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| BEST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE Skid Row Mail Carrier Lee Russell Poto by Gary Leonard. Poto by Gary Leonard. |
Hot pols... jedi knights... parking secrets... new views
by Downtown News Staff
READERS' CHOICE
Hottest Politician: Eric Garcetti
2nd Place (tie): Rocky Delgadillo, Laura Chick
Best Downtown Blog: blogdowntown.com
2nd Place: mydowntownlosangeles.blogspot.com
EDITORS' CHOICE
Best Comeback: Eastern Columbia Building
Best Gathering: 'Star Wars' Festival
Best Press: Huell Howser's 'Downtown' Series
Best Government Employee: Skid Row Mail Carrier Lee Russell
Best Downtown MySpace Page: MOCA
Best Cappuccino: The Lounge at REDCAT
Best Sidewalk to Catch City Officials: East Side of Main Between First and Third Streets
Best Parking Spot (Day; Night): Central Library; Loading Zones
Best Transit Deal: City Hall Shuttle
Best New View: 1100 Wilshire
HOTTEST POLITICIAN
Eric Garcetti
He keeps a blog, was a Rhodes scholar, plays jazz piano and isn't married (though he's not available either) - it's not surprising that Downtown thinks City Council President Eric Garcetti is the hottest politician. Well, that and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proved he was a little too hot for his own good this year. One of the youngest council members in the city's history when he took office in 2001, Garcetti, now 36, manages to maintain order in the council chambers while charming onlookers with his nerdy one-liners and boyish good looks. Those who've seen the 13th District representative speak off the record or after hours know he has the real secret to being a sexy politician: he's human. At 200 N. Spring St., Room 470, lacity.org/council/cd13.-Evan George
BEST DOWNTOWN BLOG
blogdowntown.com
For an indication of how well respected blogdowntown is, consider that some of the other nominees in this category posted comments on their sites stating that blogdowntown should win. Which is not surprising, considering that since its January 2005 launch, founder and publisher Eric Richardson has quickly and smartly detailed the comings, goings, triumphs and failures of the community. But along with raising hell over issues like the slow pace of the automated toilets, Richardson has built a blog that often serves as a de facto conversation salon for Downtown, with readers dropping in to offer advice and well thought-out arguments. Unlike many blogs, it's not an ego pulpit, but instead a true repository of Downtown information. At blogdowntown.com.-Jon Regardie
BEST COMEBACK
Eastern Columbia Building
Since the Eastern Columbia Building at Broadway and Ninth Street was erected in 1930, the turquoise terra cotta testament to Art Deco style has stood out for its beauty. But times grew tough for the architectural gem in the late 1950s. The department store chain that once called it home went under, and for 40 years the building never lived up to its spectacular design. Then, Kor Group bought the edifice and gave it the $30 million makeover it needed. Updated with Deco furnishings, rehabbed tile work and elaborate amenities, the Eastern Columbia has reopened as the home to 147 condos and some flashy residents (some say Johnny Depp purchased a unit). It's safe to say the Eastern Columbia is back and better than ever. At 849 S. Broadway, (213) 488-0600 or easterncolumbialofts.com.-Kathleen Nye Flynn
BEST GATHERING
'Star Wars' Festival
It's not too often that Storm Troopers parade down Figueroa Street, or that Jedi knights flash their light sabers in hotel lobbies. But that and more occurred May 25-28, when Star Wars Celebration IV came to Downtown. A convention tied to the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film, Celebration IV was full of amazing images, dozens of Darth Vaders and even a jetpack demonstration. Downtown also felt an economic force, with the estimated 25,000 attendees pumping about $7 million into the local economy. Not that it was all good; unfortunately, we'll never forget the sight of the portly, hairy guy in the Princess Leia bikini. At the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1200 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151.-JR
BEST PRESS
Huell Howser's 'Downtown' Series
When the KCET personality with the Tennessee twang announced that he would do an entire series on Downtown Los Angeles, people weren't quite sure how the man who delights in discovering California's gold would find equal beauty here. But that's not the intent; Howser's "Downtown" series is an honest look at the evolving community, with heed paid to the treasures and the travails. Not only did he visit the majestic Eastern Columbia Building, but in the "Safety" episode he walked the beat with a Downtown cop. Of course, Howser also revealed some of the unexpected, and many locals certainly never knew of the French Garden restaurant until he appeared in front of it. With nine episodes in the can, Downtown is definitely enjoying its close-up. At Calgold.com/downtown.-JR
