viewfromaloft

DOTDOTDASH: The Politics of Art Edition

NEAR 7TH AND BROADWAY:  Two alleged street poets (above) were seen tussling in a heated debate; one says the epigram resolves verse on urban conflict with more brevity than iambic pentameter. The other did not agree.  More politics of art in Dot Dot Dash prose after the jump:

Home for Super Bowl Sunday? Not a Bad Idea.

What? Stay at home on Super Bowl Sunday with all these new places to watch the game? Just a few years ago, downtown residents watched the Big Game sequestered at home after trudging home cold cuts from a small VONS. 

Still, you have to think about the new places that make watching the game at home with friends an alternative worth considering.

One game plan is the Los Angeles Pizza Company, who sends word they will be delivering on Super Bowl Sunday.  It's a way downtowners can watch the Steelers beat play the Cardinals while laying down bets what kind of wardrobe malfunction Bruce Springsteen will have during the half-time show; all while munching on the LAPC's Chavez Ravine or Verde pizza.

If you expecting more than a few people, LAPC also offers The Fifty-Yard Special; two extra large pizzas with one topping, two sets of lasagna, two packages of wings, and a six pack of soda, all for $50.

Of course, call way ahead. Pizza delivery gets slammed on Super Bowl Sunday (For the record, LAPC runs specials during the week, from slices with sodas to the "I Love L.A.").

Another place on your possible short list is ShowBiz Ribs (520 West 6th St) if you want some meaty Super Bowl take-out.

Los Angeles Pizza Company
712 N. Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-5272

Voices Come Out for Critics

The word on the street is  "The Neo-Sacred Revival" is one of the better productions mounted by Padua Playwrights, the Arts District based theater company that already garners good reviews. Three short solid plays with musical transition that explore "sex, God, and death" and joined by an exhibition of art inspired by the playrights words is getting a little buzz in the neighborhood.

How do you get the word out from the street and into the minds of playgoers? Little or no marketing budgets, and for many companies lack of marketing experience, make it difficult for a theater company to get boffo box office.

The Los Angeles Times points out that very issue in a recent series of posts on losing theater critics to layoffs. The real role of the critic? It may be creating conversation about a production and getting butts in the seats.

Theatre criticism in Los Angeles--keep the conversation going with link to KPCC [Culture Monster]

"To understate the importance of theater in Los Angeles by marginalizing the voices of those who bring these discussions to the public arena is shortsighted and irresponsible." Letter to the L.A. Times from Gilbert Cates (Geffen Playhouse), Sheldon Epps (Pasadena Playhouse), and Michael Ritchie (Center Theatre Group).  [Culture Monster]

Pictured: Gill Gayle and Caroline Duncan in "The Neo-Sacred Revival: Three short plays examining sex, God and death in Los Angeles." Photo via Padua Playwrights

More Park Hopping

CITY WEST STILL HAS A 'BEAUTIFUL VIEW':  The downtown is backdrop for the green roofs of the buildings housing administrative, storage and maintenance facilities. t the base of the 10.5 acre Vista Hermosa Park, the FIFA-regulation soccer field––though synthetic––adds to the far reaching green sight line to the skyline. It was billed as Downtown's first new public park since 1895 (which may mean the Los Angeles State Historic Park, aka "the Cornfields," is considered north of Downtown). No matter, it's been great weather to visit any park for even just an hour. The official address for Vista Hermosa Park is 100 N. Toluca Street.  Another photo, with different exposure, is after the jump.

MTA VS MTA: Two Live Crews

MTA's tag in the Los Angeles River in January, 2008 /  viewfromaloft

L.A. County sheriff’s deputies arrested eight alleged members of the Metro Transit Assassins, the crew credited with the “MTA” tag on the walls of the Los Angeles River. The arrests were from series of early-morning raids Hollywood area this morning reports the LAT:

"These individuals are responsible for tags not only in Los Angeles but Las Vegas and San Francisco,” said Sheriff’s Cmdr. Dan Finkelstein, who is chief of the Metropolitan Transit Authority police. “The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that removing the "MTA" tag from the riverbed alone will cost $3.7 million.

Cleaning graffiti from the river is far more expensive than cleaning other areas. Officials use high-pressure water spray to remove the toxic paint.

But hazardous-materials crews must then dam and capture all the paint and water runoff to prevent it from getting into the river. The crew did an additional $20,000 worth of damage to transit vehicles and facilities. Finkelstein said the Los Angeles River "MTA" tag, in a vast industrial district east of downtown between two rail yards, took about 400 gallons of paint -- 300 gallons white and 100 gallons black. “It took them four nights to do it,” he said.

<snip to bling>

Most those detained are in their 20s; one of them drives a $60,000 BMW, and another member possesses a diamond-and-ruby-encrusted Metro logo pendant with paperwork suggesting it's worth $29,000, Finkelstein said.

So much for the argument of the downtrodden artist just seeking a place to do art for the sake of art.

ADD NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: By the way, LAT, that "industrial district east of downtown" is, of course, the Arts District.

