Hugh Hefner was honored at the 18th annual "Treasures of Los Angeles" awards.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Hugh Hefner, among others, was named a "Treasure of Los Angeles" on
Thursday at an annual awards luncheon in Downtown. The event recognizes
prolific LA figures who have shaped the city's landscape in a momentous
way.
Hefner
-- awarded for his life as a cultural icon and importance in saving the
Hollywood sign, twice -- was short but playful while accepting his
award. After thanking the Central City Association for the honor, he
gave his own to the CEO and president of the association, Carol Schatz.
"I
would like to take this opportunity to present her with an authentic
pair of Playboy bunny ears," Hefner told a cheering crowd as Schatz put
them on and posed for photos.
Yang
Ho Cho, CEO of the Hanjin Group, was also honored at the event for his
work throughout the city. Cho, who owns Korean Airlines, was invited to
this year's event for his most recent project developing hotel and
office space in Downtown, at the site of what used to be the Wilshire Grand Hotel.
"We
are demolishing to make way for the iconic new corner of Wilshire and
Figueroa," Cho said. "It will take about six months to clear the site."
The man behind the recent renovation of Clifton's Cafeteria, Andrew Meieran, was highlighted for his continued loyalty to revitalizing Downtown.
Meieran,
who was also involved in the purchase and restoration of the Golden
Gopher in 2004 and The Edison in 2006, said he was honored to protect
and preserve the legacy of Los Angeles.
"It's
a place of unlimited potential, and unlimited possibility," Meieran
said. "It changes people's lives, throughout the world and across
generations which is someplace that doesn't exist almost anywhere else."
Also
honored at the event were the L.A. Galaxy soccer team, the Granada
Hills Charter High School academic decathlon team and the Good News Foundation.
