Risky Business Along Hollywood Blvd
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Made in Hollywood. pg. 3 Sunny, with • Anti-poverty highs in the campaign. pg. 4 mid 70s Volume 27 No. 37 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Beverly Hills and Wilshire Communities September 14, 2017 Pull up a lawn chair Riskyn business along Hollywood Blvd. Street vendors try to carve out their own on Park(ing)Park(ing) Day Day, an internationally recognized program in which com- niche, but raise The Mid City West Community munity members convert parking legal questions Council is inviting the public to into parks to provide a glimpse into hang out on Friday in parking the possibilities of using streets for spaces being converted into mini more than just places to store vehi- parks as part of the annual cles. This year, organizers are trying On Hollywood Boulevard, just “Park(ing) Day.” something new by closing a portion outside Hard Rock Cafe, there’s a The events on Sept. 15 from 9 of Stanley Avenue between man dancing to the rock music the a.m. to 5 p.m. mark the fourth year Melrose Avenue and an alley a restaurant plays for guests. Mid City West has celebrated See Parks page 26 Nearby, a sidewalk vendor has a table full of fidget spinners. Later in the evening, a row of hotdog vendors grills food openly, the smell of bacon wafting through the air. A hip-hop group freestyle raps about individual tourists as they walk by, gathering a crowd of photo by Jaclyn Cosgrove onlookers who record them on Azucena Favela, an 18-year-old Simi Valley resident, stopped with their cell phones. friends on Tuesday evening to take a photo wrapped in boa constrictors. On the sidewalks of Hollywood Ronald Johnson, a longtime snake owner, has been coming to the Boulevard, there’s something for Hollywood and Highland area for about two years. everyone — and for local business leaders, that’s a problem. In February, the Los Angeles Upon the council’s vote, Mayor However, months later, busi- Eric Garcetti praised the move and ness owners are still waiting for photo by Gregory Cornfield City Council voted to unanimous- ly decriminalize sidewalk and said he looked forward to working the council’s next steps. Those A Park(ing) Day pop-up mini park was created in 2015 on Wilshire street vending, which was until with the council on a comprehen- Boulevard in front of Miracle Mile Toys and Games. The annual event then a misdemeanor. sive, compassionate policy. See Vendors page 26 encourages people to think about other uses for parking spaces. Committee will help determine Tarfestn celebrates 15 years in the Miracle Mile Thousands of futuren of Beverly Hills schools visitors are expected Deadline for stakeholders to apply is Sept. 22 for the annual event with in recent years. He announced that a 20-person committee com- Beverly Hills Unified School prised of local stakeholders will Hancock Park at the La Brea District Superintendent Michael help guide the decision-making Tar Pits and Museum will be filled Bregy cited Blockbuster Video and process, culminating in specific with art and music on Saturday, Netflix at Tuesday’s school board recommendations in December. Sept. 16, at the 15th annual meeting to describe the fork in the “It’s the kind of step we need to Tarfest, a celebration of the artistic road the district faces. take right now,” said Bregy, enter- talent and cultural institutions in Years ago, Blockbuster decided it ing his first full school year in the Miracle Mile. would stick to DVD and VHS Beverly Hills since joining the dis- Thousands of people are rentals from their brick and mortar trict in February. “How can we expected to join the festivities, locations; Netflix decided to adapt, innovate?” which run from 2 to 10 p.m. James ultimately morphing into one of the One of the challenges is an Panozzo, executive director of photo by Eric Minh Swenson world’s biggest content platforms “unsustainable” financial path, Launch LA, producer of Tarfest, The annual Tarfest features musical performances by L.A.-based while Blockbuster filed for bank- Bregy said during a presentation to said the goal has always been to bands. The festival returns to the Miracle Mile this Saturday. ruptcy in 2010. the board. Leading up to the pas- bring top notch music and art to Like Netflix, Bregy said, the dis- sage of its 2017-18 budget, the the area while giving people a rea- trict must adapt to avoid nagging school board had been contemplat- son to spend more time in the Panozzo said. “It’s another way to its core.” deficit spending year after year, and ing ways to erase a projected $5 community. get people into the area, but it is This year’s Tarfest will feature a to resolve lingering questions about million budget deficit, but fell short “A lot of people haven’t even also for people who live