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COVID Count

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delta variant, encourage

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mask wearing to resume

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Take One for the Team

Mookie Betts encourages Angelenos to get vaccinated

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Covered NEWS California will help

Council OKs services for homeless encampments

By LA Downtown News Staff ouncilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the chair of the Los Angeles City Council’s Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and the Los Angeles River Committee, led the council in a unanimous vote that will bring comprehensive street engagement, hygiene and services to homeless encampments, effective Sept. 1.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s Comprehensive Cleaning and Rapid Engagement Plus (CARE+) program was temporarily suspended last year. As the pandemic eases, businesses reopen and activity increases in Los Angeles, there

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have been growing calls for city sidewalks and streets to remain clean, safe and passable, while also ensuring there is compassionate, effective outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

“All Angelenos — housed and unhoused — deserve clear and fair protocols regarding shared public spaces,” O’Farrell said. “The updated CARE+ program includes comprehensive services paired with thoughtful strategies for street engagement and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

“We must lead with compassion toward the unhoused, while still ensuring that the city can maintain its core duties

Los Angeles Downtown News PO Box 1349 South Pasadena, CA 91031 213-481-1448

of keeping public spaces safe and clean COVID-19 vaccinations and testing will for everyone. There is nothing com- also be administered, as available. Outpassionate or humane about allowing reach will be paired and coordinated with homeless individuals to live in squalor the services provided by Los Angeles Sanon city sidewalks, and the refined CARE+ itation and Environment (LASAN) through protocols will make for a better, safer, its Livability Services Division (LSD). As cleaner cityEXECUTIVE for housed and unhoused part of the updates, LSD will add four EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Angelenos.” STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andresmanagement and LSD staff De Ocampo, Julia positions, Shapero CONTRIBUTING Sara Edwards, Kirktrained and re-trained in menThe updated CARE+ WRITERS: program will in- Kamala will be ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres clude enhanced street engagement strat- tal health awareness, de-escalation techSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez egies, such CONTRIBUTING as outreach from trained PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriamniques, Santos and legal guidance and review. professionalsACCOUNT and service providers, volThe Lamb program will officially resume on EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael EMERITUS: Sue Laris untary trashFOUNDER disposal options, tent ex- Sept. 1, allowing time for preparation by change and distribution, EZ-Up tents, and LASAN and for ample outreach and edudistribution of sanitary kits and bottled cation to unhoused Angelenos living on water to unhoused individuals. city sidewalks.

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Covered California will help COVID COUNT

Reported cases in DTLA, surrounding areas as of June 27 Chinatown: 741; Little Tokyo: 405; Los Feliz: 1,072; Silverlake: 3,231; South Park: 7,400; Wilshire Center: 5,657

among public health officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted pandemic-related restrictions on June 15, but this recent move to resume wearing masks has been seen by some as a step back.

Los Angeles County has reported the daily number of new cases and the rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 has nearly doubled from two weeks ago. The current test positivity rate is 1.2%, an increase from 0.5% back on June 15. Nearly all COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the end of 2020 in Los Angeles have been from unvaccinated individuals, according to the county public health department. The county is starting to see small increases in the number of daily hospitalizations, cases and fatalities.

Total confirmed cases in DTLA: 4,140 Total deaths in DTLA: 52 Total confirmed cases in LA County: 1,250,240 Total deaths in LA County: 24,483 California reopened its economy two weeks ago, but the delta variant has caused a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, especially among the unvaccinated. The variant has been found in all 50 states. Los Angeles County is already strongly recommending everyone to resume wearing masks indoors. The more transmissible delta variant has raised concerns

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a Advertising is Keep Great Way to rs Your Custome Informed The Los Angeles Downtown News publishes a wide array of special sections and quarterlies throughout the year on topics like Health, Education, Nightlife and Residential Living.

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The Los Angeles Public Health Department recently reported that the delta variant comprised nearly half of all variants sequenced in the county. The delta variant, first identified in India, has caused significant concern among officials, who are now urging face masks and coverings in all indoor public places, including grocery stores, theaters, entertainment centers, workplaces, etc.

Although fully vaccinated people are well protected from these variants, people with only one dose are less protected. Everyone 12 and older is eligible for vaccinations, and 59% of that population is currently fully vaccinated. Los Angeles County reports 1,250,240 cases and 24,483 deaths in total.

—Compiled by staff writer Doyoon Kim

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Covered NEWS California will help

Female-owned DTLA restaurants honored

By Claire Spinner LA Downtown News Staff Writer

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his year is one of rebuilding. After a year that left businesses struggling, neighbors are helping others bring LA back to life.

In this fashion, LA-based nonprofit Regarding Her is giving back to trailblazing women in Downtown LA as part of its inaugural grant program. Out of the 15 restaurants awarded grants in Los Angeles County, five are located in the heart of DTLA. Women supporting women is the name of the game for the new grant, which awards recipients $10,000 in addition to providing mentorship from specialists in restaurant finance, human resources and marketing.

Gelateria Uli Uli Nasibova, founder and owner of Gelateria Uli, otherwise known as Uli’s Gelato, has a passion she wants to share with her community. In 2012, after having worked in the finance industry for several years, she opened a gelato shop using her own recipes that she developed in her free time.

“I most recently had worked for an investment management firm as an analyst, but I was kind of burnt out from that life, and I knew my heart wasn’t in it,” Nasibova said. “Right before I started my company, I discovered my love for recipe making, and especially gelato. I think it was part experience and part a little bit of magic, but I decided to just go for it and open a gelato store.”

When Nasibova opened her doors in 2012, she needed a new take on gelato to stand out. Using seasonal ingredients, Gelateria Uli has a daily rotating menu, meaning customers can enjoy gelato made from ripe, fresh fruits and vegetables.

“I wanted to use California’s abundance of fruit and produce. That was my inspiration,” Nasibova said. “I really love eating seasonally, so the idea was to reflect ingredients that are seasonal and prepared at peak ripeness and do a rotating menu based on that.”

In addition to classic flavors like strawberry, chocolate or lemon, Nasibova creates more eccentric and unheard of gelatos as well. This can mean anything from a gelato based on Jamaican hibiscus to one created to taste like horchata.

“I am an immigrant, so I wanted to reflect different immigrant cultures of LA,” Nasibova said.

“Usually, gelato stores are very traditional, having classic flavors only, but we have the addition of using unique gelato techniques to create flavors that are a little bit more adventurous and also reflective of the population of LA.” Nasibova said she feels humbled to have been awarded the grant and recognized by the committee that created it.

“I am honored by it, not only because we have received a monetary grant which will help our business a lot, but because of the incredible jury of the award committee. A lot of those people are my personal heroes, and I have looked up to them and their professional trajectories throughout my career.”

