DOWNTOWN. W THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM VOL 16. NO. 01 DEC 9TH - DEC 16TH, 2021
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AT THE MALL WITH
HIDDEN SOLE
AMEX BRINGS
BYBLACK BAZAAR TO THE
ARTS DISTRICT
FHEDESH RELEASES
WARNING SIGNS
SNEAKER COLLECTION OF DOWNTOWN WEEKLY
VOL 15 NO 16 - DECEMBER 9TH - DECEMBER 16TH, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM
ON THE COVER HIDDEN SOLE
LOCATION:
FOX HILLS MALL photo by :
PASSION Thirteen
THE SNEAKER HEADS
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at the mall with hidden sole ..........6 fhedesh lord of the underground....8 el debarrge at the globe.....9 amex byblack in the arts district ....10 winter wonderland on broadway...... NYEla 2022 at grand park points.......11 DTLA WEEKLY
editor and chief KERI FREEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
awaya oswald KERI FREEMAN christopher floch leslye gama
photography
GARY LEONARD PASSION THIRTEEN STUDIO
VIDEO Production
@kerieatsdtla design and layout @kerieatsdtla
social media
@kerieatsdtla
Special thanks to... MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES & council district 14 THE CITY OF LA ARTS DISTRICT CHINATOWN CIVIC DISTRICT BUNKER HILL EXPO/USC HISTORIC CORE LITTLE TOKYO FASHION DISTRICT FINANCIAL DISTRICT SKID ROW SOUTH PARK WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THEGRAWN ARTWALK NEWS
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AT THE MALL WITH HIDDEN SOLE BY KERI FREEMAN VOL 15 NO 16 - DECEMBER 9TH - DECEMBER 16TH, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.
AT THE MALL WITH
HIDDEN SOLE
T
he first-ever Hidden Sole opened as a shoe boutique four years ago on August 19th, 2017, in the city of Carson. In October of 2019, Hidden Sole opened a second store inside the Lakewood Mall to cut their third Grand Opening ribbon at the Westfield Mall Culver City (Fox Hills Mall) on May 28th of this year. Since their humble beginnings, sneakerheads have been flocking to Hidden Sole to find the lowest priced authentic Jordans, Adidas, Nike…and let’s not forget Yeezy.
The stores are part new merchandise, part consignment shop, where collectors can buy, sell and trade their fresh kicks yearround. Owners Obinna Okwara, Chibuike Okwara, Darron Holmes, and Cameron Brooks are long-time friends from Carson and Compton with their love for runners in common. Before they opened their first location, the fellows would buy, trade, and sell sneakers on Melrose. However, the drive coming from Carson and Compton plus the high prices proved to be just too much, so they pulled their resources together to become sneaker store owners and never looked back.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
“On top of the distance, the prices we’re never in our favor. The shoes we wanted cost too much. When trying to resell or trade our shoes, we never got a fair offer.” said Obi Darren and Cam are lifelong sneakerheads. Everything this entails, they’ve been avid collectors their entire lives. Obi and Buike had been putting together events hosted by big names for over 20 years before becoming the successful owners of Hidden Sole.
The group’s collector’s expertise, coupled with years spent in the hospitality industry, is evident in how the store is marketed and promoted, making every day feel like a big Hollywood event. “We
are the people’s store. We allow and accept constant feedback from our consumers so that we can shape our business to the liking of the people.” said Cameron.
HIDDEN SOLE BY KERI FREEMAN
Much More Than Just a Shoe Store.
Hidden Sole is known for taking on charitable causes and giving back to the community.
“We decided to open our shoe store in our community. Our goal was not to become the #1 shoe store. Our goal was to become the people’s store", said Darren. This year, Hidden Sole’s 2nd Annual Back Pack Drive distributed over 2000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies, Hidden Sole gear, and gift cards.
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Providing more access to affordable exclusive sneakers and premium streetwear is high on the agenda at Hidden Sole.
“We wanted to Sell exclusive sneakers for less and offer more cash or better value for those seeking to sell or trade their sneakers!" Said Buike.
The brand also sponsors local basketball, football, and baseball athletic teams in the City of Carson. This Holiday Season, their 6th Annual Toy To Remember is held on December 20th. For this family event at Project LA, 6841 Crenshaw Blvd., Hidden Sole will gift presents to at least 500 kids.
