blogdowntown Weekly - November 25, 2010

NEWS NIGHTLIFEFOOD EVERYDAYCooperation commended in river rescue

Get to know five great sandwiches

Warm up after a night on the ice

New animal sales effort targets buyers

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LIFE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES / BLOGDOWNTOWN.COM / NOVEMBER 25, 2010 1.17

DOING BUSINESS ON MAIN STREET

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There weren’t many retail stores on Main Street when Julie Swayze opened Metropolis Books four years ago.

She decided to take the plunge anyway, opening up the store with husband Steven Bowie on December 1, 2006.

Where a larger retailer might have seen an untested and risky market, Swayze saw an opportunity. “I think you build loyalty from being first,” she says.

While news like October’s signing of mega-retailer Target for the 7+Fig shopping complex is momentous for Down-town, small businesses have provided a backbone for the revitalization taking place at the street level in Downtown.

In support of those efforts, a group led by American Express has declared November 27 the country’s first “Small Business Saturday,” a day where shoppers are encouraged to seek out

Continues on Page 5

By Eric Richardson

HOLIDAY ICE OPENS8UPCOMING SHOWS RIGOLETTO DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION NOV 27 7:30PM

OK GO CLUB NOKIA L.A. LIVE NOV 27 9PM

ROGER WATERS STAPLES CENTER NOV 30 8PM

9LOHENGRIN

Photo by Mikey Wally

Images Downtown’s Week in Pictures

1Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa kicks with members of the Rockettes dur-ing an appearance at the opening of Pershing Square’s Downtown on Ice. NoveMber 18, 2010

3Usher performs during a show at Staples Center, part of his OMG Tour.

NoveMber 18, 2010

4The sun sets be-hind the Down-town skyline in a photo taken from the roof of City Hall East.

NoveMber 22, 2010

2Carina Giron and Josh Jenkins lie on solar photovoltaic film sheets during ‘Solar Eagle Tak-ing Flight’ at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. NoveMber 21, 2010

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Photo by eriC riCharDSoN

Photo by Mark FiSherPhoto by DaviD MarklaND

Photo by DaviD MarklaND

blogdowntownWeekly2 Online at blogdowntown.comNovember 25, 2010

PUBLISHER

Eric Richardson

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News

blogdowntown.com

Most Popular Stories Most Commented StoriesNothing is Simple Down by the River bdtwn.com/5878

Downtown’s New Burger Joint: LA Market by Kerry Simon bdtwn.com/5115

Toddy G’s Opens in the Arts District bdtwn.com/5877

Nickel Diner is the Spot for H&R Block bdtwn.com/5868

Chicken Boy Team Wins Preservation Award bdtwn.com/5870

What Are Downtown’s Most Important Beats? 51 this week – 51 total bdtwn.com/5885

Should Angels Flight Increase Its Fare? 25 this week – 25 total bdtwn.com/5873

Raided Club May Have Used Illegal Employment Terms — 16 this week – 16 total bdtwn.com/5876

Arts District Dog Park Getting a Water Fountain 12 this week – 12 total bdtwn.com/5867

Working TogetherCoordination between police, fire departments praised in rescue

Photo by eriC riCharDSoNLAFD pilot Scott Davison speaks to the media about Sunday’s river rescue during a press conference held atop City Hall East.

By Eric RichardsonClose coordination between police and

fire crews was credited Monday for saving the life of a man swept into the Los Angeles River one day earlier.

Helicopter crews from both departments were involved in the rescue, which culmi-nated with a fire rescue crew pulling the man out of the water while flying backward along the river channel.

“I’ve never seen that,” said Mayor Anto-nio Villaraigosa at a press conference held atop City Hall East. “I didn’t know it was possible.”

LAPD tactical flight officer Chad Reuser was working in the tower at Piper Techni-cal Center’s Hooper Memorial Heliport on Sunday morning when he saw a man fall into the river underneath the 1st Street bridge just before 8am on Sunday morning.

He used the facility’s public address system to notify on-call officers, who were off the ground in a helicopter within four minutes. They caught up with the man just before he passed under the 6th Street bridge.

The officers put out a call to LAFD’s Fire 3 , which responded from Van Nuys within minutes.

Firefighter Armando Carranza was lowered into the water from the hovering helicopter as the man was swept into Vernon, grabbing hold of him near the Bandini Boule-vard bridge.

“For us, it was just another day at the fire station,” said LAFD pilot Scott Davison, who was at the controls of the rescue helicopter on Sunday.

“It feels good,” he continued. Like a well-oiled football team, we practice, practice, practice and then we want to go to the game.”

