Arts

Glendale art lovers and civic boosters alike can be excused this week for having a certain glow about them: At long last, the Museum of Neon Art has been given the green light to begin work on its new home. On Tuesday, the City Council approved a $1.6-million contract to revamp the city-owned structure at 216 S. Brand Blvd. into a luminous, glass-sheathed light-box of a museum. Those familiar with the project know all too well that the path has not been smooth. The museum, founded in 1981, moved out of its downtown Los Angeles digs in June 2011, lured by the promise of an improved property here financed with redevelopment money.

The next hip residential complex in Glendale may be stationed on YMCA property. The City Council, acting in its dual role as the Housing Authority, approved a plan to turn about one acre of land owned by the YMCA into an apartment complex focused on attracting arts and entertainment lovers. Glendale and YMCA officials plan to work together to attract a developer to build the facility at 140 N. Louise St. Those projects with arts components, such as a gallery, or a willingness to partner with the YMCA on joint programming are preferred.

The City Council on Tuesday approved a $1.6-million construction contract for the long-awaited Museum of Neon Art, sealing a marquee addition to the downtown corridor that had been jeopardized by the dissolution of local redevelopment. Construction on the building across from the Americana at Brand is now set to begin in April - and MONA's executive director, Kim Koga, said she couldn't be more excited. “I can't wait for the building,” Koga said. The museum, which has seen its share of controversy since it was first approved in 2011, was on the line after state lawmakers took over redevelopment assets from local agencies to close a multibillion-dollar budget gap in February 2012.

Nothing ever seems to go as it's supposed to when it comes to the burgeoning boxing career of Art "Lionheart" Hovhannisyan. Long hampered throughout his unbeaten career by injuries - in large part due to his hard-hitting style in the gym - and untimely fight cancellations, Hovhannisyan was set to face Logan McGuinness in the main event of Showtime's “Showbox” series on Feb. 22 from the Morongo Casino in Cabazon. But, McGuinness is out, according to Hovhannisyan's manager, George Bastmajyan.

Thus far, Art "Lionheart" Hovhannisyan's road to boxing glory has been a bumpy one, slowed by a myriad of injuries and bout cancellations. Still, the action fighter with an unbeaten record finds himself poised once more to knock down the door of opportunity and become a title contender. Hovhannisyan is slated to fight Logan McGuinness on Feb. 22 in a “Shobox” main event with a possible World Boxing Assn. championship bout as the winner's prize. “We cannot be fighting the Joe Schmoes anymore,” said George Bastmajyan, Hovhannisyan's manager and cut man. “We need a career-defining fight.

Arts events have boosted the popularity and economic prowess of cities like Pasadena and Santa Monica, and Glendale wants a piece of the action. For the first time in more than two decades, Glendale officials have begun mapping out a five-year arts and culture plan in order to shape the city into a regional draw. “When someone says Santa Monica, they automatically think of that city as an arts and culture destination,” said Annette Vartanian, a program supervisor for the Library, Arts & Culture Department.

Passing a major reform in Sacramento has the same odds as a novice knocking out the champ at a martial-arts competition. This is particularly true when it comes to reforming ballot-box budgeting. I've introduced eight measures on this topic over the past 2 1/2 years, and people often ask me why I bother. Changes to the status quo are long shots that require heavy lifting. Complex constitutional amendments are not easily explained in sound bites. And many of these bills don't exactly ingratiate a legislator with special interests.

The Alex Theatre logged a 22% jump in income during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2011, when the historic venue was coming out of a summer of intrusive renovations. Still, city officials this week said the surge is nothing to sneeze at. When comparing the first quarter results to the same period over the last four years, the theater saw 8% higher than average total income, according to a city report released Tuesday. Plus, while other first quarters had 10 to 15 days of activity, this most recent quarter had 29. “It's another step forward for the Alex Theatre,” said Philip Lanzafame, Glendale's officer for economic development and asset management.

After weeks of speculation turned into confirmation that Ronda Rousey had indeed signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world's preeminent mixed-martial-arts league, verification finally came on Thursday as to when, where and who the face of women's fighting will fight in her octagon debut. In Seattle ahead of Saturday night's UFC on FOX 5 event, Rousey was officially presented with her UFC bantamweight title at a prefight press conference and it was then announced she would make her promotional debut on Feb. 23 in Anaheim, main-eventing UFC 157 against challenger Liz Carmouche.

What we really need is a blue ribbon manual arts school. We are shortchanging so many talented children by not providing a school to develop their talents in carpentry, mechanics, masonry, electronics, plumbing and auto shop. Congratulations to the students at Clark Magnet School, but believe it or not, the students at Clark would not be where they are if it were not for people with these very important manual talents and skills. Rather than create more schools like Clark, please create a blue ribbon manual arts school.