Gelateria Uli 541 S. Spring Street 213-537-0931 8044 W. Third Street 323-424-3492 gelateriauli.com

Uli Nasibova said that her favorite part of owning a restaurant is managing and having a team.

Photo courtesy of Uli Nasibova

Monica May and Kris Trattner have always had philanthropic ideas, leading to Nickel Diner’s community involvement.

Photo courtesy of Monica May and Kris Trattner

Nickel Diner Monica May and Kris Trattner have a mission to serve their community. When they opened Nickel Diner in 2008, the idea was to create a place where people of all income levels could enjoy a delicious, home-cooked meal.

“We saw a need in the neighborhood to have a great place that made affordable food — so we opened one, much to our own surprise,” May said. “We run the place with respect to that, as a neighborhood community restaurant where you can get handcrafted, affordable food through hands that care.”

Nickel Diner is a relic from the ’40s, something that was discovered when May and Trattner bought an abandoned restaurant in a nearby neighborhood to where May had worked.

“When we were doing the construction, we started uncovering this plywood panel and these dropped ceilings. There were old menus on the wall, dating back to the ’40s, and old signage as well. The universe had given us this gift of a real 1940s diner.”

May and Trattner created a business that is different from many DTLA restaurants in that they do not focus on being the most exclusive destination in town. Instead, the goal is quite the opposite.

“The emphasis to us is on inclusion as opposed to exclusion, and it was really important to make sure that everyone felt welcome, whether they lived in one of the high rises or in the tents.”

The two owners go above and beyond to care for the community they are a part of. In addition to serving 300 meals each week to the Union Rescue Mission and the John Wesley Health Care Center, during the pandemic, May and Trattner turned the diner into a soup kitchen.

“It’s not easy out there, and there’s a lot of people living on the edge in tents. Who is going to care for those people? That’s why we turned ourselves into a soup kitchen during the pandemic.

There was a need, and we felt we needed to rise to that occasion.”

Receiving the Regarding Her grant and being a part of the community, the program has been one of the most rewarding experiences since opening the restaurant, May said.

“The Regarding Her awards is one of the most fantastic things that has happened to us in such a long time. We have been open as a restaurant for 13 years and have always talked about networking with other women,” May said. “When the Regarding Her program started as this coalition of incredible women, all the sudden a sisterhood came together, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.”

Nickel Diner 524 S. Main Street 213-623-8301 nickeldiner.com

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Cuernavaca’s Grill Nayomie Mendoza comes from a family of food industry professionals. Her Mexican heritage has inspired the food around her for most of her life. She has had an interest in creating food experiences since she can remember. In 2018, she opened Cuernavaca’s Grill, an authentic Mexican restaurant in the LA Fashion District.

“My parents and I have been in the food industry for over a decade, so when the opportunity presented itself for me to start a restaurant, I just went for it,” Mendoza said. “I was a senior in college working towards my business management degree, and it felt like the perfect opportunity. I visited the location and fell in love with the community, and I’ve been here to this day.

Cuernavaca’s Grill has some of the tastiest and most genuine Mexican food in Los Angeles.

With everything made from scratch, the food is always fresh.

“I think our authenticity makes us unique. We make everything from scratch, from the tortillas to the sauces, and that’s allowed us to really persevere and why we have been so successful,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza has a fondness for celebrating the culture she has been a part of throughout her life and sharing home-cooked meals with customers inspires her.

“People come here from far, and a lot of people in our culture migrate out here for the American dream, so there’s a lot of people who have gone decades upon decades without a homecooked meal,” Mendoza said. “When they come to our restaurant, they say it’s the closest thing they have gotten to their mom’s kitchen. That’s why we do what we do.”

While Cuernavaca’s Grill struggled due to the pandemic, falling behind on bills, it was recently featured on the Food Network, which Mendoza said brought in new traffic. This new traffic is one of the reasons that the Regarding Her award grant is so crucial.

“I’m really proud to have received this award, especially because there were so many amazing people who were also granted it,” Mendoza said. “The money is absolutely going to help us now that we’ve gotten busier to make sure we have more, better equipment that helps employees.

Not only will it help us operate better for our customers, but it will save our employees from being as exhausted after work as they are right now. We are all really thankful.”

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Cuernavaca’s Grill 429 E. 11th Street 213-441-7410

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Nayomie Mendoza’s restaurant was featured on the Food Network in April.

Photo courtesy of Nayomie Mendoza

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FEMALE-OWNED DTLA RESTAURANTS HONORED, 7 La Parrilla La Parrilla’s two Los Angeles locations are among the most historic businesses in the city. With the first location opened in August 1978 by María del Carmen Salas, the restaurant has been serving some of the best Mexican food in the country for 43 years.

The Downtown location is historic, having opened over 20 years ago. The restaurants are a testament to Salas’ determination to honor her mother, who owned a restaurant in Salas’ hometown in Sinaloa, Mexico.

“I immigrated here to California in 1968 at the age of 24. My mother owned a small restaurant in my hometown in Mexico, and she was my inspiration,” Salas said through a translator. “I started doing small jobs. I ironed for $3 a day. I worked at a restaurant on the same street that we opened our first location and saved my tips until I was able to open La Parrilla.”

La Parrilla offers traditional Mexican food, as well as seafood dishes, using the same recipes that Salas has been using for nearly five decades. Salas wanted to emulate different Mexican states in her dishes, especially those reflective of Sinaloa.

“We have had the same traditional dishes for almost 50 years,” she said. “We really want to continue the traditional flavors of different parts of Mexico, especially my hometown, which had a unique mixture of traditional dishes and seafood dishes. We try to keep things unique, and we have secret recipes that have stood the test of time.”

When Salas started the restaurant, she did it alongside chef Juanita Pano, who has been training all of the chefs at both La Parrilla locations since 1978. Several other chefs at the restaurant have been with La Parrilla for decades. Tradition, above all, is what makes La Parrilla a comforting and unforgettable destination.

During the pandemic, Salas laid off 20 employees, which she said is one of the hardest decisions she has made. As she gradually begins to bring them back, the Regarding HER award grant has completely upped the whole team’s morale.

“The $10,000 really does help financially, but it’s the support and recognition that has brought a lot of light back into our lives and lifted our spirits,” Salas said through a translator. “They have done more than support us economically. They have given us inspiration and hope.”

Denice Mendoza originally came from a customer service background before following her dream of opening a restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Denice Mendoza

La Huesuda Tacos What started as a vision between two best friends became a very successful reality over the last five years at La Huesuda Tacos. Denice Mendoza had a dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. She, with chef Pablo Ricardo Vega, opened La Huesuda Tacos, a popup shop now operating full time in Los Angeles and, later, Moderno Cocina, a full-service catering company offering mouthwatering Mexican food.

