07-13-09

DOWNTOWN

NEWS DOWNTOWN

NEWSLOS ANGELESLOS ANGELES

Volume 38, Number 28 July 13, 2009 WWW.DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Since 1972, an independent, locally owned and edited newspaper, go figure.

by Ryan VaillancouRt

staff wRiteR

The 1984 Summer Olympics meant different things to dif-ferent people. To boxer Paul

Gonzalez, the Los Angeles games meant proving his doubters wrong. For Greg Louganis, it was a chance for his family in San Diego to see him dive on a world stage. For some Angelenos, the games are best re-membered as two weeks of miracu-lously light traffic.

Although the games took place from Aug. 28-Sept. 12, 1984, the cel-ebration of the silver anniversary be-gins this week. On Saturday, July 18, the Los Angeles Sports Council and the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games will host ap-proximately 1,000 athletes, event or-ganizers and members of the general public at a gala celebration that in-cludes drinks at the peristyle of the Coliseum, dinner on the field and an Olympic-themed show created by

David Wolper, the producer of the 1984 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Here, in their own words, seven people, from athletes to a police officer, reflect on their Olympic memories.

Paul Gonzalez, Gold Medal Boxer: “It was a great feeling to have the games in Los Angeles. It was in my hometown, because I’m from East Los Angeles. I could have taken a

bus to the L.A. Coliseum or the L.A. Sports Arena to compete. Now not only my family but my friends were able to see me display my talent. Finally after so many years of telling people, who didn’t believe me, that I was going to get there and win a gold medal, I was there. “I grew up in the Aliso Village housing project in East Los Angeles as a ghetto kid, so it was like, how was I supposed to get there? Whoever

see Olympics, page 10

Golden MemoriesAthletes, Organizers and Others Affiliated With the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Remember the Games

Murder arrests, watery moves, and other happenings Around Town.

Goodbye Michael Jackson

photo by Gary Leonard

(l to r) Diver Greg Louganis, boxer Paul Gonzalez and sprinter Evelyn Ashford, who all won gold medals in the 1984 Summer Olympics, will attend this week’s gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles games.

by anna scott

staff wRiteR

The Los Angeles Police Department was harshly rebuked recently by a city commis-sioner over its handling of a personnel case

tied to a larger controversy. The commissioner blasted the department for its treatment of an em-ployee who accused the LAPD of retaliation. Forensic Print Specialist Cathleen Rogde, a 34-year civilian employee of the LAPD, was suspend-ed for seven days in 2007, ostensibly because of her role in a high-profile 2006 case in which a suspect was wrongly accused of burglary based on a mis-read fingerprint. Rogde, who declined to comment for this ar-ticle, subsequently filed a grievance with the city Personnel Department challenging the suspension, according to documents obtained by Los Angeles

Downtown News. Rogde also filed a complaint al-leging that her suspension was in fact retaliation for an earlier discrimination complaint she filed against the LAPD. The Personnel Department’s Office of Discrimination Complaint Resolution investigated Rogde’s charges. Based on its findings, the city’s Civil Service Commission in September 2008 de-cided that Rogde’s suspension was not warranted and overturned the punishment, ordering the LAPD to reimburse her for the lost days. Months later, the ODCR issued another re-port supporting Rogde’s claim that retaliation could have been the motive behind her suspen-sion. The LAPD appealed that decision. The Civil Service Commission, however, voted 4-1 against the LAPD on the retaliation issue on June 25 of this year. During the hearing, commissioner John

Perez called the department’s handling of the Rogde case “outrageous.” “The LAPD’s claim that ODCR is wrong is so over the top, that in this case they [LAPD] have not shown any honesty, they have not shown any integ-rity, and they have not shown any trustworthiness,” said Perez. In a later interview, he called the Rogde case “one of the most egregious that I have seen in my three and a half years as a commissioner.” LAPD officials said that they stand behind their reports on the matter and declined to comment further.

Misprints Rogde’s suspension stemmed from a heavily publicized case in which the LAPD falsely accused hospital technician Maria Maldonado of a bur-glary based on a faulty analysis of fingerprints from

see LAPD, page 9

2

7

Commissioner Slams LAPD Over SuspensionIncident Related to Controversial Fingerprint Case Called ‘Outrageous’

New city fees raise issues for those with Downtown projects and buildings.8

INSIDE INSIDE

Reaction to the El Pueblo audit.3

The full summer swim lineup.14

Pershing Square’s packed schedule.15

Rabbits, Frenchmen and ‘Spamalot.’16

‘Grease’ and the river with Tom LaBonge.6

Meet the Dodgers’ top chef.12

MAPMAP20

CALENDARLISTINGSCALENDARLISTINGS17

CLASSIFIEDSCLASSIFIEDS21

Skid Row Double Homicide Was Murder for Hire, Police Say

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has filed murder charges against two men and one woman sus-

pected in a double homicide that rocked Skid Row in the early hours of Easter Sunday. Police believe that Lamont Ward, 40, of Inglewood, hired Richard Luna, 28, an alleged East Los Angeles gang member, and Shanana Flores, to kill Tommie Hayes, 33, at the Lamp Lodge at 660 Stanford Ave. on April 12. Luna is believed to have shot Hayes and Kevin Cohen, 49, who “was probably an unplanned victim,” said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. Based on tips, witness interviews, surveillance and search warrants, detectives determined that Ward and Hayes were rivals in the drug trade. “As we suspected, the murder was motivated by narcotics,” Vernon said. “What we did not expect was a complicated murder-for-hire; one drug dealer trying to eliminate his competition.” Ward was arrested July 1 in the guard house of an upscale, gated community where he worked as a security guard, Vernon said. Flores was arrested on June 27 and Luna has been in custody since May 10 on an unrelated weapons violation. The homicides marked the first murders in Skid Row since June 2008. Grief attached to the death of Cohen, a longtime Skid Row resident, was magnified by his participation as an extra in the film The Soloist. Cohen, who was known as K.K., also helped the film’s directors and production team understand and accurately portray the poverty-stricken neighborhood, said Thomas Napper, second unit director for The Soloist. Additionally, Cohen encouraged Napper to make a related documentary that focuses on the stories of Skid Row residents. The film, called The Chorus, is in post-production.

Water Wasters Getting Cited

Water police may not officially exist, but inspectors from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

have issued about 4,000 citations to those wasting water, said department General Manager David Nahai. Speaking on Wednesday, July 8, at a meeting of the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum, Nahai said that inspectors have been approach-

ing those flouting DWP water efficiency standards (the newest went into effect June 1 and mandate, among other things, that sprinklers can only be used on Mondays and Thursdays and not between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Although most of the cita-tions were for “first-tier” infractions, meaning they resulted in “just a conversation,” said Nahai, about 70 have been second tier, giving offenders a $100 fine. He said nine have been third-tier violations, resulting in a $200 fine, and there have three fourth-tier infractions, which come with a $300 penalty. Future violations could result in flow restrictors being applied by the DWP, he said. At the meeting, Nahai also discussed Measure B, a solar panel installation effort that voters shot down in March. Despite that, he said, “We have a duty to go back to the people with a solar plan.” This time, he said, Council members and others will have the opportunity to be involved, though he not-ed that the plan would be worked on within the department, requiring approval from the board. He said it would not go out for a public vote, though he was unsure if it would require City Council approval.

New Standards Recommended for Broadway

Continuing the effort to revitalize Broadway, the City Planning Commission last week approved a new set

of guidelines and development standards for the street. The Broadway Theater and Entertainment District Design Guide, which the panel voted in favor of on Thursday, July 9, would apply to Broadway between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard. Parcels fronting the street would be subject to new standards for building design, landscaping, parking and other elements, all aimed at encouraging pe-destrian traffic and energizing nightlife along the street. The Design Guide is part of Bringing Back Broadway, an initiative launched by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar to re-vitalize the street. “By creating distinct features and guidelines for façade lighting design, storefronts, loading areas and roof-top uses, we are honoring Broadway’s history, while giving it a distinct look and feel and bringing us one step closer to realizing our vision of restoring this classic gem,” said Huizar.

The guidelines still require the approval of the City Council.

Panel Delays Preservation Vote Again

The City Planning Commission last Thursday delayed for a second time a vote on a proposal that would make

it harder to tear down city-designated historic monuments. The measure, an updated version of the 47-year-old Cultural Heritage Ordinance, spells out the rules for protecting official Historic-Cultural Monuments. The ordinance previously went before the commission on June 11, where it generated heated opposition from some owners of historic buildings. Sticking points included provisions that would give the five-member Cultural Heritage Commission the ability to deny demolitions of Historic-Cultural Monuments, and require property own-ers to obtain advance approval for most interior renovations. While staff with the city’s Office of Historic Resources have modified several parts of the proposed ordinance since then, the Planning Commission was not able to reach consensus on Thursday about whether the interiors of historic, private residences should be protected. Commissioners will revisit the issue on Sept. 10.

New Buildings May Face Tighter Water Requirements

The City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee has voted in favor of a new set of water effi-

ciency requirements for construction projects. The measure, approved July 7, aims to reduce water consumption in new construction by 20%. A letter from former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to the City Council noted that voluntary conservation efforts “will not sufficiently mitigate increased water demand resulting from the City’s projected growth.” The ordinance, which still must be approved by the full Council, would become effective Dec. 1 and would apply to all new projects served by the DWP. It would require the installation of highly efficient, low-flow fixtures such as toi-lets and faucets; low-flow showerheads; and high efficiency commercial dishwashers, among other stipulations. Projects already approved that have paid city fees would be exempt.

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July 13, 2009 Downtown News 3DowntownNews.com

by RichaRd Guzmán

city editoR

Three weeks after an audit sharply criticized business practices at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, city officials said they are looking at the

core issue of the report — raising the rents paid by Olvera Street merchants. However, while 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and a representative of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa both said they agree with the general findings in the audit and believe rents should rise, they stopped short of supporting the re-port’s recommendation that tenants pay market rates of $2.65-$6.75 per square foot a month. The issue of raising Olvera Street rents has been a point of contention for decades. Merchants at the monument currently pay an average of $1.35 per square foot, the audit stated. Last year Los Angeles Downtown News reported that some large merchants pay less than $1 per square foot. The below-market rents contribute to the department needing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the city’s general fund to balance its budget. Before deciding what rents should be, Huizar said he wants to wait for El Pueblo General Manager Robert Andrade to respond to the audit with his own report. He said he is also awaiting a separate study by the department’s Budget and Operations Committee with recommendations on what the new rates should be. Huizar said that he and the department share a goal of hav-ing new rents in place by December and for El Pueblo to be self sufficient by fiscal year 2010-11. But there is a procedure to follow, he said. “It’s a process,” he added. “I have to take it all into consid-eration. I can’t commit to numbers right now because there are no numbers before me.”

The Numbers However, the audit has many numbers. El Pueblo, a collection of shops and cultural attractions, operates as a city department with an annual budget of $4.1 million. Although it sees about 2 million visitors a year, in

fiscal year 2007-08 the department needed a $921,000 boost from the city’s general fund. The audit states that 57 merchants operate without leases, and instead have “concession agreements.” If those tenants paid market rate, the department could increase revenue by $1.1 million to $1.5 million a year, the study said. If the other 17 tenants paid market rate, according to the audit, the department could bring in another $196,800 to $287,460 per year. The report also recommended that the department raise the fees paid by tenants for trash removal, restroom main-tenance, cleaning and security. Although the merchants col-lectively pay $60,000 now, they should pay $356,000 a year, according to the study. Huizar said he agreed that CAM fees should rise, though he would not commit to the figures offered in the audit. Jazmin Ortega, press secretary for Villaraigosa, echoed Huizar’s views on the audit. Villaraigosa was out of the coun-try last week. “We welcome the recommendations and it’s a blueprint for us with the mayor’s office, with the City Council, the Commission and the Department and we want to make sure that those recommendations are implemented,” she said. “I think at this point we don’t want to get to specifics on fees, and it’s not just up to us to determine that. It’s working with everybody involved, so I think that’s something that’s going to be looked at.”

Commission Response El Pueblo Commission President Herbert Siguenza last

week said he agreed with the audit’s recommendations and supports raising rents, though he believes they should be at the low end of the $2.65-$6.75 spectrum. Yet, he said, the Commission’s recommendations might be pointless, since the final decision lies with Huizar and Villaraigosa. “I’m finding out unfortunately that the Commission has

City Officials Cautious After El Pueblo AuditHuizar, Villaraigosa Support Raising Olvera Street Rents, Though Have Made No Decisions on Specifics

no bargaining power,” he said. “We really depend on the City Attorney and the political will of City Council, the mayor’s office and CD 14 specifically. They’re the ones that are ulti-mately going to set the rates and are going to negotiate with the merchants.” He added, “There’s no incentive for me to put my two cents out there if it’s not going to be heard. It doesn’t matter. Ultimately it does not matter. It’s really up to the city, but we will follow the process.” Meanwhile, Vivien Bonzo, president of the Olvera Street Merchants Association, said many questions need to be an-swered before anyone commits to a specific figure on rents. She cited issues including the maintenance of old buildings and Olvera Street’s unique role as a historic attraction. “I’m not sure what the audit is comparing us to when they came up with the rents,” she said. “There’s not much that compares to Olvera, so how is that fair?” Contact Richard Guzmán at [email protected].

‘I’m finding out unfortunately that the Commission has no bargaining power.’

—Herbert Siguenza, El Pueblo Commission President


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The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the of-fices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. It is also distributed to the extended urban communities of Glendale, Hollywood, Wilshire Center, Los Feliz, Silver Lake & Larchmont Village.