“Find your Sole” Every December, Hidden Sole creates a “Find Your Sole” challenge right before Christmas. It’s a scavenger hunt where they put shoes in the parking lot, in the store, around the store, etc. Once a shopper discovers the location of the left foot shoe, they may bring it back to the store and given the matching right foot shoe. Hidden Sole also gives students, teachers, and first responders $25-$50 gift cards.
The Nike Dunk Low White Black is the store’s hottest seller this year. Those and other styles lure professional athletes, musicians, actors, models, influencers, etc.
One of the main reasons the Fox Hill location Students especially may bring in their report has been such a HUGE cards. If they have A’s and B’s, they receive a success is all the $25 gift card, $50 if they have straight As. celebrities that frequent the store. They also give away free shoes via their app and social media about three times a week. Customers even show up and hang around to see Customers just have to turn on post which celebrity will stroll notifications for details. in next. This is how it is. @hiddensole
JANUARY 2ND
8 10 GREAT GIFTS PART 2
VOL 15 NO 16 - DECEMBER 9TH - DECEMBER 16TH, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM
FHEDESH RELEASES
WARNING SIGNS EP + VIDEO
C
hildren of the night can now download the darkness thanks to the Lord of the Underground, Downtown Industrial Goth artist, Fhedesh. His darkwave industrial sound hails from the pits of hell, welcoming the listener to explore every unholy within the realm of the underworld. With his new 9-single EP entitled “Warning Signs” comes the longawaited video welding his skills as a classical pianist and producer, together with the video’s amazing experimental visuals.
Fhedesh, inspired by vampirism, darkwave, and everything goth, provides a musical backdrop that encourages the freedom to bend, break, and demolish the rules. “Warning Signs” instills this message as the video toggles between flashing scenes of blacklight bondage, blood, and lingerie. Overseeing it all is a purposely sinister figure wearing a darkened masked. It is Fhedesh protected by his element, praising every component of video hints of the forbidden. For those used to the dark side of underground goth, vampirism, and the dark arts, “Warning Signs” may be looked at with a bit of sarcasm. Yet, for those still unaware, be warned, Fhedesh’s music explores facets of an underground lifestyle that embrace an unapologetic creative exploration and sexuality from all manner of beasts.
Ed Krieger Added to LA Library Photography Special Collections Photographer Ed Krieger captured hundreds of L.A. theater productions over the course of 40 years before his death on December 16, 2020. Now, the Fountain Theatre has arranged for his extensive collection of photos, negatives, slides, and digital files to be permanently housed at the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, where it will be archived as part of the library’s Photography Special Collections. For decades, through the lens of his camera, Krieger chronicled the production history of local stages. His production stills captured the essence of live performance at such venues as the Fountain Theatre, Skylight Theatre, Boston Court, El Portal, Laguna Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre,
Downey Civic Light Opera, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood Bowl, and many more. Krieger's images appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Variety. “This collection will be an incredible supplement to our theater photos from the Herald-Examiner newspaper image archive and builds on the incredible wealth of materials in our Literature and Fiction Department, which chronicles Los Angeles theater productions from the late 19th century to the present. We’re excited to be a go-to source for local theater research.” said Senior Librarian Christina Rice, who manages LAPL’s photo collections. Krieger’s children, Will Krieger and Courtnay Krieger said in a statement they thanked the Los Angeles Public Library for archiving their father’s work.
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS ...
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ASAP "SKID GROW" PLANTS SEEDS FOR MARKET RATE HOUSING IN SKID ROW
A
dam Sokol Architecture Practice has completed over a year’s work reconsidering housing and homelessness in Los Angeles and has released their project redesign of Skid Row.
80s SENSATION EL DEBARGE COMING TO GLOBE SOULFUL SUNDAYS
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n the early 80s, El Debarge, one of many rotating siblings in the band Debarge, led the family to the top ten single charts time and time again. El Debarge, in his early twenties, was beyond handsome, with an innocent boyish charm, swooning the world over with his smooth velvety love songs, just beckoning the youth to fall in love to the Rhythm of the Night. As a solo artist, one smiling falsetto from El Debarge could melt your clothes away as he went on to seduce his young fans across the world. By the end of the 1980s, five-time Grammy Award nominees, together or apart, the Debarge family had released nine Top 40 R&B singles, five top 40 pop singles, two Pop top 10 hits, five top 10 R&B singles, two number-one R&B singles, one number-one
single on the dance chart, and three number-one hits on the adult contemporary chart.
SKID GROW takes a radically different direction, asking how to reconsider our landuse policies to make the best possible use of LA’s vast urban areas to the most significant benefit of all Angelenos, including the unhoused and those needing more support.
for affordable housing, meaning those with lower-paying jobs, yet still able to pay rent, vs. supportive, meaning those who earn government assistance and require onsite social services including shelter beds, and the remaining half, paying full suggested rental prices for their units.