“For us, this was just a Sunday game.”It took just 25 minutes from that first

spot for the fire crew to drop the man off at a hospital. Though bloody and suffering from hyperthermia when pulled out of the 50-degree water, the man was released from the hospital later on Sunday in good health.

“Through teamwork and because the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department love working together and they’re good at it, his life was saved,” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.

viDeooNliNe bdtwn.com/ 5891

What Are Down-town’s Most Im-portant Beats?Not news exactly, but blogdowntown readers have been engaged in a healthy debate this week over what topics are most important in coverage of Downtown Los Angeles.

Broadway Arts Center to Move Forward

The City Council’s Arts, Parks and Aging committee will vote Tuesday to accept $100,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts toward study of the proposed Broadway Arts Center, a mixed-use center for the arts offering affordable artists’ housing, incubator performance / exhi-bition space, ground floor retail spaces, creative office space, an educational facility, and support for existing historic theatres.

Feasibility studies and needs assess-ments are planned to begin in early 2011.

Planning Revamp Detailed

New Planning director Michael LoGrande goes before the Council’s plan-ning committee on Tuesday to present Blueprint 2010-11, a list of eight strategic changes designed to do more with less resources.

The changes are also intended to speed up the timeline in which projects move through the city approval process.

DiSCUSSoNliNe bdtwn.com/ 5885

blogdowntownWeekly 3Online at blogdowntown.com November 25, 2010

Everydayyday

City Looking to Target Animal BuyersBuyers could soon face misdemeanor charges for purchasing illegally sold animals on the sidewalk

By David MarklandA new ordinance designed to give law enforcement another tool in the fight against illegal animal sales on Los Angeles streets took a step forward this week, but it remains to be seen if it will have any effect on a problem that numerous raids and frequent arrests have done little to impact.

On any given day, shoppers along Maple in the Fashion District can find street vendors selling small turtles no larger than a quarter and baby rabbits that could fit in the palm of your hand. “Downtown could easily be Bangladesh,” says Lejla Hadzimu-

ratovic, who has lived all over the world and witnessed similar scenes in third-world countries.

Hadzimuratovic created the Bunny World Foundation to rescue the baby rabbits sold illegally near Santee Alley in 2008. She said the problem is that the animals are too young to survive and 90 percent of them die soon after being purchased.

“The animals are taken away from their mothers before they’re really old enough. They’re not resistant to disease, so they get taken home and they die,” says Linda Barth, Assistant General Manager, Los Ange-

les Animal Services. According to Barth, some rabbits are sold at just one week old, long before the 12 to 16 weeks of weening a healthy rabbit would need to survive and flourish.

Sellers claim that the rabbits are old enough to eat solid vegetables. Instead, consumers take rabbits home to find them struck with seizures from the lack of moth-er’s milk, says Hadzimuratovic.

On Monday, the City Council’s Public Safety committee approved the concept of an ordinance that would make it a misdemeanor for consumers to purchase these animals off

the street. In addition, Los Angeles Animal Services is seeking approval and funding to post signs alerting the public that street sales of animals are illegal.

Currently, the law simply holds vendors accountable who “display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away, upon any street or side-walk, or other public place in the City of Los Angeles, any rabbits, baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl, as pets or novelties, whether or not dyed, colored or otherwise artificially treated.” The law also states that rabbits less than four weeks of age cannot be sold or given away.

Enforcing the law is another issue. During a brief visit this past Sunday, street vendors were out selling bunnies in small cages for $20 each and water turtles for $8. Just before district security rolled up, one illegal vendor quickly tossed the turtles into a trash bag and walked off with the cages. Minutes later, the same woman was seen selling the animals fifty yards away.

The scene repeats itself daily.Randall Tampa, operations director for

the Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID), says that the various ille-gal vendors communicate with each other using walkie talkies, warning each other when security or police are in the area. He says that in addition to regular arrests of illegal vendors by the LAPD, the BID distrib-utes fliers periodically to alert shoppers of the illicit nature of street vendors selling animals.

Along with bootleg DVD sellers and unli-censed food carts, he says illegal pet sales “detract from what we’re trying to do with the district. It detracts from the name and image we’re trying to portray.”

As blogdowntown reported last year, a raid of illegal animal sellers around Santee Valley resulted in ten felony arrests with bail of $20,000 set for the accused. However, due to Los Angeles prison overcrowding, those with bail of less than $25,000 were released on their own recognizance.

Bunny World’s Hadzimuratovic says that


Photo by eD FUeNteSCages containing rabbits and turtles sit in the sun near 11th and Maple in August of 2009.