Los Angeles Magazine Ready to Blow Taps for Downtown

"At the risk of offending the folks who want so badly to see a downtown renaissance, I can’t help stating the obvious: Lower those expectations." writes Mark Lacter in Los Angeles Magazine.

It's a safe guess that the development Downtown has seen in the last few years won't be happening again for a while. Still, the editorial viewpoint has an important factor: Downtown lost its luster as an ad  marketing tool and may be considered a dried up cash cow by the publication.  (And Los Angeles Magazine rode shotgun on that bandwagon for a few years).

When parent company Emmis Publishing ended Tu Ciudad, it was based on not being able to make money from the upscale Latino Market.

Safe to say, both Downtown and upscale Latinos in Los Angeles are here to stay.  Both are caught in this national ecomonic downfall. Then again, who isn't?

Waiting to be Herd *

Bob Barker, Kevin Nealon, along with Lilly Tomlin, are among those in a packed council chambers this morning to protest the zoo's Pachyderm Forest project; the figure head is of course is Billy the Elephant. Also in the audience is a large pro-keep-billy-in-zoo team who want the city's lone elephant not to be moved to a sanctuary.  How packed? An overflow room has been set up. Celebs, of course, are front and center.

* Billy Update:  With a 11 to 4 vote, the elephant stays."'Zoo supporters screamed with delight after the vote, which marked a turnaround for the council; last year, it had signaled it was ready to kill the project. The decision came after several months of impassioned hearings, rallies and news conferences on both sides of the issue, " reports the Times. They later add

"When asked why a council that last month was willing to close down the exhibit, at least temporarily, voted so overwhelmingly today to continue it, he said, “I think it was several things,” citing the zoo fundraising arm’s financial offer.  And, he said, “just the staff coming out in force and clearing up animal-care issues was part of it. Also, showing the council that the community was for it.”

Based on comments at the LAT's post (and the last few months) zoo officials should hope Billy lives a long time.

DotDotDash: Not Fit for Street Blogs Edition

ANOTHER MYSTERY WRITER: Via the 3BN's secret cave buried somewhere Downtown, a mysterious food critic at an undisclosed online magazine has been bashing an undisclosed eatery . . –– Supporters have been responding en masse, questioning the scruples of the critic who writes under a pseudonym, and wonder why the critic's defensive stance sometime arrive from the undisclosed publisher's email address.

WITH ME SO FAR? The critic stated that the food at the targeted cafe was "not fit for street dogs." Pet palace Pussy and Pooch owners also consider the review an unprofessional assessment, and to pay tribute to those who took umbrage to the critic are offering a free meal for their pets, appropriately named after the pen name of the critic. The tagline: "We DO serve street dogs!" says P&P co-owner Rob.

. . ––

LET'S ALL MOVE ON: Self-Help Graphics is looking for a new fearless leader. [Self-Help]   . . –– While El Chavo covers the dedication of a new mural, I vented about puesdo murals.

. . ––

HUNT FOR NEW NOIR: LAO contributor, author, and word curator  Denise Hamilton is reading a full list of L.A. based noir for a new collection . . ––  She wonders if there is a "Latino Raymond Chandler" that she doesn't know about.

. . ––

COMMENTS: Some are getting ready to be excited about Metro Gold Line, now testing cars on the new tracks. Even the blog-o-sphere is optomistic. . .–– "It’s on schedule now, but add in a couple months for last-minute repairs here, some electric work there, a sinkhole that sucks in the entire 1st Street bridge" comments an author.

. . ––

BREAK A LEG: "Pippin" is kickin' and evidently The Pussycat Dolls would be at home with the staging of the Bob Fossee musical. Take the kids anyway says Ann Powers at the LAT. Original castmember Ben Vereen, who won a TONY for same said show, was there opening night.

BREAK AN ARM: blogdownwtown's Eric is suffering wrist damage. No word if it is a blogging related injury.

Nice View From Former Marshlands

DOT DOT DUST: The dust-raising makeshift soccer field in the former marshland now known as  MacArthur Park appears to be moving forward to its new incarnation . . ––  It will be a 37,000-square-foot synthetic field and children's meadow; that's a fancy name for soccer field) . . ––  The $2.5-million renovation project, that had a big send off by Council member Ed Reyes this past October, is projected to be completed by June.

Cafe Metropol Marks Ten Years in the Arts District

Before Urth Caffé or Groundworks dared to enter the Arts District and drip caffeine in the blood streams of artists and civic center staffers, the euro-style bistro CafeMetropol has been civilizing locals since 1998.

To celebrate its first ten years, owner Angie Ann is offering a night of menu specials, live music with Rocco Somazzi, art by Atiba Azikiwe Andrews, plus a raffle that will include a bike giveaway and gift certificates.

Raising the bar for casual downtown dining––in what is still one of the better looking cafes found Downtown––is worth some congratulations.

Café Metropol
Celebrating 10 Years in the Arts District
Thursday, Feb 5
6pm to 10pm
923 East 3rd Street
Downtown L.A.
R.S.V.P. by Jan 31(213) 613-1537


Photo via Café Metropol