BEST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
Skid Row Mail Carrier Lee Russell
Lee Russell delivers mail to the Skid Row area nearly every day. It's a difficult route: He interacts with drug addicts, the mentally ill and upset business owners. But, when Los Angeles Downtown News followed the 30-year United States Postal Service vet on his route one morning, he brought out a side of the downtrodden area that is rarely seen. Behind the closed doors, tents and trash that line the streets of Skid Row is a lively community of homeless people, service providers and business workers, many of whom greeted their smiling postal worker by name. Russell has provided a familiar face and a gentle hand to a community in need.-KNF
BEST DOWNTOWN MYSPACE PAGE
MOCA
It's all the rage in Downtown to have a MySpace page. The bars have them, the galleries have them and even Los Angeles Downtown News has one. Since each page is unique and individually tailored, it's hard to judge whether one is better than another. So, we decided to go with who has the most friends. Just kidding. The Museum of Contemporary Art has created a standout page that is easier to understand than its own website. While MOCA has a lot of information to list, like exhibition dates, nighttime events and all of its locations, the page is still clean and focused. What better way to show off 9,000 friends? At myspace.com/MOCA.-KNF
BEST CAPPUCCINO
The Lounge at REDCAT
Forget standing in line at Starbucks, the most authentic cappuccino in Downtown can be found at the little-known Lounge at REDCAT. Served in a perfectly sized small ceramic cup (not the overused bowl-with-handle mug many cafes proffer), the cappuccino is a marriage of strong espresso with lots of foam poured with an artful flourish. Wrapped in signature Frank Gehry plywood, the Lounge at REDCAT offers a full-service bar, free wireless Internet and a great selection of books for sale through a partnership with Dutton's Brentwood Books. Stopping in for an after-work or pre-show drink? Forgo the caffeine and grab REDCAT's signature cocktail, the Cat-a-tonic, instead. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.-Lea Lion
BEST SIDEWALK TO CATCH CITY OFFICIALS
East Side of Main Between First and Third Streets
When making public comments at the podium of City Council isn't enough, there's one stretch of sidewalk where you're guaranteed to bump into a government official. Walking south of City Hall on Main, in the shadows of the Caltrans building, you're bound to run into someone powerful who is on their way to coffee, lunch or just heading back to the office. Why? The ongoing construction for the new LAPD headquarters presents a natural barrier on the west side of the street, limiting sidewalk options, while the L.A. Times building on Spring, with its stream of reporters, repels any official not interested in giving comments at lunch.-EG
BEST PARKING SPOT (DAY; NIGHT)
Central Library; Loading Zones
This year, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decreed that any holder of an L.A. library card could swim at city-run pools for free. Consider the same library card as your ticket to park: In Downtown, the Central Library offers parking during operating hours for the bargain rate of $1 an hour with library validation. But beware, once the library closes, so does the deal. For evening parking, take advantage of that oft-debated piece of parking lore: the loading zone. After 6 p.m. in the city of Los Angeles, you can indeed park for free in yellow-marked loading zones. There's a bevy of them around Pershing Square.-EG
BEST TRANSIT DEAL
City Hall Shuttle
With more than half a dozen DASH bus routes in Downtown - many of them synchronized to a schedule seemingly based more on the ocean's tides than common sense - the City Hall Shuttle is the most consistently reliable. On top of that, it is free. Running just about every five minutes, from First and Figueroa streets to the steps of City Hall and back, the bus provides a convenient Civic Center shuttle for city employees, tourists and anyone heading to a Downtown court. Because of the limited route (barely 14 square blocks) only one bus is needed, meaning it arrives like clockwork. Some whisper that LADOT may cut the line, although no announcement has been made. Here's to hoping Downtown's best transit deal keeps running. At ladottransit.com/dash.-EG
BEST NEW VIEW
1100 Wilshire
