BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • WeHo duplex recommended as Sunny, with landmark pg. 3 highs in the • Hit-and-run 70s and 80s arrest pg. 4 Volume 29 No. 44 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities October 31, 2019 Beverly Hills rejects Sunset Strip venue gets the Go Go ahead n Whisky heads to City Canon Drive closure Council for cultural n City seeks portal plan that suits businesses’ needs resource designation BY CAMERON KISZLA tions for the Wilshire/Rodeo Station BY CAMERON KISZLA North Portal to its environmental On Oct. 29, the Beverly Hills impact report. The draft EIR will be After a few weeks’ delay, the City Council made clear to con- released for public comment in Whisky a Go Go has been recom- cerned property owners and busi- March or April, while the final EIR mended for designation as a cul- nesses that it has no plans to perma- is expected to return to the City tural resource. nently close Canon Drive as part of Council for certification in On Oct. 28, the West the construction for Metro’s Purple September 2020. Hollywood Historic Preservation Line Extension. The council members want the Commission voted 4-0 to send the During its study session, the coun- station, to be located south of Whisky, located at 8901 Sunset cil was presented with the opportu- Blvd., to the City Council for the nity to add potential alternative loca- See Council page 25 final decision on potential land- mark status. Vice Chair Yawar Charlie and Commissioner Lola photo by Cameron Kiszla Davidson were absent, and Chair The Whisky a Go Go hosted many musicians who are now in the Rock Jacob LaJoie recused himself and Roll Hall of Fame. because he lives near the Whisky in a non-rent stabilized unit. allowed the commission to reach a Sunset Strip is at the heart of West The Whisky was going to be quorum. Hollywood,” West Hollywood considered on Oct. 2 alongside Some of the same speakers who resident Sheila Lightfoot said. fellow applicants and Sunset Strip advocated for the Whisky, Heather Goers, an architectural institutions the Roxy Theatre and Rainbow and Roxy earlier in the historian for the applicant, Rainbow Bar and Grill. However, month returned to ensure that the Historical Resources Group, who due to absences, a then-vacant seat Whisky was recommended for presented on behalf of the appli- and LaJoie’s recusal, a quorum landmark status as well. cant on Oct. 2, also returned to could not be reached on the “Together with the Rainbow advocate for the building’s impor- Whisky item, and the vote had to and the Roxy that were designated tance. Goers pointed out that the be continued until the Oct. 28 at the last meeting, the Whisky is Whisky is not only historical photo by Cameron Kiszla meeting, where newly sworn-in at the heart of the Sunset Strip. Metro construction has closed Canon Drive north of Wilshire Boulevard. Commissioner Francesco Gallo And of course, we know that the See Whisky page 25 Commissioner withdraws from Demolition proceeds despite City Councilman’s efforts Beverly Hills City Council race n Koretz ran out of Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th District, there was not n Shooshani cites time to save 92-year- enough time to save the house. incumbents as reason old Tudor home on Koretz filed a motion to consider granting the house historic-cul- BY CAMERON KISZLA Citrus Avenue tural monument status and stay BY MORGAN KEITH the demolition. Beverly Hills Planning “Historic preservation is often Commissioner Farshid Joe On Wednesday, Oct. 23, like hand-to-hand combat,” Shooshani will not seek a City onlookers gathered to watch the Koretz said. “Sometimes we win, Council seat in the March 2020 Tudor-style house located at 361 sometimes we lose.” election, though he expects to run N. Citrus Ave. take the first blows The Los Angeles City Council for the council in 2022. from bulldozers and a demolition couldn’t have considered the Shooshani, 61, said when he crew. announced his campaign in Despite an effort from Los See Former page 26 September, he thought he’d be run- ning for an open seat, not against photo courtesy of Joe Shooshani for Beverly Hills City Council the incumbent Councilman Julian Beverly Hills Planning Commissioner Farshid Joe Shooshani Gold and Councilwoman Lili Bosse. Shooshani said if he knew run for reelection. Gold said he Planning Commissioner Joe then that the council members were decided to run again in August, and Shooshani and his decision to with- going to run, he would have held his re-election campaign was draw his candidacy for the City off on announcing his candidacy. announced a few days before Council, and I am so grateful for his “[Bosse] is