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Arts/Culture

Win Tickets to See Buraka Som Sistema at the Mayan

By Eric Richardson — November 10, 2009
27 Comments

Win Tickets to See Buraka Som Sistema at the Mayan

Portuguese Buraka Som Sistema was a breakout hit in 2009, taking its kuduro sound to dance floors worldwide. This Thursday, November 12, the group makes a stop Downtown at the Mayan Theatre. Tickets are on-sale now, but we've got a few pairs for blogdowntown readers who want to see the show.


Schave Resigns as Head of Downtown Art Walk

By Ed Fuentes and Eric Richardson — November 10, 2009 — 8 Comments

get on the bus Ed Fuentes

With just two days before the November Downtown Art Walk, the popular monthly event event is without a leader. Executive Director Richard Schave confirms to blogdowntown this afternoon that he has resigned his position, effective yesterday. While declining to give a statement, Schave said that he was sad about the move.

Schave was handed charge of the event earlier this year by Art Walk founder Bert Green. He led the creation of a non-profit to run the effort, and that organization's board will now be responsible for naming a new director. — Continued Inside...


History

85 Years Ago: Razor Magnate Pays $1.5 Million for Corner of 6th and Olive

By Eric Richardson — November 10, 2009
10 Comments

85 Years Ago: Razor Magnate Pays $1.5 Million for Corner of 6th and Olive

|Photo Gallery| On November 10, 1924, safety razor magnate King C. Gillette wrote a check for $1.475 million to purchase the southeast corner of 6th and Olive from the estate of the late Mrs. Mary H. Spires. The purchase, which the Los Angeles Times called "one of the biggest spot-cash realty deals in the history of the city," looks to have been a bust for Gillette. His widow...


Dan Garcia of Radio Hill Recorders

By Monk Turner — November 10, 2009 — 6 Comments

Dan Garcia at the helm Monk Turner

|Photo Gallery| Dan Garcia's resume includes a laundry list of some of music's top stars. Known in audio engineering circles as an electrical genius (he built his own sound board), these days Garcia brings in L.A.'s top talent to his Radio Recorders Studio located in the Historic Core.

Recently, I found a time when he wasn't soldering wires or producing the next hit to find out what drew him to house his studio in Downtown L.A. — Continued Inside...


Soi 7 at Maison Opens on 7th

By Eric Richardson — November 09, 2009 — 11 Comments

Soi 7 @ Maison Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| 7th street's Restaurant Row designation got a little more real this week, as Soi 7 at Maison opened next door to Bottega Louie between Grand and Olive.

The restaurant, located on the ground floor of the Mandel Lofts, offers a modern take on thai cuisine and includes a sake bar and tea room. — Continued Inside...


Arts/Culture

Win Tickets to See Huey Lewis and the News at Club Nokia

By Eric Richardson — November 09, 2009
16 Comments

Win Tickets to See Huey Lewis and the News at Club Nokia

Huey Lewis and the News bring the "Power of Love" to Downtown on Thursday, November 12, performing at L.A. Live's Club Nokia. Tickets for the show are on-sale now, but we've got a few pairs for readers looking to go "Back in Time" courtesy of Goldenvoice.


New Marathon Route Light on Downtown

By Eric Richardson — November 09, 2009 — 18 Comments

Los Angeles Marathon 2009 Eric Richardson

The newly unveiled "Stadium to the Sea" course for the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon takes runners from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica, just touching Downtown's Civic Center before heading west.

The new route and the race's return to March are bringing a big uptick in signups. Race officials plan to cap participation at 25,000, just higher than the 2007 race's 24,000 entries and far above the approximately 15,000 who participated in 2009's May race. — Continued Inside...


Politics

Around the Halls: November 9 - 13

By Eric Richardson — November 09, 2009

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Today is Monday, November 9. A City Council committee will hear from LAPD Chief-Nominee Charlie Beck this morning, but a full confirmation is not expected to take place until the 17th, after the Council returns from the National League of Cities’ annual conference in San Antonio, TX.


Roads/Rails

Big Turnout for First Night of Shuttle Between USC and L.A. Live

By Eric Richardson — November 06, 2009
4 Comments

USC - L.A. Live Shuttle Kickoff

Maybe it was the free pizza, the promise of free movies or the chance to see Pete Carroll, but nearly 1,000 USC students made their way to Figueroa street on Thursday night for the kickoff of shuttle service between the campus and L.A. Live.


Roads/Rails

Regional Connector Meetings Kick Off Saturday

By Eric Richardson — November 06, 2009
4 Comments

Regional Connector Render: 2nd Street Looking West

Another round of outreach meetings kicks off tomorrow for Metro's Regional Connector, a project proposed to link the Blue Line and Expo Line to the Gold Line and Eastside Extension. Four meetings in the next week offer weekend, daytime and evening time slots.