Arts & Culture

'Konnichiwa' – and 'Aloha' – From Little Tokyo

By Ed Fuentes — April 07, 2008

Wave

This weekend marked the 7th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California's second year in Little Tokyo. Like all young trees in early growth, the bloom is small. Still, for a street fair that competes for community support with the Little Tokyo Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival and the popular Tofu Festival, the event was a success. The streets...


Ahmanson Debuts '9 to 5'

By Ed Fuentes — April 04, 2008

Music Center

As part of the redesign for blogdowntown, Arts and Culture Editor is the heady title Mr. Richardson has bestowed upon this contributor. The position conjures up the image of a writer whipping a smart looking scarf around his neck, lighting a cigarette, filling a snifter with a fine brandy, and proceeding to sit down and stroke his graying beard to ponder Downtown’s...


This Weekend: Gardens and Blossoms Downtown

By Ed Fuentes — April 04, 2008

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This weekend brings the Cherry Blossom Festival to Little Tokyo and an Art Walk to the Brewery. It's a weekend to get out and just enjoy Downtown.


Sunday: Charles Phoenix Gives His Last Tour of Downtown as Disneyland

By Eric Richardson — April 03, 2008
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Clifton's Slide

Charles Phoenix is no ordinary historian. It stands to reason, then, that his tour of Downtown L.A. is no ordinary tour. This Sunday, Phoenix is giving what is advertised as the last of his fabled "Disneyland" tours of Downtown. It's a six-hour bus and walking tour that takes you to attractions like 'Main Street USA', 'Adventureland', 'Fantasyland', 'Frontierland...


Saturday: Night Gallery at the Regent

By Eric Richardson — March 28, 2008
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Regent

The Regent Theatre's location and size speak well for its potential return as a vital part of the Historic Core's entertainment lineup. For the moment, though, shows are less than regular. Tomorrow night the space comes alive as David J of Bauhaus performs material from his stage show "Silver for Gold", which just closed a two-week run in Hollywood. The...


Diving into the Neon Buzz of Downtown

By Ed Fuentes — March 26, 2008
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dive in

Through the windows of a 4th Street Gilville outpost, glass tubes filled with neon gas are lit documents to lost commercial venues. Like paintings and sculptures that gain value when the artist dies, a neon sign gains notoriety after the business is gone. It doesn't take very long to find old neon Downtown, with tube hanging throughout the neighborhood on historic...


Blessing of the Animals Brings Out L.A.'s Pets

By Ed Fuentes — March 23, 2008
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Blessing of the Animals

Saturday marked the 78th Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street. The procession from the plaza to a Los Angeles street stage was led by a single cow. Once there, prayers were said, speeches made and doves released. Curious who they choose who gets the lead? The cow gets that honor for being the animal that has given most to humanity. After the initial...


Good Friday Brings the Crowds to Get Their Seafood

By Ed Fuentes — March 21, 2008
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Fisherman's Outlet

Fisherman's Outlet is hidden away in the industrial area just off Skid Row, but on this Good Friday afternoon it was anything but empty. Patrons of all types and occupations lined up despite a sizable wait, making their pilgrimage to a place regarded as serving what is quite possibly L.A.'s best seafood. On the sidewalk, 15-year-old Max Shinbane passed out...


EVFA Opens This Weekend in the Arts District

By Ed Fuentes — March 20, 2008
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Edgar

Edgar Varela joined the Downtown art scene a few years ago and since then he’s been the multi-tasking man about town. “I started out with a few parties that had happened to exhibit art in the same space,” he says “Now I’m an art dealer, sometimes a curator, then a gallery owner… or maybe everything at the same time.” That space was the former Citizen’s Warehouse...


St Patrick's Day Brings a Crowd to Pershing Square

By Ed Fuentes — March 17, 2008
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Packed at Pershing

L.A.'s St Patrick's Day Parade is a small town gathering compared to celebrations held in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Ireland. There was still a few empty blocks near the Civic Center, and road closures had commuters snarling on the freeway. Under the flag at 5th and Hill, LAPD officer Jack Richter directs revelers to Pershing Square. The annual...