“About four and a half years ago, my best friend and I made a crazy decision to open a restaurant,” Mendoza said. “He had a background in cooking, and I had a hunger to be an entrepreneur as well as to get better food out there. I was always amazed by his talent, and when the restaurant he worked at closed, we started envisioning our own company and restaurant.”

It took several years for La Huesuda Tacos to find a permanent location, and Mendoza says this came with highs and lows. However, she’s extremely grateful for the community that let her in.

“It was quite the adventure at the beginning. We would go to some places where we would sell really well, but then we’d go to other places and sell two tacos throughout the whole day. But we learned a lot during that time, and now we’ve found a home in a community that has been so welcoming and excited to have us.”

Mendoza said that her favorite part about running La Huesuda and Moderno Cocina is seeing customers enjoy the food she serves.

“When I see a satisfied customer, I know that I’ve done my job. That’s why I get up to work in the morning, why we cook through the night and don’t sleep sometimes. It’s to see those smiles on people’s faces when they taste our food.”

The grant means much more to Mendoza than financial support.

“When I received the grant, I was blown away,” she said.

“To me, it meant so much. I’m so happy there are organizations focused on women helping women like this, and being shoulder to shoulder with these other women who I absolutely look up to means the world to me.”

La Parrilla 2126 E. Cesar E Chavez Avenue 323-262-3434 1300 Wilshire Boulevard 213-353-4980

Maria del Carmen Salas immigrated to the United States in 1968 at the age of 24, 10 years before she opened her restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Maria del Carmen Salas

La Huesuda Tacos/Moderno Cocina 672 S. Santa Fe Avenue 562-841-4688 modernococina.com

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Covered NEWS California will help

Mookie Betts encourages COVID-19 vaccinations

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Photos by Luis Chavez

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ookie Betts, right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is working to increase vaccinations in Southern California’s underserved communities.

He is working with Kroger Health, the health care division of The Kroger Co., to enable Los Angeles’ underserved communities to have greater awareness and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the CDC, 64% of adults in America have received at least one vaccination shot; however, underserved communities — and specifically Black and brown communities — are still lagging far behind. Only 13% of those vaccinated are Hispanic, and less than 10% are Black, even though COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color.

To help motivate more Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Kroger Health customers and associates are eligible for a chance to win one of five $1 million checks or groceries for a year in the #CommunityImmunity Giveaway through July 10.

The All-Star right fielder visited Ralphs Downtown LA on June 28 to promote the initiative.

“In Los Angeles, we’ve experienced a lengthy shutdown during this pandemic,” Betts said. “I think we can all agree we want our lives to return to normal. The best way to do that is for each of us to get vaccinated.

“My friends at Ralphs have been on the front lines since the beginning, and I’m honored to join their efforts to encourage each and every Angeleno to take one for their team and get vaccinated.”

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts encourages Angelenos to get vaccinated.

Mookie Betts enters Ralphs in Downtown Los Angeles to cheering fans and employees.

Mookie Betts is flanked by Dr. Linh Lee, left, Ralphs’ director of pharmacy/health and wellness, and Kendra Doyle, Ralphs’ vice president of merchandising.

Casey Ventura, left, receives a Kroger Health wellness bag from Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts.

Mookie Betts hangs out with local Dodgers fans.

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Covered California CONSIDER THIS will help

Clueless by design

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist

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advocate for inclusivity in realms many people often ignore, especially women being included in design choices. I’m also cranky at how often men are clueless about how their designs impact women.

In the late ’90s, I bought an abandoned 2.5-acre “ranchette” in Shadow Hills, an equestrian pocket of LA County. The house was an actual ranch-style one dating back to the early 1900s that featured charming Saltillo tiles, a fireplace at the end of a great hall and open beams. My plan was to create a bed and breakfast that would cater to German and Japanese tourists who, at the time, were going gaga over “Wild West” themes. Yi-ha! With five bedrooms, I could have a large bedroom for myself, and the tourists could have their choice of four spare rooms.

This was the fourth property I had rehabbed. I am gifted; I see potential in otherwise daunting real estate — aka teardowns — usually passed over by more

practical people than I. This property was so bad, I nicknamed it “Rancho Ratones.” I could have called it Rancho Without Doors, since most of them were missing. The poor house looked like it had lost some teeth.

This is all by way of telling you about one of the most knuckle-headed cowboy handy guys I ever worked with; he had bartered barn space for his horse in exchange for the hundreds of tasks the “Rancho” required. I had purchased nifty combo bookshelves/ curtain “rods” from Ikea. The wooden bookshelves had book space on top, plus rods to hang curtains from. I carefully marked with a pencil where I wanted the units to go, then went on to other things.

When I came back, the cowboy had decided I was incompetent. He’d seen the curtains I wanted to hang. Ignoring my instructions, he measured off of the curtains. He mounted the shelves with a 1-inch clearance on top because otherwise, he said, “Your curtains wouldn’t have fit!” “Of course, they wouldn’t,” said I. “That’s why we have sewing machines to hem curtains.” He bare-

ly looked chagrined as he went back to using my original markings on the wall above the windows. Clueless as a pail of alfalfa.

Another example of cluelessness connected to unconscious sexism: I once lived in an apartment where the peephole in the front door was for a person at least a foot taller than I am. It was undoubtedly put there by a guy who assumed everyone was as tall as he was; a child or a shorter adult would need a step stool by the front door.

Dumb as a bucket of nails.

Finally, in the “Who designed this?!” category. We are an all-things-Apple household, so my husband and I were thrilled to learn Apple was finally shipping AirTags after many delays. We had wanted them as a solution for keeping track of dogs — both ours and the occasional guest dog. It’s rare, but a couple of times, one of them has bolted out a gate, and there are few pains more excruciating than a pet going missing. We felt that having a device able to track in real time where our beloved canines would be invaluable and essential to our well-being.

The Tile Tracker was utterly useless, so we had high hopes for the AirTags.

And… meh. While AirTags can track items, even if they’re out of range, we were stunned at some of the dumb design choices. Granted, AirTags look great (and you can actually change the battery!), but they don’t even have a hole in order to attach them to a keychain or pet collar. Function over form, people! It also became painful-

JULY 5, 2021

ly evident AirTags were designed primarily to track inanimate objects (backpacks, etc.) and not living beings that move.

Worse, AirTags can only be used by one person, even though Apple has a robust “Family Sharing” system for everything else they offer! That means only one of us can find a lost pet, which is totally infuriating.

Really?

