dizzia), explores her family’s connection to the Constitution.

The Constitution Comes Alive The Constitution Means Plenty in the Mark Taper Forum’s Latest Show from Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Tony Award Nominee Heidi Shreck

By Jeff Favre play is viewed by some purists as a static document frozen in time, such as Shakespeare’s famed Hamlet remaining the same for hundreds of years.

Others believe the same work instead could be considered a breathing text, able to transform the melancholy Hamlet of old into a 21st century thriller.

A

REVIEW Like a play, the U.S. Constitution begs the same argument. It’s either a stone monument that can be altered only through the arduous process of amendments, or it’s a living document that requires interpretation based on an ever-changing society.

It’s that tug-of-war between fixed and flexible that playwright Heidi Schreck used as a canvas to paint her compelling, fascinating, funny and sometimes heartbreaking one-act Broadway hit What the Constitution Means to Me. Directed by Oliver Butler and starring Maria Dizzia, who took over the role from Schreck for the national tour, the 110-minute performance runs through Feb. 28 at Downtown’s Mark Taper Forum.

Schreck, who argues for the living nature of the Constitution, has practiced what she preaches by creating a play that, while care-

fully crafted, also allows for some changes to the outcome of each performance.

It’s more appropriate to call Constitution a theatrical experience more than a standard play, because Schreck incorporates several elements that are unique to live performance.

Dizzia addresses the audience directly, explaining that without any performance shift that she will become Schreck as a 15-year-old and then as a grown-up, before she will eventually drop the character to become herself.

The actress self-consciously refers to the play’s artifice, while moving in and out of the basic plot — an autobiographical recounting of Schreck’s time as a teen winning speech competitions about the Constitution to earn money for college.

Schreck, who was obsessed with witches at the time, used her speech to compare the Constitution to a crucible and a cauldron, mixing up a variety of ingredients to create a magical brew. Dizzia re-enacts a standard speech contest at a Legionnaire’s Hall (a one-room set by Rachel Hauck) in her home state of Washington, led by a proctor (Mike Iveson).

Eventually, her impassioned speech goes over the contest’s allotted time as Dizzia uses the 14th and the ninth amendments as springboards to show how the country has

failed to equally protect the rights and safety of women, immigrants, LGBTQ community, people of color and indigenous Americans.

These failings had direct and severe impact on Schreck and her family in several ways, dating to her great-grandmother, who was purchased as a bride in a catalogue and who died of melancholia at the age of 36 in a state mental hospital.

Schreck’s stance on the issues is clear, shown most clearly by a powerful rebuke of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Incorporating audio from the actual deliberation, Scalia is heard debating the meaning of the word “shall” in the case that involved Jessica Gonzales, whose three young daughters were killed by her husband after police refused to help when she reported him as being violent. Scalia argued they were not provided protection by the Constitution.

In an effort to highlight the personal impact, Dizzia and Iveson also offer personal accounts about how the lack of protections is so pervasive that it has been inherited through generations.

President Donald Trump isn’t mentioned by name, but there’s a reference to a possible play-to-come about immigrant children being taken from parents and locked in cages.

The changing aspect to each performance

comes at the end, when Dizzia invites a local student (Jocelyn Shek at this performance) to debate her on whether to keep or abolish the Constitution. A coin flip determines the sides they take and an audience member chooses the winner (Dizzia won this time for her argument to keep the flawed but essential document).

Constitution on its surface may sound like a depressing soapbox screed, but it’s far from that. There’s humor throughout, and Dizzia’s comic timing is sharp. Likewise, the pleas for change stem from honest, straightforward anecdotes, not platitudes and preaching.

Butler’s direction is a deft mix of casual and tight pacing. At times, the house lights are up and the actors seem to almost be winging it, but it’s clear through the steady shift in tone and temp that every element has been considered.

During the final debate, everyone in the audience receives a pocket copy of the Constitution to take home. What the Constitution Means to Me is so enlightening, it’s sure to get many people reading the hallowed document again—or for the first time.

What the Constitution Means to Me runs through Feb. 28 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org. jjfavre@gmail.com.

DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

THE

Photo by Joan Marcus

1

Photo by Victor Demarchelier

Come check out what new American Contemporary Ballet Artistic Director Lincoln Jones has in mind during the third iteration of the ballet company’s popular Astaire Dances. Located on the upper levels of Metropolis Tower, Astaire Dances III borrows inspiration from legendary dancer and actor Fred Astaire, whose slate of films alongside longtime co-star Ginger Rodgers became some of the most popular films of the golden age of Hollywood. There are two opportunities to catch the show this weekend, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. The show continues on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 16. At 877 S. Francisco St., or acbdances.com.