Continues on Page 11


neighborhood shops and restaurants. The event comes one day after “Black

Friday,” a shopping phenomenon focused on big retailers and outrageous specials.

Swayze came from that corporate retail world, launching stores for Pier 1 Imports and working as a buyer for Robinsons-May.

In the corporate world, Swayze was used to store opening decisions that were made by capturing zip code data from shoppers at an existing store. If enough buyers were making their way over from a certain area, that’s where the next store would go. “There really isn’t a lot of risk,” she explains.

In opening her bookstore, she had to make a decision that was based more on instinct. While Swayze had followed Down-town’s development since the opening of the San Fernando Lofts at 4th and Main, it wasn’t a market that lent itself to the same sort of data.

“You have to just throw a little bit of caution to the wind, because you just don’t know,” she says. “You just have to say ‘We’ll just have to try it out and see.’”

That decision made life a little easier for Jim and Celia Winstead when they and part-ner James Adams decided to open art and architecture supply store Raw Materials two doors up Main Street. “It was certain-ly encouraging to be able to look around and see Julie making a go of it,” says Jim

Winstead.Their store is now celebrating its own two-

year anniversary.Both Swayze and the Winsteads feel that

an important part of their success is the personal attention that they are able to give to neighborhood customers.

“This is where you call someone and say ‘Here is a book that I think you’d like’ or ‘Here’s the next one in the series and it’s on order for you,’” Swayze notes. “We’re eclectic and different and doing it opposite of the chains.”

That uniqueness can also be appealing to those from elsewhere. “Shop-ping is a very popular activity for visitors,” explains Carol Marti-nez, a spokeswoman for LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The unique, one-of-a-kind stores are part of what makes L.A. so appealing to people.” The organization is one of the supporters of Saturday’s event.

Of course, being small also means that a lot is demanded of the store owner. “With mom and pop, you’re the face of the busi-ness,” Swayze says. “You always have to be on. You always have to be courteous.”

“That’s what’s tough about being a busi-

ness owner. You just have to realize it’s all you.”

Still, she wouldn’t have it any other way.“My dream is not to grow [Metropolis]

into a box chain. It’s to keep it small and boutique.” Her plans don’t end up with a store that has dozens of employees, either. “That wasn’t why I went into business. I came from that world.”

“I’m much less stressed running my own business,” she says. “It’s funny, because being here is like being at home. It’s like it is

an extension of my living room. I feel really strange when I’m not here.”

In its promotional materials for Small Busi-ness Saturday, American Express talks about the role that mom and pop shops play in local econo-mies. The company cites a research firm’s claim that $68 of each $100 spent at a local small business is returned to the commu-nity.

The message appears to be resonating with

consumers. A Facebook page for the event had nearly 900,000 fans as of press time on Tuesday morning.

Asked about her goals for the store, Swayze speaks of ambitions that are just as much about getting Downtown attention as

they are about seeing profit for her store. “In 2011, that would be definitely our goal, to get someone here that you would just think, ‘They’re in Downtown? They’re doing a book signing in Downtown?’”

While it may not be the splashy event she’s hoping to create, the store’s event during the December Downtown Art Walk should at least be loud. Metropolis will be hosting a book signing event for “The Man on the Ladder,” a book that chronicles 40 years of Dr. Arthur C. Bartner and his direction of the USC Spirit of Troy Marching Band. Members of the band will be present, though “not the whole band,” Swayze is quick to note.

The Art Walk has played an important role in fostering businesses on Main and Spring streets, and Celia Winstead says that even temporary retailers have played an impor-tant role in the neighborhood’s development. “These pop-ups have been doing a great job of introducing people to the neighborhood,” she says.

In the end, though, it is those people who live nearby that both stores are most trying to serve. That’s a relationship that they hope works both ways. “I wonder sometime if people take existing businesses for granted,” Celia Winstead says. “If you love this neigh-borhood, what is it about it that makes it special?”

“With mom and pop, you’re

the face of the business,” Swayze says. “You always

have to be on.”

Small Businesses


Continued from Page 1


Food


Grilled Vegetable Focaccia Sand-wich at California Pizza Kitchen

This grilled veggie sandwich is a perfect choice for vegetarians or a great way to fit more veggies in your daily diet. Sauteed Portobello mushrooms and grilled red and yellow peppers are topped with fontina and mozzarella cheese, sliced Roma tomatoes, fresh mixed greens and a sun-dried tomato aioli served on focaccia bread. California Pizza Kitchen / 735 S. Figueroa or 330 S. Hope

The quest for the perfect sandwich is never-ending, with so many possibilities. Hot. Cold. Pressed. Grilled. Sweet. Savory. No matter which kind of sandwich you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it Downtown. Check out these five just right bites.