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EDITORIALSEDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The numbers that were floated last week regarding the Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center were sur-prising: Approximately 3,200 LAPD officers, nearly

one-third of the force, were in the area. Reports put the cost anywhere from $1.4 million to $3.8 million. A significant chunk of it went to overtime pay for the police department. One number and one theme, however, trump those statis-tics: No arrests were made at or around the Tuesday event at L.A Live. Instead, the scene was overwhelmingly peaceful, the biggest trouble point perhaps being the presence of a large number of vendors who lacked crowds to which to hawk their wares. Somehow, that does not strike us as a problem. The public and the media have the right to question the cost and deployment patterns — someone needs to watch the henhouse, especially given the city’s budget crisis. In this case, however, it appears that the steps taken were appropriate. The scene surrounding the Tuesday event was a fizzle instead of a bang. Which is exactly how it should have been. The LAPD and Chief William Bratton deserve credit for their forethought, and city officials who worked in advance to prevent crowds from swarming the area also did the right thing. The city and the department are always slammed when large groups assemble and things go wrong. Though we recognize the irony in urging people to stay away from

Downtown, the speed of putting together the proceedings and the uncertainty of the public turnout made that, in this special instance, understandable. As Los Angeles has seen too many times, the combina-tion of large crowds and sometimes ill-prepared police can lead to havoc. The May Day protests in 2007 exem-plify what can go wrong. The department was not ready for what transpired late in the day at MacArthur Park. The crackdown on journalists and others by police officers cost the city millions of dollars in legal settlements and left a black eye that may never heal. Last month’s fracas following the Lakers’ clinching of the NBA title also showed how crowds fueled on even positive emotion (and some alcohol) can spin out of control. In that case, the department was on the scene and quickly gained the upper hand. Still, some damage was done, with several stores looted, vehicles attacked and fires set in trash cans. Obviously the Lakers’ victory scene was fresh in the minds of LAPD and city officials after Jackson died and plans were hastily arranged for the Tuesday memorial in Downtown Los Angeles. No one knew how many people would flock to the area and what might transpire if tens of thousands of fans, or more, were milling about, angry at being unable to get in to the ceremony.

With the $530 million budget deficit the city is fac-ing this year, we expect a plethora of services to be cut. Although few Angelenos have felt any direct

pain yet from this, we do not anticipate that will be the case as city departments reduce spending. With the city’s necessary penny pinching and the eco-nomic woes also affecting the Los Angeles Unified School District, it is a pleasant surprise to hear that the pool at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex will again be open to the public for two months this summer. Frankly, given past issues and the current financial situation, we expected the program would suffer. We’re glad to hear that officials have continued to live up to their promise by making the City West pool accessible to the community. A little history: When the $160 million school at Third and Bixel streets was being constructed, residents in the surround-

ing area were told they would be able to use the Olympic-sized pool. The school opened in 2006, yet the following summer officials decided they could not make the plan work. They cited issues of paying for pool operations and keeping the rest of the school secure. Neighborhood activists were furious. Last year, plenty of questions were raised in advance. Fortunately, the city Department of Recreation and Parks teamed with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and a group of nonprofits to find the funds to keep the pool open. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office was also involved. Backsliding could have been expected this year, and could have been explained away by the economy. Instead, Villaraigosa’s office worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks to locate the money for another year of swimming. Those funds were augmented by contributions from the LA84 Foundation (County Fed officials said they were not asked to chip in this year). The result is that the pool

Memorial Prep Prevented a Problem

Right Move in Opening Contreras Pool Again

That is why the constant message delivered in the days leading up to the event was on point. If you picked up a news-paper, watched television, listened to the radio or checked the web, the signal was clear: Without a ticket you would not get close to the memorial. They worked to pump truth into the old cliché: There is nothing to see here folks, move along. Even with that message, the crowd size was impossible to predict. Thus Bratton’s deployment decision was appropri-ate. The question of who should pay for this should continue (including the discussion of securing private contributions), but the point is, the department and the city had to be ready for the event, no matter the cost. A few million in prep and overtime pay is a small fraction of what the city has shelled out in LAPD-related lawsuits over the years. As we now know, few besides memorial ticket holders as-sembled at the perimeter. As Bratton said after the ceremony, some of the thousands of officers were sent home. Not only did it go smoothly in Downtown, but the scene was peaceful at other sites where problems could have flared, such as the Jackson family estate in Encino. The numbers are large but the results are positive. In this case, a department that has been criticized did a fine job. After a few hours the scene outside L.A. Live even became boring. That turned out to be the best thing possible.


can be used by the public seven days a week, for at least four hours a day, from July through the end of August. Residents in City West have long complained that they have far fewer recreation resources than people in other parts of Los Angeles. That is changing, with options like the Echo Deep Pool and the Vista Hermosa Natural Park now avail-able. Fortunately, this summer the Miguel Contreras pool is also part of the mix.

July 13, 2009 Downtown News 5Opinion

Responding To the El Pueblo AuditDear Editor,

As in the past, the City Controller’s recent audit of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

has revealed financial problems at the city’s birthplace (“Audit Blasts El Pueblo,” by Richard Guzmán, June 29). The main conclusion of the audit is that general fund subsidies must be replaced by other sources of revenue including leasing out all vacant commercial storefronts; evaluating the continued participation of the Monument’s nonprofit organizations; and impos-ing “market-rate” rent and common-area fee increases on some Olvera Street merchants. The audit explains that of the 74 Olvera merchants, 17 have leases (adopted by the City Council in 1999) and 57 are on a month to month contract dating back to 1985. The audit does not explain why the leasing situation is different amongst the tenants or how this difference impacts the rents received by the city. The audit did not mention that Olvera rent increases and city obligations are spelled out clearly in these standard-ized leases that were put into effect in July 1999. The lease legally binds the city to perform specific improvements in the district in exchange for automatic rent increases. These are not simply projects that the merchants were hoping for on a whim. They were ne-gotiated in good faith and as part of the fulfillment of Proposition H, a voter initiative that requires the city to provide long-term, negotiated leases to the city’s oldest tenants. For the audit to state simply that rent increases are now due to cover the budgetary shortfall obscures the legal circumstances that surround El Pueblo and the merchants and clouds the issues of how to resolve the financial problems at the Monument. Former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo refused his signature on 57 merchant leases approved by the City Council and has insisted that these merchants are oper-ating on 30-day concession agreements from 1985. This situation has disempowered the Olvera merchants who

occupy historic structures often in need of costly repairs that the city has refused to provide, while not giving us the ability to finance those repairs through the banks. The lease issue and the rent increases are intertwined. David Louie, a member of the El Pueblo Commission, has preferred to ignore lease status and carry on as if the only action to take presently is to strap the merchants with massive increases. This may create a legal liability for the city as Proposition H explicitly directs the city to do otherwise. We would like the city to make good on the leases for the rest of the 57 merchants, and, if the city wishes to renegotiate aspects of the lease, it need only reopen the contract and engage the merchants in dialogue. The merchants are not opposed to paying more, but we are anxious to have the lease issue resolved in conjunction with all such discussions. In these times of great economic uncertainty, we hope that Angelenos will continue to be able to visit a place with no entry fees, with free, enriching cultural entertainment provided by the Olvera merchants and with a historical character that defines the roots of our great city. If these larger values prevail, if preservation of this cultural treasure is a part of our elected officials’ vision, then let’s get busy making responsible decisions to correct the budget issues and justly resolve long-term inequities amongst the city’s oldest family tenants.

—Vivien C. Bonzo, Olvera Street Merchants’ Association

Los Angeles Downtown News encourages let-ters. They become the property of Los Angeles Downtown News and may be edited. All letters should be typewritten and include an address and telephone number for verification. Please send them to:Letter to the Editor1264 W. First St.Los Angeles, CA 90026Fax to: (213) 250-4617Email to: [email protected]

Los Angeles Downtown News posts comments to stories on our website. Here are

some of the most recent respons-es. Additional comments appear on downtownnews.com (com-ments follow individual articles). Further responses are welcome.

Regarding the June 25 item “Housing Organization Unveils New Apartments,” about the opening of the James M. Wood Apartments in Skid Row

It’s nice to see a finished devel-opment that isn’t 30 stories of

luxury condominiums going for $600,000 each. Los Angeles is the homeless capital of the country. Thank you SRO Housing Corp. for realizing that thousands of Angelenos need housing more than some rich professionals need a Downtown loft.

—posted by rugbydude1000, June 26, 12:24 p.m.

Yeah, those “rich profession-als,” most of whom are actu-

ally middle-class, are the people paying the taxes that fund these

affordable housing projects. Face it, you need them as much as the community needs af-fordable housing. I’m all for af-fordable housing, but I hate the poverty pimps’ arguments that it’s one versus the other. How is it one city’s responsibility to care for [tens of thousands of] people who have mental problems, no jobs and make no contribution to the system?

—posted by Alossix, June 26, 7:23 p.m.

The contributions that the folks with incomes make

to their fellow citizens who are homeless, mentally ill or addicted are paid back in many ways, in-cluding improving our level of humanity and making sure that when we who have income need these same services, the services are already prepared for us. Many of the people in need have already contributed to “the system.” But don’t confuse that issue with the need for accom-modation.

—posted by Uppitymo, June 29, 9:24 a.m.

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How do energy conservationrates work? The rates are based on the amount of energy youuse. Every LADWP customer is allotted a set amountof energy at the lowest rate. This is called Tier 1.Beyond are two more tiers, each has a correspondingrate, and each is increasingly higher in cost. So the more energy you use, the more you will have to pay.

Since basic energy needs (refrigerator, TV, ceiling fans and lighting) are greater in areas of hotter

temperatures, we have divided the city into temperature zones to ensure equity for all of our customers. With our new temperature zones, people who live in the hotter parts of the city, Zone 2, will be able to use a little more energy at the lower Tier 1 price than those people who live in Zone 1, the cooler areas.

Why implement energyconservation rates?Energy conservation will reduce strain on ourelectric grid, which will help make your electricityservice more reliable. Saving energy will also benefi tthe environment because reduced energy use meansreduced greenhouse gas emissions. Last, but notleast, conserving energy will save you money on yourutility bills. With today’s tough economy, energyconservation is needed now more than ever.

How can I conserve energy?Saving energy is as easy as keeping your thermostatat 78 degrees, turning off lights when you leave theroom, turning off your computer and other electronics when they aren’t being used, replacing standard light bulbs with compact fl uorescent light bulbs, and choosing energy effi cient appliances. LADWP also has a wide range of energy effi ciency rebates and incentive programs that can help.

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Replace incandescent light • bulbs with compact fl uorescent light bulbs (CFLs) wherever appropriate.

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LETTERSLETTERS The Readers Take OverWebsite Comments On a Low-Income Housing Project


before and, no cliché intended, I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. What the—? There’s just a couple feet of wiggle room on either side of the Crown Vic, and moments later we emerge into… the belly of the Los Angeles River. Even though it’s summer, a couple inches of water are flowing at a moderate speed down the center of the channel. The surrounding walls are scarred with graffiti in every color imaginable. A cell phone appears and LaBonge starts to state a number out loud, trying but failing to recall it. He calls his office to find it. After a couple minutes a staffer tracks down the num-ber. He dials. No answer, just a voicemail. “Hi Annette,” he says, leaving a message. “We’re speaking from Thunder Road, where 31 years ago you started the race that John Travolta…” Thunder Road, of course, as I hazily remember the scene in Grease (it’s been at least a decade since I last saw it) when two cars barrel down the concrete expanse of the L.A. River. Turns out LaBonge’s old school friend played the character Cha Cha, who drops the flag to start the race. Hence, the call. There’s a larger point to all this, which I don’t learn until a few minutes later. Right now, well, welcome to the carnival that is a ride with Tom LaBonge.

Adoring L.A. It is not breaking news that LaBonge operates differently than many of his Council colleagues. The 55-year-old’s gre-garious nature, along with his attention to pothole politics, have won him three elections and significant media attention, including a massive, very positive Los Angeles magazine fea-ture earlier this year that painted him as a throwback politico. The story’s title was “Mister L.A.” There is speculation that he is one of the 9 zillion people who will throw their hat in the ring whenever the next mayoral election comes around. He’s not without critics, of course, some believing that LaBonge engages in too much showboating. They say that in certain instances he should dial it back. He is more known for his enthusiasm — along with passing out pumpkin bread and calendars full of photos he took — than political strategizing and horse trading. Perhaps some of the criticism is true, but at the same time, it reflects the real LaBonge. The passion for Los Angeles is genuine, and while there is a script or at least an outline to follow, one usually feels like the ideas are more about the city than they are about LaBonge himself. All of which helps explain how I wound up under the bridge in the first place. A couple weeks before I’d gotten a call saying LaBonge wanted to meet with me, though few details were given about why. I walked over to his office on a warm afternoon and he came out from behind his desk. We sat on a couple couches arranged at a 90-degree angle. “Ask me 20 questions,” he said, and we hopscotched from high school football (a jersey with his number 50 from Marshall High is in the office’s waiting room) to the five weeks of Wednesday evening bike rides he is leading through July 22 (route, location and participation information are at tomlabonge.com) to the city’s budget woes. Then a couple loosely connected ideas came out, and though he represents another part of Los Angeles, they all concerned Downtown. When he learned I had walked over, he asked if I wanted to check out some of the places he was talking about and get a ride back.

The Idea Man Roll with LaBonge and you realize two things: 1) the guy has ideas like Phil Jackson’s got rings, and 2) he’s not shy about sharing them. Heading east from City Hall, he discusses the approximately $1 billion Regional Connector, a proposed Metro project that would allow light rail riders in Downtown to get from one line to another. He wants the plan to stretch down Central Avenue, ultimately connecting with the Blue Line to Long Beach. Heading south on Santa Fe Avenue behind the Southern California Institute of Architecture, he unveils his big plan with the enthusiasm of a kid in science class making his first baking soda volcano. LaBonge wants to extend the Red Line down to

by Jon RegaRdie

executive editoR

Have you ever seen Grease?” It’s an unlikely question considering the circum-stances. Or so I think.

I’m in the passenger seat of Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge’s gray Ford Crown Victoria. We’ve spent the last 15 minutes driving along the northeast edge of Downtown, LaBonge pointing out different sites and floating transit ideas. Now, we’re idling under one of the

decades-old bridges that traverse the Los Angeles River. Yes, I have seen Grease, I respond, mentally flashing to Danny and a black-clad Sandy in the funhouse at the end of the film, the good girl gone bad to capture the guy, and I cer-tainly never expected Tom LaBonge to intrude on this image.

