Andrew Meieran, owner of Downtown nightspot The Edison, bought Clifton’s Cafeteria on Broadway about 18 months ago and intends to restore it to it’s old glory. Founded in 1931 by Clifford Clinton, the design of the restaurants included exotic decor and facades that were “kitschy and theatrical”.  Located at Broadway nd 7th in the  theater district, it has remained in operation for 74 years.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised Lucky for creating employment opportunities in Los Angeles, “the creative capital of the world.”

The Lucky building sits near the train tracks and L.A. River and seems to have drawn inspiration from railroad stations of the 1940s. The building’s spacious walkways and work spaces are accentuated by the clean, light colors of the walls.

“It’s not only a beautiful location, it’s a business smart location,” Councilman José Huizar said. “We have everything that can make this a success here.”

Huizar gave credit to Villaraigosa for bringing business into the city with his three-year tax break for companies that relocate to Los Angeles.

“This is a real effort to continue providing jobs and the types of businesses we want to see in the city of Los Angeles,” Huizar said. “(Lucky Brand) is a shot in the arm for the Arts District.”

Lucky was founded by Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman in 1990 and now has 209 retails stores throughout the U.S., selling shoes, accessories, apparel and jewelry.

AEG’s proposed NFL stadium would rise next to Staples Center and the L.A. Live complex.

Part of the LA Convention’s West Hall will be demolished and rebuilt to house the stadium.  Gensler, HKS and HNTB are the three architectural finalists for the design. Last week, AEG CEO Tim Leiweke said that the company plans to make a final design selection in January 2011. The design has specified  a stadium that would have 72,000 seats and 218 suites. The retractable roof is intended to allow the complex to compete for indoor events as well.

This would spruce up the LA Convention Center and add a huge boost to the  economy of downtown LA.

While the NFL is nearing the end of another season, Los Angeles is ending a 16th season without a local team.  LA fans are hopeful that a local team will be reality one day soon.  As to who will be the home team? Build the stadium and they will come. First super bowl is planned for 2016.

The L.A. Conservancy’s fifth annual holiday film matinee will offer “Scrooge” (1970), the all-color version of Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” starring Albert Finney as the classic curmudgeon and Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley’s ghost. It is the chance to see a historic Broadway theater’s screen filled with song, dance, and Victorian London. Now who could say “Bah Humbug,” to that??

Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. at the Million Dollar Theatre.
Screening at 648 S. Broadway, (213) 623-2489 or laconservancy.org.

The Million Dollar Theater was the first movie palace commissioned by legendary impresario Sid Grauman, and opened Feb. 1, 1918.  Built at a reputed cost of more than $1 million, the theater interior was designed in the ornate Churrigueresque style (very ornate Spanish Baroque) by movie house luminary William Woolett and  while the building itself was designed by Downtown architect Albert C. Martin, with ornate terra-cotta sculptures by Jo Mora.

Though most of Broadway’s theaters were shuttered and fell into disrepair over the decades, the Million Dollar continued to go strong. From about the 1950s to the mid-’70s, the theater became the premier venue for Spanish-language films as well as music and variety shows, packing the house for big-name acts such as Maria Felix, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Vicente Fernandez and Celia Cruz.

With the Million Dollar’s opening, three theaters now operate on Broadway with concerts and special events. The Orpheum Theater at 850 S. Broadway underwent a $3.5 million renovation and reopened six years ago with a regular slate of concerts, while the owner of the Los Angeles Theatre at 615 S. Broadway has pumped several million dollars into the elaborate interior and facade (it hosts a more limited schedule of events).

President Barack Obama is coming to downtown LA’s USC’s Alumni Park on Friday, Oct. 22, to raise momentum for next month’s MID TERM election. Tickets are not required, but RSVP is encouraged at my.barackobama.com.

The event is open to the public, and doors open at 10 a.m.  Please be advised that downtown LA traffic may be a problem as it was last time President Obama was in Los Angeles.

Downtown has done a great job with nightlife and restaurants and venues live LA Live and  NOKIA, but  downtown LA retail  will get a major boost if Target moves into a space at 7+Fig, as is widely expected.

In terms of keeping people in Downtown longer, and making it easier for residents to access entertainment and shopping options, the  plan to build a downtown LA streetcar to ferry denizens along Broadway, to L.A. Live and Grand Avenue is just the “ticket’. The  downtown streetcar…past has become prologue.

The streetcar could be just the game changer needed for downtown LA to attract the business.

LA OPERA WILL HOST A FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT OF “IL POSTINO”  Saturday, October 9, 7:30 PM at the California Plaza 4TH & GRAND

THIS IS A FREE TO THE PUBLIC  OUTDOOR SCREENING, AND REQUIRES NO TICKETS. Parking at the California Plaza Garage. $7.50 per car after 6:30 pm.

“Il Postino” stars Placido Domingo. The screening will feature a performance of the the Opera performed that saturday afternoon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The Opera has a running time of 2 hours and 50 minutes. best time to arrive is around 6;30 pm to get the best view of the projection.

THIS IS THE FIRST FREE CONCERT event offered by LA opera.

L.A. Streetcar Inc, the non-profit set up to bring a streetcar to Downtown held its first major fundraiser on Thursday evening, a well-attended affair that brought in more than $200,000 for the effort’s operations. Councilman Jose Huizar, philanthropist Eli Broad, shopping mall magnate Rick Caruso and AEG CEO Tim Leiweke co-hosted and talked about their support for the project. The Downtown LA streetcar could pass by L.A. Live, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Orpheum Theatre making all downtown destinations easy to reach. The exact route is still to be determined..but what fun it would be to have a streetcar downtown.