Burrata Sandwich at Spring St. Bar

This take on the caprese sandwich is outstanding. The creamy burrata cheese is complemented by roasted tomatoes, olive oil, basil and fig vinegar takes the place of balsamic on a ciabatta roll. This sandwich is the perfect size for an afternoon bite. Buon appetito! Spring St. Bar / 626 S. Spring

Quest For Great SandwichesThe Argentinean Sandwich at Kachi

If garlic is your friend, you’re in for a treat! The grilled rosemary chicken breast panini sandwich with provolone and chimichurri sauce, mixed greens, tomato and mayo is the perfect blend of salt, garlic and herbs. Typically it’s served on ciabatta, but ask for it on rosemary focaccia for the best flavor. Defi-nitely worth a trip across the highway and an afternoon investment in breath mints. Kachi Deli Café / 1001 Wilshire

Photo by Mikey Wally

Photo by JeNNi SiMCoe



By Shannon VasquezThe man in the signature flame-red shirt might not look familiar to Downtowners, but Westsiders may recognize David Greenberg from the Westwood institution Falafel King, which he owned for many years after he opened it in the ‘70s. With Flames, his new Mediterranean Grill, ‘royalty’ reaches Down-town, specifically the historic Haas Building on 7th between Broadway and Spring streets.

“I am aware of what is going on Downtown and I want to be a part of it because it’s excit-ing,” says Greenberg. “I recognize and am happily surprised by the sense of community I am feeling Downtown.”

The family-run eatery is the result of 34

years in the restaurant business. The made-from-scratch recipes at Flames are rich in the family’s Eastern Mediterranean heritage.

The turned and sliced lamb and turkey Shawarma, fresh falafel and chicken kabobs are offered as a pita, baguette, or full plate. There’s also a twist on the Mediterranean menu with fajita-style items which Green-berg says, “is an infusion of flavors with my own touch.” Flames’ specialty salads and sides include eggplant tomato salad, cabbage salad, Mediterranean salad, corn salad, pota-to salad, eggplant, hummus, and tahini. The homemade fries are a battered hybrid of a huge potato chip and a French fry. White rice, green salad and pita bread are menu staples. A condiment station includes several hot pepper and sauce options.

Menu prices start at $2.99 for a small Hummus and top out at $9.99 for a Shawarma plate. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday 10am to midnight, Thursday through Saturday 10am to 2am and Sunday 10:30am to 10pm. Greenberg says he hopes to add delivery soon.

Flames / 225 W. 7th / 213.622.3033

Falafel King Opens FlamesShawarma, kabobs and falafel served up in the Haas Building

Photo by ShaNNoN vaSqUez

Asian Pear & Gouda Sandwich on Raisin Walnut

Bread at Syrup DessertsThe mix of salty melted cheese with the

tart sweet Asian pear makes this sandwich one of the only things on the menu that doesn’t count as dessert. Think of it as grilled cheese with a twist. The raisins slightly cara-melize on the outside before the bread gets a dusting of powdered sugar. Syrup Desserts / 611 S. Spring

Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi at Mendocino Farms

Mendocino Farms takes on the popular Vietnamese Sandwich with braised, cara-melized Kurobuta pork belly, housemade pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, cucum-bers, jalapenos, chili aioli on panini grilled ciabatta. The hot pork belly with the tangy cool daikon and carrots is the perfect mix of salty, sweet, tart flavors and textures. Mendocino Farms / 300 S. Grand or 444 S. Flower


FOODIE BITESCooking classes:

Hip Cooks: A Romantic Dinner for 2, $55Tue Nov 30, 6-9pmeastla.hipcooks.com

Billed as a way to knock your date’s socks off, you’ll learn how to make bruschetta, risotto, salad and crème brûlée for the perfect date night.

Border Grill: Entertaining a Holi-day Crowd, $75Sat Dec 4, 11am-1pmbordergrill.com

Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger will demonstrate their secrets to creating fabu-lous cocktails and recipes from a multi-course holiday lunch.

Send info about upcoming food events to [email protected].


Calendar

THANKSGIVING DAY THURSDAYNOVEMBER 25

S P O R T S ClippersThu Nov 25 7:30pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroanba.com/clippers

L.A. Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings.

FRIDAYNOVEMBER 26

C H I L D R E NYo Gabba Gabba! LiveFri Nov 26 2pm, 5pmClub Nokia L.A. Live800 W. Olympicclubnokia.com

Live stage version of the popular Nick Jr. TV show with DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and guest rapper

Biz Markie. Kids love it, and the mix of hip-hop, club culture and indie rock with staging using a look lifted from 1980s video-game graphics will keep fidgety parents from asking “Is it over yet?” More performances on Satur-day, November 27 (11am, 2pm, 5pm).