a great lady. She does Shooshani announced his candida- kind comments about me and my quite a bit for the city, and … it’s cy. Bosse said her “target decision council colleagues and the work we crazy to run against a popular per- day” was Labor Day, and she are doing on behalf of the city,” son. Same thing with [Gold], he’s announced her reelection campaign Bosse said in an email. the nicest guy, and I like the shortly thereafter. Bosse and Gold Gold said seeking a City Council changes that he’s doing,” were similarly complimentary of seat is a big commitment that Shooshani said. Shooshani and his decision to bow impacts not only the candidate, but photo courtesy of Zillow Bosse and Gold said they put out of the race. The Cole family thought the home’s new owners planned to much thought into their decisions to “I have the utmost respect for See Shooshani page 26 live in the house. 2 October 31, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press ‘The Irishman’ to meet his fiancé’s family, only to dis- begins at 6 p.m., followed by the per- cover they’re all nudists. Showtimes formance and discussion at 7 p.m. American Cinematheque is holding are 11 p.m. on the first Saturday of each Tickets start at $250. 1310 11th St., screenings of Martin Scorsese’s “The month. Tickets are $25. 6448 Santa Santa Monica. (310)827-0889, Irishman” (2019) running from Friday, Monica Blvd. disrobedtheplay.com. latw.org/diplomacy. Nov. 1, through Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Egyptian Theatre. Actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in the Le Salon de Stephen Bishop epic saga of organized crime in post- Enjoy “An Evening With Stephen war America told through the eyes of Musiques Bishop” on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a Le Salon de Musiques presents a per- p.m. in the Grammy Museum’s Clive hustler and hitman who worked along- formance of its Masters Rediscovered Davis Theater. Join the multiplatinum- side some of the most notorious figures chamber music series on Sunday, Nov. selling singer-songwriter for an inti- of the 20th century. Showtimes are 10 3, at 4 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler mate conversation and performance a.m., and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1-3; Pavilion, Fifth Floor. The concert will hosted by Scott Goldman. Bishop is see schedule for additional showtimes. feature works by Franz Schubert and known for hits including “On and On,” 6712 Hollywood Blvd. americancine- Louis Spohr. Musicologist Julius “Save it for a Rainy Day,” “It Might Be matheque.com. Reder Carlson will introduce the pro- You” and the Oscar-nominated song gram and guests will also enjoy “Separate Lives.” Tickets are $25. 800 Book Sale French Champagne and a high tea W. Olympic Blvd., ste. A245. grammy- buffet catered by Patina. Tickets are museum.org. Book lovers can find rarities and bar- $95; $45 for students. 135 N. Grand gains at the John C. Fremont Library’s Ave. (310)498-0257, lesalonde- book sale on Friday, Nov. 1, from noon musiques.com. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 2, from noon to 5 p.m. CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and videos will be offered. 6121 photo by Tony Duran Organ Recital Melrose Ave. (323)962-3521. Nick Hardcastle stars in “Orry,” a production about three-time Oscar win- British organist Jane Parker-Smith will ner and legendary Hollywood costume designer Orry-Kelly running from perform on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Brenna Whitaker Friday, Nov. 1, through Monday, Nov. 11, at the Lee Strasberg Theatre. in the Walt Disney Hardcastle wrote and performs in the play about the unapologetically Concert Hall. The Singer Brenna Whitaker brings her gay Australian designer who dressed and heard the secrets of stars like concert, which is soulful vocals and Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Merle Oberon, Ingrid part of the LA vintage jazz Philharmonic’s Bergman and Mae West. Based on Orry-Kelly’s memoir “Women I’ve stylings to the Organ Recital Broad Stage on Undressed,” found in a pillowcase in suburban Sydney nearly 51 years series, includes Friday, Nov. 1, at after his death, “Orry” incorporates music, dance, vaudeville routines, works by Bach, 8 p.m. The perfor- puppetry, digital art, special effects and a taste of the incredible gowns Franck, Widor, mance is part of he created to tell the story. Showtimes on Nov. 1 and 2 (opening night) Langlais, Jongen, Willscher, Liszt, the blackbox @ is 8 p.m.; see schedule for additional showtimes. A preview on Nov. 1 is Bédard, Duparc and Dethier. Tickets start the edye concert $17.50; $50 for opening night on Nov.