blogdowntown Weekly :: October 14, 2010

NEWS NIGHTLIFEFOOD EVERYDAYWhere will Downtown be in 2020?

Ocho enters a crowded Mexi-can market

Swill adds to the list of Arts District destinations

Smoke Shop opens its doors

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LIFE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES / BLOGDOWNTOWN.COM / OCTOBER 14, 2010 1.11

PARIS MEETS BROADWAY

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It’s not your basic Nora Ephron boy-meets-girl story. When Donna Rayford married former UCLA football star, Michael Durden, the couple planned a honeymoon in Paris. That dream was cut short when Durden passed away only five months after the wedding.

That, along with an abusive past relationship, inspired Rayford to create “A Night In Paris,” a theatrical runway show being held Saturday night at the Million Dollar Theatre. A portion of the proceeds benefitting Safe Passage, a non-profit that provides support and services to women and children who have been victims of domestic violence.

Rayford says the different elements of the show brings her life full circle. She was a dance theatre director while

attending Millersville University, and a fashion buyer for East Coast based Bon-Ton department stores.

To evoke the Parisian theme of the show, Rayford—the producer, director, and star of the show—is draping the lobby of the Million Dollar Theatre with lights, and filling the theatre with the smells of European foods. A twenty foot tall Eiffel Tower made of balloons will tower over guests as they enter the building.

On stage, more than two dozen professional models will perform, dancing and posing against a theatrical set with scenes set in Paris, all to showcase designs from designers including Chan Gaines, London’s Roy Smoothe, and Remy Hou. Continues on Page 5

By David Markland

UPCOMING SHOWSMIIKE SNOW CLUB NOKIA L.A. LIVE OCT 14

MUSEUM OF NEON ART CRUISE MONA OCT 16

NICKELODEON / STORYTIME LIVE! NOKIA THEATRE OCT 16-17

10GUIDE TO THE ART WALK GALLERIES

WEEKEND CALENDAR

8Painting by Mandy Main: Courtesy of ARTY

Images Downtown’s Week in Pictures

1Wheels of all kinds travel north on Spring Street during L.A.’s first CicLAvia.

OctOber 10, 2010

3A rider poses for the camera while traveling west on 7th Street dur-ing CicLAvia.

OctOber 10, 2010

46th Street is trans-formed into a winter wonderland by filming for CSI:NY.

OctOber 8, 2010

2Cyclists wait at the intersection of 6th and Spring while an LAPD officer allows cars to cross the CicLAvia route.

OctOber 10, 2010

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PhOtO by erIc rIchArDSON

PhOtO by erIc rIchArDSON PhOtO by erIc rIchArDSON

PhOtO by SterlINg DAvIS

blogdowntownWeekly2 Online at blogdowntown.comOctober 14, 2010

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News

A Forbes story cites AEG CEO Tim Leiweke as saying that the new channel would be called AXS and that it would pull content from the company’s entertainment venues.

Forbes said that the man behind the project is Charles Hirschhorn, who launched G4 for Comcast. The cable company also owns E! Enter-tainment, Seacrest’s longtime TV home. That connection could go stronger, according to Forbes.

“We have zero interest in compet-

ing with E!” the paper quoted Leiweke as saying. “Over the long term, being in business with Ryan will probably bring us closer to Comcast.”

As blogdowntown reported in September of 2009, AEG is plan-ning a broadcast studio facility across the street from its L.A. Live entertainment complex. We specu-lated at the time that the facility could become the new home of the Comcast Entertainment Group,

which is currently located on the Miracle Mile.

The facility, to be located on the Olympic North parcel across Olym-pic Boulevard from L.A. Live, would contain 269,182 square feet of broadcast studio space and 332,618 square feet of general office space.

The L.A. Live complex is also home to ESPN’s 120,000-square-foot west coast broadcast headquar-ters and a studio facility owned by AEG.

AEG Lauching Cable Channel with Ryan Seacrest?

Envisioning the Downtown of 2020At Central City Association Event, panels presented their visions of the urban core a decade from now

By Eric RichardsonOver lunch on Tuesday, a panel of

“titans” sat down to discuss Down-town’s next decade. While the four brought varied backgrounds and differently colored visions to the conversation, they found consensus in the potential of Los Angeles, and Downtown in particular.

Philanthropist Eli Broad has been in the news this year for the art museum he now plans to build on Grand Avenue, so unsurprisingly he preached the power of Los Ange-les as a cultural destination. Down-town’s collection of museums and great architecture will make it an increasingly important destination for cultural tourism, Broad told the audience at the Central City Associa-tion’s Downtown 2020 symposium.

He, of course, is putting his money where his mouth is, footing the $100 million cost of the muse-

um’s construction and supporting it with a $200 million endowment. The project won’t break ground until mid-November, but Broad already has an opening date in mind: December 8, 2012, just two days after Art Basel ends in Miami.

AEG CEO Tim Leiweke has spent the last decade constructing an entertainment complex that’s now home to four sports teams and most of Hollywood’s awards shows, so his vision of future Los Angeles is similarly unsurprising.