We’ve been on the “hunt” for years to be able to track missing dogs more as a foreseeability issue than anything else. As in, it’s predictable that a child, housesitter, gardener or pesky relative could leave a door or gate open. As of February, 67% of American households have at least one pet. That’s a lot of people who will spring for a way to track a moving critter. Hey, Apple — how about hiring some designers who have actually lived a life?

Academics are often criticized for living in ivory towers; there’s a tech parallel of “silicon towers.” I’m guessing the AirTag Design Team members all live in cramped Bay Area apartments that only allow goldfish. They are probably 20-somethings on the “never home, always working” spectrum, so pets would not be foremost in their minds. Ageist? Species-ist? Dim as a bucket of microchips? Just sayin’. Like I said, I’m cranky.

Ellen Snortland has been writing “Consider This…” for a while. Contact her at authorbitebybite.com.

JULY 5, 2021

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Covered help LETTERSCalifornia TO THE will EDITOR

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

OPINION

America is a ‘steeply declining republic’ Editor: As America circles the toilet in our political life, we soothe ourselves with news of achievements in sports and outer space.

The Los Angeles Clippers getting to the conference finals for the first time makes history for fans and franchise but is not worth much to rising generations in a steeply declining republic.

A private company making space flights is newsworthy, but not quite like major policy legislation passed by Congress or a state or like constitutional amendments to correct abuses in politics.

Women, Latinos, Black men and Native Americans making news in politics and government is noteworthy, but it is not the same as one of them leading us out of the wilderness we have made out of this country.

The founding fathers and mothers made history. We have made a mess out of their history. Our flights of fancy and pride need to come back to earth. We need to get busy making some truly lasting history that honors their memory Kimball Shinkoskey

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

Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

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Covered California will help FEATURE

“Wipeout” originally aired on ABC from 2008 to 2014. The reimagined “Wipeout” features a three-stage obstacle course designed to challenge competitors of all backgrounds and fitness levels.

Submitted photos

‘Wipeout’ is casting throughout the summer

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor he John Cena-hosted competition show “Wipeout” is casting Southern California residents for its next season through the summer.

Cena is joined by Nicole Byer for “Wipeout,” which was 2021’s highest-rated new unscripted cable series. Season one airs 9 p.m. Thursdays on TBS. Duos who are interested, no matter their athletic capability, can apply at wipeoutcasting.com.

“It’s going to be a really fun season,”

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said casting director Katy Wallin and president/chief executive officer of MysticArt Pictures.

“We’re casting teams of two. It could be a friend, coworker, neighbor, family member. People have come in with interesting hobbies, occupations, men and women, female-female teams, malemale, coed. You’re going to have a blast with it.”

To apply to be on the series, applicants must be legal U.S. residents ages 18 and older. They must be able to travel to the Los Angeles region for approximately

three nonconsecutive days during the shooting period, as well as any additional days to comply with COVID-19 testing protocols.

“Thousands upon thousands apply for the show,” Wallin said. “It’s one of those bucket list things. The show has a huge following and people love the opportunity to think they could actually face the big ball.”

“Wipeout” originally aired on ABC from June 24, 2008, to Sept. 7, 2014. The reimagined “Wipeout” features a threestage obstacle course designed to chal-

lenge competitors of all backgrounds and fitness levels. The new format twists and elements that will push the athleticism and willpower of each contestant pairing to even greater extremes.

“We look for people who have great, great energy who have larger than life personalities,” she said. “The duo has to have great chemistry. Contestants have a lot of fun on the course no matter what.

“We have a team of talented producers who review all the applications.”

From there, those who are in the running undergo a series of interviews.

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JULY 5, 2021

Covered California will help FEATURE

Monster trucks ready to pull into the Staples Center

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor hen Tom Meents was a child in Paxton, Illinois, he admired the monster trucks he saw on television. He tore photos of them out of magazines and hung them on his wall.

Now kids are, presumably, doing the same thing with photos of Meents, who has driven monster trucks for 20 years.

He’ll strap into Max-D when he and his fellow drivers pull into the Staples Center for Monster Jam, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 23, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25.

“I’m super excited,” Meents said. “I love the Staples Center. We can do long jumps, big jumps and drive really fast inside of the building. It’s a riot.”

Meents said he is fortunate for the opportunities he has through Monster Jam. He started his career working on the cars for free and took the dream and rode it “all the way to the top.”

“It’s amazing when you wake up every day and do what you’re passionate about,” Meents said.

Being a monster truck driver is a privilege for Meents. He mastered the tricks he wanted to do, but there was one that he found particularly difficult.

“The hardest trick of all was to learn how to make a living at it,” Meents said. “That was challenging feat. I had to figure out how to make it financially pay off and still be super entertaining on the track. It took a couple years for sure.

“Oftentimes, I outdrove my budget, so I ran harder and jumped higher. I had to find ways to make more money doing it, while being more exciting to the fans.”

Meents, at one time, made it fun for himself, he said with a laugh.

“I do my absolute best to be law abiding in my personal vehicle,” he said. “In the beginning, when I saw a car, my instinct was to go attack it. After all, I was running over cars for a living.”

He imparts his professional knowledge on newbie drivers through Monster Truck University. That’s his priority with the organization.

“I train all the new and upcoming drivers,” he said. “To see their excitement for it is all worth it. I like to see the tricks they’re working on and help them with it.”

He shares three things with his student drivers: “safety, safety and, most importantly, safety.” Meents, who, at one time considered joining the Marines, shares with drivers to keep the monster trucks away from the venue’s walls so there’s no damage. Meents gets a kick out of seeing his students succeed.

“In the beginning, you just see so many things ahead of you, so much work that has to be done,” he said. “You have to learn how to start it, how to perform great tricks, how to jump big and land safely.

“It seems like a lot of work, and it’s strenuous. In the end, when you see they’re done and they’re fantastic, it’s all worth it.”

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Tom Meents went from admiring monster trucks to driving them.

Submitted photo

Monster Jam WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 23; and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25 WHERE: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $28 INFO: staplescenter.com

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Covered California will help BUSINESS

Jean-Pascal Florist is beloved addition to ROW DTLA

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor ean-Pascal Florist just opened about a month ago in ROW DTLA, but he’s already watched his business blossom, thanks to his French techniques.

“We just have the right formula,” said Montreal-born, French floral designer Jean-Pascal Lemire. “We do the typical French handtied bouquet. It’s all handmade and it’s put in the vase, which makes for a very clean look, which people love.”

Founded in 2010, the eponymous full-service florist mixes traditional and modern, taking a contemporary approach to classic florals focusing on color and density.

In addition to serving as a creative studio for Lemire himself, the retail component of the space offers luxurious flower arrangements alongside a curated vase emporium, candles, books, curiosities and seasonal topiaries.

Among the vases are those by Constance Spry, whom Lemire called “a mother of modern florists.”

