Preserving BHHS Classic 1929 Design
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Cars vandalized in WeHo pg. 4 Sunny, with • Carthay Circle highs in the residents talk 60s Metro pg. 5 Volume 29 No. 51 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities December 19, 2019 Suspect arrested for Thank your lucky shamrock – Bergin’s is back synagogue vandalism n New team reopens Fairfax landmark n Alleged perpetrator found in Hawaii BY CAMERON KISZLA BY EDWIN FOLVEN for his arrest and tracked Redding to Kona, Hawaii, where he was After nearly two years, the Irish The Beverly Hills Police taken into custody and is being held pub Tom Bergin’s has reopened in Department has arrested a 24-year- without bail pending an extradition the Miracle Mile. The bar and old man from Pennsylvania for hearing. He is charged with vandal- eatery, located at 840 S. Fairfax allegedly vandalizing the Nessah ism of a religious property and Ave., closed after St. Patrick’s Synagogue at 142 S. Rexford Drive commercial burglary, with the Day last year. on Dec. 14. penalty enhancement that it was a Brothers David and Francis The suspect, Anton Nathaniel hate crime. Castagnetti, the operators of the Redding, was identified on Dec. 17 Beverly Hills officials newly reopened Bergin’s, said using security video and forensic their soft opening began with evidence. Police obtained a warrant See Police page 33 friends and family on Dec. 12 and 13, and the general public was photo by Cameron Kiszla welcomed on Saturday, Dec. 14. The walls and ceilings of Tom Bergin’s are covered with shamrocks “It was busy all night long,” denoting the Irish pub’s regular customers. David Castagnetti said. For now, Tom Bergin’s is open ously ran Firefly in Studio City Bergin’s, and when they moved to from 5 p.m. to midnight on and Union in Pasadena, said they Los Angeles in the early 2000s, Monday and Thursday, from 5 were “honored” to be picked to both brothers’ homes were nearby, p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and reopen the famed eatery, which as was that of their mother, who Saturday, and 11 a.m. to mid- has been a popular watering hole lived in Park La Brea. night on Sunday. Bergin’s is since it opened in 1936. Bergin’s “This was our hood for a long, closed on Tuesday and moved to the Fairfax location in long time,” Francis Castagnetti Wednesday, though the 1949, where it was frequented by said. Castagnettis said that is likely to notable figures like actor Cary The Castagnettis came aboard change in the next 30 to 45 days, Grant and President Ronald to operate the pub in late August, in which the restaurant will be Reagan. and the only changes they’ve photo by Morgan Keith open seven days a week. The Castagnettis said they have Nessah Synagogue was broken into and vandalized on Dec. 14. The Castagnettis, who previ- great respect for the history of See Apartment page 34 Preserving BHHS classic 1929 design Whisky to stay stay n Seismic retrofit, technology upgrade on Sunset Strip underway n Famed music venue building as part of its consent BY MORGAN KEITH calendar. declared landmark in The Whisky, located at 8901 On Dec. 12, officials from Beverly West Hollywood Sunset Blvd., was built in 1923 in Hills Unified School District and the Art Deco style, but the build- ProWest Constructors gave a tour BY CAMERON KISZLA ing is best known as a popular unveiling their seismic retrofitting music venue in the 1960s, 1970s progress and plans for the Beverly On Dec. 16, Whisky a Go Go and early 1980s. Many popular Hills High School campus. on the Sunset Strip was officially rock ‘n’ roll bands performed on Construction crews began the designated a local cultural the Whisky’s stage, including seismic retrofitting on the campus’ resource in West Hollywood. some that would later be inducted 1929 buildings, which will make The City Council unanimously the school more earthquake resis- gave the final approval for the See Concert page 35 tant. The structures have been des- ignated B1-B4 and are in different phases of construction. Student photo by Morgan Keith instruction is occurring in other ProWest and BHUSD construction crews continued renovations on the buildings. section of Beverly Hills High School’s campus near Moreno Drive. “The consensus right now is we’d like to preserve that original ProWest owner Jeffrey Rising diaphragm and allow the existing look and blend that original con- pointed out original Norman trusses structure to be maintained as an struction into the final project,” said in B1 in what will serve as a media open space. The room will have Jeff Pylman, executive bond pro- room, as well as orange steel rein- several large-screen TVs and break- gram manager for Team Concept forcements, put in after the 1933 out study rooms, with data and Development