Everyday Living

Seeking Volunteers for Downtown Tree Planting

By Eric Richardson — September 17, 2009
6 Comments

Toppled Tree on Hope

Want to help do a little Downtown greening? The Downtown Center BID is seeking volunteers for an October 3 tree planting sponsored by Ralphs. The trees, provided by the City's Million Trees initiative, will be planted around the Financial District.


Park[ing] Day Returns

By Eric Richardson — September 17, 2009
4 Comments

Park(ing) Day

Park[ing] Day L.A. returns for its third year on Friday, bringing a handful of pop-up park spaces to Downtown's streets and alleys. The event, intended to highlight the need for urban park space, was built around the idea of temporarily reclaiming parking spaces as green space.


Video: Catching up with Crazy Gideon

By Ed Fuentes — September 16, 2009 — 10 Comments

CrazyGideon Ed Fuentes

Before there was an "Arts District," Gideon Kotzer moved his appliance and electronics empire to a warehouse on Traction Avenue in 1991. Since then the man better known as "Crazy" Gideon has taken a hammer to many a television set to show how mental instability can mean savings for you.

Recently, "Going out of Business" showed up on the front of the store building, which Koltzer hopes to convert to residential units. — Continued Inside...


Working Out Atop Downtown

By Jeannine Denholm — September 15, 2009
1 Comment

Educogym

If hitting the treadmill isn't high on your list of things to do, one trip to Educogym might change your mind. The gym, which is located on the 57th floor of the U.S Bank Tower and bills itself as the highest gym in America, boasts spectacular views of the city. The facility, which opened in January, has a cult-like following because of its location and its...


LAPD Thanks BID Worker For Aid in Arrest

By Ed Fuentes — September 15, 2009

Some Local Help

At last week's Central City East Business Improvement District Annual Meeting, Margaret "Peggy" Carfley got some hefty congratulations. Both LAPD Central Division Captain Blake Chow and Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz took a moment from their presentations to thank the BID employee for her assistance in the recent arrest of a serial robber.


Ask Downtown: How Safe Do You Feel?

By Eric Richardson — September 11, 2009 — 69 Comments

Downtown at Night Eric Richardson

Every so often an email comes in to blogdowntown from someone who is considering moving here. Many times, questions have to do with specific buildings or what is available in a certain price range.

One of the most important things that people want to know when considering moving Downtown, though, is whether it's safe. Who better to answer that than all of you? — Continued Inside...


County Fire Super Scoopers Circle Downtown

By Eric Richardson — September 10, 2009

CL-415 Super Scoopers

L.A. County Fire's two CL-415 Super Scooper airplanes took a pair of laps around Downtown at mid-day today, accompanied by at least one fire chopper. The aircraft have been part of a fleet of vehicles doing hard duty on the massive Station Fire. The pair may have been doing prep passes for a Saturday memorial service at Dodger Stadium in honor of Ted Hall and...


Bolt Barbers Bringing Shears, Shaves and Shines to the Rowan

By Eric Richardson — September 10, 2009 — 5 Comments

Mohawk Matt Eric Richardson

If being passionate about what you are doing is the key to success, Matt Berman's Bolt Barbers is going to be a runaway hit.

Berman, also known as Mohawk Matt, has an entire barbershop tattooed on his back, with four other pieces of barbershop-related art inked across his body. One of them -- an image of a barber chair -- just won first prize in the Best Unusual Tattoo category at the Pomona Body Art Expo.

Tonight the shop hosts an event during the Downtown Art Walk, and plans are underway for a November 12 grand opening. — Continued Inside...


Test Cars Size Up Grand for Soapbox Race

By Eric Richardson — September 10, 2009
2 Comments

Red Bull Soapbox Race Test Run

While you were sleeping Wednesday night, the folks from Red Bull were out on Grand Avenue taking a few test runs to size up the course for the Red Bull Soapbox Race. The event, which takes place on September 26, will pit 40 teams against one of Downtown's steepest hills, plus a chicane, a pair of jumps and a ramped curve just for good measure.


Farmers' Market Had Long Road to City Hall

By Ed Fuentes — September 04, 2009 — 2 Comments

Mayor at the Market Ed Fuentes

City officials, celebrity chefs, foodie media, and a Pulitzer Prize winning food critic gathered at City Hall on Thursday to celebrate 30 years of certified Farmers' Markets in Los Angeles County.

Their press conference was held on the building's south lawn, amidst the hustle and bustle of the Arts District / Little Tokyo Farmers Market at City Hall.

Given L.A.'s often confused relationship with geography, it may be that most in attendance didn't notice the oddity of the market's moniker, but that name tells a story of a nomadic market that struggled before finding its place. — Continued Inside...