“I think that tourism and events are going to drive our economy in 2020,” he told the group.

As part of that push, Leiweke and AEG are behind a plan to tear down part of the Convention Center and replace it with a stadium that would lure the NFL back to Los Angeles.

While he emphasized that “we need a lot to go right on footballl,”

Leiweke expressed his belief that the change would make Los Angeles competitive for all kinds of large events.

“Everywhere we go, it’s amazing,” he said. “When we sit down with the NCAA and talk about ‘Would you ever think about Final Fours in Downtown?’ they say ‘We’re there, tomorrow’”

Jim Thomas of Thomas Proper-ties is working on a redevelopment project that would create a new, high-rise hotel and office tower on the site of the Wilshire Grand. He told the room that he hopes to see the hotel open in the first quarter of 2016, helping to support Leiweke’s vision to bring more events Down-town.

“More challenging is the office

building,” he said, pointing out that he had helped create the glut of space in the 1980s. Still, he was optimistic on his chances.

“I predict to this audience right now: we will have a new office building in Downtown Los Angeles in the next three to five years, and I want to build it.”

Nelson Rising, head of MPG Office Trust, pointed out that some of Downtown’s future will depend on the broader, national economic market.

“I think we’re on the right track,” he said, though he cautioned that it would still be two to three years before a full recovery.

PhOtO by erIc rIchArDSONEli Broad speaks during a panel of “Titans of Downtown” that included Tim Leiweke, Nelson Rising and Jim Thomas and was moderated by Tom Gilmore (left).

By Eric RichardsonDowntown-based AEG is set to team up with Ryan Seacrest and CAA on a new cable channel according to reports that started to circulate late last week.

blogdowntownWeekly 3Online at blogdowntown.com October 14, 2010

Everydayyday

Talks remain underway to bring a Hooters restaurant to a former auto dealership across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center, but they aren’t quite as far along as a rental listing posted by the developer would make it seem.

According to the Loopnet posting

By Pamela Rouse“You can’t smoke in apartments, you can’t smoke in bars,” explains new Downtown neighbor LaChance. “So I wanted to have a space for these people to hang out and feel welcome.”

The owner and operator of the new UnderGround Smoke Shop, located at the SB Lofts, says he wanted to target people who smoked or had anything to do with smoking.

LaChance moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn about six months ago. He was walking around Los Angeles and noticed there were no smoke shops or actual hookah bars Downtown.

“More people are moving into Downtown, more businesses are opening up, and all the locals are actually supporting one another,” La Chance said, noting that he chose his location based on Spring’s foot traffic, recent bar openings, and the direction he saw Downtown taking.

“I’ve had a lot of local business owners that came in and introduced

themselves. Even (those) that don’t smoke but they like the fact that something like this has opened up in the neighborhood.”

LaChance intends to expand his selection for the store based on suggestions that Downtown resi-dents give him. “I want to have what the locals smoke.”

He carries everything from loose tobacco to cigarettes, cigars and all the accessories that go with them. The cigars start as low as $2.99 and can run upwards of of $13 or more.

He also sells a wide range of hookah pipes for as low as $15, however, though you can also sit outside on the patio and smoke the hookah by yourself or with a friend. Smoking at the shop starts at $10. There are approximately 160 flavors you can smoke, price depending on which variety of hookah is smoked.

For example, there are the “fresh fruit” hookahs where the tabacco is served on fresh fruit rather than the clay bowl — available once his refrigerator arrives — or fruit

juice hookahs that involve putting things like apple juice on the bottom instead of water, so when a apple flavored tobacco is smoked, it goes through the apple juice rather than water. “It gives you an extra boost of flavor.”

He showed off one of his “frozen hookahs” where the bottom is unscrewed and kept in a small freez-er. When the hookah is ready to be smoked, you take the base out of the freezer and re-attach it, adding water to the pre-frozen pipe.

The smoke shop keeps regular hours, but on Sundays will stay open until 9pm or 11pm depending on business. “If customers are hang-ing out we usually hang out with them til 11,” LaChance explained.

UnderGround Smoke Shop / 548 S. Spring / 213-622-0224 / Hours: Mon - Wed: 12pm-11:30pm, Thur: 12pm-12:30pm, Fri - Sat: 12pm-2am, Sun: 12pm-9pm or 11pm

by Paramount Investment Group, the busty sports bar chain “has leased 7,400 square feet on the first floor.”

Broker David Separzadeh says the

lease isn’t quite that far along. “It’s not a done deal,” he told blogdown-town last week when contacted for confirmation. “The paperwork has not been signed.”

Nevertheless, a rendering attached to the listing shows the chain’s neon orange signage at street level.

Back in January, owner Mayer

Smoke Shop Puffs Up Spring Street Pipe Life

Separzadeh told the Downtown L.A. Neighborhood Council’s planning committee that he hoped to make the structure a center for South Park nightlife. The listing also says that a 25,000-square-foot club has been signed for the third and fourth floors, while a 4,600-square-foot ground floor space remains avail-able.