M U S I CSalonen conducts Hindemith and WagnerFri Nov 26 8pmWalt Disney Concert Hall111 S. Grandlaphil.org

Conductor Laureate Salonen and Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) team up some Wagnerian excerpts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The program includes Wagner’s “Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg” and “Ride of the Valkyries” from “Die Walküre.” Other performances on Saturday, November 27 (8pm) and Sunday, November 28 (2pm).

M U S I C / C O M E D YZane LampreyFri Nov 26 9pmClub Nokia L.A. Live800 W. Olympicclubnokia.com

“It’s drinkin’ songs and comedy,” says TV host / beer hound Zane Lamprey about his show “Sing Your Booze.”

M U S I C Incan AbrahamFri Nov 26 9pmRedwood Bar and Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Incan Abraham, Fatty Dearest, and Shadow Shadow Shade.

SATURDAYNOVEMBER 27

H O L I D A YCraft Class with Ruthie Kitagawa:

Holiday Cards

Sat Nov 27 1pmJapanese American National Museum369 E. 1stjanm.org

Ruthie Kitagawa leads classes to make personal holiday-inspired cards for friends and family.

M U S I CRigolettoSat Nov 27 7:30pmDorothy Chandler Pavilion135 N. Grandmusiccenter.org

Verdi’s Rigoletto conducted by James Conlon. The title role will be per-formed by Georgian baritone George Gagnidze in his Company debut. Plus soprano Sarah Coburn as Gilda and Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova as the Duke of Mantua.

L.A. Kings Holiday IceOpens Sat Nov 27L.A. Live800 W. Olympic lalive.com/holidayice

L.A. Live opens its outdoor ice rink on Nokia Plaza, offering skat-ing seven days a week until New Year’s Eve. Time on the ice is $12 for unlimited skating. On Decem-ber 22, kids can skate with Santa from 7 to 8pm. The rink is larger

Pershing Square Downtown on IceOpen Daily532 S. Olivelaparks.org/pershingsquare

Pershing Square’s outdoor rink opened for the season on Novem-ber 18. Skating takes place from noon to 10pm Monday through Friday and 10am to 10pm on the weekend. A one-hour skate ses-

than last year’s inaugural offering, measuring 70 feet by 80 feet. On the first day, skating runs from 3 to 11pm. From November 28 until December 17 the rink is open Monday through Friday from 5pm to 11pm; Saturday through Sunday from noon to 11pm. The hours are extended to 11am until 11pm daily from December 18 to December 30. On December 31, you can skate into 2011 from Noon to 1am.

sion is $6, with skate rental an additional $2.Winter Concert Series

Friday, November 26, 8pmINXS-IVE: A Tribute to INXS

Sunday, November 28, 2pmJumpin’ Joz Band

NightlifegBy Michael F. RobletoManhattan has Rockefeller Center, an enduring tradition that is synony-

mous with ice-skating during the holiday season. Fortunately, Downtown-ers can get into that same holiday spirit, right here at home—at L.A. Live and Pershing Square.

A light dinner at one of the many eclectic eateries in Downtown will keep you nimble on your feet. After a couple hours of laps around the rink, warm up with an artisanal cocktail.

Pershing Square

Locals and those “in the know” flock to the rink at Pershing Square. In it’s 13th season, this rink is cheaper and often times way more entertaining.

Start your evening with a memorable meal at The Gorbals at 5th and Spring, a mere three blocks from the ice. The insanely creative tapas style featured here not only will keep you limber, but will also give you much fodder for the remainder of the evening. Or head straight to the rink early and partake in one of the many Food Trucks that have been camping out during peak hours.

After a few hundred laps around the rink your ankles will need numbing and your core will need some warming. Walk one block south to Olive and 7th and drop into Seven Grand for a holiday Julep or an Irish coffee. Monday through Wednesday nights at Seven Grand feature live jazz that syncs well with the musical theme of Pershing Square rink. For something cozy and quaint, you can cab over to the O Bar and Hotel on 8th and Flower to enjoy their roaring modern fire-place. Every time I have been here, the large spacious couches in front of the fireplace are empty, making for a great insiders tip.

L.A. Live

After some hours of skating you should wrap up your night on ice by heading to one of the eateries at L.A. Live. For a romantic option you could hobble over to the Ritz and enjoy the breathtaking views from the WP24 Lounge. Located on the 24th floor of the Ritz tower, this Wolfgang Puck lounge and restaurant offers surprisingly affordable and creative cocktail.

