Residents Oppose Viper Room Project
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Formosa becomes landmark. pg. 3 Partly cloudy, • Hollywood Hills with highs in prepares for the mid 60s disaster. pg. 7 Volume 29 No. 12 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities March 21, 2019 Gold’s term as mayor ends Residents oppose Viper Room project n John Mirisch becomes new Beverly Hills mayor, n The 15-story Les Friedman sworn in to first term as vice mayor structure would involve By luke harold U.S. to end tobacco sales. demolition of the “We did a whole lot of things iconic music venue Following bans on flavored for health,” said Gold, co-chair- tobacco products and smoking in man of Cedars-Sinai’s Dept. of multiunit housing, Beverly Hills Anesthesiology, reflecting on the By cameron kiszla City Councilman Julian Gold’s past year. “As a physician, that one-year term as mayor ended always feels good.” On March 19, a contentious com- Wednesday night as the city munity meeting at the West attempts to become the first in the See Gold page 26 Hollywood Library highlighted the public opposition to what some people say is an attempt to remove a piece of music history from West Hollywood. West Hollywood-based Silver Creek Development has plans to tear down the Viper Room, which is known as a place to catch famous musicians in intimate shows and was once co-owned by Johnny Depp, and the other businesses on that block of Sunset Boulevard and build a hotel and apartment build- rendering by Morphosis Architects ing in its place. More than 50 people came to a meeting at the West Hollywood Library, The 15-story structure by many of them in opposition to plans by Silver Creek Development to tear Morphosis Architects, which fea- down the Viper Room and the other businesses on its block of Sunset tures one plant-adorned vertical Boulevard. tower and a crescent-shaped tower photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills that join at the top and the bottom, But a variety of concerns led senior planners for the city of West Beverly Hills City Councilman Julian Gold began his second term as will contain 115 hotel rooms, 31 more than 50 people to the library’s Hollywood, and four representa- mayor last year, when he was sworn in by his wife with his daughter market-rate residential units and 10 community room to address tives of the development team. looking on. affordable housing units. Jennifer Alkire and Doug Vu, See Viper Room page 25 Plans for annual Pride in WeHo underway Proposed project near n Heilman replaces Duran on subcommittee Park Labrea raises concern that works with CSW By cameron kiszla of the Park La Brea Residents Association. The original idea was By luke harold Park La Brea residents had a to build a tower that would reach mixed reaction when they first more than 20 stories tall at the West Hollywood City heard of the Town and Country northwest corner of Park La Brea. Councilman John Heilman will project, which aims to build a “That massive building replace Councilman John Duran on mixed-use building at the southeast would’ve blocked light and air to a the council’s subcommittee that corner of Third and Fairfax whole subduction of our Park La works with Christopher Street West avenues, said retired Army Col. Brea community,” Harris said. on the annual Pride celebration. Donald Harris, secretary-treasurer See Project page 25 Duran was removed from the subcommittee, which also includes Mayor John D’Amico, at the last meeting following accusations of sexual harassment against Duran photo by John Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood from Gay Men’s Chorus members. Duran, pictured at last year’s Pride, was removed from a City Council City Attorney Mike Jenkins said a subcommittee that works with Christopher Street West to plan each formal censure of Duran over the year’s Pride celebration. recent allegations will be on the council’s April 1 agenda. Estevan Montemayor, the board to increase the available space. very expensive for the city, it’s very president of Christopher Street Street closures under consideration impactful for the residents and the West, said this year’s Pride, sched- include Santa Monica Boulevard, businesses,” Heilman said. “I’m not uled for June 8-9, with a free kick- from La Cienega Boulevard to necessarily convinced we should be off event on June 7, is “focusing on Doheny Drive; San Vicente doing this going forward, on a long- uniting our community.” Boulevard, from Melrose Avenue term basis, but certainly this year it Ongoing construction at West to Santa Monica Boulevard; and makes sense since the park is still Hollywood Park created problems Robertson Boulevard, from not going to be fully open.” photo by Cameron Kiszla fitting all the attendees last year, so Melrose Avenue to Santa Monica The configuration of the week- A planned mixed-use building at the intersection of Third and Fairfax Boulevard. a series of street closures are under See Pride page 26 aims to keep Whole Foods and CVS while constructing 331 apart- consideration for this year’s event “Moving to a full street closure is ments. 