Before any of it opens, though, the building needs a Conditional Use Permit from the city. Accord-ing to the Planning Department’s online case tracking system, that hearing is scheduled for November 8 at City Hall.

Hooters Talks ContinueDeal isn’t done, but talks continue to bring busty sports bar chain to former auto dealership

PhOtO by erIc rIchArDSONWork continues on the front of 1248 S. Figueroa, a building intended to house multiple nightlife venues

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The seeds of the project came to her in her sleep. She says she’d wake up and write down her dreams, which would eventually become the vignettes in the show. When she looked over some of her dreams, she saw there was a time-line to them, and a project came to shape. Last April she began casting models and designers, and bring-ing in a team of experts from the fashion and acting worlds.

Bobbie Bell, a runway coach, says she’s trained models who have gone on to win “Americas Top Model,” work on “Deal Or No Deal,” and a coveted spot on “Price Is Right.” Bell collaborated with Rayford in creating certain scenes. Ontwanet Moran, Alana Smith, and Lauren Venise with Onlave Signa-ture Productions are providing their expertise in choreography and theatre to the show as well.

For an elegant formal scene she looked to Dion Julian, who made his mark in the fashion world designing the suits that appeared on the ‘92 Olympics “Dream Team” for a GQ Magazine cover shoot. He’ll debut a line of velvet smok-ing jackets on stage at “A Night In

Paris.” The jackets, “are my way of bring-

ing swagger to the show.” Charlie Sheen is a fan, having ordered a smoking jacket and 32 sets of paja-mas from him, according to Julian.

Additional striking designs being debuted include high couture gowns made of leather, vinyl, and fur by Delisé Ana, and a corset and dresses made of balloons from Katie Brian and Addi.

Kiko Ellsworth, the show’s co-executive producer, toplines the cast with credits including “Dexter,” “Heroes,” “General Hospital,” and “Bad Boys 2.” Some of the models she cast are Lauren LaGrone, Sabri-na Aryadad, and Gregg Jacobson.

French supermodel and actor Eebra Tooré was in Los Angeles for another project and preparing to leave when he heard that about the show and its focus on his home. He submitted his headshot to Rayford, who hired him on the spot.

Tooré is often recognized on the streets of Paris from his model-ing work and a stint on the French version of reality show “Tempta-tion Island.” On stage, Tooré is stoic and intimidating, perhaps evoking Marlon Brando, his favorite actor.

He says, “I recognized myself in him after reading his autobiography, ‘Songs My Mother Taught Me.’”

Rounding out the show’s cast of 40 are eight ballerinas from the Blankenship Ballet Company, based out of the nearby Alexandria Hotel. Founder Mark Blankenship says he’s excited his troupe will be “part of a really remarkable tapestry that’s being put together.”

When the lights dim, the on stage production of “A Night In Paris” will be bookended by scenes from “Fashion Haus,” a “dramedy” that will be projected on a screen over the stage. The video tells the story of two designers, played by Rayford and Ellsworth, competing to do a show for a Coco Chanel like char-acter.

The results of their competition will then be performed on stage by the models, who will dance to choreographed scenes reminiscent of “Moulin Rouge” and “Cinderella,” all recreated with a little theatrical magic at the Million Dollar Theatre.

Rayford decided on the Broadway location after looking at about twen-ty other Los Angeles theatres. “It’s hard to find a theatre of this scale with as much backstage area,” she

says, pointing out that the dress-ing rooms and other areas behind the curtains could accommodate between 85-100 people.

The venue also had a budget friendly bonus: a pre-existing set built for “Luisa Fernanda: A Span-ish Musical,” staged at the Million Dollar earlier in the year. While designed to replicate old Spain, the set’s grand wooden doorways and faux marble stairs seem at place in any European setting, and perfect for model entrances and posing.

More importantly, she says the Million Dollar Theatre matched her vision of a venue that “could match Paris in history and architecture.”

To designer Dion Julian, “A Night In Paris” is a perfect complement to Fashion Week.

“Most (fashion) shows don’t have a lot of entertainment value,” adding that the combination of fash-ion and theatre “could be the shot of adrenaline Downtown needs.”

“A Night In Paris” / Sat Oct 16th / VIP reception: 6pm; Show: 7pm / Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S. Broadway / tickets: $10-$150 / crownjewelstudios.com

A Night in ParisContinued from Page 1

Sketch of a smoking jacket by Dion Julian


By Jenni SimcoeWolfgang Puck’s L.A. Bistro at 6th and Hope is changing hands. According to public records, the restaurant will be reborn as Pizze-ria Urbano, with Michael Leko and Peter Gedde as officers. Leko, along with Will Shamlian, owns the neigh-boring Library Bar and new Historic Core addition Spring St.