Fortunately several businesses outside of L.A. Live have banked on their proximity and can offer a unique and affordable evening meal. Corkbar, located at 12th and Grand, offers a quaint outdoor fireplace that you can warm next to while you snack on cheese and charcuterie boards at affordable prices.

For something more winter themed, you can make your way to Cana Rum Bar just south of Olympic on Flower. The outdoor patio has a fireplace that is always running and a new holiday special that features host-ed DonQ cocktails Mondays from 8pm to 10pm. That’s right, free holiday booze! Bar membership required ($20) or you can come as a guest of a current member.

Continues on Page 10


Lohengrin Evokes MemoriesThe L.A. Opera’s new staging can’t live up to the company’s past performancesBy Donna PerlmutterLordy, lordy. A bombed-out wreckage of a church. Pale bodies strewn everywhere, blood-soaked bandages wrapping them. And what was supposed to be the magical arrival of a swan-borne Lohengrin – the knight in shining armor who would rescue the inno-

cent Elsa from corrupt connivers -- turned out as the inauspicious appearance of a well-fed, but bummy burgher with a silverish knee-high boot. Forget the majestic music that heralds the moment. Sound and sight are not in sync here.

For this season’s venture with Wagner,

the Los Angeles Opera brought us a new production of “Lohengrin.” But at its Satur-day premiere many kept wondering: Where are you, Maximilian Schell, now that we need you, especially to offset pictorially the score’s passages of overbearing Germanic triumphalism? (More on that later.)

Just bear in mind that director Lydia Stei-er, who comes with rather high credentials, harkened back to the unenlightened days of opera as stand-and-sing ritual, replete with awkward attempts at acting but most of the time resorting to stock gestures and stage positions.

When the only action involves bodies occasionally being carried out on litters, you know you’re in trouble. And when two sluggish men (one of them rather large) try to stage an unconvincing sword/knife fight before your very eyes, you’ve learned much about unintentional comedy.

To make matters even worse (read funni-er), designer Dirk Hofacker costumed the weighty king and his staff in Prussian plumed helmets and military sashes with wide belts maximizing their considerable avoir dupois. They strode slowly to stage-front, barrel-belly first, and bellowed in best wobble-style.The women, poor things, looked like frumpy

housekeepers in blood-smudged aprons. (What? No feminine nobility?). Otherwise, his two-sided revolving unit set served the purpose.

Things did improve following the first disastrous act. For instance, Soile Isokoski as Elsa delivered her heart-felt lament sitting picturesquely in the frame of a high-up window. Throughout, the Swedish soprano sang with lustrous tone, musicality to spare, a free top voice and even added a deft appog-giatura here. So did Dolora Zajick, as the nefarious Ortrud, work her machine-like mezzo at full vehement volume. Ben Hepner, in the title role, seemed to be saving himself (or just trying to warm up) for the taxing last act. And although his tenor broke once, he had many vocally shining moments, carrying off the end ahead of the game.

James Conlon, who seems never to stop

“When the only action involves

bodies occasionally being carried out

on litters, you know you’re in trouble.”

Photo by robert MillarDSoile Isokoski (Elsa), Ben Heppner (Lohengrin) and Kristinn Sigmundsson (King Heinrich) headline the cast of the L.A. Opera’s new Lohengrin. Continues on Page 11


The Wooster Group: Vieux CarreOpens Dec 1 7pmREDCAT631 W. 2nd Stredcat.orgThe daring and enduring Wooster Group brings the U.S. premiere of version of Tennessee Williams’ “Vieux Carre,” which is not to say it will be a straight interpretation. Wooster Group is know for finding underplayed subtext and bring-ing it to center stage. It challenges the most experienced theater-goer, while exciting them at the same time. Runs through December 12.

‘Next to Normal’Through January 2Ahmanson Theatre135 N. Grandcentertheatregroup.orgThe rock-style musical about a sub-urban housewife and mother with bipolar disorder plays L.A. before heading onward to its National Tour. (It is still playing on Broadway until January). Alice Ripley reprises her role as Diana.

‘Harps and Angels’Through Dec 22Mark Taper Forum135 N. Grandcentertheatregroup.orgA six-actor revue based on Randy Newman’s musical catalog with avant-garde satire and non-sentimen-tal sweetness.

‘Crimes of the Heart’Through Dec 5 8pmEast West Players120 Judge John Aisoeastwestplayers.orgLeslie Ishii directs the classic dark comedy about three Southern sisters reuniting during a family crisis.

