Attention LH Shoppers

People love crap. They work all day earning money to buy crap. They spend their “leisure” time looking for the latest crap. They write blog posts about the hottest crap, and where to get it at the best price. And they’ll go on and on about the merits of one crap vs a slightly different crap. Pointy hats, romance novels, design magazines, mope rock records, frozen yogurt, paintings on tortillas, vintage sneakers, trendy pizzas, scrapbook supplies; it a steaming pile of things by which individuals define themselves. Which of course leads to neighborhoods being favorably or unfavorably rated by the availability and proximity to the places that warehouse said crap. Oh, what a wonderful life it must be to be consumed by consumption, the endless pursuit of dead things. Of course, I want in!

If stores full of stuff is the way we define a neighborhood I might as well start talking about our LH shops, give a hand to the local Chamber of Commerce and whatever it is they do, maybe my efforts will lead to a chair on the board? I can dream. Ready to do some shopping? Signame los que tienen dinero!

That pic above of the Spicy Chicken Well Being Korean B.B.Q. (right next to the LH mini-mall) was taken in early June, they had just recently opened in this spot that has a high turnover of restaurants. I had yet to pay it a visit..

..when all of a sudden it closes and this sign goes up! That was quick. And the sign is a bit confusing, with the pic of a hard shell taco and a burger above the “especial burrito” text.

I noticed a band of tin chickens playing instruments inside. Oh yeah, Century City ain’t got nothing on LH!

And today I noticed the we-are-finally-open balloons. I didn’t get a proper look at the menu, but looky here: Burrito, Hot Wing, California Roll. West Hollywood, you’ve been chumpatized! Umm, they better not have burritos and teriyaki, that just won’t do. Any locals willing to do a test run, report your findings here.

Over near the hospital, this new restaurant is giving it a go at a spot that changes every so often as well. Flor de calabaza and huitlacoche? Sounds good!

And they offer the coldest beer in town, bajo 0 degrees! Wait, isn’t that frozen beer? I checked the visible thermostat in the beer/soda fridge, a paltry 42 degrees F, this is blatant false advertising. And that modelos ad campaign is annoying.

I went in looking for HR’s (no luck) so I settled for the quesadilla de flor de calabaza, it was pretty good. But having to get my own plastic fork, knife, napkins, pour my own salsa in lil’ plastic cups, pick up my food at the counter, argue with the girl in charge that I just want tap water (in a styrofoam cup) rather than a bottle, and getting to pay $4.50 for that bit of luxury? Pass. See you in your next incarnation.

Back up on Broadway, next to Huarachito, Heidi’s has put up a new sign advertising their services. It’s done in the old telegram style, when words were at a premium thus you tried to squeeze as many concepts as possible within a limited space. Nicely done Heidi! Though I’m a bit confused about the “up do”, 10% chemicals, MKP, and tin. Guess I’m the chump now.

WTF! The Airliner club went and commissioned a piece from ALZA, a local sign painter that refuses to learn the ways of the brush. His stuff isn’t to my liking, which is putting it mildly as I don’t even mind most tagging and graffiti. You might want to ask some of your patrons for assistance, no doubt they’ll come up with something way better.

Missed out on LeBlanc’s Hawaiian Party again, what was I thinking? So long easy money.

It was sad seeing the 3B’s (Bueno Bonito Barato!) Thrift Store go, I loved that crazy display of stuffed animals. But progress marches on, and it was replaced with the new Tony’s Paradise Drinking Water.

But after only a few weeks, they’ve added a new sign: Tony’s Outlet Store! Now you can get your water and look thru racks of outlet shirts. Teddy bear display case, coming soon!

And finally, to round out our pursuit of identity via stuff, a new shop that goes by the name of L.A.’s Tepito #2. In case you’re not aware, Tepito is a neighborhood and market in Mexico city mostly known for affordable counterfeit and pirated items. I’m not sure what kind of items they carry here but I love that they chose that name for themselves!

I wonder what these fine establishments say about LH and about the people that live here? All I know is this: it’s exactly where I want to be!