A source close to the deal says the deal is currently in escrow and that the Wolfgang Puck outpost — which opened to fanfare in 2006 — will close its doors in December. The

By Jenni SimcoeOcho Mexican Grill, also humor-ously monikered OMG, opened recently on the ground floor of Library Court at 6th and Hope. Owner Chris Zuber says the name Ocho came from the number of options diners have when picking protein for their meal and the octet of spices used in Ocho’s secret grill rub. For those familiar with chains like Chipotle, Ocho will be a familiar concept.

Diners won’t have to go far to make the comparison. Not only are the menu boards and corrugated metal decor similar, but the eatery’s location is three blocks from where Chipotle plans to open later this year and just two blocks from the site of the chain’s Denver-based competitor, Qdoba. That fact wasn’t lost on Zuber.

“We were well into construction when Chipotle chose their location,” he said. “And to be honest, sure we wish we had a year or two to estab-lish our brand before they move in, but we have already heard from our customers that our service and product is superior, in person and through Yelp reviews,” he added.

Entering the line, customers start by choosing how they want their meal prepared: as a bowl, burrito, tacos, salad or quesadilla. After choosing the type of meal, they can move on to the protein options including grilled chicken, shred-ded chicken, grilled steak, shred-ded beef, grilled mahi mahi, grilled shrimp, carnitas and two vegetarian options of guacamole or grilled tofu.

The toppings, sauces and salsas is where Ocho looks to set itself apart. Toppings include the standard beans or rice and fajita veggies, but the grilled vegetables stand out, with grilled corn and squash providing a refreshing alternative to the heavier options.

Food

Puck Bistro to Change Hands

OMG! Ocho Adds a Healthy Option on 6th

6th and Hope eatery going to Library Bar co-owner, to become Pizzeria Urbano

New eatery offers a concept that’s similar to nearby competitors, but relies on customer service

restaurant’s well-equipped condi-tion should mean construction wraps in the first quarter of 2011.

Asked about the deal on Friday, a spokeperson from Wolfgang Puck denied that a sale had already taken place. “Currently we have not sold the property,” said Stephanie Davis late Friday afternoon in a voicemail response. “We are just looking at options, possibly looking to build or move to a bigger location, but nothing is final or set in stone.”

Records with the California Alco-holic Beverage Control and sources

blogdowntown spoke with suggest otherwise. A transfer of the restau-rant’s liquor license is shown as being underway, in escrow since Tuesday.

Leko and Shamlian are also set to start construction work this week on CoffeeBar in SB Tower at 600 S. Spring. Eater LA recently reported that the pair see the concept as the first in a small national chain. Other holdings include Laurel Tavern in Studio City, 4100 Bar in Silver Lake and two bars in New York.

“Richer and Michelle, our two chefs, have created some very creative gourmet sauces and salsas that you won’t find elsewhere,” Zuber explained. The hica-mango salsa, the tangy delicious agave vinaigrette and the cilantro lime sauces are stand-outs on the menu.

Zuber has been planning the concept since he visited a small taqueria in Santa Barbara several years ago. The taqueria featured the same simple approach of choosing a staple protein and adding to it. “Albeit some of the meat selection was outside of the norm for even the most courageous foodies like beef cheeks, tongue, eyes, et cetera, but having the option to try some-thing new kept the crowd coming,” he said. Zuber took that concept and put his own spin on it with healthier and fresher mainstream protein selections.

The healthier options include alternatives including organic brown rice, whole-wheat tortillas, locally sourced produce and all natural, free-range, cruelty-free, hormone-free and antibiotic-free chicken from California’s Jidori Farms. “Using local produce helps support our local farmers, commu-nity, & environment while also creating the tastiest food possible for our customers,” said Zuber. In an effort to be environmentally friendly, the restaurant only uses compostable, tree-free packaging and plastic-free utensils made of starch.

Ocho is currently open Monday to Thursday 11am to 8:30pm and Friday 11am to 7:30pm with future plans to remain open on the week-ends for downtown residents. A one-click online ordering system with delivery is also in the works.

Ocho Mexican Grill / Library Court, 6th & Hope / 888-988-OCHO / eatocho.com

By Jenni SimcoeSugarfish may be opening in an enviable location next door to Bottega Louie at 7th and Grand, but overflow crowds weren’t the reason that the partners chose its location on 7th Street’s Restaurant Row.

“We chose Downtown because it’s a growing community and the demographic is very similar to that of our other locations,” said part-ner and front of house operations manager Lele Massimini.

The Downtown outpost of the popular sushi restaurant joins sister locations in Brentwood and Marina del Rey and is soon to be followed by a fourth location in Santa Moni-ca at the beginning of the year. All four restaurants are owned and run by the same team, which includes Kazunori Nozawa, Jerry Greenberg, Tom Nozawa, Cameron Broumand, Lele Massimini and Clement Mok.

“Ninety percent of our busi-ness has been word of mouth by our regular customers,” Massimi-ni added. He also pointed to the distance from the Staples Center as a plus. “We aren’t the type of restaurant that caters to an event-based crowd.”