‘Calligraphy’Through Dec 12Los Angeles Theatre Center514 S. Spring Stthelatc.comA look at troubled family obligations between two cousins-one from Los Angeles and the other from Tokyo—who together cope with their fued-ing and aging mothers.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Through Dec 12Company of AngelsAlexandria Hotel501 S. Springurbantheatremovement.comUrban Theatre Movement presents this courtroom drama set in purga-tory.

Here is a quick look at what Downtown’s Theater’s are offer-ing this week.

Scott Shepherd in “Vieux Carré”.

Michael McKean in “Harps and Angels” at the Mark Taper Forum.

From left: Maya Erskine, Kimiko Gelman, and Elizabeth Liang as the Magrath sisters in “Crimes of the Heart” for East West Players.

THEATER

Photo by FraNCk beloNCle

Photo by CraiG SChWartz

Photo by MiChael laMoNt/eWP

M U S I CDoghouse LordsSat Nov 27 9pmRedwood Bar and Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Doghouse Lords, Sassafrass, Brain-spoon, and Lightnin’ Woodcock.

S P O R T SKingsSat Nov 27 7:30pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroakings.nhl.com

L.A. Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks.

M U S I COK GoSat Nov 27 9pmClub Nokia L.A. Live800 W. Olympicclubnokia.com

OK Go treadmills into Club Nokia with A Fine Frenzy and Summer Darling.

SUNDAYNOVEMBER 28

S P O R T SClippersSun Nov 28 12:30pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroanba.com/clippers

L.A. Clippers vs. Utah Jazz.

M U S I CJumpin’ Joz BandSun Nov 28 2pmPershing Square532 South Olivelaparks.org/pershingsquare

Winter Concert Series brings swing, salsa, and blues Sunday. This week, Jumpin’ Joz Band will add some swinging atmosphere for Downtown On Ice.

S P O R T SLakersSun Nov 28 6:30pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroanba.com/lakers

L.A. Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers.

M U S I C LohengrinSun Nov 28th 2pmDorothy Chandler Pavilion135 N. Grandmusiccenter.org

James Conlon, an internationally acclaimed exponent of Wagnerian repertoire, brings his musical vision to the lyrical “Lohengrin.” The pro-duction presents Ben Heppner in the title role and features the Company debuts of two other noted Wagnerian artists: Kristinn Sigmundsson (King Heinrich) and Soile Isokoski (Elsa). Dolora Zajick makes her title debut as the schemining Ortrud. James John-son appears as the Telramund.

S P O R T SClippersSun Nov 28 12:30pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroanba.com/clippers

L.A. Clippers vs. Utah Jazz.

S P O R T S LakersSun Nov 28 6:30pm

Staples Center1111 S. Figueroanba.com/lakers

L.A. Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers.

M U S I CBlue ShadowsSun Nov 28 9pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Blue Shadows with RumbleKing.

M U S I C Chris Dundas GroupSun Nov 28 9pmBlue Whale123 Astronaut E.S. Onizuka, Suite 301Weller Court

Chris Dundas on Acoustic Piano, with Buzz Feiten (Electric and Acoustic Guitar), Peter Erskine (Drums), Bob Sheppard (Tenor and Soprano Sax), and Dave Carpenter (Acoustic and Electric Bass).

MONDAYNOVEMBER 29

M U S I CPhil Alvin and FriendsMon Nov 29 9pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Phil Alvin and Friends.

M U S I CRoger WatersMon Nov 29 8pmStaples Center1111 S. Figueroastaplescenter.com rogerwaters.com

Roger Waters, co-founder and prin-cipal songwriter of the progressive band Pink Floyd, is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the original release of The Wall with a monu-mental tour featuring a full band and a newly-mounted state-of-the-art production of his masterpiece, which willl be played in its entirety. (Also November 30.)

M U S I CRobby Marshall GroupMon Nov 29 10pmSeven Grand515 West 7th Streetsevengrand.la

Young jazz saxophonist Robby Mar-shall.

S P O R T SLos Angeles MatadorsMon Nov 29 5pmNokia Theatre L.A. Live777 Chick Hearn Courtnokiatheatrelalive.com

The Los Angeles Matadors, one of the

Continued from Page 8


exulting in Wagner (and all that pertains to his post here as L.A. Opera’s music director) coaxed from the orchestra/chorus vigorous outpourings alternated with lyrical flow.

But why did everything onstage have to be prosaic, a throwback toold-fashioned storybook realism? Where could we find any nuance in Wagner’s exhaustive philosophies on good and evil? Ditto his Holy Grail mysti-cism and his mythic prophecies?