Sticking with the civics theme, What the Constitution Means to Me, Heidi Schreck’s play on the relationship between four generations of women in her family and U.S. Constitution, has been extended at the Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum through Feb. 28 and there are six days this week to catch it. Starring Maria Dizzia (“Orange is the New Black”) in the lead role, the play will run at 8 p.m. on Tuesday-Saturday, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturday. There are also shows on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. At 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.

Photo courtesy of BET Networks

3

If you take pretty much every musical genre under the sun and throw it into a pot with a rhythmic beat, then you’d get Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner’s collaboration, Tune-Yards, which is performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, Jan. 31. Kicking off at 8 p.m.,visitors will get the opportunity to listen to Yards’ latest album, I can feel you creep into my private life, a 12-song tome that mixes themes of race, politics, feminism and environmentalism into a sleek package. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.com.

Photo by Eliot Lee Hazel

2

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

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

Jan. 31: It’s a Lana Del Rey rave, if that is your kind of thing.

Feb. 1: Killshot and Bloodlust. Hardcore lineup.

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

Jan. 30: Bewhy does religious rap, straight from the streets of Seoul.

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

Jan. 27: Isamu McGregor Trio, Ryo Myachi Tokyo Quartet.

Jan. 28: Jake Leckie and the Abode Band.

Jan. 29: John Tegmeyer plays a birthday show. Go wish him well.

Jan. 30: Bryn Roberts Trio, with Dave Robaire and Mark Ferber.

Jan. 31: Otto-Nelson-Bowman-Houghton.

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

Jan. 27: It’s the last week to check out Kate Clover at her residency, so go see her.

Jan. 29: Nik Freitas has an album release show.

Jan. 30: Rocker Mattiel sings on stage, while Calvin Love opens.

Feb. 1: Mandy Moore and friends wrap up a three-week residency.

Feb. 2: Moody noir pop with Tashaki Miyaki.

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

Jan. 31: Bingo Players, Cat Dealers. Both contenders for band name of the week.

Feb. 1: Wax Motif.

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

Jan. 30: Alex Ebert founded the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes despite not being named Edward Sharpe. As Kevin Garnett once said, anything is possible.

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

Jan. 29: NeiR Orchestra mixes projected video game gameplay Continued on page 15

JANUARY 27, 2020

BY SEAN P. THOMAS

EVENTS

TUESDAY, JAN. 28 Grown Ups 3: The Live Reading Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. or bootlegtheater.com.

8 p.m.: A collection of comedians come together for a reading of Tom Scharpling’s unofficial sequel script to the Adam Sandler comedy franchise.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 L.A. District Attorney Debate Aratani Theater, 244 S. San Pedro St. or scpr.org.

7 p.m.: Three candidates vying for the position, including incumbent Jackie Lacey, share their positions.

THURSDAY, JAN. 30 The Logic of Poetry and Dreams The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave. or thebroad.org/events.

7 p.m.: Christopher Soto reads poetry and discusses the works of artist Shirin Neshat.

Andrea Bernstein at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St. or lfla.org.

7:30 p.m.: The host of the podcast “Trump, Inc.” talks with KCRW’s Madeleine Brand about political dynasties and oligarchies.

SATURDAY, FEB. 1 Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival Microsoft Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com.

8 p.m.: Mike Epps, Tommy Davidson, and more come together to try and make you laugh.

'Don't Miss' LIST

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

4

Some seriously funny individuals are bringing the ha has to Downtown this weekend.

Comedy veterans such as Mike Epps, Sommore, Gary Owens (pictured here) and more will be at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Feb. 1 for the Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival at 8 p.m. Headliner Epps has been a stand up wonder since the late ‘90s, but is more wellknown for his screen appearances, including most recently in Eddie Murphy’s return to screen in Netflix’s Dolemite, Is My Name. At 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or fabulouslyfunny.com.

Photocourtesy Andrea Bernstein, Los Angeles Public Library

14 DOWNTOWN NEWS

5

There might not be anyone on the planet who has paid as close attention to the inner workings of the Trump family than Andrea Bernstein. The award-winning journalist, who currently hosts ProPublica’s “Trump, Inc.” podcast, is preparing for another deep dive into the bowels of power in the new book American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power.