“In the floral world, they’re quite something,” he said. “Those pieces are going really fast. People are really into buying different things. We have books and orchids, and everything related to florals.

“We have a book about florals, weird little knickknacks.”

Visitors to the new shop may catch a glimpse of Lemire at his 10-foot-long worktable, building a deluxe handtied bouquet or filling a Delft vase with orchids. The space is filled with inspiration for all senses, including a soundtrack of jazz or music from a classic film, six large shelves showcasing modern and vintage vases and an aromatic collection of European candles.

Lemire moved to Southern California from Montreal in 2017 and set up shop in Downtown Los Angeles, giving him access to the world-renowned Flower District.

“The amazing variety of fresh flowers, plants and foliage at the Los Angeles Flower Market offered an opportunity to expand my palette to include different kinds of seasonal blooms — especially tropicals — that aren’t commonly found up north,” he said.

Lemire said he’s impressed with ROW DTLA. “ROW DTLA is an environment full of creative minds, and we want to be surrounded by those kinds of forward-thinking personalities,” he said.

“We love the setting because it has an East Coast vibe and reminds us of our home back in Montreal, yet we are also near the Arts District and the Downtown core, which are full of energy and inspiration.”

Jean-Pascal Florist is proud to bring his culture to DTLA. “It’s like a little French oasis in the middle of the ROW DTLA,” he said. “We wanted to make it very lush, like in France, where they have plants and flowers outside. They don’t have Walmart or Home Depot.

“If you want flowers and plants in France, you go to a florist. It’s a charming little place where craftsmanship is everything. When people pass in front, there are bundles of flowers outside.”

Outside, customers can buy roses for the market price, and then inside is where they can order arrangements. Jean-Pascal Florist delivers throughout Los Angeles, Venice, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silverlake.

Customers can also buy flowers by the stems, which is unique for LA. Lemire tries to be creative with his flower offerings and building.

“We bought these rare orchids that really smell like coconut,” he said.

“I’m really trying hard to reach a wide array of people. We’re a small team. We just want to do what’s best for our customers.”

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Jean-Pascal Florist 1318 E. Seventh Street, M1, Suite 148, Los Angeles Next to Scent Bar jeanpascallemire.com Visits by appointment only

Jean-Pascal Florist opened in ROW DTLA about a month ago and has already had success based on his French techniques like the handtied bouquet.

Submitted photo

Jean-Pascal Florist delivers throughout Los Angeles, Venice, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silverlake.

Submitted photo

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JULY 5, 2021

TRAX

BY BLISS BOWEN LA DOWNTOWN NEWS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LIGHTNING BUG, “A Color of the Sky” (Fat Possum): HH½ Frontwoman Audrey Kang guides listeners into “interior worlds” where she found inspiration, purportedly after an existential reckoning brought on by a season of loss. “The past is made of stardust/ The future’s shifting sand/ If it’s my own path that’s drifting/ Then where am I to land?” she wonders during “Wings of Desire.” Guitarist Kevin Copeland and keyboardist Logan Miley help transform such musings into dreamy, midtempo sonic tapestries, with intuitive support from drummer Dane Hagen and bassist Vincent Puleo. “Words are absurd,” Kang admits in the title track. Despite its lack of rhythmic variety, it’s the music that offers any release. lightning-bug.bandcamp.com DELTA NOVE, “Beyond” (self-released): HHH½ A double LP of new music from the Long Beach-based “world funk” ensemble, much of it completed during the pandemic shutdown and after drummer Dominic Feedam died of cancer in 2019. Feedam had already finished basic tracks for their eighth studio album, and the tasty grooves he unspools with bassist Viking are augmented by guests such as Ozomatli tabla player Jiro Yamaguchi, Parliament-Funkadelic trombonist Fred Wesley, Orgone diva Adryon DeLeon and String Cheese Incident percussionist Jason Hann. Highlights include the open-hearted jam “Big Sky,” the reggae-infused “Samambaia” and a smoldering redo of Fela Kuti’s “Upside Down” (here called “Downside Up”). deltanoveband.com/the-band CEDRIC BURNSIDE, “I Be Trying” (Single Lock): HHHH The Grammy-nominated blues guitarist and sometime actor finds solace in the simple act of declaring the truth throughout this grittily satisfying set of Mississippi hill country blues, recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis in three days with producers Boo Mitchell and Luther Dickinson, Alabama Shakes bassist Zac Cockrell, and drummer Reed Watson. Opening with the acoustic “The World Can Be So Cold,” Burnside calls out for divine intervention (“Step In”), acknowledges his flawed humanity (the hopeful title track), digs into the songbags of grandfather R.L. Burnside (the stark “Bird Without a Feather”) and Junior Kimbrough (“Hands Off That Girl”), and reaches a hopeful conclusion: “Love Is the Key.” cedricburnside.net LUCY DACUS, Home Video (Matador): HHHH Excavating formative experiences and wisdom from her Virginia childhood, the indie-rock darling’s third album balances smart, storytelling ballads with cathartic rockers. Bruising truths are gentled by Dacus’ velvet vocal tones and melodies, as she offers compassion to her teenage self and casually cruel girlhood crushes; adults aren’t let off the hook so easily. Highlights: “Cartwheel,”“Please Stay” (featuring boygenius bandmates Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers), “Hot & Heavy” (“You were always stronger than people suspected/ Underestimated and overprotected”), the engaging “Brando” (“You called me cerebral/ I didn’t know what you meant/ But now I do, would it have killed you/ To call me pretty instead?”). lucydacus.bandcamp.com

WANDERLUST, All a View (self-released): HHH½ It’s all but impossible to listen to Wanderlust’s new release and not hear echoes of the past. The Philly-spawned power-pop band’s first album in over two decades is rooted in the ’90s — specifically, demos made by frontman Scot Sax in 1996 — yet is also a spirit-renewing record of the pandemic era, as the reunited lineup (Sax, guitarist Rob Bonfiglio, bassist Mark Getten and drummer Jim Cavanaugh) expanded on the original demos and Sax and Bonfiglio co-wrote additional material. Chiming guitars, invigorating harmonies, sturdily constructed and hummable melodies, a meaty rhythm section and not a bum track in the bunch. Highlights: “Critical Mind,” “Corduroy Moon,” “Trick of the Light.” wanderlust.bandcamp.com STEVE MARRINER, Hope Dies Last (Stony Plain): HHH The Juno Award-winning guitarist/producer — aka one half of Manx Marriner Mainline (alongside slide guitarist Harry Manx) and frontman of swampy Canadian rock trio MonkeyJunk — is in solid, engaging form throughout this 10-track set, with a gravelly delivery that occasionally recalls Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes. He and guest guitarist Steve Dawson punch up the beat and blues in Tom Petty’s “Honey Bee,” while Samantha Martin proves a gutsy duet partner for impassioned ballad “Enough” and Marriner commandeers the drum throne for instrumental highlight “Uptown Lockdown.”