Those familiar with Sugar-

fish already know the differences between it and other sushi restau-rants. “Our rice goes out warm and has a 20-minute life. Nozawa’s style is loosely packed so that the fish melts in your mouth and the rice temperature and texture marry well with the fish,” said Massimini. The founder of Sugarfish, Kazu-nori Nozawa, is so particular about his style that diners are instructed which pieces of sushi are not to be dipped in soy sauce and he doesn’t allow diners any extra ponzu sauce.

Nozawa is also very selective about what he serves, so much so that seven days a week he is at the fish market at 5am, looking through the purveyors’ catches and spend-ing two-and-a-half hours deciding which fish he will buy.

That care doesn’t translate into high prices. At lunch, the “Trust Me Lite” chef’s menu is just $13.50, with sushi pieces starting at $4.50 for a pair. At dinner, “The Nozawa” includes a generous sampling for $35 to $38.

Sugarfish opens Thursday for lunch and dinner.

Sugarfish / 600 W. 7th / sugar-fishsushi.com / Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sunday: 12 - 9pm

SugarFishChef Nozawa’s newest sushi spot adds to 7th Street’s Restaurant Row


Lele Massimini and Tom Nozawa inside the new SugarFish on 7th


PhOtOS by JeNNI SImcOe


By Pamela RouseThe restaurant space at 442 E. 2nd Street has housed several different concepts over the past few years. Most recently it was the 2nd Street Cafe, which opened in November of 2008 but closed its doors earlier this year.

Next in line at the Honda Plaza spot is the Hashi Ramen House, and last week the new restaurant’s owners held a soft opening to test their menu and tempt customers off the street.

Hashi, which is Japanese for “chopsticks,” puts its focus on ramen dishes, cutlets, and other familiar favorites including Don Katsu (pork cutlet) and the Katze Nabe (which is a pork cutlet with egg and house sauce). Ramen dishes come hot or cold, like the cool

By Jenni SimcoeThe Arts District has staked its claim to some of the most popular foodie destinations and cafes over the past few years via restaurants like Church and State and Urth Café. The latest, a new wine bar called Swill Automatic, hopes to add a new draw to its location in the Biscuit Company Lofts when it opens on Saturday.

Housed in a restored mill building, the wine bar incorporates a patented automated wine dispensing system from Enomatic to showcase its wines. After loading a wine card with a given amount of value, Swill patrons will be able to sample from a selec-tion of wines with a wide range of varietals and prices.

The bar is the vision of Poppi Monroe and two silent partners who live in the Arts/Industrial district. “We really love this community and felt that there was a space for something like this here,” said Monroe.

The concept came together from travel that the three partners had done. They chose things they liked about different menus and locations and blended them to make one bar that had all of their favorite elements. “It was a way to create a really casual wine experience that kept people up moving and meeting new friends,” Monroe added.

Opening night will focus on biodynamic wines. Two winemakers, Yellow+Blue and Quivera Vineyards and Winery, will be in the

Hashi Ramen House Adds to Little Tokyo’s Inexpensive Evening Eats

Nightlife Venues Launch RADD Designated Driver Program

New restaurant takes over a space that others have tried before

house to discuss biodynamic agriculture and how it differs from traditional and organic farming.

After the opening night special event, the first month will feature morning coffee and pastries and appetizers and dinner by night. After a month, the expanded menu will go into effect.

Breakfast offerings will include made to order omelets, eggs Benedict, French Texas toast, pancakes with bacon, huevos ranche-ros, and a ‘classic 2s’ breakfast with two of each eggs, bacon or sausage and herbed pota-toes. Healthy options include a bowl of fruit, homemade granola and cereal.

Appetizers that customers can pair with their favorite wines include garlic jumbo shrimp in lemon aioli, bruschetta pomodoro, seafood crab cakes and old standbys like assorted olives and chips and guacamole.

The menu, featuring locally-sourced ingre-dients, also features salads, paninis and a full dinner menu with Monroe’s favorites: Dirty mussels steamed in white wine with gorgonzola cheese served with crusty bread, and Kalamata chicken with steamed veggies. There are also vegetarian and vegan options like vegan quinoa risotto or eggplant fajita with grilled onions, red pepper and jack cheese.

Swill Automatic / 1820 Industrial Street / swillautomatic.com

Nightlifeg

ramen which has Chaschu, cucumber and egg in a cool broth or flavored with miso. Side items include steamed dumplings, fried tofu or edamame.

The menu is still a work in progress, but should settle in within the next week or so. Entrees average $9 to $11.

Beer is served in bottles and on draft along with sake, soju, green tea and fountain soda.

Hashi is open six days a week for lunch and dinner hours, closing in-between for prep. A website is in the works and should be up within the next week.

Hashi Ramen House / 442 E. 2nd / 213-617-0237 / Hours: Tue- Sun 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-midnight; Mon: CLOSED

PhOtO by PAmelA rOUSe

Cool ramen with Chaschu, cucumber and egg

By David MarklandOne of the nice things about living Down-town is being able to drink Downtown without worrying about needing a safe ride home from a night on the town. Fortu-nately, for your bridge and tunnel friends, there’s now an incentive to ensure they have a sober driver for the ride home.