“Thunder Road!” he exclaims, and before I grasp what he’s talking about he steps on the gas and swings a left. We’re passing through a dark passageway I hadn’t noticed a minute

“

Rolling With Tom LaBongeHop in the Car With the Councilman and There’s No Telling What You’ll Hear or Where You’ll Go

THE REGARDIE REPORTphoto by Gary Leonard

Though he represents another portion of Los Angeles, Fourth District Councilman Tom LaBonge has plenty of suggestions for Downtown, including connecting the Red Line to the Arts District to help activate the area.

see LaBonge, page 11

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by RichaRd Guzmán and anna Scott

As city departments continue to tighten their belts amid a $530 million budget deficit, officials this month will vote on raising two kinds of develop-

ment-related fees. Each could add thousands of dollars to the costs of owning or constructing a building. The Board of Fire Commissioners is scheduled to vote July 21 on raising the annual high-rise building inspection and fire permit fees by 8%. Ten days later, the City Council is slated to consider increasing the rates for filing development applica-tions with the Planning Department, and for filing appeals related to proposed projects. Some in the building industry have expressed wariness about the proposed increases, especially at a time when new construction has ground to a halt and rising unemployment is making it difficult to fill empty space in office towers. “Obviously 8% is a concern in these tough economic times, but it’s more that it’s on top of the other changes we just had,” said Martha Cox-Nitikman, senior director for public policy and education for the Building Owners and Managers Association, of the fire-related fee hikes. Higher operating costs for buildings could be passed down to tenants, she added. Others say they are prepared for the higher fire fees. Peggy Moretti, senior vice president of investor and public relations and chief administrative officer for Maguire Properties, whose Downtown portfolio includes eight Class A office towers, said the company is not overly concerned. “While any increase on high-rise office towers given the current economy is a challenge,” she said, “we understand that it will not be problematic to our day-to-day business.” The average cost of permits for fire inspections of commer-cial buildings — conducted annually by a crew of 12 inspec-tors who oversee 758 buildings taller than 75 feet — is about $5,000 annually, said Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Kerbat. Individual rates, however, vary drastically depending on a building’s square footage. The Bank of America building at 333 S. Hope St., which pays $30,000 in annual fees, is the most expensive building

in the city to inspect, Kerbat said. The building is owned by Brookfield Properties, which also owns Ernst & Young Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. Company officials would not comment for this article. A new round of increases is overdue, Kerbat said. Until two years ago, rates for fire inspections had not been ad-justed in 14 years, Kerbat said. Fees were raised in January 2008 by 26%. That was followed with an 18% jump this past January, according to the department. If the current proposed increase is approved, the new fees would go into effect in January 2010. “It’s required that we do it annually by law, and we’ve got to make sure we’re doing what’s required and make the ser-vice pay for itself,” said Kerbat.

Reworking a Plan Meanwhile, the Planning Department is working with de-velopment and business officials on increasing fees for filing development applications, and for citizens who wish to file appeals objecting to proposed projects. The increases, accord-ing to a memo from former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, will more accurately reflect the actual costs of processing de-velopment applications and appeals. An early draft of the proposed hikes went before the City Council on June 30 and included some significant increases. For example, developers seeking exceptions to the city’s spe-cific plans would have been charged $14,932 under the new proposal. The previous rate was $3,887. That proposal sparked protests from development and business industry representatives including the Central City Association and the Building Industry Association. “In this economic recession, we find it perplexing that many of these fees in question seem extremely inflated and disproportionate to the level of work needed to justify the steep increase,” said the BIA in a letter to the City Council. The cost of appeals would also rise. For example, under the plan, those who protest proposed projects would have paid $150-$500. Developers who appeal a decision by the Department of Building and Safety could have been tagged $7,933.

Opposition to the increases led the Council to delay voting on the matter, and they will take it up again July 31. In the meantime, the Planning Department has agreed to several concessions to help ease and offset the increased costs. Those include phasing in the overhead charges rolled into increases over the course of three years, reducing and delaying a pro-posed surcharge on application fees and taking steps to expe-dite the development permitting process. Details are still being worked out, but some development industry representatives say the discussions have quelled many of their concerns. “We believe this is a fair compromise,” said Veronica Perez Becker, vice president of legislative affairs for the CCA, “espe-cially given the city’s budget crisis.” Contact Richard Guzmán at [email protected]. Contact Anna Scott at [email protected].

Developers, Building Owners Could See Fees IncreaseCity to Consider Raising Rates for Fire Inspections and Planning Department Filings


High-rise building owners would see the cost of fire inspections rise by 8% if the Board of Fire Commissioners approves a proposal on July 21. Those proposing or appealing new projects could also see fee increases.


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the crime scene. Prosecutors told the LAPD about the pos-sible fingerprint misidentification in April 2006. But the case was not dismissed un-til September of that year, in part because Maldonado’s fingerprint file went missing. In the wake of the Maldonado case, LAPD documents obtained by Downtown News show, the analyst who originally determined that the prints belonged to Maldonado was suspended for five days. Two others who veri-fied the work received two-day suspensions. Rogde — who acted as court coordina-tor, handing out subpoenas related to the Maldonado case — was suspended for seven days for allegedly failing to tell her supervi-sor as soon as she knew that a fingerprint file with a misidentification had gone missing, a charge that she denies. LAPD records show that the department initiated its allegations against the analysts in August 2006. The department began its case against Rogde in April 2007, six months after she filed a discrimination complaint against the department after being passed over for a job promotion (that case was ultimately dis-missed by ODCR). Rogde’s second complaint charged that her suspension over the Maldonado case was punishment for filing her earlier complaint. The LAPD, in a May 27, 2009, letter to Senior Personnel Analyst Steven Presberg, said that the supervisor who imposed the sev-en-day suspension did not know about the first complaint. The Personnel Department, in a subsequent letter to the Civil Service Commission, disputed that claim. Assistant Chief Sharon Papa, who signed the May 27 letter, was on vacation and un-

available for comment last week. LAPD Cmdr. Richard Webb, who heads the Internal Affairs division, said that the depart-ment stands behind the letter and would not comment further. During the June 25 hearing, ODCR staff said that though they could not substanti-ate Rogde’s discrimination charge, they also could not find a legitimate basis for her sus-pension.

“We have not said that the Department has engaged in retaliation,” said Senior Personnel Analyst Steven Presberg. However, he added, “something doesn’t look particularly appro-priate.”

Conflicting Reports Perhaps the most troublesome aspect of the Rogde case, said Perez, is the LAPD’s inconsistent accounts of whether Rogde’s then-supervisor, Diana Castro, was inter-viewed during the initial internal investiga-tion. Rogde’s suspension hinged on when

she did — or did not — tell Castro about the missing Maldonado file. A June 2007 Internal Affairs memo noted that Castro “is retired and was not inter-viewed.” Yet the LAPD’s May 27, 2009, letter to Presberg claims that Castro was inter-viewed before the department’s decision to suspend Rogde, and that a summary of the interview had been provided to the Personnel Department. That was not the case, according to a letter from Personnel General Manager Maggie Whalen to the Civil Service Commission. LAPD officials did not hand over the Castro interview summary until a face-to-face meet-ing with ODCR staff in April 2009, said Whalen. When they did, they presented it as part of a July 16, 2007, document that Personnel already had. Both the July 16 document and the one provided by the LAPD in April are part of the

Rogde personnel file obtained by Downtown News. They appear identical, except that the second copy has an attached summary of an interview with Castro bolstering the case against Rogde. That interview is dated August 22, 2007, several weeks after the decision was made to suspend Rogde. Perez said he is “flabbergasted” by the LAPD’s apparent attempt to pass off an after-the-fact interview as part of the original case against Rogde. “That they are integral to the whole con-cept of justice in the city, and their labor relations department would do such an ama-teurish, cut-and-paste job is mind-boggling,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for the LAPD police officers. In terms of how it deals with its civilian employees, I think they need to reassess what they do.” Contact Anna Scott at [email protected].

Continued from page 1

LAPD


At a June 25 hearing, Civil Service Commissioner John Perez (left) harshly criticized the Los Angeles Police Department for a case that led to a fingerprint analyst being suspended.

‘The LAPD in this case has not shown any honesty, they have not show any integrity, and they have not shown any trustworthiness.’

—John Perez, Civil Service Commission


gave me an opportunity? No one did. But I believed in myself and I had a coach, LAPD Officer Al Stankiewicz. They called him Al Stankie. I also had the backing of Hollenbeck Captain Rudy de Leon, who was like my godfather. He motivated me and kept me positive and focused and he used to box so he would give me some pointers and more importantly, he gave me the love, the respect and support I needed. “I dreamed about winning a gold medal since I was about 8 years old. When the games came to L.A., it brought the whole city together. L.A. was transformed into a different country and when I was competing I couldn’t afford to not get a vic-tory because I was only a bus ride from home. I told myself when I left Aliso Village, I’m coming back with a gold medal

in a limousine. And I did exactly that.”

David Simon, vice president of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee in 1984 and president of the Los Angeles Sports Council: “I was one of the first people hired by [chief games organizer] Peter Ueberroth, so I worked for the com-mittee for the better part of six years, starting in 1979. We went from literally five employees when it started to 70,000 or so employees and volunteers at the peak. “When the games were awarded in 1978, the Olympics of two years before in Montreal left a $1 billion deficit in 1976 dollars. That was also the year that California passed Prop. 13, so in that particular political environment the attitude was, ‘We’re not going to be able to pay for the games and we don’t want to.’ So even though they were set up to be run privately, people were skeptical because there were no results, only a plan. I learned that if I went to a reception where I didn’t know a lot of people, I’d avoid saying what I did for a living.

They thought it was a bad thing that would bankrupt the city. “It started to turn sometime the year before when tickets went on sale and at least locally there started to be a bit more of a positive buzz, and then what really galvanized it was the torch relay across the country. “Looking back, I think that the games were the greatest event in the history of Los Angeles and I think that’s some-thing the city should remember and celebrate. It was a unify-ing force of a kind that we may not see again.”

Evelyn Ashford, Gold Medal Sprinter: I moved to Southern California when I went to UCLA in 1976. So with the 1984 Olympics, I was at home. I could train in familiar surround-ings. My family was here, they didn’t have to travel. “I remember the practice track was not far from the Coliseum. We had to take this little tram trolley from the warm-up track to the Coliseum and that was the longest ride of my life. I knew that in 11 seconds, once that gun went off, it’d be over. All your competitors are on the same little trolley. You’d get here and walk through the tunnel and the closer you came into the stadium, the noise became a roar. It just got louder and louder. It was like a vacuum when you came in; you were sucked in by the noise. And there it is, all the red. The track was red. The noise was loud. “I set a world record in the 100 meters. The media started saying things after I won, like, the East Germans weren’t here, or the Russians weren’t here — because they had boycot-ted our Olympics after 1980 — so that would have changed everything. But we went to Europe after the Olympics and a meet promoter got everybody to his meet in Zurich. I got a world record and beat my East German nemesis. “When I got the call about the event on July 18, I was very surprised when I heard that it had been 25 years. As you get older, you feel the same on the inside. I am 52 years old and I may have some lumps and bumps I didn’t have, but on the inside I still feel like Evelyn.”

Anita DeFrantz, International Olympic Committee, presi-dent of the LA84 Foundation: “I was the vice president of villages for the Los Angeles Olympic Committee. Everyone had more than one role but I had the great pleasure of de-signing the villages and operating the one at USC. I was also responsible for making certain that the African nations came to Los Angeles. The Soviet Union was as aggressive in trying to dissuade other nations not to attend the games as we were in 1980. “As for the legacy of the 1984 Olympics, there’s certainly the LA84 Foundation. We were endowed with $93 million af-ter the Olympics, or 60% of the games’ surplus. Forty percent went to Los Angeles. Since then we’ve grown to be able to reinvest $185 million in the community through our grants and programs. “The games just absolutely affected every person here. So many people were a party to it in ways not expected. Some had people parking on their lawn and they became friends. It’s really first, last and always about people.”

Greg Louganis, Gold Medal Diver: “There was a lot of concern going into the 1984 Olympics, with traffic and how everybody would be accommodated from all over the world. Really, when it came to pass it was the best time to live in Los Angeles. I thought Los Angeles really shone as a very hospita-ble place. People were taking foreigners to the venues, show-


Olympics

image courtesy of LA84Foundation/LPI 1984

Paul Gonzalez grew up in a housing project in East Los Angeles. He said he could have taken a bus from home to the venues. He won a gold medal in boxing.


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ing them restaurants and streets that they didn’t know. “It was incredible to be in my own backyard and be able to share the experience with my mom and dad, with family and friends. Then again, there were negatives. “It was funny. I mean, everybody meant well, but I remember walking over to the finals of the 10-meter platform and the se-curity guard yells to me, ‘Bring home the gold for us Louganis.’ And it’s like, you know I’m going into the finals. I have 10 dives to do. I can’t be thinking about results. I need to focus on each dive as it comes and not get too far ahead of myself. “From a historical perspective, the 1984 games were also important because of the 1980 boycott of the games in Moscow. We’re athletes, and to be used as pawns in world politics is ridiculous. I was one of the [1980] team captains for diving and our view was that we wanted to not participate

in the opening and closing ceremonies in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and really just kick butt. That’s what we wanted to do. “So when 1984 came, I definitely wanted it more. To wait eight years to the next Olympics, that was hard.”

Ken Battles, chief engineer, Millennium Biltmore Hotel: “I started working at the hotel 34 years ago and I was an electrician in 1984. With the Olympics here, the hotel was the headquarters for the International Olympic Committee. We had all the dignitaries and officials, IOC President Juan Samaranch and LAOC President Peter Ueberroth, and I got to meet both of them. Juan was staying in the presidential suite. I remember I had to get up at four in the morning because they were doing an interview with a morning news show on the East Coast, and I had to be there to set up the equipment and do the sound. But all the employees here were just really hyped.”

