Los Angeles is in the midst of its third big growth wave, after the 1920s and the post-World War II suburbs boom, USC history professor Philip Ethington says in the cover story in this week's CityBeat. The piece by Dennis Romero focuses most on the transformation of downtown, though the opening scene is at the old Toluca Yard and Belmont Tunnel that serviced Red Cars at 2nd Street and Glendale Boulevard. One casualty of the apartment development planned there (temporarily halted this week) is what Romero calls perhaps the only play court in the nation for "the pre-Columbian handball game of tarasca," played by immigrants from Michoacan.

Related: The cover story in LA Weekly on councilman Ed Reyes says the growing city has reached a pivotal moment. The piece by Robert Greene profiles Reyes as a rebel determined to create more affordable housing: "His goal is nothing short of re-defining the L.A. dream: a green city with recreation space for young people on the Eastside as well as the Westside, in South L.A. as well as the Valley, with efficient transit, ample opportunity and a social conscience."

Also in CityBeat: This could be the last year for the Hollywood Christmas Parade.