Beginning Thursday, over 40 local bars and restaurants will begin offering incen-tives for the designated drivers as part of “RADD in Downtown LA”. Freebies vary by location, but they include games of pool, French fries, jukebox picks, and, of course, soda-pop. RADD, the organization that tagged the line, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk,” started the program in June, but it will be having its official launch in support of the October Art Walk.

The Edison, which will be hosting a red carpet program launch event on Thursday, is dedicating an entire page of their cocktail menu for non-alcoholic drinks. That night only, designated drivers can have one drink off the menu, on all other nights they will be offered free sodas.

As part of the program, designated driv-ers at Tony’s Saloon and Seven Grand will be able to play a game of pool for free, while at Casey’s Irish Pub they’ll be able to pick four free tunes from the jukebox. Royal Clayton’s English Pub has high tea service for the sober one in your crew, and Wurstkuche will be treating them to a free kline of Belgian fries.

Visit raddindtla.com for a full list of participating businesses.

Swill Set to Open in the Arts DistrictNew wine bar offers patrons the chance to make their own pours


Art Walk

CHAIR-ITYNoon to 9pmThe Rowan Building460 S. SpringDuring Downtown Art Walk The Rowan Building will exhibit more than 40 chairs hand painted and handcrafted by Downtown L.A. artists that will be auctioned off to benefit Pershing Square’s Art Squared program. The auction will be held at The Medallion October 15.

‘Animate Objects’Noon to 7:30pmCB1 Gallery207 W. 5thcb1gallery.com“Animate Objects” is a collec-tion of drawings by Chris Oatey, his first solo show for the Angeles-based artist. It opens October 14. On Octo-ber 16, CB1’s East Gallery will open “Plato O Plomo,” a solo show featuring Martin Durazo. CB1 will be open during Art Walk until 7:30pm

‘Faces of Skid Row’Noon to 9pmCrewest110 Winstoncrewest.com

Los Angeles-based artists come together for this exhibi-tion and fundraiser curated by Luna George. Proceeds benefit the Midnight Mission.

The Golden Veil (ET in Arcadia . . . )10am to 9pm Artist’s Talk 7pm 7+FIG Art Space 725 S. Figueroaartsbrookfieldproperties.comArtist Lesley Moon large-scale photographic work offers “imaginative possi-bilities for reflection within the urban environment.”

ProfusionNoon to 9pmNorbertellen Gallery215 W. 6thnorbertellengallery.comIt is “business as usual” says Norbertellen Gallery, who are currently running a group exhibition. The gallery will be open during Art Walk from Noon to 10pm.

Electrique PartyNoon to 9pmMuseum of Neon Art 136 W. 4thneonmona.org

MONA’s Art Walk entry isElectrique Party, a night that will feature live neon demos by Michael Flechtner and music by the DJ Neon Hunter. Tickets are FREE from 12-2pm, and there will be a two for $5 deal from 7 to 9pm.

Mandy Main7 to 9pmArty634 S. Mainartyla.comArty is participating in Art Walk, says co-owner Cath-erine Coan. with an exhibit featuring Mandy Main, a recent transplant with “criti-cal and commercial success.”

All the Angles of the City6 to 10pmOpening Reception118 Winston118 Winston St 2nd Floor118winston.comContemporary artist Alden Marin’s nontraditional paint-ings often use acrylic pen on paper or other found materials such as card-board, crushed aluminum cans and paper cups. From those simple materials, he produces vivid abstract faces, animals and landscapes.

“My Memories from Communist Romania”Noon to 9pm446 S. MainCotrutza Gallerycotrutza.comClaudia French’s “My Memo-ries from Communist Roma-nia” rolls on, and the artist / gallery owner will also display of pencil drawings by Stepha-nie Tapu until November 9. Proceeds from the sales of Tapu’s work will go the Down’s Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. The gallery’s regular hours are Wed. to Fri. from Noon to 6pm; Sat and Sun. 3pm to 7:3pm.

Chris Oatey “Statue.”

Works from Mandy Main at Arty.

Downtown’s most popular monthly event was reported cancelled and then reported uncancelled over the past few weeks, leading to confusion over just what the streets of the Historic Core would look like on October 14. The event’s website is still saying that October’s festivities are off as of Tuesday evening.

The event’s Facebook page says otherwise, though, and folks will certainly be wander-ing the streets come Thursday evening.

For those that do, here’s a taste of what will be found in the galleries.



THURSDAYOCTOBER 14T A L KALOUD with Joseph O’NeillThu Oct 14 7pmCentral Library, Mark Taper Auditorium630 W. 5thlfla.org

Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulkner award-winning author of the novel “Netherland,” in conver-sation with book critic David Kipen.

M U S I CRen GesickThu Oct 14 7:30pmFirst & Hope Supper Club710 W. 1stfirstandhope.com

Jazz vocalist Ren Gesick.

