From the Newsroom

Developer Shy's Suit Against Homeowner Thrown Out on Anti-SLAPP Grounds

By Eric Richardson — September 26, 2008 — 10 Comments

SB Grand Eric Richardson

Developer Barry Shy’s attempt to clear his name via the courts was dealt a major blow this week as Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos granted an anti-SLAPP motion filed by attorneys for Jessica Jordan, a homeowner in the Shy-developed SB Grand.

The ruling strikes the complaints Shy had filed against Jordan and leaves the developer responsible for the defendant’s legal fees and court costs. — Continued Inside...


L.A.'s Italian American History Uncovered

By Ed Fuentes — September 26, 2008 — 2 Comments

Sunshine and Struggle El Pueblo Historical Monument

Sitting in her cubicle office at El Pueblo Historical Monument, historian and curator Mariann Gatto (previous blogdowntown profile) is talking on the phone while answering emails, surrounded by artifacts and photographs. She’s busy with last minute preparations for an upcoming exhibit, that for many, will be an unexpected discovery.

“Sunshine and Struggle: The Italian Experience in Los Angeles” will be held at the Pico House Gallery from October 4 through November 15 and organizers hope it will build a new awareness of the early Los Angeles Italian American community. “This is the first major exhibition about Italian Americans in Los Angeles,” says Gatto. “We hope to mark how Italian Americans were, and still are, an important part of L.A.’s diversity and growth.” — Continued Inside...


Metro Board Approves Extended Red Line Hours

By Ed Fuentes with Eric Richardson — September 25, 2008 — 7 Comments

IMGP0006.JPG Frederick Dennstedt

At the end of a long agenda, the Metro Board today unanimously approved a pilot program extended the hours of the Red Line between Downtown and North Hollywood during the upcoming holiday season. The program, which would be privately funded, now must secure contractually binding funding commitments by October 17 in order for the service to move forward. — Continued Inside...


Etc

Downtown Lens: High Dynamic Range (HDR) Part 3 -- Processing

By Dave Bullock — September 25, 2008
2 Comments

Griffith Park Fire and Downtown Los Angeles from 7th Street Bridge

What your eye sees is not always what your camera captures. Your camera’s dynamic range, the level of tones it can capture, is much narrower than what nature presents. High Dynamic Range photography allows you to capture a view that more closely mimics real life. The real magic happens not in the camera, but in the computer.


Images_32 Double Decker Bus Now Touring Downtown

By Ed Fuentes — September 25, 2008 — 6 Comments

First Stop: Olvera Street. Ed Fuentes

Red double-decker sight-seeing buses are known for being filled with tourists seeking Hollywood stars in their natural habitat (or the occasional busload of locals touring neon lights). Now out-of-towners can “ohh and ahh” at Downtown Los Angeles’ new entertainment landmarks, historic buildings and street life. — Continued Inside...


Everyday

Downtown P.R.O. Wants Your Work Clothes

By Eric Richardson — September 24, 2008
4 Comments

PRO2

People Reaching Out is a Downtown organization that wants to take your pre-owned professional clothing and use it to help those just getting back on their feet look the part for job interviews. Their second annual clothing drive just kicked off, with donation boxes in nine buildings Downtown and four public drop-off locations.


Arts/Culture

Grand Ave Festival Shows off Downtown Culture

By Ed Fuentes — September 24, 2008
1 Comment

Grand Avenue Festival

Many cities offer street fairs to display their cultural and dining resources, but how many have a street like Bunker Hill’s Grand Avenue? That’s where MOCA, the L.A. Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the L.A. Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Redcat, the Colburn School are bookended by the Central Library and the Center Theater...


Zocalo Asks About the Future of the Garment Industry

By Samantha Page — September 24, 2008 — 1 Comment

Zocalo Reception at the Los Angeles Theater Center Samantha Page

Zocalo, a “free, eclectic and roving forum,” hosted a panel on the state and future of the local garment industry at the New LATC on Tuesday night.

The panelists, representing different sides of the garment industry equation, agreed the future of the industry was limited, at best, and is deeply troubled both by labor violations and by globalization. — Continued Inside...


Movement

Red Line Hours Extension on Thursday Metro Board Agenda

By Eric Richardson — September 23, 2008
4 Comments

IMGP0006.JPG

After having been pushed through City Council, the effort to extend the hours of the Red Line subway over the holidays takes another step forward on Thursday when it comes before the Metro Board of Directors. Directors Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa made the motion, which would direct Metro CEO Roger Snoble to implement the pilot.


Etc

Let's Take Photos: ShootDowntown Meetup -- October 4th

By Eric Richardson — September 23, 2008
2 Comments

shootdowntown

On Saturday, October 4th, grab your camera and head Downtown to come walk around with us and shoot some photos of the city. We’ll be holding our second ShootDowntown Meetup, a chance for photographers to mingle and then explore Downtown together. Even better, we’ll be exhibiting a selection of the photos taken during the October Downtown Art Walk.