in the musical line-up curated by Kevin the effectiveness of maintaining of reaching that figure. The Los been to the Tar Pits. They’ve dri- area to come out and intermingle. Bronson, of BuzzBands LA and four K-8 schools, among other con- ven by, but haven’t stopped,” It’s a gathering of community at See Tarfest page 25 cerns the school board has grappled See Schools page 25 2 September 14, 2017 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Berg, Brahms and porate profiteers after oil is discovered Bernstein on under Paris. Showtime on Sept. 17 is 2 “Elevator,”Elevator a production written and Saturday, Sept. p.m.; see schedule for additional directed by Michael Leoni, has been 16 at 3 p.m. in the showtimes. Tickets start at $25. 3352 extended from Friday, Sept. 15 Eva and Marc E. Foothill Blvd. (626)356-3100, through Saturday, Dec. 30 at the Stern Grand Hall anoisewithin.org. Coast Playhouse in West Hollywood. at The Music Gavin Leatherwood, Megan Davis, Center’s Dorothy Deanna DellaCioppa and Mara Chandler Pavilion. The ensemble fea- McCaffray have Classical Concert tures principal players from the LA The Colburn School kicks-off its joined the cast. Opera Orchestra, along with soprano 2017–2018 season with a classical The play focuses Elizabeth Zharoff. General admission music performance on Sunday, Sept. on seven strangers is $35. 135 N. Grand Ave. pit- 17 at 3 p.m. in Zipper Hall. The con- stuck in an eleva- tancechambermusic.org. cert brings together professional musi- tor who find it’s cians and Colburn School students. It only a matter of features cellist Lynn Harrell, who will time before their join students for a performance of truths are Star Trek, Into works by Beethoven, Handel and revealed. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Darkness Mendelssohn. Tickets start at $13. 200 Friday and Saturday; 3 and 7 p.m., West Hollywood Library’s “Beam Me S. Grand Ave. (213)621-1050, col- Sunday. General admission tickets are Up Saturdays” series is hosting a burnschool.com. $40. 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. screening of “Star Trek, Into (424)279-4816, elevatortheplay.com. Darkness” on Saturday, Sep. 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Community Meeting Coffee With Bach Room. The free screening is open to Salastina Music Society presents Household Waste teens ages 13 and older. The film is “Coffee With Bach at Jones” on rated PG-13. 625 N. San Vicente Sunday, Sept. 17 Collection Blvd. (310)652-5340, weho.org. from 5:30 to 7 The Los Angeles County Department p.m. at Jones of Public Works will host a household Coffee Roasters in hazardous waste and e-waste collec- Pasadena. Brian tion on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 RunawayFountain Theatre isHome holding the world Lauritzen will a.m. to 3 p.m. along West Third Street premiere of “Runaway Home” run- interview Mireya between Foothill Road and Civic ning from Saturday, Sept. 16 through and Chuck Jones, Center Drive in Beverly Hills. All Los Sunday, Nov. 5. The play is a power- owners of Jones Angeles County residents may dis- ful, funny and deeply moving mother- Coffee, about coffee making and its pose of household hazardous waste photo by Cheryl Mann daughter story set three years after history and culture during Bach’s life- such as brake fluid, paint, paint thin- Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents “The Best of Khachaturian” on Hurricane Katrina. Showtimes are 8 time. Salastina will perform Bach’s ner, cleaners with acid or lye, pesti- Sunday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The evening p.m., Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, complete “Coffee Cantata,” a satirical cides, herbicides, household batteries, Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m., Sunday. mini-opera about a young woman’s features ballet and instrumental music by Armenian composer Aram car batteries, pool chemicals, motor Tickets start at $20. 5060 Fountain intense love for the beverage. Tickets oil, oil filters, expired pharmaceuti- Khachaturian, including “Saber Dance” and “Lezginka” from “Gayane,” Ave. (323)663-1525, fountainthe- are $50. 693 S. Raymond Ave., salasti- cals, anti-freeze and fluorescent light as well as selections from “Spartacus” and “Masquerade,” and a new atre.com. na.org/concerts. bulbs. Computers, televisions, print- work titled “Remember.” The cast includes Eduard Sargsyan as ers, cell phones and tablets will also Spartacus and Inga Demetryan as Phrygia. Natasha Middleton, artistic be accepted, along with hypodermic director of Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, leads the performance. Tickets needles, syringes, intravenous needles The Madwoman J.Author, Jaye philosopher Gold and teacher J. start at $25. 216 N. Brand Blvd. (818)243-2539, alextheatre.org.