Broadway Critique Lacks Big Picture View

By Eric Richardson — December 05, 2008 — 7 Comments

Eric Richardson

Running today on New Geography is a Broadway critique by the Garment and Citizen's Jerry Sullivan, who scolds the Bringing Back Broadway effort for announcing redevelopment funds and not working to fix the street's increasing vacancy for ground floor retail.

Yet the Broadway effort has put a focus on exactly that, in both programs announced and those in the works. Sullivan's criticism attempts to indict one program for not addressing all of the street's needs, but fails to recognize many parts of the effort that speak directly to his concerns. — Continued Inside...

It's Christmas Time in the City

By Ed Fuentes — December 05, 2008

Ed Fuentes

|Photo Gallery| Old and new city sidewalks were busy sidewalks as City Hall and L.A. Live dressed up in Holiday style last night.

With all the attention down the road, City Hall’s official tree lighting ceremony, hosted by Project Restore, became a small hometown affair timed to allow civic leaders make the 7pm curtain at L.A. Live. — Continued Inside...

Star-Studded Ceremony Kicks Off Light of the Angels at L.A. Live

By Eric Richardson — December 04, 2008 — 11 Comments

Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| A little after 7pm this evening, "superstar celebrity" Britney Spears joined AEG's Tim Leiweke, Adam Carolla, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and USC football coach Pete Carroll in flipping the candy cane lever to start L.A. Live's first Light of the Angels show.

Carolla MC'ed the event, and expressed equal surprise in the rise of both Downtown and Spears. — Continued Inside...

Touring Downtown WIFI: siptea

By Ed Fuentes — December 03, 2008 — 4 Comments

Ed Fuentes

New teahouse siptea is so particular about its product that owner Laura Stewart refuses to serve coffee for fear that the overpowering aroma would drown out the experience of the organic teas.

The shop is also a great place to get some work done, featuring WIFI and available power for those seeking out a serene setting for productivity. If you find yourself stumped writing that email, you can get some added inspiration by looking out the front window to the turquoise terra cotta Eastern Columbia Building, located across the street.

Or you can have some more tea. — Continued Inside...

New Conga Room Set to Add Latin Flavor to L.A. Live's Music Venues

By Ed Fuentes and Eric Richardson — December 03, 2008 — 3 Comments

Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| Crews were hard at work on Tuesday running cables and stocking bars at the new Conga Room. There's always a lot to be done when opening a music venue or restaurant. When that venue is part of the $2.5 billion L.A. Live and features a restaurant, broadcast facilities and a lighting system that can instantly change the feel of the entire space, those last-minute logistics are multiplied.

But with just two days to go before a December 4 soft-opening, the scene at Conga Room was surprisingly calm. — Continued Inside...