Bryce Spafford, LAPD Detective: “I was working a uniform assignment at the opening ceremonies in Expo Park. I caught a pickpocket; because tickets were real big, they would stick out of your back pocket. “From the street cop’s attitude, we were very prepared for all these doomsday scenarios. We expected that gridlock would be so bad that I even borrowed my grandmother’s motor home and parked it at the command post at Expo Park, but I didn’t need it and drove it home every day. There were cops everywhere. We made a lot of money doing over-time and it was definitely interesting. “There was a lot of interagency cooperation, more than we used to see. Up until then, it didn’t seem to be that when things came up we worked together. I think that experience later made it easier for the riots, the earthquake and other events. “In the streets, there was an energy that you really didn’t see any other time, especially when you got anywhere near Expo Park or some of the other venues. Everybody was really into it and you had all the foreign visitors and stuff and it was like a big-time carnival atmosphere. I haven’t really seen anything like it since.” The 1984 Olympic Games 25th Anniversary Gala is Saturday, July 18, at the L.A. Coliseum. Tickets and information are at (213) 482-6542 or the84games.com. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at [email protected].

image courtesy of LA84Foundation/LPI 1984

Evelyn Ashford set a world record and won gold in the 100 meters. “You’d get here and walk through the tunnel and the closer you came into the stadium, the noise became a roar,” she said. “It just got louder and louder.”

the Arts District to help activate the area, building off the existing rail lines. Maybe construct a platform near Third Street by a rail maintenance yard, he suggests, or perhaps down at Sixth Street. Make sure the whole thing con-nects to Union Station. He says he has brought the idea to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman José Huizar, who represents the area and sits on the Metro board. There are other ideas, too. The stalled Federal Courthouse, that big hole at First Street and Broadway, should get federal stimulus money. There should also be an “angels flight” at Chavez Ravine, a transit option so fans don’t have to drive. “Give people connections to Dodger Stadium,” he suggests. Then there’s the river. After leaving Cha Cha a mes-sage, LaBonge drives a few hundred yards north, water spraying around us. He wants to build dikes in the river to control the water flow. That will bring birds back, help recapture the waterway. Pair it with the Red Line platform and some others ideas, he says, and you start to impact the whole area. We turn back, but as we near the tunnel there’s a rumbling. All of a sudden, out comes a green Honda. It rolls down the path and down comes LaBonge’s win-dow. Two 20-somethings guys in the front seat look bewildered. “Do you know where you are?” LaBonge asks. “No,” says the driver. “The Los Angeles River,” says the councilman. “Where are you from?” “Orange County,” says the driver, and it’s apparent the men are lost. LaBonge directs them back to the tunnel, saying they could get in trouble down here. But before they go, he tosses one more question their way. “Have you ever seen Grease?” Contact Jon Regardie at [email protected].


LaBonge

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The Dodgers may not win every home game. But if there’s one thing Dodger

fans have come to expect each time they enter the stadium, it’s that the food will always be a hit. For Carmen Fonseca, it’s the nachos. For Jason Howard, it wouldn’t be a Dodgers game without the new Brooklyn Dodgers Pizza. “It’s becoming a new tradition for me,” he said. For Daniel Aride, like thou-sands of other fans, it’s the Dodger Dog. “Come on, you can’t come to a game if you don’t have a Dodger Dog,” he said. “It’s like against the rules, right?” These fans know what they

love, but what they don’t know is that one man is behind all the food served at Dodger Stadium. From nachos and Dodger Dogs in the bleachers to the slow-cooked prime rib and organic items offered at the Stadium and Dugout Clubs, Dodger Stadium Executive Chef Joseph Martin oversees everything you can eat in the ballpark. For Martin, a lifelong Dodger fan, it’s the culinary equivalent of making it to the big show. “Whenever I walk around I think people are sometimes taken aback when they see a chef in a white hat,” said the 35-year-old be-fore a recent Monday night game. “I’m still amazed that I’m here and a part of Dodger Stadium.”

Local Talent The Pasadena native’s love of

Dodgers Executive Chef Joseph Martin

Oversees Every Food Item in the Stadium,

From Prime Rib to the Dodger Dogs


Joseph Martin, the executive chef at Dodger Stadium, is in charge of preparing the food sold to the up-to 55,000 fans at each home game. In high-end parts of the stadium they offer carved meats, sushi and other upscale fare.

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food began at an early age when he tagged along with his grandparents, who operated a business producing menus. He later attended the California School of Culinary Arts. The first job he applied to after school was as a cook at Dodger Stadium. He didn’t get it. “I was sad at the time, but I’m OK with it now,” he jokes. Martin was hired by Levy Restaurants in 2004 as the executive sous chef at Staples Center. The company is also responsible for the food at Dodger Stadium and offered Martin the position of executive chef in 2006. “It was a dream come true for me,” Martin said, though he knows it comes with a tre-mendous responsibility. “Every day we have 55,000 critics and we really want to make sure they’re happy.” Martin, along with a team of sous chefs, oversees two main kitchens, five satellite kitchens and about 70 concession stands that prepare thousands of items for hungry fans (see sidebar). When there’s a night game, Martin’s day starts at 8 a.m. Matinees mean the chef and his crew arrive at the kitchens by 3 a.m. to begin preparing all the food. “We have a really strong sous chef team and we plan out our day and we constantly walk to ensure the food quality. I’m all over the stadium,” he said. One of his regular stops is the Stadium Club, the premier eating area at Chavez Ravine. Overlooking left field and next to the private suites, the club is closer to a fine dining establishment than a sports facil-ity. It offers carved meats, barbecue, steaks, Southwestern fare and pizzas made in a 600-degree oven.

“You can never go wrong with the pizza here,” he said. One of Martin’s goals since arriving was to offer healthier choices. The Farm to Fork menu, served at the Stadium and Dugout Clubs, features locally grown and organic ingredients in dishes that can change with ev-ery game. Recently, the menu featured items such as slow-cooked prime rib with dried

cherry mustard, a duck confit enchilada in mole sauce and sweet potato ravioli with brown butter sauce and sage. “I get in with the chef here in the morning and we think, what do we want for dinner, and that’s how we come up with the menu,” Martin said. He also takes inspiration from opposing teams and incorporates them into the Stadium Club menu. “If the Giants are playing we may do a clam chowder. If it’s the Brewers maybe brats and sauerkraut,” he said. Next to the Stadium Club are the suites, which attract regulars like Tom Hanks and Larry King. They have a choice of any item from anywhere in the stadium, and even some that don’t exist, Martin said. “They can order anything from organic chicken to ribs to sub sandwiches and natural foods,” he said. “We’ve even had people re-quest Dodgers Dogs in puff pastry. We called it a Super Dodger Dog and added a little sesame and poppy seed on top. It was different.”

Still the King Even in these VIP areas, one food rules above all. “People still go for the Dodger Dogs here,” Martin said. “It’s a classic, always grilled, in a fresh bun since there’s nothing worse than a stale bun. We treat it with respect, like royalty here. It’ll always be the king.” Martin has also tried to expand the choices for those in the less expensive seats. Under his watch, the stadium implemented the Healthy Plate Carts. Located on the Field and Loge levels, they offer items like salads, sushi rolls, fruit and yogurt. “People know what’s healthy and we think they’ll want to have healthy choices here,” he said. Another thing people may not expect at the stadium are the Mexican dishes available at the Camacho’s stand, especially the fish tacos, a new item for this year. Served with tartar sauce, they are slightly crunchy, light and full of flavor. Also new this year is the Brooklyn Dodgers Pizza, an homage to the Dodgers’ roots. It can be topped with pepperoni, Italian sau-sage, peppers and onion. “We did a lot of tastings,” Martin said. “We tried a bunch of different doughs, chees-es and figured out different ratios.”

One of the places where the chefs’ talents are most on display is the Dugout Club. Ticket holders who buy seats behind home plate have access to an underground restau-rant. Chefs cook in open stations along the entrance, working on meats, pasta, shrimp scampi, brazed lamb and other items. The aromas of those dishes and desserts like brownies waft through the air. “We cook right in front of the guest so they know everything is fresh,” Martin said. “We recently did a cooking demo before a game and made seared sea bass with a rock shrimp salsa with a wine pairing. “Some people are really surprised by it all because if you walked in here, the first think you would think of is not a ballpark. You would think of a restaurant.” Even if you forget where you are, you would be quickly reminded. Next to the cooking sta-tion Martin lifted up a silver platter to reveal a mountain of wrapped Dodger Dogs. “You can still get a Dodger Dog anywhere here,” Martin said. “If I could grill them in the parking lot, I would,” Contact Richard Guzmán at [email protected].

Grub With Guzmán ♦ ♦ ♦

by RichaRd Guzmán

city editoR

W riting about food can be a sweet gig. I get to eat all sorts of fare without feeling guilty about it. In fact, by informing Downtown,

I’m performing a public service. While my conscience may be clear after consum-ing half-pound burgers, foot-long hot dogs and even bacon-topped doughnuts, my waistline is suffering the consequences. There have even been times when I’ve thought about cutting back on my meat consumption to save my stomach from the shame brought on by my increas-

ingly tight shirts. But after a good laugh, my stomach and I both agree that that’s never going to happen. Still, to try to make my tummy feel as carefree as I do when I pig out, this week I tried some healthy food. It’s the sacrifice I make for my readers. Organic to Go at the Cal Plaza Watercourt on Bunker Hill is the perfect place for someone who wants to ease into some healthy food without having to give up too much too soon. The chain restaurant bills itself as “the nation’s first casual retailer to be certified organic.” The restaurant’s website states that raising healthy plants and animals without the use of additives like antibiot-ics, growth hormones or pesticides makes for delicious

and nutritious food. Big claims aside, the offerings are similar to what you’ll find on just about any cafe menu. Still, it feels good ordering something when you know it was raised with love. Or if not love, then at least without pesticides. I tried the Firecracker Ham Sandwich ($7.49), with Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce. I’m not sure why they call it firecracker — it wasn’t so astounding that I saw sparks with every bite. But it was a pretty good sandwich. It came with an ample portion of ham, though not so much that it becomes a spectacle where you can’t get your mouth around the bread. I could have used a bit more horseradish, but I tend to really like horseradish, so the amount might suffice for most. You get a choice of sourdough or whole wheat bread. Go with the sourdough, and ask for it lightly toasted. Other items that looked like they could control my hunger without busting open my buttons included

the grilled chicken Caeser wrap ($6.99), the spicy buf-falo chicken breast sandwich ($7.99) and the pepperoni pizza ($7.99). Soups like the Santa Fe chicken chowder, basil chick-en chili and Thai vegetable, from $3.99-$6.49, are also available for those who want a lighter, and warmer, meal. Additionally, there is a huge build-your own salad bar for $7.99 which, in addition to the expected lettuce and tomatoes, includes options such as grilled chicken, fresh fruit and pasta. I’m no nutritionist, but I will gladly choose to be-lieve that eating at Organic to Go is the equivalent of doing 1,000 crunches a day and running a few miles around Downtown. I just hope my stomach buys that theory too. At Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., (800) 304-4550 or organictogo.com. Contact Richard Guzmán at [email protected].

Organic GoodnessNo Pesticides, Antibiotics or Growth Hormones Do a Body Good


Martin says the Dodger Dog is the most important piece of the food puzzle. “We treat it with respect, like royalty here,” he said.

What Dodger Fans EatAccording to Los Angeles Dodgers

Executive Chef Joseph Martin, Dodger Dogs far outsell every other item at the average home game, with beer and sodas trailing a distant sec-ond and third. Here is some of what people are ordering on a night out at the ballpark:

Dodger Dogs: 25,000 Beer: 11,000 cups Soda: 10,000 cups Nachos: 3,000 orders Peanuts: 3,000 bags Pizza: 1,600 orders


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by Ryan VaillancouRt

staff wRiteR

In the summer, the beach just seems too far away from Downtown Los Angeles. And it’s always too sandy.

Fortunately, Downtowners seeking aquatic relief from the heat have options in a handful of area pools. Swimming, of course, is not just a way to cool off; health experts also say it is one of the best ways to exercise without overstressing your joints. Here, Los Angeles Downtown News surveys the Downtown pool landscape, from public facilities to private gyms and hotels, where you have to know a friend staying the night or know how to pre-tend you own the place. Either way, there’s a place in Downtown for everyone to swim this summer.

Miguel Contreras Learning Complex Pool: This pristine, Olympic-sized outdoor pool at the $160 million Miguel Contreras Learning Complex has just the right level of activity dur-ing July and August, when it is open to the public (during the school year the 50-meter by 25-meter pool is home to the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex Cobra swim and water polo teams). Children and their parents splash in the shallow end; high school students and older men and women swim laps in the middle; and the fun-seekers plunge into the deep end

from the springboard high dive. Families and more teens socialize and rest in the shade at the pool’s stadium seating. It draws enough people to give this com-munity jewel a sense of festivity without feel-ing overcrowded. Rarely are all the lanes oc-cupied, and the lines for the diving boards move rapidly. The sprawling facility may be the only Olympic-sized pool easily accessible to the Downtown public. Swimming its cool waters is extra sweet for those who followed the controversial process that led to its public opening in July 2008, after being closed to frustrated area residents in 2007. Pool hours are 12:30-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 29. At 322 S. Lucas Ave., (323) 906-7593 or tinyurl.com/mzl2w2.

Echo Deep Pool: Four years after it was closed for repairs, the Echo Deep Pool re-opened in May 2008. The facility at 1410 Colton St. in City West came back online af-ter undergoing $6.9 million in sorely needed renovations, including new dehumidification equipment, a new ventilation system and heaters. That infrastructure helped eliminate ventilation woes that contributed to humid conditions and a lingering scent of chlorine. The indoor, year-round facility measures

45 yards by 25 yards, and has depths up to 12 feet. It is a popular escape for Downtown and Echo Park residents and boasts a spring diving board and a shallow end suitable for children, plus lap swimming. For hours, including designated lap swim-ming times, call (213) 481-2640 or tinyurl.com/n9lmmw. At 1419 Colton St.