M U S I CMilly QuezadaThu Oct 14 8pmThe Conga Room800 W. Olympiccongaroom.com

The Latin Grammy-win-ning “Queen of Meren-gue” Milly Quezada.

M U S I CM.I.A.Thu Oct 14 8pmMayan Theater1038 S. Hillclubmayan.com

Mathangi Arulpragasam, who dubbed herself as M.I.A., makes her outspo-ken version of electro punk rap a world beat.

D A N C ETere O’Connor Dance: Wrought Iron FogThu Oct 14 and Sat Oct 16 8:30pm; Sun Oct 17 (7pm)REDCAT

631 W, 2ndredcat.org

New York choreogra-pher Tere O’Connor and his troupe offer the West Coast premiere of “Wrought Iron Fog.”

M U S I CMiike SnowThu Oct 14 8:30pmClub Nokia800 W. Olympicclubnokia.com

New York–based singer Andrew Wyatt teams with Swedish production duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg. Also scheduled to ap-pear with Miike Snow, Mark Ronson & The Busi-ness Intl and MNDR.

M U S I CAnthony WilsonThu Oct 14 9pmBlue Whale123 Astronaut E S OnizukaSuite 301(Weller Court)bluewhalemusic.com

Anthony Wilson (guitar) with Adam Benjamin (keys), Hamilton Price (bass) and Mark Ferber on drums. $10 cover and free parking with valida-tion

M U S I CThe MuerTonesThu Oct 14 8pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2nd Los Angelestheredwoodbar.com

The punk-surf rock of The MuerTones with Margate, and Triple Chicken Foot.

FRIDAYOCTOBER 15

M U S I CKruder & DorfmeisterFri Oct 15 9pmClub Nokia800 W. Olympicclubnokia.com

The tour and current release, is titled “The 16 F**king Years Anniver-sary Session.” It has been 17 years since their debut “The K&D Sessions” and fans have looked forward to this the return of Pe-ter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister.

M U S I CDudamel conducts MessiaenFri Oct 15 and Sat Oct 16 8pm; Sun Oct 17 2pmWalt Disney Concert Hall111 S. Grandlaphil.com

LAPhil performs Turan-galîla-symphonie, Mes-siaen’s ten-movement 80-minute “love song.”

M U S I CCynthia JonesFri Oct 15 8pmFirst & Hope Supper Club710 W 1stfirstandhope.com

Soulful jazz singing by Cynthia Jones.

M U S I CAlan BroadbentFri Oct 15 9pmBlue Whale123 Astronaut E S OnizukaSuite 301(Weller Court)bluewhalemusic.com

Alan Broadbent (pia-no) with Putter Smith (bass) and Paul Kreibich (drums). $10 cover and free parking with valida-tion.

M U S I CMalaikat dan SingaFri Oct 15 9pmThe Smell247 S. Mainthesmell.org

Malaikat dan Singa with Foot Village and Never-ever.

M U S I CDrew AndrewsFri Oct 15 10pmCasey’s Irish Pub613 S. Grandbigcaseys.com

Drew Andrews (former-ly of The Album Leaf); Plus Western States Motel.

C O M E D YNatalie GrayFri Oct 15 9pmDowntown Comedy Club114 W 5thdowntowncomedyclub.com

Natalie Gray with Heidi Hayward, Jennifer Mur-phy, and Roz Brown.

M U S I CPure Country GoldFri Oct 15 9pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Pure Country Gold, Sawyer Family, The Country (members of Gram Rabbit), and The Rebel Set.

SATURDAYOCTOBER 16C H I L D R E NNickelodeon Presents Story-time Live!Sat Oct 16 10:30am, 2pm, 5:30pm; Sun Oct 17 10:30am, 2pmNokia Theatre L.A. LIVE777 Chick Hearn Courtnokiatheatrelalive.com

Nickelodeon presents STORYTIME LIVE, a musical adventure fea-turing four of the top-rated preschool shows: “Dora the Explorer,” “The Backyardigans,” “Ni Hao, Kai-lan,” and “Wonder Pets!”

F O O D I EA Taste of ItalySat Oct 16 4pm to 9pmPico House424 N. Mainitalianhall.org

A food and wine lover’s event to benefit the Ital-ian American Museum of Los Angeles. Liba-tions and cuisine from dozens of fine wineries and restaurants. Live

entertainment, dancing set in an atmosphere of historic architecture. General admission $30. VIP $70.

F O O D I EFoodStuff LA Sat Oct 16 7pmSwill Automatic1820 Industrialpedalpatchcommunity.org

A biodynamic wine tasting showcasing the quality of biodynamic agriculture. Tickets are $40 and include a sam-pling of light appetizers from the forthcoming Swill Automatic menu.

T O U RMuseum of Neon ArtCruiseSat Oct 16 7:30pmMuseum of Neon Art136 W. 4thneonmona.org

A 3-hour tour of L.A.’s lit treasures via a double-decker bus as guided by neon expert Eric Lynx-wiler. The tour starts Downtown then on to West Hollywood. The night is satire mixed with science, and the best moments happens when Lynxwiler goes off script.