2 March 21, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press ‘Cars & Fashion’ Oscar Peterson Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. hollywoodheritage.org. Join the Petersen Automotive Museum for an unveiling of fall and winter tribute apparel by fashion icons Naeem Khan LA Philharmonic presents “Oscar, With Learn to speak and Nicolas Jebran in the museum’s Love,” a tribute to pianist Oscar new exhibit “Winning Numbers: The Peterson, on Saturday, March 23, at 8 Japanese p.m. at the Walt First, The Fastest, The Famous” on Learn to speak Japanese through acting Disney Concert Friday, March 22, from 7 to 11 p.m. during a workshop on Tuesday, March Hall. Peterson, The event is part of the Cars & Fashion 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Japan considered one of series and includes a cocktail reception, Foundation, Los Angeles. Through role the finest pianists dinner, fashion show and after-party. playing, gestures and facial expres- of the 20th centu- Tickets start at $63 for members, $70 sions, Japanese actor Naoyuki Ikeda ry, was beloved by for nonmembers and $120 for VIP will teach participants how to react like jazz and classical access. 6060 Wilshire Blvd. (323)964- Japanese people in natural settings, and audiences for his 6331, petersen.org. how to speak spontaneously using basic virtuosity, influenced by his classical Japanese phrases. He will also share his training and jazz icon Art Tatum. The cross-cultural experiences as a Japanese ‘The Wolves’ man Duke Ellington called “the actor working in movies and theatrical maharajah of the keyboard” was also a Enjoy the Los Angeles premiere of productions in the United States. prolific composer and will be remem- Sarah DeLappe’s “The Wolves” run- Admission is free. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., bered by an all-star line-up of jazz ning from Friday, Ste. 100. (323)761-7510, jflalc.org. March 22, through greats performing Peterson’s composi- Monday, April 22 tions and selections from the album, at the Echo “Oscar, With Love.” Tickets start at Theater Company. $57. 111 S. Grand Ave, laphil.com. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, a ‘Faith Healer’ group of 16- and “Faith Healer,” playwright Brian Friel’s 17-year-old female indoor soccer play- mysterious, humorous and unforget- ers navigate big questions and wage table work about tiny battles with the ferociousness of a the life and times pack of adolescent warriors. of an itinerant Showtimes are 8 p.m., Wednesday Irish healer, runs through Saturday and Monday; 4 p.m., from Saturday, Sunday. Tickets are $34. 3269 Casitas March 23, through Ave. (310)307-3753, echotheatercom- Sunday, May 12, pany.com. at the Odyssey Theatre. The play examines whether Fantastic Francis ‘Artists on Art’ photo courtesy of Corniche Entertainment Hardy is a miracle worker or a show- Enjoy a glimpse into LACMA’s collec- Master conguero, vocalist and bandleader Louie Cruz Beltran returns to man in search of a dollar. Showtimes tion through the eyes of Los Angeles Hollywood’s legendary Catalina Jazz Club on Friday, March 22, at 8:30 are 8 p.m., Wednesday through artists during “Artists on Art: Jennifer p.m. Beltran blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with soaring vocals and daz- Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets start West” on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to zling percussion work, performing a blend of Latin jazz, jazz, R&B clas- at $32. 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. 3 p.m. in the museum’s Study Center (310)477-2055 ext. 2, sics and originals. Tickets start at $20; dinner or two-drink minimum for Photography and Works on Paper. odysseytheatre.com. required in addition to tickets. 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. (323)466-2210, West is an artist whose work explores. She will display artwork from the catalinajazzclub.com. Photography and Prints & Drawings Hollywood history collections and discuss how they relate in Hancock Park. The benefit for Piano Saturday, March 23, through Sunday, Hollywood Heritage’s Richard Adkins to her practice. Admission is free but Spheres includes hats for sale from the April 14 at the Santa Monica Playhouse. will present a program on the life and tickets are required. 5905 Wilshire personal collection of Catherine The play is the fourth in a series of come- career of theater, film and couturier Blvd. (323)857-6010, lacma.org. Uniack, as well as vintage costume dies exploring the dynamics of relation- designer Gilbert Adrian on Sunday, jewelry and collectibles.