Los Angeles Athletic Club Pool: Unlike the first two options in this list, to take a dip in this pool, you’ve got to be a member or know a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The five-lane, 25-yard lap pool is situated un-der a skylight that seems to magnify natural light, yet block the kind of glare that would make the backstroke onerous. Decades-old photographs of members in their vintage swimwear remind you of the club’s history Downtown: In 1912, the LAAC moved into its Seventh Street build-ing, which became notable for being the first in Southern California to have a swimming pool on an upper floor. The post-swim spa facilities help justify the $15 guest fee. At 431 W. Seventh St., (213) 625-2511 or laac.com.

Millennium Biltmore Pool: This small but charming Roman grotto-inspired pool is one where access is tricky. Basically, to swim here, you must know, befriend or be a guest of the historic hotel — it’s controlled by a hotel room key card. People who find their way into the pool might think they’ve entered a Fellini film and feel the urge to request a tray of grapes. The room is decked out in original Italian mosaic tile in a nautical theme. Between mini-laps — the pool measures 40 feet by 20 feet, with depths ranging from 3-5 feet — relax in the

teak deck chairs. There is also a sauna. At 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com.

Standard Hotel Pool: Downtown is the land of rooftop pools, and many loft buildings have made the sky high mini-pool an ame-nity. But the infinity pool, in which the wa-ter is level with the deck, at the Standard Downtown is a favorite. Splashing around in this urban oasis cre-ates the wonderfully disorienting effect of floating amid the Financial District skyscrap-ers. It is also perhaps the only healthy part of hanging out on the Standard roof, which come nighttime has a thriving bar scene. At 550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or stan-dardhotels.com/los-angeles.

Downtown YMCA: The indoor pool at the Ketchum-Downtown YMCA is one of the neighborhood’s oldest aquatic facilities, which is why it’s currently closed for repairs. There is currently no timeline for its replace-ment, a YMCA spokesperson said. At 401 S. Hope St., (213) 624-2348 or ymca-la.org.

Other Options: There are even more places to get your summer splash on. In addition to numerous residential buildings, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel has an outdoor pool (404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-1000 or the-bonaventure.com), and the Figueroa Hotel (939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 627-8971) has a coffin-shaped pool near its outdoor Veranda Bar. As with the other hotel pools, you need to be a guest, know a guest or know how to act like a guest. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at [email protected].

Get Wet in DowntownSummer Swim Options in the Central City

(top) The Olympic-sized pool at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex is open to the public during July and August. (bottom) In May 2008, City Councilman Ed Reyes celebrated the reopening of the Echo Deep Pool by jumping in fully clothed. Others are expected to wear swim attire.

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SquareThe

New

by RichaRd Guzmán

city editoR

The sounds of traffic and urban life will take a back seat to the sounds of music and entertainment this week as the second installment of a Pershing Square events

series kicks off. The free program launches Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. with performances by indie rock acts Sol Chen and 60 Watt Kid. Over the next six weeks, the park will host as many as six events a week, from movie screenings to big-name bands. The effort, which dovetails with some park improvements, is intended to help revive the square bounded by Fifth, Sixth, Olive and Hill streets and entertain Downtown residents, workers and visitors. “We want to make this a venue similar to other big venues in the United States that do a free summer concert series with a variety of entertainment,” said Louise Capone, senior recre-ation director for Pershing Square. The weekly lineup begins on Wednesdays from 8-10 p.m. with Spaceland Under the Stars. The slate of alternative acts is programmed by the entity that runs the popular nightclubs Spaceland and The Echo. Thursdays has two options: a series of lunchtime concerts, and The Sounds of Summer, overseen by radio station The Sound 100.3 FM. It showcases rock acts from 8-10 p.m. The music will take a day off on Fridays as the park presents Friday Night Flicks: Super Heroes at the Square, from 8-10 p.m. The lineup features films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Spiderman. Sundays are reserved for swing bands from 4-6 p.m. Pershing Square’s main summer attraction will be its Saturday series. It begins July 18 with a performance from East L.A. natives El Chicano. Other well-known acts include Paula Cole on July 25, Gene Loves Jezebel on Aug. 1 and Toad the Wet Sprocket, which closes the series on Aug. 22. The lineup is drawing praise from area stakeholders such as Russell Brown, president of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (which is sponsoring the film series). “They’ve done a really great job with the lineup and got a number of really great bands for not a lot of money,” said Brown, who is also a member of the Pershing Square Park Advisory Board. Capone also sees potential to build an audience. “It’s a diverse lineup, something for everybody here,” she said.

Big Names The first big act to hit the stage is El Chicano. The band born in East Los Angeles, whose music straddles rock, soul,

jazz, funk, blues and salsa, is celebrating its 40th anni-versary this year. Members of the group hope the perfor-mance at Pershing Square will introduce them to new fans. “It’s a great venue for our band, especially being in Downtown L.A. and being free of charge,” said Fred Sanchez, the bass player and one of the band’s vocalists. “It’s an L.A. venue and our hometown, so we should have a lot of our fans there.” The show will include hits that span the band’s fruitful career, Sanchez said. So expect to hear tunes like “Tell Her She’s Lovely,” “Do You Want Me?” and “Brown Eyed Girl.” One of the most popular shows this summer is likely to be Paula Cole, who returns from a long hiatus to launch her West Coast tour at Pershing Square. Cole rose to fame with her 1997 hit “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” She went on to win a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1998. Capone knows it’s a good get for the park. “She was way over our budget, but her management came back and said she would donate the show,” Capone said, adding that several sponsors stepped up to help. “The O Hotel is paying for her room, as well as offering discounts to other artists, sponsors like Wolfgang Puck are providing food and we’re getting her piano here. It’s minimal stuff for a Grammy-winning artist.” As she works on a new album following her 2007 release Courage, Cole said she is easing back into the concert circuit. She expects Pershing Square to help her reconnect with her Los Angeles fans. “It seems to be an artist-centric type of event, and from what I hear it helps the community,” she said. “I’m picking up after a long hiatus and I’m still doing the humble road work that is required in finding my fan base. But I’m doing it because I need the music. I need the music to be happy and to feel like I’m using my gifts for the positive. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to play.”

Upgrades In addition to the free shows, audiences may be happy to see some recently completed improvements at the park. Last month park officials unveiled the redesigned Palm Court. The project, which took two months, includes a sec-tion for dogs to use instead of the park’s main grass area, as well as new lighting, sculptures, plants and walkways. “The way it’s set up, it adds to the seating area, whether you’re enjoying the park or coming to a concert,” Capone said. Pershing Square is also adding a stage for performers this

year, a great improvement over the low-rise set-up last year, which often led to obstructed views. “This summer we’re having an incredible stage so people won’t walk in front of you, and the band won’t be far away from the audience,” said Ann Vollmer, facility manager for the park. “You won’t have distractions between audience and the artist and it’ll just be a much better experience.” All these changes should help attract more people to the park for the summer, said Capone. That could lead to even more prominent acts in the future, she said. “As we get bigger and bigger acts I’m expecting a wider va-riety of people will be visiting us, which is what we want,” she said. “We want to bring people Downtown.” Brown takes it a step further, seeing the improvements as something that has benefits well beyond the park’s borders. “We’re working toward making Pershing Square that out-door living room that everybody can be involved in and feel that it’s part of their neighborhood,” he said. The Pershing Square concert series runs July 15-Aug. 23 at 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or whiteskymedia.com/client-projects/pershingsquare/. Contact Richard Guzmán at [email protected].

SquareSquareDeal

Downtown Park Opens a Series of Music and Film

El Chicano and Paula Cole are two of the performers who will take the stage during the next six weeks at Pershing Square. The venue in the heart of Downtown will host up to six events every week through Aug. 23.

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by Jeff favre

contributing writer

The journey from Broadway to the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles was a long one for King Arthur, the killer rabbit, the insulting Frenchmen and

the Knights who say “Ni.” But Monty Python’s Spamalot, by Eric Idle, a founding member of the 40-year-old groundbreaking British comedy troupe, and composer John Du Prez, has finally arrived four years after its New York debut, a delay exacerbated by an ex-clusive West Coast contract for its Las Vegas production. The 2005 Tony winner for best musical, directed by Mike

Nichols, closed last year in Sin City, just as it did this January in New York — all before one performance here, an ironic twist given that Idle and Du Prez wrote Spamalot in Los Angeles, and even included a scene starring dancers called the Laker Girls (though their colors have nothing to do with purple and gold). So after all the hype and anticipation, is Spamalot worth the wait? The short answer is a resounding yes, though the caveat is not to take any of it too seriously. Like cotton candy, it’s colorful, pretty, sweet and has no intrinsic value whatsoever except to elicit smiles. That’s not to downplay the production values and the skill

level of its cast and crew. It takes a sharp cast to act this goofy, as well as a composer and a choreographer with the depth to manufacture Broadway-caliber song and dance numbers while simultaneously making fun of them. Spamalot has all that and, of course, those insane, inane Python bits of humor that made the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail an instant classic. It’s easy to tell the film’s fans because they break into ap-plause or fits of laughter before many scenes even begin. A healthy chunk of the book closely follows the movie’s plot, as King Arthur (John O’Hurley), assisted by his servant Patsy (Jeff Dumas), gathers knights for his round table at Camelot, and then heads out on a quest to find the holy grail, guided by the other-worldly Lady of the Lake (Merle Dandridge). The knights are gentle, fearful Robin (James Beaman), studly Lancelot (Rick Holmes), dashing Galahad (Ben Davis), and Bedevere (Christopher Gurr). In the Monty Python spirit this quartet — and a few others — handle multiple roles. The classic lines remain, such as “Bring out your dead,” “We are the knights who say ‘Ni’” and, during a battle in which a character loses a limb, “It’s only a flesh wound.” The show is not just for Python fanatics. Those unfamil-iar with the above, and many other lines, will get the joy of laughing at these absurdities for the first time. There is fresh material for everyone because Idle has added a second quest. It’s to put on a Broadway musical, even though, as Arthur acknowledges, this would require traveling 1,000 years into the future to a country that doesn’t yet exist. Lampooning Broadway icons, Andrew Lloyd Webber in particular, comes in the form of songs, the funniest be-ing “The Song That Goes Like This.” Complete with a prop chandelier, fog and a rowboat, this is a brutal deconstruction of Webber’s showstoppers from The Phantom of the Opera. In the same vein is “The Diva’s Lament,” performed by scene-stealing Dandridge, who is annoyed that she hasn’t been on stage since act one, and it’s the middle of act two. Then there is the bluntest of showstoppers, “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway,” which suggests no show is a hit with-out the involvement of at least a few Jewish people. O’Hurley, as the daffy Arthur, anchors the versatile cast. Sporting the blank stare and winning smile that made him a hit as J. Peterman on TV’s “Seinfeld” (he is also known for hosting “Family Feud” and capturing the title on the first season of “Dancing With the Stars”), O’Hurley adds sophis-tication to every utterance, even when he’s saying something ridiculous. Dandridge, a vocal powerhouse, sparkles as the Lady of the Lake. Much of her comedy derives from being able to mimic every diva singing style with complete authenticity. The other standout is Beaman, whose Robin is loaded with frenetic, infectious energy. Director Nichols keeps the pace for the entire two-and-a-quarter-hours lightening quick, and Casey Nicholaw’s inspired choreography fills virtually every scene with visual treats. Nicholaw’s foot-stomping accompaniment to the song “I Am Not Dead Yet” gives new and hilarious meaning to dancing on someone’s grave. Some Python purists will argue, with merit, that the musi-cal lacks the edginess of the movie. The same could be said of the stage version of Hairspray versus the original John Waters movie. But like Hairspray, both Spamalot and its predecessor are intelligent and enjoyable. The only difference is Spamalot is accessible to a much wider audience without losing the flavor of the original. It may not be a masterpiece, but it’s plenty silly and plenty of fun. And there’s always room for more silliness. Monty Python’s Spamalot runs through Sept. 6 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or cen-tertheatregroup.org.

The Python Strikes Back‘Spamalot’ Is Silly, and Also a Lot of Fun

photo by Joan Marcus

Amusing absurdities course throughout Monty Python’s Spamalot, based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

LISTINGSLISTINGS

Sing, Dance, Party and Learnby AnnA Scott, StAff writer

If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it! Don’t pretend to be clueless — you know the words

from the chorus of the infectious Beyoncé hit “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On it).” It is one

of the many songs that the pop/R&B diva will perform at her Staples Center concert on Monday, July 13, at 7:30

p.m. The singer of irresistibly danceable hits including “Bootylicious,” “Irreplaceable” and

“Crazy in Love” also starred as a Diana Ross-esque singer in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. 1111 S.

Figueroa St., (213) 742-7340 or staplescenter.com.

33She might not be a household name in the U.S., but Chinese singer CoCo Lee is con-

sidered an icon in Asia. Lee, who blends hip hop, R&B and pop, has broken many barriers in the music business: She was the first Chinese artist signed by Sony Music Entertainment, and in 2001 became the first Chinese artist to sing at the Academy Awards, with her per-formance of “A Love Before Time,” from the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She grabs another title this week, as the first Chinese solo recording pop artist to per-

form at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The one-night-only show is Friday,

July 17, at 8 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 365-3500 or musiccenter.org.

American Ballet Theatre, one of the world’s finest dance compa-nies, first performed Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet in 1985. In the 24 years since, the ballet version of Shakespeare’s trag-edy about a pair of star-crossed lovers, set to a stirring score by Sergei Prokofiev, has become one of ABT’s signature productions. It comes to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Thursday, July 16, and runs through Sunday, July 19. The five shows, which each feature a different cast, are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., with an addition-al 2 p.m. matinee Saturday. 135 N. Grand Ave. (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org.

The chaos in the global economy can in part be traced to the end of Dream Street, literally. On this ordinary street in a modest tract in Ontario, cash-strapped builders,

low-wage laborers and sub-prime mortgages came together to disastrous effect. Author/photographer Douglas McCulloh, who has followed Dream Street’s development from a strawberry

patch to a site for suburban homes, will appear to discuss his work at Farmlab at the Los Angeles State Historic Park on Friday, July 17, at noon. Essayist D.J. Waldie will also appear, to discuss how and why the houses got there, and what building them has meant. 1745 N. Spring St., Unit 4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Contact Anna Scott at [email protected].

