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Around the August Art Walk: The Movement Continues

By Ed Fuentes — August 16, 2008
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Chapman Lofts

|Photo Gallery| Through time, the purpose of art changes. Each era of society responds to a type of creative expression that suits its need. The Art Walk’s exhibitions reflects what Downtown currently is: a mix of low and high; performance and observer; traditional and digital; grit and elegance. If Downtown’s growth is pictured as a series of installations, a...


Art Walk Preview for August, 2008

By Ed Fuentes — August 13, 2008
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Digital Visions

Only a few years ago, Downtown felt empty at night, especially in August. With SIGGRAPH 2008 and the Downtown Film Festival LA in town and the Comedy Walk continuing its stride at various venues near 5th and Spring, it’s safe to say that the August Downtown Art Walk may see the biggest evening crowds yet. So walk around, ride the bus with Esotouric, or...


Jules Verne Fest Opens Portal at 7+Fig

By Eric Richardson — August 13, 2008

Jules Vernes Portal Ribbon Cutting

|Photo Gallery| On Tuesday afternoon Councilwoman Jan Perry joined astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Nichelle Nichols of “Star Trek” in cutting the ribbon for Jules Verne’s Portal at 7+Fig, a space that the Jules Verne Adventures Film Festival will use for education and screenings. The festival returns to Los Angeles in late October, this time landing on Broadway in...


Film Fest Opens With "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," Starring Downtown

By Eric Richardson — August 11, 2008

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Downtown stars as itself in IFC Films’ “In Search of a Midnight Kiss.” Leads Wilson and Vivian, played by Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds, get off the subway at Pershing Square and spend twenty-five of the film’s ninety-nine minutes wandering the streets of Downtown and admiring its faded grandeur. Standing on the balcony of the Million...


Tonight: Closing Night on Traction

By Eric Richardson — August 09, 2008
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set piece

Saturday night is the last of three chances to check out Cornerstone Theatre Company’s atTraction, a play about the Arts District set on Traction Ave. Kathy and I made it over last night, and really enjoyed it. The Arts District street makes for quite the effective set.


Pershing Square Framed with Art and Music

By Ed Fuentes — August 07, 2008

Looking at Roy's

“Crossroads” is the successful inaugural show for Art Squared Gallery, now on display in Pershing Square under the direction of Mark Walsh and Debbie Cable (until August 20th). The group show almost saves the park’s banal purple wall with six installations of vinyl panels reproducing works in photography, photo collage and paintings, carefully...


Performances Keeping Downtown Night Life Active in August

By Ed Fuentes — August 05, 2008

poster

August doesn’t slow down Downtowners wanting to hit the streets and have a surreal night out as the New LATC opens “Portrait of the Architect in Ruins” this weekend. “It’s not your grandparents play . . it’s edgy.” says New LATC’s Andrew Shafer, the young producer who wants to challenge what Downtown theater can...


Cornerstone Theater Company's New Play is Close to Home

By Ed Fuentes — August 03, 2008
3 Comments

set piece

|Photo Gallery| Cornerstone Theater Company’s new play “atTraction” is using the Arts District street as a stage and the buildings between East 3rd and Hewitt as the set. Now, in the final week of rehearsals, the lines between reality and storytelling are getting blurry. A man riding a scooter darted through the closed-off street after a motorcyclist rehearsed riding past an...


Mark Taper Forum Reopens After $30 Million Renovation

By Eric Richardson — July 30, 2008
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Mark Taper Forum Reopening

|Photo Gallery| On Tuesday morning, Music Center and Center Theatre Group officials proudly unveiled the new Mark Taper Forum, showing off the results of a year-long, $30 million renovation project. While those who had visited the space before will quickly notice the expanded lobby, new lounge and greatly expanded restroom facilities, the real highlight of the work is the way...


Olive's the Spot for Wednesday Entertainment, Offering Shorts and Music

By Eric Richardson — July 29, 2008

Dry

Wednesday’s the night for free things to do on Olive, as a pair of event series kick off on opposite sides of the street. The Downtown Film Festival’s “Shorts & Sweets” lunchtime screening series opens at noon in the Biltmore Hotel, and then just a few hours later Pershing Square kicks off its Wednesday Evening Concert Series at 8pm.