From the Newsroom

Everyday

Breaking: Attempted Armed Robbery at Jewelry Theater Building

By Eric Richardson — November 07, 2005
5 Comments

DSC00505

I got a flat tire on my way back from USC a little before 2pm, so I was sitting changing it at the corner of Olympic and Figueroa when I saw an LAPD motorcycle officer fly through the intersection up Fig. I continued to hear sirens, and when I was done changing the tire there were multiple LAPD choppers flying over the intersection of 7th and Hill. As you can...


Everyday

Downtown's Coffee Sipping Rats

By Eric Richardson — November 04, 2005
2 Comments

Today’s First Thing Friday post at LA Observed links to a post by Peggie Archer about Downtown rats drinking coffee. Tonight, I left my light* for a few minutes to pee and make a sandwich (not simultaneously). When I came back, I saw a really big rat. A really big rat perched on the arm of my camp chair (with nifty built-in cupholder), daintily sipping...


Everyday

Downtown LA Walks

By Eric Richardson — November 03, 2005
3 Comments

Pedestrian Maps Downtown

I find it odd, though, that there are maps of the districts and destinations by district, but no maps that actually have the destinations on them. Speaking of which, where are the pedestrian maps that were supposed to be part of the wayfinding program? Update (6:15pm): Jim commented that he had indeed seen the ped maps on 4th Street, and what do you know, they...


Everyday

Downtown Gold

By Eric Richardson — November 03, 2005
1 Comment

The Downtown Center BID’s current newsletter, oddly on the web in image form, tells that the BID has secured funding for Huell Howser to do twenty-six episodes of his show California Gold featuring Downtown. The Downtown Center Business Improvement District has been busy raising sponsorship dollars for LA’s public television icon, Huell Howser of...


Everyday

Bike From Downtown With RIDE-Arc

By Eric Richardson — November 03, 2005
1 Comment

There’s a new monthly bike ride that I think looks interesting. It’s called RIDE-Arc and meets at SCI-Arc in the Arts District. Rides happen on the first Friday of each month, which conveniently means there’s a ride tomorrow. THIS FRIDAY EVENING (11-4-05) we will be having the ride for November, affectionately called “REAL DEALS &...


Everyday

Ugly Broadway Facades

By Eric Richardson — November 01, 2005
12 Comments

Clifton's Brookdale Exterior

I’ve been curious lately about the exteriors of buildings. In particular, neither the facade of Clifton’s Brookdale nor that of the building next to it are original, and both seem to me to be serious downgrades from their designed look. Pictured you can see the face of both buildings, with Clifton’s on the right and the J.E. Carr building on...


Everyday

American Heritage Walks the Downtown Theaters

By Eric Richardson — October 28, 2005

Keeping the movie theme, American Heritage posted a piece today on Downtown’s movie palaces and the Conservancy’s walking tour. If you’re at all interested in Downtown you need to start taking a walking tour every Saturday until you’re all caught up; they really are amazing ways to learn about the neighborhood. Sometime in the past few...


Everyday

Downtown's Usual Starring Role

By Eric Richardson — October 28, 2005

I’ve been seeing a lot of movies lately, most thanks to the classes I’m in. During the past week I’ve seen two with particular Downtown connections. Steve Martin’s Shopgirl, though not set in Downtown, has some amazing night-time chopper shots looking down on the business district. They appear at several points in the movie, and I thought...


Everyday

Panhandling Sign Memes

By Eric Richardson — October 26, 2005
8 Comments

Those Pesky Ninja's!

Walking to lunch today I saw a guy sitting at a corner holding a sign that started “Entire family killed by ninjas…” I didn’t take a picture, but back in July flickr user Michael Heilemann took one of a similar sign (pictured). Seeing this sign got me to wondering how it is that memes like this spread in the panhandling world. Do guys...


Everyday

New Qdoba to be Open Weekends

By Eric Richardson — October 26, 2005
4 Comments

Soon to be Qdoba

Two weeks ago I wrote that new food choices were adding to Downtown street life. In the comments Shawn mentioned the it was a shame some of these new places aren’t open on the weekends. Well, if the lettering on the door is to be believed Qdoba will be open 7am to 7pm seven days a week. I don’t know an opening date, but today there was a man sitting...