Flash forward to 2021, a few decades to find El Debarge has not missed a beat. His old fans are just that, older, yet, anxiously awaiting two backto-back shows at the Globe Theater on Broadway, Dec 19th and 20th. Each show opens with DW3 (today’s hardest working band in soul business), working fans into a dance/romance frenzy with their R&B, old school funk, jazz and Latin-fired-up magic. Switch, an R&B funk band famous for their hit songs “There’ll Never Be”, “I Call Your Name”, and “Love Over & Over Again”, once toured and shared songs with Debarge. Soulful Sundays at the Globe has made it possible for two to reunite, making for a highly anticipated heartfelt performance our city can groove to. All shows at The Globe Theatre, 740 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA. 90014. Tickets are available wl.seetickets.us/ SoulfulSundays
Their premise is that tremendous value is inherent in the area currently known as Skid Row. By seeking to unlock that value, they can create significant market-rate and affordable housing while also directing unprecedented resources to the benefit of the unhoused. Their vision for SKID GROW includes 16,500 units of market-rate housing, 2,100 units of affordable housing, 8,000 units of supportive housing, and 6,500 shelter beds. For perspective, that would allow a little over half the area
To further the development, asap Skid Grow would be complemented public amenities, including new schools, a public food market, a sports center, an outdoor performance venue centered on a pedestrian-focused street grid that would be a model for sustainable development. Surmounting the whole area would be an extensive publicly accessible park, which at 115 acres would be among the city’s largest. asap/ is a multi-disciplinary design practice founded in 2011 and based in downtown Los Angeles with a second office in New York.
10 THIS WEEK IN SPORTS BY CHRIS FLOCH
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AMERICAN EXPRESS DOING BIG THINGS THIS WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN LA
BYBLACK POP UP IN
THE ARTS DISTRICT
T
his weekend, American Express will open ByBlack Bazaar, a popup marketplace curated by the acclaimed creator, actress, and LA native Issa Rae.
Kristian in 2020, will also welcome event visitors. All the way from Long Beach comes Eddie’s Liquor, a bookstore and creative agency that offers support and a safe space for local creatives.
T
Guests will enjoy music from DJs LIV.E, Oh M.O.S. & he pop-up KISS, NU, DJ Millie, and Brian marketplace will Henry, and complimentary gift prioritize black-owned wrap by Black Paper Party will businesses that do be provided for any purchases not have a physical store made at the marketplace. presence to help them connect Located at 1005 Mateo with customers this holiday Street ByBlack Bazaar will season and feature 16 national feature DANZY Design Studio, and local brands in fashion, founded by Marshall Danzy beauty, home and lifestyle. Taulbert in 2018, SKNMUSE Pop-up shopping beauty brand, and Ascension experiences are the third Earth founded by Max most popular activity that Hemphill in 2018. consumers seek out during the Top vendors include holiday period, according to the SammyB Designs created by American Express Shop Small Samantha Black, Miletree Impact Survey. Candles launched in November 2020 by Shanice, and Mel D Cole, one of Hip Hop’s most
American Express X NBA 2K22
accomplished having worked with Hip Hop and R&B stars Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Erykah Badu and more. QUEEN LA a Black-woman owned creative plant store and e-commerce company and No Free Coffee founded by Mario
To outfit card members and fans at Staple Center will have access to NBA gear for purchase, in addition to complimentary sneaker cleanings throughout the weekend.
EXPERIENCE Gamers, (aka MyPLAYER’s to the NBA 2K21 game), know NBA 2K games allow you to create your ideal baller from the ground up, with unique customizations that put you in control of your path to basketball stardom.
As part of the partnership, shoppers who purchase NBA 2K22 online at 2K Store with an Amex Card can receive up to 35,000 in virtual currency Enter American Express! that can be spent on in-game For the first time ever, Amex purchases. Card members will be able to claim some of the most sought- During this weekend’s pop up, fans who stop by the after digital merchandise Face Scan Studio will have for their NBA 2K MyPlayer, including gear from Just Don, the opportunity to enhance their MyPlayer by taking highOVO, Mitchell & Ness, Under quality face scans, which can Armour and more.