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Perhaps you’ve attended some summer parties already, but we guarantee you haven’t been to The Party. On Saturday, July 18, the arts organization TN KAT and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will co-host a fundraiser in the JACCC plaza from 5-11 p.m. The event will benefit the 10-year-old TN KAT, producer of the long-

running, bi-monthly local art showcase First and Third Tuesday Night Café Series in Little Tokyo. TN KAT is dedicated to presenting new work from Asian Pacific Islanders and other local artists. The Party will feature DJs, live painting, a silent art auction, dancing and more. 244 S. San Pedro St., tnkat.org.

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Tuesday, July 14Town Hall Los AngelesVisit townhall-la.org. Venues vary, but all listed take place Downtown. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: A one-day conference on educa-tion reform called “2001-2101: The Education Cen-tury? Rebuilding Our Economy Through Education Reform.” Among the panelists is State Supt. Jack O’Connell.

Wednesday, July 15ESPYsNokia Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Ct., (213) 763-6000 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. 6-8:30 p.m.: The sports world’s Oscars go down at the Nokia Theatre. Tickets start at around $100, but there are plenty willing to shell out the big bucks to be in the same room as the country’s biggest names in sports. Kobe and/or the Lakers are nominated in four categories. Samuel L. Jackson hosts, again.ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Jim Krusoe explores abandonment, life, death and Cleveland in “Erased,” his second install-ment about resurrection.

Thursday, July 16Thursdays at Central Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., meeting room A, (213) 228-7241 or lapl.org. 12:15-1 p.m.: Dr. Shuiqiao Wang, deputy cura-tor of Yunnan Provincial Library, and Jizhen Song, deputy director of Chongqing Library, make a pre-sentation about libraries in China.ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: In “Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Im-migrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California,” Frances Dinkelspiel writes about her great-great grandfather, a gold-rush era entrepreneur and finan-cier, who rose from store clerk to the upper echelons of society, founded L.A.’s first bank, resurrected the financially troubled Los Angeles Times, and helped establish USC.

Friday, July 17Farmlab Public Salons1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Douglas McCulloh and D.J. Waldie appear to discuss Dream Street, a street in a modest tract in Ontario where cash-strapped builders cut corners, low-wage immigrant laborers worked in fear of La Migra, and sub-prime mortgages exploited home buyers longing to have a piece of the dream. Mc-Culloh, who named Dream Street in 1999, followed its development from strawberry patch to homes on the edge of suburbia. He’ll explore, with essayist D. J. Waldie, how and why those houses got there — and what building them has meant.

saTurday, July 18Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org. 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: At this Curator’s Cupboard and Junior Scientist event, catch a glimpse of the amaz-ing specimens and artifacts you won’t get to see on a routine visit to the Museum. You’ll see water-related curiosities from the Museum’s Anthropology and Ichthyology departments, and take part in a grunion activity from Cabrillo Aquarium. Children ages 6-9 and their families are invited to participate in the Ju-nior Scientist program, which will explore the science side of water. Modernica 20th Anniversary Sale1420 E. Seventh St., modernica.net. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Downtown-based modern furniture maker hosts its annual warehouse blowout sale. Daybeds, tables, chairs, lighting and an array of in-home accessories are available at a discount. Other featured guests include clothing designers, antique dealers, DJs, the Green Truck, Don Chow Taco Truck, Scratch Lounge and more.Used Book SaleCentral Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Rotunda (213) 228-7401 or lapl.org. 10 a.m.-noon: The library hosts a used book sale featuring materials from four Central Library sup-port groups. The sale features hundreds of bargain books, LPs, videos and more. California African American Museum600 State Drive, (213) 744-2024 or caamuseum.org. 1-3 p.m. Tour the “Explore the Tuskegee: Journey to Flight” exhibit with Tuskegee Airmen and others who were involved in the Tuskegee experience.

EVENTS

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Japanese American Cultural & Community Center JACCC Plazaq or Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 382-04886 or jaccc.org. 5-11 p.m.: For the last decade, TN KAT/the Tuesday Night Project has presented free public art spaces, with performance art, music, poetry, visual art, short film and live webcasts. This is the group’s “Party,” the largest Tuesday Night Project to date, with DJs, performers and live painters in the plaza.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ2nd Street Jazz366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047, 2ndstjazz.com or myspace.com/2ndstreetlivejazz. Tuesdays: Jazz jam session. Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m.626 Reserve626 S. Spring St., (213) 627-9800 or 626reserve.com. Tuesdays, 6 p.m.: Live music with Goh Kurosawa. Thursdays, 6 p.m.: More live sounds, this time with Jessie Torrez. Blue Velvet750 S. Garland Ave., (213) 239-0061. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 p.m.: Live music and DJs. Café Metropol923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. July 17, 8 p.m.: Vocalist Meaghan Boeing. July 18, 8 p.m.: Pianist Christian Jacob.

Chop Suey Café347 E. First St., (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.: Live jazz on the patio of the restored landmark. CicadaCicada Restaurant, 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com. Thursdays, 8-11 p.m.: The velvet-voiced Max Vontaine recreates the sounds and styles of rat pack-ers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. His smoking jackets and tunes are vintage; his bawdy repartee is less so. Keep a close eye on the unlit cigarette. Sundays, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club every Sunday. Come out to appreciate the big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails. Visit cicadaclub.com.Club NokiaCorner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., clubnokia.com. July 17, 7 p.m.: Charlie Wilson (the singer, not the former Congressman from Texas with a drink-ing habit), with special guests Keith Sweat and Jupi-ter Rising.Conga RoomL.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. July 16: Celebrating Colombian independence with Cabas. July 18: If an instrument belongs in a salsa band, Johnny Polanco can play it, and he will. Grammy Museum800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. July 16, 8 p.m.: Psychedelic art rockers thenewno2 will be the focus of the Museum’s third Emerging Art-ists showcase. The duo features guitarist/synth/vocal-

ist Dhani Harrison and Oli Hecks, who plays drums and synthesizers. The band describes their music as “an eerie terrain of digital beats, heavy guitars with an arsenal of studio confectionary.” Harrison and Hecks will join museum Executive Director Robert Santelli for an on-stage interview about their new album, You Are Here. An intimate performance will close. July 19, 7:30 p.m.: The museum hosts a tribute and fundraiser concert to support the Jazz Bakery, a nonprofit jazz club and Los Angeles institution that is moving. Performances by Kenny Burrell, Hubert Laws, Alan Bergman, Alan Broadbent Trio, Tierney Sutton, Bill Henderson and Mike Melvoin.Grand Performances 350 S. Grand Ave., visit grandperformances.org. July 17, noon: Native Colombian and Los Angeles resident Justo Almario, playing with his Colombian, Afro-Cuban, jazz-funk fusion ensemble. July 17, 8 p.m.: Cucu Diamantes and Watcha Clan appear. Diamantes is the co-founder of New York-based and Grammy-nominated Latin fusion band Yerba Buena. The Marseilles, France-based Watcha Clan’s backbone is their drum and bass and reggae rhythm. July 18, 8 p.m.: Cuban-American singer, pro-ducer and composer Albita. J Restaurant and Lounge1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com. Tuesdays: Live acoustic performances in the lounge. Wednesdays: Salsa in the City features compli-mentary salsa lessons at 8 p.m. At 9 p.m., a batch of live musicians takes over for a jam session. Pete’s Café and Bar400 N. Main St., (213) 618-1759 or petescafe.com. Tuesdays, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.: Pablo Calogero and Fabiano Nacimento play Brazilian jazz. Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. July 15, 10 p.m.: Huntsville plays hootenanny harmonizing hopping Americana. With the Pilibilly Knights and Idalou. July 16, 10 p.m.: After playing solo acoustic shows around town and in the Mojave Desert for a year, Randall Marsh put together The Honorable DHC, a folk, country and roadhouse gospel rockin trio. July 17, 10 p.m.: The Return of Kim Fowley’s Hollywood Sexual Underground. July 18, 10 p.m.: Johnny Hootrock, with Rever-end Beatman, Delaney Davidson and Guilty Hearts. July 19, Noon: Brunch Americana with Chris Sprague and His 18 Wheelers, David Serby, Dave Gleason and Will Scott.Rerax Fridays at Señor Fish422 E. First St., (213) 625-0566 or senorfishla.com. Fridays, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.: Music, art, VJ perfor-mances, silk screening and photos. Royale2619 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 388-8488 or royaleonwilshire.com. Mondays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.: A live musical showcase with bands, a DJ and an Eastside vibe. Tuesdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.: An acoustic live set in the historic Royale lounge. A DJ spins between sets. Wednesday (second of every month), 9 p.m.-2 a.m.: A fusion of spoken word and acoustic musical melodies. Sundays, 9 p.m.-midnight: Rat pack protégé Max Vontaine. Staples Center1201 S. Figueroa St., staplescenter.com. July 13, 7:30 p.m.: Beyonce appears in her I Am tour, backed by the all-female band, The Sugamamas. July 16, 7 p.m.: American Idol Live! features final-ists Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre. July 19, 7:30 p.m.: Country rocker and live show maestro Keith Urban, with special guest Sugarland. Walt Disney Concert Hall111 S. Grand Ave., visit musiccenter.org. July 17. 8 p.m.: The Global Pop at the Music Center series continues with Chinese pop sensation CoCo Lee, who will perform one show only.

THEATER, OPERA & DANCERomeo and JulietDorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8000 or musiccenter.org.

July 16-19: Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s masterful interpretation of Shakespeare’s enduring romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet,” entered American Ballet Theatre’s repertoire in 1985 and has since be-come one of the company’s signature productions.SpamalotAhmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. July 7-Sept. 6: “Spamalot” is for both the Monty Py-thon initiated and newcomers to the comedy oeuvre. It includes murderous bunny rabbits, insult-spewing French knights and rampant absurdism. Loosely based on the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” StrangerBootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.com. July 16-18, 8 p.m.: “Stranger” takes place in the Ne-vada Desert circa 1847. The tiny town of San Lorenzo is terrorized by a ruthless villain named Lagarto, but the local saloon owner has something Lagarto wants — a secret treasure that the late murdered sheriff hid somewhere in the desert. When a stranger with a mysterious past blows into town, she and the lo-cal preacher find real reason to hope. It’s a Spaghetti Western, with live music. Through July 25.

BARS & CLUBSThe Association610 S. Main St., (213) 627-7385. Carved out of the area that used to belong to Cole’s, the bar in front, the Association is a dimly-lit, swank little alcove with some serious mixologists be-hind the bar. Look for a heavy door, a brass knocker, and a long line. Banquette400 S. Main St., (213) 626-2768 or banquette-cafe.com. This petite cafe and wine bar with its red and white striped awning has become a popular hangout for casual evenings of drinking wine and meeting up with friends. During monthly Art Walks on the sec-ond Thursday of the month, Banquette buzzes with almost every kind of Downtown denizen you could imagine. They have a small but lovely selection of wines by the glass as well as beers. Barbara’s at the Brewery620 Moulton Ave., No. 110, (323) 221-9204 or barbarasatthebrewery.com. On the grounds of the Brewery, this bar and res-taurant in an unfinished warehouse is where local residents find their artistic sustenance. Beer on tap, wine list and full bar. Bar 107107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/bar107. Inside the keyhole-shaped door, tough-as-nails Derby Dolls vie for elbowroom with crusty old bar guys and a steady stream of Old Bank District inhabitants. Velvet señoritas, deer heads with sun-glasses, a wooden Indian and Schlitz paraphernalia plaster the red walls. There’s no shortage of enter-tainment, with the funky dance room, great DJs and the occasional rock band. In the photo booth, you can capture your mug in old-fashioned black and white. Located just two blocks east of the Pershing Square Metro stop, Bar 107 is open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.Blue Velvet750 S. Garland St., (213) 239-0061 or bluevelvetrestaurant.com. Located off a small side street, look for the blue neon sign that says The Flat. This stylish poolside restaurant and lounge in the former Holiday Inn (now a residential building) features sparkling views of Staples Center, a dining room with a 17-foot sunken granite table, and a sleek bar with white stools where you can saddle up cowboy style. Bonaventure Brewing CompanyWestin Bonaventure, 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 236-0802 bbc2go.com. Where can you get a drink, order some de-cent bar food, sit outdoors and still feel like you’re Downtown? It’s a tall order to fill, but this bar in the Bonaventure Hotel does it admirably. Sure, the hotel is vaguely ’80s, and you’ll probably encounter some convention goers tying a few on, but it only adds to the fun. Pub Quiz Trivia Night every Wednesday at 8:15 p.m.Bona Vista Lounge404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-1000 or

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DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM/CALENDAR : EVENTS | ROCK, POP & JAZZ | CLASSICAL MUSIC | THEATER, OPERA & DANCE ART SPACES | FILM | BARS & CLUBS | MUSEUMS | FARMERS MARKETS | TOURS

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be

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information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown.