Because Maximilian Schell’s production from roughly 10 years ago was such a stun-ner (designed by the same Dirk Hofack-er!!!!!) and because it dealt with the issues in ways so evocative, multi-dimensional and cinematic, the questions loom large. Accord-ing to the company’s press department the older staging’s borrowed Mariinsky parts have been destroyed. But those could surely have been built back together as inexpen-sively as this mess – not so the cast, which included the late Gosta Winbergh, yes, that blond Adonis of a Lohengrin with a match-ing golden tenor.

Ah, memories.

boxing teams in the newly formed global World Series of Boxing, will hold its home opener on Sunday against the Mexico City Guerreros in a North American conference show-down. World Series of Boxing teams will compete throughout the winter with the winner advancing to the semifinals to compete against teams from other continents. Individuals in the WSB are competing for a spot in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

TUESDAYNOVEMBER 30

M U S I CPiano SpheresTue Nov 30 8pmZipper Concert Hallat the Colburn School200 S. Grandpianospheres.org

Piano Spheres presents Vicki Ray with the Eclipse Quartet; Morton Feldman, Piano & String Quartet.

M U S I CMillion KidsTue Nov 30 9pm

The Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Also with Symbol Six and Soul Trash.

WEDNESDAYDECEMBER 1

M U S I CLove Sick ElephantWed Dec 1 8pmThe Redwood Bar & Grill316 W. 2ndtheredwoodbar.com

Also with Julie Caine and Mark Lane.

M U S I CJon AndersonWed Dec 1 8pmThe Orpheum Theatre842 S. Broadwaylaorpheum.com

Jon Anderson, the former lead singer for progressive group YES, does a roundabout with a solo presenta-tion: “An Acoustic Evening with Jon Anderson.”

her organization has taken in one thousand bunnies since it started, and continues to receive new rabbits twice a week. While she appreciates the effort and attention to addressing the issue of illegal bunny sales, she is skeptical additional laws will reduce the practice. “Do we expect those folks to follow the law or read the signs?” she asks. “The LAPD is extraordinary in arresting them but the Sheriff’s Department keeps releasing them.”

Hadzimuratovic would like to see a full time full-time security guard dedicated to fending off pet dealers.

Monday’s action is just one in a number of steps that the proposed ordinance must take before it becomes law, something that likely would take several months.

In the meantime, Linda Barth with Animal Services says those involved have to keep trying with the resources they currently have. “Our concern is a two-fold one,” she says. “The animals are suffering. They’re being bred for the purpose to be sold off. We are also concerned for people who are buying these animals and don’t know how to take care of them.”

Lohengrin Animal SalesContinued from Page 9 Continued from Page 4

By David MarklandRunning ten days from Friday, November

19th through Tuesday the 28th, the annual car show has more than a handful of kid friendly activities. Here’s a look at ten things to distract your kids with while perusing for cars:

The Mini Display: Like a giant Hot Wheels set, assorted Minis are placed in action scenarios that will stir any kid’s imagination. One Mini is hugging the wall driving along Antarctica, another has a rope tied around it, ready to lift it from a forest and another is seemingly filled with cash.

Camaro’s Bullet Time Video Booth: Jump in front of the 2011 Camaro Convert-ible and be captured in a “bullet time” video. Using the technology made famous in the Matrix films, 27 digital cameras will snap all at once and directly email to grandma.

Incredible Cross Sections: What kid doesn’t like to rip open their toys to see how things work? A number of automakers have done the same with their big toys, slicing their vehicles in half to let people see the guts. A sliced 2011 Ford Explorer Limited even allows for up close touching.

Tag Up Your Own 2012 Ford Fiesta using a large format touch screen display. It’s like a giant coloring book, but where you get to encourage your kid to spraypaint a car. When done, you can email the image to grandma.

The Xbox Kinect may end up on your kid’s wish list after they try it here. The gaming system features hands-free controls. At their booth, play a driving game simply by holding your hands up at the three and nine o’clock positions you’ll be steering a virtual wheel.

Slot Track Racing. Up to four people can compete against each on driving small versions of the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss at large tabletop slot track.

The Nissan Quest Kids Fun Zone in Kentia Hall is set aside specifically for the 12 and under crowd, video games, and the Dodge Kids’ Course for the little ones to get behind the wheel. The Fun Zone is only open November 26-28, 9am – 8pm.

10 Fun Things For Kids ToDo at the L.A. Auto Show

At the L.A. Auto Show, 27 cameras will shoot at once to catch you mid-air for a bullet time video in front of a Camaro.

PHOTOS BY DAVID MARKLAND



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blogdowntown Weekly - November 25, 2010