DATE: APRIL 17, 2012

FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER/AARON FETERL

LUCHA VaVOOM’s TOP TEN GUIDE TO DOWNTOWN

THE CREATORS OF THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS SHOW ON EARTH RITA D’ALBERT AND LIZ FAIRBAIRN SHARE THEIR FAVORITE DOWNTOWN DIGS

LUCHA VAVOOM IS SET FOR TWO LOS ANGELES CINCO DE MAYO SHOWS FRIDAY, MAY 4 AND SATURDAY, MAY 5 AT THE MAYAN THEATER

LUCHA VAVOOM--the acclaimed Mexican masked wrestling/burlesque/comedy ensemble which “has the pacing of a prison break” (Los Angeles Times, 3/10/12)--is the brainchild of Angelenos Rita D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn. Since 2002, LUCHA VAVOOM has regularly sold out 1,000-seat venues across the globe (Amsterdam, Calgary, Toronto, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and Philadelphia, among many other cities). When not on the road, the troupe calls ’ Mayan Theater--an elaborately appointed, 1927-built former motion-picture palace--home.

As this 10-year-old production gets ready to celebrate its annual Cinco De Mayo shows--Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at the Mayan Theater--Rita and Liz share their favorite downtown Los Angeles spots:

10. COLE’S: The best watering hole in downtown, in our humble opinion. Friendly staff, great cocktails, cozy, old-time interior (and exterior, now that you mention it). Yes, they installed TV’s but thankfully they are not always on. Oh and they have French dip sammiches , really good French fries, GREAT mac n' cheese and super spicy pickles. Hooray!

9. : It's easy to take Olvera Street for granted, but we don't! Before every show we have a reason (excuse) to go. It's so colorful and inspiring. And we like eating at Casa La Golondrina--the oldest Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles (est. 1850). Hey, even if it was established in 1950, that's ancient in Los Angeles terms.

8. SUSTAIN JUICERY: Such a great place for healthy fresh juices and smoothies. They come up with some really great concoctions, i.e.; the Triple Threat (pineapple, carrot, peppers). The people that work there are all really nice and personable. It's great to have them in the neighborhood.

7. NAIL SERVICE: We all get our dazzling pedicures at Nail Service, even [Lucha VaVOOM cast members] Cassandro & Karis. In the summer, they have a champagne happy hour. Everyone is nice there, we've gotten massages, facials, brows done--the works! We've been going there for years and are very loyal. They recently upgraded; all of their pedicure chairs are massage chairs. Oh and the manicures and pedicures last forever!

6. POP KILLER: Great shop in Little Tokyo that has always been kind enough to support Lucha VaVOOM. We hop in to Pop Killer for last minute gifts, not-last minute gifts, and to pick up some cute t-shirts and stuff for ourselves! 5. /LOS ANGELES KINGS: We have a mutual appreciation society with the LA Kings; they come to Lucha VaVOOM AND our HEINO! Happy Hour show and we go see the Kings play. Kings games are fun and it's the closest thing to Rollerball that you'll get to see in person.

4. THE ESCONDITÉ: Newish bar near Little Tokyo/Toy District. Sshhhhh! Many of our cast members meet there after the show for drinks, food & shenanigans; “escondite” does translate to "hiding place," after all. It's cozy and we've drunk WAY too much there, more than once.

3. LITTLE TOKYO: When the wrestlers come up from Mexico, they get Liz to take them to Suihiro. It's open late and it's an old staple for night people. Kuraku is great for late night spicy kim-chee ramen, Tenno Sushi is where we have lunch meetings and affordable, fresh sashimi, and Honda-Ya is our favorite Itzakaya-style place for birthday parties etc.

2. THE NICKEL: Many Lucha VaVOOM plans are made over a great breakfast at the Nickel, as well as post- Lucha VaVOOM hangover breakfasts. Always great, with everything from Vegan breakfasts to pulled pork breakfasts and of course great cakes!

1. THE MAYAN: Our ancestral/spiritual home, it almost goes without saying that this is one of our favorite spots. One of the last indie venues around, it's lovely inside and they keep making more and more improvements, which means more and more bands are choosing to play the Mayan. We saw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs there and it was almost as great as Lucha VaVOOM.

BONUS SPOT: GARAGE PIZZA DOWNTOWN: Best hangover cure is Garage Pizza Downtown. After all of the aforementioned binging, a stop at Garage Pizza before bedtime will cut that hangover in half! They're open til 4:00 AM so we get the cab to drop us there and then weave our way home on foot!

Tickets are currently on sale for Lucha VaVOOM’s Cinco De Mayo shows: Tickets are available online and at these locations: $35 General Admission tickets are available: www.ticketweb.com WACKO: 4633 Blvd, Los Feliz BRAT: 1938 14th Street, Santa Monica GARAGE PIZZA: 100 ½ West 7th Street, Downtown Los Angeles

www.luchavavoom.com

--Link to photo gallery at LA Weekly.com (from the Feb 2011 Mayan shows): http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/lucha-va-voom-kinky-valentine-show-32551686/

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