ByBlack is a national business directory and certification program for Black-owned businesses created by U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., and expanded in partnership with American Express.
then be uploaded through the 2K app to get a true-to-life look to be used in the game. Immersive Sights and Sounds: With wall-to-wall mirrors, fans will be able to experience the “Infinity Cube” which will immerse them into the sights and sounds of NBA 2K22 in a whole new way and capture the moment with shareable photos.
Paul George vs. WNBA star Breanna Stewart Fans at the American Express x NBA2K22 Experience and around the world will be able to watch NBA star Paul George and WNBA star Breanna Stewart face off in a highly anticipated NBA 2K22 matchup livestreamed from the American Express x NBA 2K22 Experience. For those who can’t make it the event and match, hosted by Alexis Morgan, will be streamed via the NBA Twitch.
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GRAND PARK'S ANNUAL NYELA CELEBRATES FRONT LINE
VOL 15 NO 16 - DECEMBER 9TH - DECEMBER 16TH, 2021 DTLAWEEKLY.COM
DTLA WINTER WONDERLAND COMES TO BROADWAY
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he hardest party to bring a backpack into just got a whole lot harder to attend. That is of course, unless you’re one of the many invited City and County frontline and essential workers who gave us hope during the pandemic.
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or all others, Grand Park’s NYELA, powered by The Music Center, will ring in the new year by honoring the resilience of Los Angeles County with a live onehour special broadcast and streaming event. The program, which will feature joyful musical performances and Grand Park’s signature video projection countdown, will be broadcast on Fuse and livestreamed on Grand Park’s YouTube channel, providing
n Saturday, December 18th, Councilmember Kevin de León will host and attend the first annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Event in DTLA on Broadway between 8th and 9th Street.
the opportunity for people around the country and around the globe to experience the park’s grand-scale New Year’s Eve celebration. In line with Grand Park’s commitment to featuring L.A.-based talent reflective of the “park for everyone,” Grand Park’s NYELA will feature a dynamic line-up of performances beginning with the Afro-Dominican rhythms of songstress Esty, followed by the R&B-influenced althop beats of South L.A.’s DUCKWRTH. Latin icon for alternative electronic music worldwide and known for popular hits such as “Mas,” “Hasta Quemarnos” and “Soun Tha Mi Primer Amor,” Kinky will close out the hour-long program with a high-energy set. Dropping dance beats in back-to-back DJ sets, Peanut Butter Wolf, founder of independent Stone Throw Records, and J.Rocc, one of the original turntablists, will keep the party atmosphere going between main stage performances. The celebration will culminate with Grand Park’s signature midnight countdown created in a new partnership with Xitelabs out of Calabasas, featuring an exciting showcase of stunning 3D graphics and
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This family event will feature entertainment, music, ugly sweater contests, holiday arts and crafts, hot cocoa, and more. And what’s a Winter Wonderland without snow? So the Councilmember will be bringing in the snow to let the kids have an authentic winter experience. light shown on the iconic Los Angeles City Hall building. The midnight countdown show will meet the special moment of ringing in the new year in person for the guests and the larger home audience watching online with the themes of hope, perseverance, action, bravery, boldness, positivity, and unity. Viewers can tune in or log on to the flagship West Coast countdown celebration on Friday, December 31, 2021, from 11:00 p.m.–12:01 a.m. PT / 2:00 a.m.–3:01 a.m. ET January 1, 2022, to watch on Fuse (check local listings) or stream on Grand Park’s YouTube channel (@ grandparkLosAngeles). “With a special invitation-only audience and an event that everyone can also enjoy from home, Grand Park’s NYELA is our way of saying thank you to
Holiday events have been a tradition of decades for most communities in Council District 14 and have been a joyful time for families. The global pandemic canceled holiday events last year however, this year, Councilmember Kevin de León’s office will be hosting the first-ever Winter Wonderland offering a snow pit in DTLA.
Kevin de León's First
Inaugural Winter Wonderland event is in partnership with the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, Historic Core BID, and The Fashion District BID.
the many whose personal and professional sacrifices kept us safe." - Mayor Garcetti In partnership with the City and County of Los Angeles, these essential workers embody the resilience and heart found in all Angelenos that will carry us into 2022. This year’s celebration with Kinky, DUCKWRTH, Esty, Peanut Butter Wolf, and J. Rocc also keeps with Grand Park’s tradition of presenting the best ‘homegrown’ talent, highlighting forward-thinking artists, embracing diverse backgrounds, and helping to further connect each of us,” said Julia Diamond, director, Grand Park. “Audiences, no matter where they are celebrating, can expect upbeat performances and dance floor beats—hallmarks of every Grand Park’s NYELA.”