RIYL roots rock. stevemarriner.com SPELLLING, The Turning Wheel (Sacred Bones): HH½ Divided into “Above” and “Below” sections, Chrystia Cabral’s third full album is less funky and more theatrical than 2019’s “Mazy Fly,” which suits the Bay Area artist’s girlish soprano.

The wide-ranging instrumental palette (strings, synths, piano, bassoon, banjo) and scale-climbing of tracks such as “Emperor with an Egg,” “Little Deer,” “Legacy” and “Queen of Wands” generate some sonic drama, but it’s ultimately undone by weak hooks and a lack of sustaining melodic interest. spelllingmusic.com GRACIE AND RACHEL, a whisper becomes a shout (Righteous Babe): HHH Holed up in their home studio during quarantine, Brooklyn-based keyboardist Gracie Coates and violinist Rachel Ruggles’ transformed three tracks from last year’s lush-sounding “Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong” album into a handsomely arranged EP of self-described “whisper songs.” “I will be heard, I will say every word/ Forget the way I was taught to behave,” a hushed Coates sings during “trust (a whisper song)” (which gives the EP its title), as organ pads, violin strains and subtle percussion reshape the meaning of her words. “Turn up the volume, I will not be quiet/ Freedom’s around the corner, I know I can find it.” gracieandrachel.com

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LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB

OUTDOOR / INDOOR WORKOUT

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

Event promises to ‘Awaken the Spirits’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor asadena has reopened — and now it’s time to be afraid.

Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits! is coming to the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 14, and Sunday, Aug. 15.

The weekend event features more than 200 spooky vendors, live entertainment and a presentation stage where fans will learn what’s in store for Halloween 2021 from the likes of LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Winchester Mystery House. Additional presentations and guests will be announced soon.

With the fluid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, David Markland, the event’s executive director, said it was too difficult to nail down a date for Midsummer Scream proper.

“Once we pulled the plug on the event, we were open to doing smaller popup events,” Markland said.

“We just couldn’t find a really good venue to do it in. A couple weeks ago, we were talking to Gary Baker, our executive producer, when he said we should make an extra effort to do something. All these Halloween (businesses) were rallying to do something to promote the Halloween season in LA.” Markland gauged interest and found a spot at the Pasadena Convention Center.

“We just jumped on it,” said Markland about a call a month ago.

By canceling his trademark events, Markland said he suffered through the pandemic.

Smorgasburg LA’s staff hope the crowds will return when the event is revived on July 4.

“Having my own event production company, I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We still couldn’t do Midsummer Scream. It’s a massive

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event. It covers a quarter of a million square feet.

“Still, we wanted the vibe of that. We’re going to have 250 vendors selling masks, props and T-shirts. The feature is this main stage with 1,000 seats for people to come and hear what’s in store.”

Markland said he’s reaching out to other Hollywood promoters and vendors to add to the event. The response has been overwhelming with vendors.

“There will be other things to announce,” he said. “There are a lot more bells and whistles to talk about soon.

“It’s a big draw to people who love cosplay. With cosplay, people are used to getting together a lot. This summer, they can get together, shop, hang out and plot what they’re going to do for the Halloween season.”

Markland called himself a big fan of Halloween and said has been since he was a kid. In “2005-ish,” he created his first endeavor, the blog Creepy LA, which shared Halloween events and the city’s spooky stories.

He said that was the genesis of what he does now.

“I compare it to the TV upfronts that launch the new seasons,” Markland explained. “This kicks off the Halloween season.”

Midsummer Scream presents Awaken the Spirits!

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15 WHERE: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: https://bit.ly/3zNGwF5

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

Shows coming to Microsoft Theater, Staples Center

By LA Downtown News he Microsoft Theater and the Staples Center are hosting a slew of concerts through 2022.

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Upcoming concert and entertainment events at Microsoft Theater • Marca MP: July 31.

• Franco Escamilla: Aug. 6.

• Teo Gonzalez and Jorge Falcon: Aug. 7.

• Il Divo: Aug. 13.

• Pancho Barraza: Aug. 21.

• Eslabon Armado: Aug. 28.

• Lindsey Stirling: Aug. 30.

• I Love the ’90s: Sept. 25.

• Roberto Tapia: Sept. 26.

• Gerardo Ortiz: Oct. 2.

• Judas Priest: 50 Heavy Metal Years: Oct. 6.

• Jesus Adrian Romero: Oct. 8.

• Intocable: Oct. 9.

• Hasan Minhaj: Oct. 15 to Oct. 16.

• Mike Epps: Oct. 22.

• Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra World Tour: Oct. 23.

• Jose Luis Perales: Nov. 2.

• Karol G: Nov. 4.

• L.O.L. Surprise! Live: Nov. 26.

• Pedro Fernandez: Dec. 12.

• The Go-Go’s: Dec. 29.

Upcoming concerts and events at the Staples Center • Monster Jam: July 23 to July 25.

• Grupo Firme: July 30, July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 4, Aug. 6, Aug. 7, Aug. 8.

• Celine Dion: Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.

• Lil Baby: Sept. 24.

• Gold Over America Tour: Sept. 25.

• Kane Brown: Oct. 2.

• Luke Bryan: Oct. 8.

• Dan + Shay: Oct. 15.

• Pepe Aguilar: Oct. 17 and Nov. 6.

• Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin: Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.

• Calibash: Jan. 14 to Jan. 16.

• Banda MS: Feb. 18.

• Bad Bunny: Feb. 24.

• Justin Bieber: March 7 and March 8.

• The Weeknd: March 18 to March 20.

• Eric Church: May 7.

• Roger Waters: Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, 2022.

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

DTLA is the home to top-notch events

By LA Downtown News Staff TLA hosts a myriad of events throughout the year. Here are highlights of upcoming events.

DTLA Proud Festival returns to Pershing Square Aug. 27 to Aug. 29.

The nonprofit strengthens and empowers the local LGBTQ+ and ally community in Downtown Los Angeles through visibility, volunteerism, partnerships and events.

Founded by a grassroots group of local residents, business owners, community leaders and nightlife promoters, it was born from the idea that together they could create an all-inclusive community that represents the diverse LGBTQ+ population that lives, works and plays in the thriving heart of the city of Los Angeles Celebrate the culture, history and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and buy tickets now at dtlaproud.org.

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Just announced • Fueled by Ramen and The Ally Coalition are giving away of awesome prizes, like Life is Beautiful tickets and Lights custom guitar. Enter to win by taking action to support LGBTQ youth. For more information, visit elektramusicgroup.com/fueledbyramen.