M U S I CMecedes DaupinaisSat Oct 16 8:30pmFirst & Hope Supper Club710 W 1stfirstandhope.com

Sultry jazz vocals by Mecedes Daupinais.

M U S I CLorca Hart TrioSat Oct 16 9pmBlue Whale123 Astronaut E S OnizukaSuite 301(Weller Court)bluewhalemusic.com

Lorca Hart (drums) with Josh Nelson (piano) and Edwin Livingston (bass). $10 cover and free park-

ing with validation.

M U S I CPalm ReaderSat Oct 16 9pmThe Smell247 S. Mainthesmell.org

Palm Reader with Plas-ma Centre, Peter Pants, and ParallaxScroll.

M U S I CCalaveraSat Oct 16 9pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2nd theredwoodbar.com

Calavera, Woolly Ban-dits, Surf Rats, and Inazuma.

C O M E D YDamienneSat Oct 16 8pmDowntown Comedy Club114 W. 5thdowntowncomedyclub.com

Damienne with Alex Ryan, Eno Inwet, and LeeAnn Tooker.

C O M E D YTammy Jo DearenSat Oct 16 9pmDowntown Comedy Club114 W. 5thdowntowncomedyclub.com

Tammy Jo Dearen with Pamela Walt, Amy Snowden, and Debbie Lockhart.

M U S I CLe Switch and FriendsSat Oct 16 10pmCasey’s Irish Pub613 S. Grandbigcaseys.com

In part a birthday gath-ering for keyboardist Josh Charney, the indie pop group toasts to friendship and making music with a live perfor-mance.

M U S I CLadyfoxSat Oct 16 10:30pmFirst & Hope Supper Club710 W 1stfirstandhope.com

Blues rock vocalist fea-tures self-penned songs highlighted with some soulful R&B covers.

PHOTO BY YI-CHuN Wu.

Tere O’Connor’s “Wrought Iron Fog” will have its West Coast Premiere at REDCAT October 14 through 17.

CalendarblogdowntownWeekly10 Online at blogdowntown.comOctober 14, 2010

SUNDAYOCTOBER 17T A L KAn Afternoon With Allen SaySun Oct 17 2pmJapanese American Na-tional Museum369 E. 1stjanm.org

Award-winning author Allen Say reads from his new book “The Boy in the Garden” and dis-cusses his upcoming projects.

M U S I CAdam BrakelSun Oct 17 4pmCathedral of Our Lady of the Angels555 W. Templeolacathedral.org

Organ Recital featuring Adam Brakel.

M U S I CSlumgumSun Oct 17 8pmBlue Whale

123 Astronaut E S OnizukaSuite 301(Weller Court)bluewhalemusic.com

Slumgum is Trevor Anderies (drums), Rory Cowal (piano), Jon Arm-strong (sax) and Dave Tranchina (bass). $10 cover and free parking with validation.

M U S I CMillion KidsSun Oct 17 8pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2nd theredwoodbar.com

Grunge garage with Mil-lion Kids, Scream, The Gears, Brainspoon.

MONDAYOCTOBER 18

M U S I C

Phil AlvinMon Oct 18 9pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Rockabilly with Phil Al-vin and friends.

M U S I CJohn Daversa Small GroupMon Oct 18 10pmSeven Grand515 W 7thsevengrand.la

Bold sound, through jazz improvisations that aim to stretch boundar-ies while maintaining a reverence for the jazz tradition, is the mission of John Daversa.

TUESDAYOCTOBER 19

M U S I C

Dirty Ed TuesdaysTue Oct 19 8pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2nd theredwoodbar.com

Dirty Ed Tuesdays with Carnage Asada, this months Tuesday night artist-in-residence; Bikos,

Sylvia Juncosa Band + Kat Arthur.

T A L KALOUD with Alex RossTue Oct 19 7pmCentral LibraryMark Taper Auditorium630 W. 5thwww.lfla.org

The Pulitzer-Prize win-ning New Yorker music critic leads an audio tour of several hundred years of music history, from Renaissance lute songs to Led Zeppelin, show-ing how certain motifs of celebration and lament recur in many different contexts and cultures.

M U S I CGreen Umbrella: Music from Bang on a CanTue Oct 19 8pmWalt Disney Concert Hall111 S. GrandLAPhil.com

The LA Phil performs genre-defying music by

the founders of Bang on a Can. Begun in N.Y. by Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe as a one-day festival in 1987, Bang on a Can has grown to become a widely influential en-terprise that commis-sions, performs, creates, presents and records contemporary music.

WEDNESDAYOCTOBER 20

T A L KALOUD with Leslie Marmon Silko

Wed Oct 20 7pm

Central LibraryMark Taper Auditorium630 W. 5thwww.lfla.org

Native American author Leslie Marmon Silko dis-cusses her memoir, “The Turquoise Ledger.”



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blogdowntown Weekly :: October 14, 2010