Services, Inc., which Long Beach earthquake. power running underneath the car- manages BHUSD’s construction “This is probably the best way to pet so that the room can be easily program. see, in one room, the impact of the reconfigured. To achieve this, crews are replac- seismic upgrade in a glance,” Additionally, B1 will house a ing the four buildings’ clay roof Rising said. reading lab and a college and career He said the crew put “porcupine center. photo by Cameron Kiszla tiles with replicas made by the com- Many artists and bands who have performed at the Whisky a Go Go pany who manufactured the origi- beams” around the existing struc- in West Hollywood have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall nals, Ludowici. ture that act as a structural steel See School page 35 of Fame. 2 December 19, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Family art activity Arena Cinelounge Theatre Forty Families will enjoy “Pop-up Art-mak- Arena Cinelounge Sunset is holding ing Activities” on Thursday, Dec. 19, screenings of “Heavy Water,” “Lost holiday party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Los Holiday,” “Kaddish” and “Santa Fake” Theatre Forty will host its holiday show Angeles County Museum of Art. The running from Friday, Dec. 20, through on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2:30 p.m. in the event will offer new ideas for inspira- Thursday, Dec. 26. “Heavy Water” is a Westwood Branch Library. tion and hands-on activities for children documentary that follows big wave Professional actors will read seasonal and those young at heart. Participants surfer Nathan Fletcher through the evo- poems, stories and essays from authors can stop by the Family Welcome table lution of surfing and his relationship such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and E.B. on the museum’s Smidt Welcome Plaza with big waves. “Lost Holiday” is a White. Readers include Katherine for instructions. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. comedy and mystery about a New York Henryk, Daniel Leslie, Melanie lacma.org. social worker who finds herself MacQueen, LeeAnne Rowe and Gloria embroiled in the kidnapping of a Stroock. Admission is free and candy Washington, D.C. socialite. “Kaddish” will be served. 1246 Glendon Ave. ‘A Snow White is the testament of a former concentra- (213)385-5515. theatre40.org. tion camp prisoner who sheds light on Christmas’ the tragic history of the families of two Lythgoe Family Panto’s 10-year young people from different worlds. Adam Lambert anniversary production of “A Snow “Santa Fake” follows a young Irish Goldenvoice presents vocalist Adam White Christmas” runs from man who has emigrated to the United Lambert in concert on Saturday, Dec. Thursday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, States and finds himself caught up in an 21, at the El Rey Theatre. Novena Dec. 22, at the Pasadena Civic escalating whirlwind of shenanigans. Carmel opens the show. Doors open at Auditorium. In an updated version of Showtimes vary; see schedule. 8 and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets the classic fairy tale, Princess Snow Admission is $16. 6464 Sunset Blvd. are $49.50; $55 at the door. 5515 White joins forces with the Seven (323)924-1644, arenascreen.com. Wilshire Blvd. theelrey.com. Dwarfs to defeat her wicked aunt, the Queen. In the style of British panto, audiences are encouraged to interact Winter Holiday Holocaust by booing the villains and cheering for the hero. The family-friendly produc- Festival survivor talk tion with a comedic twist includes photo courtesy of Impro Theatre Families won’t want to miss the Expo Holocaust survivor Steven Kovary will dancing and contemporary music. The Broad Stage presents the return of Impro Theatre with “Jane Austen Center’s 16th annual Winter Holiday speak about his experiences on Sunday, Showtimes are 7 p.m., Dec. 19-20; 1 UnScripted” on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4 and 8 p.m. Austen wrote only six Festival on Dec. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Los and 5 p.m., Dec. 21-22. Tickets start at Saturday, Dec. 21, Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. novels, but her wit and wisdom left readers hungry for more. Impro $28. 300 E. Green St. (626)449-7360, from 10 a.m. to 1 Kovary was born in Budapest in 1941. thepasadenacivic.com. Theatre’s “Jane Austen UnScripted” gives audiences a chance to imag- p.m. The event When his parents were sent to a forced ine other books she might have written. The company starts with audi- includes free holi- labor camp, they made arrangements ence suggestions and creates a world of love-struck girls, brooding day festivities, arts for him to go with a Red Cross opera- Tribute to Jolson noblemen and charming cads.