• Don’t blink; you might miss them. Vanishing Twin is playing The Constellation Room at The Observatory on Oct. 1, and tickets are on sale.

Courtney Barnett plays the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.

Photo by Ian Laidlow

• Fresh from the party island of Ibiza, Steve Lawler is taking over the DJ booth at Sound Nightclub on July 8. Tickets are available at soundnightclub.com.

• Courtney Barnett will hit the stage at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.

Tickets start at $29.50. Buy them at theatre.acehotel.com. Other artists playing the theater include Lindsey Buckingham, Nikki Glaser and Dashboard Confessional.

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JULY 5, 2021

Covered DINING California will help

The yuzu shio ramen ($14) — shio tare, chicken broth, yuzu, bamboo, egg, chashu pork, endive, fried garlic and nori — is the main attraction.

Photo by Luis Chavez

Afuri Ramen is for the neighborhood

By Frier McCollister LA Downtown News Contributing Writer ars Duan and his wife were on a two-week vacation to Japan in October 2018.

A former bar owner in Aliso Viejo in Orange County, Duan moved to Los Angeles and become a successful online retailer prior to his Japan vacation.

A late lunch stop in Tokyo with his wife proved to be a pivotal episode for him and ultimately for the Arts District, where the first Southern California outpost of Afuri Ramen + Dumplings just opened on Mateo Street.

“Everything came out of this trip that I made to Japan,” Duan said. “Me and my wife were just taking a little vacation there for two weeks. We went to Japan to just find good food to eat and to relax.”

Unrepentant foodies, the couple were on a culinary safari as they toured Japan.

“My wife was doing a lot of research when we were traveling. Out of everything, what surprised me the most was Afuri Ramen,” Duan continued, referring to Hiroto Nakamura’s growing empire of outlets, serving a unique take on chitan-style ramen.

“That was the highlight,” Duan said.

“We were in Ebisu (district of Tokyo). We were waiting in line for like 30 minutes and it was 2 p.m., not even lunch hour. It was hot weather. It was really hot. Usually when it’s hot, I don’t like to eat ramen.

“After I eat Afuri, it was really good. It didn’t matter what the weather is. It just made me feel fulfilled. That was the first impression (of Afuri) that came to me,” Duan said.

The impending birth of his son further inspired him to consider changing his career track.

“After my son was born, I wanted to have a physical business (location),” Duan said.

“To me, when I pass away, I want to leave him with something. So that’s why I wanted to start a restaurant business, because a restaurant is something people need every day. It’s a good legacy for him, so he’s the reason I started to jump into the restaurant business,” Duan explained.

Afuri Ramen + Dumplings opened an outlet stateside in Portland, Oregon, in 2016, where CEO/USA Taichi Ishizuki has his headquarters. There are two other U.S. outlets operating in Cupertino and Mountain View, California, in Silicon Valley. Duan’s Mateo Street opened on June 16 in Southern California.

“Luckily, I was talking to the CEO of Afuri — Taichi — in 2019,” Duan said.

“I flew to Portland to try Afuri, and the first time after I had it in Portland, all the memories I had from Japan came back to me. The food standard of consistency is really good. I flew back and forth to Portland several times.”

M Mars Duan opened the first SoCal outpost of Afuri Ramen + Dumplings on Mateo Street.

Photo by Luis Chavez

The soft-shell crab bun — soft-shell crab, spicy mayo, kimchi and cucumber — is a clear highlight.

Photo by Luis Chavez

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Ultimately, Duan landed the Afuri franchise rights for Los Angeles and Orange County and began searching for a location. He discovered the now-bustling strip on Mateo Street in the Arts District in November 2019.

“When I got the franchise for LA and OC, I was looking for an area to find a location.

So, the first location that actually surprised me is this street, Mateo Street,” Duan recalled.

“I love the arts. I love anything that has a story behind it, and I love to listen to stories as well. I feel that there are a lot of changes in the Arts District. That’s what makes me want to stay here.”

When Duan moved to LA, he noted people didn’t really like graffiti, but it’s become a scene.

From the restaurant’s sunlit patio, Duan gestured to the building’s handsome, contemporary façade, decorated with striking murals. “(Famed street artist) Shepard Fairey did this wall over here, and we have (graffiti artist) RISKY who did the wall on the other side,” Duan explained.

“We wanted to connect the Arts District and Afuri Ramen and have a different kind of experience for ramen.”

In fact, Afuri Ramen + Dumplings delivers a different experience than the average neighborhood ramen shop. In the crowded, dimly lit warrens scattered around First Street in J-town, rich pork-based tonkatsu-style ramen presides on the menus. At Afuri, a lighter chitan-style, chicken-based broth is the star of the menu, poured over fresh noodles. Those noodles are extruded from a glassed-in room at the back of the large, bright contemporary dining room and bar, gleaming with steel and glossy blond wood.

The yuzu shio ramen ($14) is the main attraction, along with its spicier cousin, yuzu ratan ($15). There are also more traditional tonkatsu takes, in a gluten-free shio ($14) or with tantanmen ($15).

“We set our standards really high,” Duan said. “All the noodles we make in-house. All the soup we make in-house. Everything fresh is better.”

The chitan-style ramen broth is Afuri’s signature element.

“What we do is, we use different parts of the chicken and we cook it for over six hours,” Duan said.

“With chicken, you want it to have that clear color out of the broth, and that’s something that’s really hard to maintain. You can’t really stir the soup. You have to maintain the temperature (at lower than boiling point). The chicken will pair really well with all the yuzu (citrus) flavors.”

The result is a light, refreshing broth and a bowl set with complex layers of umami.

Gohan rice plates with crispy karaage-style fried chicken ($9) or vegan kimchi ($8) are also featured. Dumpling options include a full pan-fried rosette of pork, buta gyoza ($10) and miso cashew gyoza ($10). Of the seven small plates, the soft-shell crab bun ($8) is a clear highlight, along with the karaage-style fried chicken ($8) and the refreshing kaiso seaweed salad ($6).

Afuri has a full bar fronting the dining room, with perfect accompaniments to the small plate options. As a former bar owner, Duan is an aesthete when it comes to his connoisseurship of premium Japanese whiskies, for instance.

Afuri’s bar menu features 11 Japanese whiskey labels, starting with a Suntory Toki ($12) and running up to an 18-year-old Yamazaki ($75). On a small ledge above the actual top shelf are two highly prized bottles that belong to Duan.