condominium building, Corkbar serves up a sea-sonal food menu of farmer’s market-driven driven creations to go with your Golden State pinots, cab-ernets and syrahs.Eastside Luv1835 E. First St., (323) 262-7442 or eastsideluv.com. A stone’s throw from Mariachi Plaza and all that Metro Line construction, this tucked-away spot features Mexican movie posters on the wall, good beer on tap, regular sangria, live bands, and different from anything to its west, no attitude. e3rd734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or eastthird.com. This Asian-style steakhouse with an artsy flavor features a sleek lounge with low, circular tables and a long psychedelic bar that changes colors like a mood ring. There’s a full bar, inventive cocktails (including soju) and a reasonable wine list. DJs spin.Edison108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000 or edisondowntown.com. Downtown history has come full circle in this for-mer power plant turned stunning cocktail bar. The Edison is perhaps Downtown’s hottest hotspot and draws an eclectic crowd, including jaded Hollywood types who can’t help but gawk at the preserved bits of machinery, the huge generator and the coal box that now houses the jukebox. Far Bar 347 E. First St., (behind the Chop Suey Café), (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Tucked behind the Chop Suey Café is the Far Bar, where intimacy and a sense of noir L.A. collide. If you can find the place, which you enter through the back of the café or via a skinny alley a few doors down, you can throw them back in the same spot author Ray-mond Chandler is rumored to have done the same. Figueroa Hotel939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 627-8971 or figueroahotel.com. The Moroccan-inspired Figueroa Hotel just a block north of Staples Center manages the unique feat of making you feel like you’re in the heart of the city and removed from it at the same time. The light-

filled Veranda Bar is just steps from the clear, glittery pool, and it’s common to see suit-clad Downtown-ers a few feet from swimsuit-wearing Euro-tourists. Gallery BarMillennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com. This elegant lounge in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel is known for its martinis, wines and vintage ports. Genji BarKyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, 120 Los Angeles St., (213) 253-9255 or kyotograndhotel.com. The Genji Bar offers a hip, private karaoke room that you and a dozen or so of your friends can rent for about $10 a piece. It’s got new songs, old songs, odd songs and songs that you wish no one would sing. It also means you can warble “Sweet Home Alabama” all you want without the agonizing wait. Golden Gopher417 W. Eighth St., (213) 614-8001 or goldengopherbar.com.This stylish, dimly lit space with exposed brick walls, chandeliers and golden gopher lamps has a rockin’ jukebox, cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon and an outdoor lounge for smokers. Best of all, it also has Ms. Pac Man and Galaga. The bar also has a rare take-out liquor counter.

starwoodhotels.com. Located in the heart of the Financial District in the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel, this re-volving cocktail lounge offers a 360-degree view of the city.Bordello901 E. First St., (213) 687-3766 bordellobar.com. If the name doesn’t clue you in, a sultry voiced “madam” on the answering machine lets you know Bordello isn’t exactly for the buttoned-up crowd. This onetime house of ill repute has shed its most recent life as Little Pedro’s with a gussied up interior oozing sex appeal — lush scarlet velvet, ornate black chande-liers and heart-shaped chairs in hidden alcoves. Bottlerock1150 S. Flower St., bottlerock.net Situated on the groundfloor of the Met Lofts in South Park, this wine bar features a vast range of bottles from around the world and a price range equally as wide. Wines by the glass start at around $8, but if you’re feeling overcome by oenophilia (or just deep-pocketed) there are some first growth Bordeauxs for more than $1,000 for the bottle. And if you don’t get your fill while at the bar, which also features a rotating crop of artisanal beers and a full dinner menu, the bar also sells bottles at retail.Broadway Bar830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or thebroadwaybar.net. Located next to the Orpheum Theatre in the Platt Building, the Broadway Bar’s blue neon sign beckons patrons inside to its 50-foot circular bar. The casual-chic spot is based on Jack Dempsey’s New York bar, with low lighting and a dose of ’40s glam. There’s a patio upstairs with nice views, and a jukebox. Casa350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2249 or casadowntown.com. There’s a classy bar inside, from whence you can check out the action in the transparent kitchen and behind the bar, as the bartenders craft their fresh-juiced margaritas. But the place to be is outside, under the stars and high-rises, nestled in one of the patio’s pod “casitas.”

Casey’s Irish Bar & Grille613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. With its worn brick staircase, tin ceilings and dark wood decor, it’s easy to see how this neighborhood bar and grill still works its Irish charm. Regulars cozy up to the 60-foot mahogany bar with a pint of Guinness and a plate of bangers and mash. Casey’s has a full menu with six beers on tap and a selection of Belgian ales and microbrews. Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com. Every Sunday, the restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club, with a big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails (visit cicadaclub.com). Ciudad445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or ciudad-la.com. Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s Downtown restaurant serves up Latin recipes from Spain and South America. The modern space also hosts a thriving happy hour with live music on the outdoor patio several nights a week. Don’t miss the mojitos.Club 740740 S. Broadway, (213) 225-5934 or 740la.com. This 1920s theater has been transformed into a three-level party playground sprawling over 40,000 square feet. Club 740 is a spectacle with ornate gold balconies, go-go dancers and private skybox loung-es. Music includes hip-hop, Latin vibe, Top 40 and indie rock. Cole’s118 E. Sixth St., colesfrenchdip.com. This beloved restaurant saloon has been renovat-ed under new ownership. The great leather booths and dark wood bar of the old spot remain, but now the glasses are clean. Draft beer, historic cocktails, and a short wine list. Corkbar403 W. 12th St., corkbar.com. If the name didn’t give it away, this South Park establishment is all about the wine, specifically, Cali-fornia wine. Situated on the groundfloor of the Evo

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Contact Cartifact for the full-color,every-building version of this map and others. Available as a poster and in print, web, and mobile media.

Downtown

700 S. Flower St, Ste. 1940 Los Angeles, CA 90017213.327.0200 maps�cartifact.com

Free Parking with validation

Gas Stations

Metro Rail Station Entrances

Metro Red & Purple Lines

Metro Blue Line

Metro Gold Line

Los Angeles

Map © 2009 Cartifact www.cartifact.com

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL

lofts for sale

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

TheLoftGuys.netLA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313

out of state

BANK FORECLOSURE Colo-rado Ranch 40 acres $29,900 Clean Title, Warranty Deed. En-joy 300 days of sunshine. Rocky Mtn. views, utilities. Excellent Fi-nancing! Call Today! 1-866-696-5263 x4938. www.ColoradoLan-dBargains.com. (Cal-SCAN)

BUYER’S MARKET. New Mexi-co. Ranch Dispersal. 140 acres - $89,900. River Access. Northern New Mexico. Cool 6,000’ eleva-tion with stunning views. Great tree cover including Ponderosa, rolling grassland and rock out-croppings. Abundant wildlife, great hunting. EZ terms. Call NML&R, Inc. 1-866-360-5263. (Cal-SCAN)

LAND FORECLOSURES In New Mexico! From as low as $19,995 for 10+/- acre, phone, electric close, views. Guaranteed financing, low down! Going Fast! 888-812-5830. www.SWProper-ties.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Homes for sale

FORECLOSED HOME AUC-TION! 300+ Homes Must Be Sold! Open House: 7/25, 8/1 & 8/2. Online Auction: 8/3. View Full Listings & Details www.Auction.com REDC | RE Brkr 01093886. (Cal-SCAN)

FORECLOSED HOME AUC-TION. Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & more. 500+ Homes Must Be Sold! REDC | Free Bro-chure. www.Auction.com. (Cal-SCAN)

FOR RENT

apartments/unfurnisHed

FREE RENT SPECIALS Los Angeles Studio $1688/ month Luxury at it’s finest! Granite counters, W & D 888-262-9761.

DOWNTOWN Promenade East Luxury Condo across from Music Center, Disney Hall 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 balconies, two parking; microwave, dish-washer, fully equipped gym, pool, spa, security, paid cable. 818-788-6688

FREE RENT SPECIALS (O.A.C.) Brand New Resort Apartments. Granite kitchens, washer/dryers, pools, spas, saunas, fitness ctr, free tanning beds & much more! 866-690-2894.

FREE RENT SPECIALS (O.A.C.) New downtown luxury apartments with granite kitchens, marble baths, pool, spa, saunas & free parking. 888-736-7471.

FREE RENT SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888-886-3731.

MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN Beautiful 1 bedroom $995. Hardwood Floors. Patio. Private garage. Quiet 4-plex. Charming mid-century. 2501 W. 5th St., LA $995/Mo. 818-352-1732.

ONE MONTH FREE $800, large one bedroom apt, new carpets, appliances, community laundry, electric gated parking. 131 S. Carondelet Street. 310-922-5437.

FREE RENT SPECIALS Pan-oramic downtown views. 1 bed/1 bath starting at $1398. Washer dryer in unit, gated,Pool, spa and sauna. 888-265-1707.

rooms

BacHelor rooms1 Month FREE

Little Tokyo/Arts DistrictClean shared baths and kitchen.

Free Wireless$575/Month

213-784-4421

commercial space

TERRIFIC WORK STUDIO near downtown & freeways. 300sf, large skylight, private, gated parking, part of larger studio at Santa Fe Art Colony. $485/mo. + sec. 213-509-4403

loft/unfurnisHed

REAL ARTIST LOFTS 1150-2000 Sq. Ft., $1700-$2200/mo. High ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplace, pool/spa, gated park-ing, laundry, sorry no dogs, Open House Sundays 12-3pm @ 1250 Long Beach Ave., L.A.866-425-7259, LAartistlofts.com

old Bank DistrictThe original Live/Work Lofts

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries,

Parking adjacent. Pets no chargeCall 213.253.4777

LAloft.com

LA Live Loft1500 sq.ft., 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath,

Hardwood, Bar, AC, Sauna, Greenhouse, all appliances, Was./Dryr., Secure, Garage.

$1595 • (213) 747-0523

EMPLOYMENT

computers/it

ATTENTION: COMPUTER WORK! Work from anywhere 24/7 processing nutritional sup-plement orders. Great pay. Will train. Bilingual a plus. Request info online: www.KTPGlobal.com or 1-800-330-8446. (Cal-SCAN)

pLACE youR Ad onLinE At www.LAdowntownnEws.CoM

CLASSIFIEDCLASSIFIED

We've got what you're searching for!DowntownNews.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLECROSSWORD PUZZLE

Bill Cooper213.598.7555TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Downtown since 2002Don’t settle for

anyone less experienced!Call us today!


to LAst wEEK’s puZZLETHE ANSWER

Continued on next page

downtownnews.com

Now LeasiNg!■ Gorgeous Layouts■ 10-15’ Ceilings■ Fitness Center■ Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge■ Amazing Views

6th + Grand Ave.

MILANO LOFTS

www.milanoloftsla.com213.627.1900

Sell your items under$300…

12 words, 2 weeks it’s FREE!

Call: 213-481-1448Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines:

thursday 12 pm

“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and under-stand any contracts before you sign. Shop around for rates.”

l.a. downtown news classifiedsl.a. downtown news classifieds

EMPLOYMENT

Drivers

ANDRUS TRANSPORTATION Seeking Team Drivers! Dedi-cated Team Freight. Also Hiring OTR drivers - west states exp/hazmat end, great miles/home-time. Stable Family owned 35 yrs+ 1-800-888-5838, 1-866-806-5119 x1402. (Cal-SCAN)

General

MECHANICS: UP TO $20,000 bonus. Keep the Army National Guard Rolling. Fix Humvees, Strykers, etc. Expand your skills through career training. Be a soldier. 1-800-GO-GUARD.com/mechanic. (Cal-SCAN)

SERVICES

home improvement

崔RoofMichael Choi Roofing

Since 1972 • FRee estimateReroof, Repairs • Lic. #C-39-588045

323-229-3320 (C)323-722-1646 (B)

attorneys

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION!Family, Criminal, P.I.

for more than 20 yrs!Familiar o Amigo Arrestado?

Necesita Permiso de trabajo? - Tagalog / Español

Get your Green CarD or CitiZenshipLaw Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq.,

(213) 689-1710

tailor

EDDIES TAILOR SHOPTake your wardrobe to the next level! Same Day Service! Open 7 days a week!

115 e. 8th St. L.A. 90014(213) 399-1177

eddies ta i lo rshop.com

aDvertisinG

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $450. Reach 6 million Californians!. Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)

DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)

NEWS RELEASE? Cost-ef-ficient service. The California Press Release Service has 500 current daily, weekly and college newspaper contacts in Califor-nia. Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6010. www.Califor-niaPressReleaseService.com. (Cal-SCAN)

CleaninG

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experi-enced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

FinanCial serviCes

AMERICAN TAX RELIEF. * Settle IRS Back Taxes * Do You Owe Over $15,000? If So... Call us Now! * Free Consulta-tion*. For Less Than What You Owe! Stop Wage Garnishments! Remove Bank Levies Tax Lev-ies & Property Seizures! Stop Payment Plans That Get you Nowhere! Settle State and Busi-ness Payroll Tax Problems Elimi-nate Penalties, Interest Charges & Tax Liens! * Settle IRS Back Taxes * No Obligation! Confi-dential! Call American Tax Relief 1-800-496-9891 * Free Consul-tation * (Cal-SCAN)

CREDIT CARD RELIEF. * Free Consultation * Save Thou-sands of Dollars. Out of Debt in Months! Avoid Bankruptcy! Credit Card Relief. NOT A High Priced Consolidation Company or A Consumer Credit Counsel-ing Program. Call Credit Card Relief 1-866-479-5353. * Free Consultation * (Cal-SCAN)

musiC lessons

CHILDREN’S PERFORMING Group! Singing, dancing, per-forming and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! See Sunshine-GenerationLA.com or call 909-861-4433.

viDeo

TV COMMERCIALS Profession-al from $900, Corporate Video, Infomercial’s, English/Spanish. Call Irma 213-400-7537

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Business opportunities

ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Ma-chines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN)

AT LEAST $2-5,000 a month! Copy this proven 3-step system just once a month and make at least $2-5k! (imagine copying it once a week!) See what other people are making now! www.WinWithRuss.com/cmr 858-472-5714. (Cal-SCAN)

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS. Be Your Own Boss. Looking for motivated PT/FT Marketing/Sales Representatives. Bilingual a Plus. For details Contact: (650) 452-6850 or [email protected]. (Cal-SCAN)

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL

autos WanteD

DONATE YOUR CAR: Chil-dren’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (Cal-SCAN)

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Re-ceive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Founda-tion. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners Accepted, 1-888-468-5964. (Cal-SCAN)

Luxury Rooms in Downtown

Simin (213) 484-9789 Ext. 555 or (213) 632-1111

Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available

Special STUDeNT RaTe!$690 1 person

• Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid •• Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym •

• Close to USC & Loyola Law School •• Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Mayfair Hotel1256 West 7th street

50 ChannelsDirect TV

Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs

Flexible Terms/All New Suites

Services Include:• Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art

Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw• Fax • Photocopy • More

Additional Features:Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services,

Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours,Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

Burbank • BrentwoodCentury City • Downtown L.A.