Listen to Bertstein discuss her findings in person at the Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 30. Part of the Los Angeles Library Foundation’s ALOUD speaker series, listen to the journalist, alongside KCRW host Madeleine Brand, discuss just how close America has been pushed toward a full-blown oligarchy and its impacts on American democracy. The discussion begins at 7:30 p.m. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lapl.org.

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

DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

247 S. Main St., in the alley between Spring and Main streets or thesmell.org.

Jan. 31: hotbrothers, Rick N Dick, Lucky Wife & Mother, Good Boy. It’s a very family-oriented line up.

Feb. 1: Wolf Woodcock, KALI, Without Words, Cohort.

Feb. 2: Kuromi, Birote the Musical, This Uni, Dummy Casual.

Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

Jan. 27: Will Reagan and Andrea Marie are on the “Vacancy & Low Tour.”

Jan. 30: Reggie Watts does comedy, beat boxes, acts, and plays music. The frustratingly talented renaissance man and his band Karen take the stage.

Jan. 31: Ron Pope brings that Nashville sound to Downtown for fans of singer songwriters and Netflix’s “The Two Popes.”

Feb. 1: Pink Talking Fish and The Alligators make for an animal-themed lineup.

THEATER

What The Constitution Means to Me Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.

Jan. 28-31, 8 p.m., Feb. 1, 2:30 and 8 p.m., Feb. 2, 1 and 2:30 p.m.: Heidi Schreck’s show explores what the founding document’s legacy is, through stories about her teenage life learning about the document. Through Feb. 23. See review on page 13.

The Last Ship The Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org.

Jan. 28-31, 8 p.m., Feb.1 , 2 and 8 p.m., Feb. 2, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Sting’s musical about a dying industrial town rallying for one last hurrah arrives in Downtown. Through Feb. 16.

FILM

Alamo Drafthouse 700 W. Seventh St. or drafthouse.com/los-angeles.

Through Feb. 2: 1917 (1:45, 4:45, 7:45 and 10:45 p.m.); Bad Boys for Life (1:20, 4:25, 5:45, 7:30 and 10:35 p.m.); Cats (10 p.m.); Color Out of Space (10:35 p.m.); VHYES (12:35 and 8:15 p.m.); Just Mercy (2:15 and 5:35 p.m.); Knives Out (12:10, 3:20, 6:30 and 9:40 p.m.); Little Women (12:25, 3:45, 7 and 10:20 p.m.); Parasite (1, 3:15 and 6 p.m.); The Gentlemen (12:10, 3:05, 6 and 9:20 p.m.); Uncut Gems (11:55 a.m., 3, 6:15 and 9 p.m.).

DT

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‘ Helping Everyone Find their Place in Downtown Los Angeles Since 2002 ’

IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Dogs can do more than just slobber over your shoes. Check out all of their unique abilities in Superpower Dogs 3D. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing with the documentary Apollo 11.

What goes on in the suburbs? The new documentary Backyard Wilderness explores the animals hanging around the house.

Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies.

Through Feb. 2: The Gentlemen (11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:40 and 10:40 p.m.); The Turning (11:20 a.m., 2, 4:40, 7:20 and 10 p.m.); Bad Boys for Life (11:30 a.m., 12:10, 12:50, 2:40, 3:20, 4, 6, 6:40, 7:20, 9:20, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); Doolittle (1:10, 3:50, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.); 1917 (12:50, 4, 7:10 and 10:10 p.m.); Just Mercy (12, 3:30, 7 and 10:20 p.m.); Like a Boss (11 a.m., 1:20, 3:40, 8:10 and 10:30 p.m.); Underwater (11:40 a.m., 2:20, 3:10, 7:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (11:10 a.m., 2:50, 6:30 and 10 p.m.).

CLASSICAL

Chamber Music By Strauss Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.org.

Jan. 28, 8 p.m.: Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic do a riff on Strauss’ “Four Last Songs.”

USC Thornton Symphony Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.org.

Jan. 30, 8 p.m.: The symphony visits Bunker Hill to play works from Mozart and Rimsky-Korsakov.

All-Strauss Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave. or laphil.org.

Jan. 31, 11 a.m., Feb. 1-2, 2 p.m.: Philippe Jordan conducts the L.A. Phil in performances of two of Strauss’s tone poems.

So it’s an all-Strauss program, but it’s not all of the works of Strauss.

MUSEUMS

African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or aaffmuseum.org.

Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924,

including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, helmets, photographs and other artifacts.

Broad Museum 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org.

Ongoing: In the galleries at the Grand Avenue institution are about 250 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. It’s big-time blue chip, with work from Rauschenberg, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Kruger and every other big name.

Through Feb. 16: Explore 26 years of Shirin Neshat’s work documenting alienation and exile in “Shirin Neshat: I Will Greet the Sun Again.”

California African American Museum 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

Through Feb. 16: Metal is the vehicle for a look at appropriation and power in “LA Blacksmith.”

Through Feb. 16: “Dust in My Broom: Southern Vernacular from the Permanent Collection” uses drawings, sculpture, painting and more to trace the artistic legacy of the American South.

Through March 1: Catch the colorful and eclectic sculptures and installations of Timothy Washington in “Timothy Washington: Citizen/Ship.”

Ongoing: The multi-functional “Gallery of Discovery” offers visitors the opportunity to connect with the lineage of their own family, engage in artistic workshops, educational tours and other programs of historical discoveries. Hear recordings of former slaves from the Library of Congress archives and discover stories from the past.

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

TO SUBMIT

A LISTING:

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.

Now Accepting Applications Affordable Senior Housing

Angelus Plaza

255 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 623-4352 February 3 – 14, 2020 Applications may be picked Monday – Friday between 9AM and 3PM at the above address or may be obtained online at www.rhf.org and www.angelusplaza.org

ANALYST

The primary applicant must be at least 62 years of age or older.

Business Operations Analyst: ‘ Helping Everyone Job local/res/ad: Megatel Find their Place in Netcom Corp, 11100 Valley Blvd, Ste 202, El Monte, CA Downtown Los Angeles 91731

Applicants must meet annual income levels of less than $36,550 for one person or $41,800 for two persons.

Since 2002 ’

Film Project Analyst: Resume/ Ad/Job location: Seven Stars Bill Cooper Bill Cooper Films, 11601 Wilshire Blvd., 310.721.2455 • LARealEstateExpert.com 310.721.2455 • LARealEstateExpert.com Suite 589, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Bill@LARealEstateExpert.com Bill@LARealEstateExpert.com

EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Completed Applications must be post marked no later than February 14th 2020 and mailed to: 911 N. Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, CA 90815 No walk-in applications will be accepted.

Toll-Free (877) YES-4RHF • (877) 937-4743 / (562) 257-5100

CALL: 626-584-8747

with a live score.

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

Jan. 28: Brady Watts’ Bass and Bars.

Jan. 30: Dark rap and singing from the capital letters-averse dying in design.

Jan. 31: Zoolux and 7 Come 11 both have release shows.

Enjoy new music.

Feb. 1: Jack Larsen plays some psychedelic pop music, so expect synths, but groovy.

Feb. 2: Punk trio Monsterwatch, backed by Slaughterhouse and Espresso.

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

Jan. 27: Love Ghost, Blvk Svnd, Hvnted, and The Faint Endless sound heavy, and also one really into the letter “v.”

Jan. 28: Deep electronica from Georgi Kay, along with singers Oriah and Nadia Vaeh.

Jan. 29: John Vincent III, Skullcrusher, Tiffany Stringer.

Jan. 30: This week’s locals showcase from Breaking Sound features Clans, Palco, Amy West, and Mega Low. Jan. 31: Celebrate the women of hip-hop with the Babygirl dance party.

Feb. 1: Bootie L.A. returns with a night of retro jams.

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

Jan. 31: RJ & O.T. Genasis.

Feb. 1: Get your ‘90s hip hop on with DJ Quik and Tha Dogg Pound.

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

Jan. 28: Chintzy Bundles, Donator, Judy Teen.

Jan. 29: Mojo Messiah, Exploding Pintos, Somos Mysteriosos (band name of the week).

Jan. 30: Sam Slick, Big Mother gig, Cab Ellis.

Jan. 31: Thee Allyrgic Reaction, The Sound Reasons, The Unclaimed, The Ultra 4, DJ the Mighty Manfred, DJ GirlGroupGirl.

Feb. 1: Year of the Dragon, Angelo Moore and the Missin’ Links, Marcus I. The Regent 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com.

Jan. 30: In its own words, Wolf Parade is one of the most influential bands in the world. See for yourself.

Jan. 31: The Como la Flor Band.

The Smell

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JANUARY 27, 2020

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

16 DOWNTOWN NEWS

JANUARY 27, 2020

Location is Everything

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