Highlights on the house cocktail list include the Endomame ($14) with housemade snap pea-infused vodka, lemon, mint and a froth of egg white; the “Kosho” ($13) with aged tequila, Cointreau, yuzu and lime juice with kosho; or the “Kemuri” with Suntory Toki whiskey and plum liqueur with ginger syrup, lemon juice and “Laphroaig spritz.”

Nine chilled sakes are listed and grouped according to their tasting notes, available by glass or full bottle. There are two local craft beers on draft, as well as an unusual Suntory premium malt ($11).

Suffice it to say, this is a ramen experience that, for now, can only be had on Mateo Street. Duan has identified a location to open an Orange County restaurant in Irvine and then hopes to expand to nearby South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Closer to home, a location in the buzzing Melrose/Fairfax district in LA may be next.

“There is one thing we want to achieve: to go higher. Nothing is perfect to me. There’s always something we can improve. We don’t want it to be like fast food. We want to bring fine ramen to LA,” Duan mused.

“Ramen is for the neighborhood. Be ready to try some fun ramen.”

Afuri Ramen + Dumplings 688 Mateo Street, Los Angeles 213-221-7206, afuriramen.com

Buta gyoza dumplings ($10) consist of pork, green onion, ginger, garlic, cabbage, sesame oil and soy.

Photo by Luis Chavez

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Covered California will help CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Mechanical & Plumbing Engineer wtd by AlfaTech Consulting Engineers (Los Angeles, CA) to prepare design packa g e s fo r m e c h a n i c a l , HVAC, fire suppression and plumbing systems; modify and review Revit models; comply with Building/Energy Codes and LEED standards etc.

Resume: jobs@atce.com

Clay Modeler. Los Angeles, CA. Req. 5 yrs. relevant work exp. Min. salary offered $65,291 per yr. Employer: German Design Consulting Inc. Fax resume & cover letter to 310.312.4551

Automotive Exterior Designer. Hawthorne, CA. Req. MA or equivalent academics or exp. in transportation / industrial design or rel. field + 1 yr. work exp. Min. salary offered $64,126 / yr.. Mail resume & cover letter to Vintech LLC, 3437 W. El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA, 91250.

Automotive Designer: Hawthorne, CA. Req. MA or equivalent academics or exp. in transportation /industrial design or rel, field + 8 yrs. work exp.

Min. salary offered $97,614 per yr. Mail resume &cover letter to Vintech LLC, 3437 W. El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA, 91250

UX / UI Designer. Los Angeles, CA. Req. MA or equivalent academics or exp. in communications design & multimedia or rel. field + 5 yrs. work exp. in UX / UI design.

Min. salary offered $177,507 per yr. Employer: iconmobile. Fax resume & cover letter to 310.393.7676

Analyst. Los Angeles, CA. Req. MA or equivalent academics or exp. in business or rel. field + 1 yr. work exp. Min. salary offered $73,528 per yr.

Employer: Montminy & Co. Fax resume & cover letter to 310.230.6206

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JULY 5, 2021

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Covered SPORTS California will help

Questions remain after Clippers lose to Suns

By Grant Greabell LA Downtown News Staff Writer ixed emotions plague Clippers fans this week, as they headed into the playoffs with a championship-or-bust mentality, yet it somehow feels as though this team overachieved even after losing to the Suns in six games.

Whether it’s the fact the Clippers were down 2-0 in their first two playoff rounds and came back to win both those series; injuries to Kawhi Leonard, Ivaca Zubac and Serge Ibaka; or that this was the first time in franchise history they have even reached the Western Conference Finals, the Clippers and their fans should be proud of where they made it, despite their championship hopes coming into the playoffs.

Paul George cleared his name of every playoff blunder he’s had in the past this postseason. There will be a lot less Playoff P memes infesting Twitter feeds, after he averaged about 27 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists during the Clippers’ 19-game postseason run.

“The narrative of me not being a postseason player or all of that, I never understood it. But, you know, it’s not much. I’ve been the same person,” George said.

Leonard was even better than George before he was injured in the second-round series against the Utah Jazz. He averaged about 30 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 11 games this postseason, once again proving he is up for debate for best player in the NBA. The Clippers also got an otherworldly postseason performance from Reggie Jackson, especially after Leonard went down. He will be a free agent this summer, and with him playing himself into a much heftier contract, it will remain to be seen if the Clippers can bring him back next year.

“I think that group revitalized me. They found ways to push me every day, to challenge me, ask me to be better, encourage me to be better. We became family,” Jackson said.

This team had a toughness and resiliency to them unlike Clippers teams in the past, including the team that lost to the Denver Nuggets in the bubble last year that consisted of a lot of the same players. They played with an edge and an inability to quit, traits that should be attributed to their head coach, Tyronn Lue. Lue wasn’t afraid to mix things up and made the proper adjustments whenever it looked like the season was over for the Clippers.

“Our coaching staff was tremendous this year. (They) did a lot to help me out and did a lot for the players. I think having a lot of structure this season was really good for us,” Lue said.

All of this is not to say the Clippers and their fans shouldn’t be disappointed in losing. Missed free throws and untimely turnovers cost them the chance to win games 1, 2 and 4 in this series. One could make the argument the Clippers

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could have won in four or five games, but the sore reality is they didn’t.

During Game 6, in the third quarter, it looked like another comeback was brewing for the Clippers. Down 17, they went on a quick 10-0 run, to cut it to 7, but a familiar face exhausted all hope from LA by scoring the next 14 points for the Suns by himself, breaking the game wide open.

This familiar face is Chris Paul, who finished with 41 points and eight assists on 16-24 shooting for the Suns. Paul spent six years with the Clippers from 2011-17 and is one of the best to play for the franchise.

They felt like title contenders for a large portion of his time there, but whether it was injuries or just plain bad luck, the “Lob City” era could never make it past the second round.

“I learned a lot of stuff along the way. This is like a storybook for this part, you know, getting somewhere that I have never been before, going against a team that I’ll always be connected to,” Paul said.

Which is why Paul making it to his first NBA Finals, makes the Clippers’ loss somewhat bittersweet for fans — well, depending on who you ask.

Headed into the offseason, there are a couple of question marks for the Clippers. Will Leonard and Ibaka opt in to their player options? Will they be able to re-sign Jackson and Nicolas Batum? What should they do with Luke Kennard, who is due to make $41 million over the next three years?

Do they want to keep aging point guards Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley, who will make a combined $44 million over the next two years, when they have a young guard in Terance Mann, who made huge strides during these playoffs?

“We’ll come back at it next year, you know, see what happens; and we can stay healthy, keep guys healthy and go from there,” Lue said.

Those questions are for the Clippers’ front office to answer, but, clearly, the important thing for the Clippers is to assure Leonard returns. As long as they at least have him and George, they will always be contenders to win a championship.

JULY 5, 2021

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JULY 5, 2021