Woodland Hills

Locations Nationwide

Jenny Ahn (213) [email protected] www.regentbc.com

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

Do you have something to sell?Ad Prices(Marketplace and Automotive Categories ONLY)

• Items under $300 12 words, 2 weeks FREE!• Items $301 to $500 15 words, only $11.50• Items $501 to $1200 15 words, only $14.00• Items $1201 to $2000 15 words, only $16.50• Items $2001+… 15 words, only $19.00

Restrictions: Offer good on private party ads only. Ads must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Certain classifications excluded. Deadline: Thursday at noon for next issue.

Name:Address:City State ZipPhone: Cash $ Check $ Credit Card $Credit card #:Exp. Date:

Ad Copy: _________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

All ads run for 2 weeks. Ads may be renewed after two weeks for 50% off the original price of the ad.

With a circulation of

49,000 , our classifieds

get results!

Continued from previous page

Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk

clerk service. •Daily, $25.00

•Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

madison hotel


Monthly from $595

utilitiespaid.

(213) 612-0348

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.Excellent location.Downtown LA.Weekly rate $275 inc.

Los Angeles-Near LA Convention Center & Staple Center Large House, 2 Bedrooms, I bathroom,

$1,795.00/Mo. 1664 W. 12th Pl., 90015

Call Suba Management Solutions • 626-318-3799

Low Move in SpecialUnfurnished bachelor rooms

with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $650/mo.

Includes utilities, basic cable chan-nels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area.

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

For English Call Pierre or Terri213.744.9911

For Spanish Call Susana213.749.0306

Please call 213.627.6913www.cityloftsquare.com

On Spring St.

Spring Tower Lofts: 2000 sqft. open floor plan LOFT $2,200/mo. • Live/Work space • 14 story bldg. • Rooftop garden terrace w/city view • Pet friendly

Premiere Towers:2 bdrms/2 bath, $1550/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

City Lofts:820 sqft, 13 ft ceilings, $1500/mo. • Granite marble top • Stainless steel appliances/refrigerator etc. • Pet friendly

We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST

Professional massage for men & women. Services include Thai Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Swedish Oil Massage, Foot Massage, Sauna, Steam, and more. Lounge area.

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

VIP Room Available. The Best Way For Business Meetings & Entertainment

saKura health Gym & sauna, inC.

3386

766

0119

111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Ste #231-233Monterey Park, CA 91754

(626) 458-1919 [Corner of Garvey Ave.]

HBODY MASSAGEHFirst Professionally Licensed Massage Shop in L.A. County.

DowntownNews.com makesplacing a classified ad in the L.A. Downtown News is easier than ever.

Your ad will appear online and in our publication in a couple of easy steps.

• Online ads will appear immediately after they are approved.

• Print ads must be received before Thursday at noon PST to be processed for the following Monday's edition.

Deadlines subject to change for special issues and holidays.

For legal notices please call 213-481-1448

EASY AS

ITEMS FOR SALE

Lawn & Garden/Farm equip

SAWMILLS FROM ONLY $2,990 - Convert your Logs To Valuable Lumber with your own Norwood portable band sawmill. Log skid-ders also available. www.Nor-woodSawmills.com/300n -Free Information: 1-800-578-1363 x300-N. (Cal-SCAN)

misc. items

BEAUTIFUL BASKETS, Themed Baskets, Variety Bas-kets, Holiday Baskets, all kinds of baskets for all occasions! For the best price call 213-440-6288; email: [email protected]; www.myspace.com/FourAngelsDesigns3. (Cal-SCAN)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

musicaL instruments

WORLD GUITAR SHOW, Buy, Sell, Trade. Marin Civic/San Ra-fael, July 25-26, Santa Monica Civic, August 1-2. Saturdays 10-5, Sundays 10-4. www.TXShows.com Clip this ad! (Cal-SCAN)

LEGAL

aLcohoL permit

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGESDATE OF FILING APPLICATION:JuNE 24, 2009

To Whom it May Concern:The Name(s) of the Applicant(s) is/are:TERRY PARKER INCThe applicants listed above are applying to the department of Al-coholic Beverage Control to sell alcoholic beverages at:710 W. 1ST STREETLOS ANGELES, CA 90012-2442Type of license(s) applied for:41-ON-SALE BEER AND WINE-EATING PLACEPub. 6/29, 7/6, 7/13/09

Fictitious Business name

FICTITIOuS BuSINESS NAmE STATEmENT

FILE NO. 20090861007

The following person is doing business as: BEAT BY COOL BENSON, 645 W. 9th St., LA CA 90015, are hereby registered by the following registrant: BEAT COSMETICS LLC, 645 W. 9th St., Suite #417, LA CA 90015. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Reg-istrants has not begun to trans-act business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein.This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on June 9, 2009.NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name state-ment must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement

does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Sec-tion 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).Pub. 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/09

FICTITIOuS BuSINESS NAmE STATEmENT

FILE NO. 20090956347The following person is doing business as: 1) LA FASHION DISTRICT 2) LOS ANGELES FASHION DISTRICT, 110 E. 9th Street, Suite A-1175, LA CA 90079 are hereby registered by the following registrant: DOWN-TOWN LOS ANGELES PROP-ERTY OWNERS ASSOCIA-TION, 110 E. 9th Street, Suite A-1175, LA CA 90079. This busi-

ness is conducted by a Corpora-tion. Registrants has begun to transact business under the fic-titious business name or names listed herein.This statement was filed with DEAN LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on June 25, 2009.NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name state-ment must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Sec-tion 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).Pub. 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/09

Available Immediately

Top floor of 11 story (18,000 SF) his-toric building available now!Perfect for corporate hqtrs. Features separate executive suite(s).Stunning views of LA two blocks away from Staples Center andacross the street from the new LA Live complex. The building alsohas approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some smalloffices available. These spaces can be viewed by appointment.

Information availableto qualified prospective tenants.

Email request [email protected] or

call (213) 746-6300


Monthly from $695

utilitiespaid.

(213) 627-1151

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

voted downtown's best residential living

six years in a row

888.886.3731 •TheMedici.com725 Bixel St., Los Angeles, CA 90017

close to l.a. live and nokia theater

FREE RENT SPECIALS!Studio, one & two Bedrooms•Granite kitchens•Italian marble counter baths•Washer/dryer in every home•Crown molding•Direct TV & Internet access•Oversized windows with •Dramatic views of the cityEuropean maple cabinets•Balcony or patio•Nine foot ceilings•Subterranean, gated parking•Private one acre park•

Golf driving cages•Putting green•Tennis courts•Sand volleyball court•Designer carpet And ceramic tile•Roof top pool and spa•Fitness center with sauna•Executive Business Center•Study Library•FREE tanning bed•24-hour doorman•Spectacular waterscapes•Lush courtyards•

e-mail us: [email protected] www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com

Bunker Hill real estate Co, inC. EstablishEd 1984

Call us for other condos for sale or lease Dwntwn & surrounding areas!!

For sale: bunker Hill Tower❏ 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath. Elegant. Ready To Move In.

South City Lights View. Recently Refurbished. Offered At $329,999.

For renT:❏ Prom. West. 2 Bed. 2 Bath. 7th Flr. Elegant

Upgrades. Green House. Pride Of Ownership. $3,000 Furn. $2,800 Unfurn.

❏ Prom. West-1 Bed. 1 Bath Penthuse. Overlooks Pool & Gardens. Greenhouse Windows And Balcony. Stunning! $1995 Month.

❏ Prom. West-2 Bed. 2 Bath. 5th Floor. Move In Now. $2,200 Month.

❏ 1 Bed. 1 Bath. Lafayette Park Place. Move In Now. $1200 Month.

❏ Prom. West-2 Bed. 2 Bath Penthouse-Sophisticated, Spectacular One Of A Kind Condo. Top Of The Line Upgrades & Décor. Gorgeous Furnishings Adorn This Pride Of Ownership Home. Corporate Lease Welcome. Furnished $3500 Per Month. Un-Furnished $3200 Per Month.

Leasing-sales- Loans-refinance (213) 680-1720

Mirza alli Broker/Realtor

Promenade West Condo 2 Story Townhouse. West Facing With Downtown City View. Upgrades. Large Patio. Very Elegant.

Asking $579,900

UNITS FEATURE:Private Washer and Dryer • Fully Equipped Gourmet Kitchens

Maple European Style Cabinetry • Granite Counter TopsNatural Stone Marble Counter Baths

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY!studios from $1,685* • 1 bedroom from $1,818* • 2 bedroom from $2,212*

*Availability and prices are subject to change at any time.

Orsini

• Brunswick Four Lane Virtual Bowling

• Full Swing Virtual Golf• 3100 Square Foot

Cybex Fitness Facility• Massage Room, Sauna

and Steam Room• Rooftop Pools with

Dressing Room• Free Abundant Gated

and Garage Parking• Business Center,

Conference Room• Directors Screening Room

• Lavish Fountains and Sculptures

• Free Tanning Rooms• Concierge Service• 24 Hour Doorman• 24/7 On-site Management• Free DSL Computer Use

Available• Free Wi-Fi• Magnificent City Views• On-Site Private Resident

Park with Sand VolleyballCourt, Workout Stations,BBQ’s and Jogging Track

Free Rent!ELEGANT WORLD CLASS RESORTBRAND NEW APARTMENT HOMES

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

OPEN DAILY

877-267-5911WWW.THEORSINI.COMOrsini

L O F T S • R E N T • L O F T S • R E N T

SPECIAL MOVE IN - two weeKs Free rent and Low deposit.

Industrial Lofts available in original 18 unit Downtown Artist Loft bldg. close to Southern Cal. School of Architecture. Approximately 1400 Sq. ft. large open space

with new kit and bath. Laundry, gated parking and intercom entry from $1700.

1427 E. 4th St. Contact Julie at (323) 261-1099

Get Chapmanized!You will love it.

now LeasinGFrom $1,300’s/mo. Free parking

ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE • GRAND LOBBY FITNESS CENTER • SPA • MODERN KITCHEN WITH CAESAR COUNTERTOPS

HIGH SPEED INTERNET • DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY DRAMATIC VIEWS • WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

STAINLESS APPLIANCES INCLUDING REFRIGERATOR GATEWAY TO FASHION DISTRICT

GROUND FLOOR DRY CLEANERS • KELLY’S COFFEE

756 S. Broadway • Downtown Los Angeles213-892-9100 • chapmanf lats.com

Pricing subject to change without notice.

LEGAL NOTICERequest for Bids

Angels Walk LA is seeking qualified disadvantaged busi-ness enterprises (DBE) as well as other qualified business enterprises to design a qual-ity, historic, self-guided walking trail guidebook and stanchions. Bids to be received no later than 7/17/09.Angels Walk LA16060 Ventura Blvd., Suite 105-327Ph. 213-744-0016 Fax 213-744-0090

(LIVE, WORK & PLAY DOWNTOWN)

*our micro-loft residences start at $725 per month, including utilities & internet access.income restrictions apply. offer may change without notice.

213.503.6171451 S. MAIN ST. WWW .ROSSLYNLOFTS.NET

LIVE, WORK & PLAY DOWNTOWN

fROm $725/mO.* LIVE, WORK & PLAY DOWNTOWNaffordable.

Downtown News 2 x 3.indd 3 7/8/09 2:46:17 PM

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

performing

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

Sunshine GenerationChildren’s Performing Group

the alexandriaat 501 S. Spring St.

is Now Leasing!On-site laundry, free utilities, in-div. bathrooms, 24 hr. security & pet friendly. Free Internet. Close to metro, restaurants, farmers market & supermarket. Units starting at

$775/monthjuLy move in speciaL:½ off 1st & 2nd month’s rentincome & other restrictions apply.

call 213.626.1743or stop by for a tour

BUNKER HILL TOWERS $379,900For Sale/Must See!

1 bedroom, 1 bath, completely remodeled high fl., skyline views. 24 guards, underground parking. All amenities, low HOA. Shown by appointment only.

760-880-4526

downtownnews.com


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SINGLES, STUDIO, ONE BEDROOM & TWO BEDROOM RESIDENCESMAID SERVICE FURNITURE HOUSEWARES CABLE UTILITIES PARKING WWW.GKIND.com

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

It’s our business to make you comfortable...at home, downtown. Corporate and long termresidency is accommodated in high style atthe Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles,studio, one bedroom and two bedroomapartment homes provide fortunate residentswith a courteous full service lobby attendant,heated pool, spa, complete fitness center,

sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ loftyhomes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slenderskyscrapers provide an incredible back drop tocomplement your decor.

Far below are a host of businesses ready tosupport your pampered downtown lifestyle.Even the most demanding tastes are satisfied

the cultural events that make headlines.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore.Visit the Towers Apartments today.

with gourmet dining, shops, theatres and

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!Call Now For Move-In Specials

Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., (213) 224-1400 or dodgers.mlb.com. July 16-18, 7:10 p.m.; July 19, 1:10 p.m.: Kind of odd, isn’t it, that the team with the best record in the league doesn’t have one position player among the starters on the National League All-Star team? Orlando Hudson made it as a reserve and Matt Kemp was a contender for the final backup spot (but lost out in the fans’ vote to Shane Victorino of the Phillies). But maybe it’s not so odd. The Dodgers have been successful without their star, Manny Ramirez, for most of the season, leaning instead on a well-rounded team game and solid pitching. Speaking of pitching, ace Chad Billingsley and closer Jonathan Broxton will both represent the Blue Crew and the National League at the July 14 All-Star game in St. Louis. After the break,

Billingsley and the Dodgers host the Houston Astros.

Los Angeles SparksStaples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 929-1300 or wnba.com/sparks. The Sparks are out of town for the rest of the month (they return to Staples on Aug. 4 to host the San Antonio Silver Stars) for a seven-game road trip. Last year’s MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker returned to the line-up on July 5, but in almost 19 minutes off the bench scored only six points. It wasn’t the quick-footed, agile Parker fans are used to, but give her a break — she gave birth to her first child on May 13. Expect the road trip to help Parker break off the rust and return to L.A. the Candace of old.

—Ryan Vaillancourt

We Got GamesWith Dodgers, There’s No ‘I’ in Team (Though There Is One in ‘Ramirez’)


Pitcher Chad Billingsley will represent the Dodgers at the July 14 All-Star game in St. Louis.

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