Swim to the side of the infinity pool, clasp the edge and look west. That glimmer left of the Westwood high-rises is the Pacific Ocean. Swing your wet head 90 degrees to catch a bird's eye view of the L.A. Live cranes. Look east and you're staring eye-level into Downtown's skyline. A turn to the north reveals the hills of Elysian Park that normally obscure Dodger Stadium. Not from this vantage point. Thanks to some poor business practices and a whole lot of funky feng shui, the unusually designed (and long empty) building at 1100 Wilshire has been transformed into a residential tower. While the view is not exclusive to the top story penthouses, you just have to make it to the "first floor" pool level, actually on the 17th floor. At 1100 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 482-9000 or 1100wilshirela.com.-EG
page 33, 7/23/2007
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
2nd Place (tie): Rocky Delgadillo, Laura Chick
2nd Place: mydowntownlosangeles.blogspot.com
EDITORS' CHOICE
HOTTEST POLITICIAN
He keeps a blog, was a Rhodes scholar, plays jazz piano and isn't married (though he's not available either) - it's not surprising that Downtown thinks City Council President Eric Garcetti is the hottest politician. Well, that and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proved he was a little too hot for his own good this year. One of the youngest council members in the city's history when he took office in 2001, Garcetti, now 36, manages to maintain order in the council chambers while charming onlookers with his nerdy one-liners and boyish good looks. Those who've seen the 13th District representative speak off the record or after hours know he has the real secret to being a sexy politician: he's human. At 200 N. Spring St., Room 470, lacity.org/council/cd13.-Evan George
BEST DOWNTOWN BLOG
For an indication of how well respected blogdowntown is, consider that some of the other nominees in this category posted comments on their sites stating that blogdowntown should win. Which is not surprising, considering that since its January 2005 launch, founder and publisher Eric Richardson has quickly and smartly detailed the comings, goings, triumphs and failures of the community. But along with raising hell over issues like the slow pace of the automated toilets, Richardson has built a blog that often serves as a de facto conversation salon for Downtown, with readers dropping in to offer advice and well thought-out arguments. Unlike many blogs, it's not an ego pulpit, but instead a true repository of Downtown information. At blogdowntown.com.-Jon Regardie
BEST COMEBACK
Since the Eastern Columbia Building at Broadway and Ninth Street was erected in 1930, the turquoise terra cotta testament to Art Deco style has stood out for its beauty. But times grew tough for the architectural gem in the late 1950s. The department store chain that once called it home went under, and for 40 years the building never lived up to its spectacular design. Then, Kor Group bought the edifice and gave it the $30 million makeover it needed. Updated with Deco furnishings, rehabbed tile work and elaborate amenities, the Eastern Columbia has reopened as the home to 147 condos and some flashy residents (some say Johnny Depp purchased a unit). It's safe to say the Eastern Columbia is back and better than ever. At 849 S. Broadway, (213) 488-0600 or easterncolumbialofts.com.-Kathleen Nye Flynn
BEST GATHERING
It's not too often that Storm Troopers parade down Figueroa Street, or that Jedi knights flash their light sabers in hotel lobbies. But that and more occurred May 25-28, when Star Wars Celebration IV came to Downtown. A convention tied to the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film, Celebration IV was full of amazing images, dozens of Darth Vaders and even a jetpack demonstration. Downtown also felt an economic force, with the estimated 25,000 attendees pumping about $7 million into the local economy. Not that it was all good; unfortunately, we'll never forget the sight of the portly, hairy guy in the Princess Leia bikini. At the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1200 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151.-JR
BEST PRESS
When the KCET personality with the Tennessee twang announced that he would do an entire series on Downtown Los Angeles, people weren't quite sure how the man who delights in discovering California's gold would find equal beauty here. But that's not the intent; Howser's "Downtown" series is an honest look at the evolving community, with heed paid to the treasures and the travails. Not only did he visit the majestic Eastern Columbia Building, but in the "Safety" episode he walked the beat with a Downtown cop. Of course, Howser also revealed some of the unexpected, and many locals certainly never knew of the French Garden restaurant until he appeared in front of it. With nine episodes in the can, Downtown is definitely enjoying its close-up. At Calgold.com/downtown.-JR
BEST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
