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As Downtown’s performance venues gear up with headlining live concerts and events, the neighborhood is seeing a wave of new electric energy after dark. Over the last week, the Nokia Theatre and Staples Center have been flooding the night sky with an arsenal of searchlights in anticipation of tonight’s LA Live first phase grand opening. These towering beams have become a fixture of excitement for nearby residents and will serve as a beacon to lure in visitors from other areas of the city.

On the other side of Downtown LA, the Orpheum Theater has begun to illuminate its rooftop sign on show nights. Coupled with the recently restored Eastern Columbia and Tower Theater signs, this stretch of Broadway is glowing with new life.

Though not as powerful or numerous as the Nokia Theatre lights, J Restaurant & Lounge at 11th and Olive streets added two searchlights for its one-year anniversary event. The effects won’t last past the anniversary celebration, but the potential has been demonstrated, and we like what we see.

All this allure is giving local residents a sense of pride, especially when walking the mostly glum streets at night. Now if we can just work on getting better pedestrian streetlights we’ll be set.

-Union Lofts Gets New Exterior Lighting
-Nokia Theatre & Plaza Lighting Attractions
-City Hall Goes Green