Lee Russell delivers mail to the Skid Row area nearly every day. It's a difficult route: He interacts with drug addicts, the mentally ill and upset business owners. But, when Los Angeles Downtown News followed the 30-year United States Postal Service vet on his route one morning, he brought out a side of the downtrodden area that is rarely seen. Behind the closed doors, tents and trash that line the streets of Skid Row is a lively community of homeless people, service providers and business workers, many of whom greeted their smiling postal worker by name. Russell has provided a familiar face and a gentle hand to a community in need.-KNF
BEST DOWNTOWN MYSPACE PAGE
It's all the rage in Downtown to have a MySpace page. The bars have them, the galleries have them and even Los Angeles Downtown News has one. Since each page is unique and individually tailored, it's hard to judge whether one is better than another. So, we decided to go with who has the most friends. Just kidding. The Museum of Contemporary Art has created a standout page that is easier to understand than its own website. While MOCA has a lot of information to list, like exhibition dates, nighttime events and all of its locations, the page is still clean and focused. What better way to show off 9,000 friends? At myspace.com/MOCA.-KNF
BEST CAPPUCCINO
Forget standing in line at Starbucks, the most authentic cappuccino in Downtown can be found at the little-known Lounge at REDCAT. Served in a perfectly sized small ceramic cup (not the overused bowl-with-handle mug many cafes proffer), the cappuccino is a marriage of strong espresso with lots of foam poured with an artful flourish. Wrapped in signature Frank Gehry plywood, the Lounge at REDCAT offers a full-service bar, free wireless Internet and a great selection of books for sale through a partnership with Dutton's Brentwood Books. Stopping in for an after-work or pre-show drink? Forgo the caffeine and grab REDCAT's signature cocktail, the Cat-a-tonic, instead. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.-Lea Lion
BEST SIDEWALK TO CATCH CITY OFFICIALS
When making public comments at the podium of City Council isn't enough, there's one stretch of sidewalk where you're guaranteed to bump into a government official. Walking south of City Hall on Main, in the shadows of the Caltrans building, you're bound to run into someone powerful who is on their way to coffee, lunch or just heading back to the office. Why? The ongoing construction for the new LAPD headquarters presents a natural barrier on the west side of the street, limiting sidewalk options, while the L.A. Times building on Spring, with its stream of reporters, repels any official not interested in giving comments at lunch.-EG
BEST PARKING SPOT (DAY; NIGHT)
This year, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decreed that any holder of an L.A. library card could swim at city-run pools for free. Consider the same library card as your ticket to park: In Downtown, the Central Library offers parking during operating hours for the bargain rate of $1 an hour with library validation. But beware, once the library closes, so does the deal. For evening parking, take advantage of that oft-debated piece of parking lore: the loading zone. After 6 p.m. in the city of Los Angeles, you can indeed park for free in yellow-marked loading zones. There's a bevy of them around Pershing Square.-EG
BEST TRANSIT DEAL
With more than half a dozen DASH bus routes in Downtown - many of them synchronized to a schedule seemingly based more on the ocean's tides than common sense - the City Hall Shuttle is the most consistently reliable. On top of that, it is free. Running just about every five minutes, from First and Figueroa streets to the steps of City Hall and back, the bus provides a convenient Civic Center shuttle for city employees, tourists and anyone heading to a Downtown court. Because of the limited route (barely 14 square blocks) only one bus is needed, meaning it arrives like clockwork. Some whisper that LADOT may cut the line, although no announcement has been made. Here's to hoping Downtown's best transit deal keeps running. At ladottransit.com/dash.-EG
BEST NEW VIEW
Swim to the side of the infinity pool, clasp the edge and look west. That glimmer left of the Westwood high-rises is the Pacific Ocean. Swing your wet head 90 degrees to catch a bird's eye view of the L.A. Live cranes. Look east and you're staring eye-level into Downtown's skyline. A turn to the north reveals the hills of Elysian Park that normally obscure Dodger Stadium. Not from this vantage point. Thanks to some poor business practices and a whole lot of funky feng shui, the unusually designed (and long empty) building at 1100 Wilshire has been transformed into a residential tower. While the view is not exclusive to the top story penthouses, you just have to make it to the "first floor" pool level, actually on the 17th floor. At 1100 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 482-9000 or 1100wilshirela.com.-EG
page 33, 7/23/2007
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
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